Hawk Hudson s Headstone By Axel Ahrens axeeffect39@yahoo.com (916) 792-4584
FADE FROM BLACK: EXT. NIGHT - OLD CEMETERY - MIDNIGHT Our first shot is closeup of an old, rusty, iron bell, supported only a few inches from the ground and positioned next to a headstone. The bell is attached to a string that feeds into the ground, under the earth. It s quiet and dark in the cemetery and something seems to be tugging on the string, but just a little, so that the bell moves, but not enough to ring. Only the bell is in focus, but in the background we see a light emerging from behind the trees, so we rack focus to that in the distance. It is a lantern, held by, a seasoned outlaw graverobber with little patience or remorse. He likes to work quiet and quickly so that they can escape without being caught. Accompanying him is, who is more quirky and unsure of the situation. He is afraid of the cemetery at night and greatly fears the consequences of them being there. He stutters when frightened. This one, right here. Why this one? Don t ask. Just dig. The two men use shovels and strike the earth of a nearby grave. As they dig, we cut to shots of the the rest of the graveyard. is apprehensive and fears something about the setting, as if they are being watched or are in danger. What was that, Wesley? Stop wasting time. You re hearin things. I don t like this. Something s not right. The sooner we get what we came for and get out, the better. Now keep diggin. I can t do it by myself.
CONTINUED: 2. How do you know we ll even find anything on this...(looking at the name on the headstone)...mr. Scott Driscoll? Trust me. He just died the other day. The man was loaded. I don t know...just doesn t seem right- (interupting) Stop talking now! I mean it. You ll wake the whole god damned- They are startled by the sound of the ringing bell next to a nearby headstone. It s loud among the silence of the midnight cemetery. Wesley quickly draws a shotgun and points it in the direction of the sound. Tom fumbles for his pistol. They see that the bell in fact produces no real danger, and are relieved not to have been startled by something worse. They both walk over to investigate. Who is ringing that bell, Wesley? Wesley just looks down at it. He doesn t say a word. Is there someone down there, under the ground? Wesley looks around. Tom reads the markings on the headstone. (reading) Hawk Hudson: Died 1871. It doesn t say the day. What should we do? Wesley takes out a knife and cuts the string. The ringing stops. Don t concern us. Let s hurry up and get outta here.
CONTINUED: 3. We re just gonna leave him...or whoever...down there? How many graves you wanna dig tonight? We ll be lucky if no one else heard that god-dammed bell. But someone s alive down there! Don t concern me. Tom looks at the bell and headstone with both sadness and fear. C mon... The men pick up their shovels and go back to digging. They get deeper and deeper, but Tom can t stop thinking about that bell and who might ve been down there ringing it. The thought horrifies him. He keeps looking over at that headstone. Finally, their shovels hit something solid, and they brush away the dirt to show it is indeed the coffin they came for. Wesley smirks. Thought we d never get there. Wesley takes a crowbar and prys open the heavy wooden lid. Out comes a hissing vapor, bringing with it the pungent smell of death. Tom recoils in disgust. Wesley is unfazed. Hold the lantern over so I can see it. Tom fumbles for the lantern, while trying to keep his mouth and nose covered. He shines it over the grave, revealing the corpse in the coffin. There we are! Wesley removes a shiny, golden watch from the corpse s arm and brilliant silver revolver from his other hand.
CONTINUED: 4. Ha! Look at the gun they buried him with! Lot o good that ll do him. Tom is uneasy at Wesley s lack of respect for the dead man and he keeps peering over to the bell and headstone. Help me get this suit off a him. Looks real nice, real expensive. Now we focus in on the bell and headstone while Tom and Wesley continue about their business. Everything remains still... They finish looting the corpse and Wesley tosses it back into the grave. Time to leave. Tom doesn t move. He stares at the untouched grave where the silent bell once rang. We can t leave him. Wesley looks over to the grave. Don t be a fool. We don t have time. Someone s buried down there, alive. Deep down in the darkness..probably can t even breathe. Tom... If it was me under the ground... Wesley is struggling with Tom s pleas. He wants to get out of there, but may be starting to realize the coldness of his thinking. If it was you...waking up in a tomb.
CONTINUED: 5. Fine. We dig him up, then we leave. We don t wait around. Tom takes his shovel and makes the first, emphatic strike to the ground. He digs furiously, and Wesley joins him. As they get deeper, they exchange glances of both apprehension and eagerness, thrilled with the unknown possibility of what lies down there. Finally, Tom hits something hard, the roof of a coffin. He pauses, perhaps to catch his breath, perhaps because he is somewhat uneasy of what lies behind it. He looks over to Wesley. They don t speak. Tom is afraid to go any further. He looks back down at the coffin. What re you waiting for? Tom collects himself and shovels the rest of the dirt from around the coffin. It sits there ominously under the pale moon light. Open it. Tom slides his hands over the coffin, until he finds the edge of the lid. Before he pries it open, he gives one last look to Wesley, as if he s searching for reassurance. The coffin is opened, and we show a low angle shot from the coffin s point of view up towards our two characters, as if they were looking down into the trunk of a car. They are startled at what they see, and nearly stumble backwards. A wide shot from the side shows both Tom and Wesley and the headstone and grave. Tension builds as there is a pause before we see something pull itself out of that hole in the ground. It is a human, a man, though he seems more dead than alive. His movements are unnatural and jerky. He is gaunt and pale-skinned. Tom and Wesley remain speechless, waiting for the unburied man to break the silence. He sits on the ground with his back to the grave, facing towards them, but he doesn t look at them. He crinks his neck and strikes a match against the scruff of his face, lighting a cigarette and illuminating a deep scar that runs down his left eye. There is almost an awkwardness now. He just sits there, and the graverobbing duo look at him uncomfortably. Finally, Tom breaks the silence:
CONTINUED: 6. You alive, mister? The unburied man peers toward Tom, studying him. He doesn t say a word. His face stays in heavy shadow and we can t see him clearly....seems that way... The man looks around the cemetery now. Unless this is heaven... He takes another puff of his cigarette....i hope not. What were you doing down there? Wasn t there by choice. Wesley pulls out his shotgun. Listen here sir! We dug you up but you re gonna give us everything you got and we re gonna leave. Got it?! He points the shotgun right at the man, who doesn t actually seem very worried. Do you know who I am? The two graverobbers look at each other again, this time slightly confused. Tom did not expect Wesley would shake him down. The unburied man notices the shovels and the lantern. Who digs up a man n robs him blind? What re you two even doing out here? You re lucky we even dug you up at all. Now whatya got? The unburied man chuckles to himself. He takes his time. The chuckle slowly turns into laugh.
CONTINUED: 7. You don t know who I am at all, do ya? I won t ask you again. Lemme just get my... The unburied man reaches within his coat and quickly draws a gun, shooting Wesley through the head. Wesley doesn t get a shot off and is dead before he hits the ground. Tom fumbles for his gun. They only buried me with one shot, kid. The unburied man gets up and casually walks over to Wesley s fallen body. He looks it over, proding him with his leg....i reckon in case it got too lonely down there. Tom is exasperated. He still points his pistol at the man. Y-you just k-killed him. He had it comin. The man still has his attention on Wesley s body. He stares at discerningly. Tom is still very much on edge. Y-your grave stone said Hawk Hudson. Is that who you are? Who is that? Who are you? Let s just say I m somebody the world would prob ly rather see in the ground. An ambient noise from the graveyard spooks Tom and he is distracted for just a moment, at which time he unwittingly lowers his gun.
CONTINUED: 8. Drop your gun. Hawk Hudson is now holding Wesley s shotgun and pointing it towards Tom. W-What? Drop it. Hawk Hudson pumps the shotgun. But, but mister, I have no quarrel with y- (interupting) You heard me! Tom drops his pistol. But sir, I just saved your life...surely... Now get in the grave... Tom stops clammering. He is frozen at this demand. Y-you want me to what? Now. I don t understand... Tom slowly goes over to the grave with his hands in the air. Can t have any witnesses here. Word gets out Hawk Hudson is breathin, lawmen will be after me all over again. Sir, I won t tell anyone. Promise.
CONTINUED: 9. CUT TO: Credits Get down in the grave. Sir, please. I won t tell a soul. No, you won t. Get in.