DING DE LAURENTIIS presents A FRANKOVICH/S! LP PRODUCTION ‘JHE GREAT TRAIN ROBBERY Screenplay by Michael Crichton REVISED DRAFT January 1976"ThE GREAT TRAIN RoBsETy" BACK SCREEN _RIATOR In the year 1055, Fngland and France were at war with Russia, in the Crinea. the English troops were paid in gold. BADE Ti: IND ~ DANK = MORNING a We see gold bullion---a lot of it---set ovt on a table. Uniformed ASSISTANTS load the bullion inte stronghox BARRATOR Once a month, twelve thousand pounds in bullion was loaded into strongboxes ins the London bank of Huddleston an2 hradford... EM? ~ FOGGY LONDON STRE ~ MORNING Phe yold is taken by convoy, protected by grin-faced guards MARRATOR «sand taken by trusted armed quaras to the railwa; ststion. vhe convoy followed te or tinetable. INE ~ TRAIN SratTON ~ 1% ING As the convey comes up the platform to the luggage van, the rear of the train. RARRATOR At the ststion, the s¢rongboxes vere Joaded into the Luggage van of the Folkestone train, for slipwent to the coast, and from there, to Prunc Mik SAFES IN THE vau 4 As they are loaded with gold. HARRAWOR i The stronuhoxes were placed in i pecially built, these safes « of one quarter inch tumpercd weighed txe handred and fifty era before dyvamite was disco way to break a safe vas constructed Bach safe ss. In an the only he safes are closed: ve see fourNARRATOR Bach safe was fitted with tuo locka, requiring tvo keys, or Four keys all together. the safes are locked Ly a GUARD. UARRATOR, For security, each key was in “vidually protected, RDTON DI. ARCHER'S OFFICE ~ DAY 8 Whe office is located a keys distributed to @ cornar of the station. We see the waiting owners, HEERATOR Two keys were ontrusted to the railway dispatcher, who kopt them locked in his office... Two are givén to the crusty old s#AVION DISPATCHER. NARRATOR A third was in the custody of Ne. ragar Trent, president of iuddleston and Bradford... & key is given to HR YNNT, a stern o2é man, very proper. RARRATO! And the fourth key was given to Mr. Henry Fowlcx, manager of the uddlaston and bradford sani. A-key is given to uk FOWLER, florid, fifty, self-satisfied. fu TRAIN LEAVING Wun SATION 6 Chagging out. NARRATOR ‘The presence of so much gold in one place naturally aroused the: interest. erindnal clowents, but in 1055, had never been a tobboxy from & moving railway train.... FADE TO BLA Ian OTTERS MRD ATIC Drs an: LEXT = ENGLESIt Cont NYEIDE = MORNING soning cherry orchards, sheep Kent in early sammcr: hi2S grazing on green rolling weadowlands, fluffy clouds 7 cont'd iy the overhead sky. fa wo watea, distant puffing | bla ORB 38 secn akove the trees, and we hear B building CHUGGING weil ve gee TNE. RATLWAY. TRAIN oO bursting into yiew from bohind a cherry orchard, The train ds yoing 55 miles an hour, and it looks a little like a toy train. ‘the engine is painted blue; the driver, in his red uniform, stands upright in/the open air, withest « cab. “whe engineer cronches, shovels goal into the furnaces of the engine, Behind the engine are three yellow first-class coaches, seven qreen second-class coaches, and at the end, the gray windowless Juggage van. TB LUGGAGE Van ~ TAMING SHOT 9 As the sliding side door opens, to reveal a desperate struggle betwoen a tugged, grizzled TOUS! in cheap clothing, and a burly blue-uniforsed railway guard, BURGESS. INSIDE WE VAN ae Ag the fight continucs. ‘he tough ie inocked back against the safes, previously wcun, ‘The guard is guperior in all ways and we suspect he will win. Pub the todgh strikes a telling blow to the yard, vho falls to his knees, winded. The tough stands hack wear tue open door, gasping for reat Phe guard leaps up abruptly, flinging hinsel£ on) the touch and knocking hi clear of the train; the tough spreans ond Aisappears from ovr sight. The guard rushes forward te look out. BOV THE GUARD ~ LOOKIN’ PACK ub the tough, tumbling and bouncing like a rag doll as he nits the roadway near the trac GUARD 12 Morrifiea by what he sees, he wearily closes the sliding door. LONG SHOT = Tm nats a Tt noves off, aroun! a curve, whistle Te is lost from slyht. ¢ FALLEN TOUGH uw prostrate nei the tracks, not voving. The suche ng in the aiz dvifts dewn on bin. ha chugging of ithe train becoes nore distant. At last the man raises bi head From the gromic, nbs face is badly cut ape bleeding. His eyes are awe. be turns and looks off to one sidpage & POY TE TOUGH - A SsTLNOUNTeND Man a5 Prom a nearby hill, ba $a vary erect, j & against the harsi morning Light, efoctly still tal In long shot we can he might be an hallucination. tun noven 16 48 his lips move, soundlessly. He reachos out teward the man. CLOSER CHE Ma 1 Who still dees net move, or react in any way. PAST THE NAN TORARD 4 HE 2OUGH 18 As the tough collapses, with a terminal shadder. |The man turns abruptly on Sis hect and climbs down the hill to his COACH Which waits below. It is elegant black, with red~spoked wheels, He climbs in; St rattles off. i still have nat gotten @ good look at hin. HOLD on the coach a mbment. HA is INSIDE TEE COACK - "all and handsone, wilh a full red beard, very self-possessct, he is EDWARD PIERCE, PILRCE (to somecks opposite hin) Well. That's that. INSIDE THE COACH ~ TIE ROHAN 2 she! is equally handsome, as fashionably dressed as he, and every bit as composed. She is also undeaiably sexy. She js MIRIAM. MIRIAM, is he dead? Yes? (beat) when wil) you begit AE COACH - YIPACH AND BIRTA ah Prorcr Bt once, 1/11 cee Henry at dinner. NIRTAN Be's such a ponpous ass. Fiexce sniles. ERY ~ TNE CORCID RONPT ING AWRY “and paseing the goad Cough. on the motionless fiure as we hear:paye F PORLER lover) 22 cont ‘« most trivil watcor. ‘The fellow had not the sli st chance of Success. Indews.,. PESSOLVE 1 NY = LONDON CLOSE ON POWLER * onup ~ irenr 25 is forwally dressed, and speaking with absolute! authority Bnd eonvicthon. Four + +8peating on behalf of Huddleston and Bradford, I xust inform you gontlenan thal ¢he ensixe matter | Was wholly trivial. that without ER TEE LISTENING GROUP 28 z n ‘There are seven ovure 1521, all formally dressed, &1 dein’ brandy and snoking cigars, whey are substantial pen. Pierce 18 ainong then. PrFrei whe villain cxpired (puffing cigar) POW Quite. the guard threw him fron the tkain at a goodly specd. The ghock must have killed hin instantly. (sivs brandy) Foor eevil. MR BURKE Has he been identified? . OULTER ; On, i shouldn't think so. the manner ef his departure fron this Garth vas suet that his es vere, ah, disarrayed. ‘ a CONNAUGHT The thief was after the crix payments? an troop le was. 1 nyse: MR DENDIZ (grumpy) i at aoinable war with he th this nation, you mark my word think with unrest in the North, a war such av this 2 poe Mibat do you expect now vhat ona manpane @ conta) 24 cont! And the Of course it's } Tm BURICE, in seven has the vote, eh’ want to vot all gone to ruil ER POWNAK We had no chonce of stealing it? ER FOULER | No chance at all. {chuckling} Gentlemen: two Chukb sates. Pour keys, seperately | guarded. Quite impossible. | PERCH (mila) Still, I suppore it could be done. Me POMLER | ZT can't imagine how. A man vould have to get all four keys, ‘Two are loc'cd away by the station tianager. Gne is in the hands Of our president, Mr. Magar trent, whom) you all know to ic highly reliable. Tf don't know where ir. Trent keeps h , buts T know of the fourth, for Iam, mysclf, eptmustad with guarding 3¢. PLERce, A considerable responsibility, 1 should think. YOULER i Z admit 1 felt a certain need for invention in the matter. Pregnant pause. puMbIx (erusty) fell, daun 3¢ all, Henry, vill you tell us where you have hidden’ your bloody Key? POWLER (smiling benignly) Lkeep it about my neck. I woar jf at all tin prpren, ning? dven while be FOULER Even while bathing... (chuckle) Even in ny sleoy. So you see, gentlemen, tne erude abtenpt of a common ruffian from the danqoreus classes hardly need concern us. he yold, Z assure you, is safespase 7 24 cont’ Pree I'm sure you are right. PoURER Count on it. Count on it. Pierce smiles at Powler, vho beams complacently. INTAM over) do all thon men think you aze? PIERCE (over) Shey think ‘i idward Pierce. A sharp businessmen, from mmerica. INE |) PIERCE'S BrOROON ~ wing NTO 25 Hirdam elt at a dressing table, removing heavy stage makeup. She looks at him in hey virror. Pierce io romoving his necktic but he still looks as proper as she looks whorish] MIRIAM (amused) A-sharp busincssman. What business? PupRee (pretendine puzzleient) It's not xoally clear. Tt seein I've nade a deal of money in cattle in ths western yegions. I'm quite well off. MIRIAM Are you. PIERCE Oh, T think co. ATRIA and do they ‘now you ta inthe theater ean int prnnce An unmarrio? qentleman must amuse nimsel£. HIRI Must he. PIERCE Yes, he must. fig comes over and Kisses her nec MIRIAM (Cockney accent) Here now, ducika, give us a propor kiss. Jie Kisses her Jong ad tak. Ler makovy is only half off he nan sonothing in hs mouth.PIRRCE (removing it) What's this? 7 It's a little key, transisilted to him in the kiss. MIRIAM (Laughing) Me did always yid, never take without. giving. ramen You and your dad, MIRIAM ' Cone on, then, give it back. Pierde jputs it back in hi« mouth. 1ARTAM Never can tell vhen it might cone useful. Give it back. PIERCE I'll give it wu we'lpees hor hard. che vighs, and presses her ppdy against hiseg y PIERCE Practice makoy perfect. HTRIRN Uomm.... OISSOLVE TO; EXT - CHE STRAND - pry 25-30 The Strand displays th: wealth and affluence of the greatest industrial nation in history, and the yreatest ehpire in history. Handsone shop; show fine wares of every variety the atrolling sidewali crovd is elegant, mon and wonen boldly dressed in deep, rich colers. ‘The strect itsellf is crowia:! with bustling horse-drawn traffic. Altogether -it is a cheerful splendid scene, exerpr for the signs of lurling "poverty: te tawdry childron, the corn-and-out lushington hanging back in alley-shadows, the detoued beggars. We see all this but it foes not intrude on the general elegance of the] impression. A GROUP OF FOUR Mut 31 Thoy Joiter to ono side, a11 well-dressed, theukh perhans too flashy. . Sheir lewler is a young pickpocket, AGAR. Re pointe out a likely woman victin, and they nove off.2 PASSING COA As it rumbles by, a little under the hooves of the ovtstretche: a coin in hia hand, ‘DLE PATRON he is Pierce, ai forward, ignori OVER PINRCE'S snouLDrN To the gtrect ahead. 1 except for a rathe: PRERCE 35 he walks forward, POV PIERCE ~ ThE RonRNRY TN PROCESS whe wonan ts, wa now no: form a loose sq, an overcoat over his ar woman, ie sidle AGAR Ue tAises his right hand and blows on his continues to look at the voman. ‘TE WOMAN Unguspecting, she wincow and a wide hooped sk. Her cres: Rer attention is BIGH aNgwE Dom on my smTLS They maintain thoir position relative to her. When shew they move. When she at S, they stop, FIERCE WATCHING With an eye to Agar. AGAR AGAR Qow) Right. liexe we yo. Igar slides up to the woman, ani docs the Aand into her skirt, to the side pocket, om &@ nothing out of ¢ | o, surrounded by the fqur m rotind Aer, dgax, the dipper, in elosér to e ordinary veral paces ahead. ET URCHIN of ten does a cartyie orse, bouncing up to his Feet, hans 1a grin on his face. fis nearest pation drops a3 plenmiidly dressed as the rest, Walking ng the cuild. jie is ititant on sowething abead. 34 35 my Fingers. Me has q bustle on tia shops. noving 4) pr slipping bis the parspage ONE OF THE STALLS 42 Buaping inte someone, creating a mild commotion. HE WOMAN AND AGAR as the Woman turns to look ot the conmotion, and agar! slips avay, winking to his comiacd One of them comes up 40 take the purse from benoath his overcoat. The stalls guietly disperse. agar continues on. OVER PIERCE'S siiouLDER a4 4g he follous Agar, who lms nok cone to pause befdre a window displaying cut : PIERCE AND AGAR 45, As both men stare £ixecly at the glassware displayed. ) PIRCE (after bh fice pull. Agar snaps his head avuvnd to look at Pior nin and relaxes. AGAR (gx Mot bad. you're hack 4 PLURCE (nodd How's the tovcn? AGAR (a bit angrily) Just aw it, didn't you? eh? pidn't yeu just sec che touah? PIERCE I sav. You wire her? AGAR fingers, see? (holds up’ ey are. Hookit that Naw. dust > ers), sicudy th Ever so ste There is no trenor in the fingers. Perce says| nothing. AGAR inc of a job, then? PIERCH Tomay have one or two Little The two men begin Lo valk down the street. YoLittle things, coma Bhese one or t they be crib j PIERCE they could. AGAR Dicey, are they? pInrcr very di AcAR Is it dipping, or keys? PInRcn xeys. Wax, or str y hau2? PILRCH Wax, war AGAR (hinting) t do the Midlands job, Say, you did’ you? prener a) Sloppy piece of work. (shaking hez Dear Sloppy? vhey're clean with a th guineas barren I'm thinking of some! ing. Acar, And it's wax, On the fly? Pierce nods. AGAR Why then, I'm your man. ta fastest screwsman you ever si Tt secs AGAR What. then? ik ko he, pase Ut 45 cont ousandjeerne to case a squares First, we've « rigged gout, 1GOMR What gent? EX?) + TE BANK ~ BVENTIG a6 A HIGH ANGLE DOW on the evening rush hour traffic: omaibuscs, tandems, dogcarts, and a few elegant broughams. One such vehicle is parted in front of the bank. Yaprer (over) The President of the Uuddlesten and bradford Bank, Ur. Nagar "rent, follovs an inflekibie routine... ChOSE Of THE By NK a7 he Mie. @rent, previoasly seen, exits and climbs into hig coach. A NEARBY ROOPTOR Where Pierce is crouched dow, observing and making notes, stopwatch out. he conch rattles off on the stréet belov. prercn (over) + s@eparting te hank at the end ef eagh day promptly at seven P . F OX? ~ TIE PRE v0 MA ETON ~ EVENING 40 A WIDE VIEW as the caer ce pulls up, and Nr, Trent urnvat (over) 3 at number seventech iayfaiz, a mausion of) 3, not including seryants Mr, Trent x Highwater Toad, twenty-birer réos guatters... ACROSS TLE SPR 50 Waere Wiriam, in disynise, is watching reat's aeturn. HIRD (over) ++-Fis socoml vifo, Emily, ia tuirty | years hin junior, and rans the houselioad very strictly... (SUE PROUT DOUX oY 4h Hous Bs frent entors, ve seo beiefly bis erecting hy PALLYpace 12 j $1 cont: a pretty woman much younger, while the AUTEUR holdd open the door. ‘The butler dives a suspicious glance outside before shutting the door. MIRIAM (over) Altogether, there are twelve sexvants cmployed..: WB STDP ALLEY or Tin sma HOUSE 82 re the carriage is pulicd around to the side for the night. AGAR (over) sesh coach driver, two liverymen, a gardener... door! of the house. SERVAL Wiz seo:these servants, who go into the sid Prom outside looking in, we see several HONE through the windows. AR (over) +++8 doorman, a butlex,-a cook and r two kitchen assistants, and tvo maids AGAR LURKING IN AMLEY and watching everything. Ke is éxes. of Veyctables, pus his cart. ed as a coster, a venter . AGAR (over) +++The servants are all content and can't be la pode we jar, Wirdany and a table, he cabby, Barlow. vhey giving their reports. | PIERCE (to Barlow) Dogs’ TARLOW aye... EXY = GREW HOU i DAY two bulldogs are walked by at PARTON fe keeps two bulldogs. ed twice a day, seven in the noming and eiqht= Fiftoun at night, by Cook's stants. At night...page 1B LAY ~ THE DOG RUN - RTGS 36 At the back of the hovse. RARLOW lover) eeThey're perme! in a yun at back of the house. BACK TO PIERCE AND GROUP it! BIS LIVING ROOM 57 PIERCE children’ MIATA le has five. Tiree live at hone. the oungest is a boy of four, Te hes a tendency to siccpwalk at night, creating @ connotion. | x = TRENT NOUS! 1 Li over! the There are sudden eri Lights go on BACK TO PIERCE AND THE GHOUP 8 fIYRC (shaking head) We can't crack a twenty-three roor house and sexren for a key, ix ve don't know where it is. AGAR Only Mr, Yrept knows that. prence He.nust have a weakness: Ganbling? Drink? vonen’ PREND WALKING ON A SIVELY ~ DAY 60 He passes Mirian, dressed as a whore. she accosts hin, ané even in her tarty mekeup, sha's very attractive. fe ignores her and walks on. She reacts BACK 'fO PIERCE AND ThE GROUP 62 heir heads. They are all shalsinu ¢! PIERO } have to keep wateaing hin. se he'll breat: his routine. gontlonan 4 respectalji.page EXE ~ YRENY HOUSE - EVIITINC 2 1 MIDE VIEH showing on odd sight: the butlor stands in front of the house by the curh, vith two bulldegs on tve leashes. Me's obvionsly waiting. j : 'RENE?S BROUGRAN | 6 AS it cones up, but fvent dows nbt alight. Insteatl, ons of the dogs is’hanced to hin, and the coach clatters off revealing the butler standing with one cos on a leash. ACROSS THE SYREDT 64 Pierce and Agar stand there, Aleguised. agar, who suiles. | OBR tels a rattiny yont... PrERe Indeed he is. Te= QUENN'S HEAD PLE - UPSTAIRS Neow ~ RIGHT D lotrceslinged, dingy room er: a lot of dogs, which ar all, stations of Life a tension and exciteient. prizefichter, runs 0 showiders above the We dimediately hear a load 1 above the crowd, holdi hig beefy hand. 1 fifty men and and growling, Men fx idereble 1 a Avie barly ex js already) head As over a honent. dogs. dinky reap! gq up a cage o£ seaupering rats in nd ou Hothing int the finest, g Every one country born, and no water Giten anong * Who wants to try a rat? ions Among the crowd, people are having trouble controlling th dogs, now that the aninals have seea the rats. | ora to ery a rat? Yho want The crowd muri byom the hack: ONSEN SPRANT EPLL nave tiftzen of your heat for my fancy. Bimy exancs bis ncek to seo who has spoken. Me recogat, speaker Mastem (to assistants) Neigh the fancy of Mr. T. The assistants nove off. We now sce that "mr. 7 is non other than "rent hinccti, and his bulldog is bedag veiched by the assistants with « portable scale. i Agsts Twenty-seven pounds! the dog is returned ta vront. opmny That's it, thon, gents. Twenty~seven, pounds isi, v's fancy dog, and he has called for 2 try at fiftecn rats. Shall it be three winutes? He, Trent nods. gumy Hl Three minvies it is, gentlemen, and. | you may wnucr as you see fit. Nake way for tir. i his fancy dog. rent moves through the erowd with his dog, which guowls in his ams. tie cones up alongside Captain Jimmy. The camera has raised nu so that we can see there is a white circular pit, surromlod by boards about four eet high omy fifteen, cage and plucks out £4 rats, which he to: pit. The rate scanper around. Mr. 17s dow qrowls. Ase, strangelylenougn, Ur. Pogrowls with aia, initating doy sounds to entourage his ¢ The assistant re PIERCE MOVING sHRauGL crown 7 fihich is preoceupicd with betting; money shown, and hands. ‘whe PIT AREA 7 where ‘Trent is poise!, vith his dog in his arms. Captain Timmy holds his stojastc rats around the pit. the crowd cries ‘ilow on fom" and blows on the jrats. | aw Are we ready? . |7 “RENY (between growls) < | © Rerrrready! ( Inside the pit, the rants run around frantically: crowd is tense. Aaaaaand.... Immediately, Trent flings his dog into the pit, land in the sane moment crouches down until his chin is just above © wooden rin of the pit, ‘Trent maken growling and barking a: synarling sounds, and as ree | Go, Lover! Got Go! . e dgn't d Inside the pit, the dog and rats engage. on this. Whe crowd is shoutiny, but none more than Yrent, whose fac is contorted: epee ‘that's at's a deed one, dyom hin now go? Grrsrz! Good, that's another,, drop.hin, go! Gur-zrrugh T's funny and awful in the same moment. f In the pit, the doy has rats clinging to its facd and body. crowd (screaming) Mwister! Iwister! s are already dea rious rage. The dog writh Trent, wate! servaus inv! OREN Hi, Lover, good, Lover...Go, girl. Grrervht SIMMY (glancing at stopwatch) one a the attack, racing around t In the pit, the doy pursuing the rats. Ls an the Wo% ex pitch. | his dog, 80 he seus Lia ayos a rgh the ered and not notice that hie has cone to stam!the dogfight continues, grucsone and gory, Pour Eats cons! hang on Lover's body ie crunches a fifth between (3) her jaws. Trent bites down viciously, chomping aix, . TINY (with atopwatel} i two minutes gone! The crowd is disconsolate at this; somo think they yor't vin their bets. mr. Trent isn't discouraged. Me edgubles nis efforts, and shouts hoarscly. Pierce watches, with unc anny calm. whe dogfight continves, with just gl in): Fats and trails of blood; rats clinging to the cog; blocd flung against the boards, and even into tha faces of the crowd Jeaning over. But we don't ‘really see mach) and are mostly left 64 imagine it. of the gore: dead The crowd watches grinacing and tensely. Trent tFges his dog onward VIMY (clicking stop. @ime! Tine, gen ch) whe! crowd relaxes and sighs; bets are paid off; Lover 4s scooped up from the arcna and hanced to Trent. FIERCE (as trent leaves) | Bloody good try. trent says nothing, but pushes on. | Pierce remade. aun Who's to be next, then, next to try the Les money can imy? Pierce stares down at the arena. Assistants scoop up the remaining rats, and remove the dead ones. | / Nt - QUEEN! HEAD PUB ~ POHNSYAIRS nO oO NIGIT Whis roon, Gevorated in dou: fighting memorabilia, is v. acted, oxcept for « solitary bart side table yursiny nis dog, and sipping a/drink, Ploree cones over. ndex, Mx, Trent sits PorRek May I join you for a glass? eu py all waneare bloody, 18 i 87 con probing his dou ror deep wounds; his fingers (2) Mt neither ivn scens concerned, Upstairs another match begins, ve hear the mon svouP their feet. Oh Trent? VSENCE (raising voice) | I perceive you axe & gentlenen of sporting insiinet rear { Jover was not at her ing. She lacked bustle. But she cauic off well cnough. ty Lover will fight aga PIERCE, Indeed, and x shall wager upon her again when she dees oRPNT (polite concern) Did you losoy PERC trifle. ten guincas: wrest Yen suincas! 1 am pleased you take it so lightly, Fer.it ne to buy you a glass; as a token of your 411 fortune. PIERO Never, I cout it mo i21 fortune at all. XT adwize a nian who nay keep a fancy and her. T shoul’ do so myself, were J not 30 often abroz on business. ‘ert Oh yos? Haesever Tam gone, 1 the servants in the care of the beasts, PIERCE 1 fear f hav of my energies these past y cf busin L have never oarried. (sips drink) Though of course Teshould like to. cory, Of course, (eat) Of course. thought [nl expression: PIERCK (over) What exactly ere yea const:paws 19 "1 BBs ~ PRENY HANSTON BACK LAUN ~ APrETEO Workmen are constructir are building a structur y a ruin of some sort. hri¢klayers and the gardener i planting wee Gront, his wife, and Morven, all dressed in white,/sit on the back lawn with the house behind then, and tea! thar hefore them, The talk is desultory. Hrs, Trent is havdse and at pains to conceal ner interest in Pierce. NRG TRE We thought a wuter wheel. so delightful, cape the rusted carve of Atsel£, don't you agree? eae | Ne are building the rusted wheel at Bom? expense. it is constructed of proviously rusted metal. Whe craftsmen are mont dhoenious. Bat, of covcc, wo uust wait for the weeds to grow up sround the site hofore it takes on the proper agpearance. Zam sure RENE We have spared no expense. j ahey watch the gardencr planting w background, RUISALET Wai, a plain ody forward. ler father anti Pierce otand. en, from the of 30, cones rant Ab, my darling daughter, May T present Mr. Edvard vierce, my daugher blizabeth PLnReR, 1 did not know you b I conte: daugiats Vie bows at the waist and almost kisses her hand, but dooy not; he acts flustercd pinner i Miss trent, yos take ne quite ‘Mrs. Trent, we notice, is not hapoy to attention shifted aay Crom her,YLIZABeT I cannot tell $f that is to my advantage or apt. She quickly takes a scat, and holds out her hand until @ secvant puts a cup of tea into it. PITRE: ZI assure you, it is wholly to your advantage, iiss Trent fans herself, Mr. Trent clears his throat. rent offers biscuits. URS. TRENT Will you try one of these, Mr. : pepncy With gratitude, Madan. mame We are just discussing the ruins, but prior to that, x. Pierce was tolling us of his travel in his native country. primer Yes, Ihave just returned from western Imerica, a most savage region. PLIZARUEH Mow quaint. T know it int Re TRENT You speak very well, for ay Auorican. prErce nalish. My father vas Mas ‘eee Was he really. I expect that enplains it. BR Tyas i Who is your Gather, Mr. Pieres? Perhaps I know hin. pikes If I may Wm so bold, and is the delicate ears of the ladies present shali not be offended, 1 niall give you on cxample of the savaiery which po puerican dands, and ts whicd many persons Mevpags 25 pimrcn (cont'd) BER96 cor remarkable. Q FLAZADMNM (edapping hands). oh ye: PERCH, bp you know of buffaloes? | print? (eyes flashing) | ‘They arc laree | Hid cows, and 9 T have creatu PIERCL Exactly. the vostem portion of anerica is wiesty populated vith buffaloes, ani mtny persons al Livelihood jn mnmting then, EMIZABLTA (outburst) lave you ever Leen to California, where there $1 gold? PIERCE Yes. Hore than once. i MRS Let the man fini: cv (sharoly) t pin tale, Llixabeth, prencl | Well, the fuffalo hunters sonetines seek the flesi of tue animals, and sometime the hide, which also has value. i BR OTRERT hey lack tu: prance Yos, they hove no tusk: male of the species po | + Although thd Sesses horns. | MR TRENT Norns, 1 But not of ivory. prencr No, not. ivory, I see. Please go on. PIPRCE q whe wen Woo kis-wao disptch these MRE TRONY (eyes still flashing)PIMRCE (conta) | buffaloes, the Luffale hunters, utilize arifie for tori purposes. unco the creature ha: tendnrted existene its innards aye renoved. Trent I Very sensible, 5 prerer To be sure. tut here is the peculiar part: these buffalo hunters prize 2s | the greatest delicacy the smal: intestine Of the beast, which are consumad on the! spot. How are they prepared: By roasting over an open fire, £ expect. PIERCE | Ro Madam, for 4 am telling you a tole of abject savagery. These intcstincs are so prized, thoy are consumed at once, ip @ state wholly uncooked. MRE erEate Do you pRCL: Indeed, Hoda, as one might consume a oyster, so do the hunters coneme the fresh intestine, while it is stall warm from the dead bea: mre orn bear God. PIERCE, iL Now then, it happens upon occasion that two men way coumence eating, one at each Eacn rai end of the intestine. es phe up this delicdey trying to coke faster than iis opponeut. SLIZAREN (fanning briskly) Graciou PRR, In his groety haste, the hoater often swallow. rtio Nola. 4h. Jnown tr 1 WS opionenrt, Fecogaiztiw tae. trie tnd course of cating pull from Gie obhor bye widigasted yortion straigitavay from hispine m (cont'a) mouth, as Tight pull a string through my fingers. Thus one may gobble up wit another bas previously eaten, in a mamex of speaking. ja MRS TRENT. (paling) oh dear. Mi GRENY (clearing thxoat), “Remarkable. PLIEAPLTH (bravely) Mow quaint. You really must TREY (rising) use me mn TRLAST i My dear... i ru {also rising) Hadam, K hope I have uot distressed you. KE, vo leave) Your tales arc quite provocative 1 AR ERENT (hastening after her) My dear. Lack tovara the house. Pierce and Pligabeth are erce looks lack toward irs, Yrent with cones) BLTERDETT Plea: seated. here's no cause to worry over ny steprother, She has a delicate onsen. PIERCE Hl I didn't know. 7 | ELIZABLI (brightly). | Tt doesn't natter, Do tel] me about || the yold, PIERCE, La? PLTAABET Yes. In California. PTRCE dling, full charm) Wells. Tets ve iting. Gold does! soncthing to memy' minds, you know. Gold Just, they call it.’ Cold fevers! It makes a san cspable of anything. ——_—____pace LALEARRYH (captivated) BEH96 c How fascinating. (6) DISSOLVE vO: y= ¥RAIN STATION « DAY 97 a loconotive chugs into the station, past crowag of sengers waiting to yrect relatives. nR-AND PIER : 98 . i sits on a bene, reading a hook, with a stopwatch in the book. Pierce, finely dressed, sits down beside him and opens up a newspaper. As they talk, they glance up ak something off canara. birren Well? AGAR (grumpy) Rot to worry, you're off hob-nobbing with fine s y, waile I've my bur on this seat for three cays, wateiing the comings and goings... PIERCL | For which you're paid. (beat) ~ tow does it Look? | Acar You might pave picked it ah ier. PIERCE (shuffling nevspaper) You said you're the bloody bost AGAR Aye, and so T on, but that's the devil's cen erik, and ne at the crnstors. ead jerk uy stale. | Loo! WNT TRY 1 he LOOKIN: ~ PRIMING Sty nich be ins with tho ground level view of the station, several policenen, ‘Then we PAY upward, along a wrougit iron staircase... AGAR (vex) sssand yor've yot bo mal tip thos your way eo stairs... TAN CONTTMURS to the second Moor offices of the ra ispatcher. Yrostes Glass Goor reads “relic = Sovth Fastern Railiays utd." way pory iso AGAR (over) | and into ‘he offic ceWe now see the of fix vor, three or four roors With glass windows Jookjug voim over the station. inside, al CUBRKS and the vation manacer visible AGAR (over) sseand Idon't Gare for that glass... BACK VO PIERCE AUD AGAR Sitting on the bench, nin AGNR What's your poywe up there, anyway? pat two keys. I ruckoa they're in green cuphourd. EIR POV = WH GREEN CUrLOARD | PIERCL AWD AGAR AGAR (cagey) What two i RCE Wo keys I happen to want. fgak falls silent; he frowns at the station. Pierce elbous hin vicio! AGAR What's in a train station? And you've! been watching a kank's man... (dai Mother of God! You'xe after the Crimean go~ y in the ribs; agar cough ptpeet: quietly, quictly... AGAR Cor, you're a hold one, Mme it can't be done. Here now: robhing a noving railway train. PIERCE {cool) why no Agar is dumbfounded, Well... uh. AGAR AL'S never been done, ha: ning. Light)Bi Ina WIDE Filthy slum. Buileine Goorways, passages ant alloys and adults every paue 26 ALL the bette: ar @) /ORR Aye, I suppose » Crimean gold... - ,PEERGH (nodding upward) The question can you get in up therg and get those two keys? AGAR aye, but only if we find us a esman i€irst:. rence Who's the snakunnan to break that drum? ar There's the rub. Nobody good enough is out. the best is Cioan Willy, but he's in. PIERCE, Where's he in? AGAR . Newgate Prison, and there's po eseuping that Prercn Perhups Willy can find a vay. Nobody can find a way. PIERCE Perhaps... = hE HOLY Lau ~ vooey KroKe ee ALouled, teeming y lean over at crazy angles: are croxded; children ny, gambling, arguing. IEW we can ace this fog. where, Lokter PIERCE WALKING 2 Among the crowds, a splondidly attired, out~of-place figure. le is alert, Loiterers eye nin, fe pats his waist, waere there is the bulge of « gin. AS he walks, two glowing phowphor Aippers secnt figores=-mnateh pass; it in pizarre but unremarked. (Bierce cones to a stop. PULRCE In prow? oF 10 n the doar, which is a staireese eravlingpage 27 | 105 cont with children. Pieres enters, cuffs one of the kids (@) whe has sidled up to dip ais pocket; he asks a question waich we co not hear, end is directed to tie kitchen. Ve see him enter the kitchen, and watch thiough the open Jadow as he approa # giF1, young and ragged. | She is MAGGIE; she bites the coin, and they step to one side, INSIDE Thi Keron { 105-309 Pierce and } group. gate talk, largely ignored by the hodpterous NAGGIT (lascivious, coiniin her mouth) What is it then, gnv? Mit of a tickle for you? PIERCE anoring offer) You dab it vp with the snakesnan, i Clean Willy? MAGGIE, T did, lets in Newgate now. PIERCE ' You see hin? MACGTE, do, now and again. a his sister, (gesture to coin) | those if yon can age. there's another downey hin a mos: MAGGIE Waat's it to be? PIFRCE | Veli atthe | next naGere Cor: there's no breaks fron Newgate. PTERCK Well hin: he breaks at the next topping, or he's not Clean Willy, Yell hin to go to to house where he first met Sohn Sjnes, and ald will be well cnough. A shout fron the vrou Lehind distr: the gixl; she ooks over her ovonlear and then Lac! at Tiereq. HAGGIE, Aye you deda —_—_—_ROA 109 She breaks off, Pierce has yone. she steps to (2) the window and looks out, just in time to see him @isappear, a solitar) Ligure lost in the swirling, cloaking gray isis LAD = NEWGATE SQUARE ~ lanl MORNING Loa? Bonnged on three sides Ly hoses and on the fourth! by the walls of Newgate prison, In the square a gallows is being erecte:, % crowd of thousands vaits expectantly. INP = A ROOM OVERLOONIS Tu SQUARE, 1 Pierce looks dovn. Mins steps alongside him, Me cats a chicken wing. AR A sanging party. (heat) Fine day for You keally (ink hati make it? i : PIERCE | Ke has to wake it. Pierce turns avay fror: the window, moving deeper into the = Mixdaw and karlow arc there, with several wicker picnic baskets. fi if PIERCE (to Miriam) Did you bring all the trimuings? HIRIAN It's all here. She touches the wicker baskets. PIERCE, The medicine, too? | IRIAN | Everything you said. You want some gold chicken? Fierce shakes his huad, and turns back to the Wwindo is eating chicken. GAR Willy! Lost Little snatesnan iq the business, at he can't yet out of there. the prison. He gestures towa: