I've recently started work on this Western drama set in the late 1880's. It's a story of revenge and has a bit of dark comedy mixed in. I hope you enjoy the 930 word opening;
EXT. SANDY ROAD, WEST TEXAS - DAY
SHOT ON HORSE'S HOOVES
There are 2 horses, so 8 hooves.
The hooves trot along a sandy road.
As they do; the text; "WEST TEXAS, 1887"
SHOT RISES
We look at two men from behind.
Both men wear cowboy hats, brown jackets and blue jeans,
with long dark boots on as well.
MAN #1 addresses the man on the left side of the screen, a
much stockier build and blonde hair under the cowboy hat, as
shown by it coming out, it goes down to his shoulders.
MAN #2 addresses the man on the right, he speaks with a
slight lisp and is of much skinnier build compared to Man
#1. He has brown hair, which slightly shows under the hat.
A man, dead, lies on the end of Man #1's horse.
Another man, dead, lies on the end of Man #2's horse.
MAN #1
I hear for 10,000 dollars ya can
buy anything. Hell, ya could even
buy being fucking president.
MAN #2
Buy to be president? Sounds a 'lil
bit false for me.
MAN #1
Everything sounds false to you.
MAN #2
(LAUGHS)
Yeah, yeah. My wife says that too.
MAN #1
How's she doing by the way?
MAN #2
Better than the last, anyway.
MAN #1
So no dentist fuckers are getting
in the way now?
MAN #2
Nuh-uh. How's Josie?
MAN #1
I don't fucking know. She said;
"Brett, I'm tired of living with
you, you keep going out, looking
for folk, I'll leave you if you do
one more time."
MAN #2
So what did you do?
BRETT
Well, I said; "Fuck you" and headed
out with you to find these to guys,
worth 10k each. She'll come running
back to me within a week.
MAN #2
Why so confident?
BRETT
She just wants money, all she cares
for.
MAN #2
Oh yeah?
The man comes to a stop at the sound of a gunshot.
SHOT MEN (FROM FRONT)
This shot reveals Brett has a messy beard and Man #2 is
clean shaved, with a cut on his cheek from shaving.
MAN #2
Where'd that come from?
BRETT
Shush.
The men grow silent, they hear a horse approach, not just
one, but maybe 3 or 4.
Brett lowers his hand to his revolver on his left side.
SHOT ON BUSHES
A group of 4 men, lead by the notorious leader of the
Marpolis Crime Family, TOM, emerge from the bushes, he is
accompanied by DODD, RAY, and LOU.
Tom and Ray have their revolvers raised.
TOM
Well, what do we have here?
BRETT
We're U.S Marshals.
TOM
Is that so?
RAY
Yeah, is that so?
BRETT
Indeed it is.
BRETT TIGHTENS HIS GRIP ON HIS GRIP
TOM COCKS HIS GUN.
TOM
Don't make any rash decisions, now.
BRETT
Well, since y'all got two guns at
us...
TOM
Say, what are yere names?
BRETT
My name is Brett Sullivan, this,
beside me-
TOM
- He can introduce himself.
MAN #2
My name is Lee Daniels.
TOM
You a marshal too?
LEE
Indeed.
TOM
What poor souls ya got back there?
BRETT
They ain't worth mentionin'.
TOM
But I wanna know.
BRETT
I got their papers.
TOM
I don't need no papers. Just their
names.
BRETT
Rick and Jody.
TOM
Huh, that's an awful coincidence.
BRETT
Why's that?
TOM
Because my brother Rick and cousin
Jody went missing while out on a
mission the other day.
BRETT
Huh, that is an awful coincidence.
TOM
Say, on second thoughts, I would
like to see them papers.
BRETT
Sure.
CLOSE UP ON BRETTS RIGHT HAND
His grip of his gun loosens.
He lowers his hand into his pocket and pulls out 2 pieces of
paper.
SHOT ON LEE
Lee watches what Brett's doing, somewhat surprised.
SHOT ON TOM
Tom goes to get off his horse, when;
WE HEAR A GUN COCKING.
SHOT ON BRETT
He has his gun out and ready, a six shooter revolver.
TOM (O.S.)
Don't make any rash decisions now.
SHOT ON TOM
Tom has his gun aimed at Brett, he's back sitting on the
horse.
TOM
I just wanna see them papers.
SHOT ON BRETT AND LEE
Brett has his gun aimed.
Lee takes out his.
BRETT
Tom, why don't we all just walk
away, you continue your path, we
continue ours.
TOM (O.S.)
(SHOUTING)
I ain't leaving without my brother
and my god damn cousin!
BRETT
You're gonna have to.
TWO MORE COCKS ARE HEARD; ALL 4 HAVE GUNS READY
Brett shuts his eyes.
BANG!
Brett shoots.
Then; 4 gunshots are heard.
Brett gets hit in the shoulder once, twice in the chest, and
his horse gets hit once.
He falls off his horse. Barely breathing.
Before Lee has time to react.
He gets shot in the shoulder, but he's already on his way
down.
POV - LEE
We can see Brett trying to crawl away on the ground.
Footsteps are heard, and 4 feet enter the shot.
Another gunshot is heard, Brett's head has been shot now.
Killing him.
SHOT ON LEE
He shuts his eyes and plays dead.
SHOT ON MARPOLIS FAMILY
They all stand around the bodies.
They look at Lee, suspicious.
LOU
Where should we bury them?
BRETT
Leave 'em out here, let the snakes
get 'em.
Brett hauls one of the dead over his shoulder, Ray hauls the
other over his.
They walk away, leaving the dead Brett and still-alive Lee
on the ground.
FADE TO BLACK.
