Ext. Base of the forested hills -- mid afternoon

Sara on the horse and Jebediah on mule are traveling through the forest on an old dirt miner's trail as the rain pours down.

Jebediah

Momma how much longer? We been goin' for days and I am bushed and though I really like the mule, I really do, I named him Sunshine cause he's so friendly and likes to be pet and I do that every morning and every night though I do that for Brownie over there to but my bum is startin' to hurt momma.

Sara looks back.

saRA

We been travelin' only 2 days son and Sunshine and Brownie huh, those are right good names. Let's just focus on gettin' where we needs to get and remember we startin' a whole new life and Daniel is gonna join us and it's gonna be beautiful.

Jebediah smiles a giant smile.

JEBEDIAH

Momma and Daniel sittin' in a tree k-I-s-s-I-n

A branch cracks up ahead of them around the bend. Sara immediately roots in the saddlebag and pulls out the pistol.

SARA

Quiet!

Jebediah looks scared. They come around the bend and there sit two armed men on horses.

Mercenary #1

He is never wrong is he. Must be bein' raised by savages. He is uncanny with that trackin' of his.

Mercenary #2

Yep he said you'd come out here and here ya are, though he didn't really say anything, bein' mute and all but kinda drew us a map. He should be strollin' up anytime now. I believe he went hikin' up to your backtrail to make sure you all didn't decide to change your destination.

Sara points her pistol which is shaken'.

Sara

I don't reckon to know what you all is talkin' about but we don't be wantin' no trouble. We would just like to continua' on our way if you would be so kind as to move.

The mercenaries smile at each other and scoot their horses up.

MERCENARY #2

Miss put the pistol away you ain't gonna use it. Were here to take ya back to Lonesome Hill, the Cap'n wasn't done conversin' with yas.

Sara points the pistol at the man speaking, then the other starts saddling the other way and she shifts to him then back at the other.

SARA

Stay back! We gonna be ridin' on and I don't want to kill noone so let us past!!

Jebediah

You listen to my momma, ain't noone gonna hurt her, ain't noone. I'll stick ya I will!! I'll stick ya!!!!

Mercenary # 2 moves forward to grab the pistol, she fires, a hole blossoms in his chest as he flies back off the horse while the other mercenary jumps from his horse taking her with him as she lands on the ground and the pistol goes flying.

SARA

Run Jebediah!!!! Run!!!!

The mercenary backhands her.

MerceNARY #1

You killed him you crazy bitch!!!

All of a sudden a crazed Jebediah flies onto the back of the mercenary and sticks him with his knife.

JebediaH

I'll kill ya!!!! I'll kill ya! Noone hurt my momma!!!! Noone!!!

Jebediah stabs him a couple more times before the mercenary grabs him and hucks him against a tree. Jebediah lies unmoving bleeding from a cut scalp. A primal scream echoes from Sara's throat, the scream only a mother watching something hurt her son can make. She jumps at the mercenary, like a mythical harpy. clawing his face, him unable to get her off him. He backhands her once which only moves her back a step, then she launches again clawing his face, blood in funnels down his face from a mother's wild nails, until he punches her close fist. She falls back on her rump, lip split. She starts to get up but then stares behind the mercenary scared.

Mercenary #1

I'm gonna kill both of ya crazy sons of bitches!!!! Ya fucking cut me ya little shit!!!! I gonna shoot ya both dead as dead gets!

He pulls his pistol but a hand grabs it and he turns to see Diggs shaking his head no, with 10 others behind him.

MerceNARY #1 (CONT'D)

But ya done seen it. She killed Salles and that little shit stabbed me.

Diggs bends his arm painfully jerking his head around with the pain and stares him down. The Mercenary attempts to rip his arm free.

MERCENARY #1 (CONT'D)

Dammit Diggs, let me kill'em, do ya see what she done to my face?!!!

Digg's arm comes up with a bowie knife and slices across the mercenary's throat as the mercenary's eyes widen in shock, then pan down to the fear in Sara's eyes and back to Digg's stony face, the rain falls.

Ext. Forested hills -- night

Daniel sits in front of a small fire no rain anymore though everything is still wet and clouds still cover the sky. Two of his blades sits in the flame. A big giant wound runs from his shoulder all the way through.

DanIEL

Damn Englishman. This is gonna hurt.

He puts a piece of wood in his mouth. He pulls the blade and shoves it against the front of the wound writhing and biting the piece of wood collapsing. He raises himself and grabs another and does it to the back of the wound, the piece of the wood snaps and he screams.

Ext. fort courtyard -- day

Jenks and Taylor hang tied to two of the large crosses moved into the courtyard. a few soldiers stand in the corner laughing at them, a few more man the scaffolding. The Gate is closed. The sun is out.

Jenks

What'd we do wrong Taylor? The man was a demon, what do ya do when a demon be comin' at ya?

TaylOR

We did right I reckon Jenks. He had my momma in him sure as molasses is sweet. I think the Cap'n just mad at the Englishman but the Englishman ain't here.

Captain Blackstone walks out of the main cabin with a new refurbished Shepard now dressed as an east coast business man. The two's jaws drop when they see the Shepard.

JENKS

Is that the Shepard?

TayLOR

I believe it is Jenks. Don't that beat all, he look like some done up peacock you see out east.

Jenks

You ain't never been out east Taylor.

TAYLOR

No but I heard about it and I figure that's what they done looked like.

The Shepard sashes up to the two.

The SHEPARD

Hello my dubious dullards. The Captain here has shown me the error of my ways. It's time for Lawrence Winterbourne III to make a dramatic reappearance.

The Captain laughs.

CaPTAIN BLACKSTONE

Good ole' Lawrence, always was good at shifting with the winds of favor. He will be our face back east currying parlay with the politicals once we have the territory under our thumb. But you two, what to do with you two. You and the Englishman have cost me a majority of my men here and still no Williamson to show for the trouble. Granted, Diggs should be here by tomorrow and if my messenger got through hopefully with something to salvage the situation and even if not he will be able to track down the lost souls and finish this. In fact poetic license that the Englishmen failed, Diggs should have his karmic vengeance I should think. Still, even with all the constant blathering the Englishman was good at killen' and will be hard to replace.

JENKS

But cap'n it was a demon in that man, we had no choice but to run, a demon from hell he was.

The Captain laughs but the Shepard looks uncomfortable.

CAPTAIN BLACKSTONE

Amusing. I am well aware of the beast within young Williamson. I used it many times to fulfill my desires. Unfortunate he is now on the wrong side of the fence though I must take some responsibility in allowing too much of his training to be done by Johns who was always too honorable for his own good but that is neither here nor there. What to do with you two. To be honest you are about as worthless as ticks on a dog, but at the same time you have at times provided me with amusement.

Blackstone motions to two guards who had been stationed by the gate. They come over and cut the bonds of the two.

CapTAIN BLACKSTONE (CONT'D)

This will be the last opportunity for you both to show me something wether one final amusement or to finally show yourselves worthy soldiers in the future of my Governorship. We shall see. For now make yourselves scarce, drink yourself to oblivion with the whiskey good ole Lawrence has stock piled in the years of his avarice or stick your cocks in a tree, just stay out of my sight until Diggs arrives and we strategize upon the final days of young Williamson.

Both semi kneel and genuflect towards Blackstone.

Jenks

Thank ya Capt'n, so nice of ya. We won't let ya down.

TayLOR

What Jenks says Cap'n, quiet as quiet gets we'll be, right Jenks?

JENKS

You got it in one pound of the hammer Taylor, now where would that whiskey be Cap'n? I don't be meanin' to bother yas, but you mentioned it and all.

Captain acts as if he is already regretting his order.

CaPTAIN BLACKSTONE

Just get out of my sight.

Ext. Outside fort gate -- dusk

Tuck is tied to a cross and looks to be dehydrated, his lips chafed, his shoulder wound still bloody, half mad and delirious. The Shepard in his new wardrobe walks around to face him.

TuCK

What do you want?

The Shepard looks embarrassed and ashamed.

The shEPARD

Please my friend. Recant your words. I have talked to the Captain. If you apologize and swear to serve I can save you. Please for the years we have known each other, do this one thing for me.

Tuck spits at the Shepard's feet.

TuCK

You are nothing to me. You destroyed everything I held dear. I will see your corpse upon a hill of crows.

The Shepard takes a step back.

THE SHEPARD

You were once a wonder to behold with a pair of pistols in your hand, please, I know I took you upon a ride based on falsities and a prayer hollow in it's utterance, but please my friend, I do not want to see you die upon this cross.

Tuck looks at him. He whispers a hail Mary.

TUCK

I forgive you your blasphemy for I see the truth of your spirit, a shallow paltry thing. I gave up the pistols for reason you know and should understand. I promise you this for the salvation of your soul and redemption in the Lord's eyes. I shall make your death quick.

The Shepard bows his head.

THE SHEPARD

That was a long time ago Tuck, forgive yourself as I know your wife and daughter do.

TUCK

Don't you dare talk about them, you lost that right. Guns in my hands ended all the future they would ever have. I changed my mind, your death will not be quick.

THE SHEPARD

I am sorry I could not be you within this path my friend. I am sorry you will die upon this wood. I wish I could be something other then I am. 13 coins I spent upon my path and it shall be the road. Goodbye and may your avenues be within God's grace.

Tuck looks into the distance resolute.

Ext. Fort COURTYARD -- early morning

Blackstone and the Shepard roll from the main cabin as well as many soldiers lining the gate and the parapets and Taylor and Jenks roll out of a house running their head as if hung over. Diggs rolls in with 11 soldiers in his wake and Sara and Jebediah tied to their mounts. The same horse and mule they have ridden, Sunshine and Brownie. Both look haggard but okay.

CapTAIN BLACKSTONE

Diggs, you are a wonder, better then I anticipated, fortunate indeed it was the day I found you.

The look of fear when Sara sees the Shepard who is eyeing her with punishment like a vulture perched above a corpse.

Ext. ForestED HILLY LANDSCAPE -- late afternoon

Jenks and Taylor are huffing and puffing again through the forested hills.

Jenks

We need to get in another line of work Taylor. If we live through this let's go somewhere else, away from demons and mad black savages and mean Captains and insane preachers and even crazier women.

Taylor

I agree with ya Jenks. Maybe a nice saloon as a barkeep or a whorehouse as a madam.

Jenks

Taylor, madams are woman ya imbecile. Damn, how did I ever get stuck with such a slow witted fool as you.

Taylor stops and glares at Jenks.

TAYLOR

Me slow witted, my mind could out figure yours any day of the week. Remember the time you thought you was buying cattle from that cowpoke to bring out here and we ended up with a bunch of chickens.

Jenks stops and stares back.

Jenks

Hey that man was a good talker, he would of bamboozled you in half the time. And that wasn't all bad we ate good for a month.

Taylor starts to retort but then they both hear the cocking of a rifle. They both turn to see Daniel, a big bandage wrapped around his shoulder.

DanIEL

No, please continue talkin' about how stupid you two are. I think it's the first smart thing I heard come out of those flapping lips of yours.

They both have fear in their eyes.

JENKS

Hey no need to be insulting.

TaYLOR

I agree with Jenks, insultin' us ain't gonna get ya any nearer to your bonny lass.

Daniel's eyes flare and both of them take a step back looking to run.

DANIEL

What did ya say?!!!

Both of them see the turning of the conversation and start leering but with an underlaced vibrato of fear.

JenkS

The black savage done captured your woman and the boy. The Cap's says surrender yourself by two hours after dark or they both enterin' an early grave.

Daniel brings his rifle up to his eye and the two shake and take a step back. He lowers the henry.

DANIEL

You tell'em I'll be there and if one of them is harmed, so much as a bruise, I'll kill each and every last one of ya.

They both have shaking legs.

JENKS

Can we go now?

Daniel

Get and say whatever prayers ya got.

Ext. Outside fort GATE -- night

Tuck is on his cross haggard, looking to be on Death's door. Two guards have their back to them scanning the forest. The guards stand right on the edge of the forest a good 40 feet from gate which is closed.

TuCK

Please Lord give me the freedom and strength so see these heathens fall before the might of your vengeance. I give my life to you and ask only this in my darkest hour.

One of the soldiers looks back.

Mercenary #1

Keep it quiet and just die already or I'll help ya along.

As he says this the guard next him starts gurgling, the guard talking turns to see him on the ground with a blade in his throat and just in time to see a large blade coming towards his face as it enters his eye. Daniel recovers his thrown blade and wipes both on his trousers which are already heavily covered in blood. Tuck sees him and seems to make a decision.

TUCK

Free me soldier. Free me and I shall reap the whirlwind among them.

Daniel smiles real big.