WIP for the Summer!!! ENJOY!!!
Little House on the Prairie
Season 3-Episode 13/14
The Hunters
***
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Executive Producer: Michael Landon
Written by: Harold Swanton
Directed by: Michael Landon
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Starring: Michael Landon as Charles Ingalls
Karen Grassle as Caroline Ingalls
Melissa Sue Anderson as Mary Ingalls
Melissa Gilbert as Laura "Half-pint" Ingalls
Lindsay Sidney Greenbush as Carrie Ingalls
Victor French as Isaiah Edwards
Burl Ives as Sam Shelby
Johnny Crawford as Ben Shelby
OPENING SCENE: EXT. LITTLE HOUSE
ZOOM INTO LOFT WINDOW WHERE LAURA IS LOOKING OUT FROM
CUT TO EXT. BARN SHOT WHERE CHARLES CAN BE SEEN WORKING INSIDE
CUT TO SCENE OF LAURA LOOKING OUT LOFT WINDOW-SHE JUMPS FROM THE WINDOW TO GET HER SHOES AND JUMP ONTO BED
MARY WAKES UP AND SEES LAURA PUTTING HER SOCKS INTO HER SHOES
Mary: (sits up) why are you bouncing on the bed in the middle of the night?
Laura: I got to go talk to Pa.
Mary: Why are you putting your stockings in your shoes?
Laura: Because I want to. Besides, I always do anyway.
Mary: You do not.
CLOSER ANGLE ON LAURA AND MARY
Laura: Yes, I do! If I put my stockings on and then put my feet in the shoes; it’s the same thing as putting my stockings in the shoes.
OUTER ANGLE OF LAURA AND MARY
LAURA PULLS THE TOP OF HER NIGHTCAP SO IT STICKS UP STRAIGHT AND WALKS IN FRONT OF THE BED.
Laura: There. How do I look?
Mary: Same as when we went to bed; except for that dumb-looking nightcap.
CLOSE UP ON LAURA
Laura: You don’t know anything. I’m taller!
OUTER ANGLE ON LAURA AND MARY
Laura: Go to sleep (walks away).
Mary: I was asleep.
CUT TO ANGLE OF CHARLES INSIDE BARN.
LAURA COMES IN BEHIND HIM.
Laura: Pa?
Charles: Hey, Half Pint, what on earth are you doing up this late?
Laura: I wanted to tell you something.
Charles: Well, it better be darned important.
Laura: Oh, it is. I’m getting bigger, Pa. More than a whole inch bigger!
Charles: Well, from the looks of it you’re doing most of your growing on top of your head! Now, you can talk about tomorrow morning, I want you to get some sleep.
Laura: But, you’re going hunting tomorrow morning. I was afraid I might miss you.
Charles: Well, you don’t have to worry about that. Edwards is taking a freight run tomorrow; he’s going to drop me off at Morgan Creek and I’ll walk in from there. Now come in, give a kiss good night; I want you to get some sleep.
LAURA WALKS UP TO CHARLES
Laura: You like hunting, don’t you, Pa?
Charles: Yeah, it’s kind of a good excuse to get to the mountains. But, the important thing is we need the meat!
Laura: You said I could go when I got bigger.
Charles: Well, you can, maybe next time.
Laura: But, that’s what you said last time.
Charles: Well, what I meant was when you get older; not bigger.
Laura: Well, I am older; and more than a whole inch bigger!
CHARLES CLOSE-UP
Charles: Oh.
LAURA CLOSE-UP
CHARLES PUTS HER CAP DOWN
Charles: That’s what this is all about, huh?
Laura: I’m all caught up on my chores and my schoolwork too!
CHARLES CLOSE-UP
Charles: Now, Half Pint, you know how your Ma feels about girls going hunting.
LAURA CLOSE-UP
Charles: In your Ma’s book a girl has a lot more important things to do.
Laura: But what about in your book?
CHARLES CLOSE-UP
Charles: In my book you’re putting me on the spot.
LAURA CLOSE-UP
Laura: That’s because I want to go.
CHARLES CLOSE-UP
Charles: Alright, I’ll ask your Ma.
OUTER CHARLES AND LAURA ANGLE
LAURA HUGS CHARLES
Laura: Thanks, Pa!
Charles: But, off to bed! Now!
Laura: Okay!
Charles: Okay! Go!
LAURA RUNS BACK INTO THE HOUSE
CUT TO EXT. LITTLE HOUSE
CUT TO SCENE OF CHARLES AND CAROLINE IN BED
CHARLES BLOWS OUT LANTERN AND LIES DOWN TO SLEEP
Caroline: You all finished?
Charles: Yup! All finished and ready to go.
Caroline: Good; better get some sleep now.
Charles: Yup.
CAMERA ZOOMS IN
Charles: Oh, you know I almost forgot to tell you!
Caroline: Hmm?
Charles: Half Pint’s a whole inch taller! Hard to believe the way that girl’s growing!
Caroline: Ah-huh.
Charles: And, you can almost see her growing everyday!
Caroline: I’ll get her hem started. Tomorrow!
Charles: Why don’t you let her go hunting tomorrow?
Caroline: What?!!
Charles: (turns his head) Why don’t you just let her go hunting tomorrow? She knows her way around the woods; she could be a bug help to me in the camp.
Caroline: I don’t want her going hunting.
Charles: Why not?
Caroline: She’s tom-boy enough as it is, Charles, without encouraging her!
Charles: Well, that’s just the point she’s going to be a woman the rest of her life. Why don’t we let her be a tom-boy a little bit longer? Now, you mark my words, one of these days she’s going to walk in that door, she’ll be a full-grown woman, and you’ll say ‘Where’s that little girl I used to have?’
Caroline: That’s not the point. She’s a girl not a boy, I don’t want her there, it’s not proper.
Charles: Oh, Caroline, I promised her. I mean, she kept asking me and I promised her……
LAURA CALLS TO CHARLES FROM THE LOFT
Laura: Pa? Did you ask her yet? What’d she say?
Charles: (to Caroline) well it’s your decision. You tell her! (turns to go to sleep)
CAROLINE THINKS ABOUT HER DECISION
CUT TO SCENE OF EDWARDS’ WAGON DRIVING DOWN THE PRAIRIE
CUT TO SCENE OF BACK OF WAGON-LAURA SITTING THERE
Isaiah: You know what you’re doing? Risky thing taking a woman on a hunting trip!
CHARLES AND ISAIAH ANGLE
Charles: Well, Half Pint’s hardly a full-grown woman yet.
Isaiah: Don’t make no difference. Female’s a female! Big, little, or in between; bad luck!
Charles: All bad luck, are they huh?
Isaiah: Well, guess there’s an exception now and again.
LAURA CLOSE UP
Isaiah: I knew this Injun once in Cheyenne. He used to take his Squaw along on hunting trips with him. Fact is he wouldn’t go without her!
Charles: She was a real good hunter, huh?
Isaiah: No, skinner! That Squaw could skin and dress-out for or five buffalos between lunch and dinner!
LAURA MAKES A SICK FACE
Charles: Think I could put Half Pint to skinning?
Isaiah: Don’t see why not. For a little-bit she’s strong! What do ya think of that, Half Pint?
Laura: Yuck!
CHARLES AND ISAIAH ANGLE
CHARLES AND EDWARDS LAUGH
CUT TO SHOT OF WAGON DRIVING AWAY-ZOOM OUT
CUT TO SHOT OF ISAIAH DROPPING OFF CHARLES AND LAURA
Charles: (fixing pack-horse with Isaiah) that’ll do it.
Isaiah: Better get moving, you two, I got a load to move!
Charles: Much obliged for the ride!
Isaiah: Sunday noon, huh?
Charles: That’s right. If we’re not here right away; don’t worry about us.
Isaiah: Oh, I’ll just figure that Laura here ain’t as quick with that skinning as she oughta be. What do ya think of that, Half Pint?
LAURA TURNS AROUND
Laura: Yuck!
LAURA IS HAVING TROUBLE WITH HER KNAPSACK
Isaiah: Yuck! Here, let me give you a hand with that. Here; just slip your arm right through there.
Laura: Ah.
Isaiah: Oops, the flap is open back here. Just let me tie that down.
ISAIAH PUTS A BIG ROCK IN HER KNAPSACK
Isaiah: There, how’s that feel?
Laura: Feels heavier than I expected it to be.
Isaiah: Oh, well it’s always like that the first day. Helps you downhill. There you go. Happy hunting! (kisses Laura goodbye)
Laura: Thanks, Mr. Edwards.
Isaiah: Alright, off you go!
LAURA WALKS AWAY WITH PA
Charles: (to Isaiah) We’ll see you Sunday!
ISAIAH ANGLE
Isaiah: Fine!
CHARLES AND LAURA ANGLE-WALKING AWAY
Charles: (to Laura) Coming?
Laura: I’m trying to, Pa!
ISAIAH ANGLE
ISAIAH DRIVES AWAY SINGING
CUT TO BACK OF LAURA’S KNAPSACK
LAURA WALKS TIREDLY TOWARD PA
Charles: Come on, Half Pint!
Laura: Coming!
CUT TO FRONT ANGLE OF LAURA WALKING
CUT TO FRONT ANGLE OF CHARLES WALKING IN FRONT OF LAURA
Charles: We’ll do most of our climbing today all the way up to the ridge. Can you handle that alright?
Laura: Yes, sir!
Charles: Good!
CUT TO CHARLES ANGLE
Charles: You sure you’re not too tired?
CUT TO LAURA
Laura: No, sir! I’m not the least bit tired at all. (Sits down and falls backwards) Wow! Ouch!!
CUT TO CHARLES
Charles: What’s the matter?
CUT TO LAURA
Laura: (gets up and pulls off pack) I don’t know! There’s something hard in my pack! There can’t be nothing hard in there; all I packed was an extra change of clothes! (pulls out rock) Mr. Edwards.
CHARLES LAUGHS
CUT TO CHARLES
Charles: Come on! (to horse) Let’s go.
CUT TO LAURA-THROWS ROCK AND GETS BACK UP
CUT TO LAURA WALKING TO PA
CUT TO SUNSET
CUT TO LAURA AND CHARLES EATING DINNER
Charles: (cooking) This ought to be nice and hot. There we go (gives Laura plate)
Laura: Thanks, Pa! Sure smells good!
CUT TO CHARLES AND LAURA CLOSE-UP
Charles: Everything seems to smell better and taste better when you’re out in the woods.
Laura: Sure does. I love it!
Charles: Having a good time?
Laura: Best time I ever had!
Charles: I was a little worried about you there; we did a lot of traveling, I was afraid for a while you wouldn’t make it.
Laura: Well, sure I would. I could walk all the way to China if I had to!
Charles: I’m afraid you’d lose me on a trip like that.
Laura: Well; I wouldn’t go without you. I love being with you, Pa!
Charles: Ah, we spend a lot of time together; don’t we?
Laura: Sure we do. But this is different. It’s just you and me. It’s not like at home. Promise not to laugh if I tell you something?
Charles: As long as it’s not one of your cherry tree jokes.
Laura: (laughs) It’s not!
Charles: Alright then, I promise.
Laura: Well, when I was little; I used to think that I’d marry you someday.
CHARLES AND LAURA LAUGH
Laura: I know it sounds silly, but you think of silly things sometimes when you’re little.
Charles: Yeah, I guess we all did.
Laura: But, then I got to thinking that I could grow-up to be a boy. That way we could hunt and plow, and be together almost all the time. But, now that I’m grown-up, I think that’s silly. But, being out here, just you and me, it’s kinda like both those things. You know what I mean?
Charles: I think so. I can remember I used to think silly things when I was a kid.
LAURA FALLS ASLEEP AS HE TALKS
Charles: I’ll tell ya, I was sure that my Pa was the strongest man in the world; and I knew my Ma was the most beautiful! I mean, she was beautiful like those Queens in the countries in Europe and stuff. You get a little bit older you look at things different. I can remember the first time when I saw your Ma in the big woods. You talk about pretty! She was the prettiest thing I ever—
CHARLES LOOKS OVER TO SEE LAURA FAST ASLEEP
CHARLES QUETLY GETS UP AND PUTS LAURA’S PLATE AWAY & COVERS HER WITH A BLANKET.
CUT TO CHARLES CLOSE-UP-MOVE CAMERA AS HE MOVES
CHARLES KISSES LAURA GOODNIGHT
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CUT TO SHOT OF SHELBY HOUSE WITH CHARLES AND LAURA WALKING UP
CUT TO SHOT OF BEN SHELBY
Charles: (to Ben) Morning!
Ben: Howdy!
Charles: I’m Charles Ingalls. This is my daughter Laura.
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Ben: Howdy, Miss! Haven’t had a lady up here in a long time! I’m Ben Shelby, what are ya up to?
Charles: (shakes hands with Ben) Nice to meet you. We’re doing a little deer hunting. Laura here’s gonna do the skinning for me.
LAURA MAKES A SOUR FACE
Ben: Well; I could use her myself. I got about 20 miles of trap land to run. Set a spell?
Sam: (from the house) Ben, is that a Glover out there?
Ben: Nope! We got company!
CUT TO SAM
Sam: Where’s that dlover? Had his danged meat smoked for him for two weeks!
CUT TO BEN AND CHARLES CLOSE-UP
Ben: He’s only a few days late!
Sam: (voice-over) Well, seems longer when I can’t have no sugar in my coffee.
CUT TO LAURA CLOSE-UP
Ben: (voice-over) Oh, he’ll be along. Come on out and meet the company!
CUT TO SAM
Sam: I ain’t presentable; but if you need anything, I’m here!
CUT TO BEN AND CHARLES CLOSE-UP
Charles: Thank you!
CUT TO SAM
Sam: Anything except set sweet coffee. Can’t give you that without no sugar!
SAM CLOSES DOOR
CUT TO BEN AND CHARLES CLOSE-UP
Ben: Sure does get cantankerous over a little sugar.
Charles: Wish we could offer you some; but we didn’t pack any.
Ben: Oh, Glover’ll be here soon enough. He’s the only trader in these parts so we don’t have much choice. We’d got some good-smelling meat if you’d like to set a spell.
Charles: Oh, I’d like to but I think we’d better move on and set up camp.
Ben: Well; good hunting to you!
Charles: Thank you. (shakes his hand)
CUT TO WIDE ANGLE
Charles: We’ll see ya!
Laura: Bye!
CHARLES AND LAURA WALK AWAY
Ben: Bye.
Laura: (to Ben) If we get a deer we’ll come back and show it to ya!
CUT TO BEN
Ben: Alright!
BEN WALKS BACK INTO HOUSE
CUT TO INT. CABIN-CAMERA FOLLOWS BEN AS HE WALKS TO TABLE
Ben: (to his Pa, Sam) Well, I think I’m all set. Head out as soon as I get a bite to eat. Keep you a big slice, if you like.
Sam: Don’t want none.
Ben: You haven’t had a bite to eat all day.
Sam: I said I don’t want none!
Ben: Suit yourself.
Sam: You ought to wait for the drover.
Ben: You drive a harder bargain than I do, Pa.
Sam: You sure that meat’s smoked proper & long? That fire need tending now and-
Ben: Pa, you said yourself the meat’s more than ready! Why don’t you just come with it?
Sam: Nothing to come out with.
Ben: Come on, we go through this every time!
Sam: Alright! I don’t like it here alone.
Ben: Then come with me.
Sam: We go through that every time too!
Ben: Try it just one time at least.
Sam: No!
Ben: Look, we’ll head up Cedar Creek and if you don’t like it we’ll come right back. A day or two at the most.
Sam: I told ya no! How many times do I have to say it?
Ben: You gonna spend the rest of your life in here?!
Sam: It won’t be long.
Ben: Oh, what’s the use of talking; I ain’t even hungry! I think I’ll just head straight out.
Sam: How long you gonna be?
Ben: Well; if I head up Cedar Creek and North Fork, about a week.
Sam: Maybe you’ll just run Cedar Creek, huh?
Ben: Maybe.
BEN LEAVES
CUT TO SAM ANGLE
CUT TO CHARLES AND LAURA WALKING
Laura: How can a body find it’s way around places without a trail, Pa?
Charles: Well, you get to remembering a piece that comes. Like a woman remembers a recipe. Remember things you see; like that funny little bent-over pine we just passed. There’s another thing you can remember.
CUT TO TREE
Charles: See; they got twin trunks on that pine. They call that a school-marm tree.
CUT TO CHARLES AND LAURA
Laura: That’s funny. It sure doesn’t look like Miss Beadle.
Charles: I think she’d be happy to hear you say that.
CHARLES TAKES LAURA AND WALKS AWAY
CUT TO BACK ANGLE
Laura: You sure make it sound easy.
Charles: It is easy. You just keep it all wound up in your head and when you start back; you unroll it.
Laura: Maybe you could unroll it, but in my head it’s all tangled up.
Charles: You just stay with me then. Another hour we’ll be at the creek and we can make camp.
CUT TO ANGLE OF LAURA CARRYING FIREWOOD
CHARLES IS CLEANING OFF DISHES
Charles: How you doing, Half Pint?
Laura: I’ll get this fire started in a minute, Pa.
Charles: Soon as I get these pans wiped down I’ll be able to-
CHARLES AND LAURA HEAR SOMETHING IN THE WOODS
Laura: What was that?
Charles: I don’t know for sure. But we just might be getting lucky early.
CHARLES GETS AND LOADS HIS RIFLE
Laura: You mean a bug buck?
Charles: Could be. Whatever it is it’s up-wind of us and down stream.
Laura: Should I go with you, Pa?
Charles: I want you to stay here and just keep on with what you’re doing. I won’t be long.
CHARLES GOES OFF INTO THE WOOD
Laura: (whispers) Good luck!
CUT TO CHARLES BACK ANGLE
Charles: Thanks!
CUT TO CHARLES ANGLE
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CHARLES SEES THE DEER AND GETS DOWN TO SHOOT
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THEN HE SEES THAT IT’S A DOE
CHARLES SMILES AND GOES BACK TO CAMP
CUT TO LAURA CARRYING WATER BUCKET FROM STREAM; SHE SEES PA
Laura: Any luck?!
Charles: Nope; afraid not. It was a doe. Pretty at a picture though. Why don’t you lay out those bed-rolls? I’ll fix you something to eat.
CHARLES GETS READY TO MAKE FOOD AND COFFEE
Charles: Well; there’s some biscuits, some bacon, and some of your Ma’s homemade preserves. How’s that sound?
Laura: I can make flapjacks!
Charles: I’ll let you do that tomorrow morning.
Laura: When are you going to go hunting for a big buck, Pa?
CUT TO CHARLES CLOSE-UP
Charles: We’ll eat first; then we’ll hunt out the rest of the day.
CUT TO LAURA ANGLE
Charles: (voice-over) If we don’t have any luck; we’ll start out first thing in the morning.
Laura: We? You mean I can go!
CUT TO CHARLES CLOSE-UP
Charles: Well, sure, what did you think?
CUT TO LAURA
Laura: I was just thinking about what Mr. Edwards said.
CUT TO CHARLES CLOSE-UP
Charles: Oh, Half Pint, Mr. Edwards was just joshing you.
CUT TO LAURA
Laura: You mean I’m not really bad luck?
CUT TO CHARLES CLOSE-UP
Charles: Honey, I think you’re the best luck I ever had!
CUT TO LAURA
Laura: (throws bed-roll) We’re sure to get a big buck, Pa.
BED-ROLL KNOCKS OVER RIFLE AND CHARLES IS SHOT
THE HORSE GETS SPOOKED AWAY
Laura: Pa!!!
LAURA RACES TO CHARLES
Laura: (crying) Oh Pa! What did I do?!
Charles: You didn’t do anything. It was my fault; I left……I left the gun loaded……You didn’t do anything
CUT TO CHARLES AND LAURA CLOSE-UP
Laura: Oh, Pa. It’s all my fault.
Charles: It wasn’t your fault……you get that through
your head; I left the gun loaded. Now; I want you to listen to me……I want you to go find that horse……and bring him back. Just gotta get me to the trapper’s cabin; then I’ll……I’ll be alright. Now, you go get him; you hear.
LAURA DOESN’T GO
Charles: (yells) Will go get him now, please!! Go now!
LAURA RUNS TO GET THE HORSE
Charles: (crying) Dear God, don’t let her see me die. Don’t let her see me die.
CUT TO SCENE OF LAURA WALKING IN THE WOODS LOOKING FOR THE HORSE-SHE SEES THE HORSE AND WALKS UP TO IT
Laura: Easy. It’s alright.
CUT TO HORSE
Laura: I’m not gonna hurt you.
CUT TO LAURA
Laura: Easy; it’s okay.
CUT TO HORSE
Laura: It’s alright
CUT TO LAURA-BACK ANGLE WITH HORSE
AS LAURA PICKS UP THE ROPE; THE HORSE RUNS OFF; PULLING LAURA WITH HIM
CAMERA FOLLOWS THEM
Laura: (yelling) Stop! Stop! Stop, please!!! Please stop; stop!!! Nobody’s gonna hurt you; stop!!!
THE HORSE STOPS AND LAURA TAKES HIM BACK
CUT TO CHARLES CLOSE-UP
CHARLES IS DRINKING WATER FROM THE STREAM
LAURA CAN BE SEEN COMING IN THE BACKROUND
SHE RUNS TO CHARLES
Laura: Pa? I got him.
Charles: That’s my girl. That’s my good girl. Everything’s going to be alright……don’t you worry about that. You just get me back to the cabin……and I’ll be alright.
Laura: Can you get on the horse?
Charles: You help me on, alright?
LAURA NODS
Charles: Just give me your hand.
LAURA HELPS CHARLES UP AND ONTO THE HORSE
FADE-OUT
FADE-IN-WATER SHOT
LAURA CAN BE SEEN WALKING THROUGH THE WATER PULLING THE HORSE WITH CHARLES
CUT TO OVERHEAD SHOT OF HILL
LAURA IS NOW PULLING THE HORSE UP THE HILL-CAMERA FOLLOWS
CUT TO ANGLE OF LAURA WALKING AND HORSE HOOVES
CUT TO CHARLES CLOSE-UP
CUT TO CHARLES AND LAURA FULL ANGLE
THE HORSE BEGINS TO HINDER ROCKING ON THE ROCKS
CUT TO HORSE CLOSE-UP
THE HORSE BEGINS TO BUCK
CUT TO CHARLES AND LAURA FULL ANGLE
THE HORSE THROWS CHARLES
CHARLES FALLS PAINFULLY DOWN THE HILL
CUT TO LAURA
LAURA RUNS TO CHARLES
Charles: The horse. Get the horse (coughs)
LAURA RUNS TO GET THE HORSE
CUT TO LAURA BACK ANGLE
CUT TO LAURA CLOSE-UP BY A TREE
CUT TO DEAD HORSE
CUT TO LAURA CLOSE-UP BY A TREE
CUT TO LAURA RUNNING BACK UP HILL-FULL ANGLE
CUT TO CHARLES
LAURA COMES BACK TO HIM
Laura: He’s dead, Pa. (Laura takes Charles’ hand) Lean on me, I’ll help you.
[img]
https://2img.net/h/i1111.photobucket.com/albums/h465/Rider36/The%20Hunters%20by%20Rosita%20Benz/thehunters36.pngi/img]Charles: Half-pint……it’s no use, you can’t……you can’t get me up there; you’re not big enough.
CUT TO LAURA CLOSE-UP
Charles: (voice-over) You have to go back to the cabin yourself……and fetch me some help.
Laura: I can’t find my way back by myself.
Charles: (voice-over0 Yes, you can, you can do it. It’s not far.
Laura: Pa, you know how messed-up I am. I can’t even remember which way we came.
Charles: (voice-over) Half-pint, you listen to me, you can do it!
CUT TO CHARLES CLOSE-UP
Charles: Remember the things you saw on the way……remember; like the school-marm tree.
CUT TO LAURA CLOSE-UP
Charles: (voice-over) You can do it.
Laura: Pa-
Charles: (voice-over) Half-pint, you listen to me.
CUT TO CHARLES CLOSE-UP
Charles: Sometimes it takes something like this in our lives to……show us what we’re made of.
CUT TO LAURA CLOSE-UP
Charles: (voice-over) Go on.
LAURA GOES FOR THE CABIN
CUT TO CHARLES CLOSE-UP
CUT TO LAURA BACK ANGLE
CUT TO LAURA RUNNING THROUGH BUSHES
CUT TO TREES ABOVE
CUT TO LAURA
CUT TO TREES ABOVE
CUT TO LAURA
LAURA RUNS THROUGH FOREST
FINALLY LAURA SEES THE TRAPPER’S CABIN
LAURA RUNS TO TRAPPER’S CABIN
CUT TO INT. TAPPER’S CABIN
LAURA RUNS IN
Laura: (yelling) Mr Shelby!!
Sam: Who is it?
Laura: Mr. Shelby. Mr. Shelby, my Pa’s been hurt.
Sam: (gets up) Bad?
CUT TO SAM CLOSE-UP
Laura: (voice-over) Real bad. He’s bleeding and he can’t move.
Sam: How’d it happen?
CUT TO LAURA CLOSE-UP
LAURA JUST LOOKS AT SAM
CUT TO SAM CLOSE-UP
Sam: How’s it happen?!
CUT TO LAURA CLOSE-UP
Laura: I knocked the gun over. We gotta go fetch him.
CUT TO SAM CLOSE-UP
Sam: Oh, honey. I don’t know what I can do for ya.
CUT TO LAURA AND SAM SHOT
Sam: Ben’s off on his trap line. (sits down) I know my way around the cabin here but that’s about as far as I can go. Ain’t nothing I can do. We just gotta sit here and wait for Ben. He’ll be back tomorrow maybe.
LAURA WALKS TO SAM
Laura: We can’t wait till tomorrow! My Pa’s bleeding out there, you gotta help!!
Sam: I can’t go out there; I can’t see a thing!
Laura: You got to!
Sam: I haven’t been in 100 foot of this cabin for 5 years!
LAURA GRABS HIS ARM
Laura: I’ll show you!
Sam: I can’t walk in the dark! I can go out to the smokehouse or the hitpost or the outhouse; but that’s it. That’s the whole world!
Laura: My Pa’s bleeding to death! You gotta help now! That’s all there is about it! Just hold my hand!
LAURA TAKES SAM OUT OF THE HOUSE
CUT TO THE FRONT OF HOUSE
Sam: Now wait hold on now! Wait a minute. Lemme get my stick! Hang on tight now; don’t let go; don’t let go!
LAURA WALKS SAM TO WHERE CHARLES IS LAYING
CUT TO FULL ANGLE OF LAURA AND SAM WALKING DOWN HILL
Laura: It’s right down this hill.
Sam: Not too fast, honey. Not too fast.
CUT TO OUTER ANGLE
Sam: Hold on tight; hold on tight.
CUT TO CHARLES
LAURA SITS NEXT TO HIM
Laura: Pa?
Charles: Hi Half-pint.
Laura: Are you alright, Pa?
Charles: Well, I’m still alive, I expect.
Laura: I brought Mr. Shelby. He’s gonna help me get you back.
CUT TO SAM
Sam: I ain’t got much to offer; but I’m all there is.
CUT TO CHARLES AND LAURA CLOSE-UP
Charles: You think you could get me back?
CUT TO SAM
Sam: Well, with the two of us. Just catch hold, anywhere’s will do.
CUT TO CHARLES AND LAURA
SAM HELPS CHARLES UP-CAMERA FOLLOWS THEM WALKING
CUT TO CABIN EXT. SHOT
CUT TO CHARLES, LAURA, & SAM
LAURA IS WRAPPING A BANDADGE AROUND CHARLES’ WOUND
LAURA COVERS CHARLES WITH THE BLANKET
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Charles: (to Laura)That’s good. I’m gonna be alright. You keep that thought in your head; I’m gonna be fine.
Laura: Ben’ll fetch the doctor as soon as he gets back.
Charles: (to Sam) When will that be?
Sam: In the morning, I hope.
CUT TO CHARLES CLOSE-UP
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Charles: What do you mean ‘hope’?
CUT TO SAM AND LAURA CLOSE-UP
Sam: Well, that’s a hard one to figure. Now and then, he’ll take a notion to do both lines at once; the Cedar Creek and North Fork.
CUT TO CHARLES CLOSE-UP
Sam: He mostly does one at a time.
CUT TO SAM AND LAURA
Sam: If he does North Fork too; I don’t know; maybe two or three days. I’ll fetch some more water.
Laura: (to Charles) He’ll be here in the morning.
CUT TO CHARLES
Laura: (voice-over) You just rest.
CUT TO CHARLES
Charles: (whispering) He’ll be here.
CUT TO RIVER
CUT TO BEN
Ben: (to horse) Well, Brown, we might as well head back. Ain’t gonna find more than four or five skins in North Fork anyway.
BEN HEARS A DONKEY
Ben: Well; it appears we’ve got some company.
BEN CROSSES THE RIVER AND SEES SOMEONE
Glover: My coffee! Where are ya!
Ben: Glover!
Glover: Benj boy!! What are you doin’ out here?
Ben: (sits by him) Well, I could ask you the same; we’ve been expecting you.
Glover: Oh; I got so sick and tired of going the same round month after month; I just wanted to take her back some; so I did. Just come from Tater Johnson’s place.
Ben: Well; sounds like you did right well.
Glover: Not bad. I just caught me a minx; why don’t you sit and eat?
Ben: I don’t mind if I do.
Glover: As you can see; I was getting ready to eat real hearty. I’m going my Harlem Sam’s place tomorrow and the smell of that man just chokes off my appretite for a week; and if he ever falls in that creek of his he’s gonna kill off every fish from here to Mississippi.
Ben: You could go by our place forst you know.
Glover: Not a bad idea; I’ll just do that. Just circle around the other way.
Ben: I’d appreciate it too. I was gonna head back but if you’re gonna stop by I can go ahead to North Fork and get her all done.
Glover: I’ll just do that; glad to.
Ben: Thanks. You know how Pa gets when I’m gone. Makwe it easier for him. Give him some company.
Glover: And give me an extra day or two before I have to smell Harlem Sam. Well; I think we’re ready to eat.
CUT TO CABIN
CAMERA MOVES TO SAM PROFILE
ZOOM IN PAST SAM TO LAURA
LAURA IS PRAYING BY CHARLES
CUT TO SAM OUTSIDE IN THE MORNING
SAM WALKS INSIDE
Sam: No sign of him yet.
SAM WALKS TO CHARLES AND CHECKS HIS WOUND
CHARLES WINCES IN PAIN
Sam: The bleeding stopped.
SAM CHECKS FOR A FEVER
Charles: Where’s Halfpint?
LAURA COMES TO CHARLES
Laura: (whispers) I’m here, Pa.
Charles: No sign of Ben yet?
Sam: Not yet.
CUT TO CHARLES CLOSE-UP
CHARLES WINCES AGAIN IN PAIN
Charles: I’m thirsty…I’m thirsty.
Sam: Give you some of this.
Laura: What is it?
Sam: Whiskey
Laura: My Pa doesn’t take spirits.
Sam: He’s got the pain of the devil in him, Child. He’ll be forgiven. It’ll ease the pain.
LAURA GIVES CHARLES THE WHISKEY
CHARLES COUGHS AND REFUSES TO DRINK ANYMORE