The Regulators - Stephen King [85]
MURDOCK
You think puttin' Candy in jail's gonna solve your problems, Sheriff?
STREETER turns toward him. MURDOCKpulls his mud-splattered cavalry duster back, freeing the butt of his army-issue Colt.
STREETER (smiles)
Could be I just arrested my first ghost. Where are the rest of your regulators hold up? Desatoya Canyon? Skate Rock? You ready to tell me yet?
MURDOCK
You're crazy as a snakebit varmit!
STREETER
That so? Well, we'll see. I'm guessing there won't be any ghosts riding tonight without Captain Candell to hand out the sheets.
Still smiling, STREETER turns toward the jail again.
MURDOCK
Suppose I told you the regulators were a lot closer than Desatoya Mountain or Skate Rock? Suppose I told you they were right outside of town, just waitin' for the first gunshot? How would you like that, you damn Yankee?
STREETER
I think I'd like it just fine.
He looks up, raises his fingers to his mouth, and WHISTLES.
SCENE CONTINUES
EXT. MAIN STREET ROOFTOPS, STREET POV
MEN start appearing from behind every sign, chimney, and false front. Formerly terrified TOWNSMEN, now looking grim and carrying rifles. They're on the Chinese laundry, the Owl County Store, Worrell's Mercantile, even Craven's Undertaking Parlor. Among them we see PREACHER YEOMAN and LAWYER BRADLEY. YEOMAN, nolonger concerned that the regulators are a supernatural visitation meant to punish the town for its sins, raises one hand to theSHERIFF in a salute.
RESUME MAIN STREET, WITH STREETER AND MURDOCK
STREETER returns YEOMAN'S salute with a flick of his hand, then turns back to MURDOCK, who looks furious and confused. A dangerous combination!
STREETER
Yep, bring 'em on, if that's your pleasure.
MURDOCK'S face tightens. He drops his hand until it hovers just above the butt of his Colt. Neither of them sees LAURA push her way out of the saloon from behind MURDOCK. She's wearing one of her spangly outfits and carrying her DERRINGER.
MURDOCK
You want to try me, Sheriff?
STREETER
Why don't we just stand down? Think this thing over?
But he knows it's too late, he's pushed MURDOCK too far. STREETER drops his own hand to just above the butt of his gun.
MURDOCK
Time for talking's done, Sheriff.
SCENE CONTINUES
STREETER
Well now, if that's the way you want it.
MURDOCK
You could have stood aside and nobody would have got hurt.
STREETER
That's not the way we do things around here. We — (sees LAURA)
STREETER
Laura, no!
While he's distracted, MURDOCK GOES FOR HIS GUN. LAURA darts between the two men, pointing the DERRINGER at MURDOCK. She pulls the trigger, but there's only a CLICK. MISFIRE! A split second later, MURDOCK fires his cavalry Colt, and the bullet meant for STREETER hits LAURA instead. She CRUMPLES.
EXT. ROOFTOPS
The TOWNSMEN raise their guns to fire.
RESUME MAIN STREET IN FRONT OF THE SALOON
MURDOCK sees what's about to happen and dives back through the batwings and into the relative safety of The Lady Day. STREETER chases him with a couple of shots, then runs toLAURA and kneels beside her.
RESUME ROOFTOPS
FLIP MORAN, the hostler, lets go with a round. A couple of others follow suit, but only a couple, luckily.
RESUME MAIN STREET IN FRONT OF THE SALOON
A BULLET WHINES off one of the batwing doors, knocking a splinter out.
STREETER
Don't shoot, he's gone!
RESUME ROOFTOPS SCENE CONTINUES
The men lower their guns. FLIP MORAN looks confused and ashamed of himself.
EXT. STREETER AND LAURA, CLOSE
TheSHERIFF'S hard shell is temporarily gone — smashed. He looks down at the DYING DANCEHALL GIRL and realizes he loves her!
STREETER
Laura!
LAURA (coughing)
Gun misfired . . . you always said . . . never trust a . . . a hideout gun . . .
She breaks down coughing.
STREETER
Don't talk.