_Sleepy Hollow_, shooting draft, revised by Tom Stoppard.pdf

7/26/2019 _Sleepy Hollow_, shooting draft, revised by Tom Stoppard.pdf

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Sl eepy Hol l ow

Bei ng t he t r ue st ori e of one I chabod Cr ane and t he Headl ess Hor seman

Kevi n Yagher and Andr ew Kevi n Wal ker

Based on "The Legend of Sl eepy Hol l ow" by Washi ngt on I r vi ng

Scr eenpl ay by Andr ew Kevi n Wal ker

and

Tom St oppard

Shoot i ng Dr af t 9/ 29/ 98

A pl easi ng l and of drowsy head i t was, of dr eams t hat wave bef ore t he hal f shut eye. . .

NOTE: THE HARD COPY OF THI S SCRI PT CONTAI NED SCENE NUMBERS AND SOME "OMI TTED" SLUGS. THEY HAVE BEEN REMOVED FOR THI S SOFT COPY.

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EXT. CI TY STREETS - - NI GHT

Empt y cobbl estone st r eet s ar e border ed by st at el y bui l di ngs. A r api dl y CLANGI NG BELL br eaks t he si l ence f r omaf ar.

I NSERT TI TLE: New Yor k Ci t y 1799

TWO CONSTABLES cl amor around a corner , l ant erns hel d hi gh, l i st eni ng.

They di sappear down an al l eyway.

EXT. CI TY WATERFRONT - - NI GHT

ELSEWHERE, pi er s border t he Hudson. The BELL i s LOUDER here. The t wo const abl es ar r i ve, sear chi ng, pi st ol s dr awn.

CONSTABLE ONE Where are you?!

MAN' S VOI CE ( O. S. ) Her e. . . ! Over her e!

The const abl es hur r y t o t he r i ver ' s edge. . .

Down an embankment , t he MAN, anot her const abl e, has hi s back t o us. He' s wai st deep i n dark water, t hr owi ng asi de hi s ALARM BELL, st r uggl i ng t o pul l somet hi ng f r om t he mur k. . .

MAN I need your hel p wi t h t hi s.

Const abl e Two and Const abl e One move f or ward, wary.

CONSTABLE ONE Const abl e Cr ane? I chabod Cr ane. . . i s t hat you?

The MAN t urns. Meet I CHABOD CRANE, handsome, eyes pi er ci ng but nervous and unset t l ed.

I CHABOD None other, and not onl y me. . .

( r eturns to l i f t i ng) I have f ound somet hi ng. . .

I chabod drags a bl oated MALE CORPSE out f r om t he wat er . He backs away, shaken, l ooks t o t he const abl es. . .

I CHABOD ( CONT' D) . . . whi ch was l atel y a man.

I NT. CI TY WATCHHOUSE, J AI L - - NI GHT

I n a dank, caver nous r oom, t he di st i ngui shed HI GH CONSTABLE l i f t s a bl anket of f t he cor pse i n a wheel bar r ow manned by Const abl e Two. Const abl e One and I chabod are near , wat chi ng.

HI GH CONSTABLE Bur n i t .

CONSTABLE ONE Yes, s i r .

Const abl e Two wheel s t he cor pse down a RAMP t o anot her r oom.

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I CHABOD J ust a moment , i f I may. . . we do not yet know t he cause of deat h.

HI GH CONSTABLE When you f i nd ' em i n t he r i ver , cause of deat h i s dr owni ng.

I CHABOD

Possi bl y so i f t her e i s wat er i n t he l ungs, but . . . by pathol ogy we mi ght determi ne whether or not he was dead when he went i nto t he r i ver .

HI GH CONSTABLE Cut hi m up? Ar e we heathens? Let hi m r est i n peace - - i n one pi ece as accor di ng t o God and t he New York Depar t ment of Heal t h.

I chabod i s about t o pr ot est , but st ops hi msel f , f r ust r at ed.

Two THUGGI SH CONSTABLES - - di f f erent ones - - br i ng i n a bl eedi ng

SEMI CONSCI OUS MAN.

HI GH CONSTABLE ( CONT' D) What happened t o hi m?

THUGGI SH CONSTABLE Not hi ng, si r . Ar r est ed f or bur gl ar y.

The const abl es t hr ow hi m agai nst t he bars of t he sl ammer whi l e one of t hem opens t he cage door . Wi t h t hei r l eat her t r uncheons, t he cops beat t hei r pr i soner i nt o t he cage and l ock hi m i n.

HI GH CONSTABLE Good work. . .

I chabod hur r i es to f ol l ow hi s t wo const abl es and t he corpse.

EXT. CI TY WATCHHOUSE - - DAY

The met r opol i s t hr i ves; hor sedr awn vehi cl es pl oddi ng, MEN, WOMEN and CHI LDREN, MERCHANTS and TRADESMEN ever ywher e.

MEN are hel d i n chai ns and gi bbets i n f r ont of t he Watchhouse.

I NT. CI TY WATCHHOUSE, J AI L - - DAY

We ent er mi dway i nto a "Audi t i on Scene. " A r ow of CI TY OFFI CI ALS are "audi t i oni ng" APPLI CANTS ( most l y obvi ous Cr anks and Eccent r i cs) wi t h

Devi ces f or cr i me f i ght i ng and cr i me sol vi ng. The Appl i cant s ar e crowded t oget her t o one si de, wai t i ng t hei r t ur n. I chabod, hol di ng onl y papers and books, i s among t hem.

"On St age" at thi s moment i s an I NVENTOR demonst r at i ng hi s i nvent i on, of whi ch mor e i n a moment . Faci ng t he "st age" i s t he BURGOMASTER, f l anked by t he HI GH CONSTABLE ( who has a l i st of names) and var i ous MAGI STRATES and ALDERMEN.

The I nvent or i s demonst r at i ng a combi nat i on wal l et and mouset r ap.

I NVENTOR . . . and i n a f ew weeks, t he pl ague of

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pi ckpocket s wi l l be a t hi ng of t he past !

He shows how t o set t he t r ap- spr i ng.

I NVENTOR ( CONT' D) Gi ve me a dozen const abl es i n gent l eman' s dr ess. . .

He pocket s t he wal l et - t r ap.

I NVENTOR ( CONT' D) . . . mi xi ng wi t h t he cr owds where pi ckpocket s ar e r i f e!

He produces a f ake hand- on- a- st i ck and does t he busi ness.

I NVENTOR ( CONT' D) A st eal t hy hand di ps i nt o t he gent l eman' s pocket . . . and - - !

Ther e i s t he sound of t he t r ap snappi ng shut and t he I nvent or wi t hdr aws t he f ake hand wi t h i t s f i nger s chopped of f . The Of f i ci al s wi nce, i mpressed.

BURGOMASTER Thank you. We wi l l t ake your devi ce under consi der at i on, Mr . Vander bi l t . . . Next !

A SPOTTY MAN st art s draggi ng a man- si zed cage cont r apt i on t o cent er st age. . . whi l e I chabod t r i es t o get t he at t ent i on of the Of f i ci al s.

I CHABOD Gent l emen! - - t he Mi l l enni um i s al most upon us - - I n a f ew mont hs we wi l l be l i vi ng i n t he ni net eent h cent ur y - - !

HI GH CONSTABLE Wai t your t ur n, Const abl e Cr ane - -

I CHABOD These devi ces are unwor t hy of a modern ci vi l i zat i on. . .

BURGOMASTER Qui et ! - - Next , I say!

SPOTTY MAN Thank you, si r !

He t ur ns proudl y t o hi s man- si ze cage, whose f r ont hi nges down f or i ngr ess.

The f l oor of t he cage i s a st eel pl at e. A "wr i t t i ng boar d" f or si gni ng conf essi ons i s at t ached t o t he i nsi de of the cage.

SPOTTY MAN ( CONT' D) The Tomki ns sel f - l ocki ng Conf essi onal i s cheap at t he pr i ce and wi l l l ast f or year s wi t h j ust an occasi onal wi pe wi t h a damp cl oth. . .

When t he vi l l ai n st eps on t he f l oor pl ate. . .

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I chabod, dr oppi ng books and paper s ar ound hi s f eet , i s f ever i shl y wr i t i ng on a bl ank page ( hi s "t r avel i ng i nkpot " i s hung ar ound hi s neck) .

I CHABOD ( poi nt i ng t o t he Spot t y Man) Ar r est t hat man!

HI GH CONSTABLE ( j aw dropped) Ar rest . . . ?

I CHABOD I accuse hi m of mur der !

SPOTTY MAN What t he devi l ar e you t al ki ng about, you l oon?!

I chabod t akes t wo st eps t owar d hi m and gi ves hi m a vi ol ent shove i n t he chest . The Spot t y Man st aggers back i nt o hi s cage, whi ch sel f - l ocks, and at the same t i me a head cl amp descends f r om t he t op,

gr i ppi ng t he Spott y Man' s head. Hi s ar ms f l ai l about as he yel l s. I chabod sl aps hi s page on t he wr i t i ng boar d, of f er s hi s pen.

I CHABOD Si gn her e!

SPOTTY MAN ( gr oani ng and poi nt i ng) The r el ease handl e. . .

I CHABOD Not t i l l you conf ess. . . !

Uproar around hi m, I chabod wai t s as t he pr i soner si gns t he paper, t hen

pul l s t he "r el ease handl e. "

I CHABOD ( CONT' D) ( wavi ng t he conf essi on) I have her e a conf essi on t o t he murder of a man I f i shed out of t he r i ver l ast ni ght !

HI GH CONSTABLE (f ur i ous) St and down!

I CHABOD I st and up, f or sense and j ust i ce!

Our j ai l s overf l ow wi t h men and women convi ct ed on conf essi ons wor t h no more t han t hi s one!

The Hi gh Const abl e bangs a gavel unt i l he gets some si l ence f or t he Burgomast er. Meanwhi l e, t he Spot t y Man i s r escued by hi s f r i ends.

BURGOMASTER Const abl e, t hi s i s a song we have heard f r om you more t han once but never bef ore wi t h t hi s di scordant accompani ment . I have t wo courses open t o me. Fi r st , I can l et you

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cool your heel s i n t he cel l s unt i l you l ear n r espect f or t he di gni t y of my of f i ce. . .

I CHABOD I beg pardon. I onl y meant wel l . Why am I t he onl y one who sees t hat t o sol ve cri mes, t o det ect t he gui l t y, we must use our br ai ns? - - t o r ecogni ze vi t al cl ues, usi ng up- t o-

date sci ent i f i c - -

BURGOMASTER ( i nt err upt i ng) Whi ch br i ngs me t o t he second cour se. Const abl e Cr ane, t her e i s a t own upst at e, t wo days' j our ney t o t he nor t h i n t he Hudson Hi ghl ands. I t i s a pl ace cal l ed Sl eepy Hol l ow. Have you heard of i t ?

I CHABOD I have not .

BURGOMASTER An i sol ated f armi ng communi t y, most l y Dutch. Thr ee per sons have been mur der ed t her e, al l wi t hi n a f or t ni ght . . . each f ound wi t h t hei r head l opped of f .

I CHABOD Lopped of f ?

BURGOMASTER Cl ean as dandel i on heads, apparent l y. Now, t hese i deas of your s, t hey have never been put t o

the test . . .

I CHABOD I have never been al l owed t o put t hem t o t he t est !

BURGOMASTER J ust so, gr ant ed. So you t ake your experi ment at i ons t o Sl eepy Hol l ow and deduce, er det ect t he murder er . Br i ng hi m her e t o f ace our good j ust i ce. Wi l l you do t hi s?

I CHABOD

( swal l owi ng doubt ) I shal l , gl adl y.

BURGOMASTER And r emember - - i t i s you, I chabod Cr ane, who i s now put t o t he t est .

The Burgomast er smi l es encour agi ngl y.

I NT/ EXT. I CHABOD' S HOME, 2ND FLOOR - - DAY ( TI TLE SEQUENCE BEGI NS)

Pi l es of BOOKS and PAPERS, J ARS of CHEMI CALS, MAGNI FYI NG GLASSES, CHALKBOARDS cover ed wi t h scr awl and ANATOMY CHARTS above a smal l bed.

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AT THE WI NDOW, I chabod hol ds a bi r d cage wi t h a r ed CARDI NAL i nsi de. He opens t he cage and t he bi r d f l i es f r ee. . .

I CHABOD Such a day f or such a sad f arewel l , t hi s i s good- bye, my sweet . . .

I chabod watches i t go, sad, t hen l ooks down. A COACH hal t s i n t he st r eet bel ow. The f orl orn DRI VER l ooks up.

EXT. NEW YORK CI TY STREETS - - DAY

I CHABOD' S COACH l eaves ci t y l i mi t s, f or goi ng ci vi l i zat i on. . . f ol l owi ng a di r t r oad t o f or est ed wi l der ness.

EXT. NEW YORK FORESTS - - NI GHT

Coach l ant er ns l i ght t he way as t he coach l umbers al ong, car essed by t i ght f ol i age. A WOLF i s HEARD HOWLI NG. I chabod l ooks out , unnerved, shut s t he wi ndow' s cur t ai n.

EXT. UPSTATE FORESTS - - DAY

The coach moves t hrough sun dappl ed f orest . . .

I NT. I CHABOD' S COACH - - DAY

I chabod checks t he content s of a LEATHER SATCHEL i n hi s l ap. He pauses a moment , st udyi ng t he pal m of hi s hand.

I chabod t ouches t he st r ange SCARS on bot h hi s pal ms: evenl y di sper sed, t i ny dot s of t i ssue. Many scar s. Af t er a moment , he r et ur ns t o l ooki ng t hr ough hi s satchel .

EXT. SLEEPY HOLLOW, THE LONG STRAI GHT ROAD - - LATE DAY

I chabod st ands bet ween t wo massi ve STONE PI LLARS. He' s unsure, turni ng

t o wat ch hi s coach l eave hi m behi nd.

I chabod pi cks up hi s bags and heads between t he pi l l ars , st art i ng up a LONG STRAI GHT ROAD. He does not not i ce, i n t he t r ee l i mbs above: THREE DEAD RAVENS, hung by t wi ne.

EXT. SLEEPY HOLLOW, TOWN SQUARE - - DUSK

I chabod wal ks on, passi ng a CHURCH and GRAVEYARD. The r oad ahead i s border ed by r ows of busi nesses and t wo- st ory homes.

I chabod ent er s t he TOWN SQUARE pr oper . And ELDERLY WOMAN st ands i n a door way, watchi ng I chabod. I chabod t i ps hi s hat . The woman backs away, shut s her door .

I chabod cont i nues. He l ooks up. . . a MAN cl oses t he shut t er s of a second- st ory wi ndow.

As I chabod cont i nues he sees t hat t here are t wo or t hr ee Ri f l emen pl aced at vant age poi nt s on t he r oof s and al so, when he l ooks back, a Ri f l eman up on t he Chur ch Tower. The whol e vi l l age i s l i ke a West ern t own wai t i ng f or an at t ack.

EXT. WOODEN BUNKER - - DUSK

A st r ange WOODEN BUNKER, l i ke a smal l f or t r ess wi t h a HUGE BELL mounted on t op, si t s i n a f i el d. SEVERAL DI RT FARMERS are gat her ed,

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al l wi th r i f l es.

I chabod st ops as he wal ks, l ooki ng at t hi s. . .

A boy, YOUNG MASBATH, aged 10, comes t o t he Desi gnated Ri f l eman, J ONATHAN MASBATH, wi t h f ood and dr i nk, i . e. , a pi cni c t i ed up i n cl oth and a st one bot t l e of beer . Masbath Seni or t akes t he pi cni c and gi ves Young Masbat h an af f ect i onate pat . He smi l es conf i dent l y.

MASBATH SENI OR

Don' t worr y, son.

One f armer comes t o l ead Young Masbat h away as J onat han heads i nt o t he BUNKER, t aki ng sever al r i f l es.

I n f r ont of t he BUNKER, acr oss a f i el d, ot her di r t f ar mer s l i ght TORCH POSTS i n a l i ne al ong t he f orest edge.

I chabod ponder s t hi s as he t r udges al ong. . .

EXT. VAN TASSEL HOUSE - - DUSK

Ahead on a hi l l : t he grand Van Tassel MANOR HOUSE, wi ndows agl ow.

TI TLE SEQUENCE ENDS

EXT. VAN TASSEL HOUSE, FRONT DOOR - - NI GHT

I chabod puts down hi s bags ( a sui t case and a l eat her box- bag) but keeps hi s satchel .

J ACK-O' - LANTERNS gl ow on t he por ch.

A KI SSI NG COUPLE are l ust f ul l y busy i n a dark corner of the porch. The woman i s a pret t y ser vant , SARAH. The man we wi l l know as DOCTOR LANCASTER.

I chabod al most bl under s i nt o t hem, causi ng a l i t t l e pani c and

embar r assment , i n whi ch I chabod shares, and as he mumbl es apol ogi es and opens t he door , a shaf t of l i ght i dent i f i es t he coupl e f or our f ur t her r ef er ence.

The open door r eveal s t he MAI N HALL and FOYER. . .

Ther e' s a harvest part y i n progress. PEOPLE are gathered. QUI ET MUSI C i s HEARD f r om el sewher e.

I NT. VAN TASSEL HOUSE, SI TTI NG ROOM - - NI GHT

I chabod opens a door . MEN and WOMEN eat and dri nk, t al ki ng qui et l y i n gr oups. I chabod l ooks ar ound, daunt ed, t ent at i vel y makes hi s way. . .

I chabod bumps i nto a f ew peopl e, excusi ng hi msel f . He mops hi s sweat y br ow, f i nds a pr et t y gi r l .

I CHABOD Pardon my i nt r usi on, I seek Bal t us Van Tassel but - -

GI RL I n t he parl or, s i r , f urt her on.

I chabod t hanks her , cont i nues. . .

Ahead, CHI LDREN, YOUNG MEN and LADI ES i n a ci r cl e t aunt a BLI NDFOLDED

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YOUNG WOMAN spun ar ound by t he handsome, bar r el - chest ed man, BROM VAN BRUNT. Br omr el eases t he woman. Everyone qui ets, avoi di ng her sear chi ng hands.

The Bl i ndf ol ded Woman ci r cl es sl owl y, chant i ng a REFRAI N t hat makes t he CHI LDREN and even some of t he younger WOMEN shi ver wi t h pl easur abl e f r i ght . They gi ggl e nervousl y and hush each other up.

BLI NDFOLDED WOMAN "The Pi cket y Wi t ch, t he Pi cket y

Wi t ch, who' s got a ki ss f or t hepi cket y wi t ch?"

She makes a l unge, gr abbi ng empty ai r , j ust mi ssi ng BROM; ever yone moans humorousl y. Doctor Lancast er sl i ps back i nt o t he part y, and Sarah l i kewi se.

I chabod i s t r yi ng t o pass t hr ough t o r each t he f ar t her door . . . and on t he NEXT REFRAI N f i nds hi msel f caught by t he Bl i ndf ol ded Woman.

Ever yone st ays qui et , t hat ' s t he game, but of cour se ever yone i s al so puzzl ed, not knowi ng I chabod. The Woman t ouches I chabod' s f ace, whi ch embar r asses I chabod and di spl eases Br om.

CHI LD A ki ss, a ki ss!

WOMAN She has t o guess f i r st .

The WOMAN i s wi f el y, and as she put s her ar m t hrough Doct or Lancast er ' s ar m, we r eal i ze she i s hi s wi f e.

BLI NDFOLDED WOMAN I s i t Theodor e?

Ther e' s a general l augh at t hat .

I CHABOD Par don, ma' am. I amonl y a st r anger.

BLI NDFOLDED WOMAN Then have a ki ss on account .

She ki sses hi m l aughi ngl y and t akes t he bl i ndf ol d of f the r eveal a st unni ng beaut y: KATRI NA VAN TASSEL. She smi l es. I chabod t r i es t o compose hi msel f , st r i cken by t he si ght of her .

I CHABOD I . . . um, I am l ooki ng f or Bal t us Van Tassel .

KATRI NA I am hi s daught er , Kat r i na Van Tassel .

BROM And who are you, f r i end? We have not heard your name yet .

I CHABOD I have not sai d i t . Excuse me. . .

Br om gr abs I chabod' s col l ar . I chabod' s baf f l ed.

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BROM You need some manner s.

KATRI NA Brom!

MAN' S VOI CE ( O. S. ) ( admoni shi ng) Come, come - - we want no r ai sed voi ces . . .

We now SEE t hat t he voi ce bel ongs t o BALTUS VAN TASSEL, a wor ki ng- cl ass sel f - made Mr . Bi g wi t h a sympathet i c smi l e.

BALTUS ( CONT' D) I t i s onl y t o rai se t he spi r i t s duri ng t hi s dark t i me t hat I and my good wi f e are gi vi ng t hi s l i t t l e par t y. . .

LADY VAN TASSEL st ands behi nd hi m, a mi x of homespun wi f e and wel l - kept l ady. Br om r el eases I chabod. Chi l dr en hi de behi nd Kat r i na. I chabod' s r el i eved t o have a pr oper f ocal poi nt . Ot her s f r om t he par t y gather .

BALTUS ( CONT' D) Young si r , you are wel come even i f you ar e sel l i ng somethi ng!

The pl easant r y r el axes t he atmosphere around I chabod.

I CHABOD Thank you, si r . I am Const abl e I chabod Cr ane, sent t o you f r omNew Yor k wi t h aut hor i t y t o i nvest i gat e murder i n Sl eepy Hol l ow.

Thi s has qui t e an ef f ect . A man we wi l l know as MAGI STRATE PHI LI PSE

l ooks up sharpl y. A man we wi l l know as REVEREND STEENWYCK grunts skept i cal l y. A man we have al r eady seen, DOCTOR LANCASTER, exchanges a sur pr i sed l ook wi t h anot her man, NOTARY HARDENBROOK.

STEENWYCK ( r udel y) Wel l , what use i s a Const abl e?!

Lady Van Tassel gi ves t he Cl ergyman a r epr oachf ul l ook.

LADY VAN TASSEL Then, Sl eepy Hol l ow i s gr at ef ul t o you, Const abl e Cr ane - - I hope you wi l l honor t hi s house by r emai ni ng

wi th us unt i l . . .

BROM Unt i l you' ve made t he arr est !

To I chabod' s sur pr i se t hi s get s a ner vous l augh. Bal t us f r owns at Br om. Katr i na l ooks at I chabod wi t h r enewed i nt er est .

BALTUS ( t o hi s wi f e) Wel l spoke! ( t o I chabod) Come, si r . We' l l get you set t l ed.

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( t o t he Musi ci ans) Pl ay on!

Bal t us cat ches t he eyes of Phi l i pse, t hen of Lancast er , noddi ng as i f t o say "See you i n a mi nut e. "

As he l eads I chabod out , he murmurs t o St eenwyck, who nods and passes t he murmur t o Har denbr ook.

The Fi ddl er s st r i ke up t he musi c. Kat r i na wat ches I chabod' s exi t . Br om

wat ches Kat r i na' s i nt er est wi t h di spl easur e.

I NT. VAN TASSEL HOUSE, I CHABOD' S ROOM - - NI GHT

We HEAR t he musi c f r omdownst ai r s. I chabod i s unpacki ng - - arr angi ng hi s sci ent i f i c books. Hi s "medi cal case, " r eveal i ng a f ew myster i ous I nst r ument s of Det ect i ons, i s open on t he bed. Sar ah i s j ust del i ver i ng a pi t cher of wat er t o t he washst and.

I CHABOD Thank you. Pl ease t el l Mr . Van Tassel I wi l l be down i n a moment .

SARAH

I wi l l , si r . ( t hen - - as she l eaves) Thank God you ar e here!

I chabod i s a bi t sur pr i sed by her emot i on. Then he pour s t he water and douses hi s f ace.

I NT. VAN TASSEL HOUSE, PARLOR - - NI GHT

FI VE MEN wai t gr i ml y f or I chabod, s i l ent i n t he pr esence of Sar ah, who i s pl aci ng a pi pe cr adl e by Bal t us. Lady Van Tassel i s pour i ng t he men a dr i nk. The musi c f r om t he par t y i s f ai nt l y audi bl e. Lancast er i s 50, dour , al ways sweat y. Phi l i pse i s youngest , a dr i nker , eyes bl oodshot , augment i ng hi s gl ass wi t h a shot f r om hi s pr i vat e f l ask. Rever end

St eenwyck has a di sdai nf ul , sour expr essi on. Har denbr ook i s ol dest , anci ent, ner vous, one eye pal e and bl i nd.

HARDENBROOK Al l t he way f r omNew Yor k!

DOCTOR LANCASTER A wast e of t i me!

STEENWYCK ( t o Bal t us) What can he do?

BALTUS

( cal mi ngl y) Gent l emen, gent l emen. . .

Sar ah, l eavi ng, passes Doct or Lancast er , who secret l y t r ai l s hi s hand agai nst Sar ah' s but t ock. . . not qui t e secretl y enough f or t he vi gi l ance of Lady Van Tassel , who, by t he merest f l i ck of an eye, shows us t hat she has not i ced.

Sarah l eaves j ust as I chabod appear s i n t he door way, Sar ah cl osi ng t he door behi nd hi m.

BALTUS ( CONT' D) ( t o I chabod)

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Excel l ent ! Come i n! ( t o hi s wi f e) Leave us, my dear .

I CHABOD So. Thr ee persons mur dered. Fi r st , Pet er Van Garr et t and hi s son Di r k Van Gar r et t , bot h of t hem st r ong capabl e men, f ound t ogether , decapi t ated. A week l ater, t he Wi dow

Wi nshi p, al so decapi t at ed. I wi l l need t o ask you many quest i ons, but f i r st l et me ask - - i s anyone suspected?

BALTUS I don' t unders t and you.

I CHABOD I say, i s t her e any one per son suspect i n t hese act s?

The men st i r i n t hei r seat s - - t hei r l ooks say "I t ol d you so! " - - "Usel ess!" - - et c.

BALTUS Const abl e. . . how much have your superi or s expl ai ned t o you?

I CHABOD Onl y t hat t he t hr ee wer e sl ai n i n open ground and t hei r heads f ound severed f r om t hei r bodi es. . .

STEENWYCK The heads were not f ound sever ed. The heads were not f ound at al l .

I CHABOD The heads ar e gone?

Hardenbr ook l eans f orward, hi s voi ce cr agged.

HARDENBROOK Taken. Taken by t he Headl ess Horseman. Taken back t o hel l .

I CHABOD Par don me, I . . . ?

BALTUS Per haps you had bet t er si t down.

Bal t us gest ur es f or I chabod t o si t . Bal t us l i ght s hi s pi pe and pour s a gl ass f or I chabod. The men hel p t hemsel ves t o f ood and dr i nk.

BALTUS ( CONT' D) The Hor seman was a Hessi an mercenary, sent t o our shores by German pr i nces t o keep Amer i cans under t he yoke of Engl and. But unl i ke hi s compat r i ot s who came f or money, t he Horseman came. . . f or l ove of car nage. . . and he was not l i ke t he ot hers . . .

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FLASHBACK - - AMERI CAN BATTLEFI ELD ( WI NTER) - - DAY

The HESSI AN HORSEMAN r i des hi s bl ack st eed i nto a gor y, cl ose- quart ers cl ash, hi s cl oaked uni f orm adorned wi t h edged weapons. He cut s down Amer i cans l ef t and r i ght .

BALTUS ( V. O. ) He r ode a gi ant bl ack st eed named Daredevi l . He was i nf amous f or

t aki ng hi s hor se har d i nt o bat t l e. . .choppi ng of f heads at f ul l gal l op.

The Horseman di smounts, hoi st s a bat t l e axe. Wi t h sword and axe, he anni hi l ates. Bl ood gushes. Bones cr ack.

BALTUS ( CONT' D; V. O. ) To l ook upon hi m made your bl ood r un col d, f or he had f i l ed down hi s t eet h t o shar p poi nt s. . . t o add t o t he f er oci t y of hi s appear ance. . .

The Hor seman l et s out a war cr y. J agged t eeth. Gr ot esque.

FLASHBACK - - FOREST BATTLEFI ELD ( WI NTER) - - DAY

Wi nter . CANNONS can be HEARD BOOMI NG f r om af ar . Daredevi l , gal l opi ng i s hi t and f al l s. The Hor seman i s not hur t .

BALTUS ( V. O. ) Thi s but cher woul d not f i nal l y meet hi s end t i l l t he wi nt er of sevent y- ni ne. . .

The Hor seman r i ses, eyes f i l l ed wi t h r age, l ooks t o see. . .

SI X r agt ag REVOLUTI ONARY SOLDI ERS gi ve chase, f i r i ng r i f l es. The Horseman f l ees, bul l ets t hr owi ng snow behi nd.

BALTUS ( CONT' D) . . . not f ar f r om her e i n our West er n Woods. . .

FLASHBACK - - DEEPER I N THE FOREST BATTLEFI ELD ( WI NTER) - - DAY

The Horseman gl ances back, boundi ng t hrough, drawi ng hi s sword, when suddenl y he hal t s. . .

He' s happened upon TWO YOUNG GI RLS gat her i ng f i r ewood. The gi r l s st and f r ozen at the si ght of hi m f or a l ong, si l ent moment , t i l l one gi r l dr ops t he f i r ewood and r uns.

The second gi r l r emai ns, hol di ng t he Horseman' s gaze.

The Horseman and t he gi r l hol d each other' s gaze f or a l ong beat .

The Horseman put s hi s f i nger to hi s l i ps, war ni ng her to st ay qui et .

The gi r l t akes one of her pi eces of dr y wood and del i ber at el y br eaks i t , maki ng a noi se l i ke a pi st ol shot .

Ther e i s a r espondi ng shout f r om a sol di er back i n t he t r ees. The Horseman t urns t o t he sound.

Sol di ers move f orwar d f r omt he f orest behi nd, spr eadi ng out .

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The second gi r l f l ees. The Horseman hef t s hi s sword, tur ni ng as sol di ers sur round. One sol di er ai ms hi s r i f l e. . .

The Hor seman r eaches over hi s shoul der, grasps a sheat hed kni f e and THROWS - -

THOCK! The r i f l eman j er ks back, kni f e i n hi s eye socket .

A second sol di er ai ms and FI RES. . . Bl ood expl odes f r omt he Horseman' s

arm. Hi s sword drops.

The Horseman r eadi es and AXE i n hi s good hand. The Revol ut i onar i es move i n wi t h swords. They bat t l e, STEEL AGAI NST STEEL. The Horseman f ends of f bl ows. . .

Sol di er Thr ee st abs hi s bl ade deep i nt o t he Horseman' s si de. The Horseman r oar s, br i ngi ng hi s axe DOWN. . .

BREAKS t he sword at t he hi l t . An UPWARD st r oke sends Sol di er Thr ee backward i n a f ount ai n of bl ood.

The Horseman st agger s, t r yi ng t o pul l t he bl ade f r om hi s r i bs. The remai ni ng sol di ers cl ose i n. . .


I chabod i s spooked. Pi pe smoke waf t s f r omBal t us' s mout h.

BALTUS They cut of f hi s head wi t h hi s own sword. To t hi s day, t he West ern Woods i s a haunt ed pl ace where brave men wi l l not vent ur e.

FLASHBACK - - EXT. WESTERN WOODS, TREE OF THE DEAD AREA ( WI NTER) - - DAY

The Horseman' s headl ess corpse l i es i n a shal l ow gr ave.

BALTUS ( V. O. ) . . . f or what was pl ant ed i n t he gr ound t hat day was a seed of evi l .

The HORSEMAN' S HEAD i s dropped i nt o t he grave.

FLASHBACK - - EXT. WESTERN WOODS, TREE OF THE DEAD AREA ( WI NTER) - - LATER DAY

One of t he f our survi vi ng sol di ers st abs t he HORSEMAN' S SWORD deep i n t he ground as a marker .

The gr ave i s done. The sol di ers wal k away f r omt he gr ave. They have

bur i ed t he Hor seman i n a t r eel ess cl ear i ng.

Daredevi l appear s, l i mpi ng, f r omt he t r ees, and put s hi s nose down t o t he t urned ear t h.

The Second Gi r l i s wat chi ng f r om hi di ng.

She sees: Dar edevi l col l apses on t he gr ave, bl ood f r ot hi ng f r om hi s mout h. Dyi ng.


BALTUS

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And so i t has been f or t went y years . But now t he Hessi an wakes - - he i s on t he r ampage, cut t i ng of f heads where he f i nds t hem.

I chabod si t s back, shakes of f t he r ever i e of t he t al e. He t akes a gul p f r om hi s gl ass.

I CHABOD Ar e you. . . sayi ng. . . ? I s t hat what

you bel i eve?

HARDENBROOK Seei ng i s bel i evi ng!

Bal t us put s a cal mi ng hand on seni l e Hardenbr ook' s shoul der.

DOCTOR LANCASTER No one knows why t he Hess i an has chosen t hi s t i me t o r et ur n f r om t he grave.

STEENWYCK Sat an has cal l ed f or t h one of hi s

own.

St eenwyck st ands and f r oma si de t abl e pi cks up t he hef t y Bal t us f ami l y Bi bl e.

STEENWYCK ( CONT' D) They t el l me you have brought books and t r appi ngs of sci ent i f i c i nvesti gat i on - - t hi s i s t he onl y book I r ecommend you st udy.

He dr ops t he Bi bl e on t he t abl e i n f r ont of I chabod, maki ng hi m j ump. I chabod gi nger l y l i f t s t he f r ont cover - - reveal i ng a page of i nk wr i t i ng, whi ch he wi l l r emember l at er - - t hen he snaps out of al l t hi s

" nonsense. "

I CHABOD Reverend St eenwyck. . . gent l emen. . .

murder needs no ghost come f r om t he gr ave. Whi ch of you have l ai d eyes on t hi s Headl ess Horsemen?

Pause.

HARDENBROOK Ot her s have. Many ot her s.

I chabod al l ows hi msel f a skept i cal smi l e.

BALTUS You wi l l see hi m t oo i f he comes agai n. The men of t he vi l l age ar e post ed t o watch f or hi m.

I CHABOD We have murders i n New Yor k wi t hout benef i t of ghoul s and gobl i ns.

BALTUS You are a l ong way f r om New York, si r .

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I CHABOD A cent ur y at l east . The assassi n i s a man of f l esh and bl ood, and I wi l l di scover hi m.

STEENWYCK How do you propose t o do so?

I CHABOD

By di scover i ng hi s r eason. I t i s what we cal l " t he mot i ve. " Thi s myst er y wi l l not r esi st i nvest i gat i on by a Rat i onal Man.

I chabod' s natural cl umsi ness, however, causes hi m t o sweep hi s empt y gl ass of f t he t abl e, r at her r ui ni ng t he ef f ect of t he Rat i onal Man i n command of t he si t uat i on.

I NT. VAN TASSEL HOUSE, KATRI NA' S ROOM - - NI GHT

Kat r i na i s si t t i ng i n f r ont of her mi r r or . Lady Van Tassel i s br ushi ng out Kat r i na' s hai r , count i ng t he st r okes.

KATRI NA Wel l , I ' m di sappoi nt ed. . . our f i rst vi s i t or f romNew York. . .

Ther e i s a knock.

KATRI NA ( CONT' D) He doesn' t know wher e t o put hi msel f and hi s f eet ar e al l over t he pl ace.

Lady Van Tassel gi ves Katr i na t he hai r br ush and goes t o t he door .

LADY VAN TASSEL Yes, not l i ke your Br om. Go on

br ushi ng, I got t o f ort y- t wo. . .

She opens t he door t o Sarah.

SARAH That const abl e, he want s t he Bi bl e, Mum. . .

LADY VAN TASSEL Bi bl e. . . ?

KATRI NA I ' l l br i ng i t to hi m.

Sarah di ps a cur t sy and goes. Lady Van Tassel gi ves Kat r i na a f r i endl y r ai sed eyebr ow.

KATRI NA ( CONT' D) ( meet i ng her eye, expl ai ns) We' l l see i f hi s ci ty tal k f i t s hi m bet t er t han hi s cl ot hes.


I chabod si t s sur r ounded by hi s books, i ncl udi ng hi s Ledger . Cl ear l y t her e has been no breakt hrough. I chabod broods. There i s a knock at

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t he door , whi ch he seems t o have been expect i ng, f or he does not t urn around.

I CHABOD Yes - - yes - - come i n.

Kat r i na ent er s car r yi ng t he Bi bl e.

I CHABOD ( CONT' D) ( not t ur ni ng)

Thank you, j ust l eave i t on t he r eadi ng st and.

Katr i na put s down t he Bi bl e as di r ect ed.

I CHABOD ( CONT' D) That wi l l be al l - - no, t el l me, about t hat bi g brute who seems t o be Mi ss Kat r i na' s - -

He has t ur ned i n hi s chai r , t oo l at e, and sees Kat r i na - - I chabod has a mi nor convul si on, st andi ng up, knocki ng paper s t o t he f l oor , et c.

I CHABOD ( CONT' D)

For gi ve me, I . . . I asked Sar ah t o br i ng me. . .

KATRI NA ( amused, r el axed) So your cl ever books have f ai l ed you and you t ur n t o t he Bi bl e af t er al l !

I CHABOD ( shar pl y, despi t e hi msel f ) I see I am t al ked about downst ai r s.

KATRI NA

I n pass i ng onl y - - we have many t hi ngs t o t al k about even i n t hi s backward pl ace.

I CHABOD I am sor r y. . . Pl ease excuse my manner - - I am not used t o. . .

KATRI NA Femal e company?

I CHABOD Soci et y.

KATRI NA How can you avoi d soci et y i n New Yor k? How I shoul d l ove t he opera - - and t heat er s - - t o go danci ng. . . I s i t wonder f ul ?

I CHABOD I have never been.

KATRI NA But t her e i s an art museum? - - a concer t hal l ?

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I CHABOD I don' t know.

KATRI NA ( di sappoi nt ed) Then you have nothi ng t o t each me.

I CHABOD Per haps I have. Do you bel i eve t he Van Gar r et t s and t he Wi dow Wi nshi p

wer e murdered by a headl ess hor seman?

KATRI NA Not ever yone her e bel i eves i t i s t he Hor seman.

I CHABOD ( r el i eved) Good.

KATRI NA Some say i t i s t he wi t ch of t he West er n Woods who has made a pact

wi t h Luci f er .

I CHABOD ( exasperat ed) Ther e ar e no wi t ches, or gal l opi ng ghost s ei t her ! I s ever yone i n t hi s vi l l age i n t hral l t o superst i t i on?

KATRI NA Why are you so f r i ght ened of magi c? Not al l magi c i s bl ack. Ther e ar e anci ent t r ut hs i n t hese woods whi ch have been f orgot t en i n your ci t y par ks.

I CHABOD I f t hey ar e t r ut hs t hey ar e not magi c - - and i f magi c, not t r ut h.

KATRI NA You ar e f ool i sh. When t her e i s f ever i n t he house, i t i s wel l known t hat wi l l ow- her b r oot s and a cr ow' s f oot must be boi l ed i n t he mi l k of a pur e whi t e goat wi t h speci al charms ut t er ed over t he f i r e. . . and t he f ever abates.

I CHABOD Next t i me t r y t he herb wi t hout t he r est - - and now I must ask you - - excuse me - -

KATRI NA Gl adl y. I shoul d not have i nt er r upt ed our t own' s savi or. Good ni ght . And as t o your f i r st quest i on, t hat bi g brute you were aski ng about has proposed t o me.

I CHABOD

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I . . . I . . . I ' m happy t hat . . .

KATRI NA Proposed t o me sever al t i mes.

Thi s ambi guous st atement , accompani ed by a f ai nt smi l e, conf uses I chabod i nt o si l ence as she cl oses t he door behi nd her . He t ur ns wi t h r el i ef t o t he next busi ness - - t he Bi bl e. He opens t he f r ont cover . On t he endpaper i s a Fami l y Tree goi ng back a hundr ed years , i n var i ousl y f aded i nks and handwr i t i ngs.

I chabod st udi es i t and we see what he l ear ns: t hat Katr i na was born i n 1777. . . t o Bal t us' s f i r st wi f e, who di ed i n 1797. . . t hat Lady Van Tassel i s Bal t us' s second wi f e ( her mai den name i s uni mport ant , because f al se) . . . Then he suddenl y not i ces somet hi ng even more i nt er est i ng: The f ami l y t r ee has a "Van Gar r et t " i n i t - - t he husband of Bal t us' s f ather ' s s i ster .

I CHABOD ( mut t er s) Van Gar r et t . . . !

I chabod l ooks t hought f ul . He st ar t s copyi ng out det ai l s i nt o hi s Ledger .

A ver y f ai nt r umbl i ng di st ur bs hi m f or a moment . He l ooks up. Si l ence now. He cont i nues worki ng.

EXT. SLEEPY HOLLOW - - NI GHT

The empty st r eet .

Then t he l ow si ni st er sound of r umbl i ng i s hear d agai n.

EXT. WOODEN BUNKER / FI ELD - - I NTERCUT - - NI GHT

The di st ant SOUND of t he GROUND RUMBLI NG i s HEARD. AT THE WOODEN BUNKER, J onat han l ooks out , f ear f ul . . .

The t or ches bur n br i ght al ong t he f or est l i ne. SEVERAL DEER st ampede out . . . spr i nt i ng across t he f i el d.

J onat han wat ches t he f or est . A hor r i bl e, SI LENT st i l l ness has f al l en. Then, J onathan' s eyes wi den. . .

A t hi ck FOG cr eeps f r om t he woods.

As f og overt akes each t orch, mi st snakes up, snuf f i ng each f l ame. . . one by one by one, al l al ong t he f or est edge. . .

J onathan st i cks hi s r i f l e out f r om t he bunker , si ght s t he gun al ong t he t r eel i ne.

J ONATHAN Come out , devi l . . . come. . .

EXT. SLEEPY HOLLOW FORESTS, OVERVI EW - - NI GHT

Si l houet t ed t r eet ops. The SOUNDS of J ONATHAN' S RI FLE FI RI NG are HEARD, echoi ng - - SEVERAL GUNSHOTS, t hen. . . SI LENCE. . .

EXT. SLEEPY HOLLOW FOREST - - NI GHT

J onathan f l ees t hr ough t he f orest , gl ances back, t er r i f i ed. THUNDEROUS HOOFBEATS ar e HEARD f r om behi nd.

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DEEP I N THE FOREST, we GLI MPSE t he sour ce of t he HOOFBEATS: a HUGE FORM on a HUGE BLACK HORSE, al r eady gone.

J onathan pushes t hrough t hor ny bushes. J agged branches bl oody hi s hands and cheeks. . .

He bur st s f r omt he br i er pat ch and TUMBLES t o a TRAI L.

I N THE FOREST BEHI ND: The hooves of t he bl ack hor se r i p under brush.

HOOFBEATS DEAFENI NG. A spur di gs i nto t he snort i ng st eed' s al r eady bl eedi ng f l ank.

The pur suer' s gl oved hand draws a SWORD, bl ade RI NGI NG.

ON THE TRAI L, J onat han r uns onward. The shr i l l WHI STLE of a SWORD SWI NG i s HEARD as t he pur suer BLURS PAST. . .

J onathan i s st i l l r unni ng when hi s head l ol l s back, at an i mpossi bl e angl e. . . hi s head t umbl es of f hi s shoul der s. . .

J onathan' s headl ess body hi t s t he di r t .

EXT. SLEEPY HOLLOW - - DAY ( EARLY MORNI NG)

Peopl e goi ng about t hei r busi ness cal ml y. A WOMAN shakes out a bl anket f r oman upper wi ndow. The murder has obvi ousl y not been di scovered yet .

No one not i ces t hat t he WOODEN BUNKER i s deser t ed. . . and now has a gap of shatt er ed t i mber .

EXT/ I NT. LI VERY STABLE - - DAY ( EARLY MORNI NG)

The st abl es bel ong t o KI LLI AN, a dashi ngl y r ust i c man, f at her of a young f ami l y. I chabod l i kes hi m. . . t hough he does not t hi nk much of t he Horse Ki l l i an i s of f er i ng hi m, an ol d nag. I chabod has a bi g sat chel .

KI LLI AN Hi s name' s Gunpowder .

I CHABOD A brave name, but . . . have you got somet hi ng a l i t t l e younger ?. . .

Tal l er ?

KI LLI AN ( appar ent l y get t i ng i t ) Fast er .

I CHABOD Yes.

KI LLI AN A horse cut t o dash.

I CHABOD Yes.

KI LLI AN No, I haven' t .

I CHABOD Oh.

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KI LLI AN Not at t he pr i ce.

I CHABOD Wel l . . . I ' m sure he' l l do very wel l . Thank you, Mr . Ki l l i an.

KI LLI AN Good l uck, si r . I f you need hel p, cal l my name.

I CHABOD Much appreci at ed.

Ki l l i an' s son Thomas, a smal l boy, i s f eedi ng one of t he horses.

ANGLE ON Mr s. KI LLI AN at t he door of the Ki l l i an House. She i s i n t he act of seei ng a woman out of her door , a PREGNANT WOMAN, and handi ng her a bunch of her bs.

CLOSER

BETH ( t o Pr egnant Woman)

Mi nd you r ub t hem wel l i n t he br eech, Mr s. Sher r y - - don' t wor r y, i t ' l l be easy as shel l i ng peas.

As t he Pregnant Woman l eaves, Beth bawl s over her shoul der , t urni ng t o go i nt o t he house.

BETH ( CONT' D) Thomas! - - I t ' s you I want !

Beth goes i nto t he house, passi ng a modest not i ce on t he door : " Knock bef or e ent er i ng - - El i zabet h Ki l l i an, MI DWI FE"

KI LLI AN

( t o Thomas) Go of f home f or your br eakf ast , Tom - - ki ss your mother once f or you and t wi ce f or me.

As t he boy goes, I chabod has a t hought .

I CHABOD Mr . Ki l l i an, I was t hi nki ng. . . about t he ol d wi dow. . .

KI LLI AN Ol d Wi dow?

I CHABOD Wi dow Wi nshi p.

KI LLI AN Who t ol d you she was ol d? She was comel y. Wi dowed young and dead bef ore t he bl oom was of f her .

I chabod i s sur pr i sed. Bef or e he can r eact f ur t her , a di st ant gunshot i s hear d - - a si gnal f ol l owed by t he di st ant si ght of a man on hor seback, hur r yi ng and shout i ng, wavi ng hi s r i f l e. I t ' s cl ear t hat Masbat h' s murder has been di scover ed. Ki l l i an and I chabod watch t he Ri der comi ng, t el l i ng t he news as he comes.

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RI DER ( shout i ng) Murder , murder ! The Hor seman has ki l l ed agai n!

EXT. SLEEPY HOLLOW FARMLAND - - DAY

Ri der s ar e gal l opi ng across t he f i el ds t owar d t he mur der si t e.

Bal t us, a Dul l ar dl y Man cal l ed VAN RI PPER, who was t he or i gi nal Ri der who f ound t he body. . . f ol l owed by Br om, and a gi g dr i ven f ast by Phi l i pse, and Doct or Lancast er and var i ous vi l l ager s.

Way behi nd, t r yi ng t o keep up on Gunpowder, comes I chabod.

EXT. FOREST, MASBATH MURDER SI TE - - MORNI NG

Bal t us t akes charge of post i ng armed vi l l agers t o keep an eye out t oward t he f or est .

BALTUS Mr . Mi l l er - - r i de back f or t he cof f i n car t - - t he r est of you keep

a shar p l ookout . ( t o GLEN) No - - not at me, Gl en, I ' m not goi ng t o cut my own head of f ! - - Look out t o t he woods!

I chabod hasn' t qui t e ar r i ved. The other s ar e wat chi ng as Doct or Lancast er t urns over t he headl ess corpse of Masbath. He st r ai ght ens t he body r ever ent l y. Ever yone i s shocked and spooked, l ooki ng f ear f ul l y ar ound. Behi nd t hem - - a sound. Ever yone r eact s but i t ' s I chabod ar r i vi ng.

BROM ( l aughs)

A f i ne l ooki ng ani mal , Cr ane.

I chabod di smount s, i gnori ng Br om. The gr eat Det ect i ve i s t r yi ng t o cover up hi s j i t t er s. New Yor k was never l i ke t hi s.

DOCTOR LANCASTER The f our t h vi ct i m, J onathan Masbath.

I CHABOD And. . . t he head. . . ?

PHI LI PSE Taken.

I CHABOD Taken!

Doct or Lancast er seems unpr of essi onal l y j i t t er y. He gr asps Phi l i pse by t he ar m. Phi l i pse shakes hi m of f and pul l s out a f l ask. I chabod not i ces t hi s. Thei r behavi or seems t o hi m t o be an odd moment . Then he t ur ns hi s at t ent i on back t o t he mat t er at hand.

I CHABOD ( CONT' D) I nt erest i ng. . . very i nt erest i ng.

BALTUS What i s?

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I CHABOD I n headl ess cor pse cases of t hi s sor t . . . t he head i s r emoved t o pr event i dent i f i cat i on of t he body.

BALTUS ( puzzl ed) But we know t hi s i s J onathan Masbat h. . .

I CHABOD Exact l y! So, why was t he head r emoved?

They al l wai t f or enl i ght enment .

BALTUS Why?

I CHABOD I don' t know.

They al l wat ch I chabod t o see what he wi l l do. Phi l i pse t akes ni ps

f r om hi s f l ask. But I chabod i sn' t sur e. He i sn' t t oo keen on l ooki ng at t he cor pse. Then he r eal i zes:

I CHABOD ( CONT' D) You have moved t he body?

DOCTOR LANCASTER I di d.

I CHABOD (f ur i ous) You must never move t he body!

DOCTOR LANCASTER

Why not ?

I CHABOD Because!

Despi t e t hemsel ves, t hey are i mpr essed. I chabod t akes hear t .

I chabod f i nds a huge, deep HOOFPRI NT. He kneel s, pul l s hi s sat chel of f hi s shoul der , t akes out a BOWL, BOTTLE of WATER and a BAG of POWDER.

The ot hers wat ch, f i ndi ng t hi s bi zarr e, as I chabod begi ns mi xi ng t he wat er and powder , maki ng pl ast er .

BROM

What i s t hat pot i on?

I CHABOD You are t he bl acksmi t h, Br om. Ever shoe a horse wi t h a hoof t hi s l ar ge?

I chabod f i l l s t he pr i nt wi t h r unny pl ast er .

BROM ( gr udgi ng t he poi nt ) I t ' s bi g.

I chabod shoul der s hi s satchel , wal ks al l ar ound, st udi es t he gr ound,

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ki cks away l eaves. . . and t hen l opes ar ound puzzl i ngl y. The wat cher s ar e ast oni shed by hi s ant i cs as he l eaps f r om hoof pr i nt t o hoof pr i nt .

DOCTOR LANCASTER ( t o Phi l i pse) The man' s a f ool .

PHI LLI PSE ( dr unk) He' s a f ool and we' r e damn f ool s - -

but deat h wi l l make us al l equal .

Doct or Lancast er i mpat i ent l y hushes hi m and t ur ns away.

I CHABOD The str i de i s gi gant i c. . .

I chabod st ops, t ur ns, f ol l owi ng back t o way he came. . .

I CHABOD ( CONT' D) The at t acker r ode Masbath down. . .

t ur ned hi s hor se. . . came back. . .( st ops l eapi ng)

Came back t o cl ai m t he head.

He pauses t o sum up.

I CHABOD ( CONT' D) To sumup. Head t aken. Bi g horse. ( beat ) Di d t hi s man have any enemi es?

PHI LI PSE Wel l , someone di dn' t l i ke hi m.

But I chabod has al r eady l atched on t o somethi ng.

I CHABOD

Van Ri pper , show me where t he neck rested.

Van Ri pper poi nt s. I chabod opens hi s sat chel , t akes out a BOTTLE OF GREEN POWDER.

He uncor ks t he bot t l e, spri nkl es a t hi n l ayer of powder on t he di r t , wai t i ng.

A r eact i on causes t he powder t o bubbl e a l i t t l e.

I CHABOD ( CONT' D) A chemi cal r eact i on, i t shows t her e was j ust a smear of bl ood, no more.

VAN RI PPER I di dn' t see none.

I chabod' s puzzl ed.

I chabod swal l ows, queasy, t r yi ng not t o l et i t show.

I chabod t akes odd spect acl es f r omhi s satchel , wi r e- f r amed wi t h many l enses: MAGNI FI CATI ON SPECTACLES. He f umbl es put t i ng t hem on, exami nes t he gross neck wound.

I chabod t akes an I NSTRUMENT f r omhi s sat chel , a del i cate SCI SSOR

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MECHANI SM TOOL t hat t apes of f i nt o t i ny j aws. He uses i t , hand shaki ng, t o pi ck at t he f l esh.

POV t hrough I chabod' s magni f yi ng spect acl es: a CREEPY CRAWLY BUG i s f eedi ng on t he wound. I chabod f r eaks, l eaps up.

I CHABOD ( r ecover i ng, f aki ng) I nterest i ng. . .

BALTUS What i s i t ? - - What i s i t ?!

Squi nt i ng si del ong at t he gr ound, I chabod uses hi s f oot t o squash and gr i nd t he bug, whi ch i s t oo smal l t o be vi si bl e.

He l ooks at Bal t us, hi s eyes huge i n hi s spect acl es.

I CHABOD The wound was cauter i zed i n t he very i nst ant . . . as t hough t he bl ade i t sel f were r ed hot . . . and yet , no bl i st er i ng, no scor ched f l esh.

They al l l ook worr i ed.

PHI LI PSE The Devi l ' s f i r e!

I chabod l ooks worr i ed t oo.

EXT. CEMETERY - - DAY

The t own i s gather ed f or J onathan Masbath' s f uneral . St eenwyck st ands at t he open gr ave, r eads f r omt he BI BLE.

STEENWYCK ( r eadi ng)

"Be sober, be vi gi l ant . . . " as i t sayeth i n t he book of Pet er , chapt er f i ve, ver se ei ght - - "because your adver sar y t he devi l , as a r oar i ng l i on, wal ket h about , seeki ng whomhe may devour . . . "

Peopl e WHI SPER and st eal gl ances at I chabod. I chabod st ands wi t h Bal t us and Lady Van Tassel . I chabod l ooks ar ound, observi ng. . .

Young Masbat h st ands wi t h hi s head bowed.

Br om st ands besi de Kat r i na, who wi pes t ear s. Br omput s hi s ar m ar ound Katr i na, comf ort i ng. Theodore and Gl enn ar e near by wi t h r i f l es over

t hei r shoul der s.

EXT. CEMETERY/ CHURCH - - ( TI ME CUT) - - LATER DAY

The f uneral i s done. Peopl e head out f r omt he cemetery.

I chabod wal ks wi t h t he Van Tassel s. Bal t us hol ds Kat r i na' s hand. Young Masbat h r uns t o catch up wi t h I chabod.

YOUNG MASBATH Mi ster Constabl e, s i r . . .

I chabod st ops.

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I CHABOD You are Young Masbath. . .

YOUNG MASBATH I was Young Masbat h, but now t he onl y one. Masbath at your servi ce, i n honor bound t o avenge my f at her .

I CHABOD

Wel l , one- and- onl y Masbat h, I t hank you, but your mother wi l l need you more t han I .

YOUNG MASBATH My mother i s i n heaven, si r , and has my f ather now t o care f or her . But you have no one t o ser ve you, and I am your man, si r .

I CHABOD And a brave man t oo, but I cannot be t he one t o l ook af t er you. I am sor r y f or your l oss, young Mi st er

Masbat h.

I chabod moves away, wat ched di sconsol at el y by Masbat h.

I chabod f i nds hi s sl eeve f ur t i vel y pl ucked by Phi l i pse.

PHI LI PSE Const abl e. . .

I CHABOD Mr . Phi l i pse. . . ?

Phi l i pse l ooks ar ound anxi ousl y t o see i f they' r e obser ved.

PHI LI PSE Somet hi ng you shoul d know. J onat han Masbat h was not t he f our t h vi ct i m but t he f i f t h!

I CHABOD The f i f t h?

PHI LI PSE Aye. Fi ve vi ct i ms i n f our gr aves!

I CHABOD But who. . . ?

Phi l i pse sees t hat St eenwyck has not i ced t he encount er. He br eaks of f and scut t l es away.

I chabod t ur ns hi s gaze t owar d. . .

The f r esh grave of J onat han Masbat h, and t hree mor e graves al most as r ecent : The Van Gar r et t s ar e j ust r ecei vi ng t hei r br and new headst ones, and Wi dow Wi nshi p' s grave i s marked f or t he present by a si mpl e wooden cr oss wi t h her name on i t .

I chabod sees Ki l l i an and nods t o hi m.

I CHABOD ( CONT' D)

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Mr . Ki l l i an. . . I wi l l need t he hel p you of f er ed.

I NT. STABLE - - DAY

I chabod l i f t s t he l i d of a l ar ge f eed bi n hal f f ul l of hor se f eed. Young Masbat h i s cur l ed up i nsi de l i ke a mouse i n a nest . Homel ess.

I CHABOD Fi nd a pl ace i n t he Van Tassel ' s

servant quart ers. Wake me bef ore dawn. I hope you have a st r ong st omach.

I chabod wal ks away, di sgrunt l ed.

YOUNG MASBATH Thank you, si r .

EXT. CEMETERY - - NI GHT/ DAWN

The l i d of a muddy cof f i n i s wr enched open. The cof f i n cont ai ns a headl ess cor pse. J ust t he one.

What ' s happeni ng?

The cof f i n i s on t he ground next t o t he hol e marked by t he headst one of Pet er Van Gar r et t .

Ki l l i an hol ds a l ant er n and a spade. I chabod, hol di ng a handker chi ef t o hi s f ace, l ooks i nt o t he open cof f i n. He nods. I chabod, i n shi r t sl eeves and sweat i ng, has a spade t oo. Young Masbath i s watchi ng uneasi l y. Thi s i s why Young Masbath woul d need a "st r ong st omach. " He gags, al most pukes.

At I chabod' s nod, Ki l l i an r epl aces t he l i d. Ki l l i an has Two Men wi t h hi m. Ther e ar e t wo more cof f i ns and t wo more pi l es of di r t , one cof f i n f or Di r k Van Garr et t and one f or Wi dow Wi nshi p.

I chabod moves t o t he second cof f i n. I t cont ai ns a headl ess cor pse. J ust t he one. I chabod nods, and t he l i d i s r epl aced.

The t hi r d cof f i n - - t he Wi dow' s - - i s bei ng opened by one of t he Men. I chabod t akes a l ant er n and l ooks expect ant l y as t he l i d comes of f . The Wi dow' s headl ess cor pse i s al one i n t he cof f i n.

I chabod pauses. Nods. As t he l i d i s about t o be r epl aced. He st ops i t .

I CHABOD Wai t .

I chabod t akes out a smal l penkni f e and cut s t hr ough t he shroud. He

r eveal s t he bel l y. He st ar es at i t . Was she pr egnant ? I t ' s i mpossi bl e t o t el l . But ther e i s t he wound of a sword st ab i n t he st omach.

Suddenl y t here i s a scr eech, whi ch seems t o come f r om t he corpse, gi vi ng heart at t acks al l ar ound - - but now we see a "ghost " hol di ng a l ant er n. I t ' s Rever end St eenwyck who has di scover ed t hemand i s shr i eki ng i n out r age.

STEENWYCK Sacri l ege! Sacri l ege!

I chabod r ecover s.

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I CHABOD Sci ence. . . sci ence, Rever end Steenwyck! Someone i n Sl eepy Hol l ow i s usi ng t he Horseman st ory f or hi s own murder ous pur pose, and I i ntend to. . . di g i t out .

St eenwyck f r ot hs, l ooks t er r i f i ed and backs of f .

I NT. DOCTOR' S RESI DENCE, MEDI CAL ROOM - - DAY

I chabod and Ki l l i an, hel ped by Young Masbath, carr y t he Wi dow' s muddy cof f i n i nsi de. Doct or Lancast er wat ches i n hor r or , sweat i ng pr of usel y, f r eaked out .

DOCTOR LANCASTER Thi s i s. . . most i r r egul ar , Const abl e.

I CHABOD I shoul d hope so. But i n t hi s case, necessary.

The cof f i n i s put down.

I CHABOD ( CONT' D) I wi l l need t o oper at e.

DOCTOR LANCASTER Oper at e? She' s dead!

I CHABOD ( t hr own) When we say "operat e, " we mean, of cour se. . . er, I ' l l need t he operati ng t abl e. Lay her out , pl ease. ( t o Young Masbat h) Go on, nothi ng t o be af r ai d of .

When Ki l l i an and Young Masbath l ay out t he corpse, I chabod gul ps water and st udi es t he pages of hi s Ledger.

I CHABOD ( CONT' D) There i s a common t hread bet ween t hese vi ct i ms.

DOCTOR LANCASTER And what ' s t hat ?

I CHABOD ( cl osi ng t he Ledger ) I don' t know.

He goes t o exami ne t he corpse. Young Masbath r et r eat s t o a corner, i l l at ease.

I CHABOD ( CONT' D) Once mor e, t he neck wound caut er i zed. The sword t hr ust t o t he st omach, t he same, per haps by chemi cal means. But t o what pur pose?

I chabod gi nger l y f eel s t he corpse' s st omach. The Doctor watches. We get t he f eel i ng he "knows somethi ng. "

DOCTOR LANCASTER

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To what i s your pur pose, i s t he quest i on.

I chabod t akes a r ol l ed VELVET CLOTH f r om hi s sat chel , unr ol l s i t . . . i t hol ds SURGI CAL I NSTRUMENTS, some par t i cul ar l y st r ange: RI B- SPEADERS and CURVED CLAMPS.

DOCTOR LANCASTER ( CONT' D) What manner of i nst r ument s are t hose?

I CHABOD Some of my own desi gn.

I chabod pi cks t hr ough hi s i nst r ument s, unsur e. He l ooks t o t he cor pse a l ong moment. He l ooks at Young Masbat h.

I CHABOD ( CONT' D) St ep out si de. Thank you f or your hel p, Mr . Ki l l i an. And, i f you do not mi nd, Doctor , my concent r at i on suf f er s when I amobserved.

I chabod watches Ki l l i an, Young Masbath and Lancast er go. He qui ckl y

r et urns t o hi s sat chel , pul l i ng out a BOOK: HUMAN ANATOMY. He searches t he pages. . .

He f l i ps t hrough DRAWI NGS of ANATOMY, t hen set s t he book open nearby so he can r ef er t o i t . He pi cks up a KNI FE, st ands at t he cor pse, t aki ng a deep uncert ai n br eat h.

I chabod cut s i nt o t he Wi dow' s bel l y, but st ops, l ooki ng hor r i f i ed at what he' s done. He l eans cl ose t o st udy t he book agai n, worr i ed. He makes anot her i nci si on. . . He l ooks down at i t , queasy.

EXT. DOCTOR' S RESI DENCE - - DAY

Young Masbat h si t s wai t i ng.

Doct or Lancast er st ands wi t h Phi l i pse ( hung over) , St eenwyck and Hardenbr ook, speaki ng agi t atedl y. OTHER PEOPLE have gat her ed i n t he background.

The door t o t he doctor ' s r esi dence opens and I chabod st eps out . He i s bl oodi ed, shaken, f ut i l el y wi pi ng at t he mess wi t h a bl ood- cover ed cl ot h, l ooki ng up. . .

Al l at t ent i on goes to I chabod. Ever yone' s hor r i f i ed.

I CHABOD I am. . . f i ni shed.

STEENWYCK What i n God' s name have you done t o her? ( poi nt i ng) Magi st r at e Phi l i pse, you ar e t he wor d of l aw her e. . . put hi m i n i r ons!

Phi l i pse and I chabod exchange a l ook. Phi l i pse ni ps f r om hi s f l ask.

PHI LI PSE And what di d you f i nd out , Const abl e?

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I CHABOD That t her e ar e not f our vi ct i ms but f i ve. The Wi dow Wi nshi p was wi t h chi l d!

The smal l crowd mur mur s, shocked. Doctor Lancast er r ecover s, f ur i ous.

DOCTOR LANCASTER What of i t ? She shoul d have been l ef t t o make her peace wi t h God and

not cut t o bi t s by t he Const abul ar y!

I chabod i s shaken f or a moment , r emember i ng t he si mi l ar charge made agai nst hi m i n New Yor k.

I CHABOD The sword was t hrust i nto t he womb and no f art her . A symbol i c murder . We ar e deal i ng wi t h a madman.

EXT. LONG STRAI GHT ROAD, COVERED BRI DGE - - LATER NI GHT

Pal e moonl i ght . I chabod r i des Gunpowder acr oss t he COVERED BRI DGE. They are an ungai nl y pai r .

Fol l owi ng t he r oad, I chabod i s l ost i n t hought . The CLOPPI NG of HOOFBEATS i s HEARD on t he br i dge behi nd.

I chabod t urns t o l ook. HOOFBEATS STOP. No one can be seen i n t he dar k mout h of t he br i dge. CRI CKETS CHI RP.

I CHABOD Who' s t her e?

I chabod f aces f orwar d, cont i nui ng t o t he f or est .

He hums a t une t o hi msel f , t one deaf . Af t er a moment , a HORSE i s HEARD SNORTI NG, HOOFBEATS RESUME. I chabod st ops Gunpowder .

There i s SOMEONE back t her e, on hor seback, comi ng out f r om t he dar kness of t he br i dge, sl owl y. . .

I CHABOD ( CONT' D) Who ar e you?

The FI GURE comes i nt o moonl i ght , on a BLACK HORSE, smoke seemi ng t o r i se f r omhi m; a dar k FI GURE, cl oaked - - headl ess.

I chabod pani cs, ki cki ng Gunpowder t o f l ee. The f i gur e t akes of f t o f ol l ow.

I chabod whi ps Gunpowder' s r ei ns, gaspi ng, movi ng f ast er. The f i gur e

behi nd al so pi cks up speed.

EXT. SLEEPY HOLLOW FOREST - - NI GHT

Gunpowder car r i es I chabod i nt o t he f orest . The headl ess f i gur e i s ri ght behi nd, cl oak f l owi ng. . .

The HEADLESS FI GURE i s HEARD l et t i ng out a hel l i sh CRY of r age. I chabod gl ances f ear f ul l y over hi s shoul der . . .

A HORRI BLE FACE wi t h f l ami ng eyes and mout h rushes f orward. . .

I t SMASHES i nt o I chabod - - sends hi m sprawl i ng t o t he gr ound i n an

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expl osi on of r ed hot ash and ci nder s. . .

I chabod r ol l s, shaken. . . l ooki ng behi nd. The t r ai l i s empt y. HOOFBEATS ar e HEARD. SEVERAL HORSES.

I chabod st ands. He l ooks down at t he r emnants of a BROKEN J ACK- O' - LANTERN and smol deri ng bal l of paper on t he t r ai l .

The FI GURE r i des t o a hal t , t hr ows of f a cl oak and "headl ess" di sgui se; i t ' s Br om. Gl enn and Theodore r i de up, l aughi ng.

Br om al so l aughs, but when he l ooks back, t he smi l e l eaves hi s f ace. He t akes gr i m sat i sf act i on i n what he' s done.

I chabod' s f ace i s haunt ed, r unni ng wi t h t he sweat of f ear - - he i s st i l l t r embl i ng f r om t he exper i ence.

FEMALE VOI CE ( V. O. ) I chabod! I chabod!

And suddenl y we are pi t ched i nto I chabod' s DREAM.

I CHABOD' S DREAM - - EXT. COTTAGE - - DAY

FEMALE VOI CE ( V. O. ) I chabod! I chabod. . . !

A woman i s i n t he doorway, hol di ng out her ar ms. She seems t o be Kat r i na as I chabod f i r st saw her , bl i ndf ol ded.

A YOUNG BOY, aged about seven, r uns t oward her , wi t h a l i t t l e bunch of wi l df l ower s.

I CHABOD' S DREAM - - YOUNG I CHABOD' S KI TCHEN - - NI GHT

The Bl i ndf ol ded Woman i s pl ayi ng t he Pi ckety Wi t ch Game wi t h I chabod. He i s l aughi ng - - scar ed as she gr abs t he ai r l ooki ng f or hi m. He i s hol di ng t he wi l df l ower s he pi cked. She sei zes hi m, ki sses hi m and

t akes of f t he bl i ndf ol d. I t ' s not Kat r i na, but hi s Mot her , a ki nd and l ovel y f ace. He gi ves hi s Mother t he f l ower s. She put s one of t he f l ower s i n her hai r , l aughi ng. But t he ot her s - - she t hr ows on t he f i r e! - - and she crouches at t he hear t hst one, beckoni ng hi m, st i l l "ni ce. " He comes t o her, not scared.

As t he f l owers bur n, t hey gi ve of f smoky f umes, whi ch t he Mot her i nhal es l i ke per f ume, cl osi ng her eyes i n a t r ance. He wat ches f asci nat ed as she pi cks up a t wi g and st ar t s dr awi ng pi ct ur es - - st r ange desi gns - - i n t he l ayer of ash on t he hear t hst one.

Suddenl y I chabod t ur ns hi s head t o t he door , whi ch i s openi ng - - spooky because no one i s ent eri ng. Then he sees at f l oor l evel t he f ami l y CAT has come t hrough t he door . A bl ack cat wi t h a whi t e paw.

I chabod' s Mother i s "awakened" by t hi s, j ust i n t i me as Fat her , a gr i m Par son al l i n bl ack, ent er s.

I chabod l ooks up f r i ght ened at t he f ace of hi s Fat her .

I CHABOD' S DREAM - - YOUNG I CHABOD' S BEDROOM - - NI GHT

The Cat i s on I chabod' s bed. . . wat chi ng Mother who i s ent er t ai ni ng I chabod wi t h t he Bi r d- i n- Cage Spi nni ng Di sc Toy, whi ch we wi l l get t o know.

I chabod i s t ucked up i n bed, ast oni shed and happy. The Bi r d and Cage

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bl ur t oget her .

Li ght ni ng f l ashes out si de a wi ndow, t hunder booms, t he st orm bur st s open t he wi ndow.

The Cat l eaps of f t he bed, caught i n l i ght ni ng f l ash, t he Toy dr ops, t angl ed on t he bed. I chabod covers hi s f ace, scared; hi s Mother hugs hi m.


I chabod i s st ar t l ed awake, f r i ght ened, sweat i ng.

I NT. VAN TASSEL HOUSE, KI TCHEN - - NI GHT

I chabod ent ers wi t h a l ant er n and hi s Ledger . He si t s, st udi es notes, t hen not i ces a l i ght down t he hal l .

I NT. VAN TASSEL HOUSE, SEWI NG ROOM - - NI GHT

I chabod enters . Opposi t e an el aborate LOOM, Katr i na r eads by candl el i ght .

She l ooks up, and sel f - consci ousl y cl oses her book, whi ch we see i s a

chi l d' s versi on of THE KNI GHTS OF THE ROUND TABLE. She covers i t on her l ap.

I CHABOD Oh. . . par don my i nt r usi on. . . I saw a l i ght . . .

KATRI NA I t i s no i nt r usi on. . . I come her e t o r ead when I amwakef ul .

I CHABOD To r ead books whi ch you must hi de. . . ?

KATRI NA They were my mot her ' s books. . . my f ather f r owned at t hem t hen, and woul d f r own at me now. He bel i eves t al es of r omance caused t he br ai n f ever t hat ki l l ed my mother . She di ed t wo years ago come mi dwi nt er .

I chabod nods.

I CHABOD I saw i t wr i t t en i n t he f r ont of t he Bi bl e.

KATRI NA The nurse who cared f or her dur i ng her si ckness i s now Lady Van Tassel .

I CHABOD There was somet hi ng el se t oo. Why di d no one t hi nk t o ment i on t hat Van Garr et t s ar e ki t h and ki n t o t he Van Tassel s?

KATRI NA Why, because t here i s hardl y a

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househol d i n Sl eepy Hol l ow t hat i s not connect ed t o every ot her by bl ood or marr i age. I have more cousi ns t han f i nger s and t oes t o count t hemon.

A cock cr ows. I chabod goes t o t he wi ndow t o l ook at the edge of dawn.

I CHABOD I see.

KATRI NA Thi s l and was Van Garr et t Land, gi ven t o my f ather when I was i n swaddl i ng cl othes.

I CHABOD Gi ven by t he dead Van Gar r et t ?

KATRI NA ( nods) The Van Garr et t s were t he r i chest f ami l y r ound t hese part s even t hen. When my f at her brought us t o Sl eepy

Hol l ow, Van Gar r et t set hi m up wi t h an acr e and a broken- down cot t age, and a dozen of Van Gar r et t hens. My f ather pr osper ed, and bui l t us a new house. I owe my happi ness t o hi m. I r emember l i vi ng poor i n t he cot t age. Shoul d I show you?

I CHABOD Yes. I woul d l i ke t o see where you were as poor as I am.

Katr i na st ands up, r eveal i ng a Book t hat had been on t he f l oor , hi dden by her ski r t . She pi cks up t he book and gi ves i t to I chabod.

KATRI NA Take t hi s. I t i s my gi f t f or you.

I chabod l ooks at t he t i t l e page: A COMPENDI UM OF SPELLS, CHARMS AND DEVI CES OF THE SPI RI T WORLD.

I CHABOD ( t r oubl ed) But I have no use f or . . .

KATRI NA Ar e you so cer t ai n of ever ythi ng?

I chabod sees t hat Kat r i na' s name i s wr i t t en on t he endpaper , and, i n a di f f er ent hand, her mother ' s name, "El i zabet h Van Tassel . "

I CHABOD I t was your mot her ' s. . . ?

KATRI NA Keep i t cl ose t o your hear t . I t i s sure prot ect i on agai nst harm.

I CHABOD ( smi l es) Ar e you so cer t ai n of ever ythi ng?

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Thei r eyes meet and hol d f or a moment . I chabod accept s t he book by pl aci ng i t on t he desk.

EXT. FI ELDS - - DAY ( EARLY MORNI NG)

I chabod and Katr i na make a pr et t y pi ct ur e on horseback, r i di ng sl owl y t oward t he cot t age.

EXT. SLEEPY HOLLOW FARMLAND - - DAY ( EARLY MORNI NG)

I chabod and Katr i na, r i di ng, come upon t he r ui n of a cot t age. Ther e i s al most nothi ng l ef t but t he hear t h and a part of a chi mney.

I chabod di smount s and hel ps Katr i na down f r omher horse, t aki ng her hand.

Bef ore he l et s go, she not i ces t he l i t t l e scar s on hi s pal m. She t akes bot h hi s hands and l ooks at t hem.

KATRI NA These ar e st r ange. . . What are they. . . ?

I CHABOD I wi sh I knew. I had t hem si nce I can r emember .

Kat r i na hol ds hi s hands a moment l onger , t hei r eyes meet , t hen she l et s go and "ent er s" t he r ui n.

I chabod' s at t ent i on i s caught by a r ed Car di nal on a br anch, l i ke t he bi r d he had i n New York.

He r ef l ect s a moment , t hen t ur ns t o watch Katr i na cr ouchi ng by t he hear t h. She has put a f l ower i n her hai r .

KATRI NA

I used t o pl ay by t hi s hear t h. I t was my f i r st drawi ng school and my mot her was my t eacher .

Unwi t t i ngl y, Kat r i na i s mi mi cki ng I chabod' s dr eam. She pi cks up a t wi g and st ar t s "dr awi ng" on t he hear t h st one. Li ke I chabod' s mother i n hi s dr eam.

I chabod' s bl ood r uns col d but she i s unaware of hi m. Then he not i ces t hat a f ew smal l wi l df l ower s ar e gr owi ng i n t he ol d f i r epl ace. I chabod f eel s shor t of br eat h, he l eans agai nst the st ones f or suppor t .

KATRI NA ( CONT' D) Oh, l ook! I ' d f orgot t en t hi s! - - see

- - car ved i nt o t he f i r e- back, t he Ar cher !

Usi ng her f i nger s she cl eans of f t he di r t ar ound a si mpl e car vi ng of a man wi t h a Bow and Arr ow.

KATRI NA ( CONT' D) Thi s was f r oml ong bef ore we l i ved her e.

She t urns t o show I chabod and not i ces hi m l ooki ng st r ange.

KATRI NA ( CONT' D)

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Ar e you al l r i ght ?

I chabod nods, r ecover i ng, sayi ng nothi ng.

Kat r i na i s r eassur ed. Suddenl y her at t ent i on i s caught , as I chabod' s was, by t he Cardi nal bi r d.

KATRI NA ( CONT' D) ( poi nt i ng) Oh, l ook! A Car di nal ! My f avor i t e! I

woul d l ove t o have a t ame one, but I woul dn' t have t he heart t o cage hi m.

I chabod unsl i ngs hi s sat chel .

I CHABOD Then I have somethi ng f or you.

He has a PAPER DI SK wi t h a BI RD on one si de and an EMPTY CAGE on t he ot her, pi erced by a l ooped st r i ng on whi ch t he di sk can t wi st and spi n. He demonst r at es l i ke a magi ci an. Thi s i s t he ver y Toy gi ven t o hi m by hi s Mot her.

I CHABOD ( CONT' D)

A Cardi nal on one si de, and an empty cage.

Kat r i na wat ches i nt ent l y. I chabod spi ns t he Di sk.

I CHABOD ( CONT' D) And now. . .

The bi r d appears t o be i nsi de t he cage.

Katr i na i s astoni shed and del i ght ed.

KATRI NA You can do magi c! Teach me!

I CHABOD I t i s no magi c. I t i s opt i cs.

I chabod gi ves her t he Toy and shows her how t o spi n i t .

I CHABOD ( CONT' D) Separ at e pi ct ures whi ch become one pi ctur e i n t he spi nni ng. . . Li ke t he t r ut h whi ch I must spi n her e. . .

Katr i na spi ns t he di sk, t he bi r d appear s i n t he cage.

EXT. PHI LI PSE HOUSE - - NI GHT

A MOVI NG POV i s checki ng out t he Vi l l age House. Thr ough l i ght ed wi ndows, f i gur es of Men are seen paci ng, apparent l y argui ng.

Phi l i pse i s packi ng hi s bags, movi ng out . . . whi l e t hr ee Men, St eenwyck, Doct or Lancast er and Hardenbr ook, are i n agi t ated conf erence. Thei r r ai sed voi ces make an undeci pherabl e hubbub. The POV' S hor se makes a hor sey snuf f l i ng sound. I s i t Dar edevi l ?

St eenwyck comes r i ght t o t he wi ndow as i f he has seen somethi ng. . . but he mer el y cl oses t he shut t ers .

The REVERSE shows t hat i t i s I chabod who has been spyi ng.

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I chabod backs of f and mounts Gunpowder , l ooki ng t hought f ul , then determi ned.

EXT. ROAD OUTSI DE VI LLAGE - - NI GHT

A Mounted Man i s appr oachi ng on a heavi l y l oaded Pack Horse. . . Phi l i pse maki ng hi s get away f r om Sl eepy Hol l ow. As he r eaches t he f oregr ound, I chabod on Gunpowder i nt ercept s hi m, grabbi ng t he br i dl e of t he Pack Hor se.

PHI LI PSE What are you doi ng? Let go!

I CHABOD What are you r unni ng f r om, Magi st r at e Phi l i pse?

PHI LI PSE Damn you, Cr ane - -

I CHABOD You' l l rai se t he vi l l age.

Phi l i pse cal ms down.

I CHABOD ( CONT' D) You had a mi nd t o hel p me.

PHI LI PSE Yes - - and I put mysel f i n mort al dr ead of . . .

I CHABOD Of . . . what ?

PHI LI PSE Powers agai nst whi ch t here i s no

def ense.

I CHABOD How di d you know t he wi dow was expect i ng a chi l d?

PHI LI PSE She t ol d me.

I CHABOD Then I deduce you are t he f ather .

PHI LI PSE I hope your deduct i ons serve you

bet t er i n your cont est agai nst t he Hessi an. I am not t he f at her .

I CHABOD Di d she t el l you t he name of t he chi l d' s f at her?

PHI LI PSE Yes - - she di d. She came t o me f or advi ce - - as t he t own magi st r at e - -

I chabod hear s sounds. . . of sheep i n agi t at i on at some di st ance but he hol ds Phi l i pse t o hi s st or y.

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PHI LI PSE ( CONT' D) - - t o pr ot ect t he r i ght s of her chi l d. I was bound by my oath of of f i ce t o keep t he secret - -

I CHABOD Do you bel i eve t he f at her ki l l ed her?

PHI LI PSE (st ares at hi m i n sur pr i se) The Horseman ki l l ed her ! - - You damn f ool , do you suppose t he Horseman st ops t o i mpregnat e our women?

I CHABOD The Hor seman? How of t en do I have t o t el l you t here i s no Horseman! There never was a Horseman! - - and t her e never wi l l be a Horseman!

I chabod gr abs hi m f i er cel y, pul l i ng on t he amul et Phi l i pse wear s

around hi s neck.

PHI LI PSE Let go! - - i t i s my t al i sman t hat pr ot ects me f r om t he Horseman!

I CHABOD You a magi st r ate! - - and your head f ul l of such nonsense! Now t el l me t he name of - -

A f l ock of sheep comes st r eami ng and bl eat i ng across t he pat h.

The hor ses go cr azy, BRAYI NG and r ear i ng. A SOUND i s HEARD, di st ant :

THUNDERI NG HOOFBEATS. Wi nd ki cks up.

Phi l i pse l ooks t o t he f or est . A FLOCK of BI RDS al i ght s.

PHI LI PSE Oh my. . . oh my oh my oh my. . .

PHI LI PSE r uns away. HOOFBEATS LOUDER, CLOSER. I chabod f aces the forest.

The f orest expl odes open, f ol i age bendi ng t o make way as t he HEADLESS HORSEMAN gal l ops i nt o vi ew at op DAREDEVI L.

I chabod' s st unned. He l ooks down t o dr aw hi s f l i nt l ock pi st ol , but t he

Horseman ROARS by bef ore he can r ai se i t - - a bl ast of ai r knocks I chabod of f hi s hor se.

Af t er t hi s, ever yt hi ng happens ver y qui ckl y - -

The Horseman chases Phi l i pse.

Phi l i pse l ooks over hi s shoul der .

The Hor seman draws hi s swor d.

Phi l i pse gat her s hi s cour age and st ops, t ur ni ng. He r ai ses hi s i r on key t al i sman bef or e hi m. The Horseman i s cl osi ng. . .

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I CHABOD Phi l i pse!

Phi l i pse hol ds t he t al i sman up, t r yi ng t o be f ear l ess. The Horseman swi ngs hi s sword upon t he t al i sman - - CLANK. . .

Phi l i pse' s sever ed head spi ns. Hi s body f al l s and f ol ds.

The t wo pi eces of Phi l i pse' s Tal i sman, an I r on Key, f l y t hr ough t he

ai r , t owar d I chabod, who has onl y j ust managed t o f i nd hi s f eet and f i nd hi s f al l en pi stol .

The Horseman t ur ns Dar edevi l i n a wi de ci r cl e. . .

Daredevi l compl etes t he t urn, l et t i ng out a SCREECHY CRY as t he Horseman r i des st r ai ght t owar d I chabod. . .

Bef ore I chabod has t i me t o t ake ai m, t he Horseman i s upon hi m and past hi m! - - headi ng t owar d Phi l i pse' s cor pse. . . l eans ef f or t l essl y t o skewer Phi l i pse' s head wi t h hi s sword.

Wi t h t he head as hi s pr i ze, t he Horseman r aces away.

I chabod t urns, watches t he Horseman head t o t he f orest .

I chabod st ands, st r i cken. He f ai nt s.

I NT. VAN TASSEL HOUSE, I CHABOD' S BEDROOM - - DAY

I chabod gasps awake. A KNOCKI NG i s HEARD.

BALTUS' S VOI CE ( O. S. ) Const abl e Cr ane. . . ?

I chabod l ooks at hi s hand bal l ed i nt o a f i st . He opens hi s hand - - hol ds BOTH HALVES of PHI LI PSE' S I RON KEY TALI SMAN.

I NT. VAN TASSEL HOUSE, UPSTAI RS HALL 3RD FLOOR - - DAY

Young Masbat h i s seat ed by I chabod' s cl osed door . Katr i na i s backi ng up Bal t us, who knocks agai n.

BALTUS Has he not come out at al l ?

Young Masbat h shakes hi s head.

I NT. VAN TASSEL HOUSE, I CHABOD' S ROOM - - DAY

Bal t us ent er s. Kat r i na and Masbat h f ol l ow hi m, caut i ousl y, "vi si t i ng t he si ck. " I chabod si t s up i n bed, st unned, spaced out .

I CHABOD I t was a Headl ess Hor seman!

BALTUS You must not exci t e your sel f .

I CHABOD But i t was Headl ess Hor seman!

BALTUS Of cour se i t was.

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I CHABOD No, you must bel i eve me, i t was Hor seman! A dead one! Headl ess!

BALTUS I know, I know. . .

I CHABOD You don' t know because you weren' t there! But i t ' s al l t rue!

BALTUS Of course i t i s. I t ol d you! Ever yone t ol d you!

I CHABOD (wi l dl y) I saw hi m!

Hi s eyes r ol l up and he f ai nt s. Kat r i na and Masbat h l ook hel pl essl y at each ot her .

YOUNG MASBATH I suppose i t ' s back t o t he Ci t y,

t hen.

Kat r i na' s r eact i on i s mi xed - - gl ad t hat I chabod wi l l be saf e, sor r y i f he l eaves.

I CHABOD' S DREAM - - FOREST - - DAY

A MI LLI ON WHI TE MI LKWEED SEEDLI NGS are f l oat i ng i n sunl i ght . Young I chabod' s l aught er i s hear d.

Now we see t hat hi s Mother i s bl owi ng t he seedl i ngs f or hi s del i ght . She gi ves hi m a mi l kweed pod and shows hi m how t o do i t f or hi msel f . I chabod br eaks t he pod and r el eases another mi l l i on. But when he l ooks ar ound t o shar e t he del i ght , hi s Mother has gone. . . and he sees her

di sappeari ng among t he t r ees. He goes t o f ol l ow her.

I CHABOD' S DREAM - - FOREST GLADE - - DAY

I chabod can' t see hi s Mother anywhere. . .

Then he sees her st andi ng i n t he mi ddl e of a CI RCLE OF BEAUTI FUL TOADSTOOLS/ MUSHROOMS gr owi ng i n t he Gl ade.

I chabod watches as hi s Mother t ur ns i nsi de t he Mushroom Ci r cl e, al most danci ng. He smi l es. Then he sees hi s Mot her st oop t o pi ck a mushr oom. She eat s i t . She l ooks happy. She drops a smal l pi ece of t he mushr oom.

I chabod sees i t f al l .

He r uns f orwar d and pi cks i t up bef ore she sees hi m. I chabod eat s i t . Hi s Mot her sees hi m, t akes hi s hands i n her s and dances around i n a ci r cl e.

As I chabod whi zzes around l aughi ng, hi s POV becomes t he Enci r cl i ng Trees whi zz i ng around, and suddenl y he seems t o be sur r ounded by Menaci ng Headl ess Fi gur es dr essed al l i n bl ack.

I chabod f al l s over di zzy and when he l ooks up he sees t hat t he Headl ess Fi gur es have become hi s Father , watchi ng hi s Mot her heedl essl y danci ng, hi s f ace l i ke t hunder . Hi s Mother has l oosened her cl ot hes and i s vi r t ual l y bar ebr east ed.

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Hi s Fat her ' s eyes begi n t o gl ow l i ke l i ve coal s as I chabod cower s away f r om hi m.

I CHABOD' S DREAM - - I CHABOD' S HOUSE - - NI GHT

I chabod' s eyes are spyi ng. . . t hr ough a cr ack i n t he ki t chen door .

When we see hi m pr operl y, he i s wear i ng a ni ght shi r t . Then we see hi s POV, i nt o t he ki t chen.

I CHABOD' S DREAM - - YOUNG I CHABOD' S KI TCHEN - - NI GHT

Mother i s seat ed, her head down. Fat her paces, chast i si ng Mother angr i l y, hi s f i st bal l ed up i n r age.

Fat her cont i nues ber at i ng Mot her . He pi cks up hi s Bi bl e of f t he t abl e, wavi ng i t , t hen gr abs Mother by t he shoul der s, f orci ng her t o t he f l oor . . .

Fat her f or ces Mother t o her knees. Mother i s af r ai d, cl aspi ng her hands i n f r ont of her as Fat her f or ces her t o pr ay. Fat her st ar t s r eadi ng f r om t he Bi bl e. I n I chabod' s dr eam, thi s i s t he same Bi bl e f r om Bal t us' s house.

I CHABOD' S DREAM - - YOUNG I CHABOD' S STAI RWELL - - NI GHT

I chabod watches, af r ai d. He backs away, r et ur ni ng upst ai r s.

I CHABOD' S DREAM - - YOUNG I CHABOD' S BEDROOM - - NI GHT

A wi ndow i s t hrown CRASHI NG open, THUNDER BOOMI NG. . . Young I chabod si t s up i n hi s bed. He goes t o cl ose t he wi ndow, RAI N pour i ng i n. He l ooks down. . .

I CHABOD' S DREAM - - EXT. YOUNG I CHABOD' S HOUSE - - NI GHT

Bel ow, i n f r ont of t he home, a MAN drags Mot her t oward a COACH. TWO

MEN st and watchi ng, f aces hi dden under hat br i ms. Mot her l ooks back, eyes pl eadi ng, st r uggl i ng. . .

Mot her l ooks up t o Young I chabod.

The TWO MEN l ooks up t o Young I chabod: one i s Fat her , and t he THI RD MAN i s a Cot t on Mather- i sh man wi t h a vi l l ai nous f ace.

Young I chabod r eaches hel pl essl y t oward Mot her .

Mother i s f orced i nt o t he coach.

The Thi r d Man speaks t o Father , t hen wal ks t o t he coach. He get s ont o t he coach as t he coach st art s away.

Fat her wat ches, rai n f l owi ng down hi s st ony f eat ur es. LI GHTI NG FLASHES. . . And we see t he f ami l y Cat watchi ng wi t h gl owi ng eyes.

I NT. VAN TASSEL HOUSE - - DAY

I chabod' s eyes as he opens t hem. He wakes, br eat hi ng heavi l y.

Af t er a beat , he f l i ngs back t he bedcl othes and spr i ngs out of bed, energi zed by a new det ermi nat i on.

I NT. VAN TASSEL HOUSE, DOWNSTAI RS - - DAY

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Bal t us, Steenwyck, Doct or Lancast er and Not ary Hardenbr ook are havi ng anot her meet i ng, t hi s t i me wi t h Lady Van Tassel and Kat r i na on hand wi t h t he dr i nks.

BALTUS Ri ght - - t hi s t i me I ' l l go t o New Yor k mysel f and I won' t be f obbl ed of f wi t h an amateur deduct or .

HARDENBROOK

( cor r ect i ng hi m) Detector.

STEENWYCK ( cor r ecti ng) Deduct i ve.

DOCTOR LANCASTER ( doubt i ng) No. . . no. . .

BALTUS ( r i si ng above i t ) An amat eur sl eut h! Thi s t i me i t ' s a

magi st r at e t hat ' s dead, and - -

The door i s f l ung open wi t hout ceremony.

I t ' s I chabod r eady f or act i on, t r ansf or med, r ar i ng t o go - - wi t h Young Masbat h r ound- eyed j ust behi nd hi m.

I CHABOD Gent l emen! - - I need abl e men, t o go wi t h me t o t he West er n Woods. Who wi l l be t he f i r st t o vol unt eer ?

BALTUS You. . . ? We t hought you' d shot your

bol t . . .

I CHABOD A setback, merel y. And yet , a st ep f or war d t oo - - we now know who has done t hese t er r i bl e - -

STEENWYCK You now know, we al r eady knew - -

I CHABOD ( hi gh on i t ) Qui t e so - - and now i t seems f ate has chosen me t o make my name i n a

case wi t hout par al l el i n t he annal s of cri me - - i n shor t , t o pi t mysel f agai nst a murder i ng ghost .

KATRI NA ( f ear f ul f or hi m) No, I chabod - - Const abl e - -

LADY VAN TASSEL ( smi l es) Do you i ntend t o arr est hi m? Or i mpound hi s horse. . . ?

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The Men chuckl e i ndul gent l y.

I CHABOD Nei t her. To put an end t o t he ki l l i ng. To di scover t he cause and r emove i t . Who' s wi t h me?

No one.

EXT. WESTERN WOODS - - DAY

No one, i ndeed. . . I chabod and Young Masbat h r i de al one. . . t hei r horses l oaded up f or t he expedi t i on.

Dark, gnar l ed and cr eepy woods. I chabod and Young Masbat h move t hrough. SOUND OF BI RDS et c.

I CHABOD The Van Gar r et t s, t he Wi dow Wi nshi p . . . your f at her , J onat han Masbat h. . .

and now Phi l i pse. . . Somethi ng must connect t hem. Can you t hi nk?

YOUNG MASBATH

( shakes hi s head) We had no deal i ngs wi t h t he magi st r at e t hat I know of . . .

I CHABOD And t he wi dow? Your f at her knew her ?

YOUNG MASBATH ( shr ugs) Everyone knew Wi dow Wi nshi p.

I CHABOD I n a manner of speaki ng, I t r ust .

YOUNG MASBATH She woul d br i ng ol d Mr . Van Garr et t a basket of eggs many a day.

I CHABOD Di d your f at her have deal i ngs wi t h t he Van Garr et t s?

YOUNG MASBATH ( sur pr i sed) He worked f or t hem, we l i ved i n t he coach house.

I chabod hal t s hi s hor se, sur pr i sed.

YOUNG MASBATH ( CONT' D) I t ' s not hi ng - - t her e wer e many ser vant s. . . al l di smi ssed now, of cour se. ( beat - - t hey r i de on) But t here was somet hi ng happened one ni ght , a week bef ore t he murder . An argument upst ai r s bet ween f ather and son, and my f ather was l ater sent f or by Mr . Van Gar r et t .

I CHABOD

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An argument between f at her and son? ( t o hi msel f , thought f ul l y) Af t er whi ch, t he el der Van Gar r et t summoned hi s ser vant , Masbath. . .

Young Masbat h hal t s hi s horse and l ooks around.

YOUNG MASBATH Li st en.

I CHABOD I hear nothi ng.

YOUNG MASBATH Nor I - - no bi r ds - - no cri cket s - -

Ever yt hi ng has gone qui et .

YOUNG MASBATH ( CONT' D) - - i t ' s al l gone so qui et . . .

I chabod notes thi s ner vousl y.

I CHABOD You' re r i ght !

He gees up t he hor ses. They break i nto a gal l op. A MOVI NG POV wat ches t hem gal l op by.

EXT. WESTERN WOODS AND CAVE ENTRANCE - - DAY

I chabod and Masbat h r each a hi l l crest . They st op, uneasy.

BELOW, t here i s a CAVE wi t h a r ock archway. An i l l - f i t t i ng DOOR covers t he mout h. The chi mney spews smoke.

I chabod and Masbat h shar e a f ear f ul l ook.

ELSEWHERE, SOMEONE WATCHES. . . A MOVI NG POV WATCHES I chabod and Masbat h as t hey r i de t o t he cave, FOLLOWI NG. . .

I chabod and Young Masbath di smount , t yi ng t hei r hor ses, t hen headi ng t o t he cave. They arr i ve at t he cave door . I chabod hesi t ant l y KNOCKS.

I NT. CAVE HOME - - DAY

The door i s aj ar . . . I chabod and Young Masbat h st ep i n. . . Wal l s ar e hung wi t h SKI NS and SKELETONS. Acr oss t he cave, a CRONE si t s f aci ng away, mot i onl ess.

I chabod and Young Masbath l ook t o each other, f ear f ul .

I CHABOD Par don my i nt r usi on. . .

The Cr one, wi t h gray hai r and gray f eatures, si t s di si nt erest ed. Behi nd, I chabod edges sl owl y f orwar d. . .

CRONE You ar e f r omt he Hol l ow?

I CHABOD I n a way, yes. I , um. . .

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I chabod i s di st r act ed by gour d BOWLS of DEAD I NSECTS, LEAVES and ACORNS. . . KNI

Documents

_Sleepy Hollow_, shooting draft, revised by Tom Stoppard.pdf