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Sleepy Hollow
Being the true storie of one Ichabod Crane
and the Headless Horseman

Based on "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" by Washington Irving
Screenplay by Charles Wicker
Third Draft
2/10/98
A pleasing land of drowsy head it was,
of dreams that wave before the half shut eye...
EXT. GNARLED FOREST -- NIGHT
An UGLY MAN charges through on a horse, holding a lantern
forward on a long pole. He looks back, terrified.
INSERT TITLE: 1799 Sleepy Hollow, New York
THUNDEROUS HOOFBEATS are HEARD behind.
The ugly man glances back again. His lantern swings wild...
SHATTERS against a tree. The jammed-up pole SLAMS the ugly
man off his horse...
He hits the ground. He runs, trips, falls and scrambles up.
DEEP IN THE FOREST, we glimpse the source of the HOOFBEATS: a
HUGE FORM on a HUGE BLACK HORSE, already gone.
The ugly man pushes through thorny bushes. Jagged branches
slit his hands and cheeks.
He bursts from the briar patch and tumbles to a trail. He
lifts his bloodied face. He runs.
IN THE FOREST BEHIND: the hooves of the black horse rip
underbrush. HOOFBEATS DEAFENING. A spur digs into the
snorting steed's already bleeding flank.
The pursuer's gloved hand draws a SWORD, blade RINGING.
ON THE TRAIL, the ugly man runs on. The shrill WHISTLE of a
SWORD SWING is HEARD as the pursuer blurs past.
The ugly man is still running when his head lolls back, at an
impossible angle... tumbles off his shoulders... His headless
body hits the dirt. EXT. CITY STREETS -- NIGHT
Empty cobblestone streets. Crooked buildings. A RAPIDLY
CLANGING BELL breaks the silence from afar.
INSERT TITLE: New York City
TWO CONSTABLES clamor round a corner, lanterns held high,
listening. They rush into an alleyway.
ELSEWHERE, piers border the Hudson River. The BELL is
LOUDER. The two constables arrive, searching. No one around.
Constable One hefts his pistol, scared.
CONSTABLE ONE Where are you?!
MAN'S VOICE (o.s.) Here! Over here!
They hurry to the river's edge. Down a hill, the MAN,
another constable, stands with his back to us. He's waist
deep in water, tossing away his ALARM BELL. MAN
I need your help with this.
Constable Two crosses on the peir above. Constable One moves
forward, wary. The MAN grunts, lifting something.
CONSTABLE ONE
Constable Crane? Ichabod Crane... is that you?
The MAN turns. Meet ICHABOD CRANE, handsome, eyes piercing.
ICHABOD
Yes, it is me. But, not only me...
(lifting, struggling) I found someone here...
He drags a bloated MALE CORPSE up from the murky water.
ICHABOD Someone quite dead.
EXT. WATCHHOUSE/JAIL -- NIGHT
The elderly HIGH CONSTABLE lifts a blanket off the corpse on
a wheelbarrow manned by Constable Two. A snobby MAGISTRATE
looks, disgusted. Constable One and Ichabod wait.
HIGH CONSTABLE Burn it.
CONSTABLE ONE Yes, sir.
Constable Two wheels the corpse inside. Ichabod's dismayed.
ICHABOD
Just a moment... if I may. It is
possible this man was murdered.
HIGH CONSTABLE
He drowned. Anyone could see.
ICHABOD
There are surgical ways of telling
how he died... by the water in his lungs...
Ichabod follows the High Constable and Magistrate in.
INT. WATCHHOUSE, NIGHT WATCH QUARTERS -- NIGHT
Constable Two wheels the body ahead past many "booking"
tables. A JAILER moves to unlock a massive door.
HIGH CONSTABLE
He will be burned pursuant to statutes of health.
ICHABOD
I could determine if he were dead
before he went into the Hudson.
HIGH CONSTABLE
Must we again hear these heretical rantings?
MAGISTRATE Yes, must we?
ICHABOD
There is nothing heretical about
science, sir. The Chinese have
written on it for hundreds of
years... procedural study used to
solve seemingly unsolvable crimes.
The door is opened. The corpse again leads the way.
INT. WATCHHOUSE, JAIL -- NIGHT
A two-tiered prison, alive with MOANS of AGONY and CRIES of
INSANITY. Cells are full of wretched men in chains and iron
gags. Many are against the bars, watching.
ICHABOD
Our first night watch is adequate
against fire and some violence,
but if we were more often able to
ensure justice, after the fact,
then criminals would truly have
something to fear from law enforcement.
HIGH CONSTABLE
Have they nothing to fear presently?
ICHABOD
Without disrespect, look around you.
(motioning to cells)
We overflow. As do our courts.
HIGH CONSTABLE
And, with disrespect, Constable,
if jails and courts overflow, it is
testimony to success, not failure.
ICHABOD
But, how many innocents rot here?
And, how many victims are buried
without reprisal while guilty men roam our streets?
The High Constable reaches a desk, taking a seat. Guards
wait to process beaten, bloody prisoners.
HIGH CONSTABLE Very few, if any.
ICHABOD
Even though I have seen confessions
pried from the lips of the accused,
often quite literally? HIGH CONSTABLE
For one who calls himself a
Federalist, your mouth reeks of
Republican liberalism. ICHABOD
Not Liberalism. Equanimity.
MAGISTRATE (to High Constable)
Um, sir... might I suggest...
The Magistrate WHISPERS in the High Constable's ear. Ichabod
notices with worry that Constables One and Two wheel the
corpse onwards into another room.
The Magistrate finishes. The High Constable smiles faintly.
HIGH CONSTABLE (to Ichabod)
There is a farming community
upstate, Constable... ten days
journey north in the Hudson
Highlands. It is named Sleepy
Hollow. Within a fortnight, three
persons have been murdered there.
Each with their head lopped cleanly off.
(holds up papers)
The elders of the Hollow have sent
dispatches to me, requesting
assistance, and now, just this very
moment, I have chosen you. ICHABOD
Chosen me? HIGH CONSTABLE
These "methods" of yours... there
has been no practical application.
ICHABOD Not for lack of trying.
HIGH CONSTABLE
Just so. Granted. And so you take
your experimentations to Sleepy
Hollow and catch the murderer who
has tainted the place. Bring him
here to face our good justice.
Will you do this for me? ICHABOD
(swallowing doubt) I shall, gladly.
HIGH CONSTABLE
Excellent. Then, you are excused till morning.
Ichabod moves away, heading to where the corpse was taken.
HIGH CONSTABLE Oh, and, Constable...
(off Ichabod's look)
Do make certain that you meet with
success. Otherwise... perhaps you
should not come back at all.
The High Constable smiles a sardonic smile.
INT. WATCHHOUSE, INCINERATION ROOM -- NIGHT
The corpse burns in a raging furnace. Flesh sizzles.
Constable One pumps bellows which fan the flames. Ichabod
steps from darkness nearby. He watches with bitter regret as
the corpse is consumed. EXT. CITY -- DAY
Market town streets bustle. Filthy. Pigs roam free.
INT. ICHABOD'S HOME, SECOND FLOOR -- DAY
Decorated in Early-American Mad Scientist: books, papers and
jars of chemicals. Charts of anatomy above a small bed.
ICHABOD (o.s.)
Such a day for such a sad farewell.
But, this is goodbye, my sweet.
At the window, Ichabod holds a bird cage with a red CARDINAL
inside. He opens the cage. The bird flies free.
Ichabod watches it go, then looks down. A COACH halts in the
street below. The forlorn DRIVER looks up.
INT. ICHABOD'S COACH -- DAY
In motion. Ichabod absently studies his hands, touching the
strange SCARS on both palms: evenly dispersed, tiny dots of
tissue. Many scars.
Ichabod lifts a LEATHER SATCHEL, checking its contents.
EXT. UPSTATE FORESTS -- DAY
TWO FAMILIES of MIGRANT WORKERS travel a path, leading over-
burdened horses. Ichabod's coach approaches from the other
direction. Ichabod looks out, unnerved.
One GAUNT MAN watches Ichabod pass. There is a dead, worried
look in the man's eyes. Others stare at Ichabod.
EXT. SLEEPY HOLLOW, THE LONG STRAIGHT ROAD -- DAY
Ichabod faces two massive, vine-covered PILLARS, unsure. He
turns to watch the driver lead the coach away.
Ichabod walks between the pillars to a long straight road.
He does not notice, above: THREE DEAD RAVENS hang from a tree
limb, twine wrapped round their necks.
EXT. SLEEPY HOLLOW, TOWN SQUARE -- DAY
Ichabod walks on with baggage. The square is empty, a CHURCH
and GRAVEYARD at one end. The road ahead is bordered by
businesses and homes.
CONVERSATION DRIFTS from a tavern. A criminal sits in
stocks. A quiet CRYING is HEARD. Ichabod hears...
He looks for its source. It's from a window above, LOUDER.
SOUNDS like the SOBBING of an OLD WOMAN. EXT. VAN TASSEL ESTATE -- DAY
ICHABOD'S P.O.V.: a BELLTOWER stands tall, like a mast pole
with a crow's nest basket atop. There's a man in the basket
and a huge BELL.
Ichabod ponders this as he continues. Ahead on a hill: the
grand Van Tassel Manor House.
INT. VAN TASSEL MANOR HOUSE, SITTING ROOM -- DAY
MANY CHILDREN, in a circle, taunt a BLINDFOLDED YOUNG WOMAN
spun round by the handsome, barrel-chested man, BROM VAN
BRUNT. A few YOUNG MEN and LADIES watch. Brom releases the
woman. Everyone quiets and avoids her searching hands.
BLINDFOLDED WOMAN
This is such a silly game. BROM
Be a sport and stop complaining.
The woman moves to Brom's voice. He backs away, flanked by
peers GLENN and THEODORE. Children laugh.
Ichabod enters, clearing his throat. No one notices. The
blindfolded woman keeps grasping. One LITTLE GIRL sees
Ichabod and goes to him, finger to her lips.
LITTLE GIRL Play along. You must.
She tugs him. Before Ichabod can protest, he is placed in
the blindfolded woman's grip. BLINDFOLDED WOMAN
There, I have someone. Am I finished?
LITTLE GIRL
You have to tell who it is.
The woman touches Ichabod's face. He is uncomfortable,
affected by this caress. Brom watches jealously.
LITTLE GIRL At least make a guess.
BLINDFOLDED WOMAN
I don't know. Is it Brom Bones? BROM
Certainly not. ICHABOD
Excuse me, Miss... (takes her hands)
They have a laugh at your expense.
She takes the kerchief off to reveal a stunning beauty:
KATRINA VAN TASSEL. Ichabod tries to compose himself.
KATRINA Forgive me, I didn't know.
ICHABOD
I... I am looking for Baltus Van Tassel.
BROM We haven't heard your name yet,
friend. ICHABOD
Well, unless your name is Baltus,
you should not worry over mine.
Brom grabs Ichabod's collar, pissed. Ichabod's baffled.
BROM You need some manners.
KATRINA Brom!
Brom looks at her, then reluctantly releases Ichabod.
MAN'S VOICE (o.s.)
What is this, then... ?
BALTUS VAN TASSEL, 45, has entered, a working-class
aristocrat. LADY VAN TASSEL, 40, stands behind, a mix of
home-spun wife and well-kept lady. BALTUS
Can I help you, sir?
Ichabod's relieved to have a proper focal point. Children
gather around Katrina and hide behind her.
ICHABOD
I have been sent from the city
with a letter of introduction.
I am told you offer me room and board.
Ichabod hands over papers. Baltus reads, furrows his brow.
ICHABOD If we could speak alone.
BALTUS (nods, looks to Katrina)
This is not a time for frivolity,
Katrina, is it? Am I mistaken?
KATRINA
They're only children, father.
Baltus snorts, then exits with Ichabod. The others huddle to
gossip, except Katrina, who moves beside Lady Van Tassel to
watch Ichabod and Baltus walk down the hall.
INT. VAN TASSEL HOUSE, PARLOR -- DAY
DOCTOR LANCASTER, 50, dour and always sweaty, takes a seat by
the fire, joining Baltus and three other elders. A pretty
servant, SARAH, brings a pipe cradle while Lady Van Tassel
sets down food. Ichabod is standing. BALTUS
That will be all, ladies.
(waits as they exit)
We are joined by Doctor Thomas
Lancaster, Constable. And to his
left are, Clergyman Steenwyck and
our able magistrate, Samuel Philipse,
both keeping order in their own ways.
PHILIPSE is youngest, eyes bloodshot, mug in hand and pipe in
mouth. CLERGYMAN STEENWYCK is formidably built, wearing a
constant look of disapproval. BALTUS
I myself am in charge of financial
matters and the regulation of
currency in our commonwealth. And,
lastly, this fine fellow is James
Hardenbrook, our Notary.
HARDENBROOK is oldest, ancient, with one eye pale and blind.
ICHABOD
An honor, gentlemen. In time I
will need every detail of the
three murderings you've had, but,
for now, I ask only if you have
any theory at all as to who the killer might be?
DOCTOR LANCASTER Excuse me?
ICHABOD
I say, is there any one person
suspect in these acts?
DOCTOR LANCASTER
I was afraid of this.
Philipse shoots a look to Baltus. Angst amongst the elders.
PHILIPSE
Well, Constable... are you aware...
to be honest, you are not what we
expected. We sent for the militia.
ICHABOD The militia?
FATHER STEENWYCK
Why not tell us what you have heard?
Hmm? How much have your superiors
bothered to tell you? ICHABOD
All I know is three are slain, their
heads found severed from their bodies...
FATHER STEENWYCK
The heads were not found severed.
The heads were not found at all.
Withered Hardenbrook leans forward, his voice cragged.
HARDENBROOK
Taken. Taken by the Headless
Horseman. Taken back to hell.
ICHABOD Pardon me?
BALTUS
You have not been well informed of
our troubles, sir. If you would...
Baltus gestures for Ichabod to sit. Baltus lights his pipe.
BALTUS
The Horseman... he was a Hessian
mercenary, sent to our shores by
German princes to help keep
Americans under the thumb of
England. However, unlike his
compatriots who came as muscle in
trade for currency, he came
willingly. For love of carnage.
FLASHBACK -- AMERICAN BATTLEFIELD -- DAY
The HESSIAN HORSEMAN rides his black steed into a gory,
close-quarters clash, his cloaked uniform adorned with edged
weapons. He cuts down Americans left and right.
BALTUS (v.o.)
He was infamous for taking his
horse, Daredevil, hard into
battle... chopping off heads at full gallop.
He dismounts, hoisting a battle axe. With sword and axe, he
annihilates. Blood gushes. Bones crack.
BALTUS (v.o.)
Just to look on him made your
blood run cold, for he had filed
down his teeth to rapiers... to
add to the ferocity of his appearance.
The Horseman lets out a war cry. Jagged teeth. Grotesque.
FOREST BATTLEFIELD -- DAY
Winter. CANNONS can be HEARD BOOMING from afar. Daredevil
lies dead in red snow. FOLLOW FOOTPRINTS away...
BALTUS (v.o.)
He would not finally meet his end
till the winter of seventy-nine,
when New York City was held by
Henry Clinton and Washington
occupied West Point. It was
between those two places, not far from here...
The Horseman flees, cloak flowing, chased by FIVE rag-tag
REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIERS. Ahead, a steep, rocky area prevents
escape. Soldier one aims a rifle and FIRES...
Blood explodes from the Horseman's arm as he runs. His sword
falls from his now functionless hand. Soldier Two grabs the sword.
At the rocks, the Horseman faces the men. Another Rifleman
raises his rifle. The Horseman reaches over his shoulder to
grasp a sheathed knife, THROWS --
THOCK! The Rifleman jerks back, knife in his eye socket.
The Horseman readies an axe. The Revolutionaries move in
with swords. They battle, STEEL AGAINST STEEL. The Horseman
fends off blows from all sides.
Soldier Three lunges, stabs his blade deep into the
Horseman's side. The Horseman roars, brings his axe DOWN...
BREAKS the sword at the hilt...
An UPWARDS stroke sends Soldier Three head over heels in a
fountain of blood.
The Horseman staggers, howling, trying to pull the blade from
his ribs. The remaining soldiers close in.
INT. VAN TASSEL HOUSE, SITTING ROOM -- NIGHT
Pipe smoke wafts from Philipse's mouth.
PHILIPSE
Cut off his head with his own sword.
It's a legend told for twenty years.
BALTUS
But, only recently has the Headless
Hessian been seen prowling the
Hollow, in search of a head to suit his shoulders.
ICHABOD Just a moment...
(sits back, incredulous)
Are you saying it is he? HARDENBROOK
(aggravated, loud)
When a goblin leaps from the nether
world, others follow. Poltergeists
of the air, water and earth follow
and cheer his desecrations!
Hardenbrook BANGS his cane on a table. Baltus puts a calming
hand on senile Hardenbrook's shoulder.
DOCTOR LANCASTER
No one knows why he chose to now to
climb out from his grave.
FATHER STEENWYCK
It is very clear why. Citizens
here have long tried to hide sins
behind closed doors. Their failed
faith has saturated the soil and
called forth one of Satan's own.
ICHABOD
Excuse me, gentlemen, but... who
has seen this Horseman? BALTUS
Many have. ICHABOD
Then, name one person who has seen
him with their own eyes.
A long wait. No reply from the elders. Ichabod rises.
ICHABOD
While I will do everything I can
to find your assassin, I will look
for a man of flesh and blood. Not
some goblin-demon from hell.
EXT. BELLTOWER FIELD -- EARLY EVENING
The Belltower is covered in defensive spikes. A man climbs
down a rope ladder. Below, many ARMED MEN gather. Everyone
grim. Philipse moves to the center, on horseback.
PHILIPSE
Gather round! Gather and quiet!
The hour has come to choose for
this night. Each man's name is
in this box and has been checked.
A box is handed up. Ichabod and Baltus arrive on foot at the
back of the mob. Ichabod looks...
At a nearby forest, men light TORCH POSTS in a line bordering
the forest edge for at least a half mile.
Philipse draws a folded paper from the box, holds it up.
PHILIPSE
May the Lord watch over him...
(unfolds paper)
"Jonathan Masbath." Are you here?
JONATHAN (o.s.)
I am. I take my responsibility.
The crowd parts as JONATHAN MASBATH, a dirt-poor farmer with
a bow and quiver of arrows, moves forward. His son, YOUNG
MASBATH, 14, grips his arm. YOUNG MASBATH
No, father. Wait... (up to Philipse)
He's already been up once. Why does he go again?
JONATHAN
It is a lottery, son. It just as
easily might have been one of them.
YOUNG MASBATH Then... I go with you.
JONATHAN No. You obey my wishes.
(looks to crowd)
Brom. Look after him, will you?
Brom steps up, nodding. Jonathan kisses his son's cheek,
then heads to the rope ladder. Men pat him on the back.
PHILIPSE Someone leave him a horse.
Young Masbath watches his father go. Brom coaxes him away.
At the back of the crowd, Ichabod watches skeptically, looks
to Young Masbath as he and Brom pass. ICHABOD
You worry for naught, little man.
Nothing will harm him there.
(looks up, sotto)
It is problems here on the ground
you people need begin to worry about.
Ichabod watches Jonathan climb, very high above.
INT. VAN TASSEL HOUSE, ICHABOD'S ROOM -- NIGHT
Ichabod makes notations in a LEDGER BOOK.
KATRINA (v.o.) You will dream.
Katrina strolls in, sits on the bed. Ichabod is nervous.
KATRINA
Did they tell? It is something in
the air so that dreams come to
everyone. According to the elders,
an Indian prophet held powwows here
before the land was taken, and
spells cast then still linger to this day.
ICHABOD Do you often make a habit of
sitting on strange men's beds?
KATRINA
You are horribly old-fashioned, aren't you?
ICHABOD
Feel free to form your own opinion.
(facing his ledger)
Though it appears you already have.
KATRINA
Well, I intended to apologize for
the behavior of my friend Brom Van
Brunt, but it seems I've made matters worse.
(getting up to go)
I'll leave you to your business.
ICHABOD
Excuse me... I should apologize. I,
um... I... have no great love of...
KATRINA Other people?
ICHABOD Small talk.
KATRINA
It might have been more. Might have
been positively grand talk.
Ichabod offers his chair, backing away. Seeing it is the
only one, he remains standing. Katrina sits.
KATRINA
Is it me, or are you this nervous around all women?
ICHABOD
Perhaps it is because your suitor's
hands were recently very nearly
wrapped around my throat. KATRINA
My suitor? ICHABOD
The massive fellow... Brom. For
someone you call "friend," he
misplaces a good portion of jealousy.
KATRINA He has proposed to me twice.
ICHABOD
Which may explain his temperament.
To have asked twice means the answer
was "no" at least once.
Katrina looks down, discards this with a smile.
KATRINA
I've read a great deal about your
New York City. Do be a dear and tell
me all about it. Sounds like an
extraordinary place to live a life.
ICHABOD
Extra ordinary, yes. But first, you
tell me about the Headless Horseman.
EXT. BELLTOWER FIELD -- NIGHT
The torches burn bright. ABOVE, in the Belltower, Jonathan
Masbath loads a rifle. THUNDER BOOMS.
Jonathan stands, looking to a sky that is all stars and moon.
A HORSE is HEARD SHRIEKING. Below, the horse tied at the
base of the tower is spooked.
A COMMOTION is HEARD, ground rumbling. Jonathan grips a
rifle, cocks it and moves to look...
At the forest edge, a herd of deer stampedes out. They
sprint past the tower and across the field.
Jonathan crosses to watch the herd scatter. He crosses back
to peer at the forest. Bad news... A thick FOG creeps from the woods.
As the fog overtakes the base of each torch, a tentacle of
mist snakes up to the flame, killing it. All along the
forest, arms of vapor snuff torches... one by one by one...
Above, Jonathan sights the rifle along the trees.
JONATHAN Come out, devil... come....
INT. VAN TASSEL HOUSE, ICHABOD'S ROOM -- NIGHT
Ichabod leans on a dresser. Katrina's still seated.
KATRINA
Not all think it is the Horseman.
Many say witches come from the
Western Woods to steal skulls for
their cauldrons. Some believe a
person in this very town kneels
before Lucifer, offering death as
tribute. And, still others believe none of it.
ICHABOD Are you so superstitious?
KATRINA
To call a person superstitious is to
imply they fear magic, but not all magic is black.
ICHABOD
There is no such thing as magic.
KATRINA Really? Then... what is your
rebuttal to those romantic poets
claiming proof of magic in a rose at
full bloom, or even in a teardrop?
ICHABOD
Poets have silly notions about
plants and bodily secretions. KATRINA
(laughs) You are funny.
Ichabod doesn't get what's so funny about that. The DISTANT
TOLL of a BELL is HEARD. Katrina looks fearful.
She goes to open a window. The BELL TOLLS...
EXT. SLEEPY HOLLOW, OVERVIEW -- NIGHT
... TOLLS mournfully over farms and forests... EXT. FARM -- NIGHT
... TOLLS as a MAN comes from his barn, listening, then
sprinting towards his home. EXT. TOWN SQUARE -- NIGHT
... TOLLS across the deserted square. Windows go dark.
Shutters are slammed shut. EXT. VAN TASSEL HOUSE -- NIGHT
... TOLLS. Ichabod bounds out to the lawn, halting to
listen. Katrina and Baltus come out on the porch.
BALTUS
Constable, where are you going!?
... TOLLS... TOLLS... then, SILENCE. Ichabod chases away.
BALTUS Come back, sir...
(watches him go) Madness.
Baltus ushers Katrina back in. The door slams.
EXT. BELLTOWER FIELD -- NIGHT
Ichabod charges across the rocky field. He slows, awed...
The Belltower is down, its mast is splintered. The horse is
gone. Ichabod moves to where the crow's nest lies smashed.
No sign of Jonathan. EXT. SLEEPY HOLLOW FOREST -- NIGHT
Jonathan runs past, gripping his bow. It's QUIET... till
HOOFBEATS are HEARD in pursuit.
Trees are silhouetted against the sky. As HOOFBEATS get
LOUDER, branches bend like arms and fingers yearning to
touch. As HOOFBEATS ROAR PAST, the trees relax.
FURTHER ON, Jonathan runs. WIND begins to BLOW.
BEHIND, in motion, WE SEE Daredevil's snorting visage; eyes
lizard-like, with vertical slits literally aglow.
The Horseman's hand yanks a wooden WAR HAMMER from a saddle
mount. (No clear view of the Horseman.)
HORSEMAN'S P.O.V.: closing in on Jonathan.
Jonathan is overtaken. The Horseman swings the hammer WHOOMP
-- sends Jonathan sprawling.
HOOFBEATS FADE. Jonathan tries to get up, but pain shoots
through him. He crawls to retrieve his bow.
Against a tree, he takes an arrow from his shoulder quiver
and readies it. Waiting. A metal TAPPING is HEARD O.S.
CLINK... CLINK... CLINK. A HORSE SNORTS.
Jonathan pulls the bow taut, pained, lips bloody.
Elsewhere, Daredevil approaches slow. The Horseman taps his
sword on his spur, CLINK... CLINK... CLINK...
Foliage moves as the Horseman's form pushes through.
Jonathan releases -- the arrow WHISTLES...
THWACK! -- imbeds in the Horseman's chest.
CLINK... CLINK... CLINK... continues -- Jonathan readies a
second arrow. Pulls and releases -- O.S. THWACK!
CLINK... CLINK... CLINK... Jonathan cries out, crawling away
desperately. Crawling through underbrush, over roots and
rocks. CLINK... CLINK... CLINK... Jonathan gives up, spent,
face to the dirt. He closes his eyes.
CLINKING STOPS. Daredevil halts astride Jonathan; two legs
on each side of Jonathan's body.
EXT. SLEEPY HOLLOW FARMLAND -- MORNING
Baltus and a large, DULLARDLY MAN ride. Behind, Ichabod
rides with Magistrate Philipse.
Ichabod is not adept at riding his old nag, Gunpowder.
ICHABOD
The Van Garretts died first; a man
and his son, survived by a wife and
two infants. And the Widow Windsor was next...
PHILIPSE And now Jonathan Masbath.
ICHABOD (looks back, ponders)
Why would he flee this direction,
with so much open ground to cross
before he reached cover? PHILIPSE
He would not have gone into the
Western Woods. No sane man would.
Philipse drinks from a whiskey flask, sees Ichabod watching
and offers some. Ichabod declines. PHILIPSE
Van Ripper there...
Ahead, the dullard, VAN RIPPER, sloppily spits tobacco.
PHILIPSE
... found the body this morning. (pause)
You do believe now, don't you?
ICHABOD Believe?
LADY VAN TASSEL
You said yourself. What mere man
could have downed the Belltower?
ICHABOD
It is a prime tenet of science,
Philipse, that because one thing
appears improbable does not mean
you embrace the utterly fantastical.
PHILIPSE
You need less big words, and more common sense.
Philipse fingers an IRON KEY talisman he wears on a cord.
ICHABOD What is that you wear?
PHILIPSE
My talisman. It will, protect
against the Horseman if I show a
brave face. But, I cannot run. If
I run in fear, it is worthless.
ICHABOD
Well... so much for common sense.
EXT. SLEEPY HOLLOW FORESTS, FURTHER ON -- MORNING
Brom and Baltus stand at a HORSE'S CORPSE amongst jagged
boulders. The flesh has been stripped, guts exposed.
Philipse and Ichabod arrive and dismount.
BALTUS Was this Jonathan's?
BROM
Yes. Seems he panicked across here
and broke two legs. ICHABOD
Who took the meat? BALTUS
Must have been the Redman. A Lenape
Indian lives in the Western Woods.
ICHABOD
These woods of yours sound a bit
crowded, what with all the witches,
ghouls and Indians living there.
Brom climbs up onto his own horse, a black beauty.
BROM
There's only one Lenape. He eats
small animals and lost children...
and the occasional constable when he can get it.
Brom rides. Ichabod goes to the dead horse, digs in his
satchel for a thin iron tool, which he uses it to pry off one
HORSESHOE. A WHISTLE is HEARD O.S.
Everyone looks far ahead to where Van Ripper has ridden. The
doctor and others are there. Van Ripper waves.
INT. FOREST, MASBATH MURDER SITE -- MORNING
Doctor Lancaster stands with SEVERAL ARMED MEN. A coffin on
a cart is covered by a blanket. Ichabod is crouched nearby.
ICHABOD ICHABOD Why did you move the body, Doctor?
DOCTOR LANCASTER
To place it inside its coffin.
Ichabod, nods, vaguely annoyed. He puts the horseshoe into a
hoofprint in the dirt. It fits.
Ichabod rises, walks, studying the ground, kicking up leaves.
Brom, Van Ripper, Baltus and Philipse watch.
Ichabod finds a deep hoofprint. Huge. He compares the
horseshoe. The hoofprint is much larger.
Ichabod pulls his satchel off his shoulder, takes out a bowl,
bottle of water and bag of brown powder; begins mixing water
and powder with a fork to make plaster.
The others watch, finding this bizarre, whispering. Brom
comes up to stand over Ichabod, irritated.
BROM What the hell are you doing?
ICHABOD (ignoring pause)
You are the blacksmith. Ever shod
a horse with a hoof this large? BROM
Never. A shoe that size I would have remembered.
Ichabod starts to fill the print with plaster.
ICHABOD
Van Ripper. Can you show where the body lay?
VAN RIPPER I can show exactly.
Van Ripper dismounts, wiping tobacco drool. Ichabod rises to
follow with his satchel. VAN RIPPER
Here... in front of this oak, facing
north. Horrible... ICHABOD
To the best of your recollection,
where did the open wound fall?
Van Ripper points. Ichabod takes a BOTTLE of WHITE POWDER
from his pocket.
He uncorks the bottle, cautiously pouring powder in an x on
the dirt there, then waiting.
A chemical reaction causes the powder to bubble a bit.
ICHABOD
There was not much blood, was there?
VAN RIPPER I didn't see none.
Ichabod stands, puzzled. He walks to the coffin cart,
rolling up his sleeves. Others come to watch, but keep
distance. Ichabod removes the blanket...
Reveals Jonathan's headless corpse.
Philipse can't look. Ichabod takes strange spectacles from
his satchel; wire-framed with many lenses. MAGNIFICATION
SPECTACLES. He examines the gross neck wound, sniffs it.
He pokes the flesh and severed spinal cord.
ICHABOD No bleeding.
DOCTOR LANCASTER What is that?
ICHABOD
This should have bled by the pint.
Yet, no blistering or scorched flesh.
How... ? Whatever weapon was used...
it cauterized somehow....
Ichabod straightens, eyes weirdly big in the spectacles.
ICHABOD
It instantly burnt the wound shut.
EXT. CHURCHYARD AND CEMETERY -- DAY
A coffin in a grave. Headstone reads "MASBATH, 1799." A
CROWD gathered. Young Masbath broods. Clergyman Steenwyck
steps forward to take a handful of newly dug dirt.
Men with guns stand at the outskirts, like on guard.
Steenwyck sprinkles dirt into the grave with prayerful words.
In the crowd people whisper. They steal glances at Ichabod,
who stands with the Van Tassels.
INT. VAN TASSEL HOUSE, DINING/VARIOUS ROOMS -- DAY
Dining room. Sarah and two other servants collect plates. A
few people still sup, including Van Ripper, his warty WIFE
and two kids. Van Ripper guzzles ale, laughs at something
his also-drunk wife says.
IN the HALL and FOYER, funeral goers socialize quietly.
FURTHER ON, in the SITTING ROOM, men smoke. Young Masbath
is confronting Ichabod, who is leaving...
ICHABOD
I am not here for revenge. I am
here to bring justice. YOUNG MASBATH
Whatever. You still need a second
to tend to your things. ICHABOD
I manage fine alone. YOUNG MASBATH
I deserve to help you. Don't you see
how much this means? My father...
he... he was a good man... ICHABOD
(faces Masbath)
Young Masbath, I am sorry for your
loss. It is a great and sad tragedy.
However... I cannot be the one to
look after you now. YOUNG MASBATH
(angry) I did not ask you to, did I?
Young Masbath exits. Ichabod remains impassive.
EXT. VAN TASSEL HOUSE, FRONT PORCH -- DAY
Ichabod comes out. KILLIAN, a dashingly rustic man, carries
his son, THOMAS, 5, and chats with Baltus. Doctor Lancaster
peers off at something through a SPYGLASS.
BALTUS
Hail, Constable. How are you?
ICHABOD
Well enough. Your gathering does
honor to the deceased.
DOCTOR LANCASTER
(still using spyglass)
We must be a curious sight to him.
ICHABOD What are you spying on?
DOCTOR LANCASTER
(offers the spyglass)
The Lenape. He comes to gawk at
civilization from time to time.
ICHABOD'S POINT OF VIEW -- THROUGH SPYGLASS
Searching a line of trees and foliage far away...
DOCTOR LANCASTER (o.s.)
Do you see the Redskinned bastard?
There he is -- the LENAPE. A towering savage with misshapen
features covered in tumors. He ducks away. BACK TO SCENE ON PORCH
Ichabod lowers the spyglass, a little awed.
ICHABOD He is a behemoth.
DOCTOR LANCASTER A diseased monster.
BALTUS
If you gentlemen will excuse the
doctor and I... we have financial
matters to discuss.
Ichabod and Killian nod as Baltus and Lancaster head in.
KILLIAN
Master Crane, sir. I'm glad we have
time alone. You've been told plenty
about the Horseman, I'm certain.
ICHABOD More than enough, actually.
(tired laugh) I beg you, no more, please.
KILLIAN
No, sir, no. If you ask me, I say
you just laid eyes on our murderer
through that glass. Ichabod ponders, folding the spyglass.
ICHABOD Tell me something.
(pause) What becomes of Young Masbath?
KILLIAN
Van Ripper and his wife agreed to take
him. They have children and a good
home and good land.
Ichabod nods. He turns to look THROUGH THE WINDOW. In the
DINING ROOM, Van Ripper rises, ill. His wife questions his
health, but he holds her off and vomits.
Ichabod notes this with a deep sigh.
EXT. VAN TASSEL ORCHARD -- EARLY EVENING
Ocher dusk. Ichabod rides to Young Masbath, seated on the
ground, miserable. Young Masbath does not look up.
ICHABOD
Find yourself a place in the servants'
residence and wake me before dawn.
Our first task will be an unsavory one.
Ichabod rides. Young Masbath runs to his horse and follows.
EXT. CHURCHYARD AND CEMETERY -- DAWN
Steenwyck is on horseback, looking down at Ichabod, furious.
FATHER STEENWYCK It is sacrilege!
ICHABOD
I cannot proceed without examining
the previous victims.
Steenwyck looks to men with shovels. Killian's there.
Philipse, hung-over, stands beside Young Masbath.
FATHER STEENWYCK
Magistrate Philipse, surely you can stop this.
Philipse just looks up with a helpless expression.
FATHER STEENWYCK
I will not allow it. I will not!
ICHABOD
Protest to my superiors if you like.
FATHER STEENWYCK
Your superiors are two days away!
ICHABOD
Then, you should have left two days
ago, because I have men willing to help me today.
Ichabod motions. Killian leads the men to the graveyard.
Steenwyck watches, enraged. He kicks his horse and rides.
Philipse looks worried.
EXT. CHURCHYARD AND CEMETERY -- LATER MORNING (TIME CUT)
A PSALM is HEARD READ by STEENWYCK O.S. while a coffin is
exhumed. Ichabod guides the lifting. The coffin is put near
the headstone "WINDSOR." Ichabod looks...
At the church, Steenwyck faces about fifty people who now
take up the PRAYER.
Across the cemetery, two coffins, one small, one large, are
pried open. "VAN GARRETT, 1799." Killian leads the effort
with Young Masbath's aid...
The lids come off, revealing the HEADLESS BODIES of a MAN and
a little BOY. Young Masbath backs away.
At the "WINDSOR" coffin, nails creak as Ichabod opens the
lid. WE DO NOT SEE inside, but when Ichabod does, he is
aghast. He looks to the men, angry. ICHABOD
Why was I not told of this?
No answer. Killian arrives, nods solemnly.
KILLIAN The Widow Windsor.
ICHABOD
Is that all you say? Look at her.
KILLIAN
It's not something people speak of
openly. She did not remarry.
Ichabod kneels, studying. Now, WE SEE: the belly of the
headless corpse is bulbous, because the Widow Windsor was
very far along in a pregnancy.
Ichabod notices: a tear in the cloth of widow's blouse. He
reaches through the tear, feeling the stomach.
He straightens, greatly troubled.
INT. DOCTOR'S RESIDENCE, MEDICAL ROOM -- MORNING
Scissors cut open the widow's blouse. There's an inch-long
WOUND on the moldering belly; a sword puncture.
Ichabod examines the corpse on a table. Lancaster watches,
anxiously mopping his face. Young Masbath's in a corner.
Ichabod goes to write in his ledger full of notes.
ICHABOD
What is the common thread between these victims?
YOUNG MASBATH I'm sure I don't know.
ICHABOD
We must discover it. The reason the
murderer chose these persons.
Ichabod goes to look at the widow's corpse, pondering.
ICHABOD
The wounds are the same. Cauterized.
No chopping or half-measures either.
One stroke took the head. Have you
seen, doctor... ? (pointing to it)
Even the spinal bone... sliced as smooth as butter.
DOCTOR LANCASTER
I do not care. You are welcome to
use my work area, but I beg you...
return her to her resting place.
ICHABOD
In time, doctor. Soon as I finish.
Ichabod picks up an iron knife. He looks to Young Masbath.
ICHABOD You should step outside.
EXT. CHURCHYARD CEMETERY -- EARLY EVENING
Ichabod and others restore graves. Ichabod looks to the
church, where Clergyman Steenwyck stands in the door.
FATHER STEENWYCK
The devil sent you, Ichabod Crane.
The Lord will not forgive your sins.
Steenwyck shuts the creaky doors.
INT. VAN TASSEL HOUSE, ICHABOD'S ROOM -- NIGHT
Ichabod sleeps, dreaming... ICHABOD'S DREAM -- FARMLAND -- DAY
A young BOY, 10, stands in a wheat field with his back to us.
A FEMALE VOICE is HEARD FAINTLY, getting LOUDER.
FEMALE VOICE (O.S.)
Ichabod! Ichabod... come along.
The boy, YOUNG ICHABOD, turns, smiling. He runs. We FOLLOW
to a clearing behind a frontier home. MOTHER waits. Lovely
woman. She kisses him.
ICHABOD'S DREAM -- YOUNG ICHABOD'S BEDROOM -- NIGHT
Dark. Young Ichabod, in bed, has one eye open. Across the
room, Mother has her back to him. She's WHISPERING something
to no one. She turns... Young Ichabod pretends he is asleep.
A DRAWER is HEARD SHUTTING. Mother exits. Ichabod gets up,
curious, opens a drawer... finds something behind clothing.
It's a piece of reed grass, woven into an elaborate pattern
with shafts of wheat twisted into the center. Young Ichabod
replaces it, closes the drawer. ICHABOD'S DREAM -- MARKET SQUARE -- DAY
A busy, muddy street lined by wares and produce. Young
Ichabod walks with FATHER, an emotionless man. Father stops
to examine tools. Young Ichabod stays by him, but something
captures his attention...
Across the way, Mother is involved in a argument with a
FREAKISH-LOOKING WOMAN. They shout. People stop to watch.
Can't make out words, but Freakish Woman is furious.
ICHABOD'S DREAM -- STORM SKY -- NIGHT
LIGHTNING flashes over tree tops. THUNDER BOOMS.
INT. VAN TASSEL HOUSE, ICHABOD'S ROOM -- NIGHT
Ichabod jerks awake in his bed.
INT. VAN TASSEL HOUSE, KITCHEN -- NIGHT
Ichabod enters with a lantern and his ledger. He sits,
studies notes, then notices there's a light down the hall.
INT. VAN TASSEL HOUSE, SEWING ROOM -- NIGHT
Opposite an elaborate loom, Katrina reads by candlelight.
She looks up, seeing Ichabod enter. ICHABOD
Sorry for disturbing you. I thought
a forgotten candle was burning.
Katrina self-consciously closes her shabby book, puts it with
another on her lap and covers them. KATRINA
You do not disturb me. Please stay.
Having trouble sleeping? ICHABOD
May I ask... why do you cover your book that way?
KATRINA
You pay great attention to small
things. I hide these as I hide all
my books. Father would not approve,
lest it were the Bible. ICHABOD
I, um... I have something to show you,
if you have a moment.
Ichabod sits, looking through his ledger.
KATRINA These are strange... may I?
She takes his hand, spreads the fingers to the palm. She
touches the many evenly spaced scars. KATRINA
These scars. How did you get them?
ICHABOD
I have had them since childhood. I
cannot remember what from. KATRINA
It would be interesting to find out.
Their eyes meet. Ichabod gets back to the ledger. Katrina
seems to relish the effect she has. Ichabod finds a paper
disk on string, illustrated thusly: ICHABOD
Here it is. A bird on one side.
His cage on the other. Now, stare at it.
(spinning it)
The bird seems to be in his cage.
KATRINA Yes, he does. May I try?
Ichabod gives it. She spins it, smiling.
ICHABOD
He only appears to be inside the
cage. The point being... KATRINA
You made this, and the drawings?
ICHABOD
Yes, but listen. The illusion is
easily explained. The eye retains
each image, till they combine. And
yet, some would call this toy magic.
KATRINA
Don't you see why? Look closely a
moment. Put your intellect aside.
(spinning it)
Can't you see what is inexplicable?
Ichabod watches it spin. He shakes his head, unimpressed.
KATRINA
Oh, you are hopeless. May I keep it at least?
ICHABOD If you want. But...
KATRINA
Then, I also have a gift for you.
True magic which even you will not be able to deny.
She hands him a book. "ROMEO AND JULIET." Ichabod stands,
offering it back, but she will not take it.
ICHABOD Thank you. No. Here...
KATRINA I insist that you have it.
ICHABOD (resigned, leaving)
Very well. But, it will only sit gathering dust.
KATRINA
That would be a pity. Those words
might show you something you've never seen before.
Ichabod stops at the door, looks back. He exits.
EXT. VAN TASSEL HOUSE -- NIGHT
A light glows in Ichabod's window. LOOKING IN: Ichabod's in
bed, fully dressed. He sits up. Pause. He crosses to pick
up "Romeo and Juliet." He begins to read.
EXT. PHILIPSE'S FARM -- DUSK
Ichabod walks with Philipse. Young Masbath follows with the
horses. CICADAS CHATTER from a vast corn field.
PHILIPSE
Not more than a year ago, a mob hung
a man for stealing a horse. For
stealing a horse! And, you dig up our dead.
ICHABOD
Are you saying I should be frightened?
Is this a message passed on from
Clergyman Steenwyck?
The CICADAS SUDDENLY go SILENT. Young Masbath notices.
PHILIPSE
We are farmers here, not lawyers or
bankers, or even constables. Every
penny we earn comes from what we
send down the Hudson. ICHABOD
I know it. YOUNG MASBATH
Um.... excuse me, sirs... PHILIPSE
(still to Ichabod)
Because of the Horseman, our migrant
workers flee for their lives. There
is a danger that our crops will rot.
So, if you are going to help us, you
stop the Horseman. That is your
task... to kill an undead thing.
Young Masbath looks to a fenced grazing area, worried. The
sheep there are agitated, all running one direction away.
ICHABOD Listen to what you say....
PHILIPSE
No, you listen! You may think we are
a pack of superstitious dullards...
ICHABOD At times I do.
YOUNG MASBATH Sirs... please!
PHILIPSE
What will it take for you to realize
this is no laughing matter?
The horses go crazy, braying and rearing. The reins yank
Young Masbath off his feet as the horses flee.
Ichabod and Philipse look to Masbath. A SOUND is HEARD,
distant: THUNDERING HOOFBEATS. Wind kicks up. HOOFBEATS
seem to come FROM ALL DIRECTIONS.
Philipse looks to the corn field. A flock of birds alights;
a great sheet of black against the sky.
PHILIPSE
Oh my... oh my oh my oh my...
Philipse runs towards his house, past Masbath. HOOFBEATS are
LOUDER, CLOSER. Ichabod faces the corn field.
The field explodes open, stalks bending to make way as the
Headless Horseman gallops into view atop Daredevil.
Young Masbath runs, following Philipse.
Ichabod's stunned. He looks down to draw his flintlock
pistol, but the Horseman blows by before he can raise it. A
blast of air knocks Ichabod off his feet.
The Horseman chases Masbath and Philipse. Ichabod follows.
The Horseman draws his sword. Young Masbath falls in the grass...
Daredevil's pounding hooves will certainly crush him.
Daredevil leaps over Young Masbath, continuing the charge.
Philipse has a long way to go before home. He looks over his
shoulder. No way he'll make it.
Ichabod, running, watches Philipse slow.
Philipse gathers all his courage and stops, turning. The
Horseman is closing, sword held high. Philipse raises his talisman.
ICHABOD Philipse!
Philipse holds the talisman up, trying to be fearless. The
Horseman swings -- WE HEAR the CLANK of sword on talisman...
Philipse's severed head spins. His body falls and folds.
Ichabod runs past Young Masbath.
The Horseman halts just as Ichabod reaches a point in front
of dead Philipse, aiming his pistol. Daredevil lets out a
SCREECHY CRY. The Horseman rides toward Ichabod.
Ichabod gets on one knee, trying to steady his pistol. The
Horseman closes. Ichabod sweats bullets. FIRES...
The slug SLAMS the Horseman dead center -- bursts through and
rends his uniform without slowing him.
The Horseman is almost on Ichabod. Ichabod cringes, arms
up... as the Horseman passes.
The Horseman leans to skewer Philipse's head with his sword.
With the head as his prize, the Horseman races away.
Ichabod gets up, watches the Horseman head to the forest.
Ichabod looks to Young Masbath, finds his legs will not
support him, falls, trembling. THUNDER BELLOWS.
INT. VAN TASSEL HOUSE, SECOND FLOOR HALL -- NIGHT
Lady Van Tassel comes to a door, knocks. Sarah stands behind
with a tray of food. Young Masbath is seated near.
LADY VAN TASSEL
(to Young Masbath)
Has he not come out at all? Young Masbath shakes his head.
INT. VAN TASSEL HOUSE, ICHABOD'S ROOM -- NIGHT
KNOCKING is HEARD. Ichabod sleeps restlessly.
ICHABOD'S DREAM -- YOUNG ICHABOD'S BEDROOM -- NIGHT
THUNDER BOOMS. WIND and POUNDING RAIN blast open a window.
Mother comes to it, then moves to comfort fearful Young Ichabod in bed.
MOTHER'S VOICE (v.o.)
Don't be afraid... don't be afraid.
ICHABOD'S DREAM -- YOUNG ICHABOD'S HOME -- DAY
A keyhole. Young Ichabod's eye peers in...
ICHABOD'S DREAM -- P.O.V. THROUGH KEYHOLE
Mother is kneeled before flour on the floor. She draws
patterns in it, whispering. She blows the flour away.
ICHABOD'S DREAM -- YOUNG ICHABOD'S HOME -- DAY
The Freakish Woman (who argued with Mother) walks towards the
home, supported by a SAD MAN. She weeps, carrying something
in a blanket. Young Ichabod comes a window, watching, scared.
The Freakish Woman is so weak that she falls. The blanket
opens... the corpse of an infant tumbles to the dirt. The
Freakish Woman's WAILING GROWS LOUDER.
ICHABOD'S DREAM -- FRONT OF YOUNG ICHABOD'S HOME -- NIGHT
TWO MEN in black drag Mother to a coach. She looks back,
fearful, pulled along. A THIRD MAN in black follows.
Young Ichabod struggles as Father restrains him.
YOUNG ICHABOD No... mother... no... !
The Third Man peers back, a gray-haired, Cotton Mather-ish
man with a villainous face.
FREAKISH WOMAN (v.o.)
The night of the great storm, I saw
her cross my windows. ICHABOD'S DREAM -- COURTROOM -- DAY
Many people in the gallery. The Third Man stands in front of
the tearful Freakish Woman in the witness box.
THIRD MAN You are certain it was she?
FREAKISH WOMAN
In the lighting, I did see her. (points)
Her. Lady Crane... Mother sits in shackles.
FREAKISH WOMAN
I will never forget. The next moment,
I found my infant dead... with the
blood welt on his breast.
Those in attendance cry out at this. Ichabod is seated
beside Father, eyes filled with tears.
ICHABOD'S DREAM -- YOUNG ICHABOD'S ROOM -- NIGHT
As before, a STORM RAGES. Ichabod is in Mother's arms.
FREAKISH WOMAN (v.o.)
The night of the great storm, I saw
her cross my windows. MOTHER
Don't be afraid...
INT. VAN TASSEL HOUSE, ICHABOD'S BEDROOM -- DAY
KNOCKING is HEARD. Ichabod gasps awake.
KATRINA (o.s.) Constable Crane?
Ichabod looks at his hands balled into fists. He opens them
-- has ONE HALF of PHILIPSE'S TALISMAN in each palm.
INT. VAN TASSEL HOUSE, SECOND FLOOR HALLWAY -- NIGHT
Katrina holds a tray of food. The DOOR is HEARD UNLOCKING.
INT. VAN TASSEL HOUSE, ICHABOD'S ROOM -- NIGHT
Katrina enters. Ichabod sits at his work table.
KATRINA Are you hungry?
Ichabod shakes his head, won't look up. Katrina crosses.
She begins picking up pieces of the PLASTER HOOFPRINT CAST
which lies shattered on the floor. KATRINA
You promised justice. ICHABOD
If these are the random stalkings of
a monster, what good am I? KATRINA
People have put their trust in you.
ICHABOD
They have done nothing of the sort.
KATRINA
Won't they still have that justice?
(patience waning) Or, was it a vain promise?
Ichabod stews, head in his hands. Someone is HEARD
RUNNING... Young Masbath enters, frightened.
YOUNG MASBATH
Constable Crane... something has happened.
EXT. WESTERN WOODS -- DAY
The Lenape Indian hangs dead in a tree, lynched. TOWNSFOLK
are gathered. Ichabod makes his way through, followed by
Young Masbath, looking up. BROM (o.s.)
We do not need you, Constable...
Brom strides towards Ichabod from a group of men spreading a
sheet under the tree. Van Ripper's there. BROM
The men who did this have been taken.
We do not need you here.
Brom points to where TWO FILTHY MEN in chains sit in a
horse-drawn cart. An armed man guards them.
ONE FILTHY MAN
You should thank us. The killings
will end. We saved you all!
The armed man shoves the filthy man to shut him up.
BROM They spend two days in chains.
ICHABOD Two days... ? For murder?
FATHER STEENWYCK
For poaching. Or, would you remake
our laws now that Magistrate Philipse
has given up the ghost? ICHABOD
Does that look like an animal hanging?
BROM Looks like an Indian.
Van Ripper cuts the noose rope at the trunk. The Lenape
corpse free falls, landing hard.
The Lenape lies in a heap on the sheet. Van Ripper and
others come to lift the sheet with the Lenape in the middle.
Ichabod watches, noticing...
The Lenape wears a WOVEN PIECE of REED GRASS a cord on his
loin cloth, twisted in a pattern. ICHABOD
Wait. Give me a moment...
Ichabod kneels. He removes the woven piece, looking across
the diseased Lenape's body. Something else...
The Lenape's mouth is agape; teeth rotting. Ichabod looks
around, finds a twig. He uses it to pull the Lenape's mouth
open... gets close to peer inside the Lenape's mouth.
INT. VAN TASSEL HOUSE, ICHABOD'S ROOM -- DAY
A DRAWING of the Lenape's WOVEN PIECE in Ichabod's ledger.
The piece lies near.
Ichabod sits staring at it, trance-like. Masbath waits. Long silence.
ICHABOD
The Lenape Indian had much to tell
once I opened his mouth.
YOUNG MASBATH How could he?
ICHABOD
His teeth. Someone had cut them and
chipped off rotten pieces far back
in his mouth. The Lenape could not
have done that for himself.
(closes his journal)
Someone out there cared for him.
Ichabod rises, deciding. He picks up his satchel and exits.
Young Masbath is surprised. He follows. EXT. WINDMILL -- DAY
A massive, wooden WINDMILL, raised off the ground on a 7'
center post. Ichabod and Masbath walk to it. INT. WINDMILL -- DAY
Ichabod and Young Masbath enter via a ladder from the
underbelly. Gears and counter wheels turn millstones. A few
men work in the grain powder filled air.
Ichabod leads the way to a staircase, up twists and turns.
YOUNG MASBATH Where are we going?
ICHABOD Up.
EXT. WINDMILL ROOF -- DAY
Ichabod and Young Masbath climb out a door to the roof. The
rotors spin nearby. Ichabod searches the countryside.
Below, MANY MEN are ride up the long straight road.
ICHABOD What is it?
YOUNG MASBATH
It's payment day. Loan monies are
given to Baltus the last day each
month. Almost everyone borrows...
for tools or to hire workers.
Ichabod sits, takes a bowl from his bag and gives it to
Masbath, then produces a bottle of water... fills the bowl.
ICHABOD (points)
Out there. What do you see?
YOUNG MASBATH The Western Woods.
ICHABOD Look again.
A plume of smoke rises from woods, far.
YOUNG MASBATH Smoke. Chimney smoke.
Ichabod holds a piece of straw in his mouth, rubs the point
of a sewing needle against a small BLACK ROCK.
ICHABOD
Are you familiar with magnets?
YOUNG MASBATH What kind of nuts?
ICHABOD
Not for eating, I assure you. Watch here.
Ichabod shows the magnet grab the needle. Young Masbath is
amazed, reaching for it. Ichabod watches him play with it.
YOUNG MASBATH It's spectacular.
ICHABOD (smiles, pause)
Yes... I suppose it is. Keep it.
YOUNG MASBATH No, I couldn't...
ICHABOD
I have others. All I need is this.
Ichabod takes the needle, poking its butt end into the tip of
the straw. Young Masbath studies the rock, pockets it.
YOUNG MASBATH Thank you.
ICHABOD (nods, almost shy)
Now, hold the bowl steady. Back to business.
Young Masbath lifts the bowl. Ichabod drops in the
needle/straw which floats and turns compass-like.
ICHABOD
If the Western Woods are truly the
Devil's Glen, we will see for ourselves.
YOUNG MASBATH (uneasy)
Father said witches live there.
ICHABOD
Witches do not exist. However...
Ichabod uses a knife to notch the bowl lip where the needle
points, then surveys the smoke, making a second notch.
ICHABOD
Not long ago, I would have said the
same for Headless Horseman.
KATRINA (o.s.) Constable... !
Katrina's on horseback below, unhappy. KATRINA
I need to speak with you. Alone.
EXT. VAN TASSEL GREAT LAWN -- DAY
Ichabod and Katrina lead their horses. A heated argument.
KATRINA
Why would you do such a thing?
ICHABOD
No stone may be left unturned. It
may appear harsh... KATRINA
I have misjudged you I think. I did
not imagine you were so cruel.
ICHABOD
You are not regarding it in full.
The Widow Windsor had been run
through by a sword. I followed the
bloodless wound, a wound whose path
I could not comprehend till I had
seen the Horseman with my own eyes.
KATRINA What are you on about?
ICHABOD
The child she carried was eight
months grown at least... near to
birthing. The sword had pierced its
tiny heart exactly. KATRINA
Must I hear this? ICHABOD
There was no blind stabbing. This
singular thrust found its target
omnipotently, as if the Horseman made
certain the unborn child died with its mother.
KATRINA
And this gives worth to butchery?
ICHABOD It was not butchery.
KATRINA
What is it then? Scientific method?
How can any of this matter in the slightest?
ICHABOD
I have no solution for its meaning
yet, but I could not just ignore it.
KATRINA
Take a lesson from Young Masbath's
desires, Ichabod Crane. He follows
with you to avenge his father's death.
That I understand. But, what do you want?
ICHABOD
To avenge his father, and the others.
KATRINA But, why? Tell me why.
Ichabod struggles for a reply. KATRINA
You falter with your answer because
you strive without putting the whole
of your heart into it. Can't you see?
You'll bring dignity to the dead even
if you have to chop them into little
pieces to do it. ICHABOD
(fed up, growing anger)
If it had been surgery on a living
person, done to save that person's
life, you would not question it. Not
for a moment. So, let me be the first
to tell you, dear girl... on the other
side of these sheltering mountains, a
whole world has advanced beyond such
plebeian thinking as yours. And
someday, no matter how much you fear
it, that world will come to roust
Sleepy Hollow out of its slumber.
Katrina storms away. Ichabod's already regretting.
EXT. BELLTOWER FIELD -- DAY
Ichabod and Young Masbath ride to the Western Woods, horses
loaded for expedition. At the Belltower remnants, Ichabod
slows, looking to the wreckage. At forest's edge, Young Masbath waits.
Ichabod circles the tower. With a sigh, he rides to join
Young Masbath. They head into the woods. EXT. WESTERN WOODS -- DAY
Dark, dense and creepy. Ichabod and Young Masbath move
through. Young Masbath halts his horse and looks around.
ICHABOD What is it?
YOUNG MASBATH Listen.
ICHABOD (listens, looks)
I hear nothing. YOUNG MASBATH
No crickets or cicadas calling. No bird songs.
Stark quiet. Ichabod notes this unhappily.
EXT. WESTERN WOODS -- LATER DAY
Ichabod's hand drops the needle/straw in the water bowl. The
needle spins. The bowl is turned to match notches.
Ichabod points the way to Young Masbath.
ELSEWHERE, SOMEONE WATCHES: A MOVING P.O.V. WATCHES them as
they ride, FOLLOWS. EXT. WESTERN WOODS, FURTHER ON -- LATER DAY
Ichabod and Masbath reach a hill crest. They stop, uneasy.
Below: a CAVE with a rock archway. An ill-fitting door
covers the mouth. The chimney spews smoke.
ICHABOD We have apparently arrived.
EXT. CAVE HOME -- DAY
The horses are tied to a tree. Ichabod walks to the cave
door. Unsure, he hesitantly knocks. INT. CAVE HOME -- DAY
Ichabod and Young Masbath step in.
Walls are hung with skins and skeletons, dry flowers and reed
grass in patterns. An OLD CRONE sits facing away.
The old Crone, a mountain woman with matted hair and grey
features, sits disinterested. Ichabod edges closer.
ICHABOD
Pardon. You did not answer when I
knocked. Are we intruding? OLD CRONE
You are from the Hollow? ICHABOD
In a way, yes.
Ichabod looks at tables of gourd bowls of dead insects and
acorns. Knifes, scissors, yellow bones. He takes the
Lenape's piece of reed grass from his pocket.
ICHABOD
The Lenape who lived in these woods...
do you know him? The Redman?
(uncomfortable wait)
I should tell you... he has been murdered.
OLD CRONE
Leave me. You are not welcome here.
The old Crone places something on a table beside her -- a
dead cardinal, bright red.
Ichabod is afraid, backing away, but Young Masbath takes the
woven piece and steps to the Crone.
YOUNG MASBATH
Were you a friend to the Indian? (waits)
You should have this... if you were his friend.
Young Masbath puts the woven piece beside the cardinal. He
walks to join Ichabod in leaving. OLD CRONE
You seek remedy against the Horseman?
The Old Crone reaches to pick up the weaving. She stands,
faces them. Tall. Ichabod nods. OLD CRONE
(to Young Masbath)
Go out and keep away, child. (to Ichabod)
You stay. Follow with me.
The Old Crone takes a candle and walks, deep into the cave.
INT. CAVE HOME, LOWER CAVE -- DAY
The Old Crone comes through a passage in the wet walls.
Ichabod enters, scared, bent under low ceiling.
OLD CRONE
I hear him. He rides to the Hollow and back.
ICHABOD The Horseman. Yes.
OLD CRONE Sit.
Ichabod sits on crooked stool. The old Crone kneels with her
back to him, gathers straw in a pile on the floor.
ICHABOD Can you help?
OLD CRONE
You want to see into the nether world...
I can show you. Whatever you see, do
not move or speak. I will hold him.
She gathers bowls, putting grass and powder on the pile.
ICHABOD What... what are you doing?
OLD CRONE (turns, furious)
Close your mouth! Keep silent.
She takes two jars from a table, pours ashes on the pile from
one. She shakes the other roughly, takes the lid off and
upends it. A baby bat squirms on the floor, dazed.
The Old Crone holds the bat, using a knife to cut off its
head. She soaks the straw with blood, SPEAKING IN TONGUES,
guttural. Using a wick, she lights the straw.
She grasps two METAL CUFFS with chains attached, slides these
onto her bony wrists, then bends to inhale smoke.
OLD CRONE He comes now.
Ichabod would like to leave now. EXT. CAVE HOME -- DAY
Young Masbath, waiting by the horses, looks up. Through the
trees, black clouds billow and block the sun.
INT. CAVE HOME, LOWER CAVE -- DAY
The old Crone slumps, still with her back to Ichabod. She
does not move. Wind howls through a hole/window. Rain.
Candles blow out. Ichabod stands, worried.
ICHABOD Excuse me... um...
She remains motionless. The STORM outside intensifies.
WE SEE the skin of the Crone's wrists transform; swelling in
the cuffs, hardening, cracking and bleeding.
Some thing Ichabod cannot see. He inches closer.
ICHABOD Are you alright... ?
The Crone turns, hideous, leaping erect -- a half-human,
half-demon CREATURE. Its black clawed hands reaching.
Ichabod recoils, crying out.
Chains on restraining cuffs yank the creature back.
Ichabod hits the floor, knocking over a table of bones. The
creature is chained, but still wants Ichabod. It SCREECHES.
The Old Crone's face seethes from transformation, eyes blood
red, nostrils dripping, teeth now jagged.
CREATURE/OLD CRONE
You seek the warrior bathed in
blood... the Headless Horseman.
Ichabod slides back as far as possible while the creature
claws the rock floor, yearning.
CREATURE/OLD CRONE
Follow the Indian trail to where the
sun dies. Follow to the tree of the dead.
The creature pulls, testing the chains. Behind, the BOLT
holding the chains to the wall slips. The wall cracks.
CREATURE/OLD CRONE
Climb down to the Horseman's soulless
place and let loose his silent
shrieking. Do you hear? Do you hear?!
Ichabod nods, quaking, aghast. He glances to the exit.
The chain bolt gives more... coming loose...
CREATURE/OLD CRONE
He who holds fast the Horseman's
desire will guide his reaping hand.
Catch hold of his desire.
Ichabod bolts for the door. The creature HOWLS, leaping...
The chain bolt breaks... Ichabod cries out, tackled to the floor...
It is the Old Crone who landed on him. She has returned to
human form, semi-conscious. Ichabod shoves her off.
EXT. CAVE HOME -- DAY
Ichabod runs out into the howling storm, past Masbath.
ICHABOD We are leaving.
YOUNG MASBATH What happened?
Ichabod scrambles onto Gunpowder, heading further into the
woods, glancing back. Young Masbath follows.
EXT. WESTERN WOODS, FURTHER ON -- EARLY EVENING
No rain. Dark. A lantern's glow creates shifting shadows as
Ichabod and Young Masbath ride. YOUNG MASBATH
Follow the Indian trail to where the
sun dies. To the tree of the dead.
(looking back) Maybe we passed it by.
ICHABOD
How could something named "the tree
of the dead" fail to draw attention?
A BIRD CRIES OUT. Ichabod's startled, looking up. The BIRD
is HEARD ALIGHTING. Leaves float downwards.
ICHABOD
We should not go much further in this murk.
YOUNG MASBATH Should we go back?
ICHABOD We are far from the Hollow.
(dismounts, troubled)
Loath to say it... better to get our
backs against a tree and stay till morning.
EXT. WESTERN WOODS (TIME CUT) -- NIGHT
Horses are tied. Ichabod is seated against a tree. A
campfire burns. Young Masbath lies on a blanket, rifle cross
his chest, staring to treetops.
Leaves and branches shift in the wind. Bats fly wildly.
YOUNG MASBATH
What does it mean... climb down to
the Horseman's soulless place?
ICHABOD
"Let loose his silent shrieking."
Who knows, till we work at it? I
admit not being anxious to find out. (pause)
"He who holds the Horseman's desire
will guide his reaping hand."
Whatever the Horseman's desire is,
other than extinguishing lives.
A SNAPPING BRANCH. Ichabod raises his pistol.
ICHABOD (to Young Masbath)
Do not move.
Ichabod rises. He creeps forward, pistol and lantern
forward. Foliage is thick. CRUNCHING LEAVES are HEARD.
Ichabod crouches, puts down the lantern and picks up a
branch. He tosses the branch to the foliage...
SOME ANIMAL darts away, a running blur.
Ichabod rises, following with his pistol.
ANOTHER ANGLE, MOVING P.O.V.: low to the ground,
moving swiftly at Ichabod... Ichabod spins, blindsided.
Young Masbath fires his rifle -- CRACK!!
The ANIMAL is KNOCKED DOWN mid-leap, yelping...
The beast lands, a mass of grey fur.
Ichabod comes to stare down. Young Masbath arrives. They
both look to the beast, horrified.
The creature lies helplessly spastic; a TWO-HEADED WOLF, with
one head blown open to brain and gore. Its living head
lifts, MEWING sadly, eyes pleading.
Ichabod step up with pistol. FIRES. MEWING STOPS.
ICHABOD
What God-forsaken hell is this?
Ichabod swallows back sickness, looking away. Something
catches his eye. ICHABOD
Christ...
Through the forest: the SKY'S LIT UP. Distant fire.
EXT. WESTERN WOODS, CAVE HOME -- EARLY EVENING
Ichabod and Masbath ride up, confronted by the Crone's cave
vomiting flame out all orifices.
Ichabod approaches. Embers swirl everywhere. The Old
Crone's body lies amongst bloodied leaves. Headless.
EXT. TOWN SQUARE, DOCTOR'S RESIDENCE -- NIGHT
Much commotion. A MOB in front of the home marked
"LANCASTER, PHYSICIAN." Steenwyck addresses the rabble.
FATHER STEENWYCK
You all stand idle, while this man
goes about with a book of secrets and
a bag filled with magic. You all
stand idle, while the shadow of the
Devil falls over our town.
Baltus, Lady Van Tassel and Katrina watch at safe distance.
FATHER STEENWYCK
I say, if you do nothing, you share
in the blasphemy of Ichabod Crane!
Killian, on horseback beside his wife, BETH, and son, Thomas,
rides to one side of the shouting crowd.
KILLIAN
Listen to me! Do you want to save
your crops? Or would you rather see
your farms go to ruin?
FATHER STEENWYCK
How is he saving our farms? How?
Ichabod Crane has brought into our
midst the soulless, moldering corpse of a heretic!
INT. DOCTOR'S RESIDENCE, MEDICAL ROOM -- NIGHT
Ichabod examines the Crone's neck wound with magnification
spectacles. Young Masbath is seated, ledger in his lap.
ICHABOD
The wound is neither smooth nor
cauterized, but jagged. She bleeds
like a fountain.
Ichabod lifts her dead hand to show bruises and cuts.
ICHABOD She did not go quietly.
INT. DOCTOR'S RESIDENCE, PARLOR -- NIGHT
Doctor Lancaster wrings his hands. His WIFE rocks nervously
in a rocking chair. The CROWD outside ROARS as a bonfire
lights up the curtained windows.
The front door is POUNDED open. ANGRY MEN enter. Lancaster
stands, lips quivering. He points insistently to a door.
INT. DOCTOR'S RESIDENCE, MEDICAL ROOM -- NIGHT
Angry men break in. Ichabod looks up.
ANGRY MAN
Step aside, Constable. Step aside...
Ichabod is shoved aside, spectacles knocked off.
The group grasps the Crone. Masbath stands on his chair,
clutching the ledger. Ichabod grabs one man.
ICHABOD What are you doing?
The man slams Ichabod back.
Magnification spectacles are crushed under foot.
EXT. TOWN SQUARE -- NIGHT
Angry men carry the corpse to a raging bonfire. The mob
makes way. Steenwyck cheers them.
FATHER STEENWYCK
Let her burn! Let her burn!
Ichabod comes out, followed by Young Masbath. The Crone's
corpse is thrown in the fire. Cheers all around.
At Ichabod's side, a man tries to grab the ledger Young
Masbath holds. Young Masbath cries out, hanging on to the
book. Ichabod joins the struggle.
Katrina watches, emotions conflicting.
Other men grab Ichabod. One punches Ichabod in the face.
Katrina rides forward as Baltus calls for her to stop.
Katrina leaps down, into the crowd, pulls men off Ichabod.
KATRINA Stop this! Leave them alone!
A SHOT RINGS OUT. Chaos halts. Everyone turns, quieting.
The men around Masbath and Ichabod turn to face Brom Bones.
Brom holds a smoking pistol, flanked by Theodore and Glenn.
BROM Let them go
(pointing) Are you going to beat an orphaned
child, imbecile?
Masbath is released, along with the ledger. Steenwyck moves
forward, pushing people aside.
FATHER STEENWYCK
Are you Ichabod Crane's protector, Brom Bones?
BROM Only for the moment.
FATHER STEENWYCK
You side with him in this? BROM
No. I agree he has only made matters
worse. But, that will change, if you listen.
He trades with Theodore, pistol for a long rifle. Brom hefts
the rifle, taking a round slug from his pocket.
BROM
Theodore, Glenn and I offer to ride
each day and night to watch over the
Hollow. We will stalk the border of
the Western Woods and haunt the
Horseman for a change, with rifles
like this... and slugs like this...
Brom brings the slug to his lips, blows. It WHISTLES.
BROM
Hollowed out and filled with powder.
Brom smiles at Katrina, who watches unimpressed.
BROM
Constable Crane is not the only one
who fights with science on his side.
ICHABOD
I fired upon the Horseman and the
bullet did nothing. BROM
You must have missed your mark.
ICHABOD I hit him square.
BROM (to the crowd)
I say... if the Horseman is solid
enough to take the lives of our
people, he's solid enough to feel this...
Brom aims the rifle at a BARREL down the road. FIRES.
PLUNK -- the barrel is hit -- EXPLODES. Smoke wafts.
INT. VAN TASSEL HOUSE, ICHABOD'S ROOM -- NIGHT
In bed, Ichabod is having unpleasant dreams once more.
FREAKISH WOMAN (v.o.)
The night of the great storm, I saw
her cross my windows. ICHABOD'S DREAM -- COURTROOM -- DAY
Young Ichabod is seated beside Father, eyes tearful. We are
back in the court where Mother stands trial.
FREAKISH WOMAN
In the lightning, I did see her.
(points to Mother)
Her. Lady Crane... I will never
forget it. The next moment, I found
my infant son was dead, with the
blood welt on his breast.
The evil Third Man turns to a jury of TWELVE MEN.
THIRD MAN
You have heard it. The blood welt
is the mark of Satan's touch.
As the crowd murmurs in fear, Young Ichabod looks to Father,
who sits with hands clenched, emotionless.
ICHABOD'S DREAM -- YOUNG ICHABOD'S HOME -- NIGHT
In the quiet kitchen, Young Ichabod looks across the table.
Father stares into his food. YOUNG ICHABOD
She was with me, father. FATHER
Nothing can be done against them.
YOUNG ICHABOD
She was with me that night. Father doesn't even look up.
ICHABOD'S DREAM -- CHURCH -- NIGHT
Empty church. Young Ichabod carries a lantern past pews. A
soldier is seated near the altar with a rifle.
YOUNG ICHABOD May I see her?
The soldier exits through a white door. Young Ichabod waits,
looking up at the vast church. The white door opens and the
Third Man steps out. THIRD MAN
Go home. YOUNG ICHABOD
May I see my mother? THIRD MAN
You do not want to be here. Go home
to your father. YOUNG ICHABOD
She did not do it... please listen...
THIRD MAN She is guilty.
YOUNG ICHABOD
No, sir, please... she is innocent...
THIRD MAN She has confessed.
YOUNG ICHABOD No.
THIRD MAN
She has admitted to her evil and
signed a written confession. Do
you know what confession is?
(off Ichabod's nod)
All that is left for you now is to
pray for her soul.
The Third Man leaves through the white door.
ICHABOD'S DREAM -- YOUNG ICHABOD'S BEDROOM -- MORNING
Young Ichabod buttons his shirt.
ICHABOD'S DREAM -- YOUNG ICHABOD'S YARD -- MORNING
Young Ichabod comes out, looks to the lawn, not
understanding. Father loads a wagon full of belongings.
FATHER We are leaving.
(long pause) She has gone away.
Realization comes to Young Ichabod. He runs, away across the
lawn as Father calls after him.
ICHABOD'S DREAM -- FOREST TRAIL -- MORNING Young Ichabod runs, weeping.
THIRD MAN (v.o.) She has confessed.
ICHABOD'S DREAM -- CHURCH -- MORNING
Empty. Doors are thrown open and Young Ichabod enters. He
goes down the aisle, towards the white door.
THIRD MAN (v.o.)
She has admitted to her evil and
signed a written confession.
YOUNG ICHABOD Mother.
ICHABOD'S DREAM -- CHURCH, BEYOND WHITE DOOR -- MORNING
Young Ichabod enters, halting. The room contains TORTURE
DEVICES: iron cuffs, thumb screws, knifes and needles.
THIRD MAN (v.o.)
Do you know what confession is?
He walks, numb, eyes locked forward...
In the corner is a SPIKED CHAIR, adorned with sharp iron
spikes. Hundreds of spikes. It is fitted with straps for
holding down the "accused."
Tears stream down Young Ichabod's face. He kneels, hands on
the spikes of the chair, pressing hard.
As he sobs, blood runs down from his hands.
INT. VAN TASSEL HOUSE, ICHABOD'S ROOM -- NIGHT
In bed, Ichabod opens tear filled eyes. He sits up, bringing
his trembling hands to wipe his cheeks. His hands trail
blood. He looks to them... The old scars are bleeding.
INT. VAN TASSEL HOUSE, SITTING ROOM -- NIGHT
Katrina comes to the door. Ichabod is seated by the fire,
eyes bleary, palms wrapped with bloodied cloth.
KATRINA Constable Crane?
Katrina comes beside Ichabod's chair. ICHABOD
Allow me some time. I have spent
every hour in the company of others.
I need to be alone. KATRINA
What troubles you?
She moves in front. Ichabod gets up and crosses to sit
facing away. Katrina takes the chair he deserted.
KATRINA
The things I said to you before...
I was wrong to say them. ICHABOD
No, actually, you were not. Every
word you spoke had truth in it.
KATRINA What has happened?
Ichabod sits silent, puts his head back, eyes closed.
ICHABOD
Lady Van Tassel... she is your
stepmother, isn't she? She bears so
little resemblance. KATRINA
What? ICHABOD
She is not your birth mother, is she?
KATRINA
No, but... why do you ask that?
ICHABOD
What happened to your mother? Is she still alive?
KATRINA
She died. Her lungs were diseased...
two years ago. What is this about?
ICHABOD
Memories have come back. I had them
forgotten, and wish I could forget
them again... but they are here now.
(pause) Lord, how I hate this place.
KATRINA
If you want me to go, I will. Do you
want me to leave? ICHABOD
I... I do not know. I no longer know
what I think or what I feel.
Katrina walks to him. She touches his back.
KATRINA
Why are you so afraid of that? Is
there truly such harm in uncertainty?
She kneels, smiles a little for him. She reaches to touch
his face, holds his head in her hands. Leans to kiss him.
He rests his head against hers, weary, putting his arms
around her. They kiss passionately. EXT. THE HOLLOW -- EARLY MORNING
Dawn light, is visible over forests pounded by rain.
INT. VAN TASSEL HOUSE, SECOND FLOOR HALL -- MORNING
Ichabod exits his room, satchel in hand. He looks down the
hall, then steps back in to take a white rose from a vase.
AROUND A CORNER, Ichabod comes to the last door. He bends,
slipping the white rose under the crack of the door.
EXT. VAN TASSEL HOUSE, FRONT PORCH -- MORNING
Rain. Ichabod comes out. Across the lawn, Young Masbath is
bringing the horses. LADY VAN TASSEL (o.s.)
Good morrow, Constable.
Ichabod turns to see Lady Van Tassel in a chair, sewing.
LADY VAN TASSEL
Returning to the Western Woods?
ICHABOD Yes, actually.
LADY VAN TASSEL Use caution.
ICHABOD (nods, studies her)
Do you know... I think those are the
first words I have heard from you my
entire time here. LADY VAN TASSEL
As my husband says, a wife should be
always like an echo, and at the same
time, quite unlike an echo.
(off Ichabod's confusion)
Like an echo, she should speak only
when spoken to, and unlike an echo,
should never try to have the last
word, or, at least that is what he believes.
Baltus comes out the door, irritable, skillet in hand.
BALTUS
Constable... did you notice anything
out of the ordinary during the night?
Ichabod eyes the skillet, ill at ease, trying not to be.
ICHABOD
Um... I... I did not... no. Why?
BALTUS
Sarah has gone missing... my servant
girl. Her things are gone. Damn it.
She has joined the migration out of town.
(to Lady Van Tassel)
What about breakfast, woman? Or, am
I to starve to death?
Lady Van Tassel gets up and goes in, taking the skillet.
ICHABOD
I should be going... good day to you.
Ichabod heads towards Young Masbath. Baltus watches from the
porch, disgruntled. He goes in. EXT. WESTERN WOODS -- DAY
Heavy rain. Ichabod and Young Masbath ride side by side.
YOUNG MASBATH
If the Crone's wound bled hard, that
means she was not killed by the
Hessian. Someone only tried to make
it look that way. ICHABOD
You grow sharper by the minute, little
man. It boggles my mind, but I begin
to prefer your company over all others.
YOUNG MASBATH
Well... I'm one of the few people who likes you.
ICHABOD (laughs)
True enough. YOUNG MASBATH
Then, who murdered the Old Crone? And why?
ICHABOD
Good questions, deserving answers, of
which we are in short supply.
A SOUND is HEARD. Ichabod looks back, then to Masbath.
ICHABOD Quicken pace.
Ichabod rides faster. Young Masbath keeps up.
FURTHER ON, they charge over a hill. Ichabod halts Gunpowder
and climbs clumsily off. ICHABOD
Ride on.
Young Masbath obeys. Ichabod takes out his pistol and wades
into forest growth, backtracking.
INSIDE THE FOREST, Ichabod bounds through underbrush, low. A
HORSE is HEARD SNORTING. He pushes through branches...
Moving behind a FIGURE IN A GREY CLOAK on horseback.
ICHABOD
Halt and turn. I have a pistol aimed at your head.
The figure stops, pushes off the cloak hood. Katrina.
KATRINA It is only me.
ICHABOD Katrina. Why do you follow?
KATRINA I apologize if I worried you.
ICHABOD
A woman should not be out alone in these woods.
KATRINA
But, I am not alone, am I? I only
wished to see what you were up to, and...
(takes out WHITE ROSE) To thank you.
Ichabod softens, but doesn't want to. ICHABOD
Come along. EXT. WESTERN WOODS, TREE OF THE DEAD -- DAY
Raining still. Ichabod, Masbath and Katrina come into a
clearing, mouths falling open at the sight of...
A monstrously huge TREE OF THE DEAD, at the clearing's
center, with branches reaching far and wide, knotted and
gross, like agony captured in wood sculpture.
Ichabod dismounts, crossing a line beyond which grass and
weeds will not grow. Young Masbath and Katrina dismount.
YOUNG MASBATH
You were right... it does draw attention to itself.
Ichabod stares up into the endless, dead canopy of branches.
He circles the incredibly wide trunk.
There's a VERTICAL WOUND in the bark, as if the tree once had
a terrible vertical in it, now partially healed and
disgustingly scarred. Ichabod approaches.
He feels the mushy scar, picking at its scabs till much sap
begins to trickle. It is red and Ichabod fingers it.
ICHABOD Blood.
KATRINA What did you say?
Ichabod goes to where Katrina and Masbath wait with the
horses, digs in a saddle bag for a hand axe.
YOUNG MASBATH What is it?
ICHABOD Stay back.
At the trunk, Ichabod thumps the flat end of the axe against
the suture. It sounds hollow. Ichabod begins to chop.
He pulls away loose bark. The tree drips more blood and a
clear goo. Ichabod uses both hands on the axe to hack at the
festering suture. KATRINA
What are you doing? ICHABOD
Just... keep where you are.
Ignoring, Young Masbath moves closer. Ichabod keeps
chopping, then grips a large, loose flap of wood, trying to
bend it. It's not easy. Ichabod struggles.
Katrina follows Masbath's slow advance.
Ichabod's pulling... the flap suddenly gives, revealing a
blood-soaked, wide-eyed, gap-mouthed HUMAN HEAD.
Ichabod recoils. Behind him, Katrina stifles a scream,
taking Young Masbath in her arms to keep him from looking.
It is Philipse's head, hanging off the trunk flap, held by
roots grown around and into the flesh.
Ichabod reapproaches, back of his hand to his mouth.
FOUR other SEVERED, DECAYING HEADS are held by ingrown roots
within the dewy innards. KATRINA
My God... what has happened? ICHABOD
He... he tries to take the heads...
they will not pass. He looks to the branches towering above.
ICHABOD
Must be some sort of gateway. But,
why this place... ? YOUNG MASBATH
We should go. ICHABOD
Why this tree?
Ichabod begins looking at the ground, moving around the tree.
He gets to his knees, pushing mud away.
Uncovering a flush HEADSTONE carved with "666."
ICHABOD (to himself)
"Climb down to the Horseman's soulless place."
(to Masbath) Bring the shovel.
EXT. WESTERN WOODS, TREE OF THE DEAD -- LATER DAY
Rain. Young Masbath's crouched, muddy, rifle across his
knees. He's watching the tree.
Behind him, Katrina climbs out of the shallow grave near a
pile of mud. Ichabod hands up the shovel.
KATRINA Masbath, we've found it.
Young Masbath goes to the grave. Ichabod pulls at thick
burlap cloth, straining as it comes away.
Ichabod looks down, disbelieving. ICHABOD
It cannot be true.
WE SEE: roots have gripped the Horseman's bones and tattered
uniform. The skeleton is all there -- except the skull.
ICHABOD
Why is it every grave I open holds
a new mystery inside? KATRINA
The skull is gone. ICHABOD
Yes. I did notice that, thank you.
Ichabod climbs out, weary in body and spirit. LIGHTNING.
THUNDER. He stares at the bones. ICHABOD
This is his silent shrieking... and
his desire, to reclaim his head.
Ichabod turns, looking to the bordering forest.
ICHABOD
"He who holds fast the Horseman's
desire will guide his reaping hand."
(pause) Someone controls the Horseman.
KATRINA (o.s.) Ichabod!
Ichabod turns, looks...
Katrina and Young Masbath back away, because the ROOTS in the
grave are ALIVE, further entwining around remains.
Ichabod spins to the twisted tree...
The vertical SUTURE SEETHES, pulling inwards... sucking
Philipse's head back in and closing, bubbling.
Ichabod bounds over grave dirt pile, hastening Katrina and
Young Masbath along as he flees. At the tree, the suture swells.
Ichabod, Katrina and Young Masbath pass where their freaking
horses are tied to a fallen trunk, heading for cover.
A RUMBLING is HEARD from the twisted tree, which suddenly
BURSTS wide, spitting smoldering cinders.
At the tree line, Ichabod, Katrina and Young Masbath cower,
looking back. From the tree wound, a glow brightens, till the Headless
Horseman and Daredevil EXPLODE into existence...
They hit the ground running.
Ichabod watches the Horseman ride away with bolts of
LIGHTNING STRIKING the GROUND BEHIND.
The Horseman disappears in the forest. ICHABOD
His next victim is chosen! (to Masbath)
Give me distance, then guide her
back to the Hollow. Ichabod runs towards the horses.
YOUNG MASBATH Constable!
EXT. WESTERN WOODS -- DAY The Horseman rips past on Daredevil.
EXT. BEHIND IN WESTERN WOODS -- DAY
Ichabod rides as fast as Gunpowder is able.
INT. KILLIAN'S HOME, KITCHEN -- DAY
Small home. Killian, Thomas and Beth have finished supper.
Beth clears plates as Killian picks his teeth with a knife.
THOMAS May I be excused, father?
KILLIAN Do you deserve to be?
THIRD MAN (shyly)
I think so. KILLIAN
(smiles) Then, go.
Thomas gets down from his chair. He goes to the fireplace to
light a tallow wick, which he takes to the next room.
INT. KILLIAN'S HOME, WHITE ROOM -- DAY
Thomas plops on the floor and lights his MAGIC LANTERN: a
lantern with an outer sleeve of glass painted with
silhouettes of lions and monsters.
Thomas turns the lantern and looks to the walls where the
creatures, shadows are thrown. He roars for them, imagining
them real and having a grand time. INT. KILLIAN'S HOME, KITCHEN -- DAY
Beth comes for more dishes. BETH
Don't pick teeth. You teach Thomas bad habits.
Killian pulls her to him, playful. KILLIAN
I am a bad habit. There's nothing for it.
BETH (kisses him)
No one knows better than I.
INT. KILLIAN'S HOME, WHITE ROOM -- DAY
Thomas continues his fun, shadow animals circling him.
In the shifting light, a baby spider comes from a crack in
the wall. Then, another spider skitters out. More follow.
EXT. FORESTS -- DAY
A black horse runs, hooves pounding the ground. THUNDER is
HEARD. The horse slows and stops... it is Brom's horse, with
Brom aboard. Brom looks skyward.
The storm harshens, roaring through the trees. Distant
HOOFBEATS can be HEARD. POUNDING.
Brom takes his rifle off his shoulder. The HOOFBEATS grow
LOUDER and PASS, far away. Brom turns in the saddle and
WHISTLES. He kicks his horse and rides.
INT. KILLIAN'S HOME, WHITE ROOM -- DAY
Thomas still watches shadow beasts, but sees something else.
He goes to the crack where hundreds of spiders flee all
directions. Thomas is amused. INT. KILLIAN'S HOME, KITCHEN -- DAY
Behind Killian, mantelpiece stones pulse, breathing almost
imperceptibly. Demonic faces form, then disappear and reform
again, shifting. WIND HOWLS. INT. KILLIAN'S HOME, WHITE ROOM -- DAY
Beth enters, looking at Thomas. BETH
What are you doing there?
The magic lantern stops spinning. Shadow creatures freeze.
INT. KILLIAN'S HOME, KITCHEN -- DAY
The ENTIRE HOUSE CREAKS. Killian looks up. CREAKING STOPS.
The HOWLING WIND is LOUD. INT. KILLIAN'S HOME, THE WHITE ROOM -- DAY
Beth comes to Thomas' side as he points. THOMAS
Spiders.
Beth bends to see the swarming spiders. She looks up,
noticing the FEROCITY of the WIND. INT. KILLIAN'S HOME, KITCHEN -- DAY
Killian stands, looking up. The HOUSE CREAKS again, then
suddenly the WIND CEASES. Silence. KILLIAN
Beth... INT. KILLIAN'S HOME, THE WHITE ROOM -- DAY
Beth picks up Thomas. The magic lantern creatures begin
spinning anew, all around. INT. KILLIAN'S HOME, KITCHEN -- DAY
With a ROAR, the fire flares. Killian looks.
WHHOOOSH the fire shoots up the fireplace. Gone.
Behind Killian, the DOOR SPLINTERS INWARDS. The Horseman
steps in, a battle axe in each hand. WIND BLASTS...
The DOOR to the other room SLAMS.
Killian grabs a kitchen chair and hurls it at the Horseman.
The Horseman swings, smashing it aside. KILLIAN
Beth... run! INT. KILLIAN'S HOME, WHITE ROOM -- DAY
Beth hugs Thomas to her as she backs away.
KILLIAN (o.s.) (from kitchen)
Get out! INT. KILLIAN'S HOME, KITCHEN -- DAY
Killian grabs an iron skewer from the fireplace, swings it to
fend off a blow from the Horseman.
The Horseman swings the other axe. Killian ducks. The axe
cracks fireplace stone, throwing sparks.
Killian lunges, jamming the skewer into the Horseman.
The skewer comes through the Horseman's back. The Horseman
swipes with the flat of one axe -- pounding Killian aside.
Killian hits the wall, bashing his head. Hits the floor.
INT. KILLIAN'S HOME, WHITE ROOM -- DAY
Beth kicks a carpet to reveal a trap door.
INT. KILLIAN'S HOME, KITCHEN -- DAY
The Horseman pulls the skewer out of his body, throws it. He
goes to lift Killian by the hair with one hand, brings back
the axe in the other... INT. KILLIAN'S HOME, WHITE ROOM -- DAY
At the trap door, Beth lowers Thomas to stairs leading to the
cellar. Thomas is crying. BETH
Don't let him get you. THOMAS
Mommy... BETH
You hide now... go...
Beth closes the trap door, frantically replacing the carpet.
The room's door flies open and the Horseman strides in,
carrying Killian's severed head. Beth shrieks.
The Horseman steps forward, knocks over the magic lantern.
INT. KILLIAN'S HOME, CELLAR -- DAY
Beth's SCREAMS are abruptly CUT OFF. Her BODY is HEARD
HITTING the floor above. Thomas crosses the cellar,
stumbles. He scurries into the shelter of a wheelbarrow
propped against the wall. FOOTSTEPS are HEARD.
INT. KILLIAN'S HOME, THE WHITE ROOM -- DAY
The Horseman's hands place Killian's and Beth's heads in a
sack, cinching the sack shut. INT. KILLIAN'S HOME, KITCHEN -- DAY
The Headless Horseman enters, bends to retrieve the battle
axe he left. He stands. Pause. INT. KILLIAN'S HOME, CELLAR -- DAY
Thomas' trembling hands pull the wheelbarrow closer. QUIET.
He tries to control his sobbing. INT. KILLIAN'S HOME, KITCHEN -- DAY
The Horseman turns, falls to his knees. He starts to chop at
the floor with both axes. CHOPping, CHOPping, CHOPping...
making quick work of it... INT. KILLIAN'S HOME, CELLAR -- DAY
A hole appears in the ceiling as debris falls.
Thomas looks up, terrified. He gets up to run away...
The Horseman's arm shoves through above, grasping Thomas and
yanking him up. EXT. KILLIAN'S FARM -- DAY
Brom rides from the forest, charging across Killian's field.
At Killian's house, Daredevil rides up as the Headless
Horseman walks out with his sack of heads. The Horseman ties
the sack to the saddle and leaps up.
Brom puts his reins in his mouth, raising his rifle.
The Horseman heads away, past the barn, as Brom gains.
Brom aims... FIRES! BOOM -- the slug EXPLODES, blowing the Horseman off
Daredevil. Daredevil keeps going. The Horseman's smoldering
body is left "face down."
Brom halts his horse. He climbs down, pleased. The Horseman moves.
Brom backs away, satisfaction diminishing.
The Horseman gets on his knees.
Brom falls to one knee, begins reloading. He fills the gun
from his powder horn.
The Horseman stands, unsheathes his sword and turns. The
blast has blown apart his uniform at the chest and shoulder,
exposing rotten flesh and maggot-infested muscle.
Brom readies his ramrod, jamming powder in the barrel.
The Horseman charges.
Brom stands, pulling out the ramrod. The Horseman is on him.
Brom swings the rifle, blocking. Sparks fly.
The battle is on, with Brom fending off the Horseman's sword
with the gun -- CLANK -- CLANK -- CLANK.
ACROSS THE FIELD, Ichabod and Gunpowder break into the open.
UP THE FIELD, the Horseman makes a backhanded swing. Brom
goes down, his rifle sent flying.
Brom rolls to avoid as the Horseman slashes.
Brom flees. The Horseman pulls and throws a knife...
THWAP -- the knife imbeds in Brom's thigh.
The Horseman runs towards Brom.
Ichabod closes in, pulling an unlit lantern off his saddle.
Brom tries to get up, bends to extract the knife.
The Horseman, mid-run, changes his sword grip, blade down.
He plants one foot on Brom's back, raising his sword, about
to skewer... Ichabod arrives full gallop, SMASHES the lantern into the
Horseman -- knocking the Horseman off Brom.
AT THE EDGE OF THE FOREST, Theodore and Glen arrive on
horseback. They hold a moment, watching.
Brom runs, limping, to the barn, goal in sight: farm
implements propped there. Brom grabs SCYTHES with long
curved blades, one in per hand. The Horseman rises.
Ichabod turns Gunpowder and leaps off, runs to Brom.
The Horseman moves towards them, hefting a battle axe in his
free hand. Ichabod steps up, pistol aimed, furious.
ICHABOD For what it's worth...
FIRES -- the bullet rips through the Horseman's stomach to
reveal putrid innards as he keeps advancing.
At the forest, Theodore looks to Glenn, turns and flees.
Brom steps up, scythes ready. He and the Horseman go at it.
Brom blocks axe and sword, catching and deflecting blows.
At the forest, Glenn follows Theodore away.
Ichabod grabs a long handled SICKLE.
Brom swings the scythes. The Horseman avoids.
Ichabod moves to the side, looking for an opening. He swings
the sickle. The Horseman blocks.
The Horseman battles both at once, catching blows...
countering every strike, METAL RINGING.
Brom catches the Horseman's sword in one scythe, holding it
off. Catches the axe handle in the other scythe.
The Horseman flatfoot KICKS Brom's chest, sending him down.
Ichabod swings the sickle blade...
Hits the Horseman, the blade embedding to the hilt.
The Horseman drops his axe and grasps the sickle, jerking...
The sickle handle SLAMS Ichabod's, knocking him away.
Ichabod crawls, tries to shake off the blow.
He looks up. The Horseman staggers, spastically trying to
pull the blade from his body.
Brom limps to Ichabod, yanks him to his feet.
BROM We cannot win this.
They head towards the forest.
Behind, the Horseman extracts the sickle, throws it. He
strides after them, picks up his axe on the way. EXT. RIVERBANK -- DAY
Ichabod and Brom stumble down a hillside. Brom points.
BROM There...
They run to a DOCK at the edge of a wide, rapid river. They
jump into a FLAT BOAT barge. BROM
Go to the front and guide it.
Ichabod goes. Brom uses a scythe to slash the ropes.
Ichabod picks up a GUIDE POLE. The barge lurches, set free.
Ichabod struggles to push the boat out. it moves swiftly,
caught in rain swollen current.
Brom looks back. No Horseman. He leaves the scythe and
moves to the front, hefting another pole to help guide.
BROM Let's see him catch us now.
Ichabod looks to the shore. Horror. ICHABOD
Look.
LIGHTNING ILLUMINATES -- ahead, the Horseman stands on the
bank with Axe and sword. Daredevil near. BROM
We'll pass right by the son of a bitch.
Ichabod and Brom push with the poles, trying for speed.
At the bank, the Horseman walks directly to the water...
Just as he takes a step onto the water, the rain churned
surface TRANSFORMS -- instantly BECOMING a SHEET of ICE...
SPREADING and supporting the Horseman as he advances.
ICE SHOOTS OUT ahead of him, towards a point in the river
where it will intercept the barge. BROM
My Christ...
The Horseman's ICE BRIDGE engulfs the barge, HALTING IT.
Ichabod and Brom are thrown. The barge is trapped. The Horseman nears.
Brom runs to the rear to retrieve his scythe. Ichabod holds
up the only weapon he has, his guide pole.
The Horseman steps on board. Ichabod swings. The Horseman's
axe cracks the pole in half...
The Horseman thrusts with sword -- into Ichabod's chest --
clean through. It SIZZLES as Ichabod screams.
The Horseman lifts Ichabod up, flips him, pulling the sword
out as Ichabod goes... SMASHING through the ice and under.
UNDERWATER: water carries Ichabod, slams him against ice
above. He's pulled down by undertow.
ABOVE WATER, beyond the edge of the ice bridge: Ichabod comes
up, gasping, choking on rain. He treads water, looking to the barge.
ICHABOD'S P.O.V. -- FROM THE WATER
Aboard the barge, the Horseman cuts Brom down... stands over
him, chopping with sword. Our VIEW grows BLURRY, and... FADES OUT/IN
INT. VAN TASSEL HOUSE, ICHABOD'S ROOM -- NIGHT
Candlelight. Ichabod, shirtless, feverish, opens his eyes.
The wound at the top of his chest is raw. Katrina inserts a
needle in the skin around it. KATRINA
Lay still, Ichabod. Do not move.
LADY VAN TASSEL Doctor, he is awake.
Ichabod tries to sit. Pain stops him. Lady Van Tassel helps
bleed the wound with the needle and a tube leading to a
SUCTION JAR of blood. ICHABOD
(barely a voice)
What... what are you doing... ?
KATRINA
I'm drawing bad blood from the wound.
Doctor Lancaster comes to the bed.
DOCTOR LANCASTER
Keep still, Constable. You were
half-drowned when they found you.
ICHABOD ... Brom Bones...
DOCTOR LANCASTER
He is dead. You would be also, if
your wound had not somehow shut.
ICHABOD Bring Young Masbath here.
DOCTOR LANCASTER You need to sleep.
ICHABOD Bring him.
DOCTOR LANCASTER You need rest.
Ichabod gives up, closes his eyes. Katrina, needle in one
hand, brings her other hand to hold Ichabod's.
Blood drips into the suction jar.
INT. VAN TASSEL HOUSE, ICHABOD'S ROOM -- LATER NIGHT
Ichabod is soundly asleep. Across the room, Katrina is at
his work table. Ichabod stirs. Katrina looks to him.
Once she is satisfied he will not wake, she returns to what
she was doing, turning a page. She is reading his ledger.
EXT. SERVANT'S QUARTER'S, MASBATH'S ROOM -- NIGHT
Young Masbath lies awake. A glint of light crosses the
window. Masbath looks to it, gets up, peers out.
THROUGH THE WINDOW, he can see the Van Tassel Manor House in
the distance. Lantern LIGHT crosses the lawn.
EXT. VAN TASSEL ESTATE, ORCHARD -- NIGHT
The lantern light moves through the orchard, away from the
house. We cannot make out the person.
Elsewhere, Young Masbath runs in pursuit. He hides against
one tree, leans to look...
The light enters forest. Young Masbath follows.
INT. VAN TASSEL HOUSE, ICHABOD'S ROOM -- MORNING
Ichabod's hurting. Masbath helps with a shirt.
YOUNG MASBATH
Someone left last night. Looked
like they headed to the square, but
I lost them in the forest. ICHABOD
Man or woman? YOUNG MASBATH
All I saw was their lantern. ICHABOD
Business, best hidden is hidden best at night.
Ichabod goes to his work table, organizing his satchel.
YOUNG MASBATH
If someone has the Horseman's skull...
if they control the Horseman, then why
haven't they sent him for your head yet?
ICHABOD
Because, I serve a fine purpose alive.
It is perfection for our murderer if I
return to New York City with nothing
more than tales of a galloping ghoul.
(pause) We must uncover the reason these
victims were targeted. What was taken
from them... other than their lives?
Who benefits by their deaths?
Ichabod fumbles the bottle of white powder.
It bounces, cork popping out... rolls under the bed.
ICHABOD Damn it.
Ichabod kneels, pained. A trail of the blood-detecting
powder has spilled. The bottle is out of reach.
YOUNG MASBATH I'll get it.
Young Masbath gets down, ready to crawl for it, but Ichabod stops him, peering under.
. ICHABOD Wait...
Far under, near the bottle, some powder is bubbling.
Ichabod moves to the end of the bed and lifts, in pain.
Young Masbath helps. They drag the bed to one side.
Under the bed: a Satanic PENTAGRAM has been DRAWN IN BLOOD.
Ichabod stares, trying to grasp the implication. Masbath is
about to speak, but Ichabod puts a finger to his lips.
Ichabod moves to lock the door. YOUNG MASBATH
(whispers) Who did this?
Ichabod does not answer. He picks up a wash basin and dumps
the water to wash the Pentagram away. EXT. TOWN SQUARE/CHURCH -- DAY
WAGONS, HORSES and TOWNSPEOPLE swarm. A CROWD loots the
town's general store. Provisions are passed along man to man
and loaded on wheelbarrows.
All up and down the long straight road, home owners board up
windows with lumber.
Ichabod and Young Masbath ride, passing many angry faces.
ICHABOD Panic has set in.
They stop, tying their horses and climbing stairs to the door
of the "NOTARY." Ichabod looks off...
DOWN THE ROAD, at the far end, people head to the church.
Much activity there as well. ICHABOD
Sanctuary. Or, so they hope.
Families put up tents all around the church within the
bordering wrought-iron fence. Supplies abound.
People work to build and erect massive wooden crosses.
INT. NOTARY PUBLIC, HARDENBROOK'S OFFICES -- DAY
Tidy room. Young Masbath watches Ichabod hand a slip of
paper to the elderly Notary, Hardenbrook.
ICHABOD
Do you have these persons' wills?
HARDENBROOK
I have everything... last testaments...
birth certificates, death certificates... deeds.
ICHABOD
Yes, sir... but, do you have these?
Hardenbrook studies the paper with his one good eye.
HARDENBROOK Certainly... certainly.
Hardenbrook nods, handing the list back, grinning. Ichabod
stands waiting. Hardenbrook is still nodding.
ICHABOD
May I see them, Master Hardenbrook?
HARDENBROOK Hmm? See them?
ICHABOD May we look at them now?
HARDENBROOK
Of course. You want them... it shall
not take long. Wait here.
Hardenbrook heads across the room. Ichabod offers the list.
ICHABOD Maybe you should take this.
HARDENBROOK A fine idea.
Hardenbrook takes it and exits. Young Masbath sits.
YOUNG MASBATH What good is this?
ICHABOD
To discover what might have been taken
from those who died, it will help to
know what was there that could be
taken in the first place.
Ichabod waits. After a moment, he looks uncertain. He
crosses to the half-open door...
INT. NOTARY PUBLIC, RECORDS ROOM -- DAY
Ichabod sticks his head in, not liking what he sees.
Hardenbrook's amidst unbelievable disarray. Tables, shelves,
and baskets of unevenly piled documents.
Hardenbrook looks on a shelf, confused, then goes to a table,
lifting papers, mumbling. HARDENBROOK
Damn... damn... damn... ICHABOD
Master Hardenbrook... Hardenbrook turns, a bit startled.
ICHABOD
Perhaps, I could assist in finding them?
HARDENBROOK
Well... that might be... helpful.
INT. NOTARY PUBLIC, RECORDS ROOM (TIME CUT) -- DAY
Hardenbrook is asleep in a chair, snoring, blind eye open.
Ichabod and Young Masbath face official-looking documents,
with Ichabod focused on one will in hand.
YOUNG MASBATH
My father had farm land. It was the
only thing we owned of any value.
ICHABOD (still reading)
And it now belongs to you, according
to Baltus. I heard him say it.
YOUNG MASBATH Yes.
Ichabod turns the will in his hand to Masbath.
ICHABOD
Then look here at your father's will,
and tell me why you are not listed.
Young Masbath takes it, boggled. Ichabod grabs another.
ICHABOD
Van Garrett had denoted his elder son
in his last wishes; the same son
murdered along with him. But Van
Garrett's wife and two infant children
are not written... and they were spared.
(picks up another will)
Do you see? Philipse had no family to
bestow his farm to. But, here...
(picks up another)
The Widow Windsor was listed on her
late husband's will. After her
inheritance, she amended the document
to include her bastard child. This is
why the Horseman made absolutely
certain to impale the unborn descendant. Ichabod sits back.
ICHABOD
Only the heirs were killed. Proof that
the Horseman slaughters by assignment.
YOUNG MASBATH
But, if the farm is not mine, who stole it away?
ICHABOD
No one yet, far as I can tell. It has
gone intestate. YOUNG MASBATH
In test... what? ICHABOD
Intestate. Your farm... all the
farms... they belong to no one.
YOUNG MASBATH What does it mean?
Ichabod stares off. ICHABOD
Often in such cases, property which
has gone intestate legally passes to
whomever the deceased was indebted to.
And, who in this town is owed a great many debts?
YOUNG MASBATH (realization)
Baltus Van Tassel. ICHABOD
Did your father take a loan?
YOUNG MASBATH
Yes. I rode with him on payment days.
Ichabod stands, grim, gathering wills and his ledger.
ICHABOD
Tonight, we answer questions. And, to
discover who moves about the Van Tassel
house after dark... all we need is a candle.
A LOUD NOISE is HEARD from the other room. Ichabod looks.
INT. HARDENBROOK'S OFFICES -- DAY
Ichabod bursts in. No one there. A chair has been knocked
over and the front door is ajar. Ichabod moves... EXT. NOTARY -- DAY
Ichabod exits. All around is the commotion in the square as
before. No telling who it was who just fled.
INT. VAN TASSEL HOUSE, ICHABOD'S ROOM -- DAY
Young Masbath is seated, bored. Ichabod writes in his
ledger. A KNOCK on the door. They both look up.
KATRINA (o.s.)
(from outside door)
Constable... are you there? (long pause)
Ichabod?
The knob is tried and found locked. Pause. At the bottom of
the door, a red rose is passed under. This saddens Ichabod.
EXT. CHURCH -- NIGHT
Quiet night. The church is a sight, with a yard resembling
an empty squatter's tent city, surrounded by crosses.
Boarded over windows leak shafts of light.
MOVING PAST THE WINDOWS: many eyes peer out from the slats.
UP IN THE BELFRY, TWO RIFLEMEN are on watch.
INT. VAN TASSEL HOUSE, ICHABOD'S ROOM -- NIGHT
Ichabod and Masbath are in darkness, still waiting. Ichabod
takes the cover off a lantern, looks at a clock. Midnight,
straight up. Ichabod stands, picks up an unlit candle.
ICHABOD
Midnight seems an appropriate time.
INT. VAN TASSEL HOUSE, HALLWAY -- NIGHT
Ichabod and Young Masbath look out, cautious. They move to
the nearest door.
Ichabod crouches, using the candle to mark the seam of the
door and door frame. He's making a low, wax seal. If the
door opens, the seal will break.
They move to a second door, quietly. Ichabod makes another
low wax mark. INT. VAN TASSEL HOUSE, MAIN ENTRANCE -- NIGHT
Ichabod and Masbath come downstairs to a hall. Ichabod
continues his wax marking at each door.
INT. VAN TASSEL HOUSE, BALTUS' OFFICE -- NIGHT
Ichabod and Young Masbath enter, shutting the door. Ichabod
walks to shelves at Baltus' desk, looks through ribbon bound
DOCUMENTS and hands some to Masbath.
Young Masbath pulls off the ribbon, pages through these "LOAN
AGREEMENT" parchments. Ichabod brings another pile.
ICHABOD (whispering)
They are alphabetical.
Young Masbath has the M's. "MARYIE," "MEGAPOLENISIS," AND
"MELYN..." Not finding what he wants.
YOUNG MASBATH
There is no Masbath here. My father's
loan papers are missing. ICHABOD
(regarding his documents)
There are none for Magistrate Philipse
either. "Paasch, James" "Pieter,
Thomas" "Pos, William."
A FLOORBOARD CREAKS. Ichabod looks, blows out the lantern.
He and Young Masbath stand frozen.
Across the room, light comes under the door, stops, then
continues. A DOOR is HEARD OPENING and SHUTTING. Ichabod
crosses to follow, pointing back. ICHABOD
Keep looking. Then, hide in my room
and bolt the door till I return. EXT. FOREST -- NIGHT
Lantern light moves, far ahead. Ichabod follows.
EXT. FOREST, FURTHER ON -- NIGHT
Ichabod stops, hidden. He can see the light ahead, but it is
no longer in motion. He advances. EXT. FOREST CLEARING -- NIGHT
A lantern sits on a rock. On a blanket, a semi-naked MAN and
semi-naked WOMAN are in the midst of rough SEX.
Ichabod crawls to peer from underbrush.
The couple keeps coupling, with the man on top. His grunts
and gasps are particularly desperate. He's all over the
woman, who lays back... it is Lady van Tassel.
Ichabod swallows, inches closer.
Lady van Tassel pulls the man's shirt, exposes his flesh.
She raises a small, sharp KNIFE behind his back. Ichabod's eyes widen.
Lady Van Tassel brings the blade to her own hand, slicing
deep in her palm. Blood flows. She rubs her cut hand over
her partner's arching back, smearing blood.
Lady van Tassel caresses the man's chest, neck, face...
trailing blood. The man lifts his head, in ecstasy, sucks
the woman's bloody fingers... it's Clergyman Steenwyck.
Ichabod backs away, having seen more than plenty.
INT. VAN TASSEL HOUSE, ICHABOD'S ROOM -- NIGHT
Young Masbath unlocks the door. Ichabod enters.
YOUNG MASBATH
I was getting worried. Who was it?
ICHABOD Lady Van Tassel.
YOUNG MASBATH What was she doing?
ICHABOD
Something I really wish I had not seen.
Never mind it. Did you find the
victims' loan agreements?
YOUNG MASBATH
No. They are all missing. This troubles Ichabod.
YOUNG MASBATH
There is more, though. While you were
gone, I could hear someone else
walking through the house.
INT. VAN TASSEL HOUSE, UPSTAIRS HALLWAY -- NIGHT
Ichabod and Young Masbath creep round a corner. Going to the
LAST DOOR, Ichabod crouches, eyes narrowing...
ICHABOD (whispers, to himself)
Katrina. The wax seal is broken, flecks of wax on the floor.
INT. VAN TASSEL HOUSE, FOYER AND HALL -- NIGHT
Ichabod and Masbath come downstairs, checking all the wax
marks. Young Masbath finds one broken.
YOUNG MASBATH Here.
Ichabod comes over, pushes the door...
INT. VAN TASSEL HOUSE, KITCHEN -- NIGHT
They enter. The kitchen is empty. Ichabod crosses to
another door, crouches. Another broken wax mark.
INT. VAN TASSEL HOUSE, SEWING ROOM -- NIGHT
They enter... the room with the elaborate loom. Ichabod
moves his lantern to make a quick search, goes to table.
He touches the top of a candle. His finger comes away with a
bit of still wet wax. YOUNG MASBATH
There are no other doors. This is as
far as she could have gone. ICHABOD
It is nothing. She comes to read books,
so her father will not find her.
(to convince himself)
It is absolutely nothing.
YOUNG MASBATH What books?
ICHABOD
Fiction plays and novels. Baltus does
not approve. Now, come. It may not be
long before Lady Van Tassel returns.
YOUNG MASBATH
But, sir... what books? Where are they?
Ichabod stops, looking around. No books anywhere.
YOUNG MASBATH
If there is a secret place for books...
it could be just as good for the
missing loan agreements.
Ichabod ponders this without saying anything.
INT. VAN TASSEL HOUSE, SEWING ROOM -- LATER NIGHT SEARCH MONTAGE:
- Drawers are opened and searched, quietly.
- Young Masbath uses a candle to look up the fireplace.
- Ichabod opens a linen cabinet, unfolding blankets.
- Young Masbath looks in a closet filled with big spools of
sewing thread, on his knees, pulls a wooden box forward.
Inside it, he finds only old cups and silverware.
Ichabod pulls up a rug, feeling along the floorboards.
Young Masbath crawls, doing the same. He climbs under the
loom, tapping on the floor. TAP... TAP... TAP...
He crawls further under the loom. TAP... TAP... PLONK. A
hollow sound. He taps again... PLONK... PLONK.
YOUNG MASBATH Constable.
Ichabod comes over as Young Masbath lifts a loose board.
Under the floor, there are piles of books. Masbath brings
them up, handing them to Ichabod, who studies the spines.
Young Masbath reaches in up to his shoulder. He comes up
with "LOAN AGREEMENTS." YOUNG MASBATH
Fie! Here they are.
Ichabod takes them. Names are near the top: "Masbath," "Van
Garret," "Philipse," and "Killian."
Ichabod sits back, numb, his heart bitterly broken.
INT. VAN TASSEL HOUSE, KITCHEN -- MORNING
Lady Van Tassel prepares food with two servants at the open
fireplace/oven. Ichabod enters, rushed.
ICHABOD
Excuse me, Lady Van Tassel... Katrina
is not in her room. LADY VAN TASSEL
No. She has gone out. ICHABOD
Where? LADY VAN TASSEL
She has taken the last of our grain to be milled.
(crossing to him)
You do have a background in the
medical arts, don't you, Constable?
ICHABOD
Very little. I must be going...
Lady Van Tassel holds out her cut palm, the gash sewn shut.
LADY VAN TASSEL
Will you look at this? I cut my hand
this morning: I sewed it myself, but
I am afraid it will go bad.
Ichabod takes her hand, distracted and nervous.
ICHABOD
It appears well. It has already clotted.
LADY VAN TASSEL
Look closer. Do you have anything to
clean it with? ICHABOD
It is fine. Now, I must...
Lady Van Tassel grabs Ichabod by the wrist, tight.
LADY VAN TASSEL
(whispering, close) I know you saw me.
ICHABOD What... ?
Lady Van Tassel glances to servants, keeps her voice low.
LADY VAN TASSEL
I know you followed last night. You
must promise not to tell Baltus...
Ichabod tries to pull away, but she grips tighter. The FRONT
DOOR is HEARD SLAMMING. Ichabod is panicky.
LADY VAN TASSEL
Have mercy on me. Please... have mercy.
Ichabod pulls away just as Baltus enters. Lady Van Tassel
goes back to work as if nothing happened.
BALTUS
Constable, it is urgent that we speak.
EXT. VAN TASSEL HOUSE FRONT PORCH -- MORNING
Baltus leads Ichabod to the porch. BALTUS
Clergyman Steenwyck is calling a
meeting. This time he is determined
to have you forced out, or worse.
ICHABOD How did you hear this?
BALTUS
He came to me. He promised great
violence. Said I should cast you out
for my own protection. (troubled pause)
I must speak honestly. There is no
reason to think he will not meet with success.
Ichabod looks to barn, sees Masbath bringing the horses. The
CHURCH BELL is HEARD TOLLING far away. BALTUS
That is the meeting bell already
calling. With the murder of Killian
and Brom, no one sees any good from
you. If... if you were to leave...
you might be saving your own life.
Ichabod studies Baltus, then offers his hand. They shake.
ICHABOD
I appreciate your concern. I thank you, sir.
Ichabod hurries off, across the lawn, exasperated. He runs.
Masbath runs to him. Ichabod takes Gunpowder and climbs up.
YOUNG MASBATH
(mounting his horse)
What now? Where is she? ICHABOD
Things have become complicated.
Katrina is at the mill. Ride ahead,
find her and bring her to meet me
outside the church. Find her at all
costs. Quickly. They ride, fast. EXT. FOREST -- DAY
A conjuring pile of straw burns. Gloved hands unfold a paper
filled with clippings of human hair. The hair is sprinkled
on the fire.
A cloaked FIGURE is kneeled at the pile. The figure turns to
remove A human SKULL from a cloth bag.
The skull is placed at center in the flames. It's teeth are
sharp, cut to points. The HORSEMAN'S SKULL. EXT. CHURCH -- DAY
In the church yard refugee camp, food is prepared over fire.
People inhabit the tents. INT. CHURCH, STEENWYCK'S QUARTERS -- MORNING
IN THE CHURCH: it's crowded with families. Pews filled with
bedding and belongings. Steenwyck comes to CLOSE the DOUBLE
DOORS of his quarters, turning, angry.
FATHER STEENWYCK
You are astonishing, Constable. Do
you truly think your ridiculous
accusations frighten me?
Ichabod is doing nothing to hide his disdain.
ICHABOD
Only if I repeat them outside this
room. And, I will if I must...
(points to doors)
Out there, for all to hear. Or...
you may speak, as planned. But, you
tell them you feel compelled to move
on to greener pastures.
FATHER STEENWYCK
No. You will not run me out. No one
will believe a word of what you say.
ICHABOD
Oh? Far as I can tell, a rumor does
not travel alone for long here.
FATHER STEENWYCK
Are you a deist? Is that it? A free
thinker who does not believe in divinity.
ICHABOD
It is only important what you are. An adulterer...
FATHER STEENWYCK
I am the Lord's voice in this town.
ICHABOD Wallowing in sin and lust...
FATHER STEENWYCK They need guidance.
ICHABOD
Wallowing quite literally in blood.
FATHER STEENWYCK
(snapping, quaking)
Damn you, sir! God damn you to hell!
ICHABOD
He may. But, not soon enough for
you, and not on your behalf.
Ichabod walks. Steenwyck is humiliated.
ICHABOD
You are so upset now... and yet, you
seemed in such good spirits last night.
FATHER STEENWYCK
You cannot do this. I am a man of God!
ICHABOD
Climb to the top of the tallest ladder
you can find, Father. That is the
closest you ever come to God. INT. CHURCH -- DAY
Pews are packed. Steenwyck enters, walks to the altar.
EVERYONE QUIETS. Steenwyck has composed himself, barely.
FATHER STEENWYCK
My friends... dear friends. Those of
you still on your farms, I thank you for coming.
He sees Ichabod near the back. THUNDER is HEARD OUTSIDE.
FATHER STEENWYCK
I... I address unfortunate business.
(pause) I am forced to take my leave from
Sleepy Hollow. I will be moving on to
do the Lord's work elsewhere.
The GATHERERS MURMUR shock. Ichabod walks out.
EXT. THE LONG STRAIGHT ROAD -- DAY
Raining hard. Baltus and Lady Van Tassel ride.
BALTUS
Hurry along. The meeting has most
certainly already begun. We do not
want Steenwyck as our enemy.
Lady Van Tassel trails. WOOD is HEARD SPLINTERING...
Just off the road, a tree falls...
The trunk catches Lady Van Tassel's horse on its rear flank.
The horse falls. Lady Van Tassel hits the dirt.
Baltus looks back, halting.
Lady Van Tassel looks up to Baltus in fear, then turns.
Behind her, the Headless Horseman trots from, the forest on
Daredevil, stops. Calm. He takes his axe in hand. EXT. CHURCH -- DAY
Storming. The meeting is letting out. Near the churchyard
gate, Young Masbath rides with Katrina following on a horse
cart. Ichabod walks up as Katrina dismounts.
KATRINA What is so urgent?
ICHABOD Come with me.
Ichabod leads her to where they can talk away from others.
KATRINA
Why have I not seen your face for so
long? You look much better.
She touches his face, but he takes her hand, places the loan
agreements there. ICHABOD
Explain these. I found them secreted
away in the sewing room.
Katrina's expression changes just so slightly to guilt.
ICHABOD
Why... why have I scrambled and run
and clawed in all directions, only to
find you against me?
He stares at her. Katrina stares back, in a small way
defeated. She looks for an out, but there is none.
KATRINA
I have been reading your journal.
I'm sorry. I found it too fascinating to resist.
(pause, ashamed)
I rode to catch up with you at the
Notary, out of curiosity. Before I
found you though, I overheard what you were said.
ICHABOD It was you there?
KATRINA
When... when you spoke father's name
along with accusations, I could not
believe it. I had to hide these... at
least till I could confront him myself.
ICHABOD And, what did he say?
KATRINA
He did not do these things. If you
knew him, you would realize...
ICHABOD What did he say, Katrina?
KATRINA
I have not been able to face him yet.
ICHABOD
The loans give the land to your father.
It does not matter survivors are still
on their farms. They could be thrown
off... tomorrow... a year from now.
KATRINA
Yes, I have seen that, and I told you
why I hid them. ICHABOD
What would you have me believe?
KATRINA (tiring, angry)
If you think I am behind this, say it.
ICHABOD
The name Van Tassel is blackened. You
share that name. KATRINA
Call me a liar, then, and a murderess.
Say it, out and out.
Many people are starting to notice the confrontation.
ICHABOD Katrina...
KATRINA
Speak the words, Constable. What is
stopping you? What has happened to your
ability to transcend sentimentality?
Emotions tear at him. Rain seems to pound down harder.
KATRINA
Oh, no. No. Please... don't dare stand
looking as if you still care for me,
after all that you have said. If I were
to confess, would that ease your
suffering? Would that make it easier
for you to hate me?! A TORTURED CRY is HEARD O.S.
Baltus comes charging through the square on his horse.
BALTUS The Horseman is coming!
He's barely hanging on. He stops, practically falling off,
running towards Katrina and Ichabod. BALTUS
Save me... KATRINA
Father? BALTUS
He killed her...
Baltus grasps Katrina, fearful. HOOFBEATS are HEARD.
BALTUS The Horseman has killed her.
Far behind, the Horseman rides to follow, axe held up.
Instant mayhem -- people scatter all directions, screaming.
Baltus runs headlong to the church. KATRINA
Father!
Katrina runs after Baltus. Ichabod backs away, watching the
Horseman come, then heads to the church with Masbath.
Baltus pushes through the iron gate, into tent city, joining
the swarm of townsfolk pouring into the church.
The Horseman rides behind, closing the gap. Men, women and
children run for cover all along the square.
Amidst the churchyard panic, Ichabod looks back...
The Horseman reaches the open gate and Daredevil suddenly
rears up, snorting, unwilling to enter.
The Horseman grabs Daredevil's reins, tries to move forward
again. Same result. Daredevil freaks out. INT. CHURCH -- DAY
Baltus makes his way in, shoving. People are still clamoring
in through the doors.
Men pass rifles from stockpiles and climb onto pews at
boarded windows. Women herd children into a cellar.
Baltus searches for a hiding place. He looks across the
church to see Steenwyck closing the doors of his living
quarters. Baltus moves... BALTUS
Steenwyck!
At the front doors, Katrina squeezes in with Ichabod and
Young Masbath just as people are forcing the doors closed.
It's madness. People outside begin pounding. Katrina searches.
KATRINA Father!
Ichabod goes to a window, looking out between boards.
EXT. CHURCH -- DAY
Across the yard, the Horseman gives his axe an underhand toss
to the ground inside the gate.
The AXE instantly BEGINS TO DEGRADE TO DUST in the rain.
The Horseman rides, keeping outside the fence. INT. CHURCH -- DAY
Ichabod comes away from the window, looking to panicked
citizens. He sees Katrina moving up the aisle...
She's heading towards Baltus, who slams against the door to
Steenwyck's room. BALTUS
Damn you, Steenwyck! Help me! Let me in!
RIFLES BOOM LOUDLY as men at the windows begin firing.
EXT. CHURCH -- DAY The Horseman circles, under fire.
Great clouds of gun smoke shoot from the church.
Men fire down from the belfry.
Parts of the Horseman and Daredevil splatter red into the
rain as slugs hit without effect.
AT THE OTHER SIDE OF THE CHURCH, the Horseman comes around,
heading to the town square. INT. CHURCH -- DAY
Rifleman shout to each other, running to the opposite windows
to follow the Horseman.
Young Masbath grabs a rifle and leaps to join the brigade.
Baltus is still beating Steenwyck's door when a HUGE FARMER
grips Baltus angrily and throws him...
HUGE FARMER You'll kill us all!
Baltus falls, knocking over pews. Katrina's nearby.
HUGE FARMER
You're the one the Horseman wants.
Why should we die for you!? KATRINA
NO! The huge farmer picks Baltus up, dragging him and shoving
Katrina aside as she approaches.
Ichabod's pushing past people, trying to reach them.
EXT. CHURCH/TOWN SQUARE -- DAY
The Horseman brings Daredevil to a halt, yanking a large coil
of ROPE off a hitching post. INT. CHURCH -- DAY
The huge farmer shoves Baltus to the floor again.
HUGE FARMER Get out!
Others join the rage, pulling Baltus towards the front of the
church, shouting. Ichabod struggles to push them off.
ICHABOD Stop this!
Ichabod gets to Baltus' side, trying to protect.
ICHABOD
The Horseman cannot enter! It does
not matter who he wants, he cannot cross the gate!
At the windows, ONE RIFLEMAN turns, crying out.
ONE RIFLEMAN He's coming back!
More panic. The huge farmer moves towards Baltus.
HUGE FARMER
We have to save ourselves!
Baltus pulls the pistol from Ichabod's holster, brandishing.
BALTUS No! Get away from me!
EXT. CHURCH -- DAY The Horseman rides past the front, fired upon.
He halts at the wrought iron gate, reaching to yank off one
POST which is pointed on top, like an arrow head. INT. CHURCH -- DAY
Baltus holds everyone's back with the pistol.
BALTUS
The next person to lay hands on me
will have a bullet. Stand off!
KATRINA Father...
BALTUS No! We're safe here.
(points at Ichabod)
You said it. The Horseman will not have me.
CRASH, the harpoon-like post SPEARS through a window,
trailing rope tied to it...
CRACK -- SKEWERS Baltus from behind, the bloodied point
bursting out his breast bone.
Baltus looks down, drops the gun... clutching the post with
both hands. Blood streams out his mouth. Katrina screams.
The rope yanks Baltus back. He SLAMS into the WINDOW...
EXT. CHURCH -- DAY Baltus CRASHES out, hits the ground, dragged...
Outside the fence, Daredevil runs with the rope tied around
his saddle pommel. The Horseman strides forward, sword out.
Baltus SLAMS the fence and the rope snaps. He is held there
awkwardly, gurgling blood.
The Horseman reaches Baltus... chops off his head.
INT. SLEEPY HOLLOW FORESTS -- DAY
The storm has passed. Empty forest. Long, peaceful pause,
till Ichabod makes his way through, searching the ground.
Ichabod comes to look down a small hill. The corpse of Lady
Van Tassel lies headless, in a dirty, torn dress.
Ichabod walks to the body. Lady Van Tassel's arm is twisted
behind. The sewn cut on the palm of her hand faces up.
ICHABOD (shouting back)
Here! I have found her...
(looking at corpse,
quiet and miserable) Here she is.
INT. VAN TASSEL HOUSE, UPSTAIRS HALL -- EARLY EVENING
Doctor Lancaster comes out from where Katrina is asleep. He
closes the door, wipes his sweaty face. Ichabod waits.
DOCTOR LANCASTER
It has been a terrible jolt to her nerves.
ICHABOD You will stay at her side?
Doctor Lancaster nods. Ichabod walks.
EXT. VAN TASSEL HOUSE -- EARLY EVENING
It's getting dark. Ichabod comes out and crosses the porch.
A few of the Hollow's residents are here. Young Masbath gets
up and follows Ichabod onto the lawn. Ichabod walks without waiting.
YOUNG MASBATH
She's the one who controlled the
Horseman, isn't she, sir? Sir? (no answer)
ICHABOD
I need time for thinking. Without you
hanging on my coattails for a change.
Ichabod keeps walking. Young Masbath stops, wounded.
EXT. WESTERN WOODS, TREE OF THE DEAD -- NIGHT
Ichabod stands holding a torch, looking up. The whole area
is bright from the light off a giant fire.
There are broken lanterns and barrels around the agonized,
twisted tree. The tree is aflame, fire dancing up the trunk,
and through every branch to lick the sky. EXT. FOREST -- DAY
Dawn. Ichabod is seated overlooking the Hudson. He stares
at the beauty around him, brooding through bleary eyes.
Gunpowder is tied to a tree. BIRDS SING.
The ledger is open in Ichabod's lap. He thumbs pages
absently, just keeps staring off. EXT. FOREST -- DAY (TIME CUT)
A fire burns in a circle of rocks. Ichabod's ledger is
thrown in. The pages catch quickly.
Ichabod watches, then walks away. He's about to climb onto
Gunpowder, but on second thought he opens his satchel and
digs out a BOOK. He walks back to the fire, throws it on...
"Romeo and Juliet." Flames devour it.
EXT. WESTERN WOODS, TREE OF THE DEAD -- DAY
The clearing is silent. The twisted tree still stands,
smoldering, impressive as ever, or perhaps even more so with
the alien appearance its blackened skin now affords it.
INT. VAN TASSEL HOUSE, ICHABOD'S ROOM -- NIGHT
Ichabod packs up baggage. Young Masbath is miserable.
YOUNG MASBATH
Won't you change your mind, sir?
What can I say to convince you?
ICHABOD
Nothing. To hell with this place
and all the people here.
Ichabod closes a bag, throws it with others.
YOUNG MASBATH
Why... why are you like this? ICHABOD
(pause, softening)
You do not know all that has happened.
(pause) You cannot understand.
EXT. VAN TASSEL ESTATE -- NIGHT
A coach, with Gunpowder as one of its team, waits in the
orchard. Van Ripper comes to meet Ichabod and Masbath.
ICHABOD
Half now. Half when we reach the city.
Ichabod hands Van Ripper money. Van Ripper takes the
baggage. Ichabod looks to the Manor House. Only one light
shines, in a second floor window.
Katrina can be seen there a moment as she closes curtains.
Ichabod turns to Young Masbath, who is beginning to cry.
ICHABOD This is farewell.
YOUNG MASBATH
Take me with you. There's nothing
left for me here. ICHABOD
I cannot. (bends to Masbath)
You should not worry. (pause, sorrow)
Van Ripper and his wife will look
after you. They will. You will be well cared for.
Young Masbath hugs. Ichabod hugs back, swallowing.
ICHABOD I am sorry.
(quietly) Forgive me. I failed you.
Ichabod releases and goes quickly away, finding this misery
unbearable. He climbs in the coach.
YOUNG MASBATH
Do not go, Constable. How can you leave?
INSIDE THE COACH, Ichabod slumps back in darkness and closes
his eyes. He pounds twice on the coach wall.
OUTSIDE, Van Ripper whips the reins. The coach starts.
Young Masbath follows. The coach picks up speed on the long
straight road. Young Masbath stops, wiping tears.
EXT. TOWN SQUARE/CHURCH -- NIGHT
Ichabod's coach moves through the town square. A few people
in the churchyard's tent city come out to watch it pass.
INT. VAN TASSEL HOUSE, ICHABOD'S ROOM -- NIGHT
The door is pushed open. Young Masbath enters, looks around
the empty room. He goes to sit in a chair at the work table,
crossing his arms and resting his head.
INT. VAN TASSEL HOUSE, SITTING ROOM -- NIGHT
A plate of food sits untouched. Katrina is slumped down in a
chair, heartbroken, staring into the fireplace.
Behind her, a shadow moves across the room.
EXT. THE LONG STRAIGHT ROAD -- NIGHT
Van Ripper leads the coach through the stone pillars marking
the entrance of Sleepy Hollow. INT. ICHABOD'S COACH -- NIGHT
Ichabod takes off his hat, sets it on the seat. The window
between him and the driver slides open.
VAN RIPPER Sir... this is yours.
(offering something)
The Van Tassel girl said to give it
to you after you were gone.
Ichabod takes it. It is the bird/cage spinning toy. He
studies it. What melancholy.
INT. VAN TASSEL HOUSE, DINING ROOM -- NIGHT
Katrina sits with her eyes closed. A BOARD is HEARD
CREAKING. She sits up. Suddenly, a FIGURE in black is behind
her as she turns. WHACK! -- a gloved fist strikes.
INT. VAN TASSEL HOUSE, ICHABOD'S ROOM -- NIGHT
A dull THUD is HEARD downstairs, like a body falling. Young
Masbath takes notice. He moves to the door...
INT. ICHABOD'S COACH -- NIGHT
Ichabod turns the strings on the bird/cage toy, ponders it.
The paper disk spins, images flickering until the bird
appears to be inside the cage.
Ichabod keeps spinning it, looks out the window.
A tear rolls down his cheek.
The bird cage toy's rotation slows... stops.
Ichabod looks at it a long moment, then pockets it and leans
forward to the window at front. OUTSIDE THE COACH
Ichabod's face appears behind Van Ripper.
ICHABOD
Van Ripper, turn the coach about!
VAN RIPPER What did you say?
ICHABOD Turn around. Now!
INT. VAN TASSEL HOUSE, FOYER -- NIGHT
Young Masbath comes down the stairs, looking around meekly.
YOUNG MASBATH Hello? Katrina?
Masbath starts down a hall. He does not see, in another
room, Katrina's body is dragged across the floor.
EXT. TOWN SQUARE, DOCTOR'S RESIDENCE -- NIGHT
The coach comes to Lancaster's. Ichabod climbs out before it
even stops fully, satchel in hand. He hurries...
INT. DOCTOR'S RESIDENCE, PARLOR -- NIGHT
Doctor Lancaster, half asleep, comes to answer BANGING on his
door. Ichabod pushes past, taking Lancaster's lantern.
ICHABOD Pardon the intrusion...
INT. DOCTOR'S RESIDENCE, MEDICAL ROOM -- NIGHT
Ichabod enters. There are two coffins on the floor.
ICHABOD
I never examined these bodies.
Ichabod removes the lid from one coffin. Lancaster is about
to say something indignant, but then just looks disgusted.
DOCTOR LANCASTER
... help yourself, you pompous ass.
I will be in bed. ICHABOD
Would you stay, doctor? I may need assistance.
Lancaster reluctantly remains. Ichabod stares at the dead
Lady Van Tassel. The neck wound is covered by a stained
brown cloth, which Ichabod unwraps. ICHABOD
Stains of blood. DOCTOR LANCASTER
What of it?
Ichabod takes out one of the lenses that survived the
magnification spectacles, bends to examine the neck.
ICHABOD Jagged flesh.
(pause) The Horseman did not do this.
Ichabod moves to the side of the coffin, lifting the hand
with the stitched gash on its palm. ICHABOD
Here, Doctor. Hold this just so...
Lancaster holds the lens so that Ichabod can study the cut
through it. Ichabod takes a scalpel-like knife from his
satchel, lifts the hand and cuts stitches.
THROUGH THE LENS: the gash spreads easily, soft, bloodless.
ICHABOD
No clotting or gathering of pus. No
healing at all. DOCTOR LANCASTER
What? ICHABOD
When this cut was made, this person
was already dead. (stands straight)
This is not Lady Van Tassel.
INT. VAN TASSEL HOUSE, KITCHEN -- NIGHT
Young Masbath enters. The door swings shut.
YOUNG MASBATH Katrina.
(steps forward) Is anyone here?
Behind him, the door SLAMS open -- Lady Van Tassel reaches to
grab Young Masbath by the throat. EXT. CHURCH/TOWN SQUARE -- NIGHT
Ichabod charges up to the church doors, pounding.
ICHABOD
Open the door. Open up, damn it!
(pounds, shouting)
Lady van Tassel is alive. The Horseman
is her puppet. Please...
The door opens and Huge Farmer points a rifle at Ichabod.
Frightened people peer out from behind.
HUGE FARMER Aren't we rid of you?
ICHABOD
Listen to me. Lady Van Tassel has
faked her death. I need able men...
HUGE FARMER
She's dead, and you have gone mad.
ICHABOD No...
HUGE FARMER (steps forward)
Get out! Isn't it enough that you have
ruined this town? Go!
Ichabod backs away from the gun, frustrated, runs...
At the DOCTOR'S RESIDENCE, Van Ripper is still on the coach.
Ichabod sprints over, breathless, taking out his pistol.
ICHABOD
Van Ripper... do you have a gun?
VAN RIPPER Yes. Here...
Van Ripper hold up a rifle. Ichabod holds out his hand.
ICHABOD May I see it?
Van Ripper's confused, but hands the rifle over. Ichabod
immediately points his pistol at Van Ripper.
ICHABOD Get down. Hurry!
Van Ripper climbs off. Ichabod climbs up, whips the horses.
ICHABOD Sorry.
Van Ripper watches the coach leave, still with his hands up.
EXT. FOREST -- NIGHT
In a wooded area, Katrina lies unconscious. Gloved hands
reach to her hair and cut off a clump with SCISSORS.
A conjuring pile has been made, containing a small animal's
heart with an iron nail through it. Katrina's hair is added
and the pile is lit to burn.
Nearby, Young Masbath watches, on his belly with his hands
tied behind his back.
Lady Van Tassel whispers over the fire, her white horse tied
nearby. She looks to Katrina, who stirs.
Lady Van Tassel takes the Horseman's skull from a bag over
her shoulder, places the skull in the flames. THUNDER is
HEARD. Lady Van Tassel looks up, smiles.
EXT. WESTERN WOODS, TREE OF THE DEAD -- NIGHT
The wind tosses leaves in swirls. The twisted tree opens
wide, with a RUMBLE -- shafts of light shooting out.
EXT. THE LONG STRAIGHT ROAD -- NIGHT
Ichabod drives the coach hard ahead. EXT. FOREST -- NIGHT
Katrina sits up, groggy. Lady Van Tassel looks down at her.
KATRINA You... you are alive.
LADY VAN TASSEL
Am I? Or, are you and Young Masbath
dead along with me?
Katrina sees Young Masbath, and beyond him, the dying fire.
YOUNG MASBATH
She commands the Horseman.
LADY VAN TASSEL
And, quite beautifully done, wouldn't
you say? It is almost over.
THUNDER again. Wind starts to pick up.
LADY VAN TASSEL (of the wind)
He rides tonight. KATRINA
Father saw you die. LADY VAN TASSEL
He saw me thrown... saw the Horseman
looming over me as I fled. Things I
wanted him to see. But, as long as
I govern the Horseman, he cannot harm
me. Baltus did not stay enough to
see that. He ran as a coward,
unfettered by my fate. YOUNG MASBATH
Then, whose body was it... ?
LADY VAN TASSEL
The precious servant girl Sarah. I
killed her and kept her body hidden,
till I needed it. And, when I
return to the Hollow tomorrow, my
version of the truth will come to pass.
(faking meekness)
I mean, there I was that fateful day,
following Baltus into the woods. I
did not know what he was up to...
where he was going. I worried for his safety.
Katrina cautiously moves the hand she's supporting herself
with, feels a rock and clutches it.
LADY VAN TASSEL
Imagine my surprise, finding him on a
liason with a common servant. A girl
who had apparently become his secret love.
KATRINA
No one will believe your lies, whore.
LADY VAN TASSEL
This whore will see your mouth shut
forever very soon. But... I am not
going to kill you. Not me...
She picks up the Horseman's skull in her gloved hand.
LADY VAN TASSEL
He will have that honor. EXT. WESTERN WOODS -- NIGHT
The Horseman rides Daredevil, a freight train of moldering
flesh, heading towards a chasm with no bridge.
They reach it, galloping in mid-air to the other side.
EXT. LONG STRAIGHT ROAD/VAN TASSEL ESTATE -- NIGHT
Ichabod guides the coach into the Van Tassel orchard.
EXT. FOREST -- NIGHT Lady Van Tassel admires the skull.
LADY VAN TASSEL
(mock sorrow)
Woe is me... that spying on my husband
in his filthy indiscretion, I saw he
and Sarah attacked by the Horseman.
Oh pity me... so overcome was I that
I wandered in the Western Woods...
dazed... nearly blind from terror.
Lady Van Tassel crouches, rubbing dirt on her face.
LADY VAN TASSEL
And, tomorrow is my grand performance,
having barely survived the elements...
(more emoting)
By sheer luck I found my way back to
the Hollow. But... what do I find
here... ? My dear, sweet step-daughter
Katrina is dead. Why has God forsaken her?
Seeing that Lady Van Tassel lavish attention on Katrina,
Masbath takes this opportunity to ease onto his knees.
LADY VAN TASSEL
(of herself, pleased)
No one will suspect this sad woman who
has been through such an ordeal. With
only the empty solace of her money and
land to comfort her. EXT. VAN TASSEL HOUSE -- NIGHT
Ichabod leaps from the coach, bounds up the porch.
ICHABOD Katrina!
EXT. FOREST -- NIGHT
ICHABOD is HEARD. Lady Van Tassel turns, astonished.
KATRINA Murderer!
Katrina slings the rock -- strikes Lady Van Tassel in the
head, a glancing blow that knocks her down. Katrina runs.
Katrina grips Young Masbath, helping him up...
But, Lady Van Tassel scrambles up, grabs Katrina and throws
her back to the ground.
Lady Van Tassel steps hard on Katrina's ankle, touches her
forehead, bleeding, pissed. LADY VAN TASSEL
You've been a naughty girl.
Young Masbath leaps to action, charging head first -- slams
into Lady Van Tassel, sends her backwards.
Katrina runs and pulls Masbath up. They flee.
KATRINA Ichabod!
Lady Van Tassel rolls, recovering, not very concerned.
LADY VAN TASSEL Little bitch.
EXT. VAN TASSEL HOUSE -- NIGHT
Ichabod comes out the open front doors... hearing...
KATRINA (o.s.) (far away)
Ichabod! Ichabod climbs back on the coach, taking off.
EXT. FOREST -- NIGHT
Katrina and Young Masbath run out from a line of trees.
KATRINA Ichabod!
YOUNG MASBATH Here we are!
BEHIND IN THE FOREST, Lady Van Tassel rides her white horse,
in no hurry. Wind kicks hard. HOOFBEATS are HEARD.
LADY VAN TASSEL
Run, Katrina! Fast as your pretty
legs will carry you. It makes no difference.
ON THE LAWN, Ichabod drives towards Katrina and Masbath.
Behind, at the tree line, Lady Van Tassel holds up the
Horseman's skull, wind tossing her dress and hair.
LADY VAN TASSEL
Nothing will stop him now!
At mid-field, Ichabod reaches Katrina and Masbath.
ICHABOD Climb up!
YOUNG MASBATH Lady Van Tassel...
ICHABOD I know. Hold on.
With Katrina and Masbath on board, Ichabod turns the coach.
Katrina unties Masbath's hands. HOOFBEATS GET LOUDER.
LADY VAN TASSEL Olly-olly oxen-free!
Ichabod looks back towards Lady Van Tassel.
At the treeline, the Horseman breaks into the open, hell on
horseback. Full speed ahead. ICHABOD
Christ. EXT. THE LONG STRAIGHT ROAD -- NIGHT
The coach hits the long straight road, away from the house.
Katrina and Masbath hold on as the coach shakes violently.
KATRINA Where are we going?
ICHABOD I do not know. Away.
YOUNG MASBATH Here he comes!
Behind, the Horseman can be seen on the forest bordered road.
Closing fast. Breakneck pace. ICHABOD
We might make it to the church.
Masbath takes a lantern, crawls back to the roof.
KATRINA Masbath... !
He ignores, reaching the rear of the coach and throwing the
lantern at the Horseman. It smashes on the trail.
ICHABOD Damn it, boy, get back here!
Young Masbath slides back. Katrina helps him.
YOUNG MASBATH What can we do?
ICHABOD Take the reins.
Young Masbath takes them. Ichabod slings Van Ripper's rifle
over his shoulder and starts back. Katrina grips him.
ICHABOD
Masbath is right. We must do something.
She releases. Ichabod gets to the luggage area at the rear,
struggling to open a storage box.
Behind, the Horseman draws his sword, closer.
Ichabod opens the box, hefting out a long, jagged SAW.
KATRINA Ichabod!
Ichabod looks. The Horseman rides up, swinging...
Ichabod recoils -- THWACK -- just missed by sword.
The Horseman lets the coach get ahead, shifting to the
other side of the trail... coming along side.
Ichabod backpedals, looking to Masbath. ICHABOD
Keep him off! Block him!
Masbath guides the horses over. The Horseman must fall
behind to avoid the wheels. The coach hits a large, fallen tree trunk.
Ichabod bounces, falling... He hangs off the side of the coach.
Katrina climbs to offer her hand. Ichabod offers the saw.
ICHABOD Take it!
Katrina takes the saw. Now with both hands, Ichabod tries
for better purchase. He grips the coach door. It opens...
Ichabod clings to the open door as branches slam him.
He's reaching to the coach threshold, reaching...
Ichabod pulls himself inside.
BOOM -- the door hits a tree trunk, bashed to pieces.
Ichabod looks out from the coach, dazed. He climbs.
Katrina looks back as Young Masbath guides the coach to block
the Horseman again.
The Horseman sheaths his sword, riding... reaching to grip
the back corner of the coach.
The Horseman dismounts, clinging, climbing...
Ichabod takes the rifle off his shoulder, aiming...
BANG! -- splattering the Horseman's hand point blank. The
Horseman hangs on with his other hand.
The Horseman re-grips with the blasted hand, amazing since
it's now all mush and bone.
Ichabod throws the rifle on his way to the driver's perch,
taking the saw from Katrina. ICHABOD
Move forward! Katrina looks to the horses, then at Ichabod.
ICHABOD Go!
Ichabod takes the reins from Young Masbath.
ICHABOD Help her.
Reins in one hand and saw in the other, Ichabod waits. The
Horseman rises up and moves in, taking out his sword.
Young Masbath climbs down to the wooden pole connecting the
coach to the bridles, puts out his hand. Katrina takes it.
Behind, the Horseman swings. Ichabod blocks with the saw.
Young Masbath guides Katrina as she leaps onto one horse.
Bareback. Young Masbath straddles the horse beside her.
The Horseman swings, backhanded knocks the sword from
Ichabod's hand as Ichabod falls back...
Ichabod hits the bridle post, hanging onto straps for dear
life. His feet drag on the trail.
Above, the Horseman comes to the driver's perch, close enough
to kill Katrina. He raises his sword...
Katrina screams, ducking, helpless...
Below, Ichabod pulls a bolt from the coach's hitching-rod.
He shoves off with his feet. The Horseman swings.... missing.
The horses detach from the coach, dragging Ichabod along.
The coach careens out of control.
It flies off the trail, hits an incline and sails off,
throwing the Horseman. The coach hits a tree trunk and SMASHES.
FURTHER DOWN THE TRAIL, the coach horses stop. Young Masbath
and Katrina climb off as Ichabod gets to his feet, hurting,
clutching his previously wounded shoulder.
YOUNG MASBATH What now?
ICHABOD I doubt that's the end.
KATRINA The church.
ICHABOD He moves too fast.
Ichabod unhooks a lantern off the bridle rail. The trail
behind is silent, till a bone chilling SCREECH is HEARD.
KATRINA What was that?
ICHABOD His horse.
They start moving. Ichabod looks around. He sees...
ICHABOD There...
Through the tree line, the Hollow's massive windmill can be
seen against the sky. Katrina and Young Masbath run.
EXT. WINDMILL FIELD -- NIGHT
Ichabod, Katrina and Young Masbath book into this open area,
heading to the windmill. Another HORRIBLE SQUEAL echoes.
Ichabod looks over his shoulder.
Heavy, low hanging BRANCHES and VINES at the forest edge
creep to life, parting... forming a sort of black tunnel.
ICHABOD He's coming!
The Horseman gallops out, throwing leaves in his wake.
ICHABOD Hurry!
The Horseman readies a battle axe.
Ichabod gets under the windmill, helping Young Masbath up the
ladder and in. Katrina next. The Horseman is almost there.
Ichabod follows Katrina. He gets in, feet dangling. The
Horseman dismounts... INT. WINDMILL -- NIGHT
Ichabod leaps up and struggles with the heavy trap door...
slams it. He closes the latch just as the Horseman hits.
The door buckles. YOUNG MASBATH
It won't hold.
Ichabod goes to a large GRINDSTONE against a wall. He
struggles to roll it.
Young Masbath helps him roll it to the trap door. It falls
on top with a thud. The Horseman's sword jabs up through the
grindstone's center hole. The sword withdraws. A POUNDING begins.
EXT. WINDMILL -- NIGHT The Horseman chops at the door with his axe.
INT. WINDMILL -- NIGHT
POUNDING CONTINUES. The grindstone shifts. Katrina and
Young Masbath back away. Ichabod holds his lantern up,
desperate for ideas, searching.
Above, to the right, is the milling platform, where grain is
ground and bagged. To the left is the crooked staircase.
Ichabod picks up a bailing hook, a plan forming. He gives
his lantern to Katrina and points. ICHABOD
Get up those stairs. Open the door to
the roof and wait.
Katrina and Young Masbath obey. Ichabod crosses and climbs
the ladder to the milling platform. He grasps a wooden
lever, pulling it. Gears above begin to turn. EXT. WINDMILL -- NIGHT
The windmill's rotors CREAK to life, spinning.
UNDER THE WINDMILL, the Horseman keeps chopping. His axe
exposes grindstone, throwing sparks. INT. WINDMILL -- NIGHT
Katrina looks down from the stairs.
The Horseman's axe pries at the seam of the trap door.
KATRINA Ichabod...
ICHABOD
Keep climbing. I will follow...
Ichabod pulls bags of grain, lining them up at the edge of
the milling platform. ICHABOD
(under his breath) Hopefully.
ABOVE, Young Masbath reaches the ceiling, throws open the
door to the roof.
BELOW, Ichabod cuts holes into the grain bags, so milled
grain spills out and falls to the floor, creating dust.
He grabs one open bag and dumps it. More grain dust.
EXT. WINDMILL ROOF -- NIGHT
Masbath and Katrina come out. Rotors spin behind them.
INT. WINDMILL -- NIGHT
Ichabod sees below... the Horseman sticks a hand through,
trying to push the grindstone aside, then withdrawing. The
RACKING axe continues. Won't be long.
Ichabod grabs one half-full bag of grain, swings it with
effort, throws...
The bag smashes on the grindstone, busting the door...
EXT. WINDMILL -- NIGHT
The grindstone falls through, SLAMMING the Horseman down...
INT. WINDMILL -- NIGHT
Ichabod slices into a sack hanging from a pulley system.
More and more dust rises.
Below, the Horseman enters. Katrina shouts from above.
YOUNG MASBATH Look out!
The Horseman moves toward the ladder milling platform ladder,
but Ichabod grabs it, pulling it up...
The Horseman just misses the final rung.
Ichabod throws the ladder aside as the Horseman backs off.
Ichabod looks to the staircase. No way to climb down from
the milling platform and get there.
The Horseman runs and leaps, grabbing a hanging chain...
The Horseman climbs the chain, swinging...
Ichabod runs across the platform, jumps...
Ichabod grasps the frail rail of the staircase, barely.
The rail creaks, about to break. Behind, the Horseman lands
on the milling platform.
Ichabod is losing grip. Young Masbath races down the stairs,
grabs his hand. He pulls Ichabod up.
Ichabod's pistol slips from its holster and falls.
Ichabod and Young Masbath look...
The Horseman, following Ichabod's lead, runs across the
milling platform and leaps...
Grabs the staircase rail, only a few feet from Ichabod and
Masbath. Ichabod kicks the rail, breaking it...
The Horseman falls in billowing dust, crashing below.
Ichabod pushes Masbath up the stairs. EXT. WINDMILL ROOF -- NIGHT
Katrina helps them onto the roof. KATRINA
Quickly, close it. ICHABOD
No. (takes lantern, points)
Get to the crest of the roof and be ready to jump.
YOUNG MASBATH Jump? Jump where?
INT. WINDMILL -- NIGHT The Horseman runs, agile, up stairs.
EXT. WINDMILL ROOF -- NIGHT
Ichabod shepherds Katrina and Young Masbath to the edge where
the rotors spin close. ICHABOD
The blades will carry us to the ground.
Face front and wait for me. KATRINA
I... I can't do this. ICHABOD
We have no choice. Ichabod moves back to the trap door.
Katrina and Young Masbath look at the rotors, and down at the
long distance between them and the ground.
ICHABOD Be ready...
Ichabod throws the lantern into the windmill and runs.
ICHABOD Now!
INT. WINDMILL -- NIGHT
The Horseman continues up. The lantern falls past.
EXT. WINDMILL, ROOF -- NIGHT
Young Masbath jumps. Ichabod grips Katrina and jumps...
They hit one rotor and cling to the frame and cloth. The
rotor begins its downwards swing. INT. WINDMILL -- NIGHT
The lantern hits the ground and shatters. FLAMES EXPLODE!
Grain dust is consumed instantaneously -- FLAMES ROAR
upwards, filling the windmill... Engulfing the Horseman.
EXT. WINDMILL -- NIGHT
The rotor is halfway to its lowest point. Masbath, Katrina
and Ichabod hang on as the entire structure trembles.
BOOM -- flames shoot out the windows, doors and seams,
lighting up the night.
On the rattling rotor, Ichabod struggles to hold the frame
with one hand and keep a grip on Katrina.
Masbath drops. Ichabod releases Katrina, then drops.
They hit the ground. Ichabod rolls, gasping, holding his
shoulder. They all look at each other in disbelief a moment.
Ichabod lets out a sort of rasping laugh, standing.
ICHABOD Okay... come on...
Ichabod ushers them across the field, uphill. Running.
Lightning flashes across the sky. THUNDER RUMBLES.
A bolt strikes the windmill, and it EXPLODES...
SHOCKWAVE DEAFENING. The rotors bust apart. Splinters of
burning wood spin all directions.
ACROSS THE FIELD, Ichabod, Katrina and Young Masbath keep
running. There is a WOODEN CART parked ahead.
IN THE WINDMILL RUBBLE, the Horseman rises, shoving off
burning debris. His flame-ravaged uniform smolders.
ACROSS THE FIELD, Ichabod stumbles onwards, but notices
something horrible...
In the distance, Lady Van Tassel's white horse roams free.
ICHABOD (as this registers)
Oh, no...
Young Masbath and Katrina are just past the cart when Lady
Van Tassel rises from behind it, swings a plank...
SLAMS Ichabod in the chest and sends him down.
Lady Van Tassel grabs Katrina's hair, drags her.
LADY VAN TASSEL
Should have stayed away, Constable.
Ichabod gets up slow, furious, reaches to his holster, only
to find it empty. He moves forward.
LADY VAN TASSEL
Keep back, or I kill her.
She takes out scissors, holds them to Katrina's neck.
Katrina ceases struggling.
Ichabod keeps Masbath behind him, keeps his distance. Lady
Van Tassel shoots a glance... LADY VAN TASSEL
See him... Par off, the Horseman strides from the wreckage.
LADY VAN TASSEL
You cannot kill what is already dead.
ICHABOD Let her go!
LADY VAN TASSEL
Yes... yes. I think I will...
Lady Van Tassel spins and throws Katrina in the cart, shoving
against it. ICHABOD No!
The cart rolls downhill. Ichabod moves forward.
Lady Van Tassel turns, brandishing the scissors, slashing and
missing. Ichabod backs off.
DOWNHILL, the cart picks up speed, headed for the Horseman.
The Horseman starts running to meet it. UPHILL, Lady Van Tassel grins.
LADY VAN TASSEL Say goodbye to her.
Lady Van Tassel lunges, stabbing. Ichabod avoids, puts all
his fury behind his fist -- punches her in the face.
Lady Van Tassel hits the ground and her bag falls open,
sending the Horseman's skull rolling out...
The skull rolls... rolls... landing far away.
DOWNHILL, Katrina leaps out from the cart... She lands hard...
The Horseman shoves the empty cart aside, still on the move.
UPHILL, Ichabod sees the skull. He runs towards it.
Lady van Tassel grabs Ichabod by the ankle. He falls.
DOWNHILL, Katrina runs back. The Horseman is catching up.
UPHILL, Ichabod tries to pull f ree from Lady Van Tassel.
Young Masbath comes behind her - BAM - hits her in the head
with the wooden plank. She's out. Ichabod scrambles to his feet.
DOWNHILL, the Horseman catches Katrina, taking her by the
hair as she falls to her knees and screams.
UPHILL, Ichabod runs... grasps the Horseman's skull.
He runs towards the Horseman and Katrina.
DOWNHILL, Katrina struggles, but the Horseman holds her ready
by her hair... raises his sword... UPHILL, Ichabod throws the skull...
ICHABOD Horseman!
The skull spins through the air...
The Horseman drops Katrina, reaches up... Catches the skull.
Katrina runs.
Ichabod runs to meet her, grabs her as she falls, exhausted.
Together, they back away from the Horseman.
The Horseman holds the skull out, then brings it to his
shoulders, to its rightful place. THUNDER POUNDS.
TRANSFORMATION begins -- blood and flesh rise up from the
Horseman's throat and grip the skull.
Young Masbath drops the plank, watching in awe.
The Horseman's reformation continues. Muscle forms. Liquids
become solids. He is made whole once more, the same evil,
human face we saw in Baltus' stories.
He looks to Ichabod and Katrina, touches his restored face.
Daredevil rides up, SCREECHING. The Horseman replaces his
sward and climbs into the saddle.
He rides towards Katrina and Ichabod, but passes them by.
They are so exhausted they fall down.
Young Masbath backs up as the Horseman comes, but the
Horseman does not want him either.
The Horseman leans to grab Lady Van Tassel's unconscious
form, pulls her up across Daredevil's back. He rides away with her.
Ichabod and Katrina watch him go. They look at each other,
then kiss gratefully. Ichabod looks to Young Masbath.
ICHABOD How are you?
YOUNG MASBATH Tired.
Ichabod smiles and holds out his arm. Masbath comes over.
Group hug. Lightning brightens the farmland around them.
EXT. WESTERN WOODS, BURIAL GROUND -- NIGHT
HOOFBEATS. The Horseman enters the clearing, keeping a hand
on Lady Van Tassel. Ahead, the twisted tree awaits.
Lady Van Tassel is awakening, face bloody. She turns her
head and looks forward. She screams.
The twisted tree's wound opens, wide and glowing.
Daredevil picks up speed...
Daredevil leaps just as a lightning bolt blasts down,
striking the Horseman.
For an instant, Horseman and horse are transformed, SKELETONS
OF LIGHT, entering the tree.
Silence and smoke. At the tree, Lady Van Tassel's hand
sticks out from the tight-shut suture.
The sewn wound on her palm seeps blood.
EXT. NEW YORK CITY STREET, ICHABOD'S HOME -- DAY
A bright, busy day in New York. A coach pulls up to
Ichabod's home. Ichabod is the driver. He gets off, goes
and opens the coach door. He helps Katrina down. Next,
Young Masbath sticks his head out.
Ichabod goes about unloading bags. Katrina holds Young
Masbath's hand, and they look down the street in wonder. THE END

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