3. Stetson McGraw and the Ghost of the Abilene Trail
Script created with Final Draft by Final Draft, Inc.

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                            The Adventures of Stetson McGraw 

               Episode 3: Stetson McGraw and the Ghost of the Abilene Trail 



               SCENE ONE:  INTRO.

               MUSIC: THEME MUSIC.

                                   ANNOUNCER
                         Radio theatre presents: "The
                         Adventures of Stetson McGraw".
                         Episode three: "Stetson McGraw and
                         the Ghost of the Abilene Trail".

               MUSIC:  FADE OUT THEME MUSIC.

                                   ANNOUNCER
                         In our last episode, legendary
                         lawman Stetson McGraw had caught up
                         with "Mad Dog" Doud aboard the
                         Round Rock Express, and was taking
                         the criminal into custody. But at
                         that very moment, a mysterious
                         accident caused a horrible train
                         wreck!



               SCENE TWO:  THE TRAIN TRACKS.

               SOUND:  A TRAIN WRECK (CONTINUOUS).

               Mad Dog screams, but it's cut off by --

               SOUND:  A BODY HITS THE DIRT.

               SOUND:  THE TRAIN WRECK TRAILS OFF.

               Mad Dog coughs and groans (as he gets up).

               SOUND:  A COUPLE AWKWARD FOOTSTEPS.  JINGLING CHAINS.

               SOUND:  HE HITS THE DIRT AGAIN.

               Mad Dog coughs.

                                   MAD DOG
                         Oh god.

               Mad Dog coughs and groans (as he gets up).

               SOUND:  A COUPLE AWKWARD FOOTSTEPS.  JINGLING CHAINS.

               SOUND:  A GUN COCKS.

                                   STETSON
                         Mad Dog?

               Beat.

                                   STETSON
                         Down here.

               Stetson groans with effort.

               SOUND:  TINY METALLIC 'CREAK.'

               Beat.

               SOUND:  ANOTHER TINY METALLIC 'CREAK.'

               Stetson gasps.

               SOUND:  A COUPLE AWKWARD FOOTSTEPS.  JINGLING CHAINS.

                                   MAD DOG
                         You're pinned --

                                   STETSON
                         Stay! There!

                                   MAD DOG
                         But I can pull that --

                                   STETSON
                         You'll pull my goddamn head off, if
                         I let you get close enough. 

               Stetson sighs.

                                   STETSON
                         We'll just wait.

                                   MAD DOG
                             (intense)
                         If we stay here we'll die. 

               Beat.

                                   MAD DOG
                         Let me move the crate --

                                   STETSON
                         Stay right there, you lowdown
                         thief. You ain't no better than you
                         were twenty years ago. 

               MUSIC:  HARP RUNS, INDICATING A FLASHBACK.



               SCENE THREE:  DEVIL'S GORGE FIDUCIARY TRUST -- ROOFTOP.

               SOUND:  SONGBIRDS.  

               MUSIC:  A TINNY PIANO IN A DISTANT BAR.

               In this scene, Stetson sounds young, and cheerful, and
               patronizing. 

               His DEPUTY is even younger, and earnest, and a bit slow.

                                   DEPUTY
                         They ain't comin'.

               Beat.

                                   DEPUTY
                         Or I ain't seein' 'em. 

               Beat.

                                   DEPUTY
                         We're too exposed. 

               Stetson laughs.

                                   DEPUTY
                         Sheriff McGraw?

                                   STETSON
                         Well, deputy, they'll be here 'cos
                         this is the last bank on the
                         Abilene Trail they ain't robbed.
                         And this spot gives us a view to
                         the east. Pick 'em off easy.

                                   DEPUTY
                         But --

                                   STETSON
                         You wanna check out the west? See
                         if they're climbing up out of
                         Devil's Gorge?

                                   DEPUTY
                         I reckon not.

               Beat.

                                   DEPUTY
                         They ain't comin'. 

               SOUND:  A CHURCH BELL TOLLS TWELVE TIMES.

                                   DEPUTY
                         Is there --

                                   STETSON
                         Shh!

               The deputy gasps. 

               All these lines are whispered until noted otherwise.

                                   DEPUTY
                         That's Doud in front!

                                   STETSON
                         Quiet, kid!

               SOUND:  RICKETY WHEELS IN THE DISTANCE.  BARELY-AUDIBLE (AND
               INDECIPHERABLE) CONVERSATION.

                                   DEPUTY
                         What the hell is that?

                                   STETSON
                         That rolling contraption?
                             (a realization)
                         It's full of knockout gas!

                                   DEPUTY
                         Huh?

                                   STETSON
                         That's how they do it! How the bank
                         folks never remember nothin', but
                         wakin' up with their gold gone!

                                   DEPUTY
                         Okay.

               SOUND:  A GUN COCKS.

                                   STETSON
                         Hold on. There's too many of 'em.
                         We get one shot before they start
                         shootin' back, then we gotta run
                         like hell. We hit the main tank of
                         that contraption of theirs, it
                         knocks 'em all out.

                                   DEPUTY
                         I can't hit that from here.

                                   STETSON
                         So we let 'em get closer.

                                   DEPUTY
                         Then I take the shot?

                                   STETSON
                         Then I take the shot.



               SCENE FOUR:  DEVIL'S GORGE -- STREET.

               SOUND:  SONGBIRDS.  CREAKING WHEELS (LOUDER).

               MUSIC:  TINNY PIANO (LOUDER).

               SOUND:  THE WHEELS STOP.

                                   BRUTUS
                         Wait.

                                   MAD DOG
                         No!

                                   CRIMINAL #1
                         What now?

                                   BRUTUS
                         I have bad feeling.

                                   MAD DOG
                         We waltz in, we knock'em out, we
                         rob'em blind, and we waltz out!

                                   CRIMINAL #2
                         Exactly.

               SOUND:  THE WHEELS RESTART.

                                   MAD DOG
                         There ain't nobody can stop us!



               SCENE FIVE:  DEVIL'S GORGE FIDUCIARY TRUST -- ROOFTOP.

               SOUND:  SAME AS SCENE THREE.

               Stetson is spooked.

                                   STETSON
                         They saw us!

                                   DEPUTY
                             (doubtful)
                         You think?

                                   STETSON
                         The big guy did!

                                   DEPUTY
                         We wait for the shot, right?

                                   STETSON
                         Yeah. Of course.



               SCENE SIX:  DEVIL'S GORGE -- STREET.

               SOUND:  SAME AS SCENE FOUR.

                                   BRUTUS
                         And why we go through main street?

                                   MAD DOG
                         It ain't main street.

                                   BRUTUS
                         Feels like parade.



               SCENE SEVEN:  DEVIL'S GORGE FIDUCIARY TRUST -- ROOFTOP.

               SOUND:  SAME AS SCENE FIVE.

               SOUND:  BRIEF, SLIGHTLY LOUD (BUT STILL INDECIPHERABLE)
               ARGUMENT.

                                   STETSON
                         What's that commotion?

                                   DEPUTY
                         Sheriff?

                                   STETSON
                         Something's up.

                                   DEPUTY
                         Sheriff, we--

               From here on, Stetson talks a little bit too loud, while the
               deputy keeps talking in a harsh whisper.

                                   STETSON
                         I'm takin' the shot!

                                   DEPUTY
                         Sir, they ain't seen us, they ain't
                         close enough--

                                   STETSON
                         They're gonna kill us!

                                   DEPUTY
                         Sir?

               SOUND:  A GUN COCKS.

                                   DEPUTY
                         They're too far! 

               SOUND:  GUNSHOT.

               Beat.

                                   STETSON
                         Did I hit it?!

                                   DEPUTY
                         I can't tell.

                                   STETSON
                         Aw, they're gonna get us any second
                         now --

               SOUND:  RETREATING FOOTSTEPS.

               SOUND:  A DOOR SLAMS.

                                   DEPUTY
                         Sheriff McGraw? Stetson? 

               The deputy sighs.

                                   DEPUTY
                         I never thought I'd live to see
                         Stetson McGraw turn yella.
                             (suddenly anxious)
                         Where'd they go?



               SCENE EIGHT:  DEVIL'S GORGE -- SIDE STREET.

                                   MAD DOG
                         Okay, we're taking a side street.
                         Happy?

                                   CRIMINAL #1
                         I heard a shot.

                                   BRUTUS
                         Ten percent too low for my take.

                                   CRIMINAL #2
                         When?

                                   CRIMINAL #1
                         When y'all were scoping the side
                         street. Didn't you hear it?

                                   MAD DOG
                         Anybody have bullet holes in'em?

                                   CRIMINAL #2
                         They was arguin' percentages.

                                   MAD DOG
                         Get the masks ready.



               SCENE NINE:  DEVIL'S GORGE FIDUCIARY TRUST -- ATTIC.

               Stetson shivers.

                                   DEPUTY
                         Sheriff? What the hell happened to
                         you?

                                   STETSON
                         Where's the gang?

                                   DEPUTY
                         I dunno, they --

                                   STETSON
                         Dammit!

               SOUND:  STOMPING FOOTSTEPS.

                                   DEPUTY
                         Do we call in the posse?

                                   STETSON
                         There ain't time!



               SCENE TEN:  DEVIL'S GORGE FIDUCIARY TRUST -- MAIN FLOOR.

               SOUND:  QUIET CONVERSATION.  COINS CLINK.

                                   JIMMY
                         Boss, I'm scared.

                                   BOSS
                         We have to maintain an appearance
                         of normal business, Jimmy.

                                   JIMMY
                         You sure Sheriff McGraw knows what
                         he's doing?

                                   BOSS
                         He's the best lawman this state's
                         ever seen.

               SOUND:  A DOOR BURSTS OPEN.

                                   7MAD DOG
                         All right, y'all, this is a
                         robbery!

               Everyone screams.

               SOUND:  A SQUEAKY VALVE OPENS.

               SOUND:  'PSSHT' AS GAS ESCAPES.

               Customers gasp.

               SOUND:  BODIES FALL TO THE FLOOR.

               SOUND:  ANOTHER DOOR FLIES OPEN.

                                   STETSON
                         Mad dog!

               SOUND:  GUNSHOTS.  SCREAMS.

                                   BRUTUS
                         My mask!

               Brutus groans and collapses.

               SOUND:  BRUTUS HITS THE FLOOR.

                                   STETSON
                             (breathing heavy)
                         Thankee kindly.

               SOUND:  A FEW FAINT GROANS.

                                   STETSON
                         Looks like you've taken a hit in
                         the shoulder, Mad Dog.

               He punctuates the word "shoulder" with:

               SOUND:  A HEAVY-SOUNDING PUNCH. 

               Mad Dog groans.

                                   MAD DOG
                         S-Stetson?

                                   STETSON
                             (grunting)
                         Upsy-daisy.

                                   MAD DOG
                         Wh-where are we going?

                                   STETSON
                         A hundred feet to the west, Mad
                         Dog.



               SCENE ELEVEN:  DEVIL'S GORGE -- EDGE OF THE RAVINE.

               SOUND:  HOWLING WIND.  DISTANT RUNNING WATER.

               SOUND:  STUMBLING FOOTSTEPS.

               SOUND:  MAD DOG STRUGGLES.

                                   MAD DOG
                         Devil's Gorge? No. You never killed
                         nobody. Nobody you could take to
                         jail.

                                   STETSON
                         'Fore today, I never was a coward.
                         I never let a dozen innocent folk
                         get kilt on my watch. You took
                         somethin' from me today, Mad Dog.
                         And I'll be damned if I let you
                         walk away from it. 

               SOUND:  MORE STRUGGLING.

                                   STETSON
                         Say your prayers, Mad Dog.

                                   MAD DOG
                         No!

               Mad Dog screams.

               SOUND:  THE SCREAM FADES IN THE DISTANCE.

               Stetson coughs, moans, passes out.

               SOUND:  STETSON HITS THE DIRT.

               MUSIC:  HARP RUNS INDICATE THE END OF THE FLASHBACK.



               SCENE TWELVE:  TRAIN TRACKS.

               SOUND:  SAME AS SCENE TWO.

                                   MAD DOG
                         I came to, and I thought it was
                         heaven. The sky was so clear, and
                         the sun was setting, and the creek
                         water was lappin' at my feet, and I
                         could hear --

                                   STETSON
                         Bull. No man could've survived
                         that.

                                   MAD DOG
                         It was a goddamn miracle.

                                   STETSON
                         I swore, up and down to a courtroom
                         of lawyers and reporters and
                         regular folks, that you was dead.

                                   MAD DOG
                         Reckon I was, in a way.

                                   STETSON
                         Huh?

                                   MAD DOG
                         New name. New town. Eventually
                         wound up buildin' contraptions at
                         the University, just after they ran
                         you out of town on a rail.

                                   STETSON
                         You expect me to believe this?

                                   MAD DOG
                         I'm here, ain't I? But... 

               Beat.

                                   MAD DOG
                         I mean, don't you reckon a man can
                         start over?

               Beat.

                                   STETSON
                         Okay. Move this goddamn thing.

               They both groan (as they move it).

               SOUND:  METAL SCRAPES ACROSS THE GROUND.

               SOUND:  SOMETHING HEAVY CRASHES TO THE GROUND.

               Stetson takes a couple of deep breaths, and groans (as he
               gets to his feet).

                                   STETSON
                         Why the hell are you robbing a
                         train, anyway? 

               SOUND:  FOOTSTEPS.  JINGLING CHAINS.

                                   MAD DOG
                         Do you know what this train is
                         carrying?

                                   STETSON
                         Rich folks.

                                   MAD DOG
                         The passengers get off at Round
                         Rock. They were scheduled to be
                         there not ten minutes ago. 

               Beat.

                                   STETSON
                         What about the freight?

                                   MAD DOG
                         The freight goes to Waco.

                                   STETSON
                             (dismissive)
                         They wouldn't go to Waco.

                                   MAD DOG
                         They would. They were. And I reckon
                         it would've been the end of Texas
                         and everything in it.

                                   STETSON
                         Right. You're robbin' a train for
                         charitable reasons.

                                   MAD DOG
                         I wasn't ever robbing the train.

                                   STETSON
                         What were you doin'?



               SCENE THIRTEEN:  SOMEWHERE IN THE WRECKAGE.

               SOUND:  A FAINT, MUFFLED, 'TICK-TOCK' SOUND.

               SOUND:  THE TICKING STOPS.

               SOUND:  EXPLOSION!



               SCENE FOURTEEN:  OUTRO

                                   ANNOUNCER
                         What was the cargo of the Round
                         Rock Express? Where was it headed?
                         And how many more violent mishaps
                         can Stetson McGraw survive? 

               MUSIC:  THEME MUSIC.

                                   ANNOUNCER
                         Find out on our next exciting
                         installment of: "The Adventures
                         of Stetson McGraw"!
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Script created with Final Draft by Final Draft, Inc.