Sleepy Hollow
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.
