Sleepy Hollow
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.
