Sleepy Hollow
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.
