Sleepy Hollow
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
YoungMasbath 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.
