Sleepy Hollow
ICHABOD Van Ripper… do you have a gun?
VAN RIPPER Yes. Here…
Van Ripper hold up a rifle. Ichabod holds out his hand.
ICHABOD May I see it?
Van Ripper’s confused, but hands the rifle over. Ichabod immediately points his pistol at Van Ripper.
ICHABOD Get down. Hurry!
Van Ripper climbs off. Ichabod climbs up, whips the horses.
ICHABOD Sorry.
Van Ripper watches the coach leave, still with his hands up.
EXT. FOREST-NIGHT
In a wooded area, Katrina lies unconscious. Gloved hands reach to her hair and cut off a clump with SCISSORS.
A conjuring pile has been made, containing a small animal’s heart with an iron nail through it. Katrina’s hair is added and the pile is lit to burn.
Nearby, Young Masbath watches, on his belly with his hands tied behind his back.
Lady Van Tassel whispers over the fire, her white horse tied nearby. She looks to Katrina, who stirs.
Lady Van Tassel takes the Horseman’s skull from a bag over her shoulder, places the skull in the flames. THUNDER is HEARD. Lady Van Tassel looks up, smiles.
EXT. WESTERN WOODS, TREE OF THE DEAD-NIGHT
The wind tosses leaves in swirls. The twisted tree opens wide, with a RUMBLE-shafts of light shooting out.
EXT. THE LONG STRAIGHT ROAD-NIGHT
Ichabod drives the coach hard ahead.
EXT. FOREST-NIGHT
Katrina sits up, groggy. Lady Van Tassel looks down at her.
KATRINA You… you are alive.
LADY VAN TASSEL Am I? Or, are you and Young Masbath dead along with me?
Katrina sees Young Masbath, and beyond him, the dying fire.
YOUNG MASBATH She commands the Horseman.
LADY VAN TASSEL And, quite beautifully done, wouldn’t you say? It is almost over.
THUNDER again. Wind starts to pick up.
LADY VAN TASSEL (of the wind) He rides tonight.
KATRINA Father saw you die.
LADY VAN TASSEL He saw me thrown… saw the Horseman looming over me as I fled. Things I wanted him to see. But, as long as I govern the Horseman, he cannot harm me. Baltus did not stay enough to see that. He ran as a coward, unfettered by my fate.
YOUNG MASBATH Then, whose body was it… ?
LADY VAN TASSEL The precious servant girl Sarah. I killed her and kept her body hidden, till I needed it. And, when I return to the Hollow tomorrow, my version of the truth will come to pass. (faking meekness) I mean, there I was that fateful day, following Baltus into the woods. I did not know what he was up to… where he was going. I worried for his safety.
Katrina cautiously moves the hand she’s supporting herself with, feels a rock and clutches it.
LADY VAN TASSEL Imagine my surprise, finding him on a liason with a common servant. A girl who had apparently become his secret love.
KATRINA No one will believe your lies, whore.
LADY VAN TASSEL This whore will see your mouth shut forever very soon. But… I am not going to kill you. Not me…
She picks up the Horseman’s skull in her gloved hand.
LADY VAN TASSEL He will have that honor.
EXT. WESTERN WOODS-NIGHT
The Horseman rides Daredevil, a freight train of moldering flesh, heading towards a chasm with no bridge.
They reach it, galloping in mid-air to the other side.
EXT. LONG STRAIGHT ROAD/VAN TASSEL ESTATE-NIGHT
Ichabod guides the coach into the Van Tassel orchard.
EXT. FOREST-NIGHT
Lady Van Tassel admires the skull.
LADY VAN TASSEL (mock sorrow) Woe is me… that spying on my husband in his filthy indiscretion, I saw he and Sarah attacked by the Horseman. Oh pity me… so overcome was I that I wandered in the Western Woods… dazed… nearly blind from terror.
Lady Van Tassel crouches, rubbing dirt on her face.
LADY VAN TASSEL And, tomorrow is my grand performance, having barely survived the elements… (more emoting) By sheer luck I found my way back to the Hollow. But… what do I find here… ? My dear, sweet step-daughter Katrina is dead. Why has God forsaken her?
Seeing that Lady Van Tassel lavish attention on Katrina, Masbath takes this opportunity to ease onto his knees.
LADY VAN TASSEL (of herself, pleased) No one will suspect this sad woman who has been through such an ordeal. With only the empty solace of her money and land to comfort her.
EXT. VAN TASSEL HOUSE-NIGHT
Ichabod leaps from the coach, bounds up the porch.
ICHABOD Katrina!
EXT. FOREST-NIGHT
ICHABOD is HEARD. Lady Van Tassel turns, astonished.
KATRINA Murderer!
Katrina slings the rock-strikes Lady Van Tassel in the head, a glancing blow that knocks her down. Katrina runs.
Katrina grips Young Masbath, helping him up…
But, Lady Van Tassel scrambles up, grabs Katrina and throws her back to the ground.
Lady Van Tassel steps hard on Katrina’s ankle, touches her forehead, bleeding, pissed.
LADY VAN TASSEL You’ve been a naughty girl.
Young Masbath leaps to action, charging head first-slams into Lady Van Tassel, sends her backwards.
Katrina runs and pulls Masbath up. They flee.
KATRINA Ichabod!
Lady Van Tassel rolls, recovering, not very concerned.
LADY VAN TASSEL Little bitch.
EXT. VAN TASSEL HOUSE-NIGHT
Ichabod comes out the open front doors… hearing…
KATRINA (o.s.) (far away) Ichabod!
Ichabod climbs back on the coach, taking off.
EXT. FOREST-NIGHT
Katrina and Young Masbath run out from a line of trees.
KATRINA Ichabod!
YOUNG MASBATH Here we are!
BEHIND IN THE FOREST, Lady Van Tassel rides her white horse, in no hurry. Wind kicks hard. HOOFBEATS are HEARD.
LADY VAN TASSEL Run, Katrina! Fast as your pretty legs will carry you. It makes no difference.
ON THE LAWN, Ichabod drives towards Katrina and Masbath.
Behind, at the tree line, Lady Van Tassel holds up the Horseman’s skull, wind tossing her dress and hair.
LADY VAN TASSEL Nothing will stop him now!
At mid-field, Ichabod reaches Katrina and Masbath.
ICHABOD Climb up!
YOUNG MASBATH Lady Van Tassel…
ICHABOD I know. Hold on.
With Katrina and Masbath on board, Ichabod turns the coach. Katrina unties Masbath’s hands. HOOFBEATS GET LOUDER.
LADY VAN TASSEL Olly-olly oxen-free!
Ichabod looks back towards Lady Van Tassel.
At the treeline, the Horseman breaks into the open, hell on horseback. Full speed ahead.
ICHABOD Christ.
EXT. THE LONG STRAIGHT ROAD-NIGHT
The coach hits the long straight road, away from the house.
