EXT. CEMETERY-DAY
The town is gathered for Jonathan Masbath’s funeral. Steenwyck stands
at the open grave, reads from the BIBLE.
STEENWYCK
(reading)
“Be sober, be vigilant… ” as it
sayeth in the book of Peter, chapter
five, verse eight-“because your
adversary the devil, as a roaring
lion, walketh about, seeking whom he
may devour… ”
People WHISPER and steal glances at Ichabod. Ichabod stands with
Baltus and Lady Van Tassel. Ichabod looks around, observing…
Young Masbath stands with his head bowed.
Brom stands beside Katrina, who wipes tears. Brom puts his arm around
Katrina, comforting. Theodore and Glenn are nearby with rifles over
their shoulders.
EXT. CEMETERY/CHURCH-(TIME CUT)-LATER DAY
The funeral is done. People head out from the cemetery.
Ichabod walks with the Van Tassels. Baltus holds Katrina’s hand. Young
Masbath runs to catch up with Ichabod.
YOUNG MASBATH
Mister Constable, sir…
Ichabod stops.
ICHABOD
You are Young Masbath…
YOUNG MASBATH
I was Young Masbath, but now the
only one. Masbath at your service,
in honor bound to avenge my father.
ICHABOD
Well, one-and-only Masbath, I thank
you, but your mother will need you
more than I.
YOUNG MASBATH
My mother is in heaven, sir, and has
my father now to care for her. But
you have no one to serve you, and I
am your man, sir.
ICHABOD
And a brave man too, but I cannot be
the one to look after you. I am
sorry for your loss, young Mister
Masbath.
Ichabod moves away, watched disconsolately by Masbath.
Ichabod finds his sleeve furtively plucked by Philipse.
PHILIPSE
Constable…
ICHABOD
Mr. Philipse… ?
Philipse looks around anxiously to see if they’re observed.
PHILIPSE
Something you should know. Jonathan
Masbath was not the fourth victim
but the fifth!
ICHABOD
The fifth?
PHILIPSE
Aye. Five victims in four graves!
ICHABOD
But who… ?
Philipse sees that Steenwyck has noticed the encounter. He breaks off
and scuttles away.
Ichabod turns his gaze toward…
The fresh grave of Jonathan Masbath, and three more graves almost as
recent: The Van Garretts are just receiving their brand new
headstones, and Widow Winship’s grave is marked for the present by a
simple wooden cross with her name on it.
Ichabod sees Killian and nods to him.
ICHABOD (CONT’D)
Mr. Killian… I will need the help
you offered.
INT. STABLE-DAY
Ichabod lifts the lid of a large feed bin half full of horse feed.
Young Masbath is curled up inside like a mouse in a nest. Homeless.
ICHABOD
Find a place in the Van Tassel’s
servant quarters. Wake me before
dawn. I hope you have a strong
stomach.
Ichabod walks away, disgruntled.
YOUNG MASBATH
Thank you, sir.
EXT. CEMETERY-NIGHT/DAWN
The lid of a muddy coffin is wrenched open. The coffin contains a
headless corpse. Just the one.
What’s happening?
The coffin is on the ground next to the hole marked by the headstone
of Peter Van Garrett.
Killian holds a lantern and a spade. Ichabod, holding a handkerchief
to his face, looks into the open coffin. He nods. Ichabod, in
shirtsleeves and sweating, has a spade too. Young Masbath is watching
uneasily. This is why Young Masbath would need a “strong stomach.” He
gags, almost pukes.
At Ichabod’s nod, Killian replaces the lid. Killian has Two Men with
him. There are two more coffins and two more piles of dirt, one coffin
for Dirk Van Garrett and one for Widow Winship.
Ichabod moves to the second coffin. It contains a headless corpse.
Just the one. Ichabod nods, and the lid is replaced.
The third coffin-the Widow’s-is being opened by one of the Men.
Ichabod takes a lantern and looks expectantly as the lid comes off.
The Widow’s headless corpse is alone in the coffin.
Ichabod pauses. Nods. As the lid is about to be replaced. He stops it.
ICHABOD
Wait.
Ichabod takes out a small penknife and cuts through the shroud. He
reveals the belly. He stares at it. Was she pregnant? It’s impossible
to tell. But there is the wound of a sword stab in the stomach.
Suddenly there is a screech, which seems to come from the corpse,
giving heart attacks all around-but now we see a “ghost” holding a
lantern. It’s Reverend Steenwyck who has discovered them and is
shrieking in outrage.
STEENWYCK
Sacrilege! Sacrilege!
Ichabod recovers.
ICHABOD
Science… science, Reverend
Steenwyck! Someone in Sleepy Hollow
is using the Horseman story for his
own murderous purpose, and I intend
to… dig it out.
Steenwyck froths, looks terrified and backs off.
INT. DOCTOR’S RESIDENCE, MEDICAL ROOM-DAY
Ichabod and Killian, helped by Young Masbath, carry the Widow’s muddy
coffin inside. Doctor Lancaster watches in horror, sweating profusely,
freaked out.
DOCTOR LANCASTER
This is… most irregular, Constable.
ICHABOD
I should hope so. But in this case,
necessary.
The coffin is put down.
ICHABOD (CONT’D)
I will need to operate.
DOCTOR LANCASTER
Operate? She’s dead!
ICHABOD
(thrown)
When we say “operate,” we mean, of
course… er, I’ll need the operating
table. Lay her out, please.
(to Young Masbath)
Go on, nothing to be afraid of.
When Killian and Young Masbath lay out the corpse, Ichabod gulps water
and studies the pages of his Ledger.
ICHABOD (CONT’D)
There is a common thread between
these victims.
DOCTOR LANCASTER
And what’s that?
ICHABOD
(closing the Ledger)
I don’t know.
He goes to examine the corpse. Young Masbath retreats to a corner, ill
at ease.
ICHABOD (CONT’D)
Once more, the neck wound
cauterized. The sword thrust to the
stomach, the same, perhaps by
chemical means. But to what purpose?
Ichabod gingerly feels the corpse’s stomach. The Doctor watches. We
get the feeling he “knows something.”
DOCTOR LANCASTER
To what is your purpose, is the
question.
Ichabod takes a rolled VELVET CLOTH from his satchel, unrolls it… it
holds SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS, some particularly strange: RIB-SPEADERS
and CURVED CLAMPS.
DOCTOR LANCASTER (CONT’D)
What manner of instruments are
those?
ICHABOD
Some of my own design.
Ichabod picks through his instruments, unsure. He looks to the corpse
a long moment. He looks at Young Masbath.
ICHABOD (CONT’D)
Step outside. Thank you for your
help, Mr. Killian. And, if you do
not mind, Doctor, my concentration
suffers when I am observed.
Ichabod watches Killian, Young Masbath and Lancaster go. He quickly
returns to his satchel, pulling out a BOOK: HUMAN ANATOMY. He searches
the pages…
He flips through DRAWINGS of ANATOMY, then sets the book open nearby
so he can refer to it. He picks up a KNIFE, stands at the corpse,
taking a deep uncertain breath.
Ichabod cuts into the Widow’s belly, but stops, looking horrified at
what he’s done. He leans close to study the book again, worried. He
makes another incision… He looks down at it, queasy.
EXT. DOCTOR’S RESIDENCE-DAY
Young Masbath sits waiting.
Doctor Lancaster stands with Philipse (hung over), Steenwyck and
Hardenbrook, speaking agitatedly. OTHER PEOPLE have gathered in the
background.
The door to the doctor’s residence opens and Ichabod steps out. He is
bloodied, shaken, futilely wiping at the mess with a blood-covered
cloth, looking up…
All attention goes to Ichabod. Everyone’s horrified.
ICHABOD
I am… finished.
STEENWYCK
What in God’s name have you done to
her?
(pointing)
Magistrate Philipse, you are the
word of law here… put him in irons!
Philipse and Ichabod exchange a look. Philipse nips from his flask.
PHILIPSE
And what did you find out,
Constable?
ICHABOD
That there are not four victims but
five. The Widow Winship was with
child!
The small crowd murmurs, shocked. Doctor Lancaster recovers, furious.
DOCTOR LANCASTER
What of it? She should have been
left to make her peace with God and
not cut to bits by the Constabulary!
Ichabod is shaken for a moment, remembering the similar charge made
against him in New York.
ICHABOD
The sword was thrust into the womb
and no farther. A symbolic murder.
We are dealing with a madman.
EXT. LONG STRAIGHT ROAD, COVERED BRIDGE-LATER NIGHT
Pale moonlight. Ichabod rides Gunpowder across the COVERED BRIDGE.
They are an ungainly pair.
Following the road, Ichabod is lost in thought. The CLOPPING of
HOOFBEATS is HEARD on the bridge behind.
Ichabod turns to look. HOOFBEATS STOP. No one can be seen in the dark
mouth of the bridge. CRICKETS CHIRP.
ICHABOD
Who’s there?
Ichabod faces forward, continuing to the forest.
He hums a tune to himself, tone deaf. After a moment, a HORSE is HEARD
SNORTING, HOOFBEATS RESUME. Ichabod stops Gunpowder.
There is SOMEONE back there, on horseback, coming out from the
darkness of the bridge, slowly…
ICHABOD (CONT’D)
Who are you?
The FIGURE comes into moonlight, on a BLACK HORSE, smoke seeming to
rise from him; a dark FIGURE, cloaked-headless.
Ichabod panics, kicking Gunpowder to flee. The figure takes off to
follow.
Ichabod whips Gunpowder’s reins, gasping, moving faster. The figure
behind also picks up speed.
EXT. SLEEPY HOLLOW FOREST-NIGHT
Gunpowder carries Ichabod into the forest. The headless figure is
right behind, cloak flowing…
The HEADLESS FIGURE is HEARD letting out a hellish CRY of rage.
Ichabod glances fearfully over his shoulder…
A HORRIBLE FACE with flaming eyes and mouth rushes forward…
It SMASHES into Ichabod-sends him sprawling to the ground in an
explosion of red hot ash and cinders…
Ichabod rolls, shaken… looking behind. The trail is empty. HOOFBEATS
are HEARD. SEVERAL HORSES.
Ichabod stands. He looks down at the remnants of a BROKEN JACK-O’-
LANTERN and smoldering ball of paper on the trail.
The FIGURE rides to a halt, throws off a cloak and “headless”
disguise; it’s Brom. Glenn and Theodore ride up, laughing.
Brom also laughs, but when he looks back, the smile leaves his face.
He takes grim satisfaction in what he’s done.
Ichabod’s face is haunted, running with the sweat of fear-he is
still trembling from the experience.
FEMALE VOICE (V.O.)
Ichabod! Ichabod!
And suddenly we are pitched into Ichabod’s DREAM.
ICHABOD’S DREAM-EXT. COTTAGE-DAY
FEMALE VOICE (V.O.)
Ichabod! Ichabod… !
A woman is in the doorway, holding out her arms. She seems to be
Katrina as Ichabod first saw her, blindfolded.
A YOUNG BOY, aged about seven, runs toward her, with a little bunch of
wildflowers.
ICHABOD’S DREAM-YOUNG ICHABOD’S KITCHEN-NIGHT
The Blindfolded Woman is playing the Pickety Witch Game with Ichabod.
He is laughing-scared as she grabs the air looking for him. He is
holding the wildflowers he picked. She seizes him, kisses him and
takes off the blindfold. It’s not Katrina, but his Mother, a kind and
lovely face. He gives his Mother the flowers. She puts one of the
flowers in her hair, laughing. But the others-she throws on the
fire! -and she crouches at the hearthstone, beckoning him, still
“nice.” He comes to her, not scared.
As the flowers burn, they give off smoky fumes, which the Mother
inhales like perfume, closing her eyes in a trance. He watches
fascinated as she picks up a twig and starts drawing pictures- strange designs-in the layer of ash on the hearthstone.
Suddenly Ichabod turns his head to the door, which is opening- spooky because no one is entering. Then he sees at floor level the
family CAT has come through the door. A black cat with a white paw.
Ichabod’s Mother is “awakened” by this, just in time as Father, a grim
Parson all in black, enters.
Ichabod looks up frightened at the face of his Father.
ICHABOD’S DREAM-YOUNG ICHABOD’S BEDROOM-NIGHT
The Cat is on Ichabod’s bed… watching Mother who is entertaining
Ichabod with the Bird-in-Cage Spinning Disc Toy, which we will get to
know.
Ichabod is tucked up in bed, astonished and happy. The Bird and Cage
blur together.
Lightning flashes outside a window, thunder booms, the storm bursts
open the window.
The Cat leaps off the bed, caught in lightning flash, the Toy drops,
tangled on the bed. Ichabod covers his face, scared; his Mother hugs
him.
INT. VAN TASSEL HOUSE, ICHABOD’S ROOM-NIGHT
Ichabod is startled awake, frightened, sweating.
INT. VAN TASSEL HOUSE, KITCHEN-NIGHT
Ichabod enters with a lantern and his Ledger. He sits, studies notes,
then notices a light down the hall.
INT. VAN TASSEL HOUSE, SEWING ROOM-NIGHT
Ichabod enters. Opposite an elaborate LOOM, Katrina reads by
candlelight.
She looks up, and self-consciously closes her book, which we see is a
child’s version of THE KNIGHTS OF THE ROUND TABLE. She covers it on
her lap.
ICHABOD
Oh… pardon my intrusion… I saw a
light…
KATRINA
It is no intrusion… I come here to
read when I am wakeful.
ICHABOD
To read books which you must
hide… ?
KATRINA
They were my mother’s books… my
father frowned at them then, and
would frown at me now. He believes
tales of romance caused the brain
fever that killed my mother. She
died two years ago come midwinter.
Ichabod nods.
ICHABOD
I saw it written in the front of the
Bible.
KATRINA
The nurse who cared for her during
her sickness is now Lady Van Tassel.
ICHABOD
There was something else too. Why
did no one think to mention that Van
Garretts are kith and kin to the Van
Tassels?
KATRINA
Why, because there is hardly a
household in Sleepy Hollow that is
not connected to every other by
blood or marriage. I have more
cousins than fingers and toes to
count them on.
A cock crows. Ichabod goes to the window to look at the edge of dawn.
ICHABOD
I see.
KATRINA
This land was Van Garrett Land,
given to my father when I was in
swaddling clothes.
ICHABOD
Given by the dead Van Garrett?
KATRINA
(nods)
The Van Garretts were the richest
family round these parts even then.
When my father brought us to Sleepy
Hollow, Van Garrett set him up with
an acre and a broken-down cottage,
and a dozen of Van Garrett hens. My
father prospered, and built us a new
house. I owe my happiness to him. I
remember living poor in the cottage.
Should I show you?
ICHABOD
Yes. I would like to see where you
were as poor as I am.
Katrina stands up, revealing a Book that had been on the floor, hidden
by her skirt. She picks up the book and gives it to Ichabod.
KATRINA
Take this. It is my gift for you.
Ichabod looks at the title page: A COMPENDIUM OF SPELLS, CHARMS AND
DEVICES OF THE SPIRIT WORLD.
ICHABOD
(troubled)
But I have no use for…
KATRINA
Are you so certain of everything?
Ichabod sees that Katrina’s name is written on the endpaper, and, in a
different hand, her mother’s name, “Elizabeth Van Tassel.”
ICHABOD
It was your mother’s… ?
KATRINA
Keep it close to your heart. It is
sure protection against harm.
ICHABOD
(smiles)
Are you so certain of everything?
Their eyes meet and hold for a moment. Ichabod accepts the book by
placing it on the desk.
EXT. FIELDS-DAY (EARLY MORNING)
Ichabod and Katrina make a pretty picture on horseback, riding slowly
toward the cottage.
EXT. SLEEPY HOLLOW FARMLAND-DAY (EARLY MORNING)
Ichabod and Katrina, riding, come upon the ruin of a cottage. There is
almost nothing left but the hearth and a part of a chimney.
Ichabod dismounts and helps Katrina down from her horse, taking her
hand.
Before he lets go, she notices the little scars on his palm. She takes
both his hands and looks at them.
KATRINA
These are strange… What are
they… ?
ICHABOD
I wish I knew. I had them since I
can remember.
Katrina holds his hands a moment longer, their eyes meet, then she
lets go and “enters” the ruin.
Ichabod’s attention is caught by a red Cardinal on a branch, like the
bird he had in New York.
He reflects a moment, then turns to watch Katrina crouching by the
hearth. She has put a flower in her hair.
KATRINA
I used to play by this hearth. It
was my first drawing school and my
mother was my teacher.
Unwittingly, Katrina is mimicking Ichabod’s dream. She picks up a twig
and starts “drawing” on the hearth stone. Like Ichabod’s mother in his
dream.
Ichabod’s blood runs cold but she is unaware of him. Then he notices
that a few small wildflowers are growing in the old fireplace. Ichabod
feels short of breath, he leans against the stones for support.
KATRINA (CONT’D)
Oh, look! I’d forgotten this! -see
-carved into the fire-back, the
Archer!
Using her fingers she cleans off the dirt around a simple carving of a
man with a Bow and Arrow.
KATRINA (CONT’D)
This was from long before we lived
here.
She turns to show Ichabod and notices him looking strange.
KATRINA (CONT’D)
Are you all right?
Ichabod nods, recovering, saying nothing.
Katrina is reassured. Suddenly her attention is caught, as Ichabod’s
was, by the Cardinal bird.
KATRINA (CONT’D)
(pointing)
Oh, look! A Cardinal! My favorite! I
would love to have a tame one, but I
wouldn’t have the heart to cage him.
Ichabod unslings his satchel.
ICHABOD
Then I have something for you.
He has a PAPER DISK with a BIRD on one side and an EMPTY CAGE on the
other, pierced by a looped string on which the disk can twist and
spin. He demonstrates like a magician. This is the very Toy given to
him by his Mother.
ICHABOD (CONT’D)
A Cardinal on one side, and an empty
cage.
Katrina watches intently. Ichabod spins the Disk.
ICHABOD (CONT’D)
And now…
The bird appears to be inside the cage.
Katrina is astonished and delighted.
KATRINA
You can do magic! Teach me!
ICHABOD
It is no magic. It is optics.
Ichabod gives her the Toy and shows her how to spin it.
ICHABOD (CONT’D)
Separate pictures which become one
picture in the spinning… Like the
truth which I must spin here…
Katrina spins the disk, the bird appears in the cage.
EXT. PHILIPSE HOUSE-NIGHT
A MOVING POV is checking out the Village House. Through lighted
windows, figures of Men are seen pacing, apparently arguing.
Philipse is packing his bags, moving out… while three Men, Steenwyck,
Doctor Lancaster and Hardenbrook, are in agitated conference. Their
raised voices make an undecipherable hubbub. The POV’S horse makes a
horsey snuffling sound. Is it Daredevil?
Steenwyck comes right to the window as if he has seen something… but
he merely closes the shutters.
The REVERSE shows that it is Ichabod who has been spying.
Ichabod backs off and mounts Gunpowder, looking thoughtful, then
determined.
EXT. ROAD OUTSIDE VILLAGE-NIGHT
A Mounted Man is approaching on a heavily loaded Pack Horse… Philipse
making his getaway from Sleepy Hollow. As he reaches the foreground,
Ichabod on Gunpowder intercepts him, grabbing the bridle of the Pack
Horse.
PHILIPSE
What are you doing? Let go!
ICHABOD
What are you running from,
Magistrate Philipse?
PHILIPSE
Damn you, Crane-
ICHABOD
You’ll raise the village.
Philipse calms down.
ICHABOD (CONT’D)
You had a mind to help me.
PHILIPSE
Yes-and I put myself in mortal
dread of…
ICHABOD
Of… what?
PHILIPSE
Powers against which there is no
defense.
ICHABOD
How did you know the widow was
expecting a child?
PHILIPSE
She told me.
ICHABOD
Then I deduce you are the father.
PHILIPSE
I hope your deductions serve you
better in your contest against the
Hessian. I am not the father.
ICHABOD
Did she tell you the name of the
child’s father?
PHILIPSE
Yes-she did. She came to me for
advice-as the town magistrate-
Ichabod hears sounds… of sheep in agitation at some distance but he
holds Philipse to his story.
PHILIPSE (CONT’D)
-to protect the rights of her
child. I was bound by my oath of
office to keep the secret-
ICHABOD
Do you believe the father killed
her?
PHILIPSE
(stares at him in
surprise)
The Horseman killed her! -You damn
fool, do you suppose the Horseman
stops to impregnate our women?
ICHABOD
The Horseman? How often do I have to
tell you there is no Horseman! There
never was a Horseman! -and there
never will be a Horseman!
Ichabod grabs him fiercely, pulling on the amulet Philipse wears
around his neck.
PHILIPSE
Let go! -it is my talisman that
protects me from the Horseman!
ICHABOD
You a magistrate! -and your head
full of such nonsense! Now tell me
the name of-
A flock of sheep comes streaming and bleating across the path.
The horses go crazy, BRAYING and rearing. A SOUND is HEARD, distant:
THUNDERING HOOFBEATS. Wind kicks up.
Philipse looks to the forest. A FLOCK of BIRDS alights.
PHILIPSE
Oh my… oh my oh my oh my…
PHILIPSE runs away. HOOFBEATS LOUDER, CLOSER. Ichabod faces the
forest.
The forest explodes open, foliage bending to make way as the HEADLESS
HORSEMAN gallops into view atop DAREDEVIL.
Ichabod’s stunned. He looks down to draw his flintlock pistol, but the
Horseman ROARS by before he can raise it-a blast of air knocks
Ichabod off his horse.
After this, everything happens very quickly-
The Horseman chases Philipse.
Philipse looks over his shoulder.
The Horseman draws his sword.
Philipse gathers his courage and stops, turning. He raises his iron
key talisman before him. The Horseman is closing…
ICHABOD
Philipse!
Philipse holds the talisman up, trying to be fearless. The Horseman
swings his sword upon the talisman-CLANK…
Philipse’s severed head spins. His body falls and folds.
The two pieces of Philipse’s Talisman, an Iron Key, fly through the
air, toward Ichabod, who has only just managed to find his feet and
find his fallen pistol.
The Horseman turns Daredevil in a wide circle…
Daredevil completes the turn, letting out a SCREECHY CRY as the
Horseman rides straight toward Ichabod…
Before Ichabod has time to take aim, the Horseman is upon him and past
him! -heading toward Philipse’s corpse… leans effortlessly to
skewer Philipse’s head with his sword.
With the head as his prize, the Horseman races away.
Ichabod turns, watches the Horseman head to the forest.
Ichabod stands, stricken. He faints.
INT. VAN TASSEL HOUSE, ICHABOD’S BEDROOM-DAY
Ichabod gasps awake. A KNOCKING is HEARD.
BALTUS’S VOICE (O.S.)
Constable Crane… ?
Ichabod looks at his hand balled into a fist. He opens his hand- holds BOTH HALVES of PHILIPSE’S IRON KEY TALISMAN.
INT. VAN TASSEL HOUSE, UPSTAIRS HALL 3RD FLOOR-DAY
Young Masbath is seated by Ichabod’s closed door. Katrina is backing
up Baltus, who knocks again.
BALTUS
Has he not come out at all?
Young Masbath shakes his head.
INT. VAN TASSEL HOUSE, ICHABOD’S ROOM-DAY
Baltus enters. Katrina and Masbath follow him, cautiously, “visiting
the sick.” Ichabod sits up in bed, stunned, spaced out.
ICHABOD
It was a Headless Horseman!
BALTUS
You must not excite yourself.
ICHABOD
But it was Headless Horseman!
BALTUS
Of course it was.
ICHABOD
No, you must believe me, it was
Horseman! A dead one! Headless!
BALTUS
I know, I know…
ICHABOD
You don’t know because you weren’t
there! But it’s all true!
BALTUS
Of course it is. I told you!
Everyone told you!
ICHABOD
(wildly)
I saw him!
His eyes roll up and he faints. Katrina and Masbath look helplessly at
each other.
YOUNG MASBATH
I suppose it’s back to the City,
then.
Katrina’s reaction is mixed-glad that Ichabod will be safe, sorry
if he leaves.
ICHABOD’S DREAM-FOREST-DAY
A MILLION WHITE MILKWEED SEEDLINGS are floating in sunlight. Young
Ichabod’s laughter is heard.
Now we see that his Mother is blowing the seedlings for his delight.
She gives him a milkweed pod and shows him how to do it for himself.
Ichabod breaks the pod and releases another million. But when he looks
around to share the delight, his Mother has gone… and he sees her
disappearing among the trees. He goes to follow her.
ICHABOD’S DREAM-FOREST GLADE-DAY
Ichabod can’t see his Mother anywhere…
Then he sees her standing in the middle of a CIRCLE OF BEAUTIFUL
TOADSTOOLS/MUSHROOMS growing in the Glade.
Ichabod watches as his Mother turns inside the Mushroom Circle, almost
dancing. He smiles. Then he sees his Mother stoop to pick a mushroom.
She eats it. She looks happy. She drops a small piece of the mushroom.
Ichabod sees it fall.
He runs forward and picks it up before she sees him. Ichabod eats it.
His Mother sees him, takes his hands in hers and dances around in a
circle.
As Ichabod whizzes around laughing, his POV becomes the Encircling
Trees whizzing around, and suddenly he seems to be surrounded by
Menacing Headless Figures dressed all in black.
Ichabod falls over dizzy and when he looks up he sees that the
Headless Figures have become his Father, watching his Mother
heedlessly dancing, his face like thunder. His Mother has loosened her
clothes and is virtually barebreasted.
His Father’s eyes begin to glow like live coals as Ichabod cowers away
from him.
ICHABOD’S DREAM-ICHABOD’S HOUSE-NIGHT
Ichabod’s eyes are spying… through a crack in the kitchen door.
When we see him properly, he is wearing a nightshirt. Then we see his
POV, into the kitchen.
ICHABOD’S DREAM-YOUNG ICHABOD’S KITCHEN-NIGHT
Mother is seated, her head down. Father paces, chastising Mother
angrily, his fist balled up in rage.
Father continues berating Mother. He picks up his Bible off the table,
waving it, then grabs Mother by the shoulders, forcing her to the
floor…
Father forces Mother to her knees. Mother is afraid, clasping her
hands in front of her as Father forces her to pray. Father starts
reading from the Bible. In Ichabod’s dream, this is the same Bible
from Baltus’s house.
ICHABOD’S DREAM-YOUNG ICHABOD’S STAIRWELL-NIGHT
Ichabod watches, afraid. He backs away, returning upstairs.
ICHABOD’S DREAM-YOUNG ICHABOD’S BEDROOM-NIGHT
A window is thrown CRASHING open, THUNDER BOOMING… Young Ichabod
sits up in his bed. He goes to close the window, RAIN pouring in. He
looks down…
ICHABOD’S DREAM-EXT. YOUNG ICHABOD’S HOUSE-NIGHT
Below, in front of the home, a MAN drags Mother toward a COACH. TWO
MEN stand watching, faces hidden under hat brims. Mother looks back,
eyes pleading, struggling…
Mother looks up to Young Ichabod.
The TWO MEN looks up to Young Ichabod: one is Father, and the THIRD
MAN is a Cotton Mather-ish man with a villainous face.
Young Ichabod reaches helplessly toward Mother.
Mother is forced into the coach.
The Third Man speaks to Father, then walks to the coach. He gets onto
the coach as the coach starts away.
Father watches, rain flowing down his stony features. LIGHTING
FLASHES… And we see the family Cat watching with glowing eyes.
INT. VAN TASSEL HOUSE-DAY
Ichabod’s eyes as he opens them. He wakes, breathing heavily.
After a beat, he flings back the bedclothes and springs out of bed,
energized by a new determination.
INT. VAN TASSEL HOUSE, DOWNSTAIRS-DAY
Baltus, Steenwyck, Doctor Lancaster and Notary Hardenbrook are having
another meeting, this time with Lady Van Tassel and Katrina on hand
with the drinks.
BALTUS
Right-this time I’ll go to New
York myself and I won’t be fobbled
off with an amateur deductor.
HARDENBROOK
(correcting him)
Detector.
STEENWYCK
(correcting)
Deductive.
DOCTOR LANCASTER
(doubting)
No… no…
BALTUS
(rising above it)
An amateur sleuth! This time it’s a
magistrate that’s dead, and-
The door is flung open without ceremony.
It’s Ichabod ready for action, transformed, raring to go-with Young
Masbath round-eyed just behind him.
ICHABOD
Gentlemen! -I need able men, to go
with me to the Western Woods. Who
will be the first to volunteer?
BALTUS
You… ? We thought you’d shot your
bolt…
ICHABOD
A setback, merely. And yet, a step
forward too-we now know who has
done these terrible-
STEENWYCK
You now know, we already knew-
ICHABOD
(high on it)
Quite so-and now it seems fate
has chosen me to make my name in a
case without parallel in the annals
of crime-in short, to pit myself
against a murdering ghost.
KATRINA
(fearful for him)
No, Ichabod-Constable-
LADY VAN TASSEL
(smiles)
Do you intend to arrest him? Or
impound his horse… ?
The Men chuckle indulgently.
ICHABOD
Neither. To put an end to the
killing. To discover the cause and
remove it. Who’s with me?
No one.
EXT. WESTERN WOODS-DAY
No one, indeed… Ichabod and Young Masbath ride alone… their horses
loaded up for the expedition.
Dark, gnarled and creepy woods. Ichabod and Young Masbath move
through. SOUND OF BIRDS etc.
ICHABOD
The Van Garretts, the Widow Winship
… your father, Jonathan Masbath…
and now Philipse… Something must
connect them. Can you think?
YOUNG MASBATH
(shakes his head)
We had no dealings with the
magistrate that I know of…
ICHABOD
And the widow? Your father knew her?
YOUNG MASBATH
(shrugs)
Everyone knew Widow Winship.
ICHABOD
In a manner of speaking, I trust.
YOUNG MASBATH
She would bring old Mr. Van Garrett
a basket of eggs many a day.
ICHABOD
Did your father have dealings with
the Van Garretts?
YOUNG MASBATH
(surprised)
He worked for them, we lived in the
coach house.
Ichabod halts his horse, surprised.
YOUNG MASBATH (CONT’D)
It’s nothing-there were many
servants… all dismissed now, of
course.
(beat-they ride on)
But there was something happened one
night, a week before the murder. An
argument upstairs between father and
son, and my father was later sent
for by Mr. Van Garrett.
ICHABOD
An argument between father and son?
(to himself,
thoughtfully)
After which, the elder Van Garrett
summoned his servant, Masbath…
Young Masbath halts his horse and looks around.
YOUNG MASBATH
Listen.
ICHABOD
I hear nothing.
YOUNG MASBATH
Nor I-no birds-no crickets-
Everything has gone quiet.
YOUNG MASBATH (CONT’D)
-it’s all gone so quiet…
Ichabod notes this nervously.
ICHABOD
You’re right!
He gees up the horses. They break into a gallop. A MOVING POV watches
them gallop by.
EXT. WESTERN WOODS AND CAVE ENTRANCE-DAY
Ichabod and Masbath reach a hill crest. They stop, uneasy.
BELOW, there is a CAVE with a rock archway. An ill-fitting DOOR covers
the mouth. The chimney spews smoke.
Ichabod and Masbath share a fearful look.
ELSEWHERE, SOMEONE WATCHES… A MOVING POV WATCHES Ichabod and Masbath
as they ride to the cave, FOLLOWING…
Ichabod and Young Masbath dismount, tying their horses, then heading
to the cave. They arrive at the cave door. Ichabod hesitantly KNOCKS.
INT. CAVE HOME-DAY
The door is ajar… Ichabod and Young Masbath step in… Walls are hung
with SKINS and SKELETONS. Across the cave, a CRONE sits facing away,
motionless.
Ichabod and Young Masbath look to each other, fearful.
ICHABOD
Pardon my intrusion…
The Crone, with gray hair and gray features, sits disinterested.
Behind, Ichabod edges slowly forward…
CRONE
You are from the Hollow?
ICHABOD
In a way, yes. I, um…
Ichabod is distracted by gourd BOWLS of DEAD INSECTS, LEAVES and
ACORNS… KNIVES, SCISSORS and YELLOWED BONES.
ICHABOD (CONT’D)
I should like to say… um… I make
no assumptions about your
occupation, no, your ways, witch- which-which are nothing to me…
um… whatever you are, each to his
own-um-
The Crone places something on a table beside her… a DEAD BIRD, a
bright red cardinal.
Ichabod backs away, but Masbath comes to stand beside him.
YOUNG MASBATH
Do you know of the Horseman,
ma’am… ? The Hessian.
The Crone draws her finger across her neck.
YOUNG MASBATH (CONT’D)
That’ll be him, miss.
Around her neck is a cord on which is threaded a carved stone, a
mystic bauble. Ichabod notices it. The Crone stands, faces them, tall
… points to Ichabod.
CRONE
You, follow with me.
(to young Masbath)
Go out, child. Keep away. No matter
what you hear, keep away.
She takes a candle and heads deeper into the cave…
INT. CAVE HOME, LOWER CAVE-DAY
The Crone enters through a passage, Ichabod follows, terrified, bent
under the low ceiling.
ICHABOD
Um… what might he hear that he must
keep away from… ?
CRONE
Sit there.
Ichabod sits on a crooked stool. The Crone kneels with her back to
him, grasps two METAL CUFFS with chains attached, slides these onto
her wrists, testing them…
CRONE (CONT’D)
He rides, to the Hollow and back. I
hear him. I smell the blood on him.
ICHABOD
Do… do you? Well… I’m here to find
him and… er… make him stop…
CRONE
You want to see into the netherworld
… I can show you…
The Crone gathers STRAW in a pile on the floor, then gathers bowls,
putting GRASS and POWDER on the pile, WITHERING over it. She takes a
JAR from a table.
ICHABOD
What… what are you doing?
The Crone shakes one jar, pulls the lid off and upends it. A BABY BAT
squirms, dazed. The Crone grips the bat, uses a knife to cut off its
head, soaks the straw with blood.
CRONE
Do not move or speak. When the other
comes, I will hold him.
Using her candle, the Crone lights the straw pile.
ICHABOD
The other… ?
CRONE
Silence.
(bends to inhale smoke)
He comes now.
Ichabod would like to leave now.
EXT. CAVE HOME-DAY
Young Masbath waits. WIND picks up, kicking leaves, sending them in
swirls. Masbath holds himself against the chill.
INT. CAVE HOME, LOWER CAVE-DAY
The Crone slumps forward to the floor, suddenly immobile, still with
her back to Ichabod. WIND HOWLS through a hole/window.
Ichabod looks around, uncertain, stands.
ICHABOD
Excuse me… ma’am… ?
The Crone remains motionless. The WIND intensifies. Candles blow out.
Ichabod inches closer…
ICHABOD (CONT’D)
Do you hear me… ?
INT. CAVE HOME, LOWER CAVE-DAY
The Crone suddenly jumps erect, spinning-a half-human, half-demon
CREATURE, black clawed hands reaching…
Ichabod cries out, leaping backward…
CHAINS on the restraining CUFFS around the creature’s hands go taut,
yanking the creature back.
Ichabod KNOCKS over a table of bones, hits the floor. The creature is
chained, but still wants Ichabod. It SHRIEKS.
The creature’s face still seethes from transformation.
CREATURE/CRONE
You seek the warrior bathed in blood
… the Headless Horseman…
Ichabod scrambles back as far as possible. The creature claws the rock
floor, yearning.
CREATURE/CRONE (CONT’D)
Follow the Indian trail to where the
sun dies. Follow to the Tree of the
Dead…
The creature yanks, testing the chains. Behind, the BOLT holding the
chains slips… the WALL CRACKS a little.
CREATURE/CRONE (CONT’D)
Climb down to the Horseman’s resting
place. Do you hear… ?
Ichabod nods, quaking, aghast. He glances to the exit.
The chain bolt gives more… coming loose…
Ichabod flees toward the door. The creature HOWLS, leaping… the chain
bolt BREAKS…
Ichabod cries out as he is TACKLED to the floor…
INT. CAVE HOME, LOWER CAVE-DAY
It is only the CRONE lying on him; she has returned to human form,
semiconscious. Ichabod desperately shoves her off…
EXT. CAVE HOME-DAY
Ichabod sprints out from the cave, past Young Masbath.
ICHABOD
We are leaving.
YOUNG MASBATH
What happened?
ICHABOD
We are leaving now.
Ichabod scrambles onto Gunpowder, riding, glancing back. Young Masbath
follows.
EXT. WESTERN WOODS AREA TWO, FARTHER ON-LATER DAY
Ichabod and Young Masbath ride side by side.
ICHABOD
(quoting)
“Take the Indian trail… To the
Tree of the Dead… ”
YOUNG MASBATH
How will we recognize it?
ICHABOD
Without difficulty I rather fear.
And “Climb down to the Horseman’s
resting place… ” she said.
YOUNG MASBATH
His… camp?
ICHABOD
His grave.
A SNAPPING BRANCH is HEARD. Ichabod turns to look back…
ICHABOD (CONT’D)
(whispers to Masbath)
Quicken pace.
Ichabod rides faster. Young Masbath keeps up…
FARTHER ON, they charge over a hill. Ichabod halts Gunpowder, climbs
clumsily off, handing the reins to Masbath.
ICHABOD (CONT’D)
Ride on.
Young Masbath obeys. Ichabod takes out his pistol and wades into
forest growth, backtracking…
EXT. WESTERN WOODS AREA THREE-DAY
INSIDE THE FOREST, Ichabod moves through UNDERBRUSH, keeping low. A
HORSE is HEARD SNORTING.
Ichabod forges on, pushes through branches, fearful…
He comes up behind a FIGURE IN A GRAY CLOAK on horseback, raising his
pistol, cocking the hammer…
ICHABOD
Halt and turn! I have a pistol
aimed.
The FIGURE stops, pushes off the cloak hood. It is Katrina.
KATRINA
It is me.
ICHABOD
(lowers gun, shaken)
Katrina… I might have killed you.
Why have you come?
KATRINA
Because no one else would go with
you.
She smiles a little. Ichabod is heartened.
ICHABOD
I am now twice the man.
Ichabod takes her hand.
ICHABOD (CONT’D)
It is your white magic.
She is about to turn this moment into a kiss-but…
YOUNG MASBATH (O.S.)
Pardon my intrusion…
Ichabod and Katrina look to see Masbath has backtracked.
YOUNG MASBATH
I think you’d better come and look
at this…
Ichabod and Katrina move to follow Young Masbath.
EXT. WESTERN WOODS, TREE OF THE DEAD-DUSK
Ichabod, Masbath and Katrina come into a clearing, slowing their
horses… looking up in wonder at…
The monstrously huge TREE OF THE DEAD, at the clearing’s center.
Its branches reach far and wide, knotted and gross, like agony
captured in wood sculpture.
YOUNG MASBATH
The Tree of the Dead.
KATRINA
It does announce itself.
Ichabod dismounts, crossing a line beyond which grass and weeds will
not grow. Young Masbath and Katrina dismount behind. They all walk
toward the tree…
Ichabod stares up into the endless, dead canopy of branches.
There’s a VERTICAL WOUND in the bark, like a terrible suture, now
healed and scarred. Ichabod approaches…
He feels the mushy scar, picking at its scabs till sap begins to run.
Red Sap. Ichabod fingers it, sniffs it.
ICHABOD
Blood.
KATRINA
The tree bleeds? How can it be?
Ichabod goes to where Katrina and Masbath wait with the horses, digs
in a saddle bag for a hand AXE.
YOUNG MASBATH
What is it?
ICHABOD
Stay here.
At the trunk, Ichabod thumps the flat end of the axe against the
suture. It sounds hollow. He begins to CHOP…
He CHOPS into the suture… pulls away loose bark. The tree drips more
blood and a goo. Ichabod uses both hands on the axe to hack at the
festering suture.
KATRINA
What are you doing?
ICHABOD
Just… keep where you are.
Young Masbath moves closer. Ichabod keeps CHOPPING, then grips a
large, loose flap, trying to pull it away. It’s not easy. Ichabod
struggles.
Katrina follows Young Masbath’s slow advance.
Ichabod’s pulling-the flap suddenly gives, revealing a blood-
soaked, wide-eyed, gap-mouthed HUMAN HEAD.
Ichabod recoils. Behind him, Katrina stifles a scream.
Ichabod backs off, back of his hand to his mouth.
It is PHILIPSE’S HEAD, hanging off the trunk flap, held by roots grown
around and into the flesh.
FOUR other SEVERED, DECAYING HEADS are held by ingrown roots within
the dewy innards.
One of the heads is Jonathan Masbath’s. Before Young Masbath sees it,
Katrina hides his face in her bosom and comforts him.
KATRINA
My God…
ICHABOD
He… he tries to take the heads back
with him. They will not pass…
KATRINA
We must leave this place.
Ichabod looks to the branches towering above.
ICHABOD
This is… a gateway, between two
worlds…
Ichabod studies the ground, circling the trunk… Around the other
side, Ichabod gets to his knees…
He’s found the HORSEMAN’S SWORD: the grave marker, jutting out from
the ground, rusted twenty years’ worth, gripped by the tree trunk and
vines.
ICHABOD (CONT’D)
(touching the ground)
Climb down to the Horseman’s resting
place…
(looks to Masbath)
Bring the shovel.
Now he sees Katrina hugging the boy.
ICHABOD (CONT’D)
Forgive me… I…
Young Masbath courageously recovers himself, wiping his eyes and nose
on the back of his sleeve.
YOUNG MASBATH
Yes, sir-the shovel… Two
shovels and the rifle, I suggest.
EXT. WESTERN WOODS, TREE OF THE DEAD-DUSK
Lantern light.
Young Masbath’s crouched, rifle across his knees. He watches the tree,
looking up…
High branches swarm with BATS.
Behind Masbath, Ichabod and Katrina dig up the SHALLOW GRAVE.
KATRINA
This ground has been disturbed, the
soil is loose.
Ichabod throws down his Shovel.
Young Masbath comes to the grave. Ichabod pulls at thick BURLAP CLOTH
heavy with dirt… straining as it comes away…
Ichabod drops the burlap, looking down, disbelieving…
ICHABOD
Look… !
WE SEE: Roots have gripped the HORSEMAN’S BONES and tattered uniform.
The skeleton is all there-except the skull.
KATRINA
The skull is gone. What does it
mean?
Ichabod jumps out from the grave, snapping his fingers.
ICHABOD
(energized)
It means, my dear Miss Van Tassel,
it means-yes! What exactly does
it mean? -It means, unless I am
mistaken… it definitely means
something-what that something is,
only time will tell! But I sense
that we are very close to the answer
here, if only we had one more
clue…
Ichabod is unaware that the ground is writhing around him.
KATRINA (O.S.)
Ichabod… !
Ichabod turns, looks…
Katrina and Young Masbath back away, because… the ROOTS in the grave
are ALIVE, entwining around remains.
Ichabod spins to the twisted tree…
The vertical SUTURE SEETHES, pulling inward… sucking Philipse’s head
back in and closing, bubbling.
Ichabod bounds over the grave dirt pile, hastening Katrina and Young
Masbath along as he flees across the field.
At the tree, the suture swells.
Ichabod, Katrina and Young Masbath pass where their freaking horses
are tied to a fallen trunk, heading for cover.
A RUMBLING is HEARD from the tree. It’s wound suddenly BURSTS wide,
spitting smoldering cinders.
At the tree line, Ichabod, Katrina and Young Masbath take cover,
looking back.
