The Wild Wild West
"The Night of the Golden Spikes"
by E. Thropp
(Patty Wright)
DISCLAIMERS: I don't own crap, yadda yadda yadda
This was a script for the Cawley Entertainment Company series "Back to the Wild Wild West". James Cawley had a lot of input into it, and it was fun working with him on it. About half of it was filmed in the fall of 2011 - with James Cawley as West and Paul R. Sieber as Gordon. Production of this episode has since been abandoned. If the production of this series continues it will be with a different script by a different author.
You can see clips from this episode by searching YouTube for them. You can also find a lot of stills on my FaceBook page.
As such, it's formatted as a script rather than as the usual "prose story". The following will give you an idea of how a script is formatted and written for television. Action and scenes are left justified. Diologue is centered, with the speakers name capitalized. It, therfore, takes a bit to get used to the format and "rhythm"/flow... but it will eventually be second nature if you give it a chance.
THIS SCRIPT IS REGISTERED WITH THE WGA.
Teaser
FADE IN:
EXT. WHITE HOUSE
Establishing shot.
SUPERIMPOSE: "White House April 14, 1865"
INT. SITTING ROOM
A well appointed man's Victorian-era sitting room: lit dimly in foreshadow.
JAMES WEST, dressed in a Civil War Federal captain's uniform, sits stiffly on a couch: hat laying beside him. In front of him is a cocktail table, on which sits an open leather document holder (and a stove-pipe hat?). Though seated, he is clearly still "at attention." He holds a formal document.
West places the paper back on the document holder. Across from him is ABRAHAM LINCOLN, but we don't see him yet.
WEST
I'm honored by the offer, Sir, but now that the war is over I...
West stops. Considers. Decides to tell the bold-faced truth.
WEST (CONT'D)
I'm not interested in chasing down counterfeiters.
The response is silence for a moment. When West's companion speaks, his eloquent and refined manner of speech is very identifiable as Lincoln.
LINCOLN
You bring to mind myself as a young man.
WEST'S POV: Lincoln!
LINCOLN (CONT'D)
I was, at the time, unaware that a world existed where the choice of one's words were dependent on the intended outcome rather than the meaning.
West considers this - but it's hard for him to believe his conclusion.
WEST
I believe that's called a lying...Sir.
LINCOLN
It heartens me that you see it that way: not many men still do. The terrible times now ended have left a shadow on most. But for you in this world exists that which is right, and that which is not. It is for that reason you are one of the men I personally selected for this new service to our country.
WEST
I'm still confused about what work the "Secret Service Division" of the treasury will actually be doing.
LINCOLN
As this nation begins to heal we must be evermore on guard of those within our borders that would do us harm. Counterfeiters... yes. But more importantly, Intelligence gathering and counter-intelligence work is absolutely necessary to keep this hard won, yet fragile peace.
West understands now.
WEST
I'll be a spy.
LINCOLN
Exactly. And I assure you: we will arrange the finest cover story for you with which to operate, answering only to me.
West is intriqued, a gleam in his eye.
LINCOLN (CONT'D)
Captain West, I prevail upon you to strongly consider accepting this assignment with great care. This Country needs you now more than ever.
(looking at his pocket watch)
My Heavens, I seem to have lost track of the hour, We shall speak more of this at dinner following the theater.
WEST
(rising)
Of course, Mister President.
INT. FORD'S THEATER HALLWAY
ESTABLISHING SHOT:
A completely deserted hallway. We can HEAR muffled sounds of a performance of "Our American Cousin" on the stage.
CLOSE SHOT: on closed door with a sign that reads "W.C."
The door opens and West ENTERS the hallway, dressed in his uniform. The door sticks as he tries to close it and he turns, his full attention and getting the door to close.
It does. West turns into the hallway - directly into the path of a hurrying man knocking the man flat on his back.
West is mortified.
WEST
Excuse me, Sir! I am sorry-
He moves to help the man up -
WEST (CONT'D)
Are you alright?
The man is dressed in a black frock coat, wears spurs, and can be recognized now as the strikingly handsome JOHN WILKES BOOTH.
BOOTH
(impatient, irritated)
Yes, yes!
WEST
Let me help you...
He's slapping away West's attempts to help right his coat and person.
BOOTH
(angry)
You've done quite enough already!
Booth plunges down the hall.
West sees -
WESTS POV
- on the floor: a men's handkerchief.
NORMAL POV
West bends over and picks it up and looks at it.
CLOSE ON HANDKERCHIEF
- the embroidered initials: "J. W. B."
NORMAL POV
An annoyed LIEUTENANT ARTEMUS GORDON approaches.
GORDON
Jim! Have you seen Parker?
We HEAR distant laughter from the theatre.
GORDON (CONT'D)
The fool isn't at his post!
From the direction Booth went, we HEAR a GUNSHOT - then a SCREAM.
West spins and takes off running down the hallway -
- as he arrives at a door on the left of a dead end: an empty wooden chair sits at the dead end. DOCTOR CHARLES LEALE is struggling to open the door.
West pushes him away and steps back, kicking the door in.
Through the action we HEAR Booth shout:
BOOTH (o.c.)
Sic semper tyrannis! The South is avenged!
- and it crashes open. We SEE Lincoln slumped in MARY TODD LINCOLN'S lap. She and CLARA HARRIS are screaming. MAJOR RATHBONE, holding onto his bleeding arm, is leaning over the box wall, yelling:
RATHBONE
Stop that man!
As Gordon arrives we HEAR women screaming and the theatre crowd turning to chaos -
- we freeze on West's expression of utter disbelief.
END TEASER