Archer House, Kitchen – Night

Derek enters and the door swings shut. "Lila. Is anyone here?" Behind him, the door slmas open and Lady Archer reaches to grab Derek by the throat.

Town Square, Church

Spencer charges up to the church doors pounding them. "Open the door. Open up, damn it!" He pounds and keeps shouting. "Lady Archer is alive. The Horseman is her puppet. Please…" The door opens and the huge farmer points a rifle at him. Frightened people peer out from behind.

"Aren't we rid of you?"

"Listen to me. Lady Archer has faked her death. I need able men…"

"She's dead, and you have gone mad."

"No…"

The man steps forward. "Get out! Isn't it enough that you have ruined this town? Go!"

Spencer back aways from the gun, frustrated and runs. At the Doctor's residence, Van Ripper is still on the coach. Spencer sprints over, breathless and takes out his pistol. "Van Ripper…do you have a gun?"

"Yes. Here…" Van Ripper holds up a rifle and Spencer holds out his hand.

"May I see it?" Van Ripper's confused but hands the rifle over. Spencer immediately points his pistol at Van Ripper. "Get down. Hurry!" Van Ripper climbs off. Spencer climbs up and whips the horses. "Sorry." Van Ripper watches the coach leave still with his hands up.

Forest

In a wooded area, Lila lies unconscious. Lady Archer's 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. Lila's hair is added and the pile is lit to burn. Nearby, Derek watches, on his belly with his hands tied behind his back. Lady Archer whispers over the fire, her white horse tied nearby. She looks at Lila, who starts to regain consciousness. Lady Archer takes the Horseman's skull from a bag over her shoulder and places the skull in the flames. Thunder is heard. Lady Archer looks up in the sky and smiles.

Western Woods, Tree of the Dead

The wind tosses leaves in swirls. The twisted tree opens wide, with a rumble and shafts of light shooting out.

The Long Straight Road

Spencer drives the coach hard ahead.

Forest

Lila opens her eyes and sits up groggily. Lady Archer looks down at her.

"You…you are alive?"

"Am I? Or, are you and Derek Morgan dead along with me?" Lady Archer tells her with a sadistic smile.

Lila sees Derek and beyond him, the dying fire. "She commands the Horseman, Lila."

"And, quite beautifully done, wouldn't you say? It is almost over."

It thunders again and the wind starts to pick up.

"He rides tonight."

"Father saw you die."

"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. William did not stay long enough to see that. He ran as a coward, unfettered by my fate."

"Then, whose body was it?" Derek asks her terrified.

"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." Lady Archer fakes meekness. "I mean, there I was that fateful day, following William into the woods. I did not know what he was up to…where he was going. I was worried for his safety." Lila cautiously moves the hand she's supporting herself with, feels a rock and clutches it. "Imagine my surprise, finding him on a liaison with a common servant. A girl who had apparently become his secret love."

"No one will believe your lies, whore." Lila tells her.

"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. "He will have that honor."

Western Woods

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.

Archer Estate

Spencer guides the coach into the Archer Orchard.

Forest

Lady Archer admires the skull. "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 and nearly blind from terror." She says with mock sorrow and crouches on the ground, rubbing dirt on her face. "And tomorrow is my grand performance, having barely survived the elements…by sheer luck I found my way back to the Hollow. But…what do I find here…? My dear, sweet step-daughter Lila is dead. Why has God forsaken her?"

Seeing that Lady Archer lavish attention on Lila, Derek takes this opportunity to ease onto his knees.

"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." She says very pleased with herself.

Archer House

Spencer leaps from the coach and bounds up the porch. "Lila!"

Forest

The three people hear Spencer's calls. Lady Archer turns and is astonished.

"Murderer!" Lila slings the rock and strikes Lady Archer in the head, a glancing blow that knocks her down. Lila runs and grips Derek, helping him up.

Lady Archer scrambles up, grabs Lila and throws her back on the ground. She steps hand on Lila's ankle and touches her forehead, bleeding and is pissed. "You've been a naughty girl."

Derek leaps to action and charges head first into Lady Archer which sends her backwards. Lila runs, pulls Derek up and they flee. "Spencer!"

Lady Archer rolls, recovering from the blow and not very concerned. "Fucking little bitch."