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Where Death Comes Uninvited – Episode 5 – Decisions for the Dead

Philip Robotham — Fri, 20 Oct 2017 19:32:45 +0000

Below we present the complete text of “Decisions for the Dead”, episode 5 of our new Weird Western; Where Death Comes Uninvited. This is a brand new (unpublished) series (featuring a brand new roster of heroes including Jim Wilkes – the Sheriff, Annie Deems – the Crack Shot, Speeding Elk – the Tracker, and Sally Turner – the Gambler). If you would like to see these new stories advance from being drafts into polished publications then please consider supporting us by purchasing one or more of our previously published titles. Every sale directly funds the production of new stories.

Weird Western – WW001 – Where Death Comes Uninvited

Recommended for mature audiences – may contain adult situations and themes

Where Death Comes Uninvited

EPISODE #5 – DECISIONS FOR THE DEAD

by Philip Craig Robotham

Cover Illustration by Miyukiko

Unedited Draft

Creative Commons Attritubution Non-Commercial No Derivatives (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0) Edition .

CC by-nc-nd 4.0

This play is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial No Derivatives (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0) International license. This play may not be commercially reproduced, performed, or sold. Non-commercial production, performance, and reproduction is allowed under this license so long as attribution is maintained. No derivative content or use is allowed. It can be freely shared in its current form (without change) under this license. If you would like to purchase one or more copies of this work (for your own personal non-commercial use, or to help financially support the author) then please return to http://www.weirdworlstudios.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Other works by this author can be found at the author’s website: http://www.weirdworldstudios.com or through select, online book retailers.

Serial #1: Where Death Comes Uninvited

Jim Wilkes, former U.S Marshall, drifts into town to become the new Sheriff, but all is not as it should be. When he arrives, the town is in mourning, many of its children having been killed in a fire at the schoolhouse/church. He greets a wall of suspicion against outsiders, the spectre of multiple unsolved murders, strange and unnatural events, and a saloon keeper that seems to rule the town with an iron fist. In his quest to confront the evil power behind the town he must recruit allies, discover the frightening source of the towns wealth, prevent an indian war, and pass through death itself. Can he do so before death has a chance to claim the entire town?

Episodes in the Host Your Own “Old Time Radio Drama” series are designed to provide a fun dinner party experience for 6–8 participants. Read along, taking on the role of one or more of the characters in the story, and listen as the exciting drama unfolds. This is the theater of the mind, where the special effects are only limited by your imagination, and your participation will build a memory that you’ll treasure for years to come.

Where Death Comes Uninvited

CAST LIST

NARRATOR: The Narrator

JIM WILKES: Sheriff of Liberty Gulch

DAN WILSON: Mayor of Liberty Gulch

CROW’S SHADOW: Medicine Man

ANNIE DEEMS: Undead Store Owner and Crack Shot

SPEEDING ELK: Undead Indian Brave

SALLY TURNER: Undead Gambler

PRISONER #1: Townsfolk

PRISONER #2: Townsfolk

SFX: SFX operator (1 required)

ACT 3

SCENE 19: INT – JAIL CELL IN LIBERTY – SOME TIME LATER (DAN, JIM, ANNIE, PRISONER #1, PRISONERS)

MUSIC: OPENING THEME – LET IT FINISH.
NARRATOR: Jim Wilkes, the new Sherriff of Liberty Gulch has returned to town after nearly being killed by the shape-shifting mayor, only to find it over-run by townsfolk with strange silver eyes. He and his deputy, Abe, are both knocked out before they can take action to protect themselves.
SOUND: CLANG OF JAIL-CELL DOOR SLAMMING SHUT, LOCK BEING TURNED – LET IT FINISH.
JIM: (GROANING) Ugh! Where am I?
ANNIE: Easy now. You’re in the Town Jail. Again. Only this time I’m stuck in here with you. Well, me and a few others.
DAN: But not me. (BEAT) Surprise.
JIM: (SLIGHTLY GROGGY) What did you do to the townsfolk?
DAN: Oh, they’re dead. The cursed rock killed ’em and gave their bodies over to my minions.
ANNIE: What in tarnation are you talkin’ about, Dan? Are you loco or some such?
DAN: Oh, I think the Sheriff knows what I mean Annie. He’s got that little do-dad around his neck from the medicine man, Crow’s Shadow. That tells me they’ve been having a little chat and I’m sure he was filled in.
JIM: (INTERRUPTING) I’m still not sure I believe any of it.
DAN: “Oh ye of little faith”. Well, you sure should believe it. There ain’t a person in this town, aside from the few we got locked up, who’s still alive. They’re walking around alright, but my minions are pulling the strings. Just a bunch o’ meat puppets under the control of evil spirits.
JIM: So I’m supposed to believe they’re skin-walkers like you.
DAN: Well, I don’t s’pose they’re much like me really. I’m strong and they’re just my servants. But, yes, they’re skin walkers too. And yes, I s’pose we wouldn’t really characterise ourselves as evil spirits either. But we are from the other side and we do mean you harm (individually and collectively). From your point, at least, of view the label fits.
JIM: You seem mighty pleased with yourself Dan.
DAN: And why not? My experiment worked. The cursed rock forms a gateway between our world and yours. I just have to hand the stuff out and people start dying, replaced by… well, us. And no-one even picks it until it’s too late. Why don’t you join us, Jim? You might even like it.
JIM: After you’ve told me the people they was is dead. You don’t think I’d really buy into a bargain like that do you?
DAN: I guess not. It was worth a shot though. We get to keep all those fine skills and abilities you folk have when we take over. But only if you accept the rock willingly. Something goes wrong with the change if we try to force it on you.
JIM: What about them silver eyes? You ain’t gonna get very far with your “followers” looking like that are you?
DAN: Perhaps not, But fortunately for me the silver only lasts for a couple o’ days after the change. Of course, I’ll still have to do something about that for my plan to work in high population districts. But I’ve heard of a fellow back East who makes spectacles with shaded lenses that are becoming quite fashionable. I reckon my servants can hide out using them until the change is over.
JIM: And is that your plan – to take over people until you’re in charge?
DAN: That about sums it up.
JIM: I don’t think you’ve got enough rock out there to subdue the entire nation.
DAN: And of course, you’d be right about that. If my plan was to see every man woman and child in the country possessed, it’d certainly take a lot more o’ this rock than I have here. Even given that I can use the same pieces over and over again. No, I intend to be very selective about who I infect. Senators, Congressmen, Generals, men of industry, and, of course, the President himself. I don’t have to take over everybody to subdue the nation. To make this country a habitation fit for my kind I only need to take over those who are already in charge.
ANNIE: You’re insane. This whole thing is insane. Are you telling me the five or six of us you’ve locked in this jail are all that’s left of our entire town?
DAN: That’s right. But don’t you worry none. You’ve proved really difficult to kill up til now, Annie. That bullet Leach got off at you three months ago should’ve done the trick. He was sure he’d killed you when that horse of yours came wandering back into town, but then you came walking back, bold as brass, talking about being ambushed on the trail. It’s a lucky thing your horse spooked and threw you off when Leach fired or you’d have died back then. But now your luck’s run out.
ANNIE: I ain’t afraid of the likes of you or your threats.
DAN: No? Take a look out that barred window yonder. See that woodwork going up in the town square? That’s for you missy. You and the rest of these here “resistors”. You’re all gonna be hung and we’re all gonna watch. You’ll be the sacrifice we need to seal our place in this world – like them chill’n was the sacrifice we needed to bring ‘em in here in the first place.
ANNIE: You’re an animal!
DAN: Not even close. Animal, vegetable, mineral? None of them labels apply to the likes of me or mine. (BEAT) Well, I’ve still got a fair bit to do so (BEAT) I’ll be seeing you. Bwahahahaha.
SOUND: DAN’S BOOTS (AND LAUGHTER) RECEDE INTO THE DISTANCE AND THE DOOR SLAMS – LET IT FINISH.
JIM: My head’s still spinning a little Annie. Do you happen to know where they put Abe?
ANNIE: Abe’s dead, Sheriff. He took a bullet in the gut and fell in the street. Then they put one in his head. You, they wanted alive.
JIM: For this sacrifice, I take it?
ANNIE: That sounds about right? You believe any of this mumbo-jumbo?
JIM: I’ve seen some things in the last few days that have turned my world on its side, Annie. I’m not gonna even begin to speculate. (BEAT)
Tell me how you ended up in here. Why didn’t you take some o’ that cursed rock?
ANNIE: It looks mighty shiny, don’t it? But I know better than to accept anything from the mayor’s hand. When he brought that wagon into town and started offering people the chance to have a piece, they came running. The few of us who weren’t interested watched as they started to change. Their eyes turned silver and the Mayor started laughing. Next thing you know they was everywhere, handing out that rock, and grabbing people that refused. Half a dozen of us they locked in here, but the rest they killed outright.
JIM: Well, we need to get ourselves out of here before whatever comes next.
ANNIE: This is the town jail, Sheriff. There’s no way outta here without a key… and the mayor’s got yours.
JIM: That may be so, but there’s more’n one key to fit most doors and I carry a skeleton key in my boot.
ANNIE: Well, hot damn! What’re we waiting for!
JIM: Are the Sheriff’s rifles still in back.
ANNIE: I suppose, but if these folk are already dead, I doubt they’ll be much use.
JIM: There’ll be enough shot-guns and rifles for all of us. Aim for the head. I’m pretty sure these things need our bodies to be in working order. A head shot should put paid to that.
ANNIE: I guess it’s worth a try. What’s the plan.
JIM: It ain’t much a one, I’ll admit. But I think our best bet is for you to get the survivors out o’ here while I try and create enough mayhem to keep ’em all distracted.
ANNIE: Not a chance. This is our town. We ain’t just gonna give it up without a fight.
PRISONERS: (MURMURS OF ASSENT)
JIM: It’s your town alright. And the people out there are your friends and neighbours. Do you really think you can face ’em.
PRISONER #1: They was our friends and neighbours. Now they’re some’t else and they’d want us to put ’em at rest.
ANNIE: (TO JIM) Well, what do you think?
JIM: It might be leading you all straight to your deaths. I’ll only do it if’n you’re all in agreement.
ANNIE: Stop trying to take responsibility for everything all the time. We can make our own choices, cain’t we?
PRISONERS: (MURMURS OF ASSENT)
JIM: All right then…
SOUND: KEY TURNING IN LOCK, SCRAPE OF DOOR.
JIM: …grab them rifles and let’s go raze some hell!
MUSIC: (BRIDGE) OMINOUS SCENE ENDER – LET IT FINISH.

SCENE 20: EXT – MAIN STREET OF LIBERTY – EVENING (PRISONER #2, JIM, DAN, ANNIE)

SOUND: LOTS OF GUN FIRE FROM OUR HEROES (AND YELLING FROM POSSESSED TOWNSFOLK GETTING SHOT) FINALLY COMING TO A HALT- LET IT FINISH.
PRISONER #2: (SOBBING) They just kept coming at us. Right down the main street. They weren’t even armed.
JIM: They would have torn us to pieces if they had reached us, though. Remember, your mayor is the bad guy… and these people were dead long before our bullets hit them.
DAN: (FROM A DISTANCE) That won’t stop you from being blamed for this massacre though. No-one’s gonna believe you didn’t murder the folks of this here town in cold blood.
ANNIE: (STAGE WHISPER) He’s up on the second floor of the saloon.
JIM: (STAGE WHISPER) I see him.
PRISONER #2: He’s set us up!
DAN: (FROM A DISTANCE) You bet. Whether you win here today or not, you’ll never be able to show your faces this side of the Mexican line ever again. And even then, you’ll never be able to sit without your backs against a wall. I’ve seen to that.
ANNIE: You cowardly son of a…
DAN: (FROM A DISTANCE) Now, now, Annie. No need to go getting unladylike. But then again, I guess they’ll be willing to hang you right alongside the men-folk.
JIM: How are you planning to get out of this Dan. I’m pretty sure that you’re as vulnerable to a head shot as your minions were.
DAN: (FROM A DISTANCE) Maybe. Maybe not. That’s yet to be tested. I tell you what though. I’ll make it sporting for you. Come on inside and charge up the saloon stairs. If you make it to the top alive I’ll let you see if that’s true or not.
ANNIE: (STAGE WHISPER) Sounds like he’s ready for us.
JIM: (STAGE WHISPER) I’d say so. (BEAT) Clem?
PRISONER #2: (STAGE WHISPER) Yeah.
JIM: (STAGE WHISPER) Think you can get a hold of yourself long enough to take some of the others and gather up any lanterns you can find around town?
PRISONER #2: (STAGE WHISPER) Sure, Sheriff. Anything you say.
JIM: (STAGE WHISPER) Good. Get to it and bring them back here.
SOUND: RUNNING FOOTSTEPS – FADE OUT
ANNIE: (STAGE WHISPER) What you got in mind?
DAN: (TAUNTING) If you fine folks are planning on storming this here saloon o’ mine, come on ahead. I should tell you, though, I’ve still got a few tricks up my sleeve.
JIM: We’ve seen some of your tricks already and I’m not inclined to witness any more just yet.
SOUND: RUNNING FEET AND CLANKING OF LANTERNS – LET IT FINISH.
PRISONER #2: (STAGE WHISPER) Sheriff? We’re back.
JIM: (STAGE WHISPER) Good. Let’s get under that awning over there and get them alight. Are they mostly full of oil?
PRISONER #2: (STAGE WHISPER) Yes Sir. Are you planning on burning him out.
JIM: (STAGE WHISPER) He’s too dangerous to face directly.
SOUND: MATCH BEING STRUCK, SOUND OF OIL LANTERN FIRING UP – LET IT FINISH.
DAN: (FROM A DISTANCE) Now Don’t think I don’t know where you are just because you’ve gone under cover. I can wait you out. I don’t have to eat or sleep. I’ll outlast you by a century.
JIM: Alright. They’re lit. Throw them through the windows. Now!
SOUND: SMASHING OF GLASS.
SOUND: SOUND OF FLAMES TAKING HOLD. ESTABLISH AND UNDER.
JIM: How’s that Mr Mayor? Can you outlast a fire?
SOUND: LOUD ROAR OF A BEAST. – LET IT FINISH.
ANNIE: (FEARFUL) What was that?
JIM: I think he just changed form.
SOUND: MORE ROARING AND CRASHING (GETTING CLOSER) – LET IT FINISH.
ANNIE: He what?
JIM: He’s a shapeshifter. At least according to the medicine man who gave me this amulet. (BEAT) Now get your guns ready I think he’s gonna come crashing out o’ the saloon any…
SOUND: SMASHING SOUND OF WOODWORK AND GLASS SPLINTERING FOLLOWED BY GROWLS. – LET IT FINISH.
PRISONER #2: It looks like a giant Mountain Lion. And it’s on fire!
ANNIE: Don’t just stand there, start firing.
SOUND: BULLETS FLYING, ANIMAL GROWLING AND SNARLING.
PRISONER #2: Sheriff, look out! It’s heading right for you.
SOUND: A ROAR AND A WET TEARING SOUND. BODY OF SHERIFF DROPS – LET IT FINISH.
ANNIE: Don’t stop firing. It’s getting away.
SOUND: GROWLS AND ROARS FADING INTO THE DISTANCE AS SHOTS TRAIL OFF – LET IT FINISH.
PRISONER #2: Oh no! The Sheriff.
ANNIE: What? Oh no! Sheriff? Sheriff? Sheriff, can you hear me? Jim?
PRISONER #2: Damned if it hasn’t ripped his throat out.
ANNIE: (BEGINNING TO SOB AND FADING OUT) No. Not now. Not like this!
MUSIC: (BRIDGE) MOURNFUL SCENE ENDER – LET IT FINISH.

SCENE 21: INT – CROW’S SHADOW’S TENT – DAWN (ANNIE, CROW’S SHADOW, JIM, SPEEDING ELK, SALLY TURNER)

SOUND: (WALLA) DISTANT CHANTING, INDIAN DRUMS – ESTABLISH AND UNDER.
ANNIE: Damn it, Crow’s Shadow. Don’t do this. It ain’t fair to bring him back. ‘Specially when he couldn’t keep so many others alive. Let him go.
CROW’S SHADOW: It not your decision. He is marked by destiny. He is the one we have waited for. The last of you to arrive. With him you can defeat the skin walker.
ANNIE: But you don’t know what it’s been like these last few months. Let him rest.
CROW’S SHADOW: No. He returns. Look.
JIM: (COUGHING) What happened? Did I get hit on the head again? Did we get the Mayor?
ANNIE: Easy Sheriff. The town’s been burned to the ground and all the bodies with it. We’ve seen to that. The mayor got away when he burst out of the saloon and you’ve been dead most of the day.
JIM: I’ve been what?
ANNIE: You’ve been dead. The medicine man has brought you back like he done for the rest of us.
JIM: Wait, who’s here?
ANNIE: The medicine man, you’ve already met him once I believe. He’s called Crow’s Shadow and the only one in here who’s still got blood pumping through his veins. Over yonder is Speeding Elk, he’s been dead more’n a year. Shot in the head by some of the Mayor’s men.
SPEEDING ELK: Hmmmm.
ANNIE: He doesn’t talk much. Sally Turner’s a gambler who was murdered on the Mayor’s orders about three months ago. They dragged her body out into the desert and left it for the coyotes.
SALLY: Howdy.
ANNIE: Me you know already. I never survived that bullet from Wallace Leach’s gun three months ago. Fortunately the bullet took me through the heart and I’ve been able hide what happened by wearing clothes over the hole. Poor Speeding Elk and Sally were identified as dead by their killers and have had to hide out while we waited for you to come along.
JIM: This is loco. Are you saying you came back from the dead?
ANNIE: No. Not really. But sort of. I am saying we died and that we’re still dead, even if we are walking about and talking. And by “we” I mean all of us (except Crow’s Shadow) including you. We was all killed either directly or indirectly by the mayor of Liberty. You’re dead Jim.
JIM: Is this hell?
ANNIE: It’s worse than that. We’ve been killed but we’re still in our bodies. Your throat was ripped out by the Mayor in mountain lion form. You’re gonna have to wear a scarf or something to stay hidden from people.
JIM: How come I ain’t hurting?
ANNIE: Your hurting days are over. I don’t know quite how it works. It’s injun magic of some sort.
JIM: But why?
ANNIE: Crow’s Shadow says we’re spirit walkers, people who have been to the other side and returned. I’ll leave it to him to explain the rest.
JIM: (BEAT) Crow’s Shadow?
CROW’S SHADOW: I am sorry, white eyes. I would not have done this except the skin-walker must be stopped. His will is evil and he will poison the whole earth if he is not stopped. When the people discovered he had found a way out of the spirit world we consulted omens to see what we should do. The omens told us that four would come, four spirit walkers, and that these would be the only ones who could stop him. We have waited and you are now here. You are the chosen ones. The ones upon whom it has fallen to hunt and defeat this monster. This is your destiny!
MUSIC: CLOSING THEME AND CREDITS – LET IT FINISH.

CASTING SHEETS — MAJOR CHARACTERS

NARRATOR: Hello, I am your narrator. I introduce the cold stormy nights on which our stories take place, the dark alleys, and darker personalities who inhabit the lonely city. It is my job to set the scene and establish the serious tone of suspense and intrigue that will carry the story forwards. It is also my job to remind listeners of what came before in a calm, trustworthy voice and ensure that everyone is oriented to where we are and where we are going.

JIM WILKES: I’m the new Sheriff of Liberty Gulch. I’ve been a lawman fer a long time. Liberty was meant to be a change – a chance to relax after my time as a U.S. Marshall. It don’t look like I’ll be doing much relaxing though. This town badly needs some law so’s I expect I’ll have my work cut out fer me.

ABE FARROW: I was passing through when someone burned the Church down with a bunch a young-uns in it. As the only stranger in town, I ended up in the jail-house. They’ll be comin’ to lynch me real soon, I expect. Ironic that this is how it’ll end. I’m an ex-lawman who’s gonna swing at the end of a rope.

DAN WILSON: I’m the Mayor of this town and its richest man. I’m charming and friendly and I rule this burgh without being gainsaid. This town is mine and I don’t care who knows it. No-one crosses me and gets away with it.

CROW’S SHADOW: I have power, but I respect and fear it. I can work great medicine but I do not do so lightly. I perform dances for my people, to cure sickness, to bring rain, and to protect our lands from the nagloshi and other spirits from beyond.

ANNIE DEEMES: I run the local store. I’m a woman alone in a tough town and I hold my own. I don’t face too much trouble. Most folks who want to cause any are dissuaded, quick-like, by a well aimed Winchester. But I was murdered by the Mayor and I was then brought back by Crow’s Shadow to seek revenge upon the man that did it.

SPEEDING ELK: I am a tracker and hunter for my people. Murdered by white men, I have been brought back by Crow’s Shadow to serve my people in seeking their revenge upon the mayor of Liberty Gulch.

SALLY TURNER: I am a drifter and gambler. I’ve had to make a quick exit from many a town over the years, but, until recently, my luck kept me one step ahead of the game. I say “until recently” because my luck ran out in Liberty Gulch. I was murdered by the mayor and brought back by Crow’s Shadow to seek revenge upon the man that killed me.

CASTING SHEETS — MINOR CHARACTERS

TOWNSFOLK (PRISONERS): We’re a community full o’ anger and grief. Our children are gone. Murdered by the Mayor. We want them back, but that ain’t gonna happen. So we’ll settle for revenge… and no-one better get in the way o’ that.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Philip Craig Robotham grew up in a house full of books and has held numerous jobs as a teacher, computer programmer, graphic and web designer, e-learning consultant and, most recently, writer. He currently lives in Sydney, Australia with his wife and two sons. When he was younger and fitter he enjoyed martial arts, but in recent years his hobbies have tended towards more sedate fare (board games, movies, books, and role-playing games).

He is extremely grateful for the encouragement he receives from his biggest fans — his wife and two boys — all of whom read and enjoy his scripts and in general make his life worth living.

You can contact the author regarding performance rights (or simply to say hello) through his website: http://www.weirdworldstudios.com.

Don’t forget to check out the free sample portions of our titles at http://weirdworldstudios.com/product-category/our-products/ .

This post and all its content is copyright © 2013 Philip Craig Robotham and has been released under a Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial No Derivatives (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0) license. This play cannot be reproduced, shared, or performed commercially without the written permission of the author. The production of derivative content, merchandise, or creative works and materials is expressly forbidden under this agreement. However you may share, reproduce, and perform this play freely so long as authorship is acknowledged, no money changes hands, and the play is not modified in any way.

The post Where Death Comes Uninvited – Episode 5 – Decisions for the Dead appeared first on Host Your Own Old Time Radio Drama.

Where Death Comes Uninvited – Episode 4 – The Fall of Liberty Gulch

Philip Robotham — Fri, 13 Oct 2017 20:59:07 +0000

Below we present the complete text of “The Fall of Liberty Gulch”, episode 4 of our new Weird Western; Where Death Comes Uninvited. This is a brand new (unpublished) series (featuring a brand new roster of heroes including Jim Wilkes – the Sheriff, Annie Deems – the Crack Shot, Speeding Elk – the Tracker, and Sally Turner – the Gambler). If you would like to see these new stories advance from being drafts into polished publications then please consider supporting us by purchasing one or more of our previously published titles. Every sale directly funds the production of new stories.

Weird Western – WW001 – Where Death Comes Uninvited

Recommended for mature audiences – may contain adult situations and themes

Where Death Comes Uninvited

EPISODE #4 – THE FALL OF LIBERTY GULCH

by Philip Craig Robotham

Cover Illustration by Miyukiko

Unedited Draft

Creative Commons Attritubution Non-Commercial No Derivatives (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0) Edition .

CC by-nc-nd 4.0

Other works by this author can be found at the author’s website: http://www.weirdworldstudios.com or through select, online book retailers.

Serial #1: Where Death Comes Uninvited

Where Death Comes Uninvited

CAST LIST

NARRATOR: The Narrator

JIM WILKES: Sheriff of Liberty Gulch

ABE FARROW: Drifter

DAN WILSON: Mayor of Liberty Gulch

CROW’S SHADOW: Medicine Man

LEAPING TOAD: Apprentice Medicine Man

BRAVE #1: Indian Brave

CHIEF: Indian Chief

VILLAGERS: Indian Villagers

SFX: SFX operator (1 required)

SCENE 15: INT – TENT IN AN INDIAN VILLAGE – NIGHT (JIM, ABE, CROW’S SHADOW, LEAPING TOAD)

MUSIC: OPENING THEME – LET IT FINISH.
NARRATOR: Jim Wilkes, Sherriff of Liberty Gulch, and his deputy Abe Farrow, have tracked the murderous mayor into the desert only to have him get the drop on them, take them captive, and to discover he is a shape shifting monster. The mayor has left them to be taken captive by the local indian tribe, on who’s lands they have been trespassing in pursuit of the mayor.
SOUND: (WALLA) CRICKETS, INDIAN DRUMS, LOW INDIAN SINGING – ESTABLISH AND UNDER
JIM: (GROANING) Ugh! Where am I?
ABE: Take it easy. You’ve been out for a while. If you want to know anything, ask him.
JIM: (GRUNTS) Ugh. My hands are tied.
ABE: Mine too.
JIM: Who did you say I should talk to?
ABE: Him.
CROW’S SHADOW: You awake now. Good. Head hurt?
JIM: Yeah. Who’re you?
CROW’S SHADOW: I am Crow’s Shadow of the Navajo nation. I am the medicine man of my people.
JIM: Where am I?
CROW’S SHADOW: You are guests in my tent.
JIM: Guests huh? Do you always tie your guests up.
CROW’S SHADOW: Only when they are also prisoners.
JIM: Why are we here?
CROW’S SHADOW: You were found trespassing on our land.
JIM: No, I mean why are we still alive?
CROW’S SHADOW: Ah. You are to stand trial. The spirits will be consulted about your destiny.
JIM: That’s better’n being turned into a pincushion by your arrows I s’pose.
CROW’S SHADOW: Maybe. Maybe not. It depends on your destiny. You wear a Sheriff’s badge from the town of the white faces, yes? Why do you enter our land?
JIM: I was chasing a murderer, a killer of children. I thought he was unsuspecting but he was ready for us.
CROW’S SHADOW: You did not come for the glittering rocks?
JIM: What?
CROW’S SHADOW: The ground was opened where we found you. Much rock had been taken.
JIM: Oh, the mine. No, we weren’t after the mine. The man we were chasing had dug it out. Probably over many years.
CROW’S SHADOW: Hmmm. There is no lie in your voice. Do you know the true nature of the one you pursue?
JIM: What do you mean?
CROW’S SHADOW: He is an enemy to my people – to all peoples. He looks like a man but is a spirit from beyond. My people call him Naagloshi – skin walker. He wears the faces of men and beasts. The face of the man he wears now belongs to one who died in this desert many moons ago. He digs cursed rock from the ground to infect others.
ABE: That’s a load of hogwash. Do you really expect us to believe…
CROW’S SHADOW: Believe what you like, white man. I speak the truth and what you believe cannot change that.
JIM: (MUSING) Given what we’ve seen recently I’m willing to take a little bit on faith. What’s that you were saying about cursed rock? I don’t think I really understood that.
CROW’S SHADOW: Cursed rock is the shining rock the skin walker has been digging from the ground. It weakens the barrier between this world and the next. A man who holds the cursed rock will become infected and turn into a habitation for the skin-walker’s servants. Given time such a one becomes a gate to allow more evil things into our world.
JIM: Since you’re telling us all this, I take it you intend to let us go?
CROW’S SHADOW: If my people will permit it. You trespassed on our lands, but I do not think you did so with evil intent. We may set you free, but only to pursue the skin-walker in payment of your debt to us. We may even help you.
JIM: And if you don’t?
CROW’S SHADOW: You will not like that very much. Best not to think about it.
SOUND: COMMOTION OUTSIDE. ANGRY VOICES. TENT FLAP OPENS AND MAN PUSHES ROUGHLY THROUGH.
LEAPING TOAD: (ANGRY) You go too far, Crow’s Shadow!
CROW’S SHADOW: (RESIGNED) What is it this time, Leaping Toad? Have you been too long in the saddle again?
LEAPING TOAD: You make bad jokes and think yourself very funny! I am not impressed.
CROW’S SHADOW: I am too old for your foolishness and you do not show proper respect. What do you want?
LEAPING TOAD: These men are trespassers. They must die for their crimes.
CROW’S SHADOW: So you think? This one bears the symbol of authority on his chest. If we kill him, what then? The whites will send others, maybe soldiers. We are not the strength we once were. We could not hold them back. In my youth I fought the white soldiers. I do not wish to see our braves die without reason.
LEAPING TOAD: You are a coward. You let these men live in defiance of our traditions and laws. I will not stand for it.
CROW’S SHADOW: Ah, so that is it. You wish to challenge me. You have always been impatient.
LEAPING TOAD: There is no-one in this camp who has mastered the herbs and smoke better than I. My knowledge has grown and I now surpass you. I should be medicine man, not you.
CROW’S SHADOW: Knowledge is not wisdom, Leaping Toad, and you are a fool. I regret that I ever chose you for the training.
LEAPING TOAD: Your regrets are nothing. I have delivered my challenge and today you will die for your insults.
CROW’S SHADOW: So you seize upon this as an excuse. Alright, but I warn you, Leaping Toad, it is you who will not survive this day.
LEAPING TOAD: Bring your prisoners out into the firelight. Let them witness your demise.
MUSIC: (BRIDGE) OMINOUS SCENE ENDER – LET IT FINISH.

SCENE 16: – EXT – INJUN CAMPFIRE – MOMENTS LATER (JIM, ABE, BRAVE#1, LEAPING TOAD, CROW’S SHADOW, ONLOOKERS, CHIEF)

SOUND: (WALLA) CRICKETS, CRACKLE OF FLAME, DRUMS, CHANTING – ESTABLISH AND UNDER.
JIM AND ABE: (GRUNTING AS THEY ARE FORCED TO THE GROUND)
SOUND: JIM AND ABE BEING FORCED TO THE GROUND – LET IT FINISH.
BRAVE #1: Do not move. You can watch but do not interfere.
ABE: (STAGE WHISPER) What’s going on here.
JIM: (STAGE WHISPER) I don’t know. Some kind of challenge against the medicine man, I think.
LEAPING TOAD: I am Leaping Toad. You know me and my life here. I have been trained by Crow’s Shadow and I know him. He has become arrogant and has wandered from the path. He says that these men who trespass on our land are the enemies of our enemy and that we should ally ourselves with them. I say they are liars, who pretend for the sake of their skins and scalps. I say Crow’s Shadow has grown fearful and afraid. He fears the white-eyes and so, in cowardice, gives in to them and abandons our ways and laws. Our law has been broken and they must be punished. This is what I say to the people.
CROW’S SHADOW: I am Crow’s Shadow. You know me and my life here. I trained Leaping Toad in secrets of the medicine man and he has long wished for my place in the tribe. He accuses me of arrogance but is arrogant himself. These white-eyes wear the tin star. They have much medicine among their people. To kill them is to invite war. They are tasked by their people with pursuing breakers of white-eyes law. Our enemy has killed children among them and they have pursued him into our lands. It is wisdom to let them go and try to bring our enemy down for us. This is what I say to the people.
CHIEF: How will we know which path has the most wisdom?
LEAPING TOAD: By trial of medicine. Whoever has the greater medicine will prevail.
CROW’S SHADOW: This is foolish and can only end in sadness.
CHIEF: I am Chief. It is Leaping Toad’s right to make challenge. Begin the trial of medicine. This is what I say to the people.
ONLOOKERS: (MURMURS GROW QUIET).
SOUND: MAGICAL CHIME – LET IT FINISH.
ABE: What in Sam Hill?
JIM: Looks like more of that injun magic you don’t believe in.
ONLOOKERS: (MURMURS OF APPRECIATION)
ABE: The one called Leaping Toad is starting to glow and change shape.
JIM: He’s turning into a glowing blue bear.
LEAPING TOAD: (ROARS LIKE A BEAR).
SOUND: MAGICAL CHIME – LET IT FINISH.
ABE: Now the other one’s changing. Not a bear this time, but a Coyote.
CROW’S SHADOW: (GROWLS LIKE A COYOTE)
SOUND: BEAR AND COYOTE FIGHTING, SNARLS, ROARS ETC. – ESTABLISH AND UNDER. CONTINUE UNTIL 718.
JIM: I’m seeing it, but I’m struggling to believe it.
ABE: The coyote’s attacking the bear, darting in and out. But I don’t understand…
JIM: He’s trying to bring the bear down. He’s aiming to ham-string the creature.
ABE: The bear’s not even getting close.
LEAPING FORG: (PITEOUS ROAR OF PAIN).
SOUND: BEAR’S BODY FALLS TO GROUND.
JIM: The coyote’s done it. The creature has fallen.
ABE: Hang on something else is happening.
SOUND: TWO MAGICAL CHIMES IN CLOSE SUCCESSION – LET IT FINISH.
SOUND: SCREAMS AND YELLS OF SHOCK AND FEAR FROM THE TRIBE – LET IT FINISH.
JIM: Crow’s Shadow is back to normal but Leaping Toad is changing.
SOUND: WET RIPPING NOISES AND INHUMAN ROARS OF PAIN – ESTABLISH AND UNDER. CONTINUE UNTIL 728.
ABE: Something’s tearing its way out of him.
CROW’S SHADOW: He was arrogant and weakened himself too much. The spirit he sought to control has taken over. We must kill the body before the transformation is complete.
CHIEF: Braves, kill Leaping Toad.
SOUND: WHOOSH THUNK OF MANY ARROWS. PITEOUS ROARS AS SPIRIT CREATURE IS STRUCK – LET IT FINISH.
CROW’S SHADOW: He is gone.
CHIEF: The way of wisdom is now clear. (TO CROW’S SHADOW) Free these men and send them back. Return their horses and give them what aid you feel is right. Your medicine has prevailed.
MUSIC: (BRIDGE) SLIGHTLY SAD SCENE ENDER – LET IT FINISH.

SCENE 17: EXT – SILVER MINE – NIGHT (JIM, CROW’S SHADOW ABE)

SOUND: (WALLA) CRICKETS, OCCASIONAL OWL, JANGLE OF HARNESS, AND CLIP CLOP OF THREE SLOW MOVING HORSES – ESTABLISH AND UNDER.
JIM: Is that the mine up ahead, Crow’s Shadow?
CROW’S SHADOW: Yes. But your enemy is gone. And the rock with him.
ABE: I ain’t at all sure how we’re supposed to fight this thing, if it’s already dead.
CROW’S SHADOW: You are not. This task falls to another.
JIM: Who then?
CROW’S SHADOW: You. Your destinies lie along separate paths and you will not be together on this trail much longer.
JIM: How do you know this?
CROW’S SHADOW: I read the signs in the rocks and wind and in your blood. For you there is a great struggle ahead. For him, a different journey.
ABE: Well, if that don’t beat all.
SOUND: HORSES STOP.
CROW’S SHADOW: I will accompany you no further. From here you should be able to find your way back to the town of the white eyes. Be careful. I do not think you will find things as you left them. Before you go I wish to give you this.
JIM: A necklace?
CROW’S SHADOW: Mmmm. It will protect you from the corrupting power of the rock. The Naagloshi knows you are coming.
JIM: I still don’t know how we’re supposed to kill it.
CROW’S SHADOW: The Skin Walker’s power comes from the cursed rock. He is also vulnerable to it. Tip your arrows with the rock and pierce his heart. In this way you will bring him down.
JIM: We don’t use arrows.
CROW’S SHADOW: Then perhaps you will die.
SOUND: CROW’S SHADOW’S HORSE MOVES AWAY.
CROW’S SHADOW: (FROM A DISTANCE) Farewell, white eyes.
ABE: Ain’t he a little ray of sunshine.
JIM: Ahuh. I guess we still got ourselves a job to do.
ABE: I guess so.
SOUND: HORSES BEGIN MOVING AGAIN – ESTABLISH AND UNDER.
ABE: How long do you reckon til we reach town.
JIM: We should be there just before dawn.
ABE: I thought as much. That’s quite a ride, and aside from the clubbing we took, we ain’t had no sleep.
JIM: I’m pretty sure we cain’t afford to take the time.
ABE: I suppose not. Let’s go. (BEAT) Hey, Sherrif?
JIM: Yeah?
ABE: Do you feel like we’re bein’ watched?
JIM: Ahuh. I keep catching their eyes in the moonlight.
ABE: Injuns?
JIM: Mountain lions. (BEAT) I think the mayor is watching us.
MUSIC: (BRIDGE) OMINOUS SCENE ENDER.

SCENE 18: EXT – ENTERING THE TOWN OF LIBERTY FROM THE DESERT – DAWN (ABE, JIM, DAN)

SOUND: (WALLA) WALKING OF HORSES – ESTABLISH AND UNDER.
JIM: Sun’ll be up soon.
ABE: The town’s straight ahead of us, but there ain’t a light in sight.
JIM: I’ll grant you that it’s a bit odd. Usually there’s a candle or two to be seen and the Saloon is almost never closed.
SOUND: GUN BEING DRAWN AND COCKED – LET IT FINISH.
ABE: You think we’ll be needing these.
JIM: I do.
SOUND: SECOND GUN BEING DRAWN AND COCKED – LET IT FINISH,
JIM: Keep your eyes peeled.
SOUND: A FEW BEATS OF BACKGROUND WALLA THEN GUNSHOT, NEIGH OF STARTLED HORSE – LET IT FINISH.
ABE: I’m hit! Damn it!
SOUND: HORSE REARS AND BODY THUMP AS ABE HITS GROUND.
JIM: Damn it, Abe. Are you alright. (BEAT) The townsfolk are pouring out of the buildings. Get up. (BEAT) Damn it. What’s the matter with their eyes? They’re silver!
SOUND: SNARLING HISSING NOISES AS TOWNSFOLK CHARGE FORWARD AND DRAG JIM FROM HORSE.
JIM: Stay back. I don’t want to shoot you. Stay baaack.
SOUND: THUD OF HEAVY ROCK.
JIM: (GROANS AS PASSES OUT) Ugh!
DAN: (LAUGHING – UNDER AND UP) Bwahahahahaha.
SOUND: SNARLING ETC.- FADE OUT – LEAVING ECHOING LAUGH OF MAYOR UNDERNEATH – LET IT FINISH.
MUSIC: (BRIDGE) OMINOUS SCENE ENDER – LET IT FINISH.
MUSIC: CLOSING THEME – LET IT FINISH.

CASTING SHEETS — MAJOR CHARACTERS

JIM WILKES: I’m the new Sheriff of Liberty Gulch. I’ve been a lawman fer a long time. Liberty was meant to be a change – a chance to relax after my time as a U.S. Marshall. It don’t look like I’ll be doing much relaxing though. This town badly needs some law so’s I expect I’ll have my work cut out fer me.

ABE FARROW: I was passing through when someone burned the Church down with a bunch a young-uns in it. As the only stranger in town, I ended up in the jail-house. They’ll be comin’ to lynch me real soon, I expect. Ironic that this is how it’ll end. I’m an ex-lawman who’s gonna swing at the end of a rope.

DAN WILSON: I’m the Mayor of this town and its richest man. I’m charming and friendly and I rule this burgh without being gainsaid. This town is mine and I don’t care who knows it. No-one crosses me and gets away with it.

CROW’S SHADOW: I have power, but I respect and fear it. I can work great medicine but I do not do so lightly. I perform dances for my people, to cure sickness, to bring rain, and to protect our lands from the nagloshi and other spirits from beyond.

CASTING SHEETS — MINOR CHARACTERS

LEAPING TOAD: I have power, and, unlike some, I am not an old woman, afraid to use it. Crow’s Shadow has become weak and fearful. He is no longer fit to provide medicine to our people. I should be appointed in his place.

CHIEF: I am old and have wisdom. I wish my people well. It is my part to hear the voices of my people and make the choices that will affect us all.

BRAVES (AND VILLAGERS): I follow the traditions of my people. I fear the spirits and the powers of the medicine men. I look to my chief for wisdom and protection and I follow his decisions.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

He is extremely grateful for the encouragement he receives from his biggest fans — his wife and two boys — all of whom read and enjoy his scripts and in general make his life worth living.

You can contact the author regarding performance rights (or simply to say hello) through his website: http://www.weirdworldstudios.com.

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The post Where Death Comes Uninvited – Episode 4 – The Fall of Liberty Gulch appeared first on Host Your Own Old Time Radio Drama.

Where Death Comes Uninvited – Episode 3 – Into the Desert

Philip Robotham — Fri, 06 Oct 2017 05:33:35 +0000

Below we present the complete text of “Into the Desert”, episode 3 of our new Weird Western; Where Death Comes Uninvited. This is a brand new (unpublished) series (featuring a brand new roster of heroes including Jim Wilkes – the Sheriff, Annie Deems – the Crack Shot, Speeding Elk – the Tracker, and Sally Turner – the Gambler). If you would like to see these new stories advance from being drafts into polished publications then please consider supporting us by purchasing one or more of our previously published titles. Every sale directly funds the production of new stories.

Weird Western – WW001 – Where Death Comes Uninvited

Recommended for mature audiences – may contain adult situations and themes

Where Death Comes Uninvited

EPISODE #3 – INTO THE DESERT

by Philip Craig Robotham

Cover Illustration by Miyukiko

Unedited Draft

Creative Commons Attritubution Non-Commercial No Derivatives (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0) Edition .

CC by-nc-nd 4.0

Other works by this author can be found at the author’s website: http://www.weirdworldstudios.com or through select, online book retailers.

Serial #1: Where Death Comes Uninvited

Where Death Comes Uninvited

CAST LIST

NARRATOR: The Narrator

JIM WILKES: Sheriff of Liberty Gulch

ANNIE DEEMES: Crack Shot and Store Keeper

ABE FARROW: Drifter

GUNMAN #1: Townsfolk

GUNMAN #2: Townsfolk

DAN WILSON: Mayor of Liberty Gulch

WALLACE LEACH: Deputy of Liberty and Henchman to Dan

SFX: SFX operator (1 required)

SCENE 9: INT – THE SALOON – DAY (JIM, ABE, WALLACE, GUNMAN#1, GUNMAN#2)

MUSIC: OPENING THEME – LET IT FINISH
NARRATOR: Having exhonerated the drifter, Abe Farrow, of the arson murder of a number of children in the town, Jim Wilkes (formerly of the U.S Marshall’s office and now Sherriff of Liberty Gulch) has appointed Abe as his deputy. This is bound to rile up the crooked mayor and his supporters who Jim is determined to face off with down at the saloon.
WALLA: TINNY HONKY-TONK PIANO MUSIC, A FEW MURMURING VOICES, ETC – ESTABLISH AND UNDER.
WALLACE: What the hell are you doing here, Sheriff? And what’s that child killer doing out o’ jail?
SOUND: ANGRY MURMURS FROM PATRONS – LET IT FINISH.
JIM: Well, firstly I need to see our illustrious Mayor and secondly, it turns out your child killer was someone else.
SOUND: CHAIRS BEING PULLED BACK – MEN RISING TO THEIR FEET – PIANO MUSIC STOPS – LET IT FINISH.
WALLACE: Is that right? It don’t look like there are many people here who agree with you much?
JIM: That’s as may be.
GUNMAN #1: (THREATENINGLY) Why’d you cut him loose, Sherrif?
GUNMAN #2: Yeah. Why?
SOUND: GUNS BEING COCKED – LET IT FINISH.
JIM: You boys might want to take it easy with those irons. They ain’t allowed in city limits.
GUNMEN: (LAUGHING) Are you gonna take ‘em from us, Sheriff?
SOUND: GUNS BEING COCKED – LET IT FINISH.
JIM: I just might. Or you could settle down, hand ‘em over peacable like, and walk outta here without anyone getting hurt. (BEAT) What’s it gonna be?
SOUND: FOUR GUNSHOTS, TWO BOTTLES SMASHING AND A RICOCHET – LET IT FINISH.
GUNMAN #1: My shoulder!
GUNMAN #2: My gun! He shot the gun right outta my hand!
WALLACE: (PANICKED) Who’s gonna pay for them bottles?
ABE: Sorry, boss. I obviously ain’t the crack-shot you are. I had to just wound mine.
JIM: ‘S alright. You boys are done here. If I see you around this town again, I’ll run you in or kill you. As for my deputy. He didn’t kill them children. There was someone else loitering outside that Church on the night of the fire.
WALLACE: (PANICKING) Now, you caint just come in here accusing me o’…
JIM: Who said anything about you Leach? Is your conscience a little uneasy?
SOUND: ANGRY MURMURS FROM PATRONS – LET IT FINISH.
WALLACE: (GENUINE FEAR) I don’t have to stay here and…
I didn’t do… Just stay back…
SOUND: RUNNING FEET AS LEACH TAKES OFF – SALOON DOORS SWINGING IN HIS AFTERMATH – LET IT FINISH.
ABE: You want we should chase him down?
JIM: Naw, he aint goin’ far… and he’s just the tool. I want the man who gave him his marching orders.
GUNMAN #2: Can we have our guns back Sheriff?
JIM: You should consider yourselves lucky you can still walk under your own power. Leave the guns and git. In fact I suggest everyone goes home. The bar is closed.
GUNMAN #1: (TO ABE) You’re gonna regret pluggin’ me, “deputy”. You’ll see.
SOUND: GUNSHOT, THEN TWO MORE.
GUNMAN #2: (TERROR) We’re leaving. We’re leavin’.
SOUND: MANY BOOTS RUNNING OUT – LET IT FINISH.
ABE: (TO JIM – INNOCENTLY) What?
JIM: It’s a shame is all. Those were perfectly good bullets you just planted in them floor-boards.
ABE: I figure it was worth it, just to shut em up, like.
JIM: Fair enough. Let’s head up the stairs and have a talk with Mayor Wilson.
ABE: I’m surprised the noise hasn’t drawn him out.
JIM: Yeah, I was thinkin’ about that myself. Best you reload your piece. He might be sitting in a corner waiting for us with a Winchester.
MUSIC: (BRIDGE) OMINOUS SCENE ENDER – LET IT FINISH.

SCENE 10: INT – THE CORRIDOR IN FRONT OF THE MAYOR’S LODGINGS – DAY (JIM, ABE)

JIM: [CUE] (STAGE WHISPER) Stay on the other side of the door. I’ll knock from this side.
ABE: No problem, boss. This ain’t my first rodeo.
JIM: Heh!
SOUND: BRIEF KNOCKING ON DOOR. FOLLOWED BY LONG PAUSE. – LET IT FINISH.
ABE: Could he be out?
JIM: He didn’t strike me as the cowardly type. I guess he could be elsewhere.
ABE: That being the case…
SOUND: SOUND OF DOOR SPLINTERING – LET IT FINISH.
ABE: …we found the door kicked in, and being good, law-upholding peace officers, we had to go in and make sure the Mayor’s possessions were all safe.
JIM: Is that something you picked up deputying for McDaniels?
ABE: Ahuh.
JIM: Well, I guess we caint just walk away now.
ABE: After you.
MUSIC: (BRIDGE) TIME PASSING SCENE ENDER – LET IT FINISH.

SCENE 11: INT – THE MAYOR’S LODGINGS – A LITTLE LATER (JIM, ABE)

ABE: [CUE] It definitely looks like he’s not here.
JIM: Ahuh. Thanks for the update. Would you mind putting them mighty observational powers o’ yours to use going through them cupboards.
ABE: (LAUGHING) Sure boss.
JIM: This is interesting. The Mayor’s private calendar has the current date marked with the word “Desert”.
ABE: You thinkin’ he’s makin’ one o’ them trips into injun territory that he’s been rumoured to take from time to time?
JIM: Could be. By the look, he’s due back tomorrow.
ABE: Hmmm. What’s this? Does the mayor have a thing for hair?
JIM: Not that I know of. Why?
ABE: Inside this drawer. Locks of hair, fine, not coarse.
JIM: Making himself a wig maybe? He sure dresses fine. Could be he’s afraid o’ going bald.
ABE: I don’t think so. There ain’t enough of it to make a doll’s wig let alone a man’s. And it’s all different colours too.
JIM: That’s given me a nasty thought.
ABE: Yeah?
JIM: I wonder if it’d match the hair o’ any of the dead children?
ABE: That is a nasty thought. I’ll gather it up so we can check with the parents.
JIM: Speaking o’ nasty.
ABE: Hmmm?
JIM: See this? I think it’s the Mayor’s journal.
ABE: So?
JIM: I think it’s written in blood.
ABE: Let me see?
(BEAT) Well I’ll be… What are all these weird symbols?
JIM: Some of it looks like another language… maybe. But these, stars and circles, they just give me the creeps. And look here, on the last page. (READING) “The master demands a sacrifice of innocents. This may turn out to be an opportunity to be rid of more than one problem. That damned preacher has interfered too often in our affairs.”
ABE: When’s it dated?
JIM: The day of the fire.
ABE: And his master? What do you think that means?
JIM: I don’t think he’s referring to a person. See here, a couple a pages back, he’s talking about spirits and demons.
ABE: You said that the Mayor came out of the Desert in his younger days raving. Do you think he might actually have gone insane?
JIM: Maybe. It’s possible he’s been hiding it all these years. Anyway, I think we’ve got enough here to make an arrest, don’t you?
ABE: Yeah, though I’m not sure it’d hold up well in court.
JIM: If we work on Leach a little, we might get some more. But before that we’ll need to go find the mayor and bring him back.
ABE: Alright. Time’s a-wasting.
MUSIC: (BRIDGE) NEUTRAL SCENE ENDER – LET IT FINISH.

SCENE 12: EXT – THE EDGE OF TOWN – LATER
(ABE, JIM, ANNIE, WALLACE)

WALLA: SQUAWK OF A DESERT HAWK IN THE DISTANCE. MILD NEIGH OF A HORSE, SHUFFLING OF HOOVES, BREEZE ETC. – ESTABLISH AND UNDER.
ANNIE: Sheriff. Sheriff. Hold up a minute.
JIM: Must be mid-day.
ABE: Hmmm?
JIM: Time for my twelve o’clock scolding.
ABE: (SNORTS A LAUGH)
JIM: Annie. How nice o’ you to come see us off.
ANNIE: That’s a little too polite, Sheriff. (TO ABE) And you better keep that laugh o’ yours behind your teeth, Abe, or you’ll end up missing a few of em.
JIM: Now is that a nice way to talk? Abe here didn’t even say nothing to you. Besides that Winchester you’re toting illegally within the city limits commands a certain politeness of demeanour.
ANNIE: Ahuh. I do believe your attempting to poke fun at me. But right now, that aint what I’m concerned with. From the looks o’ the two of you, you’re fixing to head out into injun country.
JIM: Ahuh.
ANNIE: And what about Leach? You gonna just let him go?
JIM: You heard about that did you?
ANNIE: The whole town’s up in arms.
JIM: And we figured we’d leave him to them.
ANNIE: And what if he gets away?
ABE: I cain’t see how that’s gonna happen.
ANNIE: Oh? And just why would that be?
ABE: This town’s a hundred miles from anywhere that might help him. His boss is out in the desert. And I’m currently riding his horse.
ANNIE: (LAUGHING DESPITE HERSELF THEN SOBERING FAST) You know, most men don’t come back from this desert. Or if they do, they don’t come back the same.
JIM: So I’ve heard.
ANNIE: The mayor’ll be back tomorrow, or the next day at the latest. He’s never gone long. You could just wait a day or so for the confrontation.
JIM: I could.
ANNIE: But you ain’t gonna, are you?
JIM: No ma’am.
ANNIE: It’s Annie. Just Annie. And have I called you a stubborn jackass yet today?
JIM: Nope. I do believe you called me a damned fool earlier, though.
ANNIE: I do believe you’re right. And since it’s looking pretty certain that I won’t be changing your mind over this real soon, I guess I’ll get the name calling over and be done. You’re the most stubborn Jackass I ever met.
JIM: Feeling a mite better now, are you?
ANNIE: Not especially, but if you want me to get creative, I’ll be happy to oblige.
WALLACE: (SLURRING A LITTLE) Won’t be any call for that. There’s nothing you could call these hombre’s that I ain’t already thought of.
ABE: Well, whattaya know? Mr Wallace Leach, as I live and breathe?
WALLACE: You won’t be living long, “deputy”.
JIM: You’re drunk, ain’t you Leach?
WALLACE: Not so much as I caint kill the likes o’ you.
JIM: Had you come on us from behind, you might o’ had a chance of getting one of us before you was gunned down. But like this? No you ain’t gonna be killing no-one.
WALLACE: (ALMOST WAILING) You’ve took everything from me. I had me respect and fear. A position. Hell, I even had me a horse. You’ve gone and given it all to this “outsider”.
JIM: And you burn children for your boss. I’m afraid I ain’t got much feeling to spare for the likes of you.
WALLACE: Why you…
SOUND: WALLACE PULLS HIS GUN AT A DISTANCE-LET IT FINISH.
SOUND: NEARBY WINCHESTER RIFLE SHOT, RELOAD AND THREE MORE – BODY DROP OF WALLACE WHO WHIMPERS IN PAIN – LET IT FINISH.
ABE: Damn, Annie. A bullet in each hand and one for both his knee-caps. You’re taking it a bit personal ain’t you?
ANNIE: Little Sarah Conroy worked in my store after school every day. She had a smile like sunshine and never had a bad word to say even about some of our most difficult customers. Leach is lucky I’ve left him his eyes and that he wasn’t downed with a gut shot.
ABE: I’m damned thankful you never really believed I was behind the fire then.
JIM: You able to look after things here while we’re gone.
ANNIE: I’d still rather you wasn’t going, but yeah. The town’ll look forward to dealing with this one.
JIM: Alright, he’s all yours.
ABE: I didn’t think you were gonna allow a hanging, except under law.
JIM: Is there gonna be anything left to hang, Annie?
ANNIE: I’ll see to it Sheriff. There might not be much left to hang, but he’ll be delivered up to the law.
JIM: That’s settled then. We’ve got an appointment in the wilds with Dan Wilson, our illustrious Mayor.
ANNIE: You ain’t gonna listen, but just be careful out there. Nothing out there is exactly what it seems.
MUSIC: (BRIDGE) NEUTRAL SCENE ENDER – LET IT FINISH.

SCENE 13: EXT – DESERT – DAY (JIM, ABE)

SOUND: (WALLA) GUSTS OF WIND, SHRIEK OF AN OCCASIONAL BIRD OF PREY – ESTABLISH AND UNDER.
SOUND: CLIP CLOP OF HORSES COMING TO A HALT – LET IT FINISH.
ABE: Are you much of a tracker, Sheriff?
JIM: I’ve tracked my share of men over rough country?
ABE: So you can explain this, then, can you?
JIM: I caint say that I can, so I won’t.
ABE: Well I’m glad you’re takin’ it so well. It’s more or less giving me the screaming fits.
JIM: Well, I was hoping it was just the sun. I take it you can see how them footprints we’ve been following have changed?
ABE: Into mountain lion tracks? Uhuh?
JIM: Well, if that’s a mountain lion, it’s the biggest dang critter I’ve ever encountered.
ABE: How big do you reckon?
JIM: At least shoulder high. Possibly as big as my horse.
ABE: It’s a trick. It’s gotta be.
JIM: Maybe.
ABE: You don’t sound convinced.
JIM: Remember what Annie said as we was leaving; “Nothing out here is exactly what it seems”.
ABE: Yeah? But men don’t turn into mountain lions, even evil ones like that mayor. It just don’t happen.
JIM: You’ve been drifting long enough to hear the stories.
ABE: You mean injun magic and the like?
JIM: Uhuh.
ABE: Yeah, I’ve heard the stories. They make a great campfire tale. But I never swallowed ’em.
JIM: (BEAT) I once had to hunt down a man in Cherokee territory. An injun tracker I met on the trail offered to help me. The man had been through their village and gone on a killing spree. We followed him for three days. That tracker was amazing. He caught every tiny sign and, despite our quarry doubling back repeatedly and trying to lose us, we eventually cornered him in a box canyon. He didn’t come peaceably though, and when the smoke cleared the villain was dead and the injun tracker and I were left standing there alone. I turned to give him my thanks and, I swear, the only thing there was a hawk. One moment I was looking at an injun brave and the next the hawk took flight and I was on my own.
ABE: Nice story.
JIM: I wouldn’t believe it either, except I was there. I’ve spent a lot o’ time thinking about that day and I reckon there’s more ‘n the world than you and I understand. Only a fool’d say otherwise.
ABE: Tell you what? I’ll own we don’t understand this… yet. But if we keep on following I’m betting we get to the bottom of it.
JIM: Fair enough. (TO HIS HORSE) Giddup.
SOUND: JANGLE OF SPURS, AND HORSES START WALKING AGAIN. – ESTABLISH AND FADE.
MUSIC: NEUTRAL SCENE ENDER – LET IT FINISH.

SCENE 14: EXT – SILVER MINE – EARLY EVENING. (JIM, ABE, DAN)

SOUND: (WALLA) CLIP CLOP Of HORSES, BREEZE, OCCASIONAL CRY OF A BIRD OF PREY – ESTABLISH AND UNDER.
JIM: You see that smoke yonder?
ABE: Ahuh.
JIM: That’s a white man’s fire.
ABE: How can you tell?
JIM: Injuns don’t build fires that smoke like that. It’s a beacon to anyone in the vicinity that there’s a fool of a white man on the trail.
ABE: So?
JIM: We’d better just get him before the injuns do.
ABE: Well, it’s just over that rise.
JIM: Feel like crawling up there on your belly and taking a look?
ABE: That’s just what I got into deputying for; the glamour.
SOUND: STOP HORSES, SOUND OF MEN DISMOUNTING, BODIES DROP AND CRAWL FOR A FEW MOMENTS – LET IT FINISH.
ABE: You gotta love the taste of that red dust in your mouth, Sheriff.
JIM: Shut up and crawl.
SOUND: MORE BRIEF CRAWLING SOUNDS – LET IT FINISH.
JIM: Well, I’ll be?
ABE: Damned if that aint the biggest cat I ever seen. What’s it doing?
JIM: I aint sure. It seems to be dragging a cartload o’ ore outta that hole in the cliff wall.
ABE: You think it’s a mine?
JIM: More’n likely.
ABE: Where’s the mayor?
JIM: I think we’re looking at him.
ABE: What? Where?
JIM: That huge mountain lion. I think that’s our good mayor?
ABE: You know, I do believe you actually believe this nonsense.
JIM: Quiet. Something’s happening.
SOUND: MAGICAL CHIME – LET IT FINISH.
ABE: Great Scott! The giant cat. It’s turning back into a man… and he aint got no clothes.
JIM: I told you.
DAN: (FROM A DISTANCE) You two boys had better get up out o’ the dirt and visit for a spell.
ABE: He knows we’re here?
JIM: I guess he coulda smelled us. (CALLING TO DAN) Alright Mr Mayor. You’re under arrest. We plan on taking you in to stand trial for the deaths o’ the preacher and them children in the Church. Are you gonna come peacably?
DAN: (LAUGHING) Oh, I don’t intend to engage in any violence, if that’s what you’re asking but as for who’s gonna arrest who? Well, that remains to be seen. Now come on down here.
JIM: I think we’re fine where we are, thanks. We’ve got the higher ground and plenty of cover. Why don’t you just raise your hands and come on up?
DAN: You misunderstand, sheriff. That wasn’t a request.
SOUND: FADE IN GROWLS OF MANY MOUNTAIN LIONS – LET IT FINISH.
ABE: Where in tarnation did those things come from.
JIM: There must be a dozen mountain lions. They’ve got us surrounded.
ABE: How’d they sneak up so quiet?
JIM: I don’t know, but they’ll be on us before we get off a single shot. (TO DAN) Alright we’re coming down.
SOUND: CRUNCH OF GRAVEL UNDER FOOT FOR A FEW STEPS, ACCOMPANIED BY GROWLS – LET IT FINISH.
DAN: That’s far enough fellas.
SOUND: GROWLS SUBSIDE – FADE OUT.
DAN: I had such high hopes for you, Sheriff. It’s a shame it has to end like this.
JIM: Oh it ain’t gonna end here Dan. I’m gonna hunt you down – if only for the sake o’ them children you killed.
DAN: A sacrifice was demanded and they was handy. You cain’t really blame a man for that. And besides you ain’t gonna be able to come looking for me once you’re dead.
ABE: Are you gonna kill us now, Mayor?
DAN: No, I don’t need to kill you.
ABE: What? Are you yeller?
DAN: Don’t bother trying to provoke me Son. It won’t work. I’m not even properly human anymore. Not really.
DAN: It’d be easier to take you seriously about that if you was wearing drawers.
JIM: (INTERRUPTING DAN) If you aren’t going to kill us, then what are you going to do?
DAN: I don’t need to kill you, myself, cause the injuns’ll do that for me. That campfire o’ mine should have ’em riding in here in short order. (BEAT) Do you happen to know what they do to someone they find trespassing on their land? No? Well, I do. I have first-hand experience with it and you boys won’t like it very much, I’m afraid.
JIM: And while this is happening to us, how do you propose to get away?
DAN: Oh, don’t you worry about me. Now give me those guns o’ yours and I’ll toss ’em down the mine.
SOUND: SOUND OF GUNS BEING REMOVED AND HANDED OVER – LET IT FINISH.
DAN: Much obliged.
SOUND: SOUND OF MOUNTAIN LION ROAR IN DISTANCE – LET IT FINISH.
DAN: Ah. The injuns are coming. Well boys, you might be mighty brave, but I’ve got my pride.
SOUND: MAGICAL CHIME, LAUGHTER MORPHING INTO A MOUNTAIN LION GROWL, PAWS PADDING AWAY – LET IT FINISH.
JIM: He’s gone. Slunk off among the rocks in mountain lion form.
ABE: How in tarnation does he do that?
JIM: Right now I don’t know and I don’t care. Let’s just see if we cain’t get our guns back before…
SOUND: WHOOSH THUNK OF ARROWS STRIKING THE GROUND, THEN WHOOPING OF MANY INDIAN BRAVES – LET IT FINISH.
ABE: Too late!
MUSIC: (BRIDGE) OMINOUS SCENE ENDER – LET IT FINISH.
MUSIC: CLOSING THEME – LET IT FINISH.

CASTING SHEETS — MAJOR CHARACTERS

ANNIE DEEMES: I run the local store. I’m a woman alone in a tough town and I hold my own. I don’t face too much trouble. Most folks who want to cause any are dissuaded, quick-like, by a well aimed Winchester.

WALLACE LEACH: I’m the duputy in this town (part time). I work fer Mister Wilson over at the Saloon when I’m not deputying. Fact is, I work for Mister Wilson all the time, really. I ain’t been blessed with a deal o’ book learning, but I can add up well enough to stay on the good side o’ the man who pays me. An’ if he pays me to keep an eye on the new Sheriff, then that’s what I’ll do.

CASTING SHEETS — MINOR CHARACTERS

TOWNSFOLK (GUNMEN): We’re a community full o’ anger and grief. Our children are gone. Murdered by some drifter. We want them back, but that ain’t gonna happen. So we’ll settle for revenge… and no-one better get in the way o’ that.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

He is extremely grateful for the encouragement he receives from his biggest fans — his wife and two boys — all of whom read and enjoy his scripts and in general make his life worth living.

You can contact the author regarding performance rights (or simply to say hello) through his website: http://www.weirdworldstudios.com.

Don’t forget to check out the free sample portions of our titles at http://weirdworldstudios.com/product-category/our-products/ .

The post Where Death Comes Uninvited – Episode 3 – Into the Desert appeared first on Host Your Own Old Time Radio Drama.

Where Death Comes Uninvited – Episode 2 – A New Deputy is in Town

Philip Robotham — Fri, 29 Sep 2017 21:21:41 +0000

Below we present the complete text of “A New Deputy in Town”, episode 2 of our new Weird Western; Where Death Comes Uninvited. This is a brand new (unpublished) series (featuring a brand new roster of heroes including Jim Wilkes – the Sheriff, Annie Deems – the Crack Shot, Speeding Elk – the Tracker, and Sally Turner – the Gambler). If you would like to see these new stories advance from being drafts into polished publications then please consider supporting us by purchasing one or more of our previously published titles. Every sale directly funds the production of new stories.

Weird Western – WW001 – Where Death Comes Uninvited

Recommended for mature audiences – may contain adult situations and themes

Where Death Comes Uninvited

EPISODE #2 – A NEW DEPUTY IS IN TOWN

by Philip Craig Robotham

Cover Illustration by Miyukiko

Unedited Draft

Creative Commons Attritubution Non-Commercial No Derivatives (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0) Edition .

CC by-nc-nd 4.0

Other works by this author can be found at the author’s website: http://www.weirdworldstudios.com or through select, online book retailers.

Serial #1: Where Death Comes Uninvited

Where Death Comes Uninvited

CAST LIST

NARRATOR: The Narrator

JIM WILKES: Sheriff of Liberty Gulch

ANNIE DEEMES: Crack Shot and Store Keeper

ABE FARROW: Drifter

PASSER BY #1: Townsfolk

PASSER BY #2: Townsfolk

PASSER BY #3: Townsfolk

PASSER BY #4: Townsfolk

PASSER BY #5: Townsfolk

PASSER BY #6: Townsfolk

DAN WILSON: Mayor of Liberty Gulch

WALLACE LEACH: Deputy of Liberty and Henchman to Dan

SFX: SFX operator (1 required)

SCENE 4: EXT – MAIN STREET – MID MORNING (JIM, WALLACE)

MUSIC: OPENING THEME – LET IT FINISH
NARRATOR: Jim Wilkes, formerly of the U.S Marshall’s office, has taken a job as Sheriff in the town of Liberty Gulch. Barely preventing a lynching, Jim finds himself saddled with a deputy who, likely, owes his position and allegiance to the local mayor rather than the law.
WALLA: SOUND OF PASSING HORSES, WAGONS, OCCASIONAL SHOPPERS ETC.
WALLACE: You kept me waitin’ there a while, Sherrif.
JIM: You waited. I wasn’t keepin’ you.
WALLACE: Ahuh. Well, if you don’t mind my sayin’ so. You’re not much better company now than you was when I woke you up.
JIM: Are you gonna follow me around gabbing all day?
WALLACE: Well, I am your deputy. What are we doing?
JIM: I’m gonna look into that Church fire and see what’s what.
WALLACE: Is that so? Dan, I mean the mayor, ain’t gonna be too partial to that.
JIM: (IGNORING WALLACE) How’d you end up a deputy, Leach?
WALLACE: I’s always been the deputy. I worked for the last Sheriff.
JIM: And what happened to your last Sheriff, Leach?
WALLACE: He got his-self killed out in the injun lands. Dan’s always saying them savages need to be put in their places. The new world o’ civilization ain’t got room fer the likes o’ them, he says.
JIM: And how come, as the town deputy, you ain’t been the acting Sheriff this little while.
WALLACE: Well sir, this is a part time thing with me. I got me a job tending bar in Dan’s saloon. I ain’t the commandin’ type. And there’s a few around town who opposed me bein’ appointed.
JIM: Like who?
WALLACE: Annie Deemes for one. After, Dan, she’s the richest woman in town.
JIM: I doubt “Dan” would like to hear you referrin’ to him as a woman, Leach.
WALLACE: Now, Sherrif, you know that ain’t what I meant.
JIM: Sure I do, I’m just funin’ with you. But, since you mentioned it, I think I’ll start by talkin’ with Miss Deemes.
WALLACE: Heh! Well, sure. But she won’t like you callin’ her Miss Deemes.
JIM: Why’s that?
WALLACE: I don’t rightly know. She’s a strange one. Private, like. People around here say she’s had an “education”. Some even say she can read “Latin” and “Greek” and some other heathen lingos like “Hee-Brew”.
JIM: I’m guessin you haven’t been blessed with a lot of book learning yerself.
WALLACE: No sir, all them letters’ll give a man a brain-ache.
JIM: Figured as much. C’mon.
MUSIC: (BRIDGE) NEUTRAL SCENE ENDER – LET IT FINISH.

SCENE 5: INT – ANNIE’S GENERAL STORE – LATER (ANNIE, WALLACE, JIM)

SOUND: BELL RINGS AS MEN ENTER – LET IT FINISH.
ANNIE: Be right with you. (BEAT) Oh, it’s you Sheriff. What can I do for you?
JIM: Howdy, Miss Deemes. I was wondering if I might ask you a few questions about the fire?
ANNIE: Not in front o’ him you caint… and it’s Annie to you. I ain’t anyone’s Miss… or Mrs for that matter.
WALLACE: Now Annie, there aint no call for being so rude.
ANNIE: I’ll talk anyway I damn well please in my place, Wallace Leach. And if you expect anything different yer a bigger fool ‘n even I thought you was.
JIM: Is there a problem here?
WALLACE: Well, Sherrif, you see…
ANNIE: Don’t let the “aw shucks” manner o’ this one fool you, Sherrif. (TO WALLACE) You’re a stone cold killer, ain’t you Leach? An’ a coward to boot. How many men is it you shot in the back?
WALLACE: Why you…
SOUND: SOUND OF GUN BEING DRAW AND COCKED BY LEACH – LET IT FINISH.
JIM: (MENACING) I think you better go outside and cool down Mr Leach.
WALLACE: But…
JIM: Put the gun away or I’ll take it off you and put you down myself.
WALLACE: But you heard her…
JIM: (SHARPLY) Leach!
SOUND: SOUND OF GUN UNCOCKING – LET IT FINISH.
WALLACE: Alright, Sherrif, but only ‘cause you say so.
JIM: That’s probably the smartest thing you ever did.
WALLACE: I’m gonna wait outside. (TO ANNIE) But you can bet, I ain’t done with you (BEAT) Missy!
ANNIE: (JEERING) Yeah, right.
SOUND: JANGLE OF BELL. DOOR OPENS AND CLOSES – LET IT FINISH.
JIM: You like to take risks, don’t you Miss, I mean, Annie.
ANNIE: (DARKLY) I’m harder to kill than I look and the likes of Wallace Leach, don’t scare me much. What’s he doing with you anyway.
JIM: The mayor lumbered me with him last night.
ANNIE: You know he’s gonna repeat everything you do and say to the Mayor, don’t you?
JIM: Uhuh. But in the mean-time, he’s tellin’ me a whole lot more ‘n I’m telling him.
ANNIE: You take risks of your own, Sheriff. How can I help you?
JIM: Well, we were discussing who mighta had it in for the preacher the other night, but then we got interrupted by the lynch mob. I’d still like to hear if there was anyone around town with an axe to grind.
ANNIE: Uhuh. Well, you seem like a good feller, Sherrif, but, as Wallace Leach goes to prove, a friendly demeanour can still hide a dangerous villain.
JIM: Does that mean you won’t help me?
ANNIE: It means I don’t know you. And neither does anyone else in this town. You ain’t likely to find out anything useful until we do know you and learn to trust you a bit.
JIM: The man in that cell back there, doesn’t have that kind of time.
ANNIE: I know. I’ll tell you what, if you fire that no-account piece o’ trash, Wallace Leach, that may go some ways toward earnin’ people’s trust. He’s hired muscle for Dan Wilson and no-one’s gonna speak freely to you with him around.
JIM: What’s Wilson’s interest in all this?
ANNIE: Let’s just say that Wilson uses money and muscle to stay in control of this town and he’s afraid o’ what you might hear.
JIM: And what might I hear?
ANNIE: You gonna fire Wallace Leach.
JIM: I’d already decided on it when he showed up at my door. Him drawing a gun on you in here is the only excuse I need.
ANNIE: I see. Well, asking around town you might hear that the preacher was an advocate of injun rights.
JIM: That’d be unusual.
ANNIE: He was an unusual man. He was captured and tortured by injuns once. It never made him change his tune though. Mercy and kindness were his watchwords.
JIM: Doesn’t sound like a man to make many enemies then.
ANNIE: Don’t you believe it. He ain’t the only one to have had experience with torture from injuns. Dan Wilson, went prospecting in injun territory as a teenager. He claims he was captured and tortured before escaping. He crawled back into town half dead, raving about hostiles and monsters. He almost died – in fact the doctor pronounced him dead for about a minute and a half. But then he recovered and has gone from strength to strength since. He made his fortune not long after that. Apparently he accumulated some big gambling wins back East while convalescing and this gave him the money he wanted to set up the Saloon. He’s been all for driving the injuns out ever since.
JIM: The two men cross swords over that issue often?
ANNIE: Sure did. All the time. Wilson’s an atheist, the only one I ever met, and he wants prospecting rights on the injun land. The preacher has opposed him every step of the way. The mayor petitioned the governor and our preacher sent a counter petition at the same time. It got so the two men wouldn’t even look at each other if they happened to meet in the street.
JIM: Is there anything out in that desert worth digging up?
ANNIE: It’s dry scrub and cactus for as far as the eye can see, but who knows? Maybe. Most people think throwing the injuns off their land is just Wilson’s way o’ getting revenge for what happened to him as a youngster.
Some folks say he still goes out into the forbidden territory from time to time. Hunting ‘em. But I cain’t say whether there’s any truth to that.
JIM: That last sounds like gossip. Dangerous gossip, at that. If someone was hunting injun-folk you can bet there’d be reprisals.
ANNIE: Maybe so. Anyways, it turns out that in the lead up to the fire, Reverand Josiah was claiming he had something to reveal about our Mayor and that he would be commenting on it on Sunday.
JIM: Convenient. Do you think there was anything to it?
ANNIE: I knew Josiah Smith well. He was a good and honest man. If he said he had something on the mayor then you can bet that he really did have something. Nothing was found on his body and all his possessions were burned in the fire, so whatever it was he had, it died with him.
JIM: (SURPRISED) He lived in the church?
ANNIE: Ahuh. He used to say he liked the feel of consecrated ground beneath his feet.
JIM: Anyone around town likely to back up these facts?
ANNIE: A few people. But not while Wallace Leach is there to scare em into keeping quiet.
JIM: Thanks for your time Annie.
ANNIE: You be careful, Sheriff, ‘specially if’n you think you’ll be going up against the Mayor. He’s a dangerous man.
JIM: Yeah? Well, as it happens… so am I.
SOUND: BOOTS ON FLOOR. JANGLE OF BELL. DOOR OPENS AND CLOSES – LET IT FINISH.
MUSIC: NEUTRAL SCENE ENDER – LET IT FINISH.

SCENE 6: EXT – MAIN STREET – MIDDAY (JIM, WALLACE, CROWD)

WALLA: SOUND OF PASSING HORSES, WAGONS, OCCASIONAL SHOPPERS ETC.
WALLACE: Hey, Sherrif, you should’na let that painted skirt talk to me that way.
JIM: Leach, you are an idiot and a liability.
WALLACE: Now see here, Sherrif, you don’t know what I’ve had to put up with from that…
PASSERS BY: (INTERESTED MURMURS)
JIM: You drew a gun on an unarmed woman in the clear light of day. I’m gonna need your badge.
PASSERS BY: (SHOCKED MURMURS)
WALLACE: You cain’t take this away from me. You ain’t got the right.
JIM: I’ve got every right.
WALLACE: I’ll go talk with the mayor. He’ll see this put right.
JIM: You can go talk with whoever you want. But only after you give me that badge.
WALLACE: No! I ain’t gonna give it to you!
SOUND: GUN BEING DRAWN AND COCKED – LET IT FINISH.
JIM: Leach, I’m a dead shot with this peacekeeper and I’ve already got the drop on you. I think you’d better comply.
SOUND: TIN STAR BOUNCING ON THE GROUND – LET IT FINISH.
WALLACE: (SPITS) Dirt’s the best place for that piece o’ tin. You’ll be joining it soon enough.
JIM: I don’t take kindly to threats Leach. Now hand over your sidearms.
WALLACE: These is mine, Sherrif. You cain’t take ‘em.
JIM: I can and I will. The only people who can wear those inside city limits are peace-keepers. And you ain’t no lawman no more. Hand em over. This is your first and only warning.
WALLACE: You are one self-righteous son of a gun. (BEAT) Alright, Sheriff, but this ain’t the end. And you ain’t seen the last of me.
SOUND: JANGLING SOUND OF GUNBELT BEING REMOVED AND HANDED OVER.
JIM: I’ll keep a weather eye out – over my shoulder, so to speak. From what I hear you ain’t the kind of man to come face another from in front.
PASSERS BY: (MINOR LAUGHTER)
WALLACE: You’ll rue the day you called me a coward, Sheriff.
JIM: I’m too busy ruing the day I had to meet your filthy carcass in the first place. Now git!
PASSERS BY: (SPORADIC APPLAUSE)
WALLACE: (AT A DISTANCE) Hey Sheriff? It’s a shame I lost the keys to that fellers jail cell. It’s like to make things a little inconvenient for you?
PASSER BY #1: You better watch out for that one Sheriff. He’s got a long memory for public slights and a reputation for settling his accounts with a pistol in the back. He’s not a man to be trifled with.
JIM: That weren’t no man worthy of the name. He’s a cowardly dog. Spiteful, and dangerous. I’m awful afraid I’ll be having to put him down real soon.
PASSER BY #1: Well, good luck to you sir. More’n one has tried. And you might want to set on this a spell too – Leach was the Mayor’s man. Everyone knows it. Putting down Leach, like you done, is tantamount to declaring war on the richest man in town. He’ll see it as a personal embarrassment and he’ll be looking for a way to make you answer for it.
MUSIC: (BRIDGE) OMINOUS SCENE ENDER – LET IT FINISH.

SCENE 7: INT – SHERIFF’S OFFICE – EVENING (JIM, ABE)

WALLA: CRICKETS IN THE DISTANCE – ESTABLISH AND UNDER.
SOUND: DOOR OPENS AND CLOSES – LET IT FINISH.
JIM: You still here, partner?
ABE: You’re a funny man, Sheriff. That material go over well with all your incarcerated audience?
JIM: Well enough. You need anything?
ABE: I could use some food. Ain’t no one brought me anything since breakfast.
JIM: I thought Annie might’ve been in.
ABE: No sir. Maybe she figures the job of keeping me fed and watered is yours now.
JIM: I guess so. And she’d be right. I’d apologise you’ve had to do without ‘cept I think I’ve got some good news for you.
ABE: Yeah? Hanging date been brought forward, has it?
JIM: You’re something of a riot yourself, smart guy.
ABE: Alright then, out with it?
JIM: I don’t think you did it and I’m willing to cut you loose.
ABE: You don’t say.
JIM: I’ve been talkin’ to a lot of people today. The liveryman confirms that he locked you in the stable for the night and that it was damned unlikely you’d have found a way out… and then back in again to where the townsfolk found you. Most o’ the town knows about the ongoing feud between the mayor and the preacher (though most don’t believe it’d come to murder). And the blacksmith and Kelley Adams both saw Wallace Leach lurking in the vicinity of the Church that night about 20 minutes before it burned.
ABE: Well I’ll be. Leach, huh? No wonder he was so keen to see me hung? He’d a been next in line for people’s suspicions.
JIM: I have a suspicion he actually did it and was acting on behalf of the Mayor.
ABE: Why are you telling me all this?
JIM: Well, I’d like to discuss you staying on here for a spell as my deputy.
ABE: Would you discuss it over some food?
JIM: (LAUGHING) Sure. Give me a minute to find my skeleton key.
ABE: Leach still has the cell key, huh?
JIM: Ahuh, claimed he lost it when I fired him today. (BEAT) Here we go.
SOUND: KEY IN LOCK AND JAIL DOOR OPENS – LET IT FINISH.
ABE: You’ll have picked up a few enemies getting me out of here today, won’t you?
JIM: Ahuh.
ABE: Alright. I’ll be your deputy until we get the fellas who set me up. But then I’m gone.
JIM: Shake on it?
ABE: It’s a deal.
SOUND: SOUND OF ONE HAND CLAP (THE MEN SLAPPING THEIR HANDS TOGETHER TO SHAKE ON IT) – LET IT FINISH.
MUSIC: (BRIDGE) SCENE ENDER – LET IT FINISH.

SCENE 8: EXT – MAIN STREET – NEXT DAY (JIM, ABE, ANNIE, PASSER BY#1, PASSERBY #2)

WALLA: SOUND OF PASSING HORSES, WAGONS, OCCASIONAL SHOPPERS ETC.
JIM: You ready, ABE?
ABE: Ahuh. You, Sheriff?
JIM: Yup. I guess we’d best start our patrol o’ Main Street. Make sure everyone can see you, and that tin star… but don’t let your hand stray far from your gun.
ABE: Don’t worry. I intend living ‘til a ripe old age.
JIM: Liar. If you believed that you’d a headed out o’ town under cover of dark, last night.
ABE: Heh. I guess so.
SOUND: BOOTS WALKING ON WOODEN WALK. ESTABLISH AND UNDER.
PASSER BY #1: Holy!… I mean, good morning Sheriff!
PASSER BY #2: What on God’s green earth!
PASSER BY #3: (RETREATING FAST) The Sheriff must’ve exhonerated him?
PASSER BY #4: Damn, if the mayor aint gonna be mad about this!
PASSER BY #5: Mornin’ Sheriff!
PASSER BY #6: This’ll turn some hot heads hotter.
ANNIE: Now if this ain’t a sight. I was just coming to bring you some vitals you might cook up for your prisoner… and here he is wearing a star n’ all. (BEAT THEN ANGRY) Are you outta your damn mind?
JIM: Take it easy Annie. He’s been exhonerated.
ANNIE: Sure he has. He didn’t do it. But what the hell is he still doing here? You shoulda put him on a horse and sent him on his way last night.
ABE: You might try and avoid talking about me as if I ain’t here, miss Annie.
ANNIE: That’s just Annie, you jackass. You ain’t got the common sense God gave a rattlesnake, either of you.
JIM: Now, take it easy. There ain’t no call for getting so riled up.
ANNIE: Sure there is. How’d you end up talking this idjit into puttin’ on the star. It’s sure as hell gonna get him killed.
ABE: (ANNOYED) He didn’t have to talk me into anything. Letting me go was gonna cause him a heavy deal o’ trouble – possibly even kill him. I couldn’t just walk away.
ANNIE: (DISGUSTED) Men! (TO JIM) You might o’ been able to calm things down with the Mayor. This way, you’ve all but declared open war. I ain’t lookin to bury another Sheriff this soon (BEAT) or his no-account deputy.
SOUND: FEMALE BOOTS STORMING OFF INTO THE DISTANCE – LET IT FINISH.
ABE: Well, she’s pretty riled.
JIM: Ahuh. Let’s hope it has the same effect on our good mayor.
ABE: You want to remind me again why we’re setting out to deliberately spit in the eye of a powerful man like Dan Wilson?
JIM: ‘Cause we’re hoping it’ll cause him to do something rash, make a mistake, and allow us to git him for the recent killings.
ABE: You know. When we was talking about it by lantern light last night this plan seemed a might more sensible than it does right now.
JIM: Aw, you’re just feeling squirly ‘cause I hung a pork chop round your neck and asked ‘em to send in the wolves.
ABE: Thanks for the pep talk, Sheriff.
JIM: You’re welcome, deputy. (BEAT) Now let’s see about walking into the lion’s den.
ABE: Not real big is it?
JIM: The saloon’s built for a small town. No bawdy house, a bar, a few tables for cards, dice, and faro. From what I hear, the mayor lives above the establishment.
ABE: Got many hired men in there.
JIM: A few. Maybe more’n a few.
ABE: Well, hell. Who wants to live forever, anyway?
MUSIC: (BRIDGE) OMINOUS SCENE ENDER – LET IT FINISH.
MUSIC: CLOSING THEME – LET IT FINISH.

CASTING SHEETS — MAJOR CHARACTERS

CASTING SHEETS — MINOR CHARACTERS

TOWNSFOLK (PASSERS BY): We’re a community full o’ anger and grief. Our children are gone. Murdered by some drifter. We want them back, but that ain’t gonna happen. So we’ll settle for revenge… and no-one better get in the way o’ that.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

He is extremely grateful for the encouragement he receives from his biggest fans — his wife and two boys — all of whom read and enjoy his scripts and in general make his life worth living.

You can contact the author regarding performance rights (or simply to say hello) through his website: http://www.weirdworldstudios.com.

Don’t forget to check out the free sample portions of our titles at http://weirdworldstudios.com/product-category/our-products/ .

The post Where Death Comes Uninvited – Episode 2 – A New Deputy is in Town appeared first on Host Your Own Old Time Radio Drama.

Where Death Comes Uninvited – Episode 1 – A New Sheriff

Philip Robotham — Sat, 23 Sep 2017 22:38:53 +0000

Below we present the complete text of “A New Sheriff”, episode 1 of our new Weird Western; Where Death Comes Uninvited. This is a brand new (unpublished) series (featuring a brand new roster of heroes including Jim Wilkes – the Sheriff, Annie Deems – the Crack Shot, Speeding Elk – the Tracker, and Sally Turner – the Gambler). If you would like to see these new stories advance from being drafts into polished publications then please consider supporting us by purchasing one or more of our previously published titles. Every sale directly funds the production of new stories.

Weird Western – WW001 – Where Death Comes Uninvited

Recommended for mature audiences – may contain adult situations and themes

Where Death Comes Uninvited

EPISODE #1 – A NEW SHERIFF

by Philip Craig Robotham

Cover Illustration by Miyukiko

Unedited Draft

Creative Commons Attritubution Non-Commercial No Derivatives (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0) Edition .

CC by-nc-nd 4.0

Other works by this author can be found at the author’s website: http://www.weirdworldstudios.com or through select, online book retailers.

Serial #1: Where Death Comes Uninvited

Where Death Comes Uninvited

CAST LIST

NARRATOR: The Narrator

JIM WILKES: Sheriff of Liberty Gulch

ANNIE DEEMES: Crack Shot and Store Keeper

TOWNSFOLK: Chorus of voices

MAN #1: Townsfolk in cemetery

WOMAN #1: Townsfolk in cemetery

ABE FARROW: Drifter

LYNCH MOBSTER #2: Townsfolk in lynch mob

LYNCH MOBSTER #3: Townsfolk in lynch mob

LYNCH MOBSTER #4: Townsfolk in lynch mob

DAN WILSON: Mayor of Liberty Gulch

WALLACE LEACH: Deputy of Liberty and Henchman to Dan

SFX: SFX operator (1 required)

ACT 1

SCENE 1: EXT – LIBERTY GULCH CEMETERY AND ENVIRONS – SUNDOWN (JIM, ANNIE, WOMAN #1, CROWD, MAN #1)

MUSIC: OPENING THEME – LET IT FINISH.
SOUND: (WALLA) CRICKETS, DISTANT VOICES SINGING THE LAST FEW WORDS OF A HYMN. CLIP CLOP OF HORSE ENTERING TOWN.
JIM WILKES: Well, it’s been a long trail, Shiloh, but we’re almost there.
SOUND: HORSE (SHILOH) WINNIES NON-COMMITALLY – LET IT FINISH.
SOUND: PATS THE HORSE TWICE – LET IT FINISH.
JIM: Yup, I know. But at least there’ll be water and hay fer ya. I ain’t quite sure whut my own reception’s gonna be like, though.
(BEAT) Hear that, girl? Sounds like the whole dang town’s at the cemetery. I guess we’d better head on up an’ introduce ourselves.
ANNIE DEEMES: (OFFICIATING THE FUNERAL) “I am the resurrection and the life”, says the Lord. “Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die”. (BEAT)
In sure and certain hope of the resurrection to eternal life, through our Lord Jesus Christ, we commend to almighty God, these, our children taken too soon – Jessie Wayland, Sarah Conroy, Michael Wayne, Billy Friday, Caroline McCormack, Daniel Best, Andie Rivers, and Jenny Fellows – and also the Reverend Josiah Smith, tragically claimed by the same Church fire, and we commit their bodies to the ground, earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust.
SOUND: STOIC WEEPING OF VARIOUS BEREAVED MOTHERS – ESTABLISH AND FADE.
SOUND: HORSE HOOVES STOP.
JIM: I’m sorry to intrude on your grief folks, but I’m…
WOMAN #1: (SHRIEKS) Kill him. Kill the interloper.
CROWD: (ENRAGED NOISES) Get him! Kill him! Bring him down! – ESTABLISH AND FADE UNDER
ANNIE: (SHOUTING) No! wait!
MAN #1: Heave that rock at him, Jeb!
SOUND: HORSE WHINNYING IN DISTRESS. ROCK IN FLIGHT AND HEAVY HIT (STRIKES JIM) – LET IT FINISH.
JIM: (GROANS) Ugh!
SOUND: BODY DROP (JIM FALLS OFF HORSE).
ANNIE: Oh, you fools! What have you done? (BEAT AND SLOW FADE OUT) Mister? Hey Mister? Are you all right? Mister?
MUSIC: BRIDGE – OMINOUS SCENE ENDER – LET IT FINISH.

SCENE 2: INT – JAIL CELL AT THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE – EVENING (JIM, ANNIE, ABE, LYNCH MOBSTER #2, LYNCH MOBSTER #3, LYNCH MOBSTER #4, DAN)

JIM: [CUE] (GROANING) Ugh! Oh!
ANNIE: You’re awake. I thought we might’ve lost you there fer a while.
JIM: Whut? Oh, my head!
ANNIE: Lie still. You took a pretty bad knock. You’ve been asleep for more’n twenty four hours.
JIM: Hey, ain’t you that pale lookin’ preacher woman? I heard you tryin’ to hold back the mob.
ANNIE: Yeah, that was me. But I’m no preacher. Ours died in the fire, along with a bunch of kids from the town. We were burying them when you… arrived.
JIM: Ahuh. Guess people are a mite het up over it then?
ANNIE: You could say that. Do you remember your name?
JIM: Sorry, yeah. I’m Jim Wilkes, formerly a U.S Marshall, and soon to be your new sheriff.
ANNIE: Aw hell! (BEAT) Well, I guess we’re off to a flying start, first impressions wise. Welcome to Liberty, Mr Wilkes.
JIM: Heh! Thanks. And you are…
ANNIE: My name’s Annie Deemes. I run the general store in town. Most people just call me Annie.
JIM: Mrs or Miss?
ANNIE: Just Annie.
JIM: Ahuh. And how’d you end up officiatin’ at the funeral.
ANNIE: I can read… which is more’n can be said for most of the folks in this town, so I got to officiate.
JIM: Don’t you folks got a mayor or someone to manage that?
ANNIE: Oh, we got a mayor alright. But… ah, let’s just say, he ain’t the religious type, an’ he had no love for our dead preacher.
JIM: And what about you, Annie? Is that cross around your neck just fer show?
ANNIE: Heh! Ain’t you the talkative one? That’s a lot of questions for a first meeting.
JIM: Well, I am gonna be the sheriff, assuming, o’ course, that I live. It’s part of the job to get to know people… and don’t think I ain’t noticed you haven’t actually answered my question.
ANNIE: (AMUSED) You’ll live… and (DARKLY) religion comes with the territory around here. Let’s just say we’ve got some experience with resurrections in these parts and leave it at that.
ABE FARROW: (CALLING AT A DISTANCE) Hey, Annie, if that there feller looks like he’s gonna live, I’d sure appreciate some water over here.
JIM: Who’s that?
ANNIE: We’re in the Sheriff’s office. There’s a prisoner in the next cell. A drifter. Happened to be passing through town when the Church burned down.
JIM: Deliberately lit?
ANNIE: Uhuh.
JIM: You think he did it?
ANNIE: Most of the town does… but you’ve already seen how people jump to conclusions around here. Waiting for the funeral was the only thing that’s kept him from a lynch mob’s rope this long.
ABE: (CALLING AGAIN) Annie? You hear me, darling?
ANNIE: (CALLING BACK) Hold yer horses. And I ain’t yer darling.
ABE: (CALLING AGAIN) Yeah, well, you’re a little pale for my taste anyway. You should probably think about getting out in the sun more.
ANNIE: (CALLING BACK) An you should think about keeping your opinions to yourself more, if’n you like your nose the shape it currently is.
JIM: (INTERRUPTING) Any reason I need to be kept in this cell?
ANNIE: Not if you’re who you say you are. Can you actually prove you’re the sheriff we been expecting?
JIM: If no one’s run off with my horse. There’s some papers in my saddlebag that should be enough.
ANNIE: Your horse is fine. I’ve got her stabled across the way. I brought your bags in too. They’re behind the desk.
SOUND: FOOTSTEPS WALKING AWAY. RUMMAGING SOUND – LET IT FINISH.
ANNIE: (AT A DISTANCE) Is this them?
JIM: Ahuh.
SOUND: FOOTSTEPS APPROACH – LET IT FINISH.
ANNIE: It all appears to be in order.
SOUND: CELL DOOR OPENING – LET IT FINISH.
ANNIE: Here’s your star and your weapon.
ABE: (CALLING) Come on Annie, please? Just a little water?
ANNIE: Yeah, alright. Quit your hollering. I’m coming. (TO JIM) You better come along and meet your only other resident.
JIM: It was unlocked all along?
ANNIE: I’m not sure where the keys are. Probably with the mayor.
JIM: I guess it makes no mind. I keep a skeleton key in my boot.
ANNIE: (LAUGHS) You sure you’re one o’ the good guys?
JIM: So far.
SOUND: FOOTSTEPS TO NEXT CELL – LET IT FINISH.
ANNIE: Well, here y’are.
ABE: Thanks Annie.
SOUND: ABE TAKES A BIG GULP OF WATER – LET IT FINISH.
JIM: Howdy, mister. I hear you like to light fires.
ABE: Is that so? Well, you can’t believe everything you hear, now can you, sheriff?
JIM: That remains to be seen. You got a name?
ABE: I do, but I ain’t been feelin’ inclined to go sharin’ it, seeing how the good folks o’ this here town have it in mind to make me the main attraction at a neck-tie party.
JIM: Well, that was then. From now on there’ll be no hangings in this town, except under law.
ABE: You been a lawman long, sheriff?
JIM: Uhuh.
ABE: Hmmm! Where’d you say you was from?
JIM: I didn’t… but I was a U.S Marshall for some years. The name’s Jim Wilkes.
ABE: Yeah, I heard o’ you. You tracked down the Hatchet gang. Nasty business.
JIM: I seen worse.
ABE: Then you’ve seen a lot. I was a deputy once you know? Over in Lawson City.
JIM: Lawson, huh? You must o’ been one o’ McDaniel’s men.
ABE: Before he was shot, yeah.
JIM: Why’d you leave it?
ABE: Why’d you? The US Marshall’s I mean.
JIM: It got too political. Fact is, it got so a feller couldn’t tell the white hats from the black anymore.
ABE: My reasons weren’t so high falutin’. I just got tired ‘o the place and wanted to move on. I’ve never been much good at stayin’ put.
JIM: I’m still gonna need your name.
ABE: Abe Farrow.
JIM: Abe Farrow? You’re a gunman.
ABE: I guess. That’s better’n some things I been called.
ANNIE: What? He’s a murderer?
ABE: No ma’am. I’ve done my fair share o’ killing, sure. Sometimes I even got paid for it. But I never shot any man who didn’t draw on me first.
JIM: That’s true enough. Abe Farrow’s never killed a man except in self-defence.
ABE: Sounds like you’re not convinced I’m who I say?
JIM: I thought you’d be a little younger is all.
ABE: Heh! Is that right? Well, truth is I’m younger’n I look. A life of killing can age you premature somewhat.
JIM: Ain’t that the truth. Still, I doubt very much you’re a firebug, whatever else you’ve done in your life. (BEAT) Annie, tell me a little more about this church fire.
ANNIE: There’s not a lot to tell. It was only a couple a days ago. Josiah, the preacher, was teaching an evening Sunday School class. The church was locked and barred from the outside and set ablaze. No-one stood a chance. The building was burned to the ground with everyone in it before most people were even aware the fire had started. Mr Farrow, here, was a stranger and sleeping in the stable. People just figured that no-one from around here would do such a thing and threw him in jail. Strangers ain’t real popular around here at present… as you’ve seen for yourself.
JIM: Well, Abe, you can rest easy for a bit. I cain’t let you out just yet, but that’s just for your own protection. Once things settle down you’ll be set free while I investigate. (TO ANNIE) Hey, Annie, did the preacher have any enemies that you know of?
ANNIE: Well…
SOUND: MURMUR OF AN APPROACHNG MOB – ESTABLISH AND UNDER.
JIM: Aw hell. Here comes trouble.
ABE: You’ve still got a chance to cut and run if you want, sheriff. All you have to do is hand me over.
JIM: I told you the only hangin’s there’ll be around here are under the law. Annie, can you unlock that rifle cabinet for me?
ANNIE: Yeah, the keys are in the drawer.
JIM: Do it. Then get in back and get down low. You too, Abe.
LYNCH MOBSTER #2: (CALLING FROM OUTSIDE) Annie? You in there? We want you to bring that boy out what burned our chill’n.
JIM: (CALLING BACK) That ain’t gonna happen, partner.
LYNCH MOBSTER #2: Who’s that? I don’t know you do I?
JIM: My name’s Jim Wilkes, and I’m your new sheriff. A few of you met me at the cemetery about sundown yesterday.
CROWD: (MURMURS OF SURPRISE)
JIM: But that’s neither here nor there if’n y’all are willing to maintain the peace.
LYNCH MOBSTER #2: What are you saying?
JIM: I’m saying, you folks need to turn around and go home, all peaceable like. I represent the law and there’ll be no hanging here afore there’s been due process.
CROWD: (ANGRY MURMURING)
LYNCH MOBSTER #2: Well, I don’t know nothing about that. All we want is the feller who killed our kids.
JIM: I’ll only say this once more. After that I’ll let my Winchester do the talking. This man is under the protection of the law until there’s been an investigation and trial. There will be no hanging here tonight.
CROWD: (MORE ANGRY MURMURING)
LYNCH MOBSTER #2: But what about our kids?
LYNCH MOBSTER #3: Yeah, what about our kids?
LYNCH MOBSTER #4: You gonna protect that scum? Who was protecting my Jenny?
SOUND: RIFLE SHOT, CRIES OF SURPRISE FROM CROWD – LET IT FINISH.
JIM: That was a warning shot. The next one is gonna draw blood. You folks need to go home. Now.
LYNCH MOBSTER #2: You ain’t heard the last o’ this sheriff. We want justice and we’re gonna get it.
JIM: Not tonight you’re not. And not without benefit of the law. The first man who sets foot on my porch is gonna fall with a bullet through the brain. Now, what’s it gonna be?
SOUND: ANGRY MURMURS RECEDING – LET IT FINISH.
JIM: (SIGH OF RELIEF) Phew. I think the crisis is passed for the moment.
ABE: Well, sheriff, I think I stand in your debt.
JIM: Don’t count your chickens yet. I’ve still got to investigate. (BEAT) Annie? It’s safe to come out.
ANNIE: I know. I was watching out back to make sure no one was trying to play any tricks.
JIM: Is that a rifle in your hands, Annie? You know how to use it?
ANNIE: I’ve been handling guns since I was six years old.
SOUND: LOUD BANGING ON DOOR – LET IT FINISH.
JIM: Hang on.
SOUND: JIM COCKS HIS GUN.
JIM: (CALLING OUT) Who’s there?
DAN WILSON: It’s Dan Wilson, the mayor.
JIM: Hold on.
SOUND: DOOR BEING UNBOLTED AND OPENED – LET IT FINISH.
DAN: Are you planning to shoot me with that, Mr…
JIM: Wilkes. Jim Wilkes. And I’m planning to be cautious until I have reason to be otherwise.
DAN: (IGNORING WILKES) Did you let him out of the cell, Annie?
ANNIE: (STIFFLY) I did. And now, if you’ll excuse me…
DAN: You know you didn’t have the authority to do that. I think you need to start learning your place missy.
ANNIE: People been telling me that my whole life, Mr Wilson. I’d never have done nothing if I’d believed it. Besides his papers are all in order. He’s the sheriff we been waiting for.
DAN: Is that so? Well, you’d best be scooting on home then, and leave the serious talk to us men-folk.
ANNIE: (SNIFFS DERISIVELY) Hmpf! (TO JIM) Well, I’m glad you’re on your feet sheriff. Goodnight.
JIM: Goodnight Ma’am. I’m grateful for the turn you done me.
SOUND: FOOTSTEPS, DOOR OPENS AND CLOSES – LET IT FINISH.
JIM: She doesn’t seem to like you very much, now, does she, Mr Mayor?
DAN: Oh, she’s just unruly. All she really needs is to find herself a husband. Someone to take her in hand. (BEAT) Would you mind if I take a look at these papers of yours.
JIM: No, sir. Here you are.
SOUND: SHUFFLING OF PAPERWORK – LET IT FINISH.
DAN: Well, everything appears to be in order. Welcome to Liberty, sheriff. I’m sorry about the bang on the head.
JIM: Your town greet everyone this way, or am I just special?
DAN: (LAUGHING) Just special, I guess. You know what’s been happening lately I presume?
JIM: Yeah, I heard about the church, if that’s what you mean?
DAN It is. People are bound to be a little roused after a thing like that. I hear you had a little altercation here tonight.
JIM: Some of the townsfolk felt like dispensing a bit of frontier justice.
DAN: And you stopped em?
JIM: Ahuh.
DAN: With a rifle?
JIM: I did.
DAN: Ahuh. Well, that may not have been the smartest of moves, sheriff?
JIM: Oh? And what should I have done?
DAN: Well for a start, you should have waited till you were officially recognised as sheriff.
JIM: They would have killed the man in my cell.
DAN: And that may not have been a bad thing. The townsfolk want him dead so they can get on with putting this whole sorry business behind them. It would have spared them a long drawn out trial and investigation.
JIM: You’re the politician sir, and the will of the people is your responsibility. But I’m a law man and I’m responsible to the law and to justice.
DAN: Fine words, sheriff. But in the end you may wish the will of the people had prevailed here tonight. I take it you’re going to begin an investigation.
JIM: That’s right.
DAN: I wish you wouldn’t. It’s gonna upset a whole lot of people. But I can see you’ve made up your mind. I’ll have your deputy here to help you get started first thing in the morning.
JIM: My deputy?
DAN: That’s right. His name’s Wallace Leach. He works at my saloon, but he knows the town real well and he’ll be a big help to you as you get to know us.
JIM: I see. Well, Mr Mayor, it’s been good meeting you. Annie said you’d have the key to the cells.
DAN: Yes sir, It was good to meet you too. I think you and I’ll be able to work together quite well, providing everyone can be reasonable. I’ll send the keys over with Leach in the morning. You won’t be needing them tonight.
SOUND: FOOTSTEPS TO THE DOOR. DOOR OPENS.
DAN: Well, good night sheriff.
JIM: G’night. (BEAT) Oh, and Mr Mayor, one last thing?
DAN: Yeah?
JIM: What happened to your last sheriff?
DAN: Hmpf. He got hisself killed in the injun territories north o’ here. Those lands are protected and no-one’s supposed to go there. Savages the lot o’ them. The sooner we wipe em out the better.
JIM: Ahuh. G’night.
SOUND: DOOR CLOSES – LET IT FINISH.
ABE: You believe any o’ that?
JIM: Not much.
ABE: Sounds like you got your work cut out for you, sheriff, don’t it?
JIM: I guess it does.
ABE: And the color of them hats? Can you still tell the difference?
JIM: Hmmm!
MUSIC: BRIDGE – NEUTRAL SCENE ENDER – LET IT FINISH.

ACT 2

SCENE 3: INT – THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE – EARLY MORNING
(JIM, WALLACE)

SOUND: POUNDING ON DOOR. – LET IT FINISH.
WALLACE LEACH: You in there Sherrif? I checked at the boarding house and no-one had seen you. Figured you must be stayin’ in your office.
JIM: Keep yer hair on!
SOUND: DOOR CREAKING OPEN – LET IT FINISH.
JIM: Whattaya want?
WALLACE: (AMUSED) Well, if you don’t look like a buzzard’s leavings, Sheriff.
JIM: It’s been a long night and my temper’s short so I’ll ask again, but only this once. What do you want?
WALLACE: Sorry to bother you sheriff, but our Mayor – Dan Wilson – sent word you were in town. I’m Wallace Leach, your deputy. Most people just call me Leach.
JIM: Uhuh.
SOUND: DOOR BEING SLAMMED (BEAT) RENEWED POUNDING ON DOOR – LET IT FINISH.
SOUND: (BEAT) DOOR OPENS – LET IT FINISH.
WALLACE: (GRIMLY) That was a mite unsociable, Sheriff.
JIM: Is that right… Mr Leach was it?
WALLACE: Just Leach is fine, and yes, sir, it was!
JIM: Well, Leach, let me tell you how things are gonna work. Unless there’s an emergency, or someone’s been shot dead, I’m gonna go back inside, pull on my drawers, and have me a REALLY strong coffee. You can wait here if you want – or not. But I’m not showing my face outside this door again until I’m good and ready.
WALLACE: So that’s how it’s gonna be, huh?
JIM: Yep. Until I get that first coffee, and barring the end of the world, I ain’t fit for human company.
WALLACE: In that case I’ll just set a spell, here on your stoop.
JIM: You do that!
SOUND: DOOR SLAMS – LET IT FINISH.
MUSIC: (BRIDGE) TIME PASSING SCENE ENDER.
MUSIC: CLOSING THEME AND CREDITS

CASTING SHEETS — MAJOR CHARACTERS

CASTING SHEETS — MINOR CHARACTERS

TOWNSFOLK (AT THE CEMETERY AND AS LYNCH MOB): We’re a community full o’ anger and grief. Our children are gone. Murdered by some drifter. We want them back, but that ain’t gonna happen. So we’ll settle for revenge… and no-one better get in the way o’ that.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

He is extremely grateful for the encouragement he receives from his biggest fans — his wife and two boys — all of whom read and enjoy his scripts and in general make his life worth living.

You can contact the author regarding performance rights (or simply to say hello) through his website: http://www.weirdworldstudios.com.

Don’t forget to check out the free sample portions of our titles at http://weirdworldstudios.com/product-category/our-products/ .

The post Where Death Comes Uninvited – Episode 1 – A New Sheriff appeared first on Host Your Own Old Time Radio Drama.

Where Death Comes Uninvited Archives - Host Your Own Old Time Radio Drama

Where Death Comes Uninvited – Episode 5 – Decisions for the Dead

Where Death Comes Uninvited

EPISODE #5 – DECISIONS FOR THE DEAD

Where Death Comes Uninvited

CAST LIST

ACT 3

SCENE 19: INT – JAIL CELL IN LIBERTY – SOME TIME LATER (DAN, JIM, ANNIE, PRISONER #1, PRISONERS)

SCENE 20: EXT – MAIN STREET OF LIBERTY – EVENING (PRISONER #2, JIM, DAN, ANNIE)

SCENE 21: INT – CROW’S SHADOW’S TENT – DAWN (ANNIE, CROW’S SHADOW, JIM, SPEEDING ELK, SALLY TURNER)

CASTING SHEETS — MAJOR CHARACTERS

CASTING SHEETS — MINOR CHARACTERS

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Where Death Comes Uninvited – Episode 4 – The Fall of Liberty Gulch

Where Death Comes Uninvited

EPISODE #4 – THE FALL OF LIBERTY GULCH

Where Death Comes Uninvited

CAST LIST

SCENE 15: INT – TENT IN AN INDIAN VILLAGE – NIGHT (JIM, ABE, CROW’S SHADOW, LEAPING TOAD)

SCENE 16: – EXT – INJUN CAMPFIRE – MOMENTS LATER (JIM, ABE, BRAVE#1, LEAPING TOAD, CROW’S SHADOW, ONLOOKERS, CHIEF)

SCENE 17: EXT – SILVER MINE – NIGHT (JIM, CROW’S SHADOW ABE)

SCENE 18: EXT – ENTERING THE TOWN OF LIBERTY FROM THE DESERT – DAWN (ABE, JIM, DAN)

CASTING SHEETS — MAJOR CHARACTERS

CASTING SHEETS — MINOR CHARACTERS

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Where Death Comes Uninvited – Episode 3 – Into the Desert

Where Death Comes Uninvited

EPISODE #3 – INTO THE DESERT

Where Death Comes Uninvited

CAST LIST

SCENE 9: INT – THE SALOON – DAY (JIM, ABE, WALLACE, GUNMAN#1, GUNMAN#2)

SCENE 10: INT – THE CORRIDOR IN FRONT OF THE MAYOR’S LODGINGS – DAY (JIM, ABE)

SCENE 11: INT – THE MAYOR’S LODGINGS – A LITTLE LATER (JIM, ABE)

SCENE 12: EXT – THE EDGE OF TOWN – LATER (ABE, JIM, ANNIE, WALLACE)

SCENE 13: EXT – DESERT – DAY (JIM, ABE)

SCENE 14: EXT – SILVER MINE – EARLY EVENING. (JIM, ABE, DAN)

CASTING SHEETS — MAJOR CHARACTERS

CASTING SHEETS — MINOR CHARACTERS

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Where Death Comes Uninvited – Episode 2 – A New Deputy is in Town

Where Death Comes Uninvited

EPISODE #2 – A NEW DEPUTY IS IN TOWN

Where Death Comes Uninvited

CAST LIST

SCENE 4: EXT – MAIN STREET – MID MORNING (JIM, WALLACE)

SCENE 5: INT – ANNIE’S GENERAL STORE – LATER (ANNIE, WALLACE, JIM)

SCENE 6: EXT – MAIN STREET – MIDDAY (JIM, WALLACE, CROWD)

SCENE 7: INT – SHERIFF’S OFFICE – EVENING (JIM, ABE)

SCENE 8: EXT – MAIN STREET – NEXT DAY (JIM, ABE, ANNIE, PASSER BY#1, PASSERBY #2)

CASTING SHEETS — MAJOR CHARACTERS

CASTING SHEETS — MINOR CHARACTERS

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Where Death Comes Uninvited – Episode 1 – A New Sheriff

Where Death Comes Uninvited

EPISODE #1 – A NEW SHERIFF

Where Death Comes Uninvited

CAST LIST

ACT 1

SCENE 1: EXT – LIBERTY GULCH CEMETERY AND ENVIRONS – SUNDOWN (JIM, ANNIE, WOMAN #1, CROWD, MAN #1)

SCENE 2: INT – JAIL CELL AT THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE – EVENING (JIM, ANNIE, ABE, LYNCH MOBSTER #2, LYNCH MOBSTER #3, LYNCH MOBSTER #4, DAN)

ACT 2

SCENE 3: INT – THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE – EARLY MORNING (JIM, WALLACE)

CASTING SHEETS — MAJOR CHARACTERS

CASTING SHEETS — MINOR CHARACTERS

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

SCENE 12: EXT – THE EDGE OF TOWN – LATER
(ABE, JIM, ANNIE, WALLACE)

SCENE 3: INT – THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE – EARLY MORNING
(JIM, WALLACE)