Horse Thief Part Three

[libra_traveller]

Ext. Prison yard

 

There is a landing made of wood below a tree and a noose hanging from the tree with two horses held by guards nearby.

 

Damian is walked on top of it.

 

Mariana rushes through the prison yard with guards chasing after her.

 

                                                Mariana

                        Stop, please, you cannot kill this man.

 

                                                Damian

                        Mari!

 

                                                Chief

                        Who is this woman?

 

                                                Mariana

                        I’m Mariana Beckings… no, Dalakis.

 

                                                Chief

                        I don’t care what your name is, what

                        are you doing here?

 

                                                Mariana

                        That man, Damian, is my responsibility.

                        He shouldn’t even be here.  I was the one

                        who stole my father’s horses which he

                        was accused of doing.

 

                                                Chief

                        I don’t care who stole what, that doesn’t

                        change the fact that he interfered in the

                        running of this place.  Now he’s set to be

                        hung whether you like it or not missy, now

                        say your goodbyes and please be gone.

 

                                                Mariana

                        Let me take his place.

 

                                                Damian

                        Mari, no!

 

                                                Mariana

                        If you want justice served with a death, mine

     is just as good.

 

                                                Chief

                        And have your father, the great Mr. Dalakis

                        have me charged with murder, I think not.

                        Please be quiet, we have things to be doing.

 

Mariana watches helplessly as the noose is put around Damian’s neck and then connected to the horses.

 

Int. Bedroom of Charles Beckings’ House

 

The children watch from the door as Charles throws the letters around and then reads the last one before charging out the door.

 

Ext. Prison Yard

 

Mariana stands next to the landing looking up at Damian.

 

                                                Mariana

                        I’m so sorry.  I don’t know why I came.

                        I just wanted so much to save you, and now

                        I’ve failed.

 

                                                Damian

                        I’m just happy you came and that I got to

                        see your face one last time.  I love you.

 

                                                Mariana

                        I love you too.  I wish I had been stronger all

                        those years ago, able to face my father.

 

                                                Damian

                        Hey baby, you did save me, you sacrificed

                        your happiness in marrying Charles to keep

                        me from being hung then.  Because of you

                        I got six more years of grooming the horses

              I love so much.  Six more years of being able

     to read your pretty words and hear about the

                        children I never got to have.  I’m thankful

                        for what you did.  So stop apologizing, and

                        before the end, I just want to see you smiling.

                        Could you do that for me?

 

                                                Mariana

                                    (through tears)

                        Anything for you.

 

The chief yells to the horse handler.

 

                                                Mariana

                        Wait!

                                               

                                                Chief

                        Hold the horses!  Now what?

 

                                                Mariana

                        Horses! You need a trained horse, don’t you?

                        To replace the one you were forced to put

                        down?

 

                                                Chief

                        Well, yes, we do.

 

                                                Mariana

                        What if I gave you my horse, I trained

                        her myself.  She does anything she’s told…

                        and she’s never had a problem running

                        into my own children when angered, I think

                        she’d fit well in a place like this.

 

                                                Chief

                        You have her with you?

 

                                                Mariana

                        I rode her here.  She’s just outside the gate.

 

                                                Chief

                                    (to a guard)

                        Go bring in the horse!

                                    (to Mariana)

     You might just have a deal, but your lover here

     is still a prisoner, he won’t be going free, and if

     he pulls another stupid stunt, his life is mine.

 

                                                Mariana

                        Thank you!

 

Ext. Outside the Gate

 

Charles rides towards the gate of the prison and sees a guard dragging in his wife’s horse.  Then Charles jumps off his horse and runs past the guard.

 

Ext. Prison Yard

 

Damian is off the landing and Mariana is holding him in her arms.  Charles runs into the yard.

 

                                                Charles

                        How could you?  Every day in which you

                        were supposed to be loving me, you’ve been

                        writing him letters!  And you’ve left my

                        children alone with the nurse to save this

                        piece of manure’s life?

 

Mariana walks forward to Charles.

 

                                                Mariana

                        You’ve always known I’ve loved him.

                        I’ve still done everything I promised to do.

                        Obeyed your every whim.  Well I’m sick

                        of it.  I’m no longer your wife Charles.

                        This is it, it’s over.

 

                                                Charles

                        No, if I can’t have you, he won’t either.

 

A guard lets the horses free and they begin running around the yard chasing the watching prisoners.

 

Charles pulls a pistol out of his vest and aims it at Damian.  Mariana runs in front of Damian and a shot is heard.  Damian catches Mariana in his arms and blood forms out of her blouse near her heart.

 

                                                Mariana

                        Always you, Damian.

 

Her head lolls on his shoulder.

 

Charles drops the pistol and covers his mouth.

 

Ext. On the Road Damian and Mariana Originally Traveled

Two horses run free as the sun sets. 

Comments

[murdocsangel.livejournal.com]

That was really sad :( But I liked it. Especially the last line.

[libra-traveller.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you liked it! Sorry I wrote something so sad, but there really wasn't room for a happy ending and to still have a complete story arc. Thanks for reading and commenting on it!!