Howl the West Was Won – genre-meld feature script (selection)

The set up: a guy named Mackenzie (Mac) is a saloon owner with a terrible secret in a town being attacked by what can only be werewolves. The townsfolk are still putting the clues together…and, in so doing, have had enough — they’ve decided, collectively, to hightail it outta there.

In this scene, Mac’s gal Lacie — also the saloon madam — is seeing the exodus and awakens Mac, who runs out to confront a guy known only as Parson — a Clint Eastwood type who might very well have a secret of his own….

High-concept feature spec HOWL THE WEST WAS WON.

Log line: Werewolves descend upon a town in the Old West to have a showdown with the townsfolk and the reluctant Sheriff who’s battling his own demons.

(It’s New Moon meets American Werewolf in London meets a Speghetti Western — tone is light, while still balancing in scenes of terror and exciting Werewolf vs. Werewolf gunfights & showdowns!…Pardon the formatting here…)

INT. MACKENZIE’S BOUDOIR – DAY

LACIE
Mac! Mac get your ass outta that bed!

MacKenzie stirs but turns away.
Lacie kicks the bed and kicks Mac.

MACKENZIE
Aw, fuck an aging bull, Lacie, what d’you want?

LACIE
Already done fucked that bull – now
I’m just trying to stir ‘im up from
bed and come to the window.

MACKENZIE
Why?

LACIE
(solemn)
You need to take a look, Mac.

Impatient, Mac heads to the window.

MAC’S POV: It’s an exodus. Nearly the whole town is leaving.

MACKENZIE
Shit.

Rushing – he slips his boots on.

LACIE
This town empties out, you, me ‘n’
the girls’ll be deader than a frog in a
frozen lake.

He gives Lacie a “No foolin’” look, grabs a sheet, wraps himself and hustles out.

EXT. STREET OF TOWN – MOVING
Mac exits the saloon wearing little more than boots, a hat and a sheet. One arm stays hidden under the sheet.

Before reaching the crowd, Mac’s met by Teetle.

TEETLE
Now, Mac, you gotta tell these folks
you’re their sheriff. They ain’t staying around
after what happened last night.

MACKENZIE
(stops walking)
What happened last night?

TEETLE
Look around. Whole town was torn
up by them wolves.

MacKenzie looks around – sure enough, it’s a mess.

Beyond the East side of town, at the houses on the hill – broken windows, splintered wood, torn clothing waving in the wind.

MACKENZIE
(stunned)
Fuck the pigs and chickens…

Moving again…

TEETLE
My bank’ll be fine, people come
from all over. But no people, no
sheriff, no sheriff, no one to watch
the bank, no one to watch, I get robbed. I’ll
have to–

MACKENZIE
(disinterested)
Yeah, yeah.

Approaches townsfolk. Parson and Peachie are amongst them.

MACKENZIE
Parson! Parson you leadin’ this charge
out of town?

Parson steps forward, eyes squinty. He’s had enough worry.

PARSON
Doin’ what’s got to be done, MacKenzie.

PEACHIE
We’re getting the holy heck outta here!

Parson looks over disapprovingly at Peachie. He shrugs.

MACKENZIE
For the luvva horse spit, what in the fuck
you people want?

Parson steps forward, a proud Teetle smiles nearby.

PARSON
Case you hadn’t noticed, we got a problem.

Bartender, who’s part of the exiting crowd, speaks up…

BARTENDER
Parson here says you’ve got experience
with this sort of thing, Mac.

PARSON
You rid a town of wolves, no? Heard you
took on a pack all your own.

MACKENZIE
Ain’t you said these was more than wolves?
Not sure I’m up to a fight like that.

PARSON
Can’t say I’m sure what they are. But if
they’re comin’ out each night–

PEACHIE
Then we’re gettin’ the hell out ’fore
the next moon.

MACKENZIE
And that’s it?

PARSON
Looks like.

Long pause. Mac reveals the sheriff badge in one hand. It looks like he’s going to accept the job…

MACKENZIE
Parson…
(a beat)
How about you take the tin star? You got
all these folks here to follow you.

He tosses the star at Parson’s feet.

TEETLE
Yes, Mac, and they will follow him. Right
out of town. I can afford to relocate my
bank, Mr. Jonas there already lost
everything in his store last night, Mr.
And Mrs. O’Brien can cut hair anywhere.
You and yours? You all are gonna have a
tougher time of it.

PARSON
Point is, Mac, either take the job or get
out of our way.
(pulls gun)

MACKENZIE
Yer makin’ the fur on my back stand
on end, Parson.

Mac drops the sheet – he’s nekkid – drawing his SHOTGUN.

The crowd backs away from Parson.

Mac eyes the crowd moving off, he smiles a little –

The RED GLOW we saw briefly before returns to Mac’s EYES momentarily.

PARSON
MacKenzie, you point a gun, an’
whatever else, at a man pointin’ a gun
back, you better know for certain who’s
gonna trigger-itch first.

TEETLE
Gentleman, gentleman. I’m not sure why
we have to fight.
(to Mac)
Jerold, now, you’re a reasonable man–

MACKENZIE
Don’t know what ever gave you that idea.

TEETLE (CONT’D)
I see. Well, now, Parson. I understand
you want someone to put a stop to
all this wolf nonsense. I think Mr.
MacKenzie is better convinced without a gun.
(pause)
Although I know you and your Chinaman
friend like using them.

We see now that China-Sam’s flanked Mac and has him covered.

TEETLE (CONT’D)
Perhaps we can just holster those for a few seconds.

Everyone slowly lowers their guns.

TEETLE
Ahh. Mr. MacKenzie, how about you
throw on some proper dress and we
can discuss this, hm?
(whispers to Mac)
Just say yes…it’ll be fine.

Mac breathes deep…

FLASHBACK:
The white-furred were-monster we saw earlier flashes across the screen.

END FLASHBACK.

BACK TO SHOT.

MACKENZIE
Gentleman…
(looks to crowd)
Ladies…Families. It’s not that I
don’t want to help you. Or help me.
It’s just that–
(pause)
–I ain’t in no position to offer help,
and you ain’t in no position to accept
the help I can offer.
(to Parson)
And that’s just how it’s got to be.

PO’d, Mac throws the shotgun onto his shoulder and saunters off to his saloon.

Parson hangs his head.

PEACHIE
(quietly)
What now?

PARSON
We gotta leave. An’ hope we get
outta here in time.

Copyright 2008 Keith P.