WRITTEN BYEric Roth·Martin Scorsese
SCREENPLAY PROFILE
This page presents the Killers of the Flower Moon (2023) screenplay, written by Eric Roth and Martin Scorsese, as 188 navigable scenes across 155 pages. Search the text, isolate a character’s dialogue, or link directly to any scene.
The train is crowded with travelers, WWI Soldiers (Osage and white), oil executives/engineers, Osage families, vagabonds and hustlers. We come upon ERNEST BURKHART (white, 30s) his uniform half off, half drunk, heading back home.
The train pulls into the station and the variety of passengers get off – into a mass of activity – hustlers, families reuniting, businessmen, shoppers -
Ernest steps onto the platform and takes it all in.
A well dressed little person hands Ernest a flier – he reads it: “Make it Rich”. As Ernest walks past the TAXI STAND he sees very well dressed well-to-do Osage greeting their families and getting into beautiful cars. We see four or five poor sketchy characters who are loitering around the station looking hungrily at the well-to-do Osage. Ernest reacts. Then a fight breaks out. Ernest skirts around it and through the fight a large man comes from behind him: HENRY ROAN (Osage, 30s) Very handsome, striking, well-dressed, hair in braids.
Ernest and Henry Roan driving, seeing rows of derricks in wide open space...
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They drive under a sign that says, “HALE RANCH” and there are no derricks here. This is a cattle ranch.
UNCLE WILLIAM HALE, KING OF THE OSAGE (60s) comes out to meet Ernest with a warm greeting, accompanied by his wife MYRTLE “MYRTIE” HALE and daughter WILLIE. Hale mutters something to Henry Roan in broken Osage…
Hale just holds on tightly to Ernest, happy he’s back alive.
Hale and Ernest, sitting together by the fire…
This is a cattle ranch. There’s no oil here. So I’m settled with no fear.
These Osage have had enough trouble, they’re down to not too many of them left.
There’s a way that nature moves and changes direction and that’s happened upon them. Time will run out, this wealth will run dry drier than the seven years of famine that plagued the Pharaohs of old. They’re sick people. Big hearted but sickly.
You saw bloodshed?
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Hale looks at him.
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Hale pours some Whiskey. In the b.g., through the front door enters: BYRON BURKHART, Ernest’s brother, comes over to join them.
Ernest looks from his brother Byron back to his Uncle.
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Hale reaches over and gets a book (shows Ernest who leafs through the pages) -
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Looking down on an OSAGE MAN writhing in agony - crying out. His body suffers severe convulsions.
Tighter on his BOOTS with a JUG lying on its side.
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Traditional and “modern” dressed Osage gathered outside the bank (or same office building as Mollie) to deposit their quarterly annuity checks. A carnival atmosphere as a clerk directs Osage assembling.
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Traditional Osage couple come forward. Clerk leads them inside.
KNEES. HE’S LOOKING UP AT SOMEONE, BEGGING.
We see THREE OSAGE with THE SALESMAN. The OSAGE look at him.
The SALESMAN SLAMS his hand against a black Pierce Arrow car. Overjoyed.
10 ERNEST WAITING ON THE STREET, AT HIS CAB. NEARBY HUSTLER 10 PHOTOGRAPHERS LOOK TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE OSAGE WITH FRESH FUNDS. HENRY ROAN IS THERE WITH A YOUNG WOMAN - ENJOYING THE PATTER. HENRY AND ERNEST SEE EACH OTHER.
PHOTOGRAPHER 1 [NEED LINES] ...$30 - get a photo taken for posterity –
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11 INSERT: THREE POSED STUDIO PHOTOS OF OSAGE (USING ANTIQUE 11 CAMERA):
Two men posing on a crescent moonprop, Osage relatives in a formal portrait (mix of traditional and “modern” clothing) and the four sisters - Mollie, Reta, Anna, Minnie.
PUNCH IN TO a C.U. of Mollie
12 MOLLIE EMERGES FROM BEATY’S OFFICE. ERNEST GOES TO HER: 12
He opens the door for her as an IMPROMPTU CAR RACE speeds by with 10-15 people including kids chasing and cheering after. Ernest rushes Mollie into the car. Two of the people rushing after are KELSIE MORRISON (white, 30s) local hustler, flamboyant dress and CATHERINE COLE, (OSAGE) his wife.
Ernest looks over to Mollie to see if this is impressing her. Suddenly A HORSE is spooked by the cars.
Kelsie races after the cars. Pitts Beaty looks down at Mollie.
Quiet exterior of the church. Ernest is waiting in his car. Then Mollie exits the church, says goodbye to the PRIEST.
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The HOMINY FOOTBALL TEAM passes her as Ernest jumps out of the car and opens the door for her -- See Mollie and we hear:
Sitting around a dining table HALE, ERNEST and BYRON:
Ernest gets it, thinks, turns and looks at his brother Byron…who nods at him…as if Byron has already heard this idea and is encouraging Ernest…
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Ernest looks again to Byron…Byron looks back.
Ernest and Mollie in the car.
He scoffs back.
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Ernest drops Mollie off at her home. Teasing smiles as he watches her head inside. And over her we begin to hear Ernest reading -
17 FLASH ON CAMERA: A SIGN THAT READS, “NO DOGS, NO INDIANS” 17
CU. Ernest, reading from a book at a 6th grade level about Osage culture and history. CU. flipping pages of the book. Continues reading -
Byron Burkhart comes in and gathers up Ernest, who throws the book down:
They all jump into a car and head off into the night...
A well-dressed Osage couple: MR. AND MRS. FRED DENOYA get out of the car by their garage when THREE MASKED MEN (Ernest, Blackie, Byron) come up on them and take their Diamond Rings and Stickpin.
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They run off into the night.
Ernest betting stolen jewels on a table. He, Blackie and Byron in a poker game with OTHER GUYS.
Cards turned over. They lose.
Ernest and the rest leaving the pool hall at dawn, dejected, head in different directions. Ernest gets in his cab.
LIZZIE Q., Traditional Osage, Mollie’s mother, prays at dawn by a creek near the house.
SEE: A SUN THROUGH THE CLOUDS. A CRESCENT MOON. A WILDFIRE BURNING THE PRAIRIE.
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We see tiny Spring flowers spread over the prairie.
The baby naming ceremony. Ernest stands by the car, watching Mollie and the ceremony from a distance. Mollie’s extended family is here.
Ernest pulls up to Mollie’s Homestead. Servants. A few male ranch hands take care of the property. Ernest, carrying shopping bags, helps Mollie to her door. Mollie hands Ernest a box. He opens it. It’s a hat.
Ernest tries on the hat...
As Ernest steps inside, he sees: LIZZIE Q, Mollie’s mother. She stares at him, he nods to her. She is very old and in traditional Osage style rests on the floor... he tries a smile at her, she doesn’t.
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Mollie and Ernest finishing their dinner... She offers him a CIGARELLO. Lizzie is asleep in the next room. They speak quietly:
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I’m my own man, I do my own work. I’m a businessman.
silence, then:
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Mollie looks.
MOLLIE MOLLIE
psh, Trickster... Eh-sheh, sho-mee-kah-see...
RAIN starts to fall. We can hear it through an OPEN WINDOW.
MOLLIE MOLLIE
Do you like whiskey? Do you like peh-tseh nee?
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Mollie gets up to get a bottle. We hear THUNDER. Wind is blowing the rain in. Ernest gets up to close the window.
They go back and sit.
He looks at her. She looks at him. He looks over at Lizzie.
An awkward moment.
There’s a solemnity that comes over the two of them. A bond.
Rain battering the exterior of the house.
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Ernest has joined Mollie for Sunday services. Mollie’s sisters are here: ANNA (the wild one) RETA (sensible one) MINNIE (the weak one). And MINNIE’S HUSBAND, BILL SMITH (white, 30s).
Ernest stands. Then - embarrassed - sees that everyone is kneeling. Bill Smith is doing it right. Gives Ernest a look. (Sizing each other up.)
A gathering, picnic after Church. Osage style with people eating on the ground. A SHINNY game being played nearby - Ernest watches with PAUL RED EAGLE.
Hale standing with a group of Osage men including Henry Roan watching an OSAGE ARTIST PAINTING THE SCENE. They’re laughing together. He notices Bill Smith with Minnie who’s sitting with her sisters eating. An OLDER OSAGE WOMAN leans over to give Minnie something and reveals a knife under her clothing. Hale looks over to Ernest - then to Mollie.
Ernest looks over to Mollie and her sisters.
30 ANGLE, MOLLIE AND HER SISTERS. 30
They’re talking about Ernest…in OSAGE:
MOLLIE MOLLIE
He’s not that smart but he’s Sheh-theh kee-oh-pxah-zhee handsome. ahkxah, ah-zheen thah-leen ah-
kxai.
RETA RETA
He looks like a Snake. Wets’ ah ween ee-kohn-skah ah-
kxah-ee.
MOLLIE MOLLIE
No, he looks like Coyote. Hahn-kah-zhee, shohn-meen-kah- Those Blue Eyes. see ween ee-kohn-skah doh-hoh
theh.
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ANNA ANNA
His brother is handsome, too. Ee-son-kah ah-kxah thah-leen I like the brother more. shkee ah-kxah-een. Eh ahn-oh-
xtah xtsee.
MINNIE MINNIE
That red haired rat? Een-tsoh-dahn pah-xeen zhoo-
tseh theh?
ANNA ANNA
Better than your possum, Eeh thah-leen, seen-shdah playing dead and lazing thee-dah ah-kxah, ts’eh thee- around the house. hee-tseh oh-thoots’ ah-keh
shkee oh-tsee-leh eh-tsee ah- kxah-ee.
MINNIE MINNIE
He’a possum around you, he’s Thee-eh ah-kee-xeh seen-shdah like a rabbit to me... ween ah-kxah-ee, ahn-zhee wee-
eh mahn-shtseen-kah ween eh- kohn ah-kxah-ee.
RETA RETA
Be quiet. Coyote’s watching. Oh-nee theen-kah. Shohn-meen-
kah-see dohn-peh ah-kxah-ee.
(They all look at him.)
MINNIE MINNIE
He wants our money. Mahn-zeh-skah ahn-koh-dah-
pee kohn-thah ah-kxah-een
MOLLIE MOLLIE
Of course he wants money, but Mahn-zeh skah kohn-thah skah, he wants to be settled. He’s ah-zheen meen-lahn-keh kohn- not restless... thah ah-kxah skah. Eh dah-eh-
thah-leen ah-kxah-een.
MINNIE MINNIE
With him you won’t need Pitts Zo-thah-leh, Pitts Beaty dah- Beaty to tell you what to do dah(n) thee-dah oh-thoh-wah- with your money. theh shkoh(n)-shdah ee(n)-kee
dah(n).
RETA RETA
His Uncle has money... it’s Een tseh-kee ah-kxah mahn-zeh- not money he wants... he skah ah-theen ah-kxah-een… loves you. Mahn-zeh-skah een-kee ah-kxah-
een… Thee-oh-xdah-peh
CU. MOLLIE looks at Ernest.
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CU. ERNEST looks at Mollie.
Ernest and Mollie parked out away from Mollie’s house, like teenagers making out in the back of the car. She puts his hand on her stomach, looks down at it.
Will you do that?
They kiss.
32 SOMEWHERE 32
A GROUP OF YOUNG OSAGE RUN in a FOOTRACE toward a DECORATED CAR carrying Mollie dressed in full WEDDING REGALIA. A RUNNER reaches Mollie first and they all celebrate. CU MOLLIE.
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UNDER AN ARBOR, THE TRADITIONAL OSAGE LEADER BLESSES in OSAGE the newly married Mollie and Ernest. Witnessed by all of Gray Horse and Fairfax. An Osage style reception. Extended family and Kelsie Morrison and Catherine Cole. The BIGHEARTS: GRACE and JOHN (wearing his traditional roach) and BERTHA and JOE.
A JUSTICE OF THE PEACE holding a BIBLE stands with Bill Hale. TRADITIONAL OSAGE LEADER crossfades with Bill Hale’s voice: his own blessing:
As Hale’s voice continues, we see -
Mollie presiding over an Osage “giveaway”. A HORSE decorated with blanket is presented to THE TRADITIONAL LEADER as a gift. Lizzie straightens up her daughters’ wedding coats and An Osage woman takes a photo of wedding party with the LATEST CAMERA.
Band playing (white music) - people dancing - noticeably Kelsie.
Hale’s POV. He goes through the crowd - glad handing like a politician – but focused on Minnie who looks weak and Bill. He reaches them ignores Bill Smith - there’s tension:
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HALE HALE
So many troubles. What we’ve So many troubles. What we’ve brought on you... I’m brought on you... I’m sorry... I hear it in the sorry... Tah-tseh kee eh ah- wind, it screams like a woman nahnk-’ohn, wahk’-oh ween who has the evil spirit, nahn-xeh hohn-zhee ah-theen that’s what you Osage say... tseh eh pahn eh-kohn, that’s
what you Osage say...
Hale invokes an Osage prayer for Minnie... All the while, freezing out Bill Smith... who looks away.
Minnie, thahk-eh thahk-shee kohn-brah meen-ksheh Kah-sheh-nahn
Hale’s Prayer continues over the next scene.
CUT TO
35 B/W HOMES MOVIES OF OSAGE 35
FOOTBALL GAME featuring one OSAGE FOOTBALL PLAYER coming at us. Hale’s Osage prayer fades away as we hear Mollie’s voice.
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36 FOOTBALL PLAYER LAID OUT ON A BED DEAD. 36
37 NEWSREEL FOOTAGE BILL STEPSON FAMOUS OSAGE ROPER, DOING A 37 ROPING TRICK.
38 BILL STEPSON LAID OUT DEAD. 38
39 HOME MOVIES OF ANNA SANFORD, FULL BLOOD, AND HER FAMILY. 39
Family picnic, kid in stroller, OR other family activity
40 ANNA SANFORD LAID OUT DEAD. 40
41 HOME MOVIES OF ROSE LEWIS LAUGHING WITH FRIENDS. 41
42 ROSE LEWIS BODY FLOATING IN A MARSH. 42
43 SARA BUTLER, AGED 21, BEAUTIFUL AND PREGNANT IS SITTING ON 43 HER FRONT LAWN, PLAYING WITH HER INFANT BABY.
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She is suddenly shot. WHITE MAN comes out of the house, walks over to her, places a GUN next to her as if it’s a suicide and takes the infant baby inside.
We see SARA BUTLER’S body on the ground.
MINNIE has died. It’s a year later.
Mollie and her sisters mourning over Minnie who has recently died. Lizzie is close by in mourning.
TIME CUT:
Minnie’s wake. Her open casket sits in room off the livingroom. She is dressed in her finest Osage traditional clothing. A feather sits on her chest. LIZZIE touches her hands, her chest, her head, then her own heart and head.
In the living room, family and friends milling around the house. Ernest, his wardrobe completely transformed, dressed like a dandy. Bow tie, colorful wardrobe touches, is waiting in the living room.
Bill Smith comes from the kitchen.
Ernest and Bill Smith look at each other a little, odd, tense.
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There’s people around... Ernest gets up and moves to the porch.
Bill Hale is here with Anna. He slips her a FLASK. She walks away. Ernest sits with him.
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CU. HALE looks at Ernest. Ernest looks back, then away…
47 LIZZIE HELPED OUTSIDE BY HER DAUGHTERS TO GET AIR. 47
Mollie is carrying her first child ELIZABETH. They sit Lizzie down make her comfortable. Young Osage help their Elders get food, get comfortable.
48 BACK TO HALE - 48
After her... Reta... Anna... Then of course, there’s Mollie.
CU. ERNEST listens to all this.
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49 INSERT: ANNA, DRUNK, IN TOWN, AT NIGHT, REACHES IN HER 49 ALLIGATOR PURSE, PULLS OUT A GUN AND IS THREATENING A DRUNK WHITE MAN WHO GRABBED HER. SHE FIRES THE GUN ON THE GROUND IN FRONT OF HIM.
50 HALE AND ERNEST LETTING THIS SETTLE 50
CHARLES WHITEHORN, (20s OSAGE) wearing distinctive clothing IS SHOT. He is dragged away and dumped.
Mollie and daughter Elizabeth praying at dawn by a creek.
They walk back to their home... which is now over-run with Fancy Cars parked out front, painted various colors --
Mollie is holding her new baby, JAMES “COWBOY” and blowing SMOKE in his ear to soothe an earache. Ernest is with Elizabeth. All sitting together. Mollie and Ernest are telling an Osage story.
KOTFM - Final Shooting Script - August 10, 2022 33.
We see the four of them together as a family. Mollie’s voice carries over into the next scene.
Byron is asleep on the porch, he gets up - goes in the house. Horace comes out of the back bedroom with his two kids. From another room we see DUKE BURKHART come out. All getting ready for breakfast.
JAMES “COWBOY”, is carried to a high chair by MARTHA, the servant.
A visiting AUNT ANNIE and UNCLE JIM are there.
Lizzie, her eyes closed, is on the floor to the side.
55 OWL DREAM (OWL IN THE EMPTY HOUSE?) 55
OWL in the house.
CU. LIZZIE - she opens her eyes. She’s looking at all these people in her house.
Mollie comes over to her, in Osage, subtitles:
LIZZIE LIZZIE
Did you see the Owl? Wah-poh-kah ee-thah-theh?
MOLLIE MOLLIE
No. hahn-kah-zhee.
LIZZIE LIZZIE
When you do it’s a sign that Ee-thah-theh thah-hah oh- we are dying. peh-nee eh ahn-xee-thah
ahn-kah-kxah-een.
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MOLLIE MOLLIE
We are dying. Ahnts’eh tah ah-pah.
LIZZIE LIZZIE
Because of you... You all Thee-eh dahn … een shdah-xeen marry white men. Our blood is wah-shtsoo-xah-peh. Wah-peen getting white. Where’s Anna? ahn-koh-dah-pee ah-kxah I want Anna. skah ah-hee-peh. Hoh-wah-
een-kee Anna? Anna konbrah meenk-sheh.
MOLLIE MOLLIE
I’m here. Sheh meen-ksheh.
LIZZIE LIZZIE
I don’t want you, I want Thee-eh konbrah mah-zhee Anna. meenk-sheh, Anna konbrah
meenk-sheh.
The AUNT ANNIE looks at Cowboy and the daughter Elizabeth:
An hour later and Anna pulls up in a cab, gets out and is clearly very drunk in the middle of the day...
Ernest, by a well, sees her wobble up to the house...
ERNEST ERNEST
Not yet... but... Hahn –kah-zhee…ahn-zhee…
Mollie, from the window of the house, sees Anna and comes out... in OSAGE/ENGLISH MIX:
ANNA ANNA
I brought blankets for Momma. Hah-xeen toh-eh ee-nahn ah-
breen ah-tsee-eh.
MOLLIE MOLLIE
You’re drunk already? Ee-toh, thah-lohn-shtseen
shtsee- shtahn?
KOTFM - Final Shooting Script - August 10, 2022 35.
ANNA ANNA
I’m still drunk from last Hahn tsee tah ah-lohn-breen night, you woke me up. shohn ah-theen-heh ahn-shchee-
xeen peh.
MOLLIE MOLLIE
Stay outside a little, don’t Kah-txahn ah-shee tah wah- let Momma see you this way. spah, ee-nahn theh-kohn ee-
thee-thah theen-kah.
ANNA ANNA
I’m just lay with her, don’t Eh ah-zhahn meen-ksheh. Ahn- fuss on me, Mollie… wahn-kee-ah theen-gah, wee-
deh-zheen
They enter and all the Burkharts turn and see the hot-mess of Anna. She makes a straight line for Byron…
Ernest enters the house, watching uncomfortable the whole tense interaction that is a mix of Osage/English:
BRYAN BRYAN
Are you making threats? Keep Kee-dah-keh ee-eh shkah-xeh yourself settled down in thah-een-sheh? Keep yourself here, Anna, no one wants a settled down in here, Anna, mess. Oh’-ee-eh tseh peh kon-thah
een-keh.
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ERNEST ERNEST
You’re making threats, Anna. You’re making threats, Anna. Don’t do that. Eh-kee-ohn theen-kah.
ANNA ANNA
(to Ernest) (to Ernest) You can’t talk - you’re no Ee-eh shtsoo-ts’ah-keh thah- different...(to Byron) I’m txahn-sheh – thee-eh kohn-zeh- telling you a secret that you kohn thah-txahn-sheh.(to don’t know... You think I Byron) I’m telling you a open my legs for any man? secret that you don’t know...
You think I open my legs for any man?
She smacks him, he laughs a little. Ernest jumps in, Mollie comes over and ushers her away, it turns messy –
Aunt Annie watching the whole scene, shaking her head. Things settle.
Byron gets up and moves to get another drink from Martha, who’s scared:
Anna comes over and starts throwing punches -- Ernest and Mollie attempting to calm things:
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Anna goes for the gun in her purse. Ernest stops her and pushes Byron out of the house --
MOLLIE MOLLIE
Don’t scream in the house. Tsee tah ho-tahn theen-kah. Don’t scream in front of the Zheen-kah-zheen ah-kee-xeh ho- children. tahn theen-kah.
ANNA ANNA
Stay away from these white Stay away from these white women. Stay away from this women. Stay away from this Wa- prostitute. co-no-ho(n).
Byron and Ernest outside, quiet moment smoking a cigarette:
PAUSE, THEN, RE: ANNA.
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LATER
Anna is sobering up, laying with her mother Lizzie.
In Osage, subtitles:
LIZZIE LIZZIE
You’re wild. Dah-eh-thah-leen-zhee thah-
een-sheh.
Anna smiles and then there’s a BANG ON THE DOOR.
LIZZIE LIZZIE
You’re my best blessing. Thahk’eh-ahn-kee-theh oh-
tsee wee-dah neenk-sheh.
ANNA ANNA
I’m your favorite? Kee-oh-xtah ahn-shkah-xah-
peh?
LIZZIE LIZZIE
Yes. Stay with me here. Ahn-hain. Theh-kah zhoh-ahn-
leh wah-spah.
Ernest bangs again.
MOMENT
Anna comes out and Ernest is there, she gets a little surly.
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She wobbles down the steps... Mollie comes to her and they have a tender moment, speak Osage, subtitles:
MOLLIE MOLLIE
Please go home and sleep, Thah-leh zhahn thah-leen, eh- don’t go tsee tah mahn-theen theen- out. You’re my wealth... kah. Oh-thoh-xdah we-dah thae-
sheh
ANNA ANNA
Don’t worry little sister. Oak-ka shea-ga inka, wee-day-
jee.
Ernest helps Anna into Byron’s car. Byron’s at the wheel.
CU. MOLLIE having come down the path - anxious -
Ernest and Mollie go inside. Car pulls away.
62 MOLLIE’S POV, WIDE SHOT 62
The car heads to Fairfax.
63 MONTAGE: DAY ANNA’S BODY FOUND: MOLLIE AT DAWN, PRAYING. 63
KOTFM - Final Shooting Script - August 10, 2022 40.
Sheriff comes to find Mollie treating her kids to French pastry.
65 INSERT: MOLLIE IS DRIVEN TO THREE MILE CREEK. 65
Ernest is here and half the town already.
MOLLIE’S POV – She walks towards the murder scene, all the faces look TOWARD CAMERA at her... She looks down and sees a Wooden Box being pulled up from the dry river bed.
67 ERNEST HOLDING MOLLIE LOOKING. ANNA’S BODY ON A MAKESHIFT 67 TABLE.
Mollie identifies Anna’s body.
68 TIME CUT: THEY WATCH THE MAKESHIFT AUTOPSY. HALE COMES OVER 68 AND CONSOLES HER.
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69 INSERT: CHARLIE WHITEHORN’S BODY IS FOUND BY SOME OIL WORKERS69 DAYS AFTER BEING SHOT.
71 CUT TO MOLLIE, LISTENING. 71
SEE: ERNEST, he looks around.
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72 INSERT: KELSIE MORRISON, BYRON BURKHART, BLACKIE THOMPSON 72 POSING IN PORTRAIT STUDIO [LIKE THE REFERENCE PHOTO OF YOUNG HALE & HIS COWBOY BUDDIES].
73 BACK TO TRIBAL COUNCIL MEETING - 73
BILL SMITH, Minnie’s widower, sits down next to RETA, she comforts Bill.
BILL HALE rises and says:
KOTFM - Final Shooting Script - August 10, 2022 43.
A man stands up: BARNEY McBRIDE (50s, white) (married to Osage) stands up.
Mollie and Ernest as the meeting breaks up.
Ernest and Mollie waiting out front. Reta approaches with BILL SMITH on her arm.
KOTFM - Final Shooting Script - August 10, 2022 44.
Mollie and Reta are with a CLOSED CASKET holding Anna’s body.
Ernest in the front of the shop.
KOTFM - Final Shooting Script - August 10, 2022 45.
ANGLE, OVER RETA AND MOLLIE, ONTO THE COFFIN HOLDING ANNA’S CORPSE.
CU. THE TWO SISTERS looking down.
Mollie & Ernest and Reta & Bill are sitting with SCOTT MATHIS (white, 40s) executing Anna’s will. He’s showing them a ledger.
He hands checks to Bill and Ernest.
KOTFM - Final Shooting Script - August 10, 2022 46.
Scott continues to blather on...
MOLLIE’s voice is heard:
CU. MOLLIE, as she walks through the crowded streets with Ernest by her side. He guides her by the arm. CAMERA as her POV seeing a never ending collection of WHITE FACES. (note: the following voiceover from SUNDOWN by JJ Mathews)
theen-keh ep-sheh, hohn-zhee
I close my heart and keep theh, ahn-zhee shee ah-hoo ah- what is good there, but hate pai. comes… Thahn-tseh wee-dah ah-pee-
sahn meen-ksheh koh-eh eh- tsee dah-dahn thah-leen kee- tseh-theh meen-ksheh, ah- zheen ee-see ah-hoo...
Mollie watching for someone, all the Speculators, Vagabonds, Hustlers jumping off the arriving train.
Ernest amongst them, looking for someone…
KOTFM - Final Shooting Script - August 10, 2022 47.
ts’eh-thah-peh, eh ts’eh-ah- theh thah-leen ehp-sheh.
One of the men getting off the train: PRIVATE DETECTIVE WILLIAM J. BURNS with mustache walks up:
He hands over his card.
CU. CARD, lists all these cities:
William J Burns talking to Mollie, Ernest is sitting here, listening:
KOTFM - Final Shooting Script - August 10, 2022 48.
Same Bill Smith, two sisters?
BILL and RETA SMITH exiting Sheriff Freas’ office.
80 BILL AND RETA TALKING TO THE CAB DRIVER THAT DROVE ANNA THE 80 DAY OF THE MURDER...
The cab has pulled over at GRAY HORSE CEMETERY, Anna in the backseat. She takes a last drink from the flask Hale gave her.
KOTFM - Final Shooting Script - August 10, 2022 49.
She fixes her hair, leans in and says:
Anna stumbles across the graves. She arrives at her FATHER’S HEADSTONE, places some flowers down.
Back to Mollie, Ernest and William J Burns:
Mollie doesn’t answer.
Flashforward: Ernest plays double agent for Hale.
CU. HALE - Hale considers this.
KOTFM - Final Shooting Script - August 10, 2022 50.
Bill and Reta visit with the theater manager asking questions. People are on line.
CU. BYRON BURKHART watching Bill Smith’s investigation from inside a shop window.
Back to Ernest and Mollie:
Hale and Ernest talk quietly in the half empty pool hall/barber shop.
KOTFM - Final Shooting Script - August 10, 2022 51.
AN EXPLOSION. Blackie and another figure behind a gravestone run.
A90 EXT. OSAGE CAVES – DAY A90
Ernest RIDES A HORSE to a CAVE AREA and asks A GROUP OF OUTLAWS (6 or 7) where Blackie is.
goods and hang out. Ernest and Blackie drink whiskey.
Ernest is touching the jewels -
KOTFM - Final Shooting Script - August 10, 2022 52.
Does that sound like a good one to you, Blackie?
CAMERA follows the silhouette of BLACKIE THOMPSON running across the front yard of Mollie’s homestead --
ERNEST, at the bedroom window, looks down on the Buick Roadster he’s left in the yard, sees Blackie jump in and start it up, drive off –
91 MOLLIE WAKES UP AT THE SOUND. 91
Cowboy is sleeping beside her.
KOTFM - Final Shooting Script - August 10, 2022 53.
(kissing her)
Ernest caresses Mollie.
KOTFM - Final Shooting Script - August 10, 2022 54.
Ernest’s car and a police car stopped on the side of the highway. Blackie is making a run for it in the prairie. Police chase him.
A93 INSERT: FAMILY PORTRAIT #1 A93
Mollie, Ernest, Elizabeth and Baby Cowboy posed for a Family Portrait.
CAMERA is close on a small wooden box, unloaded from the train, amidst all the other big ticket items like people, cattle, large heavy boxes of construction supplies being unloaded, CAMERA follows this small wooden shipping box carried by a YOUNG WHITE MAN.
94 ...HE BRINGS THE BOX INTO FAIRFAX. HE BRINGS THE BOX UP THE 94 STAIRS INSIDE THE BANK TO THE SECOND FLOOR, PAST THE MASONIC HALL AND INTO THE SHOUN BROTHERS DOCTORS OFFICE.
Doctors DAVID and JAMES SHOUN (white, 40s). James Shoun is handling a BOTTLE OF INSULIN from the small wooden box. Ernest is standing next to him, impressed.
KOTFM - Final Shooting Script - August 10, 2022 55.
Shoun sinking a needle into the bottle.
96 MOLLIE, LOOKING HEAVIER/SICK, THEIR DAUGHTER ELIZABETH ON THE96 FLOOR PLAYING.
ERNEST ERNEST
(in Osage) (in Osage) ...And bacon. …wah-shee shkee
ELIZABETH ELIZABETH
And taffy! Zah-Nee Skee!
He gives her the shot. Ernest helps Mollie get her shirt and blanket back on.
Ernest helps Mollie.
KOTFM - Final Shooting Script - August 10, 2022 56.
BILL HALE has come unannounced to the house. He honks over and over. Ernest looks out the door, Cowboy behind him - interrupted their play on the floor. Ernest comes running out... notices a mood on Hale... Ernest just gets in the car. They drive off.
They park the car and get out, Ernest follows Hale… [everyday streetlife around them]
Hale and Ernest enter a back room. Byron Burkhart is here, waiting for them.
Hale takes Ernest by the ear and forces him to kneel.
Ernest kneeling.
KOTFM - Final Shooting Script - August 10, 2022 57.
Byron walks as directed and gets a paddle hanging on the wall. (Masonic type ritual paddle) Byron gives to Hale.
Ernest gets paddled by Hale. The first knocks him forward into chairs. Byron pulls him back up. Then he gives him four good smacks, Hale grabs Ernest by the hair of his head.
They sit, settle, then:
KOTFM - Final Shooting Script - August 10, 2022 58.
She got the Tribal Council to pay for Barney McBride’s trip to Washington.
She’s a very hard headed woman and she’s making things hard on you.
100 NEWSREEL: TULSA MASSACRE 100
We see Hale, Myrtle and Willie looking at the newsreel. Tighter on Hale.
KOTFM - Final Shooting Script - August 10, 2022 59.
HENRY ROAN is being examined by the two DR SHOUNS.
While Henry Roan dresses, SHOUN talks to HALE.
At the foot of the stairs is a young woman PEARL - a friend of Henry’s - waiting.
KOTFM - Final Shooting Script - August 10, 2022 60.
They ignore her.
Henry storms off.
KOTFM - Final Shooting Script - August 10, 2022 61.
CU. MOLLIE, listening to something…
She is in her back room where she gets her medical treatments. She’s alone. We hear something outside the room, moving feet, shuffling. The door opens and Ernest brings the Shoun Brothers in.
We see this through Mollie’s eyes. Her steadiness, paranoia, watching each move of everyone in the room.
It’s a silent scene. They get the needle prepared, the insulin. Mollie in English/Osage, to Ernest:
MOLLIE MOLLIE
Not today now. Turn them Hahn-pah theh, eh-kee-mahn away. kohn-brah theen-keh.
Toh-wah-kxah mahn-theen tseh- ah.
ERNEST ERNEST
What? Dah-dahn?
MOLLIE MOLLIE
I don’t want it today. Eh kohn-bra mahn-zhee hahn-pa
theh.
ERNEST ERNEST
...but they’re Doctors. … wah-kahn-dah-kee eh ah-
kxah..
MOLLIE MOLLIE
Not today now. Hahn-pah theh, hahn-kah-zhee
ERNEST ERNEST
It’s the Shouns, they’re the Shouns eh ah-kxah, wah-kahn- doctors. dah-kee eh ah-kxah.
MOLLIE MOLLIE
Turn them away. Toh-wah-kxah mahn-theen tseh-
ah.
CU. ERNEST hesitates, thinks, then:
KOTFM - Final Shooting Script - August 10, 2022 62.
They leave. Mollie to Ernest:
MOLLIE MOLLIE
I don’t like them. I don’t Weh-ah-see eh, weh-ah-nahn-he- believe them. mahn-zhee meen-ksheh.
ERNEST ERNEST
You can’t be the Doctor. We Thee-eh wah-kahn-dah-kee nee- need the shots and insulin. eh shtsoots’-ah-keh. What then, Mollie? Insulin oh-weh-peh-tseh ahn-
kohn-thah ah-kxah-een. Kah- thohn hee-ah-nahn, Mollie?
MOLLIE MOLLIE
I’ll take it from you. I Shtseh-ahn-thah-theh ah-kshee- don’t want it from them, turn theh tseh. Kah-tseh wah-kohn- them away. bra mahn-zhee, doh-wah-kxah
mahn-theen tseh-ah.
104 ERNEST, THINKS, GOES OUTSIDE, FINDS THEM ON THE PORCH. THE 104 KIDS HAVE FOLLOWED HIM OUTSIDE.
KOTFM - Final Shooting Script - August 10, 2022 63.
He grabs the INSULIN (BOX), heads back inside the house – the kids follow him.
105 INSIDE: ERNEST SAYS TO MOLLIE… 105
MOLLIE MOLLIE
Give it to me. Ahnk’oo-eh.
Ernest settles and sits down, gets the shot and the insulin ready. She lifts her blouse and he gives her the insulin shot.
KOTFM - Final Shooting Script - August 10, 2022 64.
Roan attacking ROY BUNCH (white, grinding sausage) with a club across the back of his head.
MARY ROAN, Henry’s wife, comes in and separates them.
Bank doors open and BANK MANAGER let’s in Bill & Ernest – Pearl is right there with the Bank Manager.
Pearl follows Hale and Ernest.
Henry is standing shouting at a BANK EMPLOYEE.
Hale gets him.
KOTFM - Final Shooting Script - August 10, 2022 65.
Hale and Ernest help an almost collapsing Roan - Hale hands Roan to Ernest and Pearl who take him toward the door. Hale turns and admonishes everyone in the bank -
Hale and Ernest lay Roan on the floor.
They lay him out on the floor, catch their breath.
109 ERNEST & HALE SITTING IN THE NEXT ROOM. HAVING A DRINK. 109
KOTFM - Final Shooting Script - August 10, 2022 66.
Mollie is sitting with her mother, Lizzie, who has had a bed set up on the floor of the summer house. Mollie is COMBING her hair as she gets closer to death... Reta comes in... Elizabeth and Cowboy are there, too. At a distance the Shouns are lurking putting away their medical things (figures turning away).
Lizzie dies. Eyes open, still. Mollie/Reta watching her.
KOTFM - Final Shooting Script - August 10, 2022 67.
Empty except for LIZZIE’S ANCESTORS: WARRIOR, MOTHER, FATHER: the Committee that has come to take her to the heavens. Lizzie gets up and walks away with them. She glances back.
BACK TO Summer House in the Present. Hale and Ernest comfort Mollie and the children.
A112 EXT. LIZZIE/MOLLIE'S GRAY HORSE HOME - EARLY MORNING A112
Mollie, Reta and WAILING RELATIVE wail for Lizzie on the porch.
Lizzie Q’s Burial. A large crowd gathered at the gravesite. PRIEST stands aside as the TRADITIONAL OSAGE LEADER makes a blessing.
mahn-tseh kshee-dah-hah mahn- theen ah-hah mohn-psheh ah- pah ah-thee-zahn-ha dah- ah- pah.
TRADITIONAL LEADER ends his blessing and walks over to the family. He helps Elizabeth WALK ACROSS LIZZIE’S CASKET. ERNEST, HALE, BYRON among mourners. A BOX OF FOOD is placed at the head of the casket and it’s lowered.
KOTFM - Final Shooting Script - August 10, 2022 68.
A113 INT. MASONIC HALL LODGE - NIGHT A113
Hale and SIX OF HIS FREEMASON BROTHERS at a Scottish Rite ritual of EXTINGUISHING THE TAPERS. The seven men, dressed in black suits, are standing behind TALL CANDLE HOLDERS with CANDLES WITH FLAMES AT CHEST HEIGHT. There is no other light in the room. The candles are in a “V” formation, with the “V” pointing to the East Side of the room. Two candles are already out.
TREASURER takes his finger and extinguishes the third light.
Mollie and daughter Elizabeth, praying. Praying for lost loved ones. Mollie slips Lizzie’s BROKEN COMB into the moving, shiny water of the stream.
A114 BACK TO MASONIC HALL. A114
Six candles are out. Only one light remains.
He takes his finger and extinguishes the last light.
Mollie & Elizabeth walk back to the house.
KOTFM - Final Shooting Script - August 10, 2022 69.
CU. Blue Ribbons, Trophies, Pictures and Memorabilia from a great Cowboy’s career in roping, bull riding, etc. This is for HENRY GRAMMER - a movie-star in this world also runs a distillery, main booze supplier to Osage County.
Working Distillery. Hale and Ernest pay a vist to Grammer. Ernest having to watch Hale treat Grammer like a son and a rock star.
Time cut - they’re all drinking at a table nearby.
Grammer calls JOHN RAMSEY (50s, ranchhand, white, skinny). Grammer hands him a bottle.
Ramsey takes the bottle.
KOTFM - Final Shooting Script - August 10, 2022 70.
Ramsey goes back to the distillery.
He turns to Hale.
I think that’s Acie Kirby …
...Hey John, where’s Acie Kirby these days?
KOTFM - Final Shooting Script - August 10, 2022 71.
FLASH ON:
Meet: ASA, “ACIE” KIRBY, sets explosives, runs from a bank vault, jumps over counter and takes cover. The Vault blows up and money is raining down, some of it on fire……
Hale, Myrtle, Willie and Ernest, Mollie at the table.
A119 INT. ELK'S CLUB - EVENING A119
Barney McBride receives a TELEGRAM and reads it.
XCU: TELEGRAM “BE REAL CAREFUL. STOP.”
McBride looks around surreptitiously, puts his hat on and heads out of the Club.
KOTFM - Final Shooting Script - August 10, 2022 72.
Barney McBride exits and somebody suddenly seizes him and ties a sack over his head...
CU. Of Mollie.
WILLIAM J BURNS, Private Investigator, is walking to his room on the second floor… BYRON BURKHART and ANOTHER GUY are waiting in the hallway. As Burns opens his door, they push him inside where a THIRD MAN is waiting and beats him unconscious... Out of the shadows steps ERNEST who rifles through Burns’ pockets and removes money from his wallet.
CU. his business cards from wallet go flying, “Cairo” “Los Angeles” “New York” “Berlin”.
KOTFM - Final Shooting Script - August 10, 2022 73.
BEAT, HOLD, THEN:
CU. HALE: Looks to Ernest, back to Mollie.
Myrtle and Willie jump for joy and come for hugs and kisses... Ernest looks to Hale.
Barney McBride, bag over his head is stabbed twenty times and his skull is beaten in.
Behind them, in the house, has stepped: HENRY ROAN.
HENRY ROAN looks troubled, he approaches Mollie and congratulates her.
Hale comes to Henry Roan.
KOTFM - Final Shooting Script - August 10, 2022 74.
CU. ERNEST watching Mollie and Henry...
Hale and Ernest by the fire…
CU. ERNEST watching Henry Roan
ERNEST sees the threat.
Ernest with Ramsey.
KOTFM - Final Shooting Script - August 10, 2022 75.
Parade. Gray Horse War Mothers, Baseball team, lots of kids in the street.
KOTFM - Final Shooting Script - August 10, 2022 76.
Pick up Ernest and John Ramsey crossing the street through a parading local KKK group with Pitts Beaty proudly leading in black gown and hood.
We see Ernest and Ramsey go into the cafe.
Through the front window we see Ramsey be introduced to Henry Roan. (Sit at counter and have a meal.) THROUGH THE WINDOW we see them at the counter.
A blank, open sky. The profile of an OIL WORKER covered in oil – then ANOTHER OIL WORKER similarly covered in oil – looking into the distance.
Ramsey’s car stopped in the distance. Ramsey and Roan finding a jug down a disused oil well.
KOTFM - Final Shooting Script - August 10, 2022 77.
130 OIL WORKERS – A GROUP NOW ALL LOOKING INTO THE DISTANCE 130 WATCHING RAMSEY AND ROAN WHO ARE NOW SITTING ON THE RUNNING BOARD, DRINKING. THE OIL WORKERS TURN OMINOUSLY AWAY.
Roan and Ramsey drinking with Mrs. Mackie and A HOOKER. Roan has his arm around her. She is cutting cocaine from a giant rock of coke (not partaking of cocaine).
They drink.
Roan and Ramsey at a secret stash spot in Sol Smith’s pasture. Roan stays in the car, behind the wheel. Ramsey gets the booze, walks it back and hands it to Roan...
Ramsey gets the nerve, walks around the front of the car... then walks around the back of the car, gets up on the standing board, and SHOOTS HENRY ROAN IN THE BACK OF THE HEAD AS HE’S DRINKING.
John Ramsey walks back to his car…
KOTFM - Final Shooting Script - August 10, 2022 78.
John Ramsey comes into the pool hall, shaky and glassy eyed, finds Ernest who has Cowboy with him... Ernest follows Ramsey to the telephone booth -
John Ramsey hands Ernest the gun and walks off.
135 INSERT PHOTO: IMAGE FROM HENRY ROAN AND MOLLIE’S TRADITIONAL135 OSAGE WEDDING AS TEENAGERS, C.1902. WE HEAR ERNEST SAY -
Mollie, visibly pregnant comes into the house.
CU. MOLLIE’S REACTION.
Ernest watching her closely to see her reaction, scrutinizing.
KOTFM - Final Shooting Script - August 10, 2022 79.
His wife is not true to him I don’t think.
Does your Uncle know? They were friends.
Mollie looks. Then walks into her room and closes the door.
Ernest waiting in his car outside Hale’s Ranch. Hale bursts out of his house, angry, heads to the car --
KOTFM - Final Shooting Script - August 10, 2022 80.
Ernest and Hale, driving, arguing:
As they approach downtown Fairfax at dusk, they see something:
KOTFM - Final Shooting Script - August 10, 2022 81.
139 FAIRFAX RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD IS LIT UP BY STRINGS OF 139 WHITE LIGHTS. LIGHTS EVERYWHERE… ”FRAID LIGHTS” [MMWDYSLN]
We see AN OSAGE FAMILY packing up their car to leave town, and have a reflexive reaction as they see the car go by (paranoia).
Hale and Ernest continue to drive around, looking for something or someone, looking, looking...
140 ANGLE, ON MAIN STREET: ERNEST PULLS THE CAR OVER, ROY BUNCH 140 IS SITTING ON A BENCH WITH FRIENDS.
KOTFM - Final Shooting Script - August 10, 2022 82.
Ernest drives off...
Bill Smith’s GUN. Smith’s coming through his front door. It’s dark. He moves forward slowly to look around, then looks down. Sees a dead dog.
A142 INSERT: FAMILY PORTRAIT #2 A142
Mollie, Ernest, Elizabeth, Cowboy, and Baby Anna posed for a Family Portrait
It’s months later. Mollie and Ernest with their baby, “Anna.” Noticeably fewer Osage than the previous baby naming event. Elizabeth and Cowboy are with them. Hale is here, Bill Smith and Reta. Burkhart Bros. Bigheart relatives. BABY NAMER (TRADITIONAL OSAGE) gives Little Anna her Osage name and presents her to gathering.
TIME CUT:
Bertha Bigheart presents A BLANKET to the Baby Namer and puts it on him. As Mollie watches she sees all the faces that surround her.... Whites and Osage now... Over Mollie we hear -
There’s a young, white servant named NETTIE BERKSHIRE (20s) serving them and cleaning up after dinner.
KOTFM - Final Shooting Script - August 10, 2022 83.
Reta looks to the other room and Ernest and Bill, looks back to Mollie. Ernest looks back and sees Reta’s eyes for a flash.
KOTFM - Final Shooting Script - August 10, 2022 84.
Ernest stares at him.
KOTFM - Final Shooting Script - August 10, 2022 85.
We see somebody in the house through the window.
Myrtle Hale is on the phone with James Shoun at his desk.
Ernest is playing in the front yard with Cowboy... Other neighborhood kids playing in their yards/street. Ernest hears a HORN HONKING in the front... over and over...
He comes around and sees: BILL HALE in the car, with HENRY GRAMMER.
KOTFM - Final Shooting Script - August 10, 2022 86.
I’m to Fort Worth……
Ernest stares…
Hale drives off. CU. ERNEST.
AAA147 EXT. FAIRFAX STREET AAA147
Ernest finds John Ramsey.
KOTFM - Final Shooting Script - August 10, 2022 87.
They walk off their different directions…
AA147 INT. ROOMING HOUSE AA147
John Ramsey walks right by the clerk and finds a certain door. He knocks on the door.
John Ramsey goes inside.
A147 INT. MOLLIE’S FAIRFAX HOME – EVENING / NIGHT A147
Ernest looking down from the top of the stairs and seeing Mollie who has just come in from outdoors. (Osage/English mix)
KOTFM - Final Shooting Script - August 10, 2022 88.
ERNEST ERNEST
You and the kids stay in the Zhin-ka-zhin thishki tsi da house. waspa
TIME CUT:
147 Mollie asleep in bed. Ernest is next to her half asleep. 147
AN EXPLOSION. A bomb has gone off that rattles the whole town awake, shaking houses and sending a shockwave...
KOTFM - Final Shooting Script - August 10, 2022 89.
Mollie moves to the window, Ernest follows.
Ernest puts on his pants and moves downstairs... Mollie slowly behind moves towards the kids...
Elizabeth, the eldest, sees her mother struggle down the stairs… (Vera, alarmed, goes to help Mollie.)
(Vera) gathers baby Anna, Elizabeth and Cowboy. Mollie arrives at the bottom of the steps and collects all the children…
148 IN THE STREET 148
Ernest walking towards the blast. People are awake, screaming, heading towards the blast...
CU. ERNEST as he arrives at the bomb sight. Bill and Reta’s house is a hole in the ground. Men try and salvage, dig around under the mess… Ernest wanders through the area stunned -
They find Bill Smith, still alive, screaming, moaning.
They find Reta’s sleeping body, the side of her head falls off as they lift her...
They dig around looking for Nettie...
A RIVAL AMBULANCE arrives and Undertaker Turton rushes up to them and pushes them back into the ambulance.
KOTFM - Final Shooting Script - August 10, 2022 90.
Bill Smith being carried on a stretcher accompanied by the Shoun brothers. They pass Ernest standing stunned -
Ernest and the Shouns exchange looks.
CU. ERNEST turns and walks away...
149 HE COMES BACK INTO THE HOUSE... SOUND DROPS OUT, AS WE SEE 149 MOLLIE AND THE CHILDREN WAIT FOR ERNEST... A REPRISE OF HER VOICE OVER:
CU. MOLLIE as Ernest comes back to tell her it’s Reta’s house.
At this moment, in Fort Worth, at a STOCK SHOW OF CATTLE, BULLS, RODEO RIDING: HALE and HENRY GRAMMER.
They have an alibi. We see Henry Grammer sign some autographs and snap a picture with adoring fans. Bill Hale squeezes into the side of the picture...
KOTFM - Final Shooting Script - August 10, 2022 91.
DRONE CAMERA OVER THE HOLE IN THE GROUND THAT WAS BILL AND RETA’S HOME.
152 DEBRIS EVERYWHERE. PEOPLE CLEANING UP, KIDS PLAYING IN THE 152 RUBBLE, ANGRY NEIGHBORS AND TOWNSPEOPLE.
BILL HALE AND HENRY GRAMMER drive back into town.
Hale gets out, looks at the damage. Pitts Beaty there.
Hale moves forward kicks up by accident part of an arm.
Hale looks at him.
Pitts Beaty and Mollie.
KOTFM - Final Shooting Script - August 10, 2022 92.
MOLLIE MOLLIE
I want to go now because I Theh-kohn-tsee breh kohn-brah will not be alive much tahn thoh-hah ahts’eh dah longer. meen-ksheh.
The Osage Delegation is leaving to head to Washington D.C.
Ernest helps Mollie towards the steps of the train. Another member of the Delegation helps her up into the train. She waves goodbye to Ernest and the children...
It’s a photo op for PRESIDENT COOLIDGE and the Osage Tribe. Mollie standing next to the President.
The photograph is taken and President Coolidge moves away, Mollie and the Tribe’s INTERPRETER grab his attention:
He nods and nods and nods and then is ushered away.
Ernest, Hale and Byron with the Shoun Brothers. The Shoun brothers are preparing Mollie’s Insulin.
KOTFM - Final Shooting Script - August 10, 2022 93.
Ernest reacts. Doctors occupy themselves (organizing vials for Ernest to take home?) As Hale talks to Ernest privately.
Ernest looks.
Ernest still resisting.
A157 CU. ERNEST IN THE LIVING ROOM. A157
He’s preparing the Insulin mixture.
He loads the needle.
He walks down the hallway toward Mollie’s room with the needle...
We see Mollie seated. There has been a major change in her health. She speaks to the priest. Vera in the back with Anna.
KOTFM - Final Shooting Script - August 10, 2022 94.
A family meeting. Mollie sits in a chair in the living room. Ernest is here, Elizabeth and Cowboy and Baby Anna. The Housekeeper, Vera. English/Osage mix.
KOTFM - Final Shooting Script - August 10, 2022 95.
MOLLIE MOLLIE
I am sick. We will not have ahn-who-heck-ah meen(n)- visitors. We will eat food kshey. Ee-kee-mahn-thee(n) only made by Vera, we will wah-thee(n)-key dah-xhai. eh- not have anyone to work here nan(n) dah-dah(n) oh-ho bee- near us. Tell Mr. Blasingame thahn ahn-daht-sey dahn-kaht- he does not need to finish kah, we will not have anyone painting the garage, I want to work here near us. Tell him to leave. I want to bring Mr. Blasingame he does not the upstairs bed, down, into need to finish painting the the back room. Cowboy you garage, I want him to leave. cannot play inside the house I want to bring the upstairs anymore you must go outside. bed, down, into the back Inside you have to be quiet. room. Cowboy, ah-shee dah Elizabeth you only go to thah-sh-kaht-sey eh-nah(n). school when your father takes Tsee dah dai-ee-shee ah-hah you. No one else can take you oh-knee theen-kah thee. to school, just your father. Elizabeth you only go to Ernest, you will pick up my school when your father takes insulin from the train. You you. Thee-thaht-sey eh-nah(n) alone. Do not take it from thee-eh dah-poh-skah-tsee ah- the Shoun Brothers. theen-ah-they dah-kxai.
Ernest, you will pick up my insulin from the train. You alone. Do not take it from the Shoun Brothers.
MOLLIE MOLLIE
Baby Anna is sick with Baby Anna is sick with whooping cough and she needs whooping cough and she needs care. I cannot nurse care. Oh-kah-shey broots-ah- her,because of my illness. key. Ah(n) who-heck-ah She might make you both sick mee(n)kshey kah-kah(n) bah- if she stays here. zey ee(n) broots-ah-key. I want her to live with Thahn-tsey who-heck-ah thee- brother and sister Bigheart. kshee-they dah-kxai. This will make her better and I want her to live with cure her cough. brother and sister Bigheart. Ernest, will you please make This will make her better these things happen for me? and cure her cough.
Ernest, Dah-dah(n) shkee ahn- thah-kshee-theh dah nee(n)- ksheh?
KOTFM - Final Shooting Script - August 10, 2022 96.
The Bighearts come and take the baby. Mollie hands over Baby Anna. Ernest watching, Cowboy and Elizabeth say ‘good-bye’ to their little sister.
Mollie closes herself off in the back room, like a tomb.
CU. MOLLIE in the bed downstairs now, half asleep. She hears a strange sound. She looks over. An OWL walks into her room.
She looks back, Ernest is standing there with an insulin needle. He walks in.
Ernest looks at her, she looks at him, loving eyes and he gives her the shot.
162 CONTINUOUS - 162
CU. MOLLIE - half dreaming -
KOTFM - Final Shooting Script - August 10, 2022 97.
163 THERE’S A KNOCKING ON THE SCREEN DOOR. ERNEST COMES OUT INTO163 THE HALLWAY…TO SEE OUTSIDE, THROUGH THE SCREEN DOOR:
A MAN IN A HAT. This is TOM WHITE, FBI.
Ernest comes to the door... he sees, standing back by their car are two more agents: JOHN BURGER and FRANK SMITH (white, 40s)
KOTFM - Final Shooting Script - August 10, 2022 98.
164 TWO OR THREE WHITE GUYS TAKING TURNS FIRING AT A BELL. 164
The whole town has gathered for a dance/party/picnic. Osage and whites and everyone.
KOTFM - Final Shooting Script - August 10, 2022 99.
A band is playing – through the band we see an OLDER OSAGE COUPLE moving through the dancers with JOHN WREN (part-Ute) bringing him to meet a few Osage Council Members who are chatting with Mollie’s Catholic Priest. At first cautious, Wren then receives a warm welcome.
Ernest rushes through them as they’re speaking acting frantic and skittish to report news of Tom White. Hale has just finished dancing, out of breath, taking a seat. Ernest grabs Bill Hale tries to take him to the side.
Hale agitated sees his manner and tells him to stop and settle himself.
Things get heated. Hale loses his cool and grabs him by the back of the neck like a child and squeezes, pushes him down, pushes his face into his own knees. This is noticed by some people. The couple with John Wren and the Council member(s) witness it. It’s over as soon as it started, Hale hoping to make it all go away.
Ernest settles down, says a few words more but is cut off by Hale walking away, getting back on the dance floor and finding Myrtie. He seems concerned. Ernest leaves.
Hale looking over his cattle. He seems pre-occupied, seems to be selling off some large piece of his empire…
He is introduced to CJ ROBINSON (white, 30s). They shake hands and begin negotiating on a sale...
KOTFM - Final Shooting Script - August 10, 2022 100.
Tom White has come to meet with the Tribal Council.
KOTFM - Final Shooting Script - August 10, 2022 101.
We’re in the middle of HALE losing his temper with an INSURANCE MAN named JOE JONES and his PARTNER.
KOTFM - Final Shooting Script - August 10, 2022 102.
Silence. Hale storms out. Bumps into John Wren coming in with two Osage men. John Wren gives him a shady look.
Mollie’s in bed somewhat delirious. Ernest is giving her a shot.
Ernest putting away the needle. Getting scared.
He looks and stops - sees that Mollie’s head has nodded back. Lost in another world. Ernest gets up to put away the medicine.
Agents Frank Smith and John Burger in the Shoun Brothers office.
KOTFM - Final Shooting Script - August 10, 2022 103.
KOTFM - Final Shooting Script - August 10, 2022 104.
Hale is in the barber chair. The BARBER at work. TOM WHITE looms over Hale...
Then there’s just bad luck - Anna Brown - nasty mouth. Henry Roan? Melancholic you know. Charlie Whitehorn? Now he was a great man....
KOTFM - Final Shooting Script - August 10, 2022 105.
An AL JENNINGS WESTERN is playing. We see BLACKIE watching it. We hear Hale who is seated behind him -
KOTFM - Final Shooting Script - August 10, 2022 106.
WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF A BANK ROBBERY/VIOLENT SHOOT-OUT WITH BLACKIE THOMPSON who is robbing the bank with three other men and his Wife…
Blackie shoots the police officer, dead... It all ends with Blackie and all of them handcuffed, arrested. We hear -
Mostly Osage girls doing exercises at a ballet barre.
Outside, Bill Hale is giving away PONIES to the girls. An Osage and white crowd has gathered. Hale presents a pony to one of the girls.
Nearby John Wren is helping an Osage family find something near an alley -(with a dousing-type tool)
Hale takes BOB MOUNT (white, 50s) aside with his granddaughters.
KOTFM - Final Shooting Script - August 10, 2022 107.
Hale has come to see Acie Kirby and pays him $500.
BOB MOUNT, WAITING AND READY WITH HIS SHOTGUN.
KOTFM - Final Shooting Script - August 10, 2022 108.
Acie and two ASSOCIATES (one white, one black) break into Bob Mount’s store when Mount fires his shotgun at Acie - shooting him through the glass door.… Acie is dead on the street.
AGENTS TOM WHITE, JOHN BURGER, AND FRANK SMITH stand at Henry Grammer’s hideout which has been quickly deserted. The Distillery Equipment has been knocked over, but fires still burn and stove’s are still hot. They comes across a lone OLD TIMER who doesn’t move...
Henry Grammer with a strange look on his face is driving. We pan along with the car until it smashes violently into a tree. Henry Grammer is dead.
Through the window we see Ernest playing pool with John Wren. Feeling the pressure he sneaks a swig from a flask. Byron Burkhart arrives.
KOTFM - Final Shooting Script - August 10, 2022 109.
They exit.
Byron leads Ernest out and into a car. Hale is in the car.
KOTFM - Final Shooting Script - August 10, 2022 110.
Ernest looks to Byron:
Ernest hesitates. Hale gets out of the car, signals for Ernest to follow him…
CU. TOM WHITE across the street, hidden from their view, watching them...
ANGLE, ERNEST AND HALE
KOTFM - Final Shooting Script - August 10, 2022 111.
Ernest looks.
Ernest signs the paper.
CU. TOM WHITE watching.
Joe Jones, CJ Robinson and John Wren getting out of their cars. Headlights illuminate a group of men waiting for them. They all shake hands.
Tom White in a huddle.
We see Tom White sitting with him, listening.
KOTFM - Final Shooting Script - August 10, 2022 112.
Alvin points to the road in front of him, Tom looks.
186 ALVIN REYNOLDS’ POV: 186
BYRON BURKHART DRIVING ANNA BROWN INTO TOWN
CU. KELSIE MORRISON in the back seat.
BYRON BURKHART PULLS THE CAR OVER.
WE SEE: ANNA gets out of the car, very drunk and flirty with Byron... Kelsie follows. And as we see Kelsie -
John Burger - Federal Agent - is reporting to Tom White, Frank Smith, CJ Robinson, Joe Jones, John Wren.
KOTFM - Final Shooting Script - August 10, 2022 113.
Tillie dead in the hospital. Bedside, Kelsie is there with TILLIE’S TWO KIDS.
TIGHTER TO TILLIE’S KIDS.
Kelsie is talking to a LAWYER.
Kelsie is coming to his post office and he’s surrounded by officers and John Burger.
KOTFM - Final Shooting Script - August 10, 2022 114.
They take him.
John Wren, undercover, with Mollie’s Priest who’s playing golf at a new Osage golf course hosting a COMMUNITY EVENT.
KOTFM - Final Shooting Script - August 10, 2022 115.
Tom taking all this in.
Off in the distance, there is something happening. Faintly we can see that it is a fire... The Agents stand and watch...
KOTFM - Final Shooting Script - August 10, 2022 116.
Bill Hale’s ranch is on fire. It’s acreage around the house set fire for insurance purposes. Ranch hands walk around the fire, making sure this ‘accident’ is contained to a certain area.
CU. ERNEST watching unusual light on the horizon.
THE FIRE. Silhouettes, moving around, like Demons.
Ernest turns into his house…
A199 INT. CELLAR MOLLIE’S FAIRFAX HOME A199
Ernest mixes up something with the vials (and whiskey?) in the cellar and drinks it.
Mollie sees the flicker of fire on the ceiling of her sick room. She closes her eyes.
Ernest is drunk and out of it. He shoots her up - injecting her... with two bottles.
Ernest takes a vial and adds it to a whiskey (or drinks it from the vial). He sees flames like demons on the wall. He walks toward the flames...
Mollie flickers her eyes open for a moment. Sees him, doesn’t see him.
KOTFM - Final Shooting Script - August 10, 2022 117.
Ernest backs out of the room…
Ernest hanging out at his pool hall when suddenly: Tom White, Frank Smith and John Burger come in to arrest him – they have brought the local OSAGE COUNTY SHERIFF as The Bureau can’t arrest anyone or carry guns at this time…
Ernest tries some side-steps around pool tables and pretends they’re not even there, until they are upon him and handcuff him...
Tom White and Frank Smith look across from Ernest.
KOTFM - Final Shooting Script - August 10, 2022 118.
HOLD ON ERNEST’S FACE. They say nothing. LONG PAUSE, THEN:
TIME CUT:
203 CU. ERNEST IT’S MANY HOURS LATER, IT’S NIGHT. HE’S STILL 203 STANDING IN THE SAME SPOT, HE LOOKS EXHAUSTED. SILENCE, THEN:
KOTFM - Final Shooting Script - August 10, 2022 119.
The door opens and in steps Blackie Thompson.
CU. ERNEST: Silence, then...
They all leave the room.
KOTFM - Final Shooting Script - August 10, 2022 120.
Bill Hale steps into Mollie’s house. He’s dressed up fancy. Mollie is near death. In Bed. Hale comes into the room. She is delirious; he speaks in Osage…
HALE HALE
Settle down, Mollie. You’re Mollie, thoo-shtah-kah. Wah- strong. thee-skahn tahn-kah.
MOLLIE MOLLIE
Are you real? Thee-eh eh-kohn xtsee ah?
Tom White holds up his hand... motioning Ernest to stop talking:
KOTFM - Final Shooting Script - August 10, 2022 121.
Ernest about to speak...
John Ramsey, living in poverty with six kids on the edges of Fairfax. He steps out of his house, to pick up something from the yard and before he knows anything... JOHN WREN is beside him...
John Ramsey holds still. His wife and kids look. As Wren deals with Ramsey we hear -
Ramsey and Tom White:
KOTFM - Final Shooting Script - August 10, 2022 122.
Tom White opens the door and Ernest is brought in... Ernest looks at John Ramsey. HOLD the looks, then:
CAMERA PUSHES DOWN THE HALLWAY TOWARDS MOLLIE’S SICK ROOM.
FBI AGENTS JOHN WREN and CJ ROBINSON enter the back sick room and see Mollie near death. Vera following them in...
Mollie sees John Wren.
They begin to rush Mollie out of the house and into a car.
KOTFM - Final Shooting Script - August 10, 2022 123.
Tom White and Frank Smith accompany Ernest.
SHERIFF FREAS at his desk ...The door opens, and William Hale enters, dressed immaculately.
KOTFM - Final Shooting Script - August 10, 2022 124.
He leads Hale toward the back.
HALE IS UNDER ARREST NOW. U.S. Marshalls have now brought Hale to the Federal Building. A REPORTER rushes over:
Blackie Thompson with his lawyer is being interviewed by PROSECUTOR PETER LEAWARD.
KOTFM - Final Shooting Script - August 10, 2022 125.
Blackie on his bunk in his cell, a JAIL GUARD slips A NOTE through the bars of the cell.
KOTFM - Final Shooting Script - August 10, 2022 126.
Mollie is brought into her hospital room with the help of John Wren and CJ Robinson.
There is a team of Doctors and Nurses around here in a flash.
Hale with a SECRETARY...
KOTFM - Final Shooting Script - August 10, 2022 127.
Ernest, witness for the prosecution, is under the guard of Tom White, Joe Jones and John Wren and some U.S. MARSHALLS.
A group of reporters is there.
Ernest gets in the backseat of the car. Tom White shuts the door.
TIME CUT:
Tom White OPENS the backseat door on the other side, starts to get in beside Ernest.
KOTFM - Final Shooting Script - August 10, 2022 128.
Ernest listens. The car drives away from the municipal building.
A GUARD with a RIFLE monitors the hospital room. Mollie, feeling better, in bed, eating something.
Hale finishes his poem:
GUARD with a RIFLE monitors the room. Mollie helped around the room. Elizabeth and Cowboy are visting her. We hear Ernest’s letter:
KOTFM - Final Shooting Script - August 10, 2022 129.
A beat of quiet at the door to the courtroom. Tom White looks at Ernest who seems very shaky and sweaty.
Ernest is brought into the courtroom.
Ernest sees Hale at the defendant’s table with his lawyers. Hale looks at Ernest.
Tom White and John Wren take a seat and look at the all white jury. He sees the Judge, HONORABLE JOHN C. POLLOCK.
Ernest takes the stand, everyone falls quiet for one second and then, suddenly:
Loud objections, minor chaos, then, Ernest looks baffled, everyone does:
KOTFM - Final Shooting Script - August 10, 2022 130.
More objections from prosecution, Tom White and Wren look on as the courtroom goes nuts.
W.S. Hamilton and Hale’s team of lawyers get Ernest into a back room.
Tom White and John Wren look.
A chauffeured limousine and another car. Both parked in the middle of the empty highway.
A couple hundred yards back... Tom White and another in their car... They make no effort not to be seen, just keep back and watch.
Ernest steps out of the car... Mollie steps out of the other car, driven by Byron... and they come to each other...
CU. MOLLIE and ERNEST they look at each other and don’t say anything... Ernest is seeing Mollie, healthy for the first time in a long time... something dawns on him:
MOLLIE MOLLIE
I’ll take you home now. Ah-we-breen-ah-leh theh-kohn-
tsee-eh.
ERNEST ERNEST
Yes, ma’am. Hoh-weh.
KOTFM - Final Shooting Script - August 10, 2022 131.
Ernest and Mollie walk together and get in the car...
Faces looking at Ernest as he enters the livingroom. Ernest acknowledges the recognizable men and women from town including Myrtle and Hale’s lawyers looking at him. And two oil executives MR SOLOWEY and MR KRACEON.
Ernest sits.
KOTFM - Final Shooting Script - August 10, 2022 132.
KOTFM - Final Shooting Script - August 10, 2022 133.
Ernest sits with Mollie. She prepares her insulin and gives herself a shot through the scene. He watches her... (Children present)?
KOTFM - Final Shooting Script - August 10, 2022 134.
She finishes giving herself the shot, looks at him.
POV Mollie from inside the house looking out the window. See Hale’s lawyers and Government Agents waiting outside. Hear a door. See Ernest leave the house. Lawmen and lawyers talk to Ernest.
They handcuff him and take him away, he nods to Mollie that it’s all just fine.
Ernest is brought into jail. Hale is roaming free down here, and comes to greet him. He hugs him. A long, silent bear hug between them.
CU. MOLLIE: She sits down in FRAME. Osage Tribe are here, it’s packed with people, reporters, etc.
HALE is sitting at defendant table.
KOTFM - Final Shooting Script - August 10, 2022 135.
KELSIE MORRISON is on the stand.
KOTFM - Final Shooting Script - August 10, 2022 136.
KOTFM - Final Shooting Script - August 10, 2022 137.
Kelsie smiles.
KOTFM - Final Shooting Script - August 10, 2022 138.
The night of the murder. Mollie brings Byron a pillow as he gets on the couch to go to sleep. She comes upstairs and gets into bed with Ernest. She turns and holds on to him...
Byron props up Anna’s limp body as Kelsie raises his gun and aims at the back of her head...
Ernest is asleep in his cell. Tom White comes to see him.
KOTFM - Final Shooting Script - August 10, 2022 139.
Tom White walks away, past Hale’s cell. Hale hears Ernest crying and crying and moaning in loss. Hale gets the Jailers attention.
Ernest weeps. Hale tries to call to him...
KOTFM - Final Shooting Script - August 10, 2022 140.
In the bedroom, Mollie is overcome with grief, kneeling by bed. Mollie's LITTLE GIRL ANNA is wrapped in a blanket lying motionless on the bed. The BIGHEARTS standing.
Ernest, in shackles and handcuffs, escorted by Tom White out of car…
Mollie & Ernest with two Marshalls at his elbow, the Bighearts and Mollie standing at a freshly dug grave.
The Catholic Priest is presiding over the burial of Little Anna. An ACOLYTE assists.
PRIEST PRIEST
Lord, have mercy. Christ, Kyrie eleison. Christe have mercy. Lord, have mercy. eleison. Our Father - Kyrie eleison. Pater noster -
(inaudibly) - qui es in caelis, sanctificetur nomen tuum. Adveniat regnum tuum. Fiat voluntas tua, sicut in caelo, et in terra. Panem nostrum quotidianum da nobis hodie, et dimitte nobis debita nostra, sicut et nos dimittimus debitoribus nostris. (until...)
MOLLIE & BIGHEARTS & ACOLYTE MOLLIE & BIGHEARTS & ACOLYTE But deliver us from evil. Sed libera nos a malo.
KOTFM - Final Shooting Script - August 10, 2022 141.
PRIEST PRIEST
Let little children come to Sinite parvulos venire ad me. me.
MOLLIE & BIGHEARTS & ACOLYTE MOLLIE & BIGHEARTS & ACOLYTE For theirs is the kingdom of Talium est enim regnum heaven. caelorum.
PRIEST PRIEST
The Lord be with you. Dominus vobiscum.
MOLLIE & BIGHEARTS & ACOLYTE MOLLIE & BIGHEARTS & ACOLYTE May He also be with you. Et cum spiritu tuo.
TIME CUT:
The casket and grave are then sprinkled with holy water and incensed. Elizabeth PLACES A PIECE OF FRUIT on the casket.
Ernest reacts.
238 TIME CUT: 238
Tom White puts Ernest in his car. Ernest is shaken.
Ernest gives White a look. They drive off.
Tom White brings Ernest to see Bill Hale in his jail cell.
Ernest safe on the other side of the bars, says:
KOTFM - Final Shooting Script - August 10, 2022 142.
Ernest looks at Hale.
Pauses. Let’s Ernest reflect.
KOTFM - Final Shooting Script - August 10, 2022 143.
KOTFM - Final Shooting Script - August 10, 2022 144.
Ernest takes this in.
Ernest backs away.
We now see that Agents Burger and Smith have been secretly listening to the conversation on a recording device.
Ernest on the stand. He looks at Mollie, in her blanket, in the courtroom. The Prosecutor begins:
KOTFM - Final Shooting Script - August 10, 2022 145.
KOTFM - Final Shooting Script - August 10, 2022 146.
KOTFM - Final Shooting Script - August 10, 2022 147.
CU MOLLIE – Listening to this in the courtroom.
KOTFM - Final Shooting Script - August 10, 2022 148.
Ernest is guarded by Tom White. The blinds are drawn.
Mollie is brought in by John Wren to sit and meet with Ernest.
Tom White sits as far back as he can for their privacy.
Mollie and Ernest sit down. He reaches for her hand.
PAUSE, THEN:
KOTFM - Final Shooting Script - August 10, 2022 149.
LONG BEAT, THEN:
She stands up and walks out... Tom White is trained on Ernest...
Ernest and Tom White.
Tom White says nothing...
CU. ERNEST: He’s lost it all.
AN ORCHESTRA PLAYING WITH A FLOURISH WHAT IS THE FINISH TO A DRAMA.
Music swells again. Applause is heard.
And we see an AUDIENCE is watching the Orchestra play its closing music, a sound of hope, for the episode. AN ANNOUNCER at a microphone. The PERFORMERS sitting in front of microphones. Two SOUND EFFECTS MEN with their wide ranging props standing at microphones.
KOTFM - Final Shooting Script - August 10, 2022 150.
MUSIC STARTS TO FADE -
The PERFORMER playing TOM WHITE:
Music: A CONCLUDING CHORD from the Orchestra.
An ACTOR PORTRAYING Kelsie Morrison says,
Sound Effect: GUN SHOT
The SAME ACTOR PLAYING Morrison, now playing Byron says:
KOTFM - Final Shooting Script - August 10, 2022 151.
Sound Effect: PRISON DOOR SLOWLY CLOSES & SHUTS
Sound Effect: PEN WRITING ON PAPER
The HALE ACTOR reads:
Sound Effects Man: “INDIAN DRUMMING”.
AN ACTOR PORTRAYING AN OSAGE CHIEF, with full racist accent speaks as drumming continues...
Sound Effect: CAR
Sound Effect: CAR STOPS
KOTFM - Final Shooting Script - August 10, 2022 152.
Sound Effect: SCREEN DOOR OPENS
An ACTRESS PORTRAYING one of Hale’s relatives says:
Sound Effects: COUNTRY KITCHEN: DISHES
Sound Effects: CHAIR PULLED UP TO TABLE.
Sound Effect: WATER POURED IN A GLASS
Sound Effects Interlude: BUSY PRISON: Whistle, Turntable playing record of prison ambience, Keys Rattling in Cell Door, Chains and Shuffling Feet, Cell Door slowly opening.
Sound Effects Man turns off Turntable.
Sound Effects: FOOTSTEPS passing one another
Pause as footsteps continue -
Music: There’s overplayed melodramatic concluding music.
Sound Effect:CELL DOOR SLOWLY CLOSING AND RESOUNDINGLY SHUTS.
KOTFM - Final Shooting Script - August 10, 2022 153.
Sound Effect: GAVEL
AN ACTOR PORTRAYING A PRISONER saying
Sounds of a BREAK-IN (something broken, breaking glass)
Sound Effects Man: with “INDIAN DRUMMING”.
Sound Effect: BEER BOTTLE OPENS
Sound Effect: A MATCH IS LIT.
MUSIC: There’s a solo VIOLIN. As music continues...
KOTFM - Final Shooting Script - August 10, 2022 154.
Sound Effect: TYPEWRITER
A RADIO SHOW PRODUCER reads the obituary...
VIOLIN fades out.
WE HEAR THE SOUND EFFECTS of a SHOVEL and DIRT being put on a casket.
A247 EXT. OSAGE DRUM DANCE CELEBRATION - 2021 A247
CU A DRUM: THE LOUD BEAT OF SEVERAL DRUMMERS (MEN) AS THEY SIT AROUND THE DRUM. They are in CURRENT DAY CLOTHING.
The CAMERA PULLS UP to reveal WOMEN SINGERS sitting around the drummers and continues up to reveal:
A COLORFUL SWIRL of OSAGE PEOPLE DANCING AROUND THE DRUM, dressed in their own TRADITIONAL DANCE CLOTHING or EVERYDAY CLOTHES WITH BLANKETS.
Color and movement fill the screen.
A circle forms.
We fade slowly.