"SINNERS" (2025)

A MATCH STRIKES once, twice, and IGNITES on the third try, illuminating a WOODCUT IMAGE of a guitarist.

Faces cry out to the guitarist from the dark and light portions of the woodcut.

Another woodcut. Ancient Irishmen play music and dance around a fire. Faces look upon them from the blaze.

In this woodcut, a Choctaw man captivates a family around a fire, as more faces listen from beyond the darkness.

In another, a West African man plays a Kora for a group summoning a legion of faces in the night sky.

In the final Woodcut, a Bluesman plays for a group of people in a JUKE JOINT.

A FIGURE with RED EYES peers in the window.

The sun creeps halfway into the horizon.

An INJURED MAN, hobbles towards a modest cattle farmhouse, looking back towards an unseen pursuer.

Watching her suspiciously, Bert sniffs it, makes a face.

Joan notices, and raises her bowl to her mouth, slurps the liquid in and swallows-- its not great.

Bert stares at the bowl for a beat, then pushes it away.

Joan smiles offense at the slight.

KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK! The front door rattles on its hinges. Joan and Bert exchange confused looks.

Bert holds his finger to his lips “Shh” and then moves to an unseen wall of the room where a RIFLE and a SHOTGUN sit propped next to a folded KU KLUX KLAN uniform. He hands the rifle to Joan and carries the shotgun with him to the door.

Bert opens it, revealing the INJURED MAN. Who is burned and bleeding. He looks like he’s been tortured.

Bert looks beyond the man at the horizon. The top third of the sun still visible, but shadows are growing long.

He begins to cry.

The Injured Man looks inside and notices the KKK regalia. He looks to Bert again.

He reaches into his pocket, revealing a gold coin.

Bert’s eyebrows raise at the sight of the money. He looks at Joan for a quick beat, before lowering his shotgun.

The Injured Man’s eyes water with gratitude as he enters.

Bert nods and leads the Injured Man to the back of the house. Joan approaches the door and looks through the window.

The members of the SEARCH PARTY stop outside the house. CHAYTON (Choctaw, 50s) the leader of the group exits the vehicle, looking up at the sky. A LOOKOUT dismounts and stares directly at the setting sun - only a small edge of it remains.

Chayton knocks on the door.

Joan readies her rifle.

She opens the door, letting Chayton see her gun.

Chayton stares at her for a beat, sensing her dishonesty.

Joan cocks her rifle.

Beat.

Chayton looks at the rifle, then to Joan.

The Lookout watches as the last rim of light slides under the horizon. He whistles to Chayton, who turns and looks toward the horizon. He turns back to Joan with resolve.

Chayton heads back to his car, and the search party rides off.

Joan closes the door. Sighs out the tension.

She walks towards the back of the house, and sits her rifle back down in the corner.

She rounds the corner into the room.

There is no light. Joan strains her eyes to make out the shape of a man standing in the corner of the room.

No. It’s the Injured Man, and he’s smiling a toothy grin.

Fear grips Joan.

The Injured Man points to the ground where Bert lies lifeless, in a pool of blood.

Joan’s fear gives way to abject terror. The Injured Man licks his palm. Joan begins to cry.

The Injured Man feigns concern.

He grins wider and points down at Bert’s corpse as it starts to stir.

Bert stands, turns to Joan and flashes a smile matching that of the INJURED MAN.

Joan tries to scream, but her throat is frozen.

An abandoned two story lumber mill angles toward the morning sky. A tranquil stream and grass surround it.

We reveal two men, identical twins (Black, Mid 30s) waiting beside a PARKED CAR. SMOKE the older of the two watches the road ahead, while STACK rolls a cigarette, lights it, and takes a pull before passing it to his brother.

Smoke takes the cigarette, his hands shaking slightly, as he takes a pull, he sees what they’ve been waiting for-

A PACKARD, motoring towards them from a distance.

Smoke hands the cigarette back to his brother who pulls one last time and drops it, stamps it out before picking up a small bag.

The Ford parks in front of the mill and the driver, HOGWOOD, (White, 45s) exits, taking the twins in with a self satisfied sigh.

He nods.

Hogwood smiles. Spits a dip.

Smoke stare daggers at him. Unflinching.

Stack walks around examining the room beside Hogwood. Smoke eyes Hogwood from upstairs.

Smoke sees something on the ground and bends down, running his fingers along the wood. Stack notices.

A long beat.

Hogwood’s eyebrows raise.

Stack hands Hogwood a bag. He thumbs through it for a beat then looks up, inquisitive.

Hogwood nods.

Hogwood heads towards the door. He stops.

He’s been at it for hours, evidenced by the full 9 ft sack beside him. Other SHARECROPPERS begin to show to start their day.

Sammie smiles.

Sammie packs up the massive bag of cotton.

Sammie walks with his cotton sack over his back towards a SHACK in the distance.

PLANTATION - DAY

Sammie takes off his sweaty work shirt. Hands it to her, then cups some of the soapy water.

He does anyway. Then rinses the dirt off his feet.

He grabs a still wet shirt from the drying rack.

He hugs his mom, wet shirt and all.

Sammie heads inside.

A one room shack with SAMMIE’S FIVE YOUNGER SIBLINGS still in various stages of sleep. Sammie grabs his shoes and feels around for something. Doesn’t find it.

Sammie exits with a pace, walking towards RUTHIE.

Ruthie gives Sammie a knowing glance. He knows what this means.

Sammie approaches the praise house, with an angered gait, but calms himself before entering.

He walks into-

It is a modest church. Seated in the front row, Sammie’s father, JEDIDIAH (Black, Late 40s) reads from the bible.

He walks closer to the pulpit, and he sees his GUITAR (Wood with a shiny grey metal resonator) leaned up against it, and his SLIDE next to his father’s Bible.

Sammie walks over and picks up his guitar. Grabs his slide, and slips it onto his finger. Begins to play.

Sammie takes a breath.

Sammie is confused. Jedidiah beckons his son over to him.

Sammie reluctantly takes his place at the podium.

Sammie closes the book.

Sammie heads towards the door, guitar in hand.

Sammie stops.

Sammie wants to respond, but he hears the sound of a car pulling up and decides against it. He exits to-

We see Smoke, and Stack in their car waiting outside as Sammie walks towards them.

Jedidiah walks out and notices the twins.

Sammie doesn’t turn around. He jumps into the car as Smoke’s eyes meet Jedidiah’s for a beat. Smoke turns away. Stack doesn’t.

Jedidiah watches as the trio heads off in the distance, stoic hurt on his face.

OMITTED

Smoke drives while Stack rides shotgun and Sammie sits in the backseat with a wondrous grin on his face.

Smoke whacks Stack on his shoulder.

Sammie nods but Smoke doesn’t see it.

Smoke relaxes.

Sammie smiles at this.

Sammie nods and thinks deeply on this.

Stack laughs at this. Smoke doesn’t.

Smoke pulls the car off the side of the road towards a large pile of foliage covering something. He parks and the three exit.

The Twins start pulling at the foliage exposing a LARGE TRUCK, it’s covered bed filled with supplies.

Sammie gazes at the truck, doing his best not to ask questions. He goes in to help remove foliage when something is revealed. A grating CH-CH-CH-CH-CH sound!

Sammie jumps back. It’s a TIMBER RATTLESNAKE coiled on the truck bed, its tail vibrating loudly.

Sammie stands frozen within the snakes reach, in between Stack, who pulls a LARGE KNIFE and tosses it to Smoke, who catches it and brings the blade down on the snake’s head, killing it instantly.

Sammie stands there ashen. Smoke wipes the blade and hands it back to Stack.

The twins re- fold the tarp to cover the back of the truck to make it operable while hiding the supplies.

Smoke tosses Stack the keys. Checks his watch.

Stack makes a face.

Smoke looks at his watch again. He does the math out loud.

Stack smiles at this idea.

Stack tosses Smoke his car key. Smoke returns the favor. Before leaving, Stack pulls an unmarked bottle out of the cargo car.

Sammie observes as the Twins do a parting ritual, One checks the others’ handgun and knife. And they hug.

The twins walk towards their respective vehicles. Sammie follows Stack, and they load into CAR 1.

Smoke loads into the truck and both cars pull off and go opposite ways down the road.

Stack drives down the Mississippi road...he drives much faster than his brother. He eyes his cousin.

Stack smiles at the sweet, trivial nature of this conflict.

Stack’s smile fades, mostly.

Sammie contemplates this.

Sammie nods.

Sammie nods. Stack looks at the guitar.

Sammie’s eyes light up. He looks down at the guitar.

Sammie slips his slide over his finger and begins to play (TRAVELIN’).

He has a command over the instrument that can’t be taught. It’s God given. His eyes close, and he begins to hum a tune.

Smoke pulls up on a bustling street where black folks are standing outside shopping and fraternizing.

Smoke exits the truck and stares down a group of TEENAGERS. He calls one (a young woman) over.

Teenager shakes her head no. This hurts Smoke’s ego... but he gets over it quickly.

Fear sweeps across her face and she starts to back up.

The Teenager nods.

Smoke gives the Teenager his wrist watch.

The Teenager shakes her head.

Smoke smiles.

The teenager nods.

Smoke lets the Teenager into the truck. He then walks towards a Grocery Store with a colorful sign that reads DELTA GROCERY. He admires the sign for a quick beat and then enters.

Smoke enters to find several BLACK PATRONS inside the store shopping. He goes up to the register where a YOUNG KID is working, this is LISA CHOW (12, Chinese American).

Lisa nods and walks into the back of the store for a beat, and comes out with BO CHOW (30s, Chinese American). He spots Smoke and smiles.

They embrace.

Bo pulls out a pen and note pad.

He jots down furiously.

HOOOOOOONK. They are cut off by the sound of Smoke’s horn.

Smoke quickly heads towards the exit.

Smoke trots over to his car where the TEENAGER is leaning on the horn as TWO THIEVES are digging around in the trunk attempting to make off with one of the crates.

Smoke produces a Colt 1911 Pistol from his waistband and BLAM, he shoots one of the Thieves in the ass cheek.

Smoke takes aim at the other thief who starts to run.

The running thief stops.

Ass Cheek Thief spins around towards Smoke.

The Teenager leans out of the car.

Smoke looks around and thinks. He looks at the second thief who is frozen in fear.

Smoke sucks his teeth and shoots the Second Thief in his kneecap.

Smoke walks back into the store.

Smoke resumes his convo with Bo Chow.

Smoke hands Bo a $10 bill.

Lisa walks over to him.

Lisa nods and walks towards the exit of the shop.

We stay with Lisa as she exits out to-

Lisa walks across the street where we reveal another DELTA GROCERY STORE.

Lisa enters.

This store is full with WHITE PATRONS. The upkeep is slightly nicer, but the same items are for sale. Lisa approaches her mother, GRACE CHOW (30s, Chinese American), who stands behind the counter finishing up an order for a patron.

Grace finishes up.

Lisa slides into her mother’s place as Grace hands off the bag with a smile. And heads for the exit, her smile fading from her face.

Grace walks across the street and looks at Smoke’s truck, and the two thieves holding their wounds.

She walks into-

Grace walks right up to Smoke and Bo.

Bo shows Grace the shopping list that Smoke has requested.

She looks up just in time to see Smoke flash a wad of cash.

Grace doesn’t flinch. Smells the opportunity.

Smoke thinks on this.

Smoke looks at some FLOWERS in a can of water on the desk. He eyes them for a beat.

Grace looks at the flowers and back to Smoke.

Smoke hands off the wad of money to Bo. Grace realizes something. She turns to Smoke.

Stack parks and he and Sammie exit the car.

The railroad station is BUSTLING with Delta locals. BLACK folks and WHITE folks keep their general distance.

Folks move around in various degrees of dress and every few feet, a BLACK MUSICIAN is stationed, hat turned upside down in front of them, playing the Blues in hopes that a passing stranger throws them a coin.

Sammie looks around with wonder. If he’s been here before, we can’t tell.

We hear the sounds of someone playing an INCREDIBLE HARMONICA.

We reveal DELTA SLIM (Black, 70s) hunched over, breathing magic into his harmonica. (HARMONICA SOLO).

Stack looks at him, smiling. He pulls out a wad of money and places a dollar in Slim’s hat.

As he stops playing it becomes clear that Slim is buzzed.

He pulls out a flask and sips from it, then looks up and spots Stack. He brightens.

He realizes something. Looks around.

Delta Slim stews his face at this.

Sammie gets ready to play. Delta pits his hand in his pocket.

Delta Slim holds his hands up in surrender.

Stack pulls out the glass bottle. Carbon dioxide escapes as he pops the cap. Delta Slim’s eyes chase the sound.

Stack extends the bottle towards Delta Slim who accepts it and takes a swig- it’s cold and bittersweet.

Stack’s smile fades. If he were a great white shark, here’s where his eyes would go white.

Delta Slim takes another sip, thinks.

Sammie and Delta Slim play a guitar and harmonica duet (JUKE). Stack watching a crowd that has formed around them closely. PEARLINE (Black, 30s) hums along to the words and watches Sammie with bedroom eyes. Sammie winks back.

The crowd erupts in applause as Stack does his spiel.

On the platform A WELL DRESSED WOMAN preparing to board the train hears Stack’s voice and stops.

Turns around and looks towards Stack, Delta Slim and Sammie inquisitively, as the folks around her board.

Back in the crowd Stack continues his sales pitch.

Sammie takes his chance to chat up Pearline.

Sammie looks her up and down, lustfully. Pearline smiles.

Pearline laughs.

Pearline heads off.

Pearline doesn’t answer. Sammie turns back around and sees something in the distance that concerns him- the Well Dressed Woman, staring Stack down.

Stack turns to him.

We see genuine fear on Stack’s face for the first time.

Sammie looks up at MARY (late 20s, White?), who we get our first glance at. She’s wearing expensive clothes, an expensive wedding ring, and she’s standing too close to Stack for comfort.

Sammie starts working on a lie that Mary can see coming from a mile away.

Sammie starts to play his guitar.

Delta Slim chokes on his drink.

Now Stack is cut too.

Stack is lying. Maybe she can tell.

Mary walks away with a mean switch. Sammie watches closely.

Smoke pulls up in front of a lone shack. He exits the car and takes a deep breath.

Goes around back and looks at a tiny, makeshift grave, a stone painted white, a tiny handprint on it. He bends down, removing his hat, and rubs the stone.

He pulls the FLOWERS he bought from Grace and Bo Chow from his suit jacket, and places them down next to the stone.

We see the DOOR OPEN behind him and a woman exits the shack. This is ANNIE (30s, Black).

Smoke turns toward her, walks over.

Annie steps closer to Smoke, there is tension between them, old habits, familiar sadness, lust? Love?

Smoke stares at Annie who stares back plainly for beat, then rolls her eyes and heads inside.

Smoke follows behind her.

It’s a store with a Tarot card reading table and lots of pickled items in mason jars. It’s an eclectic collection.

A couple YOUNG BLACK GIRLS look around at items. Smoke watches as the older of the two grabs a mason jar with PICKLED PIG FEET in it.

The OTHER YOUNG BLACK GIRL whispers to the elder one.

Annie smiles and goes to her collection of BAGGED DUSTS and grabs one. She hands it to the Girl, who hands Annie a piece of PLANTATION CURRENCY in return.

The Girl smiles as she exits.

Smoke pulls the PLANTATION CURRENCY out of Annie’s hand.

Smoke looks at the bill with contempt. Annie pulls a straight razor from nowhere.

Smoke pulls a wad of money and tears her off a bill. She tucks her blade back.

He tries to hand it off to Annie but she reaches for her plantation bill.

Annie takes the plantation bill back.

Smoke hunches down. Maybe shame peeking through.

It’s a low blow, but Smoke’s confusion is genuine. It’s been years but it’s still fresh for him, and for her.

Smoke reaches down into his shirt and pulls up a leather necklace. It has his dog tag and a small leather bag.

Annie smiles with her eyes but not her mouth.

She takes the bag, opens it, and begins the process of “feeding” it. Emptying old contents and adding more.

Annie pauses for a beat.

Annie answers with a look.

She walks over to the entrance of her shop and shuts the door. She approaches Smoke, who leans his head on her chest. She kisses his neck. Smoke holds her close.

Annie grips his dick through his pants and slides her tongue into his ear. Smoke winces in pleasure.

Annie moves her hand to Smoke’s throat and clutches it.

Smoke kisses her then spins her around and slowly kisses her neck while unbuttoning his pants. Annie leans into his kiss while Smoke pulls up her dress slowly, his hand moving slowly from he her hip to under her dress.

Smoke leans Annie on the counter and thrusts into her.

Stack drives with Delta Slim riding shotgun and Sammie in the backseat. They chat as they drive.

Stack hesitates to answer. Delta Slim cracks up.

Stack sneaks a look at Sammie from the road. He sighs.

Sammie nods.

Sammie nods, smiling.

Sammie thinks deeply on this.

Stack slows down to see a CHAIN GANG, of African American men clearing grass in a field, supervised by WHITE OFFICERS.

They sing a FIELD HOLLER.

Delta Slim lifts his fist at them as some of the men hear this and look over at the passing car. Some look back.

BANG! An Officer fires his shotgun.

The Chain Gang falls back in line.

Delta Slim’s smile begins to fade.

Sammie sighs deeply.

Stack whistles at the sound of this.

Delta Slim grows dark.

Sammie doesn’t love the end of this story.

Stack drives past a group of SHARECROPPERS. He notices a HUSBAND and WIFE. The husband, CORNBREAD (30s) is a mountain of a man.

Stack waves a wad of money.

Stack smiles, as Cornbread prepares to charge.

Stack smiles. Sammie smiles wider.

Stack drives while Delta Slim rides shotgun with Cornbread and Sammie in the backseat.

BEGIN MONTAGE

Bo and Grace Chow load up the groceries, paint supplies and wood, while Lisa and her GRANDMOTHER watch from the window.

Smoke and Stack pull up to the Lumber Mill and their cars unload with Black Folks who have shown up to work.

Stack watches as Smoke helps Annie down from the truck. Stack tips his hat to Annie and smiles, she gives a lukewarm look back. The twins hug then get to work.

Smoke’s car is unloaded. Liquor, beer, groceries, a load of two by fours, a piano, and a few rifles.

Smoke, Stack, Sammie, Cornbread, Annie and Slim load equipment into the mill.

Sammie siphons water from the river.

Sammie brings excess alcohol into the BACK ROOM.

Sammie takes it in with a wide eye’d expression. He walks over to the BAR, the GAMBLING AREA, THE DANCE FLOOR.

A LABOR PARTY pulls up to the mill via MULE AND WAGON. Smoke guides them on where to park. Annie watches as vultures circle overhead.

Sammie and Delta Slim, work to help the Twins nail together a small stage.

The Chows arrive in their car. Grace speaks with the twins on where to place the sign. Grace begins preparing the sign.

Annie and some black women unload the food and begin to cook.

Gaps in walls are quickly covered by Stack and the workers.

Fish is fried, sandwiches are made.

The sun retreats further towards the horizon.

The twins talk with Cornbread about how to work the door of the mill.

Smoke taps electricity from an electric pole.

Sammie places the washtub at the entrance.

The lights turn on, revealing the mill has been whipped into shape, food is cooking the musicians are doing the walk through.

The whiskey and beer is made to be ready to be sold behind the bar.

On what is now the dance floor Smoke stands stoic, looking around, doing math in his head. Stack walks up to him, beaming. Slaps him on his back.

END MONTAGE

Sammie watches as Slim inspects the piano. He calls Sammie over to help him tune it.

Slim points at Sammie’s guitar.

Sammie plays the E string while Slim tightens the piano string and plays a key. Sammie observes him closely. Slim clocks this.

Sammie and the Twins walk around the empty Juke. Nervousness setting in. Annie organizes the bar materials anxiously, while Stack paces. Suddenly they hear Cornbread talking to someone at the door.

A male PATRON (Black, lifelong sharecropper, 60s) enters and sits down at the bar.

Annie looks to Smoke, who nods.

The Patron reaches into his pocket, pulls out FOUR DIMES.

The Patron pulls out two WOODEN PLANTATION CURRENCY NICKELS. Sits them down.

A long pause as Annie, Smoke, and Stack share looks. Sammie tries to follow this with his eyes.

Stack jumps in before it gets even more awkward.

Annie eyes Smoke who seethes but doesn’t move to stop it.

Stack pulls out a dew covered mason jar of moonshine and hands it to the PATRON, and slides the coins to Annie.

He smells the liquor, savors it.

Smoke walks to the back room, Stack, Annie, and Sammie follow.

As the elders of the party enter Smoke turns to Sammie and stops him.

Sammie nods and turns, eying the Patron.

Smoke closes the door behind him. Sammie tries to listen through the door.

Smoke is giving the group an earful.

Smoke looks at the two of them.

Smoke stares daggers at his brother.

Sammie listens in to them talking.

Annie cuts Stack a look.

Smoke storms out.

Stack smiles at Annie- that was a yes- she doesn’t return it. She exits. Stack starts working on that cigarette.

Smoke walks past Sammie.

Sammie watches the Patron who takes another swig of corn liquor.

Almost on cue, more PATRONS start to trickle in. Sammie looks around amazed. Delta Slim taps him.

Folks from every part of town walk in, with Cornbread checking them in.

Delta Slim belts out a vocal from behind the keys of the piano. (MESS AROUND or EVERY DAY I HAVE THE BLUES).

Sammie brings Cornbread a beer. Pearline enters following another guitarist.

Sammie nods. Ready to soak up any trickle down respect.

Pearline pauses.

Cornbread lets a group of girls in their 20s in.

He watches them walk in, while a WOMAN approaches the entrance, she clears her throat.

Cornbread turns to notice her, startled.

Smiles.

Cornbread is confused as to how this White Woman knows him... till he looks at her closer.

Cornbread smiles. They embrace.

Cornbread steps aside as Mary enters-

Sammie and Pearline continue to chat.

Sammie thinks for a bit.

Pearline thinks while Sammie notices something.

Sammie runs off towards what he saw- Mary. Pearline looks on, curious.

Sammie approaches Mary.

Sammie looks confused as hell.

Marry takes Sammie by the arm and walks him over to the now, crowded Bar.

Sammie feels bad.

Mary shakes her head.

Mary takes a swig, fighting tears.

Mary and Sammie are startled to find Smoke behind them.

Sammie obliges. Smoke walks off to find Stack while Mary enjoys more of her drink.

On stage, Delta Slim switches to a new song with Sammie watching. (MY PREACHIN’ PIANO VERSION)

Most of the patrons we have seen before along the road, in the shops and fields that we have passed.

Smoke whispers in Stack’s ear, pointing at Mary.

Mary eyes Stack who approaches her. He tries to walk her out of the door and she pulls away.

Stack starts thumbing through money.

Mary chuckles at this.

Mary laughs at this healthily.

Stack walks to the front door, leaving Mary on the dance floor.

Smoke observes from the catwalk.

Delta Slim winds down my preachin’ from the stage.

Sammie, on the other side of the juke trying to bend Pearline’s ear, holding his guitar.

Sammie holds up his guitar high so Slim can see him.

All the patrons clap and look towards Sammie who holds his guitar with one hand high over his head, making his way to the middle of the dance floor.

He stops, surrounded by patrons and positions his guitar to play.

Plays a guitar intro, bending the chords (I LIED TO YOU). The audience leans forward in anticipation. Hanging on every note.

Blown away by his voice, patrons start to smile. Smoke and Stack look on at their cousin playing, Smoke with surprise, Stack with pride. Annie watches from the kitchen. Mary too.

Sammie plays hard. The crowd begins to dance. Mary dances alone.

Annie comes around from the kitchen. She finds Smoke who is leaned up against a wall. She pushes up on him and they dance.

Stack watches Mary through the crowd as she dances alone.

He approaches her she leans into him and they dance.

Pearline joins Sammie on the dance floor and their energy is electric.

SURREAL MONTAGE STARTS- THE MUSIC SHIFTS

Sammie closes his eyes and enters into a trance playing wildly. We rotate around him to reveal a SENEGALESE XALAM PLAYER in traditional African dress who stares at Sammie while playing his instrument in unison. This is a spirit, an ancestor visible to us, the audience, but not to Sammie and the other patrons of the juke.

We rotate around to reveal a 1970s BLACK GUITARIST playing psychedelic rock.

We rotate past Pearline to show TWO SPIRITS surrounding her, one from the past, one from the present.

We push up to Delta Slim, to find him, eyes closed and playing, surrounded by two ancestors- GRIOTS one past, one future a disk jockey spinning from the 1980s.

We track back to the dance floor to find it populated with more ancestors, all of the current day patrons in a trance their eyes still closed.

We find Grace in the kitchen who takes us to the gambling room, where she pulls Bo away from the gambling tables and back onto the dance floor where A Past Ancestor, a Zaouli dancer in full dress, does a traditional dance, next to Future Ancestor who does Memphis Jooking.

A modern dancer leads us back to Sammie, who kicks his singing up to another level, burning embers and debris fall down around him.

We tilt the camera up to reveal the source of the debris. The ceiling of the mill is ablaze, with growing gaps exposing the inky, star filled sky beyond.

We tilt back down and reveal the crowd, still dancing and the blaze has engulfed the walls.

We spin around and pull back, beyond the walls of the juke wide on the patrons as they party with their ancestors past and present, in what is now an open field with burning debris illuminating them.

The camera continues off to reveal three figures. We move towards them-

THREE WHITE DRIFTERS walk towards the Mill. One holds a lantern while the others hold instruments. It’s REMMICK (The Injured Man from the Prologue, all cleaned up and healed), flanked by Joan and Bert.

Remmick looks towards the party hungrily as if he can see it in all its surreal glory.

Sammie and Pearline enter and make out heavy.

Pearline sits on a table by the door and takes off her panties. Sammie takes a knee to help, then-

Pearline looks at Sammie confused.

He lifts her legs on his shoulders and goes down on her.

Stack listens in through the door. Chuckling silently before Grace taps him.

Stack smiles and heads towards the back of the juke. Grace listens to the door and makes a face.

Stack walks upstairs to find Smoke leaning on the railing, observing the packed house from above. He holds two papers in his hand.

Stack approaches his brother.

Stack slaps Smoke on the shoulder.

Smoke hands the slip to Stack.

Stack sobers. Thinks.

Cornbread notices the drifters approaching from the distance. He taps a SMOKING PATRON.

The trio led by Remmick arrives at the front door. Cornbread blocks their passage.

Remmick smiles... maybe too wide.

Joan takes issue with this.

Cornbread hesitates, just as the Twins arrive, Mary at Stack’s side, and Annie at Smoke’s. Pearline exits the back room, with Sammie in tow. They head towards the commotion at the front door.

Sammie approaches.

Remmick hears Sammie’s voice and catches eyes with him.

Smoke steps in front of Sammie.

Remmick is genuinely offended by this.

Buff Rev. (06/03/24) 68.

Smoke shakes his head. Stack thinks on this.

The trio of drifters get their instruments into position and begin to play.

Remmick joins in.

They are damn good.

Stack, Mary, and Annie are caught up in the music too.

The Trio stops playing.

Smoke grows more impatient.

Remmick points to Mary.

Remmick thinks on this, Stack steps in front of his view of Mary.

Remmick steps forward.

Smoke takes a step closer to the trio and puts his hand on his pistol. Stack steps forward after.

They amble towards the parked cars and wagons.

The Twins and Cornbread huddle up. Annie and Mary listen in. Sammie and Pearline observe from a distance.

The twins look towards the door.

The Twins turn to Mary. Maybe she’s right.

Smoke turns to Cornbread.

Smoke walks back into the Juke. Stack looks at Mary for a beat, then heads back in as well. Cornbread returns to his post.

Leaving Mary and Annie with each other.

Mary nods.

Annie shakes her head empathetically.

Mary reaches for her pocket book.

Annie and Mary head off into the Juke.

Mary follows Annie over to the kitchen area where Annie enters to make a new plate.

Mary looks around and notices Stack, visibly stressed, on the upstairs catwalk. She walks up the stairs to him.

Stack thinks for a long beat, then pulls his Luger. Mary snugs up close to him, and he slips it in her garter.

Mary grabs her scarf from the bar and covers her hip with it.

She looks at Annie- who is with Grace in the kitchen, busy making her a plate.

She looks into the window into the gambling room where she spots Smoke, busy talking with Bo.

She looks at the front door where Cornbread is on post.

She turns to the barn doors where patrons watch Slim.

She ambles across the dance floor, opens the barn door and slips out into the night.

Mary walks through the darkness towards Remmick, Bert and Joan.

They play a beautiful, sparse Mountain song (WILL YE GO LASSIE GO).

Remmick sees her approaching, but continues singing.

His eyes are two calm lakes at midnight- barely hinting at the depths below.

Bert reaches into his pocket and produces several gold coins. He hands them to Mary.

Remmick smiles.

Mary looks up at and notices his eyes flicker for a bit while he turns to her. Like a feral cat’s or a timber- wolf’s when light is shined into them at night.

Mary thinks she catches it, but its gone in an instant.

She thinks to herself. Then looks to Remmick, repulsed at the drool on his chin.

Mary stands up. Remmick notices her shock and wipes his mouth. But his leering smile stays.

Mary pulls her pistol on Remmick.

Remmick looks at the pistol and smiles, he doesn’t move.

Mary backs away from them, then turns and walks towards the Juke.

In the distance, Remmick stands calmly, then flies into the air towards Mary.

OMITTED

Cornbread sits by the door tapping his feet to the music.

Mary approaches from the shadows.

Cornbread jumps at the utterance.

Cornbread looks back and the lantern they were holding is shrinking into the distance.

Cornbread steps aside.

Mary steps inside.

Mary looks around at everyone partying and drinking. She moves through the crowd for a beat.

Across the room, Sammie watches as Pearline takes the stage with A GUITARIST. Delta Slim turns to Sammie.

Sammie nods at Delta Slim without breaking his gaze from Pearline, who slams the piano shut, and begins performing (Pale Moon Rising ~ 5 MINUTES PEARLINE + ~ SIX MINUTE JAM SESSION) (Musicians join in as it goes on, SECOND GUITARIST, PIANO, BANJO, BACKING VOCALS). Patrons dance along.

Cornbread shuffling turns and notices Delta Slim approaching.

Delta Slim rambles over to the door.

Delta Slim plops into the seat, nursing the beer.

Cornbread, holding a lantern, puts some space between him and the Mill in search of some much deserved privacy.

He finds a spot he likes, sets down his lantern, gets to the business of relieving himself.

Just as we hear a stream and the relaxation sets in, he hears a rustling.

He turns to his right, nothing. He turns to his left, his heartbeat in his throat... Nothing.

He hears something again. Checks to his right... still nothing.

To his left, JOAN now stands. Holding his lantern. She smiles at his hands and we hear the piss stop.

She blows the light out, leaving Cornbread surrounded in darkness.

Stack finds Mary coming from around a corner, wiping her mouth.

Mary shows off the gold coin. Stack smiles at this.

He holds out his hand for the pistol. She hands it to him, and Stack notices it is light. Before he can check it Mary kisses him.

Stack withdraws, tucks his pistol and looks around anxiously.

Mary pulls him close.

This lands on Stack hard. Mary walks into the BACK ROOM.

Stack waits for a beat, and follows. Shuts the door behind him.

Delta Slim watches from the front door and smiles.

Stack walks Mary down and they kiss passionately. She playfully pulls at his bottom lip with her teeth, then licks his lips. Then his neck.

Stack sits down on the floor and unbuckles his pants. Mary sits on top of him, lifting her dress slightly.

She looks at Stack passionately, Stack notices drool trailing from her mouth.

Mary looks down, touches her hand to her mouth.

Stack, aroused shakes his head. Mary smiles.

Stack opens his mouth. Mary spits into his, Stack swallows. Mary smiles devilishly, they kiss again.

Stack’s hand rubs her back, her dress shifts to reveal a bite mark on her shoulder.

Smoke sees Sammie watching Pearline’s performance and he pulls him to the side towards the barn door

Smoke smiles at this.

Bo Chow burst in on them, hurried.

Smoke quickly puts out his cigarette and he and Sammie head over to-

TWO GAMBLERS are involved in an altercation. GAMBLER 1 is holding out a straight razor towards GAMBLER 2 who is holding his hand to the side of his face.

Smoke, Sammie and Bo Chow approach.

Smoke turns to Gambler 1 who has the blade extended.

Gambler 1 backs up and shakes his head.

Smoke approaches. Gambler 1 backs up.

Smoke goes for him, dodges the razor blade and whacks him with his revolver. He then wrenches the blade from his hand, while holing him down. He looks to Bo.

Bo reaches in and pulls out two dice.

He and Smoke get up, and a few other GAMBLING PATRONS begin stomping him out.

Smoke turns to Gambler 2 and looks at his face. The cut is gnarly.

Smoke turns to Sammie.

Sammie takes off through the maze of partygoers. He gets to the door where he sees Delta Slim.

Delta Slim points.

Sammie goes towards the back room and opens it.

We see what Sammie sees... Stack and Mary on the ground, Mary on top and in passionate rhythm.

Sammie quickly shuts the door back and smiles.

He looks at Delta Slim who laughs.

Sammie makes his way back to Smoke who stands alongside Annie who is helping him tend to Gambler 2 who now is drinking from a BOTTLE OF WINE for the pain.

Smoke heads for the back room but notices Delta Slim watching the door.

Delta Slim lifts his beer towards Smoke.

Smoke spins off towards the back room, with Sammie on his heels.

Smoke walks up to the back room door and doesn’t break stride.

Smoke opens the door and steps in.

Smoke’s face contorts into confusion as we see his POV.

Mary, cradling Stack’s head as she slurps blood from his jugular vein.

Mary looks up, her mouth and chin slick with blood.

She stands up, with her hands up and BLAM BLAM BLAM, Smoke shoots her in the chest.

PEARLINE, the BAND and the DANCING PATRONS hear the gun shots and look around in confusion.

Annie hears the gunshot and turns towards the back room. She turns to Bo.

Annie rushes out of the gambling room.

Slim turns and looks towards the back room.

Mary drops. Smoke starts toward his injured brother when-

Mary laughs, almost unaffected by the bullet. She rises up, gunshot wounds and all.

Smoke fires again and she charges past him, avoiding shots and running out of the room.

Mary, her chest and face bloodied, sprints past Delta Slim who nearly sobers up at the sight of her sprinting off into the night air.

Delta Slim runs towards the back room.

Delta Slim enters to find Smoke cradling Stack, putting all the pressure he can muster on the wound, but the blood flows still.

Stack’s body convulses.

Then- stillness... his eyes open but empty.

Shock takes root in Sammie.

Annie enters the room and is horrified for a beat before jumping into action.

Annie feels at Stack’s neck for a pulse. Nothing.

Sammie can’t answer. Annie turns to Delta Slim.

Delta Slim turns exits to the-

Where all of the patrons, gamblers, and musicians are trying to get a look into the back room.

Delta Slim keeps them at bay.

PARTYGOER #2 Music still going?

PATRON #2 Damn! It was just getting good too.

The partygoers mutter amongst themselves, confused, paranoid, and upset such an great party has now ended. They start to file out the front door, murmuring.

Annie stands over Smoke.

Sammie thinks

Annie speaks to Smoke with a renewed urgency.

Smoke looks up at Annie.

Annie reaches for Stack’s body.

Smoke stares back at her with seething anger.

Smoke stands up.

Smoke storms out. Annie and Sammie follow behind.

Smoke emerges covered in Stack’s blood. Annie and Sammie behind him. They lock the door from the outside.

Smoke pushes past Bo towards the door, Delta Slim trails.

Annie turns to Sammie.

She goes after Smoke, Bo Chow and Delta Slim.

Delta Slim looks at Smoke searching for answers, then hands him his flask. Smoke takes a swig, and hands it back.

Delta Slim shrugs.

Smoke looks out into the darkness through bloodshot eyes.

Delta Slim and Bo pull Smoke back inside of the juke.

CONTINUOUS

Pearline approaches Sammie who stands at the door.

Sammie gives her a look that mirrors her sentiment.

Annie speaks up in the hall.

PATRON #1 I ain’t scared of no rabies, or whatever Hoo Doo this hammer talkin’ bout. I’m worried about these crackas.

As the group debates, the remaining patrons make their way out.

Grace approaches Bo and pulls him away from Smoke.

Bo looks at Grace with an answerless expression.

Bo looks around and heads out the door and into the darkness.

Cornbread finally notices Smoke is covered in blood.

Annie clocks this.

She extends her hands to Smoke to stop him.

Smoke looks back at Annie confused. Delta Slim as well.

They stare at Cornbread, who stares back at them with an almost comically confused expression.

The three continue to stare without budging.

Cornbread holds his hand out, short, like a gator.

Cornbread cuts a look at Delta Slim.

Smoke pulls out a wad of cash and thumbs through it. Pulls a few bills off and reaches the money out to Cornbread who smiles as Smoke reaches.

Just as his hand crosses the threshold of the mill Cornbread snatches it with reptilian reflexes, extending his mouth towards Smoke’s forearm veins.

He tugs Smoke off his feet nearing a bite when Smoke draws his pistol and BLAM. Shoots Cornbread right in the FACE.

Annie shrieks.

Smoke drops from Cornbread’s grasp and scuttles back into the mill while Cornbread’s body drops to the dirt.

Annie slams the mill door just as Cornbread rises again. Then inspects Smoke’s arm for a bite.

Outside the Back Room door, Sammie stands next to Pearline.

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK. Someone inside the Back Room knocks on the door gently.

Sammie shoots Pearline a look. Clearly rattled. She gives the same one back.

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK on the door again.

Sammie shakes his head.

He looks under door.

SAMMIE’S POV

He sees movement underneath, but tries to focus.

Sammie stands up. Not sure he’s heard what he thought. Puts his ear to the door when-

SHUNK!

THE BLADE OF STACK’S KNIFE plunges through the wood, skimming Sammie’s eyelash. Pearline shrieks.

Sammie looks at the door in shock as the blade is yanked back through the other side of the door, and a familiar laugh is heard.

Sammie approaches the door tries looks through the hole. We see an obstructed glimpse of Stack’s toothy grin.

Smoke heads over. Sammie points at the door.

Smoke looks back at Sammie, and thinks on this. He approaches the door.

Grace looks at Smoke, wildly confused.

Annie turns to Smoke.

Annie and Smoke look at each other. Maybe it is, Stack?

BOOM! A massive kick to the door.

Annie gets an idea and runs towards the kitchen.

BOOM!

BOOM! Stack BARRELS through the door sending it flying to the ground with Sammie underneath it.

Annie arrives holding a mason jar.

Stack, holding his knife, his eyes shimmering, he charges towards Annie who throws the liquid mason jar contents on him.

It sizzles on Stack’s face.

She throws more.

Smoke grabs Annie, giving Stack enough time to the front door, swing it open, and escape into the night.

Tears well in Grace’s eyes as she argues with the remaining group.

The group doesn’t respond.

Annie looks to Smoke.

Annie thinks for a bit.

Annie shakes her head.

It almost cuts the tension.

In the kitchen area, Annie, Grace, and Pearline gather garlic.

Annie throws bones. Reads them.

She throws them again.

Smoke ties some to his rifles like bayonets. Annie pulls him to the side, holding one of the stakes.

Smoke looks at her.

Annie takes Smoke’s hand in hers

Annie places the stake near her heart. Smoke drops the stake to the ground, realizing what she’s insinuating.

Pearline walks into the gambling room where she sees GAMBLER 2 laying dead in a pool of blood.

Pearline screams.

The group descends on Pearline. Smoke looks down at Gambler 2’s body.

Smoke reaches down to check his pulse.

Annie thinks.

Sammie and Smoke drag Gambler #2’s body outside. They shift him and quickly place him on the ground. Sammie and Smoke look around, no one is around until Sammie sees-

SAMMIE’S POV

A JUKE PATRON walking off into the distance.

Sammie watches with curiosity as the Patron joins up with a MASSIVE GROUP made up of all the former Juke Patrons. Sammie hears something in the distance.

Smoke hears this too, and grabs Sammie, pulling him back into the Mill.

Remmick in the center of concentric circles of vampiric Juke patrons, belts out a solo while The Juke Patrons cheer him on, Stack, Mary, Cornbread, and the others dance passionately, while Bert, Joan, and the other musicians play furiously (THE ROCKY ROAD TO DUBLIN).

We reveal Remmick in the center of the semicircle conducting them, passion in his eyes.

Then- the song crescendos and Remmick begins to do an increasingly elaborate Irish step.

He’s overcome with emotion, it’s an experience he hasn’t had in centuries, the Juke Patrons sense this, and Stack and Mary begin to sing with more fervor, cheering him on.

Remmick moving passionately, breaks free of the rigid upper body stance and begins to dance in the lost style, the Gaelic style, the style of the druid priests of his human time. His tears flow, and his arms swing through the night air unencumbered by the stunting shackles of the colonial gaze.

The remaining folks stand in a circle around Annie. We REVEAL that she is shelling a clove of garlic.

Annie looks around at the people in the circle. GRACE, PEARLINE, SMOKE, SAMMIE, and DELTA SLIM.

Annie eats a clove right away. Hands one to Smoke, who eats his as well. He hands a clove to Sammie, who chomps down on it and makes a face any young person would.

Grace takes her clove and eats it whole.

Annie shakes her head.

Pearline takes her clove and hesitates.

Smoke lifts his pistol. Sammie sees this and bucks up.

Pearline stares daggers at Smoke.

Sammie walks towards Smoke when WHAM! Smoke strikes him across the face.

Pearline watches as the blood drips from Sammies mouth.

Pearline puts the garlic in her mouth, swallows it. Smoke turns to Delta Slim.

Delta Slim eats the garlic and swallows it. Then... he begins to choke. Deep gurgling sounds.

The others watch with paranoia.

Delta Slim vomits. Then wipes his mouth.

He turns back to Smoke.

Smoke and Sammie look at each other for beat.

They go back to the spot where they found Gambler #2 laying in a pool of blood.

Smoke places his hand in the blood.

Gambler 2 knocks on the front door.

Gambler 2 beats on the door.

Smoke and Sammie run to the door, with Annie, Grace, Delta Slim, and Pearline behind them.

Smoke opens the door just in time to see-

Gambler 2 being tackled to the ground by Cornbread, who bites down on his neck.

Grace runs to the door and we see what she sees, Bo Chow approaching.

Grace looks at Bo, who is a few feet from man being devoured by another man, as it were a perfectly normal occurrence.

Bo turns to Cornbread, still drinking from Gambler 2’s neck, Gambler 2 still clinging to life.

Bo’s smile materializes.

Grace looks at Bo Chow with terror.

Suddenly Remmick appears.

Grace covers her ears.

Grace is horrified as Stack and Mary appear from the shadows.

He smiles.

Grace is mortified. Remmick turns his attention to Sammie.

Remmick smiles and stares at Sammie.

Smoke steps in front of Sammie, blocking him from Remmick’s gaze. Pearline holds Sammie’s hand.

Remmick points to Bert. Who nods.

This settles on Smoke. Stack notices.

Smoke takes aim at Remmick. Stack steps in front of him. Smoke puts the gun down.

Stack steps forward to his brother.

Smoke stares at his brother who approaches him smiling.

Sammie closes the door.

The remaining survivors gather up their tools. Grace is in shock.

Grace gathers materials for a Molotov Cocktail.

Pearline hears something in the distance.

Remmick leads the others, Joan, Bert, Bo Chow, Cornbread, Gambler 2, Stack, and Mary in singing Pick Poor Robin Clean, as they surround the mill.

The music is haunting, but Remmick’s voice is beautiful.

Bo Chow circles around to a window visible to Grace and sings to her while making eye contact.

Grace puts her hands to her ears. She picks up a makeshift STAKE and walks over to the window.

Smoke and Sammie grab her, Smoke covering her mouth just as.

She bites Smoke’s hand. Delta Slim runs over to try to help.

Annie and Pearline pile on top of her, blocking her mouth for a beat, but she breaks free.

Remmick smiles.

The BARN DOORS open and the VAMPIRES enter shortly after.

Smoke opens fire at Remmick who dodges as Bert springs forward.

Smoke shoots Bert who goes down. Annie stabs him with the stake.

GRACE throws a MOLOTOV COCKTAIL at Remmick, who knocks it aside and causes it to ignite.

Bo Chow steps through the fire and charges Grace, biting her as she pushes him into the blaze. They both ignite.

Annie throws the holy water mixture at Remmick and it backs him up. Annie notices the other vampires back up in similar fashion. Mimicking Remmick’s recoil.

Stack steps in behind him. Remmick grabs Smoke and holds him down, while Stack bites Annie.

Smoke erupts in a rage. As Sammie shoots his rifle at Remmick, knocking him back off of Smoke. The other vampires recoil at Remmick’s gunshot and Remmick runs out of the barn doors.

Stack lets go of Annie who collapses at Smoke’s feet. Her neck bleeding profusely.

She grabs the stake and takes aim.

BOOM! Smoke drives the stake into the chest of the love of his life. Annie dies instantly, her eyes staring into Smoke’s who screams in rage.

Stack and Mary see this and scream in rage. Stack turns to Mary.

Mary sees this and runs out of the barn doors.

Slim grabs Smoke. Slim breaks a bottle and cuts his Wrist open with a broken shard.

Sammie grabs his guitar as they push towards the stairs.

Slim, holding up his bleeding wound, distracts the vampires but holds them at bay with his spear.

He goes to the stage and stomps his feet and sings, as the vampires pour into the room, they are distracted by this brazen display.

Even Remmick looks at him. Smoke, Sammie, and Pearline look at Slim with gratitude and head up the stairs.

The Juke vampires descend on Delta Slim in this final act of sacrifice, he does a stage dive into them. Going out fighting.

As the vampires swarm, Pearline pushes Smoke and Sammie towards the staircase up into the-

Smoke, Sammie, and Pearline file up into the dark rafters. Smoke points his rifle towards the stairs.

Smoke opens the balcony door for Sammie.

Remmick lands on the balcony, blocking their way. He quickly attacks Sammie, knocking Pearline to the ground.

Stack charges up the stairs and tackles Smoke to the ground.

Sammie holds his guitar, blocking Remmick from his neck. Pearline stabs her stake into Remmick’s back. He winces in pain but turns before it can reach his heart.

He turns to Pearline and bites down on her neck.

Sammie shoots, the muzzle flare lighting the room. Revealing Remmick, holding Pearline, slurping her blood.

Sammie charges but Stack jumps out, tackling him. Smoke goes for Stack, talking him off of Sammie.

Sammie jumps out of the window.

Sammie lands hard in the grassy dirt. Limps up, and hobbles towards the river.

Smoke and Stack go at each other. Stack gripping the makeshift stake, his life hanging in the balance.

Pearline awakens and attacks Smoke as well.

The two exchange blows, Stack is stronger, faster, he lands a punch on Smoke that knocks him to the exposed earth of the catwalk beam. Pearline pounces and Smoke throws her off the balcony.

Stack then mounts Smoke.

Stack prepares to bite Smoke but his fangs stop as they get to his Mojo bag. Annie’s spell protected him!

Smoke turns the tables lowering the stake tip towards Stack’s chest.

Stack’s expression changes to one we haven’t seen before. Like a kid who just lost a fight to his older brother.

Smoke looks into his eyes with a shameful expression, he cradles his face.

Sammie runs like a storm wind. Hurdling through the blackness, his steps chewing up dirt, then mud, then water. His stake in one hand and his guitar in his other.

Behind him in silhouette against the sky, we see Remmick float into the air in pursuit.

CRASH! Remmick lands in front of Sammie.

Sammie jabs his stake at Remmick, who rips it out of his hands.

And strikes him across his face with his claws.

Sammie falls into the water. His blood blooms into the river waters. He stays under, mouthing words.

Remmick licks the blood from his nails- sweet nectar then grabs Sammie by his throat, pulling him out of the water with inhuman strength.

Sammie spits up water.

Remmick listens to this, as if remembering something and decides to join in.

The other vampires, former patrons from the mill start to creep down the riverbank. They watch as a parish might observe a riverside baptism.

Remmick strokes Sammie’s face.

Remmick suddenly slams Sammie into the water, baptizing him.

He dunks Sammie again. The Patrons surround the two, watching closely, rapt by Remmick’s words.

Slams him again into the water. Sammie gasps for air. Remmick pulls him close.

Remmick bares his teeth to bite Sammie when BLAM, Sammie swings his guitar into Remmick’s face, the wood shattering around him, but the metal face cutting into Remmick’s face! It’s silver, not white gold. And it surprises Remmick with the damage it causes him. He pulls the resonator out, and smoke and blood flows from the gash.

The other vampires on the riverbank grab their heads and moan in agony.

Remmick tosses the resonator into the river, and moves towards Sammie.

He grabs him by his face and prepares to bite him when...

SCHOOCT- A STAKE TIP bursts through Remmick’s chest. He gasps... then falls to his knees revealing a battle ravaged Smoke behind him.

The other Vampires react and wail in pain, as if they have been stabbed. Clutching their chests and writhing in pain.

Smoke sloshes over and checks Sammie’s neck frantically.

The sun breaks further and crests the horizon and the other vampires begin to howl in agony and crawl their way towards the juke. Their bodies sizzling. They fall to the ground and burst into flames.

Remmick’s body begins to sizzle and smoke. As he burns he transforms into an older more decayed version of himself. He then turns to the sun, smiles and EXPLODES into a PILLAR OF FIRE.

The pillar swirls into a vortex, and then dissipates... silence.

Smoke limps over to the truck. Sammie follows behind him holding the tattered guitar neck. Smoke removes a large box from the trunk and tosses Sammie the car key.

Smoke shakes his head.

Sammie thinks on this and looks down at it.

Smoke looks back at the mill for a beat. Then back to Sammie.

Sammie stares at Smoke for beat, then climbs into the car and pulls off.

Smoke watches him ride off into the distance.

MOMENTS LATER

Smoke lumbers to the entrance of the mill, carrying the tool box.

He reaches into his pocket and pulls out Stack’s dog tag and his tobacco and papers. He tries to roll himself a cigarette, but his hands shake too much and he drops it.

His eyes well, but he pushes it down before they spill- a final deposit to a well he thought he shut many years ago.

Smoke pulls his knife and with one hand, and pulls the leather necklace holding his mojo bag with his other, cuts the necklace and allows the bag to fall to the ground.

He opens the tool box, revealing a war chest. Parts for a BROWNING and a THOMPSON SUBMACHINE GUN, as well as two HAND GRENADES.

Smoke assembles the weapons.

Three cars drive down the road towards the mill, in formation. They park and 15 passengers exit, HOGWOOD first among them.

Some are armed, but most hold cleaning supplies.

BOOM! PFFT! Hogwood falls to the ground, hit by bullet fired by an unseen assailant.

One of HOGWOOD’S HENCHMEN turns to open fire but is cut down as well.

We reveal the source of the volley - Smoke, dick in the dirt behind the Browning, firing it until empty.

SIX OF HOGWOOD’S HENCHMEN try to load into the TRUCK.

Smoke moves to the Thompson, picks it up, and walks them down firing.

The Driver tries to start the truck up while another Henchman shoots at Smoke.

Smoke takes a SHOT to the belly. Falls to a knee. He watches as the truck starts up, cold fire in his eyes. He stands, grabs a GRENADE from his pocket. Pulls the pin. Hurls it sidearm towards the truck, and takes cover...

BOOM!

The truck EXPLODES.

Smoke turns back towards Hogwood, who is still breathing, holding his wound.

Smoke limps over to him and looks down.

Smoke stares at him for a long, unblinking beat.

Smoke bends down and pulls a pack of cigarettes from Hogwood’s left pocket.

Hogwood motions to his chest pocket with his chin. Smoke lights a cigarette, takes a drag and shakes the match out. He drops to his ass out of exhaustion. Sits the Tommy Gun down.

He takes a deep breath, maybe the first time he’s relaxed since we’ve seen him. He hears something... a baby cooing? He turns to his left and next to him is ANNIE, wearing white, nursing an INFANT.

Smoke smiles as the baby finishes.

Smoke nods and puts it out when.

Smoke turns to Hogwood.

Smoke, exasperated at his audacity. He reaches for the Thompson, aims it, and pulls the trigger with the last of his strength.

Then reaches for his daughter.

Sammie parks the car and exits, still in a daze. The blood on his clothes dried to a maroon crust.

He walks to the church door, opens it, and-

Sammie enters to find everyone in their Sunday Best, mostly cotton, bleached white fabrics. His father Jedidiah wearing black.

CHILDREN’S CHOIR This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine, this little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine...

Jedidiah makes eye contact with Sammie: his look holding shock, shame, and pride in equal parts.

The children keep singing, but murmurs of confusion from the congregation poke through the spiritual.

He extends his arm from beyond the pulpit. Sammie sees this gesture and begins to cry.

Sammie walks into the open arms of his father and begins to break down, clinging to his father.

Samuel nods.

Jedidiah turns Sammie to the crowd.

Jedidiah turns Samuel to the congregation.

We go tight on Sammie’s eyes still swollen with tears as he belts out his tune-

Jedidiah turns to Sammie, seeing the guitar neck still in his hand.

Sammie hears his father, but struggles. Tears well in his eyes.

Sammie winces, and we cut to-

Sammie drives Stack’s car down the road. The weight of all of the loss hits him. He presses the guitar neck to his heart as he steers.

The CROWD, diverse, but mostly white, soaks up every second of it. Sammie has the same electricity from his youth, but with the added knowledge that this could be his last rodeo, the crowd savors every note.

MOMENTS LATER

The Bar is closing up, and the last patrons exit, still buzzing from the show.

Sammie sits his guitar case next to a seat and sits down at the end of the bar.

Bartender obliges.

Sammie sips slow, and winces. Just within earshot we can hear the BOUNCER speaking with someone outside.

The Bouncer enters.

The Bouncer nods to Sammie and exits.

Sammie’s cup stops mid journey to his lips. He waits, listens, and we see the late night patrons enter. It’s STACK, and MARY dressed in early 90s style. Cartier sunglasses on Stack’s eyes, door knocker earnings on Mary, a cherry tootsie pop in her mouth.

She takes a seat across from the Bartender.

Stack sits next to Sammie.

Stack chuckles at this while the bartender pours.

The Bartender then shoots Mary a thirsty look and pours her a drink she didn’t ask for.

Mary looks at Stack and back to the Bartender.

The Bartender smiles.

The Bartender recoils at the question. Backs up and starts cleaning glasses. Mary stares him down and flings spit from her tootsie pop onto the bar before returning it to her mouth.

Sammie looks at Stack.

Sammie almost smiles at this.

Stack removes his sunglasses. He leans towards Sammie. Sniffs the air like a bloodhound... or a grey wolf.

We see in the mirror behind the bar, Stack has no reflection.

Sammie nods at this. Laughs.

Sammie looks at Stack for a long beat.

Sammie smiles at this.

Sammie gets up and opens his guitar case. It’s an old Steel Acoustic in there. He slips on his slide. And he plays (TRAVELIN’) in the old way, the Delta way.

Stack closes his eyes and sways to it, Mary nestles in under his arm swaying the same way.

Sammie finishes.

Stack opens his eyes. Pulls out his money and drops two $100 on the bar, revealing a GOLD FOUR FINGER RING that spells out “SMOKE”. Stack stands up, puts his glasses back on and heads towards the door. Mary stands and takes a beat.

She turns and catches up with Stack.

Stack and Mary stop and turn back.

Stack smiles takes his glasses off again.

Stack slips his glasses back on and he and Mary head out. Sammie watches as they go, and smiles at the thought.