Train depot San Diego Docks late 1800s
Many Chinese immigrant workers are being offloaded from a boat onto cattle cars at the back of a long train waiting on the track. There is much pushing and shouting as the “rail men” prod the immigrants into the cars.
We also see a large steel lock box being loaded onto the second car of the train. Several U.S. soldiers stand guard.
As the last of the china men are loaded into the car we can see that several appear very sickly and frail, coughing and look to be near death. As the car is being closed one of the immigrants rolls out, and lands in a heap dead on the ground.
Soldier 1
(Shouting from the front of the train)
There a problem up there?
Rail Man 1
We got nother dead one here.
Soldier 1
Well, put em with the others, and clear the track. This lock box gotta be at Ft Sumner with out delay.
The soldier climbs aboard the train and the whistle blows long and loud as the train chugs off. The rail men bring over a wheelbarrow and load the dead worker into it. We follow the body as it is wheeled to a nearby pit, and dumped. The pit is filled with at least 20 corpses of other Chinese workers.
Cut to-Outside day somewhere in Arizona.
One man sits high on his horse near a train track. Nothing can be heard, but the rustling of the wind. The man is looking up, and down the track and appears impatient.
The man is short young, and , handsome.(Billy)
Several moments pass, and three riders break into view from down the track. The young man on his horse smiles, and trots off in their direction.
The other three man are a scruffy bearded dirty looking sort.(Ike) A tall older rugged fellow.(Frank) And another young handsome bloke(Jessie)
Billy
Whoowee Ike. Its about time. Ya don’t leave a fella standin round this long with nuttin to do cept spit, and whistle. I just about givin up on you. I take it these the boys you was talkin up?
Ike
Now Billy I told you I was bringing em back. Twernt nothin ta worry about.
Frank
Ike had us lost bout two days back. Sorry fer the delay.
Jesse
I’m Jesse that’s Frank, and you must be Billy. Pleased to make your acquaintance.
Billy
Good now that we’re all friends lets get down to business. There’s a steal horse gonna be commin down that track with a whole lotta chinee workers, a few army regulars, and a lock box with five hundred thousand dollars worth of some rich rail tycoons money. I intend to liberate those funds, and Ike here, well he told me you gentlemen know a thing or two bout robbin trains.
Jesse
That we do, don’t we Frank?
Frank
That we do Jesse So whats the plan then?
Cut to inside saloon
It is a clean and fit looking establishment. Several people mill about, but it is a slow time of day for business. A man is drunkenly leaning over the piano playing well, but missing a note once or twice.(Doc) Another man is seated behind a gaming table.(Wyatt)
A tall well dressed, and groomed fellow walks into the Saloon, nickel slick badge proudly displayed on his chest, and strides up to the barkeep(Garrett)
Garrett
I’m looking for Wyatt. You know him?
The barkeep(Lou) nods in Wyatt’s direction. Garret walks over, and sits down at the table pulling out a bill fold as he does. He places a bill on the table.
Garrett
Never been much for gambling.
Wyatt
(Pulling a card)
Eight house wins. I’m thinking now might not be the time to start.
Doc
Nonsense Wyatt, it is always the perfect time to start.
Garrett looks in Doc’s direction, and puts down another bill on the table. Wyatt draws another card.
Wyatt
Four, house wins again.
Doc
Then again, sometimes the odds are not in ones favor.
Garrett looks around taking it all in, and lays down another bill. Wyatt draws yet another card.
Wyatt
Queen, house wins again.
(Garrett goes to play another bill)
You look like there’s more going on here than someone stopping in to play a few hands a faro. Why don’t ya just get on with it, and explain yourself before the house cleans you out.
Doc
I believe that is the idea of the game Wyatt.
Garrett
No I think ill listen to the dealer on this one and hold onto what I got left. I am here for something. I’m looking for you Wyatt. Names Garrett. Been Marshaling out of New Mexico Lincoln county way.
Wyatt
Long ride from Lincoln.
Garrett
That it is. I would not have made it with out good reason either. I’m chasing ghosts, well close to id reckon. Killed me a kid while back for stealin cattle, went by the name of Billy. Only I come to find out maybe this kid isn’t dead. Maybe they say he’s still riding and rustling cattle. So I check it out. Come to find out he is still alive, or at least some one claiming to be him cept he isn’t horse thieving no more, nope now he lookin to rob trains.
Wyatt
Well that sure is an interesting tale, but I fail to see---
Garrett
Lemme finish. Train coming through Benson heading to New Mexico just this morning. Bringing workers to extend the line. Well it also has a payroll car. Five hundred thousand. So it looks like this kid is planning on that one. He also has himself a few hands on this job. A couple of boys by the name of Frank and Jesse, from out Missouri way, and a man from Arizona goes by the name of Ike.
Wyatt
Ok now I understand. I’m sorry Sheriff Garrett was it? If you know me, then you know I haven’t done that work in a few months now. Ike, and his boys caused a lot of harm to this town and to me personally, and I hunted down and destroyed that gang of cowboys. Then I learned to let it go. But…one man got away, and now you waltz in here and tell me you’ve conjured him out of thin air, and he’s robbing trains with a ghost. I got that right?
Garrett
That pretty much sums it up.
Wyatt
Well Doc, I see no reason for you to get caught up in this mess. Me and the Sheriff here can take care of it. Why don’t you stay here, and see to the game for me, would do your health some good as well.
Doc
Do not be so presumptuous as to my reason to go anywhere Wyatt. I go where I wish, and I feel that a good ride with a chance at some exciting distraction would do much to restore my vitality. Don’t worry about the game my friend I am sure Lou will do a fine job looking out for it. Will you not Lou?
Lou
Sure thing Doc. Don’t you worry Wyatt everything will be here when you get back.
Garrett, Doc, and Wyatt head outside. Garrett Mounts up his horse.
Garrett
I gotta head down to the train station meet up with a man from Pinkerton, has a vested interest in the other two men. Frank and Jesse. Says he wants to be there when they are brought down and offered his assistance to do so. Figured another gun always good to have around, and I didn’t know your answer yet.
Wyatt
A Pinkerton that’s some serious trouble there. Those boys musta made some rich man angry back east. Well Doc, and me will grab our horse, and settle our things here and ride over.
Garrett
Thanks Wyatt. We will bring these men in.
Garrett rides off, and Doc and Wyatt walk down the street as the scene cuts.
Cut to outside train tracks.
Billy, Jesse, Frank, and Ike sit behind a ridge below the railroad track. They have a large tree, and a wagon broke down in the middle of the tracks on a long straight away.
Jesse
I don’t know Frank. I still don’t know if the train will have enough time to stop before it hits that tree.
Frank
It don’t matter Jesse. If it hits it train still stops.
Ike
No it don’t matter cause there is no train. Billy you said there wuz gonna be a train. We been sitting here better part of the day and there still ain’t no god damn train.
Billy
Oh shut your mouth Ike. Maybe they got a good smell of you and hit a switch track.
Frank
No Billy Ike’s right. Trains a good half day late. I’m inclined to think it isn’t coming.
Jesse
And I’m inclined to agree with you brother. I also think it aint like a rail line to not show up. Even if it shows up late. I say we take a ride down the tracks. Maybe it jumped, or had a boiler blow.
Billy
Well hell, anything beats sitting round here listening to Ike bellyache. Lets ride.
The quartet mount up and begin to ride down the tracks. They go a good ways as the sky slowly starts to darken. And then the come across the train sitting quietly in the middle of the tracks, the last rays of the sun glinting off the silent engine. The four men slowly ride up.
Jesse
Now this is a surprise.
Ike
Aint no one around.
Frank dismounts and hops up onto the engine. He disappears into the coal car, and comes back out.
Frank
Engines just warm fire hasn’t been fed in a while. No sign of the engineer. Firemans up here dead though. Doesn’t look to be shot. Looks like he was kind of mangled up.
The men all dismount. Ike grips his rifle tightly, and stands near his horse. Franks hops down and joins his brother walking the length of the train. Billy joins them but when they reach the lock box car, climbs up to have a look. To His surprise the door is not locked. Instead it is standing slightly ajar. He pushes the door open and gasps at the stench.
Billy
Hey boys get a breath of this. I guess that means they couldn’t smell Ike.
Frank and Jesse rush back to Billy. Ike throws an angry look Billy’s way but simply stands and grips in rifle in fear.
Jesse
What do you make of it Frank?
Frank steps in squeezing past Billy, and enters the car.
Frank
(From inside)
Dead, all dead. Looks to be about six soldiers. They fired their guns at something. There is a few holes in the wall.
It is quiet for a few moments, and we can hear Frank shuffle about in the car. He comes back out and shoves a bag into Billy’s hands.
Frank
Moneys still here. They wasn’t robbed.
Billy
Were not. They were not robbed. Until now.
Billy tosses the bag to Ike who drops his rifle to catch it only to have it knock him half over in the process.
Billy
Well gentlemen, despite the oddity of this occurrence I call this a win. Stop making a fool of yourself Ike, and get these bills on a horse so we can skin out of here.
Billy steps past Frank and tosses several more bags out at Ike. Franks hops down from the train again and walks down the tracks away with Jesse.
Jesse
This has an eerie quality to it Frank. Reminds of the stories Bob used to tell sitting round the camp fire.
Frank
Oh now little brother don’t go letting Bob’s old stories give ya a fright. Near as I can figure must have been an accident and while they were busy figuring that out some rogue Indian band looking for payback had themselves a little revenge.
The pair find themselves nearing the Chinese worker cars.
Jesse
That puts some pretty good sense to it Frank, but I don’t know just seems more than ordinary is all.
The sky is getting dark fast as the two brother reach the end of the train. The worker cars are all empty and there seems to be no sign of the china men. The boys turn around and begin walking back to their horses. As they turn a low moan is heard from the last car. Jesse turns back towards the car and leans into the doorway.
Jesse
Hello! Someone in there?
Another low moan is his only response. He climbs up, and takes a few steps in. Franks stands near at the doorway.
Jesse
Hello?! You need some help?
A few moments of quiet go by as Frank waits for Jesse it is to dark to see into the car by this point. In a rush a yelp is heard from Jesse in the car as he, and something else comes tumbling out. The two bodies separate as they hit the ground.
Jesse
Shoot it him Frank! Guy tried to bight me!
Frank fumbles for his gun and as he draws it a gunshot cracks loudly. Frank and Jesse look to see Billy pistol out, and still smoking.
Jesse
Now that was just down right unnerving.
Frank bends down to look at the corpse, and to his surprise it lunges for him. He jumps back, as he lifts his pistol Billy puts another rounds into its torso, but the thing keeps crawling towards Frank. Billy draws his second pistol and puts another round into the torso, the thing flinches, and still crawls towards Frank, who lifts his own pistol and puts a round center forehead. The thing collapses still, and dead.
Ike comes running up.
Ike
What the hell just happened?
Frank
(dropping his spent round and reloading.)
I do not know.
Jesse
I don’t want to know.
Billy
Good point. Lets skin out of here.
The four men turn around to find three of the soldiers, and the fireman up, and shambling unnaturally towards them. It is clear from the way they move that they are no longer “Human” . The fireman lets out a long wailing moan, and shuffles forward at a faster pace. Billy raises his pistols and fires both as quickly as he can at the things hitting several. None of them fall down. Ike blasts one square in the chest with his rifle only to have it stand again.
Jesse grabs his own pistols, and goes to work hitting another soldier several times in the torso only to have it keep coming. Frank Takes careful aim, and hit’s the same shambling soldier in the forehead felling it dead.
Frank
Aim for the head. They die when you shoot them in the head.
Billy and Jesse fire their last few rounds with precision hitting the other two soldiers in the head. Ike takes aim with his rifle at the Fireman, but misses, once, twice, a third time he hits it in the neck it keeps coming. Frank steps up, and once more with fine aim blasts the thing in the head.
Billy
Quick get on those horses!
Jesse
Aint gotta ask me twice lets get outta here fellas.
The outlaws make a dash for the horses back at the front of the train and ride off into the darkness.
Cut to train day
The four lawmen come riding up on the train from the rear. Or the opposite direction of the outlaws.
It is still a bloody mess from the previous night. The corpses of the soldiers still litter the ground.
Wyatt
God damn it! We missed them.
Pinkerton the new man into the group rides forward to the engine and carefully scans the corpses as he rides past. Reaching the engine he circles his horse around and takes the scene in. He is a tall stately man older, and somewhat out of place in this western setting. His clothes are clearly east coast.
Pinkerton
This wasn’t our boys. Oh to be sure they were here. They didn’t stop the train though. It’s boiler had a pressure leak, the engineer stopped to repair it.
Wyatt
(under his breath to Garrett)
He got all that from riding his horse around a bit?
Pinkerton dismounts, and walks over to the corpses of the soldiers, and the fireman. He examines each of them closely, while the rest of the posse pace their horses nearby. The animals seem slightly spooked at this point.
Garrett
Well hell Pinkerton are we gonna go after them or stand around here looking at dead folk.
Pinkerton
One must never rush headlong towards a foe one does not know. No gentlemen something very odd has happened here. Our boys were attacked by these soldiers, and the worker lying over there, and our boys fought back. Oh how they fought back. I have seen the remnants of many of Jesse’s exploits and none were as violent as this. Make no mistake something has changed the disposition of our quarry.
Doc
It is widely known that dangerous outlaws will undoubtedly perform dangerous acts. Speaking as some one with intimate knowledge of that world perhaps things simply escalated out of their control.
Pinkerton
You nefarious past aside, this is simply not an escalation of violence. No indeed these soldier violently attacked our boys. It was not simply a matter of defending the train either. Something odd happened here.
Pinkerton makes his way to the locked car, carefully scanning the ground as he goes. He reaches the car, and uses a handkerchief to cover his nose he steps through the wide open door. The bodies of two soldiers are left inside. However it soon becomes clear that one is eating the other. Pinkerton’s eyes widen, and he reaches for his pistol as he back to the doorway.
Pinkerton
Sheriff! Something odd is happening here indeed. Come up here please.
The creature in the car reacts to Pinkerton’s call, and rolls over and tries to stand, but has a difficult time doing so. Pinkerton raises his gun and aims it at the thing.
Pinkerton
Now that is just far enough. You stay down there.
Garrett, Doc, and Wyatt rush over drawing their guns. Garrett hops up and looks in the doorway.
Garrett
What the hell is that?
The creature stands up and slowly shambles to the door. Pinkerton and Garrett step back and down out of its way. The thing reaches the steps, and lets out a low moan. Several other low wails are answered in return from the stand of trees on one side. The men whirl around and point their weapons, but nothing can be seen.
The creature lunges from the steps at Garrett, and falls to the ground it reaches out for his ankle, and Doc in a quick motion hits it in the back of the head, the thing goes limp.
Doc
Well now this is a hell of a thing.
Wyatt
Figure there’s more up in that stand.
Wyatt grabs the rifle from his saddle and slowly walks towards the stand of trees. Doc draws his second pistol and follows after. Garret looks at Pinkerton who follows the other two.
Garrett
Now just a damn minute. Doesn’t any body find this all a bit disconcerting?
Wyatt
I do at that.
Garrett
Well maybe we should take up a more defensible position we don’t know what’s going on here. We don’t know how many are out there do we?
Wyatt
Well Garrett you can stay here pissin your boots, but I reckon I plan on figuring out what’s goin on.
Wyatt keeps on walking with Doc, and Pinkerton on his heels. Garrett looking uneasy follows quickly behind. The lawmen disappear into the small stand of trees as a low moan wails out. Garrett is the last in and at the sound of the wail cocks his rifle.
Many Chinese immigrant workers are being offloaded from a boat onto cattle cars at the back of a long train waiting on the track. There is much pushing and shouting as the “rail men” prod the immigrants into the cars.
We also see a large steel lock box being loaded onto the second car of the train. Several U.S. soldiers stand guard.
As the last of the china men are loaded into the car we can see that several appear very sickly and frail, coughing and look to be near death. As the car is being closed one of the immigrants rolls out, and lands in a heap dead on the ground.
Soldier 1
(Shouting from the front of the train)
There a problem up there?
Rail Man 1
We got nother dead one here.
Soldier 1
Well, put em with the others, and clear the track. This lock box gotta be at Ft Sumner with out delay.
The soldier climbs aboard the train and the whistle blows long and loud as the train chugs off. The rail men bring over a wheelbarrow and load the dead worker into it. We follow the body as it is wheeled to a nearby pit, and dumped. The pit is filled with at least 20 corpses of other Chinese workers.
Cut to-Outside day somewhere in Arizona.
One man sits high on his horse near a train track. Nothing can be heard, but the rustling of the wind. The man is looking up, and down the track and appears impatient.
The man is short young, and , handsome.(Billy)
Several moments pass, and three riders break into view from down the track. The young man on his horse smiles, and trots off in their direction.
The other three man are a scruffy bearded dirty looking sort.(Ike) A tall older rugged fellow.(Frank) And another young handsome bloke(Jessie)
Billy
Whoowee Ike. Its about time. Ya don’t leave a fella standin round this long with nuttin to do cept spit, and whistle. I just about givin up on you. I take it these the boys you was talkin up?
Ike
Now Billy I told you I was bringing em back. Twernt nothin ta worry about.
Frank
Ike had us lost bout two days back. Sorry fer the delay.
Jesse
I’m Jesse that’s Frank, and you must be Billy. Pleased to make your acquaintance.
Billy
Good now that we’re all friends lets get down to business. There’s a steal horse gonna be commin down that track with a whole lotta chinee workers, a few army regulars, and a lock box with five hundred thousand dollars worth of some rich rail tycoons money. I intend to liberate those funds, and Ike here, well he told me you gentlemen know a thing or two bout robbin trains.
Jesse
That we do, don’t we Frank?
Frank
That we do Jesse So whats the plan then?
Cut to inside saloon
It is a clean and fit looking establishment. Several people mill about, but it is a slow time of day for business. A man is drunkenly leaning over the piano playing well, but missing a note once or twice.(Doc) Another man is seated behind a gaming table.(Wyatt)
A tall well dressed, and groomed fellow walks into the Saloon, nickel slick badge proudly displayed on his chest, and strides up to the barkeep(Garrett)
Garrett
I’m looking for Wyatt. You know him?
The barkeep(Lou) nods in Wyatt’s direction. Garret walks over, and sits down at the table pulling out a bill fold as he does. He places a bill on the table.
Garrett
Never been much for gambling.
Wyatt
(Pulling a card)
Eight house wins. I’m thinking now might not be the time to start.
Doc
Nonsense Wyatt, it is always the perfect time to start.
Garrett looks in Doc’s direction, and puts down another bill on the table. Wyatt draws another card.
Wyatt
Four, house wins again.
Doc
Then again, sometimes the odds are not in ones favor.
Garrett looks around taking it all in, and lays down another bill. Wyatt draws yet another card.
Wyatt
Queen, house wins again.
(Garrett goes to play another bill)
You look like there’s more going on here than someone stopping in to play a few hands a faro. Why don’t ya just get on with it, and explain yourself before the house cleans you out.
Doc
I believe that is the idea of the game Wyatt.
Garrett
No I think ill listen to the dealer on this one and hold onto what I got left. I am here for something. I’m looking for you Wyatt. Names Garrett. Been Marshaling out of New Mexico Lincoln county way.
Wyatt
Long ride from Lincoln.
Garrett
That it is. I would not have made it with out good reason either. I’m chasing ghosts, well close to id reckon. Killed me a kid while back for stealin cattle, went by the name of Billy. Only I come to find out maybe this kid isn’t dead. Maybe they say he’s still riding and rustling cattle. So I check it out. Come to find out he is still alive, or at least some one claiming to be him cept he isn’t horse thieving no more, nope now he lookin to rob trains.
Wyatt
Well that sure is an interesting tale, but I fail to see---
Garrett
Lemme finish. Train coming through Benson heading to New Mexico just this morning. Bringing workers to extend the line. Well it also has a payroll car. Five hundred thousand. So it looks like this kid is planning on that one. He also has himself a few hands on this job. A couple of boys by the name of Frank and Jesse, from out Missouri way, and a man from Arizona goes by the name of Ike.
Wyatt
Ok now I understand. I’m sorry Sheriff Garrett was it? If you know me, then you know I haven’t done that work in a few months now. Ike, and his boys caused a lot of harm to this town and to me personally, and I hunted down and destroyed that gang of cowboys. Then I learned to let it go. But…one man got away, and now you waltz in here and tell me you’ve conjured him out of thin air, and he’s robbing trains with a ghost. I got that right?
Garrett
That pretty much sums it up.
Wyatt
Well Doc, I see no reason for you to get caught up in this mess. Me and the Sheriff here can take care of it. Why don’t you stay here, and see to the game for me, would do your health some good as well.
Doc
Do not be so presumptuous as to my reason to go anywhere Wyatt. I go where I wish, and I feel that a good ride with a chance at some exciting distraction would do much to restore my vitality. Don’t worry about the game my friend I am sure Lou will do a fine job looking out for it. Will you not Lou?
Lou
Sure thing Doc. Don’t you worry Wyatt everything will be here when you get back.
Garrett, Doc, and Wyatt head outside. Garrett Mounts up his horse.
Garrett
I gotta head down to the train station meet up with a man from Pinkerton, has a vested interest in the other two men. Frank and Jesse. Says he wants to be there when they are brought down and offered his assistance to do so. Figured another gun always good to have around, and I didn’t know your answer yet.
Wyatt
A Pinkerton that’s some serious trouble there. Those boys musta made some rich man angry back east. Well Doc, and me will grab our horse, and settle our things here and ride over.
Garrett
Thanks Wyatt. We will bring these men in.
Garrett rides off, and Doc and Wyatt walk down the street as the scene cuts.
Cut to outside train tracks.
Billy, Jesse, Frank, and Ike sit behind a ridge below the railroad track. They have a large tree, and a wagon broke down in the middle of the tracks on a long straight away.
Jesse
I don’t know Frank. I still don’t know if the train will have enough time to stop before it hits that tree.
Frank
It don’t matter Jesse. If it hits it train still stops.
Ike
No it don’t matter cause there is no train. Billy you said there wuz gonna be a train. We been sitting here better part of the day and there still ain’t no god damn train.
Billy
Oh shut your mouth Ike. Maybe they got a good smell of you and hit a switch track.
Frank
No Billy Ike’s right. Trains a good half day late. I’m inclined to think it isn’t coming.
Jesse
And I’m inclined to agree with you brother. I also think it aint like a rail line to not show up. Even if it shows up late. I say we take a ride down the tracks. Maybe it jumped, or had a boiler blow.
Billy
Well hell, anything beats sitting round here listening to Ike bellyache. Lets ride.
The quartet mount up and begin to ride down the tracks. They go a good ways as the sky slowly starts to darken. And then the come across the train sitting quietly in the middle of the tracks, the last rays of the sun glinting off the silent engine. The four men slowly ride up.
Jesse
Now this is a surprise.
Ike
Aint no one around.
Frank dismounts and hops up onto the engine. He disappears into the coal car, and comes back out.
Frank
Engines just warm fire hasn’t been fed in a while. No sign of the engineer. Firemans up here dead though. Doesn’t look to be shot. Looks like he was kind of mangled up.
The men all dismount. Ike grips his rifle tightly, and stands near his horse. Franks hops down and joins his brother walking the length of the train. Billy joins them but when they reach the lock box car, climbs up to have a look. To His surprise the door is not locked. Instead it is standing slightly ajar. He pushes the door open and gasps at the stench.
Billy
Hey boys get a breath of this. I guess that means they couldn’t smell Ike.
Frank and Jesse rush back to Billy. Ike throws an angry look Billy’s way but simply stands and grips in rifle in fear.
Jesse
What do you make of it Frank?
Frank steps in squeezing past Billy, and enters the car.
Frank
(From inside)
Dead, all dead. Looks to be about six soldiers. They fired their guns at something. There is a few holes in the wall.
It is quiet for a few moments, and we can hear Frank shuffle about in the car. He comes back out and shoves a bag into Billy’s hands.
Frank
Moneys still here. They wasn’t robbed.
Billy
Were not. They were not robbed. Until now.
Billy tosses the bag to Ike who drops his rifle to catch it only to have it knock him half over in the process.
Billy
Well gentlemen, despite the oddity of this occurrence I call this a win. Stop making a fool of yourself Ike, and get these bills on a horse so we can skin out of here.
Billy steps past Frank and tosses several more bags out at Ike. Franks hops down from the train again and walks down the tracks away with Jesse.
Jesse
This has an eerie quality to it Frank. Reminds of the stories Bob used to tell sitting round the camp fire.
Frank
Oh now little brother don’t go letting Bob’s old stories give ya a fright. Near as I can figure must have been an accident and while they were busy figuring that out some rogue Indian band looking for payback had themselves a little revenge.
The pair find themselves nearing the Chinese worker cars.
Jesse
That puts some pretty good sense to it Frank, but I don’t know just seems more than ordinary is all.
The sky is getting dark fast as the two brother reach the end of the train. The worker cars are all empty and there seems to be no sign of the china men. The boys turn around and begin walking back to their horses. As they turn a low moan is heard from the last car. Jesse turns back towards the car and leans into the doorway.
Jesse
Hello! Someone in there?
Another low moan is his only response. He climbs up, and takes a few steps in. Franks stands near at the doorway.
Jesse
Hello?! You need some help?
A few moments of quiet go by as Frank waits for Jesse it is to dark to see into the car by this point. In a rush a yelp is heard from Jesse in the car as he, and something else comes tumbling out. The two bodies separate as they hit the ground.
Jesse
Shoot it him Frank! Guy tried to bight me!
Frank fumbles for his gun and as he draws it a gunshot cracks loudly. Frank and Jesse look to see Billy pistol out, and still smoking.
Jesse
Now that was just down right unnerving.
Frank bends down to look at the corpse, and to his surprise it lunges for him. He jumps back, as he lifts his pistol Billy puts another rounds into its torso, but the thing keeps crawling towards Frank. Billy draws his second pistol and puts another round into the torso, the thing flinches, and still crawls towards Frank, who lifts his own pistol and puts a round center forehead. The thing collapses still, and dead.
Ike comes running up.
Ike
What the hell just happened?
Frank
(dropping his spent round and reloading.)
I do not know.
Jesse
I don’t want to know.
Billy
Good point. Lets skin out of here.
The four men turn around to find three of the soldiers, and the fireman up, and shambling unnaturally towards them. It is clear from the way they move that they are no longer “Human” . The fireman lets out a long wailing moan, and shuffles forward at a faster pace. Billy raises his pistols and fires both as quickly as he can at the things hitting several. None of them fall down. Ike blasts one square in the chest with his rifle only to have it stand again.
Jesse grabs his own pistols, and goes to work hitting another soldier several times in the torso only to have it keep coming. Frank Takes careful aim, and hit’s the same shambling soldier in the forehead felling it dead.
Frank
Aim for the head. They die when you shoot them in the head.
Billy and Jesse fire their last few rounds with precision hitting the other two soldiers in the head. Ike takes aim with his rifle at the Fireman, but misses, once, twice, a third time he hits it in the neck it keeps coming. Frank steps up, and once more with fine aim blasts the thing in the head.
Billy
Quick get on those horses!
Jesse
Aint gotta ask me twice lets get outta here fellas.
The outlaws make a dash for the horses back at the front of the train and ride off into the darkness.
Cut to train day
The four lawmen come riding up on the train from the rear. Or the opposite direction of the outlaws.
It is still a bloody mess from the previous night. The corpses of the soldiers still litter the ground.
Wyatt
God damn it! We missed them.
Pinkerton the new man into the group rides forward to the engine and carefully scans the corpses as he rides past. Reaching the engine he circles his horse around and takes the scene in. He is a tall stately man older, and somewhat out of place in this western setting. His clothes are clearly east coast.
Pinkerton
This wasn’t our boys. Oh to be sure they were here. They didn’t stop the train though. It’s boiler had a pressure leak, the engineer stopped to repair it.
Wyatt
(under his breath to Garrett)
He got all that from riding his horse around a bit?
Pinkerton dismounts, and walks over to the corpses of the soldiers, and the fireman. He examines each of them closely, while the rest of the posse pace their horses nearby. The animals seem slightly spooked at this point.
Garrett
Well hell Pinkerton are we gonna go after them or stand around here looking at dead folk.
Pinkerton
One must never rush headlong towards a foe one does not know. No gentlemen something very odd has happened here. Our boys were attacked by these soldiers, and the worker lying over there, and our boys fought back. Oh how they fought back. I have seen the remnants of many of Jesse’s exploits and none were as violent as this. Make no mistake something has changed the disposition of our quarry.
Doc
It is widely known that dangerous outlaws will undoubtedly perform dangerous acts. Speaking as some one with intimate knowledge of that world perhaps things simply escalated out of their control.
Pinkerton
You nefarious past aside, this is simply not an escalation of violence. No indeed these soldier violently attacked our boys. It was not simply a matter of defending the train either. Something odd happened here.
Pinkerton makes his way to the locked car, carefully scanning the ground as he goes. He reaches the car, and uses a handkerchief to cover his nose he steps through the wide open door. The bodies of two soldiers are left inside. However it soon becomes clear that one is eating the other. Pinkerton’s eyes widen, and he reaches for his pistol as he back to the doorway.
Pinkerton
Sheriff! Something odd is happening here indeed. Come up here please.
The creature in the car reacts to Pinkerton’s call, and rolls over and tries to stand, but has a difficult time doing so. Pinkerton raises his gun and aims it at the thing.
Pinkerton
Now that is just far enough. You stay down there.
Garrett, Doc, and Wyatt rush over drawing their guns. Garrett hops up and looks in the doorway.
Garrett
What the hell is that?
The creature stands up and slowly shambles to the door. Pinkerton and Garrett step back and down out of its way. The thing reaches the steps, and lets out a low moan. Several other low wails are answered in return from the stand of trees on one side. The men whirl around and point their weapons, but nothing can be seen.
The creature lunges from the steps at Garrett, and falls to the ground it reaches out for his ankle, and Doc in a quick motion hits it in the back of the head, the thing goes limp.
Doc
Well now this is a hell of a thing.
Wyatt
Figure there’s more up in that stand.
Wyatt grabs the rifle from his saddle and slowly walks towards the stand of trees. Doc draws his second pistol and follows after. Garret looks at Pinkerton who follows the other two.
Garrett
Now just a damn minute. Doesn’t any body find this all a bit disconcerting?
Wyatt
I do at that.
Garrett
Well maybe we should take up a more defensible position we don’t know what’s going on here. We don’t know how many are out there do we?
Wyatt
Well Garrett you can stay here pissin your boots, but I reckon I plan on figuring out what’s goin on.
Wyatt keeps on walking with Doc, and Pinkerton on his heels. Garrett looking uneasy follows quickly behind. The lawmen disappear into the small stand of trees as a low moan wails out. Garrett is the last in and at the sound of the wail cocks his rifle.
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