Maverick Page #3

Next to him sits, of all things, a woman. But not

ordinary, certainly not in these surroundings. She's

elegantly-dressed, close to being beautiful. She's

married, has a deep Southern accent, and hasn't been

poor for a long time. Maybe she's thirty. She seems

a rotten poker player, but a wonderful flirt. This

is ANNABELLE BRANSFORD.

Next to her sits The Angel. We met him already --he

tossed the burlap bag of rattlesnakes at Maverick just

before the hanging. Huge, powerful, not much makes him

smile, except winning at cards.

There is an empty seat at the table.

STAIRCASE:

as Maverick descends. If before he was grimy from

travel, he isn't anymore. He wears a black hat, a black

jacket, a black string tie -

--and just the most beautiful white lace shirt you ever

saw.

POKER GAME:

as Maverick approaches.

MAVERICK:

(indicating the

empty chair)

Taken?

ANNABELLE:

(lilting Southern

accent)

It is now.

(smiles at him)

My name is Annabelle Bransford.

And what do people call you?

MAVERICK:

Bret Maverick, ma'm.

And as he starts to sit -(

CONTINUED)

8.

14 CONTINUED:
14

THE ANGEL:

glaring at Maverick. (We know that within a week,

he'll hang Maverick. But they haven't met before.)

THE ANGEL:

I like the game the way it is.

MAVERICK:

I bring all kinds of plusses to

the table. I hardly ever bluff and

I never ever cheat.

THE ANGEL:

I don't believe it.

MAVERICK:

Neither do I.

THE ANGEL:

(voice rising, not

in pitch, but

intensity)

I like the game just the way it

is.

MAVERICK:

Bet I can change your mind.

(beat)

I promise to lose for at least

an hour.

THE ANGEL:

(without a pause)

We're playing five card draw.

As Maverick sits -

MAVERICK:

losing a hand to The Angel. The Angel smiles -

--but so does Maverick.

MAVERICK:

losing again, this time to Annabelle. She's happy -

--but again, so is Maverick.

And now we begin a SERIES of VERY QUICK CUTS.

Of The kid, holding his cards. Tightly.

(CONTINUED)

9.

14 CONTINUED:
(2)

14

Of the cattleman casually making a bet. Very casually.

Of Maverick, who doesn't seem to be paying much

attention.

He loses again, smiles.

Now the preacher is staring at his cards before betting.

For a long beat.

And the cattleman is fiddling with his chips.

The chips in front of The Angel are sloppy.

The chips in front of Annabelle are neatly stacked. She

flicks her fingernails against her front teeth, makes a

bet.

The businessman is toying with his necktie.

The Angel is holding his cards, moving the top to the

bottom, then repeating, the top to the bottom.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes