Sleepy Hollow Page #2

ICHABOD:

Not for lack of trying.

HIGH CONSTABLE:

Just so. Granted. And so you take

your experimentations to Sleepy

Hollow and catch the murderer who

has tainted the place. Bring him

here to face our good justice.

Will you do this for me?

ICHABOD:

(swallowing doubt)

I shall, gladly.

HIGH CONSTABLE:

Excellent. Then, you are excused

till morning.

Ichabod moves away, heading to where the corpse was taken.

HIGH CONSTABLE:

Oh, and, Constable...

(off Ichabod's look)

Do make certain that you meet with

success. Otherwise... perhaps you

should not come back at all.

The High Constable smiles a sardonic smile.

INT. WATCHHOUSE, INCINERATION ROOM -- NIGHT

The corpse burns in a raging furnace. Flesh sizzles.

Constable One pumps bellows which fan the flames. Ichabod

steps from darkness nearby. He watches with bitter regret as

the corpse is consumed.

EXT. CITY -- DAY

Market town streets bustle. Filthy. Pigs roam free.

INT. ICHABOD'S HOME, SECOND FLOOR -- DAY

Decorated in Early-American Mad Scientist: books, papers and

jars of chemicals. Charts of anatomy above a small bed.

ICHABOD (o.s.)

Such a day for such a sad farewell.

But, this is goodbye, my sweet.

At the window, Ichabod holds a bird cage with a red CARDINAL

inside. He opens the cage. The bird flies free.

Ichabod watches it go, then looks down. A COACH halts in the

street below. The forlorn DRIVER looks up.

INT. ICHABOD'S COACH -- DAY

In motion. Ichabod absently studies his hands, touching the

strange SCARS on both palms: evenly dispersed, tiny dots of

tissue. Many scars.

Ichabod lifts a LEATHER SATCHEL, checking its contents.

EXT. UPSTATE FORESTS -- DAY

TWO FAMILIES of MIGRANT WORKERS travel a path, leading over-

burdened horses. Ichabod's coach approaches from the other

direction. Ichabod looks out, unnerved.

One GAUNT MAN watches Ichabod pass. There is a dead, worried

look in the man's eyes. Others stare at Ichabod.

EXT. SLEEPY HOLLOW, THE LONG STRAIGHT ROAD -- DAY

Ichabod faces two massive, vine-covered PILLARS, unsure. He

turns to watch the driver lead the coach away.

Ichabod walks between the pillars to a long straight road.

He does not notice, above: THREE DEAD RAVENS hang from a tree

limb, twine wrapped round their necks.

EXT. SLEEPY HOLLOW, TOWN SQUARE -- DAY

Ichabod walks on with baggage. The square is empty, a CHURCH

and GRAVEYARD at one end. The road ahead is bordered by

businesses and homes.

CONVERSATION DRIFTS from a tavern. A criminal sits in

stocks. A quiet CRYING is HEARD. Ichabod hears...

He looks for its source. It's from a window above, LOUDER.

SOUNDS like the SOBBING of an OLD WOMAN.

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