SLEEPY HOLLOW

Written by

Vlad Nikolaev

Based on, If Any

Address
Phone Number
 1.

1 EXT. CITY STREETS - NIGHT 1

Empty cobblestone streets are bordered by stately buildings.
A rapidly CLANGING BELL breaks the silence from afar.
INSERT TITLE:
New York City
TWO CONSTABLES clamor around a corner, lanterns held high,
listening.
They disappear down an alleyway.

2 EXT. CITY WATERFRONT - NIGHT 2

ELSEWHERE, piers border the Hudson. The BELL is LOUDER here.

The two constables arrive, searching, pistols drawn.
CONSTABLE ONE
Where are you?!
MAN'S VOICE (O.S.)
Here...! Over here!
The constables hurry to the river's edge...
Down an embankment, the MAN, another constable, has his back
to us.
He's waist deep in dark water, throwing aside his ALARM BELL,
struggling to pull something from the murk...
MAN
I need your help with this.

Constable Two and Constable One move forward, wary.

CONSTABLE ONE
Constable Crane? Ichabod Crane...
is that you?
The MAN turns. Meet ICHABOD CRANE, handsome, eyes piercing
but nervous and unsettled.
ICHABOD
None other, and not only me...
(returns to lifting)
I have found something...
Ichabod drags a bloated MALE CORPSE out from the water. He
backs away, shaken, looks to the constables...
 2.

ICHABOD
... which was lately a man.

3 INT. CITY WATCHHOUSE, JAIL -- NIGHT 3

In a dank, cavernous room, the distinguished HIGH CONSTABLE
lifts a blanket off the corpse in a wheelbarrow manned by
Constable Two.
Constable One and Ichabod are near, watching.
HIGH CONSTABLE
Burn it.
CONSTABLE ONE
Yes, sir.

Constable Two wheels the corpse down a RAMP to another room.

ICHABOD
Just a moment, if I may... we do
not yet know the cause of death.
HIGH CONSTABLE
When you find 'em in the river,
cause of death is drowning.
ICHABOD
Possibly so if there is water in
the lungs, but... by pathology we
might determine whether or not he
was dead when he went into the
river.
HIGH CONSTABLE
Cut him up? Are we heathens? Let
him rest in peace -- in one piece
as according to God and the New
York Department of Health.
Ichabod is about to protest, but stops himself, frustrated.
Two THUGGISH CONSTABLES -- different ones -- bring in a
bleeding SEMICONSCIOUS MAN.
HIGH CONSTABLE
What happened to him?
THUGGISH CONSTABLE
Nothing, sir. Arrested for
burglary.
 3.

The constables throw him against the bars of the slammer

while one of them opens the cage door. With their leather
truncheons, the cops beat their prisoner into the cage and
lock him in.
HIGH CONSTABLE
Good work...
Ichabod hurries to follow his two constables and the corpse.

4 EXT. CITY WATCHHOUSE - DAY 4

The metropolis thrives; horsedrawn vehicles plodding, MEN,
WOMEN and CHILDREN, MERCHANTS and TRADESMEN everywhere.
MEN are held in chains and gibbets in front of the
Watchhouse.

5 INT. CITY WATCHHOUSE, JAIL - DAY 5

We enter midway into a "Audition Scene." A row of CITY
OFFICIALS are "auditioning" APPLICANTS (mostly obvious Cranks
and Eccentrics) with Devices for crime fighting and crime
solving. The Applicants are crowded together to one side,
waiting their turn. Ichabod, holding only papers and books,
is among them.
"On Stage" at this moment is an INVENTOR demonstrating his
invention, of which more in a moment. Facing the "stage" is
the BURGOMASTER, flanked by the HIGH CONSTABLE (who has a
list of names) and various MAGISTRATES and ALDERMEN.
The Inventor is demonstrating a combination wallet and
mousetrap.

INVENTOR
... and in a few weeks, the plague
of pickpockets will be a thing of
the past!
He shows how to set the trap-spring.
INVENTOR
Give me a dozen constables in
gentleman's dress...
He pockets the wallet-trap.
INVENTOR
... mixing with the crowds where
pickpockets are rife!
 4.

He produces a fake hand-on-a-stick and does the business.

INVENTOR
A stealthy hand dips into the
gentleman's pocket... and -- !
There is the sound of the trap snapping shut and the Inventor
withdraws the fake hand with its fingers chopped off. The
Officials wince, impressed.
BURGOMASTER
Thank you. We will take your device
under consideration, Mr.
Vanderbilt... Next!
A SPOTTY MAN starts dragging a man-sized cage contraption to
center stage... while Ichabod tries to get the attention of
the Officials.
ICHABOD
Gentlemen! -- the Millennium is
almost upon us -- In a few months
we will be living in the nineteenth
century -- !
HIGH CONSTABLE
Wait your turn, Constable Crane --
ICHABOD
These devices are unworthy of a
modern civilization...
BURGOMASTER
Quiet! -- Next, I say!
SPOTTY MAN
Thank you, sir!
He turns proudly to his man-size cage, whose front hinges
down for ingress.
The floor of the cage is a steel plate. A "writing board" for
signing confessions is attached to the inside of the cage.
SPOTTY MAN
The Tomkins self-locking
Confessional is cheap at the price
and will last for years with just
an occasional wipe with a damp
cloth... When the villain steps on
the floor plate...
 5.

Ichabod, dropping books and papers around his feet, is

feverishly writing on a blank page (his "traveling inkpot" is
hung around his neck).
ICHABOD
(pointing to the Spotty
Man)
Arrest that man!
HIGH CONSTABLE
(jaw dropped)
Arrest... ?
ICHABOD
I accuse him of murder!
SPOTTY MAN
What the devil are you talking
about, you loon?!
Ichabod takes two steps toward him and gives him a violent
shove in the chest. The Spotty Man staggers back into his
cage, which self-locks, and at the same time a head clamp
descends from the top, gripping the Spotty Man's head. His
arms flail about as he yells.
Ichabod slaps his page on the writing board, offers his pen.
ICHABOD
Sign here!
SPOTTY MAN
(groaning and pointing)
The release handle...
ICHABOD
Not till you confess...!
Uproar around him, Ichabod waits as the prisoner signs the
paper, then pulls the "release handle."
ICHABOD
(waving the confession)
I have here a confession to the
murder of a man I fished out of the
river last night!
HIGH CONSTABLE
(furious)
Stand down!
ICHABOD
 6.

I stand up, for sense and justice!

Our jails overflow with men and
women convicted on confessions
worth no more than this one!
The High Constable bangs a gavel until he gets some silence
for the Burgomaster. Meanwhile, the Spotty Man is rescued by
his friends.
BURGOMASTER
Constable, this is a song we have
heard from you more than once but
never before with this discordant
accompaniment. I have two courses
open to me. First, I can let you
cool your heels in the cells until
you learn respect for the dignity
of my office...
ICHABOD
I beg pardon. I only meant well.
Why am I the only one who sees that
to solve crimes, to detect the
guilty, we must use our brains? --
to recognize vital clues, using up-
to-date scientific --
BURGOMASTER
(interrupting)
Which brings me to the second
course. Constable Crane, there is a
town upstate, two days' journey to
the north in the Hudson Highlands.
It is a place called Sleepy Hollow.
Have you heard of it?

ICHABOD
I have not.
BURGOMASTER
An isolated farming community,
mostly Dutch. Three persons have
been murdered there, all within a
fortnight... each found with their
head lopped off.
ICHABOD
Lopped off?
BURGOMASTER
Clean as dandelion heads,
apparently. Now, these ideas of
yours, they have never been put to
the test...
 7.

ICHABOD
I have never been allowed to put
them to the test!
BURGOMASTER
Just so, granted. So you take your
experimentations to Sleepy Hollow
and deduce, er detect the murderer.
Bring him here to face our good
justice. Will you do this?
ICHABOD
(swallowing doubt)
I shall, gladly.
BURGOMASTER
And remember -- it is you, Ichabod
Crane, who is now put to the test.
The Burgomaster smiles encouragingly.

6 INT/EXT. ICHABOD'S HOME, 2ND FLOOR - DAY (TITLE SEQUENCE 6

BEGINS)
Piles of BOOKS and PAPERS, JARS of CHEMICALS, MAGNIFYING
GLASSES, CHALKBOARDS covered with scrawl and ANATOMY CHARTS
above a small bed.
AT THE WINDOW, Ichabod holds a bird cage with a red CARDINAL
inside.
He opens the cage and the bird flies free...
ICHABOD
Such a day for such a sad farewell,
this is good-bye, my sweet...
Ichabod watches it go, sad, then looks down. A COACH halts in
the street below. The forlorn DRIVER looks up.

7 EXT. NEW YORK CITY STREETS -- DAY 7

ICHABOD'S COACH leaves city limits, forgoing civilization...
following a dirt road to forested wilderness.

8 EXT. NEW YORK FORESTS - NIGHT 8

Coach lanterns light the way as the coach lumbers along,
caressed by tight foliage. A WOLF is HEARD HOWLING. Ichabod
looks out, unnerved, shuts the window's curtain.
 8.

9 EXT. UPSTATE FORESTS - DAY 9

The coach moves through sun dappled forest...

10 INT. ICHABOD'S COACH - DAY 10

Ichabod checks the contents of a LEATHER SATCHEL in his lap.
He pauses a moment, studying the palm of his hand.
Ichabod touches the strange SCARS on both his palms: evenly
dispersed, tiny dots of tissue. Many scars. After a moment,
he returns to looking through his satchel.

11 EXT. SLEEPY HOLLOW, THE LONG STRAIGHT ROAD - LATE DAY 11

Ichabod stands between two massive STONE PILLARS. He's

unsure, turning to watch his coach leave him behind.
Ichabod picks up his bags and heads between the pillars,
starting up a LONG STRAIGHT ROAD. He does not notice, in the
tree limbs above: THREE DEAD RAVENS, hung by twine.

12 EXT. SLEEPY HOLLOW, TOWN SQUARE - DUSK 12

Ichabod walks on, passing a CHURCH and GRAVEYARD. The road
ahead is bordered by rows of businesses and two-story homes.
Ichabod enters the TOWN SQUARE proper. And ELDERLY WOMAN
stands in a doorway, watching Ichabod. Ichabod tips his hat.
The woman backs away, shuts her door.
Ichabod continues. He looks up... a MAN closes the shutters
of a second-story window.

As Ichabod continues he sees that there are two or three

Riflemen placed at vantage points on the roofs and also, when
he looks back, a Rifleman up on the Church Tower. The whole
village is like a Western
town waiting for an attack.

13 EXT. WOODEN BUNKER - DUSK 13

A strange WOODEN BUNKER, like a small fortress with a HUGE
BELL mounted on top, sits in a field. SEVERAL DIRT FARMERS
are gathered, all with rifles.
Ichabod stops as he walks, looking at this...
 9.

A boy, YOUNG MASBATH, aged 10, comes to the Designated

Rifleman, JONATHAN MASBATH, with food and drink, i.e., a
picnic tied up in cloth and a stone bottle of beer. Masbath
Senior takes the picnic and gives Young Masbath an
affectionate pat. He smiles confidently.
MASBATH SENIOR
Don't worry, son.
One farmer comes to lead Young Masbath away as Jonathan heads
into the BUNKER, taking several rifles.
In front of the BUNKER, across a field, other dirt farmers
light TORCH POSTS in a line along the forest edge.
Ichabod ponders this as he trudges along...

14 EXT. VAN TASSEL HOUSE - DUSK 14

Ahead on a hill: the grand Van Tassel MANOR HOUSE, windows
aglow.
TITLE SEQUENCE ENDS

15 EXT. VAN TASSEL HOUSE, FRONT DOOR - NIGHT 15

Ichabod puts down his bags (a suitcase and a leather box-bag)
but keeps his satchel.
JACK-O'-LANTERNS glow on the porch.
A KISSING COUPLE are lustfully busy in a dark corner of the
porch. The woman is a pretty servant, SARAH. The man we will
know as DOCTOR LANCASTER.

Ichabod almost blunders into them, causing a little panic and

embarrassment, in which Ichabod shares, and as he mumbles
apologies and opens the door, a shaft of light identifies the
couple for our further reference.
The open door reveals the MAIN HALL and FOYER...
There's a harvest party in progress. PEOPLE are gathered.
QUIET MUSIC is HEARD from elsewhere.

16 INT. VAN TASSEL HOUSE, SITTING ROOM - NIGHT 16

Ichabod opens a door. MEN and WOMEN eat and drink, talking
quietly in groups. Ichabod looks around, daunted, tentatively
makes his way...
 10.

Ichabod bumps into a few people, excusing himself. He mops

his sweaty brow, finds a pretty girl.
ICHABOD
Pardon my intrusion, I seek Baltus
Van Tassel but --
GIRL
In the parlor, sir, further on.
Ichabod thanks her, continues...
Ahead, CHILDREN, YOUNG MEN and LADIES in a circle taunt a
BLINDFOLDED YOUNG WOMAN spun around by the handsome, barrel-
chested man, BROM VAN BRUNT. Brom releases the woman.
Everyone quiets, avoiding her searching hands.

The Blindfolded Woman circles slowly, chanting a REFRAIN that

makes the CHILDREN and even some of the younger WOMEN shiver
with pleasurable fright. They giggle nervously and hush each
other up.
BLINDFOLDED WOMAN
"The Pickety Witch, the Pickety
Witch, who's got a kiss for the
pickety witch?"
She makes a lunge, grabbing empty air, just missing BROM;
everyone moans humorously. Doctor Lancaster slips back into
the party, and Sarah likewise.
Ichabod is trying to pass through to reach the farther
door... and on the NEXT REFRAIN finds himself caught by the
Blindfolded Woman.
Everyone stays quiet, that's the game, but of course everyone
is also puzzled, not knowing Ichabod. The Woman touches
Ichabod's face, which embarrasses Ichabod and displeases
Brom.
CHILD
A kiss, a kiss!
WOMAN
She has to guess first.
The WOMAN is wifely, and as she puts her arm through Doctor
Lancaster's arm, we realize she is his wife.
BLINDFOLDED WOMAN
Is it Theodore?
There's a general laugh at that.
 11.

ICHABOD
Pardon, ma'am. I am only a
stranger.
BLINDFOLDED WOMAN
Then have a kiss on account.
She kisses him laughingly and takes the blindfold off the
reveal a stunning beauty: KATRINA VAN TASSEL. She smiles.
Ichabod tries to compose himself, stricken by the sight of
her.
ICHABOD
I... um, I am looking for Baltus
Van Tassel.
KATRINA
I am his daughter, Katrina Van
Tassel.
BROM
And who are you, friend? We have
not heard your name yet.
ICHABOD
I have not said it. Excuse me...
Brom grabs Ichabod's collar. Ichabod's baffled.
BROM
You need some manners.
KATRINA
Brom!
MAN'S VOICE (O.S.)
(admonishing)
Come, come -- we want no raised
voices...
We now SEE that the voice belongs to BALTUS VAN TASSEL, a
working-class self-made Mr. Big with a sympathetic smile.
BALTUS
It is only to raise the spirits
during this dark time that I and my
good wife are giving this little
party...
LADY VAN TASSEL stands behind him, a mix of homespun wife and
well-kept lady. Brom releases Ichabod. Children hide behind
Katrina.
 12.

Ichabod's relieved to have a proper focal point. Others from

the party gather.
BALTUS
Young sir, you are welcome even if
you are selling something!
The pleasantry relaxes the atmosphere around Ichabod.
ICHABOD
Thank you, sir. I am Constable
Ichabod Crane, sent to you from New
York with authority to investigate
murder in Sleepy Hollow.
This has quite an effect. A man we will know as MAGISTRATE
PHILIPSE looks up sharply. A man we will know as REVEREND
STEENWYCK grunts skeptically. A man we have already seen,
DOCTOR LANCASTER, exchanges a surprised look with another
man, NOTARY HARDENBROOK.
STEENWYCK
(rudely)
Well, what use is a Constable?!
Lady Van Tassel gives the Clergyman a reproachful look.
LADY VAN TASSEL
Then, Sleepy Hollow is grateful to
you, Constable Crane -- I hope you
will honor this house by remaining
with us until...
BROM
Until you've made the arrest!

To Ichabod's surprise this gets a nervous laugh. Baltus

frowns at Brom.
Katrina looks at Ichabod with renewed interest.
BALTUS
(to his wife)
Well spoke!
(to Ichabod)
Come, sir. We'll get you settled.
(to the Musicians)
Play on!
Baltus catches the eyes of Philipse, then of Lancaster,
nodding as if to say "See you in a minute."
As he leads Ichabod out, he murmurs to Steenwyck, who nods
and passes the murmur to Hardenbrook.
 13.

The Fiddlers strike up the music. Katrina watches Ichabod's

exit. Brom watches Katrina's interest with displeasure.

17 INT. VAN TASSEL HOUSE, ICHABOD'S ROOM - NIGHT 17

We HEAR the music from downstairs. Ichabod is unpacking --
arranging his scientific books. His "medical case," revealing
a few mysterious Instruments of Detections, is open on the
bed. Sarah is just delivering a pitcher of water to the
washstand.
ICHABOD
Thank you. Please tell Mr. Van
Tassel I will be down in a moment.
SARAH
I will, sir.
(then -- as she leaves)
Thank God you are here!
Ichabod is a bit surprised by her emotion. Then he pours the
water and douses his face.

18 INT. VAN TASSEL HOUSE, PARLOR - NIGHT 18

FIVE MEN wait grimly for Ichabod, silent in the presence of
Sarah, who is placing a pipe cradle by Baltus. Lady Van
Tassel is pouring the men a drink. The music from the party
is faintly audible. Lancaster is 50, dour, always sweaty.
Philipse is youngest, a drinker, eyes bloodshot, augmenting
his glass with a shot from his private flask. Reverend
Steenwyck has a disdainful, sour expression. Hardenbrook is
oldest, ancient, nervous, one eye pale and blind.

HARDENBROOK
All the way from New York!
DOCTOR LANCASTER
A waste of time!
STEENWYCK
(to Baltus)
What can he do?
BALTUS
(calmingly)
Gentlemen, gentlemen...
Sarah, leaving, passes Doctor Lancaster, who secretly trails
his hand against Sarah's buttock... not quite secretly enough
for the vigilance of Lady Van Tassel, who, by the merest
flick of an eye, shows us that she has noticed.
 14.

Sarah leaves just as Ichabod appears in the doorway, Sarah

closing the door behind him.
BALTUS
(to Ichabod)
Excellent! Come in!
(to his wife)
Leave us, my dear.
ICHABOD
So. Three persons murdered. First,
Peter Van Garrett and his son Dirk
Van Garrett, both of them strong
capable men, found together,
decapitated. A week later, the
Widow Winship, also decapitated. I
will need to ask you many
questions, but first let me ask --
is anyone suspected?
BALTUS
I don't understand you.
ICHABOD
I say, is there any one person
suspect in these acts?
The men stir in their seats -- their looks say "I told you
so!" --
"Useless!" -- etc.
BALTUS
Constable... how much have your
superiors explained to you?

ICHABOD
Only that the three were slain in
open ground and their heads found
severed from their bodies...
STEENWYCK
The heads were not found severed.
The heads were not found at all.
ICHABOD
The heads are gone?
Hardenbrook leans forward, his voice cragged.
HARDENBROOK
Taken. Taken by the Headless
Horseman. Taken back to hell.
 15.

ICHABOD
Pardon me, I... ?
BALTUS
Perhaps you had better sit down.
Baltus gestures for Ichabod to sit. Baltus lights his pipe
and pours a
glass for Ichabod. The men help themselves to food and drink.
BALTUS
The Horseman was a Hessian
mercenary, sent to our shores by
German princes to keep Americans
under the yoke of England. But
unlike his compatriots who came for
money, the Horseman came... for
love of carnage... and he was not
like the others...

19 FLASHBACK - AMERICAN BATTLEFIELD (WINTER) - DAY 19

The HESSIAN HORSEMAN rides his black steed into a gory,
close-quarters clash, his cloaked uniform adorned with edged
weapons. He cuts down Americans left and right.
BALTUS (V.O.)
He rode a giant black steed named
Daredevil. He was infamous for
taking his horse hard into
battle... chopping off heads at
full gallop.
The Horseman dismounts, hoists a battle axe. With sword and
axe, he annihilates. Blood gushes. Bones crack.
BALTUS (CONT'D; V.O.)
To look upon him made your blood
run cold, for he had filed down his
teeth to sharp points... to add to
the ferocity of his appearance...
The Horseman lets out a war cry. Jagged teeth. Grotesque.

20 FLASHBACK - FOREST BATTLEFIELD (WINTER) - DAY 20

Winter. CANNONS can be HEARD BOOMING from afar. Daredevil,
galloping is hit and falls. The Horseman is not hurt.
BALTUS (V.O.)
 16.

This butcher would not finally meet

his end till the winter of seventy-
nine...
The Horseman rises, eyes filled with rage, looks to see...
SIX ragtag REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIERS give chase, firing rifles.
The Horseman flees, bullets throwing snow behind.
BALTUS
... not far from here in our
Western Woods...

21 FLASHBACK - DEEPER IN THE FOREST BATTLEFIELD (WINTER) - DAY 21

The Horseman glances back, bounding through, drawing his
sword, when suddenly he halts...
He's happened upon TWO YOUNG GIRLS gathering firewood. The
girls stand frozen at the sight of him for a long, silent
moment, till one girl drops the firewood and runs.
The second girl remains, holding the Horseman's gaze.
The Horseman and the girl hold each other's gaze for a long
beat.
The Horseman puts his finger to his lips, warning her to stay
quiet.
The girl takes one of her pieces of dry wood and deliberately
breaks it, making a noise like a pistol shot.
There is a responding shout from a soldier back in the trees.
The Horseman turns to the sound.

Soldiers move forward from the forest behind, spreading out.

The second girl flees. The Horseman hefts his sword, turning
as soldiers surround. One soldier aims his rifle...
The Horseman reaches over his shoulder, grasps a sheathed
knife and THROWS --
THOCK! The rifleman jerks back, knife in his eye socket.
A second soldier aims and FIRES... Blood explodes from the
Horseman's arm. His sword drops.
The Horseman readies and AXE in his good hand. The
Revolutionaries move in with swords. They battle, STEEL
AGAINST STEEL. The Horseman fends off blows...
 17.

Soldier Three stabs his blade deep into the Horseman's side.
The Horseman roars, bringing his axe DOWN...
BREAKS the sword at the hilt. An UPWARD stroke sends Soldier
Three backward in a fountain of blood.
The Horseman staggers, trying to pull the blade from his
ribs. The remaining soldiers close in...

22 INT. VAN TASSEL HOUSE, PARLOR - NIGHT 22

Ichabod is spooked. Pipe smoke wafts from Baltus's mouth.
BALTUS
They cut off his head with his own
sword. To this day, the Western
Woods is a haunted place where
brave men will not venture.

23 FLASHBACK - EXT. WESTERN WOODS, TREE OF THE DEAD AREA 23

(WINTER) - DAY
The Horseman's headless corpse lies in a shallow grave.
BALTUS (V.O.)
... for what was planted in the
ground that day was a seed of evil.
The HORSEMAN'S HEAD is dropped into the grave.

24 FLASHBACK - EXT. WESTERN WOODS, TREE OF THE DEAD AREA 24

(WINTER) - LATER DAY

One of the four surviving soldiers stabs the HORSEMAN'S SWORD

deep in the ground as a marker.
The grave is done. The soldiers walk away from the grave.
They have
buried the Horseman in a treeless clearing.
Daredevil appears, limping, from the trees, and puts his nose
down to the turned earth.
The Second Girl is watching from hiding.
She sees: Daredevil collapses on the grave, blood frothing
from his mouth. Dying.

25 INT. VAN TASSEL HOUSE, PARLOR - NIGHT 25

 18.

BALTUS
And so it has been for twenty
years. But now the Hessian wakes --
he is on the rampage, cutting off
heads where he finds them.
Ichabod sits back, shakes off the reverie of the tale. He
takes a gulp from his glass.
ICHABOD
Are you... saying... ? Is that what
you believe?
HARDENBROOK
Seeing is believing!
Baltus puts a calming hand on senile Hardenbrook's shoulder.

DOCTOR LANCASTER
No one knows why the Hessian has
chosen this time to return from the
grave.
STEENWYCK
Satan has called forth one of his
own.
Steenwyck stands and from a side table picks up the hefty
Baltus family Bible.
STEENWYCK
They tell me you have brought books
and trappings of scientific
investigation -- this is the only
book I recommend you study.

He drops the Bible on the table in front of Ichabod, making

him jump.
Ichabod gingerly lifts the front cover -- revealing a page of
ink writing, which he will remember later -- then he snaps
out of all this "nonsense."
ICHABOD
Reverend Steenwyck... gentlemen...
murder needs no ghost come from the
grave. Which of you have laid eyes
on this Headless Horsemen?
Pause.
HARDENBROOK
Others have. Many others.
 19.

Ichabod allows himself a skeptical smile.

BALTUS
You will see him too if he comes
again. The men of the village are
posted to watch for him.
ICHABOD
We have murders in New York without
benefit of ghouls and goblins.
BALTUS
You are a long way from New York,
sir.
ICHABOD
A century at least. The assassin is
a man of flesh and blood, and I
will discover him.
STEENWYCK
How do you propose to do so?
ICHABOD
By discovering his reason. It is
what we call "the motive." This
mystery will not resist
investigation by a Rational Man.
Ichabod's natural clumsiness, however, causes him to sweep
his empty glass off the table, rather ruining the effect of
the Rational Man in command of the situation.

26 INT. VAN TASSEL HOUSE, KATRINA'S ROOM - NIGHT 26

Katrina is sitting in front of her mirror. Lady Van Tassel is

brushing out Katrina's hair, counting the strokes.
KATRINA
Well, I'm disappointed... our first
visitor from New York...
There is a knock.
KATRINA
He doesn't know where to put
himself and his feet are all over
the place.
Lady Van Tassel gives Katrina the hairbrush and goes to the
door.
LADY VAN TASSEL
 20.

Yes, not like your Brom. Go on

brushing, I got to forty-two...
She opens the door to Sarah.
SARAH
That constable, he wants the Bible,
Mum...
LADY VAN TASSEL
Bible...?
KATRINA
I'll bring it to him.
Sarah dips a curtsy and goes. Lady Van Tassel gives Katrina a
friendly raised eyebrow.

KATRINA
(meeting her eye,
explains)
We'll see if his city talk fits him
better than his clothes.

27 INT. VAN TASSEL HOUSE, ICHABOD'S ROOM - NIGHT 27

Ichabod sits surrounded by his books, including his Ledger.
Clearly there has been no breakthrough. Ichabod broods. There
is a knock at the door, which he seems to have been
expecting, for he does not turn around.
ICHABOD
Yes -- yes -- come in.
Katrina enters carrying the Bible.

ICHABOD
(not turning)
Thank you, just leave it on the
reading stand.
Katrina puts down the Bible as directed.
ICHABOD
That will be all -- no, tell me,
about that big brute who seems to
be Miss Katrina's --
He has turned in his chair, too late, and sees Katrina --
Ichabod has a minor convulsion, standing up, knocking papers
to the floor, etc.
ICHABOD
 21.

Forgive me, I... I asked Sarah to

bring me...
KATRINA
(amused, relaxed)
So your clever books have failed
you and you turn to the Bible after
all!
ICHABOD
(sharply, despite
himself)
I see I am talked about downstairs.
KATRINA
In passing only -- we have many
things to talk about even in this
backward place.
ICHABOD
I am sorry... Please excuse my
manner -- I am not used to...
KATRINA
Female company?
ICHABOD
Society.
KATRINA
How can you avoid society in New
York? How I should love the opera -
- and theaters -- to go dancing...
Is it wonderful?
ICHABOD
I have never been.
KATRINA
But there is an art museum? -- a
concert hall?
ICHABOD
I don't know.
KATRINA
(disappointed)
Then you have nothing to teach me.
ICHABOD
Perhaps I have. Do you believe the
Van Garretts and the Widow Winship
were murdered by a headless
horseman?
 22.

KATRINA
Not everyone here believes it is
the Horseman.
ICHABOD
(relieved)
Good.
KATRINA
Some say it is the witch of the
Western Woods who has made a pact
with Lucifer.
ICHABOD
(exasperated)
There are no witches, or galloping
ghosts either! Is everyone in this
village in thrall to superstition?
KATRINA
Why are you so frightened of magic?
Not all magic is black. There are
ancient truths in these woods which
have been forgotten in your city
parks.
ICHABOD
If they are truths they are not
magic -- and if magic, not truth.
KATRINA
You are foolish. When there is
fever in the house, it is well
known that willow-herb roots and a
crow's foot must be boiled in the
milk of a pure white goat with
special charms uttered over the
fire... and the fever abates.
ICHABOD
Next time try the herb without the
rest -- and now I must ask you --
excuse me --
KATRINA
Gladly. I should not have
interrupted our town's savior. Good
night. And as to your first
question, that big brute you were
asking about has proposed to me.
ICHABOD
I... I... I'm happy that...
 23.

KATRINA
Proposed to me several times.
This ambiguous statement, accompanied by a faint smile,
confuses Ichabod into silence as she closes the door behind
her. He turns with relief to the next business -- the Bible.
He opens the front cover. On the endpaper is a Family Tree
going back a hundred years, in variously faded inks and
handwritings.
Ichabod studies it and we see what he learns: that Katrina
was born in 1777... to Baltus's first wife, who died in
1797... that Lady Van Tassel is Baltus's second wife (her
maiden name is unimportant, because false)... Then he
suddenly notices something even more interesting: The family
tree has a "Van Garrett" in it -- the husband of Baltus's
father's sister.

ICHABOD
(mutters)
Van Garrett... !
Ichabod looks thoughtful. He starts copying out details into
his Ledger.
A very faint rumbling disturbs him for a moment. He looks up.
Silence now. He continues working.

28 EXT. SLEEPY HOLLOW - NIGHT 28

The empty street.
Then the low sinister sound of rumbling is heard again.

29 EXT. WOODEN BUNKER/FIELD - INTERCUT - NIGHT 29

The distant SOUND of the GROUND RUMBLING is HEARD. AT THE
WOODEN BUNKER, Jonathan looks out, fearful...
The torches burn bright along the forest line. SEVERAL DEER
stampede out... sprinting across the field.
Jonathan watches the forest. A horrible, SILENT stillness has
fallen.
Then, Jonathan's eyes widen...
A thick FOG creeps from the woods.
As fog overtakes each torch, mist snakes up, snuffing each
flame... one by one by one, all along the forest edge...
 24.

Jonathan sticks his rifle out from the bunker, sights the gun
along the treeline.
JONATHAN
Come out, devil... come...

30 EXT. SLEEPY HOLLOW FORESTS, OVERVIEW - NIGHT 30

Silhouetted treetops. The SOUNDS of JONATHAN'S RIFLE FIRING
are HEARD, echoing -- SEVERAL GUNSHOTS, then... SILENCE...

31 EXT. SLEEPY HOLLOW FOREST - NIGHT 31

Jonathan flees through the forest, glances back, terrified.
THUNDEROUS HOOFBEATS are HEARD from behind.

DEEP IN THE FOREST, we GLIMPSE the source of the HOOFBEATS: a

HUGE FORM on a HUGE BLACK HORSE, already gone.
Jonathan pushes through thorny bushes. Jagged branches bloody
his hands and cheeks...
He bursts from the brier patch and TUMBLES to a TRAIL.
IN THE FOREST BEHIND: The hooves of the black horse rip
underbrush.
HOOFBEATS DEAFENING. A spur digs into the snorting steed's
already bleeding flank.
The pursuer's gloved hand draws a SWORD, blade RINGING.
ON THE TRAIL, Jonathan runs onward. The shrill WHISTLE of a
SWORD SWING is HEARD as the pursuer BLURS PAST...

Jonathan is still running when his head lolls back, at an

impossible angle... his head tumbles off his shoulders...
Jonathan's headless body hits the dirt.

32 EXT. SLEEPY HOLLOW - DAY - EARLY MORNING 32

People going about their business calmly. A WOMAN shakes out
a blanket from an upper window. The murder has obviously not
been discovered yet.
No one notices that the WOODEN BUNKER is deserted... and now
has a gap of shattered timber.

33 EXT/INT. LIVERY STABLE - DAY - EARLY MORNING 33

 25.

The stables belong to KILLIAN, a dashingly rustic man, father

of a young family. Ichabod likes him... though he does not
think much of the Horse Killian is offering him, an old nag.
Ichabod has a big satchel.
KILLIAN
His name's Gunpowder.
ICHABOD
A brave name, but... have you got
something a little younger?...
Taller?
KILLIAN
(apparently getting it)
Faster.

ICHABOD
Yes.
KILLIAN
A horse cut to dash.
ICHABOD
Yes.
KILLIAN
No, I haven't.
ICHABOD
Oh.
KILLIAN
Not at the price.
ICHABOD
Well... I'm sure he'll do very
well. Thank you, Mr. Killian.
KILLIAN
Good luck, sir. If you need help,
call my name.
ICHABOD
Much appreciated.
Killian's son Thomas, a small boy, is feeding one of the
horses.
ANGLE ON Mrs. KILLIAN at the door of the Killian House. She
is in the act of seeing a woman out of her door, a PREGNANT
WOMAN, and handing her a bunch of herbs.
CLOSER
 26.

BETH
(to Pregnant Woman)
Mind you rub them well in the
breech, Mrs. Sherry -- don't worry,
it'll be easy as shelling peas.
As the Pregnant Woman leaves, Beth bawls over her shoulder,
turning to go into the house.
BETH
Thomas! -- It's you I want!
Beth goes into the house, passing a modest notice on the
door: "Knock before entering -- Elizabeth Killian, MIDWIFE"
KILLIAN
(to Thomas)
Go off home for your breakfast, Tom
-- kiss your mother once for you
and twice for me.
As the boy goes, Ichabod has a thought.
ICHABOD
Mr. Killian, I was thinking...
about the old widow...
KILLIAN
Old Widow?
ICHABOD
Widow Winship.
KILLIAN
Who told you she was old? She was
comely. Widowed young and dead
before the bloom was off her.
Ichabod is surprised. Before he can react further, a distant
gunshot is heard -- a signal followed by the distant sight of
a man on horseback, hurrying and shouting, waving his rifle.
It's clear that Masbath's murder has been discovered. Killian
and Ichabod watch the Rider coming, telling the news as he
comes.
RIDER
(shouting)
Murder, murder! The Horseman has
killed again!

34 EXT. SLEEPY HOLLOW FARMLAND - DAY 34

 27.

Riders are galloping across the fields toward the murder

site.
Baltus, a Dullardly Man called VAN RIPPER, who was the
original Rider who found the body... followed by Brom, and a
gig driven fast by Philipse, and Doctor Lancaster and various
villagers.
Way behind, trying to keep up on Gunpowder, comes Ichabod.

35 EXT. FOREST, MASBATH MURDER SITE - MORNING 35

Baltus takes charge of posting armed villagers to keep an eye
out toward the forest.
BALTUS
Mr. Miller -- ride back for the
coffin cart -- the rest of you keep
a sharp lookout.
(to GLEN)
No -- not at me, Glen, I'm not
going to cut my own head off! --
Look out to the woods!
Ichabod hasn't quite arrived. The others are watching as
Doctor Lancaster turns over the headless corpse of Masbath.
He straightens the body reverently. Everyone is shocked and
spooked, looking fearfully around. Behind them -- a sound.
Everyone reacts but it's Ichabod arriving.
BROM
(laughs)
A fine looking animal, Crane.
Ichabod dismounts, ignoring Brom. The great Detective is
trying to cover up his jitters. New York was never like this.
DOCTOR LANCASTER
The fourth victim, Jonathan
Masbath.
ICHABOD
And... the head...?
PHILIPSE
Taken.
ICHABOD
Taken!
 28.

Doctor Lancaster seems unprofessionally jittery. He grasps

Philipse by the arm. Philipse shakes him off and pulls out a
flask. Ichabod notices this. Their behavior seems to him to
be an odd moment. Then he turns his attention back to the
matter at hand.
ICHABOD
Interesting... very interesting.
BALTUS
What is?
ICHABOD
In headless corpse cases of this
sort... the head is removed to
prevent identification of the body.

BALTUS
(puzzled)
But we know this is Jonathan
Masbath...
ICHABOD
Exactly! So, why was the head
removed?
They all wait for enlightenment.
BALTUS
Why?
ICHABOD
I don't know.
They all watch Ichabod to see what he will do. Philipse takes
nips from his flask. But Ichabod isn't sure. He isn't too
keen on looking at the corpse. Then he realizes:
ICHABOD
You have moved the body?
DOCTOR LANCASTER
I did.
ICHABOD
(furious)
You must never move the body!
DOCTOR LANCASTER
Why not?
ICHABOD
Because!
 29.

Despite themselves, they are impressed. Ichabod takes heart.

Ichabod finds a huge, deep HOOFPRINT. He kneels, pulls his
satchel off his shoulder, takes out a BOWL, BOTTLE of WATER
and a BAG of POWDER.
The others watch, finding this bizarre, as Ichabod begins
mixing the water and powder, making plaster.
BROM
What is that potion?
ICHABOD
You are the blacksmith, Brom. Ever
shoe a horse with a hoof this
large?

Ichabod fills the print with runny plaster.

BROM
(grudging the point)
It's big.
Ichabod shoulders his satchel, walks all around, studies the
ground, kicks away leaves... and then lopes around
puzzlingly. The watchers are astonished by his antics as he
leaps from hoofprint to hoofprint.
DOCTOR LANCASTER
(to Philipse)
The man's a fool.
PHILLIPSE
(drunk)
He's a fool and we're damn fools --
but death will make us all equal.

Doctor Lancaster impatiently hushes him and turns away.

ICHABOD
The stride is gigantic...
Ichabod stops, turns, following back to way he came...
ICHABOD
The attacker rode Masbath down...
turned his horse... came back...
(stops leaping)
Came back to claim the head.
He pauses to sum up.
ICHABOD
To sum up. Head taken. Big horse.
 30.

(beat)
Did this man have any enemies?
PHILIPSE
Well, someone didn't like him.
But Ichabod has already latched on to something.
ICHABOD
Van Ripper, show me where the neck
rested.
Van Ripper points. Ichabod opens his satchel, takes out a
BOTTLE OF
GREEN POWDER.

He uncorks the bottle, sprinkles a thin layer of powder on

the dirt, waiting.
A reaction causes the powder to bubble a little.
ICHABOD
A chemical reaction, it shows there
was just a smear of blood, no more.
VAN RIPPER
I didn't see none.
Ichabod's puzzled.
Ichabod swallows, queasy, trying not to let it show.
Ichabod takes odd spectacles from his satchel, wire-framed
with many lenses: MAGNIFICATION SPECTACLES. He fumbles
putting them on, examines the gross neck wound.

Ichabod takes an INSTRUMENT from his satchel, a delicate

SCISSOR MECHANISM TOOL that tapes off into tiny jaws. He uses
it, hand shaking, to pick at the flesh.
POV through Ichabod's magnifying spectacles: a CREEPY CRAWLY
BUG is feeding on the wound. Ichabod freaks, leaps up.
ICHABOD
(recovering, faking)
Interesting...
BALTUS
What is it? -- What is it?!
Squinting sidelong at the ground, Ichabod uses his foot to
squash and grind the bug, which is too small to be visible.
 31.

He looks at Baltus, his eyes huge in his spectacles.

ICHABOD
The wound was cauterized in the
very instant... as though the blade
itself were red hot... and yet, no
blistering, no scorched flesh.
They all look worried.
PHILIPSE
The Devil's fire!
Ichabod looks worried too.

36 EXT. CEMETERY -- DAY 36

The town is gathered for Jonathan Masbath's funeral.

Steenwyck stands at the open grave, reads from the BIBLE.
STEENWYCK
(reading)
"Be sober, be vigilant... " as it
sayeth in the book of Peter,
chapter five, verse eight --
"because your adversary the devil,
as a roaring lion, walketh about,
seeking whom he may devour... "
People WHISPER and steal glances at Ichabod. Ichabod stands
with Baltus and Lady Van Tassel. Ichabod looks around,
observing...
Young Masbath stands with his head bowed.

Brom stands beside Katrina, who wipes tears. Brom puts his
arm around Katrina, comforting. Theodore and Glenn are nearby
with rifles over their shoulders.

37 EXT. CEMETERY/CHURCH - (TIME CUT) - LATER - DAY 37

The funeral is done. People head out from the cemetery.
Ichabod walks with the Van Tassels. Baltus holds Katrina's
hand. Young Masbath runs to catch up with Ichabod.
YOUNG MASBATH
Mister Constable, sir...
Ichabod stops.
ICHABOD
 32.

You are Young Masbath...

YOUNG MASBATH
I was Young Masbath, but now the
only one. Masbath at your service,
in honor bound to avenge my father.
ICHABOD
Well, one-and-only Masbath, I thank
you, but your mother will need you
more than I.
YOUNG MASBATH
My mother is in heaven, sir, and
has my father now to care for her.
But you have no one to serve you,
and I am your man, sir.

ICHABOD
And a brave man too, but I cannot
be the one to look after you. I am
sorry for your loss, young Mister
Masbath.
Ichabod moves away, watched disconsolately by Masbath.
Ichabod finds his sleeve furtively plucked by Philipse.
PHILIPSE
Constable...
ICHABOD
Mr. Philipse... ?
Philipse looks around anxiously to see if they're observed.

PHILIPSE
Something you should know. Jonathan
Masbath was not the fourth victim
but the fifth!
ICHABOD
The fifth?
PHILIPSE
Aye. Five victims in four graves!
ICHABOD
But who... ?
Philipse sees that Steenwyck has noticed the encounter. He
breaks off and scuttles away.
Ichabod turns his gaze toward...
 33.

The fresh grave of Jonathan Masbath, and three more graves

almost as recent: The Van Garretts are just receiving their
brand new headstones, and Widow Winship's grave is marked for
the present by a simple wooden cross with her name on it.
Ichabod sees Killian and nods to him.
ICHABOD
Mr. Killian... I will need the help
you offered.

38 INT. STABLE - DAY 38

Ichabod lifts the lid of a large feed bin half full of horse
feed.

Young Masbath is curled up inside like a mouse in a nest.

Homeless.
ICHABOD
Find a place in the Van Tassel's
servant quarters. Wake me before
dawn. I hope you have a strong
stomach.
Ichabod walks away, disgruntled.
YOUNG MASBATH
Thank you, sir.

39 EXT. CEMETERY - NIGHT/DAWN 39

The lid of a muddy coffin is wrenched open. The coffin
contains a headless corpse. Just the one.

What's happening?
The coffin is on the ground next to the hole marked by the
headstone of Peter Van Garrett.
Killian holds a lantern and a spade. Ichabod, holding a
handkerchief to his face, looks into the open coffin. He
nods. Ichabod, in shirtsleeves and sweating, has a spade too.
Young Masbath is watching uneasily. This is why Young Masbath
would need a "strong stomach." He gags, almost pukes.
At Ichabod's nod, Killian replaces the lid. Killian has Two
Men with him. There are two more coffins and two more piles
of dirt, one coffin for Dirk Van Garrett and one for Widow
Winship.
 34.

Ichabod moves to the second coffin. It contains a headless

corpse.
Just the one. Ichabod nods, and the lid is replaced.
The third coffin -- the Widow's -- is being opened by one of
the Men.
Ichabod takes a lantern and looks expectantly as the lid
comes off.
The Widow's headless corpse is alone in the coffin.
Ichabod pauses. Nods. As the lid is about to be replaced. He
stops it.
ICHABOD
Wait.
Ichabod takes out a small penknife and cuts through the
shroud. He reveals the belly. He stares at it. Was she
pregnant? It's impossible to tell. But there is the wound of
a sword stab in the stomach.
Suddenly there is a screech, which seems to come from the
corpse, giving heart attacks all around -- but now we see a
"ghost" holding a lantern. It's Reverend Steenwyck who has
discovered them and is shrieking in outrage.
STEENWYCK
Sacrilege! Sacrilege!
Ichabod recovers.
ICHABOD
Science... science, Reverend
Steenwyck! Someone in Sleepy Hollow
is using the Horseman story for his
own murderous purpose, and I intend
to... dig it out.
Steenwyck froths, looks terrified and backs off.

40 INT. DOCTOR'S RESIDENCE, MEDICAL ROOM - DAY 40

Ichabod and Killian, helped by Young Masbath, carry the
Widow's muddy coffin inside. Doctor Lancaster watches in
horror, sweating profusely, freaked out.
DOCTOR LANCASTER
This is... most irregular,
Constable.
 35.

ICHABOD
I should hope so. But in this case,
necessary.
The coffin is put down.
ICHABOD
I will need to operate.
DOCTOR LANCASTER
Operate? She's dead!
ICHABOD
(thrown)
When we say "operate," we mean, of
course... er, I'll need the
operating table. Lay her out,
please.
(to Young Masbath)
Go on, nothing to be afraid of.
When Killian and Young Masbath lay out the corpse, Ichabod
gulps water and studies the pages of his Ledger.
ICHABOD
There is a common thread between
these victims.
DOCTOR LANCASTER
And what's that?
ICHABOD
(closing the Ledger)
I don't know.
He goes to examine the corpse. Young Masbath retreats to a
corner, ill at ease.
ICHABOD
Once more, the neck wound
cauterized. The sword thrust to the
stomach, the same, perhaps by
chemical means. But to what
purpose?
Ichabod gingerly feels the corpse's stomach. The Doctor
watches. We get the feeling he "knows something."
DOCTOR LANCASTER
To what is your purpose, is the
question.
 36.

Ichabod takes a rolled VELVET CLOTH from his satchel, unrolls

it... it holds SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS, some particularly
strange: RIB-SPEADERS and CURVED CLAMPS.
DOCTOR LANCASTER
What manner of instruments are
those?
ICHABOD
Some of my own design.
Ichabod picks through his instruments, unsure. He looks to
the corpse a long moment. He looks at Young Masbath.
ICHABOD
Step outside. Thank you for your
help, Mr. Killian. And, if you do
not mind, Doctor, my concentration
suffers when I am observed.
Ichabod watches Killian, Young Masbath and Lancaster go. He
quickly returns to his satchel, pulling out a BOOK: HUMAN
ANATOMY. He searches the pages...
He flips through DRAWINGS of ANATOMY, then sets the book open
nearby so he can refer to it. He picks up a KNIFE, stands at
the corpse, taking a deep uncertain breath.
Ichabod cuts into the Widow's belly, but stops, looking
horrified at what he's done. He leans close to study the book
again, worried. He makes another incision... He looks down at
it, queasy.

41 EXT. DOCTOR'S RESIDENCE - DAY 41

Young Masbath sits waiting.

Doctor Lancaster stands with Philipse (hung over), Steenwyck
and Hardenbrook, speaking agitatedly. OTHER PEOPLE have
gathered in the background.
The door to the doctor's residence opens and Ichabod steps
out. He is bloodied, shaken, futilely wiping at the mess with
a blood-covered cloth, looking up...
All attention goes to Ichabod. Everyone's horrified.
ICHABOD
I am... finished.
STEENWYCK
What in God's name have you done to
her?
 37.

(pointing)
Magistrate Philipse, you are the
word of law here... put him in
irons!
Philipse and Ichabod exchange a look. Philipse nips from his
flask.
PHILIPSE
And what did you find out,
Constable?
ICHABOD
That there are not four victims but
five. The Widow Winship was with
child!

The small crowd murmurs, shocked. Doctor Lancaster recovers,

furious.
DOCTOR LANCASTER
What of it? She should have been
left to make her peace with God and
not cut to bits by the
Constabulary!
Ichabod is shaken for a moment, remembering the similar
charge made against him in New York.
ICHABOD
The sword was thrust into the womb
and no farther. A symbolic murder.
We are dealing with a madman.

42 EXT. LONG STRAIGHT ROAD, COVERED BRIDGE - LATER - NIGHT 42

Pale moonlight. Ichabod rides Gunpowder across the COVERED

BRIDGE.
They are an ungainly pair.
Following the road, Ichabod is lost in thought. The CLOPPING
of HOOFBEATS is HEARD on the bridge behind.
Ichabod turns to look. HOOFBEATS STOP. No one can be seen in
the dark mouth of the bridge. CRICKETS CHIRP.
ICHABOD
Who's there?
Ichabod faces forward, continuing to the forest.
 38.

He hums a tune to himself, tone deaf. After a moment, a HORSE

is HEARD SNORTING, HOOFBEATS RESUME. Ichabod stops Gunpowder.
There is SOMEONE back there, on horseback, coming out from
the darkness of the bridge, slowly...
ICHABOD
Who are you?
The FIGURE comes into moonlight, on a BLACK HORSE, smoke
seeming to rise from him; a dark FIGURE, cloaked -- headless.
Ichabod panics, kicking Gunpowder to flee. The figure takes
off to follow.
Ichabod whips Gunpowder's reins, gasping, moving faster. The
figure behind also picks up speed.

43 EXT. SLEEPY HOLLOW FOREST - NIGHT 43

Gunpowder carries Ichabod into the forest. The headless
figure is right behind, cloak flowing...
The HEADLESS FIGURE is HEARD letting out a hellish CRY of
rage.
Ichabod glances fearfully over his shoulder...
A HORRIBLE FACE with flaming eyes and mouth rushes forward...
It SMASHES into Ichabod -- sends him sprawling to the ground
in an explosion of red hot ash and cinders...
Ichabod rolls, shaken... looking behind. The trail is empty.
HOOFBEATS are HEARD. SEVERAL HORSES.

Ichabod stands. He looks down at the remnants of a BROKEN

JACK-O'- LANTERN and smoldering ball of paper on the trail.
The FIGURE rides to a halt, throws off a cloak and "headless"
disguise; it's Brom. Glenn and Theodore ride up, laughing.
Brom also laughs, but when he looks back, the smile leaves
his face.
He takes grim satisfaction in what he's done.
Ichabod's face is haunted, running with the sweat of fear --
he is still trembling from the experience.
FEMALE VOICE (V.O.)
Ichabod! Ichabod!
 39.

And suddenly we are pitched into Ichabod's DREAM.

44 ICHABOD'S DREAM - EXT. COTTAGE - DAY 44

FEMALE VOICE (V.O.)
Ichabod! Ichabod... !
A woman is in the doorway, holding out her arms. She seems to
be Katrina as Ichabod first saw her, blindfolded.
A YOUNG BOY, aged about seven, runs toward her, with a little
bunch of wildflowers.

45 ICHABOD'S DREAM - YOUNG ICHABOD'S KITCHEN - NIGHT 45

The Blindfolded Woman is playing the Pickety Witch Game with

Ichabod.
He is laughing -- scared as she grabs the air looking for
him. He is holding the wildflowers he picked. She seizes him,
kisses him and takes off the blindfold. It's not Katrina, but
his Mother, a kind and lovely face. He gives his Mother the
flowers. She puts one of the flowers in her hair, laughing.
But the others -- she throws on the fire! -- and she crouches
at the hearthstone, beckoning him, still "nice." He comes to
her, not scared.
As the flowers burn, they give off smoky fumes, which the
Mother inhales like perfume, closing her eyes in a trance. He
watches fascinated as she picks up a twig and starts drawing
pictures --
strange designs -- in the layer of ash on the hearthstone.

Suddenly Ichabod turns his head to the door, which is opening

--
spooky because no one is entering. Then he sees at floor
level the family CAT has come through the door. A black cat
with a white paw.
Ichabod's Mother is "awakened" by this, just in time as
Father, a grim Parson all in black, enters.
Ichabod looks up frightened at the face of his Father.

46 ICHABOD'S DREAM - YOUNG ICHABOD'S BEDROOM - NIGHT 46

The Cat is on Ichabod's bed... watching Mother who is
entertaining Ichabod with the Bird-in-Cage Spinning Disc Toy,
which we will get to know.
 40.

Ichabod is tucked up in bed, astonished and happy. The Bird

and Cage blur together.
Lightning flashes outside a window, thunder booms, the storm
bursts open the window.
The Cat leaps off the bed, caught in lightning flash, the Toy
drops, tangled on the bed. Ichabod covers his face, scared;
his Mother hugs him.

47 INT. VAN TASSEL HOUSE, ICHABOD'S ROOM - NIGHT 47

Ichabod is startled awake, frightened, sweating.

48 INT. VAN TASSEL HOUSE, KITCHEN - NIGHT 48

Ichabod enters with a lantern and his Ledger. He sits,

studies notes, then notices a light down the hall.

49 INT. VAN TASSEL HOUSE, SEWING ROOM - NIGHT 49

Ichabod enters. Opposite an elaborate LOOM, Katrina reads by
candlelight.
She looks up, and self-consciously closes her book, which we
see is a child's version of THE KNIGHTS OF THE ROUND TABLE.
She covers it on her lap.
ICHABOD
Oh... pardon my intrusion... I saw
a light...
KATRINA
It is no intrusion... I come here
to read when I am wakeful.
ICHABOD
To read books which you must
hide... ?
KATRINA
They were my mother's books... my
father frowned at them then, and
would frown at me now. He believes
tales of romance caused the brain
fever that killed my mother. She
died two years ago come midwinter.
Ichabod nods.
ICHABOD
 41.

I saw it written in the front of

the Bible.
KATRINA
The nurse who cared for her during
her sickness is now Lady Van
Tassel.
ICHABOD
There was something else too. Why
did no one think to mention that
Van Garretts are kith and kin to
the Van Tassels?
KATRINA
Why, because there is hardly a
household in Sleepy Hollow that is
not connected to every other by
blood or marriage. I have more
cousins than fingers and toes to
count them on.
A cock crows. Ichabod goes to the window to look at the edge
of dawn.
ICHABOD
I see.
KATRINA
This land was Van Garrett Land,
given to my father when I was in
swaddling clothes.
ICHABOD
Given by the dead Van Garrett?
KATRINA
(nods)
The Van Garretts were the richest
family round these parts even then.
When my father brought us to Sleepy
Hollow, Van Garrett set him up with
an acre and a broken-down cottage,
and a dozen of Van Garrett hens. My
father prospered, and built us a
new house. I owe my happiness to
him. I remember living poor in the
cottage. Should I show you?
ICHABOD
Yes. I would like to see where you
were as poor as I am.
 42.

Katrina stands up, revealing a Book that had been on the

floor, hidden by her skirt. She picks up the book and gives
it to Ichabod.
KATRINA
Take this. It is my gift for you.
Ichabod looks at the title page: A COMPENDIUM OF SPELLS,
CHARMS AND DEVICES OF THE SPIRIT WORLD.
ICHABOD
(troubled)
But I have no use for...
KATRINA
Are you so certain of everything?
Ichabod sees that Katrina's name is written on the endpaper,
and, in a different hand, her mother's name, "Elizabeth Van
Tassel."
ICHABOD
It was your mother's...?
KATRINA
Keep it close to your heart. It is
sure protection against harm.
ICHABOD
(smiles)
Are you so certain of everything?
Their eyes meet and hold for a moment. Ichabod accepts the
book by placing it on the desk.

50 EXT. FIELDS - DAY (EARLY MORNING) 50

Ichabod and Katrina make a pretty picture on horseback,
riding slowly toward the cottage.

51 EXT. SLEEPY HOLLOW FARMLAND - DAY (EARLY MORNING) 51

Ichabod and Katrina, riding, come upon the ruin of a cottage.
There is almost nothing left but the hearth and a part of a
chimney.
Ichabod dismounts and helps Katrina down from her horse,
taking her hand.
Before he lets go, she notices the little scars on his palm.
She takes both his hands and looks at them.
 43.

KATRINA
These are strange... What are
they... ?
ICHABOD
I wish I knew. I had them since I
can remember.
Katrina holds his hands a moment longer, their eyes meet,
then she lets go and "enters" the ruin.
Ichabod's attention is caught by a red Cardinal on a branch,
like the
bird he had in New York.
He reflects a moment, then turns to watch Katrina crouching
by the hearth. She has put a flower in her hair.
KATRINA
I used to play by this hearth. It
was my first drawing school and my
mother was my teacher.
Unwittingly, Katrina is mimicking Ichabod's dream. She picks
up a twig and starts "drawing" on the hearth stone. Like
Ichabod's mother in his dream.
Ichabod's blood runs cold but she is unaware of him. Then he
notices that a few small wildflowers are growing in the old
fireplace. Ichabod feels short of breath, he leans against
the stones for support.
KATRINA
Oh, look! I'd forgotten this! --
see -- carved into the fire-back,
the Archer!
Using her fingers she cleans off the dirt around a simple
carving of a man with a Bow and Arrow.
KATRINA
This was from long before we lived
here.
She turns to show Ichabod and notices him looking strange.
KATRINA
Are you all right?
Ichabod nods, recovering, saying nothing.
Katrina is reassured. Suddenly her attention is caught, as
Ichabod's was, by the Cardinal bird.
 44.

KATRINA
(pointing)
Oh, look! A Cardinal! My favorite!
I would love to have a tame one,
but I wouldn't have the heart to
cage him.
Ichabod unslings his satchel.
ICHABOD
Then I have something for you.
He has a PAPER DISK with a BIRD on one side and an EMPTY CAGE
on the other, pierced by a looped string on which the disk
can twist and spin. He demonstrates like a magician. This is
the very Toy given to him by his Mother.
ICHABOD
A Cardinal on one side, and an
empty cage.
Katrina watches intently. Ichabod spins the Disk.
ICHABOD
And now...
The bird appears to be inside the cage.
Katrina is astonished and delighted.
KATRINA
You can do magic! Teach me!
ICHABOD
It is no magic. It is optics.
Ichabod gives her the Toy and shows her how to spin it.
ICHABOD
Separate pictures which become one
picture in the spinning... Like the
truth which I must spin here...
Katrina spins the disk, the bird appears in the cage.

52 EXT. PHILIPSE HOUSE - NIGHT 52

A MOVING POV is checking out the Village House. Through
lighted windows, figures of Men are seen pacing, apparently
arguing.
 45.

Philipse is packing his bags, moving out... while three Men,

Steenwyck, Doctor Lancaster and Hardenbrook, are in agitated
conference. Their raised voices make an undecipherable
hubbub. The POV'S horse makes a horsey snuffling sound. Is it
Daredevil?
Steenwyck comes right to the window as if he has seen
something... but he merely closes the shutters.
The REVERSE shows that it is Ichabod who has been spying.
Ichabod backs off and mounts Gunpowder, looking thoughtful,
then determined.

53 EXT. ROAD OUTSIDE VILLAGE - NIGHT 53

A Mounted Man is approaching on a heavily loaded Pack

Horse... Philipse making his getaway from Sleepy Hollow. As
he reaches the foreground, Ichabod on Gunpowder intercepts
him, grabbing the bridle of the Pack Horse.
PHILIPSE
What are you doing? Let go!
ICHABOD
What are you running from,
Magistrate Philipse?
PHILIPSE
Damn you, Crane --
ICHABOD
You'll raise the village.
Philipse calms down.

ICHABOD
You had a mind to help me.
PHILIPSE
Yes -- and I put myself in mortal
dread of...
ICHABOD
Of... what?
PHILIPSE
Powers against which there is no
defense.
ICHABOD
How did you know the widow was
expecting a child?
 46.

PHILIPSE
She told me.
ICHABOD
Then I deduce you are the father.
PHILIPSE
I hope your deductions serve you
better in your contest against the
Hessian. I am not the father.
ICHABOD
Did she tell you the name of the
child's father?
PHILIPSE
Yes -- she did. She came to me for
advice -- as the town magistrate --
Ichabod hears sounds... of sheep in agitation at some
distance but he holds Philipse to his story.
PHILIPSE
-- to protect the rights of her
child. I was bound by my oath of
office to keep the secret --
ICHABOD
Do you believe the father killed
her?
PHILIPSE
(stares at him in
surprise)
The Horseman killed her! -- You
damn fool, do you suppose the
Horseman stops to impregnate our
women?
ICHABOD
The Horseman? How often do I have
to tell you there is no Horseman!
There never was a Horseman! -- and
there never will be a Horseman!
Ichabod grabs him fiercely, pulling on the amulet Philipse
wears around his neck.
PHILIPSE
Let go! -- it is my talisman that
protects me from the Horseman!
ICHABOD
 47.

You a magistrate! -- and your head

full of such nonsense! Now tell me
the name of --
A flock of sheep comes streaming and bleating across the
path.
The horses go crazy, BRAYING and rearing. A SOUND is HEARD,
distant: THUNDERING HOOFBEATS. Wind kicks up.
Philipse looks to the forest. A FLOCK of BIRDS alights.
PHILIPSE
Oh my... oh my oh my oh my...
PHILIPSE runs away. HOOFBEATS LOUDER, CLOSER. Ichabod faces
the forest.
The forest explodes open, foliage bending to make way as the
HEADLESS HORSEMAN gallops into view atop DAREDEVIL.
Ichabod's stunned. He looks down to draw his flintlock
pistol, but the Horseman ROARS by before he can raise it -- a
blast of air knocks Ichabod off his horse.
After this, everything happens very quickly --
The Horseman chases Philipse.
Philipse looks over his shoulder.
The Horseman draws his sword.
Philipse gathers his courage and stops, turning. He raises
his iron key talisman before him. The Horseman is closing...
ICHABOD
Philipse!
Philipse holds the talisman up, trying to be fearless. The
Horseman swings his sword upon the talisman -- CLANK...
Philipse's severed head spins. His body falls and folds.
The two pieces of Philipse's Talisman, an Iron Key, fly
through the air, toward Ichabod, who has only just managed to
find his feet and find his fallen pistol.
The Horseman turns Daredevil in a wide circle...
Daredevil completes the turn, letting out a SCREECHY CRY as
the Horseman rides straight toward Ichabod...
 48.

Before Ichabod has time to take aim, the Horseman is upon him
and past him! -- heading toward Philipse's corpse... leans
effortlessly to skewer Philipse's head with his sword.
With the head as his prize, the Horseman races away.
Ichabod turns, watches the Horseman head to the forest.
Ichabod stands, stricken. He faints.

54 INT. VAN TASSEL HOUSE, ICHABOD'S BEDROOM - DAY 54

Ichabod gasps awake. A KNOCKING is HEARD.
BALTUS'S VOICE (O.S.)
Constable Crane... ?
Ichabod looks at his hand balled into a fist. He opens his
hand --
holds BOTH HALVES of PHILIPSE'S IRON KEY TALISMAN.

55 INT. VAN TASSEL HOUSE, UPSTAIRS HALL 3RD FLOOR - DAY 55

Young Masbath is seated by Ichabod's closed door. Katrina is
backing up Baltus, who knocks again.
BALTUS
Has he not come out at all?
Young Masbath shakes his head.

56 INT. VAN TASSEL HOUSE, ICHABOD'S ROOM - DAY 56

Baltus enters. Katrina and Masbath follow him, cautiously,

"visiting the sick." Ichabod sits up in bed, stunned, spaced
out.
ICHABOD
It was a Headless Horseman!
BALTUS
You must not excite yourself.
ICHABOD
But it was Headless Horseman!
BALTUS
Of course it was.
ICHABOD
 49.

No, you must believe me, it was

Horseman! A dead one! Headless!
BALTUS
I know, I know...
ICHABOD
You don't know because you weren't
there! But it's all true!
BALTUS
Of course it is. I told you!
Everyone told you!
ICHABOD
(wildly)
I saw him!
His eyes roll up and he faints. Katrina and Masbath look
helplessly at each other.
YOUNG MASBATH
I suppose it's back to the City,
then.
Katrina's reaction is mixed -- glad that Ichabod will be
safe, sorry if he leaves.

57 ICHABOD'S DREAM -- FOREST - DAY 57

A MILLION WHITE MILKWEED SEEDLINGS are floating in sunlight.
Young Ichabod's laughter is heard.
Now we see that his Mother is blowing the seedlings for his
delight.

She gives him a milkweed pod and shows him how to do it for
himself.
Ichabod breaks the pod and releases another million. But when
he looks around to share the delight, his Mother has gone...
and he sees her disappearing among the trees. He goes to
follow her.

58 ICHABOD'S DREAM - FOREST GLADE - DAY 58

Ichabod can't see his Mother anywhere...
Then he sees her standing in the middle of a CIRCLE OF
BEAUTIFUL TOADSTOOLS/MUSHROOMS growing in the Glade.
 50.

Ichabod watches as his Mother turns inside the Mushroom

Circle, almost dancing. He smiles. Then he sees his Mother
stoop to pick a mushroom.
She eats it. She looks happy. She drops a small piece of the
mushroom.
Ichabod sees it fall.
He runs forward and picks it up before she sees him. Ichabod
eats it.
His Mother sees him, takes his hands in hers and dances
around in a circle.
As Ichabod whizzes around laughing, his POV becomes the
Encircling Trees whizzing around, and suddenly he seems to be
surrounded by Menacing Headless Figures dressed all in black.
Ichabod falls over dizzy and when he looks up he sees that
the Headless Figures have become his Father, watching his
Mother heedlessly dancing, his face like thunder. His Mother
has loosened her clothes and is virtually barebreasted.
His Father's eyes begin to glow like live coals as Ichabod
cowers away from him.

59 ICHABOD'S DREAM - ICHABOD'S HOUSE - NIGHT 59

Ichabod's eyes are spying... through a crack in the kitchen
door.
When we see him properly, he is wearing a nightshirt. Then we
see his POV, into the kitchen.

60 ICHABOD'S DREAM - YOUNG ICHABOD'S KITCHEN - NIGHT 60

Mother is seated, her head down. Father paces, chastising
Mother angrily, his fist balled up in rage.
Father continues berating Mother. He picks up his Bible off
the table, waving it, then grabs Mother by the shoulders,
forcing her to the floor...
Father forces Mother to her knees. Mother is afraid, clasping
her hands in front of her as Father forces her to pray.
Father starts reading from the Bible. In Ichabod's dream,
this is the same Bible from Baltus's house.

61 ICHABOD'S DREAM - YOUNG ICHABOD'S STAIRWELL - NIGHT 61

 51.

Ichabod watches, afraid. He backs away, returning upstairs.

62 ICHABOD'S DREAM - YOUNG ICHABOD'S BEDROOM - NIGHT 62

A window is thrown CRASHING open, THUNDER BOOMING... Young
Ichabod sits up in his bed. He goes to close the window, RAIN
pouring in. He looks down...

63 ICHABOD'S DREAM - EXT. YOUNG ICHABOD'S HOUSE - NIGHT 63

Below, in front of the home, a MAN drags Mother toward a
COACH. TWO MEN stand watching, faces hidden under hat brims.
Mother looks back, eyes pleading, struggling...
Mother looks up to Young Ichabod.
The TWO MEN looks up to Young Ichabod: one is Father, and the
THIRD MAN is a Cotton Matherish man with a villainous face.
Young Ichabod reaches helplessly toward Mother.
Mother is forced into the coach.
The Third Man speaks to Father, then walks to the coach. He
gets onto the coach as the coach starts away.
Father watches, rain flowing down his stony features.
LIGHTING FLASHES... And we see the family Cat watching with
glowing eyes.

64 INT. VAN TASSEL HOUSE - DAY 64

Ichabod's eyes as he opens them. He wakes, breathing heavily.

After a beat, he flings back the bedclothes and springs out

of bed, energized by a new determination.

65 INT. VAN TASSEL HOUSE, DOWNSTAIRS - DAY 65

Baltus, Steenwyck, Doctor Lancaster and Notary Hardenbrook
are having another meeting, this time with Lady Van Tassel
and Katrina on hand with the drinks.
BALTUS
Right -- this time I'll go to New
York myself and I won't be fobbled
off with an amateur deductor.
HARDENBROOK
(correcting him)
 52.

Detector.
STEENWYCK
(correcting)
Deductive.
DOCTOR LANCASTER
(doubting)
No... no...
BALTUS
(rising above it)
An amateur sleuth! This time it's a
magistrate that's dead, and --
The door is flung open without ceremony.
It's Ichabod ready for action, transformed, raring to go --
with Young Masbath round-eyed just behind him.
ICHABOD
Gentlemen! -- I need able men, to
go with me to the Western Woods.
Who will be the first to volunteer?
BALTUS
You... ? We thought you'd shot your
bolt...
ICHABOD
A setback, merely. And yet, a step
forward too -- we now know who has
done these terrible --
STEENWYCK
You now know, we already knew --
ICHABOD
(high on it)
Quite so -- and now it seems fate
has chosen me to make my name in a
case without parallel in the annals
of crime -- in short, to pit myself
against a murdering ghost.
KATRINA
(fearful for him)
No, Ichabod -- Constable --
LADY VAN TASSEL
(smiles)
Do you intend to arrest him? Or
impound his horse... ?
 53.

The Men chuckle indulgently.

ICHABOD
Neither. To put an end to the
killing. To discover the cause and
remove it. Who's with me?
No one.

66 EXT. WESTERN WOODS - DAY 66

No one, indeed... Ichabod and Young Masbath ride alone...
their horses loaded up for the expedition.
Dark, gnarled and creepy woods. Ichabod and Young Masbath
move through. SOUND OF BIRDS etc.
ICHABOD
The Van Garretts, the Widow Winship
... your father, Jonathan
Masbath... and now Philipse...
Something must connect them. Can
you think?
YOUNG MASBATH
(shakes his head)
We had no dealings with the
magistrate that I know of...
ICHABOD
And the widow? Your father knew
her?
YOUNG MASBATH
(shrugs)
Everyone knew Widow Winship.
ICHABOD
In a manner of speaking, I trust.
YOUNG MASBATH
She would bring old Mr. Van Garrett
a basket of eggs many a day.
ICHABOD
Did your father have dealings with
the Van Garretts?
YOUNG MASBATH
(surprised)
He worked for them, we lived in the
coach house.
 54.

Ichabod halts his horse, surprised.

YOUNG MASBATH
It's nothing -- there were many
servants... all dismissed now, of
course.
(beat -- they ride on)
But there was something happened
one night, a week before the
murder. An argument upstairs
between father and son, and my
father was later sent for by Mr.
Van Garrett.
ICHABOD
An argument between father and son?
(to himself,
thoughtfully)
After which, the elder Van Garrett
summoned his servant, Masbath...
Young Masbath halts his horse and looks around.
YOUNG MASBATH
Listen.
ICHABOD
I hear nothing.
YOUNG MASBATH
Nor I -- no birds -- no crickets --
Everything has gone quiet.
YOUNG MASBATH
-- it's all gone so quiet...
Ichabod notes this nervously.
ICHABOD
You're right!
He gees up the horses. They break into a gallop. A MOVING POV
watches them gallop by.

67 EXT. WESTERN WOODS AND CAVE ENTRANCE - DAY 67

Ichabod and Masbath reach a hill crest. They stop, uneasy.
BELOW, there is a CAVE with a rock archway. An ill-fitting
DOOR covers the mouth. The chimney spews smoke.
Ichabod and Masbath share a fearful look.
 55.

ELSEWHERE, SOMEONE WATCHES... A MOVING POV WATCHES Ichabod

and Masbath as they ride to the cave, FOLLOWING...
Ichabod and Young Masbath dismount, tying their horses, then
heading to the cave. They arrive at the cave door. Ichabod
hesitantly KNOCKS.

68 INT. CAVE HOME - DAY 68

The door is ajar... Ichabod and Young Masbath step in...
Walls are hung with SKINS and SKELETONS. Across the cave, a
CRONE sits facing away, motionless.
Ichabod and Young Masbath look to each other, fearful.
ICHABOD
Pardon my intrusion...
The Crone, with gray hair and gray features, sits
disinterested.
Behind, Ichabod edges slowly forward...
CRONE
You are from the Hollow?
ICHABOD
In a way, yes. I, um...
Ichabod is distracted by gourd BOWLS of DEAD INSECTS, LEAVES
and ACORNS... KNIVES, SCISSORS and YELLOWED BONES.
ICHABOD
I should like to say... um... I
make no assumptions about your
occupation, no, your ways, witch --
which -- which are nothing to me...
um... whatever you are, each to his
own -- um --
The Crone places something on a table beside her... a DEAD
BIRD, a bright red cardinal.
Ichabod backs away, but Masbath comes to stand beside him.
YOUNG MASBATH
Do you know of the Horseman,
ma'am... ? The Hessian.
The Crone draws her finger across her neck.
YOUNG MASBATH
That'll be him, miss.
 56.

Around her neck is a cord on which is threaded a carved

stone, a mystic bauble. Ichabod notices it. The Crone stands,
faces them, tall ... points to Ichabod.
CRONE
You, follow with me.
(to young Masbath)
Go out, child. Keep away. No matter
what you hear, keep away.
She takes a candle and heads deeper into the cave...

69 INT. CAVE HOME, LOWER CAVE - DAY 69

The Crone enters through a passage, Ichabod follows,
terrified, bent under the low ceiling.
ICHABOD
Um... what might he hear that he
must keep away from... ?
CRONE
Sit there.
Ichabod sits on a crooked stool. The Crone kneels with her
back to him, grasps two METAL CUFFS with chains attached,
slides these onto her wrists, testing them...
CRONE
He rides, to the Hollow and back. I
hear him. I smell the blood on him.
ICHABOD
Do... do you? Well... I'm here to
find him and... er... make him
stop...
CRONE
You want to see into the
netherworld ... I can show you...
The Crone gathers STRAW in a pile on the floor, then gathers
bowls, putting GRASS and POWDER on the pile, WITHERING over
it. She takes a JAR from a table.
ICHABOD
What... what are you doing?
The Crone shakes one jar, pulls the lid off and upends it. A
BABY BAT squirms, dazed. The Crone grips the bat, uses a
knife to cut off its head, soaks the straw with blood.
CRONE
 57.

Do not move or speak. When the

other comes, I will hold him.
Using her candle, the Crone lights the straw pile.
ICHABOD
The other... ?
CRONE
Silence.
(bends to inhale smoke)
He comes now.
Ichabod would like to leave now.

70 EXT. CAVE HOME - DAY 70

Young Masbath waits. WIND picks up, kicking leaves, sending

them in swirls. Masbath holds himself against the chill.

71 INT. CAVE HOME, LOWER CAVE - DAY 71

The Crone slumps forward to the floor, suddenly immobile,
still with her back to Ichabod. WIND HOWLS through a
hole/window.
Ichabod looks around, uncertain, stands.
ICHABOD
Excuse me... ma'am... ?
The Crone remains motionless. The WIND intensifies. Candles
blow out.
Ichabod inches closer...

ICHABOD
Do you hear me... ?

72 INT. CAVE HOME, LOWER CAVE - DAY 72

The Crone suddenly jumps erect, spinning -- a half-human,
half-demon CREATURE, black clawed hands reaching...
Ichabod cries out, leaping backward...
CHAINS on the restraining CUFFS around the creature's hands
go taut, yanking the creature back.
Ichabod KNOCKS over a table of bones, hits the floor. The
creature is chained, but still wants Ichabod. It SHRIEKS.
 58.

The creature's face still seethes from transformation.

CREATURE/CRONE
You seek the warrior bathed in
blood ... the Headless Horseman...
Ichabod scrambles back as far as possible. The creature claws
the rock floor, yearning.
CREATURE/CRONE
Follow the Indian trail to where
the sun dies. Follow to the Tree of
the Dead...
The creature yanks, testing the chains. Behind, the BOLT
holding the chains slips... the WALL CRACKS a little.

CREATURE/CRONE
Climb down to the Horseman's
resting place. Do you hear... ?
Ichabod nods, quaking, aghast. He glances to the exit.
The chain bolt gives more... coming loose...
Ichabod flees toward the door. The creature HOWLS, leaping...
the chain bolt BREAKS...
Ichabod cries out as he is TACKLED to the floor...

73 INT. CAVE HOME, LOWER CAVE - DAY 73

It is only the CRONE lying on him; she has returned to human
form, semiconscious. Ichabod desperately shoves her off...

74 EXT. CAVE HOME - DAY 74

Ichabod sprints out from the cave, past Young Masbath.
ICHABOD
We are leaving.
YOUNG MASBATH
What happened?
ICHABOD
We are leaving now.
Ichabod scrambles onto Gunpowder, riding, glancing back.
Young Masbath follows.
 59.

75 EXT. WESTERN WOODS AREA TWO, FARTHER ON - LATER - DAY 75

Ichabod and Young Masbath ride side by side.
ICHABOD
(quoting)
"Take the Indian trail... To the
Tree of the Dead... "
YOUNG MASBATH
How will we recognize it?
ICHABOD
Without difficulty I rather fear.
And "Climb down to the Horseman's
resting place... " she said.

YOUNG MASBATH
His... camp?
ICHABOD
His grave.
A SNAPPING BRANCH is HEARD. Ichabod turns to look back...
ICHABOD
(whispers to Masbath)
Quicken pace.
Ichabod rides faster. Young Masbath keeps up...
FARTHER ON, they charge over a hill. Ichabod halts Gunpowder,
climbs clumsily off, handing the reins to Masbath.
ICHABOD
Ride on.

Young Masbath obeys. Ichabod takes out his pistol and wades
into forest growth, backtracking...

76 EXT. WESTERN WOODS AREA THREE - DAY 76

INSIDE THE FOREST, Ichabod moves through UNDERBRUSH, keeping
low. A HORSE is HEARD SNORTING.
Ichabod forges on, pushes through branches, fearful...
He comes up behind a FIGURE IN A GRAY CLOAK on horseback,
raising his pistol, cocking the hammer...
ICHABOD
Halt and turn! I have a pistol
aimed.
 60.

The FIGURE stops, pushes off the cloak hood. It is Katrina.

KATRINA
It is me.
ICHABOD
(lowers gun, shaken)
Katrina... I might have killed you.
Why have you come?
KATRINA
Because no one else would go with
you.
She smiles a little. Ichabod is heartened.
ICHABOD
I am now twice the man.
Ichabod takes her hand.
ICHABOD
It is your white magic.
She is about to turn this moment into a kiss -- but...
YOUNG MASBATH (O.S.)
Pardon my intrusion...
Ichabod and Katrina look to see Masbath has backtracked.
YOUNG MASBATH
I think you'd better come and look
at this...
Ichabod and Katrina move to follow Young Masbath.

77 EXT. WESTERN WOODS, TREE OF THE DEAD - DUSK 77

Ichabod, Masbath and Katrina come into a clearing, slowing
their horses... looking up in wonder at...
The monstrously huge TREE OF THE DEAD, at the clearing's
center.
Its branches reach far and wide, knotted and gross, like
agony captured in wood sculpture.
YOUNG MASBATH
The Tree of the Dead.
KATRINA
It does announce itself.
 61.

Ichabod dismounts, crossing a line beyond which grass and

weeds will not grow. Young Masbath and Katrina dismount
behind. They all walk toward the tree...
Ichabod stares up into the endless, dead canopy of branches.
There's a VERTICAL WOUND in the bark, like a terrible suture,
now healed and scarred. Ichabod approaches...
He feels the mushy scar, picking at its scabs till sap begins
to run.
Red Sap. Ichabod fingers it, sniffs it.
ICHABOD
Blood.

KATRINA
The tree bleeds? How can it be?
Ichabod goes to where Katrina and Masbath wait with the
horses, digs in a saddle bag for a hand AXE.
YOUNG MASBATH
What is it?
ICHABOD
Stay here.
At the trunk, Ichabod thumps the flat end of the axe against
the suture. It sounds hollow. He begins to CHOP...
He CHOPS into the suture... pulls away loose bark. The tree
drips more blood and a goo. Ichabod uses both hands on the
axe to hack at the festering suture.

KATRINA
What are you doing?
ICHABOD
Just... keep where you are.
Young Masbath moves closer. Ichabod keeps CHOPPING, then
grips a large, loose flap, trying to pull it away. It's not
easy. Ichabod struggles.
Katrina follows Young Masbath's slow advance.
Ichabod's pulling -- the flap suddenly gives, revealing a
blood-soaked, wide-eyed, gap-mouthed HUMAN HEAD.
Ichabod recoils. Behind him, Katrina stifles a scream.
Ichabod backs off, back of his hand to his mouth.
 62.

It is PHILIPSE'S HEAD, hanging off the trunk flap, held by

roots grown around and into the flesh.
FOUR other SEVERED, DECAYING HEADS are held by ingrown roots
within the dewy innards.
One of the heads is Jonathan Masbath's. Before Young Masbath
sees it, Katrina hides his face in her bosom and comforts
him.
KATRINA
My God...
ICHABOD
He... he tries to take the heads
back with him. They will not
pass...

KATRINA
We must leave this place.
Ichabod looks to the branches towering above.
ICHABOD
This is... a gateway, between two
worlds...
Ichabod studies the ground, circling the trunk... Around the
other side, Ichabod gets to his knees...
He's found the HORSEMAN'S SWORD: the grave marker, jutting
out from the ground, rusted twenty years' worth, gripped by
the tree trunk and vines.
ICHABOD
(touching the ground)
Climb down to the Horseman's
resting place...
(looks to Masbath)
Bring the shovel.
Now he sees Katrina hugging the boy.
ICHABOD
Forgive me... I...
Young Masbath courageously recovers himself, wiping his eyes
and nose on the back of his sleeve.
YOUNG MASBATH
Yes, sir -- the shovel... Two
shovels and the rifle, I suggest.
 63.

78 EXT. WESTERN WOODS, TREE OF THE DEAD - DUSK 78

Lantern light.
Young Masbath's crouched, rifle across his knees. He watches
the tree, looking up...
High branches swarm with BATS.
Behind Masbath, Ichabod and Katrina dig up the SHALLOW GRAVE.
KATRINA
This ground has been disturbed, the
soil is loose.
Ichabod throws down his Shovel.

Young Masbath comes to the grave. Ichabod pulls at thick

BURLAP CLOTH
heavy with dirt... straining as it comes away...
Ichabod drops the burlap, looking down, disbelieving...
ICHABOD
Look... !
WE SEE: Roots have gripped the HORSEMAN'S BONES and tattered
uniform.
The skeleton is all there -- except the skull.
KATRINA
The skull is gone. What does it
mean?

Ichabod jumps out from the grave, snapping his fingers.

ICHABOD
(energized)
It means, my dear Miss Van Tassel,
it means -- yes! What exactly does
it mean? -- It means, unless I am
mistaken... it definitely means
something -- what that something
is, only time will tell! But I
sense that we are very close to the
answer here, if only we had one
more clue...
Ichabod is unaware that the ground is writhing around him.
KATRINA (O.S.)
Ichabod... !
 64.

Ichabod turns, looks...

Katrina and Young Masbath back away, because... the ROOTS in
the grave are ALIVE, entwining around remains.
Ichabod spins to the twisted tree...
The vertical SUTURE SEETHES, pulling inward... sucking
Philipse's head back in and closing, bubbling.
Ichabod bounds over the grave dirt pile, hastening Katrina
and Young Masbath along as he flees across the field.
At the tree, the suture swells.
Ichabod, Katrina and Young Masbath pass where their freaking
horses are tied to a fallen trunk, heading for cover.

A RUMBLING is HEARD from the tree. It's wound suddenly BURSTS

wide, spitting smoldering cinders.
At the tree line, Ichabod, Katrina and Young Masbath take
cover, looking back.

79 EXT. WESTERN WOODS TREE OF THE DEAD (EFFECT) - DUSK 79

From the tree wound, a glow BRIGHTENS... till suddenly the
Headless Horseman and Daredevil EXPLODE into existence...
They hit the ground running.

80 EXT. WESTERN WOODS TREE OF THE DEAD - DUSK 80

Ichabod watches the Horseman ride away, bolts of LIGHTING
STRIKING the GROUND BEHIND.

The Horseman disappears into the forest.

ICHABOD
(to Masbath)
Did you see that?!
(recovering)
Take Katrina home!
Ichabod runs toward the horses.
YOUNG MASBATH
Constable!

81 EXT. WESTERN WOODS AREA TWO - NIGHT 81

The Horseman rips past on Daredevil...
 65.

82 EXT. WESTERN WOODS AREA THREE - NIGHT 82

Ichabod rides as fast as Gunpowder is able...

83 EXT. WESTERN WOODS AREA TWO, FARTHER ON - NIGHT 83

Trees are silhouetted against the sky. As Daredevil's
HOOFBEATS get LOUDER, branches bend like arms and fingers
yearning to touch. As HOOFBEATS ROAR PAST, the trees relax.

84 EXT. WESTERN WOODS AREA TWO, FARTHER ON - NIGHT 84

Ichabod ducks under foliage as he pursues. He sees...
Through the forest ahead: the SKY'S LIT UP. Distant fire.

85 EXT. WESTERN WOODS, CAVE HOME - NIGHT 85

The Crone's CAVE vomits FLAME.
Ichabod arrives on Gunpowder, horrified, struggling for
control as Gunpowder rears, trying to see through BLACK
SMOKE...
Embers swirl everywhere. Ichabod dismounts, moving closer to
the cave ... suddenly he SLIPS...
Ichabod falls down a bloody rock, landing very close to the
CRONE'S HEADLESS BODY. Ichabod recoils, crawling away,
looking to the carnage in terror...
The corpse lies near the cave entrance. The jagged skin of
the neck wound still bleeds. The ground and dead leaves
around the corpse are thick with BLOOD. Ichabod crawls back
to the Crone, terrified... because he has seen a CLUE.
The cord around the Crone's neck has been cut and the Carved
Bauble is missing (along with the Crone's head).
Ichabod hears a Horse neighing in the trees... and the sound
of the horse crashing through the undergrowth, departing...
but he can see nothing.

86 EXT. FOREST - NIGHT 86

Brom, Theodore and Glen are on patrol -- Brom with his new
rifle. They can hear the same horse crashing invisibly
through branches, the sound of hooves. They can't tell where
the sound is coming from. They look around nervously.
 66.

BROM
Split up! He won't get away.
The three of them gallop off in three directions.
When they clear the frame there is a sound of deep rumbling,
the sound we heard before Jonathan Masbath was murdered.

87 INT. KILLIAN'S HOME, KITCHEN - NIGHT 87

Small home. Killian, Thomas and BETH, Killian's wife, have
finished supper. Beth clears plates as Killian picks his
teeth with a knife.
The same rumbling sound is faintly heard.

The glasses on the table shiver audibly. Killian notices.

Then the phenomenon stops. Killian continues picking his
teeth.
Thomas gets down from his chair. He goes to the fireplace to
light a tallow wick, which he takes to the next room.

88 INT. KILLIAN'S HOME, WHITE ROOM - NIGHT 88

Thomas plops on the floor and lights his MAGIC LANTERN: a
lantern with an outer sleeve of glass painted with
SILHOUETTES of LIONS and MONSTERS.
Thomas turns the lantern and looks to the walls where the
creatures' SHADOWS are cast.
He roars for them, imagining them real and having a grand
time.

89 INT. KILLIAN'S HOME, KITCHEN - NIGHT 89

Beth comes for dishes.
BETH
Don't pick teeth. You teach Thomas
bad habits.
Killian pulls her to him, playful.
KILLIAN
I am a bad habit. There's nothing
for it.
BETH
(kisses him)
 67.

Oh, isn't there.

90 EXT. FOREST - NIGHT 90

A black horse runs, hooves pounding the ground.
THUNDER is HEARD. The horse stops... it is Brom's horse, with
Brom riding. Brom looks skyward.
All around, the WIND HALTS. A DEAD SILENCE falls. Distant
HOOFBEATS
can be HEARD.
Brom takes his long rifle from his shoulder, rides...

91 INT. KILLIAN'S HOME, KITCHEN - NIGHT 91

Behind Killian, MANTELPIECE STONES pulse, breathing. Demonic
faces form, then disappear. WIND HOWLS.

92 INT. KILLIAN'S HOME, WHITE ROOM - NIGHT 92

Thomas continues his fun, shadow animals circling him. Beth
enters, looking at Thomas, smiling.
The magic lantern suddenly stops spinning. Shadow creatures
freeze.
Beth looks up, noticing the FEROCITY of the WIND. The smile
leaves her face.

93 INT. KILLIAN'S HOME, KITCHEN - NIGHT 93

The ENTIRE HOUSE CREAKS. Killian stands, looking up. The
HOUSE CREAKS again, then suddenly the WIND CEASES. Silence.
KILLIAN
Beth...

94 INT. KILLIAN'S HOME, WHITE ROOM - NIGHT 94

Beth picks up Thomas. The magic lantern shadow creatures
begin spinning anew, quickly, around and around.

95 INT. KILLIAN'S HOME, KITCHEN - NIGHT 95

 68.

With a ROAR, the fire flares. Killian looks... In the leaping

flames he seems to see -- as we also seem to see -- the
ILLUSION OF DEMONIC FACES molded out of flames.
Behind Killian, the DOOR SPLINTERS INWARD. The Horseman steps
in, a battle axe in each hand. WIND BLASTS...
The DOOR to the other room SLAMS. Killian grabs a chair and
HURLS it...
The Horseman swings, SMASHING it aside.
KILLIAN
Beth... run!

96 INT. KILLIAN'S HOME, WHITE ROOM - NIGHT 96

Beth holds Thomas as she back away from the closed door.
KILLIAN (CONT'D; O.S.)
(from kitchen)
Get out!

97 INT. KILLIAN'S HOME, KITCHEN - NIGHT 97

Killian grabs an IRON SKEWER from the fireplace, SWINGS it to
fend off a blow from the Horseman.
The Horseman SWINGS the other axe. Killian ducks. The axe
CRACKS fireplace stone, throwing sparks.
Killian lunges, JAMMING the skewer into the Horseman... The
skewer comes through the Horseman's back. The Horseman SWIPES
with the flat of one axe -- POUNDS Killian aside...

Killian hits the wall, BASHING his head. Hits the floor.

98 INT. KILLIAN'S HOME, WHITE ROOM - NIGHT 98

Beth kicks a carpet to reveal a TRAP DOOR.

99 INT. KILLIAN'S HOME, KITCHEN - NIGHT 99

The Horseman pulls the skewer out of his body, throws it. He
goes to lift Killian by the hair with one hand, brings back
the axe in the other hand...

100 INT. KILLIAN'S HOME, WHITE ROOM - NIGHT 100

 69.

At the trap door, Beth lowers Thomas to stairs leading to a

CRAWL SPACE under the GAPPED floorboards. Thomas is crying.
BETH
Hush -- hush -- quiet as a mouse,
now.
THOMAS
Mother...
BETH
You must hide...
Beth closes the trap door, frantically replacing the carpet.
The room's door FLIES OPEN... the Horseman strides in,
carrying Killian's severed head. Beth shrieks.

101 EXT. FOREST NEAR KILLIAN HOUSE - NIGHT 101

Brom, on his horse, hears Beth's shriek.

102 INT. KILLIAN'S HOME, CELLAR - NIGHT 102

Beth's SCREAMS are abruptly CUT OFF. Her BODY is HEARD
HITTING the floor above. Thomas sees the shadow of Beth's
head rolling across the gaps in the floorboards above him,
coming to rest with her hair showing, hanging down in the
gap. FOOTSTEPS are HEARD...

103 INT. KILLIAN'S HOME, WHITE ROOM - NIGHT 103

The Horseman's hands place Killian's and Beth's heads in a
sack, cinching the sack shut.

104 INT. KILLIAN'S HOME, KITCHEN - NIGHT 104

The Headless Horseman enters, bends to retrieve the battle
axe he left. He stands. Long, silent pause.

105 INT. KILLIAN'S HOME, CRAWL SPACE - NIGHT 105

Thomas cowers, trembling. QUIET.

106 INT. KILLIAN'S HOME, KITCHEN - NIGHT 106

The Horseman falls to his knees. He starts to CHOP at the
floor with both axes. CHOPPING, CHOPPING, CHOPPING... making
quick work of it...
 70.

107 INT. KILLIAN'S HOME, CRAWL SPACE - NIGHT 107

A hole appears as debris falls...
Thomas looks up. He tries to crawl away.
The Horseman's arm SHOVES through from above -- grabbing
Thomas and YANKING him up through the hole.

108 EXT. KILLIAN'S FARM, TOWN OUTSKIRTS - NIGHT 108

Brom rides from the forest.
Ahead, at Killian's house, among scattered homes on the
outskirts of town, Daredevil rides up as the Headless
Horseman walks out with his sack of heads. The Horseman ties
the sack to his saddle and leaps up.
The Horseman ignores Brom. But Brom refuses to be ignored.
Brom puts his reins in his mouth, aims his rifle... FIRING...
BOOM -- the slug blows the Horseman off Daredevil, EXPLODING.
Daredevil keeps going. The Horseman's smoldering body is left
"face down."
Brom halts his horse. He climbs down, pleased.
The Horseman moves.
Brom backs away, satisfaction diminishing.
The Horseman rises to his knees.

Brom falls to one knee, begins reloading. He fills the gun

from his powder horn.
The Horseman stands, unsheathes his sword and turns. The
blast has exposed rotten flesh and maggot-infested muscle.
Brom readies his ramrod, but there's no time. He rises,
hefting his rifle, straight at the Horseman with a yell...
The Horseman is on him. Brom swings the rifle, blocking.
The battle is on, with Brom fending off the Horseman's sword
with the rifle -- CLANK... CLANK... CLANK...
ACROSS THE FIELD, Ichabod and Gunpowder arrive...
UP THE FIELD, the Horseman makes a backhanded swing, knocks
Brom's rifle away, sends Brom to the ground...
 71.

The Horseman walks away from Brom. Ichabod sees this,

registers it.
Brom pulls a knife and throws it.
The knife blade goes through the Horseman from back to front,
like a spear thrust through a smoldering sack of rotten
flesh. The Horseman pulls Brom's knife, blade first, from his
chest and turns upon Brom.
Brom scrambles up, flees, running toward Killian's. The
Horseman THROWS the knife...
THWAP -- the knife imbeds in Brom's thigh.
The Horseman strides to Brom.

Ichabod closes in, pulling an unlit lantern off his saddle.

The Horseman changes his sword grip, blade open... plants one
foot on Brom's back, raising his sword to skewer...
Ichabod arrives at full gallop -- SMASHES the lantern into
the Horseman -- KNOCKING the Horseman off Brom.
IN THE DISTANCE, Theodore and Glen arrive on horseback. They
halt where they are, watching.
Brom runs, limping to Killian's house, a goal in sight: FARM
IMPLEMENTS propped there. Brom grabs SCYTHES with long curved
blades, one in each hand.
The Horseman rises.
Ichabod leaps off Gunpowder, runs to Brom's side.

Once more, the Horseman turns away.

BROM
I'll get him!
Brom grabs Ichabod's pistol. Ichabod grabs Brom's pistol arm.
ICHABOD
Wait! Don't you see? -- he's not
after us!
Brom shakes himself free and --
FIRES -- the bullet rips through the Horseman's stomach to
reveal putrid innards.
The Horseman turns and strides back -- no more nice guy!
 72.

ICHABOD
He is now!
Brom throws the pistol at the Horseman.
Across the way, Theodore looks to Glenn, turns his horse and
flees.
Glenn follows Theodore away.
Brom steps up, scythes ready. He and the Horseman go at it --
Brom blocks axe and sword, deflecting blows...
Ichabod grabs a long-handled SICKLE, circles them... SWINGS
the sickle.
The Horseman blocks.

The Horseman battles both men at once, catching blows...

counting every strike, METAL RINGING.
Ichabod's sickle is knocked out of his hand.
Brom catches the Horseman's sword in one scythe, catches the
axe handle in the other scythe...
The Horseman flatfoot KICKS Brom, sending him down.
Brom picks up Ichabod's sickle and SWINGS it...
The blade embeds in the Horseman down to the hilt.
ICHABOD
Now you've annoyed him.
The Horseman drops his axe, grasps the sickle handle... The
handle SLAMS Ichabod away...
Ichabod crawls, shaking off the blow. The Horseman staggers,
trying to pull the blade from his body.
ICHABOD
We cannot win this.
Brom yanks Ichabod to his feet and grabs his scythes.
As they flee, Ichabod grabs a wood-splitting AXE from the
stump where it's imbedded.
Behind, the Horseman manages to extract the sickle, drops it.
Brom and Ichabod head toward the COVERED BRIDGE that leads
across to the town square.
 73.

The Horseman strides after... retrives his axe on the way.

109 EXT. TOWN SQUARE AND COVERED BRIDGE - NIGHT 109

Brom and Ichabod start across. Ichabod must help support Brom
as Brom limps.
Behind, the Horseman picks up the pace, closing fast...
Inside the bridge, Ichabod and Brom are halfway across.
FOOTSTEPS are HEARD POUNDING. Ichabod glances back...
The Horseman is not behind them. Ichabod and Brom looks up.
The POUNDING FOOTSTEPS are on the roof, passing over... !
Ahead, at the mouth of the covered bridge, the Horseman leaps
down, spinning in midair, lands, crouched.
Ichabod and Brom halt. The Horseman rises.
Ichabod releases Brom and moves forward, gripping his wood
axe in both hands, SWINGING the axe downward...
The Horseman swings his axe -- SPLINTERS Ichabod's axe
handle.
The Horseman, axe in one hand, sword in the other, turns upon
Brom, and in pulling Brom aside out of the path of the sword,
Ichabod receives a sword-thrust in the shoulder, which makes
him scream out.
The Horseman lifts his sword arm, THROWING Ichabod and
withdrawing the sword in one motion... Ichabod tumbles.
Brom moves forward with scythes. The Horseman sets upon him
with incredible ferocity -- battling Brom back, striking so
hard and fast it's hard for Brom to keep blocking.
Ichabod tries to get up, but falls, looking up...
ICHABOD'S POV:
The Horseman KNOCKS one of Brom's scythes away, takes another
SWING --
sends Brom spinning in a spray of blood...
The Horseman stands over Brom's body, CHOPPING with his
sword. Our POINT OF VIEW grows BLURRY...
A BLURRY HORSEMAN approaches the POV.
Ichabod is at the Horseman's mercy.
 74.

Then, another ANGLE -- the Horseman ignores Ichabod, strides

past him.
Ichabod takes a step back and collapses.
FADE TO BLACK

110 INT. VAN TASSEL HOUSE - ICHABOD'S ROOM - NIGHT 110

Candlelight. Ichabod, shirtless, feverish, opens his eyes.
The wound at the top of his chest is raw but with the edges
sealed shut. Ichabod in on his bed. Doctor Lancaster bends
over him. Baltus Van Tassel observes.
DOCTOR LANCASTER
Remarkable. A wound like this
should have killed him... but it
needs no stitch and there's hardly
loss of blood.
Baltus sees Ichabod's eyes open.
BALTUS
He stirs.
Ichabod tries to rise, looking around, collapses in pain.
DOCTOR LANCASTER
You must be still... the fever is
on you.
ICHABOD
(weakly)
Katrina...

111 INT. VAN TASSEL HOUSE - KITCHEN - NIGHT 111

A Woman is bent over the hearth, mumbling.
Then we see it is Katrina, mumbling over a boiling beaker of
milk and green leaves. There is a dead crow on the hearth,
with one foot chopped off and a sharp knife lying alongside.
KATRINA
(chanting, repeating the
phrases)
Nostradamus Mediamus, Milk Of Mercy
In Media Nos Laudamas...

112 INT. VAN TASSEL HOUSE - ICHABOD'S ROOM - NIGHT 112

 75.

Katrina enters with the beaker of medicine. Baltus and Doctor

Lancaster are bending over Ichabod, the Doctor trying to make
Ichabod
drink a livid green liquid from a shot glass.
DOCTOR LANCASTER
It will restore you.
Ichabod closes his lips tight and refuses the drink -- he
doesn't trust Lancaster. Katrina comes to the bedside with
her beaker. Ichabod sees her. He is in pain, feverish.
ICHABOD
I... I... tried to stop Brom but...
Katrina soothes him.

KATRINA
Sssh... no one could have done
more. Drink this down, it will make
you sleep.
ICHABOD
The Horseman was not set to kill
Brom... or me... If Brom had not
attacked him...
BALTUS
Later. Rest now.
ICHABOD
I have discovered something.
Baltus and Doctor Lancaster glance at each other.

BALTUS
These are ravings...
ICHABOD
The Horseman does not kill for the
sake of killing... he choses his
victims.
KATRINA
Drink...
She holds the beaker to Ichabod's lips. He drains it and
falls back on the pillow, closing his eyes.
Baltus turns at a sound from the door.
Lady Van Tassel has entered quietly. She comes to him
anxiously and grips his hand.
 76.

LADY VAN TASSEL

What is it, Baltus?
BALTUS
Nothing... nothing... Don't be
troubled, my love...
They hold hands lovingly, staring at Ichabod, who has fallen
asleep.

113 ICHABOD'S DREAM - CHURCH - NIGHT 113

Empty church. Young Ichabod enters, carries a lantern past
pews. He HEARS a SOUND, moving behind a pew to hide.
Ahead, across the church, a RED DOOR opens... Father and the
villainous Third Man come out, shutting the door, speaking
quietly.
The Third man holds a piece of parchment paper. Father is
ever emotionless.
Ichabod watches them, ducking down to keep hidden...
Father and the Third Man walk to leave down the aisle,
passing close to Ichabod without seeing him. They exit,
leaving Young Ichabod alone in the silent church.
Young Ichabod rises, begins moving fearfully forward...
FOLLOW as he crosses through the church... going to the RED
DOOR... opening it...

114 ICHABOD'S DREAM - CHURCH - BEYOND THE RED DOOR - MORNING 114

Young Ichabod enters. The room contains TORTURE DEVICES: IRON

CUFFS, THUMB SCREWS, KNIFES and NEEDLES. There is a SPIKED
CHAIR, fitted with sharp spikes, adorned with straps for
holding down the "accused."
Young Ichabod backs away, terrified, then sees...
A shaft of light cuts across a large, sarcophagus-like IRON
MAIDEN --
where MOTHER'S EYES can be seen through the slit in the Iron
Maiden's face. Open eyes. Dead eyes.
Young Ichabod lets out a strangled cry, runs to the Iron
Maiden, trying to pull it open, clawing at the lock...
 77.

Finally, Young Ichabod backs away, choking on misery. He

looks around in despair. He falls to his knees at the spiked
chair, places his hands on the spikes, pressing...
As he sobs, blood runs down from his hands. He looks down and
sees the CAT is there, looking up at him. The cat reaches up
to rub its head against his face.

115 INT. VAN TASSEL HOUSE - ICHABOD'S ROOM - NIGHT 115

Ichabod, sobbing, has jerked up out of the dream straight
into Katrina's embrace.
She is sitting on the bed, holding him, calming him. She
notices blood on his palms.

She takes a plain linen handkerchief from her cuff and dabs
at the blood.
KATRINA
Hush... hush... you were dreaming.
Ichabod falls back on the pillow.
ICHABOD
Yes... thing I had forgotten and
would like not to remember.
KATRINA
Perhaps the remembering is the hard
road to peace of mind... What ails
you, Ichabod?
ICHABOD
I was well, it was the world that
was ill... But since I came here...
KATRINA
You were not a happy man when you
came. I think your wound was deeper
than the wound you received from
the Horseman...
(she puts her hand on his
forehead)
But your fever is broken, and
though I cannot cure the world I
would make you live happy in it...
Tell me what you dreamed.
ICHABOD
 78.

How I found my mother dead... how

good and evil sometimes wear each
other's clothes. She was an
innocent, a child of nature,
condemned... murdered... by my
father...
KATRINA
Murdered by...?
ICHABOD
Yes -- murdered to save her soul!
By a Bible-Black tyrant behind a
mask of righteousness. I was seven
when I lost my faith.
KATRINA
What do you believe in, Ichabod?
ICHABOD
Sense and reason, cause and
consequence, an ordered universe...
Oh lord, I should not have come to
this place where my rational mind
has been so controverted by the
spirit world...
KATRINA
Is there nothing you will take from
Sleepy Hollow that was worth the
coming here?
Their eyes meet.
ICHABOD
No... not nothing. A kiss... and
how rare a thing... a kiss from a
lovely woman before she saw my face
or knew my name.
KATRINA
Yes, without sense or reason...
They hold still, perhaps about to kiss.
KATRINA
It was a kiss on account.
But Ichabod breaks the moment.
ICHABOD
Oh -- God forgive me -- I talk of
kisses and you have lost your brave
man Brom --
 79.

KATRINA
I have shed my tears for Brom...
and yet my heart is not broken. Do
you think me wicked?
ICHABOD
No... but perhaps there is a little
bit of the witch in you, Katrina.
KATRINA
Why do you say that?
ICHABOD
Because you have bewitched me.
This time their held look turns into a passionate embrace...

116 EXT. VAN TASSEL HOUSE - PORCH - NIGHT 116

Young Masbath slowly opens the door to peer out. He walks out
onto the porch, watching as...
ACROSS THE LAWN, a CLOAKED FIGURE walks, carrying a LANTERN.
The figure heads onto the long straight road, into the
forest, lantern light dissipating.
Young Masbath steps off the porch, in cautious pursuit.

117 EXT. THE HOLLOW - EARLY MORNING 117

Dawn light is visible over fog-shrouded forests.

118 INT. VAN TASSEL HOUSE - ICHABOD'S ROOM - MORNING 118

Ichabod awakes, rolls... finds Lady Van Tassel at his bedside

with food and drink. Ichabod covers himself with his sheets.
LADY VAN TASSEL
You slept like the dead.
ICHABOD
You are too kind to me... I do not
look to be served by the lady of
the house.
LADY VAN TASSEL
(smiles)
Nor would you be but that the
servant girl has vanished.
ICHABOD
 80.

Sarah?
LADY VAN TASSEL
Run away, like many more -- people
are leaving in fear without
ceremony.
ICHABOD
Where is... ?
LADY VAN TASSEL
She watched over you till dawn. Now
it is her turn to sleep.
Young Masbath enters as Lady Van Tassel goes out.
Ichabod looks at his palms, which are stained with dried
blood.
ICHABOD
Help me. I am fit for another day,
I think.
The scene incorporates Young Masbath pouring water for
Ichabod to wash himself, and helping him into his clothes.
YOUNG MASBATH
Where are we going?
ICHABOD
To the Notary's office.
YOUNG MASBATH
Why?
ICHABOD
Because that is where I expect to
find deposited... the last will and
testament of the elder Van
Garrett...
YOUNG MASBATH
You have thought of something...
ICHABOD
... of something you said, Young
Masbath... The Widow Winship came
many a day with a basket of eggs to
Van Garrett... who I understand had
hens to spare... I begin to see. It
was Van Garrett's child that the
widow was carrying. And what news
have you?
 81.

YOUNG MASBATH
I heard someone leaving last night.
Looked like they headed to town,
but I lost them in the woods.
ICHABOD
You didn't see who?
YOUNG MASBATH
All I saw was their lantern.
Ichabod ponders, troubled, as Masbath brings him a shirt.
ICHABOD
The Horseman does the killing but,
I believe, at the bidding of a
mortal, someone of flesh and blood.

YOUNG MASBATH
What... ? What makes you say that?
ICHABOD
The witch... the crone, when I
happened upon her corpse, she lay
in a pool of blood. Blood poured
hard from her neck. The wound was
not cauterized.
YOUNG MASBATH
Then, she was not killed by the
Hessian. Someone only tried to make
it seem so.
ICHABOD
(nods)
It was the settling of a private
score. But the Horseman cuts heads
to a different drum. The crone
pointed us to what drives the
Hessian -- his skull has been
stolen from his grave. The person
who stole it has power over the
Hessian. Here is why the Headless
One has returned through the gate
of the Tree of the Dead. He chops
heads until his own is restored to
him.
YOUNG MASBATH
But what person... ?
ICHABOD
A person who stands to gain by
these murders.
 82.

119 EXT. TOWN SQUARE - CHURCH - DAY 119

WAGONS, HORSES and TOWNSPEOPLE swarm. A CROWD empties the
town's general store. Provisions are passed along, man to
man, and loaded onto wheelbarrows.
Ichabod and Young Masbath ride, passing MANY ANGRY FACES.
All up and down the long straight road, home owners board up
windows with lumber.
Ichabod and Young Masbath stop, tying their horses in front
of the "NOTARY." Ichabod looks off...
DOWN THE ROAD, people head to the CHURCH. Much activity...
ICHABOD
Sanctuary. Or, so they hope.
People carry supplies into the church, within the bordering
WROUGHT-IRON FENCE. Others work to build and erect massive
WOODEN CROSSES.
In the crowd here, Reverend Steenwyck spots Ichabod and Young
Masbath, pushes past people, shouting...
STEENWYCK
There he is! There...!
People begin to pay attention to Steenwyck as he climbs atop
a crate, pointing toward Ichabod...
STEENWYCK
(to everyone)
The desecrater of Christian burial!
Twice he met the Horseman, and kept
his head! How is it so... ?
AT THE NOTARY, Ichabod tries to ignore, heads inside, as a
clod of earth hits him on the shoulder.
IN THE CHURCHYARD, Steenwyck continues his rant.
STEENWYCK
The Devil protects his own!

120 INT. NOTARY PUBLIC - HARDENBROOK'S OFFICES - DAY 120

A small, untidy room with piles of dusty documents in great
disorder.
The Notary Hardenbrook looks at Ichabod with his one good
eye. Young Masbath stands near.
 83.

ICHABOD
I take it, Mr. Hardenbrook, that
wills and testaments are held here
on public record?
Hardenbrook is in a funk, trying to act calm. He passes a
document across the desk.
HARDENBROOK
I believe this is what you wish to
see. Take it and go!
Ichabod scans the will of Peter Van Garrett.
HARDENBROOK
Van Garrett Senior left his estate
to his next of kin, that is to say,
to his only son. However, the son
being murdered in the same
instant...
ICHABOD
The next of kin after the son would
be the eldest of the line from Van
Garrett's father's sister... none
other than the Baltus Van Tassel:
something else no one thought to
mention!
HARDENBROOK
Well, you have found your way to
it, and I hope you will leave now
before my windows are boken.
The crowd murmurs outside like angry bees. Ichabod flourishes
the will.

ICHABOD
I am not ready to leave.
Hardenbrook starts moaning and wringing his hands.
ICHABOD
A brick through your window is not
what puts you in terror,
Hardenbrook ... there is something
else... I saw your fear, and
Steenwyck's and the doctor's, when
you met at Philipse's house...
Philipse paid with his head, and
you fear for your own.
HARDENBROOK
 84.

Yes, it's true! -- but we did not

know it was a murdering plot when
we were drawn in!
ICHABOD
Drawn in by whom?!
HARDENBROOK
Mercy upon me! -- We meant no harm
to come to her!
ICHABOD
No harm to come to whom?
HARDENBROOK
(babbling)
But the marriage made her next of
kin...
ICHABOD
Made who next of kin to whom?! --
I'm confused!
YOUNG MASBATH
He means old Van Garrett secretly
married the Widow Winship.
ICHABOD
(getting it)
Of course! And Van Garrett made a
new will, leaving everything to her
and his unborn child... So she
stood between Baltus and the
legacy! Where is the will?
HARDENBROOK
I cannot be seen to help you -- the
Horseman will come for me -- !
ICHABOD
I will not leave without the very
last will and testament of --
Hardenbrook digs into a mountain of documents, hurling
handfuls into the air... and flings the second will at
Ichabod. Young Masbath nervously checks the door.
HARDENBROOK
Go, then! I am a dead man!
He starts to sob.
YOUNG MASBATH
Sir...
 85.

ICHABOD
(reading)
Young Masbath... I know why your
father died. That night when Van
Garrett quarreled with his son,
Jonathan Masbath was summoned
upstairs to witness the new Will.
Here is your father's signature. It
was his death warrant.
Young Masbath takes the document and looks at it tearfully.
ICHABOD
But the secret was not safe. Mrs.
Killian the midwife was forewarned
the baby was coming -- and so she,
too, had to die.

One of the other hurled documents has fluttered down

fortuitously in front of Ichabod. He picks it up.
ICHABOD
The marriage certificate. Parson
Steenwyck married them. Doctor
Lancaster confirmed the widow was
pregnant. She told the secret to
Magistrate Philipse. Notary
Hardenbrook concealed the
documents...
Hardenbrook snivels and moans and wrings his hands.
ICHABOD
And you all kept silence! Why?...
For some nameless dread of the man
who stood to gain by it -- Baltus
Van Tassel!

121 INT. VAN TASSEL HOUSE - STAIRS - DAY 121

Ichabod and Young Masbath start up the stairs, noticing:

122 INT. VAN TASSEL HOUSE - PARLOR - DAY 122

Baltus, alone, with a glass of liquor, is brooding over an
oak coffer of SILVER COINS, running coins through his
fingers.

123 INT. VAN TASSEL HOUSE - STAIRS - DAY 123

Ichabod continues with Young Masbath, speaking quietly.
 86.

YOUNG MASBATH
I think there is some error in your
reasoning...
ICHABOD
(politely)
Really? Do give me the benefit of
your...
YOUNG MASBATH
All these murders... just so that
Baltus Van Tassel should inherit
yet more land and property?
ICHABOD
Precisely. Men murder for profit.
Possibly you don't know New York...
?
Suddenly he sees his bedroom door is ajar.

124 INT. VAN TASSEL HOUSE - ICHABOD'S BEDROOM - DAY 124

Ichabod's entry surprises... Katrina, sitting at Ichabod's
desk, reading his Ledger.
ICHABOD
Katrina... why are you in my room?
KATRINA
(smiles)
Because it is yours. Is it wicked
of me?
ICHABOD
No... no...
KATRINA
I missed you. Where did you go?
ICHABOD
To the Notary... I had questions to
ask Hardenbrook.
KATRINA
And did you learn anything of
interest?
Ichabod and Young Masbath exchange a glance.
ICHABOD
Well... perhaps.
 87.

KATRINA
My father...
ICHABOD
(jumps)
Your father... ?
KATRINA
Yes. My father thinks you should
return to New York.
ICHABOD
Really? Why is that?
KATRINA
(smiles)
I don't know. Perhaps he looked in
your ledger and did not like what
he saw...
She leaves the Ledger open on the desk. Ichabod steps over to
look.
Young Masbath cranes his neck to look. It is a page of
doodles with
the name "Katrina" written several times, and a sketch of
Katrina.
Embarrassed Ichabod closes the Ledger.
KATRINA
He believes townfolk and country do
not mix.
Ichabod opens the drawer in the desk and puts away the
document he took from the Notary.
He is nervous because he knows they point to complicity by
Katrina's father. Young Masbath, watching, understands this,
Ichabod locks the drawer and pockets the key.
KATRINA
What have you there?
ICHABOD
Evidence. I'm sorry, I must ask
your...
KATRINA
Then I will leave you to your
thoughts. Sleep well.
Katrina leaves. Ichabod is troubled.
 88.

Then -- to add to his troubles -- he suddenly sees a HUGE

SPIDER scuttling under his bed. He doesn't like spiders, even
small ones. He gives a yelp.
YOUNG MASBATH
It's only a spider.
ICHABOD
Where's it gone? -- Where's it
gone? Can you see it?
Young Masbath crouches to look under the bed. He frowns,
puzzled.
YOUNG MASBATH
There's something under there...

ICHABOD
Kill it! Kill it!
(getting a grip)
No -- no... er... stun it...
YOUNG MASBATH
Help me move the bed.
Young Masbath and Ichabod move the bed.
YOUNG MASBATH
Look...
UNDER THE BED is revealed a strange PENTAGRAM drawn in chalk.
YOUNG MASBATH
The Evil Eye!
ICHABOD
What... ? What is... ?
YOUNG MASBATH
It is someone casting spells
against you.
ICHABOD
The Evil Eye.
The spider is sitting on the Pentagram.

125 INT. VAN TASSEL HOUSE - ICHABOD'S ROOM - LATER - NIGHT 125
Young Masbath, fully dressed, sleeps on the bed. Ichabod sits
waiting.
 89.

He takes the cover off the lantern, looks at a CLOCK.

Midnight.
Ichabod heara A DOOR OPEN AND CLOSE, then a CREAK on the
stairs. He lights a candle. Then he goes to wake Young
Masbath.

126 INT. VAN TASSEL HOUSE - ICHABOD'S DOOR - NIGHT 126

Ichabod and Younng Masbath come out of the room.

127 INT. VAN TASSEL HOUSE - SECOND FLOOR HALLWAY - NIGHT 127
Ichabod and Young Masbath come down STAIRS with a lantern,
cautious.

128 INT. VAN TASSEL HOUSE - SITTING ROOM - NIGHT 128

Ichabod and Young Masbath cross, A CREAKING FLOORBOARD is
HEARD from ANOTHER ROOM. Ichabod quickly covers his lantern.
Across the room, LIGHT comes under a DOOR, stops...
continues.
FOOTSTEPS are HEARD, then a DOOR OPENING and CLOSING.

129 EXT. FOREST BY VAN TASSEL HOUSE - NIGHT 129

LANTERN LIGHT moves, far ahead. Ichabod and Young Masbath
follow, fearful, keeping hidden.

130 EXT. FOREST BY VAN TASSEL HOUSE - FARTHER ON (HILLSIDE) - 130

NIGHT
Ichabod and Young Masbath stop on a hillside.
ICHABOD
Wait here.
Ichabod advances, up the hill... peers forward to see...

131 EXT. FOREST CLEARING BY VAN TASSEL HOUSE - NIGHT 131

The lantern sits on a rock. On a blanket, a semi-naked MAN
and semi-naked WOMAN are in the midst of rough SEX.
Ichabod crawls to peer from underbrush.
 90.

The couple keeps coupling, the MAN on top. His grunts and
gasps are particularly desperate. He's all over the WOMAN,
who lays back... it is LADY VAN TASSEL.
Ichabod swallows.
Lady Van Tassel pulls down the man's shirt, exposes his
flesh. She raises a small, sharp KNIFE behind his back.
Ichabod's eyes widen. He's about to shout a warning, but...
Lady Van Tassel brings the blade to her own hand, slicing
deep into her palm. Blood flows. She rubs her cut hand over
her partner's arching back, smearing blood.
Lady Van Tassel caresses the man's chest, neck, face...
trailing blood.

The man lifts his head, in ecstasy, sucking the woman's

bloody fingers ... it's REVEREND STEENWYCK.
Ichabod backs away, having seen more than enough.

132 EXT. FOREST BY VAN TASSEL ESTATE (HILLSIDE) - NIGHT 132

Ichabod returns to Young Masbath's side.
YOUNG MASBATH
What was there?
ICHABOD
Something I wish I had not seen. A
beast with two backs.
YOUNG MASBATH
(wow!)
A beast with... ? What next in
these bewitched woods?!

133 INT. VAN TASSEL HOUSE - ICHABOD'S ROOM - NIGHT 133

Ichabod and Young Masbath enter.
Ichabod sees that his desk drawer is slightly open.
He opens the drawer knowing the worst.
The documents have been taken.
Masbath suddenly sniffs the air. He signals to Ichabod,
alert. He shiffs again... and in the grate is the source of
the smell: the documents burned to ashes.
 91.

Ichabod, in despondency, brings his finger to his head,

rubbing his temples.

134 INT. VAN TASSEL HOUSE - KITCHEN - DAY 134

LADY VAN TASSEL
She will not see you.
She is talking to Ichabod. Her hand is loosely bandaged.
ICHABOD
Did she say... anything?
LADY VAN TASSEL
Only that she will not come down.

ICHABOD
I see. Thank you.
Ichabod turns to go.
LADY VAN TASSEL
Constable, you have not asked me
how I hurt my hand since
yesterday... which would have been
polite. In fact you have been as
careful not to look at it as not to
mention it.
She strips off the bandage to show a roughly sewn cut.
ICHABOD
Yes -- I'm sorry... How did you...
?

Lady Van Tassel GRABS Ichabod by the wrist, tight...

LADY VAN TASSEL
(whispering close)
I know you saw me.
ICHABOD
What... ?
LADY VAN TASSEL
I know you followed last night. You
must promise not to tell my husband
what you saw... promise me...
Ichabod tries to pull away, but she grips tighter. The FRONT
DOOR is HEARD SLAMMING. Ichabod is panicky.
LADY VAN TASSEL
 92.

Reverend Steenwyck has power over

me.
ICHABOD
P-p-power...?
LADY VAN TASSEL
He knows something terrible against
my dear husband -- what you
witnessed was the price of
Steenwyck's silence.
ICHABOD
What does Steenwyck know?
Footsteps approach the door, the handle turns.

LADY VAN TASSEL

Later -- later...
She pulls away just as Baltus enters.
BALTUS
The town is in a ferment. Horror
piled on tragedy -- Hardenbrook is
dead -- strangled.
Baltus goes straight to a flagon on the side table and lifts
it to his lips. Ichabod stares at Baltus's strong hands
gripping the neck of the flagon.
LADY VAN TASSEL
Oh... ! That harmless old man?
BALTUS
Hanged himself in the night!

ICHABOD
Hanged himself?
BALTUS
Reverend Steenwyck has called a
meeting at the church -- tonight.
Every man, woman and child.
(to Ichabod)
He will speak against you -- if you
are wise you will be gone from
here. Steenwyck's congregation is
already halfway to being a mob.
ICHABOD
I will go when I have done what I
came to do.
 93.

Lady Van Tassel comes to calm her husband. Baltus notices her
wound.
BALTUS
What is this?
LADY VAN TASSEL
I was careless with the kitchen
knife --
BALTUS
The wound looks angry --
LADY VAN TASSEL
I'll bind it later with wild
arrowroot flowers -- I know where
I'll find some. Will you ride with
me?
Ichabod slips silently out of the room.

135 INT. VAN TASSEL HOUSE - STAIRS - DAY 135

Ichabod goes up the stairs.

136 INT. VAN TASSEL HOUSE - SECOND FLOOR - DAY 136

Ichabod knocks quietly at Katrina's door. No answer. He
quietly opens the door.

137 INT. VAN TASSEL HOUSE - KATRINA'S ROOM - DAY 137

Katrina's bed has been slept in but it's empty and she is not
there.
But in the grate there is the telltale heap of charred paper
and ash, recognizable as Ichabod's documents.
A sound at the door makes him whip around. It is Young
Masbath.
YOUNG MASBATH
I saw her riding away towards the
old pasture.

138 INT. WINDMILL - DAY 138

A small PILE of STRAW burns. GLOVED HANDS unfold a paper
filled with HAIR CLIPPINGS, which are sprinkled on the fire.
 94.

A cloaked FIGURE kneels at the pile. This person removes a

HUMAN SKULL from a cloth bag.
The skull is placed at center in the flames. It's teeth are
sharp, cut to points -- the HORSEMAN'S SKULL.

139 INT. VAN TASSEL ESTATE - FIELDS - DAY 139

Ichabod rides Gunpowder, approaching the Ruined Cottage. He
finds Katrina crouched over the hearthstone. Her horse
grazes. She hears his horse and turns.
ICHABOD
Katrina...
Ichabod dismounts. Katrina had made a small fire. She is
"doing magic." Mumbling. She turns to look at Ichabod in
anger and tears.
ICHABOD
(sympathetically)
You took the papers and burned
them...?
KATRINA
So that you would not have them to
accuse my father...!
ICHABOD
I... I accuse no one... but if
there is guilt I cannot alter it no
matter how much it grieves me...
and no spells of yours can alter it
either...

KATRINA
If you knew my father you would not
have such harsh thoughts about him
-- no, nor if you felt anything for
me!
ICHABOD
(in torment)
I am pinioned by a chain of
reasoning! Why else did his four
friends conspire to conceal...?
KATRINA
You are the Constable, not I -- so
find another chain of reasoning and
let me be.
ICHABOD
 95.

I cannot -- not the one or the

other. I am heartsick with it.
KATRINA
I think you have no heart -- and I
had a mind once to give you mine.
Katrina mounts her horse, which rears up. She is momentarily
like a female warrior, her eyes ablaze with anger and tears.
ICHABOD
(cries out)
Yes -- I think you loved me that
day when you followed me into the
Western Woods! -- to have braved
such peril!
KATRINA
(scornfully)
What peril was there for me if it
was my own father who controlled
the Headless Horseman?! Good-bye,
Ichabod Crane! I curse the day you
came to Sleepy Hollow!
Ichabod watches her gallop away and hides his anguished face
for comfort in Gunpowder's neck.

140 EXT. FIELD AND COPSE - EVENING 140

A distant bell is tolling as Baltus waits on his horse...
watching where Lady Van Tassel can be glimpsed among the
spaced trees gathering "arrowroot flowers."
BALTUS
(calls out)
Come. Hurry up! The meeting bell
has started toning.
He looks anxiously toward the vintage, then back to the
trees... where to his horror he sees... the Headless Horseman
moves slowly toward Lady Van Tassel, calmly unsheathing his
sword.

141 EXT. SLEEPY HOLLOW - CHURCH - NIGHT 141

People are entering the Church while the bell tolls them
in... watched grimly by Steenwyck.

142 EXT. SLEEPY HOLLOW TOWN SQUARE - CHURCH - NIGHT 142

 96.

More people are heading toward the Church. In the shadows,

Ichabod, hatted and cloaked to make himself look anonymous,
also watches the people going by... and sees Katrina among
them.
Baltus comes charging through the TOWN SQUARE on his horse.
BALTUS
The Horseman... !
Baltus is barely hanging on. He stops, falling off his horse,
scrambling toward Katrina, who is not far from Ichabod.
BALTUS
Save me...
KATRINA
Father...?
BALTUS
He killed her...
Baltus grasps Katrina, deathly afraid.
BALTUS
The Horseman has killed your
stepmother!
HOOFBEATS are HEARD... the SCREECHY CRY of Daredevil. Baltus
looks...
The Horseman rides into view, giving chase...
Instant mayhem -- the few people in the churchyard flee,
heading for the Church...
Baltus runs toward the Church...
KATRINA
Father!
Katrina chases after Baltus. Ichabod now sees that his "case"
is falling apart. He and Young Masbath start running to the
Church.

143 INT. CHURCH - NIGHT 143

The GATHERERS in the pews react to the commotion, shouting,
some running to the windows... to the doors...

144 EXT. CHURCH - NIGHT 144

 97.

Baltus pushes through the IRON GATE, across the churchyard,

bounding up the stairs... Katrina following him.
The Horseman rides behind...
Ichabod, with Masbath, follow into the churchyard. Ichabod
glances back...
ICHABOD
(to Young Masbath)
I know what you are thinking.
YOUNG MASBATH
It seems Baltus Van Tassel is not
the one who controls the Horseman.
As the Horseman reaches the open gate, Daredevil rears up
violently, snorting, unwilling to enter.

145 INT. CHURCH - NIGHT 145

Baltus makes his way into the church, shoving people aside.
Men pass RIFLES from stockpiles and climb onto pews at the
boarded windows. Women herd children into a cellar.
Baltus searches for a hiding place, moves toward the back...
Katrina moves through, following Baltus...
At the front of the Church, Ichabod squeezes in just as the
front doors are forced shut. Ichabod surveys the madness...
Ichabod runs to a window, looking out between boards...

146 EXT. CHURCH - NIGHT 146

At the church yard gates, the Horseman grabs Daredevils
reins, tries to move forward again. Same result -- Daredevil
freaks.
The Horseman gives his AXE an underhand toss... to the ground
inside the gate...
The axe instantly BEGINS TO DEGRADE -- like dust in the rain.
The Horseman steers away, keeping outside the fence.

147 INT. CHURCH -- NIGHT 147

 98.

Ichabod comes away from the window, looking to the mass of

panicked citizens. He sees Katrina pushing up the aisle...
she's heading toward Baltus.
Katrina turns to Ichabod, her face aflame with accusation.
Ichabod is humbled, desperate to make it up -- but Katrina
runs toward ... the Altar, where she prostrates herself,
evidently in a paroxysm of despair.
RIFLES BOOM LOUDLY as men at the windows begin FIRING...

148 EXT. CHURCH - NIGHT 148

The Horseman circles, under fire.
Great clouds of gun smoke shoot from the Church.
Men fire down from the belfry.
Parts of the Horseman and Daredevil splatter red as slugs
hit, without effect.
At the other side of the Church...
The Horseman circles, heading to the town square...

149 INT. CHURCH - NIGHT 149

Riflemen shout to each other, running to the opposite windows
to follow the Horseman.
Young Masbath grabs a rifle, leaps to join the brigade.

Baltus is trying to force his way to one of the cellar doors,

when Steenwyck grips him angrily, SHOVES him...
STEENWYCK
You'll kill us all... !
Baltus stumbles back, topples pews.
STEENWYCK
You're the one the Horseman wants.
Steenwyck grabs Baltus, dragging him to the front.
Ichabod's pushing past people, trying to get to them.

150 EXT. TOWN SQUARE - CHURCH - NIGHT 150

 99.

The Horseman brings Daredevil to a halt, yanks a large coil

of ROPE off a hitching post, turns to ride back...

151 INT. CHURCH - NIGHT 151

Baltus pulls free from Steenwyck, falls to the floor again.
STEENWYCK
Why should we die for you? Get out!
Others join the rage, pulling Baltus toward the front of the
Church, shouting. Ichabod joins in, struggling to push people
off of Baltus...
ICHABOD
Stop this... !
Ichabod gets to Baltus's side, trying to protect.
ICHABOD
The Horseman cannot enter! It does
not matter who he wants, he cannot
cross the gate... !
At the windows, ONE RIFLEMAN cries out.
ONE RIFLEMAN
He's coming back!
More panic. Steenwyck points toward Baltus.
STEENWYCK
We have to save ourselves... !
Baltus pulls the PISTOL from Ichabod's holster...
BALTUS
No! Unhand me! Stand off... !
Baltus brandishes the gun. Everyone backs off.

152 EXT. CHURCH - NIGHT 152

The Horseman rides past the front, fired upon...
The Horseman halts along a length of the wrought gate,
reaches... yanks off one IRON POST, which is pointed on top,
like an arrow head.

153 INT. CHURCH - NIGHT 153

 100.

Baltus holds everyone away with the pistol, enraged...

BALTUS
The next person to lay hands on me
will have a bullet.
Doctor Lancaster, who so far has just been one of the crowd,
now pushes his way between Steenwyck and Baltus.
DOCTOR LANCASTER
Enough have died already!
(to Steenwyck
meaningfully)
It is time to confess our sins and
ask God to forgive our trespasses!
STEENWYCK
Don't be a fool! I warn you, Doctor
Lancaster -- !
BALTUS
(to Doctor Lancaster)
What is it that you know?
DOCTOR LANCASTER
(to Baltus)
Your four friends played you false.
We were devilishly possessed by one
who --
That's as far as he gets before Steenwyck wrenches a heavy
ornate CROSS from the wall and smashes his skull with a blow
of tremendous force, with the Cross.
Baltus FIRES -- blasts a bloody hole in Steenwyck's
stomach... !
Everyone backs farther away as Steenwyck falls. Steenwyck
lays gasping, eyes huge. He tries crawl...
Katrina rises to her feet and stands; staring wide-eyed at
the horror.
Ichabod moves toward her.
Steenwyck lays still with a bloody gurgle, face down. Baltus
looks to all the horrified people around him.
BALTUS
There is conspiracy here! And I
will seek it out!
CRASH! -- the IRON POST comes SPEARING through a window,
trailing rope...
 101.

CRACK -- SKEWERS Baltus from behind: its bloodied point

bursting out through his breastbone...
Baltus gasps, stunned... he drops the gun, looks down to
clutch the post. Blood streams out of his mouth.
Ichabod catches Katrina as she swoons. Horrorstruck, he hugs
her... and thus notices that hanging on a ribbon around her
neck is the little carved bauble taken from the neck of the
dead Crone. Almost at the same time, Ichabod sees that on the
flagstones where Katrina was lying there is now a "Drawing"
done in chalk, identical to the "Evil Eye" drawing he found
under his bed.
ICHABOD
(gasps)
The Evil Eye again!
At that moment, a piece of White Chalk falls from Katrina's
senseless hand.
ICHABOD
Oh God... .it was you!
The full horrible implication of this hits Ichabod just as:
The rope tied to the post suddenly YANKS Baltus backward with
incredibleforce -- SLAMS him into the WINDOW...

154 EXT. CHURCH - NIGHT 154

Baltus CRASHES backward through the window, hits the ground,
DRAGGED...

OUTSIDE THE FENCE, the Horseman rides Daredevil away from the
church, with the rope tied around Daredevil's saddle
pommel...
Baltus SLAMS the fence. The rope SNAPS. Baltus is held there
awkwardly, gurgling blood.

155 INT. CHURCH - NIGHT 155

Ichabod, holding Katrina, cries out --
ICHABOD
Oh... Katrlna... Oh God, forgive
her...

156 EXT. CHURCH - NIGHT 156

 102.

The Horseman turns Daredevil, riding back... his sword raised

high...
... he chops off Baltus's head.

157 INT. VAN TASSEL HOUSE - NIGHT 157

Katrina lies insensible in her bed... the ribbon with the
bauble around her neck.
Ichabod stands watching her, alone with his grief and his
appalling "secret."
ICHABOD
It was an evil spirit possessed
you. I pray God it is satisfied
now, and that you find peace. Good-
bye, Katrina. The Evil Eye has done
its work. My life is over -- spared
for a lifetime of horrors in my
sleep, waking each day to grief.
Ichabod leaves the room, closing the door.

158 EXT. VAN TASSEL HOUSE, KITCHEN, PORCH AND LAWN - DAWN 158
Ichabod, watch only by Young Masbath, stands by a FIRE
burning in a CIRCLE of ROCKS nearby. He has his Ledger. After
a moment, he throws the LEDGER onto the fire. The pages catch
quickly.
He opens his satchel and digs out a BOOK. His luggage is
packed on the porch.

He walks back to the fire, looks at the book in his hand, the
book Katrina gave him. He stands staring down.
A DECREPIT COACH is arriving.

159 EXT. VAN TASSEL HOUSE, KITCHEN, PORCH AND LAWN - DAY 159
The decrepit COACH, with Gunpowder as one of its team, waits,
loaded with Ichabod's baggage.
Van Ripper, the driver, helps Ichabod with strapping the
load. Young Masbath watches, not helping.
Ichabod turns to Young Masbath.
Angry tears come to Young Masbath's eyes. The farewell is
like an argument.
 103.

YOUNG MASBATH
But who will look for the truth
when you have gone?
ICHABOD
There is no more truth to be found.
That is why I can go and leave this
wretched place behind me.
YOUNG MASBATH
You think it was Katrina, don't
you?
Ichabod clamps his hand over Young Masbath's mouth. He looks
intently into his eyes.
ICHABOD
That can never be uttered. Never.
Ichabod takes his hand away.
YOUNG MASBATH
A strange sort of witch! -- with a
kind and loving heart! How can you
think so?
ICHABOD
I have a good reason.
YOUNG MASBATH
Then you are bewitched by reason.
ICHABOD
I am beaten down by it! It's a hard
lesson for a hard world, and you
had better learn it, Young Masbath
-- villainy wears many masks, none
so dangerous as the mask of virtue.
Farewell!
Van Ripper climbs onto the coach. Ichabod looks to the Manor
House.
Only one light shines, in a SECOND FLOOR WINDOW.
lchabod climbs into the coach.

160 INT. VAN RIPPER'S COACH - DAY 160

INSIDE THE COACH, Ichabod slumps. He pounds twice on the
coach wall.
 104.

161 EXT. VAN TASSEL HOUSE - FRONT LAWN - DAY 161

OUTSIDE, Van Ripper whips the reins. The coach starts. Young
Masbath watches, wiping tears.

162 INT. VAN TASSEL HOUSE - KATRINA'S ROOM - DAY 162

Katrina wakes. She hears the Coach Wheels. She gets up from
the bed and goes to the window. Her POV shows the Coach
leaving... Katrina's face shows that her world has collapsed
around her.

163 EXT. TOWN SQUARE - CHURCH - DAY 163

Van Ripper's coach crosses the covered bridge... past the
town square ... past the church.
Near Doctor Lancaster's house, the coach passes a flat
cart... on which lies the headless corpse of Lady Van Tassel.
Ichabod looks at the corpse and he notes the gashed palm of
one dead hand.
The cart is being pulled at a walking pace by a single horse.
The CART MAN walking, holding the bridle.
The cart man pauses, seeing a RIDER approaching, traveling in
the same direction as Ichabod's coach.
Ichabod realizes that the rider is Katrina. He looks from the
coach window and sees Katrina get down from the horse and go
to the cart.
Ichabod pulls back from his window and closes his eyes.

164 INT. VAN TASSEL HOUSE - ICHABOD'S ROOM - DAY 164

Young Masbath enters, looks around the empty room. He goes to
sit, crosses his arms on the desk and lays down his head.

165 INT. VAN TASSEL HOUSE - PARLOR - DAY 165

Katrina enters. She crosses, slumps in a chair, staring into
the burning fireplace

166 INT. VAN TASSEL HOUSE - VARIOUS ROOMS - POV - DAY 166
A POV MOVES SLOWLY THROUGH THE HOUSE; SOMEONE'S searching
various rooms...
 105.

167 INT. VAN RIPPER'S COACH - DAY 167

Ichabod opens his satchel, takes out a bottle of water and
gulps from it. In replacing the bottle, he finds... the Book
given him by Katrina.
He opens the book. There is a DIAGRAM DRAWING on a whole
page. Ichabod recognizes... the "Drawing" of the supposed
"Evil Eye," identical to the two we have seen before. But
what gets Ichabod's real attention is the bold "headline."
The Headline over the Picture is "For The Protection of A
Loved One Against Evil Spirits."
Ichabod gasps, and mutters the words aloud.
What a fool he's been!
ICHABOD
(to himself)
But then, who... ?
He is puzzled. He stares at his open palms. The scars on his
palms trigger a thought...
Then he understands: something we will soon understand.
He slides the front window panel to shout through it.
ICHABOD
Van Ripper, turn the coach... !
VAN RIPPER
What?
ICHABOD
Turn around, now!

168 INT. VAN TASSEL HOUSE - VARIOUS ROOMS - PARLOR - POV - 168
EVENING
SOMEONE still moves through the house, a TRAVELING POV --
moving through ROOMS on the ground floor...
Stopping at the doorway of the PARLOR, looking to where
Katrina is seated across the room.

169 INT. DOCTOR'S RESIDENCE - MEDICAL ROOM - EVENING 169

Mrs. Lancaster comes to answer BANGING on the door. She opens
the door and Ichabod pushes past, satchel in hand, taking
Mrs. Lancaster's lantern.
 106.

ICHABOD
Pardon my intrusion...
There are TWO COFFINS on the floor.
Ichabod throws off the lids from the coffins, looking to the
headless BODIES of BALTUS and LADY VAN TASSEL.

170 INT. VAN TASSEL HOUSE - PARLOR - INTERCUT - EVENING 170

Katrina still sits, her eyes closed. A FIGURE in BLACK moves
forward in the darkness behind...

171 INT. DOCTOR'S RESIDENCE - MEDICAL ROOM - INTERCUT - EVENING 171

Ichabod goes to lift Lady Van Tassel's hand with the GASH on
its palm, bends to study... pulling at the sewn wound --
pulling the stitches apart between his thumbs...
Mrs. Lancaster watches.

172 INT. VAN TASSEL H0USE - PARLOR - INTERCUT - EVENING 172

Katrina hears a BOARD CREAK. She sits up, turning...
KATRTNA
Who is it?

173 INT. DOCTOR'S RESIDENCE - MEDICAL ROOM - INTERCUT - EVENING 173

Ichabod releases the corpse's hand, tears off his spectacles,
shaken by the realization...

ICHABOD
No bloodflow, no clotting, no
healing... When this cut was
made... this woman was already
dead.
Ichabod grabs his satchel, bolts out the door...

174 INT. VAN TASSEL HOUSE - PARLOR - INTERCUT - EVENING 174

The FIGURE moves closer in darkness...
KATRINA
Who is there... ?
 107.

The FIGURE comes into the dim, flickering fire light... Lady
Van Tassel.
LADY VAN TASSEL
Dear step daughter...
Katrina stands, terrified, trying to form words... Lady Van
Tassel cackles like a witch.
LADY VAN TASSEL
You look as if you've seen a ghost.
Katrina's eyes roll up as she FAINTS dead away to the floor.

175 EXT. TOWN SQUARE - DOCTOR'S RESIDENCE - NIGHT 175

Ichabod runs out from the DOCTOR'S RESIDENCE, leaps up onto

the empty coach, pushing Van Ripper's rifle aside. Van
Ripper's urinating against the side of the building.
VAN RIPPER
Be with you in a minute, Constable.
Ichabod whips the horses, driving the coach away.
Van Ripper frowns in confusion.

176 INT. THE WINDMILL - NIGHT 176

The interior of the windmill is large and shadowy, with lots
of old junk, clutter, machinery, boxes, etc.
Katrina lies unconscious. Lady Van Tassel comes to cut off a
clump of Katrina's hair with SCISSORS, grinning as she does
it.
A CONJURING PILE has been prepared, containing a small
ANIMAL'S HEART with an iron NAIL through it. Lady Van Tassel
adds Katrina's hair, lights the pile off a lantern.
Lady Van Tassel WHISPERS over the fire. She looks to Katrina,
who stirs.
Lady Van Tassel takes the HORSEMAN'S SKULL from a bag over
her shoulder, places it in the flames. THUNDER is HEARD.
LADY VAN TASSEL
(whispers and chants)
 108.

Rise up once more, my Dark Avenger!

-- Rise up! -- One more night of
Beheading! -- Rise up with your
sword, and your Mistress of the
night will make you whole -- a head
for a head, my unholy Horseman --
rise -- rise -- rise from the
earth, come forth again through the
Tree of the Dead... come now for...
Katrina!

177 EXT. WESTERN WOODS - TREE OF THE DEAD - NIGHT 177

The WIND scatters dead leaves. The TWISTED TREE OPENS WIDE
with a RUMBLE -- SHAFTS of LIGHT shooting out.

178 EXT. THE ROAD TO VAN TASSEL ESTATE - NIGHT 178

Ichabod drives the coach hard ahead.

179 INT. THE WINDMILL - NIGHT 179

Katrina sits up, groggy, looking around... sees the dying
fire, and Lady Van Tassel watching her.
LADY VAN TASSEL
Awake at last. Did you think it was
all a nasty dream? Alas, no.
KATRINA
My father saw the Horseman kill
you...

LADY VAN TASSEL

He saw the Horseman coming to me
with his sword unsheathed! But it
is I who govern the Horseman, my
dear, and Baltus did not stay to
see.
KATRINA
But there was your body!
LADY VAN TASSEL
 109.

The servant girl, Sarah, I always

thought her useless, but she
turned, out useful. Tomorrow I'll
totter out of the woods and spin a
tale how I found Baltus and Sarah
in the act of lust... as I watched,
the Horseman was upon them, and off
went Sarah's head! I fainted and
remember nothing more...
KATRINA
Who are you?
LADY VAN TASSEL
My family name was... Archer.
KATRINA
(remembering the cottage
hearth)
The Archer...
LADY VAN TASSEL
I lived with my father and mother
and my sister in a gamekeeper's
cottage not far from here...
The conversation is being heard by a MOVING POV among the
shadows.
LADY VAN TASSEL
Until one day, my father died, and
the landlord who received many
years of loyal service from my
parents... evicted us. No one in
this God-fearing town would take us
in...
The MOVING POV stops, spying from behind the clutter. The
REVERSE SHOT
reveals YOUNG MASBATH, holding his breath.
LADY VAN TASSEL
... because my mother was suspected
of witchcraft...
Young Masbath looks about for a weapon. His eyes alight on a
large Wooden Mallet.
LADY VAN TASSEL
 110.

She was no witch, but I believe she

knew much that lies under the
surface of life... and she schooled
her daughters well while we lived
as outcasts in the Western Woods.
She died within a year... and my
sister and I remained in our
refuge, seeing not a soul... until,
gathering firewood one day, we
crossed the path of the Hessian...

180 FLASHBACK - FOREST BATTLEFIELD (WESTERN WOODS) - DAY 180

The Hessian Horseman (avec head) has happened upon TWO YOUNG
GIRLS gathering firewood. The girls stand frozen at the sight
of him, till one girl drops her firewood and runs...
The second girl remains, holding the Horseman's gaze.

181 INT. WINDMILL - NIGHT 181

LADY VAN TASSEL
I saw his death, and from that
moment...

182 FLASHBACK - FOREST BATTLEFIELD (WESTERN WOODS) - DAY 182

The Girl watches the burial of the Horseman... and his Head
dropped into the grave.
LADY VAN TASSEL
... I offered my soul to Satan if
he would raise the Hessian from the
grave to avenge me.

183 INT. WINDMILL - NIGHT 183

Young Masbath, unseen, works his way quietly around behind
Lady Van Tassel.
KATRINA
Avenge you?
LADY VAN TASSEL
Against Van Garrett, who evicted my
family, against Baltus Van Tassel
who, with wife and simpering
girlchild, stole our home. I swore
I would make myself mistress of all
they had...
 111.

(she cackles again)

The easiest part was the first --
to enter your house as your
mother's sick nurse and put her
body into the grave, and my own
into the marriage bed.
Katrina cries out in horror.
LADY VAN TASSEL
Not quite so easy was to secure my
legacy... but lust delivered
Reverend Steenwyck into my power.
Fear did the same for the Notary
Hardenbrook. The drunken Philipse
succumbed for a share of the
proceeds, and the Doctor's silence
I exchanged for my complicity in
his fornications...
Masbath moves into the open, weapon raised. Katrina sees him
and stifles a gasp.
KATRINA
(keeping Lady Van
Tassel's attention)
Yes! -- you have everything now.
LADY VAN TASSEL
No, my dear -- you do, by your
father's will. But I get everything
in the event of your death.
(she cackles again)
Lady Van Tassel's hand reaches for the Mystic Bauble on
Katrina's neck. She rips it free.
LADY VAN TASSEL
(as she does so)
This pretty bauble, which I so
kindly gave you to wear, has done
it's work. My sister, by the way,
sadly passed away...

184 FLASHBACK - OUTSIDE CRONE'S CAVE HOME - DAY 184

The Crone falls to the ground outside her cave, unconscious,
beaten and bloodied.
A hand -- Lady Van Tassel's hand -- enters FRAME to haul the
Crone up by the hair, and WE SEE the Crone's bloodied
features face to face with the wicked smile of Lady Van
Tassel.
 112.

185 INT. WINDMILL - NIGHT 185

LADY VAN TASSEL
... quite recently.

186 FLASHBACK - OUTSIDE CRONE'S CAVE HOME - DAY 186

Lady Van Tassel holds a SWORD high, SWINGS DOWN... Then we
see the separated Head and Torso... and the severed CORD,
which had been around the Crone's neck... and Lady Van
Tassel's Hand reaching for the Mystic Bauble, which had
fallen free.

187 INT. WINDMILL - NIGHT 187

Young Masbath is about ready to bring the mallet down upon

Lady Van Tassel's head.
KATRINA
(keeping Lady Van
Tassel's attention)
It was the Crone you killed... your
own sister...
LADY VAN TASSEL
She brought it upon herself...
Like a whiplash, Lady Van Tassel turns cackling at Young
Masbath --
she sensed him by witchery!
LADY VAN TASSEL
(to Young Masbath)
-- by helping you and your master!
Young Masbath shrieks and drops the mallet.
LADY VAN TASSEL
You are just in time to have your
head sliced off!
Katrina and Young Masbath run to each other for mutual
comfort.
LIGHTNING BRIGHTENS the forest. Lady Van Tassel looks up.
LADY VAN TASSEL
The Horseman comes. And tonight he
comes for you!
 113.

188 EXT. WESTERN WOODS - NIGHT 188

The Horseman rides Daredevil, a freight train of moldering
flesh...

189 INT. WINDMILL - NIGHT 189

Katrina and Young Masbath are holding hands, scared.
Lady Van Tassel picks up the Horseman's skull in her gloved
hand and puts up her face and gives out a long animal howl.
Distantly, Daredevil is heard answering with a scream.
Katrina and Young Masbath run. Lady Van Tassel has need to
stop them.
LADY VAN TASSEL
Run! There is no escape!

190 EXT. VAN TASSEL HOUSE - PORCH AND LAWN - NIGHT 190
Ichabod leaps from the coach, bounds up porch stairs...
ICHABOD
Katrina!
Ichabod stops, sees FIRELIGHT at the Windmill. He runs...
leaps back up to the coach and takes off...

191 EXT. WINDMILL - NIGHT 191

THUNDER BOOMS. WIND HOWLS. Lady Van Tassel stands in the
doorway with the skull in one hand, laughing.

192 EXT. AROUND THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WINDMILL - NIGHT 192
Katrina and Young Masbath break out into the open. Ichabod
drives toward them...
KATRINA
Ichabod!
Ichabod meets them, halts the coach and jumps down (as the
coach horses trot away), running to put his arms around
Katrina and Young Masbath...
ICHAB0D
Thank God...
 114.

Lady Van Tassel's mad laughter is heard. Ichabod and Katrina

turn as...
Lady Van Tassel rides from around the windmill on her white
horse. She shrieks with laughter.
ALONG THE TREELINE, the Horseman breaks into the open... Hell
on horseback -- full speed ahead...
LADY VAN TASSEL (O.S.)
Have you come back to arrest him
after all?!
Ichabod thinks fast, moving to the windmill, leading Katrina
and Young Masbath along with him.
ICHABOD
Quickly...!
Behind, wind tosses Lady Van Tassel's dress and hair. She
holds the Horseman's skull high.
LADY VAN TASSEL
Mind your hat, Constable!
Young Masbath scurries up the ladder and in.
Katrina's next. Ichabod looks behind... The Horseman is
almost upon them.
Ichabod follows Katrina, pulling himself up. The Horseman
arrives, dismounting, moving forward...

193 INT. WINDMILL - NIGHT 193

Ichabod leaps up, lifts the heavy trap door on its hinges,
slams it.
The door is POUNDED from outside, buckling.
YOUNG MASBATH
It won't hold.
Ichabod goes to a large GRINDSTONE against a wall. He
struggles to roll it...
Young Masbath helps him roll it to the trapdoor. It falls on
top with a THUD. Masbath jumps back as the Horseman's sword
jabs up through the grindstone's center hole.
The sword withdraws. POUNDING begins anew.
 115.

194 EXT. WINDMILL - NIGHT 194

The Horseman chops at the door with his axe.

195 INT. WINDMILL - NIGHT 195

POUNDING CONTINUES, Katrina and Young Masbath back away.
Ichabod holds his lantern up, desperate for ideas, searching.
Above, to the right, is the high MILLING PLATFORM, where
grain is ground and bagged, and a ladder leading to it. To
the left is the crooked, open STAIRCASE.
Ichabod picks up a BAILING HOOK, a plan forming. He gives his
lantern to Katrina and points.
ICHABOD
Get up these stairs. Open the door
to the roof and wait.
Katrina and Young Masbath obey, heading left. Ichabod crosses
to the right, starts climbing the ladder to the milling
platform...
On the platform, Ichabod grasps a wooden lever, pulling it.
The entire windmill CREAKS and GROANS as massive GEARS and
COUNTERWHEELS above begin to turn.

196 EXT. WINDMILL - NIGHT 196

The windmill's rotors slowly begin spinning.
UNDER THE WINDMILL, the Horseman keeps chopping...

His axe exposes grindstone, throwing sparks.

197 INT. WINDMILL - NIGHT 197

Katrina looks down from the stairway. The POUNDING on the
trap door causes the grindstone to jump.
KATRINA
Ichabod...
ICHABOD
Keep climbing. I will follow...
(under his breath)
Hopefully.
 116.

Ichabod drags large BAGS of GRAIN, lining them up at the edge

of the milling platform.
ABOVE, Young Masbath throws open the door to the roof.
BELOW, Ichabod uses the bailing hook to cut holes into the
grain bags, so that MILLED GRAIN SPILLS out and falls to the
floor, creating clouds of grain dust.
Ichabod grabs one open bag, dumps it.
He slices into a sack hanging from a pulley system, pushes it
so it swings in circles, grain flooding out...
More and more DUST RISES, filling the air...

198 EXT. WINDMILL ROOF - NIGHT 198

Masbath and Katrina come out. Rotors spin behind them.

199 INT. WINDMILL - NIGHT 199

The GRINDSTONE blocking the trap door FALLS THROUGH as wood
splinters and gives. A moment, then the Horseman climbs in.
KATRINA
(looking in from above)
Behind you!
Ichabod looks down, sees the Horseman, then looks to the
staircase adjacent from the high platform. He runs...
He LEAPS across the space between the platform and stairs...

Ichabod grasps the outer rail of the staircase, hanging on,

pulls himself up onto the stairs...
Below, the Horseman moves through clouds of billowing dust,
runs and LEAPS, incredibly high...
The Horseman grasps a hanging chain, swinging, his momentum
carrying him in a wide arc...
Above, Ichabod runs upstairs, to the roof door.
The Horseman's weight swings him toward the stairwell...
He releases the chain... airborne momentarily...
The Horseman lands high up on the stairwell.
 117.

200 EXT. WINDMILL ROOF - NIGHT 200

Katrina and Young Masbath help Ichabod onto the roof.
KATRINA
Quickly, close it!
ICHABOD
No...
Ichabod takes the lantern from Katrina.
ICHABOD
(points)
Get to the crest of the roof and be
ready to jump.
YOUNG MASBATH
Jump? From up here?!

201 INT. WINDMILL - NIGHT 201

The Horseman clomps upstairs, axe in hand.

208 EXT. WINDMILL ROOF -- NIGHT 208

Ichabod shepherds Katrina and Young Masbath to the edge,
where the rotors spin close.
ICHABOD
Jump for the sails! Wait till I
give the word!
KATRINA
Ichabod!... I can't...
ICHABOD
Yes, you can, my love -- hand in
hand...
Ichabod moves back to the trap door.
Katrina and Young Masbath look at the rotors, and down at the
long distance between them and the ground.
ICHABOD
Be ready...
Ichabod DROPS the LANTERN into the windmill and runs...
ICHABOD
Now!
 118.

209 INT. WINDMILL - NIGHT 209

The Horseman continues up. The lantern falls past...

210 EXT. WINDMILL - ROOF - NIGHT 210

Young Masbath jumps. Ichabod grips Katrina, jumps...
They hit one rotor, gripping the frame and cloth as the rotor
begins its DOWNWARD TURN...

211 INT. WINDMILL - NIGHT 211

The lantern hits the ground and shatters -- FLAMES EXPLODE!
Throughout the windmill's interior, grain dust is consumed
instantaneously -- FLAMES ROAR upward...
FLAMES engulf the Horseman...

212 EXT. WINDMILL - NIGHT 212

The rotor is halfway to its lowest point. Masbath, Katrina
and Ichabod hang on as the ENTIRE STRUCTURE TREMBLES...
Flames shoot out windows, doors and seams!
On the rotor, Ichabod struggles to keep a grip on Katrina.
Masbath drops. Ichabod and Katrina fall...
They all hit the ground. Ichabod rolls over, gasping, holding
his shoulders, getting to his feet...

Ichabod, Katrina and Young Masbath run away as smoldering

debris rains down.

213 EXT. ACROSS THE FIELD - NIGHT 213

Ichabod ushers them along as they run, heading uphill.
Lightning
flashes across the sky. THUNDER RUMBLES.

214 EXT. WINDMILL - NIGHT 214

Behind, the WINDMILL begins to CRUMBLE, huge burning sections
crashing to the ground.
 119.

215 EXT. ACROSS THE FIELD - NIGHT 215

Ichabod, Katrina and Young Masbath slow, looking back at the
incredible conflagration.
YOUNG MASBATH
Is he dead?
ICHABOD
He was dead to start with -- that's
the problem.
KATRINA
Look...

216 EXT. WINDMILL - NIGHT 216

IN THE WINDMILL RUBBLE, the Horseman RISES, shoving off

burning debris. His flame-ravaged uniform smolders.

217 EXT. ACROSS THE FIELD - NIGHT 217

Ichabod spins, searching for possibilities... He spots the
COACH and HORSES not too far away...
ICHABOD
Come on!
They flee toward the coach. Behind...
Daredevil rides to rejoin the Horseman.

218 EXT. THE ROAD FROM VAN TASSEL ESTATE - NIGHT 218

The coach hits the long straight road, rumbling at top speed
away from the Van Tassel Estate, into the forest...
Katrina and Masbath hold on as the coach shakes violently.
KATRINA
Where are we going?
ICHABOD
Anywhere!
YOUNG MASBATH
He's right behind!
Behind on the trail, the Horseman chases, closing fast.
KATRINA
 120.

Make for the church!

ICHABOD
We'll never reach it!
Young Masbath grabs Ichabod's satchel, offers it...
YOUNG MASBATH
Here, sir... you must have
something in your bag of tricks.
ICHABOD
Nothing that will help us, I am
afraid. Take the reins...
Young Masbath takes them. Ichabod gives Van Ripper's rifle to
Katrina, then crawls back across the coach roof.
Ichabod gets to a baggage area at the rear, struggling to
open a storage box.
Behind, the Horseman draws his sword, closer.
Ichabod opens the box and pulls out a jagged HAND SAW.
KATRINA
Look out...!
Ichabod looks. The Horseman rides up, SWINGS his sword...
Ichabod recoils -- THWACK -- just missed.
The Horseman lets the coach get ahead, shifting to the other
side of the trail... coming along side again...
Ichabod backpedals, looking to Masbath.
ICHABOD
Keep him off! Block him!
Masbath guides the horses over. The Horseman must fall behind
to avoid the wheels.
One wheel hits a large rock...
Ichabod bounces, falling, drops the saw...
He hangs off the side of the coach.
The saw clatters away on the trail.
Ichabod tries for better purchase. He grips the coach door.
Katrina climbs to offer her hand.
 121.

KATRINA
Take my hand!
Ichabod reaches to her, but the coach door falls open...
Ichabod's PISTOL falls from the holster and is lost on the
trail.
Ichabod clings helplessly to the door as branches slam him.

219 EXT. BEHIND THE TRAIL 219

The Horseman gets to his feet. Ahead, Daredevil stands
waiting, giving a SCREECH.

220 EXT. AHEAD ON THE TRAIL NEAR THE TREE OF THE DEAD 220
Katrina and Ichabod rejoin Mashath, climb off the coach to
examine the ruined wheel, panicked.
ICHABOD
This is not good.
YOUNG MASBATH
We're doomed.
ICHABOD
We have to get out of the open
somehow. Quick, follow me...
They turn to run, but suddenly falter, seeing... Riding over
the crest of the hill, comes Lady Van Tassel, on her white
horse, with Ichahod's lost pistol in her hand...

221 EXT. NEAR FOREST - NIGHT 221

LADY VAN TASSEL
What? Still alive?!
Across the distance, the Horseman strides in this direction.
ICHABOD
Run, Katrina...
Lady Van Tassel points her gun at Katrina.
LADY VAN TASSEL
Yes, do run. And jump. And skip.
(she takes aim)
And now let's see a somersault!
 122.

ICHABOD
Run!
Ichahod makes a move toward Lady Van Tassel, but Lady Van
Tassel aims and FIRES -- shoots Ichahod in the chest! Ichahod
goes down...
KATRINA
No!
Young Masbath cries out, falls to his knees beside Ichabod.
Katrina moves toward Ichahod... Lady Van Tassel rides forward
-- GRABS Katrina by the hair, PULLING HER, riding off toward
the Horseman... Ichabod lays clutching the smoldering wound
in his chest, gasping. Young Masbath holds him...
YOUNG MASBATH
Oh, God... no... no...
Lady Van Tassel drags Katrina by the hair as Katrina screams
and struggles and kicks.
The Horseman keeps coming...
Lady Van Tassel stops her horse, halfway to the Horseman,
drops Katrina and starts riding back, shouting...
LADY VAN TASSEL
There she is. Take her, she's
yours!
Katrina gets up to run, stumbles, falls...
The Horseman strides after...
Up the field, Ichabod gets to his knees, feeling his chest
with both hands, not quite understanding, struggling to shake
off delirium...
YOUNG MASBATH
Sir, you're... you're not dead...
ICHABOD
Not... yet...
Ichabod looks up, trying to comprehend...
Lady Van Tassel had turned her horse, her back to us, keeping
her distance from the Horseman. Beyond her, Katrina flees
this direction with the Horseman at her heels.
Ichabod's focused on something...
The black SADDLEBAG slung over Lady Van Tassel's horse.
 123.

Ichabod rises out of pure determination, runs...

Katrina runs... the Horseman is closing on her.
Lady Van Tassel watches, grinning, but at the last second
something catches her eye and she turns, just as...
Ichabod LEAPS...
TACKLES Lady Van Tassel off of her horse, taking her down to
the ground HARD... her bag falling open...
The Horseman's skull rolling out...
Ichabod scrambles toward the skull -- but falls, halted. Lady
Van Tassel grips his leg, holding him.
Young Masbath grabs a heavy, broken TREE LIMB off the ground.
The Horseman is mere yards behind Katrina...
Ichabod struggles to get free from Lady Van Tassel, can't
break her grip when, BANG -- Young Masbath SMASHES Lady Van
Tassel over the head with the tree limb. She's out.
The Horseman catches Katrina...
Ichabod scrambles free, running, reaching for the skull...
grasping it...
The Horseman holds Katrina ready by her hair as she falls to
her knees, screaming and struggling. The Horseman raises his
sword...
Ichabod rises, THROWS the skull with all his might...
ICHABOD
Horseman!
The skull spins through the air...
The Horseman suddenly drops Katrina, reaches up with one
hand...
catches the skull.
Katrina runs. Ichabod runs to meet her, grabs her as she
falls.
Together, they back away from the Horseman...
The Horseman holds the skull out... brings it to his
shoulders, to its rightful place. THUNDER POUNDS.
 124.

TRANSFORMATION begins -- blood and flesh rise up from the

Horseman's throat and grip the skull...
Young Masbath watches in awe.
The Horseman's reformation continues. Muscle forms. Liquids
become solids. He is made whole once more, the same evil,
human face we saw in Baltus's stories.
The Horseman looks to Ichabod and Katrina, touches his
restored face.
Daredevil rides up, SCREECHING. The Horseman replaces his
sword, climbs into the saddle.
He rides toward Katrina and Ichabod, but he does not want
them. They are so exhausted they fall down. Young Masbath
comes to stand with them.
The Horseman leans to grab Lady Van Tassel's unconscious
form, pulls her up across Daredevil's back.
The Horseman rides away with her.
Ichabod and Katrina watch him go. They look at each other,
then kiss gratefully. Ichabod looks to Young Masbath...
ICHABOD
How are you, Young Masbath?
YOUNG MASBATH
Weary, sir.
Ichabod holds out his arm. Masbath comes over. They embrace.
Katrina touches the burned bullet hole in Ichabod's clothing.
KATRINA
I thought I had lost you.
Ichabod reaches into his clothing, takes out a BOOK he kept
in an inner pocket close to his heart...
The BOOK OF SPELLS with a bullet lodged in it.
Katrina wraps her arms around Ichabod.

222 EXT. WESTERN WOODS - TREE OF THE DEAD - NIGHT 222

HOOFBEATS.
The Horseman enters the clearing, holding on to Lady Van
Tassel.
 125.

Ahead, the Tree of the dead awaits.

Lady Van Tassel is awakening...
The Horseman grips Lady Van Tassel's hair, pulling her face
up closer to his, just as she opens her eyes...
Lady Van Tassel screams...
As the Horseman brings his face to meet hers, about to engage
in a KISS, his jagged teeth open wide.
Ahead, the twisted tree's wound opens, deep and glowing, as
Daredevil picks up speed.

223 EXT. WESTERN WOODS - TREE OF THE DEAD - NIGHT 223

Daredevil JUMPS in the air just as a LIGHTNING BOLT blasts

down from the sky, striking the Horseman...
For an instant, Horseman and horse are transformed, SKELETONS
OF LIGHT, entering the tree!
Silence and smoke.
At the tree, Lady Van Tassel's hand sticks out from the
tight-shut suture.
The sewn wound on her palm seeps blood as her fingers curl.

224 EXT. NEW YORK CITY STREET - ICHABOD'S HOME - DAY 224
A coach pulls up to Ichabod's home. Ichabod is the driver.

He gets off, goes and opens the coach door. He helps Katrina
down.
Next, Young Masbath sticks his head out.
Katrina holds Young Masbath's hand. Ichabod comes to hold
Katrina's hand.
A STRAY CAT watches them --
Young Masbath looks entranced at the BUSTLING METROPOLIS.
YOUNG MASBATH
Oh, my!
KATRINA
(equally impressed)
And cobbled streets!
 126.

ICHABOD
(proudly)
Yes... New York, New York! Just in
time for the new century! It's the
modern age, Katrina!
KATRINA
It's always the modern age, Ichabod
... but the ancient ones endure.
Large snowflakes begin to fall upon the scene.
Ichabod puts an arm around Katrina and the other arm around
Masbath.
The CAT is black with one white paw... the Cat from Ichabod's
dreams... The CAT turns to look at the trio.
ECU -- The CAT'S EYES ARE HUMAN, INTELLIGENT, KINDLY... They
are Ichabod's Mother's eyes.
Ichabod, Katrina and Young Masbath enter Ichabod's house, as
the SNOW continues to fall.
THE END