*This script excerpt was taken from the Everything Depp site. *

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

Ichabod makes notations in a LEDGER BOOK.

KATRINA (O.S.)

You will dream.

Katrina strolls in, sits on the bed. Ichabod is nervous.

KATRINA

Did they tell? It is something in the air

so that dreams come to everyone.

According to the elders, an Indian

prophet held powwows here before

the land was taken, and spells cast

then still linger to this day.

ICHABOD

Do you often make a habit of sitting

on strange men's beds?

KATRINA

You are horribly old-fashioned, aren't you?

ICHABOD

Feel free to form your own opinion.

(facing his ledger)

KATRINA

Well, I intended to apologize for the

behavior of my friend Brom Van Brunt,

but it seems I've made matters worse.

(getting up to go)

I'll leave you to your business.

ICHABOD

Excuse me... I should apologize.

I, um... I.. have no great love of...

KATRINA

Other people?

ICHABOD

Small talk.

KATRINA

It might have been more. Might

have been positively grand talk.

Ichabod offers his chair, backing away. Seeing it is the only one, he remains standing. Katrina sits.

KATRINA

Is it me, or are you this nervous around all women?

ICHABOD

Perhaps it is because your suitor's hands were

recently very nearly wrapped around my throat.

KATRINA

My suitor?

ICHABOD

The massive fellow...Brom. For

someone you call "friend," he

misplaces a good portion of jealousy.

KATRINA

He has proposed to me twice.

ICHABOD

Which explains his temperament.

To have asked twice means the

answer was "no" at least once.

Katrina looks down, discards this with a smile.

KATRINA

I've read a great deal about your

New York City. Do be a dear and

tell me all about it. Sounds like an

extraordinary place to live a life.

ICHABOD

Extra ordinary, yes. But first, you tell

me about the Headless Horseman.

EXT. BELLTOWER FIELD --NIGHT

The torches burn bright. ABOVE, in the Belltower, Jonathan Masbath loads a rifle. THUNDER BOOMS.

Jonathan stand, looking up to a sky that is all stars and moon, A HORSE SHRIEKING. Below, the horse tied at the base of the tower is spooked.

A COMMOTION is HEARD, ground rumbling. Jonathan grips a rifle, cocks it and moves to look.,,

At the forest edge, a herd of deer stampedes out. They sprint past the tower and across the field.

Jonathan crosses to watch the herd scatter. He crosses back to peer at the forest. Bad news...

A thick FOG creeps from the woods.

As the fog overtakes the base of each torch, a tentacle of mist snakes up to the flame, killing it. All along the forest, arms of vapor snuff

torches... one by one...

Above, Jonathan sights the rifle along the trees.

JONATHAN

Come out, devil... come...

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

Ichabod leans on a dresser. Katrina's still seated.

KATRINA

Not all think it is the Horseman.

Many say witches come from the

Western Woods to steal skulls for

their cauldrons. Some believe a

person in this very town kneels

before Lucifer, offering death as tribute.

And, still others believe none of it.

ICHABOD

Are you so superstitious?

KATRINA

To call a person superstitious is to imply

they fear magic, but not all magic is black.

ICHABOD

There is no such thing as magic.

KATRINA

Really? Then... what is your rebuttal to

those romantic poets claiming proof of

magic in a rose at full bloom, or even a teardrop?

ICHABOD

Poets have silly notions about plants

and bodily secretions.

KATRINA

(laughs)

You are funny.

Ichabod doesn't get what's so funny about that. The DISTANT TOLL of a BELL is HEARD. Katrina looks fearful.

She goes to open a window. The BELL TOLLS...


Further into the Script

Back to the Main Page