THE TRINITY RIVER BANK ROBBERY
An original script by Kit Dalton
Published 5-10-2007
OUTLINE
Sheriff and armed citizens foil bank robbery.
SETUP
The street and/or sidewalk of any location.
ACTORS & STAGE PROPS
Announcer or prerecorded audio device.
Background music like Tombstone or A Faster Gun / Gunslinger by Royal Wade Kimes.
Link to Faster gun clip: http://cdbaby.com/mp3lofi/rwk5-02.m3u
Link to Gunslinger clip: http://cdbaby.com/mp3lofi/rwk2-09.m3u
Sheriff. Aka, Ranger Bill Thaxton.
Armed citizens, 2 or more.
Mule eared shotgun.
Outlaws with saddle bags, 3 or more. Outlaws - Johnny Ringo, Moses Baird, George Gladden, Scott Cooley an ex-Texas Ranger, Bill Williams.
Prologue
Announcer reads or plays prerecorded narration.
NARRATION
Before Johnny Ringo put on the red sash of the Cowboy Gang in Tombstone in 1879, he honed and plied his outlaws ways in Texas.
During the MasonCounty War of 1875 in Texas, he joined the Gladden - Cooley Gang who committed several murders and acts of mayhem around Fredericksburg, Llano and Lampasas. During the conflict he proved several times to the law that he was no Daisy.
An encounter with this ruthless gang of Texas outlaws was a taut and often lethal affair. To face down these thugs It took the kind of courage that made Texas lawmen legendary. Let’s watch now to see how such a drama may have played out on the streets of _________.
SCRIPT
Act I
Scene 1:
At end of narration Sheriff and Outlaws start walking.
The Sheriff is walking slowly down side of street.
The outlaws are on the other sidewalk walking in the opposite direction towards the gunfight area , they are mixing in with the spectators, one or more are carrying saddle bags.
Scene 2:
As the Sheriff and outlaws come abeam of each other an actor runs up to the Sheriff and states that the Trinity River Bank has been robbed and points to the outlaws.
(townsperson #1)
Sheriff, the bank’s been robbed, You need to stop them waddies over yonder and get our money back.
Scene 3:
The Sheriff confronts the outlaws and orders them out into the street.
(Sheriff)
You strangers over there with the saddle bags, come on down here, we need to talk.
As the dialog unfolds the Sheriff and outlaws move into a position on the street where the gun fight can safely be staged.
( J. Ringo)
Sheriff, we’re just business men, travelin’ thru town on our way to Denton. We don’t want no trouble and there‘s no cause for you to be Calling us out.
(Sheriff)
Cause or not - there‘s been a robbery and you boys are the only strangers I see carrying saddle bags that belong to our bank, that makes you my huckleberries. Now get on down here so I can have acloser look.
Act II
Scene 4:
The Sheriff and outlaws exchange dialog.
(Sheriff)
Why, Johnny Ringo, you look just like the picture on your poster.
Hearing this, Johnny Ringo turns his head and smirks/smiles at one of the outlaws.
The Sheriff orders the outlaws to drop their gun belts.
(Sheriff)
Now, nice and slow boys, drop them gun belts, raise your hands and step away from the iron. Do as I say and you’ll live to see another day. Make a wrong move and you’ll see the rapture.
(Scott Cooley - outlaw)
What does he mean by that , Johnny, The Rapture ?
(J. Ringo)
It has to do with The Old Testament, the End of Days.
(Scott Cooley - outlaw)
Being as how you’re gravely outnumbered I’d say that’s might brass talk coming from just one ol' man
The exchange makes it clear that the Sheriff is grossly outnumbered and that a gunfight is going to take place. place.
(Sheriff)
Understand this, I’ve got two guns, more than enough lead to put all of you in the ground.
(Bill Williams - outlaw)
Be careful, Johnny. This old law dawg rode with General Hood, Rip Ford and the Rangers. He’s a stone cold killer.
(J. Ringo)
That was yesteryear. All I see standing here is an ol' Pappy with one leg well past midnight.
(Sheriff)
Are you boys going to pull them pistols, surrender or just stand there sweatin’ blood in front of all these townfolks.
(J. Ringo)
I don’t sweat for no man, never have, never will.
(Sheriff)
Being cool is good, Johnny, cause that money you stole belongs to all these armed citizens.
You boys need to consider the consequences, Jail or Boot Hill, your choice.
(J. Ringo)
Spread out boys, we need to get some distance between us.
Scene 5:
Just before the Sheriff and outlaws draw down, one of the outlaws gives up.
Shades of Ike Clanton , Tombstone @ the OK Corral.
(Outlaw #1)
Don’t shoot me, Sheriff, I surrender. This weren’t my idea, I never wanted any part of this - I don’t deserve to die.
(Sheriff)
Deserves in a gun fightain’t got nothing’ to do with who lives or dies, Kid.
Now start runnin’ and don’t stop till you reach Fort Fisher on the Brazos. You can surrender there. Tell the Captain you boys came under the guns of Ranger Bill Thaxton, through that he’ll know the truth.
In 1976 Marty Robbins recorded the ballad of Ranger Bill Thaxton.
2 or more citizens who have money in the bank come to the aid of the Sheriff.
(Townsperson #2)
I’m standin’ with you, Sheriff. All our money was in that bank.
(Townsperson #3)
Same here, Sheriff, we don’t plan on goin’ hungry and cold this winter. Them boys got it comin’.
(Sheriff)
Time to take care of business, I plan to see you boys in irons or planted in the ground before supper. Make your play.
(J. Ringo)
All right, Pappy. Let's do it.
Scene 6:
Both side draw down on each other and there’s an exchange of gunfire.
For effect, one or more of the actors could use a mule eared shotgun. I have one such weapon.
Act III
Scene 7:
The gunfight ends with all the outlaws wounded or dead except, Johnny Ringo. He fades/escapes into the crowd.
One of the outlaws is wounded but still standing.
As townsperson approaches the standing outlaw shoots one time but misses, he keep dry firing his revolvers at the approaching townsperson.
(Townsperson #1)
Firstly you steal my money and shoot my friend, now you’re trying to shoot me. That just ain't righteous.
Without hesitation, while still walking forward, he shoots the outlaw and holsters his gun.
As the outlaw bends over ( or goes down on both knees, Brando, Viva Zapata/One-Eyed Jacks style) the townsperson takes the outlaw’s gun and sticks it in his belt.
The shooting of the outlaw is very dramatic, it’s done very quickly while walking.
It’s done matter -of- factly like the scene in Open Range where Kevin Costner shoot the killer of his friend in the head.
(Ref. Dialog from Open Range- You the one killed our friend? - That's right. Ishot the boy, too, and I enjoyed it.)
As the outlaw goes down the townsperson just stands there looking down at the outlawin the street. All his guns are in leather - the fight is over.
The inspiration for this scene comes from the gun fight in Open Range where Robert Duvall, as Boss Spearman, storms the jail where Michael Gambon, as Denton Baxter, is making his last stand. <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />
As Boss shots the jail door open with his shotgun and falls inside, Bexter, who’s already shot up and is on the floor with his back against the wall, starts firing point blank with his six gun. Boss, who also on the floor, pulls his six gun and they both go at it.
Bexter is hit again. When he runs out of ammo he keeps pointing the gun at Boss and pulling the trigger in a desperate attempt of determination to kill Boss. It don’t work. Boss stand up, reloads and thinks about killing Baxter who expires before Boss makes his decision.
One or more actors holds up the saddlebags and cries out:
(Townsperson #2)
Look, look here, It’s all our money.
The spectators are encouraged to cheer.
END
ESTIMATED WORD COUNT
NARRATION = 118
TOTAL DIALOG = 504
TOWNSPERSONS = 74
SHERIFF = 271
JOHNNY RINGO = 86
OUTLAWS = 73
LINES FOR TOWNSPERSON(S)
(townsperson #1)
Sheriff, the bank’s been robbed, You need to stop them waddies over yonder and get our money back.
(Townsperson #2)
I’m standin’ with you, Sheriff. All our money was in that bank.
(Townsperson #3)
Same here, Sheriff, we don’t plan on goin’ hungry and cold this winter. Them boys got it comin’.
(Townsperson #1)
Firstly you steal my money and shoot my friend, now you’re trying to shoot me. That just ain't righteous.
(Townsperson #2)
Look, look here, It’s all our money.
LINES FOR SHERIFF
(Sheriff)
You strangers over there with the saddle bags, come on down here, we need to talk.
(Sheriff)
Cause or not - there‘s been a robbery and you boys are the only strangers I see carrying saddle bags that belong to our bank, that makes you my huckleberries.
Now get on down here so I can have a closer look.
(Sheriff)
Why, Johnny Ringo, you look just like the picture on your poster.
(Sheriff)
Now, nice and slow boys, drop them gun belts, raise your hands and step away from the iron.
Do as I say and you’ll live to see another day. Make a wrong move and you’ll see the rapture.
(Sheriff)
Understand this, I’ve got two guns, more than enough lead to put all of you in the ground.
(Sheriff)
Are you boys going to pull them pistols, surrender or just stand there sweatin’ blood in front of all these townfolks.
(Sheriff)
Being cool is good, Johnny, cause that money you stole belongs to all these armed citizens.
You boys need to consider the consequences, Jail or Boot Hill, your choice.
(Sheriff)
Deserves in a gun fight ain’t got nothing’ to do with who lives or dies, Kid.
Now start runnin’ and don’t stop till you reach Fort Fisher on the Brazos.
You can surrender there. Tell the Captain you boys came under the guns of Ranger Bill Thaxton, through that he’ll know the truth.
(Sheriff)
Time to take care of business, I plan to see you boys in irons or planted in the ground before supper. Make your play.
LINES FOR JOHNNY RINGO
( J. Ringo)
Sheriff, we’re just business men, travelin’ thru town on our way to Denton. We don’t want no trouble and there's no cause for you to be Calling us out.
(J. Ringo)
It has to do with The Old Testament, the End of Days.
(J. Ringo)
That was yesteryear. All I see standing here is an ol' Pappy with one leg well past midnight.
(J. Ringo)
I don’t sweat for no man, never have, never will.
(J. Ringo)
Spread out boys, we need to get some distance between us.
(J. Ringo)
All right, Pappy. Let's do it.
LINES FOR OUTLAW(S)
(Scott Cooley - outlaw)
What does he mean by that , Johnny, The Rapture ?
(Scott Cooley - outlaw)
Being as how you’re gravely outnumbered I’d say that’s might brass talk coming from just one ol' man
(Bill Williams - outlaw)
Be careful, Johnny. This old law dawg rode with General Hood, Rip Ford and the Rangers. He’s a stone cold killer.
(Outlaw #1)
Don’t shoot me, Sheriff, I surrender. This weren’t my idea, I never wanted any part of this - I don’t deserve to die.
