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Scene Map 60
# PG SLUGLINE
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Scene Map
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# PG SLUGLINE
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Once Upon a Time in the West - Remake Written by Giacomo Giammatteo Author: Giacomo Giammatteo Contact Info: [email protected]
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INT. MCBAIN HOUSE — NIGHT AMY (16, long hair, obedient), and MATT (14, gangly, proud, wants to grow up too soon) finish eating supper. Amy cleans the table while Matt heats up coffee and brings mugs for everyone.
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INT. HOUSE IN GROVE - KITCHEN - NIGHT As soon as the door opens, SCRATCH (5, dog, fifty pounds, curly and bristly hair) barks repeatedly. Brett kneels and holds his hands to Scratch. Scratch inches closer, then Brett rubs his head and gives him
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EXT. HOUSE IN GROVE - DAY As Matt and Amy put the last of their belongings into the wagon, Brett shows up. He leans over the wagon, checking it. BRETT Pack plenty of water for us and
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EXT. ROAD TO PROMONTORY - DAY Brett and his family continue heading west in their wagon. Ten miles outside of town, they come across a gang of railroad workers laying track for a new line. The FOREMAN (40s, burly, red hair) walks the tracks carrying
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EXT. BASIN BETWEEN MOUNTAINS NORTH OF PROMONTORY - DAY FOUR INDIANS sit around a small campfire, bows and arrows lying on the ground next to them. FRANK (40, tall, black vest with pocket watch, full-length duster and black hat, cares about no one but himself) rides
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EXT. ROAD TO PROMONTORY - DAY Brett navigates a long curve as they climb a mountain. The WOBBLY SOUND of an ill-fitted wheel causes him to slow down, and when he reaches a spot wide enough, he pulls the wagon to the side.
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EXT. MCBAIN FARMHOUSE - DAY Brett stops the wagon between the house and the barn, then he and the kids get off. BRETT Let's get it unloaded. If something
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EXT. MAIN STREET - PINEVILLE - DAY Cheyenne exits the saloon to find four deputies with shotguns and rifles waiting. The SHERIFF (45, tall, thin, focused) is behind them. SHERIFF
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INT. TRAIN CAR OUTSIDE OF TOWN - DAY Frank sits in a chair across from Morton. He strikes a match on Morton's desk and lights a cigar. FRANK I just found out there is water
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EXT. MCBAIN FARMHOUSE - DAY Brett stands in the back of the wagon, handing things to Amy and Matt while Scratch runs around barking. The porch is packed with furniture and household items, and the barn is littered with tools.
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EXT. TRAIN STATION - DAY Choppy and Cowboys One and Two dismount and tie their horses to a hitching post behind the depot. In the front of the depot, LITTLE DOVE (Native American Woman, 20s, braided hair, meek and soft-spoken) holds a
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INT. DEPOT - DAY Cowboys One and Two enter, brushing dirt from their long dusters. Cowboy One approaches the ticket operator. He places both hands on the desk and leans forward. COWBOY ONE
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EXT. PLATFORM OF TRAIN STATION - DAY Choppy steps out from behind the side wall of the depot and grabs hold of her. She quickly pulls a knife and slices his arm. Choppy punches her in the face, kicks her gut when she falls,
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EXT. SHERIFF'S OFFICE - NOON DEPUTY QUILL (30s, confident, holsters on both sides), walks toward the back of the building. He holds his hands to shield his eyes from the sun. A horse with a rider huddled over the saddle comes to a halt
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EXT. TRAIN STATION - DAY The sheriff and his deputies ride up to the depot. The wind blows hard, and a thick layer of sand covers almost everything. The men advance cautiously, checking everywhere. They cover their eyes and mouths with bandanas.
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EXT. TRAIN STATION - DAY The deputies rush out of the ticket office, guns drawn, blood hot with vengeance. They run around to the platform and find Choppy and two others waiting for them. They're spread out ten feet apart.
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EXT. TRAIN STATION - CONTINUOUS Choppy and the two cowboys sit on benches against the wall at the train station. Choppy whittles on a piece of pine, while Cowboy One cleans his nails with a knife. Cowboy Two holds his gun to his ear and listens as he rolls the barrel.
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EXT. PRISON WAGON FIFTY MILES NORTH OF PINEVILLE - DAY A SHERIFF and THREE DEPUTIES escort Cheyenne, a known criminal. They are on their way to Denver to lock him up for prior crimes, including bank robbery and murder. CHEYENNE
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EXT. TRAIN STATION - TWENTY MILES NORTHEAST OF PROMONTORY - DAY The WHISTLE announces the arrival of the train from New Orleans. After it stops, passengers get off, carrying bags and holding their children's hands.
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INT. CANTINA ON ROAD EAST OF PROMONTORY - DAY Inside, a BARTENDER (50s, barrel-chested, loud) chops meat with a cleaver and slugs ale from a large mug. Dust-covered, dirty-looking men sit at tables or stand at the bar, many of them are drunk and the others look to be well on their way.
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EXT. MCBAIN FARMHOUSE - DAY Tiva steers the buggy to an area in front of the farmhouse where a small crowd gathers. People are milling about or sitting at long wooden tables laden with food - fruits, meat, casseroles, and more.
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INT. SMALL HOUSE AT EDGE OF TOWN - NIGHT CHESTER (40, short, chubby, Mexican, full mustache and beard) finishes off a jug of wine and gets up for another one. Harmonica kicks open the door and walks in. Chester hides behind the door leading to a storage area.
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EXT. MCBAIN FARMHOUSE - DAY Jill walks across the porch carrying an empty pail. She goes down the steps and toward the well. She only takes a few steps before Cheyenne and several of his men ride up. They exchange stares until she lowers her head.
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INT. TRAIN CAR OUTSIDE OF TOWN - DAY An engine and two cars sit on the train track, and a few horses are tied up outside. Inside the spacious third car, items of high value decorate expensive woodworking. Morton sits behind a large mahogany
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EXT. TRAIN CAR OUTSIDE OF TOWN - DAY SEVEN RIDERS (30s and 40s, all wearing long brown dusters) bring their horses to a stop outside the train car. JAKE (30, weather-beaten, brown cowboy hat, riding a white stallion) leans forward in his saddle.
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INT. MCBAIN FARMHOUSE - DAY Jill packs several suitcases and prepares to leave, but as she ties her horse to the buggy, the sound of a harmonica comes from the loft. She spins around, shocked. JILL
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EXT. MCBAIN FARMHOUSE - DAY TWO MEN (30s, brown dusters, brown hats, thin) wait outside, hidden among the scrub brush. Both hold rifles. Jill walks out carrying an empty pail and is followed by Harmonica. She gets to the well and lowers the bucket.
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EXT. BRUSH OUTSIDE OF FARMHOUSE - DAY Further out in the brush, Cheyenne and four of his men wait. He holds a rifle. After Harmonica shoots Frank's men, Cheyenne stares. CHEYENNE
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INT. GENERAL STORE - DAY Jill buys supplies: sewing material, needles and thread, cooking oil, coffee and more. She then buys tools for repairing things on the farm. On her way to get in the wagon, Harmonica greets her.
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INT. MCBAIN FARMHOUSE - NIGHT Jill finishes putting things away, and then she heats up water for tea. She hears footsteps sounding on the porch, shakes her head, walks to the front door, and yanks it open. JILL
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EXT. MCBAIN FARMHOUSE - NIGHT Jill watches Frank ride off, then quickly dresses and heads toward town. She meets Cheyenne a few miles outside of town. Cheyenne pulls his horse alongside her and leans forward. CHEYENNE
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INT. HOTEL AND CANTINA - NIGHT Swinging doors open to a large room filled with tables and chairs. A long bar runs the length of the room with bottles of whiskey filling the shelves behind it and dusty, grimy men waiting to down a shot or two. A lantern sits on every table.
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EXT. MAIN STREET IN TOWN - DAY Jill walks down the street with Cheyenne's men. Harmonica watches from behind a wooden post that supports an overhanging roof. He waits for Chester to leave and follows. INT. TRAIN CAR OUTSIDE OF TOWN - DAY
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INT. TRAIN CAR OUTSIDE OF TOWN - DAY Frank looks to one of his men, Jackson (40, rugged-looking, black hat). FRANK Did they take care of the woman?
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EXT. TRAIN CAR - DAY Frank exits the train and gets on his horse. Four others join him. He turns to a man standing by Chester's body. FRANK Bury this one. And make sure you
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EXT. TRAIN CAR - DAY EIGHT MEN, riding hard, approach the train cars. Cheyenne looks out at them and smiles. As the riders get closer, they continually fire on the train, focusing on the engine. As they gain ground on the train, the
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EXT/INT. MCBAIN'S FARMHOUSE - DAY Frank knocks on the door, but no one answers. He kicks the door in and goes through the house, searching everywhere. He finds models of a town and nods knowingly, and then he goes outside and gets on his horse.
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EXT. OUTSIDE OF TOWN BY SPLIT IN ROAD - DAY Frank and his men sit inside a basin of rocks, sipping on coffee the men made over a campfire. Several riders approach with a young woman. Mushon rides at the front. MUSHON
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EXT/INT. HOTEL AND CANTINA - DAY Frank hitches his mount in front of the hotel, and then he helps Amy dismount. He unties her hands before going inside. A dozen of his men follow him. Frank holds onto Amy's arm and sits at a nearby table along
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EXT. ROAD TO MCBAIN FARMHOUSE - LATER Harmonica leaves the land office and heads toward the farmhouse. He rounds the bend where the road splits, going north and east. Just as he heads east, where the road narrows, a DOZEN MEN
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EXT. RAILROAD LINE EAST OF PROMONTORY - DAY LATER: Mushon rides up to the railroad line, where hundreds of workers put down railroad ties, lay tracks, and pound spikes. FOREMEN walk up and down the line whipping and clubbing
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EXT. RAILROAD LINE EAST OF PROMONTORY - NIGHT A wagon carrying two dirt-covered barrels moves slowly through the camp. The DRIVER (40s, tall, thin, wiry) stops, gets off, and ladles soup from the first barrel. Pieces of something float on the top. Some of them appear to be moving.
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EXT. RAILROAD LINE EAST OF PROMONTORY - DAY Harmonica eats breakfast by the fire when the young boy comes out. He wipes sleep from his eyes and sits next to Harmonica. BOY Thank you for blanket.
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EXT. RAILROAD LINE EAST OF PROMONTORY - DAY Cheyenne and his men ride along the tracks and continually look for Harmonica. Cheyenne sees him and steers his horse close. When he is next to Harmonica, he leans down and whispers.
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EXT/INT. TRAIN CAR - DAY Frank rides up to the train car and dismounts. He climbs the steps and goes inside. He looks around at the dead men. FRANK Harmonica do this?
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EXT. TRAIN CAR - DAY Frank exits the car and saddles up. He takes four men with him and rides off, leaving four behind. INT. TRAIN CAR - DAY Morton invites Frank's men to play cards with him. He sits
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EXT. OUTSIDE PROMONTORY - DAY Frank stops about halfway to town, and his men come to a stop alongside him. FRANK I don't like the way things are
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EXT. MCBAIN FARMHOUSE - DAY Paco rides up and dismounts, then he goes to Cheyenne. PACO You were right. I find nothing, so I go to Shoshone chief and he say
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EXT. FARMHOUSE - DAY Jill returns from town with TWO DOZEN WORKERS, men willing to work hard for a good day's pay. Cheyenne smiles when she gets back with the men. He taps Harmonica on the arm and whispers.
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INT. MCBAIN FARMHOUSE - DAY Jill enters the house and into the kitchen. Cheyenne follows her in and lights a fire. CHEYENNE I need coffee to get anything done.
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INT. HOTEL AND CANTINA - DAY Jill and Harmonica stand alongside each other at the bar. She sips on a glass of water, and he nurses a bottle of whiskey. JILL What do we do now?
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INT. HOTEL AND CANTINA - DAY SECOND FLOOR Harmonica walks quickly down the hall, and opens the window at the end. He stares outside, watching Frank as he cautiously makes his way down the street.
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INT. HOTEL AND CANTINA - DAY SECOND FLOOR Jill is out of the tub and wrapped in a towel. Suds cover the top of her body. JILL
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EXT. TRAIN CAR OUTSIDE PROMONTORY - DAY Frank rides up and dismounts near the train. Bodies litter the ground, and as he gets closer, he sees they are his men. He turns a few over with his boot, and then enters the train. INT. TRAIN CAR - DAY
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INT. MCBAIN FARMHOUSE - DAY Cheyenne opens the door and goes inside. Jill, preparing pails of water for the workers, is startled. When she sees it's Cheyenne, she smiles warmly. Cheyenne looks her up and down. She wears a white bottom with
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INT. MCBAIN FARMHOUSE - DAY Jill stares out the window, a worried look on her face. Frank and Harmonica enter the front of the farmhouse property taking each step cautiously. Cheyenne steps up to stand beside Jill.
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EXT. MCBAIN FARMHOUSE - DAY Frank and Harmonica stand fifty feet apart, staring. Watching each move carefully. Frank has the farmhouse to his back, and Harmonica has the mountains. They walk in circles, each glancing up at the sun to gain an
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INT. MCBAIN FARMHOUSE - DAY Cheyenne cuts himself shaving at the sound of the gunshot. EXT. MCBAIN FARMHOUSE - DAY Frank tries to holster his gun, but he is hurt badly, and can't manage to do it.
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INT. MCBAIN FARMHOUSE - DAY Jill and Amy are with Cheyenne in the kitchen. Jill smiles broadly at Cheyenne. JILL You're sort of a handsome man when

Once Upon a Time in the West

A mysterious loner seeks revenge against a ruthless land grabber, setting off a high-stakes conflict that reshapes the future of the American West.

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Overview

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Unique Selling Point

This screenplay stands out in the Western genre by intertwining personal and societal conflicts, showcasing the struggle for land and water as a metaphor for survival and ambition. The character of Harmonica adds a layer of mystery and depth, appealing to audiences who appreciate complex protagonists. The blend of action, emotional stakes, and moral dilemmas makes it a compelling piece of storytelling that resonates with contemporary themes.

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Claude
 Highly Recommend
Gemini
 Consider
GPT4
 Recommend
Story Facts
Genres:
Western 60% Action 25% Drama 40% Crime 20% Thriller 15%

Setting: Late 19th century, during the expansion of the railroad in the American West, Southern Utah and surrounding areas, including a general store, McBain farmhouse, railroad construction sites, and a train station

Themes: Justice and Revenge, Redemption and Second Chances, Family and Legacy, Greed and Corruption

Conflict & Stakes: The struggle for survival and control over land and resources amidst personal loss and the threat of violence, with the McBain family's safety and future at stake.

Mood: Tense and foreboding, with moments of hope and resilience.

Standout Features:

  • Unique Hook: The intertwining of personal vendettas with the broader conflict over land and resources.
  • Plot Twist: The revelation of hidden water sources that could change the fate of the characters.
  • Distinctive Setting: The harsh yet beautiful landscapes of Southern Utah, enhancing the story's visual appeal.
  • Innovative Ideas: A strong female protagonist navigating a male-dominated world.
  • Genre Blend: Combines elements of Western, drama, and action, appealing to diverse audiences.

Comparable Scripts: The Revenant, True Grit, The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, Little House on the Prairie, The Searchers, The Magnificent Seven, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, The Ballad of Buster Scruggs, Deadwood

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Overall Score: 7.79
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