Storyboard Project: The Showdown

The air is dry as tumbleweed blows past the saloon in a small old run-down town of Skeleton Canyon; a loud argument begins to arise from within the old saloon. The furnishings inside the dusty old saloon is typical in the Wild west, two overly drunk cowboys are starting to get restless as one is claiming how the other has mistaken stolen his stool and drank his shot of whiskey. “You know you done sat on a stool that don’t belong to you” said Curly Bill, an outlaw on the run, wanted for murder in Arizona. “Well, I don’t believe this stool belongs to you, because I’m sitting on it, and if this stool belongs to me, than this whiskey here, belongs to me too” replied Thomas Coleman, a lone gunman wanted by county sheriffs for bank robbery. As the two drunk men continue to converse, the amount of alcohol rushing through each vines gets the best of both of them as calm words turn to anger, and anger into violence. As Curly Bill takes his dueling glove from his back pant pocket, as his slaps Thomas Coleman he utters with slurred words “I, Curly Bill challenge you, sir – to a duel to the death!!” Without even a slightest flinch, Thomas Coleman downs the shot of whiskey he had lined up and began to walk towards the door, just before he walks out, Curly Bill was about to speak as Thomas Coleman says “I accept your challenge for a duel to the death” The saloon was dead silent for a brief moment, as soon as the moment past and reality settled in, the entire saloon rushed past Curly Bill as he drank one last shot of whiskey to go outside for front row seats of the gun blazing showdown that was about to go down.

The old tow of Skeleton Canyon had a small population, the word had spread across town like wildfire, as it seemed that every last soul in the town had turned out to the showdown between Curly Bill and Thomas Coleman. The tension in the air was felt by everyone there, dead silent as the wind breezed through the street crowded with folks from the town. Thomas Coleman stood in the middle of the street still like a painted portrait; he stood there smoking a cigarette while he was practicing drawing his revolver. People began to whisper among themselves but then became silent as Curly Bill stepped out of the old saloon with a cigarette in his mouth and walked into the street as his pushed his way through the crowd that was gather in front of the saloon. As Curly Bill walked into the middle of the street a couple yard away from Thomas Coleman, Coleman spoke “Curly Bill, what took you so long? Afraid to die on a beautiful day like this one?” “Afraid? Why would I be afraid when it’s you who’s going to die today!” replied Curly Bill.

Both outlaws stared in each other’s eyes with a cold stare of death, each with hearts that is blacker than coal and souls that’s has been lost on a bet with the devil. They stool still in dead in the heart of the town with all eyes on them with their hands to their sides hovering over their side arms ready to draw and put a few rounds of bullets into the others chest. As the two outlaws stand in the middle of the street the sun was beginning to set over the horizon, the temperature still dry and hot, the street packed with all the folks of Skeleton Canyon awaiting to witness the death of one of these men. As the sun sets multiple gunshots are heard from afar.

SCENE 1

EXT. ESTABLISHING SHOT OLD WESTERN TOWN 1850
In an old run-down torn of SKELETON CANYON, a small but well-known town located northeast of Arizona. A loud argument arises from the town’s old saloon.

CUT TO:

SCENE 2

EXT.INT. SKELTON CANYON OLD SALOON
Two drunken outlaws, CURLY BILL and THOMAS COLEMAN are becoming unsettled after CURLY BILL accuses THOMAS COLEMAN of sitting on his stool.

CURLY BILL
(Drunkenly, slurring words)

You know you done sat on a stool that don’t belong to you!

THOMAS COLEMAN
(Smirking)

Well, I do not believe this stool here belongs to you, because it is I who is sitting on it. And if this stool here belongs to me, than this whiskey here belongs to me too!

MEDIUM/TWO SHOT: CURLY BILL and THOMAS COLEMAN argument slowly gets louder and louder, slight pushing and shoving slowly turns into violence.

CURLY BILL
(Takes dueling glove from back pant pocket)

I, CURLY BILL challenge you sir! – To a duel to the death!!

Without flinching, THOMAS COLEMAN downs one last shot of whiskey and proceeds walking towards the door slowly and just before he walks out he stops and turns to CURLY BILL

THOMAS COLEMAN
(Straight/serious face)

I accept your challenge to duel to the death; I will be waiting for you.

The saloon went silent for a brief moment, as soon as the moment pasted and reality settled in, the entire saloon rushed pasted CURLY BILL throwing over chairs and tables to get front-row seats of the gun-blazing showdown. CURLY BILL takes one more shot of whiskey.

CUT TO:

SCENE 3

EXT. OLD WESTERN TOWN of SKELETON CANYON
It seemed like the entire town of SKELETON CANYON poured out into the main street outside the old saloon to witness first hand of the showdown between CURLY BILL and THOMASE COLEMAN. Everyone felt the tension in the streets, dead silence; nothing was heard but the wind that breezed through the streets.

LONG SHOT: THOMAS COLEMAN stood still in the middle of the main dirt road that stretched across the town, motionless like a painted portrait, smoking a cigarette while practicing drawing his revolver.

CLOSE UP: People began to whisper among each other and then became silent.

MEDIUM SHOT: As CURLY BILL stepped out the saloon smoking a cigarette as his pushes pass the crowd gather in front of the saloon and walks into the middle of the road and faces THOMAS COLMAN.

LONG SHOT: Saloon is in the background with a full crowd in front and both outlaws are seen across at each end of the screen.

CLOSE UP:

THOMAS COLEMAN
(Joking)

CURLY BILL, what took you so long? Afraid to die on a beautiful day like this one?

CURLY BILL
(Overly confidant)

Afraid? Why would I be afraid when it is you that who is going to die today!

CUT TO:

SCENE 4

EXT. OLD WESTERN TOWN of SKELETON CANYON
LONG SHOT: The town is seen on screen, the saloon, the crowd gathered to witness the showdown, both outlaws staring straight at each other.

EXTREME CLOSE UP: The eyes of THOMAS COLEMAN.

EXTREME CLOSE UP: The eyes of CURLY BILL.

EXTREME CLOSE UP: The right hand of THOMAS COLEMAN hovering over his revolver.

EXTREME CLOSE UP: The left hand of CURLY BILL hovering over his sidearm.

HIGH ANGLE/LONG SHOT – OLD WESTERN TOWN of SKELETON CANYON zooming out
The showdown is seen on screen, the streets are jammed packed with people. As the camera slowly zooms out and the back scenery is seen as the sun is beginning to set and dusk is slowly setting in. As the world is seen, multiple gunshots are heard.

FADE TO BLACK

THE END.