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Script for Episode Three: Peace Maker
Notes: I’m taking script writing in my last semester of college.![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
millyfan needed a script for Peacemaker. I get practice and you gets to write a fanfic. Both of us are lucky. By the way, the music playing in Act One is none other than Permanent Vacation. I wonder if Midvalley is getting royalties.
Sub Based
Act One:
Scene: Outside a bar. We see Frank Marlon stumble down the street, bottle of whiskey in his hand. He stops and takes a long swallow.
Cut to: Bar’s Interior. Pan left to bar patrons.
Man 1:
It sure paid off, didn’t it?
The Door opens as the man delivers his last line. Cut to the bartender as Man 2 delivers his next line.
Man 2:
Lady Luck is on our side!
Man 1:
Amen
We see the table and two men. Suddenly a hand comes into the picture. It is Marlon.
Frank Marlon (OS):
Hey brother.
The camera switches to Marlon’s face and pans up.
Frank Marlon:
You guys seem to be in the money.
He shoves his way to the table.
Man 2:
What do you want?
Frank Marlon:
I got no cash.
Marlon leans on the table as he delivers his next line.
Frank Marlon:
Buy me a drink.
Cut to the bartender polishing a glass.
Frank Marlon (OS):
I’ll take anything with alcohol.
Cut to Marlon who leans forward as he delivers his next lines.
Frank Marlon:
Ethyl, Methyl, anything.
Man 1’s eyes narrow.
Cut to Marlon being thrown out of the bar.
Focus on the two men from behind Marlon’s back.
Man 1:
Beat it, drunk!
Man 2:
Don’t bring your reeking corpse
in here.
Cut to Marlon’s profile.
Man 1 (OS):
I won’t give you a drink…
He pulls out a gun and aims it at Marlon’s forehead. Marlon blinks at it as if not comprehending his situation.
Man 1 (OS):
…but I’m willing to give you a
lead bullet.
Cut to the two men.
Man 1:
What’s wrong? Too scared to
talk?
Cut to Marlon looking at them dumbly.
Laughter. A boot comes and kicks Marlon a few feet away.
Man 1 (OS):
Don’t show your face here
again.
More laughter.
Sound FX: The door closing.
Marlon’s shoulders shake and we realize that he is laughing.
Cut to Marlon’s alcohol flushed face.
Frank Marlon:
Bunch of idiots.
End of Act One.
Cut to black screen. The title Peace Maker appears.
Act Two:
Pan into a town. Warrens City is shown on the screen and remains throughout the cut as we pan in. It is a roughly circle shaped town with two plants on what could be the west and southwest side of town.
Cut to the interior of Warrens City. The title from the previous cut is fading slowly. The screen pans left as Milly talks until we see the two girls at a café.
Milly:
So, Ma’am, what will we
search for today? A giant
man? A red coat? Blonde
hair? A Mohawk?
Cut to a waiter walking away. We see that the foodstuffs they requested in the bar in episode one are in front of each girl. Meryl puts her spoon in her banana sundae. Milly is still talking.
Milly:
Or, or…
Meryl continues prodding at her sundae.
Meryl:
I’ve had it with rumors. I’ll
only believe what I see for
myself. A gunman so amazing
they put $$60 Billion on his
head.
Meryl leaves off jabbing at her sundae and jabs her spoon in the air.
Meryl:
I’ll start my search there.
Meryl begins jabbing her sundae with her spoon again.
Milly:
That sounds awfully vague.
Cut to Meryl.
Meryl:
I’m saying, we will pay special
attention to anyone like that.
Cut to the townspeople going about their daily activities. Pan right.
Milly:
But what a peaceful town this
is, Ma’am!
Meryl:
Keep your wits about you,
Milly.
Cut to Meryl, now stirring her sundae.
Meryl:
You never know when
Vash the Stampede
might show up…
She takes a spoonful and shoves it into her mouth.
Meryl:
…and BOOM, no more town.
Vash, duffel bag over his shoulder, starts walking from the right of the screen as she finishes her line.
Milly:
Hi, Mr. Vash!
Vash startles, Meryl stares for a second. Vash turns toward the voice and Meryl’s cheeks puff out.
Cut to a very surprised Vash, with his sunglasses half-way down his nose. Vash raises a hand in greeting.
Vash:
Hi!
Cut to a sputtering Meryl and a standing Milly.
Vash:
It’s the insurance girls. You
here on business?
Milly beams and Meryl turns with a scowl on her face.
Milly:
That’s right!
Cut to Vash, who plasters a very fake, nervous looking grin on his face.
Vash:
Well, work hard for the
company's profit!
Cut to a view of Vash from behind and the Insurance Girls facing him.
Milly:
We will!
Vash waves and turns to face us. Still grinning the fake plastered on smile.
Vash:
See you around.
He walks off screen, smile disappearing in a hurry.
Cut to the girls. Milly giggles, facing the direction Vash left in. Meryl looks in the same direction, frowning slightly.
Milly:
Ma’am, he matches the
description!
She claps her hands together and smiles, eyes closed. Meryl closes her eyes and looks annoyed.
Meryl:
What makes you say that?
Milly opens her eyes, looking puzzled.
Milly:
He raised his hand when I
called his name.
Meryl looks at Milly from the corner of her eye.
Meryl:
He only did that because he
was called to. Look, we’re
after atrocious man with a
price on his head.
Cut to Vash walking along for a few seconds.
Cut back to Meryl
Meryl:
Not a brainless idiot like
him!
Cut to Vash, who suddenly sneezes. He rubs at his nose.
Vash:
Maybe I caught a cold.
Cut to a door opening. Marlon stumbles out of it backwards. He has a bottle in his hand and bumps into Vash’s duffel bag and back. They both go flying in opposite directions.
Sound FX: Two crashes and oof sounds.
Marlon has crashed in a nearby foundation. He grabs his head.
Marlon:
Damn, that hurt!
Cut to Vash, who is face first in a Tomas food trough. His bag is on the ground, as his legs kick in the air.
Sound FX: Vash making muffled sounds of protest
Vash pulls himself out of the trough, mush clinging to his face and hair flattened, looking miserable.
Frank Marlon:
Over here, buddy!
Vash narrows his eyes and looks side to side, puzzled. He turns to see Marlon.
Frank Marlon:
Yeah, you! What do you say
when you crash into somebody?
Cut to Vash, who looks just as surprised as the Tomas who were eating at the trough. He finally raises a hand.
Vash:
Hello?
He laughs and tries to leave. Marlon’s hand clamps on his shoulder as Vash tries to crawl away.
Cut to Marlon, gripping his shoulder with one hand, keeping Vash in place with the other. Vash looks rather dumbfounded.
Frank Marlon:
Ow, ow! My shoulder hurts
‘cause of you!
Marlon looks up, rather calm now.
Frank Marlon:
Buy me a drink.
Vash’s mouth drops up in classic anime style.
Cut to Marlon’s face.
Frank Marlon:
Instead of medical compensation, I
want you to buy me a drink.
Cut to Vash and Marlon, Vash still looking shocked. He crawls away, Marlon following him.
Frank Marlon:
Don’t be shy!
He leaps onto Vash, pinning him to the ground.
Frank Marlon:
We’re pals, aren’t we?
Vash is flailing about, rubbery limbs flying every which way.
Vash:
But we only just met!!!
Frank Marlon:
Come on, buddy!
Vash arches back and tries to pulls Marlon off him with no avail.
Vash:
What are you doing to me?!
Cut to people gathering around.
Vash:
Stop! Stop it!
Cut to Vash with Marlon still clinging to him. They have gathered quite a crowd at this point.
Frank Marlon:
Just a drink, bro!
Cut to Meryl and Millie walking up to the crowd.
Frank Marlon (OS):
Don’t forsake me.
Vash (OS):
Let go, let go!
As Vash says his last line, the screen shifts slight so we can see Meryl, Milly, and the crowd in front of them.
Vash: Alright, alright! Just
let go!
Meryl starts to walk away.
Meryl:
Ignore them.
Vash looks up.
Vash:
Insurance girls!
Milly opens her mouth to protest, following Meryl offscreen.
Milly:
Ma’am…
Vash:
What, you’re going??
Cut to Vash who looks panicked and Marlon wrapped around his upper torso. Tears are running down his cheeks.
Vash:
How could you be so
cold?!
Marlon looks at Vash. Vash has one eye wide and one eye narrowed, both looking at Marlon.
Frank Marlon:
Don’t be so cold, little
brother!
Marlon pops a kiss on the right side of a shocked Vash’s face. Marlon’s skin turns green.
Cut to the back of the crowd. A empty bottle of booze is near us, the bottle Marlon had been carrying.
Vash:
AHH! HELP!!
Cut to a door being opened. Marlon walks in, arm draped around a sullen looking Vash.
Frank Marlon:
Drinks here!
Cut to the Bartender, her hands on her hips.
Frank Marlon:
Bring us the best in the house!
Bartender:
You got money?
Marlon sits down, Vash sitting down a few seconds later. Marlon leans back and waves toward Vash.
Frank Marlon:
My boy here is the son of a
millionaire! Bring it on.
Vash looks nervous and looks off screen toward the bartender.
Vash:
He’s lying, so make it the
cheapest in the house.
Cut to Vash, who leans forward and sighs.
A hand enters his vision.
Cut to the bartender.
Bartender:
I don’t want any trouble in here,
so I’ll keep your gun ‘til you leave.
Cut to Vash.
Vash:
All right.
Cut to Vash pulling out the .45 Long Colt and ejecting all six rounds, catching them neatly in his hand.
Cut to Vash handing over the gun, Marlon watching in the background.
Bartender (OS):
This is a strange gun.
Vash (OS):
It was given to me.
Cut to a smiling Vash.
Vash:
It’s a pretty good gun.
Frank Marlon (OS):
No, it isn’t.
Vash blinks in surprise. He looks at Marlon and puts a hand behind his neck.
Vash:
You can tell?
Cut to a suddenly sullen Marlon.
Vash:
It misses by 3 iches from
only 10 yarz.
The bartender puts a bottle of Wild Turkey down.
Cut to Vash who makes a huh noise.
Cut to the bartender who is preparing the glasses. Marlon looks off to the side, rather sullen and very sober looking. She walks away.
Cut to Vash once more.
Sound FX: Cork being pulled out of a bottle.
Vash faces the screen.
Cut to Marlon pouring himself a glass of Bourbon.
Frank Marlon:
It wouldn’t kill her to be
more friendly.
Cut to Vash, who is watching the scene in silence.
Cut to the bottle still being poured.
Cut to a shot of the table from the side. Marlon slams down the bottle.
Frank Marlon:
All right, here’s to new
friends!
Marlon holds out his hand. Vash holds out his hand with his glass in it.
Vash:
Right.
Marlon doesn’t fill the glass and takes his hand away. Vash looks disappointed as Marlon grabs his glass and gulps the alcohol down.
Frank Marlon:
Damn, that hits the spot!
Out of all of man’s
greatest inventions, alcohol
is the greatest!
He looks up.
Frank Marlon:
Don’t you agree?
Cut to Vash.
Vash:
I know it’s supposed to be
an installment… but since
it’s my double-dollar, will
you do me a favor?
Cut to Marlon pouring another drink.
Frank Marlon:
Yeah, what?
Vash (OS):
Do you know a Frank
Marlon?
Frank Marlon:
Dunno the guy.
Cut to Vash. He turns to face the bartender.
Vash:
Hey, lady!
She ignores him. Vash begins sparkling and tries again.
Vash:
Pardon me, miss? He’s famous,
isn’t he?
The bartender turns around.
Bartender:
Yeah, he’s famous. He’s the
hero of this town.
Focus on the gun on the wall. It is a Frank Marlon special. The camera pulls out as the bartender speaks.
Bartender:
A long time ago, this town
was attacked by bandits.
Marlon the gunsmith went
from door to door passing
out guns he made himself.
Cut to Vash, staring in wonder.
Bartender:
What do you want with
him?
Cut to both bartender and Vash as bartender finishes speaking.
Vash:
I just want him to fix
my old heap.
Bartender:
Forget it. He’ll just pawn
it for booze.
A glass shatters against the bar. Both Vash and the bartender stare at where the glass hit.
Cut to Marlon, hand raised, having obviously been the glass thrower. He laughs and reaches out.
Cut to Marlon’s hand, grabbing the only unbroken glass.
Cut to Marlon, who sits back down and pours himself another glass.
Frank Marlon:
You really wanna give your
gun to a complete stranger?
Cut to Vash, now watching Marlon.
Frank Marlon:
You’ll have yourself to blame if
you get shot in the back.
Cut to Marlon.
Frank Marlon:
You’d have to be a fool.
He gulps back his drink and slams it down.
Frank Marlon:
A hopeless, pathetic fool.
The bottle of bourbon is lifted. Marlon looks up, puzzled.
Cut to Vash who is pouring Marlon a new glass of bourbon. He’s smiling fondly.
Cut to Marlon staring blankly.
Cut to a street, Meryl and Milly’s Tomas tied to a nearby feeding trough.
Meryl (OS):
What?!
Cut to a close-up of Meryl’s face.
Meryl:
There’s no sheriff in this town?!
Cut to a side view of Meryl, Milly, and the Mayor as seen through a window.
Mayor:
That’s right.
Meryl:
That’s right?!
Cut to the mayor smoking on a pipe.
Mayor:
Nothing truly big will ever happen
in this small town! The worst
we have to deal with are the
antics of drunks.
As the mayor finishes his comments about drunks, cut to Vash and Marlon sitting on a table. Both have consumed a good deal of alcohol. They are swaying from side to side, looking like the best of friends. When the mayor finishes speaking, they both sneeze.
Cut to Meryl leaning over the mayor.
Meryl:
Um, I might be inviting trouble
by saying this, but…
Cut to Kuroneko walking across the windowsill. He meows as the mayor laughs.
Cut to a Kuroneko’s view of the room.
Mayor:
The legendary outlaw? That’s
a riot!
Meryl balls up her fists.
Meryl:
It’s no laughing matter!
Cut to a view of the mayor and Meryl.
Mayor:
If he’s really that great, I’d like to
be attacked by him once!
Meryl:
It’s no laughing matter, I tell you!
Cut to a goofy villain of the day behind a magazine. He laughs.
Henchman 1:
Big bro!!
Villain looks up from behind the magazine.
Cut to Henchman 1 running up hill.
Henchman 1:
It’s just like we heard.
Cut to Henchman 1 running up to meet the group.
Henchman 1:
An armored car will arrive at
their bank at noon tomorrow!
Cut to Villain lighting up a cigarette.
Villain:
Excellent.
Cut to a shot of the town. Pulls out to reveal the gang.
Henchman 2:
It’s 4000 yarz to the next town.
They have no law enforcement.
We couldn’t ask for a better
location!
Henchman 1:
Also, it’s only a rumor but they
say Vash the Stampede showed
up near here.
Henchman 3:
Do you mean Vash as in The
Humanoid Typhoon?
Henchman 1:
The same.
Villain laughs. The henchman gape at him.
Cut to the villains suddenly straightening up in the car he is sitting in. He jumps onto the windshield.
Villain:
Not bad.
He continues to repeat the words as he pulls out a pair of guns which turn out to be lighters.
Villain:
Not bad, not bad, not
bad, not friggin’ bad!!!
Cut to his feet on the windshield. We pull up to see his face.
Villain:
Cool. We’ll get Mr. Vash the
Stampede to attack… the
armored car, that is.
He starts cracking up even more.
Time is now night. A small black cat lets out a meow on the roof.
Cut to exterior of the bar. The door slams open. Vash and Marlon, pushed, stumbled out of the bar, clinging to each other.
Bartender:
Get the hell out.
They turn around to face her. Vash has what appears to be a man’s necktie looped around his head.
Frank Marlon:
What’s the idea, witch?! We
were just trying to enjoy a drink.
Cut to Vash and Marlon from the front.
Vash:
G, g, Gimme back my gun, lady!
The door is heard opening. The Long Colt rams into Vash’s face, forcing his head up and back. Marlon looks at him.
Frank Marlon:
What’s wrong, brother?
Vash:
My head suddenly started
to hurt.
He catches the falling gun.
Cut to a shoot of the men from behind.
Frank Marlon:
Oh, that’s not good. All
right, we’ll drink it better
at my place!
They turn around in tandem and start walking off. A flashlight beam is seen. Both men look at it.
Meryl (OS):
What are you doing there?
Cut to a close-up of Marlon and Vash. Marlon paused in his babbling and Vash simply stares.
Cut to Meryl and Milly holding flashlights on the two men.
Vash:
Oh, it’s the insurance girls!
Milly:
You sure look happy, Mr.
Vash!
Cut to Vash, who suddenly laughs.
Vash:
It’s happy hour! By the way, what
you doing out so late?
Cut to Meryl and Milly.
Milly:
Night patrol! We think that Vash
the Stampede might show up in
this town.
Meryl glares at Milly.
Meryl:
He doesn’t need to know that, Milly.
Milly:
Sorry, Ma’am.
Cut to an excited Vash supporting a swaying Marlon.
Vash:
Night patrol? That’s wonderful!
He turns his head toward Marlon.
Vash:
Aren’t they wonderful?!
Marlon livens up, punching a fist into the air.
Frank Marlon:
Here’s to the wonderful
women!!
Both: Cheerio!
Cut to a view of them walking away, singing drunkenly.
Milly (OS):
That looks like a whole lot of
fun!
Meryl (OS):
Hardly! People only drown themselves
in alcohol if they have something they
want to forget!
Cut to a close-up of Meryl.
Meryl:
It’s just an escape.
End of Act Two.
Eye Catch.
Act Three:
View of the outside of Marlon’s shack. Zoom in.
Frank Marlon (OS):
You still drinking, brother?
Vash (OS):
I’m plotzed
Cut to the interior of the building. Marlon sits on the right side of the table, lying near one of many bottle. Vash leans back in his chair, head tilted back.
Vash:
But I don’t think you’ll
be in any shape for work
tomorrow.
Cut to Marlon who been using a twisty straw to drink out of a bottle of Wild Turkey, 101 Proof.
Frank Marlon:
I got that covered. I
only do charity work.
Cut to Vash looking at the ceiling.
Vash:
Huh?
Frank Marlon:
The world is full of the
weak and needy.
He gets up.
Frank Marlon:
It’s my job to help them.
Vash:
Huh.
Marlon takes a swig of Bourbon and falls behind the table.
Cut to Marlon, the bottle still to his mouth.
Frank Marlon:
But now I’m helping those
who aren’t in need.
He raises the bottle away and gives it a few shakes.
Cut to Vash, who straightens up, collar undone for quite some time.
Vash:
What do you mean?
Cut to the bottles.
Frank Marlon (OS):
It’s wrong to discriminate, right?
His foot enters the frame and picks up a bottle with his toes.
Frank Marlon (OS):
Help out one person…
Marlon uses the bottle to knock another bottle away as he says his next line.
Frank Marlon (OS):
…and another person suffers.
Cut to Vash’s face.
Frank Marlon (OS):
That’s what the world is like.
Vash:
Oh.
Cut to a sequence of Marlon picking up the drink and bringing it to his mouth.
Frank Marlon:
That’s why I’ve decided to do
nothing. Do nothing but
drink.
Cut to Vash once more.
Frank Marlon:
This is equality.
Cut to a shot of the room.
Vash:
You think so?
He is answered by a snore. Marlon has fallen asleep.
Cut to Marlon’s snoring face. Vash’s hands enter the frame to pull a blanket over the man.
Cut to a close-up of a small doll. Vash’s hand picks up the doll.
Cut to a view of Vash from behind and looking at the doll.
Clothing Maker (VO):
You want to see Frank
Marlon?
Cut to a panning shot of the inside of a clothing shop.
Clothing Maker (OS):
Give it up. He’s not the man he
was ten years ago. Now he’s
just a lush.
Cut to the Clothing Maker making measures. We can only see Vash in coat from the waist down.
Clothing Maker:
They say he was once a
genius gunsmith. But he
changed after his wife and
kid got killed.
Cut to Vash’s surprised face.
Cut to montage of stills of bank robbery.
Clothing Maker (VO):
They were in the bank when
it got robbed. But to him the
real tragedy was that he made
the which shot them. Not only
that, he apparently gave them
the guns himself.
Fade from a shot of the F. Marlon Special to the rag doll held in Vash’s hand.
Cut to Vash, doll still in hand, turning slightly to look at Marlon. He suddenly looks nauseous.
Cut to the outside of one room shack.
Sound FX: Vash running to the nearest trash can and proceeding to throw up.
Fade out.
Fade in to Marlon sleeping.
He opens his eyes and sits on the bed for a minute before spotting something. He makes a huh noise.
Cut to the .45 Long Colt lying on the bench near a full ashtray.
Cut to Marlon looking at the gun.
Frank Marlon:
What the… Where’d he
go?
Townsperson 1 (OS):
Oh, my god!!
Marlon turns around, both surprised and confused.
Townsperson 1 (OS):
Vash the Stampede is here!
He’s attacking the armored
car!!
Cut to Marlon’s face.
Frank Marlon:
Vash the Stampede?
Cut to one of the henchmen fired into the air next to a group of tied up drivers.
Cut to a pan of people looking fearfully behind buildings and in stairwells. The pan goes to the Villain’s car.
Henchman 1:
Keep your distance! ‘Cause
this gentleman here is none
other than The $$60 Billion
Man…
Cut to Villain rubbing a large gun.
Henchman 1:
…Vash the Stampede!
Cut to the townsfolk hiding. The mayor is among the people hiding.
Townsperson 2:
Let him be! It he gets mad,
he’ll blow this town sky-high!
Cut to Villain’s face.
Villain:
This is relaxing. All small
town folk should be this
accommodating!
Enter Meryl and Milly holding bags of cash.
Meryl:
E-Excuse me, Mr. Vash? I’m
Meryl Stryfe from the
Bernardelli Insurance Society.
We’re here on behalf on the
company to…
Villain:
Shut up and load the bags!!
Meryl and Milly:
Y-Yes, Sir!
Cut to Meryl and Milly running with the bags of cash in their hands.
Milly:
I feel so pathetic!
Meryl:
I should have brought him a
pack of donuts.
Cut to the car.
Henchman 3:
Get the lead out, will you?
The girls begin to put in the bags of money. They say “Yes, sir.” many times.
Cut to a shot that pans to an alleyway. Vash pops out of a garbage can or at least until his head and shoulders can be seen.
Vash:
Countermeasure No. 1:
Take the place of a
hostage.
Cut to Marlon slamming the lid down. Vash’s eyes water.
Frank Marlon:
Nah!
Cut to Vash’s face. He pops his head up again.
Vash:
Okay, No. 2: Shout
”Earthquake” and create
a panic.
Marlon leans on the lid this time.
Frank Marlon:
Nah again.
Vash stands to his full height in the trashcan, wearing the lid as a hat of sorts.
Vash:
Then what?
Frank Marlon:
I’d go with No.3: Shut up
and let ‘em take the money.
Cut to Vash who looks away.
Vash:
I say thee nay.
The scene shifts slightly to include Marlon in the frame.
Frank Marlon:
Why are you sticking your neck
out?! Keep quiet and you’ll stay
alive! There’ll be less damage!
Vash:
See that little girl there?
Cut to the girl being drug away by her mother.
Vash:
Her mother promised to buy
her something with her money
from the bank.
Cut back to the alley.
Frank Marlon:
You know her?
Vash climbs out of the trashcan, lid still on his head.
Vash:
Nope, I’m making it up.
Vash walks out of the frame.
Frank Marlon:
Why worry about other people’s
money?
Cut to Vash’s back.
Frank Marlon (OS):
What’s in it for you?
Vash:
Nothing at all.
Vash turns and grabs the lid with his next line.
Vash:
Only, this situation is not
equal.
Cut to a surprised looking Marlon.
Cut to Vash walking away.
Cut to people watching the robbery from alleyways. They suddenly turns their heads.
Cut to the bartender. She looks interested.
Cut to the members of the gang looking up.
Cut to Vash walking forward.
Cut to Meryl and Milly watching.
Meryl:
Him.
Cut to Henchman 4 talking to Villain.
Henchman 4:
Big bro!
Cut to Vash’s partially shaded face.
Cut to Vash’s boots as a bullet nearly hits them.
Cut to Vash holding his hands up. A brief pan over the gang.
Henchman 4:
What are you supposed to be,
a hero cowboy?
Cut to Vash’s face.
Vash:
Nah, I’m not that great.
Cut to Vash’s boot stomping and a switchblade popping out. Vash pops a tire with the switchblade.
Cut to Vash looking at the car.
Vash:
Oh, no. You have a flat tire!
You can’t get away in this.
Cut to the angry gang. Villain pulls out big gun.
Villain:
You little…
He begins to fire.
Cut to Vash using the lid as a shield. Vash falls backwards and looks up.
Pan to a laughing henchman.
Vash grabs the gun.
Henchman 4:
Son of a…
Cut to henchman trying to pry Vash’s hand off the gun.
Henchman 4:
Let go, you…
Cut to a smiling Vash who puts the henchman in a headlock.
Cut to two of the henchman.
Henchman 4:
He’s unbelievable.
Henchman 1:
Do you know what’ll
happen if you do that?!
He waves at the villain.
Henchman 1:
This gent here is the much
feared Humanoid Typhoon…
Cut to Villain’s face.
Henchman 1:
…Vash the Stampede.
Cut to Vash.
Vash:
That’s funny… Pardon me.
He does something to Henchman 3’s neck that makes a popping sound. The man groans and collapses.
Vash:
I heard he was more handsome.
Cut to the gang.
Villain:
Are you implyin’ I’m not Vash?!
Cut to Vash’s face.
Vash:
Want to find out?
Pan to Vash’s pocket, where he appears to be holding a gun.
Cut to Marlon. He makes a huh face and then looks discouraged.
Cut back to the standoff.
Cut to Marlon.
Frank Marlon (VO):
Why?
Cut to a zoom in on the villain’s face and then on Vash’s. Both shots only last a couple of seconds.
Cut back to Marlon.
Frank Marlon (VO):
Why?
Cut to Meryl and Milly hiding behind a car.
Meryl:
We’ll use them if we have to.
Milly:
Right!
Cut back to the standoff.
Cut to extreme close-up of Marlon’s face.
Cut to Marlon.
Frank Marlon (VO):
Why?!
Cut to a shot villain and then on Vash. Both shots only last a couple of seconds.
Cut to a woman’s hands holding an F. Marlon Special.
Bartender:
Hold it!
Cut to a surprised Vash and then to a surprised villain.
Pan up a skirt to the bartender’s face. It is she who is the holder of the gun.
Cut to Marlon who starts forward.
Pan across the scene now with bartender pointing gun at villain.
Cut to townspeople in the stairs.
Cut to Meryl and Milly.
Cut to a pan from the bartender’s face to the gun.
Bartender:
This is an F. Marlon! Don’t
think I’ll miss because I’m
a woman!
Cut to the villain.
Villain:
What do you mean, an F.
Marlon? It’s a rusted hunk
of crap! You think you’ll
hit me with that?!
Cut to Marlon’s hand gripping a bottle of whiskey. It is shaking now, a sloshing sound coming from what little is in the bottle.
Cut to Vash.
Frank Marlon (VO):
Why?
Dissolve to the bartender holding the gun.
Frank Marlon (VO):
Why are they doing that?
Cut to Marlon’s hand still gripping the bottle.
Cut to Marlon’s eyes.
Frank Marlon (VO):
Why am I standing here?!
Cut to a flashback of Vash.
Vash:
This situation is not equal.
Fade to a shadow stepping out.
Cut to a surprised villain.
Cut to people coming out, guns in their hands.
Cut back to villain.
Villain:
What?!
Cut back to more people coming out also holding guns.
Cut to the stairwell, where the mayor himself pulls a gun out of his coat.
Cut to a boy holding a stick. He starts forward but Marlon holds him back.
Pan across the now crowed standoff.
Cut to the gang. The villain still holding his gun begins to laugh.
Villain:
You probably think you’ve
won! You think wrong!
Cut to a sequence of him transforming his gun to another form, both comedic and scary.
Cut to a brief shot of Vash’s face.
Cut to the now transformed gun.
Cut to the villain’s face.
Villain:
You should save your aces
for last!
He starts laughing when Marlon apparently shoves a gun to the back of his. The villain suddenly stops. Camera pans to show Marlon.
Frank Marlon:
Checkmate.
Cut to the villain’s face and then back to Marlon.
Frank Marlon:
I can’t shoot you in the back.
Cut to the gun dropping to the ground.
Villain:
You’ll pay for this!
Cut to the gang fleeing town.
Villain:
You’ll pay for this!
Cut to Vash looking at them with this “I can’t believe it” stare.
Vash:
They really stick together.
He turns and makes a huh noise.
Cut to Marlon. The “gun” he was holding was nothing more than a index finger. Marlon grins, looks at the finger before holding it up into the air.
Frank Marlon:
Same gun?
Cut to Vash who grins and pulls out his hand. He was also using the same bluff.
Vash:
Same gun.
Cut to a shoot of the stand out zooming out.
Sound FX: Cheering.
Cut to Meryl and Milly.
Meryl:
That man is absolutely nuts.
Cut to the outside of the saloon.
Cut to a very drunk Vash, tie once more around his head.
Vash:
Here is to all the great folks
who saved the town!
He pumps his hands up in the air in victory.
Vash:
In your eye!
Cut to a pan of the bar patrons. Vash spins into the shot and holds out his glass.
Vash:
Fill ‘er up, lady!
The bartender slams a mug of beer of his head.
Vash:
Fill ‘er up, MISS?
Bartender (OS):
Better.
Cut to Meryl and Milly sitting at a table. Meryl sighs.
Meryl:
What is he doing?
Milly:
But all’s well that ends well.
Damage done to the town: zero!
The chief will probably praise
us!
Cut to Meryl from a side view, close up.
Meryl:
In the end, the bandit was a
fake. We didn’t get to see
Vash the Stampede again.
Milly (OS):
But someone matches his
description!
Meryl looks up.
Cut to a shot of Meryl and Milly. We see Vash walking toward the door. Meryl turns to look at him.
Cut to Vash’s shadow.
Vash (OS):
Gotta find the can…
Marlon (OS):
Stick ‘em up.
Cut to Vash’s back, his arms slowly rising. He turns, grinning slightly.
Cut to Marlon who laughs.
Cut to Marlon’s finger resting on Vash’s shoulder. He removes it and shoves Vash forward.
Cut to a two shot. Vash stumbles and turns around.
Frank Marlon:
I wouldn’t count on this
for everyday use.
Marlon steps forward pulling out the Colt. The difference is the cylinder, which had texture before, is now completely smooth.
Vash:
Huh?
Frank Marlon:
Take it.
Cut to a pan over the .45 Long Colt in Marlon’s hand.
Frank Marlon:
I’ve changed the cylinder and
the hammer, and it’s all tuned
up.
Cut to Marlon watching Vash as he picks up the gun and weighs it in his hand.
Vash:
Thanks.
Marlon turns to the side.
Frank Marlon:
You don’t need to thank me.
But tell me one thing.
Cut to a close-up of Marlon’s face.
Frank Marlon:
Why do you need that gun?
Cut to Vash who looks serious and then goes extremely goofy.
Vash:
I intend to use it for world
peace!
Cut to a view of Vash’s back and Marlon staring blankly. Marlon starts cracking up.
Cut to a once again serious looking Vash. He straightens up and closes his eyes happily.
Cut to Marlon.
Frank Marlon:
If you wear it out again,
come on back! I’ll fix it
as good as new!
Cut to Vash.
Vash:
When I do, I’ll bring bourbon.
Cut back to Marlon.
Frank Marlon:
Nah, I’ve given up alcohol.
I found other things to do.
Cut to Meryl and Milly leaning out a window at Vash and Marlon in the background.
Milly:
What do you suppose they’re
talking about?
Meryl makes a ssshhh sound.
Frank Marlon:
That’s right! I never caught
your name.
Meryl and Milly lean forward.
Cut to a puzzled Vash.
Vash:
Me? I…
His cheeks puff up and he makes this “I’m going to be ill noise.”
Cut to Marlon watching Vash lean again a nearby window and throw up.
Marlon:
You drink too much!
Cut to a disgusted looking Meryl and Milly with her hand over her face, peeking through her fingers.
Vash:
I’m sorry!
Fade to boot prints in the sand. A Tomas foot steps in one of them.
Cut to Meryl and Milly riding their Tomas.
Milly:
You just don’t want to admit
you’re curious about him, ma’am.
Meryl:
I am not.
Cut to Vash walking away.
Meryl:
We just happen to be heading
in the same direction, that’s
all.
Cut to Vash who stops and looks up at the suns, shielding his eyes.
Cut to the suns, Vash holding up his right hand like a gun.
Cut to a close up of Vash.
Vash:
Bang, bang.
Dissolve to the F. Marlon in the bar. The bartender walks under it.
End of Act Three.
Cue credits and episode preview.
Notes: I’m taking script writing in my last semester of college.
millyfan needed a script for Peacemaker. I get practice and you gets to write a fanfic. Both of us are lucky. By the way, the music playing in Act One is none other than Permanent Vacation. I wonder if Midvalley is getting royalties. Sub Based
Act One:
Scene: Outside a bar. We see Frank Marlon stumble down the street, bottle of whiskey in his hand. He stops and takes a long swallow.
Cut to: Bar’s Interior. Pan left to bar patrons.
Man 1:
It sure paid off, didn’t it?
The Door opens as the man delivers his last line. Cut to the bartender as Man 2 delivers his next line.
Man 2:
Lady Luck is on our side!
Man 1:
Amen
We see the table and two men. Suddenly a hand comes into the picture. It is Marlon.
Frank Marlon (OS):
Hey brother.
The camera switches to Marlon’s face and pans up.
Frank Marlon:
You guys seem to be in the money.
He shoves his way to the table.
Man 2:
What do you want?
Frank Marlon:
I got no cash.
Marlon leans on the table as he delivers his next line.
Frank Marlon:
Buy me a drink.
Cut to the bartender polishing a glass.
Frank Marlon (OS):
I’ll take anything with alcohol.
Cut to Marlon who leans forward as he delivers his next lines.
Frank Marlon:
Ethyl, Methyl, anything.
Man 1’s eyes narrow.
Cut to Marlon being thrown out of the bar.
Focus on the two men from behind Marlon’s back.
Man 1:
Beat it, drunk!
Man 2:
Don’t bring your reeking corpse
in here.
Cut to Marlon’s profile.
Man 1 (OS):
I won’t give you a drink…
He pulls out a gun and aims it at Marlon’s forehead. Marlon blinks at it as if not comprehending his situation.
Man 1 (OS):
…but I’m willing to give you a
lead bullet.
Cut to the two men.
Man 1:
What’s wrong? Too scared to
talk?
Cut to Marlon looking at them dumbly.
Laughter. A boot comes and kicks Marlon a few feet away.
Man 1 (OS):
Don’t show your face here
again.
More laughter.
Sound FX: The door closing.
Marlon’s shoulders shake and we realize that he is laughing.
Cut to Marlon’s alcohol flushed face.
Frank Marlon:
Bunch of idiots.
End of Act One.
Cut to black screen. The title Peace Maker appears.
Act Two:
Pan into a town. Warrens City is shown on the screen and remains throughout the cut as we pan in. It is a roughly circle shaped town with two plants on what could be the west and southwest side of town.
Cut to the interior of Warrens City. The title from the previous cut is fading slowly. The screen pans left as Milly talks until we see the two girls at a café.
Milly:
So, Ma’am, what will we
search for today? A giant
man? A red coat? Blonde
hair? A Mohawk?
Cut to a waiter walking away. We see that the foodstuffs they requested in the bar in episode one are in front of each girl. Meryl puts her spoon in her banana sundae. Milly is still talking.
Milly:
Or, or…
Meryl continues prodding at her sundae.
Meryl:
I’ve had it with rumors. I’ll
only believe what I see for
myself. A gunman so amazing
they put $$60 Billion on his
head.
Meryl leaves off jabbing at her sundae and jabs her spoon in the air.
Meryl:
I’ll start my search there.
Meryl begins jabbing her sundae with her spoon again.
Milly:
That sounds awfully vague.
Cut to Meryl.
Meryl:
I’m saying, we will pay special
attention to anyone like that.
Cut to the townspeople going about their daily activities. Pan right.
Milly:
But what a peaceful town this
is, Ma’am!
Meryl:
Keep your wits about you,
Milly.
Cut to Meryl, now stirring her sundae.
Meryl:
You never know when
Vash the Stampede
might show up…
She takes a spoonful and shoves it into her mouth.
Meryl:
…and BOOM, no more town.
Vash, duffel bag over his shoulder, starts walking from the right of the screen as she finishes her line.
Milly:
Hi, Mr. Vash!
Vash startles, Meryl stares for a second. Vash turns toward the voice and Meryl’s cheeks puff out.
Cut to a very surprised Vash, with his sunglasses half-way down his nose. Vash raises a hand in greeting.
Vash:
Hi!
Cut to a sputtering Meryl and a standing Milly.
Vash:
It’s the insurance girls. You
here on business?
Milly beams and Meryl turns with a scowl on her face.
Milly:
That’s right!
Cut to Vash, who plasters a very fake, nervous looking grin on his face.
Vash:
Well, work hard for the
company's profit!
Cut to a view of Vash from behind and the Insurance Girls facing him.
Milly:
We will!
Vash waves and turns to face us. Still grinning the fake plastered on smile.
Vash:
See you around.
He walks off screen, smile disappearing in a hurry.
Cut to the girls. Milly giggles, facing the direction Vash left in. Meryl looks in the same direction, frowning slightly.
Milly:
Ma’am, he matches the
description!
She claps her hands together and smiles, eyes closed. Meryl closes her eyes and looks annoyed.
Meryl:
What makes you say that?
Milly opens her eyes, looking puzzled.
Milly:
He raised his hand when I
called his name.
Meryl looks at Milly from the corner of her eye.
Meryl:
He only did that because he
was called to. Look, we’re
after atrocious man with a
price on his head.
Cut to Vash walking along for a few seconds.
Cut back to Meryl
Meryl:
Not a brainless idiot like
him!
Cut to Vash, who suddenly sneezes. He rubs at his nose.
Vash:
Maybe I caught a cold.
Cut to a door opening. Marlon stumbles out of it backwards. He has a bottle in his hand and bumps into Vash’s duffel bag and back. They both go flying in opposite directions.
Sound FX: Two crashes and oof sounds.
Marlon has crashed in a nearby foundation. He grabs his head.
Marlon:
Damn, that hurt!
Cut to Vash, who is face first in a Tomas food trough. His bag is on the ground, as his legs kick in the air.
Sound FX: Vash making muffled sounds of protest
Vash pulls himself out of the trough, mush clinging to his face and hair flattened, looking miserable.
Frank Marlon:
Over here, buddy!
Vash narrows his eyes and looks side to side, puzzled. He turns to see Marlon.
Frank Marlon:
Yeah, you! What do you say
when you crash into somebody?
Cut to Vash, who looks just as surprised as the Tomas who were eating at the trough. He finally raises a hand.
Vash:
Hello?
He laughs and tries to leave. Marlon’s hand clamps on his shoulder as Vash tries to crawl away.
Cut to Marlon, gripping his shoulder with one hand, keeping Vash in place with the other. Vash looks rather dumbfounded.
Frank Marlon:
Ow, ow! My shoulder hurts
‘cause of you!
Marlon looks up, rather calm now.
Frank Marlon:
Buy me a drink.
Vash’s mouth drops up in classic anime style.
Cut to Marlon’s face.
Frank Marlon:
Instead of medical compensation, I
want you to buy me a drink.
Cut to Vash and Marlon, Vash still looking shocked. He crawls away, Marlon following him.
Frank Marlon:
Don’t be shy!
He leaps onto Vash, pinning him to the ground.
Frank Marlon:
We’re pals, aren’t we?
Vash is flailing about, rubbery limbs flying every which way.
Vash:
But we only just met!!!
Frank Marlon:
Come on, buddy!
Vash arches back and tries to pulls Marlon off him with no avail.
Vash:
What are you doing to me?!
Cut to people gathering around.
Vash:
Stop! Stop it!
Cut to Vash with Marlon still clinging to him. They have gathered quite a crowd at this point.
Frank Marlon:
Just a drink, bro!
Cut to Meryl and Millie walking up to the crowd.
Frank Marlon (OS):
Don’t forsake me.
Vash (OS):
Let go, let go!
As Vash says his last line, the screen shifts slight so we can see Meryl, Milly, and the crowd in front of them.
Vash: Alright, alright! Just
let go!
Meryl starts to walk away.
Meryl:
Ignore them.
Vash looks up.
Vash:
Insurance girls!
Milly opens her mouth to protest, following Meryl offscreen.
Milly:
Ma’am…
Vash:
What, you’re going??
Cut to Vash who looks panicked and Marlon wrapped around his upper torso. Tears are running down his cheeks.
Vash:
How could you be so
cold?!
Marlon looks at Vash. Vash has one eye wide and one eye narrowed, both looking at Marlon.
Frank Marlon:
Don’t be so cold, little
brother!
Marlon pops a kiss on the right side of a shocked Vash’s face. Marlon’s skin turns green.
Cut to the back of the crowd. A empty bottle of booze is near us, the bottle Marlon had been carrying.
Vash:
AHH! HELP!!
Cut to a door being opened. Marlon walks in, arm draped around a sullen looking Vash.
Frank Marlon:
Drinks here!
Cut to the Bartender, her hands on her hips.
Frank Marlon:
Bring us the best in the house!
Bartender:
You got money?
Marlon sits down, Vash sitting down a few seconds later. Marlon leans back and waves toward Vash.
Frank Marlon:
My boy here is the son of a
millionaire! Bring it on.
Vash looks nervous and looks off screen toward the bartender.
Vash:
He’s lying, so make it the
cheapest in the house.
Cut to Vash, who leans forward and sighs.
A hand enters his vision.
Cut to the bartender.
Bartender:
I don’t want any trouble in here,
so I’ll keep your gun ‘til you leave.
Cut to Vash.
Vash:
All right.
Cut to Vash pulling out the .45 Long Colt and ejecting all six rounds, catching them neatly in his hand.
Cut to Vash handing over the gun, Marlon watching in the background.
Bartender (OS):
This is a strange gun.
Vash (OS):
It was given to me.
Cut to a smiling Vash.
Vash:
It’s a pretty good gun.
Frank Marlon (OS):
No, it isn’t.
Vash blinks in surprise. He looks at Marlon and puts a hand behind his neck.
Vash:
You can tell?
Cut to a suddenly sullen Marlon.
Vash:
It misses by 3 iches from
only 10 yarz.
The bartender puts a bottle of Wild Turkey down.
Cut to Vash who makes a huh noise.
Cut to the bartender who is preparing the glasses. Marlon looks off to the side, rather sullen and very sober looking. She walks away.
Cut to Vash once more.
Sound FX: Cork being pulled out of a bottle.
Vash faces the screen.
Cut to Marlon pouring himself a glass of Bourbon.
Frank Marlon:
It wouldn’t kill her to be
more friendly.
Cut to Vash, who is watching the scene in silence.
Cut to the bottle still being poured.
Cut to a shot of the table from the side. Marlon slams down the bottle.
Frank Marlon:
All right, here’s to new
friends!
Marlon holds out his hand. Vash holds out his hand with his glass in it.
Vash:
Right.
Marlon doesn’t fill the glass and takes his hand away. Vash looks disappointed as Marlon grabs his glass and gulps the alcohol down.
Frank Marlon:
Damn, that hits the spot!
Out of all of man’s
greatest inventions, alcohol
is the greatest!
He looks up.
Frank Marlon:
Don’t you agree?
Cut to Vash.
Vash:
I know it’s supposed to be
an installment… but since
it’s my double-dollar, will
you do me a favor?
Cut to Marlon pouring another drink.
Frank Marlon:
Yeah, what?
Vash (OS):
Do you know a Frank
Marlon?
Frank Marlon:
Dunno the guy.
Cut to Vash. He turns to face the bartender.
Vash:
Hey, lady!
She ignores him. Vash begins sparkling and tries again.
Vash:
Pardon me, miss? He’s famous,
isn’t he?
The bartender turns around.
Bartender:
Yeah, he’s famous. He’s the
hero of this town.
Focus on the gun on the wall. It is a Frank Marlon special. The camera pulls out as the bartender speaks.
Bartender:
A long time ago, this town
was attacked by bandits.
Marlon the gunsmith went
from door to door passing
out guns he made himself.
Cut to Vash, staring in wonder.
Bartender:
What do you want with
him?
Cut to both bartender and Vash as bartender finishes speaking.
Vash:
I just want him to fix
my old heap.
Bartender:
Forget it. He’ll just pawn
it for booze.
A glass shatters against the bar. Both Vash and the bartender stare at where the glass hit.
Cut to Marlon, hand raised, having obviously been the glass thrower. He laughs and reaches out.
Cut to Marlon’s hand, grabbing the only unbroken glass.
Cut to Marlon, who sits back down and pours himself another glass.
Frank Marlon:
You really wanna give your
gun to a complete stranger?
Cut to Vash, now watching Marlon.
Frank Marlon:
You’ll have yourself to blame if
you get shot in the back.
Cut to Marlon.
Frank Marlon:
You’d have to be a fool.
He gulps back his drink and slams it down.
Frank Marlon:
A hopeless, pathetic fool.
The bottle of bourbon is lifted. Marlon looks up, puzzled.
Cut to Vash who is pouring Marlon a new glass of bourbon. He’s smiling fondly.
Cut to Marlon staring blankly.
Cut to a street, Meryl and Milly’s Tomas tied to a nearby feeding trough.
Meryl (OS):
What?!
Cut to a close-up of Meryl’s face.
Meryl:
There’s no sheriff in this town?!
Cut to a side view of Meryl, Milly, and the Mayor as seen through a window.
Mayor:
That’s right.
Meryl:
That’s right?!
Cut to the mayor smoking on a pipe.
Mayor:
Nothing truly big will ever happen
in this small town! The worst
we have to deal with are the
antics of drunks.
As the mayor finishes his comments about drunks, cut to Vash and Marlon sitting on a table. Both have consumed a good deal of alcohol. They are swaying from side to side, looking like the best of friends. When the mayor finishes speaking, they both sneeze.
Cut to Meryl leaning over the mayor.
Meryl:
Um, I might be inviting trouble
by saying this, but…
Cut to Kuroneko walking across the windowsill. He meows as the mayor laughs.
Cut to a Kuroneko’s view of the room.
Mayor:
The legendary outlaw? That’s
a riot!
Meryl balls up her fists.
Meryl:
It’s no laughing matter!
Cut to a view of the mayor and Meryl.
Mayor:
If he’s really that great, I’d like to
be attacked by him once!
Meryl:
It’s no laughing matter, I tell you!
Cut to a goofy villain of the day behind a magazine. He laughs.
Henchman 1:
Big bro!!
Villain looks up from behind the magazine.
Cut to Henchman 1 running up hill.
Henchman 1:
It’s just like we heard.
Cut to Henchman 1 running up to meet the group.
Henchman 1:
An armored car will arrive at
their bank at noon tomorrow!
Cut to Villain lighting up a cigarette.
Villain:
Excellent.
Cut to a shot of the town. Pulls out to reveal the gang.
Henchman 2:
It’s 4000 yarz to the next town.
They have no law enforcement.
We couldn’t ask for a better
location!
Henchman 1:
Also, it’s only a rumor but they
say Vash the Stampede showed
up near here.
Henchman 3:
Do you mean Vash as in The
Humanoid Typhoon?
Henchman 1:
The same.
Villain laughs. The henchman gape at him.
Cut to the villains suddenly straightening up in the car he is sitting in. He jumps onto the windshield.
Villain:
Not bad.
He continues to repeat the words as he pulls out a pair of guns which turn out to be lighters.
Villain:
Not bad, not bad, not
bad, not friggin’ bad!!!
Cut to his feet on the windshield. We pull up to see his face.
Villain:
Cool. We’ll get Mr. Vash the
Stampede to attack… the
armored car, that is.
He starts cracking up even more.
Time is now night. A small black cat lets out a meow on the roof.
Cut to exterior of the bar. The door slams open. Vash and Marlon, pushed, stumbled out of the bar, clinging to each other.
Bartender:
Get the hell out.
They turn around to face her. Vash has what appears to be a man’s necktie looped around his head.
Frank Marlon:
What’s the idea, witch?! We
were just trying to enjoy a drink.
Cut to Vash and Marlon from the front.
Vash:
G, g, Gimme back my gun, lady!
The door is heard opening. The Long Colt rams into Vash’s face, forcing his head up and back. Marlon looks at him.
Frank Marlon:
What’s wrong, brother?
Vash:
My head suddenly started
to hurt.
He catches the falling gun.
Cut to a shoot of the men from behind.
Frank Marlon:
Oh, that’s not good. All
right, we’ll drink it better
at my place!
They turn around in tandem and start walking off. A flashlight beam is seen. Both men look at it.
Meryl (OS):
What are you doing there?
Cut to a close-up of Marlon and Vash. Marlon paused in his babbling and Vash simply stares.
Cut to Meryl and Milly holding flashlights on the two men.
Vash:
Oh, it’s the insurance girls!
Milly:
You sure look happy, Mr.
Vash!
Cut to Vash, who suddenly laughs.
Vash:
It’s happy hour! By the way, what
you doing out so late?
Cut to Meryl and Milly.
Milly:
Night patrol! We think that Vash
the Stampede might show up in
this town.
Meryl glares at Milly.
Meryl:
He doesn’t need to know that, Milly.
Milly:
Sorry, Ma’am.
Cut to an excited Vash supporting a swaying Marlon.
Vash:
Night patrol? That’s wonderful!
He turns his head toward Marlon.
Vash:
Aren’t they wonderful?!
Marlon livens up, punching a fist into the air.
Frank Marlon:
Here’s to the wonderful
women!!
Both: Cheerio!
Cut to a view of them walking away, singing drunkenly.
Milly (OS):
That looks like a whole lot of
fun!
Meryl (OS):
Hardly! People only drown themselves
in alcohol if they have something they
want to forget!
Cut to a close-up of Meryl.
Meryl:
It’s just an escape.
End of Act Two.
Eye Catch.
Act Three:
View of the outside of Marlon’s shack. Zoom in.
Frank Marlon (OS):
You still drinking, brother?
Vash (OS):
I’m plotzed
Cut to the interior of the building. Marlon sits on the right side of the table, lying near one of many bottle. Vash leans back in his chair, head tilted back.
Vash:
But I don’t think you’ll
be in any shape for work
tomorrow.
Cut to Marlon who been using a twisty straw to drink out of a bottle of Wild Turkey, 101 Proof.
Frank Marlon:
I got that covered. I
only do charity work.
Cut to Vash looking at the ceiling.
Vash:
Huh?
Frank Marlon:
The world is full of the
weak and needy.
He gets up.
Frank Marlon:
It’s my job to help them.
Vash:
Huh.
Marlon takes a swig of Bourbon and falls behind the table.
Cut to Marlon, the bottle still to his mouth.
Frank Marlon:
But now I’m helping those
who aren’t in need.
He raises the bottle away and gives it a few shakes.
Cut to Vash, who straightens up, collar undone for quite some time.
Vash:
What do you mean?
Cut to the bottles.
Frank Marlon (OS):
It’s wrong to discriminate, right?
His foot enters the frame and picks up a bottle with his toes.
Frank Marlon (OS):
Help out one person…
Marlon uses the bottle to knock another bottle away as he says his next line.
Frank Marlon (OS):
…and another person suffers.
Cut to Vash’s face.
Frank Marlon (OS):
That’s what the world is like.
Vash:
Oh.
Cut to a sequence of Marlon picking up the drink and bringing it to his mouth.
Frank Marlon:
That’s why I’ve decided to do
nothing. Do nothing but
drink.
Cut to Vash once more.
Frank Marlon:
This is equality.
Cut to a shot of the room.
Vash:
You think so?
He is answered by a snore. Marlon has fallen asleep.
Cut to Marlon’s snoring face. Vash’s hands enter the frame to pull a blanket over the man.
Cut to a close-up of a small doll. Vash’s hand picks up the doll.
Cut to a view of Vash from behind and looking at the doll.
Clothing Maker (VO):
You want to see Frank
Marlon?
Cut to a panning shot of the inside of a clothing shop.
Clothing Maker (OS):
Give it up. He’s not the man he
was ten years ago. Now he’s
just a lush.
Cut to the Clothing Maker making measures. We can only see Vash in coat from the waist down.
Clothing Maker:
They say he was once a
genius gunsmith. But he
changed after his wife and
kid got killed.
Cut to Vash’s surprised face.
Cut to montage of stills of bank robbery.
Clothing Maker (VO):
They were in the bank when
it got robbed. But to him the
real tragedy was that he made
the which shot them. Not only
that, he apparently gave them
the guns himself.
Fade from a shot of the F. Marlon Special to the rag doll held in Vash’s hand.
Cut to Vash, doll still in hand, turning slightly to look at Marlon. He suddenly looks nauseous.
Cut to the outside of one room shack.
Sound FX: Vash running to the nearest trash can and proceeding to throw up.
Fade out.
Fade in to Marlon sleeping.
He opens his eyes and sits on the bed for a minute before spotting something. He makes a huh noise.
Cut to the .45 Long Colt lying on the bench near a full ashtray.
Cut to Marlon looking at the gun.
Frank Marlon:
What the… Where’d he
go?
Townsperson 1 (OS):
Oh, my god!!
Marlon turns around, both surprised and confused.
Townsperson 1 (OS):
Vash the Stampede is here!
He’s attacking the armored
car!!
Cut to Marlon’s face.
Frank Marlon:
Vash the Stampede?
Cut to one of the henchmen fired into the air next to a group of tied up drivers.
Cut to a pan of people looking fearfully behind buildings and in stairwells. The pan goes to the Villain’s car.
Henchman 1:
Keep your distance! ‘Cause
this gentleman here is none
other than The $$60 Billion
Man…
Cut to Villain rubbing a large gun.
Henchman 1:
…Vash the Stampede!
Cut to the townsfolk hiding. The mayor is among the people hiding.
Townsperson 2:
Let him be! It he gets mad,
he’ll blow this town sky-high!
Cut to Villain’s face.
Villain:
This is relaxing. All small
town folk should be this
accommodating!
Enter Meryl and Milly holding bags of cash.
Meryl:
E-Excuse me, Mr. Vash? I’m
Meryl Stryfe from the
Bernardelli Insurance Society.
We’re here on behalf on the
company to…
Villain:
Shut up and load the bags!!
Meryl and Milly:
Y-Yes, Sir!
Cut to Meryl and Milly running with the bags of cash in their hands.
Milly:
I feel so pathetic!
Meryl:
I should have brought him a
pack of donuts.
Cut to the car.
Henchman 3:
Get the lead out, will you?
The girls begin to put in the bags of money. They say “Yes, sir.” many times.
Cut to a shot that pans to an alleyway. Vash pops out of a garbage can or at least until his head and shoulders can be seen.
Vash:
Countermeasure No. 1:
Take the place of a
hostage.
Cut to Marlon slamming the lid down. Vash’s eyes water.
Frank Marlon:
Nah!
Cut to Vash’s face. He pops his head up again.
Vash:
Okay, No. 2: Shout
”Earthquake” and create
a panic.
Marlon leans on the lid this time.
Frank Marlon:
Nah again.
Vash stands to his full height in the trashcan, wearing the lid as a hat of sorts.
Vash:
Then what?
Frank Marlon:
I’d go with No.3: Shut up
and let ‘em take the money.
Cut to Vash who looks away.
Vash:
I say thee nay.
The scene shifts slightly to include Marlon in the frame.
Frank Marlon:
Why are you sticking your neck
out?! Keep quiet and you’ll stay
alive! There’ll be less damage!
Vash:
See that little girl there?
Cut to the girl being drug away by her mother.
Vash:
Her mother promised to buy
her something with her money
from the bank.
Cut back to the alley.
Frank Marlon:
You know her?
Vash climbs out of the trashcan, lid still on his head.
Vash:
Nope, I’m making it up.
Vash walks out of the frame.
Frank Marlon:
Why worry about other people’s
money?
Cut to Vash’s back.
Frank Marlon (OS):
What’s in it for you?
Vash:
Nothing at all.
Vash turns and grabs the lid with his next line.
Vash:
Only, this situation is not
equal.
Cut to a surprised looking Marlon.
Cut to Vash walking away.
Cut to people watching the robbery from alleyways. They suddenly turns their heads.
Cut to the bartender. She looks interested.
Cut to the members of the gang looking up.
Cut to Vash walking forward.
Cut to Meryl and Milly watching.
Meryl:
Him.
Cut to Henchman 4 talking to Villain.
Henchman 4:
Big bro!
Cut to Vash’s partially shaded face.
Cut to Vash’s boots as a bullet nearly hits them.
Cut to Vash holding his hands up. A brief pan over the gang.
Henchman 4:
What are you supposed to be,
a hero cowboy?
Cut to Vash’s face.
Vash:
Nah, I’m not that great.
Cut to Vash’s boot stomping and a switchblade popping out. Vash pops a tire with the switchblade.
Cut to Vash looking at the car.
Vash:
Oh, no. You have a flat tire!
You can’t get away in this.
Cut to the angry gang. Villain pulls out big gun.
Villain:
You little…
He begins to fire.
Cut to Vash using the lid as a shield. Vash falls backwards and looks up.
Pan to a laughing henchman.
Vash grabs the gun.
Henchman 4:
Son of a…
Cut to henchman trying to pry Vash’s hand off the gun.
Henchman 4:
Let go, you…
Cut to a smiling Vash who puts the henchman in a headlock.
Cut to two of the henchman.
Henchman 4:
He’s unbelievable.
Henchman 1:
Do you know what’ll
happen if you do that?!
He waves at the villain.
Henchman 1:
This gent here is the much
feared Humanoid Typhoon…
Cut to Villain’s face.
Henchman 1:
…Vash the Stampede.
Cut to Vash.
Vash:
That’s funny… Pardon me.
He does something to Henchman 3’s neck that makes a popping sound. The man groans and collapses.
Vash:
I heard he was more handsome.
Cut to the gang.
Villain:
Are you implyin’ I’m not Vash?!
Cut to Vash’s face.
Vash:
Want to find out?
Pan to Vash’s pocket, where he appears to be holding a gun.
Cut to Marlon. He makes a huh face and then looks discouraged.
Cut back to the standoff.
Cut to Marlon.
Frank Marlon (VO):
Why?
Cut to a zoom in on the villain’s face and then on Vash’s. Both shots only last a couple of seconds.
Cut back to Marlon.
Frank Marlon (VO):
Why?
Cut to Meryl and Milly hiding behind a car.
Meryl:
We’ll use them if we have to.
Milly:
Right!
Cut back to the standoff.
Cut to extreme close-up of Marlon’s face.
Cut to Marlon.
Frank Marlon (VO):
Why?!
Cut to a shot villain and then on Vash. Both shots only last a couple of seconds.
Cut to a woman’s hands holding an F. Marlon Special.
Bartender:
Hold it!
Cut to a surprised Vash and then to a surprised villain.
Pan up a skirt to the bartender’s face. It is she who is the holder of the gun.
Cut to Marlon who starts forward.
Pan across the scene now with bartender pointing gun at villain.
Cut to townspeople in the stairs.
Cut to Meryl and Milly.
Cut to a pan from the bartender’s face to the gun.
Bartender:
This is an F. Marlon! Don’t
think I’ll miss because I’m
a woman!
Cut to the villain.
Villain:
What do you mean, an F.
Marlon? It’s a rusted hunk
of crap! You think you’ll
hit me with that?!
Cut to Marlon’s hand gripping a bottle of whiskey. It is shaking now, a sloshing sound coming from what little is in the bottle.
Cut to Vash.
Frank Marlon (VO):
Why?
Dissolve to the bartender holding the gun.
Frank Marlon (VO):
Why are they doing that?
Cut to Marlon’s hand still gripping the bottle.
Cut to Marlon’s eyes.
Frank Marlon (VO):
Why am I standing here?!
Cut to a flashback of Vash.
Vash:
This situation is not equal.
Fade to a shadow stepping out.
Cut to a surprised villain.
Cut to people coming out, guns in their hands.
Cut back to villain.
Villain:
What?!
Cut back to more people coming out also holding guns.
Cut to the stairwell, where the mayor himself pulls a gun out of his coat.
Cut to a boy holding a stick. He starts forward but Marlon holds him back.
Pan across the now crowed standoff.
Cut to the gang. The villain still holding his gun begins to laugh.
Villain:
You probably think you’ve
won! You think wrong!
Cut to a sequence of him transforming his gun to another form, both comedic and scary.
Cut to a brief shot of Vash’s face.
Cut to the now transformed gun.
Cut to the villain’s face.
Villain:
You should save your aces
for last!
He starts laughing when Marlon apparently shoves a gun to the back of his. The villain suddenly stops. Camera pans to show Marlon.
Frank Marlon:
Checkmate.
Cut to the villain’s face and then back to Marlon.
Frank Marlon:
I can’t shoot you in the back.
Cut to the gun dropping to the ground.
Villain:
You’ll pay for this!
Cut to the gang fleeing town.
Villain:
You’ll pay for this!
Cut to Vash looking at them with this “I can’t believe it” stare.
Vash:
They really stick together.
He turns and makes a huh noise.
Cut to Marlon. The “gun” he was holding was nothing more than a index finger. Marlon grins, looks at the finger before holding it up into the air.
Frank Marlon:
Same gun?
Cut to Vash who grins and pulls out his hand. He was also using the same bluff.
Vash:
Same gun.
Cut to a shoot of the stand out zooming out.
Sound FX: Cheering.
Cut to Meryl and Milly.
Meryl:
That man is absolutely nuts.
Cut to the outside of the saloon.
Cut to a very drunk Vash, tie once more around his head.
Vash:
Here is to all the great folks
who saved the town!
He pumps his hands up in the air in victory.
Vash:
In your eye!
Cut to a pan of the bar patrons. Vash spins into the shot and holds out his glass.
Vash:
Fill ‘er up, lady!
The bartender slams a mug of beer of his head.
Vash:
Fill ‘er up, MISS?
Bartender (OS):
Better.
Cut to Meryl and Milly sitting at a table. Meryl sighs.
Meryl:
What is he doing?
Milly:
But all’s well that ends well.
Damage done to the town: zero!
The chief will probably praise
us!
Cut to Meryl from a side view, close up.
Meryl:
In the end, the bandit was a
fake. We didn’t get to see
Vash the Stampede again.
Milly (OS):
But someone matches his
description!
Meryl looks up.
Cut to a shot of Meryl and Milly. We see Vash walking toward the door. Meryl turns to look at him.
Cut to Vash’s shadow.
Vash (OS):
Gotta find the can…
Marlon (OS):
Stick ‘em up.
Cut to Vash’s back, his arms slowly rising. He turns, grinning slightly.
Cut to Marlon who laughs.
Cut to Marlon’s finger resting on Vash’s shoulder. He removes it and shoves Vash forward.
Cut to a two shot. Vash stumbles and turns around.
Frank Marlon:
I wouldn’t count on this
for everyday use.
Marlon steps forward pulling out the Colt. The difference is the cylinder, which had texture before, is now completely smooth.
Vash:
Huh?
Frank Marlon:
Take it.
Cut to a pan over the .45 Long Colt in Marlon’s hand.
Frank Marlon:
I’ve changed the cylinder and
the hammer, and it’s all tuned
up.
Cut to Marlon watching Vash as he picks up the gun and weighs it in his hand.
Vash:
Thanks.
Marlon turns to the side.
Frank Marlon:
You don’t need to thank me.
But tell me one thing.
Cut to a close-up of Marlon’s face.
Frank Marlon:
Why do you need that gun?
Cut to Vash who looks serious and then goes extremely goofy.
Vash:
I intend to use it for world
peace!
Cut to a view of Vash’s back and Marlon staring blankly. Marlon starts cracking up.
Cut to a once again serious looking Vash. He straightens up and closes his eyes happily.
Cut to Marlon.
Frank Marlon:
If you wear it out again,
come on back! I’ll fix it
as good as new!
Cut to Vash.
Vash:
When I do, I’ll bring bourbon.
Cut back to Marlon.
Frank Marlon:
Nah, I’ve given up alcohol.
I found other things to do.
Cut to Meryl and Milly leaning out a window at Vash and Marlon in the background.
Milly:
What do you suppose they’re
talking about?
Meryl makes a ssshhh sound.
Frank Marlon:
That’s right! I never caught
your name.
Meryl and Milly lean forward.
Cut to a puzzled Vash.
Vash:
Me? I…
His cheeks puff up and he makes this “I’m going to be ill noise.”
Cut to Marlon watching Vash lean again a nearby window and throw up.
Marlon:
You drink too much!
Cut to a disgusted looking Meryl and Milly with her hand over her face, peeking through her fingers.
Vash:
I’m sorry!
Fade to boot prints in the sand. A Tomas foot steps in one of them.
Cut to Meryl and Milly riding their Tomas.
Milly:
You just don’t want to admit
you’re curious about him, ma’am.
Meryl:
I am not.
Cut to Vash walking away.
Meryl:
We just happen to be heading
in the same direction, that’s
all.
Cut to Vash who stops and looks up at the suns, shielding his eyes.
Cut to the suns, Vash holding up his right hand like a gun.
Cut to a close up of Vash.
Vash:
Bang, bang.
Dissolve to the F. Marlon in the bar. The bartender walks under it.
End of Act Three.
Cue credits and episode preview.
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