Gianni Gunwhip
Claudia
EXT. HOUSE BY RIVER - DAY
An oasis in the surrounding desert. An idyllic scene with a modest house and sparkling river. Trees sway. Birds sing.
RIVER
CLAUDIA, a beautiful woman in prairie dress, is at the river, washing clothes.
She puts the last of the laundry in a basket and stands. With the basket on her hip she looks into the distance. Her eyes sparkle like the river, but on her face is an undercurrent of loneliness and worry.
CLOTHES LINE
Claudia hangs the wet clothing on the line. Briefly, she glances into the distance.
THE DISTANCE
Two horses trot tiredly toward the house. On top of one of them is a man in a cowboy hat, Gianni.
CLOTHES LINE
Claudia drops the basket and begins to run toward the figures in the distance.
THE DISTANCE
Gianni kicks the horse. The horse bucks and WHINNIES and begins to run.
NEAR HOUSE
The couple meet near the house. Gianni stops the horses and dismounts. Gianni and Claudia embrace passionately.
CLAUDIA
I thought you we’re gone for good this time.
(beat)
Why do you do this to me?
She steps back and looks at Gianni.
CLAUDIA (CONT’D)
You’re filthy. Just look at you.
(beat)
You must be starving.
INT. DINING ROOM
Gianni sits at the table. An empty plate is in front of him. There is a place setting for Claudia.
Claudia comes in from the kitchen carrying a large wooden bowl filled with spaghetti and meatballs.
Without warning she spills the entire contents over Gianni’s head.
Gianni calmly wipes the noodles and sauce from his face, though food remains on his shoulders and in his hair.
CLAUDIA
I suppose you’re back to your old ways? Is that it? Tell me. Where did those horses come from?
(beat)
And those guns! I never want to see another gun as long as I live. You promised, Gianni. You promised.
She wipes his face with a napkin.
CLAUDIA (CONT’D)
I don’t understand why you go out to that desert. You have everything you need here at home. It’s dangerous. I wonder sometimes. I worry and I wonder. What can it possibly offer you?
GIANNI
It’s the only place I can get any thinking done.
CLAUDIA
And those guns, Gianni. Where did you get them? You promised you’d never--
GIANNI
They’re not mine.
CLAUDIA
Not that I like the whip, but it’s a compromise. I suppose I can’t have you going out there with nothing to defend yourself. But I don’t like it, the whip. I like it only slightly more than I do the guns. That’s not saying a great deal, I know. But a gun and a whip together! Oh, no. I couldn’t live with that knowledge. One thing I most definitely do not want to see is a gun tied to the end of a whip. A gun that fires at the end of a whip when you crack it. It’s too horrible . . .
Gianni reaches out and puts a finger over Claudia’s lips, silencing her.
GIANNI
Claudia, darling.
He pulls her down onto his lap.
GIANNI (CONT’D)
You worry too much.
They kiss.
EXT. HOUSE - SUNSET
Gianni stands outside near a large rock, emptying the guns he had relieved from the bandits. He lets the bullets fall to the ground before dashing the weapons against the rock, breaking them.
EXT. AMERICAN WESTERN TOWN - DAY
Two shadowy figures walk into town. Passersby stare. Mothers take their children by the hand and usher them away.
INT. SALOON
The shadowy figures push open the saloon doors and step inside. They walk to the bar. A BARTENDER hurries to attend them.
BARTENDER
Chianti?
We see that the figures are Schiuma and Feccia. They are badly sunburned. Their clothes are tattered, torn, and stained with dried blood from the lashing inflicted upon them by Gianni. Schiuma has a large, red scar running diagonally across his face. Feccia has a swath of filthy shirt tied around his injured hand. Their lips are cracked and peeling.
SCHIUMA
(croaking)
Water.
The bartender pours them two waters. They drink them down voraciously.
SCHIUMA (CONT’D)
Whiskey.
The bartender, after searching through the numerous bottles of wine behind the bar, produces a dusty bottle of whiskey. He pours two shots, which the men drink.
BARTENDER
Can I get anything else for you fellas?
SCHIUMA (CONT’D)
We’re looking for a man.
FECCIA
A man with a whip.
