Back To Catalog Back To Main
 
Suni

Scripts For Sale 

"The Scoundrel of Dagger Gulch"

by D. Chapelle

Some Excerpts:

PRESTON. Excuse me ... I ... I ...(He is suddenly dumb struck at the sight of Daisy.)

FLORA. Is there a problem, sir?

PRESTON (Aside.) The only problem is that I have no idea of how to speak to an angel. I feel hot. I feel cold. I feel like singing, and I feel ill. And I'm feeling it all at the same time. I've never experienced anything like this before in my entire life. Well, except for that really bad case of food poisoning I got in law school. If there is such a thing as love at first sight, boy, this must be it!

FLORA. Sir?

PRESTON. (Still under the spell.) Huh?

FLORA. There seems to be something wrong with him.

DAISY. Golly, I don't think so. (Aside.)I've never seen a handsomer man in my entire life. And his eyes are so kind and gentle. Gosh, I can almost see the faces of our sweet children in his softhearted eyes.

FLORA. Daisy ...

DAISY. (Still under the spell.)Huh?

FLORA. (Looking at Preston and Daisy.) Whatever it is, it must be contagious.

PRESTON. What? Oh, I'm sorry Miss, I should have been watching where I was going.

DAISY. No, it's my fault. I should have been paying more attention to what you were doing. I mean me! Paying more attention to what me was ... I mean I ... more attention to what I was doing.

FLORA. Oh, somebody's got it bad.

PRESTON. Are you traveling far on the train, Miss ... Miss ... ?

DAISY. Darling.

PRESTON. Yes, sweetheart?

FLORA. It's her name, dear. This is my daughter Daisy Darling, and I'm Mrs. Flora Darling.

PRESTON. It is a pleasure to meet you Miss ...(A deep sigh.) Miss Darling. I’m ... I'm Preston Goodly.

DAISY. (A deep sigh.) Very nice to meet you, Mr. Goodly.

FLORA. Daisy, come along. It's time we got to our compartment and unpack. (No response.) Daisy, we have things to do. (No response.) Daisy!

DAISY. What!?

FLORA. We have things to do, and I'm sure Mr. Goodly also has things to do.

PRESTON. Perhaps we might meet later?

DAISY. Perhaps we might.

FLORA. (Aside.) Amazing how quickly she forgot about her father, isn't it? (To Daisy.) Come along dear.


DAISY. A see a horrible man is coming to Dagger Gulch with the intent of doing harm to my poor father.

PRESTON. The cad!

DAISY. This cur is coming to do is evil in the guise of a man of the law.

PRESTON. How dare he! It makes my blood boil when others do harm while they hide behind the law.

DAISY. Then you’ll help me!>

PRESTON. You can count on me. What is the name of this vile yellow cur?

DAISY. I can't tell you.

PRESTON. Fear not for me, dear lady. I have the law and the spirit of goodness contained within the law to protect me.

DAISY. I can't tell you his name because I don't know his name.

PRESTON. Ah, a yellow dog, and too much a coward to even have you know his name.

DAISY. All I know is that he's the assistant territorial prosecutor.

PRESTON. The foul cur dog of a ... He's a what?

DAISY. The assistant territorial prosecutor.

PRESTON. Darling?

DAISY. Yes, dearest.

PRESTON. No, I mean your father. You're father is Dabney Darling, isn't he?

DAISY. You've heard of the case.

PRESTON. You might say that.

DAISY. Then you will help?

PRESTON. Well, in the sense that I'll be sure justice is done. Which, when you think about it, isn't a bad thing.

DAISY. What are you saying, Mr. Goodly?

PRESTON. I'm ... well ... I'm sort of the territorial prosecutor in charge of your father's case.

DAISY. You?! How could you?!

PRESTON. It's my job.

DAISY. Your job is to persecute innocent men?

PRESTON. I don't persecute them, I prosecute them.

DAISY. It's the same thing.

PRESTON. I mean I make sure that justice is served.

DAISY. And how is justice served by harassing one of the finest men who ever walked the earth?

PRESTON. Daisy ...

DAISY. Don't you dare call me by my first name again you ... you mean man! I never want to see you again. (She goes to exit.)

PRESTON. Dagger Gulch is a small town. We're bound to bump into one another again.

DAISY. You bump into me Mr. Mean Man and I'll have you arrested!

PRESTON. Miss Darling, all I do is present the evidence and let the jury decide the truth.

DAISY. (Quickly turning on him as Dirk enters.) It's just like a scoundrel to use others to hide their own cruelty. Good day, sir. (Daisy exits past Dirk.)