vw     #A-33578                 20


33     SHOT - TOP OF GENERAL STORE - FAVORING SIGN                   33

       reading: "Bartleby & Son - 1st Class Burials - Services For
       the Dead - Pickup and Delivery - Satisfaction Guaranteed."
       Caught by the wind, it is wrenched loose, swaying precariously.


34     DOWN ANGLE - STRINGFELLOW AND LITTLE GIRL                     34

       He continues to walk toward her.  She holds out her hands to
       him.  Suddenly, as if instinctively warned of his peril he
       blances upward, freezes, camera zooming in on his horror-
       stricken face.


35     STRINGFELLOW'S POINT OF VIEW - FALLING SIGN                   35

       as it comes hurtling downward.  A throttled scream!

                                                   ABRUPT CUT TO


36     INT. UNDERTAKER'S PARLOR - NIGHT                              36

       Toward the Undertaker as he lowers a casket lid, then turns
       to survey Rolpho who stands a few feet off.  A single kero-
       sene lantern burns on a crate.

                                UNDERTAKER
                 You a kin?
                        (as Rolpho shakes
                        head)
                 Well, I'll leave you in here...to
                 pay your respects.  Bring the lan-
                 tern when you come out.  He ain't
                 gonna need it.

       He moves to the door, pauses, looks back, frowning puzzledly.

                                UNDERTAKER
                 Can't understand it.  That sign
                 missed him by a good foot.  Heart
                 just quit on him, I reckon....

       He exits.  Rolpho takes a few slow steps to the casket, then
       slowly lifts the lid and looks down at the lifeless face of
       Stringfellow.

37     UP ANGLE - ROLPHO - FROM CASKET                               37

       He stares down.

                                ROLPHO
                 Fool old man...thought you was
                 smart...thought everybody else was

                                                   CONTINUED

vw     #A-33578                 21


37     CONTINUED                                                     37
                                ROLPHO (Cont'd)
                 sheep.  Turns out, you're the
                 dumbest of all.  And the biggest
                 sheep of the flock!

       Then he very slowly lowers the casket lid, turns, moves out
       of the room.


38     EXT. STREET - NIGHT                                           38

       Rolpho comes out of the undertaking parlor, carrying the
       lantern.  He moves over to Stringfellow's wagon, stares at
       it for a moment, lays the lantern aside, unhitches the horse,
       then picks up the lantern and flings it into the interior
       of the wagon.  There is a puff of smoke and flame as kerosene
       ignites and the wagon starts to burn.  Camera closes in on
       Rolpho as he stands staring at it, his face criss-crossed by
       the pattern of flames.  Snyder comes out of the hotel with
       other people to stare.  Snyder moves to Rolpho, looks toward
       the burning wagon, then to the big giant.

                                SNYDER
                 What'd you do that for?

                                ROLPHO
                        (turns, very softly)
                 Why not?  Nothin' in there worth
                 anything.
                        (looks toward Under-
                        taker's parlor)

                 Nothin' in there worth anything
                 either.

       Then he turns back to watch the burning wagon.  Camera pans
       over to the wagon and we see the flamboyant lettering
       start to shrivel and brown like dying snakes until it is
       totally obliviated.  Panning on, camera holds the sign lying
       in the street where it was toppled by the wind.  It is all
       but sand.  Only one line is readable:  "Services For The
       Dead."

                                                   FADE OUT



                              THE END