Gianni Gunwhip

A Good Whip Lashing

EXT. AMERICAN DESERT LANDSCAPE - DAY (1879)

A vast desert landscape with mesas and saguaro cactuses.

In the distance a man rides a horse through the expanse.  A GUNSHOT rings out.  The man is thrown from the horse as it topples.

The man stands and runs for the cover of a large saguaro cactus.

CACTUS

GIANNI, dressed in black and now covered in dust, peeks his head out from behind the cactus.  He scans the distance for signs of his attacker.

GIANNI’S POV

The surrounding hills seem void of people.  Then, suddenly a bright reflection flashes near a large rock.

BACK TO SCENE

Another GUNSHOT rings out.  A large arm of the saguaro cactus explodes, raining pulp on Gianni’s hat and clothes.

Nearby, Gianni’s horse lies bleeding.  Attached to the saddlebag is a large bullwhip.

Gianni looks to the hills, then to his horse, to the hills, then his horse.

ROCK ON HILLSIDE

Two bandits, FECCIA and SCHIUMA, are crouched behind a rock.  They are filthy and unshaven.  Feccia holds a Winchester rifle.  The men laugh as Gianni in the distance takes off his hat and shakes cactus pulp from it.

SCHIUMA

Give me that.  You couldn’t hit the Vatican if you were standing inside it.

Schiuma takes the rifle from Feccia.  In the b.g. Gianni makes a break for his horse.

FECCIA

What are you waiting for?  Kill him!

Schiuma quickly raises the rifle and FIRES.

HORSE

Gianni grabs the whip from the saddlebag as the ground near him is struck by Schiuma’s bullet.

ROCK ON HILLSIDE

Gianni, whip in hand, continues to run.

Schiuma raises the rifle and FIRES three shots in rapid succession.

VALLEY

The ground spits up dirt at Gianni’s heels as Schiuma’s bullets narrowly miss their target.

ROCK ON HILLSIDE

Schiuma aims, squeezes the trigger.  The rifle, now empty, only CLICKS.

SCHIUMA

Bullets!  Now!

The bandits duck behind the rock.  Feccia hurriedly opens his satchel.  He begins tossing bullets to Schiuma.  Schiuma, fumbling them, begins to reload the rifle.

FECCIA

He’s going to get away!

Schiuma finishes loading the rifle.

SCHIUMA

No he isn’t.

He stands and raises the rifle to fire.  In the distance we see only Gianni’s fallen horse.  There is no sign of Gianni.

SCHIUMA (CONT’D)

Where’d he go?

Feccia stands and the men scan the distance.

FECCIA

It’s like he disappeared.

SCHIUMA

Not possible.

The men wait with their eyes trained on the valley.  A fly BUZZES around Feccia.  He waves it away.

SCHIUMA (CONT’D)

Let’s go.  He won’t be any threat with only a whip.

The men gather their gear and prepare to descend the hill.

HILL
Gianni, whip in hand, stands behind the bandits.  The men turn to face him.

SCHIUMA (CONT’D)

How long have you been there?

Feccia goes for the pistol at his side.

Gianni raises the whip and CRACKS it.  The pistol flies from Feccia’s hand.  Feccia holds his bleeding hand.

FECCIA

(in great pain)

Son of a bitch.

Schiuma holds the rifle but dares not raise it.

SCHIUMA (CONT’D)

Please, sir.  This is all a misunderstanding.  We thought you were someone else.

Gianni raises the whip and CRACKS it.  Schiuma’s shirt is shorn and runs with blood.

SCHIUMA (CONT’D)

We have two horses, just over the hill.  They’re yours.  Take our guns, anything.  I apologize for our improper behavior.

Gianni raises the whip.

VALLEY

From the distant hill the sounds of several WHIP CRACKS and their corresponding SCREAMS OF PAIN can be heard.