Chapter 1: A Man Walks Into A Saloon

(Wallace):
My name is Wallace H. Randolph.
I’m from another frontier town called Dusthollow.
We’ve travelled here, to Mountain’s Edge,
to see my older brother Davey –
his daughter’s getting wed.
My wife’s Abi – she treats me well.
Unless I come home drunk then she raises some hell.
Came with our sons, Alvin and Roy.
Al hopes to roam this land, and be a cowboy.
Roy’s more quiet, he keeps to himself.
He reads all that he can –
gone twice through my bookshelf.
I think he’ll follow in my footsteps.

I see ya Sheriff, tryna work out what I do.
I saw that look in your eyes when you noticed my gun.
Ain’t no outlaw, or no lawman,
but I protect my own, despite my busted hand.
I’ve seen my share of war, now I’m a man of peace.
I’m a preacher. I’m just here to wed my niece.

On the way here we got a little lost.
Took the wrong fork off a road and veered miles off.
We kept going, guess what we found.
The most fright-nin looking Injun burial ground.
All bones on pebbles, stacked up waist high,
laid out in circles underneath the desert sky.
I said ‘someone’s been keeping this place real nice.
let’s leave, don’t go messin’ with no burial site’.
We rode off fast, got lucky – and found our way back.

(Wallace is interrupted by the sound of the Saloon doors bursting open)

Chapter 2: The Kidnap

(Messenger):
Sheriff Langley!
Come quickly!
Looks like the Injuns have attacked the Randolph farm.
We found David.
He ain’t quite dead
but it don’t look like he’s gonna last very long.
There’s a spear tip
between his ribs
and so much blood seeping out all over the ground.
He was able
to tell Hazel
what happened before they stabbed him
and fled to the South.

Says they searched through
all his nephews
bags and belongings. They found some animal bones.
Seemed to Davey
they got angry,
tied ‘em all up and dragged them out of his home.
They speared Dave’s chest,
knocked out the rest,
put them on horses and left poor Davey to die.
They ran off with
the two young kids,
their mother, Dave’s daughter, he said
they’re all still alive!

(The Sheriff):
Mr Randolph? Are you with us or you in shock?
Dammit George pour him a whiskey,
whilst I take stock.
Sounds like his boys musta pissed those Injuns off
by stealing some kinda bones
from their little pile of rocks.
If we wanna get em back safe and sound
Wallace here has to lead us to their burial ground.
We’ll need a posse. Gather some boys around.



Chapter 3: Preparations

(Inner Voice of Wallace):
Slowly come out of shock.
Remembering how to talk,
Hand shaking badly.

(Wallace’s voice):
Not sure I know the way.
We went so far astray,
we found it by chance.

(Inner Voice of Wallace):
The Sheriff grabs my shirt:
(The Sheriff):
You want ‘em back unhurt?
You better start thinking!

(Inner Voice of Wallace):
I knock a whiskey back.
Think hard about the track.
Recall a landmark.

The Sheriff goes to find
any brave men inclined
to help our rescue.

Sat there in the saloon.
I look at the moon
eager to give chase.

Going round in my head:
It’s my fault they’re dead…
took ‘em the wrong way.

If I’d kept to the path
Indians wouldn’t have
followed us here.

Stabbed Dave in the chest,
ran off with the rest
of all my family.

Even if they’re alive
can I dare hope to find
them in the mountains?

The deputy returns.
Tells me what he just learned.
(The Deputy):
Your brother has passed.

(Inner Voice of Wallace):
Killed by an Injun spear.
An Injun only here
cos I’m a damn fool.

(The Deputy):
Sheriff’s found four good men
willing to help us when
morning sun rises.

Can’t chase em in the dark.
We’d miss all of the marks
that they’ve left behind.

You should go get some rest.
We’ll need you at your best
if we’re to succeed.

(Inner Voice of Wallace):
Lying here in my bed
worrying that they’re dead
or being tortured.

Chapter 4: The Posse

(Inner Voice of Wallace):
The sun lights up the sky
whilst the Sheriff supplies
each man with a gun.

Ready to chase after
my wife and boys’ captors -
the rescue begins.

Riding across the land -
a rifle close to hand,
following hoofprints.

Sun blazing down it’s heat.
Water quickly depletes.
Sweat in my eyes.

Sheriff and Deputy
riding in front of me,
four men behind us -

Three old boys nearing death,
widows with nothing left
help us with no fear.

The last: a kid called Ray.
My niece’s fiancée.
Too young to be here.

Refused to stay behind
whilst his soon-to-be wife
is in dismay.

The sun begins it’s fall
and landmarks I recall
appear soon after.

A thin and hidden track
seen from the horses back
keeps us on their scent.

Nearing their sacred ground
my heart begins to pound.
We all go silent.

Feel like I’m being watched.
Is there an arrow notched
and aimed at my heart?

Chapter 5: The Attack

(Inner Voice of Wallace):
Suddenly Ray let’s scream!
Arrows pierce his stomach.
The Sheriff perishes.
A spear straight through his ear!

We shoot at random into the bush
aiming at nothing
cos nothing can be seen.

The wailing war cries of the Indians
surround us,
louder than Ray’s dying screams.

Tomahawk strikes my horse.
Falling. Where’s my rifle?
Deputy on his knees.
A blade. Scalp torn away!

The three old boys keep shooting
and manage to wing a couple of attackers
but one-by-one
I hear them fall to the ground…
my head stings, my vision blurs.

I’m surrounded
up in mountains!
No Cavalry to come and save me.
No hope for my family.

The Indians close in,
holding spears down by their waists.
I’ve no weapons.
Why do they hesitate?

Chapter 6: Captured

(Inner Voice of Wallace):
Their leader speaks in tongues that I don’t understand.

(Indian War Chief):
Desecrate our burial ground.
Desecrate our burial ground.
Desecrate our burial ground
for our ancestors?

Desecrated graves and stole bones.
Desecrated graves and stole bones.
Desecrated graves and stole bones
for our ancestors?

Desecrated graves!
When your family came through this way
Desecrated graves!
You stole sacred bones now you must pay!
Desecrated graves!
Desecrate burial grounds…
A sacrifice must always be found!

Desecrated graves!
Angry spirits of ancestors
Desecrated graves!
Won’t be silenced. They can’t be ignored!
Desecrated graves!
Desecrate burial grounds…
A sacrifice must always be found!

Desecrated graves!
Our hunters left to chase you down
Desecrated graves!
Knew you would be heading for that town.
Desecrated graves!
Desecrate burial grounds…
A sacrifice must always be found!

Desecrated graves!
Blessed spirits led you back here.
Desecrated graves!
They want your blood and want your fear.
Desecrated graves!
Desecrate burial grounds…
A sacrifice must always be found!

(Inner Voice of Wallace):
Using rope, they bind my arms and legs.
Make me watch as they cut scalps from the dead.
Unnecessary bloodshed.
Savages to savagery wed.
They pull Ray out from under a horse.
Still alive, fear all over his face.
Blood's pouring out of him fast.
They scalp him alive, shove his skin down his throat.

I fear my end will be far worse.
That I’ll wish it was me who had died first.
The day I rode through here be cursed!
Drag me off, tied behind a horse.

Chapter 7: Tortured

(Inner Voice of Wallace):
They Pull me down a path
into a valley.
Slowly make our way.
Waiting patiently.
An escape attempt
comes to a quick end.
Hit over the head.
They throw me in a cage.
I see my family!
Covered in dirt and filth!
My sons, my wife and my niece
alive, but caged by these beasts.

I see no hope in their eyes.
I tell ‘em “We’ll leave here alive.
We will work out a way to escape.
Be ready – don’t hesitate.”

Before we can make our escape
the Indians return.
The menace is etched on their face.
They grab my niece and Roy.

Strip them naked, violently!
They scream for help,
down on their knees.
Injuns tie them against a log.
The rest of us beg them to stop!

Dragged out and placed on the flames.
They’re burning alive at the stake!
The screams are like nothing I’ve heard.
Screeching as their bodies burn.

I throw my body at the cage.
Shouting in anger and rage!
Despite being made out of wood
not a single pole starts to budge.

Chapter 8: Why?

(Inner Voice of Wallace):
They come back for Al and Abi.
She screams out “Why??” repeatedly.
One Injun speaks some English.

(Injun):
This is our ancestor’s wish.
Ancestor’s Demand Sacrifice.
Ancestor’s Demand Sacrifice.
Ancestor’s Demand Sacrifice.
Ancestor’s Demand Sacrifice.

(Inner Voice of Wallace):
Indians burned my sons alive.
Indians burned my wife alive.
Indians burned my niece alive.
Indians burning me alive.

Chapter 9: Consequences

(Inner Voice of Wallace):
My name is Wallace H. Randolph.
I rode out to rescue those I love.
I stare down at their burning remains.
Emptiness replaces rage.

Their screams are still ringing in my ears.
The screeches, the crying,
the sobs of fear.
Placed over their melting remains.
Relentless heat from a raging blaze!

The flames of the fire blister my skin.
The stench of my own body burning.
Cooked over their smouldering remains.
All I feel is pain, pain, pain, pain, pain!

Every inch of my body is in agony.
I screech like my children did before me!
My skin ablaze, I scream and wail!
AAARRRRRGGHHHHH!!!!
This Rescue Failed!!!!