EXT. PLAINS
THE GAMBLER smokes a cigar as he trots with THE ROUGE screaming at him to let her down as she is hogtied down to the back of the horse, THE STRANGER and LONER pacing a good deal behind her as they trot onwards.
THE STRANGER
(O.S.)
See the ROUGE would've just stayed there, till the reinforcements came, we couldn't have that. Course she didn't want to come quietly, so we...had to take a more extreme caution...
THE ROUGE
You goddamn sons of bitches let me go right fucking now! Let me go you cocksuckers!!
THE GAMBLER
You fellas believe the mouth on this one?
THE ROUGE
Let me go!!
THE GAMBLER
Fine
THE GAMBLER spurs his horse and the HORSE bucks THE ROUGE screaming as she is bumped and then off of the horse, landing on the ground hard as she screams profanities at THE GAMBLER as he turns his horse around and just laughs, THE STRANGER and LONER trotting up to her as they stop, THE ROUGE looking up as much as she could in her tied state.
THE STRANGER
We've taken you far enough, they shouldn't be able to track us from here on, wherever you go, let it be the right path for you.
THE LONER aims downwards with his throwing dagger and THE ROUGE screams as she closes her eyes, THE LONER throwing the dagger through the bindings, THE ROUGE laying flatter as her arms and legs were freed in the one throw.
THE ROUGE quickly throws the ropes off as she stands, rearing her arm back only to watch THE LONER and THE STRANGER trot by her without even looking at her, THE GAMBLER tipping his hat before turning his horse around and begins on, THE ROUGE looking about the open land with skeptical eyes as she watches the THREE continue onwards, THE ROUGE biting her lip as she looks down to see the DAGGER the LONER had thrown.
THE ROUGE grabs it and rubbing her mouth she tucks it away and runs after them.
THE ROUGE
Hey! Wait up! Wait up you limey cocksuckers!
THE STRANGER peeks back as THE LONER shakes his head.
THE LONER
When you're right sir, you're right.
THE STRANGER
Just had a hunch.
THE LONER
She'll get killed if she sticks with us...
THE STRANGER
Maybe...maybe not.
THE ROUGE catches up beside them as she pants a bit but keeps up a walking pace.
THE ROUGE
You fool's were really planning on leaving me out here?
THE STRANGER
There are three towns that are waiting for you in any direction.
THE ROUGE
Well what If I don't want to go to any of them fuckin' towns? Have you ever thought about that?
THE STRANGER
And what really has you wantin' to go where we're going?
THE ROUGE
Depends on where you're going?
THE STRANGER
The MOUNTAIN OF MADNESS.
THE ROUGE
...You...I...what? Why in fuckin' hell and tar-nations would you want to go there?!
THE LONER
We need their help.
THE ROUGE
AM I missing something here, I feel like I'm missing a huge part?
THE STRANGER
Turn around and go back, find one of the towns, find a train, and get as far away from us as possible.
THE GAMBLER
Or not...
THE LONER
It's your choice.
THE ROUGE stops in her tracks as they continue on, THE ROUGE contemplating as she looks backwards and then forwards, a determined look on her face.
EXT. THE ROSE
The STRANGER pours them another shot.
THE STRANGER
So she followed, naturally, and we filled her in on everything she was getting into.
PATRIARCH
How'd she take that?
THE STRANGER
I'd say...rather well...
EXT. PLAINS
The MOON was out as the STARS littered the evening sky, a small fire was lit in the middle of a grassy knoll as the horse we already down for the night, THE GAMBLER spinning the 4 of DIAMONDS PLAYING CARD in his hand as THE LONER was sleeping, hat over his eyes as THE STRANGER and THE ROUGE were sitting by the fire, throwing twigs and rocks into it as they stared up into the sky.
THE ROUGE
So the DESCENT...They're really coming back for you guy's huh?
THE STRANGER
Yeah, so is foretold.
THE ROUGE
How can you fight fate?
THE STRANGER
By just trying to fight back. If you just accept it, you're not really living, you're just existing. I no longer want to just exist. I need to live. I want to live....and the only way to do that...is to fight back.
THE ROUGE
You're not afraid of dying?
THE STRANGER
Not now, I'm sure I will be. I don't have the time to be afraid, If I do...who knows if I'll ever really be able to face what I have too. Fear is the ultimate killer of man, if we fight it, suppress it, we as a species can overcome nearly anything.
THE ROUGE
Nearly?
THE STRANGER
Yes.
THE ROUGE looks up at the sky as THE STRANGER tosses another rock into the fire, staring at the flames intently.
EXT. ROAD PASS
THE FOUR stare downwards at a ROAD PASS that leads into the MOUNTAINS. The STRANGER looking about as THE ROUGE looks at the multiple directions they could take.
THE ROUGE
Ummm...
THE GAMBLER
Well this isn't quite what we planned.
THE STRANGER
I don't know which path we should take?
THE LONER surveys the area, and notices something before anyone else. THE LONER pointing down the far end of the right sided trail.
THE LONER
There!
The other 3 turn as they watch a STRANGED DRESSED MAN come towards them, a MASK covering the top part of his face as he was wearing a jacket covered in buttons and a TOP HAT, along with white fingertip cut off gloves with a CANE that had a RUBY as a handle.
THE ACTOR
I am known as the ACTOR, it is a pleasure to finally see some guests. Come! Your presence has been warranted for many many years, young viewers.
THE STRANGER
We're looking to go to the...
THE ACTOR
I shall take you anywhere you need to go, but first, you must follow me, the show is about to begin.
THE ACTOR spins his CANE and with a smile he turns, whistling as he begins walking down the path, THE GAMBLER raising an eyebrow.
THE GAMBLER
I don't like this at all...
THE STRANGER
Me too...
THE STRANGER angles his horse and begins down the path, THE ROUGE tapping him as she was sitting behind him.
THE ROUGE
Are we really going to do this?
THE STRANGER
Don't really have a choice.
The FOUR begin following behind the ACTOR.
End of Part 10