Calamity EP8 Rapid City Blues

JANE (V.O.): First thing about Rapid City is, they’re quick to celebrate.

SHERIFF (V.O.): Small towns like to keep their militia close. I’m surprised your girlfriend managed to convince them to help.

JANE (V.O.): So was I...until I stayed for dinner.

Location: INT. JOHNSON RESIDENCE - DAY

GRACE: There you go, eat up, sugar. We got plenty.

JANE: Mmm, Faith was telling the truth about your cooking.

GRACE: Shame she never took after me.

FAITH: I can’t be good at everything.

JANE: Trust me darling, you’re...getting there.

FAITH: Oh hush.

GRACE: Of course she was never much a traveller either. So I dunno how she keeps up with you.

JANE: In more ways than one.

FAITH: Mom, do you still have the sweet tea I sent you?

GRACE: You may be in luck! Hang tight dears.

JANE (V.O.): I didn’t get it at first. Rapid City seemed like an ordinary town, stable, with two loving parents. But Faith wasn’t happy here, she’d been on edge ever since we arrived. She could perform for everyone but I could sense her unease.

SHERIFF (V.O.): You don’t think a certain revelation from a so-called god the other day had anything to do with it?

JANE (V.O.): I...at the time...I wasn’t sure.

FAITH: And that’s...my family...

JANE: They ain’t so bad. Your mom’s a great cook and your dad saved us back there.

FAITH: Yes, I just...don’t think I could ever live up to what they want me to be.

JANE: Happy?

FAITH: Settled. Here in Rapid City I’d only be what they expect me to be. A proud Johnson. A fixer and leader, someone who’s so neck deep in the politics of this place there’s no time for anything else.

JANE: You don’t want the stability of being one thing?

FAITH: I want to see the world, not be stuck here in my ways.

JANE: Well you know if this whole acting thing don’t pan out we could be a travelling kitchen. Learn from your mom. Live off the road.

FAITH: Tempting. And what’ll you do?

JANE: You saying I can’t cook?

FAITH: Can confirm it too.

JANE: Need some help, Grace?

GRACE: No dear, thank you! I’m sure I left it somewhere...

JANE: I mean it you know, everything you need is right here...

FAITH: Not everything...I wish I could’ve met your parents.

JANE: Nah, they were a giant mess of my worst qualities.

FAITH: They left their best in you.

JANE: You can do better, Faith.

FAITH: Is that so?

JANE: Yep. It’s just too bad you’re stuck with me.

FAITH: Wouldn’t have it any other way.

JANE: Good.

FAITH: Though I still wonder why won’t you tell me what’s wrong?

JANE: Wrong? what are you talking about?

FAITH: Ever since Violet’s vision you’ve been trying hard to push me away.

FAITH (CONT'D): You don’t believe in shadow realms do you?

JANE: It’s...the job.

FAITH: Never stopped you before.

JANE: This is different...hunting my friend ain’t easy.

FAITH: Tell me about her.

JANE: She was...someone I trusted a lot. Had my back no matter what, you know? Guess I’m having a hard time imagining her as some sort of traitor turned robber. Then again, seems like neither friend is telling me the truth these days.

FAITH: You don’t believe your lieutenant?

JANE: I ain’t sure who to believe. Elick swears he saw Keema shoot the captain and join the Nomads. Yet Lightfoot says they found her clinging to life before they excepted her. Then there’s the minting plates...I dont know why Elick didn’t tell me she had em.

FAITH: Maybe he didn’t know. You did say he was ambushed that night.

JANE: I know but none of this makes sense. Keema was only guiding them through the terrain, full stop. She was done with the war. She’s got no incentive to steal war plans or turn traitor. I ain’t buying it.

FAITH: You’re worried the woman you’re hunting ain’t the friend you remember?

JANE: There’s that. But also both of my friends can’t be right. Which means one will do anything to get away, including hurting someone I love.

FAITH: You are not alone, my love. We can figure this out if you let me and Dante help you.

JANE: I don’t think he’s fond of my help anymore.

FAITH: Don’t take his outburst at the cabin to heart. He knows you and I are a packaged deal.

JANE (V.O.): As much as I wanted to stay in that moment, I still had to confront Elick.

Location: EXT. JOHNSON RESIDENCE RANCH -DAY

VERNON: That’s all of them, son. Thanks for helping.

ELICK: Least I could do for saving our hides.

VERNON: It’s my duty. You know what that’s all about.

JANE: You boys need a drink?

VERNON: Thank goodness, bless you Jane.

JANE: Here you go. Grace has some sweet tea and pie cooling if you’re up for that too.

VERNON: I’m on my way, come on ya’ll

JANE: We’ll catch up in just a minute.

ELICK: Never thought I’d see you around water.

JANE: Figured I need a clear head to understand why my friend lied to me.

ELICK: What do you mean, Janie?

JANE: No. You do not get to call me that and hide info from me. We’re hunting our friend here, I need all the facts Elick. Were there even any battle plans or is that a lie too?

ELICK: I told you all I know! She’s definitely got the plans. Both enemy and allied locations, everything mapped out for Gen. Miles’ campaign. That part wasn’t a lie.

JANE: Then why didn’t you tell me about the minting plates? you didn’t think that was important when the secret service was all over us?

ELICK: I...hey look I’m here for the battle plans. That’s it. She stole em, killed the Captain for em’ and I need to get em’ back.

JANE: There’s a lot you ain’t telling me. First it’s an ambush. Then she’s a thief. Somehow I’m supposed to believe she’s a murderer too?

ELICK: Look, I can find her myself. If you’d rather...you know...settle here with Faith I’d understand. You didn’t take an officer’s oath.

JANE (V.O.): I took an oath by the way, just not with the rest of the soldiers.

SHERIFF (V.O.): Right, part of Custer’s private cavalry.

JANE (V.O.): You’d be surprised how well women blend in. Keema and I made perfect scouts.

SHERIFF (V.O.): Save it. Even the lieutenant was giving you a way out.

JANE (V.O.): No. He was just testing my patience.

Sound: Jane punches Elick off the fence post.

ELICK: You still got a wicked right hook.

JANE: Don’t you start. I see what you’re doing and I ain’t some duty-bound pup eager to please. I’m finding Keema because I no longer believe you’re telling me the truth. So you can either start talking or stay the hell out of my way. What’s it gonna be?

JANE: I mean it, Elick. Come clean by end of the day or I’m done working with you.

Location: EXT. RAPID CITY FAIRGROUNDS - DAY

JANE (V.O.): I dunno what I’d do without Faith. After Elick and I ‘spoke’ she took me out around town & away from her parent’s questions. She gets me that way, knows when I need to think.

SHERIFF (V.O.): Yet you couldn’t tell her the truth could you.

JANE (V.O.): I just knew I needed to find Keema before Elick did if I ever wanted to figure out where O’Rourke was.

FAITH: Your hand’s swollen, Love. You sure you don’t want some ice?

JANE: You’re beginning to sound like your mom.

FAITH: Only cause you’re acting like a child. We saw you and the lieutenant exchanging more than words.

JANE: I just want the truth from him. That’s all.

FAITH: I know what that’s like.

JANE: Faith...hey...

DANTE: There you are. Faith, you up for a rehearsal? we’re thinking the stage-car heist for the main show. Calamity teams up with Bandits.

JANE: I wasn’t in no heist. It was a rescue.

DANTE: Whatever you say. People here’ll be coming for a show. Action, bravery, better than reality.

FAITH: Give us a minute, Boss. I’ll be right there.

DANTE: Make it quick. It’s a big night for your town and they expect the best. We’re lucky to be included on short notice.

FAITH: Such luck.

JANE: What’s the occasion?

FAITH: Rapid City doesn’t need an excuse to throw fairs. But this one...it’s held every year. Marks the day we became an official town. Merchants & performers arrive from all corners of the world. It’s grown quite a bit since I last saw...

JANE: I can see why you were tempted into acting.

FAITH: I chose acting cause it was the best way to understand people and why they do what they do.

JANE: You don’t like that I keep my war stories to myself. I get it.

FAITH: I don’t like you feeling as if you have to protect me. We’re partners remember?

JANE: I’m working at it. Getting better too.

FAITH: I’ll be the judge of that.

FAITH (CONT’D): But I want all of you. Not just the good, bad and charming.

JANE: Hmm, so there’s still room for ugly?

FAITH: You’re hopeless.

JANE: Here I th-­

JANE (V.O.): She always knew soft lips had the power to shut me up.

FAITH: I’ll catch you later. Be good, & no more punching please.

SHERIFF (V.O.): Was anyone worried about Ft. Pierre and their silence?

JANE (V.O.): If they were, they didn’t show it. Rapid city was all business and entertainment, no one wanted anything to do with tragedy. Only Violet seemed hung up with that. So I paid her a visit.

Location: EXT. VIOLET’S VISION QUEST -DAY

Sound: Knock on door.

JANE: Violet? You awake?

Sound: Jane knocks again.

JANE (CONT’D): Everyone’s setting up. You gonna be okay to-­

JANE (V.O.): Last night she was scared of her own shadow, praying to whatever god was listening. Now...there was cold steel in her eyes. As if she knew exactly what you were planning.

SHERIFF (V.O.): She read you right?

JANE (V.O.): Fraid’ so.

JANE: Hey...Vi...you’re looking better.

VIOLET: Did they setup my tent?

JANE: Yeah, Dante had the boys do it first. Listen, you sure you okay to read ‘fortunes’ tonight? I’d understand if you’re still shook from the other day.

VIOLET: Save your pity. I know why you’re here.

VIOLET (CONT’D): You think I was possessed, not telling you the truth. But that is it, Jane. I told you what you must do because lives depend on it.

JANE: It ain’t that simple...

VIOLET: It is. Your own past shows you what happens when you don’t let go, when you keep trying to hang on to someone who needs to be free.

JANE: Faith doesn’t want me to go. And I ain’t giving her up that easy.

VIOLET: Faith?

JANE: Yeah. I love her and no spirit/demon’s gonna keep me away from her.

VIOLET The spirits were not talking about Faith. I think you know this, Jane.

SHERIFF (V.O.): Is this what they call looking for excuses to end it?

JANE (V.O.): Dream on, Sheriff. I just wished they weren’t talking about the job.

SHERIFF (V.O.): So the ‘spirits’ themselves told you to stop chasing Keema. I’m getting too old for this mess.

JANE: I can’t just leave my friend hanging like that.

VIOLET: Come by tonight, I will show you exactly what you are meant to see.