TITLE OVER BLACK: "COAHUILA, MEXICO, 1913"
WE HEAR the sound of labored breathing and the empty sound of wind and dust.
MALE VOICE (v.o.)
Preparen! Apunten! --
OLD MAN (v.o.)
Wait, wait--take it off. When the ball speeds at my head I want to be able to read my name on it.
MALE VOICE (v.o.)
Esperen!
Rustling sounds and then ext. mexican countryside - p.o.v. - blindfold being removed Directly ahead stands a team of Mexican riflemen lifting their rifles into a safe position. reverse - their intended target An old Anglo man, BIERCE, stands before a stone wall, hands tied behind him. The wall is splotched with dried blood and riddled with bullet holes. A man we may or may not recognize as Gen. Francisco "Pancho" Villa steps in front of the riflemen.
VILLA
The blood of many brave men has been shed on that wall. It should give you some comfort to share in their glory.
BIERCE
I accept that honor.
VILLA
The honor is mine. Any final words?
BIERCE
Death is the end of pain. The last pain.
Villa nods, turns away. Bierce looks straight ahead at his killers.
VILLA
Preparen! Apunten!
Track in fast as they aim their rifles at Bierce's head and chest.
VILLA
FUEGO!
reverse fast track in on Bierce and on the sound of gunfire. A hail of bullets rips through Bierce's body, shredding holes in his clothes and chest, BUT NO BLOOD FLOWS. He looks down at the hole incredulously, then back at the squad and Villa.
VILLA
Untie him. Send him away!
The men go to Bierce to do as they're told.
BIERCE
No, wait. Try again.
Push in on Villa.
VILLA
You can't kill something that's already dead.
The word echoes in Bierce's head.
int. LA TETILLA DEL DIABLO - main room - NIGHT
The place has filled up with patrons and scantily-clad women. The soldiers enter and hook up with prostitutes and order drinks. A band has taken the stage and plays a haunted romantic mariachi tune. BEHIND THE BAR Razor surveys the place. He feels something tugging at his lower extremities. He looks down to see NANO, who's just come out of a small door behind the bar.
NANO
How does it look?
RAZOR CHARLIE
Slow. Maybe we'll get a bite.
NANO
Yeah. Maybe. Maybe bats will fly out of my asshole.
RAZOR CHARLIE
You're not going to do that trick again, are you?
Nano doesn't react, but simply walks out across the bar. An old routine it seems.
int. la tetilla del diablo - BIERCE'S TABLE
Ezra has joined Bierce at his table. Bierce pours Ezra a drink. Ezra smiles widely.
TRAYLOR
Thank you, Mister.
Traylor takes a gulp of booze and sighs at a passing girl.
BIERCE
May I inquire as to how many you have sold?
TRAYLOR
Not a one. I thought, there's a lot of dirt in Mexico. I could make a killing selling brushes and brooms. Tierra Negra's my last hope. If I don't sell there, it's back home for me.
Another girl passes by, makes eyes at Traylor.