The Night of the Golden Spikes

ACT ONE

INT. SITTING ROOM

Same room: brightly lit - five years later.

West and ARTEMUS GORDON are standing, hats in hands.

PRESIDENT GRANT is seated, a lit cigar in his hand as he relaxes.

GRANT

Gentleman, The transcontinental railroad is the last of my predecessors' great plans for this country: and I mean to see it through.

GORDON

President Lincoln proposed the idea of a railroad connecting east and west to Granville Dodge when he was still just a lawyer.

WEST

It is rewarding to know that his dream will be fulfilled, Sir.

(West pauses in thought)

We were there...the night he was murdered.

GRANT

I remember it well: a black night indeed. Jim, I also know you blamed yourself and that's utter nonsense. There was nothing you could have done to stop it: there was nothing any of us could have done.

WEST

It doesn't feel that way, Sir.

GRANT

We can't change past Jim: we move forward. The Union Pacific line is absolutely vital to our continued growth and economic stability as a nation.

GORDON

Which I assume brings us to the matter at hand: the upcoming celebration in Utah?

GRANT

As usual Mr. Gordon, your perception is right on the money. Nothing must interfere with it's completion. My safety aside, I need you and West to pick up the ceremonial golden spikes from the Federal Reserve and make sure they are delivered to Promontory and protected until I arrive for the ceremony.

GORDON

You can count on us Mr. President.

WEST

Rest assured Sir, nothing will prevent us from seeing this through.

GRANT

Good. I'll join you for the ceremony. Safe travels, Gentleman.

They acknowledge.

DISSOLVE TO:

EXT. STREET - DUSK

SUPERIMPOSE: "Promontory, Utah: May 7, 1869"

A temporary western town which went up to finish the transcontinental railroad and will be dismantled when it's finished. There are only a few real buildings occupying the foreground: a hotel, a bank, and a saloon. Tents of every shape and size stretch toward the mountains in the background along the muddy street - wet from recent hard rain.

Stretching over the street, hanging from building to building, SIGNS hang announcing the impending completion of the railroad and the driving of the "last spike". The street is alive with a bustle of Italian and Chinese railroad workers, tourists, and the worst kind of riffraff imaginable come for the event.

INT. WEST'S HOTEL ROOM - MOMENTS LATER

Brightly lit from an OIL LAMP turned up high. Present are West, Gordon, and Grant: dressed for a semi formal reception.

CLOSE ON:

A table which contains the oil lamp; TWO round, wide CANDLESTICKS of metal; and a CUT GLASS VASE which is glowing a pale green color. Gordon's hands hold a TIE SLIDE which he moves toward the vase.

We HEAR a whine coming from the slide.

NORMAL POV

On the wall behind them is a LOOKING GLASS. West is dressed in one of his good suits, so he doesn't need the slide - yet he's dutifully waiting patiently with his hands clasped in front of him through Gordon's demonstration. He tries to be vaguely impressed - though he doesn't understand a word of it.

The slide silences as Gordon moves it away from the vase. He turns the lamp down to normal and the vase's glow dims.

WEST

(easily)

Congratulations, Artie: you invented accessories that identify table wear that glows.

Gordon is thrilled with his little invention. As he moves the slide toward the vase and the whine begins, growing louder as it gets closer to it. Away - and the whine lessens, then silences.

GRANT

Now what's the point of this latest device you are tinkering with, Gordon?

GORDON

(excited)

You see, this slide contains a bubble of low density gas and a wire chamber which can detect when any Q-metal is nearby. The more Q-metal, the louder the tone!

West and Grant are like two parents with a child prodigy. They don't understand any of it, but exchange an amused, patient look with each other.

WEST

And this is important somehow?

GORDON

Q-metal is going to revolutionize the world! One and a half times as dense as lead: bullets will be smaller, faster and penetrate deeper.

West's done it now: there's no stopping him.

GORDON (CONT'D)

It can be used for ballast, armor, weapons: and it's natural florescence makes it invaluable for coloring false teeth, enamel, porcelain...

They can only feign interest so long. They start to move toward the door, West pulling Gordon along..

GRANT

We're late for the reception.

INT. HOTEL HALLWAY - CONTINUOUS

As they move down the hallway...

GORDON

(still pleased with himself)

I'm thinking decades from now they could call this invention the "Gordon Counter".

WEST

I don't know, Artie: are there that many Gordon's to count?

INT. HOTEL RECEPTION ROOM - MOMENTS LATER

A reception that was certainly meant to be gala but, frankly, there are not enough elegant people in town to make it so. There are no tables: it's a standing affair, and the ruffians and townspeople that make up most of the guests are there mostly for the free drinks/food. The few officials stand out in the crowd by their - well, clean and coordinated - attire. They include DAVID HEWES, a Sacramento but down to Earth multimillionaire (think Jim Henson); Arizona GOVERNOR SAFFORD; EDGAR MILLS; REVEREND TODD; GENERAL DODGE, Billy Lambert (Booth in disguise, with hair long hair enough to cover his neck) - a dapper business man who wears gentlemen's gloves, walks with a slight limp and uses a CANE, and photographer ELIZABETH BOWE (Lucy Lambert Hale - Booth's fiance - in disguise) who carries a BOX CAMERA and camera bag (which is too late for the period but this is WWW so we don't care.)

SERVANTS/WAITERS/HOSTESSES wind their way through the guests carrying TRAYS of DRINKS, CIGARS, APPETIZERS. We...

FOLLOW

...a SERVANT balancing a tray of drinks as he passes a TABLE with TWO CHERRY WOODEN BOXES resting on it, both under GLASS..

CLOSE ON:

the glass cube protecting one of the boxes. The box has an open hinged cover and is lined with dark blue velvet. Laying in the velvet are TWO GOLDEN RAILROAD SPIKES - their sides covered with inscriptions.

NORMAL POV

As West, Gordon and Grant ENTER we see that the table has a prominent place in the room and holds a second matching box and cover. (This box contains a SILVER RAILROAD SPIKE and a RAILROAD SPIKE WITH A SILVER SHAFT AND GOLD HEAD.) (There could also be two silver mauls and a railroad tie of California laurel on display somewhere in the room.)

Seeing Grant, those gathered immediately stop enmasse and turn. Lambert/Booth can't resist being a showman and raises a toast to the President.

BOOTH

To the President: Welcome!

The crowd raises their glasses and repeat

CROWD

Welcome!

Grant beams happily, acknowledging the toast.

GRANT

Some of the more prominent citizens begin pressing in on Grant, separating him from the Secret Service Agents.

Reaching out to grab a cigar from a servant's tray as he passes, Grant moves into the crowd jovially.

West and Gordon watch him, resigned to his enjoying the party, and not much concerned.

West's vision is distracted: noticing -

THEIR POV

The several attractive WOMEN in the crowd. END on shot of Hale, camera in hand, taking a photo.

ON WEST AND GORDON

West appears pleased by the guests.

WEST

Guard duty isn't all that - unpleasant.

Gordon's eyes follow West's. His face splits into a wild wolf grin. There is just no other way to describe it.

GORDON

No, my dear man: it is not.

NORMAL POV

Hewes, hovering anxiously over the table with the boxes, motions to the two men.

HEWES

(irately)

Mr. West! Mr. Gordon!

West and Gordon move to join Hewes: West's eyes surveying the room for Grant even as he moves. He does this throughout the conversation.

GORDON

Mister Hewes, your reception seems to be going splendidly. You must be pleased.

HEWES

Pleased?! With these spikes just laying out here for the taking of any - ruffian that decides he wants them? I was told the utmost security would be taken!

Yes: yet another prime assignment for the best Secret Service agents in the division. And they are well aware of that fact.

WEST

(diplomatically)

Under the circumstances this is the safest place for your gold spikes.

GORDON

It's most unlikely that anyone is going to attempt to steal these right out here in the open with everyone watching.

Hewes wavers. West's eyes still survey the crowd throughout the conversation, only half engaging in it.

WEST

The glass is alarmed. The inside of the boxes are alarmed.

GORDON

With an added feature I came up with: if the weight of the spikes varies even the slightest, this room will fill with blaring noise that will wake the dead back in Washington.

Booth approaches and joins the group.

BOOTH

If you are unhappy with the security, you could always take it up with the President, Hewes.

That seems extreme, even to Hewes. He finally relaxes.

Booth's eyes are on West: whom he recognizes.

HEWES

No, no: it all sounds quite copasetic. I'm just not used to all this hullabaloo like you are, Mr. Lambert.

Booth is rolling a cigar between his fingers as he prepares to light it. Four years of hiding in plain sight have not changed the lavish style of this society gent.

BOOTH

Seems like all this hullabaloo is your making.

West eyes Booth: feeling like there is something familiar about the man, but unable to place what it is.

HEWES

Just the ceremony, my dear man. I felt the completion of President Lincoln's last great plan couldn't go by without great pomp and circumstance!

Booth's smile is downright snarly.

BOOTH

I couldn't agree more.

The servant pauses by the men with his tray of drinks. They all reach for one...

WEST

President Lincoln saw the transcontinental railroad as a way unite this country. I made a personal commitment to be here and see that his dream is realized.

...and the servant moves away.

West's visually searching through the crowd again. He notes -

WEST'S POV

- Grant's location chatting with guests again.

HEWES

The success of this project means a great deal to me as well.

NORMAL POV

BOOTH

Which is why you haven't invested a dime in it.

Hale pauses by them with her camera. Hale, a beautiful woman in her late twenties with dark hair and striking blue eyes, has a manner which is subtle brew of flattery, teasing and cajoling; of rapt attention laced with a hints of indifference.

She listens in as they continue.

Gordon comes to his defense.

GORDON

Mister Hewes is a brilliant businessman that has made a fortune on a dozen enterprises...

HEWES

(candidly, lightly)

...and seen them all fail and the fortunes disappear.

No one wanted to go there. But, well, there's no denying the truth.

Hale raises her camera.

HEWES (CONT'D)

It's cathartic to keep failing. Keeps me on my toes.

BOOTH

If you were on your toes, you wouldn't keep failing.

HALE

Gentlemen?

They stop and pose before the spikes.

HEWES

Which is why I left supplying all the rails to you and your business pursuits, Mr. Lambert.

She takes a picture.

BOOTH

Someone responsible had to be entrusted to actually build the railroad.

This is getting downright prickly, and Gordon tries to divert the conversation.

Hale is pulling the photo plate out of the camera, replacing it...

HALE

Another, gentlemen?

GORDON

(through his toothy smile)

All these photos are getting wearisome.

As she takes a picture...

The camera's pov

The four men, but it moves beyond to the Old Servant pausing at a door. He glances back at Hale and...

NORMAL POV

She lowers the camera and pulls the plate out again. It's not having photos of himself taken West is interested in.

HALE

Mr. Hewes guaranteed all photographers complete access and cooperation - even we amateurs.

WEST

(thinly)

Something else we have to thank him for.

She points, they pose, and she clicks the camera. As she lowers it she leaps to Hewes defense with all her feminine wiles turned on.

HALE

This is a media event that is sure to be copied for generations to come! Just think - with the telegraph wires attached to the golden spikes, the completion of the railroad will be heard immediately in both Washington and San Francisco!

West and Gordon are finally not entirely devoted to watching Grant - which is a common effect of her charms. Like a switch being thrown, we see both their charms turn on full throttle.

GORDON

Why, if it wasn't for Mr. Hewes' steam shovels, there wouldn't be a San Francisco...

And they're competing: as usual.

WEST

..not as we know it. The whole business district was created by his initiative. Surely a sight to see.

Hewes watches the scene with delight. Booth, for his part, is apparently bored out of his mind. His eyes drift...

HALE

I've never actually seen it - been there, I mean. Just in photographs is all.

Booth's eyes meet those of -

BOOTH'S POV

- two ruffians, BEN and JERRY.

NORMAL POV

Booth nods to them.

GORDON

Such a lovely lady as you should most definitely see it in person.

WEST

- with a proper escort of course.

It's pretty clear who he's suggesting. She's hooked - apparently.

Behind the group BEN and JERRY begin to argue.

Hale glows.

WEST (CONT'D)

And preparation too. I could brief you on know what to expect: over dinner, perhaps.

The argument behind them grows loud and distracting.

Hale

That would be lovely, Mister West.

WEST

Call me Jim.

Gordon's lost and he gives up.

GORDON

(ruefully)

Be sure to take plenty of photographs.

In an explosion of movement, a fight breaks out between Ben and Jerry. One of them throws a punch at the other and he goes flying backward.

The two men turn immediately to attack others nearby. It was never a fight between them - and immediately the room is a sea of madness as the fight erupts simultaneously between most of the townspeople in the room.

West and Gordon instantly drive toward Grant in opposite directions of the room.

Politicians, servants and women scramble to get out of the way.

Booth quietly ducks out of the room.

West grabs Grant and dives toward a door - dragging him toward safety.

As they arrive at the door, West pushes him to Gordon, who takes Grant out the door...

West turns to block a blow: returning it and knocking the man back. West is immediately embroiled in the fight.

INT. HOTEL HALLWAY - CONCURRENTLY

Dimly lit. Everyone is at the party.

Except -

- the servant shuffles down the hall and opens West's door...

INT. HOTEL RECEPTION ROOM - CONCURRENTLY

The fight continues: it's mass mayhem.

Ben and Jerry are thrown back - or, more accurately, throw themselves - onto the table with the spikes and it smashes under their weight: the glass, boxes and spikes go flying in pieces everywhere.

ALARMS blare and LIGHTS start flashing.

Gordon steps back in through the door (with Grant safely secured now) and grabs a REMOTE CONTROL out of his jacket pocket and silences the alarms and lights.

As the fight continues we

FOLLOW

Ben and Jerry as they grab the freed gold spikes and scramble out of the room through the fighting.

NORMAL POV

SHERIFF WELD ENTERS the room from outside, a rifle (or gun) in hand. He promptly fires it at the ceiling.

The fight immediately ceases.

Weld surveys the room.

WELD

Anyone dead?

The "gentlemen" gathered are more than a little put off by the question. The townspeople are not.

GORDON

No one's dead?! Is that all that matters to you?

Hewes and Booth begin searching for the spikes.

WELD

This ain't the first Hell on Wheels town I been sheriff of, and it ain't gonna' be my last. We've had twenty four murders in last twenty four days.

He surveys the damage in the room.

WELD (CONT'D)

No one died today: that makes it a good day.

West and Gordon are once again thrilled with their assignment. Grant doesn't belong here.

Hewes and Booth find the two silver spikes.

But not the gold ones.

HEWES

The gold spikes: they're gone!

West and Gordon exchange a look. They are unimpressed and unconcerned.

GORDON

I can certainly see how that would be a problem...IF those were the real gold spikes.

HALE

(wide eyed and vapid)

Why, what do you mean?!

WEST

Hewes was right. Leaving them out in the open would have been foolhardy.

GORDON

Which is why we have the real gold spikes tucked away, safe and sound.

The people gathered are rather impressed.

GORDON (CONT'D)

You have our word: not one is going to get hold of the two gold spikes.

Off their faces melting in relief...

INT. WEST'S HOTEL ROOM - CONTINUOUS

The servant at the wall. The looking glass is slid upward, revealing a SAFE that it hid.

The safe is open and the man reaches in: pulls out -

TWO GOLD SPIKES -

FREEZE FRAME

END ACT ONE