EXT: SIGNAL, WYOMING: TRAILER: DAY: 1963:
The sun is full up, though it is still early. A gentle
breeze whistles.
ENNIS leans against a dingy trailer house, a crooked sign
above the door says FARM AND RANCH EMPLOYMENT AGENCY.
Smokes, waits. Sees an old pickup with a bad muffler
approaching, and ENNIS becomes aware that the muffler is not
the pickup's only problem. It coughs, sputters, rattles from
several junctures as it pulls into the gravel parking lot of
the AGENCY and dies.
The driver sits a moment in the driver's seat, then gets out
and slams the door of the pickup in disgust.
This is JACK TWIST: like ENNIS, a rough country boy with
little education, but somewhat different in appearance and
attitude, a little less stoic, a little more of a dreamer.
More welcoming, appealing, with a quick laugh. Twenty, but
not as tall as ENNIS, more compact and muscular, thick, dark
hair, worn jeans, bullrider's belt buckle, faded shirt,
stubbly beard, cowboy hat, boots worn to the quick.
Doesn't notice ENNIS. But when he does, he stiffens a
little. Looks at him -- looks away.
Then the two ignore one another completely.
[screenplay]
=aside= Meryl
Thank you.