Texas Drifter: Legend Texas Transparent Rose

Library Entry # 731

Marshall’s Law Dateline – Texas Drifter: La Leyenda de la Rosa Transparente de Tejas; translation for you only English talkers: Texas Drifter: Legend Texas Transparent Rose.

Reference Notes:

1. Latin prefix for transparent is “trans” and its variant “tra” which means across. Prefixes are small elements which begin words, attaching to a word’s main part, or root adding to the meaning of the word in some way. Words with prefix “trans” involve something having to do with going through or being “across”. Transparent of light going fully “across” allows light to pass through without interruption or distortion so objects can be clearly seen from both sides.
2. Texas Grizzly (Ursus texensis Merrian) Trans-Pecos mountain area – Davis and Chisos Mountains where last known Texas Grizzly was reportedly killed in 1900.
3. Ysleta – Ysleta del Sur Pueblo within municipality of El Paso, Texas is recognized as the oldest continuously operated parish in the State of Texas.
4. ApacheLipan Name: Maa-Ya-La Nalin – “grandmother” plus “maiden” as it seemed no “brave” would want to marry “one” with deformed foot.

Players:

(Three good guys – two spiritual brothers plus one gate opener)
Older Spiritual Brother –SB1
Younger Spiritual Brother – SB2
Resident Retired Bounty hunter – BH
(Two bad guys – two prison escapees)
Escaped Convict – EC1
Escaped Convict – EC2
Last Texas Grizzly – Bear
(Three walk on guests)
Sheriff as Sheriff
Journalist as Journalist
Attorney as Attorney
(Chinati Mountains as Chiati Mountains

Screenplay Concept Parts:

Introduction
Act I
Act II
Act III
Epilogue

INTRODUCTION

(Two Spiritual Brothers in their brown vestments approach what some used to call shack in its glory days)
SB2: (Recall younger of two Spiritual Brothers) Hope he smells better than his residence.
SB1: (Older Spiritual Brother feels for door with his sight stick then opens door) “My senses tell me probably not” then ask resident “Are you alive or dead?”
BH: (Resident squints and uninvited visitors, and snaps) “You are too late”.
SB1: Too late for what?
BH: Save my soul.
SB1: Never too late for that – We came to seek your services for what locals call “pistolero privado”.
BH: You are about ten years late for that what time is it?
SB1: Mid afternoon
BH: No wonder my head hurts – My day starts half past sundown with two home made whiskeys for breakfast-Mind pouring little of my breakfast in that cup on the table?
SB1: No – Mind if I add home remedy to relieve your headache?
BH: Your remedy – Whatever makes you happy?
SB1: Last thing resident hears before dozing away is) We will finishing talking tomorrow.

ACT I

SB1: We are back to finish our talk.
BH: you again; first things first, little breakfast. (Before first sip of breakfast reaches his stomach; Resident started vomiting like never before in his entire life) That never happened before.
SB1: Home remedy you said I could give you yesterday, guarantees that what you just experienced; will happen every time any Satin beverage touches your lips.
BH: Why would you do that to me?
SB1: I need to be able to depend on sober pistolero privado.
BH: Why me?
SB1: Know man in this picture?
BH: Sure delivered him to prison some time years ago.
SB1: Do you know about legend of transparent rose?
BH: Not enough to say yes.
SB1: Let your stomach settle while I tell you about real history.
SB1: La Leyenda de la Rosa Transparente de Tejas is call legand to keep mischievous tourists away from one of Heaven’s most precious miracles.

(SB1 continues) Maa-Ya-La Nalin was named grandmother maiden whom no “brave” would marry because of Nalin’s deformed foot. Nalin was separated from her family while her tribe was migrating further south. Nalin meaning “maiden” is what we Spiritual Brothers called the child.

While seven year old Nalin was lost wandering the desert “of little rocks”; a group of Yankee conservative Republican carpetbaggers fleeing one Texas Ranger for unspeakable crimes against Southerners during Reconstruction found Nalin. The Yankee conservative Republican carpetbaggers mistook Nalin’s Apache Lipan words for speaking in tongues to Satan; and cut out the seven year olds tongue and left her to die by vultures.

The Texas Ranger tracking the Yankee conservative Republican carpetbaggers, found Nalin and rushed her to our Spiritual Brothers’ camp; before continuing his search for modern day Americans some call corporate fascists Republican establishment ruling class aristocrats, and other describe as Robespierre want to be conservative celebrities who devote their lives to being false prophets. Rumors suggest that Yankee conservative Republican carpetbaggers that mutilated Nalin learn about West Texas justice.

All efforts to save Nalin’s life seemed futile, as the child seemed to be dying from lack of weill to live. One day, an unknown passer-by left a single rose bush is small had woven basket for the child. Nalin’s health changes as almost by a miracle when the following morning there was a single white rose. My elder Spiritual Brother told Nalin that caring for the rose plant was her responsibility.
Nalin devoted her entire existence to caring for what she called her “Sister Rosa”. As years just passed on by; word spread of Nalin’s perfect roses and most heavenly smile. Eventually her rose petals became valued as memories of Nalin’s smile among local few and far apart occasionally drifting through indigent residents.

One day, Senior Spiritual Brother sensed trouble coming with hot winds out of Mexico. His intuition led him to believe that Pancho Villa and his army of gangster bandits were coming to the spiritual Brothers camp.

Pancho Villa’s reputation was that of a vicious sadistic outlaw which is called terrorist in contemporary times. Seems Pancho Villa enjoy robbing and murdering priests for church’s meager assets that Villa claimed he needed more than the poor. Villa also had a reputation of personally committing atrocities on Nuns, women, and girls that are too horrible for this spiritual Brother to describe.
My Elder Spiritual Brother knew Pancho Villa was always more sadistic and evil against all Texans regardless of their ethnic or cultural backgrounds.

Elder Spiritual Brother told Nalin, take Sister Rosa and go to the cave; stay there until I personally come for you. My Elder Spiritual Brother told his younger Spiritual Brother, me, to seek refuge in another cave.

No one is sure what happened; Nalin must have been struck by a ricochet bullet from one of Pancho villas children of Satan bandits. After what seemed like eternity, I cautiously left my cave to find body pieces left by Pancho Villas bandits’ machetes of Elder Spiritual Brother’s almost unidentifiable corpse. I then went to check on Nalin. What I saw was Sister Rosa resting next to the wound in Nalin’s side.

The rose had soaked up seemed like every drop of Nalin’s blood, and had turned every single petal on every single rose, even the tiniest buds totally transparent. My continued inability to turn away from the transparent roses caused me to lose all my eyesight.

As if by miracles, my senses adapted to allow me to fulfill my responsibilities; which started with burying Senior Spiritual Brother’s body parts in cave next to the cave where I buried Nalin; who rests near her Sister Rosa that Nalin’s spiritual life force and blood eternally nourished.

Eventually other Spiritual Brothers came to check on us; and decided that the rest of my ministry would be to serve the hallowed ground with the transparent rose in virtual solitude. Duties which I have fulfilled from that day; until those two evils seeking evil on you evicted me from caring form the hallowed ground my destiny chose me to serve.

I could not have stopped those soul less animals that murdered my Senior Spiritual Brother, nor could I have stopped those Yankee conservative Republican carpetbaggers that mutilated Nalin, and left her for dead; about my only hope I have left is that I can inspire and motivate you to evict the evils preventing me from honoring my sacred obligation to care for Nalin’s transparent Sister Rosa.


SB1: Explain why man in picture hates you so much, that he is willing to destroy innocent people.
BH: He wanted me to kill him rather than take him back to do time in prison.
SB1: His missing arm?
BH: Traded his life for it - I will go with you to finish what I left unfinished – when do we leave?
SB1: Leave sundown tomorrow
BH: Not enough get ready time – Need week to dry out – two weeks at least to get some skills back.
SB1: Sundown tomorrow
BH: I do not even have a weapon.
(Junior Spiritual Brother tossed Bounty Hunter old sack)
BH: (Unwraps sack looks stunned) My old tools - where did you find them?
SB1: Where found is not important; what is important, you have one less excuse to delay finishing your job.
BH: You have lots of faith in me depending on me to lead you twenty miles across little rocks desert to base of mountains.
SB1: No you have faith in me, I am leading you on moonless night – actually about four hundred thirty two steps less that twenty miles to foot of Chinati mountains trail we will follow to where we are going.
BH: Why at night?
SB1: Think like you did before you stayed drunk all the time. Cooler plus evil waiting for us cannot see us approaching.
BH: What about practicing my reflexes?
SB1: You will have nice walk tomorrow to practice your reflexes. Better get some sleep tonight; we leave sundown tomorrow, and there will be little time for sleep until you get back.
SB2: (Asks) Thought men like you all had notches on your guns?
BH: do not need notches to remind me of how many I killed; that is what my liquid breakfast used to be for; until your friend ruined that.



ACT II

(Group of three good men started walk towards mountains shortly after sundown)
BH: Why does Spiritual Brother Two hardly ever talk?
SB1: Cannot learn when talking unless asking questions. You might start using our walking time to refine your drawing and pointing skills.
(No words were said for what seemed like hours plus some; only sound was Bounty Hunter drawing and holstering his weapon.)
(The Older Spiritual Brother stopped after what must have been four hundred thirty-two steps less than twenty miles.)
SB1: (Whispers) wind is right – We rest here to sunrise –No more sharpening reflexes – No talking – No noise.

ACT III

SB1: Breeze is still right – Sun will be at your back by mid- morning – No more sharpening your reflexes – Stay quiet – Do not step on loose rocks.
BH: Other trail looks shorter.
SB1: Smell slow moving almost dragging death
BH: I do not smell anything.
SB1: Only because you are not blind – Check your binoculars on second ridge – what do you see?
BH: (Scans second ridge) biggest bear I have ever seen dragging what is left of a mule – Thought last Texas Grizzly was killed years ago?
SB1: Not her cub who I moved here to get away from most farmers and ranchers who lack any respect for life beyond their plants and livestock – Path to right.
SB1: (Several hours and many counted steps later) finally we have arrived – You will challenge one armed evil with sun at you back – Then I will evict his blind evil partner from Hallowed grounds – Your job should be behind those rocks.
BH: Stay low, time to earn my meager wages.
BH: (Shouts) Any worthless cripples here waiting for me?
EC1: You alone bounty hunter?
BH: Don’t need posse to put cripple like you out of my misery.
EC1: misery – What do you know about misery? Know what it is like being one armed man doing hard time?
BH: don’t know; don’t Care - Don’t want to know - Don’t want to care about cripple like you.
EC2: (From one cave) That him boss?
EC1: Shut up you blind fool.
BH: You going t shoot at me behind those rocks; or face me like whole man?
EC1: I am coming out you drunk. (Steps from behind rocks)
BH: You’re right I was a drunk; and would still be a drunk; if you had not threatened innocent people.
EC1: I spent every waking and sleeping minute last nine years planning how to get to this day where I can shoot you down like the mongrel dog you are. One question before I kill you; why didn’t you kill me when you could, bounty was same either way?
BH: Thought cripples like you deserved little more suffering.
SB2: (Whispers) what is he doing?
SB1: Quiet – Making him angry.
EC1: That’s enough of your insults! (Cripple grabbed for his gun while Bounty Hunter drew and fired)
EC1: Cripple looked stunned as he looked at his good shoulder and screamed –What have you done? Why didn’t you kill me?
BH: Tried, old gun must shoot high and to right.
EC1: Kill me you owe me.
BH: No Problem (As he eased back hammer on his weapon)
SB1: Stop, I did not bring you here to murder Cripple.
BH: Why Not?
SB1: Two reasons, you work for me and I say no. Second, cost you seventy thousand dollars cash.
BH: How?
SB1: as you call him needlessly murdered three prison guards during his escape. State of Texas will pay seventy-five thousand alive and five thousand dead.
BH: His partner?
SB1: Texas don’t care much about him; five either way.
BH: Want me to go in and evict Cripple’s partner?
SB1: I do not need any sighted man help me to evict some blind fool.
BH: Maybe we should go into business?
SB1: We already have and I am your boss.
(Shortly after Spiritual brother enters cave; Blind prison escapee comes flying out screaming “Keep him away from me”)
SB1 (Exits cave and looks without being able to see at Bounty Hunter) Told you I did not need your help.
SB1: Bandage cripples shoulder; put secure rope leggings on both; take ten feet of rope and put one hangman’s noose on each of your prisoners’ necks. – That way if one falls or tries to run he will strange the other for State of Texas. After your chores are done, head back using same trail we came in on – You should make it to sheriff’s office shortly after sundown. My younger Spiritual Brother and I have much to do – So time to get about doing our chores.
BH: What about bounty money?
SP1: whatever Texas pays you is yours to keep.
BH: (After securing his prisoners) We are leaving Boss – Ever need anything let me know. (Looks at younger Spiritual Brother) At you service offer to help includes you too.
SB1: We do not have time for talking.

(Bounty Hunter after following his prisoners for seemed like over an hour)
EC2: I am tired and need to rest.
BH: Five minute break no talking.
BH: (After short while) Get up let’s move.
EC2: Make me, I‘d rather be shot than taken back to hang; so make me.
BH: Ok, if that is what you want (shoots EC2 in ankle)
EC1 – Are you crazy – I can’t carry him down this mountain.
BH: Won’t need to – We are taking this trail back; and EC2 is crawling down that other shorter trail. – That way I do not have to worry about him trying to sneak up on me.
EC1: What about this rope neckless?
BH: No problem (Draws and shoots rope about two feet from Blind Convict’s neck; then pick up loose end and jerks cripple over to one side.
BH: (Points pistol at blind escaped convict and cocks hammer – You hear that? – Start crawling or I might shoot your good ankle.
(EC2: starts crawling down shorter path, when Bounty Hunter gives him slight boost with his boot.)
BH: (To EC2) You make it to bottom; Mexico is not that far into the wind.
BH: Few minutes to rest to be sure your blind partner does not try to double back – Do not say one word to me before we arrive at Sheriff’s office.
(Half hour or so Bounty hunter and his remaining prisoner heard EC2 death curdling scream)
BH: Guess your partner met Texas’ last native Grizzly Bear; maybe there are some terrors worse than hanging?
(As cripple start to say something Bounty Hunter cracks EC1’s jaw with barrel of his weapon)
BH: I told you to be quiet; may for the best as you cannot write or tell anyone about what exists on the mountain – That is before Texas hangs you.

(Bounty Hunter arrives at Sheriff’s office with his one prisoner)
Sheriff: Your prisoner is pretty banged up.
BH: Poster said dead or alive nothing about banged up. My prisoner is alive.
Sheriff: What about his blind partner?
BH: This one alive is worth more that both dead. He escaped; I did not want to leave my money fugitive and go look for a prisoner that I could not carry or drag back. Kind like math problem – Not claiming any bounty for one that got away.
Sheriff: you must be getting old; to let blind man escape. Good enough, here is your receipt for your delivered alive prisoner. – Expect you to take long bath before you come back to pick up your reward money.
BH: Deal – suppose you could spot me twenty for new clothes; bath; food; few supplies to clean up my old house; and no whiskey.
You quit drinking here’ forty
BH: Thanks for forty – Why I quit whiskey too sad of story to repeat.
Sheriff: You back in Bounty business; got some new poster in?
BH: No Sir – Think I will use my money to get into ranching.
Sheriff Never thought of you as cowboy.
BH: Never thought of me staying sober – Later Sheriff

EPILOGUE

(Hallway outside Probate reading of Bounty Hunter turned Rancher Last Will and Testament)

First Extra to Counselor: Have minute freedom of press includes knowing what “Item Three” was about?
Second Attorney to Journalist: what leaving northwest section of one of largest ranches in Texas to Spiritual Brothers? I was only his lawyer not his trusted friend – Good day – Excuse me - (Turns to greet young but decades older Brother now wearing patch over one eye.)
SB2: Thank you for all your help and faith – Helps us keep our faith.
Attorney: Just doing my duty “at his service” – Two things I did not mention during reading of probate. My client has set up sizeable legal trust fund to help Spiritual Brothers when and if necessary. Second, I have a paper box with my client’s your benefactors ashes in it. He said you would know where to place them. May I ask you a question about my client?
SB2: You would not likely understand why; I would be thrilled to try and answer your question.
Attorney: why was my client and your benefactor so devoted to Spiritual Brotherhood?
SB2: You already know, you said you were just doing your duty “at his service’; perhaps your client was loyal because he felt Spiritual Brothers were doing their duties “AT HIS SERVICE”. You are welcome to visit our service area camp site anytime you like – I totally enjoy conversations with intermittent questions.

End: La Leyenda de la Rosa Transprente de Tejas

Assignment question: Bounty Hunter who turned ranch owner was a hard man surviving hard times best he could with what he knew. TRUE or FALSE
Clue: Perhaps lesson of story – America’s future like America’s history; depends on unselfish exceptional Americans motivating individual American patriots to exceptional deeds.

Bonus question – What was significant about younger decades older Spiritual Brother wearing one eye patch? Answer can be one simple thought.