The Land Of Dust

(Synopsis)
A Short Film
by Thom Chacon

A young widow confronts violence and death while trying to mend relations with her father, a harsh boom-town lawman.

ISABEL CHACON (17) is a widow and mother to nine-month old, ALEX. She sits at her desk writing in a journal by candle light. Isabel’s estranged father, the hard-hearted lawman, PETE CHACON (61) trots his bay gelding up to a hitching post at Isabel’s farm. Pete lets down from his horse. His spurs jingle in odd rhythm as he limps toward the one-room house. Pete knocks then hollers through the door. “Shawn Daley is on his way! He’s got men with him.”

Isabel gets up from her table and puts her ear to the door. She tells her father that he isn’t welcome there. She stands resolute, cursing Pete’s very existence. Pete continues, "I’d like to meet my grandson and have some coffee if you can spare it?” Isabel ignores her father’s request. She asks why he wouldn’t speak to her for two years. Why he never accepted her marriage to Jim who was recently killed in a mining accident. Pete is silent as he presses a hand to his flank and watches blood drip on to his boot. In the distance he spies a line of dust rising from the desert floor. He puffs his cigar and wipes his forehead with a kerchief as he moves to his horse. Isabel loads a shot gun and walks out her front door to find Pete face down in the dirt. Isabel kneels at her father’s side. Feeble, Pete sits up. His cigar is mangled but still hanging from his mouth. Isabel tries to stifle a giggle but fails. Pete throws his cigar at the chickens. “God damn it!” Pete’s gutted cough turns into a raspy chuckle. The two share a brief moment of ease before they turn their attention to the imminent danger that’s riding their way.

Pete tells his daughter, “I’m just a miserable, busted up old man trying to do one last thing right.” “You abandoned us.” Isabel whispers. Pete is awkward when he touches Isabel’s hand. “I did, but I’m here now.” In the distance, we can hear the two-beat rhythm of horse hooves. The GUNMEN are close. Isabel helps her dad to his feet. Pete reminds Isabel of how he taught her to hunt quail as a child. “I’ll flush ‘em, you hit ‘em with that scatter gun.” We watch from above as Pete and Isabel make their stand - In the land of dust.