The Revenant Script

THE REVENANT
by
Mark L Smith
Based on the novel by

Michael Punke
August 9, 2010
Revenge is an act of passion; vengeance of justice.
- Samuel Johnson
Based on a true story
FADE IN:
INT. FARMHOUSE - NIGHT
Mostly shadows illuminated by a lantern's flame. But we can
make out the dusty floor... the bucket of water with a rag
hanging over the edge.
We drift across the room... to a bed... an ANSTADT RIFLE
standing beside it, a FRESH STAR fully carved in its stock.
As we move up past the rifle, we begin to hear O.S.
WHISPERS... we keep rising... to the SHAPE OF A YOUNG BOY
shivering violently under blankets...
...and MAN'S HANDS stroking the boy's sweat-soaked hair...
trying to comfort him. Then the shadowy face of HUGH GLASS
leans into the frame... presses against the little boy's ear.
GLASS
(whispering)
Not yet... not yet... not yet.
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. UPPER MISSOURI RIVER/1820'S - EVENING
As we FLOAT WITH A LEAF DOWN THE CURRENT... past a FLATBOAT
BEACHED ON A SANDBAR... as DISTANT VOICES seem to rise around
us...
...because beyond the flatboat are TWENTY-FIVE MEN of the
Rocky Mountain Fur Company, making camp along the shore...
some pitching squares of canvas for makeshift rooftops...
others stacking HUNDREDS OF BEAVER PELTS and ANIMAL FURS for
hauling... a few Men laughing and singing... a circle of
others form a ring around a couple of WRESTLING TRAPPERS,
calling out their bets as the Trappers grapple...
...while nearby,
scratching out a
harmonicas, as a
of whiskey among
several MEN have formed a MAKESHIFT BAND,

song with fiddles, washboards and
few Trappers dance along, passing a bottle
them.
This camp is full of life because these are some of the first
men to ever see this untouched wilderness... men with a whole
new world just waiting for them to claim their share.
And one of the dancing Trappers is JOHN FITZGERALD, (30s),
solid and thick... a WOLFSKIN CAP flopping on his head as he
locks elbows with another TRAPPER, swinging him to the music.
2.
The song ends... the Trappers CHEER... Fitzgerald tosses that

fur cap into the air with several others, revealing a STRIP
OF OLD SCALPED SCAR running along one side of his head.
And as the caps float back to the earth like snowflakes,
CAPTAIN ANDREW HENRY, (20's), appears beyond them... dressed
in a buckskin jacket with long fringe... thick belt pulled
tightly around his waist with two pistols and a knife hanging
from it. He stands out among the others... like an imposter
pretending to be a member of some exclusive club.
HENRY
Fitzgerald, you and the rest help
with the fires.
The excitement fades from Fitzgerald's eyes... replaced with
resentment. He watches Henry walk away, then grabs his
wolfskin cap from the dirt... throws it over his scarred
head, and rolls his eyes to MACE BOONE.
FITZGERALD
Yes sir, Captain.
EXT. CAMP - EVENING
Fitzgerald and Boone gather a few scraps of wood... look over
to Henry, pulling off one of his gloves to examine the BLOODFILLED BLISTERS lining his palm.
FITZGERALD
Likely got a splinter. Cant
figure what to do without Mama here
to pull it out for him.
Boone chuckles... spits in Henrys direction.
BOONE
Need a doc, Captain?
Henry looks up... sees Fitzgerald and Boone grinning at him.
HENRY
Gather more wood.
Fitzgerald waits for Henry to turn, then gives his back an
exaggerated salute.
FITZGERALD
(under his breath)
Shame my Pap was a broken down
drunk. Else he couldve bought me
a Captains job too.
3.
Boone snickers. Fitzgerald stomps his boot onto a branch,

easily snaps it into two easy-to-carry pieces.
FITZGERALD (contd)
We got a plan for these fires,
Captain, or are we roastin berries
all the way up to Fort Union?
HENRY
Glass and the others will be back
with some game, Fitzgerald. Just
make sure you have the fires ready.
FITZGERALD
My suppers in the hands of a injunlover, a peach-fuzz kid and a halfwit dummy. Hell, my belly feels
full already.
Fitzgeralds boot CRACKS another branch... and when it does,
we hear the EXPLOSION OF A GUNSHOT.
CUT TO:
EXT. WILDERNESS - EVENING
And a CLOUD OF SMOKE surrounding the LONG BARREL OF AN
ANSTADT RIFLE.
The smoke fades, and at the other end of the rifle we see the
worn face of HUGH GLASS, (38), one eye still closed, as the
other calmly stares down that barrel.
VOICE (O.S.)
Shit fire, you got him, Mr. Glass!
Glass lowers the rifle, as JIM BRIDGER, (17), boyish face
that looks even younger, races past with PIG GILMORE, (40s),
fat and filthy, shuffling right behind.
BRIDGER (CONTD)
Got him square as a barn door.
Bridger and Pig trot through the trees to a fallen ELK. Glass
walks after them, graceful in this world... his rifle so
comfortable in his hand its like he was born with it there.
BRIDGER (cont'd)
Gonna be a load to haul back to
camp.
PIG
Have to split it up I reckon.
4.
GLASS
Bridger and mell take the tail,
Pig you haul the rest.
And Fitzgerald was right about Pig being a little slow,
because he just nods along... pulls out his knife to cut the
tail off for Bridger... then stops... catches himself...
looks up at them grinning back down.
PIG
That's clever, Hugh.
GLASS
Worth a try anyways.
But then Glass notices something... his smile fades, as he
steps over the elk, his eyes locked on the ground beside it.
He runs a finger over the dirt... touches a broken twig.
BRIDGER
'Nother close by?
Glass doesnt answer... studies the track... feels the nearby
brush... inhales the scent from his hand. Bridger and Pig
watch him... exchange a confused glance.
And then in a flash of movement, Glass is racing away.
PIG
Hugh?
Glass just keeps running.
Pig and Bridger chase after him.

CUT TO:
EXT. CAMP - EVENING

The men building fires... laughing... enjoying themselves.
Boone on the outskirts, gathering branches.
CUT TO:
GLASS - TEARING THROUGH THE WOODS...
...dodging trees... leaping over fallen logs... loading his
Anstadt as he runs.
5.
BRIDGER AND PIG - CHASING AFTER GLASS...

...but not as gracefully. Bridger trips... slams to the
ground... scrambles back to his feet to continue on.
CUT TO:
BOONE - CARRYING AN ARM-LOAD OF WOOD INTO CAMP...
...seeing other men playing cards. He stops along the edge
of camp, drops the wood to the ground.
BOONE
No rule says Im the only one
thats gotta gather this shit.
The other men dont even notice. Then an ARROW WHIZZES
THROUGH THE AIR from behind Boone... THWACK... it hits him in
the back of the neck... erupts out the front of his throat.
Boone stands frozen... confused... reaches up and grabs the
bloody arrow... finally drops to his knees. And thats when
a TRAPPER looks up... sees Boone on his knees, holding that
arrow, his mouth open like a dying fish.
And beyond Boone are THIRTY ARIKARA WARRIORS CHARGING THROUGH
THE TREES... FEATHERS RISING FROM THE MOHAWKS SPLITTING THEIR
SHAVED HEADS... FACES PAINTED FOR BATTLE.
TRAPPER
REE!
WHOOSH... AN ARROW SAILS INTO THE TRAPPERS CHEST, sending
him flying backward.
The camp explodes into chaos... men
YELLING... grabbing for weapons... stumbling over each other
as they duck behind trees.
HENRY - PULLING THE PISTOLS FROM HIS BELT...
...taking nervous aim at the attacking figures.
The
his
the
and
Arikara leader, (ELKS TONGUE), animal bones braided into

mohawk, a NECKLACE OF HUMAN EARS around his neck, heads
attackers... pouring into camp, arrows flying... knives
hatchets swinging.
And this is a massacre... the Arikara wading through the

trappers... stabbing... clubbing... scalping. This once
peaceful world is filled with a sickening mix of war cries
and screams of death.
6.
HORSES AND MULES break loose of their ties... take off in all
directins.
Fitzgerald rises up from behind a log... aims his rifle...
BOOM... takes down one of the warriors. He starts reloading
as ANOTHER WARRIOR charges him... draws back his knife.
Fitzgerald pours the powder, but knows he isnt going to make
it in time. The Warrior leaps toward him...
...BOOM... and its like the Warrior hits an invisible
wall... flies back to the ground, very dead. Fitzgerald
spins... sees Glass and his Anstadt right behind him.
GLASS
GET TO THE BOAT!
Fitzgerald takes off... but he's a skilled fighter... flips
his rifle around, swings it like a club across a WARRIOR'S
head... WHACK... swings again... TAKES OUT ANOTHER WARRIOR...
buries his knife into an ATTACKER's belly.
GLASS (contd)
THE BOAT, CAPTAIN!
Henry shoves a TRAPPER toward the water. An arrow drives
into the Trappers leg... he goes down. Henry lifts him, but
several more arrows bury in the mans back... he falls dead.
Bridger and Pig join Glass... splash into the river, SHOOTING
back at the attacking Arikara.
A WARRIOR LEAPS FROM THE SHADOWS... tackles Bridger to the
shallows... pins him underwater... raises his hatchet high to
slam down... just as Glass dives into him, knocking the
Warrior off Bridger. Glass and the Warrior wrestle in the
surf, until Glass finally overpowers him... stabs his knife
deep into the Warriors stomach.
Bridger kneels in the shallows, frozen in shock.
GLASS (contd)
GO!
Pig drags Bridger to his feet... they swim toward the boat.
ARROWS hiss into the water all around them.
Glass pulls his pistol... BAM... shoots an oncoming
WARRIOR... spins after the others... joins them as they near
the flatboat.
A final TRAPPER charges down the shore after them.
WARRIORS pursue him.
SEVERAL
7.
TRAPPER
WAIT!
He aims his pistol over his shoulder as he runs... pulls the
trigger... CLICK... pulls it again... CLICK. But hes too
scared to stop his finger... CLICK... CLICK... CLICK...
THUD... as a hatchet buries in his back. He crashes face
first into the shallows.
Elk's Tongue straddles the dying man... grabs the Trapper by
the hair, and CUTS OFF HIS LEFT EAR, then holds it up to
Glass and the others, as he SCREAMS HIS WAR CRY.
Glass and the men shove the flatboat off the sandbar. Arrows
dart past them... drive into the wooden boat. They scramble
aboard as the current carries them away.
Pig reaches over the side, pulls the frantic WILLIAM ANDERSON
up onto the boat. Fitzgerald and Glass grab LONGPOLES...
shove them against the rivers bottom to pick up speed.
Henry stands on deck, watching as Elks Tongue yanks a DYING
TRAPPERs head back by his hair to peel away his scalp.
Henry drops his eyes... cant watch. The TRAPPERS SCREAM
ECHOES OVER HIM.
EXT. MISSOURI RIVER/FLATBOAT - LATER
Quiet and dark... the battle long over. The flatboat floats
with the gentle current. The NINE SURVIVING TRAPPERS are
scattered around the deck... Glass digging an arrow out of
MURPHYs shoulder... Fitzgerald poling on one side with
Anderson on the other... STUBBY BILL and Pig standing patrol
with their rifles... Bridger doctoring a badly WOUNDED
TRAPPER... and Henry standing at the front of the flatboat,
staring off blankly.
FITZGERALD
Whats the plan, Captain?
Henrys still lost in those screams.
Captain!
now?
FITZGERALD (contd)
What the hell do we do
Henry snaps out of his stare... turns to the men... obviously

doesnt have an answer.
ANDERSON
Were just floatin farther from
Fort Union.
8.
Henrys eyes instinctively look to Glass.

GLASS
The Missouris no good.
Rees running it.
Not if the
FITZGERALD
So we just float the hell down to
Mexico or wherever else this
current takes us?
GLASS
We get safe outta range then track
another course up on land.
FITZGERALD
Add weeks to the trip.
BRIDGER
Better that than endin up scalped
on the side of the river.
FITZGERALD
Shut up, boy, you dont get no say
in this.
(back to Henry)
And in case you hadnt noticed,
Captain, were seventeen men short
of what we were.
(off the wounded trapper)
Eighteen before long.
HENRY
I understand our situation, Mr.
Fitzgerald. We do like Glass
said... put some distance between
us and the Arikara, then chart a
course to Fort Union.
FITZGERALD
Like Glass says. Shit, now we're
trustin' him to stay alive?
PIG
Hes the company scout.
FITZGERALD
Scouted us right into a pack a
'Ree. Maybe his years livin' with
the Pawnee makes him forget what
side he's on.
9.
PIG
Looked to be on your side when he
saved your hide back there.
Fitzgerald throws a deadly glare at Pig.
FITZGERALD
I didn't need savin' by Glass or
nobody else. We clear on that, you
simple sonofabitch?
Pig tries to hold Fitzgerald's glare... can't... looks back
to the passing shores... shoots a quick glance to Glass, who
gives him a nod... Thank you. And that's enough to make Pig
smile... proud of himself.
EXT. WILDERNESS - NIGHT
A small campfire glows in the night. A DOZEN FRENCH TRAPPERS
are scattered around the camp, talking... laughing...
...enough that they don't notice the shadows silently
approaching from the trees around them...
...Elk's Tongue and several of his Arikara warriors.
Finally, one of the Trappers spots Elk's Tongue... freezes in
mid-sentence... as the others turn to his stare.
But this is no attack... this is a business transaction.
Elk's Tongue tosses a STACK OF SCALPS at their feet... the
scalps we saw them take from Glass' company earlier.
TOUSSAINT, (40's), the leader of this bunch, forces a nervous
smile... throws a glance to his rifle, well out of reach.
TOUSSAINT
(all his dialogue is
spoken in French)
You had a good hunt.
(off the scalps)
These are all English... Americans?
Elk's Tongue just stares back... doesn't understand.
TOUSSAINT (cont'd)
No French here.
Toussaint taps his own chest... points to the other trappers.
TOUSSAINT (cont'd)
No French. We don't pay for French.
10.
Elk's Tongue shakes his head... says something in Arikara

that Toussaint and the rest of us don't understand... not
until he holds out his hand.
TOUSSAINT (contd)
(to a TRAPPER)
Pay the savage.
(to Elk's Tongue)
You want to eat? You want food?
Toussaint pantomimes eating.
Elk's Tongue shakes his head.
The Trapper digs out some coins... blankets... liquor...

gives them to Elk's Tongue's Warriors.
TOUSSAINT (cont'd)
Only kill English and American.
This land is for you and us. We
work together.
Elk's Tongue points to one of the Frenchmen's HORSES, tied in
the trees.
TOUSSAINT (cont'd)
(shaking his head)
No horses. We need them.
Elk's Tongue points again.
TOUSSAINT (cont'd)
I told you last time. They aren't
part of the trade.
One of Elk's Tongue's Warriors moves to the horse... begins
stroking it... checking its teeth... like a new owner.
TOUSSAINT (cont'd)
Tell your man no horse.
But Elk's Tongue isn't telling his man anything.
TOUSSAINT (cont'd)
(to a Trapper)
Get him away. I don't want that
animal's stink on my pony.
As the Trapper moves toward the Warrior...
ELK'S TONGUE
(in broken French)
It's your smell that covers our
land.
11.
...and everyone freezes... because Toussaint and his Men are

shocked by Elk's Tongue's use of their language. And Elk's
Tongue suddenly seems smarter... more dangerous... especially
with the way he's looking at Toussaint right now.
ELK'S TONGUE (cont'd)
(still in French)
We take your horses.
And Toussaint's pretty smart too... smart enough to see this
deal has turned bad... fast... and that he and his Men don't
stand a chance against Elk's Tongue's Warriors.
So Toussaint forces a thin smile... motions his Trapper back.
TOUSSAINT
Business is business.
The French can only sit there and watch as Elk's Tongue's
gang disappears into the night with their horses.
EXT. MISSOURI RIVER/FLATBOAT - NIGHT
ANGLE ON THE BADLY WOUNDED TRAPPER... NOW DEAD...
...as hands push the body over the side of the boat.
splashes into the water... floats downstream.
It
We PULL BACK... see that the flatboat is beached along the

bank of the river. Glass, Bridger and Pig watch the body
drift away.
PIG
Reckon it's better than lettin' the
'Ree find him... take his ears.
Glass nods... turns away.
BRIDGER
Thank you... for what you done back
there.
GLASS
Youd have done the same for me.
BRIDGER
(nods... hopeful)
Yessir.
Glass, Bridger, and Pig approach the others, all gathered
around Henry's map spread out on the ground.
12.
HENRY
Tryin' to set a course.
Glass runs his finger along a THIN BLUE LINE.
GLASS
Best course is to hike west to the
Grand, then follow it up to Fort
Union.
FITZGERALD
On foot? Itll be winter before we
get there.
ANDERSON
Unless we come across a post...
trade for some horses.
GLASS
No posts that far over.
FITZGERALD
So if we do this, we do every step
on our own feet.
Henry considers this a beat, then...
HENRY
Then thats what well have to do.
More GRUMBLING from Fitzgerald and Anderson, as they start
gathering what's left of the supplies for the journey.
EXT. WOODS - NIGHT
Shadowy figures moving through the trees... not a word
spoken. And then we see Glass leading the group... eyes
cutting into the dark... searching for any danger.
Pig's off to one side of Glass... Henry the other, with
Fitzgerald leading the rest right behind. And they're all
exhausted... only the fear of what else might be hidden in
these trees is keeping them awake.
EXT. WOODS/STREAM - LATER
Slivers of moonlight bleed through the canopy of trees...
shine over Anderson, Stubby Bill and Murphy, as they crouch
beside the stream, filling their canteens.
Henry and Pig are studying that map.
shadows, keeping watch.
Bridger stands in the
13.
Glass sits at the base of a tree, cleaning his Anstadt

rifle... polishing down the TATTERED STAR CARVED INTO THE
STOCK.
Fitzgerald takes a gulp from his FLASK... watches Glass with
mean, drunk, eyes.
FITZGERALD
You treat that Anstadt sweeter than
any woman, Glass.
STUBBY BILL
That's 'cause there ain't no woman
that can stop a Ree from three
hundred feet.
ANDERSON
I knew a particular big-breasted
redhead in Boston that might come
close.
The others manage a nervous laugh. Glass doesn't react...
just keeps working on the Anstadt. Fitzgerald walks to
Glass... reaches down, and grabs the barrel of the Anstadt.
FITZGERALD
Lemme see what's so special 'bout
that shooter a yours.
Glass holds firm.
GLASS
Workin on it.
FITZGERALD
Well you can stop workin' on it,
and lemme have a look like I said.
Fitzgerald gives another tug, but Glass grip only grows
tighter. His eyes roll up to Fitzgerald... make it clear he
isnt giving up his rifle. And they hold that stare just as
hard as theyre holding Glass gun.
FITZGERALD (contd)
You got hired into this outfit, so
you work for us. Or did you forget
your place?
GLASS
Best I can tell, my place is right
where I want it... on the smart end
of this rifle.
14.
Fitzgerald realizes the barrel hes holding is aimed his

direction, while Glass hand seems suddenly very close to the
trigger. But Fitzgeralds pride wont let him lose this tug
of war. Which means this things about to turn real ugly.
FITZGERALD
Any of you boys wonder how it is
them 'Ree got the drop on us...
when Glass here was supposed to be
lookin' out for just that?
HENRY
That's enough, Fitzgerald.
to keep movin'.
We need
FITZGERALD
(to Glass)
Makes me think maybe you're gettin'
a cut on all them scalps they sell
to the Frenchies.
Fitzgerald uses his free hand to pull off that fur cap of
his... shows off his wide, hairless scar.
FITZGERALD (cont'd)
How much did you get for this?
for my wife's?
Or
And that flask of whiskey has just helped give us a glimpse

into where some of Fitzgerald's rage comes from.
HENRY
Goddammit, Fitzgerald, I said
thats enough.
Fitzgerald keeps his grip on the rifle another moment, then
shoves the Anstadt barrel back at Glass.
FITZGERALD
To me you ain't no whiter than them
'Ree.
Fitzgerald spits to the ground a few feet away from Glass.
Glass isn't biting... goes back to his rifle. So Fitzgerald
walks back to the others... spots Bridger looking at him.
FITZGERALD (cont'd)
Whatta you starin' at, boy?
Bridger drops his eyes... locks them on the ground until he's
sure Fitzgerald has lost interest. Then he glances back
up... sees Glass watching him... just for a moment before he
goes back to the Anstadt.
15.
EXT. WOODS - LATER

The group pushing through the darkness... dried leaves
crunching under their boots.
Glass and Henry are out front. Henry throws a glance back to
Fitzgerald, bringing up the rear with Anderson.
HENRY
Fitzgerald's just testing you.
Same with me since we left St.
Louis. Not sure I've passed many
so far. Especially today's.
(beat)
Maybe I shouldve had us make camp
further up river.
GLASS
The tracks I saw... those Ree had
been on us for a while. Theyd have
gone as far north as it took.
Henry nods... hopes thats true.
GLASS (contd)
Youre a good man, Captain. Soon
as you realize that, these others
will too.
Henry likes hearing that... still isnt sure its true.
HENRY
It's a different world than Boston.
But my father... he thought this
would be good for me.
Henry thinks about that a beat, then shakes away the memory.
HENRY (cont'd)
Where are you from originally?
GLASS
Pennsylvania.
HENRY
Long way from home.
A BEAT, then...
GLASS
Stopped bein' a home for me a while
back.
Henry can sense he shouldn't dig deeper.
16.
HENRY
So you ended up out here with the
Pawnee?
GLASS
Not by choice. They grabbed me
while I was trappin' the Arkansas.
I figured it was to kill me, but
turned out they were just curious.
Nothin' savage about 'em. I ended
up stayin' with 'em a year or so.
Till the 'Ree took their land...
pushed 'em north.
HENRY
And you've just wandered alone
since?
GLASS
Haven't found a place I belong.
Another quiet beat, then...
HENRY
How much experience have you had
with the Arikara?
GLASS
Enough to know to stay outta their
way. And that once they've got
your scent, they're not easy to
shake loose.
HENRY
And our chances of makin' it up to
Fort Union?
GLASS
A smart man would always put his
chips on the 'Ree.
That's not the answer Henry wanted to hear.
the darkness ahead.
He peers into
EXT. WILDERNESS - MORNING

The sun is just rising up over the horizon.
EXT. WILDERNESS - DAY
Thick with trees.
the woods.
Henry leads the men single file through
17.
STUBBY BILL
Shouldnt we have hit the Grand by
now?
HENRY
Well reach it soon enough.
said to keep this course.
Glass
FITZGERALD
It's always Glass said. So why is
it I dont see him round nowheres
then?
PIG
On account hes up ahead makin
sure its clear, and you get to
keep your ears.
Fitzgerald throws Pig an angry glance.
FITZGERALD
Or hes run off... left us to find
our own way.
BRIDGER
Mr. Glass wouldnt do that.
FITZGERALD
You ain't got no idea know what
your savage-lovin' Mr. Glass might
do. And that's the problem.
EXT. WOODS - DAY
Glass moves slowly through the brush, almost gliding...
subtle twists and turns to avoid branches and leaves...
careful not to leave his scent behind. And his eyes cut
through the trees as he moves... digging for any sign of
movement.
He spots something at his feet... crouches down, running his
finger over the SMALL ANIMAL TRACK in the dirt.
O.S. RUSTLING snaps his head up... to the TREMBLING OF
BUSHES... growing harder... whatevers in there is coming
toward Glass. He calmly raises his rifle... presses the
stock firmly against his shoulder... closes one eye as he
takes steady aim down the long barrel...
...to the shapes rumbling out of the brush... TWO BEAR CUBS
playfully wrestling.
18.
Glass lowers the Anstadt... looks past the cubs for something
else... but the woods are empty. A SUDDEN FEAR FILLS GLASS
EYES...
...he spins... right into the GIANT GRIZZLY SWINGING ITS PAW
AT HIM... hitting him across the side of the neck. The
animals razor claws tear into Glass throat, as the force
sends him flying through the air.
Glass sails into a thick tree... the CRACK OF HIS LEG
SNAPPING against the trunk. The rifle falls from his hand.
The Grizzly lets out a massive ROAR... charges Glass. Glass
crawls to the Anstadt... grabs it... has just enough time to
tilt the rifle toward the bear... BOOM...
...hits the bear, slowing the animal... but not enough to
stop its attack.
CUT TO:
HENRY - HEARING THE BLAST.
HENRY
UP AHEAD!
Henry takes off at full sprint.
The other men follow.

CUT TO:
GLASS - AS THE BEAR LEAPS ON TOP OF HIM...

...tosses Glass aside with a powerful swing. Glass hits the
ground with a PAINFUL THUD. He starts CRAWLING AWAY, pulling
the KNIFE from his belt as the bear rises up like a giant
behind him... swings... tears its claws across Glasss back,
shredding deep into his flesh.
Glass is fighting for his life now... flailing with the
knife... slicing it across the bears paw as it whips past
him. The wound slows the bear enough for Glass to start
crawling again.
But the Grizzly doesnt give Glass the chance... ROARS... is
on him in a flash, a BLUR OF CLAWS AND FANGS... tearing
across Glass chest.
Glass drives his knife into the bear again... deep... trying
to tear through the layers of flesh to something more vital.
CUT TO:
19.
HENRY - LEADING THE CHARGE THROUGH THE FOREST.

CUT TO:
GLASS AND THE GRIZZLY - FIGHTING THIS EPIC BATTLE...
...locked in a death grip... tumbling along the ground...
trading violent blows... Glass blade versus the Grizzlys
claws and fangs... snapping small trees as they roll over
them... toward the edge of a steep embankment...
... and ROLL DOWN... spinning over and over... each ROARING
AT THE OTHER... Glass pounding the knife into the bear again
and again as they fall... neither willing to surrender as
they careen down the slope at a dizzying pace, then SLAM TO
THE BOTTOM WITH A CRUNCH.
The forest falls still... Glass hidden somewhere beneath the
massive animal... both deathly motionless.
EXT. WOODS - DAY
Bridgers the first to reach the battleground... sees the TWO
FRIGHTENED BEAR CUBS SCURRY AWAY. He follows the bloody
ground and crushed underbrush to the top of the slope...
looks down to the mass of flesh at the bottom.
BRIDGER
Christ Almighty.
Henry, Pig, and the others reach the edge.
HENRY
Glass!
No answer.
the trees.
And all they can see is the bear, so they scan

PIG
HUGH!
Still nothing. So Bridger takes off down the slope... losing

his balance but rolling back to his feet. He reaches the
bear... sees GLASS MANGLED ARM STICKING OUT FROM BENEATH IT.
BRIDGER
Hes down here!
Bridger uses all his strength to push the bear off, as the
other men scramble down. But Bridger cant budge the massive
carcass... not until Stubby Bill and Pig join in... shove the
animal over, revealing the bloody mass that is Hugh Glass...
20.
...his throat is torn wide open... stomach and chest a

gruesome design of gashes and cuts. His right leg is twisted
in a horrible angle.
Bridgers legs give out... he drops to a knee and vomits.
MURPHY
Oh, Jesus.
STUBBY BILL
Hes tore to pieces.
The men stare down at Glass corpse.
ANDERSON
Least he took that Grizz down with
him.
FITZGERALD
Wished heda done it without firing
his rifle. If there wasnt no Ree
around before, there will be now.
And thats all Pig can stand... he TACKLES FITZGERALD... they
roll to the ground. And in a flash Fitzgerald is on top,
raining punches down on Pig... turning his face into a bloody
mess. Henry and Anderson grab Fitzgerald... drag him off.
HENRY
THATS ENOUGH!
Then somehow, GLASS GASPS... this horrible, GUTTURAL MOAN.
STUBBY BILL
Holy Christ.
Henry and Bridger fall to their knees beside Glass. Glass
looks up at the men, tries to focus through the blood and
pain. His breathing is just a GURGLING WHEEZE... bubbles
forming along the deep gashes in his throat with each gasp.
HENRY
Get me some water.
Stubby Bill tosses Henry his canteen. Henry empties it over
Glass throat... his chest. The water hits the wounds and
immediately transforms to blood.
BRIDGER
Oh, Jesus... Jesus.
Glass lifts a trembling hand to his throat... feels the
gaping wound. His eyes widen in horror. He COUGHS... the
air splashes blood up from the open wounds.
21.
HENRY
Its okay, Hugh.
(pushing Glass hand away)
Youre going to be fine.
Henry spins his head away from Glass.
HENRY (contd)
(whispers)
I need some rags before he bleeds
out.
Pig whips a shirt from his bag... shreds it.
HENRY (contd)
And your whiskey.
Pig tosses a bottle to Henry. Henry pours it over the
gashes. The BURNING PAIN arches Glass... he CRIES OUT in
that same HORRIFIC MOAN.
HENRY (contd)
Hold him down, Bridger, goddammit.
Bridger throws his weight against Glass shoulders.
HENRY (contd)
The rest of you spread out... scout
a circle around us. Fitzgerald, you
and Anderson take west and north.
Murphy and Bill south and east.
Watch for anyone that mightve
heard that shot.
And for the first time, Henry seems like a leader of men...
firm... in complete control... just as Glass said he would
be. So the men hurry off to their positions.
PIG
What about me, Cap?
HENRY
Get down here and help me tie off
these wounds best we can.
Pig shakily joins Henry in wrapping the wounds.
keeps seeping out, soaking the rags.
PIG
It wont stop bleedin.
The blood
22.
HENRY
Shut up, Pig.
(to Glass)
Were fixing you up, Hugh.
Glass is like a shredded rag doll... dazed eyes staring up at
them as they work on his wounds... wrap the rags around his
throat... across his chest and stomach.
Bridger stares down at Glass with tears in his eyes.
BRIDGER
Im sorry, Mr. Glass.
Im sorry.
Henry glances down to the PUDDLE OF BLOOD spilling out over

his knees... oozing out from beneath Glass.
HENRY
Roll him over... easy.
They gently push Glass onto one side, revealing DEEP, JAGGED,
GASHES running across the width of Glass back. Henry stares
at the open flesh, ready to panic again... but he doesnt.
Instead he looks to Pig.
HENRY (contd)
Get me the kit. We need to stitch
his back up.
BRIDGER
What about the rest?
HENRY
Hes losing more blood back here.
(off the throat)
And I dont know what to do with
that yet.
Pig digs out a thick needle and spool of black thread...
hands it to Henry. Henry grabs the whiskey bottle.
HENRY (contd)
Im sorry for how this is about to
burn, Hugh.
Henry pours the whiskey over Glass back. And the pain must
be excruciating, because Glass lets out a HORRIBLE WAIL.
CUT TO:
23.
EXT. WOODS - CONTINUOUS

Fitzgerald and Anderson standing watch together in the trees.
Glass scream erupts through the trees, and they both
immediately crouch down to a knee... out of sight to anyone
out there that might have heard that.
ANDERSON
Theyre torturin the bastard.
FITZGERALD
And riskin gettin the rest of us
killed in the process. Proper thing
would be to end it for him quick.
ANDERSON
Less he could pull through.
FITZGERALD
You seen what that grizz did to
him. Glassll be dead inside a
hour. We all will be if he keeps
screamin like that.
EXT. WOODS - LATER
SERIES OF SHOTS
HENRY, BRIDGER AND PIG WORKING OVER GLASS... Bridger and Pig
pressing the skin on Glass back together as Henry sutures
the wound.
HENRY CLEANING GLASS SHREDDED THROAT.
BRIDGER AND PIG HOLDING GLASS DOWN AS HENRY SNAPS GLASS LEG
BACK IN PLACE... the pain is too much... Glass passes out.
FITZGERALD PEERING BACK THROUGH THE TREES... to Henry
doctoring Glass. Fitzgerald shakes his head in anger...
turns back to the darkening forest.
EXT. WOODS - EVENING
Glass rests unconscious on the ground. Two branches act as a
splint on his leg. A blanket covers his body... the stitches
stretch to hold his throat together.
Henry crouches a short distance away from him, rinsing his
hands under a canteen. Bridger and Pig stand beside him.
BRIDGER
What now?
24.
HENRY
We wait.
(to Pig)
Go tell the others we're making
camp here for the night.
Pig nods... hustles off.
Henry glances back to Glass.
HENRY (cont'd)
Does he have any kin you know of?
BRIDGER
Never mentioned none.
Henry looks beyond Glass... to the bear, sprawled on the
ground, its claws and fangs soaked with Glass' blood.
HENRY
Have the men gather wood, but make
sure its dry. We dont want much
smoke when we cook that grizzly.
EXT. WOODS - NIGHT
And whats left of the grizzly... its fur cut away... slabs
of flesh butchered from its skeleton.
A fire burns at the center of camp... a chunk of meat roasts
above the flame. The men sit around the fire... Murphy
reaches up... tears a strip of meat from the roast, tossing
it in his mouth. The men are silent... the pall of Glass
attack still hanging over them.
Bridger rises... walks to the Grizzly... crouches down over
it, grabbing the animals enormous paw. It dwarfs his own
hand, as he examines the massive claws. Bridger pulls out
his knife... stretches the claws out to their full length,
and CUTS THEM OFF AT ITS BASE.
FITZGERALD (O.S.)
What makes you think you earned a
claw, boy?
Bridger turns with a start... ONE OF THE CLAWS FALLS TO THE
DIRT. Bridger sees Fitzgerald standing over him, meat in his
hand... his lips shiny with the grease.
FITZGERALD (contd)
You didnt take that grizz down.
BRIDGER
It aint for me.
25.
Bridger carries another claw around Fitzgerald... to the

sleeping Glass. Pigs already crouched beside him. Bridger
lifts Glass small leather POSSIBLES BAG from beside the
Anstadt rifle... drops the claw inside... throws a look back
to Fitzgerald.
Pig holds his palm out just above Glass mouth.
PIG
I can feel some air outta his
mouth. Maybe Captain sealed up his
throat proper, huh?
(off Bridgers silence)
Whatta you figure his odds are,
Jim?
Bridger stares down at whats left of Glass.
BRIDGER
Long.
EXT. CAMP - NIGHT
The fire has burned down to nothing. The men sleep scattered
about. Murphy keeps watch just outside of camp.
Glass lies there awake... eyes wide open... a living corpse.
And his breathing is just as labored as before... raspy,
blood-soaked strains.
Fitzgerald tosses and turns, listening to Glass gurgling.
FITZGERALD
You aint doin him or us no
favors, Captain, lettin him suffer
that way.
Henrys awake, but doesnt answer. Hes holding his pistol
in his hand, as he stares at Glass... thinking the same thing
Fitzgerald just said. But he doesnt move... not yet.
Bridger sits beyond him... attaching the BEAR CLAW TO A THIN
LEATHER STRAP... a future necklace.
EXT. CAMP - MORNING
ANGLE ON GLASS...
...awake... staring upward... shivering... beads of sweat
covering his face... those same, weak breaths.
CUT TO:
26.
GLASS' POV...
...on the morning sky... the sun pouring in through the
treetops... until a SMALL FIGURE steps into the bright
sunlight... stands over Glass, and all we can make out is the
silhouette.
GLASS...
...blinks... tries to focus on the figure.
GLASS' POV...
...on the silhouette... as it begins to clear... the FACE OF
A YOUNG BOY... staring down... scared.
BOY
She's sick again, Pa.
And then we see Glass... the Glass of years ago... looking up
from beneath a broken wagon axle. He raises up... sees a
farmhouse sitting alone in the middle of a beautiful, wide
open Pennsylvania valley.
BOY (cont'd)
Sounds worse this time.
Glass stands... strides toward the house.
INT. FARMHOUSE - DAY
Glass' WIFE is on her hands and knees in the corner of the
room, COUGHING... hard... like it's taking every ounce of
strength she has.
The door opens, and a square of sunlight pours in over her...
then Glass' shadow as he enters... moves to her... kneels
down... touches her head, and she knocks his hand away.
No.
WIFE
Keep back, Hugh... please.
Glass hesitates a moment, then strokes her hair again. His

wife turns, and we see her face... deathly pale... a trickle
of blood on her lips... she's dying.
Glass pulls her against him... holds her close... squints
back into the doorway of sunlight... the small shape moving
closer... growing larger... leaning down... reaching toward
him... and BECOMING PIG.
27.
PIG
Lookin' better, Hugh.
And then we realize we're back in camp... with Glass barely
hanging onto life... staring up at Henry, crouching beside
Glass... squeezing Glass' hand.
PIG (cont'd)
Gonna be fine.
Then we see Bridger kneel on the other side of Glass... press
a WET RAG to Glass' head. Henry stands beside him.
Fitzgerald, Anderson, Murphy and Stubby Bill sit huddled a
few yards away... watching.
ANDERSON
Fevers hit. Wont be long now.
FITZGERALD
I seen a bad one drag on days.
ANGLE ON GLASS...
...eyes still open... he can hear every word.
FITZGERALD (O.S.) (contd)
Insides shut down... flesh starts
to spoil and turn. Aint no way forHENRY (O.S.)
Quiet, Fitzgerald.
FITZGERALD...
...points a stick at Glass.
FITZGERALD
(to Henry)
We keep sittin here watchin him
die, only gives the Ree more
chance to run up on us.
Henry doesnt answer... just keeps staring down at Glass.
BRIDGER
Hes burnin, Cap. Water turns to
boil as soon as it touches him.
Henry considers this, then...
28.
HENRY
Pig, take Anderson and scout ahead.
Grand should be just west of here.
Find us the best route.
Pig nods, grabs his gear. He and Anderson take off.
turns... walks over to Fitzgerald and Stubby Bill.
Henry
HENRY (contd)
(whispers)
You two can start digging a grave.
Fitzgerald tosses the stick away.
FITZGERALD
Least its a step in the right
direction.
EXT. CAMP - LATER
Fitzgerald is covered in dirt and sweat, standing knee deep
in Glass grave. Stubby Bill stands over him.
FITZGERALD
Any coyote digs that deep deserves
the meal.
He takes Stubby Bills hand... pulls himself out... spots Pig
and Anderson walking back into camp.
ANDERSON
Found it, Cap.
PIG
No more than a mile or so out.
(for Fitzgerald to hear)
Right where Glass had us headed.
Henry looks to Bridger, still doctoring Glass.
HENRY
We could build a litter.
with us.
Haul him
ANDERSON
It's rocky and steep goin'.
Henry looks to Pig for an honest answer.
PIG
Marshy on the other side.
try it, but...
We could
29.
FITZGERALD
I signed on as a trapper, not a
goddamn mule.
BRIDGER
(to Henry)
Shape hes in... I dont see no way
hed make bein drug.
Henry nods, his mind racing for a solution. He turns...
squints out ahead of them... their trail home. He stares at
it a long beat, then lowers his hand back to that pistol...
pulls it from his belt, and turns to Glass.
HENRY
Lay that rag over his eyes, Mr.
Bridger.
The other men all drop their heads... except for
Fitzgerald... hes ready to see this end.
BRIDGER
But, Captain.
HENRY
Do it.
PIG
Let's hang on a minute, Cap.
HENRY
(to Bridger)
Now.
Bridger doesn't want to, but follows orders... reaches to
fold the wet rag down over Glass wide open eyes. And Glass
must know whats happening, because his eyes roll up to
Bridgers... then to the Anstadt resting beside him. His
lips try to form a word... his fingers dig into the dirt
beside him... clawing toward that Anstadt...
...toward that stock with the old carved star.
PIG
He wants his rifle.
Henry hesitates a beat, then nods. Bridger grabs the
Anstadt... rests it in Glass' hand.
PIG (contd)
(tears in his eyes)
Here ya are, Hugh.
ANGLE ON GLASS' HAND...
30.
...feeling its way down to the stock... pressing his palm

against that worn star carving.
Bridger just watches him, then reaches back out to the rag.
CUT TO:
GLASS POV - ON BRIDGER...
...the boy looking away as he pulls the rag over our eyes...
everything goes black.
HENRY (O.S.)
Step clear, Mr. Bridger.
A LONG, AGONIZING BEAT in the dark, waiting for that gunshot,
then...
BACK TO SCENE
Henry standing over Glass... pistol aimed down.
trembles slightly.
His hand
Pig turns away... presses his hands over his ears.

Bridger takes a few steps back... stares at Henry.
Henry struggles to steady his aim, until finally it calms...
because hes thought of something else. His arm drops to his
side.
HENRY (contd)
Theres a seventy dollar bonus from
the Rocky Mountain Fur Company to
the two men that stay with Glass...
see this through.
BRIDGER
Ill stay with him... money or not.
PIG
Same here.
Fitzgerald snorts a stifled laugh. Bridger shoots him a
look, but even Henry knows Fitzgerald is right... Bridger and
Pig would never survive this alone.
HENRY
Is there a third?
Henry looks to the others... they all drop their eyes... not
interested.
31.
FITZGERALD
Three wont stand much chance
against a party of Ree, Captain.
And seventy dollars wont buy me a
new setta ears.
HENRY
A hundred then.
Still nothing from the others.
BRIDGER
They can have my share too.
FITZGERALD
If Pig feels the same, I'll lag
back with 'em. I dont mind
fallin a day or so behind for
three hundred dollars.
Pig looks to Bridger, who nods... so Pig nods too.
HENRY
But Glass is to be cared for until.
Understood?
FITZGERALD
(nods to Bridger)
Ill let the young doctor do his
job.
Henry hesitates... doesnt like this, but knows its the best
option left.
HENRY
The rest gather your gear.
Bridger reaches down... lifts the rag from Glass face.
Their eyes meet... Bridger gives Glass a nod.
EXT. CAMP - LATER
Henry and the others are loaded and ready to leave.
pulls Bridger aside.
Henry
HENRY
As long as necessary. And a proper
burial when it's time. Hes earned
that.
Bridger nods. Henry turns... leads the men into the trees...
toward the Grand... toward Fort Union.
32.
EXT. CAMP - DUSK

Bridger and Pig crouch beside Glass, changing his bandages.
Fitzgerald steps in... lifts Glass' Anstadt from beside
Glass.
FITZGERALD
Ill take first watch.
PIG
You shouldn't use that.
FITZGERALD
Trust me, Dummy, he aint gonna be
needin it tonight.
Glass is helpless to move... can only watch Fitzgerald
disappear into the trees.
Glass' eyes drift back the glowing embers... the light
blurs...
...becomes the FAINT FLICKER OF A GLOWING LANTERN... resting
in a dusty window. Outside the window there's a fresh
grave... we might even be able to make out the name Elizabeth
Glass on the wooden headstone as we move closer to the
window... through that twitching flame...
...and see TWO DARK SHAPES inside... the larger figure
sitting beside a bed... the smaller one lying in it. It's
Glass and the Boy.
INT. HOUSE - NIGHT
TIGHT ON A RIFLE... GLASS' ANSTADT... resting across the
Boy's lap, as Glass' hands carve a STAR into the fresh stock
with a knife. The lantern flame shimmers over them.
The Boy's hands join in... small and frail, as they brush the
wood chips away.
BOY (O.S.)
(tired, weak)
I like the star.
GLASS (O.S.)
So everybody'll know it's yours.
Glass' hand digs away more of the design. Some O.S. COUGHING
from the Boy. The small hand runs over the carving, almost
caressing it. Then it flinches in pain.
33.
GLASS (O.S.) (cont'd)

Careful.
A BEAD OF BLOOD forms on the little boy's nicked finger...
drops down onto the rifle... runs along the newly carved
design before its finally ABSORBED INTO THE FRESH WOOD.
The two pair of hands continue working on the rifle together.
BOY (O.S.)
When can I try it out?
GLASS (O.S.)
Soon as you feel up to it.
A long, quiet beat... just the scrape of the blade against
wood... the small hands mimicking the movement of the large
ones. Then...
BOY (O.S.)
Will you look after it for me till
then?
Glass' hands stop carving... maybe even tremble... just a
bit. And before he can answer...
PIG (V.O.)
You're cheatin', Jim!
CUT TO:
EXT. CAMP - DAY
Glass lying on the ground... his eyes open... that same
labored breathing, as he looks across camp...
...to Bridger and Pig stand across camp, playing a game...
flicking stones into a circle of sticks...
...as Fitzgerald leans against a tree, staring hard at
Glass... thinking... all just killing time... waiting for
Glass to die.
Pig somewhere in the woods, setting up a small snare trap.
EXT. CAMP - DAY
Bridger and Pig kneel on each side of Glass, easing some
broth into his mouth... cleaning his wounds.
34.
Fitzgerald stands in the shadows, taking a piss.

over his shoulder to Bridger and Pig.
He glances
FITZGERALD
There ya go, pour some more broth
down his throat... keep him alive
another week so we can fall farther
back. End up walkin all the way
to Fort Union on our own. Ree
would love to poach on just three.
Fitzgerald finishes... walks past them... drops to his
blanket.
FITZGERALD (contd)
I promise ya, youll both look a
helluva lot worse than Glass when
theyre done with you.
Pig throws a nervous glance to Bridger, who shakes his
head... don't listen to him.
Anderson stands on a ridge, scouting a course. He waves back
to Henry and the others. They follow after him. Behind
them, a THIN LINE OF SMOKE rises from the trees.
EXT. CLEARING - DAY
A DEAD PACK MULE engulfed in flames. A SCALPED TRAPPER lies
in the dirt beside it. He's missing his LEFT EAR.
Beyond the Trapper, several Arikara Warriors dig through
canvas sacks, pulling out supplies. Elk's Tongue stands over
them, his hands wet with blood.
From high above... the sun is sinking over the trees.
EXT. WOODS/RIVER - EVENING
Bridger walks toward the rushing water, carrying empty
canteens.
EXT. WOODS - EVENING
Pig pulls a dead raccoon from his snare trap.
35.
EXT. CAMP - EVENING

Fitzgerald sits bored against a tree, eyes locked on Glass as
he twists a knife in his hands... flipping it point first
into the dirt... grabbing... repeating...
FITZGERALD
When are you gonna die, Glass?
...twist... flip... thwack... and never pulling his eyes off
Glass.
FITZGERALD (contd)
Like you shoulda done days ago?
Fitzgerald sits in silence as if hes waiting for an answer.
Finally, he snaps the knife from the dirt, stands, and walks
over to Glass... crouches down... studies Glass' red,
infected wounds.
FITZGERALD (contd)
But I'm four days behind Henry's
bunch on accounta tendin' to you.
CUT TO:
Bridger kneels beside the water, filling the canteens.
CUT TO:
EXT. CAMP - DAY
Fitzgerald holding that knife tip against Glass throat.
Glass just staring up at him... helpless.
FITZGERALD
Be easier on us all if youd take
that last breath.
The two men hold a stare... that knife just floating above
Glass' skin... until Fitzgerald finally pulls it back...
grabs a bloodstained rag from beside them... wads it up.
FITZGERALD (contd)
I could help ya with that if youd
like. Muzzle ya right now... end
all this sufferin quick and easy.
Nobodyd ever know you give up.
36.
Fitzgerald moves the rag over Glass nose and mouth... holds
it there, just inches above.
FITZGERALD (contd)
You just gimme a blink if you want
me to do it.
Glass locks his eyes on Fitzgeralds... both men unblinking.
A DROP OF BLOOD hangs from the rag... finally falls... lands
on Glass lips.
Fitzgerald almost smiles, waiting for the inevitable... as
Glass stares back, fighting the urge to blink... but there's
no chance he wins this battle. And he finally does...
...and Fitzgerald's eyes roll up to make sure they're alone.
Then he STUFFS THAT BLOODY RAG INTO GLASS' MOUTH.
Glass struggles against it, but he can barely move... this is
going to end quickly.
FITZGERALD (contd)
Easy now.
And Fitzgerald is emotionless about this killing... almost
like he's putting down a piece of livestock...
...as Glass' struggles weaken... slow... it's almost over...
...until THWACK... the butt of a rifle smacks Fitzgerald
across the head... knocks him to the dirt... dazed...
...as Pig drops down beside Glass... tries to hold his rifle
on Fitzgerald as he tugs that rag out... helps Glass.
PIG
You okay, Hugh?
(screaming)
JIM! HURRY!
CUT TO:
Bridger still beside it.
that's all he can hear.
The water rushing past so loud
EXT. CAMP - EVENING

Pig's helping Glass breathe, as Fitzgerald rises behind him.
37.
FITZGERALD
I was just doin' your job...
helpin' to clean him up.
No.
PIG
I saw. JIM!
FITZGERALD
Shut your mouth, Pig.
Fitzgerald moves toward them.
PIG
Keep away.
(steadying his rifle)
I'm gonna tell Jim and Captain what
you did. Theyll hang you.....
But Pig barely has his rifle aimed before FITZGERALD FLINGS
HIS KNIFE INTO PIGS CHEST. He freezes... stunned... the
rifle slips from his hands.
FITZGERALD
I told ya to shut up.
And Fitzgerald is on Pig in a flash... pulling that knife
out...
FITZGERALD (contd)
But you stupid sonofabitch wouldn't
pay mind, would ya?
Glass struggles to reach for Pig... to stop Fitzgerald from
murdering his friend... but what's left of his body barely
moves.
CUT TO:
GLASS' POV...
...on Fitzgerald with the knife in his blood-soaked hands...
finishing Pig off.
FITZGERALD... looks around for Bridger... eye contact with
Glass.. his mind racing.
He grabs Pig's arms... drags him out of the camp... hides his
body in the brush... hurries back in... slings Pig's rifle
and that dead raccoon deep into the trees... kicks dirt over
the spilled blood on the ground...
38.
...goes back to Pigs body... kneels down over him. With the
knife, he cuts off Pigs ears and a piece of scalp, then
hides them in a small hole... covers it with dead leaves.
Then sets his eyes back on Glass... the only witness...
staring back. So Fitzgerald starts for him.
BRIDGER (O.S.)
Breathin' changed?
Fitzgerald spins... sees Bridger entering camp... dropping
the canteens. He hesitates a beat, then shakes his head.
FITZGERALD
Hadn't noticed.
Bridger moves over to Glass... kneels down, and Glass grips
Bridger's arm... tries to speak... can barely open his mouth.
BRIDGER
Easy, Mr. Glass. He's hot as fire.
Bridger pours some water over a rag... rests it across Glass'
head.
BRIDGER (contd)
This'll help.
(to Fitzgerald)
Wheres Pig?
FITZGERALD
Figured hed joined up with you.
Bridger shakes his head... scans the forest.
Fitzgerald just slides back down against that tree... starts
shaving a stick with that knife that just gutted Pig. He
watches Glass and Bridger... deciding his next move.
EXT. CAMP - DUSK
Glass awake... watching Fitzgerald poke at the small fire
with a branch. Bridger stands at the edge of camp, squinting
out into the darkness.
BRIDGER
Pig!
FITZGERALD
Quiet, kid, goddammit. Bring the
whole 'Ree tribe on us.
39.
BRIDGER
He shoulda been in by now.
FITZGERALD
Dummy don't know front from back
half the time. You shouldn'ta let
him wander out alone.
BRIDGER
He was just checkin his snares.
Bridger walks deeper into the trees... just past that brush
where Fitzgerald hid Pig's body.
Fitzgerald watches... regrips that branch... and we notice
it's been shaved to a JAGGED POINT.
But Bridger just turns back...
BRIDGER (contd)
Did you go out to look for him?
FITZGERALD
(off Glass)
Already got my hands full nursemaidin one. No time for another.
Bridger scans the forest again, then slides down to the
ground next to Glass... rocks back and forth... nervous for
his friend.
Fitzgerald's eyes drift to Glass... the men hold a look.
From high above the trees. The world is silent... peaceful.
CUT TO:
BLACK...
...the sound of FRENZIED BREATHING.
FITZGERALD (V.O.)
(panicked whisper)
Bridger! Get your ass up!
Dim light fills the frame... then we see FITZGERALDS FACE
right in front of us.
FITZGERALD (CONTD)
Ree.
40.
BRIDGER - SCRAMBLES UP FROM THE TREE HE WAS LEANING...

...wipes the sleep from his eyes.
BRIDGER
What?
FITZGERALD
Keep quiet. Theres twenty of em
at least. Down at the creak, but
comin this way.
Oh, shit.
We run.
BRIDGER
Whatta we do?
FITZGERALD
Now.
BRIDGER
Where's Pig?
FITZGERALD
Not our worry no more.
BRIDGER
We gotta find him.
FITZGERALD
If he aint already gutted and
scalped, hell find us.
Fitzgerald gathers his bag, starts throwing in food and
supplies. Bridger is scared out of his mind... does the
same... grabs for his rifle, standing near Glass.
Bridger freezes... in his panic, hed forgotten all about
Glass. And now the wounded mans eyes stare up at him...
understanding perfectly whats happening.
BRIDGER
What about Mr. Glass?
FITZGERALD
Hes on his own, same as you and
me.
BRIDGER
I cant leave him.
FITZGERALD
Then Im talkin to a dead man.
41.
Bridgers frozen... doesnt know what to do. So Fitzgerald

suddenly GRABS GLASS BY THE ANKLES... starts dragging him
across the ground. Glass GROANS IN PAIN.
BRIDGER
Wait!
But Fitzgerald isn't waiting... he pulls Glass to that grave
he dug, and ROLLS GLASS' BODY INSIDE.
Glass hits the bottom with a painful THUD.
FITZGERALD
Now we done what was asked of us.
(hard to Bridger)
Move.
Bridger stares at the open grave a moment, then fear sends
him running after Fitzgerald...
...as Glass lies there INSIDE HIS OWN GRAVE.
CUT TO:
GLASS POV - OUT OF THE GRAVE... TIGHT AND CLAUSTROPHOBIC...
JUST THE NIGHT SKY ABOVE... AND THE SOUND OF HIS PAINFUL
BREATHS.
DISSOLVE TO:
Cold and grey. Fitzgerald crouches beside a small fire,
warming his hands. WHISPS OF SMOKE rise into the sky.
FITZGERALD
We ran the better part of the
night. Had to gain some ground on
Henry and the others.
BRIDGER
Pig wont know to catch us.
FITZGERALD
Hell have to.
Bridger sits at the base of a tree... his mind replaying the
desertion of Glass over and over. He notices the smoke.
BRIDGER
Best douse that smoke before them
Ree spot it.
42.
FITZGERALD
We put enough distance between us
and them. And its too damn cold
to go without one.
BRIDGER
All we know, they hoofed it through
the night same as us.
FITZGERALD
A dozen Ree cant make the time us
two did.
Bridger looks back to the trees.
BRIDGER
We shouldnt a left him back there.
Fitzgerald doesnt respond. And then Bridger considers
something, stares at Fitzgerald a beat, before...
BRIDGER (contd)
It was twenty earlier.
FITZGERALD
What?
BRIDGER
When you woke me... you said youd
spotted twenty Ree.
FITZGERALD
A dozen... twenty. I was a little
too spooked to count feathers.
Hell, one Ree was too many.
Fitzgerald empties his canteen over the fire, killing the
flames. Bridger stares at the water pouring out.
BRIDGER
What was you even doin down at the
creak in the middle of the night?
(beat)
Id already brought plenty a water.
Fitzgerald doesnt answer.
rifle... slowly rises.
Bridger tightens his grip on his
BRIDGER (contd)
Answer me.
43.
FITZGERALD
Dont start questionin me on
accounta you feelin guilty bout
leavin your half-breed buddy
behind.
Bridger musters up all the courage he can... aims his rifle
at Fitzgerald.
BRIDGER
ANSWER ME OR I BLOW YOUR DAMN HEAD
OFF!
Fitzgerald stares back at Bridger and his rifle... eyes
taking in everything... a snake sizing up its prey. Then
Fitzgerald stands... takes a step toward the boy.
FITZGERALD
Whatre you askin? Why it was you
turned your back on Glass? Let him
die to save your own sorry skin?
(beat)
Cause you was scared shitless,
thats why.
BRIDGER
The Ree... did you see em?
(off Fitzgeralds silence)
DID YOU SEE EM?
FITZGERALD
(moving closer)
Not a one.
Bridger CRIES OUT... starts to pull the trigger, when
Fitzgeralds hand flashes out, grabbing the barrel, and
shoving the butt back into Bridgers face... THWACK.
The force of the blow knocks Bridger back to the ground, but
Fitzgerald holds his grip on the rifle barrel... flips it
around to aim it at the boy. Blood drips down Bridgers head
as he stares up at his rifle pointed down.
FITZGERALD (contd)
I just needed to spur you on. Pig
was lost, and Glass was dead either
way. There werent no point in us
waitin' around to die too.
Fitzgerald lines the barrel up at Bridgers head... his
FINGER TIGHTENS ON THE TRIGGER.
44.
FITZGERALD (contd)
So that there is the answer to your
question.
And Fitzgerald PULLS THE TRIGGER... AND BRIDGER SQUEEZES HIS
EYES SHUT IN FEAR... THEN CLICK. Bridger opens his eyes...
sees Fitzgerald grinning down at him.
FITZGERALD (contd)
And the next time you aim to kill
somebody, boy, best remember your
gun wont fire without a flint.
Fitzgerald tosses the rifle back at Bridger, and turns away.
Bridgers face flushes with rage and humiliation... he
charges Fitzgerald from behind... tackles him to the
ground... starts pounding Fitzgerald with punches.
But its only a moment before Fitzgerald is in control...
HEAD-BUTTING Bridger off of him... tossing him away, then
KICKING BRIDGER IN THE STOMACH... AGAIN. He grabs his
knife... is ready to finish Bridger off...
...but Fitzgerald is smart enough to know that out here, two
are safer than one... even when one is just a kid. He starts
walking away.
BRIDGER
Im goin back for him.
FITZGERALD
Far as we ran, you couldnt find
Glass nor your dummy with dogs and
a map. And I dont believe you
want to. Cause after leavin him
to die, I doubt hed be too happy
to see you now.
Fitzgerald digs at the dirt with the knife... covers the
fires remains.
FITZGERALD (contd)
And just so were clear. If you
try to backtrack without me
knowin, or ever get so guilty you
feel the need to tell somebody.
Fitzgerald looks at Bridger... hard... evil.
FITZGERALD (contd)
Ill have no choice but to gut you
from nuts to nose.
45.
Fitzgerald stares his point home, then shoves the blade into
his belt, and stands.
FITZGERALD (contd)
Now lets go.
Bridger wipes the blood from his face, then throws one last
glance behind him before following Fitzgerald.
EXT. CAMP - MORNING
Empty and quiet... no sign of life... until GLASS HAND RISES
BETWEEN THE LOOSE BRANCHES. His fingers dig into the earth,
pulling himself up from the hole... a dead man climbing out
of his own grave.
He rolls out to the ground... arches in pain when his back
hits the cold, hard surface.
Glass lies there shivering, regaining what little strength he
has, then rolls over... glances around the camp... his eyes
settle on the blanket.
He starts dragging himself again with that one good arm...
six inches at a time... across the dirt... finally makes it
to the blanket... wraps it around him.
Glass rests there in the center of camp... unable to move...
his eyes scanning the surroundings... no food... no water...
and hes wide open in this clearing... an easy target for any
predator. So he grabs his Possibles bag and GUNPOWDER HORN,
and drags himself toward the cover of brush.
And every movement takes all the will Glass has... a push
with his good leg followed by a pull with his healthy arm...
inch by inch... foot by foot... sweat pouring down his face
as he finally reaches the cover of the trees... continues
on... dragging himself across the forest floor in a
desperate, hopeless crawl for survival.
But finally its too much for Glass... the fever and pain
overwhelm him. He collapses... falls unconscious.
DISSOLVE TO:
From high above the forest... the tree tops sway in the
breeze.
46.

Glass dragging himself again... his hands are torn and bloody
from clawing his weight.
He stops... unwraps his small, leather Possibles bag... dumps
it to the ground, revealing it contents... flints, a straight
razor, his map, and a LEATHER NECKLACE WITH THE SIX-INCH BEAR
CLAW attached. Glass grabs the razor... cuts SEVERAL THIN
STRIPS FROM THE BLANKET, and wraps them around his hands.
He shoves the rest back in the bag, and does the only thing
he can do... start crawling again... push with his healthy
leg... pull with his good arm.
EXT. WILDERNESS - LATER
Glass dragging himself up a steep slope... over rocks... the
jagged edges catching the wounds... tearing the primitive
stitching. The gashes rip wider... blood oozes down, leaving
a crimson trail dripping down the rock behind him.
And we TIGHTEN ON THE BLOOD UNTIL IT BECOMES DARK AS NIGHT.
INT. FARMHOUSE - NIGHT
BACK WHERE WE FIRST OPENED... shadows illuminated by that
lantern's flame. The dusty floor... the bucket of water with
a rag hanging over the edge... the Anstadt Rifle leaning
beside the bed... that FRESH STAR COMPLETED IN ITS STOCK.
Then we see Glass... more clearly this time... holding his
Son in his arms... leaning close... his face pressed to his
Son's ear.
GLASS
(whispering)
Not yet... not yet... not yet.
CUT TO:
And Glass lying beneath a cluster of brush... shivering...
bleeding... conscious but delirious... staring up at the
sky... WHISPERING THOSE WORDS HIS WOUNDS WON'T LET HIM SAY...
over and over... as a TEAR SLIPS FROM THE CORNER OF HIS EYE.
47.

Glass pulling himself along the ground... stopping because he
hears something... RUSHING WATER.
Glass digs his fingers into the ground with new energy...
pulls himself toward the sound... up over a ridge... and
there it is at the bottom of the ridge...
...THE GRAND RIVER... WATER.
Glass crawls down toward it.
EXT. GRAND RIVER - DAY

Glass at the rivers edge, cupping handfuls of water and
rubbing it over his parched lips... withstanding the pain to
gulp it down.
Glass cups more water to his mouth, but with each drink, he
feels the water leak from a hole in his throat... run down
his neck. He leans out over the surface to check his
reflection... sees the swollen, stitched-together, throat.
He fights off the urge to vomit... pulls the razor from the
leather bag, and cuts more strips of blanket, soaking them in
the river, then cleaning his wounds.
He runs a finger up to his shredded throat... around the
open, wet hole. He cups another handful of water to his
mouth... strains to swallow, then feels the liquid GURGLE OUT
OF THE HOLE.
Glass shoves the cloth against the wound... tries to press
the flesh together... no good. He dumps out his Possibles
bag... stares at the meager contents. He picks up one of the
flints... looks to the powderhorn.
EXT. GRAND RIVER - LATER
ANGLE ON A SMALL CLUMP OF DRIED GRASS...
...as Glass SPARKS one of the flints... ignites the grass.
As the fire grows, Glass pours a handful of GUNPOWDER from
the horn, and RUBS IT ALL OVER THE HOLE IN HIS THROAT.
He lifts several small blades of burning grass... a miniature
torch. And only then do we realize what hes about to do...
because he stares at the flame a beat, then raises it toward
his gunpowder-covered throat.
The flame nears the black powder, and LEAPS OFF THE GRASS,
igniting the powder, and SETTING GLASSS NECK ON FIRE.
48.
Glass falls back to the ground in agony... TRIES TO SCREAM,

but his burning, shredded vocal chords wont allow him.
The gunpowder sizzles and burns... the flame spreads...
Glass flesh sears... melts... and the pain is too much for
Glass... he passes out.
The smoke from his neck rises up into the blue sky...
fades...
...and then the clouds begin to drift... fast... too fast...
racing across the sky...
...as we GLIDE BACK DOWN TO...
GLASS - at the waters edge, drinking... touching his
charred, melted throat... no leaks. He slurps back more,
then opens his Possibles bag... pulls out the GRIZZLY CLAW
NECKLACE... stares at it a beat, then slips it over his head.
He drags out a WORN MAP... spreads it on the ground, then
throws a glance around him... fingers the point on the blue
line... a rough guess of his location.
ANGLE ON THE MAP...
...Fort Union at the top... far north. Other smaller
outposts south... but not nearly as far away.
Glass gazes north up the Grand, as if he can see Fitzgerald
and Bridger just ahead of him. Then he looks back down to
his reflection in the water... battered and scarred. He
touches his leg... all but worthless for now... his one good
arm. Its clear hes not ready to take revenge on anyone.
So Glass shoves the map back into the bag... ties it around
his arm with the powderhorn and blanket, then grabs a THICK,
FALLEN LOG, and labors it into the river.
Glass crawls in behind it... deeper, until the current grows
strong enough to carry the weight of his mangled body
downstream. Glass drapes his healthy arm over the log, and
starts floating... letting the river do the work.
Winding through the open prairie. Glass hangs onto the
log... floats with the gentle current... past a HERD OF ELK
grazing along the riverbank. The animals don't even notice
Glass.
49.
EXT. CAMP - DAY

Elk's Tongue stands over Glass' empty grave... several
Warriors watch him study the scene... the rags crisp with
dried blood... the scattered remains of supplies. Then Elk's
Tongue notices a SINGLE BEAR CLAW resting in the dirt. He
picks it up.
EXT. GRAND RIVER - NIGHT
Dark... the moon hidden behind clouds. A heavy mist hangs
over the river. Glass is draped across the log, eyes
closed... letting the slow current carry him south. But then
his eyes open... because he hears something... a LOW RUMBLE.
Glass looks to the river banks... too foggy to see anything
clearly. The RUMBLE GROWS LOUDER. He peers ahead... too
dark to see much... just ANOTHER SPLINTERED LOG floating in
front of him, its one jagged branch rising up in the air.
But then THE LOG VANISHES. Glass squints through the fog,
scanning the surface. But its gone... the waters empty...
that LOW RUMBLE GROWS EVEN LOUDER.
Glass looks to the water beside him... a BRANCH GLIDES PAST
AT A HIGHER SPEED. And now Glass knows whats coming, but
its too late... because the world suddenly turns upside
down, as Glass tumbles over the edge of a TWENTY FOOT
WATERFALL.
He spirals downward... crashes into the rushing current.
Hes washed forward with the suddenly violent rapids. They
pull him under the surface, then toss him GASPING back out.
The river carries him blindly through the mist... tossing...
turning... SLAMMING HIM INTO A HUGE BOULDER... CRACK... he
spins off, swept away headfirst... the foaming water sucking
him down the rocky gauntlet.
He tumbles over more boulders... his Possibles bag snaps
loose... Glass makes a grab for it, but is suddenly flipped
down another set of falls.
The Possibles Bag is lost in the raging river.
Glass sinks beneath the surface, then floats back up, as the
rapids calm... spit Glass to the gentle shallows. His body
drifts face-down toward shore.
And just when were sure Glass has to finally be dead, his
arm reaches up from the water... his hand clamps onto the
muddy bank, and drags his body out of the river.
50.
Glass collapses unconscious to the ground, his body shrouded

in that mist.
TIGHT ON THE LEFT SIDE OF GLASS FACE... the right still
pressed into the muddy bank. The sun beats down... then
SHADOWS APPEAR... BOUNCE ACROSS HIM... something is standing
over Glass.
And then a VULTURES HEAD DROPS INTO FRAME...
...latches its beak onto Glass cheek... tugs at it...
stretches it. Glass eyes pop open... we PULL BACK to see
THREE VULTURES surrounding Glass body, pecking and clawing
at his battered wounds.
Glass swings his good arm, knocking one of the vultures away.
He tries to cry out, but only that PRIMITIVE HISS ERUPTS from
his throat.
The vultures dance away from his flailing... arent willing
to give up their meal so easily... dart in for quick attacks
on his flesh.
Glass grasps a branch... swings at the birds, beating them
back. The vultures give up the battle... fly away.
Glass crumbles back to the ground... squints up into the
sun... the SILHOUETTES OF THE VULTURES CIRCLING ABOVE HIM...
waiting for him to die.
Glass glances to a ridge just a few hundred yards away.
At the base of the ridge, a GIANT BOULDER has broken free,
creating a partial cave. Glass starts crawling toward it.
And if its possible, he looks even closer to death now than
when he started this journey.
EXT. CAVE - DAY
No more than ten feet deep, but enough to hide from
predators. Glass slides as far back in the recess as he
can... collapses against the rock wall.
INT. CAVE - DAY
Glass gathers loose sticks and grass into a small pile...
begins sparking rocks together to build a fire.
51.
INT. CAVE - LATER

The fire burns beside Glass, as he TEARS A SINGLE THREAD of
cloth from the tattered blanket, then feeds it through a tiny
hole in a JAGGED, NEEDLE-SIZED SLIVER OF SHARPENED ROCK... a
man-made needle and thread.
Glass goes to work on the open wounds of his chest...
piercing his skin with the rock... wincing with pain as he
tugs the thread through the fresh hole in his skin... pierces
the other side of the wound, then pulls the flesh tightly
together... before repeating the excruciating process all
over again... pierce... pull... pierce... tighten.
EXT. GRAND RIVER - NIGHT
The moons glow reflects off the water.
INT. CAVE - NIGHT
ANGLE ON GLASS HAND...
...holding a small sharp stone, and SCRATCHING LETTERS INTO
THE CAVES ROCK WALL.
WE PAN DOWN TO THE GROUND... still listening to the
SCRATCHING OF THE ROCK as we glide across the dirt... reach
the fire... its flame warm and strong.
We TIGHTEN ON THE FIRE, until WERE INSIDE IT... and then WE
PULL BACK...
...and we see the fire has long died away... just black ash.
The O.S. SCRATCHING has silenced. We glide back across the
cave floor... to Glass unconscious on the ground. And above
him on the wall, we see what he had been scratching...
Robbed and left to die by Fitzgerald.
find him kill for Hugh Glass
Killed Pig to.
If
We hold on those words a beat, then...

DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. WILDERNESS - DAWN
Still dark and misty. Bridger asleep beneath a thick cover
of trees. An O.S. GUNSHOT springs his eyes open... then
ANOTHER SHOT... and ANOTHER.
52.
Bridger looks around... sees Fitzgerald's gear... but no

Fitzgerald. Bridger scrambles to his feet.
EXT. SMALL CAMP - MORNING
TWO INDIAN PONIES prance anxiously... pull at the ropes that
secure them to trees.
And then we see why they're jumpy... Fitzgerald's standing
over the bodies of TWO DEAD CROW INDIANS... gathering their
weapons. He looks up... sees Bridger standing in the mist...
staring at the scene... shocked.
FITZGERALD
They'da done the same if they'd
found us first.
Bridger doesn't respond... just watches Fitzgerald pull his
knife... crouch over one of the bodies.
FITZGERALD (cont'd)
Gather the horses. We might even
survive to Union now.
Then Fitzgerald moves the blade toward the Crow's head...
pulls the long black hair back.
FITZGERALD (cont'd)
(to the dead body)
Be grateful I kilt you first.
DROPS OF RAIN dot the surface.
grows heavier.
THUNDER RUMBLES... the rain
EXT. CAVE - NIGHT

Rain pouring... gullies of water run down the ridge, spewing
over the mouth of the cave. But inside, Glass doesnt
stir... lying there just as we last saw him.
Rain coming down in buckets.
flooded... raging.
The rivers swollen and
53.

Clouds drift across the moon... the storm has ended.
INT. CAVE - DAY
TIGHT ON GLASS FACE... eyes closed.
Not yet.
He looks dead.
BOY'S VOICE (V.O.)

Not yet.
Glass' eyes suddenly spring open.

EXT. CAVE - DAY
Glass crawls out of the crevice... shields his eyes from the
sun, as he takes in the scene.
The river has sunk back to normal, leaving the banks battered
and muddy. The water is thick and brown with all the flooded
earth it pulled up.
Glass uses all his strength to rise up to his knees, then
higher... onto his healthy leg. He braces himself against a
tree. Hes still crooked and hunched over, but for the first
time since the Grizzly attack, he looks more like a man than
an animal. He bends down... picks up a BROKEN TREE BRANCH.
Glass limps along the bank... beside the brown water stirred
up from the flood. He moves along the washed-out area,
searching for food... grabs some plants... tears them from
the ground to chew on the roots.
He continues on... spots a DEAD SNAPPING TURTLE drowned in
the flood, frozen on its back. Glass kneels down to pick up
the turtle... sniffs it. As he does, he spots something
across the river... a DEER, staring back at him.
Glass slowly raises his IMAGINARY RIFLE... takes careful aim
at the deer... pulls the trigger. If only he had his Anstadt.
But then the deers head snaps... to something beyond Glass.
Glass follows the animals eyes... turns to the ridge... and
sees FIVE ARIKARA WARRIORS STANDING AT GLASS CAVE.
Glass drops flat to the ground behind a tree uprooted in the
flood. He looks back across the river... THE DEER IS GONE.
54.
INT. CAVE - DAY

Elk's Tongue stands at the wall, staring at the words Glass
etched into the rock. He picks up a piece of shredded
cloth... sniffs it, then says something to the Warriors.
Glass inches his head up over the tree... to Elk's Tongue,
now outside the cave... studying the tracks.
Glass eyes jump to the soft dirt along the river... HIS
FOOTPRINTS... an obvious trail leading right to him. He
throws a glance around... nowhere to run even if he could.
So he starts backing into the river on his stomach... feetfirst... dragging a small branch over the tracks around him,
wiping them away as he moves. And his eyes are locked on the
Arikara... watching to see if they spot him.
But they havent yet, and Glass keeps sliding backward...
five feet off shore... only three feet deep in the murky
water and sludge. But if he goes any further, the current
will catch him... pull him into the next set of violent
rapids... and make him a clear target.
The Arikara follow the tracks down from the cave.
Glass sinks neck-deep into the water... the Arikara keep
coming... near the river. So Glass drops beneath the surface.
CUT TO:
UNDERWATER And Glass eyes spread wide... searching the muddy water.
grabs a LARGE ROCK... rolls onto his back, and places the
rock on his stomach, its weight holding him firmly to the
river bottom.
He

ANGLE ON THE ARIKARA WARRIORS... following Glass tracks to
the edge of the river... looking out over the brown river.
CUT TO:
55.
UNDERWATER Glass pressing his head back against the bottom... staring up
through the cloudy water... to the FIVE SHADOWS STANDING ONLY
A FEW FEET AWAY.
EXT. GRAND RIVER - CONTINUOUS
Elk's Tongue and the others... unknowingly standing just
above Glass... looking back to the tracks... scanning the
water. But the surface is empty, and the rivers too thick
with mud to see anything below.
But they keep looking... and were waiting for Glass to
explode from the river, gasping for air. But he doesnt...
and they keep scanning for what seems an eternity, until
finally, Elk's Tongue turns... the Warriors follow him back
toward the cave.
Behind them, Glass face inches to the surface... pulls in
some oxygen... watches as they fade into the trees.
Then Glass rolls the rock away... starts moving deeper into
the river... fighting the current to grab rocks and
boulders... pulling himself to the other side.
EXT. PRAIRIE - EVENING
Glass limps slowly across the rolling prairie. Hes weak...
starving... isnt going to make it much further. He drops to
his hands and knees.
And then he feels something... the ground almost trembling
under his hands. He watches his hands quiver with vibration.
A RUMBLE BUILDS. Glass strains to hear... looks to the crest
of a hill... labors up the gentle slope toward the sound.
EXT. PRAIRIE/HILL - EVENING
Glass reaches the crest... looks over the other side to a
HERD OF BUFFALO THUNDERING ACROSS THE PRAIRIE.
An incredible site... hundreds of massive creatures... their
hooves tearing up the earth, leaving a cloud of dust behind
them.
Behind the herd, a PACK OF WOLVES FIGHT OVER A FALLEN
BUFFALO.
56.
Glass lies in the high grass, watching the wolves SNARL AND
SNAP over the remains. And he eyes that buffalo... the
closest hes been to food in days.
He scans the ground for a weapon... nothing. And then his
eyes settle on some DEAD SAGE BRUSH. He grabs them, along
with some sticks... rocks... pulls them into a pile.
EXT. PLAINS - NIGHT
The five wolves rest around the downed buffalo, their snouts
bloody from the meal. Suddenly, one of the wolves heads
snaps up... bares its teeth... SNARLS.
And then we see what the wolf is growling at... Glass...
limping out of the shadows toward the animals, holding a
BURNING SAGE BUSH IN EACH HAND... like giant FLAMING HANDS
clawing in the night.
The wolves jump to their feet, unsure of whats approaching.
They growl at Glass. But Glass keeps coming... doing his
best to YELL... more like GROWL back at the wolves. He swings
the flaming brush, tossing glowing sparks through the air.
The wolves spread out, instinctively surrounding Glass. But
Glass singles out each one... charges, waving the flames...
driving each wolf back.
Four of the wolves back away, but the leader holds its
ground... even moves toward Glass... only a few feet away...
SNARLING... bloody jaws ready to attack, but still not sure
what its up against.
Glass shakes the flames at the wolf... it SNAPS AT GLASS
ARM. Glass swings the other... slams the fiery plant across
the wolfs head.
The wolf YELPS... leaps back... starts to run away, but turns
back... makes another charge at Glass. But Glass is ready...
throws the flaming ball of sage at the wolf, then clubs it
with the other. The animals fur begins to burn.
The frightened wolf has had enough... rolls on the ground,
then spins to join the rest of its pack. They run a safe
distance, then stop... keeping a watch on Glass.
Glass drags the burning sage bushes along the ground,
igniting the grass and brush... creating a foot-high flaming
wall between him and the wolves.
He stretches the flame into a circle, a fiery ring surrounds
the fallen buffalo.
57.
The wolves have seen enough... turn... race away from the
flames.
As the grass around him burns, Glass drops the sage plants...
attacks the buffalo remains, tearing away bloody chunks of
flesh from the carcass, and shoving them into his mouth... a
starving animal thats finally found food.
EXT. PRAIRIE - NIGHT
From high above the prairie... Glass and the buffalo at the
center of that glowing ring of fire.
EXT. PRAIRIE - DAY
The winds gusting... bending the high golden grass over on
its side. Glass moves slowly across, pulling his collar up
to shield his face from the cold winds. He spots something
in the distant sky ahead... a THIN LINE OF BLACK SMOKE.
Glass picks up his pace... hope spurring him on.
EXT. BURNED ARIKARA VILLAGE - DAY
The charred, skeletal remains of a tribes village... just
black posts where tee-pees once stood... a half-burned log
lodge still smokes, sending that black line into the sky.
Glass limps through the graveyard of structures... all signs
of life in this village long gone. He searches a basket...
pulls out a BLANKET... wraps it around his shoulders.
INT. LODGE - DAY
Glass steps into the smoky warmth of the lodge... black and
empty. He slides down to the floor... unwraps strips of
roasted buffalo from whats left of his blanket. He starts to
take a bite, when SOMETHING DARTS PAST THE DOORWAY TO THE
BACK ROOM. The O.S. SHUFFLING OF FEET.
Glass freezes... he isnt alone. He rises... grabs a
splintered post like a spear... eases toward the doorway...
raises the post to swing...
...and sees the SMALL PUPPY standing in the back room. The
dog takes off around a crumbled wall. Glass follows it.
58.
INT. LODGE/BACK ROOM - CONTINUOUS

Glass limps across the room... turns the corner of the
crumbled wall... and sees the dog slide to a stop beside an
ANCIENT ARIKARA WOMAN, huddled in the corner, her bony arms
outstretched in front of her in weak defense. And her eyes
are SOLID WHITE... the old woman is blind. She CRIES OUT A
CHANT over and over... her death chant, as she waits for this
stranger to kill her.
Glass stands frozen... confused. He tries to speak, but his
throat still wont let him. He crouches down in front of the
old woman... reaches for her hand, but she flails him away.
He grabs her again... gently... just holds it until she
calms... studying the woman... her hollow face all skin and
bones... shes obviously dying.
He pulls the strip of buffalo meat from his pocket... pushes
it into the womans hand. She immediately jerks it to her
mouth... and thats when Glass sees the WOMAN HAS NO TEETH...
she cant eat.
Glass turns to an old pot tipped over on the floor.
EXT. BURNED ARIKARA VILLAGE - DAY
Glass carries the pot toward a nearby stream. The dog
scurries out behind him... follows Glass to the water.
INT. LODGE/BACK ROOM - DAY
The pot boils over burning logs. Glass dips a cup in,
pulling out a warm broth. He carries it to the woman, still
sitting in the corner... takes her hand, placing the cup in
it for her. She gulps the liquid back.
Glass goes back to refill the cup. The old woman MUMBLES
SOMETHING we cant understand... over and over, as Glass
brings the cup back to her. He tries to ease it into her
hand, but the woman pushes it away... slides her hand up
Glass arm to his face... patting it... MUMBLING THOSE SAME
WORDS... thanking Glass.
EXT. BURNED ARIKARA VILLAGE - EVENING
Glass carries several blankets toward the lodge. The puppy
trails behind him, biting at one of the corners... hanging on
as Glass pulls him across the dirt.
59.
INT. LODGE - EVENING

Glass enters the back room with the blankets... stops when he
sees the old woman slumped over to the floor, her white eyes
frozen open in a lifeless stare... the cup of broth spilled
beside her.
The dog scampers over... starts licking up the wet remains of
the broth.
EXT. BURNED ARIKARA VILLAGE - NIGHT
Glass has stacked several burned posts into a crude pyre at
the edge of the village. The woman lies atop the pyre,
covered in the blankets he gathered for her.
EXT. DISTANT RIDGE - CONTINUOUS
THREE INDIANS sit on horseback, watching Glass walk away from
the pyre.
EXT. BURNED ARIKARA VILLAGE - NIGHT
As Glass and the dog walk across the village... something
else appears beyond them...
...THOSE THREE INDIANS GALLOPING TOWARD THE VILLAGE... FAST.
Glass hears them... turns... knows its too late to run, so
he just stands there. The dogs seen enough... darts away.
Glass watches the Indians ride into the village... their
braided hair and dress is different than the Arikara weve
seen earlier, because these are SIOUX WARRIORS, and Glass
knows it.
The Sioux surround Glass on horseback... stare down at him.
The lead warrior (SPOTTED HORSE), (30s), poised and strong,
points to the pyre... says something to Glass.
Glass tries to answer... cant... touches his scarred throat.
Spotted Horse slides gracefully off his horse. The other two
warriors, (THREE FEATHERS and RUNNING FOX) do the same...
close in on Glass.
Glass stands firm. Spotted Horse questions Glass again. And
again, Glass touches his throat... holds his jacket out from
his sides... no weapons. Spotted Horse studies Glass hard...
spots Glass necklace... the grizzly claw hanging from it.
He examines the enormous claw, then nods to Glass stitching
and scars.
60.
SPOTTED HORSE
Griz-lee.
Glass hears the familiar word... nods. Three Feathers SNIFFS
GLASS... says something to Spotted Horse.
Spotted Horse walks around Glass... spots the BLOOD STAINS
along the back of Glass' shirt. Spotted Horse pulls out his
knife.
Glass is confused... holds up his hand, as he takes a step
back. But Three Feathers and Running Fox grab Glass...
secure him, as Spotted Horse raises the knife.
Glass GROWLS A PLEA... but Spotted Horse slices the knife
down Glass back... just cutting open his shirt...
...and revealing a MASS OF WHITE WORMS... MAGGOTS... COVERING
GLASS BACK.
The three warriors exchange glances... theyve obviously
never seen anything like this. Glass sees their reaction...
tries to pull away, but Spotted Horse SLAMS THE BUTT OF HIS
KNIFE against Glass head.
Glass drops to his knees... crumbles unconscious to the dirt.
Spotted Horse says something to the others... they drag Glass
toward the horses... throw him over the back of Three
Feather's horse, then ride out of the village.
EXT. SIOUX VILLAGE - NIGHT
Dozens of glowing campfires dot the prairie, along with a sea
of tee-pees, their willow poles fanning against the night
sky. Animal hides and painted designs decorate the various
tee-pees and lodges. SIOUX CHILDREN laugh and play about the
village... freeze when they hear Spotted Horse and the other
riders splash across the stream.
The warriors ride into the village, Glass body still tossed
over the back of Three Feathers horse. The children race to
them.
ANGLE ON GLASS... regaining consciousness... eyes blinking...
trying to focus.
CUT TO:
GLASS POV - FROM THE BACK OF THE HORSE...
...to the childrens eager faces swarming around him.
61.
Spotted Horse - YELLING SOMETHING at the children... they

back away from Glass... fall into line behind the riders.
Sioux MEN and WOMEN watch as the procession moves past... to
a tee-pee set away from the rest... its hide walls decorated
with wild lightning bolts and buffalo and vaguely human
figures circling the sun.
An OLD MEDICINE MAN, gnarled and leathery, a DEAD RAVEN tied
in his long hair, his naked chest painted with red and black
stripes, steps out of the tee-pee. He eyes Glass, as Three
Feathers and Running Fox carry him inside.
Suddenly, the Medicine Man begins CHANTING.
CUT TO:
A FLURRY OF IMAGES ACCOMPANIED BY THE MEDICINE MANS V.O.
CHANTING...
LEATHER STRAPS SNAPPING AROUND GLASS WRISTS AND ANKLES...
stretched tight.
Glass, naked, on his stomach at the center of the tee-pee,
his arms and legs outstretched, secured to wooden stakes in
the ground. The infected wounds exposed.
The Medicine Man... CHANTING... waving burning sticks in the
air.
A THICK LIQUID BOILING IN A POT... the Medicine Mans twisted
hand reaching a gourd container in... filling it with the
steaming mixture.
The liquid POURING OVER GLASS BACK.
GLASS FACE... arched to the sky... twisted in horrible pain.
He SCREAMS THAT HORRIBLE GROWLING CRY.
MORE IMAGES... even faster... the CHANTING more frantic...
A SIOUX WOMAN,(WAKI), staring down.
HANDS pouring HOT OIL over Glass' wounds.
The Medicine Man dancing... chanting... shaking sticks lined
with RATTLESNAKE TAILS.
The moonlight shining through the tee-pee, illuminating the
images of the buffalo and dancing shapes.
The LITTLE BOY, (Glass' Son), standing over Glass... just
watching him.
62.
Waki gently pouring fluid into Glass mouth.

The Medicine Man holding the SEVERED HEAD OF A SNAKE...
lightly sinking the fangs around the wounds on Glass throat.
GLASS EYES... wide open... rolling up white into his head.
AND THE CHANTING STOPS... the world goes dark.
EXT. YELLOWSTONE RIVER - DAY
Cutting through the open prairie.
the sky in the distance.
Snow-covered peaks touch
Fitzgerald and Bridger dressed in furs... ride the two horses

bareback across the prairie. They rise up a steep slope...
reach the top, and spot the cluster of log buildings inside a
massive thirty-foot tall wooden fence. Fort Union.
Bridger smiles... relieved.
FITZGERALD
Bout goddamn time.
Fitzgerald gives Bridger a stern gaze.
FITZGERALD (contd)
And were understood on
everything... Glass dyin in his
sleep... us buryin him like was
agreed.
Bridger doesnt respond.
Fitzgerald doesnt like that.
FITZGERALD (contd)
Youre as guilty as me in leavin
him. Dont you forget that. You
got a future up here. No sense
tossin it away when he was as good
as dead already. Shit, all we did
was skip the funeral.
Bridger digs his heels into the horse... rides on.
FITZGERALD (contd)
I wont take well to givin up that
two-hundred on accounta you gettin
weak-kneed.
Bridger keeps riding away.
Fitzgerald follows behind.
63.
INT. FORT UNION - DAY

Like a small town surrounded by a log wall. The main TRADING
POST BUILDING is busy... TRAPPERS, SIOUX, all with things to
trade. But most of the life is in the FORT UNION SALOON next
door... crowded with customers downstairs, and just as busy
in the whores rooms upstairs.
A small village of tents rests off to the side of the
buildings, holding the overflow of traffic.
INT. ROCKY MOUNTAIN FUR COMPANY OFFICE - DAY
Henry sits at his desk. Fitzgerald and Bridger stand across
from him. The others... Anderson, Murphy, and Stubby Bill
crowd the room behind them.
FITZGERALD
We figure Pig musta wandered too
far... got turned around or jumped
by some Ree. Me and the kid
hunted for him.
Fitzgerald looks to Bridger for confirmation.
manages a slight nod.
Bridger
HENRY
What about Glass?
FITZGERALD
I wont pretend to been his friend,
but I respect any man that fights
the way he done.
HENRY
And the grave?
FITZGERALD
We had those extra days so we went
deeper... covered it in rocks. To
keep the scavengers off him.
HENRY
Any sign of hostiles?
FITZGERALD
Not a one.
The words are like a punch in the gut to Bridger. He cant
take the pain... opens his mouth to speak, but Fitzgerald
beats him to it.
64.
FITZGERALD (contd)
Truth is, I was worried bout Ree,
and ready to get movin, but
Bridger here argued to stay and
make a cross for the grave.
Bridgers head snaps to Fitzgerald... dont make this worse.
FITZGERALD (contd)
So thats what we did.
Stubby Bill reaches up... gives Bridger a pat on the back.
But to Bridger, it feels like a red-hot blade.
HENRY
Glad to hear you pulled your
weight, Mr. Bridger. I knew you
would.
FITZGERALD
More than his share, Captain.
And now Fitzgerald has snared Bridger into his lie.
drops his eyes to his feet.
Bridger
HENRY
Speaking of shares.
Henry turns to a SAFE resting against the wall. Fitzgerald
watches as Henry spins the dial... locks in the combination,
then pulls the latch. The safe door swings open...
...revealing STACKS OF CASH.
Fitzgeralds eyes lock on all that money. Henry pulls out a
handful... starts counting them out onto the desk.
HENRY (contd)
Am I to assume the agreed
arrangement didnt change?
FITZGERALD
Fortunate for me, it did not.
HENRY
Well thank you both for your
courage and honor.
Fitzgerald swipes up his pile of bills.
bills in front of Bridger.
Henry drops a couple
HENRY (contd)
Youre owed something for what you
did.
65.
Bridger stares down at the bills a beat, then turns... leaves

them there as he pushes his way out of the office. Henry
looks to Fitzgerald.
FITZGERALD
Hes beat hisself up most of the
trip... wishin heda done more.
HENRY
Sounds like there was no more to be
done.
FITZGERALD
Thats what I been tellin him.
INT. FORT UNION/BUNKHOUSE - DAY
Empty, except for Bridger curled up on his cot, sobbing.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. TEE-PEE - DAY
Glass sleeps under a buffalo hide.
His eyes flicker open.

CUT TO:
GLASS POV - ON THE BUFFALO AND DANCING FIGURE DESIGNS

SHADOWED THROUGH THE TEE-PEE.
GLASS - His hand reaching up to his throat.
better than we last saw.
It looks much
He stiffly raises himself up... remembers his back...

struggles to reach behind him... scarred but clean.
He looks beside him... sees SIOUX PANTS AND SHIRT resting on
the ground... waiting for him.
EXT. TEE-PEE - DAY
ANGLE ON GLASS... dressed... pushing his way out through the
flap of the tee-pee... limping out into the midday sun, and
shielding his eyes. He looks like a man that hasnt seen the
light of day for weeks.
Glass adjusts to the brightness... stares in wonder at the
scene. And then we see what Glass is looking at, and
understand his reaction...
66.
the entire village is blanketed in snow. The Sioux VILLAGERS

move about, wearing heavy skins and furs.
A WOMENS O.S. VOICE turns Glass...
...to WAKI, the woman from the images, walking toward him,
bundled in fur. She says something else we cant
understand... points to Glass feet. Glass looks down... to
his BARE FEET BURIED DEEP IN THE SNOW. He hadnt noticed.
And then Waki smiles... a sweet, pretty smile.
hand... leads him back into the tee-pee.
She takes his
INT. TEE-PEE - CONTINUOUS

Glass and Waki enter. She pulls a pair of moccasins from a
basket... hands them to Glass. He slips them on, then
presses his fingers against his throat... almost trying to
hold it all inside to make it work, then...
GLASS
(scratching and rough)
Thank you.
Waki doesnt understand... just hands him his BEAR CLAW
NECKLACE. Glass nods in thanks, then achingly lifts his arms
up to slip it over his head.
GLASS (contd)
How long have I been here?
Waki just stares back... no idea what Glass said.
GLASS (contd)
Youre Sioux. I only know a bit a
Pawnee.
Glass stumbles through a sentence of Pawnee. Waki shakes her
head... throws a jumble of Sioux back at him.
GLASS (contd)
The snow... my healin.
(points to himself)
Me.
(points to the ground)
Here. How long?
Waki shakes her head again.
Glass leads her outside.
67.
EXT. SIOUX VILLAGE - CONTINUOUS

Glass points to the sun overhead, then raises both hands,
fingers outstretched.
GLASS
How many suns? Ten?
Waki studies Glass... the sun... begins to understand. She
nods... SAYS A WORD... holds up all ten of her fingers.
GLASS (contd)
Ten suns?
Then Waki closes her hands into fists... opens them again.
GLASS (contd)
Christ.
Glass glances around... for the first time, notices Sioux MEN
and WOMEN staring at him. Children freeze in the middle of
their play... all eyes locked on Glass. TWO SMALL BOYS, (NEW
MOON and LITTLE ONE), repeat the same TWO WORDS...
Children freeze in the middle of their play... all eyes
locked on Glass. TWO SMALL BOYS repeat the same TWO WORDS to
each other...
BOYS
Mato Wicasa.
...over and over.
Glass stares back, unsure.
Then...
SPOTTED HORSE (O.S.)

Griz-lee Man.
Glass turns... sees Spotted Horse stepping out of a tee-pee.
SPOTTED HORSE (cont'd)
(points to Glass scars)
What they call you.
Glass nods... smiles. The children smile and laugh now
too... repeat the words LOUDER.
SPOTTED HORSE (contd)
Is a strong name.
GLASS
You speak English.
68.
SPOTTED HORSE
Need words trade with whites.
GLASS
Well Im grateful for you bringing
me here... havin them care for me.
(off Spotted Horses nod)
Now if you could point me which way
it is you do your tradin... with
the whites.
Whites.
SPOTTED HORSE
Bra-zo.
GLASS
Fort Brazeau?
Spotted Horse points into the distance.
GLASS (cont'd)
South of here?
(points opposite way)
I need to be north. Fort Union.
Do you know Fort Union?
SPOTTED HORSE
(nods)
Yoon-yun.
GLASS
How far?
SPOTTED HORSE
Many days ride.
Glass considers this.
GLASS
I could trade you for a horse.
Come back with furs... blankets.
Spotted Horse shakes his head... starts walking... motions
for Glass to follow.
SPOTTED HORSE
We eat first.
Glass follows after him. The children sneak in behind,
giggling as they tail Glass across camp.
Glass glances back... New Moon and Little One duck behind a
tee-pee... wait for him to continue before they scoot back
out after him.
69.
INT. CHIEFS LODGE - NIGHT

Glass, Spotted Horse, Three Feathers, Running Fox and OTHER
WARRIORS sit around a fire, eating with CHIEF RED HAWK, the
Medicine Man, and several other TRIBAL ELDERS.
GLASS
The man killed my friend.
rifle.
The Sioux dont understand.
Spotted Horses plate.
They took.
Stole my
Glass reaches over, taking
GLASS (contd)
They took...
Glass aims an imaginary rifle.

GLASS (contd)
...my rifle. My gear.
Now Spotted Horse understands... translates for the others.
GLASS (contd)
Left me to die. So I mean to find
em both. Get my rifle back.
Spotted Horse translates again.
Glass.
Red Hawk nods, studying
Red Hawk SAYS SOMETHING to Glass... motions to the BEAR CLAW

NECKLACE. Glass looks to Spotted Horse.
SPOTTED HORSE
Red Hawk ask who kill griz-lee.
Glass touches his chest. Red Hawk nods, impressed. Glass
points to the JAGGED SCARS running up Red Hawks neck to a
MISSING RIGHT EAR.
GLASS
Grizzly?
Red Hawk smiles... shakes his head.
RED HAWK
Arikara.
That word, Glass understands. Red Hawk rambles a long
sentence in Sioux... motions at Glass. The others LAUGH.
70.
SPOTTED HORSE
He say Arikara take right ear of
Sioux. Left ear of whites. Now
will take both from Mato Wicasa.
Glass glances to the Sioux clothes hes wearing... nods and
smiles along with the others. They continue their meal.
EXT. SIOUX VILLAGE - NIGHT
The village is silent.
INT. TEE-PEE - NIGHT
Glass rests on the buffalo rug, staring up at the designs
painted above him.
EXT. SIOUX VILLAGE - MORNING
Busy with activity.
enters.
Spotted Horse walks to Glass' tee-pee...
INT. TEE-PEE - CONTINUOUS

Spotted Horse stands inside the empty tee-pee... sees GLASS'
GRIZZLY CLAW NECKLACE resting on the buffalo hide.
EXT. PRAIRIE - DAY
Open, snow-dusted prairie for as far as the eye can see. And
the speck that is Hugh Glass, alone at the center... walking
north.
EXT. FORT UNION - DAY
But you can barely tell if its day or night through the
blizzard. Fitzgerald, Anderson, Bridger, Murphy and Stubby
Joe trudge through the storm in their snowshoes... finally
reach the bunkhouse.
INT. BUNKHOUSE - EVENING
Anderson shoves the door closed against the wind... latches
it. The men look worn and battered... wind-burnt faces,
icicles in their beards.
71.
ANDERSON
I just about had my fill of this
cold as hell place.
FITZGERALD
I keep tellin' ya there's plenty a
money to be made in warmer
climates.
MURPHY
We're contracted for twelve months.
Henry puts us where he pleases.
FITZGERALD
While he squats his ass on his
toasty warm stove. Whatta you
reckon he'd do if he showed up one
day and found this place empty?
Sure wouldn't come after us. Not
til spring at least.
BRIDGER
We gave him our word... to honor a
promise. That counts for
somethin'. To some folks anyway.
It's clear Bridger is talking straight to Fitzgerald. And
Fitzgerald throws Bridger a glare... wants to throw more, but
Bridgers returning the stare... hard... so Fitzgerald
decides hed better not push it.
FITZGERALD
You hadn't lived long enough to
preach to me, boy. Come to me
after life's spit in your face...
took away all you ever had. Then
I'll let you cry honor from your
pulpit.
The bunkhouse goes silent.
others.
Fitzgerald turns his look on the
FITZGERALD (cont'd)
What about the rest of ya?
The others trade glances... no takers.
FITZGERALD (cont'd)
Rather keep slavin' it for Henry,
huh? Least we should push to up
our pay.
Still nothing.
72.
Jesus.
bunk.
FITZGERALD (cont'd)
Not much backbone in this
STUBBY BILL
No stoppin' you from goin', Fitz.
That's a challenge. And Fitzgerald never backs down from one
of those. He grabs his gloves... starts strapping his
snowshoes back on.
FITZGERALD
It'll only be on my interests I
argue for.
Fitzgerald walks out... leaves the door wide open for the
cold wind to pour over the others. Anderson scurries over,
shoving it closed.
INT. ROCKY MOUNTAIN FUR COMPANY OFFICE - DAY
Fitzgerald enters... sees Henry working at his desk.
FITZGERALD
I need to talk to you, Captain.
HENRY
(without looking up)
What is it this time, Fitzgerald?
But Fitzgerald doesn't answer... not right off, because he
just spotted the SAFE DOOR CRACKED OPEN behind Henry...
STACKS OF MONEY visible inside.
Henry looks up at Fitzgerald... snapping Fitzgerald's focus
back.
FITZGERALD
Wanted to ask about my contract.
Henry stands up... carries the papers to the door.
HENRY
Can this wait? I've got business
to tend to.
FITZGERALD
Yes sir, Captain.
Henry walks out... as Fitzgerald's eyes drift back to that
safe.
73.

Glass crouches beside a stream, cupping handfuls of water to
his lips. He HEARS O.S. MOVEMENT... looks up...
...to Spotted Horse just across the stream... sitting on his
horse, holding a spear, and wearing Glass' Grizzly Claw
Necklace. And he's leading a PAINT MARE behind him, loaded
with a BEAR HIDE COAT.
SPOTTED HORSE
Need horse ride to Yoon-yun.
EXT. WILDERNESS/CAMP - NIGHT
Tucked under the rooftop of trees. Glass and Spotted Horse
are crouched beside a fire-bed... no flames... no smoke...
just warmth. Glass is wearing the Bear Hide.
Spotted Horse pulls off his own BEADED CHESTPLATE... holds it
out to Glass.
GLASS
You've already done plenty for me.
SPOTTED HORSE
Bring luck in hunt.
Glass nods... takes the chestplate, slipping it on.
GLASS
Thank you.
SPOTTED HORSE
Spend life hunting enemy.
win.
Enemy
GLASS
It will be over soon.
Glass and Spotted Horse hold a look.
looks to the Grizzly Claw.
Then Spotted Horse
SPOTTED HORSE
Was big griz-lee?
GLASS
Yes.
Spotted Horse smiles. And that's when the ARROW BURSTS
THROUGH THE FRONT OF HIS CHEST...
74.
...and Glass looks up... sees SEVERAL DARK SHAPES RUSHING

THROUGH THE TREES TOWARD THEM.
Spotted Horse reaches for Glass... crumbles over, just as
there's an O.S. SNAP BEHIND GLASS.
Glass spins in time to see an ARIKARA WARRIOR SWINGING A
HATCHET.
Glass dives, scooping up Spotted Horse's spear... driving it
into the air, shoving it through the Warrior's stomach.
The dark woods suddenly ERUPT IN WAR CRIES... Arikara appear
from all sides.
Glass tears the knife from Spotted Horse's sheath...
scrambles up... races toward the Paint Mare as ARROWS PIERCE
THE AIR ALL AROUND HIM.
Glass swings up onto the Paint Mare... spots ELKS TONGUE
leading the charge... the necklace of ears hanging around his
neck. And Elks Tongues eyes are locked on Glass... almost
like he remembers him.
EXT. FOREST - NIGHT
Glass hanging onto the paint mare, as she gallops through the
trees... the animals nostrils spread wide, pulling in all
the oxygen it can.
Glass glances back... sees SHAPES BEHIND HIM... HORSES...
ridden by Elks Tongue and a DOZEN OTHER WARRIORS.
Glass digs his heels into the horse, squeezing every ounce of
speed from her legs... pushing her toward the clearing up
ahead... throwing another glance back... then looking in
front of him, and realizing it isnt a clearing at all...
...its the edge of the world.
The paint mare explodes from the trees, then runs out of
ground... because shes just galloped off the side of a
cliff.
The horse sails downward toward a thick forest of trees, its
legs flailing for something to stand on.
Glass grips the horses mane, hanging on for what seems an
endless fall.
75.
The mare SLAMS LEG-FIRST INTO THE TREE-TOPS with Glass still
on her back. The Paint Mare SQUEALS as she smashes through
the snow-covered trees, carrying Glass with her.
CUT TO:
EXT. FOREST - CONTINUOUS
And the horse comes crashing through the branches... the
massive limbs slowing her fall... snapping off as her body
hits and twists... tosses Glass away.
Glass sails through the air... hits a slope, and tumbles down
into a stream of icy water...
...sinks below the surface a moment... long enough that we're
sure he has to be dead... until he rises from the water...
drags himself up to the snowy ground... collapses...
shivering... staring up through the trees...
...to Elks Tongue and his Warriors peering down from the top
of the cliff... with no way to get to Glass. Finally, they
turn... disappear.
EXT. WOODS - NIGHT
Glass moves shivering through the trees... his body soaked...
clothes beginning to ice over... body convulsing from the
cold...
...when he finds the DEAD PAINT MARE twisted on the forest
floor.
Glass grabs the loose blanket from the snow... shakily wraps
it around himself. But it's worthless in this frigid night
air. Glass is going to freeze to death.
He stares at the dead horse a beat, then pulls the knife
back, and SLAMS IT INTO THE HORSES STOMACH... begins slicing
the mares belly open. His hands shake so much he can barely
control the knife.
Blood and organs spill out, staining the snow. Steam rises
from the remains. Glass keeps on cutting... turning his head
from the smell, as he pulls out whatever doesnt ooze out on
its own... emptying the carcass.
Glass peels off his wet furs, then does what we didnt think
was possible... he begins crawling feet-first into the
horses hollow belly... holding its ribs up so he can slip
inside... curling up... SQUISHING IN... deeper... deeper...
until only his head remains outside of the horse.
76.
Glass wraps the blanket around his face and head... doing
everything he can to survive.
DISSOLVE TO:
The dead horse... its fur white and icy... Glass blanketwrapped head still protruding from the seam in its stomach.
And nothings moving... the whole world looks frozen stiff...
...until Glass head shifts... the CRACKING OF FROZEN FLESH,
as he lifts the upper half of the mare's belly. Its like a
cocoon tearing open. He rolls out of the carcass, hitting
the ground, and squinting up into the warmth of the sun.
The horses blood covers his clothes. He slides the frozen
fur back over himself, then gazes up at the sun for
direction... starts walking. Alone... in the middle of
nowhere... again.
EXT. OPEN COUNTRY - DAY
From high above... the small shape of Glass making his way
across the snowy ground... heading toward TWO DISTANT SHACKS.
EXT. FORT TALBOT - DAY
A makeshift town on the banks of the Missouri. Two
ramshackle structures... the General Store and a tattered
livery stable.
INT. FORT TALBOT/GENERAL STORE - DAY
More like a saloon that sells a few supplies. A gang of
TRAPPERS drink and play cards. A RUNTY MAN stands behind the
counter, watching them...
...until the door blows open, and in steps Glass. The men
stop what they're doing... watch him limp silently to the
wood stove... pants stained with the mares blood... ice
frozen in his beard.
TRAPPER #1 SNORTS A LAUGH. The Runty Man eyes the SIOUX
CHESTPLATE, as Glass warms his hands... his face. Finally...
GLASS
I need a horse.
77.
RUNTY MAN
I don't serve injuns or those
that's partial to injuns.
GLASS
(struggling to make his
frozen lips move)
Im Hugh Glass of...
RUNTY MAN
I dont serve injuns or those
that's partial to injuns.
Glass stares at the Runty Man a beat, then...
GLASS
...of the Rocky Mountain Fur
Company on my way to Fort Union.
RUNTY MAN
I dont care if you was with Lewis
and Clark headed for the new world.
I've lost too many folks to them
savages.
(off the chestplate)
A fella wears that is too native
friendly for my taste.
GLASS
All I need is a horse and enough
supplies to get me...
TRAPPER
Ice musta froze up his ears, cause
he aint listenin to you, Cees.
GLASS
...to get me to Fort Union. I can
sign a draft made good by Captain
Henry.
The Runty Man just stares at Glass... grins a TOOTHLESS GRIN.
RUNTY MAN
You're a stubborn one, ain't ya? I
tell ya what... what I will do is
let you trade me that fancy injun
jewelry for a warm glass of piss.
TRAPPER #2
I can give him some fresh.
FAT TRAPPER
Best get on your way, friend.
78.
Glass stares back at the men for a long beat, then...

GLASS
Im Hugh Glass of the Rocky
Mountain Fur Company, and all I
need is...
RUNTY MAN
(to the trappers)
Do you believe this shit?
Trapper #1 and Trapper #2 pull the SKINNING KNIVES from their
belts... start toward Glass.
TRAPPER #1
He don't wanna make the trade, what
say we just cut it off him?
FAT TRAPPER
Hell, I warned ya.
GLASS
All I need...
And thats when Trapper #1 grabs for Glass and the
chestplate, but in a flash of movement that catches them all
off-guard, Glass has is own knife pulled and JAMMED UNDER
TRAPPER #1s CHIN. Everyone freezes.
GLASS (contd)
...is a horse and enough supplies
to get me to Fort Union.
Then Glass slides Trapper #1s PISTOL from his belt... aims
it at the other men.
GLASS (contd)
And this shooter here. All made
good by Captain Henry and The Rocky
Mountain Fur Company.
The snow pours down on the Runty Man and the trappers, as
they stand outside, rifles aimed into the distance.
RUNTY MAN
Shoot him, goddammit!
TRAPPER #2
I cant get a clear look.
79.
RUNTY MAN
Shoot em both!
The Runty Man snatches one of the rifles... BOOM... fires a
wild shot past the riders.
CUT TO:
GLASS - GALLOPING AWAY ON HORSEBACK...
...with Trapper #1 sitting backward on the horse behind him.
Glass has the pistol jammed into his ribs, and keeps glancing
back to the men growing smaller behind him.
Finally, Glass shoves the man off the back of the horse.
Trapper #1 tumbles into the snow.
The RUMBLE OF DISTANT GUNSHOTS... too far away to reach
Glass, who just keeps racing north.
CUT TO:
THE RUNTY MAN - WATCHING GLASS ESCAPE.
RUNTY MAN
Get after the bastard!
The trappers exchange glances... dont move.
TRAPPER #2
Its cold as hell, Cees.
FAT TRAPPER
And he did say to put it all on the
Rocky Mountain tab.
The Runty Man glares at the trappers.
EXT. OPEN COUNTRY - EVENING
Glass riding the horse at a trot through the snow.
EXT. FORT UNION - NIGHT
Thick with fog, and silent as death. The moon fights its way
through the mist, sending an eerie glow over the fort.
80.
EXT. FORT UNION/BLOCKHOUSE - NIGHT

Stubby Bill sits dozing in a chair, his rifle across his lap.
O.S. CRUNCHING... getting louder... loud enough to nudge
Stubby Bill awake.
He sits up... peers over the wall, but cant see anything in
the fog... just hears the CRUNCHING MOVING CLOSER...
FOOTSTEPS IN THE CRISP SNOW.
CUT TO:
STUBBY BILLS POV...
...on the blanket of fog hanging in the air... that same
CRUNCHING, as a SHADOW APPEARS... growing clearer... a FIGURE
walking... leading a horse behind him... appearing out of the
mist like a ghost... GLASS.
STUBBY BILL - STARES DOWN IN SHOCK...
...sure his eyes are betraying him. But then Glass looks
straight up at Stubby Bill, and theres no doubt.
STUBBY BILL
Jesus Christ.
INT. BUNKHOUSE - NIGHT
Dark and quiet... just snoring rattling the silence.
Suddenly the door kicks open... SLAMS into the wall... and
theres GLASS SILHOUETTE FILLING THE DOORWAY, HOLDING THAT
STOLEN PISTOL AT HIS SIDE.
GROANS from the awakened men... hands moving through the dark
for oil lamps... turning them bright... until the rooms
fully lit... and they all see Glass standing there... eyes
floating across the room, searching for a target.
The men just stare back at him, like theyre all part of the
same dream.
Except for Bridger, whos propped up in his cot like hes
been waiting all night... waiting every night... for Glass to
appear in that doorway.
BRIDGER
Im sorry.
The other men just watch in silence, not sure what the hells
going on.
81.
Glass holds his stare on Bridgers face... a face thats

haunted him... kept him alive.
GLASS
You took everything I had... left
me to die.
Glass walks toward Bridger... each step of his feet on the
wood floor is like the thud of an executioners drum.
MUMBLING from the other men, as they watch this ghost reach
Bridger... stand over him.
BRIDGER
I was scared of dyin.
(beat)
But every day since, Ive wished I
had.
GLASS
There wasnt no Ree that night,
was there?
A long beat, then...
BRIDGER
No.
Glass flinches... almost like he didn't want that to be true.
BRIDGER (cont'd)
But I didn't know that til later.
I swear to God I didn't.
Bridger's face suddenly looks very young... just a boys... a
scared boy... not the face Glass had pictured in his mind for
so long. And suddenly Glass seems almost ashamed... sad
even.
GLASS
He killed Pig.
BRIDGER
Huh?
GLASS
Fitzgerald. I watched him.
where is he?
Now
HENRY (O.S.)
Deserted two days ago.
Henrys hustling in the door with Stubby Bill, still throwing
on his coat after Stubby Bill awakened him.
82.
HENRY (contd)
Along with about a thousand dollars
of company money.
Glass doesn't even look back to Henry.
GLASS
My rifle?
HENRY
Took it too.
Glass considers that a moment, then walks out.
Wait.
BRIDGER
Please!
But Glass is gone, with Henry following... leaving Bridger

alone with all those eyes burning into him.
The men step into their boots and furs... file out after
Glass and Henry... leave Bridger alone in the bunkhouse.
INT. ROCKY MOUNTAIN FUR COMPANY OFFICE - NIGHT
Glass sits by the warmth of the stove, sipping coffee.
Henrys behind he desk, with the other men scattered around.
GLASS
Spent the night inside that mare,
then hiked over to Fort Talbot.
STUBBY BILL
Christ almighty.
GLASS
And you may hear from the fella
there about a stoled horse and
supplies charged to you.
HENRY
Well take care of it.
go settle in.
You should
MURPHY
Theres a couple fair whores next
door thatll ease the miles on ya,
scars or not.
Stubby Bill gives Murphy an elbow.
ANDERSON
Jesus, Murph.
83.
MURPHY
I just meant Id go roust one of
em for him if he wanted.
GLASS
(shakes his head)
But I wouldnt mind the use of her
bed.
HENRY
(to Murphy)
Go clear out a room.
on back to bunk.
The rest head
Murphy hustles out. The others move toward the door, each
stopping to shake Glass hand, or give him a pat on the back,
until it's only Glass and Henry.
HENRY (contd)
What do I do about Bridger?
GLASS
Fitzgerald woke us both with a
story about Ree comin into camp.
Any of us woulda done the same.
HENRY
Not lied about your condition.
GLASS
I doubt Fitzgerald gave him much
choice. I'll find him and deal
with that.
A beat of silence, until...
HENRY
Can I talk you outta what youre
planning to do?
Glass doesnt answer... just stands, placing the coffee cup
on the table.
GLASS
Thank you for what you done for
me... stitchin me back together...
tryin' to give me a chance.
HENRY
Im offerin you another right
now... to stay here... let this
thing go. We'll send some others
out after Fitzgerald.
84.
GLASS
(beat)
There was nothin' strong in me for
not dyin' those first days. I was
ready for you to pull the
trigger... even hopin' for it.
Been wantin' it as long as I can
remember.
(shakes his head)
But now... I can't let him have
what he took from me... it's all I
got left of...
Emotion won't let Glass finish.
He turns toward the door.
GLASS (cont'd)
I appreciate the coffee.
Glass walks out.
Henry just sits there.
EXT. FORT UNION - DAY

Glass, Anderson, and Murphy stand by Glass horse, as he ties
off his supplies.
MURPHY
Fitzgerald said he was goin to
look for some elk... never showed
back up. I figured he mighta fell
in, but then the next mornin'
Bridger seen the canoe was missin.
ANDERSON
And the Captain found the money
gone. Pieces all fit for it to be
Fitzgerald.
GLASS
Ill start off makin' my way down
river.
Glass pulls the cinch tight around the horse... turns... sees
Bridger standing across the grounds... watching him. And
then Bridger approaches.
MURPHY
You want me to run him off?
Glass shakes his head... finishes with the saddle.
reaches them... waits for Glass to turn, then...
Bridger
85.
BRIDGER
Every day I think about what I done
to you. And every day I wanted to
tell the others the truth, but I
was afraid of what they'd think of
me. Then I'd look at Fitzgerald
and want to kill him but was afraid
to try... because I'm a coward.
(beat)
I'm coward and wish he hadnt been
lyin about the Ree that night. I
wish they had come and kilt us
both.
Glass considers Bridger's words.
GLASS
You're not a coward, Bridger,
you're a boy. No older than mine
should be. And you put yourself at
risk to stay back and look after
me. There's nothin' coward about
that.
Glass extends his hand to Bridger. Bridger stares at it a
moment, still too ashamed to take it. But finally he does.
BRIDGER
I wanna come with you. To find
Fitzgerald. Pig was my friend too.
GLASS
(shakes his head)
This ain't a job for you.
Glass swings up into the saddle... sees Henry on horseback,
trotting toward them.
GLASS (contd)
I don't need help with this.
HENRY
I know you don't. But Pig was my
responsibility. If Fitzgerald
murdered him, Rocky Mountain Fur
wants him too.
Glass stares at Henry a beat... knows what's going on, and
also knows he can't do anything about it. So he just pulls
his horse around... heads for the river. Henry nods to the
others, then follows after Glass.
Bridger takes a few steps after them... like he might even
follow on foot.
86.
ANDERSON
C'mon, Jim, let's go eat somethin'.
Anderson gives Bridger a pat on the back... a sign that all
will be fine between them. They turn... walk back toward the
bunkhouse.
EXT. FORT TALBOT/GENERAL STORE - DAY
The Runty Man behind the counter. A few of the same Trappers
drinking... playing cards. Just another day at Fort Talbot.
The door swings open, and a FUR-COVERED FIGURE enters.
RUNTY MAN
We aint got no food to spare,
friend, if thats what youre
lookin for.
The figure pulls back his furs, and we see its Fitzgerald...
cold and miserable.
FITZGERALD
Then what the hell have ya got?
RUNTY MAN
Whiskey and blankets mostly.
Weathers held back deliveries.
Fitzgerald throws a glance to the Trappers.
FITZGERALD
Gimme a few of each then. Goddamn
ice shredded my boat to shit. Been
walkin for two days.
The Runty Man hands Fitzgerald some bottles.
one... gulps some down.
Fitzgerald pops
FITZGERALD (contd)
How much for one of them horses out
there?
RUNTY MAN
Horses aint cheap this time a
year.
FITZGERALD
Whatever the price, Rocky Mountain
Fur Companys good for it.
And those words stop everything. The Trappers all turn from
their game. The Runty Man glares at Fitzgerald.
87.
RUNTY MAN
Youre the second son of a bitch
come in here makin that claim.
And the first one left a bad taste.
FITZGERALD
I dont know nothin about that.
Just that I need a horse.
RUNTY MAN
So did this other fella... to head
up to Union. So he stole one...
along with Langes pistola.
Trapper #1 nods to Fitzgerald... this doesn't look good.
FITZGERALD
Fine then, Ill pay cash for the
horse. How much?
RUNTY MAN
How bout you pay for your friends
too.
TRAPPER #1
And my shooter.
FITZGERALD
Wasnt my friend.
TRAPPER #1
Then from where I sit, you dont
got no friends at all.
The other Trappers glare at Fitzgerald. The Runty Man just
grins that toothless smile of his. Fitzgeralds in a bind,
and he knows it.
FITZGERALD
Yeah, okay. Ill collect from him.
How much?
RUNTY MAN
How bout we say eighty...
(sees Fitzgerald doesnt
argue)
...five.
Fitzgerald starts digging into his pocket.
FITZGERALD
You boys are leavin me with
nothin. Better be a helluva
horse.
88.
RUNTY MAN
Pick of the litter.
The Runty Man snatches the cash.
RUNTY MAN (contd)
And when you see that scarred-up
bastard, you tell him hed best not
show up here again.
Fitzgerald freezes... not sure he heard correctly.
FITZGERALD
When I see who?
RUNTY MAN
The son of a bitch that robbed me.
Hugh Glass he called hisself. You
tell him that.
And Fitzgerald looks like he just saw a ghost... or at least
heard his name.
FITZGERALD
You're a goddamn liar.
RUNTY MAN
(suddenly pissed)
How's that, mister?
FITZGERALD
Ain't no way Glass come through
here.
RUNTY MAN
Then it was some other scarred-up
son of a bitch claimed to be him.
TRAPPER #1
Right before he drug me off on
Cees' gelding.
Fitzgerald is confused... nervous... maybe even scared.
RUNTY MAN
What makes you so sure it weren't
him?
As Fitzgerald turns for the door...
FITZGERALD
'Cause I killed him.
89.

Fitzgerald sits on the horse, staring back over the ground...
his LINE OF TRACKS LEADING THROUGH THE SNOW. Glass will
track him... that is a fact.
So Fitzgerald spins... takes off.
him first.
Glass will have to catch

Open country. No cover to hide anywhere.
his horse... leading it up an icy slope.
Fitzgerald is off
And then DISTANT GUNSHOTS... SCREAMS... echoing around him.

Fitzgerald peers back into the distance... no way to see
where it's coming from, but those SCREAMS are definitely
real.
And for the first time, Fitzgerald looks truly frightened...
as if those screams have haunted him for years.
His eyes dance around... he spins... searching for an
attacker... but he's all alone.
So he hurries up the slope... swings onto the horse, and digs
his heels into the horse's ribs... gallops over the snow.
EXT. MISSOURI RIVER - DAY
Thick ice along the edges, tapering to a narrow stream of
flowing water at the very center. Glass and Henry ride along
the snow-covered bank.
HENRY
Hugh.
Henry points. Glass follows his finger along the river... to
a CANOE resting on the bank ahead. They dismount... examine
the canoe... the letters RMFC painted on the side.
HENRY (cont'd)
Thats it.
Glass runs his mittened hand along the gashes in the wood.
GLASS
Ice tore it up.
Glass looks to the FOOTPRINTS IN THE SNOW, leading deep into
the trees. He glances up to the sky... clear and blue.
90.
GLASS (contd)
If the snow holds off, well have a
good trail.
HENRY
Whats out that direction?
Talbot?
GLASS
And the Missouri. Doubt hed risk
the river with the Ree. Likely
grab a horse, and cross over
high... take his chances goin east
against the weather. Whend you
say he skipped out?
HENRY
Three days ago now.
GLASS
We best pick up our pace.
They climb back onto their horses... trot into the trees.
EXT. OPEN COUNTRY - DAY
Glass and Henry gallop across, their path dead on
Fitzgeralds tracks.
At least what was Fort Talbot... now just charred,
smoldering, wooden skeletons... burned to the ground.
And the scalped, one-eared corpses of the Runty Man and
Trappers are strung up on posts like gruesome scarecrows... a
few brave birds pecking at the flesh.
Glass and Henry sit on their horses, looking at the scene...
the tracks heading south.
HENRY
The 'Ree'll find him.
the job, Hugh.
Let them do
Glass just turns his horse... starts along the tracks.

he's moving fast.
And
HENRY (cont'd)
Hugh!
But Glass doesn't slow. He has to get to Fitzgerald before
Elk's Tongue. Henry takes off after him.
91.
EXT. WOODS - NIGHT

Dark and quiet. Fitzgerald sleeps on the ground. A shadow
glides across him... hovers over his face. Fitzgeralds eyes
blink open.
CUT TO:
FITZGERALDS POV...
...on GLASS STANDING OVER HIM... his scarred face calm and
deadly... raising a knife to drive down.
FITZGERALD
No... please.
But Glass still swings the blade.
CUT TO:
EXT. WOODS - NIGHT
And Fitzgerald awakening from his nightmare... looking around
the empty forest. No Glass.
Fitzgerald's face is drawn... exhausted... like Glass is
torturing him... won't let him sleep. So he stands... starts
gathering his gear.
Fitzgerald on his horse... riding through the snow. But now
he's riding the opposite direction... following his own
tracks back the way he came.
He's going to find Glass before Glass finds him.
EXT. WILDERNESS/CAMP - NIGHT
Glass builds a fire-bed... dragging the dirt over the fire
and rocks... spreading a blanket over the warm ground.
Henrys under a blanket, watching him.
HENRY
You told me once you knew enough to
keep away from the Ree.
GLASS
I do.
92.
HENRY
Doesn't seem like it.
(beat)
What if we find Fitzgerald... and I
ask you not to do this?
Glass settles onto the warm earth.
GLASS
Dont ask me.
EXT. WILDERNESS/CAMP - LATER
ANGLE ON HENRY...
...asleep under the blanket. O.S. RUSTLING sends his eyes
flashing open. He raises up... rifle ready.
He glances at Glass, who puts a finger over his lips.
HENRY
(whispers)
Ree?
Glass doesnt answer... just keeps searching the brush.
Henrys groggy eyes dart around the night... spots MOVEMENT
IN THE BRUSH.
HENRY (contd)
There!
GLASS
Wait!
But its too late... Henry fires... BOOM... the shot explodes
through the night...
...and the DEER leaps away.
Henry looks to Glass... shakes his head... sorry.
HENRY
So much for stayin quiet.
GLASS
We needed to pick up some time
anyways.
Glass stands... starts packing up his horse.
93.
EXT. WILDERNESS/CLEARING - NIGHT

Glass and Henry riding across a meadow.
his head back to sniff the air.
Glass stops... tilts
HENRY
Whatta ya got?
GLASS
Smoke.
Glass pulls some snow from his horses mane... tosses it in
the air, and watches it blow to the side.
Glass turns his horse toward the breeze... squints out into
the night.
GLASS (contd)
No more than mile out that way.
(pulls his rifle)
Ill head in from the west... you
take the east.
HENRY
What if its Ree?
GLASS
Then we leave em be... meet back
up here.
Henry nods... Glass takes off at a trot. Henry veers the
other direction... splitting up across the snow.
EXT. FOREST - NIGHT
Splinters of moonlight shoot through the pines. Glass on
horseback, walking through the trees... appearing and
disappearing.
He spots something in the distance... the slightest of glows.
Glass eases off his horse... wraps the reins around a branch.
Henrys already off his horse... leading it through the
trees... searching as he walks.
94.
EXT. FOREST - NIGHT

Glass moves silently through the darkness... rifle poised to
aim and fire... just like the first time we saw him,
perfectly comfortable in this world.
His eyes shine in the darkness, drifting back and forth...
picking up everything.
He reaches the glow... the remains of a campfire. The
slightest bit of dying smoke rises into the air. Glass
crouches down, studying the surround ground... HOOF-PRINTS
blended in with the other tracks.
Henrys horse is making too much noise with each step. He
stops walking... wraps the reins around a tree... walks back
around the horse...
...AND THERES FITZGERALD STARING AT HIM... Glass Anstadt
aimed and ready to fire.
FITZGERALD
Didnt figure an important man like
yourself to be away from your stove
on a night as cold as this,
Captain. You lost?
Henry just stares back at Fitzgerald and that rifle. His
eyes drift to his own rifle, still strapped onto his saddle.
HENRY
Im here to save your life.
FITZGERALD
Is that right? Well I done told
you boys... I dont need savin by
nobody.
Henry knows hes only got one chance... he makes a grab for
the rifle.
EXT. FOREST - NIGHT
Glass running his fingers across the tracks. Suddenly an
O.S. GUNSHOT EXPLODES IN THE DISTANCE. Glass spins to it...
races back through the trees toward his horse.
95.
EXT. FOREST - NIGHT

Glass at full gallop through the woods... veering between
trees... ducking branches.
Glass charges from the forest... spots Henrys horse standing
in the trees... tears through the snow toward it... leaps off
the still-moving animal in a fluid slide... hits the ground
with his rifle ready...
...and sees HENRYS BODY face-up in the snow.
Glass drops to a knee... scans the darkness, as he slides
over to Henry...
...and we see hes a bloody mess... a GUNSHOT WOUND in his
chest leaking out onto the snow... HIS HEAD SCALPED... LEFT
EAR SLICED OFF.
GLASS
You shouldnt a come.
As Glass looks at Henry, he notices something... takes Henry
by the chin, and tilts his head. And HENRYS RIGHT EAR HAS
BEEN CUT OFF AS WELL.
SPOTTED HORSE (V.O.)
He say Arikara take right ear of
Sioux. Left ear of whites.
Glass looks up from Henry's corpse... squints out into the
forest.
EXT. WILDERNESS/CLEARING - NIGHT
Glass on horseback, leading Henrys horse behind him across
the snow-covered meadow. Henrys fur-covered body is draped
over the saddle.
EXT. FROZEN RIVER - NIGHT
A thick layer of ice covers the narrow river, thinning just a
bit at the center. Glass kneels near the middle, chopping at
the thick ice to get to the water beneath. He makes a
hole... dips his canteen down into it, glancing around into
the darkness.
Then Glass turns... stares up a slope into the dark forest
beyond... like he knows whats waiting for him there.
96.
He walks to the horses, tied in the trees at the base of the

slope... Henry still laying across the saddle of his horse in
his bloody furs.
Glass SNAPS A BRANCH FROM A FALLEN TREE... looks back up that
slope.
OUR POV FROM DEEP IN THE FOREST...
...watching from a low angle in the shadowy brush, as Glass
appears up over the distant slope... riding through the
trees, with Henry draped over the horse behind.
The forest is quiet... just the CRACKING of crusty snow and
branches under the horses hooves.
Then BOOM... as the ANSTADT BARREL WE HADNT SEEN BESIDE US
FLASHES IN THE NIGHT...
...and Glass tumbles off his horse.
The horses prance around nervously, then settle... and then
FITZGERALD RISES FROM THE BRUSH BESIDE US... eases toward the
horses, reloading the Anstadt as he moves.
He reaches Glass, face down in the snow... his furs covering
him.
And Fitzgerald has that rifle aimed, ready for Glass to
suddenly roll over firing...
...but Glass doesnt move. Fitzgerald nudges him with his
boot, then rolls him over...
...and instead of Glass, we see HENRYS LIFELESS FACE HIDDEN
BENEATH THE FURS... and that BROKEN BRANCH sticking up along
his back.
ANGLE FROM BEHIND HENRYS HORSE...
...on the REST OF THE BRANCH RIGGED TO GLASS SADDLE to hold
Henry upright...
...and then what we thought was Henry flung over the second
horse... MOVING... the bloody fur-covered arm lifting a
rifle... the head rising up... its GLASS... taking aim...
...as Fitzgerald realizes whats happened... spins with the
Anstadt...
97.
...to Glass laying across the horse... rifle dead set on

Fitzgerald... BOOM... BOOM... both rifles explode...
...Fitzgerald goes flying backward into the brush.
Fitzgeralds wild shot hits Henrys horse, sending it rearing
up, tossing Glass to the ground.
But Glass is on his feet in a flash... reloading as he
charges into the brush...
...but FITZGERALD IS GONE.
Until the flash of movement behind Glass... he turns... as
the butt of the Anstadt whips through the air... WHACK...
clubs him across the head, sending him tumbling down the
slope to the frozen river.
Fitzgerald swings the Anstadt back over his BLOODY SHOULDER,
snatches up his knife, and charges down the slope to finish
Glass off.
Glass lies on the ice, barely conscious. Blood oozes down
his head... over his eyes. He wipes it away to see
Fitzgerald barreling down toward him.
Fitzgerald dives in attack, but Glass kicks up his leg,
sending Fitzgerald flying over... SLAMMING into the frozen
river, his head CRACKING THE ICE.
Glass rips the knife from his belt... moves after Fitzgerald,
his feet slipping and sliding under him.
Fitzgerald rises to his feet... the men charge like two wild
animals... crash into each other... knives flailing.
They roll along the ice, blades glistening... slicing through
furs... across flesh... this battle is just as violent as
Glass' bout with that Grizzly.
Fitzgerald thrusts his knife down... plants it through the
back of Glass hand, pinning it to the ice. Glass CRIES
OUT... drops his own knife to pull Fitzgeralds out.
As he does, Fitzgerald kicks Glass in the face, sending him
sailing back... sliding to the center of the river.
The thin ice around him splinters... cracks. Glass looks
up... sees Fitzgerald stalking toward him, HOLDING BOTH
KNIVES now. Glass is trapped...
98.
...until he pounds his elbow down on the weakened ice... it

begins to give... he pounds it again... Fitzgerald speeds up
to get to Glass in time... raises one of the knives... just
as Glass shatters the ice... drops beneath the surface.
Fitzgerald rushes after him, but the ice cracks under his
feet, forcing him back.
CUT TO:
UNDERWATER...
...and Glass just below the ice, floating with the current.
His fingers search for a hole, but theres nothing.
CUT TO:
CUT TO:
FITZGERALD...
...making his way down the river, peering through the ice,
searching for Glass. He spots something... stops... leans
close to make out the shape... its GLASS FEET.
Then suddenly, GLASS FIST EXPLODES THROUGH THE ICE AT
FITZGERALDS FEET... grab Fitzgeralds leg, pulling him down.
Fitzgerald crashes to the ice... it splinters around him...
gives away, and he sinks into the icy water... but the
ANSTADT STRAPPED AROUND HIM CATCHES ON THE ICE... holds him
against the current.
Glass drags himself from the water... stands... stares down
at Fitzgerald trapped in the hole... his face looking up at
Glass through the ice. Glass lifts one of the fallen
knives... stands over Fitzgerald.
FITZGERALD
(through the water and
ice)
Help me!
(off Glass stare)
Glass... please!
Glass hesitates a beat, staring at him, just as he did with
Bridger that night in the bunkhouse. And then Glass leans
down... grabs the Anstadt to pull Fitzgerald up.
Except Glass SLICES THE BLADE ACROSS THE STRAP OF THE
ANSTADT...
99.
...sends Fitzgerald floating away under the ice, as Glass

holds on to the Anstadt.
CUT TO:
FITZGERALD...
...careening under the surface... pounding at the ice as he
drifts, until his swinging slows... stops... his dead body
drifts away.
Glass stands on the ice, blood dripping down his face,
holding his Anstadt. He begins to tremble... not from the
cold, but from finally reaching the end of this journey. He
looks at the rifle, and his eyes begin to fill with tears.
Then a NOISE from across the river...
...and Glass looks up... sees ELKS TONGUE standing on the
opposite side of the river, staring back at Glass.
And Jesus, we thought Glass might make it through this... but
then shapes appear on each side of Elk's Tongue... a DOZEN
ARIKARA WARRIORS... all ready for a massacre.
Glass and Elks Tongue exchange a long stare, until finally
Glass SCREAMS OUT.
GLASS
I am Mato Wicasa! I have killed
whites and I have killed Arikara
and I have killed grizzly! AND I
WILL KILL YOU!
Elks Tongue doesnt move... just stares back at Glass...
soaked in blood and water. Then Glass CRIES OUT at the
warriors again.
GLASS (contd)
COME ON!
But the Arikara dont attack... dont move at all... until
Elks Tongue finally just gives Glass the SLIGHTEST OF NODS,
then turns... they disappear back into the trees.
Glass watches the Arikara fade into the night. He looks down
to that Anstadt in his hand... the CARVED STAR... he allows
the faintest of smiles...
100.
...then Glass' legs weaken... he drops to his knees on the

ice. He looks down... spots the MATTED BLOOD on his furs...
isn't sure whose blood it is. Then he pulls the furs back
from his stomach... reveals the LARGE CRIMSON STAIN SPREADING
OVER HIS SHIRT.
It's Glass' blood, and there's a lot of it.
Glass eases back, until he's just sitting there on the icy
river, staring across into the trees.
The world seems suddenly peaceful... like Glass has it all to
himself... until O.S. FOOTSTEPS CRUNCHING in the forest
behind Glass. He doesn't turn toward it.
CUT TO:
POV FROM THE WOODS BEHIND GLASS...
...slowly moving through the trees... easing toward Glass,
still on the river.
GLASS - Sitting there with his rifle... hearing the
FOOTSTEPS, but he's too weak to move... too weak to fight
anymore.
The FOOTSTEPS ARE CLOSE... RIGHT ON US... a FIGURE'S SHADOW
moves over Glass. Glass just keeps staring straight ahead.
And then the Figure sits down beside Glass, and we see it's a
BOY... THE BOY FROM THE BED... GLASS' SON.
Glass looks at the Boy... smiles.
The Boy returns the smile, then reaches down... runs his
small hand over the rifle.
ANGLE ON THE ANSTADT...
...and the small hand running its finger along the outline of
that carved-out star. And then Glass' hand dropping into the
frame... taking the small hand, and holding it.
CUT TO:
POV FROM ACROSS THE RIVER...
...on Glass sitting alone on the ice, holding that rifle.
FADE OUT.

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THE REVENANT

Based on the novel by

Revenge is an act of passion; vengeance of justice.

Based on a true story

several MEN have formed a MAKESHIFT BAND,

The song ends... the Trappers CHEER... Fitzgerald tosses that

Boone snickers. Fitzgerald stomps his boot onto a branch,

Pig and Bridger chase after him.

EXT. CAMP - EVENING

BRIDGER AND PIG - CHASING AFTER GLASS...

Arikara leader, (ELKS TONGUE), animal bones braided into

And this is a massacre... the Arikara wading through the

Henry snaps out of his stare... turns to the men... obviously

Henrys eyes instinctively look to Glass.

Elk's Tongue shakes his head... says something in Arikara

Elk's Tongue shakes his head.

The Trapper digs out some coins... blankets... liquor...

...and everyone freezes... because Toussaint and his Men are

We PULL BACK... see that the flatboat is beached along the

Bridger stands in the

Glass sits at the base of a tree, cleaning his Anstadt

Fitzgerald realizes the barrel hes holding is aimed his

And that flask of whiskey has just helped give us a glimpse

EXT. WOODS - LATER

EXT. WILDERNESS - MORNING

Henry leads the men single file through

The other men follow.

GLASS - AS THE BEAR LEAPS ON TOP OF HIM...

HENRY - LEADING THE CHARGE THROUGH THE FOREST.

And all they can see is the bear, so they scan

Still nothing. So Bridger takes off down the slope... losing

...his throat is torn wide open... stomach and chest a

Henry glances down to the PUDDLE OF BLOOD spilling out over

EXT. WOODS - CONTINUOUS

Henry glances back to Glass.

Bridger carries another claw around Fitzgerald... to the

Glass hesitates a moment, then strokes her hair again. His

...feeling its way down to the stock... pressing his palm

Pig turns away... presses his hands over his ears.

EXT. CAMP - DUSK

GLASS (O.S.) (cont'd)

Fitzgerald stands in the shadows, taking a piss.

EXT. CAMP - EVENING

The water rushing past so loud

EXT. CAMP - EVENING

BRIDGER - SCRAMBLES UP FROM THE TREE HE WAS LEANING...

Bridgers frozen... doesnt know what to do. So Fitzgerald

Bridger tightens his grip on his

EXT. WILDERNESS - DAY

EXT. WILDERNESS - DAY

Glass crawls down toward it.

EXT. GRAND RIVER - DAY

Glass falls back to the ground in agony... TRIES TO SCREAM,

EXT. CAMP - DAY

Glass collapses unconscious to the ground, his body shrouded

INT. CAVE - LATER

Killed Pig to.

We hold on those words a beat, then...

Bridger looks around... sees Fitzgerald's gear... but no