Inspiration.
This story was inspired by the 1959 song written by Danny Dill and Marijohn Wilkins and first recorded by honky-tonk singer Lefty Frizzell. The song was made famous by Johnny Cash when in 1965, he included his own version on the album Orange Blossom Special. I first heard the song in 2000 when the Dave Matthews Band released a version on their live album, Listener Supported. Almost instantly, the powerful lyrics and hypnotic melody started conjuring up images in my mind, many of which have become part of this screenplay.
On researching the history of this song, I learned that there are no less than 125 different studio recordings by artists as varied as Johnny Cash, Burl Ives, Jerry Garcia, Joan Baez, The Proclaimers and Mick Jagger singing with The Chieftains. Countless more, including Bruce Springsteen, have performed it live on stage. It was even performed at Woodstock in 1969 by The Band.
Currently, there are more than 300 versions of The Long Black Veil listed on Spotify.
To hear the Dave Matthews Band’s version, click here
Synopsis.
Our tale takes place in an unnamed Illinois town in 1859, at a time when small towns are growing at a breakneck pace as the railway cuts its way through the landscape. Our protagonist, Charles, has just returned home after receiving word of his mother’s passing… almost ten years earlier!
Charles left town in a hurry after his father took his own life when Charles was in his late teens. His father had been a highly sort after portrait artist whose business fell into steady decline with the invention and speedy uptake of photography.
When he split, Charles left behind his mother, his good friend John and a loving girlfriend, Annabelle. He never expected to stay away as long as he did, but an unfortunate incident with the local Marshal’s daughter made cause for him to disappear so as to escape serious retaliation.
As Charles starts to settle back into his hometown, he learns that things are nothing like he expected. The weekly letters he had written his mother have gone astray since her passing and as a result, no one he cares for has any idea of where he’s been or what he’s been up to.
His once best friend John has not only taken over the local Photography studio, which is cause for great friction, but he has also taken Annabelle as a trophy wife. Unloved and uncared for, Annabelle directs all her focus on raising her two children and daydreaming of how things could have been.
Just as Charles starts to rekindle his relationship with Annabelle, the Marshal learns of his return to town and is hell-bent on getting revenge for his daughter.
What transpires is a tale of mistakes, misgivings and misfortune as Charles tries to carve out the life he has been longing for from the reality that unfolds before him.
Our tale takes place in an unnamed Illinois town in 1859, at a time when small towns are growing at a breakneck pace as the railway cuts its way through the landscape. Our protagonist, Charles, has just returned home after receiving word of his mother’s passing… almost ten years earlier!
Charles left town in a hurry after his father took his own life when Charles was in his late teens. His father had been a highly sort after portrait artist whose business fell into steady decline with the invention and speedy uptake of photography.
When he split, Charles left behind his mother, his good friend John and a loving girlfriend, Annabelle. He never expected to stay away as long as he did, but an unfortunate incident with the local Marshal’s daughter made cause for him to disappear so as to escape serious retaliation.
As Charles starts to settle back into his hometown, he learns that things are nothing like he expected. The weekly letters he had written his mother have gone astray since her passing and as a result, no one he cares for has any idea of where he’s been or what he’s been up to.
His once best friend John has not only taken over the local Photography studio, which is cause for great friction, but he has also taken Annabelle as a trophy wife. Unloved and uncared for, Annabelle directs all her focus on raising her two children and daydreaming of how things could have been.
Just as Charles starts to rekindle his relationship with Annabelle, the Marshal learns of his return to town and is hell-bent on getting revenge for his daughter.
What transpires is a tale of mistakes, misgivings and misfortune as Charles tries to carve out the life he has been longing for from the reality that unfolds before him.
Download a copy of the script.
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v1.080723
Character Visuals.
The following images were all created using AI technology and provide a general sense of the look and feel of the characters within the script.
Dave Matthews
ROLE: Rudy
TIE IN: Recorded live performance of The Long Black Veil with The Dave Matthews Band in 1999
image credit: nrp.org
Mick Jagger
ROLE: Jester
TIE IN: Sang on The Chieftains recording of The Long Black Veil, 1995
image credit: nrp.org
Lee Ann Womack
ROLE: Fay Silverton
TIE IN: Recorded The Long Black Veil on The Lonely, the Lonesome & the Gone, 2017
image credit: alz.org
Joan Baez
ROLE: Widow Baxter
TIE IN: Recorded live performance of The Long Black Veil on Joan Baez in Concert, Part 2. 1963
image credit: rollingstone.com
Joni Mitchell
ROLE: Widow Baxter
TIE IN: Sang The Long Black Veil with Johnny Cash on The Best of the Johnny Cash Show 1969-1971, 2007
image credit: nytimes.com
Rosanne Cash
ROLE: ?
TIE IN: Recorded The Long Black Veil with Jeff Tweedy on The List, 2009. Father Johnny Cash popularised the song in 1965
image credit: britannica.com
Nick Cave
ROLE: Marshal Thos Colbert
TIE IN: Recorded The Long Black Veil with his band The Black Seeds on Kicking Against the Pricks, 1986
image credit: shutterbug.com
DMB Band Members
ROLES: Various – Deputies, Saloon Patrons, Townsfolk
TIE IN: It was the live version that the Dave Matthews Band played on their Listener Supported album that was the initial inspiration for this story and screenplay. image credit: woodlandscenter.org
Possible Cameo Roles.
As The Long Black Veil has been recorded by countless musicians over the years, many of these artists also have stage and screen experience. This opens up a lot of possibilities when it comes to cameo roles.
As The Long Black Veil has been recorded by countless musicians over the years, many of these artists also have stage and screen experience. This opens up a lot of possibilities when it comes to cameo roles.
Hover over each image for more details.
The Long Black Veil.
Ten years ago, on a cold dark nightThere was someone killed ‘neath the town hall lightThere were few at the scene, but they all agreedThat the slayer who ran looked a lot like me
The judge said, “Son what is your alibi?If you were somewhere else then you won’t have to die”I spoke not a word though it meant my lifeFor I had been in the arms of my best friend’s wife
She walks these hills in a long black veilShe visits my grave when the night winds wailNobody knows, nobody seesNobody knows but me
The scaffold is high, and eternity nearsShe stood in the crowd and shed not a tearBut sometimes at night when the cold wind mournsIn a long black veil she cries over my bones
She walks these hills in a long black veilShe visits my grave when the night winds wailNobody knows, nobody seesNobody knows but me, nobody knows but me, nobody knows but me