EXT. KEHOE FARM GROVE – DAY
Andrew Kehoe plants bags of pyrotol and dynamite in the grove, running a wire away from it.
ON-SCREEN TITLES
17 May 1927
One Day Before
EXT. KEHOE CHICKEN COOP – DAY
Andrew Kehoe runs a wire from a bag of pyrotol and dynamite, in the coop.
While stringing the wire, he passes Ellen’s body. He looks at it, then walks off.
Andrew Kehoe returns with a wheelbarrow. He parks it beside his wife and lifts Ellen’s corpse into it. He wheels the wheelbarrow to the side of the chicken coop, pushing it right up beside the structure. He takes a tarp and puts it over her.
Then he continues to string the wire.
EXT. KEHOE FARMHOUSE – DAY
Andrew Kehoe saws a piece of wood into a rectangular sign. Finished, he pulls out a stencil and begins to carefully stencil letters on it.
EXT. FENCE ON KEHOE FARM – DAY – LATER
Andrew Kehoe takes his stenciled rectangular sign and interweaves it into a wire fence on his property.
He looks at it and walks off.
We never see what he has written on it.
INT. ANDREW KEHOE’S CAR – AFTERNOON – LATER
Andrew Kehoe pulls up to the consolidated school. He gets out, taking a pouch with him. He heads into the school.
INT. BATH CONSOLIDATED SCHOOL – HALLWAY – AFTERNOON (CONTINUOUS)
Andrew Kehoe nods and smiles at people as he heads into the basement, carrying the pouch.
INT. BATH CONSOLIDATED SCHOOL BASEMENT – AFTERNOON (CONTINUOUS)
Andrew Kehoe descends into the basement with his pouch, then heads in one direction.
He uncovers a huge pile of explosives, including copious bags of pyrotol and a large amount of dynamite. From the pouch, he takes out an alarm clock, the back of which has been removed.
He winds the clock and sets its alarm. We see the alarm hand moving backwards, until it reaches 9:45 precisely.
He then connects some wires from the alarm clock’s bell to the dynamite.
He covers up the pile and walks the length of the basement, to the other one.
He uncovers it, revealing a similarly huge pile. From his pouch, he takes out a second alarm clock, the back of which has been removed.
He winds the clock and sets its alarm. We see the alarm hand moving backwards, until it reaches 9:45 precisely.
He then connects some wires from the alarm clock’s bell to the dynamite.
He covers up the pile, leaving the pouch, and walks out of the basement.
INT. BATH CONSOLIDATED SCHOOL – HALLWAY – AFTERNOON (CONTINUOUS)
Andrew Kehoe emerges from the basement. He nods and smiles at people as he heads outside.
EXT. BATH CONSOLIDATED SCHOOL – AFTERNOON (CONTINUOUS)
Andrew Kehoe gets into his car and drives off.
EXT. KEHOE FARM, OUTSIDE BATH – NIGHT – LATER
Andrew Kehoe carries a box of dynamite to his car.
INT. ANDREW KEHOE’S CAR – NIGHT (CONTINOUS)
Andrew Kehoe places the box of dynamite on the floor in the back seat of his car. Leaving the door open, he walks off.
He soon returns with several boxes of nails, placing them on top and on the sides of the dynamite.
EXT. KEHOE FARM, OUTSIDE BATH – NIGHT
Andrew Kehoe wanders around his property, collecting old farm machinery and carrying it to his car.
INT. ANDREW KEHOE’S CAR – NIGHT (CONTINOUS)
Andrew Kehoe wedges equipment into the back seat, over the box of dynamite and the nails. Already, there is a good amount of material there.
EXT. KEHOE FARM, OUTSIDE BATH – NIGHT
Andrew Kehoe wanders around his property, picking up every shovel and other loose far implement. Wandering near where he killed Ellen, he sees the bloody pitchfork he used to kill her. He picks it up too.
EXT. ANDREW KEHOE’S CAR – NIGHT
Andrew Kehoe walks to the car, where he has assembled a huge pile of farm implements outside the door. Included in the pile is even wire for fences – everything metal and loose that he can find.
INT. ANDREW KEHOE’S CAR – NIGHT (CONTINOUS)
Andrew Kehoe loads an armful of farm implements into the crowded back seat. We see the bloody pitchfork pushed inside, the bloody wooden end low and out of sight. Shovels go anywhere they can fit. Every available space is taken up with something, until it looks like nothing more could fit.
On top of this, Andrew Kehoe opens a box of nails, letting them cascade through what looks like metal wreckage. He opens a second such box.
INT. KEHOE FARMHOUSE KITCHEN – NIGHT
Andrew Kehoe opens a drawer and pulls out silver silverware, worth quite a bit of money.
EXT. KEHOE CHICKEN COOP – NIGHT
Andrew Kehoe piles the silverware around the wheelbarrow, containing Ellen’s corpse. There’s a surprising amount of valuable silverware.
INT. KEHOE FARMHOUSE BEDROOM – NIGHT
Andrew Kehoe opens dresser drawers and a curio cabinet, pulling out a good amount of valuable jewelry.
EXT. KEHOE CHICKEN COOP – NIGHT
Andrew Kehoe adds the jewelry to the piles around the wheelbarrow, making sure that it will burn with Ellen and the chicken coop.
INT. KEHOE FARMHOUSE BEDROOM – NIGHT
Andrew Kehoe gets down on his hands and knees to pull a metal cashbox from where it’s hidden, under other material, in a corner of the closet. Through a slit in the cashbox, we can see there’s cash inside.
EXT. KEHOE CHICKEN COOP – NIGHT
Andrew Kehoe opens the cashbox, beside the wheelbarrow. He pulls out piles of cash, probably a few thousand dollars, and sets it on the ground.
He lights a handful of bills on fire. The light echoes off his face.
He throws the burning bills into the cashbox and adds more on top of them.
He watches as they burn, the fire eating away at them and what they represent to him. As he does, he adds more and more, keeping the fire going, until all the cash is burning.
He stands, staring at the flames, his wife’s body beside him, still covered and in the wheelbarrow.
Chapter 7: 18 May 1927
INT. KEHOE FARMHOUSE BEDROOM – LATER
Andrew Kehoe is fast asleep, alone in his bed. It is still dark outside.
ON-SCREEN TITLES
18 May 1927
The alarm rings, and Andrew Kehoe gets up, turning it off. He strolls into the house.
INT. KEHOE FARMHOUSE (CONTINUOUS)
Andrew Kehoe walks through the house, stepping over bags of pyrotol rigged with a few sticks of dynamite, with wires running from them outside.
INT. KEHOE BARN – MORNING – LATER
Andrew Kehoe ties a horse’s reigns to its stall, despite it already being confined. He has already done so with most of the other horses.
He moves on to another horse, performing the same operation.
Along the side of the barn, we see a bag of pyrotol, already wired with a few sticks of dynamite, and places it into the pig pen.
EXT. BATH TOWNSHIP, MICHIGAN – MORNING
As seen at the start of the film, Warden Keys arrives to pick up the Hart children.
EXT. KEHOE PIG PEN – MORNING – LATER
Andrew Kehoe ties up the pigs, so that they cannot move. They squeal.
When he is done, he uncovers an already wired bag of pyrotol from the side of the pig pen and places it inside, beside the pigs.
EXT. KEHOE CHICKEN COOP – MORNING – LATER
Andrew Kehoe meticulously ties the feet of chicken after chicken. Beside the coop, we see a bag of pyrotol with some dynamite, wired to explode.
INT. BERNICE STERLING’S FIRST-GRADE CLASS – MORNING
As seen at the start of the film, teacher Bernice Sterling gets her first-graders to sit down and start class.
EXT. KEHOE FARM, OUTSIDE BATH – MORNING – LATER
Andrew Kehoe emerg
es from his farmhouse, freshly dressed. He walks out into his fields, to where the wires converge.
He checks his watch, then stands, looking around. The air is clear, and it is a beautiful day. He lights a cigar and breathes it all in.
He checks his watch again, then kneels and begins to lights the wires.
He stands, puffing on his cigar, as if he’s waiting in anticipation of some great symphony.
ON-SCREEN TITLES
8:45 am
The farmhouse EXPLODES, partially collapsing and bursting into flames.
One by one, every structure on the farm EXPLODES, catching fire.
EXT. KEHOE FARM GROVE – MORNING (CONTINUOUS)
A series of EXPLOSIONS rock the trees, catching them all on fire.
EXT. ELLSWORTH FARM – MORNING
Andrew Kehoe walks towards the Ellsworth farmhouse, the Kehoe farm sending smoke up into the sky.
Monty Ellsworth is standing outside with his wife and children, staring at the smoke.
ANDREW KEHOE
I’m surprised your children aren’t at school.
MONTY ELLSWORTH
Their marks are high enough that they didn’t need to attend today. The school is holding exams for their grades.
ANDREW KEHOE
I didn’t know. How many other children will be absent?
MONTY ELLSWORTH
Quite a few, I’m sure. What’s going on, Andrew? All these explosions, and your farm on fire.
Mrs. Ellsworth instinctively protects her children, standing several feet behind her husband, as Andrew Kehoe reaches Monty Ellsworth.
ANDREW KEHOE
Boys, you’re my friends. You’d better get out of here and go to the school. It’ll be safe there.
MONTY ELLSWORTH
What’s happened?
Andrew Kehoe starts to walk off, then stops and turns around.
ANDREW KEHOE
And if you see any other neighbors or people along the way, I suppose you’d better tell them too. Get to the school.
Andrew Kehoe walks off, leaving the Ellsworth family to stare at each other in confusion.
MONTY ELLSWORTH
What do you think?
MRS. ELLSWORTH
I think he’s a liar.
MONTY ELLSWORTH
Still, we’d better get the children out of here, just in case.
MRS. ELLSWORTH
Come on, children.
The Ellsworth family loads itself into the family car.
EXT. KEHOE CHICKEN COOP – MORNING – LATER
The chicken coop burns. Inside, chickens squawk, desperate, burning alive, helpless to escape with their feet bound.
Beside the coop, burning timber falls into the wheelbarrow, catching Ellen’s corpse on fire.
INT. BLANCHE HARTE’S FIFTH-GRADE CLASS – MORNING
As seen at the start of the film, teacher Blanche Harte notices that student Lloyd Zimmerman is not paying attention, due to spotting the distant smoke.
CU: KEHOE’S CHICKEN COOP – MORNING
Chickens squawk for life, bound and burning alive.
INT. ANDREW KEHOE’S CAR – MORNING
Andrew Kehoe enters the car with his rifle, placing it on the passenger’s seat. He starts the car and drives away from his farm.
EXT. BATH TOWNSHIP, MICHIGAN – MORNING
As seen earlier, the volunteer fire brigade heads towards the burning Kehoe farm.
Continuing beyond the footage seen earlier, we now see them pass Andrew Kehoe, who is stopped on the side of the road, enjoying a cigar and staring down the road, into town.
INT. BATH CONSOLIDATED SCHOOL BASEMENT
We see one of the giant piles of explosives.
CU: ALARM CLOCK CONNECTED TO EXPLOSIVES
Underneath its covering, the alarm clock’s hour hand moves closer and closer to its alarm hand, set to 9:45.
EXT. BATH CONSIDATED SCHOOL – MORNING
The school appears serene.
ON-SCREEN TITLES
9:45 am
As seen earlier, the school EXPLODES.
INT. BLANCHE HARTE’S FIFTH-GRADE CLASS – MORNING
As seen earlier, the schoolroom collapses.
INT. BERNICE STERLING’S FIRST-GRADE CLASS – MORNING
As seen earlier, the schoolroom shakes like in an earthquake.
INT. ELLSWORTH CAR – MORNING
The deafening sound of the EXPLOSION rocks the car as the Ellsworth family approaches town.
MRS. ELLSWORTH
What in the world?
MONTY ELLSWORTH
I don’t know.
EXT. BATH CONSIDATED SCHOOL – MORNING
As seen earlier, the dust clears, leaving a scene of chaos. Bystanders charge onto the scene and children evacuate, some bleeding and dazed.
The Ellsworth car pulls up to the school.
The Bath Consolidated School after the bombing. (From The Toledo Blade.)
INT. ELLSWORTH CAR – MORNING (CONTINUOUS)
The Ellsworth family sits in shock.
MRS. ELLSWORTH
My God! My God! Don’t look, children!
MONTY ELLSWORTH
Stay in the car. I’ve got to go.
Monty Ellsworth leaps out of the car and goes running towards the collapse.
EXT. BATH CONSIDATED SCHOOL – MORNING (CONTINUOUS)
Monty Ellsworth joins with others who are converging on the collapsed part of the building.
Underneath the collapsed roof, they see several children’s arms, legs, and heads sticking out. They are covered in plaster, dust, and blood. Screams and sobs echo from below.
MONTY ELLSWORTH
We’ve got to lift this roof. There are children trapped underneath. Come on! All together! We’ve got to lift this roof!
Dozens of men strain, trying to lift the roof. Others rush onto the scene, joining the effort.
LIFTING RESCUER
Ah! We can’t do it. It’s too heavy.
MONTY ELLSWORTH
We’ve got to get these children out from under!
LIFTING RESCUER
What we need in a winch or something, to pull it off.
MONTY ELLSWORTH
I have some heavy rope, back at my slaughterhouse. We could use that.
LIFTING RESCUER
How far is it?
MONTY ELLSWORTH
Not far, if I leave now.
LIFTING RESCUER
Go, go!
Monty Ellsworth takes off, running back to his car. He passes Bernice Sterling, who is trying to rally the students.
INT. ELLSWORTH CAR – MORNING (CONTINUOUS)
Monty Ellsworth climbs back into the car.
MRS. ELLSWORTH
What’s going on?
MONTY ELLSWORTH
There are children… trapped under the collapsed roof.
MRS. ELLSWORTH
Oh, God!
Monty Ellsworth starts the car.
MONTY ELLSWORTH
We have to go back to the farm and get some rope to haul it off.
Monty Ellsworth drives away.
EXT. BATH CONSIDATED SCHOOL – CONTINUOUS
As the Ellsworth car pulls away, we follow G. Cleo Clayton, who is wandering around, dazed from the blast. He sees a dead child’s body, lying on the ground, being stared at by other children. He also sees Emory Huyck, who is speaking to Bernice Sterling.
EMORY HUYCK
Bernice, you’ve got to gather up the children. I know you’re in shock, but you’ve got to gather up the children. Do you hear me?
Bernice nods.
A view of the collapsed school from the west. (From Monty Ellsworth’s 1928 The Bath School Disaster.)
INT. ELLSWORTH CAR – MORNING
Monty Ellsworth is driving his family back to his farm. As he does, he sees Andrew Kehoe’s car headed into town.
MRS. ELLSWORTH
That’s Mr. Kehoe’s car.
Monty Ellsworth slows down as they pass Andrew Kehoe’s
car. Kehoe has the window down and is smiling and waving happily.
CU: ANDREW KEHOE WAVING (CONTINUOUS)
As he waves, Andrew Kehoe smiles so widely that we can see both rows of white teeth. He looks like a waving politician.
INT. ELLSWORTH CAR – CONTINUOUS
Monty Ellsworth continues on to his farm, as Kehoe’s car recedes away.
MONTY ELLSWORTH
He must not know what’s going on. I’ve never seen him smile like that. Did you see those teeth?
MRS. ELLSWORTH
My God, he did it.
MONTY ELLSWORTH
What are you talking about?
MRS. ELLSWORTH
He did it. The fire at his farm. He told us to go to the school. My God, he did it.
MONTY ELLSWORTH
Now, now, you’re in shock.
MRS. ELLSWORTH
Yes, I’m in shock. Staring at that school. If we’d gotten there any sooner, we could have gone inside… of course, I’m in shock. But think, Monty. He did it. By God, he did it.
MONTY ELLSWORTH
I admit that was odd.
MRS. ELLSWORTH
I know he did it. He’ll be arrested for it, you mark my words. Oh God, I never liked him.
MONTY ELLSWORTH
Let’s get that rope and drop you and the kids off, first. Our first duty has to be to the children, ours and in that hell back there. Then we can discuss our suspicions with the authorities.
INT. ANDREW KEHOE’S CAR – MORNING
Andrew Kehoe pulls up to the school, his window still rolled down.
ON-SCREEN TITLES
10:10 am
Andrew Kehoe sees Emory Huyck standing over the corpse of Thelma MacDonald, as the girl’s parents mourn. Huyck wanders off, and Kehoe pulls up nearby, attempting to intercept the superintendent.
ANDREW KEHOE
Superintendent Huyck!
Huyck recognizes Kehoe and approaches the car.
EXT. BATH CONSIDATED SCHOOL – MORNING
G. Cleo Claton (the 8-years-old seen earlier), wanders into the area of Kehoe’s car, as Huyck approaches its window.
The discussion between Huyck and Kehoe, the explosion of Kehoe’s car, and the immediate aftermath occur exactly as seen at the start of the film.
INT. ELLSWORTH CAR – MORNING (CONTINUOUS)
Monty Ellsworth pulls up to the school, where Kehoe’s car is still burning. Ellsworth leaps out of his car.
EXT. BATH CONSOLIDATED SCHOOL – CONTINUOUS
Monty Ellsworth runs towards the exploded car, where others are already converging.