Long John

In the original breakdown for the end of Long John, Rich Jack’s fate was very different and traditional. A showdown, a big gathering of a bunch of characters met along the way. It felt like I had to do that, so I kept it in for a long time. But the moment always felt false. Long John is kind of an anti-western, where the tropes are upended or even ridiculed. The truth is that Rich Jack is not Long John’s problem. There are plenty other people who are in line ahead of him to give him a piece of their mind.

Even though this moment is quiet and not over-the-top action, it is disturbing and unexpected. I love it. Accepting this scene made the rest of the chapter just fall into place and feel like the way Long John was supposed to end.