Legend of Sleepy Hollow, The (1999)

[bunniefuu]

Ahh.


The same old move.

Always

The same old move.

Never gonna change.

My, what a brave move.

Will you be

Wanting dinner, sir?

There's a great

Leg of mutton tonight,

And perhaps a flagon of beer

To go with your meal?

Thank you, missus.

Uh, what is it

You're doing, mister?

Is you gonna

Draw pictures

Like young leonard

There?

No, sir.

It is a kind of journal

I keep of my travels,

And this seems to be

A good night

And a good place

To catch it up.

I'll have your dinner

In a thrice, sir.

Thank you.

Would you like


To eat in peace?

Just say the word.

Not at all.

I'm glad

Of the company.

[Laughing]

A journal, is it?

You hear that, boys?

He keeps a journal.

What is a journal,


Sir,

If you don't mind

Me asking?

I don't mind in the least.

It's a kind of diary

Of stories I hear

From people I meet.

Oh.


Hear that?

It's stories

He wants.

Well, you've come

To the right place.

Have i?

Then this ill wind has

Blown me some good after all.

Well, it blows you into

Tarrytown on the tappan zee.

Tarrytown?

Sounds like a sleepy place.

Yep. The good dutch farmers

Who settled this place

Used to tarry here

Over a pint and a pipe

And swap tall tales

On market day.

That's how the town

Got its name.

Uh, what--

What are you gonna do

With all these stories?

More what I hope to do, sir.

It is my ambition to publish

A book of them someday.

A book?

A book.

A book.

Ahh.

Thank you,

My good woman.

My pleasure, sir.

And if I may,

I'd be careful

Putting anything this lot

Has to say in any book.

What do you want

To make a book for?

The good ol' tall tales

Is best told out loud

The way we heard 'em.

A fair question, sir.

It's going on 50 years

And more even since the w*r,

And the stories people tell

Of those times

Will all soon be forgotten

If we don't write them down.

Oh, he's got

A point there.

When we're gone,

Who'll be left

To tell

Any tales at all?

I can't even

Remember my name.

We'll, I'd be glad

To stand around

For the pleasure of hearing

Any tales you do remember.

My own father

Was one of the men

That hung major andre

From the tulip tree

Right here

In sleepy hollow.

I remember it

Very well.

He was a british spy

Pretending he was sent here

By general washington

Hisself.

Well, sir,

My father seen

That he was wearin'

British officer boots,

And they had a good look

At his pockets,

And they come up

With a note

Written by that traitor

Benedict arnold.

Well, sir, they

Forward marched him

Right over

To the tulip tree,

And they strung him up

Right there.

Would you like to hear

That tale?

I would indeed.

You just did.

And an excellent tale

It is, thank you.

It weren't the tulip tree.

It was the old oak.

And how would you know it?

Your pap wasn't there,

Was he?

Oh, no, he weren't.

But I was there meself.

Not 17 yet.

It was in the fall

Of '76.

When I told it

It was a true tale.

Now that you

Stuck your oar in it,

It's just nothin'

But an another tall tale.

I'd gladly give you paper

From my journal,

If you'd show me

What you've been drawing

All this time on

That scrap of butcher's paper.

And who would this be?

That would be

Mr. Ichabod crane.

Yeah.

Couldn't be no other.

Aye, that's him.

It's as if leonard has seen

Him in the flesh itself.

It seems leonard thinks

There's a tale to be told

About this mr. Crane.

Oh, aye,

And so there is.

And I'll be the one

To tell it.

As for the rest of you,

You were nothin' but a bunch

Of runny-nosed brats,

If you ever saw

The man or not.

Ichabod crane--

The only man

To be taken outright

From this world

By the headless horseman

Of sleepy hollow.

Now, that does sound

Like a good tale.

Just showed up on

Sleepy hollow road one day

In the spring of...'91.

A yankee out of connecticut,

Or so he said.

Lookin' for work

As a school teacher,

Or so he said.

Or so he said.

Aah!

Good morning.

[Women talking,

Chicken clucking]

Good morning.

[Driver muttering]

[Laughing]

There he is! Look!

It's the scarecrow.

You see, I'm not a liar.

Whoa!

[Metal clanging,

Men laughing]

Ah, good day

To you, gentlemen.

I wonder if you'd

Be so kind

As to direct me to the home

Of mr. Hans van ripper.

Boy: wow!

Here you go.

Go on, now.

Let's go, fellas!

And what business have

You with him, stranger?

Ah. I have it from a man

I met up river

That there might be

A position

For a man of letters

As headmaster

Of the sleepy

Hollow school.

I am told

That mr. Van ripper

Is the superintendent.

[All laughing]

You may mock me,

My good young man,

But I assure you

No better candidate

Is likely to be found.

I wasn't laughing

At you, friend.

Just at the idea

Anyone would

Want the job.

But I'd say you're

Just the man for it,

If anyone is.

Wouldn't you, boys?

It's straight on

A quarter mile.

You'll come to a path.

There's a sign there

For those who can read.

I'm told it says

Van ripper farm.

I need some more, will.

Ooh!

It's a hot one, I must say.

No doubt that is

The famous dutch ale

Of these parts that

You're enjoying there.

Best beer this side

Of amsterdam.

You don't suppose

You could make me the loan

Of the price of a glass?

I'd be only too happy

To repay you

Once I've had my salary.

Well, now,

I'd be glad to.

Except I'd hate to

Send you on your way

With the devil brew

On your breath.

Old van ripper's

Got no use

For a man who takes

Any pleasure in life,

If you take my meaning.

Oh, well, i--

I thank you for your

Wise counsel, young man.

But surely a glass

Of beer on a hot day

Would not offend him.

Suit yourself, mister.

But I wouldn't tarry

If I was you.

You don't want to be

Stumbling around

Sleepy hollow

After dark.

There's all manner

Of spooks and sprites

In these woods.

Ah, yes, the local

Imps and goblins.

Well, this wouldn't be

The first town I've been to

That prides itself

On such superstitions.

Although, I've found

It's usually only

The local townsfolk

Who ever see any of them.

Maybe so. But you

Ain't never been

In sleepy hollow

Before.

Oh, true enough.

Well, I'll consider

Myself warned, then.

Oh, I thank you

For your hospitality,

And I look forward

To the day

I can repay it.

Fancies himself,

Don't he, boys?

[Men chuckle]

Excuse me, sir. Would

You be hans van ripper,

Superintendent of

Sleepy hollow school?

You a government man?

Ichabod crane, sir,

Late of hartford,

Connecticut,

Come to seek

The position

Of master

Of the school.

A yankee. Heh!

What brings you here?

Well, as I say, sir,

I'm offering

The benefits of my

Hard won erudition

In molding the minds

Of your fine

Young students.

Does that mean

You can read and write?

Indeed, sir.

Now, here I have

Mr. Noah webster's

Speller,

And a primer

Of arithmetic,

And, uh,

The scottish psaltery

And chorister

Consisting of the songs

By the inestimable

Mr. Thomas sternhold,

And lastly,

My most cherished

Possession...

The reverend

Cotton mather's

History of witchcraft

In new england.

Now, I assure you, sir,

I have read all 4

Of these tomes,

All through.

You can do sums?

I can. And the tables

Of multiplication,

The disciplines

Of division,

The--all the secrets of

Pythagoras' geometer--

Wasn't thinking of

Hiring no yankee.

Well, this is indeed

A fortunate day

For you, sir.

Now, if it were not

For my profound love

Of the countryside,

I would still be

Lecturing

At harvard college's

School of divinity.

Well...

No one else has

Shown up for the job,

So I guess it's yours.

2 Shillings a month

And room and board.

Sure enough between all

The farmers here about

Has a youngun

In the school.

Now, if I may say so, sir,

That's a pittance

For a man of my erudition

And reputation.

Take it or leave it.

Makes no difference

To me

Whether we have

A schoolteacher or not.

But, uh, mr. Van ripper,

You're the superintendent

Of the school.

Ugh. It's my bad luck

The schoolhouse sits

On my back pasture.

Otherwise, I wouldn't

Waste my time with you.

This is where

You'll sleep tonight

Until arrangements

Are made.

Shouldn't find that

Hard to do

As sleep

Is pretty much

All anybody does

Around here.

[Sheep baaing]

[Birds whooping,

Insects chirping]

[Animal howls]

[High-pitched laughter]

[Loud crash]

[Wood creaking]

[Wings flapping]

Ohh!

[Screeching]

Ohh! Aah!

[Hisses]

[Muttering prayer]

# Oh, save me not

For my designs... #

# But for thy mercy's sake #

# So grievous is my plea,

Oh, lord #

# That I arise

When there's faint... #

# All the night long

I watch my bed #

# With tears

Of my complaint #

[Men cackling]

Shh!

Shh!

[Humming]

Oh! Good morning!

What's all this?

Oh, just a precaution

Against the devils,

Imps, and goblins.

These woods are home

To many such

Of most unusual power.

You don't say.

Oh, but you need

Not fret yourself.

Thanks to the reverend

Cotton mather,

My knowledge

Of their ways

Is more than sufficient

To the task.

Huh. Oh, uh, ahem.

Oh!

Hmm.

I'll, uh,

Ride about

The valley,

Let people know

The school

Has opened up.

Well, I look forward

To meeting my fine

Young charges.

Uh, heh! I said

I'd let them know,

But, uh, seeing as we

Ain't had a teacher

In more than a year,

I suspect they noticed.

They've been

Doing just fine

Without any schooling.

[Boy coughs]

Ichabod:

And so, dear students,

You will find

In me a teacher

Who intends

To instill in you

A love of learning...

Of hard work,

Of pious discipline,

Of country, and of god.

[Fly buzzing]

I'm a firm believer

In the golden maxim

That to spare the rod

Is to spoil the child.

A question--

Can anyone tell me

What that means?

Boy: aah!

Well...

Well, now then...

We'll begin with spelling.

Why must we learn

To spell correctly

What we speak and write?

Well, here's how the great

Man himself explains it.

"To diffuse a uniformity

And purity

"Of language in america,

"To destroy

The provincial prejudices

"That originate

In the trifling differences

Of dialect, and produce

Reciprocal ridicule."

Can anyone tell me

What that means?

Boy: uh...

He means...

That by learning

Proper spelling

And pronunciation...

That no one

Will laugh at you

When you travel away

From sleepy hollow.

Is that clear?

Yes...

Ernest.

If we don't ever mean

To leave sleepy hollow,

Does that mean we don't

Have to go to school?

[Boys giggling]

Woman: oliver!

[Children laugh]

See what fine manners

Mr. Crane has

When he's eating,

Children?

I hope you're learning

From his example.

[Chuckles] yes,

An excellent repast,

Mrs. Van ecke.

You are

An inspired cook,

If I may say so.

You're too kind,

Mr. Crane.

You'll not be teaching

No newfangled notions,

Will you?

I don't believe

In no new notions.

Oh, no, sir. Nothing

But the finest

In old notions.

The old notions

Are the best.

I particularly disfavor

This new notion

Of paying taxes.

No, no, I don't expect

To be teaching

The youngsters

Anything to do with

Taxes, mr. Van ecke.

You need have no worry

On that score. Ha ha!

And you won't have to

Be teaching ernest here

To count

Any higher than 20.

That's all the hens

That fits in our coop.

Oh, well, I'll--

I'll bear that

In mind,

Mr. Van ecke.

Well, you don't

Have to swallow

Your whole week's board

At one sitting.

Jess! Let mr. Crane

Finish the, um,

The end of his meal

In peace.

No offense intended.

Wouldn't want to see you

Busting at the seams

On your first night

Is all.

Heh!

Oliver!

Well, I've got

My chores.

You'll have to excuse

My husband's

Country manners,

Mr. Crane.

Oh, that's quite all

Right, mrs. Van ecke.

A man of the land

Isn't likely

To understand

How the rigors

Of headwork

Leaves one ravenous.

Of course it does.

Well, perhaps I should

Go fetch my things

Before it gets too dark.

Oh, my! Are you sure

You want to go

Back out there?

Oh, fear not on my

Behalf, mrs. Van ecke.

Thanks to my deep study

Of the reverend

Cotton mather's works,

I have no fear

Of the evil that

Thrives in darkness.

Oh, heh heh!

[Animals whooping,

Insects chirping]

Spare me, you terrible

Apparition!

I did not mean to mock you.

Cast me not into the pit,

I beg you!

[Cow moos]

Ohh!

[Moo]

Oh!

Go on, you old fool cow!

And the next time we meet,

Let it be at table.

[Moo]

[Ichabod singing

Over congregation]

# Sing to the lord

With cheerful voice #

# And serve with mirth

His praise forth tell #

# Come ye before him

And rejoice #

# Oh, enter then

His gates with praise #

# Approach his joy

With love unto #

# Praise lord and bless

His name always #

# For it is he

We sought to do #

Ooh! An excellent

Message,

Pastor van der veen.

The credit is

The lord's, mr. Crane,

For it is his word

Which inspires

My poor ones after all.

Yes, indeed.

Uh, you and your

Fine church

Are excellent in every

Regard but one,

Though it's no fault

Of yours.

And that would be?

Why, a singing voice.

Now, I take no false pride

In having such,

But I would employ it

For his greater glory

With your kind permission.

Heh!

What exactly do you have

In mind, mr. Crane?

Well, I would gladly

Undertake to give lessons

In liturgical choristry.

With your blessing,

Of course.

Heh! Well...

You do have a very

Strong voice,

Mr. Crane, but--

Oh, well, then what

Say you, pastor?

Do I have your blessing

In this enterprise?

Oh, well...well...

Folks will marvel.

They will marvel.

Yes, but--

Look, I know

What concerns you.

Yours is a poor country

Church, after all.

Now...

I will gladly reduce

My usual fees

For such professional

Lessons to a mere, uh...

Schilling per pupil.

Papa!

Uh, twice a week?

Heh!

What?

[Whispers]

Ok. Will you

Excuse me?

Please!

Ah, forgive

My intrusion,

But please allow me

To introduce myself.

I am ichabod crane,

Headmaster of

Sleepy hollow school,

And at pastor van der veen's

Kind invitation,

Choirmaster of

The tarrytown church.

Oh! How do

You do, mr. Crane?

Um, I'd like to

Introduce my husband

Baltus van tassle.

My pleasure, sir.

You sing loud enough

To wake the dead,

Sir.

I'm surprised

Our ancestors

Didn't jump

Out of their graves

To see what all

The fuss was about.

Well, what can I say?

It's a gift,

Meneer van tassle.

But I could not help

But take note

Of madam van tassle's

Lovely singing voice,

And that of

Your lovely daughter.

If the would but attend

My psalmody classes,

They would be

The glory or our choir.

Oh! Mr. Crane!

Do you really suppose

That we could

Be good enough

To sing before

The congregation?

Oh! You have the voices

Of untutored angels,

Madam van tassle.

Goodness, baltus,

Did you hear that?

I don't know what

I'm hearing exactly.

I shall certainly attend

Your psalmody class,

Mr. Crane,

And do my best

To prove worthy

Of your choir.

Wonderful,

Madam.

And your

Daughter?

Oh, she has a mind

Of her own, that girl.

Stubborn as a mule,

You mean.

Just like

Her father.

Katrina,

We're going!

I have to go.

Katrina, dear, this is

Mr. Ichabod crane,

Our new schoolmaster.

I am enchanted

To make

Your acquaintance,

Miss van tassle.

Ah, katrina

Van tassle.

She was the most beautiful

Girl I ever saw.

And the richest.

There wasn't a man

Alive in sleepy hollow

Who wouldn't sell

His soul to the devil

For fair katrina's

Hand.

Till ichabod crane

Came along.

Aye.

Well, you wouldn't

Suspect it

Just looking at him.

And who'd

Have taken him

For a thief

Of hearts?

Brom bones

Certainly never did.

Mm!

# To wicked men his ear #

# Nor led his life

As sinners do #

# Nor sat

In scorner's chair #

# But in the love

Of the lord #

# Doth send his holy light #

# And in the same,

Doth exercise #

# Himself both day

And night #

I'm sorry katrina

Couldn't come.

She's gone

To dobb's landing

For the cup races

Tomorrow.

They've gone

To cheer on

Our town's

Champion--

Mr. Abraham

Van grunt.

Oh, I'm relieved

To hear it.

I was disappointed

To think our choir

Would have to do

Without her angelic

Coloratura.

Her--her what?

Oh.

That's a russian phrase

For a singing voice

Of many bright colors...

Oh.

If you will.

Like joseph's coat

In the land of egypt.

The sort that is

Suitable for opera.

The voice, that is,

Not the coat.

Oh, my, my!

I don't believe

We've ever had

Such a cultured

Gentleman

In sleepy hollow.

Why don't you come

To dinner with us

Tomorrow night,

Meneer crane.

Well, I'd be honored.

Ha ha! Wait till

I tell katrina

She sings in colors!

Good night,

Meneer crane!

[People chattering]

I was just talking

To a fella I know

From sing sing.

Thaddeus kinkle?

I'll be racing

Against him.

Oh, yes? I know thaddeus.

What about him?

He told me he's leaving

For the ohio territories

In a week.

Brom, I thought

We weren't going

To talk about this

Anymore.

Katrina, he's a year

Younger than me.

There are men

Even younger

That have made

Their fortunes

Farming out west.

There's no limit

To what a man

Can do out there

If he's got

A strong back...

And a good wife.

Brom, please.

You know how

I feel about it.

Why do you bring it

Up again?

What about how I feel?

Opportunity's

Passing me by.

This is a once

In a lifetime chance.

But I can't

Go with you. I won't.

I don't understand,

Katrina.

I thought you wanted

More out of life

Than just

Sleepy hollow.

I do want more,

But not less.

I want to see

The civilized world,

Not the primitive

Wilderness.

I want to see amsterdam

And attend concerts,

And see the fashions

And the great museums.

And I want to

Come home again

To the beautiful farm

My parents have spent

Their lives building.

Brom, I am their only heir.

I can't just turn

My back on them.

Why do you have to go

To ohio to make a fortune?

Is my father's farm

Not enough for you?

I want to make

My own way, katrina.

I don't want

Your father's fortune.

I want to make

One of my own.

A greater fortune

Than he or anyone

In sleepy hollow

Ever dreamed of.

If loved me,

You wouldn't say that.

You wouldn't want

To drag me off

To live like a savage.

But I do love you,

And I'm saying it.

This is

A great country.

The land of liberty.

Just waiting

For men like me

To go out

And settle it.

Please row me

To shore, brom.

[Riders shouting]

Here they come!

[All cheering]

Looky here, katrina--

Another cup for me

And daredevil.

This is for you.

I think it would be

Inappropriate

To accept such a gift

From a friend,

Wouldn't you say,

Pastor van der veen?

What? Oh!

Yes, I suppose.

Silver, is it?

Yes, well,

Very valuable then.

It would signify,

Wouldn't it, dear?

Indeed, it would.

A gift of silver signifies.

Mere friends

Of courting age

Do not exchange

Such gifts.

It's just a prize

For a horse race.

Then perhaps you should

Give it to your horse.

[Cow moos]

[Mooing]

Good day!

Good day to you.

Carry on!

Trina!

Katrina!

I'm home!

Why, mr. Crane,

You're early!

Oh.

Punctuality may be

A minor virtue,

But it is a virtue

Nonetheless,

And one can never have

Enough virtue.

Therefore to be early

Has even more virtue in it

Then to be on time.

Indeed! My goodness!

I never would have

Thought of that.

Come in.

At least he didn't

Show up for breakfast.

He might've ascended

Straight up into heaven.

Oh, baltus!

Do come in,

Mr. Crane.

Ohh!

There are 13 of them

Spoons in there,

If memory serves.

Oh! Well, i--i--

I was--i was just admiring

The quality

Of the workmanship.

Dutch, no doubt.

[More spoons fall out]

English,

As a matter of fact.

Had them from the box

Of a redcoat officer

In a skirmish about half

A mile from this house.

The summer of '74.

He would've done better

To carry a second musket

Instead of

A tea service.

But that was

His misfortune

And, uh, my providence.

[Clock chiming]

Ichabod: an excellent

Repast, mrs. Van tassle.

You are an inspired

Cook, if I may say so.

It's just simple

Dutch fare, mr. Crane.

Nothing like what you're

Used to, I'm sure.

You underestimate yourself,

My dear mrs. Van tassle.

I have eaten in some of

The finest homes in boston,

And the cuisine does not

Compare with yours.

Oh, well,

You're kind to say so.

I'm sure

The conversation

Was much more lively

And interesting.

It's pitch black out

Already, amelia.

Do you want him running

Into the headless horseman?

Oh, dear! Where has

The time gone?

The headless horseman?

Baltus, you must see

Mr. Crane home

In the carriage.

You won't catch me

On that road after dark.

I'm going to bed.

Good night to you, sir.

And god speed you.

Oh!

Oh, well,

You can stay with us

The night, mr. Crane.

We have plenty of room.

Um, if you wouldn't mind,

Mrs. Van tassle,

Perhaps you could tell me

What you're referring to.

Oh, the headless horseman?

He was a hessian mercenary

Who has tormented

Our little town

Ever since the day

He was k*lled.

Tormented?

I'm afraid so.

It was in a skirmish

Right here

In sleepy hollow

On the night of

The full harvest moon.

Many of our men

Were there that night,

And they swear to a man

That it's true.

They induced

A hessian captain

To turn his coat

And lead them

Against the british

For a pack

Of gold coins.

A british frigate

Had landed

A force of infantry

Upon the shore,

Intent on taking

Sleepy hollow.

The hessian captain

Organized our defense.

He was leading the charge

Against the invaders

When a round of

British grapeshot

Stuck him in his head

And carried it

Clean off his shoulders.

Legend has it

That at that moment

The full moon

Turned red as blood.

But the headless body

Of that captain

Rode on without its head,

Sword still upraised,

Straight into

The british lines!

Our boys, lead by

Their headless captain,

Drove them redcoats

Out of our hollow,

And they never come back!

Oh.

My goodness.

An excellent tale.

A wonderful

Example of the...

Genre of

The local legend.

Genre?

Oh, uh...

It's an i-talian word.

Meaning a story

Widely believed

By the inhabitants of

A particular place.

And it really

Doesn't scare you

To go home on the

Sleepy hollow road?

Oh, not at all.

Not a bit.

It's gratifying

To meet a man

Who doesn't believe all

These silly superstitions

And isn't afraid

To say.

[Animal howls]

What?

Oh, yes. Heh!

Certainly not.

I don't

Believe them, either,

But I have to

Pretend to.

Everyone here

Is so proud

Of their ghosts

And goblins.

Well...

Often these stories

Are the only way

Of passing the time in

These little villages.

But an educated man

Like myself

Does not take them

Seriously, I assure you.

Well, mother didn't tell you

Why people are afraid

To go on the sleepy hollow

Road at night.

No, she didn't.

It's just

More silly nonsense,

And I'm sure

You must be tired.

No, no, not at all.

[Owl hooting]

I'd be very

Interested to know

Why people

Are so afraid

To be on the road

At night.

Old heinrich brewer wasn't

Afraid of ghosts, either,

And like you, he wasn't

Afraid to say so.

One night,

About the same

Time of year as this,

He took the sleepy

Hollow road for a shortcut

Coming back from a trip

To manhattan.

Those he was traveling with

Took the longer road

For fear of the horseman,

But he scoffed at them

And boasted he'd be home

An hour before them.

He never made it home.

Up and down

The sleepy hollow road,

People heard him screaming

And begging for mercy,

But no one dared go out.

They found him

The next morning

In the churchyard...

With his head pulled down

Into the earth

Of the horseman's grave

As far as his shoulders.

It seemed the horsemen

Meant to take it

Down into the grave

For himself.

When they pulled him free,

His eyes were still

Staring at the horror

That loomed over him

At the last.

His face was as white

And bloodless

As a sheet of paper,

And his neck

Had been stretched,

As though it had been

Hung on a gibbet.

You see? Silly, isn't it?

Oh, yes. Quite, uh...

Ridiculous.

Good night,

Meneer crane.

Oh.

Indeed, uh...

I should be

On my way.

Good night.

[Whistling]

[Animals howling

And baying]

[Insects chirping]

[Low rumbling,

Ichabod stops whistling]

# I do not reprove thee

Nothing #

# I deserve thy light #

[Ichabod singing louder]

# For I am weak #

# Therefore, oh, lord #

# Have mercy before bear #

[Ichabod singing

In the distance]

Oh, my goodness!

Do you think mr. Crane

Has met the headless one?

Unh. We can only hope.

How can you say that?

Poor mr. Crane!

Poor horseman.

Your precious

Schoolmaster

Has likely scared

The wits out of him

With all that

Bellowing.

Oh!

Amelia: ahh,

Here we are at last.

Oh! Good evening,

Mrs. Van tassle.

Good evening,

Meneer crane.

Miss van tassle.

Well,

If you please, ladies,

I think we're ready

To begin. Ahem.

Who does he think he is?

I heard it was

Her mama's idea

To have him

For dinner,

Not katrina's.

I'll tell you who he is.

He's a weasel who thinks

That all he needs to do

Is get his foot in the door

To steal my girl.

What are you

Gonna do?

We have open house

On sundays after church.

Why don't you come

And have a cup of tea?

That would be all right,

Wouldn't it, mother?

Of course it would.

You're always

Welcome, mr. Crane.

It's my pleasure.

There goes brom bones

And his g*ng

Off for another night

Of carousing.

Will that boy

Ever grow up?

Not in my lifetime.

If I may say,

Miss van tassle,

You demonstrate

A wisdom and a maturity

Far beyond your

Tender years.

Good night, meneer crane.

Well, sir, the news

About brom and katrina

Went round sleepy hollow

Like a brush fire

In a drought.

They're saying that

Every marriageable man

From 16 to 60 was ready

To try his luck.

Damn fools,

Every one of them.

Miss van tassle.

How lovely to see you.

Meneer crane.

I'm so glad

You could come.

If you'll excuse me,

I'm going to take

A stroll with meneer crane.

Please stay

And finish your tea.

Mrs. Van tassle,

Do you not object

To your daughter

Strolling

With that man?

[Chuckles]

In my experience,

Ducks and geese

Are foolish creatures

Who need to be looked after,

But your katrina

Can take care of herself.

Katrina: I can hardly

Believe something like that.

I assure you,

It is true, miss van tassle,

Confirmed by experiments

Both here and in europe.

The world spins like a top

And half of every day,

We are topsy-turvy

Whether we know it or not.

But I thought the world

Is like a ball,

Or else how could it

Spin so smoothly?

Like a ball, miss van tassle?

Well, does not a child's top

Spin, yet it is not a ball?

Do you mean to say

That the world

Is like a top?

Well...the learned men

Of science

Are divided on this point,

For some think as I do,

While others, who perhaps

Had not the studied

The matter as deeply,

Feel it is more like a...

Like a spinning wheel.

Now, both these forms have

Spinning as their very nature

While ba*ls have bouncing

As their nature.

Spinning, bouncing.

Very different.

You stir a yearning

In me, meneer crane.

I do?

I thirst for knowledge.

I'm so grateful to you

For sharing yours with me.

Well...

Miss van tassle...

Won't you call me ichabod?

We should be

Getting back.

Oh, yes. Of course.

If the world is like a top

And spins on its point,

Then what is it

Standing on?

What?

Oh, nothing.

I'm sure

I'm just being silly.

Should we go back

To the house?

[Whispering]

Katrina!

Katrina!

If you had your choice

Of anywhere in the world

To travel to, ichabod,

Where would you go?

Well, there's nowhere else

I'd rather be

Than right here

In sleepy hollow.

[Laughs]

I'm quite serious.

Wouldn't you

Like to travel?

Well, sometimes it seems

Like all I've ever done

Is travel

From one place to another.

But don't you want

To see the great museums

Of amsterdam?

Or hear an orchestra play?

I dream of seeing

My homeland.

Ohh, yes.

Well, i...

I long to travel.

To see

The pyramids of egypt,

The great wall of china.

The world

Is full of wonders.

Is it so unusual

To have a wall in china?

Well, I suppose

It must be.

Hmm.

Ladies.

[Humming]

Aah!

Run!

Run for your lives!

The devil

Has taken possession

Of the schoolhouse!

[All scream]

I want you at the window.

Man: put an end

To this now.

All right.

I'll go first.

Ichabod:

This is the devil's work.

He makes himself known

By turning things

Topsy-turvy.

It's meant to drive me

Out of sleepy hollow,

But I will not

Be driven out.

We will fight him together!

Looks like the devil's

Using hammer and nails

To work his spells

These days.

Man: ha ha ha ha ha ha ha.

Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!

Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!

Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!

Ichabod...

If you were me, what would

You do with your life?

Do?

I'd travel the

World, of course.

Yes, I know,

But would you

Have some ambitions

To accomplish something

As well?

Ambition?

Oh, yes, of course.

Ambitions,

Yes, well...

You have ambitions.

Noble ambitions.

I do?

You...you hope

To one day marry...

As do i,

Although it is

A daunting challenge

On a country

Schoolmaster's stipend.

Do you desire wealth?

Well, I've never really

Given it a thought...

Although I've always

Trusted in the good lord

To provide...

So he has.

Although at times,

He's tested me sorely.

Would you spurn it

If you suddenly found yourself

In possession of wealth?

Well, i--i...

Would you give it away

And keep only what you needed

To live your dreams?

Give it away?

Oh...no.

Bear in mind, katrina,

If the man of virtue

Gives his wealth away,

Well, those who have it

From him

Would likely

Be of lesser virtue

And thus, evil,

And not good

Would come of it.

O-o-of course,

They might not be

Of lesser virtue

Just because

They're...poor.

The question

Is a difficult one.

[Dog barks]

Ohh! Aah!

[Dog howls]

Katrina:

Ichabod, are you all right?

Hello, katrina.

What are you doing here?

I've brought you

A new singing master,

Even louder

Than the old one,

And what's more, he won't

Cost you your inheritance.

He'll sing for free

Or at least

The odd table scraps.

I've trained him myself.

Go away, brom.

You're only making

A fool of yourself.

I don't see what difference

That makes now.

Do you, katrina?

Abraham van brunt!

What do you think

You're doing?!

Good evening, mrs. Van tassle,

Mr. Van tassle.

I hope I haven't

Disturbed you,

But I know how much

Katrina admires loud singing.

Are you all right,

Ichabod?

Oh, no, I'm fine.

Fine.

Uh, I'll just

Sit down a moment.

[Laughs weakly]

Do you see what you've done,

Mr. Van brunt?

No, I'm sure

He didn't mean

His childish prank

To cause me any injury.

No, you're right there.

That was just

A lucky turn.

Baltus: ha ha ha ha ha!

Come along, brom.

Let's see if there

Isn't a little reward

For your reverent mutt,

Huh?

I think a drink

Is in order

After that performance.

I think mr. Van brunt

Has had quite enough

To drink already!

Oh, I meant for

The dog, my dear.

[Scoffs]

I see I've gone and made you

Upset, mrs. Van tassle.

I'm very sorry.

Ha! Come on.

Katrina, go and fetch

One of your father's robes.

You can come and change

In the guest room, mr. Crane.

I will get the stain

Out of your suit

And steam it and press it.

Oh, no, no. That's hardly

Necessary, mrs. Van tassle.

Oh, that's nonsense!

Of course it is!

You can't go home

In soiled, wet clothes!

You haven't done your cause

Much good with this.

The cause is lost,

Meneer.

Oh, she's just

18 Years old.

She doesn't

Know her mind,

She just

Thinks she does,

And she's

Angry with you.

Have a little patience

Until she sorts it out.

I mean no disrespect,

But am I wrong want to make

My own way in the world?

Not just step in here

And have the benefits

Of all you've accomplished?

Katrina feels she doesn't

Want to turn her back on me

And her mother and run off

With you to ohio.

I love her

More than life itself.

I don't believe

He loves her...

Not like I do.

Go home, brom.

You start drowning

Your sorrows.

You need a clear

Head and sharp eyes

To seize your chance

When it comes, hmm?

Will you do that?

I will.

Baltus:

It occurs to me

That if a stranger

Were to come in now,

He would judge you

To be the master here

And me the guest.

Oh, I doubt that, sir.

I think anyone would see

Immediately who is master here.

What do you think,

Crane?

Would you like to be

Master here some day?

Oh, mr. Van tassle,

I would never even think

Such a presumptuous thought.

No, no, no, no, wait.

I am a man who appreciates

Plain talk, crane.

It will fall to

My daughter's husband

To prosper

This farm for her

And for

My grandchildren.

Do you think that

You could learn

To manage

Van tassle farm?

Well...well...i will speak

Plainly, mr. Van tassle.

I've no experience farming...

But I would devote myself

To the study of agriculture

And animal husbandry.

And you would be content

To give up

All this bookishness

And be a farmer?

Without hesitation.

And these fancies

Of katrina's,

Culture and travel

And book learning

And so forth?

We're both

Men of the world, sir.

These are the immature,

Romantic fantasies

Of a young and sheltered girl.

I'm certain that

Once she's presented you

With a grandchild...

She will put all these

Foolish dreams behind her, hmm?

[Chuckles]

[Knock on door]

Good morning,

Mr. Crane.

Uh, meneer van tassle

Extends an invitation

To harvest merrymaking

This evening.

He hopes you can attend.

Miss katrina has invited

Me to a merrymaking?

I suppose she concurs, sir.

Tonight?

I believe I mentioned

That as well, sir.

Well...

I'll be there.

You tell miss katrina,

Uh...i'll be there.

Uh, meneer will be glad

To know it.

Good day.

School--

School is dismissed.

All: yay!

And tomorrow shall be

A holiday, too!

All: yay!

[Hums]

You've done it!

Meneer crane,

You devil, you.

There is only one reason

For this merrymaking, hmm?

She doesn't want

To wait any longer

And neither

Do her parents.

[Hums]

Hmm...

Hmm...

[Whistles]

You will be the master

Of the van tassle farm.

Known in the fullness of time,

The crane farm.

[Fly buzzes]

Uh...no, no.

The crane estate.

[Flies buzz]

Aah!

Mrs. Van ripper!

Mrs. Van ripper!

Mrs. Van ripper?!

[Door unlocks]

Mr. Crane!

What on earth has happened?

Mrs. Van ripper,

I am beset

By satan's imps.

They have ruined

My only suit of clothes

And--and set a plague

Of locusts upon me.

You must help me.

Calm yourself.

Sit down here on the porch

And wait a minute.

This is my husband's

Wedding suit.

He was quite a bit

Thinner then,

But not much taller,

I'm afraid,

But it's the best I can do.

God bless you,

Mrs. Van ripper.

God bless you,

Mrs. Van ripper.

Ichabod: hmm.

Uh, mr. Van ripper...

I hope you don't mind

My making a loan

Of your wedding suit

For the evening.

You can keep it for

All it matters to me.

I'm not plannin'

On marryin' again

Anytime soon.

You know...

This may be a good omen

After all.

Ohh.

If my hopes

Are fulfilled tonight,

I may ask for the loan

Of this suit once more

For the purpose

It was made for.

Oh, could I ask

One further favor of you,

My dear superintendent?

I don't lend money.

Oh, no, not money, sir.

No. Only the use

Of a horse for the evening?

A horse?!

Well, I must make

A proper impression.

I'm the guest of honor.

My, my.

Guest of honor.

Movin' up in the world,

Aren't you, mr. Crane?

Well, what do you say,

Mr. Van ripper?

Will you let me

Have the horse?

Well, you can

Have my plow horse

Gunpowder.

He may be too old

To pull a plow anymore,

But he can still

Be mean as the devil.

Ohh, thank you, sir.

Mr. Van ripper,

I will never forget

Your kindness

And in years to come,

You will see

That ichabod crane...

Knows how to treat

His friends.

[Fly buzzes]

[Gunpowder whinnies]

Gunpowder!

Come back here!

[Laughter]

Right now!

Gunpowder was the most

Famous plow horse

In sleepy hollow.

[All laugh]

Pardon my ignorance,

But what makes

A plow horse famous?

Had no sense of direction!

Ha!

And when gunpowder

Plowed a field,

It looked like the pattern

On a patchwork quilt!

That old workhorse

Wasn't just dumb,

He was downright ornery!

Just like his owner!

Gunpowder and ichabod!

There's a sight

That you'd never forget!

Katrina:

Excuse me, ladies.

Ichabod.

You didn't have to dress up.

It's only

A harvest merrymaking.

Ohh. I'm sorry

I'm late katrina.

I had a bit of difficulty

With my horse.

He's a spirited...

Animal.

Woman: evening, brom!

Ichabod: i, uh...

It took me a while

To break him

To my will.

I, uh...

I hope I didn't worry you.

Excuse me a moment.

[Gasps]

Have we missed anything?

Heh heh heh heh.

Ahh...there.

That should

Hold you for a bit.

Oh, you are too kind,

Meneer van tassle.

Ha ha ha ha ha.

Ah! And have a glass of beer.

Wouldn't want you choking

On this night

Of all nights.

Enjoy yourself.

Come on, katrina,

Let's dance.

No, thank you.

Just one dance.

Ohh...

Ha ha ha ha ha.

[Applause]

Ah, ichabod,

Storytelling

Has just begun.

I'm sure you don't

Want to miss that.

Oh--what--oh, yes,

But, um, uh...

Don't worry

About katrina.

The night

Is still young.

Hmm?

Ohh.

Katrina...

Brom.

What's going on,

Katrina?

Did that

Yankee schoolmarm

Cast some kind

Of spell over you?

You're acting

Like...

Like...

You're sweet

On that fool.

What do you care if I am?

Katrina...

I love you.

I know you.

You can never be happy

With that grasshopper.

I'm asking you

For another chance.

Ichabod doesn't

Just dismiss my dreams

As you do.

Katrina,

My exquisite one!

Th--th--th--though

It is no fault of his own,

Y-y-you're mr. Van brunt

Is nothing but

An ignorant blacksmith.

If you, fair katrina,

Would only grant me

Your hand in marriage,

I--i--i--i would gladly

Teach that poor fool

By--by my example.

What say you,

Fair katrina?

I'm going inside.

Are you coming?

You go on ahead.

I'll be along.

He dropped to his knees,

Frantically digging

At the grave site

With his bare hands.

His fingers ripping

At the tree roots

That strangled her coffin.

His eyes burning and blinded

By the dust of her grave,

When suddenly,

The woman's hands pulled him

Into the black pit screaming!

"Till death do us part!"

[Laughter]

Well, good wife,

Let's have the story

Of the

Headless horseman

For our

Honored guest.

No one tells it

Like you do.

Ohh. I'm afraid mr. Crane

Is very hard to impress.

I told him the tale

At this very house

And he still walked

The sleepy hollow road

After the witching hour,

Although I offered lodging.

Didn't you, mr. Crane?

I did.

I think you'd be

More impressed

If you ran into him.

Oh, but I did

Run into him, meneer,

But I'm not altogether sure

That it was your...

Headless horseman

And not some other

Soldier of satan,

For I did not see his head

Or lack of one thereof,

But I can assure you he came

With companion ghosts.

What happened, mr. Crane?

Tell the tale!

Tell the tale!

All: tell the tale!

Well, uh, I was

Proceeding homeward

To the van ripper's

Where I was boarded

That week,

When the haunts

Charged me altogether.

[All gasp]

Well, had I shown fear,

They would have succeeded

In their purpose,

But I stood my ground,

And just as they were

About to trample me,

They vanished

Like the mist...

Into nothingness.

Just vanished, did they?

Like that.

I can hardly believe it.

I doubt it was

The horseman he saw,

For no man can stand

In his way and live.

Well, mr. Van brunt,

I believe your

Headless horseman

Fears those

Who do not fear him,

Which explains

Why he charged me

In the company of a host

Of other mounted ghosts

As if he knew

That by himself

He would be

At the disadvantage.

Brave words sitting here

In a room full of

God-fearing people,

With light and good food

And whiskey

To warm your soul.

But I'll wager your blood

Would run as cold

As mine did

Were you to meet the real

Headless horseman

On the dark road

All alone.

You've seen this

Headless horseman?

Seen him...

And more.

Tell the tale!

Tell the tale!

All: tell the tale!

I was returning home

From a name day

Celebration

From my uncle

In sing sing.

Though it was well past

The witching hour,

We came along

The sleepy hollow road

To save us an hour more

Of riding.

Some say it was foolish

Taking the chance,

Knowing what the horseman

Done to brewer,

But I'd never spoken

Disrespectful of him

And me and daredevil

Could outrun and out-ride

Any man or ghost!

Or so I thought.

And so it was.

As we come

To major andre's tree,

Daredevil pulled up

In his gallop

And reared up so high,

He nearly thrown me down...

[All gasp]

And there before me

With the bright red moon

Behind him...

Sat the headless horseman

In the middle of the road.

[All chatter]

Brom: he didn't move...

So I started daredevil

At a gentle trot toward him,

Thinking I could dash

Through the stream around him

And make a run for my life.

I knew me and daredevil

Could do it...

But as we came abreast,

He drew his sword

From his scabbard

And raised it high

And then he swung it around

To take my head!

If I hadn't ducked down,

He would have sliced it

Clean off with his fiery sword!

Well, sir, me and daredevil,

We run like

We never run before,

But that devil horse

Was breathing fire

On daredevil's rump,

And that sword was flashing

And slashing through the dark,

An inch from

The back of my neck.

We both knew what it was

We were up against.

We were running, I tell you,

But never did we gain

A stride on our pursuer.

I kicked that horse of mine

Like I never kicked him

'Fore or since,

And he knew

What it was I wanted.

All we had to do was

Get across the log bridge,

Through the churchyard, and

Past the hessian's grave.

But as we come to the edge

Of the stream,

I felt a blackness

Cover me and daredevil.

It was so thick, I couldn't

See my hand in front of my face,

And then, all of a sudden,

There he was...

In front of me,

Across the stream.

He passed right through me!

I knew then

It was all over.

He could do with me

What he wanted.

I closed my eyes

And waited for the blow...

And?

And?

Never come.

I opened one eye to see

What was taking him so long.

He'd sheathed his sword,

And if he had a head,

I had a feeling

It'd be smiling.

He turned his horse around

And trotted back

Into the churchyard

And down, as though

Into a ravine...

Until nothing

Of him remained.

But I am just

An ignorant blacksmith

Without any of the education

Mr. Crane boasts of.

I doubt if I've given him

Any reason to fear

The sleepy hollow road at night.

Have i, mr. Crane?

Indeed, though the tale

You tell is terrifying,

To be sure,

Mr. Van brunt...

I'm confident

And prepared

For any such encounter.

You still here, ichabod?

Ohh. Oh...

I'll be on my way

Momentarily, baltus.

I'm just hoping to have

A moment in private

With miss katrina.

Ah, well, then,

Good night, ichabod

And, uh...good-bye.

Here you are,

Katrina.

Ichabod.

I thought you would

Have been on your way by now.

There's, um...

There's something I've

Been meaning to ask you

All evening long

And, well...

And I think

The moment...

Has come.

My dear katrina,

I believe you know

What I wish to say.

I believe you know

What is in my heart.

I believe I do, yes.

My darling...

I am prepared to give up

My lifelong study

Of the mysteries

Of the invisible world

All for you.

All I ask...

I ask for nothing...

But your dear hand

In marriage

That I may be your

Husband and protector,

Your help mate

And mentor,

Your guide and teacher--

You care nothing for me.

I doubt if you care

For anyone but yourself.

What did you say,

My dear katrina?

All you care about is

My father's property and wealth.

What?

Who put such thoughts

Into your head?

Uh--uh--uh...

Is it brom that poisoned

Your mind against me?

Brom may have no education,

But he does loves me.

It's me he wanted.

Only me.

But, katrina, you...

You accuse me unjustly.

I...

I swear

By all that's holy--

Careful, mr. Crane.

To swear falsely

By all that's holy

Is to invite damnation.

Katrina, how could

You think me capable

Of such a thing?

"We are both men

Of the world, sir.

"These are the immature

Romantic fantasies

"Of a young

And sheltered girl.

"I'm sure once she has

Presented you with a grandchild,

"She will put all such

Foolish dreams behind her."

You are a hypocrite,

Mr. Crane.

Now I suggest

You be on your way.

Good night,

And please

Don't call on me again.

[Coyotes howl]

[Whinnies]

Go. Go on.

Whoa! Whoa! Whoa, boy!

Whoa, boy!

Gunpowder!

Gunpowder?!

Whoa! Oh, whoa!

Whoa!

Easy, boy! Easy!

[Neighs]

That's it.

It's just a trick

Of the moonlight.

[Birds chirp]

Whoa!

Aah!

Aah!

Is this your head?

Well, it must be.

It's full of mush.

You think I didn't know

It was you?

Do you suppose

I'm such a fool

As to think--

[Screeching]

[Gulps]

[Horseman growls]

Uh...uh...uh...

[Wolf howls]

Uh...uhh...aah...

[Horseman growls]

Well, if it's

What it seems like,

He was took

By the headless horseman

Right out of this world.

Amelia:

I can't understand

Why such a terrible thing

Could have befallen

Poor mr. Crane.

I reckon it was

Because

He was a yankee.

I guess that just leaves us

To settle his accounts

Right and proper.

He was a bachelor

As far as we knows.

Is anyone owed any money

By the departed schoolmaster?

Well, then, I say we burn

All this truck of his.

We don't want him

Coming back from the pit

Looking for his pipe,

I reckon.

And no one ever

Heard any news

Of the unfortunate

Mr. Crane ever again?

Well, how could they

When he was snatched

Out of this world

By

The headless horseman,

Not even leaving

A hair behind?

And brom and katrina,

What of them?

They was married

Shortly after.

It was the finest wedding

Anyone ever seen

In sleepy hollow.

I was there

And danced with

The bride myself.

And for the honeymoon,

Brom bones booked passage

To amsterdam

And they stayed there

The whole of the winter.

It's van brom's farm now,

Bigger than ever,

And it's parceled out

To all the grandchildren.

So how say you,

Meneer knickerbocker,

Was this a tale

Worth writing down?

Oh, yes,

Though there are

One or two points

On which I have my doubts.

Well, as to that,

I don't even believe

One half of it, myself,

And I ain't sayin'

Which half.

[All laugh]

Well, then,

Let's raise our tankards

To the memory of poor

Unfortunate mr. Crane.

All: ichabod crane!

Why, that's

The departed widow jacobs,

With a living child

In her arms!

Now, that's a tale.

Too long a one, I hope.

Well, it's said that

She died of childbirth

Way back in the time

Of old heinrich hudson himself.

She was the first buried

In what became our churchyard

Together

With her unborn child.

[Thunder]

...there was such a crush.

Old heinrich hudson had

Tried to get to the grave site

And failed miserably...