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    Film
    duologue
    Western, Action, Comedy
    2 Characters

    Artemus Gordon's Origin Story

    from WILD WILD WEST

    Written by S.S. Wilson, Brent Maddock, Jeffrey Price, Peter S. Seaman

    Artemus Gordon reveals his tragic backstory to Jim West, explaining how his career as a stage actor ended during the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. The scene shifts from lighthearted bickering about education to a moment of somber reflection on duty and guilt.

    Scene PreviewExcerpt — subscribe to read full scene

    WEST: What?!

    GORDON: '... Take physic, pomp; Expose thyself to feel what wretches feel, That thou mayst shake the superflux to them, And show the heavens more just.'

    WEST: You know, Gordon, you can be quite annoying -- flaunting that fancy education.

    GORDON: Well, truth be told, I never had a fancy education -- not a formal one, anyway.

    WEST: The Harvard thing seems pretty formal to me.

    GORDON: This ring? This ring isn't real. Do you want it? [tosses it into fire] A prop. I'm an actor. Or was.

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    CharactersWest, Gordon
    Duration00:02:00
    Age Range30-50
    Gendermale
    GenreWestern, Action, Comedy
    PeriodContemporary
    Formatduologue
    SourceWILD WILD WEST
    ToneRevealing, poignant, slightly theatrical
    AccentAmerican
    Suitable Foragent showcase, self tape, general practice
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