Battle of New Orleans Page #12

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57.

MARY-ANNE DERN

You sleep fifteen feet from the

Governor’s wife! Your ego is as

grand as his. And tell me -- do

you often accept the help of others

in your moment of possible triumph?

Mary-Anne has him and Lafitte knows it. He’s amazed -

JEAN LAFITTE:

Who are you?

MARY-ANNE DERN

Mary-Anne Dern, a simple girl from

St. Louis...

JEAN LAFITTE:

You’re far from simple.

MARY-ANNE DERN

And yet still a girl.

(beat)

So why do it? Why pledge your

help? I’ve seen the handbills. Is

it simply to buy your freedom?

Lafitte thinks for a moment. And then --

JEAN LAFITTE:

You said I had a choice earlier, to

become a pirate. There was no such

choice. My brothers and I, born

into poverty in Port au Prince.

Our father killed over a debt for

bread. We lived through a tyranny

of another kind. This way of life

was the only way of life.

(beat)

We may be wanted men in America,

but it’s by our choice. I don’t

want to buy our freedom, I want to

protect that which we already have.

So now tell me, knowing that -- if

I offered you my help -- would you

ever trust a pirate?

MARY-ANNE DERN

Only if I kissed him first. And

only if he’s earned it.

Both flirtatious and true. Lafitte considers her a moment -

JEAN LAFITTE:

Perhaps yours is the help I need.

58.

INT. ELMWOOD PLANTATION - DINING ROOM - MORNING

The next morning. Everyone has gathered except Lafitte.

MILES ELMWOOD:

Shall we wait?

MARY-ANNE DERN

I saw Monsieur Clement earlier. He

received word of an urgent businessmatter and apologized he would begone several days.

ELEANOR ELMWOOD:

Well then, lets begin.

They sit. Suzette turns to Mary-Anne -

SUZETTE CLAIBORNE

You know, Mary-Anne -- MonsieurClement is the most interestingfellow. You should hope to marrysomeone from such good stock.

And as Mary-Anne struggles to hide her smile -

EXT. MISSISSIPPI RIVER - MORNING

Jackson sits on the shore of the river, conflicted. He

fingers the same COLONIAL COIN we saw him with in Mobile.

Again, this coin means something to him. Jackson finallymakes a decision. He stands.

EXT. LIVINGSTON’S HOUSE - MORNING

Jackson knocks on the FRONT DOOR. Livingston answers in hisbed clothes. Two young CHILDREN play at Livingston’s feet.

EDWARD LIVINGSTON

Is there a problem, General?

ANDREW JACKSON:

I want to meet Lafitte.

A beat, then Livingston steps to the side. Lafitte is there.

JEAN LAFITTE:

The feeling is mutual.

59.

EXT. ROYAL STREET TAVERN - MORNING - ESTABLISHING

Coffee and two ENLISTED MEN stand guard at the door.

INT. ROYAL STREET TAVERN - MORNING

The bar is empty. Jackson and Lafitte sit across from each

other at a table. Livingston is there to mediate.

There’s a long, awkward silence. Finally --

EDWARD LIVINGSTON

Shall I begin -

But Jackson jumps in full bore --

ANDREW JACKSON:

This is what I shall require,

Monsieur Lafitte -- all munitions,

all weapons, all able-bodied men tobe delivered to my command no laterthan the day after next.

JEAN LAFITTE:

Require? For what exactly?

ANDREW JACKSON:

Compliance.

JEAN LAFITTE:

Delivered to your command.

ANDREW JACKSON:

I’m the one in charge am I not?

That was definitive. Lafitte considers Jackson a moment --

he’s heard the stories, but to face Old Hickory himself...

JEAN LAFITTE:

No.

ANDREW JACKSON:

I beg your pardon.

JEAN LAFITTE:

(congenial)

I do not accept your requirements.

ANDREW JACKSON:

You don’t have much of a choice.

60.

JEAN LAFITTE:

But see, I do. This “delivery”

isn’t why I’ve come to the table.

ANDREW JACKSON:

Then I shall have you arrested.

JEAN LAFITTE:

Is that really the proper use ofyour resources as the Britishbreathe down your neck? I’m here

to offer you partnership.

ANDREW JACKSON:

The government of the United Statesdoes not partner with a pirate.

The city is under martial law andwhatever I want, I shall have.

JEAN LAFITTE:

By all means! Of course, there’s a

reason you found yourself knockingon Livingston’s door this morning.

But if you know where the munitionsare, who am I to stop you?

This isn’t off to a great start. Livingston nervously sipshis whiskey. And now it’s Jackson who studies Lafitte...

ANDREW JACKSON:

I have no time for cleverness.

JEAN LAFITTE:

I wasn’t trying to be. Tell me,

General -- why won’t you trust me?

I’ve given you no reason not to.

My letter to Claiborne. We didn’t

fire on a single American ship.

ANDREW JACKSON:

You were taken by force -

JEAN LAFITTE:

You know as well as I we would

never go down without a fight.

ANDREW JACKSON:

It’s what I’ve heard about you.

Your history. You’re a thief. You

have no code.

Lafitte leans forward here -

61.

JEAN LAFITTE:

And you think I haven’t heard the

same about you? A scoundrel. A

man who will duel at the first

false word. The Benton Brothers?

The fact is, General, I shouldn’t

be sitting with you.

EDWARD LIVINGSTON

Gentleman, please -- let us return

to the matter at hand -

But Jackson isn’t going to let that last accusation stand -

ANDREW JACKSON:

I have no shame. Have I shot many

men? Yes. All of whom deserved

their fate. All of whom agreed to

the battle before them. I do not

hide in the shadows. I have honor.

JEAN LAFITTE:

As do I. But for all that we’ve

acquired and by all the means which

we’ve acquired it, we both know who

we are when we sleep at night.

ANDREW JACKSON:

(scoffs)

A pirate.

JEAN LAFITTE:

A man who gets what he wants. And

what I want is to send the British

back to their tea and crumpets.

What is it you want, General?

(Jackson doesn’t answer)

You think we’re so different,

perhaps that’s the case. But this

city -- we are Creole, we are

Spaniard, we are northerners. You

want to save the country? We are

this country. This table here. We

may fight when we are at peace, but

because we are allowed to is why we

must come together during war.

Jackson doesn’t have an argument for that. Finally -

ANDREW JACKSON:

What comes with this partnership?

62.

JEAN LAFITTE:

I will stand by your side anddefend this country that I love.

And I will earn your trust as longas you earn mine.

ANDREW JACKSON:

You will earn my trust or I willshoot you were you stand. Do not

think for an instant this makes upfor any past transgressions.

JEAN LAFITTE:

I wouldn’t have it any other way.

INT. CITY JAIL - CELL - DAY

Dominique You is taking a nap. Suddenly, the cell doorswings open. Jackson and Lafitte are there.

DOMINIQUE YOU:

Mon frere.

JEAN LAFITTE:

Send word. It’s time to fight.

Lafitte helps Dominique to his feet. Dominique brushes pastJackson as they head for the exit -

DOMINIQUE YOU:

(with a smile)

Wasn’t so hard now was it, Général?

And as Jackson wonders what he’s gotten himself in to --

EXT. PLACE D’ARMES - COURTYARD - MORNING

It’s two days later and the courtyard has been overrun by

over three hundred PIRATES. They take great joy in being letout of exile and greet each other with hugs, wine and cigars.

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