Battle of New Orleans Page #18

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Even Jackson’s ENLISTED, who have seen this kind of fightingbefore, are being bested by Packenham’s SHARPSHOOTERS.

Several BRITISH SHOTS land near the BREASTWORK scatteringmen, mud and wall. Jackson rides behind the line, shoutingfor his men to hold form. More than a handful turn and run.

88.

John Coffee quickly assesses the situation -

JOHN COFFEE:

The artillery are our only defense!

Meaning Dominique You and the five BATTERIES the Baratariansman along the line as well as bombardment from the LOUISIANA

stationed on the river. Dominique You fires and takes out anentire row of REDCOATS, Lafitte shouting orders behind him.

But as Jackson struggles with his men to hold the line -

EXT. MACARTY PLANTATION - MORNING

Packenham calmly observes from the battlefield. He notes the

position of the ARTILLERY and the LOUISIANA on the River...

And then he spots JACKSON. And while Packenham can’t see

behind the wall, he knows the Americans are struggling.

GENERAL PACKENHAM

Stress the center line!

EXT. MACARTY PLANTATION - RODRIGUEZ CANAL - MORNING

And stress it they do. The REDCOATS pepper the American wallwith cannon fire. CASUALTIES mount as several sections of

the wall BREAK apart with no structural reinforcements...

A team of BARATARIANS, MILITIA and ENLISTED is forced to hold

the patchwork breastwork together with their hands.

MAJOR GENERAL VILLERE

It won’t hold much longer!

The British columns close. If the breastwork were to fall

now, leaving the Americans fully exposed...

Jackson needs a plan and fast. He peers over the wall,

finding PACKENHAM still observing from high on his horse --

And through the smoke-filled chaos there’s a MOMENT between

these two men. Jackson’s eyes narrow. And then, an idea -

ANDREW JACKSON:

Long rifles and artillery! On the

officers’ heads! Stand tall now,

men! Stand tall!

It’s literally a long shot, but a group of Villere’s MILITIA

fire their LONG RIFLES at the BRITISH OFFICERS --

89.

EXT. MACARTY PLANTATION - MORNING

Just as the officers move toward the American line. Two of

the officers are immediately SHOT through the head and fall.

ADMIRAL COCHRANE

Down! Down!

Packenham and the others take cover as the American ARTILLERY

follows suit. The officers are covered by dirt and grime.

Keane shouts to Packenham over the sound of the cannons --

MAJOR GENERAL KEANE

The center of the line is failing!

Shall we continue?!

But Packenham eyes Jackson and he knows -- the Americans areprepared to cut the head off the snake to spite the body.

GENERAL PACKENHAM

I have seen what we need! They arefive guns and one man. Leave the

cannons to fire and fall back!

Admiral Cochrane shoots Packenham a questioning look --

GENERAL PACKENHAM (CONT’D)

Patience, Admiral. All is well.

We know now how to end them.

EXT. MACARTY PLANTATION - RODRIGUEZ CANAL - DUSK

The sun sets. The AMERICANS have been beaten soundly.

TRIAGE has been setup in one of the barns while the DEAD areloaded onto horse carts to be brought back to the city.

Jackson and his high-command somberly walk the line. The

wall is held together in places by a single nail or board.

JOHN COFFEE:

To think this was only for show.

ANDREW JACKSON:

Our artillery held well. If I were

to assume, the British will bringforth more guns to match us.

JEAN LAFITTE:

And how do we suppose to stop them?

90.

ANDREW JACKSON:

With all the men we can afford.

Pull in the flanks from across the

river and send word to our legionsat the forts or other batteries.

We must hold this line at all cost.

This is a HAIL MARY play. PIERRE LAFITTE keenly takes note.

Unbeknownst to Pierre, JOHN COFFEE does as well...

MAJOR GENERAL VILLERE

We shall be exposed, General. If

the British send even a singlebattalion across the river -

ANDREW JACKSON:

We’re left no choice. They haveweakened us here and Packenham will

take great pride in trying tofinish the job. Monsieur Lafitte,

you and Dominique shall procure allpossible artillery reserves. I

trust you implicitly to provide thecover our men will need.

This vote of confidence is not lost on Lafitte or the others.

JEAN LAFITTE:

We shall not let you down, General.

ANDREW JACKSON:

There is comfort in this defeat,

gentlemen. The next time we face

them, it shall be our last.

INT. MACARTY HOUSE - DINING ROOM - NIGHT

The officers sit for another HOLIDAY DINNER but the mood is

far from festive. Lafitte and his brothers are absent.

A SERVANT brings in the TURKEY. The men wait for Jackson to

make a toast, but instead Jackson wordlessly starts to eat.

And so it goes. Until suddenly the DOOR opens. To the shock

of everyone in the room GOVERNOR CLAIBORNE is there --

GOVERNOR CLAIBORNE

Happy New Year, General.

91.

INT. MACARTY HOUSE - STUDY - NIGHT

After dinner. Claiborne holds court for Jackson’s officers.

Jackson listens halfheartedly across the room.

And while Claiborne’s clearly tempered, he knows what’s

happening here and he has a carrot he’s excited to dangle...

GOVERNOR CLAIBORNE

The cannon fire shook the windows,

the women and children prayed theirhardest. I know the outcome wasn’t

what you hoped, but we were behind

you men. The entire city was.

Jackson doesn’t have time for platitudes -

ANDREW JACKSON:

Why have you come, Governor?

GOVERNOR CLAIBORNE

I’ve come about peace.

That gets the room’s attention. Jackson’s not buying it --

ANDREW JACKSON:

The only peace will be when theBritish leave our shores.

GOVERNOR CLAIBORNE

There’s word from Washington. We

have sent a commission to Belgium.

EDWARD LIVINGSTON

A treaty?

GOVERNOR CLAIBORNE

Discussions. But I have it on goodauthority all land and boundarieswill likely be restored to wherethey stood before the war.

EDWARD LIVINGSTON

Status quo ante bellum.

GOVERNOR CLAIBORNE

A strategic surrender now, withprovisions not to burn the city,

may be our wisest option.

Normally most of these men would never consider such a thing,

but after the beating they just took...

92.

ANDREW JACKSON:

(skeptical)

Discussions.

GOVERNOR CLAIBORNE

In Belgium, yes. If you wish me tospeak with the British -

ANDREW JACKSON:

I wish you to go back to youroffice in the city and leave themen to do what needs to be done.

GOVERNOR CLAIBORNE

General -

ANDREW JACKSON:

Words mean nothing. Discussions

mean nothing. There are men five

hundred yards from where we standmeaning to murder each and everylast one of us. We will hold this

line now or we will die.

And as Jackson leaves the room, his position made clear -

EXT. ELMWOOD PLANTATION - FARM HOUSE - NIGHT

Lafitte has snuck away from preparations to meet with Mary-

Anne on the outskirts of the plantation.

They sit together huddled by a camp fire. It’s romantic.

JEAN LAFITTE:

Who would have believed the man now

most responsible for our acceptanceis the one who hated us the most?

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