Battle of New Orleans Page #19

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MARY-ANNE DERN

I believe it was I who actuallysaid you weren’t so different.

JEAN LAFITTE:

Yet another in a line of sterlingobservation.

Mary-Anne smiles. They have a growing comfortability.

MARY-ANNE DERN

So will you finally end the mysteryand tell me why you wanted thissecret meeting in the night?

93.

JEAN LAFITTE:

You are the reason.

MARY-ANNE DERN

Just another of your “whispers”...

JEAN LAFITTE:

Perhaps. Or perhaps the sight often thousand British soldiers

marching straight for you leads toa readjustment of one’s priorities.

Lafitte’s being honest here. A somber moment --

MARY-ANNE DERN

What will happen?

JEAN LAFITTE:

I have no idea. But I promise youthis, whatever the outcome, I shall

find you again. I will take youfrom this place and we will run.

MARY-ANNE DERN

(quietly)

But what if you are -

JEAN LAFITTE:

I won’t be. Trust me.

MARY-ANNE DERN

You know my requirements for that.

They finally KISS. And from the FLICKERING of that fire -

EXT. VILLERE PLANTATION - NIGHT

To the flickering of the FIRE at the British camp. Packenham

waits patiently with Cochrane and a few others...

NICHOLAS LOCKYER and four REDCOATS arrive escorting PIERRELAFITTE. Pierre is clearly nervous to be in such company.

A long beat, then Pierre fills the silence -

PIERRE LAFITTE:

Jackson has pulled all support fromhis flank across the river. If youwere to cross there, your men couldcome up behind Jackson’s line, takeout his artillery and destroy him.

Packenham studies Pierre for a moment. And then --

94.

GENERAL PACKENHAM

Why should I believe you?

PIERRE LAFITTE:

I stand for our survival. Mybrother stands for something else.

EXT. SWAMP - NIGHT

Pierre rushes back toward the American camp. He moves

carefully through the swamp, covering his tracks...

He doesn’t see JOHN COFFEE watching him from the shadows.

INT. MACARTY HOUSE - HALLWAY - NIGHT

Lafitte returns from his dalliance with Mary-Anne in goodspirits. He steps into his bedroom at the end of the hall --

INT. MACARTY HOUSE - BEDROOM - NIGHT

And is promptly AMBUSHED by a pair of burly ENLISTED MEN --

JEAN LAFITTE:

What the hell are you -

But before he can finish Lafitte’s met with a STRAIGHT RIGHT

from Jackson and falls to the floor. Coffee is also there.

The men hold Lafitte as Jackson PUTS A PISTOL TO HIS HEAD.

ANDREW JACKSON:

I should never have trusted you,

you lying, no good, son of a whore!

Jackson is furious. Lafitte has no idea what’s happening.

JEAN LAFITTE:

General -- please --stop --

ANDREW JACKSON:

I shall spit on your grave for whatyou’ve done.

JEAN LAFITTE:

What have I done?! What?!

ANDREW JACKSON:

What I knew you were capable of the

moment I heard your cursed name --

95.

JEAN LAFITTE:

I have no idea what you’re talking

about -- please, tell me --

ANDREW JACKSON:

Your brother. Pierre. We caughthim scurrying away from the Britishlines. I was to hang him fortreason if not for your arrival.

JEAN LAFITTE:

Treason?! I promise you, General --

we have been firmly on your side -

Jackson presses the pistol to Lafitte’s head. HARD.

ANDREW JACKSON:

No more lies!

JEAN LAFITTE:

I’m not lying! What was said in

his defense, what did he --

ANDREW JACKSON:

There is no defense for treachery.

Goodbye, Monsieur Lafitte.

Jackson actually looks like he’s going to pull the trigger.

Coffee and the enlisted men turn their heads --

But Lafitte says the one thing he thinks might save his life.

JEAN LAFITTE:

You’re a man of honor!

Jackson hesitates. It’s a window, and Lafitte jumps through.

JEAN LAFITTE (CONT’D)

You said so yourself, General. A

man of honor would hear a defense.

Please. Let us go and listen towhat Pierre has to say.

ANDREW JACKSON:

Why should I believe anything thatcomes from either of your lips?

JEAN LAFITTE:

Because you have seen how we fight.

ANDREW JACKSON:

(rising)

You fight only for the empty virtueyou hope to receive from it!

96.

JEAN LAFITTE:

And why do you?! Why do you buildthis line?! Why are you standingwith a pistol to my head?!

(pleading)

You have honor, General. But youknow as well as I there is no wayyou can win the battle without us.

If you do this, I swear to you, mymen will walk. There must be an

explanation. Let us hear it.

This is Lafitte’s last stand. It’s on Jackson to decide. A

long beat. Finally, Jackson lowers the pistol.

INT. MACARTY HOUSE - CELLAR - NIGHT

Pierre Lafitte sits on the cold floor of the CELLAR. Two

GUARDS stand at the door. Pierre has been roughed up a bit.

The door opens and Jackson, Coffee and Lafitte enter.

Lafitte stares daggers at Pierre. Pierre has to look away.

ANDREW JACKSON:

If you wish to speak, do it now.

Pierre struggles to hold back tears. And then -

PIERRE LAFITTE:

I don’t know what I was thinking.

I meant not to be a spy. I was

simply trying to protect our bestinterest if we lost.

ANDREW JACKSON:

By being a traitor.

PIERRE LAFITTE:

I gave them nothing, I swear it.

Not at first. I had a relationshipwith Lockyer. I gained his trustwith bread crumbs. But theybrought me to Packenham. They toldme I had to earn my keep or theywould... I was scared. I broke.

ANDREW JACKSON:

Broke how?

PIERRE LAFITTE:

I told them of your plan to call inyour flank during the next assault.

(MORE)

97.

PIERRE LAFITTE (CONT'D)

I swear to you -- no one else knew.

I did this all by my own hand.

Jackson can barely contain his anger. To Lafitte -

ANDREW JACKSON:

Your brother is a traitor.

PIERRE LAFITTE:

(begging now)

I’m not! Please, I made a mistake!

Tell him, Jean -- make this right --

JEAN LAFITTE:

Arrêtez.

Lafitte’s as mad as Jackson. A long beat, and then -

JEAN LAFITTE (CONT’D)

Do what you must, General. The

only thing I ask is to spare my

men. They clearly had no part.

ANDREW JACKSON:

So you admit it then?

JEAN LAFITTE:

(pointedly to Pierre)

I admit only he is my brother.

Pierre is CRUSHED. Jackson finally turns to Coffee --

ANDREW JACKSON:

I need a moment.

Jackson and Coffee exit. It’s just Lafitte and Pierre.

PIERRE LAFITTE:

Je suis désolé. I’m sorry, Jean.

Lafitte simply STARES at him. And then from out of nowhere --

Lafitte GRABS Pierre by the neck. The guards immediatelyintervene but Lafitte is able to pull Pierre’s ear close --

JEAN LAFITTE:

(with vitriol)

Blood is thicker than water,

Pierre, but it still runs out. If

you wish to live you will do

exactly as I say or I will shoot

you myself. Mon frere.

Lafitte KISSES his cheek, then leaves. Pierre is stunned.

98.

EXT. MACARTY HOUSE - VERANDA - DAWN

The sun rises. Jackson sits on the steps holding the sameCOLONIAL COIN he had before. He takes a pull from his FLASK.

Across the way Jackson can hear sounds of the Britishstarting to bombard the line with GRAPE SHOT. It’s not the

main attack, more something to annoy Jackson and his men...

Lafitte comes out and stands behind him. Finally -

ANDREW JACKSON:

My brother was only three years

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