Battle of New Orleans Page #2

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ANDREW JACKSON:

Then you’ve failed already.

NEWSPAPERMAN:

Saw your men march in town today.

Came from Fort Jackson after the

battle with the Creeks. Big dealthere, sir. Lots of land had.

Jackson shoots the newspaperman an annoyed look over hisglass --who are you and why are you bothering me?

6.

NEWSPAPERMAN (CONT’D)

Pardon my manners. Bertram Iger,

sir, Mobile Register. As long as

you’re here, would appreciate a

quote about the state of the war --

ANDREW JACKSON:

(re:
the locals)

Your companions know more than I.

Put their names in the paper.

But the newspaperman won’t be denied.

NEWSPAPERMAN:

The British strong through Canada

and the Atlantic, the Spanish with

a hold in Florida and the Indians

still terrorizing the West. There

are whispers the redcoats who

defeated Napoleon himself have

already set sail -

ANDREW JACKSON:

Exactly how old are you, Mr. Iger?

NEWSPAPERMAN:

Twenty-two.

ANDREW JACKSON:

And what have you done besides ask

questions of this war? Ever fired

a pistol or been in battle?

NEWSPAPERMAN:

No, sir.

ANDREW JACKSON:

Then seeing as you have nothing

substantial to add, tell your

friends there and readers thus --

the blood of our Founding Fathers

was not shed to kneel before a King

and Queen forty years hence. And

any man who disagrees is as stupid

as he is a burden to the air I do

breathe. Now if you’ll excuse me,

I will return to the manner I was

before your admitted interruption.

Through this an ARMY MESSENGER has arrived behind Jackson andhanded Brigadier-General Coffee a long-winded LETTER. Coffee

reads as the newspaperman steps away from the bar -

But the newspaperman just can’t let it go. He turns back -

7.

ANDREW JACKSON (CONT’D)

You’re a down-right nuisance.

NEWSPAPERMAN:

(a bit of gossip)

The Benton Brothers? Your duel?

Please, General, the story lives tobe passed in rooms like this. Will

you confirm, even off the record -

JOHN COFFEE (O.S.)

General.

Coffee is there with the letter. He hands it to Jackson.

Jackson reads. The newspaperman is keenly interested...

Jackson finally finishes. He slams his fist against the bar.

NEWSPAPERMAN:

Good news?

INT. BOARDING HOUSE - HALLWAY - NIGHT

Jackson walks the hall with his officers from the bar. Theyknock on bedroom doors, waking the rest of his high-command.

A door opens revealing prim LIEUTENANT DANIEL ADLER (38) inhis bed-clothes. Adler fusses with his glasses.

DANIEL ADLER:

This couldn’t wait until morning?

INT. BOARDING HOUSE - ROOM - NIGHT

A room too small for so many men. Everyone is gatheredaround a table as Coffee reads the letter by candlelight.

JOHN COFFEE:

“Natives of Louisiana. On you thefirst call is made to assist in

liberating from a faithless andimbecile government your paternalsoul. The American usurpation inthis country must be abolished --

ANDREW JACKSON:

Usurpation my bleeding arse.

Jackson is pouring SHOTS OF WHISKEY for the officers justwoken out of bed. Adler shakes his head in refusal.

8.

JOHN COFFEE:

-- I am at the head of a large bodyof Indians, well armed, disciplinedand commanded by British officers.”

OFFICER:

An Indian in a redcoat! That would

be a sight!

The officers laugh at the prospect.

JOHN COFFEE:

“Seconded by the powerful aid ofnumerous British and Spanish Shipsand Vessels of War.” And it goeson like this... for quite awhile.

Sent to every town and city twohundred miles within the Purchase.

ANDREW JACKSON:

When did the British move onto

Pensacola?

JOHN COFFEE:

Our spies have them boarded sixweeks ago in the Spanish garrison.

This point riles Jackson.

ANDREW JACKSON:

The comandante there, Garcia, as

spineless a man I ever met. Had

nerve to call me “impertinent”.

DANIEL ADLER:

General, this is not an unexpecteddevelopment. The British were want

to encroach on the South, our

orders are still to remain here.

Jackson unfurls a MAP of the southern U.S. on the table.

ANDREW JACKSON:

Our orders are months old. If the

British have indeed moved here -

(points to Pensacola)

They will most certainly move here.

JOHN COFFEE:

New Orleans.

ANDREW JACKSON:

The key to the Mississippi and thiscountry’s future freedom.

(MORE)

9.

ANDREW JACKSON (CONT'D)

If the British take the River, they

will surround us on all sides. And

with this “proclamation”, a

declaration to turn our citizens

against us -- I’ve seen it tonight

in that tavern, these men have the

constitution of a hot house flower.

The people will fall if we let

them, not to say anything of the

British sending the same Indians

we’ve defeated against us. We must

march onto Pensacola immediately.

Furtive glances around the room. That was unexpected.

JOHN COFFEE:

Sir, while I principally agree, the

men are tired. We’ve fought many

battles and travelled many miles -

ANDREW JACKSON:

And I was there for all of them,

General Coffee, lest you forget.

DANIEL ADLER:

At least send word to Washington -

ANDREW JACKSON:

Or Philadelphia or New York or

wherever the government now sits

and wait three months for a reply?

If so there will be tea down our

throats by New Year.

DANIEL ADLER:

Perhaps. But Mobile is between

Pensacola and New Orleans, General.

Let us gather, rest and prepare,

then we will fight. It’s the most

prudent course of action.

ANDREW JACKSON:

Wars, like women, Lieutenant, are

rarely won with prudency.

And as the men realize their stay here will be short-lived -

ANDREW JACKSON (V.O.)

My dearest Rachel -

INT. BOARDING HOUSE - ROOM - MORNING

Jackson in his dressing clothes. He writes a letter.

10.

ANDREW JACKSON (V.O.)

I write with apologies, my belovedwife, for circumstances have

changed and we must delay ourinevitable reunion.

EXT. STAGING GROUND - DAY

Jackson’s men preparing to MARCH. They are not happy.

ANDREW JACKSON (V.O.)

The British have moved onto Florida

and I have no recourse but to move

them out. The men, of course, are

disagreeable, but our duty does notcare for our disposition.

Jackson rides through the yard. The soldiers are respectfulwith their greetings, but there’s clearly no love lost here.

DANIEL ADLER:

(as Jackson passes)

Old Hickory bastard.

EXT. SPANISH GARRISON - DAY

In Pensacola. The BRITISH and SPANISH FLAGS fly at the sameheight over the stronghold. COLONEL EDWARD NICHOLLS (36)

confers with COMANDANTE FERNANDO GARCIA (54) behind the wall.

ANDREW JACKSON (V.O.)

I wish only to be with you and thechildren again, but Colonel EdwardNicholls, a British scant of a man,

a fly, has made that impossible.

Behind them two dozen RED CREEK INDIANS are being trained byBRITISH COMMANDERS. It’s not going well for either party.

EXT. MOBILE BAY - MORNING

The sun rises over the water. Jackson watches from shore as

he fingers a small COLONIAL COIN. It means something to him.

ANDREW JACKSON (V.O.)

How is it I’ve found myself here?

A simple man of the militia. But I

shall not stand idle like so manyothers and watch my country fall.

I have sacrificed far too much for

history to remember me as such.

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