Battle of New Orleans Page #23

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But before Daquin can get off another shot, another BULLETtears through Packenham’s LEG, this time fired from one of

Villere’s MILITIA. And then another BULLET plunges intoPackenham’s horse, knocking Packenham to the ground.

Then there’s another bullet and another. The men have not

given up hope. The sight of Packenham on the ground pullsJackson to his feet, and with all he can muster --

ANDREW JACKSON:

Give it to them, boys! We finish

this business today! For America!

It’s the call to arms the men need. The BRITISH are suddenlydisorganized by the sight of their commanding officer down,

while the Americans are inspired by Jackson’s lead.

JEAN LAFITTE and a group of BARATARIANS arrive to stop theflood of REDCOATS through the gap. JOHN COFFEE and his men

work to reinforce the wall. It takes only a matter ofmoments, but suddenly the British are on the defensive.

Through the chaos, Jackson heads to Packenham. Packenham

lies prone, his eyes closed. Jackson stands a few feet away,

wanting to make sure he’s dead, when suddenly -

PACKENHAM DRAWS A PISTOL FROM HIS BELT.

Jackson DRAWS quicker, but it’s all for naught. Packenham is

too weak. The pistol simply falls from Packenham’s hand.

And as Packenham struggles for breath, Jackson leaning down -

ANDREW JACKSON (CONT’D)

Luckily, we’re much more than one.

That they are. The American have now risen from the brink,

fighting the British back. And as Jackson returns to battle,

a group of BRITISH SOLDIERS dragging Packenham’s body away -

EXT. MACARTY PLANTATION - MORNING

Keane watches from afar. More soldiers are coming back overthe wall than the opposite. A frazzled CAPTAIN finds him -

112.

BRITISH CAPTAIN:

Packenham is dead! Lambert is

dead! They fight like savages.

This isn’t war, this is -

But the captain is SHOT straight through the head and killed.

Blood splatters onto Keane. That’s all Keane can handle -

MAJOR GENERAL KEANE

Retreat! Retreat!

And as they do, we see the absolute terribleness of this war.

The field is RED with fallen British soldiers. The

casualties on both sides have climbed into the thousands...

Keane retreats back past a GIANT OAK TREE in the field. He

doesn’t notice that the soldiers from earlier have left

GENERAL PACKENHAM to sit alone under the tree...

Mortally wounded, there’s nothing Packenham can do but watchas the British flee the battlefield. He’s DISGUSTED.

GENERAL PACKENHAM

(his last breath)

Shame. Shame. We are British.

Packenham finally DIES. And as the AMERICAN FLAG flies, the

lone, sad song of a BRITISH BUGLER brings us -

EXT. MACARTY PLANTATION - DAY

The BUGLER stands with a BRITISH LIEUTENANT under a WHITE

FLAG. EDWARD LIVINGSTON rides out to meet them.

The lieutenant hands Livingston a LETTER.

INT. MACARTY HOUSE - MASTER BEDROOM - DAY

Jackson and his high-command. Jackson reads the LETTER over.

A long beat, then Jackson NODS to Livingston --

EDWARD LIVINGSTON

The city has been saved.

A CHEER goes up in the room. The men are relieved, sharinghugs and handshakes. Lafitte and Dominique You are there.

But as happy as the occasion is, Jackson is still Jackson -

113.

ANDREW JACKSON:

It is now our responsibility tomake sure the British make good ontheir word and leave our shores.

JEAN LAFITTE:

We will, General. I assure you.

EXT. MACARTY PLANTATION - DAY

The next day. Both sides are in process of burying theirdead. It’s a sorrowful and enormous task.

Men from both sides collect PERSONAL ITEMS from the fallen.

Many soldiers break down in tears over their comrades. A

MASS GRAVE has been dug in one of the fields.

Andrew Jackson solemnly watches body after body depositedthere. Jackson holds his brother’s COLONIAL COIN...

Finally, Jackson throws the coin in. It’s covered in DIRT.

EXT. LAKE BORGNE - DAY - ESTABLISHING

The British are in the midst of a terrible RETREAT. For all

the hardship they endured to get here, they must do the sameto go back. Drudging through canals, rowing across the lake.

EXT. HMS TONNANT - MAIN DECK - DAY

Keane, still dirty from battle, climbs on board after thejourney. He finds a line of GRIEVING WIDOWS wearing black,

no longer dancing, hoping for their husbands’ safe return.

Keane feels awful. And to make matters worse -

ADMIRAL COCHRANE

Pick it up, Keany-boy. Your knightin shining armor may be dead, butwe still have some fight, yah?

It’s ADMIRAL COCHRANE, smugly back in charge. But before

Keane can even muster a response --

BRITISH SAILOR:

Sir.

The SAILOR hands Cochrane a looking glass. On the horizon

six of Lafitte’s PIRATE SHIPS have arrived. They fly both anAMERICAN and PIRATE FLAG and are ready to engage if need be.

114.

Keane sees the ships as well. He’s had enough --

MAJOR GENERAL KEANE

It’s over, Admiral. We’ve lost.

EXT. PIRATE SHIP - DECK - DAY

The BARATARIANS watch the armada from afar. The British

finally raise their anchors and sail away.

And the sound of hundreds of people CHEERING brings us to -

EXT. FRENCH QUARTER - DAY

Where a glorious VICTORY PARADE winds through the streets ofthe FRENCH QUARTER. The city is alive again. Jackson and

his army, now clean from battle, are the guests of honor...

Even the BARATARIANS are feted with flower petals thrown fromBALCONIES. BANDS play through the streets, a celebratoryCANNONADE firing from the shores into the MISSISSIPPI.

Jackson is next to Lafitte and the rest of his high-command --

ANDREW JACKSON:

This is what it’s like to be loved.

JEAN LAFITTE:

No, General. This is somethingelse entirely.

They pass GOVERNOR CLAIBORNE applauding with his wife SUZETTEand MARY-ANNE DERN. Lafitte immediately walks over and, tothe dismay of Claiborne, KISSES Mary-Anne.

Mary-Anne swoons. Lafitte shakes Claiborne’s hand -

JEAN LAFITTE (CONT’D)

Governor. Mrs. Claiborne.

Lafitte heads back and rejoins the parade. Suzette Claiborne

is confused. She turns to Mary-Anne and her husband --

SUZETTE CLAIBORNE

Why is Monsieur Clement marching inthe victor’s parade?

Jackson is lead into what will be known as JACKSON SQUARE. A

row of girls in WHITE DRESSES hold up an ARCHWAY OF FLOWERS.

The city cheers as Jackson walks through, their savior.

115.

EXT. FRENCH QUARTER - BANQUET HALL - NIGHT

The party has spilled over into the night. CROWDS fill the

streets. Jackson and his high-command congregate outside agrand BANQUET HALL in the middle of the Quarter.

The DOORS to the hall are thrown open and Claiborne and thelegislature form a GREETING LINE for the men. First Jackson,

then Coffee and Villere. Livingston, Patterson and Daquin.

Finally, JEAN LAFITTE and his BARATARIANS are alone outside.

Claiborne GESTURES them to enter. Pierre turns to Lafitte -

PIERRE LAFITTE:

I was wrong, mon frere.

And as Lafitte leads his men through the welcoming doors --

INT. BANQUET HALL - NIGHT

After dinner. A JAZZ QUARTET plays. Jackson walks throughthe crowd, pouring shots of whiskey for his troops. ENLISTED

MEN, MILITIA, the FREE MEN OF COLOR, a group of BARATARIANS.

Even Lieutenant Adler gets into the act...

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