Battle of New Orleans Page #4

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JEAN LAFITTE:

Surely you’re not here to arrest me-- not after a feast such as this.

NICHOLAS LOCKYER

You’re no friend to America.

Dominique You scoffs. He speaks rapidly with heavy accent.

DOMINIQUE YOU:

It ain’t worth the paper that prickClaiborne had it printed on. We

put our own bounty on him! $5000

anyone delivers le gouverneur ici!

NICHOLAS LOCKYER

Yes, quite diplomatic. And he sent

word to the President himself about

such worrisome “hellish banditi”.

You are outlaws and always shall be.

Lockyer enjoys being a prick. Dominique is riled further,

but Lafitte calms him with a raise of his hand.

JEAN LAFITTE:

Captain Lockyer, you say you havebusiness here --what is it?

16.

NICHOLAS LOCKYER

My colonel, Edward Nicholls, is the

first to arrive in the area of many

of Her Majesty’s men and ships. We

are to take New Orleans by land and

by sea, conquer the Mississippi and

push the inbred Americans into the

Atlantic. Now despite your

plundering of numerous British and

Spanish vessels and disenfranchised

status, I am here to offer peace.

A full pardon to each of your men,

citizenship, protection from all

enemies, and for you, Monsieur

Lafitte, enlistment as captain in

Her Majesty’s Royal Navy as well as

land in these here colonies.

JEAN LAFITTE:

What generosity. And in return?

NICHOLAS LOCKYER

You shall be the key to her front

door. You will provide knowledge

of these dreadful swamps and guide

Her Majesty’s forces to the city

supplying as many men and munitions

as necessary. And for that,

Monsieur, you will be invaluable.

There it is. If Lafitte is surprised by Lockyer’s offer, hedoesn’t show it. Pierre and Dominique, not so much.

There’s a long beat as Lafitte considers. And then -

JEAN LAFITTE:

Do you know, Captain, why earlier I

chose not to reveal you my true

identity?

NICHOLAS LOCKYER

I assume you preferred to negotiate

at your table rather than at sea.

JEAN LAFITTE:

(congenial)

Indeed. But it also allowed me to

have your throat slit on the beach

if I saw fit. I’m no fool,

Captain, and neither are you.

Invaluable holds little use to me.

Now it’s Lockyer who smiles -- he’s enjoying this game.

17.

NICHOLAS LOCKYER

In addition, the Crown is willingto pay a generous bounty of thirtythousand British pounds, halfbefore and half after taking thecity. That should be more than

ample for a man such as yourself.

And for the first time, Lafitte’s facade cracks -- if only alittle. He quickly regains his composure -

JEAN LAFITTE:

What kind of man is that?

NICHOLAS LOCKYER

A pirate, Monsieur Lafitte. One of

the most wanted men in the world.

Consequently if you do not acceptour offer, we will have no choice

but to end your existence on thisisland and hold you and your menaccountable in Her Majesty’s courtsfor all prior improprieties.

(beat)

Your table or mine, the deal is a

fair one. I suggest you take it.

EXT. LAFITTE’S HOUSE - BALCONY - DAY

Late afternoon. Lockyer and his officers smoke CIGARS on thebalcony overlooking Barataria Bay, waiting...

INT. LAFITTE’S HOUSE - DINING ROOM - DAY

As Lafitte discusses his options with Pierre and Dominique.

Dominique spits tobacco into a spittoon.

DOMINIQUE YOU:

Bastards, all of ‘em. I don’t

trust ‘em one bit.

PIERRE LAFITTE:

It’s not a matter of trust. Thirtythousand is too large a sum to -

DOMINIQUE YOU:

I ain’t saying turn it away. Take

half and sail, better that than

nothing. The rest is sh*t.

But Pierre is clearly in favor of taking the deal.

18.

PIERRE LAFITTE:

They will defeat the Americans withor without us. Then where will we

be with them hunting us down?

DOMINIQUE YOU:

The men will go where Jean tells‘em to go and if you don’t think wecan out-sail those cock-suckers -

PIERRE LAFITTE:

The Americans have shown us no

allegiance whatsoever. How longbefore they roost us from thisnest? We take the deal absolutely.

A moment of silence. Lafitte is deep in thought.

DOMINIQUE YOU:

What do you consider, mon frere?

JEAN LAFITTE:

There is a third option.

EXT. LAFITTE’S HOUSE - BALCONY - DAY

Lockyer notices the growing crowd of BARATARIANS surroundingthe house. Lafitte opens the door behind him.

NICHOLAS LOCKYER

(re:
the crowd)

Like moths to the flame.

JEAN LAFITTE:

They don’t trust you to be with me.

NICHOLAS LOCKYER

I offer sanctuary, Monsieur. You

will be British citizens. You will

finally have a place to call home.

JEAN LAFITTE:

Some of my men are American. Theywill not take kindly to treachery.

NICHOLAS LOCKYER

The money will help with that.

Lafitte studies Lockyer for a beat, then looks over the bay.

19.

JEAN LAFITTE:

You were wrong before, Captain. We

are not pirates. We are

privateers.

NICHOLAS LOCKYER

Is there a difference?

JEAN LAFITTE:

Yes. And it is everything.

(beat)

A fortnight. To convince them.

After that, my men and I will beentirely at your disposal.

Lockyer extends his hand. As Lafitte takes it in his own --

JEAN LAFITTE (V.O.)

Governor Claiborne -

EXT. GRAND TERRE ISLAND - BEACH - DUSK

The BARATARIANS watch as Lockyer and his officers return tothe HMS Sophie. Lafitte and his brothers stand to the side.

JEAN LAFITTE (V.O.)

As I am sure my correspondence willcome as a galloping shock, I beginby professing I am a stray sheepreturning to the fold.

And as Lockyer’s LONGBOAT disappears in the distance -

DOMINIQUE YOU:

So it begins.

INT. LAFITTE’S HOUSE - BEDROOM - NIGHT

By candlelight. Lafitte finishes writing a letter. He putsthe letter in a LEATHER FOLDER with several other DOCUMENTS.

JEAN LAFITTE (V.O.)

I have recently been approached byone Captain Nicholas Lockyer of HerMajesty’s Royal Navy and was

informed of an immediate plan forthe British to attack New Orleans --

Behind him a sumptuous RED-HEAD enters. She’s ready for bed.

20.

EXT. SWAMP - DAY

Dominique You and a few of his LIEUTENANTS trek through themarsh and bog. Dominique carries Lafitte’s LEATHER FOLDER.

JEAN LAFITTE (V.O.)

-- the details of which are

enclosed within. Fortunately Ihave managed to gain a fortnightfor us to consider them.

The men move with confidence. They come to a fork in thewater and take a seemingly harder path over an easier one.

EXT. SWAMP - THE TEMPLE - DAY

The half-way point between Grand Terre and New Orleans. This

raised piece of land has been turned into a makeshift BAZAAR.

Several BARATARIANS have set up shop selling smuggled goodsto members of NEW ORLEANS HIGH SOCIETY. BARATARIAN WOMEN

snuggle up to LAWYERS and DOCTORS as their HOUSEWIVES watchburly PIRATES move purchased wares. It feels like a party.

While the United States government may not shine to theBaratarians, it’s clear the people are far more accepting.

JEAN LAFITTE (V.O.)

I have been offered a healthy bribeto assist in this attack, but I

assure you that my men and I pledgeallegiance only to our home, theseUnited States of America.

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