Battle of New Orleans Page #5

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Dominique You arrives. He hands the LEATHER FOLDER to

pragmatic lawyer and Lafitte ally EDWARD LIVINGSTON (50).

EXT. FRENCH QUARTER - DAY

Livingston rides on his horse into the FRENCH QUARTER. The

Quarter is alive with activity, a multicultural MELTING POT.

JEAN LAFITTE (V.O.)

As to any prior discrepancies, Iwould be more than willing tooverlook our differences in order

to save the city we both do love.

21.

INT. GOVERNOR’S OFFICE - DAY

Tempestuous and dramatic GOVERNOR WILLIAM CLAIBORNE (40)

finishes reading the letter to his inner-circle of ADVISORS.

GOVERNOR CLAIBORNE

“You may speak to Edward Livingstonas my representative on this matteras I stay in Barataria and awaityour orders. With humbleness, Jean

Lafitte.” That utter scoundrel!

EDWARD LIVINGSTON

Sir, as Monsieur Lafitte’s council,

I urge you to consider his offer --

GOVERNOR CLAIBORNE

From that man?! Never! I should

have you disbarred, Livingston, foreven speaking with him.

EDWARD LIVINGSTON

If the British do plan to attack,

Lafitte can provide intelligence.

His men know the swamps, they -

GOVERNOR CLAIBORNE

They are wanted by the UnitedStates government and it isimproper for the Governor of this

great state to even entercorrespondence with such a man!

Claiborne holds the DOCUMENTS Lafitte received from Lockyer.

GOVERNOR CLAIBORNE (CONT’D)

And these “British” letters -- at

best forgeries! Lafitte is tryingto weasel his way out from justice.

A sycophant LAWYER looks them over as well.

LAWYER:

A pirate’s trick, obviously. He

may be with the British already.

EDWARD LIVINGSTON

I assure you he is not. You and

Lafitte have had your battles -

GOVERNOR CLAIBORNE

He put a bounty on my head!

Commodore Patterson, this here is

your impetus. Clear the island.

22.

COMMODORE PATTERSON (32), the local NAVAL COMMANDER, nods inthe affirmative. Livingston can’t believe what he’s hearing.

EDWARD LIVINGSTON

Governor, you’re making a mistake.

Please reconsider --

GOVERNOR CLAIBORNE

If the British are indeed coming asyou say, we will not have a snakein our own house. I want Lafitte

delivered to me here now.

INT. LAFITTE’S HOUSE - BEDROOM - MORNING

Lafitte looks out on a cloudy morning. He hasn’t had much

sleep. A WOMAN comes up behind him -- this one a BRUNETTE.

BRUNETTE:

(in French; subtitled)

Come back to bed, my sweet.

But Lafitte’s distracted. Suddenly there’s a knock on the

door. Lafitte opens it revealing Pierre and Dominique.

DOMINIQUE YOU:

Someone est ici.

EXT. GRAND TERRE ISLAND - BEACH - MORNING

Lafitte looks through a SPYGLASS. There are ten large SHIPSOF WAR closing quickly on the horizon.

PIERRE LAFITTE:

Is it the Americans?

DOMINIQUE YOU:

Is it the British?

Lafitte can’t tell. The Baratarians stand loyally behindLafitte on the beach, awaiting orders. Finally --

JEAN LAFITTE:

We must leave this place. Everyonegrab what they can, quickly.

Dominique, you and your hundredbest will stay to defend the fort.

DOMINIQUE YOU:

What are your orders?

23.

JEAN LAFITTE:

If it’s a Union Jack, they have

heard of my letter to Claiborne.

Fire on them with all hell, fire

and brimstone and destroy anythingof value left behind on the island.

DOMINIQUE YOU:

And if it’s the Americans?

Lafitte has to make a decision -- it’s a big one.

JEAN LAFITTE:

Do not fire on any American ship.

PIERRE LAFITTE:

(incredulous)

They will take the island, Jean --

JEAN LAFITTE:

Do not fire. That is an order.

Surrender peacefully and I will seeto it you are released. Everyoneelse, to the swamps.

EXT. GRAND TERRE ISLAND - FORT - MORNING

Dominique and his hundred best have manned their HEAVYARTILLERY, ready to fire. The encroaching ships sail closer.

Dominique watches intently. Finally, he sees their FLAG.

DOMINIQUE YOU:

Aye. Stand down.

EXT. GRAND TERRE ISLAND - BEACH - MORNING

A WHITE FLAG has been planted in the sand. Dominique standswith his men as Patterson and his TROOPS storm the beach.

Patterson was ready for a fight. He approaches Dominique.

COMMODORE PATTERSON

A white flag of surrender. As

spineless a pirate I have known.

(to his troops)

This island is now property of theUnited States government. Raid the

fort of all artillery, guns andworthwhile personal property.

And as Patterson’s men move onto the island --

24.

DOMINIQUE YOU:

Why do you do this? We try to help

you. Why won’t you believe us?

COMMODORE PATTERSON

We will never trust a pirate.

EXT. ISLAND HILLTOP - MORNING

Across the BAY. Lafitte and Pierre look on as Patterson’s

men raid the fort and set FIRE to the surrounding buildings.

PIERRE LAFITTE:

They will never trust a pirate.

Lafitte has no response. He watches his paradise burn. And

as we hear the sound of incongruous HEAVY ARTILLERY FIRE -

EXT. SPANISH GARRISON - DAY

Jackson’s artillery BOMBARDS the SPANISH GARRISON in

Pensacola. The BRITISH and SPANISH FLAGS still fly overhead.

These are just the opening salvos but the Americans have beenmet with little resistance. Jackson commands with authorityriding behind the line, pressing his men with commands.

Jackson makes his way to John Coffee and the waiting CAVALRY.

JOHN COFFEE:

General, where are the British?

INT. SPANISH GARRISON - COURTYARD - DAY

SPANISH SOLDIERS run around like chickens with their heads

cut off. A few uniformed RED CREEK INDIANS do the same.

COMANDANTE GARCIA frantically approaches a SPANISH CAPTAIN asEXPLOSIONS rock the garrison. The captain has bad news...

COMANDANTE GARCIA

(in Spanish; subtitled)

Tell me! Where is he?!

SPANISH CAPTAIN:

Captain Nicholls. He has sailed.

EXT. SPANISH GARRISON - DUSK

Quiet now. The SPANISH FLAG flies alone over the garrison.

25.

Jackson, Coffee and a few others discuss terms with Garcia

and his high-command under another WHITE FLAG in a largefield outside the walls. Garcia is a blabbering fool.

COMANDANTE GARCIA

I was left no choice, General.

None! The British, they meant tomarch straight to New Orleans, butword of your arrival -

ANDREW JACKSON:

Where will they attack next?

COMANDANTE GARCIA

Nowhere! Their plans have changed!

ANDREW JACKSON:

You’re lying. They will move overland to encroach on the city -

COMANDANTE GARCIA

I promise you -- Nicholls and hismen sailed south. All of them.

(conspiratorially)

The armada, it is here, General.

Quicker than they thought possible.

With your advance, they will notrisk a march to New Orleans.

Jackson and Coffee share a look -- this was Jackson’s plan...

ANDREW JACKSON:

Very well. Captain Baines, takethe Comandante into custody -

COMANDANTE GARCIA

(grabs Jackson’s hand)

Please, General. We were tricked!

We were bamboozled! We never meant

to assist the British --

ANDREW JACKSON:

You housed them in your walls.

COMANDANTE GARCIA

They took us by force! Let us keepthe garrison. It is our duty!

Jackson studies the groveling Garcia a moment. And then -

ANDREW JACKSON:

I wouldn’t want to be impertinent.

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