Breaker Morant Page #4

I hae monie days been

Did you get a reply from the consul?

No. Either the English

aren't sending the telegrams

or the Australians are ignoring them.

How's your eyesight, Sergeant?

Very weak, sir.

Thank you.

You're the best witness

the prosecution's got, Harry.

Better watch your temper.

Yes, I'm sorry.

It's my great failing. lmpetuosity.

Most un-British.

You better watch yourself, too.

This is a British court-martial,

not a backbox pub.

We've got a few witnesses of our own

tomorrow, anyway.

Not many.

Just about anyone with a good word for us

has been sent to India.

Go on, read it to us, Harry.

Peter, come on.

You know you loathe poetry.

There's not much else to bloody do here.

Come on, read it.

"Oh, those rides across the river

"Where the shallow stream runs wide

"And the sunset's beams were glossing

strips of sand on either side

"We would cross the sparkling river

on the brown horse and the bay

"Watch the willows sway and shiver

and the trembling shadows play

"'Tis a memory to be hoarded

"Of a foolish tale and fond

"Till another stream be forded

"And we reach the great beyond"

I don't want to die.

Every life ends

in a dreadful execution, George.

Yours will be much quicker

and less painful than most.

And a lot earlier than most.

I swear by almighty God...

Just a Charlie who used

to be with the Carbineers.

Boers aren't fond of turncoats.

Captain Taylor,

you were with the Bushveldt Carbineers,

but not actually a member of the corps?

That's correct.

I joined the Carbineers

as intelligence officer

at the request of Lord Kitchener.

I had lived in South Africa

before the war and spoke some of

the native languages as well as Dutch.

And were you senior to Lieutenant Morant?

I was senior, yes,

but the day-to-day running of the corps

was left to Lieutenant Morant.

Although he sometimes

referred matters to me.

And what is your opinion

of Lieutenant Morant?

A good fellow.

One could not help liking him.

He was a little hotheaded.

Inclined, perhaps, to do things

on the impulse of the moment.

The men obeyed him. He's a good soldier.

Did you know Captain Hunt well?

Hunt? Yes, I did.

Did you know of any orders

to shoot Boer prisoners?

There was an understanding.

Kitchener is quite right, you know.

Lord Roberts is far too correct

for this kind of a war.

All the internments, deportations

should be over in a matter of months.

-You'll be going home?

-Me?

I don't think so.

There should be a few opportunities here.

Nothing will keep me in South Africa.

Good day. How did you do?

-Pretty good, by the look of it.

-No stopping me now, Peter.

Go well, Harry?

Not bad. One dead, one wounded.

Mind you, I got 13 of them.

Crept up on them while they were asleep.

This lot surrendered.

God, Harry,

we've got no facilities for prisoners,

can't even feed them.

Execute those men.

You too, Greg.

Simon, I thought the proclamation

only applied to Boers

caught wearing British khaki.

New orders from Kitchener.

Colonel Hamilton's confirmed it

to me himself. No prisoners.

The gentlemen's war is over.

Here, break your teeth on this.

Had Mr. Morant executed

any more prisoners

prior to the death of Captain Hunt?

-No, he had not.

-He had, then, disobeyed orders?

Strictly speaking, yes.

And he is now on trial

for later obeying those same orders?

I object, sir.

The Manual of Military Lawstates,

"Persons captured under arms

against British forces in the field

"shall be placed within the jurisdiction

of the nearest provo-marshal

-"or garrison commander."

-They were not the orders

-under which we operated.

-Indeed.

You saw a copy

of Lord Kitchener's new orders?

-No.

-Sanctioning executions?

No. But they were common knowledge.

I told you they were verbal orders

from Pretoria.

-And no one can substantiate them.

-Captain Hunt relayed them.

-Captain Hunt is dead.

-Order.

This evidence is completely irrelevant.

Irrelevant?

Irrelevant when l have established

that it was common practice

among the Bushveldt Carbineers

to shoot prisoners?

Why would an officer of Captain Hunt's

spotless reputation invent an order, sir?

We all admire your zeal in defending

your fellow Australians, Major Thomas,

but intemperate speech and

wild accusations do not further your cause.

Captain Taylor,

did you know of any other incident

similar to the Visser case?

I once saw a Boer dealt with

in the same manner

for wearing British khaki.

-Shot?

-He was shot, yes.

-You are still introducing irrelevant material.

-Sir.

I wish to establish,

and I have made the point before

in connection with Mr. Robertson,

that a precedent in this war

has been well and truly set.

Sir, I would like to point out

to my learned colonial colleague

that the fact of the crime

being previously committed

in no way pardons the behavior

of Lieutenant Morant and his friends.

I have no more questions.

You are, are you not,

the same Captain Taylor

who's yet to be court-marshalled

for the murder of six Boer prisoners?

I am.

Would it not be in your best interest

to suggest that orders were given

that Boer prisoners be shot?

Are you saying I'm lying, Major?

-Just answer my questions, Captain.

-You answer mine.

You are answering questions,

Captain Taylor.

Major Bolton is asking them.

I suppose it could appear that way.

Thank you.

That will be all, Captain Taylor.

Lights out!

Three cheers for

His Majesty King Edward VII!

Long may he reign!

-Hip-hip!

-ALL:
Hurrah!

I think it's wonderful,

George going to South Africa.

Join the Army and see the world.

He's so young...

George!

The rest of us are too old,

eh, George?

George Witton.

Honor, glory, and a safe return.

George Witton.

Honor, glory, and a safe return.

I'm not much of a letter writer, you know.

If you ever heard from me,

it would probably be bad news.

When I have lived

long years in vain

And found life's garlands rue

Maybe that I'll come back

dear girl

At last

At last to you

Maybe that I'll come back

dear girl

At last

At last to you

-What did you say?

-Nothing.

I can't understand you...

One week from tonight?

Our blokes have come to rescue us.

Don't be bloody silly.

It's a Boer attack.

I'm not sure I like you blokes

enough to help you.

That broke the monotony, didn't it?

Irrelevant.

The defendants were called upon

to do their duty, no more.

Sir, the Duke of Wellington stated,

"The performance of a duty

of honor and trust

"after knowledge of military offense

ought to convey a pardon."

What on earth does his statement

have to do with military law?

I will tolerate no further mention

of this morning's events in this court.

But, sir, the Duke of Wellington

influenced nearly all our military law.

-Why bother, Major?

-Order.

We'll proceed with the second charge,

concerning the six Boer prisoners

killed at Fort Edward on August 23, 1901.

Anyway, it was dark. Pitch dark.

Not even a moon. Couldn't see a thing.

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