The Alamo

The Alamo was established

as a Spanish mission in 1718.

For more than a century armed conflict

deprived it of its sacred purpose.

The church became

a makeshift fortification

against marauding Indians, rebels,

and a succession of conquering armies.

Location, proximity to settlements,

and perhaps even fate

made the Alamo a crossroads

for siege and battle.

(speaking Spanish)

Gregorio. Gregorio!

(thunder)

They're all dead!

Oh, God, they're all dead!

Massacred!

The Alamo has fallen!

They're dead, all of them!

They're all dead at the Alamo!

(man) Did you hear what he said?

(men shouting)

The Alamo!

(sobs)

(softly) Take the oath for militia duty,

and you will receive 640 acres...

ONE YEAR EARLIER

640 acres of your own...

WASHINGTON DC, 1835

of your own choosing.

640 acres of your own choosing.

That's better.

(# "String Quartet No.5" by Haydn)

Smooth.

If it doesn't burn going down,

how can you be sure it's bad for you?

I'll be interested to see you gentlemen

when you arrive in Texas

and have your first taste of mescal.

Is it true that men and women

imbathe together out in the open?

Cleanliness is next to godliness.

Yes, well... excuse us.

Invest now, gentlemen,

or lament later.

I'm a screamer.

I got the roughest racehorse,

the prettiest sister,

the surest rifle and the ugliest dog

in the district.

My old man could lick

anybody in Tennessee,

and I could lick my old man.

I can outgrin a panther

and ride on a lightnin' bolt,

tote a steamboat on my back

and whip my weight in wildcats.

Whip my weight in wildcats.

Whip my weight in wildcats. Whip...

- What is it?

- He's here.

- Who's here?

- He is here!

(man) Five minutes!

I'll tell you, these old bones

could sure use a respite.

'Course, the good citizens of Tennessee

may grant me that wish come next election.

- No!

- (laughter)

- Excuse me one moment.

- Yes. Yes, of course.

Sam Houston.

Makin' friends wherever you go.

- To Tennessee.

- Oh, to hell with Tennessee.

To Texas.

(man) It's sad, isn't it?

A year ago, we'd be looking at two men

with their caps set for the White House.

Now...

What you peddlin', Sam?

Somethin' a certain Congressman

might need before long.

Are you sellin' rockin' chairs?

I'm sellin' Texas.

And what would I want with Norte Mexico?

David, you remember

what Tennessee was?

You come to Texas.

Timber, water, game, cattle,

more land than you can possibly imagine.

You take the oath for militia duty, you will

receive 640 acres of your own choosing.

- My own choosing?

- Mm-hmm.

Sam! You figure this new republic's

gonna need a president?

(music ends)

(man clears throat)

Before we begin tonight's performance,

I should like to acknowledge

the presence of the man

whose life inspired our humble play.

Good evening, Mr Crockett.

Good evening, Mr Crockett.

(laughter, applause)

SAN FELIPE, TEXAS

(Scotsman)

You want to call me an opportunist?

Hell, yes, call me an opportunist.

But taking the Alamo

changed everything.

- We're in control now.

- (men) Yes!

We swore allegiance to Mexico

under the Federalist Constitution of 1824.

Santa Anna tore that document up

personally, did he not?

Named himself supreme dictator?

Well, I, for one, ain't swearin' allegiance

to no son-of-a-b*tch dictator.

(several) Yeah!

(man) Neither am I.

(Mexican accent)

Time to go, General.

They are talking crazy.

Drunk back sober.

It's a miracle of the first order.

Seguin, why'd they put me in charge

of the army if they won't listen to me?

We need to muster and train troops here,

not send soldiers all over Texas.

Idiots. They think Santa Anna's just gonna

hand over part of Mexico without a fight?

(men shouting)

They are gonna want you humble,

General.

I humble myself before God,

and there the list ends.

To march an expedition

between here and Matamoros

- is lunacy!

- (men shouting)

You do not split an army

into vagabond militias

that march off on the slightest pretext

like bloodthirsty rabble.

Do you really believe this war is over?

You opposed Bexar, but victory was ours!

(men) Yeah!

And now you oppose Matamoros,

where victory will be as sweet.

No.

Perhaps, sir, you simply

oppose fighting.

Fighters shall lead the new country

of Texas, sir.

The council will now consider

the removal of General Houston

from command of the regular army.

- All in favour, show of hands.

- (majority) Aye!

The late, great Sam Houston,

former governor of Tennessee

and now former general

of the Texian army.

- Scottish catamite.

- What did you say?

I called you a Scottish catamite, Grant.

One step down from associate pederast.

- All right.

- (man) Remain clothed!

Come for me! Come! Come!

Any excuse to start removin' your clothes,

is that right, Houston?

This is not your concern, Mr Bowie.

Indeed. This is between me

and the Scottish catamite.

Wanna borrow mine, Grant?

'Cause I'll surely give it to ya.

Buy you a drink?

I didn't know you drank.

You marked the coat as single-breasted,

with a four-inch stand collar?

- (man) As you desired, Mr Travis.

- Lieutenant Colonel.

And the epaulets are gold bullion?

Should be quite a sight.

Where would you like the uniform sent?

San Antonio de Bexar.

I'll be there defending the Alamo.

Defend against what? The Mexican army

left there with their tail between their legs.

Mr William... she here.

In your office, waitin'.

Your wife.

Mr Bowie!

- Colonel.

- Buck.

Drunken Hottentot.

Two-bit dandy.

(Travis) Well, the choices are

abandonment, adultery,

or cruel and barbarous treatment.

I think abandonment's most accurate.

Any of the choices would be appropriate.

You sure you want to do this?

Well, we-we signed the papers.

I meant Charlie.

I don't intend this harshly, but

he should have a male example in his life.

I've already made arrangements for him

to stay with a fine family while I'm away.

Well, we have a long way to travel.

Your father's becoming a rich man,

and he'll be able to see to your education.

You're makin' a jackass

outta yourself, Sam.

Vindictive sons of b*tches.

Texas... wasted on the Texians.

They'll come back.

The Mexicans.

A well-trained army,

against all this handful of amateurs.

Only chance we have

is to fight 'em out in the open.

Forts, they're useless,

useless to us.

What is it about

that damn place, anyway?

What place?

The Alamo.

Every time a sour wind blows through,

everybody runs there and hides inside.

Ain't nothin' but mud.

A caved-in church.

And cannon.

Cannon.

Protects my home, Sam.

You don't have no home,

any more than I have.

(Houston sighs)

It's a damn shame about your wife, Jim.

Am I still your general?

You know you are.

I want you to return to the Alamo,

fetch the cannon back.

Will you do that for me?

Will you promise that you'll do that for me?

Yeah.

Now, you mind Mr and Mrs Ayers.

Don't go causing any fuss.

When I return,

we'll get a home of our own.

I promise.

"One crowded hour of glorious life

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