The Alamo Page #2

is worth an age without a name."

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS

(woman) Jim Bowie's here!

- (man) Know which one he is?

- Right there.

Welcome to San Antonio, Bowie!

- Welcome home, Jim.

- (woman) Welcome home, Mr Bowie.

Welcome home, Jim.

(faint voices and music)

(# Spanish music)

(music and voices fade)

(man) You all right, Mr James?

I have a home.

Sir?

(man) We know you guys

from somewhere?

(man laughs)

(man #2) Whoo, that one's

pretty dandy, that one.

Halt!

- Have the quartermaster secure billeting.

- Yes, sir.

- Where you going, sir?

- I'd like to see what I'm fightin' for.

Dismount!

It was founded as a mission 100 years ago.

The Bexarenos called it the Alamo,

after Alamo de Parras,

a Spanish cavalry unit

that moved in 30 years ago.

As you can see, it is not designed

with military intentions.

She's well armed.

Most cannon of any fort

west of the Mississippi.

I placed our largest, the 18-pounder, on

the southwest corner, so it fronts the town.

The north wall is in ruins, so I have

two batteries with five cannon to defend it.

What was the original convento

is now barracks and a makeshift infirmary.

Major Jameson, our engineer,

is emplacing a palisade

between the main gate and the church.

- What was here before?

- Nothing. An indefensible flank.

It still appears indefensible.

Good riflemen and a 12-pounder

should hold it.

The church itself wasn't built till 1756.

It has no roof.

Was it destroyed in battle?

The Catholics never quite finished it.

Saints Dominic and Francis.

Francis had two gifts:

Prophecy,

and the ability to inspire

passionate devotion.

This fort is the only thing

that stands between Santa Anna's army

and our settlements.

As goes the Alamo...

so goes Texas.

If the need arises, I recommend you take

my personal quarters on the west wall.

They're isolated,

yet near the primary defences.

I'm afraid I don't understand, sir.

I have personal matters

to attend to in Mina.

I'm leaving you in command.

I know you fought this posting, Travis.

Forting up is not exactly

a cavalryman's dream.

I'll defend it with my life, sir.

Your biggest task will be keeping

the volunteers and the regulars

from killin' one another out of boredom.

The Mexican army would have to cover

300 miles in the dead of winter

to get here before I return.

(man shouts in Spanish)

(men laughing)

I got one guy around my neck,

I got another guy takin' off half my ear

- with his one good tooth.

- (laughter)

The two that I knocked out are now

wakin' up, realisin' who knocked 'em out.

But I'm fine. I'm fine.

'Cause I know I got my trusty, loyal Ward

right next to me.

So I turn over my shoulder,

and who do I find?

Tortilla lady

and her 13-year-old hound dog.

(laughter)

Where were ya?

I hate to tell you this, Jim,

but you were in the wrong.

Exactly. That's when I need you the most.

(laughter)

(Bowie coughs)

Oh, God. I love this place.

I love it, too.

Colonel?

You look terrible,

almost yellow right around

the cheeks and forehead.

You a doctor now,

along with everything else?

I've heard rumour that you plan to destroy

the mission and remove the cannon.

- Where'd you hear that?

- Men tend to prattle on when they drink.

Your men tend to drink.

It would be a great mistake.

I agree.

And any further discussion on this

will be between myself and Colonel Neill.

Colonel Neill left Bexar this morning

on personal business.

It's my command now.

(chuckling)

Well, my, my, my.

That is a swift rise, Billy.

Might as well break out

those long britches.

Your men exhibit no discipline.

If matters don't change, it will become

my duty, as colonel of this post...

Lieutenant colonel.

Restrain your men... or I will.

(chuckling)

James...

...sentries report hearing horses

just outside of town.

(branch snaps)

Don't move!

? Habla ingles, muchachos?

(man) We got 'em, David.

It appears to me

that we're all on the same side here.

What you doin' out here?

My name is David Crockett.

Crockett of Tennessee?

Davy Crockett?

He prefers "David."

Now, there was this little detail

of a re-election back home.

(crowd) Aww!

It's all right. It's all right.

- 'Cause you know what I told them folks?

- (man) What'd you tell 'em?

- I said, "You all can go to hell."

- (laughter)

- "I'm goin' to Texas!"

- (crowd) Yeah!

- Welcome to Texas, Davy.

- Thank you, sir.

- Put your mark on it, Mr Crockett?

- (man) Look out. Let me through here.

(Crockett) Absolutely.

"I'm half alligator, half snappin' turtle."

"I can slide off a rainbow and

jump the Mississippi in a single leap."

Tell 'em, Davy,

how you can whup your weight in wildcats.

I seen you onstage.

Well, that wasn't me.

Why... Why, sure it was.

No, sir, that was just an actor in a play.

He was performin' a character.

Aw, come on, Davy.

Say the lines.

Davy Crockett, the Lion of the West.

I dare San-tanna to show his face

now you're here.

Well, I understood the fightin' was over.

Ain't it?

(shouting in Spanish)

General, we've captured another

group of rebels.

(distant cries)

(soldier shouting commands

in Spanish)

(shouts in Spanish)

! Alto!

Shall we have them draw lots,

Your Excellency?

What for?

To determine which ones to execute.

Execute them all.

General, it is tradition.

If we follow tradition...

...the people here will remember

that Fate took their loved ones.

- (soldier shouts)

- (women scream)

! Fuego!

(women screaming)

Instead...

...they will remember that it was

Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna.

(soldier shouts order in Spanish)

(# "Mockingbird Quick Step")

(imitating mockingbird call)

(whispering)

(cheers and applause)

Well done.

You don't have the sand to even talk

to two of my men, much less arrest them.

I told you I intended

to restore order.

You've got no command

over my volunteers. None.

I have absolute command.

Break 'em out, boys.

Yeah.

'Cause it's gonna be a cold day in hell

anybody takes orders from a debtor

who leaves his pregnant wife

in the middle of the night.

How about a land swindler

who marries a girl, God rest her soul,

for her father's money?

Whoa, whoa, fellers!

Hey, hey, hey, fellers, now, listen.

Just 'cause we ain't got nobody to fight

don't mean we need to fight one another.

Congressman Crockett has a point.

We should do this democratically.

A vote.

- What about Colonel Crockett leadin' us?

- No, I'm with you fellers, not above you.

All for the lieutenant colonel,

raise your hand.

Now, come on, men. No repercussions.

All in favour of me commanding.

And all for me?

(softly) All right.

You can command the militia only.

Regulars can't be led by a volunteer.

It's illegal.

You don't like the outcome,

you change the rule?

Is that it, Buck?

Aw, don't fret about it, Jim.

We all know who's in charge.

Why are you fighting for these low-lifes?

Because, the enemy of my enemy

is my friend.

But Santa Anna only wants

to rule Mexico...

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