The Alamo Page #3

...these disgraces want the whole world.

You know, I don't know why

we had to tent up outside of town

when there are so many fine houses

with big corn-husk beds just sittin' empty.

Why are they empty?

Apparently some of the folks hereabouts

seem to think the Mexicans is comin' back.

Most of the boys think they wouldn't be

here till late spring if they come at all.

- Figure they know something we don't?

- Mijito, cierre la puerta y ven para aca.

(bell clanging)

(woman) Tell me what is going on!

(Bowie wheezes)

We'll never be able to defend the town.

(Travis) Orderly withdrawal

into the Alamo.

- Greys fall in!

- Close up!

Shoulder arms! Forward! Forward!

Orderly withdrawal!

Please proceed to the Alamo in an orderly

manner. Don't run. You're fine.

- (woman) Almeron!

- (man) One, two, one, two.

Almeron!

(man) Susanna!

(Bowie coughs)

There is a shotgun hidden in the closet.

(man) Let's go, men!

Come on! Follow me!

(shouting)

Come on!

(knocks)

Colonel? I'm sorry to disturb you,

but we got quite a mare's nest out here.

I have to get couriers out

while there's still time.

You and your men

will defend the palisade.

The palisade? You talkin' about

that little old bunch of sticks over there?

You prefer a different assignment?

No, that's the one

I was gonna put in for.

If you could oversee manning the walls,

it would be a help.

We should have six men to a cannon,

18 tubes,

- which works out to...

- 108 men.

And we should have a man with a musket

every four feet of wall.

We're gonna need more men.

(military drumbeats)

(men shouting orders in Spanish)

! Viva Santa Anna!! Viva Mexico!

(man shouting orders in Spanish)

Your lodging is ready.

Are the advance troops encamped?

The batteries in place?

Yes, but it may not be necessary.

The Texians desire a truce.

Manuel...

How many times are we going to trade

this old church...

...back and forth?

To Gonzales, and

to Colonel Fannin at Goliad. Godspeed.

Sir.

Colonel, you should see this.

(men shouting in Spanish in the distance)

(man shouting orders in Spanish

in the distance)

We're gonna need a lot more men.

From his Excellency

Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna.

What is Colonel Bowie doing

on the bridge?

Tryin' to talk us out of the spot we're in.

Fire the 18-pounder.

- Sir?

- You heard me.

Fire the cannon.

Prime the gun.

(mouthing)

I am sorry, James.

Fire!

(shouting in Spanish)

Lo siento, Manuel.

I had nothing to do with this.

Raise the flag!

You out of your mind?

- I'm trying to get us a truce!

- A truce?

If we broker a cessation, we will do so

from a position of strength, not weakness.

- Goddamn!

- We don't turn belly up and beg.

Otherwise, we have said nothing,

and this conflict means nothing.

Dyin'for nothin' means sh*t to me.

- Their response?

- Sh*t! (wheezes)

(man) David.

Surrender at discretion... Buck.

Perhaps, Colonel,

they'll only execute the officers.

I think we all just got promoted.

Looky here.

(speaking Spanish)

"Death to the Traitors"

Within a few days

all of Texas will know our situation.

Tell me, Buck,

in Alabama,

precisely how many is "a few"?

Is your brother with them?

He may be the one raising the flag.

Careful!

This is the General's crystal!

For each piece broken, a broken bone.

(laughter)

(speaking Spanish)

Is Houston with them?

No, Excelencia.

He will come...

...if only to salvage his reputation.

And what of Jim Bowie, the knife fighter?

Inside the mission.

Ah.

And someone of greater renown...

...the congressman Davy Crockett.

Crockett?

The great bear killer?!

Si, Alteza.

! Excelente!

(# bagpipes)

(soldier shouting orders in Spanish)

You know, personally, David,

I'd just as soon take my chances

fightin' out in the open.

Hell, I don't like being hemmed in

any more than you do, but here we sit.

(Bowie) Avoid cluster at all times.

Keep your eyes set for crossfire.

Pack plenty of grease wrap balls,

put 'em in your blocks.

You may be a-firin' fast, but not yet.

Load all your muskets and stack 'em,

but don't powder 'em.

Ten minutes in this, they'll be

nothin' but sticks, understand? Oh...

And no more of this, by anybody.

Go to it, boys.

- (coughing)

- Here we go, sir.

Come on, let me help you.

That's right.

- (Bowie coughs and wheezes)

- Take it in.

(Bowie coughs)

It burns.

- But, sir...

- That's it.

I smell like a skunk's ass.

Jim, what ails you, exactly?

Consumption.

Typhoid. Pneumonia.

One or all.

Exactly.

She's a dandy, all right.

That knife fight you got into,

sand bar over in Natchez...

It was the one that got you written up.

That all true?

You believe everything you read now?

I didn't read it, I heard it.

And the way I heard it,

he put a sword cane and two shots in you.

I don't remember.

Figure ol' Sam will be

down here pretty soon.

When he gets here,

we'll have a good ol' time.

(coughs)

It was three shots.

Sword came through my lung

and went through my hand,

and then I cut his heart out.

Those ain't bears out there.

Do you understand that... Davy?

Why in the hell do you suppose

they don't just attack us?

I seen vaqueros spend all day long

just killin' one bull.

(military drumbeats)

(# cavalry march)

You bring a band, you're countin' on

havin' something to celebrate.

Mighty nice of 'em to serenade us like this.

It's a cavalry march, but I'm told

Santa Anna fancies it for other uses.

He borrowed it from the Spaniards,

the Spaniards from the Moors.

- It's called "Degello."

- Kinda pretty.

Degello means "slit throat."

Now, ain't that pretty.

(man shouts)

(man) Get down! Get down!

! Fuego!

(men shouting)

! Fuego!! Fuego!

(man) Fire!

(man) Watch the north wall!

! Fuego!! Fuego!

(man) Keep your heads down, boys!

! Fuego!

(man shouting orders in Spanish)

(sobbing)

! Fuego!

! Fuego!

! Fuego!

(wailing)

(Crockett coughs)

Mornin'.

Mornin'.

Yes, sir.

Lieutenant, check the main gate for me.

I need a head count for Jim Bowie.

Yes, sir.

(Bowie coughing, gagging)

(spits)

Notice how you can't really hear it

until it stops?

Until they decide to attack, I suspect

we'll be bombarded on a nightly basis.

Deprive us of sleep.

They want you to

start seeing ghosts everywhere.

Colonel, I became a little heated with you

in front of your men.

It was ill-advised

and not terribly professional.

Don't worry about it.

Most of my men didn't even understand

the words you were usin'.

It's important that you and I agree.

For me, though we are poorly supplied,

surrender is not an option.

I submit that we engage and delay

until reinforcements arrive.

(Bowie chuckles)

Sometimes, it's just the way

you say things, Travis, that's all.

I swear to God.

(man) Bring it down! Down! Down! Down!

(man #2) Down!

Down! Down!

To the left. To the left.

In.

Do you notice anything different

about them cannon?

(soldier shouts in Spanish)

They moved 'em closer last night.

This will be the spot.

As our well is dryin',

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