The Alamo Page #5

Of course, this was big news around those

parts, so I up and joined the volunteers.

I did a little scoutin', but mostly...

I just fetched in venison for the cookfire,

things of that nature.

Well, we caught up with those redskins

at Tallushatchee,

surrounded the village,

come in from all directions.

Wasn't much of a fight, really.

We just shot 'em down like dogs.

Finally...

what Injuns was left,

they crowded into this little cabin.

They wanted to surrender.

But this squaw, she loosed an arrow

and killed one of the fellers,

and then we shot her.

And then we set the cabin on fire.

We could hear 'em screamin'

for their gods in there.

We smelled 'em burnin'.

We'd had nary to eat

but parched corn since October.

And the next day,

when we dug through the ashes,

we found some potaters

from the cellar.

They'd been cooked by that grease

that run off them Indians.

And we ate till we nearly burst.

Since then...

you pass the taters,

I'll pass 'em right back.

He's been stabbed three times,

once through the lungs,

shot two or three times.

Cholera, malaria, every two years.

(wheezes)

He is already dead.

And this is the place he has been sent.

(whispers a prayer)

(man) We got riders!

(men cheer)

Pull back.

Riders on the way!

Colonel Travis.

Congressman Crockett.

I figure this is just about

every able-bodied man in Gonzales, sir.

Those soldados,

they think they got it all sewed up.

But you avoid the roads, there's this

little sliver you can just ease on through.

And Colonel Fannin is behind you?

He ain't here?

I talked to him three days ago in Goliad.

That son of a b*tch said he'd be here.

How many rode with you?

Brung ya 32 good men, sir.

And if it ain't the prettiest bunch

of Texians I ever seen.

Let's hear it for Gonzales, boys!

(cheering and whooping)

Has Houston arrived?

Excelencia...

Just a few men on horses.

(Santa Anna chuckles)

I leave a corridor wide open for him.

Come here. Come to us.

Bring your army!

It is your opportunity to be

a great American hero.

Still, he does not come.

What am I supposed to do?

Send a message:

We grant safe passage to any native

Mexican choosing to leave the Alamo.

They will take their freedom...

...and the men left behind...

...will be thinking about escaping...

...and will not fight like

men resigned to death.

(# "Degello"plays in the distance)

Come on!

Fight!

You're yellow!

(echoes)

We're waitin'!

(echoes)

You look better.

Thank you for tending to me.

And now I want you to leave.

Sam...

You, too.

You giving me my papers, Mr James?

No. You're my property till I die.

And when I get up off my back,

I'm gonna come fetch ya.

For now I want you both to go.

Santa Anna ain't gonna

make that offer twice.

No. She was my sister.

You loved her.

Her blood was yours.

Your blood is mine.

We're family.

The men need a word from you.

I...

I don't know what to tell them.

My time in Washington,

the fellas in Congress

made a good deal of sport of me.

I learned an awful lot from 'em.

Learned how to dress,

to a certain degree,

what fork to use in polite company,

things like that.

I was never afraid to stretch things a bit.

But I never learned to lie.

These people in here

been through an awful lot.

And I would allow that

they've earned the right to hear the truth.

I have here pieces of paper,

letters from politicians and generals,

but no indication of when,

or if, help will arrive.

Letters not worth the ink

committed to them.

I fear that...

no one is coming.

Texas has been a second chance for me.

I expect that might be true

for many of you as well.

It has been a chance

not only for land and riches,

but also to be a different man.

I hope a better one.

There have been many ideas

brought forth in the past few months

of what Texas is

and what it should become.

We are not all in agreement.

But I'd like to ask each of you

what it is you value so highly

that you are willing to fight

and possibly die for.

We will call that Texas.

The Mexican army hopes to

lure us into attempting escape.

Almost anything seems better

than remaining in this place, penned up.

Lf, however,

we force the enemy to attack,

I believe every one of you

will prove himself worth ten in return.

We will not only show the world

what patriots are made of,

but we will also deal a crippling blow

to the army of Santa Anna.

If anyone wishes to depart...

under the white flag of surrender,

you may do so now.

You have that right.

But if you wish to stay here,

with me, in the Alamo,

we will sell our lives dearly.

(retches)

Leave it.

The light. I want the light.

What troubles you, Buck?

I spoke to the men earlier about our

situation. You deserve to hear it as well.

I heard, through the door, every word.

My words.

How painful for you.

Good words.

Good words.

We could try to get you out with an escort.

If you're captured, perhaps, given

your condition, mercy would be extended.

I don't deserve mercy.

I do deserve a drink.

- You got anything stronger than water?

- I don't drink, Jim. You know that.

I gamble, go to whores,

run off on wives.

But drinkin'...

I draw the line.

You know, you live another five years,

you just might be a great man.

I think I will probably have to settle

for what I am now.

Buck...

Did it matter?

I'll see about fetchin' you a bottle.

(# "Degello"plays in the distance)

God, I despise that tune.

I just figured it out.

Figured out what?

What it's missin'.

(drums beating)

(plays harmonising accompaniment)

(silence)

(soldier) Take cover, boys!

Crockett.

It's amazing what a little harmony'll do.

Well, isn't that something?

(thunder)

Dearest Mary,

I hope someone with a kind voice

is reading this to you.

If you could see, you'd know

how beautiful this land - our home - is.

Kiss all six children for me,

and kiss them again.

(man) The scarcity of paper, together with

other difficulties I've had to labour under,

has prevented me from writing before this,

and, indeed, it is a matter of claim

whether this letter

will ever reach the United States.

(man #2)

Please remember me to my father

and tell him to think of nothing but of

coming to this fair country when it is free.

(man #3) I go the whole hog

in the cause of Texas.

I expect to help them

gain their independence

and to also form their civil government,

for it is worth risking many lives for.

From what I have seen

and learned from others,

there is not so fair a portion

of the earth's surface warmed by the sun.

(Ward) We know what awaits us,

and we are prepared to meet it.

(Travis) My respects to all friends,

confusion to all enemies.

God bless you.

Take care of my little boy.

General Cos...

You will lead the first charge.

Here...

...at the weak north wall.

Coronel Duque...

You will follow, from the northeast.

Romero...

From the east.

Morales...

South.

Our 12 pound cannon arrives tomorrow.

Why sacrifice our soldiers...

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