The Alamo

# "Green Leaves Of Summer"

- General Houston's arrived, gentlemen.

- Refreshments?

Thank you, Doc.

71 cold, windy, rump-bumping miles...

since yesterday!

You wouldn't have it

any other way, Lightfoot.

Company, stand to!

Attention!

As you are.

- Don Esparza!

- Mi general!

General Houston, may I

order the men to bivouac?

- The forced marches took it out of them.

- Foot soldiers may.

Feed the others, care for their horses...

...and tell them there'll be

another march within the hour.

Yes, sir! Sergeant!

- Doctor.

- Sam.

- Dickinson.

- General, sir.

General, it ain't none of my business,

but you ain't ate since yesterday.

I'll sit it on the table here.

Where's Jim Bowie?

When certain people ain't ate,

they're meaner than a bobcat!

Mr Dickinson...

I asked you a question.

Where's Jim Bowie?

He's indisposed, sir.

By God, if you mean drunk,

you say drunk, sir!

He's drunk, sir.

- What's your name?

- James Butler Bonham.

In Travis's command, sir.

Hm.

Neill, you go north with me.

Colonel Travis will be in command here.

- Major, sir.

- Colonel Travis.

- I'll send the commission through.

- Thank you, General.

- Let me assure you I'll do...

- We'll dispense with the amenities. Now...

I've been given command

of the armies of Texas.

But the fly in the buttermilk is

there ain't no armies in Texas!

A few good friends and some willing men.

I'm gonna have to knock

some of those men into an army...

...and to do that I need time.

You people right here on the real ground

are gonna have to buy me that time.

You have to keep Santa Anna

off the back of my neck...

- ... until I can get in shape to fight him.

- So you're ordering me to...

Dammit! I am ordering you to command!

How and what you do is your problem!

But, Sam, what about Jim Bowie?

Jim Bowie, as Mr Bonham

has informed us, is indisposed.

Yes, sir. But I'd like to point out...

...that Jim Bowie is leading

a hundred volunteers...

...whereas young Travis here

commands less than 30 regulars.

General Houston, I think

we oughta discuss this...

Clear the room! Gentlemen, I would have

a word with Mr Travis if you'll excuse us.

Con permiso.

Mr Travis, were you going to

complain to me about Jim Bowie?

Not complain, sir.

Of course Jim Bowie's drunk.

He took this town from General Cos.

He fought a battle.

And now he's drunk.

Seems kinda natural to me.

Or perhaps you question something

other than Bowie's drinking.

Are you gonna tell me that he's got

a lot of acreage around here?

That he's married into

the Mexican aristocracy?

Yes, sir.

I would trust Jim Bowie with my life.

More than that, I would trust him

with the lives of my family.

And more than that, I would trust him

with the life of Texas.

- Sir.

- That's all, Travis.

Travis!

I've never been able to like you.

But you are another one of the very few

men I would trust with the life of Texas.

For that, thank you, sir.

And it may very well be...

...that that life rests in your hands now.

Jethro! Is that you?

Yes, sir, General. This is me.

How are you still alive?

You had white hair when I was a boy

and now we look the same age.

Yes, sir.

But I've been a temperate and

God-fearing man all my life, sir.

Well, I guess my past is out!

Jethro, you tell your Mr Jim

I'm sorry to hear about his illness.

I wish him a speedy recovery.

And assure him of my undying affection.

Yes, sir.

And, General Sam, sir, he love you too.

And them words of yours

gonna put him right back on his feet.

- He got a colic, you know.

- I heard.

In the stomach.

Stay temperate, old man!

Neill!

Column right! Forward!

Yo-ho!

Take care, men!

You all right, Mr Jim?

Yeah.

Sit down, Jeth.

Ohh!

- Can I get you something, sir?

- No, no.

You just sit there.

Houston's gone?

Yes, sir.

Come and gone and me lying drunk.

Colonel Travis! Bowie's approaching!

Halt!

Carry on, sentry!

Recall work parties!

Prepare for flag ceremony!

Detail! Forward... march!

Present... arms!

Order... arms!

We stand here ready to do our duty...

...and cognisant of the will of God.

Captain Dickinson!

Dismiss the ceremony!

And, Captain, inform the men that

work details will be dismissed at 4.30...

...in order that family men may gather

their dependants within these walls.

Yes, sir!

- Lieutenant Blake!

- Yes, sir!

You will see to the quartering

of Bowie's volunteers.

Yes, sir!

You men will follow me!

Jeth, Blake'll show you

to our quarters. Set 'em up.

Yes, sir.

Colonel Bowie.

Santa Anna's got an army of 7,000 men.

So?

Well, you ain't gonna try to defend

this broken-down church...

...against 7,000 battle-hard troops?

Colonel Bowie.

You were drunk at the last officers' call.

And I would rather postpone

our discussion until the next.

At which time I will explain my plans...

...and give orders for

the implementing of those plans.

Hey, Jim!

Why do we have to work like this?

I volunteered to fight, not to build no fort.

How come we have to work like this?

Because old Sam told Travis,

Travis told me...

...and I'm telling you!

Somebody's comin' hellbent for leather,

sinking spurs at every jump!

Halt!

Corporal of the guard!

Post No. 1!

No civilians may enter the fort,

Seor Seguin. I'm sorry.

Juan! Silverio!

Let 'em through, Dick!

Captain Dickinson!

Yes, sir.

- Come to my office, please, Captain.

- Yes, sir.

Tengo noticias de Santa Anna.

Good afternoon, Colonel Travis.

We have news of Santa Anna.

- My son and I have...

- Good day, Seor Seguin.

Seor, even though you're

the alcalde of San Antonio de Bexar...

...it does not exempt you

from military prohibitions.

This establishment is

closed to all civilians!

I'm very sorry, Colonel Travis.

Had I known your restrictions

applied to me and my family, sir...

Now, wait a minute, Travis!

The Seguins have news of Santa Anna.

- We have a dozen rumours a day.

- You can't just...

Por favor, Juan, tell him.

Colonel, the Indians of San Blas...

...sent couriers to the vaqueros of

my properties along the Sangre de Cristo.

They say many soldiers crossed

the Baja Diablo two days ago.

That puts 'em a lot closer

than you thought.

The Indians guessed the number

of troops at over 5,000.

There are also large numbers of

mounted soldiers and supply trains.

Also, lower down on the Baja Diablo

another party of Indians saw signs...

- ... of shod horses crossing a ford.

- I'm sorry, Seor Seguin.

As a civilian, you cannot realise

how worthless this information is.

"Some Indian told some vaqueros... "

Anyway, thank you, sir. Good day.

You know the Seguins

are absolutely reliable!

- If you'll excuse me.

- I meant no personal offence, seor.

But I cannot make a plan

based on third-hand rumours.

I do not take personal affront,

Colonel Travis...

...else I should be forced to act

other than to simply bid you good day.

- Adis, Juan.

- Adis.

You're a damn fool, Travis.

A true gentleman, Seguin.

I dislike being rude to him.

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