The Alamo Page #2

Even allowing for exaggeration...

...Santa Anna must have

crossed the Baja in strength.

But I had to do it, Dick.

I'd say we have two or at best

three days before we see his banners.

The men were listening.

And I can't let that rabble know how weak

we are and how strong the enemy is.

- You couldn't do that, eh?

- No, I couldn't.

My honest and truthful

and plain-spoken friend.

You could, perhaps, but I couldn't.

Now, take a look at this.

This oblique rampart here...

Well, have sense, Dick! Why should

those men stay if they knew the truth?

It's different for Bowie, of course.

He's got a big stake in Texas.

A couple of million acres, I hear.

- Some of those men haven't got...

- Have you got any dollars or acres?

I've got an extra suit of clothes.

You know that.

Boy! So that's it!

San Antonio de Bexar.

It means Saint Anthony in English.

The colonel speaks Spanish, you know.

Are you gonna pray, sir?

But why, sir?

I mean, there wasn't

no doubt we'd find her.

The colonel just wasn't sure which one

of these here creeks was the shortest cut.

He ain't been here in nigh 15 years.

Better make the signal, boy.

Yes, sir.

I hope this powder ain't damp.

You don't take it wrong

I ask you all these questions, Parson?

No, boy, that's how you learn. Asking.

Yes, sir.

So many times every day

you stop and give thanks.

Mostly I can't catch on to what

you're thanking the Lord for.

I mean, there's nothin' special.

I give thanks for the time and the place.

The time and place, Parson?

A time to live and a place to die.

That's all any man gets.

No more, no less.

- Fire the signal, boy.

- Yes, sir.

Must be Parson and the boy!

Think so!

Well, there she be, Colonel!

After 20 days of hard ridin'!

We gonna have to learn

the lingo they use down here, Davy?

Where do we go, Davy?

To the town or to the fort?

There's no fort. It's an old mission.

You better take a better look.

A lot of people movin' in there.

Them guns don't give it

no mission look to me.

Colonel...

What do C-A-N-T-I-N-A spell?

- Cantina. Do it mean what I think it do?

- It do.

It means out of these deerskins

and into our foofaraw!

Hey, you got my coat!

Hey, Pedro!

Hand me down that guitar.

Now I want you folks to all

clump in here close together.

I want you Texicans

to open up your ears...

...and listen to a little pure Tennessee.

# Here's to the ladies

# I love 'em all

# Here's to the ones I recall

# Here's to the ladies

# Married or free

# They all look pretty good to me

# The big and small ones

# The short and tall ones

# Each one a lovely...

Halt!

# Here's to the ladies

# I love the ladies...

Captain Dickinson, split your patrol.

Send half each way down the river for

about five miles to look for any signs.

- Then report back to the mission.

- Yes, sir.

Forward! Yo-ho!

Sorry, sir!

She sorta come loose!

I'd like...

- I'd like to speak to David Crockett.

- You did.

That was David Crockett

from Tennessee?

Yes, sir. And I oughta know.

Me and him's neighbours back home.

Only live 40 mile apart.

Colonel Davy!

- Are you David Crockett, sir?

- That's my name.

I'm Colonel Travis,

commanding the garrison.

I figured.

Well, son, you'd better start growing up.

I'd like to speak to you

on a matter of gravest importance.

Sure. Let's find a corner.

Talking's dry work!

You're learnin' fast!

Colonel!

I'm resignin' from you.

I'm gonna marry up with Conchita

and be the man of this house.

Bsame a kiss, seorita.

I toss around a mess

of that proud Spanish, too.

Most important part.

Let's jig a little, mamacita.

Light there and rest easy, Travis...

...while I bed down this buck.

He just ain't got no head for whiskey!

- Parson!

- Yeah, Davy!

- Take him away.

- Yes, sir!

Let's wet our whistles.

Words are dusty.

I don't drink.

- Not ever?

- No.

I've heard of such.

Well, spread your wampum, Travis.

My title is colonel.

Me, I'm a colonel, too.

Wouldn't it sound kinda silly,

chattering colonel, colonel...

...like a couple of marsh shield birds?

Just speak right up and call me Crockett.

Don't bother to use my title.

Old drunken General Flatford gave it

to me in the Choctaw Indian War.

I'll call you Travis.

Very well, Crockett.

I'd like your permission

to make a speech to your men.

Well, they've heard many a speech

while I was congressifying.

What would you talk about?

Oh, about freedom... liberty.

Well, they don't need any such speech.

These men are from Tennessee.

I'd like to explain why I want them

to volunteer to fight against Santa Anna.

Oh?

Not so careless!

You can't get new clothes

this side of Nacogdoches.

Tag!

Tennesseans ain't exactly

against fighting...

...but they ain't much for listening

to speeches. What would you tell them?

Of the many and unendurable hardships

the people have been subjected to...

...under the tyrannical government

of this military dictator Santa Anna.

We have no rights in the courts,

no market for our produce.

He has forbidden trade with the North.

Davy!

I want a chance for my money back.

Why don't you leave Davy alone?

He done beat you 38 times hand-runnin'!

36!

38!

36!

This'll only take a minute, Travis.

Give me them feathers.

Gentlemen.

Balance your feathers.

Get set! Go!

- Gotcha that time, Davy.

- It was fair and square.

- If we can continue, I would like to say...

- One minute, Travis.

That was just for who gets first chance.

- Prepare yourself, Davy.

- I'm prepared.

He's still on his feet!

Oh, no!

- Oh, yes!

- Oh, yes!

And it's my turn!

39!

He'll never learn!

Let's get a bucket of water.

Kind of a game the boys play

back in Tennessee.

Even though time is running out,

I must postpone this interview...

...until we can be assured

of no interruptions.

Step down off your high horse, mister.

You don't get lard less'n you boil the hog.

Have one of these cigars.

I brought 'em all the way

from New Orleans.

Were you going to tell my Tennesseans...

...that a good many men...

...sound men all...

...had a plot to ease the suffering

of the people in these parts?

Or were you going to tell them

that Steve Austin, Houston and others...

...and you too, Travis, had planned

to declare for a republic?

To declare this the Republic of Texas?

Were you gonna tell 'em that, Travis?

I hadn't thought this was generally

known.

It isn't yet.

Not till Austin separates

the sheep from the goats.

Not till he decides who's on the right side.

Republic.

I like the sound of the word.

It means people can live free...

...talk free...

...go or come, buy or sell...

...be drunk or sober.

However they choose.

Some words give you a feeling.

Republic is one of those words that...

...makes me tight in the throat.

Same tightness a man gets when his...

...baby takes his first step or...

...his first baby shaves...

...and makes his first sound like a man.

Some words can give you a feeling

that makes your heart warm.

Republic is one of those words.

Rate this script:4.0 / 1 vote