The Four Feathers Page #4

(A beat)

Do you ever ask yourself why you're going?

DURRANCE:

Not for the Queen. I hardly know her.

(He smiles softly)

Nor for the regiment. There isn't much of a military tradition in my family...

(A beat)

I suppose I'm going because you're going. You, and Trench, and Castelton, and Willoughby...

(A big grin)

Not much of a reason I know, but it reassures me.

HARRY smiles, but Durrance's words only make him feel more ashamed of the fear he feels inside.

harry

Is there anything that frightens you, Jack?

DURRANCE:

I'm frightened of not coming back in one piece. Much more than dying. I wouldn't know what to do with myself in a wheel chair. And I couldn't stand to be pitied.

He puts the thought out of his head and grins.

DURRANCE:

There's a Church near our house. Next to the pub. Every night at ten the drunks spill out, shouting at the top of their voices. That's where I want to be buried. Where I can hear them.

harry

Nothing's going to happen to you.

DURRANCE:

It's out of our hands anyway. Might as well sleep easy...

DURRANCE rolls on his side. HARRY looks back at the fireplace, as the last embers fade.

EXT. REGIMENTAL COURTYARD - dawn.

A cold blue light hangs over the barracks. The courtyard is empty, except for a few sentries on duty. Wagons pull in, loaded with supplies.

INT. HARRY and DURRANCE's ROOM/ BARRACKS - dawn.

HARRY buttons his uniform. He looks as if he hasn't slept. He turns to DURRANCE. His friend is still asleep. HARRY hesitates. He wants to wake him up, and talk, but in the end he turns away, and leaves the room.

EXT. regimental COURTYARD - dawn.

Harry walks slowly toward the Regimental Office. He glances up at the Regimental flag, flying beside the Union Jack.

INT. ADCs' ROOMS/ THE REGIMENTAL OFFICE - dawn.

WILLOUGHBY looks up from his desk as HARRY walks in.

willoughby

(Grinning)

...Harry. You're up early.

HARRY smiles awkwardly but doesn't say anything. WILLOUGHBY senses something's wrong.

willoughby

(Concerned)

...What's the matter?

HARRY looks at him for a moment, but then turns to Colonel Hamilton's other AIDE-DE-CAMP.

HARRY:

I'd like to see the Colonel please.

WILLOUGHBY stares in confusion. The AIDE-DE-CAMP disappears into the next door office. HARRY still can't bring himself to look at his friend.

willoughby

Harry, what's wrong?...

He's interrupted as the AIDE-DE-CAMP walks back in.

AIDE-DE-CAMP

The Colonel will see you, sir.

harry

Thank you.

HARRY walks into Hamilton's office. WILLOUGHBY stares after him, bewildered.

INT. COLONEL HAMILTON's office - day.

COLONEL HAMILTON glances at the letter HARRY has just given him. He stops reading after only a few words.

COLONEL HAMILTON

What the hell is this?

HARRY:

My papers, sir. I wish to resign my commission.

COLONEL HAMILTON doesn't appear to understand. He looks back at the piece of paper, as if he's misread something.

COLONEL HAMILTON

If it's leave you want, there's a different procedure. Normally I wouldn't consider it in the circumstances, but given you've got engaged...

HARRY:

(Interrupting politely)

I don't want any leave Sir. I wish to resign my commission.

A long silence. COLONEL HAMILTON calmly puts the letter aside, and returns to his work, ignoring HARRY.

harry

Sir...

COLONEL HAMILTON

It's nerves. We all have them.

HARRY:

Sir, I've made up my mind.

COLONEL HAMILTON

And I'm asking you to reconsider.

HARRY:

I have considered, sir. And I've decided to leave the service.

COLONEL HAMILTON

Come back to me when you've discussed it with your father.

HARRY:

It's not his decision, sir...

HAMILTON explodes, all his repressed fury pouring out.

COLONEL HAMILTON

I do not accept these "papers," Lieutenant -- and do not accept that one of my men -- the son of a man with whom I was honored to serve -- would walk out on his Regiment --

HARRY:

Sir --

COLONEL HAMILTON

-- on the very eve we're shipping off to war!

(holding out the papers)

Take these back!

HARRY:

I will not, sir.

Dead silence.

harry

I wish to resign my commission.

HAMILTON stares at HARRY for what seems an eternity. He's struggling to make sense of something beyond his comprehension. Slowly he gathers himself and lowers his eyes, looking down at Harry's papers:

COLONEL HAMILTON

Very well. Then as the coward and disgrace you are, you may take yourself out of my office...

(Signing Harry's papers)

Please leave the barracks at once. You're belongings will be sent on.

Face drained of color, Harry turns and leaves.

INT. ADCs' ROOMS/ THE REGIMENTAL OFFICE - dawn.

As the door opens, WILLOUGHBY stares at HARRY, speechless. HARRY lowers his eyes and walks on.

INT. STAIRWAY/ BARRACKS - DAwn.

HARRY walks down the stairway, gripping the bannisters. Two SOLDIERS salute him on their way up, but he doesn't respond.

EXT. regimental COURTYARD - dawn.

The supply wagons are being unloaded in the courtyard. HARRY walks between more SOLDIERS, his eyes fixed on the barrack gates. The only sound he hears in his head is the gentle flapping of a flag.

INT. TRENCH and CASTELTON's ROOM/ BARRACKS - day.

CASTELTON is packing his trunk, neat and fastidious, taking his time over every item. TRENCH waits for him impatiently.

trench

...Why can't you do this after breakfast? We're not leaving till tonight.

CASTELTON ignores him, folding his shirts. TRENCH turns to DURRANCE, exasperated.

trench

He packs three bibles. Can you believe it? Three bibles...

DURRANCE grins. He glances up as WILLOUGHBY enters.

DURRANCE:

...Field Marshall Willoughby...

WILLOUGHBY doesn't smile. He looks ashen faced.

DURRANCE:

...What's the matter?

CASTELTON and TRENCH look up.

willoughby

It's Harry...

(He still can't believe it)

He's resigned.

trench

Resigned what?

willoughby

(Snapping at Trench)

His bloody commission. What do you think?!

There's a long silence. No-one knows quite what to say. DURRANCE finally speaks.

DURRANCE:

What did Hamilton do? Refuse him leave?

willoughby

Hamilton didn't do anything. Harry went to see him of his own accord. Right after they changed our deployment.

CASTELTON looks at TRENCH, as the insinuation sinks in.

trENCH

...It's just a coincidence. He's having second thoughts about leaving Ethne.

willoughby

He was happy to leave her behind when we were going to India. No doubts then.

DURRANCE:

(Jumping to Harry's defence)

What's that supposed to mean?

willoughby

You tell me. He resigns his commission the very day we're sent to war.

DURRANCE:

Harry's the best soldier in this regiment.

wILLOUGHBY

Obviously not when it counts.

DURRANCE:

Why don't you say that to his face.

CASTELTON:

(Intervening)

We don't know the circumstances yet.

(Reasoning with Willoughby)

I think we should give Harry a chance to explain.

willoughby

(Bitterly)

Harry's gone. He left this morning. Whilst you were all asleep.

WILLOUGHBY turns away in frustration. He's as upset as the others, but he shows it in anger. TRENCH and CASTELTON look stunned. DURRANCE stares ahead in silence.

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