The Four Feathers Page #8

Up ahead he sees a large mound of stones standing out amongst the mud flat. He drives his camel forward. As he approaches he sees that it's a dervish burial mound. Skulls and skeletons are splayed across the rocks. WILLOUGHBY rides up through the ranks and joins him.

WILLOUGHBY:

What do you think?

DURRANCE:

I think they're trying to frighten us off. We should keep pressing forward.

WILLOUGHBY offers DURRANCE his water flask. DURRANCE takes a drink.

DURRANCE:

(Pulling a face)

It's bloody whisky.

wILLOUGHBY

(Grinning)

My camel drinks the water.

EXT. burnt out fortress/ desert - day.

As the camels tread their way through the sun baked shingles a ghostly fortress appears on the horizon. The men start loading their rifles instinctively.

EXT. courtyard/ burnt out fortress/ desert - day.

All that's left of the fortress is a grim skeleton. The Union Jack lies ripped to shreds, halfway down its flagpole. The BRITISH SOLDIERS gaze at the destruction. Their camels sense their tension and rear a little in the eerie silence. As ever, TRENCH is the first to break the ice.

trench

(Jumping off his camel, walking towards the fortress well)

I don't know about you lot, but I'm going to grab a drink before Mustapha does.

"Mustapha" the camel whinnies as if he's understood every word. The MEN start laughing.

DURRANCE:

The water's probably poisoned.

trench

(Leading his camel towards the well instead)

Mustapha, be my guest.

There's more laughter. DURRANCE smiles but his eyes are still alert. Above the fortress tower he sees a flock of birds taking flight, rising up gracefully towards the desert sun. Suddenly amidst the laughter and chatter, one of the SOLDIERS topples off his camel. His FRIENDS laugh:

friendS

...Capshaw you dosy bastard...

...Camilla's tired him out...

CAPSHAW doesn't move. CASTELTON's the first to realise something's wrong. He jumps off his camel and turns CAPSHAW over. Half the soldier's face has been blown off. Raw bone glistens underneath. CASTELTON rears back in horror.

CASTELTON:

Sniper!

Panic erupts. The SOLDIERS leap off their camels, using them as shields.

The sniper's bullet rings out and sends one of the animals crashing to the dirt. The men start to run now, seeking shelter in the surrounding hutments. The sniper's gun rings out repeatedly.

EXT. HUTMENT/ burnt out fortress/ desert - day.

DURRANCE and CASTELTON duck into the hutment.

DURRANCE:

...Keep him pinned. He's up in the tower.

CASTELTON unleashes a volley of shots. DURRANCE moves quickly to the other side of the hutment and climbs out of the window.

EXT. courtyard/ burnt out fortress/ desert - day.

The camels circle around themselves in panic. TRENCH weaves his way between the rearing animals, protecting himself from the sniper. A shot rings out and spits dust in his face.

trench

(Whispering in anger)

You bastard...

EXT. outer perimeter/ burnt out fortress/ desert - day.

DURRANCE runs around the back of the fortress, breathing hard.

EXT. courtyard/ burnt out fortress/ desert - day.

A second shot spins TRENCH round, grazing him in the arm.

trench

(His voice rising)

You bastard!

A third shot narrowly misses. TRENCH is up and running now, not waiting for the fourth.

trench

(Shouting like a madman as he charges towards the hutment)

You bastard! You bastard! You bastard!

EXT. outer perimeter/ burnt out fortress/ desert - day.

DURRANCE has a clear view on the sniper's tower now. From below he can see the man's rifle edge out, fire, and then withdraw. DURRANCE heads quietly towards the tower stairs.

EXT. STAIRS/ SNIPER's TOWER/ burnt out fortress - day.

Several of the steps are missing from the rickety stairway. DURRANCE climbs over them as lightly as he can. Up above he can hear the sniper's rifle ringing out.

EXT. castelton's HUTMENT/ burnt out fortress/ desert - day.

CASTELTON fires another round at the sniper's tower. TRENCH sits on the floor, cursing as he bandages his grazed arm.

EXT. SNIPER's TOWER/ burnt out fortress - day.

DURRANCE raises his head cautiously. At the tower window he sees the DERVISH SNIPER firing his rifle. DURRANCE hesitates. He could kill the man easily, but it would mean shooting him in the back. He can't bring himself to do it:

DURRANCE:

Drop it!

The DERVISH SNIPER stops still. He turns around slowly and looks DURRANCE in the eye. A contemptuous smile flickers across his face. Very slowly, he takes a bullet from his pocket and slips it in the rifle. He doesn't even look at DURRANCE. There's a terrifying, suicidal calm about him.

DURRANCE studies his enemy, admiring his utter contempt for death, and then fires two bullets into his head.

EXT. TENTS/ THE BRITISH CAMP/ suakin/ sudan - night.

Bonfires flicker across the British camp. DURRANCE sits outside his tent, bathed in firelight, watching some BEDU DANCERS performing for the BRITISH TROOPS. He seems far away, as if he's thinking about the day's kill. TRENCH's braying voice snaps him out of his reverie.

treNCH

(Showing off his wound)

Look at this beauty...

TRENCH sits down between DURRANCE, CASTELTON, and WILLOUGHBY.

trench

(Playful)

It's true what they say. You haven't lived until you've been shot.

CASTELTON:

It's only a scratch.

trench

You wouldn't understand. You haven't looked into the abyss.

CASTELTON:

Shut up Trench...

DURRANCE joins in the laughter but he still seems far away.

wiLLOUGHBY

(Noticing)

Are you alright, Jack?

DURRANCE:

(Smiling)

Couldn't be better.

WILLOUGHBY sees the haunted look in his eyes, but doesn't say anything. A SEARGENT-MAJOR interrupts.

seRGEANT-MAJOR

Lieutenant Durrance, Colonel Hamilton would like to see you in his tent, sir.

trench

Poor Willoughby, they've passed you over.

WILLOUGHBY grabs a handful of sand and throws it at TRENCH. DURRANCE gets up to see what HAMILTON wants.

EXT. COLONEL HAMILTON's TENT/ BRITISH CAMP/ suakin - night.

COLONEL HAMILTON sits at a fold-up table, eating his dinner by candlelight. He turns around as DURRANCE walks in. He wipes his face with his knapkin and gestures for DURRANCE to sit.

COLONEL HAMILTON

...Congratulations, it seems you had another successful day.

DURRANCE:

(Too honest to accept the complement)

We killed one Dervish sniper, Sir.

COLONEL HAMILTON

I'm giving you three weeks leave.

DURRANCE looks surprised.

DURRANCE:

I really don't need, or deserve any leave.

COLONEL HAMILTON

You certainly deserve it, every report I receive singles you out for praise.

DURRANCE:

With your permission, I'd like to stay here with the rest of the regiment.

COLONEL HAMILTON

Permission refused.

DURRANCE is too disciplined a soldier to protest.

COLONEL HAMILTON

...Anyway the rest of the regiment is stuck here in Suakin until the Government agrees to send us to Khartoum...

(Containing his frustration)

You and several other Officers will be going to London, to convince parliament, and more importantly public opinion, that it is necessary to pursue this campaign with the utmost vigour. Do you have any questions?

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes