The Four Feathers Page #9

DURRANCE:

Yes Sir, why me?

HAMILTON pauses. Then almost mischievously:

COLONEL HAMILTON

Because you're a hero.

DURRANCE:

With all due respect Sir, I don't think we've been fighting long enough to have any heroes in this campaign.

COLONEL HAMILTON

That's my point. It's all about perception.

DURRANCE sees there's no point discussing it further. He salutes and turns to leave.

COLONEL HAMILTON

A question Lieutenant?

DURRANCE:

Yes Sir?

COLONEL HAMILTON

What is it you like about this place?

DURRANCE chooses his words carefully.

DURRANCE:

The freedom Sir. The fact that one is reduced to what one really is.

COLONEL HAMILTON smiles softly, wondering if Durrance is insulting him, not giving a damn.

EXT. desert between EGYPT and sudan - day.

A searing white sun hangs over the desert. Somewhere amidst the rolling dunes and floating dust we see a caravan of camels, winding its way through the plateau.

EXT. caravan/ desert between egypt and sudan - day.

HARRY rides at the front of the caravan with GUSTAVE, a sun blackened french slave-driver. Behind them ride SAADI, his Dinka assistant, and three beautiful DINKA SLAVEGIRLS.

gustave

...The British soldiers rent my girls off me for three dhirrams an hour. Well worth the trip to Suakin.

HARRY smiles distractedly. His eyes are fixed on the majestic landscape before him, miles and miles of rolling desert.

gustave

(Recognising the first time awe one feels for the desert)

Don't fall in love too quickly. Nothing turns on you like the sand.

He looks back at the DINKA SLAVEGIRLS, who are whispering amongst themselves.

gustave

Shut up!!...

(To Saadi)

Keep them quiet! What do I pay you for?!

SAADI says something to the SLAVEGIRLS in their native Dinka tongue. From the deference in his voice it's clear the women are from a higher caste than him.

EXT. desert between EGYPT and sudan - day.

A breeze blows sand-drifts across the desert floor. As a veil of dust clears, HARRY sees the bones of a camel, forming a perfect skeleton on the floor.

gustAVE

Bones are a good sign. We must be near a well.

EXT. well/ desert between EGYPT and sudan - day.

The skeletons lie thick around the well: six or seven men in Bedu Robes, sprawled within yards of the precious water.

gustave

(As Harry stares at the bones)

What else is there to fight for in a desert. At least it makes sense of war.

SAADI hoists some water up in a goatskin canteen. He offers the canteen to GUSTAVE. The French slave-driver is about to take a drink when he hears one of the DINKA SLAVEGIRLS murmuring in her native tongue. He wheels his camel around angrily.

gUSTAVE

(To Saadi)

What did she say?

Before SAADI can make an excuse for her, the DINKA SLAVEGIRL starts cursing in her native tongue, her eyes fixed on GUSTAVE.

GUSTAVE lashes out with his whip. The SLAVEGIRL's camel rears, throwing her to the floor. GUSTAVE rides towards her, raising his whip, ready to beat her.

HARRY's camel suddenly lurches between them. At first it looks like he's lost control of the animal, but as he steadies his mount, it becomes clear he's put himself in Gustave's way.

GUSTAVE sneers. With inch perfect skill, he starts to circle HARRY, trying to get a clear view of the girl. With equal skill, HARRY twists his own camel round, keeping her blocked from him at every turn.

GUSTAVE grows impatient. He raises his whip, threatening Harry. HARRY doesn't flinch. His eyes are fixed on Gustave the whole time. Finally GUSTAVE backs down, intimidated by the mysterious stranger. He stares at HARRY, half in anger, half in admiration.

gustave

You ride well.

With that he rides his camel back to the well. The DINKA SLAVEGIRL doesn't look at HARRY. She's too proud to acknowledge his help.

INT. cave/ desert between EGYPT and sudan - night.

A howling sandstorm blows outside the cave. The camels screech in the night, terrified by the wind. SAADI and the DINKA GIRLS shelter in the furthest corner of the cave. HARRY and GUSTAVE sit by a flickering fire.

gUSTAVE

...What's your secret? Anyone who talks as little as you do must be hiding something? Did you kill a man?

HARRY prods the fire, ignoring him. GUSTAVE turns around as he hears SAADI and one of the DINKA GIRLS whispering.

guSTAVE

Taiser vouz!

Silence. GUSTAVE turns back to HARRY, looking pleased with himself.

guSTAVE

You have to break them. For their own good. They'll only be happy again when they forget what it's like to be free.

(He looks at Harry mischievously)

It's like a man who's been thrown over by a woman. At first he's defiant, then he's determined, but finally he longs to forget.

HARRY gets up and walks to the other side of the cave. He hears GUSTAVE chuckling behind him.

gUSTAVE

...Any secrets you have, the desert will find you out.

EXT. PASS/ CLIFFS/ desert between EGYPT and sudan - night.

A screaming gale howls through the desert pass.

INT. cave/ desert between EGYPT and sudan - night.

It isn't the storm that wakes HARRY up, but the sound of whispering. GUSTAVE is snoring by the fire. HARRY looks past him. He sees SAADI and the DINKA SLAVEGIRL he rescued earlier, lying in each other's arms, making love as quietly as they can.

HARRY can't help staring. Their act seems to represent the ultimate defiance, he ultimate affirmation of their freedom. He feels a spark of hope in their hope.

SAADI and the DINKA SLAVEGIRL finally come to rest in each other's arms. HARRY listens as they continue to whisper in their native tongue. He's about to close his eyes when suddenly the DINKA SLAVEGIRL gets up.

HARRY watches curiously as she walks across the cave. She picks something off the floor. As she walks towards GUSTAVE HARRY suddenly sees that it's a sharp jagged rock.

Before HARRY can say anything the girl falls to her knees and buries the rock deep into GUSTAVE's face. Almost simultaneously HARRY feels a sharp crack on the back of his head. He rolls away instinctively, but to no avail.

The blows rain down. As he tries to protect his face, HARRY sees SAADI, holding a thick wooden club over him. The club hammers down, splitting Harry's fingers, tearing into his face, knocking any resistance out of him.

As he stares up listlessly, HARRY sees SAADI standing over him, ready to finish him off. Suddenly a voice rings out, a woman's voice, calling Saadi off. HARRY's eyes drift away.

INT. ARMY/NAVY CLUB - LONDON - day.

We see ETHNE's face now, staring out. For a moment we think she's part of Harry's dream, but then the familiar noises of reality fade in, and we realise she's amongst a crowd of OFFICERS and JOURNALISTS, listening to DURRANCE lecturing about the Sudan:

DURRANCE:

(Aware she's in the audience)

...Each moment we delay, we imperil General Gordon's life. The Mahdi is concentrating all his forces on Khartoum. At most the garrison can hold out for a few more weeks...

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