The Last of the Mohicans Page #3

We've entered mid-scene. Captain Jack is standing on a box.

Some women and kids mill around some tables and boards laid

over barrels. Cooking fires. Smoke.

Most but not all around Captain Jack are men, nine settlers,

3 hunter/trappers, eight Mohawk farmers in mixed European

and native clothing. Off to the side are an English Lieutenant

on horseback and a ten-man escort from whatever regiment's

in Albany. A man named HENRI speaks in French. His son,

MARTIN, translates.

HENRI:

(O.S. in French)

MARTIN:

(translates)

My father says he was driven out of

France by the black robe priests and

he would fight them now but he lost

his arm and so I will go in his place.

Meanwhile...

ONGEWASGONE:

is an unusually large Mohawk in a blue match coat with a

little girl holding his hand. He says something to

Chingachgook who nods. Hawkeye and Uncas are a little apart

in an outer grouping of the men. Ongewasgone is a war chief

and wears a white plume and is tattooed. As Martin finishes,

he steps forward.

ONGEWASGONE:

John Cameron, thank you for your

hospitality...

Twin River Mohawk got no quarrel with Les Francais. Trade

furs with Les Francais. Now Les Francais bring Huron onto

Mohawk hunting grounds...

These people are English, Scots-Irish and Dutch farmers;

some French Huguenot "mechanics" (craftsmen). They're in

shirt-sleeves and Indian moccasins & leggings. The Mohawks'

vast lands and corn agriculture border the settlement. They

've been acculturated for over a hundred years. Some wear

European calico hunting shirts.

Their heads are shaved to scalping locks and many are

tattooed. They've politically and commercially played France

& England against each other very adroitly for over a hundred

years because of their military power and geographic position.

Their relations with working farmers and settlers and their

families has been mostly one of co-existence because there's

always been more than enough for all. This is a WPA mural of

ethnic diversity and plurality of frontier America. The

Europeans are former indentured laborers, farmers exiled by

economics or religious persecution, frontier hunters and

trappers... working people.

ONGEWASGONE:

(continues)

Now Mohawk will fight Huron and Les

Francais.

My brothers have asked me to lead them in this war so I speak

for the Twin River Council.

The importance of this commitment is apparent to the

lieutenant.

LIEUTENANT:

His Majesty King George II is very

grateful for your support.

IAN:

How far up the valley?

LIEUTENANT:

To Fort William Henry.

COLONIAL #1

...two days from here.

Some don't like this.

LIEUTENANT:

It should be enough to remind you

France is the enemy.

HAWKEYE:

Your enemy...

Heads turn to Hawkeye at the periphery of the crowd.

LIEUTENANT:

What did you say?

HAWKEYE:

(loud)

I said... France is your enemy. Not

ours.

LIEUTENANT:

Really? Do you want them to overrun

all New York colony?

HAWKEYE:

First place, you started it with the

French over fur-trapping claims to

the head waters of the Ohio.

(smiles)

Now you're sayin' these people have

a fight on their hands...

LIEUTENANT:

(ignoring Hawkeye)

Will you men help us stop the French?

HAWKEYE:

... and while they are cooped up in

your fort, what if the French send

war parties to raid their homes?

IAN:

What then, Lieutenant?

LIEUTENANT:

For your own homes, for king, for

country, that's why you men ought to

join this fight!

HAWKEYE:

You do what you want with your own

scalp. Do not be tellin' us what to

do with ours.

LIEUTENANT:

(furious; to Hawkeye)

You, sir! You call yourself a loyal

subject?

HAWKEYE:

...No...Do not call myself much of a

subject at all.

Light laughter.

COLONIAL #2

Nathaniel's right. But if I got to

fight, figure I'll try and do it

fifty miles north of here instead of

my bean field.

AD LIBS:

Yes. Yeah. No...

CAMERON:

I am stayin' on my farm. And any man

who goes, his family is welcome to

fort-up with us 'til he comes back.

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