The Patriot Page #11

EXT. BRITISH FIELD HEADQUARTERS - CAMDEN - DAY

A massive British army field encampment. Thousands of

well-armed, veteran troops. Large detachments of Redcoats

march through endless rows of tents. Some are battle-

worn, others are fresh troops moving out.

TARLETON and his GREEN DRAGOONS, covered with dirt and

sweat, ride into the encampment. Tarleton and Wilkins

peel off, riding to the front of a farmhouse that has been

commandeered for British headquarters. They dismount and

stride in.

INT. CORNWALLIS' HEADQUARTERS - CAMDEN FARMHOUSE - DAY

British officers, clerks and aides work. They're in good

spirits. LORD CORNWALLIS, a proud man, comfortable with

command, coldly notes one of his officers slapping another

on the back. MAJOR HUNTINGTON rolls out a map for

Cornwallis.

CORNWALLIS:

Gentlemen.

The officers gather around the map.

CORNWALLIS:

Major, this is not an adequate map.

MAJOR HUNTINGTON

We have better coming on the

trailing supply convoy from

Charleston.

CORNWALLIS:

A useful place for our maps.

MAJOR HUNTINGTON

I'm sorry, sir, it won't happen

again.

Tarleton enters, followed by Wilkins.

CORNWALLIS:

My harrier. Join us, Colonel.

TARLETON:

Sir.

Tarleton and Wilkins join them around the map.

CORNWALLIS:

Gentlemen, celebration is premature.

We have a difficult campaign ahead

of us. We are in predominately

hostile country and we cannot rely

on forage. As we move north, the

bulk of our supplies will reach us

by sea, through Charleston, which

will give us a long and vulnerable

supply line, one that can only be

secured if the locals are loyal to

the crown.

CORNWALLIS' OFFICERS

(multiple)

Yes, sir.

Cornwallis turns to his field officers, paying particular

attention to Tarleton.

CORNWALLIS:

Nonetheless, we must remember that

this is a civil war...

Tarleton proudly holds Cornwallis' look.

CORNWALLIS:

These colonials are our brethren and

when this conflict is over, we will

be reestablishing commerce with

them. Surrendering troops will be

given quarter and unwarranted

assaults on civilians will cease.

Wilkins shifts uneasily. Tarleton isn't cowed.

CORNWALLIS:

I expect this war to be fought in a

vigorous but civilized manner.

Cornwallis looks at his other officers.

CORNWALLIS:

Have I made myself clear, gentlemen?

OFFICERS:

(multiple)

Yes, sir.

Cornwallis shifts his eyes back to Tarleton who was not

among those who spoke. Tarleton pointedly pauses a

moment, then says:

TARLETON:

Yes, sir.

Cornwallis turns his attention back to the map. His men

gather around.

EXT. CORNWALLIS' FIELD HEADQUARTERS - CAMDEN - DAY

Tarleton and Wilkins walk out and mount up.

WILKINS:

I believe he was speaking to us,

Colonel.

TARLETON:

Did you know that Lord Cornwallis'

father was a tenant on the estate of

my grandfather?

Tarleton jerks his reins and rides off. Wilkins laughs

and follows.

EXT. WOODED ROAD - DAY

A British supply train of several dozen wagons, a herd of

horses and accompanying Redcoats makes its way.

ON A WOODED HILLSIDE, Gabriel lies on the ground,

observing the convoy. He eases back, mounts up, and rides

off.

EXT. BRIDGE - SANTEE RIVER - DAY

Marion and his men wait, well-hidden in the brush on a

rise, just above the bridge. Gabriel rides up.

GABRIEL:

Less than a mile. Forty-one wagons,

a company of Redcoat infantry,

horses at the rear.

MARION:

Flanking riders?

GABRIEL:

I didn't see any.

Marion nods and motions to his men who check their weapons

and pass the word. Gabriel ties up his horse and takes a

position near his father.

EXT. SANTEE ROAD - NIGHT

The British convoy rounds the curve. When two-thirds of

the wagons have crossed the bridge, Marion FIRES, killing

the Redcoat of highest rank, a CAPTAIN.

BILLINGS AND DALTON heave CORKED BOTTLES which break,

spreading their OILY CONTENTS on the wooden bridge.

BROTHER JOSEPH fires a FLAMING ARROW, igniting the oil.

The BRIDGE BURSTS INTO FLAMES, cutting off the tail of the

convoy, stranding a dozen wagons and the herd of horses on

Marion's side of the river.

A REDCOAT LIEUTENANT takes command.

REDCOAT LIEUTENANT

Across the river! Covering fire!

Double rank!

Marion calls to his men.

MARION:

Epaulets first... Kill the officers.

Marion and his men FIRE A WITHERING VOLLEY, KILLING ALL

REDCOATS OF RANK -- two lieutenants, a sergeant and

several corporals.

The LEADERLESS REDCOAT PRIVATES take cover as Marion's men

OPEN UP on the Redcoats on their side of the river.

MARION:

THE WAGONS!

With half of his men FIRING COVER, Marion and the other

half run to the wagons, passing Redcoat dead and

wounded...

DALTON, notices a WOUNDED REDCOAT and pauses...

The Redcoat looks up imploringly at Dalton who finishes

reloading, then coldly FIRES, KILLING THE helpless

Redcoat...

Marion, Gabriel and Rev. Oliver see Dalton kill the

wounded Redcoat as they race toward the wagons, British

musketballs SPLINTERING TREES all around them...

The horses nearest the burning bridge are terrified,

BUCKING AND REARING, STRUGGLING in their traces...

MARION LEAPS INTO THE SEAT of one wagon. Gabriel and

Billings grab the reins of two more wagons.

The Redcoats keep up a STEADY FIRE. TWO OF MARION'S MEN

FALL, one dead another wounded.

Marion, Gabriel and Billings STRUGGLE TO CONTROL THE

FRIGHTENED HORSES, backing them up around the curve to the

cover of the woods.

MARION'S REARGUARD, Brother Joseph, Abner, Dan Scott and

others, withdraws in leapfrog, FIRING BACK ACROSS THE

RIVER.

BRITISH MUSKET BALLS SLAM into the trees and SPLINTER THE

WAGONS...

Another of Marion's men is WOUNDED. Two of his comrades

HEAVE HIM onto one of the wagons...

As Marion's men get the wagons turned and unblocked from

each other, they DRIVE THEM OFF, one after another...

Brother Joseph, Abner and the rest of the rearguard make

it to Marion and LEAP INTO HIS WAGON...

MARION snaps the reins and they THUNDER OFF, away from the

BURNING BRIDGE and the FIRING Redcoats.

EXT. SNOW'S ISLAND - DAY

Marion's men tend their wounded and look through the

British wagons, taking inventory.

REV. OLIVER

... two-hundred-sixty-six Brown Bess

muskets, forty-one casks of powder,

balls, tamping...

BILLINGS:

We have enough arms for an army.

Now all we need is an army.

Marion checks out a wagon full of tools with DAN SCOTT and

ROB FIELDING, a couple of sharp-eyed craftsmen. They

overlap dialogue, rapidly speaking the private language of

colonial artisans.

SCOTT:

Reamer, boring tool...

MARION:

Swage, broach, etching tool...

FIELDING:

A rolling gunsmith's shop...

SCOTT:

We can rifle those musket barrels...

FIELDING:

Get another hundred yards out of

'em...

MARION:

We'll need a forge...

SCOTT:

Easy enough...

MARION:

We've got clay to make a chamber...

FIELDING:

Oak to make charcoal...

SCOTT:

Oil cloth and barrel staves to make

a bellows...

MARION:

And we can yank a wagon wheel,

weight it, rig a piston and drive

shaft and we'll have a flywheel to

power the bellows...

Scott and Fielding exchange an impressed look.

SCOTT:

(to Fielding)

That's why he's a colonel.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes