The Patriot Page #23

Overpowering them...

Marion races to Gabriel...

Throws himself onto the ground next to him...

Cradling him...

Gabriel is stunned, confused by the wounds.

GABRIEL:

I'm alright, I...

He tries to stand...

MARION:

Let me help you...

Gabriel weakens in Marion's arms... falters... Marion

watches the life drain from Gabriel... He tries to hold

the blood in, to no avail...

Dalton plants himself next to Marion, defending him and

Gabriel...

Marion caresses Gabriel and watches as...

GABRIEL DIES.

The life drains from Marion. No anger. Only pain. He

looks at Gabriel, lost in a dream, an incomprehensible

nightmare of loss and overwhelming emptiness.

EXT. CLEARING - DAWN

Marion's men finish laying out the bodies of their dead.

The Dragoons are still where they fell. The Patriots are

laid out in a row, their faces covered by their coats.

Marion sits on the battlefield, next to Gabriel's body.

Dalton gingerly approaches him.

DALTON:

Colonel...

Marion slowly stands and picks up Gabriel's body, cradling

him like a child. They head off into the brush.

EXT. PATRIOT ENCAMPMENT - NIGHT

More Continentals have arrived, now outnumbering Marion's

men three-to-one. The encampment is active. A few of the

men drink and TALK LOUDLY. The two men playing the fife

and violin PLAY A MORE VIBRANT TUNE.

INT. MARION'S TENT - NIGHT

Dark. Shadowed. The sounds of celebration can be heard

outside the tent.

Marion sits on his camp chair. Gabriel lies on the ground

carefully covered up to his chin with a blanket. A single

candle burns.

Rev. Oliver enters the tent.

REV. OLIVER

May I help you try to find solace

with the word of God?

No response.

REV. OLIVER

Colonel, let us help his soul find

it's place with the Almighty and...

MARION:

He looks as if he's sleeping,

doesn't he?

REV. OLIVER

Yes, he does.

Rev. Oliver pulls up a camp stool. He and Marion sit in

silence.

EXT. MARION'S ENCAMPMENT - MORNING

The Patriots, Continentals and Militia, are moving out.

Most of the tents have been taken down. Wagons are

rolling out. Companies of Continentals march off in good

order.

MARION'S TENT still stands. His men finish packing up,

storing their heavy gear in wagons, tying their field gear

onto their horses.

IN THE TENT:

Marion still sits. A FLY BUZZES. Gabriel's face has

taken on a deathly, ashen look.

Lee enters the tent. He's silent for a moment, then

speaks softly to Marion.

LEE:

You have to bury him.

No response.

LEE:

I'll help you bury him.

Lee moves toward Gabriel's body.

MARION:

Don't touch him.

LEE:

How many men have we seen die?

MARION:

Two. Gabriel and Thomas.

LEE:

They're gone. And there is nothing

you or I can do to bring them back.

But there is something you can do to

help end all this.

MARION:

It is ended.

LEE:

No. It's not over yet. Two days

ride, Yorktown, Virginia.

Washington, the French, Cornwallis

and Tarleton. It will end, one way

or another.

(beat)

Francis, nothing will replace your

sons but helping us will justify

their sacrifice.

Marion doesn't respond. Lee waits for a long moment, then

he hears the SOUND OF THE DEPARTING TROOPS OUTSIDE THE

TENT.

He looks at Marion, touches him on the shoulder and walks

out.

EXT. PATRIOT ENCAMPMENT - DAY

The last of the soldiers move out, leaving their

smoldering campfires and refuse. The only tent that

remains is Marion's.

EXT. MARION'S TENT - DAY

Marion sits in his tent, gazing obliquely at Gabriel's

body which has grown even more ashen. A SOLITARY BIRD

CRIES in the distance.

EXT. WOODED ENCAMPMENT - NIGHT

A dark, moonless night. The sky is filled with stars. A

SOFT WIND BLOWS dead leaves along the ground. A few of

the leaves are blown through the opening of Marion's tent.

INSIDE THE TENT:

Marion looks down, noticing the leaves, HEARING THE WIND.

He listens for a moment. Then he stands and walks out of

the tent.

OUTSIDE THE TENT

Marion watches the leaves skittering along the ground. He

listens to the wind.

The HE LOOKS UP AT THE NIGHT SKY. The stars are bright.

His eyes are drawn to the Big Dipper and from there to the

Little Dipper and the...

NORTH STAR.

Holding his eyes on the faint, but steady star, he

gradually reorients himself. He looks around at the

abandoned encampment. Then he looks into the tent and

sees Gabriel's body. The SOFT WIND BLOWS AROUND HIM.

Marion nods in response.

EXT. BURIAL GROUND - WOODED ENCAMPMENT - MORNING

Marion finishes burying Gabriel, putting the last

shovelfuls of dirt on the freshly turned earth. He stands

next to the grave, looking down, and says a silent prayer.

EXT. YORKTOWN ROAD - DAY

The AMERICAN FORCES are on the move, all heading in the

same direction. Continentals and militiamen fill the

road. Some on horseback, others in wagons, most on foot.

Among them, a mixed unit of Continentals and Marion's

brigade, at the head of which ride Lee, Dalton, Abner and

Rev. Oliver.

Behind them, a single horseman rides up. It's MARION.

Without speaking, Marion rides up alongside Lee. They

exchange nods.

Marion rides between Dalton on one side and Rev. Oliver on

the other. They pass a sign that reads, "Yorktown. 20

miles."

EXT. YORKTOWN OVERLOOK - DAY

The road to Yorktown skirts an OVERLOOK with a view of the

town and the harbor. A few dozen arriving Patriots have

stopped to look out at the view. Marion, Lee, Rev. Oliver

and Dalton join them.

The French Fleet is visible in the harbor. The British

encampments are on a pair of peninsulas, one jutting out

from land, the other jutting toward the land from a large

island. In a semi-circle around the landward peninsula,

the beginnings of the Patriot encirclement are visible.

It's a grand and impressive sight.

Marion and the others turn their horses and head down the

road toward the American lines.

EXT. YORKTOWN ENCAMPMENT - DAY

AN INTERMITTENT EXCHANGE OF CANNON FIRE. Not a battle,

but pre-battle pot shots. Behind the American

embattlements, hundreds of American and French soldiers

drill, make camp and build secondary fortifications.

MARION, stands behind a barricade, trying to get a view of

the British defenses. A RUNNER, a boy about fifteen,

dashes up to Marion.

RUNNER:

You called for me, sir?

Marion reaches into his pocket and pulls out a single

WALNUT which he hands to the boy.

MARION:

Take this to General Washington.

The boy looks at the walnut and then looks at Marion as if

he's joking or crazy. He's neither. The boy shrugs and

runs off with the walnut.

EXT. WASHINGTON'S HEADQUARTERS - YORKTOWN

Staff officers. Flags. Tents. French and American

officers look over maps and sort out dispatches.

Messengers, runners and dispatch riders come and go

hurriedly.

The flap of the central HQ tent opens and GEORGE

WASHINGTON steps out, followed by a pair of AIDES.

Washington is tall and powerfully-built, an imposing man,

worthy of respect.

He looks around and sees the awe-struck, slightly confused

messenger boy, waiting nearby.

Washington, holding the walnut in his hand, motions him

over.

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