Zulu Dawn
- PG
- Year:
- 1979
- 98 min
- 539 Views
1.SCRIPT APPEARS ON BLACK SCREEN:
One hundred years ago the British Colony of Natal in Southern
Africa was surrounded by a
vast and independent Zulu Kingdom.
In 1879, a banle took place that was forever to alter the
course of colonial history:
I SANDHLWANA:
2 EXT. DAWN.
Four Zulu's are seen in silhouette herding cattle up a hill.
3.LONG SHOT - Two Zulu's are seen in silhouette high on a
precipice.
4.Seven Zulu's are seen walking in silhouette against the
sunrise.
5.The sun fills the screen as the sound of many running feet
and Zulu drums are heard.
6.EXT. ZULU KRAAL. DAY.
A large regiment of Zulu warriors carrying shields and assegais
(stabbing spears)
are seen running into the Kraal whilst the sound of tribal
singing, chanting and drum
beating escalates.
7.Inside the camp a group of Zulu's are seen grappling with a
bull as they struggle to
bring the animal to the ground. They are watched by a vast
circle of warriors all
shouting encouragement.
8.An elaborate tribal dance ensues. It appears to be some sort
of Fenility Rite. The
females stand opposite the men in rows, chanting as they move
in closer.
9.CETSHWAYO, the great Zulu King emerges into the throng. He is
tall, beautifully
fat, with a big intelligent face and superb dignity. He surveys
his subjects with
interest as they stand unanimous, thrusting their assegais into
the air whilst shouting
their allegiance.
10.EXT. HIGH COMMISSIONER'S RESIDENCE, PIETERMARITZBURG,
NATAL. NIGHT.
BARTLE FRERE (V.0.)
Reading aloud the letter he has just written.
Cetshwayo '5 Zulu army to disband and the warriors permitted to
return
to their homes.
2
11.SWITCH TO INTERIOR. FRERE is seated at his desk whilst LORD
CHELMSFORD is seen in the background standing on the veranda.
BARTLE FRERE:
He continues to read aloud:
Present military system to be abandoned. New regulations
concerning
the defence of the realm worked out.
CHELMSFORD enters the room, sits and studies two sheets of
paper.
FRERE continues:
All who do not submit will be dealt with as enemies of the
Crown. We
will not permit the arbitrary killing and
FRERE pauses as he underlines a certain word:
and unjust oppression which the Zulu people have suffered from
their
own King Cetshwayo
Pausing, FRERE looks up as if to meet his comrade's gaze.
CHELMSFORD,
however, continues to read, turning the page.
BARTLE FRERE:
You '11 see from the letter that this ultimatum is our decision
alone. Her
Majesty's government seems to prefer a negotiated settlement
12.CLOSE UP of CHELMSFORD's letter:
Her Majesty's government confidentially hope that by the
exercise of prudence
and by meeting of the Zulus in a spirit of forbearance and
reasonable
compromise it will be possible to avert the very serious evil
of a war with
Cetshwayo:
13.Return to BARTLE FRERE. As he melts some sealing wax over a
silver burner:
BARTLE FRERE:
(Referring to the letter he has just completed)
Does this do what we both know to be right Frederick?
CHELMSFORD:
It does Sir Henry (He folds the papers neatly in half)
excellently.
The pair exchange glances as BARTLE FRERE applies the wax to his
letter.
15.EXT. CHELMSFORD'S CAMP PIETERMARITZBURG. DAY
3
Activity everywhere, the incessant movement of an army in the
final stages of its
formation. Huge ox-wagons are being hauled into the camp.
16.CHELMSFORD and CREALOCK are on horseback in full regaJia as
they ride into
the centre of the Camp.
17.Squads of Basuto-infantry - tall, rangy bodies, naked except
for a loincloth and neck
ornaments - are being drilled by foul mouthed, bullying
European NCO's.
18.LT. MELVILL, young, dapper, inspects the Martini Henry
rifles of a company of
REDCOATS who are lined up near the BASUTOS. A CSM (SOT.
WILLIAMS)
stalks behind MELVILL.
ONE REDCOAT, young, thin, gangling, turns his head slightly to
peek at the
Basutos, and the swift eye of SOT. WILLIAMS detects the
disaffection. The young
redcoat (PTE. WILLIAMS) turns, guilty at being caught out of
the 'Attention'
position. The CSM (SOT. WILLIAMS) leans forward until his face
is one inch
from that of his quavering prey.
SGT. WILLIAMS (Shouting)
You moved (With more restraint) You movedgo and tell the NCO
of that black shambles that you love 'im more than you love
me(Shouting) NOW'
19.PTE. WILLIAMS blinks, swallows then runs over to the
Basuto's NCO.
NCO (Addressing the Basutos)
You're not fit to be in the British army you different coloured
articles.
STRAIGHTEN UP! You're like a load of bloody herd boys! (He
suddenly becomes aware of PTE. WILLIAMS' presence).
PTE. WILLIAMS
I'm to tell you Corporal, that I love you more than my Colour
Sergeant
The Basuto's NCO walks up to PTE. WILLIAMS.
NCO:
That's frightening... Get out of my bloody sight lad. And put
your rifle
over your head and double round this field (shouting) until you
drop
bloody dead. Now move, get on with it, at the double.
The Basutos, laughing, raise their shields into the air in
general amusement as
PRIVATE WILLIAMS runs past.
NCO:
Shut up! Get back in the ranks you shower of animals.
20.CHELMSFORD, still on horseback, surveys the encampment. He
salutes to SOT.
WILLIAMS. CREALOCK, as always, is in attendance.
21.
4
SGT. WILLIAMS
Facing the ranks:
Company Shoulder arms.... (LT. MELVILLjoins SOT.
WILLIAMS) Present arms.
LT. MELVILL turns standing to attention, saluting as CHELMSFORD
passes.
22.Two BOERS ride into the camp, passing two SUTLERS wagons. We
see SOT.
WILLIAMS' dismissed COMPANY hurriedly crowding round one of the
SUTLER'S wagons, shouting for cigars and gin.
23.The two BOERS, one an elderly man, one a boy of sixteen,
have dismounted. SOT.
WILLIAMS strides over to them.
You passing through?
SGT. WILLIAMS
ELDERLY BOER:
We 've come to fight the Zulu.
SGT. WILLIAMS
We aren't at war yet Referring to the boy: Bit young 'in' he?
ELDERLY BOER:
He's my nephew... he can shoot, track and speak Zulu and fight
like
hell... he's got Assegai marks to prove it...
He gestures to the boy to show SOT. WILLIAMS. The YOUNG BOER
pulls
up his shin, showing an horrendous white scar across his
stomach.
SOT. WILLIAMS stares in amazement. Coming to, commanding the
attention
of a BOY-PULLEN in the ranks:
You!
Sir. (Running over)
SGT. WILLIAMS
BOY-PULLEN
SGT. WILLIAMS
Take 'em to the orderly officer. (SOT. WILLIAMS departs).
BOY-PULLEN
(Standing to attention). Colour Sergeant Addressing the BOERS:
This
way.
24.The BOERS follow as the PTE. Leads oft
25.A TROOP OF SIKALI HORSE under the command of COL. DURNFORD
ride
into the camp. He is a tall, thin-haired man with handsome
sunburnt features,
intelligent and sensitive eyes and an over-length moustache. He
has only the use of
5
one arm, his left arm being completely paralyzed and held
immobile, tucked into a
special pocket he has sewn into his tunic. COL. DURNFORD and
SOT. MA3OR
KAMBULA (A powerful and intelligent African radiating
authority.) pull up as the
troop ride by.
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"Zulu Dawn" Scripts.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 22 Nov. 2024. <https://www.scripts.com/script/zulu_dawn_962>.
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