Zulu Dawn Page #4

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BARTLE FRERE:

I, er, recommended him to you.. .because he knows Africa so

well.

CREALOCK:

Oh indeed. His ability to recruit native contingents is proving

invaluable

to His Lordship.

BARTLE FRERE:

How do you rate him as a soldier?

CREALOCK:

It is widely held that he has great courage and he's an

excellent

engineer

BARTLE FRERE:

(Walking down the veranda steps). Shall we join the guests?

57.The DEWITT sisters, both in their whites, are seen playing a

game of tennis. They

are being watched by LTS. MELVILL & COGHILL (They are both

seated). One of

the ladies moves off court to fetch the ball that has gone out

of play. She glances up

at COGHILL.

COGHILL:

Do you think she might be interested in someone?

MELVILL:

Which one?

COGHILL:

Well that one. The one who keeps looking at me.

MELVILL:

ft could be you flatter yourself CoghilL It's that odd eye.

LT. RAW approaches

RAW (Tongue-in-cheek)

They must have locked all the good ones up.

58.BARTLE FRERE, CHELMSFORD & CREALOCK have now joined a

selection of

the guests at some tables on the lawn for afternoon tea.

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MRS. DEWITT

Ah, General. (She curtsies. CHELMSFORD acknowledges). Do you

find our Border Country congenial, My Lord?

CHELMSFORD (Sitting)

The landscape, most congenial Ma'am but the Border,

vulnerable.

MRS. PRETORIOUS (Also sitting)

Do you really think Cetshwayo will attack us?

DURNSFORD, VEREKER & FANNY have also joined the party.

CHELMSFORD:

The intention of the Zulu Impis and their King concern me

deeply,

Ma 'am.

FANNY:

Cetshwayo has no intention of attacking Natal, Mrs. Pretorious.

Unless

he '5 given no option. He has no quarrel with us. (She sits).

BARTLE FRERE (Sitting next to FANNY)

It's very rare to meet a young lady interested in tactical

matters, Miss

Colenso. Is it not, Sir Henry, most rare?

MR. PRETORIOUS

You are talking of a violent and murdering barbarian who

commands an

army of 30,000 warriors just across the river

FANNY:

My father has known and lived with the Zulus for many years.

MR. PRETORIOUS

Cetshwayo massacred 20,000 of his own people to make

himseifKing.

COLENSO:

The English Tudor Kings did no less. Much later in our nation

'5 history,

I might add, and the French much more recently.

CHELMSFORD:

That may well be, Your Grace, but be that as it may, my duty is

clear

The defence of all this (indicating the surroundings) NataL

COLENSO:

Yes, well, it's difficult to stand against that position. if

you speak only

of . (Leaning forward & looking him in the eye).. defence.

MR. PRETORIOUS

And what does our good Colonel Durnford think?

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DURNFORD (Walking around the tables to join VEREKER)

if the people ofNatal wish to feel safe, let them persuade

their husbands

and sons to volunteer We need both Officers and men.

CHELMSFORD:

We do Colonel, good point.

COLENSO:

I cannot be brought to believe that Cetshwayo wants a war with

Britain.

BARTLE FRERE:

Every Zulu is raised to be a warrior Without a war there 'd be

no Zulu

nation.

MRS. DEWITT

Nobody is really safe, are they Your Excellency?

JOSEPH has appeared at BARTLE FRERE's side. He whispers

something into

his ear.

LADY FRERE:

Mrs. Dewitt has four daughters, Henry, and Ifear she feels for

them alL

59.VEREKER has wandered away from the tables. He is watching

MELVILL &

COGHILL chatting to the two DEWITT girls who were previously

playing

tennis.

VEREKER:

Your daughters may indeed be in some danger Mrs. Dewitt, but

not at

the moment from the Zulus, Ifear

60.The parties' attention is drawn to the four on the lawn.

61.CLOSE UP of MRS. DEWITT as she laughs politely.

62.As the camera swings back to the four on the lawn we see

MANTSHONGA in

the background. The camera follows him ending in CLOSE UP as he

strides

forward to meet BARTLE FRERE. BARTLE FRERE looks grave as if he

is

already aware of the news he is about to hear.

63.SWITCH, LONG SHOT to where BARTLE FRERE, CHELMSFORD,

CREALOCK & MANTSHONGA are now standing. BARTLE FRERE

addresses the entire garden party.

BARTLE FRERE:

Ladies and gentlemen, your attention, please.

64.LONG SHOT of lawn. The guests move forward.

65.The camera closes in on the four on the veranda. With one

arm behind his back,

a cigar in his other hand, BARTLE FRERE continues:

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BARTLE FRERE (Slowly and deliberately)

I think I should inform you that I am obliged to issue a state

of war

between Her Majesty's Government and the Zulu King, Cetshwayo

66.SWITCH to CLOSE UP of VEREKER & COLENSO. General background

noises of dismay as BARTLE FRERE carries on.

67.

BARTLE FRERE:

on his non compliance with the ultimatum made on him urging

reformation...

68.CLOSE UP of FANNY & DURNFORD. He drops his head, averting

her gaze.

69.CLOSE UP of BARTLE FRERE. He continues:

BARTLE FRERE:

and redress for violations of British Sovereignty.

The guests applaud as CHELMSFORD & BARTLE FRERE shake hands.

70.CLOSE UP of FANNY & DURNFORD.

FANNY:

why? Why do men think ofnothing but killing? (She touches his

disabled arm lovingly).

Tucking his hat under his arm, he looks into her eyes and

kisses her hand.

Walking away, he replaces his hat and reaching the top of the

veranda steps,

turns. They exchange desperate, painful glances.

71.CLOSE UPofCOLENSO

COLENSO (To himself)

This wondeiful land we are privileged to share. (Removing his

glasses.)

Dear God (hanging his head) there should be room for all of us.

72. EXT. CHELMSFORD'S CAMP. PIETERMARITZBURG. NIGHT

ASSORTED CLOSE SHOTS TO COVER THE MOVE TO RORKE'S DRIFT

- WAGON WHEELS CREAKING AS THEY TAKE THE FIRST STRAIN OF

MOVEMENT, OXEN HOOVES STARTING FORWARD ON RUTTED DIRT

SURFACES, WAGONEERS FLICKING WHIPS, PACKS GOING ONTO

BACKS OF SOLDIERS, BARE FEET OF NATIVE LEVIES, OFFICERS

MOUNTING, THEN SIMILAR DETAILS TO SHOW RHYTHMIC

FORWARD PROGRESS, MARCHING, ROLLING DARK SILHOUETTED

FORMS. TORCHES.

73. THREE OFFICERS stand watching:

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OFFICER:

There goes Number Two Company.

74.Q.S.M. BLOOMFIELD CUTS ACROSS SHOT he is studying a list

attached to a

clipboard. He is about to walk past a tent when he hears a call

of "I'll see yer"

coming from within. Suspecting gambling, he moves to

investigate.

75.Pulling back the tent flap reveals a group, including

BOY-PULLEN playing a game

of cards.

BLOOMFIELD:

Do I believe what me eyes see? The whole bleedin' Army movin'

off to

meet the murderin' heathen and what goes on in 'ere? A game

ofBrag.

(Sterner) Brag?

BOY-PULLEN (Standing)

I'm sorry, Quartermaster

BLOOMFIELD:

You'll be more sorrier still when the Zulu ask Lad.. "What 'ave

you got

to offer me not to slit your gut?" and you say (Pointing to the

cards in

BOY-PULLEN's hand) ah, the Knave of Hearts, Sir, the Knave of

Hearts.

The rest of the group chuckle.

Offering BOY-PULLEN a coin, BLOOMFIELD gives the order "Move!"

Taking the coin BOY-PULLEN leaves the tent.

76.SWITCH to BANDSTAND. A band is playing "Men Of Harlech".

CHELMSFORD & BARTLE FRERE move into CLOSE UP in foreground.

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