Zulu Dawn Page #5

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CHELMSFORD:

For a savage as to a child, chastisement is sometimes a

kindness.

BARTLE FRERE:

Let us hope then, that this will be the final solution to the

Zulu problem.

77.EXT. COLUMN ON THE MOVE. NIGHT

BOY-PULLEN moves against the traffic towards the back of the

moving

column. He passes squads of torchlighted marchers, artillery

units, riders,

wagons, until he comes to the SUTLER'S wagon.

78.THREE SOLDIERS ENTER SHOT and surreptitiously help

themselves out of the

back of the moving wagon. Noticing, BOY-PULLEN seizes his

chance and

grabbing a bottle out one of the soldier's hands, makes a dash

for it.

SOLDIER:

'Ere! Come back 'ere you thievin' little beggar~

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79.MOVING SHOT. CHELMSFORD, on foot salutes an officer as

DURNFORD:

approaches from behind on horseback.

DURNFORD (Calling)

My Lord. (CHELMSFORD turns.) I've prepared a list of ideas for

you

to see. (He removes a paper from his tunic).

CHELMSFORD:

Excellent. Thank you. (He continues to walk away) Give them to

Crealock, would you?

DURNFORD:

My Lord. (CHELMSFORD turns again) This list was prepared for

you. I don 't think another can understand its true value.

CHELMSFORD (Taking the list)

Thank you Colonel Durnford. (He exits as DURNFORD looks on).

80.CHELMSFORD joins his group of officers. He mounts his horse

and then addresses

them:

CHELMSFORD:

Gentlemen, within ten days we shall cross the Buffalo River and

British

soldiers will then be in Zululand. Colonel Durnford will remain

down

river

81.CLOSE UP of DURNFORD. He looks agitated by this remark.

82.Undeterred, CHELMSFORD continues:

CHELMSFORD:

where he will be responsible for the defence of the Natal

border

Turning his horse and without looking at DURNFORD he leads his

Party off

83.BLOOMFIELD is joined by BOY-PULLEN

BOY-PULLEN

Will you hear "Last Post", Sir?

BLOOMFIELD:

I listened extra careful to your "Stand To" this mornin', Boy.

ft was

peifecL I couldn't 've done it better meseif, not even when I

was Bugler

to The Duke Of Wellington.. .now tell me, where did you get

that black

eye?

BOY-PULLEN

From the Cook, Sir They saw me dip your shaving tin in the

tea-water

this morning, made their tea taste of Lifebuoy toilet soap,

they saij

Handing him the bottle of gin he purloined earlier.

2t

BLOOMFIELD:

So, you got it in the line of dooty.. (Taking a swig from the

bottle &

handing it back to BOY-PULLEN)... point taken.

BLOOMFIELD gets up onto a wagon as BOY-PULLEN gulps from the

bottle.

BOY-PULLEN

Will we be fighting the Zulus soo~, Quartermaster? (Joining

BLOOMFIELD, he jumps up onto the front of the wagon).

BLOOMFIELD:

Could be. (He shouts for the wagon to move out) Across the

river into

Zululand. (They share the bottle of gin). They might just be

waiting

there for us to show up... .them stabbing assegais pointing

right at our

bellies!....

BOY-PULLEN

You afeared of the Zulus then, Quartermaster?

BLOOMFIELD:

One Zulu is only one man.. ..and I'm afeared of no one man...

but the

Zulu, they come in the thousands.... like a black wave of

death.... in the

thousands.... and them assegais.... stabbing!

The BOY-PULLEN doesn't answer. He stares into the darkness,

contemplating

the prospect of the morning as described by BLOOMFIELD.

84.Back in the centre of the camp, VEREKER rides past the

bandstand to meet

DURNFORD.

DURNFORD:

Your orders, Mr Vereker?

VEREKER:

I'm to take the Sikali with the main column to the river

DURNFORD:

Lord Chelmsford seems to want me to stay back with my Basutos.

VEREKER:

I think Chelmsford wants a good man on the border Why he fears a

flanking attack and requires a steady Commander in reserve.

DURNFORD (Angrily)

The wrong side of the river! The wrong place! (DURNFORD glares

at

VEREKER, who realizes he has hit a raw nerve.) Does he wish me

to

fight the Zulu, or merely observe their natural habitat?

Sensing his cue to exit, VEREKER salutes and saying "Sir" turns

his horse to

join the Sikali who are leaving the camp.

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85.DURNFORD walks his horse a few paces forward as he watches

the troop leave.

DURNFORD (With sincerity)

God go with you, Mr Vereker (He turns his horse about as the

band

music swells to its conclusion).

86. THE CAMP AT RORKE'S DRIFT. THE BORDER WITH ZULULAND. DAY.

TRAVELLING P.O.V.

THE THREAT OF THE BACKLIGHTED LANDSCAPE BEFORE THEM,

THE SUN GLARE MAKING CLARITY OF VISION DIFFICULT. CAMERA

PANS UP RIVER. THE MOUNTED INFANTRY CROSS TO THE FAR

BACK, THE UNION JACK HELD PROUDLY ALOFT.

87. RIVER BANK.

Two punts, carrying redcoated soldiers are being hauled across

the water by

rows of Basutos on the opposite bank.

As they unload, the soldiers immediately form into columns.

88.The first ox-wagon is driven out of the river, with much

shouting and

encouragement from the drover and watching soldiers. There is

general activity

everywhere.

89.LOW SHOT. The wheels of the wagons and the Basuto's feet are

seen trudging

through the slop of mud.

90.LONG SHOT OF CAMP. A column of Basutos is seen walking

towards the camp.

The white tents are dominant in the background.

91.SWITCH to CHELMSFORD, seen mounted on horseback. He surveys

the

proceedings through a pair of binoculars.

92.CAMERA PANS to discover VEREKER, on horseback, leading the

troop of

SIKALI HORSE across the river.

93.CAMERA PICKS UP a calm LT. RAW as he crosses amidst the

multitude.

94.CLOSE UP of VEREKER. With gritted determination he spurs his

horse onward

up the bank.

95.SOT. WILLIAMS is seen seated upon a covered wagon about to

enter the water.

PTE. WILLIAMS is on foot trying to instruct the animals.

PTE. WILLIAMS (Pushing one of the animals from the rear)

Come on ox.

SGT. WILLIAMS

Out! Not the ox's arse, you bloody idiod

(PTE. WILLIAMS returns to pushing the side of the wagon).

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Get 'em in line!

(PTE. WILLIAMS loses his footing, slipping into the water. He

is fully

immersed).

PTE. WILLIAMS

Serg' ah, I'm drowning Sergeant.

(He stands and we see that the water only comes up to his

knee).

SGT. WILLIAMS

Williams, what the bloody 'ell do you mean by 'aving the sante

name

as me?

PTE. WILLIAMS

Sorry Serg' (He struggles onward through the water).

96.COGHILL & MELVILL are seen crossing.

97.More oxen cross.

98.A column of redcoats carrying rifles are seen striding

onward. The SIKALI

HORSE ride past in the foreground.

99.WIDE ANGLE. Both sides of the river are seen. Redcoats climb

the hill in the

foreground. Everywhere seems more settled.

100.CAMERA again picks up the SIKALI HORSE. They ride across

screen in

CLOSE FOREGROUND to reveal a stationary VEREKER on horseback.

NORRIS-NEWMAN rides towards him. He has a red

claret-and-port-drinker's

face and is wearing civilian bush-clothes including a huge

bush-hat.

NORRIS-NEWMAN

Do you think Cetshwayo will send a party to greet you, Mr

Vereker?

VEREKER (Calmly stroking his horse)

Oh they're here alright. We just have to make sure they don't

get back

to announce us.

NORRIS-NEWMAN

You mean you've seen them?

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