Zulu Dawn Page #7

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129.CHELMSFORD returns his binoculars to their case.

CHELMSFORD:

Welt, Gentlemen, first blood to us and a rousing good report in

the

newspapers to satisjy the politicians, eh?

130.EXT.CAMPATRORKE'SDRIFT. DUSK.

Camp-fires are seen and the sound of neighing horses are heard

as the

CAMERA follows a small troop of horsemen and wagon cross the

river. The

CAMERA pans towards the sunset as the "Last Post" is heard.

131.EXT. CETSHWAYO'S KRAAL. FIRST DAWN

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The ROYAL IMPIS squat as they listen to their King. Huge,

powerful,

glowering. He holds the royal trident spear in his hand as he

strides before them.

CETSHWAYO:

My warriors, our people are hungry. We must gather the crops

that

will feed us through the Winter But first we must defend our

lands...

from those who would steal the fruits of our labours. The

British have

broken their promise.. and crossed the Buffalo River into our

home-

lands. We must fight to survive.

A huge hissing sound comes from the multitudes. Assegais thrust

to the sun

red sky. CETSHWAYO points westward.

CETSHWAYO:

We must kill!

ALL ZULUS:

Usutu... Usutu... Usutu.. ("Kill")

132.Black outlines against the rising red sun, assegais and

shields rattling, the

Zulus hail their King, pledging loyalty to the death.

133.LONGSHOT. EARLYMORNING.

The full splendour of the mountain can be seen through the

mist. The country,

wide-rolling, is beautiful, but empty.

134.The camp is silent. ALL men's eyes are towards the mountain.

CHELMSFORD, seated, views the sight through his telescope.

CREALOCK:

& PULLEINE are close by.

MELVILL approaches on horse-back. He addresses PULLEINE:

MELVILL (Saluting)

We 're ready to move out, ColoneL

PULLEINE (Addressing CHELMSFORD)

My Lord, we're prepared to move armour to er

CHELMSFORD:

Your destination, Colonel?

PULLEINE:

Um Isil'... (He has difficulty pronouncing the word)

CREALOCK (With exact pronounciation)

Isandhlwana. Four miles further than that tallest hilL Follow

the

track and it will lead us to the slopes of the mountain.

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PULLEINE (With quiet contemplation)

Isandhlwana. ..yes....

CHELMSFORD (Leaning away from his telescope)

Isandhlwana.

135.THE ARMY PREPARES TO MARCH JNLAND FROM THE RIVER.

136.CHELMSFORD'S army, with ox-wagons seven-abreast, comes to

life and

proceeds to lumber noisily toward the peak.

137.MELVILL'S company of REDCOATS, guarding the left flank of

the

wagons, marches, rifles at the ready. Platoons move tactically,

one section

of each platoon is always in a defensive position.

138.Tension everywhere. Drovers glance anxiously upwards. Empty

of visible

signs of the enemy, the hills are no less threatening.

139.MELVILL (on horseback) approaches the lead wagon driven by

BLOOMFIELD & BOY-PULLEN.

MELVILL:

I want your wagons in an extended line, Quartermaster, but not

too

extended, or my Company can 'tprotect them. No more than fifty

feet

between each one.

BLOOMFIELD:

Sir~

MELVILL returns to the flank

BLOOMFIELD (To BOY-PULLEN)

if they're too close together, the stupid things 'ii walk into

each other

and you can sit on your arse for a good four hours.

Turning about on his seat he addresses the train under his

command:

BLOOMFIELD:

Come on lads, keep them wagons moving. No more than fifty feet

Keep 'em moving. Keep 'em moving.

140.COGHILL, stationary, astride his horse watches the

movement.

COGHILL (Addressing MELVILL)

There Melvill, there stretched out is my Lord Chelmsford '5

Army.

(Spurring his horse onward) What a wondeiful adventure we

undertake. What a marvellous spree.

COGHILL & MELVILL break into a canter.

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141.VARIOUS SHOTS OF THE INCESSANT MOVEMENT FORWARDS.

142.SHOUTS, COMMANDS, THE MOVE INTO ZULULAND has started with

urgency.

143.EXT. ZULULAND EAST OF ISANDHLWANA. HOT SUNNY DAY.

FANNIN, a short, fat English settler, in his thirties,

gross-featured, rides

sleepily over sloping terrain. Behind him, on foot, several

black African

retainers follow desultorily. FANNIN snorts, sweats, appears

generally

fat and unhealthy. He halts his horse and removes a bottle from

his saddle-

bag. He takes a large swig from the remaining liquid and

discards the

bottle.

144.FANNIN reaches the top of an animal track at the top of a

ridge. Looking

down he spots several ZULUS herding a small group of cattle.

The ZULUS

shout calls of alarm.

145.Turning around to give orders to his retainers, FANNIN

spots them scrambling

down the slope away from the ZULUS.

146.As FANNIN returns to face front, he gapes as he notices

that the valley is

black with ZULU IMPIS. They are run-marching towards the west.

No

noise save the disciplined swish of thousands of feet in the

dust.

147.FANNIN hesitates, realizes he's been spotted, quicky,

cruelly jerks his

horse's head round and spurs over the ridge into the next

valley.

148.UHAMA calls out and MBILINI, BAYELE & another, with UHAMA,

sprint

up the ridge in pursuit of FANNIN. As they mount the crest,

they see FANNIN

belting down the far side in search of safety. UHAMA stops the

other three

momentarily from continuing the chase.

UHAMA:

Follow the white Man, let him see you. He will lead you to the

soldiers. Then, let the white Soldiers take you. When they think

they have broken you tell them that the Impis are in the East

149.EXT. ZULULAND NEAR ISANDHLWANA. DAY.

The three Zulus set off in pursuit of FANNIN.

Riding desperately, FANNIN, his mouth open in fear and his

shoulders

heaving with effort, drives his tired horse over the rough

country.

FANNIN peers about. Huge pistol in his hand, he spots MBILINI

and fires.

MBILINI 'dies' dramatically, but when FANNIN rides on, MBILINI

comes

to life, grinning and joins the others to track FANNIN.

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150.VEREKER and SIKALI appear beyond the next ridge. Spotting

FANNIN,

VEREKER gives the signal to advance.

151.FANNIN reaches VEREKER's party.

FANNIN:

Zulu Zulu!

FANNIN droops in his saddle, too tired to talk. He manages to

dismount.

VEREKER (Offering a drink from his hip-flask)

Here.

FANNIN:

I'm ill.. dozens of Zulus followed me. I must have shot five,

six, ten,

I lost count. They just kept coming. Blood curdling swine.

152.VEREKER looks down the slope at the three Zulus who have

now been

apprehended by the SIKALI. FANNIN drinks again. His avid, greedy

behaviour does not enamour his rescuers.

VEREKER:

Why did they attack you?

FANNIN:

I discovered their Army, Your Honour a valley full of them and

beyondt

VEREKER:

Army? what Army?

FANNIN:

Beyond them hills, Sir and coming this way.

VEREKER surveys the area. The terrain is empty.

153.A concealed Zulu scout watches stolidly at the distance

reduced figures below.

ST:

154.THE CAMP AT ISANDHLWANA. 21 JANUARY. 6.OOPM

CHELMSFORD's party ride into camp.

155.PULLEINE is seated at a table outside his tent. He is

smoking and studying a

document as SGT. MURPHY pours red wine into his tankard. VEREKER

crosses in front of the table.

PULLEINE:

Officer Vereker, er, would you mind me asking you to take a

look at

this map?

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