Zulu Dawn Page #9

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SGT. WILLIAMS

Just follow the track, Sir, you '11 come to Lord Chelmsford '5

Head Quarters.

DURNFORD (Spurring his horse onward)

Sergeant

SGT. WILLIAMS

Get down, lads.

The line of sentries relax, unfix their bayonets and most

proceed to return to

their sleeping bags.

PTE. WILLIAMS is deflated almost to the point of tears.

SGT. WILLIAMS

You done welL Keep it up laJ Keep it up.

A smile reappears upon PTE. WILLIAMS face. He resumes his watch

with

renewed enthusiasm.

167.INT. CHELMSFORD'S TENT NIGHT.

39

CHELMSFORD is seated on his bed. DURNFORD stands before him

distressed, blinking at his commander's verbal assault.

CHELMSFORD:

You intended to bring your reserves across the river?

DURNFORD:

I have received intelligence from, sources of my own that the

Zulu

Impis are moving North of here and threaten your left.

CHELMSFORD:

Intelligence? Sources of your own? Did it not occur to you they

may be native rumours? Rumours to draw you off- to leave the

whole ofNatal open to a possible counter thrust

DURNFORD (After a beat)

Cetshwayo wants a head on battle. A decisive victory, so that

his

people can get on with the one battle that is life and death

for his

Nation - a delayed harvest

CHELMSFORD:

Are you dictating the strategy of this war, Sir?

DURNFORD:

I'm explaining my reasons.

CREALOCK enters the tent.

CHELMSFORD:

Yes?

CREALOCK:

A large party of Zulus have been sighted in the direction of

the King's

KraaL

Getting up, CHELMSFORD moves over to look at the map on his

desk.

168.CLOSE UP of map as CHELMSFORD picks up a pair of dividers

and

measures the distance between Isandhlwana and Ulundi.

169.CHELMSFORD turns to face the two men.

CHELMSFORD:

Tomorrow we will continue our advance on Ulundi. Dumford,

kindly return to your unit Bring them here immediately to

support Pulleine. Mr Vereker will join you as ADC. Do you

understand me clearly?

DURNFORD:

And the threat of counter invasion no longer exists?

40

170.

171.

Colonel, if on another occasion you flout my direct orders I

shall

reluctantly relieve you of your commanJ

DURNFORD exits in silence. CREALOCK walks over to the map.

CREALOCK:

Perhaps he has thought to conquer Zululand on his own, My LorJ

CLOSE UP of CHELMSFORD as he nods in silent agreement.

THE CAMP AT ISANDHLWANA. 22N9 JANUARY. 7.OOAM.

Reveille is heard. CHELMSFORD emerges from his tent with

VEREKER.

CHELMSFORD:

CHELMSFORD:

I trust you to keep me well informed of Colonel Durnford and

his men

when they arrive William.

VEREKER:

Certainly Frederick.

CHELMSFORD mounts his horse.

CHELMSFORD:

Gentlemen, we move to find camp and engage the enemy, and my

nose

tells me that we may make early contacfl

CHELMSFORD and his party move out. VEREKER looks on.

172.PULLEINE is stationary, astride his horse. MELVILL

approaches on

horseback.

PULLEINE:

Mr Melvill, until the reinforcement arrives we will Stand To.

MELVILL:

Sir (Riding off, he addresses a Bugler) You there. Sound "Fall

In".

173.As CHELMSFORD'S COLUMN moves out, the camera pans away up

to the

hills to reveal a hidden Zulu Scout.

The rear units are half-a-mile from the camp.

174.Below, the camp prepares for immediate battle activity

everywhere.

Redcoats line up, buckling on their packs and pouches.

175.PULLEINE, MELVILL & COGHILL, all on horseback, are engaged

in

conversation.

41

PULLEINE (To COGHILL)

Huge expanse to keep an eye on. (Referring to Nqutu Range) Would

you mind riding over to Stuart Smith & asking him to bring his

artillery about?

COGHILL:

Sir (Riding off)

PULLEINE:

Oh, Mr Melvill, kindly send a lookout Tell him to call out the

instant he spies Colonel Durnford's Column coming to reinforce

us.

MELVILL departs.

176.COGHILL arrives at STUART SMITH's area.

COGHILL:

Stuart?

STUART SMITH:

Yes.

COGHILL:

How quickly can you move your artillery forward?

STUART SMITH:

Well, my horses are feeding, as you may observe, Mr Coghill.

It'll

take a little while.

COGHILL:

Well, fed or hungry, Pulleine wants them in position

immediately. (He

departs).

STUART SMITH:

Right. (Addressing one of his men) Bombardier, to me please.

177.CLOSE UP of a concerned looking PULLEINE.

178.Various shots of CHELMSFORD'S COLUMN moving forward.

l'79.CLOSE in on CHELMSFORD as he rides to meet NOGGS (NORRIS-

NEWMAN)

CHELMSFORD:

What o'clock is it, Mr Noggs?

NORRIS-NEWMAN

Eleven o'clock, My LorJ

42

CHELMSFORD:

Our friend Colonel Dumford will be should be at this minute

approaching Pulleine. I think we'll eat here. I want to scout

that

mountain top and be back with an appetite in one hour. (He turns

his horse about).

CREALOCK:

Sir

180.DURNFORD'S ARRIVAL AT ISANDHLWANA.

22ND JANUARY. 1 1.OOAM

DURNFORD'S COLUMN pounds down the slope into the camp. It is

welcomed with relief, tension everywhere relaxes and smiles are

seen. There

is calling and greeting between the forces.

181.AREA BETWEEN WAGONS.

BAYELE and the OTHER ZULU CAPTIVE held for questioning are tied

up

to wagons in an area somewhat screened from the camp. MBILINI

is on

the ground, his feet and hands are bound.

TWO SENTRIES guard them. MBILINI lies almost unconscious, tongue

lolling, from the ropes that bind him. Evidence of the beating

he has

undergone is extensive.

The TWO REDCOAT SENTRIES run forward to see DURNFORD'S

COLUMN arrive, momentarily leaving the captives.

BAYELE (To MBILINI with whisper)

My brother We must warn our King. I will call the white

soldier back. Can you still move to help me?

MBILINI nods.

BAYELE (Shouting)

Guard. Guard!

The TWO SENTRIES turn. One addreses the other:

SENTRY:

I'llfix 'im, Serg'

He starts to walk back to the wagons. BAYELE continues to

shout.

SENTRY:

Shut that yellin' up, you 'ear me! (He reaches the wagons) Did

you

'ear me? Shut up!

43

As he passes MBILINI on the ground, the warrior thrusts his

trussed legs

between the SENTRY'S legs. The SENTRY stumbles to the ground,

his

head near BAYELE'S feet. He immediately starts to rise but

before he can,

BAYELE has lifted his powerful foreleg waist high in stamping

position and

brings it down with a sickening crunch onto the SENTRY'S lower

neck.

Now all is desperate speed. Under BAYELE'S directions, MBILINI

stretches to the unconscious SENTRY and manages to take his

bayonet

with his bound feet.

182.INTERCUT WITH SHOTS OF DURNFORD'S ARRIVAL IN CAMP.

183.Cutting the ropes about his neck, MBILINI suceeds in rising

to his feet,

managing to get the bayonet blade to BAYELE'S bonds.

Between them the first ropes are cut.

As BAYELE'S hands are freed, the SENTRY on the ground starts to

regain

consciousness. Taking the bayonet from MBILINI, BAYELE thrusts

the

weapon into the SENTRY'S back killing him. He removes the

bayonet

from the SENTRY'S body and also takes a knife from the redcoat's

scabbard which he hands to MBILINI. Together they free the

third Zulu

tied to the other wagon.

Making their escape, they edge beyond the wagons. Crouching

low, they

run up the slope and head for the North.

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