Breaker Morant Page #2

As a matter of interest,

how many courts-martial have you done?

-None.

-None?

Jesus, they're playing with

a double-headed penny, aren't they?

Would you rather

conduct your own defense?

But you have handled

a lot of court cases back home, sir?

No. I was a country town solicitor.

I handled land conveyancing and wills.

Wills. Might come in handy.

I'm going to need a lot of information.

Do you think they're going to imprison us

or cashier us, sir?

-My father, if he found out...

-Haven't they told you?

There are several murder charges.

The penalty is death.

"Long as the waves shall roll

"Long as fame guards us whole

"And men who heart and soul

thrill to true glory

"Their deeds from age to age

"Shall voice and verse engage

"Swelling the splendid page

of England's story"

It's a matter of discipline and tradition.

Do you think this could've happened with

any contingent besides the Australians?

But Morant's not an Australian.

You're splitting hairs. He's been out there

15 years, learned all their bad habits.

I never thought

you colonials got lost, Major.

I've been at the prison, sir.

Major Thomas, Major Bolton.

Captain Nicholson.

Lieutenants Reed and Baxter.

Miss...

How do you do?

I understand your Mr. Morant

is something of a poet, Major.

That's right.

He wrote for a paper called The Bulletin

in Sydney.

A Tennyson of the Transvaal.

The Byron of the Bushveldt Carbineers.

Why is it he's referred to as Breaker Morant?

Ladies' man, perhaps? A breaker of hearts.

No, he was a horse breaker.

I understand, the best in Australia.

Quite a Renaissance figure.

I daresay,

if everything goes well,

he could come and recite for us one night.

In the meantime, this refined-looking fellow

is an ex-opponent of ours,

who's wisely signed

the non-combatant pledge.

They say he has a fine voice.

Only speaks Dutch, though.

So, Mr. Baxter and ladies,

you'll have to tell us what it's all about.

A few things to clear up.

How many men at Fort Edward?

About 50. Sometimes more, sometimes less.

-And most were Australians?

-We told you all this last night.

-About 45 of them were.

-Gentlemen.

The intelligence officer, Captain...

-Taylor?

-Taylor, yes.

-What did he have to do with this?

-Nothing.

Then who do you think filed the report

that led to your arrest?

Don't know, but it wasn't Taylor.

He was a good bloke.

Bring in the accused.

This court-martial is convened by order of...

I'd like to ask for an adjournment, sir.

-Adjournment? We've only just arrived.

-Yes, sir.

I only just arrived in Pietersburg yesterday.

It doesn't give me much time

to prepare a defense.

The prosecution's had six weeks.

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