Zulu Dawn Page #4

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RAW salutes and leads VEREKER off left, as DURNFORD watches

their

departure.

41.INT. OFFICERS' MESS TENT. DAY

8

CLOSE UP. A scorpion is being removed from a specimen jar with

a pair of

tweezers. It is lifted out of shot to be examined under a

magnifying glass revealing

LIEUTENANTS COGHILL & MELVILL seated at an impressive green

baize table.

There are African servants, white-jacketed. SERGEANT MURPHY, a

short, broad

humorous, coarse-faced man, supervises the servants.

CHELMSFORD sits alone at a corner table reading his newspaper.

Other Officers are seated around the main table drinking claret

and smoking the

obligatory cigars. COLONEL PULLEINE is writing a letter whilst

LT. HARFORD

sits with his tins around him classifying his specimens.

As SOT. MURPHY refills their glasses COGHILL & MELVILL gossip

covertly in

half whispers so that their voices don't carry to the table of

their commander.

MELVILL:

Lighting COGHILL' 5 cigar:

Our good Colonel Dumford scored quite a coup with the Sikali

Horse.

COGHILL:

Um. There are rumours that my Lord Chelmsford intends to make

Durnford Second in Command.

MELVILL:

Well that's typical of Her Majesty's army. Appoint an engineer

to do a

soldier's work.

PULLEINE:

He continues writing without looking up:

Now, now Mr. Melvill, less of your spleen.

COGHILL & MELVILL smile at one another before their attention

is drawn to

LT. RAW and VEREKER entering the Mess.

RAW:

Addressing the Mess:

Stranger in the Mess. Gentlemen. (To CHELMSFORD) My LorJ

The officers and Vereker survey each other.

RAW:

To VEREKER:
Announce yourself

VEREKER spots CHELMSFORD in the corner.

VEREKER:

Good day Frederick.

9

CHELMSFORD:

Good day William. (Folding his newspaper, he stands to shake

hands).

Pleased you could join us.

The OFFICERS turn, a bit startled, to look at this newcomer who

is somehow on

first-name terms with the Lord General.

VEREKER:

It was either that, or join the Zulu.

CHELMSFORD:

(Removing his glasses).

Join the Zulu? Oh yes, you're right in the thick of it aren't

you? Talked to

your father before we sailed.. he said you 'd taken to farming

near Zulu land.

Sent his regards.. Should I meet up with you.

VEREKER (Wryly)

That was nice of the old boy.

CHELMSFORD:

I think you 'd better call out who you are.

VEREKER turns to address the Mess. CHELMSFORD sits.

VEREKER:

William Vereker.

Sergeant Murphy.

RAW:

MURPHY:

Sir?

RAW:

Bring drinks for the stranger. Allow me to introduce the Mess:

Colonel Pulleine. Messers. Melvill, Coghill...

With the exception of PULLEINE & MAJOR RUSSELL the Officers

stand as

they are introduced.

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