Battle of New Orleans Page #5

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Behind them two dozen RED CREEK INDIANS are being trained byBRITISH COMMANDERS. It’s not going well for either party.

EXT. MOBILE BAY - MORNING

The sun rises over the water. Jackson watches from shore as

he fingers a small COLONIAL COIN. It means something to him.

ANDREW JACKSON (V.O.)

How is it I’ve found myself here?

A simple man of the militia. But I

shall not stand idle like so manyothers and watch my country fall.

I have sacrificed far too much for

history to remember me as such.

11.

INT. BOARDING HOUSE - ROOM - MORNING

Jackson finishes dressing. He is meticulous.

ANDREW JACKSON (V.O.)

I miss you, my love, and my heart

yearns. Please hold me in your

prayers and pass my love to the

children. Your dearest, Andrew.

There’s a knock at the door. John Coffee enters.

ANDREW JACKSON:

I’m ready.

Jackson heads for the door, but not before --

JOHN COFFEE:

Sir -- if I may -- there’s over

three hundred miles of shore on our

coast, with myriad routes into New

Orleans, while Nicholls commands

but a small legion of troops -

ANDREW JACKSON:

You believe I’m the fool.

JOHN COFFEE:

I believe if we move to Pensacola,

the British will move to Mobile or

Biloxi or straight into the River.

They have options, sir, we have

none. And we know no one will come

to our assist. How many times have

we called for reinforcements this

past year and received nothing in

return? No matter how many battles

won, no matter how much land had.

Coffee speaks candidly with Jackson and Jackson, unlike withothers, listens. A friendship formed over many years.

ANDREW JACKSON:

We must not let them gain solid

ground, John. Not even a moment.

JOHN COFFEE:

The British Armada has sailed,

General. 20,000 troops. Perhaps

more. They have finished with

Napoleon and now they come for you.

12.

ANDREW JACKSON:

No. They come for us.

(beat)

Myriad routes, yes, by land and by

sea. But with the sea comes marsh.

Swamps. Inlets as wide as a man.

We move to Pensacola and force them

off dry land so into the River they

must go. I have seen the British

march and I will take my chanceswith the bog and the mud any day.

JOHN COFFEE:

My concern, General, is they areaware of this as well. If we force

them into the River, what will we

find when we meet them there?

ANDREW JACKSON:

The Devil himself But fear not,

John, we shall fight.

And as we hear the sound of a BOAT fighting against the sea -

EXT. BARATARIA BAY - MORNING

A BRITISH LONGBOAT is rowed through the rough waters of theGulf. Behind it waits the imposing brig-sloop HMS SOPHIE.

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