Battle of New Orleans Page #6

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TITLE:
BARATARIA BAY - FORTY MILES SOUTH OF NEW ORLEANS

CAPTAIN NICHOLAS LOCKYER (36) and two other BRITISH OFFICERSare on the boat. Lockyer looks through a SPYGLASS toward -

Another BOAT being rowed out to meet them. A tall, handsome

WELL-DRESSED MAN (32) stands in the bow while four other mendo the rowing. The other men are dressed like, for lack of a

better word, PIRATES. Bandanas and brightly colored shirts.

Lockyer shares a look of trepidation with his officers.

EXT. BARATARIA BAY - MORNING

The two boats converge. The British are aghast by theappearance of the disheveled rowers. Lockyer stands -

NICHOLAS LOCKYER

(in French; subtitled)

My name is Captain NicholasLockyer, British Royal Navy. I am

here to gain audience with thepirate Jean Lafitte.

(MORE)

13.

NICHOLAS LOCKYER (CONT'D)

We offer your men no harm, thoughwe caution you of the closeness ofour brothers.

The well-dressed man considers Lockyer a moment. And then -

WELL-DRESSED MAN

I will take you to Lafitte.

EXT. GRAND TERRE ISLAND - BEACH - MORNING

The two boats come on shore at a nearby ISLAND -- an eighteensquare-mile sliver off the coast of Louisiana. They aregreeted by several hundred men, women and children.

These are the BARATARIANS OF GRANDE TERRE ISLAND. Like the

rowers of the boat, they are best equated with traditionalPIRATES. Free men of the seas, mostly French in descent.

The island is a WONDERLAND. There are huts and thatched

cottages as well as larger homes. Music is played on thebeaches, men passed out in the sand from the night before. A

fleet of battle-worn PIRATE SHIPS is anchored just off shore.

It is a paradise of a certain kind. To the British, they aredecidedly uncomfortable by their surroundings.

WELL-DRESSED MAN

Welcome to Grande Terre.

Lockyer has his hand on his PISTOL as the well-dressed manleads the officers through the CROWD. A few of the rougherBaratarians great them with jeers and cigar smoke.

The men head up a PATH into the woods. Lockyer eyes a FORTbuilt at the end of the beach well-armed with rows of CANNONS

and HEAVY ARTILLERY. They continue onto the island.

EXT. GRAND TERRE ISLAND - LAFITTE’S HOUSE - MORNING

The men finally arrive at a GRAND HOUSE in the trees. It’s

tastefully constructed with a magnificent wraparound BALCONY.

NICHOLAS LOCKYER

Is this where we will meet Lafitte?

I do not wish to be delayedfurther, we are on official

business of the Crown.

The well-dressed man turns... then SMILES gregariously. He

switches to a slightly French-accented English -

14.

WELL-DRESSED MAN

Messieurs, I am Lafitte. And if

it’s business you have, we will do

so only after a proper breakfast.

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