Zulu Dawn Page #5

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COGHILL:

Morning.

During the introductions, SOT. MURPHY selects a large, silver,

chalice-like

receptacle from a trophy table in another corner. He takes it

to the head of the

table.

RAW:

Jackson, Milne, Major Russel4 Stevenson,.

I0

STEVENSON:

How do you do?

RAW:

Haiford. . and Haiford's best frienJ

HARFORD raises a glass jar containing one of his prized

specimens in

acknowledgement.

Meanwhile MURPHY has collected a bottle of claret from a tray

brought by

another black servant. He pours the contents into the trophy.

RUSSELL:

Don 't leave your gin around, Vereker, or Harford will have it

full of

preserved butteifties. A damned waste, if you ask me.

HARFORD chuckles as he replaces the lid on his jar.

VEREKER:

Oh I doubt if I'll leave much of that around. There's quite a

shortage

where I've been.

COGHILL:

Puffing on his cigar:

Theyfight with spears don 't they? I mean it doesn't seem quite

fair

against the Martini Henry.

MELVILL:

You didn't really have to chose between your country and the

Zulu did

you?

VEREKER:

Um. And a damn close thing it was too.

RAW:

Taking the freshly filled trophy from MURPHY.

Ah, well done Murphy. (He presents it to VEREKER).

HARFORD:

Stranger's Cup. (The Officers sit.) Down it in one and we where

share

your Mess bill for a week.

VEREKER:

And {fI don't?

RAW:

Then a bottle of good claret to each member of the Mess is

charged to

your account

MELVILL:

if it's too much we can have the bill forwarded to your

father... in the

11

House of Lords. Oh no offence meant, Vereker.

VEREKER:

No offence taken, Melvill. (Taking the trophy from RAW).

To men who aren 't afraid to speak their minds.

RAW:

Good luck, Sir

VEREKER begins to drink. Gradually, the officers join in with

cheers of

encouragement until the entire Mess is chanting "Down, down,

down". They

bang their fists on the table in time with the chants.

Gulping back the liquid, VEREKER stops as if he has

accomplished his task.

The Officers applaud. General ad. lib. "Well done". Etc.

VEREKER (Expressionless)

Not quite.

Turning the trophy upside-down, he pours a small amount of

liquid onto the

floor. Appearing slightly intoxicated, his lips stained red

with the wine, he

smiles:

The bottles of claret, are on me Gentlemen.

General calls of "Here, here".

RAW:

Standing, he raises his glass to propose a toast:

The Regiment

OFFICERS:

The Regiment

VEREKER:

Still smiling, he wipes the remaining wine from the corners of

his moustache.

The Regiment.

42.EXT. ZULUKRAAL. DAY

A tall, bald imposing Zulu named MANTSHONGA enters the camp. He

makes

his way through a large regiment of young Zulu braves and older

INDUNAS:

(officers). They surround two young Zulu warriors who are

tautly circling.

Their shields are held at the defensive, their assegais poised

for underhand

thrust.

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