THE PATRIOT

Martin mount up, grateful to leave the sincerity behind.

Gabriel and Anne sees Martin and his men starting to ride

off.  He grabs Anne by the arm, pulls her behind a tree

and gives her a goodbye kiss... a real kiss.

Then, leaving Anne breathless, he RUNS TO HIS HORSE,

MOUNTS WITH A DRAMATIC LEAP and GALLOPS OFF, taking his

place at his father's side.

Martin looks over.  Gabriel smiles, revealing his

blackened teeth.  Martin looks at the teeth curiously as

they ride away.

ANNE and the other townspeople watch them go.  Anne

smiles, revealing her own teeth, blackened from Gabriel's

kiss.

EXT.  CHARLESTON ROAD - DAY

Martin his men sit on their motionless horses in the

middle of the road.  They hear a SOUND APPROACHING, then

see two British wagons round a curve with a guard of only

SIX REDCOATS, commanded by a REDCOAT SERGEANT.  The

Redcoat Sergeant signals stop.

                         REDCOAT SERGEANT

          Halt.  Look alive, boys.

The young Redcoat privates nervously UNSHOULDER THEIR

MUSKETS.

                         MARTIN

          Sergeant, this road is closed.

          Those wagons now belong to the

          Continental Army.

                         REDCOAT SERGEANT

          Ready arms!  By twos!

Martin's surprised by the Sergeant's order.

                         MARTIN

          Sergeant, there's no reason for you

          and your men to die.  Just leave the

          wagons and go.

                         REDCOAT SERGEANT

          Steady, boys...

Martin sighs and lets loose with a PIERCING WHISTLE.  The

underbrush parts and more of Martin's men show themselves,

MUSKETS LEVELED at the outnumbered Redcoats.

                         REDCOAT SERGEANT

          This is the King's highway and I

          advise you and your men to make way.

                  (to his men)

          Prepare to fire.

Martin exchanges a look with Rev. Oliver who, like Martin,

doesn't want to kill these men.  Seeing no other option,

Martin turns to give the order, then stops, hearing a

FAINT BARELY DETECTABLE, RUMBLING SOUND...

A moment later Brother Joseph hears it as well... HORSES

HOOVES, LOTS OF THEM, growing louder by the second,

THUNDERING toward them from the road behind the British

wagons...

Then, the SOUND OF MORE HORSES, coming in fast on both

flanks.

                         MARTIN

          It's a trap...

The canvas sides of the British wagons are THROWN UP and

DOZENS OF REDCOATS, armed with muskets, spill out...

Martin's unmounted men run to their horses, LEAPING into

their saddles...

Then GREEN DRAGOONS appear, galloping down the wooded

slopes on both flanks, astonishing horsemen, weaving

through the trees without slacking their pace, SWORDS

DRAWN, PISTOLS PRIMED...

                         REDCOAT SERGEANT

          FIRE!

A THUNDEROUS VOLLEY ERUPTS from the Redcoat infantry,

KILLING several of Martin's men...

Martin's men FIRE BACK from their BUCKING MOUNTS, most of

their shots going awry...

Behind the British wagons, a huge detachment of GREEN

DRAGOONS appears, TAVINGTON among them...

MARTIN SEES THE DRAGOONS BUT NOT TAVINGTON HIMSELF...

MARTIN AND HIS MEN spur their mounts, taking off down the

road in the opposite direction...

The FLANKING BODIES OF DRAGOONS gallop out of the woods,

JOINING THE MAIN BODY, riding in hard pursuit...

EXT.  WOODED ROAD - DAY

Martin and his men GALLOP down the road.  The much larger

body of Green Dragoons THUNDER after them.

EXT.  BLACK SWAMP ROAD - DAY

Martin and his men ride along a raised road that drops off

into Black Swamp on either side...

They ROUND A CURVE AND STOP, reining back their horses in

confusion as they see:

FIFTY GREEN DRAGOONS heading straight toward them...

THE DRAGOONS OPEN FIRE from both directions, KILLING

several more of Martin's men, WOUNDING others...

Martin's men FIRE BACK as best they can, caught in the

CHAOS OF BUCKING AND FALLING HORSES and WOUNDED AND

DISMOUNTED MEN...

Martin and his men head off both sides of the road INTO

THE SWAMP...

ON THE ROAD a dozen-and-a-half of Martin's men are

surrounded by Green Dragoons... they surrender...

The rest of the Green Dragoons, including Tavington, spur

their horses into the swamps, racing after Martin...

EXT.  BLACK SWAMP - LATE AFTERNOON

MARTIN AND HIS MEN RIDE HARD along a circuitous, barely

visible trail that is covered with shallow water.  Several

of the men are badly wounded, barely clinging to their

saddles.  Other men share mounts.

They get to a fork, SPLIT UP.  As they disappear into the

swamp, the sounds of their horses are swallowed up in the

LOUD BUZZING OF SWAMP INSECTS and the CRIES OF THE SWAMP

BIRDS...

A moment later, Tavington and the vanguard of Dragoons

ride up.  Tavington signals stop at the fork...

Looks... nothing.  Listens... nothing.  Chooses a path,

the one Martin took.  Rides off, the Dragoons following...

EXT.  SWAMP MORASS - EVENING

Tavington and fifteen of his Dragoons struggle through a

nearly impassable morass of swamp-grass, reeds and

swarming mosquitoes...

The exhausted Dragoons are wet, covered with mud, and

bleeding from swamp briars.  The horses are spent and

foaming...

Tavington struggles harder than any, but finally even he

has had enough.  He reins back his horse.

                         TAVINGTON

          HALT!

Tavington glares into the impenetrable darkness of plant-

choked water and swamp...

                         TAVINGTON

          Enough of this.  There are other

          ways to run down a fox.

Tavington yanks on his reins, turns his horse and starts

back the way they came.  His grateful men turn their

horses and follow.

IN THE UNDERGROWTH, Martin and about ten of his men, calm

their horses.  Several of the wounded men are on the

ground, being tended by Gabriel and others.

They can hear, but not see the Dragoons.  Then, through

the thick undergrowth, MARTIN CATCHES A GLIMPSE OF

TAVINGTON...

Gabriel sees his father lock his eyes on Tavington...

Martin quickly opens his weapons pouch and pulls out one

of the bullets he made from Thomas' lead soldiers.

Walking to his horse, Martin loads...

Martin mounts, scanning the terrain, planning a route...

                         GABRIEL

          Father, no...

As Martin spurs his horse to ride after Tavington, Gabriel

grabs the bridle.  He YANKS HARD, stopping Martin's horse

dead.  THE HORSE BUCKS, nearly throwing Martin...

                         MARTIN

          That's him.  Tavington.

MARTIN SPURS THE HORSE which tries to respond but is

JERKED BACK AGAIN by Gabriel.  Martin angrily turns on his

son...

                         MARTIN

          Damn you!  Let go!

Gabriel looks up at his father, never loosening his iron

grip on the bridles but speaking softly, almost

pleadingly:

                         GABRIEL

          Father, please...

Martin looks down at Gabriel, then over at Rev. Oliver and

the wounded men... one bleeds from an ugly neck wound,

another is unconscious... their shared mounts are nearly

spent...

Martin takes a last look in the direction of the departing

Tavington.  He drops the reins, giving control of the

horse to Gabriel, and sighs with more anger than

resignation.

                         MARTIN

          You should have let me kill him.

                         GABRIEL

          At the expense of your men?  Or when

          he killed Thomas at the expense of

          your family?

                         MARTIN

          No...

                         GABRIEL

          Or perhaps tomorrow at the expense

          of our cause.

Martin is silent.  Then he dismounts and heads over to

help the wounded.  Gabriel watches his father for a

moment, then joins him with the wounded.

EXT.  FORT CAROLINA - DAY

A REDCOAT SENTRY sees a lone figure on horseback ride out

of distant woods.  It's Martin, carrying a white flag and

a dispatch case, trailed by the two Great Danes.  The

sentry calls to the Commander of the Watch.

                         REDCOAT SENTRY

          Sir.

INT.  CORNWALLIS' HEADQUARTERS - FORT CAROLINA - DAY

A temporary HQ has been set up in a grand commandeered

plantation house.  Cornwallis stands uncomfortably while a

incompetent-looking, provincial tailor measures him and

marks alterations on a partially completed uniform.  Major

Halbert enters and hands Cornwallis Martin's dispatch

case.

                         MAJOR HALBERT

          General, a rider is outside.  He

          claims to be the commander of the

          rebel militia.  He has a pair of

          Great Danes with him.

A surprised Cornwallis takes the message and reads it.

                         CORNWALLIS

          It seems our Swamp Fox wants to have

          a formal parley.

Cornwallis smiles confidently.

EXT.  FORT CAROLINA - DAY

The gates are opened and Martin rides in, trailed by the

Great Danes, flanked by half-a-dozen Redcoat cavalry.

Redcoats and Green Dragoons stop in their tracks.  All

eyes are on Martin as he is escorted to the plantation

house.

From the far side of the assembly yard, Tavington watches

Martin curiously, not recognizing him.

INT.  CORNWALLIS' HEADQUARTERS - DAY

Major Halbert ushers Martin in.  The Great Danes follow

sniffing, sensing something or someone.

                         MAJOR HALBERT

          Lord Cornwallis will be with you

          presently.

Major Halbert gives Martin a derisive glance and leaves.

MARTIN ALONE, EXCEPT FOR THE DOGS, allows himself a

fleeting smile.  Then he looks around the room.  He notes

a rocking chair.  Curious, he hefts it.  Too heavy.  He

puts it down, sits and rocks.

The dogs walk over to him.  One of the dogs lays its head

in Martin's lap.  He scratches it behind the ears.  The

other dog wants to play.  Martin stands.  The dog jumps

up, putting its front legs on Martin's shoulders and licks

his face just as Cornwallis walks in.  Cornwallis is taken

aback by the display of affection, but overjoyed to see

his dogs.

                         CORNWALLIS

          Jupiter!  Mars!

The dogs just look at Cornwallis.  He holds out his arms,

waiting for them to rush to him.  They look up at Martin

who nods to them.

                         MARTIN

          Go.

The dogs run to Cornwallis and nuzzle him in a friendly

but not enthusiastic manner.  Cornwallis pats them

vigorously, too vigorously for the moderate level of joy

the dogs are showing at their reunion.

                         CORNWALLIS

          My boys... my boys... you seem to

          have been well fed.  Thank you for

          that, Colonel.

                         MARTIN

          My pleasure, sir.

                         CORNWALLIS

          Please forgive me for keeping you

          waiting.

                         MARTIN

          Apology accepted.

                         CORNWALLIS

          Thank you, Colonel... I'm afraid I

          don't know your name.

                         MARTIN

          Colonel will do.

                         CORNWALLIS

          As you wish.

TAVINGTON ENTERS with four Dragoons, all armed...

Martin freezes...

Martin and Tavington lock eyes.  Martin searches for some

sign that Tavington recognizes him.  There's none.

                         CORNWALLIS

          Colonel... Colonel William

          Tavington.

Tavington nods.

                         TAVINGTON

          Colonel.

Martin, like ice, looks Tavington up and down.  Then he

slowly turns and looks at the four Dragoons, two on either

side of Tavington.  Martin measures the odds and finds

them wanting.

With a supreme effort of will, Martin forces himself to

turn from Tavington to Cornwallis and the matter at hand.

                         MARTIN

          Shall we proceed?

                         CORNWALLIS

          Let us.  Unless you object, I would

          like to deem this meeting a formal

          negotiation and, as such, there are

          certain customary practices.

          Perhaps I could explain them to

          you...

                         MARTIN

          I'm familiar with how a formal

          negotiation is handled.

                         CORNWALLIS

          Oh?

                         MARTIN

          I served in His Majesty's army in

          the French and Indian War.

                         CORNWALLIS

          Oh.  Very well, then.  Would you, as

          the initiating party, like to begin?

                         MARTIN

          Unless you would like to claim

          aggrieved status.

Cornwallis is surprised.  He exchanges a look with

Tavington.

                         CORNWALLIS

          You are familiar with how these

          things are done.  In fact, I would

          like to claim aggrieved status.

                         MARTIN

          Very well, proceed, sir.

                         CORNWALLIS

          First, you have in your possession

          certain belongings of mine,

          including clothing, private papers,

          furniture and personal effects of a

          non-military nature which I would

          like to have returned to me.

                         MARTIN

          I will do so as soon as possible.

Cornwallis is surprised.

                         CORNWALLIS

          Thank you.

                         MARTIN

          Please accept my apology for not

          having done so sooner.

                         CORNWALLIS

          Apology accepted.  Now, on the

          matter of the specific targeting of

          officers during engagements, this is

          absolutely unacceptable.

                         MARTIN

          That one is a bit more difficult.

                         CORNWALLIS

          Certainly you must know that in

          civilized warfare, officers in the

          field must not be accorded

          inappropriate levels of hostile

          attention.

                         MARTIN

          And what are inappropriate levels of

          hostile attention?

                         CORNWALLIS

          Colonel, imagine the utter chaos

          that would result from un-led armies

          having at each other.  There must be

          gentlemen in command to lead and,

          when appropriate, restrain their

          men.

                         MARTIN

          Restrain them from the targeting of

          civilians, including women and

          children?

                         CORNWALLIS

          That is a separate issue.

                         MARTIN

          I consider them linked.

                         CORNWALLIS

          I beg to differ.  One is a command

          decision on your part.  The other

          represents nothing more than the

          occasional over-exuberance of field

          officers attempting to carry out

          their duty in difficult

          circumstances.

                         MARTIN

          As long as your soldiers attack

          civilians, I will order the shooting

          of your officers at the outset of

          every engagement.

                  (beat)

          And my men are excellent marksmen.

Cornwallis sighs.

                         CORNWALLIS

          Very well, let us move on to...

                         MARTIN

          Prisoner exchange.

                         CORNWALLIS

          Sir?

                         MARTIN

          You have eighteen of my men.  I want

          them back.

                         CORNWALLIS

          I do have eighteen criminals under

          sentence of death, but I hold no

          prisoners-of-war.

                         MARTIN

          If that's your position, then

          eighteen of your officers will die.

          Nineteen, if you hang me with my

          men.

                         CORNWALLIS

          What officers?

Martin steps to the window, checks the view.  A wooded

hillside is visible in the distance.  Martin reaches into

his jacket...

The Dragoons move on him...

Martin extracts not a weapon, but a spyglass, which he

hands to Cornwallis.

                         MARTIN

          In the clearing, just down from the

          crest, to the left of the dark

          pines...

Cornwallis looks through the spyglass.

VIEW THROUGH THE SPYGLASS

Though difficult to see clearly through the shimmering

haze, Cornwallis can just make out a row of bound Redcoat

officers, with Patriot soldiers holding muskets at their

heads.

CORNWALLIS turns coldly to Martin.

                         CORNWALLIS

          Their names, ranks and posts?

                         MARTIN

          They refused to give me their names.

          Their ranks are nine lieutenants,

          five captains, three majors and one

          fat colonel who called me a cheeky

          fellow.  Their posts?  We picked

          them up here-and-there last night.

Cornwallis glares at Martin.

                         CORNWALLIS

          You are not a gentleman.

Martin can't help but laugh at the insult.

                         MARTIN

          If your conduct is the measure of a

          gentleman, I take that as a

          compliment.

                  (coldly)

          Get my men.

Cornwallis turns to Colonel Huntington.

                         CORNWALLIS

          Arrange the exchange.

Colonel Huntington leaves to do so.

                         MARTIN

          Thank you, General.  I'm sure your

          officers will thank you, as well.