NAPOLEON

CORSICAN

Yes, sir?

NAPOLEON

A glass of champagne, please.

CORSICAN

(pouring)

Yes, sir. I hope you will excuse me

for asking, General Bonaparte, but

are you Corsican?

NAPOLEON

Yes, I am.

CORSICAN

I thought so, I noticed your name

when you were announced. I'm

Corsican too -- my name is Arena.

NAPOLEON

(starting to move

away)

Oh -- where do you come from?

CORSICAN

Bastia -- and you?

NAPOLEON

Ajaccio.

CORSICAN

Have you been back recently?

The bartender just manages to keep the conversation going.

NAPOLEON

I haven't been there for three

years.

CORSICAN

I haven't been back for ten years.

Is your family still there?

NAPOLEON

No, they're living in Nice now.

CORSICAN

That's a nice city. This is your

first time here, isn't it?

NAPOLEON

Yes, as a matter of fact, it is.

CORSICAN

You don't know many of Citizen

Barras' friends, do you?

NAPOLEON

Ah-hh, no.

CORSICAN

I thought not. I noticed you by

yourself, all night.

Napoleon nods, sips his champagne and starts to move away.

The Corsican leans forward and speaks in a confidential

whisper, scanning the room with a deadpan expression.

CORSICAN

Just a minute, General. Listen,

don't let them fool you with all

their grand la-de-da. They've all

made their money from the war --

mostly from crooked war contracts.

They say Citizen Barras has put away

millions.

NAPOLEON

(uncomfortably)

I see...

The Corsican whispers without any facial expression,

hardly moving his lips, without any sense of malice, but

more with a kind of shrewd respect for the big-shots, and

a satisfaction of being in on the know.

CORSICAN

And they say something else about

him. They say he never goes to bed

with less than two at a time -- two

at a time, and they say it doesn't

make a lot of difference to him

which sex they are, if you follow my

meaning, sir.

Napoleon nods, awkwardly, and leaves the bar.

CORSICAN

Have a nice evening, General.

Barras enters the room, stops in the doorway.

BARRAS

My friends, dinner will be ready in

half an hour. Please make your

plays accordingly.

His announcement draws only some mock cheers with low

murmurs from the losers. He comes up behind Josephine and

kisses her on the shoulder.

BARRAS

(softly)

How is your luck, darling?

Josephine slowly fans her cards to see the draw.

INT. BARRAS' MUSIC ROOM - NIGHT

Later in the evening, the guests are now assembled in

chairs, grouped in a semi-circle around two raised

rostrums -- one is really more of a small stage. The

smaller rostrum supports a string quartet playing Mozart.

The larger one is empty.

Napoleon sits at the back of the room, still alone and

awkward.

Servants snuff out the candles, leaving only the empty

stage illuminated.

It begins to look like a musical evening until the

entrance onto the stage of three very attractive girls,

dressed in heavy winter costumes.

The three "actresses" begin to talk about being snowbound

in a desolate cabin, when their conversation is

interrupted by the entrance of three young desperados.

The purpose of this entertainment quickly reveals itself

as the young men proceed to strip off the girls' clothing

and have intercourse with them.

The distinguished audience sits coolly appreciative of the

"sextet."

Napoleon, still the provincial, can scarcely believe his

eyes.

Josephine, seated next to Barras, watches the proceedings,

an imperturbable study of elegance and charm. Barras

takes her hand and smiles at her. She whispers something

to him and he nods, gravely.

EXT. PARIS STREET - DAY

A mob, carrying royalist signs, is jammed into a side

street, their exit barred by a few hundred government

troops. Things have come to a standstill, and the front

ranks of the opposing forces have begun to exchange crude,

but not unfriendly, jokes.

A table and two chairs, from a nearby cafe, have been

placed in the middle of the street, dividing the two

groups. Seated at it are General Danican, the emigre

leader of the mob, and General Menou, his government

opposite number. Danican is reading over some handwritten

sheets of paper which represent an improvised treaty

between the two forces. General Menou sips a cup of

coffee, looking worried and uncertain.

NARRATOR

A new political crisis was brewing

in Paris. The moderate government

of the Convention, which came to

power after the fall of Robespierre,

soon showed itself to be inept,

corrupt and unpopular -- and it was

now faced with a serious challenge

from the royalists. General Menou,

sent out to deal with the mob, lost

his nerve and agreed to withdraw his

troops from the Section.

EXT. PARIS STREET - NIGHT

It is the same evening. Napoleon, Junot and Marmont stand

in a crowd, listening to a Royalist speaker, who stands

atop a wagon, against a carefully painted sign,

illuminated by torches, reading "Long Live the King."

ROYALIST SPEAKER

Citizens of Paris, this morning, the

troops of the Convention, under

orders to sweep us from the streets,

gave way before our victorious

banners.

(cheers)

Their officers knew they would not

fire upon us. Citizens of Paris,

nothing can stop us now. We are

40,000 strong. Tomorrow morning, we

will occupy the Convention itself,

and we will exterminate the

hypocritical parasites who have bled

France without pity.

(cheers)

Long Live the King!

INT. BARRAS' OFFICE - NIGHT

Barras' office in the Tuileries. The room is lit by

candles. Barras is in a terrible state, ashen from fear

and lack of sleep.

Napoleon enters. Barras rises from his desk and comes

forward to greet him.

BARRAS

Ah, my dear friend, come in, come

in. Please sit down.

NAPOLEON

I'm sorry, I was at the theater and

I didn't receive your note until I

returned to my hotel.

BARRAS

Thank you for coming. Would you

care for a drink?

NAPOLEON

No, thank you.

Barras shakily pours a large brandy for himself, speaking

in subdued and apprehensive tones, frequently running his

hands through his hair.

BARRAS

I don't have to tell you of our

latest difficulties.

NAPOLEON

Things are quite serious, I should

say.

BARRAS

We expect an attack on the

Convention tomorrow morning, at

daybreak, and I have been placed in

charge of its defense.

NAPOLEON

What do you have in mind?

BARRAS

To be perfectly honest, I haven't

the vaguest idea.

NAPOLEON

Are you serious?

BARRAS

I don't even know whether a defense

is possible.

NAPOLEON

What forces do you have at your

disposal?

BARRAS

About 5,000 troops.

NAPOLEON

Cavalry?

BARRAS

The 21st Dragoons, about two or

three-hundred troopers.

NAPOLEON

Any cannon?

BARRAS

There are none here.

NAPOLEON

Where are they?

BARRAS

Well, I believe there are at least

30 guns at Sablons.

NAPOLEON

You could have them here by

daybreak.

BARRAS

Is this enough to oppose 40,000 men?

NAPOLEON

Properly arranged, yes.

BARRAS

These are odds of 8 to 1.

NAPOLEON

The numbers are not particularly

relevant. You are not up against

soldiers -- this is a mob, and they

will run as soon as things become

sufficiently unpleasant.

BARRAS

Would you be prepared to handle this

for me?

NAPOLEON

Are you proposing to transfer

command to me?

BARRAS

In every practical sense, yes, but,

officially, of course, I would have

to retain command.

NAPOLEON

Fair enough.

BARRAS

I must be honest with you. I first

approached three generals more

senior than yourself, and they all

very prudently sent excuses.

NAPOLEON

I'm not insulted.

BARRAS

You realize what is at stake?

NAPOLEON

(smiling)

Our lives, the revolution, my

career?

BARRAS

Look, let me be completely open with

you, I have a carriage and an escort

waiting for me, and I have a great

deal of money outside of France.

Unless we stand a very good chance

of carrying this off, I am prepared

to call it quits right now.

Napoleon puts his arms around Barras' shoulder.

NAPOLEON

Paul, everything will be all right.

EXT. PARIS STREET - DAY

Dreamlike, slow-motion shots of the cannon firing point

blank into the mob on the Rue St. Honore, outside the

Convention. They are devastated and there is immediate

panic.

Murat's cavalry charges them, and the infantry follows

with fixed bayonets. There is no sound of the guns. The

only sound is Napoleon's calm voice:

NAPOLEON (V.O.)

I ordered the artillery to fire ball

immediately, instead of blanks,

because, to a mob, who are ignorant

of fire arms, it is the worst

possible policy to start out firing

blanks. When they first hear the

terrific noise of the guns, they are

frightened, but, looking around them

and seeing no effect from the

cannon, they pick up their spirits,

become twice as insolent and rush on

fearlessly. It becomes necessary

then to kill ten times their number

to make an impression.

INT. NAPOLEON'S PARIS HQ - DAY

Napoleon's new plush headquarters in Paris. Pencil

between his teeth, dividers in one hand, he creeps around

on hands and knees on top of a very large map of Italy,

laid out from wall to wall. Other large maps cover the

table, the couch and any other available space.

Murat, Marmont, Junot and Berthier creep around with him,

working out various march routes. Appropriate ad lib

dialogue will cover the action.

At one point, Napoleon and Berthier bump heads.

NARRATOR

The crisis was over, and the way was

paved for the formation of the new

government of the Directory, with

Barras at its head. Napoleon was

made Commander of the Army of Italy.

There is a knock at the door.

MARMONT

Come in.

ORDERLY

Excuse me, Captain, but there is a

young man outside who wishes to see

General Bonaparte -- his name is

Eugene de Beauharnais.

MARMONT

General Bonaparte is seeing no one

this morning.

ORDERLY

Yes, sir.

NAPOLEON

(without looking up)

What did you say his name was?

ORDERLY

Eugene de Beauharnais.

NAPOLEON

Is he alone?

ORDERLY

Yes, sir.

NAPOLEON

Show him in.

The orderly shows Eugene into the room.

ORDERLY

Citizen de Beauharnais.

Eugene is 16, handsome, well-mannered and extremely

nervous. Napoleon remains hunched over his map.

NAPOLEON

(after some silence)

Good morning, Citizen de

Beauharnais.

EUGENE

Good morning, sir. Are you General

Bonaparte?

NAPOLEON

I am, Citizen. Is your mother

Madame Josephine de Beauharnais?

EUGENE

Yes, sir. Are you acquainted with

her?

NAPOLEON

I have met her. What is your

business with me?

EUGENE

I believe you issued an order that

all citizens of Paris must hand over

any weapons that they have in their

possession.

NAPOLEON

That is correct.

EUGENE

This morning, a Lieutenant and three

soldiers came to our house and asked

if we had weapons. I explained we

had only my late father's sword,

which, in fact, was not a weapon but

only a keepsake of memory.

NAPOLEON

(marking the map)

A sword is a weapon whatever else

you might wish to use it for.

EUGENE

I told the Lieutenant my late father

was General Alexander de

Beauharnais, and asked if there was

any consideration that might be

given to his memory.

NAPOLEON

And he sent you to me?

EUGENE

He said no one had the authority to

rescind the order except you.

NAPOLEON

Does your mother know you have come?

EUGENE

No, sir.

NAPOLEON

Well, then, you have a lot of

initiative, my young friend.

EUGENE

My father's sword means more to me

than any other possession I have.

NAPOLEON

You realize, of course, that

thousands of swords have been

collected. How do you expect me to

find yours?

Eugene removes a slip of paper from his pocket.

EUGENE

The Lieutenant gave me a receipt for

it and said it would be kept at the

Section Le Pelletier Police

Barracks.

EXT. GARDEN - DAY

The garden at Josephine's house on Rue de Chanterine.

Napoleon enters, carrying a very strange-looking package,

wrapped in paper, about three-feet long, following

Hortense de Beauharnais, age 16.

HORTENSE

Mama, this is General Bonaparte.

NAPOLEON

(bowing)

Madame de Beauharnais.

JOSEPHINE

Ah, how nice to meet you, General

Bonaparte. One has read so much

about you lately. Please sit down.

NAPOLEON

Thank you, Madame de Beauharnais.

You probably don't recall but we met

briefly a few months ago, at a party

at Paul's house.

JOSEPHINE

Oh... yes, of course! Have you met

my daughter, Hortense?

NAPOLEON

Yes, we introduced ourselves at the

door.

JOSEPHINE

May I offer you a drink?

NAPOLEON

Oh, I don't want to put you to any

inconvenience.

JOSEPHINE

Oh, it's not the slightest

inconvenience, General Bonaparte.

It is an honor to have you here.

NAPOLEON

You are very kind, Madame de

Beauharnais. Do you have some

sherry, perhaps?

JOSEPHINE

Yes, of course. Hortense, darling,

will you tell Louise to bring some

sherry?

HORTENSE

Yes, mama. Will you excuse me,

General Bonaparte?

NAPOLEON

Yes, of course.

Hortense exits.

NAPOLEON

I hope you will forgive me for

barging in on you like this, Madame

de Beauharnais. I called to bring

this to your son, but I understand

from your charming daughter that he

is out for the afternoon.

JOSEPHINE

Yes, I'm afraid he is. I believe he

is riding. I know he'll be

heartbroken to have missed you.

NAPOLEON

Well, I'm sure that you will be just

as pleased to have this as he will

be.

Holding out the package.

JOSEPHINE

General Bonaparte, my curiosity is

unbearable. May I ask what you have

in that mysterious package?

Napoleon proudly unwraps the paper with a flourish and

holds the huge sword with both hands.

NAPOLEON

Your late husband's sword, Madame,

returned with my compliments.

The paper starts to blow away and Napoleon steps on it.

Josephine stares at the sword, blankly.

JOSEPHINE

Oh... how very nice of you to bring

that for Eugene... Did General de

Beauharnais give it to you?

NAPOLEON

No, I'm afraid I never had the

pleasure of meeting the General.

This sword was taken several days

ago from your son by some of my

soldiers.

JOSEPHINE

Oh, you must forgive me, General

Bonaparte, I'm afraid you will think

me incredibly stupid but I know

absolutely nothing about this.

Eugene is so independent -- he

hardly tells me anything any more,

and he has so many things in his

room, I must confess I wasn't even

aware that he had this sword -- you

know how boys can be!

They both laugh.

INT. JOSEPHINE'S BEDROOM - NIGHT

The candlelit, oval bedroom is completely encircled with

floor-to-ceiling mirrored panels, which multiply the

erotic images of Napoleon and Josephine, making love.

Napoleon's voice, reading the letter below, is heard over

the scene.

NAPOLEON (V.O.)

My dearest Josephine -- I awaken

full of you. Between your portrait

and the memory of our intoxicating

night, my senses have had no

respite. Sweet and incomparable

Josephine, what is this bizarre

effect you have upon my heart? What

if you were to by angry? What if I

were to see you sad or troubled?

Then my soul would be shattered by

distress. Then your lover could

find no peace, no rest. But I find

none, either, when I succumb to the

profound emotion that overwhelms me,

when I draw up from your lips, from

your heart, a flame that consumes

me. You will be leaving the city at

noon. But I shall see you in three

hours. Until then, mio dolce amor,

I send you a thousand kisses -- but

send me none in return, for they set

my blood on fire.

INT. MAYOR'S OFFICE - DAY

The marriage of Napoleon and Josephine -- a small private

civil ceremony in the Mayor's officer. The only guests

are Barras, Eugene, Hortense, Marmont and Junot.

JOSEPHINE (V.O.)

My dear Theresa -- I am being urged

to remarry. You have met General

Bonaparte at my house. Well, then,

it is he who wishes to serve as

father to my children. Do I love

him? You are going to ask me.

Well, no. Do I, then, find him

unattractive? Again, no -- but

worse still, I find myself in a

state of indifference, of

lukewarmness.

INT. KITCHEN - DAY

The Bonaparte kitchen in Marseilles. Letizia is cutting

vegetables with a knife, the sound of which allows a

disapproving punctuation of her silences.

The tap-tap-tapping of the knife dicing a carrot.