Zulu Dawn

Zulu Dawn   

　
1. SCRIPT APPEARS ON BLACK SCREEN:

One hundred years ago the British Colony of Natal in Southern

Africa was surrounded by a

vast and independent Zulu Kingdom.

In 1879, a banle took place that was forever to alter the

course of colonial history:

I SANDHLWANA

2 EXT. DAWN.

Four Zulu's are seen in silhouette herding cattle up a hill.

3. LONG SHOT - Two Zulu's are seen in silhouette high on a

precipice.

4. Seven Zulu's are seen walking in silhouette against the

sunrise.

5. The sun fills the screen as the sound of many running feet

and Zulu drums are heard.

6. EXT. ZULU KRAAL. DAY.

A large regiment of Zulu warriors carrying shields and assegais

(stabbing spears)

are seen running into the Kraal whilst the sound of tribal

singing, chanting and drum

beating escalates.

7. Inside the camp a group of Zulu's are seen grappling with a

bull as they struggle to

bring the animal to the ground. They are watched by a vast

circle of warriors all

shouting encouragement.

8. An elaborate tribal dance ensues. It appears to be some sort

of Fenility Rite. The

females stand opposite the men in rows, chanting as they move

in closer.

9. CETSHWAYO, the great Zulu King emerges into the throng. He is

tall, beautifully

fat, with a big intelligent face and superb dignity. He surveys

his subjects with

interest as they stand unanimous, thrusting their assegais into

the air whilst shouting

their allegiance.

10. EXT. HIGH COMMISSIONER'S RESIDENCE, PIETERMARITZBURG,

NATAL. NIGHT.

BARTLE FRERE (V.0.)

Reading aloud the letter he has just written.

Cetshwayo '5 Zulu army to disband and the warriors permitted to

return

to their homes.

2

11. SWITCH TO INTERIOR. FRERE is seated at his desk whilst LORD

CHELMSFORD is seen in the background standing on the veranda.

BARTLE FRERE

He continues to read aloud:

Present military system to be abandoned. New regulations

concerning

the defence of the realm worked out.

CHELMSFORD enters the room, sits and studies two sheets of

paper.

FRERE continues:

All who do not submit will be dealt with as enemies of the

Crown. We

will not permit the arbitrary killing and

FRERE pauses as he underlines a certain word:

and unjust oppression which the Zulu people have suffered from

their

own King Cetshwayo

Pausing, FRERE looks up as if to meet his comrade's gaze.

CHELMSFORD,

however, continues to read, turning the page.

BARTLE FRERE

You '11 see from the letter that this ultimatum is our decision

alone. Her

Majesty's government seems to prefer a negotiated settlement

12. CLOSE UP of CHELMSFORD's letter:

Her Majesty's government confidentially hope that by the

exercise of prudence

and by meeting of the Zulus in a spirit of forbearance and

reasonable

compromise it will be possible to avert the very serious evil

of a war with

Cetshwayo:

13. Return to BARTLE FRERE. As he melts some sealing wax over a

silver burner:

BARTLE FRERE

(Referring to the letter he has just completed)

Does this do what we both know to be right Frederick?

CHELMSFORD

It does Sir Henry (He folds the papers neatly in half)

excellently.

The pair exchange glances as BARTLE FRERE applies the wax to his

letter.

14. CLOSE UP of stamped seal.

15. EXT. CHELMSFORD'S CAMP PIETERMARITZBURG. DAY

3

Activity everywhere, the incessant movement of an army in the

final stages of its

formation. Huge ox-wagons are being hauled into the camp.

16. CHELMSFORD and CREALOCK are on horseback in full regaJia as

they ride into

the centre of the Camp.

17. Squads of Basuto-infantry - tall, rangy bodies, naked except

for a loincloth and neck

ornaments - are being drilled by foul mouthed, bullying

European NCO's.

18. LT. MELVILL, young, dapper, inspects the Martini Henry

rifles of a company of

REDCOATS who are lined up near the BASUTOS. A CSM (SOT.

WILLIAMS)

stalks behind MELVILL.

ONE REDCOAT, young, thin, gangling, turns his head slightly to

peek at the

Basutos, and the swift eye of SOT. WILLIAMS detects the

disaffection. The young

redcoat (PTE. WILLIAMS) turns, guilty at being caught out of

the 'Attention'

position. The CSM (SOT. WILLIAMS) leans forward until his face

is one inch

from that of his quavering prey.

SGT. WILLIAMS (Shouting)

You moved (With more restraint) You moved go and tell the NCO

of that black shambles that you love 'im more than you love

me (Shouting) NOW'

19. PTE. WILLIAMS blinks, swallows then runs over to the

Basuto's NCO.

NCO (Addressing the Basutos)

You're not fit to be in the British army you different coloured

articles.

STRAIGHTEN UP! You're like a load of bloody herd boys! (He

suddenly becomes aware of PTE. WILLIAMS' presence).

PTE. WILLIAMS

I'm to tell you Corporal, that I love you more than my Colour

Sergeant

The Basuto's NCO walks up to PTE. WILLIAMS.

NCO

That's frightening... Get out of my bloody sight lad. And put

your rifle

over your head and double round this field (shouting) until you

drop

bloody dead. Now move, get on with it, at the double.

The Basutos, laughing, raise their shields into the air in

general amusement as

PRIVATE WILLIAMS runs past.

NCO

Shut up! Get back in the ranks you shower of animals.

20. CHELMSFORD, still on horseback, surveys the encampment. He

salutes to SOT.

WILLIAMS. CREALOCK, as always, is in attendance.

21.

4

SGT. WILLIAMS

Facing the ranks:

Company Shoulder arms.... (LT. MELVILLjoins SOT.

WILLIAMS) Present arms.

LT. MELVILL turns standing to attention, saluting as CHELMSFORD

passes.

22. Two BOERS ride into the camp, passing two SUTLERS wagons. We

see SOT.

WILLIAMS' dismissed COMPANY hurriedly crowding round one of the

SUTLER'S wagons, shouting for cigars and gin.

23. The two BOERS, one an elderly man, one a boy of sixteen,

have dismounted. SOT.

WILLIAMS strides over to them.

You passing through?

SGT. WILLIAMS

ELDERLY BOER

We 've come to fight the Zulu.

SGT. WILLIAMS

We aren't at war yet Referring to the boy: Bit young 'in' he?

ELDERLY BOER

He's my nephew... he can shoot, track and speak Zulu and fight

like

hell... he's got Assegai marks to prove it...

He gestures to the boy to show SOT. WILLIAMS. The YOUNG BOER

pulls

up his shin, showing an horrendous white scar across his

stomach.

SOT. WILLIAMS stares in amazement. Coming to, commanding the

attention

of a BOY-PULLEN in the ranks:

You!

Sir. (Running over)

SGT. WILLIAMS

BOY-PULLEN

SGT. WILLIAMS

Take 'em to the orderly officer. (SOT. WILLIAMS departs).

BOY-PULLEN

(Standing to attention). Colour Sergeant Addressing the BOERS:

This

way.