"On this map, all the territory that you see in green is the Louisiana Purchase, which President Thomas Jefferson bought from Napoleon." "Today, it covers the greater part of 13 states and even a bit of Canada." "An area more than twice the size of the original Thirteen States." "But with this purchase inadvertently came the notorious pirate and buccaneer, Jean Lafitte." "If you will bear with me, ladies and gentlemen, it may increase the enjoyment of the picture you are about to see, to know why Jean Lafitte and his little island stronghold of Barataria, here by the mouth of the Mississippi," "were so important to both sides in the War of 1812." "The invading British forces knew that control of New Orleans would give them control of the whole Mississippi River Basin and bring them certain victory." "The British commander had said that to approach New Orleans by the river was absolutely out of the question." "But this network of waterways, that you see here called "bayous", controlled by Jean Lafitte, was the back door to New Orleans, and both British and Americans knew that Lafitte was the key." "And what did this pirate do?" "That, ladies and gentlemen, is our story." "Hi there, fella." "Here, boy." "Ain't nobody gonna hurt ya." "Reckon you're hungry." "Here, have some of this biscuit." "Come on, fella." "It sure is good." "Come on, boy." "That dog makes a sight better sentry than you do, soldier." "This belongs in your hand." "You British?" "If I was, you'd be dead." "How long you been in this army?" "Since the day 'fore yesterday." "Well, boy, how you feelin'?" "Kind of hungry." "You're not hungry till you can wipe your eyes with the slack of your belly." "You hold onto that musket now, hear?" "How long you been with Old Hawkface?" "I am Old Hawkface." "You?" "Andy Jackson himself?" "Yeah, the thought scares me, too, sometimes." "Now, with a man like you guarding the post," "I expect I can rest easy now, huh?" "Are you still patching' them shoes?" "Well, it's better than patching' my feet!" "Andy, you ought to have better sense than to go meandering' around out here in this chill." "I know, I know." "First thing, you know, you'll get the ague..." "Sit back down." "...and your bones'll start rattling'." "Here, drink some nice hot soup." "Thank you, Mr Peavey." "There's an officer fella inside waiting' to see you." "He done rid all the way down from Washington." "Now, why didn't you tell me that in the first place?" "Well, he didn't say it was important." "Just said he was an officer fella." "What's your news?" "Now stand easy, Captain." "Captain Wilkes reporting from President Madison, sir." "The British have captured Washington." "They've burned the Capitol and the White House." "Is the President safe?" "He escaped, sir." "But for the next few weeks, the government's going to be run from the saddle of the President's horse." "We better pray that horse don't stumble." "The fate of the country is in your hands, General." "The British invasion fleet is headed for New Orleans with 16,000 troops aboard." "Sixteen..." "They expect me to stop 'em with a..." "I've got 1,200 men here..." "Most of those boys don't have shoes, let alone musket flints." "How can..." "New Orleans, huh?" "I declare we got more chickens here than we got troops." "Get down!" "Now then, if they control the Mississippi, they'll have this country by the throat." "Well, I expect we could set up defences there, there and..." "Not there." "Why not?" "That's Barataria." "What?" "Every foot of that swampland is controlled by Lafitte, the pirate." "From New Orleans to the Gulf." "We'll have to deal with him first." "Deal with him?" "A pirate?" "Deal with him!" "I'll hang him." "They've been tryin' to hang him down there for the last 10 years." "When Andy starts talkin' hangin', you better start lookin' for a rope." "Welcome!" "Come on in!" "You're all welcome to the market of Jean Lafitte!" "No duty to pay, no taxes to pay for a war that's lost!" "Come on, we gotta clear the decks." "All right now, what have you got here to sell?" "Lady, that's real Spanish lace, lady!" "How exciting!" "It looks like it came from a harem!" "Make you feel like a sultan!" "Take care of the lady, Rio." "Ladies, ladies, ladies, what's life without a little spice?" "Here's the one the King of France asked me to sell for him personal." "Obviously, the King of France had bad taste." "Why, lady, it's all hand-painted!" "All it needs is a little polish!" "What's the matter?" "Don't you like children?" "Mawbee!" "Sugar cane" "Lobo." "Mawbee!" "Sugar cane..." "Hello, General!" "When you steal on the sea, you're a buccaneer." "When you steal on land, you're a thief!" "Hey!" "Sugar cane." "Mawbee!" "Baby's in the oven" "You mustn't be angry." "I just couldn't resist it!" "Forgive me, monsieur." "I believe you dropped your purse." "Thank you." "I'd hardly expected a pirate..." "I beg your pardon?" "I mean, well..." "Thank you." "Good afternoon, General Dominique You." "Good afternoon, madame." "I..." "I brought you a little remembrance." "How lovely!" "Thank you." "For beauty, honour." "It was given to me by the Emperor at Austerlitz." "General, you shouldn't have!" "You shouldn't have done it!" "Bonnie, gimme that money." "It don't belong to you or your father!" "Clear out of here!" "You know half of every dollar goes to Lafitte!" "Just you try to collect it, you'll get this gaff in your guts!" "Look, Bonnie, 50% belongs to the Boss!" "Keep your claws out of my father's cargo!" "If you wasn't Captain Brown's daughter, I'd..." "You'd what?" "You wharf rat!" "Who pushed Bonnie?" "I did!" "Get out of my way, Dominique." "I'll kill that dirty squid!" "Ladies don't fight with broken bottles!" "I wish I had a cutlass!" "Keep out of this!" "Go on!" "Ladies and gentlemen, that is the end of our little show." "We hope you have enjoyed the entertainment." "May it give you just a glimpse of what we endure to bring you these treasures from the Seven Seas." "We take the risks, you take the bargains!" "Thank you, Mr Lafitte." "Thank you." "A magnificent performance, as always." "Thank you all, gentlemen." "Thank you very much." "You were wonderful..." "Hey!" "What?" "Why don't you learn how to handle a comb as well as you handle a knife?" "The Governor's daughter." "What do you suppose she's doing here?" "You don't think she's doing her father's shopping?" "Miss Claiborne!" "Good afternoon, Madame Mercier." "How nice to see you." "Come on, boys, get things movin'." "Now, you can all show your appreciation by opening your purses a bit wider!" "Good afternoon." "Mesdames. we are very honoured by your distinguished patronage." "Better not tell your husband where you got that shawl." "Mr Lafitte, I never do!" "You can't really blame her." "But a pirate!" "You'll see why my hands are tied." "Look at this." ""Sale of rare and notable goods." Signed Jean Lafitte." "How can I collect revenues when half of New Orleans is dealing with this pirate?" "They must be aware they're breaking the law." "We can't arrest the whole city." "The truth of the matter is no one cares." "No one is eager to pay taxes on a war we're losing." "If you feel that way, Mr Phipps, perhaps you should resign your post." "I am a loyal American, sir!" "All right, all right." "We'll have Lafitte in irons today." "Annette." "I did not ask to fall in love with you." "After I saw you the first time," "I stayed away at sea for four months knowing you were beyond my reach." "But typhoons and hurricanes could not get you out of my brain." "Then you came here again and what I thought was only a dream, you made a reality." "And now, you say it's finished." "Jean, my father was sent down here by the President to bring some sort of unity to this country." "And here I am in love with the man who is helping to destroy everything my father is trying to build up." "Who, me?" "Yes, you." "I feel as though I were siding with the enemy." "Half my men are on my neck because I will not let them attack an American ship." "Loving you is costing me a lot of money." "Jean, it's not what you're not doing, it's what you should do." "We're losing the war." "The British just burned Washington." "What has that got to do with us?" "New Orleans may be next." "New Orleans has had three different flags the last 15 years." "A fourth won't matter very much." "It matters to me!" "Jean, you just don't know what it means to belong to a country." "You want a country?" "I'll give you one." "You can have Barataria!" "Barataria!" "Barataria is a kingdom of 1,000 fighting men and ships that sail the Gulf and the Caribbean." "Do you know what they're offering for the King of Barataria?" "$500, dead or alive." "They won't collect it." "Jean, a girl has to be proud of her love, not ashamed." "How can I tell people that I'm in love with a man with a price on his head?" "You're just not..." "I'm not what?" "Say it." "Respectable." "Respectable." "What you want is a coat of arms, not a man." "I want a man with a sense of honour, and duty and loyalty." "Not a savage!" "A savage was good enough for you when you needed a breath of fresh air in your stuffy social life!" "My life may be stuffy, but barato is still the word for "cheap"!" "I think you'd better return to your carriage." "But I want that dress!" "Too late, lady, you just lost a good bargain!" "Hans, put your best shots up into those trees!" "Beluche, cover the bridge!" "Callalou!" "We can handle 'em, Boss." "I want no lead, no trouble." "Cariba!" "Come on!" "Whoa!" "Now you'll see, Governor." "But I swear to you, sir, Lafitte's men were selling here not an hour ago!" "I know, I know." "You look splendid, Governor." "And you, sir, look ridiculous." "Governor, I didn't expect to see you!" "Obviously, madam." "Can you explain, ladies and gentlemen, why I find you here in a cypress swamp, your arms full of contraband goods?" "Even my own daughter." "Excuse me." "Father, I..." "Are you searching for bargains too, madam?" "Governor, is there anything special you're looking for?" "You are what I'm looking for." "Mr Phipps." "Yes, sir." "Read my proclamation." ""l offer $500 reward for the capture of Jean Lafitte."" "Five hundred?" "It's an insult." ""William C.C. Claiborne, Governor of Louisiana."" "And Jean Lafitte offers $10,000 for Governor Claiborne's ears!" "Lieutenant!" "Take this man prisoner." "Be careful, Governor." "You're not on your own ground." "Governor, 100 guns are pointing at you right now." "Better not risk it, Governor." "People might get hurt." "Only fear of injury to some of you prevents me from bringing this pirate to justice right now." "Sir, not pirate, "privateer."" "You laugh!" "You laugh!" "Don't you realise your country's at war?" "Will you still laugh when the British march in and you have no country and no flag?" "And you, how will you laugh when General Jackson arrives and blasts you and your cutthroats right out of Barataria?" "Others have tried it before." "It will be different with Jackson." "He has sworn there's no room for you under the American flag." "I'm truly sorry to hear that, Governor." "I have always respected the American flag." "Madam, are you coming?" "You wanna find trouble?" "As long as she's with me, she's a lady!" "That trollop a lady?" "All right, come on, I'll take you all on!" "Come on, you the next?" "He don't swim, I gotta get him out of there." "You yellow-bellies!" "I've seen the day when I could flatten 10 of you at a time." "If you weren't so drunk, I'd take you myself." "All right, all right, all right." "All right, clear the way!" "You brawlers down there!" "Who are you yellin' at?" "You!" "Now clear out before I set the patrol on you!" "Who are you givin' orders to?" "All right, I was a ship's master afore you...scrubbed down a head!" "Cut loose, Pa!" "Come off that deck and I'll flatten you, too!" "Shut up, Pa!" "Bonnie, cut it out, will ya, honey!" "lt was these rats here started it." "Sure, he wouldn't hurt nobody..." "They insulted my lady friend." "You must've gone blind." "This..." "This crump a lady?" "Listen, who you callin' that..." "Get out before I cut the tripe out of you!" "Mr Brown, are you gonna let her talk to me like that?" "Bonnie's right." "You are a crump." "Go on, beat it." "Hey, that's no way to talk to a lady!" "Come on, Pa." "You should've seen me, Bonnie." "I took on four of 'em." "I still got it in my fists." "Why don't you use 'em on Lafitte instead of wharf rats?" "I'm pickin' my own time." "Come on, let's have a drink..." "No, you don't!" "You swilled enough." "Just one?" "Get back on your ship." "Take it aboard!" "Stand back, everybody!" "Heads up!" "Heave away on the sail line!" "Slack away on the yaw!" "All right." "Come on, Pa, before it drops in your mouth." "Hey, come here, come here." "Look at that." ""Never touch an American ship", says Lafitte." "So, what happens, huh?" "All the gold in New Orleans slips through his fists in Yankee hulks." "Buy good luck charm!" "Buy good luck charm." "Live long..." "Buy good luck charm!" "Corinthian passengers." "please board the ship." "Vessel leaving in a few minutes!" "Corinthian passengers." "please board the ship." "Heads up!" "Cargo coming aboard!" "Stand back for just a minute, please." "Keep it clear, Mr James." "Yes, sir." "Watch the railing, please." "Clear the railing!" "Cargo coming aboard!" "Lower away!" "Cast off the blocks!" "Take it away!" "Well, it's all yours, Captain Carruthers." "Just sign here, "Received government shipment of gold."" "I'd sooner be carrying a shipload of cobras than that devil's bait." "Enough trouble running the blockade." "Well, maybe the fog'll hold for you." "Mr Miggs!" "Can that mutt spare you a few minutes?" "Yes, sir." "Very well, then sound the visitors ashore." "All visitors ashore!" "All visitors ashore!" "I never thought I'd see you nursemaid to a dog." "Good luck, Jim." "I'll need it." "Marie?" "Annette, what are you doing here?" "I found the note you left to Father." "Now, you're coming home with me this minute." "Annette, I..." "Excuse me, Annette, but she's coming to Spain with me to get married." "You stay out of this, Antonio." "Annette, run Father's life, but don't run mine!" "If she won't listen to reason, Antonio, perhaps you will." "I spoke to your father." "He said we should wait until after the war." "And I'm not waiting!" "Will you stop it?" "You're only thinking of yourself." "It's no use talking to her, Antonio." "She knows everything about being a lady, but nothing about being a woman." "Perhaps you're right." "Marie..." "Annette." "Annette, please, she didn't mean it." "That's very sweet of you, but I don't want..." "Annette, I'm sorry." "You two shouldn't part like this." "Annette, I'm sorry." "It's all right, baby..." "Madam, unless you want to sail with us..." "Very well, I'm leaving in a moment." "All right, the two of you, I'll find some way to tell Father." "You take good care of her." "Look at her, she's got no sense at all." "She's going to catch a chill." "Olsen, man your captain." "And stand by to warp her." "Head out!" "I wish I were going to be at your wedding." "Close the railgate!" "Annette?" "Annette, I didn't have time to get a wedding gown, so I borrowed your new dress." "Which one?" "Well, the one Madame Dupre made for you." "Are you singled up?" "The white crepe one?" "Well, I'm sorry!" "And, Annette..." "Yes?" "I took..." "I took mother's locket, too." "Well, did you leave me anything?" "Well, yes, Father!" "Barataria, ho!" "Standing in!" "All clear!" "Well, Rumbo, did you catch that Portuguese galleon you went after?" "A British man-of-war got there first!" "And you, Flint, what did you catch?" "24 pounds of iron in my hull." "Lucky I wasn't sunk." "The Boss doesn't like his captains comin' back empty-handed." "We're calling a Captain's Council." "The Boss may not be boss much longer." "We're here to ask Lafitte some questions." "Be very sure you want the answers." "You may get them." "Trouble in the wind, Pyke." "But why stay here in Barataria?" "Listen to me!" "Jackson is coming to push us out." "The British blockade has us locked in!" "And you won't let us sink American ships!" "I say, send up 100 flatboats, empty the Maspero's storehouse and clear out of New Orleans before Jackson gets there." "I say he's right!" "Jean, listen to your captains." "We are men of the sea." "Let's get back to it." "Now we're more beachcombers than pirates!" "What's to stop us from holin' up here in Barataria and fightin' Jackson off?" "Our kids was born here." "That shack on the beach is the only home port that many of us have ever known!" "lf I leave Barataria, I lose Cariba!" "Yeah, and I lose Tina." "A sailor's home is the deck beneath his feet!" "Then why do you carry a sack of French dirt around your neck?" "This, Mr Pyke, is to remind myself of all the lies they tell about land." "Motherland, fatherland, homeland, when all they mean is the dirt they bury you in when you've spilled your blood defending it!" "I say we belong to the sea!" "A man belongs where he wants to belong!" "I don't like to be pushed." "By Claiborne, Jackson, the British, or by you!" "Wait!" "Wait!" "I want to say something." "Go ahead, Miguel." "I forgot!" "Mr Boss, you permit me to speak?" "There's enough wind blowin' around here now." "This is Scipio's home, too." "Go on, talk." "By their own law, Mr Boss, they cannot push you out." "Law?" "What law?" "Do you not remember, Mr Boss?" "I have told you, "When the course of human events..."" "Here it is!" "Rules of American Declaration "That all men are created equal."" "I want to hear the rules!" "Read, Scipio." ""That they are endowed by their Creator with certain rights."" "Unalienable rights." "Thank you." "What kind of rights are those?" "It means they cannot take them away, sir." "Until someone with more artillery comes along!" "Right, General." "All right, all right." "All right, General." "Go on, Scipio." ""Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness..."" "Hey, that's better than our Brotherhood laws!" "We don't guarantee anybody'll be happy!" "Anyway, these rules are not for us." "They're for Americans." "Barataria's American, isn't it?" "Sure!" "And as long as we are on this spit of sand, we've got all the rights they say we've got." "And no one has the right to push us off!" "That's right, Boss." "Hogwash!" "All that slop about freedom and rights makes me sick!" "He says he wants you to stay here and be Americans." "If he weren't lying, he'd tell you." "That's all the America he cares for!" "She's right!" "Stay out of this, Bonnie." "My father was the best leader you ever had!" "While you're all here flapping' your sails, he's out after a cargo of a quarter of a million dollars in gold!" "What are you talkin' about?" "There hasn't been a treasure ship within 100 miles of here in months." "They've been hauling' gold out of New Orleans under your noses." "The only ship out of that port in the last week was the Corinthian." "Sailed two nights ago." "Corinthian!" "She's American, Boss!" "Nobody's tellin' my father what ships to attack, least of all Lafitte." "My father had his own fleet when you were fightin' alley cats for garbage!" "You're not giving orders any more, Lafitte!" "From now on, Captain Brown is!" "Flint, Bart, Rumbo, get to your ships!" "Look, Jean, a quarter of a million is a fat haul to cut." "We'll follow the man who comes back." "All right, then I'll take the Raven and I'll pick a crew off the beach if I have to." "Jean, you are still the Boss, and I am still your second in command." "I hate to miss a good fight." "Just pray that I find your father before he touches that American ship." "There's another ship!" "Close aboard!" "Could be the Vulcan!" "What do you make of it, Dominique?" "Two ships, all right." "One of them is the Vulcan." "And the other?" "Pipe all hands on deck." "This was worth spilling' a little blood for." "A quarter of a million, Brown says." "Yeah, we'll see." "Haul away!" "Heave away!" "All right, look lively!" "Get that gear moving!" "Come on, come on!" "Let's hurry it up!" "Come on, men, come on!" "Is she doused down good, Gramby?" "Aye, Captain, she'll go up like a powder keg." "Good." "Is this the loot Brown promised us?" "Let's crack it open and see what's inside!" "Time enough to count it later." "We gotta haul out of here before we burn with her." "Diego!" "Haul it aside and keep those sharks away!" "All hands back aboard!" "All hands back aboard!" "Free your grapplings!" "Free your grapples!" "Put the torch to her, Chigazola!" "Gramby!" "Stand by to plant two nine-pounders in her guts." "We don't want no floating' evidence." "Aye, aye, Captain." "Stand by, number one gun crew!" "Primed and ready, mate." "Hey, Brown, have you seen Toro aboard?" "Get back over here, Mouse, before you fry your hide!" "Here, grab this!" "Toro!" "Come on, Mouse, get back on board ship!" "Toro!" "Toro!" "Toro, ya bloomin' idiot, where are ya?" "Fend her off, afore we catch afire!" "Jump!" "Come on, jump, Mouse!" "Fire one!" "That'll crack her ribs." "Look, Captain, there's Toro!" "Drop that loot and jump, you blasted dummy!" "What do ya want?" "What the devil are you waitin' for?" "Jump for it!" "Next time you try to kill yourself, I'll murder ya!" "Stand by to fire number two!" "You two almost got us fried." "That loot better be worth it." "What are you doin'?" "You can't do that!" "You know Brown don't recognise no private property." "What are you tryin' to do, get your throat cut?" "What do you got in there, clankers?" "We'll hit her again for luck." "Hey, Sawbones!" "Stand by gun number three, Tiny." "Aye, aye, Captain." "There's another one for your meat axe." "Primed and ready, Captain." "Fire!" "Hans!" "Jawohl!" "Stand by to lower longboats!" "Jawohl." "Boss." "Arm for boarding, off her oar." "And stand by..." "Douse all lights!" "Douse all lights!" "Gun crews to quarters." "You rumheads, don't slop down too much of that stuff." "Aye, aye." "We got sea to cover." "Gimme that!" "What are you fightin' over, a rag?" "But that's silk!" "Look, a three-masted fiddle!" "We ain't peddling' no more junk." "Hey, Brown!" "Here's a charm that brought somebody no luck!" "Brown!" "Hey, Cap, wouldn't that music break your heart?" "He's got no sentiment." "What do ya got here, Yank?" "I don't know." "Hey, look!" "A wedding' dress!" "Don't I look beautiful?" "A barracuda wouldn't marry you!" "Kiss the bride, Yank." "What, and get the scurvy!" "Come on, Gramby, get it open." "What's the matter, Gramby, don't you trust me?" "Nothing like the sight of gold to bring back a man's faith, Captain." "You told us there's a quarter of a million dollars in gold in there!" "We want to see the gold!" "Yeah, that's right!" "All right, open it up." "Hit the lock!" "That's it." "Come on, Gramby!" "The smell of gold shakin' your hands, Gramby?" "Get it open, Gramby!" "Gold!" "Gold!" "Just like I told you, huh?" "You're right, Captain." "It was worth it." "Hey, get your claws out of there!" "Get out of here, Yank!" "All right, you've seen it, now get back to your stations!" "Go on, you heard the Captain." "Get that lid down 'fore these sharks all go crazy." "Lock 'er up." "What you got there, Deacon?" "A richer treasure than all your shining baubles of Satan." "Books." "A book-readin' pirate!" "At least the Boss can raise no cry against this prize." "You're lookin' at the Boss, Deacon!" "Bless me, so I am." "What's the matter with you, Tim?" "I lost my ear in the fight, Captain." "Well, there's not much worth hearing' anyway." "Ain't the ear I mind." "I had a diamond ring in it." "Loss of one hand pays five dixies a month, regular rates," "Brotherhood of the Coast." "Well, Sawbones, what's the butcher's bill?" "Four sunk, two sinkin' and eight that'll float." "Cheap enough." "Six dead in all." "Seven!" "Counting you, Mr Brown." "Because I'm going to hang you!" "You ain't gonna hang nobody, Lafitte!" "You are losing your friends very fast, Mr Brown." "Anyone else on his side?" "Jean!" "You've always called yourself a fair-dealing man." "Give him a chance." "Did he give a chance to the people on the Corinthian?" "The lifeboats are still burning on her deck." "He knew my orders." "All hands on a captured ship get off with their lives!" "Gramby!" "You're the first mate." "Did you have a hand in this?" "I take orders from my captain." "Your captain will not be giving any more orders." "Jean, you cannot hang them all." "You cannot hold all this crew responsible for the work of one man!" "I am not kind-hearted as the General." "Well, Gramby, will you follow Brown or me?" "You." "You what?" "You, Boss." "All right, hang him." "Gramby, no!" "Yank, Tiny, Deacon, take hold." "Not I." "Gramby!" "What are you mumbling about, Deacon?" "Saying a prayer for a dying ship." "Dominique, set course for Barataria." "Crack on all sails." "Back to your stations!" "All right, back to your stations!" "Man the yards!" "Beluche, signal the Raven to follow us." "Aye, General." "Wait." "Look." "Where did he come from?" "The Corinthian." "My friend Toro, he risked his life to save this sprout." "Ain't he got the soul of a saint?" "And what saint is going to save us?" "It's a boy from the Corinthian." "The sight of him gives me hemp fever." "He's the only witness to all of that." "Too small to throw back." "He could hang us all." "He ain't too small to talk." "If you ask me, he's a walkin' death warrant." "We've had enough killing'." "Better put him with the rest." "Deacon, you'd better say a prayer for us." "All right, everybody get back." "Stand clear!" "Come on, now!" "All right, up on the beach!" "Keep the boats movin'." "Everything goes up the bayou to the Maspero's warehouse!" "Come on, now, get those pirogues movin'!" "Pyke won't tell me what's the matter." "My tongue cannot speak what my eyes have seen." "Come on, now, get those pirogues movin'!" "Hey, what do ya got there?" "My own gear." "What happened?" "They hung Brown." "What about Chigazola?" "They killed Brown!" "Lobo!" "What's the matter?" "What's this?" "That's my dear mother, Pyke." "You never had a mother!" "Since when are you givin' orders, Pyke?" "And why ain't we splitting' it up on the beach like we always done?" "Don't start any trouble today or you'll get what Brown got." "Captain Rumbo..." "Come on, now!" "All right, up on the beach!" "Come on, boy, come." "That's sprat off the Corinthian?" "Your friend, Brown, left two survivors." "The boy and his dog." "Come on, son." "Come on, now, get those pirogues moving." "Well, at least the dog can't talk." "There comes the reason we're not splitting up the loot." "One thrust of the knife'll take care of that." "He seen too much." "He's off the Corinthian. ain't he?" "Ya want me to go with you, Boss?" "Lafitte, me and the other captains think..." "I'm sure glad you're back, Boss." "Did you hear about Brown?" "Yeah." "Señor Patron, you like some shrimps?" "Grab her!" "Let her go, Beluche." "You all right, Boss?" "Yes." "She couldn't hit the side of a ship with an axe." "You dirty, stinkin' murderer!" "Your father got what he deserved." "The men who sail under me take cargoes, not lives." "There!" "That is all that is left of the passengers and crew of the Corinthian." "Brown has killed everyone's right to belong under the American flag." "There's only one flag for the likes of us and it's as black as your heart." "You don't give a sinker in hell for your people, just the chance you lost with the Governor's daughter!" "Bonnie's right." "We ain't as set on becoming' Americans as you are, Lafitte." "All we're after is our cut of that loot." "That whelp is all that stands between us and a quarter of a million in gold." "Look, Lafitte, one tongue is as bad as 20." "Are you sharks still hungry?" "It's simple." "Lafitte wants to become an American, we want to share the gold." "Slit the brat's throat." "All right, Gramby, you do it." "Flint?" "Rumbo, you?" "All right, Bonnie, it's your knife, do it." "There's only one throat here I'd like to slice." "Come on, boy." "Go to the Boss' house over there." "You'll be safe with him." "All right, move on." "You've already proved how brave you are." "What do you want?" "I..." "I came to find out what you're going to do with me, sir." "I don't know." "Well, what are you standing there for?" "If you're coming in, come in!" "I'm not supposed to come into the Captain's quarters without permission, sir." "All right, I said come in!" "Thank you, sir." "Now you stay there, Mate." "You stay." "Everybody would be better off if I fed you to the alligators." "But you wouldn't be much of a mouthful, would you?" "Yes, sir." "I mean, no, sir." "Are you hungry?" "No, sir." "Well, not much." "What's your name, boy?" "Miggs, sir." "How long have you been a cabin boy?" "All my life." "That's a long time." "What can you do?" "I can patch canvas good." "I mean, in the house." "I never lived in a house." "Well, sit down and eat." "Thank you, sir." "There's nothing special about a house." "It's just a hull in dry dock." "You dream all your life of owning one, and when you get it, it's on the wrong street." "Yes, sir." "Don't keep agreeing with me unless you mean it." "And don't call anybody "Sir" unless he's someone you can respect." "Yes, sir." "What are you staring at, Miggs?" "Very pretty lady, sir." "Yes, it's a..." "It's a very expensive frame." "Two men-of-war, Jean, heading into Barataria Bay!" "Americans?" "They show no flag." "They're comin' in with their gun ports open!" "They must have found out about the Corinthian!" "Gun crews to the sea wall?" "It's done." "Load and prime!" "Right!" "Batteries manned?" "Already done." "All right, open gun ports!" "Hold your fire!" "What do you make of them, Pyke?" "Spoilin' for a fight, Boss, cleared for action." "Wait a minute!" "They're breakin' out their colours." "They're British!" "They're running up a signal." "I can never understand those blasted flags." "General, what do they say?" "Asking permission to land a party ashore." "Shall we blow them out of the water, Boss?" "Signal them ashore." "Attention!" "Gentlemen." "Are you Mr Lafitte?" "Follow me, please." "Gentlemen, Mr Lafitte." "Gentlemen, what can I do for you?" "Mr Lafitte, I am Captain Lockyer of his Britannic Majesty's frigate, Sophia." "Captain McWilliams, Lieutenant Rogers, Captain Caldwell." "Captains?" "This is General Dominique You." "Formerly the great cannoneer of Napoleon, now second in command to Jean Lafitte." "The Commodore of our fleet, sailing under letters of marque from Cartagena and his Supreme Excellency Simón Bolívar." "Well..." "Two men-of-war are waiting for us in the harbour, Mr Lafitte." "To avoid causing them any concern, we should get on with our business." "We have important letters to put before you." "About what?" "The British War Office made a report on the strategic value of Barataria." "You control the back door to New Orleans." "Your key position could unlock the bayous to us." "When do you plan to attack New Orleans?" "We will be in New Orleans within a fortnight, sir." "But your assistance can save us time and a few British lives." "Gentlemen, I never discuss business before eating." "Eric." "You will join me, of course." "Thank you." "Would you be good enough to send word to the Sophia we'll be an hour late to avoid interruption?" "With pleasure." "Mr Pyke." "I must say, Mr Lafitte, you..." "You certainly live a great deal better than one might expect." "Well, that is, I mean, you..." "Did you expect to find me with a peg leg and a patch over one eye?" "We didn't quite know what to expect." "Most attractive portrait you have there." "Copy of a Gainsborough, perhaps?" "No, sir, an original." "The only one of its kind." "Would the lady be your wife?" "No, she would not." "Captain..." "No, no, you, sir." "This medal you're wearing, is it for bravery against the Americans?" "No, sir, a bit of good fortune against the French." "I see." "With Nelson at the Battle of the Nile." "But I..." "I don't believe I'm familiar with yours." "Which one?" "This?" "Wagram, Marengo." "I forgot which." "You know, we won so many battles in those days." "You do want to be on the winning side in this war, do you not, Mr Lafitte?" "Yes, the side I am on will be the winning side." "If you join us in our attack against the Americans, guide us through the treacherous bayous to New Orleans, every condition in these letters will be fulfilled." "Now, how generous is the Crown prepared to be?" "We offer substantial land grants for you and your men." "Land?" "For sailors!" "Royal pardons for all of you." "We beg no one's pardon!" "Perhaps I've been addressing the wrong man." "I understood Mr Lafitte was the leader at Barataria." "If your offer is good, it'll stand up under fire." "The offer is handsome!" "We are authorised by the Crown to pay you $30,000 in gold!" "General, would you please pass the salt?" "Certainly." "Do you mind?" "I..." "I don't think you quite heard Captain McWilliams." "He said, "$30,000", Mr Lafitte." "Yes, I heard him." "Will you pick up your plate?" "Please pick it up." "What is it made of?" "By Jove!" "Solid gold!" "There is more than $30,000 of gold right on this table." "We offer one thing that money cannot buy, the rank of captain in the Royal Navy." "Do you realise who you are dealing with?" "Why, the ships of Jean Lafitte comb the waters of the world." "A hundred captains obey his commands!" "Am I to take that as your answer, Lafitte?" "You may have my answer in one week." "When we have landed in New Orleans, it'll be too late." "And if I refuse?" "We have 50 warships, 16,000 seasoned troops," "Iand and sea forces fresh from their victories against Napoleon." "England makes a good friend, but a bad enemy." "We need no friends and we fear no enemies!" "If you refuse us, Lafitte, my orders are to blow Barataria to pieces and I shall do so." "I will give you my answer in one week." "Gentlemen, you have 10 minutes to catch your tide." "Eric, will you see that our visitors are escorted back to their boats?" "Very good, sir." "One week." "To think of all the people who would like to send this little angel to heaven." "I hope we're doing the right thing, Boss." "After all, New Orleans is where the Corinthian..." "Come here!" "Come here!" "I won't say nothin'!" "You had to blast out like a foghorn!" "Don't let 'em kill me, Mr Lafitte!" "Nobody will hurt you, Miggs." "We're just taking you to Maspero's in New Orleans." "What's that?" "Well, that's where we keep all our most valuable cargoes." "Are you gonna leave me there all alone?" "Pyke's wife, Tina, she'll look after you." "I..." "I'd rather be with you, Mr Lafitte." "There's gratitude for you!" "There's few men I'd trust alone with my wife." "His wife is not at all like him." "Well, if I go, can I take Mate along?" "Who is Mate?" "He's a very good watchdog." "He scares me." "You better take him with you." "Thank you, sir." "And then, go along with Pyke to the landing." "I'll join you in a moment." "Come on, lad, and keep a firm hand on that wolf-hound." "By the bye, Scipio, see that you pack the Boss' best rig." "When he faces Governor Claiborne, he should shine like an Irish admiral!" "Ten years, Mr Pyke, I pack clothes for Mr Boss without your assistance." "The trouble with you, Scipio, is you read too much." "Come on, lad." "Mr Boss, shall I pack those British letters?" "No, Scipio." "I'll need them to find out if those American rules of yours really work." "Mr Boss make anything work!" "Yankee Doodle came to town" "To see the Governor's daughter" "They listened to his secret plans" "And pushed him in the water!" "You're in splendid voice, General." "Why, thank you!" "Do you think those letters will raise the Corinthian from the bottom of the sea?" "Do you think they will open the door" "Claiborne slammed in your face?" "Why, General, you're drinking." "You're right." "You know, I haven't felt the need of hiding my head in a bottle for 10 years since the night you got me drunk on another kind of wine, the wine of freedom!" "You showed me a world that had no boundaries, no rulers, no flags." "General, there comes a time when a man wants to change." "To belong to something, or maybe someone." "Don't you know what they'll do to you, Jean?" "A country, a woman, an ideal, they're all false!" "I've never had a country." "Why shouldn't I have ideals?" "Ideals!" "Ideals are used to blind the eyes of fools like you." "All right, like me." "I learnt that." "That's why I ran away from France." "When I become an American, you can stop running away." "And you won't need those medals to make you feel like a general." "You've never disappointed me before, Jean." "If I can believe in any man, it is you." "You'll see, Dominique." "I'll bring back a country bigger than that bag of earth you wear around your neck." "These are rather important documents, Mr Lafitte." "They are the safety of your country, Governor." "You've never shown any concern for our laws, why this sudden concern for our safety?" "Well, I was reading some of your American rules." "If they are not just words on paper, they might be worth fighting for." "I have men, ships, guns, all yours for the asking." "We cannot meet the British offer of $30,000." "I didn't come here for the money." "Then what do you want?" "A pardon for me and my men, a place for us under the American flag." "Do you think you can walk in here, and lay some papers on my desk and expect me to absolve you of 1,000 crimes?" "In one week, the British might make you an outlaw." "Either you let me join you, or you might have to join me." "And with you on our side, you think we could beat off the British attack?" "The combination of Claiborne, Jackson and Lafitte?" "We could conquer the world!" "I'm not so ambitious, Lafitte." "All I want to do is save the United States." "It's in the palm of your hand." "I almost have an impulse to accept your offer." "All right, Lafitte." "I'll call an emergency meeting of the Defence Council tonight." "I'm sure with my recommendation, they'll accept your offer." "Good." "Father, here's the..." "Forgive me." "I'm..." "That's all right, my dear." "I didn't realise you had company, the door was open." "This is Mr Jean Lafitte." "My daughter, Annette." "How do you do?" "Well, you're both alive!" "Yes." "Mr Lafitte and I have become as thick as thieves." "Pardon the figure of speech." "What was it you wanted, my dear?" "Well, I wanted you to approve the guest list for General Jackson's reception." "We'll have some good news for Jackson." "He won't have to attack Barataria after all." "Mr Lafitte has offered to fight on our side." "I knew..." "I just knew help would come, Father!" "I'm glad it meets with your approval, mademoiselle." "Now, if you'll excuse me." "Have you a carriage?" "No." "I told my coachman not to wait." "I didn't know when or if I'd be leaving." "I see." "Annette, will you tell Cato to put a carriage at Mr Lafitte's disposal?" "Certainly." "This way, Mr Lafitte." "I had my eye on him every second." "My pistol was on him all the time!" "Whipple, if I'd known you were in there with that," "I'd have been more afraid of you than our pirate friend." "Now put that silly thing away and summon the Defence Council for a meeting here tonight." "If I may be so bold, sir, do you think it's wise to put your trust in a..." "Whipple, don't speculate." "Just call the meeting." "Yes, sir." "I'll have the carriage around at the side gate." "Thank you, Cato." "I will find my own way." "Jean, don't leave like this." "There's so much I want to say to you." "It seems to me you said a great deal the last time I saw you." "That was just my silly pride." "Now when I know..." "When I know what you've done..." "I did it only for my men and for myself." "If it makes you feel any better to hurt me, go ahead." "Jean, loving you, it's the most important thing in my life." "Please believe that." "Annette..." "Annette!" "Yes, Father?" "What will people think?" "About what?" "You left the Merciers off the guest list." "Father, you know how Mr Mercier always upsets you." "I know, my dear, but people in our position must hide their feelings." "I will try, Father." "Perhaps we should invite our pirate friend." "He should meet General Jackson as soon as possible." "And announce our engagement." "I would be delighted." "What's that?" "Don't be a coward." "Tell him." "I said I would be delighted, Father!" "Do we have to shout at each other?" "Why are you standing there?" "I caught my hand on a thorn." "If we are to come to terms with Lafitte, perhaps we should fly the skull and crossbones over our Capitol!" "We are not here to discuss Jean Lafitte's reputation!" "He has offered to help us, and he's waiting for our answer." "Answer him with a cannon." "I would surrender to the British before I would put our country in the hands of riffraff." "Let us at least preserve our dignity!" "General Jackson will need men and ammunition." "Lafitte offers us both." "On the field of battle, a general doesn't ask, "Who supplies the bullets?"" "I agree with the Governor completely." "If I were in Jackson's boots, I'd prefer the help of the devil!" "In any case, the question we have to decide here is the authenticity of these letters." "That is not the question!" "Do you believe them to be forgeries?" "No, no, no, they're authentic enough, which only proves that Lafitte was dealing with the British." "He may be an outlaw, but I cannot believe him a traitor." "Would Lafitte give up $30,000 and a commission in the British Navy just to become an American citizen?" "And you wouldn't, Mr Mercier?" "Gentlemen, I agree with everything that's been said, but we cannot disregard the opinions of our esteemed Governor." "We're wasting time." "Give me the orders to blast Lafitte out of Barataria." "That has my vote." "And mine!" "Let us at least rid ourselves of one enemy!" "Gentlemen, gentlemen, let's consider!" "Lafitte is one of the best hopes this country has." "Gentlemen, we are in agreement." "Let's put it to a vote." "Hey, you know, Boss," "I'm beginning to feel respectable already!" "What do you think, Pyke, are the chances of the men joining up with us?" "You just tell me how you want them to vote." "Pyke, we'll have none of that." "From now on, everything has to be democratic." "Well, maybe a little gentle persuasion, but democratic." "Boss..." "The British." "They didn't wait." "Pyke, see if you can find anyone." "Right." "Callalou!" "Callalou!" "Callalou!" "You're back like you started, Lafitte, with no one to take your orders but the mosquitoes." "How did the British miss you?" "British?" "Your American friends paid us a visit." "Why, you lying whelp!" "Look." "I know an American uniform when I see one." "We would have fired on them, but Dominique stopped us." "He had everyone out to welcome them, cheering' and singin' Yankee Doodle." "Then the beach blew up in our faces." "Did anyone get away?" "Some made it to the swamps." "Some were hauled off in chains to be hung." "Dominique was right." "You cannot trust anybody." "How I've waited for this moment, to see you smashed, beaten." "Now I see it, it hurts." "Don't give me your pity." "I like your hatred better!" "Where you goin'?" "New Orleans." "I will get my men out of jail if I have to kill Jackson himself." "No, don't." "Don't go to New Orleans." "Because if the Americans don't kill you, your own men will." "We can sail south to Cartagena, maybe to Galvez on the Gulf." "Why should you care what happens to me?" "Because you're part of everything I've ever loved and hated!" "In this fair town where I was born" "There was a lady dwelling" "And every youth cried. "Come this way"" "Her name was Barbara Allen" "So in the lovely month of May" "When blossoms they were swelling" "Young Jimmy Joe on his deathbed lay" "For love of Barbara Allen" "When he had died and lay in grave" "Her heart was filled with sorrow" "Oh." "Mother dear Please make my bed" "For I shall die tomorrow" "That's a mighty sweet tune, Miss Claiborne." "Thank you." "Thank you, my dears." "That's one of my Rachel's favourites." "You make me feel right at home." "It's the least we can do for a gallant soldier who's come here to defend our city." "Not to mention the pretty ladies who grace it." "Thank you." "I wish to assure you, sir, the hearts and homes of this city are open to you and your men." "I'm most grateful, ma'am." "I wish to assure you that we shall defend your city or perish." "You are charming, General!" "But they had told me you are a peasant!" "But a Tennessee peasant, ma'am." "That makes all the difference." "Oh, General Jackson, we'd be most honoured if you and your officers would dine with us tomorrow night." "I accept with pleasure, ma'am." "On one condition." "Condition?" "That I'm still alive tomorrow night." "You won't be alive tomorrow mornin' unless you drink your milk." "Not now, Mr Peavey." "I done put your ague powder in it." "Mr Peavey..." "You pay him no mind, Miss Claiborne." "He's been embarrassing' me since before you were born." "Here, here, here, here, here." "Commodore Patterson is coming!" "Excuse me." "General Jackson." "Commodore Patterson." "Commodore." "General." "I am pleased to report our mission has been accomplished." "Barataria has been completely demolished." "Father!" "Father, how could they?" "You promised Mr Lafitte!" "What became of Lafitte?" "Not among the prisoners." "But, Father, you gave him your word!" "Excuse me, Miss Claiborne." "Governor, General." "There is more serious news." "The British fleet has been sighted on Lake Borgne." "The British!" "They're on Lake Borgne!" "Well, that's less than 30 miles away!" "General, what can we do?" "We can keep our heads, sir." "Peavey, Colonel, Major Reed." "General, do you expect to defend New Orleans with this ill-clad rabble of yours?" "My troops are dressed for a fight, sir, not a parade." "But, General Jackson, they lack the cannon, the powder, even the musket flints!" "But not the stomach for a fight." "We have our homes, our families to think of!" "You seem to have everything to think of except your country." "Brave words!" "But you cannot fire words at the enemy!" "Our only safety lies in surrender." "Let me make this very clear, gentlemen." "Before I surrender this city, I will burn it to the ground!" "General Jackson, we have the right to decide our own destiny." "You will find that we have a strong civil authority here!" "And you will find that you have to take orders from me." "By the Eternal, if I must, I'll declare martial law here!" "We are in the hands of a madman!" "Philippe!" "No." "It's quite clear to me, sir, that you're either a coward or a traitor." "You can count on the militia, sir." "All New Orleans is with you, mon General!" "The city is yours to command, sir." "My son will follow you, General." "Thank you, madam." "If perhaps the General will at least tell us what his plans are." "Senator, if the hair of my head knew my plans," "I would cut it off." "Colonel, requisition every carriage and wagon in the city." "Yes, sir." "Major, have every company ready to march." "Yes, sir." "When Andy gets coiled up and rattles thataway," "I'd keep out of striking distance if I was you." "What's the matter, Andy?" "Is somethin' ailing' you?" "I never see so many people so dead set against being defended." "I'm defending' the United States, Mr Peavey." "Yeah, well, you got to keep up your strength for that." "Andy, please finish your milk." "Come on, please, Andy, finish your..." "Andy, if you do," "I'll cook you up a nice hot mess of turkey gizzards." "Not now, Mr Peavey, just keep those buzzards off my back." "I got a..." "I got a heap of thinkin' to do." "All right, Andy." "Doggone if you ain't the hardest man to pin down ever I see in all my born days!" "All I do is chase you around from post to pillar, tryin' to get you to take your medicine." "Don't move." "And don't call your guard." "I'll call my guard when I'm ready." "Who are you?" "Jean Lafitte." "Well..." "What do you want?" "A signed release to get my men out of jail." "You know I don't much like bein' threatened." "Don't..." "Don't shoot yet, Mr Peavey." "That's a very old trick, Jackson." "Mr Peavey, this here is Mr Lafitte, the pirate." "How do, Mr Lafitte, glad to know you." "Shall I pull the trigger now, Andy?" "Well, you got anything to say before I answer that question?" "Yes." "I'd like to make out my will." "For some of that stolen gold you got buried?" "No." "For a storeroom full of powder and 8,000 flints." "Musket flints?" "In exchange for my men." "Where are these flints?" "Where the powder is." "Put those pistols on the table, Mr Lafitte." "How much powder?" "I don't like to talk with a gun on my back." "Leave us alone, Mr Peavey." "You want I should tie him up before I go?" "No, no, no, thank you." "Go on, clear out of here!" "Now, what about those flints?" "What about my men?" "The flints and powder, they in the city?" "You'll find out when the last of my men is out of jail." "By the Eternal, I got the British marching up my back." "I can't stand here talkin' all night!" "Now I need powder and flints, but you won't get this order of release till I know where they are!" "You're looking for a quick way out of life, Jackson!" "If you put a bullet in my brain, I'd still live long enough to kill you." "What ails that boy?" "I don't know, Andy." "He's talkin' some kind of foreign gibberish." "Talk English to me, son." "I can't understand what you're tryin' to..." "Well, don't stand there lookin'." "Can't anybody tell me what this boy's sayin'?" "Don't look at me, Andy!" "He's trying to tell you that the British army is at his father's plantation." "Where's that?" "Come on." "It's eight miles south on the Bayou Catalan." "Mr Peavey, take care of that boy." "Yes, I'll give him a drop of whisky." "Here, you know this terrain." "Can't you show me on a map?" "There it is." "We'll march at once by the Chalmette Road." "Reed, call the Officer of the Day." "Have the bugler sound assembly." "Yes, sir." "Tell Patterson to have those gunboats ready to move." "Yes, sir." "Officer of the Day!" "What's this here?" "That's a dry ditch, the Rodriguez Canal." "Butler, we'll form our line here." "With the river on our right, the swamp on our left, that ditch in front of us, we'll have three allies." "Yes, sir." "Leeds!" "Shreve?" "Yes, sir!" "How many dragoons can you put in the saddle?" "One hundred, sir!" "One hundred." "All right, son." "You're going to have to get me some time." "Now, the British have to move through that bottleneck." "You harass 'em, wreck bridges, fell trees, anything you can think of." "Just slow 'em up for me." "Yes, sir, General Jackson!" "Son..." "Yes, sir!" "Easy does it." "Yes, sir!" "When can you get me those flints and powder?" "As soon as my men are released from jail." "I don't much like givin' a receipt before the goods are delivered." "Here." "They'll be delivered to you on the battle line." "You know that means a full pardon for any one of your devils who'll fight." "How many can you muster?" "I can promise you only one man, myself!" "We going to have them pirates fighting' on our side now, Andy?" "Mr Peavey, right now I'm in no position to be too particular." "Colonel Butler!" "Yes, sir." "Let's get crackin'!" "Yes, sir." "Look here, you didn't even drink your milk here." "Andy..." "Andy, should we take this with us?" "We might as well, Mr Peavey." "We're goin' to fight for it." "Guard!" "Hey, what's all the bell ringin'?" "They're celebratin' our hanging'!" "Yankee Doodle went to town" "Ridin' on a pony..." "Shut up!" "Stuck a feather in his hat And called it macaroni" "Shut up, you scum!" "You'll swing quick enough!" "Which one is General Dominique You?" "My questionable honour, sir." "Sing 'em Yankee Doodle." "General, maybe they'll let you go!" "Hey, the first to dance the rope!" "Out you come." "Get back in there!" "All right, get back in there." "Way to remember me to Captain Brown!" "Fear not, Dominique." "The last enemy we have to face is death." "Thank you, blowfish." "You'll be the rottenest apples that ever dangled from a gallows tree." "But I've learned to love every worm-eaten one of you." "Because the code of our Brotherhood is better than all the lies of nations." "There is only one thing we can trust in life and that is that it will end in death." "Well, when it comes, spit in its eye!" "Well, General," "I was afraid I'd never see you again this side of hell." "Are you so impatient to send me there that you came to tie the rope yourself?" "If that's what you really believe, Dominique, here." "Why did you come here?" "Of all the men in the world, I never wanted to fail you." "Every man I ever believed in has failed me." "Why should you be different?" "I promised you a country." "Here it is." "Signed by Jackson?" "What makes you think you can trust this Jackson?" "He trusted me today." "One word from him, and my head would have been blown off." "Instead, he gave me freedom for all of you in exchange for arms and supplies, and a pardon for every man who will join him on the battle lines." "The men will never listen to you, Jean." "I don't have time to convince them." "Here is freedom for you and for them." "Freedom to keep running away, or to belong to a country if you have the guts to fight for it." "Well, Dominique, I've kept my promise." "All right, hurry it up!" "Look out!" "Get 'em on the firing line." "Come on." "All right, get it out of the way." "This here's my cotton." "Haul it clear!" "Your men stole my cotton!" "Come on!" "I'm going to complain to your commanding' officer!" "Now, heave that wagon over!" "Go tell it to the British!" "Kentucky, don't build that too high." "You won't be able to see the British." "I'm makin' it high enough so they can't see me, General!" "General, sir!" "That's all my cotton." "It's baled and ready for shipping'!" "Then you won't mind helpin' us defend it." "Mr Peavey, see this gentleman gets a musket." "Yes, General." "Here, and don't shoot yourself." "All right, fall in line, sir." "You there, Sergeant?" "Get 'em up there!" "Get some of your sharpshooters in the branches of those trees." "All right, General." "Reed!" "Yes, sir." "That 24-pounder in the Number Three Battery there needs raising'." "See to it." "Yes, sir." "Howdy, boys." "Got any chicory to spare?" "Help yourself." "Mornin', General." "Well, son, how you feel now?" "Fine, sir." "Yeah, I reckon you'd rather be back in Kentucky this mornin' than be out here with me." "Not by a dang sight!" "Come sun-up back home, I'd be slopping' the pigs." "Andy, you better drink some of this here chicory." "lt'll do you good!" "Not now, Mr Peavey." "All right, I'll drink it myself." "That stuff is strong enough to float a horseshoe!" "All right, soldier, step lively." "You haven't got all day!" "Ain't nobody got flints to spare, Major." "What's this?" "Well, that's all I could find." "How does Old Hawkface expect to win a war without musket flints?" "Why don't you let Old Hawkface worry about that, soldier?" "Sorry, sir." "That's all right." "I've been called worse names in my time." "Well, as a matter of fact, General, we're gettin' pretty close to the bottom of the barrel." "There'll be plenty more musket flints once Lafitte gets here." "Do you really expect him to show up?" "Well, Major, if I didn't, my hair might turn grey." "If you ask me, them pirates is back in New Orleans looting' the town." "Battalion, halt!" "1st Company, halt!" "2nd Company, halt!" "3rd Company, halt!" "4th Company, halt!" "Hey, General, think these here toothpicks is going to stop the Redcoats?" "Might slow 'em up long enough to draw a bead on 'em." "Draw a bead on 'em without no flint in your musket?" "What's this for?" "One day's service for your country." "I always thought my life was worth more than a dollar." "Your paper, please." "Thank you." "Your musket." "Glad to see you, Cato." "This here fog is gettin' thicker than cornmeal mush of a Tuesday." "I hope it stays that way." "They can't shoot what they can't see." "Andy, you better put on your shawl!" "I'm fine, Mr Peavey." "I can see you're gettin' cold." "Now you put on your shawl!" "Andy Jackson, come here!" "Paper, please?" "You didn't put down your next of kin." "But I don't have any, sir." "Who shall we notify in case..." "Well, the..." "Just the Claiborne family." "Thank you, Mr Whipple." "Your musket." "Here you are." "Your musket." "Well, what good is this?" "Well, fire that, and when you run out of powder, use the butt end for a club." "Move along, we'll bring your powder later." "If it gets here." "Well, Governor, how many citizens have you recruited for me?" "Over 300 so far, General." "Begging your pardon, sir." "That's more than I expected." "This is very urgent." "We have more men than supplies." "The last of the powder's gone." "Yeah, I know, I know." "There's plenty more of that on the way." "I only hope Lafitte keeps his promise better than we kept ours to him." "What's that?" "The enemy!" "The enemy!" "Excuse me, sir, it's only our patrol returning." "Why did they fire?" "A few nervous triggers, I suppose." "Cease fire!" "Cease fire!" "Get back, you fool, get back!" "Don't you know an American bugle call when you hear it?" "That's our patrol!" "Cease fire!" "Cease fire!" "Cease fire!" "Redcoats, General!" "Thicker than a forest!" "Just tell me what happened, son." "Giants, General!" "Thousands of them!" "Where?" "Clear from the cypress wood to the river." "Ready to attack?" "They're massing now, sir." "600 yards out front." "Nothing can stop them, General, nothing." "There's some coffee boilin' down in the gully, might help take away the smell of gunpowder." "Thank you, General." "Major Reed?" "Get me some couriers up here!" "Colonel Butler, looks like things are about ready to bust loose!" "By the Eternal, you came here to fight and fight you will!" "You think you've turned out here for a Sunday church sociable?" "Sergeant!" "Yes, sir." "Take these civilians back to their place in the line." "Watch out!" "Get back to your posts!" "Them civilians is only going to be in our way when the ruckus starts, General." "I reckon us veterans will have to hold things together, soldier." "Yeah." "Hey, there, you on that cannon?" "Don't you fumble-fingered rockheads know how to elevate a field-piece properly?" "What are you tryin' to do, Andy, break your back?" "When you point 'em like this, you won't hit." "Hit nothin' but jackrabbits." "Come here, let me help you, please." "Andy." "Stand back, Mr Peavey, till I get this..." "Don't waste your strength like this, Andy." "You go back to your place in line or by the Lord God, I'll cut you down!" "Get some water on that, Mr Peavey." "Yes, sir." "All right, it's nothin' but a rocket." "Its bark's a lot worse than its bite!" "Back to your posts!" "Ready on five?" "Five ready, sir." "Fire five!" "That fog's too tarnai thick to see anything." "General, can't we do something to stop these rockets?" "I need my powder too much to waste it on those rockets, Governor." "They're just tryin' to stir us up a little before they move in for the kill." "Tried the same thing at Bladensburg." "General!" "General!" "Lafitte and his men got here, sir." "Thank the Lord for that." "Where?" "Comin' out of the swamp!" "You're a mite late, Mr Lafitte." "We're not accustomed to travelling by land." "Early or late, you're mighty welcome." "It's a nice warm reception you arranged for us." "It'll be warmer if you don't get those flints and powder up to the battle line." "Colonel Butler!" "Yes, sir." "Station these men at the Number Three Battery." "Yes, sir." "Third Battery on the right!" "Keep well." "I intend to." "Captain, see that these supplies are distributed." "Yes, sir." "Hey, buddy." "I hear tell that's Jean Lafitte." "I ain't never seen a pirate before." "Go give him a kiss if he's got powder with him!" "What have we got here, Andy?" "Manna from heaven, Mr Peavey." "Sure glad we got them fightin' for us instead of against us." "Go get some of those leather-shirts of yours to lend a hand here." "Yes, sir." "How much powder did you bring us?" "Enough to work your cannon for a month!" "Now we got somethin' to fight with!" "Over here!" "Give me some of them flints!" "All the flints you can use." "Pirate flints?" "The British will never know the difference!" "Where'd all this powder come from?" "We stole it." "Real special for you!" "We thought you blue-bellies would lose this war before we got here." "Yeah, now that you've brought this powder, you can go home!" "Beluche, get aloft in that tree!" "All right, General." "Pablo, get up that one!" "Sí." "General." "Give me a cross-bearing!" "Aye-aye, General!" "What are you shooting at, Mr Lafitte?" "There's been no order to fire." "Those rockets are making so much noise, we're going to quiet them down." "Pablo?" "It's just a waste of iron, Mr Lafitte." "It ain't too thick, General." "I can see where they're comin' out of the fog." "If anyone would be able to see what to fire at, my men would have done it." "We have a cannoneer who doesn't have to see a target to hit it." "What range would you say?" "I make about 600 yards." "Well, all right, go ahead, it's your powder." "There's the bearing!" "Up she goes!" "You blew her right out of the water, General!" "Luck of the devil." "That's my General!" "Well, this is not a bad gun, you know." "Wonderful, General." "Back to your lines." "Back to your lines." "Put out that fire!" "Well, somebody's mighty handy with a field-piece." "It was that man there, sir." "Mr Lafitte, my compliments." "You have to compliment the General." "General?" "General Dominique You." "He taught Napoleon." "Jean..." "Well, I'm honoured to have you with us, sir." "The honour is mine, General." "Yes." "Mighty fine looking man." "Well, Dominique, there is still a lot of war to fight." "Beluche?" "Aye, General." "Replace that gun." "Horseface, swab her out!" "Battalion, fix bayonets!" "Fix bayonets!" "Fix bayonets!" "Fix bayonets!" "That's the loudest quiet I ever heard, Boss." "Enjoy it while it lasts." "Wonder what time it is." "What do you care?" "We ain't goin' no place." "Battalion, port arms!" "Port arms!" "Port arms!" "Port arms!" "The battalion will advance in line of attack." "Quick march!" "Sounds like someone is killin' a pig." "That's music." "They're bagpipes." "Are they going to fight or dance?" "It sends shivers up and down your spine, General." "Yes, sir, it's meant to." "All right, fall in!" "Fall in!" "Fall in!" "Stand fast, boys." "Mr Lafitte?" "Best be sure your men don't open fire till they get a good target." "Muskets aren't much use at long range." "Let me see that glass, Mr Peavey." "If it weren't for that blasted fog, my Kentucky long-rifles would cut 'em to pieces" "100 yards before they could open fire." "What is the range of your rifles?" "Range?" "These here things can shoot the eye out of a chipmunk at 300 yards." "Then all you need to know is when they are within your range." "The British aren't likely to send up a signal." "The British won't, but I will." "You tired of livin', Mr Lafitte?" "I'll go with you, Boss." "No, you're too big a target." "Mouse?" "Aye, Boss." "You have your powder horn?" "Yes, Boss." "General, could you spare one of your braves?" "Good with a bow?" "Good enough." "Here, Pyke." "No, Toro, you wait here." "I guess the ruckus is about to begin?" "This should be about 300 yards." "Mouse?" "Powder." "There it is!" "Lafitte's signal!" "Shall we open fire, sir?" "No, hold your fire." "We'll give 'em a chance to get back." "But the enemy's in range, sir!" "So is Lafitte, Colonel." "I'll count 40 seconds before firing." "Every second, the British are closer by two yards, sir!" "I'll count 40 seconds, Major!" "Commence firing!" "Company, halt!" "Aim." "Fire!" "It must have come as quite a surprise to you, Governor." "Annette and Captain Lafitte." "Yes, a father is not always the first to learn of his daughter's plans." "Why are you teaching him how to dance, Lizzie?" "You just learned yourself!" "Why don't you go get another piece of pecan pie?" "It's awful good." "I'd rather stay here and watch you and Lizzie make eyes at each other." "Look, how many times have I told you, don't call me "Lizzie", Little Miss Nosey!" "Come on, I'll teach you on the dance floor." "Yes, ma'am." "Lizzie has a sweetheart!" "Lizzie has a..." "Why are you hiding there?" "I'm not hiding." "I'm looking for a friend of mine." "I'll bet you don't know anybody here." "I do, too." "My friend's Mr Lafitte." "Where'd you meet him?" "That's a big secret." "You never look at me like that." "You're not Jean Lafitte." "What are you afraid of?" "I ain't scared of nothin'." "See?" "I'll bet that whistle doesn't work." "Does too." "See!" "Let me blow that whistle." "No." "But, say, if you go and call my friend, Mr Lafitte," "I'll let you use it just while you're gone, though." "What will I tell him?" "Well, just say that Miggs is here and wants to see him right away." "Well..." "All right." "Hold this while I'm gone and don't eat any of it." "Marjorie!" "Marjorie." "Stop that noise." "Where did you get that?" "From my friend, Miggs." "Looks like she's made a conquest." "She inherits her mother's charm." "I can't say that I relish the name of Miggs for a son-in-law." "Miggs?" "Miggs?" "Well, hello, son." "What news of my friend, Captain Tom, of the Corinthian?" "I don't know, sir." "Wait a minute." "How did you get back so soon?" "I thank you all, most kindly, for these honours." "At any rate, there's another man here who deserves a share in every one of them." "He brought me three things I badly needed at Chalmette." "Musket flints, dry powder and fightin' men." "Ladies and gentlemen, Mr Lafitte!" "Thank you, General." "My personal thanks, sir, once again." "You know, for a man who's spent most of his life on a rollin' deck, you step right lively." "Confidentially, General, dancing always makes me a little seasick." "Well, Miss Claiborne, you..." "That was mighty handsome prancing'." "Thank you, General!" "You know, if my Rachel were here though, we'd teach you to dance Possum Up a Gum Tree." "I wish for your sake that she were here, General." "I do, too." "All the happiness you deserve, Annette." "Our heartfelt thanks." "Well, General Dominique." "I see you have an eye for beauty as well as artillery." "General Jackson, I wish to present this lovely lady, Miss Bonnie Brown." "My pleasure, Miss Brown." "It may interest you to know, ma'am, that I've recommended the General here for conspicuous military service." "Hey!" "Thank you, sir." "Excuse me, Bonnie." "May I..." "General, I have a confession to make." "You see, I wouldn't want to lie to a general like you." "You see..." "I was not quite..." "As a matter of fact, I was only a corporal." "Well, in the battle line at Chalmette, you were a general, my friend." "I am deeply grateful to you." "Thanks." "Miss Brown." "Somethin' wrong with your arm?" "Yes, madam." "It needs your beautiful hand." "Come, Bonnie." "It's just like in a fairy tale!" "Yes, isn't it?" "Isn't it, Jean?" "Yes, it is." "How much longer do we have to stay here?" "Not very much longer." "You're a sly one, Annette." "But it's so romantic." "You must bring your fiancé to dinner with me." "I'd be delighted." "You're a lucky man, Lafitte." "Yes..." "On the contrary, sir, I'm the lucky one!" "Well, we'll see you soon." "Very soon!" "Bye." "Don't you think we've been on display long enough?" "Perhaps I have, but you haven't." "I want every woman in the world to be jealous of me!" "Annette, may we see your ring?" "Yes, of course." "I can't do it." "Bonnie." "All you have to say is, "Congratulations." And smile." "That's enough." "Come on." "I'd rather break a bottle over his head." "Jean." "Miss Claiborne." "Miss Brown is most eager to congratulate you." "Yes, that's right." "Good luck to you both." "Thank you." "That's very kind of you." "He's a hard fish to hook, Miss Claiborne." "It wasn't easy." "What are you starin' at?" "Somethin' wrong with my rig?" "Not at all." "You look lovely." "You look beautiful." "It's a lovely dress." "Do you know Madame Dupre made one just like it for me?" "Except my sister sailed off with it on the Corinthian." "Corinthian?" "Wouldn't that have been embarrassing, both of us wearing the same dress?" "Well, that's a proof that you can never trust dressmakers." "I hear a waltz." "Mademoiselle." "I insist upon the honour of this dance." "Excuse me." "Certainly." "Jean." "I didn't mean to." "Jean, I'll get out of here." "I'll get rid of this rag of a dress." "I'll burn it." "No one need ever see it again, I swear it!" "Is it going to bring her sister back to life?" "Annette doesn't ever have to know." "You could say the Corinthian was sunk in a storm, lost at sea." "Who'll know?" "I will know." "So what do you want to do?" "Tell her." "You're a fool!" "She's everything you've ever loved and fought for." "You gave up everything you had, everything you are." "Jean, even I don't want to see you lose her now." "Could you love a man who'd killed your sister?" "I could love a man who'd killed my father." "Mr Lafitte?" "There's a boy here to see you." "His name is Miggs." "Where is he?" "Over there with his dog." "Now, look, tell him to wait for me at the back of the house right away," "you understand?" "ls he really your friend?" "Yes, yes, yes, go right on." "All right." "Look, go to the back gate, wait for me with Miggs." "Jean, I'm frightened." "Go on!" "They have got Miggs." "We may have to fight our way out of here, Boss." "Shall I get the men?" "No!" "There'll be no fighting." "Now listen to me, all of you." "Get to the Raven." "Make ready to sail." "I will join you if I can." "I'm not going to let you face this without me." "Dominique, this is an order." "If I'm not there in two hours, sail away." "Well, you heard the Boss." "Let's get movin'." "There's something very strange here." "The boy refuses to answer questions." "How do you expect him to answer questions when you're all shouting at him?" "Annette is right." "Now look, son." "No one's going to hurt you." "We just want to know how you left the Corinthian." "How did you get back here?" "The Corinthian hasn't had time to dock yet." "Well, I don't know." "It was night time." "Well, did you sprout wings and fly back here through the air?" "Stupid!" "You didn't fall overboard, did you?" "That's it." "Yes, sir." "I fell overboard." "Well, how did it happen?" "Tell us." "Well, there was a storm, and these big waves..." "There've been no storms, son." "Yes, there was, and these big waves came..." "Was the ship sunk?" "What?" "No." "I don't know." "Perhaps a birch rod will help you to tell the truth." "For heaven's sake, Mercier, don't manhandle the boy." "Now look, I have insured a quarter of a million dollars on that ship." "I'm going to find out what happened to it!" "Hold on, Mercier." "That ship must have been sunk." "Was it the British?" "No, sir." "Then was it Lafitte?" "Mr Mercier, how dare you?" "Look, Mercier, don't stand under my roof and make these wild accusations." "If it was not the British, then who was it?" "Mr Lafitte wasn't even there." "He was..." "Lafitte was what?" "Mr Lafitte was..." "He was what?" "I can answer that question." "I was there." "What?" "The Corinthian was sunk." "Were there any survivors?" "Every soul but one was lost." "Did you have any part in this, Lafitte?" "I was their boss." "He admits it!" "You killed my son!" "Mr Lafitte!" "I just came to say goodbye to you!" "I didn't mean to get you in no trouble!" "Mr Lafitte!" "Mr Lafitte!" "Jean, Jean, tell them it wasn't you!" "Tell them the truth, Jean!" "They would never believe it, Annette." "There will be a trial, of course." "Trial!" "There'll be no trial." "We'll hang him right now." "Mr Lafitte!" "Mr Lafitte!" "Tell 'em, tell 'em!" "Father, stop them!" "Stop them, Father!" "You want me to defend that murderer?" "Father, he didn't do it." "I'd stake my life on it!" "What about your sister's life?" "Father!" "Here's a good, strong cord." "Mr Peavey!" "Please get General Jackson." "Tell him what they're doing!" "Please!" "Don't you worry none, honey." "I'll get him." "Hurry, please!" "Excuse me, ladies, excuse me." "The branch up there, use that." "You're not going to hang him here!" "She's right, not here." "Not here." "We'll hang him in the stable where he belongs!" "Wait!" "No one has a greater grievance against this man than I have." "I lost a daughter." "But you cannot take the law into your own hands!" "Lafitte has put himself outside the law!" "Yes." "I'll be glad to see him hang, but not by mob violence!" "Your soft hands have been too much with this pirate!" "Come on, bring him down!" "Mercier!" "Let him go, let him go!" "Remember that you're men, not animals!" "By the Lord God, I'll kill the next man who moves." "This city is still under martial law!" "Does martial law protect a murderer?" "He sank a ship with 80 souls aboard!" "Silence!" "Lafitte, did you sink that ship?" "I was responsible." "From his own mouth!" "I risked a personal fortune on the Corinthian!" "What risk did you take on the battle line, Mr Mercier?" "Jean offered his help to defend our country, and you answered him by destroying Barataria!" "And still he came and helped us." "That is not the point, Miss Claiborne!" "That's precisely the point, sir." "I made this man a promise." "A full pardon for every man jack who'd join me in the battle line." "He kept his word." "And, by the Eternal, I'm goin' to keep mine." "I won't hold you to that, General." "I'll settle for one hour's start." "Turn him loose." "All right, Lafitte, your hour's begun." "Jean!" "I'm going with you." "Annette, what life can we have together?" "No country, no home, belonging to nothing." "We'd belong to each other." "You're all the world that I want." "Annette, you don't know what it means to spend a life running away." "I only want to live and die with you." "Jean..." "I love you too much to take you with me." "All I can take with me is the memory of you." "I cannot return the daughter you lost on the Corinthian." "Governor." "I can only give you back what I love most in the world." "Lafitte!" "There is not a corner in the world where you will be safe!" "At least I am leaving all of you safe in an American New Orleans." "Man the braces!" "Man the braces!" "Stand by to close haul!" "Aye, General." "What flag do we break out?" "We have no flag." "What course?" "Straight out to sea." "Full and bye on the port tack." "Full and bye on the port tack." "Where we headed, Dominique?" "Where we belong." "When a man loses everything else, he still has the sea." "This deck is the only country we have." "This is all the country I want."