CAMERON'S CABIN – NEXT MORNING
EXTERIOR OF CAMERON'S CABIN –
Mohawk boy and James Cameron slam into other kids as they battle through a Lacrosse game. In the background are sixty men, women and children. It's a community gathering held out of doors. We've entered mid-scene. Captain Jack is standing on a box. Some women and kids mill around some tables, boards, and laid over barrels. Women are seen starting the fires to make meals for the men that have come to gather. Most but not all around Captain Jack are men, nine settlers, hunter/trappers, eight Mohawk farmers in mixed European and native clothing. Off to the side are an English Lieutenant on horseback and a ten-man escort from whatever regiments are in Albany. A man named Henri speaks in French. His son, Martin, translates…
HENRI
(O.S. in French)
MARTIN
(translates)
My father says he was driven out of France by
the black robe priests and he would fight them
now but he lost his arm and so I will go in his
place.
Meanwhile ... Ongewasgone is an unusually large Mohawk in a blue match coat with a little girl holding his hand. He says something to Chingachgook who nods. Hawkeye and Uncas are a little apart in an outer grouping of the men. Ongewasgone is a war chief and wears a white plume and is tattooed. As Martin finishes, he steps forward.
ONGEWASGONE
John Cameron, thank you for your hospitality ...
Twin River Mohawk got no quarrel with Les
Francais. Trade furs with Les Francais. Now Les
Francais bring Huron onto Mohawk hunting grounds ...
These people are English, Scots-Irish and Dutch farmers; some French Huguenot "mechanics" (craftsmen). They're in shirt-sleeves and Indian moccasins & leggings. The Mohawks' vast lands and corn agriculture border the settlement. They've been acculturated for over a hundred years. Some wear European calico hunting shirts. Their heads are shaved to scalping locks and many are tattooed. They've politically and commercially played France & England against each other very adroitly for over a hundred years because of their military power and geographic position. Their relations with working farmers and settlers and their families has been mostly one of co-existence because there's always been more than enough for all. This is a WPA mural of ethnic diversity and plurality of frontier America. The Europeans are former indentured laborers, farmers exiled by economics or religious persecution, frontier hunters and trappers ... working people.
ONGEWASGONE
(continues)
Now Mohawk will fight Huron and Les Francais.
My brothers have asked me to lead them in this
war so I speak for the Twin River Council.
The importance of this commitment is apparent to the lieutenant.
LIEUTENANT
His Majesty King George II is very grateful for
your support.
IAN
How far up the valley?
LIEUTENANT
To Fort William Henry.
COLONIAL #1
... two days from here.
Some don't like this.
LIEUTENANT
It should be enough to remind you France is
the enemy.
HAWKEYE
Your enemy ...
Heads turn to Hawkeye at the periphery of the crowd. Uncas and Hawkeye stand tall as they lean against their muskets; determination can be seen in their faces as if to say their minds are already made up.
LIEUTENANT
What did you say?
HAWKEYE
(loud)
I said ... France is your enemy. Not ours.
LIEUTENANT
Really? Do you want them to overrun all
New York colony?
HAWKEYE
First place, you started it with the French over
fur-trapping claims to the head waters of the Ohio.
(smiles)
Now you're sayin' these people have a fight on
their hands ...
LIEUTENANT
(ignoring Hawkeye)
Will you men help us stop the French?
HAWKEYE
... and while they are cooped up in your fort,
what if the French send war parties to raid
their homes?
IAN
What then, Lieutenant?
LIEUTENANT
For your own homes, for king, for country, that's
why you men ought to join this fight!
HAWKEYE
You do what you want with your own scalp.
Do not be tellin' us what to do
with ours.
LIEUTENANT
(furious; to Hawkeye)
You, sir! You call yourself a loyal subject?
HAWKEYE
... No ... Do not call myself much of a subject
at all.
Uncas hides his laughter behind the butt of his musket as the rest of the crowd breaks in a light laughter.
COLONIAL #2
Nathaniel's right. But if I got to fight, figure I'll
try and do it fifty miles north of here instead of
my bean field.
PEOPLE ADLIBING IN THE BACKGROUND
Yes. Yeah. No ...
CAMERON
(With Chingachook at his side…)
I am stayin' on my farm.
James Cameron walks up and rest his head on the side of Chingachook as his father continues…
CAMERON
And any man who goes,
his family is welcome to fort-up with us 'til he
comes back.
JACK
I agree with some of what Nathaniel
and the Lieutenant have to say. My sense
of it is enough of us will join-up to
fill the county's levy. But only if General Webb
accepts a few terms I got in mind ...
Seeing that there is no more to be said on the matter Hawkeye and Uncas look at each other and glance at the Lacrosse field. They make their way over and take off their shirts and remove their weapons to join in; meanwhile a few men drift off to their women at the tables. It is apparent two-thirds of the men will join.
IAN
(as he walks by Uncas and Nathaniel)
You boys marchin' with us? What do you say?
UNCAS
We had our say, Ian.
They approach the Lacrosse field. Uncas joins James. Hawkeye goes on the other side. A couple of young Mohawks and a young blonde farmer shout hallo's and as the bodies crash into each other ...
Chingachgook stands with Cameron in the background, watching with delight but also worry for what is to come…