napoleon by stanley kubrick

5/21/2018 NAPOLEON by Stanley Kubrick

1/155

NAPOLEON

A

Screenpl ay

by

St anl ey Kubr i ck


2/155

Sept ember 29, 1969

FADE I N:

I NT. BEDROOM CORSI CA - NI GHT

A wel l wor n t eddy- bear i s cr adl ed i n t he ar ms of Napol eon,age 4, who dr eami l y sucks hi s t humb, l i st eni ng t o abedt i me st or y t ol d by hi s young mot her , Let i zi a. Hi s 5-year ol d br ot her , J oseph, i s al r eady asl eep, besi de hi m.

NARRATOR Napol eon was bor n at Aj acci o i n Cor si ca on August 15t h, 1769. He had not been a heal t hy baby and hi s mot her , Let i z i a, l avi shed hi m wi t h car e and devot i on. I n mi ddl e age, he woul d wr i t e about her f r om St . Hel ena.

NAPOLEON ( V. O. ) My mot her has al ways l oved me. She woul d do anyt hi ng f or me.

MAI N TI TLES

I NT. DORMI TORY BRI ENNE - NI GHT

I t i s st i l l dar k on a f r eezi ng wi nt er mor ni ng. The boysar e bei ng awakened by a monk, l oudl y r i ngi ng a bel l .Candl es ar e l i t .

Napol eon, age 9, sun- t anned, l eaps out of bed, r ubbi ng hi sar ms and shi ver i ng. He t r i es t o pour a pi t cher of wat er ,di scover i ng t hat i t has f r ozen sol i d.

NAPOLEON Who has been put t i ng gl ass i n my pi t cher ? Look her e, someone has f i l l ed my pi t cher wi t h gl ass!

DUFOUR Oh, my goodness ! Someone has f i l l ed Bonapar t e' s pi t cher wi t h gl ass. Now, who on ear t h woul d do a t hi ng l i ke t hat ?


3/155

BREMOND Oh, heavens, l ook someone has f i l l ed my pi t cher wi t h gl ass t oo!

MONK Si l ence! Si l ence! You shoul d not make f un of Monsi eur Bonapar t e, he comes f r om a count r y wher e i t i s

never ver y col d. He has pr obabl y never seen i ce bef or e.

DUFOUR Never seen i ce bef or e? Oh, dear me - - how ver y odd.

The boys sni cker . Napol eon gl ar es at t hem.

NARRATOR At t he age of 9, Napol eon ent ered

t he Royal Mi l i t ar y Col l ege at Br i enne, i n Fr ance, under a r oyal schol ar shi p. For t he next f i ve and a hal f year s, he woul d devot e hi msel f t o pr epar at i on f or hi s mi l i t ar y car eer . These wer e har sh and cheer l ess year s f or t he l onel y, i mpover i shed pr ovi nci al , among af f l uent Fr ench nobl emen' s sons.

EXT. FARM BRI ENNE - DAY

A l ovel y, l at e- summer af t er noon. A smal l gr oup of boys,i n t hei r school uni f or ms, ar e i mpat i ent l y gat her ed ar ounda r ough t abl e, cover ed wi t h st acks of t hi ck br ead and j amand t i n mugs of mi l k. The f ar mer ' s wi f e super vi sest hi ngs, col l ect i ng a sou f r om each boy.

Napol eon, 9, st ands apar t f r om t he gr oup, dr i nki ng hi smi l k, a book under hi s ar m, l ost i n t hought , gazi ng acr osst he cor nf i el d at t he school bui l di ngs, whi ch ar ebeaut i f ul l y col or ed by t he l at e sunl i ght .

BREMOND ( over l y cheer f ul ) Good af t ernoon, Bonapar t e.

Napol eon i gnor es hi m.

BREMOND What ar e you r eadi ng?


4/155

No r epl y. Duf our moves behi nd Napol eon.

BREMOND ( angl i ng hi s head t o r ead t he t i t l e) Dear me, ar en' t we i n an unf r i endl y mood. Caesar ' s conquest of Gaul . Ar en' t we t er r i bl y consci ent i ous

about our st udi es? By t he way, di d t he super vi sor gi ve you per mi ssi on t o t ake t hat book away f r om t he school gr ounds?

NAPOLEON ( qui et l y) Fuck of f , Br emond.

BREMOND Oh, my goodness. What l anguage!

Di d you l ear n t hat f r om your mot her , Bonapar t e?

Br emond i s 4 year s ol der and much bi gger t han Napol eon.

NAPOLEON Fuck of f !

At t hi s moment , Duf our gi ves hi m a vi ol ent bump f r ombehi nd, spi l l i ng mi l k al l over hi s uni f or m and spl at t er i ngt he book.

DUFOUR Oh, goodness, my dear Bonapar t e - - I am cl umsy. Oh, and l ook at your book!

Napol eon hur l s t he t i n cup, wi t h al l hi s st r engt h, atDuf our , hi t t i ng hi m squar el y on t he f or ehead, wi t h ar esonant pon- nnng! Napol eon l eaps on Br emond, and t he t woboys go down i n a t angl e of br ead, j am and mi l k.

I NT. MI LI TARY TAI LOR - DAY

Napol eon, age 16, bei ng f i t t ed f or hi s smar t , 2ndLi eut enant ' s uni f or m, st udi es hi msel f i n t he f ul l - l engt hmi r r or .

NARRATOR At t he age of 16, he gr aduat ed a sub- l i eut enant f r om t he Royal Mi l i t ar y School i n Par i s, and was


5/155

post ed t o t he cr ack r egi ment de l a Fer e, at Val ence.

EXT. FI RI NG RANGE - DAY

Ar t i l l er y f i r i ng r ange. A hot summer mor ni ng. Napol eoni s par t of a gr oup of young of f i cer s l oadi ng and f i r i ng acannon.

NARRATOR The pr act i cal pr of essi onal t r ai ni ng t hat Napol eon woul d r ecei ve f or t he next t hr ee year s woul d gi ve hi m a worki ng knowl edge of al l arms, and expose hi m t o t he advanced mi l i t ar y i deas of du Tei l , Bour cet and Gui ber t .

EXT. DRI LL FI ELD - DAY

A cal m, wi nt er day, snow on t he gr ound. Napol eon andgr oup go t hr ough t he or der ed dr i l l of l oadi ng and f i r i ng amusket . Thei r t ar get s ar e pai nt ed f i gur es of sol di er s.

EXT. FI ELD - DAY

The edge of a wood near Val ence. A wi ndy, spr i ng day.Napol eon and ni ne ot her young of f i cer s ar e gat hered arounda l eat her y- l ooki ng Capt ai n wi t h st eel spect acl es, who i si nst r uct i ng t hem i n t he ar t of map r eadi ng. The map,

about f our f eet wi de, i s f l appi ng noi si l y i n t he heavygust s of wi nd, despi t e t he f our pai r s of knees and handsst r uggl i ng t o hol d i t f l at agai nst t he gr ound.

I NT. ROOM - NI GHT

Napol eon' s r oom at Val ence. I t i s f i l l ed wi t h books,most l y of mi l i t ar y subj ect s, but wel l - st ocked wi t h poet r y,hi st or y and phi l osophy. He i s r eadi ng by candl el i ght .Out si de we hear t he sounds of r evel r y pr oduced by l essconsci ent i ous of f i cer s.

NARRATOR Hi s moods at t hi s t i me wer e compl ex and var i ed.

NAPOLEON ( V. O. ) Li f e i s a bur den f or me. Not hi ng gi ves me any pl easur e; I f i nd onl y sadness i n everyt hi ng around me. I t i s ver y di f f i cul t because t he ways


6/155

of t hose wi t h whom I l i ve, and pr obabl y al ways shal l l i ve, ar e as di f f er ent f r om mi ne as moonl i ght i s f r om sunl i ght .

I NT. I NN - NI GHT

Napol eon, 17, t he youngest of a gr oup of a dozen of f i cer s

who ar e seat ed ar ound a t abl e i n t he l ocal i nn, dr i nki ngand si ngi ng songs.

EXT. FOREST - DAWN

I t i s a hazy, summer dawn. Napol eon, 17, and Carol i neCol umbi er , a l ovel y young gi r l of 15, wal k t oget her i n af or est . They occas i onal l y s t op t o pi ck cher r i es . I t i s ascene of pr e- Raphael i t e i nnocence and beaut y - - t he youngof f i cer , smar t l y uni f or med, t he i nnocent gi r l i n a f l owi ngwhi t e dr ess.

NARRATOR He made f r i ends wi t h a f ami l y cal l ed Col umbi er , and woul d l at er wr i t e of hi s f i r s t f l i r t at i on wi t h t hei r daught er , Car ol i ne.

NAPOLEON ( V. O. ) I t wi l l scar cel y be consi der ed cr edi bl e, per haps, but our whol e busi ness consi st ed i n eat i ng

cher r i es t oget her .

EXT. LYON STREET - NI GHT

I t i s a wi t her i ngl y col d wi nt er ni ght , i n Lyon. Peopl e,bundl ed up t o t he eyes, hur r y al ong t he al most deser t edst r eet , past empt y caf es whi ch ar e st i l l open.

Napol eon, hands deep i n hi s pocket s, shoul der s hunchedagai nst t he col d, passes a char mi ng, young st r eet - wal ker ,about hi s own age. He st ops and l ooks at her ,

uncer t ai nl y. A l ar ge snowf l ake l ands on her nose whi chmakes hi m smi l e.

GI RL Good eveni ng, si r .

NAPOLEON Good eveni ng, Mademoi sel l e.

She i s sweet .


7/155

GI RL The weat her i s t er r i bl e, i sn' t i t , s i r ?

NAPOLEON Yes, i t i s . I t must be one of t he wor st ni ght s we have had t hi s wi nt er .

GI RL Yes, i t must be.

Napol eon i s at a l oss f or conver sat i on.

NAPOLEON You must be chi l l ed t o t he bone, st andi ng out of door s l i ke t hi s.

GI RL

Yes , I am, s i r .

NAPOLEON Then what br i ngs you out on such a ni ght ?

GI RL Wel l , one must do somet hi ng t o l i ve, you know - - and I have an el der l y mot her who depends on me.

NAPOLEON Oh, I see. . . That must be a gr eat bur den.

GI RL One must t ake l i f e as i t comes - - do you l i ve i n Lyon, s i r ?

NAPOLEON No, I ' m onl y her e on l eave. My r egi ment i s at Val ence.

GI RL Ar e you st ayi ng wi t h a f r i end, s i r ?

NAPOLEON No. . . I have a. . . r oom. . . at t he Hot el de Per r i n.

GI RL I s i t a ni ce war m r oom, s i r ?


8/155

NAPOLEON Wel l , i t must be a good deal war mer t han i t i s her e on t he st r eet .

GI RL Woul d you l i ke t o t ake me t her e, so t hat we can get warm, si r ?

NAPOLEON Uh- hh. . . yes , of cour se - - i f you woul d l i ke t o go. . . t her e. . . but . . . I have ver y l i t t l e money.

GI RL Do you have t hr ee f r ancs, si r ?

I NT. HOTEL ROOM - NI GHT

Napol eon' s cheap hot el r oom i s onl y sl i ght l y war mer t han

t he st r eet . A candl e f l i cker s i n t he dr af t , and t hedr i vi ng snow f orms a l ovel y vi gnet t es on t he wi ndow panes.

Napol eon s i t s f ul l y dr essed, st i l l wr apped i n hi s coat ,scar f , gl oves and hat , wat chi ng t he gi r l hur r i edl yundr essi ng, shi ver i ng, t eet h chat t er i ng, and di vi ng i nt ot he i ce- col d bed.

GI RL Br - r r r , t hese sheet s ar e l i ke i ce.

NAPOLEON Oh, I ' m sor r y about t hat .

The gi r l shi ver s and wai t s f or hi m t o f ol l ow her i nt o bed.He doesn' t move.

NAPOLEON What ' s your name?

GI RL Li set t e.

NAPOLEON Onl y Li set t e?

GI RL L i set t e La Cr oi x.

NAPOLEON That ' s a ver y ni ce name. Where ar e you f r om?


9/155

GI RL Pl ease, si r , come i nt o bed or I shal l di e of a chi l l .

NAPOLEON Oh, yes. . . of cour se.

He st ands and bl ows out t he candl e.

TI TLE: 1789 - REVOLUTI ON

EXT. TOWN SQUARE - DAY

I t i s j ammed wi t h 300 peasant s and t own wor ker s. Many ar ewomen, Monsi eur Var l ac, t he r evol ut i onar y l eader , st andson a car t f l anked by a smal l Revol ut i onary Commi t t ee. Hei s muscul ar , bal d man i n hi s f or t i es, wear i ng gl asses.

Behi nd hi m, we see si x severed heads, st uck on pi kes.

VARLAC Ci t i zens, wor d has come f r om Par i s t hat t he f oul pr i son of t he Bast i l l e has been capt ured. ( cheer s) That i t s Gover nor ' s head i s up on a pi ke. ( cheer s) Al l Par i s i s now i n t he hands of i t s peopl e.

( cheer s) Soon al l Fr ance wi l l be i n t he hands of i t s peopl e. ( cheer s)

As t he cheer s di e down, we hear t he sounds of a sol i t ar ydr um and mar chi ng men. Al l eyes t ur n t o t he appear ance ofa col umn of 25 Fr ench t r oops, l ed by Napol eon on a hor seand a si ngl e dr ummer , mar chi ng i nt o t he t own squar e i n acol umn of t hr ees.

Napol eon hal t s t hem j ust i nsi de t he squar e, and r i desf or war d, al one, i nt o t he huge cr owd, who gi ves way f or hi shor se. He st ops about 10 f eet f r om Var l ac' s car t . Theman of t he peopl e st ands, hands on hi ps, gl ar i ng atNapol eon, who i s now compl et el y sur r ounded by t he cr owd.Var l ac and hi s commi t t ee conver se i n whi sper s.

VARLAC Good day t o our br ot her s- i n- ar ms. Have you come t o j oi n us?


10/155

NAPOLEON I am l ooki ng f or Monsi eur Geor ge Var l ac who r esi des i n t he Rue de Fr el i cot . Do you know hi m, monsi eur ?

VARLAC Ver y wel l , Ci t i zen Li eut enant . You

have come t o t he r i ght pl ace, f or I am Ci t i zen Var l ac.

The cr owd l aughs i n an ugl y way.

NAPOLEON Cont r ar y t o what you have been t el l i ng t hese good peopl e, Monsi eur Var l ac, Fr ance i s s t i l l i n t he hands of i t s pr oper aut hor i t i es, and t hey have sent me her e wi t h a war r ant f or

your ar r est . You ar e char ged wi t h t he mur der of Monsei gneur de Bouchy and hi s son, and t he bur ni ng of hi s chat eau.

Var l ac whi sper s t o sever al of t he men st andi ng around hi m.One of t hem di sagr ees and f or cef ul l y shakes hi s head.

VARLAC A r evol ut i on i s not a pol i t e di scussi on i n a par l or , Ci t i zen Li eut enant . One does not cal l i t mur der t o ki l l such ver mi n.

NAPOLEON ( speaki ng f or t he cr owd) You may save your phi l osophy f or t he magi st r at e, Monsi eur Var l ac. I am onl y a si mpl e of f i cer i n t he ar my, and t o me what you have done i s

cal l ed mur der , and hi s al ways been cal l ed murder by honest men.

VARLAC Then do you pr opose t o ar r est al l of us, Ci t i zen Li eut enant ? For I was not t her e al one.

NAPOLEON No, Monsi eur Var l ac, my war r ant i s onl y f or you. Now, wi l l you pl ease


11/155

come down at once. You wi l l be t aken back t o Chal on f or t r i al .

Var l ac and hi s commi t t ee t al k i n agi t at ed whi sper s.

VARLAC Ci t i zen Li eut enant , my advi ce i s t o l eave t hi s t own at once wi t h your

men. We do not wi sh t o do har m t o our br ot her s i n uni f or m.

NAPOLEON Monsi eur Var l ac, do not pr et end t o speak f or t hese good peopl e whom you have mi sl ed and i nf l amed wi t h vi ol ent speech. Now, I or der you t o come down f r om t he car t .

Anot her whi sper ed conf er ence.

VARLAC I do not r ecogni ze t he aut hor i t y of t he Ki ng or any of hi s l ackeys.

Laught er f r om t he cr owd.

VARLAC I suggest t hat you l eave wi t h your men whi l e you can.

NAPOLEON ( dr awi ng hi s pi st ol ) Monsi eur Var l ac, I wi l l count s l owl y t o f i ve, and i f you have not begun t o get down f r om t he car t by t hen, I wi l l car r y out your execut i on, on t he spot .

Wi t hout gi vi ng Var l ac t i me f or f ur t her di scussi on, hebegi ns t he count .

NAPOLEON One. . . Two. . . Thr ee. . .

Sever al of t he commi t t ee move away f r om Var l ac.

NAPOLEON Four . . . Thi s i s your l ast chance, Monsi eur Var l ac.

Var l ac i s f r i ght ened, but make an obscene gest ur e. Thecr owd l aughs nervousl y.


12/155

NAPOLEON Fi ve. . .

Napol eon r i des up t o t he car t , car ef ul l y ai ms hi sr evol ver and shoot s Var l ac i n t he head. Hi s ent our agel eaps t o saf et y.

A gasp of ast oni shment f r om t he st unned cr owd, who st andhypnot i zed.

NAPOLEON A conf essed mur der er has j ust been shot . Now, l et al l honest men r et ur n t o t hei r homes.

FADE OUT.

FADE I N:

EXT. TUI LERI ES PALACE - DAY

A mob of sever al t housand have br oken i n and f or ced Loui sXVI , Mar i e- Ant oi net t e and t hei r chi l dr en out ont o abal cony. Der i si ve cheer s come f r om t he mul t i t ude i n t hecour t yar d bel ow. A dozen or so men of t he r evol ut i on havecr owded out on t o t he bal cony, pr essi ng t he Ki ng and Queenon al l si des. No one seems t o know what t o do next .Loui s XVI gi ves a hal f - hear t ed wave t o t he crowd.

A bot t l e of champagne and some gl asses ar e br ought out .Two gl asses ar e cour t eousl y handed t o t he Royal coupl e.The r evol ut i onar i es r ai se t hei r gl asses. The Ki ng andt he Queen dr i nk wi t h t hem. Thi s cr eat es an upr oar ofappr oval f r om t he cr owd.

Then one of t he men pul l s of f hi s di r t y, r ed st ocki ng capand of f er s i t t o t he Ki ng. Loui s XVI st ands and l ooks ati t bl ankl y. The r evol ut i onar y r eaches over and put s i t onhi s head. The cr owd cheer s.

NAPOLEON I ncredi bl e. . . I ncredi bl e. . . How coul d he l et t hat r abbl e i nt o t he Pal ace? I f he had r i dden out among t hem on a whi t e hor se, t hey woul d al l have gone home. I f he l acked t he cour age t o do t hat , a whi f f of gr apeshot - - and t hey woul d st i l l be r unni ng.

EXT. VI EW OF TOULON - DAY


13/155

The har bor f i l l ed wi t h Br i t i sh shi ps.

NARRATOR I n t he summer of 1793, Ci vi l war swept t hr ough Fr ance, and t he i mpor t ant naval base at Toul on f el l i nt o t he hands of a Royal i st

i nsur r ect i on, whi ch qui ckl y handed over t he por t t o a combi ned Br i t i sh and Spani sh f l eet .

EXT. TOULON HQ AREA - DAY

NARRATOR A Fr ench ar my of 10, 000 was or der ed t o r et ake t he por t , but i t s commander , Gener al Car t eaux, a wel l - known Par i s i an pai nt er , had l i t t l e

exper i ence i n war and t he si ege qui ckl y became a st al emat e.

Gener al Car t eaux, a f l or i d and moust ached man i n hi s l at et hi r t i es , pai nt i ng f r om l i f e, a gr oup of Fr ench sol di er s ,posed i n a pat r i ot i c t abl eau, t hei r eyes f i xed on adi s t ant vi s i on of gl or y.

I n t he backgr ound, ar e t he t ent s and t he mi l i t ar y bust l eof Car t eaux' s headquar t er s, set upon a hi l l over l ooki ngt he har bor of Toul on.

EXT. TOULON ROAD - DAY

A smar t Fr ench honor guar d and mi l i t ar y band i s assembl edout si de Gener al Car t eaux' s headquar t er s f or t he ar r i val ofPaul Bar r as, Deput y f r om t he Commi t t ee of Publ i c Saf et y.

Bar r as exi t s hi s car r i age, accompani ed by f our f oppi shai des and embraces Gener al Car t eaux.

Bar r as i s a vi r i l e, handsome, bi sexual man wi t h el egant

manner s of t he Anci en Regi me.

Napol eon i s an onl ooker wi t h ot her of f i cer s.

NARRATOR Paul Francoi s Ni col as Bar r as, f or mer Vi scount , now Ci t i zen Deput y f r om t he Commi t t ee of Publ i c Saf et y, had been sent f r om Par i s t o per sonal l y r epor t on t he f ai l ur e of t he Si ege.


14/155

I NT. TOULON HQ TENT - DAY

A l ar ge t abl e has been set up i n t he mi ddl e of t he t ent ,at whi ch ar e seat ed Paul Bar r as, hi s f our ci vi l i an ai desand 7 gener al s.

Set up at one end of t he t abl e i s a l ar ge mi l i t ar y map ofToul on, pi nned t o a boar d.

St andi ng back f r om t he t abl e, and r angi ng al ong t he wal l sof t he t ent , ar e 30 j uni or of f i cer s, t he st af f and ai desof t he gener al s seat ed.

Napol eon, now a capt ai n of ar t i l l er y, i s wi t h t hat gr oup.

Bar r as sl owl y squar es up a st ack of r epor t s bef or e hi m andspeaks.

BARRAS

Ci t i zen gener al s, I have r ead al l your r epor t s and not ed your si gnat ur es. I n subst ance, your vi ews are unani mous. The Engl i sh posi t i ons, def endi ng Toul on, ar e t oo st r ong t o be t aken by our pr esent f or ce. The t wo unsuccessf ul at t acks t o dat e woul d appear t o suppor t your ar gument s.

He l ooks around t he t abl e.

BARRAS Ci t i zen gener al s , i t i s no secret wi t h what di spl easur e t he Commi t t ee of Saf et y l ooks upon any l ack of pat r i ot i sm or r evol ut i onar y zeal . On t he ot her hand, i t obvi ousl y does not wi sh t o i ndul ge i n a f ut i l e wast e of l i f e. Bef or e I send your r epor t s t o Par i s f or t he Commi t t ee' s r evi ew, t oget her wi t h my opi ni on, I shoul d l i ke t o gi ve you a f i nal oppor t uni t y t o pr esent any new i deas whi ch you may have devel oped si nce wr i t i ng t hese r epor t s.

Ther e i s t r oubl ed si l ence, but t he gener al s st and pat .

CARTEAUX Ci t i zen Bar r as, si nce t her e does not seem t o have been any new t hought s


15/155

among us, may we know t he opi ni on whi ch you, your sel f , have f or med?

BARRAS General Car t eaux, my r epor t on t he conduct of t hi s campai gn wi l l go i n wr i t i ng t o t he commi t t ee.

An awkwar d si l ence.

NAPOLEON Excuse me, Ci t i zen Bar r as.

Al l eyes go t o Napol eon.

BARRAS Yes - - who spoke up?

NAPOLEON

I di d, si r .

Napol eon speaks wi t h t he uncomf or t abl e yet det er mi nedmanner t hat shy but wi l l f ul peopl e of t en exhi bi t .

BARRAS Yes, Capt ai n? Have you anyt hi ng you wi sh t o say?

NAPOLEON ( cl ear i ng hi s t hr oat )

Yes, wi t h al l due r espect , I do Ci t i zen Bar r as.

BARRAS Pl ease. . .

NAPOLEON May I come t o t he map?

ANI MATED MAP

Napol eon' s pl an f or t he capt ur e of Toul on. Expl ai ni ngwi t h nar r at i on how, r at her t han t r yi ng t o capt ur e t he t ownby st or m, i t i s , i nst ead, onl y necessar y t o capt ur e For tEgui l l et t e, a pr omont or y of l and f r om whi ch Frenchbat t er i es woul d command t he i nner and out er har bor s oft he por t , maki ng t hem unt enabl e t o t he Engl i sh f l eet , andqui ckl y l eadi ng t o t he f al l of t he c i t y.

EXT. FORT EGUI LLETTE - DAY

A col d December day. The Fr ench t r i col or i s bei ng r ai sed


16/155

at op t he mai n bat t er y posi t i on on For t Egui l l et t e, a f l atar ea at op a hi l l , f or t i f i ed wi t h pl anks of wood andwi cker wor k.

Fr ench gunner s have al r eady swung a f ew pi eces ofar t i l l er y t o f ace t he har bor and f i r e on t he Engl i shshi ps, now wel l wi t hi n r ange.

Napol eon wheel s around on a whi t e hor se, shout i ng or der s- - a bl oody bandage wr apped ar ound hi s t hi gh. The woundedof bot h si des ar e bei ng car ed f or .

EXT. TOULON FI ELD - DAY

A f i ne, wi nt er day i n a f i el d near t he mi l i t ar y bar r acksof Toul on. Sever al hundr ed t r oops have been dr awn up t of or m an honor guar d f or t he pr esent at i on of Napol eon' scommi ss i on as Br i gadi er General . Spect at or s st and undert he bar e t r ees, and l i t t l e boys wat ch f r om at op an

embankment .

Bar r as pr esent s Napol eon wi t h hi s commi ss i on and af r at er nal embr ace. The band st r i kes up.

Napol eon' s mot her wat ches f r om a smal l wooden r evi ewi ngst and whi ch has been pr epar ed f or l ocal di gni t ar i es andof f i cer s .

I NT. PARI S OFFI CE - DAY

Robespi er r e l i es sever el y wounded on a conf er ence t abl e,ami d a di sar r ay of paper s, sur r ounded but i gnor ed by hi scapt or s who l ounge about , seat ed on chai r s, wai t i ng t o bet ol d what t o do next .

NARRATOR I n J ul y of 1794, t he deat h of Robespi er r e ended t he Rei gn of Ter r or and sent Par i s headl ong i nt o a l avi sh whi r l of pl easur e seeki ng and sensual i t y, as i f i t wer e

necessar y t o shake of f t he ni ght mar e and make up f or l ost t i me.

I NT. BARRAS SALON - NI GHT

A l ar ge, el egant sal on i n t he house of Paul Bar r as, i nPar i s. Ther e ar e t en car d t abl es set up i n t he r oom,ar ound whi ch ar e gat her ed t he el i t e of t he new soci et y;pol i t i ci ans, i mmensel y r i ch war cont r act or s, hi gh r anki ngar my of f i cer s and gover nment of f i ci al s.


17/155

Many of t he women are ext r emel y beaut i f ul , and di spl ayt hei r br east compl et el y uncover ed, i n t he f ashi on of t heday.

Napol eon i s one of t he f ew guest s not pl ayi ng car ds; hehas no money. I l l at ease, he dr i f t s f r om t abl e t o t abl e,hands cl asped behi nd hi s back.

J osephi ne de Beauhar nai s i s t he most beaut i f ul of al l t hewomen i n t he r oom. Napol eon set t l es at her t abl e, r ocki ngsl owl y on hi s heel s. She pl ays f or ver y hi gh st akes andi s l os i ng gr acef ul l y. She gl ances up, di st r act edmoment ar i l y by hi s r ocki ng, but her l ook l ast s no l ongert han t he f l i ck of a car d.

But Napol eon not i ces her annoyance and moves of f t o t hebar , at one end of t he r oom. The bar t ender , a f r i endl ycr eep, st ands al one.

CORSI CAN Yes, si r ?

NAPOLEON A gl ass of champagne, pl ease.

CORSI CAN ( pour i ng) Yes, si r . I hope you wi l l excuse me f or aski ng, Gener al Bonapar t e, but are you Cor si can?

NAPOLEON Yes, I am.

CORSI CAN I t hought so, I not i ced your name when you wer e announced. I ' m Cor si can t oo - - my name i s Ar ena.

NAPOLEON ( st ar t i ng t o move

away) Oh - - wher e do you come f r om?

CORSI CAN Bast i a - - and you?

NAPOLEON Aj acci o.

CORSI CAN Have you been back r ecent l y?


18/155

The bar t ender j ust manages t o keep t he conver sat i on goi ng.

NAPOLEON I haven' t been t her e f or t hr ee year s.

CORSI CAN

I haven' t been back f or t en year s. I s your f ami l y s t i l l t her e?

NAPOLEON No, t hey' r e l i vi ng i n Ni ce now.

CORSI CAN That ' s a ni ce ci t y. Thi s i s your f i r s t t i me her e, i sn' t i t ?

NAPOLEON

Yes , as a mat t er of f act , i t i s .

CORSI CAN You don' t know many of Ci t i zen Bar r as' f r i ends, do you?

NAPOLEON Ah- hh, no.

CORSI CAN I t hought not . I not i ced you by

your sel f , al l ni ght .

Napol eon nods, si ps hi s champagne and st ar t s t o move away.The Cor si can l eans f or war d and speaks i n a conf i dent i alwhi sper , scanni ng t he r oom wi t h a deadpan expr essi on.

CORSI CAN J ust a mi nut e, Gener al . Li st en, don' t l et t hem f ool you wi t h al l t hei r gr and l a- de- da. They' ve al l made t hei r money f r om t he war - -

most l y f r om cr ooked war cont r act s. They say Ci t i zen Bar r as has put away mi l l i ons .

NAPOLEON ( uncomf or t abl y) I see. . .

The Cor si can whi sper s wi t hout any f aci al expr essi on,har dl y movi ng hi s l i ps, wi t hout any sense of mal i ce, butmor e wi t h a ki nd of shr ewd r espect f or t he bi g- shot s, and


19/155

a sat i sf act i on of bei ng i n on t he know.

CORSI CAN And t hey say somet hi ng el se about hi m. They say he never goes t o bed wi t h l ess t han t wo at a t i me - - t wo at a t i me, and t hey say i t doesn' t make a l ot of di f f er ence t o hi m

whi ch sex t hey ar e, i f you f ol l ow my meani ng, si r .

Napol eon nods, awkwardl y, and l eaves t he bar .

CORSI CAN Have a ni ce eveni ng, General .

Bar r as ent er s t he r oom, st ops i n t he doorway.

BARRAS

My f r i ends, di nner wi l l be r eady i n hal f an hour . Pl ease make your pl ays accor di ngl y.

Hi s announcement dr aws onl y some mock cheer s wi t h l owmur mur s f r om t he l oser s. He comes up behi nd J osephi ne andki sses her on t he shoul der .

BARRAS ( s of t l y) How i s your l uck, dar l i ng?

J osephi ne sl owl y f ans her car ds t o see t he dr aw.

I NT. BARRAS' MUSI C ROOM - NI GHT

Lat er i n t he eveni ng, t he guest s ar e now assembl ed i nchai r s, gr ouped i n a semi - ci r cl e ar ound t wo r ai sedr ost r ums - - one i s r eal l y mor e of a smal l st age. Thesmal l er r ost r um suppor t s a st r i ng quar t et pl ayi ng Mozar t .The l ar ger one i s empt y.

Napol eon si t s at t he back of t he r oom, st i l l al one andawkwar d.

Ser vant s snuf f out t he candl es, l eavi ng onl y t he empt yst age i l l umi nat ed.

I t begi ns t o l ook l i ke a musi cal eveni ng unt i l t heent r ance ont o t he st age of t hr ee ver y at t r act i ve gi r l s,dr essed i n heavy wi nt er cost umes.

The t hr ee " act r esses" begi n t o t al k about bei ng snowbound


20/155

i n a desol at e cabi n, when t hei r conver sat i on i si nt er r upt ed by t he ent r ance of t hr ee young desperados.

The pur pose of t hi s ent er t ai nment qui ckl y r eveal s i t sel fas t he young men pr oceed t o st r i p of f t he gi r l s' cl ot hi ngand have i nt er cour se wi t h t hem.

The di st i ngui shed audi ence si t s cool l y appr eci at i ve of t he

"sext et . "

Napol eon, st i l l t he pr ovi nci al , can scar cel y bel i eve hi seyes.

J osephi ne, seat ed next t o Bar r as, wat ches t he pr oceedi ngs,an i mper t ur babl e st udy of el egance and charm. Bar r ast akes her hand and smi l es at her . She whi sper s somet hi ngt o hi m and he nods, gr avel y.

EXT. PARI S STREET - DAY

A mob, car r yi ng r oyal i st si gns, i s j ammed i nt o a si dest r eet , t hei r exi t bar r ed by a f ew hundr ed gover nmentt r oops. Thi ngs have come t o a st andst i l l , and t he f r ontr anks of t he opposi ng f or ces have begun t o exchange cr ude,but not unf r i endl y, j okes.

A t abl e and t wo chai r s, f r om a near by caf e, have beenpl aced i n t he mi ddl e of t he st r eet , di vi di ng t he t wogr oups. Seat ed at i t ar e Gener al Dani can, t he emi gr el eader of t he mob, and Gener al Menou, hi s gover nment

opposi t e number . Dani can i s r eadi ng over some handwr i t t ensheet s of paper whi ch r epr esent an i mpr ovi sed t r eat ybet ween t he t wo f or ces. Gener al Menou si ps a cup ofcof f ee, l ooki ng wor r i ed and uncer t ai n.

NARRATOR A new pol i t i cal cr i s i s was br ewi ng i n Par i s. The moder at e government of t he Convent i on, whi ch came t o power af t er t he f al l of Robespi er r e, soon showed i t sel f t o be i nept , cor r upt and unpopul ar - - and i t was now f aced wi t h a ser i ous chal l enge f r om t he r oyal i st s. Gener al Menou, sent out t o deal wi t h t he mob, l ost hi s nerve and agr eed t o wi t hdr aw hi s t r oops f r om t he Sect i on.

EXT. PARI S STREET - NI GHT

I t i s t he same eveni ng. Napol eon, J unot and Marmont st and


21/155

i n a cr owd, l i st eni ng t o a Royal i st speaker , who st andsat op a wagon, agai nst a car ef ul l y pai nt ed si gn,i l l umi nat ed by t or ches, r eadi ng " Long Li ve t he Ki ng. "

ROYALI ST SPEAKER Ci t i zens of Par i s , t hi s mor ni ng, t he t r oops of t he Convent i on, under or der s t o sweep us f r om t he st r eet s,

gave way bef or e our vi ct or i ous banner s. ( cheer s) Thei r of f i cer s knew t hey woul d not f i r e upon us . Ci t i zens of Par i s , not hi ng can st op us now. We ar e 40, 000 st r ong. Tomor r ow mor ni ng, we wi l l occupy t he Convent i on i t sel f , and we wi l l ext er mi nat e t he hypocr i t i cal par asi t es who have bl ed France wi t hout pi t y. ( cheer s) Long Li ve t he Ki ng!

I NT. BARRAS' OFFI CE - NI GHT

Bar r as ' of f i ce i n t he Tui l er i es . The room i s l i t bycandl es . Bar r as i s i n a t er r i bl e s t at e, ashen f r om f earand l ack of sl eep.

Napol eon ent er s. Bar r as r i ses f r om hi s desk and comesf orward t o gr eet hi m.

BARRAS Ah, my dear f r i end, come i n, come i n. Pl ease si t down.

NAPOLEON I ' m sor r y, I was at t he t heat er and I di dn' t r ecei ve your not e unt i l I r et ur ned t o my hot el .

BARRAS Thank you f or comi ng. Woul d you car e f or a dr i nk?

NAPOLEON No, t hank you.

Bar r as shaki l y pour s a l ar ge br andy f or hi msel f , speaki ngi n subdued and appr ehensi ve t ones, f r equent l y r unni ng hi shands t hr ough hi s hai r .


22/155

BARRAS I don' t have t o t el l you of our l at est di f f i cul t i es.

NAPOLEON Thi ngs ar e qui t e ser i ous, I shoul d say.

BARRAS We expect an at t ack on t he Convent i on t omor r ow mor ni ng, at daybr eak, and I have been pl aced i n char ge of i t s def ense.

NAPOLEON What do you have i n mi nd?

BARRAS To be per f ect l y honest , I haven' t

t he vaguest i dea.

NAPOLEON Ar e you ser i ous?

BARRAS I don' t even know whet her a def ense i s possi bl e.

NAPOLEON What f or ces do you have at your

di sposal ?

BARRAS About 5, 000 t r oops.

NAPOLEON Caval r y?

BARRAS The 21st Dr agoons, about t wo or t hr ee- hundr ed t r ooper s.

NAPOLEON Any cannon?

BARRAS Ther e ar e none her e.

NAPOLEON Wher e ar e t hey?

BARRAS


23/155

Wel l , I bel i eve t her e ar e at l east 30 guns at Sabl ons.

NAPOLEON You coul d have t hem her e by daybr eak.

BARRAS

I s t hi s enough t o oppose 40, 000 men?

NAPOLEON Pr oper l y ar r anged, yes.

BARRAS These ar e odds of 8 t o 1.

NAPOLEON The number s ar e not par t i cul ar l y r el evant . You ar e not up agai nst

sol di er s - - t hi s i s a mob, and t hey wi l l r un as soon as t hi ngs become suf f i c i ent l y unpl easant .

BARRAS Woul d you be pr epar ed t o handl e t hi s f or me?

NAPOLEON Ar e you pr oposi ng t o t r ansf er command t o me?

BARRAS I n ever y pr act i cal sense, yes, but , of f i ci al l y, of cour se, I woul d have t o r et ai n command.

NAPOLEON Fai r enough.

BARRAS I must be honest wi t h you. I f i r st

appr oached t hr ee gener al s more seni or t han your sel f , and t hey al l ver y pr udent l y sent excuses.

NAPOLEON I ' m not i nsul t ed.

BARRAS You r eal i ze what i s at st ake?

NAPOLEON


24/155

( smi l i ng) Our l i ves, t he r evol ut i on, my career?

BARRAS Look, l et me be compl et el y open wi t h you, I have a car r i age and an escor t wai t i ng f or me, and I have a gr eat

deal of money out si de of Fr ance. Unl ess we st and a ver y good chance of car r yi ng t hi s of f , I am pr epar ed t o cal l i t qui t s r i ght now.

Napol eon put s hi s ar ms ar ound Bar r as' shoul der .

NAPOLEON Paul , ever yt hi ng wi l l be al l r i ght .

EXT. PARI S STREET - DAY

Dr eaml i ke, sl ow- mot i on shot s of t he cannon f i r i ng poi ntbl ank i nt o t he mob on t he Rue St . Honore, out si de t heConvent i on. They are devast at ed and t here i s i mmedi at epani c.

Mur at ' s caval r y char ges t hem, and t he i nf ant r y f ol l owswi t h f i xed bayonet s. Ther e i s no sound of t he guns. Theonl y sound i s Napol eon' s cal m voi ce:

NAPOLEON ( V. O. )

I or der ed t he ar t i l l er y t o f i r e bal l i mmedi at el y, i nst ead of bl anks, because, t o a mob, who ar e i gnor ant of f i r e ar ms, i t i s t he wor st possi bl e pol i cy t o s tar t out f i r i ng bl anks. When t hey f i r st hear t he t er r i f i c noi se of t he guns, t hey ar e f r i ght ened, but , l ooki ng ar ound t hem and seei ng no ef f ect f r om t he cannon, t hey pi ck up t hei r spi r i t s, become t wi ce as i nsol ent and r ush on f ear l essl y. I t becomes necessar y t hen t o ki l l t en t i mes t hei r number t o make an i mpressi on.

I NT. NAPOLEON' S PARI S HQ - DAY

Napol eon' s new pl ush headquar t er s i n Par i s. Penci lbet ween hi s t eet h, di vi der s i n one hand, he cr eeps ar oundon hands and knees on t op of a very l arge map of I t al y,l ai d out f r om wal l t o wal l . Ot her l ar ge maps cover t he


25/155

t abl e, t he couch and any ot her avai l abl e space.

Mur at , Marmont , J unot and Ber t hi er cr eep around wi t h hi m,wor ki ng out var i ous mar ch r out es. Appr opr i at e ad l i bdi al ogue wi l l cover t he act i on.

At one poi nt , Napol eon and Ber t hi er bump heads.

NARRATOR The cr i si s was over , and t he way was paved f or t he f or mat i on of t he new gover nment of t he Di r ect or y, wi t h Bar r as at i t s head. Napol eon was made Commander of t he Ar my of I t al y.

Ther e i s a knock at t he door .

MARMONT Come i n.

ORDERLY Excuse me, Capt ai n, but t her e i s a young man out si de who wi shes t o see General Bonapar t e - - hi s name i s Eugene de Beauhar nai s.

MARMONT General Bonapar t e i s seei ng no one t hi s mor ni ng.

ORDERLY Yes, si r .

NAPOLEON ( wi t hout l ooki ng up) What di d you say hi s name was?

ORDERLY Eugene de Beauhar nai s.

NAPOLEON

I s he al one?

ORDERLY Yes, si r .

NAPOLEON Show hi m i n.

The or der l y shows Eugene i nt o t he r oom.

ORDERLY


26/155

Ci t i zen de Beauhar nai s.

Eugene i s 16, handsome, wel l - manner ed and ext r emel yner vous. Napol eon r emai ns hunched over hi s map.

NAPOLEON ( af t er some si l ence) Good morni ng, Ci t i zen de

Beauhar nai s.

EUGENE Good mor ni ng, si r . Ar e you Gener al Bonapar t e?

NAPOLEON I am, Ci t i zen. I s your mot her Madame J osephi ne de Beauhar nai s?

EUGENE

Yes, si r . Ar e you acquai nt ed wi t h her ?

NAPOLEON I have met her . What i s your busi ness wi t h me?

EUGENE I bel i eve you i ssued an or der t hat al l ci t i zens of Par i s must hand over any weapons t hat t hey have i n t hei r

possessi on.

NAPOLEON That i s cor r ect .

EUGENE Thi s mor ni ng, a Li eut enant and t hr ee sol di er s came t o our house and asked i f we had weapons. I expl ai ned we had onl y my l at e f at her ' s swor d, whi ch, i n f act , was not a weapon but

onl y a keepsake of memor y.

NAPOLEON ( mar ki ng t he map) A swor d i s a weapon what ever el se you mi ght wi sh t o use i t f or .

EUGENE I t ol d t he Li eut enant my l at e f at her was Gener al Al exander de


27/155

Beauharnai s, and asked i f t her e was any consi der at i on t hat mi ght be gi ven t o hi s memor y.

NAPOLEON And he sent you t o me?

EUGENE

He sai d no one had t he aut hor i t y t o r esci nd t he or der except you.

NAPOLEON Does your mot her know you have come?

EUGENE No, s i r .

NAPOLEON Wel l , t hen, you have a l ot of

i ni t i at i ve, my young f r i end.

EUGENE My f at her ' s swor d means mor e t o me t han any ot her possessi on I have.

NAPOLEON You r eal i ze, of cour se, t hat t housands of swor ds have been col l ect ed. How do you expect me t o f i nd your s?

Eugene removes a sl i p of paper f r om hi s pocket .

EUGENE The Li eut enant gave me a r ecei pt f or i t and sai d i t woul d be kept at t he Sect i on Le Pel l et i er Pol i ce Bar r acks.

EXT. GARDEN - DAY

The gar den at J osephi ne' s house on Rue de Chant er i ne.Napol eon ent er s, car r yi ng a ver y st r ange- l ooki ng package,wr apped i n paper , about t hr ee- f eet l ong, f ol l owi ngHor t ense de Beauhar nai s, age 16.

HORTENSE Mama, t hi s i s General Bonapar t e.

NAPOLEON ( bowi ng) Madame de Beauhar nai s.


28/155

J OSEPHI NE Ah, how ni ce t o meet you, Gener al Bonapar t e. One has r ead so much about you l at el y. Pl ease si t down.

NAPOLEON Thank you, Madame de Beauhar nai s.

You pr obabl y don' t r ecal l but we met br i ef l y a f ew mont hs ago, at a par t y at Paul ' s house.

J OSEPHI NE Oh. . . yes, of cour se! Have you met my daught er , Hor t ense?

NAPOLEON Yes, we i nt r oduced our sel ves at t he door .

J OSEPHI NE May I of f er you a dr i nk?

NAPOLEON Oh, I don' t want t o put you t o any i nconveni ence.

J OSEPHI NE Oh, i t ' s not t he s l i ght est i nconveni ence, General Bonapar t e.

I t i s an honor t o have you her e.

NAPOLEON You ar e ver y ki nd, Madame de Beauhar nai s. Do you have some sher r y, per haps?

J OSEPHI NE Yes, of cour se. Hor t ense, dar l i ng, wi l l you t el l Loui se t o br i ng some sherry?

HORTENSE Yes, mama. Wi l l you excuse me, Gener al Bonapar t e?

NAPOLEON Yes, of cour se.

Hor t ense exi t s.

NAPOLEON


29/155

I hope you wi l l f or gi ve me f or bar gi ng i n on you l i ke t hi s, Madame de Beauhar nai s. I cal l ed t o br i ng t hi s t o your son, but I under st and f r om your char mi ng daught er t hat he i s out f or t he af t er noon.

J OSEPHI NE

Yes , I ' m af r ai d he i s . I bel i eve he i s r i di ng. I know he' l l be hear t broken t o have mi ssed you.

NAPOLEON Wel l , I ' m sur e t hat you wi l l be j ust as pl eased t o have t hi s as he wi l l be.

Hol di ng out t he package.

J OSEPHI NE Gener al Bonapar t e, my cur i osi t y i s unbear abl e. May I ask what you have i n t hat myst er i ous package?

Napol eon pr oudl y unwr aps t he paper wi t h a f l our i sh andhol ds t he huge swor d wi t h bot h hands.

NAPOLEON Your l at e husband' s swor d, Madame, r et urned wi t h my compl i ment s.

The paper st ar t s t o bl ow away and Napol eon st eps on i t .J osephi ne st ar es at t he swor d, bl ankl y.

J OSEPHI NE Oh. . . how ver y ni ce of you t o br i ng t hat f or Eugene. . . Di d Gener al de Beauhar nai s gi ve i t t o you?

NAPOLEON No, I ' m af r ai d I never had t he

pl easur e of meet i ng t he General . Thi s swor d was t aken sever al days ago f r om your son by some of my sol di er s .

J OSEPHI NE Oh, you must f or gi ve me, Gener al Bonapar t e, I ' m af r ai d you wi l l t hi nk me i ncr edi bl y st upi d but I know absol ut el y not hi ng about t hi s.


30/155

Eugene i s so i ndependent - - he hardl y t el l s me anyt hi ng any more, and he has so many t hi ngs i n hi s r oom, I must conf ess I wasn' t even aware t hat he had t hi s sword - - you know how boys can be!

They bot h l augh.

I NT. J OSEPHI NE' S BEDROOM - NI GHT

The candl el i t , oval bedr oom i s compl et el y enci r cl ed wi t hf l oor - t o- cei l i ng mi r r or ed panel s , whi ch mul t i pl y t heer ot i c i mages of Napol eon and J osephi ne, maki ng l ove.

Napol eon' s voi ce, r eadi ng t he l et t er bel ow, i s hear d overt he scene.

NAPOLEON ( V. O. )

My dear est J osephi ne - - I awaken f ul l of you. Bet ween your por t r ai t and t he memory of our i nt oxi cat i ng ni ght , my senses have had no r espi t e. Sweet and i ncomparabl e J osephi ne, what i s t hi s bi zar r e ef f ect you have upon my hear t ? What i f you wer e t o by angr y? What i f I were t o see you sad or t r oubl ed? Then my soul woul d be shat t er ed by di st r ess. Then your l over coul d f i nd no peace, no r est . But I f i nd none, ei t her , when I succumb t o t he pr of ound emot i on t hat over whel ms me, when I dr aw up f r om your l i ps, f r om your hear t , a f l ame t hat consumes me. You wi l l be l eavi ng t he ci t y at noon. But I shal l see you i n t hr ee hour s. Unt i l t hen, mi o dol ce amor , I send you a t housand ki sses - - but send me none i n r et ur n, f or t hey set

my bl ood on f i r e.

I NT. MAYOR' S OFFI CE - DAY

The mar r i age of Napol eon and J osephi ne - - a smal l pr i vat eci vi l cer emony i n t he Mayor ' s of f i cer . The onl y guest sar e Bar r as, Eugene, Hor t ense, Marmont and J unot .

J OSEPHI NE ( V. O. ) My dear Ther esa - - I am bei ng ur ged t o r emar r y. You have met Gener al


31/155

Bonapar t e at my house. Wel l , t hen, i t i s he who wi shes t o ser ve as f at her t o my chi l dr en. Do I l ove hi m? You ar e goi ng t o ask me. Wel l , no. Do I , t hen, f i nd hi m unat t r act i ve? Agai n, no - - but wor se s t i l l , I f i nd mysel f i n a s t at e of i ndi f f er ence, of

l ukewar mness.

I NT. KI TCHEN - DAY

The Bonapar t e ki t chen i n Mar sei l l es. Let i zi a i s cut t i ngveget abl es wi t h a kni f e, t he sound of whi ch al l ows adi sappr ovi ng punct uat i on of her si l ences.

The t ap- t ap- t appi ng of t he kni f e di ci ng a car r ot .

NAPOLEON

Mama, I ' m sor r y t hat I di dn' t wr i t e t o you about t hi s, but I t hought t hat i t woul d be much bet t er t o t el l you mysel f .

Tap, t ap, t ap.

NAPOLEON Mama, I know t hat when you meet her , you wi l l l ove her as much as I do.

Tap, t ap, t ap.

NOTE

The f ol l owi ng excer pt s, f r om Napol eon' s l et t er s t oJ osephi ne wi l l be r ead over t he f ol l owi ng scenes, whi chf ol l ow af t er t he t ext of t he l et t er s . The vi sual wi l lshow J osephi ne' s af f ai r wi t h Hi ppol yt e Char l es, andNapol eon' s l i f e i n camp and on t he mar ch. The l et t er s ar epr esent ed uni nt er r upt ed by t he scene descr i pt i ons, t opr eser ve t her e f l ow.

NAPOLEON ( V. O. ) My dear est J osephi ne, ever y moment i ncr eases t he di st ance bet ween us, and wi t h every moment t hat passes I f eel mysel f l ess abl e t o endur e t he separ at i on. You ar e t he et er nal obj ect of my t hought s, and my i magi nat i on exhaust s i t sel f wonder i ng what you ar e doi ng.


32/155

* * *

By what magi c have you capt i vat ed al l my f acul t i es, concent r at ed i n your sel f al l my exi st ence? I t i s a ki nd of deat h, my dar l i ng, si nce t her e i s no sur vi val f or me except i n you.

* * *

I ask of you nei t her et er nal l ove nor f i del i t y, but onl y t r ut h, ut t er honest y. The day upon whi ch you shoul d say " I l ove you l ess, " woul d be t he l ast day of my l ove - - or t he l ast day of my l i f e. And i f I shoul d not di e of sor r ow, t hen, my hear t , mai med f or l i f e, woul d never

agai n t r ust i t sel f t o r espond t o any sent i ment s of t ender ness or r apt ur e.

* * *

You l et many days go wi t hout wr i t i ng t o me. What , t hen, ar e you doi ng?

* * *

When you wr i t e, dear est , assur e me

t hat you r eal i ze t hat I l ove you wi t h a l ove t hat i s beyond t he l i mi t s of i magi nat i on. That you, you al one, and al l of you, as I see you, as you ar e - - onl y you can pl ease me, absor b t he f acul t i es of my soul ; t hat t her e i s no cor ner of my hear t i nt o whi ch you do not see, no t hought of mi ne whi ch i s not subor di nat e t o you. That my ar ms,

my st r engt h, my mi nd are al l your s. That my soul l i ves i n your body. That t he wor l d i s beaut i f ul onl y because you i nhabi t i t .

* * *

No l et t er s f r om you - - onl y once ever y f our days do I r ecei ve one, wher eas i f you l oved me you woul d wr i t e me t wi ce a day. Absence


33/155

r el i eves mi nor at t achment s but i t i nt ensi f i es l ove. A ki ss upon your mout h, upon your hear t , ever ywher e. Ther e i s no one el se, no one but me, i s t her e?

* * *

Your l et t er i s br i ef , sad and wr i t t en i n a t r embl i ng hand. What i s wr ong wi t h you, my dar l i ng?

* * *

My mi sf or t une i s t o have known you so l i t t l e; your s, t o have j udged me by t he men you have known, who sur r ounded you.

* * *

You have i nspi r ed i n me a l i mi t l ess passi on, and an i nt oxi cat i on t hat i s degr adi ng. J osephi ne, you have made me wr et ched. But I have never bel i eved i n happi ness. I s l i f e r eal l y wor t h maki ng such a f uss?

* * *

Four hour s ago, t her e came t hat scr ap of a l et t er t o br eak t he news t hat you ar e not comi ng, t hat you ar e i l l , t hat t her e ar e t hr ee doct or s i n at t endance, t hat you cannot wr i t e your sel f . My l i f e i s now a perpet ual ni ght mare. A f at al pr emoni t i on st ops me f r om br eat hi ng. I am i l l of your i l l ness, burni ng wi t h your f ever .

* * *

I n a mont h I have r ecei ved onl y t wo not es of t hr ee l i nes each. Good God, t el l me how you know so wel l how t o i nspi r e l ove i n ot her ' s hear t s , wi t hout f eel i ng i t i n your own? Make mock of me, st ay on i n Par i s , t ake l over s , l et al l t he wor l d know i t , never wr i t e t o me - -


34/155

and t hen? And t hen, I shal l l ove you t en t i mes more t han I di d bef or e!

* * *

But don' t go on t el l i ng me t hat you ar e i l l ; don' t go on t r yi ng t o

j ust i f y your behavi or . You ar e f or gi ven.

* * *

Your l et t er s ar e as col d as f r i endshi p. What i s l ef t f or you t o do t o make me mor e wr et ched? St op l ovi ng me? That ' s al r eady done. Hat e me? Perhaps I shoul d hope f or t hat . Hat r ed, at l east , i s not

humi l i at i ng. But , oh, i ndi f f er ence - - t he pul se of mar bl e, t he vacant gl ance, t he di st r act ed ai r .

NOTE

Now t he f ol l owi ng scenes r el at e t o t he above.

I NT. HQ TENT - NI GHT

Napol eon, seat ed at a t abl e i n hi s HQ t ent l at e at ni ght

wr i t i ng a l et t er by candl el i ght .

I NT. J OSEPHI NE' S BEDROOM - DAY

I t i s a br i ght , sunny mor ni ng i n J osephi ne' s bedr oom atRue de Chant er i ne. Ther e i s a l et t er f r om Napol eonl eani ng agai nst t he t eapot on her br eakf ast t r ay. Shepi cks up t he envel ope, sees who i t i s f r om, put s i t down,pour s her t ea, adds mi l k and sugar , st i r s i t car ef ul l y,s i ghs , l ooks out s i de at t he t al l t r ees rust l i ng i n t hebr eeze, t hen i dl y pi cks up t he l et t er and opens i t .

I NSERT

A cl ose shot of Napol eon' s hand, wr i t i ng on hi s of f i ci alst at i onar y whi ch has pr i nt ed, under a l ar ge i l l ust r at i onsymbol i zi ng l i ber t y and equal i t y, " Headquar t er s of t heCommander i n Chi ef , Ar my of I t al y. "

I NT. J OSEPHI NE' S SALON - DAY

Gener al Le Cl er c pr esent s hi s ai de, Capt ai n Hi ppol yt e


35/155

Char l es.

GENERAL LE CLERC I shoul d l i ke you t o meet my ai de- de- camp, Capt ai n Hi ppol yt e Char l es - - Madame Bonapar t e.

CAPTAI N CHARLES

I am del i ght ed t o meet you, Madame Bonapar t e.

J OSEPHI NE Thank you, Capt ai n. Won' t you bot h pl ease si t down?

Love at f i r s t s i ght .

GENERAL LE CLERC Thank you ver y much, Madame

Bonapar t e. I have come at t he i nst r uct i on of Gener al Bonapar t e t o br i ng t hi s l et t er f r om hi s mot her i n Ni ce.

I NT. TENT - NI GHT

Napol eon l yi ng awake i n t he ear l y hour s of t he mor ni ng, i nhi s camp bed.

EXT. J OSEPHI NE' S GARDEN - NI GHT

Moonl i ght . J osephi ne and Char l es wal k sl owl y i n t hegar den. They st op. She i s st i l l . He t ouches hi s l i ps t oher shoul der s and neck. She sl owl y t ur ns, l ooks i nt o hi seyes and ki sses hi m, l ong and l anguorousl y.

EXT. CAMPFI RE - DAY

Napol eon st andi ng at a camp f i r e i n t he r ai n, st ar i ngvacant l y i nt o t he f l ames.

I NT. J OSEPHI NE' S BEDROOM - NI GHT

J osephi ne and Char l es maki ng l ove i n her mi r r or ed bedr oomat t he Rue de Chant er i ne. Maxi mum erot i ca.

TI TLE: THE FI RST I TALI AN CAMPAI GN

EXT. I TALI AN ROAD - DAY

A spect acul ar shot of t he Fr ench ar my on t he mar ch - -about 5, 000 men. Musi c.


36/155

NAPOLEON ( V. O. ) Sol di er s, you ar e hal f - naked and badl y cl ot hed. The aut hor i t i es f i nd much f aul t wi t h you and yet can gi ve not hi ng. Your pat i ence, your cour age are admi r abl e but you ar e not get t i ng any f ame. I wi l l l ead you i nt o t he must f r ui t f ul pl ai ns i n t he wor l d - - r i ch pr ovi nces and gr eat c i t i es shal l be your possessi ons, and t hen you wi l l have weal t h, honor and f ame i n f ul l measur e.

ANI MATED MAP

St ar t of t he 1st I t al i an campai gn.

NARRATOR Wi t h t he I t al i an campai gn, Napol eon st eps ont o t he st age as a f i gur e of Eur opean i mpor t ance. A dozen vi ct or i es i n as many mont hs woul d be announced i n dr amat i c and hi ghl y col or ed bul l et i ns. The bat t l es of t he r evol ut i on had been so f ar mai nl y def ensi ve. Now, t here was r eveal ed a new ki nd of of f ensi ve war f ar e such as had not been seen i n

Eur ope f or cent ur i es.


Ar my on t he march - - a mi l i t ar y band pl ayi ng - - about 500men.

NOTE

The f ol l owi ng nar r at i on wi l l be r ead over t he f ol l owi ngscenes.

NARRATOR Napol eon now i nt r oduced a new er a of war s of maneuver . Ever yt hi ng woul d be sacr i f i ced t o mobi l i t y. The compl i cat ed bat t l e f or mat i ons of t he 18t h cent ur y woul d be abandoned, and t he ar my f r eed f r om cl umsy baggage t r ai ns. War woul d be made t o f eed on war . The ar mi es opposi ng hi m wer e st i l l commi t t ed t o t he r i gi d


37/155

i deas of t he pr evi ous er a, and t hei r sol di er s wer e t r eat ed as aut omat ons. As t hey coul d not be t r ust ed t o f or age f or t hemsel ves wi t hout deser t i ng, such armi es were sl owed down by t hei r suppl y t r ai ns. The r evol ut i on, on t he ot her hand, had pr oduced an ar my of i nt el l i gent

ci t i zens, whi ch coul d move f ast by l i vi ng of f t he count r y, and i n whi ch cour age and i ni t i at i ve wer e r ewar ded by promot i on.

EXT. I TALI AN VI LLAGE - DAY

A smal l vi l l age i n I t al y. The advance guar d caval r yscr een, about 100 t r ooper s, gal l op t hr ough t he t own andf or m a l i ne pr event i ng anyone f r om l eavi ng i n t hedi r ect i on of t he enemy.

MAJ OR Capt ai n, t ake 20 men. Assembl e al l t he i nhabi t ant s on t he mai n st r eet , and col l ect al l mai l and newspaper s.


Hor se dr awn ar t i l l er y on t he mar ch.

EXT. I TALI AN FARM - DAY

A par t y of 20 Fr ench i nf ant r y r emovi ng l i vest ock and f oodi n a car t f r om a f ar mhouse. The f ar mer and hi s f ami l yl ook on i n qui et despai r .


A sect i on on t he mar ch - - boy dr ummer s, i n t hei r ear l yt eens.

EXT. I TALI AN STREAM - DAY

A bi g, exci t i ng shot of about 200 caval r y cr ossi ng t hest r eam.


On t he mar ch - - an i nf ant r yman has a pet dog on a l ead.


On t he mar ch - - a sol di er car r i es a par r ot i n a cage.


38/155

EXT. I TALI AN HI LL - DAY

Napol eon, on a hor se, sur r ounded by hi s ai des, st udyi ng al ar ge map.

FADE OUT.

FADE I N:

EXT. I TALI AN BATTLEFI ELD - DAY

A l ong shot of t he opposi ng Fr ench and Aust r i an armi esf aci ng each ot her acr oss t he bat t l ef i el d.

NAPOLEON ( V. O. ) Ther e i s no man mor e caut i ous t han I am when pl anni ng a campai gn. I exagger at e al l t he danger s, and al l t he di sast er s t hat mi ght occur . I

l ook qui t e ser ene t o my st af f , but I am l i ke a woman i n l abor . Once I have made up my mi nd, ever yt hi ng i s f or got t en, except what l eads t o success.

A cl oud of shar p- shoot er s, some mount ed, some on f oot ,advance t o har ass t he enemy, escapi ng f r om hi s super i ornumber s, by t hei r mobi l i t y, and f r om hi s cannon by t hei rdi sper sal .

Napol eon st udi es t hi s exchange of f i r e t o bet t erunder st and t he enemy' s posi t i on. Sur r ounded by hi sent our age, he i s on a wooded pl at f or m const r uct ed i n t het op br anches of a l ar ge t r ee, over l ooki ng t he bat t l ef i el d.

NAPOLEON ( V. O. ) The ar t of war i s a si mpl e ar t . Ever yt hi ng i s i n t he execut i on. Ther e i s not hi ng vague i n i t . I t i s al l common sense. Theor y does not

ent er i nt o i t . The si mpl est moves are al ways t he best .

When t he Fr ench ski r mi sher s f i nal l y r eveal a chi nk i n t heenemy posi t i on, i t becomes a f ocal poi nt f or t he mai ne f f o r t .

Hor se ar t i l l er y ar e sent f or war d, on t he gal l op, t o openf i r e wi t h cani st er at c l ose r ange.

The mai n at t acki ng f or ce of i nf ant r y ar e t hen sent


39/155

f orward, movi ng up i n col umns and l i nes.

The caval r y t r ot s besi de t hem, i n t he gaps, t o make t hei rpr esence f el t wher e i t wi l l be best used.

Dr ummer s and bands f i l l t he ai r wi t h st i r r i ng musi c.

Of f i cer s mar ch smar t l y al ongsi de t hei r men.

The pr eci si on of t hese at t acki ng maneuver s i s ver yi mpor t ant because t he si ght of t he sl ow movi ng, per f ect l yal i gned mass of i nf ant r y i s mor e f r i ght eni ng anddi scour agi ng t o t he def ender t han a wi l d bayonet char ge.

When t he t wo mai n f or ces ar e about 100 yar ds apar t , t heCommandi ng Of f i cer i n t he f i el d st ar t s t he chant " Hymn t oVi ctor y" and pl aces hi s hat , wi t h i t s l ar ge t r i col or edcockade, on t he poi nt of hi s swor d so t hat i s can be seenby al l of hi s t r oops .

When t he di st ance nar r ows t o about 50 yards, t he def endi ngAus t r i ans f i r e t hei r f i r s t vol l eys - - f i r s t r ow, secondr ow, t hi r d r ow.

The Fr ench f al l ever ywher e, but t he r emai nder f i l l i n t hef ormat i on and keep movi ng i n r egul ar st ep.

Thi s i s t he cr uci al poi nt of t he bat t l e. The def ender snow have t o deci de whet her t hey are goi ng t o r un or f acet he at t acker s' vol l ey and subsequent bayonet char ge.

Ther e i s no t i me f or t he def ender s t o r el oad.

Now t he Fr ench ar e 20 yar ds away and st i l l hol d t hei rf i r e, t r ai ned t o do t hi s because t hei r psychol ogi caladvant age i s l ost once t hey have di schar ged t hei r musket s.They want t he def ender s t o br eak and r un.

Now pani c has begun t o set i n and t o di sl odge t hedef endi ng Aust r i an t r oops. They st ar t t o gi ve way.

The Fr ench r el ent l essl y move f or war d.

The Aust r i an movement s at t he r ear become a st ampede.

The of f i cer s si gnal wi t h t hei r swor ds, and t he dr ummer sbeat t he char ge. The sky r i ngs wi t h a t housand bat t l ecr i es .

The caval r y dashes f or war d and hacks down t he f l eei ngAust r i an i nf ant r y, who ar e vi r t ual l y hel pl ess agai nst t hecaval r y out i n t he open.


40/155

The Fr ench have won t he day, and t hei r i nf ant r y f i r est hei r f i r s t vol l ey at t he backs of t he f l eei ng Aust r i ant r oops.

EXT. MI LAN STREET - DAY

The t r i umphal ent r ance of t he Fr ench ar my i nt o Mi l an.Wi l dl y ent hus i ast i c crowds, f l or al ar ches , t r i col or s

ever ywher e, gl i t t er i ng mi l i t ar y bands, f l ags, col umns uponcol umns of French t r oops, t he smar t cl at t er i ng of t hecaval r y.

Napol eon, on hor seback, f l anked by hi s st af f and ai des,hi s eyes shi ni ng, hi s expr essi on t r ansf i xed, as i f i n amyst i cal r ever i e.

NARRATOR Napol eon woul d soon ar ouse t he r esent ment of t he Di r ect or y i n

Par i s, exceedi ng hi s aut hor i t y, maki ng pol i t i cal deci si ons and t r eat i es l i ke a Roman Conqueror , enl ar gi ng hi s r ol e t o r ul er of I t al y. Onl y hi s t r emendous success and ever i ncr easi ng popul ar i t y pr event ed t he Di r ect or y f r om r epl aci ng hi m.

NAPOLEON ( V. O. ) Fr om t hat moment on, I f or esaw what I mi ght be. Al r eady I f el t t he ear t h f l ee beneat h me, as i f I wer e bei ng car r i ed away up t o t he sky.

I NT. BEDROOM MI LAN PALACE - DAY

Napol eon and J osephi ne ar e maki ng l ove. Sunl i ght f al l i ngon t hei r bodi es.

J OSEPHI NE ( V. O. ) My dear Therese, t he j our ney here t o Mi l an was t he most di f f i cul t and uncomf or t abl e i magi nabl e - - I am bor ed t o deat h. My husband doesn' t l ove me, he wor shi ps me. I f ear he wi l l go mad wi t h l ove. Worse t han t hat , I f ear f or my poor Hi ppol yt e. We may have been i ndi scr eet on t he j our ney, and I t hi nk J oseph and J unot suspect somet hi ng.


41/155

I NT. OFFI CE MI LAN PALACE - DAY

The or der l y announces Capt ai n Hi ppol yt e Char l es. He i s24, handsome, shor t and sl i ght , ver y much i n st at ur e l i keNapol eon, and has a hai r dr esser ' s el egance.

Hi s behavi or i s absol ut el y cor r ect dur i ng t hi s i nt er vi ew,and one coul d never i nf er any gui l t on hi s par t .

NAPOLEON Come i n, Capt ai n Char l es.

Char l es appr oaches t he t abl e and sal ut es smar t l y.

NAPOLEON I bel i eve you ar e acquai nt ed wi t h my br ot her , J oseph Bonapar t e, and my ai de, Maj or J unot .

CHARLES Yes, si r , I had t he honor of meet i ng t hem on t he t r i p f r om Par i s .

They nod, pol i t el y.

NAPOLEON Capt ai n Char l es, I bel i eve you ar e one of Gener al Le Cl er c' s ai des- de- camp.

CHARLES Yes , s i r , I am.

NAPOLEON Was i t he who ass i gned you t o command t he escor t whi ch accompani ed Madame Bonapar t e' s coach?

CHARLES Yes, si r .

Ther e i s a pause. Napol eon st udi es Char l es.

NAPOLEON Was t he t r i p nor mal i n ever y r espect ?

CHARLES Yes, si r .

NAPOLEON Di d any di f f i cul t i es of any ki nd


42/155

ar i se dur i ng t he t r i p?

CHARLES No, s i r , none at al l .

Pause.

NAPOLEON

Then, you have my t hanks, Capt ai n Char l es, f or saf el y escor t i ng Madame Bonapar t e t o Mi l an, and you may consi der your assi gnment compl et ed.

CHARLES Thank you, si r .

NAPOLEON You wi l l r et ur n t o Par i s t omor r ow and you wi l l car r y my compl i ment s

and t hanks t o Gener al Le Cl er c f or assi gni ng such an excel l ent of f i cer t o car r y out a r esponsi bi l i t y whi ch has meant so much t o mysel f and t o Madame Bonapar t e.

CHARLES Thank you, s i r . I wi l l do t hat .

NAPOLEON You may go, Capt ai n Char l es.

Char l es sal ut es and l eaves. Napol eon si t s and st ar es athi s desk f or sever al seconds, t hen he pr oduces a l et t erf r om hi s pocket and hands i t t o J oseph.

NAPOLEON I woul d l i ke bot h of you t o r ead t hi s . Pl ease r ead i t al oud.

J OSEPH ( r eadi ng al oud)

To Ci t i zen Gener al Bonapar t e f r om one who does not wi sh t o see hi m di shonor ed by hi s wi f e. You shoul d know, Ci t i zen Gener al , t hat your wi f e has t aken a l over , one Capt ai n Hi ppol yt e Char l es. . . undat ed and unsi gned.

J oseph shakes hi s head. He hands i t t o J unot , who r eadsi t , and hands i t back, l ooki ng t o J oseph t o speak f i r st .


43/155

NAPOLEON Nat ur al l y, one does not t ake much st ock i n such a pi ece of f i l t h but , on t he ot her hand, i t i s not t he sor t of t hi ng one can si mpl y i gnor e. What do you t hi nk, J oseph?

J OSEPH

No. . .

NAPOLEON J unot ?

J UNOT ( t hought f ul l y) No, one cannot si mpl y i gnor e i t .

NAPOLEON I am af r ai d, t hen, I have t o ask you

bot h, J oseph as my br ot her , and J unot as my good f r i end, whet her or not you know anyt hi ng about t hi s, or whet her you saw anyt hi ng at al l dur i ng t he t r i p whi ch mi ght make you suspect some t r ut h t o i t .

J oseph t hi nks f or a moment and sl owl y shakes hi s head.

J OSEPH No. . . not hi ng at al l .

NAPOLEON Not even t he sl i ght est hi nt of somet hi ng?

J OSEPH No - - Capt ai n Char l es commanded t he caval r y escor t , and r ode out si de t he car r i age. I n t he eveni ngs, he al ways at e at anot her t abl e. They hardl y ever spoke t o each ot her .

NAPOLEON You woul d t el l me, J oseph, woul dn' t you?

J OSEPH Yes, of cour se, I woul d. You know I am not one of your wi f e' s gr eat est admi r er s, but I cer t ai nl y know not hi ng about t hi s.


44/155

NAPOLEON And you, J unot ?

J UNOT ( shaki ng hi s head) No. . . No, I don' t know anyt hi ng about i t ei t her . Not a t hi ng.

Pause.

NAPOLEON Wel l , t hank you bot h. As I sai d, I shal l r egar d t hi s as a pi ece of mal evol ence f r om someone who does not wi sh wel l t o mysel f or J osephi ne. Nat ur al l y, I shal l t r us t t o your di scr et i on t o say not hi ng about t hi s.

FADE OUT.

FADE I N:

TI TLE: EGYPT

EXT. SPHI NX - DAY

Napol eon, Eugene, J unot , Mar mont and Mur at , accompani ed bya l ar ge par t y of sci ent i st s, st and bef or e t he Sphi nx.

NARRATOR On J ul y 2, 1798, Napol eon ar r i ved i n Egypt wi t h an ar my of 40, 000 men, and a r omant i c dr eam of conquest , f ol l owi ng Al exander ' s mar ch i nt o I ndi a. The Di r ect or y had been qui ck t o appr ove hi s pl an f or at t acki ng Engl and, i ndi r ect l y, t hr ough t hei r East er n Empi r e, r at her t han by i nvasi on of Br i t ai n, and t hey br eat hed a si gh of r el i ef t o have t hei r unempl oyed conquer or of f t he door st ep.

EXT. PYRAMI D - DAY

Napol eon and t he sci ent i st s i nspect a mummy, br ought outi nt o t he sunl i ght , af t er t housands of year s. A mood ofsomber r ef l ect i on per vades t he scene.

NARRATOR Ther e was an ai r of gr andi ose


45/155

f ant asy about t he expedi t i on. Napol eon t ook al ong a hundr ed and f i f t y di s t i ngui shed sci ent i s t s , i nt el l ect ual s and ar t i st s equi pped wi t h l i br ar i es and sci ent i f i c i nst r ument s. They woul d f ound t he I nst i t ut e of Egypt , do t he pr el i mi nar y sur vey wor k f or t he Suez

canal , and unl ock t he key t o hi er ogl yphi c wr i t i ng.

EXT. HI EROGLYPHI C WALL OF TOMB - DAY

A young dr ummer boy scr i bbl es " Long Li ve t he Republ i c" ont he f ace of some hi er ogl yphi c wr i t i ng. Sever al ot hersol di er s c l osel y scr ut i ni ze t he anci ent wr i t i ng.

EXT. DESERT - DAY

We ar e i nsi de of a French di vi si on squar e, def endi ngi t sel f agai nst an at t ack of mamel uke caval r y. Each si deof t he squar e i s f or med of t hr ee r anks of men, andar t i l l er y i s pl aced at t he cor ner s .

The i nsi de of t he squar e i s about t he si ze of a f oot bal lf i el d, and i s vi r t ual l y empt y, except f or a smal l gr oup ofof f i cer s sur r oundi ng Napol eon, and a f ai r l y l ar ge gr oup oft er r i f i ed sci ent i s t s and i nt el l ectual s , dr essed i n heavyEuropean cl ot hes, mount ed on donkeys and camel s, andcar r yi ng umbr el l as.

Out si de t he squar e, t he shr i eki ng mamel ukes r eckl essl ychar ge, and ar e sl aught er ed by t he di sci pl i ned andaccurat e wal l of Fr ench musket s.

The scene wi l l be shot onl y f r om i nsi de t he squar e, andf r om t hi s vant age poi nt , al l we can see, over t he heads oft he def endi ng Fr ench t r oops and cl ouds of dust , ar e t het ops of t he mamel ukes.

Napol eon, pl eased wi t h t he way t hi ngs ar e goi ng, r i desover t o t he gr oups of sci ent i st s, t o cheer t hem up. Hehas t o shout t o be hear d.

NAPOLEON ( shout i ng) Good af t ernoon, gent l emen. I hope you ar e enj oyi ng t hi s unusual spect acl e. One cannot see t hi s i n Par i s f or any pr i ce.


46/155

They ar e t oo f r i ght ened t o be amused.

MONGE Ar e we doi ng wel l , Gener al Bonapar t e?

NAPOLEON We ar e doi ng ver y wel l , my dear

Monge. The mamel uke caval r y ar e br ave but t hey ar e sel l i ng t hei r l i ves at a bad pr i ce - - at a r at e, I shoul d say, of 50- 1. My onl y f ear i s t hat Mur ad Bey has some means of communi cat i ng wi t h hi s men, and t hat he wi l l manage t o cal l t hem of f bef ore we can ki l l a gr eat many mor e.

The ar t i st , Denon, one of t he st r onger soul s among t he

gr oup, has been busy maki ng sket ches of t he f i ght i ng.Napol eon r i des over t o hi m and l ooks down at t he dr awi ng.

NAPOLEON Those are excel l ent sket ches, Denon. May I have t hem when you ar e f i ni shed?

I NT. MANSI ON MURAD BEY - NI GHT

The capt ur ed mansi on of Mur ad Bey, l eader of t he

mamel ukes. Fr ench- Ar abi an or gy - - qui et , cool , sof tmusi c, occasi onal mal e voi ce, l ow f emal e l augh; Mur at ,Mar mont , Ber t hi er , Monge. Not Napol eon.

I NT. NAPOLEON' S OFFI CE I N MURAD BEY MANSI ON - NI GHT

But Napol eon i s at wor k. He has t aken over a l ar ge r oom,gr ouped sever al t abl es i nt o an L- shape, and has made i ti nt o an of f i ce. He i s seat ed bef or e t he usual 2- f oot - hi ghst ack of di spat ches, l et t er s, memor andums and r epor t s,whi ch f ol l ow hi m ever ywher e. We hear t he cont i nuat i on oft he musi c f r om t he pr evi ous scene. Napol eon, i n an angr yand i r r i t abl e mood, i s di ct at i ng t o Bour r i enne.

NAPOLEON ( di ct at i ng) Must you, t oo, t ake t hi s oppor t uni t y dur i ng my absence t o i ndul ge t he pet t y j eal ousi es of t he Bonapar t e f ami l y? Must you. . .


47/155

Ther e i s a knock at t he door .

NAPOLEON Come i n!

J unot ent er s, ext r emel y dr unk.

J UNOT

I bel i eve you sent f or me.

NAPOLEON Yes, yes, pl ease s i t down. I wi l l be wi t h you i n a moment .

J unot st agger s over t o a couch and si t s down heavi l y.Napol eon' s gl ance l i nger s di sappr ovi ngl y.

NAPOLEON ( t o Bour r i enne)

Read i t back.

BOURRI ENNE To J oseph Bonapar t e - - Dear J oseph, I have been i nf or med by my wi f e of t he col d and spi t ef ul t r eat ment she has been r ecei vi ng at t he hands of my f ami l y, si nce my depar t ur e. I am al so i nf or med t hat you have r ef used t o pay over t o her any of t he money I l ef t wi t h you expr essl y f or t hi s

pur pose. Must you, t oo, t ake t hi s oppor t uni t y dur i ng my absence t o i ndul ge t he pet t y j eal ousi es of t he Bonapar t e f ami l y?

NAPOLEON ( qui et l y) Oh, shi t , t hat ' s not r i ght .

He runs hi s hand t hr ough hi s hai r .

NAPOLEON Leave us al one, Bour r i enne, and come back i n hal f an hour .

Bour r i enne exi t s.

NAPOLEON God damn i t , J unot , woul dn' t you t hi nk I have enough t hi ngs on my mi nd not t o wast e t i me on a l et t er l i ke t hi s t o J oseph?


48/155

J UNOT ( s tar i ng at hi s boot s) There' s pr obabl y some expl anat i on.

NAPOLEON Yes, I ' m sur e he' s been t oo busy

chasi ng hi s whores t o be bot hered about my wi f e.

J unot si t s, br eat hi ng l oudl y.

NAPOLEON Wel l , anyway, sor r y t o cal l you away f r om t he f es t i vi t i es , but wher e i s t he br eakdown on ser vi ceabl e vehi cl es? I asked f or i t yest er day.

J UNOT ( speech af f ect ed by dr i nk) I gave i t t o Ber t hi er . . . t hi s af t er noon.

NAPOLEON Why di d you gi ve i t t o hi m?

J UNOT I t hought he woul d be seei ng you

bef or e I woul d, and woul d gi ve i t t o you.

NAPOLEON Wel l , he di dn' t gi ve i t t o me, and when I ask you t o do somet hi ng f or me, r et ur n t he work t o me, not t o Ber t hi er .

J UNOT I ' m sor r y, I t hought he woul d gi ve

i t t o you.

NAPOLEON I must have t he br eakdown now. Wher e i s Ber t hi er ?

J UNOT He' s downst ai r s - - somewher e.

NAPOLEON Al l r i ght , t hank you. Pl ease ask


49/155

hi m t o come here.

J unot pauses and t hen speaks wi t h exagger at ed i mpor t anceand ear nest ness brought on by t oo much dr i nk.

J UNOT Yes. . . but , f i r s t , can I say somet hi ng t o you, as a f r i end?

NAPOLEON Cer t ai nl y.

J UNOT I know t hat I shoul dn' t but t i nt o t hi ngs . . . t hat ar e r eal l y no concer n of mi ne. . . but you shoul dn' t wr i t e a l et t er l i ke t hat t o J oseph.

NAPOLEON

Why not ?

J UNOT Wel l , maybe he' s onl y l ooki ng out f or your best i nt er est s.

NAPOLEON What are you t al ki ng about ?

J UNOT Not hi ng. That ' s al l I can say.

NAPOLEON That ' s al l you can say? What ar e you t al ki ng about ?

J UNOT That ' s al l I can say.

NAPOLEON Now, j ust a mi nut e. You have j ust ver y cl ear l y i mpl i ed t hat t her e i s a

r eason why J oseph shoul d not gi ve my wi f e t he money whi ch I l ef t f or her . I can' t possi bl y al l ow a r emar k l i ke t hat t o go wi t hout expl anat i on.

J UNOT Let ' s j ust say, he l ooks af t er your i nt er es ts .

Napol eon t akes J unot by t he shoul der s.


50/155

NAPOLEON Look, J unot , you ar en' t goi ng t o l eave t hi s r oom unt i l you expl ai n your sel f .

J UNOT Ther e ar e some t hi ngs. . . bet t er l ef t unsai d.

NAPOLEON You mean about my wi f e?! You mean t her e ar e some t hi ngs bet t er l ef t unsai d about J osephi ne?!

Suddenl y, J unot bur i es hi s head i n hi s hands.

NAPOLEON What t he hel l i s t he mat t er wi t h you?

J UNOT ( mumbl i ng i nt o hi s hands) I di dn' t want t o hur t you. . . Al l I want ed t o do was t o keep f r om hur t i ng you. I swear I di dn' t want t o hur t you.

NAPOLEON Wel l , what ever t he hel l you want ed

t o do, you ar e goi ng t o t el l me ever yt hi ng r i ght now. Do you under st and?!

J UNOT ( pul l i ng hi msel f t oget her ) You know t hat . . . l et t er you showed me i n Mi l an - - t he one about Hi ppol yt e Char l es?

NAPOLEON Yes.

J UNOT I wr ot e i t .

NAPOLEON What ?

J UNOT


51/155

Yes , I wr ot e i t .

NAPOLEON You wr ot e i t .

J UNOT I coul dn' t f ace t el l i ng you.

NAPOLEON You coul dn' t f ace t el l i ng me what ?

J UNOT About Hi ppol yt e Char l es.

NAPOLEON What was t her e t o t el l ?

J UNOT My God, what do you t hi nk?

NAPOLEON Do you know what you' r e sayi ng?

J UNOT God hel p me - - yes.

NAPOLEON How do you know?

J UNOT

I know.

NAPOLEON How do you know?

J unot pul l s hi msel f t oget her and speaks i n an unnat ur al l ycont r ol l ed and somewhat mechani cal way.

J UNOT I was i n her mai d' s r oom at an i nn we st opped at f or t he ni ght , out si de

of Di j on. I t was an adj oi ni ng r oom t o Madame Bonapar t e' s.

NAPOLEON Yes?

J unot sear ches f or a bet t er way t o say i t but doesn' t comeup wi t h anyt hi ng.

J UNOT I coul d hear t hem, i n t he next r oom.


52/155

Napol eon' s voi ce i s bar el y audi bl e.

NAPOLEON You coul d hear t hem?

J UNOT Yes.

Napol eon st ar es at t he cor ner of a t abl e.

NAPOLEON You mean you hear d t hem maki ng l ove?

J UNOT Yes.

Napol eon si t s down.

NAPOLEON

How di d you know i t was Capt ai n Char l es?

J UNOT I quest i oned t he mai d, and she admi t t ed Char l es had been Madame Bonapar t e' s l over f or sever al mont hs.

NAPOLEON Can you gi ve me a dr i nk, pl ease?

J UNOT Yes, of cour se. What do you want ?

Napol eon st ar es i nt o space and doesn' t r epl y.

J unot pour s a gl ass of whi sky. Napol eon dr i nks i t down,di st ast ef ul l y.

J UNOT I want ed t o ki l l hi m but J oseph

convi nced me i t woul d be a mi st ake. He sai d peopl e woul d say you hadn' t t he cour age t o deal wi t h i t your sel f .

NAPOLEON And was i t so wi del y known t hat J oseph had r eason f or such concer n?

J UNOT I bel i eve so. I bel i eve Madame


53/155

Bonapar t e was not di scr eet , i n Par i s .

A knock at t he door . A moment ar y pause, t hen a much mor eur gent knock.

BOURRI ENNE ( O. S. ) Gener al Bonapar t e?

NAPOLEON Come back i n an hour .

BOURRI ENNE ( O. S. ) Excuse me, Gener al Bonapar t e, but I bel i eve t hi s i s an ext r emel y ur gent mat t er , r equi r i ng your i mmedi at e at t ent i on.

NAPOLEON

Come i n.

Bour r i enne ent er s.

BOURRI ENNE Thi s di spat ch has j ust ar r i ved f r om Abouki r , mar ked hi ghest pr i or i t y, f or Gener al Bonapar t e' s eyes onl y.

NAPOLEON Let me see i t .

He opens t he envel ope, r eads i t and t osses t he not e on t het abl e.

NAPOLEON ( f l at l y) Nel son has engaged Br ueys of f Abouki r . Br ueys i s dead and we have l ost el even shi ps.

EXT. FRENCH TOWN - DAY

Wi l dl y cheer i ng cr owds, f l ags, mi l i t ar y band - - Napol eonr i des i n an open car r i age, wavi ng. He i s f ol l owed by t woot her car r i ages, cont ai ni ng t he smal l ent our age, br oughtback f r om Egypt . A beaut i f ul f l or al Ar c de Tr i omphedecor at es t he end of t he st r eet .

NARRATOR On Oct ober 9t h, 1799, Napol eon, wi t h onl y a smal l ent our age, ar r i ved at t he por t of Fr ej us, i n Fr ance, af t er


54/155

a j our ney of si x weeks, i n whi ch he evaded a l ar ge Br i t i sh f l eet . The news of hi s ar r i val t hr ew France i nt o a del i r i um of j oy. Hi s r et ur n was seen as a ki nd of del i ver ance, by a nat i on i n t he gr i p of economi c chaos, near anarchy and t he t hr eat of i nvasi on.

I NT. CHAMBERS OF DI RECTORY I N PARI S - DAY

A l ar ge r oom i n Luxembour g Pal ace. Napol eon i s seat edbef or e t he f i ve Di r ect or s, Bar r as, Si eyes, Moul i ns, Gohi erand Roger - Ducos, who are dr essed i n t hei r pompous of f i ci alcost umes wi t h t hr ee- f oot hat s and f eat hered pl umes.Pr esent al so ar e Tal l eyrand, Fouche, J oseph, Luci en andsever al dozen i mpor t ant of f i ci al s.

NAPOLEON

Nel son' s vi ct or y at Abouki r qui t e ef f ect i vel y f i ni shed t he s t r at egi c pur pose of t he campai gn, and wi t h t he l oss of al l our pr i nc i pal f i ght i ng shi ps, t he ar my was mar ooned i n Egypt , and our communi cat i ons wi t h t he cont i nent were sever ed. The onl y opt i ons r emai ni ng t o me wer e t o devel op t he occupat i on of Egypt , t o mai nt ai n t he

mor al e of my ar my, and t o r espond t o t he t hr eat s bei ng cr eat ed by t he Engl i sh and, ver y soon, t he Tur ks. Thi s was accompl i shed, cul mi nat i ng i n my f i nal vi ct or y agai nst t he Tur ks, when t hey at t empt ed a l andi ng at Abouki r .

GOHI ER I wonder i f you woul d car e t o t el l us, General Bonapar t e, why, so soon

af t er t hi s admi r abl e vi ct or y, you deci ded t o. . . abandon your army and r et ur n t o Fr ance?

NAPOLEON Ci t i zen Gohi er , my ar my was not abandoned - - i t was l ef t i n a ver y st r ong posi t i on, and i n t he capabl e hands of General Kl eber .

GOHI ER


55/155

Of cour se, General Bonapar t e. An unf or t unat e choi ce of wor ds. Onl y t he enemi es of your gl ory, whom we shal l r egar d as our own, woul d wi sh t o gi ve adver se i nt er pr et at i on t o t he honor abl e mot i ves of pat r i ot i sm, whi ch I am sur e, i nduced you t o. . . l eave. . . your col or s . Pl ease

cont i nue.

Napol eon smi l es, col dl y.

NAPOLEON Af t er t he def eat of t he Tur ks, a negot i at i on t o ar r ange t he exchange of pr i soner s t ook pl ace aboar d Si r Si dney Smi t h' s f l agshi p. At t he end of t he f i r st meet i ng, Si r Si dney gave my chi ef negot i at or , General

Mar mont , sever al Ger man newspaper s, of a f ai r l y r ecent dat e.

Pause.

NAPOLEON Now, you must bear i n mi nd t hat f or mor e t han a year I had r ecei ved no news at al l f r om Eur ope, not a newspaper or a si ngl e mai l packet . Per haps you can i magi ne my st at e of mi nd when I r ead of t he ser i ous def eat s t hat had been i nf l i ct ed upon Fr ance dur i ng my absence: t he l oss of I t al y, t he Angl o- Russi an ar my' s occupat i on of Hol l and, t he i mmi nent i nvasi on of Fr ance her sel f . Af t er sever al days of del i ber at i on, i t seemed cl ear t o me t hat i t was my dut y t o r i sk t he Engl i sh bl ockade and, wi t h a f ew smal l shi ps, at t empt

t o r et ur n, t o ser ve my count r y i n any way t hat mi ght be possi bl e.

Nar r at i on st ar t s over Napol eon' s di al ogue whi ch f adesunder .

NARRATOR The gover nment of t he Di r ect ory was bankrupt , and i t s pr esses r an al l ni ght pr i nt i ng t he money i t woul d spend t he next day. Two of i t s f i ve


56/155

member s, Si eyes and Roger - Ducos, who had t he suppor t of t he moder at e pol i t i cal f act i ons , wer e pr epar i ng t o sei ze power . They woul d wel come t he i ncl usi on of Napol eon who woul d secur e t he suppor t of t he army, and who was now t he most popul ar f i gur e i n Fr ance.

The cut t i ng of t hi s scene wi l l be done t o pl ace emphasi son, and est abl i sh a r el at i onshi p bet ween, t wo of t heDi r ect or s, Si eyes and Roger - Ducos, J oseph Bonapar t e,Tal l eyr and and Napol eon. Si eyes and Roger - Ducos wi l l becut wi t h t hei r names.

I NT. CARRI AGE - DAY

Napol eon and J oseph dr i vi ng t hr ough t he park.

NAPOLEON The i mpor t ant t hi ng i s t o f i nd t he r i ght l awyer . One who wi l l not pr ot r act t he t hi ng i ndef i ni t el y, i n t he cour t s.

J OSEPH You know I am onl y t oo happy t o be of hel p t o you, but sur el y t hi s i sn' t t he i deal moment t o i nvol ve your sel f i n such mat t er s.

NAPOLEON I know of no bet t er t i me.

J OSEPH You can' t be ser i ous. I t woul d not be good t o become anot her husband out of a Mol i er e f ar ce.

NAPOLEON The comedy of my mar r i age i s suf f i ci ent l y wel l known al r eady.

J OSEPH You must not act i mpet uousl y.

NAPOLEON I t i s t i me t o cl ar i f y t he s i t uat i on. Ever yt hi ng i s over bet ween us.

J OSEPH


57/155

But you can do t he same t hi ng i n si x mont hs. The next f ew weeks may be t he most i mpor t ant ones i n your l i f e.

NAPOLEON My mi nd i s made up. She wi l l not set f oot i n my house agai n. I t hi nk

i f I saw her agai n, I mi ght be t empt ed t o st r angl e her .

J oseph si ghs and t r i es t o t hi nk of anot her l i ne ofappr oach.

J OSEPH Ar e you sur e t hat you ar e not st i l l i n l ove wi t h her ?

NAPOLEON

Ar e you t r yi ng t o i nsul t me?

J OSEPH Of cour se not , but such vi ol ence of f eel i ng makes me wonder .

NAPOLEON Wel l , you shal l see.

J OSEPH When i s she supposed t o r et ur n?

NAPOLEON I have no i dea. Her mai d sai d she l ef t t wo days ago, t o meet me - - I can i magi ne wher e she i s. But when she f i nal l y does come home, she wi l l f i nd her t hi ngs i n t he st r eet and my door l ocked.

J OSEPH She wi l l pr obabl y appear wi t h a

dozen excuses and you wi l l f or gi ve her anyway.

NAPOLEON My dear J oseph, t he onl y t hi ng t hat i s c l ear i s t hat my wi f e i s a s l ut - - and whi l e a man may want a sl ut f or hi s mi st r ess, he does not want her f or hi s wi f e.


58/155

I NT. J OSEPHI NE' S MI RRORED BEDROOM - NI GHT

Napol eon and J osephi ne i n bed. The mood i s post - coi t aldepr essi on f or Napol eon; submi ss i on and appr ehensi on f orJ osephi ne. Ther e i s a l ong si l ence bef or e any one speaks .

NAPOLEON Wer e you i n l ove wi t h hi m?

J OSEPHI NE I t hought I was. I was conf used.

NAPOLEON And now?

J OSEPHI NE Now, I know t hat I shal l di e i f you l eave me.

NAPOLEON Do you expect me t o bel i eve t hat ?

J OSEPHI NE Yes.

Pause.

J OSEPHI NE And you, ar e you i n l ove wi t h any one el se?

NAPOLEON No.

J OSEPHI NE But you have had mi st r esses whi l e you wer e away.

NAPOLEON Of cour se.

J OSEPHI NE Wer e you i n l ove wi t h any of t hem?

NAPOLEON No.

J OSEPHI NE Were t hey pr et t y?

NAPOLEON Yes.


59/155

J OSEPHI NE Wer e any of t hem pr et t i er t han I am?

NAPOLEON One had bet t er l egs.

J OSEPHI NE Wer e any of t hem mar r i ed?

NAPOLEON Yes. They were t he easi est . I made l ove t o one of t hem wi t hi n t en mi nut es of our f i r st meet i ng.

J OSEPHI NE She must have been i n l ove wi t h you.

NAPOLEON Not i n t he l eas t . Af t er al l , what i s

adul t er y - - onl y a br i ef t r ansact i on on a couch, r equi r i ng a f ew mi nut es of pr i vacy.

J osephi ne pr esses agai nst hi m.

J OSEPHI NE Pr omi se me you wi l l never l eave me.

NAPOLEON I cannot pr omi se you t hat .

J OSEPHI NE Pr omi se me.

NAPOLEON I wi l l never f or gi ve you.

J OSEPHI NE I don' t car e, but pr omi se you wi l l never l eave me.

NAPOLEON I don' t under st and you.

J OSEPHI NE Pr omi se.

NAPOLEON Pr omi ses mean not hi ng.

J OSEPHI NE Per haps - - but t el l me you pr omi se,


60/155

anyway.

NAPOLEON Al l r i ght - - I pr omi se.

J OSEPHI NE

napoleon by stanley kubrick

Documents

t r i es t o

acks of t

t i ng gl ass i n

i t ar y col

i ke t hat

mpover i

count r y wher e i t

f i ve