by John O'Neill
NARRATOR (VO)
We sailed up the St Lawrence to Montreal at the end of May, 1777 and Burgoyne had our campaign planned and ready. We were to take a few warships and miscellaneous boats south into New York through Lake Champlain. Then over the short portage to Lake George and follow the old and well-traveled Indian trail across the ten-mile ridge between us and the Hudson River which would float us down to Albany to join up with General Howe's army coming up from New York town. A great scheme, indeed, which would have cut the American states in half had it been carried out as planned. I was there when it all fell apart.
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EXT. - BRITISH CAMP, ADIRONDACKS - DAY
An orderly, military scene of bustle and preparation for the campaign. Long view of tents, cooking-fires, drilling-grounds on the shores of a lake in the forests, mounted officers in splendid uniforms, many with wives and camp followers. Boats being unloaded. Ned Hickey identified among the ranks.
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INT. - BRITISH ARMY TENT - DAY
(evening) General Burgoyne is seated with his senior officers at a dinner table in his tent. They are taking port and cigars after dinner. They are content with their campaign and confident about a successful outcome.
BURGOYNE
Gentlemen. Now that we have celebrated our successful campaign, we must decide on the next stage of the journey. Happily for those who are not accomplished sailors, we now proceed on horseback as befitting a British army. Twenty-three miles, I measure on the maps, four or five days, and we shall be on the banks of the Hudson and with an easy run downriver to Albany where we join General Howe and his New York army with the colonies dissected and emasculated. (pause) To Albany, gentlemen, and King George.
(ALL)
Albany and King George.