[Scene 12 , Enjoying the dance]

INTERIOR : A ballroom of house of the Richmond

BRUSSELS, THURSDAY, JUNE, 15TH, 1815

Brussels where Anglo-allies's army had a headquarters isn't so far from French border, but allies had little sense of crisis concerning this war. They were overconfident of having their troops which were more than double of their enemy. This day, they opened the ball in the Richmond's house and were enjoying the dance. Duchess of Richmond whose husband is one of the friends of Wellington was hosting this magnificent ball.
Now, Scotland Highlanders are dancing a folk dance for entertainment. There are a lot of hustle and bustle by ladies and officers. They're having a pleasant time, looking as if they're forgetting about war.

Duchess of RICHMOND : "Uncle Gordon paraded his whole regiments for my 'inspection' this morning."(*)
"So I just rode up and down and also picked my fancy."
(Virginia McKenna)
Duchess's daughter SARAH :"Moma, you chose such big ones."
(Susan Wood)

They smiled.

Soon, at hall that dance has ended. And then, after short ceremony, Wellington appears on the ballroom. Duchess of Richmond welcomes this main guest. Wellington takes her hand with smile.

Duke of WELLINGTON : "You really are the best of my generals."
(Christopher Plummer)

Duchess of Richmond smiles.

Mme. RICHMOND : "We ladies just have to follow the drum."
"This season, soldiers are the fashion."
WELLINGTON : "Where would society be without my boys?"

She chuckles.

Mme. RICHMOND : "They are the salt of the England. Arthur."(*)
WELLINGTON : "Scum."
"(They are) Nothing but beggars and scoundrels." "All of them."
"Gin is the spirit of their patriotism."
Mme. RICHMOND : "Yet you expect them to die for you?"
WELLINGTON : "Uh-huh."
Mme. RICHMOND : "Out of duty?"
WELLINGTON : "Uh-huh."

She is astonished by his indifference.

Mme. RICHMOND : "I doubt if even Bonaparte could draw men to him by duty."
WELLINGTON : "Ah, Boney is not a gentleman."(*)
Mme. RICHMOND : "Arthur, What an Englishman you are!"
WELLINGTON : "On a field of battle, his hat is worth fifty thousand men." "But he is not gentleman."

Duchess introduced her family to Wellington. They exchange greetings.

Duke of RICHMOND : "Your Grace. ...."

And then they have a pleasant chat.

Sarah asks to Wellington.

SARAH : "When we get to Paris, let me look at Napoleon."
"I promise I won't get too near." "Momma admires him."
Mme. RICHMOND : "I am a little bit of a Bonapartist."

Sarah asks to Wellington again.

SARAH : "Is it true, what they said, he is a monster?"
WELLINGTON : "Uh ..."

Wellington nods, and says in a low voice.

WELLINGTON : "He eats laurels ... and drinks blood."

After said so, he smiles to her. She chuckles.

Mme. RICHMOND : "And when, my dear Arthur, will you venture into his lair?"
WELLINGTON : "Hum? ..." "You know he hasn't given me any idea." "It all depends on ..."

[Scene 13 , Crossing the Border]

EXTERIOR : The border of Belgium at night

The moonless night. Napoleon and his army, 'L'Armee du Nord', had gone across the border, are wading the Sambre river. Napoleon was planning to smash each enemies by forced-march. He had used his amazing skill, speedily concentrated his corps. And his army have already been marching onto Brussels that's gap of allied-armies, in secret. To gain quickly victories was a most important in this campaign, and it is essential to winning this war.

NAPOLEON : "Cross the river. Tomorrow we'll dry our boots in Brussels."
NEY : "God willing, Sire."
NAPOLEON : "God? God has nothing to do with it!"

It starts raining, but soldiers are continuing to march silently.

[Scene 14 , Ones who Spoil the dance]

INTERIOR : The ballroom of house of the Richmond

The time Napoleon's crossing the border under the cold rain, at the ballroom they have been dancing gracefully. They look very happy, but Duchess is looking at her daughter with deep emotion.

Mme. RICHMOND : "Don't let young Hay get killed, Arthur."
WELLINGTON : "An engagement?"
Mme. RICHMOND : "I don't want Sarah to wear black before she's worn white. ..."

Sarah, with smile, comes leading Hay by the hand.

SARAH : "Momma! Dickie has promised to get me a cuirassier's helmet that's work-basket!"(*)
"Without any blood on it. Momma."
Mme. RICHMOND : "And one for me young man." "with the blood."

Veteran general cuts in their talk, asks to this young officer.

Major Gen. PONSONBY(*):
"Where will you stick your Frenchman? Hay."
(Michael Wilding)
Lord Richard HAY : "I thought, Under the right armpit, sir."
(Peter Davies)
SARAH : "See, momma, he has it planned."

A man of ordinary clothes who was at the side of Wellington says more rudely, like giving him a lecture in public.

Lt.Gen. PICTON(*): "When you meet a cuirassier, leap to flee. You are very lucky, if you bring away your life! You'll Never mind his helmet. Boy! You'll learn the art of fighting from the French."
(Jack Hawkins)

Sarah stared fixedly at this rude old man. He has become aware of her eyes, and silent.

PICTON : "Madam, by your leave. ..."

Grumbling, generals are leaving.

PICTON : "I have never seen such a set of sprats."

SARAH : "General Picton doesn't live on how to walk in a ballroom."
WELLINGTON : "But he's very good rhythm of dancing with the French."
SARAH : "But one dances with them in a field. Uh-huh, Ha, Ha."

Sarah smiles, goes back to dance leading Hay.

For a while as everybody have been dancing happily, a Prussian-officer comes in this hall with muddy shoes in a hurry. Guests noticed his presence, began to murmur.

Lady A : "Who is he?"
Gentleman A : "That's Prussian-officer."
Lady A : "What does he come in for?"

Prussian-officer's walking around, looking for Wellington desperately.

Mme. RICHMOND : "That gentleman will spoil the dancing."

Wellington becomes aware, beckons him.

Major Gen. MUFFLING(*): "It's Napoleon, sir. He has ..."
(John Savident)
WELLINGTON : "I'm aware, Muffling, Napoleon has crossed the border."
MUFFLING : "With all his forces, he has come between Prus-Anglo armies."
WELLINGTON : "Where?"
MUFFLING : "It's Charleroi."

Wellington give a meaningful smile.

WELLINGTON : "... Charleroi."

Everybody is murmuring about reopening the war.

Mme. RICHMOND : "Do you wish me to stop the ball? Arthur."

Music is stopped.

WELLINGTON : "No, no, no, no, I want no alarm."
"All officers obliged to ladies will finish the dance."

Duchess makes bands restart music.
And Wellington gives his generals direction.

WELLINGTON : "Uxbridge, move your cavalry immediately toward Charleroi. Picton, your division marches at tonight."

WELLINGTON : "Charleroi. ..."(*)

When door opened, wind blow into the room. It's a storm outside. As they heard the army will leave at tonight, many officers came into a ball-room to say goodby to partner. Many couples feel sad at parting they may not see forever. They dance again gazing on each other.

Madeleine Hall(*): "May I go with the army? Willy."
"You can ask the Duke. He allowed ladies in Spain." "We've had so little time together."
(Veronica De Laurentiis)
Col. William DELANCEY(*): "But, Madeleine, a battle is no place."
(Ian Ogilvy)
Madeleine : "I'm frightened." "I may never see you again."

Wellington and his staff went to another room for a meeting. But this meeting fell into disorder about enemy's action.

Generals's voices : ".. before .." ".. it's like .." ".. should be .." ".. units .." ".. there .." ".. by Namur .." ".. should come by Mons." ".. He maybe .."

WELLINGTON : "What could be simpler than Charleroi?"
"He has humbugged me."
"In a night's march, he has made us piecemeal."
"Must consider he gained around Jemeppe at the cost of bootlaces."

WELLINGTON : "If marshal Blucher stays in Belgium, I stay too."
MUFFLING : "On that promise, the Lord Duke, Blucher would tie his men to trees if necessary."

Wellington points on the map.

WELLINGTON : "There four roads here ..."
DELANCEY : "Quatre-Bras. He's bound to go for them, sir."
WELLINGTON : "If we can't hold him there, .. I'll stop him here."

Wellington draws a circle on the map by red-pencil. That place was just Waterloo.

WELLINGTON : "Charleroi!" "By God, that man does war honour."

[Scene 15 , Failing the cooperation]

EXTERIOR : A field where they just have ended a battle of Ligny

June,16th,1815, Ligny. Everywhere are full of dead-bodies and dead-horses. The battleground is still wrapped in smoke. And they can still hear the injured soldiers's groan and a far roar of guns.(*)

NAPOLEON : "A field of glory is never a pretty sight."
"Nevertheless, sixteen thousand Prussian died, that's good news sent up for Paris."

Ney comes riding on horse.

NEY : "Wellington's on the run. I caught at Quatre-Bras. He's retreating!"
NAPOLEON : "He is retreating. What are you doing here?"
NEY : "Oh, I came to make my report."

Napoleon raves at Ney.

NAPOLEON : "If Wellington's retreating, What are you doing here? Why don't you follow him? Why don't you pursue him?"
NEY : "Where are my reinforcements you promised me?"(*)

Napoleon gets angry.

NAPOLEON : "Don't you dare to criticize me! Don't you dare!"
"Don't you see Wellington's free to choose his ground? Everything I won on this campaign you lost!"

Ney goes back a front angry.

[Scene 16 , The Old-Forward]

EXTERIOR : North field of Ligny

A Prussian headquarters.

General August GNEISENAU(*): "Marshal Blucher! The center is broken. I have ordered a retreat."
(Karl Lyepinsk)

ADC is disinfecting Blucher's wound by whisky.

Marshal Gebhard BLUCHER(*): "Retreat!? I am seventy-two and a proud soldier."
(Sergei Zakharyadze)

Blucher stabs his sword on the ground.

BLUCHER : "This steel is my word. .. I am too old to break it."
GNEISENAU : "If Wellington runs for the coast, none of us will get home to Berlin. The logical route is Namur. I do not trust the English. None the less, because I have served you before sir, I have ordered the retreat to Wavre. You may still cooperate with Wellington. But God help us if he does not stand."(*)

[Scene 17 , Dividing the forces]

EXTERIOR : The field of Ligny

Napoleon is irritated they failed to give both of allied-armies coup de grace, despite good chance. He thought hard, decided to divide his forces for pursuit. He orders to the crop's commanders.

NAPOLEON : "Grouchy!" "Gerard!"
"You take thirty thousand men."
"Thirty thousand men!, one third of my army."
"You take them and you pursue. You understand? You pursue Blucher. You don't let them regroup. You don't let them consolidate. And above all! You don't let them re-join."
Marshal-Marquis GROUCHY(*): "But there're ten different ways, directions, Blucher might go, sir, Wavre, Namur, ..."
(Charles Millot)
General Etienne GERARD(*): "Blucher is not a scatter of birds. Marshal Grouchy. We will find him on one road."
(Vladimir Drwnikov)
NAPOLEON : "Enough's enough!"
"Let's not have any disagreements. Any disagreements only lead to disaster. That's understood!"
"Grouchy! Gerard! You can go. .. Go, go, go."

[Scene 18 , Retreating to fight again]

EXTERIOR : A road to Warve

Again, Prussian side. Blucher showed soldiers he's still alive, and encouraged them. He replies to the cheer by putting up pipe, his trademark.(*)

Prussian A : "We will beat Napoleon next time!"
Prussian B : "Blucher will win!"
Prussian C : "Our Old-Forward!"
Prussian D : "Blucher will turn defeat into victory!"

[Scene 19 , Wellington Retreats]

EXTERIOR : North of Quatre-Bras

By the way, It was rainning, June 17th. At near field of Quatre-Bras, there's still Wellington's HQ. Wellington heard report from his ADC, and he smiles.

WELLINGTON : "Old Blucher, damned good licking and rolled eighteen miles back. Ha, ha, ha..." "So! We go, too."

British-Officer A : "Keep on! Turn!"

Soldiers grumble.

British-soldier A : "Why is it for?"
British-soldier B : "Does he lose their way to march? ...."

Soldiers are laughing.

DELANCEY : "Well, I suppose in England they'll say we've been licked."
WELLINGTON : "Can't help that."

Pvt. Tomlinson : "It's mad. It's all madness!"
(Oleg Vidov)
Pvt. McKevitt : "They know what they're doing."
(Colin Watson)
Pvt. O'Connor : "Look! I keep to ask your ears. If Boney kicked the Prussian's arse, why are we doing all the running?"
(Donal Donnelly)

WELLINGTON : "A retreating army is hardly ever in love with its commander."
DELANCEY : "Right, sir."
"A few shots from the French and they'll be themselves again."

Then, the bagpipe's sound reached their ears. Lord Gordon and his 92nd regiment come, singing their homeland's song.

WELLINGTON : "I like the cut of your men, Gordon."
Lord GORDON(*): "Ha! Damn, Forward fellows with a bayonet, Wellington." "Meat and eggs from the cradle up, and a lemon a month."
(Rupert Davies)
GORDON : "All from my own acres. I've bred'em myself."
"Some there could call me more than Colonel. Hey?"

Wellington laughs.

WELLINGTON : "Ha, ha, ha, Indeed?"
GORDON : "G-ha, ha ..."

It's thundering and rainning hard.

[Scene 20 , A Bad Position?]

EXTERIOR : South of Mont-St. Jean

In Mont-St. Jean, it's rainning at dusk. Napoleon caught up with Wellington's army in here. He's looking at field they'll fight next day.

NAPOLEON : "That must be the whole army."
NEY : "They're still positioning, Sire."
NAPOLEON : "Never interrupt your enemy when he's making a mistake. That's bad manners, isn't that? U-ha, ha, ha."

[Scene 21 , Wellington's insight]

EXTERIOR : Hill of Mont-St. Jean

Wellington and his staff are on horses. Picton still is wearing same civilian clothes and top-hat, because he had not military uniform. He is the only person putting up a umbrella in their staff.(*)

PICTON : "You know it's a bad position, Wellignton."
"That wood behind us is unsound. If .. they push us back, .. it'll be like a wall. The whole army will be cut to pieces."
WELLINGTON : "There is no undergrowth in that wood."
"We can drive a battery of ... 9-pounds."
"A whole army can slip through it like rain through a grate."
PICTON : "It's suicidal, if you want to know."
WELLINGTON : "It may surprise you to know, Picton, that I saw this ground a year ago."(*)
"... And I've kept it in my pocket."
PICTON : "....."

It's rainning more hard.

[Scene 22 , Napoleon's prejudices]

EXTERIOR : South of Mont-St. Jean

The trumpet sounded. Soldiers of the both side army who got tired out rest and begin to cook under the rain. There're the smokes of cooking which is going up straight into the sky. 
Napoleon is exposing himself to rain. Clasping his hands behind his back, He's looking at enemy.

NAPOLEON : "Obviously, he's no student of Caesar."
"He's positioned himself badly. He has the trees at his back."
"We'll give him no provocation." "Maybe he'll leave tonight."

It's rainning more and more. Napoleon looks up at the sky.

[Scene 23 , Pig in a Pack]

EXTERIOR : The outside of farm's barn

A Private's going to catch a little pig by hand.

Pvt. O'Connor : "Come on, come on!"
"You're nosing your way right into the pot! .. Ah, there you are!"
Little Pig : "Wee-Wee-Wee!"
Pvt. O'Connor :"Hush! Look! Keep quiet and I'll only eat half of you."
Little Pig : "Wee!"

Then, Wellington and Delancy are coming, in inspecting a camp.

DELANCEY : "Forgive me, sir, but ..."
"If you took the troops into ... confidence, they'd know what they were about."
WELLINGTON : "Hum ..."
"If I thought my hair knew what my brain was thinking, I'd shave it off and wear a wig."

Wellington chuckles, and Delancy smiles.

Under the rain, Soldiers cannot sleep, so they were thronging near the farm-house. As they were sending time in idle talk, suddenly, a Private with forced smile ran out from barn. But before they noticed him, someone said.

British-Soldier C: "Here comes old Atty." "Get to your feet."

DELANCEY : "Your old friends, sir."
WELLINGTON : "Ah, The Enniskillen."(*)
"I hang and flog more of them than I do the rest of the army to put together."

Some soldiers formed up.

DELANCEY : "Good evening."
WELLINGTON : "Good evening!"

That Private thinks he talked to him, and gets mixed up.

Pvt. O'Connor : ".. That's a fine night, sir."

Wellington is passing, but he think this soldier's odd. He turns around and says.

WELLINGTON : "Aaa.. Take off your pack, sir."
Pvt. O'Connor : "Me, sir?"
WELLINGTON : "You, sir."

Private puts down his musket, takes down his backpack.

Pvt. O'Connor : "... yeah ..."
WELLINGTON : "Open it, sir."
Pvt. O'Connor : "..ye, ye Yes, sir." ".. oh, .. Ha ..."

Private opens his backpack, then little-pig puts out its head.

Little Pig : "Wee-Wee!"
Pvt. O'Connor : "Ha, ha, God!, ha, ha...." ".. an ... Jesus."
"a.. I, I knew something queer was scratching me, back .., sir."
Little Pig : "Wee!"
WELLINGTON : ".. Ah." "Ha, ha, ha."
"Where did you acquire this, a plunder?, sir."
Pvt. O'Connor : "This?, sir"
WELLINGTON : "That, sir."
Pvt. O'Connor : "Ah, ah, no, no, sir. This, ah, this plunder acquired me, .. sir."
Little Pig : "Wee!"
WELLINGTON : "Hum ..."
"You know the penalty for plundering, sir."
Pvt. O'Connor : "... a, ah .." "Stoppage of gin, sir."
WELLINGTON : "Damn you, sir. It's death!"
Pvt. O'Connor : "Sir." "I have to report!" "This, this little pig has lost its way, and, and I'm trying to find her relations, sir."
WELLINGTON : "Uh-huh." "......"

Wellington bursts into laughter, then everyone laughs. But soon Wellington suppress soldiers's laugh by his eyes, and he say.

WELLINGTON : "This follower knows how to defend a hopeless position." "Ah .. Raise him to corporal!"
British-NCO : "Yes, sir."
British-Soldier D : "Negate the goat next time, Paddy, and you'll be a Sergeant!"

Everyone laughs again.

WELLINGTON : "I don't know what they'll do to the enemy. By God! They frighten me."

WELLINGTON : "Ah, Dirty night!" "Hard morrow."

WELLINGTON : "...."
WELLINGTON : "Delancy."
DELANCEY : "Yes, sir."
WELLINGTON : "If I fail ... tomorrow, God, I hope, have mercy on me. ... For nobody else will."

[Scene 24 , Both Commanders]

INTERIOR : A houseroom in Rossomme

At same time in both side two commanders are thinking about their enemy. In French HQ, Napoleon thinks hard, standing near the window.

NAPOLEON : [ Why is he standing there? What is his reason? Has he lost his caution? There must be something I don't understand. ]

INTERIOR : A houseroom in Mont-St. Jean

Wellington and his entourages are waiting for a message from the Prussia.

WELLINGTON : [ If only Blucher could outrun Grouchy, give me the help of even one corps! ]
"The Prussian. All depends on the Prussian."

INTERIOR : A houseroom in Rossomme

Napoleon hears a report from Soult, and then gets angry.

NAPOLEON : "Why does Grouchy do only six miles a day?"
"I do ten!"

INTERIOR : A houseroom in Mont-St. Jean

WELLINGTON : "The muddy slope will help us. They'll slither up to it." "But the road could slow Blucher, and .. that'll be the end of it."

INTERIOR : A houseroom in Rossomme

NAPOLEON : "Well, tell him the roads are the same for everyone."
"True?"

Napoleon flies into a fury, and says strongly again.

NAPOLEON : "True."
SOULT : "Yes, Sire."
NAPOLEON : "Then you tell him to walk faster."

INTERIOR : A houseroom in Mont-St. Jean

Then Muffling comes in. He is still gasping for breath.

MUFFLING : "You may fight your battle, Field-Marshal. You may fight a battle."
WELLINGTON : "Where is Grouchy?, and thirty-thousand men."
MUFFLING : "Grouchy is following us step by step." "He is not between us."(*)

Wellington thinks hard and walks around.

WELLINGTON : "What's the time, Hay?"
HAY : "I think it's after two, Your Grace."
DELANCEY : "It's ten to two, sir."
WELLINGTON : "Muffling, I must ... ask you ... to go out once more tonight."
MUFFLING : "Oblige me with a fresh hourse, sir."
WELLINGTON : "I beg!" "Marshal Blucher .. to come to Waterloo by one o'clock."

Muffling salutes by hitting heel, and then he goes out.

PICTON : "Don't you see? Uxbridge."
"Now if, if Grouchy turns and comes between us .."
Lt.Gen. UXBRIDGE(*): ".. and catches the Prussians strung out on the march."
(Terence Alexander)
PICTON : "Then it would be just a matter of counting our dead."
UXBRIDGE : "With such a risk, dare we rely on Blucher?"
WELLINGTON : "We have to rely on each other, Uxbridge."

WELLINGTON : "Gentlemen."

Generals exit.

WELLINGTON : "Who did you give your watch to, Hay?"
HAY : "Somerset, sir."(*)
WELLINGTON : "Expecting to die tomorrow?"
".. I don't like those thoughts." "Having them sometimes makes them come true."

WELLINGTON : "Get your watch back. Tomorrow I'll ask you the time every five minutes."

INTERIOR : A houseroom in Rossomme

Feeling pain, Napoleon bends himself forward. He closes his eyes, bears the stomachache.

NEY : "Sire. Shall I send for doctor Larrey?"
NAPOLEON : "......"
NEY : "Should I call the doctor?"

Napoleon smiles.

NAPOLEON : "... ha. .. No, no, no. No doctor."

Napoleon stands up, but he is painfully.

NAPOLEON : "What are you looking at? ... What?"

Generals are keeping an eye on Napoleon anxiously.

Napoleon opens the door.

NAPOLEON : "..... Get out. .. Out, out, out, out. Everyone out."

Generals exit.

NAPOLEON : [ I mustn't be sick. I mustn't be sick. ]
[ I must have strength for tomorrow. ]

NAPOLEON : [ My body is dying, .. yet my brain is still good. ]

Napoleon clenches his teeth, sheds tears.
It's thundering, raining hard outside.

NAPOLEON : [ Will it never stop raining? ]

It's thundering again.
Napoleon looks vacantly at window, and goes to bed.

[Scene 25 , The sun of the Waterloo]

It stopped raining by the time the sun come up. At last the morning of decisive-battle came. The battleground is brightly lighted up by the sun. Will the sun of Austerlitz shine to Napoleon again? Which side will Fortune smile on? It will become obvious by the time the sun set down.

EXTERIOR : The field of Mont-St. Jean

The Soldiers are making a preparation for breakfast and getting dress. A sound of trumpet is heard everywhere.

British-Soldier E : "We're hundred fourty thousand men."
British-Soldier F : "We're not the half of it."
British-Soldier E : "That's counting the French as well."
British-Soldier F : "Hundred fourty thousand men. Fourty thousand men will be dead."
British-Soldier E : "Eat your soup! while you've got your belly."

That new Corporal stands behind officer, is looking at himself in the mirror.

British-Soldier G : "Did you see? We got our new Corporal."
British-Soldier H : "Morning, Corporal!"
British-Soldier I : "Ah! He doesn't talk to the likes of us, you and me."

A officer notice his presence, and so corporal goes away.

British-Soldier J : "Did you have bacon for breakfast?"

Soldiers laugh at this corporal. Officer smiles, turns around.

Capt. MERCER(*): "Morning, Ramsay!"
(Richard Heffer)
Capt. RAMSAY(*): "Morning, Cap. Filthy night, wasn't it?"
(Willoughby Gray)

[Scene 26 , For Whom the Bell Tolls]

INTERIOR : A houseroom in Rossomme

Napoleon comes in the dining room, opens the curtain, and then turns around, smiles to his staffs.

NAPOLEON : "Morning, gentlemen!"
Generals : "Good morning, Sire."

Napoleon's in high spirits, noticed wrong place of fork, corrects it. And he looks at dishes, chooses what he likes one.

NAPOLEON : "This one."
Generals : "....."

Generals are gazing at Napoleon to see his health condition. Napoleon tears a bread and eats.

NAPOLEON : "What are you all staring at?"
NEY : "You are all right, Sire?"
NAPOLEON : "That was last night."

Everybody laugh.

NAPOLEON : "(I've) Never felt better in my life. Come, we eat."

Everybody sit down. Valet puts napkin on Napoleon, and pours red wine into his glass.

NAPOLEON : "I'm afraid this afternoon you'll need bigger napkins."

Napoleon played a practical joke on Soult, and Generals laugh.

NAPOLEON :"We attack at nine. What's the condition of ground?"

Soult, chief of staff, shakes his head.

SOULT : "It'll not dry before noon, Sire."
NAPOLEON : "....."
NEY : "Well, we've fought in mud within boots before."
NAPOLEON : "That's true. That's true."

They heard far sound of bell.

NAPOLEON : "What's that?"
LABEDOYERE : "Sunday morning. The priest in Plancenoit won't give up his mass."
NAPOLEON : "....."
"Well, he won't have much of a congregation."

Napoleon was quiet for a while. But he supposed this bell might be ringing for soldiers who will die in today's battle. And it didn't stop ringing for a long time, as if it's blaming him. Encountering this bad omen, soon his face became a grimace. And, suddenly, he got angry, left his seat. So, reluctantly, Generals had to give up their breakfast.

[Scene 27 , No Attacking before Noon]

INTERIOR : Another room

Napoleon has been sitting down next to the window, closing his eyes. Then, Drouot comes in.

NAPOLEON : "I'm not asleep, Drouot."
DROUOT : "Sire, we need four hours. The ground is too soft, I cannot move my cannon."
NAPOLEON : "By waiting four hours, I would have lost the battle of Austerlitz."
NEY : "Wellington won't hold us an hour. None of that'll weight us, he's English, Brunswickers, Belgians, and the other else."
DROUOT : "Sire." "I cannot answer for my cannon."
NAPOLEON : "You are the cannon, Drouot."
DROUOT : "If we could attack at twelve, it would be better."(*)
NAPOLEON : "Battles are lost and won in a quarter of an hour."
DROUOT : "If Wellington were on the move, then I would say 'go now'. But he is sitting, Sire, with the mud in his favour."
NAPOLEON : "? " "In his favour?"

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