Original subtitles

This is the palace of Chandra, Maharaja of

Aishnapur, in the heart of India.

Sovereign ruler with the power of life and

death over his subjects.

Prince Ramigani, elder brother of Chandra, embittered and

envious of his brother's power, gathers about him

a clique of rebellious nobles and malcontent priests

to blot the overthrow of Chandra and the

seizure of Aishnapur's throne for himself.

Chandra, convinced of the loyalty and affection of

his brother, suspects nothing.

His thoughts are not with his nobles, nor

his priests, nor with the duties of his

office, nor the joys of leisure.

His thoughts are locked in the splendor of

the summer palace with the beautiful Sita, sacred

dancer of the temple, for whose love Chandra

would risk even his throne and power.

For Sita, the palace remains a prison.

Chandra has offered the richest jewels of his

realm, has offered the throne itself as proof

of his love.

But Sita is in love with Harry Burton,

a young architect from Canada who came to

India at the invitation of the Maharaja to

build schools and hospitals for Aishnapur.

Burton has saved the girl from the claws

of a man-eating tiger and thereby gained

Chandra's friendship and gratitude.

The Maharaja's gift of a precious emerald symbolizes

the bond between the two men.

But Burton's love for Sita destroys the friendship

of Chandra.

The lovers are forced to flee Aishnapur to

escape the Maharaja's revenge.

A pitiless three-day march lies between them

and safety.

Chandra's savage chikaris ride in pursuit.

On their arrival in Aishnapur, Walter Rhodes, Burton's

colleague, and his wife Irene, Burton's sister, are

told by Ramigani that the young architect is

away on a tiger hunt.

Irene only half believes him, and their concern

turns to genuine worry after Rhodes's first talk

with the Maharaja.

Before we start, I want you to to

build me a tomb.

A tomb?

Yes, one such as this world has never

seen, Mr. Rhodes.

You will build it with the rarest of

marbles, the most precious of stones, with jade

and alabaster, turquoise and coral, emeralds and rubies.

Yes, let it be a tomb that will

be worthy of my love.

Of a love forever dead.

Of a love whose loss has broken my

heart.

Accept my deepest condolences then for the loss

of someone who loved you so dearly.

Who said the woman of whom I speak

loved me?

Because I've lost her.

What makes you think she is dead?

But then, she's still alive?

Her life will end tonight.

Yes, Mr. Rhodes, she will be dead before

the tomb is begun.

I'm, I'm not sure I've understood your highness.

May I ask you to explain yourself?

Just what shall I explain?

That this woman at whose feet I had

placed my love, a noble and honorable love,

threw it aside and left with a scoundrel,

with a beast who betrayed friendship.

I see it's not a tomb you're talking

about.

No, it's a gallows you want.

No, we agreed on nothing of the kind.

I'll be leaving here as soon as I

can.

No one can be Vesnapur without the permission

and protection of its prince.

Seifer and Burton are caught in a windstorm

on the open desert.

Chandra's horsemen have lost the track but the

desert prepares to fulfill his vengeance and the

lovers collapse on the burning sand.

The next morning, the storm abates.

The caravan winds slowly across the desert.

Sahib, Sahib, look.

Go see if they're still alive.

Her heart's still beating.

So is his.

The Maharaja informs his people that a foreigner

has fled the capital, that this foreigner has

offended our gods, has stolen from your prince,

has kidnapped a dancer from the most sacred

high temple.

You will all join in the search for

the criminals and whoever shall find them will

receive the gratitude and rich reward of his

prince.

Hear that?

How he could use that reward.

Yes, but...

But what?

You like living like this?

A tomb worthy of a great love.

Let him find someone else, not me.

I have a firm contract and nothing in

it says anything about having to build a

tomb.

Yes, but what if he forces you?

Forces me?

He can't force me to commit his crimes

for him.

No, I won't have anything to do with

it.

Calm down, Walter.

You seem to forget that we are in

his power.

He won't dare harm us.

We're not his subjects after all.

Whoever gives food or shelter to the criminals

or helps them in their fright will be

tortured and hanged.

His home will be burnt to the ground

and all the homes in his village will

be burned and salt strewn in a field.

Forward!

There, the thread's the wrong color, but at

least he's got all his buttons on.

What are you doing?

I'm putting Harry's things in order a little,

as much as I can anyway.

Look at all these spots.

They won't come off either.

Why is it men always stuff their pockets

full of greasy pencils?

Will you stop pacing up and down like

a tiger?

Tiger.

You know, it just doesn't ring true, all

these things that Rami Ghani told us.

You're just nervous, Irene.

It's the heat.

Well, what do you think about Harry's leaving

this way?

Well, what?

There's not a word?

Nothing?

He knew we were on our way here.

Oh, don't get excited over nothing now.

No.

Something strange is happening.

We picked up two strangers in the desert

today.

Was one of them a foreigner and the

other an Indian woman?

Yes.

Do you know them?

You're headed north, aren't you?

Can't you arrange to take them with you

to Calcutta?

No, they need rest and care.

The sandstorm caught them on the open desert.

They can't go on.

Only Allah's mercy has spared their lives.

You must help them.

You're right.

Then they will stay with me.

Hospitality is a sacred duty.

I would offend Allah in turning them away.

So be it.

I hope I'm not disturbing your highness.

You don't disturb me at all, madam.

Here, please sit down.

Every part of my palace is open to

you.

I hope you are enjoying yourself in Eshnapur.

Yes, we are, thank you.

But I've come to tell you my husband

feels we should be leaving sooner than...

But for what reason?

What I've asked him to do may seem

strange to you, I realize.

But just think of it as the whim

of a fool who has watched his dreams

die, who wishes to have a tomb built

in their memory.

A shrine of love?

Or a monument to hate?

In time it will make no difference that

this tomb was built as a monument to

hate.

It will become the symbol of an undying

love.

Your highness, can't you forgive this woman?

Man can forgive only if he still loves.

I have no love for her, only hate.

You hate because you love.

If you loved her less passionately, you'd hate

less violently.

Do you mind very much if we change

the subject?

Your highness, I'm worried about my brother.

It's strange he left no word for me

whatsoever.

I have sent my fastest horsemen and finest

soldiers in search of Mr. Burton, madam.

Don't worry, they'll find him.

You'll be seeing him before long.

You know, as soon as I saw you,

that first time, I knew my life would

change.

I've got so many plans.

First, I'm going to build us a home.

I'll draw the plans myself, and every room

will tell you how much I love you.

You'll love our home.

Do you think we could have a tiny

garden too?

I'll fill it with flowers.

And build a wall around it?

A wall so high that fear won't ever

be able to enter.

You don't have to be afraid now, Cetha.

We're among friends here.

You can't do this, please don't.

The laws of hospitality, have you forgotten them?

No, and I haven't forgotten that we need

the money either.

And there are laws which also say a

man should obey his ruler.

Keep your mouth shut.

If they ask where I am, say I've

gone to visit my brother.

Wait, please, don't go.

It was a waste of time talking to

him.

It was just like speaking to a stone

wall.

I told you that.

Asagara might explain it, if you weren't afraid.

Walter, do you think there's any connection between

Harry and this strange tune business?

Oh, he may have played around with the

dancer, but I hardly think he'd risk his

career.

But what if he's really in love?

You know how impetuous he is.

If he really wants something, he'll stop at

absolutely nothing.

You're imagining things again.

Harry!

Zahid, you've got to leave.

The Maharaja's soldiers will be here any minute.

You must hurry.

How do you know?

Someone in the village told them you were

here.

It's a disgrace.

He sold you off for money.

You must leave quickly.

Head straight for the mountains and hide yourselves

in a cave.

We've brought you some food and some clothing

for the woman.

Here, you may need this.

Go quickly and may the gods go with

you both.

So if

they get away this time, every man in

the village will be hanged, with the women.

Prince, we found their trail in the mountain.

Good, follow them.

As for all of you who've helped the

criminals in spite of my warning, your houses

will be burnt to the ground.

Hurry, come on, up through here.

Wait.

Here's a cave.

Come on, quick.

Are you sure these are fresh tracks?

Yes, these branches have been freshly broken.

They're not far.

Good, come on.

They're coming up.

It won't be long.

This entrance is pretty narrow.

They might not find it.

Oh, Shiva, preserver, destroyer, protectress all-powerful, I

come to thee.

I pray unto thee.

Oh, goddess of love and goddess of mercy,

be kind.

Have pity on us and protect us.

Watch over us.

I am thy servant, thy humble servant.

Go on up to the top.

You others search the garden.

Maybe they're hiding in one of those caves.

No one could have entered here, your highness.

There's a spider web covering the mouth of

the cave.

They'd have had to break it to get

in.

Search the others, they must be here.

Good lord, what a break.

A spider spun a web over the entrance

and blocked it.

It's all that saved us.

This is incredible.

It's too much.

Why, what's happened, Walter?

Oh, they've stolen the models.

His highness has ordered that they be locked

up.

Since you will not be working on them

for some time, it's disgraceful.

But why?

This is all so silly.

Look, Asagara, I must ask you something.

I will answer if I can, but please

understand that...

Do you really think my brother has gone

on a tiger hunt?

If I were to say no, I do

not think so.

Would not this be the same as to

doubt the word of my ruler?

I know how you feel, but can't you

find out something for us from the servants?

At least tell us when he left or

where he was headed.

Someone must know.

Please, you've got to help us.

I'll do what I can, Mrs. Rhodes.

I'm as anxious as you about Mr. Burton.

I don't think there's much danger now, but

we're staying here till dark to be sure.

What are you doing?

I'm starving.

We haven't eaten since yesterday.

No, you mustn't touch any of these.

Shiva has answered my prayer and spared our

lives.

We can't offend her by defiling her offerings.

Seetha, you don't really believe this stone statue

had anything to do with our escape.

It was Shiva who sent the spider.

Seetha.

Please, Harry, leave me my goddess.

She's a good goddess.

I'll get you some water.

No, stay here.

Don't worry, Shiva will protect me.

Go to the bottom of the gorge and

see if the foreigner is really dead, so

I can send the news to my brother.

Open up.

What do you want?

A message for his highness, Prince Ramidani.

Oh, that awful fan.

Must it go on like that?

We were lucky to have it.

If we didn't, we'd suffocate.

Maybe, but it seems weird.

I think it has eyes.

Don't be silly.

I think I'm afraid.

Oh, I did not know you were here,

Mrs. Rhodes.

I wish to speak to Mr. Rhodes alone.

I have some unpleasant news.

My brother?

Your brother was victim of his audacity.

He followed the tiger to its lair.

It was a fatal mistake.

Is he dead?

Yes.

How do you know he is?

I don't believe you.

My chikaris found the body.

He lay near the tiger's lair.

My soldiers have respected the custom honoring great

hunters.

Your brother was buried where he fell.

Harry, dead?

Yes, he's dead.

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry.

Irene, take a look at this.

Look at it closely.

Look, this is Harry's shirt, but he couldn't

have worn this on a tiger hunt.

Just look at this.

Do you know what it is?

It's the same grease pencil stain you showed

me yesterday.

Here, let me see it.

You're right.

It's the one I sewed the button on.

I recognize it.

See there.

The thread doesn't match the color.

There can't be any doubt of it.

They must have stolen it from the closet

after you hung it there.

Oh, yes.

I don't know what their game is, but

at least we know Harry's alive.

The crocodiles must have eaten the body.

The gods have seen to their vengeance and

to yours as well.

But I've better news.

The woman who was with him has been

saved.

Go on.

Well, we found the dancer alive.

Chandra, he bound her hand and foot.

Do you think I'm a fool, Ramagami?

What do you mean by that?

Are you trying to tell me that she...