Original subtitles

Throughout that time in India, the British were in a continual state of war

with the fiercely independent tribes along their northwest frontier.

An extraordinary regiment was raised to deal with them.

It was named... The Corps of Guides,

and it's headquarters were here at Mardan.

Composed entirely of native volunteers, Hindus, Sikhs and Muslims,

and led by a handful of specially selected British officers,

they wrote some of the most glorious chapters

in the annals of military history.

In 1865 I had the honor to be Commandant,

which was when this story really began.

[Indian shouts]

[Indian commands]

Keep him here.

Sahib!

There's a birth certificate here, sir.

We'll see.

Pelham-Martyn, Pelham-Martyn.

Pocketbook.

I knew his brother very well. Hell of a good man.

What's this?

Some sort of a good luck charm, I suppose.

He'd better have that back. I fancy he's going to need it.

There's not doubt about it, Geoffrey.

This brat from the bazaar is the son of Hilary and Isobel Pelham-Martin.

How the hell he managed to survive the Mutiny, I don't know.

[flashback to the Sepoy Mutiny]

[gunshot]

[Sita protecting Ashok]

[gunshot]

[gunshots]

...Yes, yes, Ash-Baba, we are playing a game,

that your name is Ashok, and that you are my true son.

What is your name, my son?

Ashok.

Yes.

[Sita escapes the cholera and the Mutiny, and takes Ashok far to the north]

[They pass through areas where all foreigners have been slaughtered]

[Finally they arrive in a state where Sita makes a home

[and Ashok is hired as servant to the royal prince]

[Ashok becomes friendly with Anjuli, the half-sister princess, to Prince Lalji]

[children's laughter]

[Ashok and Anjuli playing]

[Anjuli and Ashok and pet mongoose]

[Ashok and Anjuli looking at the Far Pavilions]

[Koda Dad becomes a father to Ashok]

[while teaching him horse training]

[Anjuli gives Ashok a mother-of-pearl fish emblem]

[Ashok breaks it in two, and gives half back to Anjuli, saying...]

[that someday they will meet again and put it back together]

[A snake threatens Prince Lalji, probably put there by assassins]

[The Prince cries out for help]

[Ashok rushes in, grabbing the prince and kills the snake]

[Biju Ram rushes in shouting]

[Biju Ram comforts the prince]

[By touching the prince, Ashok committed a serious violation]

[Instead of executing Ashok, Buji Ram brands his chest]

[with a red-hot pistol barrel]

[With the help of Koda Dad Ashok and Sita escape the palace]

[While making their escape to the north, Sita dies]

[Ashok then makes his way to the Corps of Guides]

Well, young fellow, like it or lump it you're going to be

shipped back to London, and licked into shape.

[After seven years in England, learning English, attending school]

[becoming acclimatized to English society]

[Ashok-now called Ashton or Ash-returns to India]

Amazing country, Pelham-Martyn.

Isn't it, Garforth?

Don't you think we've been cooped up

in this compartment long enough for us

to be on Christian name terms, by the way?

I like that, mine's George.

Ashton, commonly known as Ash.

I do hope you won't be too bored out here, dear.

Bored?

In India, Mrs. Harlowe?

However could she be?

Belinda's just had her first season in London, Mrs. Viccary.

That must have been fun. Being presented at court.

Yes, it was at first.

But after three months of parties and dances

meeting the same silly girls and same stuck-up young men

night after night,

quite honestly I couldn't wait to get back here.

There's gratitude for you!

After all the money that Papa's spent on you.

Will you husband be meeting the train, Mrs. Harlowe?

Oh, alas, no.

The Frontier Regiments are preparing for the autumn manoeuvres.

Mine can't get away, either.

Oh, I didn't realize he was in the army.

He's not, Mrs. Harlowe,

he's a prodistry officer.

Oh!

Army?

Corps of Guides, as a matter of fact.

I say.

Yes, the Regiment more or less adopted me as a boy.

Oh, you're a lucky devil.

I can't say I appreciated it at the time,

being shipped home and drilled into conformity.

Oh, I'm the same.

What's your line?

Oh, me?

I'm to be the assistant undermanager of the

Pashawar Branch of Brown and MacDonalds'.

A boxwallah, to you.

The dregs of Anglo- Indian society.

You said it, not me.

[Garforth is half-caste]

[Ash recalls the dying words of Sita]

[I do not die, Tiarah]

[I rest only and wait to be reborn]

[and that makes life- if the gods are kind-]

[it may be that we shall meet again]

[Yes, surely, even though you are not my son]

[but the son of an Angrezi (Englishman), a Sahib]

[The Bombay mail-train arrives in Delhi]

[Hugh Chiverton comes to meet Mrs. Harlowe and Belinda]

Debbie!

There you are!

Hugh!

How lovely to see you.

Where's

Presenting the prize at his own wretched pony club Jimkarna.

Hello, Uncle Hugh.

Why, Belinda, I wouldn't have known you,

Isn't it wonderful what a season in London can do?

This is Edith Viccary.

She's traveling with us to Peshawar.

My uncle Hugh.

Hugh Chiverton, Indian Civil Service.

That's Mr. Garforth and Mr. Pelham-Martyn.

We met on the boat.

Gentlemen.

How do you do?

Pleased to make your acquaintance.

They're going on to Peshawar with us.

You must all come and dine with us before you leave.

Ashok!

[Zarin Kahn a childhood friend of Ashton's]

Yes, yes, thank you.

Would you excuse me?

[The English are not at all pleased with this turn-of-events]

Zarin!

Zarin!

Ha, ha, ha, ha.

But he's a native!

Extraordinary behavior.

Why didn't anyone tell me you'd me here?

Because nobody knew!

I just asked the Commandant for some leave

and I came here without telling anybody.

Well, how did you recognize me?

But, you haven't changed since we were boys together.

Look at you.

How's your father? Is he well?

Ah, yes, he flourishes,

but see who I brought.

A bearer. His name is Gul Baz.

Salam, Sahib.

Salam, Gul Baz.

Go and seek out the sahib's luggage.

Yes, and the memsahib's, too.

[Ashton looks for the party he just left]

Oh, damn.

[Later that evening]

[Light dinner conversation]

I'm fearfully sorry about this morning, Belinda.

Please don't apologize.

We managed wonderfully well without you.

Didn't we, Mama?

Yes.

Thanks to dear Mr. Garforth.

Oh, my pleasure, Ma'am.

Pelham-Martyn.

You aren't any relation to the Dorsest Pelham-Martyns

I suppose?

Sir Matthew's my uncle, sir.

Is he, really?

Old Ash, here, is northern, aren't you.

Un-huh.

Oh, didn't you know?

Mary was telling me a bit about it

on the train from Bombay.

And not only that...

he was rescued from the Mutiny

by his Hindu foster-mother.

Huh, and they had the most tremendous adventures together.

Of course, that was before he fetched up in the Guides.

Put a sock in it, George, will you?

No, go on. It sounds marvelously romantic.

Furthermore, it proves my point,

there are some good Indians.

The problem is finding them.

Oh yes, absolutely.

And joking apart

with the best will in the world

one simply can't feel the same about them

since the Mutiny.

But, it can't happen again.

Don't you agree?

I think that rather depends upon us.

Providing we treat them justly,

there's no reason for them to rise

against us again.

That's what you mean, isn't it?

Not exactly.

I mean, it's their country.

I say, steady on old chap.

Be fair, George, we stole it from them.

And a damn good job!

Considering the hash they made of running the place

before we did.

[general laughter]

[Later at a party of Zarin's, Ashton walks in]

Pelham Sahib.

...Zarin.

For this one night let me be Ashok again.

[Zarin give him a warm welcome]

Sit. Sit.

[Ashton attends services at a Muslim Mosque]

[Ashton's English friends come riding past the Mosque]

[and observe Aston leaving]

[Hugh Chiverton sees everyone off on the trip to Peshawar]

Well... safe journey. I hope you won't be too uncomfortable.

Oh, I'm sure we'll survive.

I must say, I dread it.

You're such a stick-in-the-mud, Mother.

And you young fellows be sure and look us up

next time you find yourselves in Delhi.

Oh, I'll look forward to that, sir.

Dangerous silk man, that.

Just young.

They'll knock all that nonsense out of him in the Guide.

I shall see you in Mardan.

Yes.

[On the way to Peshawar, where the Harlowes and Garforth will live]

[and then to Mardan where Ashton will serve in the Guides]

An interesting young man.

Ashton?

Um, very.

Too unusual for my taste.

Mr. Garforth, now, he's a truly handsome man,

and such charm.

I'm sure he spends a lot of time

in front of his looking glass, though.

I shouldn't wonder.

It's too bad he's in trade.

I saw you coming out or that mosque with your Pathan chum.

In fact I'd have given the game away

if Edith Viccary hadn't dug me in the ribs.

Perhaps she thought it was none of your damn business.

My dear fellow. You can do whatever you like,

go to hell in your own way,

but you're not in England, now, you're back in India.

And if you don't play the game according to the rules...

and nobody knows where they are...

Don't be such a pompous prig, George.

My Hindu foster-mother, Sita, thought that all Pathans were barbarians.

Robbers, murders and cattle thieves.

Yes, they'd lead me into bad ways.

She fought tooth-and-nail with Koda Dad.

Who's Koda-dad when he's at home?

Zarin's father. The master of horse at Gulkote.

When I began to work as servant to Lalji,

Sita and I lived with him for several years.

He treated me like his own son.

How interesting.

But, of course, he was Muslim.

But eventually Sita and he hammered out a compromise.

I was brought up a Hindu one week and a Muslim the next.

Oh, but on Fridays I was always a Muslim.

How did you manage?

Oh, I let it all wash over me.

When I really wanted to pray.

Don't laugh.

I prayed to the mountains.

I'm not laughing.

Sounds to me like a most unsatisfactory upbringing.

Not very British... huh.

Sounds fascinating to me.

This is where Ash says goodbye.

I'm afraid so.

May I call on you?

But of course.

But with all the unpacking and settling in.

Well, perhaps, next month.

Oh I doubt that you'll get leave before Christmas, but uh...

look us up then.

I'll do that.

Well... goodbye.

Goodbye Mr. Pelham-Martyn.

Goodbye and... good luck, Ash.

Thank you.

Bye Ashton.

Bye.

Don't think I won't take advantage of your absence

given half a chance.

Why Mr. Garforth!

Turn... eyes right!

Eyes... front!

You looking for someone?

Yes.

You've found him.

And a thankless task he's got, if I say so myself.

Wigram Battye.

Ashton Pelham-Martyn.

Good Lord, yes, expecting you. Forgotten all about you.

Now, what was the first name?

Ashton...

Well, Pelham-Martyn.

Bit of a curious egg, isn't it?

Your report from the Royal Military Academy.

First rate in part.

They seem to detect a streak of wildness in you.

Well, that can be no bad thing out here, providing it's kept in check.

I'd say your biggest problem will be

to resist getting over-familiar with your men.

It's immaterial whether they like you or not.

Their lives and yours, for that matter, depend upon you earning their respect.

End of paijol.

You have the look of your uncle.

Did you know him, sir?

Yes.

We were at Derri Ridge together.

Along with Wigram's brother, Quentin.

Hell of a good soldier, your uncle.

Hell of a nice man.

Dismissed to your troop, Ash.

Charge!

Pull down.... ....reload.

[Ash laughs and converses

[ with his men in native tongue. ]

Accused admits that while on sentry duty he mistook the missionary

for a horse thief and fired at him. Fortunately he missed.

Detachment commander sentence, subject to confirmation

15 days loss of pay and detention.

Do you accept that?

Yes... Colonel Sahib.

Very well, sentence confirmed. Dismissed!

Sahib!

Right... turn!

Quick march!

As a matter of interest, Ashton, how did you arrive at that?

Two days for firing at the missionary, sir.

The rest for bad marksmanship.

Thank you, lieutenant.

We shall have to watch that young man.

His men think the world of him. They'd follow him anywhere.

Very good. Let's hope he never has to choose between them and us.

Just because he was born out here? Dozens of us were.

Yes, but,.. uh,... we weren't brought up to believe

we were Indian until we were eleven.

That's the difference.

[Lord, forgive three sins that are due to my human limitations]

[Thou art everywhere, but I worship Thee here]

[Thou art without form, but I worship Thee in these forms]

[Thou needest no praise, yet I offer Thee these prayers and salutations]

[Lord, forgive three sins that that are due to my human limitations]

What are these?

They're called churches.

They're sort of symbolic tombs,

raised on the spot where the body of an infant

Hindu has been burned.

The really ornate ones usually signify that his wives have become suttee.

Suttee.

Were burned alive with him.

Oh, horrible.

Oh, I don't know.

If you believe you have several lives,

why not terminate one of them a bit early?

Actually it's considered a very devout act

conferring great honor on all concerned.

It's barbaric!

It's history.

We've abolished it.

Anyway, I have something much more immediate for you to worry about.

How many dances are you going to give me tonight?

It depends.

On what?

On how I feel and what the competition is.

[Boxing Day Ball at the Peshawar Club]

I must say I feel a bit like a fish out of water.

Why do you say this?

Well, I've just recently joined a Regiment, actually,

What is you Regiment?

It's in the Mardan.

If you're going to talk to me... look at me.

I beg your pardon, but

I just daren't take my eyes off Belinda,

otherwise Gorgeous George will pinch her for the next dance.

Now is your chance.

I'll take care of Gorgeous George.

Thank you. Thank you.

Belinda.

Do I know you?

Mr. Ashton Pelham-Martyn.

Sir Andrew Podmore-Smyth.

Sir.

Delighted.

Here he is.

Good evening, sir.

Husband in the back- of-beyond as usual.

I'm afraid so.

Back again, eh Garforth?

To claim you a dance. How nice.

Well.. uh.. mine, I think.

Pray don't concern yourselves about me.

Let's sit this one out.

Did Edith put you up to that?

Certainly not.

She volunteered.

Poor George.

Yes, he was a bit miffed, wasn't he?

You needn't look so pleased about it.

I hate him dancing with you.

He's only had one dance. You've had four.

I hate anyone dancing with you, come to that.

Well, that's very unfair of you.

Very sweet.

[Belinda's mother]

Mrs. Harlowe, may I have the next dance?

Thank you.

"Whatever else you are, be just."

"Do as you would be done by."

"That means you must never be unfair to anyone."

"Never."

"Not under any circumstances."

"Not to anyone."

That's almost all that I can remember my father saying to me.

Mind you, he was pretty much out of his depth, poor man.

My mother died when I was born, you see.

Sita was my wet nurse in any case, and

I rather suspect he was thankful that she and the

other servants more or less adopted me.

It absolved him from having to do anything except

harangue me occasionally.

Then he got cholera.

The whole camp did.

Sita and I were the only ones to survive.

That's how she became my foster-mother.

She built a hedge of thorns around our tent to keep away the sick.

Held me in her arms and sang to me.

I can still hear the sound of hyenas and jackals

quarrelling and snarling over the dead.

And the croaking and flapping of gorged vultures in the trees.

Then you had to escape from the Indian mutiny.

I think you'd better let me have another dance

before I get thoroughly maudlin. Wouldn't you say?

I never liked snakes much ever since they tried to kill Prince Lalji with one.

Who tried to kill him?

The old Rajah's second wife, with the help of a sadistic courtier named Biju Ram.

She wanted her own son on the throne, Nandu.

Luckily I unwittingly foiled her plan.

So you stopped it?

Yes, a couple of times.

So, of course they decided to kill me,

and we had to run for our lives.

You and what's-her-name?

Sita.

And, of course, you could never go back,

even if you'd wanted to.

Not while anyone who'd remember me is still alive.

Come along.

It's a wonderful tradition, it's meant to bring you lots of luck.

You've got a good day.

As many as your shoulders will bear.

My foster-mother, Sita, told me about a valley in the mountains.

I suppose it must have been her home.

Where she was born.

We were going to go there,

build a house,

plant fruit trees,

with a cow and a goat.

Trouble is she never told me where it was.

You poor dear.

You have had a life and a half, haven't you?

Permission refused.

But, I'm perfectly able to support a wife.

You're may be perfectly able to support a whole dammed hareem, for all I care.

You still can't get married without my permission,

and I have no intention of giving it to you before you're thirty.

May I ask why, sir.

Because that's how long it takes you to learn your trade.

Good God, boy!

You should be thankful to have another few years

before you saddle yourself with petticoats and perambulators.

However... if you insist on playing husband and fathers

I'm prepared to accept your resignation from the Guides.

But that's not fair, sir!

It may not be fair, but it's the only choice you'll get,

and while you're thinking about it you can take your troop and collect taxes that

the body villagers have seen fit to withhold!

Be ready to leave in an hour.

The adjutant will give you the details.

Sir!

Bit of a tough one for his first time out, isn't it?

Do him good.

After all that toodle-faking.

All right.

Give him Zarin Kahn in case he gets into trouble.

Very good, Sir.

[Sentry sees one man approaching on horseback]

[Sentry calls village chief]

[Chief scoffs at a single soldier riding into his camp]

Salaam, Sahib.

I'm come to collect the taxes that are due the government of India.

You will no doubt wish to see my authorization.

Here it is.

[Ashton understands his words]

[Volley of gunfire shots]

Not half as foolish as you will be if you use that thing.

Tell your people to throw down their arms.

[Additional volley of shots]

Pay your taxes when they are due in future.

You shall not be let off so lightly next time.

Zarin Kahn

[two members from a feuding tribe]

[stealing rifles from Zarin's encampment]

Good morning, Sahib.

Uh, Gul Bas.

I brought you the mail.

Uh! Usual bloody rubbish, is it?

Except there is, uh, a personal one.

[This note refers to Belinda.]

It's impossible!

Gul Bas, saddle my horse immediately.

[Zarin sees dead soldier and sounds the alarm]

Ashton, what are you doing here?

Is it true that you are to be married?

You shouldn't have come.

Ato shouldn't have let you in.

Are you going to marry this Podmore, what's his name?

You mean Sir Ambrose Podmore-Smyth, yes,

not that it's any of your business.

You were in love with me!

Just because I let you kiss me, once.

A gentleman would have forgotten that,

not tried to use it to his advantage.

Are you trying to pretend to be in love with a man

who's old enough to be your father?

He's not. How dare you say that.

He's a man of the world,

someone I can rely upon and look up to.

Not some silly, callow boy.

I'm sorry, Ashton, but it makes me wild when people say things like that.

Andrews understands me. He's kind and generous,

and everybody says he's bound to become a governor.

Might even become viceroy.

Then he must be rich.

Why, yes, he is.

He gives me such lovely presents. Look!

I suppose I've been doing it, too.

Inventing what I wanted like poor old George.

Don't you mention that name in this house.

We've just found out the truth about him.

What are you talking about?

His mother was a half-caste.

Does that matter?

But, of course, it matters!

Don't think I'm not going to wait until someone else finds out

to make us a laughing stock.

I shall tell everyone I suspected it all along

and trapped him into admitting it.

Thank you.

Ah... Go on Edith.

Why don't you have one?

Oh, George.

Don't you think you've had enough?

You know... Edith... you're the only person

here worth talking to.

Good morning, Mrs. Viccary.

Ash!

Hello, George.

Forgive me, I...

I have to meet my husband for lunch.

Mrs. Viccary.

I envy him. Your husband.

She's the one person I wanted to talk to, I...

Stop, for goodness sake.

Come on, you clown, before they throw you out.

You bloody snobs,

sitting around here listening!

Come on, have some more.

Oh, God, what am I going to do?

Well, don't tell me you, too, thought

you were engaged to Belinda?

I never really stood a chance.

I don't have any money.

I... I suppose that's why I told her all those stories

about my rich relations.

I never thought she'd take it that way if she found out.

Found out what?

My mother was a... was a half-caste.

Illegitimate.

The daughter of a bazaar woman.

Who cares what your mother was or wasn't.

You are you, aren't you?

Oh, Ash. You'll never understand. You don't know what it's like.

No one in there spoke to me.

Except Mrs. Viccary.

The rest just looked and whispered and sniggered.

That's because you were drunk as a skunk.

No one need hear anything if you don't lose your head and you keep quiet.

You really think so?

You really think it won't get out?

I.. I don't think I could bear it if it did.

If it does,... I sh... honestly now,

if it does... What would do if you were me?

I'd shoot myself.

Come on, George.

What has happened... is a stain upon the honor of your company.

It is the judgment of this pantreat.

That you remove every article of equipment and uniform

that is the property of the Corps,

and that you should return it to the quartermaster,

and that you should not let us see your faces again

until you have returned with the stolen rifles.

Now go.

Party... left turn!

Quick march.

Dismiss the parade! Parade dismissed!

He can't do this!

It's been decided according to custom.

What's it got to do with them? It's not their fault.

They belong to the same clan.

At amchain removed.

It's a question of honor.

Dilasah let his clan down.

His own clan will be able to read his mind.

Pick up his trail.

And in a couple of days or so they'll be back with the rifles.

Thus saving their honor and ours.

What's wrong with that?

What's wrong is they've been punished and publicly disgraced

for something that has nothing to do with them.

It's simply not fair!

That's enough.

This need not have happened

if you'd gone after the culprit straightaway

instead off chasing of to harass some wretched gal

who's had the great, good sense to decide to marry someone else.

And don't come exhibiting your bleeding heart to me.

But sir, it's downright unjust!

If it's justice you want, you can do a month's duty as orderly officer

for damned impertinence.

Gross incompetence!

Sheer sentimentality.

Large whisky.

Say, have you heard the news about that fellow Garforth?

No, no, I don't want to.

I know he was your rival, but aren't you being a bit callous?

Personally, I found it quite a shock

To hear he's a half-caste?

Was he?

Are you sure? It didn't look it.

Then what are you talking about?

Well, it seems he bought a couple of bottles of brandy

from the Club the other afternoon.

Went home. Drank them both.

It doesn't surprise me.

And then he blew his brains out.

I had it on good authority, from Billy Craddock.

I have no idea why.

I have.

I told him...

Shit!

Well, I say, you can't talk like that in the mess, Ashton

If you must spout filth, go and do it somewhere else, will you?

Very well... I'm going.

Why that silly young ass.

I'll see somebody gives him a talking in the morning.

We don't want you.

You cannot live as one of us, Sahib.

Did I not live as one of you for seven years?

This is not your quarrel, Ashok.

I am your blood brother, Zarin.

Abahd!

Who is he?

Zarin.

Zarin Kahn?

He, he.

What do you want?

Why are you here?

Where is Dilasah?

Dilasah?

Yes, Dilasah Kahn.

Where is he?

Dilasah Kahn.

We've come for our rifles.

[extensive gunfire]

Ashad!

I'm all right.

Get those bloody rifles.

[further gunshots]

[continued gunfire]