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.

[gunshot]

[gunshot]

[gunshots]

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.

...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.

[knocking]

Come in.

Excuse me, Sir.

What do you want, Richard?

[Ashton enters carrying a load of rifles and dumps them on the floor]

They are, Sir.

Sorry, we took so long.

Are the others with you?

Oh, yes sir, all except Absah.

He's dead.

And Dilasah Kahn?

He's dead, too.

I hope they're worth such a high price to pay for anything.

For honor.

Honor.

[Ashton collapses]

Let's get him to his quarters.

Orderly!

I suppose he'll have to be court-martialed.

Seems a pity.

After all, when you come think of it. It was a damn fine show.

I've been talking to Abal Shan.

If you're play devil's advocate, you're wasting your time.

It's my duty to be here.

Now as I understand it. The young... uh...

What's his name?

Pelham-Martyn. This young man took it upon...

himself to go chasing some stolen carbines.

He felt that his friends had been unfairly disgraced.

Never mind what he felt.

What he did was to go absent without leave...

for the purpose of recovering the rifles...

And created a frontier legend in the process.

Insubordinate young bastard.

I'm bound to say it sounds as though he has to be court-martialed,

if only to encourage the others.

And we'll cashier him. Or I'll know the reason why.

Sir, you have to keep order in this part of the world.

And the was things are going in Afghanistan, General,

it seems to me you might have to mount a campaign any day now.

Let's stick to the subject of Pelham-Martyn, can we?

I am, sir, the most useful thing you can possible have is

information, early and accurate information,

and that's why young Pelham-Martyn is far too valuable to be thrown away.

There are other corps, could work for him.

We're not like any other corps.

Sir.

We were formed to gather trustworthy intelligence,

beyond, as well as within, our borders.

Exactly sir, if one of our officers can spend a fair amount of time

on the other side of the border without being spotted as an Englishman-

or shot as a spy-

then he's too bloody useful to lose, and that's it and all about it.

Adrian

I'm convinced, sir.

Yes, so I believe am I.

Of course I wouldn't dream in going against your advice, General.

But, what are we going to do with him?

We can't just let him stay on as though nothing had happened.

Can we?

No, no. of course not.

But the sooner he leaves Mardan, the better.

Personally, I'd like to see him transferred to another unit,

for a couple of years, preferably a British one

where he can cool his heels for a bit,

and mix with his own people for a change.

He needs to get right away from the frontier,

and his Pathan friends,

until he's needed.

Detail... eyes right!

Detail... eyes front!

Detail... halt!

[Singing in the shower]

Hello.

Are you the chap that's been billeted here?

Ashton Hilary Pelham-Martyn.

A mouthful isn't it?

Walter Richard Pollock Hamilton.

I'll call you Ash.

Well, most people do.

I think I'll call you Wally.

So far so fairly friendless.

You're in the Guides?

I'm only in the 70th Foot, myself.

Still one has to start somewhere.

70th Foot, that was Wellington's Regiment, wasn't it?

Good Lord, man, that was the 33rd.

A black mark for the beak who taught you history.

You're in fine fettle.

Well, that just goes to show, I'm broken-hearted, actually.

Why's that?

I met the love of my life on shipboard.

You, too.

Like a drink?

Yes, thanks.

A lovely girl.

16, figure like an hour glass, and hair the color of ripe corn,

but with eyes like the summer sky.

She led me on through the entire voyage,

and then two days out of Bombay she passed me over

for some old fart in the political department.

A geriatric. 30 if he was a day.

Can you beat it?

Yes, as a matter of fact, I can.

Really?

What was the name of your

Belle Dame Sans Merci?

Belinda.

Belinda.

Difficult.

Never mind. I shall commit her to poetry.

Belinda Harlowe, if that helps.

Not a lot.

Still, let's see.

[Wally composes poetry with bugle call in background]

Come on, admit it. You're beaten.

Absolutely not.

The Muse has finally come through.

'A fellow with more dash than cash,

'thought his courting was proving a smash.

'The beastly Belinda,

'burnt his hopes to a cinder,

'but couldn't demoralize Ash. '

[Ashton checking out the inventories]

Two brandies.

Well, I was, or thought I was a Hindu for almost seven years.

It's almost a lifetime to a child.

But now I'm an outcast.

My touch, even my shadow devours me.

That's not the case with Muslims.

No, it isn't, but,

all the time we were hunting Dilasah Kahn,

when I lived and thought, and fought as one of them,

I don't believe they really ever forgot that I was a Sahib.

Trouble is, I can't really see myself as being a Sahib.

I suppose I'm what the foreign office might call a stateless person.

A citizen of no man's land.

"A paradise of fools to few unknown."

Limbo, according to Milton.

Oh, yes.

I don't know about the Paradise, though, Wally.

Pretty thick with one another, those two.

Um.

Inseparable.

Um.

Unnaturally so?

Lordy, you don't mean to suggest...

Not on earth, as yet.

Well, yes,

but, dash it, you don't expect that sort of thing in your own brigade.

Personally, I've been trying to keep an eye on them.

[Wally and Ash watch native songs and dance]

Do you know what she's saying?

'My beloved's face is very handsome.

'God makes such faces rarely.

Present... arms!

Zarin!

Ashok!

Ha, ha, ha.

It was good of you to come.

But have we both not ridden half way!

Sit here. Sit.

Well, d'you think we'll have another Afghan War?

Phaa, there's much talk which is above my head.

But the officer Sahibs seem to think it likely.

I hope to God we do better than the first.

That is Allah will.

All I know is we of the Guides will fight bravely.

Yes, I'm sure you'll cover yourselves with glory.

And that is what grieves me.

That you will not be there to share our glory.

Now, how much longer do they mean to keep you tied to a desk?

Soon it will be three years since you were at the Corps.

It's time you came home to us.

Yes, but unfortunately the damned authorities don't seem to agree.

Zarin.

What's the matter with you?

I'm dying.

Dying.

I've had prickly heat, sand fly fever, dysentery and dengue.

And now I've finally succumbed to heat stroke.

To cap it all-if that's the phrase- I've put a boil on my bottom.

Gul Bas!

Fetch Hamilton Sahib's bearer, will you?

To get him up and get him dressed.

I don't think you could have heard.

Come on, buck up.

Best thing for a boil on the bottom is a trip to Kashmir.

[Ow...]

Have you heard of The Far Pavilions, Wally?

No, I can't say I have.

It's the highest mountain in the range you can see from Gulkote.

A great... crown of snow peaks.

I used to say my prayers to them.

Ha. Silly isn't it.

Have you read of Aurora Leigh?

No.

"Earth's crammed with heaven, and every common bush afire with God;

but only he who sees takes off his shoes."

You took off yours, that's all.

How'd you get that scar, Ash?

I was branded.

What?

With the end of a pistol barrel.

My God!

Courtesy of one Biju Ram, nicknamed the scorpion.

He took particular pleasure in tormenting me as a child.

Actually I was lucky he didn't kill me for laying hands on my princely employer.

Why?

He'd been baiting my pet mongoose so it finally bit him. He had it destroyed.

I went quite mad, so...

Sounds like a charming sort of fellow.

Ha, ha.

Well, after that, things went from bad to worse,

In fact, apart from Sita, there were only two people that were bearable.

Koda Dad was one of them.

The Pathan Master of Horse.

Umm.

Who was the other one.

It was Lalji's sister, Anjuli Bai.

She was a funny little object, of mixed blood.

Her mother was half Russian.

I didn't know that then, of course, but

perhaps that's what brought us together.

It's over... I haven't thought about for years.

On the night I escaped from Gulkote, she gave me her most

precious possession as a luck charm.

I had nothing whatsoever to give her.

So in a flash of inspiration I broke it in two

gave her half, and I still carry mine around.

She has superstition, really.

God knows where she is now.

[Princess Anjuli, also called Juli or Juli-Bai,

Juli-Bai, the gods be thanked that I have found you.

What is it, Uncle.

It's Shushila, she needs you. Come quickly

Oh, be quiet, Shushila.

No, I will not. I will not be quiet.

Oh, shut up, Shu-shu.

If you go on like that, you'll ruin your looks.

And no one will ever want to marry you.

Help me, Juli.

What have you done to her?

I simply told her that I'm arranging a marriage for her.

To one of the richest rulers in all Rajpuhtan.

The Rana of Bhithor.

He is old! He is as old as the hills, I tell you!

All the more reason for you to respect him.

But, he'll die.

He's going to die before I do.

And then I shall have to become suttee.

Have you not been brought up for that?

Did our own mother not join our father's body on the funeral pyre?

What more fitting end for ruler's widow?

Don't let him do this to me, Juli?

Please don't let him do this.

You know the idea of suttee has always terrified her.

She'll do as she's told.

No, I will not!

I will not!

Shushila you must obey Nandu.

No!

Let me go with her.

As what?

As her serving woman?

Don't be ridiculous.

You will only be her half-sister,

but you're still a princess, and the daughter of a Rajah.

I will not go without her.

Juli!

Promise me you'll come with me.

Promise me!

I give you my word. I will stay with you always, Shu-shu.

Oh, very well, the Rana will just have to marry you, as well, Anjuli.

See to it, Kaka-ji R'o.

Highness the emissaries, to be told, would never agree to such an arrangement.

Oh, they will. If we make it worth their while.

Now take her away before I lose all patience with her.

[Nandu's brother, Prince Jhoti, watches]

Double wedding?

Now you must let me accompany the wedding procession,

especially, as you say, affairs of state prevent you from doing so.

No!

Why not?

I did not become Maharajah by arguing with children.

Least of all my younger brother.

No.

You did it by arranging "accidents" for all you rivals.

That will do.

I've told you before, and I'm telling you once more,

you will not accompany the wedding procession.

I hate you!

Go!

All of you!

Go, I say.

Biju Ram.

Was I convincing with the boy?

Very, Your Highness!

Ask and see him publicly banished, too.

If possible, even more so.

But, I can hardly be blamed, if he were to disobey me,

and meet with an "accident," could I?

Your Highness need have no fear on that score.

Two whiskeys, please.

God, this place is so boring.

What, with the Club opened?

I don't know. I've had a cracking good day.

Color enzyme, no less.

Of course, it's not real something.

Still.

I can't wait to get into the Guides, Ash.

Nor can I.

One finds that sort of racial snobbery extraordinarily offensive.

All you Anglo-Indians get on admirable with you inferiors,

and enjoy the company of your betters,

but you don't seem to care to make friends with Indians of your own class.

May one ask, sir, how many years you've spent here?

I would stash it if I were you.

Well, you're not.

The answer to your question, my dear sir, is none.

One is merely a visitor.

On one's first visit, evidently.

A circumstance which allows for the fresh eye and the open mind.

You can't have seen or understood much, if you think it's just a case

of us cold-shouldering them.

What makes you think they anything to do with us?

After all we are...

What?

Their conquerors?

You mean as members of a subject race they should be

thankful if we condescend to visit them in their homes?

I said and meant nothing of the sort.

You've no right to put words into my mouth, sir.

If I do you an injustice, sir, I apologize.

Give it up, for pity's sake.

I just people like him were capable of seeing it

from the Indian point of view!

Insufferable young toff!

In what way, sir?

Well, imagine your England being a conquered territory.

A colony in which Indians hold every post of any real authority,

with an Indian governor-general, and council proclaiming and

enforcing laws which are completely alien to you way of life and thought,

Indians running the public services, garrisoning your country,

and silencing any protest with brute force.

And don't forget, sir, the last of those protests was less than 20 years ago.

In the circumstances, sir, would you be keen to get on close and friendly terms

with your Indian rulers?

God almighty.

You don't even know what I'm talking about!

Do you?

So there.

Rather unorthodox view. Extraordinary young man.

I do apologize, sir.

Damn bad form.

Bloody cheek, and bloody bad manners.

We ought to force the young to apologize or get out of the Club.

The Committee can look after it...

Horsen's a pompous ass.

Uh huh.

But, no British officer has the right to say that sort of thing,

or ever think it.

And by Indians... putting ideas into people's heads, that is.

Damned treasonable ideas, too, huh?

Now come along. We can put your surplus energy to much better use.

Come on!

[going to give Ash a sound thrashing]

You bastards!

[Wally joins the fray]

[Gul Bas joins in]

Black.

Black.

Well, they started it, hang it all.

No, it was my fault. I shouldn't have gone off the deep end.

So... what are they going to do with us?

Well. This one's for you.

Bloody hell!

'I am commanded to inform you that you are to escort the wedding

'procession of the two sisters of his Highness Maharajah of Karidkote.

'to Rajputana to marry the Rana of Bhithor.

Karicote's somewhere in the north, isn't it?

Bhitor's right down on the south. You could be gone for years, Ash.

You can't think I deserve this?

They need a linguist, with a thorough knowledge of Hindu character and customs.

This takes me even further from the frontier.

That, too.

Promoted captain.

Temporarily.

That's small consolation for having to be a combination of

sheep dog, supply officer and nurse maid to a parcel of

squealing women and palace parasites.

And in the polo season, too.

Could be a bit of a lark, though.

Well, it looks as though you'll

have to find someone else to share your bungalow.

That, uh, that won't be necessary.

I'm taking Hamilton back to Mardan with me

to be interviewed by the C.O. as a potential Guides officer.

Well, now I know there's no justice.

Don't expect me to wish you luck.

You'll bloody well need it.

If he has any sense, which he has,

the old man will jump at the chance of having him.

Hallelujah!

Shut up, Wally.

[The wedding procession from Karidkote to Bhithor]

[The Princess Shushila calls to the guard]

What is the matter?

The Princes Shushila is complaining that the swaying of the howdahs

is making her unwell. I've tried to reason with her, but

she insists the Raj-kumaris (princesses) be immediately transferred to a carriage.

Very well.

[Ash catches up with the procession]

[Koda Dad approaches]

Ha, ha, ha, ha.

Father.

So, you have not forgotten me, my son.

What are you doing here?

Am I not master of horse?

Of Gulkote not Karidkote.

They have become one and the same.

The new Rajah next to the nearby state of Karida

was granted title as Maharajah of the combined state of Karidkote.

By the new Rajah you mean prince Lalji.

Oh, no, your former master is dead.

Poor devil.

I was afraid they'd get him in the end.

In that case who did succeed?

A Prince Nandu. The son of the old Rajah's third wife.

Then who are the princesses?

The senior bride, in fact the younger, is the Princess Shushila,

full sister to Nandu.

And the other?

When you were a young child with us, she, even younger,

used to follow you with adoring eyes.

Anjuli!

How did you no know these things, my son?

I suppose I was too annoyed by this posting

to take the trouble to find out.

Tell me, Father, are there any others in this party

who might remember the boy Ashok?

None who would recognize him.

For you are much changed, and a Burra-Sahib (great man).

Then, as a Burra-Sahib, I'd better take up my command.

Come.

Have a care. For if you are discovered Nandu will surely give orders

that you get killed.

And Biju Ram is still alive.

Captain Ashton Pelham- Martyn at your service.

Greetings.

I am Murash, commander of the state forces of Karidkote.

Permit me to present the Rao Sahib,

uncle to the two princesses, Shushila and Anjuli.

Your servant, Rao Sahib.

Greetings, Pelham Sahib.

We are happy you are with us on the journey to Bhithor.

Murash, stop the procession.

Just hold on.

Give me your hand.

Are you unharmed, Highness?

Well done.

None but the Sahib would dare to lay hands on Their Highnesses as you did.

Had they been killed, who knows what vengeance the brother

the Maharajah Nandu would have taken on us.

I owe you my life, I think.

You gave me mine when I was a child, father.

[chuckling]

[ procession sets up for encampment]

Good, now perhaps you can help me get the circle into some kind of order.

Very well.

Right.

Horse lines here; camels and billets here; elephants lines there.

Debar tents here; princesses here and here; Rao Sahib here; my tent there.

Horse lines here; camels and billets here; elephant lines there.

Well, have you inspected tomorrow's route?

Yes, and in spite of today's incident, I'm happy with it,

but, we're not moving tomorrow.

Why not?

The senior bride will not countenance it.

In fact she has just sent word, that she is suffering from shock sickness.

She flatly refuses to move anywhere for at least two more days.

Princess or not, she throws her weight about a bit, doesn't she?

They say, it's not such a tiresome decision as it might have been.

Food stocks are high, and we've ample water from the river.

Hum.

Pelham Sahib.

Good afternoon, Rao Sahib.

I trust you have recovered from your exertions?

More so, I gather, than the Raj-kumaris (princesses).

Between ourselves, the princess Shushila is still indulging herself somewhat.

Nevertheless, she and her sister bid me to invite you to the

Durbar tent this evening to receive their thanks.

This is an honor I cannot refuse.

My nieces are unveiled, as you see.

I am indeed honored.

This is because they owe their lives to you.

Oh, I wouldn't go as far as that.

But for you, they would be dead.

This very day their pyres would have been lit

the river would have received their ashes,

and tomorrow we would be returning home in shame and disgrace.

We have much to thank you for, Pelham Sahib,

And from now, you are as a brother to the Raj-kumaris (princesses).

Then I am more than honored.

But I must insist there was no real danger.

Modesty is what is to be appraised above valor,

and it is plain that Pelham Sahib possesses both at full measure.

We will eat with you.

It is a singular mark of favor.

I hope you're not too displeased with me

for feeling unable to continue with the march tomorrow.

No. You had a nasty shock. Both of you.

Besides I could think of worse places to pass a couple of days.

I noticed black buck as well as jinkara out in the plain.

It will be pleasant to spend a day or two shooting

whilst Your Highnesses recover.

Or hawking.

Better still.

Oh yes, then we could go too, could we not, Juli?

If our uncle agrees.

It would not be seemly.

But, if we put our minds to it, surely there must be some way of arranging

things so that Juli and I do not have to observe strict purdah.

Don't look at me Your Highness. It would be more than my life's worth

to express an opinion on such a matter.

It would not be seemly.

But, why not?

Anjuli's wrists may be strong enough.

Yours are not.

Then I shall watch.

It is not seemly.

You young people may be able to do without your sleep, but I cannot.

It has been a very pleasant evening, Rao Sahib.

Your Highness has dropped something.

[Here Ashton places his half of the fish emblem in front of her]

This must be yours, I think.

Yes it is mine.

We must have some more parties.

[Anjuli realizes this is the other half of her emblem]

[and understands who he really is]

Who is it? What do you want?

No harm, Sahib. A word with me.

Well speak then, I'm listening.

The Raj-kumari, my mistress Anjuli-Bai, she pays that

you will tell her from whom received a certain piece of mother-of-pearl.

Huh.

I cannot help the Raj-kumari.

Tell her that I am sorry, but I know nothing.

Sahib, I beg of you.

You'd better come in.

I'm greatly honored, Your Highness, but is this wise?

If it is for yourself that you are afraid, you have no cause to be,

for I sleep alone in there, so no one will miss me.

If I feared for myself, I would not be here.

Yes, I am afraid, and if you are not, you should be.

This touches on your honor,

and I have no desire to get a knife between my ribs.

So go and go quickly, please, before we are discovered.

Tell me what I ask, and I will trouble you no more, I swear it.

What is it you want to know?

What you gave me is the half of a luck charm,

that once long ago I, myself, gave...

[voices calling nearby]

So you are afraid, after all.

Before I answer your questions, I would like to know who else you would tell.

I do not understand.

Are there no others who might wish to know about this friend of yours?

One who befriended him, Koda Dad.

But I will not tell him, if that is your wish.

What about his enemies?

Most of them are dead.

There is a man called Biju Ram, but he is out of favor with Nandu.

Besides, he would have forgotten my friend,

as has everyone else.

Except yourself.

Then you see he... he was a brother to me.

A true brother as my own was not.

And I do not remember my mother.

She fell out of favor before she died.

She was of Russian blood.

I was called the half-caste.

Even the servants knew they need not treat me well.

Had it not been for Ashok and his mother, I should have been friendless, indeed.

And you cannot know what that kindness meant to the child that I was.

I had no one else to love.

And when they went away, I thought that I should die of grief and loneliness.

They had to go.

I could not believe that they would send me no word.

Or that Ashok would not come back.

You see, he promised.

Do you not know me, Juli?

What do you mean?

Do you not recognize your Ashok?

It is not kind to make game with me, Sahib.

I'm not!

Have I changed so much?

But you are a sahib.

An Angrezi sahib. How could you be Ashok?

He was the son of one of my waiting women.

So I always thought.

But it was not so.

In every way that mattered, Sita had been my mother for 11 years.

She was not my real mother.

I am sahib.

I was Ashok.

If you do not believe me, ask Koda Dad.

Laola!

Ashok!

[Juli crying]

Don't cry, Juli.

There isn't anything to cry about.

It's all right.

I'm here.

I have come back.