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 maneuvres.

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]

[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.

Pelham Sahib.

What's going on here Murash?

The Maharajah's younger brother has arrived.

Prince Jhoti.

Bloody hell!

I trust our early arrival did not disturb you, Sahib.

Not at all, Your Highness.

Though it was an unexpected pleasure.

Oh, that's my brother.

He would do anything to stop me enjoying myself.

And he knew how much I wanted to accompany my sisters to Bhithor.

Ah

So, of course, he said I could not go, just to spite me.

But we tripped him finally, did we not, Biju Ram?

Ha, ha. We did indeed, Your Highness.

Imagine Shu-shu coming hawking with us.

I think girls are silly, don't you?

Not all of them

Well, at least, not all of the time.

Fancy having to marry one.

Hm, hm.

A precocious child, but he can ride.

Forgive me, Rao Sahib, but I don't like the look of His Highness' girth.

[His Highness' saddle girth has been tampered with]

Oh my.

What is it that troubles you, Pelham Sahib.

Nothing of any importance.

No? Now by the signs I would have said that you had left your heart enrobed, indeed.

For it is thus that young men look and speak and sigh when they think of their beloved.

You are too acute, Rao Sahib.

Ah, but then, I too was young once.

Although to look at me now you might not believe that.

Hm.

Did you never marry?

Assuredly, when I was considerably younger than you.

But my wife died with the cholera,

having given me two daughters.

You should have married again.

So my friends told me, and all my family.

But I was in no hurry to add another woman into a household,

which seemed to me, to be overfull of them.

And then later, much later, I fell in love.

Well, you make it sound like a misfortune.

For me it was.

For she was not of my caste, and she was of mixed blood.

And while I hesitated, her father gave her in marriage to someone

who did not care so much about such matters as I.

And afterwards.....afterwards I could not find another woman to take her place.

You are speaking, I think, of the Princess Anjuli's mother.

Now, it is you who are too acute, Pelham Sahib.

Indeed, that is why Anjuli is the daughter of my heart.

And why I could never bring myself to marry again.

Which is probably just as well,

because women cause a great deal of trouble and distress.

Huh, huh.

And when one is as old as I am, one wants peace and quiet.

And leisure to go hawking.

True.

Very true.

And with age, one's skill in both pursuits grows somewhat less.

Now, let me see how you are progressing.

At hawking.

At hawking, Pelham Sahib.

[ Prince Jhoti] Don't you dare.

I thought you were my friend, but you ride as bad as the others.

Do not do this. Do not do that. Take care.

[Biju Ram] My Prince, I beg of you.

No!

I will go and I will go alone.

I cannot overrule you, Your Highness.

But, at least do not ride Bulbul.

He's fresh and you might fall.

Fall?

I've never fallen off a horse in my life.

Come on.

Prince Jhoti's gone out riding alone.

I think we'd better keep and eye on him.

Fetch Murash.

Well, he knows what he's doing.

Here we are behaving like a load of nursemaids.

[Something causes the horse to bolt]

Hang on!

He's awake. Allah be praised, he's in his right mind again.

For heaven's sake, give me something to drink.

You cracked two ribs and dislocated a wrist.

And you can be truly thankful that Rao Sahib's

own hakim, Goben Das, was at hand to tend to you,

instead of some religious faith healer.

How's Prince Jhoti?

He's unharmed.

His only concern is for you.

How is the Pelham Sahib?

The hakim deems him well, Your Highness.

And I'm to return in the morning.

Then you must bring me news of his progress.

Yes, Your Highness.

Do not disturb yourself, my son.

Cardinal?

He had broken both his forelegs.

I had to shoot him.

There was nothing else I could do.

No, of course.

He was a good horse. I shall miss him.

I must tell you, it was no accident.

Look here, the girth from the prince's horse.

The stitches were cut, so that if the horse bolted,

a sudden strain and it's a break.

By why should the horse bolt?

Because of this:

The double thorn from the Kikak tree.

It was stuck under the lining of the saddle.

His Highness released his hawk,

pumped back into the saddle,

and it was driven home.

Then someone is trying to kill, Jhoti.

Then, who the devil is it?

This we shall have to find out.

You must rest, now, my son.

The Princes Anjuli has commanded that Agita is to be your nurse.

She and the hakim will be here tomorrow.

[Ashton converses with his nurse]

Their Highnesses and Prince Jhoti

are following your progress with great concern, Pelham Sahib.

It is not without irony that Jhoti should have had a riding accident.

He's a much better horseman than his brother the Maharajah.

In fact that was one of the reasons Nandu was so jealous of him.

Jealous enough to try and do away with him.

That is unthinkable, Pelham Sahib.

Is it?

I wish you a very speedy recovery.

Thank you, Rao Sahib.

I'm happy that Pelham Sahib is making such excellent progress.

Indeed, Your Highness, we all rejoice at the speed of his recovery.

Tell me, was it your idea to defy

your brother and join the wedding procession?

Umm..Yes and no.

Now, what does that mean?

It was my idea, yes.

But I could never have carried it off without the help of Biju Ram.

I am eternally grateful to you, Pelham Sahib.

I am out of favor with His Highness the Maharajah, as it is.

Had any harm come to Prince Jhoti, my fate would have been sealed.

I suppose Biju Ram being out of favor with the Maharajah is genuine.

If it isn't. It would be the perfect way to show that there

was no complicity between should any accident befall Prince Jhoti.

Biju Ram, as you of all people should know,

is not called the scorpion for nothing.

I feel a perfect fool being taken to see Their Highnesses like this!

The change will do you much good.

It is most interesting, Pelham Sahib.

And when the hunting is done, they hold what they call the Hunt Ball.

The win...men and women dance together.

Yes, indeed.

Actually clasping each other? Like so?

Um...and moving together in time to the music.

I wonder what "Hanemanji" would have made of it.

Imagine jumping about like that in the middle of a pea soup fog.

[Rao Sahib] Children, children.

[Rao Sahib] Most unseemly.

I need no treatment tonight, (A)gita.

I don't need you, I say.

[Anjuli's voice] You told me to come.

Juli.

You spoke of "Hanemanji."

That was always how we summoned each other.

You remembered.

Once you and your mother had gone, I had little else to do but remember.

You shouldn't have come. It's too dangerous.

Then why did you ask me?

[sigh] I didn't think you would.

I thought you were angry with me.

I was.

For behaving like a sahib.

And because you had not thought of me all those years, while I...

I know.

I'm sorry, Juli.

But, then you were injured.

I made Gita bring me with her, more than once.

I sat outside in the darkness, while she tended you.

Why?

I suppose to hear your voice.

So that I could be sure that you were really who you said you were.

Let me turn the lamp out so that I can look at you.

No, indeed, that would be dangerous.

Very foolish, too.

For if anyone were to see us now, they would only think that I was Gita.

Besides, it is better to talk thus in the dark,

and make-believe to be Ashok and Juli again,

and not Pelham Sahib, who is an Angrezi,

or the Raj-kumari Anjuli Bai who was to be...

Don't.

Don't.

It seems we're in the middle of another intrigue, you and I.

Jhoti's horse bolted because someone had frayed his girth,

and planted a thorn beneath the saddle.

It must be by Nandu's orders.

You mustn't come here again. It's too dangerous.

Are you afraid that Gita will talk?

She won't. I promise.

That's not the point, and you know it.

What would you say if you were discovered here?

Why, that I was visiting my honorary brother,

my poor, sick honorary brother.

I'm not your brother,

and you're a grown woman.

It's suicide for you to enter my tent alone; you must know that.

Not if I say what I just told you.

I'll be scolded and forbidden to come again, but that's all.

It may be all for you.

As a man, I can't claim I see not harm

in entertaining Your Highness in the privacy of my tent,

and by night.

But then, you're not a man.

What the devil do you mean?

When you are well again it will be different.

But look at you, all trussed up like an old hen.

You could hardly be suspected of doing

any harm to my virtue, even if you wanted to.

[scratching noise]

It is Gita. She's warning us.

[dog barking]

[Someone watches Anjuli and Gita walk away from Aston's tent]

[Biju Ram speaks] May I enter Pelham Sahib?

Yes, you may come in.

Greetings, I see that our Gita still tends you.

I trust you improve.

Yes, but it's a slow business.

Who was that with her, may I ask?

One of the serving women, I imagine.

Ah, very probably.

Well, goodnight to you Pelham Sahib.

[Ashton's voice] A moment.

It has come to my attention that

His Highness Prince Jhoti's accident was in fact an attempt on his life.

I am shocked beyond words.

How can I be of assistance?

In this way:

Should anything else befall the Prince

I shall hold you personally responsible.

Oh, but Sahib, what possible justification

can you have for taking such an attitude?

None at all.

That's just the way it's going to be.

If he dies, you die.

[laughter]

[Koda Dad:] Forget childhood dreams,

the Hindu boy from Gulkotte is dead

in his place there is a Sahib.

I have learned to become one.

An officer Sahib of the Guides. You cannot alter that.

Yet, I am still Ashok,

and I cannot alter that.

I was a child of this land for my first 11 years,

and I'm tied to it with something just as strong as blood.

I shall always be two people in one skin,

which is not a very comfortable thing to be.

I understand that,

but you will find it easier to separate the two,

and do not try to be both at the same time.

And someday, who knows,

you may discover within you a third person,

who is neither Ashok, nor Pelham Sahib,

but someone whole and complete,

yourself.

Pelham Sahib or Ashok.

I love her.

You can do nothing about it.

We could elope!

That would set everyman's hand against you, and rightly.

For it'll be a shameless and dishonorable betrayal,

that insulted Bhithor,

and brought black disgrace on both Karibcotte and the British Raj.

Are you even sure that the Princess Anjuli would join you in such a venture?

She loves me.

I know it.

The question then is whether you truly love her.

Do you doubt it, Father?

I do not doubt your heart, my son,

but you are choosing certain death or exile.

Is that what you truly wish for her when you say you love?

I am glad you're better.

My sisters are really forward.

Anjuli bit my head off today,

and as for Shu-shu, she won't eat!

She's got a bum that's heavy,

and if she goes on like this, she'll be dead before she gets to Bhithor.

She's beginning to look like a monkey, as it is.

All eyes.

Well, they do spend a lot of their time

cooped up on this journey.

Perhaps we should organize some evening rides

to help clear the cobwebs away.

My uncle would never agree to it.

Umm.

We'll see.

How did you manage it?

By giving Kakuji long enough to think it was his idea.

I was watched leaving your tent the other night.

Yes, I know.

You were right.

We'll have to be careful.

Well, that's the beauty of these evening rides.

We can talk in full view of everybody.

I had to see you again.

Why do you put up with Shushida's tantrums?

She loves me.

Oh, it's not a very noble kind of love.

It's selfish, fickle and demanding, but it is love.

You see, I'm the only constant in her life.

To begin with she was shamefully treated by her mother.

I don't suppose Nandu had much time for her either.

No, but the one thing she respects is strength,

and he showed that in plenty.

In fact they got along well enough

until he arranged this marriage.

Then she nearly drove us all mad.

Why?

Because the Rana's old. She's terrified of becoming suttee.

That was her mother's doing as well.

From the age of five she was made to

stir boiling rice with her little finger

to teach her not to flinch from the fire.

God, this country disgusts me sometimes.

Anyway she needn't worry, suttee's forbidden by low now.

An English law.

Do you think you only have to pass a law for a tradition to die?

Suttee won't cease until our women refuse to submit to it.

Shushu will never refuse.

She's terrified of it, yet to her,

it is the inescapable duty of a royal widow.

It will be your duty, too.

I faced that when I realized she wouldn't go to Bhithor without me.

How could your own brother marry you both off to someone much older?

Because the Rana of Bhithor is of superior lineage.

Besides, a double wedding worked out rather cheaper

for our brother than two separate ones.

Oh, the cold hearted bastard!

He will pay for his evil deeds in his next life.

Perhaps for may lives afterwards.

[Koda Dad] Very good, Your Highness.

Ah!

There!

You see?

Quite good, Shushu.

You're improving.

Isn't she, Biju Ram?

What are you thinking of?

[Hindi answer]

The Far Pavilions

It's strange to think that I shall never see them again.

Or you either, once this journey's done.

[Roaring sound]

[Blowing wind]

My God!

Come on, Julie, quick.

Follow me!

Rao Sahib, look!

I'll take the princess.

Come on.

Get the horses to a safe place.

We will wait here for Pelham Sahib and the Raj-kumari.

Get as far as you can, Juli.

Quickly.

Juli!

Juli, where are you?

Juli.

[Juli] Ashok

[Romantic music begins]

Do you love me?

I have loved you all my life.

From the very beginning.

As a brother?

I loved you first as a brother.

It was not a brother that I waited for.

I grew up and became a woman.

And this you do not know:

When you rescued me from the carriage,

and held me in your arms,

I could not breathe for the beating of my heart.

And I was ashamed, because I thought you were a stranger.

Yet something in my blood rejoiced to be held so.

Oh, my love.

Love me.

Love me, now.

I never meant this to happen.

I did.

When, Lale?

A long time ago.

You think me shameless,

but I knew from the beginning, that I should have to submit to the Rana.

That he should be the first.

It was this that I could not endure.

But now I know love.

And having known it,

I can endure the lust and shame.

My heart's love!

Foolish love!

Do you think that I would let you go?

Now?

This is the miracle that I've been praying for.

As soon as the storm dies down, we'll ride on.

When they don't find us they'll assume we're lying dead

buried in some sand drift among the hills.

They can't search them all.

They'll give up after a day or two and go on to Bhithor.

No, Ashok, do not say anymore, please do not.

I cannot leave Shushila.

She loves me and she needs me.

I love you,

and I need you!

But I promised I would stay with her.

And I cannot break my word.

Do you care so much more for her than you do for me?

I love you more than life,

beyond anything, anyone else,

but Shushu is not as strong as you and I are,

and if I'm not there to give her courage

and to comfort her, she will die from fear and loneliness.

She's a selfish and demanding little bitch!

We can't live without each other!

I am not prey to these faults,

but I will not harm her.

If I did, how could love me?

Knowing that I, too, was selfish as well as faithless.

yes, and cruel, too, of rush...

...the all those things

if I were to sacrifice my sister for my own happiness.

And my happiness.

To send the magic.

Watch!

I cannot betray her.

You can't go through with this.

The Rana will find out you're not a virgin the moment he beds you.

If did not know that I could deceive the Rana when the time came...

I would never have taken you for my lover.

I suppose you've also thought

what may happen to the child, if you conceive?

If the gods grant me your child,

I will not fail him, that I swear to you.

I will see to it that he grows to be a prince we can be proud of.

No!

Promise me. If you have our child you will come to me.

Can't you understand what it will be like

for me to know that my child is the property of another man

to do with as he pleases!

To sell in marriage to whomever he chooses, as you and your sister have been!

You will have other children.

Never!

Can you tell me that until this night you have never lain with another woman?

No, I did not think that I was the first,

for I know that men are careless of their seed,

and you will lie with other women.

and it may be father of other children

without knowing or caring.

But I, if I should conceive, will know and care.

I shall carry our child in my body for months,

and at the end risk death and endure pain to give it life.

If I pay that price, surely you could not begrudge our child to me.

You could not.

It's time we returned.

Rocco!

Teri-Bai

I was worried about you. Where have you been?

We found shelter in a cave, Uncle.

Oh, I see.

Well, we must say that all three of us were together this past night.

For you are about to be wedded

and it is not be seemly for a bride to go apart with any man,

even if he be a sahib.

Now get into the carriage, my child.

Should anyone inquire, we shall say that the sahib and the Raj-kumari

returned, shortly after the storm struck,

that she took refuge in the carriage,

and we three men lay beneath it.

You agree?

Very well, Rao Sahib.

Rao Sahib, is everything all right?

The gods be thanked, yes. The Raj-kumari is safe in the carriage.

Shushu, they're back!

What happened to you, Pelham Sahib?

We returned only moments after the storm struck, Your Highness.

The Raj-kumari took refuge in the carriage

and we three sheltered under it.

Juli!

Juli, you were so lucky to be out of it and safe in the carriage.

Yes, indeed. It was most unpleasant.

You have no idea how exciting it was.

The tent flapped and flapped, and the dust came pouring into it.

Rao Sahib. If you will excuse me.

I made Shushu get under my choupoi and covered it with shawl,

because she howled and screamed, and said the tent would fall and suffocate her.

Pelham Sahib.

Yes, Gul Bas.

The Raj-kumari, Anjuli-Bai, trusts that you will enjoy these oranges.

[Anjuli's voice] I have loved you all my life, from the very beginning.

[Koda Dad] Forget childhood dreams.

The Hindu boy from Gulkotte is dead. In his place there is a sahib.

[Ashton] I shall always be two people in one skin,

which is not a very comfortable thing to be.

[Anjuli] I was visiting my honorary brother,

my poor sick honorary brother.

[Ashton] I am not your brother.

[Juli] I love you more than life, beyond anything or anyone else.

[Koda Dad] The question is whether you truly love her.

[Juli] I would have sacrificed my sister for my own happiness.

I cannot betray her.

Now I have known love, and having known it

I can endure the lust and the shame.

[Ashton] Pelham Sahib or Ashok, I love you.

[Koda Dad] You can do nothing about it.

[Rifle shots, Indian shout]

[too dark to see]

[scuffle and shout]

[Biju Ram speaks] Pelham Sahib.

What...what are you doing here?

[Ashton] What the devil are you doing. taking potshots at me?

[Biju Ram] In the moonlight I mistook you for a blackbuck.

[A] Where did you get my rifle?

[B] Oh, I can explain that, Sahib.

My servant came to confess to me

that he'd stolen a sporting rifle, from your tent.

He was terrified of discovery.

In truth, I was over-indulgent.

The fellow had served me well in his way,

so I undertook to return the rifle to you.

But before doing so, I thought it best to test it.

To make sure that it was undamaged.

Unfortunately, heh, heh, heh...

[A] You always were a good liar.

[B] On my heart! I swear it.

[A] There is a proverb from the northwest which says

a snake, a scorpion and a shin ware have no heart to tame.

[B] [Weak laugh]

[A] I have a better explanation.

You were trying to kill me using my rifle

so you could make it look like one of your accidents.

[B] I?

But you have been misled by someone who wishes to ruin me.

I demand to know who it is?

[A] His name...is Ashok.

[B] You have been deceived. That boy died many years ago.

[A] If the men you sent to hunt him down

told you so...they lied.

[A] I am Ashok.

Biju, I accuse you not only of the attempted murder of Prince Jhoti,

but of hastening the death of my mother, Sita,

by hounding us back and forth across the state

until she died of exhaustion.

You murdered her!

[B] But you're a sahib!

[A] And I am Ashok.

[Reveals the brand on his chest]

[B] Sahib. Forgive me!

[Ashton attacks Biju Ram]

[A] You bastard!

[Fighting ensues]

[Ashton cuts the throat of Biju Ram]

Cobra, would you say?

Clearly. He cut himself in an attempt

to prevent the creature's venom from reaching his heart.

Yes, indeed.

and he must be cremated with due service.

And tomorrow his remains shall be carefully collected

and taken to be thrown into the sacred waters of Mother Gunga.

As there are none of his relatives here,

his friends must take it upon themselves to perform this pious duty.

Therefore I command Pran, Mohan and Sen Gupta

to go together with their servants and those of Biju Ram.

It's as only proper.

Hmm...

Do you suppose Rao Sahib shared our suspicions?

He certainly used Biju Ram's death to rid the camp of all his supporters.

I, for one, salute him for it.

And I... salute you, Sahib.

I found this by chance within ten paces of the body.

I must have lost it when we inspected the site.

Perhaps. Though, had I been asked, I would have said

that you wore a grey shirt with horn buttons that morning.

But, no matter.

There is in a way a certain justice in the fact that

the double thorn from the Kika tree leaves a mark like the bite of a Cobra.

Ha, ha, ha,

We have no more problems.

At least until we get to Bhithor.