Original subtitles

Thanks very much, Ronnie.

- Goodbye. - Goodbye.

- Bye. - You'd better go, Mummy.

- Bye, darling. - Bye.

Goodbye, Teddie.

Somebody catch!

- Goodbye. - Bye!

Bye-bye!

Good evening, Miss Layton!

Hello.

I'm afraid everyone else is lying down.

And you?

I'm waiting for the fireflies to come out.

Hmm.

The last place the light goes from is the lake.

Though when it's really dark,

the lake's darker than anything.

Water reflects the light.

Will you have a drink, Ronald?

If you'll have one, too.

Whiskey, if I may.

Tom Collins.

Oh, you feel I need a burra-peg, then.

I don't know about need.

Deserve.

No, thank you.

Haven't you had a rest?

I've been writing letters --

well, one letter --

to father in Germany, about the wedding.

They'll be in Manoora soon --

Teddie and Susan.

Yes.

I've really come to say goodbye.

I'm off to Calcutta first thing in the morning.

Oh, I'm sorry.

The signal was waiting for me

when I got back from the station.

Things are on the move.

Will you write to me sometimes?

Yes, of course.

Thank you.

Bus.

Cheers.

I'm glad you were alone.

I wanted to apologize.

That stone that someone chucked this morning

was meant for me.

It sounds melodramatic,

but persecution of that kind's been going on

ever since I left Mayapore.

That stone and -- hmm...

that unpleasant scene at the platform.

I was the worst best man Teddie could have chosen.

Oh, no.

It made me feel ridiculous,

as though I have something to hide,

when all I want is to forget.

I hope your mother, in particular, understands that.

I'm not unconscious of my obligation to her.

We all understand.

Thank you.

But I don't really understand

about the woman at the station.

Was she the mother of one of the boys who got arrested?

His aunt.

The man who was with her put her up to it.

He knows there's nothing I can do.

The case is useful to him,

it serves his purpose.

- Bye-bye. - Bye!

Catch!

- Bye. - Bye!

What the devil?

Who was that?

A madwoman.

Some madwoman!

What was she like --

the girl in the Mayapore business?

Rather like you.

No, not physically.

Well, um...

not as pretty.

She was a bit clumsy.

She made a joke of it,

but she was sensitive.

The kind of girl you could talk to --

although our backgrounds were quite different.

Were you in love with her?

I don't know.

I thought I was for a while.

But if I was,

it wasn't love at first sight.

I thought she was another of those English girls

who come over here with a bee in their bonnet

about the rotten way we treat Indians.

She didn't see why a line had to be drawn --

has to be drawn --

but it's essential, isn't it?

Poor Daphne tried to do without all that.

I tried to stop her,

and found out she wasn't just another English girl

with a bee in her bonnet, she was this girl.

And it wasn't a bee.

I don't know what it was...

but it destroyed her.

I'm sorry.

I said she was like you,

and I'm describing all the things

that made her different.

But then...

This may sound impertinent.

No, I'm sure it won't.

Well...

that first morning when I joined you at the station restaurant

and you sat in the front of the car, next to the driver,

I thought -- please, forgive me --

I thought, "Here's another one who doesn't see

why the line has to be drawn."

That's why I started talking about young Kasim.

I think subconsciously he'd impressed me as being

a man of Hari Kumar's type.

Hari Kumar?

The chief suspect in the case.

The man she was friendly with.

In that car,

there was a sort of fantasy in my mind

of Hari and Daphne about to come together again.

But, uh...

I was wrong.

Mr. Kasim knows where the line has to be drawn, doesn't he?

Oh, so do you.

I can't speak for Mr. Kasim.

Well, then, for yourself.

What are we talking about, Ronald --

the social pressure that keeps the ruled

at arm's length from the rulers

or the biological pressure that makes a white girl

afraid of being touched by an Indian?

I think they're connected.

A white man --

I or Teddie, for example --

if one's tastes ran that way,

could marry an Indian woman or live with her.

He'd have the dominant role,

whatever the color of his skin.

But an Indian man touching a white-skinned woman

would always be conscious that he's...

What's the word?

Diminishing her.

And she'd be conscious of it, too.

I'm sorry.

I've put it very badly.

And I've broken one of the sacred rules.

One isn't supposed to talk about that kind of thing.

One isn't supposed to talk about anything very much.

I know.

It's how we hide our prejudices and go on living with them.

Would you say goodbye for me?

And, um, apologize to your family.

I expect Aunt Fanny will be out in a while.

No, I really must be going.

I'm only half packed.

Look, there's a firefly.

The end of your vigil.

It's alive with Japs.

First evidence of the enemy is Jap booty

captured in a previous encounter,

evidence of the turn of the tide of war,

clearing the Arakan of Japanese strongholds.

On the lookout for snipers.

"Duck your head over the next hill -- signed Tojo."

And it's sound advice,

as Allied bombers go into action.

The Japs retreat, but weary soldiers

search the area for snipers left behind.

A Jap hideout.

Japan boasts her soldiers never retreat,

never lose their nerve,

fight bravely to the death rather than face capture.

Well, here's the truth.

A Jap soldier surrendering,

as frightened as a cornered rabbit.

Wounded prisoners are taken back for first aid.

A captured flag

marks the end of the engagement,

but there's excitement ahead.

In fact, Dorothy Lamour, three jungles up,

to say nothing of Tarzan.

You have a question, Lady Manners?

Yes.

I'm afraid I've forgotten your name.

- Rowan. - Rowan.

It's a curious thing, memory.

My husband had an excellent one,

a great asset to a governor.

You were in Burma, Captain Rowan?

Until my dose of fever.

And shall you go back to active service?

No -- no, I'm told not.

I've applied to get back into the political department,

which is what I've always wanted.

Have you the photograph there?

H.E. gave me an envelope,

which he said you might ask for.

I'd like to see it, if I may.

Would you unseal it for me?

You can see Kandipat now.

I should explain, before we reach the prison,

I shall pull down the blinds over the window.

I have all the necessary documents

to pass us through the gates.

Would you like me to go through the arrangements?

I'm sure H.E. has arranged everything as I would wish.

But in case I forget to say it afterwards, Captain Rowan,

thank you for everything you've done for me.

Are you ready?

Quite ready, if you are.

Your name is Kumar?

Uh-huh.

Sit down, please.

These proceedings are authorized

by order of the Governor in Council.

The purpose is to examine any facts

relevant to your detention

under the Defense of India Rules.

I am instructed to advise you

that the purpose of the proceedings

is only to examine and not to make a recommendation

in regard to your detention.

I now ask you,

do you agree to this examination?

Huh.

Do wish it to be conducted in English or in Hindi?

Angrezi.

I'm sorry.

I mean, in English.

I seldom have an opportunity of speaking English

to anyone but myself.

I see...

Then we'll proceed in English.

Your name is Kumar,

your given name Hari,

son of the late Duleep Kumar,

of Didbury in the county of Berkshire.

Honestly, Mildred, that's a laugh.

You say someone threw a stone at the Nawab's car?

Teddie and the best man were in it.

Well, I'm glad you're amused.

You must admit, it does have its comic side.

Teddie at the altar

with a lump of sticking plaster on his face.

Only 72 hours of honeymoon,

he has to buzz off and fight the Japs.

How did Susan take it?

Susan was splendid -- she saved the day.

And it's not comic for her.

Back to life as bloody usual in Pankot --

and in the bloody grace and favor, too.

I must say, she's looking radiant

for a grass widow.

Mildred, you don't suppose that...

Oh, really, Nicky. I don't suppose anything.

This whole stupid business could have been avoided

if Captain Merrick had said.

What?

What he should have said to Teddie.

That he was the policeman in that ghastly Manners case,

and he'd been tracked down ever since.

Then why didn't he?

Perhaps because he wanted to be best man.

Seems rather an off thing to do,

I mean, as Teddie's fellow officer.

- He's hardly that. - I thought you said he was.

Nicky, Captain Merrick is not a Muzzy Guide.

In fact, he's scarcely a gentleman at all.

Not top drawer?

Not by any stretch of the imagination.

Oh, well.

How's that?

Is Sarah making the fourth?

I would like to return for a moment

to the time when District Superintendent Merrick

made, what you claim, was an obscene remark.

You had refused to answer any questions.

Because Merrick had refused

to give me the reason for my arrest.

But then, at 22:45, you made the statement,

as it appears on the DSP's report,

"I haven't seen Miss Manners

since the night we visited the temple."

Yes.

And until this examination,

you have persistently refused to make any other statement.

Yes.

How long did the interrogation continue?

I lost track of things like time.

Two hours? More?

Could have been.

So you were alone

with the examining officer for two hours or more?

No.

Other people came in after a bit.

The two constables?

There may have been others.

It seemed like it.

Are you saying you were confused?

A little giddy, perhaps,

standing for a long time?

I wasn't standing then.

- You were allowed to sit? - No.

I don't understand.

You were not standing, but you were not sitting.

What were you doing, lying down?

I was bent over a trestle.

Bent over a trestle?

Tied to it...

for the more persuasive part of the interrogation.

You told us you were naked.

Were you physically ill-treated?

A cane was used.

You say you were caned?

How many times were you hit?

I don't know.

Six times? 12 times? More than 12?

I didn't count.

You have no idea?

Did you lose consciousness?

It's very difficult to breathe in that position.

It's all you think of in the end.

After a time, they brought Vidyasagar down

to hear me confess,

but I said nothing.

Then Merrick sent everyone out.

We were alone.

He spoke and acted even more obscenely.

That is the second allegation of obscenity

you have made against an officer of the Indian police,

but the word is not precise.

You must give examples

so that anyone reading the report

can judge whether its use is justified or not.

He asked if I was enjoying it.

He said,

"Aren't you enjoying it?

Surely, a randy fellow like you

doesn't exhaust himself just having it once."

He had his hand between my legs at the time.

Strike that from the record.

Delete everything that followed

the prisoner's statement, "We were alone."

Why are you lying?

I'm not lying.

I'm answering your questions.

I put it to you that you are.

You still have an opportunity to retract.

I advise you to think most carefully

whether you should take that opportunity.

I have nothing to retract.

I'm sorry.

I seem to have misunderstood.

Misunderstood the questions?

No.

The reasons for asking them.

I made the wrong guess.

Something's happened to her, hasn't it?

You mean Miss Manners?

Yes.

I agreed to this examination because I thought

Daphne had finally persuaded someone to believe the truth.

This begins to smell of...

an uneasy conscience.

Something's happened to her,

and I'm the loose end you want to tie up.

What's happened?

Is she dead?

I've sometimes felt it, but...

If she is...

you should have said.

You should have told me.

We presumed you knew.

She died of peritonitis.

That's blood poisoning, isn't it?

Burst appendix, that sort of thing.

I gather the peritonitis

was the result of a Caesarean operation.

A Caesarean?

I see.

She married?

No,

she didn't marry.

I see.

Do you still have nothing to retract?

No.

Nothing.

Nothing.

Auntie Mabel, are you sleepy?

Yes, but not tired.

I've reached the age, you know,

whenever I sit down and do nothing,

I just drop off.

So if you and Barbie will excuse me,

there are some drawers I should turn out.

Oh, don't you need me to help you?

Oh, Aziz can do it.

It's something he enjoys.

You stay and talk to Sarah.

I mustn't stay too long.

There's something I still don't understand.

Who was the Indian woman at the station?

The aunt of the boy Miss Manners

is supposed to have been infatuated with.

He's still in prison.

Kneeling at Captain Merrick's feet,

beseeching him.

Poor woman.

He said they were exploiting her.

Using her as part of a scheme

to make him look like a marked man.

He hadn't seen her since he'd left Mayapore.

Oh, did he remember my friend Edwina Crane?

Oh, I'm sorry, I never thought to ask.

Oh, I don't suppose he did.

Although as DSP in Mayapore,

he must have known all about her being attacked.

But he had his hands full

with that other awful business, didn't he?

Wasn't he supposed to be in love with her --

Miss Manners, I mean?

He said he'd been attracted to her.

He made it sound like a confession,

as if he was determined to be honest about the whole thing.

But all the time, I felt he wasn't.

I don't know why I felt that.

But everything he said sounded rehearsed.

And while he was saying it,

I felt him watching for the effect,

knowing what it would be.

You didn't like him.

No.

I don't think I liked him at all.

What did you say?

Did I say anything?

I'm sorry, I thought you did.

You seem to be haunted by it --

that's what I was thinking --

by that whole awful business.

Someone should be haunted by it.

Yes, I suppose we should.

Oh, don't go just yet.

There's something I want you to take to Susan.

I won't be a moment.

All right.

Lady Manners?

Are you all right?

Yes.

He spoke the truth.

I'm glad you felt that.

Sitting close to him,

it was painfully apparent that he did.

You never mentioned to him

that you remembered him at school

at Chillingborough.

It seemed...

unnecessary.

Kumar will be released.

To what?

No matter. I've had my amusement.

Amusement?

Isn't it all a charade?

We go back into our corners and try to guess the word --

Hari Kumar, too, and Mr. Merrick.

Nothing can happen to Mr. Merrick, can it?

The uncorroborated evidence of a prisoner.

That's part of the charade, too.

Here we are!

It's a combined wedding and 21st birthday present.

Apostle spoons.

I'd be so grateful if you'd take them to her.

Thank you, Barbie.

That's very kind.

I thought I ought to tell you I may be leaving Pankot.

Oh, Sarah, why? Where to?

Just to do something more useful --

nursing, perhaps,

or what I'm doing now,

but where the war's a bit closer.

Do you think that's selfish?

Why selfish?

Because of leaving mother and Susan.

With daddy a prisoner of war, it seems to be

my job to help look after things.

Susan's a married woman now.

Yes, that's why I thought I'd go.

Of course, I should miss you dreadfully.

So would everyone.

But it would be wrong to hold you back.

That would be selfishness.

Thank you for Susan's present.

Please don't bother to see me off.

Say goodbye to Auntie Mabel for me.

Of course.

Oh, no.

- Hello, Barbie. - Sarah's gone.

She asked me to say goodbye.

We're sorting out some winter things.

Oh, no, Aziz.

Han! Bond Street!

I bought it in London the last summer I was there,

so you can tell how out-of-date it is.

But every winter,

Aziz tries to make me bring it out

because of the tag.

Bond Street's pukka.

You could shorten the skirt.

Han! Shorten skirt?

Very well, Aziz.

Put it on this pile.

Memsahib. Sarah bachcha.

That's a christening gown.

Was it Sarah's?

Ah, Sarah-mem.

Look -- butterfly.

Butterflies.

Oh, but it's beautiful.

My mother gave it to me when I married --

for my children.

But, of course, I never had any of my own,

so I saved it for my stepson for when he had children.

Did Susan wear it, too?

No.

Mildred had something new for her.

There's a full length of it still unmade-up,

enough for a shawl.

Aziz, show Barbie-mem the piece.

It's exquisite!

Look!

They're caught up in the web!

Poor prisoners.

Would you like that piece?

For me?

It's too beautiful.

So delicate, alive.

Aziz will keep it safe.

Mabel!

Come in.

Good morning, Barbie.

I've had one, too.

"Mrs. John Layton, Miss Sarah Layton,

and Mrs. Edward Bingham

request the pleasure of your company

at the Officers' Mess of the Pankot Rifles.

RSVP."

It's Susan's 21st.

I had a note from Susan, too,

thanking me for the apostle spoons.

She says the wedding presents will be displayed.

I expect you'd like to go.

Well, only if you go, too.

Well, I shall have to.

But I want to come away before they start eating.

I can't bear eating standing up.

But Mildred knows that, she won't mind.

Eating in crowds gives me indigestion, too.

We can just slip away.

But what shall I wear?

I did see some heliotrope stuff in the bazaar.

If only we could get down into Ranpur for some shopping.

We have two weeks.

I shall never go to Ranpur again.

At least, not until I'm buried.

Buried?

In St. Luke's churchyard there,

where my husband is.

St. Luke's?

"Whom God has joined."

I hadn't thought.

You could wear a heliotrope, Barbie.

It's such a happy color.

Yes.

Yes, I think I could carry it.

Susan says all the young officers

will want to meet you.

You must be the grandmother of the regiment, I suppose.

It's years since I've visited the mess.

We shall go.

Is it Ghulam?

Ghulam Mahommed?

Yes, memsahib.

I think we're late.

Thank you, Ghulam.

It's very crowded.

You both made it.

Hello, Auntie.

Oh, it's so nice of you to come.

And thank you for the marvellous present.

- Hello, Barbie. - Hello, Susan.

Mabel, you know Kevin Coley, don't you?

Yes.

I'm the oldest captain in the regiment now.

Deputizing for Susan's father.

I think I met you once with John.

Yes.

He seems to be keeping his spirits up

in prison camp...

from what I hear, that is.

Well, of course, he can't write many letters, but Sarah

brings me all the news.

Where is Sarah?

It's awful daddy can't be here, all the same.

Aunty, come and meet General and Mrs. Rankin.

Kevin will introduce you.

Yes, of course.

Barbara.

Hello, Clarissa!

Hello, Arthur!

How nice to see you here.

How are you?

Is Sarah here?

She wasn't at the door, unless I missed her.

How awful if I did.

She was here a minute ago.

Somewhere...

I'll see if I can find her.

Thank you.

Oh, thank you.

His poor feet in this dreadful crush.

Oh, there she is now.

Hello, Barbie.

Ooh, what a nice suit.

Is Mabel all right, do you think?

I feel I ought to be with her, but there were so many.

They've got her a chair -- over there.

Several young men are looking after her

and she's absolutely fine.

We're slipping away, you know, before the buffet.

Yes, I know.

Have you changed your mind?

I mean, about the presents.

Susan did say they would be on display,

but perhaps it proved too difficult.

No, they're on the table, there.

Shall we go and look?

Oh, yes, I must.

Then I'll see you later, Barbie.

- This is Captain Webb. - Mrs. Layton.

Barbara?

Yeah.

Here they are.

I say!

A splendid display.

Yes!

Yes, it is.

Wavell's the first viceroy we've had

who knows anything about the country.

Oh, Mrs. Paynton!

But then, of course, he's a soldier.

It's what you'd expect.

They were in a box.

What did you say?

I mean, I agree.

A splendid display -- absolutely splendid.

So many things.

You know, I've never been in a mess before --

I mean, a mess with a capital "M."

Isn't that odd?

Or don't you think so?

I suppose this room is the anteroom.

Is that the right nomenclature?

Ooh, look.

There's the canteen of silver.

I'm sure I saw another toaster.

Are you looking for something special?

No.

They're not here.

Oh, excuse me!

Barbara, do be careful.

I think we'd better stand back.

Yes.

One can't expect.

Such a crush.

I've forgotten how to cope with crowds.

I can't hear myself think,

but then one never can.

Or can you?

Are you all right?

I sometimes wonder...

how many of those children did I bring to God?

There were 12, you see, apostles.

I was alone.

Excuse me.

Have you seen Mrs. Layton?

Mrs. Layton senior,

the lady in the gray hat and scarf.

She was sitting in this chair.

Oh, no. She went, I think.

But she can't have.

Thank you.

Mabel?

Mabel.

Oh, Barbie.

Is it time for us to go?

- I lost you. - Mm-hmm.

We can go out the back way, through the corridor.

- If you're ready? - Oh, I'm ready.

Susan's going to have a baby.

Mildred told me.

So Sarah's decided not to go away.

The regimental silver.

Exactly as it was when I first saw it 40 years ago...

whilst how many starved?

Nothing has changed.

Now, I'm not even angry.

Someone should be.

Gaje Ghale.

He lives again in memory

that moment when, wounded in his arm,

in his chest, and in his leg, he went on fighting.

Covered in blood from his neglected wounds,

he led his men

into a hand-to-hand fight with the enemy.

For superb courage,

the Victoria Cross.

Chhelu Ram.

What he did saved countless lives, and he died.

This is his widow and his child.

For her, it's all strange and bewildering.

Chhelu Ram was her husband.

Now, the Viceroy comes to tell her

that Chhelu Ram was a hero.

Now widow and child are brought forward

to meet the viceroy.

Other wives are watching --

the commander-in-chief's wife,

the wife of the Viceroy himself.

Now he's giving her Chhelu Ram's medal,

the Victoria Cross,

and she hears the world told

how Company Havildar Major Chhelu Ram

rallied his men under fire,

with no thought for his own danger,

despite his serious wounds,

how his men, inspired by his example,

fought off the enemy with bayonets,

sticks, and rocks picked up from the western desert,

how he was wounded again

and died still leading his men.

And the Allied assault on Cassino continues

with heavy fighting in all areas.

Meanwhile, in Delhi,

it has been strongly denied that the Japanese forces...

Come in.

You wanted to see me, sir?

Ah, yes.

Bad news, I'm afraid.

Yes, sir, it is.

I didn't mean the war.

I'm afraid this is personal.

Would you like to sit?

We've had a signal through Calcutta.

I thought it best to tell you first.

I'm sorry.

I see.

What a terrible, terrible thing.

I'll ring my wife.

We'll all do what we can.

Thank you.

I'd better go now.

Well, won't you wait a minute before you go?

You've had a shock.

No, it's better like this.

I mean, better than just a telegram arriving.

Yes, of course.

Sarah...

I'm very sorry.

Thank you.

Hello!

Susan mustn't see me yet.

I must speak to mother.

What's wrong?

Teddie's been killed.

Nicky, how could you possibly

bid three low trumps on that hand?

Sarah's here.

Is she?

Whatever for?

She wants to speak to you.

Sarah?

It's not about daddy.

I'm sorry.

Teddie.

Would someone get my drink?

Where's Susan?

Asleep on the veranda.

I'll go out and try to tell her.

Perhaps someone should ring Dr. Travis

in case she takes it badly.

Do you want me to?

No, Barbie, I can manage.

Is it lunchtime already?

No, I've come back early.

Have you come on badly or something?

No, it's not that.

Shall we help Auntie Mabel with the flowers?

You'll get as big as a house

if you lie around all day.

I'm as big as a house already.

Have they given you the day off?

- Sort of. - Why?

Something's happened.

And I have to tell you about it,

and I don't know how to.

So I think I'd better just say it straight.

It's about Teddie.

The signal came this morning.

It says Teddie's been killed,

so that's what we have to start believing.

If there was any doubt about it, I wouldn't,

but it does,

and I'm sorry.

I'm sorry.

No!

No!

No!

No!

Sue, there's someone to see you.

I'm only dropping in today.

I thought you might like to see me.

Who was that?

The padre and his wife.

They said they'd only look in.

I told them Dr. Travis wanted her kept quiet.

I never cared much for Teddie, you know.

So I can't pretend to be bowled over.

And I don't think Susan really loved him.

She was very secretive about the honeymoon,

at least she was with me.

Did she say anything to you?

No.

I don't think Teddie was...

very experienced.

Not that that's important.

Although it is if there's a lack of consideration, too,

and that's how he struck me.

I rather hoped that Muzzy Guide friend of his

would cut him out,

but he never even tried.

What are we going to eat?

Sue said she doesn't want anything.

Uh, there's some cold chicken and salad.

But you must tell Mahmood to get up a tray for her.

She can't not eat.

Oh, Christ.

Come in.

We didn't stop.

It was my husband she wanted to see.

Would you like a drink?

Oh, not for me, thanks.

Darling?

Well, I...

I wouldn't refuse a gimlet.

Thank you very much.

I'm sorry.

It's very sad.

She's asked for a memorial service,

which seems suitable.

I shall be happy

to arrange it for her.

Not "happy," darling.

No. No, of course not -- happy to be of use.

I thought on Saturday week, if you agree, Mrs. Layton.

Then I can announce it next Sunday

at matins and evensong.

If it's what Susan wants.

Thank you.

Oh, yes, yes.

It seems she does.