"Throughout that time in India, the British were in a continual state of war with the fiercely independent tribes along their northwest frontier." "[gunshot]" "[gunshot]" "[gunshots]" "An extraordinary regiment was raised to deal with them." "It was named..." "The Corps of Guides, and it's headquarters were here at Mardan." "Composed entirely of native volunteers, Hindus, Sikhs and Muslims, and led by a handful of specially selected British officers, they wrote some of the most glorious chapters in the annals of military history." "In 1865 I had the honor to be Commandant, which was when this story really began." "...Yes, yes, Ash-Baba, we are playing a game, that your name is Ashok, and that you are my true son." "What is your name, my son?" "Ashok." "Yes." "[scuffle and shout]" "Pelham Sahib." "What...what are you doing here?" "What the devil are you doing." "taking potshots at me?" "In the moonlight I mistook you for a blackbuck." "Where did you get my rifle?" "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..." "You always were a good liar." "On my heart!" "I swear it." "There is a proverb from the northwest which says a snake, a scorpion and a shin ware have no heart to tame." "[Weak laugh]" "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." "I?" "But you have been misled by someone who wishes to ruin me." "I demand to know who it is?" "His name...is Ashok." "You have been deceived." "That boy died many years ago." "If the men you sent to hunt him down told you so...they lied." "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!" "But you're a sahib!" "And I am Ashok." "[Reveals the brand on his chest]" "Sahib." "Forgive me!" "[Ashton attacks Biju Ram]" "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." "[State Cavalry riding out from Bhithor Palace.]" "[Wedding procession from Karidkote arrives on plain below Bhithor.]" "Rocco" "Greetings to His Highness the Rana and the people of Bhithor." "Thank you, Rao Sahib." "Your Highness, come, let me show you the site that has been chosen for your camp." "It won't do I'm afraid." "But, it has been personally selected by the Rana." "Oh, I appreciate that." "But the site is impossible to defend, or even to escape from." "I trust, Sahib, that you are not suggesting..." "I'm not suggesting anything." "Merely that the safety of the Karidkote camp is my responsibility." "I cannot guarantee it here." "That is all." "My master is not accustomed to having his decisions questioned." "Nor am I." "Pelham Sahib." "The gods know you have proved yourself a trusty friend, but what we have here is something more than the military consideration." "The whole site is covered with the Rana's cannon." "If I am to avoid bloodshed" "I may have to accept whatever terms he cares to dictate." "Nor you, on the other hand, dare not insult him." "He might refuse to marry the two princesses, and send them home without their dowries." "If that were to happen, I could not answer for what" "Nandu might do in his shame and rage." "Are you saying, Rao Sahib, that I have to accept this site?" "I cannot dictate to you, Pelham Sahib." "What I am saying is, that if you do not... then the consequences would be worse than anything you can imagine." "[The wedding procession moves into the designated site.]" "[The valley is surrounded by forts.]" "[Being surrounded by guns, weakens Karidkote's negotiating position.]" "[Ashton sighs]" "Well, now bastard's has got us where he wants us." "[Koda Dad] May Allah be pleased to disprove our fears." "Amen." "Still, everyone else seems happy." "I might as well swallow my pride and shut up." "Everything's in order, Rao Sahib." "Excellent, thank you." "What's more, according to the Diwan there's good shooting in the hills." "And fish in the stream, Your Highness, in abundance." "Allow me to applaud you in you change of heart, Sahib." "It takes a man to admit that he was wrong, and at such speed." "A true sign of maturity." "This will be a much more convenient place for you to conduct the business in hand." "What business?" "Why, the terms of the marriage contract between" "His Highness, the Rana, and the sisters of His Highness, the Maharaja of Karidkote." "But, they've already been exchanged." "And, on reflection, they're judged to be unsatisfactory." "The Council is unanimous, that they must be renegotiated on a more realistic scale." "[Prince Jhoti] They worship the drinker of blood." "Let's hope they only sacrifice goats to her." "Captain Pelham Martyn and the representatives of Karidkote, Your Highness." "The bride's uncle and their brother." "[Rana] Welcome to Bhithor." "Your Highness (Jhoti), Pelham Sahib." "[Ashton does not bow.]" "We welcome, Your Highness, and, of course you, Pelham Sahib, as a representative of the British Raj, not only on our own account, but on behalf...of all the people of Bhithor." "We thank you for your gifts, and we hope that ours, like them, will mark the outset of a joyous and fruitful union between your noble self and the sisters of His Highness, the Maharaja." "That is, indeed, a pious hope, and one, which with all our heart, we share." "May the gods grant a fruitful outcome to our negotiations." "Let us withdraw." "[Ashton] You are saying, that you have no intention of paying the full bride price for the princesses." "We mean, of course, no reflection on the merits of the Raj-kumaris." "[Diwan] Merely, that the price was exorbitant." "[Rao Sahib] Your ambassadors did not dispute it." "[Ashton] Moreover, they gave a written undertaking to pay the remainder as soon as the princesses reached Bhithor." "[Rana] They exceeded their authority." "[Prince Jhoti] And you did not have us under your guns at the time." "[Diwan] With due allowance for youth," "I must protest at the Prince's inference." "[Ashton] And I withdraw it unreservedly." "You said there was another matter." "Yes." "It touches on the Princess Anjuli." "What of her." "You must understand that we made a great concession in considering marrying an ator." "[actress or singer]" "She is of... advanced years for a junior bride, besides being of mixed blood." "None of this was concealed from you." "We would not dream of imputing anything so unworthy to a brother ruler and a Maharaja." "[Diwan] None the less, Rao Sahib, as a devout Hindu, you will understand that the priest insist that His Highness is very highly to be purified for taking such a woman to wife." "[Rana] Alas, that is so." "And our purse is not bottomless." "After much anguish and weighty deliberation, with our ministers and elders, we greatly regret that we cannot marry the Princess Anjuli." "[Diwan] Unless, the price is trebled." "But you've already taken it!" "One moment." "If the extra sum, that you demand, is paid and the remaining half of the bride price for the Princess Shushila is not then you will have gained two brides and their dowries for nothing." "You will also make a profit on the transaction." "Well,...if you say so." "I must speak to the Princess Anjuli." "Please arrange it for me, Rao Sahib." "I must see her!" "And alone." "You know that is impossible, Pelham Sahib." "Besides, what good would it do?" "There is no way that she can help us." "And to tell her what is being said about her would be an unkindness." "She has a right to know how things stand." "Perhaps you are right." "I will warn her." "No." "I must do it." "The negotiations are my responsibility." "It's no good for you, Love." "You can't marry him." "even if it were safe for you to do so." "The Rana doesn't want you, My Heart." "He says that the bribe he accepted from Nandu is not enough." "He demands three times as much to wed you." "I can't authorize that." "And from what I know of Nandu, he wouldn't agree anyway, in which case you'd be sent back to Karidkote without your dowry and in disgrace." "I cannot go back." "You know I cannot." "You will have no choice." "That's not true." "The Rana may refuse to wed me, but he cannot refuse to let me stay and take care of Shu-shu, as a waiting woman or an ala(?" "), if need be." "Don't be a fool, Lala." "Once you're under his roof, he'll be able to do exactly what he wants with you." "You'd have no status at all." "Your position would be intolerable." "I have borne that before, and can do so again." "But, Shu-shu..." "Damn, Shu-shu!" "You don't know what he's like." "He's dishonest, and arrogant and cruel." "He's steeped in vice." "He's obscene, I tell you." "Every word you say is another reason for me to stay and help my sister." "She won't even miss you, when she's Rani of Bhithor." "Do you carry our child?" "[Shakes her head "no"]" "I'm sorry." "I, too, more than I can ever say." "I need you, Heart-of-my Heart!" "You know I love you more than anyone, much more than life itself," "but I love her, too, and you are wrong to say that she does not need me." "Now, she needs me more than ever," "and besides,..." "I gave her my word." "If ever you should need me... you have only to send this, and I will come." "I know." "Unless I am dead, I will come." "I shall think about you every hour of every day," "and hope that you are happy, and be thankful to have known you." "And I you." "Farewell, my lord and my life." "I have been blind." "Blind." "And foolish." "And I am truly sorry my son, and I am much to blame for your pain." "But, Anjuli, has made a wise decision, for both of you." "The best thing that we can do now is to make sure she stays here as a wife, and not as one of her sister's waiting women." "The gods know that is difficult enough." "As we have both brought her so much sorrow." "You, by stealing her heart, and making the future sadder." "and more desolate for her." "and I, by my negligence and folly." "We must try to get a message through to the British Resident in Ashmir." "I fear that my not be possible." "Why?" "They say that the forts speak to each other with small shields of polished silver that reflects the light of the sun." "You shouldn't believe everything you hear." "[Koda Dad points to a flashing shield.]" "If you try to send a messenger through they will hack him to pieces." "Damn!" "If we do not agree to the Rana's terms do you think he'd order his cannon to fire on us?" "We cannot take that chance, Murash." "What do you suggest we do, then, Pelham Sahib?" "Move out." "When?" "Tonight." "If it should come to a fight with the Raj we'll take the two princesses and Prince Jhoti with a cavalry escort and make you way out across the hills." "And you?" "I'll keep the infantry with me, to cover your retreat." "Make sure there are plenty of fires lit tonight." "That should help fool them." "If all goes off peaceably," "Rao-Sahib, you and I will visit the Rana in the morning." "[Karibkote wedding procession surreptitiously leaving encampment]" "[Ashton] Make sure there's as little noise as possible." "[Man] Yes, Pelham Sahib." "[Bhithor guards discover empty encampment at daybreak]" "[Guard shouting orders]" "Your Highness saw fit to man the forts which commanded our camp." "Furthermore you caused them to run-out the guns, lay them and train them at us." "The fact that they were not fired is immaterial." "The threat itself was tantamount to an act of war against the party under the express protection of the British Raj." "For which reason I desire this meeting." "Unless, within 24 hours you come to terms over the arrangements for the of both the princesses, our terms, that is," "I hereby inform you that I shall submit a report of the whole incident to my superiors together with the strongest possible recommendation that the only appropriate response to such an act of unprovoked aggression is for you state to be taken over by the government of India" "and for you, yourself, to be deposed, and sent away to live the remainder of you life in exile." "You cannot threaten me, like this!" "In the circumstances...." "I assure you the British authorities will accept my recommendation." "That is all I have to say." "Your Highness..." "You are a fool!" "Yes, Your Highness." "Go." "Yes, yes, Your Highness." "[Heavy breathing]" "Pelham Sahib!" "[Diwan] Let us not be hasty." "My patience is exhausted." "Rao Sahib." "I beg you." "Let us see, if this unfortunate misunderstanding cannot be resolved by older heads." "Let it never be said that we left any avenue unexplored." "I had hoped that there might be a great battle, after all." "Blood-thirsty brat." "[Rao] The Rana has decreed that this palace be regarded as Karibkote territory for the next six weeks." "We have to look upon it as our home." "In effect, it is we who are obliged to invite the bridegroom's party to attend the wedding." "[Jhoti] A truly thoughtful, courteous gesture." "[Diwan] It means that you must play the host to our host, according to custom." "[Ashton] Well, I hope you don't find it too expensive." "[Rao] No question, but the Rana is a very cunning fellow." "We could not have refused such an invitation, then, so we must put a good face upon it." "[Murash] Nonetheless, perhaps we should leave half our company where it is." "[Jhoti] In case of further misunderstanding." "[Rao] It would, indeed, be a wise precaution." "Mmm." "[Ashton] Your idea and a good one." "See to it, Murash." "I'm going on shika with Koda Dad." "[Koda Dad] I think the time has come for me to retire from the Maharaja's service and remove to Mardan, the better to care for all my sons." "[Aston] I'm not hungry." "[Koda Dad] If you do not eat you will make yourself ill, and then you will be no use to anyone." "[Sighing] Oh, Father." "[Koda Dad] The path you now tread is a hard one." "I believe it to be best for both of you." "[Ashton] And so does Anjuli." "[Koda Dad] If Kaiu-Bai has had the courage to chose it,... cannot you?" "[Ashton] In my head I have already done so." "I have no choice." "[Koda Dad] None?" "Therefore what profit is there in trepining?" "You should rather give thanks..." "for that which was good." "[Wedding preparations]" "If Shu-shu does not stop crying, Pelham Sahib, she will be the ugliest bride in all India." "Do you suppose the Rana will beat her?" "I would, if she were my wife, and all she could do was cry." "The Rao Sahib sends word, that the parade has left, but unmanned." "Come on." "[Wedding parade begins]" "[Purification of the Rana]" "[Decoration of the Rana]" "[Entrance of the brides]" "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 are due to my human limitations." "[Ashton] I cannot bear it!" "[Koda Dad] I understand you, my son." "You must bear it." "Festivities last for three days." "[Ashton] My heart is breaking, Father." "I have orders to return to my regiment as soon as possible." "May I have your permission to leave?" "You forget, Pelham Sahib, today is the final day of the wedding festivities, and at nightfall, the brides will leave for their husband's house." "Do I have to witness that, too?" "I must ask you to do so." "For only then, will you have fully discharged your duty." "Farewell, my lord, and my life." "Throughout that time in India, the British were in a continual state of war with the fiercely independent tribes along their northwest frontier." "[gunshot]" "[gunshot]" "[gunshots]" "An extraordinary regiment was raised to deal with them." "It was named..." "The Corps of Guides, and it's headquarters were here at Mardan." "Composed entirely of native volunteers, Hindus, Sikhs and Muslims, and led by a handful of specially selected British officers, they wrote some of the most glorious chapters in the annals of military history." "In 1865 I had the honor to be Commandant, which was when this story really began." "...Yes, yes, Ash-Baba, we are playing a game, that your name is Ashok, and that you are my true son." "What is your name, my son?" "Ashok." "Yes." "[Having discharged the bitter duty of seeing] [the love of his life married to the] [dissolute Rana of Bhithor, Ash made the long] [journey north,] back to Mardan." "[Meanwhile, across the frontier in Afghanistan,] [war had broken out again,] [and the Guides were on active service.]" "Charge!" "[Cannons firing]" "[Sabers clashing]" "[Bugles blaring]" "[Wally views the devastation]" "[and the dead]" "Permission to fall out, sir." "I say to you all..." "Well done!" "Carry on, Mr. Hamilton." "Dismiss the men to quarters, and see to the wounded." "Wigram's dead." "Yes, I know." "And 26 others, apart from the wounded." "All the same, Wally, you've put up a fine show." "We shall just have to hope, that the political wallahs make sure such sacrifice is not wasted." "Well, Major Cavagnari will see to that." "There's not another man alive that knows the Afghan mind better." "Major Cavagnari, I'm in no position to accept a British mission in Kabul." "What the devil do you think this war was all about, man?" "I cannot guarantee its safety." "You're talking about your own capital." "But you don't understand." "My country is deeply divided." "I, myself, am not yet established as Amir." "Very few of my troops have actually experienced defeat at the hands of the British." "They will see no reason why I should permit you to establish a permanent British mission in Kabul." "I'm not here to bandy words, Yakub Khan." "Either you accept it, and get you people to do so, or we shall go to war again." "And this time we won't stop until we've annexed Afghanistan for good." "And at that point, you put our own puppet on the throne." "That's why I wanted to talk to you alone." "It's a case of heads, we win, tails, you lose." "Never mind about being humiliated." "If you want to remain Amir of Afghanistan you go out there you smile you sign" "and you make damn sure that when our British mission is established in Kabul, it doesn't come to any harm." "How did you manage it, sir?" "Waded in like some second class head man." "It seems to agree with him." "Like he has when you head the British mission" "Yours very truly." "It's all arranged with the Viceroy." "the KCSI into the bargain." "Major, Sir, Louis Cavagnari." "How d'you like the sound of that, eh Jenkins?" "Very well, sir." "My congratulations!" "Hmm." "Is that damn Conjuruity?" "I believe so." "We'll get along famous now that it's all settled." "You'll see." "Well, you're going to have to get used to being bearer to a lieutenant again, Gul Bas." "They did not let you retain the rank of captain, then?" "No." "Nor the pay either." "They should have done, after all you achieved in Bhithor." "And I managed to miss the war." "Well, well." "Thank you, Gul Bas." "[Knocking]" "Come in." "Wally!" "It's good to see you." "It's good to see you, too." "And congratulations, by the way." "On what?" "Oh, come on." "You of all people, cannot be offhand about having won the supreme award for valor." "No, I'm not." "But to tell you the truth, I'm a bit down in the dumps, I mean." "What with Wigram being killed, and everything." "Still, let's hear about you Val Chevyhoff." "Did you fall in love with the princesses?" "As a matter of fact, I did." "And was the sentiment reciprocated?" "Yes, it was actually." "I do believe you're serious." "We were, Wally." "Very." "And it didn't work out?" "No." "I'm sorry." "But it couldn't really, could it?" "You've just joined the majority." "I had hoped you'd be less prejudiced." "What me, an Irishman?" "Do you want to tell me what happened?" "I saw her married, didn't I?" "To an old man, she didn't want." "And who didn't want her." "Yes, well." "What can I say?" "Not a lot, obviously." "I see I'm going to have to cheer you up." "Did you know that Cavagnari has asked me to command his escort?" "It's the chance of a lifetime, Ash." "And it's another long step towards my field marshal's battle." "Not that I'm counting any chickens before they are hatched." "If you've got any sense, you'll pray that this particular clutch turns out to be addled." "What d'you mean by that?" "Don't you read anything but poetry, Wally?" "You know I do." "Well, then you ought to know that we're exactly the same position we that were in at the end of the first Afghan war." "After an enormous waste of blood, we've left every part of Afghanistan bristling with our enemies." "That's why this mission ought to be called off." "Well, it's too late for that!" "Put stone, delayed, then, long enough for us to convince the Amir and his people that we do not intend to take over their country as we took over India." "Oh, rot!" "The Amir's agreed to accept the mission." "Under duress." "And if you think his people have accepted, you're wrong." "Then, they'll have to lump it, won't they?" "Come on, once we're there, we'll win them round." "Cavagnari will twist them around his little finger." "I've been there, Wally, and I think you'll find the Afghan far less susceptible to Cavagnari's charm than you seem to be." "They view our present withdrawal as a retreat." "so why should they let us set up a permanent mission in Kabul?" "Wigram used to say he wouldn't be in your shoes for anything in the world." "Because you didn't know where you belonged." "I think he was wrong." "I think you've taken sides." "And it isn't us that you've chosen." "There's no point in my saying anything else, is there?" "You can say what you want, you won't get me to turn to down command of the escort if I'm lucky enough to be offered it." "That bloody medal's gone to your head." "Go to hell!" "When did this happen?" "Oh, I was promoted Resaidar in the field at the battle of Fatehabad." "You must be very proud." "Almost as proud as our father." "Have the members of the escort been selected, yet?" "Not officially." "Well, don't do anything stupid, like volunteering for it, will you?" "We, your friends, are no longer boys." "We are grown men, who can make up their own minds." "Zarin." "Zarin." "So long, Sahib." "'Farewell, my lord, 'and my life.'" "[The Palace of Bhithor]" "A present for me?" "Where is it, Highness?" "Take me to him, now!" "Quickly!" "It is not right that Shushila Rani should be so indulged." "Thank the gods for permitting her to find happiness in a marriage, which she sought to avoid, and dreaded so greatly." "All the less reason for her to cause you to be treated in this way." "Confined in these two wretched rooms." "Your dowry, and even your trousseau taken away." "That's not Shu-shu's fault." "Your Highness summoned me?" "Oh, I did?" "I wonder why." "The message was that you had a present for me." "Oh, ha, ha." "It's only a little trinket." "A mere bauble." "Show it to me!" "But of course." "Here." "It is beautiful" "Don't be impatient." "What do I get in its stead?" "My thanks." "For this?" "My grateful thanks?" "Oh." "Hm." "I do believe you're teasing me." "Perhaps......a kiss?" "That might do.... ...for a start." "It is said that the eunuchs, who wish to make trouble between you, whisper to her that the Rana admired tall women, such as you." "Because they're more like boys." "And this allows to jealousy." "This is not her doing, I tell you." "She knows I want nothing less than to please the Rana." "Besides, she loves him." "I do not think so." "You've never understood her." "No, it's you who have never understood her." "Truly, I do not believe that Shushila-Bai love anyone but Shushila-Bai." "Or ever has." "You are wrong, and I'll hear no more of this." "Now go." "As you please." "I must ask you to accept my resignation." "All right, Victor." "Right you are, sir." "Sit down, Ash." "Thank you, sir." "Cigar?" "No, thank you." "I have to ask you, why?" "Well, who was it that wrote if a man cannot keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer." "Let him step to the music he hears." "I haven't the remotest idea." "Neither have I." "Anyway, sir, I think that time has come for me." "I'm grateful to for being so frank with me, but I can't say I'm entirely surprised." "What'll you do?" "Take up where my father left off, I imagine." "Wander about a bit, and eventually produce some tome on even less familiar dialects of Hindustan." "In two volumes?" "Ideally." "Very well." "If your mind's made up, I won't attempt to alter it." "I'll accept you resignation, and I'll see that there're difficulties are put in the way of your leaving the Army." "Thank you, sir." "In return..." "I would ask you..." "to do something for me." "Or rather....." "for the regiment." "Well, of course, sir, if I can." "Will you adopt native disguise?" "And go to Kabul, as an intelligence agent, for the Escort of Guides?" "Provided, of course, that this infernal British mission becomes a reality." "Can't you get that stopped?" "I'll do what I can, but I doubt it'll be enough." "Of course, if the mission is abandoned" "I'll let you know straight away." "And you can regard yourself as a civilian from that moment." "And if it isn't abandoned, sir?" "Then I would ask you to remain in Kabul as long as the Guides are there." "You can lodge with one of our pensioners." "Serdan Nachman Khan, he's 100% reliable." "As soon as the escort is relieved by another regiment you are free to go." "Will you do that?" "[Escort of Guides arrive in Kabul]" "Look at them." "They're like a bunch of children on a school treat crowding up for a slice of the cake." "Since we're outnumbered even by the ruffians lining the route there's not assembly the great big comfort to me." "Suppose we turn out to be the cake!" "[Bugle call]" "This should serve our purpose well enough." "Please be so good as to establish our presence, Mr. Hamilton." "Yes, sir." "[Escort entering compound]" "Company.....halt!" "Company.....halt." "Dismiss the mean, sergeant." "Infantry....dismissed!" "Well,....what did you expect?" "The Russians, when they came, numbered many more, and they wore rich furs and great boots of leather." "It was, indeed, a great Timasha, but this... this was a poor show." "For many of those who watched were saying, how is it possible that a government which could not afford to send a proper embassy will be able to pay the Amir soldiers all they are owed." "But, where did they get that idea, Nachban Khan?" "There was no mention of that in the treaty." "Was there not?" "Myself, I can only tell you that, half Kabul believes that Cavagnari is here to finance all that his soldiers need from the Amir, and that is the reason they were dismayed by how small a train he has brought with him." "and at once began to doubt if it was true, that he had come laden with riches." "Well, now that we are here, I hope your people won't find us quite so trepacious ogres as they feared." "That is my wish, also." "I assure you that I, personally, and all the members of my mission will do everything we can to foster the most cordial relations between our two great nations... eh, our two great, and need I say" "proudly independent nations." "[Clock chimes]" "Asper Seuce would've done us rather well on this occasion don't you think, Jenkins?" "Indeed, sir." "This place give me the creeps, Rosie." "If those chaps up there decide to pick us off they can do it as soon as wink." "Minutes to Plenipotentiary:" "Kabul to Viceroy Simla," "Had interview with Amir, and exchanged presents." "All well." "Splendid." "Send it off." "I'd be less worried if Sir." "Louis hadn't said that if his death resulted in the frontier line being changed he'd die a happy man." "This place is indefensible." "I must talk to him." "Circulate the pork, Mr. Killy." "Sir." "Sir." "Louis, I must advise you to ask the Amir to provide us with alternate accommodation." "As to the question, it would be grossly discourteous to the Amir." "I'm bound to say, sir, that there's precious little anyone can do to make it safe against attack." "Any attempt to do so would be just as grave an insult to our hosts." "Sir." "Tell him Jenkins." "The point Sir." "Louis seeks to establish is that it would take an army to guarantee our safety." "Precisely." "I didn't remon so as not to provoke the Afghans." "Our only alternative is to trust our hosts." "In the circumstances, it's no bad thing that the residency should be so accessible." "Let people walk in and out." "Our first duty is to establish friendly relations." "And I want no one turned away, and nothing done that may suggest in any way that we wish to keep you at arms length." "Gita?" "Rani Sempa?" "Who are you?" "My name is Permila Dehbi." "I'm sorry to have to tell you, that the Dai Gita has met with an accident." "Oh, no." "Take me to her." "You will only distress yourself." "It is not a pretty sight." "Take me to the senior Rani." "I am sorry Rani-saba." "I wish to see her now." "That may be, but the senior Rani does not wish to see you." "[Door closes]" "[Bugle call]" "Forward!" "If the Russians should decide to occupy Kabul, this is the way they would come." "Lieutenant Pelham Martyn, sir." "So you're the romantic character, that young Mr. Hamilton here has been telling me about." "I take it you know of Sgt. Major Kelly?" "Should do." "I patched you up the last time you came back from one of these jaunts." "Yes, of course." "Hello, Rosie." "And Mr. Jenkins, my secretary and political advisor." "I don't think I've had the pleasure." "I think you should know that the Harati regiments are back, and are on the rampage." "Ho, ho, ho." "Curs bark, they don't bite." "Oh, they bite all right, sir." "Particularly when they believe you have their arrears of pay." "Even if I had the funds, I'm hanged if I'm going to pay Her Majesty's enemies." "You're liable to be hanged, if you don't sir." "Oh, they could only kill four or five of us, and our deaths would be avenged." "I suppose being natives, the 77 men comprising your escort don't count." "You mustn't let me detain you from your duty, to inform Mr. Hamilton of any intelligence that you have managed to gleam." "Sir." "An opinionated young man, but a brave one." "To be a spy takes a lonely sort of courage." "Good lord, yes." "Mind you, he was always apt to fly off the handle as far as the natives were concerned," "but that's his upbringing." "There could be something in what he says." "I mean, if the Afghan army is really looking to us for its arrears of pay...." "It's in for a shock!" "That's it and all about it." "[Native speech]" "[Nachman Khan] They have been told, they can only have one month's pay." "They mean to take the remainder." "Telegram from the Viceroy, sir." "'You are hereby authorized to pay the Amir's troops, 'should you judge this advisable.'" "I'm damned if I do!" "Avadar!" "Leave that gate open." "Let them come in." "Sir!" "No one fires unless I give the order." "[Guard] Open the gate!" "[Crowd roars outside]" "[Continuous roaring]" "Dear God, please don't let them open fire!" "Habuda, make sure none of your men fire unless I give the order." "Yes, sir." "I want six men." "Sir!" "Sergeant, dress your men along here." "[Native speech]" "[Rebels roar]" "[Rebels enter demanding pay]" "Are you sure it's a good idea, sir, to go out there and speak to them?" "Certainly." "They're not likely to leave until I do." "We really cannot put up with this ridiculous home disturbance any longer." "There sounds to be an awful lot of them, sir." "What hells that got to do with it." "My topien, Maldeen." "But, sir, if you go out..." "My dear boy, I'm really not in my dotage." "What have you all come here for?" "What is it you want?" "Here, you." "You seem to be the ring leader." "Step forward." "What is the meaning of this shameful gaturau, and how dare you come battering at the doors of an officer who's a guest of your Amir, and under His Highness's protection" "[Native speech]" "He says the Amir won't pay them, sir, and they want the money from us." "[Crowd roaring]" "I grieve for you." "But what you ask is impossible." "I cannot interfere between you and your ruler." "I have not the power to do so, and it would not become me to attempt it." "I'm sorry." "[Angry response]" "Barbarians." "Not a jot of discipline." "Get back!" "That's good, fellows." "Back!" "Back!" "Hamilton Sahib!" "There's fighting in the horse lines." "[Crowd becomes angry]" "[Fighting begins]" "[Crowd begins to attack Escort Guides]" "[First gunshot]" "Steady men." "Volley fire." "Aim atop their heads." "Fire!" "[Fighting subsides]" "They're going, sir!" "Only to rearm and regroup, I'm afraid." "Right, we'll have those gates closed now, Sergeant." "Yes, Sahib!" "That foraging party back yet?" "No, Sahib!" "[Gate closes solidly]" "I think, Jenkins, I'd better send a message to the Amir." "It's high time he detailed some responsible person to control this rubble." "[Preparing message]" "[Escort Guides await trouble]" "[Medical center prepares for wounded]" "Hamilton Sahib, messenger has returned." "Let him in, Sergeant." "[Open gate command]" "A message from the Amir, Sahib." "Take it to Cavagnari Sahib." "Sahib." ""As God wills, I am making preparations."" "Making preparations!" "Good God!" "Is that all he has to say?" "[ The Amir] My gisbut is bad." "What can Allah ask of me?" "Your tears won't help them." "[Cries of returning rebel army]" "[Escort prepares for attack]" "[Battering ram]" "Volley fire!" "Fire!" "Fall back!" "Fall back!" "Volley fire!" "Fire!" "Fall back!" "Volley fire!" "Fire!" "Back to form double line." "Double time!" "[Indiscriminate gunfire]" "[Escort falls back]" "[Escort falls back]" "[Drawing sabers]" "[Hand to hand fighting]" "[Escort retreats into building and closes gate]" "[Foraging party returning]" "Halt!" "Pelham Sahib!" "Come quickly, they're mobbing the Residency." "[Native commands]" "[Rebels press attack]" "[Cavagnari hit]" "Are you all right, sir?" "What?" "Who's that, Jenkins?" "Oh, only a scratch." "But it makes my head swims like the devil." "You don't need Kelly, sir?" "No, of course not." "He's got far more important things to do." "See if you can find me a clean shirt, will you Jenkins?" "See if you can fold these wounds up for me, will you?" "Yew!" "Oh!" "Jenkins!" "Bring up brigade!" "[Aston brings in Reserve brigade]" "[Ashton shoots his way into the foray]" "Give them covering fire!" "No, Pelham Martyn." "Ash!" "Thank God you're here." "Drop it and get your men up here." "If Cavagnari were to agree to pay them there's still time." "Don't be daft, Ash!" "You know what these beggars are like once their blood's up!" "Easy does it, sir." "Easy does it." "I'm done for, you know, Kelly," "Aw, no sir, sir." "Jenkins?" "Sir." "Oh, there you are." "You will let my wife know, won't you?" "Yes sir." "Cavagnari's dead, Hamilton." "What the bloody hell's the Amir doing?" "He's not alone, knows, but if there's anything useful, he'd best do it a bit quick." "They seem to have gone very quiet." "I have no supplies left." "No lint, no drugs, no bandages." "Hamilton Sahib." "Look there!" "[Cannons rolling into the compound]" "What are we going to do now, sir?" "We're going to have to take them." "Organize covering fire." "No!" "I'm coming with you." "No, Ash." "I must have one line officer here." "You game, Kelly?" "Of course." "Come, then." "Jenkins, load these up." "[Calling soldier]" "[Door blasted open]" "[Rebels attack]" "[Escort Guides soldiers attack to capture cannon]" "Pull!" "Back, back." "[Rebels overcome and counterattack]" "[Guides close door]" "[Amir] There's nothing I can do." "Nothing." "If I go out there." "They will kill me!" "It is better that you should die, than disgrace Islam." "There is neither hem, nor fringe, nor border to the mercy of Allah." "Throughout that time in India, the British were in a continual state of war with the fiercely independent tribes along their northwest frontier." "[gunshot]" "[gunshot]" "[gunshots]" "An extraordinary regiment was raised to deal with them." "It was named..." "The Corps of Guides, and it's headquarters were here at Mardan." "Composed entirely of native volunteers, Hindus, Sikhs and Muslims, and led by a handful of specially selected British officers, they wrote some of the most glorious chapters in the annals of military history." "In 1865 I had the honor to be Commandant, which was when this story really began." "...Yes, yes, Ash-Baba, we are playing a game, that your name is Ashok, and that you are my true son." "What is your name, my son?" "Ashok." "Yes." "We're going to have to have another bash at those cannon." "What!" "You can't go again!" "It's been grand having you here, Ash, but I'll thank you to remember who's commanding the Escort." "You don't have to prove you're a hero, Wally." "I want six volunteers." "Sahib." "It's the duty of all of us to defend this Residency to the last." "You must choose the men to go with you." "You keep the rabble amused, and we'll have a go at spiking the guns." "How's that for and idea?" "Nearly a daft as you are." "God bless you, too." "Be ready men." ""The golden evening brightens in the west."" "Charge!" "[Ashton is hit]" "[Entire Corps of Guides Escort wiped out]" "[Later, Nachman Khan searches]" "Sahib?" "Sahib." "Sahib!" "Sahib, let's go!" "Let's go, Sahib!" "Ah." "Let's go before the mob returns." "I have a duty to perform, first." "[Ash places Wally on the cannon]" "[This must be a ceremonial burial]" ""Soon, soon to faithful warriors come to their rest."" "[From the hymn, For All The Saints]" "[As the British sought revenge] [for the massacre of Cavagnari and his mission,]" "[Ash, having fulfilled his last duty to the Guides,] [journeyed back to Mardan.]" "Welcome home, Pelham Sahib." "Thank you, Gul Bas." "[Koda Dad greets Ash]" "[Ash greets Gobind Das, the doctor]" "I'm on my way to Bhithor with my servant, Manilal, at the urgent request of Shushila Rani." "Has something happened to Anjuli?" "Not as far as we know." "Shushila Rani sent word that she is worried about her husband's health." "My master Rao Sahib felt she must have been dunched." "Is he seriously ill, then?" "Who can tell?" "He's known to have had heart trouble." "But, uh, I bring you a letter from Rao Sahib." "[Ash's voice:] He's anxious about his nieces." "The eunuch who writes on their behalf says nothing, that they are well and happy." "Yet we hear traveler's tales, that Daigita, who served Anjuli Rani since birth, is dead." "But surely, Her Highness would have mentioned that, had she been free to write, as she would." "[Rao Sahib's voice:] wherefore this summons for Gobind is an answer to prayer, as he will be able to learn how is with" "His Highness's sisters." "I have instructed him to devise some means of passing on any news to you." "I would not trouble you with this, had I not known that you, too, would wish to satisfy yourself that all is well." "If it is not, send word." "Do you know what is written here?" "The Rao Sahib did me the honor of reading it to me before he sealed it." "Well, I can tell by your face that this is not all." "No." "We have learned that his wives will be burned with him according to custom." "But, suttee's against the law!" "My master says you will know what the law means in Bhithor." "When the previous Rana died, 14 women, wives and concubines followed him into the flames." "The wits say at this time, only two women were burned, there being no concubines, but only catamites." "It's an ugly jest!" "Yet, even the jesters believe that the Ranis will become suttee for the honor of Bhithor." "When they burn, they will stand, as it were, as a symbol or a substitute for all those widows who shrunk from doing so, or were prevented by their relatives, or by your laws." "I'll alert the authorities here." "You get back, and let us know the moment the Ranis condition takes a turn for the worse." "How?" "For I shall not be allowed out in that case." "I will show you how." "Now, you put the message in there, and release the carrier pigeon." "It will return." "We will find a way of hiding it in your saddle bags." "Well, of course I can't send a squadron into Bhithor to serve the flag." "In all my life's work doing such things." "I'd expect orders from the GMC." "But, even then, it's such a hot potato, I'd have to wait for confirmation from Camp Cutter." "I mean, it's not even if you were still in the regiments." "The answer, young man, is no." "The Rana of Bhithor is quite enough of a handful as it is." "And you want me to get the political officer to shake a stick at them on the strength of some tittle tattle in the women's quarters?" "Frankly, the police wouldn't touch it with a barge pole." "This is 1879, you know." "The laws against suttee have been enforced for more than 40 years." "His Highness the Maharajah of Karibkote?" "The political site?" "The honorable, the agent of the governor general of Rajputana?" "But sir, I cannot send these... telegrams." "They are not secret things." "And these......." "not even in secret code." "They'll cause much gossip and scandal." "And what if this Rana should not die?" "There'll be charges of misrepresentation and libel, and getting into all hot water boiling." "No, no, no, no." "I'll be losing my job." "Pelham Sahib, Pelham Sahib." "The carrier pigeon's returned." "The Rana is dying." "I shall have to go to Bhithor." "That would not be wise." "Before I can get anyone to act, I must have proof that they mean for the Ranis to become suttee." "Then, we must come with you." "Aw, don't be silly." "All couple of bloody Pathans?" "You'll stick out like a sore thumb in Bhithor." "Besides, there are people there who'd remember you from the wedding." "How much better will they remember you, Sahib?" "We have discussed this possibility and are agreed." "Either we go come you, or you do not go, my son." "Very well." "I must have ridden past this place a hundred times without seeing it." "Mark it well, for it is not easy to find again from this side." "I will remain here until you return, for you may need to leave in haste by the same route." "It is the only one that is unguarded." "Huh." "Always assuming we can get into the city." "You had better leave me those rifles." "If the rumors are true, the people of Bhithor are more than ever suspicious of strangers." "[Native language farewell]" "Good evening, Hakim." "Well?" "The Rana will have died tonight." "Then I must see the Diwan, at once." "You do not understand the temper and the disposition of these people." "All they want is a barbaric spectacle." "It is true that to look on the face of a queen and see her die, is something that few will see more than once in a lifetime." "Huh." "A great damasha." "To many it may, indeed, seem so, but you were reared as one of us long enough to know that to others, maybe to all, it could be a holy occasion, one that bestows merit on everyone who is present." "Therefore, on both counts, the people of Bhithor will be enraged if anyone attempts to prevent it." "I shall tell the Diwan that if the Ranis burn," "The Raj will send a political sahib and a regiment from Ajmere to arrest him." "He will not believe you." "The Diwan will know very well, that you are not an accredited spokesman for the Raj." "Had you been, you would not have entered Bhithor secretly, like a thief and in disguise." "You will only throw your life away to no avail." "Now listen, you must get us into the Rung Mahal." "You, Manilal, a fellow hakim and his servant." "Kings are not permitted to die alone and in peace." "Tonight, there well be more guards and wakeful people in the palace then ever before." "I will let you know when I have worked out a plan that will succeed." "Gul Bas, you will come with me to the funeral grounds tomorrow." "This is where the fire will be, Gul Bas." "That's probably for the purdah women who want to sit and watch." "The Diwan's wife and daughters, I dare say." "They'll get an excellent view from there!" "Pelham Sahib....." "It would not be possible." "We could never get away from here even if we cut our way through the crowds." "There is not way out, except back through the city." "Well, now I know." "Ha, ha, ha." "I'm glad you can still laugh, Sahib." "Well, why not?" "It's a relief to know where I stand." "They say drowning's quite pleasant once you stop struggling." "Come on, lets eat." "I'm starving." "You know, Gul Bas." "There is a saying in England, that a cat may look at a king." "I must tell you." "On the wedding procession I came to love one of the brides." "Anjuli Bai" "To love her, Gul Bas, beyond reason." "I can't believe that." "Nobody knew." "I saw her married and came away, leaving my heart in her keeping." "Now you know why I had to come here, and why I cannot leave." "I'm sorry, Sahib." "I did not mean to insult you or the Rani Sahib, either." "My father lost his heart once, to my mother." "After she died, he was never more than the shell of a man." "But he could not more prevent my mother's death than you can prevent the Ranis." "I can and will save her from death by burning." "Leave me, Gul Bas." "Yes, sir." "[The Rana dies and gongs sound]" "[Religious chants]" "Oh, Shushu." "How dare you come into my presence showing no sign of grief." "I hoped to comfort yours." "Now that our husband is dead I can meet with you again." "It was not my husband who had you banished." "It was I." "I cannot find it in my heart to believe that, Shushu." "When I fell in love with my husband, I could not endure the thought that you too were his wife." "It was I who had you starved and humiliated." "But, why, Shushu?" "Why?" "So you would become old and ugly." "And if the Rana should remember your existence, he would turn away from you in disgust." "That is what Gita said, that you were jealous of me." "But you had no reason to be, Shushu." "Don't you think it's your pain to make be suffer so?" "I kept my promise." "I came to Bhithor with you because you were afraid of becoming suttee." "I intend to die on my husband's pyre." "And I will accompany you." "I will be with you, Shushu." "Never!" "You will not be permitted to defile the Rana's ashes." "For being no true wife, it is not fitting that you should share the honor of becoming suttee." "Besides, I have made other arrangements for you." "[Chants]" "God be praised!" "Thank god we found you." "You shouldn't have come." "My mind's made up." "We have learned that Senior Rani has ordained that the Anjuli Rani will be spared the fire if she would visit the ceremony." "What!" "Who is that?" "Look!" "What shall we do?" "Get her out!" "[Funeral procession]" "[Continous religious chants]" "[Both Ranis under guard]" "Ashok!" "Come on, Juli." "You can't help her now." "All you will do is hurt yourself, by watching a sight that will haunt you the rest of your life." "I cannot leave her." "But, my dear love!" "Now we have a chance!" "I came her to shoot you out unless you become suttee." "Then do the same for her." "No." "Please, Ashok, let her die quickly and without pain." "We shall all die a death worse than Shushila if they hear where the shot comes from." "It will not be heard above the noise." "I beg you." "Just because that little bitch spared you from the fire?" "Ashok, you fool." "She only spared me because she had ordered that the last thing that I should ever see would be the flames uniting her body with the Rana's." "Afterwards, my eyes were to be put out with hot irons." "My God." "And yet you would risk our happiness to put her out of her misery." "Yes." "We loved each other once." "And I pity her." "[Chanting in background]" "Cut me a gat, Gul Bas." "[Shushila, the wife of the dead Rana]" "[Jewelry must not burn with the dead wife]" "[Wife chanting]" "She's not afraid." "Not yet." "It's still early a game." "No, not a game." "A part she is playing." "[Wife continues to chant]" "Now!" "Quickly, before she starts to be afraid." "Not yet." "It's too quiet." "[Wife speaks command]" "[Crowd chants loudly after fire starts]" "As soon as I fire, we go." "[Gunshot]" "[Crowd chants loudly]" "They will send more men after us." "That is a good place to stop them, up there." "You ride on with Her Highness." "That's crazy." "There's going to be more than one come." "The only chance we have is to hold them off until nightfall." "There is a ruined temple across the plain take Her Highness there." "Look after her, Gul Bas." "Yes, Pelham Sahib." "She will be safe with me." "I will be with you tonight." "What are you doing, Hakim?" "I, too, will stay." "But, you cannot fire a rifle." "No, but I can load them for you." "Ha, ha, then put the horses in a safe place first." "Right." "Take care, my love." "Your servant, Manilal, was a brave man, Hakim." "He gave us time." "Is this a good place for me to work, Master of Horse?" "Yes, Hakim." "That is good." "I usually work to save lives." "Are they loaded, Hakim?" "Yes." "I'll take the leader." "You bring down the second man." "You must reload as fast as possible, Hakim." "Now, what?" "[Remaining guards attacking on foot]" "Hakim!" "Behind you!" "Five!" "[Hakim is hit]" "[Remaining guards retreat]" "[Hakim is dead]" "We finally beat them off, did we not?" "[Koda Dad is also hit]" "Oh, Father." "There is not more to be done, my son." "They will not return until dawn, now." "Go and leave me here." "I will account for a few, I think." "[Koda Dad coughs]" "Do you remember how, as a boy, Zarin loved this." "Will you give it to him for me?" "Nay." "To moan thus is to question the wisdom of God." "For it is written in the book, that all who live on earth are doomed to die." "Tell Zarin." "Tell Zarin Kahn to set aside his sorrow, and be thankful that so many good years upon this earth, be granted to one who is now in paradise." "[Coughs]" "Put my rifle in my hands, that I may take a few more pittori with me." "Or, at least, delay them till morning comes." "[Cough]" "And, uh," "she is not of your race, but I think that" "she is a good woman," "and if, as I believe, you, Ashok," "Pelhan Sahib, may share in beautifying that third person," "your true self." "Now go." "My son." "Pelham Sahib." "[A terrible price has been paid for her rescue]" "Your father?" "Oh, my love." "I love you with all my heart." "I think I always have." "You must know that, now." "All my life, I've been searching for my true self." "With you I know who I am." "And once you are my wife." "Ashok." "You know you are the husband of my heart." "What more do you need?" "Nothing."