A Passage to India Page #8

collapsed in her chair.

- Are you with me?

- Yes.

Did she offer any explanation?

She said she was upset by the echo

and that she was tired.

Taking advantage of her fatigue, prisoner

instructed the servants to remain behind,

and took you off alone with the guide.

Yes. But it was

at Mrs Moore's suggestion.

I don't quite follow.

She'd been worried by the crowd

and the stuffiness.

And was concerned that you might be

subjected to the same ordeal.

No. She wanted us

to enjoy ourselves. She said so.

She likes Dr Aziz.

Yes, I think I understand the situation.

Yesterday, Mr Fielding said that

Mrs Moore was "charmed" by him.

It was more than that. She liked him.

Nevertheless, you'd only met him on two

occasions before the day of the crime.

So it might possibly have been

a rather impetuous assessment.

Possibly. She's like that.

Miss Quested, you heard this morning the

slur cast on British justice by the defence.

It is most important that you tell the court

the absolute truth of what took place.

- I was brought up to tell the truth.

- Of course.

I'm sorry.

That's quite all right.

Now, Miss Quested, you went off up

the slope with the prisoner and the guide.

Yes.

Take your time and cast your mind back.

Miss Quested?

Miss Quested,

we were going up the slope.

ls something wrong?

I think it may have partly been my fault.

- Why?

- We'd stopped to look out over the plain.

I could hardly see Chandrapore

except through Mr Heaslop's binoculars.

I asked Dr Aziz if he loved his wife

when he married her.

I shouldn't have done that.

Then why did you do it?

I was thinking of my own marriage.

Mr Heaslop and I

had only just become engaged.

Seeing Chandrapore so far away,

I realised I didn't love him.

(murmuring)

Quiet, please. Quiet.

Miss Quested, you and the prisoner

continued up to the caves?

- Yes.

- Where was the guide?

- He'd gone on ahead.

- Sent on ahead?

No, he was waiting for us

further along the ledge.

But when you reached the caves, prisoner

left you and went to speak to the guide?

- I don't know if he spoke to him or not.

- But he went off in his direction.

Yes.

- And what did you do?

- I waited.

(Das) You said just now

"I think it may have been partly my fault."

- WhY?

- I had asked him about love.

And had thereby introduced

a feeling of intimacY?

That is what I meant.

Thank you.

Mr McBryde.

Please tell the court

exactly what happened.

I lit a match.

(Aziz) Miss Quested!

Miss Quested!

Miss Quested?

- And the prisoner followed you?

- (rumble)

Miss Quested, the prisoner

followed you, didn't he?

Could I please have a minute

before I reply to that, Mr McBryde?

Certainly.

I'm not...

I'm not quite sure.

(murmuring)

I beg your pardon?

You are in the cave,

and the prisoner followed you.

What do you mean, please?

- No.

- What is that? What are you saying?

- I'm afraid I've made a mistake.

- What nature of mistake?

Dr Aziz never followed me into the cave.

Now, let us go on. I will read you

the deposition which you signed.

(Das) Mr McBryde, you cannot go on.

I was speaking to the witness.

And the public will be silent!

Miss Quested,

address your remarks to me.

And remember - you speak on oath,

Miss Quested.

Dr Aziz...

I stop these proceedings

on medical grounds!

Quiet! Please, sit down!

You withdraw the accusation,

Miss Quested?

Answer me.

I withdraw everything.

Order! Order!

The prisoner is released

without one stain on his character!

Dr Aziz is free!

Are you mad?

No.

(rumble)

(banging and screaming)

(chanting) Dr Aziz! Dr Aziz!

B*tch.

We won!

What do you think you've been doing?

Miss Quested!

- Where are you going?

- I don't know.

You can't wander about like this.

- Who did you come with?

- I shall walk.

What madness.

This could turn into a riot.

We'll find my carriage. It's closed.

Richard!

Richard!

- I'm coming back.

- Stay with him, please.

I can't leave you here.

Anything could happen.

- There we are.

- Congratulations, sir!

Thank you. Thank you very much.

Make way, please. Thank you.

- Where shall he take you?

- I don't know.

What do you mean?

Get in.

(cheering)

That was Mr Fielding!

- And Mrs Moore!

- Mrs Moore!

Why did you make such a charge

if you were going to withdraw it?

- I ought to feel grateful to you, I suppose.

- I don't expect gratitude.

Did you do it out of pity?

My echo's gone.

I call the noise in my head my echo.

I've had it since the cave.

Might the whole thing

have been an hallucination?

I have a hunch that

poor old McBryde exorcised you.

He took you back,

step by logical step, into that cave,

and you broke down quite suddenly.

- I thought you meant I'd seen a ghost.

- No, no.

- Mrs Moore believes in ghosts.

- Well, she's an old lady.

No, I only meant that

it's difficult, as we get older,

not to believe that the dead live again.

Because the dead don't live again.

I fear not.

So do I.

(Fielding) Ranjit!

He must have gone to the tamasha,

but I can make some tea.

Oh, forgive me a moment.

Oh, dear.

"Annie Blair, fellow passenger."

I shall never see her again.

- Ah, Godbole.

- The boys said you were back.

Yes.

I'm leaving for Kashmir tomorrow

morning to take up my duties

as minister of education.

I came to say goodbye.

Yes? Er... come in.

Thank you. Thank you.

Miss Quested.

Please, I want to give you my address

and extend an open invitation

for you to visit me.

Have you seen the Himalayas,

Mr Fielding?

No.

- Miss Quested has had some bad news.

- Oh, I am sorry.

- Mrs Moore.

- Yes.

- Addressed to you.

- Yes.

- Why did this lady send to you?

- I don't know.

Mr Fielding,

I would venture to remark...

Under the circumstances, I don't think

we should pursue the matter further.

I'm sorry, Godbole,

but Miss Quested is extremely upset.

Of course, of course. Nevertheless...

I presumably came up

in a casual shipboard conversation.

No doubt Heaslop

will be hearing from the company.

- I see.

- I shan't tell Aziz until tomorrow.

Hamidullah's bound to be putting on

a celebration, and it'll only upset him.

Oh, and have you heard

about the damages?

- Damages?

- Amritrao is asking 20,000 rupees from...

20,000?

And costs.

Who could have foretold that Aziz

would be saved by his enemy?

What now, Mr Fielding?

- Aziz!

- Come in.

Well, what a wonderful day for you.

I am an lndian at last.

Where did you take her?

I took her back to the college.

Why?

After this morning,

she'd nowhere else to go.

- No?

- Heaslop? The Turtons?

She had the entire British Raj

behind her pushing her on.

But when she saw she was wrong, she

stopped and sent it all to smithereens.

I wouldn't have had the courage.

(shouts in Urdu)

Do you mind if I sit?

Please.

What will you do now?

Hamidullah's giving me a victory party

with fireworks and music.

Good. But I meant later.

Now this dreadful business is over.

I shall look for another job.

Hundreds of miles from here

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