Elephant Walk Page #5

Oh, darling.

- Where are they from?

- Most are professionals from Kandy.

The rest are gypsies from the villages.

Do you like them?

- They're wonderful. Just wonderful.

- I'm glad.

Hi.

- Look who's here.

- Carver, late as usual.

Good afternoon, everybody.

- Drink?

- No, thanks.

Whiskey, Appuhamy.

- And how's Mrs. Wiley?

- Very happy. Thank you, Dick.

All the troubles of Elephant Walk

melted away?

I told John

about what happened between us.

I told him it was my fault, which it was.

I say!

What do we have here?

She is the hit of the show,

for obvious reasons.

- Do you like her?

- She's very exotic.

Not your type?

No, she's not my type.

The way you're getting around

these days, John...

there doesn't seem to be much sense

in my postponing Paris any longer.

I'm very grateful to you for pitching in.

When are you thinking of leaving?

- This week, if it's convenient.

- Yes, of course.

I'm still in your debt. Leave when you wish.

- I'm going to dance.

- No, Peter.

- Be a good boy or I'm going to strike you.

- Be a good boy, come and have a drink.

I envy you.

You make decisions quickly.

I didn't make this decision, Ruth. You did.

What's going on now?

That's the tea planter's version

of St. George and the Dragon...

old Tom Wiley holding back the elephants.

- And my cue to leave.

- Leave?

That's right. I've seen it all.

Every year since I've been here.

This has been going on

ever since old master Wiley died.

Today happens to be his birthday.

Old master left 30,000 rupees...

so every year he could be reborn again...

in the loyal hearts of his subjects.

Nice isn't it? Sort of a black Christmas.

But don't let him spoil it for you.

They're only getting started.

This goes on all night.

All is ready, master.

- Good. Well, give out the presents.

- Yes, master.

- Just a minute. Where's Mrs. Wiley?

- Mistress went upstairs a short while ago.

- Well, I'll get her. You go ahead.

- Yes, master.

Ruth!

Ruth, where are you?

Ruth?

There you are.

I've got your present.

From the Governor to you, on his birthday.

You be quiet down there.

He designed it himself for Mother...

to be presented to each new mistress

of Elephant Walk.

- Do you like it?

- It's beautiful, darling.

Come on. Let's go down.

They'll want to see it.

- You go ahead. I'll be down in a moment.

- All right. Don't be long.

For he's a jolly good fellow

For he's a jolly good fellow

For he's a jolly good fellow

That nobody can deny

To the Governor!

To the Governor!

Why was his horse so beautiful?

Why, why, why?

Why was his horse so beautiful?

We finally drank old Wiley under the table.

I never would have thought

we could have done it.

There's no cause for alarm, mistress.

I think it's time we had a little breakfast.

Appuhamy!

We want breakfast!

I think another round won't do us any harm.

You're not having another round,

nor breakfast, nor anything.

- You're getting out of here.

- Ruth, lass, what's the trouble?

You heard what I said. Go home.

But it's the Governor's birthday

and his friends of long standing...

The Governor's dead,

and he's going to stay dead.

And you're not friends, not any one of you.

You're leeches and scrounges,

trying to turn John into something he isn't...

trying to make another Tom Wiley out

of him, so you can go on getting drunk...

in your big free playpen.

Well, that's finished.

I'm telling you for the last time.

This is no longer Tom Wiley's

Elephant Walk.

This is John's home, and mine.

Now get out of here.

Very well, Mrs. Wiley.

- Good morning, John.

- Where are my friends?

- I asked them to leave.

- Why?

Because I don't believe

they are your friends.

They're a lot of drunks

who are trying to take advantage of you.

Now, listen...

these drunks, as you call them,

work harder than dogs all the week.

They go for months without taking a drink...

and you object

to them coming here and relaxing?

Please, John. Let's not quarrel. I'm sorry.

There's been a tradition in this house...

of hospitality for over 50 years,

which you see fit to change in a night.

I can't talk to you, can I?

The man I married in England

I could talk to...

but you're not that man.

- You're Tom Wiley's son.

- I see, it's my father's fault, is it?

Isn't it?

You hate him, don't you? You always have.

No, I don't hate him. I only...

Say it.

I hate what he's doing to you,

the way he's ruling you from his grave...

making you like him...

so he can preserve his house,

his traditions, his world.

Ruth, stop it!

Foolish girl. Foolish and very young.

Am I, John?

I should never have brought you here.

Maybe you're right,

because I know something now...

something I couldn't have known before.

You weren't like this in England.

It only happens here.

You hate him, John.

You won't admit it,

but you've always hated him.

I'm sorry. I...

- Ruth!

- Your drink, master.

Ruth, come back.

What's that?

Don't touch.

Appuhamy, get Dr. Pereira at once.

Ruth!

What's happened?

I've left Elephant Walk.

Have you left Elephant Walk

or have you left John?

He's won.

Tom Wiley's won.

- Then John Wiley's a fool.

- No.

He can't help himself. Or won't.

You've got to get me out of here.

There's a plane out on Wednesday.

Take me to Colombo. I'll wait there.

I can't go back.

I wouldn't let you go back.

I'm not giving you a chance

to change your mind.

No.

- What is it?

- Looks like trouble.

- What's the matter?

- Can't we pass?

No. Quarantine. It's cholera.

- You'll have to turn back.

- Don't worry. We'll get out.

- Where are we going?

- The bungalow, to see John.

You wait here.

Even if I let you go, the authorities

in Colombo will send you back.

Another good reason for staying,

we need help.

Chunsa's dead.

We've got new cases all the time.

There're nurses coming up from Colombo.

We have to set up

an emergency dressing station.

Mrs. Wiley, we need all the sheets,

tablecloths, all the household linen.

They must be sprayed and hung

in every passageway, immediately.

Appuhamy. Will you come with me?

John, Dr. Pereira wants to see you.

- Any more deaths?

- Two.

What are those drums for?

Kerosene to burn the infected huts

when they become empty.

- You haven't slept for two days.

- Well?

You're killing yourself.

I thought you said

we had to see the doctor.

How are things in the fields, Dick?

There's not a leaf of new flush

to pick anywhere.

Even the weeds won't grow.

Irrigation tanks are down to dried mud

in all sections.

It's no good worrying

about tea plants anymore.

Keep all labor in their quarters.

Pete and Robbie tried to come over,

but the authorities wouldn't let them pass.

- They wanted to know if they could help.

- Help us?

Why not? They're my friends.

Thank them and tell them to keep away.

Did you hear the elephants last night?

Yes. They're looking for water, too.

Look. Another poor devil.

Stop him! Come back!

Come back!

John!

What do you want me to do?

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