North West Frontier Page #6

Yes, I am a Moslem, it so happens.

A Dutch Moslem. That's a bit unusual.

Not so unusual, no.

Many Dutch Indonesians are Moslems.

Are you an Indonesian, Mr Van Leyden?

Or half Indonesian?

Yes, I am.

Why should an Indonesian

be so anti-British?

Indonesian, Dutch, Christian, Moslem -

what has it got to do with it?

I merely sympathise with minorities

fighting the aggression of big nations.

In any case, the accidents of my birth

have nothing to do with you.

- Any of you!

- You're perfectly right.

You're being slow, young man. Snap.

- A very ill-natured fellow.

- Snap!

- Cigar?

- No, thank you.

Don't be so touchy.

There's no harm in being a Moslem.

- One would think there was.

- Not all Moslems are rebels.

- Thank you very much.

- But some are.

- Oh. Are you?

- Me? I'm no Moslem.

Moslem or no Moslem,

you sold them the arms.

People in glasshouses should mind

their own bloody business.

- And I mean bloody!

- How dare you?

You should not be so touchy.

I'll change my mind.

I'll have that cigar after all.

You ought to be getting some sleep.

Pass me those scissors, will you?

He's a lot tougher than he looks.

- Anything else?

- Yes.

Put a little water in here, would you?

You're the first American woman

I've met. Are they all like you?

Why? How do I seem?

Shall we say a little bit

more independent than most?

Is that the tactful English way

of saying you think I'm pigheaded?

Let me ask you something.

Why did you join the army?

- Is that such an odd thing to do?

- It's a crazy thing to do.

Come on. Tell me why.

Well, let me see now.

When I was eight, my dear grandfather

gave me a box of tin soldiers.

You've been playing soldiers ever since.

If you like to put it like that, yes.

Don't you ever feel it's rather a waste?

We were all put on earth

with minds of our own,

why hand yours over to somebody else?

A soldier can have a mind of his own.

Can he? He takes orders

from other people

whether he agrees or not, like a machine.

We're not machines. We're human

beings, like everybody else.

A soldier can never be that

in the fullest sense.

Human beings have responsibilities.

- Don't you call this responsibility?

- Not yours.

The Governor ordered you to get us

to Kalapur. The responsibility's his.

Well, thank you very much indeed

for that most comforting thought.

It's not that I'm not grateful to you

for saving me, I am,

but it doesn't

alter my opinion of soldiers.

Are you one of these emancipated

women we're having trouble with?

- I might be. What's wrong with that?

- They're just a lot of cranks.

A woman who has

a mind of her own is a crank?!

Men who spend their lives

obeying orders are cranks!

You can't go doing what you like

in life. My job is to obey orders.

- Like an animal in blinkers!

- I agree, Mrs Wyatt.

Have you been there...?!

I'd like to punch you

on the end of your interfering nose.

Actually, I was going through

for a smoke.

Never mind. The front

observation platform is now vacant.

Mr Van Leyden, how about a cup of tea

before we turn in?

Thank you.

I think Mr Peters was wrong to say

the things he said to you just now.

Mr Peters is entitled

to think and say what he likes.

It's of no importance to me. I didn't mind.

You looked as if you did. You still do.

- Do I? Is there any sugar?

- How silly of me. Of course.

Back to the footplate.

Good night, Van Leyden.

- Good night.

- Mr Bridie.

Good night. Don't stay out too long.

Get some sleep.

(Scott) Good night, ma'am.

Try and get some rest.

I've got a lot of friends back home

in Haserabad who are of mixed blood.

Don't be shy, Mr Bridie.

They are half-breeds. So am I.

It's nothing to be ashamed of.

That's what I tell them.

They're charming people.

They are charming to you

because you are charming to them.

No, no. They're my friends, I told you.

Mm. Half-breeds in this country,

Mr Bridie, are hungry for friends.

They spend most of their time

worrying about what they are.

I think it's degrading.

I'm not ashamed to be what I am.

I think I'm all right.

I have a certain amount of power,

you know.

I don't think power

has anything to do with it.

Oh, yes, it has. It is vital.

If people know that you can hit back,

they're careful how they treat you.

You mustn't be angry with her,

she's one of the old school.

I'm not angry.

In fact, I rather admire her.

She's proud, tough, ruthless.

Unashamedly patriotic.

A real pain in the neck.

Oh, His Highness.

I am sorry. I cannot rise

to bow to His Highness.

When did you learn to drive the engine?

I was same old as Your Highness.

My father taught me.

He was also engine driver,

like your father is King.

Don't you want a bigger engine?

No, His Highness.

I am in the habit of Victoria now.

Bigger engines bring troublesomeness.

Peoples become unsatisfactory with

small engines and want big engines.

But when there are no bigger engines

than the very big ones,

peoples again becomes unsatisfactory.

So have small engines

and be satisfactory.

Gupta, your English is hopeless.

Yes, His Highness.

But I am doing practice with Scott sahib.

His English is very hopeful.

Come along, Kishan.

(Clunking)

- We're stopping.

- It's the Kukprut Bridge.

It's almost five years since I was

here last on my way home from leave.

Dakhtar!

This time it's the bridge.

They've blown it up.

A section of it anyway.

I'll have to ask you to walk.

Walk? If it's blown up,

what are we going to walk on?

These chaps aren't clever

with explosives.

The force has gone down,

so we're still left with a couple of rails,

but there's nothing supporting them.

We're going to walk along a rail

with nothing to hold on to?

It's only a few yards. It won't be pleasant

but I think you can do it.

Isn't there a chance this is an ambush?

A chance but I don't think so.

I don't think this was designed for us.

(Mrs Wyatt) We walk across,

what happens then?

(Bridie) It won't

take the weight of a train?

(Scott) I think they were

trying to stop heavier trains.

I think it'll bear the weight of Victoria.

Anyway, there's no alternative.

And if it is an ambush?

I'll send the two soldiers on ahead

to give us covering fire.

Come on the bridge

as soon as you're ready.

Kumar.

Dakhtar.

Let me have the baby now.

Thank you.

That is the army. I don't expect

you'll find it as easy as that.

Now... Any volunteers?

Good for you, Mr Peters.

Don't look down.

Right.

Good.

Ma'am?

Step up on the rail. Don't look down.

Good for you, ma'am.

Mr Bridie?

Now, sir, on the rail.

- Don't look down.

- Oh dear.

- I can't move.

- It's all right, sir.

(Laughs) Good for you!

(Mrs Wyatt) Go on.

Captain Scott won't let you fall.

I'll show you.

If I can do it, I know you can.

Don't look down.

Good girl. I'll cross and you pass

the boy over, Van Leyden.

Thanks.

Right. Let's have him.

Now, then. Look at me, young fellow.

Keep looking at me.

Now hold him out.

Reach out.

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