Sharpe's Peril Page #9

How his forces are deployed.

Where his defence is weakest.

And what would you have in return

for this service?

Wormwood. Bastard!

Bastard!

We're well shot of him.

Aye, but with Barabbas gone,

we're two men short before we've

even started.

Richard bloody Sharpe.

Well, make your damn report,

if you please.

Well? I'm waiting.

Everything is as you disposed, sir.

You will recall that you have elected

to defend the western flank of the

village.

Sir Henry.

If you are ready, we should get to

our post.

Sir Henry? Sir Henry?

And who are you, sir, to address me

in such familiar terms?

This is the Field Marshal Lord Chitu,

sir.

Field marshal, eh?

Your servant, my Lord, of course.

By Jesus, this is some army we've

put together.

Shirkers and bedlamites.

The halt and the mad.

Do we begin, sir?

All in good time, Colour Wormwood.

Let them see us first.

And despair.

Sir.

I must speak with you.

Can it not wait, Mr Beauclere?

Very well, but make it quick.

Come away, then.

I have not yet been assigned a

position.

My men have their orders.

Lance-Naik Singh has his orders.

Even General Simmerson...

Mr Beauclere...

I must know, sir.

Is it because of my father?

I thought you must have...

He did not fall as I have said.

He did not storm the breach.

Nor capture the marshal's baton.

But rather...

..he died as Colour Wormwood

reported.

You are not your father.

No, sir.

But I look very alike.

At least my mother says.

How a man counts upon the eye, Mr

Beauclere, means less than nothing.

It's what's in his heart that

matters.

Which is why the most important job

of all

I kept for you.

For me, sir?

Who else would I entrust

to defend the mission,

and give protection to the ladies?

Get to it now.

Aye, sir.

A few words from yourself

wouldn't go amiss.

Maybe steady the lads' nerves.

Aye.

Company! Take heed.

I know the buggers look smart.

But take it from me,

that's all they are, strutting

peacocks.

At the Battle of Waterloo,

the South Essex Regiment stood all

day.

They beat off two brigades of

cavalry,

and Bonaparte's Imperial Guard.

All you have to do is stand.

Stand! Let the cavalry come on.

Stand. Hold fire...

until the horses are within ten

paces.

Stand

and the day will be ours.

# Trust in the...

Sharpe!

Colonel Sharpe, sir!

# Ever more painful

# Ever more sure

Watkin! Get out of there!

Brothers, brothers,

lay down your arms.

Today is the Sabbath.

To spill blood this day

would be impious.

The Sabbath, you say?

Aye, sir. Aye.

Then you of any should know God

does not work upon a Sunday.

Bastard.

Take cover!

WHINNYING AND SHOUTING

Get them barricades back!

SHOUTING:

Stand, you buggers. Stand.

Present.

Fire!

Fire!

Oh, my.

Oh, my...

I believe I am killed, ma'am.

Fall back!

I do my duty.

Duty? The officer gave orders

that I must hold my position.

Well, then...

I guess if you can do it, I can.

Just my f...

..luck.

Another round. Quickly.

That's the last of it!

The position is lost.

Go back to the mission.

They will have need of you.

I shall hold the east

as long as I may.

To me! Fall back!

Fall back!

TRUMPETING:

Barabbas?

Into 'em! Get into 'em!

By God, man, you cut that fine. Two

days of riding in one night, sir.

No sight were ever more welcome.

Colour?

Private Quilter.

You just did a poor fool, Wormwood.

But now you'll have to deal

with a man.

You bastard!

Ungh!

You've lost, Dragomirov.

For all your bloody squadron.

You've lost.

If I'm for hell, Sharpe,

then you are coming with me.

One blade, Dragomirov.

Warranted never to fail.

How stands the day, sir?

The day is ours.

Did I...

do my duty, sir?

Aye.

And more besides.

Will you write my mother ,sir?

I would have her know our name was

not dismayed.

You will write and tell her so

yourself...

when you are able.

Miss Bonnet tells me I shall mend.

But blood demands soldiers deal

plain.

Am I to die, sir?

Might I then...

..presume upon your hand, sir...

..till the moment is passed.

It's been

the greatest honour of my life

to serve beside you.

The honour is mine.

Argh!

Easy. Easy, lad.

You might give him a kiss, ma'am.

Here's 40 shillings on the drum...

..for those

who'll volunteer to come...

..to list and fight the foe today...

..over the hills...and far away.

He saved us.

When they came.

BABY CRYING:

A girl.

A child of the storm.

A dozen he killed, a dozen.

Chitu.

Your Grace, Sharpe, Your Grace.

Damn your eyes, sir.

Have you no etiquette?

You address a peer of the realm.

Remember your place, sir.

With you restored to your place, Sir

Henry,

how could a man forget it?

You did it, Colonel Sharpe.

We did it.

I hope you're not intending

to go without saying goodbye.

A soldier is born to farewells,

Corporal.

It's to be sergeant, sir.

All charges dropped and a promotion.

My compliments, Sergeant Hakeswill.

That's enough, Sergeant.

You must come back to your bed now.

When a princess says she wants you

back in bed,

you'd best step to, Sergeant.

Are you ready, then?

Aye.

Just give me a minute.

What will you do?

Go home.

And you?

I have a farm in Normandy.

In Normandy?

It's funny.

I was raised from a child to hate

all of you rosbif.

But you...

are a good man,

Colonel Sharpe.

For all you would have

the world think otherwise.

If you say so, ma'am.

Perhaps

one day I shall visit you.

I should like that.

Until then...

..au revoir.

Leaving us, Sharpe?

The opium has been recovered.

The land restored to peace.

Job's done.

It would appear I owe you my life.

We all make mistakes, Sir Henry.

(GROWLS)

Quite so, quite so.

God speed you safe home...

..Richard.

Well, I have now seen it all.

Simmerson calling you "Richard"

and shaking you by the hand.

I think I'd sooner the bastard he

were.

Aye, but if Simmerson can change

like that, there's hope for us all.

Buggered if I'm changing.

There's nowt wrong with me.

Amen to that.

Amen to that. Are we for home?

Aye.

And maybe this time we'll get there.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes