Suez Page #7

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The banks falling in?

Machinery rusting?

See...

This is but a stone.

Yet, with it, I can buy a great future

for my country.

Your bids have been dear.

thirty-two... thirty-three...

Crapeau!

Four games in a row.

You're too easy.

You're too good.

Ren.

Hm?

Come take my place.

Give her a good beating.

With pleasure.

There is something on your mind?

Yes.

We can't hold out much longer.

Even this way.

Not making any actual progress

but just keeping what we've

already got.

Fighting back the desert.

And I don't whether I could even

have done that without my

guide, philosopher and friend.

Have I been a good secretary?

You've been a good angel.

But I've been worried about you,

Toni.

Hm?

Yes.

I've been so selfish,

letting you come down here...

Oh, but I wanted to.

Yes, I know.

But you should be thinking about

your own life.

Your future.

Your best years are before you.

Marriage, children...

All the things that belong to a happy,

normal life.

Not tying yourself down to a lunatic

with a visionary idea.

Toni...

Toni...

It's all right.

Maybe I'd rather lunatic with you.

even if you don't want me

in any other way.

Toni, listen to me.

You have enough troubles without

me being one too.

Let's forget about it, hm?

It's quiet, isn't it?

Unnaturally quiet.

As though the whole world

were standing still.

Listening, waiting for something

to happen.

Look.

Ibises from the Nile.

I don't believe I've ever seen them

so far from home.

I have.

Years ago in Alexandria.

The year of the Devil Wind.

Listen.

What's the matter with you?

Those were only the jackals.

Come on.

What's that?

Ren, go cut the animals loose.

It's our best chance.

Sargeant, go down to the encampment

and get the men out.

Get ropes, brace the dredges,

everything.

Yes, sir.

Come on, Toni.

We'll get the women to a place

that's safe.

Get the women out and place them

into the food cellars.

Get the men away from the tanks.

Come with me.

Toni.

Toni.

Toni.

We found her.

It was in the line of duty, sir.

(In Arabic)

Have you any orders for the men?

No.

Just tell them to go home.

The work's finished.

I thought I was doing

such a great thing for the world.

And what have I done?

Destroyed everything I've touched.

Now Toni's gone.

For what?

For what?

Failure.

The old Viceroy was right.

If God had wanted a path through

the isthmus

He would have put one there.

Goodbye, Toni.

Westminster and the City

are with us.

The rest will follow.

We've had reports from everywhere

but the Midlands, Mr Disraeli.

You cannot see poor towns easily

But I'm afraid when the returns

from Nottingham and Birmingham come in...

Yes, I'm afraid you're right.

Apparently...

the present government have temporarily

averted the danger

of England taking over

the leadreship of the world.

It's no use crying.

There will be other elections.

I'm sorry for that poor Frenchman.

I hear he's bankrupted himself.

As well as the Viceroy of Egypt.

Counting on us to win.

Send Peterson to me, will you?

I want him to send a telegram.

Yes, Mr Disraeli.

Come in.

Lord Bainsford, sir.

Good evening.

Mr Disraeli, I have the honor to inform you

that Her Majesty the Queen

extends her congratulations on your party's

victory in the election.

May I add my own congratulations, sir?

Thank you, Lord Bainsford.

Would you inform Her Majesty

that the first thing I shall do

is to put her into business

as senior partner in the firm of

Victoria, de Lesseps & Company.

We are building a shorter route

to Her Majesty's Eastern Empire.

A distinguished service to France

and to the world.

You've won.

Yes, I've won

and lost everything I'd learned

to hold dear.

Perhaps that's the price

one pays for fame.

And when the day comes...

I want to stand beside you

and see the ships go through the canal.

I'll know you built it

for all the people in the world.

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