The Charge of the Light Brigade Page #2

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to the pass uncomfortable...

...I feel confident that with you,

Campbell, at Chukoti...

...and you, Warrenton, at Lohara...

...we should be able to handle

any aggressive complication that may arise.

-Captain Vickers, Sir.

-Show him in.

-Yes, Sir.

-Just a moment.

-Captain Vickers reporting for duty, Sir.

-Been expecting you, Vickers.

The War Office is sending you

on a very important mission.

Oh, splendid, Sir.

You're going on an expedition to buy

cavalry horses in the Tartar countries.

Does that mean

we're preparing for war?

Whatever it means, you are

to deliver the horses you purchased...

...to our fleet at Batum,

on the Black Sea.

From there they are to be shipped

to the Crimea.

-That clear?

-Yes, Sir.

Oh, Warrenton, Campbell,

you know Vickers.

Yes, of course. Geoffrey, my boy,

how very nice to see you.

Glad to see you too, Sir.

-How do you do, Vickers?

-How do you do, Sir?

-Have you seen Elsa?

-No, not yet, Sir. How is she?

-She'll be very happy to see you, I know.

-I can hardly wait until I see her either.

-Good morning, Sir.

-Good morning.

-Oh, Captain Vickers.

-Yes?

Your brother is here, Sir,

inside with Sir Charles.

-Oh, yes, thank you.

-Yes, Sir.

Geoff.

Perry.

By Jove, I'm glad to see you,

you old diplomatic globetrotter you.

Must be more than a year

since we last met.

Come in here,

I have something important to say.

I have a million things to say to you.

Every one of them of importance.

-Well, let's go inside.

-No, I can't.

I have a very urgent appointment.

Tonight and tomorrow we can talk our

heads off, but just now, I'll see you later.

So you see,

it depends on you gentlemen.

And I thought I was well-acquainted

with the situation.

I don't quite understand

Surat Khan's presence in Calcutta, Sir.

And this dance that the governor-general's

giving in his honor...

...at the Government House tonight.

Flattery is the food of fools;

But now and then, your men of wit

Will condescend to take a bit-

Actually, flattery and friendship,

so to speak.

Yeah, it is.

Surat Khan, deviling us up

on the frontier...

...seems to be doing precisely what

the Russian czar is doing in the Balkans.

You've read the news dispatches

about the Cossacks...

...plundering outlying Turkish villages.

It's an old trick, you know,

deviling your neighbor into a war.

One would think that there's Russian

influence at the back of Surat Khan.

What with Russia's vital need for

open-water seaports, amongst other things.

You'll act only on orders

from Sir Benjamin.

-I understand, Sir.

-I want you to understand also...

...that it's imperative

there should be no incident...

...that could cause a frontier war

at this time.

We must maintain peace at any cost.

Major Gordon and Mrs. Gordon.

Sir Archibald MacMurray.

Lady MacMurray.

Miss Veronica MacMurray.

Sir Charles Miller and Lady Miller.

You remember Major Barrett, my love.

-Oh, Major Barrett.

-And Lady Pellum, my wife.

Lady Pellum, good evening.

This is Colonel Campbell,

who leaves tomorrow...

...to assume command

of the Chukoti garrison.

Colonel, I am pleased

that we have met at last.

-Benjy, kindly stay here.

-My dear, I was just going to--

To the refreshment room to get a drink,

I know. Then you'll be upset.

Here, take a pill.

Life with you is just one blasted pill

after another, my love.

Just like a child, Benjy,

no idea what's good for him.

I hear you have a beautiful daughter.

You must let me take her

under my wing at once.

About to be married, isn't she?

That's splendid.

You must let me choose a trousseau.

You're a widower, are you not?

-I am, Lady Warrenton.

-Well, I always say--

Benjy?

Yes, I know. Take another pill.

Elsa, darling, you look so lovely.

I'm sorry I missed you at the house.

I'm sorry too, Geoff.

Why, it's been so long,

I hardly know what to say to you.

We'll have plenty of time now, though.

I hate these separations.

You didn't tell him, did you?

I haven't had a chance.

Oh, I hate this deception.

Elsa, darling, they're watching.

His Highness Surat Khan,

amir of Suristan.

Count Igor Volonoff.

His Excellency the wazir of Suristan.

The nawab of Dargul.

-Take charge, my friend. I'm on duty.

-Take charge of what?

My, how you've changed.

For the better, I hope.

I always liked the cavalry.

-May I have a word with you, Sir?

-Certainly.

-Surat Khan's just arrived.

-Well?

He's got a Count Igor Volonoff with him.

Volonoff. That's a deuced clever gesture.

Ostentatiously flirting with Russia, eh?

Two strings to his bow. Well, we'll see.

-Of course, it might be just a coincidence.

-The sun might rise in the west.

Well, I'll finish my drink.

I have a cowardly aversion

to meeting reptiles socially...

...till I've had

at least one sherry and bitters.

-Good evening, Sir Charles, Captain Vickers.

-Good evening, Your Highness.

Sir Charles, may I have

the pleasure of presenting Count Volonoff.

-Captain Vickers, Count Volonoff.

-How do you do?

-How do you do?

-How do you do?

It's very pleasant, Your Highness,

to find you in these frivolous surroundings.

Well, since your kindly government...

...has spared me the burden of dispensing

its annual appreciation to my countrymen...

...I am blessed with more leisure.

Well, come with me. I'll present

some really amusing people to you.

-There's my daughter now.

-She's entrancing.

Elsa is a fine gal.

And the gallant young cavalier

who holds her so tenderly in his arms.

-Her fianc, of course?

-Oh, certainly not.

-But she is engaged, you said she--

-To Captain Geoffrey Vickers of the 27th.

This lad's merely his brother,

a diplomat of sorts.

Seconded from his regiment for duty

with the Political Department.

Oh, dear, how silly of me.

They do seem to be enjoying

each other's company.

Let's get away from here, Elsa.

Charming and motherless.

Well, as I always say, colonel,

it's never too late.

I must start looking around right away

to find a suitable wife for you.

-Really, you must be more guarded--

-Keep quiet, Benjy.

Colonel Campbell has just been

begging me to find him a wife.

Now, what particular quality

do you most admire in a woman?

The quality of silence.

Now, colonel, you're flattering me,

just as dear Lord Melvourne did...

...once when we sat next to each other

at an intolerable banquet.

"Lady Warrenton," he said,

"You have the power to drive men mad."

I can believe that.

Forgive me.

What a dull dog the colonel is.

Hasn't a word to say for himself.

Benjy.

I love you so much, Elsa.

You look so beautiful.

I can't stand this any longer. We've got

to find a way to tell Geoffrey tonight.

Yes, yes, I know, I know.

We shouldn't be seen here.

This place is full of scandalmongers.

But I had to see you alone. We can't go on

deceiving Geoffrey like this.

I know he'll understand.

He's a great fellow, he's human.

It's because of that we mustn't

hurt him any more than we can help.

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