The Charge of the Light Brigade Page #4

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and then:

Take it away.

I suppose in time, I'll learn to be grateful

for even a few hours with you.

-How long will you be away?

-Oh, a month, two months, hard to say.

There's so much trouble going on...

...we've gotta be ready for it

when it comes.

But as soon as I come back this time...

...we're not gonna let anything...

...interfere with our happiness,

our marriage. Are we, darling?

Of course not, Geoffrey.

Right, it's a bargain.

Goodbye, my love.

I'll hurry back so fast.

Elsa, there's something...

...I think I ought to tell you before I go.

It's rather silly.

But last night after the ball,

Perry came to see me.

He's in love with you.

You know, he's quite impulsive and

he seems to be taking this pretty seriously.

I was very stupid about it

and I lost my temper completely.

Now, of course, I could kick myself.

But I don't want him to be hurt

more than necessary, you know?

You needn't worry, Geoff.

I shan't be seeing Perry in any case.

Father is being sent to Chukoti and,

of course, I'll go with him.

And Perry will soon forget.

Yes, of course he will.

That's just like you, Elsa,

to understand it like that.

I must go now.

Think of me a little while I'm away.

I will.

Goodbye and good luck.

Goodbye, my love.

They're moving along fine.

Hope we miss that storm behind us.

Hope we miss any other sort of trouble.

I don't understand, Sir,

why these northern tribes are so hostile.

Since Turkey's declared war on Russia...

...they know that England

will side with Turkey.

Yes, it's all very cozy.

These tribesmen are going to

sympathize with Russia.

That's it, so if we want horses,

we've gotta pay their prices, and like it.

Troop, going left!

Randall!

Round out that herd,

let's make a stop for Batum.

Sixty miles to Batum.

We hand the herd over

to the transport fleet there...

...and then back to India.

That's nothing to be so chirpy about,

you're doomed to be married soon.

No more pleasant doom ever faced

one of the queen's men.

This thick sentiment. You ought to be

drummed out of the service for that remark.

-Don't mind him, Sir.

-I don't.

Where did you come from?

I'm glad you came along.

This is the sort of thing you'd enjoy.

A real picnic with everything but red ants,

and I'd rather hope for some action.

Troop, halt!

Here's your action.

Randall, stampede the herd

through that gorge.

Troop will march. Go!

Troop, dismount! Take cover!

Get into position! Independent fire

as soon as you're under cover!

We're outnumbered.

We can't hold on much longer.

Randall, take command.

If I'm not back in an hour...

...try to break through for Batum.

Keep firing.

-What are you gonna do?

-Never mind about me, you do as I say.

-Brunson, you and Burke follow me.

-Yes, Sir.

Here, fasten this to your pommel.

Ride down there and drag

this bush behind it, understand?

Raise enough dust to make them think half

the British army's coming to relieve us, hurry.

All right, boys.

Pull up your army.

They're running, they're running.

Look, they're running.

That's something you'll tell

your grandchildren about...

...if you live long enough.

There's a fat fellow.

-It's my turn.

-Let me have a shot.

-Wait until he gets around the rock.

-Now, hold it, wait.

Captain Vickers.

Geoffrey? Am I seeing things?

What happened?

They think there's a force

coming to support us.

I'm terribly sorry, Sir.

Thank heaven I missed you.

Yeah, lucky for me,

you were aiming at me.

Good morning, gentlemen.

I'm more than pleased with

the brilliant success of your expedition.

Congratulations, Major Vickers.

Major? Why, thank you, Sir.

-I haven't seen it in notice yet.

-You will tomorrow.

-Congratulations, Captain Randall.

-Captain?

-Thank you, Sir. Shall I see notice too, Sir?

-Yes, of course.

I'm afraid you have to wait a bit, Pearson,

but good work all the same.

Now, what do you all say

about going back to Chukoti?

-We need seasoned officers up there.

-I'd like it immensely personally, Sir.

-He's gonna be married soon, Sir.

-So I understand.

We'll see what we can do about

getting you an extended leave later on.

-Why, thank you, Sir.

-Well, thank you, gentlemen.

Perry.

-You sent for me, Sir?

-Oh, Perry, yes. Sit down.

-Make yourself comfortable, won't you?

-Thank you, Sir.

-The Vickers are an old army family.

-Yes, Sir.

I knew your father at Sandhurst, Perry.

You and your brother, Geoffrey,

have come along admirably...

...although as brothers,

I expect you've had your little differences.

You know, brothers rarely avoid

these little things.

-But they're usually trifles.

-Trifles, Sir?

-Certainly. Don't you think so?

-Well...

That is, it's difficult to explain,

but don't you think, Sir...

...we're entitled to settle our own problems

in our own way?

Yes. Yes, perhaps so.

Governor General Dalhawsie

requires the presence...

...of a political man on the frontier

to handle the Suristani situation.

-I've selected you.

-You mean I'm to go up to Chukoti, Sir?

No. You'll be stationed at Lohara.

Chukoti will be the spearhead

of any possible military maneuvers.

But your duties will be those

of an official observer.

Is that final, Sir?

-I mean, that I'm to go out to Lohara?

-Final.

You have so much work to do there...

...that you won't have time

to think of anything else.

You'll leave with the caravan

in the morning.

That's all.

Yes, Sir.

I understand, Sir.

Perry.

I'm sorry about the way

things have gone, old lad.

Elsa can't love both of us, you know.

-I'm aware of that.

-Well...

We might as well get this thing settled

once and for all.

We're not friends

so why pretend we are?

All the cards are stacked on your side.

Old Campbell's for you, the fact that

you got there first, everything.

I've only one claim,

Elsa happens to love me and only me.

And as long as that's true,

I'm going to fight anyone.

Perry, I know you're wrong.

We can't let something like this

come between us.

-Besides you--

-I'll get over it, I know.

Well, get this into your head.

I'm old enough to know

my own mind and Elsa's.

I wouldn't hang on to anyone

who didn't love me.

This is where we turn off for Chukoti,

Vickers.

Coming.

-Perry, old lad--

-There's nothing more to say.

Troop, column left!

Halt!

Reporting our return from Calcutta, Sir.

Good, Major Vickers. Any casualties?

Yes, Sir. One man wounded.

We were fired on several times,

but we expected that.

-Did you return fire?

-No, Sir.

I'm glad you didn't.

Sir Benjamin's orders

are to maintain peace.

Pretty difficult orders to follow,

particularly when they're firing on us.

Yes. When you've been soldiering

as long as I have...

...you'll understand it's best

to follow instructions regardless.

Yes, Sir.

By the way, it would be disgraceful

for an officer...

...to appear before his commandant's

daughter in such a condition.

Run along and clean up

and come back to my office.

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