The Charge of the Light Brigade Page #6

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England.

In early springtime...

...Ascot, cricket,

punting on the Thames.

We'll see all that together one day.

Just now it--

It seems rather like an intangible dream.

A little like you, Elsa.

You see...

...I was rather hoping you'd be here

when I got back.

I was at Lohara.

Yes, I know. Your father told me.

There was something I had to find out.

Something I had to be sure of

before I saw you.

You found out?

Yes.

Geoffrey, you want to make me happy?

More than anything else in the world.

Then you must know everything.

I came back from Lohara

determined to tell--

Tower guard, shot.

Sound the alarm.

Turn out the guard, double quick.

-What's happening?

-We're being attacked.

-Suristani? Man the walls.

-Yes.

-I've sent all the available men there.

-Concentrate on the main gate.

Send 15 men to the east wall.

Orderly.

Open fire as soon as you're

within range!

-Colonel.

-Yes.

-Take 15 men to man this wall.

-Yes, Sir.

Cannon rapid fire.

We're losing too many men, Sir.

We're hopelessly outnumbered.

Better abandon the wall before it's too late.

The back,

we can hold them off from there.

Give orders to abandon the wall.

Bugler, sound the retreat!

Take cover in the back, men!

Take cover in the barracks, quick, men.

Get all your wounded

to the medical officer.

Get in there. Don't open the window.

We're under attack.

Barricade the doors and windows.

Get the women and children away

from the line of the windows.

Quick.

Prema--!

Mama!

-Spence?

-Yes, Sir.

Take six men and reinforce the rear.

Issue more ammunition, quick.

Yes, Sir. First six men, follow me.

This way, hurry. Hold these windows,

cover an attack from the stables.

Make every shot tell, you understand?

Ammunition here.

Ready to interchange rifles.

-How much ammunition have we left?

-Plenty, that's the least of our problems.

Water is the main problem, Sir.

Water in this heat.

We've got to reach Jowett at Lohara.

Someone's got to get through to them.

Now's your chance.

The moon's going behind some clouds.

Don't forget, when you reach the river,

cut a native boat loose.

-The current will take you to Lohara.

-That's easy enough.

-I'll have the troops back in no time.

-That's the spirit.

Now, with any luck, you should get over.

There's very few marksmen holding the wall.

-It looks pretty clear.

-Yes.

Geoffrey, look.

You wouldn't mind

giving this to my family.

Just in case.

Looks like a pretty cheap one.

Does it go?

If you wind it up.

You're an idiot.

All right, I'll give it back to you

tomorrow.

Thanks, old boy.

Good luck.

Come, my boy. Over you go.

-God be with you.

-Thank you.

-You ready?

-Yeah.

He's over the wall.

With this changing moon, the khan

won't dare to make another attack.

Thank God for his everlasting mercy.

You look as though you could do

with a few hours of sleep.

Oh, yes, perhaps you're right.

Sun's up, Sir.

We can't hold out much longer, Sir.

Major Vickers, Sir.

Look.

They're gone.

They're gone, Sir.

-Hicks, what are you doing? Are you mad?

-Can't you see them coming?

Coming through the compound.

I can't stop them--

-I must--

-Shut up!

-I--

-Shut up!

That's all right, old fella.

-Pull yourself together.

-I'm sorry, Sir.

Walls are all deserted, Sir.

That's very strange.

It's possibly some sort of a trick.

Run upstairs and look around carefully.

White flags, Sir.

-What?

-They're coming towards us now.

-What the devil are they up to now?

-We'll soon see.

Remove the barricade. Open that door.

His Highness Surat Khan,

amir of Suristan...

...sends greetings to His Excellency,

the commandant of Chukoti...

...and humbly proposes a truce.

We do request that you will send

Major Vickers to discuss the terms.

Excellent, he's probably missed

a boat from its mooring...

...and suspects our man got through

and is ready to treat with us.

-I'd better go, Sir.

-Yes, of course, of course.

We accept His Highness' suggestion

only on the condition...

...that we hold you hostage

pending Major Vickers' safe return.

I'm sure His Highness

will be graciously pleased.

And will understand

your natural caution.

Very well.

-You'll accompany me as orderly.

-Yes, Sir.

I welcome you, Major Vickers.

May the gods of courage and wisdom

continue to bestow blessings on you.

-I suggest you come straight to the point.

-Really?

You probably know by now

that word has reached Lohara.

-The entire brigade's on its way here.

-How interesting.

Oh, it pains me deeply

to have to disillusion you on that score.

-If it's that sepoy--

-Captain Randall.

Oh, so it was Captain Randall...

...who so imprudently attempted

to penetrate the lines.

Poor fellow. He paid the penalty

for his foolishness.

He's-- He's dead?

Oh, my friend, life is sweet and dear

when one cannot have it.

That's why I sent for you.

I'm offering you your life.

My life? Why?

You saved mine

and I shall never forget it.

-You will be given a horse and safe--

-Your Highness.

The home government

has chosen to disregard...

...sundry unfriendly acts of yours.

By withdrawing your forces,

you'll be making a friendly gesture...

...which will almost certainly lead to

the reopening of negotiations in Calcutta.

You're not fighting one outpost,

you're fighting the entire British army.

You're logic, my dear major,

is overwhelming.

No, my friend.

I do not think you seriously believe

that I'll accept your optimistic suggestion.

After all, have you not

an English proverb to the effect...

...that possession

is nine-tenths of the law?

-I take it there's nothing more to be said.

-On the contrary.

If we're open and honest with one another,

this matter can be settled reasonably.

Any suggestion must guarantee

the safety of the women and children.

Then the obvious solution

would be an evacuation.

Evacuation? You mean surrender?

Hardly.

I am perfectly willing to grant the garrison

a safe escort to Lohara.

Why, I have every reason to suppose

that will be perfectly satisfactory.

When I went to school in England, I learned

your charming custom of shaking hands.

Signifying the completion of a bargain

between two gentlemen.

The garrison will have to lay down

its arms.

-What? Why?

-As a friendly gesture.

That's utterly impossible.

Places us entirely at your mercy.

We understand their feelings,

Your Highness.

Very well, then. With arms.

I'm sorry. I won't agree to your terms

under any conditions whatever.

Take my offer to your commandant.

The decision is his.

If my terms are acceptable,

instruct your colonel to raise the white flag.

You should know

the British never surrender.

Yet their guns will be useless to them,

if I may advise Your Highness.

I suspected you had a plan.

Precisely. If Colonel Campbell

accepts our terms...

...and he would be

exceedingly unwise not to...

...it would be very simple.

We should think it over again, Sir.

We're making a grave mistake

accepting the khan's terms.

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