The Charge of the Light Brigade Page #7

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-It puts us entirely at his mercy.

-We're at his mercy already.

I'm sure you're quite mistaken

in your suspicions.

-Can you give me an intangible reason?

-No.

Except that he offered me

a horse for myself only.

No, I see no reason to mistrust him.

I've got to think of the women and children.

-That's just it, Sir. We can't trust him.

-We've got to go through with it.

All right, get through just

to the first or the second boat.

-Get the people loaded as soon as you can.

-Yes.

Then you take to leading them

back to Lohara. Off you go.

Put that stretcher on the rock there.

Careful. Don't overload that boat.

Out of the way, quickly now.

Mercy.

He's safe.

My debt to Major Vickers is paid.

Ride the rest of them

back into the garrison.

Does it feel better now?

Yes, much. Thank you.

We shouldn't have trusted him.

Those poor little kids. Horrible.

What's going to happen to them?

He can't murder them all.

No, that would be too much,

even for the khan.

He'll hold them as hostages.

That's why we've got to get to Lohara,

for help. It's our only hope.

Look!

It's our chance.

"--our refuge from one generation

to another.

Thou turnest man to destruction,

again thou sayest:

'Come again, ye children of men."'

"The days of our age

are three-score years and ten.

And though men be so strong

that they come to fourscore years...

...yet is their strength then

but labor and sorrow...

...so soon passeth it away

and we are gone.

Turn thee again..."

Major Vickers!

What on earth are you talking about?

-When did this happen?

-Just now, Sir.

-Down by the river at the north gate.

-What's the meaning of all this--?

Miss Campbell! Geoffrey!

Ali, tell Lady Warrenton Miss Campbell

needs her help at once.

My dear, go with Kitara.

She'll take you up to my wife at once.

Kitara.

Geoffrey, my boy, this is terrible.

-How on earth did it happen?

-Chukoti, Sir. The Suristanis attacked.

Hot water and clothes.

Get smelling salts.

My poor, poor child.

I thought the best thing we could do

was reach here for help.

-Chances are, would we get there on time?

-Yes, if we hurry.

Captain Barnes, request Major Jowett

to report to me at once.

-And sound assembly.

-Very good, Sir.

The count must be holding them.

Yes, as hostages, of course.

We have no time to spare.

Pack the sepoys in their own

transport wagons. We'll bring them along.

Geoffrey, you get your arm attended to

at once. l'll be with you in a minute.

-Do you mind if I come along?

-No, my lad. We'll need you.

Halt!

That's strange, the white flag's still flying.

There are no sentries about.

Shows every sign of being deserted.

-What do you make of it?

-Don't know.

-Major Jowett.

-Sir?

-Take four of the detail in skirmishing order.

-Very good, Sir.

The last six sections, dismount,

and advance in skirmishing order!

I wonder if this is another

of the khan's tricks.

Fire a shot.

No sign of life.

Follow me.

Troop, forward gallop.

There she is on the steps, Sir.

Marian.

Jowett...

They're dead!

-They're all dead.

-Come on, now.

Can't you hear me?

They're dead, I tell you!

They're dead!

Prema!

Prema!

Prema.

Prema.

My little boy is gone.

He wanted a gun to kill Suristani.

Suristani kill him.

Prema, my baby.

Do you hear me, Prema?

Prema.

Colonel Campbell, Sir. Over by the wall.

-So that's why they abandoned Chukoti.

-We've got to follow Surat Khan.

-He can't be far off.

-Impossible.

They're mountain fighters. We don't

stand a ghost of a chance against them.

But we can't stand here doing nothing!

My heaven, we'll never rest

till he's been made to pay for this.

India will be too small to hold him.

These books want to be stored,

and the cases made ready for transport.

And all the official papers

in this box here.

You'll report to the commander in chief

on arrival to Balaklava.

-Good luck, Watson.

-Thank you, Sir.

Major Vickers, Sir.

Oh, Geoffrey, my boy.

The replacements from the 27th

have reported for duty.

Good, then you're ready to embark.

Never been to the Crimea, have you?

They tell me it's a pestilential hole.

Seems strange to me, Sir,

that the War Office...

...should be sending the 27th to Sebastopol

to fight the Russians.

Haven't they been through enough

at Chukoti?

The Russians. Peoples don't wage war

against other peoples, Geoffrey.

England is fighting the tyranny

of the czar.

The 27th Lancers

are fighting Surat Khan.

Surat Khan?

It may interest you to know that after

the Chukoti massacre, Surat Khan fled.

I knew that, Sir.

India was too hot hold him.

The War Department happens to know

that he took refuge with the Russians...

...and is with their forces at Sebastopol.

This is worth knowing.

Now you understand why the 27th Lancers

have been ordered to Sebastopol.

Every man will have a chance

for vindication.

Not only for himself and for his regiment,

but for every sepoy in India.

Now, you better get along, Geoffrey.

You haven't too much time

to get kit your ready.

Yes, come in.

Why, Elsa.

Geoffrey, I had to come.

Now, what's the matter?

Perry's gone.

-Gone, what do you mean?

-To the Crimea.

He was ordered back to his regiment.

He sailed two days ago

with Sir Benjamin on the first transport.

Geoffrey, he'll be killed, I know he will.

You love him, don't you?

I do.

I can't help it.

A long time?

I think since the first day I met him.

I tried to tell you that day

when I came back from Lohara.

You needn't explain.

I think l've known it, really,

in my heart for some time.

-I'm sorry, Geoffrey.

-That's all right.

It can't be helped. Quite a natural thing.

He's a grand lad, Elsa.

He'll make you very happy.

-You'll be going back to England, I suppose?

-Yes, I think so.

Oh, good luck. Wish I could go too.

Well, I must finish this stuff up.

Geoffrey, are you going

out to the Crimea too?

Yes, leaving almost immediately.

-May I help you pack?

-Oh, no, thanks.

I've been giving myself a crick

in the back all morning as it is.

Elsa, don't worry about Perry.

He'll be all right.

I'll see that he is.

Goodbye.

God bless you.

Both of you.

Geoffrey, will you take him a message?

Why, yes.

Tell him...

...that I think his brother...

...is the finest man I've ever known.

"Sir Charles Macefield's compliments

to Gen. Scott." No new orders.

-Soon as the council's over, I'll notify him.

-Yes, Sir.

We must attack Sebastopol.

General Canrobert's anxiety

is perhaps prompted by the fact...

...that their supplies are running low.

Lord Raglan understands perfectly.

Can't you see, Lord Cardigan?

The Baltic fleet is useless.

The Turkish fleet, I regret to say, has been

destroyed by the Russians at Sinop.

The recent storm has wrecked

not only the Russian fleet...

...but the largest

of the French man-of-war.

You underestimate our resources,

general. See for yourself.

We have Sebastopol under siege...

...and our forces have the Russians

at bay, so to speak.

Besides, so far, no real opportunity

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