The Charge of the Light Brigade Page #6

of our being here, is open.

We could ride in.

We should go on through

and take Sebastopol.

A killing.

I was thinking of Clarissa.

Madam, a victory.

Sebastopol has fallen.

"Fallen," me arse.

It does say in the Times newspaper

that Sebastopol is fallen.

- I am fallen.

- And I am fallen alongside you.

I'm not responsible for every damn lie

that newspaper prints.

You mustn't believe all you read in it.

Sebastopol is not fallen.

I'm not aware how the Times

came by such information.

I'm not allowed my tent in the lines.

Try this one.

It's a rum business, this being a soldier.

A soldier?

I had such hopes of this war, Morris.

- You must be patient.

- No, I'm not patient.

I will not be patient until the noble

amateurs are so sick of their soldiering...

...they will go home.

Their ridiculous supposition

that war is akin to civilization.

War is destruction, William, not fashion.

It is standing booted over

dead soldiers and their wives.

The solution to war is

that it is best fought.

And when fought,

it is best fought to the death.

Yes, it's a rum business.

If that line's straight, I'm a Turk's ass.

- Have the lines dressed straight!

- Straighten up! Down!

Down, have them down and start again.

Down.

All these tents are far apart.

Put them near, Charteris.

- Sergeant Major.

- Sir.

- These tents should be near.

- And straight!

Have these tents put nearer.

- In more.

- Get them down.

Get them down, and start again!

This is the second time today.

You tell them that at home.

By your tents!

Too damned near. Have them put apart.

Move these damned tents!

Straighten them up 18 inches.

Who said he's innocent as a horse?

He cares nothing for anybody,

nor man nor beast at all.

I wish a great wind would come

and blow down his damned tents...

...on his damned old lion's head.

Capt. Duberly.

Featherstonehaugh.

Would you bring your wife...

...to dine on His Lordship's yacht

this evening?

Glad, Henry, very glad.

I feel so sorry for him.

On first exchanging up

from marching regiment to horse...

...it was all at sea and never a light

to guide me, I don't mind confessing.

The soldiering was pie such as:

"Paymaster...

"We will wide up to Chobham Widges,

where we will have some exercises...

"... such as you are in enemy country, and

you are banged at from such and such."

"Where?" "There.

Was shot at from there last week."

"Was you?

Then you know what to maneuver."

Extraordinary.

What a capital joint of pig that was.

Can it be the time that it is, already?

All too soon, I am for duty.

I did warn you that I am a serving officer...

...now that we have such

a large bag of sick.

- My lord, if I may be away.

- Yes.

Yes.

- Goodnight, my lord. Mrs. Duberly.

- Ma'am.

- Get my kicksies off.

- Do you need them off, my lord?

Don't talk like that, woman.

Get me kicksies off.

You have the mane of a lion.

How do you not know what is done,

how a man is handled?

- Have you no mechanical interest?

- Puss, puss, lion head.

It would cause a man to strain his taters.

I like saddles. Get on your back.

You would have me hurting.

Please take time to remove...

I don't believe it.

Damn you! I took yours off.

It is by no means a bad thing, when getting

onto a strange horse for the first time...

...to give the middle of the saddle

three or four hard bangs...

...with the flat of your hand.

This is not love!

My lord?

This Russian officer has been brought

to my tent.

A Russian officer, is he?

Did he come as a deserter,

or with a drum and flag for parly?

I fear he came clandestine.

I do. He has that

in-the-night look about him.

- Have you spoken with him?

- I have.

He has particular information of an attack

at our positions tomorrow.

A spy?

You talked with a spy and brought him

here, in the night...

...to speak with me?

- He has enough English to tell us.

- Keep them in his throat.

I will not have him speak to me.

Young man, come here as a traitor?

I hope you're without a mother.

If she should hear of this, it's sad.

Sad.

I hope you are wise in this, my lord.

We get a lot of this.

You should be careful of what they say.

They're, most of them, Polish.

"My heart is not here

"My heart's in the Highlands

"A- chasin' the deer

"A- chasin' the wild deer

"And following the roe

"My heart's in the Highlands

"Wherever I go

"Farewell to the Highlands

"Farewell to the North

"The birthplace of valor

"The country of worth

"Wherever I wander

"Wherever I go

"The hills of the Highlands

"Forever I love

"My heart's in the Highlands

"My heart is not here

"My heart's in the Highlands

"A-chasin' the deer

"A-chasin' the wild deer

"And following the roe

"My heart's in the Highlands

"Wherever I go"

Lord Lucan's on the lookout

early this morning.

Airey, wake up!

Stand to! We're surrounded!

The French, they're in the yard.

Our allies, my lord.

I don't sleep, you know.

It is cold, morning.

Hullao!

- Two flags.

- Two flags?

- What do you think that means?

- Could mean "good morning," but it don't.

Surely, that is the arranged signal.

I'm sure it is arranged.

Arranged without me knowing.

- What is it arranged to say?

- Surely, that is "enemy advancing."

That is a signal for "enemy advancing."

Surely? Are you quite sure?

- Get me into these overalls, damn it!

- You will not go in, my lord!

- Get me in!

- You're very near in!

Lt's your bladder!

Damn Lucan.

He's arranged this for a purpose.

- He means to have my brigade.

- Into battle, my lion.

Sir George. Lord Raglan, from him.

You are to move your division immediately

to the protection of the redoubts.

Sir George.

You have not, and Lord Raglan has not,

been in the trenches all night.

- Sit down and eat breakfast.

- I will not sit down.

- Not?

- No, sir.

Sir, it is imperative

that you move your division at once.

The enemy, Sir George, will take the road...

...cut us off from Sebastopol.

Have there been any orders?

Why do the Cavalry not advance?

Ls it right to say they are looking on still?

Well, there has been one order

to the effect...

The gist of it was that the cavalry

were to take ground where it is.

My lord, this is too much.

They're dragging off the guns. Our guns.

Yes.

Do you see Sir George?

They're on them, they are indeed.

I shall tell you, I need an aide, Airey.

- My lord.

- Mr. Portal.

Have you got instruction for Lucan?

Lord Lucan,

the cavalry will advance on the French...

...the Russians, immediately.

They will be supported by the infantry,

which has already been ordered...

...to advance on two fronts. Has it?

Infantry? I see no infantry.

We must wait.

Do you see the Russian Army, my lord?

Do you?

For a full 50 minutes,

Lord Lucan has stood and watched.

This is no way, my lord.

There sit the finest cavalry in the world...

...men who follow their officers to death...

...men who take it for granted

that their officers know best.

The mere sight of the Brigade moving

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