The Charge of the Light Brigade Page #7

would be enough.

Good morning, sir.

Gen. Airey, this is the fourth order

I have dispatched to Lucan.

Kindly take this down

in your clearest handwriting.

I am waiting, sir.

Sir, you will wait until I have clear orders

for you to do otherwise.

I wait, you will wait.

Clear? Normally, there are clear orders...

...for cavalry to attack anything

and everything as it places itself...

Damn it, Cardigan, I would attack.

I am constrained.

Gen. Airey, pray read me back the order

that I just dictated.

"Lord Raglan wishes the Cavalry

to advance rapidly to the front...

"... to follow the enemy, and try to prevent

the enemy from carrying away the guns.

"The troop Horse artillery may accompany.

French Cavalry is on your left.

"lmmediate. Signed R. Airey."

See that this is delivered,

delivered and executed.

Let me take it, my lord.

- Handi.

- Yes, sir?

Good luck, Nolan!

That young man, Nolan,

I don't really like him.

He rides too well.

Knows a lot, but he has no heart.

It will be a sad day when England

has her armies officered by men...

...who know too well what they're doing.

It smacks of murder.

Lord Raglan,

will you explain to me what is to happen?

- A battle is to happen.

- And I am to see it, a charge?

A cavalry charge to sweep the Russians

out of the valley?

I do not think so. No.

Thank you.

What you will see is an advance,

not a charge...

...an advance along that pretty valley

to the south of the big valley.

A sensible and quiet advance on the flank

of those Russians who are trying...

...to carry off our guns.

The Light Brigade will be directed

to restore those guns...

...to their rightful owner.

Is not Lord Cardigan to lead

his beautiful soldiers?

I think he will, yes.

But not into that nasty valley

full of half the Russian army.

He'd get a very bloody nose

if he were to do that. Not at all pretty.

Young ladies should concern themselves

with what is pretty.

England is pretty, babies are pretty.

Some table linen can be very pretty.

Now, off with you,

and let the gentlemen talk.

Find a pretty flower,

and press it in your house book...

...and watch the pretty valley.

Hussar!

Will you execute Lord Raglan's orders?

I am waiting.

Capt. Nolan, I say, if you look before you...

...you will see neither enemy nor guns.

The usefulness of such an order eludes me.

The position, I assure you, is quite clear

from where Lord Raglan stands.

- Is it?

- "ls it?" lt is!

Lord Raglan's orders are that

the cavalry should attack immediately.

Attack, sir?

Attack what? Attack where?

Guns, Mr. Nolan.

There, my lord, there is your enemy,

there are your guns.

I suggest, Lord Cardigan, you advance

steadily, and keep your men well in hand.

If the Brigade is handled with control,

there should be no useless...

...or unnecessary loss.

Certainly, sir.

But allow me to point out to you...

...that the Russians have guns in the valley

and batteries and riflemen on each flank.

It is contrary to all practice of war

for cavalry to charge artillery...

...from the front.

You are quite right, sir,

but what choice have we?

We're going, dear friend.

- Permission to ride with the 17th?

- Permission granted, dear friend.

Col. Douglas, I expect your best support!

- You shall have it, my lord.

- Mind, Douglas, your best support.

Draw...

...swords!

At last.

Well, here goes the last of the Brudenells.

The Brigade will advance!

Trumpeter. Walk!

March!

Kiss me, Duberly!

No, Nolan! That won't do!

The wrong way!

The wrong way!

What the devil's the matter with Cardigan?

Outflank those guns now, damn you,

not charge them!

He's turning in to the wrong valley.

Capt. Morris, do not try to force the pace!

Do not try to ride

before the leader of the Brigade.

Keep back!

Steady, lads!

Are you in trouble?

17th, charge!

Run straight to our great enemy!

Steady!

I don't know.

It isn't done.

What are they Henry? Skirmishers?

Will be, dear, will be.

You're coming on like a soldier.

Skirmishers, indeed.

That is the Light Brigade.

- Is that an Englishman?

- Yes, old chap.

You have been wounded by a cut

across your eye, which has blinded you.

Am I in pain?

You are in pain, I believe.

- Well, sir.

- Well, sir? Well what, sir?

I will break him. How dare he to ride

before a General in Brigade like that.

Did you hear the creature?

Shrieking like some tight girl...

...like a woman fetching off. Damn him.

Damn all his kind.

- Damn who, sir?

- Nolan. That Indian.

Insolent, miserable-arsed mutineer.

My lord,

you have just ridden over his dead body.

Has anyone seen my regiment?

My lord, hurrah!

Men...

It was a mad-brained trick,

but it was no fault of mine.

Go again, sir?

No, no. You have done enough today.

What did you mean, sir?

- Me? Mean, sir?

- Mean, sir.

By attacking a battery in front,

contrary to all usages of warfare...

...and customs of the service.

- Him.

- Who?

- Him.

- Me? What have you told him?

- You.

- Me?

- I was ordered.

- Ordered?

- I was given the order to attack...

...by my superior officer

in front of the troops.

I hope you will not lay blame on me. Him.

Come here, Lord Lucan.

- You have lost the Light Brigade.

- Indeed, I have not, sir.

- Where are they, then?

- You have lost the Light Brigade.

The finest brigade of light cavalry

ever to leave the shores of England.

How could you?

I have not lost the Light Brigade, sir.

I have carried out your orders...

...both verbal and written,

and conveyed to me by Capt. Nolan.

I was with them! With them, damn you!

I have done my duty according

to my orders.

- I have led my brigade.

- To death you have led your brigade.

I had orders in writing

from my superior general.

- Who?

- You.

I have the order, still.

I have the written order

in your handwriting, Lord Raglan.

Not my handwriting.

Airey...

...you have lost the Light Brigade.

I will not be blamed.

I was given the order to attack

by my superior officer!

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