The Four Feathers Page #3

glory in China, glory in Africa.

Oh, excuse me, miss.

This package has just arrived for Mr. Faversham

addressed in your care...

and marked urgent, miss.

Thank you.

"Mr. Thomas Willoughby. "

"Mr. Peter Burroughs. "

"Captain John Durrance. "

Well, they had a fine send-off, Ethne.

I went aboard and had lunch with them

before they sailed.

Peter has a cabin

with John Durrance and Willoughby.

I'm glad the three boys

are going to be together.

- Father, I -

- Yes.

It was a wonderful sight,

the vessel steaming out into the channel...

and all those men cheering and -

May I speak to you a moment, sir?

It was cruel to send these.

Cruel, but just.

That's what you think, isn't it?

You needn't tell me, Ethne.

I can see it quite clearly in your eyes.

We agreed always

to be honest with each other, Harry...

to keep no secret from each other.

When you did this...

did you believe

that I should be proud of you?

I thought you'd understand.

We've so often talked of these things

and we've always understood each other.

I know, Harry. We've talked and we've dreamed

of things we'd do if we were free.

Some people are born free. They can do what

they like without concern for consequences.

But you were not born free, Harry,

and nor was I.

We were born into a tradition...

a code which we must obey

even if we do not believe.

And we must obey it, Harry...

because the pride and happiness of everyone

surrounding us depends upon our obedience.

I quite understand.

There should be four feathers here.

We agreed always

to be honest with each other.

Give it to me.

Come on!

Brigade!

Attention!

Shoulder arms!

Present arms!

Shoulder arms!

- You've served here before.

- Abu Klea, sir.

Then you know what to expect.

- You too?

- I've been out here ever since, sir.

- You married?

- Yes, sir.

- Children?

- Four, sir.

When I left home.

- Harry Faversham.

- Hello, Doctor.

Why, what's happened?

I thought your regiment had gone.

Oh, yes, they've gone,

like the guards have gone tonight.

Years ago, Harry, I gave you my card.

Do you remember?

Yes, Doctor, I remember.

In case you ever needed any help.

Come along. We'll have

a quiet supper at my club.

It's just across the park.

The Naval and Military.

No, not there,

if you don't mind, Doctor.

- Let's go to my rooms.

- Very well.

You tell me you left the army...

because your duty to your home...

was greater than your duty

towards a crowd of African peasants?

Well, there's nothing

dishonorable in that, Harry.

If that's all,

if that's the whole truth...

then these feathers are an insult

to be treated with the contempt they deserve.

If that were all, I should have put them on the fire

and you would have never seen them.

But you know that it's not all.

Just as Ethne knew.

I was told a ghastly story when I was a boy,

and you were there when it was told.

An officer who failed to carry a message

because he was paralyzed with fear.

An officer disgraced

and hounded out of society...

who shot himself in a back room

off the Haymarket because his life was ruined.

That story haunted me.

Many a man is haunted by some fear.

With me it was more than fear.

My father despised me.

He believed me to be a coward.

His belief turned fear into reality.

I knew that if ever fate put me in the same position,

I should behave like that man...

and meet the same end.

I am a coward, Doctor.

If I'd been anything but a soldier, I might have

lived my whole life and concealed it.

But to be a soldier and a coward

is to be an impostor...

a menace to the men

whose lives are in your hands.

When orders came for Egypt...

I knew that fate

was closing in round me...

just as it closed round that other man.

I fought against it.

I believed in all the reasons I gave

for shirking my job.

I deceived myself.

But I didn't deceive my friends.

The men who sent me these feathers

knew me better than I knew myself.

The man who tries to cheat his fate

is more than a coward. He's a fool as well.

You're wrong there, Harry.

I never met a fool who had

the imagination to be a coward.

If I thought you were a coward, Harry...

I should take this with me...

fight you for it if necessary.

It's because I know you've no intention

of using it on yourself...

that I leave it here.

Harry, is there anything I can do?

Yes, Doctor,

there is something you can do.

Yes?

I shall be leaving England tomorrow.

I shall write to you from time to time...

just to tell you that I'm alive.

If you don't hear from me for a year...

you'll know that I'm dead.

If that happens,

I should like you to go to Ethne...

and tell her that

at least I tried to put right...

the shame and humiliation

that I caused her.

Can you tell me where you're going?

Egypt.

- Dr. Harraz?

- Yes?

I've come from England,

from an old friend of yours - Dr. Sutton.

Dr. Sutton! I remember him.

I served with him in a hospital in India.

- How is he?

- He's well. He sends you his greeting.

What may I do for you?

I have a mission to reach the army

of General Kitchener.

I want your help

to disguise me as a native.

- You speak Arabic?

- No.

- You have some native tongue?

- No.

But the army of General Kitchener

is 400 miles away...

across country

in the hands of the enemies.

How then can a doctor help you,

except to certify you as mad?

I'm told there is a native tribe

called the Sangali...

that once revolted against the Khalifa.

And in revenge the Khalifa branded them,

cut out their tongues from their heads...

and made them outcasts.

- You know the brand?

- All men know the brand of the Sangali.

Then you understand

the reason of my visit, Doctor.

But, my dear young man,

you will miss your tongue in many ways.

I will keep my tongue.

No one will look for it if I'm branded.

I can stain your skin...

but I cannot imitate a scar

that would escape detection.

That I understand.

Is your mission then

of such importance?

May I stay in your house

until the wound is healed?

You are a brave man.

Ah, Durrance.

- Told to report, sir.

- Kitchener's been talking to me.

You know what the situation is.

The main army and provision ships

must get up the Nile.

It's the only feasible route

up country towards Omdurman.

But the river's blocked

by the Khalifa's army...

and our ships

can't get through the gorge.

Now, the Khalifa must be drawn away,

by some sort of bluff, into the desert.

Yes, sir.

Now, if one of our brigades

appeared on his flank...

he'd have to turn away and face it.

- That would leave the river unguarded.

- Yes, sir.

Now, General Kitchener can't spare

a regiment, much less a brigade...

but he can spare a company.

Number Five Company

of the Royal North Surreys.

Thank you, sir.

Number one section, by the left!

Quick march!

Number two section, by the left!

Quick march!

Number three section, by the left!

Quick march!

Number four section, by the left!

Quick march!

Left, right, left.

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