The Man Who Would Be King Page #6

...and it's like

you've been there before?

- I know what you mean.

- Let me tell you something.

This isn't the first time

I've worn a crown.

There's more to this

than meets the eye.

It all adds up.

What does?

Everything that's happened from the

time we decided to come here.

No, before that...

...beginning with your taking

Brother Kipling's watch.

More than chance has been

at work here. More than mere chance.

Why his watch and not somebody else's?

And what made him give me the emblem?

One thing after the other.

The avalanche, the arrow...

...the mark on the stone...

...not to mention another Roxanne.

- Roxanne? The Venus de Milo?

The same.

One more thing is needful

for my destiny to be fulfilled.

- I take her to wife.

- Leave the women alone.

Who's talking women?

I said wife.

- A queen to breed a king's son.

- And the contract?

The contract lasted until we was

kings, and king I've been for months!

The first king since Alexander, the

first to wear his crown in 2200 and...

- 14.

...14 years!

Him...

...and now me!

They call me his son and I am...

...in spirit anyway.

It's a hugeous responsibility.

The bridge is the first of many.

They'll tie the country together.

A nation I shall make of it

with an anthem and a flag.

I shall treat on equal terms the viceroy

and other kings and princes.

When I've accomplished what I set out

to do, I'll stand before the queen...

...not kneel, mind you, but stand

like an equal and she'll say:

"Please accept the Order of the Garter

as a mark of my esteem, cousin."

She'll pin it on me herself.

It's big. I tell you, it's big!

And I tell you, you need a physic!

I'm fair disappointed in you.

You, who followed me and

helped make me what I am.

Followed you, me? Who had hold

of the mule's tail, tell me that?

The jenny also done her bit.

Danny! We've had this rare streak

of luck. Let's quit winners for once.

- Cut and run while the running's good.

- You call it luck. I call it destiny.

Ha, ha! Pardon me

while I fall down laughing.

Whatever you may think and however you

may feel, I'm a king and you're a subject!

So don't you provoke me,

Peachy Carnehan!

Or you'll do what?

You've got me trembling

in my boots here! What'll you do?

- You have permission to bugger off!

- I will, with or without your...

...bleeding permission!

And may you rot in hell, Daniel Dravot!

From Sikander the First to the Second

was a long time between kings...

...and a country needs a king

like a king needs a crown.

One is the glory of the other.

Therefore, I shall leave a son behind

who will in turn beget other sons...

...so the succession will be unbroken

and kings will be guaranteed forever.

To which end...

...I have chosen a wife.

Roxanne of Khawak.

Let her be brought here

attended by her family.

I want flowers strewed

along her way.

The wedding ceremony will be

surrounded by pomp and circumstance!

Let messengers be sent forth and

summon my people from near and far.

Selah.

What are they saying?

How can daughters

of men marry gods or devils?

- A god can do anything.

- But it is not proper.

- Who says it isn't?

- All the priests.

Would they put their word

against that of a god?

They say let lmbra decide.

Imbra is highest god of all.

And what if lmbra should

hold against me?

What'll they do about it?

Am I a dog or a god?

Haven't I put the shadow of my hand

over this country?

Do as I say! Send for the girl!

Tell them that's an order!

- Well, Billy, what's going on?

- Signs very bad, Peachy.

Priests open up birds, green inside and

stinking horrid. Imbra very angry.

They probably cut the spleen.

The green's only bile.

Don't worry, Billy, the girl won't go

up in smoke. I'll guarantee you that.

Girl don't matter.

Many girls here, no difference.

Few girls more or less...

...but cows now, they dry up

and goats throw babies too soon.

And corn do not ripen.

Everybody go hungry.

Now, Billy, you know as well as I do

that Dravot's no god.

He told you about the arrow.

But then, priests must

be mistaken about lmbra.

He not angry because...

...god marrying a mortal

but because son of man...

...pretend to be a god.

Roxanne, don't be afraid...

...I wouldn't harm you.

When the time comes,

you'll catch fire, I warrant.

All women should when

their husbands hold them.

But you won't perish, girl,

I promise you that.

Well, Danny...

...the time has come,

as the saying goes.

When do you leave?

At first light.

I thought you might look in the

box es before I nail them shut.

- See what I'm taking.

- Take what you like.

I weighed the gold out, pound for

pound. The gems, ounce for ounce.

Right.

I'll only need half the

mules we planned.

I'd like to take 20 riflemen

to be safe through the Khyber Pass.

Take them.

Take them.

God's holy trousers!

What is that?

They're savages here, one and all.

Leave them to slaughtering babies,

playing stick-and-ball with heads...

...and pissing on their neighbours.

Please, Danny...

...for the last time of asking...

...come back with me.

For the last time of answering,

I won't.

I know you've got my best

interest at heart...

...but the choice has been made.

Well, I'll be seeing you, then?

In London maybe...

...when the queen gives you

the Order of the Garter.

- Peachy.

- Yes, Danny?

I'll be married midmorning.

Could you not wait

and leave afterwards?

See me up the aisle

for old times' sake?

If you like.

Peachy, the ring.

I, Sikander the Second,

hereby take thee...

...Roxanne, to be

my lawful wedded wife...

...and queen of Kafiristan.

Selah.

She bit me!

The slut bit me!

What's he saying?

Danny's bleeding, they know!

He says, "Not god, not devil, but man!"

They've twigged it, Danny.

You've had it!

The jig's up!

- I, Sikander...

- For God's sake!

We've got to brass it out, Danny.

Danny, brass it out!

Bags of swank.

We'll get your riflemen and

come back and slaughter the dogs!

A drenching in their own blood

we'll give them! Prepare to advance!

Too many for that, Danny.

Retire in sections.

Retire? Retire be damned!

We've gotta make a run for it!

Front section...

...fire!

Back!

Front rank, fire!

Break ranks!

Mount the mule and ride!

There's a chance you'll make it.

Gurkha foot soldier, not cavalry.

Rifleman Machendra Bahadur Gurung

wishing you many good lucks.

Out of bloody ammo!

Me too!

I'm heartily ashamed

for getting you killed...

...instead of going home rich...

...on account of me being so

bleeding high and bloody mighty!

Can you forgive me?

That I can, and that I do, Danny.

Free and full and

without let or hindrance.

Everything's all right, then.

Cut, you buggers, cut!

And old Danny fell round

and round and round and round...

...like a penny whirligig.

Twenty thousand miles!

It took him half an hour to fall

before he struck the rocks.

And do you know what

they did to Peachy?

They crucified him, sir...

...between two pine trees...

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes