The Rains Came Page #2

If we--

Mother? She wouldn't mind.

Thanks.

A little water, please.

Thank you.

Oh, I hope I'm not

Keeping you from your guests.

Oh, they're not my guests.

That's mother's idea

Of high society.

They're all excited

Because you're here.

Really?

Should I be flattered?

They say dreadful things

About you.

What sort of things?

That you're a drunkard

And a bounder

And a remittance man.

They'll hang around you

Just the same...

Because your father

Was an earl.

I suppose I shouldn't

Be talking like this.

Why not?

I don't mind.

I don't care

What they say about you,

Because I know

What you're really like.

I've watched you from my window

Every time you've come

To the smileys'.

Sometimes I think

You're the only person

In Ranchipur I don't hate.

You see, Mr. Ransome,

I've wanted to know you

For a long time,

But not this way.

Not with mother throwing me

At your head.

Oh, my dear child--

Oh, I'm not a child.

I'm over 18.

I'm a woman.

I--

I need your help.

I'm-- I'm in trouble.

Trouble?

Yes, I--

Oh, it's so hard

To tell you.

Well, it needn't be.

I understand.

That's why

I had to come to you.

You see, I--

Perhaps I can help you.

- is there a man mixed up in it?

- no.

Except you.

Oh, Mr. Ransome,

I've got to get away

From here.

I can't stand it

Any longer.

What's the matter?

Well, they want to run

My life for me.

They want me to go on

Living this phony life

They think is so wonderful.

And mother pretending

We're not just missionaries.

You will help me, won't you?

Well, what could I do?

Well, you know

All about the world...

And women

And things like that.

Oh, well, if it's advice

You want--

Oh, no, I--

I need more than advice.

I--

I haven't any money.

Well, I couldn't do that.

Well, I only need

A little--

Just enough to get me

To where I want to go.

I'll pay you back,

Honestly, every cent.

Oh, it isn't the money,

My child.

I told you,

I'm not a child.

Look here, I can't be

Directly responsible

For what might happen to you.

Don't you realize

The awkward position

You might put me in?

I didn't think you cared

About respectability.

Well, I don't.

Neither do I. I just

Want everything there is

To be had out of life.

That's all very well,

But it's not that easy.

I'm not looking

For things to be easy.

I just can't

Stand it here any longer.

I've got to get away.

- where would you go?

- on the stage.

- on the stage?

- well, why not?

I'm not bad-looking.

And I have

Very nice legs.

Oh, yes. Very nice.

Uh, miss Simon and I,

We were just, uh, talking

About the theater.

Oh, yes, of course.

I'm sorry to disturb you,

But there's a messenger here

From the palace.

Oh, yes?

From her highness

To Ransome sahib.

I'm afraid I'll have to

Leave your delightful party

If I'm going to be on time.

Oh, my dear boy,

That's quite all right.

I understand perfectly.

When the palace calls,

We must drop everything

And obey.

Oh, well,

You're very kind.

Charming, isn't he?

I think it was a mistake

Inviting him.

Everyone knows

His reputation with...

Women... And rum.

Don't be provincial.

Do you ever get us

Invited to the palace?

Do you? Huh!

Good evening,

Your highness.

Good evening.

Good evening, Ransome.

I am glad you could come.

To see you again is one

Of the few thrills left

In life, your highness.

You said that

As if you meant it.

I do mean it.

Come along.

I'll introduce to you

Our guests of honor.

Lady Esketh.

- hello, Edwina.

- why, Tom.

We heard of a person

Named Ransome

Living in Ranchipur,

But I never dreamed it was you.

How nice

That you know each other.

Oh, yes. We're old friends.

Albert?

Yes?

This is Tom Ransome.

You've heard me speak of him.

My husband.

Oh, yes, yes, yes.

Ransome, of course.

How do you do?

Your highness, I've just

Been telling Mr. "bannager"--

Bannerjee.

Yes, yes.

When I first visited India,

I was amazed to find...

That you people had so many

Of the modern conveniences.

Really?

Yes, and the blessings

Of civilization.

Oh, thank you.

We flatter ourselves

To be jolly well abreast

Of the times.

Your highness,

Dinner is served.

Shall we go?

Now that you've met

One of your own kind,

I suppose you'll be

Grand for days.

Why do you always make a point

Of criticizing men

Like Tom Ransome?

Because he happens

To be a gentleman?

If he's a gentleman,

Why is he living here

In India?

He's got plenty

Of money.

I don't imagine Tom's

Ever thought of money,

One way or another,

In all his life.

Oh, one of those

Radicals, eh?

How do you like the maharani?

Tough egg, isn't she?

I call her the "last queen."

You know, nowadays when queens

Do everything in their power

To look like housewives,

She still dresses the queen

And acts it.

Here goes one of

The most expensive figures

In the british empire.

General, for years

I have been telling you...

Never to draw

To an inside straight.

Your highness, would you mind

If I showed lady Esketh

The palace?

Of course not.

Need a guide?

No, thanks.

I know my way about.

Good luck.

Your highness,

My apologies

For being late.

You received my message?

Was it cholera?

No, just old-fashioned

Colic.

Good. Get in the game.

I need some competition.

Now, look here,

Your highness.

Your highness, I'm willing

To pay 5,000-10,000-

For that chestnut stallion

And two mares.

It is a generous offer,

But asoka is not for sale.

Oh, come now.

Anything's for sale

If the offer's high enough.

I am afraid

You don't understand.

Your highness

Drives a hard bargain.

I mean to have that stallion.

Name your price

And I'll meet it,

Whatever it is.

It is not a question

Of price, lord Esketh.

You have seen other

Horses in my stables

Almost as perfect as asoka.

Now, please let me make you

A gift of a stallion

And two mares.

A gift?

Well, if your highness

Really means it, you're--

You're very kind.

You understand, of course,

I cannot ship them

During the heat.

Of course.

Thank you.

That's a rembrandt.

And that's a buddhist

Prayer wheel.

And that, I suspect,

Was bought...

From a street peddler

In naples.

And this--

This was bagged

By the old lady herself,

And on foot, too,

If that means anything

To you.

Frankly, it doesn't.

No.

I'd like some air.

Well, it's beginning

To look like rain

At last.

You haven't told me

What you're doing here.

I came out here seven years ago

To paint the maharajah's

Portrait.

Been here ever since.

Not a very exciting life,

Is it?

No. Is yours?

Now and then.

Hmm. What brought you

All the way up here

To Ranchipur?

The maharajah's horses.

Albert's very fond of horses.

The only thing he is fond of,

Except money.

- have you become fond

Of money too?

- passionately.

It used to be

Just excitement.

You can't live

On excitement alone.

We found that out,

Didn't we?

I didn't mind.

I did.

I minded washing

My own stockings,

Going without breakfast

And only being able to afford

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