The Rains Came Page #6

Ride an elephant?

Next, please.

Your name?

Sibabhai.

Experience?

High school training

In hospital work.

Report to miss ghose,

Second floor.

Next, please.

Your name?

Edwina Esketh.

Oh.

Experience?

No experience.

Assigned to probational duty.

Wait over there, please.

Next, please.

Your name?

Tarabai.

Experience?

Yes.

All right.

Take him away.

Thank you, captain.

Yes.

What is she doing here?

She volunteered.

Why is she doing

That kind of work?

She's had no experience.

Lady Esketh is a very

Intelligent woman.

She's not stupid.

It might be worth your time

To give her some

Quick training.

She ought to be capable

Of ward duty.

Yes, major.

Wait.

I'll do that for you.

Thank you.

It is heavy.

Get your tray,

And we'll make the rounds.

Laying a hand on their head

Doesn't really help much,

Except that

It gives them courage.

You see, they know

I'm of high caste.

For centuries, they've been

Made to step aside...

So their shadows

Won't fall on us

And pollute us.

Call the porters.

They look at you so,

As if they trusted you.

They have no one else

To trust.

You've done a wonderful thing

Coming here like this.

And it isn't easy,

Especially if you've

Never done it before.

It's funny how you

Get used to things.

I don't even

Get sick anymore...

As I did 20 times

The first day.

And yet you stayed.

Yes. I stayed.

Why?

You don't have to answer.

Just remember that you're

In constant danger.

Don't forget to use

Plenty of disinfectant.

We mustn't let anything

Happen to you.

You're too valuable.

Mr. Durga.

We've had a call from

The hospital for more linen

And 250 pairs of sheets.

This will give you authority

To take what you want from

The rajputana textile company.

If Mr. Motilal, the manager,

Objects, send him to me.

Yes, sahib.

And I shall introduce him

To my pet lions, who will

Feed on his liver.

- yes, sahib.

I bring the brandy, sahib.

Aha. The brandy.

No, no. Take it over

To the hospital.

All of it?

Yes, all of it.

Yes, sahib.

But don't think

I'm reforming.

When this is over, I'm going

On the biggest, longest,

Most magnificent bat

In the history of civilization.

Make a note of that.

Yes, Mr. Ransome.

It's good to see you,

General.

I came as soon as the weather

Was clear enough for flying.

Your highness, the viceroy

Has asked me to convey to you

His deepest sympathy,

Not only in his official

Capacity, but as an old

And sorrowing friend.

May I add my own.

I am grateful

To the viceroy.

But more than sympathy,

I need cooperation.

His excellency also asked me

To assure you...

That the british government

Stands ready to help

In any way it can.

Thank you, general.

I knew I could count

On the viceroy

And yourself.

I take off in the morning

To make a personal report

To his excellency.

Oh, by the way,

I have room

For one passenger,

If there's anyone

You care to send.

Yes, I think there is.

Ransome, I'd like

To speak to you.

Yes, your highness.

Thank you, general.

I'll let you know.

Thank you.

What is lady Esketh

Doing at the hospital?

Every conceivable filthy

And drudging task.

Yes. I suppose miss macdaid

Would have seen to that.

But why is she there?

She told me

She wanted to help.

But that isn't

The real reason.

No.

The english

Are an odd people.

I admire them,

But I don't pretend

To understand them.

The english

Are a sentimental people

And very much ashamed of it.

We had plans

For major Safti,

He and I.

I won't be here long.

I have no children,

Though I always wanted them.

Before he died,

He named his successor--

A man whose blood,

Sympathies and training...

Fitted him

For the responsibility...

Of guiding the state

Of Ranchipur.

Did you know that?

No.

No alien influence

Must enter his life.

He must remain dedicated

To his cause.

Would it hurt him so much

To give her up?

For a while, yes.

But he's young.

He'll get over it,

I'm sure.

I want to do

The right thing.

I'd trample her

Without mercy.

But then, of course,

I was brought up

In the hills...

Where charity

Is a sign of weakness.

I only learned tolerance

And humanity...

After I married.

I want to do

As he would have done.

She is a bad woman,

Isn't she?

Mm, not so much bad

As unhappy.

Once, long ago, Edwina

Took a wrong path.

Ever since, she's either

Been too proud...

Or too stubborn

To turn back.

- in many respects,

She's like your highness.

- what do you mean by that?

Well, that she's outspoken,

Intelligent,

Has no particular use

For any other women--

Uh, unless they're over 70.

But your highness

Is the younger of the two.

Her kind of civilization

Is on its way out.

That's exactly

What makes it impossible.

Tell her I'm sending her

On the plane Tomorrow.

How long since you've

Been to bed?

Oh, perhaps a day or two.

I don't remember.

After you've seen lady Esketh,

Get some sleep.

You've been a real help.

Believe me.

Come in.

Hello, Tom.

Hello.

Ever try to curl your hair

Without a curling iron?

No.

Alcohol's a precious

Commodity these days,

Not to be used

For purposes

Of mere vanity.

Sit down--

On sataya's bed.

She's my roommate--

A nautch dancer.

I've been hearing

Dreadful things about you.

It seems you've become

A shockingly useful

Citizen.

Can't help myself.

It's a conspiracy.

Why so glum?

Why so cheerful?

Mm, I'm young again.

That's why.

Mm.

I feel exactly as I did

The day of my first

Real dancing party,

When I was 12.

I remember I had

A pink taffeta dress.

Hideous thing really,

But I thought

It was a love.

And that little beast

Of a joe cumberland--

The one that's in

The cabinet now--

Mm-hmm.

Spilled strawberry jam

On it.

I tried

To scratch his eyes out.

The authorities

Intervened.

Edwina?

I'm afraid

I've come to spill jam

On your party dress.

What do you mean?

The maharani is sending you

Away in the morning.

No. I won't go.

You'd better.

She means it.

No, Tom.

I've thought it all out,

And this time I know

I'm right.

I must be right.

Believe me, Tom.

I'm in love for the first

Time in my life--

Completely,

Honestly in love.

I believe you.

So you can tell

The maharani I won't go.

Yeah. She'll probably

Have you shot.

She can, you know.

I'll risk it.

And will you risk

Destroying him?

I won't destroy him.

He loves me.

I'm sure of it.

That's why you must go.

Let's try to look

At this thing realistically.

The maharani's

Giving Rama his choice.

He can have Ranchipur or you.

He can't have both.

You're asking me to give up

The only real chance

For happiness I've ever had.

Don't get me started.

I hate scenes.

Ah. 6:
00.

I'm on duty.

Cheerio, Tom.

You've done your duty

Like a good little soldier.

Coolie. Coolie.

The glass.

Good morning.

I couldn't sleep.

I had to come

And talk to you.

Listen.

Ah, that's a good sign.

It means that life

Is going on again.

It means we're going to win.

Last night, for the first time,

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