Wee Willie Winkie Page #6

She wasn't home.

No hope?

Oh, Grandfather, I do hope

Sergeant MacDuff's feeling better.

Yes, my dear, much better.

I'm awfully glad, because I gotta talk

to him about something- a secret.

All right, my dear.

You can go in.

- But don't stay too long.

- I won't. Thank you.

- I'm glad she came.

- Yes, he's been asking for her.

I'll take them.

Private Winkie reporting, Sergeant.

Before we commence drill...

you'll please repeat...

the recruiter's motto.

Fear God, honor the queen,

shoot straight and keep clean.

Very good, lassie.

Lassie...

will ya...

sing me...

the song once more?

Should auld acquaintance be forgot

And never brought to mind

Should auld acquaintance be forgot

And days auld lang syne

For auld lang syne, my dear

For auld lang syne

We'll take a cup o' kindness yet

For auld lang syne

So here's a hand, my trusty friend

And "gies" us a hand of thine

We'll meet again some other day

For the days of auld lang syne

Shh. He's asleep.

Don't you cry.

He isn't going to transfer you.

Sergeant MacDuff.

They're taking you away from me.

I want you to come back

and play with me some more.

Orderly?

- Orderly!

- It's only me.

What are you doing out of bed

at this time of night?

I couldn't go to sleep.

I've been awfully worried

about something.

- I had to come and ask you about it.

- Oh?

Well, what is it?

Why did Sergeant MacDuff

have to- have to-

I liked him. I liked him so much.

Sergeant MacDuff died

as a brave soldier should-

for his queen.

But the queen didn't want him to die.

Did she?

- Why, no, of course not.

- Then why-

Now, you're only a little child.

You can't understand.

No, I guess I don't.

That's why I came to you.

Why is everybody so mad at Khoda Khan?

Why do they all want to shoot him?

We're not mad at Khoda Khan.

England wants to be friends

with all of her people.

But if we don't shoot Khoda Khan,

Khoda Khan will shoot us.

Now come here.

Let me try and explain to you.

It's our job to keep the big pass open...

so that trade can flow through it.

- You know what trade is?

- Yes, Grandfather.

Good. And bring peace and prosperity

to everybody, even to Khoda Khan.

Couldrt you go

and explain all that to him?

It wouldn't be much use.

For thousands ofr years,

these Pathans have lived by plundering.

They don't seem to realize

they'd live much better...

if they planted crops

and traded and became civilized.

But, Grandfather, I don't want

anybody more to get killed.

Neither do I, my child.

Neither do I.

But don't worry your little head

about that anymore tonight.

- Oh, I wish something could be done.

- You run along to bed!

- Good night, Grandfather.

- Good night, little child.

- Oh, you frightened me.

- What are you doing here?

I'm going to see Khoda Khan.

Please help me get my pony.

And be very quiet.

Khoda Khan live far away.

I take you to him.

Oh, thank you.

I'm sure I'd have had an awful lot

of trouble finding his house.

Come, come.

Priscilla!

- Father, Priscilla, she's gone.

- Gone?

- Her bed hasn't been slept in.

- Eh?

- Bagby. Bagby, go to the stable.

See if the child's there.

- Yes, sir.

Then Mohammet Dihn

stole his can't and clothes.

The sentries, thinking he was the regular

driver, allowed the car to leave the post.

Then-Then Mohammet Dihn

took her away.

We found her footprints in the dust

beside the tracks of the can't.

The whole thing's clear to me now.

Mohammet Dihn's the spy.

- And he's taking her there.

- To Khoda Khan?

Sound the assembly!

Well, Mr. Khan certainly does

have a lot of steps in his house.

- Oh. Only 400 or 500 more. Come on.

- Oh, my goodness.

Khoda Khan. Khoda Khan.

Khoda Khan.

Mohammet Dihn.

It's a lovely morning, isn't it?

Khoda Khan!

- Khoda Khan.

- Speak, Mohammet Dihn.

- I bring you great treasure.

- Rifles?

No. Colonel Sahib's little granddaughter.

- You brought her here?

- Yes. Outside.

Then they will come-

colonel, officers, everybody.

Through the pass, up the steps.

A whole regiment wiped out.

Allah be praised.

Mohammet Dihn, where are you?

Mohammet Dihn?

- How do you do, Mr. Khan?

- Welcome, little one.

How do you do, Mr. Khan?

They will not harm you, my chieftains.

I didn't know it was so far.

It's a good thing I didn't come by myself,

like I was going to.

- You were coming here by yourself?

- Yes.

I decided last night

I had to see you, Mr. Khan.

Right away, to talk to you.

If you don't mind, may I sit down?

I'm awful tired.

And awful hungry too.

Now eat, and we will talk.

It's about the war.

- I want to ask you a question.

- Ask.

You don't want a lot of your friends

to be killed, do you?

No.

Then don't you think it's awful silly

to be mad all the time and fighting...

when you don't have to?

Why don't you ask your grandfather

that question?

I did, and he said he didn't want the war,

but you wanted it.

Then you would stop the war, wouldn't you,

if I could make you understand?

What is there to understand?

What my grandfather told me.

That the queen wants to protect

all her people and make them

happy and rich and all that.

It's no laughing matter!

It's true, all of it!

All you have to do is to sit down

and talk it over with my grandfather.

Please don't laugh at me, Mr. Khan.

Allah himself would laugh, my child.

Then you want to fight.

And I thought you were good.

You had such nice eyes.

And I gave you back your necklace.

Please, Mr. Khan.

Please don't have any war.

Please don't.

Between your people and mine,

little one...

there can be only war.

Then you want war! You want to fight!

You want to kill people!

Like you did my friend.

Poor Sergeant MacDuff.

Oh, I hate you. I hate you!

I think you're all very, very mean!

"We will attack immediately

unless the child is released. "

Khoda Khan!

Well, Mr. Dihn.

Zig, forward.

"Come thou.

Long has Khoda Khan waited...

to meet the British in battle

on these steps. "

- Shall we attack, sir?

- Impossible.

Shouldn't have a chance.

They'd wipe us all out.

What are you going to do, sir?

If I don't come back with Winkie,

you'll have to fight your way through.

Stuart, you'll attack left flank.

- Yes, sir.

- Brandes.

- You know what you have to do.

- Yes, sir.

Stand fast!

Grandfather! Grandfather!

Grandfather!

Grandfather!

Oh, Grandfather.

Here's one for MacDuff.

Please don't let them

shoot my grandfather.

You will not be harmed.

Khoda Khan, I-

I owe you a debt of gratitude.

You owe a debt of gratitude to her,

your granddaughter.

Incredible.

Most extraordinary.

Now we shall talk,

Colonel Williams, but quietly.

Battalion, attention!

Parades will retire...

in fours from the right!

Battalion, arms up!

Arms up!

- Private Winkie.

- Yes, Private Mott?

I'm forced to admit

that you make a very good soldier.

You-Well, you covered

yourself with glory...

and distinction on the field of battle.

Thank you, Private Mott.

Sergeant MacDuff, he would have

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