All language subtitles for The Far Pavilions (Peter Duffell, 1984) Part 2.english

Throughout that time in India,
the British were in a continual state of war

with the fiercely independent tribes
along their northwest frontier.

[gunshot]

[gunshot]

[gunshots]

An extraordinary regiment was raised
to deal with them.

It was named...
The Corps of Guides,

and it's headquarters
were here at Mardan.

Composed entirely of native volunteers,
Hindus, Sikhs and Muslims,

and led by a handful of
specially selected British officers,

they wrote some of the
most glorious chapters

in the annals of military history.

In 1865 I had the honor
to be Commandant,

which was when
this story really began.

...Yes, yes, Ash-Baba,
we are playing a game,

that your name is Ashok,
and that you are my true son.

What is your name,
my son?

Ashok.

Yes.

[knocking]

Come in.

Excuse me, Sir.

What do you want, Richard?

[Ashton enters carrying a load of rifles
and dumps them on the floor]

They are, Sir.

Sorry, we took so long.

Are the others with you?

Oh, yes sir, all except Absah.

He's dead.

And Dilasah Kahn?

He's dead, too.

I hope they're worth such
a high price to pay for anything.

For honor.

Honor.

[Ashton collapses]

Let's get him to
his quarters.

Orderly!

I suppose he'll have
to be court-martialed.

Seems a pity.

After all, when you come think of it.
It was a damn fine show.

I've been talking to
Abal Shan.

If you're play devil's advocate,
you're wasting your time.

It's my duty to be here.

Now as I understand it.
The young... uh...

What's his name?

Pelham-Martyn.
This young man took it upon...

himself to go chasing
some stolen carbines.

He felt that his friends had
been unfairly disgraced.

Never mind what he felt.

What he did was to go
absent without leave...

for the purpose of
recovering the rifles...

And created a frontier
legend in the process.

Insubordinate young bastard.

I'm bound to say it sounds as
though he has to be court-martialed,

if only to encourage the others.

And we'll cashier him.
Or I'll know the reason why.

Sir, you have to keep order
in this part of the world.

And the was things are going
in Afghanistan, General,

it seems to me you might have
to mount a campaign any day now.

Let's stick to the subject
of Pelham-Martyn, can we?

I am, sir, the most useful thing
you can possible have is

information, early and
accurate information,

and that's why young Pelham-Martyn
is far too valuable to be thrown away.

There are other corps,
could work for him.

We're not like any other corps.

Sir.

We were formed to gather
trustworthy intelligence,

beyond, as well as
within, our borders.

Exactly sir, if one of our officers
can spend a fair amount of time

on the other side of the border
without being spotted as an Englishman-

or shot as a spy-

then he's too bloody useful to
lose, and that's it and all about it.

Adrian

I'm convinced, sir.

Yes, so I believe am I.

Of course I wouldn't dream in
going against your advice, General.

But, what are we
going to do with him?

We can't just let him stay on
as though nothing had happened.

Can we?

No, no. of course not.

But the sooner he leaves
Mardan, the better.

Personally, I'd like to see
him transferred to another unit,

for a couple of years,
preferably a British one

where he can cool
his heels for a bit,

and mix with his own
people for a change.

He needs to get right
away from the frontier,

and his Pathan friends,

until he's needed.

Detail... eyes right!

Detail... eyes front!

Detail... halt!

[Singing in the shower]

Hello.

Are you the chap
that's been billeted here?

Ashton Hilary Pelham-Martyn.

A mouthful isn't it?

Walter Richard Pollock Hamilton.

I'll call you Ash.

Well, most people do.

I think I'll call you Wally.

So far so fairly friendless.

You're in the Guides?

I'm only in the 70th Foot, myself.

Still one has to start somewhere.

70th Foot, that was
Wellington's Regiment, wasn't it?

Good Lord, man,
that was the 33rd.

A black mark for the beak
who taught you history.

You're in fine fettle.

Well, that just goes to show,
I'm broken-hearted, actually.

Why's that?

I met the love of my life
on shipboard.

You, too.

Like a drink?

Yes, thanks.

A lovely girl.

16, figure like an hour glass,
and hair the color of ripe corn,

but with eyes
like the summer sky.

She led me on through
the entire voyage,

and then two days out of
Bombay she passed me over

for some old fart in
the political department.

A geriatric. 30 if he was a day.

Can you beat it?

Yes, as a matter
of fact, I can.

Really?

What was the name of your

Belle Dame Sans Merci?

Belinda.

Belinda.

Difficult.

Never mind. I shall
commit her to poetry.

Belinda Harlowe, if that helps.

Not a lot.

Still, let's see.

[Wally composes poetry
with bugle call in background]

Come on, admit it.
You're beaten.

Absolutely not.

The Muse has finally
come through.

'A fellow with more dash than cash,

'thought his courting was proving a smash.

'The beastly Belinda,

'burnt his hopes to a cinder,

'but couldn't demoralize Ash. '

[Ashton checking out
the inventories]

Two brandies.

Well, I was, or thought I was
a Hindu for almost seven years.

It's almost a lifetime to a child.

But now I'm an outcast.

My touch, even my
shadow devours me.

That's not the case
with Muslims.

No, it isn't, but,

all the time we were
hunting Dilasah Kahn,

when I lived and thought,
and fought as one of them,

I don't believe they really
ever forgot that I was a Sahib.

Trouble is, I can't really
see myself as being a Sahib.

I suppose I'm what the foreign
office might call a stateless person.

A citizen of no man's land.

"A paradise of fools
to few unknown."

Limbo, according to Milton.

Oh, yes.

I don't know about
the Paradise, though, Wally.

Pretty thick with
one another, those two.

Um.

Inseparable.

Um.

Unnaturally so?

Lordy, you don't
mean to suggest...

Not on earth, as yet.

Well, yes,

but, dash it, you don't expect
that sort of thing in your own brigade.

Personally, I've been trying
to keep an eye on them.

[Wally and Ash watch native
songs and dance]

Do you know what she's saying?

'My beloved's face is very handsome.

'God makes such faces rarely.

Present... arms!

Zarin!

Ashok!

Ha, ha, ha.

It was good of you to come.

But have we both
not ridden half way!

Sit here. Sit.

Well, d'you think we'll
have another Afghan War?

Phaa, there's much talk
which is above my head.

But the officer Sahibs
seem to think it likely.

I hope to God we do
better than the first.

That is Allah will.

All I know is we of the
Guides will fight bravely.

Yes, I'm sure you'll
cover yourselves with glory.

And that is what grieves me.

That you will not be there
to share our glory.

Now, how much longer do they
mean to keep you tied to a desk?

Soon it will be three years
since you were at the Corps.

It's time you came
home to us.

Yes, but unfortunately the damned
authorities don't seem to agree.

Zarin.

What's the matter with you?

I'm dying.

Dying.

I've had prickly heat, sand fly
fever, dysentery and dengue.

And now I've finally
succumbed to heat stroke.

To cap it all-if that's the phrase-
I've put a boil on my bottom.

Gul Bas!

Fetch Hamilton Sahib's bearer, will you?

To get him up and get him dressed.

I don't think you could have heard.

Come on, buck up.

Best thing for a boil on the
bottom is a trip to Kashmir.

[Ow...]

Have you heard of
The Far Pavilions, Wally?

No, I can't say I have.

It's the highest mountain in the
range you can see from Gulkote.

A great... crown of snow peaks.

I used to say my prayers to them.

Ha. Silly isn't it.

Have you read of Aurora Leigh?

No.

"Earth's crammed with heaven, and
every common bush afire with God;

but only he who sees
takes off his shoes."

You took off yours, that's all.

How'd you get that scar, Ash?

I was branded.

What?

With the end of
a pistol barrel.

My God!

Courtesy of one Biju Ram,
nicknamed the scorpion.

He took particular pleasure
in tormenting me as a child.

Actually I was lucky he didn't kill me
for laying hands on my princely employer.

Why?

He'd been baiting my pet mongoose
so it finally bit him. He had it destroyed.

I went quite mad, so...

Sounds like a charming
sort of fellow.

Ha, ha.

Well, after that, things
went from bad to worse,

In fact, apart from Sita, there were
only two people that were bearable.

Koda Dad was one of them.

The Pathan Master of Horse.

Umm.

Who was the other one.

It was Lalji's sister, Anjuli Bai.

She was a funny little object,
of mixed blood.

Her mother was half Russian.

I didn't know that
then, of course, but

perhaps that's what
brought us together.

It's over...
I haven't thought about for years.

On the night I escaped from Gulkote,
she gave me her most

precious possession as a luck charm.

I had nothing whatsoever to give her.

So in a flash of inspiration
I broke it in two

gave her half, and I
still carry mine around.

She has superstition, really.

God knows where she is now.

[Princess Anjuli,
also called Juli or Juli-Bai,

Juli-Bai, the gods be thanked
that I have found you.

What is it, Uncle.

It's Shushila, she
needs you. Come quickly

Oh, be quiet, Shushila.

No, I will not. I will not be quiet.

Oh, shut up, Shu-shu.

If you go on like that,
you'll ruin your looks.

And no one will ever
want to marry you.

Help me, Juli.

What have you done to her?

I simply told her that I'm
arranging a marriage for her.

To one of the richest rulers
in all Rajpuhtan.

The Rana of Bhithor.

He is old! He is as old
as the hills, I tell you!

All the more reason
for you to respect him.

But, he'll die.

He's going to die
before I do.

And then I shall have
to become suttee.

Have you not been
brought up for that?

Did our own mother not join
our father's body on the funeral pyre?

What more fitting end
for ruler's widow?

Don't let him do this
to me, Juli?

Please don't let him do this.

You know the idea of suttee
has always terrified her.

She'll do as she's told.

No, I will not!

I will not!

Shushila you must
obey Nandu.

No!

Let me go with her.

As what?

As her serving woman?

Don't be ridiculous.

You will only be her half-sister,

but you're still a princess,
and the daughter of a Rajah.

I will not go without her.

Juli!

Promise me you'll come with me.

Promise me!

I give you my word.
I will stay with you always, Shu-shu.

Oh, very well, the Rana will just
have to marry you, as well, Anjuli.

See to it, Kaka-ji R'o.

Highness the emissaries, to be told,
would never agree to such an arrangement.

Oh, they will. If we make
it worth their while.

Now take her away before
I lose all patience with her.

[Nandu's brother, Prince Jhoti, watches]

Double wedding?

Now you must let me
accompany the wedding procession,

especially, as you say, affairs of
state prevent you from doing so.

No!

Why not?

I did not become Maharajah
by arguing with children.

Least of all my younger brother.

No.

You did it by arranging
"accidents" for all you rivals.

That will do.

I've told you before, and
I'm telling you once more,

you will not accompany
the wedding procession.

I hate you!

Go!

All of you!

Go, I say.

Biju Ram.

Was I convincing with the boy?

Very, Your Highness!

Ask and see him publicly
banished, too.

If possible, even more so.

But, I can hardly be blamed,
if he were to disobey me,

and meet with an "accident,"
could I?

Your Highness need
have no fear on that score.

Two whiskeys, please.

God, this place
is so boring.

What, with the Club opened?

I don't know.
I've had a cracking good day.

Color enzyme, no less.

Of course, it's not real something.

Still.

I can't wait to get
into the Guides, Ash.

Nor can I.

One finds that sort of racial
snobbery extraordinarily offensive.

All you Anglo-Indians get on
admirable with you inferiors,

and enjoy the company
of your betters,

but you don't seem to care to make
friends with Indians of your own class.

May one ask, sir, how many
years you've spent here?

I would stash it
if I were you.

Well, you're not.

The answer to your question,
my dear sir, is none.

One is merely a visitor.

On one's first visit,
evidently.

A circumstance which allows
for the fresh eye and the open mind.

You can't have seen or understood
much, if you think it's just a case

of us cold-shouldering them.

What makes you think they
anything to do with us?

After all we are...

What?

Their conquerors?

You mean as members of a
subject race they should be

thankful if we condescend
to visit them in their homes?

I said and meant
nothing of the sort.

You've no right to
put words into my mouth, sir.

If I do you an injustice, sir,
I apologize.

Give it up, for pity's sake.

I just people like him
were capable of seeing it

from the Indian point of view!

Insufferable young toff!

In what way, sir?

Well, imagine your England
being a conquered territory.

A colony in which Indians hold
every post of any real authority,

with an Indian governor-general,
and council proclaiming and

enforcing laws which are completely
alien to you way of life and thought,

Indians running the public services,
garrisoning your country,

and silencing any protest
with brute force.

And don't forget, sir, the last of those
protests was less than 20 years ago.

In the circumstances, sir, would you
be keen to get on close and friendly terms

with your Indian rulers?

God almighty.

You don't even know
what I'm talking about!

Do you?

So there.

Rather unorthodox view.
Extraordinary young man.

I do apologize, sir.

Damn bad form.

Bloody cheek, and bloody
bad manners.

We ought to force the young
to apologize or get out of the Club.

The Committee can look after it...

Horsen's a pompous ass.

Uh huh.

But, no British officer has the
right to say that sort of thing,

or ever think it.

And by Indians... putting ideas
into people's heads, that is.

Damned treasonable ideas, too, huh?

Now come along. We can put your
surplus energy to much better use.

Come on!

[going to give Ash
a sound thrashing]

You bastards!

[Wally joins the fray]

[Gul Bas joins in]

Black.

Black.

Well, they started it,
hang it all.

No, it was my fault.
I shouldn't have gone off the deep end.

So... what are they
going to do with us?

Well.
This one's for you.

Bloody hell!

'I am commanded to inform you
that you are to escort the wedding

'procession of the two sisters
of his Highness Maharajah of Karidkote.

'to Rajputana to marry
the Rana of Bhithor.

Karicote's somewhere
in the north, isn't it?

Bhitor's right down on the south.
You could be gone for years, Ash.

You can't think I deserve this?

They need a linguist, with a thorough
knowledge of Hindu character and customs.

This takes me even further
from the frontier.

That, too.

Promoted captain.

Temporarily.

That's small consolation for
having to be a combination of

sheep dog, supply officer and
nurse maid to a parcel of

squealing women and palace parasites.

And in the polo season, too.

Could be a bit of a lark, though.

Well, it looks as though you'll

have to find someone else
to share your bungalow.

That, uh, that won't be necessary.

I'm taking Hamilton back to
Mardan with me

to be interviewed by the C.O.
as a potential Guides officer.

Well, now I know
there's no justice.

Don't expect me
to wish you luck.

You'll bloody well need it.

If he has any sense,
which he has,

the old man will jump at
the chance of having him.

Hallelujah!

Shut up, Wally.

[The wedding procession
from Karidkote to Bhithor]

[The Princess Shushila
calls to the guard]

What is the matter?

The Princes Shushila is complaining that
the swaying of the howdahs

is making her unwell.
I've tried to reason with her, but

she insists the Raj-kumaris (princesses)
be immediately transferred to a carriage.

Very well.

[Ash catches up
with the procession]

[Koda Dad approaches]

Ha, ha, ha, ha.

Father.

So, you have not
forgotten me, my son.

What are you
doing here?

Am I not master
of horse?

Of Gulkote not Karidkote.

They have become
one and the same.

The new Rajah next to the
nearby state of Karida

was granted title as Maharajah of the
combined state of Karidkote.

By the new Rajah you
mean prince Lalji.

Oh, no, your former
master is dead.

Poor devil.

I was afraid they'd
get him in the end.

In that case
who did succeed?

A Prince Nandu. The son
of the old Rajah's third wife.

Then who are the princesses?

The senior bride, in fact the
younger, is the Princess Shushila,

full sister to Nandu.

And the other?

When you were a young
child with us, she, even younger,

used to follow you
with adoring eyes.

Anjuli!

How did you no know
these things, my son?

I suppose I was too
annoyed by this posting

to take the
trouble to find out.

Tell me, Father, are there
any others in this party

who might remember
the boy Ashok?

None who would
recognize him.

For you are much changed,
and a Burra-Sahib (great man).

Then, as a Burra-Sahib,
I'd better take up my command.

Come.

Have a care. For if you are
discovered Nandu will surely give orders

that you get killed.

And Biju Ram is still alive.

Captain Ashton Pelham-
Martyn at your service.

Greetings.

I am Murash, commander of the
state forces of Karidkote.

Permit me to
present the Rao Sahib,

uncle to the two princesses,
Shushila and Anjuli.

Your servant, Rao Sahib.

Greetings, Pelham Sahib.

We are happy you are with us
on the journey to Bhithor.

Murash, stop the procession.

Just hold on.

Give me your hand.

Are you unharmed, Highness?

Well done.

None but the Sahib would dare to lay
hands on Their Highnesses as you did.

Had they been killed, who knows
what vengeance the brother

the Maharajah Nandu would
have taken on us.

I owe you my life, I think.

You gave me mine
when I was a child, father.

[chuckling]

[ procession sets up for encampment]

Good, now perhaps you can help me
get the circle into some kind of order.

Very well.

Right.

Horse lines here; camels and
billets here; elephants lines there.

Debar tents here; princesses here
and here; Rao Sahib here; my tent there.

Horse lines here; camels and
billets here; elephant lines there.

Well, have you inspected
tomorrow's route?

Yes, and in spite of today's
incident, I'm happy with it,

but, we're not moving tomorrow.

Why not?

The senior bride will not
countenance it.

In fact she has just sent word,
that she is suffering from shock sickness.

She flatly refuses to move anywhere
for at least two more days.

Princess or not, she throws her
weight about a bit, doesn't she?

They say, it's not such a tiresome
decision as it might have been.

Food stocks are high, and
we've ample water from the river.

Hum.

Pelham Sahib.

Good afternoon, Rao Sahib.

I trust you have recovered
from your exertions?

More so, I gather, than the
Raj-kumaris (princesses).

Between ourselves, the princess
Shushila is still indulging herself somewhat.

Nevertheless, she and her sister
bid me to invite you to the

Durbar tent this evening
to receive their thanks.

This is an honor
I cannot refuse.

My nieces are unveiled,
as you see.

I am indeed honored.

This is because they
owe their lives to you.

Oh, I wouldn't go
as far as that.

But for you,
they would be dead.

This very day their pyres
would have been lit

the river would have
received their ashes,

and tomorrow we would be
returning home in shame and disgrace.

We have much to thank
you for, Pelham Sahib,

And from now, you are as a
brother to the Raj-kumaris (princesses).

Then I am more than honored.

But I must insist there
was no real danger.

Modesty is what is to be
appraised above valor,

and it is plain that Pelham Sahib
possesses both at full measure.

We will eat with you.

It is a singular mark of favor.

I hope you're not too
displeased with me

for feeling unable to continue
with the march tomorrow.

No. You had a nasty shock.
Both of you.

Besides I could think of worse
places to pass a couple of days.

I noticed black buck as well
as jinkara out in the plain.

It will be pleasant to spend
a day or two shooting

whilst Your Highnesses recover.

Or hawking.

Better still.

Oh yes, then we could go too,
could we not, Juli?

If our uncle agrees.

It would not be seemly.

But, if we put our minds to it, surely
there must be some way of arranging

things so that Juli and I do not
have to observe strict purdah.

Don't look at me Your Highness.
It would be more than my life's worth

to express an opinion
on such a matter.

It would not be seemly.

But, why not?

Anjuli's wrists may
be strong enough.

Yours are not.

Then I shall watch.

It is not seemly.

You young people may be able to do
without your sleep, but I cannot.

It has been a very
pleasant evening, Rao Sahib.

Your Highness has
dropped something.

[Here Ashton places his half of
the fish emblem in front of her]

This must be yours, I think.

Yes it is mine.

We must have some
more parties.

[Anjuli realizes this is
the other half of her emblem]

[and understands who he really is]

Who is it?
What do you want?

No harm, Sahib.
A word with me.

Well speak then, I'm listening.

The Raj-kumari, my mistress
Anjuli-Bai, she pays that

you will tell her from whom received
a certain piece of mother-of-pearl.

Huh.

I cannot help the Raj-kumari.

Tell her that I am sorry,
but I know nothing.

Sahib, I beg of you.

You'd better come in.

I'm greatly honored, Your Highness,
but is this wise?

If it is for yourself that you are
afraid, you have no cause to be,

for I sleep alone in there,
so no one will miss me.

If I feared for myself,
I would not be here.

Yes, I am afraid, and if
you are not, you should be.

This touches on your honor,

and I have no desire
to get a knife between my ribs.

So go and go quickly, please,
before we are discovered.

Tell me what I ask, and I will
trouble you no more, I swear it.

What is it you want to know?

What you gave me
is the half of a luck charm,

that once long ago
I, myself, gave...

[voices calling nearby]

So you are afraid, after all.

Before I answer your questions,
I would like to know who else you would tell.

I do not understand.

Are there no others who might
wish to know about this friend of yours?

One who befriended him,
Koda Dad.

But I will not tell him,
if that is your wish.

What about his enemies?

Most of them are dead.

There is a man called Biju Ram,
but he is out of favor with Nandu.

Besides, he would have
forgotten my friend,

as has everyone else.

Except yourself.

Then you see he...
he was a brother to me.

A true brother
as my own was not.

And I do not remember
my mother.

She fell out of favor
before she died.

She was of Russian blood.

I was called the half-caste.

Even the servants knew
they need not treat me well.

Had it not been for Ashok and his mother,
I should have been friendless, indeed.

And you cannot know what that
kindness meant to the child that I was.

I had no one else to love.

And when they went away, I thought
that I should die of grief and loneliness.

They had to go.

I could not believe that
they would send me no word.

Or that Ashok would not come back.

You see, he promised.

Do you not know me, Juli?

What do you mean?

Do you not recognize
your Ashok?

It is not kind
to make game with me, Sahib.

I'm not!

Have I changed so much?

But you are a sahib.

An Angrezi sahib.
How could you be Ashok?

He was the son of one
of my waiting women.

So I always thought.

But it was not so.

In every way that mattered,
Sita had been my mother for 11 years.

She was not my real mother.

I am sahib.

I was Ashok.

If you do not believe me,
ask Koda Dad.

Laola!

Ashok!

[Juli crying]

Don't cry, Juli.

There isn't anything
to cry about.

It's all right.

I'm here.

I have come back.