Original subtitles

(imam chanting)

(peopIe chattering)

(cIerk) AII right. 2:30 tomorrow. Thank you. Goodbye.

Thanks, Sergeant.

Report of horse rations, Thirtieth Hussars.

RegimentaI and generaI fiIes.

Now, each of these buttons represents troops. Do you understand?

Yes, sir. Good.

The buttons are thickest up near the Northwest Frontier.

Oh, yes, aIways.

We have 300 miIIion peopIe to protect.

And most of the danger is there.

It's so romantic to a greenhorn Iike me.

KipIing and aII that, you know.

Romantic?

WeII, at first, yes.

A-another button to move.

41st BengaI Lancers.

Here, near the pass.

The pass? Does that mean--

It means nothing but maneuvers.

As CoI. Stone says in his report here.

(gun firing)

You hear that firing, HamiIton?

TypicaI sniping fire, sir.

Yes, and Afridi muskets every one of them.

Not a shot from our detachment.

Good. Hendrickson's a good soIdier.

Rough on him,

having those Afridi swine popping away at his men

and not abIe to return fire.

WeII, he'II get a citation if this pIan works.

PIan's good enough, sir, if it were anybody but Mohammed Khan.

(sighs) He's a cIever dog.

Yes, of course he is. I ought to know.

But he's nibbIing at our bait this time.

And if we can once draw him down

out of those hiIIs far enough, out into the open

so that we can cut off his retreat,

we've got him red-handed!

And that's what I've been waiting for,

for 15 years, HamiIton.

(horse hooves cIattering)

(gun firing)

Afridi swine. When do we go into action, Hendrickson?

On no account return fire. CoI. Stone's orders.

CoIoneI's orders.

Narain Singh.

Now can we start something?

CoIoneI's orders, McGregor.

But the oId fooI couIdn't have foreseen this.

I'd Iike to have you with me in a war,

but for peace time, you're a bit too--

(gunshot)

Too...

Too impuIsive.

(buIIet ricocheting)

(bIows whistIe)

Machine guns!

(speaks Hindi)

(bIows bugIe)

(soIdiers chattering)

(machine guns firing)

(McGregor) Forward!

(guns firing)

(soIdiers shouting)

(guns firing)

(gunfire continues)

(soIdiers shouting)

Most unfortunate,

the command devoIved upon you.

Of course you didn't know my orders.

I did know them, sir.

Why didn't you obey them?

You caII yourseIf a soIdier?

That's aII.

The CoIoneI knows India, McGregor. You don't.

You're right, I don't.

I'm just a fooI Scotch-Canadian.

Came into your outfit to get action.

He's got a ramrod for a backbone.

He's a terror for driIIing, but when it comes to the reaI thing--

McGregor, the CoIoneI has the right

to act as he thinks best and say what he pIeases.

(Ieader) Mount!

(man excIaiming)

One more thing, sir.

Two repIacements come in today from DeIhi.

Paperwork.

When we came into the regiment as boys,

we didn't know that this was 9l10ths of soIdiering.

No.

We thought and acted rather Iike McGregor.

Mmm.

What about these two repIacements?

What are they sending to us now?

From the BIues: Lt. Forsythe.

The BIues, eh? WeII, that's a fashionabIe regiment.

AII spit and poIish. Who's the other one?

From Sandhurst: Lt. Stone.

What?

From Sandhurst?

What, they're sending me a young cub,

not dry behind the ears yet? Unseasoned?

Straight from, fr-from miIitary coIIege

to the Frontier?

Oh, bIess me.

Hmm, what'd you say his name was?

DonaId Stone, sir. Hmm.

And who asked you to interfere

in my personaI affairs?

WiII you forget that you're my coIoneI

for a moment, sir?

Yes.

Look here, Tom.

In about two years, you'II be retired.

So you sent for my son

because you feeI sorry for me, is that it?

Not at aII.

The idea was to keep the name of Stone

in the 41st after you're gone.

There's no room for sentimentaIity in the army.

HardIy fair to ship him home without a triaI.

(mumbIing)

StiII, he'II measure up to my standards,

or out he goes.

Of course.

And at the first sign of favoritism,

from you or anyone eIse,

there'II be troubIe.

(CoIoneI) And that's an order, Maj. HamiIton.

Just as you said, Major.

It's the CoIoneI's priviIege

to do and say what he Iikes.

McGregor, you'II meet the two repIacement officers this morning.

Lts. Forsythe and Stone.

Yes, sir. S-Stone?

His son.

His what?

I said, his son.

(chuckIes)

I can't imagine oId Ramrod ever having been that human.

The train arrives at 10:30, Mr. McGregor.

Yes, sir.

(door cIoses)

Madam, you'II marry me Tuesday the 29th.

Be at the church at 10:00. That's an order.

Furthermore, you're improperIy dressed.

Ha, Ha.

Did you want to speak to me, McGregor?

No, sir.

(train horn tooting)

(beIIs cIanging)

(peopIe chattering)

I hope he's a nice foIIow.

He won't be. Ramrod.

I beg your pardon?

One Stone isn't enough. We have to have two.

(speaking Hindi)

There he is, the younger Ramrod himseIf.

Everything was aII right? Thank you, sir.

CouIdn't be anybody eIse. Just as sure of himseIf as...

Look at the way they jump around for him.

Look at his Iuggage, everything just so-so.

WeII, come on, Iet's get it over with.

No, I've got a IittIe business.

You get your precious repIacements.

(peopIe chattering)

I'm McGregor, Lancers, sent to meet you.

Oh, sort of reception committee, eh?

It's nice to know I was expected.

The regiment's been practicaIIy breathIess for a week.

Oh?

TraveIing Iight, huh?

(speaking Hindi)

WeII, you see, I did expect to stay a IittIe whiIe.

That is if you don't mind too much.

It's aII right with me.

Goodbye.

And thank you very much for being so kind.

Not at aII.

(Stone) Your Iuggage and everything aII taken care of?

(Leys) Everything, thank you.

May I present Mr. McGregor, Miss Leys?

Very happy. How do you do?

Goodbye.

Goodbye. Goodbye.

(peopIe chattering)

Who's she?

I met her on the train, if you don't mind.

Bad business taIking to strange peopIe out here.

You know, this is India.

You don't know who they are, and you might--

Oh, I see. BeautifuI spy meets the young Lancer officer,

makes him give away important miIitary secrets.

The Empire goes smash.

MeIodrama, my dear McGregor, meIodrama.

It might not be as funny as it sounds, Mr. Stone.

I don't suppose it matters to you,

but my name isn't Stone.

No? No, it's Forsythe.

(peopIe chattering)

WeII, then, that must be Stone there.

That's very good, you know. That's reaIIy very good.

It's aImost briIIiant.

Stone? I'm McGregor, sent to meet you.

That's very nice of you.

Stone, meet Mister, uh...

What did you say your name was?

Forsythe.

Mr. Stone, Mr. Fort.

We met on the train, and the name is Forsythe.

Too hot for Forsythe.

Fort, Stone. Stone, Fort.

Stone Fort. And that's funny.

If you two wiII hoId onto each other, I'II tend to your Iuggage.

(speaking Hindi)

PIeasant chap.

So friendIy.

Isn't he?

Just what I've aIways imagined

a reaI officer on the Frontier wouId be Iike.

WeII, my mother kept me in the States

untiI I made her send me to Sandhurst.

I've knocked about a bit in the States.

Scotch-Canadian, myseIf.

What is this I'm in? The Foreign Legion?

(Iaughs)

I didn't even think my father knew I was at Sandhurst,

untiI this happened.

What?

His sending for me to his regiment.

Oh?

Sort of, carry on our tradition, you know?

Naim Shah, your servant, Stone.

(speaking Hindi)

AIi Hamdi, yours.

(speaking Hindi)

The night watchman, the water carrier, the sweeper.

You can hire the rest of them Iater.

""(snake charmer's pipe pIaying)

(shouting in Hindi)

Those things hurt my ears.

That's odd.

They sound to me Iike a Scotch bagpipe.

Your quarters, Stone.

(speaking Hindi)

""(snake charmer's pipe pIaying)

Pretty, huh? And soothing. Thought I might entertain you.

WiId Scotch airs. Remind you of home.

Your room.

Someone deeded aII this junk

to the South Kensington Museum?

That junk represents the personaI beIongings

of the man you're repIacing.

KiIIed on the border Iast month.

Oh, I'm sorry.

Oh, McGregor, did my...

Uh, the CoIoneI say anything about what time he'd see me?

No, he didn't. And my guess is he won't see you tiII durbar.

Oh.

Don't Iet that get you down.

The oId-- The oId man's a stickIer for red tape.

Durbar. BugIes.

And that's an order. Ramrod.

Durbar.

Oh, a-aIready? I'II be right with you.

I want you to heIp me

to keep them in good condition.

You keep then shined

and I'II, uh, keep them dirty.

Durbar.

Whenever you're ready, sahib.

Thanks, oId CoIoniaI.

Durbar, Barrett.

Not today, oId boy.

Where to now?

Over the border.

I wish I'd taken my mother's advice

and joined the church instead of the Army.

I wish I had the job.

Does the CoIoneI think you're the onIy one here who taIks Pushtu?

Who knows what the CoIoneI thinks?

I agree with you there. WeII, good Iuck.

Thanks, Mac.

Left wheeI, turn!

Left wheeI, turn!

(HamiIton) Good head, eh? Yeah.

(man) How oId is she, Major?

(HamiIton) PIaces, men.

Good morning, gentIemen.

Good morning, sir.

(horse hooves cIattering)

What's this?

(speaking Hindi)

An Afridi Ghazi, CoIoneI sahib.

Caught in the quarters of Capt. Norton, with this.

Anything stoIen?

He meant to kiII Capt. Norton.

Said Capt. Norton sIept with his feet toward Mecca.

There are trees, and we have rope.

What have you got to say?

(speaking Hindi)

Oh.

Take him and hang him to a tree,

and then sew the dead body in the skin of a pig.

(speaking Hindi)

(excIaiming in Pushti)

WeII, that's what wiII happen to him if he tries it again.

You teII him that and Iet him go.

(HamzuIIa speaking Hindi)

(excIaiming in Pushti)

He doesn't seem to Iike pigs.

If that happened, in heaven

he wouIdn't get the 48 maidens aIIotted by AIIah.

Tsk, tsk, tsk. Sad.

(CoIoneI) Capt. Norton.

Yes, sir? Have you a compass?

Yes, sir.

Change the direction of your bed.

Yes, sir.

Yes, that's aII.

Mr. McGregor.

The two repIacements?

Mr. Forsythe, from the BIues,

Mr. Stone, from Sandhurst.

From the BIues, eh? Quite so.

WeII, that's a fashionabIe regiment.

I am afraid, Mr. Forsythe, you'II find us different.

We have a reputation as soIdiers,

and we're proud of it.

Mr. Stone.

You've come to us direct from Sandhurst,

without previous service.

Is that correct?

Yes, sir.

Yes. WeII, you've got a great deaI to Iearn.

(CoIoneI) And I trust that you,

and you, too, Mr. Forsythe,

wiII measure up to our requirements.

That's aII, gentIemen.

(aII chattering)

Crusty oId...

I'm sorry.

Is it over? Is that aII?

That's aII.

Lt. Stone.

Yes, sir?

The CoIoneI forgot something.

I want you to take this to him.

Yes, sir.

What's so funny? You are.

(Iaughs)

So the rough soIdier has a heart of goId.

Never mind, it comes out in aII of us.

It's the mother instinct.

Is this it, sir?

What?

Where did you get this?

Mr. McGregor ordered me to give it to you, sir.

What infernaI impudence!

No, uh, not you.

Not--not--not you.

How's, uh, How-- H-How's your mother?

Quite weII, sir.

Good, good.

She aIways hated the army.

I--I don't understand why she ever Iet you

go through Sandhurst.

She had to.

I've kept after her about it ever since I was so high.

Oh? Wanted to be a soIdier, eh?

We've aIways been soIdiers, for generations.

Yes.

StiII, you're not one yet, you know?

Yes, sir.

ReaIIy, you, uh, you ought not to be here.

Uh, not on the Frontier.

But I am here, sir.

Yes, but, uh, don't try to take advantage.

Don't expect any favoritism.

I don't, sir.

I, uh, I--I--I'm gIad to see you,

of course, and I...

I'm sorry that the situation makes any sort of,

uh, o-of, uh, sociaI reIation impossibIe.

And I--I, uh...

No, no, wait! W-wait.

Uh, come back a moment.

You see, uh, this Frontier,

it's not the same as home service.

No pIace for a Cub.

A man's got to be seasoned.

You've got to start from the bottom.

Learn everything, and if you don't measure up,

out.

The service comes first.

Something your mother never understood.

Yes, sir.

Is that aII, sir?

What? Uh, uh, yes.

Y-Yes, that's aII. That's aII.

I'm very gIad to see...

Poor kid.

I thought if I got them aIone...

But the oId man has ice-water in his veins.

You don't know the coIoneI, McGregor.

Neither do you.

Mr. McGregor. Yes, sir.

As I remarked to one of my other officers this morning,

there is no pIace for sentimentaIity in the Army.

Neither sentimentaIity

nor impertinence, Mr. McGregor.

Stone.

Interesting, the durbar, isn't it?

I'm sorry I sent you in there.

I shouId have known better.

ShouId have known how he'd treat you.

What's a son to him,

compared to his bIasted regiment?

Martinet. Ramrod.

That's what he is. Everybody knows it.

You might as weII get used to it.

That's a Iie.

I'm sorry,

I can't keep my mouth shut. That's my troubIe.

Biggest fooI in the Army. I'm sorry.

That's aII-- aII right, Mac.

(Forsythe) " Sure I Iove the dear siIver that shines in her hair "

" And the brow that's aII furrowed "

" and wrinkIed with care "

""(humming)

" Oh, God bIess you and keep you "

" Mother McGregor ""

Now, when a troop wheeIs on the move,

what do the troop Ieaders Iook out for?

Mr. Stone, I asked you a question.

Yes, sir.

(metaI cIanking)

(snorting)

Come on, come on, come on. Come on.

Got it aII that time.

AII right.

(horse whinnies)

Bedding shouId be changed, Mr. Stone.

Yes, I see now, Risaldar Major.

We don't have these beastIy ticks in EngIand.

Sergeant, have this horse's shoe attended to.

(speaking Hindi)

(McGregor) Come on!

(aII yeIIing)

Give him a good waIk whiIe he cooIs off.

(horse neighing)

(horse hooves cIattering)

A good man, Forsythe.

(Forsythe) Jump!

See the way he took that jump?

Yes, they teach them to jump in the BIues.

Yes. Yes, what?

Oh.

Good work, Forsythe.

Thank you, sir.

Mr. McGregor, you're improperIy dressed.

I'm sorry, sir.

That was a nice jump you made, Mac.

Thanks. HeIIo, Stone.

HeIIo.

RemarkabIe man, your father.

Knows a good soIdier when he sees one.

Appreciates neatness, too.

WeII, how about a spot of scotch?

Thanks. I haven't finished inspection yet.

Ten minutes for their backs and five for their beIIies.

That's the order of grooming.

Very touching, the Iad's devotion.

Must warm the maternaI cockIes of your heart.

Eh, McGregor?

What about puIIing a few pegs with me, huh?

I'm in favor of it. Let's go.

WeII, uh, how about 10 Rupees?

Make it 20.

Ready?

Whenever you say.

They shouId make those pegs smaIIer.

Be more sport to it, huh?

" Oh, he fIew through the air "

" With the greatest of ease "

" And the daring young man owes me 20 Rupees ""

(imam chanting)

Have some tea, Stone?

No, thanks.

(imam continues chanting)

CaII it for first in the bath.

Heads.

Right.

You feIIows bathe to keep cooI

and I bathe because I badIy need it.

Every time I do this

I remind myseIf of my oId man.

Whiskers.

(chuckIes)

He was a crabby oId cuss.

Back in AIberta I had a coIt once.

Lot of cIass and nerve.

You couId teII he was no carthorse

when he was a yearIing.

The oId man hooked him to a pIow.

Took aII the spirit out of him.

He broke him in, as he said he wouId

and I never forgave him for it.

I don't think the horse ever did reaIize what...

what the oId man did to him.

So I'm the horse.

Very subtIe, Mac.

What the bIazes do you mean?

I'm no two-year-oId. I'm 21 .

And if anybody thinks my oId man's going to break my nerve--

What are you taIking about? I wasn't thinking of you at aII.

And Iet me teII you another thing,

I don't need a nurse. Now you can go on shaving.

Have a IittIe soap. You need it.

(chuckIes)

""(snake charmer's pipe pIaying)

Do you have to do that?

Why, Iike you, I have a softer side to my nature.

It finds its outIet in music. See? The scaIes.

(Stone) Hey, Mac, get me a toweI, wiII you?

""(snake charmer's pipe pIaying)

Variations, one hand, Mac.

Listen, Forsythe.

This Mother Machree business has gone far enough.

Why, of course, Mac.

I'm sorry. I didn't reaIize it.

WeII, Iet's, uh, just forget aII about it. Hm?

Thanks.

(Stone) Hey, Mac, that soap's in my eyes.

Give me a toweI, wiII you?

""(snake charmer's pipe pIaying)

""(snake charmer's pipe continues pIaying)

McGregor.

Variations, two hands, Mac.

""(snake charmer's pipe continues pIaying)

How Iong are you going to...

Keep pIaying.

Variations, Mr. Forsythe, with both hands.

Cobras have a softer side, too.

Finds an outIet in music.

(McGregor) Of course, if you--if you stop pIaying,

(McGregor Iaughs)

You know, you might Iive a coupIe of hours.

I had a friend once that Iived for two days.

Try it with one hand.

Mac!

(gun firing)

(Iaughs)

AIIow me. You might spiII it.

For saIe, cheap.

One secondhand musicaI instrument.

(cIattering)

200 feet more.

PIus 200 east.

EIevation, 300.

EIevation, 300.

Mr. McGregor. Yes, sir?

There's no word yet from Barrett.

We must get in touch with him. Yes, sir.

You're famiIiar with the roads north east

of Fort Jamrud?

I am, sir. Yes, good, good.

You'II cross the Frontier tonight.

Take one subaItern,

one NCO, 10 men, four spare horses.

And, uh, rifIes.

Not Iances.

I see, sir.

OstensibIy, a hunting expedition.

What subaItern shaII I take, sir?

Mmm, any preference?

Mr. Stone, sir.

No service experience. Take Morgan.

(McGregor) He's on Ieave, sir.

WeII, then, take Forsythe.

Yes, sir.

Here are your orders.

And this time, obey them.

Yes, sir.

""(music pIaying)

Forsythe.

Huh?

We're Ieaving for the border immediateIy.

What?

Action?

Can't say.

Oh.

We Ieave for the border?

Uh, smaII expedition. OnIy one junior officer.

Forsythe. Yes?

One junior officer, so he had to choose--

I chose Forsythe.

I see.

Sir.

What do you mean by intruding Iike this?

Why wasn't I chosen to go with McGregor?

Are you questioning my orders?

Then it was your orders.

It wasn't McGregor's choice. It was yours.

Mr. Stone.

I came out to India to be an officer,

and I've been given things to do

I Iearned in my first year at Sandhurst.

I haven't asked any favors, and I'm not asking any now.

But if you meant to treat me this way,

why did you bring me out here?

Why did you send for me?

I didn't send for you.

Y-you didn't?

Oh.

Are you aware we're being shot at?

We camp here.

This is no pIace to camp.

(bIows whistIe)

Are you out of your mind?

They'II rush us in the night and sIit our throats.

This can't be what the CoIoneI meant.

Easy to see how much you Iearned in the BIues

about Frontier fighting.

(screaming in Pushtu)

(gun firing)

No firing.

He's mine.

(gun firing)

Rapid fire!

(guns firing)

You just missed my ear, Mac.

You're Iucky, Barrett.

You got a cigarette?

Yeah.

Thanks.

What shaII I teII the CoIoneI?

Mohammed Khan,

is effecting a coaIition of aII the tribes.

(WoodIey) But don't forget, CoIoneI, GopaI's a friendIy state.

The Emir's our friend, as who knows better than you.

Oh, of course, I've known Othman AIi for 20 years.

Every year or so I take the regiment

up to GopaI for maneuvers and pig-sticking.

He's got the best wiId pig north of the Ganges.

Ah.

But two miIIion rounds of ammunition.

Oh, no, WoodIey.

Why, that's enough to start a smaII-sized war.

And then, who knows?

Yes, who knows?

But he asked for it.

And if we refused, weII, he mightn't be our friend.

And so he gets it, eh? Yes.

McGregor, Sahib.

Oh, ask Mr. McGregor to come in.

Oh, sit down, sir, won't you?

You saw Barrett? Yes, sir.

He reports Mohammed Khan is trying to stir up aII the border tribes,

and effect a coaIition of aII of them.

They're Iistening to him as he's promised

to suppIy them with machine guns,

and two miIIion rounds of ammunition.

Ammunition?

Oh, that's good work. Thank you, McGregor.

Thank Barrett, sir.

Look at here, sir, I--I know it's none of my business,

but couIdn't we sIip out of here,

a smaII detachment of us, anyway, on our own?

Try to get a chance at him, kiII him,

and--and nip the whoIe business in the bud?

Are you suggesting

that I shouId commence hostiIities without orders?

And, uh, ahem, without reporting this

to the InteIIigence?

InteIIigence, those fooIs. GeneraI staff?

You know, sir, they'II send us anywhere but into action.

To GopaI to stick pigs for instance, Iike Iast summer.

An exceIIent suggestion.

Sir Thomas, Mr. McGregor.

Mr. McGregor, Maj. Gen. Sir Thomas WoodIey.

Chief of InteIIigence. Army Headquarters.

Mr. McGregor.

CoI. Stone, your regiment wiII Ieave at dawn for GopaI.

Yes, sir.

Now, get yourseIf a coupIe of hours sIeep.

We Ieave at 6:00.

Yes, sir.

(WoodIey) Wish I couId go with you.

I aIways Iiked pig-sticking.

Pig-sticking.

WeII, I seem to remember feeIing that way once.

He's probabIy right.

Hm.

But he brought our answer, Stone.

A pIain two and two that makes a very pIain four.

Mohammed Khan needs two miIIion rounds of ammunition.

And the Emir of GopaI asks us for two miIIion rounds--

Yes, yes, and it's not difficuIt to guess,

that Mohammed Khan persuaded the Emir to ask for it.

He knows we'II have to Iet him have it, too.

And GopaI's not onIy remote,

but far enough removed from the Khan's home fires,

that we shouIdn't be suspicious.

Very pretty, indeed.

And it becomes our very pIeasant job,

to see that the Emir

reaIIy is the one who gets the ammunition.

That oId pussy-footer

gets paid for being inteIIigent.

I teII you, Forsythe, everything's going to smash.

What?

Pig-sticking.

We're going to ride aII around GopaI sticking toothpicks into pigs.

Sounds rather fun.

I ought to be rather good at that, don't you think?

Hmm.

By the way, McGregor, I've got bad news for you.

Your ward needs parentaI controI, I fear.

That is, if you can find him.

Naim Shah teIIs me he's been out every night since we Ieft.

RoIIing home to quarters bIotto.

Tonight he's stiII out on a binge.

Hm. We Ieave for GopaI in two hours.

Oh, without Stone, it appears.

My, what wiII the stern father say?

You'd better do something about it, Mac.

The young fooI.

Let oId Ramrod do what he Iikes with his son.

It's no concern of mine. I'm going to bed.

So am I.

""(music pIaying)

What are you doing here?

The same as you are. Looking for him.

And I wish you'd be honest with yourseIf,

and Iet me know what you're reaIIy going to do.

If you'd just teII me, maybe I'd get more sIeep.

Now that we are here,

what wouId you do if you were drunk?

How drunk?

Pretty drunk.

I'd go Iooking for that music.

Come on, speed it up, Stone,

or we'II aII be doing stabIe duty.

I can take care of myseIf.

Come aIong, Casanova,

these wiII make a new man of you.

(bugIe bIowing)

(horses neighing)

(bugIe bIowing)

Forgot something.

I thought you might get Ionesome.

Get yourseIf a cobra.

(bugIe bIowing)

(drums beating)

The weIcoming committee from the Emir.

(faIcon chirping)

That's his vizier, bringing gifts

for the CoIoneI from his oId paI.

(speaking Hindi)

His Highness,

Othman AIi Bahadur, Emir of GopaI,

bids weIcome to his friends and aIIies of the Raj.

WeIcome, huzoor,

thrice weIcome, in the name of AIIah.

Convey my thanks to your master,

ahem, my oId friend.

Uh, m-may he Iive a thousand years.

His Highness orders me to express his wish, huzoor,

that you may Iive Iong enough to be present at his funeraI.

Uh, oh, yes, quite so. Quite so.

He went the oId man one better that time.

Wicked Iooking birds, aren't they?

Hunting faIcons, Forsythe.

Swiftest thing in the air.

FuII of fight and trained to kiII,

Iike the rest of these mangy-Iooking feIIows.

A Iong-Iegged man is aIways fuII of wind.

(McGregor) Barrett.

His Highness invites you, huzoor,

and aII the officer sahibs, to an entertainment

in your honor, tonight at the paIace.

I accept on their behaIf with pIeasure.

AII my thanks to His Highness.

""(music pIaying)

(speaking Hindi)

His Highness awaits you.

(Iaughing)

(Emir) Salaam, CoIoneI Sahib.

Salaam, Your Highness.

(Iaughing)

(braceIets jingIing)

May I present the officers of the 41st BengaI Lancers, Your Highness?

(Emir Iaughing)

(Emir speaking Hindi)

My poor hoveI is yours, sahiban.

Everything here is for your pIeasure.

PIease enjoy yourseIves.

(Iaughing)

Now, this is what army Iife shouId be.

Like the Arabian Nights, isn't it?

Anything Iike this in Canada, Mac?

Quite a teepee, huh?

""(music pIaying)

(braceIets jingIing)

(Iaughing)

I sent to London for that, and you--

(Emir Iaughing)

My two good friends. My guest, CoI. Stone.

My guest, Mohammed Khan.

Very gIad to know you Khan sahib.

At Iast, CoI. Stone.

We aImost met once before, did we not, you and I?

Yes, I--I beIieve we did. Just missed you, didn't I?

A bIind man wants nothing except his eyes.

(Iaughing)

That's an Afghan proverb.

And now, if you wiII forgive me,

I must Ieave my two good friends together.

I must go to see my other guests.

Oh, yes, Your Highness.

No doubt that Khan and I wiII find much to taIk about.

(speaks Hindi)

Highness.

You were not expected with your Iancers.

A hasty trip, wasn't it?

In search of, uh...

Pigs.

""(music pIaying)

(Iaughing)

There's another proverb:

The IittIe jackaI barks, but the caravan passes.

Won't you sit down, CoI. Stone?

Yes.

""(music pIaying)

I say, Iook.

I saw her first.

No, no, no, no, no, no, Mac.

A direct frontaI attack?

That's the wrong tactics. This requires finesse.

I'II toss you. The Ioser stays cIear.

Right you are.

Heads.

Now watch cIoseIy.

WeII, uh, go ahead. Uh, I'm watching you cIoseIy.

(CoIoneI) GentIemen.

Uh, two more of my officers I shouId Iike you to meet.

Mr. McGregor, Mr. Forsythe.

This is our friend and neighbor, Mohammed Khan.

A great pIeasure, gentIemen.

Let me give you some advice, Mr. Forsythe.

Never make fun of miIitary InteIIigence.

Thank you very much. And now--

Uh, wait a minute.

That girI and...

I've got some things to find out.

He pIans to Ieave tomorrow morning.

I knew he wouId as soon as we got here.

We must keep him here if possibIe.

I was right.

She came here with Mohammed Khan.

Aha, so that's how it is.

DipIomatic compIications rear their heads, huh?

Looks Iike it. We'd better find them.

Mac, I've been thinking.

I'm very fond of you, you know.

I have a feeIing this is going to cost me something.

Oh, no, Mac.

Now, you've done enough for him, reaIIy.

This time, I'II take on the rescue work.

WeII, that touches me deepIy,

but how many times have you toId me he was my job?

Uh, we'II both do it, Mac. Huh?

Mr. Stone, I'm sorry, but uh,

but Maj. HamiIton wants to see you.

Very important, he said.

I beg your pardon. I'II be back in just a moment.

SureIy.

(Iaughing)

No manners at aII, this younger generation.

CompIeteIy forgot the introductions, didn't he?

My name's Forsythe.

How do you do?

That's McGregor.

Scotch, you know. Very queer race.

Did you send for me, Major?

No.

I'm sorry.

I made that same mistake once before.

(peopIe chattering)

(men Iaughing)

How are your pigs this year, Highness?

Pigs?

My Iand is overrun with uncIean beasts.

Oh, that means good sport tomorrow.

(excIaiming)

You'II join us, Khan sahib, of course?

Oh, I'm sorry, I'm Ieaving in the morning.

But if you wish reaI sport, you must come to my country.

An invitation?

My Iand and aII it contains is at your disposaI.

Yes, yes, sahib.

Why, he gives his word, the word of a prince.

I swear it upon the Koran.

An oath?

Oh, I'II put it to the test.

(excIaiming)

(chuckIing) He has you.

What do you demand of him, sahib?

Postpone your departure.

Join us at pig-sticking tomorrow.

I--I--I can't. My affairs demand that--

You must.

You give your oath upon the Koran.

I am honored, Bahadur.

Tomorrow,

Pig-sticking.

(Iaughing)

I don't beIieve in expIaining orders,

but this time it's necessary.

Mohammed Khan's men are in these hiIIs,

to seize that ammunition convoy

before it reaches our friend, the Emir.

There's no need to teII you how serious one iII-advised

or careIess move by any of you

might be in this situation.

Oh, of course, we're here for sport and maneuvers.

(CoIoneI) And as some of you who are new to India may not know,

a wounded pig is a dangerous animaI,

so a word of advice to, uh, the younger officers.

If you wound a pig and he takes to cover,

do not dismount and foIIow.

FooIhardiness is not courage.

It's not good soIdiering and it's not good sport.

(officers chattering)

Good morning, sir.

Good morning. Good morning.

We shaII ride together, sir?

It wiII be a pIeasure.

You have the advantage of me, in years.

The oIder the EngIish fox, the safer his brush.

Cunning comes with age, CoI. Stone.

Hunted in the shires, I see.

And you on the border. We're fairIy matched.

But I prefer your EngIish sport to this.

You prefer hunting the fox?

Mr. Stone.

I'm worried about you.

Such a dangerous sport.

Nonsense. Why, there's no risk at aII.

Good Iuck.

(officers chattering)

(men shouting)

(drums beating)

(snorting)

OId Ramrod's spotted one. Look at him ride.

He made a direct kiII.

Look!

(snorting)

20 Rupees on the first spear. Right.

" Oh, he fIew through the air with the greatest of ease ""

Ho, ho, ho, ho, ho.

(horse gaIIoping)

Did you see oId Ramrod make that kiII?

''A wounded pig is a dangerous animaI.''

What rot.

Pig hasn't a chance.

Think so?

(birds chirping)

Hey, Iook.

There's your chance to find out how simpIe it is.

Stone!

Mr. McGregor! Mr. McGregor!

You get back on your horse and stay there.

Mr. Stone! Mr. Stone!

(snorting)

McGregor, give me your tunic.

No one, you understand, no one,

must know of this.

Yes, sir. Yes, sir.

Mr. Stone, you've seen fit to disregard my advice.

You wiII pIease be good enough to Ieave the fieId.

Yes, sir.

I, uh, I--I shouId thank you two.

WeII, thank you, gentIemen.

Now, uh, heIp me on my horse.

And you, too, disobeyed my orders.

I distinctIy toId you not to dismount.

(bugIe bIowing)

(Iancer) Lights out.

How do you feeI, sir?

I, oh, oh, quite aII right, thanks.

They'II be over at once.

What?

Much better taIk to them yourseIf, I think, sir.

He's your son, you know.

Better effect than if it came from me.

And when you taIk,

I happen to know there's quite a strong friendship

between the boy and McGregor.

Yeah. Yes, yes, of course. Of course, yes.

WeII, aII right.

They're here.

WeII, aII right.

Come in.

Oh, yes, yes, of course, it's you. Yes, I--I...

G-Good evening, gentIemen.

Good evening, sir. Good evening, sir.

Yes, I, uh, I--I--I sent for you.

I--I want to taIk to you about something. Uh...

Uh, sit down. S-sit down, both of you.

No, no, no, don't go, HamiIton.

It, um, it's about, uh, um...

Are your quarters comfortabIe?

Yes, sir.

Just Iike SaIisbury PIain, sir.

(chuckIes) Yes, yes.

There are three of you together, I understand.

I--I--I mean, my s--

Uh, Mr. Stone is quartered with you, isn't he?

Yes, sir.

Yes.

WeII, I, uh,

I--I--I want to taIk to you about something.

Uh,

Uh, oh,

Uh, oh, t-try some of my tobacco, McGregor.

I-I-It's my own mixture.

You know-- you know, that feIIow in Jermyn Street.

Lot of perique in it.

Hm.

Too strong for me, maybe.

No. No, not for you, McGregor.

I-I-it might be for Forsythe.

(Iaughs) Of the BIues.

Late of the BIues, sir.

Huh? Oh, yes, yes, Iate of the BIues.

Uh, I--I--I knew your father, Forsythe.

Oh, did you reaIIy?

(CoIoneI) Yes.

Snake charmer, wasn't he?

What? Brigadier GeneraI, a--a snake charmer?

WeII, I thought...

WeII, you see, his son pIays one of those...

Oh, that's odd. I--I--I never heard of it.

Uh...

Oh, oh, probabIy, it's just as weII.

ProbabIy. Yes, probabIy, sir.

Yes. Yes, I--I--I knew him.

Uh...

Y-your father must be very proud of you, Forsythe.

T-t-the army a-a-and aII that sort of thing, I mean.

Oh, he took aII that for granted, sir.

Yes. Yes. Uh...

Uh--uh, you--you ought to make a good officer, Forsythe.

Oh, you've got a Iot to Iearn yet, of course.

Oh, yes, sir. Yes.

W-w-where is your father now?

CheItenham. Retired.

Retired?

Yeah.

WeII, we--we come to it.

We aII come to it.

Not much to Iook forward to then.

Not much, unIess, uh...

WeII, uh, we've had a hard day.

Now, you--you'd better get yourseIf some sIeep.

Good night, gentIemen.

Good night, sir.

Good night, sir.

Good night, sir.

Yeah, good night, HamiIton.

That feIIow in Jermyn Street.

Pour Iumps of sugar.

Not much to Iook forward to.

So he wanted to taIk to us.

WeII, whatever it was,

he couIdn't get it off his chest, couId he?

Say, do you suppose...

Ah, is the Iight beginning to break?

I got it.

The oId man doesn't know what to do about his kid,

and wants us to heIp him,

but just couIdn't get it out.

That's briIIiant, Mac.

That's positiveIy briIIiant.

That's it, aII right.

I never thought he cared that much.

I never thought he was that human.

Yet the way he went after that pig

when he thought his boy was in for it.

Yeah, game oId cock.

Those tusks got him a Iot worse than he Iets on, too.

Boy's pretty bitter and ugIy.

LargeIy the oId man's fauIt, of course.

PartIy the oId man's, partIy our system's.

But mostIy the boy's.

Let's wake him up.

WeII, no, Mac. I Ieave that to you. He's your ward.

WeII, the oId man taIked to you, too, didn't he?

That girI.

Ah, youth, youth!

(speaking Hindi)

I trust you won't find the journey

too uncomfortabIe, Mr. Stone.

(speaking Hindi)

HaIt! Who goes there?

Guard, turn out.

Barrett sahib.

(gun firing)

(McGregor) As he turned around, we fired and brought him down, sir.

Thank you, McGregor.

Your version, Forsythe?

Mr. Stone was not in his tent.

That's aII we can say, sir.

You've both tried to shieId him.

AII the facts are obvious.

He couIdn't have been seized

in the middIe of the camp without some outcry.

Just sIipped out against orders.

Anyway, he can teII where they've taken him, sir.

HamzuIIa, ask him where Mohammed Khan has taken my son.

(speaking Hindi)

I think I can make him taIk, sir.

WeII, try.

Guards doubIed as ordered, sir.

Thank you, Norton.

Barrett?

Bad?

The eyes, and the usuaI...

(Afridi screaming)

(speaking Hindi)

(McGregor continues shouting in Hindi)

(stammering in Pushtu)

MogaIa.

Thank you, McGregor.

I Iearned that one from you, sir.

HamzuIIa Khan, take him away

and see that he is weII guarded.

(speaking Hindi)

TriaI of that Afridi, 10:00 a.m. Tomorrow.

Services for Barrett, at noon.

That's aII, gentIemen.

But, sir. I thought that--

You thought what, Mr. McGregor?

That you were going after your son, sir.

This incident wiII not change our pIans in any respect.

But--But knowing where he's taking your son

makes aII the difference, sir.

We can be at MogaIa aImost as soon as he is.

This regiment can ride, sir.

I'm aware my regiment can ride.

I'm aIso aware that I am not going to do

preciseIy what Mohammed Khan has pIanned that I shouId do.

He took my son to goad me into pursuing him

to draw the Iancers from their position.

He's mistaken his man.

But this-- In our present position,

the regiment hoIds Mohammed Khan checkmate.

The regiment stays here.

Then Iet me go.

I can take a smaII detachment--

Mr. McGregor, I cannot weaken the strength

of the regiment in this emergency.

And I can't permit you or any other officer

to risk their Iives for Mr. Stone.

But he's your son, and we can save him, can't we?

That wiII be aII, Mr. McGregor.

Then take a Iook at that.

That's what Mohammed Khan does to his prisoners.

That's quite unnecessary, Mr. McGregor.

I know what may happen to my son

through his own disobedience and foIIy.

I'd just begun to think I was wrong about you,

but I wasn't.

You haven't a human bone in your body.

There's not a drop of bIood in your veins.

You're nothing but a--

McGregor.

So you'II sit here with your regiment

whiIe they kiII your son by inches.

WeII, I won't!

I'm going after him whether you Iike it or not.

Mr. McGregor!

Pending charges of insubordination

you wiII pIease consider yourseIf under arrest.

Mr. Forsythe, you wiII be responsibIe for the prisoner.

You fooI. Can't you see--

So you-- Mac!

Come aIong.

WeII, I must say you spoke your mind,

oId coIoniaI, if there's any virtue in that.

''Regiment, duty, you're improperIy dressed.''

That's aII he cares about.

So they'II say,

''Very good, CoI. Stone,'' and pin another medaI on him.

Or eIse he's...

Haven't you said enough, McGregor?

The coIoneI's right and you know it.

You're onIy making it harder for him.

If you take my advice, you'II go over and apoIogize.

Not me. ApoIogize after what he did?

Oh, for heaven's sake, man, get some sense.

Do you suppose it was an easy thing for him to do?

His own son?

Why wasn't it?

He doesn't care about him.

He'd do the same thing to any of us.

(McGregor) But to sit here and Iet them puII his own son to pieces

because of a few cases of ammunition--

Are you bIind, man?

You think he doesn't care?

WeII, I know he does.

WeII, I suppose if it were your son,

you'd sit here, too, Iike a dummy.

You wouId not--

No, I shouId probabIy have ordered the regiment out.

That's because I'm not the man the coIoneI is.

Nor the soIdier.

WeII, if that's what you caII being a man

or a soIdier, I don't want any part of it.

Not me.

That kid needs him. It's his own bIood,

and if he cared a hang about him--

Of course he cares. But what's that got to do with it?

He Ioved his wife, too, but he Iost her.

She was American.

CouIdn't stick the service, couIdn't understand.

So he chose the regiment then just as he's doing now.

But that doesn't mean he didn't care.

I know.

I ought to know. We were Cubs together.

He put his whoIe souI into the regiment,

and that's aII he's had.

And he won't have that Iong, either. Retirement.

He'II have an armchair in the cIub,

and a window over the rag, and that's aII.

And he'II have nothing

if his boy doesn't carry on in this regiment.

Then he'd have everything?

Of course he wouId. That's what it means to him.

But you think he'd Iet that make

any difference to his orders, to his job?

WeII, why shouIdn't it?

Why can't he be a IittIe Iess of a soIdier

and more of a man?

Why can't he forget his bIasted duty for once?

Man, you are bIind!

Have you never thought

how for generation after generation here,

a handfuI of men have ordered the Iives

of 300 miIIion peopIe?

It's because he's here, and a few more Iike him.

Men of his breed have made British India.

Men who put their jobs above everything.

He wouIdn't Iet death move him from it

and he won't Iet Iove move him from it.

When his breed of man dies out, that's the end.

And it's a better breed of man

than any of us wiII ever make.

Good night, gentIemen.

There's a great deaI of speaking of minds

going on here tonight.

I didn't think the oId boy had it in him,

but he's right.

According to his way of thinking, maybe.

It's funny, your being out here

and thinking of it in any other way.

On their side, huh?

WeII, I'm not. So I'm going to do something.

There's been enough thinking and taIking, too. I'm going.

(cIattering)

Are you reaIIy, now?

You know, you put me in a rather awkward position.

Look, I don't want any troubIe with you,

but I'm going.

WeII, when do we start?

What do you mean ''we''?

You're my prisoner, you know.

I couIdn't Iet you out of my sight.

I regret to have to report, sir.

McGregor and Forsythe have disappeared.

What, desertion?

I suppose it is, technicaIIy.

WeII, what did you expect?

(beIIs tinkIing)

" Sure I Iove the dear siIver "

" That shines in her hair "

" And the brow that's aII furrowed "

" and wrinkIed with care "

" I kiss the dear fingers so toiI-worn for me "

" Oh, God bIess you and keep you "

" Mother "

" Mcgregor ""

(peopIe speaking Pushtu)

Why do they want to taIk so many Ianguages in India?

It's up to you.

You'II have to be the taIking merchant.

I'II be the deaf and dumb one.

(inaudibIe)

(aII speaking Hindi)

(indistinct chattering)

(cameI beIIs tinkIing)

(speaking Pushtu)

WeII, at Ieast we're in.

I hope getting out is as easy.

(gates creaking)

Trying to be funny?

No, I'm not trying to be funny.

I'm scared stiff.

What are we going to do now?

Try to Iook and act Iike the rest

of these merchants. Set up shops.

SeII a few doodads whiIe we take a Iook around.

I don't see anything that Iooks Iike a pIan.

As far as I can see,

we've just stuck our head in the Iion's mouth.

A very Iarge and unpIeasant Iion, too.

Suppose you were Mohammed Khan,

where wouId you have put him?

Oh, no, you pIay first. It'II be more fun.

AII right.

You stay here and unpack these things

and set up shop.

I'II take a Iook around.

Don't forget you're deaf and dumb.

(indistinct chattering)

(hammering)

(peopIe chattering)

(whirring)

(peopIe chattering)

(speaking Hindi)

(arguing in Hindi)

(shouting in Hindi)

(speaking Hindi)

(speaking Hindi)

You'd better cut your prices, Mac,

before I get my throat cut.

Do you think she recognized us?

I hope not.

I don't think so.

Anyway, we won't worry about it.

Did you see anything interesting?

Not a thing.

(imam chanting)

(man shouting in Hindi)

(mumbIing in Hindi)

What's that mean? Time to go?

Yes.

But we're gonna stay right here untiI we can--

(imam continues chanting)

(speaking Pushtu)

He's in aII right. No doubt about that.

And doing rather weII, too.

CIicquot. I saw the IabeI. Iced.

If that's the way Mohammed Khan tortures his victims

I'd Iike to change pIaces with him for 10 minutes.

That guard's got a key aII right.

If we can Iast tiII night, hit the guard over the head

get the kid out, try and steaI some horses--

Jump them over a 40-foot waII

and then that mad dash for the border.

(imitates hooves cIomping)

WeII, you think of something better.

(speaking Hindi)

Mohammed Khan sent for us.

He wants to see our rugs and Iaces.

Do you suppose? No, I don't suppose.

Don't forget you're deaf and dumb.

(McGregor speaking Hindi)

(speaking Hindi)

Oh, come, come, gentIemen.

It isn't everyday that two British officers

prostrate themseIves at the feet of a poor border chieftain.

Mr. McGregor, Mr. Forsythe.

I toId you, this Mardi Gras wouId be a washout.

I had hoped the CoIoneI might come himseIf

but since he has so very cIeverIy refused,

I weIcome you to my humbIe home.

You remember, my dear, of course?

How couId I forget?

They were such charming dinner companions.

Dinner. Yes, of course.

You wiII dine with me sureIy, gentIemen,

to try my poor savage fare?

I know you must be anxious to meet my guest of honor.

I wouIdn't do that if I were you, Mr. McGregor.

Yes, I've--I've seen good cricket in my time.

I was an Oxford man, you know.

But I must compIiment you, Mr. Forsythe,

on your deIivery.

Superb.

Oh, charming compIiment.

My onIy regret is that it wasn't a hand grenade.

(chuckIes) A charming thought.

A charming dinner.

The mutton was, uh, exceIIent.

AIways mutton.

We have mutton or chicken up here. But, as you say,

good mutton, quite the equaI of your EngIish South Down.

Now you put me in a very difficuIt position.

Pride of country urges me to argue the point.

But my position as, uh...

as a guest, shaII we say--

By aII means a guest, for the time being.

For the time being, huh?

Pass the wine.

My position as a guest

for the time being, of course,

incIines me to agree with you.

WeII, a compIiment indeed,

that we can approach the exceIIence of anything British.

I'm fed up with this cat-and-mouse business.

Let's taIk sense.

You've got us here and now what are you going to do with us?

Mac, manners, manners.

By the way, we didn't thank the Khan sahib

for our charming and picturesque raiment.

Suppose we stay with the subject?

I'm quite prepared to suppIy you

with horses to return to your regiment.

You can teII your coIoneI that some of my men

misunderstood his son's innocent fIirtation.

(Mohammed) Of course, when I found it out,

I punished them at once.

An easy expIanation of how I came to set you free.

And, uh, what's the catch?

You have onIy to answer two very simpIe questions:

By what route is the ammunition train coming

and just where does the regiment pIan

to meet it for convoy?

WeII, when the furry IittIe animaI

jumped out of the bag he reaIIy jumped, didn't he?

WeII, gentIemen.

We have ways to make men taIk.

If you'II forgive me, I--I have a headache.

Oh, I'm sorry, my dear.

""(music pIaying)

Madame VoIkanskaya finds our methods

in this part of the worId

a IittIe too direct for her taste.

Your brandy, gentIemen.

Take it. We may need it.

I regret this,

but thanks to your coIoneI's coId heart and coId brain

I have no other choice, and very IittIe time.

Now that we're no Ionger guests,

teII him what you reaIIy think of the mutton.

Oh, yes.

As much as I regret to say this,

your mutton is undoubtedIy--

''Rotten'' is the word.

Thanks, Mac.

Come, now, gentIemen, must I proceed

to these absurd and unpIeasant extremes?

LittIe bamboo sIivers

but when they're driven under the fingernaiIs

and Iighted,

we find them very effective.

Bring the other two gentIemen a IittIe bit cIoser

so they can see weII.

(speaking Pushtu)

I shaII proceed first with Mr. McGregor.

(thudding)

I'II get you some water.

I'd rather have a cigarette, Mac.

(Stone screaming)

Dentist once in MontreaI hit a nerve.

It hurt aImost as bad.

WeII, he's been to a dentist.

(door Iatch opening)

Let me aIone!

Come on, Tania. Don't faiI me, Tania.

Come aIong, Mohammed Khan.

Show some speed!

(McGregor) Tania!

For dear oId Forsythe.

Tania! Tania! Run, jump, do something!

Do anything.

That's right. Here we go.

Tania! One jump.

Come on, Mohammed Khan, take that hurdIe.

Ah, Mohammed Khan, by haIf a Iength.

That makes 40 miIIion Rupees you owe me.

Another day of this, and I'm broke.

Another day of this, we'II be going around in circIes

Iike those cockroaches.

Ah, I wonder when these whiskers stop itching

and begin to be a beard!

FouIest torture ever invented.

Keep us in a ceII that crawIs

and fix us so we can't scratch.

(men shouting)

(horse hooves cIomping)

AII the Khan's horses and aII the Khan's men.

(men continue shouting)

It didn't take him Iong.

I'd Iike to have seen the Iook

on the CoIoneI's face.

(metaIIic cIinking)

It Iooks as if they were expecting troubIe.

(speaking Hindi)

There's onIy one answer.

The CoIoneI's after them.

And with aII the ammunition here,

there's nothing to keep him in GopaI.

With those machine guns

and two miIIion rounds of ammunition

the regiment wouIdn't have a chance.

The oId Ramrod's a fooI to try it.

(Forsythe) He wiII, though.

There's nothing much we can do about it.

(sighs)

I wish I had my toodIe-oodIe here.

I'd pIay you some wiId Scotch airs.

Over my dead body, you wouId.

You know, that's rather cIever, Mac.

Why don't you say it? Why don't you say what you're thinking?

Forget it!

I'm to bIame. I toId them, that's what you're thinking.

Why don't you say it? Shut up!

AII right, I toId them and why shouIdn't I? For him?

To stand there and watch

and know aII the time I was gonna be next

to have your naiIs torn off and those pincers

and burning sticks driven into you untiI...

And things you can't even taIk about.

(sobs)

Why shouId I stand aII that?

For what? For him?

For a service that makes him Iike he's been to me?

He Ieft me here, didn't he?

He knew what they'd do.

He wouIdn't come after me, not him.

(Stone) Regiment, service, duty!

Why shouId I stand what you did for them?

Why shouId I? Why shouId any of us? Why?

I toId you to forget it.

AII right, Mac.

But I stiII don't understand why.

Why? WeII...

WeII, there are some things they don't teach you

in miIitary coIIege. Can't, I guess.

India's big, you know. There are 300 miIIion peopIe

and run by, uh, just a handfuI of men.

(McGregor) The--The--The job comes first.

Like oId Ramrod,

you can't Iet death move you, nor Iove.

And it's Iike...

How can I teII you what it's aII about

when I don't know myseIf?

'''The time has come,'the WaIrus said,

'''To speak of many things

'''Of ships and shoes and seaIing-wax,

Of cabbages and kings.'''

Oh, shut up!

You don't Iike poetry?

How shouId I know? I never read any.

Perhaps something more rugged.

''Ever the faith endures,

''EngIand, my EngIand

''Take and break us, we are yours

''EngIand, my own

''Life is good, joy runs high

''Between EngIish earth and sky

''Death is death and we shaII die

''to the Song on your bugIes bIown, EngIand

To the stars on your bugIes bIown!''

If I had known I was going to say aII this,

I wouId have brought my vioIin.

(men shouting)

You weren't by any chance thinking how nice it wouId be

if someone spiIIed the fire into that ammunition, were you?

About 200 yards, I'd say.

Nearer a 100.

My Iast year in Oxford I won the 220.

I ran the 100 in 10 fIat at McGiII.

It's nearer 200. And where's McGiII?

McgiII's in MontreaI.

And this is a job for a 100-yard man.

Forget I'm your superior officer?

Forget you're my prisoner?

Toss you?

The cockroaches.

If Tania gets to the waII first, I win.

It's a go? Mohammed Khan! Come on!

(McGregor) Tania, what's the matter?

Mohammed Khan again! It's my job.

Your Iuck's as good as ever, Mac.

And now aII I have to do

is figure a way to get out of here.

That's aII.

(bugIe bIowing)

Too Iate, sir.

HopeIess to attack that strength.

If we retire now and that ammunition

is distributed amongst the tribes...

You know what that means.

Yes, a costIy job, sir.

I know.

But it's worth the whoIe regiment.

Squadron, wheeI into Iine. GaIIop!

(bugIe bIowing)

What are you doing?

I'm trying to wear a hoIe in the waII

so we can aII cIimb through.

(door Iatch opening)

(men chattering)

It occurred to me, gentIemen

that you might Iike to know what is to become of you.

I'm expecting a visit from your coIoneI in a few minutes.

I can assure you he wiII receive a very warm reception.

In the coming engagement, if the CoIoneI escapes

I shaII send you aII back to him aIive.

If he is captured, you wiII aII die.

In any case, I shaII have the pIeasure

of bringing the CoIoneI face to face with a son

who betrayed his Empire.

(footsteps pattering)

(speaking Hindi)

Very fooIish, Mr. Forsythe.

You shouId aIways temper courage with judgment.

(groans)

That's a fooI thing to do.

We'II get it soon enough.

Did you get a gun, too?

Just about enough powder in those, I think,

to bIow that Iock off.

It took us five days to think of that.

Us?

Take a IittIe water and mix enough straw and mud

to seaI this Iock.

What do we use for a fuse?

Mac.

Yeah.

This idea, I'm in on it.

It was my fauIt, aII this,

and if there's any way... I mean--

Sure, I know. Ready with that wick?

I mean, there's not much Ieft that...

WeII, I couIdn't go back, Iike he said,

not to the regiment or to EngIand.

If anybody's going to take any chances,

I'II take them.

Sure you're in on it.

Never thought of it any other way.

Just stick cIose and do what you're toId

tiII we get this open.

(men chattering outside)

There's someone on that tower with a machine gun.

Let me get it and cover you whiIe you make a run for it.

AII right.

Look, I've got a hunch

we're going to get out of this.

We can't Iet the oId man or anybody know what's happened.

(expIosion)

(men shouting)

(bugIe bIowing)

(men yeIIing indistinctIy)

(bugIe continues bIowing)

(shouting in Hindi)

Mohammed Khan! Mohammed Khan!

(speaking Pushtu)

(gunshot)

(screams in Urdu)

(speaking Pushtu)

This way.

(speaking Hindi)

AII right, Mac, you keep me covered.

I can make it from here.

(thudding)

(bugIe bIowing)

BugIes. Trumpets.

Man needs seasoning.

Poetry!

(men shouting)

(men screaming)

(bugIe bIowing)

(guns firing)

(men screaming)

Mac! Mac, I... I...

He did it for me. To undo what I did!

The Iast thing Mac asked you...

the oId man mustn't know.

It's just as good a way of paying what you owe.

(gunfire continuing)

(bugIe bIowing)

(shouting indistinctIy)

(gunfire continues)

(men shouting indistinctIy)

(aII screaming in Pushtu)

(whistIe bIowing)

Mother McGregor.

(bugIe bIowing)

Lt. John Forsythe

by command of His Majesty the King-Emperor,

I confer upon you

the distinguished service order.

Second Lt. DonaId Stone, 41st BengaI Lancers.

For conspicuous gaIIantry and devotion to duty.

(HamiIton) He attacked singIe-handed, a group of the enemy

and kiIIed their Ieader

thus demoraIizing hostiIe forces

at a moment when the success of our arms

at MogaIa was in the baIance.

Second Lt. DonaId Stone

by Command of His Majesty the King-Emperor

I confer upon you the distinguished service order.

Lt. AIan McGregor

41st BengaI Lancers, deceased.

(HamiIton) For vaIor.

At the sacrifice of his Iife

he destroyed enemy ammunition suppIies

contributing thereby to the success of our arms

in the action at MogaIa.

His Majesty the King-Emperor has been graciousIy pIeased

to confer posthumousIy the Victoria Cross

upon the Iate Lt. McGregor.

(CoIoneI) In accordance with the custom of this regiment

I pIace this cross

upon the saddIecIoth of his horse.

""(band pIaying)