All language subtitles for The Far Pavilions (Peter Duffell, 1984) Part 6.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.

We're going to have
to have another bash

at those cannon.

What!

You can't go again!

It's been grand
having you here, Ash,

but I'll thank you to remember
who's commanding the Escort.

You don't have to prove
you're a hero, Wally.

I want six volunteers.

Sahib.

It's the duty of all of us
to defend this Residency

to the last.

You must choose the men
to go with you.

You keep the rabble amused,

and we'll have a go
at spiking the guns.

How's that for
and idea?

Nearly a daft
as you are.

God bless you, too.

Be ready men.

"The golden evening
brightens in the west."

Charge!

[Ashton is hit]

[Entire Corps of Guides
Escort wiped out]

[Later, Nachman Khan
searches]

Sahib?

Sahib.

Sahib!

Sahib, let's go!

Let's go, Sahib!

Ah.

Let's go before
the mob returns.

I have a duty
to perform, first.

[Ash places Wally
on the cannon]

[This must be a
ceremonial burial]

"Soon, soon to faithful
warriors come to their rest."

[From the hymn,
For All The Saints]

[As the British sought revenge]

[for the massacre of
Cavagnari and his mission,]

[Ash, having fulfilled his
last duty to the Guides,]

[journeyed back to Mardan.]

Welcome home,
Pelham Sahib.

Thank you, Gul Bas.

[Koda Dad greets Ash]

[Ash greets Gobind Das,
the doctor]

I'm on my way to Bhithor
with my servant, Manilal,

at the urgent request
of Shushila Rani.

Has something
happened to Anjuli?

Not as far as we know.

Shushila Rani sent word that she is
worried about her husband's health.

My master Rao Sahib felt she
must have been dunched.

Is he seriously ill, then?

Who can tell?

He's known to have
had heart trouble.

But, uh, I bring you
a letter from Rao Sahib.

[Ash's voice:]
He's anxious about his nieces.

The eunuch who writes
on their behalf says nothing,

that they are
well and happy.

Yet we hear traveler's
tales, that Daigita,

who served Anjuli Rani
since birth, is dead.

But surely, Her Highness
would have mentioned

that, had she been free
to write, as she would.

[Rao Sahib's voice:]
wherefore this summons

for Gobind is an
answer to prayer,

as he will be able to
learn how is with

His Highness's sisters.

I have instructed him
to devise some means

of passing on
any news to you.

I would not trouble
you with this,

had I not known that
you, too, would wish

to satisfy yourself
that all is well.

If it is not,
send word.

Do you know what
is written here?

The Rao Sahib did me
the honor of reading

it to me before
he sealed it.

Well, I can tell by your
face that this is not all.

No.

We have learned that
his wives will be burned

with him according
to custom.

But, suttee's
against the law!

My master says you
will know what the law

means in Bhithor.

When the previous Rana
died, 14 women, wives and

concubines followed
him into the flames.

The wits say at this time,
only two women were burned,

there being no concubines,
but only catamites.

It's an ugly jest!

Yet, even the jesters
believe that the Ranis

will become suttee
for the honor of Bhithor.

When they burn, they will
stand, as it were, as a symbol

or a substitute for
all those widows who

shrunk from doing so,
or were prevented

by their relatives,
or by your laws.

I'll alert the
authorities here.

You get back, and let
us know the moment

the Ranis condition
takes a turn for the worse.

How?

For I shall not be allowed
out in that case.

I will show you how.

Now, you put the
message in there,

and release the carrier
pigeon. It will return.

We will find a way of
hiding it in your saddle bags.

Well, of course I can't send
a squadron into Bhithor

to serve the flag.

In all my life's work doing
such things.

I'd expect orders
from the GMC.

But, even then, it's such
a hot potato, I'd have to wait

for confirmation from
Camp Cutter.

I mean, it's not even if you
were still in the regiments.

The answer, young man,
is no.

The Rana of Bhithor is quite
enough of a handful as it is.

And you want me to get
the political officer

to shake a stick at them
on the strength of some

tittle tattle in the
women's quarters?

Frankly, the police wouldn't
touch it with a barge pole.

This is 1879, you know.

The laws against suttee have been
enforced for more than 40 years.

His Highness the Maharajah
of Karibkote?

The political site?

The honorable, the agent of the
governor general of Rajputana?

But sir, I cannot send
these... telegrams.

They are not secret things.

And these.......
not even in secret code.

They'll cause much
gossip and scandal.

And what if this
Rana should not die?

There'll be charges of
misrepresentation and libel,

and getting into all
hot water boiling.

No, no, no, no.

I'll be losing my job.

Pelham Sahib, Pelham Sahib.
The carrier pigeon's returned.

The Rana is dying.
I shall have to go to Bhithor.

That would not be wise.

Before I can get anyone
to act, I must have proof

that they mean for
the Ranis to become suttee.

Then, we must
come with you.

Aw, don't be silly.

All couple of bloody Pathans?

You'll stick out like
a sore thumb in Bhithor.

Besides, there are people
there who'd remember

you from the wedding.

How much better will
they remember you, Sahib?

We have discussed this
possibility and are agreed.

Either we go come you,
or you do not go, my son.

Very well.

I must have ridden
past this place

a hundred times
without seeing it.

Mark it well, for it is
not easy to find

again from this side.

I will remain here
until you return,

for you may need to leave
in haste by the same route.

It is the only one
that is unguarded.

Huh. Always assuming
we can get into the city.

You had better
leave me those rifles.

If the rumors are true,
the people of Bhithor

are more than ever
suspicious of strangers.

[Native language farewell]

Good evening, Hakim.

Well?

The Rana will
have died tonight.

Then I must see
the Diwan, at once.

You do not understand the
temper and the disposition

of these people.

All they want
is a barbaric spectacle.

It is true that to look on the
face of a queen and see her die,

is something that few will see
more than once in a lifetime.

Huh. A great damasha.

To many it may,
indeed, seem so,

but you were reared
as one of us long enough to know

that to others, maybe to all,

it could be a holy occasion,

one that bestows merit
on everyone who is present.

Therefore, on both counts,
the people of Bhithor

will be enraged if anyone
attempts to prevent it.

I shall tell the Diwan
that if the Ranis burn,

The Raj will send a
political sahib

and a regiment from
Ajmere to arrest him.

He will not believe you.

The Diwan will know
very well, that you are

not an accredited
spokesman for the Raj.

Had you been, you
would not have

entered Bhithor secretly,
like a thief and in disguise.

You will only throw your
life away to no avail.

Now listen, you must
get us into the Rung Mahal.

You, Manilal, a fellow hakim
and his servant.

Kings are not permitted
to die alone and in peace.

Tonight, there well be
more guards and wakeful

people in the palace
then ever before.

I will let you know when
I have worked out

a plan that will succeed.

Gul Bas, you will come with me
to the funeral grounds tomorrow.

This is where the fire
will be, Gul Bas.

That's probably for the purdah
women who want to sit and watch.

The Diwan's wife and
daughters, I dare say.

They'll get an excellent
view from there!

Pelham Sahib.....
It would not be possible.

We could never get
away from here

even if we cut our way
through the crowds.

There is not way out,
except back through the city.

Well, now I know.

Ha, ha, ha.

I'm glad you can
still laugh, Sahib.

Well, why not?

It's a relief to know
where I stand.

They say drowning's quite
pleasant once you stop struggling.

Come on, lets eat.
I'm starving.

You know, Gul Bas.

There is a saying
in England,

that a cat may
look at a king.

I must tell you.

On the wedding procession
I came to love one of the brides.

Anjuli Bai

To love her, Gul Bas,

beyond reason.

I can't believe that.

Nobody knew.

I saw her married
and came away,

leaving my heart
in her keeping.

Now you know
why I had to come here,

and why I cannot leave.

I'm sorry, Sahib.

I did not mean to insult
you or the Rani Sahib, either.

My father lost his
heart once,

to my mother.

After she died, he was never
more than the shell of a man.

But he could not more
prevent my mother's death

than you can
prevent the Ranis.

I can

and will save her
from death by burning.

Leave me, Gul Bas.

Yes, sir.

[The Rana dies and
gongs sound]

[Religious chants]

Oh, Shushu.

How dare you come into
my presence showing

no sign of grief.

I hoped to comfort yours.

Now that our husband
is dead I can meet with you again.

It was not my husband
who had you banished.

It was I.

I cannot find it in my
heart to believe that, Shushu.

When I fell in love with
my husband, I could

not endure the thought
that you too were his wife.

It was I who had you
starved and humiliated.

But, why, Shushu?

Why?

So you would
become old and ugly.

And if the Rana should
remember your existence,

he would turn away
from you in disgust.

That is what Gita said,
that you were jealous of me.

But you had no
reason to be, Shushu.

Don't you think it's your
pain to make be suffer so?

I kept my promise.

I came to Bhithor with you
because you were afraid

of becoming suttee.

I intend to die
on my husband's pyre.

And I will accompany you.

I will be with
you, Shushu.

Never!

You will not be permitted
to defile the Rana's ashes.

For being no true wife,
it is not fitting that you

should share the
honor of becoming suttee.

Besides, I have made other
arrangements for you.

[Chants]

God be praised!
Thank god we found you.

You shouldn't have come.

My mind's made up.

We have learned that
Senior Rani has ordained

that the Anjuli Rani
will be spared the fire

if she would visit the ceremony.

What!

Who is that?

Look!

What shall we do?

Get her out!

[Funeral procession]

[Continuous religious chants]

[Both Ranis under guard]

Ashok!

Come on, Juli.

You can't help her now.

All you will do is
hurt yourself, by

watching a sight that
will haunt you the

rest of your life.

I cannot leave her.

But, my dear love!

Now we have
a chance!

I came her to shoot you out
unless you become suttee.

Then do the
same for her.

No.

Please, Ashok, let her
die quickly and without pain.

We shall all die a death
worse than Shushila

if they hear where
the shot comes from.

It will not be heard
above the noise.

I beg you.

Just because that little
bitch spared you from the fire?

Ashok, you fool.

She only spared me
because she had ordered

that the last thing
that I should ever see

would be the flames uniting
her body with the Rana's.

Afterwards, my eyes were
to be put out with hot irons.

My God.

And yet you would risk
our happiness to put her

out of her misery.

Yes.

We loved each other once.

And I pity her.

[Chanting in background]

Cut me a gat, Gul Bas.

[Shushila, the wife of
the dead Rana]

[Jewelry must not burn
with the dead wife]

[Wife chanting]

She's not afraid.

Not yet.

It's still early a game.

No, not a game.

A part she is playing.

[Wife continues to chant]

Now!

Quickly, before she
starts to be afraid.

Not yet.

It's too quiet.

[Wife speaks command]

[Crowd chants loudly
after fire starts]

As soon as
I fire, we go.

[Gunshot]

[Crowd chants loudly]

They will send more
men after us.

That is a good place
to stop them, up there.

You ride on
with Her Highness.

That's crazy. You're going
to need more than one gun.

The only chance we have is to
hold them off until nightfall.

There is a ruined temple
across the plain

take Her Highness there.

Look after her, Gul Bas.

Yes, Pelham Sahib.
She will be safe with me.

I will be with
you tonight.

What are you
doing, Hakim?

I, too, will stay.

But, you cannot
fire a rifle.

No, but I can load
them for you.

Ha, ha, then put the
horses in a safe place first.

Right.

Take care, my love.

Your servant, Manilal,
was a brave man, Hakim.

He gave us time.

Is this a good place for me
to work, Master of Horse?

Yes, Hakim.

That is good.

I usually work
to save lives.

Are they loaded, Hakim?

Yes.

I'll take the leader.
You bring down the second man.

You must reload
as fast as possible, Hakim.

Now, what?

[Remaining guards
attacking on foot]

Hakim!

Behind you!

Five!

[Hakim is hit]

[Remaining guards retreat]

[Hakim is dead]

We finally beat them
off, did we not?

[Koda Dad is
also hit]

Oh, Father.

There is not more
to be done, my son.

They will not return
until dawn, now.

Go and leave me here.

I will account
for a few, I think.

[Koda Dad coughs]

Do you remember how,
as a boy, Zarin loved this.

Will you give it
to him for me?

Nay. To moan thus is
to question the wisdom of God.

For it is written in the book,
that all who live on earth

are doomed to die.

Tell Zarin.

Tell Zarin Kahn to set
aside his sorrow,

and be thankful that so many
good years upon this earth,

be granted to one
who is now in paradise.

[Coughs]

Put my rifle in my hands,
that I may take a few

more pittori with me.

Or, at least, delay
them till morning comes.

[Cough]

And, uh,

she is not of your race,

but I think that

she is a good woman,

and if, as I believe,

you, Ashok,

Pelhan Sahib,

may share in beautifying
that third person,

your true self.

Now go.

My son.

Pelham Sahib.

[A terrible price has
been paid for her rescue]

Your father?

Oh, my love.

I love you with
all my heart.

I think I always have.

You must know
that, now.

All my life, I've been
searching for my true self.

With you I know
who I am.

And once you
are my wife.

Ashok.

You know you are
the husband of my heart.

What more do
you need?

Nothing.