Sharpe's Challenge (2006) - full transcript

Troops approaching. Open the gate.

All right, lads, fall out.

- Davi, get some grub going.

- Yes.

Master Richard sahib.

I have to tell you

that we have no grub.

We haven't, no. But they have.

That would be stealing, sahib.

How am I to be a

good British soldier

if you make me into a thief again?

It isn't thieving

when you're hungry,

Davi. First thing

any soldier learns.

Now go on, get on with you.

Davi, mind you watch the

eleventh commandment.

Yes, sahib.

You there.

Yes, yes, you fellow.

I don't know how they do

things in the King's Army

but here in the East

India Company, it's

customary to report to

the officer of the day.

Sergeant Sharpe. King's

33rd force, sir.

Reporting from Srirangapattam.

Orders for Major Crosby, sir.

You're here for the

cartridges we recovered.

Yes, sir. 80,000, sir. For the

armoury at Srirangapattam.

Srirangapattam's...

six days' march.

How the devil do you expect to

transport 80,000 cartridges?

- On your back?

- Bullock, sir.

Ox carts, sir.

Which you mean to hire

with what? Promises?

Hire them with money, sir.

Oh.

Speak the language, too, do you?

Sergeant, banker and interpreter.

I brought an interpreter, sir.

Did you? Did you?

Every inch the Crown soldier.

Go and find your damn

carts, Sergeant Sharpe.

Let me know when

you're ready to load.

Thank you, sir.

Pass me some meat.

Sergeant Sharpe.

Hop to, lads. On your feet.

I thought you were about

finding carts, Sergeant.

Grub first, sir.

Well, your food, I hope.

Chasalgaon's an East

India Company station.

We don't keep rations to

feed the King's troops here.

Oh, yes, sir. Our

food, sir. Carried

it with us all the way, sir.

Company troops approaching, sahib.

Well, who the hell is it?

Not sure, sir.

Sullivan, perhaps.

Breaking in a new company.

I've never met Sullivan, sir.

Subedar. Call out the guard.

Better give the bastard a

salute when he arrives.

Tell him he can

join me for dinner.

- You too, I suppose.

- Yes, sir. Thank you, sir.

Welcome to Chasalgaon, sir.

Major Crosby's

compliments and you're

invited to dine with him, sir.

Squad, attention.

Present arms.

- Is that stew about ready yet?

- In a jiffy.

A bloody camel could do it faster.

I'm going for a piss.

Front face.

Order arms.

Should I have your

horse watered, sir?

All in good time, Captain.

All in good time.

Fix bayonet.

I like to give a fellow

Englishman a proper

salute. You are

English, aren't you?

- Yes, sir. From Norfolk, sir.

- Good.

Too many damn Scots in the Company

these days. Have you noticed that?

Too many Scots and Irish. Glib

sorts of fellow they are.

Then they aren't

English, are they?

Not English at all.

Present.

Oh, my God.

Come on, boys.

Fire.

Christ all-bloody-mighty.

There. There.

What's the matter, Captain?

Cat got your tongue?

King's men, to me.

Well left.

Well left, Captain...

Richard sahib.

Who the devil are you?

Major William Dodd...

at your service.

Subedar.

Two good men to guard the

pay chest if you please.

Major Dodd, sir.

Everything is loaded, sir.

- And the enemy?

- All dead, sir.

Not quite all, subedar.

Chasalgaon has fallen,

Your Highness.

We left not a man alive.

Colonel Richard Sharpe,

late of the South Essex?

Sir Samuel Rawlinson, President

of the Board of Control.

I'm told you've a talent for

bruising your betters, Sharpe.

Saving the man I've come to see,

and a certain Irish Sergeant of

my acquaintance, have done such.

Now, will you take

me to Wellington

or shall I dig the

bugger out myself?

Splendid.

Splendid. This way.

What's this nonsense I hear?

You've turned swords

to ploughshares

and become a farmer in France?

Aye. It's true enough, Your Grace.

Suits you, this life?

Well, no bugger's

trying to shoot me

the livelong day

so, aye, suits me.

I imagine the recent

strictures placed upon you

by the late Corn Bill

must prove inconvenient.

And I imagine Your

Lordship didn't bring me

all this way to discuss

the price of grain.

There is a young tiger

loose in India, Sharpe.

A Maratha princeling

with a heart for

rebellion and a taste

for English blood.

I thought we'd put an end to any

threat from the Marathas in '03.

So had we all. Divide and rule.

Simple enough policy, but one

that has served us well.

While the Maratha princes

fight and squabble

amongst themselves,

the Company prospers.

Should they unite behind a

common leader however...

Who is he?

Khande Rao, the

Rajah of Ferraghur.

I should hardly call

him common, Rawlinson.

Since he came to power,

attacks on our forts

and hill stations have

increased tenfold.

And with each success, more

Pindari bandits come to his side.

How come this man has succeeded

where many others have failed?

Though Khande Rao ascended his

father's throne last summer,

he's not yet in his majority.

It seems the late

Rajah's favourite

concubine is ruling as Regent.

- A woman?

- Just so.

Albeit one acting under

advice and guidance

of a renegade East

India Company officer.

Our intelligence officer in

Agra recruited a horse master

supplying the Company

with mounts to

discover the renegade's identity.

Alas, nothing's been seen or heard

of the fellow this

past six months.

We need someone who

knows the country

to determine what's become of him.

And, if the worst has befallen,

to see his mission through.

You want me to go back to India?

This uprising must be stopped,

Sharpe, by whatever means.

One resourceful man may

achieve what an army cannot.

Your Grace, my

soldiering days came to

an end on the ridge

of Mont St John.

I am grateful of the opinion

in which you hold me

but a man's luck

only holds so long.

Damn it, Sharpe. The rat is in

the bottle. No one else will do.

India is a very tinderbox that

waits upon the merest spark.

Should Khande Rao's

resistance prove successful,

our days as the dominant power in

that country would be numbered.

That may be so, my lord.

But what happens in

India is the business

of men of influence

and great import

and not of a farmer.

I regret I must

respectfully decline.

That is your last word?

I'm sorry I cannot prevail upon

you to change your mind, Colonel.

Mrs Harper, my apologies for

having kept you waiting.

- Ramona.

- Richard, thank God.

An acquaintance of yours, Sharpe?

A good friend.

Mrs Harper's husband is the

Irish Sergeant of whom I spoke.

What are you doing here,

lass? Is Patrick with you?

Alas, Sharpe,

Mrs Harper's husband is

also our missing agent.

You're Patrick's only hope.

You will find him,

won't you, Richard?

I'm assured we'll be on our

way again presently, madam.

It's a poor bloody spot

for a tea party, Captain.

Bandit country.

And not one picquet

posted along the track.

Some of us might

call that reckless.

And you're whom, sir, to be

giving orders to an officer?

Come, sir, state your business.

My name is Richard Sharpe

and my business is with

General Burroughs.

You're off to join his 3rd Army on

the Northern Plain, are you not?

You have experience

of India, Mr Sharpe?

Experience?

Aye, some.

I was at Srirangapattam

and Assaye.

Then you should know, Mr Sharpe,

this is friendly territory.

Any threat from Khande Rao's

Pindari lies 30 miles...

- You mean the Battle of Assaye?

- Aye, that were it.

There were no riflemen here then.

You wear the green jacket of the

95th, do you not, Mr Sharpe?

I do, madam.

And you're right. There

were no riflemen here then.

I was at the time a private

soldier in the 33rd.

Sharpe.

Good God, I mean, not the ranker

that saved Wellington's life?

Well, it once fell to me

to help him out. Aye.

Then it's an honour,

sir. Indeed an honour.

Captain Lawrence, sir.

And this is Miss Celia Burroughs,

the General's daughter.

Madam.

Unless I'm much mistaken, it's

rightly Colonel Sharpe, isn't it?

Retired, Captain, retired.

I've no commission here.

It'll be an honour to

have you travel along

with us, Mr Sharpe,

of course, but as...

I'd wait, if I were you.

There's someone up on that

ridge. May be nothing but...

I'd send a scouting party forward.

Alas, sir, our cavalry

vanished off to the

west to find forage

some two hours since.

Two hours?

Then I'd best go and

find them for you.

I'd be grateful.

Meantime, you may

depend we shall advance

along the pass with every

weight of caution.

Madam.

Not long dead.

An hour at most.

You must be the cavalry Captain

Lawrence sent me to find.

Next time you're looking

to catch a man unawares,

you might want to conceal

your horses downwind.

Captain Mohan Singh.

I command these lancers.

Richard Sharpe.

And I command no one here.

Pindari?

A raiding party,

acting on orders from Khande Rao.

I thought this was

friendly territory.

It was.

What brings you to

India, Mr Sharpe?

I'm looking for a friend.

A man called Harper.

Patrick Harper.

- You know him?

- The Irish horse master?

- That's him.

- Yeah.

I knew him.

There was a raid, six months ago.

The column he was travelling with

was massacred to the last man.

Most likely by the same

dogs responsible for this.

I'm sorry, Mr Sharpe,

your journey seems to

have been in vain.

It would appear your father has

sent a Company escort, madam.

Good day, Captain Lawrence.

It is Captain Lawrence, isn't it?

Sir.

Which would make this...

delightful creature

Miss Celia Burroughs,

daughter to the great

white General.

Could I ask, sir,

who you might be?

My name is Dodd.

General William Dodd.

Formerly of the honourable...

honourable East India Company.

Now, happily Commander-in-Chief

to his Highness, Khande Rao,

Rajah of Ferraghur.

- Do you joke with me, sir?

- Joke, sir? Why, sir, no, sir.

But I do have a paradox

might amuse Miss Burroughs.

Present.

I'm sorry, Mr Sharpe, but we

really must get back to column.

What the hell are you doing here?

You're supposed to be dead.

Sure, I can't watch your arse

if I'm dead, now, can I?

By God, Pat.

I don't think much

of your new tailor.

You're a long way from home,

Richard. Are you lost?

Ramona sent me.

What the bloody

hell were you doing

running off and leaving her?

I've been too long a

soldier. You know how it is.

Your Lucille can't be

too happy about you...

Last winter.

A fever.

Oh, Jesus, no. I'm so sorry.

She was a rare lady.

Aye.

Aye, she was that.

Mr Harper?

Well...

it would appear we have

all been premature

in our prayers at your passing.

Luck of the Irish, Captain.

You can't beat it.

Damn it.

There is one comfort, though.

General Burroughs' daughter does

not seem to be among the dead.

Nor is Captain Lawrence.

This looks like the

handiwork of a Pindari war

band I've been tracking

for the past four days.

This column was taken by surprise.

The men died in line.

Didn't even have time to

unsling their rifles.

Whoever did this came

at them in friendship.

I've never seen anything

like it before.

I have. Chasalgaon.

Chasalgaon?

But to my knowledge, there were

no survivors at Chasalgaon.

Colonel Sharpe's

always had a certain

gift for the impossible, sir.

Colonel Sharpe?

- Are you with me, Patrick?

- Yes, always.

Where are you going?

After the bastards that did

this, where do you think?

They will be many miles

from here by now, Colonel.

Colonel, I will send two of

my best men to track them

but we must report the

column's loss without delay.

Khande Rao is in Ferraghur, the

greatest fortress in the world.

It has never fallen.

Kneel before His

Majesty Khande Rao.

I shall do no such thing.

Highness, your loyal

Commander-in-chief

offers you this humble gift.

The daughter of the

mighty General sent

by England to challenge

your greatness

kneels before you.

I'm afraid there's

not much meat on her

and what there is

undercooked but...

I'm sure, given

encouragement, she'll

provide Your Highness

with some sport.

No.

God damn you, sir, for shame.

Your Highness. As a French

officer, I cannot permit...

Permit?

Colonel Gudin, you're here

to train His Highness' men.

Nothing more.

India is not France.

You would do well to remember it.

What is your name,

British soldier?

Captain Lawrence.

I've lately consulted with the

Brahmin, Captain Lawrence,

hoping to gain the answer to a

question that greatly troubles me.

Perhaps you can confirm whether

my augurs read the signs right.

Will your army lay

siege to us here

at Ferraghur before

the rains come?

In the army of His

Britannic Majesty, sir,

the plans of great Generals are

not confided to mere captains.

A pity.

You will convey for

me then a message.

A message to your army camped

upon the Northern Plains.

You should know that England does

not parley with brigands, sir.

Oh, but you mistake me, Captain,

for I make no offer of parley.

Is the prisoner fit for

punishment, Sergeant Bickerstaff?

Prisoner fit for punishment, sir.

Very well, do your duty.

One.

Two.

No, no, no.

By God, sir, but this won't do.

Lay it on hard, man.

Don't tickle him.

You heard General

Simmerson, lay it on.

And keep those strokes

high, above his trousers.

Three.

Four.

What's this poor sod

done, then, Simmerson?

Five. Six.

- Farted upwind of your nobility?

- Eight.

Wait.

Sharpe.

I see time has done nothing to

improve a want of

etiquette in you.

Still the same whore-mongering

gutter trash of memory.

Aye.

And you're still the same

cruel, flogging bastard.

Cruel, sir? I calls it discipline.

This fellow was

caught wearing paint

and earrings on parade,

if you please.

Joys, he names them.

Joys.

The marks and trinkets

of his idolatry.

Well, I won't have it, sir.

Sepoys they may be,

but this is a Christian

army and I will

see things done the Christian way.

There's no doubting that.

What's your business here, Sharpe?

My business is with

General Burroughs.

Indeed.

- How long?

- About a month or so.

The fever ebbs and

flows but, alas,

never leaves him in

sufficient health to command.

So who's in charge?

Back so soon, General.

I thought you

to be at your pleasure

some time yet.

Bad tidings, McRae, bad tidings.

And no worse a messenger to

bring them than Richard Sharpe.

That would be,

Colonel Sharpe, sir.

I do not remember Mr Sharpe as

holding a commission in this army.

I'm here at the express wish

of Horse Guard, General.

See if you can remember that.

London wants this

uprising put down

hard and fast, before it spreads.

My orders are to lend what

aid I can in that regard.

Then you are indeed welcome

to our company, Colonel.

Hector McRae, special advisor

to General Burroughs.

John Stokes, Major of Engineers.

Glad of the acquaintance, Colonel.

- This is my fellow traveller...

- Mr Harper, isn't it?

I'd a fine bay mare of

you some months back.

That you did.

I hope she's giving you

good service, sir.

You should be wary

of this one, McRae.

He thinks because Wellington

raised him up from the sewer

that it somehow makes

him a gentleman.

But he don't know his

place. Do you, Sharpe?

Maybe not.

But I know I had to stand

before a French column.

I know how to face fire without

soiling my breeches

and turning tail.

You spoke of bad news, General.

I regret to report that the escort

transporting General

Burroughs' daughter

was overcome by a force

of Khande Rao's men.

Miss Burroughs and Captain

Lawrence have been taken captive.

You see, McRae, what did I

tell you? Bad tidings indeed.

First General Burroughs

indisposed, now this.

I shall send to Agra for

reinforcements and further orders.

Further orders? What further

orders do you need?

The second rule of war, Sharpe,

which you'd know if you'd

ever learnt anything

beyond insolence towards

your superiors,

is never reinforce failure.

Oh, I know that rule. Though by

that bird shit on your shoulder,

it seems this army's resolved to

prove you its living exception.

Sir, if Major Stokes' artillery is

to breach the walls of Ferraghur,

we must move against the

fortress before the rains come.

I shall consider your

advice, of course, McRae.

And what does that mean?

- We wait?

- We wait, sir.

What of General

Burroughs' daughter?

Do not be afraid. I

am the Rani Lalima.

Sister to His Highness.

Well, what do you want?

To gloat on my misfortune?

I thought perhaps...

Do you imagine I would

accept anything

from you after all you've done?

My father will not

stand idly by, Madame.

Even now, he will be

marshalling his army.

I must admit,

despite his being a Frenchman,

Gudin is making progress.

And when will they be ready?

Soon, Madhuvanthi.

Soon.

And after you've made the Plains

run red with English blood,

once you have ground

them into the dirt,

what then, my love?

Patience, Madhuvanthi.

Patience?

Have I not been patient?

And more.

You know it.

Did I put Khande Rao

on his father's

throne for your ambition

to fail you now?

Have we not come far already?

Or do you forget?

A Company Lieutenant

with no prospect of

advancement and a

favoured courtesan.

Now I am a General

and you a Regent.

I shall not be Regent forever.

Soon Khande Rao will attain his

majority and I shall be put aside.

But perhaps you weary

of me, my love.

Is that it?

You want someone younger

to rule beside you.

Lalima, perhaps.

I've seen how you watch

after where she walks.

I'd keep a close eye

on her because I do

not think she's

entirely to be trusted.

She's of no consequence.

She'll do as her

brother orders and if

she does not, she'll

suffer for it.

All I ask, my love,

is that you do not

make me wait too

long for what is rightfully ours.

When I tells you to shine

my boots, Private,

I means I wants them gleaming.

But, Sergeant Bickerstaff,

you know full

well that as a Hindu

to work with...

Oh.

A Hindu says he. A Hindu.

What's a Hindu then?

Know what I bloody hates

the livelong day?

There's no Hindus here.

Neither the Hindu nor Musulman

nor gabardine Joe.

You signed on as a

soldier, Private,

and a soldier I'll

make of you yet.

I signed on to fight

for your army,

not to clean your boot for you.

Do you tell me, boy?

I can see Shadrach Bickerstaff

has to teach you better

to mind your manners.

- All right, stand off, Sergeant.

- Mind your damn business.

Don't make me tell you again.

Who the bloody hell are

you to give me orders?

You're no Company officer.

No, Sergeant Bickerstaff, I'm

not. I'm from a proper army

that knows how to deal with

bullying bastards like you.

Now, you raise your arm to this

man one more time for no reason,

and you'll have me to

deal with. Now stand off.

- Oh, what's it to you?

- What's it to me?

Nowt, beyond I know

what it's like to

be on the end of a

Sergeant's beating.

- Now stand off.

- Easier to be brave

with rank and noon

sunlight behind.

I hope you sleep light, Colonel.

Lest you find some morning you

wake up to find your throat slit.

- Is that a threat, Sergeant?

- Take it as you please.

Oh, I do. So come

on, let's sort it

out here and now. Just you and me.

I weren't born yesterday

neither, Colonel.

'Tis a hanging offence

to strike at an officer.

But like you said, I'm

no Company officer.

All the same.

I'll not hit a man wearing

the King's uniform.

No? No? Well, that's

easily remedied.

Officers.

I've shat them.

Shadrach.

All right, all right. Clear off.

Next time I give an order, you

bloody jump to, understood?

Aye, sir.

Richard.

Come on to me with a knife, will

you? You little gutless bastard.

Had enough, Shadrach?

The French heavy cavalry

came on in good order,

the morning sun glinting

on their sword tips.

But my heart was not dismayed.

What do you say,

Stokes, which suits

better? Glinting or glimmering?

Stokes.

- Sir?

- Glinting or glimmering?

As you have it, sir.

As you have it.

Yes, yes, I think so, too.

Glinting. Set it

down, set it down.

My troops as one, look to

their leader for, for...

What? What is this?

I have said that when I

am about my literary

business, I am not

to be disturbed.

What is it?

A message from Khande Rao.

Poor Captain Lawrence.

They killed him

with a nail, McRae.

A nail driven into his skull.

It was, General, but

not by any hammer.

This is the work of jetties,

professional strong men.

Killing people in interesting

ways is part of their remit.

There's a note along

with the thing.

Written in their heathen script.

Perhaps you'd oblige me, McRae.

It is a short message and

to the purpose, General.

If we attack Ferraghur, Khande Rao

will kill General

Burroughs' daughter.

You see, gentlemen? As I thought.

Our best course lies in caution.

The longer we leave him

unchallenged, the

stronger he gets.

Khande Rao has got over

3,000 troops at Ferraghur.

Another month, it

could be double that.

No matter their strength,

a bandit rabble in want

of discipline will never

stand against a

well-trained European army.

That must be why

they have a bunch of

Frenchmen teaching

them tactics, then,

under the command

of a Colonel Gudin.

For a horse dealer, Mr Harper, you

seem remarkable well-informed.

Well, sir, you see, a horse dealer

picks up more round and about

than just shit on his boots, sir.

Khande Rao is not just marshalling

his troops up there to look good.

- You must move now.

- I have said.

Damn it, sir, don't push me.

We will wait

until reinforcements and new

orders are arrived from Agra.

There is no more to say.

Get that damn thing out of here.

What do you reckon then, Pat?

This Khande Rao, can we take him?

Well, he has a reputation

of being a real monster.

If he is a monster, Mr Harper,

then he's one of British making.

How is that, Captain?

The Company have only

maintained the peace here

by keeping the princes

at each other's throats.

Khande Rao's father...

he feared his neighbours more

than he hated the British.

And so it was your country that

kept him supplied with arms.

That sounds just like

the English, getting

someone else to do its dirty work.

The son is not the

father, however.

Khande Rao wants you out of

our country once and for all.

It is a view with which I cannot

say I do not have some sympathy.

So why are you fighting with us?

Khande Rao is a Maratha, Colonel,

a sworn enemy of my blood.

And that makes you

my enemy's enemy.

And, therefore, a necessary evil.

Good day to you, both.

I don't think I like the sound

of that, a necessary evil.

Have we ever been else?

And there was me thinking we were

always on the side of the angels.

What keeps my brother from sleep?

I dreamt of our father.

He was angry with me. I don't

know why that should be so.

I shall ask the Brahmin

what it means.

I try to be like

him in all things.

To find his courage

within me, that I may

see my people safely

through these days.

No one doubts your courage,

my lord, nor your wisdom.

But surely a great

Prince is also merciful.

I speak of the white

General's daughter.

My brother, what

harm has she done?

Can it be right to keep her

locked alone in the darkness?

You think the British would

treat you any better?

Then surely it becomes

us to prove that it

is they who are the

barbarians in this land.

Release her to the

guest quarters here

in the palace. I

will stand surety.

Do this kindness for a

sister who loves you.

- I will ask Madhuvanthi.

- Ask Madhuvanthi? That witch.

- You are the Rajah of Ferraghur.

- And she is Regent.

Tell me, when the time comes

to surrender such power,

do you imagine she will do so

gracefully and rest content?

- She and Dodd...

- Do not task me, Lalima.

General Dodd has served us

faithfully well these past years.

It was our father's wish that

he remain in our service

and I will not go

against that wish.

As my brother pleases.

You know what they are calling

him? In the town and in the fort.

The white Rajah. The white Rajah.

Take care, my little brother.

Take care.

Christ, God, Sharpe.

You heard his message.

Attack Ferraghur and he kills

General Burroughs' daughter.

Not if I can get her out.

Get her out? What fresh

madness is this?

You want to lead a forlorn hope

against Ferraghur, is that it?

Have half my men killed

on the walls, then

watch Celia Burroughs

have her head nailed?

If Captain Singh and

his lancers help me,

Mr Harper and I should prove

sufficient to the job.

You and Harper?

Oh, God knows...

I don't mind if you

do die, Sharpe.

It's long past your

time, ain't it?

If that's permission...

Oh, by all means.

Go and die, Sharpe.

Go and die.

Mademoiselle, it is

His Highness' wish

that you should be brought to the

guest quarters at the palace.

There you may bathe and will be

provided with fresh clothing.

I am well enough, sir.

It is not a request.

I have been a very poor father.

The effort of bringing

Celia into the world

took my dear wife

from me, do you see?

I may not always...

have concealed my resentment.

I'm sure that's not the case, sir.

A son could have followed

me into the army...

but a daughter...

I placed career

before the duty a father

owes to his child.

It's only now as...

the shadows lengthen and I

realise, like the base Indian,

the value of that

which I squandered.

Bring her back for me, Colonel.

- Are we ready, Pat?

- As we'll ever be.

Godspeed, then, to you both.

I trust your new quarters

are more to your liking.

General Dodd.

I hardly think it proper for you

to be alone in a woman's quarters.

Fortunately, madam, there lies a

region in which I

am well-travelled.

What is it you want?

Merely to ask after your comfort.

To the best of my

knowledge, sir, you

were once an officer

in the British Army.

It was the East India

Company in which I served.

But let's not split hairs

over such trifling matters.

Your point?

My point, sir, is that if any

vestige of gentlemanly conduct

you must have absorbed while

in British Company remains,

I would urge you to act upon it.

Alas, madam, these

past years, I find

I'm moved by impulses far more...

sub-equatorial.

If I understood you alright

the other evening, General,

you made a gift of

me to the Rajah.

- What of it?

- Nothing.

I am merely imagining

his disappointment

if he were to find that his gift

had already been unwrapped.

Then you better wish a

health unto His Highness

for he'll take more care in

its opening than I will.

All right, I reckon this

is about far enough, Pat.

Turn your coat round.

If Khande Rao's men see red coats,

they'll shoot before

they ask questions.

Wouldn't want that to

happen now, would we? Not

with these jetti fellows

to look forward to.

She must be some looker,

that's all I can say.

- All the trouble we're going to.

- Who must?

The General's daughter.

Saving Celia Burroughs

ain't a mission, Pat.

We're going to Ferraghur

to stop a rebellion.

You know as well as me once

the monsoon comes, that's it.

Khande Rao can afford to sit

tight in his fort and watch

while Simmerson's men starve

for lack of supplies.

Then, when he's got them on the

run, when they're retreating,

he'll get his Pindari

to carry them

all across the Plains,

you know that.

So wait a minute. You

and me, we're gonna

stop a rebellion,

just the two of us?

Well, I don't see no bugger else.

Yeah... That...

That sounds just about right,

just as long as you let me know.

Shh.

What do you want?

I came to tell you I am sorry you

have been dealt with this way.

Keep your apology, Madame.

It's nothing to me.

We did not ask you British to our

country. And still you came.

But not as guests,

nor in friendship.

You came to plunder, nothing more.

I came to be with my father.

We are not savages, madam,

whatever you might think of us.

All we want is to be left

to run our own affairs.

I would be grateful if

you would leave me.

Promise me one thing,

madam. I have stood

surety for your

present surroundings.

Were you to attempt escape,

I should suffer for it.

His Highness would

not approve of you

being abroad at such

an hour, Princess.

What my brother might

or might not approve

of is hardly any business

of yours, General.

Indeed not, madam.

However, the well-being of

his prisoner certainly is.

What did you want with her?

You are aware, madam, that as

Commander-in-Chief of

His Highness' forces,

I am duty-bound to

report this behaviour.

Nevertheless, I am

willing to be persuaded

that your conduct was other

than it first appeared.

Persuaded? And what

about Madhuvanthi?

Or do you tire of a

courtesan's tricks at last?

You should return to

the palace, madam.

The streets of the

fortress can be dangerous

after dark, even to one

as high-born as yourself.

Should a common soldier mistake

you for something else...

who knows what

accident might befall?

Don't look, I think

we're being followed.

It's about time.

Get out, man. You've

done your job, get out.

Friends, mate. Friends.

You understand?

We don't wanna fight you.

- We wanna come and join you.

- Join us?

- You're deserters?

- No, sir, we're volunteers.

That's why them buggers

are chasing us.

Sergeant Sharpe, sir.

- Corporal Harper.

- Colonel Gudin.

Surrender your weapons and

we'll escort you to Ferraghur.

If it proves you are what you

say, we may find a place for you.

If not, you will die.

I'm afraid General Dodd

will insist upon it.

So, you wish to enlist in the

army of His Highness Khande Rao?

Aye, sir, that's why we're here.

And tell me, Sergeant Sharpe,

just why should I believe you?

I'm never sure deserters

are to be trusted.

We were to be flogged, sir,

and lose us rank and all.

- Why?

- Accused of thieving, sir.

We didn't do it but it was

our word against an officer.

We had nowhere else to run, sir.

It were either offer

ourselves here

or take our chances in the wild.

Why should I accept you

into His Highness' service?

You give me a rifle

at me shoulder and

sword at my hand and

I'll show you why.

This Rajah is no more your

King than he is mine.

But we'll kill for him,

Colonel, same as you.

Though I'll be damned if

we'll beg for the privilege.

You are for the moment

attached to my cushoon

You shall be issued

with the proper uniform

and Sergeant Chef Bonnet will

explain to you your duties.

- Aye, sir.

- Thank you, sir.

The fuck-offs, is not it?

- What's that?

- English deserters, no?

- I'm Irish, sir.

- That way.

Five minutes.

Best not to keep the

Sergeant Chef waiting.

What is it?

Nowt.

And you with a face on

you like a dragoon's

arse from the minute

we got lifted?

Listen, I'd follow you through the

gates of hell if you

gave me the word.

So I think I deserve more

than a "nowt" for my trouble.

Dodd.

"General Dodd will insist,"

Gudin said.

Who is he?

The Company renegade you've

been trying to find for one.

- And for two?

- A murdering bastard.

Do you know him?

Does he know you?

He had a lot on his mind

that day at Chasalgaon.

Chasalgaon?

Shite.

Well, I'll take that as a

"Let's hope not" then.

How fares General Burroughs, sir?

Fever seems to have him.

Perhaps we should delay our

approach upon Ferraghur.

Delay, sir? No, we cannot.

The rains maybe upon us

in days, hours perhaps.

We must press on.

- Your Highness.

- General Dodd.

So, what news of the

wolves at our door?

Intelligence from our

scout says that the

British broke camp

early this morning.

Perhaps they have

thought better of the

enterprise and are

falling back to Agra.

Falling back, Colonel Gudin?

The door of opportunity

is closing, Madame.

If the rains come,

they will have to

abandon the campaign

until the autumn.

You sound almost eager to

avoid the confrontation.

I have never walked

away from a battle,

Madame. Neither have

I run toward one.

Like any soldier, I hope for

peace and prepare for war.

If it's peace that you

want, you better hope that

General Burroughs values

his kin above duty.

My father knows his

duty. Depend on it.

As he knows how to

deal with renegades.

Be silent, and speak only

when you are spoken to.

We have consulted

with our Brahmins.

They say the rains are

coming very soon.

Not too soon, Your Highness?

Or how else will we swill the

Plain clean of English blood?

Boy. Boy.

- More arrack here.

- No, no, no more, please.

Yes, yes.

I thought you

crapauds could drink.

And it's Patrick, by the way.

Are you all Frenchmen in Colonel

Gudin's cushoon, Sergeant Chef?

There used to be many more of us.

We came seeking a

place and fortune,

but men die here like flies.

The fever, the heat.

It has been a long

march from Waterloo.

Aye. It has that.

- You were there?

- Yeah.

How any of us lived through it...

Mon die...

Yet, here we are.

Such is God's humour.

For all that, it's

not so bad. Good

food, fair pay, when it comes.

And many babies...

Come on, Jacques,

come on. Who was that

white lass that we

see with the Rajah?

That one's far beyond

your purse, my friend.

Oh?

The daughter of a British General.

Dodd made a gift of

her to the Rajah.

A gift?

Much as another man might hang a

beautiful picture upon the wall,

His Highness likes to

have her about him

while he makes his plans for war.

So amongst my other duties,

I am appointed her chaperone.

And escort her from

the guest quarters

to wherever His Highness pleases.

Such is my misfortune.

Sounds like a funny

misfortune to me.

She is very beautiful, yes.

My god, what a

bitch. A shrew none.

More arrack, Jacques. More arrack.

- Whoa.

- Oh.

We shall all have

sore heads tomorrow.

Well, you will, anyhow, Jacques.

I'll put him to bed.

Come on.

- If you please.

- Colonel Sharpe?

Sergeant Sharpe. At least

for now. If you would.

- Forgive me...

- That's all right.

That's all right. Don't fret

your self, you did right.

Sergeant Sharpe, might I

assume this subterfuge,

indeed your very presence at

Ferraghur, is at my

father's request?

- It is, madam.

- Then you've seen him. How is he?

I regret to say General Burroughs

is taken with the ague, madam.

He's taken pretty bad.

- And like to die?

- He looks a strong man, madam.

And he's in the best of care. I

don't doubt he'll mend given time.

Who, then, controls his army?

The army is at present under the

control of, Sir Henry Simmerson.

Then it is indeed worse

than I'd feared. Papa

holds, Sir Henry to be

of little account.

Then your father's a

good judge, madam.

I know, Sir Henry of old,

which is why we must

get you out of Ferraghur

at first opportunity.

Have you a proposal whereby our

prospects might be improved?

I'm working upon it, madam.

But I'm also here

to reconnoitre the

fort's defences

against our attack.

Sergeant, if there is a

choice between getting me out

and taking what intelligence

you have to my father...

Whatever we do, wherever

we go, we'll go together.

Now, I must back to my

building before I am missed.

Don't you worry.

- Good night, madam.

- Thanks.

Barrel caked in powder.

Come on.

Missing frisson spring.

Rusted dog screw.

Would you say this

was good enough, Corporal Harper?

That I wouldn't, Sergeant.

No, that I wouldn't.

What would happen

if any of our men

kept their pieces in such a

condition, Corporal Harper?

Well, they'd have cause

to curse their mothers

for ever bringing them into

this sorry world, Sergeant.

What the hell are two English

soldiers doing on

my parade ground?

They are deserters, sir.

Eager to serve His Highness.

So you just thought you'd just let

two Englishmen walk

into Ferraghur?

- My orders were to build an army.

- Colonel.

I think General Dodd's point is

how do we know they're not spies?

How can one tell, Highness?

But I think not.

- I have questioned them.

- Oh, I think we can tell.

I think we can discover what

sort of soldiers they are, too.

How many rounds can

you fire a minute?

One, maybe?

A good soldier, he can fire maybe

three, four rounds a minute.

Perhaps you should

demonstrate, Sergeant.

Oh, aye.

Who might you be?

I'd be General Dodd, Sergeant?

Sharpe.

Corporal Harper, sir.

Load them.

Getting slow, Pat.

So, you can load.

- Can you shoot?

- Oh, aye, I can shoot.

- I can kill and all.

- Good. Good.

Then kill him.

What?

Wait a minute. Wait a minute.

What's this?

Proof of your new-found

loyalty to His Highness.

Kill him or I'll have

you both shot as spies.

Sir, I've... served with

this man for six years, sir.

Well, you must be bored

of his conversation.

Don't try His Highness'

patience, kill him.

- Pat.

- God love you, Richard.

Aim true for Christ's sake.

Hail Mary full of

grace. The Lord is with

thee. Blessed art

thou amongst women,

and blessed is the fruit

of thy womb, Jesus.

Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for

us sinners, now and at the hour...

Bide your business, Sergeant.

I gave you an order.

Pray for us sinners, now and at

the hour of our death. Amen.

Bad powder. Good one that,

General. I'll remember that.

Be sure that you do.

Let this test of

your loyalty serve

as a reminder that you have sworn

to live or die at His

Highness's word.

- Continue your drill.

- Yes, sir.

Not bad, English, not bad.

That Dodd's got a rare sense

of humour, so he has.

Three years in the army

at Srirangapattam.

A man gets to know powder, the

smell of it, the taste of it.

Yeah, well, I mean, all the same.

You could have, you know...

Well, you think Dodd

would let us have

loaded guns if he didn't trust us?

And His Majesty not ten foot away.

Yeah, well, you might have

had a notion to let me know.

I was getting my excuses

ready for St Peter.

It had to look real, Pat. Sorry.

But we are in the

cushoon, aren't we?

Yeah, yeah.

We're in a cushoon all right.

Up to our bloody necks.

Get those feet up, you.

Heave them, bastards.

It ain't a tea party

we're marching to.

It's to war.

Old comrades.

Magnificent, are they not?

Yet I do pity them.

They will be pounded to dust.

You'll never break a besieging

army sat in a fort, sir.

And there's the weather

to think about.

And the rains may make

them withdraw to Agra.

But they'll be back for sure in

greater numbers than before.

It is not the "when"

of their assault

which need concern us, gentlemen.

It is the "where."

Highness.

I never thought of

them to be so many.

Be not dismayed, Your Highness.

There will be far fewer of

them presently, I promise.

Ah, McRae, you are done

with your promenade?

Major Stokes has completed his

initial service, sir, aye.

Stokes?

I regret to report I'm unable

to advance my artillery pieces

against the north or

the south ramparts.

Now, there is a possible

approach against the east.

And how long do you

estimate it will take

you to establish a

practicable breach?

- A few weeks, sir.

- A few weeks?

Which, with the arrival of

the rains almost upon us,

we do not have.

No, sir.

Well, thankfully, while you have

been walking up and

down the earth,

I have made some certain enquires.

This man tells me that

his sons were taken away

by Khande Rao's troops

a few months ago,

to help construct an inner

wall inside the fortress.

- An inner wall?

- Just so.

Mr Harper made no mention of

such a development in his report.

Yes, well, you may set great

store upon him, McRae.

But to my mind, the Irish

have always proved themselves

an altogether undependable race.

Happily, for all the gaps

in your intelligence,

I have uncovered the weakness

in Khande Rao's plans.

Building of this inner wall upon

the west is not yet complete.

At that point we have only

the outer wall to breach.

The west. Are you sure, sir?

Have I not just said so?

Aye, seems a mite

convenient is all, sir.

- Convenient?

- Like Laocoon, sir,

experience has taught

me to be wary of

Greeks even when they

are bearing gifts.

What?

It is not beyond Khande Rao to

seek vantage through subterfuge.

- Nonsense.

- Maybe, sir.

But my mind would be

eased if we could

get confirmation

from Colonel Sharpe.

Sharpe be damned.

I told you, the man is a bloody

adventurer and cannot

be relied upon.

The west it is, Stokes,

that's the place.

See there, how the wall

is in poor repair.

That's where we'll

make our breach.

And we'll do it in

strength. By God,

I'll pour the whole damn army in.

There'll be a show to put Richard

bloody Sharpe in his place.

Looking for the

Colonel. Colonel Gudin.

Who are you? What do you want?

I am looking for Colonel

Gudin, sir. He's my officer.

Could you tell me where I am,

sir? I think I'm a bit lost.

This is western gatehouse. And

you have no business here.

You can see there's no

Colonel Gudin here.

- Out.

- Aye, sir.

Out.

Thank you, thank you

very much, sir.

A mine? Where?

The western rampart.

There's a tunnel

underneath the old

gatehouse. Leads

to the inner wall.

And it's stacked

high with gunpowder.

God save Ireland.

I can see them now,

coming on, flags flying.

A forlorn hope storming

into the breach.

Yeah, but it won't be a

breach that they find.

Just a tight bloody corridor and

nowhere to go but along it.

Jesus.

They'll be trapped between

the inner and outer walls.

Yeah.

And all the while, Dodd

will be sat there waiting,

ready to blow the whole

bloody army straight to hell.

Sergeant, can you use a sword?

Aye, sir, sometimes,

sir, when I need to.

Good. Then oblige me.

It's been a while

since I matched steel

with an Englishman.

Begging your pardon, sir, but

I'm drilled as a rifleman

and no match for Your Generalship.

I'll be the judge of

that. Choose your blade.

I'd sooner not, sir, if

it's all right with you.

Choose your blade.

So, what brings you to

His Highness's service?

As we told Colonel Gudin, sir...

- You weren't ready for me?

- No, sir.

Well, let that serve

as a lesson to you.

The enemy won't

announce his intention

to strike and neither will I.

That's better,

Sharpe, much better.

- I learn fast, sir.

- So it seems.

What about yourself,

sir? If I might ask.

What brought you into

His Highness' service?

I was a Lieutenant

in the East India

Company for six years,

six bloody years.

You see, in the

Company, it doesn't

matter how good a

soldier a man might be

if he hasn't got the money.

He's got to wait his turn.

I watched wealthy,

young idiots buy

themselves majorities

in the King's ranks,

whilst I had to bow and scrape

to the useless bastards.

"Yes, sir. No, sir.

"Three bags bloody full, sir."

I thought this was

just practising.

You're holding back.

Is that how you'll

fight the red-coats

when it comes to close quarters?

Test me, man. Test me.

I think you should've joined

the King's army, sir.

- Get up.

- You got me, sir.

Come.

Let's refresh ourselves.

I'll have a surgeon

look at your wounds.

No, sir.

You let me win easily, I know

you did. I know why too.

It's not done in the British army

to let a ranker best an officer.

But you're not in the

British army now.

You have courage, ability,

and you were born to live

poor and die in the ranks.

Another name on the

butcher's bill.

- A soldier's fate, sir.

- Not in my army.

I'll show those English

bastards what a man can do.

You're an Englishman

yourself, aren't you, sir?

Once. Maybe.

Now, I see a red-coat, all I

wanna do is start killing.

Is that what happened

at Chasalgaon?

Why the hell do you ask that?

You hear tales in the ranks, sir.

Rumours. I just

wondered what happened.

I made a reputation,

that's what happened.

I put Chasalgaon to the sword.

Company troops and

civilians alike.

Every last man, woman and

child. No prisoners.

You see, when men fight me,

Sergeant, I want them to fear me.

That way the battle's half

won before it's even begun.

Who gave you orders

to take a breather?

Get to work, you

lazy brown bastard,

unless you want a flogging.

Here.

Give us a drop in my pan.

Thirsty work is this.

As you were, you gutless heathens.

That's our pieces firing.

Those buggers out

there ain't got no

chance of hitting us in this rain.

We must clear the enemy

from the woods, sir,

if I'm to bring my pieces up

to bear against the west.

You have my mind exactly, Stokes.

We'll put some cannon to

them, flush the buggers out.

First the cannon, then

we'll send the beaters in.

Be ready to advance at dusk.

Oh, stop moaning.

God almighty, that was a close

call. What were you thinking?

What kind of a bloody

common soldier

handles a blade as

well as that, huh?

I let him beat me, didn't I?

Oh yeah, sure you did, yeah.

It's as fine a piece

of play-acting I've

seen outside of Mr

Kemble's Coriolanus.

I didn't think you cared for

Mr Kemble in that part.

In any event you should

have just killed

the bastard and been done with it.

He'll get his, Pat. Don't

you worry about that.

The time of my choosing.

My place, not his.

Sergeant Sharpe, you are

summoned to the palace.

It is called the Vadavaka.

The Mare's Trick.

And can only be perfected

with long practise.

Oh. I don't doubt it, madam.

Oh, I expect it's

more impressive in

its beholding than

in its achievement,

like any cavalry manoeuvre.

You fought well, Sergeant.

On the parade ground.

There aren't many men who

could best General Dodd.

If you recall, madam, the

General had the better of me.

No false modesty. You let him win.

I don't deny that

General Dodd has been a

useful ally to this

house, these past years.

But to place all our hopes on

the shoulders of one man...

What if he were to weary

of such a burden?

Or that some lucky shot should

take him from our service.

Who then would we

look to for guidance?

- His Highness, madam.

- Khande Rao?

He's just a boy.

Ferraghur needs a strong and

experienced hand upon her,

if she's to blossom as she should.

Why have you brought me here?

I would know you better, Sergeant.

Come.

Sit with me.

Shall I command you?

No woman commands me.

You would refuse me?

I have been loved by kings.

You know who I am?

I know what you are.

That's how you want it, madam?

Nice and hard?

Off a ranker with the

drill sweat still on him?

Or is this another

test of my loyalty?

Is that it?

The General sat next

door, listening

to which way I'm gonna jump next?

Well, if that's your game,

I'll have none of it.

If that were all, madam?

Get out.

Get out.

Sir, Captain Mohan Singh,

requesting permission

to join this evening's

attack on the tope, sir.

I fear your lancers

will be of little use

in yon forest of the

night, Captain.

The action's best

disposed by foot.

I'd still like to

volunteer, sir, to be

duty officer, whatever

troops you use.

I see.

Medals and glory, is that it?

Two years ago, my family were

murdered by Pindari bandits,

much like those same dogs that

presently swarm about the tope.

A battle's no place for

private vengeance, Captain.

Not when there's a job to be done.

Sir, whether I kill for my blood

or for the sake of His

Britannic Majesty,

a dead bandit is a dead bandit.

Very well, if you're so resolved.

- I suppose you must go.

- Thank you, sir.

Inform His Highness that

I wish to speak to him.

The jatropha, it's

a medicinal plant.

And this is the Bodhi tree.

Mahatma Gautam Buddha

sat under this

tree and attained

divine enlightenment

- thousands of years ago.

- Thousands of years?

All Hindus worship this tree.

You Europeans like to think

yourselves very enlightened.

But beside a civilisation so

ancient and great as this,

you are what your Mr

Swift called it.

Yahoos, no?

No more than a rude intrusion

upon the history of this land.

This culture was here

long before you,

and will doubtless be here

long after you're gone.

Pardon me.

Excuse me, madam.

Miss.

Miss.

Mr Sharpe.

- Are you well, madam?

- Thank you.

Well enough.

You have news?

Our army is encamped

on the plain beyond these walls.

When the bombardment

against the fortress

begins, it may begin

as early as tonight.

When it does, I'll come for you.

I understand.

You'd better go.

Until tonight, Godspeed.

- Has it started then?

- Right.

You get yourself away to the gate.

I'll bring the lass along as

soon as I can, all right?

- Listen...

- No, you listen.

Whatever it is, it'll

wait till we're on

the boat back home.

It'll keep till then.

You just make sure you get that

lass to her father, all right?

Richard.

Mind yourself.

Sergeant Sharpe.

What are you doing here?

Sorry, sir, I was just

looking for an officer.

Orders, sir.

Well, now you've found one.

- Can you ride?

- Aye, sir. A bit.

Good. Then follow me.

The British are taking the wood

to the west of the fortress.

Come, what are you waiting for?

Fire.

Your old friends are

trying to drive

our rocketeers from the wood.

- I want you to confuse them.

- Sir?

Shout orders at them.

An English voice

will confuse them.

I wouldn't mind a rifle, sir.

You're not here to

fight, Sergeant.

Just to mix them up.

We shall lead them

in a quadrille, no?

Shout at them to come this way.

Forward.

Nineteenth.

Forward.

Louder. Try a name.

Bickerstaff.

Sergeant Bickerstaff.

To me.

Bickerstaff.

Who's there?

Good. Bid him come.

Over here, Sergeant.

Where are you?

Happen if I get a bit closer, sir.

Of course, gentlemen,

in those days

His Royal Highness was still

very much with Mrs Fitzherbert.

Yet, for all that, he

had turned his eye

upon Lady Isabelle.

Well, like her mother,

Lady Isabelle

was always given

to a good swinging

and would go after it like a

vixen at eggs in the hen house.

There was an appetite to

make Messalina blush?

By God, gentlemen, was ever

cheek and chin born to...

Excuse me.

Damn it, sir, damn it. I will not

have my story interrupted so.

The devil take your anecdote.

An attack stands upon

the balance, man.

The duty officer sends for another

company to reinforce the assault.

Sir.

Perhaps you didn't hear me right.

The duty officer sends for...

He may send for what

he pleases, sir.

There will be no reinforcement.

Let him use better

that which he has.

The fewer men, the

greater the glory.

Now gentlemen, what was I saying?

Bickerstaff. Bickerstaff,

where are you?

Bickerstaff.

Bickerstaff, you

miserable bastard.

Where are you? Get

your arse over here.

Bickerstaff. Come...

Oh, Christ. Am I ever

glad to see you.

What are you doing, man?

- It's me.

- I knows you, Colonel.

I'd know you anywhere.

Twisting a skirt like some

Eastcheap dollymop, I know.

But wait.

Shadrach, wait.

Look, I've got news, I've got

news for General Simmerson.

It'll have to keep then, won't it?

Me eyes. Me eyes.

Bastard.

This bastard is mine.

Fire.

Sharpe, leave him.

Sharpe, leave him.

I told you to leave him.

This is the bastard who set

us up for a flogging, sir.

I don't care. Keep him

alive. He may prove useful.

You took a terrible

risk. You could

have been shot by your friends.

But it worked?

Take him back.

I'll make sure His Highness

hears of your bravery.

No doubt he'll want to reward you.

Gave them a beating?

Oh, aye. We gave them

a beating, all right.

Now, go and get drunk.

You've earned it.

General Simmerson was

told of the request.

So where were the reinforcements,

Colonel? Why didn't they come?

Well, McRae, is it done?

I regret to report, sir, that

our attack has been repulsed,

with heavy losses.

Well, I always said a

night attack was folly.

We'll clear the tope

in the morning.

I understand, Sir Henry,

that you have late

sent a rider to Agra

for reinforcements

and further orders.

- General Burroughs, sir.

- I think it would be well,

if you took yourself after him to

see how the request progresses.

My place is here,

sir, at your side,

lest the ague ever take you again.

I had thought, Sir Henry, to

spare you further ignominy.

But since you are

determined to prove

as dull-witted and

thick-skinned as a

hippopotamus, let

me speak plainly.

I have no wish to die beside

such a bloody fool as you.

Hence, sir.

Hence, sir.

Get you hence.

Bickerstaff.

The bastard tried to

kill me, didn't he?

I told him, an important word to

Simmerson, and he

still come at me.

Did you do him?

I don't think so.

Gudin pulled me off.

Gudin.

Took Bickerstaff prisoner,

along with a dozen

more of our lads.

Our only hope is that

the bastard dies,

or else that you've rattled

his brains to shite.

Because he'll sell us out, certain

sure, first chance he gets.

I know. It's a right bloody mess.

- Arrack.

- Simmerson's attack failed.

Khande Rao's men still

hold the woods.

And Gudin's recommending me a

medal for my part in the victory.

Oh, well. It wasn't an entirely

unprofitable evening then.

I let Burroughs' lass

down. I know that.

Oh, come on. You're being

too hard on yourself.

Yet again, you answered the

first rule of soldiering.

You survived. No man

can ask for more.

We can. We have.

- We must again.

- And will again.

But not tonight.

No, no. Not tonight.

I'm beat. I've never been so beat.

Not the piss and

vinegar I once had.

Which of us has, Richard?

Which of us has?

Sergeant Sharpe, Your Highness.

Colonel Gudin tells us

you fought bravely,

and have proved yourself

to be a worthy soldier.

We are proud to number

you amongst our forces.

You are now a hero of Ferraghur.

Gone?

I've covered the

entire grounds, sir.

Apart from those killed

in last night's action

the tope's completely

free from enemy forces.

They must have fallen back to the

fortress under cover of darkness.

But why?

Whatever their reasoning, Colonel,

I'm not about to decline the gift.

Major Stokes, be pleased

to bring your cannon

up and begin work against

the western ramparts.

Aye. Very good, sir.

Pray our luck holds a short

while longer, McRae.

By God's grace, we'll breach the

west before the rains are upon us.

Amen to that, sir.

Amen to that.

Lieutenant Montclair, commence

firing if you please.

Commence firing.

English prisoners, your King

and General have betrayed you.

They sent you to

plunder the riches of

a land that does

not belong to you.

For that, you will

have your reward.

Colonel Gudin, for mercy.

Cannot you do something

to help these men?

I regret, madam, their fate

lies far beyond my hands.

Beyond your hands? You and your

soldiers captured

them, did you not?

This is what you meant for them?

They are soldiers, like yourself.

If you were taken from

battle for my father's

army you would be

treated honourably.

Alas, madam, we have left

that country far behind.

Your Majesty, spare

these men, I beg you.

Are you to be turned from the

victory that is rightfully yours

by woman's tears, my Lord?

Will you show mercy

to the merciless?

Your father would not have

shrunk from such a choice.

This goes against all the

rules of war, Colonel.

I know Bonnet, I know.

We came here to fight

for honour and glory.

Where is the glory now?

They've sent in more

guards to watch the mine.

How long do you think the

outer wall will hold?

It's not meant to hold.

It's meant to come down.

God knows, there's nothing

more appealing to a

besieging army than a

great, bloody breach.

Except once our lads get

through it, the only

place they can go is

down that alleyway.

Aye, and Dodd will be

waiting to blow the mine.

That alleyway is a

bloody killing ground.

It's long enough and wide enough

to wipe out half our bloody army.

You're gonna have to do

what I couldn't, Pat.

You have to get word

back to Simmerson.

Tell him to beware the west.

Yeah, that's all well and good,

but the gates are closed.

Well, we'll have to bloody open

them again, won't we? Come on.

No. Wait.

I know who the traitors

are in here, I know.

Oh, get these bastards off me.

Listen, do you wanna listen?

There's a traitor in your

ranks, a British officer.

Wait.

Wait.

What do you mean, "a

British officer?"

A Colonel, he is.

The army said he went back to

Agra, but he didn't, did he?

Because he's here.

Because I saw him last

night with my own eyes.

Dressed in a frock like them.

Who did you see? Give me his name.

I'll tell you, if you promise

to save my life, sir.

Your word of honour

as a gentleman.

His name.

That's better.

You look like a real

bloody soldier again.

Well, at least we won't

get shot by our own side.

- You ready?

- Yeah.

Right, let's do it.

Did you think to be

leaving us, gentlemen?

You really must learn to

decide whose side you are on,

Colonel Sharpe.

Please.

Heroism is so pointless.

That's enough. Get him up.

Get him up.

I trusted you.

More bloody fool you, then.

Take him to the dungeon.

Aren't you gonna kill us?

Of course I'm gonna

bloody kill you.

Just not yet.

You thought you were

better than me.

But you underestimated

William Dodd, didn't you?

Just like all those other bloody

British officers

born to privilege.

Or born to the gutter, Dodd.

I'm like every other

gutter bastard.

Another shit that belongs there.

Really?

Well, know this, your army is

gonna be utterly destroyed.

And I want you to see

them annihilated.

I want you to see that, Sharpe.

Then I'm gonna kill you.

Take him away.

Highness.

You have been kind, and

I'm grateful for that.

But I beg you speak me no further

words of kindness or comfort.

All is lost.

With Colonel Sharpe

went the last of hope.

General Dodd has laid a trap

for your father's army.

A great mine is hidden

by the western gate

which will kill many

British soldiers.

That is so?

Madame, I have cause

for tears, but

I can think of none for yours.

You ask me for why I weep?

I weep because when

your army is defeated,

General Dodd and the witch

Madhuvanthi will

murder my brother.

- Then we are both undone.

- Perhaps not.

If I went to your father, and

warned him against the mine?

You would do this?

I should sooner see my brother

alive under British rule

than dead at a renegade's hand.

Highness, for all your

courage, you run the risk

that my father will

neither receive you,

nor believe what you

have to tell him.

Which is why I have come.

I thought, if I could offer him

some sacred words, or a memory,

as a token of the trust

which exists between us,

then perhaps he would not

so quickly turn me away.

I cannot fault your

reasoning, Highness.

Indeed you give me

hope beyond hope.

Though one in my condition

dare not dream of it.

I hopes you slept well, gentlemen.

You bastard. Bastard.

Steady, paddy, steady.

You'll do yourself harm.

And we wouldn't want that.

Enjoy your crowing while you can.

Until the court martial.

And a length of rope with

your name on it waiting.

Aye.

We'll see you step the

hempen jig, Shadrach.

Damn me, if everybody

doesn't clap in time.

I don't think so.

Do you not?

You're a traitor, Bickerstaff.

That's how the army

deals with traitors.

Trial be damned.

It was your neck or mine.

And here we are.

As to your precious army,

in a few hours there ain't

gonna be no bloody army,

and good riddance says I.

They've had the best of me.

The best of you? There's no

decency in you, Shadrach.

You're scum, and

you'll die like scum.

I'll leave you to enjoy

each other's company.

And God knows you might

as well, for you'll

ne'er see another bibi

this side of hell.

- Bickerstaff. Bickerstaff.

- Bastard.

Now then, Missy.

Where might you be going?

I shall sing praise unto the

Lord, as long as I live.

All sing.

What possible reason

could you have for

leaving Ferraghur on

the eve of battle?

Answer me directly.

We shall see if a

flogging cannot encourage

that pretty tongue

of yours to sing.

You would not dare raise a hand

against a Princess of the blood.

When my brother hears of this...

Alas.

I fear His Highness has

seen his last sunset.

My God, an inner wall.

Recent-built by the look of it.

Can it be breached, Stokes?

Fresh clay, sir.

Neither my guns nor Joshua's

trumpets will put a tumble to it.

Then we must ignore it and

concentrate on the outer wall.

Capture the battlements and

we will command the fort.

Colonel McRae,

have the forlorn hope stand

ready to advance upon my order.

Aye, sir. I'll see it done.

Pray God our losses are

none too grievous.

Hey. Now, don't

speak, just listen.

I don't have much time.

I'm here by permission of Colonel

Gudin with his blessing.

You came to rescue your

General's daughter?

Yes, we did.

I thought as much.

What's this?

I give you this so you can

cheat Dodd's torturers.

A cartridge apiece.

That's all I have.

- It'll do.

- Thank you.

I'm sorry I could do

no more, my friends.

Sahib.

I have to go.

Maintenant, an old

enemy salutes you,

and bids you farewell.

Courage, boys.

Will there be grub

in the town, sir?

Aye, boys. Plenty.

- And bibis?

- Running over with it, lads.

Just panting for you. Even

enough for us old officers.

There you go, son.

It's my first cigar, sir.

When you come back, find me

and we'll have one together.

- Do your duty, lad.

- Whenever you say, sir.

Forlorn hope, stand to.

Forlorn hope will advance.

Forward march.

May God keep you.

Sergeant Bickerstaff,

I promised the British

spies a spectacle.

Have his Highness's jetti fetch

them up from the dungeon.

Very good, sir.

May I say I am

grateful to you, sir,

for giving me this

chance to prove myself.

You've proven yourself already.

As model of self-interest,

I confess you

put even my own

ambitions to shame.

Sir.

What are you doing?

Forlorn hope onward.

Oh, God almighty.

Out of the frying pan...

It's just not our

bloody night, Pat.

Follow me, lads. Run. Run.

Come on, lads.

Oh, come on now,

lads. Three to one?

That's hardly fair

odds, now is it?

They don't want fair

odds though, do they?

Shadrach?

It's a bloody contest.

Come on, Pat.

Come on, let's show these buggers.

Sharpe.

Kill him. Kill him.

Well, guys, it seems you've chosen

another form of suicide, right?

- What's this?

- A beautiful alliance, right?

You'll be needing this, I think.

- Colonel Gudin.

- Don't look so surprised.

There must be rules,

no? Even in war.

My sword is yours to command.

Glad to have you, Colonel.

Find Celia Burroughs.

Keep her safe. And get her

out of Ferraghur if you can.

- And yourself?

- We've got a bloody army to save.

Bonne chance.

Sharpe and Harper have escaped.

The French are helping them.

They've betrayed us.

Highness, it's of

little consequence.

You see, my love? The British will

soon lay scattered

across the plain

and Ferraghur will be ours.

Bonsoir, Madame. I come here

in Sharpe's confidence.

Only it's Shadrach Bickerstaff's.

Oh, Colonel.

The fortunes of war, Madame.

Cease fire. Cease fire.

Let them come on.

- Sir, they're falling back, sir.

- Come on.

Is that it?

Don't think so.

Wait for it.

Wait for it.

Oh, shite.

- Christ, God.

- It was too soon.

They blew it too soon.

Who gave the order

to blow the mine?

Who?

On your feet, troops. Forward.

Now's the time, lads.

Forward.

We must go. We must go now.

Forward.

Harper? Oh, no.

No, no, Pat.

Pat?

Pat.

Is it done?

It's done.

God.

I'm gonna get you out of here.

Jesus, it won't budge.

You're gonna be all

right. It's our lads now.

Where are you going?

I've got an account

that wants settling.

Well, I'm the Rajah of Ferraghur.

Why do you not strike?

Do you not hear me?

I am the Rajah of Ferraghur.

You are a child.

And I am not a murderer.

Get the boy out of here, sir.

Well then, paddy?

Where was we?

Say hello to Mr Nock.

Quickly. Pick it up.

- You must take me with you.

- Why? You mean nothing to me.

And love, William?

Love? For a whore?

Come back. Come back, damn it.

Lieutenant Dodd.

So it's come down to this.

For all your dreams of kingship,

you're nought but a common thief.

You were the same at Chasalgaon,

only there it were peer chests.

Now it's the Royal treasury.

What the hell do you

know of Chasalgaon?

Oh, I know all about

Chasalgaon, Lieutenant Dodd.

By God, I should do.

- For I were there.

- I left not a man alive.

You left one.

A red-coat Sergeant.

I shan't make the

same mistake again.

Well, you've got your throne.

How does it feel, Your Majesty?

Pat.

- Mohan Singh.

- General Burroughs' daughter?

She's safe.

Good.

Good. That is well.

I'm sorry to take my leave

of you so soon, Colonel.

I should have liked

to know you better.

So you shall. You just rest easy.

It's perfectly all right, Colonel.

I am unafraid.

This is not my first death,

and nor will it be my last.

We keep coming back, you know.

Aye, I know.

Before I go though, Colonel,

I should like to beg

your forgiveness

for my earlier discourtesy.

I remember nothing.

When we met, I called

you my enemy's enemy.

A necessary evil.

- It's just words.

- Words,

poorly chosen.

It was wrong on my part.

And I hope...

I hope that we might

part now in friendship.

We do, and to my mind,

we've never been anything else.

Papa.

Richard.

You are leaving us,

Colonel Sharpe?

Aye, madam.

Princess Lalima tells me she hoped

you might be persuaded to stay on

to oversee the retraining

of her father's soldiers.

Had you not heard?

Khande Rao is to be awarded

a Company pension.

And a jagir of Pindari

lands in perpetuity.

And what does the

Company get by way

of a return for its investment?

The Rajah's signature

on a new peace treaty

and some 5000 of his troops

requisitioned to the 3rd Army.

There's me thinking

for once all that blood

were about something

more than making rich men richer.

How might General Sharpe sound?

No disrespect to

your father, madam,

but I think this place has seen

enough Generals for a while.

Is there nothing one might say

that could induce you to remain?

I came to India to find a friend.

That's all my mission ever was.

Now I've done that so... Celia.

Let's not keep the

General waiting, madam.

They don't care much for it.

Goodbye, Richard, and Godspeed.

Well, are we out of here or what?

Yeah, we're away.

- Let's go.

- Let's go.