Indian Summers (2015–2016): Season 1, Episode 3 - Episode #1.3 - full transcript

The man who tried to shoot
you, did you know him?

~ No.
~ Really?

I wish you'd come to me sooner,

you could've saved yourself a
lot of fuss and unpleasantness.

I saw you, by the way, in the bazaar.

How many men and women are now

in prison for daring to
speak up for home rule?

Adam!

His mother's?

He says you owe him money.

I'll have him skinned!



Found in the lining of his bag.

A certificate of membership
of the Congress Movement.

~ What is it you remember?
~ He was calling you Devil.

I expect you misheard.

PHONE RINGS

PENCIL SCRIBBLES

~ Sir.
~ Thank you.

~ KNOCKING
~ Enter!

DOOR OPENS

Mr Dalal.

I must say, you look in fine fettle

for a man who took
a bullet to the chest.

Thank you, sir. I am much recovered.

Look, you've probably not had
time to think about very much,



let alone your career.

~ Sir?
~ But sometimes a watershed
moment can lead to reflection.

And I found myself, this morning,
wondering if you'd ever had

any interest in joining the higher
ranks of the civil service.

You'd need to pass some
exams, I'm afraid,

and the hours can be penitential.

But, I want you to ask
yourself a question.

"In a few years' time,
what do I want to be?"

Magistrate? District controller?

Obviously, if you're
happy as you are...

No, sir!

In fact, I began to study for the
examinations but I had to withdraw.

There were certain personal...

~ .. financial reasons.
~ That's a pity.

But timing, as we both
know, is everything.

~ Head Clerk?
~ That's right.

Just for now, you see,

to tide you over until
after the ICS exams.

All of the preparations
would be paid for.

I'm sure you need some time to mull
it over but I think it makes sense.

I would personally consider it a
great privilege to have you here.

CROWD SHOUTS

WOMAN SHOUTS IN DISTANCE

I wish to ask - do
you wish to be free?

When is it enough? We can truly say,

"This is what it means to be free."

The "something is better than nothing"
school of enfranchisement.

That is more dangerous than
no enfranchisement at all.

"Take this for now and we will
talk about the rest later"?

That is how you coax a child
into doing your will.

It is not how you engage
with a people. A nation.

ALL: Yeah!

~ Jai Hind!
~ Jai Hind!

~ Jai Hind!
~ Jai Hind!

Jai Hind!

Mr McLeod?

Ramu Sood.

I was wondering if you've had
an opportunity to take a look

at the letter I sent your uncle?

Yes, I have, Mr Sood,
but I'm afraid...

Then you'll know that the monies he
owes me are now two weeks overdue.

If that is the case, it's
a matter for him. Excuse me.

Believe me, I have tried many times
to discuss it with Mr Armitage

but he's extremely difficult
to get a hold of.

Nonsense. He can be found at
the Club on any given day.

Indeed. But that really
doesn't help me.

~ Why not?
~ There's the problem of access...

WHISTLE BLOWS.. to
the Club, Mr McLeod.

FROM BEHIND: Off the mall!

Specifically MY access.

Which is why I was hoping to
discuss the matter with you.

~ No, it's all right.
~ Indians may not use the mall before sundown,

which I'm sure you, Mr
Sood, very well know.

Mr McLeod.

~ Good day, sir.
~ Good day.

Thank God this is only once a year.
Come on. Let's get on with it.

So, 150 fruit scones, 150 plain
scones, 150 rounds of sandwiches.

All in time for the Sipi Fair.

The challenge of re-creating
afternoon tea at Claridge's,

only serving it in the Himalayas.

BABY CRIES

HE SPEAKS LOCAL LANGUAGE

~ Baby's first Fair.
~ Gosh. You made me jump.

Oh, I'm sorry.

I was just saying, I hope you're
preparing him for Sipi.

All the fun of the Fair.

Oh, I think he's too young for
all of that just yet, don't you?

I'm so sorry. It's nice to see you,
but I'm actually on my way out.

Always in a rush when you
expect to be told something

you don't want to hear. Even
when you were a little girl.

I beg your pardon?

I just wanted to see
if you were all right.

I'm fine. Why do you ask?

Well, you might not have heard yet,

but there's to be an inquest
into the shooting.

And you'll be asked to
give a witness statement.

That doesn't sound
too onerous, does it?

Am I missing something?

Well, you know, it's just a shame,
dredging it all up again.

It was all so sudden, wasn't it?

And, erm... Well, in your position...

.. I wouldn't remember a thing.

I'm sorry. What was it you
wanted to talk to me about?

Come on, Percy. Let's
go with Charlie.

Oh, my goodness! Wonderful news!

Unbelievable! It is like a dream.

Congratulations!

Everything is paid for.

Everything. I will be joining
the ranks of the heaven born!

~ That's wonderful!
~ Where is Sooni?

I sent her to do something for me.

~ I sent her to buy sweets.
~ You!

I have to go. New life
begins this afternoon.

~ Yes, yes, yes! Go, go.
~ So proud of you!

This is it. This is it.

This is what?

This is it in action. The
British sense of fair play.

~ CROWD SHOUTS
~ We seek self rule.

Instead we get a tea party
in the grounds of a building

~ to which we are not normally
even permitted access.
~ Sooni.

What are you doing here?
You should be at school!

~ Seeing what you were up to.
~ You shouldn't be here!

...We get quotas.

~ He emerges!
~ What is it Ronnie?

Inspector Rowntree
is here to see you.

~ Large crowd at the Bazaar this morning.
~ Oh?

Some congress firebrand
stirring things up.

No doubt timing her visit
to coincide with the Fair.

Right.

~ Bit severe, is it not?
~ After what they tried to do to you,

I'd say we can't be too careful.

Very well. We don't want to
disturb the Viceroy in London.

Probably is best if things
are kept under control.

This is Simla, not Bengal, after all.

Thank you.

We have no cups.

No, not NO cups, we have some cups,
but not enough for one per child,

which is a mystery, as
we always have before.

There are many things
that children can share

but they cannot at the same
time drink from the same cup.

CHILDREN SHOUT JOYFULLY

CLOSE BY: Thank you.

Miss Whelan!

Oh, it's Alice, please.

Alice. Alice, then.

This is, er, Leena, she
works with the children.

Pleased to meet you.

I think we met but without actually
being introduced. On the train.

I'm so sorry, have I muddled the day?

No, not at all.

Miss Whelan very kindly offered
to come and volunteer.

I hope you don't mind...

if Leena shows you around,
I have to pop out for a spell.

We will not live off crumbs
from an Englishman's table!

We will not go hungry
in our own land.

Hindu, Sikh, Muslim...

~ Sooni, we should go now.
~ Be quiet.

No, there are police here.

Really, there are police here.

We are all one India.
We are all one Bharat.

~ CROWD SHOUTS
~ Jai Hind!
~ Jai Hind!

~ Jai Hind!
~ Jai Hind!

~ No. You can't do that!
~ Sooni, come on.

UNSETTLED SHOUTING

~ Come with me!
~ What are you doing?

Leave her. She's a
child. She's a child!

~ Sooni!
~ Shamshad!
~ Sooni!

Do not give the police
what they want!

~ Go home, Shamshad. Go home.
~ Sooni!

Please, leave her alone!

SCREAMING AND SHOUTING

Sit up!

~ Oh, my God!
~ Sit up!

THEY LAUGH

He has vertigo!

From a horse? What fool
gets vertigo on a horse?

Come on, come on, trot on.

Sit up! That's it, come on.

Come on. Trot on, trot on. Sit up!

Trot on, trot on.

Well, I daresay you'll all three
need a stiff drink after this.

Why not call into mine Mr
Dalal? Tomorrow? For drinks?

Thank you, Sir.

Excellent.

Cheerio, Captain. Keep
up the good work.

Sit up!

Are these all the books you have?

The books are Mr Raworth's.

If you think they are
somehow unsuitable

you can take it up with him.

I only wondered if they might not enjoy
something a bit closer to home,

with landscape that's
more familiar to them.

The Mahabarata, perhaps,
or Tipu Sultan?

Goodbye.

I think I'll walk home.

Miss Whelan... If you wouldn't
mind some company,

I'd be happy to walk part
of the way with you.

Thank you.

Sarah?

What's wrong? Are you ill?

No, I'm not ill.

Where's Matthew?

Tidying his bedroom in the
hope that it'll earn him

a day at that ghastly fair.

You look queer.

You're acting queer.

For a while now I have been
behaving in a manner that...

.. putting it charitably...

can't be described as Christian.

I wanted to tell you.

Because I wanted to put things right.

I was afraid you'd had
some bad news from home.

I thought it might be your
mother or your father.

Your mother, because she hasn't
been well over the winter.

~ Once she takes a cold...
~ My mother's fine.

Or your brothers.

There's so many of them I can't
remember who's in the army,

well, not really, but who's
doing what and where.

It could be any of them.

That's the fear, isn't it?

That's the trouble, living so far
away from everything and everyone.

SHE SOBS

There'll be no more.

Say something!

What does it mean?

It means many things.

It means I am going to
have to stop daydreaming

and apply myself to the role
of a serious young man.

It means I hope they sit me
behind someone very clever

at the examination, so I can
take a peek at what he is doing.

Aafrin!

It means I am being given an
opportunity that is thrilling!

That is daunting. That is ridiculous.

What does it mean for us?

Ah, you see, that is the best part.

For us it means freedom.

Because I will become
a covenanted civilian

and a covenanted civilian

can fashion any future
for himself he likes.

Ow!

Oh, I'm so sorry!

BOTH LAUGH

Tell me, where do the
children come from?

Most are left with
a church as babies,

and the church brings them to us.

They're orphans?

No. They have mixed blood.

And so no place.

No family.

~ LAUGHTER NEARBY
~ Look.

Who are they?

I don't know. But I see her
here, waiting, waiting.

Always waiting.

Whatever for?

For him.

They are not able to be together,

so this is where they hide.

THEY LAUGH

GROANING HEARD THROUGH WALLS

I'm going to the club for a peg.

~ LOUDER GROANING
~ Make that two pegs. Do you mind?

GROANING CONTINUES

More than two, less than ten.

If I get out of here now!

So to pass the exam I have to be
able to clear a five bar gate.

Have you ever seen a
five bar gate in India,

let alone a civil servant leaping
over it on horseback?

This is how it is.

One thing is given to you, and
then another one is taken away.

And it's all her fault.

She's so selfish.

Where have you been?

At work.

Where is Sooni?

Hello?

Hello?

They won't let you out for that.

They expect you to go in the corner.

TRICKLING

FOOTSTEPS NEARBY KEYS JANGLING

My sister was with me today.

She is only 14.

I don't know what happened to her.

She will have run away.

Younger sisters are very good
at staying out of trouble.

It is always us, the older
ones, who get the blame.

Mummy is crying still.

Are you going to ask
your friend for help?

What friend?

The Private Secretary.

Sham, we are not friends.

Then why is he inviting you
to his house for dinner?

It's not dinner.

It's drinks.

I have to go.

It's not fair.

You know it was just
someone speaking.

No-one was doing anything wrong.

If you ask him, if he's
a good man, he will help.

I'm sorry I'm a little late.

Not at all, not at all.
What can I get you?

A club soda, thank you.

Very glad to see you.

I feared yesterday's exertions
might have had you on your back.

Had you made me ride here,
Sir, they may well have.

I'm terribly sorry to
raise this with you,

but I'm afraid something unexpected
has happened to my family

and I hope it's not remiss
of me to seek your advice.

Not at all.

There was an incident
yesterday at the Bazaar.

My sister, Sooni, she was arrested
during some to-do there.

She is not herself political,

but evidently she has a knack

for being in the wrong
place at the wrong time.

And I must say it makes
me very uncomfortable

to take such a liberty,

but I was wondering
if you might be able

to help us secure
Sooni's safe return.

Sooni Dalal?

That's right.

Well, I'll certainly
see what I can do.

You'll be an ICS man soon,

and you'll find we all pitch
in and help one another.

There aren't guests are there,
Bhupi? Ralph didn't...

Alice! This is Mr Dalal.

Mr Dalal, this is my
sister, Alice Whelan.

A pleasure to meet you, in
such different circumstances.

Shall we sit? Please.

How are you feeling?
Are you fully recovered?

Greatly recovered.

Thank you.

I'm sorry to burst in like that.
I had no idea that you had a guest.

Your timing's ideal.

We were just celebrating
Mr Dalal's return to health

and his first day on a new billet.

Mr Dalal is moving up to work
with me at Viceregal Lodge.

"Courage is the first
of human qualities

"because it is the quality
which guarantees the others."

Favourite saying of Mr
Longmuir, my house-master.

Aristotle of course went uncredited.

Bloody Longmuir.

King of the unattributed quote.

In any case, it's a new start.

Though I don't suppose it'll
feel entirely behind you

until after the inquest.

Nothing to worry about.

I don't recall much
myself, if I'm honest.

"You British devil."

That's what I remember him shouting
as he came towards me.

Typical revolutionary talk.

"You British devil."

~ VOICE ECHOING:
~ 'Ralphie-sah!'

Rakshas! Rakshas!

Any advance on that?

I'm afraid I'm very much the same.

What about you, Alice?

We ought not to dwell.

Mr Dalal is a wicked
caricaturist, you see,

so I thought it wise to nurture
his artistic talent

for good rather than ill.

I've asked a great friend
of ours to sit for you.

Madeleine, this is Mr Aafrin Dalal.

~ Hello.
~ And perhaps later, if there's time...

I'm afraid I can't stay.
I'm terribly tired.

Good afternoon, Mr Dalal.

Good afternoon.

Well, shall we begin?

Ralph.

Alice. You startled me.
I thought you were...

What? A little flower? To be
bent and shaped by your will?

Sssh! Keep your voice down!

Siblings. Gene and I fight
like that all the time.

What's the matter with you?

You want me to lie under oath!

A man tried to kill you, we know
not why, presumably you do,

and now Mr Dalal and I are required

to help you cover something up!

Alice, this is a dangerous misunderstanding.

Is it? Then I'd better be clear.

In response to your need

to have me perjure myself
in concert with Mr Dalal,

the answer is no, Ralph.

Unequivocally no.

Ladies and gentlemen.

Members and... guests.

Welcome to our little club,
and welcome to the Sipi Fair.

What a wonderful thing it is to
be able to take pleasure in each

other's cultures... MUSIC GETS LOUDER

.. and delight in each
other's company...

Kaiser, kindly remove those men.

.. if only for one short afternoon.

Please enjoy everything our
little club has to offer,

and do make yourselves at home.

Thank you.

APPLAUSE

~ No entry into the interior.
~ I have double locked the doors.

And if any of them trample the
flowers, they're straight out.

Hello!

FOOTSTEPS APPROACH

HE SHOUTS IN OWN LANGUAGE

Aafrin.

I couldn't come yesterday.

I had to wait for things to play out.

What do you mean?

I spoke with the Private Secretary.
I'm hoping he'll get you out.

Don't worry. It was
easier than it sounds.

I work for him now.

You are ashamed of me? When
it's you who is in jail,

you who's associating
with violent criminals?

They are not violent.
WE are not violent.

Not violent? Look, look at this.

Aafrin, stop it. It wasn't a
Congress member who shot you.

That man with the gun had nothing
to do with the party!

He was from Madras, OK?

No-one from the party there
has ever heard of him

and there is no record
of his membership.

Do you think this is why I come here?

To enter into some naive political
discussion with you?

Naive? You think it is
me who is being naive?

Listen to me. This
is British propaganda.

YOU are British propaganda.

The gunman is being used to
smear Congress. And you...

~ You are being used too.
~ No, please. Leave her.

Wake up, Aafrin.

Wake up and look at yourself, look
at the role you've been cast in.

Marvellous Mr Dalal who threw himself
into the path of a bullet.

Esteemed servant of the Empire.
Loyal Indian of the hills.

Sooni! I will get you out, I promise!

Mr Dalal?

Oh, Miss Whelan.

I wanted to say... thank you,

for risking your neck for
my undeserving brother.

Don't worry. I shan't be
asking you to do it again.

Well, thank God for that!

How does it feel? Back at the spot?

I'm certainly glad to be breathing.

I expect you can't remember
much about it.

Very little.

Yes, the shock, I imagine.

I heard your... disagreement
with your brother.

Oh, my... I see. At the house?

Oh, Christ. Yes, I'm sorry
about that... What a family!

There's no need to apologise.

I have two sisters, and I must
say, when they disagree with me,

which they do frequently, they
are a whole lot louder than that.

And I suppose you are
the picture of patience?

Naturally.

How sickening - your poor sisters
having to put up with

~ a saint for a brother!
~ I'm not quite a saint.

HE SPEAKS LOCAL LANGUAGE

Here. Please. For you.

What's this?

For your assistance, when I was
hurt. My mother was very grateful.

I did what anyone would.

Enjoy the fair, Miss Whelan.

And the winning weight
is... 5lbs and 11oz.

Five pound 11! That's what I put!

Oh, come on!

Yes, bravo to me! Box it up, Mrs T!

I don't know why I bother.
He always wins, every year.

Headache?

Ever so slight.

Mr Markham! I didn't
know you were up...

It'll all be over soon. All
in hand for the inquest?

All in hand.

Because I must say, Alice was
a little brusque when we spoke.

When did you speak to Alice?

I just tried to grab her for a
quick chat about things, you know,

but she was too pressed
even for that.

Excuse me.

Hello.

Hello.

I say, old love,

I didn't know the Whelan family
had branched out to good works.

Yes, she told us all
about it this morning.

Well, as long as you're happy with
it, old love. Little savages.

What are they? Fully native or...?

A bit of both, I think.

You can't tell.

I suppose the black half
tends to overwhelm, yes?

Pity.

~ And it's spinning!
~ CHILDREN CHEER

Go on, pick one.

What have you got?

You've won the teddy bear!

Well, it's nice seeing
them have a bit of fun!

Excuse me.

Well, what shall we
do next? Coconuts?

CHILDREN: Yay!

Come on!

Mr Raworth...

There, there.

Now, I know it's loud but
everybody's just enjoying...

Those are my shoes!

What did I say about running off?

What did I say, as soon
as we left the house?

Matthew!

I'll go and fetch him back.

I won't be taken for a fool.

If that's what you
think is happening,

which I've no doubt you do, then
you're very much mistaken.

I know exactly what's
been going on, exactly.

And I also know that whatever
has been, is no longer.

I think you'll find that
whatever you chance to offer

Douglas in the future
will not be welcome.

Yes!

Two!

Alice.

Ralphie.

Forgive me. You must
do and say as you like.

Thank you.

Good. Well, come on, hand them over.

Who's next?

CHILDREN: Me!

One and two, and...

Who is that boy?

Adam. He's new. Who's next?

That's the fellow!

Grab him!

Come on, up you get!

This is for you, Mr Armitage.

Can't make head nor tail
of it that way, neither.

It's an official notice. Of
your eviction, Mr Armitage.

Aye, well, it's not much
of anything now, is it?

Don't flop about!

It's been signed by a magistrate
and served on you, sir.

And that's all that the law requires.

Let's settle this, shall we?

It has been settled. You
have 45 days to quit.

Is that so? Is that so?

Good day, Mr Armitage.

No!

Come on! Up you get!

I'm warning you, you drunken idiot!

HE YELLS

Come on, you...!

Where's your lawyer
now, eh? Where is he?

You dirty pish!

Ah!

HE GASPS

HE GURGLES

Get out the way! Get out the way!

Uncle? Uncle!

Get a doctor. Get a doctor
for Christ's sake!

~ Get a doctor.
~ Can you hear me?
~ Quickly!

Can you hear me?

Can you hear me?

Morning, Mr McLeod!

How is he?

A contrarian to the last.

He can't walk, talk or feed himself,
but he's very much alive.

So much for playing nicely
with the natives.

That bloody Indian
damn near killed him.

It's lucky you arrived
when you did, Mr McLeod.

Oh, good God. What a mess.

You're in here, Ms Whelan.

Thank you.

Have a seat, Mr Dalal.

Thank you.

Still done nothing with
that dicky fan, Neville?

No, sir. It's still missing a part.

So...

tell me what you saw that night.

SHOUTS AND BANGS

~ Where are we going?
~ To Lahore.

~ Lahore? What for?
~ For sentencing.

No need to be anxious, Miss Whelan.

Simply tell me whatever it
is you remember of that night.

Did he shout or say anything?

Miss Whelan?

"You devil."

TYPEWRITER CLACKS

"You British devil."

TYPEWRITER CLACKS

"You British devil."

TYPEWRITER CLACKS

"You British devil."

TYPEWRITER CLACKS

~ Sooni Dalal?
~ Yes.

Come with me.

GUARD SHOUTS

~ You are being released.
~ I'm so sorry!

Find you own way!
Make a contribution.

Excuse us.

This is horrible. Even
the Indian can't stand it.

With all due respect,
sir, it's best we...

'Nothing to do with the party.
This is British propaganda.

'YOU are British propaganda.'

DISTANT VOICES

The interview is over.
He's not coming back.

~ Thank you very much, Ms Whelan.
~ Thank you.

The Viceroy? Why's he coming here?

~ Your Excellency.
~ What are your intentions?

Because Madeleine is a high prize.

It's no great science, just hit it!

I don't bungle.

~ If we hadn't lost the blasted evidence...
~ Lost or taken?

~ Christ, did somebody die?
~ He's laughing at us.

There's such a thing
as laws in this country

and they're not just for Indians.

Again I am in your hands.