Conduct Unbecoming (1975) Movie Script
Come on!
I have every intention
of making a success
of my three months probationary
period with the regiment,
and of joining it fully and properly
at the end of that time.
There is, unhappily, a little matter
I should perhaps share with you.
Oh, what's that?
I have no intention whatever of surviving
my three months probationary period.
There is a ship which sails for england
in exactly three months.
I intend to be on it.
Sho-hut!
Right, atten-hut!
Present arms!
It's exactly how I imagined it would be.
How very uplifting for you.
But then I didn't expect you to understand.
But I do, my dear fellow.
You forget, this place has
haunted me since childhood.
We want to get cleaned up
and present ourselves to the adjutant.
If we can find him.
Or indeed anyone.
You don't suppose there's
been another mutiny, do you?
Millington, I think I
better warn you that,
while I tolerated your imbecilities
on our journey together,
they won't be appreciated here.
Good afternoon, gentlemen.
Good afternoon.
You must be pradah Singh.
And you, sir, Mr. Drake.
If I may say you look
most like your father,
under whom I had the honor to serve.
Thank you.
I had the honor to serve also
under your father, general millington,
though I was, of course, much
younger then, a mere boy.
Yes, he did have me
rather late in the day.
I understand your father served
with the regiment, pradah Singh.
And my grandfather served.
In my family,
it is the tradition. - Quite.
Pradah Singh, where is everybody?
On the prairie ground, sir.
It's the anniversary of
the battle of rajapur.
Of course, well, I should've remembered.
They should be back within the hour.
I'm instructed that by that time
you should be in attendance
here, in uniform.
The colonel will then lead in the ladies.
I hear correctly, ladies?
Ladies?
Yes, sir. - Voluptuous ladies?
For god's sake, man!
Gentlemen, officers and men
of the 20th Indian light cavalry,
today we commemorate, as we do each year,
the award of the Victoria cross
to captain John Scarlett,
for his outstanding bravery.
On this, the third
anniversary of his death,
it is once again my duty and privilege
to present the cross to Mrs. Scarlett.
Colonel, it is again
my pleasure to return
this medal to you for safekeeping
among the other trophies
which commemorate the honorable
history of this regiment.
Where the devil are they, pradah Singh?
Just coming now, sahib. - Oh, good.
2nd lieutenants millington and Drake.
May I present the senior
subaltern, lieutenant fothergill.
Gentlemen, welcome.
Pradah Singh, could you fetch
me a quick whisky and soda,
we have just a few moments to spare.
Sahib. - What about you, chaps?
Oh, my dear fellow, um, just anything.
I'm about to expire.
My companion is joking, of course.
We are fully aware of the
regimental tradition.
Oh, good, splendid, well done.
Thank you, pradah Singh. - Sahib.
They're damn silly, these little tests.
But one must be certain.
You must be millington.
No, Drake.
I have that dubious honor, my dear fellow.
Oh, I'm sorry.
Well, sit down, chaps.
There's a lot to tell you and
little time to tell it in.
Oh, we are allowed to sit?
Yes, of course, why not?
Don't pay any attention.
I thought it might be another
of these little tests.
Mr. millington has a very
personal sense of humor.
Oh, I see, very funny.
You're sitting in the
colonel's chair, old man.
Oh my heavens!
I wouldn't want to add
sacrilege to my other crimes.
Now then, it's my job as senior subaltern
to watch over you chaps
for the next week or two.
Make sure you know what's what and so on.
Let me remind you of the
basic facts of life.
You don't speak to anyone,
nor will anyone speak to you, except me.
It's my job to speak to you
and you may speak to me,
but never to a senior officer,
unless addressed first.
In which case, you reply, "yes, sir".
Now, unless it happens to be the colonel,
in which case, you reply "yes, colonel".
We always call the colonel
colonel in this regiment.
Quite. - Quite.
Eminently sound
arrangement, if I may say so.
Good, now, when the colonel arrives,
we shall withdraw to a corner, over there.
At an appropriate time, I
shall strike the gong,
announce strangers in the mess and
introduce each of you individually.
No one will pay the least attention,
except the colonel, who will say,
thank you, Mr. fothergill...
You will say nothing.
We shall then wait for
the adjutant to join us,
when you will present yourselves
and we shall withdraw to your quarters.
Parade, section right, quick right!
And now, as for the ladies,
they will be in the colonel's
party this afternoon,
I think, only madame strang
has help, the colonel's lady.
And, um, Mrs. Scarlett.
Yes, yes, I think I should perhaps
say a word or two about Mrs. Scarlett.
She is a lady, very much admired
at the mess, very popular.
Her husband was awarded the
Victoria cross, posthumously.
She is a regular feature of our lives here.
However, she is not above
offering certain favors.
Now, don't misunderstand me!
She is very much a lady, but.
Yes, of course.
Most distressing. - Yes.
My point is that junior officers
are well advised to remain unsusceptible.
She is a very attractive woman.
However, certain senior officers having...
You understand me?
Made a point with Mrs. Scarlett?
Oh, I see. - Of course, this is a matter
of which, while you should
be fully appraised,
you know nothing. - No, quite.
Just remain courteous, but, uh...
Distant? - Distant, yes.
What is this filthy old
tunic doing in the mess?
Mr. millington!
That was captain's Scarlett tunic.
He was wearing it when he was cut down.
It must have been a very messy event.
Warfare is not noted for its comfort!
Nor is the future of young officers
who fail to acquaint themselves
with the history and
traditions of this regiment.
Still, when you come to think of it,
it must smell absolutely frightful.
How is young truly
getting around, doctor?
Not too bad, I think, colonel.
Damned idiot! - He'll be up and about
in a day or two. - He'll be playing Polo
again soon anyway.
Colonel, there are strangers in the mess!
May I present Mr. millington and Mr.
Drake, colonel!
Thank you, Mr. fothergill.
Surely that can't be
general millington's boy.
He looks far too young.
With respect, madam,
I hardly believe you could
have known my father.
You also look far too young.
Well, Mr. fothergill.
I'm sorry, sir.
Sorry, I did not here
that, mr fothergill?
I must have failed to make
my instructions plain, captain Harper.
Mr. fothergill, you are
assumed to be capable
of the duties of your office.
That is why you hold it.
I am waiting, Mr. fothergill.
Present yourselves, men!
I have the honor to present myself, sir.
Mr. Drake, sir.
Thank you, Mr. Drake.
I also have the honor
to present myself, sir.
Do you lack a name, sir?
Millington, sir.
Ah, come here, Mr. millington.
Sir. - Mr. millington,
if I ever hear from you again,
it will be for the last time.
Do you understand me?
May I be I allowed to say...
You may be allowed to say nothing!
You may be silent!
Is that clear? - Yes, sir.
Return to your place.
Mr. fothergill, if you find that
your duties are too arduous for you,
I'm sure we can find a way to have you
relieved of them, understood?
Sir.
You bloody fool!
What the hell were you playing at?
My dear fellow, I'm... - Quiet!
I told you to remain silent
while there were senior
officers in the mess
I certainly didn't mean
to get... - Shut up!
I don't know what your game is, millington,
but let me tell you this.
If you put up one more block against me,
I'll make sure you're
kicked out of this regiment
before you even finish probation.
Do you hear me? - Yes, fothergill.
Mr. fothergill! - Mr. fothergill!
Now go to your quarters, move!
Charge!
Mind that leg of yours, young truly.
I will, colonel.
Few weeks now, isn't
there any improvement?
Not with millington, major. - Mm.
Ought we get rid of him, sir?
Well, it's not easy.
Son of a general, distinguished
colonel of the regiment.
Well done, lad!
We see intellection are very difficult.
Quite right understand, sir.
Seems to drink rather
at dinner, doesn't he?
Yes, sir, but strictly speaking,
there's no ruling against that, sir.
As long as he can hold it.
Hmm, well, if he does, I would do it,
I'd wheel him out of the mess
as quickly and quietly as you can, hmm?
Right, sir.
Well run!
For a first round,
the boy seems to be doing remarkably well.
What do you say, Lionel? - I agree.
Remember Toby's first round, Lionel?
Regimental history, colonel.
It was three years ago, wasn't it?
Yes, this was his first
posting, and his last.
Yes, that was the end of it for him.
And for me, in a way.
You only had that one boy, didn't you?
Yes, still, one accepts.
But one plans, you know?
Toby was to carry on the
line, the tradition.
It's still something I can't...
= pig, pig, pig! = pig, pig!
Points, point.
Pig! - Pig!
Well done, Alastair.
Well done, sir. - Damn fine run, sir.
Good run. - Well sun, sir.
Come on, I need a drink.
By special request of Mrs. foster,
we have a ladies excuse me waltz.
That's there, colonel.
Well, if that's your story of the couple
in the bathing machine laundry, Marjorie,
they're too young to hear it.
Nonsense, a little vulgarity
never did anyone any harm.
Well, it is a damn funny yarn, sir.
Oh, you're an outrageous woman.
Come and dance with me.
And stop corrupting my junior officers.
I'm open to corruption at
any time, Mrs. Scarlett.
Anything to report, Mr. hart?
No, sir. - All right,
let's visit the guard room. - Yes, sir.
Mrs. Scarlett.
You really shouldn't drink so much, Mr.
Millington.
No, ma'am, no, I shouldn't.
You are acquiring quite
a reputation for it.
Does that concern you?
Personally, not at all. - Pity.
I think I could enjoy being
rescued from degradation by you.
Don't be tiresome, Mr. millington.
Why aren't you dancing?
There are so many young
ladies here tonight,
would be glad of your company.
Pretty girls some of them.
It's pleasing to hear beauty
pay tribute to mere prettiness.
Mr. millington, you have already paid me
one compliment too many in public.
That's why I'm taking care tonight
to pay my compliments in private.
You will pay me no more
compliments at all...
No, don't go, please.
Did you know that when two swans mate
they mate for life? - Really?
So I've read. - How touching.
I must say I find it rather sad.
Why? - Imagine, if one was
to die before the other.
Is that why you drink then?
For the lost swan?
No, madam. - Why then?
Don't concern yourself about it, please.
How old are you?
Does it matter?
You have all life...
All life before me, as they say.
You come to us laden with
advantages, do you not?
To you it seems I come with none.
Am I quite out of favor?
Good night, Mr. millington. - Please.
Refer to yourself in your good voice.
Alastair?
What are you doing here?
Admiring the stars.
And you? - You are impertinent,
Mr. millington, go away.
You will please go away?
And if I don't please?
For heaven's sake, be sensible!
You seem to think yourself
quite a ladies' man, mr millington.
My reputation travels before me.
I should like to think we had
something in common, Mrs. Scarlett.
It is a great mistake to
be deceived by reputation.
I was looking for the company of a woman.
And my impression of you, madam, is,
that you are a woman.
You are behaving stupidly towards me.
I shall call out.
You tempt me, you tempt me indeed.
May I fetch anything for you, colonel?
No, no, pradah Singh.
I am in need of a new pair of legs.
I shall endeavor to see that you are
not disturbed, colonel. - Thank you.
Colonel, dear, I thought you
were feeling a little tired.
Oh, I'm fine. - No, no, no, no,
don't get up. - If you would
forgive me, my dear.
I forgive you anything.
What's the time? - Nearly two.
We should be able to leave soon.
I feel we've said good night
to most of our guests.
Yes, but the usual late-stayers.
Marjorie, of course, and the hopwoods.
And that colonel in the lancers.
Foster, peregrine foster.
And his wife. - And his wife, yes.
It's been a lovely ball.
Has it, ma'am? - Yes.
It's something one feels
one owes to the past. - I know.
Colonel dear, would you
do something for me?
What? - All evening, I've danced
with bounding young men
and doddering old bores.
I should so much like to dance
with my own dear husband.
Oh, dear. Must I? - It's an order.
Very well.
Help me!
It's Marjorie! - Help!
My dear, what happened?
Please, help!
For god's sake, Brandy.
Drake, fetch the doctor, quickly.
Marge!
What the hell happened?
Let's get her to the mess.
What's happening now?
She's been attacked, come with me.
Alastair. - It's all right, Marge.
It's all right.
Give me the Brandy, please.
Let me through, please, gentlemen.
How did this happen, ma'am?
She's been attacked, doctor.
Let me see, my dear.
Is that true?
You were attacked?
Yes. - Who by? Who was it?
Marjorie, someone attacked you.
You must tell us who he was.
Him! It was him!
My god, you wretched! - Alastair!
Major roach, this officer is under arrest.
Colonel, captain Harper,
detail two officers as close escort.
Sir, Mr. hart, Mr. fothergill!
I don't agree with you.
To hush this matter up
to protect the honor of the
regiment would be shameful.
It must be by general court-martial,
it must be by due process of military law.
The due process of military law
yes, I know the process
you are referring to.
It's secret and convenient.
And justice of a kind can,
I suppose, come out of it,
but is not justice that
I can possibly approve.
Colonel, there are only two alternatives:
A public trial, with its
public consequences,
or a private trial.
With its private consequences.
On your feet.
Morning gentlemen. - Morning, sir.
Be seated, please.
Gentlemen, last night there
occurred an incident which,
if dealt it were with,
shall we say, carelessly,
could profoundly affect the
honor of this regiment.
Fortunately however, a procedure exists
which makes it possible
for the entire affair
to be kept strictly within
the confines of regimental jurisdiction.
That is why you are here.
When Mrs. Scarlett has
recovered, you are to be tried,
Mr. millington, by
subalterns court-martial.
I shall now explain to you what that means.
Subaltern's court consists
of five officers.
A president, in this case
myself, and four others.
Also, a prosecuting officer
and a defending officer.
You will understand, gentlemen,
that a subaltern's court-martial
has no official existence.
It is outside of the normal structure
of discipline and command.
Should a senior officer become
officially aware of it,
he would be obliged to end it.
Make no mistake, the powers of this court
are summary and absolute.
There is no appeal to higher authority.
Do I make myself clear?
Yes, sir. - Now, as to witnesses.
In addition to civilian personnel,
officers of any rank may be call to appear
as and when they are required.
But, should a senior officer be called,
his appearance in court will in no way
affect his official knowledge
of the proceedings,
which of course do not exist.
Is that understood?
I don't think you'll find this
amusing for long, Mr. millington.
No, sir. - Stand up, Mr. millington!
Is my duty as president of this court
to decide on its composition.
Before I do so, you are entitled to select
your defending officer
from among those present.
How very nice.
And you mean now?
Now.
I don't suppose I can
choose the colonel, could I?
No, perhaps not.
Well,
in that case,
I choose Mr. Drake.
He is a gentleman of honor.
Very well, Mr. Drake will defend,
the prosecuting officer will be Mr.
Fothergill.
Who else? - The other members
of the court, in addition
to myself as president,
will be Mr. hart, Mr. boulton, Mr. winters,
Mr. truly, Mr. hutton will act as Usher.
Sahib. - Are there any questions?
Mr. Drake? - Sir, am I
obliged to accept this duty?
Mr. millington has chosen you, Mr. Drake.
Yes, sir. - Very well.
You will now return to duty, gentlemen.
Mr. Drake, you will remain here.
Mr. millington, you will wait outside
under escort, Mr. hutton.
Sahib. - And you will be confined
to quarters until the
trial begins, carry on.
I appreciate that you have been
under something of a disadvantage
since you arrived here, Mr. Drake.
And that fate is determined to keep you
linked with Mr. millington,
to your discredit.
It's just that I'm anxious
to do well here, sir.
Of course, nonetheless, it is necessary
that Mr. millington be defended.
But I hardly think you need
to embarrass yourself unduly.
It's very much an open and
shut case, is it not?
But, it's still my duty to defend
Mr. millington as well as I'm able to.
Naturally, you would
find whatever you can
to say in his favor.
I mean, it's a matter
of honor, is it not, sir?
The honor of the regiment demands
that Mr. millington be properly defended.
It is necessary to go through
the motions, Mr. Drake.
You are not a fool.
You know what is required of you.
To be fair, sir. - Just so.
To be fair to the regiment.
Good, excellent, carry on, Mr. Drake.
Mr. hart.
Mr president, the
charge before this court
reads as follows, that
on the 17th incident,
the accused officer, 2nd
lieutenant millingtom,
he did attack, wound and assault Mrs.
Marjorie Scarlett,
widow of the late captain
John Reginald Scarlett,
vc, of this regiment.
That by this action, he
has betrayed the trust
reposed to him by his colonel,
brought the name of this
regiment into dishonor,
and conducted himself in a manner
unbecoming of an officer and a gentleman.
The charge ends, Mr. president.
Thank you, Mr. hart.
How do you plead, Mr. millington?
Guilty or not guilty? - Indifferent.
The accused officer
pleads not guilty, sir.
Er, Mr. president.
Not guilty, Mr. Drake?
Well, um, yes, Mr. president.
I see, very well.
Mr. fothergill.
I call my first witness,
the regimental doctor.
Mr. hutton. - Sahib.
Doctor. - Hmm?
If you please, sir.
Be seated, doctor, please. - Thank you.
I'm obliged to remind you, sir,
that you are on your honor
to speak the truth.
Of course. - Mr. fothergill?
Doctor, on the night of the 17th,
Mrs. Scarlett claimed
she had been attacked.
You attended her.
In your opinion, was her claim justified?
Most certainly, it was a
gross, cowardly assault.
And did she suggest who
might have been responsible?
She made a direct accusation.
- Against whom, sir?
- Against that officer.
And were Mrs. Scarlett injuries
such as to sustain this accusation?
Well, injuries are not in themselves
evidence as to the identity of an attacker.
However, Mrs. Scarlett has
repeated the accusation.
I asked her again myself because I wanted
to be certain in my own
mind she would affirm it,
when no longer in a state of hysteria.
I believe you examined Mr. millington
and that you found a gash
behind his right ear.
I did, yes. - Did he tell you
how he sustained this injury?
He said that Mrs.
Scarlett had struck him.
Struck him when, sir?
I gather during the
course of the struggle.
Are you saying then that Mr. millington
admitted to you that he attacked Mrs.
Scarlett?
I suppose by now he has
freely admitted that
to anyone that has asked him.
Thank you, doctor.
Mr. Drake?
Mr. president, gentlemen of the court.
Doctor, the, the injuries
sustained by Mrs. Scarlett,
what exactly did they amount to?
Well, her wrists and
her arms were bruised,
the palms of the hands were skinned.
And her legs down there.
Her knees were bruised.
She had cuts about the body.
And her dress was torn.
Could these injuries have been sustained
in running through the shrubs and bushes
that surround the folly?
Yes, I think
they could have been.
Doctor, had, had Mrs. Scarlett been
in any another sense interfered with?
You mean, sexually?
Mr. Drake, Mr. millington is not
charged with rape, but with assault.
Yes, but... - Very well!
The court does not require an
answer to that question, doctor.
Well, then, would that fair to say then,
doctor, that this attack was,
relatively speaking, a failure?
It wasn't a failure, Mr.
Drake, you saw for yourself.
Apart from her physical injuries,
Mrs. Scarlett was in a state
of terror bordering on acute hysteria.
Quite so, precisely.
Yes, sir, but, um, well, I'm not clear.
I'm not clear exactly why Mrs.
Scarlett was so afraid.
Are you serious, Mr. Drake?
I mean, Mr. millington was
quite drunk at the time.
Mr. Drake, this court will not find
drunkenness as a mitigation of any act
on the part of Mr. millington.
But surely, sir, it must
reduce his responsibility.
No, the responsibility for drinking
to excess remains his alone.
I'd drop it, if I were you.
The cards are stacked against you.
Mr. millington, you will be silent!
Mr. Drake, have you any further
questions for this witness?
Well, Mr. Drake?
Yes, I, I have.
Doctor, would you not expect
that a woman of Mrs. Scarlett's
experience would be easily
able to deal with...
Mr. Drake, we're not here
to discuss Mrs. Scarlett,
but to judge Mr. millington.
But surely, Mr. president, it's relevant.
No, Mr. Drake, it is not relevant.
But on the very day we arrived here,
Mr. fothergill warned us quite specifically
that Mrs. Scarlett was inclined to allow
certain officers to... - Mr.
Drake, it is of no
concern to this court
what the senior subaltern
may or may not have said to
you on some private occasion.
So far as this court is concerned,
Mrs. Scarlett is a woman
of the highest character and reputation.
Do you understand me?
But, sir, Mr. president.
How am I to defend this officer
if you'll allow me no
latitude in this matter?
You are entitled to whatever latitude I,
as president of this court,
choose to give you and no more.
Drake, for god's sake, sit down.
You're embarrassing us all.
Mr. millington!
He has no idea what is
required of him, Mr. president.
Should have made your instructions plainer.
That is enough!
They expect you to go through
the motions, that's all.
Not to indulge in a talent
for legalistic moralizing.
What a bourgeois creature
you are, to be sure.
Well, Mr. Drake.
I have, uh, no more
questions for this witness.
- Thank you, doctor.
- Mr. president, gentlemen.
Fothergill? - The next logical step
would be to call Mrs. Scarlett, sir.
But I would hope the defending officer
would accept a written deposition from her.
I quite agree.
Mr. Drake? - Well, I.
I'm not sure, sir.
Well, I must have time to think.
Very well.
The court will reconvene
at midnight tomorrow.
Thank you, gentlemen.
You will leave the mess
quickly and quietly.
Mr. millington, you will
go with your escort.
Mr. Drake, you will remain here, dismissed.
Now, Drake, what the devil do
you think you're playing at?
I was just trying to do my duty, sir.
To ensure Mr. millington had a fair trial.
Do you mean to suggest that
he will not receive a fair trial?
But, surely, sir, he's
entitled to face his accuser.
There is some doubt in
your mind as to his guilt?
No, sir, none whatever. - Very well.
Tomorrow, you will plead Mr.
Millington guilty,
as clearly he wishes you to.
As for yourself, we shall see
how you conduct yourself
in the weeks to come.
You've made an excellent
beginning here, Mr. Drake.
I should not like to think we have been
mistaken in you, too. - No, sir.
Here is Mrs. Scarlett's deposition.
You will be requiring it,
since you will not be calling her.
That is all, Mr. Drake.
Captain Harper.
Well? - Sir, I must repeat,
isn't Mr. millington entitled
to face his accuser?
Are you being willfully obstructive?
Do you appreciate to what extent
we are already indebted to Mrs. Scarlett?
Do you realize, that had she made
an official charge against him,
Mr. millington would now be
facing public court-martial,
by officers not of this regiment.
And so should we.
But, sir, is his disgrace
not inevitable in any event?
Why, Mr. Drake?
Well, if he is found guilty,
you will surely be obliged
to get rid of him.
I do not think so.
Mr. millington will find that
we have duties for him yet.
Of an unpleasant nature, to be sure,
but admirably suited to his character.
You mean to keep him here?
For a year or two.
Five perhaps, or even 10 or more.
The option lies with us.
We will see how long it takes Mr.
Millington
to learn a simple lesson.
That this regiment is not to be mocked.
I see. - You can do nothing
for Mr. millington and only harm yourself,
do you understand?
Sir, I request to be
relieved of this duty.
No, Mr. Drake.
You have an admirable opportunity
of serving this regiment.
I shall follow your progress
with the keenest interest.
Good night.
Sahib, sahib! - Hmm?
Ask about Mrs. bandanai, sahib.
Ask about the bleeding.
Who? - Mrs. bandanai, sahib.
Hey! - Ask about the bleeding!
No, wait! - Be off with you!
I'm sorry, sahib, it will not happen again.
But who was that?
The servant of mame Scarlett, sir.
Mrs. Scarlett? - Yes, sahib.
I should take the strongest
possible action.
No, no, no, pradah Singh,
who is Mrs. bandanai?
She is the widow of jemadar bandanai.
He was a hero of this regiment.
He died with captain Scarlett.
Could you arrange for
me to speak with her?
It's not usual, sahib.
It might be of assistance to Mr.
Millington.
You know that he is in trouble.
His trial continues tomorrow night.
You greatly admired his father.
I'll see what I can do, sahib.
Thank you, pradah Singh.
Ah, my knight in shining armor!
I have news for you, my learned friend.
The battle is over.
I'm changing my plea to guilty.
Well? - You're very
confident, aren't you?
Why shouldn't I be?
You won't.
You won't get out of here, you know?
No? - Well, in a year or two.
Or perhaps five, or even 10 or more.
Until then, we are to be
graced with your presence.
What are you talking about?
I'm quoting the adjutant.
My dear fellow,
they intend to keep you here, millington.
I don't believe you.
They have duties for you,
of an unpleasant nature.
You are to be taught a lesson.
You are to learn that this
regiment is not to be mocked.
My god, I never thought of that.
Nor did I!
Come in now, please.
Court is now in session, Mr. fothergill?
Mr. president, as you already know,
this afternoon Mr. Drake informed me
that he would not accept
the written deposition
I had obtained from Mrs. Scarlett,
but insisted that she should
be available for this court.
I therefore propose to call her now.
Very well. - With your permission,
sir, I would prefer that Mrs.
Scarlett to be called later.
No, Mr. Drake, if you wish
to question Mrs. Scarlett,
very well, you shall, now.
With respect, Mr. president,
if you will permit me to
call another witness first.
Certainly not, Mr. Drake.
Again, with respect, sir,
I am entitled, as laid down by you,
before the members of this court,
to call any witness as and when required.
Very well, whom do you wish to call?
The second in command, sir.
Is major roach aware of this?
He is waiting in the lobby, sir.
Mr. hutton! - Sahib!
Drake, what are you up to?
If you please, sir.
Sir!
Please be seated. - Thank you.
I Mr. Drake.
You sent for me this evening, sir.
You felt I should know that
you had witnessed the attack
on Mrs. Scarlett by Mr. millington.
- I did, yes.
- What were the circumstances?
Well, I'd been on duty with Mr. hart,
inspecting the guard room.
And I was on my way, alone,
through the gardens, to
inspect the perimeter patrol.
I was nearing the folly when I heard voices
coming from it, a man and a woman.
The man seemed to be, well,
he seemed to be pleading.
Then I recognized Mrs. Scarlett's voice,
it was sharp and clear.
She said, "Mr. millington,
I've told you already
"that your advances are
offensive and pointless.
Or words to that effect.
Did she sound angry, sir?
Oh, yes, she did,
indeed, extremely angry.
And frightened? - No, I would have said
she was fully in command of the situation,
not frightened, but angry.
And what happened then, sir?
Well, Mrs. Scarlett came from the folly,
followed by Mr. millington.
You saw them clearly, sir?
Yes, in a patch of light
reflected from the mess.
There were more lights than
usual outside that night.
Yes, sir, and then?
Well, he took her arm
and she threw him off.
Ordered him to leave her alone
and walked angrily toward the mess.
She walked, sir? - Yes.
She didn't run? - No, she walked.
Was she distressed?
Mr. Drake, I've told you, she was angry.
Yes, sir, and Mr. millington?
Well, I don't really know.
I lost sight of both of
them in the shadows.
I thought he just made off, but, uh,
you say he claimed she laid him up.
It's possible, of course,
but I didn't see it.
Quite so, sir, and then?
Well, you know the rest.
There was a great consternation,
everybody running, myself included.
When I got to the, uh,
when I got to the mess and saw Mrs.
Scarlett's condition.
Yes?
Well, I, I was greatly surprised.
Mrs. Scarlett was in a terrible state.
Much worse than I would've imagined.
Why do you say that, sir?
Well, there's, uh, there's no excuse
for Mr. millington's behavior, not at all.
But I saw nothing violent or extreme.
Otherwise I would've put an end to it.
Thank you, sir.
Thank you, major roach.
We are most obliged to you
for coming here tonight.
It was my duty.
Though I'm bound to say I consider
the regiment ill-served
by unauthorized charades of this nature.
Good night, gentlemen.
Well, Mr. Drake, it seems to me
that your defense witness, major roach,
has given us a detailed account
of precisely of the offense
with which Mr. millington is charged.
Perhaps I should remind you
that you are here to defend this officer,
not to prosecute him.
Thank you, Mr. president.
In the nature of this trial
it's well to be reminded why are we here.
Mmm, quite.
Are you now willing for Mrs. Scarlett
to be called? - Yes, sir.
Mr. hutton! - Sahib.
If you please, ma'am.
Ma'am.
You will appreciate, ma'am,
that this disturbance to
yourself is not of our choosing.
I'm not at all disturbed, thank you.
Ma'am. Mr. fothergill?
I should like to ask you
just three questions, ma'am.
Were you attacked on the night of the 17th?
I was, yes. - By whom, ma'am?
By Mr. millington.
You have no doubt about that?
Thank you, ma'am.
Mr. Drake?
The folly where the attack took place,
it's a very isolated spot.
I was wondering, ma'am,
how you happened to be there.
There are moments, Mr. Drake,
even on the most enjoyable occasions,
when one wishes to be alone.
It is so, ma'am.
And it was here that Mr.
Millington disturbed you?
It was, yes.
Did you, did you try to get away at once?
No, at first I didn't realize
how determined he was.
Forgive me, madam, but,
you are an extremely attractive woman,
no longer married.
You must have had to deal with
silly young gentlemen before this.
Not young men who were
viciously drunk, Mr. Drake.
Viciously drunk, ma'am?
Mr. millington made it
plain that he intended
to use me as a means of getting himself
dismissed from this regiment.
I see, so, uh, you
were forced to hit him.
I was, yes.
What with? - My fists,
my arms, whatever came to hand.
And did anything come to hand?
I don't understand you.
Well, did you pick up a stone, perhaps?
No, I don't think so.
Or a branch from a tree? - No.
If you please, ma'am,
I think Mr. Drake is referring to...
A deep gash, some teo inches
long, behind his right ear.
Oh, yes, yes, of course.
I do remember now.
It was a stone, I picked up a stone.
I don't think so, ma'am.
I searched the area around the folly
for an hour this evening,
and there was not a stone to be found
for 100 yards in any direction.
It may have been wood, a branch.
No, ma'am, not a stick
nor a stone anywhere.
Nothing with which you could possibly
have struck Mr. millington.
Really, this is quite absurd, Mr.
President.
It is indeed, ma'am.
Mr. Drake, it is perfectly obvious
that when Mrs. Scarlett broke
away from Mr. millington
he fell against a tree or a wall.
No, I didn't! - Silence, sir!
I was hit! - Be quiet, please.
Of course, if you wish to
take his word against mine.
Certainly not, ma'am.
Mr. Drake, this has gone far enough.
I'm sorry, sir, I was mistaken.
Misunderstanding, ma'am.
I see now what must have happened.
You, you broke away from Mr. millington
and he fell back against this wall or tree,
and then you ran screaming toward the mess.
Yes! - Ran as fast as you could.
Well, naturally. - Or did you walk?
In his evidence, major roach
said that you walked.
Major roach?
Yes, ma'am, major roach appeared
in court a few moments ago.
It seems he witnessed the attack upon you.
Oh, I see.
In his testimony, major roach has said
that you walked away from Mr.
Millington, ma'am.
Yes, well, then, perhaps I did walk.
Walk or ran, what does
it matter, Mr. Drake?
Really, you are splitting hairs.
Yes, Mr. president.
Well, let's say then at,
uh, at first, you walked,
and then you ran.
Well, uh, perhaps you were afraid
that Mr. millington would attack you again.
I was, yes! - As he had attacked you so
violently in the first place. - Yes.
What exactly did he do to you, ma'am?
Well. - He took you by the arm?
Yes. - And drew you towards him?
Yes. - And then?
Did he try to put his hand on your bosom?
Mr. Drake! - Your dress was torn.
- He may have done that.
- Did he or didn't he?
I can't remember...
But you must remember.
This was a terrifying experience
for you, Mrs. Scarlett.
You ran screaming all the
way back to the mess.
What are you implying?
That is all, Mr. Drake.
I have one more
question for this witness.
Sit down, Mr. Drake. - No, sir.
Mrs. Scarlett, why are you lying?
How dare you?
How dare you!
Ma'am, if you will allow me.
I'll tolerate no more
of this, captain Harper!
In future, you can play your
childish games without me!
This court will reconvene
tomorrow night at midnight,
and this entire matter will be concluded.
Court is adjourned.
Good night, gentlemen.
You have finished yourself here, Mr. Drake.
Do you hear me?
You're finished! - If what I've heard
in this court is typical of
the honor of this regiment,
then I would not wish to remain.
And I thought this was a regiment of honor.
So it is, my dear fellow.
A regiment of the highest honor.
As you yourself have made plain to me.
What's going on, Arthur?
Why should she lie?
Don't know.
Look here, Arthur, if
you wish to remain here,
you really will have to
abandon this enterprise.
It isn't too late, you know?
I fancy I can survive
without sympathy, millington.
Yours, least of all.
You disappoint me.
Well, is it just pride, then?
Wounded pride? - Call it principle.
Why not, bougeois principle.
But that's, of course, something
you wouldn't understand.
Well, that's true.
Pradah Singh!
Your pardon, Drake, sahib.
I saw you come here, and I waited for you.
Why? You asked to speak
with Mrs. bandanai, she's here.
Please, won't you come and sit down?
There is a young officer in trouble.
I want to help him.
But without you, I can't.
Ask her if she was attacked, sahib.
Were you attacked?
As Mrs. Scarlett was attacked?
It is true, sahib.
When? - Six months ago.
Six months, who attacked you?
She will not tell you, sahib.
Well, what happened then?
I was with an officer.
I had been with him, laid with him.
He had left the bungalow, I was alone.
Then came another man.
A man in Scarlet and gold, he had a sword!
He threatened me.
He forced me to crawl around
on my hands and knees.
I had to make noises like a pig!
It is the game.
It is the game, as they
play it in the mess.
Sticking the pig with a sword,
from behind as it runs.
It's not possible.
It is the game, sahib, I'm certain.
But who could do such a thing?
Ask her, pradah Singh, who was it?
She cannot tell you, sahib.
She dare not, she has a
pension from the regiment.
Please, Mrs. bandanai,
please, I beg you, tell me.
Scarlett.
What? - Captain Scarlett!
What did she say?
That the man was captain Scarlett.
But, but, that can't be, he's, he's dead.
He was killed. - Yes, sahib.
Well, then, what did
she men, pradah Singh?
She meant what she said, sahib.
That the man you look for
is captain Scarlett.
That ought to give you
something to think about.
Hmm, thank you.
If you want to speak to me, Mr. Drake,
You're at Liberty to do so.
Thank you, sir.
It's just that I was looking
at captain Scarlett's uniform.
Yes? - Well, I know most
of the story of the 75 revolt,
but I would be most
interested to learn about
the end of it, sir, at first hand.
Why, Mr. Drake?
Sit down, sit down.
Under the circumstances,
I won't ask you that.
Thank you, sir.
You found captain Scarlett's body?
And Toby strang. - The colonel's son?
Yes.
It was not a particularly agreeable sight.
The tribesmen in that area are
noted for their barbarism.
But captain Scarlett
was recognizable, sir?
There was the uniform.
The captain in this regiment.
It could have been no one else.
You saw that it was him?
Yes, I saw him.
But perhaps
the mutilation was such
that you couldn't actually swear
that it was captain Scarlett. - No.
But as I say, it could
have been no one else.
No, I suppose not.
And the colonel's son?
He died two weeks later.
Terrible for the colonel.
Yes, it took his hard.
He blamed himself for
allowing Toby to go on
that particular patrol.
Well.
I must leave you to your game.
Well, tonight's the end of it,
do you think? - I hope so.
Arthur? - Hmm?
I've been thinking. - So have I.
I now know that you are not guilty.
What? - You may have been stupid,
but you're not vicious.
No. - Now look,
I want you to trust me.
Tonight's proceedings may not be pleasant,
but whatever happens,
you must remain silent.
This trial, you're destroying
yourself here for no reason.
You needn't concern yourself with me.
I do, I know what this
place means to you.
You're mistaken, I don't
expect to remain here,
and nor do I want to.
Court is now in session.
Mr. fothergill?
I have written depositions, Mr.
President,
from the colonel, major wimbourne,
colonel foster of the lancers and Mrs.
Foster.
If Mr. Drake will accept them,
the case for the prosecution can be closed.
Mr. Drake? - I accept them.
Thank you.
Mr. Drake, do you still wish
to recall the doctor and Mrs. Scarlett?
I do, sir.
Very well, Mr. hutton! - Sahib.
If you please, sahib.
I'm sorry we have to recall you, doctor.
So am I, but never mind. - Mr. Drake?
Doctor, two nights ago I questioned you
concerning Mrs. Scarlett's injuries.
You did, yes.
Why did you not tell
us she had been attacked
with a sword? - What?
What are you saying, Mr. Drake?
Mr. president, I'm prepared to back
every statement I make tonight,
however unpleasant, with factual evidence.
- But I haven't got a sword!
- Mr. millington!
Continue, Mr. Drake. - Thank you, sir.
Doctor, I believe that six months ago,
you had occasion to examine the
widow of jemadar bandanai.
- That's so, yes.
- She also had been attacked.
Yes. - With a sword.
But what is this to do with?
She'd been attacked with a
sword, yes or no, doctor?
It's possible, but...
Doctor, the game played on mess nights,
yes? - With the stuffed boar
on wheels. - Now just a minute!
What is the object of this game?
Is it not to Pierce the animal
with the point of a sword?
Yes, it is, but...
What part of the animal?
I don't think it matters.
That part which is naturally presented
in flight, the hind quarters,
is that it, doctor?
I suppose so, yes.
Doctor, where did this game originate?
In the field?
Presumably, yes, pig sticking
is a well-known sport.
And is it the object in the field
to Pierce the anus of a
living animal with steel?
Of course not,
what a revolting suggestion!
Oh, I see, that's just the
regimental variation.
That is enough, Mr. Drake!
No, sir, it is not enough.
Doctor, in what part of her body was Mrs.
Bandanai injured?
This is abominable!
Are you suggesting that whoever it was-
- I'm suggesting what, in
fact, I know to be true.
That six months ago somebody
played the regimental game
with Mrs. bandanai in the role of pig.
That is a most horrible idea.
Oh, yes, it is!
But were not her injuries
consistent with such an attack?
The court requires an answer
to that question, doctor.
Her injuries were consistent, yes.
On the night that Mrs.
Scarlett was attacked,
I believe that you examined her, doctor.
I did, yes, but there can be
no connection between the two cases.
None, doctor?
This, this is the dress worn by Mrs.
Scarlett that night.
I got it from her servant who
had been told to burn it.
But, fortunately, she thought it
to be too valuable and kept it.
Doctor, doctor, these blood stains,
do they coincide with Mrs.
Scarlett injuries?
Approximately, yes. - On the buttocks?
Well, on the thigh.
High up on the thigh?
On the thigh, Mr. Drake.
Here, doctor, how would
you describe that?
It looks like a tear. - Or a cut?
The cut made by the point of a sword?
Let me see that dress, Mr. Drake.
I believe Mr. Drake is right, doctor.
That's a cut, not a tear.
It could well have been made by a sword.
Thank you, sir.
In which case, doctor,
do not Mrs. bandanai's and Mrs.
Scarlett's injuries
suggest that they were both attacked
in the same manner by the same man?
Yes, yes, I suppose
that does seem possible.
Yet, Mrs. bandanai was
attacked six months ago.
Yes. - At which time,
Mr. millington was in england.
You agree, doctor?
Yes, I believe so, yes.
So if both attacks were
made by the same man,
that man could not have been Mr.
Millington.
I suppose not, but Mrs. Scarlett!
Mrs. Scarlett accused Mr.
Millington, yes, doctor.
And having examined her,
you still accepted her statement?
Without question?
Of course I did!
Yes.
What is your theory, Mr.
Drake, if you have one?
My belief, sir, is that Mrs.
Scarlett was attacked twice.
First by Mr. millington, if
a rather pathetic scuttle
can be called an attack.
And secondly, by another man, with a sword,
having first used the hilt of it
to knock Mr. millington unconscious.
And who was this man?
When Mrs. bandanai was attacked,
she was taken to hospital?
Yes. - By whom?
An officer of this regiment?
You must answer, doctor.
No, captain Harper, you're
allowing this inquiry
to go far beyond its permitted limitations.
I refuse to answer any more questions.
I am afraid, Mr. Drake,
that the doctor is right.
I know your intentions are
honorable, nonetheless.
Mr. president, before you take any
action to stop these proceedings,
I beg you to allow me to
call my remaining witness,
because then I believe I can
bring this matter to an end.
Captain Harper. - Colonel!
And you, Mr. Drake, come with me.
This court is now adjourned.
That way, gentlemen.
Mr. Drake, this regiment has a history
stretching far back in the past.
A history of honor and integrity.
Yet the doctor tells me you
just made an allegation
foul in its implications,
which is a gross insult to this regiment
and to every officer in it.
I have said nothing, colonel,
that I cannot prove to be true.
You cannot prove an impossibility.
No officer in this regiment
is capable of what you suggest.
With your permission, colonel.
Yes. - I cannot
in honor say other than I believe Mr. Drake
to be right in this affair.
I'm convinced that Mrs. Scarlett
was attacked with a sword.
As Mrs. bandanai had been attacked.
Mrs. bandanai?
You didn't know about Mrs. bandanai?
Mr. Drake. - But colonel,
if you've already been lied to...
I have not been lied to.
We do not lie to one another in this mess.
Gentlemen do not question the
honor of other gentlemen.
You are suggesting that I
allow this trial to continue?
You are prepared to stake your honor
and your future with the regiment on this?
I have no other means of
retrieving myself, sir.
And you, captain Harper,
are you willing to stake 12
years service in this gamble?
Yes, colonel, I am.
Very well, but I wish to
be present tomorrow night.
If you fail, you will not expect either
of you to remain with this
regiment, good night.
We have hurt a man whom I greatly admire.
I trust you are aware I
knew nothing of this.
Yes, sir, I am.
Thank you for supporting me.
It is necessary, at whatever cost,
to support the honor of the regiment.
Good night, Mr. Drake.
I've been called again.
What do you intend to do?
I'm afraid.
My dear girl, no one knows anything,
no one's going to know anything.
Just keep silent.
But if things go wrong?
You know very well,
they'll take India away from you.
Where could I go, england?
There's no one, nothing
in england for me now.
Mrs. Scarlett, in recalling you tonight,
I have only one purpose in mind,
to reach the truth.
Do you believe that? - Yes.
Thank you, ma'am.
You recognize this, of course.
On an examination of this dress,
the court has accepted
that you were attacked,
as Mrs. bandanai was
attacked, with a sword.
And not by Mr. millington.
He had no sword.
That is true, is it not?
Yes, it's true.
I must ask you, ma'am,
if indeed did Mr. millington attacked you
in any serious sense at all?
No, not at all, Mr. Drake.
He has not the violence in him.
He didn't assault or?
He begged me to cry out.
He begged me to accuse him.
He could not bring himself to harm me.
Then you withdraw the charge
against him? - I do.
And make no complaint of any kind?
Only of inherent gentleness.
And gentleness is not a crime.
If you think not, Mr. Drake,
then you are in the wrong place.
He is one of the few gentlemen
I have ever met in this regiment.
I must ask you now, ma'am,
to give the court a true account
of the attack upon you.
He came out of the darkness, suddenly.
I tried to get away, but I fell.
His sword!
He laughed, as he cut me!
I was crawling, trying to get away!
He ran around me, cut me again!
And all the time, he was saying,
oh, no, he was saying!
He was saying what?
Pig! Pig!
Pig, pig, pig!
Who, who was it, ma'am?
Who was it?
Oh! - Is that why
you accused Mr. millington?
Because you recognized you attacker,
and knew you could never accuse him.
Mrs. Scarlett, was it not your husband?
That's the truth of it, isn't it?
That the man who attacked you
was your husband, captain Scarlett.
My husband is dead.
Can you prove that?
No, I can't prove it, no one can.
Then how can you be sure
it was not he that attacked you?
Oh, don't be stupid, Mr. Drake!
For the same reason that I
knew it wasn't Mr. millington.
Because I saw who it was!
And once again, ma'am, I
must ask you, who was it?
I can't tell you that.
Mrs. Scarlett, who are you protecting?
I have nothing more to say.
Madam, I must insist
that you answer Mr. Drake.
And I refuse to answer him.
Don't you understand, Mr. Drake?
It doesn't matter who it was.
Which man it was.
They are all the same!
Stupid, cruel men who treat
women and pigs alike!
Colonel, don't you know what
sort of regiment you've bred?
They are all John Scarlett!
Every one of them!
Mr. Drake, you will explain, if you can.
Colonel, it is as I said.
There is an officer in this regiment
who attacks women with a sword.
And I now believe that on these occasions,
he dresses in that uniform.
Captain Scarlett's, uniform.
You are mistaken, sir.
Why should anyone wish to
impersonate John Scarlett?
If I might ask major wimbourne
that question, colonel?
He is waiting outside.
Very well, call him.
Mr. hutton.
If you please, sir.
And about bloody time, too!
With respect, colonel.
Sit there please, sir.
Well? - Sir, six months ago,
an attack was made upon Mrs. bandanai.
You took her to hospital.
What of it? - How did that come about?
I found her. - Hmm?
I found her! - Well, where?
What the devil does that matter?
In your bungalow.
Is that where you found her?
What if I did?
How did she happen to be there, sir?
Well, now, how the hell should I know?
Had you not invited her
to spend the night, sir?
All right, I had.
No crime in that. - No, sir.
You found her, you said? - Yes.
I'd gone out to inspect the guard.
I was duty officer,
as I am tonight.
And when you got back,
you found that she had been attacked.
And so you took her to the hospital?
Yes. - Where she almost died?
As you know, Mrs. Scarlett has now
been attacked in the same way.
I know that Mrs. Scarlett has
been attacked, that's all.
By, uh, millington, here.
In the same way, and not by Mr.
Millington.
That has been established.
Oh? I see.
Who was it, then?
I'm hoping, sir, that you
can answer that question.
Why me? - You know Mrs. Scarlett
very well. - Yes.
And you were a close
friend of her husband.
I was. - We are looking for someone
who has many of his qualities.
A good soldier, a fine sportsman,
a man who enjoys the company of women.
Yeah, that could be me. - Yes, sir.
What?
Oh, for god's sake!
You don't think I did it, do you?
Why not, sir? - Why not?
Ah, if you want to know why not,
you better examine your evidence, laddie.
Which evidence, sir?
When Marge, Mrs. Scarlett was attacked,
I was dancing with Mrs. foster.
Everyone saw me.
I don't believe you.
Ask him, ask fothergill.
He took the depositions,
it's all written down.
Mr. fothergill?
Yes, it's true, Mr. president.
I saw major wimbourne myself.
And both the doctor and Mrs. foster
have sworn it in their depositions.
Any more bright ideas, laddie?
Oh, I know, you're thinking,
if it wasn't wimbourne, who was it?
Could have been major roach?
He was some distance away,
inspecting the guard.
That's right, I saw him, running.
Was it the doctor, then?
He was with colonel foster.
Yes, and I was with Mrs. foster.
So you are right back where
you started, don't you?
You seem to have ran out
of suspects, laddie.
You know who it is, sir.
If you don't help me, he'll attack again.
Then I must remember to stand
with my back to the wall, mustn't I?
Sir. - I can't help you,
Mr. Drake.
I have duties to attend to!
Yes, thank you, major.
Colonel!
I'm sorry, colonel.
Sit down, please, Mr. Drake.
Captain Harper, the charges against
Mr. millington having been withdrawn,
I invite you to conclude your proceedings
without delay. - Yes, colonel.
Gentlemen, as President of the court,
I instruct you to find Mr.
Millington not guilty.
Not guilty. - Not guilty.
Not guilty. - Not guilty.
I also find him not guilty.
Rise, please, Mr. millington.
As you have been found innocent
of the charges brought against you,
you are now free to return to your duties.
Colonel?
Mr. millington, you have been
unjustly treated by this regiment.
You yourself have behaved
with some stupidity.
I trust we may now see a new beginning.
Yes, colonel. - Very well.
I welcome you into the regiment.
Thank you, colonel.
Gentlemen, this court is now dissolved.
I must thank you, Arthur.
You have nothing to thank me for.
I have a bourgeois
principle to thank you for.
Good night, Arthur. - Good night, Edward.
See that I
have a full report of this
first thing in the morning. - Yes, colonel.
Thank you, Mr. fothergill. - Colonel.
I'm sorry, colonel.
No, Rupert, you have behaved
as I should expect of you.
With exemplary courage and fairness.
You've done well. - Thank you, sir.
I only wish we had done less well.
Good night, colonel. - Good night.
Colonel, I do take little pleasure
in what I've done.
You did what needed to be done.
I have this morning received
your letter of resignation.
Do you wish me to accept it, or tear it up?
I should like you to accept it.
I'm sorry, colonel, I find that I cannot
put the honor of the regiment above my own.
Your honor and the regiment's
should be one, Mr. Drake.
They must be.
Yes, I understand that, colonel.
That's why I must go.
Very well, I accept your resignation.
With regret.
Alastair.
I couldn't tell you then.
You would have been obliged
to take official action.
The regiment would never
have survived the scandal.
What we've hidden has been hidden too long.
I want the matter ended now.
Very well, leave it to me.
It should be handled in
the traditional way,
as a matter of honor.
A matter of honor.
It's not as you think, Ben.
Oh, yes, I am the regiment.
What I have allowed to happen is what I am.
It is well my time here is nearly done.
You will not again speak to me of honor.
No!
Get all those lamps out. - Yes, sahib.
Quickly!
Is there anything further, sahib?
Don't come back. - No, sahib.
You've been very anxious to meet him,
haven't you, Mr. Drake?
Now you shall.
What? - He's out there, now.
When I turn down this lamp, he'll come in.
Why?
Because he always does.
We talk together, he likes
to have someone to talk to.
But, sir, you can't... - You're very keen
on telling us what we can and can't do!
But you know nothing, nothing.
You think all this
is about honor. - Isn't it?
No, it's about comradeship.
Friendship.
If you'd witnessed the
mutilation of John Scarlett.
To see a man, a friend, his sex,
ripped away, a man no longer.
But, sir, the sword, the mess game.
Why should Mrs. bandanai and Mrs. Scarlett
be singled out for attack in this manner?
They were unfaithful.
In his mind, their infidelity
to regimental heroes
had made them pigs.
And that's how we treat
pigs in this regiment.
Now you will sit over there, Mr. Drake,
in that chair, in the shadows.
You may watch, but you will not intervene.
Good evening!
Oh, turn on the lamp, you silly bugger!
I can't see what I'm doing!
That's better.
You won't be needing
that jacket tonight, John.
You won't be going anywhere tonight.
Why not, old boy?
Haven't let the side down again, have I?
Yes, only I'm afraid I
can't help you this time.
The regiment must be rid of you.
What, old boy?
Alastair.
Lionel, look!
I saw him, Alastair, oh, god.
I saw him.
I know.
You were possessed by him.
As though there were two.
I am possessed by him.
I am two.
I tried.
But when he takes over, I,
I, I do know
What I've done.
It was me, oh, god.
It was me.
Lionel,
too much damage has been done.
I can no longer protect you.
Do you understand me?
I understand.
Then I should tell the colonel
that captain Scarlett is dead.
I have every intention
of making a success
of my three months probationary
period with the regiment,
and of joining it fully and properly
at the end of that time.
There is, unhappily, a little matter
I should perhaps share with you.
Oh, what's that?
I have no intention whatever of surviving
my three months probationary period.
There is a ship which sails for england
in exactly three months.
I intend to be on it.
Sho-hut!
Right, atten-hut!
Present arms!
It's exactly how I imagined it would be.
How very uplifting for you.
But then I didn't expect you to understand.
But I do, my dear fellow.
You forget, this place has
haunted me since childhood.
We want to get cleaned up
and present ourselves to the adjutant.
If we can find him.
Or indeed anyone.
You don't suppose there's
been another mutiny, do you?
Millington, I think I
better warn you that,
while I tolerated your imbecilities
on our journey together,
they won't be appreciated here.
Good afternoon, gentlemen.
Good afternoon.
You must be pradah Singh.
And you, sir, Mr. Drake.
If I may say you look
most like your father,
under whom I had the honor to serve.
Thank you.
I had the honor to serve also
under your father, general millington,
though I was, of course, much
younger then, a mere boy.
Yes, he did have me
rather late in the day.
I understand your father served
with the regiment, pradah Singh.
And my grandfather served.
In my family,
it is the tradition. - Quite.
Pradah Singh, where is everybody?
On the prairie ground, sir.
It's the anniversary of
the battle of rajapur.
Of course, well, I should've remembered.
They should be back within the hour.
I'm instructed that by that time
you should be in attendance
here, in uniform.
The colonel will then lead in the ladies.
I hear correctly, ladies?
Ladies?
Yes, sir. - Voluptuous ladies?
For god's sake, man!
Gentlemen, officers and men
of the 20th Indian light cavalry,
today we commemorate, as we do each year,
the award of the Victoria cross
to captain John Scarlett,
for his outstanding bravery.
On this, the third
anniversary of his death,
it is once again my duty and privilege
to present the cross to Mrs. Scarlett.
Colonel, it is again
my pleasure to return
this medal to you for safekeeping
among the other trophies
which commemorate the honorable
history of this regiment.
Where the devil are they, pradah Singh?
Just coming now, sahib. - Oh, good.
2nd lieutenants millington and Drake.
May I present the senior
subaltern, lieutenant fothergill.
Gentlemen, welcome.
Pradah Singh, could you fetch
me a quick whisky and soda,
we have just a few moments to spare.
Sahib. - What about you, chaps?
Oh, my dear fellow, um, just anything.
I'm about to expire.
My companion is joking, of course.
We are fully aware of the
regimental tradition.
Oh, good, splendid, well done.
Thank you, pradah Singh. - Sahib.
They're damn silly, these little tests.
But one must be certain.
You must be millington.
No, Drake.
I have that dubious honor, my dear fellow.
Oh, I'm sorry.
Well, sit down, chaps.
There's a lot to tell you and
little time to tell it in.
Oh, we are allowed to sit?
Yes, of course, why not?
Don't pay any attention.
I thought it might be another
of these little tests.
Mr. millington has a very
personal sense of humor.
Oh, I see, very funny.
You're sitting in the
colonel's chair, old man.
Oh my heavens!
I wouldn't want to add
sacrilege to my other crimes.
Now then, it's my job as senior subaltern
to watch over you chaps
for the next week or two.
Make sure you know what's what and so on.
Let me remind you of the
basic facts of life.
You don't speak to anyone,
nor will anyone speak to you, except me.
It's my job to speak to you
and you may speak to me,
but never to a senior officer,
unless addressed first.
In which case, you reply, "yes, sir".
Now, unless it happens to be the colonel,
in which case, you reply "yes, colonel".
We always call the colonel
colonel in this regiment.
Quite. - Quite.
Eminently sound
arrangement, if I may say so.
Good, now, when the colonel arrives,
we shall withdraw to a corner, over there.
At an appropriate time, I
shall strike the gong,
announce strangers in the mess and
introduce each of you individually.
No one will pay the least attention,
except the colonel, who will say,
thank you, Mr. fothergill...
You will say nothing.
We shall then wait for
the adjutant to join us,
when you will present yourselves
and we shall withdraw to your quarters.
Parade, section right, quick right!
And now, as for the ladies,
they will be in the colonel's
party this afternoon,
I think, only madame strang
has help, the colonel's lady.
And, um, Mrs. Scarlett.
Yes, yes, I think I should perhaps
say a word or two about Mrs. Scarlett.
She is a lady, very much admired
at the mess, very popular.
Her husband was awarded the
Victoria cross, posthumously.
She is a regular feature of our lives here.
However, she is not above
offering certain favors.
Now, don't misunderstand me!
She is very much a lady, but.
Yes, of course.
Most distressing. - Yes.
My point is that junior officers
are well advised to remain unsusceptible.
She is a very attractive woman.
However, certain senior officers having...
You understand me?
Made a point with Mrs. Scarlett?
Oh, I see. - Of course, this is a matter
of which, while you should
be fully appraised,
you know nothing. - No, quite.
Just remain courteous, but, uh...
Distant? - Distant, yes.
What is this filthy old
tunic doing in the mess?
Mr. millington!
That was captain's Scarlett tunic.
He was wearing it when he was cut down.
It must have been a very messy event.
Warfare is not noted for its comfort!
Nor is the future of young officers
who fail to acquaint themselves
with the history and
traditions of this regiment.
Still, when you come to think of it,
it must smell absolutely frightful.
How is young truly
getting around, doctor?
Not too bad, I think, colonel.
Damned idiot! - He'll be up and about
in a day or two. - He'll be playing Polo
again soon anyway.
Colonel, there are strangers in the mess!
May I present Mr. millington and Mr.
Drake, colonel!
Thank you, Mr. fothergill.
Surely that can't be
general millington's boy.
He looks far too young.
With respect, madam,
I hardly believe you could
have known my father.
You also look far too young.
Well, Mr. fothergill.
I'm sorry, sir.
Sorry, I did not here
that, mr fothergill?
I must have failed to make
my instructions plain, captain Harper.
Mr. fothergill, you are
assumed to be capable
of the duties of your office.
That is why you hold it.
I am waiting, Mr. fothergill.
Present yourselves, men!
I have the honor to present myself, sir.
Mr. Drake, sir.
Thank you, Mr. Drake.
I also have the honor
to present myself, sir.
Do you lack a name, sir?
Millington, sir.
Ah, come here, Mr. millington.
Sir. - Mr. millington,
if I ever hear from you again,
it will be for the last time.
Do you understand me?
May I be I allowed to say...
You may be allowed to say nothing!
You may be silent!
Is that clear? - Yes, sir.
Return to your place.
Mr. fothergill, if you find that
your duties are too arduous for you,
I'm sure we can find a way to have you
relieved of them, understood?
Sir.
You bloody fool!
What the hell were you playing at?
My dear fellow, I'm... - Quiet!
I told you to remain silent
while there were senior
officers in the mess
I certainly didn't mean
to get... - Shut up!
I don't know what your game is, millington,
but let me tell you this.
If you put up one more block against me,
I'll make sure you're
kicked out of this regiment
before you even finish probation.
Do you hear me? - Yes, fothergill.
Mr. fothergill! - Mr. fothergill!
Now go to your quarters, move!
Charge!
Mind that leg of yours, young truly.
I will, colonel.
Few weeks now, isn't
there any improvement?
Not with millington, major. - Mm.
Ought we get rid of him, sir?
Well, it's not easy.
Son of a general, distinguished
colonel of the regiment.
Well done, lad!
We see intellection are very difficult.
Quite right understand, sir.
Seems to drink rather
at dinner, doesn't he?
Yes, sir, but strictly speaking,
there's no ruling against that, sir.
As long as he can hold it.
Hmm, well, if he does, I would do it,
I'd wheel him out of the mess
as quickly and quietly as you can, hmm?
Right, sir.
Well run!
For a first round,
the boy seems to be doing remarkably well.
What do you say, Lionel? - I agree.
Remember Toby's first round, Lionel?
Regimental history, colonel.
It was three years ago, wasn't it?
Yes, this was his first
posting, and his last.
Yes, that was the end of it for him.
And for me, in a way.
You only had that one boy, didn't you?
Yes, still, one accepts.
But one plans, you know?
Toby was to carry on the
line, the tradition.
It's still something I can't...
= pig, pig, pig! = pig, pig!
Points, point.
Pig! - Pig!
Well done, Alastair.
Well done, sir. - Damn fine run, sir.
Good run. - Well sun, sir.
Come on, I need a drink.
By special request of Mrs. foster,
we have a ladies excuse me waltz.
That's there, colonel.
Well, if that's your story of the couple
in the bathing machine laundry, Marjorie,
they're too young to hear it.
Nonsense, a little vulgarity
never did anyone any harm.
Well, it is a damn funny yarn, sir.
Oh, you're an outrageous woman.
Come and dance with me.
And stop corrupting my junior officers.
I'm open to corruption at
any time, Mrs. Scarlett.
Anything to report, Mr. hart?
No, sir. - All right,
let's visit the guard room. - Yes, sir.
Mrs. Scarlett.
You really shouldn't drink so much, Mr.
Millington.
No, ma'am, no, I shouldn't.
You are acquiring quite
a reputation for it.
Does that concern you?
Personally, not at all. - Pity.
I think I could enjoy being
rescued from degradation by you.
Don't be tiresome, Mr. millington.
Why aren't you dancing?
There are so many young
ladies here tonight,
would be glad of your company.
Pretty girls some of them.
It's pleasing to hear beauty
pay tribute to mere prettiness.
Mr. millington, you have already paid me
one compliment too many in public.
That's why I'm taking care tonight
to pay my compliments in private.
You will pay me no more
compliments at all...
No, don't go, please.
Did you know that when two swans mate
they mate for life? - Really?
So I've read. - How touching.
I must say I find it rather sad.
Why? - Imagine, if one was
to die before the other.
Is that why you drink then?
For the lost swan?
No, madam. - Why then?
Don't concern yourself about it, please.
How old are you?
Does it matter?
You have all life...
All life before me, as they say.
You come to us laden with
advantages, do you not?
To you it seems I come with none.
Am I quite out of favor?
Good night, Mr. millington. - Please.
Refer to yourself in your good voice.
Alastair?
What are you doing here?
Admiring the stars.
And you? - You are impertinent,
Mr. millington, go away.
You will please go away?
And if I don't please?
For heaven's sake, be sensible!
You seem to think yourself
quite a ladies' man, mr millington.
My reputation travels before me.
I should like to think we had
something in common, Mrs. Scarlett.
It is a great mistake to
be deceived by reputation.
I was looking for the company of a woman.
And my impression of you, madam, is,
that you are a woman.
You are behaving stupidly towards me.
I shall call out.
You tempt me, you tempt me indeed.
May I fetch anything for you, colonel?
No, no, pradah Singh.
I am in need of a new pair of legs.
I shall endeavor to see that you are
not disturbed, colonel. - Thank you.
Colonel, dear, I thought you
were feeling a little tired.
Oh, I'm fine. - No, no, no, no,
don't get up. - If you would
forgive me, my dear.
I forgive you anything.
What's the time? - Nearly two.
We should be able to leave soon.
I feel we've said good night
to most of our guests.
Yes, but the usual late-stayers.
Marjorie, of course, and the hopwoods.
And that colonel in the lancers.
Foster, peregrine foster.
And his wife. - And his wife, yes.
It's been a lovely ball.
Has it, ma'am? - Yes.
It's something one feels
one owes to the past. - I know.
Colonel dear, would you
do something for me?
What? - All evening, I've danced
with bounding young men
and doddering old bores.
I should so much like to dance
with my own dear husband.
Oh, dear. Must I? - It's an order.
Very well.
Help me!
It's Marjorie! - Help!
My dear, what happened?
Please, help!
For god's sake, Brandy.
Drake, fetch the doctor, quickly.
Marge!
What the hell happened?
Let's get her to the mess.
What's happening now?
She's been attacked, come with me.
Alastair. - It's all right, Marge.
It's all right.
Give me the Brandy, please.
Let me through, please, gentlemen.
How did this happen, ma'am?
She's been attacked, doctor.
Let me see, my dear.
Is that true?
You were attacked?
Yes. - Who by? Who was it?
Marjorie, someone attacked you.
You must tell us who he was.
Him! It was him!
My god, you wretched! - Alastair!
Major roach, this officer is under arrest.
Colonel, captain Harper,
detail two officers as close escort.
Sir, Mr. hart, Mr. fothergill!
I don't agree with you.
To hush this matter up
to protect the honor of the
regiment would be shameful.
It must be by general court-martial,
it must be by due process of military law.
The due process of military law
yes, I know the process
you are referring to.
It's secret and convenient.
And justice of a kind can,
I suppose, come out of it,
but is not justice that
I can possibly approve.
Colonel, there are only two alternatives:
A public trial, with its
public consequences,
or a private trial.
With its private consequences.
On your feet.
Morning gentlemen. - Morning, sir.
Be seated, please.
Gentlemen, last night there
occurred an incident which,
if dealt it were with,
shall we say, carelessly,
could profoundly affect the
honor of this regiment.
Fortunately however, a procedure exists
which makes it possible
for the entire affair
to be kept strictly within
the confines of regimental jurisdiction.
That is why you are here.
When Mrs. Scarlett has
recovered, you are to be tried,
Mr. millington, by
subalterns court-martial.
I shall now explain to you what that means.
Subaltern's court consists
of five officers.
A president, in this case
myself, and four others.
Also, a prosecuting officer
and a defending officer.
You will understand, gentlemen,
that a subaltern's court-martial
has no official existence.
It is outside of the normal structure
of discipline and command.
Should a senior officer become
officially aware of it,
he would be obliged to end it.
Make no mistake, the powers of this court
are summary and absolute.
There is no appeal to higher authority.
Do I make myself clear?
Yes, sir. - Now, as to witnesses.
In addition to civilian personnel,
officers of any rank may be call to appear
as and when they are required.
But, should a senior officer be called,
his appearance in court will in no way
affect his official knowledge
of the proceedings,
which of course do not exist.
Is that understood?
I don't think you'll find this
amusing for long, Mr. millington.
No, sir. - Stand up, Mr. millington!
Is my duty as president of this court
to decide on its composition.
Before I do so, you are entitled to select
your defending officer
from among those present.
How very nice.
And you mean now?
Now.
I don't suppose I can
choose the colonel, could I?
No, perhaps not.
Well,
in that case,
I choose Mr. Drake.
He is a gentleman of honor.
Very well, Mr. Drake will defend,
the prosecuting officer will be Mr.
Fothergill.
Who else? - The other members
of the court, in addition
to myself as president,
will be Mr. hart, Mr. boulton, Mr. winters,
Mr. truly, Mr. hutton will act as Usher.
Sahib. - Are there any questions?
Mr. Drake? - Sir, am I
obliged to accept this duty?
Mr. millington has chosen you, Mr. Drake.
Yes, sir. - Very well.
You will now return to duty, gentlemen.
Mr. Drake, you will remain here.
Mr. millington, you will wait outside
under escort, Mr. hutton.
Sahib. - And you will be confined
to quarters until the
trial begins, carry on.
I appreciate that you have been
under something of a disadvantage
since you arrived here, Mr. Drake.
And that fate is determined to keep you
linked with Mr. millington,
to your discredit.
It's just that I'm anxious
to do well here, sir.
Of course, nonetheless, it is necessary
that Mr. millington be defended.
But I hardly think you need
to embarrass yourself unduly.
It's very much an open and
shut case, is it not?
But, it's still my duty to defend
Mr. millington as well as I'm able to.
Naturally, you would
find whatever you can
to say in his favor.
I mean, it's a matter
of honor, is it not, sir?
The honor of the regiment demands
that Mr. millington be properly defended.
It is necessary to go through
the motions, Mr. Drake.
You are not a fool.
You know what is required of you.
To be fair, sir. - Just so.
To be fair to the regiment.
Good, excellent, carry on, Mr. Drake.
Mr. hart.
Mr president, the
charge before this court
reads as follows, that
on the 17th incident,
the accused officer, 2nd
lieutenant millingtom,
he did attack, wound and assault Mrs.
Marjorie Scarlett,
widow of the late captain
John Reginald Scarlett,
vc, of this regiment.
That by this action, he
has betrayed the trust
reposed to him by his colonel,
brought the name of this
regiment into dishonor,
and conducted himself in a manner
unbecoming of an officer and a gentleman.
The charge ends, Mr. president.
Thank you, Mr. hart.
How do you plead, Mr. millington?
Guilty or not guilty? - Indifferent.
The accused officer
pleads not guilty, sir.
Er, Mr. president.
Not guilty, Mr. Drake?
Well, um, yes, Mr. president.
I see, very well.
Mr. fothergill.
I call my first witness,
the regimental doctor.
Mr. hutton. - Sahib.
Doctor. - Hmm?
If you please, sir.
Be seated, doctor, please. - Thank you.
I'm obliged to remind you, sir,
that you are on your honor
to speak the truth.
Of course. - Mr. fothergill?
Doctor, on the night of the 17th,
Mrs. Scarlett claimed
she had been attacked.
You attended her.
In your opinion, was her claim justified?
Most certainly, it was a
gross, cowardly assault.
And did she suggest who
might have been responsible?
She made a direct accusation.
- Against whom, sir?
- Against that officer.
And were Mrs. Scarlett injuries
such as to sustain this accusation?
Well, injuries are not in themselves
evidence as to the identity of an attacker.
However, Mrs. Scarlett has
repeated the accusation.
I asked her again myself because I wanted
to be certain in my own
mind she would affirm it,
when no longer in a state of hysteria.
I believe you examined Mr. millington
and that you found a gash
behind his right ear.
I did, yes. - Did he tell you
how he sustained this injury?
He said that Mrs.
Scarlett had struck him.
Struck him when, sir?
I gather during the
course of the struggle.
Are you saying then that Mr. millington
admitted to you that he attacked Mrs.
Scarlett?
I suppose by now he has
freely admitted that
to anyone that has asked him.
Thank you, doctor.
Mr. Drake?
Mr. president, gentlemen of the court.
Doctor, the, the injuries
sustained by Mrs. Scarlett,
what exactly did they amount to?
Well, her wrists and
her arms were bruised,
the palms of the hands were skinned.
And her legs down there.
Her knees were bruised.
She had cuts about the body.
And her dress was torn.
Could these injuries have been sustained
in running through the shrubs and bushes
that surround the folly?
Yes, I think
they could have been.
Doctor, had, had Mrs. Scarlett been
in any another sense interfered with?
You mean, sexually?
Mr. Drake, Mr. millington is not
charged with rape, but with assault.
Yes, but... - Very well!
The court does not require an
answer to that question, doctor.
Well, then, would that fair to say then,
doctor, that this attack was,
relatively speaking, a failure?
It wasn't a failure, Mr.
Drake, you saw for yourself.
Apart from her physical injuries,
Mrs. Scarlett was in a state
of terror bordering on acute hysteria.
Quite so, precisely.
Yes, sir, but, um, well, I'm not clear.
I'm not clear exactly why Mrs.
Scarlett was so afraid.
Are you serious, Mr. Drake?
I mean, Mr. millington was
quite drunk at the time.
Mr. Drake, this court will not find
drunkenness as a mitigation of any act
on the part of Mr. millington.
But surely, sir, it must
reduce his responsibility.
No, the responsibility for drinking
to excess remains his alone.
I'd drop it, if I were you.
The cards are stacked against you.
Mr. millington, you will be silent!
Mr. Drake, have you any further
questions for this witness?
Well, Mr. Drake?
Yes, I, I have.
Doctor, would you not expect
that a woman of Mrs. Scarlett's
experience would be easily
able to deal with...
Mr. Drake, we're not here
to discuss Mrs. Scarlett,
but to judge Mr. millington.
But surely, Mr. president, it's relevant.
No, Mr. Drake, it is not relevant.
But on the very day we arrived here,
Mr. fothergill warned us quite specifically
that Mrs. Scarlett was inclined to allow
certain officers to... - Mr.
Drake, it is of no
concern to this court
what the senior subaltern
may or may not have said to
you on some private occasion.
So far as this court is concerned,
Mrs. Scarlett is a woman
of the highest character and reputation.
Do you understand me?
But, sir, Mr. president.
How am I to defend this officer
if you'll allow me no
latitude in this matter?
You are entitled to whatever latitude I,
as president of this court,
choose to give you and no more.
Drake, for god's sake, sit down.
You're embarrassing us all.
Mr. millington!
He has no idea what is
required of him, Mr. president.
Should have made your instructions plainer.
That is enough!
They expect you to go through
the motions, that's all.
Not to indulge in a talent
for legalistic moralizing.
What a bourgeois creature
you are, to be sure.
Well, Mr. Drake.
I have, uh, no more
questions for this witness.
- Thank you, doctor.
- Mr. president, gentlemen.
Fothergill? - The next logical step
would be to call Mrs. Scarlett, sir.
But I would hope the defending officer
would accept a written deposition from her.
I quite agree.
Mr. Drake? - Well, I.
I'm not sure, sir.
Well, I must have time to think.
Very well.
The court will reconvene
at midnight tomorrow.
Thank you, gentlemen.
You will leave the mess
quickly and quietly.
Mr. millington, you will
go with your escort.
Mr. Drake, you will remain here, dismissed.
Now, Drake, what the devil do
you think you're playing at?
I was just trying to do my duty, sir.
To ensure Mr. millington had a fair trial.
Do you mean to suggest that
he will not receive a fair trial?
But, surely, sir, he's
entitled to face his accuser.
There is some doubt in
your mind as to his guilt?
No, sir, none whatever. - Very well.
Tomorrow, you will plead Mr.
Millington guilty,
as clearly he wishes you to.
As for yourself, we shall see
how you conduct yourself
in the weeks to come.
You've made an excellent
beginning here, Mr. Drake.
I should not like to think we have been
mistaken in you, too. - No, sir.
Here is Mrs. Scarlett's deposition.
You will be requiring it,
since you will not be calling her.
That is all, Mr. Drake.
Captain Harper.
Well? - Sir, I must repeat,
isn't Mr. millington entitled
to face his accuser?
Are you being willfully obstructive?
Do you appreciate to what extent
we are already indebted to Mrs. Scarlett?
Do you realize, that had she made
an official charge against him,
Mr. millington would now be
facing public court-martial,
by officers not of this regiment.
And so should we.
But, sir, is his disgrace
not inevitable in any event?
Why, Mr. Drake?
Well, if he is found guilty,
you will surely be obliged
to get rid of him.
I do not think so.
Mr. millington will find that
we have duties for him yet.
Of an unpleasant nature, to be sure,
but admirably suited to his character.
You mean to keep him here?
For a year or two.
Five perhaps, or even 10 or more.
The option lies with us.
We will see how long it takes Mr.
Millington
to learn a simple lesson.
That this regiment is not to be mocked.
I see. - You can do nothing
for Mr. millington and only harm yourself,
do you understand?
Sir, I request to be
relieved of this duty.
No, Mr. Drake.
You have an admirable opportunity
of serving this regiment.
I shall follow your progress
with the keenest interest.
Good night.
Sahib, sahib! - Hmm?
Ask about Mrs. bandanai, sahib.
Ask about the bleeding.
Who? - Mrs. bandanai, sahib.
Hey! - Ask about the bleeding!
No, wait! - Be off with you!
I'm sorry, sahib, it will not happen again.
But who was that?
The servant of mame Scarlett, sir.
Mrs. Scarlett? - Yes, sahib.
I should take the strongest
possible action.
No, no, no, pradah Singh,
who is Mrs. bandanai?
She is the widow of jemadar bandanai.
He was a hero of this regiment.
He died with captain Scarlett.
Could you arrange for
me to speak with her?
It's not usual, sahib.
It might be of assistance to Mr.
Millington.
You know that he is in trouble.
His trial continues tomorrow night.
You greatly admired his father.
I'll see what I can do, sahib.
Thank you, pradah Singh.
Ah, my knight in shining armor!
I have news for you, my learned friend.
The battle is over.
I'm changing my plea to guilty.
Well? - You're very
confident, aren't you?
Why shouldn't I be?
You won't.
You won't get out of here, you know?
No? - Well, in a year or two.
Or perhaps five, or even 10 or more.
Until then, we are to be
graced with your presence.
What are you talking about?
I'm quoting the adjutant.
My dear fellow,
they intend to keep you here, millington.
I don't believe you.
They have duties for you,
of an unpleasant nature.
You are to be taught a lesson.
You are to learn that this
regiment is not to be mocked.
My god, I never thought of that.
Nor did I!
Come in now, please.
Court is now in session, Mr. fothergill?
Mr. president, as you already know,
this afternoon Mr. Drake informed me
that he would not accept
the written deposition
I had obtained from Mrs. Scarlett,
but insisted that she should
be available for this court.
I therefore propose to call her now.
Very well. - With your permission,
sir, I would prefer that Mrs.
Scarlett to be called later.
No, Mr. Drake, if you wish
to question Mrs. Scarlett,
very well, you shall, now.
With respect, Mr. president,
if you will permit me to
call another witness first.
Certainly not, Mr. Drake.
Again, with respect, sir,
I am entitled, as laid down by you,
before the members of this court,
to call any witness as and when required.
Very well, whom do you wish to call?
The second in command, sir.
Is major roach aware of this?
He is waiting in the lobby, sir.
Mr. hutton! - Sahib!
Drake, what are you up to?
If you please, sir.
Sir!
Please be seated. - Thank you.
I Mr. Drake.
You sent for me this evening, sir.
You felt I should know that
you had witnessed the attack
on Mrs. Scarlett by Mr. millington.
- I did, yes.
- What were the circumstances?
Well, I'd been on duty with Mr. hart,
inspecting the guard room.
And I was on my way, alone,
through the gardens, to
inspect the perimeter patrol.
I was nearing the folly when I heard voices
coming from it, a man and a woman.
The man seemed to be, well,
he seemed to be pleading.
Then I recognized Mrs. Scarlett's voice,
it was sharp and clear.
She said, "Mr. millington,
I've told you already
"that your advances are
offensive and pointless.
Or words to that effect.
Did she sound angry, sir?
Oh, yes, she did,
indeed, extremely angry.
And frightened? - No, I would have said
she was fully in command of the situation,
not frightened, but angry.
And what happened then, sir?
Well, Mrs. Scarlett came from the folly,
followed by Mr. millington.
You saw them clearly, sir?
Yes, in a patch of light
reflected from the mess.
There were more lights than
usual outside that night.
Yes, sir, and then?
Well, he took her arm
and she threw him off.
Ordered him to leave her alone
and walked angrily toward the mess.
She walked, sir? - Yes.
She didn't run? - No, she walked.
Was she distressed?
Mr. Drake, I've told you, she was angry.
Yes, sir, and Mr. millington?
Well, I don't really know.
I lost sight of both of
them in the shadows.
I thought he just made off, but, uh,
you say he claimed she laid him up.
It's possible, of course,
but I didn't see it.
Quite so, sir, and then?
Well, you know the rest.
There was a great consternation,
everybody running, myself included.
When I got to the, uh,
when I got to the mess and saw Mrs.
Scarlett's condition.
Yes?
Well, I, I was greatly surprised.
Mrs. Scarlett was in a terrible state.
Much worse than I would've imagined.
Why do you say that, sir?
Well, there's, uh, there's no excuse
for Mr. millington's behavior, not at all.
But I saw nothing violent or extreme.
Otherwise I would've put an end to it.
Thank you, sir.
Thank you, major roach.
We are most obliged to you
for coming here tonight.
It was my duty.
Though I'm bound to say I consider
the regiment ill-served
by unauthorized charades of this nature.
Good night, gentlemen.
Well, Mr. Drake, it seems to me
that your defense witness, major roach,
has given us a detailed account
of precisely of the offense
with which Mr. millington is charged.
Perhaps I should remind you
that you are here to defend this officer,
not to prosecute him.
Thank you, Mr. president.
In the nature of this trial
it's well to be reminded why are we here.
Mmm, quite.
Are you now willing for Mrs. Scarlett
to be called? - Yes, sir.
Mr. hutton! - Sahib.
If you please, ma'am.
Ma'am.
You will appreciate, ma'am,
that this disturbance to
yourself is not of our choosing.
I'm not at all disturbed, thank you.
Ma'am. Mr. fothergill?
I should like to ask you
just three questions, ma'am.
Were you attacked on the night of the 17th?
I was, yes. - By whom, ma'am?
By Mr. millington.
You have no doubt about that?
Thank you, ma'am.
Mr. Drake?
The folly where the attack took place,
it's a very isolated spot.
I was wondering, ma'am,
how you happened to be there.
There are moments, Mr. Drake,
even on the most enjoyable occasions,
when one wishes to be alone.
It is so, ma'am.
And it was here that Mr.
Millington disturbed you?
It was, yes.
Did you, did you try to get away at once?
No, at first I didn't realize
how determined he was.
Forgive me, madam, but,
you are an extremely attractive woman,
no longer married.
You must have had to deal with
silly young gentlemen before this.
Not young men who were
viciously drunk, Mr. Drake.
Viciously drunk, ma'am?
Mr. millington made it
plain that he intended
to use me as a means of getting himself
dismissed from this regiment.
I see, so, uh, you
were forced to hit him.
I was, yes.
What with? - My fists,
my arms, whatever came to hand.
And did anything come to hand?
I don't understand you.
Well, did you pick up a stone, perhaps?
No, I don't think so.
Or a branch from a tree? - No.
If you please, ma'am,
I think Mr. Drake is referring to...
A deep gash, some teo inches
long, behind his right ear.
Oh, yes, yes, of course.
I do remember now.
It was a stone, I picked up a stone.
I don't think so, ma'am.
I searched the area around the folly
for an hour this evening,
and there was not a stone to be found
for 100 yards in any direction.
It may have been wood, a branch.
No, ma'am, not a stick
nor a stone anywhere.
Nothing with which you could possibly
have struck Mr. millington.
Really, this is quite absurd, Mr.
President.
It is indeed, ma'am.
Mr. Drake, it is perfectly obvious
that when Mrs. Scarlett broke
away from Mr. millington
he fell against a tree or a wall.
No, I didn't! - Silence, sir!
I was hit! - Be quiet, please.
Of course, if you wish to
take his word against mine.
Certainly not, ma'am.
Mr. Drake, this has gone far enough.
I'm sorry, sir, I was mistaken.
Misunderstanding, ma'am.
I see now what must have happened.
You, you broke away from Mr. millington
and he fell back against this wall or tree,
and then you ran screaming toward the mess.
Yes! - Ran as fast as you could.
Well, naturally. - Or did you walk?
In his evidence, major roach
said that you walked.
Major roach?
Yes, ma'am, major roach appeared
in court a few moments ago.
It seems he witnessed the attack upon you.
Oh, I see.
In his testimony, major roach has said
that you walked away from Mr.
Millington, ma'am.
Yes, well, then, perhaps I did walk.
Walk or ran, what does
it matter, Mr. Drake?
Really, you are splitting hairs.
Yes, Mr. president.
Well, let's say then at,
uh, at first, you walked,
and then you ran.
Well, uh, perhaps you were afraid
that Mr. millington would attack you again.
I was, yes! - As he had attacked you so
violently in the first place. - Yes.
What exactly did he do to you, ma'am?
Well. - He took you by the arm?
Yes. - And drew you towards him?
Yes. - And then?
Did he try to put his hand on your bosom?
Mr. Drake! - Your dress was torn.
- He may have done that.
- Did he or didn't he?
I can't remember...
But you must remember.
This was a terrifying experience
for you, Mrs. Scarlett.
You ran screaming all the
way back to the mess.
What are you implying?
That is all, Mr. Drake.
I have one more
question for this witness.
Sit down, Mr. Drake. - No, sir.
Mrs. Scarlett, why are you lying?
How dare you?
How dare you!
Ma'am, if you will allow me.
I'll tolerate no more
of this, captain Harper!
In future, you can play your
childish games without me!
This court will reconvene
tomorrow night at midnight,
and this entire matter will be concluded.
Court is adjourned.
Good night, gentlemen.
You have finished yourself here, Mr. Drake.
Do you hear me?
You're finished! - If what I've heard
in this court is typical of
the honor of this regiment,
then I would not wish to remain.
And I thought this was a regiment of honor.
So it is, my dear fellow.
A regiment of the highest honor.
As you yourself have made plain to me.
What's going on, Arthur?
Why should she lie?
Don't know.
Look here, Arthur, if
you wish to remain here,
you really will have to
abandon this enterprise.
It isn't too late, you know?
I fancy I can survive
without sympathy, millington.
Yours, least of all.
You disappoint me.
Well, is it just pride, then?
Wounded pride? - Call it principle.
Why not, bougeois principle.
But that's, of course, something
you wouldn't understand.
Well, that's true.
Pradah Singh!
Your pardon, Drake, sahib.
I saw you come here, and I waited for you.
Why? You asked to speak
with Mrs. bandanai, she's here.
Please, won't you come and sit down?
There is a young officer in trouble.
I want to help him.
But without you, I can't.
Ask her if she was attacked, sahib.
Were you attacked?
As Mrs. Scarlett was attacked?
It is true, sahib.
When? - Six months ago.
Six months, who attacked you?
She will not tell you, sahib.
Well, what happened then?
I was with an officer.
I had been with him, laid with him.
He had left the bungalow, I was alone.
Then came another man.
A man in Scarlet and gold, he had a sword!
He threatened me.
He forced me to crawl around
on my hands and knees.
I had to make noises like a pig!
It is the game.
It is the game, as they
play it in the mess.
Sticking the pig with a sword,
from behind as it runs.
It's not possible.
It is the game, sahib, I'm certain.
But who could do such a thing?
Ask her, pradah Singh, who was it?
She cannot tell you, sahib.
She dare not, she has a
pension from the regiment.
Please, Mrs. bandanai,
please, I beg you, tell me.
Scarlett.
What? - Captain Scarlett!
What did she say?
That the man was captain Scarlett.
But, but, that can't be, he's, he's dead.
He was killed. - Yes, sahib.
Well, then, what did
she men, pradah Singh?
She meant what she said, sahib.
That the man you look for
is captain Scarlett.
That ought to give you
something to think about.
Hmm, thank you.
If you want to speak to me, Mr. Drake,
You're at Liberty to do so.
Thank you, sir.
It's just that I was looking
at captain Scarlett's uniform.
Yes? - Well, I know most
of the story of the 75 revolt,
but I would be most
interested to learn about
the end of it, sir, at first hand.
Why, Mr. Drake?
Sit down, sit down.
Under the circumstances,
I won't ask you that.
Thank you, sir.
You found captain Scarlett's body?
And Toby strang. - The colonel's son?
Yes.
It was not a particularly agreeable sight.
The tribesmen in that area are
noted for their barbarism.
But captain Scarlett
was recognizable, sir?
There was the uniform.
The captain in this regiment.
It could have been no one else.
You saw that it was him?
Yes, I saw him.
But perhaps
the mutilation was such
that you couldn't actually swear
that it was captain Scarlett. - No.
But as I say, it could
have been no one else.
No, I suppose not.
And the colonel's son?
He died two weeks later.
Terrible for the colonel.
Yes, it took his hard.
He blamed himself for
allowing Toby to go on
that particular patrol.
Well.
I must leave you to your game.
Well, tonight's the end of it,
do you think? - I hope so.
Arthur? - Hmm?
I've been thinking. - So have I.
I now know that you are not guilty.
What? - You may have been stupid,
but you're not vicious.
No. - Now look,
I want you to trust me.
Tonight's proceedings may not be pleasant,
but whatever happens,
you must remain silent.
This trial, you're destroying
yourself here for no reason.
You needn't concern yourself with me.
I do, I know what this
place means to you.
You're mistaken, I don't
expect to remain here,
and nor do I want to.
Court is now in session.
Mr. fothergill?
I have written depositions, Mr.
President,
from the colonel, major wimbourne,
colonel foster of the lancers and Mrs.
Foster.
If Mr. Drake will accept them,
the case for the prosecution can be closed.
Mr. Drake? - I accept them.
Thank you.
Mr. Drake, do you still wish
to recall the doctor and Mrs. Scarlett?
I do, sir.
Very well, Mr. hutton! - Sahib.
If you please, sahib.
I'm sorry we have to recall you, doctor.
So am I, but never mind. - Mr. Drake?
Doctor, two nights ago I questioned you
concerning Mrs. Scarlett's injuries.
You did, yes.
Why did you not tell
us she had been attacked
with a sword? - What?
What are you saying, Mr. Drake?
Mr. president, I'm prepared to back
every statement I make tonight,
however unpleasant, with factual evidence.
- But I haven't got a sword!
- Mr. millington!
Continue, Mr. Drake. - Thank you, sir.
Doctor, I believe that six months ago,
you had occasion to examine the
widow of jemadar bandanai.
- That's so, yes.
- She also had been attacked.
Yes. - With a sword.
But what is this to do with?
She'd been attacked with a
sword, yes or no, doctor?
It's possible, but...
Doctor, the game played on mess nights,
yes? - With the stuffed boar
on wheels. - Now just a minute!
What is the object of this game?
Is it not to Pierce the animal
with the point of a sword?
Yes, it is, but...
What part of the animal?
I don't think it matters.
That part which is naturally presented
in flight, the hind quarters,
is that it, doctor?
I suppose so, yes.
Doctor, where did this game originate?
In the field?
Presumably, yes, pig sticking
is a well-known sport.
And is it the object in the field
to Pierce the anus of a
living animal with steel?
Of course not,
what a revolting suggestion!
Oh, I see, that's just the
regimental variation.
That is enough, Mr. Drake!
No, sir, it is not enough.
Doctor, in what part of her body was Mrs.
Bandanai injured?
This is abominable!
Are you suggesting that whoever it was-
- I'm suggesting what, in
fact, I know to be true.
That six months ago somebody
played the regimental game
with Mrs. bandanai in the role of pig.
That is a most horrible idea.
Oh, yes, it is!
But were not her injuries
consistent with such an attack?
The court requires an answer
to that question, doctor.
Her injuries were consistent, yes.
On the night that Mrs.
Scarlett was attacked,
I believe that you examined her, doctor.
I did, yes, but there can be
no connection between the two cases.
None, doctor?
This, this is the dress worn by Mrs.
Scarlett that night.
I got it from her servant who
had been told to burn it.
But, fortunately, she thought it
to be too valuable and kept it.
Doctor, doctor, these blood stains,
do they coincide with Mrs.
Scarlett injuries?
Approximately, yes. - On the buttocks?
Well, on the thigh.
High up on the thigh?
On the thigh, Mr. Drake.
Here, doctor, how would
you describe that?
It looks like a tear. - Or a cut?
The cut made by the point of a sword?
Let me see that dress, Mr. Drake.
I believe Mr. Drake is right, doctor.
That's a cut, not a tear.
It could well have been made by a sword.
Thank you, sir.
In which case, doctor,
do not Mrs. bandanai's and Mrs.
Scarlett's injuries
suggest that they were both attacked
in the same manner by the same man?
Yes, yes, I suppose
that does seem possible.
Yet, Mrs. bandanai was
attacked six months ago.
Yes. - At which time,
Mr. millington was in england.
You agree, doctor?
Yes, I believe so, yes.
So if both attacks were
made by the same man,
that man could not have been Mr.
Millington.
I suppose not, but Mrs. Scarlett!
Mrs. Scarlett accused Mr.
Millington, yes, doctor.
And having examined her,
you still accepted her statement?
Without question?
Of course I did!
Yes.
What is your theory, Mr.
Drake, if you have one?
My belief, sir, is that Mrs.
Scarlett was attacked twice.
First by Mr. millington, if
a rather pathetic scuttle
can be called an attack.
And secondly, by another man, with a sword,
having first used the hilt of it
to knock Mr. millington unconscious.
And who was this man?
When Mrs. bandanai was attacked,
she was taken to hospital?
Yes. - By whom?
An officer of this regiment?
You must answer, doctor.
No, captain Harper, you're
allowing this inquiry
to go far beyond its permitted limitations.
I refuse to answer any more questions.
I am afraid, Mr. Drake,
that the doctor is right.
I know your intentions are
honorable, nonetheless.
Mr. president, before you take any
action to stop these proceedings,
I beg you to allow me to
call my remaining witness,
because then I believe I can
bring this matter to an end.
Captain Harper. - Colonel!
And you, Mr. Drake, come with me.
This court is now adjourned.
That way, gentlemen.
Mr. Drake, this regiment has a history
stretching far back in the past.
A history of honor and integrity.
Yet the doctor tells me you
just made an allegation
foul in its implications,
which is a gross insult to this regiment
and to every officer in it.
I have said nothing, colonel,
that I cannot prove to be true.
You cannot prove an impossibility.
No officer in this regiment
is capable of what you suggest.
With your permission, colonel.
Yes. - I cannot
in honor say other than I believe Mr. Drake
to be right in this affair.
I'm convinced that Mrs. Scarlett
was attacked with a sword.
As Mrs. bandanai had been attacked.
Mrs. bandanai?
You didn't know about Mrs. bandanai?
Mr. Drake. - But colonel,
if you've already been lied to...
I have not been lied to.
We do not lie to one another in this mess.
Gentlemen do not question the
honor of other gentlemen.
You are suggesting that I
allow this trial to continue?
You are prepared to stake your honor
and your future with the regiment on this?
I have no other means of
retrieving myself, sir.
And you, captain Harper,
are you willing to stake 12
years service in this gamble?
Yes, colonel, I am.
Very well, but I wish to
be present tomorrow night.
If you fail, you will not expect either
of you to remain with this
regiment, good night.
We have hurt a man whom I greatly admire.
I trust you are aware I
knew nothing of this.
Yes, sir, I am.
Thank you for supporting me.
It is necessary, at whatever cost,
to support the honor of the regiment.
Good night, Mr. Drake.
I've been called again.
What do you intend to do?
I'm afraid.
My dear girl, no one knows anything,
no one's going to know anything.
Just keep silent.
But if things go wrong?
You know very well,
they'll take India away from you.
Where could I go, england?
There's no one, nothing
in england for me now.
Mrs. Scarlett, in recalling you tonight,
I have only one purpose in mind,
to reach the truth.
Do you believe that? - Yes.
Thank you, ma'am.
You recognize this, of course.
On an examination of this dress,
the court has accepted
that you were attacked,
as Mrs. bandanai was
attacked, with a sword.
And not by Mr. millington.
He had no sword.
That is true, is it not?
Yes, it's true.
I must ask you, ma'am,
if indeed did Mr. millington attacked you
in any serious sense at all?
No, not at all, Mr. Drake.
He has not the violence in him.
He didn't assault or?
He begged me to cry out.
He begged me to accuse him.
He could not bring himself to harm me.
Then you withdraw the charge
against him? - I do.
And make no complaint of any kind?
Only of inherent gentleness.
And gentleness is not a crime.
If you think not, Mr. Drake,
then you are in the wrong place.
He is one of the few gentlemen
I have ever met in this regiment.
I must ask you now, ma'am,
to give the court a true account
of the attack upon you.
He came out of the darkness, suddenly.
I tried to get away, but I fell.
His sword!
He laughed, as he cut me!
I was crawling, trying to get away!
He ran around me, cut me again!
And all the time, he was saying,
oh, no, he was saying!
He was saying what?
Pig! Pig!
Pig, pig, pig!
Who, who was it, ma'am?
Who was it?
Oh! - Is that why
you accused Mr. millington?
Because you recognized you attacker,
and knew you could never accuse him.
Mrs. Scarlett, was it not your husband?
That's the truth of it, isn't it?
That the man who attacked you
was your husband, captain Scarlett.
My husband is dead.
Can you prove that?
No, I can't prove it, no one can.
Then how can you be sure
it was not he that attacked you?
Oh, don't be stupid, Mr. Drake!
For the same reason that I
knew it wasn't Mr. millington.
Because I saw who it was!
And once again, ma'am, I
must ask you, who was it?
I can't tell you that.
Mrs. Scarlett, who are you protecting?
I have nothing more to say.
Madam, I must insist
that you answer Mr. Drake.
And I refuse to answer him.
Don't you understand, Mr. Drake?
It doesn't matter who it was.
Which man it was.
They are all the same!
Stupid, cruel men who treat
women and pigs alike!
Colonel, don't you know what
sort of regiment you've bred?
They are all John Scarlett!
Every one of them!
Mr. Drake, you will explain, if you can.
Colonel, it is as I said.
There is an officer in this regiment
who attacks women with a sword.
And I now believe that on these occasions,
he dresses in that uniform.
Captain Scarlett's, uniform.
You are mistaken, sir.
Why should anyone wish to
impersonate John Scarlett?
If I might ask major wimbourne
that question, colonel?
He is waiting outside.
Very well, call him.
Mr. hutton.
If you please, sir.
And about bloody time, too!
With respect, colonel.
Sit there please, sir.
Well? - Sir, six months ago,
an attack was made upon Mrs. bandanai.
You took her to hospital.
What of it? - How did that come about?
I found her. - Hmm?
I found her! - Well, where?
What the devil does that matter?
In your bungalow.
Is that where you found her?
What if I did?
How did she happen to be there, sir?
Well, now, how the hell should I know?
Had you not invited her
to spend the night, sir?
All right, I had.
No crime in that. - No, sir.
You found her, you said? - Yes.
I'd gone out to inspect the guard.
I was duty officer,
as I am tonight.
And when you got back,
you found that she had been attacked.
And so you took her to the hospital?
Yes. - Where she almost died?
As you know, Mrs. Scarlett has now
been attacked in the same way.
I know that Mrs. Scarlett has
been attacked, that's all.
By, uh, millington, here.
In the same way, and not by Mr.
Millington.
That has been established.
Oh? I see.
Who was it, then?
I'm hoping, sir, that you
can answer that question.
Why me? - You know Mrs. Scarlett
very well. - Yes.
And you were a close
friend of her husband.
I was. - We are looking for someone
who has many of his qualities.
A good soldier, a fine sportsman,
a man who enjoys the company of women.
Yeah, that could be me. - Yes, sir.
What?
Oh, for god's sake!
You don't think I did it, do you?
Why not, sir? - Why not?
Ah, if you want to know why not,
you better examine your evidence, laddie.
Which evidence, sir?
When Marge, Mrs. Scarlett was attacked,
I was dancing with Mrs. foster.
Everyone saw me.
I don't believe you.
Ask him, ask fothergill.
He took the depositions,
it's all written down.
Mr. fothergill?
Yes, it's true, Mr. president.
I saw major wimbourne myself.
And both the doctor and Mrs. foster
have sworn it in their depositions.
Any more bright ideas, laddie?
Oh, I know, you're thinking,
if it wasn't wimbourne, who was it?
Could have been major roach?
He was some distance away,
inspecting the guard.
That's right, I saw him, running.
Was it the doctor, then?
He was with colonel foster.
Yes, and I was with Mrs. foster.
So you are right back where
you started, don't you?
You seem to have ran out
of suspects, laddie.
You know who it is, sir.
If you don't help me, he'll attack again.
Then I must remember to stand
with my back to the wall, mustn't I?
Sir. - I can't help you,
Mr. Drake.
I have duties to attend to!
Yes, thank you, major.
Colonel!
I'm sorry, colonel.
Sit down, please, Mr. Drake.
Captain Harper, the charges against
Mr. millington having been withdrawn,
I invite you to conclude your proceedings
without delay. - Yes, colonel.
Gentlemen, as President of the court,
I instruct you to find Mr.
Millington not guilty.
Not guilty. - Not guilty.
Not guilty. - Not guilty.
I also find him not guilty.
Rise, please, Mr. millington.
As you have been found innocent
of the charges brought against you,
you are now free to return to your duties.
Colonel?
Mr. millington, you have been
unjustly treated by this regiment.
You yourself have behaved
with some stupidity.
I trust we may now see a new beginning.
Yes, colonel. - Very well.
I welcome you into the regiment.
Thank you, colonel.
Gentlemen, this court is now dissolved.
I must thank you, Arthur.
You have nothing to thank me for.
I have a bourgeois
principle to thank you for.
Good night, Arthur. - Good night, Edward.
See that I
have a full report of this
first thing in the morning. - Yes, colonel.
Thank you, Mr. fothergill. - Colonel.
I'm sorry, colonel.
No, Rupert, you have behaved
as I should expect of you.
With exemplary courage and fairness.
You've done well. - Thank you, sir.
I only wish we had done less well.
Good night, colonel. - Good night.
Colonel, I do take little pleasure
in what I've done.
You did what needed to be done.
I have this morning received
your letter of resignation.
Do you wish me to accept it, or tear it up?
I should like you to accept it.
I'm sorry, colonel, I find that I cannot
put the honor of the regiment above my own.
Your honor and the regiment's
should be one, Mr. Drake.
They must be.
Yes, I understand that, colonel.
That's why I must go.
Very well, I accept your resignation.
With regret.
Alastair.
I couldn't tell you then.
You would have been obliged
to take official action.
The regiment would never
have survived the scandal.
What we've hidden has been hidden too long.
I want the matter ended now.
Very well, leave it to me.
It should be handled in
the traditional way,
as a matter of honor.
A matter of honor.
It's not as you think, Ben.
Oh, yes, I am the regiment.
What I have allowed to happen is what I am.
It is well my time here is nearly done.
You will not again speak to me of honor.
No!
Get all those lamps out. - Yes, sahib.
Quickly!
Is there anything further, sahib?
Don't come back. - No, sahib.
You've been very anxious to meet him,
haven't you, Mr. Drake?
Now you shall.
What? - He's out there, now.
When I turn down this lamp, he'll come in.
Why?
Because he always does.
We talk together, he likes
to have someone to talk to.
But, sir, you can't... - You're very keen
on telling us what we can and can't do!
But you know nothing, nothing.
You think all this
is about honor. - Isn't it?
No, it's about comradeship.
Friendship.
If you'd witnessed the
mutilation of John Scarlett.
To see a man, a friend, his sex,
ripped away, a man no longer.
But, sir, the sword, the mess game.
Why should Mrs. bandanai and Mrs. Scarlett
be singled out for attack in this manner?
They were unfaithful.
In his mind, their infidelity
to regimental heroes
had made them pigs.
And that's how we treat
pigs in this regiment.
Now you will sit over there, Mr. Drake,
in that chair, in the shadows.
You may watch, but you will not intervene.
Good evening!
Oh, turn on the lamp, you silly bugger!
I can't see what I'm doing!
That's better.
You won't be needing
that jacket tonight, John.
You won't be going anywhere tonight.
Why not, old boy?
Haven't let the side down again, have I?
Yes, only I'm afraid I
can't help you this time.
The regiment must be rid of you.
What, old boy?
Alastair.
Lionel, look!
I saw him, Alastair, oh, god.
I saw him.
I know.
You were possessed by him.
As though there were two.
I am possessed by him.
I am two.
I tried.
But when he takes over, I,
I, I do know
What I've done.
It was me, oh, god.
It was me.
Lionel,
too much damage has been done.
I can no longer protect you.
Do you understand me?
I understand.
Then I should tell the colonel
that captain Scarlett is dead.