The Black Watch (1929) Movie Script
Gentlemen, the colonel.
Gentlemen...
this is war...
and war on the continent.
The regiment has its sailing orders.
We entrain at dawn for France.
Upon you, gentlemen,
depends the scotch tradition.
You are the descendants
of those highland chieftains
who rallied behind Wallace
and who conquered under Bruce.
Your forefathers
risk their honor in your keeping.
I know that you will preserve it
with integrity.
I know that you will not fail
those faithful highland men
who look to your names for leadership.
It would be idle for me to warn you
that this will be no border skirmish.
We go to meet highly-trained,
perfectly armed soldiers...
the best organized army in the world.
A European war
promises to be long and bitter.
It may not be given us
to survive the victory.
It will be our portion
to show the way to
the armies who will follow us.
Scotland expects no more from you
than your fathers always have given...
that you will fight bravely
for the honor of the highlands,
for the protection of your people,
and for your loyalty to his majesty.
- The King!
- The King!
David my lad, how about a song?
Maxwellton braes
are Bonnie
where early falls the dew...
The field marshal's compliments, sir.
Will captain King report at once?
My respects to the field marshal.
Captain King?
Kindly report at white hall.
- Immediately?
- Immediately, sir.
Gave me
her promise
true
which ne'er
forgot
will be
and for Bonnie...
It's evidently very urgent.
With your permission, sir.
I lay me
doon
and Dee
gave me
her promise true
which ne'er
forgot will be
and for Bonnie
Annie
Laurie
I lay
me
doon
and Dee.
- Captain King?
- Yes, sir.
There's no place
like home
there's no place
like home...
be it ever so humble
there's no place
like home.
then why don't you go home?
Blasted, what's the matter wit' ya?
I don't think he likes music.
Now break the news
to mother...
- Captain King?
- Yes, sir.
This way, please.
Captain King.
Captain King, sir.
Presently.
Have a chair, King.
Thank you, sir.
You've filled out in 10 years.
You were a slender sub-lieutenant
when I visited your father's
regiment in peshawar.
Now let's see, King.
Your permanent regiment is the black watch.
Yes, sir.
But for the past six years,
you've been attached to the khyber rifles.
Yes, sir.
You've spoken the Indian border dialects
- since boyhood?
- I was born there, sir.
Pashto, hindustani
and the rest like a native?
Yes, sir.
Well, King.
A very serious situation exists here.
We are stripping
India of troops for France,
leaving the frontier weakly guarded.
A holy war starting here
in territory not under British rule
would be ruinous!
These hillmen have always been troublesome.
But now we find they are led by some woman
known as yasmani.
It appears she claims
some mysterious origin.
At any rate, she has such
an extraordinary personality
that she can sway these fanatics
to hail her as their leader
and obey her rule.
They hail her as a goddess.
Now at any moment
she may lead her fanatical hordes
down the khyber pass,
which would give over
our peaceful subjects of India
to the horrors
of a holy war.
They look to us for protection
and we won't let them down.
Your mission will be
to prevent that holy war.
But, sir, I'm leaving tomorrow
with the regiment for France.
You're not leaving for France, King.
You're leaving for India.
Your mission is secret,
so that you may not explain to anyone
that you're not just slinKing away,
not even to your own brother officers.
You're going under a cloud...
Alone.
Don't ask this, sir.
You know our family.
There's been a King with
the regiment in every war.
Your father wouldn't have said that, King.
He was a soldier and he obeyed orders.
Is this an order, sir?
It's an order.
I'm ready for duty, sir.
Ah, King, you're back.
You're just in time for a deoch andoris.
My request for reassignment
to the khyber rifles
has been approved, sir.
Orders will be forwarded within an hour.
Your request, King?
My request, sir.
Then you won't be going
with the regiment tomorrow.
No, sir.
You're returning to India at this time
when your country has need
of every trained man she has in France?
I'm returning to India, sir.
Oh.
Sorry, King.
A nice place, India,
now that we're leaving for...
sing "auld lang syne," David.
Yes, David, "auld lang syne."
Should auld acquaintance
be forgot
and never brought
to mind?
Donald?
Brother,
aren't you going with us to France?
No, laddie, I'm going to India.
But why?
I can't tell you.
But you'll be the soldier of the family
in this war, Malcolm.
You'll do the fighting.
And you won't fail.
I won't fail.
Good boy.
Go inside, laddie.
Join your pals.
For auld lang syne
my dear
for auld
lang syne
we'll drink
a right
gude-Willy waught
for the sake
of auld lang syne.
- Best of luck, boys!
- Good luck!
Company, right face!
And when you're in battle, my love,
do not forget you're a mactavish, Sandy!
And your wife is a macnabb!
Aye.
Eh, and Sandy, when you
get to Ken the Paris hussies,
do not forget you're a married man.
Aye!
Eh, and watch for when you sit down
and pull down your kilt.
Do not forget, you're
a member of the church.
And hide your shame.
Och, aye!
Eh, and do not forget
to give your rum ration
to some wee-bit drinkin' lad that needs it.
Aye, Jenny.
I'll give it to the first
wee drinkin' lad that needs it
worse than the mactavish!
You'd be as will!
Dah!
Halt!
Right face!
Left flank!
At ease!
Angus! Angus!
Angus! Here we are
in here!
- Here!
- Daddy!
Daddy! Here we are!
Daddy!
Entrain!
Oh, ye take
the high road
and I'll
take the low road...
sorry you're not going with us, King.
Well, cheerio, King!
India, eh?
Will never
meet again...
Oi, Chuck!
I'll see you in aberdeen!
Andy! Andy, no!
B company, halt!
Right face!
oh, ye take the high road
and I'll take the low road...
Daddy daddy daddy!
Daddy daddy!
Now give me a little smile.
Me and my true love
will never
meet again
on the Bonnie
Bonnie banks
o' loch
lomond.
Daddy! Daddy!
Daddy! Daddy!
Take me with you, father.
Take me with you.
No no, Lassie, no.
Go on back to your mother.
She's waiting on you.
And give her this kiss for me.
Aye, sergeant,
bein' a bachelor,
you're Ken that a wee bit of war
is a grand relief
to a married man.
Och, aye.
About face!
Entrain!
Top fellow!
All present and entrained, sir.
Very good.
I wish you very good luck, colonel.
Thank you.
Goodbye.
Gave me
her promise true
which ne'er
forgot
will be...
oh, Angus! Angus!
My poor wee baby!
For all the violence I have displayed
toward my fellow man,
Allah, forgive me.
Ho!
At ease.
- King, sahib.
- Mohammed Khan.
You're the last man
I expected to see in India.
I thought you were in France
with your lancers.
The raj deems me too old.
I, who first rode in battle
behind thy father
40 years ago.
But King, sahib, why art
thou not with thy scots?
You and I have been shunted
from the real show
in flanders, Mohammed.
But there's a soldier's job in India
for both of us.
King, sahib!
There'll be no glory in it.
You'll not be riding at
the head of 100 lancers;
no pennant flying;
no pipes playing.
A dirty job at the best.
Do you want to come along?
King, sahib, I have eaten thy salt
and thy father's salt.
Sahiba? Sahiba?
Yasmani, sahiba,
the strong one stands below.
Here comes that drunken
swine, captain King.
On hand as usual for his
evening's whiskey swilling.
By jove, he'll drink
himself out of the service.
Yes, India is full of
such rotters since the war.
Well, slacKing is bad enough
without fraternizing with
these scurvy natives.
The scurvy native you refer to
is major Mohammed Khan,
who holds the highest rank possible
in his majesty's army...
a gallant soldier and a gentleman.
Good day, sir.
The general seems in a bit of a huff!
But you notice he didn't have a
good word to say for King, though.
No.
How are you, old chap?
Boy, how about a peg of whiskey?
And soda.
My country has kept its promise.
Vast stores of ammunition
have reached the hills.
Arrange for our departure...
Shortly.
For a week past,
captain King has looked often
at my window.
Thou shalt bring him to my house.
You are in danger here,
yasmani.
It is safer in the hills
among your tribesmen.
Safer for thee, rewa ghunga.
The British have no love for a native
conspiring against them.
Everything is in readiness...
munitions, guns,
your men.
An empire is at stake.
Thou shalt have princely power
in good time.
Bring captain King to me.
I say... I say,
you fellows,
I've just heard the most ripping story.
It concerns two irishmen, pat and Mike!
Oh, don't go away!
Or rather I should say Patrick and Michael.
They were doing something.
I forget what they were doing.
But one said to the other,
"bi' cor' eye"...
excuse me, old chap, I've got a lot to do.
- I must go home.
- Excuse me.
I say, I've just heard
the most ripping story!
It concerns two irishmen...
some other time, old chap.
Boy,
two whiskeys and soda.
I'm not drinKing with you!
I didn't ask for whiskey and soda for two.
I said, "two whiskeys
and soda."
It's very much like the...
Yes, we have some quite dull evenings here.
- You can come along sometime.
- Thank you.
We have all sorts of social
and sometimes regimental event...
your pardon, rewa ghunga?
But I was distracted
by captain King's drinKing again.
Unfortunate.
Odd...
He should be in India at this time.
Wasn't he with a scots regiment
when war broke out?
In this case, the war office
may have its own very good reasons
for transfer, rewa ghunga.
Mmm.
I don't presume to know.
Quite so.
I say, King, that reminds me
of a ripping story
about two blackamoors, sambo and topsy.
Oh, keep your beastly stories to yourself.
King! Gentlemen!
- Gentlemen, please!
- Really?
Well, you're a drunken bounder!
- You're a less-born...
- Now listen, King!
And a cad besides!
Yes, and you're a nasty,
filthy drunken swine!
Now listen, King!
- Colonel matranel?
- Sir?
What is the meaning of
this disgraceful conduct?
Place captain King under arrest
and have him brought
to my office immediately.
Yes, sir.
Captain King?
Follow me.
The fall must have
fractured his skull, sir.
He's dead.
Awkward mess.
Rewa ghunga?
Politics, out of the hands of the club.
I understand.
One expects such outbursts
from these virile Europeans.
This is a very serious business.
I feel very sorry for captain King.
Oh, save your regrets.
At last the service has the chance
of getting rid of a bounder.
Excuse me.
Certainly.
- That'll be all, men. You may go.
- Hurry! File out.
Now you understand, doctor,
neither now nor ever
may you disclose what has transpired.
I understand, sir.
Neither now nor ever.
Yes, sir.
And thank you for your help
in the matter too, doctor.
A capital bit of acting, King.
Most convincing.
But far too realistic, sir.
That punch almost fractured my jaw.
- Sorry, old man.
- Incidentally, twynes,
you will be buried with
full military honors tomorrow,
and for the benefit of yasmani's agents.
I'm sorry I can't attend
your funeral, old chap.
Now gentlemen, we have no time to waste.
Is rewa ghunga convinced
I'm a renegade, sir?
Without a doubt.
Then he'll rush the news to yasmani.
Yasmani is a woman enflamed with power.
You must realize, King,
that the fanatical natives
regard her as a goddess,
a native Joan of arc.
Not quite saintly, though...
partial to stall with men.
If you should win her interest, King...
she has already shown interest, sir.
But I don't like the idea
of hiding behind a woman's skirts.
Oh, forget your schoolboy scruples.
This is war.
Yasmani is our enemy.
She threatens the country with disaster.
If her favor can further your mission,
don't hesitate to use it.
This is the dirtiest job I've ever tackled.
But I'll see it through, sir.
Good. Now when you
get to the hills,
you'll destroy their ammunition dump.
Your job is to rob yasmani of her power.
And if I fail, sir?
Others will follow you.
Others have been before and never returned.
Oh, by the way,
the last was your old chum macgregor.
The best of luck, old man.
Thanks.
Major Mohammed Khan
with meet you with a detail
of lancers in the khyber.
Number one and all's well!
the guard, sir...
has full instructions.
Number two and all's well!
ready, sir.
Here's for ye, Malcolm lad.
I won't fail you either.
Ready. Load.
Present. Fire.
Hide! Hide out!
Thou art a fugitive now, captain King?
A fugitive and a murderer.
I had heard.
But how?
Quite so, captain King.
I carried the news.
I must get out of India at once.
They're yapping at my heels.
One can leave India
even now.
Yasmani!
That man,
he is no son of the prophet!
I command you...
command?
Thou could'st find
riches and glory
in my service.
In your service,
even death.
But it is not wise to lead an infidel
among the faithful.
Infidel or not,
mine eyes have marked him
for my service.
Mine eyes rove more
than becomes a goddess.
A caravan
travels through the khyber pass tonight
by a secret route.
Thou wilt join it.
Thou hast the build of a man,
captain King.
In the hills
much will be revealed to thee.
You will meet many like yourself
in the hills, captain King...
soldiers, deserters,
who fled after the climax
of a blood feud.
Those whom the British
call murderers.
- Och!
- Aye!
It's queer, sergeant, how a man
gets out of touch with the world.
I haven't even heard
Saturday's football results.
- Och, aye?
- Aye.
Have you heard from your brother, King?
Not a word.
Well, don't worry.
He couldn't be
in a safer place than India.
If you don't stop your
slurs on Donald, I'll kill you.
Laddie laddie laddie.
I swear I will!
My brother is not a slacker.
He... he wouldn't
fail me. He couldn't!
Steady, laddie, steady. You're
needin' a rest, I'm thinKing.
- But Donald is not a slacker.
- Of course he isn't.
You don't think my brother
would leave me...
wherever your brother is,
he's doing his job.
Now quiet down, laddie.
Have a fag.
I'm sorry, kid.
Cigarette, Joe?
Whoa! Whoa!
Who are you?
We are for the hills
and for her service.
What seek ye in her service?
A mullah passing through our village
promised us fighting and much loot
in the holy war.
What proof have ye
of thy right to aid?
We have the tunic,
belt and the pistol
of a British officer sahib
whom we have slain this night.
Ye are for the hills.
The way to the caves
is there.
But be warned:
Not all who enter
return by this road.
What horrible torture, Mohammed.
Who are those men opening that door
on this terrible thing?
British soldiers, sahib,
and loyal subjects of the raj
who have been taken prisoner.
Go faster!
Go!
- Macgregor?
- Sahib?
Macgregor?
This is King...
Donald King.
In God's name, be on your guard
- every second.
- Go go!
My eyes were put out
because I spied on them.
All Europe is at war.
Your regiment is in France.
God be with them.
I'll get you out somehow.
Never mind me!
You carry on.
Carry on.
Carry on.
It is written:
"Kill the unbeliever
wheresoever thou shalt find them!
Make them prisoners
and despoil them.
For whosoever shall fight
for the religion of Allah,
whether he be slain
or be victorious,
we shall surely give him
a great reward."
Summon all newcomers for judgment.
And thou, the strong one...
who stands sponsor for thee?
Why, you yourself
stand sponsor for me, harrim bey.
Nay!
I know nothing of thy worthiness.
We must have proof!
I stand sponsor for him.
It is an honor.
But has it not always
been our custom here
for all newcomers
to test their strength?
Will you wrestle for our sport?
You...
Hear me, my hillmen,
my warriors.
The hour of the warrior is at hand.
Soon thou shalt taste
the joys of battle.
The fruits of victory
shall be thine.
Music will play softly
for your ease.
And virgins
will dance for your desires.
Bull with a beard,
he knows where the ammunitions are, sahib.
- We get him.
- Sahib?
Yasmani wishes to see you.
- Ready.
- All right, sahib.
Allow me to show you the way, captain King.
Thank you, rewa ghunga.
Take a squad, release the prisoners.
Bring macgregor sahib to me.
Sahib.
We follow bull with a beard.
Bull with a beard, where is the
ammunition thou promised us?
There is no ammunition!
I'll have thee hanged!
Aye, long have I desired
to trim thy glorious beard, harrim bey.
Thou dog!
I'll have thee boiled in oil!
- Oil!
- Oil, sire.
What a glorious beard. In all
my travels I have ne'er beheld
so glorious, gorgeous beard as thine.
I think it would look better curled.
Where is the ammunition?
The ammunition is there.
Ahhh!
Now we can talk, we three,
of glory, wealth
and power.
I prefer to talk of something else.
Something else?
I thought we were going to talk
of conquest
with the wild tribesmen
pouring over defenseless India
behind their goddess.
It seems their goddess
is only a woman.
Still a goddess to them, rewa ghunga.
They would tear any man limb from limb
at my command.
Are we to lose an empire
for a woman's desire?
Still an unsuited boy.
Come closer.
The women of the Western world
have taught thee poorly.
The sign of the faithful
is not needed with me.
I summoned thee, captain King,
because Aryan blood flows in my veins
as in thine.
A white woman in these hills?
Yes, captain King...
a white woman.
Into this land, Alexander the great
led a mighty army
countless ages ago
and took a wife from these northern hills.
From him
I am descended.
I remember
one of those early invasions of India
had failed.
There is a prophesy
that when a woman of Alexander's line
shall find a mate ordained
to rule these tribesmen,
that conquest
shall be fulfilled!
So that is the reason
these hillmen acclaim you as their goddess.
I looked long for that mate
who would fulfill the prophesy...
a leader, strong, brave,
white.
Allah has marked thee
for that glory.
I have been lonely,
captain King,
for I am a woman.
It is not good to be a goddess
when one is young...
cold, chaste
and far off.
It is sweeter to be a woman
to one man
than a goddess to thousands.
It can't be.
Men have forgotten before.
Antony squandered an empire
for Cleopatra's favor.
Am I less precious to thee
than she was in his arms?
You don't understand.
Since I saw thee first
'neath my window in peshawar,
mine eyes have longed for thee.
- And guard them well.
- Salaam!
Guards, salaam!
Guards! Allah!
For all the violence I have displayed
towards my fellow man,
Allah forgive me.
We ride down the khyber
at the head of my hillmen...
Together
to win an empire by the dawn.
I will go with you,
follow you anywhere.
But we can't turn
those wild tribesmen loose
to ravish a peaceful country.
It only means killing...
needless cruelty.
Empires are not won
by mercy, Donald.
The thought of such conquest is madness.
It is wisdom.
Now is the appointed time.
Europe is destroying herself
as the prophesy foretold.
Her best sons are dying like flies.
I have seen it.
I will show you.
Look.
Hold my hands...
Tightly.
Concentrate.
Think of those men
you used to know,
unfortunates being mowed down
in the mud of flanders.
Think...
think of those men.
Think of those men...
Come on, boys!
Come on!
Take me with you, father.
Take me with you.
Sorry we're late, sir.
Quite all right.
Carry on.
Very good, sir.
Malcolm.
Are you hard hit, laddie?
Malcolm, lad!
That was my regiment...
the black watch.
My brother is wounded,
perhaps dead.
And I've been lying here
forgetting everything...
duty, honor, loyalty;
faithless to my trust.
Donald,
am I not thine?
And art thou not mine?
I was sent here to betray you,
rob you of your power
to prevent this holy war.
Thy mission was known to me.
But it mattered not,
for Allah sent thee to me.
It can't be.
Don't go.
Thou art but one man
against these merciless thousands.
Everything's in readiness, sahib.
We found the guns and ammunition.
- Good. Macgregor?
- Has been freed, sahib.
- Splendid.
- We stole it from thy quarters, sahib.
Thank you. Now everybody
to the top of the steps now.
Hurry! Guns in position.
- Release the prisoner.
- You take the right, the left.
For all the violence I have displayed
toward my fellow man...
Allah, forgive me.
Hands to the right.
Everybody, ready!
Come on, step to it.
Machine guns.
- 1! 2! 3! 4!
- Sahib!
- Where have you been?
- Praying, sahib.
Take the left flank.
- Macgregor.
- King.
Put this in your hand, Mac.
- Thank you.
- Doesn't it feel good?
There they are, Mac, in front of you.
Kneel.
It'll be hot in a minute.
Sahib.
Yasmani, those machine guns
are in position.
It would mean needless
slaughter to oppose us now.
You can prevent it.
At your bidding, your hillmen
would lay down their arms and disperse.
Will you give the word?
Thou hast triumphed.
Art thou my followers?
Wilt thou obey my command?
Aye!
Lay down your arms and disperse!
The traitoress!
Stand fast, Mac.
You're in charge now.
Stand up, buddy.
Bayonets, en guard.
Yasmani?
My soul
is long for thee,
Donald.
My head has rested on thy breast.
My lips have burned on thine.
Henceforth,
no other woman's lips
can kiss thee
without thou be reminded of me.
Thy memory of yasmani
will never die.
King...
Sahib.
Mohammed,
send one of your men
to the general office of command
in northwest frontier.
Have him deliver this message:
"The job
is finished.
King."
Sahib.
Gentlemen, the colonel.
Gentlemen,
it's but a few minutes midnight,
the beginning of a new year
and the hour for renewing old friendships
and re-pledging ancient loyalties.
During the long relentless months of war,
the regiment
has upheld the bravest
traditions of our country.
I salute you, gentlemen,
on behalf of those highland chieftains
whose honor you have so ably preserved,
and for your loyalty to his majesty
the King.
The King!
King!
King? King?
- Good evening, sir.
- Good evening.
My request for reassignment to
the black watch has been approved.
I'm reporting for duty, sir.
The latest "gazette"
has news of interest for you gentlemen.
Major King of the black watch
has been awarded the D.S.O.
For gallant service to the crown in India.
Glad you're back, King.
Thank you, sir.
- Just like old times.
- David,
do you feel equal to it?
Should auld acquaintance
be forgot
and never brought
to mind?
should auld acquaintance
be for naught
in the days
of auld
lang syne?
for auld
lang syne
my dear
for auld
lang syne...
- Aw, hi!
- Hi.
We'll drink
a right
gude-Willy waught
for the sake
of auld
lang syne
for auld
lang syne
my dear
for auld
lang syne
- we'll drink...
- Malcolm.
A right
gude-Willy waught
for the sake
of auld lang syne.
top fellow, Malcolm.
Happy new year!
Gentlemen...
this is war...
and war on the continent.
The regiment has its sailing orders.
We entrain at dawn for France.
Upon you, gentlemen,
depends the scotch tradition.
You are the descendants
of those highland chieftains
who rallied behind Wallace
and who conquered under Bruce.
Your forefathers
risk their honor in your keeping.
I know that you will preserve it
with integrity.
I know that you will not fail
those faithful highland men
who look to your names for leadership.
It would be idle for me to warn you
that this will be no border skirmish.
We go to meet highly-trained,
perfectly armed soldiers...
the best organized army in the world.
A European war
promises to be long and bitter.
It may not be given us
to survive the victory.
It will be our portion
to show the way to
the armies who will follow us.
Scotland expects no more from you
than your fathers always have given...
that you will fight bravely
for the honor of the highlands,
for the protection of your people,
and for your loyalty to his majesty.
- The King!
- The King!
David my lad, how about a song?
Maxwellton braes
are Bonnie
where early falls the dew...
The field marshal's compliments, sir.
Will captain King report at once?
My respects to the field marshal.
Captain King?
Kindly report at white hall.
- Immediately?
- Immediately, sir.
Gave me
her promise
true
which ne'er
forgot
will be
and for Bonnie...
It's evidently very urgent.
With your permission, sir.
I lay me
doon
and Dee
gave me
her promise true
which ne'er
forgot will be
and for Bonnie
Annie
Laurie
I lay
me
doon
and Dee.
- Captain King?
- Yes, sir.
There's no place
like home
there's no place
like home...
be it ever so humble
there's no place
like home.
then why don't you go home?
Blasted, what's the matter wit' ya?
I don't think he likes music.
Now break the news
to mother...
- Captain King?
- Yes, sir.
This way, please.
Captain King.
Captain King, sir.
Presently.
Have a chair, King.
Thank you, sir.
You've filled out in 10 years.
You were a slender sub-lieutenant
when I visited your father's
regiment in peshawar.
Now let's see, King.
Your permanent regiment is the black watch.
Yes, sir.
But for the past six years,
you've been attached to the khyber rifles.
Yes, sir.
You've spoken the Indian border dialects
- since boyhood?
- I was born there, sir.
Pashto, hindustani
and the rest like a native?
Yes, sir.
Well, King.
A very serious situation exists here.
We are stripping
India of troops for France,
leaving the frontier weakly guarded.
A holy war starting here
in territory not under British rule
would be ruinous!
These hillmen have always been troublesome.
But now we find they are led by some woman
known as yasmani.
It appears she claims
some mysterious origin.
At any rate, she has such
an extraordinary personality
that she can sway these fanatics
to hail her as their leader
and obey her rule.
They hail her as a goddess.
Now at any moment
she may lead her fanatical hordes
down the khyber pass,
which would give over
our peaceful subjects of India
to the horrors
of a holy war.
They look to us for protection
and we won't let them down.
Your mission will be
to prevent that holy war.
But, sir, I'm leaving tomorrow
with the regiment for France.
You're not leaving for France, King.
You're leaving for India.
Your mission is secret,
so that you may not explain to anyone
that you're not just slinKing away,
not even to your own brother officers.
You're going under a cloud...
Alone.
Don't ask this, sir.
You know our family.
There's been a King with
the regiment in every war.
Your father wouldn't have said that, King.
He was a soldier and he obeyed orders.
Is this an order, sir?
It's an order.
I'm ready for duty, sir.
Ah, King, you're back.
You're just in time for a deoch andoris.
My request for reassignment
to the khyber rifles
has been approved, sir.
Orders will be forwarded within an hour.
Your request, King?
My request, sir.
Then you won't be going
with the regiment tomorrow.
No, sir.
You're returning to India at this time
when your country has need
of every trained man she has in France?
I'm returning to India, sir.
Oh.
Sorry, King.
A nice place, India,
now that we're leaving for...
sing "auld lang syne," David.
Yes, David, "auld lang syne."
Should auld acquaintance
be forgot
and never brought
to mind?
Donald?
Brother,
aren't you going with us to France?
No, laddie, I'm going to India.
But why?
I can't tell you.
But you'll be the soldier of the family
in this war, Malcolm.
You'll do the fighting.
And you won't fail.
I won't fail.
Good boy.
Go inside, laddie.
Join your pals.
For auld lang syne
my dear
for auld
lang syne
we'll drink
a right
gude-Willy waught
for the sake
of auld lang syne.
- Best of luck, boys!
- Good luck!
Company, right face!
And when you're in battle, my love,
do not forget you're a mactavish, Sandy!
And your wife is a macnabb!
Aye.
Eh, and Sandy, when you
get to Ken the Paris hussies,
do not forget you're a married man.
Aye!
Eh, and watch for when you sit down
and pull down your kilt.
Do not forget, you're
a member of the church.
And hide your shame.
Och, aye!
Eh, and do not forget
to give your rum ration
to some wee-bit drinkin' lad that needs it.
Aye, Jenny.
I'll give it to the first
wee drinkin' lad that needs it
worse than the mactavish!
You'd be as will!
Dah!
Halt!
Right face!
Left flank!
At ease!
Angus! Angus!
Angus! Here we are
in here!
- Here!
- Daddy!
Daddy! Here we are!
Daddy!
Entrain!
Oh, ye take
the high road
and I'll
take the low road...
sorry you're not going with us, King.
Well, cheerio, King!
India, eh?
Will never
meet again...
Oi, Chuck!
I'll see you in aberdeen!
Andy! Andy, no!
B company, halt!
Right face!
oh, ye take the high road
and I'll take the low road...
Daddy daddy daddy!
Daddy daddy!
Now give me a little smile.
Me and my true love
will never
meet again
on the Bonnie
Bonnie banks
o' loch
lomond.
Daddy! Daddy!
Daddy! Daddy!
Take me with you, father.
Take me with you.
No no, Lassie, no.
Go on back to your mother.
She's waiting on you.
And give her this kiss for me.
Aye, sergeant,
bein' a bachelor,
you're Ken that a wee bit of war
is a grand relief
to a married man.
Och, aye.
About face!
Entrain!
Top fellow!
All present and entrained, sir.
Very good.
I wish you very good luck, colonel.
Thank you.
Goodbye.
Gave me
her promise true
which ne'er
forgot
will be...
oh, Angus! Angus!
My poor wee baby!
For all the violence I have displayed
toward my fellow man,
Allah, forgive me.
Ho!
At ease.
- King, sahib.
- Mohammed Khan.
You're the last man
I expected to see in India.
I thought you were in France
with your lancers.
The raj deems me too old.
I, who first rode in battle
behind thy father
40 years ago.
But King, sahib, why art
thou not with thy scots?
You and I have been shunted
from the real show
in flanders, Mohammed.
But there's a soldier's job in India
for both of us.
King, sahib!
There'll be no glory in it.
You'll not be riding at
the head of 100 lancers;
no pennant flying;
no pipes playing.
A dirty job at the best.
Do you want to come along?
King, sahib, I have eaten thy salt
and thy father's salt.
Sahiba? Sahiba?
Yasmani, sahiba,
the strong one stands below.
Here comes that drunken
swine, captain King.
On hand as usual for his
evening's whiskey swilling.
By jove, he'll drink
himself out of the service.
Yes, India is full of
such rotters since the war.
Well, slacKing is bad enough
without fraternizing with
these scurvy natives.
The scurvy native you refer to
is major Mohammed Khan,
who holds the highest rank possible
in his majesty's army...
a gallant soldier and a gentleman.
Good day, sir.
The general seems in a bit of a huff!
But you notice he didn't have a
good word to say for King, though.
No.
How are you, old chap?
Boy, how about a peg of whiskey?
And soda.
My country has kept its promise.
Vast stores of ammunition
have reached the hills.
Arrange for our departure...
Shortly.
For a week past,
captain King has looked often
at my window.
Thou shalt bring him to my house.
You are in danger here,
yasmani.
It is safer in the hills
among your tribesmen.
Safer for thee, rewa ghunga.
The British have no love for a native
conspiring against them.
Everything is in readiness...
munitions, guns,
your men.
An empire is at stake.
Thou shalt have princely power
in good time.
Bring captain King to me.
I say... I say,
you fellows,
I've just heard the most ripping story.
It concerns two irishmen, pat and Mike!
Oh, don't go away!
Or rather I should say Patrick and Michael.
They were doing something.
I forget what they were doing.
But one said to the other,
"bi' cor' eye"...
excuse me, old chap, I've got a lot to do.
- I must go home.
- Excuse me.
I say, I've just heard
the most ripping story!
It concerns two irishmen...
some other time, old chap.
Boy,
two whiskeys and soda.
I'm not drinKing with you!
I didn't ask for whiskey and soda for two.
I said, "two whiskeys
and soda."
It's very much like the...
Yes, we have some quite dull evenings here.
- You can come along sometime.
- Thank you.
We have all sorts of social
and sometimes regimental event...
your pardon, rewa ghunga?
But I was distracted
by captain King's drinKing again.
Unfortunate.
Odd...
He should be in India at this time.
Wasn't he with a scots regiment
when war broke out?
In this case, the war office
may have its own very good reasons
for transfer, rewa ghunga.
Mmm.
I don't presume to know.
Quite so.
I say, King, that reminds me
of a ripping story
about two blackamoors, sambo and topsy.
Oh, keep your beastly stories to yourself.
King! Gentlemen!
- Gentlemen, please!
- Really?
Well, you're a drunken bounder!
- You're a less-born...
- Now listen, King!
And a cad besides!
Yes, and you're a nasty,
filthy drunken swine!
Now listen, King!
- Colonel matranel?
- Sir?
What is the meaning of
this disgraceful conduct?
Place captain King under arrest
and have him brought
to my office immediately.
Yes, sir.
Captain King?
Follow me.
The fall must have
fractured his skull, sir.
He's dead.
Awkward mess.
Rewa ghunga?
Politics, out of the hands of the club.
I understand.
One expects such outbursts
from these virile Europeans.
This is a very serious business.
I feel very sorry for captain King.
Oh, save your regrets.
At last the service has the chance
of getting rid of a bounder.
Excuse me.
Certainly.
- That'll be all, men. You may go.
- Hurry! File out.
Now you understand, doctor,
neither now nor ever
may you disclose what has transpired.
I understand, sir.
Neither now nor ever.
Yes, sir.
And thank you for your help
in the matter too, doctor.
A capital bit of acting, King.
Most convincing.
But far too realistic, sir.
That punch almost fractured my jaw.
- Sorry, old man.
- Incidentally, twynes,
you will be buried with
full military honors tomorrow,
and for the benefit of yasmani's agents.
I'm sorry I can't attend
your funeral, old chap.
Now gentlemen, we have no time to waste.
Is rewa ghunga convinced
I'm a renegade, sir?
Without a doubt.
Then he'll rush the news to yasmani.
Yasmani is a woman enflamed with power.
You must realize, King,
that the fanatical natives
regard her as a goddess,
a native Joan of arc.
Not quite saintly, though...
partial to stall with men.
If you should win her interest, King...
she has already shown interest, sir.
But I don't like the idea
of hiding behind a woman's skirts.
Oh, forget your schoolboy scruples.
This is war.
Yasmani is our enemy.
She threatens the country with disaster.
If her favor can further your mission,
don't hesitate to use it.
This is the dirtiest job I've ever tackled.
But I'll see it through, sir.
Good. Now when you
get to the hills,
you'll destroy their ammunition dump.
Your job is to rob yasmani of her power.
And if I fail, sir?
Others will follow you.
Others have been before and never returned.
Oh, by the way,
the last was your old chum macgregor.
The best of luck, old man.
Thanks.
Major Mohammed Khan
with meet you with a detail
of lancers in the khyber.
Number one and all's well!
the guard, sir...
has full instructions.
Number two and all's well!
ready, sir.
Here's for ye, Malcolm lad.
I won't fail you either.
Ready. Load.
Present. Fire.
Hide! Hide out!
Thou art a fugitive now, captain King?
A fugitive and a murderer.
I had heard.
But how?
Quite so, captain King.
I carried the news.
I must get out of India at once.
They're yapping at my heels.
One can leave India
even now.
Yasmani!
That man,
he is no son of the prophet!
I command you...
command?
Thou could'st find
riches and glory
in my service.
In your service,
even death.
But it is not wise to lead an infidel
among the faithful.
Infidel or not,
mine eyes have marked him
for my service.
Mine eyes rove more
than becomes a goddess.
A caravan
travels through the khyber pass tonight
by a secret route.
Thou wilt join it.
Thou hast the build of a man,
captain King.
In the hills
much will be revealed to thee.
You will meet many like yourself
in the hills, captain King...
soldiers, deserters,
who fled after the climax
of a blood feud.
Those whom the British
call murderers.
- Och!
- Aye!
It's queer, sergeant, how a man
gets out of touch with the world.
I haven't even heard
Saturday's football results.
- Och, aye?
- Aye.
Have you heard from your brother, King?
Not a word.
Well, don't worry.
He couldn't be
in a safer place than India.
If you don't stop your
slurs on Donald, I'll kill you.
Laddie laddie laddie.
I swear I will!
My brother is not a slacker.
He... he wouldn't
fail me. He couldn't!
Steady, laddie, steady. You're
needin' a rest, I'm thinKing.
- But Donald is not a slacker.
- Of course he isn't.
You don't think my brother
would leave me...
wherever your brother is,
he's doing his job.
Now quiet down, laddie.
Have a fag.
I'm sorry, kid.
Cigarette, Joe?
Whoa! Whoa!
Who are you?
We are for the hills
and for her service.
What seek ye in her service?
A mullah passing through our village
promised us fighting and much loot
in the holy war.
What proof have ye
of thy right to aid?
We have the tunic,
belt and the pistol
of a British officer sahib
whom we have slain this night.
Ye are for the hills.
The way to the caves
is there.
But be warned:
Not all who enter
return by this road.
What horrible torture, Mohammed.
Who are those men opening that door
on this terrible thing?
British soldiers, sahib,
and loyal subjects of the raj
who have been taken prisoner.
Go faster!
Go!
- Macgregor?
- Sahib?
Macgregor?
This is King...
Donald King.
In God's name, be on your guard
- every second.
- Go go!
My eyes were put out
because I spied on them.
All Europe is at war.
Your regiment is in France.
God be with them.
I'll get you out somehow.
Never mind me!
You carry on.
Carry on.
Carry on.
It is written:
"Kill the unbeliever
wheresoever thou shalt find them!
Make them prisoners
and despoil them.
For whosoever shall fight
for the religion of Allah,
whether he be slain
or be victorious,
we shall surely give him
a great reward."
Summon all newcomers for judgment.
And thou, the strong one...
who stands sponsor for thee?
Why, you yourself
stand sponsor for me, harrim bey.
Nay!
I know nothing of thy worthiness.
We must have proof!
I stand sponsor for him.
It is an honor.
But has it not always
been our custom here
for all newcomers
to test their strength?
Will you wrestle for our sport?
You...
Hear me, my hillmen,
my warriors.
The hour of the warrior is at hand.
Soon thou shalt taste
the joys of battle.
The fruits of victory
shall be thine.
Music will play softly
for your ease.
And virgins
will dance for your desires.
Bull with a beard,
he knows where the ammunitions are, sahib.
- We get him.
- Sahib?
Yasmani wishes to see you.
- Ready.
- All right, sahib.
Allow me to show you the way, captain King.
Thank you, rewa ghunga.
Take a squad, release the prisoners.
Bring macgregor sahib to me.
Sahib.
We follow bull with a beard.
Bull with a beard, where is the
ammunition thou promised us?
There is no ammunition!
I'll have thee hanged!
Aye, long have I desired
to trim thy glorious beard, harrim bey.
Thou dog!
I'll have thee boiled in oil!
- Oil!
- Oil, sire.
What a glorious beard. In all
my travels I have ne'er beheld
so glorious, gorgeous beard as thine.
I think it would look better curled.
Where is the ammunition?
The ammunition is there.
Ahhh!
Now we can talk, we three,
of glory, wealth
and power.
I prefer to talk of something else.
Something else?
I thought we were going to talk
of conquest
with the wild tribesmen
pouring over defenseless India
behind their goddess.
It seems their goddess
is only a woman.
Still a goddess to them, rewa ghunga.
They would tear any man limb from limb
at my command.
Are we to lose an empire
for a woman's desire?
Still an unsuited boy.
Come closer.
The women of the Western world
have taught thee poorly.
The sign of the faithful
is not needed with me.
I summoned thee, captain King,
because Aryan blood flows in my veins
as in thine.
A white woman in these hills?
Yes, captain King...
a white woman.
Into this land, Alexander the great
led a mighty army
countless ages ago
and took a wife from these northern hills.
From him
I am descended.
I remember
one of those early invasions of India
had failed.
There is a prophesy
that when a woman of Alexander's line
shall find a mate ordained
to rule these tribesmen,
that conquest
shall be fulfilled!
So that is the reason
these hillmen acclaim you as their goddess.
I looked long for that mate
who would fulfill the prophesy...
a leader, strong, brave,
white.
Allah has marked thee
for that glory.
I have been lonely,
captain King,
for I am a woman.
It is not good to be a goddess
when one is young...
cold, chaste
and far off.
It is sweeter to be a woman
to one man
than a goddess to thousands.
It can't be.
Men have forgotten before.
Antony squandered an empire
for Cleopatra's favor.
Am I less precious to thee
than she was in his arms?
You don't understand.
Since I saw thee first
'neath my window in peshawar,
mine eyes have longed for thee.
- And guard them well.
- Salaam!
Guards, salaam!
Guards! Allah!
For all the violence I have displayed
towards my fellow man,
Allah forgive me.
We ride down the khyber
at the head of my hillmen...
Together
to win an empire by the dawn.
I will go with you,
follow you anywhere.
But we can't turn
those wild tribesmen loose
to ravish a peaceful country.
It only means killing...
needless cruelty.
Empires are not won
by mercy, Donald.
The thought of such conquest is madness.
It is wisdom.
Now is the appointed time.
Europe is destroying herself
as the prophesy foretold.
Her best sons are dying like flies.
I have seen it.
I will show you.
Look.
Hold my hands...
Tightly.
Concentrate.
Think of those men
you used to know,
unfortunates being mowed down
in the mud of flanders.
Think...
think of those men.
Think of those men...
Come on, boys!
Come on!
Take me with you, father.
Take me with you.
Sorry we're late, sir.
Quite all right.
Carry on.
Very good, sir.
Malcolm.
Are you hard hit, laddie?
Malcolm, lad!
That was my regiment...
the black watch.
My brother is wounded,
perhaps dead.
And I've been lying here
forgetting everything...
duty, honor, loyalty;
faithless to my trust.
Donald,
am I not thine?
And art thou not mine?
I was sent here to betray you,
rob you of your power
to prevent this holy war.
Thy mission was known to me.
But it mattered not,
for Allah sent thee to me.
It can't be.
Don't go.
Thou art but one man
against these merciless thousands.
Everything's in readiness, sahib.
We found the guns and ammunition.
- Good. Macgregor?
- Has been freed, sahib.
- Splendid.
- We stole it from thy quarters, sahib.
Thank you. Now everybody
to the top of the steps now.
Hurry! Guns in position.
- Release the prisoner.
- You take the right, the left.
For all the violence I have displayed
toward my fellow man...
Allah, forgive me.
Hands to the right.
Everybody, ready!
Come on, step to it.
Machine guns.
- 1! 2! 3! 4!
- Sahib!
- Where have you been?
- Praying, sahib.
Take the left flank.
- Macgregor.
- King.
Put this in your hand, Mac.
- Thank you.
- Doesn't it feel good?
There they are, Mac, in front of you.
Kneel.
It'll be hot in a minute.
Sahib.
Yasmani, those machine guns
are in position.
It would mean needless
slaughter to oppose us now.
You can prevent it.
At your bidding, your hillmen
would lay down their arms and disperse.
Will you give the word?
Thou hast triumphed.
Art thou my followers?
Wilt thou obey my command?
Aye!
Lay down your arms and disperse!
The traitoress!
Stand fast, Mac.
You're in charge now.
Stand up, buddy.
Bayonets, en guard.
Yasmani?
My soul
is long for thee,
Donald.
My head has rested on thy breast.
My lips have burned on thine.
Henceforth,
no other woman's lips
can kiss thee
without thou be reminded of me.
Thy memory of yasmani
will never die.
King...
Sahib.
Mohammed,
send one of your men
to the general office of command
in northwest frontier.
Have him deliver this message:
"The job
is finished.
King."
Sahib.
Gentlemen, the colonel.
Gentlemen,
it's but a few minutes midnight,
the beginning of a new year
and the hour for renewing old friendships
and re-pledging ancient loyalties.
During the long relentless months of war,
the regiment
has upheld the bravest
traditions of our country.
I salute you, gentlemen,
on behalf of those highland chieftains
whose honor you have so ably preserved,
and for your loyalty to his majesty
the King.
The King!
King!
King? King?
- Good evening, sir.
- Good evening.
My request for reassignment to
the black watch has been approved.
I'm reporting for duty, sir.
The latest "gazette"
has news of interest for you gentlemen.
Major King of the black watch
has been awarded the D.S.O.
For gallant service to the crown in India.
Glad you're back, King.
Thank you, sir.
- Just like old times.
- David,
do you feel equal to it?
Should auld acquaintance
be forgot
and never brought
to mind?
should auld acquaintance
be for naught
in the days
of auld
lang syne?
for auld
lang syne
my dear
for auld
lang syne...
- Aw, hi!
- Hi.
We'll drink
a right
gude-Willy waught
for the sake
of auld
lang syne
for auld
lang syne
my dear
for auld
lang syne
- we'll drink...
- Malcolm.
A right
gude-Willy waught
for the sake
of auld lang syne.
top fellow, Malcolm.
Happy new year!