Beecham House (2019) s01e06 Episode Script

Episode 6

1 - What in God's name was that for? - You are to be a father.
She was complaining of pain in her stomach all day.
You must tell me where she is so I can bring her back.
She must get well.
Your Highness.
I would, like you to sell it for us.
- This must've been in your family - 250 years.
Lieutenant Beecham is a thief and a traitor! I must know how he acquired the Star Of Agra.
It is better to shed an Englishman's blood than your own.
When I have the information I need, he's all yours.
I must warn you about Samuel.
- What is it? - Debts.
And notes on John's past with the East India Company.
'Mother I think we are making a grave mistake.
'We asked him to sell the diamond to fund our army against the British.
' But Beecham should be seen as our greatest ally.
He could've exposed me to father but he has not.
Because he knows my cause is just.
Is it possible that an Englishman could value India's future above his own? John Beecham does.
He does not deserve to be punished.
Sometimes, a pawn has to be sacrificed to protect a king.
You must agree to let me speak to father, whatever the consequences.
When your father finds out you've betrayed him, you will be banished.
As the Empress and your mother, I forbid it.
'I must go to the Palace and speak with the Empress.
' What of Captain Parker? Have you any idea of his whereabouts this morning? There's been no sign of him in the house.
But those letters reveal a desperate man, who'd stop at nothing to achieve his goal.
God willing, the Empress will listen to reason.
Surely she cannot stand to see an innocent man treated this way.
Good luck, Miss Osbourne.
She is indeed John's last hope to expose Prince Akbar as the real traitor.
Chalo.
Walk on.
'I must speak to you about your prisoner, John Beecham.
' Why is Lieutenant Beecham the name on everyone's lips? Because he is a good man.
Because he has a baby son.
But mostly, because he is innocent.
That's not what the evidence suggests.
I realise that, but there may be an explanation closer to home that I believe would exonerate him.
They say he was planning to sell the diamond to raise money for the Company.
That is impossible.
His hatred for the Company is well known.
You care for him deeply? I respect him.
He is honest and moral.
And you are in love with him.
Yes.
You have no difficulty accepting that he has a child by another woman? All children are gifts from God, are they not? Certainly.
So why come to me? Because you have influence.
And I think that John Beecham will be useful to you here.
He is a man of great character.
He would give his life for his son, for his family .
.
for a cause he believes is worth fighting for.
Surely as a mother you can understand that? John is innocent.
He does not deserve to be hanged for protecting another.
Thank you, Your Highness.
Summon Prince Akbar.
Are you ready to talk? I've been thinking, General.
How did you know I had the diamond? Or where it was, exactly? Or the details of the delivery of the automaton? I am not aware what is considered protocol in England, Lieutenant.
But in France, the prisoner rarely interrogates the jailor.
I have permitted you a visitor.
- Miss Osborne? - Sadly, not.
There has been no sign of her.
Bring in the visitor.
- Captain Parker.
- How is your face recovering? A braver man would not strike another in such a way.
Anytime you'd like a fair fight, I'd enjoy it.
You have five minutes with the prisoner.
How is everyone in home? They are chanting blessings for you round the clock, John.
We will leave no avenue unexplored.
Thank you, Samuel.
I believe .
.
I may be able to negotiate your release with Castillon.
You can never make a deal with that man.
There could be one way, but it will not be to your liking.
I believe I can convince Castillon to release you to my custody, to take you to England .
.
with a signed promise that you will never return to India.
You must accept the seriousness of your situation.
Unless you come with me, Castillon will never release you.
You'll die in this prison.
Samuel, there is nothing for me in England.
But there is, John.
There is a chance to see justice done.
Opposition MPs have gathered new evidence.
This time, they are confident of success.
They could put Hastings on trial a hundred times and it wouldn't matter a whit, because the government is just as corrupt as the Company.
Hang it, man, the government practically is the Company.
Change will come to the way England conducts itself in India, but only if you testify.
Tell the Court of the Company's atrocities.
That will seal the Company's fate.
They will pay us handsomely to give evidence.
John This is my chance to restore my reputation, my name.
And your chance to see justice done to the East India Company.
You know it's the right thing to do.
Try to make your deal with Castillon.
If he agrees I will give you my answer.
This will end well, John.
And there will be a fortune for us both.
Guard, take me to General Castillon.
We are praying for John, Saheb.
Baadal, get a stool Please remove your shoes.
Come.
Om Jai Jagadiish Hare Swaami Jai Jagadiish Hare Bhakta Jano Ke Sankatt Daas Janon Ke Sankatt Kssann Me Duur Kare Om Jai Jagadiish Hare Don't touch me! Daniel-Saheb.
We have to bring Chanchal back.
August is suffering and her responsibility is to him first.
Well, if I knew where she was Baadal knows, but will not tell.
Why, Baadal? You know why, Saheb.
Whatever is wrong between us .
.
August is in great need of her.
Please tell, for baby's sake.
She must return to her duties.
Tell us where she is and I will bring her back.
- Saheb.
We must follow him.
- Baadal! Ma! Chanchal! Ma! Chanchal! Chanchal.
They're coming to take you back.
You must hide if you do not want to go.
'His Royal Highness, the Emperor Shah Alam II, - 'King of Kings' - Miss Osborne, look, it is His Highness, the Emperor.
This must be a very important visitor.
'Welcomes with great joy and fellowship,' His Highness, The Maharaja Of Kalyan.
Chandrika? Chandrika Chandrika - John is in great danger.
- I'm aware, Miss Osborne.
Why do you think I have returned with my father? He has some influence, but John was caught with the evidence so I'm not sure what we can do.
You must tell your Father that John is protecting someone who asked him to sell the diamond.
It's in order to raise money to fund an army.
What is the meaning of this intrusion? Your Highness.
Miss Osbourne.
This is a Royal occasion.
You have no place here.
You must leave now.
Your Highness, please.
- Your Highness? - Who, Margaret? Be sure to see how handsome Prince Akbar has become.
What is your interest in Lieutenant Beecham? Some years ago he saved my life, and those of my daughters, when we were attacked by bandits sent by my brother Devji Rao.
In return, I have come to humbly ask for his life.
It is my understanding that Lieutenant Beecham has forged a relationship with a certain young man within this palace.
You are speaking of my son, Prince Akbar.
Yes.
What if .
.
the Prince .
.
out of patriotism .
.
took that diamond himself? It is possible.
What if he gave it to Beecham to sell? Intending to use the money to raise an army of his own to defend Kannauj? The Prince knows the state of your finances.
Many of us are in the same state, caught as we are in fighting royal houses and greedy invaders.
Perhaps you and I are simply presiding over the end of a civilization, and soon, nothing will be left of us but the story told by the victors.
Well If that is true, let them at least say, that we died with our swords in our hands.
Your words speak to me in a way no others could.
I pray that my son is not the last Mughal Emperor of India.
Then you must help him.
Today, for the first time, this emperor's turban feels heavy on my head.
Then Your Highness, lay your burden down.
Your Highness.
Forgive me, Father.
God bless you, my son.
General Castillon has agreed! - What were the odds? - Long against.
And you may thank me my salesmanship.
Yes, indeed.
Though not quite salesman enough.
- What do you mean? - Samuel I know it was you .
.
that told Castillon about the diamond.
How could you, even for a moment And you also told him about the automaton.
- Never, John.
- Samuel You know there are innumerable candidates.
I have arrived at one simple question.
Who had the most to gain? I realise now, you did not meet my mother by chance at the docks in Calcutta.
You were there by design.
You knew exactly where she was going and when she would leave.
You'd probably been monitoring her for months.
Two years.
Captain Parker, the prisoner will not be joining you.
What are you talking about, General? Prince Akbar has declared Lieutenant Beecham innocent and given the order to set him free.
It appears I have misjudged you, sir.
In fact, we have been fighting on the same side all along.
There is a first time for everything, General.
- No, no, no.
This cannot be.
- Please, Captain Parker.
Events have betrayed the betrayer.
Accept it with dignity and admire its poetry.
I shall deal with you later.
General! Samuel My God, what have you done? Samuel! Samuel! Please - Unlock it.
- All right.
Come now, friend Do not make this any more difficult than it need be.
We are due to set sail for England in a matter hours.
Your journey will be eased by the knowledge there will be a great fortune waiting for you.
Money? But my friend, how little you know me.
Enough! So tell me, how exactly were you planning on forcing me to testify? If you don't testify, you'll never see your family again.
Now, move! Guards! Guards! The prisoner is trying to escape! Seize him! No! No! No, look, he stabbed the General! Stop him! You're making a mist Samuel! Samuel! Oh Please, sit.
No, no.
The baby will be a girl, I am sure.
How can you tell? When a mother-to-be craves this combination, it can only mean one thing, hm? A little Beecham-saheba in this house.
When John-saheb returns I shall ask his permission to leave this house.
You cannot.
Where will you go? Back home to Kalyan, to my mother and to my You think that your mother will be pleased to see her daughter like this? Chi-Chi Think of the shame.
An unmarried girl is like Malaria -- unwanted and impossible to live with.
I may be cursed, I may be unwanted, but what I did was for love.
Why am I the only one that suffers, why not him? You are right, Chanchal Daniel will suffer if he does not do the honourable thing by you.
But do not leave.
The child you carry is a Beecham and our home is this house.
I shall leave you.
Chanchal, you are not cursed.
I am here Baadal, you have been a very good friend, but I Not friend If only you would think of me as a husband.
You do not have to suffer alone.
Congratulations on your freedom, Lieutenant Beecham.
Thank you, Your Royal Highness.
- How fares General Castillon? - He will live, thanks to you.
He is now in the capable hands of the royal hakims.
I am pleased to hear it.
Lieutenant Beecham, your loyalty is appreciated.
My son must be my eyes now to see the future, if we are to have one.
Your Royal Highness, may your integrity help your family to retain its position for generations to come.
For that, sir, we have much work to do.
Today, a new age dawns in which India throws off the yoke of its oppressors.
The fight shall not be swift, but one day, it will end in victory.
If you are still willing, Lieutenant Beecham, I hope you will join us in that fight.
The Royal house seeks to make good use of your license, John Beecham.
And secure great funds to bolster our armies in that fight.
Your Royal Highness, it would be an honour.
My son has gained a loyal friend and a lieutenant for the future.
We shall have to see if the Englishman's heart beats for Hindustan.
I fear his compatriots grow closer to Delhi each day.
Saab? Dekh kaun, saab, saab aa raha hai.
It is good to see you.
Ram.
John! Oh, thank God, you've returned! Mother, it is good to see you again - But you have grown so thin.
- Mother, it's only been a few days.
- Brother.
- Daniel.
- It's good to have you back.
- It is good to be home.
John.
- Violet.
- Where is Captain Parker? Is he still at the Red Fort? Mr Beecham-Saheb.
We've been praying for you.
Agastya missed you, Mr Beecham-Saheb.
It is good to see you both, all of you.
Daniel, have you seen Margaret? Miss Osborne played a brave and vital role in your release, John.
- You saw her? - At the palace.
She told to me the truth about Prince Akbar and the diamond, and she interceded with the Empress.
August.
August, my son.
I have missed you.
John - You're safe! - All thanks to you.
I'm so sorry, Violet.
Samuel duped us all.
He turned out to be not the man we thought he was.
But you will find better in time.
In the end, it was my father's business that was alluring, not I.
It's very hard to accept that fact.
And now I shall have to return to England a spinster Miss Woodhouse I have known you since we were not much older than August.
It is not possible that one so lovely, so full of light and laughter, could spend the rest of her days as a spinster.
I shall make it my mission, to find you the right husband, one who you deserve.
Shall we? - Welcome, Your Highness.
- Charming bungalow.
Your Highness, this is my brother, Daniel.
Pleased to meet you, my boy.
I understand you risked your life to visit your brother in jail.
Thank you for coming to his aid so quickly, Your Highness.
And may introduce my mother, Mrs Henrietta Beecham and her companion, Miss Woodhouse.
Mrs Beecham you are the blessed mother of two heroic sons.
And you the father of two heroic daughters.
And we the grandparents of a very fetching little maharaja-to-be.
Just how big is August's palace, exactly? Agastya Ah, my boy, my boy, my Agastya.
He looks just like you, Father.
If his mother was alive, she would be most pleased to see such happy, healthy boy.
Your Highness.
I would also like to introduce Miss Osborne.
Ah, Miss Osborne.
I have heard so much about you and your tireless efforts, to secure John's release.
We are indebted to you.
Your Highness, John's release came about because we all played our part.
Walk with me, my son.
You made my dear Kamlavati so very happy when she was alive.
And together, you gave me an heir.
When she was killed, although you were in despair .
.
you found the strength to protect the child.
I wonder if you realise how grateful I am to you.
As a parent, I believe I do.
You alone have the power to insure my family's rule.
August will be raised with a clear eye to his destiny.
Nothing is more important to me.
Then surely, the best course of action would be for you and Chandrika to marry, would it not? Your Highness, I cannot do that.
I understand your fear, but I also believe that August should be raised in a home full of mutual love.
The same love he was born into this world with.
Miss Osborne So this is the woman you have set your heart on? It is.
And I know that we can provide a home and the protection that August requires.
So be it, you have my blessings, John Beecham.
From this day on, this house will belong to Agastya.
May it keep him safe from harm.
It shall be known as Beecham House.
- Goodbye, John Beecham.
- Goodbye Chandrika.
I'm loathed to admit, General, but I am glad you are alive.
High praise from you, indeed.
The dashing John Beecham is indebted to you.
Should I set my army on Samuel Parker also? I have it in hand, mon amore.
I am happy to be recovering in Your Highness's bed.
The more wicked you are, the more irresistible.
Ow! Resistance is futile.
You have proved your loyalty.
Now come get your prize.
Is John Beecham not your top prize? Come now, General, jealousy doesn't become you.
I understand you have plans to return home, to Kalyan? So I can be out of your way forever? Chanchal, you speak as if you will punish me.
I never thought I would be one of those Indian women, happy to raise an Englishman's baby out of wedlock.
But if you do not do the honourable thing and marry me .
.
I will raise this child on my own.
I hope, sir, that I can look forward to your continued business in the future.
I'm sure we'll be doing business.
Thank you very much.
Ah! Chanchal.
Oh.
No, no, no, no, no.
Erm Ah, you, you Take this for her.
Brother, I've been thinking Might you still be in the market for a partner? Nothing would make me happier.
I could get used to a life in business.
- Fewer bullets than the battlefield.
- Not always.
I wish to start tomorrow.
- I want to learn everything.
- Good.
Tomorrow you will take over running the business - whilst I am away.
- Where are you going? I intend to take Miss Osborne on a trip.
Without a chaperone? Wouldn't that be inappropriate? It would be absolutely inappropriate.
- Almost there.
- Where are you taking me? Somewhere very special that I've wanted to show you for a long time.
We're here.
John, it's breathtaking.
The greatest monument to the greatest thing of which human beings are capable of .
.
love.
I always dreamed I would see the Taj Mahal.
- But I never thought that - Miss Margaret Osborne.
You are living proof of God's glory and the preciousness of existence.
You have given me life again.
And I would be honoured to share that life with you.
Isn't it supposed to be phrased as a question? Will you marry me, Margaret? Is there not supposed to be an answer? Yes.
Why are the gates open? Roko, Roko! What happened? Kya hua, kya hua! We need fresh, clean bandages! - Quickly! Bring bandages! - Daniel.
Good God.
- Brother! - What has happened? We don't know.
They came dressed as servants.
There has been a tragedy Where is August? Where is my son? - Mother! Mother, what has happened? - The baby's gone! - What has happened? - He's been taken! - Taken by who? - I don't know! Brother! We have to find them! Baadal! Be careful.
Be careful
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