I've only a hundred guineas left to give you...
...for I lost the rest at cards.
Kiss me, me boy, for we'll never meet again.
It is well to dream of glorious war in a snug armchair.
It is a different thing to see it first hand.
After his friend's death, Barry's thoughts turned from military glory...
...to those of escaping the Service...
...to which he was tied for six years.
Gentlemen talk of the Age of Chivalry...
...but remember the ploughmen, poachers and pickpockets they lead.
It is with these sad instruments great warriors and kings...
...have been doing their murderous work in the world.
Barry could not have fallen into worse circumstances...
...than those in which he found himself.
But fate did not intend he should remain long an English soldier.
An accident occurred...
...which took him out of the Service in a rather singular manner.
Freddie, I hope you won't be angry with me, but...
...l've got something to tell you which you won't be happy about.
What is it?
First, promise me you'll keep your temper.
Jonathan, don't be an ass! You're making a big mystery of it.
What is going on?
I have to go away again.
For about two weeks.
Oh, God, you're not serious?
I am. There's nothing I can do about it.
Where to this time?
To Bremen, carrying important despatches to Prince Henry.
But you promised me last time it would be never again.
I know. And I've kept my part of the bargain, but...
...Pontersby insists I'm the only one who can be entrusted with the trip.
Here was the opportunity to escape from the Army for which he had been searching.
It was only a few miles to the area occupied by their Prussian allies...
...where this Officer's uniform and papers...
...should allow him to travel without suspicion...
...and to stay ahead of the news of his desertion.
Then, we'll have little time together.
Are you cross with me?
Damn you, I can't stay cross with you for long.
Oh, Jonathan...
...at times like this I realize how much I care for you...
...and how empty life would be without you.
Frederick!
Barry was glad to see the uniforms of the Prussian Infantry.
They showed him that he was out of English occupied territory.
His intention was to make for Holland...
...almost the only neutral country in Europe, in those times...
...and thence to get a passage home, somehow.
As he rode away...
...Barry felt he was now in his proper sphere.
And determined never again to fall from the rank of a gentleman.
Excuse me, miss.
Yes.
Good day.
Do you speak English?
I'm speaking little.
I have not eaten all day, no food.
Is there an inn nearby where I might have a meal?
No... I don't think so.
There is nothing to eat before Grünberg.
Do you live near here?
Yes.
Would you... feed me? I'd be happy to pay you.
I think so.
Is it a boy or girl?
A boy.
What's his name?
Peter.
How old is he?
He's one year old.
Where is Peter's father?
Where he is?
Yes.
In the war.
How long has he been gone?
Sorry... I didn't understand.
What?
Oh! A long time.
Since springtime.
It must be hard for you to be alone.
It is.
It must be dangerous for you in the war.
I'm an Officer and must do my duty.
You are sometimes...
...lonely?
Sometimes.
What did you say your name is?
Lieutenant Fakenham.
No, I mean...
...what is the name before Fakenham?
My first name?
Jonathan.
Would you like...
...to stay with me?
For a few days, or sometimes?
That would be very nice.
Goodbye, my beautiful Lischen.
Goodbye, Redmond.
I love you.
Look after yourself.
God be with you.
A lady who sets her heart on a lad in uniform...
...must be prepared to change lovers pretty quickly...
...or her life will be a sad one.
This heart of Lischen's was like many a neighboring town...
...that had been stormed and occupied many times before Barry came to invest it.
During five years of war...
...the illustrious Frederick had so exhausted the males of his kingdom...
...that he had to employ recruiters...
...who would commit any crime, including kidnapping...
...to keep supplied those brilliant regiments of his with cannon fodder.
Good evening, sir.
I'm Captain Potzdorf. To whom have I the honour of speaking?
Good evening. I'm Lieutenant Fakenham, Gale's Regiment of Foot.
Pleased to meet you.
Can we be of assistance to you?
Thank you, but I am carrying urgent despatches and must continue on my way.
And your destination?
Bremen.
Then you're obviously lost, Lieutenant.
Bremen is in the opposite direction.
Are you sure?
Yes.
Wouldn't you know it!
My departure was so hasty that my orderly forgot to prepare proper maps.
I understand.
Please, do not be offended, Lieutenant...
...but are you carrying your identity papers?
Yes, of course.
May I see them?
Of course.
Thank you.
Thank you, Lieutenant, I hope I haven't inconvenienced you.
Not at all.
Now that we are riding in the same direction...
...may I offer you a meal and a bed for the night...
...and a proper map for the journey?
That's kind of you, Captain. I'd be honoured to accept.
Barry was treated with great civility...
...and was asked questions about England.
He answered as best he could, inventing many stories.
He described the King and Ministers...
...boasted that the British Ambassador in Berlin was his uncle...
...and even offered Potzdorf a letter of introduction.
His host seemed satisfied with these stories.
But, he led Barry on with a skillful combination of questions...
...and flattery.
I know so little of your country of England...
...except that you are the bravest nation in the world...
...and that we are fortunate to have such allies.
Lieutenant Fakenham...
...let us drink to the friendship of our two great nations.
To our two great nations.
Aren't you lucky, going to Bremen tomorrow?
I know one of the loveliest women in Europe there.
Would you take a letter to her?
Certainly.
By the way, to whom are you carrying your despatches?
General Williamson.
General Williamson?
General Percival Williamson?
Yes, the same.
This man is under arrest.
Under arrest? Captain Potzdorf, sir...
...l'm a British Officer.
You're a liar and an imposter.
You're a deserter.
I suspected you this morning. Your lies and folly have confirmed this.
You pretend to carry despatches to a General, dead these ten months.
You say the British Ambassador in Berlin...
...is your uncle, with the ridiculous name of O'Grady.
Now, will you join and take the bounty, or be given up?
I volunteer.
The Prussian Service was worse than the English.
The life of a Private Soldier was frightful.
Punishment was incessant. Every Officer had the right to inflict it.
The gauntlet was a common penalty for minor offences.
More serious ones were punishable by mutilation or death.
At the close of the Seven Years' War the army...
...renowned for its disciplined valour, was officered by native Prussians.
But it was mostly composed...
...of men from the lowest levels of humanity...
...hired or stolen from every nation in Europe.
Thus, Barry fell into the worst company...
...and was soon far advanced in the science of every kind of misconduct.
Help.
Get me out of here.
The Colonel's speech declared the King's satisfaction...
...with the conduct of the Regiment at the Battle of Audorf...
...and with Corporal Barry's bravery in rescuing Captain Potzdorf...
...which was to be rewarded with the sum of two frederick d'or.
Corporal Barry, eight paces forward...
...march!
Corporal Barry.
You're a gallant soldier, and evidently of good stock...
...but you're idle and unprincipled.
You're a bad influence on the men.
And for all your bravery, I'm sure you'll come to no good.
I hope the Colonel is mistaken.
I have fallen into bad company, but I've only done as other soldiers do.
I've never had a friend or protector before...
...to show that I was worthy of better things.
The Colonel may say I'm ruined, and send me to the Devil.
But, I would go to the Devil to serve the Regiment.
Corporal Barry, fall in.
The war ended and Barry's regiment was garrisoned in the Capital.
He had, for some time, ingratiated himself with Captain Potzdorf...
...whose confidence in him was about to bring its reward.
Good morning, Redmond.
Good morning, Captain.
I should like you to meet my uncle, the Minister of Police.
Good morning, Herr Minister.
Redmond...
...l've spoken to the Minister regarding your services and your fortune is made.
We shall get you out of the Army...
...appoint you to the Police Bureau, and, in time...
...we'll allow you to move in a better sphere.
Thank you, Captain.
Your loyalty to me and service to the Regiment has pleased me.
Now there is another occasion on which you can assist us.
If you succeed...
...your reward will be secure.
I'll do my best, sir.
There is a gentleman in Berlin in the service of the Empress of Austria.
He calls himself the Chevalier de Balibari.
He appears to be a professional gambler.
He's a libertine:
Fond of women, of good food...
...polished, obliging.
He speaks French and German indifferently.
But we have reason to fancy that Monsieur de Balibari...
...is a native of your country of Ireland.
And that he has come here as a spy.
Your knowledge of English...
...makes you an ideal choice to go into his service...
...and find out whether or not he is a spy.
Does this assignment interest you?
Minister, I'm interested in anything that can be of service to you...
...and Captain Potzdorf.
You will not know a word of English.
If the Chevalier remarks on your accent, say you are Hungarian.
You served in the war.
You left the Army for medical reasons...
...then served Monsieur de Quellenberg for two years.
He's now with the Army in Silesia, but you'll have a certificate from him.
Good morning, Your Honour.
So you are the young man recommended by Seebach.
Yes, Your Honour, here are my credentials.
Your name is Lazlo Zilagy?
Yes, Your Honour.
Monsieur de Quellenberg recommends you highly.
Monsieur is a very good man.
It was imprudent of him...
...but when Barry saw the Chevalier's splendour...
...and noble manner...
...he felt unable to keep disguise with him.
Those who have never been exiled...
...know not what it is to hear a friendly voice in captivity...
...and would not understand the cause...
...of the burst of feeling now about to take place.
You seem the right one to me.
Thank you, Your Honour.
Are you ill?
Sir...
...I have a confession to make to you.
I'm an Irishman.
My name is Redmond Barry.
I was abducted into the Prussian Army.
Now I've been put into your service...
...by my Captain Potzdorf and his uncle, the Minister of Police...
...to serve as a watch upon your... actions...
...and to give information to them.
The Chevalier was much affected at thus finding one of his countrymen.
For he too was an exile.
And a friendly voice, a look...
...brought the old country back to his memory.
He is very religious and attends church regularly.
After Mass he comes home for breakfast.
He then takes an airing in his carriage.
Barry presented his reports regularly to the Minister.
The details were arranged beforehand with the Chevalier.
He was instructed to tell the truth...
...as much as his story would possibly bear.
The information he gave was very minute and accurate...
...though not very important.
Wine or punch, Your Honour?
Wine.
It was agreed that Barry should keep his character of valet.
That, before strangers, he should not know a word of English.
And that he should keep a lookout on the trumps when serving the wine.
Having excellent eyesight...
...and a natural aptitude...
...he was able to give his dear patron much assistance...
...against his opponents at the green table.
Lf, for instance, he wiped the table with a napkin...
...the enemy was strong in Diamonds.
If he adjusted a chair it meant Ace King.
If he said, "Punch or wine, My Lord?"...
...Hearts were meant, and so forth.
The Prince of Tübingen...
...who had intimate connections with the Great Frederick...
...was passionately fond of play as were the gentlemen...
...of almost all the Courts of Europe.
You owe 15,500 frederick d'or.
Chevalier...
...though I cannot say how...
...I believe you have cheated me.
I deny Your Grace's accusation...
...and beg you to say how you have been cheated.
I don't know.
But I believe I have been.
Your Grace owes me 15,500 frederick d'or...
...which I have honourably won.
Chevalier...
...if you will have your money now you must fight for it.
If you will be patient...
...maybe I will pay you something another time.
Your Grace, if I am to be so tame as to take this...
...then I must give up an honourable and lucrative occupation.
I have said all there is to be said.
I am at your disposal for whatever purposes you wish.
Good night.
Was the Prince cheated?
In as far as I am able to tell, Herr Minister, no.
I believe he won the money fairly.
What are the Chevalier's intentions?
I'm not sure.
The Prince told him that if he wanted his money he'd have to fight for it.
A meeting with the Prince is impossible.
The Prince has left him no other choice.
Will you be able to return here tomorrow without arousing suspicion?
I know they won't allow a meeting with the Prince.
But if I say that, do you know any reason why he'll pay me what he owes?
You must tell them I intend to demand satisfaction.
Don't look so downcast, my boy.
They cannot harm me, the Austrian Embassy will see to that.
The worst they can do is send me out of this dreary country of theirs.
If they should, don't worry...
...you shall not be left behind.
Have no fear of that.
The King has determined to send the Chevalier out of the country.
Has he already demanded satisfaction?
Not yet, but I believe he intends to...
...possibly today.
Then this must be done tomorrow.
All the arrangements are made.
You said he takes a drive after breakfast every day.
Yes, sir.
Is there any reason he should do any different tomorrow?
No, sir.
Good.
When the Chevalier comes out to his carriage in the morning...
...two Officers will meet him and escort him to the frontier.
His baggage will be sent after him.
Excellent.
At ten o'clock the next morning...
...the Chevalier de Balibari...
...went out for his regular morning drive.
Where's my servant, Lazlo?
I will let down the steps, Your Honour.
What is this about?
Please get inside.
Am I under arrest?
We're driving to the frontier.
Frontier? But I'm on my way to the Austrian Ambassador's house.
My orders are to escort you to the frontier...
...and see you safely across the border.
But, I'm not going to the frontier.
I have very important business at the Austrian Ambassador's house.
My orders are to take Your Honour to the frontier by any means necessary.
If you come willingly...
...l'm to give you this purse on behalf of the Prince of Tübingen...
...containing 2,000 frederick d'or.
All Europe shall hear of this.
And so, without papers or passport...
...and under the eyes of two Prussian Officers...
...Barry was escorted across the frontier into Saxony and freedom.
The Chevalier himself had uneventfully crossed the frontier the night before.
By these wonderful circumstances, Barry was once more free...
...and began his professional work as a gamester...
...resolving, thenceforward and forever, to live the life of a gentleman.
The four wins.
Soon he and the Chevalier were received in all the Courts of Europe...
...and were speedily...
...in the very best society where play was patronized...
...and professors of that science always welcome.
The seven.
Why not the seven?
All... all, yes.
No more bets.
Number seven...
...loses.
Place your bets.
Chevalier, will you give me credit for 5,000 louis d'or, please?
Of course, Lord Ludd.
Five thousand.
Now, everything on the four.
Yes, I know, everything on the four.
No more bets.
The four loses.
It is not important.
Now, I'm weary.
I would like dinner. Shall we?
Excuse me, Lord Ludd.
If you don't mind.
Not at all.
They always played on credit with any person of honour or noble lineage.
They never pressed for their winnings...
...or declined to receive promissory notes.
But woe to the man who did not pay when the note became due.
Barry was sure to wait upon him with his bill.
There were few bad debts.
Salute.
It was Barry's skill with the sword, and readiness to use it...
...that maintained the reputation of the firm, so to speak.
On guard!
I will pay you today, sir.
Thus, it will be seen, their life...
...for all its splendour, was not without danger and difficulty...
...requiring talent and determination for success.
And required them to live a wandering and disconnected life.
And, though they were swimming upon the high tide of fortune...
...and prospering with the cards, they had little to show for their labour...
...but some fine clothes and a few trinkets.
Five years in the Army, and considerable experience of the world...
...had dispelled any romantic notions regarding love...
...with which Barry commenced life.
And he had it in mind, as many gentlemen had done before him...
...to marry a woman of fortune and condition.
And, as such things so often happen...
...these thoughts coincided with his setting sight upon a lady...
...who will play a considerable part in the drama of his life.
The Countess of Lyndon...
...Viscountess Bullingdon of England...
...Baroness Castle Lyndon of Ireland.
A woman of vast wealth and great beauty.
She was the wife of Sir Charles Lyndon...
...Knight of the Bath...
...Minister to George III at several of the Courts of Europe.
A cripple, wheeled about in a chair...
...worn out by gout and a myriad of diseases.
Her Ladyship's Chaplain, Mr. Runt...
...acted as tutor to her son, the little Viscount Bullingdon...
...a melancholy little boy, much attached to his mother.
I'm going outside for a breath of air.
Yes, My Lady.
To make a long story short...
...six hours after they met... Her Ladyship was in love.
And once Barry got into her company...
...he found innumerable occasions to improve his intimacy...
...and was scarcely out of Her Ladyship's sight.
Good evening, gentlemen.
Sir Charles.
Good evening, Mr. Barry.
Have you done with my Lady?
Pardon?
Come, sir. I'm a man who would rather be known as a cuckold than a fool.
I think, Sir Charles, that you've had too much to drink.
What?
As it happens, your Chaplain, Mr. Runt, introduced me to your Lady...
...to advise me on a religious matter, of which she is an expert.
He wants... to step into my shoes.
He wants to step into my shoes.
Is it not a pleasure for me, as I am drawing near the goal...
...to find my home such a happy one...
...my wife so fond of me, that she is even now thinking of appointing a successor?
Isn't it a comfort to see her like a prudent housewife...
...getting everything ready for my departure?
I hope you're not thinking of leaving us, Sir Charles?
Not so soon as you may fancy, perhaps.
I've been given over many times these four years.
And there was always a candidate or two...
...waiting to apply for the situation.
I'm sorry for you, Mr. Barry.
It grieves me to keep you or any gentleman waiting.
Had you not better arrange with my doctor...
...or have the cook flavour my omelette with arsenic, eh?
What are the odds, gentlemen, that I live to see Mr. Barry hang yet?
Sir, let those laugh that win.
Gentlemen.
I'll get a surgeon.
Have some brandy, Sir Charles.
From a report in The Saint James' Chronicle:
"Died at Spa in Belgium...
"...Sir Charles Reginald Lyndon...
"...Knight of the Bath, Member of Parliament...
"...and for many years...
"...His Majesty's Representative at various European Courts.
"He has left behind him a name which is endeared to all his friends."
"Dearly beloved...
"...we are gathered together here in the sight of God...
"...and in the face of this congregation...
"...to join together this man and this woman in holy matrimony."
A year later, on the fifteenth of June...
...in the year 1773...
...Redmond Barry had the honour to lead to the altar the Countess of Lyndon.
The ceremony was performed by the Reverend Runt, Her Ladyship's Chaplain.
"And therefore is not in any way to be enterprised...
"...nor taken in hand unadvisedly...
"...lightly or wantonly...
"...to satisfy men's carnal lusts and appetites...
"...like brute beasts that have no understanding.
"But reverently...
"...discreetly...
"...advisedly...
"...soberly...
"...and in the fear of God.
"Duly considering the causes for which matrimony was ordained.
"First...
"...it was ordained for the procreation of children to be brought up...
"...in the fear and nurture of the Lord, and to the praise of His holy name.
"Secondly...
"...it was ordained for a remedy against sin, and to avoid fornication."
Barry had now arrived at the pitch of prosperity...
...and by his own energy had raised himself to a higher sphere of society...
...having procured His Majesty's gracious permission to add the name...
...of his lovely Lady to his own.
Thenceforth, Redmond Barry assumed the style...
...and title of Barry Lyndon.
Redmond, would you mind not smoking for a while?
Lady Lyndon was soon destined to occupy a place in Barry's life...
...not very much more important than the elegant carpets and pictures...
...which would form the pleasant background of his existence.
My Lord Bullingdon, you seem particularly glum today?
You should be happy that your mother has remarried.
Not in this way.
And not in such haste.
And certainly not to this man.
I think you judge your mother too harshly.
Do you not like your new father?
Not very much.
He seems to me little more than a common opportunist.
I don't think he loves my mother at all.
And it hurts me to see her make such a fool of herself.
At the end of a year Her Ladyship presented Barry with a son.
Bryan Patrick Lyndon, they called him.
Her Ladyship and Barry lived, after a while, pretty separate.
She preferred quiet, or to say the truth, he preferred it for her...
...being a great friend to a modest and tranquil behaviour in woman.
Besides, she was a mother, and would have great comfort...
...in the dressing, educating and dandling of their little Bryan.
For whose sake it was fit, Barry believed...
...that she should give up the pleasures and frivolities of the world...
...leaving that part of the duty of every family of distinction...
...to be performed by him.