THE INDIAN TOMB
This is the palace of Maharaja Chandra,
ruler over life and death in Eschnapur.
All appears to be peaceful,
but the calm is deceptive.
Ramigani, the Maharaja's older brother,
is envious of him
and gathers rebellious nobles and priests
to overthrow his brother
and to seize power in Eschnapur.
Chandra, the Maharaja, is unsuspecting.
He's convinced of the loyalty of his brother.
While he feeds his beloved animals
he thinks of the fabulous island palace
and the beautiful dancer Seetha,
whom he called on to dance in the temple of Eschnapur.
In the splendor of the palace
she lives like a bird in a gilded cage.
Chandra offers her the dead Maharani's jewels
to show his love.
He wants to share the throne with her.
But the dancer's heart belongs to another,
the German engineer Harald Berger,
who was hired by Chandra to build schools and hospitals.
He saved Seetha from the claws of a tiger.
Chandra showed his gratitude with a ring.
But their friendship ended with Berger's love for Seetha.
Berger is forced to flee with the beautiful dancer.
Horsemen are sent out to find them and bring them back.
Berger's sister Irene
and her husband Walter Rhode, Berger's colleague,
arrive in Eschnapur.
They become suspicious when Ramigani tells them
that Berger has gone on a tiger hunt.
Chandra has definite plans for Rhode.
I want you to build a tomb for me.
A tomb?
A tomb such as the world has never seen.
You shall have alabaster, the costliest marble,
the finest jewels, jade, rubies, emeralds...
It is to be a tomb for a great love, Mr. Rhode.
I've lost a woman who was very close to...
my heart.
I'm sorry you lost someone
who loved you.
Who said that she loved me?
When I say I lost her, it doesn't mean she's dead.
Then... she's still alive?
One day she will be dead.
To be precise, she'll die when the tomb is completed.
I think I misunderstood you.
May I ask for an explanation, Your Highness?
How do you explain it
when a woman who is loved by a nobleman,
when this woman gives herself...
to a dog!
A man who betrays his friend.
You don't want a tomb, you want an execution site!
That's not in my contract. I will leave at once.
No one leaves Eschnapur without my permission.
Seetha and Berger are caught in a storm.
The wind covers their tracks, the horsemen can't find them.
Exhausted, the two lovers collapse.
Many hours later, after the storm has cleared,
a caravan of peaceful traders
winds its way across the desert.
Sahib, over there.
Ride over and investigate.
His heart's still beating. Hers too.
A foreign devil has escaped from the Maharaja's palace.
He has offended the gods
and stolen from the Prince.
With him
is an Indian woman.
She is not to be harmed.
Whoever turns them over to the Maharaja's soldiers
will receive a reward.
We could do with that. You know our bull has died!
A tomb for a great love...
I won't build it. I won't!
In my contract
it says nothing about an execution site.
And if he forces you?
You can't force someone to participate
in a crime he cannot prevent.
Walter, don't you think you're a bit unrealistic sometimes?
He wouldn't dare harm a European.
Anyone who shelters the foreigner
or helps him escape,
will be sentenced to death.
Their village will be burned to the ground.
Forward!
There... the button's mended.
It doesn't match, but... What are you doing?
I'm mending Harald's clothes,
as far as I can.
Look at this spot. Pencil, of course.
Why is it men always stuff their pockets full of pencils?
Stop pacing up and down like a tiger.
Tiger hunt...
You know...
Everything here seems so strange to me.
You're nervous, Irene.
This heat... Why do you think he's gone?
No letter, no message, nothing.
He knew we were coming.
Don't worry so much.
No...
I have an uncanny feeling.
We've found two strangers.
A white man and a woman? Do you know them?
You're going north?
Then it's better you take them with you.
They need rest. They ran out of water.
It was Allah's will that we found them.
You're right.
It is the custom that they stay
until they're well again.
I hope I'm not disturbing you.
Not at all, madam.
Please.
You may go where you please in the palace.
I want you to feel at home in Eschnapur.
I came to tell you
that my husband can't work for you.
There's no reason.
I asked him to build a monument
to the feelings I have wasted.
It is a tomb for a great love.
A great love...
or a great hate?
In a hundred years, no one will know it was hate.
What will remain is a tomb for a great love.
Can't you forgive this woman?
You can only forgive if you still love.
I no longer love.
I hate.
You hate because you love.
You want revenge because you're jealous.
Excuse my frankness.
Let's talk of other things.
I'm surprised my brother hasn't left a message for me.
I have sent my best horsemen to bring Mr. Berger back.
I trust they will soon find him.
I think I had plans even when I first saw you
in the caravanserai.
I will build a house for us. It won't be a palace.
But every room will be filled with love and affection.
Will we have a little garden? With many flowers.
And a fence so high that fear can't pass over it.
Don't be afraid, Seetha. We're among friends here.
You mustn't do this.
Think of the law of hospitality.
I'm thinking of our bull that died.
It's our duty to serve the Prince.
You aren't.
If anyone asks, I went to visit my brother.
It was a useless conversation.
It's impossible to get through to him.
He's Indian.
Asagara is also Indian. He's accessible.
Walter...
Do you think Harald could be the man
who betrayed the Prince with that woman?
I was asking myself that too,
but he never had affairs.
What if it was more? A real love perhaps?
Harald was always very determined.
We must wait.
Harald. Be quiet.
Sahib, you must flee.
The Maharaja's horsemen will be here soon.
Why?
One of us has brought shame on our community.
He didn't respect hospitality.
Try to reach the canyon. It has many caves.
We've brought you food
and a dress for the woman.
Here's a weapon for you, sahib.
Now hurry. May the gods be with you.
If they escape we'll hang every man, woman and child.
We've found a trail.
Good, keep searching.
You've been warned. You sheltered them.
The village will be burnt down.
Leave the horses!
Get up here, hurry up!
Quick. Let's get into the canyon.
I can't go on. I'm tired.
Wait.
Here's a cave. Come quickly.
Are you sure this is the right track?
Yes, there are freshly broken twigs.
Go on, then.
They're very close.
Lucky the entry is small, it's easy to defend.
O Shiva, savior, preserver...
destroyer...
protectress...
merciful goddess...
You free us from fear.
Creator and ruler of life...
protect us.
I am your servant.
Your servant.
Go up that hill.
Into the canyon.
There's a cave. Check it.
They can't be in there.
There's a spider web in front of it.
They would have destroyed it.
Keep going up the canyon.
We were lucky.
A spider has spun it's web there.
It stopped them.
It's unbelievable! Incredible!
What's the matter? It's outrageous.
Chandra has had the models removed.
No doubt so they won't be damaged.
Nonsense!
What do you mean?
Mr. Asagara, may I ask you something?
If I can answer you.
You must understand...
Do you really believe my brother's gone tiger hunting?
If I were to say I don't believe it
I would be accusing my Prince of lying.
Couldn't you find out something for us?
Who was with him? When did he leave?
Where did he go?
Please, won't you help us?
I will try, Mrs. Rhode.
I hope Mr. Berger is well.
I think it's safe, but we'd better wait till dawn.
What are you doing? I'm hungry, we've not eaten.
You can't eat that.
Shiva has accepted my offerings.
She would be angry with us.
Seetha, Shiva does not have the power to help us.
She sent us the spider.
Seetha!
Harald, leave me my gods.
They are good gods.
I'll get water. Stay here.
Don't worry, Shiva is with me.
No, I want him alive.
Sikhu... Lakma.
Climb down. I must know if he's dead.
Open up!
A message for His Highness from Prince Ramigani.
That thing up there...
is driving me crazy!
I'm glad if the air moves at all.
It's as if...
it had eyes.
But, Irene...
I'm scared.
Oh, I didn't know Mrs. Rhode was here.
Actually, I wanted to speak to Mr. Rhode alone.
I have bad new. My brother?
He was an inexperienced hunter.
To attack a tiger in his lair is dangerous.
Is he... dead?
Yes. How do you know?
I don't believe you.
My shikaris found him.
They buried him where he fell
near the tiger's hunting ground.
Harald... dead.
Yes, he is dead.
Pity.
Irene, have a look at this.
Look at it.
Yes, it's Harald's jacket.
But he didn't wear it on a tiger hunt.
Do you recognize the pencil marks you showed me?
Let me see...
You're right.
The button I sewed on is gone
but there's a piece of the mismatching thread.
They've taken the jacket from the closet.
They're playing a sinister game with us.
Harald is alive.
The crocodiles ate him.
They got to him before the vultures did.
The woman you love has been rescued.
Go on.
We've found the dancer.
Chandra... she was bound hand and foot.
What's your game, Ramigani?
What do you mean, brother?
Are you telling me Seetha...
the dancer left Eschnapur against her will?
As a prisoner?
Why else would we have found her bound?
I was surprised too.
I thought she was a traitor, but now...
Ramigani, I fear it is your love for me
that makes you lie.
You want to save my heart. I thank you.
Do you want to see her? No.
What else? A messenger is waiting.
He's from Padhu. The old devil's coming.
Where is he? In your quarters.
He came disguised as a merchant.
What have you brought? Prince Padhu sends me.
He's determined to take revenge on Chandra.
He supports you for the throne of Eschnapur.
What does the Raja suggest? His army is at the border.
And an elite corps
is on its way to the city.
They will arrive in a few days as merchants.
Too early. I have yet to win over the priests.
I need Dagh, Chandra's general.
How much do we need to bribe him?
He served under the Maharaja's father.
He contributed to Ramigani being passed over
in favor of Chandra.
There are other ways... Not against Dagh.
His troops are loyal to him. Using force is dangerous.
Go now. Let no one see you.
The court is mostly on our side.
I control the guard.
General Dagh supports Chandra.
The priests are still undecided.
I need a grievance, Bhowana. The dancer on the throne.
But Chandra can't make up his mind.
His heart is still full of doubt.
Wise man...
You used to be wealthy and powerful.
You followed Buddha's path and became a penitent.
I come to you
as you possess more than all the treasures of India.
I can no longer read the signs.
The gods won't answer.
Perhaps the gods don't want to answer you.
Your selfishness blinds you.
My heart is burdened. I cannot find peace.
I seek the truth.
No. You're not looking for the truth.
You're looking for someone to betray it with you
so that you're not alone on your way into darkness.
Bring me water, Samisi. I am thirsty.
He is humble.
Humility and renunciation
are the keys to peace and happiness.
He will receive both.
I cannot renounce the world. And I don't want to!
Give me a word of consolation. Even if my way is not right.
Pray to the gods for me. I can't any more.
You abandon the gods yet call on them for help?
Go now, Chandra. I can't help you.
Nor can I see your way.
It is night in Eschnapur.
I can't explain it.
I've been making inquiries.
They say Seetha is a prisoner in the palace.
Of Mr. Berger they only know that the shikaris found him,
killed by a tiger.
The jacket proves the Prince is lying!
Even... my friendship to you and Mr. Berger
doesn't give me the right to doubt His Highness.
Please go to the Prince and tell him I want to see him.
Prince Chandra has left. I don't believe you!
Don't blame me.
Please believe me, I am a friend of Mr. Berger.
I am a friend of you both.
I believe you, Mr. Asagara.
But why do you think we are being deceived?
It is possible...
that my friend Berger is still alive...
a prisoner.
But that he's supposed to be dead, because...
Why?
Because there are other plans for him.
May I retire now, Mr. Rhode?
I'm very tired. Good night.
Good night Mrs. Rhode. Good night.
I have had a basket of fresh mangoes brought to your room.
Thank you, Mr. Asagara.
I don't trust him.
I trust no one here.
I think he really likes us.
But he's torn between his loyalty for the Prince
and the desire to help us.
I know you're sad, Seetha.
The foreigner saved your life
and he loved you.
Be smart, Seetha. Forget him.
Chandra still loves you.
He's been lonely since the Maharani died.
The gods chose you to be by his side.
Don't talk to me of the gods, Ramigani.
You don't believe in them and I no longer fear them.
He to whom my heart belongs was right.
The gods are bad.
I've lied to my brother.
I told him the foreigner forced you to flee.
I love my brother. I don't want his heart to be wounded.
I want to help you, Seetha.
Trust me.
Mr. Asagara, do you know where my husband is?
Yes, Mrs. Rhode. Mr. Berger was right.
A wall on the lake gave way.
Now we have crocodiles in the storerooms.
Tell me, Mr. Asagara...
Is there news about my brother?
I asked many people.
Often I felt they knew something
but won't tell me.
I would love to help you,
but how?
Perhaps the dancer... She's closely guarded.
No one would leave her rooms alive.
Not even I.
If you'll excuse me now,
Mr. Rhode wants to inspect the foundations of the palace
and needs Mr. Berger's drawings of the tunnels.
WOMEN'S QUARTERS
The dancer is a daughter of the temple.
She has broken its laws and offended the gods.
Only they can decide if she's guilty or not.
She must submit to the judgment.
I respect you, Yama
but the dancer is innocent.
It is unjust for her to be judged by the gods.
If the dancer is guilty, she will die.
If the goddess thinks her pure, she will live.
As far as I can remember,
no one has ever survived this judgment.
Thus they were all guilty.
What if Chandra refuses to accept this?
Chandra is wise. He knows the power of the gods
and their servants.
It is good for the Prince to respect the temple's power.
I don't understand.
My brother Ramigani tells me the dancer is innocent.
So it would be cruel to have her judged by the gods.
It is not me who calls for a judgment.
It is the Goddess herself.
If your heart was not full of doubt,
why would you be afraid of a god's judgment?
Do you want to marry a woman
who may have belonged to a detestable foreigner?
Beware, Yama.
What would your nights be like, Chandra?
With your heart tortured by suspicion.
Perhaps you will pass judgment on her yourself one day.
How will you know you don't punish an innocent then?
Only the Goddess knows the truth.
And you will have certainty.
You have been accused of grave offences, Seetha.
We, the servants of the temple, can't see inside your heart.
Only she, the sublime Goddess...
the merciful...
the just.
We serve her, as you too swore to serve her.
Not we,
she will judge over you.
Your dance often pleased her.
Perhaps this time
it will make her have mercy on you.
The curse of the Goddess will be upon you, Chandra.
You too must obey her.
The dancer must die.
I still govern Eschnapur, priest.
General Dagh, Bhowana, take her back to the palace.
Ramigani...
Have gold distributed, and announce
that Eschnapur will have a new Maharani.
His Highness, Maharaja Chandra of Eschnapur,
Raja of Peshawar and Utar, Gackwar of Dahlor,
proclaims that he has chosen a new Maharani
after consulting the gods.
Prince Chandra's heart is filled with love and joy
and it is his wish
that the people of Eschnapur share in his joy.
I seem fated to always save you from misfortune, Seetha.
I can't even allow the gods
to decide on your life and my happiness.
How beautiful you are.
I need your love, Seetha.
You know how much I desire you.
Destroy the doubts that torment me.
Did you love the foreigner?
Yes.
I did love him.
And I love him beyond his death.
It wasn't the gods, Chandra.
You killed him.
And I hate you for it.
I told the people of Eschnapur that you will be the Maharani.
You will share the throne with me,
for one day.
Look!
There will be a tomb like no other.
And you will be immured alive within it!
From this window you will watch it grow
and you will know the hour of your death is approaching.
No death can be as cruel as life by your side.
I will never by your Maharani.
I will shout from the rooftops
that you are a murderer and I hate you!
No one will hear you
because I will have the tongue burnt from your throat.
What are you doing?
Tell me, do you know what this means?
Cave of lepers.
That's another of Chandra's inventions.
All those thought to be lepers have been isolated.
Isn't that logical?
Isolated is a mild description.
He's crammed them together in a cave
where they die one by one because there is no doctor.
But the streets are clean.
Oh yes, no sick people there!
But he hired you to build hospitals.
Yes. And now, this tomb.
Tell me, Walter...
Don't you think the dancer would know the truth?
Asagara says it's impossible to get to her.
He's probably right.
Chandra has banished me from his presence,
because I deceived him.
There is blood in his eyes.
I warn you.
It is not good to live without a tongue.
No torture could force me to live by his side.
Perhaps there is something...
Do you know this ring?
Stolen from a dead man.
Taken from a prisoner.
Tomorrow you will tell Chandra that you will be his Maharani.
No, never. You will.
Or every morning, I will bring you
one of your beloved's fingers.
He has ten...
and two eyes...
That's another two days.
You're lying.
He's dead.
Do you want to see him?
Send away the guards until further orders.
Harald!
If you're not quiet, he will suffer for it.
Damn it!
The day you take your place at Chandra's side,
the foreign sahib will be taken safely to the border.
You don't have much time.
Remember, a man has only so many fingers.
I'm Harald's sister.
Where's my brother? Is he alive?
Yes. Is he here in the palace?
The guard!
I will post two more guards who are loyal to me.
Make sure she doesn't do anything stupid.
I know that Ramigani is serious.
That's why I will do what he wants of me.
And then I will die,
when I know that Harald has left Eschnapur alive.
We will find a way to escape, all of us.
Where do they keep him? I'm not sure.
We went through many underground passages.
A walk of about twenty minutes.
But I don't know in what direction.
We have a friend, an architect who knows the palace well.
He's Harald's friend. He will help us.
I hear you spend a lot of time in the servants' quarters
asking a lot of questions, questions about certain people.
I remember one of my ancestors had a servant
whose obedience was doubtful.
He had him tied between two boards
which he then had sawn in two.
I'm watching you, Asagara.
Remember that, and watch what you say and do.
Go now.
We must try. There's no other way.
I need a doctor. I'm sick.
I will inform His Highness. He will send one.
Help me carry her back in.
The dancer would marry the Maharaja
to save Harald's life.
There's something wrong.
Ramigani can't risk setting Harald free.
He can't have any witnesses to his deceit.
Harald is only safe
as long as Ramigani can use him to pressure the dancer.
That is, only until the time
she agrees to marry the Maharaja.
They walked for 20 minutes? Yes, approximately.
Main gate, south wall... no,
there are no stairs. Stables, tiger court...
Too far...
She said stairs, didn't she? Yes, and the walls were wet.
It can only be... here.
In this circle, that's where we must look for him.
Did she mention a guard? No.
Look, Irene, our chances are pretty slim.
We can't count on any help.
What can we do? If we find him...
we flee immediately. A well planned escape.
It can only succeed if we are very quick.
An explosion in the right spot
should cause enough confusion to give us a head start.
Good morning, Mr. Asagara. Good morning, Mem-sahib.
Why are you so formal today, Mr. Asagara?
Sahib, His Highness will be here soon.
Mr. Rhode, I...
I hope I'm not disturbing you.
Not at all, Your Highness.
I was just working on some figures.
The water pressure on the palace wall is a problem.
Yes, we'll have to do something.
Tell me, Mr. Rhode, what would you say...
I mean...
Would you still be concerned about your contract
if I told you that the woman
for whom you are to build a tomb
is to share the throne of Eschnapur with me today?
Your Highness...
If this woman will share the throne with you,
why do you need a tomb?
We all die one day, Mr. Rhode.
And I don't know if I can get another brilliant architect.
In that case, I have no problems with the contract.
But I'm worried about the foundations of the palace.
There is a grave danger. Do whatever is necessary.
Take all the workers and material that you need.
Repair the damage.
This cave is directly below the main gate.
I'll deposit most of the dynamite here.
Five crates here,
under the guards' quarters.
The rest is already at the weakest spot,
the thin lake wall.
Thanks. We'll take the batteries.
If it goes off, good night!
We wouldn't need to find an escape route.
That damned screw is loose.
There. Give me some wire.
Won't it rust down here? No, the wire's insulated.
Maybe you should grease the ends a bit.
But I don't know much about it.
I also don't understand why you need dynamite down here.
Most of the tunnels have been dug through the rock.
With controlled explosions, the collapsed rubble
can be reinforced with cement and serve to secure the tunnel.
I hope I didn't scare you, Mrs. Rhode.
Did you see where he came from?
No.
Mr. Asagara!
Tell me, Mr. Asagara...
Do you know when His Highness came down here?
No, sahib. He just came from a tunnel over there.
Thank you.
So, he came from over there.
Do you think he came from...
Maybe.
Look at this, Irene.
I've thought about it.
There's only two possibilities. Either here or there.
We'll each have to search separately.
Whether we find him... we can only hope.
Since I'm following your wishes keep your promise, Ramigani.
Tell the white sahib that he will be free.
I don't want his suffering to be prolonged.
I will do as you please.
I'll keep my word.
The dancer wants the foreigner's suffering to end.
Go to him and end it.
And when you're finished,
remember the crocodiles are always hungry.
It's the dancer's fault Chandra despises me.
Her influence won't last.
The temple is respected.
Like a tidal wave, the anger of the people will swell.
The day will come... I can't wait that long.
Is General Dagh with us? It's doubtful.
And the soldiers are loyal to him. The danger's there.
I wouldn't rush things.
Don't underestimate
the power of the priests.
Don't underestimate Chandra's stupidity.
Can you get some of our men into the palace unnoticed?
Yes, through the underground passages.
That's the initial surprise. The rest will follow.
We have brought elephants into the city.
There is no gate that can withstand them.
My only worry is... Dagh.
You take care of him, Ramigani.
He's your problem.
To be Maharaja,
you have to do something for your country.
General Dagh...
My concern for Eschnapur forces me to do this.
Neither the people nor the priests will accept it.
A temple dancer, the mistress of a European.
What would be my part in this?
It is smaller than the reward.
I want the loyalty of the army.
No participation,
just the necessary inaction at the crucial time.
As long as I carry a sword
there will be no rebellion.
Irene, could you pass me those tables?
How stupid of me. I must have left it upstairs.
Mr. Asagara, would you... Certainly, I'll get them.
Where are they?
You'll have to look. Where did you put them?
I'll find them.
I'll bring you a warm jacket.
Thank you, Mr. Asagara.
Quick!
Here's the plan. Now listen...
I'll take the left tunnel and you the right.
Whenever you change direction
indicate it with an arrow.
Harald?
Harald!
Help, Walter!
Asagara!
Help!
Walter!
Miss Irene, come this way!
Run straight ahead.
Quick, they're coming!
Mr. Asagara!
Irene!
My God, Irene, what happened?
Asagara's in that tunnel. He...
Walter, I saw Harald.
But he disappeared.
You must have imagined it. No, I'm sure.
Calm down, Irene.
Irene...
You can't go into the palace.
It's full of guards. You're safe here.
I must do something. Seetha is suffering.
But she's not in danger right now.
And you're free now.
There's no time.
Ramigani will find out and search for us.
He knows I'll help Seetha so he'll closely guard her.
You're in greater danger.
It won't help her if...
Wait...
Ramigani and Padhu, the dead Maharani's brother.
What's going on?
I'll find out. You stay here.
We've tried to make him reconsider.
We have no choice.
To avoid a revolution in Eschnapur,
we have to intervene.
I didn't think he would let it come to this.
The gods have abandoned him.
The priests cannot follow his blasphemous path.
Wait.
His Highness, Maharaja Chandra of Eschnapur,
Raja of Peshawar and Utar,
Gackwar of Dahlor proclaims
that he has chosen a new Maharani.
It is the will of the gods. No!
The gods were not consulted.
It is against their will
and against the will of the priests.
Priest! There is but one will in Eschnapur,
as you will find out.
You have transgressed.
You are unworthy to rule Eschnapur.
Your Highness!
Foreign horsemen are attacking the palace guards.
Your reign is over, Chandra.
Surrender, lay down your arms.
Tie him up!
My hour has come, Chandra.
Take him to the tiger court!
That's the chain my sister wore.
Little dove...
I love beautiful women,
but if they cause trouble I take care of them my way.
Bhowana, take four of my soldiers.
Take her to her quarters.
I'll have your head if she escapes.
The dancer belongs to the temple.
We had an agreement regarding the dancer.
I said... this is my hour. Do as I commanded.
You can have both when I'm finished with them.
Chandra...
Your darlings... They're waiting for you.
You're proud, Chandra.
But I will break your pride.
Go on! Flog him till he...
Surrender! The rebellion has been crushed.
We have taken back the palace.
Lay down your arms.
Harald...
Seetha.
Go back to the holy books, Samisi.
Someone has come who will take your place.
He has renounced the world
and is humbly searching for peace.
I no longer need you.
I am thirsty.
Bring me water, Chandra.