Ripped By mstoll
(Insects chirping)
Oh...
(Groans)
CYNTHIA: It's cocktail time! - (Cheering)
Who's got a head for heights?
(Laughter)
Oh, here he is. My champion jockey.
Come on, tell us what you think.
Come on, Whelan. First of the night. Down it goes!
CYNTHIA: Well? - (Coughs) Jesus.
(Raucous laughter)
This was all Kaiser's idea.
No, no, no. It's memsahib's inspiration.
Yes, but what's it called?
Running Scared, by the look of him.
No. What about First Past the Post?
Or... Winner Takes All? Fortune Favours the Bold?
- Yes, that's a good one. - What's going on?
Well, there was a meeting in Whitehall this morning.
It's their morning, so chances are it's still in session.
And?
Well... And it's to decide on a particular appointment.
- The new Viceroy? - Yeah.
Christ, I haven't heard a peep out of anyone.
Don't panic. Willingdon is gonna be the first to hear, isn't he?
- Which means you'll be second. - No, I imagine, first to hear
will be the appointee himself.
Now stop that. Cut it out.
We've no reason not to feel very bright.
No more talking to Mr McLeod or any of his people, do you hear?
I'm sorry.
They act like they're your friends but, in fact...
What's going on? Are you all right, Percy?
Nosebleed. He gets them all the time, don't you, old fruit?
He's never had one before.
- What are you doing? - Me?
Unpacking.
See all her pretty things?
Where is she?
(Screams) Ralph!
Ralph!
Alice.
- Ralph! - Not all this again.
- Ralph! - Jesus Christ.
- Al? - Ralph!
- Sahib? - Don't be afraid.
I'll have you out of there in no time.
- Where's the damn key? - A fellow changed the locks.
- Open this door. - No.
My wife needs time to rest and recover.
- What have you done to her? - Easy-squeezy.
Breast pocket, left-hand side. Take a look.
Three tickets for The Cathay, tourist class:
Two adults, one sprat, bound for Sydney, Australia.
The boat sails from Bombay first thing on Tuesday.
- Where are the names? - There in black and white.
My wife.
My little boy.
And your little Parsi.
My what?
Dalal. He's a pretty fellow.
Beggars belief we were all so blind to it.
One has to ask why?
Aargh!
(Groans) Hold your horses.
(Groans)
Ralphie?
(Sobs)
They're all making fun of me.
(Moans)
Where's the Parsi now?
There's a room, behind some sort of Tibetan shop on the Mall.
Antiquities and so on.
Cynthia.
(Laughter and applause)
Now, listen.
Who will give me 100 rupees for Mr Ronnie Keane?
WOMAN: Cheap at the price! - He's a little bit scuffed.
Some foxing on the outer cover,
but he's alive and kicking, ladies.
RONNIE: Come on, don't hold back.
- Oh, look, there's someone. - (Laughter)
- Beggars can't be choosers. - (Laughter)
- Is she good for it? - No.
Open this door! Let me out!
(Banging)
Mrs Sparrow, you made good time.
Ralph, I can explain.
Oh, yes.
This man... this man is not fit to be left alone with anyway.
Least of all a woman and child.
You don't have the foggiest notion what this man is.
Now let me tell you...
about the creature to whom you farmed out my sister.
- That's enough. - Dalal is a liar.
No. He's... he's worse than that.
- He's a terrorist. - What?
- He's a traitor. - What are you talking about?
"Be bold in mischief! Dare some mighty crime!"
You think that bomb strike on the Viceroy
was the work of one man on his own? Christ! Not a chance!
I've never heard so much rubbish...
Believe me! He and his brother in mischief Naresh Banerjee
were set to blow us all to hell!
It's true! I swear to God! She knows!
Don't you?
(Whimpers)
It's all right.
Bhupinder, run and fetch the policeman.
Attaboy.
Down the hatch, down the hatch. That's it.
That's it. There we go. Nearly there.
- There. It's all right. - (Coughs)
I can run things from here.
(Lively chatter)
- Sooni. - Wait. Me first.
No, listen. I've heard terrible reports about your brother.
- Yes... he went away last night. - No, he's here in Simla.
He's been detained by the police.
What? On what charge?
- We wish to speak to Dalal. - He's not here at present.
What a silly error on my part.
Aafrin!
Sergeant, I do beg your pardon.
Aafrin!
Brother... let us go.
Come on!
- Get up! - Sooni. Go home.
Say nothing.
Not a word to anyone. Do you understand?
- What are you talking about? - Mr Khan, please. Take her now.
Come. There is nothing to be done here.
I'm sure there's a perfectly sound explanation, sir.
I hope so.
I don't understand.
If he's been arrested, what is he doing up there?
I believe they're being discreet
on account of his position in the service.
But what is he believed to have done?
Don't lose heart, meri jaan.
As yet there is no charge against him.
Tell me.
I hear there were certain political activities.
(Low chatter)
Can I see Mummy now?
See? What did I tell you? It's nothing be scared of.
- Hello. I missed you. - I missed you too.
Right, you hold her tight.
I want you to remember this.
Form a sort of picture of it in your head, if you like.
Muddle's going away on a little trip. Aren't you, Muddle?
- What trip? - Can't we go, Daddy?
Say bye-bye now. Come on, say bye-bye now.
Say bye-bye. Say bye-bye. Say bye-bye.
Off we go. There we go. There we go. There we go.
- Percy. - There we are.
- Bye-bye, Mummy. - Where's Aafrin?
Oh, it's out of our hands now.
(Door slams, key in lock)
Aafrin?
(Alice shouting and banging on door)
(Gramophone on)
(Telephone rings)
Used to do just the same when Percy had trouble sleeping.
(Telephone continues to ring)
Is er... someone going to answer that?
Bhupi.
- Mr Dalal is our friend. - The man is a traitor.
We do what we can to salvage some...
scrap of honour from this mess.
Wake up, Ralph.
You let that piece of shit take over your house.
You sit there hiding in that shirt...
(Groans)
(Music off)
(Alice shouting)
ALICE: Please! - Do you hear that?
- You know what that is? - Please!
That's the sound of your sister losing hope.
(Alice continues shouting)
- What is it, Bhupi? - Sahib.
His Excellency asks you to come to Viceregal Lodge urgently.
Oh, what now?
I believe Whitehall have finally decided
who will be the next Viceroy of India.
My God, who is it?
- I don't know. - Is it you?
- I don't know. - Ralph.
You stay here with Alice. I have to go.
Bhupi, where's the damn rickshaw?
No, wait. Tell the syce.
Better I ride over. More of a statement, yes?
Yes. Now, go.
Five minutes and everything will be done.
Two minutes, I'll be up top.
(Horse whinnies)
- (Servant calms horse) - Good luck, sahib.
One moment.
Not one word.
Sooni. Sooni.
Have you seen your brother anywhere?
- Yes, I was just with him. - Oh, thank God.
Thank God.
Didn't I tell you there must be just some silly mix-up?
But where?
- At work. - There. You see?
Typical. Nose to the grindstone.
But what about the letter, Daddy?
Oh, that old thing.
Do you know what I think happened?
I bet this is what he wrote last year
before he went off on tour.
And I happened to discover it only this morning.
And...
- we all leap, don't we, to... - Yes.
Yes, that's it, Daddy.
Of course.
That must be it.
You've been summoned. Come on.
IAN: Hello? CHARLIE: Hello, hello!
I don't believe we've had the pleasure.
- My name is Havistock. - Ah, Havistock.
- McLeod. - Ah, just the man.
There was a revolutionary by the name of Naresh Banerjee.
And I understand that you took him in for a night or two.
Aye. It's common knowledge. He stole my horse.
Oh. What a rascal. (Chuckles)
Now this fellow...
Do you know him?
Only by sight.
Now I wonder, did you ever...
Did you ever see him out here with Banerjee?
No.
No?
Well...
inquisition over.
Good day, sir.
CHARLIE: Hello, hello.
Now I have... a matching pair of these...
...for anyone who saw this fine fellow.
Now if you'll be so kind as to pass it around.
(Chatter)
Can you send these people home?
I can't do that. What do I tell them?
Tell them you're closed for repairs.
(Glass shatters)
Thank you, Rowntree. This shouldn't take long.
- You two, how long? - What difference does it make?
Let me tell you exactly how long.
One night I was very cold.
I had a bullet, you see, in here.
And all I wanted to do was fall asleep.
But there was this woman and she took my hand.
Three years. Three years you've been living this lie.
It wasn't a lie.
You were deceiving everyone around you. We call it a lie.
Please stop jiggling around.
You're making us feel rather seasick.
You pushed them down this road, gave them a room.
- You're an old pimp! - I did it for your sake, Ralph!
For your reputation.
They couldn't keep their hands off each other.
I just gave them somewhere private to do their... business.
And sending them off to Australia - was that your idea?
It was mine. I had to get Alice out of India.
Away from that man.
You know nothing about this man.
How can you even begin to say that?
Oh, all right. We'll see, shall we?
Kaira Das. You know about her, I suppose?
Yes.
Aafrin?
You and this agitator were lovers, correct?
- Yes. - I know. He told me.
Two years in Bengal, this man - your constant star -
he had her with him every night, yes?
- I know. - And then you stood by -
stood by, while another man put a revolver to her head...
- It wasn't like that. ...shot her through the skull.
Sit down! We're just getting started.
Then Aafrin and this murderer
now plot to blow up half of Simla!
- Ralphie! - I told you. I warned you.
Oh, yes. At the 11th hour.
I did everything I could to stop it.
Try telling that to Douglas Raworth's widow, his two sons.
How are they gonna feel growing up without a father?
Whenever they're suffering or in trouble, or if they do well -
they just do well at something, they'll feel him.
Feel the lack of him, lack of a father.
- You think I don't know that? - This man, he lies and he lies.
- And he lies... - Stop it!
I understand. You loved him, you trusted him. So did I.
Don't... don't... don't cry.
I'm not crying for me. For you.
Don't say that.
You know what my husband is like.
You've seen him.
Tell me. What exactly did you do to stop him?
At least Aafrin did something.
Whereas you, you know,
sometimes I think it suits you to have me stuck here.
Trapped in Chotipool. Your little flower.
While you come and go like some sort of kindly jailor.
Well, I'm sorry.
Maybe I have the right to say, "No, this is not good enough.
I choose something better."
Love, you know, sometimes you have to adjust.
I mean, look at me. I've got his lot in my club, day in day out.
Do I like it? No.
Do I jolly well get on with it? Yes.
Because you've got to, haven't you?
What, Bhupinder?
Sir, they're looking for you high and low.
- His Excellency's waiting. - Right.
Yes? What else?
Memsahib...
Mr Charlie wants... Miss Alice to come home now.
- (Cynthia sighs) - Ralph, don't you see?
He woke me up. And I thought...
"This is him. This is the one."
Don't tell me you never had that feeling.
Not for a long time.
I... We...
...are begging for your help.
Please don't let them hurt him.
It's out of my hands. I'm sorry.
Then what's the point of you?
Wait. Alice.
Goodbye, brother.
Al. Wait. Wait!
You win.
Thank you.
Ah. Rowntree.
- Dalal, sir. - He's up at the clubhouse.
In go you, Singh.
I think I may have led you up the garden path
with regards to an innocent man.
- Too late for that, sir. - What do you mean?
- We've had new information. - What new information?
I'm afraid... I'm not free to say at this point, sir.
- Wait. - Stop it. Mr Dalal.
- What are you doing? - That's right, Sergeant.
Get that babu out of here.
You're to call him sir. He's one of us.
I'm starting to wonder if he ever was.
Now, look here.
No charges are to be made against that man
without my say-so.
Is that understood?
(Explosion-like boom)
(Distant fanfare)
What was that? Are they about to invade?
I imagine it's for the new Viceroy.
(Overlapping conversations)
Aha! Whelan! We've all been hunting high and low.
Have they made an announcement?
Our new leader? Yes. They most certainly have.
So, who is it? Who are we going with?
You actually don't? I beg your pardon,
one assumed you'd be the very first...
Tell me.
- Younger chap. - Yes.
The Marquis of Linlithgow.
At least I think he's younger! Godson to Victoria.
Damn fine choice, by all accounts.
Very.
Any dealings with him yourself?
- Never. - No?
Still, it's what we all need. A new face.
- It will shake things up a bit. - Mm-hm.
He's done fine work in the field of nutrition.
Ah! Cummings!
These two men - you saw them together?
Is she quite certain?
A man's life is in the balance here.
- Tell her. - (Speaks Hindi)
Hah...
These two men. Yes.
But... why didn't you come forward with this months ago?
Oh! Tell her.
Scared witless, I imagine. Poor thing.
Now, will it stand, the statement?
Well, if she stands by it, yes.
Good.
Then we have enough to press charges?
Well, there are questions to be answered.
- Lakshmi. - Oh, hello again.
What are you doing with her?
Well, I'm... trying to interest her in a cream puff.
Come on, Lakshmi. Let's get you home, eh?
Yes, she's been very kind. Tell her. Yes.
And the District Superintendent knows where to find you,
should the need arise.
Come on!
Lakshmi, what did you say to that man?
- Nothing, Mr Ian. - Nothing? Are you sure?
Hah.
Oh, he's back for more. Having trouble finding your way out?
Mr Rowntree, Lakshmi's a good worker, I grant you,
- but she's not been well. - I think we're all aware
that she is a local woman.
An ordinary woman.
But they do say justice is blind, sir.
Of course.
Her opinion has equal weight to anyone else...
...be they white, brown or mustard.
Just leave this with us, McLeod.
Sir, I am the one who stopped your terrorist.
I'm the one who gave him up to you.
So whatever you may think of me,
I expect to be heard when I say
that woman's judgment is not safe.
Well... off you pop.
Hey, wee man. Can you show me the way out?
This way, sahib.
Your name?
- Adam - is it not? - Yes.
- Adam. - Your mother worked for me.
- Did you know that? - No.
Jaya-mummy? Or Leena-mummy?
Jaya-mummy.
And Leena-mummy, where is she?
In prison. Jailed for nine years. You didn't know?
Nobody told me.
And your father? Where is he now?
- Dead. - Douglas Raworth?
- Yes. - No, I meant your real father.
I never knew him.
Thank you. I know the way from here.
What is the charge?
What am I being charged with here?
Sergeant!
Ek minute.
Charges are still pending.
With a case like this they have be certain.
(Breathing heavily)
Help me. Please.
Very well. I can help you.
As I helped Mr Banerjee.
- What's this? - Your death.
You've seen one of these before?
- Yes, I have. - They say there is little pain.
Naseem. What news?
- Still no charge. - Oh.
So, when can he come home?
- Soon. - Good.
Sooni, meri jaan, my uncle has come up.
Delhi uncle or Rawalpindi?
Rawalpindi.
- He's keen to meet... - Oh... erm...
Not today, Naseem.
Of course. Forgive my mentioning it.
You can meet him just as easily the next time.
- Or at the wedding itself. - (Both laugh)
Yes. That will be nice.
- Oh, erm... I must... - Go.
And if there's anything I can do,
think it, and I'll come running.
I know. Thank you.
Was that Aafrin?
No. It was just some boxwallah selling... I don't know what...
Tell them we don't have money to spare for rubbish.
What is that, Daddy?
Ah. A letter.
From the dasturji.
He feels there's a really auspicious date very soon
for your wedding with Boman.
What was the date he mentioned, Daddy?
I forget. I...
Here it is - Behram Roj.
But do you think we'd be ready so soon?
Well, I mean, it will require some careful consideration.
One day is as good as any other.
WILLINGDON: Look, I know you're upset.
RALPH: No, I...
I gather His Lordship has done some fine work in nutrition.
Oh, don't be an idiot.
The truth is, you... you had it on merit.
But first we took a dreadful hiding over this India Bill.
Yes. Then there was the matter of my family.
Yes.
Sir, was there something else?
Well, it was said...
I don't know how it came about or who it came from...
...that you were in over your head
with certain debts at the bank.
Now I told them it's not for a gentleman
to go raking over another chap's private affairs, but...
I can't pretend it didn't damage your case.
Yes. I have an idea how that rumour might have come about.
- The truth is... - No, no, no. It doesn't matter.
I know what you're made of... my boy.
Thank you.
- Ralph? - Ah... Excuse me.
(Exhales heavily)
Get off me!
MADELEINE: Is it true?
Yes.
After all that sacrifice we get nothing?
- Oh, it's worse than that. - How do you mean?
You see, the new Viceroy's going to have his own ideas
about who he wants around him.
It's an honour to meet you, Your Excellency.
I have a gift for you.
It's a wee box of my very own Armitage tea.
So that when you're at home in your armchair and thinking of us
you can taste these hills again.
That's very decent of you, Mr?
McLeod. Now tell me, Your Excellency...
have you ever heard of a man called Ramu Sood?
No, I don't believe I have.
Oh, Christ!
I'm sorry to hear that, sir.
You should always make a note of the men you hang.
Your Excellency, you're running late.
Not only was he innocent of the murder of Jaya Mohan,
but your man here knew it.
He knew it, and still he let him die!
- Remove him. - Didn't you?
Didn't you? Didn't you?
Enjoy your tea.
This way.
What a business.
Now there's the dinner in your honour if you can stand it.
You should go and change, sir.
Welcome to India, Thompson. Safe journey up?
Very safe.
Who is erm?
- Sir Cecil Thompson. - Oh, of course.
Just flew in. I gather he's advising the new Viceroy.
Sir, it's time for the band.
Ah, the band.
- Ladies and gentlemen... - Very bracing.
...please make your way forward to the garden.
That fellow at the gates. What was he barking about?
Oh, some local crime.
Yes. I thought as much.
(Band tuning up)
(Chatter)
Is there something you wish to ask, sir?
No.
Don't you want to know if there's any truth in it?
Well, the fact is...
...it's all true.
- Every word. - What rot.
Her name was Jaya Mohan, and she bore my child...
Look, stop this.
There's more.
- I've lied, and I've lied. ♪ Onward, Christian Soldiers
And I've lied again.
(Voice fades) About who I was...
(Band plays over dialogue)
DARIUS: There you are. - (Band playing in distance)
That's why your son's not home.
He's out there doing his duty along with the others.
Listening to the band? Hardly a duty.
- But if he's up there... - Yes?
Why didn't he come home to get into his suit?
- Ah. - He will have borrowed a suit.
There you are.
No, that can't be. That can't be.
- He always comes home. - All right.
I propose I simply go up and see him.
- Yes? - No.
I'll walk with you.
(Distant applause)
(Chatter)
DARIUS: Oh, just a minute.
- Just let me catch my breath. - It's all right.
- Baapi? - What?
I'm afraid...
we're not going to find Aafrin up here.
- Why? - He's in some sort of trouble.
This trouble...
is it in any way to do with the English woman?
Yes.
- It's possible. - (Groans)
I should have been more strict.
- Baapi, it's not your fault. - You people!
You make a shrine of your own passions.
You don't care a jot for what's right.
And now do you see how all are made to suffer
because of a few selfish actions?
How is it to end?
Never better.
(Clock ticking)
Alice?
Where's Percy?
Out with Ayah, enjoying the sights.
Come here.
What do you want?
It's an odd feeling, knowing the worst.
I feel almost... light-headed.
- Did you ever have that? - I don't know.
It's the sheer relief.
I suppose that's what it is...
knowing what you're up against.
What needs to be done.
That sounds clear.
Yes.
Policeman's expecting my statement in 30 minutes.
And?
- What will you tell him? - The truth.
Dalal's alliance with the traitor Banerjee.
We have one eyewitness to that effect, I'll add what I can.
- You know nothing. - Well...
I know that Dalal, evidently fearing arrest,
was planning to escape to Australia with my wife and son.
Hand.
Now the next few months will be sticky.
Dr Kingsley's on his way over.
He'll make a judgment as to your state of mind.
Tongue lolling, eyes in the back of your skull is your best bet.
What are you talking about?
Unsound mind.
That's your best defence.
Look, you'll go on a trip someplace with...
...short fingernails and...
fresh air and armies of nuns.
But you'll survive.
And Aafrin?
Oh, he'll hang.
- Percy? - Well...
At home with me, of course.
Yes, but...
People will know, they'll find out. They'll talk about it.
You won't like that.
Oh...
Don't kid yourself. I'll relish our disgrace.
Are you sure?
Everywhere you go... "Look," they'll say...
"There's that pitiful man from the bank."
Pity's all right.
Hell for women, of course, but men seem to do all right on it.
Tell me.
What can I do?
What do you want?
I want my wife.
You see?
I can give you that.
I can give you what you want.
And what is that?
Affection. Obedience.
I want a wife, not a puppy.
One's much like another.
You can do what you like, they don't mind.
They still come bouncing back.
But... if I broke it...
If I broke this creature, would it mind?
No.
Can't have it running off again, you see.
No. It wouldn't mind.
You could do anything, anything at all.
And it would love you, just as much as it could.
Are you sure?
I promise.
Just let me have my son.
And you, of course.
Yes.
- We could leave in the morning. - If you like.
Get the earliest boat home and travel in style - first class.
Why not? Percy would like that, wouldn't he?
- He'd love it. - Yes, he would, rather.
And er...
as a favour...
you'd drop all that nonsense about Mr Dalal, would you?
- Wait. Wait. - No. You can trust me.
- Wait, wait. No, no. - I can prove it.
No, no, no, no, no, no. No, you know I don't like all that.
No, I'll need better proof than that.
Anything.
(Cell door clangs)
Well?
Sir, I gather we owe you an apology.
(Inhales and exhales deeply)
Alice.
- You're out. - Yes.
No charge after all.
I'm a free man.
I tell you, these past few hours...
Your family will be so relieved.
It's not too late.
Too late for what?
Come away with me.
(Inhales and exhales deeply)
It's been such a long day.
It's given me time to think and...
...I've decided for everyone's sake...
we need to stop this.
- What? - Stop this.
Dead in its tracks before anyone gets hurt.
What rubbish.
You love me.
Not in the way you mean.
- Who put you up to this? - No one, I promise.
You just have to face the facts.
I mean, say we go along with this plan of yours...
...who's to say...
one day very soon I...
...I might look at you and I would say to myself...
"I gave up everything and...
everyone I hold dear for some silly flirtation.
Am I happy?
No.
Is it enough?
No.
Do I love him?
No.
What has he done to you?
Goodbye.
Give Mummy a wave.
Ripped By mstoll