Beecham House

Who are you, stranger?

John Beecham.

Beware!

'Is our new master a nobleman from the south,

'or a Rajput from the north?

Is he a vegetarian, or a meat-eater?'

I do not know. But what does it matter?

As long as this house is once again a home,

- and your kitchen a palace. - My work is done.

The house is cleansed and blessed and ready for our new master.

I have had a vision.

He is tall and fair.

Like a Kashmiri or Pathaan.

You will see.

~

Open the gate!

Your new Saheb is here.

~

At last, he's here.

Gopal.

Unload, then rest.

At dawn, you leave for Calcutta.

Saheb.

I told you he was fair.

You said Kashmiri. He is an Englishman.

Welcome to Delhi, Saheb.

It is an honour to meet you. I am Baadal.

Pleasure to meet you, Baadal.

This is Ram Lal, trusted servant to...

No one mentioned a baby is coming, Saheb.

Baadal...

You will learn that I am a private man.

Now, I should like to see the house.

Of course, sir.

Bring the trunks from the carriage.

What about the women and baby?

We've only prepared a master's quarters.

Saheb, we have prepared the finest bedchamber in the house for you.

Where should I take the ladies?

No, the child and his attendant shall have those quarters.

See that they do not want for anything.

Did you see the child? It is not fully European.

Our English Saheb is enjoying India and all her pleasures.

It will make a fine nursery.

Maya and Chanchal will sleep here.

Ram Lal will attend to them.

Baadal, you will have to prepare another room for my mother.

She is travelling from England and will arrive here very soon.

See that she has all the comforts

that an elderly English lady requires.

Travelling alone, Saheb?

She must be a very brave lady.

You will discover that one cannot dissuade her

once her mind is set on any course.

- We will treat her like a Maharani, Saheb. - Quite.

Please.

Good morning, Baadal.

Good morning, sir.

Please, let me show you the garden.

We'll turn this into a chapel for my mother.

An English chapel?

Very well, Saheb.

I have not seen my mother in 12 years.

And now she has invited herself.

A mother cannot live without her son.

That is what my mother tells me every time she sees me.

~

It is an invitation from one...

General Castillon.

Who is he?

Not a good man, Saheb.

He is a French mercenary for the Emperor.

He has eyes and ears everywhere.

Vos armes, Monsieur.

It is a great pleasure to meet you, Mr Beecham.

Or should I say, Lieutenant Beecham?

The pleasure is mine, General Castillon.

I'm surprised news of my arrival has travelled so quickly.

It is my duty to inform the Emperor

of any movements of British military men.

I am not who you take me to be.

Oh?

But your time in the East India Company

has clearly borne fruit,

for you to acquire the house of a grand nobleman.

General, I am not a representative of the East India Company.

Nor am I any longer a lieutenant.

I am just John Beecham, Esquire.

I left the Company years ago and set up a business.

To trade.

Your East India Company also claims to trade,

when the truth is, you steal.

So, the Company have their eyes on Delhi now.

Is Bengal not enough for them?

General...

India belongs to neither the British nor the French.

If the French departed, there would be no one

to stop the British from taking all of India, yes?

General...

.. I am not like my countrymen.

S'il vous plait.

The British never turn their back on an opportunity they can exploit.

- C'est dans votre sang. - Not in my blood.

And, I dare to hope, not in yours.

That is a very fine ruby,

of six carats?

From Ceylon, I believe.

Exquisite colour and clarity,

though, tragically,

it has been cut without much regards to its structure.

That's not the sort of knowledge I would expect from a soldier.

General...

I stopped being a soldier to trade fairly.

Not pillage.

Only the Emperor can grant foreigners a licence to trade.

It has been the Mughal way for two centuries.

I would be delighted to introduce you.

Well, that would be...

very kind of you.

Of course, His Highness Shah Alam

would consider your trade licence more seriously if you work for him.

The Emperor values loyalty above all.

Well, thank you.

I shall do my best

to persuade the Emperor that my intentions are honourable.

Thank you. For the Cognac.

My pleasure.

So, John Beecham.

Is he friend or foe?

He is an agent of the Company.

The first weed sent to spread and take over Delhi.

The British are never more treacherous

than when they espouse virtue.

~

Intruders.

They were in this area.

~

~

What is happening?

We have never had intruders in this house before.

How is August settling in?

I will make sure he is safe and happy.

May I?

Dearest August...

I wish I had your peacefulness.

Saheb?

We have been given a new beginning.

For Agastya's sake...

.. we must forget the past.

'A man should not be eating on his own.'

Where is the Saheb's wife?

I saw he has letters from London in his office.

Ah!

Maybe she is in England.

A loving wife's touch is what this empty house needs.

But what will he do with the beauty who tends the baby?

She has a face so sweet,

even your kheer will need no sugar if she looks upon it.

One haughty look from her, and my kheer will curdle.

Baby has wind.

He needs ajwain.

And I need chillies for this food you are giving me.

My food does not need chillies.

If you are feeding the baby, the milk will be...

I know my job.

- A cook... - Not cook. Chef.

No more khichri.

I expect game, chicken, fish with Mughlai spices.

That is the standard I'm used to.

Of course, Chanchal-bai.

It will be an honour for Chef to raise his standards

to those of a lady who appreciates the highest quality.

Hey.

Are you only here to serve Beecham-saheb, or his wife too?

You must know the baby's mother.

When might she be coming?

Or maybe she is already here?

Watch your words, cook.

They are even more poisonous than your food.

She will learn that you cannot keep secrets in a house like this.

~

You must be careful in this heat.

You know...

There is not a single day that I miss being a soldier.

But I miss the sweat.

What happened, Saheb?

Does it pain you?

At times.

It will fade, with time.

And the pain, also.

~

~

Good day.

My servants reported you had intruders last night.

I've come to offer help.

I am Murad Beg. Your neighbour.

I hope you do not object to me calling on you unannounced.

No, not at all. It's a pleasure.

John Beecham.

I can send some of my guards to watch over your estate.