The Brigand of Kandahar

Hey, ito.

- Come here. - Go away, rattu, I'm busy.

Hey, ito. I have something to tell you.

You got any work to do, rattu?

Thank you, ito.

Right over my back.

See who that is, ito.

Tell connelly memsahib I wish to speak with her.

Get rid of your servant.

Ito?

Nearly a week ago, I presented you with an ultimatum.

I'm still waiting for your answer.

I've thought about your ultimatum, captain Boyd.

I intend to convey it to Robert case on his return.

That should be at any moment. You've made a wise decision.

You leave me with no alternative, of course.

Why are you so vindictive?

I don't like wives who cheat.

Especially with half-castes.

And I don't like half-castes who masquerade as officers.

I suggest you complain to the war office who appoint them.

Your behaviour has made that quite unnecessary.

In this instance, at any rate.

It's ironical that your husband should volunteer for special mission

with your lover.

- Don't you think? - Will you leave me, please?

Ito, help me to dress.

What is it?

I think it's lieutenant case.

Is there any sign of connelly?

No, sir.

Well, warn the sentries and send case to me as soon as he gets in.

Sir.

Hmm... case.

- Where is captain connelly? - He was captured, sir.

- Alive? - Yes, sir.

We were ambushed and became separated.

And you escaped, eh?

How?

I got away under cover of darkness.

I see.

All right, make your report.

Apart from their numbers, which are growing daily,

the gilzhai now have a new and formidable leader.

They call him Eli Khan.

So they're getting organised.

- What do you know of this man? - Very little, sir.

Except that he was educated in england.

He's reputed to be slightly mad, but wily as a fox.

His headquarters are a closely guarded secret.

We are badly under strength.

To meet a full-scale attack, we'll need help from fort lakhan,

and they're about three days' ride from us.

I don't think Eli Khan is ready yet, sir.

And when he is, he'll attack one fort at a time,

beginning with kandahar.

If I may suggest, sir...

I think there is still time to evacuate the civilians.

I don't require your advice, mr case.

You may go!

One moment.

You say you were separated from captain connelly?

Yes, sir.

Then how do you know he was taken?

I used these.

You saw him, but you didn't go to his aid?

Are you saying that an officer of your resources

failed to conceive any action

that might have resulted in captain connelly's rescue?

Answer my question.

Why did you send me on this mission, colonel?

To die like a hero, or to bring back the information you required?

I ordered you to answer my question!

There might have been one chance in a thousand.

I considered I had no right to take that chance.

Thank you.

May I presume to say, sir?

Well?

He's the only officer at kandahar

who could have failed to come to connelly's aid.

That surely was his first duty.

He had every right to take the chance, however slim.

Then, what can we expect from a half-caste?

I was also wondering...

Go on, captain Boyd.

Whether his concern for the civilians

extends beyond the wife of captain connelly.

Elsa?

- Rattu, leave us. - Sahib.

- Elsa, you shouldn't have come here. - I'm sorry.

The other day, captain Boyd came to see me.

He told me he was going to inform Tom about us,

unless you resign your commission.

Captain Boyd said that?

You haven't a chance, Robert.

You never did have. They hate you.

Resign my commission?

Forgive me, Robert,

but I've decided that I want to try and save my marriage.

It's too late, Elsa.

- What do you mean? - Tom isn't coming back.

- You mean... - He was taken by the gilzhai.

Oh... god!

Mercifully, he was killed instantly.

Are you telling the truth?

Yes.

Robert...

Oh, Robert.

Elsa.

He had no idea of what was between us.

We didn't cause his death by falling in love.

He went out on a special mission, and he was taken.

It was his time to die.

Spoken like a true soldier!

You came back!

You condemn me because I don't inflict myself with conscience.

It was you who came back.

A coincidence or a convenience?

- Is that what you really think? - That's what everyone will think.

- Elsal - I wish I'd never set eyes on you.

Because of Tom?

Or because people suspect that you love a half-Indian officer

who had the impertinence to push his way up from the ranks?

I have orders to place you under close arrest.

- On what charge? - Cowardice in the face of the enemy.

Bring in the prisoner.

Prisoner escort, shun!

Shoulder arms!

Quick march!

Halt!

This court finds you guilty of an act of cowardice in the face of the enemy,

in that you deliberately, and with malice aforethought,

deserted a brother officer,

relinquishing him to the mercy of the enemy.

Have you anything to say before sentence is pronounced?

The accusation is false.

I am innocent.

The court pronounces upon you the sentence of ignominious discharge,

and a term of ten years' confinement in one of her majesty's prisons.

Remove the prisoner.

Prisoner and escort, about turn!

Quick march!

Left wheel!

Halt!

- Who goes there? - Rattu.

What is it, rattu?

Up there, the air whispers softly.

You fellows have an odd way of asking for a breath of fresh air.

Help yourself.

Ten years in the glasshouse, eh, mr case?

Must be hard on a man who's used to his freedom.

Still, if it's any consolation,

they do say they may take you back into the ranks... afterwards.

Whether you like it or not.

I wouldn't mind betting there'll be a reception committee waiting for you.

You know, it's quite a novelty, being able to talk to a...

- Quickly, sahib. - But, rattu...

No talk now! Please, come!

Hurry, sahib!

Sahib.

We rest, sahib.

I think we'd better start heading south.

It's a bit too close to gilzhai territory for my liking.

The horses very tired, sahib. A few minutes?

All right.

It is all right, sahib.

He is not to be harmed. He is a friend of the gilzhai.

Is this the man Eli Khan wants to meet?

It is.

Hitala wants you to know he's your friend.

I'd like to know why.

You will find out when you meet Eli Khan.

Eli Khan?

My master.

My name is Eli Khan.

Yes, I gathered that.

And yours...

Robert case.

Sit down.

Condemned by your own people to ten years in prison.

Of course, I find the english such a...

A barbarous race.

We ourselves do no such things. We just...

Kill each other.

These are two of my chiefs.

You wonder why they fight?

- Yes. - They quarrel.

One of them will die, perhaps two,

and that will please my people.

Do you not think it is an interesting idea?

It's a pity the english do not supply such good sport for their people.

All the time I am thinking of something new.

It keeps my people happy.

You're not very talkative.

I was wondering what you had in mind for me...

By way of sport.

Eli Khan: We will discuss that later.

In the meantime, I want you to accept my hospitality.

- Eli Khan? - Mm-hmm.

You seem surprised?