The Indian Tomb (Das indische Grabmal)

LĂNG MỘ ẤN ĐỘ

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 Maharajas older brother, ls 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 first to build a tomb.

A tomb?

Such as the world has never seen before.

Made from the purest marble, the most precious jewels:

jade, alabaster, turquoise, coral, emeralds and rubies.

It will be the tomb of my beloved.

I've lost the woman...

who was very close to my heart.

Please accept my condolences

for the loss of someone who loved you dearly.

Who said that the woman of whom I spoke loved me?

And if I lost her, must she be dead?

Then... she's still alive?

One day she will be dead.

To be precise, she'll die when the tomb is complete.

I must have misunderstood you.

May I have an explanation?

How can you explain

that a woman who was wrapped in love like a golden cloak

cast my love aside...

and tossed it to a dog?

To a man who betrayed his friend?

You don't want a tomb, Your Highness.

You want an execution site.

There's nothing about this in my contract. I'm leaving.

You can't leave Eschnapur without my permission and my protection.

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 wends 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 really could use 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 to and fro 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 an Indian 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 can stay

until they're well again.

I hope I'm not disturbing you.

Not at all, madam.

Please.

You may go anywhere 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 caravansary.

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.

Wait, listen!

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.

How do you know?

One of us has brought shame on our community.

He didn't respect the law of hospitality.

Try to reach the gorge. 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 their tracks.

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 gorge.

I can't go on. I'm tired.

Wait.

Here's a cave. Come quickly.

Are you sure we're on their track?

Yes, there are freshly broken twigs.

Go on, then.

They're very close.

Lucky the entry is small, it's easy to defend.

Shiva,

savior, preserver,

destroyer, protector,

merciful god.

You free us from fear.

Creator and ruler of life...

protect us.

I am your servant.

Your servant.

Go up that hill.

Into this gorge.

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 gorge.

We were lucky.