The Charge of the Light Brigade

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How do you fellows manage

to look so comfortably, Vickers?

We may look it, Sir, but we're not.

They say the first 40 years are about

the hardest up here on the frontier.

-After that, you get used to it.

-Really?

Troop, halt!

Excuse me, Sir.

What's the matter, Pearson?

One of the lead horses of the supply cart

has broken a leg, Sir.

Oh, you know what to do. Carry on.

Give me the gun, quick.

-Sorry, Sir.

-What, of all the impertinence...

-That vulture--

-Happens to be a royal falcon.

Almost certainly belonging

to His Highness Surat Khan, Sir.

Oh, forgive me.

They look alike in the distance, Sir.

-Quite a natural mistake to make.

-Well, a devilish awkward one.

Hardly an ingratiating way

for a home-government man...

...to present himself on a delicate mission

to the Surat Khan.

Oh, I don't know, Sir.

After all, you might have missed him.

Oh, yes, yes.

Troop, walk, march.

His Highness is awaiting you.

His Highness Surat Khan,

amir of Suristan...

...offers a prayer of gratitude that you have

been preserved in your journey.

And places his household and all in it

at the disposal of the illustrious envoy...

...of her most gracious majesty,

Queen Victoria.

May I extend Her Majesty's

warmest greetings, Amir Sahib.

Permit me to present

Captain Geoffrey Vickers...

...Cornet James Randall,

Cornet Charles Barclay...

...Cornet Lawrence Pearson

of the 27th Lancers.

Vickers.

It's good to see the face

of an old friend again.

One of the best marksmen it has ever been

my good fortune to entertain, Sir Humphrey.

Your own hunting skill, Amir Sahib...

...compels me to deplore

my poor marksmanship.

You British...

So adept at diplomatic graces...

...that even my own race

bows to your finesse.

Gentlemen.

I would be inconsiderate indeed

to insist on any lengthy court formalities.

-Shall we dispense with them?

-Delighted.

You're welcome, Vickers.

Thank you, Your Highness.

I regret as deeply as you,

Sir Humphrey...

...that so far, the negotiations

should have proven barren of results.

While it is regrettable,

we must remember...

...that the treaty by which your foster father

received annually a sum of money...

...from my government

for his extraordinary services...

...ceased automatically to exist

on the occasion of his death.

For myself, I shall do my humble best

to accept with grace...

...this sudden withdrawal

of financial support.

And may I not add further...

...that my government

looks forward hopefully...

...to continued friendship

with its neighbors, the tribes of Suristan.

Of course, I shall endeavor to convince

the nawabs and maliks of Suristan...

...that the action of the British government

is not to be construed as unfriendly...

...calm their natural resentment

and curb any active reprisals...

...they might so easily contemplate.

I'm confident that Your Highness'

praiseworthy efforts...

...will be rewarded with success.

Let us hope that your confidence

is justified.

You know, Sir Humphrey,

confidence is an admirable quality.

We so seldom appreciate it fully

until it is withdrawn.

You know,

the first time I was in Bengal...

...I saw a falcon break a lamb's back.

Beastly birds.

I'll send one back to my family,

just the thing for a Mayfair drawing room.

Ancient sport of kings, falconry.

The appeal lies in its cruelty.

I'd take a potshot against the tiger

in long grass any day.

They're man-eaters, you know.

Only a savage

would prefer this sort of thing.

-Says who?

-Quite so, Vickers.

Your Highness, I meant, of course--

No, no, no,

I daresay you're perfectly justified.

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