Sharpe's Peril - Original Treatment
by Russell LewisACT ONE - INDIA, 1819
A child runs through poppy fields. But no carefree childhood revel this. For now, behind him, we see a village is burning, shots and screams can be heard. At length, the child stumbles and falls, sprawling into the dirt to come to a halt before a pair of shining cavalry boots.
The shadow of their owner falls upon the child who backs away, fearful of the figure who stands silhouetted against the sun.
The child puts up an arm to ward off the whistling downward stroke, and we… Avert our gaze from the horror, relocating to;
A smoke wreathed den of vice. Dancing girls. HARPER at cards or dice with a motley crew of EIC officer-class wastrels, drunkards, etc.
HARPER wins a big pot, much to the consternation of the young blades. One of them - HARRY - looks ready to move against HARPER, but is dissuaded from action by a companion - "Not here, Harry." HARPER thanks his friends for a pleasant evening and quits the tavern.
HARPER makes his way back to his billet. The aggrieved EIC/trader/ne'er-do-well types appear, ready to take back their gambling losses by force of arms.
HARPER is outnumbered and unarmed, until, as the pack moves in on HARPER...
SHARPE steps from the shadows, draws steel, and battle is joined.
The fight that ensues is swift and to the point. Though outnumbered, SHARPE and HARPER are in far better shape – they’re sober for one thing! – than their opponents. After a few moments of blood and teeth, those of their assailants still standing flee.
SHARPE and HARPER turn to find a PROVOST and a contingent of SEPOY SOLDIERS arriving.
The PROVOST arrests SHARPE and HARPER.
JAIL - SHARPE and HARPER reflect upon their position. SHARPE smells a rat.
PROVOST arrives and removes SHARPE from the cell, leaving HARPER behind.
The PROVOST escorts SHARPE to the Governor’s Residence where:
SHARPE meets with the Governor of the province and a Company Nabob. Having been 'of some recent service’ SHARPE's reputation precedes him. He is requested 'upon the highest authority' to make himself available to look into a little local difficulty.
A legendary bandit leader - CHITU - is presently causing havoc with EIC operations, putting villages to fire and sword and disrupting the harvest. The last Agency Superintendent of Revenues sent to the area was murdered, along of his escort. No harvest, no revenues, no taxes, and England suffers.
A squadron of horse from the 3rd Native Cavalry under command of one Colonel Anthony POHLMANN has been trying to find Chitu without success.
Though the Mahratta rebellion is for the most part over, resentment still smoulders. It only takes the exploits of a successful bandit leader to catch the imagination of the natives and the Company... Ahem! His Brittanic Majesty's government could have another uprising on their hands.
All that is required of Sharpe is that he travel through the blighted state and assess the situation. Does it need a major expedition to be mounted against Chitu? He may make his report to the British garrison at Madras.
Refusal to oblige will ensure a lengthy stay in prison, for the aggrieved EIC officers bested by SHARPE and HARPER in the street brawl are alleging robbery. It’s a put up job, but SHARPE finds himself with little room for manouvre. Reluctantly, he accedes to the request.
Montage. SHARPE and HARPER ride the high country.
Drawn by the sound of a hymn being sung to the accompaniment of a wheezing harmonium, SHARPE and HARPER come upon a tented encampment -- a COACH and a COUPLE OF BUCKBOARD WAGGONS amongst the tents.
The REVEREND LOVELACE WATKIN leads a congregation of CIVILIANS in praise, alongside a small detachment of about a score of KING'S TROOPS from the 1/69th (South Lincolnshire) Regiment of Foot.
SHARPE and HARPER ride down into the camp, where tents are being raised and supper is being cooked.
Their arrival is challenged by COLOUR-SERGEANT SILAS WORMWOOD, (40s) -- introductions are made, and SHARPE and HARPER are brought to see Lt.BEAUCLERE, the officer commanding.
A nervous young shaver, scarce into his majority, Lt.Percy BEAUCLERE explains that they are taking a murdering deserter to the British Garrison at Madras to face the Provosts and a certain hanging, and that since the civilian coach party was also travelling in that direction the soldiery were pressed into service as escort.
SHARPE senses that BEAUCLERE is not best pleased by the duty, and also there is a subtext which underlines BEAUCLERE's insecurity with his command, insofar as he defers to SGT.WORMWOOD upon nearly every point. WORMWOOD, for his part, is the model NCO, courteous and supportive.
BEAUCLERE offers what hospitality his little encampment can provide to Sharpe and Harper, telling them that they are welcome to join his party. SHARPE politely declines the offer - he and HARPER have business elsewhere -- however BEAUCLERE invites them to stay one night at least and dine with him.
SHARPE and HARPER's arrival in camp does not go unnoticed amongst the soldiers and civilians alike -- PVTs.Noah CROOP, (late 40s), a runty twist of grumbling humanity - formerly a thief; Joshua QUILTER, (30s) a malingering, wall-eyed drunkard; Daniel DEEVER (30s), immensely powerfully built, his African-American father fought with distinction for the British at Lexington – take a particular interest.
WORMWOOD orders CROOP to see to the prisoner, and grumbling, he obeys.
SHARPE and HARPER lay out their bedrolls/tents and take their measure of the company. HARPER is unimpressed by the troops -- slovenly, unkempt and in want of discipline is HARPER's judgement.
They are watched by MRS.LOUISA WATKIN, (40s), a prattling, addle-headed woman much affected by the climate, and the WATKINS' daughter, LUCY, (17), as beautiful, petulant and sulky a piece as ever twisted a man about her finger.
CROOP waters the prisoner, an Anglo-Indian named BARABBAS, (20s), who makes no response to CROOP's ill tempered goading.
SHARPE and HARPER dine with BEAUCLERE. Also present -- Ensign TROY, (14), a plucky little proto-Newboltian, noble in birth, clean in thought and deed, and plainly impressed by Sharpe's reputation.
The WATKINS are there, as are Capt.TREDINNICK, (50), Royal Engineers, and his heavily pregnant wife ANNE (30) -- both bound for Madras.
BEAUCLERE is surprised not to find the 'widow' JOUBERT there, and asks after her. MRS.WATKINS makes some catty remark about the French constitution and the Indian climate.
The table talk is of the Reverend's mission - to bring enlightenment to the heathen; and his wife's mission to find a suitable 'match' for LUCY. The REVEREND we perceive as well intentioned and devout, if hopelessly naiive; and his wife as an empty headed frau with lofty social aspirations.
LUCY herself is an obvious flirt, and, from BEAUCLERE's cow-eyed attention and Ensign TROY's shy glances, already commands the devotion of both man and boy.
The TREDINNICKS, by contrast, are a level headed pair. Real empire builders these. He, a thoughtful, softly spoken Cornishman, and she, a fine, sensible, Yorkshire lass. Though two decades lie between them in age, we sense a deep and lasting love kindled there. SHARPE and HARPER warm to them immediately.
Rounding out the party is Robert PERRING, (30), native of Carlisle, now journalist with the London Examiner -- "Religion a trade, justice a trade, government a trade -- all for money; nothing for the public good." He is, in short, a Radical, come to India to look into the affairs of the EIC. PERRING and REV.WATKIN, as might be expected, prove natural antagonists.
The supper party reaches the brandy and cigars portion of the evening when the ladies must withdraw. Ensign TROY elects to see them back to their tents.
SHARPE, in his role as intelligencer, probes for information about CHITU, but finds BEAUCLERE unconcerned. The region through which they are travelling is far to the north of Chitu’s hunting grounds. Furthermore, a well garrisoned EIC Hill Fort, lies not two days ride away at Nagong. No bandit would dare to show himself in so well defended an area.
Having seen the WATKINs women to their tent, TROY stops by to deliver some scant rations scrounged from the supper table to BARABBAS, and to ask after his condition, addressing the prisoner as Corporal. TROY seems dismayed to see BARABBAS brought so low, and we sense a friendship between them.
As the supper party breaks up, an arrow whistles out of the darkness and buries itself in BEAUCLERE's chest, heralding a bandit attack. A small contingent of Pindari gallop through the camp, loosing arrows and firing rifles. Chaos and panic, as BEAUCLERE's troops try to muster and fend off the attack.
DEEVER, terrified, tries to find some hiding place and settles for a space beneath one of the waggons, next to which BARABBAS is shackled.
SHARPE and HARPER take what charge they can and manage to nail a couple of the bandits, saving one or two of the civilian coach party into the bargain -- but it's a quick, hit and fade raid, the attackers melting into the darkness as swiftly as they appeared. And we END ACT ONE…