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EPISODE
ONE
FADE
IN:
1 EXT. CHASALGAON FORT - DAY
Against
a blazing sun, the flag of the East India Company
flutters in the breeze. A BUGLE SOUNDS.
WIDER,
NOW. A THORN-WALLED hill FORT on the Hyderabad
border. Half a dozen fighting platforms spaced around
a
perimeter fence which encloses a beaten earth parade ground;
a mud-walled BARRACKS, thatched with palm; a stone walled
MAGAZINE; a COOKHOUSE, etc. Officers' TENTS dotted about.
SUPERIMPOSE
TITLE: "CHASALGAON, INDIA, 1803" *
The
FORT is peopled by a few European OFFICERS & NCOs,
mostly native VCOs (NCOs), SEPOYS, milling about, together
with a few NATIVE CIVILIANS - wives and children of the
garrison.
2 EXT. CHASALGAON FORT/GATES - DAY
A
HAVILDAR (Sergeant) on sentry duty above the gates looks
out over the approach to the fort to see:
3 EXT. CHASALGAON FORT/APPROACHES - DAY
A
thin line of British REDCOATS (European), in company with
an Indian YOUTH, emerge from a grove of trees and march
towards the fort across a dry river-bed.
At
the head of the column of six REDCOAT Pvts., Sgt.Richard
SHARPE, (20s), of the King's 33rd Regiment of Foot; dust
begrimed and sweat stained from the trail -- his hair
powdered white with flour and clubbed into a queue. Trotting
happily along beside him - DAVI LAL, (14), his interpreter.
4 EXT. CHASALGAON FORT/GATES - DAY
The
HAVILDAR calls down to garrison SEPOYS on Gate Duty.
HAVILDAR
Troops approaching! Open the gates!
The
SEPOYS open the gates.
5 EXT. CHASALGAON FORT/GATES/PARADE GROUND - DAY
SHARPE
leads his men inside, and onto the parade ground.
SHARPE
Right. Fall out, lads!
With
groans of relief, SHARPE's REDCOATS unsling their packs.
SHARPE casts a beady eye about the fort -- his gaze lights
on: the COOKHOUSE -- SEPOY COOKS preparing mutton-stew
or something similar outside the cookhouse.
SHARPE
(CONT'D)
Davi? Gerrus some grub going.
DAVI
LAL
Mister Richard, sahib, sorry I am
to tell you, we have no grub.
SHARPE
We don't. No. But they have.
SHARPE
nods towards the cookhouse.
DAVI
LAL
(shocked)
That would be stealing, sahib! How
am I to be a good British soldier
if you make me into a thief again?
SHARPE
It ain't thieving when you're
hungry, Davi. First thing any
soldier learns.
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