Zarak (1956) Movie Script
1
Salaam, men of the Haranzar.
Salaam.
May a humble trader bow before
the chief of the Haranzar,
your great and honourable father?
Haji Khan cannot be disturbed.
But perhaps you will
tell him that I am here,
that I have come far.
And that I bring gifts.
He is not to be disturbed.
He confers with his wives.
Well, one of his wives, let us say.
Am I not your favourite wife, Haji?
Favourite wife has eyes to see,
a body to lure, a mind to rebel.
What is it, imbecile?
The merchant, Akbar.
May his hands whither
for cheating me at the last shearing.
Our sheep was sick, the wool was poor.
Why am I cursed with wives
who give me imbecile sons?
Let him wait. Hey.
Some merchant brought rich cloths. Silks?
To cover a skin of milk?
-Fine, rich fabrics.
Many of them was gifts.
If we use a little tact. Or force perhaps?
He may come in then.
And you, my dove, it is not
good that a man should see you,
even with your veils.
Why must you stay here?
I'm the eldest son.
Zarak? Take me away.
Take me back to my own people.
If I stay here, I'll die.
Salma, you're one of my father's wives.
If you leave him, it'll bring
shame on him and me too.
And what about my shame?
To be sewn to a man I hate?
Isn't that shameful?
There's nothing to
be done. You must stay.
Go back.
Don't come near me again.
Don't speak to me again.
Don't tempt me to
blacken my father's name.
If you do, I'll be
forced to put this knife
in your heart.
Now. Do it now.
Kill them! Kill them both!
Before my eyes, kill them!
Wait, a knife is too quick, too merciful.
Take my son and flog him.
Flog him to death!
No! No, I'm to blame!
Not Zarak! I am to blame!
Zarak!
This, my wife, have her put from me.
Take her to the Hills of Chermal,
and cast her down onto the rocks.
Make certain that she dies.
No, Haji Khan. Sell her to me.
-Holy Mullah.
-Holy One.
-Holy Mullah.
-Holy Mullah.
-Holy Mullah.
-Holy Mullah.
Holy One.
You have come far?
From Mecca.
I come at a bad time, I see.
I'm about to punish a dog.
Is that not Zarak, your eldest son?
You mean my oldest enemy?
Has he disobeyed you?
He's betrayed me.
Brings shame on my name and to the family.
So much shame that you
beat him in front of women?
So much. Let this be a
warning to all of them!
He who has the eye of an eagle-
Of a vulture.
A vulture
feasts on death, my son.
Zarak won't wait until I die.
He would weep at your funeral.
I will laugh at his.
It is written,
he who hates his own flesh
should look into his soul.
I ask for the life of Zarak.
No.
I ask for the life of your eldest son.
The life of Zarak.
Holy One, for reverence of you,
but only for that, I will
give you what you ask.
Take him down, and stone
him from the village!
Banish him from my sight!
I declare him an outlaw!
An outlaw to me!
And to all my people.
May you live forever, Holy One.
Let him
alone, he's had enough!
Burn him!
-Burn him!
-Burn him!
Burn him!
Burn him!
Be warned, brother,
it may be our turn next.
Not if we join Zarak.
Are you losing your senses?
No, I have just found them.
-Zarak is an outlaw.
-And outlaws are free men.
Free of the tyranny of
Haji, our honourable father.
-Stay if you wish.
-Biri.
If you're afraid, stay.
How far away did you
say it was to Fort Abbot?
Oh, about 20 miles, I'd say.
-And Ziarat?
-About 20 miles further on.
Impatient to get to work, sir?
Well, I have come a long way.
Woah!
Move that camel!
Get him off the road.
Nice spot for a snooze.
Hey, that's enough of that.
Leave him alone.
I said that's enough.
Now, get him out of the way.
Forgive me, Sahib.
This animal has brought
me nothing but trouble.
Only yesterday, I had to pay a fine
of ten rupees when he bit a policeman.
Both you and the
policeman have my sympathy.
Now get him out of here.
He loves music, the soul of a snake.
Get back.
Get down. Get down!
Get down, all of you!
Come back! Come back, you fools!
Come here, come back!
Come on!
Sergeant, bring them back!
Bring those two men back!
We've captured one of Zarak's bandits,
but two of our men have deserted, sir.
Did you say it was
20 miles to Fort Abbot?
Not quite so far, sir.
Not more than 18.
- Only papers.
- Throw them in the fire.
You stupid fools.
There might be something
important in there.
So this is the Major
who came in to take care of me personally?
That is what they speak of in Ziarat.
When the new Major comes,
there will be no more bandits
within 100 miles of the Khyber Pass.
Alas, alas, no more
Zarak Khan.
Especially no more Zarak Khan.
You're first on the list.
I like being first.
You know, it's not impossible.
Did you say that Youssuff was captured?
He disobeyed my
orders, served him right.
Kasim, you and Biri go to Youssuff.
Warn him to hold his tongue
if he wants to keep it.
They'll recognise us as a rat.
Not without your pretty red uniforms.
But, without our uniforms,
we can be hanged as deserters.
Well, you only feel it once.
Must your big brother tell you again?
After all, they can only hang us.
You can only feel it once.
Blast it, and now they've attacked
and taken the Royal Mail.
If we allow Zarak Khan
to get away with this,
We're encouraging another insurrection.
And do you remember the last one, Colonel?
Only too well.
Well how would you
handle this little episode?
I'd burn his father's village,
and I'd fine every man in it
for every day Zarak is on the loose.
I promise you, they'd
bring him to us in a week.
Dead, most likely. And
not all in one piece.
Oh, I see.
Well, we can't have that, and
for my sake, I'm very glad.
As long as I'm political officer here,
my job is to protect the people
and not make them suffer
because of this bandit, Zarak.
It's a difficult job, I know.
But I think most of us knew
that when we came out here.
Yes, and we've all of us
had to alter our opinions
at some time.
The local tribesmen have a saying, Ingram:
"When Allah finished the world,
he cast the scraps down here."
Yeah, it's unlike the south
where you've been serving.
This is a cruel, hard,
miserable, primitive land. Huh.
You're back in the
middle ages here, my boy.
You'll have to accustom yourself
to an entirely different way of thinking.
To an entirely different moral code.
Yes, theft, plunder,
murder, pillage, rape...
What we over-civilised
Westerners call banditry.
It's a way of life out here.
A similarly respectable
institution like, uh,
shop keeping back home.
Only one thing matters: face.
Keeping it or losing it.
Well, come to think of it,
I've lost quite a bit of face today.
Besides losing the Royal Mail coach.
Well, a little bit, anyway.
By the way, Ingram,
do you notice these stains on the table?
Yes, I have.
Is there a story?
You heard me mention an insurrection.
Well actually, it started here.
Two of our chaps were
playing, just as we are.
No one else in the room.
They came in through the windows.
Hundreds of them.
Our chaps put up a good fight,
but they were cut to pieces.
And then the insurrection
started to spread.
It spread as far as your town, Ziarat.
And by the time we sent
troops to the rescue,
the whole place had been sacked.
From the first
on the list, greetings.
Tell him it's an order.
Tell him I'll have him
withdrawn if he mixes straw
in our horses' grain just once more.
Corporal, those two.
Aren't they the deserters?
Billy and whatever-his-name-is?
Come back here!
Come back!
Come on, get going.
Zarak. Zarak, what have
we got to do with Zarak?
Sorry, Major, truth is truth.
If we speak false, may we be
sewn in the skin of a pig.
This man has already confessed.
His leader is Zarak Khan.
It is true.
My judgement is that you
be dishonorably discharged
from the levies,
and a fine of 100 rupees
each for deserting the mail.
But, sir, we are poor men.
Have you no pity?
Youssuff, your sentence
is six months imprisonment
at Fort Abbott.
Sergeant, get an escort
and take him there, please.
Yes, sir.
Stand back! Get out of my way.
Ease back, I tell you.
Get out of my way.
Get him a doctor, quick!
Sire, come here quick, look!
They have cut out his tongue, sire.
When you see your brother
again, you tell him...
Tell him his time is running out.
Thank you.
You'll bring those bags in, will you?
Michael.
Cathy!
That's a nice welcome
from a loving husband.
What're you doing here?
I thought I was giving
you a pleasant surprise.
Arranged, let me tell
you, at great expense.
Quite a lot of perjury
and over the dead bodies
of hundreds of civil servants.
Wow, perhaps I shouldn't have bothered.
You don't look too happy about it.
No, I'm all right.
It's just that I won't let
this bandit, Zarak Khan,
drive us from the territory.
I can beat him, and I will.
If it's the last thing I ever do.
-What's this all about?
-Who is Zarak Khan?
Well, it all started some years ago
when his father had
him declared an outlaw.
Apparently, he tried to steal
one of the old boy's wives,
and much more valuable,
a couple of camels and a rifle.
Since then, he's become
the number one outlaw
in the territory.
He's fooled us at every turn.
This afternoon too.
He's what they call, a
will-o-the-wisp, a mirim.
What's that? A mirim?
Well, it's hard to translate.
I suppose it's sort of,
as near as I can guess,
"Fire without smoke."
Ah, there, you see?
You're already thinking like a native.
Well you come here, and I'll
start thinking like a man.
How many camels am I worth?
-Three.
-Three?
Still, this Zarak should learn
that marriage is an honourable estate.
Like me, you mean.
I will honour you anywhere, any time.
Now. Yes.
Zarak!
We have news!
What news, brother?
Our father. He is dead.
-Dead?
-Dead, Zarak,
and you are the eldest.
Our village is without a chief.
-Zarak.
-Go away.
A rose for your ear, Sahib?
A friend would speak
to him who sits within.
Who? Where?
I will take you.
Lead on, old man.
There is
nothing to fear, Great One.
You goat.
Your friend waits for you here.
You wanted to see me?
Zarak, Zarak, you did remember me!
Did you ever think I
could ever forget you?
How did you live?
It was Akbar, the trader.
He saved my life.
Akbar?
He was very kind.
He let me buy back my freedom. Zarak.
- Do you have a husband?
- No.
Good. I would have to kill him.
We shall be married, Salma.
-No, Zarak.
-Why do you say no?
It's written.
"Do not marry the same woman
as your father married."
It's the law, Zarak.
What is a law to us?
We'll make our own laws.
- Oh, Salma.
- Oh, Zarak.
Salma.
Lock up for the night, old man.
I must get back to the camp.
Isn't that Zarak's right hand man?
The one-eyed fellow
that's always with him?
You're right. That's who it is.
Get on your horse and follow him.
He's probably joining up with Zarak.
I'll tell Ingram, and
we'll come with the troops.
Leave markers so we can follow you.
This far, men.
Move in and wait for my signal.
The one-eyed fellow's at camp.
Zarak must be there too.
Anyway, we'll never have a better chance.
Come on.
No one in here.
Zarak has escaped us again.
Send all the prisoners to Ziarat Jail.
Then burn the place down.
Zarak, come on, wake up.
-I must see him.
-No one must come in!
There is danger! It is urgent.
Mighty One, you are destroyed.
It is shouted in the marketplace,
the soldiers stormed your
camp, your men slaughtered.
The one-eyed one is taken prisoner
with a handful left alive.
I am to blame. I am to blame.
You're not to blame.
But I know who is.
It'll be dark before we get to Peshawar
the way you're going.
Shower, my dear.
If you really want to get there, shower.
You know, I don't think he really means
to take this holiday.
Oh look, do be careful
with those hat boxes.
Cathy's right.
You still don't believe
Zarak's finished, do you?
He's still around, isn't he?
We don't even know that.
Oh well, life's going to
be rather empty, darling,
isn't it, with no Mr. Zarak
Khan, wondering how to do down.
And I was just beginning
to learn the trick.
Do to him as he would
do to me, only better.
I had a wonderful trap all set for him.
Oh, do tell. I'm dying to know.
Professional secrets,
they may come in handy.
You men ought to get women to work out
your traps for you.
You should have seen the way I caught him.
Aren't you ready yet?
Not quite, no.
Handkerchief?
-Uh, yes.
-Money?
-Yes.
-Plenty of money?
Good, then Peshawar, "Peshawar"
I mean, here we come.
Move over, friend.
I have a message that I want you to send.
Yes, yes, everything
appears to be in order.
Get them ready!
You will sign this receipt,
Sergeant, if you please.
Yes, your Excellency.
Well I must admit, I am glad
to be rid of those rogues.
Very bad prisoners, very bad indeed.
Most unpleasant fellows.
Yes, your Excellency,
one only has to take one look at them
to see that they are filthy pigs.
I'm not afraid of these dogs.
Eh, you're a good soldier.
One can see that immediately.
However, I am not ashamed to admit
that I am glad to see the last of them.
Particularly with Major Ingram away
and the telegraph out of commission,
did you know that Zarak
is absolutely cut off?
Most annoying.
I'll show you how these
dogs should be treated.
Let's get one thing straight.
I hate the sight of you.
You pigs! I hate the smell of you!
If you give me one reason,
one reason to kill you, it
will give me great pleasure.
I'd like to see every one of you dead.
Did you hear what I said? Remember it!
Attention!
Let's go!
Hm, criminals, thieves,
bandits, cut-throats,
you should all be beheaded.
Criminals, bandits, cut-throats, thieves...
Come on!
Cut-throats, thieves.
Halt!
Bandits.
Come on, get up and file
those off.
I'm glad you're happy.
I am too.
Well, if you don't ask
why, I'll have to tell you.
I've taken a wife.
Are you mad?
What do men like us want with wives?
A woman's wanting, but marriage?
Who did you take to wife?
Who else but Salma?
But it is written,
"The beauty of a wife
is not to be shared."
What did you say?
What did you say?
I said nothing.
Either you talk too much or too little.
What did you say!
It's not easy to speak
with your hands up my throat.
Talk!
Stop! Zarak, come.
It was for the last time, Zarak.
You do not want me anymore.
Look at me, Zarak.
I am the same girl you held in
your arms when we were young.
I'll bet he'll have a sore throat.
That was wise of you.
Hassu.
What a terrifying man.
For a moment, I thought he
really meant to kill you.
He did. You know something?
Next time, he won't find it quite so easy.
-How many men?
-Over 100, sir!
All right, come on up now.
We're moving!
Come on, keep moving!
Get on those rifles!
Get on there with that camel.
Johnson, cover your uniform up.
Sorry, sir.
Did you brief them all properly?
Yes, sir.
I'm as anxious to catch
Zarak Khan as you are.
I hope so.
Uncover.
Uncover!
Over there with your hands up!
Well, Zarak Khan, this
is a moment long delayed.
Must've been the will of Allah.
And the looting and the killing,
was that the will of Allah too?
Who knows?
I've learned a lot from you, Zarak.
Today is the proof.
I've learned much from you, Major.
You played the same
trick on me, remember?
The first time we met.
But you'll be paid much more for it.
You're wrong. They'll
share the 50,000 rupees.
I hope they'll enjoy it, Major.
Stop! Spare him, my son.
Spare him.
It's either his life or mine, Holy One.
I ask for his life, Zarak.
Who is this?
A spy, Ahmad Khan.
Bring him here.
A spy.
I'm not a spy.
I am Zarak Khan.
I have heard of Zarak Khan.
Why should he stand before me
like a common beggar without even a rifle?
Where are your men? Your horses?
You bring no presents.
Give him to the dogs.
Wait. I'll let you prove
that you are Zarak Khan.
You have a knife. Bring on Mahmud.
Greetings, cousin.
This is Fort Abbott. 30
miles away is Ziarat.
Fat, rich with its treasury.
But well-guarded.
Only a few soldiers.
And the troops of Fort Abbott?
That's where I come in.
You get 1,000 men. Give me 500.
I'll go in and hold Fort Abbott
while you go into Ziarat.
I'll pin the fort down until
you get back across the border.
You can do this?
I can do this.
I wonder.
I know my own hills.
But over there, not even
my scouts could lead me.
I shall be your eyes.
How do I know you will not
betray me to the English?
I'm in your hands, cousin.
There's 50,000 rupees on my head.
You could turn me in any time you wished.
To be hanged.
And if your luck is still bad?
Who knows what's written?
Who knows, indeed.
Cousin, we ride against the English.
We should be about here.
It should take us about another 24 hours.
This I know.
Am I not Ahmad Khan, the
Fountain of Knowledge?
The Scourge of Allah?
If it's your will, O Scourge of Allah.
I'll leave right away
and find the best way
for you to Ziarat.
Go, go!
May you never grow old, cousin.
May you never grow old.
Happy New Year, darling.
Happy New Year.
Happy New Year, darling!
A happy New Year!
A very happy New Year!
All right, Ladies and
Gentlemen, keep back, keep calm.
Carry on dancing, please.
What is it?
Did you find
the best way to Ziarat?
Yes. We're about half way there.
Camp behind this mountain ridge tonight.
In the morning, cross over, and Ziarat
will be directly underneath you.
Fort Abbott lies to the north.
I'm giving you half of my men.
Be grateful.
I only hope I can
command them 100th as well as you.
If you do, a 100th part of
the treasury will be yours.
Live forever, O Generous One.
Lead them well.
May you never grow old, cousin.
Fire!
Fire!
Right into our trap.
Ready?
Fire!
Up. Fire!
Fall back!
March again!
Fire!
An urgent signal, sir.
Ziarat being attacked by Zarak.
Hurry, hurry!
He's going to kill me!
Open that safe and give me
the money, and you'll live.
Come on!
Leave her alone.
Hold this.
You might need this too.
You told me to burn his father's village
and to find his men.
I should have listened to you.
It's the only way
we'll ever catch Zarak.
Well, it's not too late.
We're off to Haji's village now.
Salaam.
The sahibs honour us
with their presence.
But why do they bring troops
to visit peaceful tribesmen?
Where's your brother?
We do not know, Sahib.
Would we hide him in our own village?
We'll soon find out. Out of the way.
- Search the buildings!
- Search the whole village!
-Anything?
-No luck so far.
I'm sure he's not in the village.
-Well, keep searching.
He must be here somewhere.
Sahib! Sahib Ingram!
One moment, please.
If Zarak should come and
force us to hide him-
With the stolen money, Sahib.
Would the Sahib see to it
that we did not stand trial?
You have full immunity.
And the reward, Sahib?
Yours.
And who would protect
us from Zarak's anger?
Hanging him would do that.
Where is he?
We did not say that he had come, Sahib.
Only if he should.
Now listen, you two...
-Wait.
-He is our brother, Sahib.
He's a murderer!
Everything you claim, Sahib.
We know it is our duty to our government,
but as Kasim has said,
this is no easy thing.
He's our own flesh and blood.
Will the English honour
us for helping them
by also wiping off our back taxes?
We do not honour informers.
This is a business deal,
and a filthy one at that.
You sell him, we buy him. That's it.
-Make your minds up.
we'll find him anyhow.
Sahib.
He's in the well.
You two there! On the double!
Zarak, come up before we open fire!
All right, you two and you
two fire a volley down there.
Are you ready? Fire!
Fire again!
Lower away.
There's money there,
but Zarak Khan is gone.
Blood, I think.
I suppose he's been shot, sir.
I've got every foot of ground covered.
I think we have him this time, my liege.
I wonder.
What do you want?
I kept this to remember I hated you. Here!
Zarak!
I went to the market for these myself.
The mulberries are in season too.
Leia will make a cake of them for you.
Is Zarak not pleased with me?
I'm going to Ziarat.
Why?
To give myself up.
No one knows.
No one knows it, Zarak.
I know.
But if you go back, they will hang you.
Even if they did that,
it wouldn't be enough
punishment for what I've done.
Don't go, Zarak.
For my sake, don't go.
If you die, my life will be over with too.
We will go where you will forget.
I can't forget I killed a holy man.
But you will! You will!
I promise you will.
Don't go, Zarak.
Please don't go.
Zarak! Alone and unarmed.
He must be mad giving himself up.
Even with him inside,
this is no place for us.
I know of a place that is. Come.
Zarak!
Let's get the others.
Take us quickly to your chief.
We have urgent news.
So...
We have come as your
friends, Ahmad Khan,
with news of Zarak.
Where is Zarak?
Our brother has given
himself up to the British.
He is at Ziarat prison.
But soon they will
move him to Fort Abbott.
They're probably on their way now.
And so are we.
To horse!
Strike camp at once and
move to the boulder hideout.
Now we'll surprise them with our mortars.
All right, Larkin, but make it
as large an escort as you can.
You know how much I trust him.
I'll see you there.
I don't know what you're up to,
or what you're going to do now.
But I'll be riding behind you
and one of these
will be for you.
Take him away, Sergeant.
Get off from the island!
Is Zarak among the dead?
No.
So he got away. But we have Ingram.
Put him on a horse.
What have you done with Ingram?
He still lives. Come with me.
Wait. Why don't they finish him?
It won't be over until
Ahmad himself take a sword.
And what are you waiting for?
Why don't you take me in?
What good would that do?
Well, if you'll take a horse,
you know now where to bring help.
What is this?
I'll try to delay him,
but you must go now.
How will you delay them?
I don't know, but I'll manage somehow.
I don't know what you're up to,
but there's nothing else I can do.
Hurry!
Greetings, cousin.
Allah has been good
to me, sending you here.
Hang him!
And bury him with his feet towards Mecca.
Before you kill me, cousin,
will you grant me one favour?
Let me show this English Major how to die.
You have your wish.
Hanging's too fast. It's for the weak.
My father once said I
should be flogged to death.
He tried, cousin.
But he failed.
We shall not fail.
Biri, Kasim, you carry
out your father's wish.
No, let another lash him.
We are his brothers.
Who are these liars?
I have no brothers.
He has no brothers!
Bring them the whip!
Take it, and if one of you
drops the lash before he's dead,
he goes free, and you step up for him.
Major.
Yes?
We've had much sport
together, haven't we?
Yes, Zarak Khan, we have.
Zarak Khan.
Zarak Khan.
Cut him down and let
them take his place.
Zarak Khan.
Rest in peace.
Someday I'm gonna have to
come back here, just to...
To put an inscription on this.
Do you know it is written,
"The one who saves a life,
shall be as if he saved
a life of all mankind."
Greater love hath no man than this.
But a man lay down his
life for his friends.
Friends? He hated us.
I'll give him his due as a fighter,
but what he did was a last
gesture of contempt for everyone.
He hated us until the end.
Perhaps so, but if that's true,
even greater love hath no man.
But he laid down his life for his enemy.
Salaam, men of the Haranzar.
Salaam.
May a humble trader bow before
the chief of the Haranzar,
your great and honourable father?
Haji Khan cannot be disturbed.
But perhaps you will
tell him that I am here,
that I have come far.
And that I bring gifts.
He is not to be disturbed.
He confers with his wives.
Well, one of his wives, let us say.
Am I not your favourite wife, Haji?
Favourite wife has eyes to see,
a body to lure, a mind to rebel.
What is it, imbecile?
The merchant, Akbar.
May his hands whither
for cheating me at the last shearing.
Our sheep was sick, the wool was poor.
Why am I cursed with wives
who give me imbecile sons?
Let him wait. Hey.
Some merchant brought rich cloths. Silks?
To cover a skin of milk?
-Fine, rich fabrics.
Many of them was gifts.
If we use a little tact. Or force perhaps?
He may come in then.
And you, my dove, it is not
good that a man should see you,
even with your veils.
Why must you stay here?
I'm the eldest son.
Zarak? Take me away.
Take me back to my own people.
If I stay here, I'll die.
Salma, you're one of my father's wives.
If you leave him, it'll bring
shame on him and me too.
And what about my shame?
To be sewn to a man I hate?
Isn't that shameful?
There's nothing to
be done. You must stay.
Go back.
Don't come near me again.
Don't speak to me again.
Don't tempt me to
blacken my father's name.
If you do, I'll be
forced to put this knife
in your heart.
Now. Do it now.
Kill them! Kill them both!
Before my eyes, kill them!
Wait, a knife is too quick, too merciful.
Take my son and flog him.
Flog him to death!
No! No, I'm to blame!
Not Zarak! I am to blame!
Zarak!
This, my wife, have her put from me.
Take her to the Hills of Chermal,
and cast her down onto the rocks.
Make certain that she dies.
No, Haji Khan. Sell her to me.
-Holy Mullah.
-Holy One.
-Holy Mullah.
-Holy Mullah.
-Holy Mullah.
-Holy Mullah.
Holy One.
You have come far?
From Mecca.
I come at a bad time, I see.
I'm about to punish a dog.
Is that not Zarak, your eldest son?
You mean my oldest enemy?
Has he disobeyed you?
He's betrayed me.
Brings shame on my name and to the family.
So much shame that you
beat him in front of women?
So much. Let this be a
warning to all of them!
He who has the eye of an eagle-
Of a vulture.
A vulture
feasts on death, my son.
Zarak won't wait until I die.
He would weep at your funeral.
I will laugh at his.
It is written,
he who hates his own flesh
should look into his soul.
I ask for the life of Zarak.
No.
I ask for the life of your eldest son.
The life of Zarak.
Holy One, for reverence of you,
but only for that, I will
give you what you ask.
Take him down, and stone
him from the village!
Banish him from my sight!
I declare him an outlaw!
An outlaw to me!
And to all my people.
May you live forever, Holy One.
Let him
alone, he's had enough!
Burn him!
-Burn him!
-Burn him!
Burn him!
Burn him!
Be warned, brother,
it may be our turn next.
Not if we join Zarak.
Are you losing your senses?
No, I have just found them.
-Zarak is an outlaw.
-And outlaws are free men.
Free of the tyranny of
Haji, our honourable father.
-Stay if you wish.
-Biri.
If you're afraid, stay.
How far away did you
say it was to Fort Abbot?
Oh, about 20 miles, I'd say.
-And Ziarat?
-About 20 miles further on.
Impatient to get to work, sir?
Well, I have come a long way.
Woah!
Move that camel!
Get him off the road.
Nice spot for a snooze.
Hey, that's enough of that.
Leave him alone.
I said that's enough.
Now, get him out of the way.
Forgive me, Sahib.
This animal has brought
me nothing but trouble.
Only yesterday, I had to pay a fine
of ten rupees when he bit a policeman.
Both you and the
policeman have my sympathy.
Now get him out of here.
He loves music, the soul of a snake.
Get back.
Get down. Get down!
Get down, all of you!
Come back! Come back, you fools!
Come here, come back!
Come on!
Sergeant, bring them back!
Bring those two men back!
We've captured one of Zarak's bandits,
but two of our men have deserted, sir.
Did you say it was
20 miles to Fort Abbot?
Not quite so far, sir.
Not more than 18.
- Only papers.
- Throw them in the fire.
You stupid fools.
There might be something
important in there.
So this is the Major
who came in to take care of me personally?
That is what they speak of in Ziarat.
When the new Major comes,
there will be no more bandits
within 100 miles of the Khyber Pass.
Alas, alas, no more
Zarak Khan.
Especially no more Zarak Khan.
You're first on the list.
I like being first.
You know, it's not impossible.
Did you say that Youssuff was captured?
He disobeyed my
orders, served him right.
Kasim, you and Biri go to Youssuff.
Warn him to hold his tongue
if he wants to keep it.
They'll recognise us as a rat.
Not without your pretty red uniforms.
But, without our uniforms,
we can be hanged as deserters.
Well, you only feel it once.
Must your big brother tell you again?
After all, they can only hang us.
You can only feel it once.
Blast it, and now they've attacked
and taken the Royal Mail.
If we allow Zarak Khan
to get away with this,
We're encouraging another insurrection.
And do you remember the last one, Colonel?
Only too well.
Well how would you
handle this little episode?
I'd burn his father's village,
and I'd fine every man in it
for every day Zarak is on the loose.
I promise you, they'd
bring him to us in a week.
Dead, most likely. And
not all in one piece.
Oh, I see.
Well, we can't have that, and
for my sake, I'm very glad.
As long as I'm political officer here,
my job is to protect the people
and not make them suffer
because of this bandit, Zarak.
It's a difficult job, I know.
But I think most of us knew
that when we came out here.
Yes, and we've all of us
had to alter our opinions
at some time.
The local tribesmen have a saying, Ingram:
"When Allah finished the world,
he cast the scraps down here."
Yeah, it's unlike the south
where you've been serving.
This is a cruel, hard,
miserable, primitive land. Huh.
You're back in the
middle ages here, my boy.
You'll have to accustom yourself
to an entirely different way of thinking.
To an entirely different moral code.
Yes, theft, plunder,
murder, pillage, rape...
What we over-civilised
Westerners call banditry.
It's a way of life out here.
A similarly respectable
institution like, uh,
shop keeping back home.
Only one thing matters: face.
Keeping it or losing it.
Well, come to think of it,
I've lost quite a bit of face today.
Besides losing the Royal Mail coach.
Well, a little bit, anyway.
By the way, Ingram,
do you notice these stains on the table?
Yes, I have.
Is there a story?
You heard me mention an insurrection.
Well actually, it started here.
Two of our chaps were
playing, just as we are.
No one else in the room.
They came in through the windows.
Hundreds of them.
Our chaps put up a good fight,
but they were cut to pieces.
And then the insurrection
started to spread.
It spread as far as your town, Ziarat.
And by the time we sent
troops to the rescue,
the whole place had been sacked.
From the first
on the list, greetings.
Tell him it's an order.
Tell him I'll have him
withdrawn if he mixes straw
in our horses' grain just once more.
Corporal, those two.
Aren't they the deserters?
Billy and whatever-his-name-is?
Come back here!
Come back!
Come on, get going.
Zarak. Zarak, what have
we got to do with Zarak?
Sorry, Major, truth is truth.
If we speak false, may we be
sewn in the skin of a pig.
This man has already confessed.
His leader is Zarak Khan.
It is true.
My judgement is that you
be dishonorably discharged
from the levies,
and a fine of 100 rupees
each for deserting the mail.
But, sir, we are poor men.
Have you no pity?
Youssuff, your sentence
is six months imprisonment
at Fort Abbott.
Sergeant, get an escort
and take him there, please.
Yes, sir.
Stand back! Get out of my way.
Ease back, I tell you.
Get out of my way.
Get him a doctor, quick!
Sire, come here quick, look!
They have cut out his tongue, sire.
When you see your brother
again, you tell him...
Tell him his time is running out.
Thank you.
You'll bring those bags in, will you?
Michael.
Cathy!
That's a nice welcome
from a loving husband.
What're you doing here?
I thought I was giving
you a pleasant surprise.
Arranged, let me tell
you, at great expense.
Quite a lot of perjury
and over the dead bodies
of hundreds of civil servants.
Wow, perhaps I shouldn't have bothered.
You don't look too happy about it.
No, I'm all right.
It's just that I won't let
this bandit, Zarak Khan,
drive us from the territory.
I can beat him, and I will.
If it's the last thing I ever do.
-What's this all about?
-Who is Zarak Khan?
Well, it all started some years ago
when his father had
him declared an outlaw.
Apparently, he tried to steal
one of the old boy's wives,
and much more valuable,
a couple of camels and a rifle.
Since then, he's become
the number one outlaw
in the territory.
He's fooled us at every turn.
This afternoon too.
He's what they call, a
will-o-the-wisp, a mirim.
What's that? A mirim?
Well, it's hard to translate.
I suppose it's sort of,
as near as I can guess,
"Fire without smoke."
Ah, there, you see?
You're already thinking like a native.
Well you come here, and I'll
start thinking like a man.
How many camels am I worth?
-Three.
-Three?
Still, this Zarak should learn
that marriage is an honourable estate.
Like me, you mean.
I will honour you anywhere, any time.
Now. Yes.
Zarak!
We have news!
What news, brother?
Our father. He is dead.
-Dead?
-Dead, Zarak,
and you are the eldest.
Our village is without a chief.
-Zarak.
-Go away.
A rose for your ear, Sahib?
A friend would speak
to him who sits within.
Who? Where?
I will take you.
Lead on, old man.
There is
nothing to fear, Great One.
You goat.
Your friend waits for you here.
You wanted to see me?
Zarak, Zarak, you did remember me!
Did you ever think I
could ever forget you?
How did you live?
It was Akbar, the trader.
He saved my life.
Akbar?
He was very kind.
He let me buy back my freedom. Zarak.
- Do you have a husband?
- No.
Good. I would have to kill him.
We shall be married, Salma.
-No, Zarak.
-Why do you say no?
It's written.
"Do not marry the same woman
as your father married."
It's the law, Zarak.
What is a law to us?
We'll make our own laws.
- Oh, Salma.
- Oh, Zarak.
Salma.
Lock up for the night, old man.
I must get back to the camp.
Isn't that Zarak's right hand man?
The one-eyed fellow
that's always with him?
You're right. That's who it is.
Get on your horse and follow him.
He's probably joining up with Zarak.
I'll tell Ingram, and
we'll come with the troops.
Leave markers so we can follow you.
This far, men.
Move in and wait for my signal.
The one-eyed fellow's at camp.
Zarak must be there too.
Anyway, we'll never have a better chance.
Come on.
No one in here.
Zarak has escaped us again.
Send all the prisoners to Ziarat Jail.
Then burn the place down.
Zarak, come on, wake up.
-I must see him.
-No one must come in!
There is danger! It is urgent.
Mighty One, you are destroyed.
It is shouted in the marketplace,
the soldiers stormed your
camp, your men slaughtered.
The one-eyed one is taken prisoner
with a handful left alive.
I am to blame. I am to blame.
You're not to blame.
But I know who is.
It'll be dark before we get to Peshawar
the way you're going.
Shower, my dear.
If you really want to get there, shower.
You know, I don't think he really means
to take this holiday.
Oh look, do be careful
with those hat boxes.
Cathy's right.
You still don't believe
Zarak's finished, do you?
He's still around, isn't he?
We don't even know that.
Oh well, life's going to
be rather empty, darling,
isn't it, with no Mr. Zarak
Khan, wondering how to do down.
And I was just beginning
to learn the trick.
Do to him as he would
do to me, only better.
I had a wonderful trap all set for him.
Oh, do tell. I'm dying to know.
Professional secrets,
they may come in handy.
You men ought to get women to work out
your traps for you.
You should have seen the way I caught him.
Aren't you ready yet?
Not quite, no.
Handkerchief?
-Uh, yes.
-Money?
-Yes.
-Plenty of money?
Good, then Peshawar, "Peshawar"
I mean, here we come.
Move over, friend.
I have a message that I want you to send.
Yes, yes, everything
appears to be in order.
Get them ready!
You will sign this receipt,
Sergeant, if you please.
Yes, your Excellency.
Well I must admit, I am glad
to be rid of those rogues.
Very bad prisoners, very bad indeed.
Most unpleasant fellows.
Yes, your Excellency,
one only has to take one look at them
to see that they are filthy pigs.
I'm not afraid of these dogs.
Eh, you're a good soldier.
One can see that immediately.
However, I am not ashamed to admit
that I am glad to see the last of them.
Particularly with Major Ingram away
and the telegraph out of commission,
did you know that Zarak
is absolutely cut off?
Most annoying.
I'll show you how these
dogs should be treated.
Let's get one thing straight.
I hate the sight of you.
You pigs! I hate the smell of you!
If you give me one reason,
one reason to kill you, it
will give me great pleasure.
I'd like to see every one of you dead.
Did you hear what I said? Remember it!
Attention!
Let's go!
Hm, criminals, thieves,
bandits, cut-throats,
you should all be beheaded.
Criminals, bandits, cut-throats, thieves...
Come on!
Cut-throats, thieves.
Halt!
Bandits.
Come on, get up and file
those off.
I'm glad you're happy.
I am too.
Well, if you don't ask
why, I'll have to tell you.
I've taken a wife.
Are you mad?
What do men like us want with wives?
A woman's wanting, but marriage?
Who did you take to wife?
Who else but Salma?
But it is written,
"The beauty of a wife
is not to be shared."
What did you say?
What did you say?
I said nothing.
Either you talk too much or too little.
What did you say!
It's not easy to speak
with your hands up my throat.
Talk!
Stop! Zarak, come.
It was for the last time, Zarak.
You do not want me anymore.
Look at me, Zarak.
I am the same girl you held in
your arms when we were young.
I'll bet he'll have a sore throat.
That was wise of you.
Hassu.
What a terrifying man.
For a moment, I thought he
really meant to kill you.
He did. You know something?
Next time, he won't find it quite so easy.
-How many men?
-Over 100, sir!
All right, come on up now.
We're moving!
Come on, keep moving!
Get on those rifles!
Get on there with that camel.
Johnson, cover your uniform up.
Sorry, sir.
Did you brief them all properly?
Yes, sir.
I'm as anxious to catch
Zarak Khan as you are.
I hope so.
Uncover.
Uncover!
Over there with your hands up!
Well, Zarak Khan, this
is a moment long delayed.
Must've been the will of Allah.
And the looting and the killing,
was that the will of Allah too?
Who knows?
I've learned a lot from you, Zarak.
Today is the proof.
I've learned much from you, Major.
You played the same
trick on me, remember?
The first time we met.
But you'll be paid much more for it.
You're wrong. They'll
share the 50,000 rupees.
I hope they'll enjoy it, Major.
Stop! Spare him, my son.
Spare him.
It's either his life or mine, Holy One.
I ask for his life, Zarak.
Who is this?
A spy, Ahmad Khan.
Bring him here.
A spy.
I'm not a spy.
I am Zarak Khan.
I have heard of Zarak Khan.
Why should he stand before me
like a common beggar without even a rifle?
Where are your men? Your horses?
You bring no presents.
Give him to the dogs.
Wait. I'll let you prove
that you are Zarak Khan.
You have a knife. Bring on Mahmud.
Greetings, cousin.
This is Fort Abbott. 30
miles away is Ziarat.
Fat, rich with its treasury.
But well-guarded.
Only a few soldiers.
And the troops of Fort Abbott?
That's where I come in.
You get 1,000 men. Give me 500.
I'll go in and hold Fort Abbott
while you go into Ziarat.
I'll pin the fort down until
you get back across the border.
You can do this?
I can do this.
I wonder.
I know my own hills.
But over there, not even
my scouts could lead me.
I shall be your eyes.
How do I know you will not
betray me to the English?
I'm in your hands, cousin.
There's 50,000 rupees on my head.
You could turn me in any time you wished.
To be hanged.
And if your luck is still bad?
Who knows what's written?
Who knows, indeed.
Cousin, we ride against the English.
We should be about here.
It should take us about another 24 hours.
This I know.
Am I not Ahmad Khan, the
Fountain of Knowledge?
The Scourge of Allah?
If it's your will, O Scourge of Allah.
I'll leave right away
and find the best way
for you to Ziarat.
Go, go!
May you never grow old, cousin.
May you never grow old.
Happy New Year, darling.
Happy New Year.
Happy New Year, darling!
A happy New Year!
A very happy New Year!
All right, Ladies and
Gentlemen, keep back, keep calm.
Carry on dancing, please.
What is it?
Did you find
the best way to Ziarat?
Yes. We're about half way there.
Camp behind this mountain ridge tonight.
In the morning, cross over, and Ziarat
will be directly underneath you.
Fort Abbott lies to the north.
I'm giving you half of my men.
Be grateful.
I only hope I can
command them 100th as well as you.
If you do, a 100th part of
the treasury will be yours.
Live forever, O Generous One.
Lead them well.
May you never grow old, cousin.
Fire!
Fire!
Right into our trap.
Ready?
Fire!
Up. Fire!
Fall back!
March again!
Fire!
An urgent signal, sir.
Ziarat being attacked by Zarak.
Hurry, hurry!
He's going to kill me!
Open that safe and give me
the money, and you'll live.
Come on!
Leave her alone.
Hold this.
You might need this too.
You told me to burn his father's village
and to find his men.
I should have listened to you.
It's the only way
we'll ever catch Zarak.
Well, it's not too late.
We're off to Haji's village now.
Salaam.
The sahibs honour us
with their presence.
But why do they bring troops
to visit peaceful tribesmen?
Where's your brother?
We do not know, Sahib.
Would we hide him in our own village?
We'll soon find out. Out of the way.
- Search the buildings!
- Search the whole village!
-Anything?
-No luck so far.
I'm sure he's not in the village.
-Well, keep searching.
He must be here somewhere.
Sahib! Sahib Ingram!
One moment, please.
If Zarak should come and
force us to hide him-
With the stolen money, Sahib.
Would the Sahib see to it
that we did not stand trial?
You have full immunity.
And the reward, Sahib?
Yours.
And who would protect
us from Zarak's anger?
Hanging him would do that.
Where is he?
We did not say that he had come, Sahib.
Only if he should.
Now listen, you two...
-Wait.
-He is our brother, Sahib.
He's a murderer!
Everything you claim, Sahib.
We know it is our duty to our government,
but as Kasim has said,
this is no easy thing.
He's our own flesh and blood.
Will the English honour
us for helping them
by also wiping off our back taxes?
We do not honour informers.
This is a business deal,
and a filthy one at that.
You sell him, we buy him. That's it.
-Make your minds up.
we'll find him anyhow.
Sahib.
He's in the well.
You two there! On the double!
Zarak, come up before we open fire!
All right, you two and you
two fire a volley down there.
Are you ready? Fire!
Fire again!
Lower away.
There's money there,
but Zarak Khan is gone.
Blood, I think.
I suppose he's been shot, sir.
I've got every foot of ground covered.
I think we have him this time, my liege.
I wonder.
What do you want?
I kept this to remember I hated you. Here!
Zarak!
I went to the market for these myself.
The mulberries are in season too.
Leia will make a cake of them for you.
Is Zarak not pleased with me?
I'm going to Ziarat.
Why?
To give myself up.
No one knows.
No one knows it, Zarak.
I know.
But if you go back, they will hang you.
Even if they did that,
it wouldn't be enough
punishment for what I've done.
Don't go, Zarak.
For my sake, don't go.
If you die, my life will be over with too.
We will go where you will forget.
I can't forget I killed a holy man.
But you will! You will!
I promise you will.
Don't go, Zarak.
Please don't go.
Zarak! Alone and unarmed.
He must be mad giving himself up.
Even with him inside,
this is no place for us.
I know of a place that is. Come.
Zarak!
Let's get the others.
Take us quickly to your chief.
We have urgent news.
So...
We have come as your
friends, Ahmad Khan,
with news of Zarak.
Where is Zarak?
Our brother has given
himself up to the British.
He is at Ziarat prison.
But soon they will
move him to Fort Abbott.
They're probably on their way now.
And so are we.
To horse!
Strike camp at once and
move to the boulder hideout.
Now we'll surprise them with our mortars.
All right, Larkin, but make it
as large an escort as you can.
You know how much I trust him.
I'll see you there.
I don't know what you're up to,
or what you're going to do now.
But I'll be riding behind you
and one of these
will be for you.
Take him away, Sergeant.
Get off from the island!
Is Zarak among the dead?
No.
So he got away. But we have Ingram.
Put him on a horse.
What have you done with Ingram?
He still lives. Come with me.
Wait. Why don't they finish him?
It won't be over until
Ahmad himself take a sword.
And what are you waiting for?
Why don't you take me in?
What good would that do?
Well, if you'll take a horse,
you know now where to bring help.
What is this?
I'll try to delay him,
but you must go now.
How will you delay them?
I don't know, but I'll manage somehow.
I don't know what you're up to,
but there's nothing else I can do.
Hurry!
Greetings, cousin.
Allah has been good
to me, sending you here.
Hang him!
And bury him with his feet towards Mecca.
Before you kill me, cousin,
will you grant me one favour?
Let me show this English Major how to die.
You have your wish.
Hanging's too fast. It's for the weak.
My father once said I
should be flogged to death.
He tried, cousin.
But he failed.
We shall not fail.
Biri, Kasim, you carry
out your father's wish.
No, let another lash him.
We are his brothers.
Who are these liars?
I have no brothers.
He has no brothers!
Bring them the whip!
Take it, and if one of you
drops the lash before he's dead,
he goes free, and you step up for him.
Major.
Yes?
We've had much sport
together, haven't we?
Yes, Zarak Khan, we have.
Zarak Khan.
Zarak Khan.
Cut him down and let
them take his place.
Zarak Khan.
Rest in peace.
Someday I'm gonna have to
come back here, just to...
To put an inscription on this.
Do you know it is written,
"The one who saves a life,
shall be as if he saved
a life of all mankind."
Greater love hath no man than this.
But a man lay down his
life for his friends.
Friends? He hated us.
I'll give him his due as a fighter,
but what he did was a last
gesture of contempt for everyone.
He hated us until the end.
Perhaps so, but if that's true,
even greater love hath no man.
But he laid down his life for his enemy.