(Trumpeting)
"Ever since the day my father killed the mate
"of the big bull elephant, evil has hung over elephant walk.
"Our bungalow blocks the broad trail which the elephants,
"centuries ago, smashed through the jungle to get to the water.
"They still try to force their way through.
"Led by the vengeful big bull,
"they are a constant menace to our home and our lives.
"Like my father, I have defied them.
"How could I have so completely forgotten
"this ever present danger when I went to England and met Ruth?
"It was pouring with rain,
"and she was preparing to close her little shop
in Shillingworth-on-Thames."
I know you're in a hurry to close, dear,
but I can't take this if it's got an unhappy ending.
Authors shouldn't write unhappy endings
after all we've been through--
what with the air raids and buzz bombs and things.
Now let me see. Just a quick look.
(Reading to herself)
I knew it. She dies.
Take it, dear.
Much as I'd love it, I just couldn't.
Now, what about these two?
Do you think they're all right?
Have you read this one?
Hello. Oh, I'm sorry. Am I too early,
I mean, too late?
I'd like to change a book.
Well, if you try to be quick in deciding.
We're actually closed.
I won't be a minute. Lovely day.
(Whispering) That's John Wiley.
He's a tea planter from Ceylon.
He's been visiting his cousins,
the Mortimer Wileys.
You know, the manor house?
Oh, really?
They say he's been here looking for a wife
to take back with him,
but he didn't find her,
so he's going back alone next week.
What civilized girl would want to live in a jungle?
Imagine. Snakes and tigers and things.
(Bang) (Gasps)
Ohhh.
Well, uh, I'll take these.
Did you find something?
Yes, actually.
Poisonous reptiles of Ceylon.
Oh!
Well, good night, dear.
Good night.
Are you really John Wiley from Ceylon?
Are you really Ruth Lacker
of Shillingworth-on-Thames?
Yes, I am!
Oh, by the way, Mr. John Wiley,
the Shillingworth lending library
does not carry books on snakes.
Don't they? It was the only way
to get rid of that one hissing in your ear.
By the way, I've got something for you.
Look, our honeymoon tickets.
Two weeks in Paris, two days in Cairo,
Bombay if we want to,
and then home to elephant walk.
Oh, darling,
to really see all those wonderful places.
And only two weeks ago,
I didn't know such a person as John Wiley.
Ruth, are you quite sure
this isn't all a little too fast for you?
No, I knew it.
I knew I could love you
the minute I first saw you.
Darling.
But, mother, you must admit he is wonderful.
He seems a nice young man,
but we know so little about him.
At such short notice,
what will people think?
I don't care what people think.
I just know I love him.
Ohh.
Ahh.
Well, I shall pray for your happiness.
Good night, darling.
Good night.
It's just that you're going so far
from everything here.
I know, mums.
Welcome, master, welcome, mistress.
Hello, Thomas.
John, a rolls!
Yes, it's about 15 years old, I'm afraid.
It belonged to my father,
or the governor, as they called him.
It's brand-new to me.
Sit back. We have an all-day's drive.
Well, do you like it?
You should have told me it was so beautiful.
I didn't want to paint any pictures.
You wanted to be loved for yourself alone.
Are those tea fields?
No, darling. Tea doesn't grow underwater.
It grows on bushes, high in the mountains,
as high as possible.
Those are rice paddies.
I always thought tea grew in yellow tins.
Welcome, master, welcome.
Welcome, welcome.
Hello, James.
Aram.
John, I can't believe this!
Well, they wanted to impress you.
This is all in your honor.
A champagne lunch in the middle of the jungle.
What am I getting into?
Deeper into my heart.
A pretty speech.
Hello, we better start.
We've got guests.
Ohh.
What's that building?
That's my factory where we process the tea.
Are we on your plantation now?
Our plantation, darling.
We've been on it for about half an hour.
Half an hour? That's miles!
Yes, it is a few.
(Trumpeting)
That's that lop-eared old bull again.
I'll take a picture.
Stay where you are.
Well, is he dangerous?
Be quiet, Ruth.
(Car horn honks)
Thomas, let's give him a noise he understands.
I'm certainly glad he did understand.
John?
It should have been done long ago.
The trouble is, you have to get government permission.
To do what?
To kill one of their precious beasts.
Then they are dangerous.
That particular one, yes.
Dangerous and destructive.
There you are, darling.
Elephant walk bungalow.
Welcome, master, welcome, mistress.
Welcome, master.
Hello, Abuhami.
Ruth, this is Abuhami.
He was with the governor long before I was born.
He runs the place.
Welcome, mistress.
Oh, well, let's have
the customary ceremony about this.
Ha ha ha!
Wango. Wango.
Oh!
I can't believe it!
I've never seen anything like this!
If this is a bungalow--
they call everything out here a bungalow.
I'm sorry if it's a little small.
Then I did marry a millionaire.
I'm afraid so. What will you do about it?
I should have known when you bought me those beautiful clothes in Paris.
Oh, what a beautiful view!
That's the elephant walk
where the place got its name.
Before the governor built here,
the elephants would come down that track for centuries
to get to the water.
They don't still try to come through, do they?
Elephants always remember.
In the governor's time,
some were killed in the argument.
Perhaps it's revenge.
Don't worry. That wall keeps them out.
They try from time to time
just out of stubbornness.
Led by that big bull we saw?
Why did you say that?
Oh, I don't know.
It's just that he looks so fierce.
And he made you look fierce.
Why did your father choose this particular spot
to build on?
He liked it.
It was a big risk, wasn't it?
He liked risks.
What's that, John?
Come on, darling.
What is it?
That's his grave.
You mean your father's buried right here?
Why not? That's where he wanted it,
and he always got his way.
Come on, darling. You must be tired.
Am I asking too many questions?
Mmm. Inquiring little head.
You ask as many questions as you like,
but not now--later. Come on.
Mr. carver requests your presence in the factory.
All right.
Oh, Abuhami, tell the groom boys to have my horse at the door.
Yes, master.
Carver's my assistant.
He's a nice chap.
You'll meet him tonight.
Is there going to be a party?
No, just the usual Saturday night crowd--
friends and neighbors.
Well, here you are. I hope you like it.
Oh, it's beautiful.
The governor built it as a bridal chamber
before he went to England to meet mother.
Before he met her?
Yes. He thought it was about time to have an heir,
so he went to England to find a wife.
He must have expected a very large wife.
The horse is saddled, master.
Darling, do you mind if I go down to the factory?
I may get lost.
I'll find you again.
Abuhami looks after you from now on.
Is there anything mistress wishes?
No, nothing. Thank you, Abuhami.
I hope you will be very happy
at elephant walk, mistress.
Thank you.
That's a beautiful comb you're wearing.
It is the comb of caste, mistress.
It is to signify that those who wear it
are not bearers.
I have a great deal to learn, Abuhami.
Will you help me?
Abuhami?
Mistress?
Mr. Wiley’s mother--
is she buried there, also?
In England, mistress.
She did not like it here.
Master, master.
Darling, you look very beautiful.
Well, chaps, this is my wife.
Gordon Gregory.
How do you do?
Charles Macdougal. John Rowlf.
James Strassey. John Longworth.
Charles Burton. Peter Ainsworth.
Cubby Dawber. Robbie Chisolm.
So sorry we didn't have time to change.
I've so been looking forward
to meeting all of you.
I was rather nervous,
but none of you seem very frightening.
Wait till you know them better.
Where's everybody else?
Who else, darling?
The wives, of course.
These blighters married? Hardly.
Look at them.
We're not fortunate like John.
Ho ho. Ha ha.
I haven't seen a white woman
around this district since--
when was the last time the judge's wife was here?
Mmm, two years, anyhow.
Don't worry, darling.
You'll never be lonely here.
No. Elephant walk is like a hotel, Mrs. Wiley.
Why, it's better than living in a club,
so don't you go thinking
there's no social activity.
Why, there's more social activity that goes on--
all right, Peter.
I was only welcoming a new member.
Thank you very much.
It's the finest club in the world,
founded by John's father,
old Tom Wiley-- The governor.
God bless him.
Yes! God bless him.
I'd like to hear more about the governor.
He was the biggest-hearted man
that ever trod this earth.
All his good fortune is shared with his friends.
You could talk for a month
and not finish stories about the governor.
He was a legend.
He's been dead many years, Mrs. Wiley,
but that's a legend, too.
He's much more alive today than ever.
Let's drink to the governor!
Well, let's go to dinner.
No use waiting for carver.
He's always late.
You've met dick carver?
No, I haven't.
Oh, not a bad type. A bit unsociable.
Not one of us, eh, John?
He works, which is more than you do.
With him on the job, I'll retire.
You retire? Never.
Not until you're lying out there
beside your governor.
Ah, that chair's been vacant far too long.
Yes.
Ha ha ha ha!
How did you find things in England, John?
A bit battered, very rationed.
I hope they ease up on their wartime restrictions soon.
But, darling, things really have eased quite a lot.
I can't imagine how they were before.
Then I shan't put a blight on this wonderful dinner
by telling you.
Good evening, everybody.
I'm sorry I'm late, John.
Oh, dick, this is my wife.
Dick carver, Ruth.
Well, hello.
If I had known, I'd have had the flags out.
If you'd known what, old man?
All I can say now is welcome,
or is that another echo?
If it is, it's nice to hear it again.
Well, I'll drink to you.
Well, we've already done that,
but we can do it again.
Mrs. Wiley, here's to your happiness.
(Trumpeting)
(Speaking Ceylonese)
That lop-eared old bull again.
I saw him around. Carver, would you--
I'll do it myself.
There's only one answer to that beast--
kill him!
Yeah, he's a real troublemaker.
He's got a persistence that isn't healthy.
Persistence?
Yeah. He wants their trail back--
the old watering trail down to the river.
John showed me the trail back of the house.
Back of the house? We're sitting on it.
This house is built plumb across it,
across the elephant walk.
It's not really as bad as it sounds.
The elephants only come to the wall.
There are always men patrolling
to keep them out.
But the servants, they ran away.
You'll get used to that.
You see, Mrs. Wiley,
they think elephants are people.
The elephant people, they call them.
And their road was taken from them, their right-of-way?
Carver, I want that patrol around the house increased.
Check.
Ruth, the right-of-way was the governor's.
Nothing was taken away from the elephants.
Well done!
(Piano playing)
Good shot, man!
Excellent!
Ha ha ha ha!
Ohhh.
Good shot!
Nice shot.
Darling, you watch this.
(Applause)
Yeah!
Ha ha ha ha!
Wait a minute. Wait, wait.
Hey, hey.
(Stops playing)
Please don't stop.
You like it? It's Chopin.
Yes, I know.
We even have Chopin in Shillingworth.
Touche.
Is that where you're from-- Shillingworth?
Mm-hmm.
It can't be just plain Shillingworth.
It must be Shillingworth on-something-or-other.
On-the-Thames.
Where else?
Wait! Wait!
(Pool ball being hit)
All right!
It's a strange country, isn't it?
Oh, any country's strange to a stranger.
Thank you for that.
Well, enough of that.
Please, must you stop?
It's getting late.
According to the men, the evening's just beginning.
That's when I steal away to carver castle.
It's hardly the size of this.
They warned me you were unsociable.
Are you really?
In your case, it would be for a different reason.
Pardon me for staring at you.
But it's a new experience
to see someone like you around here.
With a dress as pretty as that...
And smelling of Paris.
Hey, hey!
Oh, look at that!
Ha ha ha ha!
(Trumpeting)
Tell me about the elephants.
Are we changing the subject?
Well, I would like to know more about Ceylon.
Those elephants have been making trouble for 40 years.
They'll go on making trouble for another 40.
They must resent this house a lot.
Wouldn't you if you were an elephant?
Yes.
I wonder why he did it,
why he built across their trail,
why he insisted on his grave being there?
Tom Wiley was Tom Wiley.
That doesn't tell me very much.
He was the best tea planter in Ceylon or anywhere else.
But they talk about him as if he'd been a king.
He was a king in his way.
But what kind of a man beneath it all?
Hard, stubborn.
Too stubborn even to die.
Don't get your impressions of Tom Wiley from me.
I'm not a disciple like the rest of them.
I know. That's why I asked.
Can I give you some friendly advice?
Get Tom Wiley out of your mind and keep him out.
Let the others hang on to their myths if they want to.
Just remember that grave out there
is a colossal piece of vanity, nothing else.
He's very dead.
Good night.
When I wished you happiness this evening,
I really meant it.
I mean it even more now.
I hope you're very happy.
Thank you.
Please come see us often.
Oh, didn't John tell you?
I'm leaving elephant walk.
You're leaving?
I should have gone long ago.
I only stuck around to keep things running
while John went to England and found you.
I'm the one who should have gone to England.
Where are you going?
First off, Paris,
to make up for anything I might have missed
at jolly old elephant walk. After that...
I wish you luck, Mr. carver,
although I am sorry you're going.
I'm almost sorry myself now.
Good night, Mrs. Wiley.
Good night.
And old Charlie Mitchell went into the cafe,
and the girl is sitting on his knee.
Well, Charlie always was one...
I hope you'll all excuse me.
I'm awfully tired.
Darling, have I been neglecting you?
No, darling.
Would you mind awfully if I went upstairs?
Not a bit. We'd all understand.
Good night. It's been nice meeting all of you.
I hope I see you again soon.
Well, of course...
No need to say goodbye.
They're all weekend guests.
They've got their special rooms.
Oh. How nice. I didn't know.
Well, then, good night.
Good night. Good night.
(Overlapping chatter)
Did you like them? They're all nice chaps.
Yes.
They're delighted with you.
Are they?
Will you come up soon?
Darling, we both can't leave our guests.
I won't be long.
Good shot!
(Trumpeting)
(Animal yipping)
Yay! Yay! Yay!
(Overlapping chatter)
Come on over here!
All right, now. Pass it.
Pass it!
To the governor.
John.
John!
Mistress is calling you.
(Speaking Ceylonese)
What's the matter?
I heard all the noise, and I was...
I got frightened.
Frightened of what?
You're not a child.
You wanted to go to bed, go to bed.
I don't enjoy being embarrassed
in front of my friends.
(Men continue chattering, cheering)
(Crying)
Forgive me.
I don't want to hurt you.
John, darling.
I don't know why I said what I did.
I shouldn't have brought you here.
Don't say that. Don't say that.
I belong with you.
(Overlapping animal sounds)
John.
John?
Old master, hear me, I beg you.
Your servant is beginning the new workday,
and I am...
But concerning the new mistress,
my thoughts are troubled.
As was the woman, your honored wife before her,
she is not one of us,
and her ways are cold and strange.
Abuhami.
Good morning, mistress.
Good morning, Abuhami.
Where's Mr. Wiley?
The master has left for the workday.
At this hour?
The workers of elephant walk
muster every morning at 6:00.
As long as I have known,
the master of elephant walk is always present
to give them their orders.
Shall I bring you your morning tea now?
Yes, thank you.
Yes, mistress.
(Overlapping chatter)
(Speaking Ceylonese)
Edward, get as many pluckers as you can.
I'll make it for you, sir.
Remember, we want a record year.
We make, master.
You've had a record year yourself. Triplets, eh?
Yes, sir. Three big boys.
You're quite a boy yourself.
You go down to the factory.
(Speaking Ceylonese)
(Singing in Ceylonese)
How's your new humidifier working?
Fermentation's improved considerably, I think.
You know, you're a good tea-maker.
Thanks.
Why don't you stay?
Next boat that hits Colombo, I'll be on it.
Will you?
I hate changes around elephant walk.
I wouldn't say that.
You've got yourself quite a change at the bungalow now.
Ruth? She's no change. She'll fit in.
It's a pity she never knew the governor.
She will.
Good morning, mistress.
Good morning.
What's this room?
Old master's room, mistress.
It is always locked, mistress.
Ever since old master died.
Only Abuhami goes to clean once in a while.
Tell me where I can find Abuhami.
In kitchen, mistress.
(Speaking Ceylonese)
Mistress.
Looks like we're feeding the whole of Ceylon.
I beg your pardon, mistress?
Who are all of these men cooking for?
The household, mistress.
Excuse me, mistress.
I've never seen so much food in one place.
The estate is remote, mistress.
We must buy in bulk.
Oh, yes, of course.
(Speaking Ceylonese)
Madeira, Abuhami?
Who drinks Madeira?
I know my husband doesn't like it.
The old master was very fond of it, mistress.
Abuhami.
Mistress.
About those cigars. My husband doesn't smoke them.
Must we be so wasteful?
They are for his guests, mistress.
His regular guests.
There was only one man I saw smoke a cigar Saturday night.
The old master always smoked cigars.
Excuse me.
(Children singing)
Hello.
Please don't stop singing.
Don't run away.
Whose children are those?
Their parents work in the tea fields.
And they're left alone all day?
They're quite safe, mistress,
and very happy.
They seem afraid of me.
What they do not understand, they are suspicious of.
Abuhami.
Mistress.
Why are they throwing away all that food?
Nothing once cooked at elephant walk
is ever used again.
What shocking waste.
Why, that's six months' rationing.
There's no rationing at elephant walk, mistress.
Nevertheless, I'd still like to cut down on the waste.
Perhaps we could work on the menu together.
I have just completed the menus for the coming week.
Abuhami.
Mistress.
I've decided to continue my inspection of the house alone.
May I have the keys?
There's no need for keys, mistress.
All doors are open.
All but one. May I have the key?
I am sorry, mistress.
It is the old master's study you refer to.
I cannot give you the key to that room.
Is there anything else?
That will be all.
Ruth!
Ruth, where are you?
Hello, darling.
I just got in.
Carver's called in for a farewell drink.
Hello.
Come down and charm us, will you?
I'll try.
I've been looking forward to this drink since 3:00.
I'm feeling the heat since I got back.
One thing I won't miss is that afternoon sun.
Dick, there's a refreshing sight.
That makes that drink almost unnecessary.
Steady, old man, don't go too far.
Letters? Is that what you've been doing?
Not all day. Just this afternoon.
I see. Complaining about me already.
"Dear mother, I married the most dreadful man."
Well, of course.
Drink, darling?
No, thank you.
Know why I don't write letters?
You write, they answer, you answer their answer,
they answer your answer, and so on--
stop teasing and tell me how to post these.
Give them to Abuhami. He's going to Colombo.
I'll be glad to mail them.
Yes. Give them to dick.
Thank you, that's fine.
He's leaving tonight.
Well, darling, tell us about your day.
Well, there's nothing much to tell, really.
It's just kitchen talk.
Well, we don't mind.
I thought you were going to work with Abuhami. Did you?
Yes, I did.
How did it go?
What's the matter, Ruth?
Don't you think this is rather boring for Mr. carver
on his last night?
Dick? He's practically one of the family.
Well, it's pretty late.
I'd better be getting along.
You haven't finished your drink.
Now I have.
Thanks, John. Thanks for everything.
Same here.
Goodbye. Goodbye, Ruth.
We'll miss you.
Don't be nice. Tell him he's an idiot to go.
There's just the possibility I may be back.
You can run out of money fast in Paris.
Do it as quickly as you can.
Ok.
Goodbye. Goodbye.
All the luck in the world, dick.
Thanks.
My letters.
Dick! Dick!
I forgot to give you my letters.
Oh.
For a moment, I thought you were going to ask me to stay.
Why should I interfere with your life?
Maybe you have already.
Goodbye, dick.
Goodbye, Ruth. Oh, if you should ever need me for anything,
you can reach me at the American express in Paris.
If I should need you?
That's right.
So long.
Where is it now? Where is it, eh?
(Overlapping chatter)
(Taps piano keys)
(Loud cheering)
Don't ever startle me like that again.
Excuse me, mistress. A harmless insect.
Please don't kill it.
(Overlapping chatter continues)
Abuhami! Abuhami!
(Shouting in Ceylonese)
What is it?
What's happened?
John!
He hit the wall.
Abuhami, call the doctor at once.
I'd say a few weeks in bed will do it.
A few weeks?
I'm being optimistic. It's a compound fracture.
I've got a plantation to run.
Run it from your bed.
If I can't trust you, I'll put you into traction.
Traction! I've got a new crop, and the monsoons are due.
Unfortunately, the leg must stay there,
and you are attached to it.
Very amusing.
John, maybe your friends could help.
They're all fighting time and the monsoons themselves,
and he picks this time to lay me up.
Good night.
You're a quack!
If you come in here, I'll have you thrown out!
Master. Master, please.
He never was a doctor.
Few weeks?
He'll be a difficult patient.
He's his father's son.
Did you know John's father?
You see this scar?
Tom Wiley threw his water carafe at me
when I said he had a temperature.
I can believe it.
You should get yourself some sleep, young lady.
I'll be all right, doctor. Don't worry about me.
I've given your husband a strong sedative.
He'll rest very well.
There's no reason you shouldn't do the same.
I will. I promise. Good.
I'll be back in the morning. Good night.
(Abuhami) She has brought evil spirits.
The master lies hurt.
There is sadness in my heart.
Since her coming here, I have felt it.
She does not belong to elephant walk.
How is he, doctor?
Awake. Very loudly awake.
I'm afraid this may take longer than we first expected.
Why do you say that?
Even broken bones require some cooperation
during the mending process,
from their owner, that is.
If only we could relieve his concern about the plantation...
I wish I could help.
I wish there was something I could do.
Doctors are notoriously pessimistic, Mrs. Wiley.
It's possible that just having you around
may be all the prescription required.
Goodbye for now, Mrs. Wiley.
Goodbye.
(Singing)
Look here. Elephant tracks all over.
Here. There. Ruined tea fields all over.
They sure did a good job of ruining this field.
Hello, Ruth.
Hello.
The elephants got in here last night
and trampled a few hundred young plants.
You can see how much you were needed.
John know I'm back yet?
Abuhami told him first thing. He's very grateful.
He should be. I was halfway up the gangplank.
Are you coming to the house later?
When I get cleared away here.
When you speak to John, do me a favor.
Sure.
Don't tell him I sent for you.
Let him think it was your idea,
that you heard about the accident and came.
Dick carver to the rescue? Ok, Ruth.
I understand.
Thank you, dick.
I'll see you at the bungalow.
My regards to the patient.
Come on, boys. What's holding us up?
Need more men. Not enough.
Well, get them.
Patrols were on the job, John.
What were they doing?
Relax, man.
You couldn't check on them from your bed.
They've all been alerted.
They'll stay that way.
What am I, a blasted contortionist?
What do we do about the plants before the monsoons?
We put back more than a third this morning.
How?
Stopped the pickers and put them to planting.
You stopped the pickers?
Makes sense. Nothing much to pick anyway till the rains.
Everything's drying up.
There's been a rule here for 50 years--
pick while there's flush to pick.
Weather and elephants don't change it.
Put those pickers back to work.
Ok, John.
You're giving the orders.
(Speaking Ceylonese)
What's this?
Your lunch-- cold chicken and fruit salad.
The menu said roast pork.
I thought it was too heavy for you in this weather.
Abuhami, will you get what's ordered?
But, darling, it's not good for you. Having to lie--
Ruth, stop interfering in a household
that's been running smoothly for a number of years.
Do you understand?
I order you to stop interfering.
May I leave now, master?
If this is the kind of ideas you have,
you ought to have them more often.
Playing nurse has kept you inside too much.
You lost your voice?
Not really. It's just that...
Rather just ride?
For a while, yes.
Ok. Let's go.
Where are we?
Fulanarhua--capital of the ancient kings of Ceylon.
Or what's left of it.
Pretty impressive, isn't it?
Ohh.
This is a very sacred place to all Buddhists.
That's the sleeping Buddha pahanerhua...
And his faithful disciple ananda.
It's so beautiful... Still.
I feel like we're trespassing.
Oh, they like company.
These are fake.
I keep the real ones in a vault.
Oh, they're lovely.
Ruth, you remember once I offered to help?
The offer still holds?
Just try me.
You're the only one I can try,
the only one that doesn't worship at the shrine.
Oh. Then it's Tom Wiley.
You told me to try and get him out of my mind,
but it's not that easy.
He's all around me.
The house, the servants, Abuhami.
Sometimes in John.
What made you say that?
Anyone can see it.
Old Tom Wiley still rules elephant walk,
even from his grave.
Do you know anything about John's mother?
As far as the house is concerned,
there's not a trace of her.
Not even a picture.
It's as if she'd never been to elephant walk.
All I know is what the natives tell, local gossip.
They blame Tom Wiley for her death,
say he killed her.
Killed her?
I don't mean out-and-out murder.
The doctors in London said
if he brought her back to Ceylon, she might die.
Tom Wiley insisted his son must be born in elephant walk,
so he brought her back.
Doctors were right.
A few days after John was born,
she died.
What was she doing in England?
She ran away.
I guess she couldn't take elephant walk anymore.
He brought her back.
Oh, I'm sorry, Ruth.
I didn't mean to upset you.
Also, I said it was just local gossip.
We'd better get back.
Dick.
Now you know why I came back.
Dick, I love John.
I want our marriage to last.
(Trumpeting)
Dick!
You wait here.
(Beating drums)
(Speaking Ceylonese)
Old lop-ear and company.
It's all right now. They're under control.
Hello, John.
Oh, there you are.
Don't I get a kiss now that I'm all spruced up?
Sit with me for a minute.
I was riding this afternoon with dick carver.
We ran into elephants--
yes, I heard them.
Just as well dick was with you.
Ruth, forgive me for barking at you like that.
I've missed you.
John, I'm... I'm tired and messy.
Let me clean up.
Yes, of course.
You watch this.
Crutches. Be careful.
The old place looks good. I've missed it.
Come on. Ooh. That wasn't very good.
How do you manage these? Hah!
Darling, don't you think you should sit down?
Yes. Abuhami.
Master.
Sit up.
There you are.
Darling, how can I ever thank you
for all you've done in the past few weeks?
I've been spoiled before, but never so beautifully.
Well, I haven't finished.
I have a wonderful idea. Oh? What is it?
The cruise boat comes into Ceylon on Saturday.
Why don't we get on, go to Gibraltar, then fly back?
I'm sorry.
It would be so good for both of us.
I've asked Dr. Ferrer already.
It's a wonderful idea, but I can't leave now.
Besides I'd have to put off the surprise
I have for you. Surprise?
Yes. Next weekend.
That's why I had to get this leg right.
Tell me what it is.
Not a chance. It's a surprise.
(Singing in Ceylonese)
John, what is it?
I told you I had a little surprise.
Oh, darling.
Where are they from?
Most are professionals from kandy.
The rest are gypsies from the villages.
Do you like them?
Oh, they're wonderful. Just wonderful.
I'm glad.
Hi.
Well, look who's here. Carver, late as usual.
Good afternoon, everybody.
Drink?
Oh, thanks.
Whiskey, Abuhami.
And how's Mrs. Wiley?
Very happy.
Thank you, dick.
Oh? All the troubles of elephant walk melted away, huh?
I told John about what happened between us.
I told him it was my fault, which it was.
(Women singing)
(Overlapping chatter)
(Cheering)
Oh, I say!
What do we have here?
(Men cheering)
She is the hit of the show for obvious reasons.
Do you like her?
She's very exotic.
Not your type, eh?
No, she's not my type.
The way you're getting around, John,
there isn't much sense in my postponing Paris any longer.
I'm very grateful to you for pitching in.
When are you thinking of leaving?
This week if it's convenient.
Yes, of course. I'm still in your debt.
Leave when you wish.
(Applause)
I'm going to dance.
No, Peter.
Be a good boy, or I'm going to strike you.
Come on. That's it.
I envy you.
You make decisions quickly.
I didn't make this decision, Ruth.
You did.
(Overlapping chatter)
What's going on now?
That's the tea planter's version of Saint George
and the dragon--
old Tom Wiley holding back the elephants.
And my cue to leave. Leave?
That's right. I've seen it all,
every year since I've been here.
This has been going on
since old master Wiley died.
Today is his birthday.
Old master left 30,000 rupees
so every year he could be reborn again
in the loyal hearts of his subjects.
Nice, isn't it?
Sort of a black Christmas.
But don't let me spoil it for you.
They're only getting started.
This goes on all night.
All is ready, master.
Oh.
Good. Give out the presents.
Yes, master. Just a minute.
Where's Mrs. Wiley?
Mistress went upstairs a short while ago.
I'll get her. You go ahead.
Yes, master.
(Clapping hands)
(Speaking Ceylonese)
Ruth!
Ruth, where are you?
Ruth?
Oh, there you are.
(Applause, chatter)
I've got your present.
From the governor to you on his birthday.
Yay!
You be quiet down there.
He designed it himself for mother
to be presented to each new mistress of elephant walk.
Do you like it?
Oh, it's...
It's beautiful, darling.
(Cheering, chatter)
Come on. Let's go down.
They'll want to see it.
You go on, I'll be down in a moment.
All right. Don't be long.
♪ For he's a jolly good fellow ♪
♪ That nobody can deny ♪
To the governor.
Yeah. Yay!
(Applause)
(Laughter)
(Speaking Ceylonese)
♪ oh, why was his horse so beautiful ♪
♪ Oh, why, oh, why, oh, why ♪
♪ Oh, why was his horse so beautiful ♪
We finally drank old Wiley under the table.
I never would have known we could have done it.
There's no cause for alarm.
I think it's time we had a little breakfast.
Abuhami! Abuhami!
We want service.
I think another round won't do us any harm.
(Crash)
You're not having another round,
nor breakfast, nor anything.
You're getting out of here.
Ruth, lass, what's the trouble?
You heard me. Go home.
But it's the governor's birthday
and his friends of long standing--
the governor's dead,
and he's going to stay dead.
You're not friends, not any one of you.
You're leeches and scrounges
trying to turn John into something he isn't,
trying to make another Tom Wiley of him
so you can go on getting drunk
in your free playpen.
Well, that's finished.
This is no longer Tom Wiley's elephant walk.
This is John's home and mine.
Now get out of here.
Very well, Mrs. Wiley.
(Crying)
Good morning, John.
Where are my friends?
I asked them to leave.
Why?
Because I don't believe they are your friends.
They're drunks trying to take advantage of you.
Now, listen.
These drunks work harder than dogs all week.
They go for months without taking a drink,
and you object to them coming here and relaxing.
Please, John. Let's not quarrel.
I'm sorry.
There's been a tradition in this house
of hospitality for 50 years
which you see fit to change in a night.
I can't talk to you, can I?
The man I married in England I could talk to,
but you're not that man.
You're Tom Wiley's son.
It's my father's fault, is it?
Isn't it?
You hate him, don't you?
You always have.
No, I don't hate him.
I only...
Well, say it.
I hate what he's doing to you,
the way he's ruling you from his grave,
making you like him so he can preserve his house,
his traditions, his world.
Ruth, stop it!
You're a foolish girl.
Foolish and very young.
Am I, John?
I should never have brought you here.
Maybe you're right.
Because I know something now,
something I couldn't have known before.
You weren't like this in England.
It only happens here.
You hate him, John.
You won't admit it, but you've always hated him.
I'm sorry. I...
Ruth!
Your drink, master.
Ruth, come back.
What's that?
Don't touch.
Abuhami, get Dr. Ferrer at once.
Ruth.
What's happened?
I... I've left elephant walk.
Have you left elephant walk,
or have you left John?
He's won.
Tom Wiley's won.
Then John Wiley's a fool.
No.
He...
He can't help himself...
Or--or won't.
You've got to get me out of here.
There's a plane out on Wednesday.
Take me to Colombo.
I'll wait there.
I can't go back.
I wouldn't let you go back.
I'm not giving you a chance to change your mind.
No, no.
(Crying)
(Honk honk)
Uh-oh.
(Speaking Ceylonese)
What is it?
Looks like trouble.
(Speaking Ceylonese)
(Honk honk)
What's the matter? Can't we pass?
No. Quarantine. It's cholera.
You'll have to turn back.
Don't worry. We'll get out.
Where are we going?
The bungalow to see John.
You wait here.
Even if I let you go,
the authorities in Colombo will send you back.
Another good reason for staying--
we need help.
Chunsa's dead.
We've got new cases all the time.
We have to set up an emergency dressing station.
Mrs. Wiley, we need all the sheets, tablecloths,
all the household linen.
They must be sprayed and hung in every passageway.
Abuhami.
Will you come with me?
(Speaking Ceylonese)
John, Dr. Ferrer wants to see you.
Any more deaths?
Two.
What are those drums for?
Kerosene to burn the infected huts.
(Speaking Ceylonese)
You haven't slept for two days.
Well...
You're killing yourself.
I thought you said we had to see the doctor.
How are things in the field?
There's not a leaf to pick anywhere.
Even the weeds won't grow.
Irrigation tanks are down to dried mud in all sections.
It's no good worrying about tea plants anymore.
Keep all labor in their quarters.
Pete and Robbie tried to come over,
but the authorities wouldn't let them.
They wanted to know if they could help.
Help us?
Why not? They're my friends.
Thank them and tell them to keep away.
Did you hear the elephants last night?
Yes. They're looking for water, too.
Look.
Another poor devil.
Aah!
Stop him!
Come back!
(Shouting in Ceylonese)
John!
Aah!
Should I let him get through the barrier?
Carver, get that fellow to hospital
and take the shot out of his leg.
Show him as an example
if they want to spread panic.
That's one way of stopping an epidemic--
shoot the people.
He had to do it.
They could have spread cholera all over the island.
Master. Hello.
You wanted to see me, doctor?
No, darling.
(Speaking Ceylonese)
Not kokoro's mother?
She's out of her misery, poor woman.
Isn't there anything more we can do?
Make them as comfortable as we can.
If they last 36 hours, they usually survive.
Make sure everyone disinfects his hands
before he leaves the ward.
John. Yes.
I don't like to press you to a decision,
but it's getting urgent. What can I do?
The burials are piling up.
Yes, I know, but the men are frightened.
They won't touch them.
John, the bodies must be buried immediately.
All right. I'll do it myself.
(Trumpeting)
Master!
Look, master.
Look.
No water. Elephant people blame us.
No water.
We wait for rain.
Each day we feel it must come,
but the clouds pass.
The monsoon has never been so late.
There is much sickness and suffering.
Soon our lord Buddha must answer our prayers.
Put them over there, koro,
and go disinfect your hands.
Have there been any more deaths today?
Koro, have there been...
Koro, come back!
Ruth.
You shouldn't be lifting things like this.
Where do you want it?
Over there.
Koro just ran away.
I hope he doesn't try and break the quarantine.
I don't blame him. I don't blame any of them.
We're running out of water.
I know. The main tank's down next to nothing.
I pray.
I pray all the time.
A lot of good that will do.
Don't. Ruth, what's the use?
What's the good of killing yourself
trying to save poor natives
that are going to die anyway?
(Footsteps)
I've just been down at the hospital.
Ferrer says there have been no new cases today.
If that keeps up, they'll lift the quarantine in a couple of days.
You can both leave at the end of the week.
By the end of the week.
He said if. If it keeps up.
Abuhami, there's some curry and rice in the pantry.
We might as well eat now.
Yes, mistress.
John, you must eat something.
If you won't sleep, you must eat.
I thought the rains were coming today.
There was a big thundercloud to the north.
They disappeared.
(Thunder)
Mistress has been working very hard these last few days.
Won't you rest now?
I will do this.
No, Abuhami. I'm all right.
It's just this heat.
(Thunder)
Will it rain?
Yes, mistress.
We have all been praying.
Keep on praying, Abuhami.
Are the supplies ready?
Yes, doctor.
(Speaking Ceylonese)
Did you hear the thunder?
Thunder does not always mean rain.
In this part of the world,
sometimes it thunders for days.
Dr. Ferrer has some good news, Ruth.
Yes. We've just made a tour
of the workers' quarters.
Not one new case.
The quarantine can be lifted.
Oh, that's wonderful news.
We'd better hurry.
Can you stay?
Abuhami can make some tea and sandwiches.
I told John and the men I'd pick them up.
Where is John?
They're burning the last of the contaminated huts.
We'll see you in an hour or so.
We can leave tomorrow, Ruth.
Not yet, dick.
We shouldn't.
Why not? We've done all that could be expected of us.
More.
We can't leave John alone now.
If the rain comes, well...
Then maybe.
(Car horn honks)
John's done a good job fighting the epidemic,
but don't fool yourself.
Nothing else has changed at all.
As long as there's an elephant walk,
he's still Tom Wiley's son.
(Honk honk)
(Thunder)
I have misjudged her, master.
Forgive me. I have made much trouble.
She is mistress of this house now.
She is needed here.
It is my earnest prayer she will not leave.
It's over at last, Abuhami.
Yes, mistress.
The time will come
when my people will no longer fear inoculation.
They will listen to the master
and to Dr. Ferrer as I did.
They will learn.
They are learning fast.
Will you make some tea and sandwiches, please?
The men should be back soon.
Will the mistress sleep now?
I think I can.
Thank you, Abuhami.
(Trumpeting)
(All trumpeting)
Boy, get out.
Go on.
(Speaking Ceylonese)
Master! Master! Look!
Where's Ruth?
We left her at the bungalow.
Hey, what's the matter?
The elephants are headed there.
There's no beaters to hold them off.
No. Try to stop them at the wall.
I'll get Ruth.
You better come along, doctor.
(All trumpeting)
Mistress.
What is it? There. There.
No.
(Shouting)
Go back!
(Speaking Ceylonese)
Abuhami!
Aah!
Oh, Abuhami!
Aah!
Oh!
Ruth!
John!
Oh, darling!
(Trumpeting)
Looks like I get to Paris one boat late,
more or less.
I'm sorry, darling.
I'm not.
Let them have their elephant walk.
Ruth, we'll build a new place--
a home somewhere else.
(Trumpeting)