Season 1 | Indian Summers s1 e3

did you know him?

Previously on "Indian Summers"... No.

CYNTHIA: I wish you'd come to me sooner.

You could have saved yourself a lot of fuss and unpleasantness.

RALPH: Found in the lining of his bag.

A certificate of membership of the Congress movement.

What is it you remember?

MADELEINE: I had this idea that we were, uh... What?

Something.

IAN: He says you owe him money.

I'll have him skinned!

"Indian Summers," tonight on ♪ ♪ (phone ringing) Thank you.

(knocking) RALPH: Enter!

(door opens) Mr. Dalal.

RALPH: I must say, you look in fine fettle for a man who took a bullet to the chest.

Thank you, sir.

I am much recovered.

Look, you've probably not had time to think about very much, let alone your career.

Sir?

But sometimes a watershed moment can lead to reflection.

And I found myself this morning wondering if you'd ever had any interest in joining the higher ranks of the Civil Service.

You'd need to pass some exams, I'm afraid, and the hours can be penitential.

But I want you to ask yourself a question: "In a few years' time, what do I want to be?"

Magistrate?

District Controller?

Obviously, if you're happy as you are... No, sir!

In fact, I began to study for the examinations, but I had to withdraw.

There were certain personal financial reasons.

That's a pity.

But timing, as we both know, is everything.

Head Clerk?

That's right.

RALPH: Just for now, you see.

To tide you over until after the ICS exams.

All of the preparations would be paid for.

I'm sure you need some time to mull it over, but I think it makes sense.

I would personally consider it a great privilege to have you here.

WOMAN (addressing crowd): I have a message they do not wish you to hear!

(speech continues, indistinct in distance) My name is Nalini Ayer.

And I wish to ask, do you wish to be free?

When is it enough that you can truly say, "This is what it means to be free"?

The "Something is better than nothing" school of enfranchisement.

That is more dangerous than no enfranchisement at all.

"Take this for now and we will talk about the rest later."

That is how you coax a child into doing your will.

It is not how you engage with a people.

A nation.

(crowd cheers) Jai Hind!

CROWD (chanting): Jai Hind!

Jai Hind!

Mr. McLeod?

Ramu Sood.

I was wondering if you've had an opportunity to take a look at the letter I sent to your uncle.

Yes I have, Mr. Sood, but I'm afraid... Then you'll know that the monies he owes me are now two weeks overdue.

If that is the case, it's a matter for him.

Excuse me.

Believe me, I have tried many times to discuss it with Mr. Armitage, but he's extremely difficult to get a hold of.

Nonsense.

He can be found at the Club on any given day.

Indeed.

But that really doesn't help me.

Why not?

There's the problem of access (whistle blows) to the Club, Mr. McLeod.

SINGH: Off the Mall!

Specifically my access.

Which is why I was hoping to discuss the matter with you.

No, it's all right, we were having a chat.

Indians may not use the Mall before sundown, which I'm sure you, Mr. Sood, very well know.

Mr. McLeod.

Good day, sir.

Good day.

(snoring) CYNTHIA: Thank God this is only once a year.

Come on, let's get on with it.

So, 150 fruit scones, 150 plain scones, 150 rounds of sandwiches.

All in time for the Sipi Fair.

The challenge of recreating afternoon tea at Claridges, only serving it in the Himalayas.

(baby crying) (giving orders in Hindi) Baby's first fair.

Gosh, you made me jump.

Oh, I'm sorry.

No, I was just saying, I hope you're preparing him for Sipi.

All the fun of the fair.

Oh, I think he's too young for all of that just yet, don't you?

I'm so sorry.

It's nice to see you, but I'm actually on my way out.

Always in a rush when you expect to be told something you don't want to hear.

Even when you were a little girl.

I beg your pardon?

I just wanted to see if you were all right.

I'm fine.

Why do you ask?

Well, you might not have heard yet, but there's to be an inquest into the shooting.

And you'll be asked to give a witness statement.

That doesn't sound too onerous, does it?

Am I missing something?

Well, it's just a shame, dredging it all up again.

It was all so sudden, wasn't it?

And, well, in your position, I wouldn't remember a thing.

I'm sorry.

What was it you wanted to talk to me about?

Come on, Percy.

Let's go, darling.

Oh, here we go.

Oh, my goodness, what wonderful news!

Unbelievable!

It's like a dream.

Oh... congratulations!

Everything is paid for, everything.

I will be joining the ranks of the heaven born!

It's wonderful.

Where is Sooni?

I sent her to do something for me.

I sent her to buy sweets.

You!

I have to go.

New life begins this afternoon.

Yes, yes, yes!

Go, go.

So proud of you!

This is it, this is it.

This is what?

This is it in action-- the British sense of fair play.

(laughing) We seek self-rule.

Instead, we get a tea party in the grounds of a building... Sooni.

What are you doing here?

You should be at school!

Seeing what you were up to.

You shouldn't be here!

He emerges.

What is it, Ronnie?

Inspector Rowntree is here to see you.

Large crowd at the bazaar this morning.

Oh?

Some Congress firebrand stirring things up.

No doubt timing her visit to coincide with the fair.

(sighs): Right.

Bit severe, is it not?

I would recommend it, sir.

After what they tried to do to you, I'd say we can't be too careful.

Very well.

We don't want to disturb the Viceroy in London.

Probably is best if things are kept under control.

This is Simla, not Bengal, after all.

Very good.

Thank you.

Thank you.

We have no cups.

No, not no cups.

We have some cups, but not enough for one per child, which is a mystery, as we always have before.

There are many things that children can share but they cannot at the same time drink from the same cup.

ALICE: Thank you.

Miss Whelan!

Oh, it's Alice, please!

Alice.

Yeah, Alice, then.

This is Leena.

She works with the children.

Pleased to meet you.

I think we met, but without actually being introduced, on the train.

I'm so sorry.

Have I muddled the day?

No, not at all.

We said Wednesday, didn't we?

And Wednesday it is.

Miss Whelan, Alice, very kindly offered to come and volunteer.

I hope you don't mind if Leena shows you around.

I have to pop out for a spell.

(crowd shouting) NALINI AYER: We will not live off crumbs from an Englishman's table!

We will not go hungry in our own land.

Hindu, Sikh, Muslim... Sooni, we should go now.

Be quiet.

No, there are police here.

Really, there are police here.

NALINI AYER: We are all one India.

We are all one Bharat!

Jai Hind!

Jai Hind!

Jai Hind!

No!

You can't do that!

SHAMSHAD: Sooni, come on!

Come with me!

You are under arrest!

What are you doing?

Leave her-- she's a child.

She's a child!

Shamshad!

Shamshad!

Sooni!

Do not give the police what they want!

Go home, Shamshad, go home!

Sooni!

Leave her alone!

(men laughing) Oh, my God, what is going on?

He has vertigo.

From a horse?

What fool gets vertigo on a horse?

Come on, come on, trot on.

Sit up!

Trot on, trot on, trot on.

Well, I dare say you'll all three need a stiff drink after this.

Why not call into mine, Mr. Dalal?

Tomorrow, for drinks?

Thank you, sir.

Excellent.

Cheerio, Captain.

Keep up the good work.

Sit up.

Are these all the books you have?

The books are Mr. Raworth's.

If you think they are somehow unsuitable you can take it up with him.

I only wondered if they might not enjoy something a bit closer to home, with landscape that's more familiar to them.

The Mahabarata, perhaps, or Tipu Sultan?

(sighs) Goodbye.

I think I'll walk home.

Miss Whelan?

If you wouldn't mind some company, I'd be happy to walk part of the way with you.

Thank you.

(spade digging in dirt) Sarah?

What's wrong?

You ill?

No, I'm not ill. Where's Matthew?

Tidying his bedroom in the hope that it'll earn him a day at that ghastly fair.

You look queer.

You're acting queer.

For a while now I've been behaving in a manner that, putting it charitably, can't be described as Christian.

I wanted to tell you, because I wanted to put things right.

I was afraid you'd had some bad news from home.

I thought it might be your mother or your father.

Your mother, because she hasn't been well over the winter.

My mother's fine.

Or your brothers.

There's so many of them, I can't remember who's in the army.

Well, not really, but who's doing what and where.

It could be any of them.

That's the fear, isn't it?

That's the trouble, living so far away (crying): from everything and everyone.

(sobbing) There'll be no more.

Say something!

What does it mean?

It means many things.

It means I'm going to have to stop daydreaming and apply myself to the role of a serious young man.

It means I hope they sit me behind someone very clever at the examination so I can take a peek at what he's doing.

Aafrin.

It means I am being given an opportunity that is thrilling.

That is daunting.

That is ridiculous.

What does it mean for us?

Ah, you see, that is the best part.

For us it means freedom.

Because I will become a covenanted civilian, and a covenanted civilian can fashion any future for himself he likes.

Ah!

Oh, I'm so sorry.

(giggling) That's what I remember the most from being a child here-- that spicy smell of pine trees and deodars at exactly this time.

You were a child here?

I was born here.

I left aged eight, never to return.

And everything is different?

Gosh, no.

Everything's the same.

What were you expecting?

I don't know.

Whatever you imagine always disappears, doesn't it, the instant you're faced with the reality?

Tell me, where do the children come from?

Most are left with the church as babies, and the church brings them to us.

They're orphans?

And so no place.

No family.

(laughter nearby) Look.

Who are they?

I don't know.

But I see her here, waiting.

Waiting, always waiting.

Whatever for?

For him.

They are not able to be together, so this is where they hide.

(panting) (amorous moaning from upstairs) (louder moaning) (slams book shut) I'm going to the Club for a peg.

(lovers' moans intensify) Make that two pegs.

Do you mind?

So to pass the exam, I have to be able to clear a five-bar gate.

Have you ever seen a five-bar gate in India?

Let alone a civil servant leaping over it on horseback?

ROSHANA: This is how it is.

One thing is given to you and another one is taken away.

And it's all her fault.

She's so selfish.

And on this day of all days.

Where have you been?

At work.

Where is Sooni?

Hello?

(calling in Hindi) Hello?

NALINI: They won't let you out for that.

They expect you to go in the corner.

This is your first time in prison?

I'm afraid such petty restrictions are something you will become very familiar with if you pursue this path.

(urinating) My sister was with me today.

She is only 14.

I don't know what happened to her.

She will have run away.

Younger sisters are very good at staying out of trouble.

It's always us, the older ones, who get the blame.

It is never the conditions that are difficult.

It is how your actions affect other people.

Your family.

When you go to prison, you take them with you.

Mummy is crying still.

Are you going to ask your friend for help?

What friend?

The Private Secretary.

Sham, we are not friends.

Then why is he inviting you to his house for dinner?

It's not dinner.

It's drinks.

I have to go.

It's not fair.

You know, it was just someone speaking.

No one was doing anything wrong.

If you ask him, if he is a good man, he will help.

I'm sorry, I'm a little late.

Not at all, not at all.

What can I get you?

Club soda, thank you.

Very glad to see you.

I feared yesterday's exertions might have had you on your back.

Had you made me ride here, sir, they may well have.

(chuckles) I'm terribly sorry to raise this with you, but I'm afraid something unexpected has happened to my family, and I hope it's not remiss of me to seek your advice.

Not at all.

There was an incident yesterday at the bazaar.

My sister Sooni, she was arrested during some to-do there.

She is not herself political, but evidently she has a knack for being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

And I must say it makes me very uncomfortable to take such a liberty, but I was wondering if you might be able to help us secure Sooni's safe return.

Sooni Dalal?

That's right.

Well, I'll certainly see what I can do.

You'll be an ICS man soon, and you'll find we all pitch in and help one another.

ALICE: There aren't guests, are there, Bhupi?

Ralph didn't... Alice.

This is Mr. Dalal.

Mr. Dalal, this is my sister, Alice Whelan.

A pleasure to meet you in such different circumstances.

Shall we sit, please?

How are you feeling?

Are you fully recovered?

Greatly recovered.

Thank you.

Sorry to burst in like that.

I had no idea that you had a guest.

Your timing's ideal.

We were just celebrating Mr. Dalal's return to health and his first day on a new billet.

Mr. Dalal is moving up to work with me at Viceregal Lodge.

"Courage is the first of human qualities because it is the quality which guarantees the others.” Favorite saying of Mr. Longmuir, my house-master.

Aristotle, of course, went uncredited.

(chuckling) Bloody Longmuir.

King of the unattributed quote.

In any case, it's a new start.

Though I don't suppose it'll feel entirely behind you until after the inquest.

Nothing to worry about.

I don't recall much myself, if I'm honest.

"You British devil."

That's what I remember him shouting as he came towards me.

Typical revolutionary talk.

"You British devil."

CHANDRU MOHAN: Ralph Whelan.

Ralphie-sah!

Rakshas!

Rakshas!

Any advance on that?

I'm afraid I'm very much the same.

Hmm.

What about you, Alice?

We ought not to dwell.

RALPH: Mr. Dalal is a wicked caricaturist, you see.

So I thought it wise to nurture his artistic talent for good rather than ill.

I've asked a great friend of ours to sit for you.

Madeleine, this is Mr. Aafrin Dalal.

MADELEINE: Hello.

RALPH: And perhaps later, if there's time... ALICE: I'm afraid I can't stay.

Terribly tired.

Good afternoon, Mr. Dalal.

Good afternoon.

Well, shall we begin?

(clock chiming) Ralph.

Alice.

You startled me.

I thought you were... What?

ALICE: A little flower?

To be bent and shaped by your will?

(whispering): Shh, keep your voice down.

Siblings.

Gene and I fight like that all the time.

What's the matter with you?

You'd like me to lie under oath!

A man tried to kill you, we know not why.

Presumably you do.

And now Mr. Dalal and I are required to help you cover something up!

Alice, this is a dangerous misunderstanding.

Is it?

Then I'd better be clear.

In response to your need to have me perjure myself in concert with Mr. Dalal, the answer is no, Ralph.

Unequivocally no.

CYNTHIA: Ladies and gentlemen.

Members and guests.

Welcome to our little club, and welcome to the Sipi Fair.

What a wonderful thing it is to be able to take pleasure in each other's cultures and delight in each other's company.

Kaiser, kindly remove those men.

If only for one short afternoon.

Please enjoy everything our little Club has to offer, and do make yourselves at home.

Thank you.

(applause) No entry into the interior.

I've double-locked the doors, miss.

And if any of them trample the flowers, they're straight out.

Hello!

Come on, Matthew, it's your turn.

I don't want to play this.

Well, choose another, then.

I don't want to play anything.

I want to go to the fair.

Daddy said he'd take me.

Well, he shouldn't have.

He had no business promising anything to anyone, because he isn't here.

Sit up straight, Matthew.

All right, go and get your shoes on.

(keys jangling) (shouting a command) (gasps) Aafrin.

I couldn't come yesterday.

I had to wait for things to play out.

What do you mean?

I spoke with the Private Secretary.

I'm hoping he'll get you out.

Don't worry.

It was easier than it sounds.

I work for him now.

You are ashamed of me?

When it's you who's in jail, you who's associating with violent criminals?

They are not violent.

We are not violent.

Not violent?

Look-- look at this.

Aafrin, stop it!

It wasn't a Congress member who shot you.

That man with the gun had nothing to do with the party.

He's from Madras, okay?

No one from the party there has ever heard of him, and there's no record of his membership.

Do you think this is why I come here?

To enter into some naive political discussion with you?

Naive?

You think it is me who is being naive?

Listen to me.

This is British propaganda.

You are British propaganda.

(keys jangling) The gunman is being used to smear Congress.

And you, you are being used, too.

No, please, leave her!

Wake up, Aafrin!

Wake up and look at yourself!

Look at the role you've been cast in.

Marvelous Mr. Dalal who threw himself into the path of a bullet!

Esteemed servant of the Empire!

Loyal Indian of the Hills!

Sooni, I will get you out, I promise!

Mr. Dalal?

Oh, Miss Whelan.

I wanted to say thank you for risking your neck for my undeserving brother.

Don't worry, I shan't be asking you to do it again.

Well, thank God for that.

How does it feel, back at the spot?

I'm certainly glad to be breathing.

I expect you can't remember much about it.

Very little.

Yes, the shock, I imagine.

I heard your disagreement with your brother.

Oh, my, I see.

At the house?

Oh, Christ, yes, I'm sorry about that.

What a family.

There's no need to apologize.

I have two sisters, and I must say, when they disagree with me, which they do frequently, they are a whole lot louder than that.

And I suppose you're the picture of patience?

Naturally.

How sickening, your poor sisters having to put up with a saint for a brother.

I'm not quite a saint.

(speaking Hindi) Here, please, for you.

What's this?

For your assistance when I was hurt.

My mother was very grateful.

I did what anyone would.

Enjoy the fair, Miss Whelan.

WOMAN: And the winning weight is five pounds and 11 ounces.

Five pound 11!

That's what I put!

Oh, come on.

Yes, bravo to me!

Box it up, Mrs. T!

I don't know why I bother.

He always wins, every year.

It's a wonderful spread.

Oh, thank you very much.

Headache?

Ever so slight.

Mr. Markham, I didn't know you were up.

Well, it'll all be over soon.

All in hand for the inquest?

All in hand.

Because I must say, Alice was a little brusque when we spoke.

When did you speak to Alice?

I just tried to grab her for a quick chat about things, you know, but she was too pressed even for that.

Excuse me.

Hello.

Hello.

RONNIE: I say, old love, I didn't know the Whelan family had branched out to good works.

Yes, she told us all about it this morning.

Well, as long as you're happy with it, old love.

Little savages.

What are they?

Fully native or...

Bit of both, I think.

RONNIE: You can't tell.

I suppose the black half tends to overwhelm, yes?

Pity.

DOUGIE: And it's spinning!

Go on, pick one.

What have you got?

You've won the teddy bear!

Well, it's nice seeing them have a bit of fun.

Would you excuse me?

ALICE: Well, what do we do next, coconuts?

Coconuts?

Yes!

Mr. Raworth.

There, there.

Now, I know it's loud.

I know.

But it's only people enjoying themselves, okay?

We were wondering where you were, him and I.

It's been hard.

Those are my shoes!

What did I say about running off?!

What did I say as soon as we left the house?

(spanks) Matthew!

I'll go fetch him back.

I won't be taken for a fool.

If that's what you think is happening, which I've no doubt you do, then you're very much mistaken.

I know exactly what's been going on, exactly.

And I also know that whatever has been is no longer.

I think you'll find that whatever you chance to offer Douglas in the future will not be welcome.

Yes!

ALICE: Two!

Alice.

Ralphie.

Forgive me.

You must do and say as you like.

Thank you.

Good.

Well, come on, hand them over.

Who's next?

CHILDREN: Me!

One, and two, and... Who is that boy?

Adam.

He's new.

All right, who's next?

That's a fella!

Grab him!

Come on!

Up you get!

This is for you, Mr. Armitage.

Can't make head nor tail of it that way neither.

It's an official notice of your eviction, Mr. Armitage.

Aye, well, it's not much of anything now, is it?

Don't flop about!

It's been signed by a magistrate and served on you, sir.

And that's all that the law requires.

Let's settle this, shall we?

It has been settled.

You have 45 days to quit.

Is that so?

Is that so?

Good day, Mr. Armitage.

(yells) Come on!

Up you get!

I'm warning you, you drunken idiot!

Come on, you!

Where's your lawyer now, eh?

Where is he, you dirty pish?!

(crowd gasps) (gagging) IAN: Get out of the way!

Get out of the way!

Uncle?!

Get a doctor, for Christ's sake!

Get a doctor.

CYNTHIA: Quickly!

Can you hear me?

IAN: Can you hear me?

Can you hear me?!

(thunder) (water rushing) Morning, Mr. McLeod!

How is he?

A contrarian to the last.

He can't walk, talk, or feed himself, but he's very much alive.

So much for playing nicely with the natives.

Bloody Indian damn near killed him.

Lucky you arrived when you did, Mr. McLeod.

Oh, good God, what a mess.

(thunder) Dear God.

Gene, I'm going crazy here.

It's all-consuming passion or total disinterest.

There's nothing in between.

Perhaps he strained something during your last encounter.

He needs a couple days' rest.

Okay, fine, let's be dry about it.

All right.

All right!

Want to know what I think?

I'll tell you what I think.

Ralph Whelan is surrounded by people doing his bidding all day, every day.

He's like a damn Buddha.

And I think it might be good for someone in his position not to always get what he wants.

Excuse me, sir, I need some ice for my drink.

You're in here, Miss Whelan.

Thank you.

Have a seat, Mr. Dalal.

Thank you.

Still done nothing with that dicky fan, Neville?

No, sir.

It's still missing a part.

So, tell me what you saw that night.

(guards shouting) Where are we going?

To Lahore.

Lahore, what for?

For sentencing.

No need to be anxious, Miss Whelan.

Simply tell me whatever it is you remember of that night.

Did he shout, or say anything?

Miss Whelan?

"You devil."

"You... ...British devil."

(typewriter keys clacking) "You British devil."

(typewriter keys clacking) "You British devil."

(typewriter keys clacking) (guards shouting orders) Sooni Dalal?

Yes.

Come with me.

(guard continues shouting) Nalini!

You are being released.

Go.

Don't worry.

Find your own way.

Make a contribution.

Excuse us.

This is intolerable.

Even the Indian can't stand it.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ SOONI: That man with the gun had nothing to do with the party.

This is British propaganda.

You are British propaganda!

(door closes nearby) (footsteps) The interview is over.

He's not coming back.

Thank you very much, Miss Whelan.

Thank you.

(din of crowd) (panting) ♪ ♪ (panting) (door opens) Next time on Masterpiece.

The Viceroy?

Why is he coming here?

Your excellency.

This summer, we have to show the world we're committed to reform.

CYNTHIA: We're going to fight this.

We're going to get your land back.

Again...

I am in your hands.

"Indian Summers," next time on Masterpiece.

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