LMLa Marquesa
You saved my life.
LMLa Marquesa
I've never met you.
Well, do you hear that, Pat? She's never met me.
You're bleeding, sir. Don't move.
What about my shameful suggestions?
Oh, she's denying me now, Pat. After all we've been through.
You think she'd remember the man who got down on his knees, drunk mind you, and crawled on her floor begging Her Ladyship to sleep with him. Bugger!
Aye! So would I. A man lost his honour because of the lady's lies. Stripped of his rank. Hung on a rope.
LMLa Marquesa
Who are you?
You know who I am. My name is Sharpe.
Sarge? Where are we off to, Sarge?
We're going to join up with a man called Sharpe, lads.
PPerkins
You mean we're all gonna die?
No, lad. Mister Sharpe may be dead in the eyes of French, but to you and me he's as lively as an eel.
HHagman
[grabs Harper's arm] Just a minute.
You know the Army, boys. They couldn't hang a curtain, even if they tried. [they all laugh]
Major Richard Sharpe. Are these your rifles? We've had them cleaned for you.
ENEllie Nugent
Oh, there was no need.
[smiling a little] I think there was, miss.
ENEllie Nugent
I mean, no hurry. Unless to put a bullet through Cousin Arthur, the General. He's kicking us out.
ENEllie Nugent
Just a guide, and a servant.
Glad you had these. [indicates rifles]
ENEllie Nugent
They're American. Made in Pennsylvania.
ENEllie Nugent
Speaking as a Rifleman?
ENEllie Nugent
I'll see you tonight? At me cousin's party.
ENEllie Nugent
Are you on duty?
I'm ... not exactly in his favour at the moment.
ENEllie Nugent
Ah, well. You like me...you could come as my escort, Major Sharpe, will ye?
ENEllie Nugent
We could talk about guns!
[They both laugh.]
[Sharpe walks over to Ellie Nugent and Lieutenant Ayres, standing by the French soldier she's killed.]
Are you alright? [sees the dead soldier, shot through the chest] My God, you did well.
AAyres
[woodenly] She saved me.
[pointedly ignoring Ayres] A clean shot.
ENEllie Nugent
He's so young. He's just a boy.
They all are, fresh recruits.
Well, Mister Ayres, I shall report this. A skilled defense, and a valiant action.
AAyres
[aware that Sharpe is mocking him] I'm not very experienced.
First rule. Always get a girl between you and the enemy.
[Ayres stumbles off]
ENEllie Nugent
[softly] I killed him. I never...I never did that. [Sharpe puts his hand on her shoulder]
KLord Kiley
You there, out of the road. [Sharpe ignores him] Out of the road! [Sharpe continues to ignore him] Are you deaf, sir?
KLord Kiley
Do you know who I am?
[Sharpe's men laugh, Kiley rides around them]
MMMajor Munro
[reading letter to Wellington] From his most Catholic Majesty, King Ferdinand, my Lord, I've taken the precaution of reading it. Shall I read it for you now? [Wellington nods] Um. His most Catholic Majesty....
Yes, yes, yes, get on with it.
MMMajor Munro
In a spirit of regal cooperation with his royal cousin England, and in his great desire to drive the French invader from the the sacred soil of Spain has directed the Royal Irish Company of His Majesty's Household Guard under the command of Lord Kiley, to place themselves under the command of Field Marshal, the Lord Wellington. Sir.
Copied to Horse Guards, I presume.
MMMajor Munro
Copied to the Prince Regent himself, my Lord.
MMMajor Munro
No sir, it's been gone these two weeks. You'll no doubt be flattered by the gesture.
Yes. Which means that we're stuck with 'em.
MMMajor Munro
I'm sure they'll prove decorative.
I don't need decorative! I need an extra battalion of trained foot with full equipment to throw against the French. Are they all Irish?
MMMajor Munro
Most of them are Spanish-born these days, but they have to be descended from Irish exiles.
Put them to latrine-digging.
MMMajor Munro
My lord, if we employ the King's Household Guard on menial tasks, it will be construed as an insult to our Spanish allies, as well as to His most Catholic Majesty.
Damn His most Catholic Majesty! And damn this Lord Kiley. I know the Irish peerage. Irish Catholic exiles. You're paid to advise me Munro, so earn your damn pay.
MMMajor Munro
I fear we must welcome Lord Kiley and his men, even while we mistrust them. It seems to me that we must do our best to make them feel...uncomfortable.
MMMajor Munro
Bivouac them close to the French lines, so that those who wish to desert will find it easy. We'll get them a liason officer, of course, someone senior enough to sooth Kiley's feathers. But why not give them a drill-master, too?
I doubt Lord Kiley would like a certain major of our acquaintance.
MMMajor Munro
Ach, I cannot think they'll take to each other, my Lord, no.
Good! Then give the puppets Richard Sharpe!! [laughing]
MMMajor Munro
Which would you prefer me to do Sharpe? Play Beallagh na Bruga, that's the march, or send you on a dangerous mission?
Ahh, dangerous mission, sir.
MMMajor Munro
Who's winning the war, Sharpe?
MMMajor Munro
Why's he winning it, Sharpe?
MMMajor Munro
[Munro shakes his head] Superior intelligence. Supplied by whom laddie?
MMMajor Munro
Ugh, don't lick me, laddie!
[To Pipe-major outside Munro's tent] How do you stand it, Pipe major?
[loudly] I said, how do you stand it? [Pipe-major pulls a cotton wad out of his ear; Sharpe laughs with him]
Well, what's it to you, priest? You hate the British.
FCFather Curtis
I'm Irish. John Bull's a bad neighbour. But Bonaparte's a bully, and so are you!
FCFather Curtis
God forgive me, but I wish it had lasted longer.