if i had a choice we'd be on our way to the sudan. deal with this dervish uprising once and for all. 2nd colonel you prefer a tour in the sudan to india willoughby? willoughby i don't know about that sir, but i agree with colonel hamilton, we're going to have to fight the mahdi sooner or later. willoughby trails off, leaving colonel hamilton to continue. int. bar area.  the durbar court.  india office - night. durrance downs another whisky. he looks less sure of himself in this social whirl than he did in the barracks. a few women cast admiring glances in his direction but he doesn't notice them. his eyes keep searching the crowd for ethne. int. seating area.  durbar court.  india office - night. harry gazes through the crowd at durrance. durrance catches him staring and raises a glass. the two friends smile at each other. int. stairway.  india office - night. a group of late arrivals hurry up the stairs towards the party. ethne eustace, is several steps ahead of her father dermod, and her friend, caroline adair, a young widow in her 30's. int. entrance.  durbar court.  india office - night. ethne's eyes search the crowd as soon as she walks through. she stops as she sees durrance at the bar. her eyes stay on him a moment, but it's only to see if harry's nearby. when she realises he isn't she looks away. finally she sees him, standing with general feversham and colonel sutch. she takes her father dermod's hand, and leads him in their direction. int. bar area.  the durbar court.  india office - night. castelton and trench are back at the bar, arguing.
gentlemen.  the 1st battalion grenadier guards have been ordered to forego their posting to india.  . we ship out in three days, to establish a forward garrison in the sudan.  there's a buzz of excitement. colonel hamilton can hardly contain his smile. he turns to general holmby:
general holmby, sir. general holmby, a severe looking military man, stands and faces the officers. their eyes are lit-up with anticipation, all except harry, who stares ahead, slowly turning inward.
what the hell is this?
if it's leave you want, there's a different procedure. normally i wouldn't consider it in the circumstances, but given you've got engaged.
it's nerves. we all have them.
and i'm asking you to reconsider.
come back to me when you've discussed it with your father.
i do not accept these "papers," lieutenant -- and do not accept that one of my men -- the son of a man with whom i was honored to serve -- would walk out on his regiment --
-- on the very eve we're shipping off to war! take these back!
very well. then as the coward and disgrace you are, you may take yourself out of my office.  please leave the barracks at once. you're belongings will be sent on. face drained of color, harry turns and leaves. int. adcs' rooms.  the regimental office - dawn. as the door opens, willoughby stares at harry, speechless. harry lowers his eyes and walks on. int. stairway.  barracks - dawn. harry walks down the stairway, gripping the bannisters. two soldiers salute him on their way up, but he doesn't respond. ext. regimental courtyard - dawn. the supply wagons are being unloaded in the courtyard. harry walks between more soldiers, his eyes fixed on the barrack gates. the only sound he hears in his head is the gentle flapping of a flag. int. trench and castelton's room.  barracks - day. castelton is packing his trunk, neat and fastidious, taking his time over every item. trench waits for him impatiently. trench . why can't you do this after breakfast? we're not leaving till tonight. castelton ignores him, folding his shirts. trench turns to durrance, exasperated. trench he packs three bibles. can you believe it? three bibles.  durrance grins. he glances up as willoughby enters.
congratulations, it seems you had another successful day.
i'm giving you three weeks leave. durrance looks surprised.
you certainly deserve it, every report i receive singles you out for praise.
permission refused. durrance is too disciplined a soldier to protest.
anyway the rest of the regiment is stuck here in suakin until the government agrees to send us to khartoum.  you and several other officers will be going to london, to convince parliament, and more importantly public opinion, that it is necessary to pursue this campaign with the utmost vigour. do you have any questions?
because you're a hero.
that's my point. it's all about perception. durrance sees there's no point discussing it further. he salutes and turns to leave.
a question lieutenant?
what is it you like about this place? durrance chooses his words carefully.
even he reads the papers. they told him if he didn't send us to khartoum he'd be indicted for murder.  there's laughter all around. across the tent, durrance stands on his own, feeling out of place. willoughby arrives with two drinks. willoughby you're quite the hero tonight.