Ok...so I consider myself adept at understanding the british accents, and the sharpe series is pretty easy listening, but for the life of me I couldn't understand what the hell sharpe and those two women were talking about when the one soldier's wife was breastfeeding. I watched it on TV so I couldn't rewind to listen again. Anyone care to enlighten me? I don't think it really influenced the plot, but it was kind of maddening
saucybetty.blogspot.com
Ther's only one bit which is really impenetrable, and it's when Sean is flirting with the women. As you know, Sharpe is explaining that they should not buy up all the bread before the commissary gets it, and says "If you want a ticket, come and see me. And keep out of them gardens"
Then the non-breast-feeding woman says "I shan't take no notice", then there is an exchange about NBFW's husband knocking her about, and she reassures Sharpe by asserting that her husband is too busy "looking at Sally feeding with her teats..and you" she observes, meaning so is Sharpe.
Sharpe says "hoping to look at you though" and of course the next thing NBFW does is grin and turn herself away from Sharpe.
Was that the bit you meant?
...I was awfully stupid at lessons when I was a girl...
Yes, thank you very much. I'm so glad it was something really important like men checking out boobs.
saucybetty.blogspot.com
...I was awfully stupid at lessons when I was a girl...
SPOILER
In the movie, that scene isn't pointless, because while Sharpe is talking to the women, there is a cutaway of Hakeswill, crouching down, also looking at Sally. In the next scene, Hakeswill tells Sally's husband, “I've seen your wife's tits, Clayton ... be warned, when Obadiah is up, he's up like an animal.”
That sets up the sub plot of Hakeswill bullying Clayton for Sally's services, which ends in Sally Clayton's death.
lol betty. :D
shareProbably well passed the point of being useful but if you happen to be passing I through I thought that you might be interested to know the how the scene is handled in the book.
One of the soldiers wives approaches Sharp to discuss the ‘wives’ parade’ which has now been stopped. She refers to the first parade at which a private’s wife was breast feeding her child.
Now, as Sharpe approached the rain-swept baggage, the women grinned at him from beneath their blankets. Lily Grimes, a tiny woman of irrepressible cheerfulness, and a voice with the piercing quality of a well-honed bayonet, gave him a mock salute. ‘Given up parading us, Cap’n?’ The women always called him Captain.
‘That’s right, Lily.’
She sniffed. ‘He’s mad.’
‘Who?’
‘Bloody Colonel. What did he want us to parade for, anyway?’
Sharp grinned. ‘He worries about you, Lily. He likes to keep an eye on you.’
She shook her head. ‘He wants to look at Sally Clayton’s tits more like.’ She laughed and peered up at Sharpe. ‘You didn’t look away either, Cap’n. I watched you.’
‘I was just wishing it had been you, Lily.’
She shrieked with laughter. ‘Any time, Cap’n, you just ask’.