Sharpe (TV Series)

Sharpe's Challenge (2006)

Toby Stephens: William Dodd

Quotes 

• William Dodd : You see my love? The British will soon lie scattered across the plains, and Fattagar will be ours!

• Madhuvanthi : You must take me with you!

  William Dodd : Why? You mean nothing to me!

• Richard Sharpe : Bad powder! Good trick, that. I'll remember that one.

  William Dodd : Be sure that you do.

• Madhuvanthi : You want someone younger to rule beside you? Lalima perhaps? I've seen how you watch after where she walks.

  William Dodd : [smiles]  I keep a close eye on her because I do not think she is entirely to be trusted.

  Madhuvanthi : She's of no consequence. She'll do as her brother orders and if she does not, she'll suffer for it. All I ask, my love, is that you do not make me wait too long for what is rightfully ours.

• William Dodd : [Cecilia is bathing, and Dodd has snuck in]  I trust your new quarters are more to your liking!

  Celia Burroughs : [surprised, Cecilia hides her body]  General Dodd!

  [Recovers herself] 

  Celia Burroughs : I hardly think it proper for you to be alone in a woman's quarters!

  William Dodd : Fortunately, madam, there lies a region in which I am well traveled.

  Celia Burroughs : What is it you want?

  William Dodd : Merely to ask after your comfort.

  Celia Burroughs : To the best of my knowledge, sir, you were once an officer in the British army.

  William Dodd : It was the East India Company in which I serve. But let's not split hairs over such trifling matters. Your point?

  Celia Burroughs : My point, sir, is that if any vestige of gentlemanly conduct you absorbed while in British company remains, I would urge you to act upon it.

  William Dodd : [grins]  Alas, madam, these past years I find I'm moved by impulses far more... corporeal.

  Celia Burroughs : If I understood you were right the other evening, general, you made a gift of me to the rajah.

  William Dodd : What of it?

  Celia Burroughs : Nothing. I am merely imagining his disappointment to find that his gift had already been unwrapped!

  William Dodd : [frowns in anger for a moment]  Any man would wish you health under his Highness. For he'll take more care in its opening than I will!

  [walks out, leaving Celia speechless] 

• Khande Rao : [referring to the Brahmins]  They say the rains are coming very soon.

  William Dodd : Not too soon, Your Highness. Or how else will we swill the plain clean of English blood?

• Sgt Shadrach Bickerstaff : May I say, how grateful I am, sir, for giving me this chance to prove myself...

  William Dodd : You've proven yourself already. As a model of self-interest! I confess, you put even my *own* ambitions to shame!

• William Dodd : I like to give a fellow Englishman a proper salute. You are English, aren't you?

  Leonard : Yes, sir, from N-N-Norfolk, sir.

  William Dodd : Good. Too many damned Scots in the Company these days. Have you noticed that? Too many Scots and Irish, glib sorts of fellow, they are. But then they aren't English, are they? Not English at all.

• Crosby : Who the devil are you?

  William Dodd : Major William Dodd -

  [shoots Crosby] 

  William Dodd : - at your service!

• William Dodd : What's the matter, Captain? Cat got your T-t-tongue?

  [runs Leonard through with his sword] 

• William Dodd : Sergeant. Can you use a sword?

  Richard Sharpe : Aye sir, sometimes sir, when I need to.

  William Dodd : Good, then oblige me. It's been a while since I matched steel with an Englishman.

  Richard Sharpe : Begging your pardon sir, but - I'm drilled as a rifleman, and no match for your Generalship.

  William Dodd : I'll be the judge of that, choose your blade.

  Richard Sharpe : I'd sooner not, sir, if it's all right with you.

  William Dodd : ...Choose your blade.

  [Sharpe goes to the table of swords] 

  William Dodd : So what brings you to His Highness's service?

  Richard Sharpe : [sets down a blade and picks up another]  As we told Colonel Gudin, sir...

  William Dodd : [Dodd lunges and Sharpe barely blocks with the still-sheathed sword]  You weren't ready for me.

  Richard Sharpe : No, sir.

  William Dodd : Well let that serve as a lesson to you. The enemy won't announce his intention to strike, and neither will I!

  [Sharpe unsheathes his sword and they begin dueling] 

  William Dodd : That's better, Sharpe, much better.

  Richard Sharpe : I learn fast, sir.

  William Dodd : So it seems.

• Richard Sharpe : [Dodd slashes Sharpe across the stomach during their duel]  I thought this were just practicing!

  William Dodd : You're holding back. Is that how you'll fight the redcoats when it comes to close quarters? Test me, man! Test me!

• William Dodd : Your army, is going to be utterly destroyed!

• William Dodd : Bow to his Highness.

  Captain Lawrence : I will do no such thing!

• William Dodd : Highness, your loyal commander-in-chief offers you this humble gift. The daughter of the mighty general sent by England to challenge your greatness kneels before you. I'm afraid there's not much meat on her, and what there is is undercooked, but I'm sure with a bit of encouragement, she'll offer some sport!