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Sharpe: Sharpe's Siege

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Winter 1813

Wellington is told by the debonair Frenchman Maquerre that Bordeaux is ready to rise in rebellion against Napolean. Wellington's spymaster, Ross, is doubtful and tests Maquerre by proposing the British use Maquerre's own castle as a base. He reluctantly agrees, but says the castle is in Napolean's hands. Wellington appoints Colonel Bampfylde to lead the attack on the castle, with Sharpe in support.

Sharpe, newly married to Jane Gibbons, is angry that he has lost his command to Bampfylde, but he is soon distracted when there is an outbreak of yellow fever and Jane falls ill. Her chances of recovery seem poor, as there is not enough quinine in the camp to cope with the outbreak. With a heavy heart, Sharpe sets off on his mission, knowing he may never see Jane alive again.

Bampfylde, intent on glory, sends Sharpe on a scouting mission and tries to capture the castle on his own. He fails, and the casualties are heavy. Sharpe, seeing the carnage, has Harris and Frederickson sneak into the castle in disguise. Once inside, they force the French to surrender. Shamed by Sharpe's easy victory, Bampfylde sends him on a reconnaissance mission. Sharpe soon discovers that Bordeaux has no intention of rising against Napolean and that Maquerre is a double agent. Add a recap »

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Writers:: Bernard Cornwell Eoghan Harris Charles Wood

Director:: Tom Clegg

Stars:: John Tams (Rifleman Hagman); Hugh Fraser (Duke of Wellington); Jason Salkey (Rifleman Harris); Daragh O'Malley (Patrick Harper); Sean Bean (Richard Sharpe)

Recurring Role:: Diana Perez (Ramona)

Guest Star:: Levent Yilmaz (French surgeon); James Ryland (Captain Neil Palmer); Christopher Villiers (Colonel Bampfylde); Christian Brendel (Comte de Maquerre); Feodor Atkine (Major Pierre Ducos); James Laurenson (Major General Ross); Abigail Cruttenden (Jane Sharpe); Amira Casar (Catherine); Olivier Pierre (General Calvet); Danny Cunningham (Rifleman Robinson); Sylvester Morand (Colonel Henri Lassan); Peter Wear (Minister); Nick Mollo (Lt. Fytch); Stephane Cornicard (French Colonel); Ecrument Balakoglu (Gaston); Nicola Murray (Brigitte); J D Kelleher (Rifleman Reilly); Jim McManus (Smithers); John Tordoff (Dr Kenefick); Philip Whitchurch (Frederickson)

Goof: Captain Frederickson removes his false teeth before the battle, but this doesn't affect his speech. edit »
Goof: The word 'quinine' is used in this episode, but it wasn't in use until 1820 when Pelletier and Caventou isolated and named the substance. In 1813, the nearest terms for describing quinine would have been 'Jesuit bark' and 'cinchona bark'. edit »
Major Pierre Ducos reappears in this episode, even though he was shot and killed in Sharpe's Honour (1994)! edit »

This episode was first broadcast in the US on BBC America on July 29, 2006. edit »
This episode is based on Bernard Cornwell's book Sharpe's Siege (1987). edit »

(Harper gives Sharpe a cup of tea)
Sharpe: Thanks, Pat.
Harper: I was thinking. Things could be an awful lot worse, you know.
Sharpe: How the bloody hell could things get worse, Pat?
Harper: We could be without the cup of tea. edit »
Bampfylde: (to a servant who has dropped a glass) You stupid bloody bastard!
Sharpe: Sir! There are ladies present. That being so, I would have thought there would be gentlemen present also. edit »
(In French, after losing a battle to Sharpe)
Calvet: Poor Gaston. Was it bad?
Gaston: Yes, General.
Calvet: As bad as Moscow?
Gaston: Yes, General.
Calvet: Then it was truly bad. edit »
Captain Palmer: Sir, uh, under the provisions of the Army Act, I wish to charge Colonel Bampfylde with cowardice in the face of the enemy, abandoning his position, abandoning the wounded, conspiring with the Compte de Maquerre, a spy in the service of Bonaparte, to desert his position and throw the blame on Major Sharpe. I further wish to report, sir, that Major Sharpe tended the wounded, successfully repulsed an attack by General Calvet's brigade, and brought us all safely back home here, sir.
Wellington: Is that all, Captain Palmer?
Captain Palmer: It's almost all, sir.
(Kicks Bampfylde in the groin)
Colonel Bampfylde: (in strained voice) Field Marshall Wellington! Captain Palmer assaulted me! He struck a superior officer!
Wellington: You're no longer a superior officer, Bampfylde, get out! edit »
"Sweet William" Frederickson: I collect perfect teeth from dead Frogs. When I get home to England, I intend to have a full set made. edit »