In 1878, two young British officers arrive to join a regiment in India. Middle-class Second Lieutenant Arthur Drake, whose father previously served in the regiment, is eager to fit in. Second Lieutenant Edward Millington, son of a general, confides to Drake that he intends to fail his 3-month probationary period; he deliberately antagonizes his fellow officers. They arrive during the third commemoration ceremony of the Battle of Rajapur, where fallen hero Captain John Scarlett is honored annually. His widow, Marjorie Scarlett, again is presented with the
Victoria Cross, awarded posthumously for his valor, that she always returns to the regiment. Captain Scarlett's medal, along with his bloody and tattered uniform, hang prominently in a glass case as a testament to his brutal death at the hands of tribesmen. Majors Alastair Wimbourne and Lionel Roach viewed Scarlett's savaged and brutally
emasculated body. Lieutenant Richard Fothergill instructs the two newcomers on the regiment's rigid rules and traditions. He warns the young officers that they should not take advantage of the favors offered by the attractive and respected widow, Marjorie Scarlett. Millington immediately breaks the rules by addressing Mrs. Scarlett, and Fothergill warns him that another such infraction will get him kicked out of the regiment. While Millington remains aloof, Drake participates in a regimental mess game where officers chase a wooden pig on wheels, pulled by Drake. Catching it, they fiercely pierce the wooden pig's anus with their swords while yelling “pig!” At a dance, Millington gets drunk and tries to seduce Mrs. Scarlett in the garden. She repels him, but moments later runs back into the mess wounded and bloodied in her hindquarters, claiming the culprit was Millington. An informal court martial—a private hearing designed to avoid public scandal for the regiment—is presided over by Captain Stuart Harper. Millington chooses Drake to be his defending advocate, and Drake is obliged to undertake the role. Though pressured by his superior officer to plead Millington guilty and close the case quickly, Drake insists on giving the defendant a fair trial. Drake learns from Mrs. Scarlett's Indian servant that Mrs. Bandanai, widow of an Indian soldier who died with Scarlett, suffered a similar attack with a sword six months prior, long before Millington joined the regiment. When pressed, Mrs. Bandanai says Captain Scarlett assaulted her. Warning Mrs. Scarlett to keep silent, Wimbourne threatens, “They’ll take India away from you.” At the hearing, when shown her dress from the night of the assault, with blood and a cut likely made with a sword point, Mrs. Scarlett acts out the attack, which mimics the regimental game of officers chasing then stabbing a wooden pig on wheels. She admits it was not Millington who attacked her but will not say who did, saying the regiment are all “cruel men who treat women and pigs alike.” Wimbourne knows who the culprit is but refuses to identify him. Millington, now proved innocent, is embraced by his brother officers and now willingly fits in; Drake, disgusted by the truth he's uncovered, resigns. The Colonel thanks Captain Harper for his conduct in administering the inconclusive proceedings. When asked whether he wishes his resignation accepted, Drake responds that he puts his personal honor above that of the regiment. The Colonel responds that Drake's honor and the regiment's should be one, accepting the resignation with regret. The Colonel confronts Wimbourne about shielding the attacker; Wimbourne replies that identifying the culprit would oblige the Colonel to take official action: “The regiment would never have survived the scandal.” Wimbourne assures the Colonel the matter will be handled in the “traditional way, as a matter of honor.” Wimbourne tells Drake that protecting the culprit was about “comradeship,” not “honor.” After witnessing Scarlett's mutilated and emasculated corpse, the culprit became possessed. Taking on Scarlett's persona, he donned Scarlett's bloody and torn coat to attack the "unfaithful" wives of dead regimental heroes. Hiding Drake in the shadows so he may witness, Wimbourne confronts Major Roach, saying he can protect him no longer and the matter must end. Wimbourne and Drake leave Roach with a loaded pistol, which Roach puts to his head and fires. Major Roach is “honorably” recorded in the regimental archives as “killed in action" at Rajapur. ==Cast==