Original subtitles

Flowing by the Nyaga trading post,

the river Nigu winds its smooth, navigable way

through vast, lush jungles of Africa.

But once past the home of Tarzan,

it soon becomes a raging torrent that surges through swirling rapids,

then passes through tortuous swamps

and unknown caverns,

and is finally swallowed in a maze of small islands

as it empties itself into the sea through a subterranean passage.

On these islands, sheltered from the outside world

by the impenetrable jungle and the dangerous sea,

there dwells a cult of strange people, known as Aquatigans.

They are a hardy people thriving on the bounty of the sea,

happy in the enjoyment of their exotic existence.

They dive for fabulous pearls

in waters alive with monsters of the deep.

And they give these priceless treasures as a free-will offering

to their god Balu.

Of all the strange legends about these Aquatigans,

the one telling of the god Balu is the most fantastic.

Many years ago, strangers came, destroyed their ruler,

and robbed them of their pearls.

Their conqueror ordained himself a god,

dwelt in a temple on an island, which he declared taboo,

and interpreted his will to the people

through a cohort whom he named the High Priest.

Through the hocus-pocus of this High Priest,

he makes the god Balu move

as if alive.

The people believe in this magic of their High Priest.

They believe in their god, Balu.

They worship with a fanaticism that would destroy all disbelievers.

They all believe.

All?

No, not all.

Well may you weep, my daughter.

All of the maidens yearn for Balu,

yet you think of Tiko.

I love Tiko.

And for love of me, he was banished to the outer world.

I will not be forced into an unholy marriage with Balu.

Silence, Mara.

Mara, my child,

a mother does not force her daughter to do wrong.

It's a great honor that you have been chosen from all others

to be the bride of the great god Balu.

I'll never marry Balu.

I'll run away to the outside world, and find Tiko and die with him.

Take care, Mara. You cannot defy the will of a living god.

- There is no living god. - Mara!

I will not listen to such wicked words.

No, don't turn your face from me.

I need your love, your help.

Mara, my child,

my love for you is deeper than the great waters,

but you must obey the will of Balu.

Put all fears and doubts from your mind.

Think only of the great honor that shall be yours and mine

when you are wed to Balu.

You, my daughter, will be a goddess.

Come, Mara. The High Priest, Palanth, summons us.

Oh, Balu, god of our ancestors,

since that glorious day when you first took human form,

we have brought you many offerings.

But now, Balu, we bring you our richest offering,

our greatest treasure.

We bring you a bride, O Balu.

The maiden Mara.

Quick!

Dive! Search!

That's enough for today, Cheeta.

As usual, Benji's late again.

Benji talk fast, walk slow.

But it's been over a week since we've heard from Boy.

Do you really think he likes school in England?

Boy write.

I wonder why he doesn't come.

Benji come sometime.

I am the magnificent Benji

The reigning sheik of Nyaga

I am so handsome, so dashing and tall

The women, they just can't resist me at all

Through the forest I carry the mail

Singing better than a nightingale

As great a lover as postman

And particular friend of the mighty Tarzan

Oh, yo, yo

Benji boy, this is mutiny

The womens are losing their dignity

Over magnificent Benji

I am the magnificent Benji

The reigning sheik of Nyaga

I carry all the letters from Boy to Tarzan

And take care of each one as well as I can

Boy writes of England, so different from here

But me, llike this atmosphere

What Englishman could be more handsome than I

And they can't see elephants as they pass by

Oh, yo, yo

Benji boy, this is mutiny

I've got the most wonderful memory

I'm the magnificent Benji

Benji, it's good to see you.

You bring letter from Boy?

Letter from Boy?

Benji forget the letter?

Ah, that everything must change.

Day, night, life, even commissioners.

The new one at Nyaga must have mislaid it.

Cheeta, stop.

Benji forget letter, eh?

But Benji carry the message in his own heart.

I will make it live for you as though it came from his own lips.

"Dear Jane and dear Tarzan." That's the way his note began.

"I think England is really swell, and my work is coming pretty well."

And then it goes...

It goes...

On my reports, I find my best marks are in sports.

"The new athletic coach here claims I should go into the Olympic Games."

What else did he write?

Oh, now I know. He sends his love.

Cheeta, give back to Benji.

Cheeta!

Won't you stay and have something to eat with us?

But of course.

Tanda the elephant could not drive me away, dear Jane.

Something simple, eh, Tarzan, like golden pheasant?

Fish.

Golden feathers not make meal.

Benji, you mentioned a new commissioner at Nyaga.

Yes.

So new is he that he dreams awake.

Already he sees Nyaga as a great city.

A trading center.

He will build a new school, hospital, and many fine new homes for the people.

He dreams a great deal about this thing.

He think about people. New commissioner sounds like good man.

Come, Cheeta.

Tarzan go fishing, catch mermaid, eh?

Oh, most beautiful mermaid so close to me

Pray how did you get here from the depths of the sea

And if there be others as lovely as you

I think I'd be happy with all of them, too

I am known as the magnificent Benji

What fun we could have at the bottom of the sea

I think you will find my credentials will do

I'll dedicate my life to mermaids like you

Won't you tell us who you are?

I am Mara.

And you are from where, Mara?

Aquatania.

Yes, Aquatania, forbidden island.

What do you fear?

I am afraid they'll find me. I ran away from Balu.

He's only a man.

A man who's taken the form of our ancient god.

Let me go.

Tarzan, Jane help Mara.

If you help me, you'll be in danger, too.

Please let me go.

Has Mara been found?

- If she's alive, she'll be found. - You must find her.

Mara is kind of troublesome. She's always had too much curiosity.

She still thinks of Tiko.

Still thinks of Tiko when she can marry a god?

The will of Balu shall be carried out.

These are very good pearls, eh, Varga?

Our arrangement has worked out well, my friend.

You have power and I have pearls.

You must find Mara.

For you.

A black pearl.

Oh, it's exquisite, Mara, but I can't accept it.

Oh, I'm sorry it doesn't please you.

Oh, no, Mara, it's beautiful.

I mean, I can't accept it because of its great value.

That's strange. You see value in a pearl. I see only beauty.

Since it has value to you and not to me, it should be yours.

- It's heavenly, but... - No.

Pearl not earned.

It is not Mara's gift, but the gift of the great waters.

Please take it.

Tarzan, you could send the pearl to the Commissioner.

Think what a wonderful contribution it would make toward his work.

Such a pearl might build a school or a hospital.

I think Benji's right, dear.

You think it right to take pearl from Mara?

I'm thinking its real value lies in how much good it can do.

All right, too much talk. Here, take pearl to Commissioner.

Benji, please mail this to Boy.

Don't forget, give pearl to Commissioner and mail letter for Boy.

Don't get two mixed.

Farewell, farewell

Dearest Mara, farewell

How blue and tender is yonder sky

Yet how sad, dear, to say goodbye

The trees in green, love, bend branches low

Waving goodbye with me as I go

Farewell, farewell

Dearest Mara, farewell

- Goodbye, Benji. - Goodbye.

Cheeta!

Come, Mara.

Jane all right?

Yes.

They've taken Mara.

This tale of yours, Benji. How much of it is true?

All of it. This time I do not exaggerate, Inspector.

But, Benji, a mermaid?

There I might have stretched my imagination just a little bit.

But the girl, she was so beautiful.

Pardon me, sir, but may I suggest the matter be investigated?

We've known for some time that pearls have been illicitly exported from Nyaga,

and that means losing a spot of revenue, sir.

Yes, yes.

If only we could find out where they come from.

Then I have your permission to go and question the girl, sir?

Yes, yes, by all means.

- Go ahead, my boy. Go ahead. - Thank you, sir.

Who are you?

A friend.

What do you want?

I am looking for someone.

- Who? - A girl.

- What girl? - Mara. I found her canoe.

Mara's not here.

Wait.

- What is your name? - Tiko.

Stay here, Tiko.

I may be able to help you.

Yes, Taylor.

I've made up my mind.

I will leave for Nyaga with my pearls.

Bring Mara here, they can guard her well.

Bring her many presents, as befits her new life.

She's frightened. Quiet her, please.

When I return shall be a day of great rejoicing. A festival.

The people shall gather many pearls as a nuptial gift to Mara and Balu.

That's a good idea, Varga.

All right.

That's about all of it, Commissioner.

I know that Tarzan and Mara are in danger.

Now that you're here, I see no reason to delay any longer.

Well, I thought this was gonna be a trading expedition.

Now, I'm afraid, it's going to be an adventure.

From your story, these people are certainly dangerous.

Not all my people are bad. Maybe only the High Priest.

Aren't you afraid to return, Tiko?

- May mean your death. - Mara's in danger.

I'll show my friends the way.

We're ready. Let's go.

Cheer up, my friends Smile and be happy

Tarzan and Mara soon we shall see

Tell me why do you all feel this trip to be so grim

Tiko will guide us and I will guide him

Whatever could have been to sweep your smiles away?

Just think this trip we're taking is a holiday

The Commissioner is here and if he gets confused

Don't you know I'm here, too to keep you all amused

Let us hasten to adventure without worry or threat

If Tarzan has not saved the day I will do it yet

So cheer up, my friends and don't look so blue

Always remember brave Benji is behind you

Don't be frightened, my child.

- Balu is not our god. I... - Enough.

Do not speak in blasphemy.

Speak. Why have you come?

We come as friends. I'm a representative of the government.

This island is taboo. You've defied our laws.

Balu?

You have come to judge these intruders who seek to defile our domain?

They are to be punished.

You wish the outside world to know of our pearls?

What of Mara? Is she alive?

She's to be set free, too, isn't she?

And Tiko is forgiven?

And Balu does not want Mara for his bride, does he?

Tiko?

Tiko free. Mara go.

You look for Balu? I like to dive for pearl and give to him.

Do not speak so lightly of our god, lest his vengeance destroy you.

When he come alive again?

You mock our god?

Balu move, walk, sleep in bed. Eat, too.

Take pearls. What he do with them?

Anyone who enters the temple forfeits his life.

The island is taboo.

Who live in temple not there now. When he come back?

If my people knew anyone posed as Balu,

they would destroy him.

If people know Balu a man, they destroy you.

- Is it a good pearl, Varga? - Yes, Inspector.

It is a very good pearl.

The Commissioner has gone pearl hunting, huh?

If Benji's story holds, I imagine he'll push on from Tarzan's home.

- I wish him luck with his wild-goose chase. - Wild-goose chase?

Oh, come now, Inspector. Surely you don't take this nonsense

about mermaids and pearls seriously?

Why, I admit it sounds fantastic, but here's the pearl to prove it.

Oh, some native's always coming in with a pearl or a diamond,

some wild tale. We have listened to hundreds of them.

Yet I'm inclined to believe this one.

I wish I had your imagination, Inspector.

Perhaps you hard-headed businessmen could do with a little more imagination.

I do all right.

Tell me, Varga, what is the secret of your success in the export trade?

- A little smuggling on the side, perhaps? - Well,

nothing so exciting and adventurous as that.

Well, I suppose you'll be off to the jungle again soon.

Immediately. I have some business downriver.

Well, if you come across the Commissioner

and he wants any assistance, you might give him a hand, will you?

- He doesn't know the jungle too well yet. - All right.

If I see him, I shall take care of him.

- To your success. - Let's drink to it.

What Jane do?

When we click glasses, we're making a toast.

Tarzan toast, too.

I'll serenade you

With my guitar

Hear me, my loved one

No matter whether

You're near or far

Still my guitar says

When you

Hear me you'll agree

That the music I play

Isn't meant for a symphony

But, darling, I'll bring my music

Wherever you are

Played on my heart's string

- What are you doing here? - It's for jousting.

- Jousting? - You joust, Benji?

I'm the champion jouster of all Nyaga. Ask all the women.

You joust with me?

- Yes. - Yes.

I accept.

It is easy. I will do it.

Benji, you go wrong way. We look everywhere for you.

You come this way. Now.

Watch.

The high dive.

- Men dive good. - True.

Yet never has one dared dive from the high rock.

Tarzan!

Tarzan! Tarzan!

Tarzan! Tarzan!

Tarzan! Tarzan!

Tarzan, I wish you hadn't promised.

Tarzan say he make dive.

So, Tarzan will make dive.

It's Tarzan up to one of his tricks.

I'm sure Balu is going to preside over your wedding ceremony.

I speak for Balu, who has come to protect you from these evil ones.

Balu has looked into the hearts of these intruders.

He has seen that they plan to betray his trust in them and yours.

It is the will of Balu

that they be hurled into the sea.

Balu man, not god.

High Priest evil.