Original subtitles

HEART OF DARKNESS

One of the dark places on earth.

There was the vilest plundering in the history of discovery.

Bare bones, death and ivory.

A funny dance of death and trade!

The company's operations in Congo were what every civilization has done in history.

Like when the Romans came to Britain.

There wasn't much here then. Sandbanks, swamps, forests... And wildlife!

-They must have been brave men. -The Romans were conquerors.

And then only brute force is needed. Nothing to brag about.

They grabbed what they could get their hands on.

I think you lawyers will agree with me.

It was simply robbery and murder on a grand scale.

Conquest means stealing land from people of a different colour...

...or with a flatter nose.

Not a nice handling really.

It was not to hear you preach. that we wanted to meet you, Marlow.

Where are Kurtz's papers?

They've been in my safe keeping ever since my return from Africa.

Your bookkeeper knows that... Your lawyer too.

And you know it best.

You have sent more or less threatening agents to me for eight years now.

I won't touch the papers again. I've shown you everything you need to see.

Marlow, the company is right to see the documents in their entirety!

You do not have the right to withhold any information in them.

Nothing in them can be of interest to the company. I don't think...

It is we ourselves who best can judge that matter!

We have a right to all his knowledge.

We are talking about an extraordinary capable man! Which you must know...

You were the last to speak with him. He gave you the documents...

No, he didn't give me the documents.

I am interested in his extensive scientific knowledge

-about unexplored territories in the heart of the territory.

Sure, Kurtz had extensive knowledge of uncharted territory.

Though we should probably leave trade or management aside here...

And his knowledge was hardly scientific. Rather philosophical.

The impression they made on me I will carry with me as long as I live.

I went up the river to a dark place...

We know that very well, Marlow!

And we also know very well that you came back...

...while Mr. Kurtz did not.

Come back, you say?

Did I really come back?

You're wrong, Mr. Jaeger, to think so unquestioningly in that matter.

Yes, Marlow, you've come back...

...and the proof of it will probably show up in your history.

Because if you're not going to pull a ship... ...from the seven seas now...?

No, Mr. Jaeger. Sure, I was a sailor when I was commissioned.

-but the journey would be made on sweet water.

Still, I was on fire.

traveling to "the end of the world"

-also would reach the peak of my experiences.

I was going to a dark place.

A hollow, chilly atmosphere prevailed in the premises.

Where the women in front of the door to the interior some kind of warning?

Their black dresses had a sombre and pitiful air.

Like mourning clothes.

I felt uneasy.

It was as if I lured into some kind of trap.

Something was not right.

Captain Marlow?

May here be the good pioneers sit and pimp their stock...

Doesn't it look more like a snake?

The river, I mean.

The director will see you now, Captain.

You will come across some trade secrets on the site.

-and these you hereby promise to keep quiet about them.

Should I keep quiet about the real purposes of my mission, you mean?

Exactly what that Kurtz is doing I'll keep my mouth shut, of course.

-Has you been down there? -I'm not that stupid.

Are you saying I'm a fool...?

Now there is one last formality: The doctor wants to see you.

-Yeah, you're the new man... -Yes.

You're going out there. Interesting...

In the interest of science.

-I always ask to measure the skull of all those who go out.

Has the doctor noticed any changes on the skull when they get back home?

I'll never see them again... if they come back.

And the changes take place in...

Excuse me...

...but are there any madness in the family?

Madness? I'm a sailor, Doctor.

A freshwater mission may seem crazy to a sailor, but madness...

Is the doctor also looking for soul defects?

Shouldn't every doctor think a little about that? Don't you think so?

I have no idea.

I'll be the captain of a boat and not a scientist.

Not so soulful exactly.

My "duty," as the director said, will be...

-to be responsible for a simple riverboat

-and bring it so far up the river ...as possible...

-and then bring it back down to the coast again.

I have a warning, Captain:

Exciting sensory movements is more risky than the blazing sun.

Not very inviting, is it? Though this might appeal to a man like you...

The whole world attracts men like me.

At least the unknown part of it.

Right. You remind me of someone like me brought in here a few years ago.

Was his name Kurtz?

Yes, Kurtz was his name. - Stay away from my boat!

Have you come here on some kind of government mission?

Strange what some people are prepared to do for a few francs a month!

I'm going to take command of a riverboat...

...for a few francs a month.

Thank you.

Is that Captain Marlow?

Yes.

No, no, you go that way! We'll take care of the luggage.

Take the bags... - That way!

This...

Belgian Shipping Company

Hello! You must be Marlow!

Delcommune. Jacques Delcommune. I'm the company's chief accountant.

I was expecting you. When I saw you standing there, I put them together one by one.

I thought I was in some kind of unknown penal colony - for my sins.

Yeah, I'm... I accidentally came out a blow, to get some fresh air.

Fresh air?

Put him down.

As I said, you are expected, Captain. And I've arranged the packing for you.

You may bring supplies to the main station.

Most of it is food. And a few boxes of good ammunition...

Ammunition?

Garbage for barter. Glass beads and stuff...

It is the local currency.

Plenty of that shit at the main station.

I'm happy to be of service.

Enough is enough. Out!

I have taught her some of our customs.

Not easy at all. She hates work.

Stations higher up the river have been isolated for too long.

Mr Kurtz' station has been completely cut off.

The photo there is of him... The contact is completely broken.

Are you saying it hasn't come so many shiploads of ivory?

None at all.

There are rumors about him.

If he has gathered a mountain of ivory. I've even heard...

But no!

There are so many rumours circulating. You shouldn't listen to them.

Rumours...

You can get dizzy from all the rumours.

Certainly, monsieur, one should never let rumours get in the way of concepts.

You don't want the doctor to throw with the "rattlesnake"...

The only reason you don't ...have received any goods, monsieur...

-is that the ivory boat has had no captain.

What happened to him?

Do you know that?

-For the captain...? -He died.

I hear he's gotten pretty weird.

A bold man... But he took too many risks.

Malaria, or some other local disease...

Well, now you shall have your ivory - and the stations new supplies.

Yes. You get 20 men for the hike to Stanley Pool.

The boat is there. "King of Belgium".

Do you think 20 men will be enough?

Here in Matadi we are completely safe.

About the situation further inland I am not so sure. Not at all.

Thank you. Show him...

Company agent Gustave Harou will accompany you.

-What's your name? -Mfumu, Captain.

And Mr. Delcommune asked you to take care of me...

No, I asked for it myself.

-And have you gathered the carriers? -Yes, Captain.

We start at dawn.

Is it possible to get some hot water in that tub there?

Of course, my captain.

What are you silent about?

You saw something over there. Tell me, Heche!

But say it then!

For God's sake, what did you see?

-Who is it? -I don't know! He's terminally ill.

They came with him from one of stations. No one knows what he saw.

He has been lying and moaning for hours. And broke my concentration.

Extremely difficult to detect possible errors in the columns...

I hope you are happy with the carriers...

-Yes, Mfumu seems to be good. -Mfumu?

Yes, Mfumu is good. Enterprising of him.

Monsieur Kurtz taught himself him as a boilermaker.

Up there in the wilderness.

"Mfumu is a cannibal," he said, "but he's a good kid."

Have an aperitif, Captain...

Did you say that Mfumu is a cannibal?

Tell me what he's up to!

What's he doing, Heche?

Pour for you, Captain. I don't drink myself.

Where does he come from?

From the station at the far end. The real ivory country.

As much ivory as from all other stations combined.

But that is no longer the case.

Nothing. Nothing from anyone.

-The man can't even speak anymore. -Is he going to die?

Not yet.

All the sick are brought down here. They bury in the wilderness.

When you are like me ...have to keep proper books...

-you start to hate the savages out there.

The company's board of directors hardly knows that we employ cannibals...?

If Mfumu is what you say he is...

It was Kurtz who said that.

"He has a taste for long pigs", that's how I think Kurtz put it.

We'll be here for two hours, Captain.

-is this your tent, monsieur? -Yes. Take it down.

It's about time, Captain...

Yes, I am Gustave Harou. I've been waiting for you.

I have slept in the tent, to get used to it.

Now I'm ready.

It is very restful to sleep in a tent.

It's for the train, sir. The King's train.

Where are the people?

They have left.

A great place to stay...

Everyone feels at home, don't they?

Look what the barbarians have left...

His Majesty King Leopold!

Sad.

Terrible.

Godforsaken lands.

Infernally hot.

Infernally wild.

Poisoned...

You three sleep here.

All poisoned...

Why did you come here, Monsieur Harou? if you feel that way?

To make money of course!

Hold still, boys. I'll cover you.

You're safe here, no one will see you.

Ivory!

Isn't that why we all came here?

Captains! Captain...

Ivories!

Didn't we all come here for that?

Captain?

Captains!

What is it, Mfumu?

They have taken the boys. They took them with them!

Who has taken the boys?

People who saw us. Saw us with the pack.

The boys were scared. The first time they worked for the company.

Some want to change the boys for things.

Mfumu can't believe it's true...

But the boys were right. Someone took them.

Are you saying that some followed us? And took the boys and their packs?

No. Give the pack to them, and you'll get the boys back.

Are you saying I should give them glass beads? And if I say no...?

That's the end of the boys.

Is that enough, Mfumu?

And tell them I said: "No more!"

You gave them a whole sack!

You're crazy, Captain!

For three boys, you sacrifice a whole sack!

-Where is the third? -No more.

Did they kill him?

-Did they kill the boy? -They killed.

Although they received beads that would a whole village for a year!

Did they want to warn?

What kind of people are they?

Different people.

They're watching over us. Everywhere.

They are chasseurs... hunters. They hunt.

It's Kurtz. Not him personally, but his emissary. That's his method.

This has nothing to do with Kurtz.

This is older.

Much, much older.

Captain, the main station!

We are here...

Hello!

Captain Marlow!

-Welcome, you are long awaited! -Is that my steamboat?

Yeah, sure.

But it's under water.

-My boat has sunk! -Of course...but it's all right.

It is not at all in order!

Do you think I've been stretching a long way through the wilderness to see this?!

The director himself was present. Everything went right. Everybody behaved brilliantly!

I'm sure everyone behaved splendidly. Could you show me to the director?

He's fine, thank you. You must see our director right away.

He is waiting for you. In there...

Captain Marlow, sir.

Yes, I heard the racket. Welcome to Stanley Pool.

My name is Gosse.

If there was a disturbance here, sir, it was probably before I arrived.

What you just heard was anger.

Here I come to take command of your steamboat in the heart of the Congo!

How will I be able to fulfil the mission when the ship is on the bottom of the river?

We have had serious problems, Captain Marlow. Very serious.

I don't know what took you so long...

-Delayed? I've been travelling non-stop... -We had to start without you.

It is about the supply of stations higher up. In particular, one.

I hardly notice any urgency atmosphere here, Monsieur Gosse.

Surely a weakness of my inability to absorb...

It concerns our most important station.

For some time, rumours have been swirling that it is in danger.

As I said, it has been rumoured that the station in question is under threat.

That the manager is... seriously ill.

In short, I became very concerned.

He is our very best agent. He is of the utmost importance to the company.

You must be referring to Mr. Kurtz.

I haven't heard another name since I set foot on African soil.

A matter of the utmost importance.

Of utmost importance.

So you decided to do it yourself. steer the ship. And save him...

But you didn't get far!

Dra!

Mr. Kurtz told me that he wanted an African canoe...

Mr Kurtz said to Mfumu: "We don't need a steam boiler!"

But Mfumu likes working inside one of these!

Hope you get to show him how soon your steam boiler works, Mfumu...

Are we going far in?

To the station at the far end.

Looks like you lost your bet.

-What was in there, Mfumu? -The storeroom was burning, Captain.

-What storage? -Glass beads, junk. It was all on fire!

You!

You shall have!

That fool set the fire. All our loot was in there.

Now there won't be much left to trade for ivory.

We must show no mercy. It's the only way.

Now there will be no more fires. I'll bet six months' salary on that.

Alphonse De Griffe is the name.

Maybe I shouldn't bet anymore. At least not with Captain Marlow.

You have done well...so far.

Can I buy you a drink?

We call this "health drops"...

Kurtz has painted it... inside this room.

He said it depicts his fiancée in Europe.

Put him down.

-Did you know him? -Yes.

He is the manager of the station at the far end.

I know he's the manager there. But I wanted to hear...

Kurtz is a marvel.

An enlightened man.

There are none like him out here.

He's something special...and I think that I think you know very well.

Why should I know anything about Mr. Kurtz?

The same people have sent you both. You both belong to the "morality league".

I've seen the evidence.

Kurtz is the soul of your new league.

He spreads excellence and culture wherever he goes.

The lowly comet of good will!

The lily-white protector of dark hordes!

This is not to say that I hate any fear of him.

I have never been attacked by fear of either God...

...or the devil.

Even less so for a human being.

They are the same, those two! Fuck them, both of them!

No, that Marlow doesn't know anything. He doesn't even know the man.

Kurtz has been sitting alone in the heart of the jungle.

With its savages for protection...

But he won't succeed!

He's sick.

Dying, actually.

If Marlow ever gets there he will find only death and disease.

How do you know he's sick?

Heche said. When he himself prayed to be taken back to Matadi.

How did Heche know that?

His carrier had told him. "The white god is sick," they said.

The white god, indeed!

The white god is sick...

I'll tell you, those who go out here ought to be gutted.

He has only himself to blame. No bath him to go back in.

-while he was here with his last cargo.

No one asked him to let himself to be paddled back by his savages...

But why me? Nobody's seen a glimpse of the man for nine months...

You can handle the climate, Alphonse. You've survived them all... so far.

You know I think that you should be the boss in there...

...instead of that bastard.

Do you think so? That I should be in charge of the inner station?

Yeah, you wouldn't preach that every station should be like a "beacon".

Take Verme, and Harou...

Gustave...

Throw it!

Let go of the line!

Thanks for all the help.

Keep the steam boiler burning!

Kurtz...

-Come down here! -Wait, I'm coming.

Stay tuned! Watch out for all the rocks and logs in the river!

-Shall we go far? -To the end of the world.

-Really? -Yes, that's right.

May God protect us then.

-Mfumu, what's that? -My enemy. I have killed him.

It was a strong enemy.

But now he protects me.

I understand. Now that you've killed your enemy, he protects you...

Ivory, Captain Marlow...

Ivory...

There may be elite ivory here.

But we're not even close of the inner station.

We have not come Kurtz territory yet.

I wonder if King Leopold thinks that any part of his land

-is a territory that to which some corporate agent has exclusive rights.

You're quite right, of course, Captain.

But this particular agent doesn't have that view...

...as you will see.

Are you coming to the beach, Alphonse?

No.

-What about the captain? -No.

Don't waste the bark now!

We don't have that many glass beads and fabrics left after the fire.

What a party! And just for the sake of the inner station...

-Why? -He cleans away all the ivory.

Just as Mr. Gosse predicted.

What a bastard!

You seem to have planted a seed in that poor man's head. Weeds thrive.

He actually said that Monsieur Gosse prophesied. Not me, Captain Marlow.

Yes, but you said that Mr. Kurtz will fulfill the prophecy.

Did you make it?

It went well.

I'm not fried. Just fried.

My enemy, he laughs at me...

He doesn't protect me anymore.

Goodbye!

Was that so successful?

What's that noise, Mfumu?

Why are men afraid?

The river's too slow, Captain. Very dangerous...

It's not the river that makes the noise, Mfumu, but the forest.

Starving, Captain. Everyone's hungry there.

I'll check the steam boiler.

No, best not to waste the fuel. It'll be dark soon.

-How far is it? -I don't like the behaviour of the savages.

Which "savages" do you mean, De Griffe? The ones in the jungle...?

They sound hungry...

Did you know that people here were once cannibals?

Maybe they still are.

But I'm not worried. we're not very appetizing.

Throw the anchor, Mfumu!

Throw the anchor.

He is afraid.

Are there any enemies here, Mfumu?

Many enemies.

Many.

Captains!

He'll...

He comes and looks...

-Who's coming, Mfumu? -I don't know, Captain.

But we are not welcome here.

-Go down to the steam boiler, Mfumu. -Yes, Captain.

Go below deck.

What is it?

Untie the bow!

They see the boat, Captain.

Who? Who sees the boat?

You don't see them. They see you!

What is this supposed to mean? Get your guns out!

Mfumu, somebody pull up the anchor!

Get him!

-Close to them! Give them to us! -And what would you do then?

Eat them up.

The anchor must be raised now, Mfumu.

We're going to see Mr Kurtz, whether he wants us to or not.

Stop that!

You fucking idiot!

I'm just defending myself! And the honour of the company!

Get down to the steam room, Mfumu!

Back in the cockpit!

They're attacking us! We will die!

-Can you take the wheel? -Kurtz is probably already dead, Marlow!

Don't risk the company's boat! And the company's agents!

Upstream, De Griffe! You have no whether Kurtz is alive or dead.

Don't listen to that man, he's a spy for Kurtz! We must turn back!

Keep up the pressure, Mfumu!

We're going up to the inner station, with or without Mr. Kurtz's... blessing.

Farewell... My friend...

I had no way out.

In God's name, Captain!

Save us from this hell...

Stop!

Don't touch him!

We've got to get out of here, Captain Marlow!

We must back to the main station!

Kurtz is dead, all the ivory is gone!

It's too dangerous to continue in there.

Will you listen to me?

No, I'm not listening to you.

Take the helm, De Griffe.

Add at the bridge.

There. The harvest.

All of it.

I love beautiful!

I love beautiful!

-We were attacked! -Yes, I know.

It's all right, come ashore now.

It's all right now.

Wow, I'm so happy!

Look, the harvest... All of it!

Where's Kurtz?

Everywhere.

Yes!

Where are all the people?

You know, he told me that you were coming.

"One day," he said, "they'll send a man here..."

"...that will prevent what I do."

"One who is wise and cunning..."

"...who will experience darkness...during the day."

"Have to trudge along on a shiny day..."

-What are you talking about? -I'm just happy. Yes!

What's going on here?

He's coming. He knows you're here.

Did he tell you I was coming? Did you talk to him?

You don't talk to that man, you listen to him.

Oh, you're a sailor. What an honour!

For I too am a sailor. Russian sailor.

My father was... an archpriest in Tambov.

He wanted me to become a priest too. I didn't.

I'm a sailor like you. Yes!

Yes, I am a sailor! But I prefer to sail alone.

Yes, that's how I prefer to sail. Alone.

Dangerous sometimes.

-Have they tried to kill you? -Me? No.

-Kurtz' people? -No.

Why did he attack us?

They don't want him to leave.

Take him away. Quick! Quick!

Get him out of here!

Why would I bring him?

I'll get the ivory and replenish the supply.

He doesn't need a storage room.

No more glass rubbish!

No more...!

He's got bullets, lots of bullets... Take him out of here, I say.

That's mine.

Isn't he saying the right thing to them now we're all finished.

Don't you dare interfere with my plans with your nonsense!

Captain Marlow, the ivory belongs to the company...

He's going to kill us, Captain!

What that man said is not true. Is not true.

He could kill us all...

Yes. He could kill me.

I'm not dead.

I'm here!

He has nothing to trade ivory for.

He's got plenty of bullets.

He has discovered a lot of villages. A lake too.

Are you saying he's been looting the area? With the people here...?

They adore him.

He came to them with lightning and thunder.

They had never seen anything like it.

Yes, he can be terrible. But you can't judge him.

You can't judge him... ...as you would judge an ordinary person.

No. No!

He's crazy.

She is a memory.

A past without history. Like Africa.

She was to be my wife.

Look at the parts of the board.

A hand, a candle...a dress.

One might think that a painting is just a bunch of paint patches.

Think a little about the painter before judging his painting.

Whose blood is it?

A friend. Your people killed him.

Was his name Mfumu?

I knew him. A lion...

You killed him!

No. What he was about to become.

You're afraid...?

Yes.

The danger of this horrible isolation is that it leads to...

...that you distrust the truth.

-Are you afraid of dying? -No. I don't think you have any scruples...

You think you're going to save me? Is that why you were sent here?

I warn you. Don't be confused with seeing everything through other people's eyes.

Because then you will only find the opinions of others within you.

Think with your guts too, not just your brain!

A man can reach great heights only when he does not know where the road leads.

You're lying.

No.

I speak a truth.

Perhaps the only truth that exists in a place like this.

For men like us.

Their truth is more spacious.

They don't believe in us out here.

I know.

I've had a go at it.

So it's a deal!

Report to the "Society for "Society for the Eradication of Barbarous Practices"

Mr Kurtz is waiting...

We haven't met before, have we?

No. My name is Verme.

An elegance that suits the place...

As payment for the boys...

...you may take with you half the ivory back.

Take it quick before I change my mind!

Yes.

A hungry contract hunter indeed!

My bid for black for white he couldn't resist.

Those boys are my porters, Mr Kurtz!

Happiness is only in victory - that is true in trade as well as in war.

Monsieur Verme likes business...

"Exterminate all barbarians."

What have you done with that boy?

What have you done?

What kind of sick thoughts that has infected this place?

Do you know what you are doing?

Don't I...?

Run and hide, little man.

Get out of here!

The jungle has a purpose with everything, you know.

It poses an immense challenge to human understanding.

The jungle blossoms into ruin.

It urges us to penetrate deeply into our inner self.

But it is dangerous to to tear the veil from our thoughts.

-and look down into the abyss...

...which is our true essence.

What have you really loved, Captain Marlow?

Not just respected, but loved?

With all is suffering, with fear, hatred, joy?

Loved in a way that only your own soul can understand...

"Two souls dwell, Oh, in my breast!

"Two souls are chosen in my bosom." Goethe.

Long gone.

Neither good nor bad...

Dead!

Also the light is dark in here...

...as is the darkness itself.

I look up at the stars, but they give no light.

I sent for my books, but they didn't shed any light anymore either.

Written music no longer sings.

Colours no longer light up.

I'm building a desolate dwelling for myself...

...as kings and their advisors do in another world. Your world.

God-intoxicated. Righteous.

Irrelevant. Dead.

Don't you think it's surprising and wonderful...

...that the only thing left of us after all our striving...

...have the same features?

Here come the hyenas, they smell death...

I stood on the threshold to great things.

You are surrounded by disgust.

Come here.

Close to me.

All that you are now, all that you have been and that you hold dear...

...it's not really you.

Remember...

There's nothing more pathetic...

...no more abominable creature in all nature...

...than a man who...

...who runs away from his demon.

No...faith.

No...fear.

Horrible...

Horrible.

Mister Kurtz - he dead.

Captain Marlow!

Captain Marlow! It's time to leave.

It's all over here.

I'm leaving.

But not with you. Sorry, Captain.

I have to go.

You know, he broadened my mind...

...and now I'll never come again to see that man again.

Verme, untie the barge!

I said untie it!

But it's worth millions...

It's a fortune!

Untie the barge, you bastard!

Now!

The report was not a real report. it contained his own thoughts.

Notes on music, politics...

Bitter philosophical expositions.

Dictator.

Drawings... Beautiful drawings.

Kurtz was an artist... An artist at war with all of existence.

For each new abuse the fury of his outburst increased.

Was there nothing about the company?

No, nothing. about the company's operations.

When I came back I had the impulse to seek her out.

The woman in the paintings. His future.

She was still wearing mourning clothes... over a year after his death.

She had a strong ability to faith...to fidelity.

Her sorrowful beauty seemed to say:

as he deserves."

I have lived so long in silence that I sense his loneliness.

There was no one around who understood him.

No one was there to listen to him that I could do... and did.

Were you with him, Captain Marlow? when he died?

Did you hear him speak?

On several occasions I listened to his words.

But were you present when he died?

I was next door. I'm not sure if you're ever present

-on the death of someone else.

Were you close enough to perceive his last words, Captain Marlow?

His last words are precisely the reason why I sought you out.

His last words showed me the way to you.

His last words gave me your name.

Poor Harry...

Remember...

There is nothing more pathetic...

...no more vile creature in all of nature...

...than a man who...

...running away from his demon.

Translation: Tommy Gustavsson © Sveriges Television AB 2004