Original subtitles

(dramatic music)

(gong ringing)

(dramatic music)

- I know this land.

You see, I'm a third generation East African.

It hasn't always been empty like this.

It used to be alive, teeming with wild animals.

Free and unafraid.

My grandfather trekked up here by ox waggon.

There were such herds of game,

that the dust from their hooves darkened the sky.

They were hunted of course by the black man

but he killed to eat.

That was nature.

Then the white man came.

There was money in skins, meat, ivory.

Hunting became commercial

and the stink of death was everywhere.

I've been back from the war a year.

I got my old job back, a game warden on the game

preservation department.

At least that's what they call it,

but I don't protect the game anymore.

I protect new farms, new fences, new government scheme.

They have to come of course,

but they mean the end of the animals of Africa.

They call it control of game,

but it just means feeding the vultures.

900 rhino to be eliminated at Makueni,

2000 zebra at Nanyuki,

100 giraffe at Ojipetal,

over 1000 elephant a year slaughtered in Tanganyika.

And so I've been ordered to kill and kill.

Or supervise killing for the sportsman is back,

and science has come into it, high powered rifles,

telescopic sights, you can't miss.

- Come on Darling, come on.

Oh, right through the head,

what a shot, what a lovely shot.

Come on darling, bring the camera.

- The wrong things are always dead in the pictures I take,

coming.

Foot on the neck darling.

Next.

- Perhaps you should shoot this as well,

or do I have to do it for you?

- Why kill it?

- You've just killed his mother.

You have left it two chances,

to be eaten by leopard or die of starvation.

Well, you better finish it off hadn't you?

- You don't have to talk like that.

We've got a licence to shoot.

You've got it Jack?

- Of course.

- I'm sure you have and all in order,

for 75 quid you can shoot a hundred animals,

for 15 bob a piece.

Go ahead, gentlemen have your money's worth,

in the meantime what about this?

- Well, I can't very well do anything.

- I see.

Well, I'll spare the ladies feelings

and take it home with me.

Good day.

- Well, what's wrong with him?

- Got no sporting instinct I suppose.

- Ondego,

- Bwana

- Find a box or a sack or something

and see if you can keep this alive, will you?

- That's no way to talk to our cash customers.

- Customers?

- Well their licences help pay our salaries,

don't they?

- I'm sorry, Jamie I can't take it anymore.

- Oh come on the jobs nearly through

only a few odd months left.

- It's no good Jimmy.

I've had a bellyful of killing.

I couldn’t even shoot that calf just now.

- Well pack it up for a couple of days then.

- I'm packing up for good.

- You can't do that, this job has to be done,

we do it best.

- Here.

- Oh, don't be a fool.

- I'm sorry, Jimmy but this has been boiling up

inside me for months.

- If you quit now, don't come back to me for a job.

- I won't, don't you worry.

- Oh, don't be a chump,

what else can you do?

- Well I, I can try and stop blokes,

like these shooting everything in sight.

- Back on that old hobby horse of yours

trying to set up a national park.

- It's still a good idea.

- Dead as mutton, government wouldn’t look at it.

- Well other countries have got them.

- Oh I know, the Belgian Congo, South Africa.

They've got money and it took them 20 years.

- I'll wait 20 years - You'll have to.

- Three days in a truck hasn't given it much chance,

I ran out of tinned milk.

I'm sorry about the job, Mary,

I didn't think it would come as such a shock to you.

- A shock.

Well really Bob, I didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

I'm so upset.

It isn't like you to make a decision like this

without even consulting me.

That's what hurts.

- Oh, but I am consulting you.

- No you're not, you're telling me.

You can't just come back and say, I’ve quit,

I've got a new job.

We are off back to the bush and then expect me to follow,

just like an old Masai donkey.

- Oh no, wait a minute.

- I tell you Bob if this means going back

to live in the bush, I just can't take it.

We've got a home Bob, I like it, first I've ever had.

Oh, I can't expect you to understand what it means to me.

- Oh I do Mary, honestly, I do.

It's just like can't stand being a butcher any longer.

- Well there are plenty of other jobs, aren't there?

Coffee plantations or seisal - I don't want other jobs.

- No, you just want what you want

and that's all there is to it.

It wont take milk anymore,

might try brandy for the poor little thing.

Look Bob, we had three years in the bush,

living in tents, the flies, the dust, the heat

being alone for days and night.

Nights.

Lying in a camp beds scared stiff of the noises.

Worrying if Tim was safe.

Yes and there's Tim.

He'll be running wild again with no real schooling.

Remember what his master said?

He knows more about the bush life in books.

- Ha ha, a good thing maybe.

- No, it isn't.

It's just convenient for you to think so.

- I'll get the brandy.

- Do you think he'll like this?

Sugar cane I got it out of Ondengo's shamba.

Why are you crying?

- I'm not crying.

- It looks like it.

- No, I'm just upset about something.

Daddy wants us to go back and live in the bush again.

- Oh good.

I can take my air gun.

- No, you can't, wish I'd never let you buy it.

It's the cause of all the trouble.

- What?

My airgun?

- No, just guns, always killing things.

You're as bad as all the rest.

I've even seeing you shooting at birds.

Why? You don't really want to kill things do you?

- No, I just want to see if I can.

- You wouldn’t want to kill this would you?

- Oh, no

- Well, that's how daddy feels about all animals.

He wants to work in a place where

they can't shoot wild animals.

In a place they call a sanctuary.

In a game reserve where they'll soon learn

not to be afraid of us.

- Like keeping pets.

- Yes maybe, like pets.

- I could make a pet of this one.

- Not this one dear.

It's gone, I'm afraid.

- Is it really dead?

- Yes dear, it is dead.

- I wish it weren't.

- Too late, rotten luck.

- I was telling Tim your idea,

and like a fool, I talked myself into it.

- Good.

- Well, when do we go?

- Go?

- The new job?

- Well I haven't actually gotten the job yet.

- Oh honestly Bob, you've got me all steamed up

and you haven't even got it yet?

- But I soon will, I am going to see the governor tomorrow.

- You...

- If you can unite the views of the British settlers

and the Dutch settlers, African interests, Indian interests,

mining and industrial interests, government departments

and the rest, you are a clever man

they couldn’t even agree where to put

the new public laboratory.

- But if I do a square their views,

I can have your blessing?

- Blessing?

I'd give you a dinner.

- I'm sorry Payton but the interest of the settlers

must come first.

- Cut down the shooting area and you cut down

the tourist business.

- The interests of the Africans are paramount.

- But it's hardly a matter for the church, now is it?

- I'm sorry Payton, but my paper can't print

any more of your letters on this subject,

there's no public interest whatsoever.

- I see.

- Goodbye.

- It cannot be denied that the greatest bar

to human progress in this country

is the herds of verminous game that are allowed

to roam at will.

How do you spell verminous?

- Verminous? V-e-r-m-I-o-u-s-y

- Verminous. It is my contention,

that the army should be used to eliminate them

with every means at its disposal.

Mow them down with machine guns,

let their air force drop poison food landmines.

- Selective killing a females in the breeding seasons.

- Fine. That's horrible.

Now for a signature, make him a foreigner.

- Why?

- Well, nobody likes foreigners

Yours faithfully, Rudolph Varenne.

How is that?

- You are not really going to send that, are you?

- Certainly I am, this'll get things moving again

It's the best idea you have ever had.

- I should've kept my big mouth shut.

- Haha, to Rudolph Varenne

The swine.

- The swine, the cad

I remain yours faithfully Rudolph Varene.

Outrageous!

- Mind you I like a little bit of shooting

but there are limits

- Who is this fellow Varenne?

Anybody know him?

- On what grounds dare you print this filthy letter,

this degrading letter by this foreigner, this fellow

what's his name?

- Varenne.

- Yes. Yes, of course Varenne

Yes, Varenne.

You wouldn’t even print mine.

Mere sensationalism, I demand that my case be heard.

I have written two or three letters...

But a national park isn't a liability, it's an asset.

It encourages the tourist trade,

brings money to the country.

- The king has often spoken about wildlife

and has indicated that he does the heritage

of our country and our duty to protect it.

- (crowd) Yah yeah

- My committee has met again today,

and at last week have been able to settIe the area

which is to be our first national park.

The area is about 1000 square miles

in the Amboseta district.

The project is still in the nature of an experiment.

We are giving it a years trial,

not long but enough to make a showing.

You will no doubt find photographs of the area

in Mr. Mannoring's wonderful collection,

which he has been good enough to show us today.

One more piece of news and the most important.

it has been decided to put in charge of the park

the man in whom we have the greatest confidence

a man who has done more than anybody to further this project

Mr. Robert Payton.

- Oh splendid, congratulations.

- My dear, how I envy you, the life so quiet

and away from it all.

- Let me tell you the real hero of this occasion

is the writer of that absurd letter to the press,

Mr. Varenne.

- Is that so?

- Did the trick,

you couldn’t have done the job better if you'd written

the letter yourself.

- How'd you know, he didn't?

- Oh no, No, you are not clever enough

to think of things like that.

- Thanks.

So I am not clever enough eh?

- It was mummy's idea.

- Geycher! - Yaah.

- Congratulations, Payton.

- Thank you.

- Of course. I'm all again you,

I hate game parks,

hate all forms of restrictions.

There's too much of it nowadays.

- I am sure there are no restrictions on you Mr. Mannoring

your shots aren't lethal.(laughs)

- Come and have a look at them.

You know that's a very pretty dress,

I must get a picture of you.

By the way Payton, how far exactly does your area extend?

- From the river here, to about here,

straight across the plain to about there.

- Oh, it takes in the whole of Amboseta area, does it?

- Hm, fine elephant country around there.

Do you know it?

- Yes. The itinerant photographer gets around.

Fine elephant country as you say

but that's all there is that's fine about it.

They couldn’t have picked you a worse spot.

Terribly dry and dusty, only a few brackish water holes

full of mosquitoes.

Picturesque of course.

- I'm boarding on the Kawomba country.

That's where I'll have to look out,

ivory poachers they tell me, every man jack of them.

- Do you think so? You'll have native patrols

I take it.

By the way how many askari have they given you?

- 10.

- Only 10?

You have taken on a job, haven't you?

I do hope I haven't painted too black of picture

of your home Mrs. Payton.

- Oh, no, I just can't wait.

Goodbye.

- This is it, the river is our boundary.

Hey Kali, makasi.

- Makasi Bwana.

- Sante.

- Madam, may I presented with these golden scissors

and to perform the opening ceremony.

- What? Looking like this?

- You've never looked better.

- Oh, here's the governor,

how nice of him to come on this momentous occasion.

- Good morning sir?

- I have great pleasure in declaring this bazaar open.

- It's not a bazaar it's a sanctity!

- Sanctuary ass.

Any regrets?

- Plenty. Look at me.

- Hey Tim, don't go scaring animals in the park,

that's not what it is meant for.

Come on Tim, climb aboard.

- Tazama, faru, angalia! - Hang on.

You all right Mary?

- Did you say don't scare the animals?

- Trappers!

Hey there stop!

Hey there! Hey!

Sorry but you'll have to stop animal trapping

Oh, it's you Gwill.

- Well, well, well, if it isn't my old friend, Bob Payton.

I haven't seen you for some time.

You know the thing I miss most out here

is a bit of conversation.

How are things?

How is this the national park of yours going?

- You ought to know, you are in it.

- No you don't say, must have wandered a bit, I suppose.

- Come off it Gwill,

you know where you are every time.

- Hey, don't move a minute.

A very rare kind of moth worth a lot of money.

You'd be surprised what they buy over in America.

You've got a very fine lot of animals here.

Look very good in a zoo.

- Nothing doing.

- I could arrange to have your name

prominently displayed you know.

"By courtesy of Robert Payton Esquire."

Look very good that would.

And of course I’d pay you well, too.

And from what I hear, you can do with a bit of money

to run this park of yours.

What'd you say?

- I say "Push off, like a good champ."

- Okay.

Hello Mrs. Payton, pleased to see you.

- Hello.

- Don't forget Bob if you're ever wanting a few quid,

I'm still in the market.

How are you Mrs.Payton?

You know Bob, you've got a bit of a check

bringing this nice little wife and son of yours

out to this place.

- Careful Mr.Davis.

It's a very touchy subject.

(laughs)

Hii Na Hii natengeneza supu.

- Ndio.

- Tim!

- It is all right mummy, Kali does it this way.

- Well you are not Kali, so don't try.

- Get all the grass clear Ondego.

- Ndio.

- Yes a thousand square miles is a lot of territory,

it's a sort of triangle, 40 by 50 by 40 miles

quite a job as Mannering had said.

On the north side, I'm lucky,

there is that escarpment,

that gap's a danger though.

through there is a manyatta for the Masai,

one of the villages they make from cow dung.

Emptying now all right.

The tribe's gone wandering again.

(cows mooing)

Queer lot the Masai,

just as they were a thousand years ago,

they only tribe that has managed

to resist civilization completely.

Always on the move, living on blood and milk.

They must keep their cattle out.

Rotten with disease, rinderpest mostly.

They'd infect my whole area in no time.

And if that happens,

the veterinary department comes in and shoots everything,

so I must keep them out.

They are well away now thank goodness,

but they'll be back.

On the East there's desert, that's a help,

nothing much will come in that way.

But south is the real danger, the Kawomba.

50 miles of open country,

and I have only 10 men to patrol it.

Well, got to make a start.

Come on Ondego.

Tayari wawiIi Kwanza,

I want you to patrol that way.

- Ndio.

- Build your hut here.

- Mzuri.

- You'd better sleep in this tree meantime,

there are a lot of lions about.

I'll bring you some more rations in a month's time,

so don't eat it all at once.

Kwaheri.

- (both) Kwaheri Bwana.

- We'll put up these signs on every track

beacons every two miles, at least.

More when he got time.

I must take stock too,

see what I've got to protect.

There are always a few elephants in the swamps.

That's Charlie our oldest inhabitant,

it's the mating season,

these Impala buck and fighting for that lady love.

The giraffe are getting used to us,

three months ago we couldn’t have got within a mile of them,

and they are breeding too.

Little rubber legs here, is only five minutes old.

- I like the warthog, it is so lovely and ugly.

- Well, he is not so lovely when he is cornered.

- What would he do to you Daddy?

- He'd rip you right open.

Lions kill a lot of zebra, of course,

but it's that King's ransom.

They never seem to associate a truck with people

stay in it and you're pretty safe.

Once you get out, it's a different matter.

Yes, things are going pretty well,

but there are always surprises like this.

- Look at that,

a whole herd of elephant heading straight

across the lake to their death.

There's a now settlement over there

and if this lot get among the crops, they'll be a shot.

I hate to scare them

because elephants are really terrified

when caught in the open

but I had to do it to save their lives.

(elephants trumpeting)

Well they are safe for a while,

I hope they have learned their lesson,

then of course trouble never comes singly.

This is the only herd of Buffalo we've got in the park,

even they, the wariest animals in the bush,

seem a little tamer, then

(dogs barking)

- Kawomba.

- Tell them to stop.

- Ungamai.

- Simama! Simama!

Stop the dogs kill them if you have to.

They've been told they can't hunt here.

Tell them they can hunt that way or that way but not here.

- (translating)

- Hey, you,

I thought so, poisoned.

They don't use these against Impala they're after elephants.

Go on, push off.

Tell them I'll speak to their chief.

- (translating)

- Bwana.

- Dogs killed mother?

- Ndio Bwana.

- Poor little chap.

We'll take him back to Tim

I think we shall call you Lucky.

- Come on. Isn't he beautiful?

- Kali, look elephant.

- Yes.

Big bull.

Look, he walked right through the camp in the night.

- Oh Tim, have you fed Oscar the ostrich yet?

- Not yet.

- Well now don't be a little stinker,

just because you've got a new pet,

you can't neglect the others.

I'm not going to do your dirty work for you anymore.

Now run along and get washed before daddy comes,

you look terrible.

- You don't look too good yourself.

- Tim daddy is here.

Hello Bob.

- How do you do,

is that for me?

- I'm sorry, I thought it was Bob.

- Do you usually greet your husband with the scorpion?

Is he in camp?

- Expect him any moment.

- Good.

- Anything wrong?

- No, no.

I just wanted to have a word with him.

I must say you've chosen the most beautiful sight

- It is rather lovely.

- You know the one thing I like about my job

as a photographer that I can take away the beauty

and leave behind the ants, the flies, the jiggers

and those beastly fellows.

A paradise to look at but not to live in,

but then I suppose there are compensations.

By the way I brought you some papers.

- Oh, thank you.

Haven't seen the papers for weeks?

- There is a photograph of in one of them,

at the garden party, I think it's on top.

Oh here comes our husband now.

- Hello Daddy?

- Hi there.

Hello there? Steady on there.

Come on up.

Hello Mannering, Hello darling,

be with you in a moment, must get cleaned up first.

- Come on you can come out now.

- what are you hiding it for?

- I thought mommy was coming,

she's getting a bit fed up with my pets.

- I don't blame her.

- Look daddy, do you think this chameleon

will go the colour of the soap?

- Shouldn’t think so.

- Look out you'll break it.

- What on earth?

- It's ticking, Ondego said it'll be out tomorrow.

- I'm starting to see your mother's point of view.

What the...

- That was my Christmas beetle.

- Well, you keep your pets out of my things,

understand?

- Yes daddy

- Nice to see you again.

- Bob, Mr. Mannering wants to have a word with you

it'll give me a chance to tidy up a bit.

- Fine.

- Kali, Ondego, chakula, upesi upesi.

- By the way Payton,

are your men patrolling your Southern boundary?

- I sincerely hope so.

- Funny, I came on one of your posts yesterday

and no one there.

- Oh I expect they were out on patrol.

- No, I drove on to the next post,

in fact, I went along the whole line,

there wasn't a patrol anywhere.

- Funny, I don't understand it.

Darling, have any of our Askaris been in today?

- No bob, none's been here.

- Where on earth could they have got to?

- Ah, you can't trust any of them?

- Oh yes you can.

They're a good bunch of boys.

- Too good probably and it's paid someone to get them

out of the way.

- What, bribe them?

- Plenty of people wouldn’t be above that,

an Askari can live happily for a year on five pounds.

- I don't believe it.

I'd better get out there right away.

- I hope you don't find things as bad as they appear.

- I hope not.

Oh, have a drink, won't you?

- No thanks I must get long.

- Oh must you?

- Well, you must get over on the job,

and I promised to spend the night

at the district commissioner's.

Sorry to bring in such an unwelcome news.

Make my excuse me to a wife, will you?

Goodbye.

- Goodbye.

Kali, get some sandwiches and thermos coffee, will you?

- Ndio Bwana.

- Bob, where is Mr Mannering?

Has he gone?

Didn't you offer him a drink?

And what's all this about sandwiches?

- All the Askaris seem to be missing.

I must get out there and check up.

- Bob, you've only just got back.

- Oh, I'm terribly sorry Mary.

- I did think we were going to have one evening together.

Must you go?

- I'm afraid I must.

- Ziko Tayari Bwana.

- Sante.

Askari! Askari!

They have gone all right any tracks?

- Motor car Bwana,

Bwana Mannering.

- Yes, I know.

He has been all along these posts.

- Bwana (speaks foreign language)

- Quick.

- Hey, What the blazes do you think you are doing?

- Saving you a packet of money.

- What do you mean?

- It would’ve cost you a fiver fines

for each one you'd shot.

- Fines? You're crazy.

We've got a licence.

- Not to shoot in national park, you haven't.

- National park, since when?

We've been shooting over these area for years.

- which way did it come?

- South.

- How long ago?

- Two days back. Why?

- What is all this?

- Somebody broke every sign on the South boundary,

and I reckon whoever did it bribed my Askaris to quit.

- Well, what's that going to do with us?

- That's just what I’d like to know.

- Bwana, iko tembo imeuIiwa kule mbele.

- Tusks gone Bwana.

- Poaching for ivory eh,

it is a young one too.

What do you know about this?

- What should we know about it?

We didn't do it.

- Let's have a look in your truck then.

- You're not touching our truck.

- You've got no right to do that.

- I have if I think there's ivory in it.

- So we're ivory poachers now, are we?

- Bwana, Kawomba kill.

- It's the Kawomba alright? Poisoned.

- Well, still want to search our truck?

- No you're in the clear all right.

But remember no shooting in the national Park.

- You mark up your boundaries and we will keep to them.

Come on.

- We'll look for tracks.

- Bwana, Kawomba wamepita hapa.

- That probably making to the Amboseta water hole.

(elephants trumpeting)

- Another herd Bwana.

- Yes, waiting their turn.

Funny how two herds never drink together at the same time.

(elephants trumpeting)

(gunshot)

Look out Ondego.

- You hurt Bwana?

- No I don't think so, how about you?

- He beat me Bwana.

- Never mind, you put up a good fight.

- Next time I cut his head off.

- Don't be such a big baby.

Anyway, that's evidence,

if I have ever get a hold of him again,

ugh this stuff stinks, let's get out of here.

- Upinde wake huu Bwana.

- That's evidence too, you hold on to it.

I'm after that wounded bull.

You take the truck and tell the it memsahib,

I'll be back as soon as I can,

then you'd better come out again and trail me.

- Mzuri, lakini jitunze Bwana.

- I will be all right.

- Get back to him quickly Ondego, he might need help.

- Ndio memsahib.

- Well that's that.

Sorry to have missed your husband Mrs.Payton,

but it's no use waiting, a job like that may take days.

- Mr. Commissioner, how fast does an elephant go

when he charges you?

- Oh fast enough.

Now don't get your mother worried.

Mr. Mannering has taken photographs of charging elephants.

- But this one is poisoned, isn't it?

Doesn't it send them mad?

- Sometimes.

Sometimes they die slowly in agony.

There is nothing one can do, but follow their tracks

and put them out of their pain.

It's a routine job really.

And your dad's a crack shot.

There is nothing to worry about.

(elephants trumpeting)

- Poor old fellow.

- llikua karibu Bwana?

- Kabisa, well done Ondego.

Memsahib all right?

- Ndio Bwana

- I wonder what the Kawomba chief

will have to say about this.

- One lump or two Mr.Payton?

- Two pIease.

You need not think you can get around me

with two rounds of sugar, Kimolo.

The District Commissioner made it quite clear,

your men would not hunt for game in The national park.

- Mr. Payton, do you want my people to starve?

- Starve? You got all the game you want in this area,

plenty of millers and cattle and a very nice tea service

if I may say so.

Oh no Kimolo, it wasn't food your hunters were after,

It was something else,

it was ivory.

- Oh no Mr. Peyton, my young men only hunt for meat.

- Oh, Ondego, nipe ile mshale

This elephant wasn't killed for meat,

come on now Kimolo, tell me,

who is behind the ivory poaching?

- We have no ivory.

- Is it an Indian or a white man?

- I said we have no ivory.

- Very well, one of your young men left this behind

and he was after elephant at Amboseta.

- Not Kawomba.

- Oh yes it is,

and what's more, I'd recognise the man again,

he had a large scar here,

he is one of yours all right,

and when I find him, I will take him

to the district commissioner,

the D.C will take action.

And you know what that means,

the Kawomba will have a new chief,

I'd think about it if I were you.

- (speaks foreign language)

- Thank you for the tea Kimolo.

Peleka motor car

and incidentally the next time I come here,

you needn't bother to put on a show,

it'll be my party.

Goodbye.

- Goodbye Mr. Payton.

(speaks foreign language)

- What are they doing to that champ?

- Wanamuua Bwana.

- Right, I'll take over Ondego.

Blast!

Fire a shot.

- Pesi! Pesi!

(gunshot)

- Just the bloke we want,

steady Ondego

Don't you cut his head off just yet,

he's my evidence.

If you live and your talk,

I'll have Kimolo just where I want him.

- There you are you silly thing, go on.

Mummy, Mummy.

I'll do my sums when it gets cool,

that will be all right won't it?

They are easy really.

- He is well out

I'll get the memsahib before we moved him.

- But Kali be as gentle as you can.

- Ndio memsahib.

- Don't be frightened, I won't hurt you.

- Ondego, My gun, quick!

- Mummy! Mummy! Look what I have found

- Stay where you are Bob.

Tim, put the cub down.

Tim stand still

Now start walking slowly.

Stand still Tim.

Now, start walking again.

Oh Bob I can't go on,

I can't go on.

- There, there, it's all over darling,

it's all over.

- It isn't all over! How can it be?

How can we go on like this?

I can't stand it any longer.

I hate it here, I hate it all.

There is no help, there is nothing!

What is the good of staying in this dreadful place?

- But Mary calm down...

- Why protect the animals?

Protect us!

From now on I shall never feel that Tim is safe,

day or night. Never! Never!

Oh leave me alone Bob pIease

- Mary, you're absolutely right,

I've got to make this place safer for you.

We'll build a boma around the camp.

I'll get some boys.

I'll go over and see the D.C first thing in the morning.

Come on you two, get this fellow out of the truck.

- He's gone.

- My one piece of real evidence.

- (speaks foreign language)

- Right.

You go Ondego, but I don't suppose you will get him

it'll be dark in 10 minutes.

- We may pick him up again.

One thing is certain, he won't go back to his own people,

he'll hide out in the bush.

It's the Europeans behind all this that I want to get.

- The most important thing is I must have new men,

I must keep up my patrols and protect my camp.

- The trouble is, officially you don't exist,

you're an experiment,

some committees baby living in a vacuum,

I'd love to help you but how can I?

You wouldn’t fit in any of the forums.

- But I want to build roads,

I mean, that's public works isn't it?

Surely, that would help your district, wouldn’t it?

- Roads that go somewhere would, but yours?

What would I put on the expense sheet?

" To building roads from blank to nowhere X pounds."

The colonial office would have a fit.

- How about, "To helping to catch ivory poachers."

- The game department's job.

You catch them, I'll put them in clink.

Clink, I wonder, I've got an idea

there is just a chance,

come on.

You're going to meet the prize borders

of the Kingie Georgie hotel.

They are what are called detainees,

typical governmental word, isn't it?

Something between convicts and probationers,

if you like, you can have a crack at getting them

to work for you.

I suppose you are public works in a way,

but I can assure you,

they're the world’s biggest lead swingers.

- What are they in for?

- Oh minor tribal stuff.

That chap, dished his father-in-law for bride price.

I must say having seen his wife,

I don't blame him.

He swiped the missionaries pyjamas.

- That's not so serious, is it?

- No. Trouble is the missionary, was in them at the time.

He's a cattle thief.

And that fellow crowned one of the tribal elders

with a knobkerry.

- They don't look too bad,

mind if I have a shot?

- Go ahead.

- How many speak English?

Right.

I have been sent to stop the hunting of elephants,

the hunting of all animals.

So that they may live and increase

for the sake of the children...

(singing in foreign language)

- What are they singing about?

- They sing how they cut the Kawomba's liver out.

(singing in foreign language continues)

- Jambo?

- Jambo Bwana.

- Jambo Daddy.

- Couldn’t wish for a nicer lot of boys,

wasn't lucky the District Commissioner could spare them.

- Very lucky.

- And they worked so hard too.

- Yes, they are used to hard labour,

feeling better about things now?

- A lot safer.

- Good.

Kongwi!

- Bwana.

- Collect everybody we are moving off right away,

- Ndio Bwana.

- what's the trouble Bob, what happened?

- The Kawomba, it looks horrible,

they have slaughtered everything in sight,

mainly cows and calves.

Kali, pack two days rations.

- Ndio Bwana.

- They've just left the meat for the vultures.

Jaza Hii, Pesi, Pesi.

- Ndio Bwana.

- It looks as if someone's trying

to kill off all the game in the area.

- But there's no sense in it.

- I know.

- Where do you want the men Bwana?

- By the truck.

- Ndio Bwana.

- And unarmed remember?

- Ndio Bwana.

- Ivory poachers might be behind it,

someone trying to get me out of the area,

I'm in their way.

Ondiego.

- Bwana.

- Don't forget those water drums.

- Ndio Bwana.

- It must be stopped Mary,

I'm going to take a chance.

I'm going to raid the Kawomba village.

- But that's a job for the police.

For the D.C you can't do that.

- I can't arrest them but I can disarm them,

confiscate some of their spears and bows.

When we get to the Kawomba, no fighting unless I say so,

do you understand?

- Ndio Bwana.

- Okay Bwana.

- What's this for?

- Cutting firewood Bwana.

- We'll leave it back here.

You cut firewood too?

- Ndio Bwana.

- That's what I thought.

Right straight into the truck

(speaks swahili)

- It's not fair for the boys Bob,

those Kawomba are a wild lot.

- It is the Kawomba that need to worry, not these birds,

it'll be alright darling,

I'll be back soon.

- Tim, Tim, Bob stop!

Is Tim in there?

- Oh gosh Mummy, you won't let me do anything.

- All right Bob, off you go.

- Good afternoon Mr.Payton.

- I'm here to search for ivory, here is my authority.

(speaking foreign language)

- Tell your people to keep calm

and there will be no trouble.

Kuja.

Remember no fighting, take their spears and bows and arrows

and that's all.

- If you came for ivory, why yo take our spears and arrows?

Because your men have been killing game in my park

just for the sake of killing,

and it's got to stop.

I leave you enough weapons for your men to hunt for food,

but only for food.

I've asked you before Kimolo, who was behind all this?

(speaks foreign language)

Calm down Kimolo.

I said I'd leave you enough for your own hunting,

my men will behave themselves if yours do.

Hey, stop that.

Come here

Take this man to the trucks.

- I was a Sergeant in the army sir,

I put prisoner on charge.

- Very well M'kwongi, carry on.

- Prisoner shun,

prisoner about turn,

prisoner quick march,

Left, right, left, right, left, right.

- Playing at soldiers?

- What are you doing here Mannering?

- Just in time, I hope to prevent you

doing something very rash.

- I think you'd better keep out of this.

(speaks foreign language)

Now look here Payton, I think you'd better get out of this.

I know and I'm afraid Kimolo knows

that you have no authority to collect their weapons.

- This is none of your business Mannering.

- Nor yours.

You are using the D.C's men for unofficial police duties.

If I were you, I should call off my men and get out quick.

- I intend to stop these people slaughtering game

in my park.

- Oh now be reasonable Payton,

how many are you? About 20?

Armed? I hope not.

And the Kawomba? 150.

Do you want a massacre?

Get out now while there's time.

Kimolo is only holding back because he's a friend of mine.

- I bet he is.

- What does that mean exactly?

- I was just asking kimolo who's behind

the ivory poaching.

I think I'm beginning to know.

- Just because I intervened to prevent an ugly incident,

a persecution of a very harmless people,

you can accuse me of being an ivory poacher?

Fine story that would make.

Tell it to the district Commissioner, to the governor,

if you like, I'll come with you.

Now, make up your mind,

do they get their weapons back or not?

- All right, give them back their weapons

and get back to the truck.

- What's the matter with the boys?

- I think they have lost face,

I've lost face too, as a leader,

they want to quit.

- Bob you couldn’t do without their help,

you'd be back where you were, alone

and they are such good boys.

- Here it comes.

- All boys say they'd like go back to Kingie Georgie Hotel.

- What does he mean?

- Where we've come from.

- But where was that?

- Prison.

- Prison? Why prison?

- Well, as a matter of fact

that is where they came from.

Right tomorrow morning.

- They are convicts and you let Tim...

Honestly, Bob you'd stop at nothing would you?

to keep your old park going.

- Well lets face it, it is gone.

We've been over it again and again Mary,

we've got to be practical,

they are free to go to prison.

And I’ll carry on without men to help.

It's hopeless.

It's not even fair to you.

- Oh now Bob, don't put it on me.

- Well, you would much rather be back in Nairobi,

wouldn’t you?

- Yes, maybe I would.

But what would you be like to live with if we did go back

a fine time I’d have,

no we've got to stay on somehow.

These men won't they stay if you pay them?

- Of course, but what do we pay them with?

- Yes. That's right.

Bob!.

- What is it?

- I got an idea, now don't get mad.

Do you remember that man Gwill Davies?

The man who wanted you to do trap animals for him?

- You don't trap animals in a national park.

- Well dear I said it, it was only a suggestion.

- No, you know I hate the whole idea of it.

- Well, couldn’t you compromise?

You know, sometimes you can buy a dream

by selling off a bit of it.

You could pay the boys

and then you could build roads and fences and...

- You know I think you've got something there,

I don't like it, it is against all the rules, but-

poor old Mary.

You've talked yourself into another session in the bush.

- I should have kept my big mouth shut.

- Ah, they'll beat him why doesn't he use my truck.

- Bob knows what he's doing Gwill

- Yes but everybody uses trucks

for catching game these days.

You know, if you chase them steadily, they pack up anyway.

- But you know that wild animals have no stamina.

If you chase them too hard, they'll burst their hearts.

- Be careful, be careful man, don't hurt him.

- Look that ostrich is hurt.

- N0 not him.

The old devil is only pretending to get your father away

from where he is hidden his chicks.

Look, look your father has got them.

- We caught the birds Bwana.

- Good, shove them in the pen.

- All right Bwana.

- Have you seen any Kawomba?

- No Kawomba Bwana.

- Right, Mzuri.

Hang on M'Kwongwi, hang on tight.

Well, that's your quota

- And Johnny Bach here's the pick.

Aren't you my beauty, my little cherub.

(singing)

- Party present and correct Bwana.

- Very good M'kwongwi, tell the boys

they worked very well, here are some cigarettes.

- Thank you Bwana.

- I must say, that's very generous of him.

- Yes isn't it? They are yours.

- Bwana Payton say we've done very well,

squad shun!

Three cheers for us.

Hip, hip

- Hurray!

- Hip, hip

- Hurray!

- Hip, hip

- Hurray!

- Ingiza ndani.

As fine a lot of animals as ever saw.

I'm quite happy in spite of what you say.

So what are you worrying about?

- He hasn't heard you,

he's very happy.

Do you know why?

- No.

- Do you notice anything?

- Oh it is fine evening, that's all.

- Tim, do you notice anything?

- Yes, there are no vultures in the sky.

- That's it Tim.

For the first time there's nothing dead out there.

(singing in foreign language)

(singing in foreign language continues)

- M'Kwongwi.

- Bwana.

- Njoo Na watu wawiIi.

- David, Munani, Kuja hapa.

- That's very queer, only a young than too.

Not a mark on it.

It seems to me as if it's died of some sickness.

What do you make of it?

Well, go on and say, man, is it the rinderpest.

- It could be, the Masai cattle might've got in but...

- There's been no sign of them.

- Well, we'll soon find out,

there's only one way they might've come in

and that's through the gap.

M'kwongwi, set a guard on this till we get back.

(speaks swahili)

- M'Kwongwi, find out how long they been in

and get them out.

- Ndio Bwana.

- Still can't be sure.

- Not without a post-mortem

Just look at that.

- Jambo, Mzuri.

- Jambo, habari.

- Jambo.

- He is a smart Masai, wearing a new blanket.

- They go now Bwana.

- How long have they been in?

- Two to three weeks.

- I'll have to report this to the vet.

- Report it?

What do you want to do that for?

I'll tell you what we'll do,

we'll wait until we quite sure.

- And give you a chance to get away with your animals.

- I didn't say that, though it would be a terrible loss

for me mind you, terrible loss!

- Here is your cheque back.

- We are in this together, man.

- Col Watson.

- No more thank you.

- Mr. Somers.

- No, really thank you.

- Oh you don't, do you?

Tim!

- Well I've lost my bush baby.

Dad, these men have been here for hours and hours,

they are awful, the just sit there and don't say anything.

- Col Watson and the vet.

- Don't tell them anything

Never tell a civil servant anything,

it's his job to find out.

- Trouble.

- Hello Col Watson sorry to have kept you waiting.

Hello Somers what on earth brought you down here?

There is nothing wrong I hope.

- Can I speak to you privately?

- Yes, of course.

- What's the vet doing here?

- Wish I knew.

- Just a minute sir,

I think I know where you got all these reports.

- Nevermind where they came from.

Are they true?

This trapping and selling of animals,

this misuse of convict labour.

- Interfering old women, that's what they are.

- And to cap it all, you've allowed the Masai cattle

to get into the park spreading

rinderpest infection everywhere,

you failed to report that.

- But how could I, I only found out today.

- Today? We've known about it for nearly a week.

- From Mr. Mannering no doubt.

- What does the name of my informant matter?

- Because Mannering is trying to get me out of here

and close the park.

- Oh.

- No, I'm not crazy.

Don't you realise this park has some

of the finest elephants in the country.

- Elephant?

- Mannering is a poacher an ivory poacher.

- Ridiculous.

- He has been buying ivory from the Kawomba for years

and selling it across the border.

I'm in his way, don't you see?

He wants you to close the park.

- In the light of your present attitude,

it is extremely likely we shall.

The committee meets next Thursday,

the decision rests with them.

Mr.Somers I expect will rinderpest report

in time for the meeting.

Good day Payton.

- Lucky, here, lucky.

- Now if you want my opinion...

- I don't

you just let me know whether my animals have to be shot.

Give me that in a report and I'll listen.

- You'll have to.

- Good afternoon Mr. Somer

I'm glad you stood no nonsense from the stuffed shirts?

Well, my transport would be here in the morning

I'll have all my animals away by noon.

- It is a good try Gwill but, I can't let you get them away,

you know that.

- But they won't want to shoot those man.

- How do we know that they haven't been infected?

No, if there is rinderpest in the area,

I am afraid they'll all have to be shot.

- Nmashika mwizi.

- They've caught an ivory poacher.

- Kawomba Bwana.

- Ameficha meno huko Bwana.

- A Kawomba,

he's got some big tusks hidden over there.

As soon as that blasted vet comes back,

we'll collect them and take them

to the district commissioner.

- Why don't you do it now?

The vet won't be back for a day at least

No good hanging about the camp here with long faces,

Go on, get out of it.

Both of you.

- What about it Gwill?

- Come on.

- M'Kwongwi, Mlete huku.

- The ivory is gone.

(speaks native language)

- He was poaching with his brother Bwana.

This way Bwana.

- Well, well my old friend scar face,

this is the champ I told you about.

Has the tribe taken you back again?

(translating)

- Then why are you hunting for ivory?

- who is he selling it to?

That's more to the point.

- There is only one market I can think of.

Do you and your brother know where Bwana Mannering is?

(translating)

- This is one bit of trapping that I am really

going to enjoy.

Right M'Kwongwi.

- Bwana.

Tell them to go and fetch Bwana Mannering

and bring him that way.

(translating)

- Not you scar face, you wait here

until your brother comes back.

(translating)

(speaks in native language)

- Quick as you can Gwill, get the DC here,

I want a witness,

his words to be good enough for any committee.

- Right.

- M'kwongwi.

- Bwana.

- Better go along as well, I'll stay here with scar face.

- Yes Bwana.

- Scar face.

- Get me into more trouble, blasted Payton and his park.

Keep her going, keep her going.

- Have to dig her out.

(speaking native language)

- Oh I see, well, where is the ivory?

- Hello Mannering?

- All right, easy now, easy. You are all right.

Just unlucky,

the hunter springs his own trap.

Now just hold still I put something on the wound.

Sorry about this.

These fools let fly on site, it is a way they have.

I'll get you to your truck.

Where is it?

I see.

Sent it away for someone.

It couldn’t be for the D.C could it?

You are not as simple as I thought.

Congratulations.

I hate to leave you a here.

It wouldn’t look too good to be found here

with the truck-load of ivory.

This is the one time when the trapped animal

gets away with the bait.

I was doing fine until you butted in.

Now I am on the run and you've got a spear in you,

ironical isn't it?

- The only thing that's ironical is that on the say

of a filthy ivory, poacher like you.

I have to close my park.

- And a good thing too.

Why waste your time preserving wild animals?

As if it mattered,

As if anything mattered in this God forsaken country,

Oh, I know you still think Africa is a fine place,

a place to be saved.

There's always the streak of the salvation army

in your kind.

Africa's finished.

There's nothing in it for the white man.

Someday that blacks scum is going to spread

over the face of it and blot us out.

The only thing to do is to take all you can

as fast as you can now before it's too late

and get out while the going is good.

- You're out of date Mannering,

this is a new Africa and there's no place for you.

All right, get out, get out if you can.

It'll be the only decent thing you've ever done for it.

- And what's it ever done for you?

Don't waste your time defending Africa.

It won't thank you.

Don't tell me you think the people are worth while.

Look at them.

I give a few shillings to your Askaris and they desert you.

I give a few blankets to the Masai

and they drive their filthy cattle into your park,

there isn't one of them who wouldn’t cut your throat

for twopence, that's your black brother.

He will always let you down.

- Maybe you've found them that way, but I haven't.

- Well, if you find it such a grand place

I'll leave you with it.

- Keep her going, keep her going,

keep her going, keep her going.

(speaking foreign language)

- Good luck, scar face.

- What happened Bob?

- Get after Mannering, he is making for the border

ivory on board,

truck load.

- Yes, after we've got you back to camp.

- No, that'll be too late.

Leave M'Kwongwi and get after him.

- No, no, no.

- We can't do that.

- Then take me with you,

I'll be right in the truck.

- How long has he been gone?

- He won't try crossing the Hills at night.

Take new road a mile to the East.

Get us that before dawn, give us a chance.

- All right Payton.

- I am all right, thanks.

- That's him.

- What killed it Bwana?.

- Could have been one of 10 different things.

Snake bite, weed poisoning, anthrax.

So long as it isn't rinderpest

as that'll mean trouble for everyone,

but you'll soon know now.

- Not yet, man.

Wait until the vet gets back with his report.

- In the clear right?

- Not a sign.

- (upbeat music)