Original subtitles

* Living free

* Living free

* Free to wander

* Or to linger

* Where you want to be

* We were born to be free

* Eagle soaring

* Lion roaring

* Wild wind blowing

* River flowing swiftly to the sea

* What a joy to be free

* Freedom is a happy thing

* It's a bell we ring, a song we sing

* Freedom is a lamp we light

* In the dark of night We've got the right to be

* Living free

* Really free

* Loving, caring

* Giving, sharing

* That's how it can be

* That's the way it should be

* Freedom is a happy thing

* It's a bell we ring, a song we sing

* Freedom is a lamp we light

* In the dark of night

* We've got the right to be

* Living free

* Really free

* Loving, caring

* Giving, sharing

* That's how it can be

* That's the way it should be

* Living free

JOY: My name is Joy Adamson.

And for many years, my husband George was senior game warden

of the northern frontier district in Kenya.

For some of those years, we had a lioness for a friend

whose name was Elsa.

(ROARS)

(CHUCKLING) Get down, you fool.

JOY: Because of the danger from poachers,

George and I had been looking for a new home for Elsa and her family.

So when the trouble came, George knew the area I was scouting

and could send Nuru to find me.

(HORN HONKING)

(TRIBESMEN CHANTING IN MAA)

I paused briefly in a Masai village

to witness an increasingly rare sight in modern east Africa.

The rituals and ceremonies of the Morani, or young warriors,

prior to a hunting expedition.

(CHANTING CONTINUES)

Nuru, what is it?

It's Elsa.

Very sick.

Well, what do you mean?

I think she's dying.

NURU: I think she's dying.

I think she's dying.

JOY: How could she be?

She'd seemed in perfect health when she brought her babies to visit us at Christmas.

(YOWLING)

(WHINING)

(GRUNTS)

(GROWLS)

(CHUCKLES)

She and her sisters had been our babies once.

And we, their only family.

But from the very beginning, there was a special feeling between Elsa and ourselves.

Of course, it was hard not to love them all.

(WHINING)

But when they grew older,

it became clear that we couldn't cope with all three.

Sadly, we had to let Elsa's two sisters go to a zoo in Holland.

But we refused to part with her.

In return, she gave us the gift of her love

and friendship and trust.

A gift she extended to Nuru, our houseman,

and Makedde, our chief game scout, as well.

But it was when she became fully grown that our difficulties began.

(TRUMPETING)

The final straw was the elephant stampede she caused.

(ELSA ROARING)

Not the two-year-old baby elephant she brought home for a souvenir,

but the damage that had been done to local crops.

Although we suspected there would be trouble,

we were stunned when John Kendall,

the district commissioner and George's boss,

told us we couldn't keep Elsa any longer.

I'm not responsible for the decision.

Don't you see she's too big now to be allowed to roam about.

Even with Nuru or, with all respect, yourselves.

You can't keep her caged all the time,

that would only frustrate her and could make her vicious.

I'm sorry, but I think you've got to find some zoo that will take her.

I'm certain you'll have no difficulty.

She'd make a wonderful attraction for any zoo.

Well, of course we've always known that...

I'm certain we can easily find a good zoo for her in a month.

I don't want her to go to a zoo.

I want to set her free.

(CHUCKLES) You're mad.

You can't be serious. You'd be sentencing her to death.

You might just as well shoot her here.

John's right. She can't fend for herself. She's never killed to eat.

She'd starve in the bush.

But we could teach her.

You've waited too long. Anyway, it's never been done successfully.

But we could try. You know how intelligent she is.

Well, we could teach her, train her.

George, please. Let's try.

I know you think I'm foolish, but I know Elsa.

She'd be miserable in a zoo. Miserable.

Don't you see? She's been free too long.

John, as a friend, just give us three months to try. Please!

Please.

All right. I'll get you your three months, but you're wasting your time.

JOY: For a long while, it seemed as if John Kendall was right.

When we introduced her to her first boyfriend,

it was a disaster.

(GROWLS)

(GROWLING)

(SNARLS)

(LION GROWLING)

(GROWLING)

(SQUEALS)

(GROWLS)

She had no idea how to fend for herself.

(GRUNTING)

(SQUEALS)

(GRUNTING)

And finally, she became so ill that she almost died.

It won't do.

Look, by now it's perfectly obvious we've made a mistake.

She can't fend for herself. She can't live with other animals.

Can't do anything a wild lion has to do to survive.

You've... Well, we've made too good a job of her.

Made her tame and it's too late to try to make her go wild now.

All we're doing is torturing her, making her miserable.

How can you be so cruel?

Do you think I enjoy it?

I don't know what's going on in that head of yours anymore.

You've got this fixed idea...

What's wrong with a zoo anyway?

Nothing.

Except she won't be free.

Is freedom so important?

Yes! Yes, it is.

She was born free and she has a right to live free.

Well, why don't we live in a nice, comfortable city? Other people do.

But we've chosen to live here because it represents freedom to us.

Because we can

breathe here.

That's because we're fit for it.

But she can be, too!

(ELSA PUFFING)

She can.

She can.

She'd be safe in a zoo.

Oh, yes, safe.

And fat. And dull.

And lazy. Like some cow on a milking machine.

Look, Joy, tell me honestly.

You just don't want to give her up.

What you're hoping is that she can go on living out here,

wild but not too wild, and you can see her every now and then.

That's it, isn't it?

It's not the whole truth.

But I won't deny I would like it.

It's impossible. It can't happen.

If she were able to go wild, which I doubt, then that'll be the end of it.

You'll never see her again.

But at least she'd be free.

At least she wouldn't be in a cage for the rest of her life.

JOY: But she recovered

and proved that she could indeed hold her own as a wild lioness.

(ROARING)

(BOTH ROARING)

But still, she remained our friend

and always brought her cubs to visit us whenever we camped in her territory.

(GROWLING)

We rarely caught a glimpse of her mate,

but we were always aware of his presence

(LION ROARING) somewhere nearby.

(YOWLING)

Although the cubs seemed to sense the special bond between their mother and us,

and although they made themselves at home and accepted their free meals,

and the cod-liver oil they were so mad about,

they kept their distance, too.

For our part, George and I had agreed

never to fondle or to hold them, as we had Elsa,

but rather to let them grow up wild and free.

From the start, the leader of the cubs was one of the two males.

Jespah, which in Swahili means, "brave leader."

And he was, in fact, the bravest and the brightest of the three.

Little Elsa, like her mother had once been,

was the smallest of the litter, but very clever.

The third cub, another male, was very shy,

(LAUGHING) so we called him Gopa,

which in Swahili means, "timid."

Little Elsa worshiped Jespah,

while cautious Gopa always brought up the rear.

They were a happy family.

(ROARS)

But now, if Nuru was right, Elsa was dying.

If it was true, who would look after the cubs?

Thanks, Des.

So it wasn't poachers?

No, it was definitely some kind of infection,

though there have been poachers around.

And her mate?

Come to think of it, I haven't seen the cub's father at all.

That's very strange.

What about the cubs?

They've disappeared.

But they'll starve! They're much too young to fend for themselves.

Yes, Joy, I know.

I'm sorry.

You must be tired.

I'll be all right now you're here.

Will you take me to where she is now?

Yes.

Is this all that remains of Elsa?

Of our life together?

Is this the end?

No.

She'll always be alive for us. You know that.

Yes.

Yes, she will.

(WHINING)

(WHINING CONTINUES)

It sounds like the cubs.

Hmm. Better look.

(WHINING)

JOY: They'd grown considerably since I'd seen them last,

but it was plain that they were still puzzled

by the disappearance of their mother.

And then I did a very foolish thing.

Jespah.

Poor little Jespah.

(SNARLS) Hey!

We'd better get something on that straightaway.

Yes, I know what I did wrong.

I know I said I would never try to treat them like pets.

Never try to touch them.

Well, the exact words were,

"They were born wild, so they have to live wild."

But how can one be sure that they'll live at all, now that Elsa's dead?

Well...

They'll either live or die,

like other wild animals, won't they?

But if you think that's easy for me to say,

you're wrong.

I know. Thank you.

The thing is, they're too young to hunt for themselves.

If they were part of a pride, they'd learn.

They may join a pride, with any luck at all.

Or they may not. As it stands, we're their pride.

Ah, Joy, it just is not...

Now, listen, George, please!

We could teach them to hunt for themselves. We did it with Elsa.

And it would be much easier with them because they're already wild.

Well, Jespah's intelligent, he'd soon learn.

And then he'd teach the others.

We don't have the time. We had six months with Elsa.

Now we have no time at all. And me?

I shouldn't be here. I have work to do.

George, isn't there anything that you can do?

They're Elsa's cubs. Please.

I suppose I could ask to take my leave now.

But I'm only due six weeks.

(GIGGLING) You are an absolute darling!

Six weeks! Well, anything can happen in six weeks.

We've had miracles before.

Well, before we start counting on miracles,

first we have to find out where the three little perishers live.

(GIGGLING)

JOY: So, we went looking for the three little perishers.

But it was like looking for three very small needles in a vast haystack.

Watch out. Could be leopards.

(SCURRYING)

Dangerous beast. I thought he got me.

(CHUCKLES)

I wish there was some other way back.

Yeah, so do I.

Do you want me to carry you? No, thanks.

Well, how about carrying me?

Idiot!

(CHUCKLING)

(WATER SLOSHING)

Jespah!

Gopa!

Little Elsa!

JOY: All too quickly, George's leave was over.

We were miserable at having to stop looking for the cubs.

Just in case they ever did come back,

we left them a farewell meal

and some of their favorite drink, cod-liver oil.

I'm sorry, darling.

I know you are.

You've been wonderful.

But I'm not gonna stop looking for them until I know they're all right.

I'm coming back as soon as I can.

I never thought you wouldn't.

So will I, somehow.

(GROWLS)

(GROWLS)

(SQUAWKING)

JOY: Actually, I was able to return in a few days

and George came back as soon as he could,

but we found no trace of them.

East Africa is beautiful, but it's not a safari park

where attendants look after and feed the animals.

(SNARLS)

In the bush, carnivorous animals kill and eat other animals

in order to stay alive themselves.

(ROARS)

The cubs would have to learn to hunt

if they were to survive,

and we hoped that Jespah,

with his innate courage and ingenuity,

would provide the necessary leadership.

(SNORTS)

(BELLOWS)

(BELLOWS)

(BELLOWS)

(BELLOWS)

But if they couldn't learn to kill for themselves,

they would have to become scavengers and freeloaders,

like the hyenas and the vultures...

(SQUAWKING)

...and the Marabou Storks.

If they join this motley crew, they'd have to take their chances among them as well.

(LION GROWLING)

(MEWING)

(GROWLING)

(SNARLING)

(SQUAWKING)

With some animals, especially young ones like themselves,

the cubs would maintain a kind of armed neutrality.

(YELPS)

(SNARLS)

But the cubs had no parents to protect them,

particularly against other species, with whom there would always be

an instinctive hostility and, indeed, warfare.

(SNORTING)

(HISSES)

(GROWLS)

(HISSES)

(GROWLING)

But on the whole, George and I were more worried

about the danger from human beings.

East Africa is very large and impossible to keep under constant watch,

particularly as poaching has become more sophisticated in recent years.

(GUNSHOTS)

(GUNSHOTS CONTINUE)

(CUBS YELP)

But the sad truth was that for the cubs,

all human beings were dangerous.

Lady. Lady!

WOMAN: Lady! MAN: Where is that silly dog?

WOMAN: Lady!

(BARKING)

Lady!

MAN: Lady!

(WHISTLING)

Lady!

(WOMAN WHISTLING)

Here, Lady! Here, Lady, Lady!

Come on! Here!

(WHISTLING)

Oh, my God! Herbie! Lions!

(LADY BARKING)

Now don't panic, Camille.

(YELPS)

(GUNSHOT)

JOY: Our great hope was that the cubs would find

and be adopted by a pride.

And in that way, learn by example

how to hunt and eventually feed themselves.

(LIONS ROARING)

(CUBS WHINING)

(ROARS)

(GROWLING)

But if the cubs were not accepted by a pride,

then there was great danger that hunger might drive them towards villages

and domestic animals.

(BLEATING)

(BLEATING CONTINUES)

At this time, George's duties took him into the area I was searching.

So while he kept an eye out for the cubs,

I was able to go into Nairobi to meet our friend and publisher, Billy Collins.

Billy had been a friend of Elsa's, too.

Indeed, the last time Billy visited us, he and Elsa had,

in a manner of speaking, spent the night together.

An experience Billy never forgot.

(GROWLING)

(GROWLING CONTINUES)

But that was in happier days.

Now as I took Billy to our camp, we ran into bad luck

in the midst of a large troupe of baboons.

(AIR HISSING)

The trouble with baboons is,

that while they may look deceptively appealing from a distance,

they can be extremely dangerous.

(GROWLING)

(SCREECHING)

(HORN HONKING)

(BABOONS SCREECHING)

John, thank you.

It was all right, but I was beginning to wonder if they'd ever go.

Oh, you remember Billy Collins, don't you?

Yeah. Nice to see you again.

Yes, of course. Welcome back.

John, you're not here by coincidence, are you?

No. No, I've been trailing you all the way from the airport.

I'm afraid there's trouble.

Not George?

No, the cubs.

A report has come in that they've been raiding villages

and killing goats in the Tana River area, just outside the reserve.

George is checking on it now. Sorry.

You see, if it's true, I'm afraid they'll have to be destroyed.

But it can't be true. I don't believe it.

JOY: Under the circumstances, Billy canceled his visit with us.

And I hurried to George to learn the truth.

On the way, I had to pass the same rock

where Elsa and her family had lived so happily,

and here I had the most wonderful surprise.

Nuru, would you pass me the field glasses, please?

What is it?

JOY: The cubs. They found a pride.

Over there, on Elsa's rock.

Are you sure?

Look!

It's very far, you know.

Maybe you drive closer?

No, no. That might scatter the pride.

Yes. Yes, I'm sure of it.

It couldn't be a coincidence. Not on Elsa's rock.

Ah, yes. That's Jespah. Almost positive.

Well, if those are the cubs, then they're not the ones

that are raiding those villages, it would be too far.

Yes, it would be too far.

I hope you're right.

I'm sure of it.

I can't wait to tell George!

(SPEAKING SWAHILI)

Tell him. Okay. Tell him I'll pay for all the goats.

(SPEAKING SWAHILI)

(SPEAKING SWAHILI)

(CAR HORN HONKING)

George, it isn't the cubs.

We've seen them with a pride up on Elsa's rock.

Well, they'd never get this far, would they?

When did you see them? Early this morning. Didn't we, Nuru?

I think so. But we see them through field glasses.

Yes.

It wasn't Elsa's cubs that you saw. I wish it had been.

Jespah, Gopa, and Little Elsa raided the village next to this one early this morning.

And I didn't see them through field glasses.

I saw them close. They were our cubs.

I'm sorry, darling.

So, what do we do now?

I'll show you.

All these villages here are the targets.

The cubs pick whichever one they happen to fancy at any time.

It spreads out our scouts pretty thin, I can tell you.

I don't want the cubs shot, George.

Neither do I.

I've made a deal with the elders.

We buy every goat that's hurt or killed,

and they've agreed not to shoot or harm any of the cubs

until we can think of a way to handle this.

This goat-buying business has turned out somewhat expensive.

That doesn't matter.

Now, the real problem is how to discourage the cubs from raiding these villages.

That's right. Now, they were driven off from that village there this morning.

So there's a pretty good chance we may see them here tonight.

(BELLOWS)

(BLEATING)

(MAN SHOUTING IN SWAHILI)

(ROARS)

(BLEATING)

(GROWLING)

(MEN CLAMORING IN SWAHILI)

I'm afraid it's perfectly obvious. We're responsible.

But how were we to know... We introduced the cubs,

to goat meat when they were very small.

And when they couldn't join a pride,

when they found difficulty in hunting other wild animals,

quite naturally, they turned back to tame goat.

You can't blame them.

No, but...

Well, obviously it can't go on.

No, it can't. They'll have to be moved.

Taken away from here to someplace

where there are no people or domestic animals nearby.

That's right. But first, we have to catch them.

And that's not gonna be easy now, my love.

John. Hello, John.

Joy, George.

I understand it is the cubs.

Mmm. We're afraid so.

Mmm-hmm. So what happens now?

Well, I've arranged a warning system that should keep them away.

That'll be ready in a day or two.

It will mean keeping quite a few of the game scouts

in the area for some time, I'm afraid.

I'm afraid all this sounds a bit temporary, George.

Of course we realize this is not a permanent solution.

No.

Obviously, the cubs will have to be caught and moved away from here.

Moved? Where?

Well, somewhere completely away from

villages, people, and domestic livestock.

To a reserve.

We had thought of the Serengeti. It's a paradise for wildlife.

Yes, it also happens to be 700 miles away.

How do you propose to do it? Hmm?

Well, obviously the first thing we have to do is

find where the cubs are lying up, which has to be around here somewhere.

And then we'll have to lure them away. Somehow.

Then after we've gained their confidence

and fed them regularly, to keep them out of temptation's way,

and also to keep them away from here,

we'll get them into cages,

again somehow,

and then we'll drive them to Serengeti.

I see.

And how long do you think all this will take?

JOY: Well, a great deal will depend upon luck, of course.

Oh, I know what John means.

Bad luck or good, it's gonna take too long a time

for a senior game warden who's got other things on his plate as well.

What are you talking about?

I am right, aren't I, John?

No. If you can round up the cubs in a week or so, there'll be no problem.

We'll be able to ship them somewhere.

Oh, it's impossible.

It can't be done. Not in two or three weeks.

It could take months.

I think I have to resign.

Oh, George!

But, George, you've never said anything about resigning.

You can't. John, you mustn't let him.

I don't intend to. I'm not gonna have it, George.

I think it's the only way.

No, George!

I'm not gonna lose you for three cubs, even Elsa's cubs.

I'd rather have them put down. I mean it.

Now, John, please. Couldn't we talk about this tomorrow, hmm?

Yes, by all means.

But it's your life that I'm thinking about.

You can't do it. You can't leave the service.

And I tell you again, I have to.

There's no telling how long this'll take.

I can't ask for anymore leave.

I have got to resign.

But the service has been your whole life.

Twenty years you've given it.

Twenty years.

It's given me a lot, too.

The best years of my life.

Then how can you leave it?

Because we have an obligation to those cubs of Elsa's.

Now, you said that yourself when all this started, and you were right.

So why not give in?

Give us a kiss.

But I know why you're doing it.

To make me feel very selfish.

Selfish? Why, you're a bloody saint, you are.

He'll only be a moment.

Oh, good.

His drawings of the cages took longer than we thought.

He's been up all night.

Yes.

Here they are.

Thank you. Sorry to keep you, John.

Good luck.

Uh, John...

I'm really sorry about leaving the service. Ah, you know.

Not as sorry as I am, I'm afraid.

I had plans for you.

Oh, yes, I know. Another five years,

and I get a gold watch and a six-course dinner.

No, George, I'd hoped you'd take my place when I retired.

What? Mmm.

Good lord, I'd no idea. I...

I'm terribly sorry.

I'm a bit slow on the uptake this morning.

You're a good friend.

Well, I'll do my best with the Serengeti, of course.

I'll let you know as quickly as I can.

But I don't know how much time I can give you here.

I wouldn't count on more than three months, if that, either of you.

Of course. We understand.

Look after yourself, won't you?

Yep.

And get some sleep.

As soon as I can.

Nuru! Coming!

(ENGINE STARTS)

Kwa heri, Makedde.

Kwa heri, Nuru.

JOY: George did resign.

And Makedde left the service with him.

All right, Makedde. Let's get to work.

(SPEAKING SWAHILI)

(SPEAKING SWAHILI)

(BOTH SPEAKING SWAHILI)

(PAPER CRINKLING)

JOY: George set about strengthening

the thorn barrier surrounding the villages.

Then he and Makedde inaugurated an early warning and defense system.

(WAILING)

The idea was to frighten the cubs away from the villages

without damage to either the cattle or the cubs, if possible.

(SPEAKING SWAHILI)

(ALL CHATTERING IN SWAHILI)

JOY: And the system had its chance the very next night.

(EXPLOSION)

(ALARM WAILING)

(EXPLOSION)

I think our young friends have had a little surprise.

So far, so good.

Now what? We wait some more?

Oh, yes.

Now that we know they're on the prowl tonight, we do indeed wait some more.

If I know Jespah, he won't give up that easily.

(RUSTLING)

(GUNSHOT)

(YELPING)

(EXPLOSION)

(GUNSHOT)

Well, it works.

Now, all we've gotta do is find out where those cubs are living these days.

(WARTHOG GRUNTING)

Good morning.

(LAUGHING)

JOY: This was the great test.

The cubs were older and wilder now.

Would they remember George?

Would they still at least have their old passion for cod-liver oil?

It was essential that George should get them to trust him now

at this meeting, for there might never be another.

As always, it was Jespah who made the decision.

It's good luck they like cod-liver oil, eh?

Yes.

Thank God for Jespah. He remembered.

You know, that cub could very easily become

my favorite lion.

Well, now we know where they live.

You get some sleep. You work all the time.

Makedde, the real work starts now.

We're gonna have to feed them every day.

We're gonna have to move them away from the villages.

And do you know when we start?

Yes, I do.

Right now.

JOY: George immediately made a new camp

as near as possible to the cub's hiding place

and as far as possible from the villages and their goats.

Then he began to lure the cubs towards the new camp for their meals,

in order to ward off temptation

and evil thoughts of domestic cattle.

(CUB GROWLING)

But all this took time, and so did everything else.

I put George's plans into work,

only to discover that we had other problems as well.

You see, I'm awfully very sorry, Mrs. Adamson,

but, you see, your account seems to be overdrawn.

Oh. Oh.

Well, I knew it was low, but I had no idea.

Look, I am expecting some money soon.

Do you think the manager would let me have an overdraft?

I will go and ask him.

Thank you.

Oh, hello, Joy.

John, hello.

Is there anything wrong?

No, nothing. I'm just waiting.

Oh, I see. Well, I have news for you. Some good, some bad.

I was going to write this afternoon.

No, please don't. Tell me now.

Well, the good news is the Serengeti will take your cubs.

That's wonderful. Thank you. Thank you, John.

And the, uh, bad news?

I'm afraid I can't get you more than 60 days

to capture them and to get them out.

Sixty days. I see.

Well, we'll just have to get Jespah to cooperate somehow.

Thank you, John. I know you did your best.

BANK MANAGER: Good morning. We'll be very happy

to give you an overdraft, Mrs. Adamson, for as much as you need.

Thank you.

Thank you very much indeed.

BANK MANAGER: Not at all.

I do wish you'd say something.

Anything, John. I can't stand your silent disapproval.

Why should I disapprove?

I'm sure everyone in the whole world is accustomed to people giving up a job and a career,

spending themselves broke, using up their life savings over some lion cubs.

I'm sure you're right. About what?

Everything. You're always right.

If you needed money, why didn't you come to me?

Because there's a limit, even to a friendship like ours.

Besides, you've done enough for us already, unless...

You'd like to help me find a special truck we're going to need?

(BOTH LAUGHING)

Come on.

JOY: Finally, the cages and the specially-built truck were ready.

But by then, we had all too little time left.

I was getting desperate,

and I knew that George must be waiting for my return with equal anxiety.

I hated to stop, even for one night,

and agreed to only because we would have lost our way in the darkness.

That night, some of the enemies we'd made among poachers,

took their chance at revenge.

(GASPING)

(JOY COUGHING)

(GUNSHOT)

(COUGHING)

Are you all right?

(CONTINUES COUGHING )

JOY: Luckily, they'd not tried to burn our new truck as well,

or perhaps Nuru's shots had frightened them away before they were ready.

Dear Nuru. We've always owed him a great deal.

Hello, Makedde.

(SPEAKING SWAHILI)

(SPEAKING SWAHILI)

You see, I've got them.

Oh, very good.

Where's bwana George? He's up there.

JOY: Boo!

I'm more accustomed to "cheers" actually.

I missed you.

(WHISPERING) I'm surprised you had time.

How did you manage it? (WHISPERING) Tell you later. How was Nairobi?

I'll tell you later.

You must be exhaust... You must be...

(LAUGHING) Exhausted.

They look marvelous.

GEORGE: They sure do.

They eat like pigs.

(ANIMAL SCREECHING)

(GUNSHOT)

What's that for?

It's my early warning system to tell the villagers that the cubs are out and about.

But I don't think there'll be any raids tonight.

They've put away enough food today, I think.

That's the second part of my system.

So, you won't be on guard duty tonight?

No, I don't think I will.

Good.

I think so.

Glad you're back.

So am I.

(SIREN WAILING)

Oh, God, not tonight!

Damn.

(GROWLING)

(SQUAWKING)

(BARKING)

(VILLAGERS CLAMORING)

(BLEATING)

(GROWLING)

JOY: It was probably only sheer high spirits that brought the cubs there,

but the consequences were disastrous.

And, as luck would have it,

it was Jespah who caused the disaster.

(GROWLS)

(WOMEN SCREAMING)

For by entering a hut, he had made himself an outlaw.

(SQUEALS)

JOY: Luckily, the little boy who shot Jespah

was too young to be allowed poison for his arrows,

for, otherwise, Jespah would have been dead in minutes.

But the arrowhead remained in his side

and the wound was open.

The very next day we started setting up the combined traps

and cages George had designed

because, ironically, to guarantee the cubs their freedom,

we had to make them prisoners first.

Obviously, if we could've used tranquilizers,

it all would've been relatively simple,

but in our opinion, the chances of a fatal overdose were too great.

So we had to do it another way,

and as it turned out, the hard way.

We had three cages,

and there could only be one cub in each cage

because we knew that fear and frustration in close confinement

would make them fight and hurt each other.

Additionally, we had to capture all three cubs simultaneously

because the ones that were not trapped would, of course,

never come near the cages again.

And we had to keep the cage doors

from breaking bones when they came banging down.

George devised a way of operating the traps

from two different positions.

Ready?

JOY: And finally, it was all done,

and we could only keep our fingers crossed

and hope for the best.

But that same day, we received the worst news of our lives from Nairobi.

And John Kendall's letter told us that we had

only 60 days to get the cubs out of the area.

(GROWLING)

With no time to be lost, we set to work immediately,

luring the cubs towards the cages.

Whoa! Take it easy!

I think something will have to be done about Jespah.

JOY: At last, we got them there.

And to our joy, they approached the cages with no sign of fear.

That very first day, we thought we were going to have

the most astounding stroke of luck.

And then we knew that it would not be as easy as all that.

Oh, well.

There's always tomorrow.

JOY: And tomorrow and tomorrow,

until only two weeks remained,

while the cubs did everything possible to fray our nerves.

(WHISPERING) Get inside, Little Elsa, please.

(WHISPERING) Go on, Jespah, get in.

To make it all worse, it was now clear

that the arrowhead had not worked itself out of Jespah's body,

but was still embedded in his side

and that his wound was, in fact, festering.

(EXHALES)

(YAWNS)

(SIGHING)

You know something? Even if it doesn't work,

it was a brilliant idea.

Thank you.

You're very talented. You could've gone far.

I am devoid of ambition.

Yes.

Yes, I know.

That's why I love you.

Mmm.

(YOWLING)

Go on, Jespah. Stop messing about.

Go in.

Go in.

JOY: Oh, no.

GEORGE: Oh, blast!

(THUNDER RUMBLING)

Well, we'll try again tomorrow.

We're running out of tomorrows.

(THUNDER RUMBLING)

(THUNDER CRASHING)

It's all right. They'll be holed up somewhere.

They'll be back when they're hungry.

Mmm.

It's Jespah's wound I'm worried about.

We've got to do something about that arrowhead.

Elsa died of infection, remember?

Yes, I remember.

But it didn't seem to be troubling him too much the last time we saw him,

though it should come out, of course.

Come on.

Cheer up.

The sun'll be out tomorrow, I promise you.

JOY: George was wrong.

High in the mountains, the heavy rains were culminating in a flash flood.

It came at dawn.

Joy, wake up! My God! What's happened?

God! Those cages.

If they've been damaged by the flood, we've had it.

JOY: It was too much.

It was just too much.

Now it seemed that everything had fallen apart on us,

and we were down to our last week.

As for the cubs, they never came back after the night the cage doors jammed.

I'm afraid I've had it.

Come on. I'll take you back.

I'll take myself back, thank you.

I'm sorry, darling. It's just that

I've never been so depressed in all my life.

We've three days left.

We've got three days and eight hours.

Come on.

I think I'll watch just a little while longer.

(GROWLING)

(GROWLING)

(GROWLING CONTINUES)

You've done it! You've done it!

You've done it!

Oh, I'm not prejudiced,

but you are absolutely wonderful!

Wonderful!

(GROWLS)

It's easy when you know how.

(BOTH LAUGHING)

JOY: As quickly as possible,

we set out on our 700-mile trek to the Serengeti.

It was a difficult trip.

It must have been even more difficult for the lions.

Welcome to the Serengeti.

Thank God.

(HONKING)

(HONKING CONTINUES)

He's lost his brakes.

We've got to get ahead and stop them.

(HORN HONKING)

He's trying to pass.

(HONKING CONTINUES)

Here we go.

Hold tight!

(BRAKES SQUEALING)

(ENGINE HISSING)

Welcome

to the Serengeti.

(CHUCKLES)

(SIGHS) WEAVER: Welcome to the Serengeti.

GEORGE: Thank you. My name's Weaver,

and may I congratulate and thank you for a good job.

What I mean is, you've made me richer by £12.

There were, among my colleagues,

certain skeptics who thought you'd never make it.

We're happy to have disappointed them.

Good. Now let's see those famous cubs of yours.

You can release them anywhere around here.

There's no end of game and water.

Mmm. It's a paradise.

Well, they look in pretty good shape, everything considered.

GEORGE: We hope to have them in much better shape

by the time we leave.

By the time you leave?

(SCOFFS) I'm sorry, but you can't stay, you know.

But we can't leave them until they're able to fend for themselves.

We can't allow you to hunt for them here.

They're gonna have to learn their trade like any other cubs.

But other cubs have a mother to teach them.

I'm sorry.

You mean you really want us to leave?

Yes. Now, I promise you, we'll keep an eye on 'em.

But if they're ever gonna join up with a wild pride,

this is where it's gonna happen, okay?

(GROWLING)

JOY: It was not the way we'd planned it

or what we'd hoped for,

and we were desperately worried about Jespah,

but there was nothing that we could do about it.

And so we drove them to an area that reminded us

of where Elsa and her cubs had lived happily

many long months before.

(MOANS)

It had been a lengthy journey,

and the cubs, after being caged for so long,

were afraid to venture out of their prisons.

Thank you, Makedde.

Oh, come on, Jespah. You know you love it.

Goodbye, Jespah.

Goodbye, Gopa.

Little Elsa.

Will we ever see them again, do you think?

They'll be all right.

At least they're free.

JOY: Yes, they were free.

They would still have their problems to face

and dangers to meet,

but they were free.

Living free.

* Living free

* Living free

* Free to wander

* Or to linger

* Where you want to be

* We were born to be free

* Living free

* Free to be

* Loving, caring

* Giving, sharing

* That's how it can be

* What a joy to be free

* Freedom is a happy thing

* It's a bell we ring, a song we sing

* Freedom is a lamp we light

* In the dark of night

* We've got the right to be

* Living free

* Really free

* Come tomorrow

* Yes, tomorrow

* We will all be free

* That's the way it will be

* Living free