Gold

---

Where is it?

93 level. Looks like

the whole drive's caved in.

Rod...

Rod, Lemmer was down there.

Why was he there?

I don't know,

but it looks pretty bad.

Come on, hurry it up.

What were they doing

blasting at the 93 level?

I'd like to know.

If they drill into the dyke

they'll flood the mine.

Anyone seen Mr. Lemmer?

- Yeah, he was underground.

- I hope he doesn't stay there.

The roof caved in.

Who's gang captain?

Leighdorf, we just pulled him out,

dead.

Tex, clear this station.

Injured out first.

Come on, move it.

Come on!

Clear the way there.

Keep your heads down.

- Come on.

- Let's move it.

Get some air down here.

Get the ventilators going!

Who's that?

Slater.

About bloody time.

How many are in there, Kowalski?

Three.

One of them is Lemmer.

Are you sure?

Of course I'm sure.

Got a bloody squealer

in there with him.

He makes good company.

Get his carcass out of the way,

we've work to do.

I know this man.

Well, shift it.

Okay, now shift it.

Shut up, Kowalski.

Move him, King.

There are others in there.

Yes, boss.

Quicker, quicker.

Up here, up here!

Here, I'll take it.

Keep at it, keep at it.

What's happened?

I don't know, Mr. Steyner.

They were at 93 level.

They were driving

towards the big dyke.

Is Lemmer there?

That's what they say.

That's terrible.

Excuse me, Mr. Steyner.

Damn it, Marais. You said

nothing could go wrong.

Someone was careless.

And if I lost my General Manager?

Now here.

Here, you fool.

Get more men down here!

Okay, Mr. Slater.

Quiet!

Thula! Thula!

Thula!

Mario, move these.

Easy.

Get the doctor!

Bring the doctor down!

Is Mr. Lemmer here?

Yes, he's hurt bad.

Can you move?

Tell the doctor.

Yes, sir.

Frank?

The roof is bad.

We'll support it.

You'll never move me.

You know, I had three month to go

before I went on leave.

I nearly made it.

You'll end up like this, Rod.

In the dirt, your bones crunched up.

It's not the end, Frank.

Isn't it?

Who's that?

George. Give me a hand, Rod.

You took a long time

coming here.

It's his leg.

Hi, Frank.

Union Steel closed at 98 cents

tonight. I told you to buy.

Overpriced.

Over capitalized.

Can we move this?

Blood pressure.

We made a good dig here.

Antiseptic swabs.

I'd wish they'd give it to you,

but they won't.

Whoever they get in my place,

keep an eye on him.

You know the ground.

Don't let him balls it up.

Syringe.

Alcohol.

Hold his chin back.

Instruments.

Antiseptic.

It wouldn't be any good

to him, anyway.

Antiseptic.

This is just terrible.

Did he say how it happened?

He didn't have the breath left.

Do you know what caused it?

The same as always,

digging for gold.

Yes.

Dr. Steyner is here, Mr. Hirschfield.

Okay.

Hello HH,

how are you?

12 men died down that mine

and Lemmer was one of them.

You ask me how I feel?

What the hell happened?

We don't know yet for certain.

What were they doing

at 93 level?

Going toward the dyke.

The dyke?

What the hell was the idea?

I don't know.

You're my Managing Director,

what do you mean?

I can only guess.

Only Lemmer would know.

He's dead and you're guessing.

That's great.

Is my cigar bothering you?

What was he doing

down there?

That's our only clue.

He must've known something was wrong

and went to investigate.

Poor bastard.

With me over 25 years.

I remember the day he started.

See that his wife is okay.

You've got to take care of her.

Best General Manager

in the business.

Yes, he was.

I want a copy of the accident report,

I'm still the boss around here!

I'll see you get it

before I go to London.

Morning.

So, this is it, gentleman,

the big dyke.

An impervious wall

of green serpentine rock

which acts as a natural dam

to what lies beyond.

A vast underground ocean.

If that water is released,

the whole of the Sonderditch mines

would be totally flooded.

You're quite sure about this?

My top geologist, Marais, conducted

a series of probes on the other side

and there's nothing there

but water.

We wouldn't want to find any gold,

would we?

Exactly.

Any dig through the dyke would

release that water under pressure.

Enough to destroy the Sonderditch

and the whole minefield in 24 hours.

The finishing touch to our scheme.

World gold production cut by 30%

and, inevitably,

the price of gold freed.

This flood,

how many men would be drowned?

Well, not many,

only the actual gang working there.

Everybody else would have

some warning.

There'll be a minimum of risk.

Gentlemen, there are 5000 million

dollars at stake.

Of course there are risks.

One of them is

our individual discretion.

We all agree, then?

- Yes. Okay.

- Sure.

As to the financial arrangements...

A masterly exposition, Manfred.

Very discreet too.

What do you mean?

You omitted to mention that

your preliminary drive caved in.

And you lost your nice

cooperative General Manager.

I thought it might have

confused the issue.

You were going to tell me,

of course?

Yes, of course,

over a sherry.

Cheers.

Sorry it's not South African.

What went wrong?

Someone was careless.

It's only a slight delay.

How long?

We'll still make it by Christmas.

You better.

We're all looking forward

to a very prosperous new year.

Hello.

Hello.

Can I help you?

Maybe, I work for you grandfather.

Rod Slater.

Yes. My husband spoke about you.

You're the underground manager.

That's right. I dig it up,

the others bury it again.

In banks.

That one can come off.

Gilbert, Mr. Slater would like

to see Mr. Steyner.

Thank you, ma'am.

Please come this way, sir.

I'd better not go in with this.

Thanks.

Mr. Slater, sir.

Come in, Slater.

Please, sit down.

A drink?

Scotch, if I may, please.

I wanted a chat with you.

I thought it'd be more private,

here in my home.

There are too many rumors

about who's going to replace Lemmer.

I hadn't heard any.

Then you assume

it's going to be Plummer.

He is the senior man.

Yes, but that's the trouble.

He's a little too senior.

I need someone who

knows the operation,

but isn't tied in to the old methods,

the old prejudices.

I'm so tired of hearing

what can't be done...

I'd rather you didn't smoke.

If you don't mind.

The mines are in for a shake-up.

I'm looking for a younger man.

Someone adventurous

to help me do the shaking.

What do you think?

I think you need a younger,

adventurous man.

I've been looking at your record.

You never finished your engineering

degree. Expelled, disorderly conduct.

I finished it

by correspondence course.

Your conduct doesn't matter

when you send your answers by mail.

First mining job,

two charges of assault,

and then you joined us.

Bad record at first,

taking unnecessary risks.

But as underground manager,

you're record has been exemplary.

I must've matured.

But not on the private side,

divorced two years ago,

alimony, 450 rand a month,

a paternity suit by a Miss Johnson

cost you 150 rand a month.

An expensive apartment in Hillbrow,

an expensive car, not paid for.

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