Legend of the Lost

- Monsieur Dukas, please.

- Go away, I am busy.

Excellency, please, the stranger,

he wants to see you.

- Go away.

- He's got a big gold watch.

He's giving money away.

Money? Halt! Stop the eulogy!

Everybody halt!

Excellency, it is bad luck to stop.

Sheik Nuwas, our guest of honor,

is in no hurry. Where is the stranger?

This way, come!

I am Anatole Dukas,

the Prefect of the City.

It is my honor to welcome you

to our metropolis.

My name is Paul Bonnard.

I was at your office when the ladies

volunteered to help me find you.

You did well, dear children.

If it is lodging you seek,

or you wish money to exchange

I am at your service, monsieur.

Thank you very much.

I was hoping you would be able

to recommend me a guide.

A guide?

May I ask where you wish to be guided?

Into the Sahara Desert.

Wonderful! I have the perfect man for you

and I myself will supply the equipment.

I dislike to impose.

It is an honor to be of service.

If you come to my office after the burial

I'll present to you the most superb guide.

- At what time?

-5:
00.

Fine.

Oh!

You!

Shame on you!

To take advantage of a guest.

- Give it to me.

- Wait.

Huh?

You'll pay for this crime.

Disgrace to Timbuktu.

Take that thief to jail.

Pardon me, but I am preferring

no charges against the young woman.

But a crime has been committed.

Perhaps the payment of a fine

would satisfy the civic conscience.

Monsieur, you show an example

of extreme nobility.

The municipality releases you.

You are free.

You can thank this gentleman.

Thank you, sir.

I am extremely embarrassed.

If you pardon me, I must go back

to the burial of Sheik Nuwas.

- At 5:
00 in my office.

- At 5:
00.

Please, don't give any money away

in my absence.

All right, come. Everybody, go.

- Why did you steal it?

- I wanted it.

If you wanted it, why didn't you ask for it?

You can have it.

- Really?

- Of course.

Thank you.

Joe! Joe January!

He is not here tonight, MonsieurDukas.

Joe, Joe January.

You see something you like?

Hardly. Do these women live here?

Monsieur, they are the children of the city.

Please.

Joe! Joe January!

Monsieur Bonnard, please, this young lady

will take care of you for a few moments.

I have a little errand

of an official nature to accomplish.

Guard our guest well.

- Excellency.

- Is Joe January here?

- He has moved in.

- Moved in?

- Yes, with everything.

- With everything?

- Joe, you are indisposed?

- Go away.

Could we go somewhere else?

I have some important information.

I happen to be in jail.

- But Joe, the door is open.

- Not interested.

What's the matter?

Have you lost your head?

I was suddenly put in jail, remember?

Getting drunk and breaking chairs

was bad enough, but bombs, Joe!

You were making bombs!

It wasn't bombs, it was the Fourth of July.

What is wrong with the Fourth of July?

Haven't you heard of a fellow named Geo...

- Who?

- You wouldn't understand.

I am a man of great understanding,

if you...

- Stop howling at me.

- I am not howling!

I am speaking in a gentle, friendly voice.

You are free.

I've paid your fine, 200 francs,

as I have always done

and put it down in my little bill.

You're a crook, Mr. Dukas.

You've been robbing me blind.

You keep socking me with fines

and putting 'em on the bill.

And what happens?

I give you every sou I make

and I still owe you.

A little drink will restore you, Joe.

Yeah, you fat crook!

You gave me 30 days this time,

and 270 days before that.

Add 'em up!

I am entitled to 300 days in this jail.

In toto, at government expense.

- Pay attention...

- Stop howling and get out of here.

I am not howling.

Of course, if you get tired of feeding me

and housing me free, just say the word

and I walk out that door a free man.

You can earn freedom

quicker than you think.

No, no tricks.

A foreign gentleman has arrived

in Timbuktu.

He is stuffed with money.

His name is Monsieur Bonnard.

You rob him.

Who wants to rob him?

Monsieur Bonnard is planning

an expedition into our beloved Sahara.

I have already made some purchases

for him.

I'll bet.

I informed him there is only one man

in all of Africa

who knows the Sahara

like the nail on his thumb, Joe January.

Has he got enough money

to get me out of this Garden of Eden?

You only have to ask him, Joe.

You've said enough.

Agreed. You will leave in the morning.

I have secured the donkeys.

They are ready to be packed.

I thought we'd take camels.

- Did you ever ride one?

- No.

We'll use donkeys.

If you tell me where you are going,

I will order the exact amount of supplies.

Well into the desert.

Please, don't misunderstand me,

Monsieur Bonnard.

I know it's none of my business,

but now that we are friends

- I thought you would wish to tell me.

- What?

If you are going to take photos

or to visit friends...

No.

Then you are a traveler,

a man who admires exotic scenery.

No, I am not a traveler.

Lay off, Dukas.

It's none of your business, or mine,

where a man's going, or why.

How long a hike are you planning?

Ten weeks, or more.

- There and back?

- No. One way.

That's quite a distance, mister.

We can get by with two donkeys packed

and two to ride.

We will need two more, for the return trip.

Two more? Six?

All right. Final subject, how much?

- How much do you want?

- I understand you're a rich man.

- I am not rich.

- That's tough luck all around.

If you let me handle this negotiation,

dear friend...

You keep your sticky fingers out of this,

dear friend.

I'll take the job if there's enough in it

to buy me out of Timbuktu.

And how much is that?

I owe this drinker of human blood

around 1,000.

What about you, Dita?

Make it a couple hundred more.

And 2,500 for a boat out of Dakar.

Are you willing to pay 4,000?

Yes.

Good. Settled.

And without any foolish waste of time.

You have hired a guide...

Oh, shut up.

I congratulate you upon this union, Joe.

See you later.

Come on, I'll buy you a drink.

No.

Why not? It's my last night.

Maybe my last night in Timbuktu.

Come on, we'll give it a nice goodbye.

This is no time for frivolities.

There are donkeys to select

for the morning. Come on.

You'll steal less if I go along.

Keep your eye on your wallet, Bonnard.

Sorry, Dita, I've got a stake in this one.

Bonnard.

Mr. Bonnard.

Women.

Not me.

The world is full

of ferocious animals.

But there is only one unkind one.

Man.

Animals will kill, but a man does worse.

He hurts.

I hate men.

It's morning. I have to go.

No.

Yes, you must go to sleep.

No.

Talk to me.

You're like a small child

asking for fairy tales.

A child.

If I only was.

If I could start over...

You can.

Everybody can do what they want.

Sin doesn't make a sinner.

Sin is a wound that can be healed.

Struck out? Let's mosey.

Get out of here! Go away!

If you want to scrub up Dita's soul,

it's all right with me.

It may take a little time.

Go on, laugh at me,

because a man sat talking to me all night

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