Out of Africa Page #2

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There's a crowd of them on his land

who think he's a prince.

He sells

Finch Hatton's ivory.

Belknap is a cheery sort.

Had a place of his own.

Went belly up trying to grow flax.

Does he know cattle?

I didn't buy cattle.

We're going to grow

coffee instead.

That's not what we planned.

You were in Denmark.

I had to decide.

We made a decision.

We don't know anything

about coffee.

You plant it, it grows.

We said a dairy. My mother

Your mother doesn't care if it's cows

or coffee as long as it pays.

You have to be with a herd

or things go wrong.

I didn't come to Africa

to sit with silly cows.

just tell her we changed our minds.

Next time you change your mind...

you do it with your money.

They bought you a title, Baronessa.

They didn't buy me.

Fetch some wine

for my lover's brother.

I think you're tired.

Be careful.

Did I tell you

Hans came to say goodbye?

Where is Baron Blixen?

He's gone to hunt.

Did he say when he'd return?

He says he can come

before the rain.

Is it going to rain today?

It can be many days

before the rain, msabu.

In Ohio we put up scarecrow

to keep the birds away.

Here, you hope there's enough leopard

to keep down the baboon.

They'll take your dog too.

But that's Africa.

How much will we plant?

A thousand acres.

How long will that take?

That depends on Kinanjui.

He's chief of the Kikuyu.

Gotta deal with him to get your help.

When will be our first harvest?

Well, these are seedlings.

It'll be three,

maybe four years.

Four years?

If they bear at all.

No one's ever

tried coffee this high.

What will we live on for four years?

I'm working to get home.

If you haven't got it, be good

if you could tell me right now.

We will plant 500.

Chief Kinanjui,

I've heard you're wise

Not now, please.

And I look forward

to our dealings.

Your Kikuyu are good workers...

and I look forward

to dealing with them...

honestly and fairly.

Msabu, this chief

has no British.

Tell him I am Baroness Blixen.

Chief knows that, msabu.

Well, then tell him what I said.

What did he say?

He says this Kikuyu

can do this work.

What else did he

Your leg is very sick.

You must come

to the house for medicine.

Does he understand me?

Yes, msabu.

If you don't come, the other boys

will say you are afraid.

l, myself, will think

only that you are foolish.

This boy must

come to my house for treatment.

See that he does.

What else did Kinanjui say?

He says coffee

must not grow this high.

Never mind, msabu.

He's a chief, but he's a Kikuyu.

If you put a dam here

to stop the water...

then I can make a pond here.

Do you know how

This water must go home to Mombasa.

It can go home

after we make a pond.

Msabu, this water lives at Mombasa.

Come, then.

I wouldn't run.

If you do, she'll think

you're something good to eat.

Have you

Do you have a gun?

She won't like

the smell of you.

Shoot it.

She's had breakfast.

Don't

Please, shoot her.

No, let's give her a moment.

Oh, my God, shoot her!

just how much closer

did you expect to let her come?

A bit.

She wanted to see if you'd run. That's

how they decide. A lot like people.

She almost had me for lunch!

It wasn't her fault. She's a lion.

It wasn't mine.

Doesn't that outfit come with a rifle?

It's on my saddle.

Better keep it with you.

Your horse isn't much of a shot.

For Berkeley.

He's brought you presents.

We stopped by your house

and them came looking for you.

Good Lord, you're sweet.

On the road, actually. We're off

to Magadi to shoot some ivory.

Now, at least, I have something good

to offer you.

Did you intend to tell Berkeley

what a fool I was?

She had a lion a bit interested.

A bit?

But not enough to bite.

It's all right to take a chance...

as long as it's you who'll pay.

Wouldn't you say so?

It's the sort of thing you'd say.

Thank you.

Not at all. Where's Blix?

Hunting.

Has he been out long?

Yes.

You'll need a good chat, then.

Shall we stay to supper, Denys?

Blix will have jackets we could use.

Do I have anything to say in this?

Not really, but we'll hear you out.

Then I would like you to stay.

Good. Denys.

I don't know. Do you sing?

Never.

Can you tell a story?

I happen to be

very good at stories.

I believe that.

What's happened to the cows, the dairy?

We changed our minds.

We'll grow coffee instead.

A bit risky, this high.

So I've been told.

Didn't seem to bother you.

I think they just haven't tried.

Every time I turn my back,

it wants to go wild again.

It will go wild.

Your man

Kanuthia.

He's not Kikuyu.

No.

Shall I see

that he's given supper?

Don't do anything

for him, thank you, Baroness.

It's true of all Somalis. They're

the only tribe that knows horses.

They don't drink, charge interest

or chase other men's wives.

Got to go to town for that.

Did you know that

in all of literature...

there's no poem

celebrating the foot.

There's lips, eyes, hands, face...

hair, breasts...

legs, arms,

even the knees.

But not one verse

for the poor foot.

Why do you think that is?

Priorities, I suppose.

Did you think

you would make one?

Problem is there's nothing

to rhyme it with.

Put.

It's not a noun.

Doesn't matter.

Along he came and he did put...

upon my farm his clumsy foot.

We should have a story now.

When I tell a story

to my nieces at home...

one of them always provides

the first sentence.

Anything?

Absolutely anything.

There was a wandering Chinese

named Cheng Huan...

living in Limehouse...

and a girl named Shirley.

Who spoke perfect Chinese...

which she learned

from her missionary parents.

Cheng Huan lived alone

in a room on Formosa Street...

above the Blue Lantern.

He sat at his window...

and in his poor listening heart...

strange echoes

of his home and country

They found them there

the next morning...

in their room

above the Blue Lantern

the dead child

and the warlord

with Cheng Huan's love gift

coiled about his neck.

Had you been to those places?

I have been a mental traveller.

Till now.

Yes.

Was this England?

Excuse me. Denmark?

I like my things.

When you travelled before

in your mind...

did you carry

so much luggage?

A mental traveller hasn't the need

to eat or sleep...

or entertain.

You're right.

Anyway, aren't you pleased

that I brought my crystal and china?

And your stories, yes.

The conquering heroes come

Sound the trumpets

Beat the drums

I want you to come often.

I'd like that very much.

And you must promise it will be soon.

I promise.

Did you save my life,

Finch Hatton?

No. The lioness did that.

She walked away.

So I'm not indebted, then?

Ah, but I am.

We pay our

storytellers here.

It's lovely.

But my stories are free...

and your present's

much too dear.

Write them down sometime.

Take care, Finch Hatton.

You wouldn't

rather call me Denys?

Baroness.

Goodbye.

What are you doing?

I want you to come home.

We never spoke

about children.

Did you

Do you?

Yes. Is that all right?

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