Rope of Sand

This part of the

desert of South Africa where

only a parched camel Thorn

tree relieves the endless

parallels of time, space, and

sky surrounds like a rope of

sand, the richest diamond

bearing area in the world.

An uneasy land where men

inflamed by monotony and the

heat sometimes forget the

rules of civilization.

West area patrol, Thompson

speaking.

Give me Vogel, please.

Come on in, Vogel.

We've just take it, 40

minutes and all.

We're searching him

now for diamonds.

40 minutes, huh?

Quite a record.

My congratulations.

And put yourself on the report

when you return.

You'll be fined a week's

pay for allow a man

in the area at all.

Thompson, one of the axioms

of my department is this.

It is impossible for any man to

enter the prohibited area,

even for 40 minutes.

My job is to see that

no diamonds are

removed from the area.

I'm not playing games.

What is it?

From the hererra chief, sir.

Report a number of their

men want to sign

of our labor contract.

That's not in his job.

Mr. Martingale's got back

from cape town, sir.

How many?

About 100.

They understand the regulations?

They sign up for a year.

No drinking.

What?

Once a month.

Take them to corince.

Yes, sir.

Yes, what is it?

Exit permit for your

signature sir.

Pierson, separator foreman,

arm injury.

No fluoroscope check.

You know better than that.

The X-ray's broken down, sir.

Well, repair it.

Fly someone in if necessary.

I have an ok from doc Hunter.

These guys did it up.

And very neatly, too.

Take him down the hall and

explain to him the physical

dangers of hiding a diamond

in an open wound.

Incidentally, pierson.

Doctor Hunter's bandages

are never neat.

They have a certain alcoholic

sloppiness about them.

Come on, then.

What is this?

C'mon!

Get that batch wheeling.

Get 'em over there!

Get off your batches.

How soon can you

get my gear off?

Look, Mr. Davis, if you think

all I gotta do is lug through

1,000 tons of cargo and...

how soon can you

get my gear off?

Yes, sir.

Fasten your cargo.

C'mon, get it down!

Hey, send up that passenger

cargo next!

Hey, boy.

Hey, you.

Go on dock.

Take care of passenger's gear.

You understand/ now, go dock.

Take care gentleman's gear.

Understand?

Why did they get a stupid

herrera who

can't understand English.

I guess his mother didn't

bring him up right.

Hold that winch.

Davis, I warned you not

to come back here.

I thought you'd be gone, Vogel,

promoted to a little

diamond stud all your own.

I was waiting for you.

And your blue jacket, the

one with my blood stains.

Is that waiting, too?

Don't lose your temper in

the heat, commandant.

It's bad for the blood pressure.

What you want here?

That's my business.

C'mon, let's get this

stuff out of here.

His leg.

A regrettable accident.

Sorry your equipment is

owing, Mr. Davies.

Don't lose your temper

in this heat, Davies.

It's bad for the blood pressure.

Vogel, I came back telling

myself I'd forgotten what this

place did to me.

But all I wanted was

my license back.

I cam back here telling myself

that what happened before was

a regrettable accident.

I'm back, Vogel.

Now I know what I want.

Thank to you, the hunter

and the guide is gone.

I'm back to get something

I've already paid for.

The price has doubled.

So long, pig.

My blue jacket, Davis,

I saved it.

And all I want is an

excuse to use it.

Hey.

Thank you.

I thought you didn't

speak English.

I don't speak English

much to many people.

I see your point.

I may be able to use a boy that

don't speak English much.

I work for you.

Good.

But you'd better go see doc

Hunter first and have him take

care of this.

Tell him Mike Davis send you.

He'll remember the name.

Call Mr. Martingale

in cape town.

Try the perseus club first.

Yes, sir.

And insist that I talk to him.

Diamond stat to cape town.

Perseus club.

I'm sorry, Mr. Martingale

cannot be disturbed.

No, I'm very sorry but

the membership

committee is meeting.

The next and last application

is that of Mr. Paul Vogel, our

fair diamond stud.

Sponsor?

Gentlemen, there's no need to

reiterate all the splendid

services that Mr. Vogel has

vetted the club in the past.

Year yet three times previously,

his membership

application was rejected

by a single blackball.

Most regrettable.

Therefore I've asked Mr.

Martingale again to make a

personal plea.

Thank you.

Gentlemen, I'm quite sure you

are all aware that Paul Vogel

is the grandson of an

impoverished German colonist,

that he started with none of the

advantages that all of us

have enjoyed.

And that it's by his own

constant effort that he's

become a person of stature

and importance.

In regard to our personal

relationship, I can honestly

say that every day he has worked

under me has been a

distinct pleasure.

Gentlemen, I have no more to

say because well, I am

confident how each

of you will vote.

Hear that?

I think we may pass

the voting box.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Membership application rejected.

Rejected?

No further business, gentleman.

Meeting adjourned.

Sorry, Martingale.

This makes my going back

to diamond stud doubly

distasteful.

You joining us this

evening, Parker?

No, I'm afraid I can't.

I'm meeting Mrs. Parker

at the station.

We leave in an hour for a

business trip up country.

Uhhuh.

Oi.

Mr. Martingale, urgent, sir.

Oh, put him on.

Mr. Martingale is ready.

Oh.

Hello, Paul.

Sorry to interrupt you holiday,

but your instructions

were to report anything of an

unusual or unexpected nature.

Mike Davis has returned.

I have no intention of making

the same mistake again,

although I scarcely regard

it as a mistake.

I felt I should inform you as

to what my course of action

will be.

Your course of action

will be no action

whatsoever until I return.

Unless of course he should be so

foolish as to try to enter

the prohibited area.

I'll be up by plane

in the morning.

By the way, what happened to

my membership application?

Oh, I'm very sorry, Paul.

I'm afraid some wretch has

blackballed you again.

Better luck next time.

Mr. Martingale, Mr.

Parker's secretary

called from his office.

He's supposed to meet miss

Suzanne Renaud, daughter of a

rather important French

stockholder here.

But he's been detained and asked

if you could entertain

her until he arrives.

Till he arrives?

Earlier today he told me he

was going up country.

Tell me, Jacques, is there any

other unescorted girl but this

one?

No, sir.

Jacques, I'm indebted to you.

Or I may never forgive you.

I get your pardon.

I don't know what you want,

monsieur, but I do know that

if you are not gone in five

seconds, I'll call the head

waiter.

He will tell you that my name

is Martingale and that Mr.

Parker has appointed me

his ego alternate.

Oh, Mr. Martingale,

I'm so sorry.

My thought entirely.

Now would you like to

join our party?

Oh, if you don't mind,

I'd prefer a taxi.

Perhaps some other place.

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