Stanley and Livingstone Page #8

should say Gentlemen of the jury

Since you have seen fit to

turn this hearing into a trial

I stand before you accused of

being a cheat a liar and a forger.

Unfortunately gentlemen,

when you question my integrity

You nullify at the same time the

discoveries of Dr. Livingstone.

And you condemn a great man to oblivion

A great man, whom this honorable gathering

seem determined to wipe out with a vote.

although today he is still roaming the

jungle and swamp, alone and fevering.

accomplishing more in every single day than you

and your combined lives will ever accomplish.

You arm chaired Geographers, who have never

explored anything deeper than a plump pudding

I realize that this hall

is charged with prejudice

And to raise my voice here is

to cry out in the wilderness.

But I would be violating a

sacred trust if I did not cry out.

Even though only the walls heard me.

The walls of a handful

of faithful friends.

Gentlemen, I do not like to think

that I am expecting too much when I ask

tolerance and fair play

from my fellow countrymen.

Yes. I was born in England. went to school here,

not Eton, Herald but workhouse of Children poppers

All I ever knew of England was the

poverty and the brutality of the workhouse.

I grew up with the lesson of

my youth burned into my soul

I ask nothing of other

men than that I gave them.

A year ago, in darkest Africa,

I met a man who restored my faith

In the England I had

learned to hate as a child.

And you gentlemen are destroying

the faith he built in me.

As you seem bent on destroying

every other great accomplishment

Of the greatest man I have ever

known. Dr. Livingstone is out there.

He is old and he is sick. and he needs your help

to carry on the great work he has undertaken.

the work that is indicated, however

inadequately upon those maps.

Reject those maps, withhold

your aid and you destroy him.

Reject those maps and you close

Africa for generations to come.

Reject those maps gentlemen and you

pelt faith with the greatest geographer

and one of the greatest

man of our times.

Gentlemen, the choice

is yours. Take your vote.

I am sure that Dr. Livingstone himself

would say... 'I live it with you'.

-Oh! That was glorious.

- Fine words Mr. Chairman

But still not one word of proof.

I move that this meeting to go on record

by putting Mr. Stanley's report to a vote.

Gentlemen, all those who are in favor of

accepting Mr. Stanley's report please rise.

All those who are opposed to accepting

Mr. Stanleys report, please rise.

Gentleman, the verdict is clear.

It is the sense of this meeting

that Mr. Stanley's claim be rejected.

The table entertains the motion adjourned.

- Sir John - Yes!

What is it? - A message

Well Stanley, guess you know now, how I feel

when people wont believe what I tell them.

Stanley.. Stanley.. They are

calling the meeting back to order.

- What happened?

- Something's happened. We better go back.

I have just received a communication from

London which I feel, is of utmost importance

I will read it to you without comment

It is from Lord Bill Hampton

and it is addressed to me

Sir, a message has just

been received from Zanzibar

The body of Doctor David Livingstone has

been brought to the coast by native bearers

Doctor Livingstone died several months

ago on a journey to Lualava river.

That is not all gentlemen! The letter goes on, bearers

also delivered to the British consulate of Zanzibar

A last message written by Dr. Livingstone in

which the Doctor mentioned Mr. Henry. Stanley.

The following message contains

Dr. Livingstone's last request

and is addressed to Mr. Stanley.

'Too weak to go on. Have asked my heart

be buried here, together with my dreams'

My son, the torch has fallen

from my hand. Come and relight it.

Mr. Chairman!... -

Lord Tyce - Mr. Chairman

I have the great honor to propose, the previous

resolution be stricken from minutes of this meeting

And that we accept Mr. Stanley's report.

And with our acceptance tender him our humble

apologies, for our stupidity and bad manners.

In which I Mr. Stanley, have

been The greatest offender.

From Bennett. The 3rd today. I don't seem able

to convince him that I am not coming to New York.

I guess I will have to name a

mountain something after him.

Well, I guess, I better get aboard.

I wont try to tell you how wonderful

It's been to be able to know you

You see I was right. I

wasn't imagining things.

You are going to follow in

Doctor Livingstone's footsteps.

No man alive could hope to follow his footsteps.

I can at least try to finish the work he started.

And I wont be alone when I reach the

spot. Where the Lualava meets the sea.

- Goodbye!

- Goodbye Henry! And God bless you.

The End

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes