Tarzan the Ape Man Page #2

Father, you still haven't told me

about the Mutier escarpment.

Remember my telling you

a fairytale about the elephants?

Hundreds. Which one?

The one about why one never finds

a dead elephant in the jungle.

Let me think.

Why, of course.

I remember.

An elephant can always tell

when death is coming for him...

and when he hears the call...

there's a secret place

to which he wanders.

A place where he can lay his bones

with his ancestors.

- A place of rest.

- That's it.

The secret graveyard of the elephants.

Somewhere to the east, there's

a mysterious barrier of mountains...

called the Mutier escarpment.

And the natives won't say

where that Mutier escarpment is.

It's sacred. Taboo.

If one of them is found

even to have looked at it...

he's put to death by the witch man

of the tribe.

Now, Holt and I believe...

that beyond

that Mutier escarpment somewhere...

lies the burial place of the elephants.

You do? But why?

Of course. Ivory.

Enough ivory to supply the world.

There's a 1,000,000

for the man who finds it.

- And how much do I get for helping you?

- You're not going to help. You can't.

Mr. Holt, I know you'll understand.

I do want to go so terribly.

I think if she wants to go

as much as all that...

she won't be a hindrance.

I think you're probably

the nicest man I ever met.

Anyone's nice who gives in to you.

You disagreeable old darling.

I'm mad about you.

Leave me alone. I'm not used to this.

Can you shoot?

Like an angel.

Riano, let me have that rifle.

- Beamish.

- Yes, miss?

Hat.

Satisfied?

Quite.

I'm tired. I'm going to turn in.

Good night, Holt. Good night, my girl.

- Good night, Dad.

- Sleep well.

Tell me, am I a nuisance?

Do I get in the way at all?

Not in the least.

You've shaken down to it marvelously.

- Better put this around your shoulders.

- Thanks.

The altitude plays funny tricks

with the temperature.

I'm not cold.

You may think you're not.

- You're very silent.

- I feel very silent.

You know, Jane...

I'm not a romantic sort of a person

or anything like that...

but if we get through this all right...

is there any kind of a chance for me?

With me?

I don't know.

I haven't thought about it much.

Will you?

I thought I hated this country.

Since you're here I almost love it.

Do you, Harry?

- I'm very glad.

- Are you?

Glad you like Africa.

Oh, poof.

Now you're laughing at me.

A little bit, perhaps.

But very tenderly.

- Old man hyena sounds pretty lively.

- Horrible noise, isn't it?

Yet, I don't know. It's part of it all.

- Love it, don't you?

- Love it. Who wouldn't?

Look.

Isn't it marvelous?

And the funny part is

I feel so completely at home.

Really?

Good night, Harry.

Funny little hand...

so capable and so strong...

and yet, so soft and so white.

Don't crush it, Harry.

I might want to use it again.

I'm sorry.

Good night, dear. Sleep soundly.

Soundly? With all this noise?

Isn't he grand?

So proud, so fierce,

and yet, so infinitely soothing.

Why, there's another one quite close.

Yes, much too close.

Keep a man on the fire all night.

Keep them going.

Yes, bwana.

Hello.

Must be a village near here somewhere.

That drum doesn't seem stationary.

It seems to be coming closer.

- It is.

- Help, bwana!

What was that?

Didn't sound like an animal.

Hold it there.

Get him some water.

- He say he look at Mutier escarpment.

- Mutier escarpment?

Make him tell you which direction. Where?

Did you get that?

We have to get him under cover.

Head back to your fires.

- What's the matter?

- They're after him. They're close.

Who are they, Harry?

What did he say?

He's looking for some fellow

that's broken the big law of the tribe.

No man's passed here.

We should have seen him.

I told him that.

- They're like evil ghosts.

- Those are the Ubangis...

one of the most feared

and courageous tribes.

Yet they're afraid

of the Mutier escarpment.

It may not be fear. It may be superstition.

To some of them,

the elephant is sacred even alive.

How much more so in death?

- Have they gone?

- Far enough.

One good turn deserves another.

He'll tell us now.

Come on, get up.

He's dead.

Anyone would die

who look at Mutier escarpment.

Poor fellow.

- He died too soon.

- Did he? I wonder.

He was crazy with fear,

yet he managed to point.

And that's the direction

in which he pointed.

And that's the Mutier escarpment, eh?

Yeah, and all we've got to do now

is climb it.

Mother Earth must have

some very particular secret up there...

putting up a wall like that.

Here.

- Why? Is this going to be dangerous?

- No.

All has to be done

according to Hoyle, though.

Look out back there.

It's a bit tricky here.

You all right, Jane?

At the moment.

Be careful.

Steady, Jane. Don't lose your nerve.

We're all right.

What was in that pack, Parker?

Medicines, trade goods.

Poor devil.

That's too bad.

I don't suppose it could be helped.

You all right, now?

Yeah, I'm all right.

How are the rest of the boys?

- All right, bwana.

- All right. Start them going.

Now, Jane, take it easy.

Easy now.

Give me your hand.

Hold her, Holt!

- Parker. Riano.

- Yes, bwana.

Quiet, now.

All right.

- Give me your hand.

- Easy, now.

Give me your hand, dear.

Good girl!

Aren't I a fool, Harry? I'm sorry.

I'll promise to forgive you

if you don't do it again.

Would you like to sit down and rest

for a while?

No, really. I'd rather go on.

- You're quite sure?

- Sure.

Good girl. Come on.

- How are the rest of the boys, Riano?

- All right, bwana.

I don't think we need this anymore.

Let me help you.

Darling, you mind if I flop

for a little while?

It'd do us all good to flop

for a little while.

Anything you want?

Yes, a nice hot bath.

What was that?

Can't say.

- What do you make of it, Riano?

- Maybe hyena, bwana.

Maybe.

Come on.

- That was a human cry.

- Human?

Say, Parker, how do you feel about...

- going on?

- I've had enough.

I know why you're saying that.

And I'm not going to be made

an encumbrance of.

I'm not frightened of a few weird cries.

Now let's get that ivory.

- Riano, come on.

- Yes, master.

- All right, Riano, come on.

- Yes, bwana.

- What's the matter?

- Boys scared, bwana.

You've got your whip.

Give them something else to think about.

- Let's be on our way, come on.

- Quick.

Another barrier.

Does that mean

we lose the elephant tracks?

Yes, but with good luck

we'll pick them up on the other side.

Hold on.

My gun.

They may be tough customers.

Father, without prejudice...

would you say that was a friendly noise?

I'm afraid we're intruding.

- Riano, you better get the boys back.

- Yes, bwana.

Gently, dear. Slowly.

Look out. We're in for it.

Gently, Jane. The river's alive with them.

The dying elephant has to swim this.

Look there.

I'll feel much better

when we've put all this behind us.

Rafts?

- Riano.

- Yes, bwana?

Cut wood for rafts. Two.

Father, look.

How's that for a touching domestic scene?

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes