The African Queen Page #4

I tell you, it's a model,

like an inspiration.

Why, I ain't had this old engine

so clean in years, inside and out.

Just look at her, miss.

See how she practically sparkles?

Myself, too.

Guess you haven't never

had a look at me

without my whiskers and all cleaned up.

I'll bet you wouldn't hardly recognize me.

Works that much of a change.

Freshens you up, too.

If I only had some clean clothes like you.

Now, you, why, you could be at high tea.

Say, that's an idea, miss.

How's about a nice little cup of tea?

Now, don't you stir.

I'll be glad to make it for you.

How's the book, miss?

Well, not that I ain't read it.

That is to say,

my poor old mom used to read me

stories out of it.

How's about reading it out loud?

I could sure do with a little

spiritual comfort, myself.

And you call yourself a Christian.

Do you hear me?

Don't you?

What you being so mean for, miss?

A man takes a drop too much

once in a while.

It's only human nature.

Nature, Mr. Allnut, is what we are put

in this world to rise above.

Miss.

I'm sorry. I apologize.

What more can a man do

than say he's sorry?

You done paid me back, miss.

You didn't even leave me a drop.

Miss, have a heart. Fair is fair.

You gotta say something.

I don't care what it is,

but you gotta say something.

I'll be honest with you, miss,

I just can't stand no more of this.

I just ain't used to it, that's all.

So you think it was your

nasty drunkenness I minded?

- Well, what else?

- You promised you'd go down the river.

Miss, listen to me and try to understand.

There's death a dozen times over

down the river.

I'm sorry to disappoint you,

but don't blame me. Blame the Ulanga.

- You promised.

- Well, I'm taking my promise back!

All right, miss, you win,

as the crocodiles will be glad to hear.

Down the river we go.

Have some breakfast, Mr. Allnut.

Thanks for asking, and I don't mind

if I do, because it'll be my last.

Or, no. Get up steam.

Breakfast can wait.

Waiting for their supper, miss.

Which side of the river is Shona on?

How's that, miss?

Which bank is Shona on?

Over to starboard, miss.

Good. Then the sun will be in their eyes.

I say the sun will be in their eyes.

Don't be worried, Mr. Allnut.

I ain't worried, miss.

Gave myself up for dead

back where we started.

Mr. Allnut.

Better get down, miss.

Come here.

Fire over the ship!

Get down lower, miss.

Nothing to do but let her drift, miss.

Are we going to be all right, Mr. Allnut?

Yes. Everything's all right.

If we can keep the steam up

and the boiler don't bust

and that mend holds.

And we don't pile up on them rocks.

We made it! We made it!

Hip, hip, hooray!

We sure put one over on them

that time, didn't we, miss?

What a curious feeling

to have people shooting at you.

They were that surprised

to see the African Queen,

they didn't start shooting

till we were past.

One knows it's dangerous,

and yet one isn't afraid at all!

They didn't believe

we'd try to go down the gorge!

I suppose it's because the bullets

sound like mosquitoes.

They didn't believe anybody could!

I felt like slapping at them.

Well, we showed them!

Hip, hip, hooray!

Was my handling of the boat all right?

Well, yes, miss.

It was better than all right, miss.

Well, we're running short of fuel.

We better put in someplace.

Well, I guess I better do some pumping.

We'll be swimming pretty soon.

- Let me do that.

- No, miss.

No, please, let me

while you get the fuel.

Hey, easy does it, miss.

Don't wear yourself out.

Picked up a thorn in my foot.

Must have gone right through

the rubber sole.

Let me.

Thank you, miss.

Do you recognize these flowers,

Mr. Allnut?

I've never seen them before.

Well, I can't say as I have, either.

Perhaps no one has.

I don't suppose they even have a name.

Whether they have or not,

they sure are pretty.

Mr. Allnut.

Dear.

Well. Well, now.

This is more like it, breakfast in bed.

Two spoonfuls of sugar is right, isn't it?

Fancy your building the fire and all

while I slept.

Dear, what is your first name?

- Charlie.

- Charlie.

That's a nice name. Charlie, Charlie.

Give us a kiss.

Charlie. Charlie.

You know, the more I look at this place,

the prettier it gets.

I expect it's just about

the prettiest place I've ever been to,

and that's saying a lot.

Not that I ain't all for going on

down the river, you understand.

The sooner we blow up

the old Louisa, the better.

What I meant was,

I'd like to come back here someday.

Then you think we can do it?

Do it? Of course we can do it.

Nothing a man can't do

if he believes in himself.

Never say die, that's my motto.

I've had misgivings.

I was beginning to think

that the whole thing was a mistake.

How's that, miss, I mean, Rosie?

I had a moment of weakness.

Now, if you're feeling weak,

a day or two more here

won't make any difference.

Oh, no. We'll go on.

Thank heaven for your strength, Charlie.

Oh, no!

Charlie.

Hey, Rosie. Listen.

We nearly done it that time,

didn't we, Rosie?

I wonder how much damage we've done.

Let's get the water out and see.

Yeah, better than we could've hoped for.

The skin seems tight enough.

No water coming in.

What was all that clattering

just before we stopped?

That's what we gotta find out, old girl.

How are you going to do that, dear?

I gotta go down underneath

and take a look.

I hope there's no fancy currents

down there.

Well, here goes.

Could you see anything, dear?

Yeah. The shaft's twisted

like a corkscrew

and there's a blade gone off the prop.

We'll have to mend it, then.

Mend it? Fat chance.

Why is that, dear?

What should we have to do

before we can go on?

I'll tell you.

I'll tell you what we could do

if we was back in the slip at Limbasi.

We could pull this old tub out

and take the shaft down

and haul it over to the workshop

and forge it straight again.

Then we could write to the makers

for a new prop.

They might even have one in stock,

on account of how

this boat's only 30 years old.

Then while we was waiting, we could

clean her bottom and paint her up.

Then we'd put the new

shaft in and the new prop

and go on our way

as if nothing had happened.

But this ain't Limbasi.

Couldn't you straighten the shaft

without taking the boat up on shore?

I don't know. I might.

Means working underwater.

Could be done, maybe.

If you could get the shaft up on shore,

could you straighten it?

I ain't got no anvil, I ain't got no hearth,

I ain't got no coal, I ain't got nothing.

I saw a Masai native working once

using charcoal on a big hollow stone.

He had a boy to fan the charcoal.

Yeah, yeah. I've seen that.

I'd use a bellows myself.

Could make one easy enough.

Well, if you think that would be better.

Well, lots and lots of firewood

on the bank.

Why don't you try it?

No, no. It ain't no use, Rosie.

I was forgetting the prop.

The blade's gone.

Can't we go on the blades that are left?

No. The prop would be out of balance.

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