The Leech Woman Page #2

---

concentrate of hormone known,

a hormone

that retards aging.

Now, a similar hormone was

first discovered in insects

by a British biologist

20, 25 years ago.

Common silkworm produces it.

The only trouble with that hormone

is it works only in insects.

This works in humans.

It's kept a woman living more than

twice her normal span of life.

She's 152 years old, Neil.

She was in my office this afternoon.

152 years old?

I've confirmed it.

Where did she get this?

A plant that comes

from Africa.

Now, she also mentioned another substance

which, when mixed with this,

will actually make old people

young again.

Paul, you talk as if you believe

this were possible.

I do. Enough to go to Africa

to try to find the source.

June, I want you

to come with me.

That is, if you can forgive all those

awful things I said to you this afternoon.

June, I need you. You've got to help.

I can't do it alone.

You mean you don't want

a divorce?

Of course not.

I'll make it all up to you.

What an idiot I've been not to realize

how important you are to me.

Just think.

The trip together, the new country,

the jungle, it'll be so exciting.

Oh, Paul. You're my life.

You've just pulled me out

of the bottom of the pit.

Honey, if you ever let me go again,

it'll be the end of everything for me.

Darling, don't think of such things.

Just think of our being together

and how much I love you.

Yes, I know of the Nando people.

They're a savage, proud race.

They refuse to accept anything

from our so-called civilization.

They have an undying hatred

for Europeans.

The government

has issued orders

to respect their territory

and leave them strictly alone.

So I was told

at the consulate.

Then why come to me?

I've heard

you're a gambler.

What a great gamble.

If I don't get killed by the Nandos,

I lose my license as a guide,

so what's to win?

$5,000 now and $20,000 more

if I find what I'm after.

Doctor, that's a lot of money,

but I'm afraid I cannot do anything for you.

No one can.

How do you know

what I'm looking for?

It's obvious.

You haven't said a word

about guns or wildlife

and you're not the first scientist

to ask me about the Nandos.

That can only mean

one thing, Doctor,

the legend that they have

a secret process to retard age.

Dr. Talbot, as much as I would enjoy

earning your money,

I cannot help you find something

which doesn't exist.

I'm not asking for your advice or opinion.

I'm merely seeking your services as a guide.

Your insistence does not impress me,

but your money is most persuasive.

Doctor, you've got yourself

a guide.

Now, come to think of it,

about three days ago

an old Nando woman

came through here

and hired bearers to

carry her back to her tribe.

Did you see her?

No. She was in a litter behind curtains.

Never showed herself.

But I heard she was old.

Very old.

Must be Malla.

Do you know her?

Yes, yes.

And if we could overtake her,

I'm sure we could get

a friendly introduction to her people.

Well, that means starting

at once and traveling fast.

Take a look. See them?

Now, that's the Kalambo.

We'll cross over and make for the falls.

Now, we should be right about...

Right about there?

That's right. Another half-day's journey

will bring us to the falls, right here.

We'll cache most of our supplies there

and leave Ladu with a guard.

The rest of the carriers we'll send back.

We three go on.

Well, have a good night's rest.

Good night.

Ladu.

Another long day tomorrow.

You'd better get some sleep.

Are you angry with me?

Should I be?

You haven't been civil to me

since we started this trek.

June, don't start

imagining things.

I don't have to.

This time I know

it's not my fault.

I've done everything I could to please you,

and still you avoid me.

You seem to take a sadistic pleasure

out of making me miserable.

Don't leave me

like a wounded animal to suffer.

You're gonna tell me

why you've been acting like this.

Look, I didn't ask to come along here

with you. This was your idea.

Now, you tell me

why you're torturing me.

I wasn't aware that I was

torturing you. I'm sorry.

Sorry's not enough.

I'm leaving tomorrow with the carriers,

Paul. I mean it.

June, June.

You can't do that.

You don't know how important

you are to me.

Why, you... Your leaving

would spoil everything.

Why can't you always

be like this?

I love you so much, Paul.

There's nothing in the worid

I wouldn't do for you.

Paul, I'd even die for you.

What good would that do?

I want you to live for me.

We'll work together

and when we discover the Nandos' secret

of rejuvenation,

I'll make you young again.

You'll be

beautiful.

Just as beautiful as you were

when we first met.

How stupid I've been.

Of course

I'm important to you.

And you really do

need me, don't you?

Where else would you get

a guinea pig who can talk?

Who can tell you

how she feels?

How desperate I must have been

to listen to your lies.

And believe them!

June, June...

You keep your hands

off of me!

I'll see you dead

before I let you touch me again.

Ladu. Where'd she go?

Go get her.

Bring her back.

What's the matter?

It's June. She's run off.

Now, now, now, now, it's all right.

Now, try and get hold of yourself.

Look, the leopard's killed

and you are safe.

Come. Come.

There's only one trouble

with running away.

You always meet yourself

when you get there.

Now, come on.

Let's get back to camp. Come.

I think we'd better take a look.

Get your gun.

Ladu.

Hey, what's that?

It's Malla's.

She had this cane in my office.

Ladu.

Nandos.

Looks as though your friend Malla

met a welcoming committee.

Yes, but her body isn't here.

What worries me is why

these bodies are still here.

There are plenty of hyenas

and vultures around.

What do you mean?

Something's been frightening

the scavengers away.

Ladu?

Ladu.

Ladu.

Ladu.

Ladu!

I think we'd better

get back to camp.

Ladu.

Ladu.

What do we do now?

I don't think we're

going to have much choice.

That man isn't alone.

We'd be dead already if he wanted to kill us.

Give me your gun.

Are you all right?

Yes, I'm all right.

They're working themselves up

for something.

Maybe we're the "something."

You don't know

how right you are.

I think we're about

to have company.

It's Malla.

She'll help us. You'll see.

I hope you're right.

We'll need it.

Dr. Talbot, we meet again.

I've been expecting you.

Then tell your people

to set us free.

We're not here to do harm to anyone.

I've come to help...

I know why you've come.

You're searching for the source

of the sacred Nipe.

I will show it to you.

An orchid.

A species that grows

only in this region of Africa.

Look, the pollen.

A rare plant.

It takes years to harvest

even a few ounces of the pollen.

Then it is aged

five years more.

That flower, the plant,

they're still alive.

It is too valuable

to destroy.

I must have it.

For that one plant and permissin to go,

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes