The Lost City of Z

Percy!

Look at him on his horse.

Wave to your father.

Gentlemen!

The deer will be delivered

to the archduke Ferdinand

at the gala.

I expect you to behave

with distinction on this hunt.

Good luck...

And godspeed.

Could they not fit

your rocking chair

on that horse, granddad?

You'll all be

my gun bearers by evening.

Have no doubt of that.

Ha!

Ha!

On your left!

Ha!

Come on!

Ha!

Major, there's no path there!

Major!

Major!

Good boy.

He got him.

- Superb horsemanship, major.

- Excellent shot, sir.

These woods have been

deadly to horses.

To death...

The best sauce to life.

You'll be the toast of the gala.

Here they come.

Oh, it's my husband.

- Daddy did it.

- Come here, you.

- Ah!

- Daddy!

Well done, daddy.

Someday you and I

will go hunting together.

We're going to be late.

Oh, god, this damned thing.

You must be so pleased

with yourselves, you men...

Making us wear

these awful things.

At least you're not

wearing trousers.

Oh, I would if I could.

I know.

Well?

Rather lovely.

"Rather lovely."

What is it?

What's amiss?

You got the deer.

All eyes will be on you

this evening.

Well, my darling,

I will be the only man there

tonight of my rank

whose uniform is unadorned.

Oh, how can that matter now?

The great secretary Bryce

will be at the gala.

"Oh, major Fawcett."

"You've no medals?"

"Oh, no, Mr. Bryce.

You see, I've been terribly busy

teaching ancient militiamen

to point their rifles

at tree stumps.

So, no, no.

No medals for me, sir."

Tell me...

Who is this secretary Bryce

when he's at home?

The last man here

upon whom we might possibly rely

for advancement.

I see.

I'm getting older, cheeky...

And very impatient

of lost years.

I know the medals

are ridiculous.

I do.

But this may be

our final chance.

Lord Bernard.

Secretary Bryce,

this is major Fawcett.

- Major.

- It's an honor, sir.

Honor's mine, sir.

May I introduce secretary Bryce.

Secretary Bryce, Mrs. Bellamy.

Major and Mrs. Percy Fawcett.

They're toasting the kill

without you.

May I present

this magnificent animal,

a gift from our government

to yours.

Well, I am dancing with you,

so I've got the better

of the bargain.

May I, major?

Spoken too soon.

Colonel.

By the way, who got the kill?

Oh, that would be major Fawcett,

Mr. secretary.

Well, we should invite him

to supper.

Oh...

Well, may I say,

he's been rather unfortunate

in his choice of ancestors.

I see.

Well, then...

Do tell me, how is lady Bernard?

Oh, she's...

No more than 20 cases, Clive.

Hurry along, men.

Come on.

Come on, put your backs into it.

Fawcett!

Put your backs into it.

Hurry it along.

Come on, men.

- Sir?

- You're off to London tomorrow.

To the royal geographical

society.

The royal geographical, sir?

There's a major

exploration afoot.

Sounds like a grand adventure.

Thank you, sir.

Come on.

Come along.

Oh, thank you.

Major Fawcett, sir.

Oh, yes, yes.

Come in.

I am sir George Goldie,

President of the RGs.

This is Mr. John Scott Keltie,

our secretary.

How do you do, major?

How do you do, sir?

Our paths did not cross

during your work here

several years back, did they?

They did not, sir.

I was likely consumed

with my studies at the time.

Of course.

Please, sit down.

Thank you.

Ah, the army

seems to have posted you

in many places in the past.

Yes. I've served in Ceylon

and in Hong Kong before that...

Most recently in Ireland.

As you can see, I've been

transferred a fair bit

around the empire.

Major, what do you know

about Bolivia?

- In south America, sir?

- That's right.

Only what I've read.

Hmm.

Then you can't know very much.

This is as good a map

of Bolivia as we have.

Most of it's blank,

as you can see.

Nothing's really known

about it at all.

A land of primitives.

But there are rubber plantations

all over Amazonia.

Very profitable.

There is now

considerable argument

between Bolivia and Brazil

as to what constitutes

their border.

So fantastically high

is the price of rubber

that war could arise.

Do you follow?

- I do, sir.

- Mm-hmm.

Although I'm not sure what this

has to do with me.

I'm getting to that.

Neither country will accept

mapping done by the other,

so they've requested us to act

as referee.

As you completed your mapping

here with distinction,

you came under

our consideration.

- I see.

- Mm-hmm.

- Sirs, may I speak candidly?

- Please.

My survey work was long ago,

and to be quite honest,

I was rather hoping

for a position where I might see

a fair bit of action.

Major, this is far more

than just survey work.

This is exploration

in the jungle.

The environment's

brutally difficult...

Terrible disease,

murderous savages.

The journey may well mean

your life.

At the very least, you will

be gone for several years.

But were you to succeed,

such an undertaking could

earn you soldierly decoration

and even reclaim

your family name.

You know, we knew your father.

Did you?

Yes.

I did not.

A terrible thing,

man's love of drink and gaming.

But as I say,

success in this venture

could change your lot...

Considerably.

I've never seen

the brain change color.

Like that.

Doesn't it look big?

Like a big brain.

It looks round.

It looks round in that,

doesn't it?

It does.

Jack, will you go and play?

I want to talk to your father

for a minute.

Do you want to pick me a flower?

Uh...

Shall I throw the ball for her?

Yes.

Ready, steady.

Father.

Oh, I knew it!

It's all wet.

He'll not know you

when you return.

But you must go. I know that.

Indeed.

I have something to tell you.

Aw, I can't find it.

I believe I'm going

to have another child.

I know I'm having another child.

I can't see anything.

Don't be sad.

I'm an independent woman.

I had noticed.

Cheeky.

Darling...

I know this is a sacrifice

for all of us.

But it will be worth it.

I have no doubt.

Come here.

Listen to me!

You've been cheating me?

You're a dead man!

I'll bloody kill ya!

I'll cut your bloody throat!

You cheat at cards again,

and you're a dead man!

Who are you?

What do you want?

Henry Costin.

I replied to your advert

in the times.

I'm your aide-De-camp.

Mr. Costin?

Reporting for duty, sir.

We've been at sea a week.

Why are you just

presenting yourself now?

I wanted to make sure

you were up to the task, sir.

Are you drunk, Mr. Costin?

- No.

- You could have fooled me.

Well...

I might have had a little.

I've got, uh, a recommendation.

You'll see I'm skilled

at rifle and pistols.

A medal for bravery.

It's very impressive.

You have a family?

No, none at all.

I see.

So nothing to shed.

I take it you do, then?

Mr. Costin,

I would like to be clear.

My reputation as a man

rests entirely on our success.

I think you shall find me

capable of every sacrifice.

Therefore, I must insist.

Oh, right you are, sir.

You'll need all the fortitude

you've got.

Understood.

We are explorers now.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes