The Lost City of Z Page #2

We just received a cable.

We have new orders...

To map the Verde river.

Please!

Find its source.

It forms a critical part

of the border

between Bolivia and Brazil.

Our survey route is to begin

at a place called

Fazenda Jacobina,

which does not appear to be

on this map.

I know Fazenda Jacobina.

It's an old rubber town.

It's meant to be

quite enchanting.

Really?

You may not be completely

useless after all.

Time is of the essence now.

War is at stake.

So you and I

and a couple of mules

are going to stop a war?

You and I are going to have

to depend on each other.

Neither of us

will survive this alone.

Right you are.

What's that you're reading?

A poem, from my wife,

by Kipling.

It's called the explorer.

Apt.

Would you like to hear it?

It will be a long way

until we reach Amazonia.

Be my guest.

"'There's no sense

in going further...

It's the edge of cultivation'

so they said,

and I believed it...

Broke my land

and sowed my crop...

Built my barns

and strung my fences..."

In the little border station

tucked away below the foothills

where the trails

run out and stop

till a voice,

as bad as conscience,

rang interminable changes

on one everlasting whisper

day and night repeated... So?

"Something hidden.

Go and find it.

Go and look behind the ranges...

Something lost

behind the ranges.

Lost and waiting for you.

Go!"

Twenty-nine degrees,

16 minutes south of the equator.

Twenty-nine...

Sixteen.

Rather deadly looking

snake here.

We might be a little bit

too English for this jungle.

Strangers in a strange land.

Major Fawcett?

Is that you?

- Yes.

- Welcome to Fazenda Jacobina.

Lance corporal Manley, sir.

Liaison to the governor general.

No need to stand on ceremony.

A simple handshake will suffice.

This is Mr. Costin.

I hate to be the bearer

of bad news,

but I have received a telegram

from the border commission.

Go on.

They strongly advise you to...

Abort the mission.

It's become

far too dangerous, sir.

They're already fighting...

Where are

the government offices?

Sir?

Government, sir?

I'm afraid you've left

"government" behind

a long time ago.

In that case, you had better

send them a telegram

informing them that

we will not stand down

and we shall proceed as planned.

How quickly can you find us

an Indian guide?

Well, I...

I had an Indian guide,

sir, but...

Well, what happened to him?

What, was he afraid

of a little hard work?

Not quite, sir.

It's out of my hands now.

You need to speak

to baron De Gondoriz.

He runs the rubber company here.

Good evening, baron.

Thank you for seeing us.

We're from the British army.

We are to be venturing

up the Rio Verde

and find ourselves in need

of some of your men.

In exchange, I promise

very favorable treatment

from my country.

Keep him chained up.

He can't be trusted.

He needs a good beating

every now and again.

Por favor.

You're goin' upriver, are ya?

Yes.

For surveying.

Well...

Ain't nobody comes back

from up there.

Ever.

Is this slave

good enough for you?

Yes.

- Do you speak English?

- He understands.

We taught him.

What will you take for him

and any four men

of his choosing?

It offends you

to negotiate with me.

- No, not at all.

- Please.

Do not embarrass yourself.

You come here to make maps.

Why is that?

So that there may be peace.

What is peace?

Peace means my business

will flourish.

I will flourish.

Peace means only

that nothing will change.

I will help you

because you will make sure

that nothing will change.

I forgot

to give you this, major.

Came directly here

while you were surveying.

Can you show me how far

the river goes?

Muy bien.

We need three

full rafts and four horses.

Is this our party?

Bloody desperate lot

you've got us.

They're as dependable as any

can be found here, Mr. Costin.

We're the only ones

who'll pay them.

We'll do 12 hours a day.

No less.

The river will be our home

for the next two years.

We shall not fail.

Mankind awaits our discoveries.

Shoving off!

I can see the fish,

but... But I can't catch them.

Nothing again.

I don't understand.

The river is deep here.

There is plenty of fish.

It's a desert.

A green desert.

All right, pull it in.

We'll try again further up.

Major Fawcett?

What on earth is she doing

all the way out here?

Come to load rubber, no doubt.

Or maybe she's looking

for the gold of El Dorado.

It's German.

Trunk says "Hamburg".

There's someone aboard.

Hey, are you German?

Bist Du Deutsche...

Stand your ground!

Costin!

Piranha!

Get out of the water!

Stay down!

Where's Fawcett? Fawcett!

It's nothing.

Are we close?

Even the Indian's gone mad now.

He was talking to me

about gold cities today...

Like a little child.

He thinks we're conquistadors

to be led to our death.

Those Indians seemed a bit mad

to begin with.

I'd like you to read this to me

if you can.

If we are to meet our end here,

what difference does it make?

I'm afraid it would be

quite unbearable

for me to read it myself.

Feel free to summarize.

Right you are, sir.

Your wife has moved the family

to Devon.

She's given birth to a boy

named Brian.

Your oldest boy, Jack,

is excelling in all ways,

she says.

I see my son's face

in my dreams now.

What kind of fool am I

to leave my family

for this place?

What did you hope to achieve

out here?

I don't know.

All we have left now

is to get to the source

of the river.

Mr. Costin?

Major...

Food gone.

Jesus Christ,

we are dead from hungry.

One piece.

Jesus Christ.

Give me that!

Control yourselves!

We are not savages.

We're leaving

our bones here, major.

And for what?

A map?

Even if we get there,

we're not making it back

without any food.

Have you ever thought

about that?

We're here starving to death.

We're not even looking for gold.

Let's have at him.

My ear!

My ear!

My ear!

Next one will be up your ass.

Thank you, Mr. Costin.

No one's ever been here

before, chief!

No one!

Ever!

We made it!

Whoo!

The first!

What a find!

Whoo!

Major.

Major, we've lost the Indian.

He's run off.

He got us here.

Our last reading.

Am I dreaming this?

No...

I see it, too.

Please.

It's our only chance.

We'll starve.

Thank god.

Couldn't have done that better

myself, sir.

What is it, chief?

It's pottery...

In the ground.

Look, it's all over.

Look at this.

They're ancient.

Christ, he was right.

The Indian was right.

You said no one

had been here before.

I think you meant

no white man, Mr. Costin.

I think you meant no white man.

We thought the Indian mad.

There must have been

dwellings here.

Thank god that boar

has more meat on it than we do.

All right, easy, easy, easy.

The exit from hell is always

difficult, Mr. Costin.

And we will get back.

The world will know

what we have found here.

- Let us keep going.

- Vmonos.

Come on, let's go.

Can you see him?

Thank you, thank you.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes