The Naked Jungle Page #3

Have you even tried it?!

You're my wife!

Maybe you forgot that.

Leiningen's woman.

I'm sorry for you.

This won't happen again.

It doesn't matter.

That isn't what I meant.

I'm not interested

in your opinion of me.

I want you to leave.

I'll see that you get money,

enough to make it all right

that you came all this way,

but I want you to leave.

I'll send runners downriver,

the boat'll be back for you

in a few weeks.

- And that'll be the end of it...?

- Yes.

I made a mistake marrying someone

I'd never met,

but you made a mistake coming here.

No, I was looking for something.

And I was willing to risk anything

to find it:

The strength and purpose

that was missing in my first husband.

- He was a weakling.

- So are you!

Your weakness is your pride.

Yes, I'm proud.

Too proud to take

another man's leavings.

Maybe you don't realize what it meant

to me to have you come here.

I told you I was 19

when I came out here.

Before that, I had no time for women.

Afterwards...

In the jungle, they have a name

for the man

who goes into the native villages

at night.

No one calls me by that name.

You said I didn't know anything

about women.

You were right, madam.

I know nothing about women.

Nothing at all.

I thought about that

when I saw how you were.

I couldn't understand why it was so

important to you

that I'd been married before.

Then I realized.

That's why I'm sorry for you.

I'll have this fixed. Afterwards...

...till your boat comes, whether you

lock it or not doesn't matter to me.

- Christopher.

- Commissioner, how are you?

It is good to see you again.

It's always a pleasure

to have you with us.

But what brings Gruber here?

He complains you're stealing

his workers.

The only workers

I've ever known Gruber to lose

were the ones he worked to death.

Have him line up his men.

I'll show you which are mine.

Bring all the men

together here quickly.

Come here.

Line up outside. Let's go!

Well, point out the men

you say are yours.

These two are mine.

I see how you recognize them.

If I ever catch you

whipping your men, Gruber,

you'll leave South America

that same day.

I've got their contracts here.

You'll find their crosses and their

thumbprints alongside their names.

I have to ask you this:

Where did you get these two men?

Where I get all my men.

They came out of the jungle.

Make him show you their contracts.

- I make no contracts with my men.

- Then how do you keep them?

They just stay. Perhaps because

I have no bullwhip.

According to Gruber's book, they're

his men. I have to turn them over.

- First I have to hang them.

- Hang them? For what?

Murder. They killed one of my men.

He's trying to trick me.

Where's your evidence?

Incacha, bring Kutina here.

Here's what's left of it.

This head is several years old.

It's ridiculous.

If you insist, we'll take

the head downriver

and have the experts go over it.

No.

Mr. Leiningen is a man of honor.

If he says these men

are to be hanged...

...then let them hang.

Bring the rope. Do not delay.

Come quickly. Good.

Be brave.

Well, it looks like we're all ready

for the hanging.

Up!

No, stop! Let them down. Slack

that rope! Let them down, I say!

Let them down!

I thought you were bluffing.

I wouldn't have let it go this far.

If you're serious about hanging them,

they have the right to a trial.

If Leiningen doesn't hang these men,

I want them back!

The law is not clear in a situation

like this.

I'll have to look it up when I get back

to the home office.

Get along quickly, now. Upriver!

I couldn't let you hang them,

Christopher.

- I didn't think you could.

- I had to stop you.

I was counting on it.

Finish it.

I can't.

Then start again.

I'd rather not.

I'm sure the commissioner would be

disappointed not to hear more.

Perhaps Mrs. Leiningen is tired.

It takes time to get used to

our climates.

I'll be looking forward to a full recital

on my next visit.

I'm sorry, but I won't be here.

Madam had such a full life

in New Orleans,

she finds our country somewhat dull.

She's leaving.

I'm sorry. I thought

you would love our country.

Oh, I do. It's everything

I expected it to be. Beautiful.

Then why do you leave us?

Mr. Leiningen thinks

I don't belong here.

The commissioner is not interested

in our differences, madam.

I don't want the commissioner

to think I'm leaving

because I don't like his country.

Your reasons are unimportant

to the commissioner.

Forgive me, that is not correct.

I would be desolate to think

Mrs. Leiningen

was unhappy with my country.

I shall always remember it.

And your kindness.

Good night and goodbye.

Only good night, Mrs. Leiningen.

- May I say something?

- You may not.

Will you have a good crop this year?

- Do you really care?

- No!

But conversation is better

than quarreling.

Each year, my friend,

I have seen you

get a little more lonely

and a little harder.

You're turning to stone.

I expect a better-than-average crop,

thanks.

No. No more. I have to start

early tomorrow.

Where to?

The Rio Negro basin.

I was halfway there when I met

Gruber coming downstream.

He was foaming at the mouth,

so I thought I'd better

come back with him.

I can handle Gruber.

Don't worry about me.

I was worried about Gruber.

What's going on at the Rio Negro

that it needs you?

Well, we've had some strange reports

recently. Nothing definite.

- Trouble?

- I think so.

Your servants...?

They've gone to the village.

You can talk.

Siji birds have been seen

as far west as Ecuador.

Even the monkeys are moving

out of the Rio Negro.

Something is driving them out.

And I think it's something big.

What?

Marabunta.

- You really think it's that?

- I'm hoping not.

- It hasn't happened in years.

- I looked it up before I left.

Twenty-seven years ago

was the last time.

A hundred years would be too soon.

I have to go and see.

How were you planning to go?

Upstream to the mouth

of the Baramura,

then across to the big river.

I'll go with you.

We can take the woman

as far as the Baramura.

She can get the mail boat there.

You want her to go that badly?

If it's marabunta in the Rio Negro,

she'll be glad to go.

Perhaps it is best for her to leave.

I don't think I'm mistaken

about what is happening.

- You sound frightened.

- I am.

Not you, huh?

What would it take to frighten you,

Leiningen?

- I haven't seen it yet.

- And you've seen everything, eh?

Everything but marabunta, I think.

- Who is it?

- Leiningen. May I come in?

The door's open.

Please don't be disturbed.

I'm not, Mr. Leiningen.

My name is Christopher.

I haven't asked before, but I hope

you've been comfortable here.

These rooms...

These rooms used to be mine.

I thought you might like them.

I do.

Perhaps while you're here,

you'll open that door for me.

It seems to be stuck and you're

very good at opening doors.

It's rusted.

Things rust...

...very quickly here...

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