The Snows of Kilimanjaro

[ Man Narrating ] Kilimanjaro

is a snow-covered mountain, 1 9,7 1 0 feet high...

and is said to be

the highest mountain in Africa.

Close to the western summit, there is

the dried and frozen carcass of a leopard.

No one has explained what the leopard

was seeking at that altitude.

Look at 'em.

I wonder, is it sight or is it scent

that brings them?

[ Woman ] They've been about for ever so long.

They don't mean a thing.

The marvelous thing is

that it's painless now.

- Is it really?

- Yes.

That's how you know when it starts.

[ Man ]

They're a filthy bird...

but they know their business.

I used to watch the way they sailed

very carefully at first...

in case I ever wanted to use

one of them in a story.

That's funny now.

I've gotten so nervous,

not being able to do anything.

I think we might make it as easy as possible

until the plane comes.

Or until the plane doesn't come.

Mr.Johnson hasn't been a white hunter

for a quarter of a century...

not to know his way around.

If he can't get a plane,

he'll be back with another truck.

One way or another,

it's not very important.

I feel so helpless. I wish there was

something I could do.

You can take the leg off.

Or you can shoot me.

You're a good shot.

I taught you to shoot, didn't I?

Let's not be melodramatic, Harry.

You're not going to die.

No? I'm dying now.

Ask those things.

[ Woman ] They're around every camp.

You never notice them.

I don't see why this had to happen

to your leg in the first place.

What have we done-- either one of us--

to have had this happen to us?

Well, I suppose that what I did...

was forget to put iodine on it

when I first scratched it.

We were after the impala,

in case you've forgotten.

And with a camera, at that.

[ Gasps ]

Ow! Ow!

That isn't what I meant,

and it isn't how you got your leg.

- No?

- Not at all.

It was at the lake last week.

It was a lovely, peaceful day...

and those enormous hippos

were having their own party.

We could've passed them by

without incident...

but-- oh, no-- you had to

get so awfully playful.

[ Speaking African Language ]

Look at them.

There must be hundreds of them.

Harry, look at that one!

- Look at that big one over there!

- [ African Language ]

Harry!

I wouldn't chance it any closer.

[ Shouting In African Language ]

Harry! Be careful!

- Harry!

- What's the matter? You frightened?

- Not in the least.

- [ Laughs ] Well, let's go!

[ Shouting In African Language ]

Come on. Come on!

Harry, easy.

You're asking for trouble.

Harry, look. Here. Here.

[ Squeals ]

- [ Squeals ]

- [ Shouts ]

Harry! Harry, we've lost

one of our boatmen.

What?

[ Screams ]

Harry!

[ Squawking ]

[ Woman ] And you insisted on carrying the boy

in your arms all the way back to camp.

And it was from all his blood and dirt

that you got that infection.

[ Chuckles ]

That could be the point of view.

From yours, it would be contact

with the lower classes.

Being a writer, I prefer to think

that it was a quirk of fate...

a mere prick of a thorn...

that laid the great man low.

A lot it matters now.

Harry, please.!

- Molo!

- Bwana.!

- Whiskey soda. Make it pronto, Molo.

- It's bad for you.

- No, it isn't . It's good for me.

- It's not good for you.

No. It's Bad for Me.

Cole Porter wrote the words and music.

[ Sings Lyric ]

There, that's poetry.

Oh, I'm full of poetry now.

- Rot and poetry-- rotten poetry.

- Harry.

Harry, it said in the first-aid book

to avoid all alcohol.

It's not good for you.

That's what I meant by giving up.

You must do everything you can.

Ah, you do it.

I'm too tired.

I'll take this,

if only to keep it away from you.

That's a pretty good rule for life:

Take everything you can,

if only to keep it from somebody else.

Wish I'd followed it.

I'm sure Molo understands more English

than you think he does.

- Molo.

- Bwana?

Go away or stuff your ears so you won't

hear the civilized people fighting.

[ African Language ]

Harry, if you think

you have to die...

is it absolutely necessary for you

to kill off everything you leave behind?

[ Angry Laugh ]

You think this is any fun for me?

I don't even know why I do it.

Trying to kill

to keep yourself alive, I imagine.

- You won't die if you--

- It's not dying, not in itself, that matters!

It's dying of failure.

Leaves a bad taste in your mouth.

How does a man miss the boat?

Did I ever tell you

about my beginning...

when I was young?

- With my first love?

- No, you didn't .

And I'm not sure I want to hear it.

I'll tell you all about it

over this drink.

You'll tell me without.

There are plenty of things

you're lucky I haven't told you.

This little ditty had everything--

drama, tragedy...

love and poetry.

Simply everything.

[ Woman ]

Cut the stall.!

I'm done with you!

More big words!

Big words! I'm through being insulted

as if I were some tramp!

- You can fly a kite, both of you!

- Connie! Connie!

- Uncle Bill doesn't mean--

- Oh, yes, he does! You know he does!

The old mossback!

The nasty, dirty, stubborn old mossback!

- He only said we ought to wait.

- Ha! Wait? I like that, coming from you.

- I didn't say--

- You bet you didn't !

Not once all summer when you wanted

to hug and kiss me and get fresh.

And all those things about where

you'd take me and what we'd do.

Not once did you yell to me to wait!

" I love you!"

You don't even know what love is!

- Connie!

- Oh! Go fly a kite!

[ Barrel Organ ]

Come in, Harry.

She'll recover.

- Connie, I'll shove off for you!

- You shoved off already!

- You still intend to become a writer?

- Yes.

Well, there are different

kinds of writers...

just as there are different

kinds of everything.

You can become another hack.

It's easy--

peddle soap to housewives.

Nothing wrong with peddling soap.

Make a fortune.

But I'll tell you the only

right approach to real writing.

It's like a hunt.

It's a hunt in which a man pits his brains

against the forces of ignorance and evil.

It's a lifelong and lonely safari.

The prey he seeks

is a truth worth telling...

a faith worth living by...

something worth

spilling his guts about.

He must track it down by himself.

I don't know if you'll be one

to have the fortitude to stick it...

to follow the spoor

no matter where it leads...

to what pain and suffering...

through hell and high water.

If you are, God help you.

God pity you.

And good luck.

I beg you not to ruin yourselfbefore you start

by loading your pack with excess baggage.

That's my business, isn't it?

[ Sighs ]

Yes. Yes, it is.

You know, you're young.

You'll need to travel and learn.

Education.

I'd like to help.

I think I've made clear the conditions.

Your birthday next week. Here.

From now on, you might regard

that Springfield as your own.

Shall we have a try

for deer tomorrow?

Good weather for it.

Oh, I've lived, all right...

but where has it got me?

To a camp in Africa with you...

my rich, beautiful wife.

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