This is the most famous
true African adventure.
Famous because what took place
at Tsavo never happened before.
Colonel John Patterson
was there when it began.
A fine Irish gentleman,
a brilliant engineer.
He was my friend.
My name is Samuel. I was there.
Remember this...
Even the most impossible parts of
this story really happened.
John Henry Patterson.
I'm Robert Beaumont.
Firm handshake. Tells me
a lot about you. Do sit down.
Now, why don't you tell me about me?
To get you started, many people find
me handsome, with a wonderfuI smile.
Winning personality, heaps of charm.
My wife is
the game player in the family, sir.
Thank you, gentlemen.
Look at me closely, ColoneI Patterson.
I'm a monster.
My only pleasure is tormenting
those people who work for me.
People like yourself.
Make one mistake and I promise...
I'll make you hate me.
We're in a race, and the prize is
nothing less than the continent of Africa.
We're building the most expensive
and daring railroad in history
for the purpose of saving Africa
from the Africans, and to end slavery.
Our competitors are
the Germans and the French.
We will stay ahead provided
you do what I've hired you to do;
build a bridge across the river Tsavo
and be finished in five months.
- Can you do that?
- I'm sure you've examined my record.
- You know I've never been late.
- I'm aware of your distinguished record.
Let me remind you,
you've never built in Africa.
I have in India. Each country
presents its own challenges.
- You need all your confidence.
- I've always wanted to go to Africa.
And, if I may speak personally, my wife
is having our first-born in six months,
and I promised her I'd be there
for the birth. I always keep my word.
Very moving, ColoneI.
I'm touched you've confided in me,
but I really don't give a shit
about your upcoming litter.
I've made you with this assignment.
Don't make me break you.
You won't have the opportunity.
Any other words of encouragement?
Then I have a train to catch.
Tell me about Beaumont. Does
he understand how brilliant you are?
- How lucky he is to have you?
- It was embarrasing.
- The man showered me with praise.
- Oh, dear.
- You get that downtrodden look again.
- No. No.
I'd never have taken this
had we known sooner.
And you'd have been in agony
and it would have been my fault.
You've been desperate to
see Africa all your life.
- There may be difficulties.
- There will be. There always are.
It only means that our son and I...
note my confidence...
...will have an excuse
to come and visit you.
All aboard!
Come along. Put me on the train.
You go.
Such a gentleman.
I am desperate to see Africa,
but it's just a place.
You build bridges, John.
You have to go where the rivers are.
Bye.
- ColoneI Patterson!
- No, thank you.
ColoneI Patterson? Yes?
No, thank you. No, thank you.
Welcome to Africa, sir. Angus Starling.
I'm to assist you at Tsavo.
- Beaumont will have told you that.
- No, actually.
But he did give me his monster speech.
Robert seems dreadfuI but once you
truly get to know him, he's much worse.
And I'm one of his defenders.
Forget him for now. Follow me, sir.
Your first trip to Africa? Good, because
I've reserved the best seats on the train.
They're amazing, aren't they?.
The most amazing thing about them...
They sleep only five minutes a day.
- Don't like them much.
- Their females are bigger.
They have to be or they wouldn't
survive. The males eat the young.
- Anything speciaI about them?
- They fart through their mouths.
I bet they don't kiss very much.
I've lived in Africa for a year
and I don't know what you know.
- How long have you been here?
- Just about 24 hours.
But I've been longing for this
all my life.
Welcome to Tsavo.
SamueI! SamueI is camp liason.
Absolutely indispensable.
- He's the only one everyone trusts.
- Does he speak English?
- And very poor French.
- SamueI, ColoneI John Patterson.
The bridge builder.
- We've been getting ready for you.
- Good. I'd like to see the site.
I've got some
medicaI supplies to deliver.
- Come to the hospitaI afterwards.
- I'll bring him.
- Where are you from, SamueI?
- That way, beyond those mountains.
I'm from... over there.
- Everything seems to be under controI.
- Thank you. If it is, it's a miracle.
- Why is that?
- The workers don't like each other.
The Africans hate the Indians.
But the Indians also hate other Indians.
The Hindus believe cows are sacred,
while the Muslims eat the cows.
- Do you eat a cow?.
- Of course.
I've worked with both Hindu
and Muslim. Perhaps I can help.
You can try. It won't work.
Nothing works here.
Tsavo is the worst place in the world.
- Advance camp is across there.
- How many workers?
Your bridge is not yet built, each day
they move two miles further away.
- Did it look like this in your mind?
- No. This is more difficult.
It should be difficult. What betterjob
in all the world than to build a bridge.
To bring land over water.
To bring worlds together.
- Finish your tour?.
- Is this mostly malaria?
Yes, but their suffering is only transitory
once they accept God into their hearts.
That's just vomitus talk, Mr Starling.
Poor bastards will get even sicker
if you don't shut up.
David Hawthorn. I'm...
This is my hospitaI.
And my advice to you is...
don't get sick.
That was meant to be charming.
Seemed to have lost the knack.
- You never had it.
- Angus and I don't like each other.
- I'm also liason between these two.
- You don't share Beaumont's vision.
This is a sham.
Who needs it? It's ridiculous.
It's only being built to protect
the ivory trade. Make rich men richer.
- Then why stay, doctor?.
- Who else would hire me?
Beat you to it, didn't I?
- Dr Hawthorne...
- Oh, yes, I almost forgot.
You may have brought bad luck with
you. This is Karim, one of my orderlies.
He was attacked by a man-eater
earlier today.
You're such a buffoon
you almost forget to mention it?
His injuries are only slight.
He was riding his donkey nearby
when suddenly a lion sprung on them.
Donkey took the brunt of it.
Then the lion ran off.
Thank you, Karim.
I know this is your first day
and you must be tired...
But... what are you gonna do about it?
With any luck,
I'll sort it out this evening.
- Could I come and watch?
- Have you ever hunted?
Well, not exactly.
I've never been very adventurous.
Can you keep quiet?
- I hate to be a bother, John...
- Shh.
The cramp... is getting worse.
The pain is actually...
quite unbearable now.
- You just have to cope with it, Angus.
- That is precisely my plan.
But back at my tent.
You'll be dead before
you ever get to your tent.
- The lion will eat you.
- I know.
- Is this the best way to hunt a lion?
- I don't know.
I've never even seen one.
One shot!
One shot! Patterson
has made the night safe again!
My God, you sorted it out.
There's nothing like the fear
a man-eater brings.
They own the night
and kill so quickly.
It was clear to the men that Patterson
was willing to take risks for them.
That one shot had taken
their fears away.
Angus, I've decided to have you and
Mahina oversee the foundation piers.
Of course, the hardest part about
building a bridge is the foundation piers.
For that task, I'm giving you
four thrilling weeks.
Aren't we full of ourselves today.
I think it's because of the lion.
- Ah, John...
- You know, I also have killed a lion.
- How many shots did you need?
- I used my hands.
- Four weeks is just not enough time.
- You just have to use your hands.
Come in.
One shot.
The claws of the lion you killed.
Thank you.
- It will remind me of Africa.
- It is meant to remind you of courage.
It will also protect you. Wear it.
You know how God invented liquor
so the Irish wouldn't rule the world.
He invented being bull-headed so
we could be the best at something.
For when this bridge is finished,
it'll have nothing to do with my skills
and all to do with my stubbornness.
Africa changes everything I plan.
Yet, we are somehow
ahead of schedule.
Mahina, my foreman, deserves so
much credit. The man is a marvel.
Another marvel. Starling has actually
convinced some natives to convert.
I cannot wait to show this beautiful
country to you. Love, John.
What the lion must have done was lick
his skin off so he could drink his blood.
Then he feasted on him,
starting with his feet.
Lions don't eat this way.
Are you sure this was a lion?
We followed his tracks.
What sort of lion could carry off
someone Mahina's size?
Terror had now built a hole inside us
and would not leave.
Because if Mahina, who was so
powerful, could not save himself
what could the rest of us do?
- They will go when I tell them!
- Sitting accomplishes nothing!
You want us to work
even if we have to die to do it!
Why is there no work being done?
- Malaria epidemic. Very sudden.
- There is no reason for fear.
On that I choose to remain dubious.
Two are dead now in two nights.
- The second?
- Far end of the camp.
A man wandering alone at night.
There's even less of him
than there was of Mahina.
It's too soon for a lion
to kill from hunger.
In our village, we construct thorn bush
fences around where we live.
Big burning fires at night.
That keeps the lion away.
Good. Get started.
And a strict curfew. No one
is allowed out of their tent at night.
Abdullah, send half your men
with SamueI to build these fences.
Take the other half to the bridge.
I'll sort this out.
- I will kill the lion and build the bridge.
- Of course you will.
You're white. You can do anything.
It would be a mistake not to work
together on this thing, Abdullah.
Go back to work!
No! It's got to be tighter!
See? This has got to be a wall!
- What a good week.
- You mean nobody died?
We all worked together.
Worthy deeds were accomplished.
I like the labour.
My mother insisted on piano lessons.
Broke the dear woman's heart
when it turned out I was tone deaf.
She was always on at me
to be carefuI with my hands.
I like the blood. Is that so strange?
- No.
- Oh, yes. I think so.
Here it comes, SamueI.
Even you two must admit,
it's glorious what man can accomplish.
With one common splendid goaI,
there are no limits.
Think what will be done when we all
have God's warmth in our hearts.
I am immune to your disdain.
When I came, I had one small goaI:
to convert the entire continent of Africa.
Now I've decided to move on
to something really difficult.
I will not rest untiI both of you
are safely in the fold.
I'm beyond conversion.
My mother's a Roman Catholic
and my father's a Protestant.
I have four wives.
Good luck.
The struggle is the glory.
- For you.
- Thank you, SamueI.
- Good news.
- I expect so. It's from my wife.
- You like her?.
- Very much.
I don't like any of mine.
Hassan!
Darling. The big excitement
yesterday was
when some school children
spotted a whale.
They saw me. An attempt at humour,
but I don't feel funny these days.
Anyway, after our son... you'll
note I still have total confidence.
After he's born, travel
might be the order of the day.
As he kicks me at night,
I'm quite sure he's telling me...
He definitely wants to come to Africa.
Thought you might need reminding.
Move yourselves!
Angus! Stay here.
Jesus... There's two of them.
I told you to be careful.
"And the king said to DanieI,
'DanieI, servant of the living God',"
"'is thy God whom thou servest,
able to deliver thee from the lions?"'
"And DanieI said unto the king,
'Oh, King, live forever. "'
"'My God hath sent his angeI and
hath shut the lions' mouths"'
"'that they have not hurt me, forasmuch
innocence was found in me,"'
"'and as before thee, oh King,
have I done no hurt. "'
"'Have I done no hurt. "'
The men called them
the Ghost and the Darkness.
There were two of them, and
that had never happened before
because man-eaters
are always alone.
They owned the night but
they also attacked in daylight.
Alone or together.
Without fear or reason.
Some thought
they were not lions at all,
but the spirits of dead medicine men
come back to spread madness.
Or they were the devil sent to stop
the white man from owning the world.
I believed this... that they were evil.
What better ground
for evil to walk than Tsavo?
Because this is what the word Tsavo
means; "a place of slaughter".
- You didn't say help is on the way?.
- It's too late now.
They will listen to you.
Make them stay.
They are afraid. They want to go home.
Be content that I have decided to stay.
Beaumont is on that train.
- If he sees this, you'II lose yourjob.
- So will you, sir.
That's all you really care about.
Oh... Christ.
Then you go, too.
You lack the courage to lead.
Go, tell all your men to go.
But I will kill the lions
and I will build the bridge. And you...
...you must go home and tell the wives of
the men who died working here...
...that you fled with the others
because you couldn't master your fear.
- Welcome to Tsavo. Pleasant journey?.
- How could it be? I hate Africa.
Lovely sound. They seem happy.
- Don't they though?
- So, work's going well?
- What of the soldiers?
- You're on your own. No soldiers here.
- I promised my men protection.
- Where's Starling?
He ordered some Bibles. Is he here?
- Where is he? Where's Starling?
- Here he comes.
- What happened?
- I'll show you.
Nothing wrong with these people!
- They're afraid.
- What the hell is going on?
- The Ghost and the Darkness came.
- In English.
It's what the natives
are calling the lions.
There's a legend here. Two man-eaters
are making all the trouble.
- I thought you were a hunter.
- It's not that simple.
These lions are... not like lions.
How many have they killed?
About 30, I should think.
Christ!
You've been here three months
and already you're behind schedule.
Don't you know the French
and the Germans are right behind you?
And I don't care about you,
and I don't care about the 30 dead.
I care about my knighthood!
As to your request for troops...
Do we wish the world to think that
the builders of the British Empire
are afraid to do theirjob because of
minor difficulties with the locaI wildIife?
I don't think so.
So, what are you planning to do?
I'm calling it my "contraption".
I placed it here because this is the area
where the lions have attacked the most.
I'm surrounding it
with a boma. A fence.
Except for this small area here,
opposite this door.
Just what kind of lunacy
are we dealing with here?
On the other side of these bars
will be bait. Human bait.
About here will be a trip wire
to this sliding door.
Genius! The beast will enter,
tripping the wire,
the door will slide down behind him,
trapping him.
You, meanwhile, safe behind your bars
will have the beast at your mercy,
and will shoot him at your leisure.
Are you running a high fever, man?
How could you conceive of
something so idiotic?
I didn't conceive it for the lions.
It was for a tiger in India.
And did it work?.
In point of fact, it didn't.
But I'm convinced the theory is sound.
I made a mistake hiring you.
I need initiative, not contraptions.
I need a professionaI hunter.
I assume you've heard of Remington.
Every hunter has heard of him.
I wish he were here right now.
By the time you find him, the lions will
be dead and I'll be back on schedule.
The job's still yours, but only because
it'd take too long to find a replacement.
If I have to return, you are finished.
I will then do everything within
my power to destroy your reputation.
Fair enough?
I told you you'd hate me.
Helena.
Everything's collapsing on me.
Every morning
the ground is soaked with blood.
The workers feel I brought this terror,
since it didn't begin until my arrival.
Whatever I try, they seem to know.
All the deaths are on me.
- Very impressive.
- We've been hunting since childhood.
You're murderers. Criminals.
That's good.
You'll spend your nights in there.
- And you have nothing to fear.
- That is correct. Nothing.
Of course he kept moving! Did you
want him to sit down and pose?!
This worked.
He came in and hit the wire.
He was about 15 feet away
from the three of you!
You couldn't even wound it!
I should've given you rocks!
- Not a trace of blood anywhere.
- This is insane.
- We came close many times.
- There must be blood.
- Next time we'll be better.
- The deviI has come to Tsavo!
Ridiculous talk.
You don't really believe it.
- You're telling me my beliefs!
- I wasn't and you know it. Don't force it!
- We do have a problem in Tsavo.
- Yes. Finally we agree. You're right.
We do. We do.
You are the problem in Tsavo!
He's the problem in Tsavo!
- Be carefuI!
- You don't tell me carefuI!
You don't tell me anything!
We are sick and tired of your lies!
You listen while I talk!
Change in plans.
Get them back! Get them all back!
Get them back!
Go back! Quickly, go back!
Go back! Go back! Go back!
You listen while I talk, because you
got a question that needs answering.
- Will I pull this trigger?.
- You don't know what has happened.
- He will pull the trigger.
- The deviI has come to Tsavo!
You're right. The deviI has come
to Tsavo. Look at me!
I am the deviI.
I'm a man of peace!
- You are a man who wants to live.
- Most certainly. Absolutely. Yes.
That's an excellent decision.
- Your name is Abdullah.
- Yes.
- I'm sure we're gonna meet again.
- I think it's been a pleasure.
- You have returned.
- My friend.
- How have you been?
- I am well.
Warriors!
I will need ten cows.
- John Patterson?
- Aye.
Remington uses the Masai to hunt
lions. It'll cost you ten head of cattle.
He takes some getting used to.
- Why didn't you tell me you knew him?
- You did not ask.
I didn't get a chance to thank you.
- What did I do?
- You got me out of trouble.
SamueI was there.
He would've done something for you.
- What was that all about anyway?.
- There are over forty dead.
Forty?. That's amazing.
- There's something you should know...
- Let me save you some time.
You're in charge of building the bridge.
Am I right so far?.
- That's right.
- I don't want to be in charge of it.
- That's fine...
- I'm sure you hate Tsavo like I do.
And knowing Beaumount, you're not
the imbecile that he says you are.
So what do you say
we help each other?.
I help you by killing the lions
and then leaving.
You help me by doing what I say so I
can leave. You see a problem with that?
- Actually, no.
- Let us prepare for battle.
First thing I propose is a new hospitaI.
I want it built by tomorrow night.
- What? That's a terrible idea.
- Sorry. You must be the doctor, right?
I'm sure you know what's best.
That's the most infantile thing
I've ever heard in my life!
Whoever you are, would you tell me
why we should go through all that?
I could explain but with
the scent of flesh and blood in here
makes for an inviting target.
I could tell you I just saw
fresh paw prints out there,
which makes me think they're already
thinking about feasting in here.
But I don't wanna answer you.
When you question me, you're saying
that I don't know what I'm doing!
Anybody here think I'm a fooI,
then please speak up right now!
ColoneI Patterson?
Well, then I guess we all agree.
- I'll need you with me tomorrow.
- Whatever you wish.
- SamueI says you killed a lion.
- Probably just luck.
Nobody kills a lion with one shot by
luck. You might be usefuI tomorrow.
Even if you're not, understand that
this may take me 2-3 days to sort out.
You have to build that bridge so the
men can't lose their respect for you.
- That's very considerate of you.
- I'm a very considerate man.
My mother taught me that.
What are you laughing about?
You don't agree?
I don't believe you had a mother.
Now we're ready.
You really believe
you can make something happen?
But you're not excited.
You don't enjoy killing, do you?
Then why do it?
Because I've got a gift.
I'm gonna join them now.
We're gonna try and convince
each other that we're still brave.
I wouldn't have thought
bravery would be a problem for you.
You hope each time it won't be.
But you never really know.
Strange man.
Two great tribes of his country fought
a terrible civiI war for many years.
- And his side lost?
- Everything. Land and family.
The very young ones
and the very old ones. AII lost.
He buried his family
and left his country forever.
Now he hunts all over the world
but he always returns here.
He says Africa is the last good place.
John?
Will you exchange weapons with me?
Mine's much more powerfuI.
I won't be with you tomorrow.
I'll be finishing the new hospitaI.
Thank you.
- Why does he need you with him?
- He doesn't.
We've hunted many times.
He knows I'm afraid of lions.
I've spotted one of them in the thicket.
SamueI, come with me.
Chances are
I'm gonna kill that lion in the thicket.
ColoneI, take the higher position there.
You'll have a clear shot at him.
Shoot him.
Shoot him.
Shoot him! Goddamnit! Shoot him!
Shoot him!
- What happened?
- I don't know.
- What do you mean you don't know?.
- It misfired.
For the first time?
The gun belongs to Dr Hawthorne.
You exchanged weapons?
You went into battle
with an unproven rifle?
They've got an expression
in prize fighting.
"Everybody's got a plan untiI
they've been hit. " Well, my friend...
You've just been hit.
The getting up...
That's up to you.
They say they're leaving now
because it does no good to be here.
They are not lions.
They are the Ghost and the Darkness.
The Masai did not see a lion.
They saw the devil.
They knew there was not enough
blood in all the world
to make these demons stop drinking.
Remington laughed at us.
He said that they were only lions.
Gentlemen, there is no
smell of sickness and very little blood.
We have removed
all the lions' temptations.
When we leave this evening, lock
this gate securely untiI the morning.
Keep those fires burning high.
Are there any questions?
Aren't there any questions?
You two sleep beautifully in your tent
and stay there.
And where will you two
sleep beautifully?.
We will spend the night waiting
in the old hospitaI. Won't we, ColoneI?
And I can assure you,
with the fresh scent of blood,
those lions are gonna find it irresistible.
Just think about something else.
- Have you ever failed?
- Only in life.
I meant to ask you, that trap you set
in the boxcar... Was that your idea?
- Aye.
- Excellent notion.
- I used the same device myself once.
- But, of course, yours worked.
No, in point of fact it didn't.
But it was still a good idea.
Johnny... Get the lock.
- We must not leave!
- That's my hospitaI, for God's sake!
- We must not leave!
- Let me go, SamueI.
Hurry up!
One of us needs to be brave.
It would've been a beautifuI bridge.
It's funny how I didn't notice it before.
I guess I had
some other things on my mind.
Not actually something
I would appreciate, but...
I got up this morning and...
It's just such a pretty design.
The setting's so beautifuI...
You've just been hit.
Yeah.
The getting up is up to you.
They're only lions.
Yeah, yeah, they're only lions.
Well, I just saw some fresh paw prints
heading up that way.
So I guess we've both been hit.
Let's go after them.
When I was growing up,
there was a bully in my hometown.
He used to terrorise everybody.
But he wasn't the problem.
He had a brother who was worse
than him. He wasn't the problem, either.
One or the other was always in jaiI.
Problem was when they were together.
Alone they were just bullies,
but together... they were lethaI.
- They were reaI killers.
- What happened to them?
Well, I got bigger.
Oh, my God.
Holy Christ.
Lions don't do this.
Lions... never have a lair like this.
They're doing it for the pleasure.
- They'll know we've been here.
- Oh, my God.
- Both of them.
- Yeah, it's both of them.
- Have you ever used a machan?
- A what?
- A machan.
- Is it something you learnt in India?
I figure
they got used to me in trees, so...
if we... put this in a clearing...
I'm not quite sure of the scale.
- It might be too small for the both of us.
- No, it won't.
I ain't gonna be there. This is
your idea, you get up on that thing.
So, you want me to be bait alone.
That's right. I'm gonna be in some tree
too far away to protect you.
Now, can you controI your fear?.
I suppose I'll have to.
Lions hate the sound of a baboon.
Anything to make
your evening more enjoyable.
Hey, this here's for you.
You might need it.
This certainly is the best opportunity
those lions have had to kill you.
Good luck.
Including the workers that I've lost
and your knowledge of man-eaters,
- how many do you think they've killed?
- More than any other lion.
A hundred. Maybe more.
But you know something?
I do believe this is going to work.
- Why?.
- Because I think they're after you.
- Oh, Merry Christmas.
- What?
Oh, yeah, this is the month.
Excuse me.
Why on earth do you laugh?
Because he's just like
one of those bullies now.
He's alone for the first time
and he's afraid.
Somehow,
I don't think he's afraid of me.
I just keep wondering
if we're gonna remember all this.
I love Africa. I could never forget her.
You're young, Johnny, I mean...
So many things flash by
and at that moment you say,
"Oh, yeah, this is gonna
stay with me. Surely... "
"I will never forget this dawn...
this hunt... "
"... this passion", and then...
It's all gone.
Well, I hope it stays here.
- Another toast.
- To memory.
To memory.
I wanted to remember
building the railroad, the iron snake.
I was so excited.
And now, I can't think why.
I know why I wanted to build the bridge,
but I can tell you the memory
I wanted most.
To see my son come into the world.
To bring worlds together.
Now...
Well, my life was shaped because
someone invented gunpowder and...
It took me around the world.
The memory that I wanted...
That was the family that I lost.
You know, Charles...
You're a rather cheerfuI fellow
when you get to know you.
Well, I should've warned you.
Good night.
Oh, Johnny...
When you meet your son,
you hold him high.
Excuse me.
- I'd like to see John Patterson, please.
- Yes, ma'am.
Could you tell him that his wife...
that his family has come to see him.
Sorry.
Hello! Hello, darling!
No.
- Hello...
- Helena!
- I can see you!
- Go back! Go back!
No! Go back!
- Go back!
- Hello!
No, Charles...
Oh, God.
Charles!
Charles!
John!
Where do you think you're going?
I'm gonna sort it out.
I'm going to sort it out.
Get down! Get down, John!
Down!
John!
ColoneI Patterson?
ColoneI Patterson.
My name is NigeI Bransford.
I'm here to replace Angus Starling.
I'm so proud to meet you.
Patterson the lion killer.
I do wish I'd been here for the hunt.
- No, you don't.
- John.
- Excuse me. You have a visitor.
- My child?
Welcome to Tsavo, NigeI.
Patterson did hold his son high.
People came back.
Patterson finished the bridge.
People went their ways.
If you want to see the lions today,
you must go to America.
They are at the Field Museum
in Chicago, lllinois.
Even now, if you dare lock eyes
with them, you will be afraid.