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I assure you we came close many times-
Abdullah is in the doorway near Patterson now- with several dozen men.
And from Abdullah's face, this is clearly going to be a confrontation.
MIDDLE COOLIE
-the next time we will do better.
(Patterson makes no reaction; moves outside)
CUT TO
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ABDULLAH, simmering, moving straight to Patterson as soon as he's out.
ABDULLAH
The next time will be as this time-
The Devil has come to Tsavo-
PATTERSON
(not in a mood for this)
-that's ridiculous talk and you can't seriously believe it-
ABDULLAH
(moving in- tension rising as others crowd behind him)
-now you're telling me my beliefs?- I
don't think so-
CUT TO
THE BUSH just beyond- something is moving- an animal?- Impossible to say.
PATTERSON
I wasn't and you know it and don't push it- just listen- we have a problem in
Tsavo-
ABDULLAH
(cutting in)
-at last you're right- we do- you are the problem in Tsavo-
PATTERSON
-careful, Abdullah-
Patterson and Abdullah and suddenly it's dangerous.
ABDULLAH
You do not tell me "careful"- you do not tell me anything- you listen while I
talk-
(Now suddenly a shadow seems to cross-)
CUT TO
ABDULLAH. CLOSE UP. His eyes widen.
PULL BACK TO REVEAL
AN ENORMOUS PISTOL. Pressed hard against Abdullah's temple.
MAN'S VOICE (over)
-change in plan- you listen while
I talk- because you have a question that needs answering.
(beat)
Will I pull the trigger?
PULL BACK FURTHER TO REVEAL
REDBEARD.
We are looking at one of those legends- ageless and powerful, with a tanned
face and a thick grey beard. He has seen everything and is capable of
anything.
Just now he seems more than capable of killing Abdullah. Very calmly, he cocks
the pistol.
SAMUEL (over)
It's Redbeard, Abdullah- he'll kill you.
REDBEARD
(not looking around)
No hints, Samuel.
ABDULLAH
(The name has registered)
You don't know all that has happened here- the Devil has come to Tsavo.
REDBEARD
You're right. The Devil has come. Look at me. I am the Devil.
CUT TO
ABDULLAH, staring at Redbeard. Right now Redbeard just could be.
ABDULLAH
(louder)
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I am a man of peace.
REDBEARD
Am I to take it you want to live?
ABDULLAH
Most certainly. Absolutely. Yes.
REDBEARD
Excellent decision.
(Now he suddenly reaches out, shakes Abdullah's hand)
Your name is Abdullah? I'm sure we'll meet again. Go and enjoy the splendid
morning.
ABDULLAH
(dazed- leaving)
I think it's been a pleasure.
CUT TO
REDBEARD, and now he does another surprising thing: embraces Samuel.
REDBEARD
(three words)
You got old.
(Now he releases Samuel, turns to Patterson)
I'm sure you're John Patterson.
(before Patterson can reply)
Stay out of my way.
(And without another word, he's gone)
CUT TO
THE HOSPITAL
as Redbeard moves through, taking it all in. It's even worse than when we last
saw it- bodies crammed everywhere and always the sound of pain and sickness.
Patterson stands in the doorway, watching, waiting.
PATTERSON
(as Redbeard approaches)
I didn't have a chance to thank you.
REDBEARD
(preoccupied)
What did I do?
PATTERSON
Got me out of trouble.
REDBEARD
(matter of fact)
Nonsense- Samuel would have done something.
(starts to move on)
PATTERSON
We need to talk.
REDBEARD
Let me save time- (1) you are the engineer; (2) you are in charge;
(3) you're sorry I'm here. Right so far?
(Patterson nods)
Good- because (1) I am not an engineer, (2) I don't want to be in charge, and
(3) I'm sorrier than you are that I'm here- I hate Tsavo.
So I will help you by killing the lions and leaving, and you will help me by
doing what I tell you so I
can leave. See any problems?
PATTERSON
Actually, no.
REDBEARD
All right- let's go into battle.
(suddenly taking
Patterson's hand)
I'm Redbeard.
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(as they shake)
PATTERSON
Somehow I guessed.
(As they move outside-)
CUT TO
THE FRONT OF THE HOSPITAL
A BUNCH OF MEN WAIT. Hwathorne, Samuel, Abdullah, and perhaps a dozen other
worker leaders. Redbeard and Patterson move to them.
REDBEARD
Starting now, we attack them.
ABDULLAH
How; we don't know where they are?
REDBEARD
We'll have to make them come to us, won't we? And since there are two of them,
we're going to set two plans in motion.
(to Hawthorne)
First: we must move the entire hospital by tomorrow night.
HAWTHORNE
(appalled)
That's a terrible idea-
REDBEARD
(backtracking)
-is it, I'm sorry, but then, of course, you're the doctor, you should know.
HAWTHORNE
Silliest thing I ever heard of- why in the world should we go through all
that?
REDBEARD
(charming now)
I suppose I could answer you. I
suppose I could explain that the place is so inviting, what with the smell of
blood and flesh, that they have to strike. It's even possible that I tell you
I found some fresh paw marks around back which means they're already
contemplating feasting here.
(Turning on Hawthorne now- his voice building)
But I don't want to answer you because when you question me you are really
saying that I don't have the least idea what I am doing, that I am nothing but
an incompetent, that I am a fool.
(big)
Anyone who finds me a fool, please say so now.
HAWTHORNE
(The words burst out)
I have been desperate for Patterson to let me move the hospital since the day
he arrived.
REDBEARD
(nice smile)
Then we agree.
(And on that-)
BEGIN THE BUILDING SEQUENCE.
It was a huge effort and they got half of it done that day- but there was
always the sense of impending bloodshed.
What we see first are Patterson and a bunch of shots of a lot of workers-
laying out the dimensions of the new boma that would surround the place. This
was to be by far the biggest wall fence they had in
Tsavo.
And now here comes Abdullah leading a crowd of men, wading into a huge patch
of thorn trees, cutting the thick branches down, starting to load them for
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carrying-
-and it's high noon now, and Patterson drenched with sweat, leads the start of
the actual building- taking the thorn branches, bunching them together,
forcing them so there is no room between them-
-and we can just begin to get the sense of what the fence will be-
except at the moment it's barely a foot high-
-and now Redbeard appears, beckons to Patterson, and
CUT TO
A LONG SHOT OF A FLAT GRASSY PLAIN. AFTERNOON NOW.
Patterson, Redbeard, and Samuel walk quickly.
CUT TO
SAMUEL turning to Redbeard and Patterson.
SAMUEL
Soon.
(Redbeard nods)
PATTERSON
(to Redbeard)
I have to ask- why do you need me?
REDBEARD
I don't really. But understand something- even though it may take me two or
three days to sort this out-
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