All language subtitles for Outcast of the Islands (1951)

The scoundrel! Where is he?
What a fool I was to trust him!

Shall we have him arrested, Mr. Hudig?

I'd never have believed it. How could
anyone? After all I've done for him.

350. 450.

One thousand pounds. He has more
of my money than I have myself.

- He may have saved it for you.
- I am sure he's done that.

Shall we send for the police,
Mr. Hudig?

I should see him. Where is he? Why
isn't he at his desk? Has he run away?

I suspect only as far
as the billiard table, Mr. Hudig.

- Then fetch him, wherever he is! Now!
- At once, Mr. Hudig.

Hurry!

Rickshaw! Rickshaw! Rickshaw!

- Bad luck, Mr. Willems.
- I like the difficult ones.

Billiards is like life, Ramsay.
You've got to take risks.

Fine if you've got the money...

Nonsense.
You've got to start somewhere.

When I first came here
I hadn't a penny in the world, had I?

You have the gift of attracting money,
Mr. Willems.

I don't know. I've had my fair share
of luck. But take my advice, Ramsay.

Keep one jump ahead
of the next fellow,

and trust no one,
not even your best friend.

Quite right, Mr. Willems. Perhaps it's
better not even to have a best friend.

You're off early. Got the sack?
Boy, bring three gin slings.

You'd better have one. Might do you
more good than listening to me.

You're too modest, Mr. Willems.

I don't know what would happen
if you ever had to leave Mr. Hudig.

He'd manage.
No one's indispensable.

Oh, I'm sure no one would ever
be able to repeat what you've done.

Good heavens! Hudig could never have
got on without him in the last five years.

I must admit he has made
quite a difference to the profits.

I expect we'll all be working
much harder in the next five years.

You will, Mr. Willems, there's
no doubt about that. None at all.

Captain Lingard's back!
Harry! Harry!

Look! Captain Lingard's back!

I wonder what cargoes
he's brought back this time.

There you are, Ramsay.
That's where I started.

- Do you know Captain Lingard?
- Since I was half your age.

Isn't it a pity you didn't stay with him?
He's become a rich man now.

You might have found out
where he gets his cargoes.

His trading place? That river of his?

Didn't he ever let you into his secret?
You might have made a bit of money.

- He's not going to give that away.
- No wonder he's been so successful.

- No wonder.
- Hey, you up there!

If any of you fellows want to know
where he does his trading, I'll tell you!

Get a ship as fast as his,
and follow him!

I tried to follow him once.
Easier to catch a porpoise.

Your wife, Mr. Willems, look.

They say he was off
the Borneo coast last year.

She's quite happy.

Anyway, he put into Macassa
soon after, loaded down with tin.

He'll not tell anyone. I don't think he'd
even tell me. Not that I'd bother him.

I was told you'd tried everything
to find out where he does his trading.

- Fine way of showing your gratitude.
- What do you mean by that?

Didn't he pick you up when you were
starving? You hadn't got a farthing.

- Am I wrong?
- That's quite true.

There's hope for everyone who makes
the most of their opportunities.

Even you.
I'm going back now. Hat boy!

Oh, that reminds me. Mr. Hudig
wants to see you about something.

- A financial problem, I believe.
- Was it anything important?

I don't think anybody else can give
him the information he requires.

Good.

What a pleasant surprise!

You shouldn't be out shopping
in this heat.

It's not good for that delicate complexion
of yours. Were you wanting to see me?

I was playing billiards.
Why didn't you send in a message?

- Is there anything I can do for you?
- Did you speak to Mr. Hudig?

What about? That job for your brother.
Yes, well, he's got to learn to be patient.

You did promise to speak to him
last night. He waited up for you.

Now, now, you're not going
to blame me for coming in late?

- He's desperate.
- Yes, well, we'll find something for him.

But you must remember, my dear,
that I am a very busy man.

I have plenty to think about and
you're not to nag. You must not nag.

After all, I'm not the kind of man
your brother is.

The kind of man who's willing to sit at
the same desk for the rest of his life!

- See who's coming in, Mr. Willems?
- A fine sight, huh? Or not.

See you unload our cargo
before you start on his!

There are no favorites here!
Everyone takes his turn!

So, she still floats,
does she?

How have you managed
to get along without me?

Hi! You longshore millionaire!

Hullo, Captain Lingard!

- Are you still with Hudig?
- I'm his manager now!

Manager, eh? I always knew it!

Get up to Mr. Hudig's office!
Tell him I'm in.

I'll see you there!

Get out!

Out! Get out!

Your protégé. That's one piece
of cargo I could have done without.

What's the boy done this time?

You thought he was smart
when you took him to sea, didn't you?

Too smart to be a sailor,
I suppose, with such gifts.

So you had to pass him on to me,
to cheat and swindle honest people.

You are too fond of running
other people's lives, Tom.

You should stick to ships, Tom.
You understand them.

Come now!
What have you brought me this time?

Oh, you great man.

I've heard what I've waited for
all these years.

I'm not afraid now.

You're less than dirt.
Nobody. Do you hear?

This house is mine. You can go
and boast somewhere else.

I despise you.

I thank you.

For the first time in our life,
you make me happy.

You've always been a stone round
my neck. You know that, do you?

I would never have told you so,
but you've made me.

Now, before I pass your gate,
you will be gone from my mind.

You make it very easy. Thank you.

I only want the money for the defense
lawyers. I'm going in for damages.

So, if you invest a bit now,
I'll see you get good interest for it.

- What do you say to that?
- I'm a bit short at the moment.

Yes, but you're not short of £20?

£20? I'd like to do what I can
but I've very little on me.

- Well, what?
- Is ten shillings any good?

Oh, get out! What do you take me for?
A street beggar or something?

I'll never try and help you again!

My, Mr. Willems!
What a lot of noise you're making!

Not very wise, is it, just now?
The police are looking for you.

Could you let me have £20 for a week
or two? I want to get away for a bit.

£20, you said?
£20 for Mr. Willems' holiday fund?

Oh, dear, oh, dear. Look at that.
Empty, nothing left. Quite empty.

What must you think of me? I seem
to have spent every farthing I had.

The fact is I've been celebrating.

- Have you?
- Yes, celebrating your dismissal.

Go on, get out.
We don't want any trouble here.

Get yourself arrested
somewhere else!

Morning, Captain! Morning, Captain!

Morning, morning!
Morning, Captain!

Oh, good night.

Hey! What's that over there?
Turn around.

Come on, quick.

Hurry up, now.
Straight along, straight along.

Weigh. Steady.

- So, it's you, is it?
- Let me out!

- No, you don't.
- Let me go!

Let me out!

Huh, come on now.

Here.

It's all your fault.
Why don't you throw me back?

You helped at the beginning.
You ought to have a hand at the end.

I've been buzzing over this town
like a bluebottle fly,

looking for you high and low.

Well, we must think
what you're going to do.

- Hudig's told the police.
- I'd like to kill him.

You've made
enough trouble here already.

Now, you go back to your wife.

She's a good woman.
You can face it together.

Yes, she's a good woman.

But to live under the reproach
of her pitying smile, no, no.

I always thought
you were heartless, Willems,

apt to cast adrift
those that thought most of you.

Now I appeal to what's best in you.
Don't abandon that woman.

She's been a good wife to me,

and I love her as much
as she loves me, every bit,

but as to going back there now,
I'd rather hide down there at the bottom.

It's hard, I grant that.
But who's the fault, eh?

Captain Lingard, if you leave me
here now, you'll be murdering me.

I'll never be arrested by the police,
wife or no wife.

You might as well
cut my throat here now.

Now, don't try and frighten me,
Willems.

I can tell you to go and drown yourself,
and there's the end of you.

But I won't.

Picked you up as a boy and can't help
feeling responsible for you, in a way,

although you left me.

I'm almost ashamed of myself
but I can understand your dirty pride.

I'll see this thing through.

It's the second time, Willems,
I take you in hand.

Mind it's the last.

The only difference between then
and now is you were barefooted then

and have boots now.

In 14 years with all your smartness,
a poor result, that.

- A very poor result.
- Do you think I'm so very happy?

Not another word shall pass my lips.

I had to speak my mind once,
seeing that I knew you from a child,

more or less.

Now I shall forget.

But you are young yet.

Life is very long.
Let this be a lesson to you.

Isn't she a sweet craft?
I can make her do anything but talk.

Better than a wife to me.

Never scolds, eh?

Come on. Ships and the sea.
You can trust them.

Ah, but you wouldn't believe that.
Not enough money in them, eh?

I'm taking you
to that place of my own,

about which people talk so much
and know so little.

It's up a river. It isn't easy
but I've found a way to get her up.

You'll learn something now, my boy.

More than you ever learned
among a lot of longshore quill drivers.

- Where is it?
- Hey? To the northward, my boy.

To the northward.

Come on up.
Now you're going to see some fun.

Ready about!

You're not going in there, are you?

You don't think I do my trading
in the middle of the ocean, do you?

Man the weather braces!

Hoist the gaff topsails! Trim all sails!

There's an underwater rock on
your starboard bow! Watch out for it!

Don't bother looking at them.
It's the underwater rocks I'd like to see.

Any sign yet?

- Now you take over.
- What, here?

Forgotten everything I taught you?
Now, bring her around.

Down that channel over there.
When I say. Steady.

Now! Hard over, hard over!

- Take in a bit on the mizzen sheet.
- We should lose a little speed.

Can't afford to take in sail. She's safer
this way. We're going to starboard now.

Wait for it! Hard down!

Ready now! Keep quiet about my river
when you do get back.

There's many'd give their ears
for the knowledge of it.

Your secret's safe with me.

Getting near now.

Man in the chains, Mr. Mate!

But what am I going to do here? Where
are you going? Can't I come with you?

No, you stay here quietly with
my partner, my boy, till I come back.

He's a nice fellow.
Married that girl I adopted.

Little Red Riding Hood,
where are you going?

She looked round,
she saw a fierce beast,

and her mother told her
to go into the wood,

um... with the nice basket of things
which her granny wanted.

Um... a voice came from behind her,

"Little Red Riding Hood,
where are you going?"

- Dear?
- The wolf said...

- Look.
- "What big teeth you've got, Grandma!"

Heavens, darling!
Grandpa Lingard's coming! Come along!

- Is he going to take us to Singapore?
- Not this time, but he will very soon.

Get your dress on, and put her into
something nice. Ali, bring me my coat!

You're going to be nice to Grandpa.

He's brought you lovely presents,
so you'll give him a nice kiss, mm?

I don't want to. His beard pricks me.

Not if you do it properly, dear,
like that.

Lower gaff topsails!

Stand by topsail halyards.

Lower away!

See that they get all this stuff
out of the way, will you?

Ah, Babalatchi. Come to add your
welcome? What do you want now?

Our Chief El Badavi asks for a meeting
to speak with Captain Lingard.

He surely doesn't expect
to see him now, does he?

- It is important.
- It always is.

And if it is possible, tonight?

- I'll try and arrange it.
- Thank you, Mr. Almayer.

- Come along, Nina.
- I don't want to!

- Quickly! Don't be a naughty girl, Nina!
- Stop it, Mummy! Stop it!

- Quickly!
- Stop it!

- You're hurting my hand!
- Stop doing that, Nina! At once!

Hey, keep back!

Mr. Mate, get those craft back!

- Hi! Almayer!
- Welcome, Lingard!

Welcome home!

There you are at last.
What have you been doing?

- Your hair's all straggling out.
- Yes, yes, I know, dear.

Now, do you remember what
I told you to say? Hm? That's right.

- No, dear, never mind that.
- Thank you so much, dear. I'm sorry.

That's right, tie it off. No, no!

Come along now!
Get the gangway down!

Starboard side to!

Clear off! Clear off, you little devils!
Get them off!

The whole lot of them! The rascals
will sink me one of these days!

Better wait. You'll fall in.

- Dear? Look.
- What?

- Make fast astern there.
- Oh. Ha-ha.

Ah, it's good to see you, Almayer.
You look well.

Welcome home!
Did you have a good voyage?

Excellent, excellent!

Ah.

Ah, my little princess.
Prettier than ever.

Clever too.
Remembers everything you tell her.

- We all love you so, Grandpapa.
- Ah.

She was the first one to see your sails.
Kept saying, "Grandpa's coming!"

Didn't you, dear?

Well, glad to see you. How are you?
Have you got me some rubber?

You old scoundrel!

Thank you. Thank you.

Ah, hang it!
I forgot all about you, Willems.

Almayer, I want you
to meet my friend Willems.

He'll help you run the place, take
some of the work off your shoulders.

I'm leaving him in your care
till I come back.

How do you do?

My care?

No, thank you.

- It's nice to see you. Ah, Almayer!
- Who is he?

- Why are you leaving him here?
- Willems? Be a great help to you.

You're not satisfied
with the way I run the place?

You know these young fellows
can teach us a thing or two, eh?

He's not particularly young.

I've brought some good stuff with me
this time. Been very lucky.

We'll start doing business tomorrow,
eh? Ah, how good it is to be back home!

I don't suppose you've seen
dancing like this before.

You can see this any night
you like in Singapore.

But these fellows are different.
This is the real thing.

Yes? Oh, good.

Did you have an interesting job
in Singapore?

- Don't like the place.
- Something in the shipping line?

- Yes, I was Hudig's traffic manager.
- That must have been interesting.

I can't imagine what made you
decide to come here.

Oh, I've been wanting
to come to this place for a long time.

- Are you married?
- My dear.

- I haven't bought a wife here.
- Look after him while I'm away.

Yes, yes, I'll try.

I hope you won't be bored here.

- Why? Are you?
- Who, me? Good gracious, no.

I haven't got any time to be bored. I'm
too busy. Captain Lingard knows that.

Oh, a regular volcano.

I'm afraid Mr. Willems may find it
a little dull here after Singapore.

Mr. Willems doesn't like Singapore.

I find that very odd.
Personally I long to be there.

Of course you do, and every day
brings that time a little nearer.

When we do go,
we'll have made our fortunes.

- I wasn't thinking only of the money.
- Oh, no, no, of course you weren't.

They asked if they could see you.
I'll tell them it's not convenient.

No, no, we'll see 'em. Willems?

- Greetings, Captain.
- Welcome, Babalatchi.

You'll permit me to speak for my chief,

the Blind El Badavi
and his daughter Aissa.

As you know, Tuan, they do not
understand your language.

Will you sit?

My friend Mr. Willems.
Is there anything I can do for you?

There is one small favour
we would ask, Tuan.

We of Badavi's tribe
are but poor people.

We gain our living by our fishing.

We drag our nets
through the narrow places of the river,

but they are caught by the rocks
under the water and are torn.

Our women cannot mend them
quickly enough.

- I've the very thing for you.
- Yes, Tuan?

Your nets are too weak.
You need stronger twine.

I have three bales of this in my ship.
You can have all you need.

That alone is not sufficient, Tuan.

But the gunpowder in your stores,
if you'd give us some of that,

we can explode the rocks
under the water

and then we can fish in safety.

Is that the only reason
you need gunpowder, Babalatchi?

- So that you can fish in safety?
- So...

Or do you need it to widen
the channels between the rocks

to bring up an Arab trading ship or
perhaps blast a road through the jungle?

With what care and at what risk
did I study this river?

Learnt every inch of it.
Learnt to master it, to love it.

Now you want to push me out to bring
in your own trader. Now listen to me.

Everyone of Badavi's tribe is welcome
in Simba, welcome to live here.

But this is a peaceful place, a thriving
place, because I have made it so.

The people are happy because
my trading's brought them prosperity.

Don't try to deceive me.

You've tried to seize power
for Badavi all down this coast.

You made trouble, caused bloodshed
and misery, wherever you went.

You failed so you came here.

I warn you. Don't start anything of that
kind now, or it will be the worse for you.

But we were talking
only of the fishing, Tuan.

Fishing be... You want your own trader,
and you know it.

It's no good, Babalatchi. I won't
have this place upset. Understand?

Does the white man know
what is best for us?

I have no more to say. I am your friend.
Take care not to make me your enemy.

- Now go in peace.
- In peace, Tuan?

Hurry up there! We're sailing on this tide!

All ready, Captain Lingard.

Coming! Aye, coming!

On the way out, I'll go back of these
rocks on account of the high spring tide.

This is where you took over, remember?

Think you can manage it
without my help?

On my next trip I'll take you home. By
then your troubles will have blown over.

I'll see to that.
Then we must think about your future.

Meanwhile, work hard,
make a success.

Perhaps it was meant to happen.
Who knows? I'm sure of it, quite sure.

Hi!

So it's mostly rubber
we've got this time, rubber and tin.

That's a fine bale of cargo
you're leaving me with.

- Won't you change your mind?
- What about?

Take him with you.
I don't need any help.

I've always run this place on my own.

We don't want strangers. You never
should have brought him here.

I'm the best judge of that.
Don't you worry about him.

Better start getting your men ashore.

Put something on your head.
You don't know the sun in these parts.

Get ready to make sail.
Stand by to cast off.

Tuan.

- Mr. Willems, do you like fishing?
- It passes the time.

Well, I've never seen you
catch a fish before.

- Observant little girl, aren't you?
- Why don't you help Daddy and me?

Busy checking the stores, I see.

What's the point? You only do it
yourself five minutes later.

It's important. I might miss something.

Is that my hat you're wearing? Oh, yes.
If you don't want to, never mind.

- Take it.
- Oh, no, you might get sunstroke.

You wouldn't like me
to do something worthwhile?

Something worthwhile?
Oh, yes, of course.

How about taking charge
of the men up on the hills?

That's impossible.
I don't know their language.

I forgot. How silly of me.
And it's so hot up there, isn't it?

Never mind, we'll have to think
of something. Caught anything yet?

No. Well, don't worry,
we've got plenty of fish.

Ah, Mr. Willems. Come up, please,
come up. Give me your hand.

You have kindly come to visit us. You
have not been over the river before.

- No, I've been busy.
- Busy, of course.

- Do all these houses belong to you?
- These are the houses of our people.

Oh, I thought you liked to wander.

For the moment we are settled here.

What a pity that when we first met,
Captain Lingard was...

You remember, perhaps?

He is sometimes impatient with us
on this side of the river.

I hope you do not think badly
of me and of my people.

Of course I don't. Why should I? Does
this little beast belong to you too?

Oh, not to us. Not to anyone.

He is a river boy.
He has no family, only his canoe.

I wish he'd leave me alone,
find someone else to run after.

He's proud to be seen
with so great a man, Mr. Willems.

You know it would gladden the heart
of our blind chief El Badavi

if you would enter his house.

He is old now but he was once
great and strong. Now he is old.

Tuan Willems.

El Badavi says he is honored
to receive the great White trader.

- Just return the compliment.
- I do not...

Oh, it doesn't matter. Say I am proud
to be his guest and I hope he's well.

His health is good
but for his blindness of course.

Ah, Mr. Willems.
I'm delighted to meet you.

- I've heard of you in Singapore.
- This is our friend Mr. Allagapan.

So you came up the river?

Oh, yes. Yes, yes. Well, why not?

Well, I admire your courage
and your skill.

Well, the skill is mostly Lingard's,

but, anyway, if you know anything about
ships, there's not a great deal to it.

- Once you know the ropes.
- Unfortunately, I do not know the ropes.

Otherwise I would have
been able to trade here myself.

I was hoping very much that I too might
be able to sail up the river this time,

had it been found possible
to blast some of the rocks.

But it was not to be.

Oh, you must be disappointed.
Your plan miscarried. What a pity.

The pity is that Mr. Allagapan is not
a great navigator like Captain Lingard.

There's nothing difficult
about bringing a ship up here.

It's just a question of recognizing
certain landmarks on the coast.

Once you've got them into your head,
you can't go wrong.

But first you must have those landmarks
pointed out to you, Mr. Willems.

Captain Lingard is a just man. Perhaps
one day he will teach them to us.

- Meanwhile we must not be impatient.
- It's easy for you to be patient.

You haven't a long dangerous journey
on foot through the forest before you.

Oh, you don't like walking?

I'm not finding it a very profitable
form of exercise at the moment.

Oh, never mind.
You mustn't give up hope.

Oh, no, I never do.

Well, I must be on my way now. It was
a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Willems.

- I hope we shall meet again.
- Thank you.

We Singapore exiles
must have a lot in common.

- Think so?
- Mm.

This is the priest all shaven and shorn

that married the man all tattered and torn
that kissed the maiden all forlorn.

One more spoonful
and Daddy will read you some more.

Why has Mr. Willems
got his elbows on the table?

I think Mr. Willems is ready
for his pudding, dear.

He won't mind waiting
until Nina has finished.

She won't eat her meat once she's seen
the pudding. Unless you're in a hurry.

No, I don't want any pudding,
thank you.

I'm fascinated to know what happens.
Do go on.

This is the cock that crowed
in the mom that walked...

waked the priest all shaven and shorn

that married the man all tattered and torn
that kissed the maiden all forlorn...

That's a good girl.
Now give Daddy a nice surprise.

That milked the cow with
the crumpled horn that tossed the dog

that worried the cat...

Doesn't Mr. Willems like the story, Papa?

He's heard Papa read it before, dear,
and Mr. Willems has some work to do.

- What sort of work?
- I expect he's going fishing, silly man.

Now, that's very rude, dear.

- We must all be kind to Mr. Willems.
- Why must we?

Because he should feel at home here

until Grandpapa comes
to take him back to Singapore.

Oh, I didn't know.
I'm sorry. That's very worrying.

We shall have to try and amuse him.
Have you any suggestions?

Well, he told me one day
that he enjoyed playing cards.

I thought we might have
a game one evening.

I know I don't play very well,
but I would try not to spoil it.

If he does play, he probably cheats.

Why do you say that?

Instinct.

Oh! What a nice surprise for Papa.

Tuan.

You're beautiful.

- Cards, Willems?
- Oh, sorry.

- Do you want any cards?
- Just a second. Let's see. I'll twist.

I'm so glad we decided to play,
Mr. Willems. My husband loves cards.

- Oh, yes?
- Have you finished?

- Twist again. That's enough.
- One card, please.

- You must say twist or bust.
- I forgot. Twist. 20, 22, 24.

Too many.
Just you and I, Willems. Blast!

- Oh, what a shame, dear.
- Let me see your first two cards.

Show me these cards.

- You're more than 21.
- Mm?

- Why didn't you say so?
- Oh, I'm sorry. Yes, so I have.

I should have known better.

What did I tell you?

- I wasn't cheating.
- I know you weren't.

It's just that your thoughts
were elsewhere.

Oh, what a place.

So, that's why you wanted us
to play cards.

How long have you known?

For some time, I think.
I wasn't spying.

No, no, of course you weren't.
I'm sorry I laughed.

There's nothing to be sorry about.

- What's her name?
- Aissa.

I should have thought
you'd have known that, too.

Aissa.

What a pretty name.

I've only ever heard her
called Badavi's daughter.

She's very brave.

- Yes?
- She used to fight at her father's side.

They say that she's braver
than any of her brothers.

And quite merciless.

What are you making?

Paper chains for my husband's birthday.
It's a surprise.

- May I help you?
- Of course.

Does your husband like paper chains?

Nina does.
She doesn't get many parties here.

When we go back to Singapore we'll
make it up to her then. It'll be different.

I swear I'll never go over there again,
and then I find myself waiting for her.

Every day it's the same.

I know all you're trying to tell me,
but what am I to do?

This gum, it doesn't stick very well.
I suppose it's the damp.

I see her all the days, all the nights.

I see her every breath, every glance
of her eye, every movement of her lips.

I see nothing else.

What else is there?

Are you afraid of what she is
and of what you might become?

You do well to be afraid.

I do hope Mr. Willems never comes.

- Why, dear?
- Then I can stay up all night.

Oh, dear. The candles are going out.

I'm not surprised.
They're not supposed to last forever.

It's all right, dear. I'll get some more.

I hope you've got a good supply.
You may need them.

He's missing all the dancing.

I don't think that'll worry him.
He doesn't like our sort of dancing.

Wouldn't it be better
to eat something first, dear?

I thought we weren't supposed
to touch the food

until your precious Mr. Willems arrived.

You will try and be extra nice
to him tonight, won't you, dear?

Oh, of course. I provide a house
for him to live in, food for him to eat.

Whisky for him to drink.
I may as well be nice to him as well.

You'd better put her to bed.

Oh, no, dear. No.
He'll be here soon, I know. He promised.

Oh, he promised, did he?
That makes a difference.

I'm quite sure Mr. Willems
would never break a promise.

- Sorry. Am I late?
- No, we were just lighting the candles.

Aren't they pretty?

Why only six?

We'll cut the cake now.

Have you got a present for Daddy?

Oh, yes, yes. Now, let me see.
What shall we give him?

- Shall we give him a puff-puff?
- A real one?

- Do you think he'd like a puff-puff?
- Yes, give him that.

Puff! Puff!

Do it again! Do it again!

I don't think he likes it very much.

Do you think
we're going to eat that now?

- Bit of a waste.
- Take it away!

Go on, go on! Take it away!

- Nina, come to bed.
- I don't want to, Mama.

Say good night to your father, Nina.

Good night, Papa. Happy birthday.

I'm sorry.

How old are you today?

I must say, your party manners
are charming.

Why isn't Lingard back yet?

I asked you a question.

If I'd known the answer,
I'd have given it to you.

Is he often as late as this?

No, he usually comes
when he says he will.

When he does come, you must tell him
how helpful I've been to you.

You can be sure of that.
I wonder what he'll do with you next.

- Make me a partner, perhaps.
- That's what you're after, isn't it?

Am I?

Lend me your gun.
I think I'll go and look for a deer.

You might say yes or no instead
of making that ridiculous noise.

If I believed a word
of what you said, I would.

The gun's there. Take it or leave it.

Gun. Deer. Rubbish.
You mighty hunter!

You need gold anklets and silk sarongs
to catch your kind of game.

It's a gazelle you're after, Willems,
a two-legged gazelle.

You'd better watch out.
They can be very dangerous.

You shouldn't drink so much, Almayer.
You've no head for it.

At least I drink my own, Willems!
I drink my own!

Hey! You've forgotten the gun!

You'll have to catch your deer
with your bare hands!

When you find her, bring her back!

We'll stuff her and hang her
over the door!

Do you think he's been eaten
by a crocodile?

No, dear, I don't think so.

Why do you put that filthy stuff
on your hair? It stinks.

Aissa. Aissa.

Aissa!

What a perfect relationship ours is.

I wonder what you would think of me

if you could understand
a word of what I said.

I could even tell you the truth
if I knew what it was.

Something between... loving...

and hating.

And stronger than either.

I am reminded, I don't know why,
of a party I once went to in Singapore.

It was at Government House and
very elegant it was. It was just like this.

Her Excellency,
I remember, dropped her fan.

I was about to be presented.

I stooped and picked it up
and she said, "Thank you, Mr. Willems."

I replied that, um...

Oh, what's the use?

It isn't true anyway.

Oh, get out of it!

Go on, out!

Go on, get out!

Get out!

Get out!

Oh, why do you want to live
in all this slime?

Never mind, it'll all be different
when Lingard comes back

and we go to Singapore.

With what I've got in here
and what I know about this river,

we'll be rich when we get to Singapore.

Now listen. How many more times?

You, me, away from here.
To Singapore.

Oh, well, you will anyway.

Are you really as brave as they say?

Did you ever kill anybody?

Go away, will you?

Aissa!

- Aissa!
- Now your father's squawking again.

Oh, let him squawk!
You belong to me now!

It's time that father of yours knew
how to feed himself! Come back!

Aissa!

Come back! Come here!

Aissa! Out of the way! Out of the way!

Go on! Aissa! Come back!

Go on!

Out of the way! Aissa!

Come back!

Oh!

Help!

Aissa!

Get away!

Get a towel! A towel!

And get Babalatchi! You miserable
half-starved... Where's Babalatchi?

- Tuan?
- Come here!

I want you to tell this miserable
bloodthirsty old ruin

that I'm looking after his daughter now,
that she's his servant no longer,

and if I hear him bawling out for her
again, I'm coming over here

- and I'm going to wring his neck.
- That would not be wise, Tuan.

El Badavi is our chief.
He is also Aissa's father.

He commands our respect
and her obedience.

Never mind! You tell him...

What's he saying? Hm?
What's he talking about?

He has cursed you, Mr. Willems.

Oh, has he?
Well, that's not very helpful, is it?

- Now look...
- Mr. Willems, let me explain.

He is old. His daughter must be
his eyes and his right hand.

He does not yet understand
what a great man you are.

He is unhappy
because his people are poor.

- Well, I can't help that.
- You could.

You are brave. You are skilful.

You could do much good
to our people.

You did learn from Captain Lingard
the ways up the channels of our river.

If you now would teach them
to Mr. Allagapan...

You remember
the Arab trader who was here.

Yes, yes, yes,
a most ambitious man.

You said yourself that it is easy
to bring a boat up the river

once you know the landmarks.

Well, that's... that's some time ago.
I... I may have forgotten.

No, no.

A man like you never says
more than he can do.

If you would but once bring up
Mr. Allagapan's boat,

you would put our chief
and our people in your debt forever.

How can you?

Do you think I'm a blackguard?

Do you really think I'm a cheat,
Babalatchi?

Have you no sense of honor?
Oh, no, no, no.

Aissa.

Aissa?

Where's Aissa? Where is she?

Well, where is she?

Well, where is she?

Have you seen Aissa?

Ah, Mr. Willems!

Am I interrupting
a private conversation?

Oh, not at all, Mr. Willems.
Please, please join us.

There's little formality
on this side of the river,

as you have no doubt discovered.

I didn't expect to see you so soon.
Did you come by the river this time?

Unfortunately, no.

I left my ship at the mouth of the river
and had to walk through the jungle again.

You are troubled?

Where have you hidden her,
you blackmailer'?

Why curse at me, Mr. Willems?
You are in her hand.

And we are in your hands,
Mr. Willems.

You have sailed ships before and
you know how to navigate the river.

If you will help us, I promise you
that I will see that you find her again

and perhaps you may persuade her
to change her mind

and go with you to Singapore.

And if I refuse?

I have seen much,
and I say to you submit.

To her? Or to you
and bringing your boat up the river?

You may never see her again.

- You threaten me?
- No, I spoke only of life.

Along life for a lonely man.

I'm sorry to depress you but I'm afraid
you're in for another long walk.

- Oh, I hope not. I do hope not.
- The price you ask is too high.

I don't have to buy her.
She's mine already.

And I can find her. She can't have got
far with that blind old father of hers.

If you change your mind,
we shall still be here.

Have you seen Aissa?

Tuan.

Oh, get out of it!

Aissa?
I'm looking for Badavi's daughter.

Have you seen her?

Listen!
Will you tell Babalatchi that...?

Aissa.

Aissa.

Tuan.

Tuan. Aissa.

What? Where?

Aissa.

Show me.

Come on. Show me. Show me.

It's all right now, it's all right.
Not so fast! Slower, slower!

Wait a minute. Wait.

Aissa.

Right, that'll do. Off you go. Go on.

You didn't hide from me, did you?

Tell me they made you.

You are my life.

Come with me now!

Almayer?

- Who's that?
- Here. Down here.

It's me.

Can I come up?

The child's asleep.
I've no wish to speak to you.

It's important.

- Not to me, surely?
- Yes, to you.

Very important.
You'll be sorry if you don't.

You funny fellow.
If you knew what a sight you looked.

All right, come up.
Don't make a noise.

I have come for your good and mine.

You look as if you'd come
for a good feed.

Don't they give you enough to eat,
those new relations of yours?

That old blind scoundrel must be
delighted with your company.

You know he was the greatest thief
and murderer of these seas?

Do you exchange confidences together?

Did you kill somebody in Singapore
or did you only steal from them?

- It's not true. I only borrowed...
- Shh! Don't shout at me.

You're not with your friends now
across the river.

This is my house, a civilized house.
Understand?

So you did steal? I always thought so.
And now here you steal again.

Oh, no, I don't mean from me. I haven't
missed anything. But that girl, eh?

You didn't pay the old fellow,
did you?

She's not worth anything to him
now that you've borrowed her.

Listen, Almayer.
I suffer horribly, and for your sake...

For my sake?

I know only the...
the despair of her presence

and the agony of her departure.

Her face is always before me,
blinding me so I can't see my way.

And when I close my eyes, hers...
hers stare into my soul.

- You do bore me, Willems.
- And now she's gone.

I hadn't heard the news.
Had enough of you already?

That's not very flattering for you,
is it, my superior fellow countryman?

- I'd like to kill you.
- You're too weak for that.

What a disgusting exhibition! What did
Lingard ever see in you, I wonder.

Whatever plans he had for you,
he'd have to revise them now.

You've thrown
your chances away for nothing.

Flung them under the feet
of a damned savage woman,

who's already trampled you
into the thing you are,

and will kill you very soon, one way or
another, with her love or with her hate!

What right have you to preach to me?

I never wanted a chance
in a place like this,

but you, you're prepared to sell
your soul and your wife and child

for a few miserable pounds!

Not so few, my friend.

And to think that I was once afraid that
Lingard might make you his partner!

Not even Lingard would touch you now
with a pair of tongs.

Almayer.

I want to work with you. Not here.
On the other side of the river.

Lingard couldn't object. I'd be starting
another trading post for him, that's all.

It would help him, and you...
we could all work together.

Of course, I...
I should need some trade goods

and a little money perhaps
to build a decent house.

- I'm asking you for them, Almayer.
- Go on, go on. I'm listening.

I'd repay every single cent, of course,
and Lingard would approve, I'm sure.

I'd only be expanding his work
over there. A safe thing for you.

Anything else you'd like?
My coat, perhaps? My boots?

I don't fancy the investment. Do you
think I don't see through your scheme?

What do you want trade goods for? To
buy back that fancy woman of yours?

They want you to pay for her
after all, do they? Huh!

Your position is not as safe
as you think, Almayer.

If a rival could get up the river,
he could destroy your trade overnight.

Ruin you.
They've made proposals to me already.

I'm master of this place.

But we could all work together, not
against each other. Can't you see?

Yes, I see a mysterious ass.

Do you think you can bluff me
with your veiled threats?

What do you bring me?
A declaration of war?

I ought to shoot you
but you're not worth the bullet.

You should be destroyed
with a stick like a snake!

- Papa.
- It's all right, my darling. You're safe.

Get out. Get out! You're frightening
the child! You wretched scarecrow!

All right, darling. Look, bad man's
going now. He's afraid of your papa.

Nasty bad man!
Never come near my little girl again!

If he does, Papa will kill him!

See how he runs away? Isn't he funny?
Call pig after him, dearest.

- Call pig. Pig, pig, pig!
- Pig, pig, pig!

Pig! Pig!

Pig! Pig!

Jib sheets!

Look bad from here, don't they?

- Man the lee braces!
- Listen, Mr. Willems! I won't go on!

- You're getting all this down, aren't you?
- Yes, yes, don't bother about that.

We are going too fast.

Aren't they in line yet?

Keep your eyes open!

That should clean your hull up nicely.

My darling! It's Grandpapa at last.
Thank heavens! Come along!

Nina, quickly, dear, come.

- Will I have to kiss him again?
- Ali, Ali, bring me my coat.

What's that lot?

Babalatchi wasn't sure
of the sort of welcome we should get.

He's just protecting us.

For a man of your success,
you're a very bad judge of character,

to make an agreement with Babalatchi
and expect him to keep his word.

- My agreement is only with Badavi.
- He can't last much longer.

The other day, he foamed at the mouth.
He fell on his back.

If Badavi dies,
my agreement dies with him.

I'd like to make an agreement
with you.

Do you think Mr. Almayer would listen
to any proposals from me or from you?

What does he matter?

When Lingard comes back,
I'll tell him that you and I are partners.

- Then we can all work together.
- Yes, we shall have to talk about that.

Aissa. Aissa.

What boat is that?

What's going on, Almayer?
Another birthday party?

You filthy pirate, Willems!

You're not the only trader
in Sambir now!

- You'll pay for this!
- I'm coming over for some stores!

You'd better let me have them!

I've told you before
you won't get anything from me!

Come with me and get the guns.

Come on, Ali.
Take these. There you are.

We can use the barrels
to barricade...

Ali! Ali!

What are they frightened of?

Are they scared of you leading them?

- Mr. Allagapan, are your men ready?
- They're there, Mr. Willems.

If you're looking for trouble, Willems,
you're coming to the right place!

I promise you, I'll kill anyone
who lands on my ground!

You make a very impressive figure,
Almayer!

- Get back in the house! Get back!
- Nina, come.

- Hide Nina!
- Come along.

Don't try to be a hero, you fool!
Put down that gun!

We're only going to the warehouse!

Don't be a...

Stop! Come back!

Stop it! Leave him alone!

Take him up there!

Into the hammock!

You blackguard!

- Where is Aissa?
- I don't know. I haven't seen her.

Her father is calling for her.
He's ill, dangerously.

What's the matter with him?
One of his curses boomeranged?

- Put him down there!
- I must go back to him!

When you see her,
tell her to come to her father!

All right!

Stay here! You'll be perfectly safe!
But don't come out!

It's just a game, darling,
just a silly game.

Here, you! Take this! Take this!

Oh, Mummy, let me go and play too!

You're mad!

All right! Put him over there!

You used to be very fond
of telling me I looked ridiculous!

Thank you for giving me the chance
to return the compliment!

Pig, pig, pig!

Pig, pig, pig!

Say, "Pig, pig, pig," dolly!

Pig, pig, pig!

Aissa.

Aissa.

Aissa.

Look out, Almayer! Don't come
so close! You'll hurt yourself!

Next time, Almayer!
I'll get you next time!

Aissa!

Get back into the house!
You'll be all right now!

Get up.

What is it, eh?
What is it? Hm? Hm?

Her father is dead.
Did you not tell her to come?

Aissa, I... I...

Oh...

Hoist the gaff topsails!

An outrage. A fiendish outrage!

- He's still living over there?
- Oh, no.

The Arab's first act was
to get rid of the Badavi tribe.

What did I always tell you?
He'll have no trouble from them.

They've gone up river. Kicked out
of Sambir, the whole lot of them.

And Willems and the girl
went with them.

He's in her care now, and I very much
doubt if he'll find it as tender as yours.

Cat. Dog.
Anything that can scratch and bite.

As long as it's harmful
and mangy enough.

A half-dead tiger
that you can weep over

and palm off on some poor devil
in your care to tend and nurse for you.

Never mind what happens
to the poor devil.

Your tender heart only bleeds
for what's poisonous and deadly.

I curse the day
when you set eyes on him.

Now, then, now, then.

- Build me a house, Grandpapa.
- Of course I will.

A high one like
we're all going to live in in Singapore.

- I curse it!
- Yes, my dear.

What about that mongrel dog
you brought on board at Bangkok?

Went mad the next day
and bit everybody. Have you forgotten?

Remember the time when you lost
your ship by rescuing some Chinamen

who turned on you
and killed half the crew?

That was reckless, but this time you've
really done it. We're ruined, finished.

- You should have stopped them.
- They took me by surprise.

- You had rifles.
- Higher, Grandpapa.

There was no one to use them. The
men ran as soon as they saw the ship.

- Call that putting up a fight?
- You don't know, you weren't there!

You are clumsy, Papa.

Now, run along now, my dear.
I'll build you another this evening.

Can't you realise
your day's over in Sambir

and I'm not the one
who was to blame?

You knew Willems
and you brought him here.

You and your simple childish trust.
Well, now it's repaid you.

You should have seen him
at the head of that hellish crowd.

You'd have been proud
of your new favourite.

- Smart fellow, Willems.
- Smart? Is that all you have to say?

What's to become of me?
What's to become of my darling Nina?

What's to become
of your own daughter?

You trapped me into marrying her so
that you'd be free of that responsibility,

free to sail the seas
on your errands of mercy!

And now when my whole life's
smashed and ruined,

all you can say is the man
who betrayed us was smart!

Now, you attend to what I have to say
if you don't want to quarrel with me!

What about the people out here?

I'm not concerned with your personal
tragedy, or mine either for that matter.

We make mistakes and we pay for them
one way or another, sooner or later.

But what about these people?

The ones that are paying already,
paying for Willems' treachery,

and my folly, if you like.

Have you given a thought to them
and the price they have to meet?

With their bellies
and their children and their lives.

These were once a happy people.

A proud people, a prosperous people.

Because I made them so.

They trusted me once,
and they trust me still.

That's why they have crawled
into the shadow of my house.

Is it my fault?
How can you talk like that?

I talk as I think. I've lived many years.

Sit down, Almayer.
Don't make a spectacle of yourself.

If you'd been in trouble as often
as I have, you wouldn't carry on so.

I've been ruined more than once.
Yet here I am still in the ring.

Why didn't you come back sooner?
Why did you stay away so long?

You scold like a drunken fishwife.

If you knew anything about ships,

you'd know they have to go into dock
now and then for repairs.

- So, Willems is up river, eh?
- He's escaped us now.

But if ever he comes back
I'll see that something happens to him.

Take care, Almayer.

You haven't been sewn up in a hammock

and burnt alive
to amuse a parcel of savages.

As long as he lives, I must walk here
with my eyes on the ground.

Do any of your men know
the upper part of the river?

There is one who managed the journey
some years ago, but... surely...

Ah, I'm done up.

Perfectly done up.

All this talk.

Seems I could go to sleep
on a clothesline.

Later I may want a canoe
and some paddlers...

and... the man you said.

Ah, life is foul.

Foul like a tangled rigging
on a dirty night.

And yet one must see it clear for
running before going below for good.

Turn in past those rocks.

- Where is he?
- He is not far away.

Is Badavi's daughter with him?

Yes, with him, and she is alone.

Her father died cursing her
because of her love for him.

The man who destroyed your friends,
who hastened Badavi's death,

who plotted with Allagapan
first against you then against me.

Return to your own people,
Babalatchi.

He is no concern of yours.

Indeed.

Then I shall leave him to you.

Who am I to meddle
in such matters?

Who am I to act
in anger or in haste?

This is a good gun.

Foolish thing to load that old gun.

It carries far and true.

Better than this here.

Take your hand off that.

Many years ago, we faced each other
like this with guns in our hands.

Do you not remember, Tuan?

I don't remember
every vagabond that comes my way.

Have you so much disdain
for your enemies

that there is no room left
for remembrance?

- He's up there?
- Take care. He is armed.

Each day he comes down here
with his mouth full of curses

and his heart full of hate.

I think that even in his sleep
he is angry,

because he cannot forget
that he is still alive.

I have left my gun with you.

Then perhaps you will remember me.

Let me pass.

I will fetch him myself.

Stand up.
This does not concern you.

Stand up. Leave him.

It is no good. He is finished.

Don't you believe her,
Captain Lingard!

I shan't fight!
I tell you, I shan't fight!

Look. That's a fine thing to do.

If I'd wanted to hurt you, it was easy.

I was standing up there
long enough to use this thing.

You would have missed! There is
under heaven such a thing as justice!

You dumped me in this river
like a load of rubbish!

Dumped me and left me
with nothing to do or even hope for!

And left me at the mercy
of that fool Almayer!

And then... look at her.
What's she been saying to you?

She begged for your life, as if
the thing was worth giving or taking!

For weeks
she's begged me to take yours.

She's given me no peace,
planning and scheming,

looking for places where I could hide
and drop you with a safe shot.

- It's true! I give you my word!
- Your word?

All right, all right! You don't know.
It isn't what I've done that torments me.

It's the reason.
It's the madness that drove me to it.

Tomorrow she may want to kill me.
I don't want to die here. Take me away.

You have been possessed of a devil.

Yes. Isn't it pretty?

I regret nothing else I ever did,
but this was different.

I picked you up like a starving cat
when you were 12.

I helped you through your life
till it became part of mine.

Then I let you ruin the lives
of all those that put their faith in me.

I am an old fool!

The evil's not in me, Lingard!

Then where else, confound you?
Where else?

Did you ever see me lie and cheat
and steal? Tell me that! Hey!

I wonder where in perdition you came
from, when I found you under my feet.

No matter. You'll do no more harm.

Well, what do you expect, given what
you've done? What do you expect?

Lingard.

In the whole world, there's only been
one man who ever cared for me.

- Only one man. You.
- Shut up!

Of all my life, my past, future,
my intelligence and work,

there's nothing left but she,
the cause of my ruin,

and you,
you whom I mortally offended.

Take me away! Anywhere!
I promise you!

No promise of yours is any good to me.

I'm going to take your future into
my own hands. You are my prisoner.

You shall stay here.
You're not fit to go among people.

Who could suspect, who could guess,
who could imagine what is in you?

I couldn't. You're my mistake.
I shall hide you here.

If I let you out, you'll go among
unsuspecting men and lie and steal

and cheat for a little money
or for some woman.

I don't choose to shoot you.
It would be the safest way but I won't.

Don't expect me to forgive you.

To forgive, one must first be angry
and then contemptuous.

There's nothing in me now. No anger,
no contempt, no disappointment.

To me you are not Willems,
the man I thought much of and helped,

the man who was my friend.

You're not a human being
to be destroyed or forgiven.

You're a bitter thought, something
without a body that must be hidden.

You are my shame.

You can't leave me in this place.

You say that you don't want to die here.
Very well, then. You must live.

Understand I leave him his life
not in mercy but in punishment.

You are alone. You say that you
did this for her. Well, you have her.

- You think I'll stay?
- Not necessarily on this spot!

There are the forests! Here is the river!
You may swim! Take your choice!

I could do it now! One shot!

Yes, but you can't!
There's not even that in you!

Don't provoke me,
Captain Lingard!

Provoke you!
What is there in you to provoke?

We shall meet again!

Captain Lingard!