The Ghost and the Darkness Page #6

STARLING:

Finish your tour?

PATTERSON:

(nods)

And anxious to get started.

(indicating the hospital)

What is this, mostly malaria?

STARLING:

Yes- but their suffering is only

transitory- once they except God

into their hearts, He will vanquish

all pain.

MAN'S VOICE (over)

That's just vomitous talk, Nigel- the

poor bastards will relapse if you keep

on that way.

(As they turn-)

CUT TO:

DOCTOR DAVID HAWTHORNE. A tough, middle-aged cockney. And a heavy

drinker. A man who hasn't been tactful in twenty years.

HAWTHORNE:

(to Patterson)

I'm David Hawthorne, this is my

hospital. And my advice to you is,

"don't get sick in front of it."

(beat)

That was meant to be charming,

sorry. I seem to have lost the knack.

STARLING:

You never had it.

HAWTHORNE:

Nigel and I don't like each other much.

SAMUEL:

(breaking the tension)

I am also liaison between these two.

PATTERSON:

(to Hawthorne)

Clearly you don't agree about building

the railroad?

HAWTHORNE:

This sham? Ridiculous. Who needs it?

It's only being built to control the

ivory trade, make men richer.

PATTERSON:

Then why do you stay?

HAWTHORNE:

Who else would hire me?

(to Starling)

Beat you to it, didn't I?

(beat)

Oh yes, almost forgot- brought you a

little welcoming gift.

(Now he gestures and we-)

CUT TO:

A NERVOUS ORDERLY who approaches them. He has been freshly

bandaged across one shoulder.

HAWTHORNE:

This is Karim, one of my orderlies-

attacked by a man-eater earlier

today- first incident of that kind

here.

Patterson says not a word, just studies the wounded man.

STARLING:

(incredulous)

A man-eater attacks and you're such

a buffoon you almost forget to mention

it?

HAWTHORNE:

Well, he got away, didn't he?

(to Patterson)

Riding a donkey not far from here

when the lion sprang on them- donkey

took the brunt of it- then suddenly

the lion ran off.

CUT TO:

PATTERSON. Listening. No emotion on his face.

CUT TO:

HAWTHORNE. He's kind of enjoying this. Bearing down.

HAWTHORNE:

I know it's your first day and of

course you must be tired from the

journey-

(beat)

-but what are you going to do about

it?

PATTERSON:

(a long pause, then evenly-)

Karim will have to show me where it

happened. And of course, I'll need

the donkey.

(beat)

With any luck, I'll sort it out tonight.

(And he walks out, leaving

an astonished Starling

staring after him)

CUT TO:

PATTERSON'S TENT AREA

Starling has a tent there, too, as do Samuel and Hawthorne. And

there are half a dozen ORDERLIES.

Right now, Patterson is unpacking, moving in and out of his tent.

Starling, sipping tea, sits and watches.

STARLING:

I couldn't believe it when you said

"sort it out." As if it were the most

normal thing in the world. "Ho-hum,

what lovely tea, I think I'll bag a

killer beast this evening, nothing

much else going on anyway."

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