Orson Welles’ Heart of Darkness
It's the 1890s and Mr Kurtz, one of the senior agents of an Ivory trading company, has disappeared.
Marlow, a skipper, is hired to take a steamship up the Congo River to find him. But the further he and the other company men travel up river, the greater the sense of impending danger, and the more disturbing the rumours that begin to circulate about Kurtz. But truth is more terrifying than any of them imagined.
Orson Welles wrote this screenplay adaptation of Joseph Conrad’s celebrated novel in 1939, with the intention of directing and starring as both Marlow and Kurtz. After founding the Mercury Theatre in 1937, his celebrated production of Julius Caesar and his radio adaption of The War of The Worlds had established him as a major talent. RKO Pictures then signed a deal with him to produce his first feature film. Welles intended this to be Heart of Darkness but the script proved to be too audacious for them - and his second script, Citizen Kane, was greenlit instead. Adapted for Radio by Jamie Lloyd and Laurence Bowen, Heart of Darkness stars James McAvoy as Marlow with Jonathan Slinger as Kurtz and Phoebe Fox as Elsa.
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It's the 1890s and Mr Kurtz, one of the senior agents of an Ivory trading company, has disappeared.
Marlow, a skipper, is hired to take a steamship up the Congo River to find him. But the further he and the other company men travel up river, the greater the sense of impending danger, and the more disturbing the rumours that begin to circulate about Kurtz. But truth is more terrifying than any of them imagined.
Orson Welles wrote this screenplay adaptation of Joseph Conrad’s celebrated novel in 1939, with the intention of directing and starring as both Marlow and Kurtz. After founding the Mercury Theatre in 1937, his celebrated production of Julius Caesar and his radio adaption of The War of The Worlds had established him as a major talent. RKO Pictures then signed a deal with him to produce his first feature film. Welles intended this to be Heart of Darkness but the script proved to be too audacious for them - and his second script, Citizen Kane, was greenlit instead. Adapted for Radio by Jamie Lloyd and Laurence Bowen, Heart of Darkness stars James McAvoy as Marlow with Jonathan Slinger as Kurtz and Phoebe Fox as Elsa.
Do you enjoy the variety on Oldtuberadio?
Like, Share and Subscribe to be notified of our new shows
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FunTranscript
00:00:00Part of Darkness
00:00:21The screenplay by Orson Welles
00:00:23From the novel by Joseph Conrad
00:00:26Adapted for radio by Jamie Lloyd
00:00:28And Lawrence Bowen
00:00:30The old New York River
00:00:43In its broad reach
00:00:44Rests unruffled at the decline of the day
00:00:47Spread out in the tranquil dignity
00:00:50Of a waterway leading to the uttermost
00:00:53Ends of the earth
00:00:54The traffic of the great city
00:00:57Goes on in the deepening night
00:00:59Upon the sleepless river
00:01:00The tidal current runs to and fro
00:01:04In its unceasing service
00:01:06Crowded with memories of men
00:01:08And ships it had borne to the rest of whom
00:01:11One or two battles of the sea
00:01:13Hunters for gold
00:01:16And pursuers of fame
00:01:18What greatness has not floated on the ebb of that river
00:01:22Into the mystery of an unknown earth
00:01:25The dreams of men
00:01:27The seed of commonwealth
00:01:30The germs of empires
00:01:32Further west
00:01:35On the upper reaches
00:01:36The place of the monstrous town
00:01:39Marked ominously on the sky
00:01:41A brooding gloom in the sunshine
00:01:44A lurid glare under the stars
00:01:46This has also been one of the dark places on the earth
00:02:05I was thinking the other day of very old times
00:02:09When our fathers first came here to Manhattan Island
00:02:11400 years ago
00:02:13Imagine the trip up this river
00:02:16Death skulking in the air
00:02:19In the water
00:02:20In the bush
00:02:20It must have been done like flies here
00:02:23400 years ago
00:02:25Land in a swamp
00:02:26March through the woods
00:02:28And in some inland post
00:02:29Feel the savagery
00:02:30The utter savagery
00:02:33All that mysterious life of the wilderness
00:02:37That stirs in the forest
00:02:39In the jungles
00:02:40In the hearts of wild men
00:02:42It has a fascination too
00:02:47The
00:02:49Abomination
00:02:50You know
00:02:53Imagine the growing regrets
00:02:57The longing to escape
00:03:00The powerless disgust
00:03:02The surrender
00:03:04The hate
00:03:05Maybe we wouldn't feel like that
00:03:08I don't know
00:03:09They were conquerors
00:03:11Of course
00:03:11The men who first sailed into this harbor
00:03:13They grabbed what they could get
00:03:15From the weak of what was to be got
00:03:17It's not a pretty thing
00:03:19When you look into it too much
00:03:20The conquest of the earth
00:03:22Which mostly
00:03:23Means the taking it away
00:03:25Of those who have a different complexion
00:03:26What tries to redeem it
00:03:29Is the idea
00:03:31At the back of it
00:03:32There was a man
00:03:37I once knew
00:03:38I'd like to tell you about him
00:03:40And about the girl too
00:03:41The girl
00:03:46But to understand everything
00:03:50You ought to know about
00:03:52How I got out there
00:03:54What I saw
00:03:55And how I went up that river
00:03:58To the place
00:03:58Where I first met the poor devil
00:04:00I was over in Europe
00:04:05Loafing around one of the big port towns
00:04:08Looking for a ship
00:04:08When I saw a map
00:04:10In a shop window
00:04:11I've always had a passion for maps
00:04:13When I was a child
00:04:15There were many blank spaces
00:04:17On the earth
00:04:18And when I saw one
00:04:20That looked inviting
00:04:21I'd put my finger on it
00:04:22And say to myself
00:04:23When I grow up
00:04:24I will go there
00:04:25Well
00:04:26I'd seen most of those places
00:04:28Except one of them
00:04:30The biggest
00:04:32The most blank
00:04:33There's a river in it
00:04:35A big river
00:04:36You can see it on the map
00:04:38Looks like a snake
00:04:39Uncoiled
00:04:40With its head in the sea
00:04:42And its tail lost
00:04:43In the depths of the land
00:04:44Then
00:04:49I remembered there was a big concern
00:04:51A company for trade on that river
00:04:53Among other places
00:04:54A Connell company
00:04:55I thought to myself
00:04:57They can't trade on that river
00:04:58Without some kind of boat
00:04:59Steamboats
00:05:01Well
00:05:02Why shouldn't I try
00:05:03And get charge of one
00:05:04The snake
00:05:05Had charmed me
00:05:07I got my appointment
00:05:08One of their captains
00:05:10Had been killed
00:05:11In a scuffle
00:05:12With the natives
00:05:12They made me sign a document
00:05:16I believe
00:05:17I undertook
00:05:18Among other things
00:05:19Not to disclose
00:05:19Any trade secrets
00:05:20I'm not gonna
00:05:22It was just as though
00:05:24I'd been let into
00:05:25Some conspiracy
00:05:27Something not quite
00:05:29Right
00:05:29The whole place
00:05:32Was as still
00:05:34As a house
00:05:35In a city of the dead
00:05:37Mr. Marlow
00:05:39There's yet a visit
00:05:40To the doctor
00:05:41A simple formality
00:05:43Hmm
00:05:45Good
00:05:46Good for there
00:05:48Good for where you're going
00:05:50Excuse me
00:05:52Will you let me measure your head
00:05:55What for
00:05:57I always ask leave
00:05:58In the interests of science
00:06:00To measure the crania
00:06:02Of those going out there
00:06:03And when they come back to
00:06:05Oh
00:06:05I never see them
00:06:08So
00:06:10You're going out there
00:06:12Very interesting
00:06:14Ever have any madness
00:06:16In your family
00:06:17Is that question
00:06:18In the interests of science too
00:06:20In the tropics
00:06:21One must
00:06:22Before everything
00:06:22Keep calm
00:06:24That's what I told them all
00:06:27Even Mr. Kurtz
00:06:29Kurtz?
00:06:30Before everything
00:06:31Where is he?
00:06:32Mr. Kurtz
00:06:33Of course you know
00:06:35Our next leader
00:06:37I
00:06:37Never heard of him
00:06:39Mr. Kurtz
00:06:40Is a
00:06:40Is a very great man sir
00:06:42He's in charge there
00:06:46Goodbye
00:06:48Keep calm
00:06:51You know
00:06:57I'm used to clearing out
00:06:58For any port in the world
00:06:59With less thought
00:07:00Than most men give
00:07:00Crossing the street
00:07:01But now
00:07:02I felt as though
00:07:03Instead of going
00:07:04To the center of a continent
00:07:05I were about to set off
00:07:07For the center of the earth
00:07:08I left in a company steamer
00:07:14And we called in
00:07:15Every port along the way
00:07:16And every day
00:07:17It looked the same
00:07:18As though we hadn't moved
00:07:20The edge of a colossal jungle
00:07:22That seemed to glisten
00:07:24And drip with steam
00:07:25Watching it coast
00:07:27As it slips by your ship
00:07:29Is like thinking about an enigma
00:07:30There it is before you
00:07:32Smiling and frowning
00:07:34Inviting
00:07:34Grand
00:07:35Mean
00:07:36Insipid or savage
00:07:38And always mute
00:07:40With an air of whispering
00:07:41Come and fly now
00:07:44It was upward of 30 days
00:07:49Before I saw the mouth
00:07:50Of the big river
00:07:51There's your station
00:07:57Yeah
00:07:58And there's the river
00:08:00Are you going up there?
00:08:03Yeah
00:08:03That's right
00:08:04You belong to the company
00:08:06Something to do with Mr. Kurt
00:08:09Aren't you?
00:08:12Not really interested in ivory
00:08:13So
00:08:13Yes
00:08:15Funny what some men will do
00:08:17For a few dollars a month
00:08:18I guess I'll find out
00:08:19Don't be too short
00:08:21I took a man who hanged himself
00:08:24On the low
00:08:24Why?
00:08:26Who knows?
00:08:28The sun was too much room
00:08:30Maybe
00:08:30Or the country
00:08:33So
00:08:35Farewell
00:08:37Farewell
00:08:39Mr. Marlow
00:08:48That's right
00:08:49My name is Ernest Stitzer
00:08:51I have some authority here
00:08:53But Mr. Blauer
00:08:54Is the head of this station
00:08:55The central station
00:08:56Mr. Stitzer's his assistant
00:08:57I'm under him
00:08:58Mr. Khodovic Strunz
00:08:59How do you do?
00:09:00Mr. Kurtz of course
00:09:01Is over us all
00:09:02But he's up the river
00:09:03First
00:09:04You must get the boat working
00:09:06Is that the boat?
00:09:07Yeah
00:09:08That's the boat
00:09:09Very credible of course
00:09:10Nothing irregular
00:09:12You understand?
00:09:13Oh no
00:09:13Everything's very efficient
00:09:15Very well organised
00:09:16But the boat as you see
00:09:17Yeah
00:09:18The boat
00:09:18And no word from Mr. Kurtz
00:09:21All these months
00:09:21And the young lady is
00:09:24No
00:09:24You'll find your quarters up there
00:09:25On the hill
00:09:26Mr. Marlow
00:09:26Mr. Garreton will direct you
00:09:38Oh hello
00:09:51You gave me a start
00:09:52You're him
00:09:53Aren't you?
00:09:55Pilot for the riverboat
00:09:56My name's Marlow
00:09:58Mine's Edward Launce Garreton
00:09:59How do you do?
00:10:00I say you aren't
00:10:01I mean
00:10:02You're an American
00:10:03Good luck
00:10:04I'm what's known as
00:10:06The English representative
00:10:07About the same job
00:10:08As a keeper of a lighthouse
00:10:09But lonelier
00:10:10Where's your luggage?
00:10:11They're sending it up
00:10:12They're probably all busy
00:10:13Searching it
00:10:14Yep
00:10:14Searching it?
00:10:16Medical comforts?
00:10:17No thank you
00:10:18Bribery
00:10:19Shhh
00:10:20Serves a piano
00:10:21I don't know what for
00:10:22My job's to keep my eyes open
00:10:27And theirs is to keep my mouth shut
00:10:29Why should they search my luggage?
00:10:31What are they looking for?
00:10:32Oh books to burn
00:10:33Seditious literature
00:10:34Inflammatory pamphlets
00:10:36From the corrupt democracies
00:10:37Something radical
00:10:38Like a declaration of independence
00:10:40What are your politics?
00:10:42I got no sympathies
00:10:43One way or another
00:10:44I'm just here to run a boat
00:10:45You're an American
00:10:46You believe in free speech
00:10:48And the equality of man
00:10:49If you don't
00:10:50You will when you get out of here
00:10:51These boys will drive you to
00:10:52What?
00:10:54They're blasting
00:10:55I don't know what for
00:10:56They can't do a thing without Kurt
00:10:59Kurt, he must be some wonderful man
00:11:02Yes, he must be
00:11:03If he's still alive
00:11:06Oh shut up out there
00:11:08Sorry Marlow
00:11:09It's the tropics dear old boy
00:11:11Hello
00:11:11Oh Miss Gruner
00:11:13Mr Marlow
00:11:15Oh don't get up Eddie
00:11:16Go on playing
00:11:17It's astonishing
00:11:18Oh you must excuse me Mr Marlow
00:11:21I can't help remarking
00:11:23A certain resemblance
00:11:25Do you see it Eddie?
00:11:27But of course you don't know him
00:11:29I know Mr Marlow well sir
00:11:31He doesn't remind me of anybody around here
00:11:33Thank God
00:11:34Pretty obvious way of getting acquainted
00:11:38I must say
00:11:39Have you seen the new pilot?
00:11:42He's in here
00:11:43Ah
00:11:43Mr Stitzer
00:11:44Find anything in his luggage?
00:11:46Mr Marlow's waiting for his things
00:11:47Mr Marlow's luggage will be sent up to him
00:11:50This is not Mr Marlow's quarters
00:11:52What are you doing with it now Melchers?
00:11:54Beg your pardon?
00:11:55I'm not the porter
00:11:56Your boy's making a survey of his neckties?
00:11:58Mr Marlow
00:11:59Who's in charge of the committee to investigate and report on Marlow's shaving cream?
00:12:02Who's got that drawn?
00:12:03The manager of the station
00:12:04The manager no less
00:12:05I beg your pardon?
00:12:06You see Marlow you're getting special treatment
00:12:08The manager of the station Mr Blower will see you now Mr Marlow
00:12:12He's waiting in his office
00:12:13Seen your boat captain
00:12:14From a distance
00:12:15It's better that way
00:12:16Pretty bad is it?
00:12:17Oh it's got everything you could wish for but a bottom
00:12:19The manager tore that out of the last week
00:12:22Come Melchers
00:12:22The boys got restless and decided not to wait for you
00:12:25They were going to rescue Kurtz
00:12:27So they took your boat over to the south bank
00:12:29And ran it on the rocks
00:12:30Very simple
00:12:30Bombs!
00:12:33What?
00:12:34Bombs!
00:12:35Marlow's an anarchist
00:12:36He's blown up the manager
00:12:37Melchers!
00:12:38It's the new drain system
00:12:39It's dynamite
00:12:41The new drain system
00:12:44Everything's new here
00:12:45Everything's a system
00:12:46The manager is waiting Mr Marlow
00:12:48You haven't met Mr Blower our good manager?
00:12:51No
00:12:51This is his dining hall
00:12:53The other agents were always fighting about precedence at dinner
00:12:56So he made the table round
00:12:58Where he sits is the first place
00:12:59The rest is nowhere
00:13:01Except for that he isn't very bright
00:13:03But he doesn't get sick
00:13:05The rest of us do
00:13:06And eventually we go home
00:13:09Or drop dead
00:13:10A man who comes out here
00:13:13Should have no entrails
00:13:15Mr Marlow!
00:13:16The manager is waiting in his office!
00:13:23Mr Marlow
00:13:24You've been a long time coming
00:13:26The situation is serious
00:13:28The upriver stations must be relieved
00:13:31There have already been so many delays
00:13:33We do not know yet who's dead and who's alive
00:13:36Yes
00:13:38And we cannot think what has happened to Mr Kurtz
00:13:41He was warned
00:13:43We all warned him
00:13:45Yes?
00:13:46Stitzer?
00:13:47Oh yes, we all warned him, Mr Marlow
00:13:49But...
00:13:49Mr Marlow knows this company is actually controlled by our government
00:13:53It occupies a curious, delicate position
00:13:56We recognise the importance of Mr Kurtz to our government
00:14:00It was not for us to stand against his wishes
00:14:03He was interested in the country
00:14:05He wished to explore
00:14:07And now he is trapped up there
00:14:09Perhaps
00:14:10Well, I won't say
00:14:11Questions might be asked by the people
00:14:13Mr Kurtz is not popular in certain quarters
00:14:16Mr Kurtz is, of course, an exceptional man
00:14:20That man inside jabbered about his Mr Kurtz
00:14:27And outside, the silent wilderness
00:14:30Surrounded this cleared speck in the earth
00:14:33Great and invincible
00:14:34Like evil or truth
00:14:36Waiting patiently
00:14:38The river, glittering
00:14:44Flowed broadly by without a murmur
00:14:46Beyond the fence
00:14:48The forest
00:14:49And through the dim stir of that lamentable courtyard
00:14:53The silence of the land went home to one's very heart
00:14:57A great silence around and above
00:15:01Perhaps, on some quiet night
00:15:05The tremor of far-off drums
00:15:09They all seemed to be waiting for something
00:15:15But all that ever came to them was disease
00:15:18The word ivory rang in the air
00:15:22And you'd think they were praying to it
00:15:23Mr Marlow
00:15:29How long will it take to repair the riverboat?
00:15:32I need to take a closer look
00:15:34The situation is serious
00:15:36Very
00:15:37It is thought back in Europe
00:15:38That an expedition to leave Mr Kurtz
00:15:40At this time would be ill-advised
00:15:41It has been decided to withhold intelligence of his absence from the press
00:15:45Shh
00:15:47You done for the day?
00:15:50Yes, Miss Gruner
00:15:50We ran out of dynamite
00:15:52Marlow, we have a very high death rate
00:15:57More last month
00:15:58Four
00:15:59That's not counting the natives, Seanman
00:16:01Well, of course not
00:16:02So, Mr Marlow
00:16:03Yes
00:16:04You can understand our anxiety
00:16:07It's up to you to bring him back, Marlow
00:16:09Yeah
00:16:09It's up to you to bring him back
00:16:11And where you're going, Marlow
00:16:13It's much worse
00:16:14Now
00:16:15When will the boat be ready?
00:16:18I haven't examined it yet
00:16:19I don't know
00:16:20Up there
00:16:21In the interior
00:16:22Let's say, three months
00:16:23The station's upriver
00:16:24They don't last long out there
00:16:26Three months, yes?
00:16:28That ought to do the affair
00:16:30Goodbye, Miss Gruner
00:16:32Goodbye, Mr Shulman
00:16:35I go away tomorrow
00:16:36I'm going up the river
00:16:38Stations two and three
00:16:39Will be hard up for supplies, Mr Marlow
00:16:41I go out by canoe
00:16:43Not up to the top
00:16:46But as far as I dare
00:16:48Good night
00:16:50Tell me what you meant by two and three
00:16:55Are they trading stations?
00:16:57That's right, Mr Marlow
00:16:58There are three stations on the river
00:17:00Give me a pencil, Eddie
00:17:02This is number one
00:17:06The first station
00:17:07Here the jungle is very thick
00:17:10But the river is deep
00:17:11You will manage this easily
00:17:13The tier pits is here
00:17:15The captain before you
00:17:18Was killed here
00:17:20And this is as far as Shulman will get with his canoe
00:17:23This station is in very wild country
00:17:27It's maintained because it's near the best elephants
00:17:30For the cheapest trade
00:17:32A few glass beads or some calico
00:17:34Although the agents obtain great quantities of prime ivory
00:17:37But they must be relieved often
00:17:40It is impossible to live as far up the river as this for very long
00:17:45That is why you must make every haste to repair your boat
00:17:50And beyond
00:17:52Is unexplored
00:17:54There are cannibals
00:17:57Kurtz is somewhere
00:18:00Here
00:18:01Are you trying to frighten me?
00:18:05Are you frightened?
00:18:08No
00:18:08I believe you
00:18:13It seems to me that I'm trying to tell you a dream
00:18:19Of course I can't
00:18:22It's impossible
00:18:23We live
00:18:25As we dream
00:18:26Alone
00:18:29I've seen the devils of the world
00:18:33The devils that drive
00:18:35And sway men
00:18:37Violence and greed
00:18:39And the devil of hot desire
00:18:41And they were strong
00:18:42But here in this land
00:18:44I found the flabby devil
00:18:46The flabby, pretending, weak-eyed devil
00:18:49Of a rapacious and pitiless folly
00:18:51How insidious he could be, too
00:18:54I was only to find out several months later
00:18:57And a thousand miles up that river
00:19:00I can only repeat to Miss Gruner
00:19:04What has been made very clear
00:19:05There is no place for a woman
00:19:07But Miss Gruner cannot sail on this boat
00:19:09Mr. Mallow
00:19:10The boat is ready, sir
00:19:12No, I don't think you have the authority
00:19:14Authority
00:19:14Ridiculous
00:19:15Mr. Blower is in charge of the station
00:19:18Miss Gruner
00:19:19I command you to get off the boat
00:19:21Hello
00:19:30Hello
00:19:32Do you mind if I stay here?
00:19:35Of course not
00:19:36I'm glad you won the argument
00:19:38What do you mean?
00:19:41I'm glad you're coming up the river
00:19:42I guess I shouldn't be
00:19:44I didn't win the argument
00:19:47I just didn't get off
00:19:50It's gonna be dangerous
00:19:53But then you told me that
00:19:54The first day I came here
00:19:55Are you thinking about him?
00:20:03Yes
00:20:05You're a good navigator, aren't you?
00:20:09I've been on a lot of boats
00:20:10Don't know much about rivers though
00:20:13Particularly this one
00:20:14You told me nearly everything that first day
00:20:17Two ivory stations and then darkness
00:20:19One of those blank places on the map
00:20:22He'll have a map
00:20:23Will he?
00:20:24He'll make one
00:20:25He wouldn't leave it blank
00:20:27What do we think about you coming?
00:20:31I don't understand
00:20:32Well Kurt's like it that you're taking these kind of risks
00:20:35Oh, he despises cowardice
00:20:37He doesn't know I'm here
00:20:41At all
00:20:41No?
00:20:43I was to wait for him in Europe
00:20:44He was going to come back for me
00:20:47Four months ago
00:20:48There were no letters
00:20:50They wouldn't tell me anything at the company
00:20:53So I came out here
00:20:55In spite of them
00:20:56I was afraid
00:20:58He was almost too popular
00:21:02There was no good reason for sending him to the dark country
00:21:06Except to get him out of Europe
00:21:07That's why I am going to be there when they find him
00:21:11Do you think that they'd rather not find him?
00:21:15He's needed in Europe now badly
00:21:17But I can't trust these agents
00:21:19They're all afraid of Kurt's
00:21:22But they hardly know him
00:21:23Would that make any difference?
00:21:26It's impossible to know him without loving him
00:21:29How long have you known him?
00:21:32Do you mean how much do I love him?
00:21:35No
00:21:35We met nearly two years ago
00:21:38I didn't like him at first
00:21:41I thought he was
00:21:42I don't know what
00:21:43Cruel
00:21:45Ruthless
00:21:47First impressions
00:21:49I wasn't very intelligent or grown up
00:21:51What made you change your mind?
00:21:53It's not easy to refuse him anything
00:21:55He wanted to know me
00:21:57I got to know him
00:21:58What's the word?
00:22:03Nobility
00:22:04That sounds stuffy
00:22:06He is anything but that
00:22:08His laughter
00:22:10No
00:22:12I can't tell you about him
00:22:14He's just a demagogue in the uniform to a foreigner
00:22:17To somebody who doesn't know him
00:22:19I think I know what Kurtz means to your people
00:22:23I can't tell what he means to you
00:22:26You're talking about Kurtz
00:22:29I hope you don't mind my joining you
00:22:33I'm just about as welcome back there as you are
00:22:34The manager would like to see you, Marlow
00:22:37What about?
00:22:38Who knows?
00:22:39One of those conferences of theirs
00:22:41The kind that never end
00:22:42I can't leave the wheel now
00:22:44The river's dangerous here
00:22:45It's dangerous all the way
00:22:47We have a steersman
00:22:48He's a prodigy
00:22:50An emissary of forceful justice
00:22:52And science
00:22:53And progress
00:22:53And the devil knows what else
00:22:55What are you talking about?
00:22:56Kurtz, of course
00:22:57Today he's in charge here
00:22:59Next year
00:23:01Two years, Warren
00:23:02But I dare say
00:23:04You know what he'll be in two years' time
00:23:05If we get him back
00:23:07And Barry
00:23:09Yes, sir
00:23:10Come in here and take the wheel
00:23:11Anything looks bad
00:23:14You blow the whistle
00:23:15Understand?
00:23:15Yes, sir
00:23:16Mr. Marlow
00:23:17The manager wants to see you
00:23:19Ah, yes
00:23:29Mr. Marlow
00:23:30Yes
00:23:30When do we reach the second station?
00:23:33Don't you know?
00:23:34None of us have made the trip before, Mr. Marlow
00:23:36As far as I can tell
00:23:37We should be there first thing tomorrow
00:23:38Mr. Deterpitz will be very impatient
00:23:40As you understand
00:23:41It has been some time since he's been relieved
00:23:43Shulman went up, of course
00:23:44A few weeks ago
00:23:45With some supplies
00:23:46You can, good sir
00:23:47Mr. Deterpitz must be almost starving
00:23:49The point is, Marlow
00:23:50We cannot afford to take our time on this trip
00:23:52There must be no delays
00:23:53We're responsible for the life of Mr. Kitts
00:23:56If you hadn't wrecked the boat before I got here
00:23:58Mr. Marlow
00:23:58Yes?
00:23:59Is there nothing to interfere?
00:24:01Nothing to stop you from making full speed?
00:24:04What do you mean interfere?
00:24:05Do you realize how difficult the river is to navigate?
00:24:08Precisely
00:24:08If Miss Gruner here
00:24:10Ah
00:24:10What about Miss Gruner?
00:24:12Miss Gruner is engaged to Kitts
00:24:14I don't understand you?
00:24:15She belongs to Kitts
00:24:16Quiet, what's wrong with you, Mousers?
00:24:18You are hired to pilot the ship, Mr. Marlow
00:24:21I don't think Mr. Kitts would be happy to learn
00:24:23That you've allowed anything to interfere with your efficiency
00:24:26Look out!
00:24:26Low branch!
00:24:27Get out!
00:24:28Get out!
00:24:29Get out!
00:24:30Are you all right?
00:24:31Reverse!
00:24:31Reverse!
00:24:32Reverse!
00:24:33Reverse!
00:24:33Reverse!
00:24:34Reverse!
00:24:35Reverse!
00:24:36Reverse!
00:24:37Reverse!
00:24:37Reverse!
00:24:38Reverse!
00:24:39Reverse!
00:24:39Let me out!
00:24:39Let me out!
00:24:40Let me out!
00:24:41Shoot it!
00:24:42Don't shoot the snake!
00:24:43No, no, no, no, no, no!
00:24:44Don't shoot the snake!
00:24:46No!
00:24:47Shut the snake!
00:24:50Kill her!
00:24:50Let me out!
00:24:50Kill her!
00:24:51Stop!
00:24:52Stop!
00:24:52Stop!
00:24:53Goddamn!
00:24:54Goddamn!
00:24:56Stop the engine!
00:25:04Ah
00:25:05He's, uh, he's dead.
00:25:13Melchior's is dead.
00:25:26Look. Station number two.
00:25:30Who's that?
00:25:31Manager station number two. Assistant.
00:25:33You go back now, by the engine.
00:25:37Yes, sir.
00:25:38The manager says for you to remain on the boat.
00:25:41What do you think I'm going to do?
00:25:42This is the station.
00:25:47What's this one like?
00:25:49This one?
00:25:50Our new friend, the number two manager. What's he like?
00:25:53I don't know. I haven't met him.
00:25:56They say he's not so nice. Bad blue blood.
00:26:01You're American, yes?
00:26:03Close the door.
00:26:04Yes, sir.
00:26:07The Tirpitz is back there with your manager. They're busy. Didn't see me here.
00:26:11What's happened to your face?
00:26:12Ah, he hit me.
00:26:14Who?
00:26:14Let me fix it.
00:26:15It's all right. He hits me all the time. I'm used to it.
00:26:18What do you want with me?
00:26:19Look out there. You never saw so much ivory.
00:26:22All your life you never saw so much. That's the most ivory anybody ever got.
00:26:27I'll tell you the truth. All these months he beats me. Now I'll get back at him.
00:26:30Who are you talking about?
00:26:32The Tirpitz. He's telling them it's his ivory. He takes the credit. He's lying. It's not his ivory.
00:26:38Mr. de Tirpitz. Ah, Mr. Marlowe. Mr. Leutpold de Tirpitz, the manager of station number two.
00:26:46Mr. Marlowe, you seem to have met my assistant, Mr. Siebert-Muse.
00:26:49I beg your pardon. Miss Gruner. Miss Gruner is the fiancé to Mr. Kurtz.
00:26:54Hmm, yes. There's a ceremony to be held in the jungle. Mr. Meuse, I think you'd better look after the loading.
00:26:59There's no need, Mr. de Tirpitz. Everything is going along regularly.
00:27:03We're on demand. Most of my boys deserted two months ago.
00:27:06Deserted?
00:27:07Our boys will be plenty. We should be loaded any time.
00:27:10Deserted, did they? Well, I won't ask you why.
00:27:12Don't you know who I am?
00:27:14No, I don't.
00:27:15Have you forgotten? I'm not his assistant. He lied. I've been working for him, but I'm not his assistant.
00:27:20Then who are you?
00:27:21I'm Mr. Kurtz's assistant. I came down with the ivory. It's not his ivory. It belongs to Mr. Kurtz.
00:27:35Continuing up that river was like traveling back to the earliest beginnings of the world.
00:27:40When vegetation rioted on the earth, the big trees were kings.
00:27:46Trees. Millions of trees. Massive. Immense.
00:27:52Running up high.
00:27:54And at their foot, hugging the bank against the stream, crept the little, degrimed steamboat.
00:28:00Like a sluggish beetle crawling on the floor of a lofty portico.
00:28:04Where the company man imagined it crawled, too, I don't know.
00:28:08To some place where they expected to get something, I bet.
00:28:11For me, it crawled toward Kurtz.
00:28:14Each station should be like a beacon on the road toward better things.
00:28:22A center for trade, of course, but also for improvement, for instructions.
00:28:27Did he say that?
00:28:28It's called idealism.
00:28:30He's crazy.
00:28:32They're all crazy.
00:28:35It was Eddie and Deterpitz.
00:28:37They were standing behind the pilot house, and I guess they thought I couldn't hear them.
00:28:40He thinks anything, anything, can be done in this country.
00:28:44When one comes out here, you conceive.
00:28:47It's not to gaze at the moon.
00:28:49Nobody here, you understand, here, can endanger your position.
00:28:55I could tell they were talking about Kurtz.
00:28:57He's up there.
00:28:59Yes.
00:29:00Is he alone?
00:29:02Yes.
00:29:03He sent Muse down the river with a note to me.
00:29:08In these terms.
00:29:10Clear this poor devil out of the country, and don't bother to send me any more like him.
00:29:16I'd rather be alone.
00:29:19Nothing since then, of course.
00:29:23Ivory.
00:29:24Yes, I know.
00:29:26Lots of it.
00:29:27Record consignments.
00:29:31Prime sort.
00:29:33Lots.
00:29:35Most annoying.
00:29:37Forbidden.
00:29:40Shows us in a bad light.
00:29:41No man can live in that climate.
00:29:45That's true.
00:29:46Ah, my boy.
00:29:48Trust to this.
00:29:50I say, trust to this.
00:29:53He meant the river.
00:29:55The lurking death.
00:29:56It's the hidden evil.
00:29:57The profound darkness of its heart.
00:30:03Hello?
00:30:08You're up late?
00:30:10I can't sleep.
00:30:12Mr. de Tirpitz and Eddie are still up.
00:30:15I heard them talking.
00:30:16So did I.
00:30:17I'm afraid I interrupted them.
00:30:21It's a bit dangerous, this sailing at night.
00:30:23Yes.
00:30:26Can you hear the drums?
00:30:29Yeah.
00:30:31I think so.
00:30:34It must be very far away.
00:30:37You see that?
00:30:38There it is.
00:30:40Sir.
00:30:41Station number three.
00:30:48What's happened?
00:30:50Are you excited, Miss Gruner?
00:30:52What about?
00:30:53There's just a chance he may be here.
00:30:55What makes you think Kurtz might be here?
00:30:57He could be here.
00:30:58Hello?
00:30:59Hello?
00:31:00Shhh.
00:31:01Yeah?
00:31:02Hello?
00:31:05Hey.
00:31:06Hello?
00:31:07Yeah?
00:31:08Blow the whistle.
00:31:09I'll blow it.
00:31:11Get started.
00:31:12What is it?
00:31:14Come down here.
00:31:15No, you come up here.
00:31:17What?
00:31:18You.
00:31:18I better stay by the wheel.
00:31:20Shut up with that whistle.
00:31:22What?
00:31:22We might want to get started quick.
00:31:25Oh, stop that whistle.
00:31:28Listen.
00:31:30Quiet.
00:31:33What's wrong, Mr. Deterbys?
00:31:35Fools.
00:31:37Drums.
00:31:41What did I tell you?
00:31:44Marlow, what do you make of this?
00:31:46I told you strange things were happening on the river.
00:31:49I was speaking to Marlow.
00:31:50We'd better get off and take a look.
00:31:51That might not be advisable.
00:31:54You mean you're afraid?
00:31:55Mr. Deterbys.
00:31:57Why don't you go ashore?
00:32:00All right, I will.
00:32:02Will you come too, Mr. Marlow?
00:32:04Mr. Marlow will stay here by the wheel.
00:32:07In case you have to leave suddenly.
00:32:10Very well.
00:32:18What did you find?
00:32:21They're in there.
00:32:26Why don't they come out?
00:32:29Are they dead?
00:32:33Yes.
00:32:35Fever?
00:32:38No.
00:32:38Who are they?
00:32:39I can't tell.
00:32:49They haven't any heads.
00:32:53Start the boat.
00:32:54Marlow?
00:32:54Marlow, where's Marlow?
00:32:57Master.
00:32:57Marlow, start up.
00:32:58Don't you think Mr. Marlow had better start up the engines, Mr. Blar?
00:33:00Those are war drums.
00:33:01Yeah, by all means.
00:33:02By all means.
00:33:03Start it up, Marlow.
00:33:04Where are we going?
00:33:05What do you mean?
00:33:06We're going up the river.
00:33:07You're crazy.
00:33:08Start the engines, Marlow.
00:33:09We can't go up.
00:33:10It's suicide.
00:33:11Of course we're going up.
00:33:12We're going up the river to save Mr. Kurtz.
00:33:14There is a question, of course, whether it would be safe to go down either, if the tribes
00:33:18have arisen.
00:33:19For God's sake, start the engines.
00:33:20We can't stay here.
00:33:21We'll all be killed.
00:33:21If there's some truth in that.
00:33:22We've got our duty.
00:33:24Mr. Kurtz is in danger.
00:33:25Mr. Kurtz is dead.
00:33:27Was he one of those down there?
00:33:30He might be.
00:33:31I know he's alive.
00:33:33You think so?
00:33:33We can't desert him.
00:33:34We've got our duty.
00:33:35Be quiet, Muse.
00:33:36Marlow, you must get us back to the coast if you can.
00:33:39Just a moment, Mr. de Tirpitz.
00:33:41If we turn back now, there will be some difficulty in explaining matters in Europe.
00:33:46It might be very embarrassing.
00:33:47My God.
00:33:48You people care more for your jobs than your lives.
00:33:50I'm afraid Mr. Blau is right, Mr. de Tirpitz.
00:33:52If Mr. Kurtz is alive...
00:33:54Go down there and look in that building.
00:33:56No, thank you.
00:33:57There's war on the river.
00:33:59Do you understand that?
00:34:01We've got to get help from up the coast.
00:34:03Very embarrassing.
00:34:04There's a canoe down there, Mr. Blau.
00:34:06Why not send one of us down with some men?
00:34:08They'll make a good time with the current.
00:34:10Miss Gruner is going to go down with them.
00:34:12What's that?
00:34:12I'm the captain of this boat.
00:34:14Miss Gruner is not going any further.
00:34:15She's returning to the coast.
00:34:16Well, I don't want to.
00:34:17Well, I'm sorry.
00:34:19Very well, Mr. Marlow.
00:34:20If you take the authority...
00:34:21I take the authority.
00:34:22I take all the authority.
00:34:27Who's going with her?
00:34:28You're not.
00:34:29Where's Struntz?
00:34:30Struntz!
00:34:30He's going.
00:34:31Struntz!
00:34:32Yes, Mr. Struntz, sir.
00:34:33Did you see that canoe down there?
00:34:34You're all out of your heads.
00:34:36We're going to be eaten by cannibals so you can rescue a corpse.
00:34:38Get it in the water.
00:34:40You're taking Miss Gruner down the river.
00:34:41Then get back here as soon as you can.
00:34:42Mr. Miroskate, ready provisions.
00:34:44Pick three of the best men.
00:34:45Very regrettable.
00:34:46I'm going.
00:34:47You're all crazy.
00:34:48What?
00:34:49Mr. Garriton.
00:34:51Should you do this?
00:34:52You mustn't go further.
00:34:53I know that.
00:34:56Goodbye, Elsa.
00:34:57Drums.
00:35:08A thousand drums.
00:35:11The steamer toiled along slowly on the edge of a black and incomprehensible frenzy.
00:35:18The prehistoric man was cursing us.
00:35:22Praying to us.
00:35:24Welcoming us.
00:35:25Who could tell?
00:35:27We couldn't understand because we were too far and we couldn't remember.
00:35:34Because we were traveling in the night of the first ages.
00:35:37Those ages that are gone, leaving hardly a sign and no memories.
00:35:46But the drums spoke to you, straight out of the stone age.
00:35:56You didn't know the men in there.
00:35:58What thrilled you was just the thought of their humanity, the faintest trace of a response, the terrible frankness of that noise.
00:36:13The mind of the moon.
00:36:14The mind of the moon.
00:36:15The mind of a man is capable of anything because everything is in it.
00:36:27All the past as well as all the future.
00:36:30A man can face that frenzy, but he must be at least as much of a man as those on the shore.
00:36:39What's in there, after all, but truth?
00:36:41A man must meet that truth with his own true stuff.
00:36:45You wonder that I didn't go ashore for a howl and a dance?
00:36:49Well, no, I didn't. I had to watch the steering.
00:36:53Some fifty miles beyond, we came upon a hut of reeds.
00:36:56And on a stack of firewood, we found a piece of board with faded pencil writing on it.
00:37:01Hurry up. Approach cautiously.
00:37:08There is a signature, but it's not legible.
00:37:12Not Kurtz.
00:37:14Much longer word. Maybe showman?
00:37:18Hurry up. Where? Upriver.
00:37:21Approach cautiously.
00:37:26The steamer seemed at her last gasp, and I caught myself listening on tiptoe for the last beat of the boat.
00:37:34But still we crawled.
00:37:37Crawled on toward Kurtz, deeper and deeper into the heart of the darkness.
00:37:43The drums have stopped, sir.
00:37:51Mr. Marlow, we will not proceed after sundown.
00:37:55Our light may be seen.
00:37:57Do you think we aren't watched?
00:37:59It was very quiet there.
00:38:20Living trees might have been changed into stones, even to the slenderest twig, lightest leaf.
00:38:27It wasn't sleep.
00:38:31It seemed unnatural, like a state of trance.
00:38:36You looked on amazed, and began to suspect yourself of being deaf.
00:38:42Then the night came suddenly and struck you blind as well.
00:38:45What's that sound?
00:38:54I don't know.
00:38:57I know what it is.
00:38:59Marlow.
00:39:00Look.
00:39:02What is that?
00:39:06Drunk.
00:39:06That's how they do it.
00:39:09What did you get there, Marlow?
00:39:11Medical comforts.
00:39:13Are you suggesting that the natives in there are all blowing on champagne bottles?
00:39:18Different sizes.
00:39:21That's a magnet.
00:39:25What's causative in champagne bottles?
00:39:28It's bamboo.
00:39:30Different sizes of bamboo.
00:39:31You're a lovely girl.
00:39:40He stopped.
00:39:54Those in there, they know that magic.
00:39:57What magic?
00:39:59Gun magic.
00:40:01It means we should only use new tricks.
00:40:05Tricks they don't know.
00:40:07I wonder what Kurt's use.
00:40:10Harold!
00:40:11Get up!
00:40:13Eddie!
00:40:14Eddie's head!
00:40:15Eddie's head!
00:40:21It's gone through his neck.
00:40:30Eddie's head!
00:41:00Eddie's head was deep in a heap of cotton wool and felt like it too.
00:41:03Joking.
00:41:05Warm.
00:41:06Stifling.
00:41:07Mr. Marlowe, I think we'd better go at once.
00:41:10I authorize you to take all the risks.
00:41:12I refuse to take any.
00:41:14Well, I must defer to your judgment.
00:41:18You're the captain.
00:41:19Catch them.
00:41:20Catch them.
00:41:21Give them to us, eh?
00:41:22Give them to us!
00:41:23Who?
00:41:24Those men in there.
00:41:25Bad tribes.
00:41:27You catch them, give them to us.
00:41:29To you, eh?
00:41:30What would you do with them?
00:41:32Hmm?
00:41:33It's them!
00:41:34I guess I should have been horrified.
00:41:37But it occurred to me that my crew must be very hungry.
00:41:40Why they didn't go for us, I don't know.
00:41:43I thought I might be eaten by them before very long, but I admit that just then I saw, in
00:41:50a new light, as it were, how unwholesome the company men looked, and I hoped, I, yeah,
00:41:56I actually hoped, that I wasn't quite so unappetizing.
00:42:01Oh, my God.
00:42:03Oh, my God.
00:42:09What's wrong, Mr. Blower?
00:42:10I can't go.
00:42:12I can't.
00:42:13I can't.
00:42:13Get a hold of yourself, Blower.
00:42:15I can't.
00:42:15I can't.
00:42:16I can't.
00:42:17Harold!
00:42:19Oh, my God!
00:42:20I hit you!
00:42:21No!
00:42:21Look! It's... it's fireworks!
00:42:37How do you know?
00:42:39It's his magic!
00:42:41Fireworks! Kurtz is alive!
00:42:44See? The attack has stopped.
00:42:47Kurtz is alive. Look at this.
00:42:48The natives are getting civilized quick.
00:42:51This was the Stone Age until just recently. Look at this.
00:42:53What about it?
00:42:54It's an arrow. A very primitive weapon, except this one has a steel tip.
00:43:20Why did we leave the boat?
00:43:30Because we couldn't go any further.
00:43:32How are we going?
00:43:33Idiot. We're going after Kurtz.
00:43:35I don't know what you mean by after him.
00:43:38How do you Americans sit, Mother? Dead or alive?
00:43:41I don't like your attitude.
00:43:42We can scarcely call ourselves a rescue party now.
00:43:44I don't like it.
00:43:45You don't rescue a man who shoots you with steel arrows.
00:43:48What do you do to him?
00:43:49You capture him.
00:43:50You shoot him.
00:43:51Well, how do you do it?
00:43:52You can't do anything.
00:43:56I shall have to report this conversation.
00:43:58Who to?
00:43:59To Kurtz.
00:44:01Do you think we'll ever get out of here?
00:44:03I don't like your attitude.
00:44:04Neither do I.
00:44:05Mr. Kurtz did not order that attack on the river.
00:44:08He called it off.
00:44:10Did you hear that?
00:44:11Yes, I heard it.
00:44:12Muse was his assistant.
00:44:14He's been with him up there.
00:44:15Have you forgotten that?
00:44:16No.
00:44:17They love him.
00:44:18Who loves him?
00:44:19The cannibals?
00:44:20Yes.
00:44:21Why?
00:44:22You don't know him.
00:44:24You haven't heard him speak.
00:44:26What does he talk about?
00:44:27Everything.
00:44:29Everything.
00:44:30Hey, he made me see things.
00:44:35I thought he fired you.
00:44:37That's true.
00:44:38He wanted to kill me.
00:44:40But I don't judge him.
00:44:41What, what, kill you?
00:44:42Come on.
00:44:43There is nothing on earth to prevent him from killing whoever he pleased.
00:44:52What, what are those things out there, Mr. Blower?
00:44:56Are they?
00:44:56You'd better run over and take a look.
00:44:58The skyrockets came from further east.
00:45:00But we'd better find out.
00:45:01Mr. Strons, just run out there far enough to see.
00:45:05Go on.
00:45:05Yes, Mr. Blower.
00:45:07He hated all this.
00:45:09But somehow, he couldn't get away.
00:45:11When I had a chance, I begged him to try and leave while there was time.
00:45:16He'd say, yes.
00:45:18And then he'd go off on another of his trips.
00:45:20Trips?
00:45:21He'd disappear for weeks.
00:45:24Forget himself.
00:45:25Amongst these people, forget himself, you know.
00:45:30These, er, trips of his.
00:45:32What was he doing?
00:45:33Exploring?
00:45:34Oh, yes.
00:45:35He discovered lots of mountains.
00:45:37A lake to Lake Kurtz.
00:45:40I don't know exactly in what direction.
00:45:42It was dangerous to inquire too much.
00:45:44He must be back there somewhere.
00:45:46Where?
00:45:47Where we're going now.
00:45:48Towards the fireworks.
00:45:49These expeditions were mostly for ivory.
00:45:52But he had no goods to trade with by that time.
00:45:54There must be a good lot of cartridges left even yet.
00:45:59To speak plainly, he raided the country.
00:46:03Of course.
00:46:05But how could he?
00:46:06He was alone.
00:46:07He had the cannibals.
00:46:08They adore him.
00:46:10What can you expect?
00:46:12He came to them with thunder and lightning, you know.
00:46:16And they had never seen anything like it.
00:46:18And very terrible.
00:46:20It can be very...
00:46:22You can't judge Mr. Kurtz.
00:46:25You can't judge him as you would an ordinary man.
00:46:28Of course not.
00:46:29Well, I'm glad to hear you say that, dear Herr Pitts.
00:46:32No, no, no, no.
00:46:33Mr. Kurtz isn't judged at all.
00:46:36He's, uh...
00:46:37He's explained.
00:46:38And you're all good at that.
00:46:40You've had experience for several years now explaining things in Europe.
00:46:44Well, there's...
00:46:47There's something that you're not going to get to explain.
00:46:51What do you mean?
00:46:52I've put up with it.
00:46:54I've put up with it in Europe.
00:46:55I had to.
00:46:56But I don't have to here.
00:46:59Yeah.
00:47:03They're heads.
00:47:06Up there on those poles.
00:47:09Human heads.
00:47:11They're heads of white men.
00:47:14The ones that were missing at Station 3.
00:47:18I thought they'd turn up.
00:47:20Brent and Naaman and Verbruggen.
00:47:23Yeah.
00:47:25They're...
00:47:26They're human.
00:47:30My God.
00:47:31I don't care what you do to me.
00:47:38You all the cannibals.
00:47:41I'm going to kill that man.
00:47:43They're turpets!
00:47:44I've put up with you all for long enough.
00:47:47I don't have to put up with it out here!
00:47:50You drove me out here!
00:47:53I'm going to kill him!
00:47:55What should we do?
00:47:57We might force him back to the ship and lock him up.
00:47:59Oh.
00:48:01No.
00:48:02No.
00:48:02No.
00:48:03Let's wait and see.
00:48:21Kurtz is up there!
00:48:24What is that?
00:48:25It's...
00:48:25It's a temple.
00:48:29Yes.
00:48:31Well, there were canoes.
00:48:34Perhaps we should proceed at once across the lake.
00:48:39Suppose Mr. Kurtz is held captive.
00:48:42What are these natives doing, kneeling on their faces?
00:48:46I never saw so many.
00:48:51There are hundreds of them.
00:48:52I never saw natives behave like this.
00:48:55Perhaps it might be wise.
00:48:57I mean to say...
00:48:59To show our friendly intentions.
00:49:02Yes.
00:49:03I mean...
00:49:05I mean, drop to your knees.
00:49:07What are you doing?
00:49:09You can say what I'm doing.
00:49:11Come on.
00:49:11Get down.
00:49:12Get down.
00:49:13Get down.
00:49:14Put your faces in the mud.
00:49:16Not me.
00:49:17Don't make them angry.
00:49:19They're on everything.
00:49:20No.
00:49:20No.
00:49:21Don't shoot him.
00:49:22Not yet.
00:49:24Marlowe!
00:49:26Where's Marlowe?
00:49:27Marlowe!
00:49:36I'm not disclosing any trade secrets.
00:49:38But I want you to understand now that Mr. Kurtz had taken a high seat amongst the devils of the land.
00:49:47I mean, literally.
00:49:50I have full information about these things.
00:49:53You see, I have to care of his memory.
00:49:56Well, he won't be forgotten.
00:50:01Whatever he was.
00:50:04He was not common.
00:50:06His...
00:50:07Let's say his nerves went wrong.
00:50:11He'd presided at certain midnight dances ending with unspeakable rites, which gathered, or offered up to him, to Mr. Kurtz himself.
00:50:26You can't understand.
00:50:31How could you?
00:50:32How could you imagine what particular region of the first ages a man's untrammeled feet may take him into by the way of solitude?
00:50:45Utter solitude.
00:50:47By the way of silence.
00:50:50Utter...
00:50:51Silence.
00:50:53Silence.
00:50:53Silence.
00:50:56Silence.
00:51:00I took a canoe across the lake.
00:51:03I climbed a ladder that extended up from the mists of the water into the great temple above.
00:51:09There, inside, just visible in the light of the moon, was Kurtz.
00:51:20Shira!
00:51:24Shira!
00:51:24Who's that?
00:51:32Deterpence.
00:51:34He's the manager of number two.
00:51:38Shira!
00:51:40You must learn to pray.
00:51:42How many more of them?
00:51:47Six.
00:51:49Six, counting me.
00:51:50I'm not counting you.
00:51:53You'd never understand.
00:51:56Five.
00:51:58Hmm.
00:51:59I need that.
00:52:01In my infinite wisdom.
00:52:02How many of you got there?
00:52:05From the river to the mountains.
00:52:09All the people are united.
00:52:11And all you have to do is say the word.
00:52:13Get out!
00:52:17Are you going to eat us?
00:52:19The superior races are not very palatable.
00:52:27They are praying to me.
00:52:29I have a gun.
00:52:32You won't leave this place alive.
00:52:34I'll leave this place.
00:52:35I have another world to conquer.
00:52:39What world?
00:52:40Down the river.
00:52:43Five more continents.
00:52:46And then I'll die.
00:52:51Civilization.
00:52:52Is that all you want?
00:52:54I want...
00:52:56everything.
00:52:57What are you going to do?
00:53:02I'm...
00:53:03I'm answering a prayer.
00:53:07My angels.
00:53:11It's Blauer.
00:53:13And Stitzer.
00:53:14And Muse.
00:53:16They're praying too.
00:53:19There comes one of them in a canoe.
00:53:21That's the Tirpitz.
00:53:23Sacrilege.
00:53:24Is the lake supposed to be holy?
00:53:26Holy of holies.
00:53:27Where you stand is taboo.
00:53:31The place of the most high.
00:53:35Are you the pilot of the riverboat?
00:53:37Yes.
00:53:39That's a pity.
00:53:41I had plans for you.
00:53:45These blasphemies must be stopped.
00:53:47By arrows with steel tips?
00:53:49Yes.
00:53:51Abrogate.
00:53:52I can't see you.
00:53:53I'm not always visible.
00:53:56You're crazy.
00:53:57You're lucky the tribes don't speak English.
00:54:02Do you threaten me?
00:54:03Yes.
00:54:04You're a brave man.
00:54:06Come up here.
00:54:08I'll come up and kill you.
00:54:09It is time.
00:54:11It is time.
00:54:11Mwike Uluwami.
00:54:14Kiabakiya.
00:54:14Mwana.
00:54:16Beamwanda wami.
00:54:17Mwike Uluwami.
00:54:19Mwim была.
00:54:21Mwuma.
00:54:22kmu.
00:54:25Mwuma.
00:54:27Mwce.
00:54:29Mweta w셨.
00:54:31Mwuma.
00:54:35Mwuto empu.
00:54:36Mwitika.
00:54:37Mwimza.
00:54:37Mwiluwam.
00:54:38Mwipa.
00:54:38We buy it
00:54:49Kids
00:54:53The templates my beloved son I know my well pleased
00:55:02Look over there
00:55:05What do you see?
00:55:08Oh
00:55:17Human heads
00:55:21Thousands
00:55:25You
00:55:27My compliments
00:55:29They're yours
00:55:32Beyond
00:55:34What do you see beyond?
00:55:36A throne
00:55:39An empty throne
00:55:43Go and sit in it
00:55:45I'm going to shoot you
00:55:49Why?
00:55:52If you do you know what will happen
00:55:53What will happen to Schulman and Brent and Nyman and Verbruggen
00:55:57I won't be able to stop it
00:55:59I'll be dead you see
00:56:01There will be anarchy
00:56:02How about Schulman and the rest couldn't you stop that?
00:56:05Yes
00:56:07That wasn't anarchy
00:56:08It was law
00:56:09Who's law?
00:56:10My law
00:56:12They were traitors to the state
00:56:13Your state
00:56:15You're a foreigner, Marlow
00:56:18Understand that our nation has no borders
00:56:22Humanity depends on our race
00:56:26Outside there are ten thousand savages
00:56:30Until I came
00:56:31Until I came
00:56:31The most primitive of mankind
00:56:33And now
00:56:34Now
00:56:36They are enlightened
00:56:39The tribes unified in the service of their leader
00:56:42Who pretends to be God
00:56:44The leader
00:56:45The strong voice of authority
00:56:47Is the highest expression of our culture
00:56:49The fulfilment of the superior race
00:56:53I tell you
00:56:54God is made in the image of man
00:56:59We were attacked on the river
00:57:01I called it off
00:57:03Their natural passions can't be controlled
00:57:07They know you've come for me
00:57:09To take me away from them
00:57:14They love me
00:57:16Do you understand that?
00:57:17They are afraid of you
00:57:19You must have told them that we were evil spirits
00:57:22Don't you know
00:57:23What it is to command souls?
00:57:28Greatness
00:57:31Can't you see what I mean to them?
00:57:35The turpets
00:57:37Get up on that throne
00:57:40I'm going back down the river
00:57:41I've got history to write
00:57:43I'm just beginning
00:57:46Beginning
00:57:48Get up on that throne
00:57:50The turpets
00:57:51Get up on that throne
00:57:55It's yours now
00:57:56The turpets
00:57:58I leave it to you
00:58:02The turpets we're leaving
00:58:04The power and the glory
00:58:07It's yours
00:58:09The first real dictatorship
00:58:19Now is the time
00:58:24How does it feel
00:58:26The turpets
00:58:29Are you comfortable in the seat of heaven?
00:58:31The turpets
00:58:35Look
00:58:41Is that the moon down there below us?
00:58:43Mr. Kertz
00:58:59Mr. Kertz
00:59:02You remember Mr. Stitzer?
00:59:04We were most concerned Mr. Kertz
00:59:10We rejoiced that we have managed to
00:59:13Rejoiced that we have managed to
00:59:18To find you
00:59:20The turpets
00:59:24The turpets started to run
00:59:26The natives stayed crouched but watched with their eyes as he plunged among them wildly and finally fell on top of them
00:59:32Get up on that
00:59:35Still they didn't move
00:59:36He struggled across the bodies of the prone natives but the company men bore down on him
00:59:41Grabbed him by his arms and legs lifting him off the sprawled bodies
00:59:45Do you think he's asleep?
00:59:52How near are they?
00:59:54I wonder how Mr. de Tirpitz is making out back there
00:59:57There will be no difficulty with the boat?
01:00:00I don't think so
01:00:01We can start away the moment we get there
01:00:03Yeah
01:00:04Good
01:00:05If it wasn't for Kertz we'd be on our way now
01:00:07Mr. Kertz is very ill
01:00:10We must make every sacrifice
01:00:13We must of course rush help to Mr. de Tirpitz when we get back
01:00:18His position is not enviable
01:00:20I would not care to be left alone up there
01:00:24To govern all those savages
01:00:26But Mr. Kertz insisted
01:00:28That's true Mr. de Tirpitz he insisted
01:00:31Mr. de Tirpitz knows those people he knows what's best
01:00:35That's true he knows what's best
01:00:37It's not for us to question
01:00:39He had to leave someone there in his place
01:00:41After all it made himself a god to them
01:00:43They made him a god
01:00:45He subdued them to a great extent and brought many benefits
01:00:50His methods were unusual but the circumstances required forceful leadership
01:00:54That's right Mr. de Tirpitz
01:00:55They made him a god because even among savages the great leader is recognized
01:01:00And his attributes are godlike
01:01:03Mr. Kertz was a very great man
01:01:08Mr. Kertz?
01:01:09Mr. Kertz?
01:01:09What is it?
01:01:12Mr. Kertz?
01:01:14He's gone
01:01:16Get him! Get him back! He mustn't escape
01:01:20Why don't you go that way? Marlow there? Everyone a different way
01:01:23Get him back!
01:01:24But be careful that they mustn't hear us out there
01:01:27Get him back!
01:01:28Look! What?
01:01:29Shush!
01:01:29Look here!
01:01:30Shush!
01:01:31The natives are out there they mustn't hear us
01:01:33That's true
01:01:34The fresh tracks
01:01:35Yes they must be his
01:01:37Come on!
01:01:37Shush!
01:01:38He's crawling on all fours
01:01:40If we run we can head him off
01:01:41We might get in front of him
01:01:42We are in front of him
01:01:44What?
01:01:44Where are the tracks?
01:01:46There aren't any
01:01:48If he gets back to the savages we're finished
01:01:50In this condition there's no telling of him
01:01:53Look!
01:01:53Where?
01:01:53No, I'm wrong I thought I saw something stir there in the mud
01:01:59My nerves, I'm not well
01:02:00Mr. Kertz!
01:02:06Mr. Kertz
01:02:10Mr. Kertz
01:02:11Well, Mr. Kertz
01:02:15Don't you think you'd better let us take you back to the stretcher?
01:02:20Mr. Kertz?
01:02:21Where it's warm, Mr. Kertz
01:02:24Where you can rest
01:02:31I was on the threshold of great things
01:02:53Mr. Blower
01:03:00What is it?
01:03:03There
01:03:05On the pole
01:03:08See
01:03:08They're holding it up
01:03:10What are you talking about?
01:03:13Mr. Kertz
01:03:14It's Mr. Kertz
01:03:15Mr. Kertz
01:03:15Mr. Kertz
01:03:16Mr. Kertz
01:03:17Mr. Kertz
01:03:17Mr. Kertz
01:03:18Mr. Kertz
01:03:19Mr. Kertz
01:03:19Mr. Kertz
01:03:19Mr. Kertz
01:03:20Mr. Kertz
01:03:21Let them have it.
01:03:32The brown current ran swiftly out of the heart of darkness,
01:03:36bearing us down toward the sea,
01:03:38and Kurtz's life was running swiftly too,
01:03:42ebbing, ebbing out of his heart into the sea of inexorable time.
01:03:51Do you know why I ran away?
01:04:09I came down the river, as far as number three, and turned back.
01:04:15Last night, you caught me crawling back to the jungle.
01:04:24Do you know why?
01:04:27Yeah.
01:04:28I'm entirely sane, Marlow.
01:04:32Lunatics are sane before they die.
01:04:37I'm gonna die tonight.
01:04:40You know you're gonna die.
01:04:45But...
01:04:48There's someone you must live for.
01:04:52The light.
01:04:54The light.
01:04:55Shut down the light.
01:04:58Close the shutters.
01:04:59There.
01:05:02There's Elsa.
01:05:05Elsa.
01:05:09My intended.
01:05:11Close the shutters.
01:05:13The shutters are closed.
01:05:15The light.
01:05:17Elsa.
01:05:19You must explain everything.
01:05:22I can't...
01:05:23I want...
01:05:24No...
01:05:25No more...
01:05:26Than justice.
01:05:29She loves me, Marlow.
01:05:33You're a little like me.
01:05:35I thought of leaving you in my place, in the temple, instead of that full...
01:05:39What's his name?
01:05:40The Tirpitz.
01:05:41Well...
01:05:42Why not go down the river, instead of me?
01:05:45Why not take my place there, with Elsa?
01:05:48What?
01:05:50You...
01:05:51You're in love with her.
01:05:52Aren't you?
01:05:54Why don't you marry her?
01:05:58The light.
01:06:00Shut up, the light.
01:06:04You came a long way for me, Marlow.
01:06:07A long, hard way.
01:06:10It was a good hunt.
01:06:12And you caught me alive.
01:06:14But I'm cheating them.
01:06:18I'm gonna be a martyr.
01:06:21I'm gonna die.
01:06:23You?
01:06:24A martyr?
01:06:25Oh, yes.
01:06:27I'm more than a hero already.
01:06:30Not to you, of course.
01:06:33To my...
01:06:35People.
01:06:38I'm every one of them.
01:06:40Think of it, Marlow.
01:06:43I'm a whole nation's long, golden dream.
01:06:53And to you...
01:06:55A miserable wretch you once caught.
01:06:59Grubbing for ivory in the bush.
01:07:02Crazy with disease, who died in captivity.
01:07:05You're more than that.
01:07:08Or less.
01:07:10Or worse.
01:07:12Or...
01:07:14Worse.
01:07:16How do you know you're gonna die?
01:07:22What I've had is fatal.
01:07:25It's called...
01:07:28Power.
01:07:30Power.
01:07:33Do you understand that?
01:07:34You said I never would.
01:07:39You said you ran away, uh...
01:07:42I don't understand that.
01:07:44I was afraid.
01:07:48Understand this much.
01:07:49Everything I've done up here, has been done according to the method of my government.
01:07:58Everything.
01:08:00There's a man now in Europe trying to do what I've done in the jungle.
01:08:06He will fail.
01:08:08In his madness, he thinks he can't fail.
01:08:12But he will.
01:08:14A brute can rule only brutes.
01:08:20Remember the meek.
01:08:22The meek.
01:08:24The meek.
01:08:26I'm...
01:08:29A great...
01:08:31Man.
01:08:33Marlow.
01:08:35Really great.
01:08:38Greater...
01:08:39Than great men before me.
01:08:42I know...
01:08:44The strength of the enemy.
01:08:46Its terrible weakness.
01:08:49The meek.
01:08:51You...
01:08:53And the rest of the millions.
01:08:55The poor in spirit.
01:08:57I...
01:08:59Hate you.
01:09:01But I know you for my betters.
01:09:03Without knowing why you are.
01:09:06Except that yours is in the kingdom of heaven.
01:09:09Except that you shall inherit the earth.
01:09:12Don't mistake me.
01:09:14I haven't gone moral on the deathbed.
01:09:17I'm above morality.
01:09:20No.
01:09:22I've climbed higher than other great men and seen farther.
01:09:26And seen farther.
01:09:28I'm the first absolute dictator.
01:09:33The first complete success.
01:09:37I've known what the others try to get.
01:09:41I've gotten it.
01:09:43In the one place in the world where it could be God.
01:09:47I'm the man on top.
01:09:49The one man.
01:09:51All the rest of six feet underground where I buried them.
01:09:56That's...
01:10:00The game.
01:10:02Bury...
01:10:05The rest of them...
01:10:07Alive.
01:10:09Stay on top yourself.
01:10:12I...
01:10:14Won...
01:10:16The game.
01:10:17But the winner loses too.
01:10:22He's...
01:10:26All...
01:10:28Alone.
01:10:30And he goes mad.
01:10:35That's why I ran away.
01:10:38I ran from the face of darkness and...
01:10:41Then as I started back down the river I saw that there was darkness there too.
01:10:45And...
01:10:47Failure.
01:10:50So...
01:10:51I hid in the charnel house where you found me and then I ran again.
01:10:55Madness is...
01:10:57Better than defeat.
01:11:01Down the river...
01:11:03Is the light of reason.
01:11:05Showing still behind the darkness.
01:11:08Marking the evil.
01:11:09Marking the shape of the original lie.
01:11:11I say I'm oral again.
01:11:13I'm not.
01:11:14I'm just...
01:11:15Practical.
01:11:18I know when you die.
01:11:25I thought...
01:11:27The time had come for me.
01:11:31The sun was low over the world and my shadow was long.
01:11:35It would cover...
01:11:38Everything.
01:11:40I know now...
01:11:42It's not long enough.
01:11:45No man's is long enough.
01:11:49The strong...
01:11:51Die with their dream.
01:11:54I'm the first to die awake.
01:11:55I wake.
01:11:59Our shadows...
01:12:01Are dark...
01:12:02Like night.
01:12:05And where they fall...
01:12:06The jungle grows again.
01:12:08But the sun always goes down.
01:12:11Mine did.
01:12:13And the world...
01:12:15Has a darker shadow.
01:12:17Darker than mine.
01:12:19I'm gonna die before daybreak.
01:12:24I'm afraid...
01:12:27To live...
01:12:29The dawn...
01:12:31Might find me...
01:12:33A very...
01:12:35Little...
01:12:37Man.
01:12:39Kurt...
01:12:42Kurt?
01:12:43What are you looking at?
01:12:47What are you looking at?
01:12:51Thora...
01:12:55Thora...
01:13:13Mr. Kurtz...
01:13:14He's...
01:13:15...dead.
01:13:16I'm gonna die even though...
01:13:17What are you looking at me?
01:13:18Then there's something about me.
01:13:22It says you have to stay alive...
01:13:23Have a healer 하� palabras in non of finding break.
01:13:28With very long...
01:13:30Mamadden in non-dürofue galovski.
01:13:32We quit at some audience...
01:13:34Any memory of wind.
01:13:36Mr. Kurtz?
01:13:39He's...
01:13:40vaccination...
01:13:41They buried something in that river, and then they nearly buried me.
01:13:52I nearly died of fever myself.
01:13:55I nearly said my own last words there on the river, and I found that I had nothing to say.
01:14:06But Kurtz had something to say.
01:14:10He'd summed up.
01:14:13He'd judged.
01:14:17The horror.
01:14:20True, he died and I lived.
01:14:24Maybe that's the whole difference.
01:14:27Maybe all the wisdom and all the truth are just compressed into that moment of time in which we step over the threshold of the invisible.
01:14:42I saw him again.
01:14:47Months later, at the foot of the river.
01:14:51I saw him with Elsa.
01:14:56I saw those eyes.
01:14:59That wide, immense stare condemning.
01:15:04Loathing the whole universe.
01:15:06Piercing enough to penetrate all the hearts that beat in the darkness.
01:15:11Yeah.
01:15:13He lived then before me.
01:15:16And the memory of what I heard him say there, with the horn shapes stirring at my back and the glow of fires, those words came back to me.
01:15:31I want no more than justice.
01:15:34Mr. Marlowe.
01:15:36Marlowe.
01:15:37Why did he take my place?
01:15:40I saw them in the same instant of time.
01:15:43His death and her sorrow.
01:15:46I saw them together.
01:15:49Heard them together.
01:15:52You were with him when he died.
01:15:56Mm-hmm.
01:15:57The horror.
01:16:01The horror.
01:16:03You knew him well.
01:16:05I...
01:16:09I knew him.
01:16:11As well as it's possible for one man to know another.
01:16:15The horror.
01:16:17You know what vast plans he had.
01:16:20Something must remain.
01:16:22His words, at least, have not died.
01:16:25His words will remain.
01:16:27He died as he lived.
01:16:29His end was in every way worthy of his life.
01:16:32And I was not with him.
01:16:36Everything that could be done...
01:16:37Oh, but I believed in him more than anyone on Earth.
01:16:41More than his own mother.
01:16:43More than himself.
01:16:45He needed me.
01:16:47Me.
01:16:48Me.
01:16:52Forgive me.
01:16:53I...
01:16:54I have mourned so long in silence.
01:16:58In silence.
01:17:01You were with him.
01:17:03To the last.
01:17:04To the very end.
01:17:06I heard his very last words.
01:17:10Repeat them.
01:17:11I want...
01:17:12Something...
01:17:13Something...
01:17:14To...
01:17:15To live with.
01:17:16The horror.
01:17:17The horror.
01:17:18The horror.
01:17:19The horror.
01:17:20The horror.
01:17:27The horror.
01:17:28Dusk was repeating his words around us.
01:17:30Like the first whisper of a rising wind.
01:17:33The horror.
01:17:35The horror.
01:17:36The horror.
01:17:37The horror.
01:17:38The horror.
01:17:39After his last words.
01:17:40To live with.
01:17:41His last words.
01:17:42To live with.
01:17:43Don't you understand?
01:17:46I love him.
01:17:47I love him.
01:17:51I loved him.
01:17:57His last words...
01:18:02The last word that he pronounced was...
01:18:09Your name.
01:18:14I knew it.
01:18:19I was sure.
01:18:24She was sure.
01:18:27It seemed that the heavens would fall upon my head.
01:18:31But the heavens don't fall for such a trifle.
01:18:36Would they have fallen, I wonder, if I had rendered Kurtz that justice which was his due?
01:18:44Should I have told her the truth?
01:18:47I want only justice.
01:18:51I couldn't.
01:18:52I couldn't tell her.
01:18:55It would have been too dark.
01:18:56Too dark altogether.
01:18:58We've lost the first of the ebb.
01:19:06The offing is barred by a black bank of clouds in the tranquil waterway leading to the uttermost ends of the earth flow somber under an overcast sky.
01:19:17It seems to lead into the heart of an immense darkness.
01:19:23In Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness, a screenplay by Orson Welles.
01:19:53Marlowe was played by James McAvoy.
01:19:56Kitts by Jonathan Slinger.
01:19:58And Elsa by Phoebe Fox.
01:20:01Eddie was played by Max Bennett.
01:20:03De Tirpitz and Melschers by John Heffernan.
01:20:07Muse by Jack Holden.
01:20:09Stitzer by Gerald Kidd.
01:20:11Strunz by Elliot Levy.
01:20:13Shulman and the Steersman by Shoyun Shote.
01:20:18And Blau was played by Joe Stone-Fewings.
01:20:21Other parts were played by members of the company.
01:20:25Original music by Ben and Max Ringham.
01:20:29Heart of Darkness was directed by Jamie Lloyd.
01:20:32Produced by Lawrence Bowen.
01:20:33And was a feel-good fiction production for BBC Radio 4.
01:20:37And was a feel-good fiction production for BBC Radio 4.
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