[insects trilling, leaves rustling]
- [insects trilling, birds chirping] - [soft strings playing]
[rhythmic drum beats in distance]
- [insects, birds, strings fade] - [drum continues]
- [man shouts orders in distance] - [military drum joins]
- [horse whinnies] - [indistinct shouting in distance]
[Nina] Percy!
Look at him with his horse.
Wave to your father.
[soldier] Gentlemen!
Today, I will be delivered to the Archduke Ferdinand at the gala.
I expect you to behave with distinction on this hunt.
Good luck...
and Godspeed.
Could they not fit you a rocking chair on that horse, grandad?
You'll all be my gun bearers by evening.
I've no doubt of that.
[horn blows, horses whinny]
[fast tempo, military percussion]
[lively bagpipes playing]
[indistinct shouting]
[horses whinny]
Keep up there! Keep up there!
[painful shout]
♪♪
[indistinct shouting]
Major, there's no path there!
Major! Major!
[horse whinnies, drums rise]
[music fades]
Good boy.
[insects trilling, birds chirping]
[soldier] You caught him?
Superb horsemanship, Major.
Excellent shot, sir.
These woods have been deadly to horses.
To Death;
the best source to Life.
You'll be the toast of the gala.
[applause, laughter]
Here they come.
Oh, he's triumphant!
- Daddy did it! - Come here, you.
- Daddy! - Well done, Daddy.
Someday, you and I will go hunting together.
- [lively waltz on strings] - [dog barking]
[dog whines]
We're going to be late.
Oh, God, it's this damn thing.
[sighs]
You must be so pleased with yourselves. You, men.
Making us wear these awful things.
At least you're not wearing trousers.
Oh, I would if I could.
I know.
Well?
Rather lovely.
"Rather lovely. "
What is it? What's amiss?
You've got the deer.
All eyes will be on you this evening.
Well, my darling, I will be the only man there tonight, of my rank,
whose uniform is unadorned.
How can that matter now?
The great Secretary Bryce will be at the gala.
Oh, Ms. Fawcett.
You've no medals.
"Oh, no, Mr. Bryce. You see, I've been terribly busy
teaching ancient militiamen to point their rifles at tree stumps, so...
No, no.
No medals for me, sir. "
Tell me.
Who's this Secretary Bryce when he's at home?
The last man here upon whom we might possibly rely for advancement.
I see.
I'm getting older, cheeky,
and very impatient of lost years.
I know the medals are ridiculous. I do.
But this may be our final chance.
[lively waltz playing]
[indistinct chatter]
[man] Secretary Bryce, this is Major Fawcett.
- [Bryce] Major. - It's an honor, sir.
Honor's mine, sir.
Good to meet you. Meet Secretary Bryce; Secretary Bryce, Madame Bellamy.
[announcer] Major and Mrs. Percy Fawcett.
♪♪
[Nina laughs]
[Nina] They're toasting the kill without you.
...this most magnificent animal...
Well, I am dancing with you, so I've got the better of the bargain.
[man] May I, Major?
Spoken too soon.
[Nina] Come.
By the way, who got the kill?
Oh, that would be Major Fawcett, Mr. Secretary.
Well, we should invite him to supper.
Oh..
Well, may I say...
he's been rather unfortunate in his choice of ancestors.
I see.
Well, then...
Tell me. How is Lady...
[indistinct chatter, scattered laughter]
♪♪
[bell tolls, indistinct shouting]
[Percy] No more than 20 cases, Clive.
[man] Hurry along, men. Come on!
Come on. Put your back into it.
- [commander] Fawcett! - Put your backs into it.
[commander] Hurry it along.
- Sir. - You're off to London tomorrow,
to the Royal Geographical Society.
The Royal Geographical, sir?
There's a major exploration afoot.
Sounds like a grand adventure.
Thank you, sir.
[horse whinnies, canon fire in distance]
Thank you.
Major Fawcett, sir.
Oh, yes, yes. Come in.
Absent George Goldie, president of the RGS,
this is Mr. John Scott Keltie, our secretary.
How do you do, Major?
How do you do, sir?
Our paths have not crossed
during our work here several years back, did they?
They did not, sir.
I was likely consumed with my studies at the time.
Of course.
- Please, sit down. - Thank you.
Ah! The army seems to have posted you in many places in the path.
Yes, I've served in Salon and in Hong Kong before that;
most recently in Ireland.
As you can see, I've been transferred a fair bit around the Empire.
Major, what do you know about Bolivia?
- In South America, sir? - That's right.
Only what I've read.
Hmm. Then you can't know very much.
This is as good a map of Bolivia as we have.
Map's a bit blank as you can see. Nothing's really known about it at all.
A land of primitives.
But there are rubber plantations all over Amazonia.
Very profitable.
There is now considerable argument between Bolivia and Brazil
as to what constitutes their border.
So fantastically high is the price of rubber,
that war could arise.
Do you follow?
- I do, sir. - Mm-hmm.
Although, I'm not sure what this has to do with me.
I'm getting to that. [chuckles]
Neither country will accept mapping done by the other,
so they've requested us to act as referee.
- Mm. - As you've completed your mapping here...
with distinction. You came under our consideration.
- I see. - Mm-hmm.
Sirs, may I speak candidly?
Please.
My survey work was long ago.
And to be quite honest, I was rather hoping for a position
where I might see a fair bit of action.
Major.
This is far more than just survey work!
This is exploration in the jungle.
The environment's brutally difficult.
Terrible disease.
Murderous savages.
The journey may well mean your life.
At the very least, you will be gone for several years.
But were you to succeed, such an undertaking
could earn you soldierly decoration.
And...
even reclaim your family name.
You know we knew your father.
Did you?
Yes.
I did not.
Terrible thing.
Man's love of drink and gaming.
But as I say, success in this venture could change your lot...
considerably.
- [soft string music rising] - [insects trilling]
[Jack] How come I've never seen a plain change color?
Like that.
Does it look big, like a big brain?
It looks round.
- It looks round in that doesn't it? - It does.
Jack, will you go and play?
I want to talk to your father for a minute.
Do you want to pick me a flower?
Uh... Ooh...
- Shall I throw the ball for her? - Yeah.
[Percy] Ready?
Steady.
Throw it that way.
[Jack and Nina laughing]
[Jack] Throw it that far!
Oh, I knew it!
Hey, it's all wet.
He'll not know you when you return.
But you must go. I know that.
- Indeed. - [Jack shouts in distance]
I have something to tell you.
I think I'm going to have another child.
I know I'm having another child.
♪♪
Don't be sad.
I'm an independent woman.
I hadn't noticed.
Cheeky... Darling...
I know this is a sacrifice for all of us.
But it will be worth it.
[giggles]
I have no doubt.
- [Jack shouting indistinctly] - [Nina giggling] Come here.
[soft string music fades]
- [ship blares horn, seagulls caw] - [indistinct announcement over PA]
- [indistinct reading] - [loud argument nearby]
[indistinct argument continues]
[men sing old folk tune indistinctly]
[man] Cut you bloody throat!
[man]... you're a dead man!
[slow, tense string music]
Who are you?
What do you want?
Henry Costin.
I replied to your ad eleven times.
I'm your aide-de-camp.
Mr. Costin?
What are my duties, sir?
We've been at sea a week. Why are you just presenting yourself now?
I wanted to make sure you were up to the task, sir.
Are you drunk, Mr. Costin?
No.
You could've fooled me.
Well...
I might have had a little.
I've got a...
letter of commendation.
They say I'm both skilled at rifle and pistols...
and for bravery.
That's very impressive.
You have a family?
No, none at all.
I see; so nothing to shed.
I take it you do then.
Mr. Costin, I would like to be clear.
My reputation as a man rests entirely on our success.
I think you shall find me capable of every sacrifice.
Therefore, I must insist.
[playful pulsing classical music]
Oh! Right you are, sir.
We'll need all the fortitude you've got.
Understood.
[Percy] We are explorers now.
♪♪
[train whistles]
[dog barks]
[Percy] I just received a cable.
We have new orders to map the Verde River,
- Please! - find its source.
It forms a critical part of the border between Bolivia and Brazil.
Our survey route is to begin at a place called Fazenda Jacobina,
which does not appear to be on this map.
I know Facenda Jacobina.
It's an old rubber town.
It's meant to be quite enchanting.
Really?
You may not be completely useless after all.
Time is of the essence now.
War's at stake.
So you, and I, and a couple of mules
are gonna stop a war?
Well then you and I...
are going to have to depend on each other.
Neither of us will survive this alone.
Right you are.
What's that you're reading?
Poem, from my wife, by Kipling.
It's called "The Explorer. "
And what?
Would you like to hear it?
It'll be a long way until we reach Amazonia.
Be my guest.
"'There's no sense in going further; it's the edge of cultivation,'
So they said, and I believed it;
broke my land and sowed my crop;
Built my barns and strung my fences... "
[Nina] "... in the little border station
Tucked away below the foothills where the trails run out and stop.
Till a voice, as bad as Conscience, rang interminable changes
On one everlasting Whisper day and night repeated; so:
'Something hidden.
Go and find it.
Go and look behind the Ranges;
Something lost behind the Ranges.
Lost and waiting for you.
Go!"'
[insects trilling, birds chirping]
[adventurous, frontier music]
- [music crescendos] - [insects trilling, birds chirping]
[music fades]
Twenty-nine degrees.
Sixteen minutes south of the equator.
Twenty-nine.
Sixt-
Sixteen.
Rather deadly looking snake here.
We might be a little bit too English for this jungle.
[Henry] Strangers in a strange land.
[operatic singing in distance]
[string music in distance]
[distant thunder]
[speaking Portuguese]
[man] Major Fawcett.
Is that you?
- Yes. - Welcome to Fazenda Jacobina.
Lance Corporal Manley, sir, liaison to the government of Japanese-
You start on ceremony.
A simple handshake will suffice.
This is Mr. Costin.
I hate to be the bearer of bad news,
but I have received a telegram from the border commission.
[Percy] Go on.
They strongly advise you to...
abort the mission.
It's become far too dangerous.
- They've already fired- - Where are the government offices?
Sir...
Government, sir?
I'm afraid you left government behind a long time ago.
In that case, you'd better send them a telegram.
Informing them that we will not stand down,
and we shall proceed as planned.
How quickly can you find us an Indian guide?
Well, I...
I had an Indian guide sir, but...
But what happened to him?
What? Was he afraid of a little hard work?
Not quite, sir.
It's out of my hands now.
You need to speak to Baron De Gondoriz. He runs the rubber company here.
Good evening, Baron. Thank you for seeing us.
We are from the British Army.
We're to be venturing up the Rio Verde,
and find ourselves in need of some of your men.
In exchange, I promise very favorable treatment from my country.
[man] Keep him chained up. He can't be trusted.
He needs a good beatin' every now and again.
Por favor.
[child speaks Portuguese indistinctly]
You goin' up river, are you?
Yes.
We're surveying.
Well...
Ain't nobody comes back from up there.
Ever.
Is this slave good enough for you?
Yes.
[Percy] Do you speak English?
[man] He understands.
We taught him.
What will you take for him? And any four men of his choosing?
It offends you to negotiate with me.
- No, not at all. - [Baron] Please.
Do not embarrass yourself.
You come here to make maps.
Why is that?
So that there may be peace.
What is peace?
Peace means my business would flourish.
I would flourish.
Peace...
means only that nothing will change.
I will help you.
Because you will make sure that nothing will change.
[insects trilling, indistinct chatter]
[Manley] I forgot to give you this, Major.
It came directly here while you were surveying.
Can you show me how far the river goes?
Muy bien.
[Manley] We've three full rafts, four horses.
[Henry] This our party? Bloody desperate lot you've got us.
They're as dependable as any that can be found here, Mr. Costin.
We're the only ones who will pay them.
Lot will do twelve hours a day; no less.
[Percy] The river will be our home for the next two years.
We shall not fail.
Mankind awaits our discoveries.
[ominous descending pitch]
[indistinct chatter in Portuguese]
- [soft string music playing] - [insects trilling, birds chirping]
[soft strings fade]
[man] Have you ever seen a land Like old El Dorado
Of gold and of silver, Of gold and of silver
Have you ever seen a land Like old El Dorado
Of gold and of silver, And silver and gold
[man] I can see the fish,
but I can't catch them.
Nothing again.
I don't understand.
The river is deep here. There is plenty of fish.
It's a desert.
A green desert.
All right, pull it in.
Try again further up.
[Manley] Major Fawcett.
What on earth is she doing all the way out here?
She's come to load rubber, no doubt.
[man] Or maybe she's looking for the gold at El Dorado.
It's German.
The trunk says "Hamburg. "
Someone aboard.
Hey!
[man] Are you German?
[man speaking German]
[slow, sinister strings rising]
[storm of indistinct shouts, screams]
Cosin! The water!
Get out of the water!
[Manley] Where's Fawcett? Fawcett!
[eerie strings rise]
[Percy gagging]
[man weeping]
[slow, peaceful strings rising]
[birds chirping]
[singing song in Portuguese]
[thunder rolls in the distance]
It's nothing.
[strings pulse ominously]
Are we close?
- [insects trilling louder] - [music continues]
Even the Indian's gone mad now.
He was talking to me about gold cities today.
Like a little child.
He thinks we are conquistadors to be led to our death.
Well, the Indian seemed a bit mad to begin with.
I'd like you to read this to me if you can.
If we are to meet our end here, what difference does it make?
Afraid it would be quite unbearable, for me to read it myself.
Feel free to summarize.
Right you are, sir.
Your wife has moved the family to Devon.
She's given birth to a boy named Brian.
Your oldest boy, Jack, is excelling in all ways, she says.
[Percy] I see my son's face in my dreams now.
What kind of fool am I, to leave my family for this place?
What did you hope to achieve out here?
I don't know.
All we have left now is to get to the source of the river.
[man speaking indistinctly]
[insects trilling]
[man speaking indistinctly]
[man playing pan flute]
[Percy] Mr. Costin.
[man] Major.
Food gone.
Jesus Christ, we are going die from hungry.
One piece.
[man speaking foreign language]
Give me that!
[Percy] Control yourselves!
We are not savages.
We're leaving our bones here, Major.
And for what?
A map?
Are you gonna forget that we're not making it back without any food?
Have you ever thought about that?
Well, we're here starving to death.
We're not even looking for gold.
Let's have at it then.
Ah! My ear!
My ear!
- My ear! - Next one'll be up your ass.
- [man moaning] - Thank you, Mr. Costin.
[man speaking foreign language]
[serene strings rise]
[man] Woo!
[Henry shouts ecstatically]
No one's ever been here before me!
No one! Ever!
[Henry laughs]
We made it!
Woo!
The first! We're the first!
Woo!
[Manley] Major.
Major, we've lost the Indian.
He's run off.
He got us here.
[Henry] My last reading.
[tense string music rising]
- Am I dreaming this? - No. I see it too.
Please.
It's our only chance.
Must have.
Thank God.
Couldn't have done that better myself, sir.
What is it, chief?
It's pottery.
From the ground.
Look it's all over.
Look at this.
They're ancient.
Christ. He was right.
The Indian was right.
When he said no one had been here before.
I think he meant no white man, Mr. Costin. I think he meant no white man.
We thought the Indian mad.
There must've been dwellings here.
[panther roars, hisses]
[man] Thank God that boar's more meat on it than we do.
[man #2] All right, easy, easy, easy.
The exit from hell is always difficult, Mr. Costin.
But we will get back.
The world will know what we've found here.
[Percy] We have to keep going!
[indistinct chatter]
[adventurous, string and wind music playing]
[boat whistle]
- [celebratory horn music] - [applause]
[crowd roars with applause]
Thank you. Thank you.
Major Fawcett, you are England's bravest explorer.
Thank you, sir.
[crowd whistles]
[baby crying]
[Nina] Your son.
This must be Brian.
And here's Jack.
Are you my father?
I am, indeed, son.
Come. Give me a hug.
Let's go home.
Thank you all.
[lively classical music playing]
Percy, come. Meet our host, Mr. James Murray.
He's very anxious to meet you.
A person of considerable resources.
He certainly has a beautiful home.
[Percy] With, of course, a reputation to match.
Ah, Mr. Murray.
Major Fawcett, I see you down there.
Welcome... to the inner circle.
Thank, Mr. Murray.
- [Murray] Mrs. Fawcett. - Good evening.
- [indistinct chatter] - [dinnerware clinking]
[Murray] Percy, they're all so excited to hear your speech to the RGS.
Listen to them, will you?
They're all talking about your mission.
[lively string music playing]
Extraordinary.
I'm just honored to be here, sir.
I read your article in The Times this morning
about the slave trade in the Americas. It's uh...
You're an enlightened man.
Poor savages.
Native does deserve our sympathy.
[Murray] Yes.
I think we have only just scratched the surface of Amazonia.
Most certainly.
I was, um...
Well, I'm a biologist, but I'm also somewhat of an explorer.
I was second in command under Shackleton in the Antarctica.
Did you know that?
I don't think there's anyone here who's not well aware
of your accomplishments, Mr. Murray.
Here, here.
[Percy] You have distinguished yourself with great bravery.
I know what these expeditions require.
Well, it's been my lifelong ambition to...
go to the Amazon, you know?
I must say, I hope that the RGS continues its pursuits,
but I...
I have come to believe that mapmaking should be a secondary interest.
Really?
I witnessed several archaeological discoveries
that I believe may have enormous significance.
- Such as? - Pottery in the jungle.
Where no white man has ever been before.
My friend, a word in your ear, please.
Your exploits have opened every door for you.
I would suggest keeping such findings to yourself.
Mm-hmm.
It is one thing to defend the primitive jungle men.
It is quite another to elevate their capacity beyond reason.
I mean, no one here would dispute that you believed what you saw, but...
such a trip is very hard on the mind;
very hard, indeed.
[Keltie chuckles]
Mr. Keltie.
I think you should find my mind perfectly fit.
And still open, thank heavens.
[gavel banging, indistinct chatter]
- Good afternoon, gentlemen. - [all] Good afternoon.
I would like to introduce one of our brothers
whose achievements are now known to you
and not inconsiderable.
Major Percy Fawcett.
Thank you, sir.
By rights, I should be with my husband.
It's men only I'm afraid, madam.
[Percy] My esteemed colleagues,
it is now my firm belief
that Amazonia is far more than the green desert
which many of us had supposed.
[crowd murmuring]
I am proposing that Amazonia...
contain a hidden civilization
[crowd erupts in disapproval]
[shouting] One that may well predate our own.
[crowd boos]
[man] Major Fawcett!
I am Mr. William Barkley of Bedford,
and I have been to South America.
[crowd cheers, laughs]
Please, Mr. Barkley, I'm sure we'd all be thrilled to hear about your holiday.
[all laugh]
But we are currently discussing exploration.
[Barkley] Now to be clear.
Are you insisting on mythical kingdoms of gold?
Now, those fantasies
lured the conquistadors to their destruction.
[crowd cheers, jeers]
Sir, it was the conquistadors and we
who have been destroying Amazonia.
I have seen, with my own eyes,
evidence of their civilization.
And I assure you, sir, it is real.
[crowd jeers]
Perhaps it is too difficult for some of you to admit.
We, who have been steeped in the bigotry of the church for so long,
cannot give much credence to an older civilization.
Particularly one created by a race the white man
has so brutally condemned to slavery and death.
Are you insisting that these savages, they're our equals?
I do not know, Mr. Barkley, but I intend to find out.
What?! Savages in Westminster Abbey?
[all laugh, applaud]
[Percy] Hence, your disrespect, sir!
But what is at stake?
[crowd jeers]
If we may find a city...
where one was considered impossible to exist...
It may well write a whole new chapter in human history.
Yes! Yes!
[Percy] Consider my evidence.
I have archaeological finds.
Antiquities as sophisticated as any in Asia or Europe...
in the middle of the jungle!
[man] Pots and pans!
Pots and pans!
Pans! Pots and pans!
[all chanting] Pots and pans!
[chanting continues]
- Settle down, children! Settle down! - [all] Ooh...
After my return from the jungle, I have examined a single document;
dating from the conquistadors, Mr Barkley!
It states explicitly
the discovery of a lost city.
[all jeer]
Uncovered in Trinity College, Dublin, this week by my lovely wife.
Written by a Portuguese soldier in 1753, and I quote,
"We came upon the ruins of an ancient city bedecked with gold.
Roads...
Temples...
Ancient symbols...
- What? El Dorado? - [all laugh]
No, gentlemen!
- I call it "Zed. " - [man] Zed?
The ultimate piece of the human puzzle!
It is there and we must find it!
Mr. Fawcett!
Mr. Fawcett, I say we return!
I say we go and find the glory!
What say you?
What I say, Mr. Murray...
is I accept that challenge!
[Percy] Mr. Costin!
I see you seated there.
Will you return with us?
Mr. Fawcett.
That jungle is hell, but...
one kind of likes it.
We shall return!
And we shall find the glory!
[whispering] I have such high hopes, Cheeky.
With this journey, we may be able
to tear down their narrowminded convictions.
I do believe I am quite ready to accompany on your next journey.
What do you mean?
The children will be back in school by then.
And I have learned to read the stars...
and navigate.
I've become very well versed in the history of the region.
After all, it is I who found the document.
I know, darling.
But that would be impossible.
It's not a place at all for a woman.
"Not a place for a woman"?
Yes.
We believe firmly in the equality between us.
In equality, yes, but in mind, not in body.
Ah.
The rigor of such a trip would be beyond your imagination.
I believe it is generally acknowledged that the pain a woman experiences
during childbirth far exceeds anything a man must endure.
- [sighs] This is not about childbirth. - Oh, what would you know of childbirth?
Have you witnessed two minutes of it, let alone endured it?
The jungle...
is about years of practice...
training, the art of soldiering.
I have that.
It is about maggots in your skin. It is about deadly snakes
and disease that make you vomit blood.
You could not bear it.
And I could not bear that either.
Somehow I managed to bear the dangers you faced the years you were gone.
This way me might be together for some of our lives!
You are my wife!
I need you here.
[Nina chuckles] Oh, God.
[Percy] Not as a tentmate in need of constant care.
And in this fantasy of yours, what happens to the children?
[scoffs]
Please, try to be reasonable.
You will throw reasonable in my face.
Was it reasonable to stay here and struggle to provide
for the children while you wandered the jungle?
No. You have given no thought,
not on thought, to my aspirations as a woman.
Have you thought about that?
Men and women have performed their roles since the beginning of time!
[Percy] It is the cornerstone of our civilization.
I must say, I did expect more understanding from you,
and I am disgraced
- by your ignorant posture! - Mother!
It's all right, darling.
[whispering] I'm sorry we were shouting.
- Run along I'll come in- - Mother, please don't fight!
It's all right, Jack. Go.
[insects trilling, birds chirping]
[Percy] 121 miles to Oviedo's last marking.
You should put some grease on that.
Will do.
Where's Mr. Murray?
He's bringing up the rear, chief.
Mr. Murray!
[clears throat] Yes?
How are you managing?
I am managing well, thank you.
My pack is just a little heavy it seems,
Perhaps I shall...
rid myself of the unnecessary accoutrements, yes?
I wouldn't do that if I were you.
You don't want to be ill-equipped for the journey ahead.
Well, yes.
However...
an awful lot of this...
scientific equipment seems to be slowing us down.
When we reach the river then,
but you must keep one spare set of clothing.
And, of course, your mattress.
I believe I shall go naked as Adam in this...
infernal heat.
[Murray laughs]
What a site that would be.
Let's keep going.
That bugger wishes he was back on the South Pole.
He'll pull his weight soon enough. Don't worry.
[Manley] Should we treat ourselves to the mail, gentlemen?
We've still got the sack from San Carlos.
You've got two from your wife and son, Major.
There's been a major discovery in Peru.
Oh, and an American,
Hiram Bingham, he's found the lost city in the Indies, Machu Picchu.
He says that Dr. Hamilton Rice is hot on his trail.
Seems we're in a race with the Americans now.
They're after a bit of our prestige.
It's too far north.
[Manley] Mm.
Still... Proves there's much to be found.
We've lost the other boat.
Savages!
- Arm yourselves! - No! Hold your fire.
Everyone out of the boat.
[Murray] Take cover!
Mr. Manley!
Get your concertina.
My concertina, sir?
Yes, do it now!
Play "Soldiers of the Queen"!
[Percy] Come on!
Mr. Costin, come and sing with me.
[Percy] Come!
Are you ready?
[Percy] And!
We're soldiers of the Queen, my lads
Who've been my lads,
Who've seen my lads
In the fight for England's glory, lads
The England's soldiers of the Queen!
- Amigos. - Hola.
[all] Mano, mano, mano.
Amigos!
[all] Mano, mano, mano!
Amigo!
[shouting fades]
[baby whimpers]
[eerie vocalizations, church bells clang]
[vocalization fades slowly]
[insects trilling, birds chirping]
[deep breathing]
[Murray] Boys! Point!
If the red man attacks.
You rally to me at all costs.
Rally to me at all costs.
[insects trilling, bird chirping]
[slow, tense music rising]
Oh, good God.
[speaking foreign language]
We are safe.
The chief has invited us to be his guests.
[Murray coughs]
You all right?
[whispering] This is a tribe of cannibals.
I know. I know.
The chief explained it's a dead member of their tribe.
His spirit will enter them if they eat it.
We must attempt to engage.
They may have critical information about our destination.
I... I refuse this madness.
I refuse it.
[Murray] Men, come with me... Come.
Boys, we have to get back to that boat.
[Percy] Costin.
- [slow, sad string music] - [indistinct chatter]
[speaking foreign language]
Sí.
Gracias.
[speaking foreign language]
He's heard rumors of a city, but he's not sure.
He said further up the river he thinks there will be people who can help us.
All right, then.
Gracias, amigo.
- Comida? - [Henry] Food?
Comida?
- [Costin] Uh... - Comida. Sí, gracias.
To you.
[man singing in foreign language]
[singing continues]
[laughter]
That is remarkable.
[Henry] That substance only stuns the fish.
They don't kill more than what they have to.
[Henry] Remarkable.
[faint music playing] [indistinct chatter, laughter]
[Percy] These so-called savages have cultivated the jungle.
Where no one thought it could be done.
We've been so... arrogant and contemptuous.
I no less than others.
Look how it's all laid out.
It's mathematical in its precision.
Well, it's what you've been saying.
Imagine what Z must be like.
Well, the canoe's useless now.
We'll have to use the raft.
We leave at sunrise.
[indistinct conversation in distance]
[insects trilling loudly]
Chief.
Chief!
[Henry] Think I found him.
Hello, old sport.
I appear to have gotten myself lost.
Thank God you're all alive. I had assumed that you'd been
cannibalized by those savages.
Look at my leg. I have a nasty wound.
You'll be looked after. Come.
- No. - We must keep moving.
I think I have a bit of a fever coming on.
Manley, help me clean all of this up.
[Percy] This was in my bag.
It was a gift from my wife and children for all of us to share.
I know. I was just very...
hungry.
I'm a little bit dead. If you don't mind I'm going to rest for a little...
while longer.
[Percy] You have no right to be tired.
My own children, at their tender ages, could be counted on more than you.
And I could be home... with them.
And yet, I am here with you
to attempt great things.
Have you water please?
You'll get water when we get to the raft.
Mr. Manley, help me get him on his feet.
Stay where you are, Mr. Murray.
It's essential we keep the balance.
Murray!
[Henry] Stay down!
Stay down, God damn you!
Murray, stay low to the ground!
Swim to shore!
[Percy] We'll bank further down!
[Percy] Swim to shore!
Let go! Swim to shore!
- Let go! - No!
You're tipping the raft! We're losing supplies! God damn you!
I said let go, you pigheaded weakling!
Let go!
Mr. Manley, help me!
Help me get to shore!
[indistinct shouting]
[pained screaming]
- [Henry] Shut up. - [Manley] Chief!
We've lost a third of our rations.
- [Murray] I was drowning! - There was no chance of that!
And this after you stole our food!
I suppose I should have starved myself.
That would have been the honorable course of action, wouldn't it?
Isn't that what you want? You want me to die.
I... Please slow down.
Give a dying man a chance.
[Murray weeping]
I just want to be dead.
- [fire crackles] - [Murray mumbles incoherently]
[Murray]... young upstart and his vulgar quest for glory.
Like a Judas...
he has delivered me...
into this...
jungle.
Well, we're two weeks behind...
according to the sextant and the charts.
Chief.
This leg wound of his is becoming more infected.
Mr. Murray's got blood poisoning now.
[Murray mumbles incoherently]
I noticed.
[Manley] You think he'll make it?
[Henry] Slim chance.
[Murray whispering] He is not worth kissing...
the hem of your garment.
As I...
am not worthy of yours.
Give me strength to survive.
He is not worthy.
No. No.
- [soft strings playing] - [wind whistles]
Yes? What is it?
There are mining encampments south of us on the river.
In the morning, you'll be on your way to them.
I'm going to give you our last horse
with what supplies I can spare and an Indian to guide you.
I have a family at home.
I cannot allow you to jeopardize the welfare of the entire crew.
You don't give a wit about me.
Or about any of the party.
You don't even care about going home.
You only care...
about your lost...
city.
[deep strings playing]
[thunderclaps in distance]
I'm going to see if there's a path through!
Chief!
[Costin] Chief!
I saw it!
We're getting close!
Keep going!
We need to go back.
[Costin] Guy's a bloody bastard! Cost us our last horse!
And this is how he repays us.
Rations ruined! Murray's covered them in oil!
Look at it!
[thunderclap nearby]
[Manley] We must turn back.
There is no turning back.
We are right here!
We've nothing to show for our efforts.
- No evidence- - What do we go on with?
With what we have on our backs, we'll last a week at most!
It's over, Percy!
[thunder cracks overhead]
[Percy] To be sent to the RGS:
Mr. James Murray was forced to separate from our expedition
to seek medical attention.
[fingers on typewriter]
His location is currently unknown,
and he has most likely perished.
The rest of the group shall arrive back in England
as soon as is possible.
It looks like a war with France.
Better all get home or we'll miss our chance to fight.
Please send that immediately.
Yes, sir.
[indistinct chatter]
Chase it. Go on! Go on, Bri.
[Nina] That is Joan, as you might have guessed.
[Brian] Oh, Jack!
Your daughter.
[Jack] Sorry! I didn't mean to do that.
Beautiful child.
Hello, Joan.
[serene string music playing]
- I'll fetch the boys. - No.
Let them finish.
When they're done, send them in.
It should be I who tells them what has happened.
You're real.
Three, two, one... Go!
[Percy] How much they've grown.
You've done beautifully with them.
[Jack] My ball!
Hey, come on!
Gentlemen, welcome to our new home.
Thank you for coming at such short notice.
Mr. John. Gentlemen.
Please, will you step this way?
- Congratulations on your knighthood. - Ah, thank you.
I think that you know everybody here.
Mr. James Murray arrived in London just this morning.
We felt it critical to assemble as soon as possible.
Congratulations on your safe return.
It's a remarkable effort.
[Sir John] Mr. Murray contends that you abandoned him.
Is this correct?
No. It is not.
He was given money and food.
It was an unfortunate but necessary maneuver in order to save lives.
Sir George.
We spent all our time.
Playing around in the mud with the savages.
I never saw any evidence of a lost city.
You were the reason we did not reach our destination, Mr. Murray.
You poured paraffin on all our supplies.
I reject that accusation, Sir John.
I cannot tolerate any further insult from this young man.
I... have retained counsel and I will proceed accordingly.
And as for his lackeys,
they are swine and not to be trusted.
You should've been beaten in the jungle like the dog that you are.
[Sir George] Please gentlemen.
Our nation is now at war.
It ill becomes us to indulge personal conflicts.
I earnestly beseech you to come to an understanding.
Very well.
I most generously offer that...
If you are willing to apologize to me here
in front of this entire society,
I will consider withdrawing my claims against the RGS and yourself,
with certain conditions, of course.
Well, Major.
Will you apologize?
For the general good...
I am prepared to reconcile.
[Sir John] Thank you.
I will, of course, need to hear Mr. Murray's conditions.
On the day that I agreed to join you on your mission
and allowed your star to enter my sphere,
your wife was present to witness your ascent.
My only condition is that she again be present
to witness your acknowledgement
of the wrongs...
that you have done to me.
Sir.
Mr. Murray.
The last time I saw you, I was putting you on the only remaining horse,
giving you far more than your share of our food.
The men begged me to leave you where you lay,
but I could not do that.
And as a consequence, I saved your life.
You saved my life?
You saved my...
I demand an apology right now.
You will apologize to me.
I will apologize...
Thank you.
...to my men.
I'm sorry I ever considered Mr. Murray worthy of your company.
And as I ever mistook a man's rank for his medal,
but I shall not make that mistake again.
What your purpose is in this ambush, I cannot say.
But you need fear no more embarrassment from me.
I hereby resign from this institution,
and I shall proceed on my own.
No, p-please, Major! Please!
This is outrageous! Please, you must reconsider!
Magnus!
I shall teach him.
- [indistinct child voice] - [dog barking]
What's wrong?
You've received a letter.
All former officers not currently posted, must send their names to the war office.
Let us hope it is a brief conflict.
Talk to the boys.
Don't be concerned, my love.
I've spent a whole life training for this.
[whispering] Hello, boy.
Father.
Jack.
Brian.
Has Harvey been walked?
- Um, no, not yet. - All right.
I'll do it.
Father, you will not have to leave again, will you?
To fight?
If the reports are true, I'm afraid I must.
Father, you've only just returned.
It's... it's hardly fair.
I'm obligated to serve.
[Jack] Obligated.
What of your obligation to mother?
And to us?
Your family.
The... the family that you've chosen to abandon for so many years.
[Nina] Jack.
How dare you talk to me like that.
How dare... How dare you, father...
You do not think of us.
You think of Indians,
or Germans, or any other path to glory that you can find.
Jack, stop it! That's enough!
Mother, I will not stop. You have returned a failure.
The papers are full of it. And you want to abandon us again?
- It's contemptuous- - Enough!
[Nina] Percy...
[Jack whimpering]
[Jack] I hate him.
[Nina] Oh, Jack.
Everything your father has done, since the day you came into this world,
has been to better your life.
And for your sake, I hope, one day,
you will come regret the things you just said to him.
[Jack whispers] Please, just go.
Please. Please, just go.
[explosion in the distance]
Well, what do you know, chief?
It appears our old friend, Mr. James Murray,
is not so powerful after all.
Why do you say that?
The bastard's gone off on an Artic expedition with Canadians and...
mutinied.
He's not been heard from since.
Take a look.
I'm sure his magnificent skills will bring him back safely. [laughs]
Someone should warn the Eskimos
that Mr. Murray is on the prowl.
[gunfire, explosions]
All right, Major.
Mr. Costin!
Despite the medium of fine spiritualistic skills of the Russians.
[Costin] Come! She'll read your fortune.
I can't believe he smuggled her in here.
Welcome to the world beyond.
- Sorry, chap. Come on. - That's enough. It's the Major's turn.
Move on. I'm with him.
- [all cheer] - [man] Let's see the Major's fortune.
We will be in battle soon, madam.
Any spiritual aid would be greatly appreciated.
You are the explorer?
I was.
As were these fine men,
who have transferred here so we could all be together.
Give me your hand.
Feel my hand.
Listen to my voice.
Is it... a forest?
You dream to be in a forest.
I wish to find a lost city.
Can you...
see yourself there now?
Try to picture it in your mind.
[Percy whispering] Yes.
I can see it.
You cannot blind yourself to this vision.
What you seek...
is far greater...
than you ever imagined.
A vast land bejeweled with peoples.
Your soul will never be quiet until you find this new place.
It is your destiny.
With it, you will illuminate the world.
The whole world has set itself afire.
I must look elsewhere to quench the blaze.
- [wind howls] - [gunfire in distance]
Good morning, gentlemen.
- [soldier #1 ] Sir. - [soldier #2] Good morning, sir.
When I was younger,
I ventured all for king and country,
for place and rank.
I believed that to be the makings of a man.
But my travels have taught me,
such ambitions
are mere phantoms.
[explosion in distance]
I know in our hearts,
we fight for our loves ones, as we should.
But they are not here.
So instead let us fight for each other.
Good luck.
And may God be with all of you.
And fuck the bloody bush!
[Percy] Well said, Mr. Costin!
[commander] Right men! Into positions!
[explosion in distance]
[faint voices in distance]
[all erupt in battle cries]
[soldier #1 ] Take down the gunner! Take down the gunner up ahead!
[Percy] Come on!
Come on! Keep going!
Come on! Push forward!
Gas!
Manley! Gas!
[explosions, gunfire fade]
[Percy wheezes]
[soft, serene string music playing]
- [birds chirping] - [explosions in distance]
[whispering] Darling, it is I.
We are here.
The children are here.
- [faintly] Nina. - Yes, my darling.
Come.
That is Joan.
Let him feel your face. Come along.
See?
[Nina] Brian.
Where's Jack?
Father, I'm here.
I thought I had died.
[Nina] Oh, no.
You were exposed to chlorine gas.
Your eyes were affected,
but they are very confident that your sight shall return.
The rest of the men?
- Costin? - Mr. Costin was unharmed.
You'll brigade suffered many losses,
but it was the only one that did not retreat.
Thanks to you bravery, they are raising your rank to Lieutenant Colonel.
Lieutenant Colonel?
After all that he has done?
Jack.
[Percy] I think I was dreaming...
about Amazonia.
[Doctor] I...
I'm afraid you may never be able to return to your jungle.
[Doctor] I am sorry.
- [Nina] Shh, my darling. - [Percy cries]
[Nina] Shh. Rest.
All will be well.
I must go back.
But love...
You cannot think of these things right now.
I'm going to take the children for some air.
[soft string music playing]
[Nina] Come along.
[Jack sighs]
Father.
Jack.
[Percy weeps]
[man] America has quite a fascination with you.
Our readers have been asking where you've been since the war.
[Percy] I'm grateful for their interest.
You may tell your readers I've recovered from my wounds
and have been adapting to home life.
Your pursuits in South America have led to a tremendous interest
in exploration in the Unites States.
There have been many new voyages planned.
Have there?
Yes, Dr. Hamilton Rice leaves for Brazil soon with radio and airplanes.
He's taking a large and very well-armed party.
Well, let us hope that Dr. Rice, with all his arms,
does not destroy what he wishes to discover.
- Allow me to ask you a question. - Yes, sir.
How did you find us here?
Well, your son, Colonel.
He wrote us a letter.
Didn't he tell you?
- [distant waves] - [insects trilling, birds chirping]
[Percy] Good shot, Jack.
Thank you, father.
Getting quite expert with that rifle.
Practice makes perfect, you know?
[Percy sighs]
I have something for you.
This was given to me
by a Guaraní Indian chief.
Great man.
It's yours now.
Thank you.
It must've been a glorious day.
You still believe in Z, do you not?
That we underestimated the Indian.
That is why we should go back.
You and I, together.
We could find the city once and for all.
Jack.
I'm an old bastard now.
Father, you and I, we both know it. You easily outmatch my strengths.
And now you can see as clear as day again.
There is nothing stopping us.
Father.
The Americans will venture there with their guns.
And then we must pray that they do not destroy the Indian.
[Jack] We must find it before they do.
I want nothing more than to go with you, Father.
It's everything you've always wanted.
You would have to consult a higher authority.
[Jack] I understand that it's dangerous,
But you've said so yourself with everything that's happened in Europe,
it's not possible to choose a safe passage through life.
So many men near my own age did not return from the war.
And who is to say it will not happen again?
It could, mother.
It could happen again.
By all accounts, I should be furious because you've just...
You've just used my very own words against me.
And how can I refute them? They are my own.
Joan's been so annoying! Bloody slapped me!
All right, Joan, don't slap him.
Thank you. Off! Go on!
She hit me around the face.
Brian, I'm in the middle of a conversation!
Go and help you sister get some wood, please, from the log pile now.
Now!
Fight your own battles!
Momma, please.
[Nina sighs deeply]
There is little doubt that I would worry night and day
about my boys in the jungle.
But we have never let fear determine our future.
That's all.
Mother, thank you.
Thank you, thank you, thank you.
- Father, this- - Jack, Jack, Jack.
- We are not there yet. - I know.
We'll have to raise a great deal of money.
Of course, I understand. Yes.
Go on. Let me talk to your mother.
[Nina] And training?
Well, of course, I shall begin right away.
You and I, and Mr. Costin I'm sure would love to join us.
Thank you, mother. Thank you.
What?
I'm just surprised you agreed so quickly.
What choice did I have?
It's his essential nature; would be wrong to betray that.
Besides, you will be there to guide him.
Here they are, Chief.
Here's the last of my notebooks.
A map would be helpful.
[light piano playing]
Can I truly not persuade you to come?
We came so close, Henry.
Think of what it would mean...
To finally find it together.
Chief, I have a wife and child now.
My own children were younger than yours is now
when we went on our first trip.
Can't say it was not a sacrifice.
But if you could see my boy now,
his vim and vigor,
I guarantee it would tear down your resistance in an instant.
[Waiter] Would you like some more brandy, sir?
Nope. Thank you, Nigel.
- [Nigel] For yourself, sir? - No, thank you.
Chief, please don't misunderstand me. I'm...
But it's something...
This search for Z...
I can no longer bear the cost.
You've come to doubt its existence?
No.
I only doubt Z could provide all the answers you seek from it.
I wish you success, my dear friend.
[Percy] This will be no pampered expedition.
Top heavy missions get nowhere.
They linger on the fringe of civilization and bask in publicity.
We will not.
We will be in the field for three years,
- [crowd reacts] - standing on our own two feet,
surviving by our wits.
Tribesmen shall take our dispatchers
to be delivered for publication as often as possible.
But who's going to finance this latest journey of yours?
The money is generously being supplied by a consortium of American newspapers
and Mr. John D. Rockefeller, Jr.
[all react]
Are you aware The Royal Geographical Society
has just offered to help with the financing?
I'm glad to see our nation is not to be left behind.
I would like now to introduce my companion for this historic expedition,
my own son, Mr. Jack Fawcett.
[all applaud]
He is a man of great discipline and keenest muscle.
Well, we couldn't very well be shamed by the Americans now could we?
No, but I am proud to say that we did finally
manage to meet them halfway.
Sir George, God rest his soul, always bore you great affection.
But I admit my error in not accepting your beliefs long ago.
Oh.
All that matters now is the future.
Yes.
I have carried this
for the last twenty years.
When we reach Z,
I shall send it to you as a sign.
Just in case I decide not to come back.
Oh, nonsense, nonsense.
Oh, now we have something for you.
Mr. Barkley, please. [laughs]
The society's highest honor,
the Founder's Gold Medal.
[Barkley] You are truly deserving, Colonel.
- [Barkley] Truly. - Indeed.
[Nina] All the arrangements are made. We leave for Portugal on the seventh,
and then we meet again in Brazil.
[Percy] No one can best us now.
Remember, the code with the coordinates is in my desk, and Mr. Costin
- has a copy in safekeeping. - Yes, you've told me a thousand times.
Now run along or you'll miss your boat.
You're a man now; responsible for you mother and sister's care.
It's a fine calling.
No less, perhaps even more virtuous than ours.
All right?
Goodbye, father.
I shall indeed miss you as I always have.
- Look after your father for me. - Of course, I will, of course.
- And have fun. - Yes.
And be bold.
Goodbye, Joan.
Goodbye, father.
I love you.
On to Z then,
and to new history!
Goodbye, the boys!
[Jack] Woo!
[upbeat, adventurous music playing]
[Jack] Forty million, father!
Paper says forty million people are following our journey!
It's incredible!
It's wonderful.
♪♪
[insects trilling, birds chirping]
[Percy] How are you faring?
[Jack] Never felt better.
Neither have I.
We'll be on the river soon,
and if we're lucky to see an opera.
♪♪
[music fades]
[operatic singing in distance]
[Jack] This is where they sang?
It's astonishing.
It's just a pity you couldn't see it intact.
Yes.
[Percy] The jungle is restoring the balance.
Dearest Cheeky,
This is the last letter you shall receive until we reach Z.
The rest of our party is returning home.
Jack is acquitting himself marvelously.
Today we reached a tribe of Indians
who told us of a cave entirely unknown to anyone outside of their clan...
[speaking foreign language]
They tell of an enormous rock there,
covered with painted pictures of men and horses.
It's location is, perhaps, the gateway to Z...
[speaking foreign language]
The chief has been very generous to us here,
and he reminds me, yet again, that we are all made of the same clay...
♪♪
I expect we will be in touch with the old civilization within months.
Thereafter, our fate is in the lap of the gods.
You need have no fear of any failure.
[labored breathing]
Stop it! Stop it! Stop!
Stay calm.
I know the approach just keep going.
Amigos.
[tribal chanting]
All right, come on back the way we came.
Slowly, slowly, don't rush.
[Percy] Into the brush! Go!
[all chanting, tense music]
- [Jack groans] - [Percy] Jack!
I'm all right. I'm all right.
[deep pulsing music playing]
No, Jack! Keep going! Keep going!
[music fades]
Be brave.
Nothing will happen to us that is not our destiny.
[deep string music playing]
[tribal chanting fades in and out]
[tribesman speaking foreign language]
[whispering] We're going to die.
[voice cracking] We're going to die here today.
So much of life is a mystery, my boy.
We know so little of this world.
But you and I have made a journey that other men cannot even imagine.
And this has given understanding to our hearts.
I love you, father.
I love you, son.
♪♪
[tribal chanting fades in and out]
[music fades]
[baby crying, indistinct chatter]
[glass clinging]
A toast, shall we?
Actually, Lord Bernard, I wanted...
I wanted to read something if I could.
Now I'm in for it.
[all laugh]
It's something I wrote in the event that I did not survive the birth.
"My Percy, I know your first instinct will be to grieve,
but I adjure you rather to consider our son
and the love you must show him.
I knew it would be a boy.
Always teach him to dream, to seek the unknown,
to look for what is beautiful is its own reward.
And I beg you to remember those words so easy to forget:
A man's reach...
should exceed his grasp,
or what's a Heaven for?
My dearest love, forever. "
♪♪
[Nina] A man came to see me yesterday.
He was from Brazil.
He has seen...
Jack and Percy...
living with the Indians.
He says they claim...
to have reached Z.
My dear, it's... it's...
It's been years.
We've sent almost 100 men to look for your husband and your son, and...
I fear we have to accept the inevitable.
Sir John, I confess that the brutal wear and tear is great,
and I suffer with heart and soul.
It has taken...
all my strength of will
to push horrors from my mind, but I beg you...
not to lose confidence.
I cannot...
doubt...
after so many years of sacrifice.
It has become...
my own life's work.
The Brazilian gave me this to give to you.
He said Percy told him you would understand.
[Nina] I have trained myself to be impartial to evidence, but surely...
Surely, this is a sign.
Yes.
I will have it examined.
Thank you.
That is all I can ask.
[church bell rings in distance]
[insects trilling, birds chirping]