The Most Dangerous Game

The channel's here on the chart. So are the marking lights.

Then what's wrong with them?

Those lights don't seem to be in just the right place.

They're both a bit out of position, according to this.

Two light buoys mean a safe channel between the world over.

"Safe between the world over" doesn't go in these waters.

Look here. You'll see the water shoals on the island side,

while the deep soundings run to the mainland.

Have any of you seen the captain today?

- No. He wasn't down for dinner. - No, and he wasn't down for lunch.

He hasn't left the bridge since you decided to come through the channel.

What are you driving at?

Ever since you gave him those orders yesterday to cut through these waters,

he's had the jitters.

There's something wrong. I... Hey, I'm getting nervous myself.

Doc, what do you recommend for nerves?

- Give him a shot of scotch. - Give the whole bottle.

- No! I've got nerves too. - Here you are, Doc.

Just what you need.

- Well, maybe you're right. - And how, boy.

- Good evening, Captain. - Good evening, sir.

- May I speak with you? - Why, certainly. Go ahead.

We're heading straight for the channel between Branca Island and the mainland.

Good.

But the lights are just a bit off, according to the chart.

The charts are never up to date in this part of the Pacific. You know that.

I know, sir, but...

Doesn't Branca Island mean anything to you?

- Well, not a lot. - Perhaps if I spoke with Mr Rainsford.

Bob's not a sailor. He's a hunter.

He's made many of these trips. He's young, but he has judgment.

I'll call him.

- Oh, Bob. Bob! - What is it?

- Come up here, will you? - Just a minute.

What's bothering you, Captain?

There are no more coral-reefed, shark-infested waters in the whole world than these.

Boy! Just take a look at these.

You didn't turn out so hot as a hunter, Doc, but oh, what a photographer.

If we'd had you to take pictures on the Sumatran trip,

they might have believed my book.

If you'd had me on the Sumatran trip, you'd have never had me on this one.

Say, here's a swell one of the ship, Skipper. What's the matter?

These old sea dogs tell yarns to kid each other...

and end up believing it all themselves.

I think that Mr Rainsford should know...

that the channel lights aren't just in the position given on the charts.

Oh. Well, what do you think, fellows?

I think we should turn back and take the outside course.

We'll go ahead.

Very well, sir. It's your ship.

"It was the schooner 'Hesperus,' and she sailed the wintry sea."

Now, wait a minute, fellas. Let's talk this over.

- There's no use taking any chances. - Chances? That's fine talk...

coming from a fella who just got through slapping tigers in the face.

Get an eyeful of this.

And he talks about taking chances.

Here's the doc charging the enemy with an unloaded camera.

Get the expression on Doc's face, Bill.

He looks more frightened than the tiger.

- He is. - What'd you have on your mind, Doc?

I'll tell you what I had on my mind.

I was thinking of the inconsistency of civilisation.

The beast of the jungle killing just for his existence is called savage.

The man, killing just for sport, is called civilised.

- Hear! Hear! - It's a bit contradictory, isn't it?

Now, just a minute. What makes you think it isn't...

just as much sport for the animal as it is for the man?

Take that fellow right there, for instance.

There never was a time when he couldn't have gotten away.

He didn't want to. He got interested in hunting me.

He didn't hate me for stalking him,

any more than I hated him for trying to charge me.

As a matter of fact, we admired each other.

Perhaps, but would you change places with the tiger?

- Well, not now. - Mm-mm!

Here comes that bad-luck lady again.

Third time tonight.

- Here. Let me shuffle them. - Wait a minute. Don't evade the issue.

- Yeah, speak up. - I asked you a question.

- You did? I forgot. - Oh, no, you didn't.

I asked you if there'd be as much sport in the game...

if you were the tiger instead of the hunter.

- Come on. - What's your answer now, Bob?

That's something I'll never have to decide.

Listen here, you fellows.

This world's divided into two kinds of people - the hunter and the hunted.

Luckily, I'm a hunter. Nothing can ever change that.

Hang on!

Hello! Hello, down there! Hello, Engine Room!

- The panel is flooded! - If the water hits those hot boilers...

Help!

Help!

You trying to drown me?

Where are the others?

See anybody?

Nobody left but us two and that fellow.

Doc! Help!

- Look! - Shark!

Ohh! It got me!

Hello! Is anybody here?

Anybody around, I say.

Oh, hello. Is this your house?

I'm not trying to break in, but I've been in a wreck.

Our yacht just sunk with all hands.

I got ashore and found your place here by accident.

I'm not trying to intrude, but I'm in sort of a jam.

Don't you understand any English?

Ivan does not speak any language.

He has the misfortune to be dumb.

Oh, hello. Are you the owner here?

Yes. Welcome to my poor fortress.

- Fortress? - It once was.

Built by the Portuguese, centuries ago.

I have had the ruins restored to make my home here.

I am Count Zaroff.

My name's Robert Rainsford. Glad to meet you.

Very glad.

Ivan is a Cossack.

I am afraid, like all my fellow countrymen, he is a bit of a savage.

Smile, Ivan.

I was trying to make him understand there'd been a shipwreck in the channel.

But how appalling!

And you mean to say that you are the only survivor?

Yes, I'm afraid I am.

You're certain?

I'd have never left the spot if I hadn't been.

The swellest crowd on Earth, my best friends.

- It's incredible. - Such things are always incredible.

Death is for others, not for ourselves.

That is how most of my other guests have felt.

Your other guests? You mean this has happened before?

My fellow, we have several survivors from the last wreck still in the house.

It would seem that this island were cursed.

That's just what the captain said.

Only he thought it was uninhabited.

We Cossacks find our inspiration in solitude.

- Well, it's a break for me, anyway. - My house is yours, sir.

Oh, by the way. You'll want to change those wet rags immediately.

Yes. They look about the way I feel.

Yes.

I have some loose hunting clothes, which I keep for my guests,

that you can possibly get into.

Ivan will show you to your room.

Thank you.

You'll find a stiff drink there also.

Thanks a lot.

All pleasure is mine.

Come in.

- Ready, Rainsford? - All set.

I'm afraid we have finished dinner.

But I have ordered something for you.

Thanks. I don't feel like eating.

Oh dear, dear. Well, perhaps later.

Now, then, what do you say to coffee...

and most charming company?

It is hard to forget your comrades' fate, I know,

but our feminine guest is easily perturbed.

If I could beg you to put a good face upon the matter.

Assume a cheerfulness you may not feel.

- Why, sure. Of course. - Thank you.

Miss Trowbridge, may I present Mr Robert Rainsford.

- Miss Eve Trowbridge. - How do you do?

- How do you do? - And her brother, Mr Martin Trowbridge.

How are you, old chap? Pretty well shaken up, I guess, huh?

- Coming out of it now, thanks. - We know how it feels, don't we, Eve?

Indeed we do.

Perhaps Mr Rainsford would like some hot coffee.

Oh, yes, of course. Mr Rainsford, please sit here.

Well, thank you.

Give us 2 coffees with vodka.

Vodka, that's the stuff!

One shot'll dry you out quicker than all the coffee in Java.

Have to toss it off, though. Like this.

Now, Martin, you don't have to drink it all tonight, do you?

Don't be ridiculous, sis. We are victims of circumstance.

Same as Mr Rainsford.

And if anyone has a right to his liquor, it's a victim of circumstance.

- Isn't that so, Count? - Of course, yes.

You were in a shipwreck

too, I understand? - Yes.

Our lifeboat was the only one saved;

my brother and I and two sailors.

The count found us on the beach with nothing but the clothes on our backs.

Those channel lights must have been shifted.

- I wonder it hasn't been reported. - Well, we'll report them...

just as soon as we get back to the mainland.

You see, the count has only one launch...

and that's under repair.

Russians are not the best mechanics.

I'm afraid we'll have to be patient a few days longer.

It's all right with me. I feel as if I were living on borrowed time right now.

Speaking of that, perhaps now you'll tell us...

a little bit about who you are.

Just sketchily, you know, born, married, why I left my last job.

No, no, no, no. One moment, please.

Mr Rainsford need never explain who he is in my house.

No?

No. We entertain a celebrity, Miss Trowbridge.

Wait a minute, wait a minute. Don't tell me. Let me guess.

I know. Flagpole sitter.