The Jungle Book

Many strange legends are told of these jungles of India,

but none so strange as the story of a small boy named Mowgli.

It all began when the silence of the jungle was broken

by an unfamiliar sound.

It was a sound like one never heard before

in this part of the jungle.

It was a man cub!

Had I known how deeply I was to be involved,

I would've obeyed my first impulse and walked away.

This man cub would have to have nourishment, and soon.

It was many days' travel to the nearest man-village,

and without a mother's care, he would soon perish.

Then it occurred to me.

A family of wolves I knew had been blessed with a litter of cubs.

I knew there'd be no problem with the mother, thanks to the maternal instinct,

but I wasn't so sure about Rama, the father.

Ten times, the rains had come and gone,

and I often stopped by

to see how Mowgli, the man cub, was getting along.

He was a favourite with all the young wolf cubs of the pack.

No man cub was ever happier.

And yet, I knew that someday

he would have to go back to his own kind.

Then one night, the wolf pack elders met at Council Rock

because Shere Khan, the tiger,

had returned to their part of the jungle.

This meeting was to change the man cub's entire future.

Shere Khan will surely kill the boy and all who try to protect him.

Now, are we all in agreement as to what must be done?

Now it is my unpleasant duty to tell the boy's father.

Rama. Come over here, please.

Yes, Akela?

The council has reached its decision.

The man cub can no longer stay with the pack.

He must leave at once.

"Leave"?

I'm sorry, Rama. There is no other way.

But the man cub is...

Well, he's like my own son.

Surely he's entitled to the protection of the pack.

But, Rama, even the strength of the pack is no match for the tiger.

But the boy cannot survive alone in the jungle.

Akela, perhaps I can be of help.

You, Bagheera? How?

I know of a man-village where he'll be safe.

Mowgli and I have taken many walks into the jungle together.

I'm sure he'll go with me.

So be it. Now there's no time to lose.

Good luck.

Bagheera, I'm getting a little sleepy.

Shouldn't we start back home?

Mowgli, this time we're not going back.

- I'm taking you to a man-village. - But why?

Because Shere Khan has returned to this part of the jungle

and he has sworn to kill you.

Kill me? But why would he want to do that?

He hates man.

Shere Khan is not going to allow you to grow up to become a man,

just another hunter with a gun.

We'll just explain to him that I'd never do a thing like that.

Nonsense. No one explains anything to Shere Khan.

Well, maybe so, but I'm not afraid.

- And besides, I... - Now, that's enough.

We'll spend the night here.

Things will look better in the morning.

Man Cub?

Man Cub!

Now, come on. Up this tree. It's safer up there.

I don't wanna go back to the man-village.

Go on. Up you go.

- That limb way up there? - That's right.

Is that all the better you can climb?

It's too big around.

And besides, I don't have any claws.

Now get some sleep.

We've got a long journey ahead of us tomorrow.

I wanna stay in the jungle.

You wouldn't last one day.

I'm not afraid.

I can look out for myself.

Say, now.

What have we here?

It's a man cub.

A delicious man cub.

Go away and leave me alone.

That's just what I should do, but I'm not.

Now, please go to sleep, Man Cub.

Yes, Man Cub.

Sleep.

Bagheera...

Now, look, there's no use arguing any more.

Now, no more talk till morning.

He won't be here in the morning.

Yes, he will. I...

Kaa! Hold it, Kaa!

My sinus.

You have just made a serious mistake, my friend,

a very stupid...

Now, Kaa, I was...

...mistake.

Look me in the eye when I'm speaking to you.

No, please, Kaa...

Both eyes, if you please.

You have just sealed your doom.

Look, Bagheera.

Look. Bagheera. Wake up, Bagheera.

Wha...

Just you wait till I get you in my coils.

Bagheera, he's got a knot in his tail!

"He's got a knot in his tail."

This is going to slow down my slithering.

So, you can look out for yourself, can you?

So, you want to stay in the jungle, do you?

Yes, I wanna stay in the jungle.

Now, now, for the last time, go to sleep.

Man cub.

A parade!

No.

The dawn patrol again.

Company, sound off!

Hello. What are you doing?

Drilling.

- Can I do it, too? - Sure. Just do what I do.

But don't talk in ranks. It's against regulations.

To the rear, march!

The other way. Turn around.

To the rear...

Company, halt!

That means "stop."

Company, left face!

March, march, march.

My feet are killing me.

I'm puttin' in for a transfer to another herd.

Silence in the ranks!

Dress up that line.

Pull it in, Winifred.

Inspection...

Arms!

Stick your nose out.

- Like this? - That's right.

A dusty muzzle.

Soldier, remember, in battle, that trunk can save your life.

Take good care of it, my man.

- Yes, sir. - Very good. Carry on.

Let's have a little more spit and polish on those bayonets.

Yes, sir.

Esprit de corps.

That's the way I earned my commission

in the Maharajah's Fifth Pachyderm Brigade.

Back in '88, it was... Or... Or was it?

Here it comes. The Victoria Cross bit again.

It was then I received the Victoria Cross,

for bravery above and beyond the call of duty.

Those were the days.

Discipline! Discipline was the thing.

Builds character and that sort of thing, you know.

Where was I?

Yes. Inspection.

Well, very good.

Wipe off that silly grin, soldier. This is the army.

Eyes front.

Lieutenant, that haircut is not regulation.

Rather on the gaudy side, don't you think?

There. That's better.

And as for you...

There you are.

Let's keep those heels together, shall we, son?

Okay, Pop.

- Sir. - Yes, now that's better.

Well, a new recruit, eh?

- I say, what happened to your trunk? - Hey!

Stop that!

A man cub! This is treason! Sabotage!

I'll have no man cub in my jungle!

- It's not your jungle! - Hold it! Hold it!

I can explain, Hathi.

Colonel Hathi, if you please, sir.

Yes, yes. Colonel Hathi.

The man cub is with me. I'm taking him back to the man-village.

- To stay? - You have the word of Bagheera.

Good.

And remember, an elephant never forgets.

I don't know what the army's coming to these days.

These young whippersnappers. Who do they think they are?

Let's get on with it!

Right face!

Forward march!

Dear, haven't you forgotten something?

Nonsense, Winifred, old girl.

An elephant never forgets.

Well, you just forgot our son.

Our... Son? Son!

Yes, yes, yes. Quite right.

To the rear, march!

When I grow up, I'm gonna be a colonel just like my...