The Roots of Heaven

THE ROOTS OF THE Heaven

What's going on here?

You're going to know!

I want to see Habib.

He's not here.

- When will he be back? - I don't know. I don't know.

What's he doing? What's he doing?

I don't know. I don't know.

I just work here, that's all.

Excuse me, please.

Living among the elephants, I don't know how to talk to people anymore.

- Elephants? - Yes.

Are you a hunter?

No! I live with them. I love them.

I like to look at them and listen to them.

In fact, I'd give anything to become an elephant.

Give me a beer.....

please.

Come on! Come on! I have a gift for your boss.

Don't worry, I beat him up. Next time, I'll kill him.

Does he work for Habib?

- Yes. His name is de Vries. - He's a murderer.

I got it when he was going to kill his fourth elephant.

Tell Habib that if I take over that scumbag near a herd,

I'll make it such a mess.

that elephants wouldn't do any better.

Not so fast! Not so fast!

You didn't pay for your beer.

You didn't even drink it.

You know we kill elephants by the thousands every year?

30,000, last year.

30000 ! If we keep going, there won't be any left.

Anyone who has seen their flocks on the last open spaces

knows that the world cannot to afford to lose them.

But we keep destroying everything!

Anything that is beautiful and free.

Soon there will only be than men to destroy.

People have to understand.

We have to shout it out!

Who, "we"?

I am alone. But I will have signatures, for my petition.

We will stop everywhere the martyrdom of the beasts.

At this point, we are we need all the friendships.

We need all the animals we can find of Africa, of all elephants.

Of all the birds....

Friendships....

When a Haas captures animals for a zoo,

half of his calves die of it!

It is through forest fires that the natives bring the animals down.

An elephant trapped agonizing for days on end,

impaled on spikes! Did you know that?

Suffering, I know what it is.

How long have you been here?

24 years old.

No! Since when did do you work here?

- Six months. - Happy here?

Happy?

I don't know what you're talking about.

But I like it here.

When I open my window in the morning,

and I see these millions of dollars of birds that fly....

Do you defend birds too?

Of course! Of course!

I'm leaving. I'm leaving.

Where? Where?

At the governor's house. That the first signature is his.

He will sign. He's a man of heart, and smart, huh?

I told you yesterday, the Governor will not see you.

He has conferences:

The problem of drought, politics...

And above all, we're waiting for Sedgwick to arrive.

I will wait. All day long if necessary.

I can't forbid you to do that.

But it's useless.

Who is this Sedgwick?

Mr. Sedgwick is the famous speaker of American television.

It is essential that it be very satisfied with his safari.

Safari?

Is he here to hunt big game?

This will be the best organized safari the A.E.F. has ever known.

And now you'll excuse me.

Send me urgently your water supply reports.

Goodbye, gentlemen.

Let's see what's organized for Mr. Sedgwick.

May I have a moment? This is important.

I'm sorry, sir. I'm too busy today.

Make an appointment with my Aide de Camp.

I waited for hours, yesterday and today....

That's right, he's here. for a long time, but....

- Come in. Come in. - Thank you.

I'm listening to you. But be brief.

Here is my petition.

I had already sent it to you. But have you been shown it?

I know it by heart.

You sent it to me, didn't you? ten times.

Sign it.

Your support would be invaluable.

My good friend, first you must to think of men.

We're already overloaded,

with the drought looming.

She'll be terrible.

If we do not take action urgently, it will be a massacre.

I'm getting scary reports!

I know. I know.

But is it impossible to help as well other animals than ourselves?

I salute your high opinion of humanity.

But you must excuse me.

I'll be back. I don't get discouraged easily.

With your pets, you're raising my heart!

Think about the people who are really suffering!

The sleepy ones!

Lepers! Lepers! The undernourished!

I know...

And trachoma! And the spirochete! And the rest!

And you come moaning on your elephants!

All right. You are a missionary.

You live among the disease,

human decay, but....

all this

doesn't it ever make you want to to see from the top of a hill

a strong and free greatness?

To find this, I don't don't turn to elephants.

I look at God.

I'm not offering you a pact with Satan.

I just want to save the elephants. They have not sinned....

- Who's that? - Elephants.

Are you thirsty?

No, thank you.

If you're looking for something else, see further than the elephant.

Look for something bigger,

which is threatened with extinction

in the hearts of men.

Maybe, but it doesn't mean you does not prevent you from signing.

I'm not asking for your soul.

Look to God.

- Aren't you going to sign? - No, and here's why:

You want me to sign

no "for animals", but "against men".

Disgusted with men, you move on to animals.

I'm not buying it!

Remember.... Men have a soul.

If that's the case,

they should show it, from time to time.

Goodbye, Father.

You will think about it again....

He's an artist!

I've never seen such a beautiful black eye!

All the moving tones of a sunset!

This is not a joke, I swear to you.

No, of course not, my poor little one!

How many elephants had you killed? before he caught you?

Three large males. 220 kilos, at least.

I've decided to spend the night in the city. I need a room.

It's full.

I saw Habib. He says that it is certain that you will be able to....

to take care of me.

I could, but I won't do anything about it.

Why? Why?

I'm much better. than all the others.

Perhaps, Mr. Orsini...

but I don't like your eyes.

The way you talk, too.

I don't like everything about you.

Minna, sweetheart.

This Morel left you a commission for me.

He said that if he takes over that scumbag chasing elephants,

he'll kill him.

This gentleman is full of energy.

He was talking very seriously.

By the way,

if you care so much to take care of Mr. Orsini,

why don't you give him your room?

Here's something. that will comfort you.

It's the best remedy. to cure all ills.

And there's this crazy guy coming get me to sign a petition

to prohibit elephant hunting!

He came to my house too.

A strange bird!

He wanted to stop me to provide the zoos!

He wants me to starve, or what?

He has undertaken us all.

Except for me!

But I'm going to throw

my reporters after him, I'll give you my ticket.

You can count on me so that his stupid petition

makes tears laugh the whole territory.

There it is, this invaluable document!

Your wife must be at the top of the black list.

How many does she have in total?

501 elephants,

plus lions, buffaloes and the rest. But listen:

"The man on this planet has reached the point where

"where he needs all the available friendships.

"In his solitude, he needs all the elephants,

"of animals and birds."

Wait, there are better....

"It's time to show that we can save

"this gigantic splendor that survives among us

"and to prove that there is still a place for this freedom."

"Freedom"! He's ready for asylum!