The Bushbaby (1969)

Margaret Leclere: Jackie

Photos 

Quotes 

• Jackie : That was a wonderful supper, Tembo. I'm full and happy, and not afraid anymore.

  Tembo : To be not afraid is to be careless.

  Jackie : [to Komba the bushbaby]  What is there to fear, eh, Komba?

  Tembo : The galago fears little because he knows little. The lion is wise and fears much because he knows much.

  Jackie : [to Komba]  Did you hear what he said? He thinks you're stupid. You're not stupid, are you, Komba?

• Jackie : I'm sorry, Tembo. I should have listened and gone to the police like you said.

  Tembo : There is a saying: "All the yesterdays cannot make one tomorrow."

• Steward : [after walking into Jackie's cabin and discovering something moving inside a basket]  Blimey!

  Jackie : It's alright, I can make up my own bed.

  Steward : What in heaven's name you got in there, miss?

  Jackie : Nothing...

  Steward : Well, a bit noisy for nothing.

  Jackie : I'll show you if you promise not to say anything.

  Steward : It ain't a snake, is it?

  Jackie : No.

  [pulls out Komba the galago] 

  Jackie : Bushbaby!

  Steward : Queer, ain't it? It looks a bit like a monkey!

  Jackie : Would you like to hold him? He's very gentle.

  Steward : [hesitatingly]  I'll take your word for it, miss.

• John Leeds : [Jackie and her father are standing next to a gravestone marked "In loving memory of Penelope Leeds, who died in the uprising of 1961"]  I've arranged for Tembo to keep the flowers watered.

  Jackie : I wish Tembo were coming with us.

  John Leeds : He'll be at the boat to see us off.

  [noticing Jackie's discontentment] 

  John Leeds : Jackie... Tembo belongs in Africa.

  Jackie : Like Komba?

  [she walks away from her father] 

  Jackie : I belong here, too. I was born here. I don't want to go away.

  John Leeds : It can't be helped Jackie. I don't want to leave Africa any more than you do.

  Jackie : It isn't only Africa, I have to leave everything!

• Tembo : Are you sure you know this place?

  Jackie : Of course I do; I spent many holidays here. The cottage's up this way and the village is over there. So, stop worrying.

  Tembo : I will stop when you're in the ship with your baba and I'm in the bush.

• Tembo : [after Jackie wakes up]  Do you feel better, mtoto?

  Jackie : Mm, much better. I'm not hot anymore.

  Tembo : [in approval]  Hm.

  Jackie : The pain in my arm's gone.

  Tembo : [again in approval]  Hmm!

  Jackie : Oh, where's Cranky?

  Tembo : Do not be angry, but I could not let him take you in his airship because many times I've heard your father say that it is not safe. So I took you from that place when he was not looking.

  Jackie : [with surprise at the object Tembo is now carrying]  Where did you get the gun?

  Tembo : I took it from the bwana doctor.

  Jackie : Why I hope you didn't hurt poor old Cranky.

  Tembo : Why should I hurt him? He's only a foolish old man. I only took the gun so he would not hurt me.

• [last lines] 

  Jackie : Kwaheri, Komba!

• [first lines] 

  Jackie : [Jackie and Tembo are chasing a small galago around a baobab tree]  Where is he?

  Tembo : Sshh!

  Jackie : [after Tembo catches the creature he hands it to Jackie]  Oh! Oh, he's so tiny!

  Tembo : He's a young one.

  Jackie : What shall I call him?

  Tembo : He has many names: bushbaby, galago... In Swahili he's called "Komba."

  Jackie : Komba! That's marvelous.

  [to Komba] 

  Jackie : Hey Komba, Komba...!

  [to Tembo] 

  Jackie : Oh, thank you, Tembo. Asante sana!

  Tembo : Stahere, mtoto.

• Tembo : They have no reason to kill me; I've done nothing.

  Jackie : My mother did nothing.