The Ghost and the Darkness Film Summary - by Dr Seuss

The Ghost and the Darkness

'The Ghost' and 'The Darkness' were the names given to two man-eating lions that terrorised and killed dozens (if not more than 100) railway labourers who were constructing a railway from Mombasa and through the interior of British East Africa, in 1898.

The 1996 film The Ghost and the Darkness starred Val Kilmer and Michael Douglas, and in my view is a highly underrated film.

For a poetry competition, I summarised the plot of the film in the voice of Dr Seuss. The plot summary is below, but beware spoilers.

Dr Seuss Summarises 'The Ghost and the Darkness'
 
In Kenya, two lions
are causing a stir;
at nighttime they chillingly
let out a ‘Grrrr!’
They prowl in the bush
where a railway line
is being laid down
and on laborers dine.
 
Most thrillingly, hunters
are hired to pursue
these legendary big cats,
Lion 1 and Lion 2.
‘The Ghost’ and ‘The Darkness’
they come to be known -
that claw at the flesh
and bite to the bone.
 
Nocturnally stalking,
they kill,
            kill,
                 kill,
                      kill
and feast on the dead
till they’ve eaten their fill.
The labourers, fearing next sunset,
take flight,
leaving the lions
and the hunters to fight.
 
Concealed in the treetops
the two huntsmen wait,
they shoot dead one lion,
but one hunter’s fate
gets sealed which incenses
his rifle-armed friend,
who with one last shot
brings the film to an end.
 
Below are links to my short-listed story for the National newspaper and for a couple of stories that appeared on the Every Day Fiction site - where you can leave a comment and a rating if you so desire. WARNING - Exodus Mortis is a bit disturbing:

http://www.thenational.ae/arts-culture/short-story-a-day-for-decisiveness
​
https://everydayfiction.com/oh-christmas-tree-by-paul-a-freeman/

https://everydayfiction.com/exodus-mortis-by-paul-a-freeman/

Happy writing!

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