Magnum: When were you in Africa?
Higgins: Of course, I was in North Africa during the war, attached to Alexander's command. Fought against Rommel in the desert.
Magnum: Higgins...
Higgins: I remember once...
Magnum: Higgins...
Higgins: ...outside El Alamein...
Magnum: I meant, when did you see the Masai rites?
Higgins: When I was stationed in Kenya in '53.
Magnum: 1953? That was about the time of Mau Mau uprising, wasn't it?
Higgins: Yes.
[Higgins goes to get more drink]
Higgins: Scotch?
Magnum: No, this is fine. What was it like?
Higgins: It was bloody.
[Higgins returns to his seat]
Higgins: [glumly] The Mau Mau came from the Kikuyu tribe. And the Kikuyu could be a savage people. But then, so could we. Take away our bowlers and school ties, remove us from our cities where others kill our meat, from our books and films, where we vicariously live out our baser emotions, set us down in the African bush where every living thing is killing or being killed, and we can be as savage as any tribe on the face of the earth. You know what I mean?
Magnum: Yes, I've been there.
Higgins: Africa?
Magnum: Vietnam.