The Elephant Whisperer

Lawrence and David drive back home from the boma for a break one day and realize the fig tree exorcised by the psychic is dying. Lawrence is not superstitious, but the supernatural is a way of life in Zululand, and he wonders about the tree.

At the house, Lawrence hears Françoise scream—she has spotted a snake in the kitchen, a Mozambican spitting cobra or mfezi, second only to mambas as the most dangerous snake in the country. Before Lawrence can extract the snake, Max corners and kills the reptile, getting a spray of venom in his eyes. Lawrence bathes Max’s eyes in milk and rushes him to the vet, who reassures them Max is fine.

Lawrence returns to the boma with David and Max that night. The early morning ritual repeats, with Nana at the fence and the herd lined up behind her. Once again, Lawrence pleads with her, and she backs away. However, for the first time, she lets the herd pass ahead of her, stopping to look at Lawrence once again before disappearing into the darkness.