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| Caleb and Gunter | Chief of Red Pearl Cove | Pankburn |
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| Caleb and Gunter | Chief of Red Pearl Cove | Pankburn |
Teaser:
Rattler sailing
Grief: (shouting) Down mainsail. (Grief is at the helm.) We’ll anchor off the point. Let’s do it.
Voice on board: Aye, captain.
Mauriri: I brought some shark teeth for the chief.
Grief: Shark teeth?
Mauriri nods
Mauriri: They’re a fertility symbol.
Grief: The chief has fourteen children already.
Mauriri: Yeah, but three new wives.
Grief and Mauriri smile.
Mauriri and Grief exit boat on shore.
Natives there, chief is on a chair on a litter.
Grief: Great chief, favored son of the mighty god Io. May your days be blessed by Tinira and your nights graced by Hina.
Native translates for the chief.
Grief: (aside to Mauriri) Am I laying it on too thick?
Mauriri: In situations like this you can never lay it on too thick.
Chief nods and a native comes forward with a basket of sea worms.
Native: David Grief can take the sea worms from the water one more year.
Grief picks up a sea worm.
Grief: Tell the chief I am humbled by his generosity.
Native translates.
Native: Why do the Chinese men like the taste of sea worms?
Grief: They make an old man feel young again.
Mauriri: “Young enough to love.”
Native translates, all laugh.
Crewman from Rattler: (pointing out to the cove) Captain Grief, It’s Kurt Gunter and the Willy Waw.
Grief: (to Mauriri) Tell the chief we’re out of here.
Mauriri speaks to the chief.
Grief, Mauriri & Tah-mey push boat off of the shore.
Grief: I’m going to square things with that greedy bastard once and for all.
On the Willy Waw
Caleb: (putting away a telescope) It’s David Grief, Captain. Do you want me to fire a few shots?
Gunter: No. No, no. I want this to be very personal.
Tah-mey, Grief, rowing out to Gunter, Mauriri sitting in the bow.
Grief: How many guns do we have?
Mauriri: Only the rifle. No need to bring guns to a trade negotiation. Your words.
Grief: You could have given me an argument.
Mauriri: I did.
Mauriri picks up rifle and levers in a cartridge.
Mauriri: We could always take him to claims court.
Grief: (humorless laugh) And what? Hire a lawyer? (Sarcastic) Did they teach that in Europe?
Mauriri: My father sent me there to learn the ways of civilized people.
Grief: All right, you want civilized. We’ll try it the civilized way.
On board Willy Waw
Grief: Kurt, just passing by?
Gunter: Hello, Grief.
Grief: Haven’t seen you in awhile. Climbs on board. Been spying for the German government?
Gunter: Buying Red Pearl Cove for them actually.
Grief: You greedy pig. You won’t stop until you own the South Pacific, will you?
Gunter: Be careful, Grief. You’re in no position to insult me.
Grief: Before you buy the Cove, you can damn well pay me. Two cases of b ê che de mare , six months overdue. You owe me. Taps Gunter’s chest.
Gunter: You’ll get paid, when I get paid. I’m surprised at you, Grief. (Smirks and looks over at Mauriri and Tah-mey) Coming here to collect a debt just with a couple of darkies.
Mauriri picks up rifle and steps on board.
Caleb cocks a pistol and points it at Mauriri.
Mauriri: What did you say?
Grief: Still feeling civilized?
Mauriri grabs Caleb, He and Grief take on the whole crew. Finally Gunter and several crew men have them at gun point.
Gunter: Drop it, Grief.
Mauriri & Grief look at each other signficantly. Grief nods to the sea. The two dive overboard with a shout, shots are fired after them.
Opening Credits
ACT 1:
In Matavai, dockside
Grief & Mauriri row in from the Rattler. Isabelle, dirty, disheveled, but walking tall and defiantly on chain of prisoners, led by Morlais.
Grief: If Gunter gets his hands on Red Pearl Cove, we can kiss those fishing rights good-bye.
Mauriri: I didn’t even know it was for sale.
Grief: It seems like all the Pacific is for sale these days.
Mauriri: “We’ll see what’s registered at the land office.”
A native boy is pushing a wheelbarrow full of fish when he’s bumped from behind. The fishmonger then accidentally knocks down Morlais, a very proper French Lieutenant, the fish fall over him.
Native boy: (mumbles) Sorry, sorry.
Morlais: (angrily) Arrest him, arrest that boy.
Grief: (picking up a fish) Here you go, Lieutenant, the one that got away.
Isabelle laughs.
Isabelle: Don’t be upset Lieutenant, you’ve never smelled better.
Grief laughs with other bystanders.
Morlais: Shut your mouth or you won’t eat again until we reach New Stanton. (Turns to Grief.) And you will take us there.
Grief: (morally superior) I don’t transport human cargo, Lieutenant.
Morlais: You do now. You know the law. You’ll take us to New Stanton. You’ll wait while we collect some more prisoners, then on to the penal colony at Makemo. You and your schooner are now officially commandeered.
Grief and Isabelle exchange a brief smile as she’s led away with the other prisoners.
Grief: (to Mauriri) Don’t say it.
Mauriri: What do you mean don’t even say it? You had to go an insult that hoity-toity French bureaucrat and now we’re sailing.
Grief: Look, Mauriri, if I wanted to be nagged I’d get a wife.
Clerk’s office
Colin Trent & Bishop in clerk’s office. Colin is wearing clerical collar and black garments. The clerk is an elderly man.
Clerk: These are the relevant deeds, Bishop.
Grief & Mo enter
Trent: David, Mauriri.
Grief: Colin. You’re looking very…formal.
Trent: This is my superior, Bishop Jameson. I’ve told you about David Grief, your Grace.
Bishop: Ah, yes, the trader. Quite a legend in these parts, I hear. My pleasure, sir.
Trent: And his partner, Mauriri Lepau.
Bishop nods briefly at Mauriri.
Grief: Are you here to buy more land, Bishop?
Bishop: No, sir, I am not.
Trent: The Bishop is here to sell some church lands.
Bishop: The church has to tend to practical matters as well as spiritual, Mr. Grief. We need to maximize our resources same as any other institution.
Grief: Just out of curiosity …. Which lands?
Bishop: Since you ask, we intend to sell Red Pearl Cove to Herr Gunter and his Bavarian trading company.
Grief: You can’t do that.
Mauriri: David, let’s just hear what the Bishop has to say.
Bishop: I’m acting in the church’s best interest, Mr. Grief. Those lands contain phosphate. Herr Gunter plans to mine and is prepared to pay a fair price.
Grief: Bishop, do you have any idea what will happen here? Gunter will mine phosphate until there is nothing left of that island but dust. And he’ll shoot any island villagers who resist.
Bishop: I find that difficult to believe.
Trent: The Bavarian Trading Company has something of a bad reputation, your Grace.
Bishop: Herr Gunter has assured me he will conduct himself according to Christian principles.
The Bishop starts to leave and is face to face with Mauriri.
Mauriri: Blackbirding slaves? Burning homes?
Grief: Not to mention rape, pillage, and plunder.
Mauriri: You call those Christian principles, Bishop?
Bishop: (to Grief) You fish in that cove. Are you looking after your own interests?
Grief: That’s not the point, Bishop.
Bishop: (angry) What is the point, Mr. Grief?
Grief: The point is those lands belong to the islanders. And they were there long before the church.
Mauriri: It’s not their fault if they know nothing about registering deeds.
Grief: What are you going to tell them if they can’t find food? Say your prayers.
Bishop: I don’t know if this outrage is genuine or not, but let’s find out, shall we? Herr Gunter’s offer is three thousand francs. I gave him one week to come up with the funds. I’ll give you the same time. If you can better his offer, the land is yours.
Bishop walks out, Colin slowly follows him.
In Lavinia’s bar, daytime.
Grief and Mauriri are sitting at a table. Lavinia walks over, puts down a bottle and glasses.
Lavinia: So Gunter’s buying up all the land he can get his hands on.
Grief: That’s right.
Lavinia sits at the table.
Lavinia: How can the Bishop not understand what this means? I’ll get a loan on this bar.
Grief: No, you won’t. You’re mortgaged to the hilt already.
Lavinia: Can’t you get an advance on the sandalwood shipment? Burgess will be here from Sidney soon.
Grief: I won’t be here.
Lavinia: Why not?
Grief: Morlais has commandeered the Rattler. Lavina looks exasperated.
Mauriri: We’re shipping prisoners to Makemo. David managed to offend the Lieutenant today.
Lavinia: (scolding) Don’t you ever learn?
Mauriri: I think we all know the answer to that one.
Grief looks disgruntled.
Young man, Pankburn, enters the bar
Pankburn: Is there a David Grief here? (All noise stops, no one says anything.) David Grief, is he here? (No one answers.) Anyone seen him? (He steps a little further into the bar.)
Grief: (looking around finally) “I’m Grief.”
Pankburn: (steps forward carrying a suitcase, puts it down by the table. Leans forward) Great. I’m Harry Pankburn. I hear you’re sailing out to New Stanton. I need passage. When do we leave? (Grief doesn’t respond quickly.) Well?
Grief: (angrily) I leave in a few days. You, on the other hand, can grow wings or find a Chinese junk. (Turns back to Mauriri.)
Pankburn: (crossing over to stand between Mauriri and Grief, a little belligerently) Wait a minute, my money is a good as anyone’s. You don’t even know who I am.
Grief: Yes, I do. (He swallows his drink and then stands.) You’re every spoiled brat from Bristol to Boston looking for adventure on the high seas. (He turns and walks to the bar.)
Pankburn: (following him) Look –
Grief: Do you know there’s people in here who will carve open your stomach just to see which way the wind blows? Now go home before your skull winds up on some headhunter’s mantle piece. Get out of here. (Grief returns to the table. Pankburn lingers at the bar as more men come in.)
Man: (addressing someone standing behind Pankburn) Hey, Harold, who’s you’re chum?
Pankburn: (stops by the table, picks up his suitcase) Sorry. (Leaves the bar.)
Mauriri: Seen that kid before.
Lavinia: (giving significant glances at Grief) Me, too. Not too long ago. Walking in here, full of himself. It was him, or someone just like him.
Grief: What? (looks from Mauriri to Lavinia who is grinning at Mauriri) Is this a conspiracy?
Lavinia: I think you need to relax.
Grief gives Mauriri a sideways look, not pleased with him.
Nighttime, Lavinia’s room above the bar.
Grief in a tub. Water from a pitcher is poured over his head. He spits water out
Grief: Oh, what a day. Being shot at by Gunter. Blindsided by a bishop. (A hand is washing him.) Commandeered by Morlais. And ragged on because I tried to save some kid from being sent home in a box. Lavinia continues to wash him, bending over close to his face.
Lavinia: Could be worse. At least you don’t smell of b ê che de mare any more.
Lavinia stands and walks away, dropping the sponge on his chest. Grief reaches around and takes a shirt, hanging nearby. Goes to wipe his face. Holds it to his nose.
Grief: Something sure stinks around here, though. (Lavinia looks at him guiltily as she dries her hands and arms.) This isn’t mine.
Lavinia: Guess not.
Grief: (demanding) Whose is it?
Lavinia: I don’t know.
Grief: So much for chastity. (Throws shirt on the floor.)
Lavinia: Look who’s talking.
Grief: You could try a lie.
Lavinia: What for?
Grief: Try blushing at least.
Lavinia: (seductively) I’ve tried. (Crosses over and kneels by the tub.) It’s not easy. (They kiss.)
Lavinia: (tentatively) Maybe it’s time we settle down, agree to be faithful. Have any thoughts?
Grief: Sure, I’ll think about it.
Lavinia: (a bit impatient) We’ve been thinking about it for five years.
Grief: (chuckles) Hasn’t exactly slowed us down, has it?
Lavina’s mood changes as she notices a cut on his shoulder blade.
Lavinia: What’s this?
Grief: Compliments of Gunter.
Lavinia: (standing up) I’ll get some peroxide.
Grief tosses the shirt across the room to her.
Grief: While you’re at it, burn this.
Lavinia turns and leaves the room. Grief leans back in the tub relaxing, a wet cloth over his face. The sound of an argument seeps into the room. He sits up. Outside, on the ground below, three men are beginning to beat up Pankburn.
Grief stands up and takes a towel, wrapping it around his waist. He goes out onto the landing and looks down.
Grief: Just as I thought. Going home in a box.
Grief leaps over the railing to the roof below.
Pankburn: (to two of his assailants) Get off me, will you?
Grief drops from the roof to the ground. Grief fights with the three men, one finally pulls a knife. Grief whips off the towel and uses it to defend against the knife-wielding thug. Eventually Grief defeats all three who run off. Pankburn turns over and looks at Grief.
Grief: Welcome to Tahiti. (Grief covers himself.) What was that all about?
Pankburn: (breathlessly) My map.
Grief: What?
Pankburn hands it to Grief.
Pankburn: My treasure map.
Grief looks at the parchment.
Grief: Go home, kid. (tosses the map back to him)
ACT 2:
On the beach shore, daytime.
Leani is on the wooden deck calling to two children playing by the surf.
Leani: Tevaki, Tahnee, lunch.
Mauriri, Colin and Grief are there at the table. Grief picks up Tevaki and puts him in a chair next to him. Tahnee is on Mauriri’s knee.
Trent: I spoke to the Bishop after we left the land office. He’s determined to sell Red Pearl Cove. But he’ll keep his word and give you a week.
Leani: Wasn’t that land for a new church, Colin?
Trent: (unhappily) At one time, yes. The Bishop sees no reason for a new church. The Bishop thinks we might have one Church too many already. (pauses) It seems my future is up in the air.
Leani: (worried) What do you mean?
Trent: As you know Leani, with the recent returns to ….polygamy, my congregation has fallen off. I’m not sure what the Bishop’s reaction will be when he comes to church Sunday.
Mauriri: (concerned) He won’t send you back to England, will he?
Trent: (trying to lighten the mood) I hope not. It rains two days out of every three.
Mauriri: (smiles) I always hated that about England. (Leani smiles at Mauriri.) It’s so cold. (To Tahnee) Are you going to help Daddy with his lunch? (He offers some food to her.)
Leani: This is so ridiculous, you do much more than missionary work here. Our children wouldn’t be reading if it wasn’t for you.
Grief: Besides you like it here.
Trent: I don’t like it here. (pause) I love it here.
After lunch, Tevaki leaps into Mauriri’s arms. Mauriri kisses Tahnee on the head.
Mauriri: Now you help, Mom with the dishes, ok?
Tahnee: Yes.
Mauriri and Grief walk down the beach.
Mauriri: So what do we do about it?
Grief: About what?
Mauriri: About what? About everything, Colin, Gunter, Morlais, the Bishop.
Grief: Oh we could kidnap his Grace, stuff him in a barrel and ship him to Australia.
Mauriri: Why aren’t you taking this seriously?
Grief: (chuckles) I am. It would take care of Colin. (Mauriri sighs.) Alright, let me ask you this. Do you really think we can fill that church? Put on a little show for the Bishop.
Mauriri: Not a problem.
Grief: Then that’s that. You see even if we bail out Colin, it still leaves Gunter. We have to find a way to delay him.
Mauriri: How?
Grief: Remember that brat at the bar? He’s got a map, a treasure map.
Mauriri snorts.
Mauriri: So?
Grief: It’s a map to the Kestrel treasure, the one at Caleb’s village.
Mauriri: (disgusted) That was dug up years ago.
Grief: Yeah, but I betcha Gunter doesn’t know that.
Mauriri: (liking the idea) How do we lead Gunter to the trough?
Grief: I think we can count on Caleb being at Lavinia’s. He’ll drink his pay as soon as they’re anchored.
Both laugh.
Mauriri: I like it.
Grief: So do I. You work on the church, I’ll work on the kid.
Interior of Lavinia’s bar, daytime.
Pankburn is involved in a poker game. A lot of money is on the table.
Poker player 1: Two hundred to stay in.
Poker player 2: I’m in.
Poker player 3: Yeah, me too.
Pankburn studies his cards. Bearded man walks into the bar.
Customer #1: How’s it going, Caleb?
Customer #2: Caleb.
Grief sitting quietly by a post watches as Caleb sits down at a table. Grief’s also keeping an eye on the poker game.
Poker player 1: You in?
No response from Pankburn.
Poker player 1: (impatiently) I said are you in or not?
Pankburn: Just give me a second to think.
Poker player 1: (quietly) Busted, aren’t you? (Looks at his cards.) Four, five years working the plantation should make enough to get you home?
Pankburn reaches in his pocket for the parchment, lays it on the table.
Poker player 1: What’s this?
Pankburn: A treasure map.
Poker players laugh. Caleb watches.
Pankburn: What’s so funny? My father got it from one of the Kestrel mutineers.
Poker player 1: Got it from the Kestrel? On New Stanton?
Caleb is still watching.
Pankburn: Yeah, that’s right.
Poker player 1 reaches for the map, Pankburn snatches it back up.
Pankburn: Does it cover my bet?
Grief: I’ll cover your bet. (Snatches map from Pankburn. Throws money on the table.) And raise another two hundred.
Grief throws more money on the table. Caleb watches with interest.
Poker player 1: Put it back, Grief.
Grief doesn’t. Poker Player 1 rises. Pulls a pistol.
Poker player 1: I said put it back.
Lavinia pulls a shotgun from under the bar, aims it at Poker Player 1
Lavinia: Are you betting or not?
Poker player tucks gun in his waistband and sits down.
Grief: (Handing something to Pankburn) Don’t lose it. That’s your ticket to New Stanton. The boat leaves the day after tomorrow. (waving map) I’ll hold onto this.
Grief turns away walks to bar as Caleb watches. Caleb gets up and leaves. Lavinia and Grief exchange a glance.
Church interior, daytime.
Native choir practice, Leani is directing. Colin and Mauriri are watching.
Mauriri: Ever hear it done this way before?
Trent: It’s a huge improvement over the Blackburn Ladies Auxiliary.
A native man comes and sits down behind Mauriri, leans forward to talk.
Man: Are you really paying five francs for this?
Colin turns to listen.
Mauriri: Five francs for coming to church and learning a few songs.
Man: Five francs for each family member?
Mauriri: That’s right.
Man: I’d like all my family to work.
Mauriri: Good.
Man: Four wives, ten children, four grandchildren.
Mauriri: Done.
Man claps Mauriri on the back. Mauriri turns back towards the choir.
Matavai village.
Grief’s & Morlais’s voices are heard as they walk toward the Matavai jail.
Grief: Ten for medical supplies. Twenty for straw. Thirty for water. And a hundred for food.
Morlais: No, eighty for food. I’ll restock in New Stanton so that will be more than adequate.
Grief: You don’t want to eat, Lieutenant?
Morlais: (sighs) All right, one hundred.
They enter the building.
Grief: Ten for cleaning supplies, twenty for extra irons, and two thousand for the copper shipment I won’t be able to make.
Morlais: (laughing) Absolutely not. No, the law says I pay for your added expenses. I don’t cover your losses.
Grief: Worth a try.
Morlais walks away as Grief stands in an interior doorway. A soldier is nearby.
Morlais: Ah soldier, I want to see the accounts covering the trip to Makemo.
Grief looks around as he hears Isabelle’s voice.
Isabelle: Hello again.
Grief: Hello. (Walks to her cell.)
Isabelle: When do we sail?
Grief: (half smile) In a hurry to get to the penal colony? This place is a picnic by comparison.
A man on the bed in Isabelle’s cell groans.
Inmate:: Aw, get lost.
Isabelle: My roommate.
Grief: What did you do to wind up here?
Isabelle: (sultry smile) Poisoned a French Naval official. Didn’t you know?
Inmate:: Shut up. I need to get some sleep. (Rises off the bed.)
Grief: (To inmate) Come here, friend.
Inmate walks to bars. Grief reaches in yanks him against the bars, knocking him out. Isabelle laughs. Grief turns back to Isabelle.
Grief: Did you do it?
Isabelle: Did I do what?
Grief: Poison the French official.
Isabelle: What do you think?
Grief: I don’t know. I wasn’t there.
Isabelle: Doesn’t matter does it? You find me desirable.
Grief: Confident, aren’t we?
Isabelle, lifts an eyebrow, makes a small sound of agreement, then a light laugh.
Isabelle: (holding out her hand) Isabelle Reed.
Grief: David Grief. (Shakes her hand, smiles at her.)
Isabelle: I know.
Grief: (looking around at the prison guard who just showed up) See you soon.
Isabelle watches him leave.
Isabelle: (confidently) Of course you will.
Church interior, daytime.
Service is ongoing. Colin is in vestments.
Native choir is singing. Other churchgoers in the crowded church are singing as well. Grief and Lavinia are sitting together in the congregation.
Lavinia: (softly) Someone sure listened to your prayers.
Exterior of church
Mauriri and the Bishop approach. The singing can be heard outside.
Mauriri: They’re in fine voice today, Bishop.
They enter the church.
Bishop entering, looks around as the hymn ends.
Lavinia: (softly) Bishop’s here.
Grief: I guess Colin will be here with us for a while.
Lavinia’s eyes flicker toward him.
Bishop and Mauriri proceeding towards seats near the front as congregation sits. As Colin approaches the pulpit he exchanges glances with the Bishop. Bishop and Mauriri sit.
Trent: Lord forgive us our sins. Banish from our thoughts the temptation to indulge in wickedness …. (looking at Grief).. and deceit. (Grief smiles.)
Caleb and Gunter are on deck.
Gunter: So this map could be genuine?
Caleb nods.
Gunter: After all these years?
Caleb: Grief laid out four hundred for it. And I checked the records. This could be the real thing.
Gunter walks to the rail, looking over the bay.
Gunter: Where’s Grief now?
Caleb: Church.
Gunter: (chuckles) That’s a first.
Caleb: (smiling) Thanking God for his good fortune.
Gunter: (crossing back to Caleb) We’ll see about that. When is he leaving?
Caleb: Tomorrow.
Gunter: Good. (raising his voice) Prepare to sail.
Caleb: What about the Bishop? We’re due to meet him in five days.
Gunter: To hell with the Bishop, he’ll wait.
ACT 3:
Next day, Matavai, sandy beach.
Lavinia is standing in about a foot of water, tossing stones further out. Colin walks along the surf, barefoot, pants rolled up, shoes hung by their shoelaces over his shoulder. Lavinia sees him and wades back towards him, smiling.
Lavinia: What are you doing here?
Trent: I like to start my day with a walk along this beach. So peaceful.
Lavinia: Most beautiful spot on the island. I try to come here as often as I can.
Trent: Must have been wonderful to grow up with so much natural beauty around you.
Lavinia: Isn’t England beautiful?
Trent: Actually it is. But in a different way. (He gestures that they should continuing walking.)
Lavinia: How?
Trent: Well for start there are different seasons. (light laugh) The weather isn’t as perfect as it is here.
Lavinia: I can’t imagine living anywhere else but here. When I was a child I use to come and swim here. My godmother taught me. The water spirits know.
They walk in the surf.
Trent: Water spirits?
Lavinia: Yeah, they live in the ocean and help calm the soul.
Trent: You’ll have to introduce me sometime.
Lavinia: Why? You don’t look troubled. (They pause and turn toward each other.) Are beautiful beaches the reason you asked to come to Tahiti?
Trent: (Laughs lightly) I didn’t ask. A missionary can’t choose his posts. To tell you the truth I didn’t even know where Tahiti was before I came here. (Lavinia laughs.) Now I can’t imagine living anywhere else.
Lavinia: You won’t have to, will you? (Colin shrugs.) But the church was filled on Sunday. Surely the bishop was pleased with your work.
Trent: There’s more to it than that.
Lavinia: How do you mean?
Trent: I was trained to bring the word of God to those unwilling to receive it. My reception here has been so warm, and the islanders so accepting.
Lavinia: Because you have accepted us.
Trent: But that’s just the point. The bishop may think I’ve accepted too much of your culture.
Lavinia: Too much?
Trent: Well, I certainly couldn’t condone polygamy. But I think I take a softer view on your Polynesian gods than the bishop would like. The bishop will make his decision in a few days. Now it’s in God’s hands.
Lavinia: Then you must pray very hard.
Trent: That’s very good advice.
Lavinia: And I’ll pray to all the Polynesian gods the bishop disapproves of.
On board the Rattler at sea.
Morlais’ guards standing on deck. Grief throws a shirt to Pankburn, who’s cleaning the deck.
Grief: Put that on, you’re burning up.
Pankburn: (irritated) Can’t your crewman do this? I’m not a servant.
Grief: You’re right. I’d be paying a servant. If I hadn’t covered your bet, you’d be working on a plantation right now.
Grief goes below in the hold, finds his way to Isabelle.
Isabelle: I thought you might be paying me a visit.
Grief: Wishful thinking.
Isabelle: Now who’s being confident.
Grief: I brought something to warm you up. (Shows a bottle of brandy.) Napoleon ’63 or ’65. Pick your poison.
Isabelle: ’63. It travels better. You do think I killed that official, don’t you?
Grief: You said it didn’t matter. (Takes a swig of the brandy. Offers the bottle.)
Isabelle: It doesn’t. I’m guilty in the eyes of the law. (Takes the bottle.) I’m guilty of many things. It just happens murder isn’t one of them. (Takes a swig. Smiles knowingly.) Not yet, anyway. What are we drinking to?
(Throughout the conversation they pass the bottle back and forth.)
Grief: What would you like to drink to?
Isabelle: My freedom. But that’s probably never going to happen, is it?
Grief: Well, that depends.
Isabelle: Is that why you’re here?
Grief: Why do you think I’m here?
Isabelle: For sex, what else? Do you think you’ll get it?
Grief: What makes you think I want to?
Isabelle: Because everybody wants it.
Grief: And you’d like to get out of prison, wouldn’t you?
Isabelle: Is that what you’re proposing? Freedom, in exchange for my body?
Grief: I don’t go in for conventional offers.
Isabelle: Are you sure?
Grief: Certain.
Isabelle: How can you be so sure? (She closes the distance between them slowly.) Oh, you’re not sure at all, are you?
Grief: Well, I have a plan in mind.
Isabelle: Of course you do.
They kiss urgently.
Grief: I plan for you to disappear. (Grief keeps his hand in her hair.)
Isabelle: Well, that’s exactly what I want to do. (They smile at each other.)
Grief goes back on deck, sits near Mo.
Grief: I’ve been thinking.
Mauriri: Is that what you call it?
Grief: You ever going to give me a break?
Mauriri: Just don’t break Lavinia’s heart. I grew up with her. Care a lot for her.
Grief: Point taken. But right now I’m more concerned with the winds.
Mauriri: It’ll pick up.
Grief: Can’t count on that. We’ve got to buy more time.
Grief moves to face Mo, leaning close in so the soldiers can’t overhear.
Grief: Let’s figure Gunter will take the bait and will sail to Fuatimo. That’s ten days both ways.
Mauriri: Another nine or ten days.
Grief: And our Australian friend Burgess should arrive in Matavai within a week with enough cash to buy Red Pearl Cove. But unless you’re communing with the wind gods, it’ll take us two weeks to get Morlais to Makemo and us back home.
Mauriri: So maybe we don’t go to Makemo.
Grief: That’s right.
Mauriri: And we lose Morlais?
Grief: Or Morlais loses something he can’t afford to lose.
Understanding smiles on the men.
Rattler, nighttime
Grief and Mauriri are in the cabin below the deck.
Grief: How close can we get to shore without hitting a reef?
Mauriri: (Studying map) About two miles.
Grief is putting something in the bowl of food on a tray. Mauriri looks around.
Mauriri: Hey, that’s too much.
Grief: Half a teaspoon.
Mauriri: You’re not even measuring it.
Grief: Mauriri, I’m not making a cake here. I’m putting soldiers to sleep. (Mixes up dish.)
Pankburn comes down the steps.
Pankburn: You sent for me?
Grief: Pankburn, sit down. You came here looking for adventure, right?
Pankburn: Is that a trick question?
Grief: No, no trick. (Mauriri hands Grief a compass who holds it out to Pankburn.) You ever use a compass?
Pankburn: Of course, I’m not an idiot.
Grief: All right. (Mauriri hands Grief a map which he opens out.) If the Rattler is here and you want to get backside of New Stanton…?
Pankburn: Simple, you just work out the currents and tides, get to land. Once there you take up your position.
The Rattler, dawn
Morlais: (yelling) Grief. (In hold looking where Isabelle was.) Grief. (Grief joins him buttoning his shirt.) She’s gone!
Grief: What?
On the deck of the Rattler.
Mauriri: David, the lifeboat is missing, and the female prisoner and Pankburn have disappeared.
Grief: What?
Mauriri: She must have seduced him. I saw the way she looked at him when she came on board.
Morlais crosses his arms, listening.
Grief: Where were you last night, Lieutenant?
Morlais: (defensively) I was asleep.
Grief: And your men?
Morlais: Well, I… I don’t know.
Grief: Asleep at their posts. Your prisoners are your responsibility, Lieutenant. That lifeboat cost me five hundred francs. I’ll see you in a claims court.
Morlais: Look, wait a moment. (Following Grief around the boat.) I…we can work out.
Grief: Not this time. You cost me enough money already.
Morlais: We’ll find the lifeboat … and pay for its return. You don’t have to take us on to Makemo. How’s that? I don’t expect you to wait around while we search for a prisoner.
Grief: I’ll think about it.
Grief is in the cabin as Mauriri comes down the steps.
Mauriri: Did he buy it?
Grief: (chuckles) All the way. (Both chuckle.) Now all we have to do is pick up Isabelle and Pankburn. Set things up with Chief Coho and wait for Gunter to take the bait.
Mauriri: Assuming Gunter will turn up.
Grief: That greedy bastard will show up all right. I saw his lights off the stern last night. It’s more Pankburn I’m worried about. (Bends over checking a map.)
On shore of New Stanton
Grief and Mauriri are confronting Pankburn.
Grief: (Upset) What do you mean you lost her?
Pankburn: I’ve lost her.
Mauriri: It’s more like she lost you.
Grief: What happened?
Pankburn: I turned my back and she disappeared. Is that a problem?
Grief: The idea was to make sure that the Lieutenant wouldn’t find her.
Mauriri: You didn’t tell her anything, did you?
Pankburn nods.
Grief: Oh, no. (Mauriri lets out an exasperated sound and turns away.) You didn’t tell her about the map?
Pankburn: (nodding) Yeah.
Grief: The name of the village? (Pankburn nods again.) The name of the grave? (Pankburn nods again. Grief walks away a bit.) Oh, I should have seen this one coming.
Mauriri: And you would have, but you saw a pretty woman in chains and you thought she needed you. And if you rescued her she’d be yours forever.
Pankburn: She’s very…ah….persuasive.
Mauriri: Oh, he knows that.
Pankburn: I’m sorry.
Grief: You’ll be sorrier, if we can’t persuade Chief Coho to dig up that grave.
Pankburn: Why do we need to persuade him?
Mauriri: (snorts) Because they’re headhunters. And a white man’s skull is a symbol of victory.
Pankburn swallows.
Act 4:
Matavai village marketing.
Bishop & Colin walking.
Various people greeting Colin – “Hello Father, good morning Reverend.” - as they walk.
Bishop: I must say Trent, you have a way with these people.
Trent: Thank you, your grace. The work here is not without its rewards.
Bishop: I see. As you know my plan for you was to fish in more promising waters. After last Sunday, I can see you’re making progress. (Stops and turns to Colin.) What I’m saying is I don’t want to be the one to deny these people God’s mercy. They’re reaching out quite willingly to the Lord’s hand.
Trent: Are you saying you wish me to stay?
Bishop: Yes, if it’s not an imposition.
Trent: I’ll try not to look at it that way, your grace.
Bishop: In the meantime I’m a little concerned about Red Pearl Cove. I can’t seem to contact Herr Gunter.
Trent: Maybe he’s lost interest in the land.
Bishop: Maybe he has, but I have a feeling that’s fine with you. Am I correct?
New Stanton
A native ceremony is ongoing. Pankburn is sitting between Mauriri and Grief as they make up a part of a circle. At Chief Coho’s words a bowl is passed to Pankburn. He tries to turn it down, but the native is insistent.
Pankburn: (looking dubiously at the bowl) What is it?
Grief: Goat’s blood.
Pankburn: (upset) Oh. (Goes to pass it to Grief.)
Grief: (leans toward him) It’s considered an insult to refuse. You don’t want to upset Chief Coho.
Pankburn drinks with a disgusted look, passes it to Grief who drinks.
Pankburn: What’s taking them so long?
Grief: The warriors have to purify themselves, before they drink. (Passes bowl to Pankburn.)
Pankburn: How?Grief: With a sacrifice. (pauses) Usually the goat is enough.
Pankburn passes bowl to Mauriri.
Out in the jungle a native is walking, he approaches Grief, Mauriri and Pankburn The native drops a satchel in Pankburn’s lap.
Grief: He wants you to open it.
Pankburn opens it and pulls out a human skull, Fuatimo is carved on the skull and a map.
Pankburn: It’s a map. Another map. Let’s get out of here we got what we came for.
Mauriri: Maybe now you should tell him.
Grief: We’re waiting for somebody.
Pankburn: Who?
Grief: Remember that poker game in Matavai? It was a setup. I had that sailor clean you out so you had no choice but to give up your map. We knew it would get back to Gunter and he would chase after us.
Pankburn: You mean this is all a fake?
Grief: Of course. Now when Gunter gets his hands on this, he’ll be on his way to Fuatimo.
Several white men are walking through the jungle and approach the village. One of them shoots a rifle.
Gunter: Hello, Grief.
Mauriri: (softly) Right on time.
Gunter & his men enter the circle.
Gunter: I’m just passing by. (Crouches down takes skull from Grief.) Is this an old friend? (Stands and walks around.) Well, well, well. A map to a map. In Fautimo. I see. It’s only ten days sail from here, is it?
Grief: (approaching Gunter) We can still share this. After all you still owe me.
Gunter: (laughing) You’re very, very amusing, Grief.
Sound of a gun cocking.
Isabelle: He is, isn’t he? Tell you’re men to drop their guns. (She has several men with her. Approaches Gunter and Grief.)
Gunter: Do what she says.
Grief: Made some friends, I see.
Isabelle: You wanted me to disappear, I’m disappearing. Now. (Backing up.)
Grief: You won’t get far, lady.
Isabelle: (smiles) We’ll see about that. Bye, Grief. Drink to my freedom when you get back to Matavai. (Turns and walks into the jungle.)
Gunter: (slaps Grief on the back) Not your day, Grief. Or mine either. I’ve got other plans. (To his men as he walks away.) Come on.
Matavai, Lavinia’s bar.
Colin & Lavinia are talking.
Trent: The bishop just received a telegram from Gunter. The land deal is going ahead. Gunter is having the bishop meet him at Red Pearl Cove.
Lavinia: We have to stop the land deal from happening.
Trent: But how, Lavinia?
Lavinia: You have to talk to the bishop.
Trent: And say what?
Lavinia: (exasperated) Tell him that Gunter is not the upstanding businessman he’s made himself out to be.
Trent: I’ve tried! David & Mauriri tried. But once the bishop has set his mind to something, he’s very difficult to dissuade.
Lavinia: (coming out from behind the bar) That’s as well as may be. But he is about to make a terrible mistake. And prayer alone is not going to save the people of Red Pearl Island.
Trent: What choice do we have?
Lavinia: Has the bishop left already?
Trent: No, he’s in the land claims office; gathering together the documents.
Lavinia: Good. Tell him you want to go with him to Red Pearl Island. The islanders know you. It will make for an easier transaction.
Trent: All right, he shouldn’t have a problem with that.
Lavinia: And tell him I’m coming as well.
Trent: What for?
Lavinia: To answer questions, to translate! I don’t know, Colin, make something up! (Turns as she’s walking away.) Then, then we’ll pray for divine intervention.
Trent: Right. (Softly) Right.
Rattler sailing across the ocean.
Crewman climbing the rigging. Pankburn is polishing the railing.
Mauriri: I give the Red Pearl Islanders a month. Kurt Gunter and a few thousand rounds of ammunition are going to come as one hell of a shock.
Grief: Welcome to the twentieth century.
Mauriri: All this because of that … woman.
Grief: Best disappearing act I’ve ever seen.
Mauriri: Second only to our fishing rights at Red Pearl Cove. The chief, his people, all their traditions lost for a lousy three thousand francs.
Grief: Tradition? (has an idea) Mo, that’s it. Change course and head for Red Pearl Cove.
On the island, a native warrior stands on the headland.
The bishop and Gunter are signing papers.
Trent: (speaking to a native) The bishop is selling Red Pearl Cove to Herr Gunter. Herr Gunter intends to mine for phosphate.
Native: Bishop selling the land? How can he?
Lavinia: Because white man’s law says he can.
Grief: Gunter.
Grief, Mauriri and Pankburn approach from the shore.
Gunter: What ever you’re here for, Grief, you’re too late.
Bishop: Are you here to make an offer?
Grief: Let’s call it a demand. (Looks at Gunter.) I can’t let you do it, Gunter.
Gunter’s men pull guns on Grief.
Bishop: Gentlemen, please there are women and children here.
Gunter: I don’t see any children. (Taking the paper.) Your Grace.
Grief: (raising his voice.) I gave the chief two hundred francs to fish the cove. What’s Herr Gunter giving him?
Native speaks in his own tongue. The Chief is in a chair held by a litter.
Gunter: These people have no concept of property rights, Grief. You know that.
Grief: I guess not. But they do have something else, though. (Looking to the natives.) Put the chief down.
Lavinia & Trent exchange a look.
Native says something. The litter is lowered. The chief’s feet touch the sand. The natives start chanting: “Taboo.”
Mauriri: The body of the son of Maru has touched the sand. The ground which burns under the breath of Hau howls for vengance.
Grief: It’s called a taboo. Anything that the chief comes into contact with is now sacred. From now on nobody but the chief can touch it.
Gunter folds a paper and goes to put it in his pocket. The bishop reaches out and takes it, tearing it in two.
Gunter: (coldly) You will wish you wouldn’t have done that, your grace.
Bishop: The church will not be responsible for bloodshed, sir! Neither will I.
Chanting continues, spears are brought up.
Grief: I suggest we move along.
Gunter: (quietly to Grief) I won’t forget this, Grief.
Grief: Neither will I.
Epilogue:
Matavai village. Bishop & Trent at docks.
Bishop: Trent. (Smiling & shaking his hand.)
Trent: I trust you’ll have a safe journey.
Bishop: Thank you, Trent. I believe she’s an old boat, but a comfortable one.
Trent: Sometimes the old ways are the best, your grace. Pity some things can’t stay the way they are.
Bishop: I dare say you’d say that about Red Pearl Cove, hm?
Trent: Ah, no, nothing like that.
Bishop smiles slightly and turns. Trent gives a sigh.
On the Rattler in the harbor. Grief is lying on some bundles.
Mauriri: Brought your mail from Lavinia’s. There’s a package for you. Looks like a woman’s handwriting. It’s postmarked New Stanton. (Holds out parcel wrapped in brown paper.)
Grief: Maybe you should open it.
Mauriri: It’s addressed to you.
Grief: No, you open it.
Mauriri shrugs and tears open the package.
Mauriri: Okay. (Pulls out a bottle and looks at it.)
Grief: (without looking at the label on the bottle) Napoleon ’63.
Mauriri: How did you know?
Grief: It travels well.
Mauriri laughs, hands the bottle to Grief, who studies it.
Mauriri: There’s a note with it.
Grief: No, you read it.
Mauriri: Sorry, I couldn’t be there. Now you can drink to my freedom. I wouldn’t have it without you. (Balls up letter and throws it away.)
Grief: She won’t be so smug when she realizes there’s no treasure.
Mauriri: We may as well drink the brandy. (Grief just looks at the bottle, smiling.) So you saw something in her?
Grief: Suppose I must have.
Mauriri: Were you surprised by what she did?
Grief: No reason to be, I guess.
Mauriri: David, you got to be blind if you can’t see what you got with Lavinia.
Grief: You’re right. To Lavinia. (Goes to take a drink.)
Mauriri: So do you think Isabelle did poison that French official.
Grief: She wouldn’t do a thing like that, would she?
Mauriri: (shrugs) I don’t know. (Meaningfully.) I didn’t get to know her as well as you did.
Grief: Nah. (Takes a drink.)
Closing credits.
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