Episode 2

The Devil’s Pearl

The Chief and Otu	Van Gelt	Captain Jim Lodge
Mrs. Bradford	Peter Ling	Naari Herring

Teaser:
On an island shore – Tuamoto Point

A Tuamoto man is closely examining a fishing lure. He passes it to a more elaborately dressed native, the Chief. Several other Tuamoto watch as they and Mauriri and Grief stand on the sand of a beach.

Mauriri: (translating for Grief) For 500 fish lures, the Chief can offer 10 acres of sandalwood.

Grief: Sounds fair. (Whispers) No immature green stuff.

Mauriri translates for the Chief who responds.

Mauriri: (translates) 30-year-old well aged sandalwood. You get the fish lures. I’ll iron out the details.

David leaves walking across the sand. A native on a rock, Otu, throws a spear at David’s feet. Murmurs are heard from the natives.

Grief: Was this part of the deal? Maybe you should iron out the details with him.

The Chief on shore yells at Otu who leaps down from the rocks onto the sand. Otu yells back. Mauriri walks over to David. The Chief & Otu keep yelling at each other.

Mauriri: (low whistle) Talk about your family disputes. Enter the Chief’s son Otu.

Otu and Chief continue shouting at each other.

Grief: Can’t they leave us out of it?

Mauriri: (short laugh) Otu doesn’t see why a white man should get the sandalwood.

Grief: Well, doesn’t the Chief get a vote?

Mauriri: Not in this, the Chief’s sons are entitled to prove their manhood.

Chief yells one last time, holding out his left palm and slapping his right down on it. Otu turns and walks towards Grief.

Grief: (sarcastically) Fine I’ll lob a spear at him, see if he blinks. (Mauriri gives a brief laugh.)

Otu picks up the spear and throws it in the ocean, turns to Grief and says something to him.

Mauriri: Otu says the spear is in fifty feet of water, if you can retrieve it before he can the wood is yours. (Otu adds something else.) But no cricket.

Grief: No cricket?

Mauriri: (laughs, pats Grief on the shoulder.) No rules.

Chief’s son (looking very young) eyes Grief.

On an sandy beach in a cove nearby

There’s a lifeboat on the sand. A hand appears, a head follows. It’s Isabelle, disheveled, she looks around. A man is unconscious in the bottom of the boat beside her. She touches his neck, apparently finds a pulse and grabs a jug pours what is evidently the last few drops into is mouth, uses her fingers to try and get the water in.

Isabelle: (whispers, breathless) Come on.

The man in the boat doesn’t stir. She takes the jug and leaves the boat.

Back on the island shore

Grief and Otu race from the shore and dive into the ocean, swimming rapidly out. The Chief stands next to Mauriri watching. Under water, Grief and Otu are swimming. Grief's hand grasps the spear; Otu’s pulls it away. There is an underwater struggle. Otu pulls a knife and cuts Grief’s right arm. Grief covers the wound with his other hand as Otu swims away.

When Otu tries to pull the spear free a rock falls trapping his hand and he’s stuck. Grief helps him get free. Otu swims to the surface as Grief wrestles with the spear. From the shore Mauriri sees Otu break the surface, but no sign of Grief. Mauriri looks to the Chief, who impassively shrugs and then worriedly back to the sea.

Underwater, Grief frees the spear and swims to the surface and triumphantly holds up the spear. The Tuamoto begin murmuring on the shore as Mauriri smiles. David looks over and sees the lifeboat in the cove. He glances out to see and sees the boat it must have come from.

Grief: (tossing the spear away) Mauriri, get help!

In the jungle

Isabelle is by a pond and hears the shouts. She turns back to the shore but stays concealed by the foliage. She watches Grief approach and look in the lifeboat.

Isabelle: (small smile) David Grief.

Opening credits

ACT 1:

In the cove

David has the man on the beach as dugout manned by several Tuamoto approaches and Mauriri runs to his side with a canteen.

Grief: (calls to Mauriri) It’s Captain Jim Lodge. (Mauriri kneels beside Grief.) The first man I crewed with out of Samoa.

Mauriri: Pearl trader.

Grief: (nodding towards the boat anchored) Yeah, that’s his boat the Malahini.

Mauriri: (gives Lodge water, puts the back of his hand on his forehead.) Raging fever.

Mauriri says something to the approaching Tuamoto. They come forward and pick up Lodge taking him to the boat as Isabelle watches intently.

Grief: Do you think we can do anything about his boat?

Mauriri: (low whistle) It’s a bigger job than we can handle, right now.

Grief: If there’s a salvage claim, he could be looking at a big loss.

Mauriri half shrugs.

Grief: (gesturing at the natives watching them.) What about the Tuamoto? Would they go on board?

Mauriri: Not a chance.

Grief: Why?

Mauriri: They’re saying there’s bad magic aboard the ship.

Grief: Bad magic?

Mauriri: (shrugs) It’s up to you if you believe in it.

Mauriri walks away, Isabelle is watching from the jungle and then leaves.

By a pond in the jungle.

Women are washing clothes in the pond. Children are tossing rocks in it. An older woman is hanging clothes on a line. Isabelle sneaks up and snatches some garments.

In Matavai, dockside

Grief is with a couple of men and Lodge is on a stretcher as they pick him up. Mo and another crewman have the front of the stretcher. Sparrow and Tah-Mey each have a side of the rear of the stretcher. Grief follows.

Grief: Mo! (Mauriri turns) Take him to Lavinia’s right away.

As they go a group of men watch interestedly. Van Gelt has a shaven head, wearing a cap

In Matavai a pitchman is talking as another man rides a motorcycle in.

Pitchman: Welcome to the future, ladies and gentlemen. I bring you the latest invention from America. Faster than a horse. No need to clean up after this machine.

Crowd surrounds the machine and Grief makes his way in for a closer look.

Pitchman: Give her crack, Come on. We have 200 francs, then.

Van Gelt: (leans into Grief) Back so soon, Grief? I heard you were out at Tuamoto Point making a deal on some sandalwood.

Grief: Those wharf rats been nibbling on your ears, have they, Van Gelt?

Pitchman: (in the background sound) We have three hundred, thank you sir. Do I see four?

Van Gelt: Ah, you’d be amazed at what I hear, Grief. I’m a real storehouse of information.

Grief: You’re a big heap of ballast. (Grief raises his hand and shouts in response to the auction.) Yep!

Pitchman: (in the background sound) We have four hundred.

Van Gelt: Oh, really. Well, right now I’m wondering who the guy on the stretcher was.

Auction continues in background

Grief: (looks back at Van Gelt) Why do you care? (Grief turns toward auction, pauses. Tries to reply in seeming unconcern.) He’s a passenger we picked up, came down with Blackwater fever. (Grief raises his hand and shouts again in response to the auction.) Yep!

Pitchman: (in the background sound) We have five hundred francs to Mr. David Grief.

Van Gelt: (removeshat, laughs meanly) Oh, I keep up, Grief. Ship’s departure times, arrival times. (He taps his temple with forefinger.) I keep up. (Grief glances back over his shoulder.) Right now I’m wondering if the guy on the stretcher wasn’t from the Malahini who’s two days overdue, now. What do you think?

Grief: I think those wharf rats you bunk with finally chewed your brains out. (He glances back briefly at Van Gelt.)

Van Gelt: (putting his hat back on.) Well. think about this. The salvage claim on an abandoned ship can run as high as 40 percent. So, maybe I think it’s worth my while to sail over to Tuamoto Point on the off chance that the Malahini’s washed out there. (Hit’s Grief on the back, in a not so friendly gesture.) What do you think? (Walks away.)

Grief looks grim and watches Van Gelt walk away. Mauriri approaches through the crowd.

Pitchman: (in the background sound) Do we have a bid for seven hundred? Seven hundred francs for this modern piece of machinery?

Mauriri: What’s up?

Grief: Van Gelt caught on.

Mauriri: Damn!

Grief: He’s sailing for Tuamoto later on today.

Mauriri: Without his rudder?

Grief: (laughs) You’re way ahead of me.

Pitchman: Do we have a bid for seven hundred and fifty francs?

Grief: (cheerfully shouts) Yes.

Pitchman: That’s seven hundred and fifty francs? (Looks around, sees no else is interested.) At seven hundred and fifty francs then. Going once, going twice. Sold to Mr. David Grief for seven hundred and fifty francs. (Pounds auction mallet.)

Crowd cheers raggedly. Mauriri gives him a puzzled, disbelieving look. Grief accepts the applause, smiling.

The uniformed telegraph operator gets up, takes his hat and a pouch, and leaves the building. A woman carrying a parasol, in a modest dress enters the deserted building. It’s Isabelle Reed. Isabelle goes through the folders by the operator’s desk and finds one labeled Lieutenant Morlais.

She smiles takes a blank telegraph form and writes:

In the case of Isabelle Reed be advised that all charges are to be dropped.

Just as she finishes, the operator returns. She hurriedly puts things back and slips to the side as he enters. He hangs up his hat and pouch. She discovers she is still holding the pen then slips past him and out the door.

Exiting the building she tosses the pen over her shoulder, then lifts her parasol and smiles.

Grief & Mauriri stand at the rail of the Rattler, stripped to the waist, barefoot.

Grief: You all right?

Mauriri: Yeah.

They dive into the water.

On Van Gelt’s boat, the Scavenger, men are standing on deck.

Van Gelt: Hoist the main sail. (He is at the helm.)

Underwater, Mauriri & Grief are sabotaging the rudder with a wrench unbolting it.

On board the Scavenger.

Crewman: Four fathoms and clear, Captain.

Suddenly the boat veers wildly, the wheel spinning causing Van Gelt to lose his grip and fall back, the sails swinging out dropping a number of the crew into the water.

Crewman: What the hell.

Van Gelt gets up grasps the wheel again and discovers it spins freely.

Van Gelt: Riley!

Riley: (with a definite Irish accent) Not too steady today, Captain.

Van Gelt: Get down there and find out what’s wrong.

Riley: Now, Captain?

Van Gelt: Yes, now. Idiot! (Van Gelt spins the wheel again.) Something’s fouling the rudder. I can’t control the boat.

Lodge is lying in the bed as Grief enters. Mauriri is already there.

Grief: Hello, Jim. Nasty scare you gave us.

Lodge: (clasps his hand) David Grief. Guess my time wasn’t up after all.

Grief: Close call.

Mauriri: Closer than you think. Tell him you’re story, Jim.

Lodge: Now you know me. I was never one to believe in curses. But I swear all this happened after I bought this black pearl. A merchant who sold it to me told me the thing was cursed. The Devil’s Pearl he called it.

Grief: Go on, Jim

Lodge: It started when we cleared Tonga. That’s when we were hit by the first storm. I lost four men that night. And we were hit by a second storm just as we rounded the Alahini Passage. It was a blow like I’ve never seen before, I think. (Breathless, solemn.) One minute I was on the deck, the next I was in the water. I don’t know what happened to the other three people in the lifeboat with me. (Sad) God rest their souls.

Grief: What happened to the pearl?

Lodge: It’s still in my cabin, if the Malahini’s still on the reef.

Grief: She’s still there. The trouble is there’s a greedy bastard named Van Gelt on his way to salvage her.

Lodge: That pearl is worth thousands. I may have lost my Malahini, but if I can get my hands on that pearl I can buy myself another boat. Will you get it for me? I’ll cut you in on a percentage.

Grief and Mo exchange looks.

Grief and Mauriri are at the bar. Mauriri facing away as Grief faces in. Lavinia approaches.

Lavinia: (to Grief, firmly) I want you to have nothing to do with that pearl. The devil gave it to a man name Naari Herring and in return took his soul. (David puts head down into his hand,unwilling to believe her, somewhat impatient with her beliefs.)

Grief: Lavinia –

Lavinia: (very sharply) No! Listen to me, you don’t understand. This man Herring is the devil’s servant. He doesn’t eat, drink, sleep, make love. He is the protector of that pearl. And who ever has that pearl – he’ll take their soul.

Grief: Can I get a drink? (Exasperated.) Please.

Lavinia: (angry) You’re not listening to me.

Grief: I’m listening.

Lavinia: No, you’re not! You behave like these are just stories! Remember I told you about the Letuli, the giant turtle that turns the sea brown, drowns men? The last time the Letuli appeared a canoe capsized off Maki Point. (To Mauriri) You remember, tell him.

Mauriri: (Rolls eyes, his voice is patronizing.) The canoe capsized.

Mauriri and Grief exchange a look, apparently trying to humor Lavinia. Lavinia is angered and unhappy. Puts down a glass on the bar sharply.

Lavinia: Don’t do this! (She turns and walks away.)

Mauriri: Van Gelt’s fixed his rudder. He’s probably sailing down the west coast. So if catch the northerlies off the east we can surprise him at the point.

Grief: Maybe there’s a better way.

Matavai village

Grief is driving motorcycle with Mauriri behind him.

Mauriri: (uncertainly) Do you know what you’re doing?

Grief: (laughing) One more run then we’ll leave. We can catch Van Gelt by tomorrow.

Mauriri: Wait, pull up!

Grief stops the motorcycle. Soldiers are taking down the wanted posters of Isabelle supervised by Morlais on horseback.

Mauriri: (contemptuously) They’re taking down the pictures of your girlfriend.

Isabelle tilts back her parasol as she stands in the market watching the soldiers, pleased.

Grief: (To Morlais) Lieutenant, isn’t that the prisoner we took to New Stanton?

Morlais: (unhappily) You know damn well it is.

Grief: Did you catch her?

Morlais: We got a telegram saying she’d been exonerated.

Isabelle overhears, smiles, puts down her parasol and walks on.

Morlais: (Rides closer to Grief and Mauriri. He looks down at the motorcycle.) If there was a law against these things I’d charge you.

Grief: Can’t stop progress, Lieutenant.

Morlais: Ha, we’ll see about that. (He rides on a few feet, stops taking a drag on a cigarillo.)

Mauriri: So your girlfriend didn’t poison anyone.

Grief: (Starting motorcycle back up) Will you stop calling her that. (Drives forward and stops by Morlais.) Make sure you clean up after that horse, Lieutenant. There’s definitely a law against that. (Chuckles)

Grief pulls away on the motorcycle with a low yell, as Mauriri raises an arm.

Nighttime, Matavai

Lodge shifts restlessly on the bed seemingly having a nightmare. It is unclear whether he dreams or it is real as a tall man in dark clothes enters the Lodge’s room, starts opening drawers, a box inside the drawer. Perhaps looking for the pearl.

Lodge finally sits up and yells. Lavinia rushes in with a lamp.

Lavinia: Are you all right?

Lodge: Someone in the room.

Lavinia looks around the apparently empty room.

Lavinia: No, no, it’s the fever again.

Lodge: I’m sure there’s someone in the room.

Lavinia, fearful, lifts lamp and looks slowly around.

ACT 2

Colin Trent’s rectory.

Colin’s in the kitchen preparing quite a bit of food. He’s very busy.

Lavinia: You don’t mind me dropping by, do you, Colin? I can see you’re very busy. (Walks in and places a bag down on a table in the corner.)

Trent: No, not at all. (Hands her a bowl and a spoon.) Five minutes, nice and steady. (Moves to another counter and begins cutting something.)

Lavinia: (Looks around) All this food for you?

Trent: I wish. (With some reluctance over the company he’s expecting.) It’s for the wives of the visiting church dignitaries from England.

Lavinia: Is that were you learned to cook? In England?

Trent: (smiles) Good heavens, no. English food is terrible. The only way to eat well in England is to eat breakfast three times a day. (He smiles and then offers Lavinia a taste from a small bowl.)

Lavinia: (uncertainly) Chutney dressing?

Trent: (tastes the mixture himself, and frowns) It could use a little of your godmother’s spice mix. Do you think you could ask her for another jar?

Lavinia: Of course. (Looks away, and then back) Colin?

Trent: Un-huh.

Lavinia: Do you believe in evil spirits?

Trent: I recognize the power of evil.

Lavina nods.

Trent: David won’t listen to you. Is that it?

Lavinia: He says if he bumps into the Devil, he’ll box him in the ears and hang him from the main mast.

Trent: David’s way of dealing with antagonists. (Turns back from the stove and speaks slowly.) It has worked for him

Lavinia: I know, but I’m scared. I really am. (Colin listens to her solemnly, taking her seriously.) Which is why I brought you these. (Turns and walks to the bag she carried in with her.) If you put these in your church, they’ll work with your Christian god and protect David.(Hands him two small statues.) Would you do that? They’re very powerful.

Trent: (Taking the statues) Yes, I’m sure they are. I’ll find a suitable place for them.

David and Mo are on his motorcycle roaring along.

Grief: (yelling) Hold on, Mo, rough spot up ahead.

They take the bump and go up into the air. Both are happy.

Grief: (Cheerful call) Ah-ha!

Grief gears down and stops the cycle, both men laughing as it stops. Mauriri grabs his thighs.

Mauriri: Listen, we’re going to have to walk this thing when we get near Tuamoto Point.

Grief: Why? The village isn’t near the reef.

Mauriri: Yeah, but the road runs along the coast near the reef. If Van Gelt is already there we don’t want him to hear us.

Grief: Right

Mo gets back on the cycle behind David who starts the cycle back up.

Grief: Remember when I turn around…

Mauriri: (grimacing) Yeah, I know. Just hang on and pray.

The Tuamoto village, afternoon.

The Chief is riding the motorcycle, followed by laughing, running children and then by the adults.

Mauriri comes running up.

Mauriri: David, Van Gelt’s here already. He’s gone straight to work.

Grief: Damn! It won’t take him long to find that pearl. How do we get him and his men away from that boat?

Mauriri: (Smiles) Once I explained the situation, the Tuamoto decided to throw a party and have our friends as the honored guests

Tuamoto Point, night time,

Both the Malahini and Salvage are in the bay.

In the village Van Gelt and his men are entertained by the villagers, particularly the women. In the bay, Mauriri swims out to the boat, as a Tuamoto woman distracts the guard. As he prepares to climb on board the Tuamoto woman sees him. Mauriri holds his finger to his lips, she understands and further distracts the guard with kisses; he climbs on board, goes to the cabin and gets the pearl.

Mauriri: (grasping the pearl wrapped in cloth) Yes!

He swims back and wades through the surf, kissing the pearl in his hand. A whistle causes him to turn and see Grief coming toward him.

Grief: Did you get it?

Mauriri: (eyes bright, excited) Take a look. Have you ever seen anything like it? (Holds it up and hands it to Grief, who eyes it.) I’ll tell the chief the party’s over.

In the village at a signal from an older woman, the younger woman who’s been entertaining Van Gelt, hauls off and slaps him. He falls backwards.

Van Gelt: (sitting back up) What the hell?

The women all walk away and the men of the village, led by Otu, carrying spears walk in, obviously threatening.

Van Gelt: (looking at his men) I think we’d better leave, men. Looks like this party’s getting a bit ugly.

The Van Gelt and his men leave the village.

Lodge: (Holding the pearl to the lamp next to him) A thing of beauty, cursed or not. You got this from under Van Gelt’s nose?

Grief: Well, in it’s way that was a thing of beauty, too. (Grief, Mauriri and Lodge smile.)

Lodge: (serious now) You’d better keep this.

Grief: Me?

Lodge: I think it would be better for both of us if it wasn’t kept here.

Mauriri: (understanding) Lavinia.

Lodge: She’s made it very clear she does not want it here. (Holds it out to Grief.)

Grief: (Reluctantly taking the pearl.) I’ll talk to her.

Mauriri: Good luck.

Lavinia’s bar

Lavinia, Mauriri, and David at the bar.

Lavinia: I don’t want it here! I’m terrified. Don’t you understand? If I find it I’ll throw it into the sea.

Grief: (Frustrated) Oh great! We pull out all the stops -

Lavinia: I’m trying to protect you.

Grief: (Angry) I haven’t seen a bogeyman in six years.

Grief turns to the bar and Mo tries to reason with her.

Mauriri: (Trying to play peacemaker.) Lavinia. (Goes to take her arm.)

Lavinia: No, Mauriri, I don’t want to hear it. You ought to know better. (Walks away.)

Isabelle walks into the bar and leans in by David’s shoulder.

Isabelle: (teasingly) Lover’s spat?

Grief: You!

Lavinia stands behind the bar and glares at Isabelle who is standing less than foot from Grief.

Isabelle: Didn’t you hear I’ve been exonerated. (Very intensely) I told you I wasn’t guilty.

Mauriri, David and Lavinia stare at Isabelle.

Grief: (suspiciously) Not of murder at least.

Lavinia: (coldly) Who is this lady?

Grief: This particular lady is a common thief. (His eyes are locked on Isabelle.)

Isabelle: (A half smile to David, then looks towards Lavinia) Actually, I’m a former Rattler passenger. I’m surprised he didn’t tell you. (Looks back at David.) I’ve got to go, Grief, but I’ll see you around.

Isabelle smiles and walks away. Grief watches her appreciatively as his eyes follow her. As she walks out and past a tall, pale man dressed in black is standing there, staring into the bar. He’s maybe seven foot tall or so. This is Naari Herring. He walks in; everyone falls silent. He stops in front of Grief.

Herring: (Speaks slowly, distinctly) You have something of mine.

Grief: (Unsure, but not intimidated.) What might that be?

Herring: A pearl.

Grief: (Turns to Lavinia) Did you set this up?

Lavinia: (Shakes her head, frightened) Uh-un.

Grief: (Turns to the man.) If the pearl is yours, show me your receipt.

Herring: The pearl is mine.

Grief: (Turns away from him toward the bar.) Sorry, no receipt, no pearl.

Herring: (Laying a hand on Grief’s shoulder.) You have three days to give back the pearl.

Grief: (Turning back, Mauriri rising from his stool) You keep this up and you’ll get my boot.

Herring: Or I will claim your soul.

Lavinia: (softly) It’s Naari Herring

Herring: The Pearl.

Grief: Leave

Herring: Very well, you don’t care about your own soul. I will claim hers.

Grief: (rising, now angry) I’ll tell you what, mister, you can claim this. (He hauls off and hits him in the face.)

Herring just stands there his face turning, but otherwise unaffected. Mauriri stops Grief from throwing another punch.

Herring: Three days (Turns and walks out)

As he walks past, Isabelle is still standing there. She smiles as if an idea has apparently come to her.

At the bar, David sits back down.

ACT 3:

In Matavai, by the shore, daytime

Lavinia is scattering flowers into the water, speaking in her native tongue.

A painter is watching her. Grief and Mauriri approach.

Painter: Up, down. All morning it’s been like this. She won’t sit still. (Gestures at painting) Painting’s ruined. It’s bad as that frightpot’s, Gauguin.

Mauriri: (incredulous) You think Gauguin’s paintings are bad?

Painter: (appalled) Women with feet like ducks?

Mauriri: Maybe he’s trying to make a point.

Painter: What? (Sarcastic) Close to the earth? Vegetative soul? Ahh! Crime against nature and Tahitian women if you ask me. Well, enough for one day. You try and get through to her. I can’t. (Gathers his canvas and leaves.)

Grief stands on the shore and looks at Lavinia who’s knee deep in the water, kissing flowers and scattering them.

Grief: A petal for your thoughts?

Lavinia looks back at him, disappointed in his humor.

Grief: Sorry. Bad joke. (Lavinia says nothing and looks back out on the water.) What’s that around your waist?

Lavinia touches the fob hanging from the chain at her waist.

Lavinia: My godmother, Mele, gave it to me.

Grief: It’s nice.

Lavinia: There’s a powder that goes in it. I need to ask her for some.

Grief: A powder?

Lavinia: It protects the wearer.

Grief: What exactly are you doing?

Lavinia: Making peace with the waves.

Grief: Why?

Lavinia: If I’m to do the Devil’s work, I don’t want to include it wrecking ships. (She looks significantly at Grief.)

Lavinia walks onto the shore and past Grief without looking at him. He turns to follow her, but Mauriri stops him with a hand on his arm.

Mauriri: David. (Shakes his head) I wouldn’t.

In Matavai, backroom

Isabelle enters with a Chinese man.

Ling: Private enough for you? Peter Ling, a very private man. Discreet, and a very fine jeweler.

Isabelle: I hope so. (With a distinct threat in her voice.) Or I’ll cut your heart out.

In the Church

Trent is lighting a candle.

Grief: A candle for a loss soul? (Enters from the back)

Trent: A candle for my poor eyesight.

Grief: Too much fine print, Colin. (Walks forward)

Trent: Ah, I’m being blinded by the Good Book, is that it? It’s been a while since I saw you here.

Grief: I’m not big on weddings or funerals. You know that.

Trent: You’ll be here for you own one day.

Grief: (Quietly) My wedding or my funeral.

Trent: (laughing) Your wedding first, I hope

Grief: Don’t bet on it. My funeral may be on the cards, though. It’s not everyday I have run-in with the Devil.

Trent: I heard about that. Is that why you’re here?

Grief: Not for sanctuary from the Devil. I came to ask if you’d talk to Lavinia.

Trent: I already did. (Slowly) It didn’t help.

Grief: How about giving it another shot?

Trent: I’ll try. But it may do no good. I’m planning on seeing her tomorrow. She’s bringing some of her godmother’s spice mix by. But if that doesn’t work, what will you do?

Grief: What can I do? (Moves in close.) Do I turn my back on Lodge and he loses his boat? Or I keep the pearl and Lavinia loses her soul. Not that I think she will.

Trent: I see your dilemma. Something else is bothering you. What is it?

Grief: I can’t find out anything about this guy, Herring. I don’t know how he got here. No boats arrived yesterday.

Trent: So you think there may something in this?

Grief: Do you?

Trent: I don’t know. The way I see it, it doesn’t matter what I believe, nor you for that matter. Only what Lavinia believes.

The candle blows out by itself.

Grief: (looking at the wisps of smoke rising from the candle.) The Devil’s hand, I guess.

Lavinia is making a bed, putting a pillow in a pillowcase. Mauriri knocks at the door, apparently ajar.

Lavinia: (sullenly) What do you want?

Mauriri: Nice to see you, too.

Lavinia: (unhappy) Have you come up here to make jokes?

Mauriri: I wanted to speak to you a minute.

Lavinia: I’m busy, Mauriri.

Mauriri: (patiently) I know.

Lavinia: (angrily) Why is everything one big joke to David? Why can’t he take Naari Herring seriously and protect himself the way I have?

Mauriri: (still patient) Look, he’s only trying to help Lodge. David’s a good friend.

Lavinia: He’s going to get himself killed.

Mauriri rolls eyes.

Lavinia: I’ve lost enough important people in life already. I don’t want to lose David as well. (Tosses a folded sheet to Mauriri) My father died when I was so young I don’t even have any memories of him. My mother did her best to raise me, but the spirit left her when my father did. I know she died of a broken heart. (They work together on making the bed.) My godmother’s the only family who’s given me a good life. She left me this bar so I would never have to scrap and crawl if some man left me the way my father did my mother.

Mauriri: You’ve made a great success at it, too.

Lavinia: Yes, I think so. But I want more than just profits to show for it.

Mauriri: What do you mean?

Lavinia: I want someone to share it with. I want David to enjoy it. I’m tired of having the people I love exist only as memories.

Mauriri: Have you tried telling him that?

(They sit)

Lavinia: He’d only laugh. You’ve been brought up with the same stories and traditions I have. Aren’t you scared for him?

Mauriri: I still believe in a lot of things I was taught when I was a kid. But now there are stories that just seem to be …stories, not the truth.

Lavinia: How can you pick and choose among the beliefs of your ancestry?

Mauriri: I don’t. I am Polynesian, Lavinia. I was raised with the spirits. I respect the earth, the sea, the skies. And their powers.

Lavinia: Then why aren’t you afraid that those same powers are going to kill a man that we both love?

Mauriri: Because I am also a Western man. I’ve been exposed to different kinds of ideas other than those you and I grew up with.

Lavinia: I may not have had a Western education, or fully understand the beliefs David has. I only know that he is in a lot of danger. And that scares me.

Lavinia gets up and leaves.

Matavai, village market

At the dock, Van Gelt puffs on a cigar as he supervises the unloading of a crate labeled Malahini. Grief approaches.

Grief: Hey, Van Gelt!

Van Gelt: You! (Stalks toward Grief purposefully)

Grief: Come on Van Gelt. You’re as rich as Croesus. That’s a five-dollar cigar you’re smoking. You don’t have to squeeze Lodge for his last cent.

Van Gelt: Squeeze him! You’ve got a nerve. It’s you I’m going to squeeze, mister. You! I know about the pearl. I’ve got a good idea that it was you and your friend who stole it off the Malahini. So I’m going to court to get it back. It falls under salvage.

Grief: You’re too greedy for your own good, Van Gelt.

Van Gelt: Says who?

Grief: Me. And the Devil, maybe.

Sound of a motorcycle.

Mauriri: (throttling down the motorcycle) David!

Van Gelt: (as Grief turns away) I’ll see you in court.

Mauriri: David you’re not going to believe what happened.

David walks across the road right in front of a horse. The horse whinnies. Isabelle is astride, trying to rein him in.

Isabelle: Oooh. (Settling the horse down) I don’t believe he likes you, David. But I do. Want to go for a ride?

Grief: One ride with you was enough, thanks all the same.

Isabelle smirks.

Grief: (quietly to Mauriri, but Isabelle overhears) I need the bike. If I can get to the Governor’s office, than maybe I can hold up Van Gelt’s claim.

(Isabelle smiles to herself.)

Mauriri: Not yet, we’ve got to see Colin right now.

Mauriri gets up and lets David get on then mounts behind him. Isabelle comes back still on her horse.

Grief: Are you still here?

Isabelle: Of course. Come on; let me take you on a picnic.

Grief: No, I’ll pass, thanks. Last time I had a picnic with you it ended at gunpoint.

A pair of horses hitched to a wagon start rearing and whinnying. Naari Herring is standing next to them watching Grief. Grief looks at him and starts the bike up.

Mauriri: (as they ride the motorcycle through the village) There’s been a mix-up. Lavinia’s godmother got upset when she heard Lavinia’s soul might be seized.

Grief: (shouting back) So?

Mauriri: So she gave Lavinia the wrong jar to give to Colin.

Grief: The wrong spice jar?

They pull up in front of Colin’s rectory. There are a number of nicely dressed English ladies coming out of there.

Mauriri: (worried) Oh, boy. Too late.

Grief: (from the bike) So if it wasn’t spice, what was it?

Mauriri: Some stuff Lavinia’s godmother gave to her by mistake.

Grief: (confused) What?

Mauriri: I don’t think it will do them any harm.

Grief: What is it?

Mauriri: (bends over to Grief and speaks quietly) Human liver extract.

Grief snickers. Mauriri steps away from the bike looking up at the porch of the rectory.

Mauriri: Should we tell him?

Grief: (gunning the motor) You tell him!

Mauriri: (turning back) Hey wait up!

Grief: (laughing) Woo-hoo. Good luck. (Rides away)

Mauriri stands indecisively.

On a road on the island.

Grief is speeding along on his motorcycle.Suddenly he’s flung off his cycle. He lands on his back, unconscious. Isabelle steps from the side of the road where she was hidden behind a tree. She kneels beside him and smiles.

Isabelle: You are so delicious when you’re asleep.

Isabelle bends over and kisses his cheek. Then she looks about and gets up. David remains unconscious.

Grief is lying on the bed. Mauriri and Lodge are by the bed. Lavinia stands in the background by the window. Grief comes to.

Grief: (wincing) Oh. (Raising a hand to his head) How did I get here?

Lavinia: Mauriri and the captain brought you here.

Grief: What happened.

Mauriri: You tasted island dirt at about thirty miles per hour.

Grief suddenly remembering pulls a pouch from a pocket. Pulls the pearl out looks at it and relaxes.

Mauriri: Do you remember what happened?

Grief: No. One minute I’m riding along, the next minute I’m flying off the bike.

Mauriri: Difficult to explain, isn’t it?

Grief looks at Lodge and Mauriri

Grief: (holding the pearl) So you all think that this thing is cursed?

Mauriri and Lodge look back at Lavinia.

Grief: (becoming agitated) Why? Because the Devil took a shot at me? He did miss.

Lodge: David, Mauriri’s told me what’s been going on. I don’t want you to do this on account of me. Let’s give the thing back.

Grief: What about your boat?

Lodge: I can get another boat. If not I can always crew with you. Give the thing back.

Lavinia steps forward.

Lavinia: Please.

Matavai village at night.

Naari Herring is standing there. Grief followed by Mauriri, Lodge and Lavinia (far back) approach him.

Grief: You ought to get out in the sun more often, Herring. Do your complexion a world of good. (Hands the pearl to Herring.) Don’t let me see you here again.

Herring holds up the pearl between the thumb and forefinger. He looks at it and then back at Grief. He crushes the pearl. Lavinia blinks and looks frightened.

Herring: Don’t be a fool, Grief. I’m not stupid. You have until eight tomorrow night to bring me the real pearl. Or I’ll claim her soul.

ACT 4

Matavai village, day.

Grief and Mauriri are walking.

Mauriri: I don’t get it. We took the pearl right off the Malahini. And Lodge swears he knows what he bought.

Grief: Maybe Herring was mistaken.

Mauriri: Sure didn’t act like he was mistaken.

Grief: Where’s Lavinia now?

Mauriri: Back at the bar, preparing for her fate.

Morlais is on horseback, supervising the posting up wanted pictures of Isabelle.

Grief: What’s going on, Lieutenant? I thought she’d been exonerated.

Morlais: Exonerated? No, we think she broke into a telegraph office and sent a false cable. I hope she’s still here. I got the worse rat-infested cell just ready for her. (Morlais rides off.)

Grief steps forward studying the poster.

Grief: (looks at Mauriri) And that pearl was never out of my sight. (He nods his head and smiles to himself.)

The rectory

Colin is lying on the bed dozing with a book.

Mrs. Bradford, a plump pleasant woman, blonde hair, blue-eyed, dressed in white with a broad brim hat is at the door.

Mrs. Bradford: Yoo-hoo (knocks)

Trent: (waking up) Good Lord. (Sits up and then stands) Mrs. Bradford. A pleasant surprise.

Mrs. Bradford: Hello, Colin. I hope you don’t mind me stopping by. The other ladies asked me to thank you for lunch.

Trent: Most kind.

Mrs. Bradford: It was splendid. You are a man of many talents, Colin. A missionary with a…culinary interest.

Trent: No ill effects, I hope? (Mrs. Bradford looks puzzled.) On delicate English palates?

Mrs. Bradford: Oh no. (She looks at the cover of the book Colin is holding.) Diets of the Samoans, Human Entrails and the Kalahari. I must say, Colin, your reading tastes do run to the eclectic.

Trent: A necessary part of my work, ma’am.

Mrs. Bradford: I’m sure, but for a while there I thought you served us cannibal stew. (Laughs)

Colin laughs rather half-heartedly.

Out on the island road

David and Mauriri are looking at the spot where David had the accident with the bike.

Mauriri: (walks forward, holding a rope) David.

Grief: What is it?

Mauriri: The other end is tied to a tree.

Grief: (looking at the rope) I’ll bet a king’s ransom there was a woman passenger on board the Malahini.

Matavai village

Lodge: A beautifulvwoman, God rest her soul. We picked her up in Fuatimo. Helped me with the others into the lifeboat.

David & Mauriri turn away.

Lodge: What’s going on?

Mauriri: (to Lodge) We’ll get back to you, captain. (Turning away to Grief) So that explains the accident.

Grief: But not the fake pearl.

Mauriri: Unless it was a magic act, she must have got it from…(Mauriri realizes who and points.) Peter Ling.

Grief: Low-life gem dealer.

Ling’s workroom

Asian man, Peter Ling, bald, youngish, sitting looking a stone through a magnifying glass. Grief and Mauriri enter. Ling lays down his magnifying glass, remains impassive. Grief lays down the wanted poster on the table in front of Ling.

Grief: Ever seen this lady?

Ling: Very pretty lady. No.

Grief: (to Mauriri) We should let Morlais know.

Ling realizes he doesn’t want that to happen.

Ling: The Lieutenant?

Grief: There’s been some scuttlebutt about the wolf, Ling, that aided this fugitive. (Bends over Ling, claps hand on his shoulder. Now, I’ve told my good friend, the Lieutenant, that you’d never do that. Not willingly.

Ling: May I see the picture again?

Grief pats him on the shoulder and lays the poster in front of him.

Ling: (barely glancing at the poster.) Maybe I did see her.

Grief: Maybe you made a pearl for her.

Ling: Now that you mention it.

Mauriri: (clapping him on the shoulder) Black pearl, wasn’t it.

Matavai village

Grief and Mauriri are on the motorcycle. The pull up to the board announcing ships arrivals and departures. Mauriri gets up and reads the announcements.

Mauriri: No boats left yesterday.

Grief: Then she’s still here.

Mauriri: Three boats leave this afternoon.

Grief: But Morlais’ men are crawling all over the wharf how’s she going to get by them?

Mauriri: There’s a ferry to Moorea at four. The Santanda leaves from there tomorrow for San Francisco.

Grief: That’s it.

Mauriri gets back on the motorcycle.

Van Gelt: (coming down some steps from Morlais’ office) Grief!

Grief: What a minute, (Coldly.) we’ve still got to deal with him.

Van Gelt: I got an order for that pearl, Grief. (Takes the reins of a waiting horse) I’m on my way now to the Governor to get it signed.

Grief: (getting off the motorcycle, whispering to Mauriri) I’m leaving you this bike. Can you handle it?

Mauriri: (grinning, gunning the motor) You mean, make it look like an accident?

Grief: Yeah. (Walks away)

On the road from Matavai.

Van Gelt is galloping. Suddenly he flies off the horse. Van Gelt lifts his head and falls back unconscious. Mauriri is holding the end of the rope and smiles happily.

Mauriri: Damn! It worked.

In Matavai, by the docks.

Grief takes Isabelle’s arm.

Grief: No need to board just yet.

Isabelle: (Smiles, trying to brazen it out.) What a coincidence.

Grief: (Grabbing her arm and pulling her away from the wharf.) Isn’t it?

Isabelle: Fancy seeing you here.

As Grief pulls her across a road he sees a pair of soldiers coming toward them.

Grief: Yes, this might be any picnic. (Pushes onto a porch and against the wall) Don’t take this the wrong way. (Kisses her enthusiastically, as a soldier looks over at them. Smiles slightly as they break away.)

Isabelle: (Smiles) Just like old times. (Glances over Grief’s shoulder.) I suppose I should thank you.

Grief: (Gripping her as she tries to move.) Up to you. (Stern) But I want the pearl.

Isabelle: The pearl?

Grief: You wouldn’t want me to call back the soldier now, would you?

Isabelle: Can’t I keep it. (Slightly seductive, fingers stroking his jaw line) Stake myself to a future.

Grief: You’re future is in a damn cell if you don’t hand it over.

They stare at each other. Grief gives an imperative nod of his head.

Isabelle: (As she pulls out the pearl tucked in her cleavage, somewhat disgusted) I thought you liked me.

Grief: (smiles as he watches her walk away) I do.

Isabelle crosses in front of a pair of horses hitched to a wagon. The driver loses control of them. Isabelle is unaware of her danger. Grief sees it and runs forward.

Grief: Look out. (Tackles Isabelle and rolls them both out of danger.)

As they lay on the ground, they look at each other.

Grief: Now I’ll take the real one.

Isabelle: (stalling) The real one?

Grief: I might enjoy searching you.

Isabelle: (reaches in to her dress again) Take it. (Pushes his arm away. Stands up, disgusted, stalks off.) The damn thing is curst.

Grief studies the pearl and then looks at the wagon that nearly ran Isabelle down.

Grief: You may be right.

Epilogue

Nighttime, Lavinia’s bar

Lodge, Mauriri and Grief sitting at the bar. Lavinia’s behind the bar.

Mauriri: What happened to Isabelle?

Grief: I (Realizes Lavinia is looking at him.) ….sent her on her way.

Mauriri looks at his pocket watch; it’s nearly eight o’clock.

Mauriri: Maybe he won’t show.

Lavinia is staring at the doorway. Grief swallows down a drink, points to the doorway of the bar. Naari Herring is standing there.

Mauriri: Wrong again.

Herring walks in; Grief followed by Mauriri approaches him. Herring holds out his hand. Grief looks back at Mauriri, who nods. Grief puts the pearl in Herring’s hand. Lavinia is standing nearby. Herring studies it.

Herring: You’re a wise man.

Grief tilts his head, unhappy with the whole process.

Van Gelt: He’s a damn thief. (Van Gelt, followed by several of his men, enters the bar. He’s holding up a paper.) That’s what he is. And so are you! (Strides toward Herring.) And I’ve got a salvage claim here that says that thing is mine. (Brandishes a pistol.) And I’ve got this to back me up. (Points the gun up towards Herring’s face.)

Grief: (calmly) You’re making a mistake, Van Gelt.

Van Gelt: (Briefly glances at Grief.) Shut up, Grief! (Looking at Herring.) Yeah, well, go on. (Sarcastically) Seize my soul. (Cocks gun.) But first hand that thing over. (Holds his hand up for the pearl.)

Herring: (Impassive, looking down at Van Gelt) Does your soul mean so little to you?

Van Gelt (A little nervous) I’m going to count to three and your brains are going to be on that bar. (Herring looks at him and the pearl.) One…..Two… (Herring puts the pearl in Van Gelt’s hand. Van Gelt smiles as he looks at it.)

Herring walks out of the bar. Van Gelt looks almost disbelieving at the pearl and laughs viciously. He turns to walk out of the bar following Herring.

Van Gelt: Steal my soul. That’s rich! (Turns back to the quiet crowd in the bar.) Nobody steals from August Van Gelt. (Walks toward Grief and points at him.) Least of all you! (Stands at the bar.) Now can a man get a drink?

Lavinia caps a bottle, looks coldly at him and turns away. Van Gelt tugs at his cap and turns from the bar.

Van Gelt: Come on, boys. Let’s have a look at this thing.

General comments and laughter from the men: “Ah, that’s a beauty.” There’s music and noise from the crowd. Grief steps forward to watch them move to the far side of the bar near the doorway. He seems uncertain as to what occurred. Lavinia pours a drink for Lodge.

Lodge: David, you did the right thing.

Mauriri: (clapping Grief on the shoulder) This is one battle you were meant to lose.

Both Mauriri and Grief return to the bar.

Grief: Can I get a drink? (Lavinia nods to the waiting glass.)

Van Gelt and his men are still in the bar, celebrating.

Men: Van Gelt. A toast. Aye. Drink up.

Lavinia: We’ll make our own toast. To friendship.

Mauriri: I’ll drink to that.

The men lift their glasses and clink them. Lavinia drinks from the bottle.

On the porch in the middle of celebrating Van Gelt who is standing suddenly collapses on the table. Grief strides forward and touches him.

Bearded man: (Shaking the Van Gelt.) Van Gelt.

Grief: (Coldly) Save your breath, he’s dead.

Herring walks in, reaches into Van Gelt’s hand and takes the pearl. Herring and Grief look at each other. Herring nods at him, turns and walks away. Grief stares after him.

Closing credits

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