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Cabot, A French Naval Investigator |
Charles |
Mason |
The Warden, |
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Cabot, A French Naval Investigator |
Charles |
Mason |
The Warden, |
Teaser:
On an island shore
Rattler is anchored. Two men are rowing Mauriri and Grief in a longboat. They get out on the sand.
Grief: Damn storm. We could be a hundred miles off course.
Mauriri: There’s got to be fresh water, though. This island’s big enough. Hey, look at that big pine over there (pointing to a tree)
Grief: What about it?
Mauriri: That’s a Norfolk pine. Used for building ships’ masts. In 1790 there weren’t any big pines like that left in England. That’s when Commander Philip remembered Captain Cook found some.
Grief: So?
Mauriri: We could be on Norfolk Island. That’s where Commander Philip retired. He planted a lot of those pines.
Grief: (Smiling) Doesn’t it bother you being right all the time? (Turns away to walk inland.)
Mauriri: (Grinning) Around you, I get used to it. (Grief tosses a look over his shoulder. Mauriri follows Grief, still smiling)
They come across a hut in the jungle.
Grief: Commander Philips’ old place?
They open the door and enter.
Mauriri: Someone’s been living here. (Walks up to a pole in the middle of the hut. There’s rope coiled hanging on it.) See what I mean. Ship’s mast.
Grief: (Waving his hand in front of his face.) Woo. Let’s get some air in here.
Mauriri pushes a shutter open, and sees three men who see him. They immediately pull out weapons and start firing.
Mauriri: (yelling) David!
Mauriri and Grief dive for the floor.
Grief: Who are those guys?
Mauriri: Beats me.
Grief: How many.
Mauriri: (holding up fingers) Three.
They nod and staying low, they scramble to window. Grief raises his hand and fires a pistol out the window without looking. The three men fire back undeterred.
Grief: Strategic retreat?
Mauriri: I’d go along with that.
Grief: (Nodding at the opposite side of the hut) That way?
Mauriri: Looks like the odds are better.
David dives through knocking a panel out of the wall. Mauriri is right behind him. The three men follow chasing them through the jungle. Mauriri and David run until they reach a cliff overlooking the sea. The Rattler is visible, anchored in the cove.
Mauriri: (breathless) They’re still behind us.
Grief: (also breathless) You afraid of heights?
Mauriri: (nodding) Yeah.
They jump yelling as they fall feet first. They hit the water, going deep under. The men are still pursing. Mauriri & Grief swim rapidly towards the Rattler. The men reach the cliff and aim their guns.
One of the men: Ah, too far.
The two crewmen help Mauriri and then Grief onto the ship. They sit out of breath on the deck of the Rattler. Grief’s feet hang over the rail.
Mauriri: Who are those guys?
Grief: I don’t know. Squatters who take their rights too seriously?
Mauriri: They were digging for something. Miners?
Grief: So much for fresh water and mangos.
Opening credits
ACT 1:
Matavai, daytime
The market place and docks are busy. Soldiers are escorting a hooded figure.
At the Matavai jail.
Morlais is walking down a hall. At the doorway a worker is scrubbing the floor.
Soldier: She’s in the first cell on the right, Lieutenant.
Morlais: (Cheerfully) Oh, good (Rubbing his hands.) The worst of the lot.
Morlais kicks the worker scrubbing the floor out of his way, who tumbles down the three steps backwards, then cowers out of the Lieutenant’s way. In the cell is Isabelle sitting in the corner. Water is dripping from the ceiling to the mattress below. Morlais looks at it, pleased.
Morlais: Drip, drip, drip.
Isabelle: (pleasantly) Hello, Lieutenant. I was wondering when you’d stop by.
Morlais: What makes you think I would even want to bother?
Isabelle: (turning and putting her feet down on the ground) Oh, I was sure you would. You love to gloat. (crosses to the cell bars, contemptuously) Gloating at other people’s misfortune makes you the man you are.
Morlais: (turns away, uncomfortable) Private. (To the young soldier who approaches) She’s to be transported to the Makemo penal colony on Monday. (Signs the clipboard in the soldier’s hands. Turns back to Isabelle.) In irons.
Soldier: Civilian ship, sir?
Morlais: (Eyes locked on Isabelle.) No, French naval vessel. Let’s see her try and escape from that.
Isabelle: (coldly) Do I get the usual privileges while I’m here?
Morlais: If I had a worst cell you’d be in it.
Isabelle: What about visitors?
Morlais: The only visitors you’ll be getting are the rats.
A rat crawls out from behind the slops bucket in the cell. Morlais turns and leaves. Isabelle eyes the young soldier who approaches her, surreptitiously hands him a folded piece of paper. He meets her look and then walks away with the paper.
On Matavai’s shore
Grief and Mauriri race across the sand, laughing and up to a vendor’s fruit stand.
Grief: Mangos
Grief & Mauriri each grab one. Grief slices the top off one with a large blade in one cut. Grief drops coins into the vendor’s hand.
Grief: And a dozen more for him.
They walk on.
Grief: I still think we should have gone back to Norfolk.
Mauriri: If the shotguns didn’t get us, dehydration would. Your words.
Grief: I knew there was a reason.
Grief puts his arm out, halting Mauriri.
Grief: Whoa.
They stop. Colin Trent is arguing with Morlais. The same young soldier is at Morlais’ side, standing at attention.
Trent: (Yelling) You have no right to deny any prisoner access to religion worship. No right whatsoever.
Morlais: Are you telling me there’s a spy in my jail. Because if so, I have a right to know. (The young soldier who accepted the paper from Isabelle, looks guilty.)
Trent: (Furious) You’re missing the point, Lieutenant.
Grief: (Quietly, to Mauriri) What’s going on here?
Trent: The only rights at issue here are the rights of the people in your jail. (A little more quietly now, but still very serious.) Now do you want me to go to the Governor with this?
Morlais: (straightening his shoulders, trying to put a more pleasant face on.) All right if it means so much to you, you can see her on Sunday.
Morlais strides away.
Mauriri: Colin.
Colin is still focused on Morlais.
Trent: Disgusting little man. (Starts to go after Morlais, infuriated.)
Grief: (Grabbing Colin’s arm and pulling him away.) Whoa. Easy, easy. He’s one of God’s creatures.
Trent: Yes, like head lice. (Still upset.) You just got back. You don’t know what’s going on.
Mauriri and Grief are still eating mangos.
Mauriri: We kind of overheard. I think the whole market did.
Trent: Lord, no. I’m talking about Isabelle Reed. (Grief grabs Colin’s arm and stops suddenly facing Colin. Grief is very intent on Colin’s words.) The prisoner you took to New Stanton. The one who escaped.
Grief: (Hoarsely) What about her?
Trent: She’s the one being denied access to a minister.
Grief: She’s here?
Trent: In Morlais’ jail. They arrested her in Rarotonga last week.
Trent walks off. Grief and Mauriri look at each other. Grief shrugs and walks back. Mauriri looks disgusted.
Lavinia’s bar
Lavinia’s waiting on tables. Grief & Mauriri are playing cards with a couple of other men.
Lavinia: (to a man at a table) Can you pay for these. (She holds her hand out and he places money in it.
Grief: (seriously) I think she got the word out to Colin because Colin was her only shot. If Morlais was going to let her talk to anyone, it would be a minister.
Mauriri: Which is a nice way of saying she wants something.
Grief: In her position, who wouldn’t?
Mauriri: (resigned) I knew you’d say that.
They look at each other.
Mauriri:< (incredulous) Don’t tell me you’re planning on helping her out.
Grief doesn’t look at Mauriri, focuses on his cards.
Grief: (to the players) Your twenty. I’ll raise you thirty. (to Mauriri) Why would I help her?
Mauriri: How the hell do I know? You and this woman got some sort of strange connection going on. You want to believe in her even though she tried to rob you. Twice.
Grief: She’s not going to rob me again, she’s going to a penal colony.
Lavina approaches with a bottle.
Lavinia: (As she pours.) Who’s going to a penal colony?
Grief: (evasively) A criminal.
Mauriri snorts.
Mauriri: I’m out.
Poker player: I’ll raise you another fifty, Grief.
Lavinia bends over to Grief.
Lavinia: (whispers in his ear.) Tonight? (They kiss.)
Grief: I’ll be there.
Mauriri looks exasperated and unhappy with Grief.
Mauriri: Your bid.
Grief: Call.
Poker player: Jacks and eights
Grief: Three fours. (Laughs and reaches in for the pot.)
Mauriri: Well, you know what they say.
A middle-aged man is watching the game.
Grief: No, Mo, what do they say?
Mauriri: Lucky in cards, lucky in love.
Mauriri and one of the players raise their glasses in a toast.
Mauriri: (To Grief) Don’t be a damn fool.
Grief: Oh, I’m a fool, now, am I?
Mauriri: What I mean is Lavinia is a hundred times worth Isabelle Reed. In my opinion.
Grief: And did I ask for it?
Mauriri: Well, you’re getting it.
Middle-aged man approaches. Uses a cane, has a decided limp.
Cabot: David Grief. May I talk to you in private? My name is Cabot.
Grief: (Looks at Mauriri) Sure.
Mauriri & Grief rise from the table.
Mauriri: (To the card players) Gentlemen.
The three go to the bar.
Grief: My partner, Mauriri Lepau.
Cabot: Yes, I know. (Pauses, watches them carefully.) You were both involved in the transport of a prisoner to New Stanton. Isabelle Reed.
Mauriri: (Apprehensively) So?
Cabot: A prisoner who escaped.
Grief: Why would you care?
Cabot: I’m an investigator, Captain Grief. And all the evidence that I’ve accumulated in this case indicates that this prisoner is innocent.
Mauriri looks dubious. Grief doesn’t change his expression.
Grief: And what makes you think that?
Cabot: I don’t think Miss Reed murdered anyone. Her boyfriend Marcel Pinette stole money from the French government, but I don’t think Miss Reed killed him. Of course overturning a conviction isn’t easy.
Both Grief and Mauriri look interested.
Grief: Can you prove it?
Cabot: I think so. That’s why I’m here. (A man at a table, Mason, is taking an interest in their conversation.) But this isn’t the place to talk. You have a boat in the harbor, we can talk there.
Grief looks at Mauriri. Mauriri looks back neither approving or disapproving.
Cabot: Meet me on the wharf just after dark?
Grief: All right.
Cabot leaves.
Grief gives a slight smile to Mauriri glad to have his judgment confirmed.
Grief: Well.
Grief walks away. Mauriri looks unhappy that he might have been wrong about Isabelle. Mason turns around again apparently having overheard the conversation.
Matavai village, nighttime.
Mauriri and Grief are walking on the boardwalk.
Mauriri: So what kind of evidence is our friend going to show us?
Grief: We’ll see.
There’s a shot, a woman exclaims “Oh”. Mauriri and Grief duck behind a palm tree.
Grief: This is getting to be a habit.
Mauriri: You think Cabot set us up?
There’s a couple of men visible in the darkness.
Mauriri: It’s them again. Those guys from the island.
Grief and Mauriri run after them.
Grief: (shouting) I’ll take the big one.
Mauriri slams a coil of rope into one of the men. He pulls a knife. Eventually Mauriri subdues him and ties him up. Meanwhile Grief leaps over a table stacked with fruit and tackles the other man. They exchange punches. Grief is pushed back and the man pulls a gun, as he fires Grief ducks out of the way. Mauriri leaps over the table and tackles him and slams him into a post.
Finally a whistle heralds the French soldiers’ arrival, who break up the fight.
Lavinia’s room over the bar
Grief enters, carefully closes the door.
Lavinia: What took you so long?
Grief begins to unbutton his shirt, sits on the bed and takes off his shoes.
Grief: Sorry. Mo and I went to meet someone on the wharf on the way we got shot at.
Lavinia: (Coming from another doorway.) What?
Grief: Then we ended up explaining ourselves to Morlais for the next two hours.
Lavinia crawls on the bed, kneeling up behind Grief. Grief sighs.
Lavinia: (Kissing Grief on the side of the head and neck.) Are you okay?
Grief: (continues loosening his shirt) I don’t see any bullet holes. (Leans into Lavinia’s embrace, his voice becomes seductive.) Do you?
Lavinia: (wrapping an arm around him) No, I don’t see any bullet holes. (pushing his shirt aside.) I like what I do see. I like it a lot. (They continue kissing.)
Grief: (chuckles) Did I keep you waiting?
Lavinia: Hmm, yeah. But you know what they say about anticipation?
Grief: Un-uh, what do they say.
Lavinia: They say it’s half the fun.
Grief smiles and grabs her. They fall onto the bed.
Matavai jail, daytime.
Isabelle is sitting in her cell, back against the wall. A guard leads Colin Trent to her cell.
Guard: This way, Father. (He turns to leave Colin by the bars of Isabelle’s cell)
Trent : Open the door, soldier.
Guard: Sir, I can’t. The Lieutenant’s orders.
Trent : (Very forcefully) If you were in that cell, you would want me to pray with you. Now, open that door!
Guard reluctantly unlocks the cell door and lets Colin enter. Colin looks disgustedly at the cell.
Trent : (looks back at the soldier, irritated) And bring her a dry pallet.
Guard: Yes, sir.
Guard closes the cell door and locks it. Isabelle is by the door and gives him a slight smile, the guard nods at her.
Isabelle walks over to Colin and touches him on the arms. Turns and stands back against the wall facing him.
Isabelle: Thank you for coming. I’m sure you heard a bit about me.
Colin stands in the middle of the cell. He looks at her then looks away.
Trent : Yes.
Isabelle: So you know why I’m in here, then?
Trent : For murder, from what I understand.
Isabelle: (Quietly, sincerely) I was convicted of killing my former lover. (A nervous laugh.) Marcel Pinette, a French Naval official. I didn’t do it.
Colin smiles, perhaps not believing her.
Trent : Why did you ask to see me?
Isabelle: (Crosses to Colin, takes his arm, speaks desperately) I had to share this with someone. While I was on the run, a sailor recognized me. Now this man says he knows who murdered Marcel. He wanted money before he would talk. And I was arrested before I could make the payment. (Quietly) I believe him because he gave me this.
Isabelle reaches in to her bodice, Colin looks away uncomfortably. She pulls out a locket and puts it in Colin’s hand.
Isabelle: Marcel used to carry it.
Colin opens the locket. There’s a picture of Isabelle in it.
Trent : Do you know the man’s name?
Isabelle: No. Does it matter? (Resigned) I can’t prove my innocence. (Turns away and sits down, hopeless.) All the evidence at my trial pointed to my guilt. I’m convicted.
(Colin takes a step forward. She looks up at him.)
Isabelle: (Ruefully) Don’t ask me to pray, Reverend. I gave up praying a long time ago.
Colin looks at his bible and at her. She leans back, resigned.
Isabelle: I just wanted someone to know.
Colin, very uncomfortable, offers her the locket back. Isabelle holds up her hand to stop him.
Isabelle: No, keep it. They’ll only confiscate it. (She leans forward.) Why don’t you give it to David Grief. Say um… a souvenir.
Colin looks at the locket in his hand.
The Rattler
Colin is below decks with Grief who is sitting down. Colin hands him the locket. Grief holds it up by the chain.
Grief: A souvenir? (Studies the locket.)
Trent : That’s what she said.
Grief: (stands up, still looking at the locket.) I don’t know what to make of it. Cabot claimed he was an investigator, but then he disappeared. (Turns away takes a step and turns back.) For all I know he was the one that took a shot at us.
Trent : To accomplish what?
Grief shrugs and shakes his head.
Trent : (pacing a bit) She’s very convincing. All the time I was with her I kept bearing in mind all the things I know she’s done.
Grief: (smiles) I try to do the same.
Mauriri comes down the steps, crouches down.
Mauriri: I need you, now!
On the shore at Matavai.
A group of people are clustered at the shore. Morlais, accompanied by some soldiers, pushes through. Grief and Mauriri are standing there. Cabot’s body lies on the shore with his throat cut.
Mauriri: Looks like he’s been lying there all night long.
Grief: It would mean he was killed about the time he wanted to see us.
Colin is kneeling by the body. Morlais takes a step forward.
Morlais: (To Grief and Mauriri, suspiciously) You wouldn’t possibly happen to know anything about this, would you? (Sarcastically) Considering your little sideshow last night.
Grief: What’s his name?
Morlais: Paul Cabot. French Naval investigator.
Mauriri and Grief exchange a look. Morlais studies them, sure they’re involved some how.
ACT 2
The Rattler
Mauriri is just finishing painting the name ‘Tess’ on the Rattler. He stands and smiles.
Mauriri: (To Grief who is approaching) Our boat’s name is now the ‘Tess’
Grief: Look, I bribed a clerk. I got the authorization papers and the death certificate from the Governor’s office. (Mauriri nods, Grief smiles.) Even the prison warden won’t have any suspicions after we leave.
Mauriri: (more dubious) I hope not. Otherwise we’ll end up in that damn penal colony, ourselves.
Grief: (smiles, confident) Still not too late to change your mind.
Mauriri: (sarcastic, looking over the bay) Why would I do that? I mean I’ve got a beautiful wife, two gorgeous kids and I’m just about to break someone out of prison. (Looks to Grief) Remind me why we’re doing this again.
Grief: For a lying, two-bit thief, who may not have committed a murder.
Mauriri: (smiles) Sounds about right.
Grief: (light punch on Mauriri’s shoulder) Good. (Looks about the bay.) The tide’s turning. (Yells to the crew as he walks back to the stern.) Hoist the sails. Set a course for Makemo.
Crew calls out instructions.
Mauriri smiles and turns away.
Crew: Clear the anchor.
The sails are raised. Grief is at the wheel. Rattler sails away.
Rattler is anchored, sails down. Grief and Mauriri are rowing to shore. The prison is visible to their right.
Grief: Cozy little spot.
Mauriri: The prisoners all return there at night. They work in the cane fields during the day. (Mauriri looks to the left.) We should be able to get a good look from up there. (Nods toward a hill).
Canefield
Workers are in the field. Mauriri is viewing the sight with a telescope. He sees a guard grab Isabelle by the hair and throw her down. Isabelle cries out in pain.
Mauriri: There’s Isabelle.
Mauriri pans his telescope and sees another man, not a guard or a prisoner.
Mauriri: Wait a minute there’s one of the men who shot at us on Norfolk Island.
Grief: (taking the telescope) Are you sure?
Mauriri: I don’t forget guys who aim shotguns at me.
Grief: (putting away the telescope.) Okay, let’s find out who he is.
Interior of the prison.
Isabelle is chained to a stone wall by her wrists, she is slumped forward, held up only by the chains. The man from Norfolk Island, Mason, walks over and grips her hair raising her head up. A prison guard and the warden stand and watch.
Mason: Why make it so hard on yourself, Isabelle? No one can help you here.
Isabelle: (gasping, sobbing) I don’t know anything.
Mason slaps her, knocking her head back against the stonewall.
Mason: You’re lying.
Isabelle: Why would I lie?
Mason: (Towers over her.) You know why. Because you know where the money is buried. (In a raised voice.) Don’t tell me you don’t know. Marcel told you everything.
Isabelle: (Whispering, breathless) I told you, (emphatically) I don’t know anything.
Mason: Guard.
The guard unchains her, she nearly falls, unable to hold herself upright, but the guard supports her and walks her across the room. Another guard unlocks a door to let them out.
Mason and the warden watch her being dragged out.
Mason: (To the warden) Are you sure she brought nothing with her. No map.
Warden: Nothing. She’s been thoroughly searched. She’s not hiding anything.
Mason: Except what she knows.
Warden: (Confidently) If she knows anything, she’ll talk. (With a slight smile.) She won’t hold up under the lash. Now in the meantime you may as well go back to searching the island.
The Rattler, Nighttime
The Rattler, still disguised as the Tess, is anchored off the prison. Below decks Mauriri and Grief are in their cabin.
Mauriri: I have good news.
Grief: (lying on his bunk) Who is it?
Mauriri: His name is Mason. He owns a sloop. He’s a pal of the warden’s.
Grief: How the hell did you find that out?
Mauriri: (excitedly) The owner of the supply store. He brought a week’s worth of provisions. He sets sail tomorrow morning.
Grief: (smiling) So he won’t be here to recognize us.
Mauriri: (still excited) Do you want more good news? The guy who died in Tahiti, Vincent Brunet, his death notice is in this paper.
Grief: (smiling) Does it say what he died of?
Mauriri: (walking across the cabin and sitting down) Yep. (lays down on his bunk) I told you it was good news.
Grief: Well done, doc.
Interior of prison, Daytime
Warden enters.
Guard: Colonel, two doctors to see you.
Warden: What?
Guard: I put them in your office.
Warden nods and walks toward his office, just as he almost reaches his office, Mason approaches him.
Mason: Mills.
Inside the office, looking out the glass topped doors, Mauriri and Grief, seeing Mason, wheel about putting there backs to the doors. Both are in suits. Grief has on a pair of wire rimmed glasses.
Grief: (panicked) Damn. I thought you said he sailed in the morning.
Mauriri: (worried) I did. I didn’t say when.
Grief: Well, he’s coming here, straight for us.
Outside the office
Mason: I’m about to leave.
Warden: I expect to see you in a week.
Mason: That you will. (He walks away.)
The warden enters the office.
Warden: Doctors.
Mauriri and Grief turn around.
Mauriri: Colonel.
Warden (holding his hand out to Grief) Doctor Tano.
Mauriri: (reaching in front of Grief to take the Warden’s hand.) I’m Doctor Paul Tano. My colleague, Dr. Richardson.
Warden: What can I do for you?
Mauriri: We’re with the Institute of Tropical Medicine, Colonel.
Grief: We were working on a research project in Tahiti, until we got pressed into service for an emergency.
Warden: (Walks past them, unconcerned) What emergency?
Mauriri: Two weeks ago you released a man named Brunet.
Warden: Yes, yes. He served his time.
Grief: He died in Tahiti a week ago of Oroya fever
Mauriri: We have every reason to believe it originated from here. The Governor has ordered us to conduct examinations.
Warden: (Surprised, unhappy) What?
Mauriri: Of all the prisoners, too. (Hands the warden some papers.)
Warden: (Baffled, takes papers and opens them.) What, of all 525 of them?
Mauriri: Colonel Mills, this highly contagious disease could cut your prison population in half.
Grief: (stepping forward.) Colonel, This is a prison-based economy, is it not?
Warden: That is correct.
Grief: Then I’m sure you can understand why the Governor might be concerned.
Inside the prison, portable screens section off an area.
A line of prisoners, all looking worn and frail, waits.
One inmate falls, a guard moves forward.
Guard: Get up you mangy dog.
Grief lets a woman out of one of the cubicles, a guard roughly pulls her away.
Guard: Next.
A man walks in, the guard holds the curtain open as he enters. Grief helps him sit. There is a lot of coughing in the line. Mauriri lets a man out, looks down the line, gestures to the next man in line to come in. Isabelle is behind him, eyes half closed, very weak.
Guard: Next.
Mauriri: (placing a stethoscope against the man’s chest) Any chills or fever?
The prisoner shakes his head no.
Guard: Next.
Guard roughly pulls Isabelle who seems unaware of her surroundings, pushes her into Grief’s cubicle.
Grief: (for the guard’s benefit) Have a seat ma’am, this won’t take long.
As the curtain closes, she realizes it’s Grief and falls into him. He holds her up and puts a hand into her hair.
Isabelle: (Desperately) Help me, help me.
Grief: (Soothing) Shh, shh. We don’t have much time. (Holding her up he helps her to sit down, takes off his glasses.)
Isabelle: I can’t believe you came. (Grief strokes her hair, smoothing it back from her face.)
Grief: (Encouragingly) Yes, you can. Now listen up. (Still smoothing back her tangled hair.) You have Oroya fever. Do you understand?
Isabelle: (Forcing herself to nod.) What do I have to do?
Grief: Die from it. By tomorrow morning.
Isabelle is nearly sobbing, her head bends forward. Grief soaks a cloth in water and squeezes some into her mouth and on her forehead. He stands away from her and puts his glasses back on.
Grief: (calling out) Doctor Tano!
Mauriri opens the curtain.
Grief: This woman has the fever. The sweat’s pouring off her. (Yelling) Guard.
Guard: Yes, sir?
Grief: We need a blanket, water, camphor, and an isolated cell. Nobody’s to go near her. Am I clear?
Guard. Yes, sir.
Guard is brushed aside as the warden stands in the doorway. He stares at Isabelle.
Mauriri: You got yourself another victim, Colonel.
The warden pushes into the cubicle.
Warden: This one? She can’t be sick.
Grief: Colonel, I’m not going to argue about the pathology of the disease. This woman has Oroya fever.
Guard: Colonel, We put her in the same room as the man who died. Brunet.
Mauriri: (outraged) You did what?
Grief: (looks to Mauriri) Same cell. (To the warden) Was the bedding changed?
The warden looks at the guard who shakes his head.
Mauriri: (Angrily) Colonel, I must say the standards of hygiene at this prison leave a lot to be desired. (Viciously.) And you can be sure that I’ll mention that in the report.
The warden looks worried.
A prison cell
Isabelle sinks with a sigh onto a cot with a pillow, obviously exhausted. Grief covers her with a blanket, smooths her hair.
Grief: (Quietly, as he’s bent over her, his hand on her hair.) Still as still.
Isabelle: (breathes it out, manages a smile.) Like the grave.
Grief smiles at her then turns and leaves the cell. The guard closes the cell door.
Isabelle’s cell, the next morning
A guard escorts Mauriri and Grief to check on her. He opens the door and Grief enters.
Grief: (Standing just inside the cell door, softly). Miss Reed. (Pauses, looks back at Mauriri and shakes his head.)
Mauriri sighs and crosses himself. Grief looks on from inside the cell.
Mauriri: (To the guard) Take heed. Lock this door. No one is to come inside. (Pointing at the guard.) And keep away from the cell.
Mauriri and Grief leave. The guard locks the cell door.
The warden’s office
Warden (rising from behind his desk) Dead? (Incredulous) I can’t believe it.
Grief: Colonel, we’re doctors. We don’t run the prisons. We’re not at odds here. But certain hygienic improvements must be made. Immediately
Warden: (sighing and nodding) Yeah, I understand.
Mauriri: Good.
Grief: (tugging on his lapels, warming to his role) So for all the prisoners clean mattresses and fresh blankets weekly. And cells scrubbed out regularly.
The warden doesn’t look happy.
Mauriri: (Offering the warden some hope.) If you can assure these improvements will be made, we can put that in the report to the Governor.
Grief: And we’ll also clean out the cell for you. I’m sure your guards won’t be to eager to do it. And we’ll dispose of the body at sea. (Pauses.) It would be safer than burying it on prison grounds.
Warden (shaking head in disbelief) I don’t believe she’s dead.
Mauriri: (holding out a piece of paper) Believe it. Here’s the death certificate.
The warden takes it and looks at it.
The Rattler
A coffin is being moved to the rail onboard the Rattler by three crewmen.
Crewman: Lay it down here, men.
The coffin rests onboard the Rattler, one end on the rail. The men walk away.
In the cabin below.
Mauriri: (coming down the ladder) There’s a French naval sloop coming up on starboard. I think it means to board us.
Grief: Do you want to be the captain or the doctor?
Mauriri: I’m a better doctor.
Grief: If you say so.
French naval personnel board the Rattler. The French officer eyes the coffin.
Grief comes up on deck wearing a blazer.
French officer: Captain?
Grief: Captain McKenzie. Welcome aboard the Tess. What can I do for you?
French officer: Captain, we intend to conduct a search of this ship for escaped convicts. Standard procedure for vessels leaving Makemo. We’ll start with that coffin. (Sardonic) I hope for your sake there’s a body in it.
Grief: (seemingly at ease, hanging onto a rope) Before you do that (He motions to Mauriri) you better talk to the doctor.
Mauriri raises a coffee mug in greeting.
French officer: Open the coffin.
A seaman goes to comply, Mauriri stops him with a hand on his arm.
Mauriri: (upset) What are you doing? Don’t touch it.
French officer: I gave an order. I want that coffin opened.
Mauriri: (firmly) Sir, with utmost respect, you have no idea what your doing.
French officer: (angrily) And when I give orders I expect to see them carried out.
Grief: (smoothly) And as the captain of this vessel, (reaches in a hatch and grabs a crowbar) so do I. (Hands the crowbar to the French officer.) Open the coffin.
The French naval officer snatches the crowbar from Grief and hands it to a seaman. Grief grabs it back and hands it to the naval officer again.
Grief: Ah-ah. You open the coffin. Why should innocent men die because of you?
French officer: What do you mean?
Grief: (smugly) Open the coffin.
French officer: (insistent) I want to know what you mean.
Mauriri: (raises his voice so everyone can hear) That coffin contains the body of a prisoner who died of Oroya fever.
Grief: So we can either sail back and my good friend, Colonel Mills, can do a prisoner count or you can open this coffin and suffer the consequences.
The French officer stands weighing his options.
Grief: Doctor?
Mauriri: You have my permission.
Grief walks forward with the crowbar to the coffin.
French officer: Wait a minute. (He pulls out a pistol, aims it at the coffin and fires.) Now you can drop it overboard.
The coffin is dropped overboard by Grief and the Rattler crew and sinks below the surface.
In the cabin below.
Mauriri: (laughing) Maybe we should have said a prayer before the burial.
Grief: (laughing) I did. About a dozen of them.
Isabelle: (tensely) Say one more. For steady winds to get me away from here.
The men laugh. Isabelle doesn’t, just looks up the ladder, frightened.
Act 3
The Rattler at sea
Isabelle is walking across the deck, dressed in men’s clothes, smiling.
Grief: (laughing) Getting used to walking without leg irons?
Isabelle: (laughing) I thought there was nothing worse than losing my freedom until I put those things on.
Grief joins her on deck where she hangs onto a rope, smiling
Grief: (laughs) Well they don’t slow down the dead, and you’re dead with paper to prove it.
Isabelle: (smiling as she looks closely at Grief) Why did you rescue me? Was it because of what I told Colin?
Grief: That was part of it.
Isabelle: What was the other part? (flirtatiously) Are you still infatuated with me?
Grief: (laughs) I think I’m over that.
Isabelle: (sincerely) You’ll never be over that. (pauses) So why did you do it?
Grief: I believe you’re innocent – of murder at least. (looks away, then back) Do you know a man named Cabot. An investigator with the French Navy.
Isabelle: (thoughtful, shaking her head) No.
Grief: One of the cases he was working on was your late boyfriend’s. He told us he believed you were innocent. Unfortunately Cabot was found in Matavai Harbor with his throat cut.
Isabelle: So when this man, Cabot, was murdered you decided I might be innocent.
Grief: That’s right.
Isabelle: Glad to see you had such faith in me.
Grief: By any accounts I should have none. So what do you plan to do now?
Isabelle: I’d like to go back to Rarotonga. See if a man who says he knows about Marcel’s murder is still around.
Grief: And if he’s not there.
Isabelle: Got a friend there who can get me a job in the stables. Once I’ve saved enough money…. maybe I’ll go to America.
Grief: Does the name Mason sound familiar?
Isabelle: Mason? No. (Uneasy laugh)
Grief: So you have no idea what he’d be doing on an island called Little Norfolk.
Isabelle: Little Norfolk? (Shrugs) Never heard of it.
The Rattler, Evening
Mauriri goes below deck, Grief is sitting at a desk. Mauriri sits across from him, rolls his shoulders and moans tiredly.
Grief: We’ll be in Rarotonga in the morning.
Mauriri: (picking up a bottle and a glass) You know the man Isabelle claims knows about her boyfriend’s murder…Why does she still think he’s in Rarotonga?
Grief: Maybe he’s expecting to get paid. Maybe if he hasn’t been paid, he can’t afford to leave.
Mauriri: It’s a long shot. (Pours a drink, offers one to Grief who turns it down.) What’s the matter, David.
Grief: When I talked to her on deck I asked her about Little Norfolk Island.
Mauriri: And?
Grief: I think she lied. (stands)
Mauriri: (smiles) So, that’s nothing new?
Grief: Remember what Cabot said in Matavai? Her boyfriend stole money from the French government. Maybe she knows something about it.
Mauriri: And if she knew about it?
Grief: Then sooner or later she might go after the money.
Mauriri: Once we were out of the way.
Grief lays down on his bunk.
Grief: You can bet on it.
On the island of Ratotonga
Mauriri is watching a stable. A blond man, Charles, walks up the steps. Mauriri leaves.
Charles: Isabelle. Same again today. There’s always one of them watching.
Isabelle: (using a pitchfork, cleaning the stable, resigned) Which one is it this time?
Charles: Not Grief, the other one. (Plaintively) Isabelle, it’s been ten days.
Isabelle: Doesn’t matter. We can wait.
Charles: (Disappointed) Wait. For how long?
Isabelle: (exasperated) For as long as it takes. Until they’re gone. (Frustrated) If I have to shovel this crap so can you. (Tosses pitchfork to him)
On the Rattler
Mauriri boards. Grief is coming up from the hold.
Mauriri: (dispiritedly) Same again.
Grief: What? (frustrated) I can’t believe this. Stable cleaning?
Mauriri: Well you know she likes to ride.
Grief: Riding is one thing. But …shoveling horse manure?
Mauriri: David, now listen to me. It’s been ten days, now. Now, if she wants to shovel out stables to get the money to go to America, that’s fine with me. But I need to go home. And you, you need to let go.
The Rattler is sailing away.
In the stables.
Charles enters.
Isabelle: Yes. (Breaks into a smile runs forward and kisses him.) Let’s go.
Charles smiles and follows her.
Matavai village.
Mauriri and Grief enter Lavinia’s bar
Grief: (angrily) If she’s smart she’ll go to America. They can’t touch her there.
They sit at a table.
Mauriri: Well, I hope she does, but if she gets caught, two doctors have a lot of explaining to do.
Mauriri signals to a waitress as Lavinia approaches the table.
Lavinia: (Holding Isabelle’s locket. Angered.) Mind telling me what this is?
Grief: (Trying to keep a noncommittal expression) It’s a locket.
Lavinia: Yes, it is. There’s a very pretty photo in it, too.
Grief: She’s…. –
Lavinia: (cutting him off) Your former Rattler passenger. I know. Why did it fall out of your pants?
Grief looks away. Mauriri looks uneasy as the waitress brings two beers to their table.
Lavinia: Sentimental reasons?
Grief: Lavinia –
Lavinia: (slams hands down on the table) I don’t care whether you slept with her. What bothers me is you care enough to carry around her photo.
Waitress puts down two beers.
Lavinia storms off and climbs up the stairs.
Mauriri reaches over and takes the locket, smiling.
Mauriri: Now that’s going to take some skill.
Grief looks up towards where Lavinia has gone while Mauriri looks at the locket.
Grief: Wish me luck. (Climbs the stairs after Lavinia)
Mauriri: (calling) David!
Grief turns around midway up the stairs, comes back down. Mauriri stands holding the locket.
Mauriri: There’s a picture behind her photo.
He lifts it up, there’s a large tree on a piece of land jutting out into the sea.
Mauriri: That’s Little Norfolk Island.
Grief: Un-huh. A place she never heard of.
Act 4
On the Rattler.
Grief: Raise the anchor. Up the mainsail.
Crewman: Aye-aye, Captain.
Mauriri comes back to where Grief’s working with the sail.
Mauriri: You and Lavinia make up?
Grief: Well I may be sleeping on this boat for a month, but I don’t think the damage is repairable. (Laughs)
Matavai
Lavinia is walking on the sand with Colin.
Lavinia: I don’t like to think of myself as a jealous person. David’s been with other women. I know that. He’s just never been so secretive about it before.
Trent : Are you sure he’s …..been with Isabelle?
Lavinia: No, I’m not sure. But he’s acting like a man who has something to hide. (She walks away. Stops and sits on the steps of a building.) You met this Isabelle. What is she like?
Trent : She was in jail when I met her. And not in the best of spirits. (He sits down next to Lavinia)
Lavinia: I’m serious.
Trent : Well she’s about your height. Her hair is lighter.
Lavinia: I know what she looks like, Colin. What I want to know is what is she like.
Trent : In my judgement, she’s very much her own woman. An adventurer and she doesn’t suffer fools.
Lavinia: (dispirited) Sounds like David.
Trent : Perhaps, a little.
Lavinia: And do you think there’s something going on?
Trent : (uncomfortable with the discussion) Lavinia, I’m a friend to both you and David.
Lavinia: And you can’t betray David’s confidence. (She looks at him hopefully.) Not even for me. (Colin looks at her steadily.) I understand.
Colin reaches over and pats her arm, comfortingly.
The Rattler
David is at the helm. Mauriri is sitting forward and facing him.
Grief: You know, I’ve been thinking, there’s got to be something valuable on Norfolk Island. That’s why those guys took shots at us.
Mauriri: Yeah.
Grief: We know Mason was in league with the prison warden. So maybe they’re trying to wring something out of her. But she holds out because she thinks we’re coming to help her. But in the meantime she leaves me this. (holds up locket) It’s emotional bait.
Mauriri: (pointedly) I’d say sexual.
Grief: Anyway. Those guys on the island with shovels, they’re looking for something, but they didn’t know where to dig.
Mauriri: But the picture in the locket shows us where to dig.
Grief: Under the pine.
Mauriri: And the man in the stables?
Grief: Well he probably signed on with her before she got arrested.
Mauriri: Ah! Brilliant.
Grief laughs.
Grief: Thank you.
Mauriri: (dampenly) I meant her. (Then smiles.)
Norfolk Island
Two men walking through the woods carrying rifles and shovels, they step into a trap. The rope loops about their ankles and they dangle upside down.
Isabelle and Charles walk out and laugh.
Isabelle grabs one of the men.
Isabelle: Where’s Mason? (The man doesn’t respond. She shakes her head.) No? (She backhands him across the face.) Where is he?
Man: Mason!
Isabelle: (walking away from him) Fine, you can hang there all day.
Man: Mason, watch your back.
Isabelle: (Looking forward.) Charles get up that hill and see if you can see anyone.
Man: Mason.
Isabelle: (gives Charles a little push.) Go.
Charles is walking through the woods. He’s shot by Mason who is in among the trees. Isabelle hears the shot.
Isabelle: (fearfully) Charles.
Isabelle pulls out a gun and starts carefully moving ahead. Mason is walking through the woods, gun ready. Mason sees Isabelle and gets the drop on her.
Mason: (pulls the hammer back on the gun) Drop the gun, Isabelle.
Isabelle gracefully turns around and raises her arms, half smile on her face. She lets the gun fall. Mason moves closer.
Mason: Now, where is it?
Isabelle: (determined) I want my share of it.
Mason: We’ll see if we can work something out.
Isabelle: (sarcastic laugh) Like the deal you worked out with Marcel?
Mason: It was a pity about Marcel. He was a good thief, but a bad liar. He didn’t understand how serious I was. Told me the name of this island, but not the exact spot. But I’m sure he told you.
Isabelle: (Smoothly) So you framed me?
Mason: Of course.
Isabelle: (Contemptuously) Well that was stupid. I don’t know where it is.
Mason: Yes, you do. That’s why you’re here.
Isabelle: (Very determinedly) Even if I did I’d never tell you.
Mason: (pleasantly) Let’s see, I think I’ll start with a bullet in the knee. (Aims at her knee) It’s very painful. Unless of course you got something to say? (Isabelle’s eyes look off to the right, Mason levels the gun at her.) No? (Drops the gun so it points at her knee again.)
A shot rings out. Mason falls down shot in the knee. Isabelle wheels around behind her, shocked and sees Grief.
Isabelle: (quietly, and not happily) Grief. (As he walks past her.) There’s a lot to explain.
Grief kneels down by Mason.
Grief: How’s the knee? As bad as you thought it would be?
Mauriri comes from another direction.
Mauriri: It’s all dug up around the tree.
Mason: That’s where we started digging.
Grief: If it’s not under the pine tree.
Mauriri: Pine tree? (An idea is coming to him.)
Grief: Yeah, pine tree. Great for making –
Mauriri: (concludes) Ships’ masts.
Both Mauriri and Grief know where it is now.
Isabelle: (Puzzled) Ships’ masts?
In the hut
Isabelle is digging by the ship’s mast in the hut. She heaves a sign.
Grief: Keep digging, Isabelle. (Tosses a rock in the air. Viciously) I bet you got in great shape at the penal colony.
Isabelle: (wheedling) Aw, David please, I can’t.
Grief: (Throws rock on the ground near her.) Dig.
Isabelle continues digging, moaning with the effort. Mauriri stands nearby smiling.
Grief: (To Mauriri) Don’t you hate being right all the time?
Mauriri: Not this time.
Isabelle strikes something other than dirt with the shovel. She smiles.
A chest is opened filled with gold coins. Mason and his men are bound and watching. Isabelle and Mauriri run their hands through it.
Mauriri: Gold coins. Half a million francs worth. (Enjoying the irony.) And you and your men were sitting on it all along.
Grief: (angered) And how many men are dead because of it.
Mauriri: Marcel Pinette, the investigator Cabot.
Isabelle: (Still running her hands through the coins. Practical) All the more for us.
Mauriri slams the lid down.
Isabelle: (shocked) Well, you don’t think I wasn’t going to split it. (She stands up and faces Grief.) I mean, you did get me out of prison.
Grief: Is it yours? (Isabelle doesn’t understand.) Is the gold yours to split?
Isabelle: It’s worth half a million francs.
Grief: But is it yours?
Isabelle: Who cares? We can split it 50-50.
Grief: You may be the most dishonest woman I’ve ever met.
Isabelle: (resigned, giving in with bad grace, eyes down) Okay, okay, okay. (Looks at him from under her eyelashes, a slight smile, her voice seductive.) But are you willing to split it?
Grief: (firmly) No, I’m not going to split it. I’m going to try and make an honest woman out of you.
Isabelle: (Shocked.) What do you mean?
Grief: We’re going back to Matavai Bay. You, me, Mauriri, (nods toward Mason) him, too. We’re going back for a hearing.
Isabelle: (outraged) Are you crazy? There’s half a million francs in gold –
Grief: (shouting) Enough! (Throws the shovel.) Fill it in. Now.
Mauriri nods his approval. Isabelle knows she’s lost, unhappily moves away.
Epilogue
Matavai courthouse.
Judge is on the bench. Isabelle is standing in the docket dressed in a white walking suit. A silk collar shows. She’s cleaned up and very presentable. Her hands are chained. Grief and Mauriri are dressed in white suits, also cleaned up and more business like than usual, sitting in the court. The men from the island and the prison warden are chained and in the docket, also.
Judge: After hearing all the evidence in this case, I am satisfied that the murder conviction against Miss Isabelle Reed should be overturned. (Grief turns to smile at Mauriri) At the same time I am also satisfied there is enough evidence to warrant charges being filed against the others. (To the guard) Take them away.
Isabelle watches with a smile as they others are led out.
Judge: Miss Reed, you are a free woman, you may go.
Isabelle smiles, then taps the guard in front of her firmly so he will turn and unlock the irons chaining her hands together.
Grief is smiling as he watches.
Isabelle steps down from the docket with a relieved sigh. She looks at the judge.
Isabelle: Do I get compensation?
Judge: I would think that to be free and in Tahiti would be compensation enough.
Isabelle looks resigned.
Judge: As for you, Mr. Grief. You and your partner (Grief stands and nudges Mauriri who also stands.) Although I cannot entirely approve of your methods, I am satisfied you were acting in good faith to address a grievance. So no charges will be filed for what occurred at Makemo.
Grief: (Happily) Thank you, your honor. (He and Mauriri shake hands.) The French government is very grateful for the return of its gold coins.
Grief and Isabelle exchange a look. He smiles, she turns away to leave.
At the doorway to the outside, Isabelle pauses to look, she smiles. Grief comes up behind her. She walks away and he follows.
Grief: How does it feel to be an honest woman?
Isabelle: I can see why I gave you the slip in Rarotonga. I knew you’d insist on giving it back.
Grief: (laughing and following her) I’m very predictable.
Isabelle: Oh, really. (She stops and looks at Grief.) So what do I do now? Now that I’m free, …and broke.
Grief: Go back to Europe. Find yourself a wealthy man to take care of you. (Smiles, she looks away not pleased with the idea.) Wear fine silks. (He fingers the collar of her blouse.) Drink good brandy.
Isabelle: I don’t think so. I’m not cut out for Europe. (Walks away.)
Grief: (follows her) So what will you do?
Isabelle: Maybe the magistrate had a point. I do like it here. (With a gleam in her eye.) I think I’ll set up across the straight in Moorea and do what you do.
Grief: (stunned, apprehensive) Do what I do?
Isabelle: Yeah, a little healthy competition never hurt. (She reaches out and straightens his lapels.) Maybe we can even work together sometime. You should be able to handle that. (She walks away and then turns looking back.) Especially now that I’m an honest woman.
Isabelle laughs as she walks away throwing her hands up in the air. Grief stands puzzled, watching her.
Closing credits
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