They flit thorugh a lest dense forest, up a slope, looking carefully around as they go.
RICHARD (V.O.)
The most satisfying aspec, of course, was that Monseigneur Practical, Mr. Timetable, Mr I'll-sort-it-out-with-a-local-fisherman, he turned out to be not so hot in your actual primordial fight or flight situation, your combat zone, where what it takes to stay alive is quick thinking and nerves of steel. I didn't need to say anything. I knew it, and so did he.
They reach the top of the hill. Richard looks back. Down below they can see the dope fields.
They continue
They are travelling downhill now, beside a stream.
They stop to drink from it.
ETIENNE
If we follow this down, it should lead us all the way to the lagoon.
RICHARD
That's right, all the way down.
RICHARD (V. O.)
He was right. All we had to do was follow the water and we'd be in paradise. Only I twasn't going to be that easy.
Water thunders from a clifftop to a pool
Etienne and Francoise are lying flat on a rock, peering over the edge of this high waterfall. It falls in a single giant step.
On either side of the waterfall, cliffs curve away to form a massive circle enclosing the lagoon and an area of land covered in forest.
Etienne crawls back a few paces to where Richard is sitting on a rock. Francoise continues to look over.
ETIENNE
Well, Richard, how are we going to get down?
RICHARD
Why are you asking me?
ETIENNE
Why shouldn't I?
RICHARD
Because you can have an opinion too.
ETIENNE
I have an opinion
RICHARD
OK, so let's hear it.
FRANCOISE
We'll jump.
RICHARD
Don't be stupid. Etienne?
ETIENNE
We'll climb down over there.
RICHARD
There?
ETIENNE
So, what do you think?
FRANCOISE
Listen to me - we can jump.
RICHARD
No, if we try to climb there we'll all be killed. Over there looks better.
ETIENNE
Maybe we could make a rope out of some creepers.
RICHARD
Yes, or maybe we could build a hang glider and a giant staircase.
FRANCOISE
(Shouting)
Please!
They turn to her. She is standing with her back to the drop.
RICHARD
What?
She turns around.
ETIENNE
No!
She jumps.
She falls towards and into the pool.
Richard and Etienne scramble to the edge and peer over.
She surfaces and waves.
Richard and Etienne look at each other.
RICHARD
OK, so we'll jump.
Richard and Etienne jump.
They sink and then surface.
All three are ecstatic and elated, charged with the excitement of the fall and the joy of a journey's end. They exchange hugs and kisses.
They become aware of a single person clapping slowly.
They turn to see Keaty, a young Afro-Caribbean Londoner, standing a few paces away.
KEATY
Congratulation. It took me the best part of an hour to work up the balls to do that. Mind you, I was alone, so you have to make allowances.
They say nothing.
KEATY
(continuing)
I'm Keaty.
RICHARD
Are there many people here?
Keaty raises a hand to stop Richard's question.
KEATY
The Q and A comes later. First of all, I think you'd better meet Sal.
Sal, a woman in her early thirties, is seated on the floor opposite Richard, Francoise, and Etienne.
Sal is studying Daffy's map. She hands it back to Richard.
Gathered around them are about twenty assorted inhabitants of various nationalities, all weathered travelers in their twenties or thirties.
The longhouse is single story building made from wood and bamboo lattice, about thirty meters long. It is divided up by low partitions into single or double sleeping areas, some of which are personalized, others not. There is also an open area where this action takes place.
RICHARD (V.O.)
At first they were more interested in the map than us. It seems that Daffy, the guy who drew it, he was a founding father, he discovered this places and set up the community five years ago. Then about one year ago he starts to get depressed, six months later he leaves and that's the last they hear till we turn up.
RICHARD
He's dead. He cut his wrists open in a hotel room on the Khao San Road. The police didn't know what to do with the body. I guess they'll incinerate him or something.
SAL
Do you tink he gave a mpa like this to anyone else.
RICHARD
I don't know. I don't think so.
SAL
And you, have you told anyone or shown anyone this map?
ETIENNE
No.
FRANCOISE
No.
RICHARD
No.
SAL
Good.
Commence a montage of various scenes of island life involving its citizens and the newcomers.
The longhouse stands at one edge of a clearing, dominating it. Scattered around are several other smaller huts and a few tents. Other locations are the beach, the garden, and the forest.
We see the inhabitants
RICHARD (V.O.)
Now I've got to say that my first impressions were not favorable. Oh God, I thought, it's a tribe of hippies. I thought we'd have to talk about our positive energies a lot, kiss the earth every morning and recycle our waste products by some unspeakable mechanism. Fortunately not. It really was some kind of a paradise. We grew some fruit and some dope. The farmers on the other side left us alone and we didn't trespass on their turf.
Everyone, including Francoise, Etiennne and Richard is sitting around a big wooden table set for dinner. Two people are serving side dishes of vegetables and rice.
RICHARD (V.O.)
Sal was the leader but it wasn't a big deal. There wasn't any ideology or shit like that, it was just a beach resort for people who don't like beach resorts.
One man begins drumming softly on the table with his hands. Another joins in, then another. Soon everyone is tapping out a rhythm, against the table or a bottle or a coconut shell, using their hands or a knife or chopsticks.
This is intercut with the following scene to the point where the newcomers have joined in and it reaches a crescendo as the main dish -a massive complete swordfish, is served.
Various characters are introduced in different locations; at work or at rest; speaking to Richard or (as if to him) to camera.
First the three Swedes.
RICHARD(V.O.)
There was the Swedes: Christo, Sten, and Karl.
CHRISTO
We like fishing
KARL
Fishing. Yeah.
STEN
Yeah.
CHRISTO
And in the winter we like skiing.
KARL
Yeah.
STEN
Yeah.
CHRISTO
But in Thailand - there is no skiing.
RICHARD (V.O.)
Then there were the Yugoslavian girls.
SONJA
We are from Sarajevo.
MIRJANA
Our hearts are full of loss
RICHARD
I'm sorry.
They start laughing at him
SONJA
It's alright.
MIRJANA
We tell everyone that.
RICHARD (V.O.)
There was the Weathergirl.
WEATHERGIRL
I feel a tightness in my pelvis; it's gonna rain.
Heavy rain falls.
RICHARD (V.O.)
And yes, unfortunately, there was a man with a guitar.
GUITARMAN
(singing badly)
"Come as you are, as you were, and as I want you to be…"
RICHARD(V.O.)
The only person I didn't like was Sal's boyfriend, Bugs. He was one of those pricks who just won't shut up about all the great things they've seen and done, all of which are just that little bit better, bigger, more dangerous, more extreme, more remote, more unusual, more thi more that more fucking everything than anything you've ever done.
BUGS
We were in the dessert for three weeks. It's forty-eight in the shade and there's bugger all of that to speak of. We're on one and half liters a day; it's practically suicide. But every morning we'd look east and see the sunrise, and I'd thing, if I die today - it's worth it.
RICHARD (V.O.)
The local diet was pretty good and most evenings we'd smoke some dope. Most afternoons too, as a matter of fact, but I had a personal rule never to smoke before lunch, although as time went on I allowed myself a certain number of - special occasions".
Richard smokes dope.
The drumming reaches its crescendo and the swordfish is laid out.
RICHARD (V.O.)
This became our world. Pretty soon nothing else mattered anymore: family, friend, future achievements - who cares. Back home was just standing behind a counter all day wearing a stupid fucking hat saying, "how can I help you sir, eat in or take away?" All gone, all faded away. I settled in. I found my vocation.
Richard, Etienne, and Francoise are standing in waist-deep water. Each is holding a bamboo spear.
Their hair is longer and their tans deeper than when they arrived.
They are watching Christo who stands a short distance away, spear poised for the kill while he talks through the process.
CHRISTO
OK. Now you stand still. You wait. The fish come. You wait until the fish are still. They trust you. You wait.
His speech is hypnotic, calming. His students take in the view.
CHRISTO
(continuing)
And then-
He suddenly throws the spear into the water. He lifts it out triumphant.
CHRISTO
(continuing)
You kill
A dying fish wriggles on the end of the spear.
CHRISTO
(continuing)
Now, you try.
Richard, Etienne and Francoise wade apart a little and into deeper water. They wait and look.
Their feet and legs are visible. At first nothing is happening, then a few fish swim into view.
Richard throws and misses. The other two throw and miss.
CHRISTO
No, no, no. Too fast. Slowly.
They pause
Richard throws. He hauls his spear from the water.
RICHARD
Yo!
A decent sized fish wriggles on the end.
CHRISTO
You are a natural!
They all congratulate him.
Richard raises the spear aloft.
RICHARD
And I say unto you: I shall provide.
A bamboo spear, loaded with fish like a giant kebab, is carried across the clearing towards the cooking area wehre the chef and his helpers are at work.
The spear is held by richard who smiles as he deposits the fish on the broad wooden chopping surface.
RICHARD (V.O.)
That's right, I had an aptitude, a hidden talent. All these years I'm good for nothing, turns out I'm a full-on old fashioned hunter fucking gatherer.
As Richard enters there are only a few people inside.
He walks to the partitioned area and looks for a packet of cigarettes among his possessions.
Opposite to him, Keaty is lying down, reading the Bible.
KEATY
Ah, the hunter gatherer returns. Satisfied with a good day's killing amongst the fruits of the sea?
RICHARD
That's me: a good day's killing.
KEATY
God has smiled on you.
RICHARD
He has?
KEATY
He has made you sharp of eye and swift of limb. In other words, you catch a lot of fish, you'll be very popular around here.
RICHARD
Great.
KEATY
Don’t forget to thank Him, will you?
RICHARD
I'll try.
KEATY
He'd appreciate that. Anyway, first day's fishing, first day's catch, you lot are just about ready to join the community.
RICHARD
I thought we already had.
KEATY
Not yet baptized, my son, not yet baptized.
A blade burns in the fire.
Keaty lifts the knife from the fire.
The entire community is assembled, watching.
He takes Etienne's wrist.
RICHARD (V.O.)
Every society must have its rituals. They're what binds you together, they tell you that you belong. Ours was simple. Last one to arrive tattoos the next.
KEATY
It hurts. OK?
Etienne nods.
Keaty swiftly cuts the simple symbol just below Etienne's shoulder and smears blue powder into the cut.
Etienne winces.
Keaty finishes and hands the knife to Etienne who heats the blade briefly in the fire before he turns to Francoise. He kisses her arm before he cuts.
Francoise takes the knife.
Richard offers his arm. She grips it tightly. She hesitates.
He looks into her eyes.
She cuts. He grimaces. She works on, holding his arm.
A few candles still burn as people prepare to turn in for the night. Richard is lying in his sleeping area. He is watching Francoise.
She is standing, visible only from the waist up above a partition. She is inspecting her tattoo.
RICHARD (V.O.)
All the excitement of arrival had given me something to think about, but it wasn't enough to displace my major preoccupation. You can go to the most beautiful place in the world, but the sunlight shall not bleach they passion, nor the tide wash away thy desire.
A hand. Etienne's appears from below, beckoning her down.
She takes the hand.
Just for a moment her eyes meet Richard's and then she lowers herself towards the ground, disappearing from view.
The last candle is extinguished.
A game of soccer is in progress, involving most of the population, men and woman.
Etienne is playing well.
A few people, not involved in the game, are scattered along the beach, relaxing. Amongst these are Francoise and Richard, who is watching the game.
RICHARD
He's good.
FRANCOISE
Who?
RICHARD
Etienne. He's good at soccer.
FRANCOISE
Oh, I wouldn't know.
RICHARD
You don't like soccer?
FRANCOISE
No. It's so boring.
RICHARD
Yea, but he is good. Look. Nearly scored.
FRANCOISE
Is that good or bad?
RICHARD
I think it's good. Not that I think there's anything good about being good at soccer. Anyone could do that. I could do it if I wanted to. I just don't want to. That's all.
She sits up.
FRANCOISE
Richard.
RICHARD
Yes?
FRANCOISE
What are you talking about?
RICHARD
I don't know. Just conversation.
FRANCOISE
Do you have a girlfriend?
RICHARD
Here?
FRANCOISE
Anywhere
RICHARD
No. Why?
FRANCOISE
Just conversation.
RICHARD
I'm not jealous, if that's what you're thinking.
FRANCOISE
No, it's what you are thinking. You are far from home. You meet a girl. It's exciting, why not? You are attracted to her - it's in your eyes. Perhaps in hers as well. So you think something might happen; it's easy to believe, it's exciting. But she has a boyfriend so you are jealous. Don't worry. It's natural. Now I have seen enough football. Shall we swim?
Richard is stunned.
RICHARD
So would I be wrong?
FRANCOISE
What?
RICHARD
If I thought something might happen - would I be wrong?
She touches him.
FRANCOISE
Richard, how would I know? I don't know any more than you.
She walks away.
Richard watches her go. He turns to the football.
Etienne scores.
RICHARD (V.O.)
And that's all it takes. Nothing more than a few words and the softest touch and your life is different, won't ever be the same again. Man dies, leaves you the mystery map to the secret island: happens every day. But you get a smile from someone you want: well that's special, that's worth the journey.