Isle of the Dead Page #5

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GENERAL:

You are still a fool.

Ida laughs and Albrecht picks up the amphora and starts to

pour another glass of wine for the General.

GENERAL:

(to Albrecht)

You know the Greek legends, you

drink the Greek wine, but you are

not a Greek.

Albrecht is carrying the wine jug and glasses to a small

table near the brazier.

ALBRECHT:

I am, Greek, sir, by affection.

Albrecht puts down the jug and the glasses and turns tothe

General.

ALBRECHT:

But the gods played a little trick

on me. I was born in Switzerland.

OLIVER:

(pointing to an antique

statue)

You collect these to sell, abroad?

Albrecht, starting to pour from the wine jug, shakes his

head.

ALBRECHT:

(shaking his head)

No more. One day I stood in the

Royal Museum at Munich and watched

the fat burghers and their

brood—mare wives staring and poking

at my beautiful trophies. Now I am

content just to live —— here in the

heart of a vanished world.

JACKS:

(butting in without moving

from his place)

I wish it'd vanish, I do.

I'd give every bloomin' statue in

the place for one whiff of fish 'n'

chips —- for one peek at

Piccadilly.

ALBRECHT:

Each to his taste.

Jacks gets up, lurching and steadying himself on the table.

JACKS:

I'm going back, first boat to

England. I'm going back and hear

the sound of Bow Bells.

(gets up and starts to the

stairs; complaining as he

walks)

I'm not well. I'm not well.

Something's wrong with me

——something hurts.

ST. AUBYN

(disdainfully)

Odd way to describe plain

drunkenness.

Jacks pays no attention to him, but goes on up the stairs,

the rest watching. The stairs are lit in such a way that the

upper portion is in complete darkness, shadowed by the

landing above. As Jacks disappears into this darkness, there

is a sound of a heavy fall, a muttered curse. They all turn

to face the staircase and Oliver and the General get to their

feet. Albrecht picks up a lychnos and crosses quickly to the

stairs, followed by St. Aubyn. As he holds the lamp aloft,

the General comes to stand beside him.

MED. SHOT — past Albrecht, St. Aubyn and the General at the

foot of the stairs, to the upper portion of the stairs, now

lit by Albrecht's lamp. Jacks lies sprawled across the top

step. Bending over him is a girl in Greek native costume, the

gold coins of her headdress trembling at her ears, as if she

had been arrested in startled movement. The girl, Thea,

slowly lifts her head to face the people below her. As she

does so, the General makes a sudden move forward: a move of

recognition and astonishment —— then restrains himself and

stand rigidly still.

MED. SHOT — Thea.

THEA:

(simply)

He fell.

As if words had released them, Albrecht and. St. Aubyn start

up the stairs to Jacks.

ALBRECHT:

(a little breathless)

That's a strong wine —— poor

fellow, I should have warned him.

As they reach Jacks, who is mumbling and trying to get to his

feet, Thea starts down the stairs. It is then that she sees

the General, who still stands rigid, staring up at her as if

she were an apparition. She hesitates a moment, a step or two

above the bottom of the stairs, held there by the General's

fixed gaze. Behind her, Albrecht and Ida have gotten Jacks to

his feet. The man is muttering incoherently.

ALBRECHT:

There -- you're all right, now

——we have you ——

IDA:

(disgustedly)

Never mind. It'll get him to his

room.

Ida and Jacks go on upstairs and Albrecht holds the lantern

to give them light. The General stares at Thea.

CLOSE SHOT — Oliver. He is staring off in the direction of

the staircase, his face revealing pleasure in seeing this

beautiful Greek girl.

ANOTHER ANGLE — Thea and the General. Thea is looking back

toward Jacks. The General is studying her. Suddenly, she

turns toward him to go down the stairs. For a moment she

faces him full face. He looks at her in amazement greatly

agitated.

CLOSE SHOT - The General looking at Thea. His face is

strained and he seems to have suffered from a shock.

MED. FULL SHOT - The General watching Thea. Albrecht coming

down the stairs looks at him.

ALBRECHT:

My dear sir, you look completely

exhausted.

The General attempts to pull himself together.

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