Isle of the Dead Page #9

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THEA:

I mean, does one love a father

because he is good and kind -—or

just because he is one's father?

CATHY:

(out of her depth)

Why, I love my father because -

because I do. Of course, he's nice

to me.

Cathy leans over toward her.

CATHY:

Thea -- you're hiding something.

Why do you suddenly speak of your

father? You told me once you had

never seen him -- didn't know him --

THEA:

I do not know him, but I have seen

him.

CATHY:

What is it -- what are you talking

about?

THEA:

You have forgotten my last name?

Cathy thinks a moment, then smiles.

CATHY:

I have forgotten it, dear.

THEA:

My last name is Pherides.

Cathy looks at her in astonishment.

INT. THE GENERAL'S ROOM - DAY

The General is seated on the edge of his cot still in his

shirt sleeves. He is pulling on his boots. Oliver has been

washing at the little wash stand and is drying his face with

a small towel. Oliver begins to whistle merrily as he throws

the towel down. The General looks at him.

GENERAL:

You are a happy man Oliver. You

have but one world to live in —-

the world of today. I have two

worlds. I have that old dark world

of peasant ignorance and

superstition in which I was brought

up and a new world which the army

gave me —— a world of mathematics,

gun ranges,logistics, tactics,

strategy.

OLIVER:

(grinning)

It doesn't seem to bother you

much, General.

GENERAL:

I will be glad to leave this

island. It has too much of

that old dark world about it.

I will be glad to leave it

and that girl ——

OLIVER:

Thea?

The General nods.

GENERAL:

There is something evil about

her.

OLIVER:

Oh, now —— now look here ——

GENERAL:

(interrupting)

I know all you are going to say —-I

have been saying it to myself, but

the thought will not leave my mind.

She resembles my wife -—there is

something about her ——the way she

moves —— the way she turns her

head.

OLIVER:

But that should make you like her.

The General shakes his head/

GENERAL:

It makes me fear her.

OLIVER:

(shrugging)

I can't understand that.

GENERAL:

It is not necessary to understand.

We are leaving and I am thankful.

EXT. THE RUINS - DAY

CLOSE SHOT - Thea and. Cathy. They are talking earnestly.

CATHY:

Thea, your choice is a very simple

one. Either you want to claim him

as your father, or you do not.

THEA:

But one must love a father.

CATHY:

The General — you don't even

know him.

There is a little silence while Thea looks toward the ground

at her feet.

CATHY:

Come, Thea, if you're going to

claim him as your father you've got

to make up your mind. They'll be

leaving any minute.

THEA:

I don't know. As a child. I longed

for a father and now —- I don't

know ——

Thea is still hesitant; still trying to puzzle it out.

CATHY:

Do you like what you've seen, of

him'?

Thea shakes her head.

THEA:

I felt he did not like me.

CATHY:

That should decide it or you --

THEA:

I will let him go. He is dead to me

as he is to all my mother's people.

I turn my hand against him.

INT THE GENERAL'S ROOM - DAY

Oliver and the General are ready to depart. Oliver takes a

last look around the room to see that they have left nothing.

The General stands by the door buckling on his belt.

OLIVER:

Well, at any rate, I would like

to say goodbye to the girl.

GENERAL:

We have no time for that.

Oliver shrugs.

OLIVER:

Ready?

The General nods and straightens his coat under his belt.

Oliver throws open the door and they start out.

INT. MAIN ROOM - DAY

The CAMERA is set up in the doorway of the bedroom TO SHOOT

PAST Oliver and the General as they go out a Albrecht is

coming down the stairs. He is hurrying and is very excited.

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