Return to Paradise Page #3

to repeat.

But the wardens never came back.

To Mr. Cobbes astonishment, our

island didn't sink beneath the waves.

And when he attempted to scold us

for our new ways...

we smiled at him as if

he were a foolish child.

You're sinning!

Old games, brought to us by

an English missionary...

long before the Cobbetts' time,

were revived.

Watch this, I'm going to kill it!

Musve been that

three-cornered bat.

The ball was crooked.

The sun was in your eyes.

You catch fish

better than you play cricket.

It was hard for Mr. Cobbett to

believe. Here we were, at Church.

Not because we were made to go,

but because we wanted to.

Come again?

The sharks are biting again.

Last night, I dreamt I had

a sewing machine...

and I was making you

beautiful new pants.

I touched your hand to tell you,

but you were asleep.

If I stay in this position,

I won't need new pants.

Have you ever been to the island

north of here? I forget its name.

Tulati. Is a bad place,

Morgan tane...

filled with the spirits of the dead

who ate their enemies.

I hear there's good pearl beds. That

$170 I came with won't last forever.

What are the atolls like

to the west?

Not as pretty as Matareva.

Matareva, Matareva.

Don't you ever get sick of this place?

Never.

Don't you ever take a vacation?

Travel?

Yes. Next month when

the schooner comes...

my aunt will visit her brother

in Rarotonga.

But she will come back.

Everyone comes back.

Get me one of those drinking nuts.

Morgan tane, tell me about America.

Is it good there?

My aunt heard a story once.

They said that in America...

they have little cages which take

people up as high as the clouds.

That isn't true, is it?

Sure is true.

Are there tines of meat, taro

and coconuts for everybody?

Here, no one is hungry.

And the young girls, Morgan tane,

are they beautiful?

Beautiful? Every single one

of them...

with strings of pearls around their

arms all up to their necks.

Morgan tane, I will tell you

something strange.

Before I saw you, all white men

looked the same to me.

Thas what they say

about you people.

Did I look the same to you

as all other girls?

Maybe a little fatter,

maybe a little more...

bowlegged.

Look, Morgan tane.

Not bad. I'd like to see you

walk into church with that on.

Mr. Cobbett would be red

in the face.

No, today I will not

go to church.

Today is for swimming in the lagoon

or lying quietly under the trees...

and tomorrow, I will buy you

a new comb.

You're a good kid, Maeva.

Say, you know that wreck of a boat

out at the point?

How long has it been there?

Three years, maybe four.

Think I'll take a look at it.

It might be worth fixing up.

I wouldn't have to depend

on a boat putting in here...

in case I get tired of this place.

Well, so long, Maeva.

Looks like a pretty big job.

What do you think, kid?

I think I better go back.

Time for church.

OK.

Good evening.

Cobbett, how've you been?

Maeva, I want to speak

to Morgan tane, alone.

Go outside, will you, Maeva?

I haven't seen you since

the big night.

Whas on your mind?

Sit down.

I've hesitated a long time before

I came. I'm sure you understand why.

Stop shadow-boxing. I've nothing

against you, if you leave me alone.

Morgan, I want the truth. How long

do you intend to remain here?

How should I know?

One year? Five years? Ten?

I don't like to be pinned down

by anybody or any place.

Here, have a drink.

What are you running away from?

Sure, I'm running away. Learn a few

simple rules. Keep moving.

Don't get too close to people or

depend on anybody but yourself.

Wrong, there's a higher power.

Why did you come?

Did they stop your lectures?

I came to talk about Maeva.

But is useless.

What about Maeva?

Living this way

is destroying her.

You're mad.

She's never been happier.

Will she remain happy?

Believe me, Morgan...

I've seen how white men behave

in such situations.

They all face

three inevitable tests.

First, do they return the devotion

given them?

Second, when that are seen

by their countrymen...

are they ashamed

to introduce them?

Last and most important, have they

the courage to marry the girl?

Maeva? She doesn't care.

Why not let her decide?

Still running people's lives?

They're my children

in spite of everything.

While I have strength,

I'll try to help them.

You're stubborn.

Let me talk to Maeva.

What the devil for?

You're afraid.

Maeva.

Maeva!

Come in, child. Sit down.

He wants to ask you something.

Maeva, I came here to tell Morgan

he should marry you, in church.

Would that please you?

Speak up,

would you like that?

Yes.

There, Morgan, you see?

Goodnight.

Any decent Christian

wants to marry.

I said goodnight!

Your aunt is going to Rorotonga

when the schooner comes.

You want to go with her?

No.

Whas the idea? I can do it.

Whas the matter?

We have a tapu.

If the father of a baby pierces

the eye of a coconut...

the baby will be born blind.

Want to go blind,

sewing in this light?

I'm making new pants for you.

More beautiful than store pants.

See? Like in this book.

I'll wear them on my yacht.

Mr. Cobbes cook makes his pants

on a sewing machine.

Maeva, I'm not interested

in Mr. Cobbes pants.

Would you like to play

the pinocle game you taught me?

Sure. Nothing like two-handed

pinocle on a rainy day.

Tomorrow the sky will be blue.

Matareva, the land of sunshine.

The jewel of the South Seas.

Morgan tane, it rains

on other islands too.

How do you know?

You've never been off this swamp.

I know the sun

will come out soon...

we will fix the roof

and begin work on the house.

Work on the house?

Soon we will be needing a bigger

house, another room to...

Can't you hold your cards?

I will try.

I'm sorry, baby,

I'd better go out again.

Might as well get good

and wet this time.

Will you come back

for the evening meal?

Better not wait for me.

Not bad looking, is she?

She's very pretty.

One of these trips I'll come back

with a pearl as big as a coconut...

and you'll be the richest woman

in Matareva.

Yes, Morgan tane.

The tide's going out

I'd better get started.

Nothing must happen to you.

Stop worrying.

The season of hurricanes is coming.

Sharks and evil spirits at night.

They won't do much damage.

I'll be back in two weeks.

It will seem like two years.

Morgan tane, the tide.

All right, Maeva,

you'd better get off.

May you be watched over.

Take care, Morgan tane!

Maeva, go back!

Go back, Maeva!

How is Maeva?

Is there a doctor, someone who can

help? Maybe on Savaii?

There is a man who worked in a

hospital there. I sent a canoe.

How long will it take?

Two days, maybe three.

Life to your new daughter,

Morgan tane.

Morgan tane, I was dreaming

you had gone away.

Take it easy, I'm right here.

I wanted to give you a boy,

but the girl is pretty.

Her skin is light, like yours.

What do you want?

I came to help, if I can.

Go on, tell me she deserves it.

She's being punished.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes