The Hurricane Page #3

Eugene, don't be angry

at what I'm going to say.

I love you. I know your heart.

Please stop. My feelings are my own.

I won't have them discussed.

Sixteen years in a cell with rats

for companions! And for what?

For thinking himself

greater than the law.

For breaking jail.

For defying authority.

Man alive! You can't do it!

You know what these people are,

and Terangi's the best of them.

He'll not live in a cell! He'll die!

You're condemning

an innocent man to death...

out of a cold-blooded whim

called honor and duty.

Will you listen to Mehevi? Perhaps

the chief can think of something.

Tell him what you think would be just.

Excellency...

the people in my island

were all happy before.

Now they're very unhappy.

This is not good law or good justice.

You once asked me not to worry

about your soul...

but to concern myself

with more pharmaceutical matters.

Well, I'm back on that worry.

You're not only condemning poor Terangi,

you're condemning yourself.

You're condemning yourself to black

nights and dreams of ugly remorse...

to the betterment of a man who prefers

to be a martinet instead of a human.

You'll see your guilt as a man

written in every face in Manukura.

You'll walk as if you were dead among

them, without a smile or a greeting...

if you lived in these islands

for 100 years.

It'll dry you up!

Itll kill your heart.

I am doing my duty.

I come of a family that has administered

my country's affairs for generations.

I understand how strongly

your humanitarian feelings run.

And yours, Germaine, and yours, Mehevi.

Understand mine then. They run as deep.

There is no Terangi.

There is only a man who has set himself

above and beyond the law.

It is not a question of justice

or injustice to a human being.

It is a question of upholding the law

under which these islands are governed.

I am not asking for anyone's smiles

as my reward.

Take a good look, convict.

You haven't got fat Sam to deal with.

He wouldn't take my advice

and now he's out.

And now I'm in.

And by all that's holy, you're in.

And you're gonna serve every day

of your 16 years.

And if you ever want

that iron off your leg...

you're gonna break, see?

You're gonna open that ugly mouth

of yours and act like a human being!

Get that door open! Hurry up!

Come on, you blundering fool!

Warden.

Did you ask the doctor over tonight

for chess?

Yes. I'm sorry, he was busy.

And Father Paul?

He had a christening.

What's that noise?

I don't know.

There's no festival this time of year.

What are you going to do?

Gonna have a walk, take a look around.

I'll go with you.

Get your wrap.

I will.

Perhaps it's something nice, a native

dance we haven't been told about.

Get your wrap.

Mehevi!

I heard this noise.

I came here to find out what it was.

The people are celebrating, Excellency.

- What are they celebrating?

- Their happiness, Excellency.

- What has given them happiness?

- Terangi.

- What about him?

- He has escaped, Excellency.

When did you hear this?

Who brought the news?

I have had no official report.

600 miles from Tahiti.

The drums have brought the news.

The birds have brought it.

Do you hear that wind?

It came on the wind.

What have you got to say to all this?

Is there any law against dancing

and singing when the heart's happy?

As your governor, I demand

what information you have.

Is he on this island? Have you seen him?

You don't have to see him.

He's a legend.

You can celebrate him like Bastille Day.

He's the soul and symbol

of all these good people.

No cage can hold 'em.

They're the last of the world's

afflicted race of humans...

who believe in freedom.

Look at 'em dance!

There's the island's answer to your law.

How long have you known of his escape?

- The last voyage.

- Why wasn't I informed?

It was an official matter.

I saw no reason to interfere with the

excellent official communication system.

Murder!

Did you know there was a man

murdered by him?

He broke the bars that held him

in a cage he didn't belong.

But murder!

I imagine this puts an end

to the legend of Terangi.

There'll be no more escapes.

He'll be caught

and sent where he belongs.

Sent to the fortress of Cayenne

and stowed away in a dungeon...

until he's dead and forgotten.

Dead and forgotten like any law breaker.

Murder and anarchy

will leave no legend behind.

Father!

- What do you see, lad?

- There.

What is it? A log?

No. There's a man hanging on it.

Feel better?

Yes, Father.

And you came from Tahiti in that canoe?

Yes.

At least 600 miles.

Why did you come?

I want to go home.

They say you killed a man.

I don't know.

I hit him hard.

- Did you mean to kill?

- No! Only to go home.

You're only a few miles away now.

Before you tell, Father,

let me go home for one day.

I have a daughter.

I've never seen her.

And Marama.

Tell me, Father, has she waited for me?

Yes, she's waited.

It's good to be alive...

after being drowned.

How can I be your judge?

You've sinned, but others

have sinned more against you.

You weren't meant for evil.

You were made to do evil.

How can I judge?

You won't tell, Father?

No.

We found you in the sea,

we shall leave you on land...

near to those who love you.

No, you owe me no thanks, my son.

This is between me...

and somebody else.

Father, can I tell Marama that Terangi's

waiting for her on Motu Tonga?

No need to. She's there.

Went there yesterday, fishing.

To Motu Tonga? He doesn't know it.

Why didn't you tell him?

What? And spoil their surprise

tomorrow morning?

You young rascal, I'm ashamed of you.

Mama, I saw a man.

A strange man.

A strange man?

Why, Tita, there are no strange men.

Marama, I've come back.

I've been waiting.

Eight years. Long time.

You are the same.

You?

The same.

Who is that?

She is Tita.

Mine?

Yes.

This is what I dreamed of all the time.

I dreamed I'd see you again,

and my child.

They'll find you and take you away.

They can't take this hour away,

or this day.

They can only take away tomorrow.

I heard.

I have waited as long as I dared.

You must go now.

- They know?

- The island knows, but not de Laage.

Not yet. He will find out.

He will hunt you down.

De Laage?

Why will he hunt me?

What have I done against him?

His heart is black against you.

You must go tonight.

- Where, Father?

- Fenua Ino.

Fenua Ino. The forbidden place.

It is taboo. No one goes there.

No one will look there.

You will be safe there until you die.

Stay hidden till the darkness.

We will load my big canoe.

You will start

when the island is asleep.

Gee, quite a wind coming up.

This is the worst I've seen or heard

for a long time.

Like devils running around.

Can you imagine Paris

in a wind like this?

All the silk hats blowing off,

all the bouquets blowing away.

All the ashcans bouncing

down the avenue.

I'm afraid civilization wouldn't look

very pretty in a high wind.

I've missed you

from our dinner table, Doctor.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes