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Breakers of Heavens - GFM
Breakers of Heavens - GFM
Breakers of Heavens - GFM
Screenplay by
Based on
"Mackintosh"
By W. Somerset Maugham
FADE IN:
Huge palm trees uprooted from the ground, seaweed and scraps
of wood from a storm make everything look untidy. Tropical
birds screeching in the darkness.
VOICE (V.O.)
(In Samoan language)
“Flesh is sin”. That’s how the
breakers of heavens talk.
VOICE (V.O.)
They are always careful to cover
their flesh the best possible way.
VOICE (V.O.)
They wrap all their bodies in tick
mats.
VOICE (V.O.)
All the parts are held together by
shells and ropes.
VOICE (V.O.)
Around the feet two mats are tied.
A soft one wrapping them up...
VOICE (V.O.)
...and then a hard one on top. A
kind of canoe with high sides.
VOICE (V.O.)
These foot-ships are fastened
around the ankles with ropes and
hooks, to contain the feet like in
snail house.
VOICE (V.O.)
With them they separate their feet
from the ground, that they feel
sick of.
VOICE (V.O.)
Because inside them the feet look
dead and putrid they hide their
shame with a liquid that makes them
shine.
VOICE (V.O.)
Their mats are bound so tightly
that neither the human eye nor rays
of the sun can penetrate them.
VOICE (V.O.)
They becomes pale white, like
flowers that grow in the deep wood.
Mackintosh grabs his GUN, his NOTEBOOK and exits the room.
Sung sits on the stairs close to the table and starts eating
his own Chinese meal in silence.
VOICE (V.O.)
Imagine a mat of tapa with writings
on all sides.
VOICE (V.O.)
Inside those their wisdom is
hidden. Every morning they have to
sink their heads into it, to make
sure they will think well.
MACKINTOSH
The newest is from three weeks ago.
Shall we still call them
newspapers?...
MACKINTOSH
Talofa. (Hello in Samoan)
VOICE (V.O.)
Everyone of them does things. It is
a profession to have thoughts and
to look at the stars but more often
they do nothing else but write one
paper after the other.
MACKINTOSH
(Reading, perplexed)
“Be cause of the road won’t cost
that much”? - What?...
MACKINTOSH (CONT’D)
(Writing and whispering)
The road’s costs will not exceed
our estimated budget...
WALKER
You ought to have been up working
before dawn like me, lazy beggar.
WALKER (CONT’D)
There was an accident down the
road. You didn’t hear?
MACKINTOSH
Where did it happen?
WALKER
Forget it. You wouldn’t have been
of any help.
The Samoans have composed a line behind him. They wait for
his permission to come over. Walker doesn’t mind about them.
6.
WALKER (CONT’D)
By heaven, I've got a thirst.
WALKER (CONT’D)
“Ethnography of the Samoan people”,
“Coming of age in Samoa”... What in
the hell have you brought all this
muck for?!
MACKINTOSH
I brought them because I want to
read them.
WALKER
When you said you'd got a lot of
books coming up I thought there'd
be something for me to read.
Haven't you got any detective
stories?
MACKINTOSH
(icily)
Detective stories don't interest
me.
WALKER
That’s why you are a damned fool.
Walker takes out a tiny NAIL CLIPPER from a pocket and starts
to cut his nails, letting them fall in front of Mackintosh’s
desk.
WALKER (CONT’D)
You don’t need that rubbish to
understand this people Mackintosh.
They are children. As children must
be treated.
7.
WALKER (CONT’D)
What the hell you’re always
scribbling about?
MACKINTOSH
I am correcting your “letter” for
the government. It’s full of
errors.
WALKER
I don’t care about grammar. That's
what I want to say and that's how I
want to say it!
MACKINTOSH
(whispering)
I remind you that I am not your
inferior officer and I do not
accept to be treated as such.
WALKER
Can’t hear you.
MACKINTOSH
I was sent here to help you, to...
WALKER
Fudge, fudge, Mackintosh. I've run
this island for twenty years
without red tape and I don't need a
clerk now.
MACKINTOSH
Without “red tape” we’ll never
receive the funds you want.
WALKER
Jolly good. Send it in by tomorrow.
Behind Walker there is ULI, 80, the first of the line. He has
a gentle old face, only a lava-lava around his hips, his
tattooed skin is wrinkled like a wine-skin.
8.
WALKER (CONT’D)
What have you come for Uli?
ULI
(in Samoan)
I... I can’t eat without vomiting.
WALKER
(In Samoan)
Go to the missionaries then. You
know that I only cure children.
ULI
I have been to the missionaries.
They do me no good...
WALKER
Then go home and prepare yourself
to die.
WALKER (CONT’D)
Have you lived so long and still
want to go on living? You're a
fool.
YOUNG MOTHER
Please! My baby is sick!
WALKER
Bring it here.
WALKER (CONT’D)
How long he had this for?
YOUNG MOTHER
Three days.
9.
WALKER
Bring me some calomel pills.
WALKER (CONT’D)
Mackintosh! This baby is dying, I
said bring me the calomel pills!
MACKINTOSH
Calomel, calomel, calomel...
Walker grabs the baby from his legs and reverses him, holding
him like a chicken in the air. Everybody stares at the baby
screaming up side down.
MACKINTOSH
Calomel.
Walker turns in the center of the room, showing the baby like
a magician shows the tools of his magic. His eyes twinkle.
His brutal fingers force one PILL into the baby’s mouth. He
attends for the effect, looking at his WATCH. The baby soon
starts to defecate as Walker holds him in the air.
WALKER
Good booy! Good booy! Ahahah!
The baby looks much better now. Walker hands him back to the
young mother.
WALKER (CONT’D)
Take the child away and keep it
warm.
10.
A beat.
Tomorrow he’ll be dead or better.
The mother wraps the baby in a lava-lava and takes him away.
Walker cleans his hands and wears his military HAT, ready to
leave. The hat’s CORD disappears in his three fat chins.
WALKER (CONT’D)
Wonderful stuff calomel. I've saved
more lives with it than all the
hospital doctors in Apia put
together!
WALKER (CONT’D)
Time is up for today people.
WALKER (CONT’D)
You look pale Mackintosh.
A beat.
WALKER (CONT’D)
Gotta get some sun before you die.
CUT TO:
The sound and the speed of horses HOOFS beating the road is
threatening.
CUT TO:
WALKER
By George, it’s like the garden of
Eden.
WALKER (CONT’D)
I personally designed this entire
road. See how it makes that bend
over there?
WALKER (CONT’D)
I made those fools root up ten
trees for that single turn.
WALKER (CONT’D)
Now I want to pass the road over
those mountains and complete the
circle around the island. We’ll
bring the coconuts to the port in a
fifth of the time.
MACKINTOSH
What are all these plantations for?
12.
WALKER
Everything is made with dried
coconut: oil, butter, livestock
feed. Even the soap you used this
morning to shave...
Walker and Mackintosh has left the horses and are looking at
the mountains from a little hill. We see Walker’s magnified
EYE looking inside his monocle.
WALKER
See that peak? It looks like a
woman’s face doesn’t it?
WALKER (CONT’D)
We’re going to ride that woman,
Mackintosh.
WALKER (CONT’D)
It’ll be the most beautiful sight
on the island. The most remote
track in the whole bloody Empire.
WALKER (CONT’D)
We’ll follow that river to that
gorge, and then turn to get to the
crest over there.
MACKINTOSH
Why not going directly to the crest
instead?
WALKER
Why?! It will just be more
enjoyable to ride.
MACKINTOSH
The natives will have to work three
times harder.
WALKER
I don’t give a damn. They will
thank me when it’s finished.
WALKER (CONT’D)
The government must accept your
proposal Mackintosh. I want to
start right when the dry season
begins.
People get out of the huts as Silei jumps down the horse.
NOA
Silei!
SILEI
I got a bigger brother now!
NOA
Where did you buy this?!
SILEI
Apia.
NOA
And what about these?
SILEI
Everybody wears them in town.
Silei spots his mother, FANUA, 50. He runs to her, they hug.
Fanua spots Silei’s long haircut and touches it.
FANUA
You’d better cut it before your
father sees you.
SILEI
Good evening father.
TANGATU
Welcome back son. Now take off
those clothes and put your lava-
lava on.
SILEI
I’d like to keep them on.
A beat.
TANGATU
And I’d like you to take them off.
You don’t need them here.
SILEI
I am going back to town soon...
TANGATU
Come on son, tell us what you saw.
WALKER
The company knows Private Queen!
His weakness is slings made of gin!
But when tales he’s unloading of
shrapnel exploding, he’ll p’raps
put the aspirate in!
WALKER (CONT’D)
He’s a cheerful lad! His morals
anything but bad! His truthful ways
will always please! And if a shot
he squeeze! Into your ribs just
crack a wheeze!
WALKER (CONT’D)
That baby today was the sort of
case I like. The one that all the
other doctors have deemed hopeless.
WALKER (CONT’D)
When the doctors say they can't
cure you, I say to them, come to
me! Have I ever told you about the
fellow who had that cancer?
MACKINTOSH
Frequently...
WALKER
I got him in three months!
MACKINTOSH
You've never told us about the
people you haven't cured.
WALKER
I can’t cure women! Once a Samoan
complained that his wife ran away.
Lucky dog - I said - Most men wish
their wives would!
MACKINTOSH
Was that a joke?
WALKER
Scots wha hae Mackintosh! There's
only one way to make a Scotchman
see a joke and that's by surgical
operation!
SILEI
I have been into their huts before.
But this one was completely dark. I
don’t know why but all these weird
seats were facing the same
direction in front of a wall.
NOA
A wall?...
17.
SILEI
They were all sitting in front of
it, in the darkness, waiting for
something...
SILEI (CONT’D)
But then a beam of light hits the
wall. And then, into this light a
lot of Papalagi appear, dressed
like Papalagi. And they walk, they
talk, they jump around!
TANGATU (V.O.)
The Papalagi are magicians. They
put a piece of glass in front of
you and catch your image in it. If
you try to catch yourself you
realize you are made of light.
TANGATU (V.O.)
It’s like the reflection of the
moon in the lagoon. It is the moon
but it is not, at the same time.
YOUNG BROTHER
I saw it many times. I have one of
them with me...
SILEI
You haven’t got it. This time the
picture moved...
SILEI (V.O.)
Thousands and thousands of them
lives in the same place, in
thousands of gigantic huts.
The images are now from some WWI trench footage. A crowd of
soldiers advance on the battlefield, some of them wearing GAS
MASKS, into the tick fog.
SILEI (V.O.)
Because of so many of them living
together, thousands and thousands
kill each others.
MACKINTOSH (V.O.)
(writing)
...with my warranty that the
project will not exceed the
estimated construction costs. In
faith, H.S. Walker. God Save the
King.
TANGATU
Good night son.
SILEI
Good night father.
Tangatu and the older people stand up and leave Silei and his
brothers in the hut. When Tangatu is finally out of earshot:
SILEI (CONT’D)
(Whispering)
I saw the Papalagi today.
NOA
Where?
SILEI
Not far from here.
OTHER BROTHER 1
Last time they came was to build
the road.
SILEI
Yes, I guess they want to follow
up. And this time we will ask them
more.
NOA
What do you mean?
SILEI
I saw villages getting paid up to
100 pounds in Apia. If he doesn’t
pay we won’t work.
OTHER BROTHER 1
Brother, did you go nuts in town?
SILEI
I did not. Imagine how many things
we can buy.
NOA
100 pounds... something like 5000
cans of salmon.
OTHER BROTHER 1
Bleah, how can you like that shit?
How about 100 bottles of Whisky
instead?
OTHER BROTHER
It costs double for us.
20.
OTHER BROTHER 1
Well, it’s still a lot of
alcohol...
SILEI
How do you think they did in town?
They were all there, in front of
the Papalagi. They stood up against
them and asked for more.
SILEI (CONT’D)
They’re all flown in their
ridiculous mats. They pass by, they
look at you. They think they’re
superior but the truth is that they
are damn afraid. They know we’d eat
them alive if it wasn’t for their
weapons. They can just sit and
drink, looking at our women. I hate
when they do it.
BROTHER 1
Don’t suffer too much, we’ll never
get rid of them...
SILEI
The islands are rising brother.
It’s called the “Mau”, the movement
for independence.
His eyes are wide open, his brown cheeks are lit by the
flames. Noa is frightened but excited.
SILEI (CONT’D)
When they come, follow me. If we
stand together they must listen.
FADE OUT.
JERVIS
Good morning Walker.
WALKER
How are you Jervis...
JERVIS
Thank God my family and I are good.
This is my daughter Therese. She’s
twenty-one now, right Therese?
TANGATU (V.O.)
Flesh is sin, I said.
TANGATU (V.O.)
Because the bodies of the women are
always covered up, inside the men
there is the profound wish to see
their flesh.
TANGATU (V.O.)
They have that on their minds day
and night. They talk about the
female body in a way you would
think such a beautiful and natural
thing is just a sin and must be
hidden in the darkness.
JERVIS
So how is the new Cpt. Mackintosh?
WALKER
He's a good dog. And he loves his
master.
22.
WALKER (CONT’D)
He'll be all right when I've licked
him into shape.
JERVIS
Where is he?
WALKER
He’s always in his room, reading, I
don’t know... Mackintosh!
WALKER (CONT’D)
Here you are lazy beggar. Jervis
wants to show you his daughter.
JERVIS
Come on Therese...
MACKINTOSH
Captain Mackintosh, at your
service.
WALKER
Have you cleaned your horse
Mackintosh?
MACKINTOSH
Already.
WALKER
What are you waiting for then?
WALKER
Flog that bloody horse Mackintosh!
You don’t hurt it!
JERVIS
So... how do you like him?
JERVIS (CONT’D)
I told you he wasn’t bad.
THERESE
You wanted me to come only for this
reason?
JERVIS
(lying)
Not at all.
JERVIS (CONT’D)
Being a good Christian Therese...
is to build an honored family.
THERESE
Oh please...
JERVIS
It since you were born that we
thought about this moment... Your
mother and I were talking about it
very often.
JERVIS (CONT’D)
Walker was too old. But now some
new fresh air has come... You have
to be ready Therese.
24.
JERVIS (CONT’D)
Therese?... Therese!?...
WALKER
Stunning chick, Jervis’s. I saw how
she was looking at you. If I were
you I’d try her right away.
WALKER (CONT’D)
They can be so dirty, you just ask
them... I have at least a dozen
sons scattered on these islands.
WALKER (CONT’D)
Fuck son, fuck as much as you can.
WALKER
Show me Santa Claus! Show me what
your damn pen can do!
WALKER (CONT’D)
Quick Mackintosh, what does it say?
MACKINTOSH
Permission denied.
25.
WALKER
What?!
MACKINTOSH
There aren’t enough funds at the
moment.
WALKER
Bullshit. They have the money, they
just keep it all for themselves.
MACKINTOSH
The Commission will gather again to
decide.
WALKER
When?
MACKINTOSH
It doesn’t say.
WALKER
You are just a drip Mackintosh, you
can’t even write a damn letter. Why
did they send you to me?
LETTER
“Your duties will be entirely
substituted by Cpt. Mackintosh from
next Fall.”
WALKER
Those ignorant bureaucrats, they
can just throw money away, for
things these people don’t need.
WALKER (CONT’D)
The money will come...
(BEAT)
We’ll start to build the road in
the meanwhile.
MACKINTOSH
We can’t begin without permission.
WALKER
Damn the permission. Tomorrow I
talk to the village.
26.
MACKINTOSH
How we are going to pay them?
WALKER
You better think on which side you
are on, son. I’m not leaving this
island until this road is finished.
Then I can die or they can fire me,
I don't care.
The clouds above the island get prepared for God’s daily
paintings. The heavens hold all the possibilities of red.
VOICE (V.O.)
The Breakers of Heavens have no
time. Whenever they show up they
stir up disasters, because they
have lost their time. Being
possessed is a terrible disease
that no medicine man can cure.
SILEI
They are here.
Walker’s horse enters the village, people get out of his way.
He stops in front of Tangatu and dismounts off of his horse.
WALKER
Talofa lava Tangatu.
TANGATU
Talofa.
They shake hands firmly. It seems they know each others from
a long time. Mackintosh has arrived too. He spots Silei
amongst the coconuts. An icy look from him.
TANGATU (CONT’D)
Silei, get the kava ready.
FANUA
Come on, let us dress you.
27.
WALKER
(to Mackintosh)
Follow me.
WALKER
(whispering)
Never show them the bottom of your
feet.
Silei enters the hut. He’s now wearing the gorgeous Samoan
customary HAT. It’s very high, made of shells, mirrors and
dyed hair.
TANGATU
Silei, handle him the root.
WALKER
Tangatu, the kava should be
prepared by a virgin...
TANGATU
My daughters are all out today.
It doesn’t seem so, since some your girls are sitting behind
him. Walker notices this. Silei hands Walker the kava ROOT.
Walker examines it and nods back to him.
TANGATU (CONT’D)
Dear Papalagi...
And the Samoans have never seen a Papalagi so thin. They look
at his uniform full of gadgets, his GUN.
The women take out some PORK wrapped up into Taro leaves and
cooked inside a pile of smoky rocks, the Samoan way.
Walker rudely binges with bare hands on the pork and the
Palusami, a fatty pie made with coconut milk. He offers some
to Mackintosh.
WALKER
Eat!
TANGATU
.... and everything that is mine
belongs to you.
WALKER
Manuia. (Health to the company)
He drinks and throws the rest away, following the custom. Now
it’s Mackintosh’s turn. He shyly repeats the customary word.
MACKINTOSH
Manuia. (Health to the company)
WALKER
Map.
WALKER (CONT’D)
All right people, tomorrow we will
start the last section of the road
around the island.
The map clearly shows two DEAD ENDS of the road. One end is
right where Tangatu’s village is. The other end is beyond the
mountains.
WALKER (CONT’D)
I want to bring it from here to
here by the end of the year.
WALKER (CONT’D)
Since it will be much faster for
you to reach the port and sell your
nuts the government will only give
you half of the cost to build it.
WALKER (CONT’D)
It’s a 40 pound job. I’ll give you
20 when the work is finished.
SILEI
(murmuring)
20 pounds is ridiculous.
WALKER
What did he say?...
TANGATU
Silei, don’t interrupt the guest.
WALKER
Let him talk.
SILEI
For this job people get paid 100
pounds in Apia.
WALKER
Give me a break kid.
TANGATU
I must apologize for...
WALKER
I promise you a feast when the road
is finished and...
30.
SILEI
Just pay us 100 pounds and we will
work.
WALKER
I am not going to waste my time
with a pack of fools.
WALKER (CONT’D)
This is a village without a chief.
Let’s go.
WALKER
You know what I have offered. If
you do not start in a day you’ll
regret it.
TANGATU
Who told you to bargain with him?!
SILEI
It’s the truth father.
TANGATU
Don’t interrupt when I am talking.
SILEI
In town people get paid much more.
TANGATU
Never joke with the Papalagi. Never
do it again.
Silei, Noa and the young guys are thoughtful around the fire.
31.
NOA
You can’t go against the father.
You have disrespected him.
SILEI
I am not going against the father.
I am going against the Papalagi.
OTHER BROTHER 1
What the hell are you planning?
SILEI
No Samoan bends the neck to the
Papalagi. When he comes back just
stay calm, continue your business,
don’t say a word.
NOA
What do you mean?
SILEI
I mean to not move a single finger.
She moves to the telescope next to the desk. A MAP with all
the constellations lies beneath it. She looks through it. We
see the tip of the mountains, the shiny crests on the sea.
SILEI
As I said.
When Walker reaches the hut all the young brothers remain
down in the grass, continuing their business.
WALKER
You bloody lazy beggars! Stand up!
Noa grows pale and uneasy, he’s about to stand up. Silei
grabs his arm, keeping him on the ground.
WALKER (CONT’D)
Bloody mother f...
WALKER (CONT’D)
Tangatu! Your children don’t seem
to have grown up yet, shame on you!
He opens them again. Maea has still the stone in his hand. He
never threw it. He starts laughing madly.
TANGATU
You are mad!
SILEI
YOU are mad! It’s since I was born
that he exploit us, why do you
never react to him?!
TANGATU
You are going to do what I want you
to do.
SILEI
I’ll never build that road, father.
Silei slams Noa away and rides off in anger. They all watch
him riding out of the village.
NOA
Silei!
Maea runs into the grass fields to spread the news, excited.
MAEA
Silei has challenged the Papalagi!
Silei has challenged the Papalagi!
The multiple layers of the sunset clash on the ocean. The red
sky suddenly turns into...
TANGATU (V.O.)
The Papalagi catch the lighting
from the sky and spit it out again
at night, in thousands of small
stars.
TANGATU (V.O.)
It would be a small thing for the
Papalagi to bathe our island in
light at night time, so it wouldn’t
be much darker than the day.
WALKER
Unfurl the flag of England, and
fling it to the breeze! Beloved by
British hearts at home, and those
beyond the seas!
WALKER (CONT’D)
God guard the flag of England, the
Empire and the throne! At freshing
dawn it flies, anew beneath the
skies! Vow we once more, should
need arise, to strike for it and
die!
WALKER (CONT’D)
WHO’S THAT?!!
Walker races after the sound. His fat body SMASHES the wild
vegetation.
WALKER (CONT’D)
I said who’s that!?!
WALKER
Stop bloody bastard!
WALKER
One of those devils has thrown
something at me! Bring the lantern!
CUT TO:
WALKER
There! No! There!
SUNG
Here!
The oil lamps on the table are lighting the large room.
Walker and Mackintosh are playing cards.
MACKINTOSH
We need more security from Apia.
WALKER
I don’t need any police. I know how
to make them pay for this.
WALKER (CONT’D)
They insisted on building a jail
for me. What do I need it for? If
they do wrong I know how to deal
with them, ignorant buffoons.
MACKINTOSH
Twenty pounds is nothing for the
work you want them to do.
WALKER
They should be thankful I give them
anything. They have always lived
without money. They’d only spend it
on all kind of muck they don’t
need.
MACKINTOSH
They won’t build the road.
WALKER
You know what we’ll do then?
MACKINTOSH
I haven’t the foggiest.
WALKER
If they don’t want to build it
someone else will.
Tangatu and other old men are sitting outside the hut in a
circle, chatting. They turn. Walker’s horse rushes into the
village.
WALKER
Talofa Tangatu.
WALKER (CONT’D)
Someone forgot this in a tree last
night.
WALKER (CONT’D)
I thought to bring it back to you!
TANGATU
Noa! Take his horse to town and
sell it!
TANGATU (CONT’D)
I said go!
Noa brings the horse away. Silei covers himself with a lava-
lava, staring at Noa with despise.
38.
NOA
Someone is coming!
SILEI
Talofa.
AVEOLELA
Talofa.
SILEI
Where is your head man?
AVEOLELA
I am the head man. My father died
last year.
SILEI
Why are your people passing through
here?
AVEOLELA
We made a bargain with the
Papalagi.
SILEI
You mean to build the road?
How much is he giving you?
AVEOLELA
Twenty pounds.
SILEI
Wait, where are your people going
to stay?!
SILEI (CONT’D)
Where are they going to stay
father?
39.
Aveolela and his men are drinking the kava inside the hut.
Tangatu is overlooking them, the other old men around him.
TANGATU
A headman can’t refuse shelter to
people passing from his own land.
TANGATU (CONT’D)
We won’t miss our duties. Prepare
the huts for the guests.
SILEI
We can’t keep them all father,
there is not enough space.
TANGATU
You and your brothers will make
space and serve the guests until
the road is finished.
The village slowly wakes up. Fires are lit. Aveolela’s men
chat while the women prepare breakfast for them: taro and
bananas just hot from the stone oven.
NOA
(to Silei)
We have to get the water.
AVEOLELA
Something wrong?
Aveolela’s men are at work. Their dark fit arms swing the
long Machete blades back and forward in the high grass.
WALKER
Tell me I am genius Mackintosh!
WALKER (CONT’D)
Tell me! How genius am I?!
MACKINTOSH
You forced the village to host the
workers.
WALKER
It’s their bloody hospitality rule,
not mine...
MACKINTOSH
We can’t use their millenary
customs against them.
WALKER
When I want your opinion I’ll ask
for it.
MACKINTOSH
That’s what you have asked for...
WALKER
Bleah shut up with this bullshit
Mackintosh. Look! How gorgeous!
AVEOLELA
A little bit more.
Silei pours some more up to the brim. Aveolela let the shells
fall on the ground.
AVEOLELA (CONT’D)
Now it’s too much kid. Bring me
another shell.
The other workers laugh. It seems the more Silei gets angry
the more they exploit him.
Maea, who was looking at the scene, runs into the high grass
field to spread the news, laughing:
MAEA
Silei is now serving the Papalagi
like a servant! Silei is now
serving the Papalagi like a
servant!
His men are working on the road, singing. They joke, they
laugh. They seem to enjoy the work too much.
TANGATU (V.O.)
They have a round thing inside
their loincloths, a Machine that
tells the time.
TANGATU (V.O.)
They divide every day by cutting it
up into small pieces, the way we
cut up the coconut with the
Machete.
TANGATU (V.O.)
The Papalagi try to make time as
fat as they can.
WALKER
It’s only eleven. One hour more
before break.
SILEI
(to Noa)
They should eat now. What’s wrong?
Maea and other kids are fishing in the azure water around
some black lava rocks. Some of them wear handmade bamboo
GOGGLES.
He captures a big EEL with bare hands and forces it into his
lava-lava.
She comes out of the water and reaches her dress. She puts it
back on. She reminds us a Gaugain’s painting.
THERESE
Silei!
THERESE (CONT’D)
Come! Sit here!
THERESE (CONT’D)
How are you?
SILEI
I haven’t seen you for ages.
43.
THERESE
I remember when we were playing
together on this same beach.
SILEI
Once I made this to save you from
those rocks.
THERESE
I remember.
THERESE (CONT’D)
How was town?
SILEI
Big... the town was big.
SILEI (CONT’D)
And you, where do you leave now?
THERESE
We leave in a new house now,
Papalagi style.
SILEI
Papalagi style! How awful!
THERESE
You get used to it... My father’s
trade is getting bigger.
SILEI
That is very nice.
SILEI (CONT’D)
Your father buys you a lot of
things.
THERESE
How are things at the village?
SILEI
You haven’t heard?
THERESE
No.
SILEI
We refused to build a road so the
Papalagi called another village.
THERESE
Who did that? The old or the young
one?
SILEI
The old one. But the young one
follows him.
THERESE
You should ask him to help you.
SILEI
I’d rather die than asking him for
help.
THERESE
My father wants me to marry him.
Can you believe that?
SILEI
What?
SILEI (CONT’D)
You won’t, will you?...
THERESE
No. I mean, not yet...
TANGATU
Silei! Bring those coconuts over!
SILEI
I gotta go now.
THERESE
Bye.
SILEI
Bye.
WALKER
What ‘you doing goddamnit?!
WALKER (CONT’D)
You cut this way, like this, you
see?! The grass must be cut all at
the same height, you gotta be
precise, understand?!
WALKER (CONT’D)
Faster! You have to take out all
those by today. I break you that
cart, so you have to bring them by
hand! This road must be a carpet. I
want to lay down on it and take a
nap after!
WALKER (CONT’D)
What’s this!? I said all at the
same distance! All cut at the same
height, all at the same distance!
Take them off and starts again!
Walker badly kicks them sticks out of the ground and launches
them away. The workers collect them and starts again.
SILEI
Aren’t you angry about the way he
treats you? It’s the third time he
asked to work more.
AVEOLELA
You are not building the road. Why
do you ask?
SILEI
The work is still very long.
AVEOLELA
My men will make it in time...
SILEI
Tell yours to ask for a better pay.
AVEOLELA
I have already accepted.
SILEI
Together we are stronger. We can
ask him for more money.
AVEOLELA
We? Why you are saying we? Just me
and my men are working for the
road.
47.
WALKER
Back at work!
MACKINTOSH
They are starting to talk.
WALKER
They can talk all day long.
MACKINTOSH
We’ll need to pay them sooner or
later.
WALKER
We don’t have the money because of
you. Write a reminder to the
government!
MONTAGE
The road has to pass on the other side of the river. Walker
looks for a shallow spot, entering till his knees in the
water.
MACKINTOSH (V.O.)
The road will get the coconut
stocks to the port in the fifth of
the time. I strongly believe that
the trade will drastically increase
despite the road’s contained costs.
MACKINTOSH (V.O.)
I hope this will convince the
commission to forward us the sum
previously asked. In faith H.S.
Walker. God save the King.
Mackintosh folds the map into the letter and closes it.
TANGATU (V.O.)
The Papalagi is like a fish, a
bird, a worm at the same time. He
drills into the ground, he crawls
through mountains and rocks. I've
seen him glide through the air like
a seagull.
TANGATU (V.O.)
I wouldn’t be surprised if one day
he wanted to step up with his heavy
foot ships upon the moon.
END MONTAGE
MACKINTOSH
Who’s there?
MACKINTOSH (CONT’D)
I thought I was alone.
THERESE
It seems you Westerners are always
alone.
49.
MACKINTOSH
Might be the reason we want to
possess the whole world.
THERESE
Are you going to stay here all day
long?...
THERESE (CONT’D)
So, how do you like our island?
MACKINTOSH
I’d love it if it wasn’t for
someone I can’t stand.
THERESE
He can’t treat them that way.
MACKINTOSH
Everything must come to an end in
this world.
THERESE
What were you writing?
MACKINTOSH
Nothing you’d understand.
THERESE
The problem with you Westerners is
that you think we can’t understand
you. We do get you quite well.
Can’t you try to understand us
first?
THERESE (CONT’D)
Old Samoans used to say that
Westerners think of themselves as
gods.
MACKINTOSH
(ironically)
Don’t you believe in us?...
50.
THERESE
My mother died for the epidemic
brought by your ship in 1918.
THERESE (CONT’D)
I was only a child, but I found
absurd how you dealt with the
situation. People were dying like
flies on the street. You had no
idea what to do.
MACKINTOSH
I have read about it. I’m sorry.
THERESE
You weren’t here. But you should
prevent him from treating us this
way.
MACKINTOSH
It’s not easy.
THERESE
It’s your duty Captain. I believe
in you.
THERESE (CONT’D)
Good bye Captain.
MACKINTOSH
Good bye...
SILEI
This is the last one here father!
MACKINTOSH
It’s becoming too steep. We have to
make the next bend soon.
WALKER
You’ve never seen a steep road.
MACKINTOSH
We are already one week behind
schedule. They’ll get too tired by
the time we get up.
WALKER
What you talking about? We’ll make
it, believe me.
WALKER (CONT’D)
What’s the matter?
AVEOLELA
He says there are no more coconuts.
How come?
WALKER
Tangatu, your guests should be
treated better.
TANGATU
The seem they never have enough
food and drink. I told you that
everything I own was yours. We have
already given everything away!
WALKER
Why are you telling me that
Tangatu? You created all this
because you didn’t want to work.
WALKER (CONT’D)
Are you running out of food? Help
them finish the job then. They’ll
leave sooner.
TANGATU
My sons won’t do it.
WALKER
You are the chief here! You talk to
your own people!
52.
TANGATU
From now on we’ll all help them to
build the road.
SILEI
Father...
TANGATU
Say an other word and you’ll be
banished from my village forever.
Noa takes up the machete. He grabs Silei and brings him away
from his father. They goes toward the road.
MACKINTOSH
You are doubling the manpower with
a promise we don’t know if we can
honour.
WALKER
You shout your mouth Mackintosh.
He opens the sack and counts out a few pounds. He closes the
locker.
53.
He gets out of the office. We see him giving the money to two
Western MISSIONARIES.
Walker reads his clock and calls for a break. Sung opens up
an umbrella over a small table set for lunch.
The two missionaries arrive with their two donkeys. They are
transporting some CARDBOARDS.
Mackintosh and Walker sit down as Sung brings the meal: bad
looking corned beef and tea. Walker opens his shirt and
starts to eat voraciously.
NOA
Food!
WALKER
Put the boxes back.
MACKINTOSH
I asked them to bring them.
WALKER
I haven’t given my permission.
MACKINTOSH
I am in charge of the food supplies
and they have already received my
permission!
WALKER
This people don’t eat canned food.
MACKINTOSH
These people need to eat.
WALKER
I said put the supplies back. Now.
Silei and Noa stare at Walker. Noa puts the food back on the
animals as Walker swallows another piece of meat.
54.
LETTER
We confirm Cpt. Mackintosh the new
administrator of the island.
WALKER
What does it say?
WALKER (CONT’D)
What does the bloody letter say!?
MACKINTOSH
(They won’t send the money).
Two hands are passing some CANNED FOOD to some hold hands
inside the hut. It’s Therese, giving food to an old WOMAN
with some children, sleeping around her. Therese turns.
The tension is pretty high. The road is making its way up the
mountain, steeper and steeper. Tangatu pensively watches the
clouds gathering around the mountain. The sound of a thunder.
Walker steps off his horse. His boots sink into the MUD.
55.
WALKER
What’s this mess!?
AVEOLELA
Rain.
WALKER
I don’t care! You gotta keep the
road clean, all the time!
TANGATU
The rain will come more and more
everyday in bucketful. Stop now and
resume with the dry season.
WALKER
What you talking about?! We are
going forward. These beggars have
to keep it tidy!
AVEOLELA
The trees get wet. It’s more
difficult to cut them.
WALKER
And you cut harder! And harder! And
harder! Tomorrow we’ll continue!
MACKINTOSH
Tomorrow is Sunday.
WALKER
We are behind schedule, you said
that!
MACKINTOSH
(biting his teeth)
These people go to church on
Sunday.
WALKER
I don’t give a damn. We’ll bring
the church here.
MISSIONARY
Corpus Christi.
The missionary drops the HOST on his tongue. It’s now Noa’s
turns. He lies down. He turns. Silei is watching him from far
away.
MISSIONARY (CONT’D)
The more you suffer, the closer you
are to God.
AVEOLELA
My men are getting tired. We want
the money now.
MACKINTOSH
They want to get paid.
WALKER
You are in charge of it. You solve
the situation.
MACKINTOSH
You bluffed them, you deal with
them now.
WALKER
(To Aveolela)
He said he had the money but it’s
false. He’s a liar.
TANGATU
It is impossible to get further.
WALKER
What benefit do you think I get out
of the road Tangatu?! I offered to
pay you for the work but it was for
your own sake the work was done!
WALKER (CONT’D)
You ungrateful people. I offered to
pay you generously. You didn’t
accept. NOW YOU MUST PAY ME.
WALKER (CONT’D)
You’ll have to pay the twenty
pounds I owe them.
TANGATU
How can we pay them?
WALKER
Ask him. It’s his fault.
MACKINTOSH
I suppose you are joking!?
WALKER
I told you we would had found the
money sooner or later.
MACKINTOSH
You're not really going to make
them pay twenty pounds!?
WALKER
You bet your life I am.
MACKINTOSH
We cannot make them pay!
WALKER
I am the administrator! I guess I
have the right to do any damned
thing I like!
MACKINTOSH
You are setting a revolution.
WALKER
Damn the revolution. I am the only
revolutionary on this island.
MONTAGE
TANGATU (V.O.)
Why work all day long? Why not have
the time to stretch under the sun,
feel its rays entering the body.
The Papalagi have not understood
time. That’s why they mistreat it.
The wind blows under the big hut. Two GIRLS are trying to
rest, lying on the ground. Noa enters and wakes the girls up.
Their turn has started.
All men, women and children are working in the heavy sun.
Mackintosh is helping too. His white fragile arms are burned
by the strong sun.
WALKER
Your brain gets soft.
TANGATU (V.O.)
The Papalagi have weird tastes.
They do all kind of things that
make them sick but still they take
pride in them and sing odes for
their own glory.
Their backs are all stretched under the weight of rocks and
wood. Walker screams after them. Plants are uprooted, dirt is
cleared. The machetes cut the grass, the HATCHETS cut the
trees one after the other.
TANGATU (V.O.)
They are poor because they pursue
things like madmen. Because they
destroy all the things of the Great
Spirit, they believe they are the
Great Spirit themselves.
END MONTAGE
WALKER
Sorry, I didn’t find the key.
WALKER
Come here lazy beggar! Come help me
with this!
WALKER (CONT’D)
Show them how to cut this tree.
WALKER (CONT’D)
Come people! Look and see who is
going to replace me when I retire!
The wood is too strong for him. The hatchet swings away from
the tree like as if it was encountering a magnet. With his
will to pursue the job without success he looks even more
ridiculous in the eyes of the Samoans.
WALKER (CONT’D)
I guess you’re betting on the wrong
horse people. Look!
WALKER (CONT’D)
Mackintosh! Come back here!
Mackintosh is in pain.
MACKINTOSH
Let it go.
WALKER
Tell ’em you can’t do anything!
Tell ‘em you can’t do anything
except read your damn books!
61.
MACKINTOSH
I don’t feel well.
WALKER
Listen! He says he doesn’t feel
well!
WALKER (CONT’D)
What’s the matter uh!?
WALKER (CONT’D)
Are you missing home son?
MACKINTOSH
YES!!
WALKER
He says is missing home!
WALKER (CONT’D)
Take your time Mackintosh. Scotland
is at the other end of the world!
Walker notices it. The Samoans don’t. Walker looses his grip
on Mackintosh.
His index finger moves on the path between New Zealand and
Samoa, above the black, abyssal Kermadec and Tongan TRENCHES.
Uli, the old man of the first scene, is walking on the side
of the road. Mackintosh rides as though being chased by the
devil. Uli waves at him. Mackintosh doesn’t wave back.
MACKINTOSH
Excuse me! That calendar must be
broken!
ATTENDANT
It’s not broken Sir! It’s perfectly
working! We are passing the date
line!
MACKINTOSH
So what?!...
ATTENDANT
Tomorrow will be today again!
63.
The attendant passes over, holding onto the handrail for the
big waves.
TANGATU (V.O.)
We call them the Papa-lagi, the
Rock in the Sky.
TANGATU (V.O.)
They lacerated the sky with a rock
to get here. They are the Breakers
of Heavens.
SILEI
Noa... Have you seen Noa?
BROTHER
What?
SILEI
Noaaa!
ALL
Noaa! Noaaa!
SILEI
Noaaaa!
Silei looks down the valley. There is a black DOT down the
rope. It’s Noa’s body.
WALKER
There! No there!
WALKER (CONT’D)
You gotta be careful, goddamnit!
AVEOLELA
Hey kid. We need more kava.
SILEI
Go find it.
AVEOLELA
What did you say?
SILEI
Go fuck yourself.
NOA
Let him go!
SILEI
You let me go!
65.
FADE OUT.
MONTAGE
VOICE (V.O.)
The breakers of heavens know the
size of the moon, the stars and all
the countries. They fill themselves
with such paper food. Their heads
are like a mangrove swamps,
suffocating in their own mud.
TANGATU (V.O.)
They devour these thought-mats,
they have piles of boxes full of
them. They gnaw at them like rats
gnawing at sugar cane.
It seems that nothing can stop that sound, and that it might
continue to all eternity.
CUT TO:
CUT TO:
TANGATU (V.O.)
Most of them fill their heads with
so many thoughts that there is no
space left and no light can enter.
Sung is laying on his bed inside his tiny room, carved under
the building’s roof.
67.
TANGATU (V.O.)
Just his head is alive, while all
his senses are sleeping deeply.
TANGATU (V.O.)
Sad is the fate of thinkers who go
too far in their thoughts. They do
not live, even though they are not
dead.
FADE OUT.
Mackintosh is at his desk. His eye bags are scary black. He’s
trying to focus on a book.
A POSTCARD falls out from the pages. It’s the snowy Aberdeen
one. Mackintosh finds it strange to find it there.
TICK.
MACKINTOSH
Who’s there?...
MACKINTOSH (CONT’D)
Who’s there?!
SILEI
(Samoan, strangled voice)
We can't pay him. We don’t have the
money.
MACKINTOSH
You heard what he said. I can’t do
anything.
SILEI
I am sick...
MACKINTOSH
Come in...
Silei stops half way into the room. His sight LANDS on the
cloth.
MACKINTOSH (CONT’D)
What do you feel?
69.
His eyes are only focused on the barrel beneath the cloth.
MACKINTOSH (CONT’D)
Sit down.
SILEI
(looking at the gun)
I have pain here and here.
SILEI (CONT’D)
Give me the medicine.
MACKINTOSH
Wait here.
We now see the content. There are three BULLETS hidden among
the pills. He shakes the bottle to hide them.
MACKINTOSH
Come out! I am here!
MACKINTOSH (CONT’D)
(Whispering)
Take’em on a daily basis.
MACKINTOSH (CONT’D)
Remember. Just one per day.
JERVIS
Captain Mackintosh!
JERVIS (CONT’D)
Hope I don’t disturb you at this
hour of the day?
Jervis comes forward while the two servants lay down the
roasted pig. It’s enormous. A vacant stare in its dead eyes.
71.
JERVIS (CONT’D)
This is a present for you and
Walker. Is he in?
MACKINTOSH
I guess he’s having a rest.
JERVIS
I see. Shall I...
JERVIS (CONT’D)
Aren’t you drinking with me?
He takes a sip from his glass. The brown liquid disgusts him.
JERVIS (CONT’D)
(whispering)
Listen Captain, they were saying in
Apia it was about time Walker
retired. He ain't so young as he
was. Things have changed a lot
since he first came to the islands.
He ain't changed with them.
JERVIS (CONT’D)
That was a good joke about calling
the other village for the road.
When I told them about it in Apia
they split their sides laughing.
JERVIS (CONT’D)
I hope you'll take his place soon,
Mr. Mackintosh. We all like you on
the island. You understand the
Samoans. They're educated now, they
must be treated differently.
JERVIS (CONT’D)
When the time comes if there's
anything anyone can do here, you
bet I’ll do it.
JERVIS (CONT’D)
A marriage with a Samoan will help
them to rely on you...
MACKINTOSH
I am sorry. I need to go now.
JERVIS
As you wish Captain. I hope to see
you soon.
JERVIS (CONT’D)
God bless you Mackintosh.
WALKER
What the devil are you up to?
WALKER (CONT’D)
I heard you talking.
MACKINTOSH
Jervis brought this for you.
WALKER
I'm going to the pool to bathe.
WALKER (CONT’D)
It’ll be good for your lungs. Come
along.
Walker takes out his shirt, revealing his massive body and
plunges into the water. Soon they are all splashing about,
shouting and laughing, apart from Mackintosh.
WALKER
Come here! Come here!
Two young girls try to submerge him into the water. Walker
tries to liberate himself from their grasp, amused.
WALKER (CONT’D)
Noo! Noo! Let a poor old man be!
With his thin legs and skinny body he’s quite grotesque, like
a sinister Don Quixote.
WALKER (CONT’D)
Aren’t you able to swim?
WALKER (CONT’D)
Look at his arms! They are
ridiculous!
Walker gets out of the water, puts on his own large LAVA-LAVA
and lays down. One of the girls brings a bowl of Kava to him.
He tilts his head and drinks.
74.
MACKINTOSH
If you want to get back in time for
dinner we ought to come out soon.
WALKER
When you're doing one thing you
always want to do another
Mackintosh. That's not the way to
live...
MACKINTOSH
(whispering)
Move, fat bastard.
WALKER
(whispering)
Do you see him?
WALKER (CONT’D)
There.
WALKER (CONT’D)
There.
WALKER (CONT’D)
(whispering)
I was waiting for him. It’s
gorgeous, isn’t it?
WALKER
Let’s take the shortcut!
CUT TO:
MACKINTOSH
Watch out!
END MONTAGE
WALKER
You finally convinced yourself to
take a dip!
MACKINTOSH
(whispering to his horse)
You can tell him he can go f**k
himself.
WALKER
What’s tonight deal Sung?
SUNG
Porridge sir.
WALKER
Jolly good.
WALKER (CONT’D)
What you lookin’ at?
MACKINTOSH
Nice shoes...
77.
WALKER
Irish leather, the best.
WALKER (CONT’D)
I bought them many years ago. Have
I ever told you when I won at the
horse races?
Sung cleans his hands on the trousers and sits on the stairs,
ready to hear Walker’s story.
WALKER (CONT’D)
I ran away to sea when I was
fifteen, shovelling coal on a
collier. I was an undersized boy
and the captain for some reason
hated me. He used to kick me so
hard. I loathed that drunkard with
all my soul. I often couldn’t sleep
for the pain that racked my limbs.
WALKER (CONT’D)
But one day I receive a tip to go
to the horse races... I managed to
borrow some pounds from a friend in
Belfast. I put all the money on a
horse, an outsider, at long odds.
The horse started as last. I had no
means of repaying the money if I
lost. The crowd was screaming and
shouting. I was too short, I could
barely see the race.
WALKER (CONT’D)
But then, little by little, my
horse got fourth, third, second!
AND FIRST! I looked down at my
ticket. Couldn’t believe it. Found
myself with over a thousand pounds
in hard cash. I have heard the
collier I was working on was for
sale. I asked a solicitor to
arrange the sale for me. He was
amused to see such a small client.
He promised me to make a good
bargain. I arrived at the port, I
looked at the ship. That drunkard
of the captain was smoking on the
deck. I screamed at him: “Hey you!
(MORE)
78.
WALKER (CONT’D)
“You have to get out of MY ship in
half an hour!” It was the most
glorious moment of my life...
SUNG
When did you arrive to the islands?
WALKER
I reached them at twenty-six. My
marriage didn’t go well.
SUNG
What happened?
WALKER
I got so drunk at the wedding feast
that the bride left me right away.
MACKINTOSH
A sad story with a happy end.
WALKER
It’s sad that I’ll leave all this
to you.
MACKINTOSH
You are drunk.
WALKER
A stroll will get me back in shape
again.
MACKINTOSH
Don't you think it's unwise to go
out at night by yourself?
WALKER
Samoans would never hurt me.
MACKINTOSH
Stay at home tonight. I'll play
cards with you.
WALKER
You stay where you are! Prepare the
cards. I’ll beat you when I come
back.
79.
MACKINTOSH
Where the hell?...
MACKINTOSH (CONT’D)
Damn!
MACKINTOSH (CONT’D)
Walker!
MACKINTOSH
What are you doing around at this
hour of the night?
THERESE
What are YOU doing out at this hour
of the night? My house is just down
there.
80.
MACKINTOSH
Have you seen Silei?
THERESE
Silei? Why should I have seen him?
They now stand close to each others. The rain fills the
silence. Therese slowly raises her free hand, touching his
white lips with two fingers.
THERESE (CONT’D)
You are ill.
MACKINTOSH
Do not try to heal a dead man.
MACKINTOSH
Therese!
They kiss.
82.
The stars above the hut are fiercely lit. The woman’s
breathing increases. A sudden SCREAM. A beat.
END MONTAGE
CUT TO:
WALKER
Wonders will never cease! It's not
often you play yourself a tune
Mackintosh!
WALKER (CONT’D)
You see!? Still alive and kicking!
WALKER (CONT’D)
Nerves a bit dicky, eh?! Playing a
tune to keep your pecker up?!
83.
MACKINTOSH
I was playing your requiem...
WALKER
What the devil's that? I'm ready to
take your money off of you, son!
WALKER
Come on Mackintosh, try to win just
one time.
WALKER (CONT’D)
Mackintosh!! You’ve got to focus
goddamnit!
WALKER (CONT’D)
It’s not even fun to beat you.
WALKER (CONT’D)
(to Sung)
Never trust men who don’t drink.
WALKER (CONT’D)
You'll have to get a little bit
older before you stand much chance
against me, Mackintosh.
MACKINTOSH
I don't know that there's much
talent to it when I just happened
to deal you fourteen aces.
WALKER
Good cards come to good players.
I'd have won if I'd had your hands.
If I had the luck to study like you
I would have beaten you at school
too.
84.
MACKINTOSH
It’s never too late...
WALKER
You’re all smart dressed, you think
you know everything. Look at
yourself. You all skinny, without a
woman, without sons. Who do you
think created all this? It was
because of people like me, working
in the factories, in the mines, on
the colliers, that you could jerk
off at the academy with a silver
spoon stuck in your mouth.
WALKER (CONT’D)
We gave you paradise. But you don’t
even know what to do with it.
MACKINTOSH
I don’t want your paradise if it’s
built upon tyranny. I was at the
front when you were sitting here,
usurping this people.
WALKER
Give me a break, for sure we didn’t
win the war because of you. Have
you ever asked yourself why you did
not die? Rich people never die in
war, who knows why. You go around
with that ridiculous medal. They
will give a medal to me. And they
will take it off of you!
MACKINTOSH
You liar, you vile. You don’t
represent me nor my country, you
are just an ignorant buffoon. You
just able to insult, to belittle,
to mistreat this people. I don’t
want your conquests, I don’t give a
damn about all this!
WALKER
I want to explore, to understand
this world, who am I. And you are
everything I don’t want to be.
(MORE)
85.
WALKER (CONT'D)
You drive me mad. If I had the
strength I will beat you and kick
you, I will cane you!
MACKINTOSH
I am your consciousness, that’s why
you can’t stand me. I come
silently, harassing you in the
middle of the night. I tell you
that what you are doing is wrong,
that this people doesn’t want your
road, they don’t give a damn about
it. Yes, I am your consciousness,
telling you how revolting you are!
WALKER
And I am yours.
WALKER (CONT’D)
Bring me to bed. Heading to the
road early tomorrow.
MACKINTOSH
Would you like me to come with
you?...
WALKER
Yeah, I am sure you'd be a fine lot
of use in a scrap!
MACKINTOSH
Quem deus vult perdere prius
dementat.
“Those whom the gods would destroy, they first make silly.”
WALKER
You talk like a priest. What the
hell is that?
MACKINTOSH
Latin, never mind.
86.
THERESE
Silei!
THERESE (CONT’D)
What happened?
SILEI
Don’t marry him.
THERESE
What are you taking about?
SILEI
Which side are you struggling for
Therese?
THERESE
Who did this?
He doesn’t reply.
THERESE (CONT’D)
I met the captain. Whatever you two
are planning, please don’t.
SILEI
Leave me alone.
THERESE
Let me bring you to the ocean, like
the old times. It will heal you.
SILEI
You gotta dirt your hands before
you can wash them.
SUNG
When does Sir want to eat?
MACKINTOSH
Better not wait. One can't tell
when the boss'll be back.
SUNG
As you wish.
MACKINTOSH
Sung...
SUNG
Sir?...
MACKINTOSH
(smiling)
Let’s eat outside tonight.
Sung hands him a good looking steak and pours some red wine,
quite pleased to see Mackintosh finally eating.
In front of him some Samoans are going home upon their little
CART full of coconuts. Walker passes them quickly.
JERVIS
Evening Therese.
THERESE
Good evening.
JERVIS
I met with Mackintosh yesterday. We
talked about you...
Therese turns.
THERESE
What dis he say?
JERVIS
I’ll tell you tomorrow. Good night.
THERESE
Father.
JERVIS
Yes.
THERESE
Something bad will happen.
JERVIS
What do you mean?
THERESE
Go back tomorrow. Talk to him
again.
Jervis is puzzled, he did not wait for such a remark from his
daughter.
JERVIS
Let me handle this. Go to bed and
wash up your head with your dreams.
Sung comes over and pours some more wine. He spots the blood
on the plate. A beat.
SUNG
Sir, your hand is bleeding.
89.
MACKINTOSH
It’s nothing. I just had the knife
from the wrong side.
THERESE (V.O.)
I am responsible for this. I don’t
know what are you planning, but I
am afraid I put you in this
situation. And I apologize. If
there is something to apologize.
THERESE (V.O.)
You think we can’t understand you.
But I can. What I don’t understand
is if you really care about this
island, my island. I want to show
it to you. There are places you
can’t conceive, smells you can’t
imagine they exist. On MY island.
THERESE (V.O.)
Promise me everything will be over
soon. I promise I’ll transform my
island in your lullaby.
INTERCUT WITH:
Walker’s grabs the horse with all his strength. He looses the
grip. His body falls down with an horrendous THUD.
CUT TO:
The very last sunlight is leaving space for the first stars.
The land sinks into darkness.
A beat.
Mackintosh takes the gun and opens it. The chambers are
empty. All the bullets are gone.
SUNG
Boss very late. Dinner no good...
A beat.
MACKINTOSH
Keep the soup hot. At all events.
The words are hardly out of his mouth when the silence is
suddenly broken into by a confusion, cries, and a rapid
patter of naked feet.
They crowd round Mackintosh and they all talk at once. They
are unintelligible.
MACKINTOSH
I can’t... Speak slower!
MACKINTOSH (CONT’D)
Stand back! Get him out of the
cart!
Four workers lift him. Walker utters a dull groan. Blood all
over his face.
The men who have carried him wipe their hands, red and
sticky, on their lava-lavas. Walker lays unconscious, deadly
bloated.
MACKINTOSH
Bring me the hypodermic needle!
WALKER
They’ve got me.
MACKINTOSH
We called the doctor. He’ll be here
by tomorrow morning.
WALKER
I’ll be dead by then.
MACKINTOSH
Tell me what to do. I'll do it.
WALKER
There's nothing to do.
He looks pitiful, small on his big bed. A huge, old man. But
so wan, so weak.
WALKER (CONT’D)
Give me a drink, a stiff one.
WALKER (CONT’D)
You were right. You warned me.
WALKER (CONT’D)
They'll give you my job.
MACKINTOSH
I don't want your job...
WALKER
You are a good chap Mac. Last time
I was in town I told them you were
all right. One of the best.
WALKER (CONT’D)
Only now that I am dying you care
about me? Why do you hate me so
much Mac?
WALKER (CONT’D)
Just finish my road son. All round
the island.
94.
Walker opens his eyes and looks at him. He’s fat face still
half full of blood and dirt.
WALKER (CONT’D)
The road's the great thing Mac. Get
the road finished.
WALKER (CONT’D)
Please.
MACKINTOSH
(to Jervis)
What are all these people doing
here?!
WALKER
Let them stay. They're my children.
They ought to be here.
WALKER (CONT’D)
Don't make a fuss about this. In
'ninety-five white men were shot.
The fleet came. They shelled the
villages. A lot of people died
who'd had nothing to do with it.
They're damned fools in Apia.
They'll only punish the wrong
people.
WALKER (CONT’D)
You must say it was an accident.
Tell them it was you.
WALKER (CONT’D)
They're my children. I'm their
father. A father doesn’t let his
children get into trouble if he can
help it.
WALKER (CONT’D)
What's that about forgiving
them?...
95.
A beat.
MACKINTOSH
“Forgive them, for they know not
what they do”.
WALKER
That's right. Forgive them. I've
loved them, you know, always loved
them.
Mackintosh tilts his head. Behind Walker’s bed all the Samoan
souvenirs he collected in a life: old photographs with Samoan
chiefs, precious objects, siapo cloths etc. All his love for
Samoa lays up there.
WALKER (CONT’D)
Hold my hand.
THERESE
He exploited us to build a road.
BEAT
You exploited us to kill a man.
TANGATU
The Papalagi came to liberate us
from darkness. They led us to God
and taught us to love him. God is
love, they repeat.
CAPTAIN HUDSON
It seems there will be action
people! Prepare to shoot this bunch
of fools!
TANGATU (V.O.)
They want us to believe they are
the fire, when they are only the
carriers of the light.
TANGATU (V.O.)
They illuminate everything around,
although the light hasn’t
penetrated them.
TANGATU (V.O.)
You think you brought us the light.
In truth you are dragging us down
in your pool of darkness.
FADE OUT.
HUDSON
Those bastards made them build this
road without any money.
SOLDIER
We examined both the bodies Sir.
The bullets come from the same gun.
HUDSON
(to his sergeant)
I got everything, but I still don’t
get how he could be dining at home
at 6.30, killing him at 6.45 and
get ready to wait for him back at
home at 7.00.
SERGEANT
He was riding pretty fast I
guess...
HUDSON
Fair enough. Sergeant, write down:
Captain Mackintosh commits suicide
after having shot the
administrator. Everybody clear the
area please.
Noa and Silei lead the coffins under the heavy weight.
The two coffins slowly descend into the ground. The Samoans
set corals and lava stones around the TWIN, marble graves.
Two fraternal enemies, buried one very close to the other.
FADE OUT
THE END
We read the translation aside of the last line: “In truth you
are drugging us in your pool of darkness.”
100.
We now understand that the Voice Over through the whole film
wasn’t Tangatu’s but Mackintosh’s.
FADE TO BLACK.
CREDITS