| EXT. TOILET. NIGHT.
The toilet is a narrow concrete passage with a ditch along the
bottom on one side. There is no roof but a single light above.
Zeph is just finishing as he notices Richard.
ZEPH
Hey, Richard! I hardly fucking recognize you. Where have you
been? The beach? Tell me - it's paradise.
RICHARD
There is no beach.
ZEPH
What?
RICHARD
The map is wrong.
ZEPH
You've been?
RICHARD
No. it's dangerous.
ZEPH
Danger - hey, you're calling my middle name. What kind of danger?
RICHARD
Doesn't matter.
ZEPH
I think you're trying to put me off.
RICHARD
I'm just telling you, for your own good: stay away. Don't go.
Don't even try. Just forget it.
ZEPH
We'll do whatever we want.
He goes to leave. Richard places a hand on his chest. They stop
for a moment. Zeph pushes the hand away.
ZEPH
(continuing)
Fuck you.
Zeph walks past then turns back.
ZEPH
(continuing)
Stay away from the mushrooms, Richard, they make you paranoid.
EXT. BECH / STEPS. NIGHT.
Richard and Sal are climbing the steps towards the bungalow reception.
SAL
That idiot Daffy? What was he doing - handing out Xerox copies
to every asshole in Thailand?
RICHARD
Yeah, it's unbelievable.
SAL
Why? That's all I want to know. Why?
RICHARD
I don't know, Sal.
SAL
Pardon me for this, but thank Christ he's dead.
EXT. BUNGALOWS RECEPTION. NIGHT.
Richard and Sal enter from the steps. Behind them the party is
still in progress.
Sal approaches the desk while Richard hangs back.
She greets Sumet who hands over one key.
SAL
Bad news.
RICHARD
What?
SAL
She gave away your room. She thought we were - you know - together.
Sorry.
RICHARD
Right. Great. Well I'll go find somewhere else then. I'll meet
you back here in the morning.
SAL
Richard.
She shows him the key for the room.
They look at each other.
SAL
(continuing)
I'm going to play a couple of games of pool with Sumet.
She throws the key. He catches.
SAL
(continuing)
Why don't you go warm the bed?
INT. BUNGALOW. NIGHT.
The room is in darkness. Moonlight penetrates the threadbare
curtain. The bed is surrounded by a mosquito net.
The music from the beach party is audible.
Just visible through the net is the outline of two human forms
entwined.
EXT. BUNGALOW. NIGHT.
Lizards scuttle across the small porch.
INT. BED. NIGHT.
Surrounded by a wall of mosquito net, Richard and Sal lie on
the bed.
Sal lies on her side falling asleep. Richard is awake.
RICHARD
Sal.
SAL
Uh-huh.
RICHARD
Can I ask you a question?
SAL
It was great.
RICHARD
No, it's not that. I just wondered about Bugs. And me.
Sal rouses herself.
SAL
OK, it's like this. Bugs is my boyfriend, my partner, and you,
you're someone I just screwed. Is that ok?
She turns on her side again.
RICHARD
That's fine. That's absolutely fine.
SAL
Good, now get some sleep - I may wish to have sex again before
we eat breakfast.
EXT. BEACH. DAY.
Richard and Sal push the boat into the water and away from the
beach, jumping on board as they do so.
EXT. SEA/CLIFFS. DAY.
Richard and Sal approach the outer cliffs of the sea-wall in
the boat. Richard looks up.
Bugs is standing at the top of the cliff, directly above the
cave.
INT CAVE. DAY.
The sacks of rice are now contained in a net being hauled upwards
on a rope towards and into the chimney which rises out of the ceiling.
Sal swims away into the tunnel.
EXT. CLIFF TOP. DAY.
Bugs and Keaty haul the rice up with the aid of a block and tackle.
INT. CAVE. DAY.
Richard is alone as he looks up the chimney and watches the cargo
disappear the last few feet to the top of the cliff.
As it reaches the top it is swung aside and Bugs looks down.
Richard and Bugs stare at each other down the length of the chimney.
Richard casually clutches his groin and thrusts once.
RICHARD (V.O.)
Screwing Sal was pretty good but screwing Bugs - that was even
better.
INT. LONGHOUSE. NIGHT.
The longhouse is full of inhabitants.
Richard walks the length of the hut like Santa Claus despensing
toiletries and other gifts as requested.
He reaches Francoise alone at the end of the hut.
He gives her the "French" soap.
RICHARD
For you.
FRANCOISE
I missed you.
RICHARD
I'm back.
FRANCOISE
What was it like?
RICHARD
The rice run? No problem.
FARNCOISE
I mean being with Sal?
RICHARD
Oh…fine. Listen, do you want to go to the beach?
FRANCOISE
I can't. Meet me tomorrow morning. Ten o'clock at the waterfall.
She touches him as she walks away.
RICHARD (V.O.)
I didn't' feel as bad as I should have about all this. In fact
I didn't really feel bad at all. What happened on Ko Pha Ngan was
different, it didn't count.
EXT. FOREST/WATERFALL. DAY.
Richard is on his way to the waterfall.
RICHARD (V.O.)
And I was glad to be back. Now I really did understand why no
one wanted to go for the rice. Life here was so good that going
back to the world we came from could only bring you down.
He reaches the area by the waterfall and stands waiting. He looks
around for Francoise: no sign. He checks his watch: a few minutes
to ten.
SAL (O.S.)
Hi there, Richard.
Richard turns to see Sal, who has appeared as though from nowhere.
RICHARD
Oh, Sal. Hi.
SAL
Hi? Is that all you can say? I thought we had a little more rapport
than that.
RICHARD
I mean, hello, nice to see you. What brings you here.
SAL
I was looking for you.
RICHARD
Oh. Well, here I am.
SAL
I have to go somewhere. I'd like you to accompany me.
Richard checks his watch.
RICHARD
Right now? It's not really all that convenient, Sal.
SAL
I'm sorry. Are you meeting someone?
RICHARD
Me? No.
SAL
You sure?
RICHARD
Yes.
SAL
Good. So, you can come with me.
(Unfortunately the copy of the script is now missing a page.)
SAL
If they reach the island, I want you to discourage them from
getting any further.
RICHARD
"Discourage."
SAL
You'll think of something, Richard. I trust you.
Sal kisses him on the cheak and leaves.
Richard watches her go.
RICHARD
Sal! How long do I - Sal!
She does not turn around.
Richard turns back towards the other island.
He focuses the binoculars.
EXT. BEACH. DAY.
The empty beach on the other island.
EXT. HILLTOP. DAY.
Richard is not pleased.
EXT. BEACH. NIGHT.
Richard and Francoise are sitting in the shadows.
RICHARD
She didn't tell me how long I was supposed to wait or anything.
You know what she's like, she just gets you to do things.
FRANCOISE
What kind of things?
RICHARD
Just things, you know.
FRANCOISE
No, I don't.
RICHARD
Hey, what's wrong - I'm sorry I wasn't there today. Is that it?
FRANCOISE
I think Sal is attracted to you.
RICHARD
No, I don't think so.
FRANCOISE
On Ko Pha Ngan, did anything happen?
RICHARD
Happen? No, nothing.
FRANCOISE
You promise.
RICHARD
I promise.
FRANCOISE
Good.
They kiss.
RICHARD (V.O.)
Ok, so I lied. It just wasn't the right time.
|
