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[school-discuss] An Original etc ... screenplay of Jack London's "The House of Mapuhi" : critique it please, use it if you have a theatre group
FADE IN:
EXT. JUST OUTSIDE THE LAGOON -DAY
A handsome schooner, the Aorai, sits in the clear water,
bobbing gently. A small boat swings out from it containing a
handful of tanned sailors. The fair skinned ALEXANDRE RAOUL
stands out in the group with his European looks.
EXT. OUTSIDE THE HOUSE OF CAPTAIN LYNCH
Raoul steps onto the beach, walking up to HURU HURU, a tall,
grizzled native, who only has one arm. They exchange
greetings.
HURU HURU
Have you heard, Raoul? Mapuhi has
found a pearl. Such a pearl.
RAOUL
What kind of pearl?
HURU HURU
There's never been one like it
fished up in Hikueru. Buy it from
him. He has it now. Mapuhi is a
fool and you can get it cheap. And
remember that I told you first.
Have you any tobacco?
Raoul digs into his pocket for some tobacco.
RAOUL
Thanks, Huru.
He hands him some tobacco and turns away.
EXT. MAPUHI'S HOUSE
The home is a shack under a pandanus tree. Raoul is standing
next to MAPUHI, a dark native. Behind Mapuhi stand two women
and a girl. They are TEFARA, who is youngish to middle aged,
NAURI, who is old, and NGAKURA, about twelve.
Raoul holds a large pearl in his palm, examining it closely
while Mapuhi nervously watches. Raoul then pulls out a
pocket magnifying glass and looks at the pearl through that.
He returns the magnifying glass to his pocket and looks at
Mapuhi.
RAOUL
(nonchalantly)
Well, what do you want for it?
MAPUHI
(anxiously)
I want-
He turns around to look at the three women behind him.
Tefara and Nauri return the glance with a silent nod, their
rigid demeanor bespeaking a suppressed eagerness.
MAPUHI
I want a house.
Raoul's eyes squint.
RAOUL
A house?
MAPUHI
A house with a roof of galvanized
iron and an octagon-drop-clock.
Six fathoms long with a porch all
around. A big room must be in the
center, with a round table in the
middle and the octagon drop clock
on the wall.
Tefara and Nauri's eyes widen with avarice.
MAPUHI
There must be four bedrooms, each
with an iron bed, two chairs and a
washstand. And the back of the
house must be a kitchen, a good
kitchen with pots and pans and a
big stove.
(beat)
And you must build the house on my
island, which is Fakarava.
Raoul pauses for a second before answering, then smirks.
RAOUL
Is that all?
Tefara jumps up next to Mapuhi with a defiant look.
TEFARA
There must be a sewing machine!
NAURI
(motionless)
Not forgetting the octagon drop
clock.
RAOUL
(smiling)
Of course.
Mapuhi ignores the two women.
MAPUHI
Yes, Raoul, that is all.
Raoul's smile fades and his eyes are unfocused as if in
thought. He holds up the pearl, looking at it. Suddenly his
smirk returns.
RAOUL
Mapuhi, don't be a fool. Set a
money price.
Mapuhi shakes his head. Behind him the women and girl shake
their heads in unison.
RAOUL
I'll give you a thousand Chili
dollars plus a hundred in trade.
MAPUHI
I want the house. It must be six
fathoms long with a porch all
around-
RAOUL
(interrupting)
Yes, yes, the octagon drop clock
and all that.
He returns to a more pleasant demeanor.
RAOUL
What good will the house do you?
The first hurricane that comes
along will wash it away. You ought
to know. Captain Lynch says it
looks like a hurricane right now.
MAPUHI
Not on Fakarava- my island. The
land is much higher there. That is
where I want the house. Six
fathoms long with a porch all
around...
Raoul looks down and sighs as Mapuhi goes on about the house.
He is becoming agitated.
RAOUL
I know about the house! Mapuhi-
The FIRST MATE of the Aorai jogs up interrupting.
FIRST MATE
Raoul! The Captain says we've got
to get the hell outta here!
RAOUL
Now?
FIRST MATE
The barometer's dropping fast!
As he says this a gust of wind knocks some coconuts from a
nearby tree. Raoul impatiently turns back to Mapuhi.
RAOUL
A thousand Chili dollars and two
hundred in trade.
MAPUHI
I want the house. Six fath-
RAOUL
(angry)
Mapuhi! You are a fool!
He hands Mapuhi the pearl, turns away and motions to the
first mate to leave. Mapuhi and his family return to their
shack.
FIRST MATE
Did you get the pearl?
RAOUL
I have to calculate the cost of his
damn house! I'll come back.
EXT. OUTSIDE THE HOUSE OF CAPTAIN LYNCH
The gust of wind blows as Huru Huru speaks with TORIKI, a
half caste. Raoul and the first mate pass them by. Huru
Huru notices them and motions to Raoul.
HURU HURU
Did you get it?
RAOUL
(not stopping)
Mapuhi is a fool.
Raoul disappears as Huru continues to talk to Toriki.
TORIKI
What was that all about?
Huru smiles a toothy grin.
HURU HURU
Have you heard? Mapuhi has found a
pearl unlike any other. Nowhere in
any of these islands is there one
like it. And Mapuhi is a fool.
Easily manipulated. Besides,
doesn't he owe you money? Remember
that I told you first. Have you
any tobacco?
Huru puts out his hand.
EXT. MAPUHI'S HOUSE
Toriki holds the pearl up, glances at it casually, then
carelessly drops it into his shirt pocket.
TORIKI
You're lucky, Mapuhi. It's a nice
pearl. I'll even give you credit
on the books.
Mapuhi looks down in frustration.
MAPUHI
But I want a house! Six fathoms
long-
TORIKI
Six fathoms your grandmother! You
want to pay up your debts is what
you want. You owed me twelve
hundred Chili. Now you no owe me
nothing. I'll even give you credit
for two hundred on top of that. If
the pearl sells well, I'll give you
another hundred. But only if the
pearl sells well, mind you. Good
day, Mapuhi.
Toriki begins to walk away. He turns back around.
TORIKI
You better get your family to
safety. They say a hurricane is
coming.
Toriki leaves. Mapuhi remains motionless with his head down
and his arms folded. Tefara and Nauri walk up to him, with
Ngakura closely following. They look at him disapprovingly.
TEFARA
How did I marry such a fool?
NAURI
Such a fool is right, daughter.
(to Mapuhi)
Why did you let the pearl into his
hand?
Mapuhi squats down, arms still folded.
MAPUHI
What could I do? I owed him the
money. He knew I had the pearl.
He looks up at Tefara.
MAPUHI
You heard him yourself ask to see
it. Someone else told him I had
it. I owed him the money.
Tefara looks away in disgust.
NGAKURA
Mapuhi is a fool.
Mapuhi looks at his daughter with sorrow at her rebuke. The
women shake their heads in disapproval at Mapuhi's loss.
EXT. OUTSIDE THE HOUSE OF CAPTAIN LYNCH
Huru is speaking to LEVY, a German Jew whose hair is a fiery
red.
LEVY
What's all this talk about some big
pearl, Huru?
HURU HURU
Mapuhi has found a pearl. There has
never been a pearl like it found in
all the world! He is a fool. He
sold it to Toriki for fourteen
hundred Chili. Toriki is likewise
a fool. You can buy it from him
cheap. He is still here, in the
house of Captain Lynch.
Remember that I told you first.
Have you any tobacco?
EXT. MAPUHI'S HOUSE
Mapuhi is sitting down, dejected. Raoul walks up.
RAOUL
Mapuhi, I've thought about it and
reconsidered my offer.
Mapuhi looks up at him and looks back down. Nauri stands in
the doorway.
NAURI
Mapuhi lost the pearl. You are too
late.
EXT. OUTSIDE THE HOUSE OF CAPTAIN LYNCH
Huru is listening at the door and quickly backs away and
assumes a casual stance. Toriki and Levy walk out of the
house shaking hands. Levy puts the pearl in his pocket.
They are startled by the sound of guns firing in the
distance. It is beginning to rain and the wind is blowing
harder.
TORIKI
That is my ship signalling me.
They must be preparing to leave
because of the storm.
Suddenly CAPTAIN LYNCH emerges. He is an older, white
bearded man wearing an old seaman's cap. He is dismayed.
CAPTAIN LYNCH
The glass is falling! My barometer
reads twenty-nine-twenty!
LEVY
My God! We'd better get out of
here!
CAPTAIN LYNCH
It might be too late, lad! But if
you go, it had better be now!
Toriki and Levy quickly move off. The captain returns inside
as the rain strengthens. Huru begins to move away but
collides with Raoul.
RAOUL
Where's Toriki?
HURU HURU
Too late. He sold the pearl to
Levy for twenty five thousand
francs. And Levy will sell it in
France for a hundred thousand.
Have you any tobacco?
Captain Lynch emerges once again.
RAOUL
Captain! I want to ask you about-
CAPTAIN LYNCH
(cutting him off)
It'll have to wait,man! The
barometer is reading twenty-nine
ten!
Huru Huru shrugs and walks away. Raoul's face changes from
one of greed to one of concern. The wind continues to pick
up.
RAOUL
Twenty-nine-ten? I've never seen
it so low before!
Captain Lynch is closing his storm shutters as he talks to
Raoul.
CAPTAIN LYNCH
I should say not! Fifty years boy
and man on all the seas, and I've
never seen it go down to that!
The weather continues to worsen. Raoul and the Captain look
out for a moment at the violent sea. The captain walks
inside.
RAOUL
(still looking at the sea)
I guess I'll stay with you tonight,
captain.
The captain reemerges.
CAPTAIN LYNCH
Twenty-nine flat!
RAOUL
My God!
Amidst the rain and wind a family of natives scurry by,
holding onto random possessions.
CAPTAIN LYNCH
There are twelve hundred people on
this island. I wonder how many
will be here tomorrow morning?
RAOUL
Is it that bad?
CAPTAIN LYNCH
Worse. We'd better get to the trees
and hold tight!
The two exit as we hear the scream of the wind heighten and
the rain begins to come down in sheets.
FADE TO BLACK.
FADE IN:
EXT. NEAR WHAT USED TO BE THE HOUSE OF CAPTAIN LYNCH
The winds are calm and the sun is out. The sand is littered
with dead bodies, fallen trees and limbs, and a smattering of
other objects. Captain Lynch's house is pure wreckage now.
Amidst the ruin is an unconcious Raoul, sprawled belly down
in the sand. Near him is Captain Lynch's hat.
Raoul begins to stir. His clothes are torn and soaked. He
looks a mess. He slowly gets up and looks around. In the
distance he can see survivors walking around identifying the
dead. He then notices the captain's hat on the ground and
picks it up.
RAOUL
Captain Lynch?
His eyes go sad and he drops the hat. He looks out again at
the devastation.
RAOUL
My God.
EXT. WHERE MAPUHI'S SHACK ONCE STOOD
Mapuhi, bedraggled and limping, is carrying Ngakura, who is
unconscious and bleeding from various small wounds. He puts
her down and rests her head on a small tree limb where his
house used to be.
MAPUHI
Rest, my daughter.
He stands up and begins to look around. He gasps as he sees
his wife lying on the beach, half in, half out of the water.
She is clutching a large tree limb. Mapuhi runs to her.
MAPUHI
Tefara!?! Tefara!?!
He kneels down to her and turns her over. He puts his head in
his hands and begins to sob. As he does so, Tefara coughs.
He looks down. She groans.
TEFARA
(quietly)
Mapuhi?
He hugs her and continues to sob.
TITLES: TWO WEEKS LATER
EXT. MAPUHI'S HOUSE -EVENING
Mapuhi's shack is almost rebuilt. He and Raoul are standing
outside.
RAOUL
Of the twelve hundred on this
island, only three hundred
survived. It's a miracle that all
three of you made it. Glad you did,
though.
MAPUHI
Thank you.
RAOUL
Sorry about your mother in law,
though. Was she ever found?
MAPUHI
No, but we can assume the worst by
now. Thank you, Raoul. Goodbye.
RAOUL
Bye, Mapuhi.
Tefara stands in the door of the house.
RAOUL
(nodding goodbye)
Tefara.
Raoul walks away. Tefara walks out.
TEFARA
If only you hadn't sold the pearl
to Toriki. Raoul told me that if
you still had it, he would-
MAPUHI
Toriki robbed me. But it did pay
my debt with him.
TEFARA
Toriki is dead. His schooner was
lost as well as Levy's.
MAPUHI
Yes, I know. Toriki cannot pay me
my two hundred credits, nor can
Levy pay Toriki for the pearl. The
pearl is lost and now we have
nothing. Now let us sleep.
They begin to go inside. Mapuhi stops as something catches
his eye.
MAPUHI
Wait!
Tefara stops and turns around to face him.
MAPUHI
Someone is coming.
(to person)
Who is it?
A very weary and dishevelled Nauri walks closer.
NAURI
It is I, Nauri. Do you have a drink
of water for your mother?
Mapuhi and Tefara's eyes widen in fear.
TEFARA
It is a ghost!
Nauri sighs.
MAPUHI
Where do you come from?
NAURI
I come from the sea. Can I get a
drink of water?
TEFARA
I knew it. She is a ghost!
Mapuhi keeps his distance.
MAPUHI
Get her a drink of water.
Tefara disappears inside.
MAPUHI
How is it you come from the sea?
NAURI
My tale is a harrowing one. I could
use the water.
Tefara walks out with the water her hand shaking as she gives
the glass to Mapuhi who nervously hands it to Nauri. Nauri
downs almost all the water in one gulp.
MAPUHI
Ghosts do not drink water.
He skittishly touches Nauri's shoulder.
MAPUHI
It is you! But how?
Tefara walks up and stands next to Mapuhi facing Nauri.
NAURI
I was swept to the next island.
MAPUHI
How did you-
NAURI
I lived on coconuts for over a
week. I found a broken canoe and
fixed it best I could. I prayed to
the shark gods and they spared me.
The sharks were well fed from all
the corpses.
TEFARA
You're so old! I can't believe-
NAURI
On the island I was surrounded by
dead bodies.
I avoided them as much as possible
until I noticed one face down whose
hair was bright red.
MAPUHI
Levy!
NAURI
Yes. Digging through his pockets I
found this.
She pulls the pearl up from the folds of her ahu.
MAPUHI
The pearl!
She drops the pearl into his hand.
NAURI
Perhaps you can get the house this
time?
TEFARA
Yes! Raoul said he would build the
house for it!
NAURI
And it will be six fathoms long?
MAPUHI
Ay, six fathoms!
NAURI
And the octagon drop clock?
MAPUHI
Ay, and the round table as well!
NAURI
(tired)
Then get me something to eat. I am
hungry.
FADE TO BLACK.