Original subtitles

Ridiculous, Aaron.

Bye -bye.

Bye -bye.

Good morning, Bart. Good morning, Tattoo.

I've been invited to a seminar on the wildlife of the island.

Really? Well, I didn't know you were interested in wildlife, my dear Julie.

Well, I... Oh,

um, those are the professors giving the seminar.

You better make sure what kind of wildlife they're going to teach you.

I suppose it would be all right, provided that two is willing to cover

Oh, I know he's willing. Thanks.

Smiles, everyone.

Smiles.

Who is

that beautiful lady?

Miss Lillian Martin from Clinton, Iowa.

Miss Martin has a hidden longing to be a writer. However, she knows that the

best writing comes from personal experience.

And since she wishes to do a biography of a most fabulous lady, she needs

information that only a proper fantasy can supply.

With her biography about her. Another lady named Lillian, a famous singer and

toast of all New York.

Lillian Russell.

Lillian Russell, precisely.

Well, Miss Martin wants to go back to that wonderful era known as the gay 90s

and experience the passion, the loves, and the tribulations of that fantastic

lady.

But I'm afraid the experience may be more potentially heartbreaking than Miss

Martin can possibly expect.

Who's that fellow man?

Mr. Calvin Pearson.

Actually, he hasn't been to sea for some considerable time.

What's his fantasy?

To command a ship?

No, no, no. His fantasy is to go back to a certain beautiful island near here,

where he spent one summer of his boyhood fishing with his father for the

legendary serenade fish.

Memories which he still holds very dear.

But for Mr. Pearson, it's much more vital than mere nostalgic pleasure or

momentary peace.

In fact, how he reacts to what awaits him may very well determine whether...

whether he lives or dies.

My dear guests, I am Mr. Rourke, your host.

Welcome to Fantasy Island.

Mr. Rourke, I can hardly believe I'll be going back and I'll be Miss Lillian

Russell. Miss Martin, you will be entering a period idealized and

history.

But there was another less pleasant facet.

It was also an era ruled by men known as the robber barons.

Flamboyant, ruthless, energetic, aggressive. And the company of ladies,

Miss Lillian Russell, was their badge of... Ultimate achievement.

Yes.

Mr. Rourke, are you trying to warn me about something?

The contents of this box belong to Miss Lillian Russell.

It was discovered when they demolished an old New York bank where it had

remained unopened for 87 years.

Until yesterday.

As a matter of fact, when I unlocked it myself.

Oh, it's beautiful.

That's magnificent.

Yes, isn't it?

Unfortunately, they are all fakes.

No. Yes, based.

Except for this one piece.

Mr. Rourke, are you trying to tell me that Diamond and Lil were fake jewels?

There is also the unusual contents of this envelope.

Five playing cards, a poker hand.

A poker?

A winning or a losing hand?

That remains to be seen in your fantasy, Miss Martin.

However, I will show you three of the cards, which may prove critical in the

resolution of your fantasy.

Three aces.

Like Miss Russell's real jewelry, the ace of diamonds is missing.

It may or may not be one of these two cards.

Oh, come on. Now, if you'll please follow me. Well, where are we going?

Into the 19th century, to Tony Pastor's theater, where Lillian Russell will

again captivate her adoring audience, and you, Miss Martin, are now this

of the New York stage.

In old New York, in old New York, the peach crops always fine.

They're sweet and fair and on the square, the maids of Manhattan for

mine. You cannot see in gay Paris, in London

or in Cork, the girls you meet on any street

in old New York.

You stay away from her or I'll kill you if I have to. Oh, Diamond Jim Brady.

Well, you just took the words right out of my mouth.

I love her, Brady.

She's going to be my wife and there is nothing that you can do about it.

It's good to see that some things don't change in this world, Mr. Rourke.

I spent the most contented days of my life here with my father.

Walking these trails, fishing in that lagoon.

Yes, I remember.

Wasn't there a special fish your father was particularly interested in?

Oh, yes. The one he never caught.

The serenade fish.

How did you know about that?

Well, it's my business to know everything about my guests, Mr. Pearson.

No one.

has ever caught a serenade fish. No one.

Some even say it doesn't exist.

Well, they're wrong, Mr. Rourke.

Once, on a hot, still night, right here in this lagoon, we both heard it. Heard

its song.

My father was more at peace after that. He wasn't so bitter about my mother's

death. Yes.

Yes, I remember that, too.

The most remarkable transformation.

That song, that sound, has haunted me all these years.

I'm only sorry that my father didn't live long enough to come back here with

But he didn't.

The way things have turned out for me, maybe that's a blessing.

Are you sure you won't mind the loneliness here, huh?

Mr. Rourke, I have looked forward to having this place all by myself.

Fine.

Fine. Now, if you'll come this way, I believe you'll find the accommodations

pretty much as you remember them.

I think this is going to work out fine.

Hey!

Hey, you!

What are you doing here?

Trading post.

Right in the middle of my island, Mr. Roark!

Mr. Roark?

Well, congratulations. Your fantasy seems to be starting well. Oh, thank

It's marvelous.

Miss Martin, as a woman, tell me, can any woman be in love, sincerely in love,

mean, with two men at the same time?

Depends on the woman, I guess. Well, the woman is Miss Lillian Russell and the

men, well, you saw them in the audience, the famous Diamond Jim Brady and Mr.

Peter Whiting, a Boston banker, once business associates. They both fell in

with Miss Russell and are determined to have her.

Couldn't you make a choice?

Miss Martin.

Forget the historical image of Lillian Russell and think of her as a girl from

Iowa who'd suddenly become the toast of the world.

Think of her as still innocent in many ways, loving and not wanting to

hurt either of the men who love her.

It's a problem you must solve before they destroy each other.

Good day. What can I do for you? I need some fishing lures.

The minute I laid eyes on you, I said, there's a fish.

You want some lures, huh?

Lures,

lures, lures, lures.

Moira, come here a minute, will you?

Where'd those fancy fishing lures that just came in?

They're right here, Jim.

Oh, thanks.

Here you are.

You know, you're lucky.

We've got a special round fishing tackle, and I take all major credit

Why did you run after me?

I'll take these.

Why did you ask them for supper, Jake?

You've got better manners than I've got.

See, we've been a little short on company lately. Maybe some other time.

A man wants to be alone sometimes.

He didn't have to turn it down so cold like.

Oh, yes, he did.

That guy, he don't trust anybody.

He's been hurt by somebody he was real fond of.

Did you get a look at his eyes?

you away to the countryside is like hiding a priceless work of art, Lillian,

which merely proves my pride is at the mercy of my emotions.

What a lovely thing to say, Peter.

I didn't realize the feared and austere banker had a poet hidden inside.

Very deeply hidden, I'm afraid.

But I only envy Jim Brady for his flamboyant flair and his easy use of

You don't have to envy any man, Peter.

Marry me, Lillian.

I can't.

I see.

It's Jim Brady. You've made your choice. No.

I love you both.

That is a problem.

But not unsolvable.

I promise you.

You won't do anything foolish, will you, Peter?

I'll only do what I have to do, dear.

Only that.

What about him?

We need gasoline and food.

And get him patched up.

It's the serenade fish.

Did you hear it?

You thought it was the serenade fish, didn't you?

How did you learn to make that sound?

I heard it once.

I never forgot.

Why did you pick now to practice it?

Because it's a beautiful sound.

And you look so hungry for beauty.

I remember these things.

They're girls.

Yeah.

Hey, we're in luck.

They'll have something there to cut these bracelets off. Yeah, not to

food. Let's go. Look, I don't give a damn who you are or what you do.

I just came here to fish and be by myself. Now, why don't you just leave me

of this? I said, let's go.

Jim? Jim?

Jim?

I'm sorry, Lou, but this panic in Wall Street has stretched me to the breaking

point. I know I've told you about it, but it's even worse.

Whiting is closing in on me.

He's hoping to take everything I've got away from me.

Jim. Were you taking my jewelry?

Oh, I was desperate, Lil.

I was going to borrow them for a couple of days. I need to raise capital.

I have to fight my way back.

Well, it wouldn't have helped you. They're fake.

They're paced, except for one piece.

The hell they are. I paid a quarter of a million dollars for that stuff in

there. None of them are fake.

But these are.

I've made copies of your jewels.

I was hoping to switch them back in a few days and that you would never know.

I guess catching me here the way you did, that settles it for me, doesn't it?

I guess you'll marry Whitey now.

Jim, if you'd have asked me, I would have given you all my jewelry.

Do you think I'd let you be ruined because of me?

Oh, Lil, you are the most wonderful woman in the whole world.

Let me ask you something. Now, why didn't you hawk yours first?

I did, two weeks ago.

Those are all fake, too, yes.

Now, 80 years from now, somebody might just open this box and find these.

Well, actually, I didn't hawk all of them.

I didn't hawk these.

These are my lucky charms.

I bought them the same day I sold my first steel Pullman car to the New York

Central.

Oh, so that's how that got in there.

What are you looking for?

An envelope full of playing cards, but I guess it hasn't happened yet. I mean,

the poker game.

Poker?

You've never played poker in your life. You told me that a week ago yourself.

Oh, well, then I guess the game hasn't happened yet.

I wish I knew what you were talking about.

You fixed a good meal, old man.

Now go get something to cut these handcuffs off with.

He looks bad.

You think he's going to live?

Not if you don't stop the bleeding.

He won't last another hour.

And what are you, some kind of a doctor?

No, I'm just a weekend fisherman.

But I can recognize a dying man when I see one. I've seen enough gunshot

Great.

So you save him, Doc.

Yeah.

I'm going to need some ice, some disinfectant, something to probe with.

It won't be the first time somebody dug a slug out of Buzz Nolan.

How come you know him?

We were roommates for a while in San Quentin.

Yeah? When?

Eight years ago.

I guess he got bored with my company. He busted out.

Seems like he's making a habit of that. So you're just like them?

Well, I had you pegged wrong.

I thought you were a guy coming up a bad break trying to sort things out.

Shut your mouth!

Get these off!

The hell I will!

Don't be a damn fool, old man.

He's got nothing to lose but you have.

Your life.

All right.

A toast, my dear.

And what are we drinking to?

It's to your new and greatest success.

And what might that be?

Ah, that is a surprise.

Something I'm going to do for you.

Something I want very much to do for you.

I am going to build you the finest theater on 42nd Street and star you in

greatest show in the history of Broadway.

Lillian Russell Theater.

Do you like it?

Peter, are you trying to buy me?

Lil, if you were for sale, I would have bought you a long time ago.

Maybe that's your charm.

Maybe that's why I love you so much.

Because, you know, I'm not sure that even I can afford you.

As a matter of fact, I have another present for you.

I bought them all back for you an hour after Jim Brady hawked them.

Lil, I'm not going to ask you how he got them. I think I can guess.

But there's one thing I know about Jim Brady.

He would never hurt you.

As a matter of fact, you don't have to worry about his finances.

With the money he got from your jewels, he's made a deal with a Western mining

interest, and he's very well back on his feet.

Peter, do you both really love me, or is it just that

you've learned to hate each other that much?

I can only answer for myself.

It's not his fault, not my fault, and certainly not your fault.

I don't know why it's this way, but it is.

One of us will have everything or nothing.

You don't owe me a thing, Buzz.

One of your friends had a gun on me the whole time.

Why don't you join up with this person?

I got a lot of plans.

I just want to fish.

Sure.

It's all clear, Buzz. No sign of that police launch that shot us up yesterday.

They'll be around. They're going to fine -tooth every island in the group.

We killed a couple of guards breaking out. Had no choice.

I didn't know there was a prisoner on here.

No, it isn't ours.

Uncle Sam doesn't own all these islands. I wish he did.

That hellhole we broke out of makes Q look like a country club.

Get the boat ready, Palmer.

Later,

Palmer. Now go get that boat ready. We're shoving off the crack of dawn.

If you want me, Nolan, I'll be fishing.

Wait a minute, son.

Wait a minute.

What happened in the past is done and gone.

Come on, you're not like them.

But you will be if you let them do what they want with that girl.

We all kill our own snakes, old man.

I didn't ask to get involved with you or her or anybody else. You understand

that?

It's your problem.

I don't trust that guy.

I don't trust any guy, but you stay out of Pearson's way.

You really think he's that tough?

Look in his eyes.

Man doesn't care.

He's already dead.

Good

evening,

Miss Russell.

Oh, Mr. Rourke.

What am I going to do? I don't think I can handle this.

They're going to destroy each other.

I can understand now why she can't choose between the two and why she loves

of them.

Because they're different, but they're wonderful in their own way.

Well, then I take it your fantasy is a success.

You now understand the passion and dilemma of Lillian Russell.

Would you help me?

Have you forgotten the poker hand in that box I showed you?

Perhaps it will suggest some thought to you.

How?

Your audience.

Your very special audience is waiting.

Well, they're very quiet. They're very small. Mr. Brady and Mr. Whiting have

each bought out half the house.

It's time for your next number, Miss Russell.

pastor proudly presents Miss Lillian Russell!

You may...

I didn't want to do it. I didn't want to do it.

You made me want you.

And all the time you knew it. I guess you always knew it.

I didn't want to tell you.

I want some love, that's true.

Yes, I do. Did I do? You know I do.

Give me... She's singing to me.

Give me what I cry for. You know you got the brand of kisses that I... She's

telling me that she loves me.

Remember the three aces?

Maybe this is the time to play them.

We're going to D 'Amato's restaurant.

The three of us.

The hell we are!

Oh, no, Lil, I'm sorry.

Yes, we are.

We're going to have a card game.

Poker. And just what are we betting?

Everything we've got.

I'm not going to let you two kill each other, so we're going to get this over

with once and for all tonight.

And we'll see who wins me.

And how is the fishing, Mr. Pearson?

Lousy, Mr. Rourke, as you damn well know. I'm very sorry to hear that.

I didn't come here for the scenery. Then you've had no luck attracting the

serenade fish.

All I've attracted so far are three escaped convicts, a nosy old man and...

a girl.

Maybe you're using the wrong bit.

My fantasy was to relive the joy and the peace that I once knew here.

And I will give you precisely that, Mr. Pearson, but first you must open your

heart. For just a few moments, you must forget the woman who betrayed you.

And all those who imprisoned you for a crime you did not commit.

I can't. You can't. You must try.

Tattoo is right.

Try.

Forget the bitterness, Mr. Pearson.

The song of the serenade fish is not heard with the ears.

Oh, no, no.

It's heard with the heart.

That's the secret your father learned.

That's the secret learned by all the lonely souls who have sorted out.

Listen, Mr. Pearson.

Listen with all your strength and with all your heart.

You hear it, Mr. Roark.

You said you owed me one. And you said forget it.

Promise me one thing.

No interference.

Be my guest.

Use the rifle or put it down.

You know I'll never make it out of here alone on this leg.

I know.

Put the rifle down.

But I guess I can write those myself.

If you care for one person,

you care for them all.

Good evening. Good evening. Mr. Brady. Mr. White.

And the mysteries.

What are all these people doing here, Paul?

Well, I'm sorry, Mr. Whitey, but word about the game is all over town.

Well, I don't care if they stay, if it's all right with you, Lil.

A game like this is the stuff legends are made of.

This will be a three -handed game, Paul.

What are we playing?

Done.

One hand.

Four of clubs.

King of diamonds.

Ace bets, Lil.

That's a quarter of a million.

I'll cover.

I'll pledge my Pullman stock.

And I cover.

Seven of clubs.

Queen of spades.

Three of hearts.

A five -year contract for my singing services.

I value that at a million dollars.

Come in.

Queen of clubs.

King of hearts.

A pair of kings.

Ace of hearts.

Still your bet, Lil.

I bet myself.

I won't put a money value on you, Lil.

I'll call that another million.

Or any price you name.

A million.

Since I'm part of the bed, shall I get up on the table?

Are you showing contempt for both of us, Lou? No.

I feel a lot for both of you. I feel love.

But I feel anger for you both putting me in this position, and I feel anger for

you both trying to destroy each other.

But I don't feel any contempt.

Two of clubs.

Possible flush.

King of spades. Three kings.

Ace of clubs.

Three aces.

You don't have to bet anymore.

But I want to.

I don't know how to raise any more money, and I won't ask to borrow from

of you.

Perhaps I can be of some assistance, Miss Russell.

Will you excuse me, gentlemen?

If I might see your whole card, a loan is possible.

And who are you, sir?

Let's say a man who enjoys a good game for high stakes.

Any objections?

The amount is blank, gentlemen.

You're the banker.

Is this any good? Oh, I'm sure this letter of credit will identify me.

A draft on his Paris bank account.

Good for any amount we carry to cover.

Thank you, sir.

Your bet, Miss Russell.

Everything.

Everything you've got. Both of you.

Lou, what are you trying to do?

Ease my conscience, I guess.

How can I be happy with either of you when I know I'd make the other so

But what if one of us wins the hand?

I guess I lose in a lot of ways for the rest of my life.

And then we all lose.

I fold.

I love you, Lil.

I love you more than anything.

And I love you both.

Your fantasy is over.

I'm sorry.

Goodbye, my love.

Mr. Rourke.

How will it work out for both of them? For the real Lillian Russell?

As history wrote, Miss Martin.

As history wrote it.

Mr. Rourke, I can't believe what's in this telegram. Oh, I assure you it's

true. Your case is to be reopened by a special commission of inquiry.

I have a very strong feeling that your name will be cleared.

Then I have more to thank you for than I can ever put into words.

Tell me, Mr. Rourke, is there really such a thing as a serenade fish?

Boss, I was going to ask you the same thing.

I'm surprised at you, Mr. Pearson.

Very surprised indeed. After all, you did hear it, did you not?

Oh, yes, I heard something.

Something wonderful.

What are you going to do now?

Well, I believe, too, that Mr. Pearson will soon be spending a great deal of

time at a certain trading post.

Perhaps he will never become the booming resort the proprietor talks about, but

at least he and Mr. Pearson and a certain very charming young lady will be

together, living amid beauty and peace and love.

Yes, thanks to you, I'll be back.

I'll be back.

Well, Miss Martin, did you consider your fantasy a success?

Oh, yes, Mr. Rourke. In fact, since I know the lady really well, I can now

what Diamond Lilwood's really like.

Maybe you are too of the kind.

Oh, thank you, Tattoo.

That reminds me, Mr. Rourke, I never saw my whole card.

Was it the fourth ace?

This?

was your hand.

Remember? Of course, but is that the ace of diamonds?

Let me say first that Diamond Jim Brady had a club flush, and Mr. Whiting had a

full house, kings over queens.

And you, Miss Martin, you would have lost.

A four?

Then I was bluffing.

No, Miss Martin.

You were loving.

Thank you, Mr. Rourke.

Bye, tattoo.