Original subtitles

-Hi, Aunt Kate. -Mimi, hurry. Tavae and Terru are here.

-They`ve been waiting. -Oh, all right. I`ll be right there.

TERRU:. Mrs. Bennett. -Yes?.

-Was that Mimi?. -Yes, she`ll be ready in a minute.

Burn the reef. She moves with the slowness of a sea porcupine.

-Where has she been?. -ln town...

...pestering the steamship office about her ticket.

-Again?. -You know how she is, Tavae.

Always making plans to leave Tahiti.

-Sure, sure but she will never leave. -I hope you`re right.

She would miss the boat anyway. Why, she`s never ready on time.

[CHUCKLES]

It`s a woman`s privilege to be late. We`re all late now and then.

Terru is not late.

She`s been ready to meet the ship since the sun come up.

-That`s because your sister is Tahitian. -That is true.

With American girls, it`s the fashion to be late.

You see, Tavae?.

But Mimi is a half-Tahitian. She should be half-ready.

[LAUGHS]

I`m all ready. Come on, Tavae, and hurry. We`re gonna be late for that ship.

-Come, porcupine. -Come on. Come on.

MlMl: Hurry up. Let`s go.

Come on. Push, Tavae.

Whoo, we`re off.

Mimi, that was money.

It`s probably counterfeit.

Burn the reef. This man must be very rich.

I think l`ll wait till he throws the camera.

[TAVAE & TERRU LAUGH]

Or that hat.

Aloha, you there, catch some coin, huh?. Catch them. Dive, huh?.

[COlN SPLASHES]

Yeah. Now you`ve got the idea. That`s it.

[LAUGHS]

[CHATTERlNG]

-You want one?. -No, thanks.

-Need a housekeeper?. -No, thank you.

A hula skirt for sale?.

[CHUCKLES]

You desire a hotel, mon vieux? The diadem on the waterfront.

Then a car for hire?. A fine, large car.

-Perhaps then an island, a fine, small island?. -Ha, ha, no, thank you.

-A cook, monsieur?. -No, no, no, thank you.

Coconut crab. Chew it. Good. Tastes like nothing never.

Yeah, no doubt. No doubt.

-Laundress?. -Housekeeper?.

No, no, thank you. Thank you.

Make room. Make room. Make room. Make room.

-Well, and what are you selling?. -Me?. Nothing. I`m Mata. I own taxi.

Oh.

Drive any place on island. Where you wanna go?.

Uh, the Endicott Plantation. It`s on Beach Road.

-Why you want to go there?. -l`m gonna live there.

-Why?. -Well, my uncle left it to me.

-Mr. Endicott was your uncle?. -That`s right.

Well, my, my. Put it there.

Say, you know what?. Of your uncle, Mata was big pal.

You`re nephew of Mr. Endicott. Where you from?.

-Ohio. -Ohio. Is it pretty there?.

Oh, no, no, not nearly as pretty as it is here.

-Mr. Endicott, you`re a pretty big boy. -Yes, well, look, can we get right out there?.

-l`m anxious to see the place. -You never see photos?.

I understand it`s a large house and considerable amount of property.

Sure, plenty of property.

I suppose l`ll need plenty of help, hmm?.

Sure, sure, plenty help with Oniani.

Oniani. Is that what it`s called?.

Oniani. Well, the place can`t be more beautiful than the name.

Boy, boy, it isn`t. You wait in taxi. I get your stuff off the ship.

-Then we get right out there, huh?. -Not too big a hurry is better.

I know, I know. Nobody`s in a hurry in Tahiti, huh?.

[LAUGHlNG]

Hey, you. You`re the girl out there, the girl in the canoe. How are you?.

-You?. -Oh, the quarter. No, no. You may keep it.

You dove in water, you earn money.

You may keep money.

[ALL LAUGH]

-Do you speak English?. -Perfect.

I`m new here and l`ve just inherited a very large plantation...

...and l`ll be needing a housekeeper.

-My sister, Terru, best housekeeper. -That is true.

ENDlCOTT: Oh, no, look, I wanted you to--

We work together as couple. We have no job now so we work for you.

No, just a minute. I wanted you to ask this young lady if she`d like the job.

[SPEAKlNG lN TAHlTlAN]

[ALL LAUGH]

[SPEAKlNG lN TAHlTlAN]

-What`d she say?. -She says she has a job.

She has a big house to keep.

We agree to work for you.

-From now on, leave everything to us. -Look--

This is best arrangement. I`m first-class housekeeper...

...and on whole island there is no better man than my brother Tavae.

-That is true. -All right. All right.

Uh, Mata, do you know her?. Uh, l`d like to meet her.

Sure, sure, sure.

[SPEAKlNG lN TAHlTlAN]

Yeah, well, look. Uh, my name is Endicott.

-Endicott. -Endicott.

Wonderful, just wonderful. You Mimi, me Endicott.

MATA: Let`s go. -Well, look, Mimi, we`ve got to go.

We`ve got to hurry, so, uh, we`ll see you, huh?.

TERRU: Bye-bye, Mimi.

Well, so long, Mimi, au revoir.

TERRU: Goodbye.

Goodbye, Endicott.

[LAUGHS]

-What`s wrong?. Why are we stopping?. -We`re here.

-We`re where?. -Plantation Oniani. Everybody out.

ENDlCOTT: This is Plantation Oniani?.

Sure, sure. Plenty Oniani.

So this is Oniani?.

Means onion for onion grass.

What`s the trouble, Mr. Endicott?. You no happy?.

Oh, sure. Just a little disappointed, that`s all.

I thought Oniani was a real plantation.

It is a real plantation.

There was much happiness here with your uncle.

Well, it`s a pretty sorry place right now.

It`s lonely, Mr. Endicott. A house must be lived to be happy.

-Yeah. -Don`t be sad, wait and see.

Tomorrow, when the grass is cut, it will not look the same.

Well, let`s take a look at it.

-Did you get the typewriter?. -Right here.

-Well, where`s your sister?. -l`m right here.

[ALL LAUGH]

Okay, come along. I`d hate to be left alone in this wilderness.

COUNTESS: Anybody interesting on the boat?.

Well, yes, countess, there was, uh-- There was an American...

...but l`d hardly say ""interesting"" is the word.

What is the word, Mimi?.

Aunt Kate, l`d say it was peculiar. His name is Endicott.

-Endicott?. -Uh-huh.

Oh, he must be the son of the man that owned Oniani.

No. No, he`s his nephew.

Oh, l`ve heard of him. He`s a lawyer from, uh, Chicago or somewhere.

No. No, he`s a school teacher from Springfield, Ohio.

-What does he look like?. -Well, he`s very tall and he has dark hair.

And I think his eyes are blue. Yes, they`re blue.

And he speaks with a decided accent.

Well, I don`t envy him.

He`ll have his hands full making a go of Oniani.

Oh, I don`t think it matters. He`s very rich.

-Oh?. -He threw money at me.

How much money?.

Twenty-five cents. One quarter of an American dollar.

He tossed it over the side of the ship.

That was very generous of him. Did you thank him?.

No, I didn`t get a chance. He was too busy trying to hire me.

-Hire you?. -Heh. Yes, he needed a housekeeper.

-Did you get the job?. -No, Tavae took over.

Oh, l`m sure he did.

Well, don`t let that bother you.

I know dozens of men who would just love to have you for their housekeeping.

Thank you very much, countess, but I don`t think l`m gonna be available.

You see, l`m leaving for the States next month.

-America?. -Mm-hm.

What a peculiar notion.

Oh, it`s no use, Maida. We can`t make her change her mind.

But, Mimi, I don`t understand.

Why?. People from all over the world are coming here...

...and you can`t wait to get away. What`s the matter with Tahiti?.

There`s nothing the matter with Tahiti, it`s wonderful.

But.... Well, l`ve just had my fill of spear fishing and moonlit reefs.

And l`ll be perfectly happy...

...if I never have to see another man lying in a hammock drinking coconut milk.

Nice day, huh?.

[SPEAKlNG lN TAHlTlAN]

ENDlCOTT: Hey, getting along fine.

[SPEAKlNG lN TAHlTlAN]

[ENDlCOTT LAUGHS]

That`s a good job.

[SPEAKlNG lN TAHlTlAN]

[FAlNT WHlSTLlNG]

Hey, did you hear that?.

Yes, it`s the wind through the bamboo.

[SlNGlNG] Got a place in the sun

A particular one

On a tropical avenue

Far away from it all That I happily call

The house of singing bamboo

On the windier days Seems an orchestra plays

On the musical breeze for you

Like a merry salute From a heavenly flute

To the house of singing bamboo

So here I`ll stay

Never more to roam

From my new old-fashioned

South Sea home

You don `t have to count sheep That`s for Little Bo-Peep

You can sleep till the sun peeks through

You can dream any dream

For you know that your dreams Come true

When you live in a house

In a house of singing bamboo

When you live in a house

In a house of singing bamboo

[BOTH LAUGH]

Pretty good, huh?. Soon it will be finished.

That`s fine. Will it cost much?.

-Much what?. -Money.

Oh, money. Throw it in ocean.

Besides, when we make copra, it pays for the house.

Copra?. You mean we have to make the stuff?.

Sure. You thought it made itself?.

-I don`t even know what it is. -lt grows in the coconut.

We cut it out, dry the meat, then put it in a sack to sell.

Makes coconut oil. Understand?.

Well, I guess so, but it sounds like a lot of work.

All I want to do is lie in the sun. That`s all.

I don`t wanna be a businessman. I just want to sit some place and rest.

Good, you sit. We make copra.

Not a big crop this time. Maybe five-, six thousand francs.

-Hardly seems worth the trouble. -No trouble. We have big party.

-A party?. -Everybody comes.

Then everybody makes copra.

-How am I gonna pay them?. -Pay them?. They are our friends.

You mean they don`t care about getting paid?.

-lt is always the same. -Ha-ha-ha.

We have a little wine, we sing a few songs.

When everybody`s happy, we make the copra.

-And a little wine, huh?. -Sure, leave everything to me.

ALL [SlNGlNG] : Got a place in the sun

A particular one On a tropical avenue

Far away from it all That I happily call

The house of singing bamboo

On the windier days Seems an orchestra plays

On the musical breeze for you

Like a merry salute From a heavenly flute

To the house of singing bamboo

So here I`ll stay Never more to roam

From my new old-fashioned

South Sea home

You don `t have to count sheep That`s for Little Bo-Peep

You can sleep till the sun peeks through

You can dream any dream For you know that your dreams come true

When you live in a house

In a house of singing bamboo

[ALL SPEAKlNG lN TAHlTlAN]

What`s that?.

[SPEAKlNG lN TAHlTlAN]

It is Tua and his wife.

They have brought the new tub for the popaa.

-Popaa? Who`s that?. -You. It means foreigner.

Oh. Oh, yes, the tub.

-What`re they doing with it out there?. -lt`s Tua, the plumber. He makes it work.

-Outside?. -Well, it`s nicer outside in the air.

-Come and see. -I guess l`d better.

[ALL SPEAKlNG lN TAHlTlAN]

ENDlCOTT: Look, Tavae.

Oh, Mr. Endicott, meet old friend. This is Tua.

-How are you, Tua?. -And this big lady is his wife, Angele.

Hello, Angele.

How you like?. Is gorgeous, huh?.

It`s great. What good is it gonna do me out here?.

-lt`s prettier here. -But I can`t take a bath in the open.

-Bring it in the house. -ln the house?. No good. No sun.

-Angele, you show him. -Yes, get in the tub, Angele. Get in.

Look, look. What a sight.

[ALL LAUGH]

Quite a sight. But I want it in the house. Come on.

TERRU: Come on. Get her up. That`s it.

Hurry. That`s it. Come on, get it up.

[ALL SPEAKlNG lN TAHlTlAN]

That`s it.

-Are you all right under there?. -Sure. No trouble.

If I wanted to take a bath before the tub`s ready, where would I go?.

[ANGELE SCREAMS]

[BOTH SPEAKlNG lN TAHlTlAN]

Oh, no.

[TERRU LAUGHS]

[ALL LAUGHlNG]

Well, I guess l`ll have to do my bathing the Tahitian way, huh?.

WOMAN: Hi.

Hi there.

-Hi. -Great day for it.

-[SlNGlNG] How do you do? -How do you do?

-Good morning -Good morning

-How are you? -How are you?

-How are you? -This morning

Thank you

-Bon jour, madame -Bon jour, monsieur

- You are well, I trust -Mais oui

As for me can `t you see I`m so happy

I could burst

Oh, I`m a happy troubadour

That`s singing in the sun

All I need is sunshine And I`ll sing for everyone

I beam with any pretty sunbeam Life is joy

It`s funny everybody calls me Sunny Boy

I arise and vocalize When morning has begun

Just another day for play And singing in the sun

I`m so very merry, merry

Living is just fun

What a way to spend your life

Singing in Yes, singing in

Just singing in the sun

MEN: How do you do? -How do you do?

WOMEN: How are you? -I`m okay

MEN: He`s okay WOMEN: He`s okay

MEN: He`s okay WOMEN: He`s okay

ALL: He`s okay

I arise and vocalize When morning has begun

Just another day for play And singing in the sun

I`m so very merry Merry living is just fun

What a way to spend your life

Singing in, yes, singing in

Just singing in the sun

[MlMl LAUGHlNG]

Ah, it`s you again.

Well, what`s so funny?. I nearly broke my neck.

-You Endicott. -Yeah, that`s right.

Me Endicott. Very good.

You`re brilliant, you broken-down beachcomber.

Uh?.

Hey, hey, you, Endicott.

Catch them, catch them coin, huh?.

Yeah, yeah.

[LAUGHS]

[MlMl LAUGHlNG]

Terru, come here a minute, hurry.

What is it, Mr. Endicott?. What`s the trouble?.

-Who is she?. What does she want?. -Why, it`s old Mama Ruau.

[BOTH SPEAKlNG lN TAHlTlAN]

What is she saying?.

She loves typewriters and she wishes for you to play on yours.

-What?. -Oh, do it for Mama Ruau. It will please her.

All right. Ha, ha. Now, what would you like, hmm?.

Uh, I know. Here.

Now is the time for all good men...

...to come to the aid of their party.

How`s that, huh?.

[ALL LAUGH]

[BOTH SPEAKlNG lN TAHlTlAN]

[CHUCKLES]

ENDlCOTT: Well, uh, come again, Mama Ruau.

TERRU: Yes, come again. Parahi oe.

[PlG GRUNTS]

-Hey, wait a minute. You forgot something. -No, no, the pig is a gift.

She thinks you are very smart...

...and should have many children who will be likewise.

[LAUGHS]

Well, thanks, but if Mama Ruau doesn`t mind...

...I`ll settle for the pig.

Well, we have a full day ahead and nothing to do. Any suggestions?.

Well, let-- let`s sing.

[SlNGlNG] You don`t have to count sheep That`s for Little Bo-Peep

You can sleep till the sun peeks through

You can dream any dream

For you know that your dreams Come true

When you live in a house In a house of singing bamboo

Boom, boom, boom, boom

[PlG SQUEALS]

Well, how do you like that?.

[PlG GRUNTlNG]

Pig. Hey, pig.

[PlG SQUEALlNG]

Pig, come back.

Pig.

Hey, pig. Come back.

Come here, pig.

Pig, come back.

Hey, pig. Pig.

Pig. Hey, pig.

[GRUNTS]

Hey, pig.

[PlG GRUNTlNG]

Hey, pig. Pig. Come back, come back.

Come on.

[PlG SQUEALlNG]

Be still. Be still.

[LAUGHlNG]

-This your pig?. Ha-ha-ha. -Hey, thanks.

Oh, it`s you again.

Hey, you eat raw fish?.

Yes, good. You like some, Mr. Endicott?.

-Oh, no, thanks. I`m not very hungry. -Oh.

-Hey, you speak English. -Yes.

Well, uh, I didn`t know.

Well, uh, some words l--

-I do not understand. -Oh.

Um, what does it mean:

-""Broken-down beachcomber?. "" -Ha, ha.

-Oh, broken-down beachcomber?. Uh. -Yeah.

Well, it`s an expression. Uh, it means something good.

-Oh, good, huh?. -Oh, sure. Very good.

Where I come from, everybody wants to be a beachcomber.

Especially a broken-down one.

Only a few of us are lucky enough to make the grade.

And-- And-- And you are lucky, huh, Mr. Endicott?.

Oh, sure.

Uh, say, uh, why don`t you call me Hap and l`ll call you Mimi.

Yes.

I was about ready to give up the chase. Glad I didn`t, I might`ve missed you.

Oh, but l-- l-- l`m always here. I live there.

ENDlCOTT: Well, that`s quite a place. -Yes, yes, very nice house.

I don`t blame you for turning down the job at Oniani.

-Are the people you work for nice?. -Oh, very nice.

Hey, it`s lot of rooms. Must keep you pretty busy.

-I have help. -Yeah, still, it`s a lot of work.

That is true.

Well, Hap, very pleased to meet you, but now I must go.

Mimi, uh, I don`t leave our next meeting up to chance.

-Maybe I can stop by and see you. -But of course, anytime.

Well, tonight?.

Well, tonight there is party. All-- All my friend will be there, but....

-Well, if you like, you are welcome. -Oh, l`d love to.

Well, uh, where`ll I meet you?. At the house?.

Yes, yes, at the house. Five o`clock.

Well, uh, good. Can l-- Can I bring any wine, food or anything?.

No, no, I think we will have enough.

-You`re sure the people won`t mind?. -Not at all.

Oh, that`s great. I`ve been looking forward to this.

A real Tahitian party with all the trimmings.

-Well, l-- I must go. -Well, uh, here. Let me help you.

MlMl: Here we go. ENDlCOTT: Careful, now.

-That`s it. -Aah!

[ENDlCOTT LAUGHS]

ENDlCOTT: Ready?. MlMl: Ah.

ENDlCOTT: All right. Here we go.

-Goodbye, Mimi. -Goodbye, Hap.

[CHUCKLES]

[GRUNTlNG]

Hey.

Oh, well, let it go.

[LAUGHS]

ENDlCOTT: Hello, Tavae.

Hello, Hap. How are you?.

Never better. I`ve been invited to a real native party.

Huh?.

Music, moonlight, beautiful Tahitian girls.

-This is one party I won`t forget. -That`s good. Fine.

-What`s that for?. -Your suit.

Oh, no, not this time. You can have it.

No more of those custom-made tropical worsteds for me.

I`m a Tahitian, 1 00 percent.

-You don`t want this?. -No. I`ll wear a pareu.

-ls that the way you say it, pareu?. -Yes, pareu.

Pareu, pareu. Well, that`s for me.

Which one, Hap?.

Uh, l`ll wear this blue one to match the color of her eyes, huh?.

Hey, uh, how do you put this thing on?.

Like this. Put it on.

Hey, it`s pretty good, huh?.

[CHUCKLES]

Hey, where`s Mimi?. Do you know where she is?.

-Right over there. -Oh, thanks.

KATE: Yes, Mimi has decided to go on the next boat.

-I cannot talk her out of it. It`s really-- -Mrs. Bennett.

-How do you do?. -Oh.

Oh, how do you do?.

Well, uh, don`t let me disturb you. I was just looking for Mimi.

Oh, then you must be Mr. Endicott.

I`m Mrs. Bennett. Mimi is expecting you. Won`t you come in?.

Well, uh, no, no, thanks. I`ll just, uh, wait for her over here.

Oh, you`ll do nothing of the sort.

Darling, are we late?.

Oh, no, not at all. Oh, I don`t believe you`ve met Mr. Endicott.

The Countess Matrani.

[SPEAKlNG lN FRENCH]

-How do you do?. -And Captain Bouchet.

How do you do, sir?.

-Oh, won`t you come in, Mr. Endicott?. -No, no, Mrs. Bennett.

-I think that l`d better wait over here. -Please do. I will not take no for an answer.

I want you to come in and meet our friends.

Mr. Bradford, Mr. Endicott.

-How do you do?. -Glad to know you.

-Uh, Mr. and Mrs. Brant. -How do you do?.

And, uh, oh, yes, this is Mr. Paulehaule.

How do you do?. How are you, sir?.

Peculiar is hardly the word.

Uh, Mr. Endicott, l, uh-- I want you to meet some more people.

-Uh, this is, uh, Mr. Baker. -How do you do?.

Oh, don`t get up.

And, uh, Miss Kirk, Mr. Endicott.

Well, hello.

There are some more people over here.

Mrs. Bennett, I just dropped in to say hello to Mimi.

Oh, of course. Mimi. Oh, why, of course. She`s right over there. Uh--

-Mimi. -Yes, Aunt Kate.

[GASPS]

Burn the reef. Excuse me. I`ll be back.

Why, Hap, l`m so glad you could come.

I`ll leave Mr. Endicott in your hands.

-See that he meets everyone. -All right, I will.

Hap, I was wondering where you were. Uh, is there anybody you haven`t seen?.

Nobody, l`ve seen everybody and everybody`s seen me.

If you`ve had your little joke, l`ll be going on my way.

Oh, Hap, wait a minute. Don`t leave.

Hap. Hap, wait a minute.

What for?. One of your friends miss the show?.

Really, Hap. How could I possibly know you were gonna turn up looking like this?.

Okay, Miss Bennett. I`ll come back some time when my slip doesn`t show.

You`re pretty vain, aren`t you, Mr. Endicott?.

It`s just that I don`t wear a dinner jacket to a Turkish bath.

I happen to feel a little conspicuous in this thing.

I don`t know why. It`s a very smart pareu.

-I think you look nice in it. -Hmm.

TAVAE: You`re right on, Mimi.

Hello, Hap. You here too?.

Burn the reef. Where did you get that suit?.

-Him. -Oh, well, then he got the pareu from....

From me.

[LAUGHS]

I thought I was going to a luau.

Luau is Hawaiian. In Tahiti, a party is a tamaaraa.

Big happiness. You coming?.

-Well, no Tavae, we`ll see you later, hmm?. -What`s the matter?.

-You angry because I have your suit?. -No.

You angry because you don`t have your suit?.

[LAUGHS]

No, Tavae, l`m not angry about anything.

-You know, you look good, Hap. -Well, thanks, Tavae. You look good too.

-Ha-ha-ha. -Goodbye.

Goodbye, Tavae. You see, clothes aren`t important in Tahiti.

Well, uh, suppose you tell me what is, huh?.

-What`s important?. -Yeah.

Well....

Oh, you must like it here.

Of course I do. I love it here. This is my home...

...but all my life`s been one long vacation. And l`m bored.

Mimi, I don`t know what you`re looking for...

...whatever it is, you`re not gonna find it anywhere else.

I know, Hap. The other fellow`s grass is always greener.

Oh, no, it isn`t. I`ve been to a lot of places...

...this is the greenest grass l`ve ever seen.

And the whitest sand.

You really do love it here, don`t you, Hap?.

Well, it`s the kind of life l`ve always wanted.

But, Hap, you know those people that get up at the crack of dawn?.

-Yeah?. -Well, they see the same sky.

And-- And while they`re stepping over each other...

-...they do some pretty wonderful things. -Like what?.

Well, like sending us the missionaries that taught us how to live.

If you ask me, it`s high time you return the favor.

Civilization could stand it.

-But, Hap, you were a schoolteacher. -Mm-hm.

Now-- Now, that was important. It must have given you some satisfaction.

Satisfaction?.

I was a human target for 50 small boys...

...with dirty faces and an arsenal of slingshots.

Don`t you like little boys?.

Does anyone?. I don`t think even little boys like little boys.

[LAUGHS]

Shh.

There`s one right behind you.

One what?.

Oh, well, don`t say anything. Maybe he`ll go away.

[BOTH SPEAKlNG lN TAHlTlAN]

-He says his name is Papera. -Well, that`s a nice name.

[SPEAKlNG lN TAHlTlAN]

-No. -No, what?.

[LAUGHS]

He says he belongs to you.

-To me?. -Yes.

Why, I never saw him before in my life.

Come here, Papera.

[BOTH SPEAKlNG lN TAHlTlAN]

-What did he say?. -He says he`s Mama Ruau`s grandson.

-Ruau?. -Mm-hm.

Oh, the typewriter woman.

You see, she wants him to grow up like you, with much knowledge...

...so she`s giving him to you. It`s a custom.

But I don`t want him. What kind of a custom is that?.

Oh, Papera, wait.

Wait, don`t leave. It`s all right, dear.

Come on back.

Don`t you see, Hap, here in Tahiti, the children belong to all of us...

...and when someone is lonely and has no child, those with plenty share.

In this way, all men become brothers.

But Mimi, l`m not lonely. Look, tell him we don`t do things like this.

Ah, but we do, Hap. And you said you wanted to be a Tahitian.

[SPEAKlNG lN TAHlTlAN]

Mama Ruau would be terribly hurt if you sent him back.

-Well, what`ll I do with him?. -Oh, you`ll think of something.

Besides, he looks like a very nice little boy.

Well, this ought to be interesting.

I`ve never been a father before. I hope you don`t mind if I call on you for help.

-Of course. Anytime. -How about right now?.

Oh, no, no, Hap. I-- l`ve really got to get back to the party.

-Well, why don`t we walk you back?. -No, no.

You and Papera run along and get acquainted. I`ll be all right.

Well, all right. Come on.

I wonder if he`s got a slingshot.

[MlMl LAUGHS]

-Goodbye, Mimi. -Goodbye, Hap.

Three, four, five, six--

-Cornflakes! -Ha-ha-ha.

Okay, cornflake, huh?.

Now, remember, you eat slowly.

Use your spoon, huh?.

Good manners are very important, especially with a girl like Mama Mimi.

She doesn`t like carelessness. She doesn`t like people who are lazy.

Cornflakes.

[CHATTERlNG]

E-R-A. Now you try it.

No, no, Papera, look. P-A-P.

Shh.

[SPEAKlNG lN TAHlTlAN]

ENDlCOTT: Come on. P-A-P-E-R-A. Now you try it.

[SPEAKlNG lN TAHlTlAN]

[SPEAKlNG lN TAHlTlAN]

TAVAE: Mr. Endicott, where are you?.

Here I am.

[CHATTERlNG]

[SPEAKlNG lN TAHlTlAN]

[WOMEN YELL]

[ALL LAUGH]

-Well, thank you very much. -That`s good, huh?.

[MAN SPEAKlNG lN TAHlTlAN]

Tell him not to worry. There is no harm done.

-He`s not worried. He`s thirsty. ALL: Yeah. We`re thirsty.

You don`t worry either. Orange beer will do it. I`ll take care of it.

All right.

[CHATTERlNG]

[ALL SPEAKlNG lN TAHlTlAN]

[ENDlCOTT HUMMlNG]

-Cornflake?. -Cornflake.

[CONTlNUE SPEAKlNG lN TAHlTlAN]

-Hi, Papera. PAPERA: Hi.

-Who are they?. -Manu, Tani.

-They stay?. -They stay?. Oh, no, no.

Now, look, Papera. Now, look.

Tell your friends that they`re very nice and they can come anytime.

But they cannot stay. They go.

[SPEAKlNG lN TAHlTlAN]

I`m sorry, kids.

[SPEAKlNG lN TAHlTlAN]

I`m sorry.

One`s enough.

Well, maybe girls are different.

Well, it`s gonna be an awfully large family.

[SPEAKlNG lN TAHlTlAN]

All right, Papera. Tell your friends they can stay.

[SPEAKlNG lN TAHlTlAN]

[CHlLDREN LAUGHlNG]

-Cornflake. Cornflake. -Ahh. Ahh.

-Cornflake. Cornflake. -Ahh. Ahh.

-Uh, they speak English?. -Not good.

Well, it`s simple. Now, come on around here, kids. Come on.

Now, let`s see. Let`s, uh-- Let`s start with a bow.

-Uh, what`s his name?. -Manu.

Manu?. Manu, watch Papera. All right, Papera.

Now, you. Good. That`s it.

Now you, Tani. Oh, no, no, wait a minute. Uh--

With girls, it`s, uh-- lt`s a little different. It`s, uh, more-- More like this.

[CHlLDREN LAUGH]

All right. Come on.

Now then, one thing you`ve always got to remember:

[SlNGlNG] Etiquette, etiquette

CHlLDREN [SlNGlNG] : Etiquette, etiquette

Always fold your serviette

CHlLDREN: Always fold your serviette

Keep your fingers clean and neat

Use a spoon and fork to eat

CHlLDREN: Keep your fingers clean and neat

Use a spoon and fork to eat

With a curtsy and a bow

You have such good manners now

-With a curtsy BOYS: And a bow

CHlLDREN: We have such good manners now

Ha, ha, that`s good. Now, we`re gonna go buy you some new clothes.

We`ll go over and show them off to Mama Mimi.

And we`ll give her some flowers too.

Maybe she`ll let us watch her new swimming club.

When we get there, we remember?.

[lN UNlSON] We know!

CHlLDREN [SlNGlNG] : Etiquette, etiquette

Always fold your serviette

Keep your fingers clean and neat

Use a spoon and fork to eat

With a curtsy and a bow

You have such good manners now

-With a curtsy BOYS: And a bow

ALL: We have such good manners now

[ALL LAUGH]

[CHEERlNG]

MlMl: Hi. I know, I know.

[CHATTERlNG]

[SPEAKlNG lN TAHlTlAN]

Come on, friends.

[CHEERlNG]

[SPEAKlNG lN TAHlTlAN]

[LAUGHlNG]

[SPEAKlNG lN TAHlTlAN]

MlMl: All right. Come on, now. Everybody line up.

Get your lines straight. Let`s go.

ALL [SlNGlNG]: I`m a happy troubadour

That`s singing in the sun

All I need is sunshine

And I`ll sing for everyone

MlMl: I beam with every pretty sunbeam

Life is joy

It`s funny everybody calls him

Sunny Boy

ALL: I arise and vocalize

When morning has begun

Just another day for play

And singing in the sun

MlMl: I`m so very merry, merry

Living is just fun

ALL: What a way to spend your life

Singing in, just singing in

Just singing in the sun

[ALL CHEERlNG]

[SPEAKlNG lN TAHlTlAN]

[ALL LAUGH]

-Hap. Hello. -Oh, hi.

-What are you doing here?. -Oh, just passing by.

Ah-ha. Too bad you missed our swimming class.

-l`ve been busy. -Really?.

[SPEAKlNG lN TAHlTlAN]

-Lovely flower for lovely lady. -Why, thank you, Papera.

-Lovely lady. -How nice, Tani.

-Mama Mimi. -Mama Mimi?.

Yeah, well how about that, huh?.

Well, you know how kids are. They think that-- Well, they`re just children.

-Oh, they do get some strange ideas. -Don`t they, though?.

-We swim, okay?. -Okay, but don`t forget your bathing suits.

[CHUCKLES]

And look out for the reef.

-Quite a family, Hap. -Yeah.

I`ve been here two weeks and got three children. Not bad, huh?.

If you adopt any more children, you may have to go to work.

That may not be too bad, I guess. You may not believe...

-...but l`m not as lazy as I was. -You`re not?.

I`m getting interested in this copra stuff. Might even go in for it in a big way.

Well, l`m glad to hear it, Hap. Sounds like fun.

[CHlLDREN LAUGHlNG]

You got your bathing suits?.

[BOTH LAUGH]

-Well, that`s Tahiti. Ha-ha-ha. -Yeah.

[SlNGlNG] Draw exactly what you see

It`s as easy as can be

Say, that`s good, Papera.

[KNOCKlNG ON DOOR]

-Come in. Well, hello, Mimi. -Hello, Hap.

-I brought your pig back. -Oh, thanks.

[PlG GRUNTlNG]

Aren`t we gonna say how do you do to Mama Mimi?.

-How do. -Hello, Papera.

[CHUCKLES]

-Hello, Manu. -Okay, you kids go play now, huh?.

-We play with Puaa?. -All right. All right.

-Be careful-- -Don`t let him get away now.

-Why don`t you sit down, Mimi?. -Thank you.

-l-- I really can only stay a moment. -Oh.

[SPEAKlNG lN TAHlTlAN]

-I stay?. -Sure. Sure. You stay.

Now that I have to work, I don`t have much time to spend with children.

Besides, uh, Tani likes to keep me company, don`t you, huh?. And she draws.

Oh, she does?. Well, how nice.

I`d love to see some of your drawings, Tani. May l?.

-Uh-huh. -Ha, ha.

The boys don`t care much about it, but she`s got a lot of talent.

I think you`d better be careful. She seems to have a crush on you.

Well, she knows the real me.

Oh, I think you two should be very happy together...

-...if you don`t mind long engagements. -Ha-ha-ha.

Oh, here we are. Let`s see now. Well--

-Well, that`s interesting, Tani. What is it?. -lt`s you, Hap.

[CHUCKLES]

MlMl: So that`s the real Hap Endicott.

Wonderful. I`d have known him anywhere.

Well, why don`t you run along, honey, hmm?. That`s a good girl.

-Goodbye, Tani. -Ha, ha.

-Very nice little house you have, Hap. -Well, thanks.

Needs curtains and things, I suppose.

I don`t know much about that sort of thing.

-Maybe I could, uh, help you some time. -That`d be great.

Thanks for, uh, bringing the pig back.

Oh, it-- lt`s all right. I-- l-- I was going by anyway.

Thanks very much, anyhow.

Well, l, uh-- I guess l`d better be going.

-I didn`t think that you-- -I hate to see you hurry off.

No, I really should go. I have a meeting of the Tahitian Tradition League. I--

-Oh, the Tahitian Tradition League. -Uh-huh.

Aunt Kate would never forgive me if I left her to face them alone.

No. I-- l-- I don`t suppose she would.

Well, l-- l`m really expected there now.

-I should go. -Do you think you should?.

-Do you really have to go to this meeting?. -l-- I really should, yes, Hap.

Why don`t I walk you home?.

-Maybe we can think of something else. -Well, maybe.

Look, Mimi, give me a chance.

You go. You stay.

You go. You stay.

[LAUGHS]

Good old dandelion. I knew I could depend on you.

Hap, that`s not a dandelion. That`s a hibiscus.

Well, now, do you see how helpless I am without you?.

-You just can`t go off and leave me here. -Oh, I suppose you`re right.

[ENDlCOTT CHUCKLES]

-Look, this is bougainvillea. -Yeah?.

-lt`s not a flower. It`s a leaf. -Yeah?.

-Did you know that?. -No.

-Hey, look. -Oh, yes.

-lsn`t it beautiful?. -Mm-hm.

I love this view.

You know, Aunt Kate`s gonna wonder where I am.

-Eh, she`ll get along without you. -What about the League?.

Well, tell them you`re entertaining a prospective member.

[CHUCKLES]

ENDlCOTT: What is all that?.

MlMl: Oh, well, they`re having a celebration.

It`s called tamaaraa.

-What are they celebrating?. -Well, nothing special.

In Tahiti, when you feel like doing something, you just do it.

It`s a custom.

-Oh, it is, huh?. -Mm-hm.

What a wonderful custom.

I never felt more Tahitian.

-Well, what`s the matter, Mimi?. -You were never less Tahitian.

-Well, why?. -Well, it-- it`s just not the custom.

-Well, don`t they kiss in Tahiti?. -Not like that.

Well, how do they do it?.

Well, it`s-- lt`s-- lt`s like this.

Yeah. Now what?.

And then like this.

-Well, now what?. -Now nothing.

Uh, according to the League, we`ve kissed.

-You mean that`s all there is?. -Mm-hm.

-There must be more to it than that. -That`s all.

Well, then I withdraw my application for membership.

This is one custom they handle better in America.

Now, don`t get me wrong. We were doing fine right up to here.

-You don`t understand-- -Don`t turn away.

-That`s where you make your mistake. -But, Hap, you--

-Now, isn`t that better?. -Mm-hm.

-Now what?. -Now we do it again.

Oh.

ENDlCOTT: Tavae. Tavae. -Here I am, Hap.

ENDlCOTT: Well, stay there. I wanna talk to you a minute.

What can I do for you?.

Some of the people for whom you`ve been signing our name...

-...would rather have money. -No. Like who?.

Like Wong Fo for the wine we drank, Tua for the tubs and a few more.

-What`s the matter?. Don`t I sign good?. -Oh, gosh. That`s just the trouble.

You sign too good, too often.

Now look, Tavae, l`ve tried to tell you about this.

I haven`t got any more money left. Can`t you understand?. I`m in debt.

If I don`t pay my bills, l`ll lose the plantation.

-l`ll have to leave the islands. -No. You don`t leave.

There`s Terru, and me, and Tani, and Manu, and Papera, and Mimi.

You belong to us now. You don`t have to worry.

-We got plenty coconuts. -I know all about that. We break even.

No, no. The trees are good now.

Burn the reef. We have the big crop this time.

-Not big enough for this. -Sure thing.

We pay all the bills. We get help. Then....

Oh, wait, next week is the big fete.

-No good. Nobody works. -Oh, great.

No matter. The work will be done before that. We have a whole week.

-Do you really think we can do it?. -I think so.

Then after that, we have big party.

Celebrate the big moment of independence...

-...when the king had his head cut off. -Ha-ha-ha.

-Okay, we`ll do it, huh?. -We have to work hard.

That`s all right with me. I`ve had my fill of lying in a hammock. Come on, let`s go.

-Mimi. -Hmm?.

You were to meet me in town to pick up your ticket.

Oh, morning, Aunt Kate.

Mimi, your ticket. The boat sails next week.

Oh, yes, it does, doesn`t it?.

Hap asked me to go to the fete with him. That`s next week too.

What do you think of him, Aunt Kate?.

-Your Mr. Endicott?. -Mm-hm.

I think he`s wonderful.

But then, l`d think a typhoon wonderful if it kept you here.

[CHUCKLES]

You know, he`s changed a lot.

He`s not at all like he was when he first got here.

Neither are you.

[SlGHS]

All he ever did was lie around in the sun.

[SlNGlNG] Why is love so crazy

Why is there no cure

Why do grown-up people

Become so immature

You`re so sentimental

All the world`s in rhyme

You become a poet

And sonnets you compose

And then before you know it

You`re right back to prose

There`s a lot of learning

They don `t teach in school

To fall in love is foolish

And here`s another fool

[HUMMlNG]

To fall in love

Is foolish

And I`m

A happy fool

TAVAE: Hello, Hap. You`re all dressed for the fete.

-You look good, Hap. -Thanks, Tavae. How`s it coming?.

It come fine. You better hurry. Mimi will be waiting for you.

No, I wanted to see the job finished.

Don`t think about it, Hap. You work hard enough. Now go play.

[LAUGHS]

But see that all the copra`s under cover before you go.

You think it might rain?.

I can`t take a chance. This crop means too much to me.

-Sure thing, Hap. We`ll put it in shed. -All right. We`ll see you at the fete, huh?.

-Goodbye, Hap. -Goodbye.

[CHATTERlNG]

[CHEERlNG]

[ALL SPEAKlNG lN TAHlTlAN]

They do not stay.

I do not blame them. For this day they have waited all year. And so have we.

There are few more left. We must finish the work.

[ALL SPEAKlNG lN TAHlTlAN]

There`s lots of work to do.

Probably too much for us.

It is a great deal.

It will not rain. I don`t think.

I do not think so either.

The fete is beginning. It will be lonely here.

[WOMAN SPEAKlNG lN TAHlTlAN]

Let us go.

[CHEERlNG]

[SlNGlNG lN TAHlTlAN]

[APPLAUSE]

You know, the committee`s never gonna forgive me.

-Which committee?. -The Entertainment Committee of the Fete.

Well, they`re gonna have to tonight. You`ve got a date with me.

I know.

-Oh, look, Hap. There it is. -Hmm.

MlMl: Huahine.

The sea of the moon.

I didn`t know you knew the legend of Huahine.

Well, of course. Every two-fisted Tahitian knows about it.

[CHUCKLES]

At daybreak, the island rises out of the sea...

...and the moon comes to rest beside it in the water. Right?.

Right.

And then when evening comes, the moon rises...

...and the island disappears into the sea again.

-lsn`t it lovely, Hap?. -Mm-hm.

-Do you really believe it?. -Of course I do.

Who is to say where truth ends and fantasy begins?.

Hmm.

We take our legends very seriously.

As a matter of fact, we`ve even put them to music.

[SlNGlNG] Come with me

To the sea of the moon

To the sea

That was named for the moon

Over the waves of morning blue

Into the evening

Let me sail with you

To an island that`s happy and gay

In a world

That`s forgotten its laughter

Come and daydream with me

Close your eyes and we`ll be

By the beautiful sea

Of the moon

[FOGHORN BLOWlNG]

What`s the matter, Hap?.

Oh, the eternal triangle.

You and I and that boat.

Well, don`t worry about the boat, Hap. I`m not leaving.

[SlGHS]

-You`re not leaving?. -Uh-uh.

Oh, Mimi, that`s wonderful, because l`ve got something to say.

Well, here goes.

[SPEAKlNG lN TAHlTlAN]

-Hap, do you know what you`re saying?. -l`m asking you to marry me.

I`ve been rehearsing it for weeks. Did I say it right?.

Oh, like a two-fisted Tahitian.

[THUNDER RUMBLlNG]

PAPERA: Oh-oh. Trouble for popaa. Manu, Tani.

[THUNDER RUMBLlNG]

[CHATTERlNG]

MAN: Mimi. -Hey, Hap. Come, join us.

-Join us, Mimi. -Hello, Terru.

[ALL SPEAKlNG lN TAHlTlAN]

-Burn the reef, this is a good party, huh?. -lt`s a wonderful party, Tavae.

[SPEAKlNG lN TAHlTlAN]

Oh, Tavae.

What`s he saying?.

He said if we`re not in love, we ought to be.

-Well, let`s tell them. -Tavae, we`re going to be married.

[SPEAKlNG lN TAHlTlAN]

[CHEERlNG]

Hey, Mimi, let`s celebrate. How about a dance?.

-Oh, all right. Do you mind, Hap?. -All right, go ahead.

I`ll be right back.

-This is a big happiness, Hap. -Thanks.

-We`ll need that copra more than ever now. -You`re right, Hap.

-You having a good time?. -Sure, sure.

Ha, ha, l`ve never been here before.

-lt`s raining?. -Oh, it`s pouring.

-l`m glad we got the copra in time. -The copra?.

What`s the matter, Tavae?.

[SPEAKlNG lN TAHlTlAN]

-Tavae, what is it?. You got the copra in?. -Aue, no.

-No?. -lt will be all right, Hap.

Three thousand kilos rotting in the rain.

-Not that much. Leave it to me. -""Leave it to me, leave it to me.""

-Don`t get upset. -What do you expect me to do?.

-You leave everything to me. -That`s how I got into this in the first place.

-My brother will arrange everything. -Your brother`s an idiot.

-What`s the matter?. -He left the copra to rot in the rain.

-Well, don`t spoil the party-- -Mimi, keep out of this.

Here, please take my guitar. It`s worth something.

-And the rest what I owe will come. -Find yourself another job.

I don`t wanna see you anymore.

Hap, what are you saying?. You can`t mean that.

-I do mean that. This is serious for me. -Why, it`s serious to me too.

Goodbye, Mr. Endicott. You will not see us again.

My brother will arrange that.

Well, that`s that.

Hap.

Hap, how could you possibly do that to Tavae?.

-Let`s forget about it. -I can`t. Tavae is my friend.

I know. You told me. You grew up together.

-Be careful, Hap. -Well, you did. You`ve been telling me that.

You had no right to humiliate him in front of everyone.

-And what did he do to me?. -What?. He lost a few sacks of copra.

I suppose I should have given him, uh, a medal.

You wanted to be a Tahitian.

You never will be, not if you live for a thousand years.

Let`s get it straight. I`m from Ohio, all of me. Springfield, Ohio.

Yes, and l`m a Tahitian, all of me.

A Tahitian from Tahiti. If you live on this island...

...the rest of your life, you`re never going to understand.

Why don`t you marry a Tahitian instead of just growing up with them?.

Well, maybe I will, Hap. Maybe that`s just what I will do.

Okay. It`s all right with me.

With friends like yours, I couldn`t afford to marry you.

Oh.

Hey, kids, Papera, Tani, Manu. Where are you?.

Hey, kids. Papera.

Hey, kids.

Hap. Here we are, Hap.

[SPEAKlNG lN TAHlTlAN]

Well, what`re you doing out here, hmm?. Why aren`t you in bed?.

Oh, the copra. How`d it get in here?.

Papera, Manu, Tani and me.

-You did all that by yourselves?. -We and all the other kids.

-You`re not happy, Hap?. -You`re not proud of us, Hap?.

Well, of course, l`m proud of you, Papera. And you, Tani. And you too, Manu.

[CHUCKLES]

I wouldn`t trade you for all the copra in the world.

Well, let`s all go to bed, hmm?. It`s been a very mixed-up day.

-Good night. -Good night, Hap.

ENDlCOTT [SlNGlNG] : Where the golden sun beams

And the lazy land dreams

All the happy years through

You`ll belong to me

And I to you

Come with me where moon beams

Light Tahitian skies

And the starlit waters

Linger in your eyes

Native hills are calling

To them we belong

And we`ll cheer each other

With the pagan

Love song

CHORUS [SlNGlNG] : Come with me where moonbeams

Light Tahitian skies

And the starlit waters

Linger in your eyes

Native hills are calling

To them we belong

And we`ll cheer each other

With the pagan

Love song

-This is very bad, Terru. -Then it is bad.

Must you say it over and over again?.

It is all my fault. I am sad. And l`m also angry.

Don`t think about it. Fish.

When we have enough, we will sell them and pay Mr. Endicott.

There are not so many fish in the sea.

-Do as I say. -lt makes me sad...

...because they love each other and they fight.

Oh, fish!

-lf only we could make them meet. -How could we do that?.

[FOGHORN BLOWlNG]

[CHEERlNG]

-Now I know. Burn the reef. -A way.

TERRU: Hurry. Hurry, Tavae. Hurry.

[BOTH SPEAKlNG lN TAHlTlAN]

-I must find Hap. Come. Come. -You see Hap, I see Mimi. Away!

Mimi. Mimi, hurry. Hap is going on the boat. He is leaving.

-What?. -You must stop him, Mimi.

Why should I stop him?.

Because you love him and he loves you and he loves Tahiti and....

Oh, he mustn`t leave. Don`t you see, Mimi?. We left the copra in the rain.

Hap lost everything. He`s bankrupt.

-You mean, that copra was all he had?. -Yes. And he lost that. It`s all our fault.

Now he`s lost you too.

-How much time do I have?. -Twenty minutes.

I can just make it.

TAVAE: Hap. Hap. -Yeah, here I am, Tavae.

TAVAE: I wanna talk to you. You got to hurry.

-l`m sorry about last night. -Sure, but there`s no time.

-The boat is leaving and Mimi`s on it. -What?.

Hi.

[SPEAKlNG lN TAHlTlAN]

Mimi. Mimi. Come back, Mimi.

-Hap, wait. Wait, Hap. Hap, come back. -Mimi, Mimi, come back.

Hap.

[HORN BLOWlNG]

-Hey, monsieur, coconut crab. -No.

Five franc. Hey, monsieur, hey.

What?.

Mimi.

ALL [SlNGlNG] : Got a place in the sun

A particular one

On a tropical avenue

Far away from it all That I happily call

The house of singing bamboo

On the windier days Seems an orchestra plays

On a musical breeze for you

Like a merry salute From a heavenly flute

To the house of singing bamboo

For here we`ll stay

Never more to roam

From our new old-fashioned

South Sea home

You don `t have to count sheep That`s for Little Bo-Peep

You can sleep till the sun peeks through

You can dream any dream For you know that your dreams come true

When you live in a house

In a house of singing

Bamboo

[ENGLlSH SDH]