Original subtitles

I am Ti-Koyo, the shark's friend.

It's what they call me on our islands,

the Tuamotu Islands in the Pacific Ocean.

The appearance of a shark is a fear every man knows.

It's a ruthless fight.

When I was a little boy, I dreamed of having adventures to talk about.

But my story was not like the other ones.

It was so extraordinary that still today,

some people wonder if it's a legend.

I was born in this village,

in a family of fishermen, the Okunis.

I was still a little boy when my brothers were grown up.

We were twelve, and Punuà was the oldest.

We all learned to fish from him.

He was the best, and he was like a father to us.

He decided if we were to fish in the ocean with nets

or in the lagoon with long harpoons, the "patià",

and with underwater glasses.

Sometimes the fishermen of my island were very lucky.

They found the precious mother-of-pearl oysters, nacres.

If left in the sun, they became shiny

and could be sold to the passing ships for a lot of money.

But ships rarely came to the village during my childhood.

Cocoyo lived in the last stilt hut

that he used as a house and emporium.

In his emporium he sold a bit of everything,

and in exchange of the goods he received from ships,

he gave sacks of copra which is the coconut pulp.

It was the only product of our land and Cocoyo stocked up on it.

Note this for the time being. There are 82 sacks of copra that's ready.

What prices did you mark this morning?

No. First you must open your ears and then have your head work.

How many times must I tell you?

If in the evening the radio says the dollar has gone up...

Understand? Our items must cost more.

And if there is a zero near the number, you must add another one.

If you don't understand this, you're not suited for trading.

Before starting to trade, Cocoyo had been a sort of witch doctor.

During the years of my childhood, many people joked about it,

but nobody left for the high seas or for the lagoon

if they didn't stop by his hut

and receive his good wishes.

Please, have them fish well and return safe and sound.

They say they're not scared, but they desire your help.

Alright! Someone is taking care of you! You can have faith.

Good luck and good fishing!

There we go.

And this is me. Since there was no room in the hut,

and I was the youngest, I slept in a fish trap.

They never call me.

It's going badly, darn it!

It's already rotten.

It stinks!

Goodbye, Cocoyo!

Ti-Koyo. Well?

You woke up late today, again.

- I told them to call me. - Don't get upset.

You'll come with me this morning to collect algae again.

The red sea weed is the best for tooth-aches.

When I was little they never took me fishing, either.

So I went on the shore and spoke with the fish.

- Did they understand you? - Sure. They understood very well.

A long time ago, men and fish used to be friends.

- If they met, they said hello. - Why not now?

Now they lower their nets.

When will I grow up and go fishing?

First of all you must understand that fish can't be brought home alive

and you must not cry every time one of them has to be killed.

I was 12 when they took me fishing the first time.

- Were you good at it? - I was very good.

Down there, a long time ago,

I caught a moonfish.

Nobody can ever get it and you know why?

Because when you're about to catch it,

the moonfish sets!

Today I'd be there at sea,

I'd be the best fisherman of the islands

if I hadn't been a witch doctor.

But you said you spoke to fish. Do you still do that?

Fish talk, but...

nobody understands them anymore. I don't either.

What a shame! What did the fish say?

They came here on the shore, to talk to me.

Big and small. Even sharks!

They weren't all ferocious as they are now.

Some sharks guided brave fishermen

where the fishing was more abundant.

Here. I must go back to the village.

- Here. I brought more. - Very good.

- Necklaces go like hot cakes. - I made them all.

Good! If you add the others, that makes...

12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21...

Next time, we will need many more.

Mr. Yen! I thought you were on the pier waiting for the ship.

No. I don't like confusion.

Many people come and I...

- Shall I pick them up at the ship? - Go.

- I'll take them home. - Sit down. I'll get you a drink.

They paid to have fun,

but every ship arrival changes the face of this island.

You have foreign arrive and then you complain.

Business is business.

The world changes and we must keep up with the times.

But I didn't think it would change so quickly.

In a couple of years we won't recognize our island anymore.

The truth is we're old and alone.

When we left our country, my son didn't feel up to work in this island.

He wanted to go to America where he became rich in a short while.

- Then you know... - He died in an accident.

Yes, and today on the ship there are his two children

who've been in boarding school for five years.

I don't even have the courage to go meet them.

Their names are different than ours, Jeff and Diana.

Hi!

Hi!

My comb!

Thanks!

They always take it out on me. They like teasing me.

But I have another comb to give that little girl.

I have one.

Here it is!

What are you doing here? This is not your house.

Look. It's a shark fin.

- I comb myself with these. - I can see that.

You want to comb your hair with it?

Don't get close, it must be infected.

I don't understand how you can hold something like that.

- What does "infected" mean? - You don't know?

- No. - Look.

This game is not infected.

It's made of plastic, sterilized.

I bought it in America.

But it's fake. If you want to come with me to the village,

I'll show you a real shark. My brothers killed it.

Grandad doesn't want us to come to the village.

Ok, but if you change your mind, look for me.

You come with me, and I can take care of you. Trust me.

Here it is.

My brother Punuà stuck him first.

Look at what a big mouth these huge animals have.

I can fit inside.

In America, on television, there was a bigger one.

Yes, but this one was mean.

He wanted to eat a fisherman and my brothers killed it.

It's full of flies here. Let's go away.

Let's go to the other coast of the island.

- It's beautiful there. - But I'm tired to walk.

Slowly, or they'll run away.

- Where can they go? - They run quickly.

I'll sit here. They bother me.

Alright.

It's a place where they come to sleep.

If they go inside the holes, it's easier to catch them.

They are curious about the leaf hanging on a string.

They keep it in their claws and stay in there. Look.

- Have you ever driven a go-kart? - What?

Look. It bit it!

Look how big it is.

- Look, Diana. - Aren't you afraid it will sting?

It takes a lot more to scare me.

Darn! It's the second time I must do my braid over.

Great way of having fun! Sticking fish to coconuts.

They can't get away, keep floating and starve.

Diana, look. Look at what I'll do.

Come, Diana.

Go away!

The day for big fishing finally arrived.

Everyone is at the eastern lagoon. Even Mr. Yen and his grandchildren.

For this type of fishing, they make a big effort, but with poor results.

First they surround the fish, then they hit the seashells.

- The brightest ones are like mirrors. - When there's the new moon.

- They fish with the nacres. - Right.

Look. They use them as mirrors.

They scare and drive out the fish hiding among the corals.

Diana, finally my brothers will take me fishing.

If the sun doesn't go away, we'll get all the fish in the lagoon.

Be careful of sharks!

I will be careful.

Grandad, will you keep the umbrella? I'd like to take a picture.

Sure. Look. They're closing the great circle.

Run to the tool hut and get the big fish trap. Go!

I'll run!

The nets. Quick!

Harpoon now!

You're such a small shark and you managed to save yourself.

Hey, Ti-Koyo!

You're a great help! Are you already tired?

- Let's go home. - Just a moment. I'm tired.

I brought you a moray. I harpooned it down there.

It's poisonous if it bites, but it's good to eat.

Maybe a bit hard.

But you're a shark. You have good teeth and many.

Come here, Manidù.

Eat, Manidù.

Manidù means "brother".

- Hi, Cocoyo. - Good morning.

Do you want to buy something?

No. I'm taking a walk. Are you fishing?

Yes, Miss Diana. I'm fishing.

Will you eat all these fish?

Not all, Miss Diana. I'd get a stomach-ache.

- So you fish them to sell. - Yes, even to sell them.

Do you sell them at the market or at the warehouse?

At the warehouse.

But if you sell them, it means that you don't like fish.

As you wish, Miss Diana.

If you're waiting for Ti-Koyo, he's not coming.

He's going to another friend. Stick that in your head.

Hi, Manidù. I brought you three today

because you've grown. It's hard work!

These are the last ones I'm bringing you.

You must get by on your own now.

I put live fish in the pool so you will learn.

You don't even try to catch them! You seem scared.

Now you are a real shark.

And sharks are ferocious. Everybody knows that.

You are too good, Manidù.

Little fish are eating what I brought you right under your nose.

This is outrageous!

Don't run away! Make them respect you. You're big now.

Now you're starting to understand.

Bad weather. Nobody had gone out at sea for a week.

No fishing.

They sleep the whole day.

Do you want to eat now? You do? You're hungry.

This is good. I got it in the river.

You don't like it? It's a sort of lobster.

People adore it, and you don't.

It's absurd!

Absurd! I go way out for you and the little fish eat everything!

Now you've even learned to purr.

You are a funny shark, Manidù.

I must fish at night to find something you like

or you'll complain. You'll probably start talking too.

This one you'll like for sure.

Stop blowing and purring. You look like a cat.

It's not proper for a shark to purr.

It's good, huh?

Eat!

He winked at me!

First he purrs and then he winks.

Cocoyo is right. Fish communicate with us.

No. I must've made a mistake.

It can't be!

Let go of the rope

and lower the baits in the water!

My brother Punuà never took me out in the open sea.

Today he changed his mind. He says I must see

how they hunt sharks with baits

to help fishermen work more reassured.

He says this is the most dangerous point. And he wants me to see.

Put all the pumpkins there and the water must be boiling!

- They're coming! - You think they'll eat?

Sure! As soon as they smell blood, sharks get hungry.

- How many will come? - Many.

The baits will attract them all here. Get ready for the signal!

See? They came. Are you afraid, Ti-Koyo?

Throw more. Quickly! Throw them all.

- All of them. Hurry! - They're eating them.

- Tell him to give the signal now! - Wait.

We must see if the trap works.

Look at how they are eating.

There's taste of blood in the water and they bite everything.

The water has cooled the peel, but the pulp burns like fire inside,

and none can resist with that stuff in their stomach.

We can work now.

Quick, the signal!

- They're all dead. They are terrible. - Right.

This goes for all of them.

- All of them? - You know why I brought you here.

Now that you saw what sharks are like,

have your friend disappear from that pool.

We can't be friends with sharks.

But Manidù is not like the others.

I can't give him a boiling pumpkin.

If he could always remain little! But with what he eats...

The fishing dogs!

Go!

Ugly animals! Leave the shark alone. He's mine!

Go away!

Go away!

You didn't know that there are fishing dogs?

We are all fishermen on this island, even the dogs.

They look for fish who get stuck on the shore.

You must learn these things.

I can't leave you here anymore.

They know the way here now. There's Punuà.

Come on, Manidù. You must leave.

I know you're sorry, and so am I.

You'll grow, and won't fit here anymore.

Sooner or later...

Goodbye, Manidù.

I saw you, Manidù. Don't be so agitated.

Now that you've grown, you think I don't recognize you?

Go away! I've been telling you for months to stay out at sea.

Don't come here anymore.

You're big now. You're dangerous.

If they see you on the shore, near the village, they will kill you.

You know that.

Go away! Hurry!

You're telling me I must follow you. Ok, but tomorrow.

Why did you go this way? It's full of currents here.

Manidù, let's go back. I don't know this part of the sea.

Nobody ever comes here.

See? We can't pass. The lagoon is closed by the corals.

You want me to dive underwater with you?

How did you find such a place?

We can play here in safety.

You are a smart fish, Manidù.

How is the fishing going?

Fine, but don't get too close with the boat!

- Is it easier to fish with canoes? - No, you waste time and it's tiring.

These savages don't understand that.

You could get them motorboats.

It's not possible. They are stuck to their boats.

You'll realize that too.

Diana! Hey!

Come. I'll tell you something I never told anyone. It's a secret.

- Tell me. - I can't here. It's a secret.

Leave me alone.

I have a real shark, alive, and big.

- It's in a lagoon that's all ours. - What a bore!

It's one of your usual incredible stories.

If you weren't always home, I'd have shown you.

They're just excuses. You disappeared.

So get your mask and come with me. I'll take you there now.

Wait a moment.

This is a Chinese hook without a chrome plating.

It's of an inferior quality.

Look at how they use them in those canoes there.

See?

I never came to see you because I couldn't leave him.

Manidù was so little.

- Who was so little? - Manidù. It's his name.

To see him, you must put your mask on and dive behind me.

I made it with pandanus leaves.

It's a signal to find this lagoon.

The wind raises it higher than the trees.

This way I can see it from far away.

Come. Quick!

I made it for you.

They are coral fish.

- Did you fish them? - Yes.

Come. Manidù is hungry.

I keep a supply here

because he prefers fish dried in the sun.

Give him two of them. Here.

He's coming.

Don't be scared. I told him about you.

What did you tell him?

That I would've liked you to be my sister.

It doesn't matter if you're Chinese or American. It's fine with me.

Diana, look at how he eats.

That's it. Wag your tail!

Show my friend how good you are.

Very good!

Come. Get your mask. He wants to play.

Now he's hiding. It's a game where I must look for him. Watch.

Now that Diana sees how Manidù and I play together,

I hope she'll come here every day.

She likes him. He was a good shark

and he deserved this prize.

I'll have him rest a bit at the bottom,

and then we'll show Diana the kite game.

But first we must caress him. He really likes it.

After that, he enjoys playing even more.

It's your granddad's boat. They're looking for you!

- Will you bring me here again? - Sure. Always.

- The suitcases are ready. - I'll have Mansho take you.

See? Granddad is so mad he won't even take us to the ship.

I know men. He'll come. He'll kiss us and will cry.

What are you doing? Waiting for Ti-Koyo?

You want to run away with him again?

I didn't run away. I wanted to see a shark close up.

I thought it would be useful for school too.

We had to go back to boarding school anyway.

Yes, but if this vacation ends badly,

it's all your fault. Remember that, Diana.

Leave me alone!

Is it true that you're leaving?

Are you going away?

- Did the shark come back? - No. I don't think he'll come back.

- I think he will. - He won't. Many days have gone by.

Maybe he was upset that I took you to our lagoon.

I know him.

And now you're leaving too.

I'm going to boarding school in Los Angeles.

- When will you come back? - I don't know.

Thinking about it today, after many years,

I don't think there were ever more important days than that one.

My childhood ends there.

The village is burning today.

Its destruction was ordered by Jeff, old Mr. Yen's grandson,

who inherited his grandfather's properties.

He looks like him, a bad copy.

Jeff is always at work. He recruits the men among us.

He organizes them. He puts the white hat of the firm on their head

with written "Yen" in big letters.

He wants to transform the island. He bought the village and is burning it.

He will have cement homes constructed.

They already are starting to rise next to the old huts.

Only my brothers resist, but aren't convinced.

Day by day the face of the island

as our grandfathers had left it was disappearing.

Many of them accepted this transformation.

Even Cocoyo, my old friend, went along with the times

and made his hut more modern.

He traded with Jeff and earned good money.

Many people earned well.

The figures speak for themselves, Mr. Ayou.

Almost all the fishermen work for the firm my grandad founded.

You, as new director, must bring the fishing on an industrial level.

I'll do my best. It's a real honor for me to work with a family like yours.

When you can, I'd like to take a look at the lagoon,

near the coast, out at sea, and on the coral reefs.

Everything will be clear now.

My firm already uses a fleet of fishing boats.

But there are still stubborn fishermen who work with canoes.

I want you to see closely. Look.

These are the modern fishing boats I bought in America.

They keep on working on their own.

We must convince them to work for us to double our production.

He spies on us every day.

- It's 30 arms long. Unravel it. - I want to come too.

I trust only you to dive down here.

The competition with the fishing boats forces us to go

to dangerous sea bottoms far away from the lagoon.

On this coral reef, the preys are the big tonùs.

Easy to approach, but difficult to catch with only harpoons.

A tonù like this one has to be surrounded

and hit by many simultaneous harpoons.

The men did a good job, but it's too heavy for their harpoons.

The animal tries to escape. Its movements

imprison Punuà in the line and he can't go to the surface.

With just its weight, the tonù drags Punuà towards the bottom.

I realize my brother is in danger and I dive in the water.

A shark points at us while our brothers lift Punuà in the boat.

- Easy! - Let him breathe.

Free his head.

There.

I can't go out of the water now. I have to face the shark.

Ti-Koyo is still below!

Look. It's enormous!

The harpoons! Hurry!

It's swimming around me. Its shadow is above me.

It can't be. I feel something extraordinary. I don't believe it,

but the memory gives me courage for an absurd decision.

I leave the harpoon and go towards that shark.

I lightly caress it, and it gently passes close to me.

It lets me caress it a second time. It's him! It's Manidù!

- It's incredible! - It isn't attacking him.

He still expects something from me, an old sign we had.

And when I wink at him, the big animal does joyful summersaults!

- Watch out. This way! - Here it is!

As soon as it gets close, hit its gills.

Stop! Don't thrust them! He's not dangerous!

He's mine! Stop!

He's back! He recognized me.

His shark? He's gone completely mad.

They've lowered their harpoons, not believing what they see,

and I leave happily, embracing my shark.

With my canoe, I was going towards the clear lagoons.

Manidù! That is the coast of our lagoon.

You took me there the first time. Remember?

I was alone because my brothers had joined the Chinese

and were no longer free fishermen.

I still wanted to be free and that is why I had left them,

and I had left the island without regrets.

I had a precise goal.

Manidù, stop it!

Alright, alright. I'm coming.

What a temperament!

When do you sleep?

Being so agitated will increase your appetite.

Now that you woke me up, let me go for a swim. Thank you.

Timeless months and months.

In my hut on the water, on the shores of the lagoon,

I again found the silence and rules of life

as they once were for our people.

A life tied to the strength and generosity of the sea,

of the preys it offers.

Where the current lets fish enter inside my lagoon,

I use a net and get what I need to live every day.

Manidù cannot enter inside the closed-in area. He'd eat everything.

So he patiently waits outside.

I believe he thinks I'm one of his pilot fish

or an inhabitant of the sea, a friend of sharks.

There is no other explanation for his behavior.

He's big, but if I don't take care of his meals, he won't move.

Just as when he was little.

You could have waited. We could've shared as good friends.

Right?

Don't eat the basket. You know it's bad for you.

Is this what you've left me?

How greedy!

It's useless to purr like that just to be forgiven.

You know I hang up your pieces on the pier. Go look for them.

So you know, huh? Hard-headed!

And if it's not enough, here. One of your favorite morsels is left.

See? It's easy to get along if we understand each other.

It's Miss Diana! She's back!

- Did you have a good trip? - You look great, Jeff.

- Like a kid! - Welcome back, Miss Diana.

We've been waiting for you.

I was at the sandbanks to collect some nacres.

To do some shopping and see my brothers,

I'd decided to return a day or two to my village.

I would need some money.

That's why, after exchanging a look with Manidù, I was about to dive in.

If I'd found some of those seashells, I'd have sold them

and buy what I needed.

In that lagoon lost in the middle of the sea,

for fear of sharks nobody ever dove in to collect the precious nacres.

My shark protected me from any danger.

Such big nacres are a rarity

and it was full of them there.

With Manidù close to me, it was easy to collect them.

So I promised him that in exchange for his help,

that evening in our lagoon, we'd have cleaned up.

It's what he enjoyed the most.

I'm coming! Let me clean this nacre. Meanwhile, get ready.

And don't play the usual joke that when I arrive, you hide.

I know that sharks have pilot fish at their service,

but you chose me, so you'll have to make do.

Come here, close to me.

Hold still. Stop, open.

Are you crazy?

Watch out what you eat.

You still can't tell a fish from a can?

Not even an eel from a basket handle.

Open your mouth.

Let me see.

Come closer.

I want to see if you've something between your teeth. That's it.

Now do this.

Good, all clean. Go away!

Wait! I'm going to the village tomorrow, but you'll stay here.

The air isn't good for you there.

Go!

What used to be my silent village on the sea

was no longer recognizable. Homes like anthills,

asphalt roads, stores.

Even the people had changed, like the kids who had been like me.

- Are those nacres yours? - Yes.

Let me see them. The biggest one.

- 2,000 francs. - It's fine with me.

Here.

- Mr. Jeff. - What is it?

Look. Do you recognize him?

- Who is he? - The shark kid.

The famous Ti-Koyo.

Finally we see you again!

What do you want with that face?

You're upset because we work for them?

Hurry! We must finish by the first shift.

This is how my brothers are now.

When they used to go to sea, I thought they were superhuman.

Hey, listen!

Your friend Ti-Koyo is in the city!

- Where is he? - There, in the Chinese neighborhood.

He hasn't come around in a long time. He never changes!

You can even hear America.

No. May I see that one?

This on? But it's old.

It doesn't matter. Let me hear it.

Here. You must turn the handle.

Like this. There's a record. Careful, it's new.

How's it going?

- Fine, and you? - Like an old man now.

Did you buy that stuff?

All things that I need on my island.

- You bought them with these nacres? - They paid 2,000 francs for one.

This is worth lots of money. Don't be silly.

Look at what I am buying now.

Are you interested in a wreck like that?

Maybe you learned how to live among fish,

but you've forgotten how to live among men.

Look!

What strange flowers in this bush!

It's true that there isn't a flower without a hornet.

Sorry if I entered your garden.

You are Ti-Koyo!

Yes, I am. And you are Diana, right?

And we have the same record. Isn't it a coincidence?

I think so.

- My gramophone is stereophonic. - Stereophonic?

It means that music comes out of 2 different channels.

Listen.

That is the loudspeaker, where the sound of violins comes from.

I bought the installation in America. Everyone has them.

That is the second loudspeaker, where the low sounds come from.

I recognized you right away. You haven't changed at all.

I am a bit changed, don't you think?

Excuse me a moment. I'll be right back.

Now that I've met you and seen you in this garden,

it seems like just one day has gone by since I left.

- It seems like yesterday. - Quite a while has gone by.

I remember the day I left for boarding school in Los Angeles.

You were silent, as you are now. You haven't changed at all.

Do you still play with that shark?

Well, you said I haven't changed.

Do you need it to keep your friend company?

- Yes. We live alone now. - Does he like music?

Yes, but he is no expert.

I'm no expert either, but I like this record.

Don't you get bored all day in the middle of the sea?

No. The shark and I fish, or take swims underwater.

- Even at night when it's dark. - Even at night?

How can you see down there?

My eyes are like those of a fish.

At night, I even saw the Tamanù.

Remember when Cocoyo talked to us about it?

The god of lagoon, black, big, with a bat's wings.

It wasn't a legend. It's true. I saw it many times.

You're saying I'm the one who should envy you.

- I don't know. - Did you ever think of marrying?

It's difficult for someone like me.

Being on an island with a shark is not very attractive for a woman.

Isn't it true?

- Good morning. - Hello.

There's mail for you. It's on the table.

I hope you liked it. Goodbye for now.

Goodbye, Miss Diana.

Where do you fish such big nacres?

The sea is full of them. You must know how to collect them.

If you decide to fish for the firm,

I'll give you up to half the earning.

No, I'm sorry. I won't wear your firm's white cap.

I only work when I feel like it. I fish on my own.

Think it over. You can earn a lot of money.

Your brothers realized it. They are shrewder than you.

Everyone on the island has realized it!

- Come to me if you change your mind. - Say hello to your shark.

I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it.

A 30 meter shark was swimming in the lagoon

and Ti-Koyo was hanging on its tail.

He went to Mr. Jeff's home today. He had some enormous seashells.

I'd like to know where he fishes them.

I don't believe that shark story. It's nonsense!

What do you mean? It's a record like Miss Diana's.

We heard it seven times and you're already bored?

If you don't like it, don't listen. You should return to our lagoon.

That's it. There are motorboats around. Go away.

Hey, wake up!

- Wake up! - Diana!

You told me you'd spend the night underwater. Instead, you're sleeping.

I never imagined you'd come to see me.

I sent the shark to sleep and was waiting for sunset to swim.

Why did you come here?

I came because tonight I'll come underwater with you.

- Where? - Underwater.

- Are you kidding? - No, I'm not.

I took a swimming and respiration 2 year course at boarding school.

There are even breathing schools in America?

Sure. It's a matter of technique, even to swim faster.

Put these fins on, and we'll use another novelty.

It's a secret. If Jeff finds out, he'll send me back to America.

A Japanese torch!

- What's it for? - To create light underwater.

My brother had them come from Hong Kong for night fishing.

I stole two to go under with you.

- Will you help me, please? - Of course.

I am just worried about one thing.

What?

- Your shark won't come back, huh? - No, don't worry.

I showed Diana two octopuses in love.

Two of their tentacles were wrapped as if holding hands.

Then suddenly Tamanù appeared.

The god of the underwater.

It had come from the bottom to inspect its lagoon.

It lightly touched us with its wings as if we were sea creatures too.

How beautiful! It was truly marvelous.

Like that day with the kite, remember?

Hey, wake up!

Now you're starting too? The shark wasn't enough, right?

Wake up, sleepy head!

You were dreaming of your lagoon, your seashells, your shark, huh?

I dream of what I desire, not what I have.

Then you were dreaming of a woman.

You guessed, but I don't know if she really exists.

While Manidù is real, and is a good friend.

Then tell me, if that girl exists,

and you should choose between the shark and her, what would you do?

Nothing. Why should I choose? They could co-exist.

This house has become worse than an office in America.

Why? What don't you like?

I'd like them to leave us alone, at least at the table. Great vacation!

- What is going on? - Ti-Koyo is back with more nacres.

- I've never seen such big ones! - You want to drink?

- Yes, thank you. - Didn't he sell them?

Yes, but not the loveliest ones. They are rare specimens.

If we could locate the place,

with our means we could fish a lot of them.

- We would make a real fortune. - They're as big as this plate.

Ours are less than half. At the most, they are like this.

With modern means and a lot of fishermen,

this is the difference between his nacres and ours. It's shameful.

- But he... - He what?

He has a shark that helps him.

It tells him where the biggest ones are.

Come on!

It's true. The shark helps him go down

where others are afraid of going. - The shark is his guard.

Listen to me. I'll give you one, two, three, four days

of even six or seven. - One week.

And let's end it with this shark thing.

If that's what you want, I'll take care of it.

I have something for you. That's why I asked you to come.

I don't recognize you. You're becoming complicated.

I don't like mysteries.

- Why didn't you come to my home? - I don't like going there.

You don't? What don't you like about my home?

I live my way,

and someone doesn't like that.

I don't know why.

It's magnificent!

It's the loveliest nacre I've ever seen. It's a rare mother-of-pearl.

- I've never seen anything like it. - They're the biggest. They're yours.

But don't show your brother. He would have no peace

knowing that I fish them alone without his organization.

- Jeff would like you in his firm. - I know.

He'd send you to study in America and you'd become the boss.

In America? It's too far away.

I only go as far as my canoe goes.

You're so hard-headed!

Tell Jeff that I don't want to depend on anyone.

Living on the sea is what I like.

Look!

There's an enormous shark.

It is peacefully swimming near the shore.

It's Manidù. Don't you remember?

And you play with that huge animal?

If he's the one who has you find such big seashells, I must thank him.

And I must thank you, too.

You were very nice not to sell the most beautiful and give them to me.

I'd like to give you one every day.

Listen! Why does he do that?

He rolls around and purrs when he wants to play with me.

What if he bites?

I wouldn't have the courage to get close to that marine monster.

- He knows I am a friend. - And when he calls, you rush to him.

It's better to please him, or he'll get offended and become mean.

I know him. Wait for me a moment.

Something unexpected happened. Diana was jealous.

But you can't be jealous of a shark.

Her jealousy was pride. She couldn't admit

that something else was more important than she was.

Ti-Koyo, this net can't be torn even by a shark like yours.

It is strong, don't worry.

Ready!

I was able to follow their maneuvers,

but I wasn't able to stop Manidù from falling into the steel net

where they had caught him with lots of food, and trapped him.

Now they were waiting to pull the net on land to kill him,

and I had to act before it was broad daylight

and other fishing boats would arrive.

I had gone down as deep as possible

and had begun cutting the steel wires.

Manidù had seen me and began to get closer.

It took a lot of effort to open the net

and I could feel all my energy giving out on me.

My eardrums were buzzing and everything was cloudy.

Manidù's mouth was injured in trying to free himself.

The net was strong and every cut cost me more and more effort.

I was crushed by a wall of water,

but I created an opening. I motioned to Manidù that he could pass.

I was losing my strength.

My ideas were confused and my body was very heavy.

The images of Diana, all those remaining in my memory,

were silently vanishing in the water.

And while I thought that I was dying,

I stopped thinking.

Come in!

Come! This way!

May I come in? It's important.

Come in.

Excuse me. I didn't know! I'll wait outside.

No, come in.

Operation Shark didn't go as we thought it would.

The net was cut and the shark escaped.

You are all good for nothing.

But next time he won't get away.

- His master is dead. - Dead? Are you crazy?

It's not our fault. He went down to cut the net.

We found an opening, but he...

Nobody saw him surface. At that depth...

He must have surfaced elsewhere. You must look for him.

You know where Ti-Koyo is. Take me to him.

You hear my voice, don't you? Manidù, guide me. Go!

I had no more energy

and I couldn't recover.

Diana had entrusted me to Cocoyo. In order to cure me,

he had turned his hut-cafe into an infirmary.

Diana brought me American medicine every day,

but Cocoyo gave me his too.

Flying fish wings syrup

and chopped seagull feet.

Cocoyo had returned to ancient recipes and beliefs,

those that for a long time had seemed useless.

Another friend stayed close to me swimming under the hut.

He had his usual way of showing his affection.

The days went by.

Cocoyo brought spices and herbs from the village to cure me.

Diana took shifts with him to keep me company.

She tried to be cheerful, but she poorly hid her anxiety.

I found out that she was no longer talking to her brother, Jeff.

Whether it was Cocoyo's medicine or my tough hide,

I began to feel better and when my energy returned,

I tried to convince my shark to leave.

I knew how to have him understand that I felt better.

He was reassured and swam away. He'd wait for me in open sea.

We could no longer stay on that island.

And after having lit the last offering

where once my hut had existed,

I was ready to leave forever.

I only advised you, but didn't oblige you to leave.

Of course, advised me. Yes, it's true.

At this point, I think it's a wise decision.

Yes. My vacation is over and I've no more reason to stay here.

I envy the fact that you're going to America.

Don't lie. It's hard to believe you.

You are satisfied in being here doing your business.

Right, my business.

Our wellbeing and that of all the island people

is tied to our firm, and I don't enjoy being here.

We know you work hard. But to reach this wellbeing,

do you think all means are right?

I am more than convinced.

I didn't care much that Ti-Koyo join the firm.

It was to give an example to the others.

Doing things his own way with the excuse of the shark,

was disturbing the work. That is why I asked you to convince him.

And I tried,

but I realized that it's not right for a man to give himself up

because another one has to do business.

No. That boy lives as if the sea and the sky were his property.

He is not a man, but a savage, a fish, a seagull!

Ti-Koyo reminded us of things that unfortunately we are forgetting.

You're quite upset over someone who doesn't care about anything!

As if you were in love with him.

Who is it? What is happening?

What are you doing here?

I was walking in the dark and bumped into this.

I wanted to talk to you.

Why? What happened to you?

Nothing happened. It's just that...

Tomorrow you are leaving.

Remember when you left for the boarding school in Los Angeles?

I came to say goodbye here.

- I never forgot it. - I didn't forget it, either.

We didn't know then how different we were.

Today we know, and this ruins everything.

It's not just that.

I am leaving tomorrow too. I will look for another island.

- I did everything wrong here. - Maybe we're doing everything wrong.

No. Jeff and the others are right.

I thought of it, Diana.

More than you can imagine.

The old world of the islands has disappeared forever.

We must adapt to the new one. As everyone!

But I only know how to live like this and can't change.

And I would like you to...

Be happy, Miss Diana.

Goodbye. Thank you.

Have a good trip, Miss Diana.

- Wait for me here. - Alright.

Well, goodbye, Diana. Your good mood will return in Los Angeles.

Good luck, Jeff.

He stopped the boat!

Close your eyes and answer. You want to come with me forever?

I know you want it. You just don't have the courage.

Close your eyes and answer.

I didn't have the courage until you were lacking it.

I'll take Manidù as a witness and answer you with open eyes.

I say yes!

He's taking her away! We must follow him!

They can do what they want!

We'll look for a new island. The ocean is very big.

I am sure there are others.

I want a big, faraway and deserted island, for the two of us,

because I still need to tell you everything I've never said.

Manidù will be a guard, and nobody must disturb us.

But first we must say goodbye to an old friend. Right, Manidù?

Come on, guide me to him and then we're off!

He is Ti-Koyo, right? The shark's friend.

Why don't you teach me to talk to sharks?

Are you crazy? One student was enough.

It is almost incredible that he was so lucky.

Oh, yes! Really incredible!

Goodbye, Ti-Koyo!

Good luck!