All language subtitles for In.a.Savage.Land.1999

(insects chirping)

(chanting music)

(oars sloshing)

- [Evelyn] I once met a man.

Not my husband.

Another man.

You look back on a life,

what will you take with you into the dark?

For me, I'll take the
smell of a pearl shell

freshly opened one late day on a beach.

- All right now, my young
seekers of the truth.

We come to the subject
that you've been waiting

all semester for,

cultural construction
and the sexual impulse.

No doubt you've been doing

extracurricular research in preparation.

(students laughing)

- [Evelyn] For two
years he was just a voice.

- [Professor] Okay now.

- [Evelyn] And
scribble words on a page.

- The triggers for desire.

What are they?

The product of cultural construction,

custom and ritual,

or merely innate expressions of

primitive sublimations over which we have

little or no control?

Other than perhaps a Tommy Dorsey record

and a bottle of Johnnie Walker's.

(students laughing)

(light music)

- [Evelyn] He was
brilliant, he was published.

And although he had the world in his head

he could still make me laugh.

(books thudding)

- Hi.
- Hello.

- Do you mind?

- Of course not.

- So you don't drink?

- Never.

- Your father an alcoholic?

- Oh, God, no he's an engineer.

- What, mechanical, electrical,

animal, vegetable, mineral?

- He builds bridges.

He worked on the Harbour Bridge in Sydney.

- Hmm, a bridge builder.

Advancing the cause of civilisation.

So you're the product of the mind.

- Hmm, I'm the product
of a sexual impulse.

- To the sexual impulse.

- Ladies and gentlemen, (clears throat)

sorry to interrupt.

There's just been a
broadcast on the wireless.

We are officially at war with Germany.

(crowd chattering)

- Linnie.

- What?
- Look, Malinowski.

It's in good condition too.

- Oh, fantastic.

- And you know, for a monograph

I was thinking of doing a
field trip to the Trobriands.

- Really?
- Yeah.

Post Malinowski.

No one's done any serious follow up work.

- It's true.

- It's such an incredible culture.

Linnie, you'd love it there.

Their kinship, their male-female domains,

the mourning rituals.

- I'd love it?

- Oh, I need a linguist, and

you're the best one I know.

We could get a grant.

Geoffrey would give us a grant...
If...

if we were married.

Linnie?

Linnie.

Linnie.

Look.

I'm sorry.

I have a circumlocutory
way of saying things.

- [Evelyn] Get on your knee.

- Not here, Linnie, for God's sake.

- Okay.

- Evelyn.

(gentle music)

Will you marry me?

- Yes, Phillip, I will marry you.

(papers rustling)

- So, the Trobriands.

Tell me, what little
pearls of cultural wisdom

do you have to pick up

that were overlooked by
the esteemed Malinowski?

- I'm interested sir,

in how a matrilineal
society utilises sexuality

to increase social dominance.

- Contentious material, Phillip,

and fraught with all sorts of grave risks.

Academically, I mean.

- I'm no stranger to
professional criticism, sir.

- No, quite.

They tell me you have a keen
ear for languages, young lady.

First class honours, I see.

- She's brilliant, sir.

She's the most promising young graduate

I had-
- So tell me, Mrs. Spence.

Why did you choose anthropology?

- Simply sir, because it's one
of the few science faculties

that would deign to tolerate a woman.

- Trobriands.

They call them the Islands of Love

in reference to the natives' rather

exotic and promiscuous sexual activities.

Hardly a suitable place for a woman,

wouldn't you say?

- Why then would it be any
more suitable for a man?

(chanting music in background)

- All right, Phillip.

I'll have a word to the exec.

- Thank you, sir.

Oh, yes!

(tribal percussive music)

Look, it's the (speaks
in Indigenous language).

There's the yam house, the bachelor house.

It's exactly as he described it.

(natives chattering)

(guide speaks in Indigenous language)

- One of the chief's wives.

- How many does he have?

- 11.

He used to have 12

but one of them did a jumper.

- A jumper?

- Yeah, got caught with another bloke

so she dressed up in her best clubber,

climbed up that tree
over there and dived off.

Splatto.

- What happened to the other man?

- Had to leave the village.

(guide speaks in Indigenous language)

This is Inupi, one of the chief's nieces.

- Hello.
- She speaks a little English.

- Hello.
- She'll help you

get set up.
- Hello.

- Okay, that'll be 50
quid for the passage and

15 for the back out stuff.

- 15 quid?

- Market price.

Anything else you need?

Pencils, soap?

Dunny paper?

- [Phillip] We're fine, thank you.

- All right, well I've gotta go.

Got an old girlfriend in another village.

You know how it is.

A word of advice.

Don't trust them.

They're beautiful, these people.

Best in the world, but don't
believe a word they say.

They're all liars and tricksters.

- It's true, Tomai.

We are all liars and tricksters.

- [Phillip] What's going on?

Where's everyone going?

- To the lagoon, the
(speaks in Indigenous language)

- The (speaks in Indigenous language)?

- [Inupi] Yes.

- The (speaks in Indigenous language).

(shell horn blowing)

(natives chanting and hooting)

- Who's that?

- It's the trader man, Mr. Mick.

He brings special gift.

He trades in pearls.

- Traders buy their way
into societies like this.

Get the Chief on side,
they can make a killing.

Still, we should meet him.

(chanting music)

(natives speaking in Indigenous language)

(Mick speaks in Indigenous language)

Excuse me.

Mr. Carpenter?

I'm Dr. Phillip Spence
from Adelaide University.

This is my wife, Evelyn.

- The bug watchers.

- I beg your pardon?

- Ain't that what you people do?

Come here, put the savages
under the microscope,

watch them feed and nest?

- Oh.

No, I think you might
have the wrong impression.

For a start, they're not savages.

- What do you call them, Professor?

- Actually, its Doctor.

I call them natives.

- Natives?

Oh yeah.

How long are you two thinking of staying?

- 10, 12 months?

- Uh huh?

(laughs) I'll give you six weeks.

No, boots like that, make it a month.

- Mr. Carpenter?

I bet you my husband's watch

that you'll be offering
us a passage out of here

in no less than 12 months time.

Is it a bet?

Against your finest pearl.

- You got a bet, lady.

- You just won me a pearl.

Thanks.
- Linnie.

(percussive music)
(native dancers grunting)

(pig grunting)

(light percussive music)

They take those trees out,

then we're gonna have this view.

- [Evelyn] Yeah.

- We'll be able to see
everything from here.

All right, see from here?
- Uh huh.

- [Phillip] Let it shine.

- [Evelyn] Make them build this?

- Yup.

Linnie.

I think I found my informant.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Can I have the next man please?

Thank you very much.

- (speaks in Indigenous
language) This one good one.

Big, good?

Japan give good money, Japan.

- Japan?
- Yeah.

- Wow, they'll sell it to the Japs.

- Good one. (speaks in Indigenous language)

Good, trade fair?

- Give us a look.

(natives speaks in Indigenous language)

- It's broke.

Sea pearl, big but it's got no shine.

Sorry, boys.

(native speaks in Indigenous language)

- How does he do that?

Excuse me, could you show
me how to go up the tree?

- Uh huh.
- Yeah?

Will it hurt?

- [Climber] No, no, it won't hurt.

- [Native] Give plenty.

Get whistle blow.

- Whistle blow?

Gotta be kidding me.

Whistle blow for that?

- Yeah, yeah. (speaks in Indigenous language)

(Evelyn grunting)

(natives clapping)

(woman speaks in Indigenous language)

- Okay, just this once.

Don't be getting no ideas.

- Thank you (speaks in
Indigenous language) thank you.

- Okay, go blow your whistle.

(harmonica sounding)

- Cool off, before he changes his mind.

She's beautiful.

It's a pity.

There's three things wrong with her.

She's white, she's married.

She's intelligent.

Come on.

- Toyodola, who will you marry?

- I have a girlfriend in another village.

(native speaks in Indigenous language)

- But I have to marry in this village.

- Hmm.

The Chief's niece, the one
that they call Tilapoi,

does she have a boyfriend?

- No.

She's very pretty.

But no boyfriend, you like her?

- Oh, no, no.
- You like her.

- No, no, no, no.
- You like her.

(natives laughing)

- [Phillip] Yeah, well
yeah, no no no no no.

No.

(Toyodola speaks in Indigenous language)

(Toyodola laughs)

(chanting music in Indigenous language)

- Who gave you these?

- From the mission.

- Missionaries?

Oh, they've got no right.

Give me that.

Give that to me.

Thank you, thank you, put that back.

You don't need these.

See?

- Hey, you, Pixie!

What are you up to?

- These people don't need
your brassieres and dresses.

- What in the name of God

do you think you're
doing, you piece of skunk?

- How dare you do this!

(native speaks in Indigenous language)

- Well done, Pixie, well done.

This lot took me six months
to get here from Scotland.

- Yeah well why didn't
you send something useful

like medicine and food?

Don't you dare call me Pixie.

(man speaks in Indigenous language)

- Well, it's typical of the church.

They think if they can cover them up

they'll stop fornicating.

Doesn't work on campus,
why should it work here?

- There's fornicating on campus?

- Not in my department.

- So what should we do, Phillip?

He's trying to destroy this culture.

- Well let's not go upsetting

the (speaks in Indigenous
language) yet, darling.

We gotta live with these people.

Where'd you go this afternoon?

- Out working.

I just feel trapped here.

Like we're on the outside looking in.

- [Phillip] What do you mean?

- We've got to do something
to get closer to them,

like Mick does.

- Mick, dearest, is acting
out of self-interest.

We have higher pursuits.

- Do we?

What do they need more than anything?

(old woman speaks in Indigenous language)

(Evelyn speaks in Indigenous language)

(old woman speaks in Indigenous language)

- Valoma, the spirits, holy spirits, good.

Later (speaks in Indigenous language)

You tell me the (speaks
in Indigenous language)

(old woman speaks in Indigenous language)

(Evelyn speaks in Indigenous language)

(old woman speaks in Indigenous language)

(Evelyn speaks in Indigenous language)

You can go, she can go.

A good talk.

- My, my.

We've acquired a Florence Nightingale.

How fortunate.

Douglas Stevens, A.R.M.

- Evelyn Spence.

- So this man has status, he's a big man?

- Yes, this man is a big man.

But this man over here is
(speaks in Indigenous language).

The sorcerer.

He do spells.

Make you see, make you die.

And he gives you poison.

- And why would he do this?

Why would he cast a spell?

Why would he give you poison?

- Many reasons.

You fornicate with the wrong woman

and you break taboo.

- Perhaps I best

explain my position here.

You mind?

- Sure.

- I've been appointed by
His Majesty's government

to help civilise these
poor godforsaken creatures.

Bring them out of the trees

and into the 20th century.

Which you can imagine is a somewhat

difficult and thankless task

made more difficult by
well-meaning visitors.

- I can assure you that we
won't interfere in any way.

- Splendid, glad to hear it.

'Cause if I find that
your presence here is

shall we say, unhelpful to the natives

then as A.R.M. I do have
certain discretionary powers

with regard to your entry permits.

Do I make myself clear?

- What do you mean by unhelpful?

- Like that incident the other day

with the missionary clerk.

- I see.

I'm sure that it won't happen again.

- Splendid.

I'm glad to hear.

You must come to the station,

join me and the missus
for a game of deck tennis.

Well, nothing she likes more

than a good old chin wag
with an expat's wife.

- Good old chin wag, I can't wait.

- Splendid, and then I
can meet your husband.

I must say I've never met
an anthropologist before.

- You just have.

- Pardon?

- Well, I'm an anthropologist as well.

(native women singing in Indigenous language)

(natives shouting in Indigenous language)

- What's happening?

- (speaks in Indigenous language) That man,

he do mischief.

The women, they whisper.

Now they do (speaks in Indigenous language)

be like (speaks in Indigenous language).

- Oh, evil spirits?

- Yes, (speaks in Indigenous language)

- And what do you mean?

- They take him by force.

- What do you mean?

They copulate with the man?

- Yes.

They catch him, tie him like a pig

and stake him to the ground.

They'll cut him and hit him with bamboo.

Then they rub themselves over him.

Then they defecate on his
face and urinate in his mouth.

(women laughing)

(typewriter clacking)

- Have a look.

This is gonna be big, Linnie, big.

What do you think?

- Well, there's no photos of women.

- No, not yet.

How are the notes coming?

- Okay.

I'd be a lot faster if I can
understand your hieroglyphics.

What does this mean?

- (speaks in Indigenous
language) bachelor's house.

- The women today were telling me about-

- So you haven't done yesterday's notes?

- No, I went out.

- To do what?

- Talk to the women, someone's got to.

- I'm sorry, what do you mean?

- You're spending all
the time with the men,

I think you're ignoring the women.

- I do have my methodology,

Evelyn.
- I know, of course.

I'm not questioning your methodology.

- Thank you.

- It's just...

- Just what?

- Well, we said we'd come here

to do a study of male-female power demand.

- That's exactly what I'm doing, Evelyn.

- Will you need the camera tomorrow?

- [Phillip] No, why?

- Well I thought I'd do
some photos of my own.

- Supposing you broke it?

- I'm not a three year old, Phillip.

(door knocking)

- Hello?

Got some mail for you.

- Hello.

Come in, do you want a drink?

- Yeah.
- Thanks.

- Got a beer?

- Sure.

So Mr. Carpenter, what brings you here?

- Same as you, I guess.

I came to plunder.

- You think we're here to plunder?

- Hmm, I don't think you're
no different from me.

We all trade in human heads.

- I hardly think that's
a valid comparison.

- Well.

You're here to do a paper, right?

- A monograph, yes.

- Okay, saying this monograph,

your writing goes down well.

They what, they make you a professor,

is that right?

- I think that's a rather
crude interpretation.

- How are you any different
from the Burnsfeld guy,

comes down here, buys himself a boatload

of ebony carvings at two and six

and flogs them down the
mainland for two quid?

- I really don't think
this warrants debate.

- Now go on, Phillip, explain.

- All right then.

Point one, we're scientists.

We're not merchants.

We're not bartering for petty artifacts

in some filthy market.

Point two, we're doing fieldwork here

which will further the world understanding

of the nature of society

and the dynamics of human relationships.

We're not buying up their valuables

and selling them elsewhere

for grossly inflated prices.

You wish for me to continue?

- Are you paying them?

- What?

- For this field work?

Well a lousy stick of
tobacco every now and again,

am I right?

(laughing) So in fact you're
worse than the Burnsfeld guy

'cause at least he pays them a going rate.

- Mr. Carpenter, we're sitting here now

because several hundred years ago,

explorers set out in boats
and discovered these islands.

I'm doing something similar,

except I'm charting the
waters of human behavior.

It's very glib of you to
try and make comparisons

between your nefarious activities here

and the purity of my work,

but can I say with all due respect

that a hundred years from now,

I will be remembered
for what I've done here

and you will not.

Excuse me.

- I don't want to be remembered.

- Excuse me.

(woman speaks in Indigenous language)

(Evelyn speaks in Indigenous language)

(insects chirping)

(man and woman groaning and grunting)

(camera clicking)

(man shouting in Indigenous language)

- Thou shall not steal nor
borrow other people's rowboats

without my permission.

Did your mother not tell you that?

- I'm sorry, I didn't realise...

- Ian MacGregor.

Kiriwina's one and only
resident man of the cloth.

You must be Mr. Pixie.

I'd like a wee word

once you've bailed her out.

(Ian speaks in Indigenous language)

You see despite what you may think

we don't come here just
to save a few souls.

To do what we do, you can't
do that from the outside.

You have to be a part of the culture,

be at one with the people.

And the culture changes constantly,

and there's nothing wrong with that.

You want to keep it pure because

it makes you feel more
civilised, more superior.

But we are all evolving to a higher place.

And that is inevitable.

Look, I don't want to have any trouble

with you and your wife,

but understand that if
you get in my way here,

I will move heaven and earth

to have you expelled most
ungraciously from my island.

- Yeah.

Well, Reverend, I don't wish to

engage in a debate with you

about the nature of
cultural transformation,

but needless to say,
we respect your wishes

and you have my word

that we will not interfere with your work.

- Good.

Oh you can read that if
you want to, I've finished.

- Would you mind?

- No.

- I only brought Conrad
and the Bronte sisters.

- (chuckling) How grim.

Here, take it.

In fact I think I can
probably snuff a few more.

(typewriter clacking)

- There you go.

(boy speaks in Indigenous language)

- What?

(boy speaks in Indigenous language)

- No, no, no, no.

- Oh come on.
- No, no, no, no, no.

Go, go, go.

Get out of here, you greedy little bugger.

Come on.

Go.

Did someone die?

- Mm, the old man with a cough.

- Be interesting, the mourning rites.

Very interesting.

Here, look.

- Where'd this come from?

- Missionary.

Gave me those books too.

- You've befriended the missionary?

- No, I had a chat to him,

cleared a bit of bad air.

Mind?

- Yes, I would mind.

I've got work of my own to do.

- Oh.

Pilus revolt.

And what work exactly do you have to do?

- I saw something today
that might be the basis

of a thesis.

- Mhmm, I see.

I thought we're gonna work together.

- You call typing up your
notes working together?

- [Phillip] Come on Linnie,
you know I can't type.

- Well learn, like I did.

(typewriter clacking)

- [Phillip] What's this?

You took my camera out anyway?

- [Evelyn] Hmm, guess
what, I didn't break it.

- So you spy on two natives copulating,

you think that's the basis for a thesis?

- You really don't like other people

having ideas, do you?

- That's not true.

- Yes, it is, Phillip.

I think that you're overlooking
some obvious material here

because you've already made up your mind

what you want to say.

- (clears throat) Since
when do you have the right

to question my work?

- Since I did all your typing.

You know,

I think women have far more
status here than you realise.

And I think their aggression in sex

is emblematic of their
position in village life.

That's what I wish to
explore in my thesis.

- That's ridiculous, Evelyn,

you're barely out of college.

- [Evelyn] So?

- I brought you here to
help me with the language,

not to compete with me.

I'll type my own notes if that's an issue.

- I'm more than a linguist, Phillip,

and you know that.

- Don't you realise
that if you do work here

and it's discredited, it
will not only reflect on you

but it will reflect on me.

- It won't be discredited!

- Believe me, Evelyn!

You take on a thesis here,
it's professional suicide!

- Well, let me jump
from the tree, Phillip.

Let me jump.

(insects chirping)

- [Phillip] I'm sorry.

(Evelyn moaning)

- Lie down.
- Hmm?

- No, lie on your back.

Lie down.

Yeah.

Come on.

Enter me.

(Phillip moaning)

(Evelyn moaning)

(Phillip grunting)

- Oh my god.

Hold it.

Oh, Linnie.

I'm so sorry.

I'm sorry.
- No, it's okay.

- I'm sorry.
- It's all right.

- I'm sorry baby.

Oh my god.

Oh, you're beautiful.

(natives chattering)

(man shouting in Indigenous language)

- What's the matter?

- You tell her.

- The lovers that you
saw in the water cave,

this girl is Isapuna,
the Chief's daughter.

He is very upset.

- Oh. (speaks in Indigenous language)

- You tell Chief Tokunou

that my wife will do no more
study work with the women.

I give you my word.

(woman speaks in Indigenous language)

(Chief Tokunou shouts in Indigenous language)

- How dare you.

- No more work with the women, Evelyn.

I forbid it.

- Then I'll work with the men!

What's happening here?

- Going out pearling on the reef.

- Mind if I come?

- There's no room. (speaks
in Indigenous language)

- There's plenty of room.

(upbeat percussive music)

(natives chanting in Indigenous language)

(water splashing)

(lightly suspenseful percussive music)

- Is he all right?

- Mr. Mick, he swims with sharks.

(Mick speaks in Indigenous language)

(water splashing)

(Phillip speaks in Indigenous language)

- [Phillip] Evelyn?

Evelyn.

(natives cheering)

(Mick sniffing)

- What are you doing?

- [Mick] Smell.

- Hmm.

Seen this shell?

Spondylous.

Loppy.

They use it in the kula for their salava

and their necklaces.

It's quite valuable.

They say that if when you open it

there's a ring of black,

then your love won't last.

But if it's gold, your
love will last forever.

- Gold.

- Want a beer?

- Yes.

Why not?

(bottles clinking)

- [Both] Cheers.

- Ugh.

- You'll get used to it.

- Show me my winnings.

Your finest pearl.

- Ah, the bet.

- [Evelyn] Don't you lock it up?

- Huh, no.

No one's gonna steal off me.

Sit down.

Come on, sit down.

Here you are.

See these ones?

They got no shine.

Just sea pearls.

Not worth much, maybe a
couple of bucks a grain.

This one.

- [Evelyn] Oh, what exquisite paper.

- Uh huh.

From France.

Tell a trader by his
paper, the way he folds it.

- And what does this say about you?

- I pay too much for my paper.

That's what we call an Oriental.

See that?

Top of the line.

- This is your finest?

- Ah, yeah.

Go on, pick it up.

- Oh, it's beautiful.

- Yeah.

We call that one Teardrop From The Moon.

It's almost perfect, got no blemishes.

- Hmm, I like this one.

Teardrop From The Moon.

Yes, I look forward to it.

- (chuckling) Oh yeah.

(soft chanting music in Indigenous language)

- You have magic in your hands.

(natives chanting in Indigenous language)

- Last night, the old man died.

Now the widow does very sad, mourning.

It will take many weeks, many months.

She takes the jawbone of the husband

and wears it around her neck.

They build the cage.

She stays there for a long time.

She doesn't eat.

If she comes out of the cage,

she might find another husband.

But many women die.

(natives chanting in Indigenous language)

(Ian speaks in Indigenous language)

- My name is Lakwabulo.

- Lakwabulo, I'm very sorry
to hear about your father.

He was a big man in the village.

But the chief promised no
more burials here like this.

Your father must be buried

in a Christian place.
(speaks in Indigenous language)

- [Lakwabulo] No, he lie here!

- Lakwabulo, your father wanted

to lie-
- When are you gonna leave

these people alone?

- This is a heathen practice
- This is a sacred occasion,

you're a religious man.
- and I am doing God's work.

Now keep your nose out of it!

- My father goes (speaks
in Indigenous language)

- That is as maybe

but we know why he-
- My father goes

to (speaks in Indigenous language)

(Lakwabulo shouts in Indigenous language)

- Go, leave this place now!

(natives speak in Indigenous language)

- Well done, Pixie, well done.

You cannot stay the hand of God.

(Evelyn speaks in Indigenous language)

- Where have you been?

You've been drinking, haven't you?

- [Evelyn] Hmm, nicely observed.

Do you want me to type it up?

- Stop playing games with me, Evelyn.

You were with Carpenter, weren't you?

- Yes, I was!

And you know what, he even
treated me like an adult.

- We can't afford to have another incident

like this morning, Evelyn.

You have got to stop this nonsense.

- Oh, you're scared, aren't you?

You're scared that I might
actually do something significant

and that your work will
seem to be inferior.

- Don't be ludicrous, Evelyn.

You wouldn't have graduated from college

without my help.

- You pompous ass!

(birds squawking)

- [Helen] Oh!

Oh.

Oh.

- Rather athletic, your missus.

Must come from good stock.

You know the secret to a good marriage,

choose your woman like you
choose a good hunting dog.

Can't go wrong.

- So, has your husband succumbed yet?

- Succumbed?

- To the charms of the local women.

- Oh.

No, I don't think he's likely to.

- Yes, you go on believing that, darling.

That's the best way.

- We've only been married a few months.

- Oh!

I'm sorry.

Do you think that makes him immune?

He's a handsome man, very attractive.

Those native girls can
be extremely persuasive,

let me assure you.

I wouldn't turn my back if I were you.

Douglas has these little
liaisons, thinks I don't know.

He's pathetic, really.

- And you don't mind?

- Why would I mind?

They're only native girls.

- [Phillip] Any news from the front?

- Hitler's taken Paris.

He's flying the swastika

from the Arc de Triomphe, little bastard.

Churchill's predicting
there'll be dogfights over London.

Dammit, where's me lunch?

By the way.

I had a visit the other
day from the Chief,

told me this sordid little
story about his daughter

in the water cave.

- What about it?

- Seems the girl's intended,

thinks he's somewhat shop soiled.

Called the marriage off.

The girl's now in disgrace.

The Chief is hoppin mad.

I told him I'd talk to you.

- It was a mistake.

It won't happen again.

- [Douglas] Been another complaint

from my good friend Reverend MacGregor.

Something about a burial.

- Douglas, let the poor man
eat his dinner in peace.

- You be quiet, Helen.

Matters of men, church, and
state, don't concern you.

Anyway, the point of the matter is,

if things don't change, I'm afraid

I'll have no recourse other than to review

your entry permits.

- The problem is being addressed.

There will be no more problems.

- [Douglas] Splendid, glad to hear it.

Come on then, eat up, you lot.

We don't wanna miss the show.

- What show?

(natives grunting and chanting)

Oh. (chuckling)

- The missionaries
introduced it last century.

- What is it?

- Don't you know?

It's cricket.

Thought it'd stop them fighting
and killing each other but

savages being what they are...

- Excuse me.

- Highly strung, your missus.

(natives grunting)

(man speaks in Indigenous language)

- Put it in the big house.

(man speaks in Indigenous language)

- Vise'u, what's happening?

- The photo has brought
great shame to Isapuna,

to the village.

Now she jumps.

- Oh. Isapuna!

- No!

You must stay.
- Isapuna!

Isapuna, come down please!

- [Man] Isapuna! (speaks
in Indigenous language)

- [Evelyn] Isapuna, (speaks
in Indigenous language)

- Evelyn.

- I'm sorry!

(man speaks in Indigenous language)

(Evelyn gasping)

(body thudding)

(natives chattering)

(pots clattering)

- Stop and talk to me, dammit.

Listen to me.

I can't survive here without you.

I can't, I really can't.

- Yes, you can.

And you have to.

I'm going away for about
three or four months to work.

I don't know where I'll go.

I don't want to jeopardise your work here.

It's too important.

- Linnie.

(somber music)

- You okay?

- I want to charter your boat.

I'll pay you.

Sorry, this is all I have.

Is it a deal?

- Sure.

(chanting music)

- [Gerry] Thought you'd
sworn off the ladies.

- Yeah, but she's different.

- Yeah.

Hasn't got a bone through her nose.

Doesn't eat human flesh.

- [Mick] You okay?

- [Evelyn] I'm fine.

- [Mick] Look, I know
it's none of my business.

But that girl?

Don't blame yourself, it's just their way.

- [Evelyn] You're right, Mr. Carpenter.

It's not your business.

(light chanting in Indigenous language)

Is there a district office here?

- Nope.

No missionaries either.

Why, having second thoughts?

- No, are you?

- Listen, I trade with these people.

They don't scare me 'cause they need me

but they don't need you.

- Are you gonna lead or shall I?

(insects chirping)

- You all right with that?

- Yeah, yeah, it's all right.

Where's the village?

- Not sure.

I try not to come here that often.

We should hit a river somewhere.

Okay.

Kidama?

- Carpenter, welcome.

You got any axe?

- No, got no axes this time, Kidama.

But I got knives, fishing hooks.

- Give me that.

- [Mick] No, I need this.

- I want it.

(Kidama shouting)

(natives shouting)

Come!

- [Mick] It's okay.

- Can I talk to you,
(speaks in Indigenous language)

- Of course, Vise'u.

Sit down, you want some tea?

- No thank you.

There's a whisper among the women.

- What sort of whisper?

- [Vise'u] They say you
bring evil to the village,

that Isapuna jumps because of you.

- She jumps because of me?

- [Vise'u] Yes, (speaks
in Indigenous language)

- I don't understand.

Who say these things?

- [Vise'u] The women.

You must leave the village.

(chanting music in Indigenous language)

- There's another couple
of villages over that way.

They raid them every now and again,

rape the women, kill the children.

It's a nice place.

(natives talking in Indigenous language)

I need a hut.

For the woman, for the night.

Tomorrow, I go back to the ship.

I'm gonna need some men.

For that, I'll give you
some axes and some salt.

(Kidama speaks in Indigenous language)

- Hey, Kidama.

This woman, she plenty big woman.

You touch this woman,
(speaks in Indigenous language)

(Kidama speaks in Indigenous language)

(women shouting in Indigenous language)

- This will keep you out of the mud.

- Thank you.

- Yeah.

- Mr. Carpenter!

This is very gallant
and totally unnecessary.

Please come inside.

- Hands okay?

- Oh yeah, just...

This is from the typewriter.

- Let me look.

Jeez.

(light music)

- You need something,
(speaks in Indigenous language)?

- [Mick] No thank you, Maio.

- More taro?

- [Mick] No.

- More (Indigenous language)?

- No, thank you Maio.

(Maio speaks in Indigenous language)

- [Evelyn] We should get some sleep huh?

- Yeah.

(dog barking in distance)

(hit bashing)

(women chattering in Indigenous language)

- No, no!

Goddamn you no!

Ah, goddamit!

Goddamn you!

No!

(Mick speaks in Indigenous language)

- I was thinking maybe I
stay on a couple of days,

maybe a week.

There's a couple of things I can do here.

- That wasn't part of the deal, Mick.

- I know, but...

Don't worry, I'll sleep
in one of the other huts.

- No, no, I'm sorry.

I need to do this on my own.

But thanks.

- All right.

See you in three months.

To the day.

Don't forget your quinine.

One's on me.

(somber music)

(natives chattering in Indigenous language)

- [Evelyn] Hello.

Do you speak any English, pigeon?

- Hey!

(native shouts in Indigenous language)

(child crying)

(paper ripping)

(Phillip sobbing)

(Evelyn sobbing)

(gunshot booming)

- [Mick] What's going on, Doug?

- Couldn't hit a bush pig at 20 paces.

Bagged four tigers right here

in the adjoining islands, Carpenter.

Bit of a wiz I was in those days.

- Yeah, too many gin fizzes, Doug.

What's up?

- Have a read.

Came in last night on the radio.

Two a.m. or some ungodly hour.

- Pearl Harbor?

- Hawaii.

Yank Naval base of some sort.

Seems we're allies now, old chum.

Will you take that, the sights are out.

Anyway, they've inducted me.

As of two hours ago I'm a Captain.

We're now under martial law.

- Yeah? Congratulations.

Should I salute?

- You save your wit, Carpenter,
you're gonna need it.

What I want you to do is
keep your eyes peeled.

Anything unusual, any aircraft,

any boats,
- I know.

- [Douglas] You let me know
straight away, all right?

- [Mick] Staying right
out of this one, Doug.

- Well you can't!

You're in it whether you like it or not!

- That's from my village.

(kid speaks in Indigenous language)

Yes?

(plane zooming in distance)

(papers rustling)

(natives chattering)

(birds squawking)

(somber music)

(Evelyn speaks in Indigenous language)

(native screaming in Indigenous language)

- No.

No, these are my books.

They're my books.

(man speaks in Indigenous language)

- (speaks in Indigenous language) Stop, stop!

Mine, they belong.

Give me that, no. (speaks
in Indigenous language) mine.

You can't take these.

It's mine!

It's my house!

(man speaks in Indigenous language)

Put this back, put this back!

Kidama?

Kidama?

You give that to me.
- I want it.

(Evelyn speaks in Indigenous language)

- Kidama, this is mine, I need this.

You can't have this.

It's mine!

I need this!

I need this for my work.

(typewriter bashing)

- Evelyn?

Evelyn.

Your husband's dying of dysentery.

I thought you should know.

(somber music)

- What have you done?

Hm?

(natives chanting)

- My Lord is my heaven.

My cup overflows.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me

all the days of my life.

I will grow in the house of the Lord

for the final time.

- She's gone native on us, Reverend.

Heathen burial and the like.

You're losing your grip here, old chum.

- The Lord works in
mysterious ways, Douglas.

Besides, she's a Christian woman.

Eventually she'll be judged.

- You're certified? (chuckling)

(Evelyn chanting in Indigenous language)

- Is there anything I can do for you?

(chanting music in Indigenous language)

(Evelyn chanting in Indigenous language)

- Evelyn?

How are you feeling?

Doing okay?

You need to get some exercise.

You want some food?

Are you hungry?

Are you?

- You feed her, clean
the shit out of the cage,

sit there talking like you're
talking to a brick wall.

Good God, Mick, you had a pet monkey

you never treated that good.

- I can't just leave her.

Someone's gotta look after her.

- By the way, I'm joining up.

Artillery.

- Hmm.

- [Gerry] Well, you get
more girls in a uniform.

- I never took you for the military type.

- Me neither.

Me neither.

(rain pattering)

- Have you got any eggs?

(light music)

- Yeah.

(water sloshing)

(light music)

Come on.

Come and dance.

- Oh, I don't dance.

- Time you learned, come on.

♪ When they begin the beguine ♪

- Start from scratch huh?

Okay.

That's it.

Backing with you.

Forget this and let's go.

Listen to me.

♪ Never too far ♪

♪ One moment's divine ♪

♪ One rapture serene ♪

♪ Till clouds come along to disperse ♪

♪ The joys we have tasted ♪

♪ And now when I hear people curse ♪

♪ The chance that was wasted ♪

♪ I know but too well ♪

♪ What they mean ♪

♪ Oh don't let them begin ♪

♪ The beguine ♪

♪ Let the love that was once
a fire remain an ember ♪

♪ Let it sleep like a dead
desire I only remember ♪

(plane zooming in distance)

(natives chattering in Indigenous language)

- [Mick] What the hell's going on, Doug?

- You haven't heard?

The little Nip bastards
hit Rabaul last night.

Damn near wiped it off the map.

Just heard from naval intelligence

there's a fleet of
raiders heading our way.

It seems Mr. Tojo wants to take New Guinea

then leapfrog into Australia.

We're evacuating first thing.

But we'll need someone to stay behind,

act as coast watcher.

- What's a coast watcher?

- Someone who watches the coast.

If the Nipps take Port Moresby

they'll have to pass these islands first

and you'll be the lookout.

- I don't know.

Sorry Doug, not my style.

- [Douglas] There's no
one else, Carpenter.

You know these waters, you
got the trust of the natives

and you can use the radio.

- Ain't my war.

- What about the island?

Aren't these people your family?

Isn't this your home?

Eh, that's what you've been
telling me all these years.

You run away from here,
where you gonna go, hmm?

Here you're a god.

Anywhere else, you're just a mug.

(somber music)

(typewriter clacking)

- Evelyn?

You gotta pack up.

- I can't, I haven't finished my notes.

- Don't be a fool, Evelyn.

We're about to be attacked.

- Exactly, and that'll be
the end of this culture.

- Yeah, and what if you get killed?

What's gonna happen to all your work then?

- What are you gonna do?

- Don't matter what I'm gonna do.

One thing you gotta know about me, lady.

I am by nature a selfish bastard

which means I'm not gonna risk my own skin

trying to save someone
hanging behind enemy lines

taking photos of a bunch
of useless niggers.

- You're right, I should go.

Goodbye, Mr. Carpenter.

- Bye, Miss Spence.

(crowd chattering)

(somber chanting in Indigenous language)

(Mick speaks in Indigenous language)

VK5 to Finschhafen,

VK5 to Finschhafen, over.

VK5 to Finschhafen, VK5 to Finschhafen.

Are you there?

Over.

- [Man] Finschhafen here.

Welcome aboard, VK5.

Has anyone given you
an evacuation briefing?

Over.

- No, negative, over.

- [Man] All right, if the
enemy lands, report in,

destroy all your telly
box and telly radio.

Then head to the southern
tip of the island.

Rendezvous there in the evening
at 2100 hours until pickup.

You got that?

Over.

- Yeah I got that.

What if the pickup doesn't come?

Over.

- [Man] You're a spy now, VK5.

Now the Nips have these
quaint little custom

of beheading spies.

So I would strongly advise
you don't get caught.

Over and out.

- [Evelyn] I second that.

- What the hell are you doing here?

- Hmm, it occurred to me it's
been more than 12 months.

I've come to collect on our bet.

(Evelyn chuckling)

(gentle music)

(Evelyn laughing)

(birds chirping)

(tense music)

- [Mick] Jesus Christ.

- [Evelyn] What's wrong?

(cannons booming)

- [Mick] VK5 to Fin-

(explosion booming)

VK5 to Finschhafen, do you read me?

(explosion booming)

VK5 to Finschhafen.

VK5 to Finschhafen.

Evelyn.

Evelyn!

(natives shouting)

- Don't run!

Keep the children together,
keep them together!

Just one line, don't run!

Keep the children together,

take them to the caves.

(people shouting over each other)

(Evelyn speaks in Indigenous language)

(Evelyn speaks in Indigenous language)

- [Evelyn] Here we go.

Okay, (speaks in Indigenous language)

- Is that your stuff?

Come on, let's go.

- Goodbye.
- Goodbye.

(suspenseful percussive music)

(Mick speaks in Indigenous language)

Yeah this spot's fine.

VK5 to Finschhafen, over.

VK5 to Finschhafen.

(men in distance speak
in Indigenous language)

Get down, Japs.

- [Evelyn] What are they doing?

- [Mick] Swimming.

- Give me a look.

- Kids.

(light music)

(water sloshing)

- Your hands aren't soft anymore.

(Evelyn gasping)

Jesus!

Maca!

- They betrayed me, the heathen bastards.

I hope they all burn in hell.

Do you have a drink?

- [Mick] Yeah, you okay?

- [Evelyn] Hear that?

- It's ours.

Maca, Maca, wake up!

(water sloshing)

- [Man] Give us your hand.

That's it, come on.

Here you go, watch your step, miss.

All right.

- [Evelyn] What are you doing?

Mick?

- Take care of 'em, Maca.

- God be with you, Michael.

- Mick?
- Let's go.

- Mick!

(somber chanting music)

Mick!

- [Evelyn] I returned home

to a city that was somehow
more alien and primitive

than the place I just left.

But after a while, it all began to fade

like the silver plating
on an old platinum print.

(somber music)

His laugh.

The taste of salt on his body.

I never lost hope that one
day I would see him somewhere.

- Anything on Michael Carpenter?

- Yes, ma'am.

- [Evelyn]
On the street perhaps.

- I'm sorry, there's nothing again today.

- Or by a wharf.
- I'm sorry.

Playing cards or loading
drums onto a boat.

That he would turn,

ask me to dance.

After the war, I came back

to find my notes,

and to answer the question

that had been pulling at
me for all these years.

(natives chattering)

- All the women are wearing dresses.

- [Man] Yes Ma'am, we are Christians now.

- [Evelyn] The big
house, the place we built,

where Phillip and I made love,

where he died.

It was now no longer ours.

- Do you know what
happened to the trader man?

- What trader man?

- Mick Carpenter, Mr. Mick?

- [Man] There was some
talk about a trade man.

- What sort of talk?

- They say there's a grave
in a different village

for the trade man.

- A grave?

(somber music)

- [Evelyn]
If you walk with hope,

you carry the burden of pain.

I let go of that hope that day.

(Evelyn sobbing)

(typewriter clacking)

I finished my manuscript,

something I had to do
complete that part of my life.

I did the circuit.

Made the news each town I went.

Woman anthropologist lives
with sex-starved headhunters.

(crowd applauding)

- Thank you.

- [Evelyn]
The towns and the cities

began to blur after a while.

I kept moving,

afraid that if I stopped,

an emptiness would grab hold

and never let go.

- Thank you so much.
- It's a pleasure.

- Thank you.

- You look beat.

Can I give you a lift back to the hotel?

- [Evelyn] No, thanks, I feel like a walk.

- Is this yours?

- [Evelyn] No.

(light chanting music)

(thunder rumbling)

- Listen.

Did you see this guy,

American, dark hair?

- No.

- No?
- Sorry.

- [Bartender] Can I help you, love?

(dramatic music)

- [Evelyn]
You look back on life,

what do you hold?

What do you take with you into death?

My father built bridges.

My mother a home.

I once wrote a book
about a time and a place.

But the thing I'll
remember on the day I die

is the smell of a pearl
shell freshly opened.

Yes, that's what I'll take with me

into the dark.

(old timey music)

♪ When they begin ♪

♪ The beguine ♪

♪ It brings back the
sound of music so tender ♪

♪ It brings back a night
of tropical splendor ♪

♪ It brings back a memory ever green ♪

♪ Oh yes let them begin the
beguine make them play ♪

♪ Till the stars that were
there before return above you ♪

♪ Till you whisper to me once more ♪

♪ Darling, I love you ♪

♪ And we suddenly know ♪

♪ What heaven we're in ♪

♪ When they begin ♪

♪ The beguine ♪

(light music)

(song in Indigenous language)