An Island Unto Himself (4)
STU It makes women pretty. It’s like magic. I’ve got a bunch of it back at my bus...I mean hut. TAWNI You can make Tawni pretty? STU Oh Tawni, you don’t need makeup. TAWNI Please, Stu Stu. STU But... TAWNI Pl-e-a-s-e, Stu Stu. EXT. VW BUS - DAY Stu and Tawni arrive back at the bus. STU Come on, I’ll take you for a ride. TAWNI ( following Stu into the bus ) Ride? STU Hang on! INTERCUT INT. VW BUS / EXT. VW BUS - DAY Stu spins the wheels and leaves with a lurch. His lean-to awning falls by the wayside. Stu and Tawni go for a joy ride, laughing, cutting doughnuts and jumping dunes. EXT. TAWNI’S HOUSE - DAY The bus pulls up. Stu and Tawni are laughing hysterically. TAWNI That was fun, Stu Stu. Now you will make Tawni pretty? STU Okay Tawni, I’ll try. Here, sit back. Stu puts a cassette in the tape deck. IF, by Bread ( “If a picture paints a thousand words, then why can’t I paint you” ). TAWNI What is that? STU Music, you like it? TAWNI It makes me feel... ( beat ) nice. P.O.V. from behind Tawni as Stu artfully applies the makeup. TAWNI You are making Tawni pretty? STU I’m working on it. ( Sotto ) This almost seems sacrilegious, like a house painter touching up a Monet. Stu works on Tawni as the love song plays. He applies base, blush, eye shadow, liner and lipstick. STU There, all done...I guess. TAWNI I am beautiful now? STU Well, beauty is a relative thing. You be the judge. He turns the rear view mirror toward her. Her face is visible for the first time as she also sees her reflection. She looks like a clown. TAWNI ( shrieks ) Eeeek! STU What! TAWNI Take it away! Monster! STU Haven’t you ever seen your own reflection before? It’s you, see? TAWNI That is me? STU Yeah, of course. See, everything’s all right. TAWNI ( weeping ) Oh, no. STU Now what? TAWNI ( crying ) I am u-u-u-gly. Stu grabs some baby oil and towelettes and starts cleaning her up. STU No. No you’re not. It’s just the make up. See. It’s not you, it’s my fault. TAWNI Tawni is not ugly? STU No. TAWNI Tawni is pretty? STU Oh yeah...I’d say Tawni is just about the prettiest woman I’ve ever seen. TAWNI You made Tawni ugly? STU Yeah, but it’s not like you make it sound... TAWNI ( swatting him ) Bad Stu Stu! STU Feel better now? Tawni picks up the eye liner and draws circles around Stu’s eyes. She draws whiskers and squiggly marks on his face. TAWNI There, now I feel better. Stu Stu is pretty like Tawni. She runs out of the bus laughing. Stu chases after her. Series of shots follow: Stu and Tawni running and laughing on the beach. Building sand castles. Tawni playfully tramples Stu’s. Collecting sea shells. Spear fishing in a tidal pool. EXT. BEACH - DUSK Stu and Tawni are broiling their fish over an open fire. They sit a couple of feet apart as they watch the beautiful sunset over the ocean. EXT. JUNGLE - DAY The next day, another series of shots follow: They climb coconut trees. Stu doesn’t do very well. Tawni makes it to the top of hers. Stu dodges the coconuts she playfully throws down. Tawni holds a tropical bird and feeds it a berry. She sets it on Stu’s head and the bird poops on him and flies off. She laughs. The baby pigs have been caught in Tawni’s snare and they set them free. EXT. FIELD OF WILDFLOWERS - DUSK They watch their second sunset. This time they sit side by side. EXT. LAGOON - DAY The next day, another series of shots follows: They sail a primitive catamaran. Stu smokes. Tawni splashes his cigarette out and laughs. They swim with dolphins. Back on the beach, Tawni hula dances for Stu. EXT. BEACH - DUSK They watch their third sunset together. This time Stu sits straddling one of the hulls of the beached catamaran. Tawni sits in front of him. She leans back against him as they watch the sun go down. Tawni is fast asleep. For the first time a look of indecision comes over Stu. He is, after all, a married man. EXT. WATERFALL - DAY E.C.U. Tawni’s face. Her long strands of brunette hair are blowing in the breeze. Pull back to include the waterfall and creek below. Tawni gracefully dives into the pooled water. Not so sure of himself, Stu wades out into the creek below the falls. Tawni disappears under the surface. Stu can’t find her. He starts to grow concerned. Suddenly, he is pulled under! He abruptly breaks the surface gasping for air followed by Tawni who is now holding his shorts and waving them high in the air. Tawni laughs and runs for the bank. STU That’s not funny! Stu grabs a giant leaf of foliage and wraps it around himself as he exits the water and chases Tawni up the rocky slope. She leaves his shorts hanging on a branch. Stu grabs them and awkwardly pulls them on while trying to run and at the same time, not drop his leaf. Pull back to a wide aerial view of the two running up the hillside until they are nearly indiscernible dots. LIGHTNING, THUNDER, DOWNPOUR. Tawni ducks under an overhanging rock ledge. Stu joins her. The torrential rain water sheets off the ledge like a curtain, separating them from the outside world. There they stand holding hands. Tawni’s devilish laughter subsides as they look into each other’s eyes. She lays her head on Stu’s chest and closes her eyes. Likewise, Stu closes his eyes, fighting off temptation. LIGHTNING, THUNDER, outside their dry haven the sheets of water cascading over the rock awning subside with the rain. The tropical shower is over nearly as quickly as it began. Tawni leads Stu out of their shelter. TAWNI We’d better go home. It will be dark soon. INT. TAWNI’S HOUSE - DUSK The wet pair enter. One tiki torch is already lit. Tawni lites a piece of straw and uses it to lite the other torches. She wraps a light, tropical print blanket around her and hands one to Stu. TAWNI Put this on. STU ( wrapping up ) Thanks. ( beat ) Tawni... TAWNI Yes, Stu Stu? STU Tawni, I want to tell you something. TAWNI Yes? STU I want to tell you...this week here on the island...well, this week...with you has been just about the most fun I’ve had in a very long time. TAWNI Me too. STU Really?! TAWNI Really. Too bad my husband is coming back tomorrow. STU Yeah. ( beat ) Husband! You have a husband?! TAWNI And a son. STU Oh, that’s just great! That’s just peachy! You mean to tell me after all we...After these last few days... After the way I...and the way you... A husband and a son?! TAWNI And you have a wife and children. Tawni turns and climbs the ladder to her bedroom, leaving Stu behind, speechless. STU ( Sotto ) A husband. EXT. TAWNI’S HOUSE - DUSK Stu exits the house onto the porch. He stares off in thought, lights a cigarette with his Zippo, draws a long drag and exhales. The smoke rises to the balcony above. The camera shot rises with it finding Tawni on the balcony, also alone, watching the sunset. A tear traces down her cheek. EXT. JUNGLE TRAIL - DAY Tawni is hurrying down the trail. Stu is struggling to keep pace. TAWNI Hurry, I must not be late. STU Help me out here. I’m just trying to form a mental picture of this whole husband coming home scenario. You know, kind of playing it out in my mind. Your husband,...what’s his name again? TAWNI Zuell. STU How original. Okay, old Zuell has been gone for like a week right? TAWNI Right. STU Now he’s coming back? TAWNI Yes, Zuell and my son Yobo. STU Yobo?! Now that’s a funny name! No offense but, I mean Yobo? TAWNI It is no funnier than Tiffy. STU ...Anyway, it occurs to me that ole Zuell may not be too thrilled to find me here. TAWNI Do not worry, Zuell will not stay. He never does. None of the men stay. STU Wait a minute, you mean there are more people here besides you, Zuell and Obo. TAWNI Yobo. Yes there are many of us. STU How come I haven’t seen any of them? TAWNI It is a big island. Most of the women live scattered throughout the jungle. STU Most of the women? What about the men. TAWNI The men do not live on Nooki Nooki, just the women and children. STU I know you didn’t say Nooki Nooki. Who came up with that one? TAWNI The men I think... and quit making fun of our names. STU I don’t get it. None of the men live here? TAWNI No, they only come to Nooki Nooki for two things; to take the male children for visitation and for the Festival of the Full Moon. STU The Festival of the Full Moon? When is that? TAWNI Every time there is a full moon. STU No kiddin’. What happens during this festival? TAWNI It is a festival of fertility and procreation. Why do you think the men call this island Nooki Nooki? STU So, the rest of the time they live on an island full of men, no women. What do they call their island... ( Sotto ) ...the isle of palms? TAWNI is nearing the beach and is too focused to pay any more attention to Stu as she speeds up. Stu catches up to Tawni who has reached the end of the jungle growth and is watching the activity on the beach. Dozens of primitive outriggers are landing on the beach. Each boat is paddled by a pair of ISLAND MEN and each boat carries two or more young SONS. Dozens of WOMEN and GIRLS in traditional island garb are combing the beach looking for their loved ones. TAWNI Wait here. Tawni runs toward the outriggers where the men are greeting their wives. They hug and kiss them, turn over their sons and unceremoniously return to the sea. One weary soul is particularly anxious to take his leave as he hands over six young sons ranging in age from infancy to ten years old. His rotund wife is overjoyed to have her babies back. She smiles broadly as she hugs and kisses each one. Push in on Zuell’s boat as he and his partner make the beach. ZUELL is male model handsome. Two eight year old boys scramble out, YOBO and his round little cousin TAWNAWKI. Zuell’s boat partner is TAWNAWKI’S FATHER. YOBO Mama! Mama! Yobo and his cousin run to their mothers and embrace. Tawnawki’s mother, TOOTAWNI is round and jolly like him. She is Tawni’s sister. TAWNI My Yobo, I am so glad you have come home to me. Did you have a good time with your father? YOBO Yes Mama, but I missed you. I worry when Yobo is not here to protect you. TAWNI My big, strong Yobo. Zuell secures the boat on the beach and stops to flirt with some of the unattached island girls. The girls bat their eyelashes as Zuell saunters past. Some are even so bold as to reach out and rub his arms and chest. ISLAND GIRLS ( ad libs ) Zuell. Hi, Zuell. Come see me, Zuell. Zuell approaches Tawni. TAWNI Zuell. ZUELL Tawndalayia. TAWNI ( holding Yobo’s hand ) How are you Zuell. ZUELL Zuell is good. Zuell is very good. TAWNI Can you stay? Zuell Zuell cannot stay. You know this. TAWNI I miss you. ZUELL Do not fret little Tawndalayia. Zuell will return for The Festival of the Full Moon. TAWNI I get lonely. Zuell Zuell will return. TAWNI Of course, as it always is. ZUELL It is the way. Be good Yobo I will see you soon. Tawni, Tootawni and the other women watch as their men leave the island as quickly as they came. However, Zuell doesn’t leave alone. Two of the young unattached island women join him in his outrigger. They paddle out to sea. The disappointment shows on Tawni’s face. Stu watches from the trees. Tawni and the others make their way toward Stu. Yobo brandishes a little knife. TAWNI Where did you get a knife? YOBO Father made it for me. He said I am becoming a man and it is time for Yobo to have manly things. Soon I will go to live with Father and the others. Come Tawnawki, let us hunt for wild game for the table. TAWNI Oh no, little ones, not until you tell us all about your visit with your fathers. TOOTAWNI And have a bath. TAWNAWKI Oh, Mama. YOBO Aunt Tootawni, you sound more like my mother with every new day. TAWNI A bath indeed. Listen to your mothers. Stay with us Sister. I have not seen you for over a week. The boys can play together and we can visit. As they reach the jungle path, Stu steps out from behind a tree. STU Hi. YOBO, TOOTAWNI & TAWNAWKI Aaaah! Everyone except Tawni screams! Yobo slashes out with his little knife. Tawnawki covers his eyes with his pudgy little hands and Tootawni barks orders. TOOTAWNI Run children! Run Tawndalayia! YOBO Yobo will save us! TAWNI No, wait! This is Stu Stu! He will not hurt you. Yobo, put away your knife. TOOTAWNI What is a Stu Stu? TAWNI He is a man of course. He is a friend. TOOTAWNI A man? On Nooki Nooki? Tawndalayia, what have you done? You know the way, men are forbidden. TAWNI He is not like a real man. He is a friend, like one of the women. STU Pop, sssssss. TOOTAWNI What is that? Stu extends his hand to Tootawni. STU My ego deflating. Hi, I’m Stu. Tootawni is skeptical and hesitates. TAWNI Stu Stu, this is my sister, Tootawni. STU ( pouring on the charm ) Sisters? Of course, I see the resemblance. Amazing that one family could produce so much beauty. Pleased to meet you Too... Two - ton - ee. Everyone except Yobo giggles at Stu’s mispronunciation. Curious, Tawnawki musters his youthful courage and tugs on Stu’s shirt tail. TAWNI This is my nephew, Tawnawki. Stu shakes his hand. STU I’ll just call you Little Ton. Put ‘er there, Little Ton. ( feigning pain ) Ouch! That’s quite a grip! Tawnawki laughs. Everyone seems to be warming up to Stu except Yobo. Stu extends his hand to him. STU And this strapping young man must be Yobo. Your mother has told me... Yobo jabs Stu’s open hand with his little knife and runs off in the direction of Tawni’s house! YOBO Do not touch me! TAWNI Yobo! You apologize! Yobo, come back! ( turning her attention to Stu’s hand ) Your hand. I do not know what to say. Yobo has never done anything like this before. He is a good boy. STU It’s okay. I guess I just take a little getting used to. He’ll warm up to me... It’s okay. EXT. TAWNI’S HOUSE - DAY Yobo and Tawnawki are bathing in a wooden tub in front of the porch. Their mothers are giving them a thorough scrubbing much to their dismay. Stu is reclining on the porch, leaning back in a bamboo chair and smoking. He is wearing Tiffy’s floppy hat. Squawker is nearby on a perch eating seeds. STU I don’t think the kid likes me, Squawker. SQUAWKER Smart kid, awk. STU I guess he feels like I’m a threat to his father or something. SQUAWKER Awk, Zuell’s a jerk. STU Really? SQUAWKER King jerk. STU Why do you say that? SQUAWKER Awk, player, self centered, mean. STU Anything else? SQUAWKER Pulls my tail feathers, awk. STU I oughta kick his ass. Squawker He’ll kill you, awk. The women have finished scrubbing their boys. The boys begin to splash and play loudly. Tawni and Tootawni retreat to the porch to get clear of their line of fire. TAWNI Look at them play. I did not realize how much I missed the noise they make. Tootawni smiles in contented agreement. Stu sits upright. STU So, what’s up with this living arrangement? TAWNI Arrangement? STU You live here on this island, right? You and the other women and the children...and the men live on their island. TAWNI Of course. STU ( sarcastically ) Oh, of course. TAWNI It is the way. STU I don’t get it. TAWNI It has always been the way. STU Well, it’s a pretty wacky way if you ask me. TAWNI You have a better way? STU You bet your sweet mango, I have a better way. TAWNI How is the way in your world, Stu Stu? STU I’ll tell you how the way is. A man and a woman get married. They move in together. They raise a family and they all live in the same hut... I mean house. TOOTAWNI On the same island? TAWNI All the time...together? STU Of course all the time. TAWNI Forever? STU Sure, till death them do part. TAWNI And this works?
Copyright © 2000 Tony Mossor |