Seen through binoculars, Zeph walks along the beach on the other island. He is carrying a large piece of driftwood.
He turns away from the water and walks up the beach towards the line of palm trees.
There he joins Sammy and the two German girls who are constructing something from driftwood and polystryrene floats.
Richard is sitting with Sal.
RICHARD
They're building a raft. It's nearly finished.
SAL
When did they get there?
RICHARD
I don't know. Sometime during all that shark shit.
SAL
Well you'll have to stop them.
RICHARD
They won't get beyond the DMZ.
SAL
The what?
RICHARD
The demilitarized zone, Sal.
SAL
Right. You call it what you want, Richard, just don't let them get this far.
RICHARD
They won't. Believe me.
SAL
This is a particularly bad time, with Christo lying in that tent, it wouldn't look good if anyone arrived.
RICHARD
He's still alive?
In the small tent, a torch glows, outlining Etienne and Francoise over the prone form of Christo.
Francoise emerges from the tent.
Richard watches.
On the upper part of the island Richard ascends rapidly beside the stream.
Richard surveys the beach on the other island.
Through binoculars.
Zeph, Sammy, and the German girls launch their raft. It floats.
They climb on and begin paddling.
Richard flits thorough the trees until he can see the shore.
The travelers on their raft come ashore.
They consult their map then move into the forest.
Richard watches them as they ascend the slope to the dope field.
In the other direction, hidden from the travelers perspective, he notices the four farmers sitting at their shelter eating breakfast.
The travelers, watched by Richard, reach the top of the slope and then the edge of the field.
The farmers are nearby.
RICHARD (V.O.)
If I was going to warn them, then now was the time to do it. All I had to do was walk out and tell them not to make any noise I could lead them to safety. I could persuade them to go. I could threaten them. If the worst came to the worst, I could lead them to the camp and we could kick the shit out of them, then send them home. But I didn't want to do any of those things. I wanted to see what would happen.
Zeph, Sammy, and the German girls are jubilant.
SAMMY
We are in dope heaven. There is no other explanation.
ZEPH
(singing)
I smoke two joints in the morning. I smoke two joints at night. I smoke two joints in the afternoon and then I feel alright. I smoke two joints in time of peace and two in time of war. I smoke two joints before I smoke two joints and then -
Zeph stops singing. He has seen the farmers, armed and watching him from a few meters away.
Sammy and the others also notice, one by one. They too stand still, dumb and frightened.
ZEPH
Hi.
SAMMY
Shit.
ZEPH
We're Americans. Tourists. But we will leave. We made a mistake. We go now. We take nothing.
Slowly, he begins to walk backwards, smiling reassuringly.
The farmers say nothing but advance and outflank the travelers, herding them back into a huddle.
ZEPH
(continuing)
We go now. We leave in peace. Look we can pay. Here, American dollars. You can have them.
The farmers line up opposite them.
All begin to plead desperately for their lives.
One of the German girls suddenly breaks away and starts running in the direction of Richard's hiding place.
One of the guards shoots at her repeatedly, missing.
The others start shooting at the remaining three, cutting them down in a hail of bullets.
The German girl keeps on running, zigzagging as she goes.
The farmers fire but miss.
She reaches the place where Richard is hiding, couched down in the undergrowth.
Startled by seeing him, she stops abruptly.
Richard and the German girl stare into each other's eyes for a moment.
Suddenly her chest explodes forwards as a single bullet rips through from her back.
She falls to the ground.
Richard is spattered in her blood.
He sits motionless, staring at her corpse.
UNDERWATER. DAY.
In the pool at the base of the waterfall. It is empty.
Richard appears, submerging at the speed from his jump.
He sinks then floats slowly towards the surface, eyes open.
Richard climbs from the pool.
RICHARD (V.O.)
So that was it. Now I knew exactly what would happen. I wouldn't need to wonder aobut it any longer.
Richard walks across the deserted clearing towards the light of the longhouse.
Around him, a wind begins to blow.
The longhouse is full. Everyone is there, apart from Etienne and Francoise, engaged in quiet conversation.
Richard is hardly noticed as he sits down.
A few seconds later, Sal sits opposite him. She is absolutely matter of fact.
SAL
Well?
RICHARD
They're dead.
SAL
All of them?
RICHARD
Yes, all of them. They disturbed the farmers.
SAL
Right.
RICHARD
I guess that means we don't need to worry about them any more.
SAL
Yeah. The only problem we have left is Francoise and Etienne.
Richard realizes what she means.
RICHARD
You knew they'd be killed.
SAL
It's not the first time.
RICHARD
And Daffy?
SAL
What?
RICHARD
Daffy. He saw it happen. Didn't he? Yea, he saw it happen. And now you wanted me to see it happen.
SAL
Richard, if you're going to live here, you've got to get involved.
Richard's knife (the stolen one) is lying beside him. Sal picks it up by the tip of the blade.
SAL
(continuing)
Francoise. And Etienne.
She slaps the knife into Richard's hand.
She stands up and walks away.
Richard contemplates the knife.
A storm is building up, scattering anything loose across the clearing.
Most of the lights are out now. The wind is beginning to rattle the building.
Richard lies awake.
RICHARD (V.O.)
I wasn't thinking about what she asked me to do.
Richard and Daffy shake hands.
RICHARD (V.O.)
I was trying to remember somewhere I used to call home, someone I used to be, but I couldn't put a name to that place or a face to that person anymore - they got left behind in a hotel room in the Khao San Road along with a man who cut his wrists.
Richard steps carefully across the floor, avoiding the pools of blood.
RICHARD (V.O.)
But at least I understood why he'd done it.
It is pouring rain and the storm grows stronger.
Richard appears alone in the clearing, the knife in his hadn.
Thunder and lightening begin.
RICHARD (V.O.)
I still didn't know what I was going to do when I got to them. You see, when you have blood on your hands, you ask yourself, what difference will it make if you spill some more? I had made a sacrifice to keep the secret, and now that sacrifice was the secret.
Richard approaches the faint glow of the small tent where Francoise is nursing christo.
He is carrying the knife.
He crawls close up to the tent. Etienne is sleeping in the open doorway.
Inside there is darkness while all are sleeping.
The thunder is directly overhead and the lightening flashes frequently.
Sonja stirs in her sleep.
In a flash of lightening she thinks she sees something.
A whole series of flashes provide a clearer view.
At the end of her bed four corpses, Zeph, Sammy, and the two German girls, hang upside down and bound together from the central beam in the roof of the building.
Zeph appears to be staring at her, his hair trailing against her feet.
She screams.
More lightening illuminates the four armed Farmers.
Richard crawls towards the sleeping Etienne.
Inside the tent, Francoise has her back to the entrance as she mops the brow of Christo, feverish and unconscious.
The farmers have torches now.
One of them is interrogating Sal angrily in Thai while the other inhabitants cower at gunpoint.
FARMER
You draw maps! You bring people here! Why?
SAL
No, we don't. We bring no one.
FARMER
You are lying! You are bringing people here. Too many people!
He hits her with the rifle butt.
SAL
No, I promise, we keep it secret. We tell no one.
He hits her again.
FARMER
Then who drew this?
He holds out the map drawn by Richard.
Richard draws closer to Etienne. He reaches him, the knife poised in his hand.
The four bodies hang from the roof.
The farmers have gone.
Sal lies injured on the floor.
The inhabitants silently pass the map from one to the other.
It reaches Bugs last. He studies it.
Richard's bald is at Etienne's throat.
He opens his eyes, frozen with fear.
Richard is aware of a gaze from another direction. Keeping the knife at Etienne's throat, he turns to see that Francoise is looking at him. They stare at each other.
Richard takes the knife away.
RICHARD
You have to leave. Do you understand? You have to leave right now. If you don't they'll kill you.
ETIENNE
What about Christo?
RICHARD
There is nothing more you can do. I'll look after him.
FRANCOISE
Richard -
RICHARD
You don't have time to talk about this. You have to go now.
Christo moans. Etienne looks at him.
RICHARD
(continuing)
Leave him with me.
Etienne understands. He and Richard stare at each other.
Bugs runs through the forest, away from the lights of the clearing.
Francoise and Etienne flee through the forest towards the beach.
Richard studies Christo, illuminated by a torch.
His breathing is labored and irregular.
Richard reaches forward. He pinches Christo's nose and covers his mouth.
Christo's body struggles briefly and goes still.
Richard relaxes his grip.
He switches off the torch.
Richard swims out from the beach.
Richard swims out towards the cliff.
He reaches the cliff and pauses, taking a deep breath before submerging towards the underwater tunnel.
Moonlight reflects in through the chimney and the entrance.
Etienne and Francoise are in the boat.
Etienne is trying to start the boat.
He sees the silhouette of a man surface and crawl onto the flat rock.
Etienne steps off the boat onto the rock as the figure in the shadows approaches him.
ETIENNE
Richard, come one, get into the boat.
The man pulls Etienne forward and stabs him deep into his abdomen.
ETIENNE
(continuing)
Richard!
It is Bugs.
BUGS
Richard can't help you now, French boy.
Francoise screams.
Bugs releases Etienne who falls helpless to his knees.
Bugs turns his attention to Francoise. She pulls the start cord and the engine starts.
Bugs holds one end of the mooring rope, pulling the boat towards him while Francoise tries to undo the other end.
RICHARD (O.S.)
Hey, Bugs!
Richard stands on the rock.
Bugs turns towards him. He drops the rope and walks a couple of paces, then rushes him.
Richard manages to avoid the blade.
They fight.
Bugs forces Richard on to the ground
He is about to stab Richard.
Etienne appears behind Bugs, struggling on his feet, bleeding from his wound.
He is holding a piece of rope. He slings it around Bug's neck.
Etienne's eyes roll and his head lolls.
He falls back into the water, pulling Bugs with him.
UNDERWATER. NIGHT.
Etienne and the struggling Bugs sink.
Bugs cannot free himslf, becoming only more entangled.
Richard lies on the flat rock.
Francoise is in the boat.
She switches off the engine.
UNDERWATER. NIGHT.
Etienne and Bugs lie at rest on the sea bed.
A calm sunny day.
Richard and Francoise are on the boat, drifting.
RICHARD (V.O.)
That was the worst thing: I didn't even get to die. I had to live with myself.
In a typical Khao San Road hotel. The room is a mess.
Richard disheveled and haggard is sitting at a small table, working with a pencil and a piece of paper.
RICHARD (V.O.)
I haven't seen her since and I don't suppose I ever will. I've been here six months now.
The clearing is deserted and overgrown.
The longhouse is derelict and overrun with creepers.
From above in one rising shot, the beach, the lagoon, and the island.
RICHARD (V.O.)
Listening to all the people talk about where they're going to go and ho great it's going to be, and I try to tell them: you can go too far, you can find out too much, but no one ever listens, no one ever listens. I guess there's some things you just have to discover for yourself.
He finishes his work. It is a copy of The Map.
He picks up a single tack.
Richard pins the map to the door of an adjacent room.
He walks back to the open door of his own room.
He looks back once and closes the door.
Close on The Map.
THE END