Fantasy Island

Good morning.

No. No, no, no.

Good morning. Mm-hmm.

That one.

Good morning.

Morning.

Um, how are you?

- I'm good. Why are you acting weird?

I'm not acting weird.

I simply want to make sure that you're fine.

- Totally fine. - After, you know...

I do know.

- I want you to understand that...

Fantasies and... yeah, yeah.

I got it the first time. - Oh, okay.

- You mind if I open the door now?

Please do.

I'm gonna be up there at my greeting spot.

Okay.

- Everything okay between you two?

Of course.

Just seemed a little awkward.

- Oh, look, our guest is here. - Oh.

- There you go. - Ooh!

- You okay? - Yeah, I'm good.

Just a little queasy.

Happens every time I fly.

- Hmm. - Okay. That way?

- Right there. - Okay.

Thanks. - You're welcome.

Hi, Miss Marshall.

I'm your host, Elena Roarke, and this is my associate Ruby.

Welcome to Fantasy Island.

I think I'm gonna throw up.

- Oh. - Oh.

- Small sips. - Thanks.

- Sorry, it's just like planes, trains, automobiles,

they all make me feel kind of green.

I'm more of a horses, bicycles,

foot kind of person, you know?

- Well, how about you take a seat right on he...

oh. - Oh, wow.

Oh, okay.

We actually have rocks on the island.

You didn't need to bring your own.

Golly. - I'm sorry. It's books.

Edith Wharton, Jane Austen.

R.S. Coldwater is my favorite.

I'm obsessed; I'm the girl who's had her nose in a book

ever since elementary school.

I even managed to make reading my job.

I'm a copy editor.

So tell me, Miss Marshall,

what can the island do for you?

I need to get a life.

And I need to get my nose out of books.

And I've tried before, but the world

is... it's so much.

And books are where I feel safe.

- You don't feel safe in the real world?

I feel out of step.

Like I don't really belong.

And I'm worried my whole life is one big, "No, thank you."

And I want it to be a yes.

I...

So I guess that's my fantasy, to have the courage

to say yes to real life,

whatever that is, not just life in books.

Real life can be intimidating.

And getting lost in a good book,

I mean, shoot, there's nothing better,

especially if it's romance.

- You ever read R.S. Coldwater? - Mm-mm.

Okay. Okay.

These are the Agnes novels.

That's book one of three. Start there.

I got introduced to these my freshman year of college.

And Agnes is the first woman I ever fell in love with.

- Really? - Yeah.

What was it about her?

- She's independent and strong and so smart.

She wears breeches and men's shirts.

Just does whatever she wants.

Sounds like my kind of woman.

You'll need this.

Here you go.

Follow me, please.

Say yes, Miss Marshall.

Okay.

Your fantasy begins now.

Mm.

You look lost.

Can I help you?

Are you Agnes?

- You must be a fan of my husband's work.

I'm Rachel Coldwater.

You're Rachel Coldwater?

I'm... what? Wow!

- Whoever you are, you're very American.

- Sorry. Am I supposed to curtsy or...

Please.

Women keep their heads held high around here.

- Oh. - May I?

Good heavens. Reggie.

What is it, darling?

I was just getting to the punch line.

This is your cousin Isabel.

She's come all the way from New York.

- Your cousin? Yes, I mean that's right.

I am... I am your cousin from New York.

Yes.

Why, you were three years old last time I saw you.

Oh, this calls for a fresh round of drinks.

Let me just get Winnie.

You know, I swear I spend half of my time

trying to find the maid.

Just hold on.

- How long can you stay for, cousin?

I have no idea.

Do you also write, Mrs. Coldwater?

Oh, yes. All the time.

Invitations to tea, list for the market,

thank you notes for invitations to tea.

Come.

Let me introduce you to our friends.

- Brian Cole. Hmm. Right on time.

- Finding the spot wasn't exactly a challenge.

Elena Roarke, your host.

So tell me, Mr. Cole, what can the island do for you?

Ah.

My fantasy is to experience the ultimate physical

and mental challenge and overcome it, hopefully.

- Hopefully? - I'm an extreme survivalist.

The uncertainty is part of the fun.

My wife never saw it that way.

Ex-wife. I just got divorced.

She thought I had an unhealthy obsession.

I saw it as a normal human drive to excel.

Why Fantasy Island?

There's tougher terrain out there.

- It's all been conquered. Most of it by me.

I want to be tested in ways I never have been before.

- I like your confidence, Mr. Cole.

- Give me your worst. I can take it.

Please hand over your gear.

- You want my boots? - Unnecessary.

There's a machete a little ways up the trail.

You'll have no other tools.

I'll see you on the other side.

All right.

Hey, whatever happens out there,

no help, no rescue.

No problem.

- Reginald, Rachel, thank you so much for having me.

This has been amazing.

Wait, you're both R. Coldwater.

- Yes, well, we like to match whenever possible.

That's why she wears trousers, you know.

Just like Agnes.

Those novels changed my life.

All right.

Good night, wife.

Sleep well, dear cousin.

I'll see you in the morning.

Good night.

How?

What?

- How did the Agnes novels change your life?

- Oh, well, they just showed me who I really was,

and that love was so much more

than I could ever possibly imagine.

- Reginald will be very pleased to hear that.

Oh.

But words on the page can't compare to beating hearts

and warm breath

and the blood coursing through one's veins.

This is your room, cousin.

I'm sorry. I...

I don't normally do that kind of thing.

- You never kissed a woman before?

- I'm usually the... the kissee, not the kisser.

I'm just trying new things.

Well, you surprise me, Isabel.

And that doesn't happen very often.

Have a restful sleep.

181, 182, 183.

Ooh.

Almost a record.

Who's out there?

Hello?

Two manuscripts?

Written in different hands?

- What are you doing here, cousin?

- I knew it! I knew it was you.

This is so cool!

You're R.S. Coldwater!

- You don't know what you're talking about, cousin.

- Uh, the ink on your fingertips,

the duplicate manuscripts.

Reginald obviously copies your work