Pascali's Island

Good evening, Mr. Mardosian.

- Mr. Pascali. - I see we have a new arrival.

I take it you are referring to the Englishman.

English, is he?

Tall. Fair-haired.

Mr. Bowles.

He's, uh, staying long?

An indefinite stay, he said.

Indefinite?

I trust you gave him a good room.

Number 16, overlooking the sea.

Did he say why he's here?

The reason for his visit?

I believe the gentleman is an archeologist.

A scholar, no less.

Perhaps I can be of service to him.

Perhaps.

Why don't you ask him yourself?

You'll find him on the veranda.

The veranda.

Thank you.

Excuse me sir, may I have a word with you?

Yes, of course.

My name is Pascali, Basil Pascali.

You are newly arrived on the island, I believe.

I thought, since I speak English,

after a fashion, you might need some help.

The services of an interpreter,or guide, perhaps?

If I can be of any assistance to you.

I live here in the town.

I'm a well-known figure on the island.

Everybody knows me.

Everybody knows Basil Pascali.

Well, that's very kind of you, Mr. Pascali.

My name is Bowles, Anthony Bowles.

Very pleased to meet you.

I was just about to have a drink,

- would you care to join me? - Thank you, yes.

I see you are... familiar with our customs.

I've traveled extensively

- in this part of the world. - Indeed!

What will you have?-

The Turks have strengthened their garrison.

Only last week a platoon was ambushed in the mountains.

The rebels are active. Very active.

Hmm.

Who's the German?

Herr Gesing.

He represents the firm of Mandveld...

Armaments.He's placed here on the island.

Your English is extremely good.

Passable, passable, yes.

My mother was, uh, half Irish.

Half Irish, half French.

She came out to Constantinople as a dancer and an acrobat

- in a traveling show. - You don't say.

That offer of yours, to act as interpreter,

awfully decent of you.

I may well take you up on it.

At your service.

I have a spot of business to conduct here.

It's a question of making an approach

- to the Turkish authorities. - The authorities?

Yes.

Lydia!

Lydia Neuman, Viennese.

She has a house with a studio in the Turkish Quarter.

Basil. I see you've found someone new.

Good evening, Lydia. This is...

Anthony Bowles.

Lydia Neuman.

Lydia is an artist.

A very fine painter.

And Basil is my kindest critic.

Would you care to join us for a drink?

Thank you.

Lydia is from an old Viennese family.

One of the best.

Basil, please.

She was educated in England.

Really?

- So, what will you have? - White wine.

Mr. Pascali was just telling meabout his mother.

Oh, one of his favorite topics.

Apparently she was an acrobat.

An acrobat?

You told me she was a piano teacher.

My mother had many professions,

in a long and varied career.

She ended up in the oldest one of all,

she became a prostitute.

I really don't thinkMiss Neuman wants to hear that.

I have no idea who my father was,

what race, or background. My mother gave me

different accounts at different times.

She was a great one for stories.

A talent you inherited at least.

Eventually, to cut a long story short,

she became the mistress of an official

in the Ministry of Finance,

a Maltese by the name of Pascali.

Take no notice of him. He's only trying to shock you.

On the contrary.

Madame.

And, will you be staying here for long, Mr. Bowles?

Possibly for a week or two, this whole area's rich

in historical antiquities.

Are you an archeologist?

Oh, how fascinating.

Yes, I'm gathering material for a book

about classical antiquities along the coast of Asia Minor

- and here on the island. - Excuse me.

- Curious fellow. - Basil?

He's a fixture of the island.

Our local character.

What does he do?

Oh, he teaches French, German, English.

He manages to scrape a living somehow.

I was thinking of asking him to interpret for me

in some negotiations, I'd pay him, of course.

Oh, please do. It would be wonderful for him.

Lord of the World,

shadow of God on Earth,

God bring you increase.

You do not know me, Excellency.

I am your secret observer on this island.

One of them, at least,

for there may be others.

Forgive my temerity in addressing you.

I am driven to it.

I can no longer endure the neglect of your officials.

In spite of repeated humble requests,

no word has come to me from the Ministry,

no single word of acknowledgement.

Never.

Not from the beginning.

Twenty years, I have sat here at my table,

in my room above the shore,

on this island,

far from Constantinople and the centers of power.

This is my last report.

The Greeks suspect me, Excellency,

I am sure of it.

The American's yacht is still there.

Ten days now, fishing for sponges,

or so he claims.

He has a crew of three.

Two Italians and a Pole, they say.

And what of our fine upstanding Englishman?

What is he doing here?

An indefinite stay,

that in itself is suspicious.

And the gun?

No.

He has some other purpose in mind.

Oh, Basil, what a surprise.

- I'm not disturbing you? - No.

No, I was working.

Come. Come on in.

Tell me, what do you think.

Come on, be honest.

You know how much I value your opinion.

It's very fine.

You don't think this red is too strong,

- a little violent? - No, it's wonderful!

Very sensual.

I'm so glad you came by.

I haven't much on today.

You can tell me all the latest gossip.

I've been wondering about the yacht in the bay.

It's owned by an American.

Have you met him, this Mr. Smith?

Yes.

I mean, no.

Not exactly.

I spoke to one of his crew, an Italian.

He came ashore for provisions two or three days ago.

Do you think the sponge fishingis genuine?

Mmm. Yes of course, why not?

I've heard rumors.

They say he's running guns to the rebels.

Oh, Basil,

your imagination is running wild.

I mean, if they thought that, they would've boarded him

and searched him.

Apparently they have done that.-And did they find anything?

- No. - Exactly.

Tell me, what do you think of our new arrival?

The Englishman?

A typical product of his race, I would say, somewhat naive,

a trifle self-righteous.

Yes, he's...

unsophisticated in some ways.

A moral primitive.

Why do you think he's here?

He told us last night.

He's interested in the ruins, he's writing a book.

Of course.

Why don't you ask him yourself?

I'm expecting him here any minute.