A Stolen Life

Excuse me.

Would you mind telling me

when the next boat goes to the island?

7:00.

Tonight?

Nope, morning.

Oh. Could I hire a boat?

Don't know of one.

Well, surely there must be someone

who's going over to the island tonight.

I'd ask that boy in that launch down there.

Oh...

Thank you.

I beg your pardon.

Are you going to the island tonight?

I beg your pardon.

Are you going over to the island tonight?

I missed the steamer.

That'll teach you not to be late.

Could you tell me whether or not

you're going anywhere near it?

I'm going to the island,

but I don't take any passengers.

It's against the rules.

Oh, I'd be very indebted to you.

My cousin's expecting me on the steamer.

Please, I promise I won't be any trouble.

Can't you see I'm full up?

Let go of those lines, Tom.

I'm not very large.

Well...ok, hop in.

Oh, thank you!

Did you say somebody was supposed to meet you

at the steamer?

You'd better telephone ahead,

let them know you're on your way.

Hey, George!

Will you phone the island for me?

Fred Lindley! He's renting the craven cottage!

You got that? The craven cottage.

Tell them I'm bringing the girl.

She missed the steamer.

George: okay, bill!

I've never been to the island before.

You'll like it.

How long a trip is it?

Oh, about two hours.

Could I use a piece of this paper?

Sure. Help yourself.

Thank you.

You like the sea, don't you?

Mm-hmm. I guess I come by it naturally.

All my ancestors were whalers from Portland.

Maine or Oregon?

To a Yankee,

there's only one Portland--Maine.

Welcome to new England, Yankee.

How about letting me see what you did there?

Well, I'm not the world's greatest.

Hey, that's good.

You may have it, if you like.

Well, thanks.

Thank you very much.

You can see the island now.

Man: Eben Folger, she's pulling in!

Well, here you are.

Man: hiya, bill!

Hi.

Hey, the Portuguese are really

whooping it up tonight, huh?

Tony Pierre is going to get married tomorrow.

Yeah. Heh heh!

Oh, thank you.

Here you are.

It was very nice of you to bring me over.

Oh. You know,

you made the trip much more pleasant.

Thank you.

Here, take it, bill. Who are you?

I'm Kate Bosworth.

Well, he ain't supposed to carry passengers.

You ain't running no ferry, bill.

Aw, take it easy, Eben.

Oh, don't blame him.

I made a nuisance of myself.

I was very glad to do it for you.

You ain't got no right to be glad about nothing.

Thank you very much.

Alright. So long.

Bye!

Don't you let Eben Folger bother you none, miss.

He ain't as cussed as he sounds.

Who's Eben Folger?

He's a lighthouse keeper on dragonhead.

Dragonhead?

Been there 21 years.

Does the boy that brought me out on the boat

live there, too?

Bill? Right now he does.

Man: Kate!

Kate!

Freddie.

Hello, Freddie.

Am I glad to see you!

Well, what happened to you?

You gave me an awful scare.

The steamer came in and no sign.

I'm sorry, Freddie.

I missed the steamer by one minute.

Oh, have I had a time of it!

I'll carry those bags. Thank you.

Thank you very much.

We had someone telephone you.

Didn't you get the message?

Well, of course I got the message eventually,

after I'd paced back and forth

on this cursed dock for hours.

Is pat here?

Yes, she's here.

You'll be happy to know, Kate,

that I've been scouting around

for likely subjects for you to paint.

Oh, that's very sweet of you.

Freddie, where's dragonhead?

Dragonhead? Well, that's a mile and a half offshore.

Why do you ask that?

Oh, the dragonhead launch brought me over.

Do you know the keeper?

Well, I've seen him, but I've never met him.

Now, you must tell me

what you're going to do tomorrow, Kate.

Does he come ashore every day?

He who?

The lighthouse keeper.

Well, of cour--maybe-- I don't...

Kate, you do have a stubborn streak.

Come on, come on. Hurry up, mind you.

Alright.

Morning, Martha.

Morning, Eben.

I'm aiming to take a look at this here ship model.

Yeah?

I was sort of took aback when I heard it was for sale.

That's right. For sale, Eben.

Now, Martha, you know Druscilla always said

I was to have it.

I don't know any such a thing.

Yes, you do, Martha,

if you set your mind to it.

Now, go on, set your mind.

Druscilla's sister writ me

right after the funeral

that I was to sell everything,

lock, stock and barrel,

the best prices I could get.

And that's what I aim to do.

Tarnation, woman, you're holding me up.

How much you asking for it?

150.

150?

I'll give you $50 cash.

You're only wasting your time.

The price is 150.

75, then. It's highway robbery, but--

150.

Alright, Martha, if that's the way you want it,

you just keep that model.

But you let me tell you something.

If'n you ever sell that to anyone else afore I die,

I'll haunt you into your grave!

Mr. Folger!

Please, could I ask you something?

I ain't talking to no one.

Would you sit for me?

Sit for you?

What are you talking about?

I mean, could I paint your portrait?

I ain't settin' for no one!

I'll pay you any amount you want.

If you was to pay me $50,000, I wouldn't be found dead

a-settin' for no tomfool portrait!

No visitors!

No visitors allowed!

This is government property!

No visitors!

No visitors!

I said no visitors.

I know you did.

You're the one who wanted to paint me, ain't you?

That's right.

Well, I told you then I didn't

hanker after it, and I don't now.

Oh, but you see,

I came for a different reason.

Well, talk.

I understand you're an expert with ship models--

in fact, the only one who knows

whether they're genuine or not.

Don't make sense.

I know it's a great imposition, Mr. Folger,