 Log entry, the catch scarlet queen, Philip Conny master. Position four degrees five minutes north, 126 degrees 45 minutes east. Wind brisk, sky fair. Remarks the parted island of Caracallong on schedule after being boarded by armed pirates. Reason for trouble? King Ascot and the maid in waiting. It was toward noon during the best the tropics has to offer in fresh, sun drenched mornings that we raised the peaked outline of Caracallong to our starboard and stood in toward Beale Bay. The ripples danced and glimmered in the light. And in two more hours of the spanking breeze we picked up the creamy surf roaring in over the coral that fenced the bay. My chief mate Gallagher went forward with the heaving lead as I pointed the bow toward the swirling passage through the wreath. His soundings came rolling back. Four fathoms of depth as we closed on the opening. But shallowing the less as the swirl beneath us humped and got ready to break. Three and a half fathoms. The roar of water crashing on coral filled our ears and a sharp teeth of coral filled our minds. The heaving rollers from across the celibacy built and broke on our port at starboard felt the current grab reacted with the wheel. The coral teeth bled by on either side. More than 17 fathoms of crystal quiet water beneath us and I took time to look up from my work. The island in front of us was like a backdrop for a technicolor version of the more idyllic scenes and mutiny on the bounty. A mountain slope down which flowed a glacier of multicolored foliage. Arms, tree ferns, cassiourinas all of it laced and interlaced by rattan and flowering vines. It ended at a sugar white beach washed by blue-green water. And as we watched the final touch enter the picture. Not one but two. Blonde and brunette. Dressed in flower patterned cloth walked out onto the sand and waved as we worked into anchorage. Music So mutual continues the voyage of the Scarlet Queen written by Gildowd and Bob Talman and starring Elliott Lewis. The Scarlet Queen protest ship to plow the seas bound for uncharted adventure. Every week a complete entry in the log and every week a league further in the strange voyage of the Scarlet Queen. Music Five minutes after our hook was secured at the bottom Gallagher and I were stepping from our dinghy to meet the welcoming committee. The lighter one was short and bursting with herself. The darker, tall and well-contained. She sounded like Tea Time and Barkley Square. Hello there. Good to have you drop in on us. Well thanks. We didn't expect to find you here. The charts call the island undeveloped and populated by a somewhat shy group of natives. And so it remains, except for our plantation. I'm Mrs. Briley and this is Mrs. Ascot. And Phil Kearney, how do you do? How do you do? This is Mr. Gallagher. I'm happy to know you. It's quite a surprise. How do you do, Mr. Gallagher? And now I do hope that both of you will join us at the cottage. I dare say our husbands are even more anxious to meet you than Jane and I were. Here's the path over here. They stepped out in front of Red and Me and led us up the path through a riot of vegetation. Primitive. Almost stifling with flower scents. Bright with colors. Noisy with shrill land birds. Up to the right we could see straight rows of young and neatly cultivated palm trees. To our front the rise of the mountain loomed abruptly. And from a point thirty or forty feet up a small stream flashed from the massive growth. Curved into space and fell, hissing and bubbling into a deep wide pool. Next to this pool is the bungalow. Shaded and pooled by ocean breeze. The husbands were introduced to us on the veranda. Briarly, well built, graying slightly. I bid you a heart. You're welcome, gentlemen. Well, thanks, Mr. Brown. Thanks a lot. Ascot was younger, slim and fair. Have you had a long voyage, Captain? Oh, not this particular leg. No, we're just up from Harmar-Harris. Oh, a beastly island. Well, short trick or no, you'll enjoy stretching your legs on Karakalong. Doris, would you mind showing Captain Carney about a bit? Of course not, my dear. And Mr. Gallagher will go with Jane when you return the Captain to us. Very well. Stranges are rare to us, Captain. I hope you'll understand. Shall we go? She led me through the park-like groves. The clearings where they dried their copra. The warehouses stacked with it. She showed me piles of oyster shell. Half dozen more examples of good commercial products they collected from the island. Then we stopped on a high point overlooking the Scarlet Queen resting in the blue-green bay below. Now, do you blame us for being proud of our island? No, I think you've done a great job, Mrs. Brownlee. Oh, we've been very fortunate. It's Dutch territory, you know, but my husband's associates formed the Celebi's Development Company and we came here at the close of the war. You certainly seem to have everything. Yes, everything but the worry and turmoil of competitive life. And judging from what news we last heard in the condition of the world, I feel quite fortunate to be separated from it. It's in quite a state, isn't it, Captain? It was not as trouble-free as your island. It was talk even in the casser of a battle over short or long hemlines. Hemlines, really. Wouldn't you trade this for that kind of nonsense? No, I wouldn't, Mrs. Brownlee. I'm afraid I like competition and the rest of it. Tell me, don't you ever get lonesome? Lonely, I mean. Why should I? Find husband, good company? The time to enjoy both. Why should any of us want more than we have? By the time three days have passed, Rhett and I were almost ready to agree with her. Our sailing orders would await in the bay until one of Kang's luggers arrived. And this kind of relaxation was made to order for us after the last few weeks of short trips and troubled ports. We soaked up sunshine and rest. And every night when we returned to the Queen, we agreed that the Briarleys and the Ascotts were the most gracious hosts we've met since Singapore. We called it Paradise at least once a day. I was a little disappointed when the first thin wrapping fell off. I was alone in my cabin when Mr. King's lay Ascotts paid me a visit. He browsed through some English-language newspapers and suddenly came to the point. Connie, I hope you won't think me blunt. Your arrival here was the most unfortunate thing that could have happened. I think you're being plenty blunt, King. What are you driving at? You and your shipper, the first link we've had in our side world for over 10 months. How long are you going to stay? I don't know. But we can stay aboard ship from now on if that'll help. If we didn't push ourselves into your company, you know. Oh, no, no, no, it isn't that. Where are you going from here? I don't know. Why? Comey. Would it be possible to arrange passage to some port, any port with regular steamer connections? What? You've been as proud of your paradise as the rest, King. What goes? I'm sorry. Look, I'm sailing under charter orders and I can't take any passenger. Well, I had to ask you. It's not a charm. Not even a slim one, King. I'm sorry. I see. Connie. Connie, be sure that you don't buy word or look indicated Jane or the Briarly's that I've talked to you this way. Your promise, Connie? Sure, King. I like you all too well to mess things up. I just hope you can settle down again. Yes, I suppose I can. I've been settled for a good many months. Well, thanks anyway, Connie. I'll meet you in the morning. Thought we might fish a bit from the reef at Ebtide. Sounds great. I'll be in early. Ascot didn't mention his visit all the next day. Once again, the island was an unmarred paradise. But that night brought another evasive visitor to my cabin on the Scarlet Queen. The next one to browse through the newspapers and then look up suddenly was Edward Briarly. Oi, Joe, Connie. I'm so glad you've dropped in on us. It's really been a lark having you. But I say, I believe in being outspoken. Has Ascot approached you regarding passage from here? What a waste of time if he had, Briarly. I can't take any passenger. I'm afraid that's a pity. Don't misunderstand me, Ascot's splendid chap. Bright and alert, smashing company. But this type of life is hard on some. I've been about on this estate and that, FMS, North Borneo and the like, and I know the signs. Poor Ascot's at the end of his tether. He needs a change. And I had hoped that you might supply him with a transportation. Yeah, well, it's out of the question, Briarly. I can't take a pity. Stubborn devil, holding it in the way he is. But, Connie, I must be sure of one thing. Say nothing to anyone about my visit. Joe, if he knew I was aware of his state his model would shatter. And that the rest soon would do likewise. Do you agree to silence? Yeah, sure, Briarly. I won't say a word to anybody. Come in for an early swim in the morning, Connie. We'll have breakfast and make a day of it. I saw him to his canoe. Went back to my cabin. But less than 15 minutes had passed before another visitor climbed the ladder over the side and joined me. Captain Connie, I hope you won't think it entirely unforgivable. My being here, I mean. Yes, Mrs. Briarly. Thank you. I'm so distressed. My husband was here. What did he want, Captain? Why, nothing? He didn't say so. I couldn't bear it if you did. Please, Captain, don't leave without me. I'll die if you do. What are you handing me, Mrs. Briarly? I'm begging you. Why me? Because I'm a woman in your man desperately. He's toying with me now. I can feel the change in him. There's no limit to his cruelty. I beg of you, Captain. Give me my one chance. Take me away from here. I think you'd better go ashore now, Mrs. Briarly. I've never found much profit in taking misunderstood wives away from husbands. I'll do anything, Phil. I don't want anything. I just want you to go ashore. Come on, I'll help you out. I didn't have a cheery invitation for the following morning. I hit the sack with a bad taste in my mouth and my stock and paradise dropping by degrees. Jane Ascot's pitch was at least different because she chose daylight in the section of beach for the setting. And it was refreshing because she wore two dark red blossoms in her blonde hair. And the rest of her did nice things to a sarong-type swimsuit because her approach was straightforward. I've been watching your ship at night, Phil. You've had a lot of visitors. Oh, I have. Do you want to talk about them? Not especially. Except that for a paradise, nobody wastes much time trusting anybody else. What's paradise to you, Phil? Money, beautiful women, things like that? Well, brief periods of that type are all right. Why? Listening to me could mean lots of money for those brief periods. Is that an offer? I understand that the men who sail ships are susceptible to offers. Is that right? Oh, I've heard. Are you? I like your approach. Show me a man that wouldn't be susceptible to offers from you. You're very nice to make them, too. Thank you. But I'm not in a spot to accept. That's very foolish. Why? Because you're throwing away a thousand pounds sterling. And because I'm so angry with you, I might even let some of these insane people kill you. No. Threats in paradise. Paradise. I'll tell you just how idyllic our paradise is. Did you know that my husband, Indoris Brierly, are in love? You're really broken up about it, aren't you? They've been meeting under the tropic moon almost every night for months. Stupid fools. With Brierly now? Of course. You'll have to admit all of us have put on a great act. Brierly and I have given them complete freedom. And the idiots don't even realize we have given it to them. Sounds like a pleasant way to live. It's rotten. But we've had a reason. They want to go away together. And we want them to go. So you and Brierly can play games? Oh, not for any emotional reasons, Phil. When they disappear, as far as the world is concerned, every shilling of the Salabies Development Company's funds would disappear, too. Some ten thousand pounds by now. Which you and Brierly could then pocket, huh? Now, your stupid refusal to take pastures has ruined our skin. Oh, I'm sorry I'm spoiling the deal. Such a pretty one. Don't worry, Phil. I'm sure another possibility will present itself. It was after dark by the time I got away from her. I rode back to the ship and poured a couple of stiff drinks. Red was in his cabin asleep and he mumbled impolitely at me when I tried to prod him into conversation. So I went out on the afterdeck and sat there alone, trying to clean out my system with night air, smoke, and bonded disinfectant. What I had in mind slipped away when they stepped onto the deck and into the glow of our riding lights. I noticed the strained expressions on their faces and the small caliber revolvers in each of their right hands. Stand right there, Doris, and don't hesitate for a second if he attempts anything. Oh, right, King. What is all this, King? Things can't go on like this, Countie. Will you listen to reason if it'll save our lives? I don't care much about saving your life and to save your own. I mean it, Connie. We're both desperate and your life means little to us. Doris and I are in love. We have been for months. Congratulations. Oh, I know it doesn't sound as it should, but it's true nevertheless. We didn't mean to. We couldn't help it. Tonight, Briarly learned of it. He threatened to kill us both. We didn't leave the island by tomorrow, and he's a man who lives up to his threats, Connie. Your ship is the only possible way we can leave. I'm afraid it isn't, King. Well, you don't mean that. Oh, I tell you, Connie, your life is at stake. I swear I'll shoot you if you don't order this ship underway at once. Use your head, King. Or has this paradise really wrung your brain out? Where would you be if you did shoot me? No, in no worse position than I am now. I'd know that I'd done everything in my power to save Doris and myself. Connie, order this ship underway. I can't. You've got a few hundred square miles of island. Go find yourself a hud someplace and hide in it. That wouldn't work. You're only hope, Bill. You've got to take us. But my whole voyage is at stake. That's as important to me as you are to Ascot. I warn you, Connie. Look, if you've got the itch to be the big warrior for her, go shoot Brialy. Once more, Connie. All right, but you better do it right, Ascot. I'm telling you, if you don't do it with the first one, I'm going to shove that toy down your throat before you can pull the trigger again. I can't believe that you did... Doris! Doris! Doris crumpled to the deck, raised her head loosely as King Rand and Neil beside her. I saw her push her shoulders rigidly against his hands as she died. Then I learned where the shots had come from. Move out of the way, Phil. Hurry or I won't wait. I'd started toward them, but I slid back against the cabin. King Ascot was still holding the sagging body when Jane fired again. He stiffened once, then relaxed as the second slug took him, then he rolled over on his side quietly. Jane's canoe coasted in toward the side. What's the devil's going on? Why don't you stay ashore to... What happened to them? Keep the crew in the focus, will you, Red? Go on up, tell them everything's all right. Sure, just as long as we got dead bodies all over the deck, everything's fine. I hope you didn't mind my saving your life, Phil. Yeah, that was very neatly and cold, bloodedly taken care of, wasn't it? Good heavens, it was no time for delicacy. They seemed so insistent about hurting you. Let's not kid each other. Why did you have to use my ship? Why didn't you take care of it ashore where you had more room? Well, I felt that would have been murder. It was, huh? What do you call less? Rescue. I suppose in a sense it was attempted piracy that I rescued you from, wasn't it? They were attempting to assume command of a vessel by use of arms or something like that. No? Rescue is a much nicer word than murder, don't you think? Well, it always has been. Up until now. Oh, Phil! Phil, my arm, you're hurting me. I'm done, gorgeous. I listen better without a gun in my face. If your point idea is about what is or isn't murder, it looks better in the stupor. All right, now make sense. Phil, this wasn't all my idea. Why are they convinced Doris and King that they could force you to take them away? So that you could come out and rescue me from pirates? But, Phil, for a thousand pounds sterling, I did rescue you. That's what I'm supposed to say? Not for half the cut that you and Brialy now have from the Celebi's development company. Now get off my ship. All right, Phil. But come in early in the morning, will you? We'll have breakfast and then swim and lie in the sun all day. After she left, I wondered how she'd explained to Brialy my lack of interest in the payoff. Just about the time she should have been facing him with the fact two evenly separated, well-placed shots echoed out from the island. We never did go ashore again. Just before dawn, a native canoe arrived to take the deceased pirates ashore. We moved out beyond the reef, raided over full reports of the Dutch officials. Later that morning, Kang's Lugger arrived with our sailing orders and we headed out across the Celebi's Sea. And bay to make sails! The reef, the mountain, and the memories of Karakalong lay off our stern and the crew jumped two of the wheels to rig us for our ride into the future. Watch it! Make sails! The mainsail boomed into its job. The gyps ran up, then the mizzen, and the Scarlet Queen winced under the pull, settled under the help I gave her from the helm, and then charged forward, slashing the rolling swells with a bow and leaving them churned and flattened in her wake. Now, Skipper, you want a saucer anymore? Now, she'll do, Red. Hey, Skipper, those two shots we heard have still got me. Maybe we should have gone ashore to take a look see. Oh, no! There might have been two more for each of us. Yeah, you can't help but wonder, though. Who do you think got him? That's pretty much of a toss-up. I think it must have been Briarley. Well, how do you figure? Very simple, Red. With all her faults. The girl was very fond of me. Uh-huh. Well, at least she didn't kill you. Yeah, there's that if you must have proof. Besides, she invited me to breakfast, and I'm sure she wouldn't break that date just to die. Well, I know. Even I wouldn't do that. Of course, those slugs could have been going the other way. Or even both ways. Don't worry about it. Drink, Skipper. But it does pique a man's curiosity, Red. I wonder... Oh, well. After you, mate. After you. Log entry. The catch-scallot queen. 5.30 p.m. Miles traveled from San Francisco 20,433. Wind, brisk, sky overcast. Main cell reefed. Ship secure for night. Signed Phillip Conny. Master. Voyage of the Scarlet Queen stars Elliott Lewis as Phil Conny with Ed Max as Gallagher. Music scored and conducted by Richard O'Rod. The Scarlet Queen, produced by James Burton, is written by Gildowd and Bob Tolman.