"DUEL IN THE DEEP" "We've reached the final part of this fantastic pop event." "Ladies and gentlemen, number 1 in the charts!" "Yesterday she received her fifth gold record." "Here she is:" "Sylvia Sommer!" "For our Sylvia, Here you are." "Here we go." "You'll get many more of these during your tour in England." "Ladies and gentlemen, Sylvia Sommer." "My fans will never accept this." "Stop whining about better songs." "This makes money!" "You only care about money." "I'm totally fed up with that song." "Very nice." "Quiet please, ladies and gentlemen." "We have a problem." "Performers are human too." "We'll have a short break to sort this out." "And then we'll continue." "What's wrong?" "Are you sick?" "Do you want me to call a doctor?" "Talk to uncle Theo." "What's upsetting you?" "You're upset, aren't you?" "What shall we do?" "They're destroying the place upstairs." "Can I say you'll be back?" "Leave me alone!" "We have a full house." "We have to do something!" "Right?" "We'll be right there." "Right, Syl?" "I can't!" "I can't do it anymore." "What do I do now?" "Maybe Pussycat are still there." "Listen..." "Ask them to take over." "You're the main act." "They're here for you." "Shall we continue?" "I can't." "It was going well." "No, it was terrible." "You only think that." "Everybody's a bit down at times." "She can't walk out on her audience." "Can't you see she's lost it?" "If you're quick, you can ask Pussycat." "Better do that." "Bunch of amateurs." "Shall I call Joop?" "It's his job." "No, I want to be alone." "Leave me alone!" "I'll take her home." "You call Joop." "This was bound to happen." "That girl's on the wrong track." "Hello." "No, not today!" "What's this?" "I can't see anybody today." "Look at that mess." "Do you want to clean that up on your own?" "I don't care." "I want to be alone." "You've been saying that all week." "This is getting out of hand." "What do you care?" "You'll get your money." "Are you getting nasty?" "Know what you can do with your money?" "I want to be alone!" "See if I care." "Shouldn't you see a doctor?" "Why?" "Why, she asks." "Did you sleep last night?" "You take pills, but you don't sleep." "You know the pills aren't good for you." "Doctor's prescription." "Yeah, right." "Oh well, I don't mind a day off." "Just go." "Go away!" "I'll just rinse this." "The doorbell." "Ignore it." "Well?" "Come on." "Would you like a cup of coffee?" "Yes, please." "No, they're about to leave." "What have I done?" "Nothing, I guess." "So why didn't you want to perform?" "If it's not the musicians or the audience or me... then it has to be you." "Wait, it was the song." "You realized you didn't like it." "Right?" "Don't be childish." "I've seen it before." "I've seen it all, this season." "I want to quit!" "I want to get out!" "What does she want?" "She's having a breakdown." "It was a long time coming." "I'm her manager." "I'm supposed to ask." "What do I do with the contracts?" "Tear them up." "And your four buddies." "On the dole?" "Don't be so dramatic." "The season's almost over." "And your new album?" "Five days in the studio next week." "I can't cancel that." "I can't do it anymore!" "The coffee's ready." "Have a cup, gentlemen." "Lovely." "Shall I put this here?" "Darling... we've been through a lot together." "You've never been easy." "I'm not complaining." "That happens with talented people." "But you were always reasonable." "And this isn't reasonable." "You can't do this to me." "Bullshit." "How can you say that?" "Listen, Joop." "How old was she when you became her manager?" "13?" "14?" "You took her under your wing and what did you get in return?" "Five gold records." "And you looked after everything." "You organized everything." "Sylvia only had to sing." "Yes, I've been a father to her." "I was there when you two had your first fight... father." "Do you remember what it was about?" "She didn't want to sing a particular song." "She thought it wasn't good enough." "You were so hurt... father." "Did you have a mind of your own?" "I love you..." "I'll be loyal to you..." "Come to me now..." "That's what it sounded like." "So she was right." "But you disagreed." "What about the dress she picked for the festival." "She wanted to wear it." "You couldn't handle it." "These things happened all the time." "Each time, you were surprised." "And now she doesn't even want to sing anymore." "What a shock for you...father." "I love you..." "I'll be loyal to you..." "It's a good song." "It was a hit." "I don't want to sing stuff like that anymore." "But that's not the point." "I want to quit for a while." "No more performances." "No more audiences, obligations, long car drives..." "I don't want anything." "Can you arrange that?" "Ok." "Difficult child." "I'll arrange it." "For real." "You want to get away completely, for a while." "I cancelled the running contracts." "Go get a tan." "But why Curaçao?" "Lots of sun, nice people." "I know a hotel manager there." "You happen to know a manager." "Yes, I do." "He'll make sure you'll get everything you want." "A business acquaintance will pick you up, Fernando Gomez." "He has great contacts in Curaçao." "Your father thought of everything." "Yes, he did." "Sylvia needs to get everything she wants." "When the tide changes, go with the flow." "Welcome, Miss Sommer." "I'm Fernando Gomez." "This is my daughter Calinda." "Nice of you to pick me up." "My pleasure." "Shall I get your suitcases?" "My car's over there." "It was short term, but we managed." "So just tell me when you want to see journalists." "Me?" "Yes, I left the date open." "And about your performance..." "I don't want to perform!" "But you'd perform on Saturday." "No, I won't." "It must be a misunderstanding." "Your manager called this morning." "What a bastard!" "I'll talk to her." "Don't worry." "I'll see you in the hotel." "Don't you want to perform?" "Then you don't." "No problem." "Nobody will force you." "I know I'm being silly, but I don't want to see any journalists or anything." "I don't want anything." "I really need it." "Why didn't your manager say so?" "Because he thinks he knows better." "Shall we have a drink?" "Hello, I have a message for Alma Aures." "What's her room number?" "One moment." "We have no one by that name." "No?" "No, sir." "I just saw her enter the hotel." "You're wrong." "There's no Alma Aures here." "Good afternoon." "I must be mistaken." "Excuse me, Miss." "My name is Van Geenen." "I have a reservation." "You don't have to meet any journalists, Miss Sommer." "My name's Sylvia." "I know." "I mean, call me Sylvia." "Sure, if I can." "How could this misunderstanding occur?" "Why don't you know why you're here?" "I'm here for a holiday." "I was a bit overworked." "Can you find out what the name of that girl is?" "That's Dutch singer Sylvia Sommer." "If I wanted to send her flowers... which room would I send them to?" "233." "POST OFFICE" "To:" "Fernando Córdoba, Centro Chacaíto 248, Caracas." "Correct?" "Alma stays in the Frommer Hotel, under the name of Sylvia Sommer." "Waiting for instructions." "Felipe, Hotel Central, Curaçao." "Right, that's been taken care of." "Weren't they surprised?" "A bit." "Generally, it's the other way around." "Normally, artists want attention from the press." "You could be recognized in the street." "That never happens." "When I perform, I 'm wearing make-up and all that." "They never recognize me." "Hello?" "Felipe speaking." "Did you already get my telegram?" "Yes, I'm sure." "A hundred percent." "What did you say?" "I have to do what?" "Very nice of you to invite me but..." "You should really come." "There's never a boring moment in Bonaire." "What can you do there?" "Nothing." "Nothing?" "Nothing." "That's not much." "How can you say that?" "Be honest, Calina." "What would you do in Bonaire?" "We have a disco, a casino, a beach hotel..." "It's nothing compared to a real seaside resort." "If you want that kind of fun, don't go to Bonaire." "Why would I go there if there's nothing to see?" "There's a lot to see." "You only need to bring your eyes." "And your love of beauty." "And of things that have never changed." "Think about it and let us know tomorrow." "Ok?" "It was actually a mistake." "This practical joke wasn't meant for you, but for someone called Alma Aures." "Have you ever heard of her?" "I don't think there's anyone by that name in our hotel." "Does the other name ring a bell?" "Cucaracha." "I think it's a Spanish song." ""We have not forgotten the Cucaracha."" "Better lie down, Miss Sommer." "See you tomorrow." "See?" "And we thought she was dead." "She's smart." "But not smart enough." "Or else she wouldn't be here." "Hello, Felipe speaking." "She's left." "Yes, he's also in the plane." "To Bonaire." "Good morning." "How are you, Mai Elisa?" "So so." "I'm getting on." "My body's struggling a bit." "Indeed." "Mai Elisa, what are you selling today?" "Dorade, gurnard and swordfish." "Dorade's nice." "How much is it?" "Three guilders a kilo." "Alright, give me a kilo." "Mother Maria in heaven." "Have you come back?" "She thinks she's seen you before." "Here's the money." "Mai Elisa, here's the money." "Luigi, ain't I right?" "That's Alma." "Alma Aures." "Her spirit has come back." "Strange." "What happened?" "Mai Elisa thought she recognized Sylvia." "That's impossible." "They don't know my records here." "Of course we do." "We have a disco and we play everything." "This is your house in Bonaire, Sylvia." "For as long as you want." "This is wrong." "She's done her best." "I know." "You must be hungry." "Let's eat." "I'll get the suitcases later." "And?" "She's Dutch, from Amsterdam." "What else?" "What else?" "She's staying with a Fernando Gomez." "She's here as a tourist." "I have to go before we get noticed." "You go when I tell you to." "And keep smiling." "When is that Gomez going back?" "In two days, with his wife." "He said he has to go to Aruba." "You're hurting me." "I'll hurt you a lot more if you tell anyone about this conversation." "I won't." "Let go of me." "I don't know anything else." "Smile." "Thank you." "Here you are." "Better hurry, girl." "They must be waiting for you." "I thought she'd learn to be in time, in the Netherlands." "Isn't everyone punctual there?" "But not my Calina." "Sylvia and I will drop you off." "And then I'll show you the island." "Or are you tired?" "No, I'd like to come." "Don't forget your bikini top." "This isn't the Netherlands." "I can just see the lifeguards." ""Please cover up, Miss."" "Shame on you!" "Hello." "I need a room for a couple of days." "What's your name?" "Feliciano." "Did you make a reservation?" "No." "Not a problem." "Can I send a telex first?" "Yes, the office is there." "Thank you." "Hello, how are you?" "I want to send a telex to Caracas." "Yes, one moment." "Yes?" "To Fernando Córdoba." "Centro Chacaíto... 248, Caracas." "Alma Aures has arrived." "Great." "The sea can be noisy." "I'd love that." "Don't speak too soon." "Are we going?" "I'm ready." "I'm coming." "And now the kunuku." "What's that?" "The kunuku's the countryside." "Is Papiamento its own language?" "Yes, although we borrowed a lot from other languages." "Look at the cactuses." "When they flower, the tops are red." "They contain edible seeds." "You would hurt your fingers, though." "Alma Aures has arrived." "Awaiting further instructions." "Laro..." "Chepito..." "You're taking the boat to Bonaire today." "Feliciano will contact you there." "Look, that's moose ear." "And that's fire coral." "That's stag horn." "See those big round shapes?" "These coral reefs are famous." "We make sure it stays that way." "Hunting's prohibited here." "No harpoon guns allowed." "What's that?" "We call them organ pipes." "It's a kind of sponge." "Near that island's a reef called Carl's Hill." "There's a really big one there." "We call it Dracula's Candelabra." "Really?" "It looks as if all the candle-grease in the world has melted there." "It's great." "Can I see it?" "Are you a good swimmer?" "Of course." "Have you ever snorkeled?" "Often." "But I didn't bring goggles or a snorkel." "No problem." "Eddy runs the hotel's diving club." "You can hire everything you need." "This young lady's our guest." "Make sure she gets everything she needs." "Yes, Captain." "Fantastic, they're so tame!" "That's because they can't be hunted." "Is your mask alright?" "It fits well." "Did you see the black round things with stings?" "Sea urchins, right?" "I won't touch them." "Also beware of the thin brown coral with white edges." "It can really hurt you." "Show me." "Follow me." "Hello." "Look, a souvenir." "But we have big queen conch shells in Bonaire." "They're yellow and pink." "Fantastic." "If you want a souvenir, take a queen conch." "What do you say, Eddy?" "Where do you find them?" "On the other side." "They catch them there every day." "The meat's a delicacy." "Can I buy a shell there?" "Buy?" "You can just grab one there." "They have lots of them laying around." "They're all broken." "No way." "Look for yourself." "Of course, how else do they get the creatures out?" "After two days in the sun, they also lose their color." "That's why they leave them here." "I heard you're good at snorkeling, but can you dive too?" "You can dive to get your own souvenir." "Meet my friend Emiliano." "Hello." "He's a professional conch diver." "Are you serious?" "Of course." "The only intact conches are in the sea." "I'll pick you up in two hours." "See you later." "Wait a moment." "Can you take my watch and my skirt?" "Of course." "Thanks." "Good?" "Great." "Who was that?" "El Loco." "Did he scare you?" "He doesn't hurt anybody." "Am I disturbing?" "No, come in." "How was your day?" "I dived for queen conches." "How did you like Eddy?" "And you call him your little brother?" "Isn't he a hunk?" "Do you two get along?" "He always used to tease me." "Then we both went to the Netherlands and we missed each other." "And now we're the best of friends." "He wants to teach me to dive." "He wants to teach everybody that." "He's obsessed with underwater stuff." "It's really fantastic." "I just find the oxygen cylinders scary." "I don't know if I'll do that." "Who else did you meet?" "Only the man they call El Loco." "Do you know him?" "Everybody knows El Loco." "Do you know what it means?" "The crazy man." "Is he crazy?" "Well..." "He lives in one of those huts in the kunuku." "People call a macamba who lives like that, crazy." "A what?" "A macamba." "We call the Dutch macambas." "But he's lived here for a long time." "They say he was normal when he arrived here." "Eddy knew him before he went crazy." "How did that happen?" "Apparently, he broke a promise." "An oath to a dying man." "When you do that, you go crazy." "Why is that?" "You always have to keep a promise to a dying man." "Or else he can't find peace in his grave." "And then his spirit will haunt you." "In the Antilles, things happen that don't happen in the Netherlands." "I can't explain it." "But it's stupid to act as if those things don't exist." "One day, El Loco was found on the beach." "Unconscious, foaming at the mouth." "He's been crazy ever since." "You always have to keep a promise to a dying man." "Who died then?" "Someone he knew well." "The sister of a friend of his." "I don't know the details." "Eddy doesn't want me to talk about it to people." "He thinks it's all superstition." "When someone brings it up, he gets angry." "Don't tell him I talked about it." "Have you got any passengers on board?" "Yes." "Laro, Chepito." "Where have you been all this time?" "I have a job." "You have one day to do it." "And make sure no one notices." "Understood?" "Hello Mr Gomez." "Hello Mr Carolina." "This is Miss Sommers." "Nice to meet you." "This is Mr Carolina, the manager." "He'll show us the company." "Follow me." "He's making a sculpture." "From wood?" "Yes, from hard wood." "Follow me." "It looks like a dog." "If you turn it around, it looks like a crocodile." "Could you come with me?" "He might have something for you." "Just a moment." "Hello." "Do you want to buy it?" "It's beautiful." "How much?" "Look." "Like this it's a dog." "Turn it around and it's a crocodile." "Twenty guilders." "No, that's too much." "But it looks like two animals." "He makes fantastic things." "Is he a sculptor?" "No, it's more like a hobby." "But he makes a living with it." "Not that he needs much." "He's a hermit." "Calina says he's crazy." "Yes, people say that." "I don't know." "You could call every strange person crazy." "Fifteen's too much too." "I'll give you ten." "That's very little, but alright." "Ten?" "Alright, sold." "I'll get your money." "Are you coming?" "It's very nice of your father to arrange this beach car for me." "What are these little houses for?" "They're holiday cabins." "Who would want to stay here?" "No water, no toilet, nothing." "And they're so small." "Don't be a pain." "What are they for?" "The slaves who used to work in the salt fields... had to walk 5 hours to get here." "During the week they stayed here." "Let's take a picture." "Get in position." "Wait, another one." "Number two." "Good." "Stand in front of the cabin." "I'll take one of you." "I was just starting theory lessons for these three Americans." "Why don't you join us?" "Theory lessons?" "Diving." "If I have to repeat it just for you, it'll be more expensive." "But deep sea diving is too dangerous for me." "Just listen to the one lesson and see how you feel." "What have you got to lose?" "Ok, but I won't do it." "I'll leave it up to you." "You can count on us." "I don't want to see you anymore." "Don't call me until she's on board." "And remember that people know her." "So kidnap her after dark." "No one will see us." "You have to put this around you." "It's not mine." "Do you speak Dutch?" "Eddy says you have to put it around you." "Eddy?" "Yes, there." "It's too hot." "You're burning." "I never burn." "What's your name?" "Me Sylvia." "Me Eki." "I see you've met my good friend Eki." "Eki, look after the shop for me, ok?" "He can warn me when there are customers." "How did you like the first lesson?" "It sounded rather simple." "I guess anybody could do it." "Of course, anyone who's healthy." "Besides, you forget all your problems down there." "And there's so much to see." "You'll really relax there." "Rob always said it's because it hasn't changed for centuries." "And it hasn't been ruined by humans." "Rob?" "Rob Van De Berg." "He taught me to dive." "He was one of the first scuba divers here." "He always said:" "When you see that, your worries are no longer important." "Is that why I have to learn to dive?" "Did your father tell you I'm overworked and have to relax?" "Is that the idea, Eddy?" "I didn't know that." "Is that true?" "Are you on edge, Sylvia?" "Of course not." "I'm joking." "Do you want to talk about it?" "I'd rather not." "Ok, but I want to tell you something." "If you tell my dad something in confidence, he'll never tell anyone." "Not to me or to anyone." "That's not what I meant." "When you mentioned relaxing, I thought he'd given you a hint." "No, but it's true that diving is a good cure." "See?" "I don't give up easily." "So you're not offended?" "No, are you?" "No." "What's that nonsense?" "What did you say, asshole?" "They drive the craziest things." "Exactly." "This car would attract attention." "I was just going to say that, Laro." "We'll wait in the car." "There must be a soap on the radio." "Can we receive Caracas?" "I'll see." "I'm good at finding stations." "Leave it up to me." "Leave it to Chepito." "Eki, put this away for me." "I wouldn't mind meeting your philosopher friend." "Hands up." "I'd like to meet Rob Van De Berg." "Why?" "He sounds like an interesting man." "Is that so strange?" "Or have you two had a fight?" "Wait, you started for yourself and now you're competitors." "What then?" "You've already met him." "When?" "When we went diving for conches." "The man on the beach." "Don't you remember?" "I only met El Loco." "You don't mean him, do you?" "Isn't he crazy?" "Crazy?" "Where did you get that idea?" "Just because he's a bit different, they call him crazy." "If your friend has been confused for years, doesn't he need a doctor?" "He's doing it on purpose." "Sometimes he plays the idiot on purpose." "Because they gave him that name." "He acts crazy." "If that's acting, he's a great actor." "I think you don't want to see the truth." "Your friend needs therapy." "You've seen Rob once, but you know it all." "Am I glad you're here!" "So I don't want to see the truth." "We're so dense in Bonaire!" "We're lucky we have macambas visiting now and then." "So we can get some advice." "Get me a coke and have one yourself." "Alright, go." "You're telling me off, but you should be fair." "What do you mean?" "You said people here are judgmental." "El Loco, the village idiot." "By the way, I heard how they found him on the beach." "Who told you that?" "Don't tell me." "I can guess." "Superstition." "Isn't it true about the beach?" "I'm going." "You can't catch me, Eddy." "I wasn't on the island when that happened." "I was having my exams." "Don't you believe it?" "They made no report and didn't call the police or a doctor." "Why not?" "No one knew what really happened but you can't hide anything on a little island." "Everyone knew Rob had gone to Venezuela." "When he came back, he acted very strangely." "His motorboat had sunk on the way back." "The navy had to go get him." "All these things Rob didn't want to explain." "So people assumed he was involved in smuggling." "But because Rob was very popular, they took him home... and looked after him a bit." "This thing isn't working." "I'll give you another one." "I think this one will work." "Thanks." "Then I got a letter in the Netherlands saying he was acting strange." "That he had lost his mind." "When I came back to Bonaire, Rob was living in the kunuku." "He didn't want to dive anymore." "He lets me run the diving club." "This really belongs to him." "I was only his assistant." "Now I'm everything." "And Rob lives in the kunuku and makes sculptures." "He's never checked on the business." "Or on me." "I'm sorry that you can't do anything for him." "It's ok." "I was getting used to everything." "But then you came with your logic and I started doubting again." "I understand." "Shall we open the shop again?" "Just let him wait." "Not for him." "If we stay here, your reputation will suffer." "My reputation?" "Why?" "The whole island knows me as the lady killer." "Open that door." "I see, a lady killer." "Come on, Sylvia." "You don't know what you're doing." "People talk." "They might think you're easy." "But sometimes I am." "In the Antilles, we leave the initiative to the gentlemen." "That's gone out of fashion in Holland." "There, ladies are the killers." "I'll scream, you know!" "Saved by the bell."