Cobra Woman (1944)

[bunniefuu]

- Hi!
You stranger here?

You come from far away?

What you got to sell?
Let me see, huh?

Oh, why you get mad,
big fellow?

I give you coin,
you let me blow tunes on that.

You got blind eyes.

You hear me okay.

Why you no talk to me?
I friendly.

I talk.

No tongue?
Oh.

You hear that?

I go home, dress up.

You save good tunes
for the wedding.

Today my friend
Ramu, he is bride!

- Happy, Tollea?
- Yes, Ramu.

- I just had
to see you before.

- So did I.
And it isn't bad luck, is it?

- Bad luck?

- For the groom to see the bride
before the ceremony.

- Oh, nonsense. We're here.
That's all that matters.

- And that's all
that ever will matter, Ramu.

We'll always be
together, won't we?

Nothing will ever change
that, will it?

Will it?

- Remember what we learned
from Father Paul?

Say it.

- And Ruth said to Naomi--
- Whither thou goes, I will go.

They people shall be my people.

- And thy God, my God.

Ramu.

Why do you want me
to say that today?

- Don't we always say it?

- Yes, but why today?

- 1 want you to be sure.
- Oh, but 1 am.

- Hey, Koko!
- Koko!

- Well,
a flower for the bride.

- Go on and play, Koko.

Do you know why Mr. MacDonald
has a guard on my house?

- A guard? - Oh,
don't pretend you don't know about it.

- Oh, MacDonald's nervous.

I guess he wishes your mother
could be here today.

You don't remember her at all? - No.

- I guess she
could explain that.

Can't MacDonald tell you?

- He just says
I have always had it.

But whatever it means,
it's part of yesterday.

- And yesterday is dead.

- Well, here's to the
bridegroom.

- A long and happy married life
to you both, Ramu.

- Thank you, Father Paul.

- Come, set ye down, lad.

It's most an hour
till the ceremony.

- We'll make it as painless
as possible, my son.

- Ramu.
- Thanks.

- Today, you must look nice.

A fellow don't get married
every day, eh, Father Paul?

- Well, I should hope not.

- Do I stand to the right of Tollea?
- That's right, my son.

- Do 1 have to say somethmg?
- Two words. “1 do.“

Thanks to an all-wise
Providence who figured

that if's man had more to say,
he wouldn't get married.

- 1 are best man.

If you get scare-sickness,
I say it for you.

Ramu not like the peddler
fellow with no tongue.

- Peddler?
A stranger?

- Big fellow stranger
with no eyes, no tongue,

nothing but donkey.

Mouth only good
to make music on pipe.

- We better go to the church.
I'm ready.

- Ramu, haven't you forgotten
something?

" Huh?

Oh, imagine going to my own
wedding without any shoes.

- Get ye out of that,
lad.

- You have brought many fine
gifts for the wedding,

hey, Mr. MacDonald?

Everything for Ramu and Tollea.

Nothing for me.
- You're not getting married.

- Since I lose such a valuable
friend in marriage, a little

present would make my heart
lighter.

- Before you ask me again, lad,
let me tell you, you cannot have

the blow pipe. - Oh, I would

not expect Mr. MacDonald to
make such a generous gift.

- You don't believe, do you,
lad, that a Scotchman would part

With a valuable trophy?
- And why not?

- You mean you've never heard
any stories about Scotchmen?

- Only that they
are fine warriors.

- You hear that, Father?
- Yes, I heard him.

- The blow pipe is yours,
laddie.

' No!

But what good is the blow pipe
without darts

Such as the savages use?

- They are yours,
every one of them.

- But take care, Kado.
Those things are dangerous.

- Aye.
- I'll be careful, Father.

You know, Mr. Mac,
it is not all at all

True what one hears
about the Scotchman.

- Why, you--

- The mission bell is ringing, Father.
You think we ought to go?

- Oh, brace up, Ramu.
Sure there's nothing to worry about.

- You're not frightened, are you, lad?
- A little.

- Don't be scared.
I are with you.

- Keep your chin up, son.
It will soon be over.

- Ramu!
Ramu!

Ramu!

- Where's Tollea?

- Has anything happened to her?

Kado.

- Tollea!

Tollea!
Tollea!

Tollea, Tollea!

Tollea!

She's gone!

- The guard is dead.
k*lled by a cobra.

- Cobra!

But there are no cobra here.

- All the same,
that's how he d*ed.

- Look.

Music-maker
also m*rder stick.

- You're right, laddie.

- The blind beggar
was not blind.

You know, I told you.
Giant fellow, big like horse.

Blow tunes on this.
He say he come from far off distance.

- Well, she must be
on the island somewhere.

- He'll find her, even if he has
to turn the island upside down.

- He'll never
find her here, laddie.

- That's where
you'll find Tollea.

- Cobra Island?
- Aye.

She's gone back to her people.

- But, but they're not her people.
She belongs here.

- Tollea belongs
to the cobra people.

- I don't believe it.
- Sit down, lad.

- Well, how do you know?

- This.

- That k*lled the guard,
not a cobra.

- This is their symbol.

The prongs are coated
with cobra venom.

- But why should
they want to take her?

- You'll find the answer
to that right there.

- How do you know
she belongs there?

- Many years ago,

A hurricane caught my boat and
tossed me around for four days.

The first land I saw
was Cobra Island.

No ship has ever come back
from there.

- Yours did.
- Aye, by a miracle.

I was condemned to die,
which is the Cobra law against strangers.

- Then what miracle saved you?

- 1 never knew.

- What do you mean?
- I was tortured, lad.

Tortured
into unconsciousness.

- Oh, 1 see.
And then?

- Then when my mind cleared,
I found myself at sea again

and on my way home.

And that night,
I heard strange noises from the cabin,

So I tied down
the wheel and went below.

And found a stowaway.

- From the island?
- Aye.

A wee baby.

Pretty as a rose and yelling
at the top of her lungs.

- It was Tollea.
- Right, man.

I brought her home here and
raised her as my own.

- I know she wouldn't go back
there on her own accord.

- In either case,
she's gone, lad.

We've got to make up our minds
to that.

Gone forever.

- I'll find her.
I'll bring her back.

- From Cobra Island?
- From anywhere.

You don't suppose I believe
those wild tales

you dream up to scare Kado,
do you?

- No drug-soaked brain

Could dream up the horrors
of Cobra Island, lad.

- A big black wall
keeps the stranger out

Of this land where
people practice death!

- Kado!
Go back to bed.

- My friend Ramu,
he is there alone.

He needs me.
He is in danger.

I are coming, Ramu.

I are coming!

Ooh, from the smoking volcano
comes the poisonous cobra!

Ready to strike!

GOt him! Ah...

- Kado.
I said go back to bed.

- Oh, where am I?

Oh, I must have been
sleepwalking around.

Ramu, you must take me
with you to that awful place.

- How did you know
I was going anywhere?

- I saw you there in my dream.
With Tollea.

And, and the poisonous cobra
ready to strike.

- Oh, Kado,
you must stay here.

Now, you go on up to bed, get up in
the morning, go to Father Paul's school

And grow up to be a smart man
like Mr. MacDonald.

- Oh, I don't want to
go to school!

- Kado!

Am I glad you showed up.

- Friend dropped in for dinner,
huh?

I see there is enough food for
two, but not enough for three,

So I blow hard.

High black walls
keep strangers out.

Like I see in my dream.

- That's right, Kado.

And the first thing in the morning,
we're gonna climb that big, high wall.

- Home of cobra people.

- Somewhere there is Tollea.

- Have you ever wondered
what that meant?

- All my life.

- I am your grandmother,
child.

These people
are your people.

You were born here.

- I don't believe it.

- My daughter
was your mother.

She bore twin girls.

At the age of a year, you were both
submitted to the sting of the king cobra.

You, the firstborn, the natural
ruler, almost d*ed from the venom,

While Naja, your sister,
proved immune.

So she became high priestess while
you, the supposed weakling,

were to be destroyed
after the island custom.

- Why was 1 brought back?

- To save your people
from your sister's cruelty.

- Where is my sister?

- Kado, you stay here.
- Stay here!

I are stowaway with sweat and
seasickness to be with my friend

And now you say stay here.
No, sir.

- But it's important
that you wait for me here.

- Okay.
I be important.

I wait.
But you be careful.

Mr. MacDonald say cobra people
k*ll strangers.

I hate to see my friend with
spears sticking out all over.

- Tollea!

Why did you run away from me?
- Strange faces frighten me.

Even handsome ones.
- Strange?

- I mean, well-known
faces appearing unexpectedly.

- You knew I'd follow you,
didn't you?

Why did you come here?
- I belong here.

- Oh, I know all that,
but why did you come back to it?

- Why, 1--
- What of our plans? Our future?

- You don't have to hold me.
I won't run away.

- We'll go back where
we belong, right now.

- Please go now.

- Where will I find you?
- Right here. Tonight.

Ladies,

You have seen nothing unusual here today.
Understand?

- Koko!
Koko!

Koko, take me to Tollea.

Feet hot, Koko.

Cool 'el off.

I know you!

You fake blind beggar,
who make music for my friend wedding.

Wedding never happen,
you steal his almost-wife.

k*ll man with music stick.

- What happened, Hava?

Where you come from?
- From Harbor Island.

I are here with my friend
to look for his almost-wife.

Koko here take me to her.

This man mountain stop me.

- Go, Hava.

- Do you know where
my friend is?

- In prison.
All strangers go to prison.

- You see? As soon as he are

away from me,
he get in policeman trouble.

You know where Tollea live?

- She here?
- Can 1 see her?

- 1 take you.
- Oh, thank you.

- Tollea!

- Oh, Kado, where is Ramu?

- She say Ramu locked up.

- Kado, this is the queen of the
island.

- Pleased to meet you.

- I am sure she will help us.

- No, sir, I only kneel down
when Father Paul tell me to.

You are the boss of the whole
place?

- No, just the queen.

- If you're queen, you can help
my friend out of his jail.

- I'm afraid I can't do anything
about that.

Strangers on the island
are ex*cuted.

- Not Ramu.
Not my friend.

- I think I know a young man
who is tired and hungry.

I must speak with Tollea.

See that he is fed and rested.

- Yes, my queen.

Bring little friend and come on.

- You have kind face.

I know you will help my friend.

Sure thing.
Come on, Koko.

Come on, Koko.

We are going to eat now.

Hungry, huh?

We have food, Koko.

Food.

Why my friend Ramu locked up?

- Queen will tell you.
All strangers get k*lled.

- Oh, that bad.

Mr. MacDonald say strangers
make sacrifices for Cobra snake.

That bad, too.

Ramu will not like that.

Big fire getting mad on
mountain.

Going to cook somebody?

- Fire mountain angry.

High priestess send many more
people up thousand steps to fire.

- Live people?
My friend too?

No, ma'am. Too many steps.
My friend lazy fellow.

- Veeda!

- Yes, I'm coming.

- You shall see for yourself the
cruel barbarism by which Naja

Holds our people.
Fear has made them religious fanatics.

Hava, you will take Tollea to the
Council Temple through the royal tunnel.

Veeda will wait here
for her return.

I charge you
with her safety.

Go, my dear.

- The faithful grow more
unfaithful to their high priestess.

The gold tribute grows
less and less.

Demand more.
Punish them.

- Defiers of the faith!

Fire mountain grows more angry!

I demand more gold.

The flame shrine
blazes with fury.

Listen!

She cries for obedience to her
laws, for more human sacrifices.

200 will walk
the thousand steps

Into the fire
of everlasting life.

I have spoken!

King Cobra!

King Cobra!

King Cobra!

King Cobra!

- Guard,
tell this stranger who I am.

- He Martok.
Lawmaker.

Next chief man
to high priestess.

- Well.
- Go. I will call you when I need you.

So you are the brave one.

- The brave one?
- Yes.

I was curious to see the man who defied
our laws and laughed at our faith.

- You must have come here for some
other reason besides just curiosity.

Tell me, why am I in prison?
- For many reasons.

Because you were found on this island,
because you bathed in the sacred pool,

You profaned the person of the
high priestess by your touch,

Violated her lips
with your kiss.

Each of these is a crime
punishable by death.

- That's four times I die.
Too bad I only have one life, isn't it?

Well, I plead guilty to the first
two, but you're wrong on the others.

- Wrong?

- Yeah, I had a perfect right
to kiss the lady in the pool

And she had a right to kiss me. - She--

- Certainly.
And she liked it-- Why not?

We're going to be married.
- You are insane.

She is the high priestess
and is to marry me.

- Now one of us is mixed up.

I'm sure the royal lady
herself knows the answer.

- The high priestess
knows everything.

- I'd like to meet her.

- You will not.

She does not
witness executions.

- I'm looking
for the high priestess.

- Why, that's Martok's robe!

And his cobra sword!

- Yes, I borrowed them.
Handy little thing.

When I passed the guards, they all bowed
without looking to see who was carrying it.

Will you tell the high priestess
the stranger from the pool

would like to see her?

- Follow me.

- The stranger who was
at the pool wants to see you.

- Ask him to come in.

Well.
You have changed clothes.

- Yes, I change clothes
and places with Martok.

- Where is he?
- He's in prison.

- I'd like to see that.

He must be lost without this.

- Who are you?
- The woman you met at the pool.

- 1 know.

Martok said you
were the high priestess.

- 1 am whoever you
want me to be.

- I wish you were.

- But 1 am.

I have always been.
I always will be.

- You are her in everything but-
- In everything.

The eyes of love are sharp,
but they can be deceived.

The lips never.

You kissed me at the pool,
remember?

- Yes.
- You knew me then.

- I thought I did.
- And you know me now.

Look at me.
Look deep.

The same, I tell you.
The same me.

You're afraid.

Afraid to trust your eyes,
your lips.

- What's my name?
- Ramu.

- Thy people shall
be my people?

- Of course.
Forever.

- Sisters.
- I have no sister.

- Where is she?
- I told you, I have no sister.

- And I tell you,
she's on this island.

I followed her here and I'm not
going to leave without her.

- You are not going
to leave at all.

Look.

I'll show you.

Into the fire of everlasting
life they go.

How would you like to see
your lady love go with them?

Call out the entire guard.

Search the island for a woman,
a beautiful young woman.

She must be found!
- You can't do this!

- Of course I can.
I am the law here.

But there is an alternative.
- Yes?

- The lady gets safe conduct off
the island and a boat to take

Her back where she belongs,
but she goes alone.

You remain.
I have spoken. Go.

- Stranger. High priestess
send him to prison tower.

- Queen want him?

- You brought the stranger?

Have him come in.

Thank you, Hava.

I'm afraid you found an
unfriendly welcome on our island,

But a law older than
we are prohibits strangers here.

- I got more or less
what I expected.

May I ask who you are
and why you're so friendly?

- I am queen of the island
and I am friendly because

Of two people who need a
friend badly right now.

You and my
granddaughter Tollea.

- She's your--
- Yes.

Twin sister of the cruel,
vicious ruler of our people.

- Twin sister!

- I had Tollea brought here.

By right of birth,
she's the natural ruler here.

- Tollea?
- Yes.

- Take your little friend
and go back home.

Leave Tollea here with us,
for the sake of thousands of souls

Whose need of her is greater
than yours.

- But, but these people
mean nothing to me.

- They're human lives.
- But why should I--

- You hear that?

That's the fire death hymn.

Men and women unable to
contribute to a gold-greedy ruler

Are forced to walk the thousand steps
to be thrown alive into the fire.

- Yes, 1 saw them.

Is that a part
of the cobra religion?

- No, that's a punishment
devised by Martok and Naja.

- She says die and they
go without question?

- The cobra ritual appeals
to their emotions.

That's how she holds them.

- Can't you
do anything about it?

- I'm trying-

That's why
I brought Tollea back.

In your hands rests the fate
of the condemned,

as well as all the hundreds
who will follow them.

- In mine?
- Yes.

I'm asking you to leave Tollea
here with us.

As ruler, she can stop
this hateful slaughter.

- Where is she?

- You shall see her at once.

Please strike that cymbal.

Hava, take the stranger
to the temple ruins.

Go by the tunnel.

No decision will be forced
on you, young man,

But I'll be praying
that you make the right one.

- Thank you.

And goodbye.

- Hey, Ramu!

Wake up!

I find Tollea.

She safe.

Is that nice?
I run all night,

Climb trees, just to get you out of
this place and now you snore at me.

Stop that.

Oh, I got feet blisters.

You got sleep sickness.

All the time I have to get
you out of your troubles.

You should be glad
you have a friend like me.

- Guard!
- Let me go!

- Guard!
- Let me go!

- Now then, once more,
where is the girl?

- 1 don't know.

- We have ways of punishing little
boys who do not tell the truth.

- I tell truth.

Father Paul learn me.

"Be good, tell truth,
nobody hurt you," he say.

- Father Paul was right.

Now if you tell me the truth,
I will let you go.

_ Okay -.

- Now that's better.
Now where is your friend?

- 1 don't know.

I came to prison to see him.

You think I go there
if I know he move away?

I find him there locked up
in my friend's place.

Considerable mad.

- He is probably
with the girl.

Where is she?
- I look for her again, get lost.

- Well then, you have seen her?
- Oh yes.

She was glad to see me also.

- Do you think you could find the
place again if these men went with you?

- Oh no.
They get lost.

I get lost. Very useless.
- Take him to the tree.

When his memory improves,
cut him down and bring him back.

- And everything will
be just as we planned.

Wherever we are,
we'll always belong to each other.

Always.

- Yes, wherever we are.

- And we can make all
our plans

And dreams come true,
can't we, Ramu?

- Yes, all of them.

- And you can have
a big new boat.

And I can go with
you every single day.

And that way, we'll never
be separated at all.

- What happened, Hava?

- Kado!

- Hava say boy
suffer tree t*rture.

Tree t*rture? - Hands tie high on

tree, feet tie on ground.

Tree stand up,
stretch little fella.

- I are no little fella
no more.

- You feel better?
- I are okay.

- Good. Tell me, is there a way off
the island besides the high cliff?

- Oh yes. Cove where shell
boats and cobra boats go to sea.

- How do I find it?
- You take Tollea?

- No. No, only my friend.
- Oh, but you'll be caught by guards.

Every way watched. You be k*lled without

mercy. - We'll keep out of the way.

My boat's anchored right under the cliff.
Now, if I can get to the beach--

- Well, outside you find stream.
Follow stream through swamp.

Through swamp you see beach.

Oh, but, please,
not through village.

- I understand, Veeda.
And Thanks.

Goodbye, Hava.
Come on, Kado.

- Where we go now?
- Home.

- Home? Good.

I get my blow pipe.
- Never mind that-- Come on.

- Yes?
- Little boy gone from tree.

- And the guard?
- Dead.

- Get out.

Both gone.

- I don't like it.

I don't like it at all.

- At least they can never
leave the island.

- They must be found.

- Anxious to see the handsome
young stranger again?

- Yes. To see him ex*cuted

And the girl to watch him die.

- That's better.

You know I love you, Naja.

I want to marry you at once
and take you away to live

In the world outside
as we planned.

- But we must have
the queen's consent.

It is the cobra law.

- Show her you
make the laws here.

Go to see the queen.

Tell her to announce our
marriage at once in the temple.

- I tell you,
she'll never agree.

- Tell her you have decided.

Why should we wait?
- We won't wait.

- 1 have decided to marry Martok

and 1 demand your consent.

- And I too have
made a decision,

That you abdicate at once.

- Abdicate?

- In favor of your sister,
the rightful ruler.

- I have no--
- Where is she?

- Right here on this island.

- You don't believe that?
- Certainly not.

It's some wild dream
of her decaying brain.

- She will become ruler
24 hours from now.

- So.

You have it all arranged?

- Yes, including a boat
to take you both off the island.

For your own safety.

- Our own safety?

Do you hear that, Martok?

She seems to forget
I am the high priestess.

I'll show you who rules here.
Double the guards.

I want every inch of the island
searched until the girl

And the strangers
are found.

No food or sleep for the guards
until they have been brought in.

I have spoken.
Go.

- You should sleep well,
holy garland of the moon.

You have had a happy birthday.

- Yes, I'm grateful.

But each birthday finds life's
candle burning a little lower.

- You're tired, my queen.

- It's more than that.

My heart is deep in shadow.
Cold shadow.

- Shall, shall
I stay here with you?

- No, run along.
I'll be all right.

Goodnight.
- Goodnight.

- Why don't you strike,
Martok?

- Tell me where the sister
of Naja hides

If you wish to live
to see another dawn.

- Another dawn is not too bright
a prospect.

- Tell or die.

- Never.
Strike.

You have gained
nothing by this, Martok.

My plans will
proceed without me.

You can never marry Naja.

- A dead queen cannot oppose it.

- King Cobra knows.

Fire mountain knows.

- Fire mountain.

- Through your hands,

They destroyed
me for disobedience.

But I endow you
with the memory

of what you've done

to live with your--

Every moment

until you

Follow me.

- You're very beautiful
this morning, Your Highness.

- Thank you.

What's that?
- I'll see.

They've caught the strangers!

- Good.

Bring my ceremonial robe.

- Ramu?

- Soldiers bring
him back to die.

- And Kado?

- Little fellow, too.

- Is there any way I can help?

- Would you take
great risk for them?

- Yes, yes, anything.

- Follow me.

- I want that cobra jewel!

- The cobra jewel belongs
to the high priestess.

Who are you?

- 1 am your sister.

Can you look at me
and deny it?

And I am here to take my place
as high priestess.

- I rule here.

- No, I, the first-born,
am the rightful ruler.

And I'm going to stop
all this human slaughter

and bring peace
to my people.

- The people know
the price of peace.

Fire mountain cries
for more human sacrifices.

Young girls, young men,
children, all must go!

- NO-

No more of that ever.

- Martok!

Guards!

- There's no one to answer.

They have all gone
to the temple

to pray to a mountain
you taught them to fear.

Give me that cobra jewel.

- You'll have to k*ll me first.

- Put that down.

- Don't you dare
come a step nearer!

- 1 have brought you here

to witness
a public execution.

1, Martok,

Enforcer of the law,

Demand that
these two strangers shall die

in the manner devised by me

And prescribed by our
island custom.

Their presence here
is a sacrilege.

Fire mountain rumbles in protest
and cries for vengeance!

So by the power vested in me,

1 sentence them to death.

Guards,
proceed with the execution.

' Stop!

- It is Tollea.

- No, no, it can't be.

- I tell you yes.
I see other one, too.

Pretty like Tollea,
with mean face.

- I forbid this execution.

- The enforcement of law is my
concern, religion is yours.

- Useless m*rder
is no part of our law.

- I thought you wanted
to see him die.

- I have spoken.

- Where is the cobra jewel?

You aren't Naja.

- I am the ruler
of this island.

Thy people shall
by my people.

- It is Tollea.

- I never wrong sometime.

- We shall see.

King Cobra!

King Cobra!

- He k*lled King Cobra!

- Fire mountain!

- Martok dead.

Fire mountain
no longer angry with us.

Cruelty and oppression
ended here forever.

We all now free

to live and believe
as we please

under rule of our rightful
queen Tollea.

- You got sad sickness
for Tollea, huh?

- Yeah, I got
sad sickness for Tollea.

- Tollea!
- Ramu!

- How could you
leave the island?

- Hava and Veeda
will guide them wisely.

- But they're your people.

- Thy people
shall be my people.

♪ Near or far ♪

♪ We'll be where
you are ♪

♪ When you call ♪

♪ You'll find us there
beside you ♪