Summary
In a vivid cinematic rendering of Robert Louis Stevenson's dark fable, "The Bottle Imp" unfurls a tragicomic romance set against the lush, yet unforgiving, backdrop of Hawaii. Lopaka, a humble fisherman, finds his deep affection for Kokua, a woman of royal lineage, thwarted by her imperious father's impossible demand: two sacred feather cloaks, taboo for common hands. After a skirmish with the villainous Rollis, Lopaka's desperate quest for these feathers leads him not to a mythical bird, but to a dying priest of Pele, who bestows upon him a potent, perilous artifact: a wishing bottle containing Kono, an impish spirit. This entity grants desires, but at a terrifying cost—death with the bottle ensures damnation, and it must always be sold for less than its purchase price to escape its curse. Lopaka's initial wish transforms his humble abode into a magnificent palace, instantly securing Kokua's hand and her father's approval, a stark commentary on superficiality. Yet, his attempt to divest himself of the bottle to his friend Makale backfires catastrophically, striking him with leprosy and jeopardizing his impending marriage. The bottle, a tangible symbol of corrupting desire, then embarks on a chilling journey through countless hands, its price plummeting with each transaction, a relentless march towards its owner's damnation. Lopaka, afflicted and desperate, chases its elusive trail. The narrative culminates in a furious confrontation between Lopaka and Rollis, who, having acquired the bottle, seeks to abduct Kokua. Their struggle plunges them from a precipice into the churning sea, where Lopaka, in a final act of sacrificial love, strangles his tormentor. With Rollis, the last owner, dispatched, the Imp is liberated, returning to its volcanic origins, which erupts in a spectacle of fire and lava. The opulent palace and grand raiment dissolve into the ephemeral, restoring Lopaka and Kokua to their original, humble state, yet united in genuine happiness within their simple hut, having transcended the illusory allure of material wealth and the devil's bargain.
Synopsis
Lopaka, a poor Hawaiian fisherman, falls in love with Kokua, a young girl of royal blood. Her irascible father refuses her hand until Lopaka can bring him two feather cloaks, an impossible stipulation, as no one not of royal blood can touch a cloak under penalty of death. Rollis, a drunken sailor, tries to steal the girl, but is driven away by Lopaka. He then concludes to go to Devil's Mountain and snare the bird from which the feathers for the cloaks are obtained. He goes to the volcano but finds no bird. He encounters an old dying priest of Pele, who agrees to give him a wishing bottle in which Kono, a brother of Pele, is confined. Kono will grant any wish to the bottle's owner, but anyone dying with the bottle in his possession will go to hell and the bottle must be sold for less than paid for it, otherwise it will come back with its menace. Lopaka wishes for wealth and servants and his humble hut turns into a beautiful palace. Kokua and her father join the crowd in front of the palace and the father readily gives her in marriage to Lopaka. Lopaka sells the bottle to his friend, Makale, but angers the Bottle Imp and is stricken with leprosy so that he cannot marry. He finds Makale has sold the bottle and it passes through many hands, but he is unable to secure it again. Each time the bottle is sold for less, being sold for the smallest coin. Rollins gains possession of the bottle and is about to steal Kokua when Lopaka rushes to her aid and the two men fight and fall from a high cliff into the sea, where Lopaka strangles the sailor. With the death of Rollins, the last owner of the bottle, the Imp is freed and goes back to his mountain and the dead volcano gushes forth lava and flames. The gorgeous raiment of Lopaka and Kokua fade into their old rags; the wonderful palace vanishes, but the two are happy together in the fisherman's little hut.
