about superconductors?
- Nothing.
- Me, neither.
I own a company that dominates
the world market for superconductors.
Really?
Sit down.
Dr. Ellison...
...you were at his office yesterday?
Yes.
He told me your news.
He thought that you and I
might be able to help each other.
Got any whiskey?
Nope.
I want to hire you, Joe Banks.
I want to hire you to jump into a volcano.
You know...
...I do have some whiskey.
There's an island in the South Pacific
called Waponi Woo.
The name means:
"The little island with the big volcano. "
The Waponis are a cheerful people
who live simply fishing and picking fruit.
Their one fear is that big volcano.
They call it the Big Woo.
They believe...
...that an angry fire god in the volcano
will sink the island...
...unless once every 100 years
he is appeased.
It's been 99 years,
11 months, and 11 days...
...since the fire god got his propers,
and the Waponis are scared.
How is the god appeased?
Of his own free will,
a man has to jump into the volcano.
None of the Waponis are anxious
for the honor of jumping into the Big Woo.
- So, what do you do?
- What?
You do some trading.
There's a mineral on that island,
Mr. Banks, called bubureau.
There isn't anywhere else
you can find more than a gram.
I've looked.
Because without bubureau,
I can't make superconductors.
I tried to get mineral rights
from the Waponis but...
...I have nothing they want.
But they do want a hero, Mr. Banks.
They'll give me the mineral rights
if I find them one.
Why would I jump into a volcano?
From your actions in the fire department,
I think you have the courage.
You do?
Is it more gutsy to twice traverse
a staircase in flames...
...or to make a one-time leap
into the mouth of a smoking volcano?
Damned if I know, kimosabe.
I know when you make those kinds of calls,
you're up in high country.
From your doctor, you're on your way out.
You have no money. I checked.
Want to wait it out in this apartment?
That sounds grim to me.
Not the way I'd want to go, I'll tell you.
These are yours if you take the job.
It's 20 days from today
before you'd have to jump into the volcano.
You could shop today.
Get yourself clothes for an adventure.
Then tomorrow, a plane to L.A.
First class, naturally.
You'll stay at the best hotel.
The next day you board a yacht.
My competitors often watch the airports.
My yacht's a beauty. Gourmet chef.
Sail to the South Pacific in 15 days.
Waponis come out to meet you.
A total red-carpet situation.
You're a hero, like Charles Lindbergh.
Wine, women, and song
in the sweetest paradise you ever saw.
Then...
...you jump into the volcano.
Live like a king, die like a man, I say.
What do you say?
I'll do it.
Here's my card.
And your plane ticket, American.
Noon out of Kennedy tomorrow.
I have an American Express gold card.
Can I rent a limousine for the day?
Great. Does the driver come with that?
Great. Do you rent anything else?
No, okay, that's it.
So, where would you like to go?
Excuse me?
- Where would you like to go, sir?
- I'd like to do some shopping.
Where would you like to go shopping?
I don't know.
All right.
- Where would you go shopping?
- What do you need?
- Clothes.
- What kind? What's your taste?
I don't exactly know.
Why are you stopping?
You hired me to drive the car,
not to tell you who you are.
I didn't ask you that.
You're hinting around about clothes.
That's an important topic to me, Mr...?
- Banks.
- Clothes make the man. I believe that.
You say you want to buy clothes,
but you don't know what kind.
You leave it hanging in the air
like I'll fill in the blanks.
That's like asking me who you are,
and I don't know who you are.
I don't want to know.
It's taken me all my life to find out
who I am, and I am tired now.
Hear what I'm saying?
- What's your name?
- Joe.
Mine is Marshall. How do you do?
Wait a minute. I'm coming back.
Now,