Introduction
The seaplane arrives at a luxurious but remote tropical island resort water dock on a small Pacific island around 9:40 am.
Mr. Roarke and his assistant, Tattoo, are at the top of the ramp that leads down to the gangway that connects the dock to the shore. Mr. Roarke shouts to his staff, "Smiles, everyone! Smiles!"
The first people to step out are an English couple in their late 50s, Edgar and Harriet Wellington. Mr. Roarke tells Tattoo that their fantasy is to live during the Renaissance as wealthy aristocracy. They are greeted by a topless girl of Asian descent in a grass skirt and given a flowery lei. Then by a topless girl of African descent, also in a grass skirt, carrying a tray with a selection of 5 different tropical alcoholic drinks.
The second person off the plane is Osa Oladapo. Mr. Roarke tells Tattoo, "Her fantasy is to find and experience the ultimate lover. I have arranged for her to meet with Giacomo Casanova,Β Tallulah Bankhead, and lastly her very own brother, Adunbi, who is also here living out his fantasy of being an explorer of lost jungle ruins and discovering an unknown treasure."
Tattoo asks, "Her brother, sir?"
Osa is also greeted by the same topless girl of Asian descent in a grass skirt and given a flowery lei.
Mr. Roarke replies, "Yes. While Casanova and Bankhead are notorious for the quantity of lovers they have had, many say there is nothing quite as tantamount as making love with one's closest sibling. It is an encounter that she will need to find the ultimate lover. And as for her brother.. it is having sex with Osa that is his unknown treasure."
Then Osa is greeted by the same topless girl of African descent, in a grass skirt, carrying a tray with a selection of 3 different tropical alcoholic drinks.
Then the African girl takes the 2 remaining drinks to Mr. Roarke and Tattoo. "My dear guests! I am Mr. Roarke, your host. Welcome to Fantasy Island!" He raises his drink in greeting and takes a sip; all the guests and Tattoo follow his lead.
Chapter 1
Mr. Roarke arrives at the depository where Osa is getting dressed for her trip to Venice in 1753. "You look lovely," Mr. Roarke compliments Osa. "Are you ready to begin your search?"
Osa says, "I'm nervous but also keen."
"Your carriage awaits," he says as a Venetian-style horse and buggy pulls up at the door. Mr. Roarke opens the door and helps Osa into the carriage. It enters some thick foliage and a few seconds later exits onto a roadway, entering the "City of Canals."
Appearing in Carpenedo Woods, the carriage takes the pathways to the long wooden bridge that connects the farmlands to the central part of the city. The carriage stops, and the driver, Laurence, says, "This is as far as I can go, Miss Osa. I'm afraid from here you will have to walk." He hands Osa a leather bag with a slip of parchment with an address, official paperwork identifying her, and a sufficient amount of currency within.
Osa gets out of the carriage, walks past the horses a few feet, and stops. When she looks back, the horses and carriage are gone. She continues across the bridge, a 30-minute walk, and is stopped on the far side by the city guard, who asks for her papers. How she suddenly understands the old Venetian language amazes her, but she hands them the identifying papers and directions. They approve her papers and ask for 1/2 pence of passage tax. She gives them a copper coin, which is cut in half, with them keeping 1/2 and giving her back 1/2. They then explain to her how to get to the destination on her second paper. They return her papers to her and turn their attention to the next person waiting to enter the city. Following their instructions, Osa makes her way towards the hotel/mumbling hall that Casanova is known to frequent.
Finally, Osa arrives at the Hotel Metropole, the most upscale lodging and gambling establishment. With the currency Osa has, she can gain a private room, a hot bath, and a dinner. She went to her room, laid out a cleaner gown she had packed, took off the soiled gown she had on, and waited in her petticoat for the bath attendant.
Not long after, there was a knock at her door, and a woman's voice asked if she was ready for her bath. Osa opens the door, and a female servant offers her a Casanova like cloak to put over her petticoat. The attendant notices that there are two gowns on the bed and asks, "Would my lady wish to have her soiled garment laundered?"
Osa replies, "Yes, please."
The attendant says, "I'll send up a maid to collect your soiled clothes while you bathe. Follow me to the bathing room." In the bathing room, there is an empty tub and a tub of steaming hot water. The attendant tells Osa, "Remove your petticoat and other undergarments, and then get into the tub of hot water. I'll be back with soap and a washcloth shortly." The attendant then leaves through a back door. Osa strips and is getting into the tub when the attendant returns with another woman. The second woman collects Osa's clothing and leaves through the front door. The attendant pulls a stool out to the side of the tub, dips the rag and soap into the warm water, and instructs Osa to lean forward. She then washes Osa's back and neck and then asks Osa to lean back and wash Osa's hair and scalp. The attendant rinses Osa's hair and hands Osa the rag and soap, saying, "There is a fee if you wish me to wash more of you."
Osa takes the cloth and soap and says, "Thank you."