An unbounded one-dimensional solid-on-solid model with integer heights is
studied. Unbounded here means that there is no a priori restrictions on the
discret e gradient of the interface. The interaction Hamiltonian of the
interface is given by a finite range part, pr oportional to the sum of height
differences, plus a part of exponentially decaying long range potentials. The
evolution of the interface is a reversible Markov process. We prove that if
this system is started in the center of a box of size L after a time of order
L^3 it reaches, with a very large probability, the top or the bottom of the
box.