20,000 Leagues Under the Sea Page #3

enlisted to track down

what we thought to be a monster.

But we are no more guilty

than the rest of the world.

I would consider that guilty enough.

You have a great deal

to learn, Professor.

Your book is brilliant,

but it lacks scope.

You've carried your work as far

as terrestrial science permits.

The real story of the ocean depths

begins where you left off,

wonders that defy

my powers of description.

The secrets that are mine alone,

but which I would be

willing to share with you.

At the expense of my companions' lives?

I'm sorry. You'd have

to choose between them and me.

Then I cannot accept.

Professor, I regret your choice.

Take him up!

- And secure for sea.

- Aye, sir.

- All stations ready! Prepare for diving.

- Yes, sir.

All stations ready. Prepare for diving.

Ahead slow.

- What's he up to, Professor?

- I don't know.

Trim your forward ballast.

Three degrees down.

Three degrees down.

All engines stop! Surface and stand by.

- Pick up those two men in the water.

- What about the other one?

Take them all below

and confine them to quarters.

I found out what I wanted to know.

Esmie. There. There.

There. Now, kiss.

Now, off you go, Esmie.

Come in, gentlemen.

Be seated, please.

Thank you.

Professor.

You may serve them.

Your clothes are being dried

and will be returned to you shortly.

In the meantime, avail yourselves

of my humble hospitality.

Humble, he calls it.

- You do right well for yourself, mate.

- You may call me Captain Nemo.

I'd like to express our gratitude, Captain.

We are grateful to be alive.

I want none of your gratitude.

You're all on strict probation,

and I'd advise you not to attempt escape.

You understand your position?

I don't know.

A prisoner has the right to escape.

- That is correct.

- And a guest don't need to.

I guess that makes us

a little bit of both.

Consider that a fortunate

compromise then, Mr Land.

I tolerate no guests

aboard the Nautilus,

and you already know

the fate of prisoners.

The food is delicious,

isn't it, Professor?

Oh, very good. Never tasted better.

There's a fork on your left, Mr Land,

or aren't you accustomed to utensils?

I'm indifferent to 'em.

May I ask how you are able

to set such a table as this, Captain?

These dishes come entirely

from my ocean kitchen.

There is nothing here of the earth.

How remarkable. This tastes like veal.

The flavour deceives you.

That is fillet of sea snake.

I suppose this isn't lamb, then.

That is brisket of glow fish with

sea squirt dressing basted in barnacles.

It's very good.

In fact, it's better than lamb.

My cook excels in preparing

these various products.

You're not finished, are you?

Well, just the main course.

Pass the cream, mate.

The cream is, of course,

milk from the giant sperm whale.

And those delicious fruits are actually

preserves made from sea cucumbers.

Well, I'd never have guessed it.

They are excellent.

Eat your pudding, Mr Land.

I ain't sure it's puddin'.

What is it?

It's my own recipe,

saut of unborn octopus.

Nothing here's fit to eat!

Saut of unborn octopus.

Since we are nearing

the island of Crespo,

you'll have an opportunity

of selecting your own food.

You mean, we're getting off

this submarine?

For a brief hunting expedition.

- Well, that suits me fine.

- Me, too.

- When do we start, mate... Captain?

- Almost immediately.

These two will join the expedition.

Prepare them.

Aye, sir.

- Accept one of these cigars, Professor.

- Thank you.

Delightful smoke.

Different somehow. Havana?

Seaweed.

I cannot accuse you of

not making us comfortable, Captain.

In a way, though, I feel like a condemned

man who has eaten his last dinner,

and a very good one, too.

Thank you.

I am still curious as to the reason

you spared our lives.

In your case, I wanted to test

your loyalty to your companions.

I may have use

for such misplaced devotion.

Misplaced?

It comforts me to know that your life

was not too dear a price to pay

for the love of your fellow man.

I'm afraid I don't understand.

At the moment, I don't

intend that you should.

But I may have use for you.

Until I make up my mind,

you should find ample diversion here.

You have literature,

art treasures, my collections,

and even music, if you so desire.

We're almost at the island of Crespo.

All this was once an island.

Although it is now sunk,

it is nonetheless fertile.

- We do our hunting and farming here.

- Underwater?

The sea supplies all my wants.

Fine way to go huntin'.

I knew there'd be a catch to this.

Seems you can't do anything

on this boat without getting wet.

I feel like I'm keeping

a fish out of work.

Wait a minute.

Where you going with this?

What are you gonna do with that?

An expedition from the Nautilus.

The pair you see trying

to keep pace are your companions.

It's a new experience for them.

They'll learn quickly.

- Would you like to join them?

- Indeed, yes!

I would like to meet

these wonders face to face.

Very well.

I'll introduce them to you.

A strange twilight world

opened up before me

and I felt as the first man

to set foot on another planet,

an intruder in this mystic

garden of the deep.

Captain Nemo and I were not alone.

There were hunters and farmers

from the submarine,

gathering a harvest

at the bottom of the sea.

I could only marvel at his ingenuity

and envy him his rule over

this forgotten reach of nature.

He had an abundance

of various substances

necessary to sustain life.

An underwater larder

filled to overflowing,

and all Captain Nemo for the taking.

I can't believe that!

Captain, we left a treasure out there!

A chest of gold, silver and diamonds!

You were sent to get food, not treasure.

You can't eat pieces of eight.

I can eat anytime!

You place an absurd value on

the cheapest of human commodities.

Aboard the Nautilus, we use

such baubles for ballast.

Ballast?

Well, I could sure lighten this ship.

The greatest treasures of all, Mr Land,

lie in a sound mind and a full belly.

Henceforth, when you're sent for food,

don't stoop to pick up pennies.

You've been picking them up,

and picking them up good. Ballast!

- Ned, you forget yourself.

- Don't try my patience.

Rather than watch your every move, I know

a much easier solution to the problem.

Crying waste!

Ned, the professor wants to see you.

Yeah?

Close the door, please.

Don't think for a minute

that was an empty threat he made.

You are going to get us all killed

if you keep antagonising him.

Look at the trouble you got into

wandering off that way.

- Why did you do it?

- Ask him. He went with me.

That was scientific interest.

I had no idea he was after treasure.

Oh, no?

You even helped carry the chest out,

you liar.

We mustn't quarrel among ourselves.

We must stay together.

- It's our only chance.

- Chance? For what?

I know what you want, Professor.

This crazy iron skillet's turned your head.

You want to play a waiting game,

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