20,000 Leagues Under the Sea Page #6

They're coming aboard.

Get me a harpoon, quick.

Close the hatch!

I'll give the commands

on this boat, Mr Land!

- Stand aside!

- Aye, sir.

- I got to see this.

- This is amazing.

Hey, Captain, that's one way

to keep guests from droppin' in.

A mild charge of electricity.

Not very hospitable, but harmless.

And speaking of hospitality,

you have abused mine for the last time.

How's that?

You've continuously

disobeyed my orders.

- Who, me?

- I told you once the fate of prisoners.

But since you insist on

being treated as one,

I have no choice but to oblige you.

- Take him in charge.

- What's this all about?

You left the beach

with the intention of escaping.

You only came back

because the natives forced you to.

- You're going to regret that choice.

- Ship rounding the headland, sir.

When we clear this reef, I'll see

you trouble my existence no longer.

I should have taken

my chances with the cannibals.

A warship.

- A warship?

- Put him under guard below.

Take him below.

All engines ready.

- We must break free of the reef.

- Aye, sir.

Lighten ship and drop all ballast.

Get below! They'll be

shelling us in a moment.

Aye, sir.

- Astern, full!

- Astern full it is, sir.

Let me out of this...

Let me out of this glory hole!

Professor! Professor!

- A warship, professor.

- Warship?

We're breaking out!

- Man the watertight doors.

- Aye, sir.

Man the watertight doors!

They're shutting the door.

Wait!

- Wait!

- Let us out!

Wait! We are in here!

Wait!

Take the wheel.

How much water

in the power compartment?

Five feet and rising, sir.

Break out a spare shaft.

- Break out a spare shaft!

- We must use leverage.

Bring it athwartships.

Put the aft end under the leak.

Hands up with the hoist.

Take up the slack.

Take a strain.

Professor.

Look. The dials aren't moving.

We've gone too deep.

- Stand by with braces!

- Aye, sir!

Braces!

Braces in place, sir!

Man your stations! Start engines!

The air will clear now

that the fans are operating again.

- Are you all right?

- Thank you. Much better.

- Have we stopped sinking?

- Fortunately.

There are limits beyond which man

and his puny efforts cannot survive.

We exceeded them by 5,000 feet.

We're deeper now

than man has ever been before.

Giant squid astern, sir!

Emergency speed, all engines!

- We're fouled. Full repellent charge!

- Aye, sir.

- Prepare another charge.

- Sorry, sir. All elements burned out.

We shall fight on the surface.

Assemble all hands in the chart room.

Aye, sir.

Drop all ballast.

Diving controls, full up position.

You'll be fighting at close quarters

with the most tenacious of all sea beasts.

Stay clear of the tentacles.

They'll seize anything within reach

and hang on to the death.

The only vital spot is

directly between the eyes.

Forty feet and surfacing, sir.

Stand by.

Stand back!

Quick! The forward hatch!

Take your men down the starboard side!

You men, come with me!

Give me a harpoon!

I'll walk behind it.

Stay back here!

Stand clear!

Throw me another iron!

Watch it!

Your hand!

Well, I'll be...

Are you hurt bad, mate?

What's up? What happened?

Mr Land.

You saved my life.

Why?

That's a good question.

There's only one thing

a fella can do

when he's made a mistake

as big as this.

What?

Get drunk.

And the girls I've loved on nights

Like this with the moon above

A whale of a tale, and it's all true

I swear by my tattoo

Glad to see you like music, too.

We got a lot in common.

Thank you, baby.

How about a drink?

Okay.

Hey! Would you like

a Flabellina oculina?

I've tried 'em. Very good.

Want some?

Esmeralda, you're the only one

on this barge who understands me.

Give us a kiss.

Your whiskers tickle.

Let me see your whiskers.

You oughta shave, honey.

You're beginning to look like Nemo.

Let's try it again.

Let's try it again.

There was old man Nemo

Fed his crew on worms and fishes

Eels for breakfast

Slimy cold on seaweed dishes

When they ate it

They knew it wasn't beef

But eat they did the brisket squid

A-smellin' like a reef

Not so loud, Ned. Not so loud.

She loves those Flabellinas oculinas.

I am happy you're out of jail, Ned.

Yeah, I got the run of the ship.

Big-hearted Nemo.

The professor's very happy, too.

After all, it's the first time

Nemo has shown any gratitude.

We don't want none of his gratitude!

We don't want none

of his gratitude!

This is awful.

You can tell him that

for the both of us.

Do we, Esmeralda?

Come on.

I'm gonna take a little nap here.

You lie down there.

Wrap yourself up good.

I don't want you to catch cold.

Good night, Esmie.

My apprentice tells me

you have taken my journal.

May I ask why?

I keep no log on the Nautilus,

and I was frankly curious to read

your account of the giant squid.

In particular,

my narrow escape and rescue.

According to you, Mr Land is a hero

in the best tradition of cheap fiction.

That can only be true

if you consider your life cheap.

I might have expected you to say that.

Actually, he regrets saving my life

as much as I would regret saving his.

The only difference is

that I wouldn't have tried.

It is that difference that gives Ned Land

a human dignity you no longer possess.

- May I tell you something?

- You seem determined to. Go ahead.

You protest too much.

I know you were deeply

touched by Ned's gesture,

but you are ashamed to admit it.

You cannot tolerate a faith in humanity,

because if you do, all this,

the structure of your very existence,

which you built on hate and vengeance,

all this will collapse

around the naked lie of your life.

You are a beaten man, at war

with the dictates of his heart.

And you are a very

gullible man, Professor.

Gullible?

Yes, you're too easily

swayed by sentiment...

individual good deeds over bad,

the crude extremes.

The world is more complex than that,

and good must not be measured on a scale

as small as Mr Land's brash heroics.

What he would do one day,

he would gladly undo the next.

To be of benefit, goodness

must be constant, forever building.

It must have strength.

What you seek is perfection.

- You will never find it.

- I have already found it.

Here. It is the world

outside that is imperfect.

If men and nations had this

goodness that I speak of,

I would be willing

to share all this...

my records, everything.

Have you considered sharing it?

That's the only reason

that you're alive today.

From the moment you came aboard,

I had hoped that you would be the key

to a plan I had in mind.

I had intended using you

as an emissary.

But now I don't know.

- Is it that you don't trust me?

- No!

But you are ever the optimist.

Do you really believe they would lay down

their arms and abolish their slave camps?

Yes, I think I could persuade them.

Let me try.

We are nearing Vulcania.

I want you to see

the extent of these secrets

for which they have hounded me.

The knowledge which cost the lives

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