Anne of the Indies Page #3

Wenches are mad. How can

they move clewed up like this?

They don't.

They wait for the men to make the moves.

That's much better.

Do men like this?

Any man would be a fool who didn't.

Why?

Well, it's the nature of men.

You mean a man sees a woman like this...

...and he wants to make love to her?

Yes.

How?

Well, surely you've seen them in Nassau.

Those sea-lice.

They take their women as they

take their rum, by the barrel.

How does a Frenchman

make love, a gentleman?

Captain!

Captain!

Captain, I...

Well? What is it, Mr. Dougal?

There's a sail bearing

down up on the island.

A sail!

Give me the glass.

It's the 'Revenge'. Blackbeard ship.

I'd know the cut of

his tops'ls anywhere.

Now what could he want here?

Make ready. Broach a barrel

of prime Jamaica rum.

Aye, Captain.

Here, help me out of this.

What's the jest?

Blackbeard. He'd tear the hide off me

if he ever caught me in such a rig.

Toss!

Toss!

Little sea-hawk.

Welcome ashore, you old sea-eagle.

Dougal.

Mister Franois.

Doctor.

Well, must an old friend

stand dry in the hot sun?

I looked for you in Tortuga and

through the Windward Passage.

Then I guessed you were here to careen.

You came fast.

The 'Revenge' sails sweet when she must.

Not as sweet as the 'Sheba Queen',

but then she carries more guns.

Drink hearty, mates.

Barbados.

-Jamaica.

I saw your guns on the headland.

You remember everything

I taught you, lass.

Everything except one thing.

Yes?

I thought I learned you never to put

your trust in any son of Adam...

...unless I signed his papers first.

Traitor scum!

Traitor? What're you saying?

Let him tell you.

Tell her it isn't true,

Mister Pierre Franois.

Lieutenant Pierre Franois

La Rochelle of the French Navy!

I should have known him

that night at Nassau.

Remember, Lieutenant?

Remember Martinique?

Where you Frenchies hanged

Sam Austin from a yardarm?

You didn't know I was there,

did you? But I saw you.

You were lined up along the wharf...

...with the other officers

in you golden epaulettes...

...while poor Sam kicked

from the end of a rope...

...over your stinking perfumed heads.

You heard what I swore

I'd give the lot of you.

Here, wait.

Pierre, is this true?

It's true...

...that once I held a commission

in the French Navy.

You lied to me.

No, Captain.

Everything I've told you

has been the truth.

I merely neglected to mention

my commission because...

...the memory of that chapter

in my life is painful to me.

I was cashiered from

the Navy in disgrace.

Talk. Nothing but talk.

I didn't hang Sam Austin.

I wasn't on the ship that took him

nor the court that tried him.

I was on the wharf because...

...all the officers in port

were ordered to be there.

Talk. And bilge at that.

I've a stopper here

for your lying mouth.

Captain, you're in command here.

We're not on his quarter-deck now.

I appeal to you.

I've signed your articles.

He's right. He did sign the articles.

And I am Captain here.

You're...

-Wait!

You learned me that...

...a captain's bound by

the articles like this men.

You've heard the charges, Mister.

Have you anything further to say?

Only this. Since we

sailed from Nassau...

...I have served you

loyally and well...

...as I will serve you well in

the ventures we have planned...

...for the future together.

I ask only to be judge

by what I have done...

...not by what he says I've done.

You're my Captain, I put my fate

in your hands, without fear...

...with confidence in your justice.

Put away your blade.

I believe him innocent.

Annie, lass, he's turned your

head with his smooth tongue.

Put it away, I say! I'm Captain here!

You're Captain because

I made you Captain.

I was a fool to think that a wench

could be other than a wench.

But what I've made I can blast.

You've given your judgement.

Now witness mine.

Annie, lass.

I did it for your own good.

You murdering brute.

You'll pay for that.

Mr. Dougal, disarm his men

and put them in their long boat.

Jump!

Doctor, see to Mr. Franois.

If he's dead, you die here

on the sand beside him.

No, he's not dead, yet.

I give you your life for past favours.

Get back to the 'Revenge'.

If I see your tops'ls...

I'll blast you out of the water.

The sea is wide, lass.

Keep the width of it between us...

...for unless you've forgotten

everything I ever learned you...

...you'll remember that Blackbeard

never forgives an insult.

Will he live?

Yes.

Doctor, you believe him?

Long ago, my dear,

I gave up all beliefs.

Pierre.

Land ho!

Land ho!

Right on the starboard.

It's Jamaica.

Keep her up to windward, Mr. Dougal.

Stand well off shore till it's dark.

Aye, Captain.

Hands to the bracers.

Brace up sharp.

Ahoy there, Blackbeard.

Do I look as bad as that, Doctor?

No.

-No.

We've raised Jamaica.

-Good.

How do you find him, Doctor?

Sound as a gold doubloon...

...if you ask of his health.

I wish you'd shave it off. It tickles.

I'll need it ashore.

Instead of a shaven French

gentleman of fortune...

...escaped from the English...

...I'll be a bearded buccaneer...

...I might even braid it and

beribboned it like Blackbeard.

Don't you mention his name.

If he ever finds you... Or you.

Pierre, I'm frightened.

Captain Providence frightened?

There's danger for you in Port Royal.

Let me go ashore. I can find

Morgan's man as well as you.

There is no danger.

The English think I walked

your plank long since.

Yes, I know, but I have a sense

of misfortune if I let you go.

Let me.

-You?

With every Englishmen in the Indies on

the lookout for Captain Providence?

No, for me it'll be easy.

And I found this.

Let me have the satisfaction of laying

the other half of it in your hands.

Take care, my love.

If you're careful,

nothing will go wrong.

Dougal will take you

ashore in the longboat.

He'll wait for you on the beach.

Dougal? Why Dougal?

He roared and bellowed

till I gave him his way.

He's loyal, Pierre.

Yeah, to Blackbeard.

No, to me.

Well, you're Captain.

We're standing in to shore.

Yeah, I'll make ready.

Heave ho. Heave ho.

Heave ho. Heave ho.

Heave ho. Heave ho.

Can you make out Portland Point?

Not yet.

By the mark five and rocky.

It's shoaling fast.

-There.

The point, just forward of the beam.

Drop the main yard.

Stand by to lower the boat.

Aye, Captain.

By a quarter less, five and sandy.

Here is the gold, in English guineas.

If the man wants more, otter

him a share of the treasure.

If I'm not back by daylight, stand

off and return tomorrow night.

Careful.

You're to wait here for me.

Mister Franois.

If you have any little games in mind...

...I'll tear your guts

with my own two hands.

And I can wait for that, too.

What games are you thinking of?

Nothing, but I'm just

warning you, take care.

What do you want?

Don't you know me, Greenough?

Captain La Rochelle.

Bring them here. Better if I don't

venture into the streets again. Go on.

Greenough, is...

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