Anne of the Indies Page #4

Yes, I'll get you the key.

Never mind.

Yes?

How dare you?

Pierre, I thought you were dead.

My darling.

There, darling, it's over now.

Be careful, my love. That's where

your husband was honoured...

...by a cut from the great

Blackbeard himself.

Blackbeard. You've seen him?

I've seen them all. I've seen

ships burned, men butchered.

But it's a long story and will keep.

The important thing is it's all over.

Is it really over?

The plan succeeded?

Yes, it succeeded.

For three months I've been Captain

Providence's sailing master.

Don't weep, darling.

We heard the last ship

you were on was captured.

They say all hands were killed.

I didn't dare to hope.

And then I thought it

might even be worse...

...you alive in the power

of that horrible man.

Captain Providence isn't

a man. He's a woman.

A woman?

That's impossible.

She is incredible...

...but she's real, alive...

...waiting not ten miles from this room.

Yes?

Captain La Rochelle, they're here.

I'll come down.

I'll be back soon, darling.

Gentlemen.

-Well, Captain?

As you instructed me...

...I shipped aboard

several merchantmen...

...bound for waters Captain

Providence is known to favor.

The first two voyages were uneventful.

The third time, I took

passage on the 'Gemini'...

...out of Trinidad and

she was captured off Antigua.

By Captain Providence?

-Yes.

I was find in irons, as we planned.

Yes, man, yes.

The 'Sheba Queen'

lies off Portland Point...

...and will remain there till daybreak.

The Captain suspects nothing.

You've done well, Captain.

There's not a moment to lose.

We must rouse the Admiral.

No, wait.

I've kept my part of the bargain.

Now keep yours.

Release my ship to me.

We intend to honour

our agreement, Captain.

Which, as you'll remember...

...is that your crimes

against us will be forgiven...

...and your ship released to you...

...once Captain Providence

is safely in our hands.

Then and only then...

...will the 'Molly O'Brien' be yours.

Goodnight, sir.

Listen.

Do you hear a boat?

Too soon.

The French of Martinique

call these Caribbean nights...

...'Nuits de Folie' because

they drive the wenches mad.

Stow your drivel and listen.

Listen. It's the boat.

He's back.

You're right, my dear. I owe you

an apology for doubting you.

Belay that, cut the boat

adrift, we've no time.

All hands on deck.

Bosun, grab on all sails, jump to it.

Get them off.

What's the meaning of this?

Where is Pierre?

Drinking rum with the King's men.

He's led us into a trap.

Jump, you scum.

-You're lying.

Avast hauling there.

This is mutiny, Mr. Dougal.

Call it what you like, but

I never trusted that snake.

I followed him into Port Royal. He's

sold us clean to the King's officers.

A lie, he couldn't.

-He did.

He loves me.

Even there he's played you for a fool.

Tell me. Give me the full of it.

He's married. He has

a wife in Port Royal.

No.

-Yes!

You blithering fool, let us be off.

It's a lie. I don't believe him.

Dougal always hated him.

Get forward, Mr. Dougal.

Carry every stitch that'll draw.

I'll take over here.

Aye, Captain.

Get those spritsails on out.

Man up aloft!

Did you see any ships?

Nothing in sight.

Well, we've showed

them a clean pair of heels.

What are your orders, Captain?

What course shall we set?

Round Cape Negril to

the north of the island.

Stand offshore.

But the King's ships are still close.

Those are my orders, Mr. Dougal.

Aye, Captain.

May I have your name, sir?

Please, you may not come in here.

It's against the rules, sir.

Captain Harris.

This is a private club, Captain.

Since your office doors

are closed to me...

...I had no choice but to come here.

We have no business that I know of.

My ship, sir. We made an agreement.

We shook hands.

And you failed to keep it.

The 'Sheba Queen' is still free

to burn and pillage English ships...

...while all we have from

you is the unlikely story...

...that Captain Providence is a woman.

Another card, please.

We put our hands to a

bargain, Captain Harris.

To make my end good I've worn irons...

...I've been spread-eagled

and flogged...

...I've been under the cutlass

of Blackbeard himself.

I've called red-handed

cut-throats my friends.

I stood by and watched murders

and worse, and that's not all.

No.

-Another card, please.

With the daily and nightly

prospect of the plank at my back...

...I've flattered, and crawled...

...and make myself

agreeable in all ways...

...to the vilest-hearted she-monster

that ever came out of the sea.

And I think all the oceans will

never wash me clean again.

It's you, gentlemen, who have bungled.

I still hold to my bargain.

In one way or another way,

Captain Harris...

...I'll have my ship.

Do you hear me? I'll have my ship.

Keep score of what I owe, gentlemen.

Captain La Rochelle.

Well?

If you really want the 'Molly O'Brien',

you can have her...

...under certain conditions.

What conditions?

You cannot have sailed with Captain

Providence all these months...

...without furthering your education.

You mean I can have my ship

back if I agree to turn pirate?

You put it crudely, Captain.

I can easily recruit a crew for you.

Real seadogs...

...eager to do anything for gold.

And for you.

For me and my friends...

...a captain's share.

Well, tell your friends

I've had my bellyful of piracy.

I want my ship for honest trading.

She's not your ship, Captain.

She's a King's prize,

and ours to dispose of...

...on whatever terms we choose to make.

There are other captains

in Port Royal, you know.

Bring her in.

Leave us alone.

So you're his notion of a mate for life.

If you intend to cut my throat,

cut it now and be done with it.

Cut your throat?

What do you take me for?

A disgrace to our sex.

His words?

-No, mine.

He spoke no ill of you. He pitied you.

Pity. He dared to pity me?

The treacherous scum!

Before you blackguard him...

...I ask you to remember

that he is my husband.

The best you could get to yourself?

You couldn't get him.

And you'll never have him again.

Then you do intend to kill me.

No, I'll not harm you.

My plan for you is quite different.

A life of travel...

...new scenes, new faces.

Maybe an Arabian prince...

...or a rich merchant

from the Levant...

...Sugar planter in Brazil...

...whoever will pay the most for

the privilege of your company.

You wouldn't.

In the meantime, you're my guest...

...until we drop anchor at Maracaibo.

Mr. Dougal.

You can do as you wish with me.

I have no defence.

But there's one thing

you can never change.

I am his wife.

Think about it. Let in

eat into your soul...

...if you have one.

Take her below.

Begging your pardon, Captain...

...but the company

wonders what you intend.

We signed for gold or peg,

but already you passed...

...three fat merchant-men without as

much as a shot across their bows.

We seek a richer prize.

What prize, Captain?

The 'Sheba Queen'.

Well?

Begging your pardon again, Captain.

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