Billy Budd Page #2

doesn't know.

It was just his turn.

What is it, Budd?

Did they not indulge in flogging

on the Rights of Man?

No, sir.

All right, Budd.

You'll keep your hammock

properly lashed in this manner.

Never get caught

with your bag out of order.

You wouldn't be wanting

to find yourself on ship's report.

Like the lad who was flogged.

- Why was he flogged?

- It could've been for one of many reasons.

You mean you don't know?

It's not for the likes of us to know,

just to witness, see?

- Hungry?

- Aye.

Well, this is the captain

of the maintop, Jenkins.

Right, Budd, this is your table.

Make room for him.

All events, you're welcome here, lad.

Here, boy, take my seat.

Here's a plate.

His first day

aboard our happy ship.

What was the ship

they impressed you off?

I couldn't read it at that distance.

You can't read at any distance.

Don't take offense,

you're in good company.

I can't read either.

She was called the Rights of Man.

You come off a ship called that?

Rights of Man?

My name's William.

Billy, if you like.

Oh, this is Payne, Kincaid,

Jenkins, O'Daniel, and I'm Talbot.

Oh, and that...

That old tar there's called Dansker.

He's Danish. Or he thinks he is.

Dansker, have you ever had a real name?

Not for many years.

Why don't you spit in the stew?

It can't taste no worse.

Nobody's making you eat it.

You can wash your feet in it if you like.

It seems the cook already has.

There's a splinter in it anyway.

That's enough of laughing

at my deformity.

Do you ever bring yourself

to eat this dirt?

I can't cook, you know that.

They only gave me this employment

because I'm unfit for active service.

You ought to be ashamed of yourselves.

Well, Billy,

there's the royal navy for you.

Can you cook?

I can make a stew.

From now on,

I'll be praying that you lose a leg.

Like it, Billy? Taste good?

It's hot, and there's a lot of it.

I like everything about it

except the flavor.

And how do you like the company,

Billy boy?

Not quite what you're used to?

Ever seen so much ignorance

all dumped together in one place?

Ever heard such a din

as these gentlemen eating?

Let the lad be, Jenkins.

Baby has to learn.

There'll be others to teach him

soon enough.

He's in my watch.

Would you have him learn lashed to the

grating with his lesson written on his back?

Why was that man flogged?

He may have spat against the wind...

...or mumbled in his beard.

It may have been a prayer.

To them, it was a protest.

You don't know why.

It's wrong to flog a man.

I...

It's against his being a man.

Aye.

Aye, lad, it is that.

Why do you stammer, boy?

Because I sometimes

can't find the words...

...for what I feel.

Our young bastard's stammering

because he's scared.

Leave him alone.

Come on, ba... Ba... Baby.

T... Talk back, why don't you?

- Is it a fight you want, then?

- Aye...

...for your own good,

and my satisfaction.

I want to baptize you

in the ways of our world.

There was a lad on the Rights of Man

who used to like a friendly fight.

Name of Mathews.

- Come on, Jenkins, do something.

- Go on.

- Go on.

- Go on, have a go.

Well, you asked for it, didn't you?

Ba... Ba... Baby.

I'll get you in a minute.

- Come on.

- Come on.

Come on.

- Hang on.

- Come on, Billy.

- Hold him down.

- Come on, Billy.

Steady.

Jenkins.

- Jenkins. Easy.

- Hold on, Billy.

Turn your head, Billy. Turn your head.

All right, I'll let you off this time...

...but don't do it again, boy-o.

I'm warning you.

- Will you shake hands, mate?

- Shake hands, is it?

- You're a hell of a peacemaker, Billy.

- Well, you beat me fair.

That's the first time

I ever hear him eat his words.

And what a terrible diet that is.

Worse than the stew.

Don't you be getting any wrong ideas.

I'm warning you.

- I'm more than a match for you, boy-o.

- Aye.

- I took you off your guard.

- Aye.

You make friends quickly, Master Budd.

Come here, boy.

What was the fight about?

Well, I...

Nothing to say.

And the rest of you?

Mr. Claggart.

Watch what you're doing.

Don't you ever touch me.

- I swear...

- You swear.

What?

None of you have anything to say?

It was nothing, master-at-arms.

A test of strength.

You'll need your strength

for the fighting to come, boy.

Aye, Budd.

You do indeed make friends quickly.

That's a good quality to have.

Billy...

...be careful of the master-at-arms.

Careful? Why?

He had a pleasant smile for me.

That's why.

Make eight bells!

- First watch aboard a man-of-war, Billy?

- Hey, don't fall.

Or jump.

Come on, get up there.

Aye, he's quite a hand for jokes.

Always cheerful too.

Always smiling, waving at people.

Lovely little character. Always...

Afternoon, sir.

Wind seems to be freshening a little.

With your permission, sir.

"Freshening" did you say,

master-at-arms?

Yes, it is indeed,

master-at-arms. Indeed.

Our young newcomer

seems to feel quite at home.

Aye, sir. Indeed he does.

Yes.

He's even melted

old starry Vere's stone heart.

He'll make the old Avenger

a merchantman yet.

The trouble is I just can't find

the distances like I used to.

I'll take your turn tomorrow

while you stay below decks.

Who's there?

Well, what's up, then, Squeak?

Routine inspection, Jenkins.

What's the matter? Sick, are you?

My health does not concern you.

No need to be uncivil, Jenkins.

Is this sickness something

master-at-arms should know about?

He'll know

when I want him to know, boy-o.

Well, I hope it's nothing serious.

- Evening.

- Good evening.

Oh, it's on a petty report

you are again, Budd.

Well, I mean, look at it.

It's a pity you will not learn.

I don't understand.

That's the second time

it's happened like this.

Well, next time,

sew yourself up in it...

...and then you'll be sure to know

if somebody meddles with it.

Oh, Dansker?

What?

Reading?

How many times

must you be on ship's report...

...before they tie you to the gratings

and flog you?

That's a matter he decides.

He?

Aye...

...the master-at-arms, Mr. Claggart.

Go on. That's all you're gonna get.

Fish.

They're serving fish.

I can't think why.

It's Wednesday.

However, I hope it's better

than that horsemeat we've been getting.

Maybe it's a seahorse.

Here, Jenkins,

aren't you eating anything?

Well, you've got to eat something,

you know, or go sick.

Well, at least come in out of the sun.

Handsomely done, lad.

But then handsome is

as handsome does.

Clean up that mess.

I thought that I said,

"Clean up that mess."

That's the mess boy's job.

It's yours when I order it so.

I'll clean it up.

After all, sir, it was I who spilled it.

Stand back, boy.

Might as well clean that up too.

- Sir, he's sick.

- Sick?

I'm sorry to hear that.

Is that what you'd like to do, Jenkins?

Perhaps you'd do it...

...if you weren't so...

So sick.

You others feel well enough, I hope.

Here I am, unarmed.

Now's the time.

To make it easier...

...l'll turn my back on you.

You lack fiber, men.

Or have you some more

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