Billy Budd Page #7

- Sir.

You may sit down, Billy.

Thank you, sir.

Captain, will you be good enough

to give us your account.

I speak to you not as your captain,

but as a witness before this court.

The master-at-arms, early this morning,

detailed to me...

...an account of mutinous sentiments

expressed by Budd...

...and spoke of overhearing a specific

conversation last night during mid-watch.

- Budd a mutineer? That's absurd.

- Lt. Wyatt.

- He's one of the best liked...

- Lt. Wyatt, do not interrupt the witness.

And now, sir, with your permission.

Budd...

...did you speak with anyone

in the master-at-arms' hearing last night?

I spoke a little with the Dansker, sir.

- The sailmaker?

- Sentry.

Sir.

Do you know a seaman

referred to as the Dansker?

Sir.

Go on deck and find him.

Let him know apart he is wanted here.

And arrange it so that none of

the other people notice his withdrawing.

See you do it tactfully.

I want no curiosity aroused

among the men.

Sir.

Will you go on, sir, please?

I sent at once for Budd.

I ordered the master-at-arms

to be present at this interview...

...and to repeat his accusations

to Budd's face.

May I ask what was the prisoner's reaction

on being confronted by the master-at-arms?

I perceived no uneasiness in his demeanor.

I believe he smiled.

And for the master-at-arms?

When I told him to make his accusations

to Budd's face, he faced Budd and did so.

Did Budd reply?

He tried to,

but could not frame his words.

And then, sir?

He answered with a blow.

The accuser fell.

It was evident at once

the blow was fatal...

...but I summoned the surgeon

to verify the fact.

That's all.

You've heard Captain Vere's account.

Is it or is it not as he has said?

Captain Vere speaks the truth.

It's just as Captain Vere says.

But it is not as the master-at-arms said.

I've eaten the king's bread

and I'm true to him.

- I believe you, boy.

- God knows, I...

Thank you, sir.

Was there malice...

...between you and the master-at-arms?

I bore no malice

against the master-at-arms.

I'm sorry that he's dead.

I did not mean to kill him.

If I'd have found my tongue,

I would not have struck him.

But he lied foully to my face, and I had...

Well, I had to say something.

I could only say it with a blow.

God help me.

Anybody seen Mr. Claggart about?

Well, he was not at the inspection.

You'd better not let him catch you

lying around like this.

You have been summoned

in secrecy...

...to appear before this court

as a witness...

...of which I am senior member.

I may not, at this time, disclose to you

the nature of the offense being tried.

However, the offender

is William Budd, foretopman.

Do you consent to give this court

your testimony...

...though ignorant of the case at trial,

and further...

...to keep in strictest confidence

all that passes here?

Aye.

Do you so swear?

I do.

Then this is my question:

In your opinion...

...is there malice

between the master-at-arms and Budd?

Aye.

Explain your statement.

Master-at-arms bore malice...

...towards a grace...

...he could not have.

There was no reason for it...

...that ordinary men could understand.

Pride was his demon.

And he kept it strong

by others' fear of him.

He was a Pharisee among the lepers.

Billy could not understand

such a nature.

He saw only a lonely man, strange...

...but a man still.

Nothing to be feared.

So Claggart...

...lest his world be proven false...

...planned Billy's death.

I notice in your testimony

you've been using the past tense.

Why?

I look around...

...and sense finality here.

- Have you any more questions?

- One thing more.

Ever since this master-at-arms

came aboard...

...from God knows where...

...I have seen his shadow

lengthen along the deck.

And being under it...

...I was afraid.

Whatever happened here...

...I am in part to blame.

Have you any further questions

to put to the accused?

- None.

- No.

William Budd...

...if you have anything further

to say for yourself...

...say it now.

I've said all, sir.

Sentry.

- Sir.

- Remove the prisoner to my compartment.

Have you anything to say, Ratcliffe?

Yes, sir.

Claggart was killed

because Budd couldn't speak.

In that sense, that he stammers,

he's a cripple.

You don't hang a man for that,

for speaking the only way he could.

If you condemn him, it's the same...

...as condoning the lie

the master-at-arms clearly told.

I'd have struck him myself.

The boy is clearly innocent,

struck in self-defense.

- Aye. I'm ready to acquit him now.

- Good, then we can reach a verdict at once.

One moment, gentlemen.

With your pardon, sir,

as senior member of this court...

...I must ask if you speak now

as our commanding officer...

...or as a private individual.

As convening authority, Seymour,

I summoned this court.

I must review its findings and approve them

before passing them to the Admiralty.

- Aye, sir, that is your right.

- No right.

Which one of us here has rights?

It's my duty, and I must perform it.

Budd killed a man, his superior officer.

We've found a verdict, sir.

I know you have, and your verdict

sets him free, and so would I wish to do.

But are we free to choose

as we would if we were private citizens?

The Admiralty has its code.

Do you think it cares who Budd is?

Who you and I are?

We don't forget that, sir, but surely even

within that code, each crime is different.

We can't ignore the facts.

The facts. Come, you know the facts,

which are the Mutiny Act's provisions.

At sea, in time of war,

an impressed man...

...strikes his superior officer

and the blow is fatal.

Now, according to the Act...

...the mere fact of the blow

would be enough to hang him...

...be it fatal or no.

Now, the men know this

as well as you and I.

They know the penalty

for Budd's action.

But they know Budd, sir.

Claggart too, I dare say.

As well as any dry letter of the law.

They would applaud

the decision that frees Budd.

They'd thank us for it.

Fight the better when the time comes.

String him to a yard,

they'll turn round and rescue him.

- And string us up instead.

- Aye, that's the point.

It's twice as dangerous to hang the boy

as to let him go.

Yes, that's possible, Ratcliffe.

Whatever step we take,

the risk is great, but it is ours.

That is what makes us officers.

If by our lawful rigor mutiny comes,

there is no blame for us.

But if in fear,

miscalled a kind of mercy...

...we pardon Budd against specific order

and then the men revolt...

...how culpable and weak

our verdict will appear.

I can see that, sir.

But this case is exceptional.

And pity, if we are men,

must move us, captain.

So am I moved, Ratcliffe.

But we cannot have warm hearts

betraying heads which should be cool.

Officers are only men in uniform.

We have our standards,

ethics, scruples.

Challenge your scruples.

Come, do they mean something like this?

Can we adjudge to summary

and shameful death...

Rate this script:5.0 / 1 vote