Billy Budd Page #8

...a fellow creature

we believe to be innocent before God?

- Does that state your case rightly?

- That is my feeling, sir.

- Acquit him, then you say, as innocent.

- Yes.

Oh, I know the Articles prescribe death

for what Budd has done...

Stow the Articles. They don't account

for such a case as this.

You've said yourself, sir,

Budd is innocent.

In a court more merciful than a martial one,

our views might count.

- They might even set him free.

- Sir, when Claggart told you his lies...

...the case immediately went beyond

military justice.

There, Seymour, you reveal

the whole weakness of your argument.

Here, nothing is beyond the scope

of military justice.

When we first put this on,

we resigned our freedom.

The gold we wear

shows that we serve the king...

...the law.

For the term of my active life,

I am bound by an oath I took...

...when I was half the age

of any of you here.

And now, for the first time in my life,

I feel the weight of those words...

...I spoke so solemnly as a midshipman,

ignorant of their meaning...

...with nothing but dreams of glory

in my mind.

Yes, but...

...gentlemen, you took that oath as well.

There's no escape.

All I know is that I can't sit by

and see an innocent man hanged.

- Who'd gain by Budd's death? Admiralty?

- You want to make us murderers.

What is this ship you serve in?

An ark of peace? Go count her guns...

...then tell your conscience to lie quiet,

if you can.

But that is war.

This will be downright killing.

It's all war, Ratcliffe.

War to the death for all of us.

Oh, you see that, Seymour?

That this war...

...began before our time?

- And will end long after it.

- Aye...

...if ever men deserve to be at peace.

Couldn't we...

...mitigate the penalty

if we find him guilty?

No, Ratcliffe,

the penalty is prescribed.

I'd like to think about it, captain.

I'm not sure.

The French are not far off.

Soon the men will know what happened.

Our consciences are private matters,

Ratcliffe, but we are public men.

Dare we give our consciences precedence

over the code that made us officers?

And which called this case to trial?

Dare we?

No, sir.

Can you stand Budd's murder

on your conscience?

Wyatt, hold your tongue.

- I say let him go.

- Sit down, sir.

I won't bear a hand

to hang an innocent man.

My blood's not cold enough for that.

I cannot give the kind of judgment

that you wish to force upon us.

I beg to be excused

from sitting upon this court-martial.

Wyatt...

...we do not deal with justice here,

but with the law.

Was not the one conceived

to serve the other?

Wyatt, can't you see that you must

first strip off the uniform you wear...

...and then your flesh before you can

escape the case at issue here?

Decide you must, Wyatt...

...or else reason with us.

Show us how to save the boy

without setting aside our function.

You think Seymour, Ratcliffe and I

wouldn't save the boy...

...if we could find a way

consistent with our duty?

Well, perhaps you can do this.

Can you do this?

Speak, man.

Speak.

Show us how.

Save him, Wyatt, and you save us all.

Do not think me pitiless

in thus demanding sentence...

...on a luckless boy.

I feel as you do for him.

And for myself...

...revulsion...

...shame...

...and rage.

Is there hope for me, captain?

Billy...

...what hope is there for any of us?

Tell me why.

I only want to understand.

A child, with his endless "whys."

"Why are there wars?

Why must men kill each other?"

A child will ask...

...and the parent will grow impatient

believing these questions to be foolish.

They're not foolish,

they're questions...

...to which grown men

have lost the answer.

The answer went with innocence.

Why?

I cannot tell you why.

I feel sorry, captain, but not guilty.

Nor should you. Claggart killed you

the moment you killed him.

But I'm still alive.

You, in your goodness,

are as inhuman...

...as was Claggart in his evil.

Well, at least be human now, Billy.

Give in to anger for once.

Hate me for what I do to you. No...

Please, Billy.

Promise me your fury and resentment.

Hatred will make you

conquer your fear.

I'm not afraid, sir.

I did my duty. You're doing yours.

Sentry.

Take Budd into your charge.

Merryweather.

Time to get up, Budd.

Marine detachment. Attention!

- Marine detachment present and correct, sir.

- Thank you.

Over there. Mr. Seymour.

Ship's company, form ranks!

Come on, move up there.

Attention! Division commander's report.

Afterguard present or accounted for, sir.

Starboard battery

present or accounted for, sir.

Larboard battery

present and accounted for, sir.

Fore-, main-, and mizzentopmen,

five working party...

...one absentee, sir.

One absentee.

All hands will stand by

to witness punishment.

Stand easy.

Who could they be punishing?

And what for?

It's got to be a flogging.

I ought to know.

But why have they kept us

off the catwalks?

They flog men at noon.

The early morning...

...is for a hanging.

- Hanging?

- Hanging.

Hanging?

Where's Ferguson? Where's Billy?

And Turner.

Aye, Morrison too.

There were four hammocks

empty last night.

- That will be the working party.

- But there's five in the working party.

One absentee.

Hey...

...where's Claggart?

- Well, you don't suppose it's him, do you?

- Oh, Judas, let it be that fish-blooded...

- Not him.

He's too smart, he is.

Where's Squeak, come to that?

Well, he'll be with Claggart.

Why isn't Claggart here?

He is here.

Where? I don't see him.

He is here.

You're barmy, old man.

Ship's company, attention!

Marine detachment, attention!

Ship's company

present to witness execution, sir.

Very well.

Ship's company

ready to witness execution, sir.

Captain Hallam.

Escort, bring forward the prisoner.

- Billy!

- Billy.

- They can't, Bill.

- They've got old Billy.

No talking in the ranks.

- They'll pay for this.

- Steady, mate. Steady.

Form up.

Do you hear me? Silence in ranks.

Escort.

I'm sorry, Billy.

Come on, keep moving.

Keep silent there.

Proceedings of the court-martial

held aboard HMS Avenger...

...on the 28th August, 1797...

...convened under the authority...

...of Edwin Fairfax Vere,

post captain, royal navy...

...and composed of the first, second

and third lieutenants of said vessel.

The case of William Budd,

foretopman, royal navy.

While attached and so serving

the aforesaid vessel...

...he did, on the 28th day

of August, 1797...

...strike and kill his superior officer...

...one John Claggart, master-at-arms...

- Did you, Billy?

Quiet!

Silence, you men! Form up!

Stand to attention there, hang you!

Silence in the ranks!

You will be silent and remain

at strict attention until dismissed!

- Master-at-arms, royal navy.

Therefore, the court sentences

the aforementioned...

...William Budd, foretopman,

royal navy...

...to die by hanging on the first watch

following these proceedings.

Don't worry, Billy.

Do you hear, sir?

By authority of His gracious

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