Blackbeard's Ghost

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- Want gas, mister?

- Yeah, fill it up.

Help yourself, will you, please?

I gotta close up.

To you know how to get

to Blackbeard's Inn at Godolphin?

I'm goin' there myself. I'll show you

the way if you'll give me a lift.

- You're on.

- Thanks.

- Stayin' at the inn?

- Yep.

Mostly old ladies live there.

Salesmen goin' through like to stay

in Ye Jolly Roger down in town.

Got more of a chance

to kick up their heels.

Well, I'm not a salesman. I'm the new

track coach at Godolphin College.

Coach, I'm glad to know you!

My name's Gudger Larkin.

I'm on your track squad.

I'm captain.

Well, well.

Small world, isn't it?

Let's see now, Captain.

I'd guess you were a sprinter, huh?

Golly, no, sir. I'm-I'm as slow

as molasses in January.

- Can you give me a hand, Coach?

- Oh, yeah.

- Say, what is your event, Larkin?

- Oh, I'm the shot putter, sir.

Shot putter? Well, the weight man's

usually the strongest man on the team.

Yes, sir.

That's the inn, Coach.

That's Blackbeard's Inn.

- Did the old pirate really build it?

- Sure.

He got killed in a battle

right out there in the bay.

I guess I'll have to brush up

on the local history.

Wait till you meet the little old

ladies who run the inn.

They're all descendants of Blackbeard's

bloody crew, and they're proud of it.

"Buccaneer Bazaar tonight.

Help save Blackbeard's Inn".

- What does that mean? - Some guy's

trying to have the inn torn down...

but the old ladies are putting up

a pretty good fight.

You sure they haven't started

to tear it down already?

Well, I'll tell you,

it's built mostly of odds and ends.

Timbers of ships

that got wrecked in the bay.

- You can park over there.

- All right.

What's that all about?

Hey, buddy, I...

That's Silky Seymour.

He runs the gambling around here.

- I wouldn't fool with him.- What's

he doing at the old ladies' bazaar?

He's the guy that bought up

their mortgage from the bank.

If the old ladies don't come up

with the loot, out they go.

- This fellow Seymour gets everything

he wants around here, huh?

- Just about.

Miss Jeffrey,

have you seen Miss Stowecroft?

This gentleman has a room reservation.

She's outside in a tent

telling fortunes.

- Dean Wheaton.

- What is it?

Sir, I-I'd like you to meet

our new track coach.

Steve Walker, sir. Just arrived.

I believe I'm to report to you

in the morning.

- Uh, Welcome to Godolphin, Mr Walker.

- Thank you very much, sir.

I don't want to seem negative,

but I want to be frank.

I was not in favour

of replacing our former track coach

when he left so informally.

- Oh?

- For some years now, the track team

has done precious little...

to add lustre to the name

of Godolphin College...

so there didn't seem any point

in going on with it, you see?

- Well, I'm sorry to hear that, sir...

- Howsoever, we have competed...

in the Broxton Relays

for the past 63 years...

so the alumni insisted

on one more try.

Well, of course, sir, there's not much

time left before the relay is here...

but I hope I can restore

your confidence in the boys.

Mr Walker, I never had any.

Well, mmm, before the warmth of

the dean's reception goes to my head...

I think I'll find Miss Stowecroft

and get a room.

I've been on the road

since 5:
00 this morning.

- Okay, Coach. I'll see you tomorrow.

- Gudger...

uh, what did happen

to the other track coach?

I don't know.

He got to actin' real weird.

Talkin' to himself,

real down in the chops.

And one day, he just disappeared.

Just... and he was gone.

- Good night, Gudger.

- Good night, Coach.

Oh, Mr Walker.

This is Mr Purvis...

our football coach, whom you

undoubtedly know by reputation.

Well, I certainly do.

Who doesn't?

We're very fortunate in having

the services of Mr Purvis.

He produces winning football teams...

which in turn produce gratifyingly

large grants and endowments

from proud alumni.

Mr Walker is the new coach

of what we refer to as the track team.

The track team.

Oh, Walker, you won't last three weeks.

Take my word for it.

Well, if you don't mind, Mr Purvis,

I'd like to find that out for myself.

A word of advice, friend.

At, uh, Godolphin,

the name of the game is football.

- That's what makes the mare

go around here, so, uh...

- Football.

Don't get any big ideas.

- Wouldn't dream of it.

- Oh, well, come along, Mr Purvis.

I'm sure that Mr Walker

will acclimatize very quickly.

Track team!

- Miss Stowecroft?

- Sit down, Ishmael.

No, my name's Steve Walker,

Miss Stowecroft.

I believe a room was arranged

for me here through the college.

- You know, living accommodations?

- We accommodate the living.

But who shall accommodate the dead?

Give me your hand, Ishmael.

Oh, no, no, no.

I don't want my fortune told.

Just a room, Miss Stowecroft.

There's a revelation here.

Dark deeds and violence.

Things roused up

that were better left to rot.

If you'll tell me where

the keys are, Miss Stowecroft...

- I'd be happy to...

- Hold. There's more to the revelation.

- We see good here too.

- Oh, well, that's good.

Happiness. Happiness and content

for the people of Godolphin...

delivered from an ancient evil,

and gratitude to you, Ishmael...

- Oh.

- Who have sacrificed your own life...

in their delivery.

Now the light fades.

That is all.

- Now, about the room, Miss Stowecroft...

- That's all.

- Yes, but...

- You may leave an honorarium...

for the care and welfare of the spirits

in the bowl on your way out.

Oh, thank you. Come again.

Hi.

Hey! What's the big idea?

Well, kisses, one buck, right?

But I don't work here. Can't you read?

I'm executive committee.

I work here.

Well, now, so you do.

Well, that is what I call

a real good dollar kiss.

- Plenty of value for the money.

- Would you hold this a minute, please?

How would you like to try

the five-dollar special?

Five-dollar special.

May I have my badge?

Thank you.

Oh, no, I'm terribly sorry.

Only one to a customer.

Excuse me.

Oh, Miss Stowecroft.

If I could get that room now, please?

Oh, Ishmael! Come along, please.

The auction is about to begin.

Ladies and gentlemen of Godolphin

and neighbouring community...

you all know the purpose

of this bazaar.

Our good friends,

the Daughters of the Buccaneers...

took over this old ruin many years ago

and turned it into a cultural landmark.

They serve tea,

cooked chicken dinners...

even turned part of it

into a boarding house...

anything to keep it going,

but that's not enough.

And unless enough money

is raised tonight...

this place that has been their home

for so many years...

will pass into the hands

of strangers.

So, when Miss Stowecroft

begins to auction off...

the treasured mementoes, the fine

antiques and the family heirlooms...

that these good ladies have

so generously donated to the cause...

I beg you to search your hearts

and to bid cheerfully...

boldly and very, very generously.

Thank you. Miss Stowecroft.

Thank you, Professor Baker.

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