Captain Blood Page #3

-State your case, fellow, and no lies.

I was on the way to pay the butcher

on Tuesday...

as Honesty Nuttall is my name,

when I chanced on a poor old beggar.

lt was Jones from the grog shop...

who begged me to have a drink with him.

Try standing on it, Your Honor.

Stand on that bundle of pain? Impossible.

I remembered in time my poor

starving wife in need of the five bob.

What is this all about? Silence!

-Sit down.

-What's he here for?

For debt, Your Excellency,

and the prevaricator--

lf it's for debt,

don't annoy me with such petty things.

Order him to work it off.

Work? Not that, anything but work.

What's your trade?

I'm a ship's carpenter

when the painful necessity arises.

Take him to work on the docks...

and don't you attempt to escape

till every farthing's paid...

or I'll stretch your hide on the rack!

Escape? How could a debtor escape

from this island...

even if he had a boat to do it with?

I couldn't escape any more

than a slave could escape.

I can walk.

Wonderful, my dear fellow.

Only two months' treatment,

and I'm a well man.

lt's a miracle.

-The next complaint--

-Drat the next complaint. I can walk.

Come, Doctor.

You'll get your reward for this,

Peter Blood.

-From now on, you're my physician.

-Your Excellency is too kind.

Come back early tomorrow.

You're always welcome, Dr. Blood.

Hello.

Don't I know you?

A lady should know her own property.

-My property?

-Let me refresh your memory.

My name is Peter Blood,

and I'm worth precisely 10.

Forgive me for not recognizing you,

Dr. Blood.

You're so changed...

for the better.

The Governor tells me

I have you to thank for that.

You don't sound very grateful, Dr. Blood.

Do you think I'd be grateful for an easy life

when my friends are treated like animals?

lt's they deserve your favors, not I.

They're all honest rebels.

I was snoring in my bed

while they were trying to free England...

from an unclean tyrant.

I believe you're talking treason.

I hope I'm not obscure.

-You could be flogged for that.

-No.

The Governor would never allow it.

He has the gout.

You depend upon that?

I intend to, for all it's worth,

and that promises to be considerable.

But you'd hardly know about that.

You've probably never had the gout.

-Good afternoon, Miss Bishop.

-Good afternoon.

15-2, 15-4, and a pair are six.

-Another?

-What else is there to do...

ever since you ruined the Governor's foot

and our reputations with it?

-I ruined the Governor's foot?

-I tell you, Doctor, you're methods are--

-Someone coming.

-A patient?

A patient!

-I beg your pardon, Doctor. I'm so sorry.

-lt's all right.

Come in.

Good afternoon, colleagues. Dr. Bronson.

-Dr. Whacker.

-Good afternoon.

How's business, my friends?

-Terrible.

-Good.

-Terribly good.

-That relieves me.

I had heard that things

were not altogether....

ldle gossip, obviously.

You intend to remain here?

Remain here? Why not?

lt's queer.

There are you, free to come and go as

you please, and you choose to stay here.

While I, who hate this pestilential island....

Such are the quirks of circumstance.

I must be running along, gentlemen.

Good day, gentlemen.

lt's pleasant to see

everything so prosperous with you here.

-Not so hasty.

-Just a moment.

There's something I'd like to ask you.

Well, gentlemen?

Have you been thinking of leaving us,

Doctor?

Leaving? Now, Doctor.

How could a slave think of leaving?

Or even if he were fool enough to try,

by what means could he hope to escape?

And where, for example,

could he raise the few pounds necessary...

to purchase even a small boat?

-We might supply it.

-You?

-Now, gentlemen.

-Now, let's talk this thing over.

Now, if you'll just sit down here.

Now then, how much will you need?

20 might buy a small wherry,

10 more might equip it.

He's right.

-He means--

-You needn't tell me what he means.

I know two Christian gentlemen

when I see them.

Two men whose hearts are bleeding

for a brother doctor in distress.

But it's too much to ask,

too noble a gesture to hope for.

No, my good man, not at all.

But who would buy the boat?

We would not dare,

and you, a slave, you could not.

True.

That would be my part. To find someone.

A man as eager to escape as I.

-A man held here for debt, say.

-Then it's a bargain?

Gentlemen,

you've opened for me the gates of hope.

Doctor.

-My dear colleague.

-Gentlemen.

Now we have him.

We've only to get him involved

and reveal his plan.

He'll steal very little of our business

when he's in irons.

Gentlemen.

There's one thing slipped

my mind entirely.

Simple-minded men might think this

an opportunity for trickery...

but brilliant men like yourselves

will remember in what favor I stand...

with the Governor

in contrast to some others...

and how little their words

would weigh against mine.

Heigh-ho for the Governor's foot!

Good day, gentlemen.

-Are you all with me?

-Yes.

Listen.

There's a man named Nuttall

who's in trouble with the Governor.

He's looking for a small boat

which he'll purchase...

on the night chosen for our escape.

-Escape?

-Quiet!

While he gathers stores and equipment,

we must be ready on the inside.

We might steal some sugarcane knives

and hack through the stockade walls.

Or dig our way under.

Once at sea, if we get there,

our troubles will have just begun.

lf any of you want to withdraw,

now's the time.

-No.

-Not me.

You'll be a lubber crew, but I'll match

your hearts against any other.

We can thank our stars for Jeremy Pitt.

He was a ship's pilot.

Here's one you won't have to teach.

Six years in King James' Navy.

-What?

-That's nothing. I was a blooming gunner.

-A gunner?

-ln the King's Navy, too.

I was always ashamed of it up to now.

We'll have a crew yet!

Any of you others

been keeping such secrets?

Where's Baynes?

-Where is he?

-He tried to escape today.

No! Caught?

-Branded?

-Yeah.

No!

Why did you do it, Andy?

I told you I'd try to get you out.

I couldn't stand it any longer.

I couldn't stand it.

I was going mad.

What do you think a man is made of?

How much do you think he can stand?

''Watchman, what of the night?''

lsaiah 21 :
1 1 .

Don't make the purchase

until well on in the evening.

That way there'll be less risk...

of anyone wondering where you came by

the money.

Lumme, Captain.

lt ain't too late for us to change our minds.

Stow the provisions away on board

as soon as it's dark.

Then all you've got to do is sit down here

and wait for us.

ls that all?

Wait all alone in the blooming dark...

waiting for someone to come along

and nab me.

Nuttall, my lad,

there's just one other little thing.

Could you find me a good piece of timber

about so thick and so long?

Yes, I think so.

Then do so and lash it to your spine.

lt needs stiffening.

Courage. I'll join you at midnight.

How long does it take to feed

this pack of dogs?

lt's a wonder we make a profit at all.

You don't drive them hard enough.

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