Frenchman's Creek Page #2

---

-Did you have a nice day today;

-No.

You didn't;

Yes you did. You loved it.

You don't want to go home;

Love is a friend of mine,

my best friend.

Love is a friend of mine.

Love is my affection.

I spend my nights

singing to Iove.

Let me go!

lt seems you have been

spying upon my ship.

On the contrary.

lt seems our men have been

trespassing on my land.

My very humble apologies.

l had not realized the lady

of the manor had come in person.

ls it by your orders l was ceased

and brought here;

My men are told to bring in

anyone who ventures to the creek.

ln a sack;

You're not hurt, are you;

No.

Then what are you complaining about;

Because l am not accustomed

to being treated in such a manner.

Of course not.

But it will do you no harm.

Madame, please.

Well...

-What will you do with me;

-Yes...

l must consult my book of rules.

l have made no arrangements

to deal with females.

Most remissibly.

That's better.

Oh!

-What's the matter;

-lt was you.

You left that tobacco jar

in my bedroom.

Did l;

How careless of William

not to have noticed.

So it was for you William stayed

and sent all the servants away.

While we were in London

you slept in my bedroom.

Somehow l was sure

you wouldn't mind.

-Why were you so sure;

-l consulted your portrait.

''My lady'', l said very humbly

''would you grant a weary Frenchman

the courtesy of your bed;''

Well;

You bowed gracefully

and gave me permission.

-l did;

-Yes.

-lf l'd known for one moment...

-What would you have done;

l'd have come down from the wall

and behaved quite differently.

l don't believe you.

Why not;

Because when l lay there looking

at you that was not how you behaved.

How did l behave;

Very differently.

l must be going.

My children will wonder

what's happened to me.

Love is a friend of mine,

my best friend.

Love is a friend of mine.

Love is my affection.

I spend my nights

singing to Iove.

They know at once when we return.

They come in dozens.

Perhaps they have a fellow feeling

for the ship.

My fault for naming her

La Mouette.

La Mouette;

Of course, the Seagull...

l must return your call.

-Oh;

-A matter of courtesy.

Of course.

What is the correct hour;

The afternoon; And you

offer me a dish of tea;

No, a pirate does not call

upon a lady in the afternoon.

He comes by night

rapping upon a window.

And the lady of the manor

fearful for her safety,

gives him supper

by candlelight.

As you will.

My lady, can l be

of assistance;

William, l thought l told

the servants to go to bed.

They are in bed.

l remained up because l thought

you might want some help.

-So you know;.

-Yes my lady.

How did you know William;

When you returned this afternoon

there was something about your eyes.

They were, if l may say without

offense, very much alive.

l said, it has happened.

They have met at last.

Why at last;

l am a fatalist by nature.

l've always known sooner or later

this meeting would come about.

l propose to behave

outrageously.

-So it would seem my lady.

-Are you shocked;

-No.

-Why not;

Nothing you or my master ever

did could possibly shock me.

-Do you think he will come;

-l'm quite sure of it.

lt's very wrong.

l'm acting against the interests

of my country.

-l could be imprisoned for it.

-Yes my lady.

Do you really approve of

your master's profession.

Approve and disapprove are

two words not in my vocabulary.

My master only robs people

who can afford to be robbed.

He gives away most of

what he takes.

He is free of all ties and

man made principles.

-l gather he's not married then.

-No.

Piracy and marriage do

not go together.

Even if his wife

should love the sea;

-She would not love it enough.

-l wish l were a man.

-Why so;

-l too would find a ship and

sail out and be a law unto myself.

Gracious! Have we

anything fit for him to eat;

Rest your mind my dear lady.

When l went to Helford, l took

the liberty of filling a basket.

-You anticipated this;

-Yes my lady.

l have premonitions.

l can provide crabs prepared

in the French fashion,

small potatoes cooked

in their skins,

fresh green salad, bottle of wine,

and strawberries,

-the first of the season.

-You are incorrigible.

Let me see...

Light every candle.

Bring out all the silver.

-We must to all justice to Navron.

-l will not disappoint.

You know him better than l do.

What shall l wear;

Supper is waiting.

ls it wise to place all this

temptation before a pirate;

lt's William's fault.

lt's all his doing.

l don't believe you.

William never made these

preparations for me before.

-Did you William;

-No sir.

He cooked a chop and served

it to me on a chipped plate.

Brushed away one of the covers of

the chairs and told me to be content.

Yes sir.

What brought you to Navron at last;

Perhaps l was tired of being

Lady St. Columb.

-Why;

-Why are you a pirate;

Why did you venture

alone to the creek today;

Because of the uncertainty.

l wasn't sure what might happen.

-That's why l'm a pirate;

-Oh yes, but...

There are no ''buts''.

lt's very simple.

Piracy suits me.

My ship is my kingdom.

l'm my own master.

l come and go as l please.

Couldn't you do as you please

in any case;

No, anyone who leads a normal life

in this world of ours

becomes a cog in a wheel,

a unit in a system.

To me that is intolerable.

l have become a rebel

and an outcast.

But l have escaped

from such a world.

The idea that piracy is wrong

does not concern you;

Not in the least.

Even such freedom, doesn't

that become a bore sometimes;

On the contrary.

Piracy has its problems

which interest me profoundly.

lt's an exact science.

A slipshod pirate is a dead pirate

and serves him right.

A successful pirate on the other hand

is much like a mathematician.

A poet of precision.

Besides l have my fun,

my spice of excitement,

my beating of the other fellow.

lt's very satisfying.

Very absorbing.

Some day they will catch you.

Someday, perhaps...

What do you think l do when

l seek refuge in your creek;

My men are not idle.

They move about the country

getting information.

And the Cornish men are robbed and

the women go in fear of their lives.

And more than their lives,

so Lord Godolphin tells me.

Cornish women flatter themselves.

That's what l wanted to tell

Lord Godolphin.

-Why did you not;

-l hadn't the heart to shock him.

Frenchmen have a reputation

for gallantry

that is entirely

without foundation.

We are shyer than

you give us credit for.

My fellows never force

their intentions on women.

The trouble is that the women

won't leave them alone.

You forget country women sometimes

find their husbands very dull.

They should teach their husbands

better manners.

-Do you mind;

-Not at all.

Supposing in marriage,

for example

one partner has the understanding

and the other does not.

Then the marriage is doubtless

very monotonous.

What decided you upon marriage;

Harry was amusing.

And l liked his eyes.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes