Moby Dick Page #3

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I signed for cabin boy.

Did you, indeed'?

To kill whales.

Where are you from?

Alabama.

There are no slaves in Nantucket, son.

You're welcome here.

And you, friend of...Queequeg.

- I didn't catch your name.

- He's called Ishmael.

Ishmael.

Sir.

What about you?

You have the look of a good oarsman.

Freshwater sailor, Mr. Starbuck.

Worked the Great Lakes

and the Erie Canal, sir.

You're welcome, too.

Thank you, sir.

Until tomorrow, gentlemen!

Greasy luck to the Whalers...

..success to the sailors' wives.

Don't trouble yourself.

Prophecy's for the weak-minded.

I make my own destiny.

(Horse whinnies)

(Horse snorts, carriage rolls)

(Man) Bring it over. Bring it over.

Pass the sheet up.

(Chatter)

(Elijah) You'll need the heavens.

Ahab will lead you to a watery grave.

(Man) Right, that's it.

Mornin', shipmates. Mornin'.

(Elijah) Fools! You're all fools!

Mark my words. I was there!

(Man) Stow your kit in the boat!

(2nd man) Give us a hand here, Jimmy.

(Chatter continues on deck)

(Man) This is a whaling ship,

not a fishing boat!

(Elijah) You signed the articles?

- (Ishmael) Yeah.

- Anything down there about your souls?

About what?

Or maybe you don't have one.

Well, no matter.

What Will be Will be.

It's the easiest thing in the world for a man

to look as if he's got a great secret in him.

- What's he warning us against?

- A soul is sort of a...fifth wheel on a wagon.

We're going sailing now, Elijah.

We have no quarrel with you.

- Go to church. Make your peace.

- (Chatter continues)

(Man) The stores are almost full

on the inside.

(Footsteps on deck)

(Chatter)

(Man) May God bless you all!

(Man) Good weather.

(Bildad) Now, Mr. Starbuck, are we ready'?

- That we are!

- Well, then, God bless you

and have you in His holy keeping.

There she is, my boys, the lone Atlantic!

Plunge like Fate! Away!

(Cheering)

Mr. Stubb!

Stand by, forecastle!

(Stubb continues shouting)

(Whispers) Look after him.

(Mouths) I will.

(Man) Keep the stern line tight!

- Stern line's tight!

- Put your back into it!

(Men shouting, people calling)

(Man) Staysail and flying jib.

- (Chanting)

- That's good to go.

(Steelkilt) What are you lookin' at, boy?

(Stubb) Run those sheets,

one, two, and three!

(Continues chanting)

(Man) Fall off five degrees.

(Starbuck) Fill those sails, gentlemen!

(Man) Good. Looking good.

- We're on our own now, boys!

- (Tashtego chanting)

(Stubb) Tie up the throat.

Do the same on the main.

Mr. Stubb!

All men at their stations!

(Stubb) All men at their stations!

- And Captain Ahab'? Is he...

- Oh, he'll show his face when it's time.

- Ready about!

- Ready about!

(Man) I don't want to see

any bitter ends on that deck!

Ishmael, clear the topgallant.

(Man) Up on the bow, Mr. Gray!

You're my eyes today.

(Stubb) Clear topgallants!

- Which one is the topgallant?

- Follow me.

(Stubb) Right, you greenhorn bastards!

Your asses belong to me!

Now get to work!

(Man) Topgallants clear!

(Grunting)

Greenhorn on the watch!

- Make fast!

- Make fast!

Well executed, Mr. Stubb. Greasy luck.

- (Man) I want a greenhorn on the mast.

- (2nd man) On our way.

(Man) Ishmael, would you go?

(Man shouts order)

Ishmael!

(Low creaking sound)

(Creaking sound continues)

(Whale groans)

(Ship creaking)

- (Steelkilt) Easy does it.

- Michigan, get to work.

(Man) Boy. Hold that rib in place, will ya?

(Man) OK, yeah.

Hold it there, I'm gonna pin it.

(Dagoo laughing)

(Starbuck) Richard and Lawson,

you're needed on deck.

(Man) Aye, sir.

Jesus, this is like a prison.

They say the first week's the worst.

Thought you sailed before, Steelkilt.

- I did.

- And?

Great Lakes.

You ever heard of them, boy'?

(Laughter)

(Dagoo) Who are you calling "boy"?

Well, this isn't prison.

This is freedom.

(Dagoo) This is freedom, isn't it, Pip?

You haven't found your sea legs yet, huh?

(Dagoo clicks tongue)

(Dagoo sighs) Good night, boys.

(Man) Good night.

(Ship creaking)

(Snoring)

(Man coughing)

(Footsteps on deck)

He's out there...somewhere.

You can smell him, can't you?

You got a name, boy'?

Ishmael.

Ishmael...

son of Abraham...

and that Egyptian woman.

"And he will be a wild man,

"and his hand will be against every man,

"and every man's hand will be against him."

What's in a name?

(Both chuckle)

It's been a while since

I read my Bible, Captain.

Queequeg. There, there. See?

Is it a whale?

The first lesson of whaling...

patience.

(Rumbling groans)

(Starbuck) Aft!

Look. Captain.

(Two men) All men on deck!

(Man) Come on, everyone!

Aft! All men stand for the captain!

You see this, boys?

(Men calling out)

The $16 piece.

It's a doubloon.

Do you see it?

(Enthusiastic shouts)

What do you do

when you see a whale, boys?

(All) Sing out for him!

Good! And what do you do next, men?

(All) Lower away and after him!

And what tune do you pull to, men?

(All) A Dead Whale Or A Stove Boat!

A Dead Whale Or A Stove Boat!

' (Laughter)

' (Man) Aye!

Now.

Give me a nail, Perth.

Thank you.

And your hammer, please.

Now, the first man who raises me a whale...

will have this $16 piece...

- (Chatter, laughter)

- ..this ounce of Spanish gold,

this doubloon.

(Cheering)

But not just any whale, lads. No!

A very particular whale.

A white-headed whale!

A white-headed whale!

With a wrinkled brow

- and a crooked jaw.

- (Man, quietly) This is madness.

With three holes punctured

in his starboard fluke,

harpoons pressed into his back

like rusted corkscrews.

A white, white whale!

You know, boy'?

(Queequeg) I know, Captain.

I hear this.

What do they call him?

(Ahab) Say it.

(Man) Don't. It's a curse.

Afraid to say the name!

Afraid to say the name, lest we...

summon him from the depths.

(Man) I didn't sign on for this.

(Ahab) Fear is a prison,

building walls around you.

Strike through the walls.

Say the name!

(Man) It's a demon.

Say the name!

- Moby Dick!

- Moby Dick!

It is Moby Dick that you are hunting.

Say it! Say the name again!

(Ahab) Say it!

(Men) Moby Dick!

(Starbuck) Captain Ahab!

Was it not this fish, Moby Dick,

that smashed your boat in two

and took your leg?

- (Man) Yeah.

- Was it not Moby Dick...

- (Man) Yeah.

- ..that took your leg, Captain?

Who told you that, Mr. Starbuck?

I saw it with my own eyes, sir.

You did, indeed, Mr. Starbuck.

Well, boys, I guess my secret's out.

- (Laughter)

- What can you hide from your shipmates?

- Nothing.

- (Laughter)

Aye, Starbuck.

That was the whale.

AYE, lads!

(Ahab) Moby Dick!

He is the one who dismasted me,

brought me to the dead stump

I walk on now.

Alas, poor Ahab.

- (Laughter)

- It was that accursed whale

that made a poor, pegged lubber

of me forever and a day!

(Laughter)

But will I lie down under it?

Will I take it?

I will not lie down under it.

(Ahab) I will not take it!

I came here to hunt whales, Captain,

not for vengeance.

Is vengeance not permitted these days?

- Is vengeance not correct?

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