Moby Dick Page #9

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Will you

look into the fire with me?

Wander out of the way of understanding?

Queequeg afraid of nothing.

- Sir, they're gonna put it to you...

- I am not afraid of my crew, young man.

(Knock on door)

Come.

(Door opens)

You can say anything you like

in front of these lads.

There's a leak in the hold.

We have to up burtons and take a look.

Are you telling me

that we have to heave to for a week

and tinker with a parcel of old hoops?

Those casks of oil are

what we are here for, sir.

I am captain of this ship,

and I'm telling you

that I want no more talk of casks of oil.

I sailed with you all my life.

I mean you no harm.

The one you should fear is yourself,

old man.

Ahab, beware Ahab.

Ahab...

beware Ahab.

There's something there. (Chuckles)

There's something there.

We'll listen to the voice of reason.

Tomorrow, gentlemen.

(Door closes)

All men stand for the captain!

Thank you, Mr. Flask.

Up burtons, gentlemen.

Furl the gallant sails,

close reef topsails fore and aft.

We pause here a while, gentlemen.

Can't lose our precious cargo.

Money.

Here's to money and sweet reason.

See to those casks, Mr. Stubb.

You heard what

the captain said, gentlemen.

Top men lay aloft!

- Going aloft!

- Aye, sir!

Were you not in charge

of storing the barrels, Mr. Stubb?

Yes, sir.

This is a very serious matter, Mr. Stubb.

We are engaged in a great

enterprise here, are we not?

And because of you,

we have to take days out.

You get to it, and quickly, too.

You, you two,

and you, down below.

I need the boy here. (Whistles)

Mr. Stubb.

Proceed.

Keep me informed, Mr. Starbuck.

Dagoo, down below.

Yes, Mr. Stubb.

Just because you're not looking at me

don't mean I can't see you, boy.

Yes, Mr. Stubb.

(Stubb) Quickly now, lads!

(Flask) You heard Mr. Stubb, quickly.

(Grunting)

Come on, boy.

(Coughs)

I can't breathe.

I can't do this.

I can't take it any more.

Please don't send me back.

Please don't

send me back.

Michigan...away you go.

There's a barrel in there,

it's leaking,

and you need to find it.

I can't go back in there.

(Laughing)

Are you disobeying orders, sailor?

No, sir.

That'll be it.

Over here. I need help.

Anybody else?

(Panicked cries)

I can't do it! Let me out!

Ohh!

Let me out!

Move!

(Dagoo) Be nice.

(Steelkilt) Let me out!

Ohh! Let me out!

(Panting)

Please...let me out.

Please.

Out you go. Come on.

(Grunting)

(Steelkilt gasping)

(Steelkilt coughing, retching)

When you catch your breath, miss...

you can go back to work.

(Coughing)

How do you know...

he'll be here...

at this exact point?

There's nothing random in nature,

young man.

Animals return to the same spot

again and again and again, as do we.

We think...imagine...

that we have free will.

But all the time, we are born...

entangled...

in whale lines,

enmeshed in a future that is laid down for us

as precisely as the way the rope runs

from the coil when the harpoon is thrown.

If we know what the future will be,

why bother try and change it?

Oh. I presume you are referring

to that superstitious nonsense

all the men are whispering...

Elijah'? We give them prophet's names,

but they're not prophets.

He has a sermon on my approaching death.

He trots it out for anyone who will listen.

But I will die in the manner

of my choosing, boy.

Our freedom lies in the struggle

to escape what Fate's laid down for us...

to make our future for ourselves.

I couldn't agree more, sir.

The first lowering will be to weaken him.

That'll be all.

Quick throw, get out.

Cut the lines if we have to.

Then, remember,

he has no vision to his rear.

While he's still thrashing about

this way and that,

- one boat comes in from behind.

- The others should come in from the side...

(Laughs) Where he can see them.

- ..And distract him.

- Yeah.

I'll put you on the masthead.

You look only for him.

If you see another whale or whales,

you don't...

call it.

(Hushed) Yeah.

If that's what you want.

No time for anything else.

We're worked to death,

and for what'?

Duty

I tell you,

the only thing worse on this damn ship

than the captain...

That is what?

His creatures.

I am no man's creature, country boy.

You remember that.

No? Mr. Stubb?

The great whaleman...

turning us away from a shoal

to chase a fish he can't even see.

Oh, you got some mouth on you, Michigan.

That's just the way I like it.

Now...

your friend Queequeg...

- He's the best we have, sir.

- (Chuckling) Oh...

Almost.

But he is good.

He can go in the second boat.

I'll go in the lead.

And then when Moby Dick breaches...

(Angry shouting above decks)

(Steelkilt) I will kill you,

I swear. Do you hear me?

(Ishmael) Who's that?

(Steelkilt) You dare touch me!

(Drops knife)

Come along.

And watch. Listen.

You don't own me!

Touch me and I'll kill you!

Back off.

Stop it!

- Come on.

- (Flask) Michigan, don't do it.

Back down!

(Both grunting)

(All shouting)

(Ahab) Stop!

(Ahab) Did you hear me?

If I have to put you all in the hold,

by God, I'll do it!

- Seize him! Seize him down!

- (Steelkilt groaning)

(Ahab) Down!

I told him...

I told him if he touched me I'd kill him.

Of course.

What shall we do?

Flog him?

Put him in irons in the hold?

(Screams) Don't! Don't do that!

(Grunting)

You have no idea what it's like!

The air's so foul you could die of it, sir!

It is the work of the ship.

It has to be done.

He will be flogged.

Mr. Starbuck, those are my orders.

If that's your order, sir.

I'd like to flog him myself, sir,

with your permission.

(Ahab) Justice, boys.

That's what gives us order...

else we're nothing but animals.

Put the sailor in the hold for now!

I will judge this business

in the morning in my cabin.

Mr. Starbuck, Mr. Stubb, you will attend.

You two may attend to see all's done fairly.

Have I done squarely by you, lads?

- Aye, sir.

- Aye, sir.

We have matters

of great importance in hand.

I will let nothing come in their way.

We have to be as one.

Aye, sir.

Until tomorrow, six bells.

You heard the captain.

We found the leak, sir.

Six bells, Mr. Stubb.

(Stubb) Right, back to work!

Dagoo, are you a passenger on this ship,

or are you earning a living?

Now move your black ass!

Nothing, sir.

Nothing in sight as far as the horizon, sir.

That boy would stare out the sun

if you gave the order.

(Tinkling)

Mr. Stubb,

shall we have your account of the matter?

I gave this man an order

and he refused to obey it.

Cleaning out the hold is a dirty business.

(Queequeg coughing)

Eh, Queequeg?

Aye, Captain.

Yet he does not complain.

You have a noble task at hand, boys.

Are we to...fight amongst ourselves?

He needs to be taken in hand, sir.

(Ahab) Oh...

Oh.

Everyone on the quarterdeck now.

Mr. Stubb, he is all yours.

(Chains rattling)

One...on one.

- (Door opens)

- Do you want us to fight?

Or the hold.

(Chains rattling)

It's not right.

What precisely is not right, Mr. Starbuck?

What is happening here. Setting men

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