Moonfleet Page #3

I see lord Ashwood

keeps you well informed.

Jamie has no secrets from me.

Nor you from him?

Why do you smile?

Women.

They have a way of combining

passion with foresight,

the joys of the moment with

a providential care of the future.

Ive a right to think of my future.

Especially now

that you're a part of it.

Now, that's an honour

I hardly deserve.

There's no man in England

who deserves it less.

I think you're cynical

and ruthless,

almost certainly cruel,

a man of bad character

and evil reputation.

You're quite right, my lady.

But then Ive never believed

in the attraction of opposites.

I think there's a far more

powerful affinity between equals.

Help!

Help! Wake up!

Let me in! Help! Help!

Help! Help!

Granny Tucker, are ye daft, woman?

He's back! I heard 'im pipin'!

A-cryin' and a-wailin'

like a soul in pain.

Get home before I slit your

gizzard, you old bag o' bones!

Tell Parson Redbeard's abroad!

Lyin' in wait to throttle us all!

Like Cracky Jones and Greening!

Mr. Fox! Help! Help!

Mr. Fox! Mr. Fox!

Help! Help! Mr. Fox!

I'm glad there's no truth

in the rumour I heard.

Rumours?

That you'd renounced

the pleasures of bachelorhood

for the sake of an adopted son.

My lady, if I wanted a son,

do you really think

I'd have no other choice

but to adopt one?

Well, with no ties in this country,

you're free to travel. Aren't you?

But I have no such intention.

You will change your mind

after speaking to Jamie.

We're going abroad!

And you're coming with us.

As Jamie's partner.

You're not averse to being

my partner, are you, Fox?

Her ladyship was just hinting

at the advantages

that such an arrangement

might hold for me.

Was she?

I have three ships

outfitting at Rotterdam.

They're being armed

to conduct operations of war

against the merchant fleets

of certain hostile nations.

Piracy.

That shouldn't bother

a man like you, Fox.

A man with brains,

courage and capital.

Capital?

Equal shares.

And a fortune to be made.

Equal shares.

If you accept, we'll take you

with us to Rotterdam.

You mean that her ladyship

would be coming with us?

You don't think that

I'd start a newventure

without lady Ashwood's

moral support, do you?

Well, Fox?

Now, why do you hesitate?

All partnerships

have two things in common:

the partner who cheats

and the partner who is cheated.

My dear Fox, you knowthat I trust

you completely in every respect.

And surely you don't think

that I would cheat you?

Milord, a message by hand

for Mr. Fox.

Excuse me.

My lady...

- Going, Fox?

- I'm afraid I must.

At this hour? You make it sound

a matter of life and death.

Is it, my lady.

It seems that the offer was

not as attractive as you thought.

It was your offer he refused, Jamie.

Not mine.

I don't fancy killin' the boy.

There's no sense in puttin' off

what's got to be done!

I say to wait.

I ain't goin' to get in no trouble

with Mr. Fox.

Look, I'm through with waitin'

on Mr. Fox!

What's to be done with the boy?

- A little boat ride...

- A little splash,

and it's all over

as prim as you please.

Take him down to the wharf.

Out the back with him now.

Let's get through with it.

He's sneakin' out!

Help me!

Open up!

Open up in the King's name!

There are men at every door!

Elzevir Block!

Captain Hawkins,

present your warrant.

Authority to search the premises.

Objections?

No.

I thought not. Your keys!

Well, whom have we here?

Mr. Fox's young friend.

You astonish me, Master Mohune.

This is not fit company

for a gentleman.

Mister...

Master John is so kind

as to make allowances.

He sees through our rough ways

into our kind hearts.

Don't you, Master John?

Master John

has remarkable eyesight!

"Unto the pure,

all things are pure." Titus...

Mister...

Well?

Master John was about to...

Let Master John speak for himself.

Come here, boy.

Please, sir, they're going to

take me away on a boat and...

Maskew!

I can scarcely believe my eyes!

A King's magistrate carousing

in a fisherman's pothouse?

Why not, Mr. Fox?

Am I not in good company?

Am I not in some sort

a fisherman myself?

Don't I spread my nets to catch all

kinds of fish, both great and small?

Did you know a man

named Greening, Mr. Fox?

I never had that pleasure.

His mother believes him to have

been engaged in the smuggling trade.

Suspects he met foul play

at the hands of his companions.

Well then, your course is clear.

Hang the lot.

Never fear, Mr. Fox.

In due course

and with proper evidence,

I will have every smuggling rascal

in this parish swing and sun-dry.

I hope I'm there to see it.

Oh, you will be, Mr. Fox.

At my personal invitation.

Until then...

One moment!

Master John, you were

going to tell me something.

Well, come on.

You said they were going to... yes,

going to take you out

on a boat and...

Go on, please.

Speak up, boy.

That's all, sir.

Well?

Nothing out of the way, sir.

Oh, cheer up, Maskew.

You can't hope to hang a man

every morning.

- That was a near thing.

- Why didn't he speak?

- He could have saved himself.

- He has saved himself.

It won't do, Mr. Fox. That boy

knows enough to hang all of us.

The boy is my responsibility.

I'll dispose of him in my own way.

After what he's heard and seen

in the vault, he can't live!

I'll take that risk.

Well, we won't!

This is the second time that you've

chosen to speak for these men.

I take it you regard yourself

as their leader.

Well, Master Block,

we'll settle that now.

Get out of the way!

Now, Master Block...

does he live or die?

Live!

Are you all right, sir?

The exercise was beneficial.

The Bonaventure

will be in before dawn

with a cargo of silk and brandy.

You'll get your orders.

Be on the beach, and ready!

Come on, John Mohune.

My locket, please.

Here you are, Master John.

You opened it and

stole what was in it!

Young sir, what use could I have

for a set of Bible verses

I know by heart?

Bible verses!

John!

All very edifying,

complete to the last syllable,

chapter and verse.

But every blessed number

written down wrong!

Makes no sense at all.

None that my poor head can grasp.

No, John.

We won't discuss it further.

Please, sir. I swear I won't tell.

I'm sorry, John, but under

the circumstances, I have no choice

but to send you to the colonies,

where I trust

you will live long and die rich.

You sail tonight.

Go to your room, John.

Yes, sir.

You heard what I said to the boy?

- You're sending him away?

- Yes.

- I wish he'd never come, Jeremy.

- So do I.

Do you, Jeremy?

The Bonaventure

will be in tonight.

The carriage will take you down

to the beach, you and the boy.

When we've unloaded her cargo,

you'll go aboard.

At St Helier, you will be put

on a Dutch ship for the islands.

Here, you'd better take this.

You'll need it.

Goodbye, John Mohune.

Jeremy! It's no use.

They're everywhere.

They have orders to kill you.

Isn't that why

you sent them down on us?

The boat!

Our only chance, Jeremy!

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