Mutiny on the Bounty Page #6

would be regarded as...

Well, as an insult.

- Follow me?

- I think so, sir.

But in Tahiti, the insult lies

in the omission of those lewd intentions.

Manners that would offend

a dockside harlot

seem to be the only acceptable behavior

to King Hitihiti.

Well, it takes all sorts

to make a world, sir.

What I'm trying to say is that

you have offended his code of etiquette.

Well, I can assure you, sir,

that I have done nothing

that could be construed as offensive.

I know. I know. That's just the point.

Which point, sir?

The success of our mission depends upon

retaining the good will of Hitihiti.

Well, there's no doubt of that, sir.

Well, then.

Well, you have my fullest attention, sir.

Don't you understand what I'm saying?

I'm trying to understand

exactly what it is you wish me to do, sir.

Make love to that damn daughter of his!

Is that an order, sir?

Might I have it entered in the log?

That will be all.

You see, it is a rather different thing

than being asked

to fight for one's country.

Very well, sir.

I'll try my best, sir.

Thank you, sir.

- I'll have the cutter, Mr. Fryer.

- Aye, aye, sir.

Hold the cutter,

Mr. Christian coming aboard.

- Shall I take you off the duty roster, sir?

- Yes.

My commission ashore

will detain me quite some time.

Thank you, Mr. Fryer.

How do you do?

No, no, Fletcher.

Well, it's...

I hardly know where to begin, Maimiti.

The ship's company was pleased

to have it confirmed

that the Tahitians considered

lovemaking a gesture of goodwill.

It may sound improbable,

but do you know

the goodwill in the hearts of our crew

turned out to be practically boundless.

And the Tahitian ladies

gave them every opportunity to prove it.

You see, to the Tahitians,

a light skin was a mark of beauty.

Men with fair complexions,

like Englishmen,

were regarded as beautiful.

No matter how nonsensically

their features were arranged.

They were beautiful

and they could do no wrong.

So they did no wrong

at every possible opportunity.

- Beautiful evening, sir.

- Beautiful.

Sounds as though

they're enjoying it ashore, sir.

- Doesn't it?

- Yes, sir.

Forgive the liberty, Captain,

but you have not spent one evening

ashore yourself, yet, have you?

I don't intend to.

It's a remarkably friendly island, sir.

It's a shame to be lonely in this port.

While our mission remains unfulfilled,

I'm not in any port, Mr. Fryer.

I am in command where,

you may find one day, it's always lonely.

You see, command allows no intimacies.

You can hardly expect

unquestioning obedience

from last night's partner in a debauch.

Suppose not, but it does seem a pity, sir.

I prefer it that way.

Yes, sir.

- The men are a little slow, sir, but...

- Yes, I know.

There was only one man

who refused to take things as they came.

Tahitian style.

He was in love.

And when you saw his girl,

it was hard to blame him.

But Tahitian-style love wasn't for him.

He wanted things ship-shape

in Bristol fashion.

So he went to Captain Bligh

and asked to be married.

Well, I had seen Bligh every day

for more than a year.

And that was the only time

I ever saw him laugh.

Midshipmen. Be a dull navy without them.

Now get that slut off my ship.

He didn't have to put it

to the boy like that.

The old pig.

His shadow don't fit his shape,

not by a damn sight.

Well, expect it to grow horns.

You will, Quintal.

You'll see it, after we lift anchor.

If I be a judge,

a man would beg to settle for the cat

- even before we see Jamaica.

- Aye.

You know something?

A man could have

a fine life for himself out here.

My word, how lovely.

Just exquisite.

Beautiful work. Oh, isn't that jolly.

Maimiti.

Oh, yes. Would you excuse me? Please?

I want to say goodbye to her.

Tell King George, send for me.

I am good Englishman.

I have plenty breadfruit, plenty hog.

Feed all England.

Yes. Well, he's certainly in need of hogs.

And I'll tell him the first time I see him.

Would you excuse me?

Thank you.

Well, Maimiti, it's time.

I'll be leaving in a few hours.

I wait.

I wait you, Fletcher.

I look for you every day.

Maimiti, there must be some way

to make you understand

that I won't be back.

And if you look for me,

you'll only be unhappy,

and I wouldn't like that.

Never come back to me?

Never come back to Tahiti. One time?

No.

But I'll remember.

You see...

I've been happy here, Maimiti.

I'll remember you,

and the lovely time we've had together.

Your sweet face, your beauty.

But England is my home,

and it's time to say goodbye.

I must go.

Goodbye.

Goodbye, Maimiti. Take care.

Well, that just about does it, sir.

These 20 and we're all done.

There they are.

They've got the boat, like they said.

- What if we're caught?

- Look, we've been over that often enough.

Captured deserters hang,

but we won't be caught.

I wish I could be sure of it.

Why don't you stop shilly-shallying

and come on.

I'm sorry to be a bore, Ned,

but your work party's gone dallying,

and Mr. Fryer's on his way.

I think you'd look rather graceless

being bent over a cannon,

so I suggest that we go collect them.

Idiots.

Hello, Minarii!

Overtake that canoe.

They'll need a strong wind to outrun us.

Well, they'll not find one

this side of the reef.

- No, not that passage. We'll capsize!

- Not enough time. We've got to chance it.

Quite an interesting gathering.

What are those deserters doing here?

- Why aren't these men in irons?

- The men are being bandaged, sir.

And as to whether they are deserters,

I'm a naval officer, I'm not a judge.

To my mind, you are neither.

Confine them in the cable tier.

Release them for duty only.

We haven't been heard, sir.

- Haven't we got the right to be heard, sir?

- Oh, yes. Indeed you have.

At your court martial in Jamaica,

you may be heard

right up to the moment you hang.

- Did you say cable tier, sir?

- In irons.

Six weeks in that stinking, filthy hole

and there won't be

enough left of them to hang.

I wonder why an alleged gentleman

should give his first loyalty

to ordinary seaman.

Instead of to other alleged gentleman?

lmpertinence noted. It shall be logged.

Do you care to enlarge the entry?

Yes. Only with this observation,

which I will report to the Admiralty,

in any case.

In my years of service,

I have never met an officer

who inflicted punishment upon men

with such incredible relish.

It's sickening.

Then go and be sick in your cabin,

Mr. Christian.

I have never met a naval officer

who was so proud of a weak stomach!

They forgot to take our knives.

- They don't cut iron, do they?

- No. But they cut throats.

And I ain't going to live to hang. Not me.

- No, no, no. Don't be hasty.

- What's to wait for?

- We're finished.

- Most likely are, yes.

But I don't intend cutting my throat.

Not yet, that is.

No? I suppose the angel of mercy

is going to step out of a cloud and say,

"Captain Bligh, set those nice lads free.

And kindly be smart about it."

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