The Crimson Pirate Page #3

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to meet you at last.

It gives us great pleasure

that you accept our hospitality.

On the contrary, my dear Colonel,

it is I who am accepted.

Oh, no, Your Excellency.

I am the lucky one.

I had instructions from the Governor

of Cobra to execute El Libre.

I was on the verge of doing so

when I got your message.

The Governor is an idiot!

I may replace him...

with a military man.

- My dear Baron.

- My dear Colonel.

- May I introduce you to our guests?

- By all means.

- Your Excellency.

- Your Excellency.

But I have so much trouble

collecting the King's taxes here.

Tell me, Count.

How do the people pay at home?

Through the nose!

They pay through the nose!

That's really very good!

How long do we have to play this game?

Till the Colonel decides

to hand over El Libre.

I am frightened.

The Count must be

a constant delight to you.

He's really too funny for words.

Indeed he is.

Do tell us, Count.

What does the Queen wear

when she goes out these days?

The Count always says

the Queen wears the King out.

You are the wittiest man!

Ladies and gentlemen,

may I have your attention, please.

To commemorate the honor

Baron Gruda has done us by his visit...

the officers of the Saint Theo garrison

have arranged a little gift for him.

Will everyone come this way, please?

On the left...

you have that great lover of democracy

and the people, El Libre.

And on the right,

that distinguished scientist...

Professor Prudence.

Both caught like rats in a trap...

conspiring against the greater glory

of His Majesty.

But thanks to statesmen

like Baron Gruda...

such men and such ideas

will soon be destroyed.

As a distinguished scientist...

I can assure you an idea has no physical

properties which can be destroyed.

As a lover of democracy and the people,

I can assure you...

both will survive your puny efforts.

As a statesman, I can assure you

that no one can foretell the future.

However, your fate at present

is as clear to me...

as the face of this beautiful lady

at my side.

Bravo!

Thank you, Your Excellency.

Yes. She is very beautiful.

His Excellency has a point.

It's foolish to quarrel with fate

when ours is so clearly in his hands.

Take them outside and hold them

for Baron Gruda's pleasure.

My dear Colonel, thank you

for a most rewarding evening.

- And now we must go.

- It is by no means over.

I've arranged

a very special entertainment...

for this very special occasion.

It's that dame we held for ransom.

Abandon ship.

- Thank you, my dear Colonel.

- Your Excellency!

- But, my dear Baron!

- Wonderful evening, Colonel.

Vallo!

But, Your Excellency.

Unexpected international affairs.

Happens to us diplomats all the time.

- Put the prisoners in my carriage.

- Aye, aye, sir.

I do hope the King will hear about this,

Your Excellency.

Don't worry, he will.

Unclutch me, you polluted shrimp.

Stop him, you fools!

He's the Crimson Pirate!

The Crimson Pirate?

The Crimson Pirate!

Take the Colonel to safety. Quick, man.

- Take the Colonel to safety!

- Let me go, you fools!

Don't worry, Colonel.

I'll take care of everything!

- Citizen Ravel, save the Count!

- Save the Count!

- Sire! Sire!

- Good work, Captain.

Stop him! There's the Crimson Pirate!

Captain!

The officers are mutinying. Crush them!

Crush them! Come on!

Sound the attack!

Hold the fort. Don't give an inch.

Protect the women and children.

Reinforcements are on the way.

Lock the gates! Let no one out.

Lock the gates! Let no one out!

Long live the King!

I don't think we've met.

My name is Prudence.

Captain Vallo, at your service.

Thank you.

What are you grinning at?

So, I'm getting a halo.

You're afraid I'm getting soft.

Yeah, you're wrong.

It's just that this is a new kind of caper.

These people are getting on my nerves.

El Libre and his daughter

are strictly business.

They haven't got me chained.

I've got them chained.

I'll be rid of them soon enough.

Tomorrow, I'm delivering them

to Baron Gruda personally.

What are you talking about?

The girl?

What about the girl?

She's getting under my skin.

She's putting crazy ideas in my head.

She's unlocked my heart.

She's getting too close to me.

She's got me hooked.

She's blind.

I'm blind. You're blind.

Who's blind?

Oh! Love is blind.

I am not in love!

Avast there!

I told you not to make so much noise.

Now the Skipper will get her.

- He always does.

- Nobody will get her.

Untie the others. Move!

What's up? I'm having a little fun.

- Come on, Skipper. Let us have some fun.

- You want her all to yourseluf?/u.

- Why don't you join the fun?

- Why don't you try yourseluf?/u.

- You always tell that you couldn't make it.

- Always work and no fun.

Mr. Bellows, take all three below

and bring me the cabin keys.

If you'll forgive

my pointing it out, Skipper...

we can't leave a pretty woman

unmolested aboard ship.

It will give piracy a bad name.

Are you challenging my orders?

I'd never do that, Skipper...

but seeing thou is selling these pigeons

to Baron Gruda anyway...

I thought there could be no harm

to sport with them a bit first.

No offense, Skipper.

I'm putting you ashore tomorrow at Cobra

and giving you the guns.

All of you.

Just don't thank me.

Skipper.

Yes, there's our ship.

With Baron Gruda waiting.

Won't he hate paying for El Libre...

when he finds out we stole him

out of one of the King's own prisons?

- We'll heave to onto the point till nightfall.

- Aye, aye, Skipper.

Slimey.

- Let's see thee swim to yonder island.

- Aye, and back again.

If my plan works,

Baron Gruda himself will escort thee back.

I've a message for thee to give to him.

Do it, and when I am skipper...

thou wilt be first mate.

Mr. Bellows...

- what about sharks?

- They never attack a man.

Unless he attacks them first.

- Governor.

- Baron?

- Send him to the kitchen and feed him.

- Kitchen. Feed him.

You'll have the 100,000 gold florin

ready for them.

Whatever Your Excellency orders.

- But this is sheer piracy.

- I assure you...

I shall have El Libre, his daughter,

his distinguished conspirator...

our ship, our guns, the pirates,

and Captain Vallo, without paying a sou.

- Then why 100,000?

- Have the money ready, I said.

The first mate thinks he can undo Vallo,

but his plan may fail.

Even if we have to pay, such a haul

would be cheap at double the price.

By the way...

I shall want a barrel of this, well drugged.

- You disposed of Captain Vallo?

- No.

It will be necessary to expose him

to the crew first.

Which I'll be doing soon enough,

if thou has followed my instructions.

To the letter.

And the money?

If you'll forgive my impatience.

It will be waiting for you in the morning.

Meanwhile, I place myself in your hands

as security for it.

Very well.

But I remind thee, they be murderous

hands when they're empty.

Hide His Excellency below.

As soon as it's clear topside,

Ojo will stand by below with a small boat.

It's a short pull to shore. Call your father.

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