The Sea Hawk Page #4

Capt. Thorpe, you will at least show

the proper respect for my ministers.

So you have taken it upon yourself

to remedy the defects of Spanish justice?

Insofar as it lies within my power,

yes, Your Grace.

And you conceive it

to be part of your mission...

to assault and loot the ship

of an ambassador to the court?

Capt. Thorpe, do you imagine

that we are at war with Spain?

Your Grace,

Spain is at war with the world.

Enough of this.

Listen to me, every one of you.

Never again

will you dare in my presence...

to condone your crimes

under the mask of patriotism.

No more of such talk, do you hear?

And for the future, let me warn you...

that any unwarranted attack

upon Spanish subjects or their property...

will cost the guilty party his head.

His head, is that clear?

Now you may go.

No, not you, Capt. Thorpe.

I'm not finished with you.

Captain of the Guard...

you will accompany Capt. Thorpe

to my private chamber...

where he will wait my further pleasure.

Don Alvarez, you may convey my regrets

to His Majesty King Phillip...

and assure him that this unhappy incident

will have no recurrence.

My humble thanks, Your Grace.

And may I also inform him...

that the offender in this instance

will be forced to make full restitution?

You will tell him exactly

what I told you to tell him. Nothing more.

So that's where you've been.

What do you mean by running away

and keeping me late for my appointment?

I've got a good mind to pull your tail.

It's very ungrateful of you.

Do you realize how few monkeys

have a chance to live in a palace?

No, that's wrong.

There's quite a few of you here already.

However, watch your manners,

and if your mistress takes a fancy to you...

just put in a good word for me.

I think I'm going to need it.

Well, what's your excuse this time?

My small friend from Brazil

was so anxious...

to pay his respects to Your Grace

that he selected his own method.

Evidently more anxious than you,

when he paid my court an earlier visit.

So that's where he was. I was looking

for him, Your Grace. That's why I was late.

Why on earth did you bring him here?

I thought he might amuse milady,

which is more than I could hope to do.

- He looks like Wolfingham.

- Yes, Madam.

The teeth, the smile, exactly.

He's very friendly, Madam.

He won't harm you.

You're a rascal, like your former master.

But I'm fond of rascals.

Some of them.

This is the nearest we have to a tree.

Now behave yourself.

- And now to... Capt. Thorpe!

- For you, Madam.

As soon as I saw it,

I thought immediately of you.

I see the light in it,

like a candle in a frosted window.

- A West Indian pearl, is it not?

- Yes, Madam.

By some mischance it was on its way

to Spain when I diverted it.

You might say I came between Phillip

and the oyster.

I fear Wolfingham is right.

You are an incorrigible pirate.

No, Madam.

But I do have a conscience about pearls.

They should only be worn by one

whose throat matches their own luster.

And have you any other scruples?

One only, Madam.

That is never willfully to displease you.

But have you?

I trust not, but one can be mistaken.

I should not advise you

to make a practice...

of diverting Spanish ambassadors.

The ambassador's galleass

was already propelled by English oars.

I merely substituted English sails.

We have moral rights on our side.

Spain has the law on hers.

- Bear that in mind in your future ventures.

- Yes, Madam.

Now to business.

I understand your voyage

was very profitable.

Unusually so, Madam.

An inventory of the treasure,

with the crown's share at your disposal.

Excellent. I shall put it to good use.

If what I've done has pleased Your Grace,

I have a favor to ask.

That our contributions induce you

to begin work on the fleet.

- Fleet. Must I listen to that from you, too?

- The Armada, Your Grace.

- Are you so sure that Phillip will attack?

- Have you any assurance that he won't?

With all the contributions

of the Sea Hawks...

we cannot possibly match

Phillip's vast resources.

Our safety lies in diplomacy, not force.

Madam, suppose Phillip's vast resources,

or at least a large portion of them...

were not to reach him?

Were to be, shall I say, diverted?

What then?

Just what is going on

in that piratical mind of yours?

Your Grace, the lifeblood of Spain

lies in her New World treasure.

Within three months, a year's plunder

in gold leaves Panama, bound for Spain.

- With 10 good privateering ships...

- I forbid it.

An attack on the gold fleet would be

regarded by Phillip as an act of war...

which even I could not explain away.

Very well, Madam.

Let it be a single enterprise.

One ship, the Albatross,

with a picked crew.

Impossible. A Spanish convoy

would overwhelm you.

On the sea, yes,

but I have a different plan, Your Majesty.

Attack them on land,

as they robbed the Aztecs and the Incas.

The treasure's stored in Panama,

near the inland city of Ventacruz.

From there it's taken by mule caravan

to the coastal town of Nombre de Dios.

A distance of 60 leagues.

Look you, Madam, with your permission.

My plan is to sail down into the Caribbean

from the north.

I'll meet fewer Spanish ships that way.

Anchor the Albatross in a secluded inlet,

land my men and supplies.

Camp in the hills

until I find out from the natives...

when the caravan begins moving.

From Nombre de Dios to Ventacruz,

this strip here...

is jungle so thick and dense...

that a small force could attack

from ambush.

Our plunder would be the richest prize

ever brought back to England.

- Could such a plan possibly succeed?

- It would have one chance of success:

If the Spanish were taken

by complete surprise.

Have I your permission to try, Madam?

If you undertook such a venture...

you would do so without the approval

of the Queen of England...

but you would take with you

the grateful affection...

of Elizabeth.

Then, Madam, I shall take with me

that which I prize above all things.

Don't you think, my dear,

we could manage with what we have?

I'd like a few more.

Look, Martha.

Don't you think this one is pretty?

Very pretty,

but you've quite a lot just like it.

There's a different species over here.

It's a little darker. You see?

I see.

- What is it?

- Nothing.

- What are you thinking about?

- I was just thinking about our voyage.

I must say,

I prefer English boats to Spanish boats.

There's more air on them.

You must excuse me, my dear. It's time

for me to go. You better take these.

Don't go, Martha.

- No, no.

- Martha, wait for me.

Don't leave me. Martha!

- May I help you?

- Thank you.

You seem to be very fond of English roses.

My mother told me

about your rose gardens. She was English.

That explains a great deal.

But I prefer the Spanish iris.

Naturally. It has no thorns.

Capt. Thorpe,

I didn't get a chance on the boat...

but I want to thank you

for returning my jewels.

I'm so sorry for what I said

about your robbing women.

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