Treasure Island Page #4

I guess I'm kind of sensitive-like.

To the squire, with my compliments, Jim.

Mulled wine, sir,

with Long John's compliments.

And Silver forgets nothing.

Along with me, he's going to be certain...

...that this is a voyage

that we shall all remember.

Long John's a wonderful man, sir.

Livesey, I give you... Yes, yes, yes, yes?

Captain Smollett. All well, I trust.

Everything shipshape and seaworthy?

I may as well speak plain, gentlemen,

at the risk of offense.

I don't like this voyage.

That's short and sweet.

- Pray explain yourself, sir.

- I was signed on under sealed orders...

...to sail this ship

wherever you'd bid me.

But I've arrived at the conclusion

that every hand before the mast...

...knows more about the voyage

than I do. I don't call that fair. Do you?

- Certainly not. What do the men know?

- That we're going after treasure.

Oh, mind you, I've heard it

whispered on all sides.

So has my officer, Mr. Arrow.

Livesey, I never uttered a word. It must

have been either you or the boy here.

Oh, upon my word, sir, I never...

- So treasure it is, I see.

- You mean you don't trust the crew?

- Oh, some of them may be honest.

- British naval heroes, all of them.

Yes, when there's treasure in the hole,

there's fire in the forecastle.

So I'm taking certain precautions

before we sail.

And by your leave,

I'd ask you gentlemen to help me.

Lay forward on the quarterdeck.

- Two inches off those points, boatswain.

- Aye, aye, captain.

Captain, sir, what are we

to make of this?

- Why, me and Dick and Allan...

- I never had me knife broke afore, captain.

It's a habit of mine on long voyages.

Sometimes hands get restless.

Captain's right, Jim. Honest hands

never object to having their knives tipped.

Boatswain, take the larboard watch.

Have the powder moved out

of this forehold back under the aft cabin.

Aye. Larboard watch.

Spring the hatch to the forehold.

Captain, that means that

I'll have to move all my provision.

I stored them aft especially

so the vegetables wouldn't get mildewed.

My orders, man. You get to your galley.

The hands will want their dinner.

Aye, aye, captain.

Well, why do you men stand here?

Do as you're told.

- Yes, sir.

- Yes, sir.

- Well?

- No sign of arms, sir.

You gentlemen are determined

to make this cruise?

Like iron, sir.

- Weigh anchor, Mr. Arrow.

- Aye, aye, sir.

Now, here, matey.

What's to do?

The captain ordered us

to move our bunks aft.

With the gentlemen, huh?

That's fine, Jim.

Oh, but I'd rather be forward with you.

Well, how's this:

Supposing I ask the captain

to change bunks with me.

That is, after we settles down to sail.

Here, you, ship's boy. Get along with that.

I'll have no favorites aboard my ship.

If there's one honest man aboard,

it's Captain Smollett.

Honest, if you will,

but an intolerable humbug.

I consider his conduct unmanly,

unsailorly and downright un-English.

Bless my soul. Why does the captain

have to bellow at me?

Captain's ways, Jim. Captain's ways.

Now, I wonder what could have thrown the

captain into such a sudden squall, matey.

Oh, well, he wanted to...

I don't know.

I wish you were the captain

of this ship, Long John.

I'll wager you could handle this boat

better than he could.

No, matey,

the captain's a man of wisdom.

A lot of brains.

Too bad an uneducated seamen

can't open his head and see...

...just what he's got in it.

We're moving.

- Well? Well, Mr. Arrow?

- She's breaking clear.

Haul the halyards around. Set the jibs.

All right. Set the topsails.

Set the guards and royals.

Belay that canary piping

and tip us a man's stave.

Long John likes it.

And I likes rum, I does.

Lord, for a mouthful.

Is he serving rum aft?

The squire likes his spirits of an evening.

And he likes Valencian lace

around his throat, he does.

I'm partial to Valencian lace meself.

A tender spot, the throat.

Starboard a bit, matey. She's luffing.

She almost got away from you that time.

I was looking at old Nicodemus.

He follows us

until he gets what he's after.

Well, we've given him

plenty of potato peelings.

That won't do for old Nicodemus.

He's used to following slave ships.

Bless me, the ocean's full of death.

But it's cured your lungs...

...hasn't it, Long John?

- Lungs, matey?

Yes, you've not coughed in a long time.

Yeah.

They're much better,

more shipshape now.

What are you gonna do after this voyage?

Oh, I'll go back to that

little old roof, I reckon.

Well, would you like to come

and live with me?

- With you, matey?

- Yes.

You see, I'll have a lot more money.

And, well, I mean...

...there's only Mother and me.

And we've a nice room with a sea view...

...and sea air coming in from three sides.

And you could always be...

No, no, matey.

I couldn't.

I just...

Well, anyhow,

you can come and visit us.

- We'll always be mates, won't we?

- Certain, we will.

- Certain, we will.

- No, matey, never spit to windward.

It'll ebb back on you.

Always spit to the leeward.

It sails like a gull.

That's right, matey.

Look, Mr. Arrow's drunk again.

The captain's got

the key to the grog, Jim.

- Where'd you get it?

- Just seasick.

- Sick? You're drunk.

- Why, sir, I haven't had a drink...

You're drunk. If it occurs again,

you'll lie in the brig.

- Where'd you get the rum?

- Why, sir, I haven't had a drink.

You get below before I cane you.

Here, you two.

Silver, what are you doing here

in the poop?

- Boatswain, take this wheel.

- Aye, aye.

Captain, for the lad's sake,

Mr. Arrow says...

To blazes with Mr. Arrow.

You get forward, where you belong.

Aye, aye, sir. Aye, sir.

Good morning, Mr. Arrow, sir.

How's for a cup of tea this morning?

A powerful lover of tea

you are, Mr. Arrow.

Yet I hopes I'm the one

that serves you your last cup, sir.

- Well?

- He ain't nowhere aft, sir.

He ain't in the forecastle.

Poor Mr. Arrow.

And he stopped by me galley

only last night, sir, for a breath of fresh air.

- Still drunk, you say?

- His weakness was still upon him, sir.

Old Nicodemus isn't with us anymore.

Arrow must have lurched overboard.

- That settles it.

- I'm sorry, sir.

This will leave you short-handed, captain.

I'll have it entered in the log.

That's all, men.

So why should I join?

Join up with what?

- But, Henry, lookie...

- Astern of me, you little runt.

I don't like you and others of your kind

who've come aboard this ship.

William...

...Henry doesn't seem happy

aboard this ship.

You won't fall, Henry.

I be right here below you.

Oh, look. Is that another shark?

Oh, no. That's a porpoise.

That's a seaman's friend.

Look, there's a whole school of them.

- They wouldn't eat anybody?

- Oh, no, matey.

Porpoises off the bow is a good sign.

A successful voyage, they say.

Why, they comes right out

from port and escorts you right in.

I guess nobody knows where we're heading

to but the porpoises and the squire...

...I'll wager.

Rate this script:3.5 / 2 votes