Yankee Buccaneer

1

Rendezvous ship Essex sighted.

She flies the Navy pennant.

Sound the three-gun

recognition salute.

Aye, aye, sir.

Mr. Farragut.

Yes, sir.

This is your end

of the line.

l don't know what the

Navy wants you to do,

but good luck

in your missin.

We'll do the best

we can, sir.

The cargo trunks will go with

you. Surplus rations to follow.

Whatever's in store for them, they'll

need a little comfort, poor devils.

Like music to me ears,

Captain, singing a little song.

''Link, you're going home.' '

Three times l heard the tune

now. ''Link, you're going home.' '

They finally sent relief. l

thought they'd forgotten us.

Not the Navy, sir.

They might misplace a ship now and then,

but they never lose one permanent-like.

Have all hands report to service

quarters. They'll be boarding us soon.

Aye, aye, sir.

Can l start the scuttlebutt,

sir, about going home?

Yes, Mr. Link,

start the scuttlebutt.

NARRATOR/ Latitude 14 degrees

north, 74 degrees west.

The middIe of the

Caribbean Sea,

and a young navaI officer

named David Farragut

who is destined to pIay an important part

in one of the strangest stories ever toId

about the United States Navy.

OFFlCER:
Starboard watch,

inward turn!

Why, it's

Midshipman Farragut.

Lieutenant David

Farragut reporting, sir,

with new orders for the

captain of the Essex.

Carry on with your

orders, Mr. Farragut.

The Essex is to embark upon

a secret missin so hazardous

that the Navy Department

gives the ship's complement

the choice of staying aboard or

transferring to the Lexington.

We've been in these

waters a year now.

l was under the impressin

we were setting sail for home.

lf such members of the

complement are transferred,

it's to be within

the next hour.

May l ask what this

missin calls for?

Here, sir.

To be opened eight hours after sail

has been set from the rendezvous.

The necessary cargoes

are alongside in the boats.

That's all they said?

Nothing about rotating the

ship and sending it back?

These men need a rest.

As an officer, l just

carry out my orders, sir.

l learned that

as a midshipman.

You had a lot to learn as

a midshipman, Mr. Farragut.

You've more to learn now

that you've been commissioned.

Pity l can't continue

teaching you.

Men,

the news l bring you now

will not sit lightly.

The Essex is not

going home.

lnstead, we've been ordered on

a secret missin by the Navy,

a missin so

filled with risk

that future service aboard

this ship is voluntary.

All men wishing to

transfer to the Lexington,

step forward one pace.

You seem to have

lost your command, sir.

lt's only fair to

tell you, men,

rumor has it that the Lexington

is not returning to the States

but continuing to Africa

for extended service

against the slave traders.

But, Captain...

Something you didn't learn

as a midshipman, Mr. Farragut,

a ship can't sail

without a crew.

Now go back and tell your

captain we're pulling under way.

l'm to remain aboard the Essex

as your executive officer, sir.

A ship this size doesn't need

any added commissioned personnel.

Orders from the Navy Department

because of the nature of the missin.

l trust you will find time to

continue your teaching, sir.

Secret missin to who knows where, a

homesick crew with a year's service,

and a new square-pants executive

officer from Washington.

Very well.

Stand by to make sail.

Good evening,

Mr. Link.

Keep steady your course.

l'll be back shortly.

What course? With them

new provisions aboard,

we can sail on for a year

from anywhere to nowhere

and back again.

Just keep your

course, mate.

As long as your keel ain't run aground,

you ain't got no cause for complaint.

Well, Davey, me lad,

you sure have grown.

Lieutenant Farragut,

Mr. Link.

Can't you

recognize an officer?

Brass buttons

and all.

Seems like only yesterday you

was a squirt of a midshipman

l was fetching

out of the drink.

For which l'll

always be grateful.

Well, petty officers

must be getting scarce.

l see they've

made you a chief.

About the time the Captain

got command of this ship.

We're all up in the service

these days, Davey-lad.

l expected him to be

an admiral by now.

He's got what it takes, all

right. All guts and no heart.

Ain't no sense in keeping

that grudge forever.

As an instructor, it was his

job to chew midshipmen off,

and just between us two,

you gave him plenty of cause.

When a man's religion is the

book of naval regulations,

he's gotta be

sour inside,

and our captain's a

very sour man, Mr. Link.

You're wrong, Davey.

He lives by the book, sure,

but he's never stepped out

of line with the men yet.

You know what, Link? l'm

just waiting for the day.

What day?

When he takes that one big step,

when he makes one move from here.

l'll bet a year's pay

that day never comes.

Well, now, then maybe l could

offer a suggestion or two,

for better officer

relations, mind you.

What l mean is, if l knew what

we was up to on this cruise...

The orders are sealed. You and

the men will know when we do.

Mr. Farragut, l'd like

to see you below, sir.

Aye, aye, sir.

One more thing,

Davey-lad.

The Lexington, she really wasn't

going to service in Africa?

lt's like the Captain

said, Mr. Link.

He's commissioned, all right.

He's even lying like an officer.

Come in, Mr. Farragut.

Sit down, sir.

Thank you, sir.

Mr. Farragut, you served

under me as a midshipman,

and as student and instructor,

our relations were, shall we say,

somewhat strained.

However, since you've been

designated my executive,

through no choice of ours,

we serve together again.

Yes, sir.

l would like, then, to have

the following understood.

l'll expect nothing more or less of you

than of any other officer in my command.

You'll be judged solely

by your actions on this ship.

lt's a new book, Mr. Farragut.

What goes on the pages is up to you.

Do we understand each other?

We do, sir.

We're eight hours out from

rendezvous. Time to open this box.

Aye, aye, sir.

Jolly Roger?

What the devil, l...

This is incredible.

To use a ship of

the line for this...

We're to lose our

identity, Mr. Farragut.

''Orders are to remove all

visible naval identification,

''both in armament

and dress,

''to act independently

of government restrictions

''in seeking out the pirate

fleet operating in these waters

''and report such findings to

the United States naval base

''at Charleston for

flotilla action.' '

Do you mean they want us

to act as pirates, sir?

Throw away all the

discipline and order

l've worked these

past years to maintain,

take a crew that's

overdue for leave

and ask them to volunteer

for this kind of duty,

and l'm the one who has to

go up there and tell them.

Yes, Mr. Link?

Good evening, sir.

l was just wondering if there

was anything you might be wanting

before l retire to

my humble quarters.

l suppose you heard

every word.

Every word, sir.

And how do you think

the men will take it?

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