diff --git "a/unformated_scripts/Script_Master and Commander.txt" "b/unformated_scripts/Script_Master and Commander.txt" new file mode 100644--- /dev/null +++ "b/unformated_scripts/Script_Master and Commander.txt" @@ -0,0 +1 @@ + MASTER AND COMMANDER: THE FAR SIDE OF THE WORLD Written by John Collee & Peter Weir 1. THE OCEAN - DUSK From blackness, a pattern slowly emerges - shimmering, abstract lines form into waves cresting above steep-sided valleys of water. Finally the picture settles into a high, wide shot of the ocean and an adjacent coastline. In a corner of the screen, the last rays of sunlight touch a small, dark shape causing it to glow in the gathering darkness: A three-masted sailing vessel. 2. THE SHIP - DUSK [ ] She passes close enough to touch: hawsers as thick as a man's trunk, massive black-painted timbers, muzzles of her great guns projecting from every gun-port. As the ship glides past and away from us, her name is visible, picked out in dull gold on the transom - Surprise. 3. ANOTHER ANGLE - DUSK The ship in silhouette - RUN CAPTION: HMS Surprise Armament: 28 guns Crew: 197 souls. Location: Coast of Brazil, November 1806 Mission: Intercept and destroy French Privateer, Acheron 5. THE GREAT CABIN - DUSK CAPTAIN JACK AUBREY, with his back to us, bends over the table, studying charts. His servant, KILLICK, a pig-tailed, ear-ringed man of indeterminate age, refills the glass at his elbow. JACK drinks. The glass catches the setting sun as it drops below the great casement windows. KILLICK lights a lamp, places it next to his captain and retires. JACK (Absently) Thankee Killick 4. THE CHARTS: a beautifully drawn chart of the South American coastline. Jack's hands place a second chart on top of the first, bringing the north-east coast of Brazil into view. Then another, each one enlarging the view of the preceding one. On the final chart we can read navigational symbols and detailed information in fine copperplate script: 6 fa. Shoals suddenly to half fa. Rocks (exact position unknown). Hidden reef. 6. BELOW DECKS - NIGHT Another lamp illuminates 1st lieutenant TOM PULLINGS, his pleasant open face marred by a diagonal sabre scar running from brow to chin. He is making a final tour of inspection before lights out.7. THE DOCTOR'S CABIN - NIGHTDr STEPHEN MATURIN, a keen naturalist, sits at his desksurrounded by specimen jars, books and scientificinstruments.[ ]TOM PULLINGS glances in as he moves past the cabin door, butthe doctor, placing weights on some finely-balancedstructure, is too engrossed to notice him.8. MIDSHIPMAN'S BERTH - NIGHTIn the quarters for the 'young gentlemen', boys trained froman early age to become officers, four lads play at marbles.PETER CALAMY (16) and LORD BLAKENEY (13) are arguing aboutwhether a marble was inside outside the circle as their berthmates BOYLE (15) and WILLIAMSON (14) wait for the game toresume. BLAKENEY In CALAMY Out. BLAKENEY In. It was here. The line is in. CALAMY It was there. It was out. Out BLAKENEY In. Tell him Boyle. It was in I say.The lamp moves on, illuminating a fifth midshipman, mucholder than the rest. This is HOLLOM, aged 24. He's asensitive-looking fellow, idly strumming a guitar, glancingup briefly as TOM PULLINGS passes.9. GUN-DECK - NIGHTBy the galley stove at the forward end of the gun-deck a fewof the foremast hands enjoy a last smoke and a mug of grog.Faster Doudle passes his mug to Higgins who guzzles it downgreedilyOne man, BECKETT, sits shirtless while another, AWKWARDDAVIES, brow furrowed with concentration, tattoos the firstlink of what will be a great chain round BECKETT's waist.JOE PLAICE, at 45 one of the oldest men on board, stops inthe middle of a story as PULLINGS passes, everyone knucklingtheir foreheads in deference to the officer.10. BETWEEN TWO GUNS - NIGHTBoys no more than eight or nine years old play a game of'jacks' with some sheep bones. ADDISON, RYE and SWIFT are thepowder-monkeys who ferry powder from the hold to the gunsduring action.11. BERTH DECK - NIGHTA hundred hammocks swing like strange pods, close packedunder the immense beams. Most of the occupants are alreadyasleep: here an arm, there a lolling head HOLLAR Lights out!On the bosun's command, the last of the off-duty men climbinto their hammocks.The last lights are extinguished. Only PULLINGS' lampremains, moving up the ladder to...12. WEATHER DECK - NIGHTThe uppermost or weather deck consists of two parallelgangways linking the forecastle (forward) to the quarterdeck(aft).The lead is dropped from the bows. As PULLINGS walks aft tothe quarterdeck as each man lets go his coils of the deep sealine. CREWMEN Watch there! WatchSomewhere a bell sounds and the silent figures of the watchcall from their stations. WATCH CAPTAINS - Lifebuoy all's well! - Starboard gangway all's well! - Starboard bow all's well!Over this, the splash of the lead and the repeated cry of"Watch there! Watch!"13. QUARTERDECK - NIGHTPullings has joined the officer of the watch, 2nd LieutenantMOWETT, a short tubular man in his early 20s.JACK climbs up a ladder and we see him properly for the firsttime: a heavy-set man in his thirties, thick blonde hairclubbed at the backAt the binnacle, by the ship's great wheel. The helmsman,BONDEN - a London cockney with a boxer's face - gives JACKtheir current course.JACK nods, then moves to the gunwale with PULLINGS. Jacksniffs the air and speaks in a low voice. JACK How I do hate a lee shore PULLINGS You think we'll have long to wait? JACK (shrugs) Intelligence reports had her leaving Boston on the 12th, that should put us at least a week ahead. PULLINGS She'll be in for a surprise, Sir.The pun on the name of their ship was unintentional, but JACKlets out a great hoot of laughter, shattering the tense,expectant silence. JACK In for a "Surprise". Now that's wit. "In for a Surprise". 'Pon my word I shall have to tell the Doctor.He leaves, still laughing. Those on the quarterdeck are moreamused by JACK's unique sense of humour than by the feeblejoke itself. JACK (CONT'D) (calls back) Don't put her on the reef, Tom. PULLINGS I'll try not to, Sir.13A INT. STEPHEN'S CABINJack looks around the door JACK What do you have there, Stephen?He enters. Stephen has wired together the thorax of a bird'sskeleton and is suspending lead weights from it STEPHEN The breastbone of a frigate bird. Do you remark its prodigious strength.Jack bends forwards into the candle-light, sharing hisfriends keen interest in this strange assembly JACK I do and I am not in the least surprised, for it reminds me of nothing so much as a ship under sail. See here the bowsprit. Here the mast, and here the backstays running aft. STEPHEN (adds another weight) Ten pounds sixteen ounces. I am preparing a paper for the Royal Society.Jack straightens, moving with care between the bottledspecimens, open books and brass measuring instruments JACK I was thinking when our business here is finished, we will have to put in to Recife for provisions. You may care to take a tour round the forests of Brazil, botanizing and collecting specimens. An anaconda or two. A giant cassowary. STEPHEN I should like it of all things, Jack. Thankyou.14. WIDE ON THE SURPRISE - NIGHTTime passes. The fog intensifies. White coils of mist driftand eddy over the glassy sea, RUN FINAL TITLES as the shipmoves slowly through the night.15-16 (ADDED TO SC 12)17. IN THE GREAT CABIN, LATER - NIGHTThe chronometer ticks. The coffee-pot swings on its gimbals.JACK lies awake in his hanging cot. Finally he gives uptrying to sleep. JACK Killick! Killick there! Strong coffee, and light along my topcoat.18. ON THE QUARTERDECK - NIGHTJACK on deck again. QUARTERMASTER Six bells and all's well.A hint of daylight to the east. The mist beginning to shiftas an offshore breeze picks up. LEAD-MAN 90 fathoms, white shelly sand. CALAMY Four knots, Sir.BONDEN is still at the wheel. BONDEN Oi reckon as she's liftin' Sir, if you feels like putting your Èad down.JACK takes his advice and goes below again.19. - THE SHIP (TIMELAPSE)The sky a shade paler. A wind coming up.20. ON THE STARBOARD GANGWAY - DAWNThe lookout, VINCENT, peers into the mist. VINCENT Starboard gangway ahoy.HOLLOM, the oldest of the midshipmen, whose watch it now is,appears at his shoulder. HOLLOM What is it, Vincent? VINCENT I heard something. A bell.HOLLOM peers out into the fog, then turns. HOLLOM Native fisherman perhaps. (shouts) Mr. Calamy!Midshipman CALAMY comes running forward. HOLLOM (CONT'D) The lead, if you please.Young CALAMY takes the lead, scrambles into the chains at thebow of the ship and throws out the lead line.HOLLOM takes up a telescope and searches through the eddiesof fog.Over HOLLOM's P.O.V. we can hear CALAMY sounding the depth. CALAMY (O.S.) Sixty fathoms, white sand!Hollom folds his telescope HOLLOM Well. It can't have been a reef marker.CALAMY, unconvinced, checks through his own telescope HOLLOM (CONT'D) False alarm Mr CALAMYCALAMY ignores him, still scanning21. TELESCOPE POVThe telescope pans. A dark shape in the distance. The mistparts a little. A ship. Coming straight toward them.Close on CALAMY as he turns to camera, screaming - CALAMY Enemy on the larboard bow! Beat to quarters!22. JACK'S SLEEP CABINJACK instantly awake, piling out of his bed, still dressed.23. BERTH-DECK - DAWNA drum blazes as the off-duty watch tumble out of theirhammocks and run to their battle stations.24. COCKPIT, ORLOP DECKRows of wicked-looking instruments are hastily thrown on theoperating table by PADEEN, MATURIN's servant - saws,retractors and knives glistening in the lamp-light.DR. MATURIN hurries in blinking sleep out of his eyes as heties on his black apron - behind him, HIGGINS, the assistantsurgeon.25. POWDER MAGAZINELittle ADDISON and his team of powder-monkeys run with theirboxes of gunpowder to the...26. GUN-DECKAs LAMB, NAGEL and the other carpenters bash down cabinpartitions, transforming the entire gun-deck into a singlecontinuous space, from the bows to the Captain's Great Cabinin the stern.As the crews swarm about their guns, grotesque shadows arethrown on the walls and ceiling by the numerous battle-lanterns arriving to illuminate the scene.27. WEATHER-DECKJACK and PULLINGS stride the length of the deck toward thebow [ ] . They pass crews manning the carronades whileothers swing the ship's small boats out and over the side tobe towed behind the ship.28. FORECASTLEJACK and PULLINGS join HOLLOM. JACK Where away?CALAMY points forward and a little to the left of theSurprise's bow. CALAMY Not two miles distant, Sir.JACK and PULLINGS stare through telescopes into the fog,which is beginning to lift. JACK lowers his telescope. JACK Mr. Hollom? HOLLOM I saw nothing, nor heard anything either. Shall I ask them men to stand down?JACK steps closer to the bow, and again lifts his telescope.29. TELESCOPE P.O.VA slow pan across the sea, past a darker patch of fog. Whatwas that? The lens pans back toward the darker area to see aseries of flashes.30. CLOSE ON JACKHe turns and shouts to the crew - JACK Lie down! Everybody lie down!His words are underscored by a series of distant explosions,followed by a deep rumble, then a tearing, howling sound.31. ANGLE ON THE SKYChain shot and grape, bar and canister shriek through theair. A blizzard of iron.32. ON THE DECKThe crew hit the deck, the last to drop is BONDEN hanginggrimly to the wheel.33. MIDSHIPMAN BLAKENEYClose, as he tries to bury himself in the deck timbers.34. DELETED35. DELETED.36. QUARTERDECKThe broadside hits the bows and a cloud of splinters andmetal scythes the length of the deck at head height. This israpidly followed by billowing smoke from a small fire nowburning on the forecastle.CALAMY is working at putting the fire out as JACK issues astream of orders. JACK Run out the guns! Marines to the tops, and get that wounded man below!He pulls a gold watch from his pocket and checks the time.36A. GUN DECKHollom is nervously supervising a gun crew which includesDAVIES and his mates. HOLLOM ...C-cast loose now... Um swab. That's right. Run out your guns.The men work as a team, largely ignoring Hollom's hesitantinstructions. The shot rack is empty DAVIES Shot. There's no shot!37. QUARTERDECK (CONTD)As red-coated marines led by Captain HOWARD climb into therigging JACK calls to his clerk - JACK Note the time Mr. Watt.An anxious TOM PULLINGS appears. PULLINGS She's out of our range, Sir!JACK calls to his sailing master, ALLEN. JACK Closer, Mr. ALLEN. You must lay me alongside her at pistol-shot.ALLEN purses his lips. He knows what he's doing and slightlyresents the instruction JACK (CONT'D) Mr. Pullings - bow-chasers to fire as she bears.38. P.O.V. ENEMY SHIPShe's crossing their bows, about a mile distant.39. ON DECKPULLINGS is racing up the larboard gangway to the forecastle,past men stacking hammocks as blast protection.40. ON THE FORECASTLEGun-captains stand ready, the slow-match burning in the tubs. PULLINGS Fire on the uproll.The little drummer's huge eyes are fixed on PULLINGS' face.The ship rolls. PULLINGS (CONT'D) Fire!The drum-roll is all but drowned by the blast of the guns.The smoke clears, the gunners look on baffled as their ballsbounce harmlessly off the side of the enemy ship. OLD SPONGE (In Greek) Witchcraft! DOUDLE Never seen the like of it PULLINGS Damn and blast you! See to your guns! Fire high! Fire for the masts and rigging!As the enemy's murderous long guns run out again.41. WIDE ON THE ENEMY SHIPHer French ensign clearly visible as she swings broadside onto the approaching Surprise - again her side lights up in aseries of red flashes.42. IN THE COCKPITBy the dim light of a battle-lantern STEPHEN struggles tohold a wounded man on the table, his feet slipping in poolsof blood on the deck. STEPHEN More sand on the floor, Mr. Higgins!The slightly hung-over HIGGINS reaches for the sand bucketand is thrown over by the awful jarring shock as theAcheron's third broadside hits home.43. IN THE GREAT CABIN -The Captain's crockery smashes to the deck. KILLICK, cursingfreely, stows what he can.44. IN THE ORLOPShards of timber implode, followed by a great spout of waterknocking the massive AWKWARD DAVIES sideways as he runs forthe ladder carrying two cannon-balls.A second explosion, a second jet of water and DAVIES, findinghis feet, starts yelling for the carpenter. DAVIES Wood and Lead! Mr Nagel! Mr Lamb!!45. STAIRSFollow DAVIES as he runs up to the gun-deck with the shotunder his arms past the powder-monkeys ADDISON and SWIFT,canisters of gun-powder slung over their shoulders, then hesees MR. LAMB, the carpenter. DAVIES Orlop! We're holed!As LAMB dives for the ladder.46. ON THE GUN-DECKDAVIES arrives to find a gaping hole opposite where his owngun once stood. Its crew lie scattered, horribly wounded ordead.The dismounted gun and twelve pound shot are rolling arounddangerously. HOLLOM, the sole survivor, is backed againstthe bulkhead, cradling an injured arm.CALAMY emerges from the smoke, meets DAVIES's horror-struckgaze and takes command. CALAMY Davies! Get those bodies overboard! (to HOLLOM) Mr. Hollom sir!HOLLOM sits immobilized by fear. CALAMY grabs the poulterer,JEMMY DUCKS, who has been rescuing the ship's goat, Aspasia. CALAMY (CONT'D) Jemmy - leave the damned goat and take Mr. Hollom below. JEMMY DUCKS Aye, sir!The ship heels as she turns.Midshipman BLAKENEY, Calamy's rival in the game of marbles,turns to see the dismounted gun rolling free. He throws ahammock net under it, stopping its roll before it crushesCALAMY against the bulkhead.CALAMY shoots him a brief look of gratitude and runs aft.BLAKENEY carries on shouting to the powder-monkeys - BLAKENEY More shot! More cartridge!47. HULL OF THE SURPRISEIn the great jagged hole on the gun-deck where the gun wasdestroyed, JACK stands framed, a wrathful soot-stainedfigure. He glances back at his men, hunched and ready,itching to fire. JACK (bellows) Steady... Wait for it!48. WIDE ON THE BATTLEto see the two ships about to pass abreast, the Surpriseheading south as it were, the enemy ship, north.The French vessel is clearly the bigger ship, and from bothcome the sounds of shouted orders and the thunder of drums.They will pass broadside to broadside, 500 yards apart.49. GUN-DECK, SURPRISEJACK watching the enemy, judging the moment. JACK ...wait WAIT! And FIRE!The great guns go off all together. The cannons leaping backbetween their crews. JACK snatches a powder-monkey, ADDISON,out of the way of the lethal recoil.50. QUARTERDECKSmoke clears to reveal holes in the enemy's foretopsail, abowline hanging loose, but again many of her balls havefailed to penetrate the enemy timbers. BONDEN By all that's holy what is that ship made of?His question coincides with a third full broadside from theFrenchman. The Surprise's wheel shattered. BONDEN thrownaside, MR. WATT jerked back to the taffrail, the mizzenmasthit.A rope sheers and JOE PLAICE is smacked on the skull by aswinging boom.Midshipman BLAKENEY, running up on deck, goes to help PLAICEand is struck down by a flying splinter - a shocking wound tohis upper right arm.51. COMPANIONWAYJACK is half-way up the ladder when he falls, scored acrossthe forehead by a musket-ball.Eyesight blurred. Hearing gone. He is dimly aware of smallarms cracking above his head, and someone trying to lift him. JACK Belay there ye poxed son of a whore! MOWETT You must go below, Sir, you must let me help you below!JACK puts a hand to his bleeding forehead and drags himselfback up the ladder.52. IN THE TOPSA furious exchange of fire between CAPTAIN HOWARD's marinesand the sharpshooters in the enemy's rigging.Howard, a big red-faced man, is in his element, laughingmadly every time he scores a hit.53. QUARTERDECKJACK emerges into bloody chaos: screams of the wounded allaround, the enemy ship moving astern in mist and gun-smoke.He wipes blood from his eye as he raises his telescope.54/55. TELESCOPE P.O.V.As the ship passes, her name is visible on the transom -Acheron. PULLINGS V.O Sir....Jack lowers his telescope. Pullings' expression spellscatastrophe PULLINGS It's the rudder.56. STERN OF THE SURPRISEGrim-faced, JACK hobbles to the shattered taff-rail, seesBONDEN soaked, having climbed down onto the stern-post. BONDEN (shouts up) It's shot away below the waterline!58. COCKPITSTEPHEN, up to his armpits in blood, operating on a woundedman, looks up to see three more seriously injured menarriving.He pauses, aware of some change. STEPHEN Why are we not firing?57. GUN-DECKSpirals of drifting smoke. Blackened bleeding men, their gunspointing at nothing FASTER DOUDLE No steerage. NEHEMIAH SLADE We're fish in a barrel59. HIGH SHOTThe fog has rolled back, like a great curtain, to reveal thetwo frigates.The badly damaged Surprise, drifting rudderless.The Acheron, most of her sails intact, beginning the turnwhich will put her in position to finish off the Surprise.60. QUARTERDECKJACK is joined by ALLEN as the enemy vessel starts crossingtheir wake. ALLEN He's coming about, Sir. MOWETT Should I strike the colours?All eyes on Jack, poised on the brink of awful defeat. ALLEN I'm afraid there's nothing else for it.JACK looks from the wall of fog to the three little boatsthey are towing astern. JACK Damned if there ain't. We'll tow her.61. STERN OF THE SURPRISESudden feverish activity, running and shouting as menscramble down into the boats. DAVIES settles himself besideNAGEL in the cutter, turning to look at the approachingAcheron.His P.O.V.: puffs of smoke from its bow-chasers. PULLINGS Sail trimmers away, Warley, make what sail you can! JACK Stern-chasers to fire when she's in range!62. STERN OF SURPRISEGouts of water from the enemy gunfire rise not fifty yardsfrom them, acting as little needed encouragement for theboats to get clear of the stern and pull around towards thebows as....64. MAINMAST/FOREMASTMen scramble up the ratlines, and through the shatteredrigging.65. THE GREAT CABINTwo long brass nine-pounders set up through the open windowsof the Captain's day cabin, open fire on the approachingAcheron. MOWETT Fire!65A. MAINMASTWARLEY, captain of the maintop, directs his men about themare's nest of rigging, getting a tattered top-sail to fillwith what little breeze there is. WARLEY Sharp now with that fancy-line! To the clew line from the reef points, Cully, double up and run her back again!66. QUARTERDECKThrough PULLINGS' telescope: the enemy ship coming straightat them, her guns now getting the range of the Surprise. PULLINGS She's gaining on us. JACK Start the water, carronades over the side.67. ANGLE ON THE QUARTERDECKCrewmen furiously at work cutting the ropes securing the gunson the quarterdeck.68. ANGLE ON THE STERNWater spouts from the pumps, while at the same time thequarterdeck guns tumble into the ocean.(NOTE: they only abandon guns on the quarterdeck, not theirmain armament on the gun-deck.)69. FORECASTLEJACK races to the bows. Towlines strain as the three smallboats pull the great ship toward the curtain of fog andcloud. He yells to the straining oarsmen - JACK Pull! Pull for your lives.70. ANGLE FROM THE BOATSThe men heave on their oars, faces bathed in sweat, thetowlines taut behind them, dragging the Surprise toward thesafety of the fog-bank.71. WIDEto see the Surprise slipping into the cover of fog and lowcloud, only her top masts visible, before they too disappear.72. QUARTERDECKJACK joins his officers looking back into the white-out, inthe direction of the enemy. JACK Quiet now. No calls, no shouts. Mr. ALLEN, signal the men in the boats to head due east.ALLEN hurries toward the bows, as behind them the fog ismomentarily illuminated by flashes of gunfire from theirpursuer.73. THE LEADING JOLLY BOATCALAMY, in the prow of the jolly-boat, sees ALLEN on theship, signalling the turn to eastward.CALAMY signals to BONDEN in the stern of the jolly-boat. BONDEN (urgent whisper) Starboard haul. And stroke! Stroke!One side stops rowing and the boat turns.74. THE SURPRISEA low angle, the ship coming slowly toward us.Beyond, the rowers strain at their oars, the great shiprearing out of the mist above them, as though carried ontheir backs.75. QUARTERDECK OF THE SURPRISESomewhere astern and to the left JACK can hear shouting onthe Acheron. Flashes of cannon fire, directed away from them. PULLINGS He's beating inshore. JACK Keep rowing76 MASTS OF THE SURPRISE, (TIMELAPSE) - NIGHTThe tortured sounds of exhausted men rowing as skeins of mistdrift away to reveal a dim, yellow moon. On the horizon thebattered ship in silhouette, lines stretching ahead to herthree small boats.77 QUARTERDECK OF THE SURPRISE - NIGHTSome of the wreckage has been cleared aside, the woundedmoved below. We can hear their moans, and the constantcreaking of the bilge pumps.JACK and his officers scan the moonlit sea throughtelescopes.JACK's telescope POV: A long slow pan along the dark horizon. ALLEN I believe we've lost her, Sir.JACK collapses his telescope. JACK Pass the word to ship oars78 IN THE JOLLY BOATs. - NIGHTThe rowers slump forwards in their seats, their hands raw andcrabbed.79 STAIRWELL - NIGHTJACK moves down a ladder past LAMB coming up from below,soaking wet and exhausted with his mate Nagel. LAMB Three feet of water in the hold, Sir, but the pumps are keeping it from gaining. JACK Very good, Mr. Lamb.The constant creaking and sloshing of the pumps becomeslouder as he continues down past men handing up food andpowder from the flooded levels below.81. SICK-BAYStephen, his face spattered with blood, is adjusting the wickof a lantern when Jack arrives beside him JACK (sotto) What's the butchers bill? STEPHEN Six dead, thirteen wounded.He notices the gash on Jack's forehead Your head ... JACK (Brushes him away) Later.STEPHEN raises his lantern to reveal groaning bloodstainedmen close-packed in the gloom.Together they make the rounds, passing men propped upright bytheir mates, pale with shock or tense with pain, somestruggling to breathe, some barely alive.JACK clasps hands, whispers encouragement.A bandaged head swims into the glow of the lamp, streakedwith blood and deeply unconscious. JACK (CONT'D) Who's this - Joe Plaice? STEPHEN (sotto) A severe depressed fracture of the skull. I am not sure he will see out the night.Moving on to another barely recognizable face: youngBlakeney, pale and sweaty, breathing hard from the pain andthe blood loss. JACK Mr. Blakeney? BLAKENEY Just a broken arm, Sir.JACK looks at STEPHEN, whose expression is grim, but he saysnothing, steering Jack forward to the foot of the ladderwhere they can speak more privately STEPHEN I will do everything possible. I know you were close to his father.Jack nods, defeat weighing heavily, and makes to go. Stephenputs a restraining hand on his shoulder. STEPHEN (CONT'D) One moment Jack let me look at that brow of yours. JACK Its a scratch. STEPHEN I will tell you if its a scratch or not. Sit down.Jack submits meekly, and sits on a lower rung while Stephenputs a bandage round his forehead JACK How did he find us Stephen? Seven weeks sailing and he happened in darkness on our exact position. Its uncanny. He really is a phantom STEPHEN Unless she was alerted to our presence, and looking for us. JACK Tosh. How could that be? STEPHEN The French have their spies, in Britain as elsewhere. JACK (astonished) You're saying there are traitors in the Admiralty? STEPHEN I am saying do not imagine it was a lone privateer who did this to us. He is working for Napoleon himself, with access to all that tyrant commands, overtly and covertly. So do not let defeat weigh too heavily upon you.82. THE GREAT CABIN - DAWNWan dawn light reflects off the ceiling onto the bloody,bandaged officers, conducting an angry post-mortem as KILLICKserves coffee. ALLEN ...Call her a frigate? Ha! You ask me she's no more a frigate than a painted Dutchman. More like a ship of the line, a two-decker more'n a frigate.MOWETT is trying to staunch a persistent nosebleed. MOWETT One does wonder what manner of hull she has. Our balls seemed to bounce right off her.Jack enters, his head newly bandaged. He walks past theseated officers and stands looking out through the sternwindows. The officers continue their conversation, thoughtheir words are intended for Jack PULLINGS She had the weather-gauge and long eighteens which could hit us beyond our effective range. That's the sum of it ALLEN And 40 guns to our 28, I counted the muzzle flashes. PULLINGS It was an unfair match, no dishonor in defeat no dishonor at all.Jack still has his back to them. He puts his hand in hispocket and finds something there - the shattered fragments ofhis gold pocket watch. ALLEN (sighs) Well, we can patch up our main and mizzen the foresail is too far gone so we'll bend our spare. PULLINGS Sir.Jack finally turns. PULLINGS (CONT'D) Mr. Allen is confident, with basic repairs, we can get home as we are... allowing for a stop in Jamaica. ALLEN At Port Royal we can haul her into dry- dock, and hopefully get her home without... JACK We're not going home.An expectant hush. KILLICK is all ears, as he picks up thecoffee cups and places them carefully on a silver tray. JACK (CONT'D) What is our purpose here gentlemen? Why were we sent? To punish a blackguard privateer who has decimated our Atlantic whaling fleet and now threatens to do the same in the pacific. Are we to leave those ships to his mercy and slink back into Portsmouth - another defeat to add to the list. Is that what we draw our wages for? I say we pursue her and pay her back with interest ALLEN With respect, Captain, she could be half- way to Cape Horn by the time we're repaired and underway. JACK (sternly) Then there's not a moment to lose.83. OUTSIDE THE GREAT CABINKILLICK exits the cabin with the tray of coffee cups. As hepasses them to his mate, BLACK BILL - KILLICK (a whisper) We're for the Horn.84. THROUGHOUT THE SHIP - DAWNWord passes like lightning from the wounded in the orlop, tothe beak of the ship MUTTERED VOICES AD LIB - The Horn you say? - Never! In this condition? - Eh? What news mates - Heading for where?!85. FORECASTLE - DAWNA few of the old 'Surprises' have gathered for a smoke, allof them men who've sailed with JACK before: Jittery alcoholicHiggins, loyal Nehemiah Slade, sharp-faced tobacco-chewingFaster Doudle, and the big Welshman Awkward Davies, stillshaken by the loss of his gun-crew. higgins We're for hell in a hand-barrow if you ask my opinion slade I'm game. If the captain says we can take her we can take her. DAVIES Can we catch her is the question. And if we do what's different? She'll just hold us off with them long eighteens til she sends us all to the bottom. All for what? DOUDLE I'll tell you for what, matey. She's a privateer, loaded with all the gems of Araby. Think of the gold. Think of the prize-money. HOLLAR Hoi there! You men jump to it!86. WAIST OF THE SHIP - NOONThe gratings are hauled aside and light floods down into thegun-deck.87. GUN-DECK - DAYPart of a huge tree-trunk - spare timber for repairs - ismanhandled by a dozen crewmen. HOLLAR Heave. And heave. Handsomely now. One long pull. Belay!88. QUARTERDECK - DAYCrewmen labour at the capstan. HOLLAR (O.S.) Two six heave! Two six heave!The huge log rises from below and hangs suspended from itsgantry. JACK shouts down from the quarterdeck - JACK Have her placed along the gunwale for now, Mr. Hollar, and the guns moved to that side also.89. ABOVE JACK'S HEADMen are hanging in the rigging throwing down damaged sectionsof rope. FASTER DOUDLE All clear below!90. QUARTERDECK - DAYJACK dodges the falling rope, moving back, past NAGEL and hismen who are cutting out damaged sections of the gunwale withsaws and adzes, prizing up decking and wrestling with thewrecked steering mechanism.91. THE STERN - DAYJACK looks down to where PULLINGS and others have lifted thebroken rudder from its hinges.92. WIDE SHOT - DAYThe ship swarming with men, cutting, splicing, hammering andhauling. Every able-bodied soul hard at work.93. QUARTERDECK - DAYAn optimistic breeze has picked up, fluttering the tatteredensign.The deck is now sloping at a forty-five degree angle. KILLICKhands a sandwich to Pullings who passes it down to JACK. JACK Damn this wind, Mr. Pullings! The Acheron will be making a hundred and fifty miles a day in this. PULLINGS Aye, but hugging the coast, and stopping to board the odd merchantmanJACK smiles at this and bites into his sandwich.To the uphill side, carpenters are erecting a scaffoldingover the side of the ship.94. THE SHIP - DAYThe ship's copper-plated keel is partly revealed as the menclamber and slip about on the steeply-sloping side erectingscaffolding. The tropical heat resounds with shouts, cursesand hammering.95. SIDE OF THE SHIP - DUSKCarpenters working inside the scaffolding, are fitting newsections of wood into the holes low in her hull. LAMB Down. Down. Stop.The new piece of wood is an almost perfect fit. MR. LAMBmarks the places where it is jamming. LAMB (CONT'D) Up again.Then he begins to work on it with his rasp.96. UNDERWATER - DUSKAmong tropical fish, a diver, a Greek crewman, 'OLDSPONGE' (father of YOUNG SPONGE) a hammer at his belt, plugsa few smaller holes with hemp fibre, then surfaces to...97. THE SIDE OF THE CUTTER - DUSK OLD SPONGE (In Greek) The smaller bit. No. That bit there.YOUNG SPONGE passes him a piece of lead and some nails andOLD SPONGE dives again.Our P.O.V. descending into the sea as...98. WAIST OF THE SHIP - NIGHTRoaring flames, flying sparks, the clang of metal on metal. Aforge has been set up. Powder-monkeys sweat on the bellows.The ship's blacksmith is churning out iron bolts, pintles andgudgeons, which are snatched away by NAGEL with tongs andthrown into a bucket of water to cool.A few yards away, wood chips fly from LAMB's adze as theship's massive new stern post takes shape.The new rudder is laid out flat, already cut to its finalshape and being strengthened with great nails and iron bandswhich NEHEMIAH SLADE and AWKWARD DAVIES are nailing intoplace.The hammering travels through the ship to...99. THE SICK BERTH - NIGHTBLAKENEY with his splinted arm jerks awake, feverish andconfused. BLAKENEY No. No. Not through my nose! CALAMY Its alright. William. You were dreaming.Blakeney looks around, disoriented and finds Calamy by hisside. BLAKENEY Joe Plaice told me when you die they sew you up in your hammock with the last stitch through your nose... to make sure you're not just sleeping CALAMY You know old Joe, always telling [ ] stories. BLAKENEY Is it true though? [ ] About the last stitch? CALAMY Come on, you'll be stitching me in mine first. BLAKENEY (drifting) Not through my nose. You'll tell them. CALAMY (nods) Nor any other part of you.Trying to make light of it, though he fears BLAKENEY isdying.100. SICK BAY, LATER - NIGHTCALAMY has fallen asleep by BLAKENEY's side. He wakes to findSTEPHEN sniffing BLAKENEY's wound. CALAMY Is it mending, sir? STEPHEN No, I'm afraid it will not do.101. THE COCKPIT - NIGHTBLAKENEY is lowered onto the table, delirious. CALAMY holdshis head and PADEEN, MATURIN's giant manservant, his legs,which are lashed together. BLAKENEY No. Mamma. Mamma. STEPHEN It is the laudanum speaking. You will be a regular Nelson.He tests the edge of his knife with his thumb.CALAMY places the leather gag between BLAKENEY's teeth.Padeen mumbles a Gaelic prayer. STEPHEN turns and gripsBLAKENEY shattered arm.A sharp, grating noise as STEPHEN works out of shot, cuttingoff the arm.Close on STEPHEN, lips compressed, utterly focussed.He puts down the bloody knife and reaches for the spatula inthe pail of hot tar.BLAKENEY has not uttered a sound, though he is shakinguncontrollably and his face is wet with tears. CALAMY hastears in his eyes also.STEPHEN finishes his work, breathing hard, a gentle smile toBLAKENEY. STEPHEN (CONT'D) There. I have never seen a braver patient.102. SICK-BERTH - NIGHTAn exhausted CALAMY keeps vigil by BLAKENEY's cot. The boywakes, and looks for CALAMY in the darkness. BLAKENEY Peter? Is that you? I dreamed they cut my arm off.Then he realizes, with sudden horror, that it wasn't a dream CALAMY You would have died else.Blakeneys eyes brim with tears and he turns away CALAMY (CONT'D) Come. You can still sup your grog with your left. And I shall take your turn at marbles.103. MIZZEN TOPGALLANT - DAYMOWETT stands in the cross-trees, making a final check on thelashings round the new mizzen top. Below him the great workis nearing completion, men swarming like ants over every partof the hull.MOWETT climbs down past FASTER DOUDLE who has one leg loopedthrough the shrouds and is splicing a rope with both handsand his teeth.Farther down, a patched sail is being furled up tight in itsgaskets.Beyond that, at the base of the main-mast a fascinated groupof men have gathered to watch the Doctor trepanning JOEPLAICE.104. BASE OF THE MAINMAST - DAYSTEPHEN's drill carves out a neat disc of bone to reveal apurplish mass which he starts spooning from the cavity.A small crowd of crewmen pause in their work, watching thedoctor with morbid fascination as he drops the purple stuffin a dish. SLADE (shouts) Is them his brains, Doctor? STEPHEN No, that is just blood. These are his brains.Exposing them to view. Several of the crew move in for acloser look. The armourer hands STEPHEN a flattened coin,which he begins to screw in place over the cavity as the oldhands whisper his praises to the men who have never seenStephen at work. SLADE Physician he is, not one of your common surgeons. FASTER DOUDLE Cured Prince Billy of the marthambles and the strong fives, wouldn't look at you for under ten guineas on land. DAVIES [ ] Knows his birds and beasts too boyo, show him a beetle and he'll tell you what it's thinking.105. THE SURPRISE - DAYA wind causes the ship to turn on its moorings, stirringimpatiently, like a racehorse ready to be off as...106. QUARTERDECK - DAY...JACK jumps down from the mizzen ratlines. JACK Let us be off, Mr. Allen! ALLEN Weigh anchor! All hands to make sail. Mr Hollom!107. ON DECKBarefoot men are suddenly running to their stations, racingabove and below, running out along the bowsprit, up theratlines, along the yards.A small group, supposed to be assisting Hollom, arecontrasting slow off the mark HOLLOM Bear a hand there you fellows!The men he is addressing, shoot him a look of distaste whichunsettles Hollom slightly, then they assist him pulling on arope108. QUARTERDECK - DAY MOWETT Up and down Sir, thick and dry for weighing.109. WAIST OF THE SHIP - DAYMen strain on the capstan bars.110. BOWS - DAYThe anchor bursting up out of the sea.111. MASTS OF THE SURPRISE - DAYThe shrouds darken with climbing figures, framed against thesun. HOLLAR (O.S.) Trice up. Lay out. Sheet home! Hoist away!112. QUARTERDECK - DAYHOLLAR staring up as the sails unfurl and fill with wind. HOLLAR Cheerly there in the foretop, our William! T'garnsl sheets! Hands to the braces!Men slide down ropes from high amongst the shrouds, thenswing out and drop down to the deck like monkeys, pullingropes and sails tight with the weight of their bodies.113. WIDE SHOT - DAYThe ship spreading its wings. A sudden cracking of canvas asshe turns and runs directly downwind.114. QUARTERDECK - LATE AFTERNOONThe sun has sunk lower. BONDEN, solid as the rock ofGibraltar is back at the helm, the wind stronger and directlybehind. JACK Speed, Mr. BoyleBOYLE heaves the log clear of the ship's side. The log lineraces out on its reel. BOYLE checks the run, pulls the pin. BOYLE Ten and a half knots, Sir.JACK makes no comment but the news seems to please him.115. CLOSE TO THE WATER - DUSKThe great hull powers past us.116. DELETED117. OUTSIDE THE GREAT CABIN - NIGHTKILLICK prepares toasted cheese in his small serving-area.From inside the cabin, the sound of a violin and a cellotuning up. KILLICK glances irritably at the door and elbowshis mate, BLACK BILL. KILLICK Here we go again: scrape, scrape, screech, screech and never a tune you could dance to, not if you were drunk as Davey's sow.118. INSIDE THE GREAT CABINJACK and STEPHEN are both keen amateur musicians - JACK,violin, STEPHEN cello.As Stephen completes his tuning, Jack experiments with arefrain. STEPHEN Is that one I know, or are we breaking new ground? JACK I am trying to remember that air they played all those years ago at the Governors house in Port Mahon. You remember When we first met. Corelli if I'm not mistaken.He plays another riff STEPHEN If that is your "A" you are very much so. This is A.Jack corrects his A string, plays another few bars JACK Or Locatelli. pom pom pom pom STEPHEN All I remember is you being unable to sit in your seat the entire performance. JACK Aye and you practising apon that poor bishop with your "puddings athwart the starboard Gumbrils" or some such arrant nonsense. STEPHEN (laughs) No. That was off Toulon, during the blockade. At our first meeting they played this:He plays a short refrain JACK No. No. Entirely off the mark. pom-pom- POM I have nowHe plays another variation STEPHEN (enjoying the game) Or was it something like this....Cello answers violin, as they hand it back and forth,improvising freely now with an infinity of variations,sometimes playing together, sometimes separately, suddenlyhitting it, the music soaring and continuing over119. A HIGH POINT OF VIEW, TIME LAPSE - DAYThe tiny ship on the vastness of the ocean. From its side,cotton-wool puffs of smoke.120. GUN-DECK - SAME TIMEA rippling broadside, the crews sweating over their guns. JACK And pitch 'em up! It's spars and rigging we want!MOWETT timing the gap between each broadside. MOWETT Three minutes ten, Sir. JACK Not good enough! We must fire three broadsides to her two. Again!Turning to BLAKENEY, who though much recovered, still lookspale and a little unsure of himself. JACK (CONT'D) Mr. Blakeney? Think you can supervise a gun? BLAKENEY As you will. Sir. JACK 'Spitfire', hop to it.BLAKENEY takes command of the gun. To one side CALAMY is incharge of 'Beelzebub', on the other side HOLLOM is nowdirecting 'Sudden Death'.Once again the orders are given, and the crews, now competingwith each other, go through the sequence: 'Out Tompions','Cast loose your guns', 'Cartridge. Ball. Prime. Run out yourgun. Prime. Aim. Stand clear... Fire!!'121. AND AGAIN - DUSKAs another broadside shakes the deck, STEPHEN hauls hiscollecting net on board and empties out a glistening array ofsea creatures - shrimps, squid and minnows, glinting likeopals in the pink light. MOWETT (O.S.) Two minutes five, Sir. PULLINGS Again!122. AND AGAIN - NIGHTIt's a race. JACK's orders are just a formality, the sequencehaving become so automatic now. JACK Out Tompions... Run out your guns... Prime.Seconds ticking away on MOWETT's stopwatch, barrels float onthe sea a hundred yards out. JACK (CONT.) (CONT'D) As she bears, from forward aft. Point your guns... Fire!!123. THE OCEAN AT NIGHTThe black ship spouting tongues of flame, the water aroundthe target barrels erupting in great spouts. MOWETT (O.S.) Two minutes dead.124. THE GUNPOWDER ROOMBoom! Another splendidly coordinated broadside resoundsthrough the ship as the powder-monkeys come racing downthrough the dreadnought screens to the magazine and back withmore cartridge.For them too it's a race, little ADDISON just ahead of SWIFT,RYE hot on his heels.125. STEPHEN'S CABIN - NIGHTThe sound of the guns is faint down here, at least when heardfrom STEPHEN's perspective - his ears are stuffed with wax.He is surrounded by his specimen bottles, and he looks fromhis microscope to his ledger where he is documenting thearray of aquatic life-forms. He removes his ear-plugs, butthe noise of the guns is deafening and he hastily replacesthem.126. ON THE GUN-DECK - NIGHTMOWETT watches the second hand of his stopwatch, glancing upas he notes -The concentrated fury of the men swabbing, ramming, heavingin, heaving out, firing at a raft this time.And he stops the watch as the first gun fires. MOWETT One minute forty-nine, Sir!His voice is drowned by the firing of the other guns in closesuccession entirely demolishing the raft, the sound mixingwith cheering and the frenzied hammering of Nagel and hismates as the gun-deck partitions are cheerfully re-erected.127. IN THE GREAT CABIN - NIGHTThe table is dragged back into place and settings laid fordinner.JACK enters, his face flushed with victory. JACK Killick? Killick there.KILLICK appears. JACK (CONT'D) What do you have for us tonight? KILLICK Which it's, Soused Hoggs-Face. JACK Aah! My favorite.128. MAIN DECK - NIGHTThe sky a great canopy of stars, the ship racing onwardsthrough the warm night.Crew men and the recovering wounded have come up on deck. Nowthey sit around in groups, supping their grog. Someoneproduces a jaw-harp, someone else a drum.A guitar is passed from hand to hand, stopping with BLACKBILL who sings a ballad in an African dialect.There's an effortless integration of race and rank, of ageand nationality - bonds forged by battle and hardship.OLD SPONGE gets up and dances a Greek dance: obviously afavorite among the crew. Cheering and cat-calls. Lanternscoming up from below. More dancing, insults in manylanguages, and a song. GUN-CREWS Boneparte Boneparte That red-faced son of an old French fart Hey ho, stamp and go Stamp and go, stamp and go Hey ho, stamp and go129. THE GREAT CABIN - NIGHTThe singing mixes with the end of a lively dinner given byJACK for his officers, including a special guest, youngBLAKENEY. PULLINGS With your permission, Sir, Mr. Mowett has composed a short poem in honour of our mission. JACK Let's hear it, Mr. Mowett.Reactions around the table, glasses re-filled inanticipation. MOWETT stands and declaims with a number ofprecise airy gestures, like a conductor. MOWETT Our brotherhood, some old, some new. In blood baptized, in strength renewed. In purpose unified and true. All thoughts of home forsaken. Where duty leads us, there we go. Nor rest nor comfort shall we know. Until the unrepentant foe, is boarded sunk or taken ALL (raising their glasses) Aye! Capital! Well said! Hear him, hear him! 'Sunk or taken'... JACK Aye and when we do take her we shall give her to Tom Pullings as his first command. If he don't die before then. Bumpers up Tom ALLEN (A toast) 'To wives and sweethearts'.They raise their glasses - ALL 'To wives and sweethearts'. PULLINGS And may they never meet.Amid the laughter someone bumps Blakeney's stump. He winces,then puts a brave face on it BLAKENEY (to JACK) I believe you knew Nelson, Sir? JACK Lord Nelson? Yes. I had the honour of serving under him at the Nile. (aside) Mr. Mowett, the bottle stands by you, sir. (as the bottle moves on) In fact I dined with him twice, and he spoke to me on both occasions.The table goes quiet. BLAKENEY is wide-eyed, though partlyfrom his strenuous efforts to appear sober. JACK (CONT.) (CONT'D) The first time he said to me - 'May I trouble you for the salt, sir?' I have always tried to say it as close as I could [ ] The second time someone had offered him a boat-cloak on a cold night and he said no, he was quite warm - his zeal for his king and country kept him warm.Amid the general agreement - 'Hear him, hear him', etc.STEPHEN is noticeably silent. JACK (CONT'D) It sounds absurd, I know, and were it another man you would cry out, "Oh, what pitiful stuff" and dismiss it as mere enthusiasm, but with him you felt your heart glow. MOWETT (raising his glass) To Lord Nelson. ALL Lord Nelson![ ] Stephen joins on the toast, but JACK knows that hisfriend deplores such overt patriotism and seeks to draw himback in with a joke. JACK You see those two weevils, Doctor?He points at a faint movement amongst the crumbs of a ship'sbiscuit. STEPHEN I do. JACK Which would you choose?The table tenses with anticipation of one of the Captain's'jokes'. STEPHEN concentrates. STEPHEN There is not a scrap of difference. They are the same species of curculio. JACK But suppose you had to choose? STEPHEN Then I would choose the right-hand weevil, it has a perceptible advantage in both length and breadth. JACK There I have you. You are completely dished. Don't you know in the Navy you must always choose 'the lesser of two weevils'?He thunders with laughter, the rest joining in, breathlesswith mirth, tears of laughter streaming down their faces ALLEN 'Pon my life. He who would pun would pick a pocket. D˝e not smoke it doctor? STEPHEN (poker faced) Sure there would be some poor thin barren minds that would catch at such a paltry clench.Then he too cracks a smile and joins in their laughter130. MAIN DECK - NIGHTThe crew continue with their own celebration.The excitement penetrates JOE PLAICE's stupor. Never havingwoken since the trepanning he suddenly opens his eyes andspeaks. PLAICE "...And the righteous shall inherit the earth."The men around him stare in amazement. BONDEN You hear that. He said something. Joe spoke! Say something else Joe JOE Handy with that gasket BONDEN (shouts up to the quarterdeck) He spoke doctor. Joe plaice spoke131. QUARTERDECKThe officers have appeared on deck with their coffee andStephen raises a hand in acknowledgment.132. IN THE RIGGING - NIGHTMidshipmen CALAMY RYE and BOYLE are eating from a bag ofbroken biscuits ('ships nuts') as they sit perched up in therigging.On seeing JACK, they break into their own song. MIDSHIPMEN Our captain was very good to us. He dipped his prick in phosphorus. It shed a light all through the night. And steered us through the Bosphorus.133. QUARTERDECKJACK pretends not to have heard, but he can't hide his smile.Beside him in a chair sits BLAKENEY, his empty jacket sleevepinned to his front 'Nelson' style, laughing incredulously atthe older boys cheek.From somewhere on the forecastle, WARLEY and his top-menstart singing. TOP-MEN Farewell and adieu you fine Spanish ladies Farewell and adieu to you ladies of Spain...The older midshipman, HOLLOM joins in, his fine voice soaringeffortlessly over the others, hijacking their roisteringballad and converting it to something much more poignant. HOLLOM For we've received orders to sail for Old England. Perhaps we shall never more see you againHis singing is appreciated by STEPHEN on the quarterdeck. STEPHEN What a wonderfully true voice Mr. Hollom does possess.134. IN THE WAIST - NIGHTKILLICK and NAGEL are less than impressed with HOLLOM andsing over him, led by ORRAGE the cook. ORRAGE Come all you thoughtless young men, A warning take by me, And never leave your happy homes to sail the raging sea.135. OCEAN - NIGHTThe Surprise sailing away from us, the chorus drifting acrossthe darkness.135a. OCEAN. DAYThe colours are changing, from the rich hues of the tropicsto the cold muted colours of colder, more southerly climes.Still the surprise sails on136. THE GREAT CABIN - DAYFingers trace a course down the east coast of South America.Another, more detailed chart is placed on top of the first. ALLEN This one's by Colnett, Sir. He travelled with Captain Cook and carried a pair of Arnott's chronometers.JACK finds their position and marks it with pencil. A knockon the door. Officers and crew are now dressed according tothe change in climate KILLICK Couple of the men to see you, Sir. JACK (without looking up) Show them in.The door opens to reveal NAGEL and WARLEY carrying something. JACK (CONT'D) What's this?A scale model of a ship, 15 inches long, perfect in everydetail. Jack takes it, delighted, the name picked out in goldon the stern - Acheron. NAGEL It were Warley's idea, Sir. WARLEY I thought she were familiar like, then I remembered where I'd seen her - in Boston, during the Peace. JACK [ ] In Boston? WARLEY (nods) Yes, Sir. She's Yankee built. I seen them working on her, something right strange about her scantlings. Then I seen them balls bounce off her an' I got to thinking. NAGEL If you look here, Sir. One side opens up.He pulls a side off the model, exposing its construction. WARLEY Mister Nagel here done it just like I seen her - a third layer 'tween the outer and inner ribbing - diagonal bracing, see? JACK Just like the U.S. Constitution - our 12 pounders couldn't penetrate except at close range.He passes the model to ALLEN. JACK (CONT'D) Killick. Killick, there.KILLICK enters. JACK (CONT'D) An extra ration of rum for these men, from my private store. KILLICK (shaking his head) Which I was saving for Saluting Day, Sir. JACK Rouse it up, Killick, and a bottle for Mr. ALLEN and me. Let us live whilst we're alive!KILLICK goes to get the bottlesJACK hunkers down to bring his gaze level with the ship, asthough studying its tiny occupants. JACK (CONT'D) He's vulnerable here.He taps the stern windows. JACK (CONT'D) Cross her stern, rake her with a broadside through her length. But how to get close enough? Past those long eighteens. That's the devil of it.136b SURPRISE QUARTERDECK DAYThe Surprise has stopped level with a Spanish merchantman,which lies three hundred yards away, headed in the oppositedirection.The two boats have hove to and are communicating bymegaphone, Stephen translating the Spanish captains words, STEPHEN He says they were chased for three days till they finally our-ran her. Forty gun French privateer headed due south. JACK Capital. Thank him and let us be off.The Spanish captain, already making sail, waves and shouts agreeting, which Stephen calls back to him. JACK (CONT'D) What did he say there? STEPHEN A Spanish farewell. "May no new thing arrive." New things being generally by their nature bad.137. STEPHEN'S CABIN - NIGHTStephen is with Blakeney, re-bandaging the younger man'sstump. Blakeney looks away, his eyes moving over the doctorscollection of books, learned texts in French Spanish, Greekand Latin BLAKENEY Do you have a manual of exercises sir. STEPHEN Exercises? BLAKENEY Physical exercises, to make the left arm as powerful as the right once was. STEPHEN I think that will happen with usage, at least to a certain extent. BLAKENEY But not completely. I will never be whole again, will I? STEPHEN No but you will adapt to your new situation The natural world shows us any number of examples of how that is possible.Blakeney bites his lip BLAKENEY You know my father was a great fighting captain. It was always his expectation I would follow in his footsteps. I worry that with this arm I will now be good for nothing but book learning and philosophy. STEPHEN Ah. Like me you mean. BLAKENEY (becoming tearful) I cannot use a sextant, cannot tie a knot or climb the rigging. Cannot even dress myself. What chance to I have now of even making first lieutenant. STEPHEN You have every chance. You hear me every chance. Only the other day I heard the captain singing your praises. Your courage, your fortitude in battle, your skill at logarithms and double elevations whatever they may be. And when you are rated lieutenant you shall have someone to tie your bootlaces for you. Aye and help you with your jacket. Here take my handkerchief. I believe we are summonsed to dinner.139. MAIN MAST - DAWNThe maintop captain, WARLEY, shouts to the deck, his breathforming in the frosty air - WARLEY Sail on the larboard bow!140. GREAT CABIN/LADDERJACK throwing on a heavy boat-cloak, running for the ladder,KILLICK behind him trying to get a scarf about JACK's neckand a cap on his head.141. THE RIGGING - DAWNFollow JACK as he runs up the ratlines, over the futtockshrouds, then up the topmast shrouds, finally arriving at thevery top of the mast, to join WARLEY and PULLINGS. JACK Where away? PULLINGS Hull down, two points off the larboard beam.JACK takes the telescope.142. TELESCOPE P.O.V.Just the tips of masts, the hull below the horizon. WARLEY (O.S.) She's a frigate all right, but no way of knowing if she be the phantom.Beyond the distant ship, a line of black clouds.143. RIGGING - DAWNJACK and PULLINGS slide to the deck on parallel back-stays,as careless as a couple of midshipmen.144. QUARTERDECK - DAWNJACK shouting - JACK Set studdingsails and top gallants. Then wet the sails and have the idlers placed along the rail.PULLINGS and HOLLAR bark out their orders. Men race to obey.JACK steps up on the gunwale, spying out the distant ship.BLAKENEY, nearby, rests his telescope on CALAMY's shoulder,focussing with his left hand. BLAKENEY Is it him, Sir? JACK Touch wood, Mr. Blakeney. And I fancy she plans to out-run us. Ask Dr. Maturin to join us, he loves a good chase.BLAKENEY goes below. Above, the topmen release more sailwhich is tightened by the men on deck hauling on cables.Those not working sit on a row along the windward gunwale,like the crew of an ocean racing yacht, to counterbalance thepull of the sails.145. WEATHER-DECK - DAYTheir speed is so great green seas are now sweeping theforecastle. A man falls and rolls into the scuppers. MOWETT Lifelines fore and aft! JACK Speed, Mr. Calamy?CALAMY heaves the lead and reads the log line, then shoutsback to JACK - CALAMY Twelve knots, Sir!146. THE SURPRISE - DAYHeeled over under a great press of sail, her copper showingas she clefts the waves.147. FORECASTLE - DAYLined up along the starboard rails, the crew look back attheir captain riding the ship like a charioteer, one eyealoft on the creaking topmost spar. JEMMY DUCKS We're cracking on, eh? FASTER DOUDLE We'll be cracking off presently if he doesn't watch it. SLADE No, he knows this ship. He knows what she can take.He touches wood, just the same and looks at Joe Plaice whogives a meaningful roll of his eyes.Ahead, the bank of storm clouds loom gunmetal grey.148. GREAT CABIN - DAYPULLINGS knocks and enters, with an anxious looking MR. LAMB,with whom he has been arguing a point. PULLINGS We can just see her topsails. She's made her turn westwards. LAMB I can't vouch for the mizzen Sir, not round Cape Horn. JACK I'll not lose her now. Set a course westwards.Both men accept this and leave.149. QUARTERDECK (TIMELAPSE) - DAYThe wind has increased considerably, the deck sloping likethe roof of a house, the masts bending like coach-whips.PULLINGS and LAMB are looking up at the mizzenmast which ismaking ominous creaks and groans. JACK Mr Hollar, rig preventer backstays. Warps and light hawsers to the mastheads.JACK stares ahead to the darkening sky as they move across aswitchback landscape of massive rolling waves. JACK (CONT'D) Better get below, Mr. Pullings! PULLINGS What, Sir? JACK (GRINNING) Better get some food in you. Before it turns nasty.150. OCEAN - DAYWide to see the two ships. The Surprise and the Acheron witha mile of sea between them. It's like some great ocean race,with neither prepared to take in canvas despite the appallingconditions.151. QUARTERDECK - LATER, DAYThey are running fast before a dangerous, following sea: alandscape of hills and valleys, the whole thing in terrifyingmotion.The forecastle now vanishes in foam with every plunge, risingeach time with water pouring over the waist and spouting fromher scuppers.KILLICK comes up with the coffee pot inside his jacket. JACKdrinks from the spout, peering ahead into the murk. A wildunruly part of him is loving this.Above him, more top-men struggle up the rigging, with themast drawing crazy figure of eights on a rushing sky.152. BELOW DECKSThe dog watch are wolfing their food, mugs and dinner platessliding over the table. Crewmen walk up hill to the grogbarrel, down their ration and head up top again. HIGGINS You reckon Captain will keep chasing him 'round the Horn with every stitch of canvas flying? DAVIES I reckon he'd chase him to the gates of hell if he has to. PLAICE And that's where we're all going if he doesn't take in sail.Since his injury, Joe Plaice's startlingly randompronouncements have acquired the quality of an oracle.153. ON DECKThe wind rising from yell to shriek. Waves blown flat by it,the ship travelling at a drunken sideways angle across araging expanse of white foam.Four men on the wheel, lashed to it, with the air around themfull of water.In the distance a tower of black rock on the rim of the sea,distant rollers breaking against it and surging up to apreposterous height.JACK looks up at the great press of canvas as he paces thequarterdeck, the officers glancing from the sails back toJACK. JACK Strike the topgallants.Men gratefully rush to the ratlines and begin climbing to themasts.STEPHEN staggers up onto deck. JACK calls to him, pointing atthe black rock. JACK (CONT'D) Cape Horn, Doctor!STEPHEN stares across at the legendary Cape. He's strugglingwith his pocket-glass when a lurch of the ship sends himtumbling. As men help him below, WARLEY, the maintop captainreports to the bosun. HOLLAR (to WARLEY) Help them with that mizzen topgallant! You go too, Mr. Hollom!HOLLOM looks desperate as he follows WARLEY up the ratlinesof the mizzen.154. MIZZEN TOPgallant MASTWARLEY works frantically. He's out on the yardarm high abovethe raging sea. He shouts for HOLLOM to join him, but HOLLOMis still in the top, some twenty feet below, unable orunwilling to climb any higher.155. THE SURPRISE - DAYWide to see the ship. WARLEY working on the swaying mizzen.The bow swinging a couple of points further south.156. QUARTERDECK - DAYWood and rope straining as they wrestle to turn. Then atremendous crack as the mizzen-topmast splits and fliesbackward into the sea, carrying WARLEY along with it. BONDEN Man overboard!Sail and cordage falling over the men at the wheel. A looseblock and tackle swinging murderously in the gale.JACK fights free from the tangle of ropes as WARLEY vanishesin the foam. The mizzenmast is acting as a sea-anchordragging the ship's head northwards toward the black rocks.JACK grabs a speaking-trumpet as WARLEY briefly reappears. JACK Swim for the wreckage, man!Then to PULLINGS. JACK (CONT'D) Reduce sail!As crewmen scramble frantically into the rigging, JACK turnsback to see WARLEY desperately swimming toward the trailingwreckage, his mates shouting encouragement over the howlingwind.With sails reduced the ship perceptibly slows, but thedragging wreckage is swinging the ship broadside on to thewaves. BONDEN She's broaching!PULLINGS runs to JACK, pointing to the trailing mass of ropesand mast. PULLINGS It's acting as a sea-anchor! We must cut it loose, Sir!WARLEY still struggling to reach the wreckage but going underwith each wave. JACK, agonized, makes his decision. JACK Axes!AWKWARD DAVIES scrambles up the ladder with an axe, but loseshis footing and falls sprawling over the quarterdeck.JACK grabs the axe and attacks the ropes. He's joined byNAGEL who has run to assist before realizing that the manoverboard is his friend Warley. JACK (CONT'D) Set to then. Set to!!NAGEL's face is a mask of horror, but he obeys Jacks ordersand starts chopping. He and Jack work shoulder to shoulder,matching blow for blow [ ]The prow keeps turning, wave after wave coming at rightangles to the ship.157. ON THE GUN-DECK - DAYA hatch cover is torn off by the force of water, a suddenmighty deluge pouring down into the lower levels drenchingthe men and swamping the guns. HOLLAR (yells below) All hands to the pumps!158. QUARTERDECK - DAYJACK and NAGEL [ ] keep hacking at the tangle of ropes.Knocking chips off the railing in their urgency to cut freethe dragging mast.Finally they succeed. The last of the ropes [ ] whips away,the broken mizzen disappears aft and the ship swingssouthward, away from the rocks.The wreckage is swept away by the next wave, leaving WARLEYstruggling, his last chance of getting back to the ship gone.Then another wave breaks over him and he is gone.NAGEL is bereft. JACK lowers his head.159. OUTSIDE THE GREAT CABIN - NIGHTKILLICK and BLACK BILL. KILLICK He's been at it again. BLACK BILL Who's that then? KILLICK The Jonah. BLACK BILL What Jonah?160. THE GREAT CABIN - NIGHTJACK sits at his desk. The model of the Acheron that WARLEYhelped make sits accusingly in front of him.STEPHEN pours him a glass on wine, and one for himself. STEPHEN The deaths in actual battle are the easiest. (beat) For my own part - those who die under the knife or from some consequent infection: I have to remind myself that it is the enemy who killed them, and not me. (beat) Warley was a casualty of war, as surely as if a French ball had taken him.JACK nods. Obviously the death still weighs on hisconscience. [ ] STEPHEN (CONT'D) (offering the wine) At the same time....He breaks off Jack At the same time, what?Stephen hesitates, aware that he has to proceed carefully STEPHEN You know that I wear two hats on every voyage. I am the captains particular friend and supporter, but also I am the ships doctor in which later capacity I am party to....He catches a steely glint in Jacks eye and breaks off. STEPHEN (CONT'D) You don't want me to continue. JACK (stiffly) On the contrary. I insist on it. STEPHEN There is talk below decks of turning back. Or rather that we should have turned back some weeks ago. Of course the men would follow "Lucky Jack" anywhere, and usually in the confident expectation of victory. But that of course is the problem. JACK What is the problem? STEPHEN That you are not accustomed to defeat Jack. That you have taken it too personally. That chasing this larger, faster ship, with its long guns, is beginning to smack of pride 'which goeth before destruction'? JACK It's not pride nor anything like it, it's a question of duty. STEPHEN 'Duty', ah yes. The naval signal for end of discussion. JACK You can be as 'satiric' as you like, Stephen, but I have my orders. She is attacking our whalers. For why? Without whales we have no boot polish, nor any soap, nor oil for our lamps, not to oil our sabres and muskets. Destroying our whalers could win the war for Napoleon. Which is why we must catch this Acheron. As a man of learning surely you can see that. STEPHEN At whatever the cost? JACK Any whatever cost I choose to pay. And I will calculate that myself, Stephen without reference to your friends in the ward room.160A MIZZEN-TOPAn icy wind whips at the men working on the temporary mizzenmast.Hollom, half way up the rigging is relaying instructionsbetween the men in the rigging and the men on deck HOLLOM Cast off.The new yard flails around on its pulley, bashing dangerouslyagainst the mast. Almost claiming Nagel HOLLOM (CONT'D) Belay. Sorry. Sorry.161 QUARTERDECKPULLING craning upwards. The topmen's shouted commands arewhipped away by the gale.JACK joins him, still smarting from the conversation withStephen JACK We'll have to go further south, get around this bloody west wind. PULLINGS How far south? JACK As far as is necessary, Mr. Pullings. The sixtieth parallel if need be.162. THE SHIP - DAYTacking southwards. The sun, a pale anaemic disc, graduallydisappearing behind layers of cloud.The wind is a constant shrill whistle through the rigging, asound like some infernal drill which rises and falls butnever ceases. DISSOLVE TO -163. QUARTERDECK - DAWNThe sun rising in a clear sky which turns a sapphire blue.White ice-islands lie all around them, some a pure, rosypink. Others bright ultramarine.And still the wind howls, driving them further south.MOWETT passes his telescope to STEPHEN MATURIN. As STEPHENstudies some seals on an ice-beach, MOWETT launches intoverse, shouting against the wind - MOWETT Then we upon the globes last verge shall go to view the ocean leaning on the sky from thence our rolling neighbours we shall know and on the hidden world securely pry!He is interrupted by a bundle of guns clattering on boardfrom one of the small boats. They are followed by Mr Howardclad in several thicknesses of sealskin and carrying a braceof dead penguin.164. THE SHIP AT NIGHTThe ship scudding onwards, soundless at this distance, butfor the chilling high pitched whistle of the wind.An iceberg passes in foreground, fantastic shapes of ice,like a Gothic cathedral, sculpted by the elements.165. BERTH DECK - NIGHTHanging stoves provide some feeble warmth. Men huddle closeto them, their breath condensing, or lie shivering in theirbunks, unable to sleep for the cold.HOLLAR appears with a lantern. HOLLAR Rise and shine! Show a leg there, tumble up, tumble up - sleepers awake!As the previous watch arrive downstairs, numb and dazed fromthe cold, the next watch emerge from their hammocks anddress. No-one speaks.166. THE GREAT CABIN - DAYThe officers take their places at dinner. Once again it'spenguin stew.PULLINGS comes in, with an unexpected smile on his face andwhispers something to JACK. JACK Praise be. At last.The others seem to know what's going on, all except STEPHENwho looks baffled. STEPHEN Pray what is there to celebrate?JACK holds up his hand for silence. A series of creaks andgroans from the ship. The coffee pot tilts on its gimbals. JACK We have made our turn northward, Doctor. We are headed back toward the sun...The officers give a slightly ragged cheer. JACK (CONT'D) ...in anticipation of which. I asked Killick to prepare something special. (shouts off) Killick. Killick there.KILLICK comes in with his usual exasperated expression,bearing a tray with a silver tureen lid on it. KILLICK Which I was just coming.He lays it on the table. JACK Gentlemen, I give you... our destination.He whips off the lid to reveal a strange glutinous mass, apudding cut in the oddest of shapes. Everyone stands to get abetter look. STEPHEN The Galapagos Islands. PULLINGS 'Pon my word so it is. Look: here's Narborough, Chatham and Hood... JACK That's where the whalers are, ain't it Mr Allen. So that's where the Acheron will be headed.The mood is now taken over by the glee of recognition, as theofficers marvel over the pudding. JACK (CONT'D) Mr. Pullings, if you'll permit me, a slice of Albermale. For you Doctor, Redondo Rock.There's a tiny man-of-war made of icing, between the islands.JACK picks it up in his spoon. JACK (CONT'D) And, with a fair wind behind us the Acheron for me.167. OPEN OCEAN, DOLDRUMS - DAYSlow pan over a glassy expanse of water. JACK's head suddenlybreaks the surface, close to camera.As he swims he brings the Surprise into view. The ship isutterly becalmed, wallowing in the swell, her sails hanginglimp. A 'painted ship upon a painted ocean'.JACK swims around the ship, which currently presents a lessthan warlike picture with washing hanging from every part ofthe rigging.He calls up to PULLINGS - JACK Best bowers chipped... Lot of rust on these forechains... black strake needs another coat.168. QUARTERDECKJACK comes aboard, takes a towel from KILLICK and looks abouthim.The men are holystoning the deck and polishing thebrightwork. They look thin and exhausted and burnt dark-brownby the sun and wind.169. FORECASTLEKillick is with NAGEL and others tarring the ratlines as helooks back at HOLLOM, patrolling the gangway.KILLICK indicates him with a tilt of the head. KILLICK That engagement off Recife: his whole gun crew killed and him not a mark on him. Soon as he went up the mizzen mast Warley falls. And whose watch was it when we lost our wind?HOLLOM sees them looking at him.170. THE SCUTTLEBUTT, SHIP'S WAIST - DAYA marine sentry, TROLLOPE, stands guard by the ship's water-barrel - the level is very low. STEPHEN ladles some waterinto a phial. TROLLOPE One glass per man, sir, Captain's orders.STEPHEN straightening, irritated by the challenge. STEPHEN A mere thimbleful, Corporal, for scientific purposes only.171. STEPHEN'S CABIN - DAYIn the gloom of his cabin, STEPHEN angles the mirror of hisbrass microscope toward the window, and places a slidecontaining a droplet of water under the lens.172. MAINMAST-TOP - DAYJACK climbs into the top. He adjusts his telescope, studiesthe horizon.173. JACK'S TELESCOPE P.O.V.He pans across the empty sea.174. STEPHEN'S MICROSCOPE P.O.V.An assortment of mobile, transparent micro-organisms rotatingwildly. STEPHEN (O.S.) My God, Padeen, a veritable zoo.PADEEN takes a look, amazed then greatly amused.175. THE GREAT CABIN - NIGHTCharts are spread all over the table, STEPHEN poring overthem when Jack comes in [ ] STEPHEN Show me where these Doldrums lie?JACK joins him. JACK Stephen. Will we never make a sailor of you? The doldrums is a condition, not a region. But you tend to strike 'em here... (pointing) ...between the trades, and the sou'easterlies. I hope the Acheron is having it as bad as we are.STEPHEN considers their current position on the chart, thetiny Galapagos Islands to the north and the vast emptiness tothe west of them. STEPHEN Assuming he is heading for the Galapagos, and not some other point in all this vastness? JACK Come. I'd have thought you'd be delighted to go there. It is said to be a natural paradise STEPHEN In truth I'd be delighted with the merest guano stained rock provided it didn't sway beneath my feet JACK Well, we'll take on food and water once we're there, and as compensation for not having put ashore in Brazil I pledge that during that time, several days at least, you can wander at will, catching bugs and beetles to your heart's delight. You will be the first naturalist to set foot on the islands. That is my solemn promise STEPHEN I accept, provided the men have not mutinied and thrown us all overboard before we get there. JACK Mutiny? No. They are already counting their share of the prize money. STEPHEN Another week of this and they shall gladly give it up for a glass of clean water. JACK Ach, Stephen. Stephen. Pray stop your bellyacheing. We shall have rain presently, and if not we shall damned well tow ourselves out of this.176. JOLLY BOAT - DAYDisgruntled, under-slept men, in boats towing the ship.NAGEL and DAVIES look back darkly at HOLLOM who sits in thestern. HOLLOM Stroke. Stroke... DAVIES (whispers) I heard he were on the Fair Marion as foundered off Tresco. And he were on the Zephyrus what exploded at Trafalgar.HOLLOM has heard this, as DAVIES intended, but he looks awaychoosing to ignore them.177. FIGHTING TOP - DAYA view from above of men towing the ship. Over this anunpleasant scraping sound - chalk on slate. BONDEN M-a-s-t... mastSTEPHEN is writing words on a slate then offering them toBONDEN whom he is teaching to read. BONDEN (CONT'D) S-u-n... sunSTEPHEN nods and scratches another word on the board. AsBONDEN struggles to decipher it there's the sound of a musketshot and a seabird falls out of the sky.HOWARD, the captain of marines, reloads his smoking musketlaughing aloud. STEPHEN Is that man completely mad? (shouts down) Mr. Howard, a petrel is not good eating!HOWARD looks up towards them, a broad smile on his red moonof a face. HOWARD Were you never a man for sporting, Doctor? Why you could shoot all day in these waters with two men loading!178. GUN-DECK - DAYThe midshipmen and powder-monkeys have assembled for weaponspractise, armed with cutlasses. CALAMY and WILLIAMSON dividethe group into two teams, choosing sides as for school-yardfootball. CALAMY Blakeney... WILLIAMSON Rye... CALAMY Swift... WILLIAMSON Boyle... CALAMY (the final choice) All right, come on Addison.Little ADDISON joins CALAMY's side, trailing his too-largesword. WILLIAMSON tosses a coin. CALAMY (CONT'D) Heads. WILLIAMSON It's tails. We attack.CALAMY's side retire to a defensive position made of tarbarrels at one end of the deck. From here they are suddenlyaware of Jack idly watching their mock-fight from thequarter-deckWILLIAMSON's team give a yell and charge at them.It's serious fighting. Heads are struck, fingers are rapped.BLAKENEY, trying gamely with his left arm but frustrated byhis own ineptitude, goes down under the rush of attackers. BLAKENEY Ow ow ow! WILLIAMSON Yield. CALAMY Let go of him. WILLIAMSON Yield!!CALAMY can't drag the bigger boy off. He whips a pistol outof his belt and fires it at WILLIAMSON's head.WILLIAMSON is blasted sideways, clutching his face andyelling in pain. The other boys separate, horrified. CALAMY It's just powder. There wasn't a ball in it, just powder.He helps BLAKENEY to his feet. CALAMY (CONT'D) Are you all right? BLAKENEY No.Angrily shaking free of him, he looks to where Jack stood,but the captain is no longer watching. CALAMY What's wrong? I saved you. BLAKENEY I didn't need to be saved.179. ON DECK - DAYTar bubbling under the heat of the sun. Cannons fizzing andsteaming as they are washed.There's been a change of crews in the long-boats, and HOLLOMand his men are now back on board. NAGEL is approaching fromone end of the narrow gang-way, HOLLOM from the other. NAGELpushes past, deliberately bumping HOLLOM, who stumbles,clutching for the gunwale.180. QUARTERDECK - DAYJACK sees this outrageous act of indiscipline and yells out - JACK Master at arms! Take that man below and clap him in irons. Mr. Pullings, defaulters at six bells.181. THE GREAT CABIN, DOLDRUMS - DAYJACK stands behind his desk, brow like thunder. From outsidethe sounds of the muster. HOLLOM stands in front of him,twisting his hat between his hands. JACK The man pushed past you without making his obedience. And yet you said nothing. HOLLOM No, Sir, I intended to but the right words just didn't... JACK 'The right words'? He failed to salute you. It's deliberate insubordination.HOLLOM looks at the floor, mumbles - HOLLOM They don't like me, Sir. JACK They what? Speak up, man!HOLLOM raises his head and looks at JACK, his eyes shiny withtears and when he opens his mouth the words tumble out in arush. HOLLOM I've tried to get to know the men a bit, Sir, be friendly like, but they've taken a set against me. Always whispering when I go past, giving me looks. But, I'll set that to rights, be tougher on them from now on. JACK You can't make 'friends' with the foremast jacks, they'll despise you in the end. Nor do you need be a tyrant. It's leadership they want, strength, respect. HOLLOM I'm very sorry, Sir. JACK You're what twenty-three, twenty-four? HOLLOM (smiling weakly) Twenty-five next Friday. JACK You've failed to pass for lieutenant twice. You can't spend the rest of your life as a midshipman. HOLLOM I'll try harder, Sir.KILLICK helps JACK on with his full-dress uniform. JACK Well, it's an unfortunate business, Hollom. Damned unfortunate.KILLICK seems to endorse this by placing the captain's hatemphatically on JACK's head.Jack turns and strides out of the cabin, HOLLOM followingslowly after him.182. QUARTERDECK, DOLDRUMS - DAYThe entire crew has been mustered. The uniformed officersline the quarterdeck as JACK reads from the Articles of War. JACK 'Article Thirty-Six. All other crimes not capital, committed by any person or persons in the fleet... shall be punished according to the laws, and customs, of the sea.' (then, to NAGEL) Mr. Nagel, you're an old man-of-war's man and yet you failed to salute an officer. You knew what you were doing. Have you anything to say in your defence?NAGEL looks at the deck. NAGEL No, Sir. JACK Have his officers anything to say for him?DAVIES and KILLICK scowl across the deck at HOLLOM, who lookswretched but says nothing. JACK (CONT'D) Seize him up.NAGEL is spread-eagled to the grating, his hands tied. HOLLAR Seized up, Sir. JACK One dozen. Bosun's mate, do your duty.The mate takes the leather cat-o-nine tails out of its redbag. FADE TO BLACK FADE UP ON -183. THE GREAT CABIN - DUSKJACK stands alone, tuning his fiddle. No matter how much heturns the peg the top string always sounds flat. He tunessome more and breaks it. JACK Red hell...184. QUARTERDECK - DUSK JACK (O.S.) ...and bloody death!Every word is plainly audible to the men on watch, whopretend to hear nothing.185. THE GREAT CABIN - DUSKJACK is fitting a new string. Widen to reveal STEPHEN sittingopposite with his cello. STEPHEN I was merely remarking that you have always prided yourself on not being a flogging captain and this... JACK I am not a "flogging captain". I have not once rigged the grating on this voyage, not once in twelve thousand miles. Besides, I wager you will find a deal more brutality on land.Tightening the new string. The note escalating as he turns. STEPHEN I'm not a party to it on land. JACK Well you are party to it on my ship. Men must be governed. Often not wisely I grant you, but there are hierarchies even in nature, as you've often said yourself. STEPHEN Hierarchies. That is the excuse of every tyrant in history. Of Nero. Of Boneparte. JACK (trying to call a halt) Yes. Fine words I'm sure STEPHEN (continues regardless) ...We are not animals and I for one am opposed to authority, that egg of misery and oppression.. JACK Very fine words Stephen, but In these current circumstances, hard-work and firm discipline is what keeps our little wooden world together. STEPHEN And grog I suppose. JACK Of course. What of it? Of course they have their grog! STEPHEN (sits) (CONT'D) You know Nagel was drunk when he insulted Hollom. And Higgins is never sober. Even the midshipmen... JACK The men will have their grog Stephen. It is part of the immemorial tradition of the service STEPHEN Well a shameful tradition it is too. To have them pressed from their homes, kept in a permanent state of dull inebriation. JACK Stephen... STEPHEN ...confined for months in a wooden prison, Never more than a few hours sleep and flogged when drunken idleness drives them to.... JACK (forcefully) ...Stephen! I warn you that friend or no I will not have you talk of the service like that. STEPHEN I am stating plain facts JACK (finally explodes) Well I will not hear them! From you or anyone. You understand! Things are as they are for good or bad whether or not they have a place in your damned papist philosophy. If you are here to make music then sit down and play. If not be gone, for you have come to the wrong shop for anarchy!In stony silence Stephen puts down his cello bow and leavespast Killick, who is lurking as always by the door.186. SCUTTLEBUTT - DUSKSomething disturbs the dark surface of the water as HOLLOMdips the ladle and fills his cup.A sense of someone moving up behind him. HOLLOM turnsabruptly. It's the marine sentry, moving in the shadows. Hestares at HOLLOM as he backs away toward the ladder andhurries below.187. BERTH DECK - DUSKTo reach his quarters he is obliged to walk the length of theberth deck, past HOWARD obsessively cleaning his pistol,another man whittling with a knife, DAVIES adding anotherlink in the tattooed chain about BECKETT's middle.No-one speaks as HOLLOM runs the gauntlet of their stares,acutely aware of his own breathing. It now seems universallyto be held that he is the author of all the ship'smisfortune.Nagle pointedly turns his back, the scars from the flogginggleaming wetly in the lamplightHollom's breath quickens. He stumbles on someone's dunnage,almost trips but is caught before he falls. It's one ofNAGEL's mates. NAGEL's MATE Careful, sir.188. MIDSHIPMAN'S BERTH - DUSKHOLLOM comes in, wild-eyed and goes to his berth, breathinghard. CALAMY, BLAKENEY & BOYLE look up from a tense game ofcards. BLAKENEY Are you all right, Hollom?HOLLOM shakes his head miserably, hyperventilating. CALAMY He's not sick. He's useless. He's just dodging work. BLAKENEY (angrily) Oh shut up Calamay. What do you know about anything?CALAMY glares at BLAKENEY.189. INT STEPHEN'S ROOM - DUSKA shot from the deck above.STEPHEN looks up from his book "Di Consolazione Philosophae".Then the sound of bare feet approaching, followed by a knockat the door.Its Joe Plaice, looking agitated. PLAICE Beg your pardon, your honour, but Mr. Howard just shot a sea-monster!190. GANGWAY - DUSKSTEPHEN and PLAICE stride along to where the marine captain,HOWARD, peers down into the water with one of his men. HOWARD Doctor! The very man.STEPHEN moves to the rail, looks out. HOWARD (CONT'D) [ ] I wished you'd seen it for yourself, Doctor. The crew never seen anything like it.On the glassy sea, a smudge of blood and some ripples HOWARD (CONT'D) It was prodigious like a human, though bigger, might have been a sea-elephant, it had a calf with it - I didn't mean to hit the calf, I missed my mark. STEPHEN Mr. Howard, let me beg you, if the men can't eat it or I can't dissect it, please do not shoot every creature you see.STEPHEN stares back down at the ripples spreading over theglassy sea.191. THE SURPRISE - NIGHTWide, on the troubled ship, small yellow patches of lightvisible from the gun-ports.192. BELOW DECKS - NIGHTThe men are lying in their hammocks when, from somewhereoutside, there comes an ungodly howling. It stops, then comesagain, exactly human in its pitch.The crew look at one another. This is like no sound they'veever heard.The howling stops then comes again, from another direction.193. THE GREAT CABIN, EXTERIOR - NIGHTKILLICK and BLACK BILLY listening. KILLICK What did I tell you? The ship's accursed.194. QUARTERDECK - NIGHTJACK comes up from below. JACK What is that abominable noise, for God's sake? PULLINGS I have no idea, Sir. MOWETT You don't think it's the Acheron, Sir? JACK (untypically cutting) The enemy cannot come on us without a wind, Mr. Mowett.He looks about at the terrified faces of the crew. Thewailing sound now rises to a shriek, as STEPHEN joins thegroup. JACK (CONT'D) What do you make of it, Doctor? STEPHEN I'm sure I've never heard the like.The crew overhear this and pass it among themselves asanother anguished howl fills the night. STEPHEN (CONT'D) Perhaps it's the mother of the creature Mr. Howard shot. JACK [ ] Creature? STEPHEN [ ] A manatee. A sea-elephant possibly. Though I have never known one with a cry like this.A glance along at HOWARD on the gangway, as terrified asanyone. JACK Bosun. Fire off some flares.195. WIDE ON THE SHIP - NIGHTThree flares soar and burst with a ghostly glow, making apool of blue light around the ship, the sound continuing toecho and re-echo from somewhere beyond.196. QUARTERDECK - NIGHTThe light illuminates the half-hour glass, its top-half emptyof sand. Like everyone else, the duty sergeant stands frozento the spot. Jack rounds on him. JACK Sergeant, what the devil are you thinking of? Turn the glass and strike the bell.Roused, the duty sergeant turns the glass and time resumesits flow.Two bells are hesitantly rung and the crew regain the powerof motion, their limbs still spastic with fear. And when thesound comes once more they all freeze.JACK joins MOWETT at the taffrail. The thing is somewhere outthere, whatever it is. MOWETT Perhaps some poor shipwreck?He shouts, a slight nervous catch to his voice. MOWETT (CONT'D) Ahoy! Is anyone there?Part of him knows it's crazy and of course there's no reply.The sound constantly shifting position, now in the water, nowin the sky.JACK turns to see a white face, frighteningly close to hisown. It's PADEEN, mouth agape, face unnaturally white,staring into the gloom as though drawn to whatever horrorlies out there. JACK Padeen. What are you doing on the quarterdeck?He looks down at the press of men who have gathered at thebottom of the ladder, some with weapons. JACK (CONT'D) Below! All of you men below! (to MOWETT) Tell the bosun those off-duty may sleep with their lamps on.197. LOWER DECK - NIGHTSeveral crewmen huddle close together their faces lit by abattle-lantern. Joe Plaice grim. Doudle wide-eyed. Higginswith his alcoholic tremor more pronounced than ever. BLACK BILL Duppies make that noise. KILLICK (indicating BILL) See. They know all about this in Africa. DOUDLE What's a duppie? BLACK BILL That Warley. Swallow by a fish. Spirit can't get out. Him duppie now. SLADE Captain don't even know what that noise be.General nods of agreement. DOUDLE Doctor neither, and he knows everything. KILLICK Joe here's got the most experience in these matters, and new brains to boot, let's hear it from Joe.All eyes on JOE PLAICE. He speaks from the shadows. PLAICE It's the Jonah causing it. That howling thing is a signal to the Phantom-Ship. He's calling it up, don't you see? Every time he's on watch the ship appears. You wait and see, the ghost-ship will appear any time tonight, and take us all straight to the hot-place.Another shriek, closer now, seems to confirm JOE's bizarretheory.198. MIDSHIPMEN'S BERTH - NIGHTThe boys sit together. None of them look at HOLLOM, who sitspale and wretched in a corner of the room, clutching hisstomach.199. STEPHEN'S CABIN - NIGHTAs the howling continues, STEPHEN looks through a number ofbooks on sea-creatures searching for a reference to whatthey're experiencing.As JACK looks over his shoulder, his eye is caught by apicture in one of STEPHEN's books.He picks it up.Close on the picture - it's an engraving of a giant squid,its tentacles wrapped around a ship.Back on JACK holding the picture up to STEPHEN. JACK You don't think...?There is a knock on the cabin door and BLAKENEY enters,agitated. BLAKENEY (to STEPHEN) It's Mr. Hollom, sir, you better come quick.200. MIDSHIPMEN'S BERTHHOLLOM writhing in agony on the floor, STEPHEN trying to calmhim, shouting for assistance from the midshipmen and thenfrom PADEEN. STEPHEN Mr Hollom. Sir. Try to contain yourself. Hold his head. Mr Hollom. Padeen201. STEPHEN'S CABIN - NIGHT.Stephen is writing some case notes in his journal, when Jackputs his head around the door.Stephens POV: The lamp, lighting his face from below and toone side, gives a strange lopsided twist to Jacks smile JACK Well? STEPHEN There's nothing physically wrong with him. He thinks he's been cursed by the 0men. JACK Then he probably has been. Sailors will abide a great deal, but never a Jonah. It's like a white crow - the others peck it to death. STEPHEN A 'Jonah'? My God, you believe it too. JACK I desired to save you the trouble of looking for a cure. No doubt it will all be sorted by the morning.202 FORECASTLE, LATER - NIGHTBLAKENEY stands near the bows peering out into the night. Afigure approaches from behind and lays a hand in hisshoulder.BLAKENEY nearly jumps out of his skin. BLAKENEY Mr. Hollom! You gave me such a start. Are you better now?HOLLOM's breathing does indeed seem easier. HOLLOM Much better, thank you. BLAKENEY I think the creature is going away. HOLLOM I am sure of it.He reaches down, picks up a 12 pound cannonball. HOLLOM (CONT'D) You've always been very kind to me. Goodbye, Blakeney.With a sudden movement he's on the gunwale, then he jumpsover the side the cannonball in his arms.BLAKENEY looks down with shock to see HOLLOM's pale facereceding from him into the depths. It's a moment before hegathers his wits to shout - BLAKENEY Man overboard!203. QUARTERDECK - DAWNThe ship's company are mustered on deck. JACK stands at thesword rack lectern. KILLICK hands him a Bible open at thestory of Jonah.JACK looks, then hands it back to KILLICK. JACK The fact is, [ ] not all of us become the men we once hoped we might be. But we are all God's creatures. If some of us thought ill of Mr. Hollom, or spoke ill of him, or failed him in respect of fellowship, then we ask your forgiveness, Lord, and we ask for his.Close on the faces of the crew - KILLICK, HIGGINS, NAGEL,CALAMY, BLAKENEY and finally Stephen who is staring oddly atJack, as though holding him partly responsible for thislatest tragedy. JACK (CONT'D) Amen. CREW (mumble ashamedly) Amen.The men on deck remain standing, heads bowed, observing aminute's silence, as the sky begins to pale, and the whitedisc of the sun appears above them.FASTER DOUDLE is the first to look up, followed by others -the terrible sound has gone and a small puff of wind isstirring the mainsail.204. HOUR GLASSThe sand runs out of the half-hour glass. BONDEN Strike eight bells. QUARTERMASTER (to the marine sentry) Turn the glass and strike the bell.The glass is inverted. The bell tolls.205. SURPRISE AT SEA - DAYThe ship moves through a tropical squall. Men rig a sail tocatch the water, others appear with barrels and tubs,anything to catch the precious rain. DISSOLVE TO -206. THE SURPRISE - DAYSea birds swarming over a shoal of fish in the foreground asthe cry of the distant lookout carries faintly across thesea. LOOKOUT (O.S.) Land-ho!207. GANGWAY - DAYBLAKENEY runs along the gangway, past STEPHEN, en route tothe quarterdeck. BLAKENEY Give you joy, sir! We have raised the Galapagos!208. MONTAGE oF TELESCOPE VIEWS, GALAPAGOS - DAYThere's a primeval quality to the landscape, a feeling of aworld just born. The wild creatures that inhabit the lavaflows and coral beaches confirm this - the giant tortoises,iguanas, sea-lions and penguins, a teeming profusion ofexotic animals and plants.209. QUARTERDECK/FORECASTLE/TOPS - DAYThe ship fairly bristles with telescopes.210. FORECASTLEA small group of familiar faces share a pocket telescope. HIGGINS (looking) Can't see any wimmun. Just lots of ducks and lizards.DOUDLE takes the telescope. DOUDLE Wot? There must be wimmun. T'ain't natural.211. QUARTERDECKSTEPHEN and BLAKENEY side by side. From both their faces wesense their wonder at seeing these remarkable creatures forthe first time. STEPHEN How extraordinary. BLAKENEY What, sir? STEPHEN Those birds!He's looking at a group of unremarkable black seabirdswaddling about on a rock, flapping short, stumpy wings. STEPHEN (CONT'D) A species of cormorant. But apparently flightless, by all that's Holy. I believe that is unknown to science.BLAKENEY dwells briefly on the strange rock-climbing birdsthen drifts back to the iguanas. BLAKENEY The dragons don't seem to bother 'em. STEPHEN They are a type of iguana I should think, and therefore vegetarian.His telescope remains focussed on the cormorants. BLAKENEY iswholly absorbed in the iguanas. BLAKENEY Will you catch one? STEPHEN Yes. Most certainly. And if we can, some eggs. BLAKENEY I mean the great lizards. STEPHEN Oh!Recognizing how superficially dull the birds are toBLAKENEY's untutored eye, by contrast with giant lizards. STEPHEN (CONT'D) I should think a pair of them. Then you can present one of their offspring to the king. BONDEN Ha! There's one going for a swim. STEPHEN No. Iguanas are land animals. BONDEN Not these ones.The prehistoric-looking creatures, as if suddenly awakened,begin diving into the water. STEPHEN (O.S.) By Jove Bonden you are right! Two new species in as many minutes.He breaks off, suddenly aware of a shouted exchange betweenthe lookout and the quarterdeck. STEPHEN (CONT'D) What is all that confounded bellowing? JACK All hands about ship!BLAKENEY dashes off and STEPHEN is elbowed out of the way byhands rushing to get at the sails. NEHEMIAH SLADE By your leave sir, by your leave. HOLLAR (distant) Helms a'lee - off tacks and sheets - mainsail haul!As the ship turns a distant whaleboat appears with six menaboard, pulling out from one of the neighboring islands.212. IN THE LEE OF THE SHIP'S HULL (TIME-LAPSE) - DAYThe whaleboat has come alongside.Men swarm down the boarding nets and the whalers are helpedaboard, hoarse and exhausted from rowing and shouting. HOGG God bless you. Thank you, shipmates.213. QUARTERDECK - LATER, DAYHOGG, the senior whaler, sits with his mates, relating hisstory to JACK and the officers. HOGG We was coming back for fresh lines, hid in that inlet, yonder. Black-three master. Bit beamy and raised in the stern.Meaningful looks among Jack and his men. Its definitely theAcheron he's describing [ ]Hogg meanwhile takes a pint mug of water, gulps it down, andpasses it back to BLAKENEY for a refill. HOGG (CONT'D) Hundred thousand pound of good whale oil they stole. Then the bastards... ALLEN (cuffs him) No swearing on the quarterdeck. JACK (waves ALLEN away) Go on. HOGG ...Then they burnt our bloody ship and headed off, bunch of fugging pirates.Looking pointedly at Allen [ ] JACK And her course? HOGG Maybe a point south of west. Following the rest of the whaling fleet. JACK (rising) Mr. Mowett, these men to be entered on the ship's books. Mr. Allen, lay a course west sou'west.As ALLEN hurries away shouting orders - PULLINGS Should we not take on fresh supplies, Sir? Those tortoises... JACK (overlapping, impatient) There's not a moment to lose, Mr. Pullings.He leaves the quarterdeck and goes below, STEPHEN following.214. IN THE GREAT CABINJACK has taken his jacket off and is already unfurling hischarts. STEPHEN hurries in. STEPHEN Have you forgotten your promise? JACK (not looking up) Subject to the requirements of the service, Stephen. I could not in all conscience delay for the sake of an iguano or a... giant peccary - interesting no doubt, but of no immediate application. STEPHEN (overlap) How can you dismiss, out of hand, the bounty of nature? Knowledge that... that will help to progress... JACK (overlap) I can see nothing on shore that will progress our mission. STEPHEN (overlap) But how can we possibly know what lies [ ] on these islands, perhaps some knowledge that may save life, that... JACK (overlap) I will tell you how to save lives Stephen. Inform me how to guide this ship, undetected, under the nose of a 40 gun frigate. That is the job in hand sir.STEPHEN swallows his indignation and tries for a compromise. STEPHEN Well perhaps there's an opportunity to serve both our objectives. As I understand it you mean to go round the end of this long island, then start your voyage. I could walk across it, be on the other side long before...JACK shakes his head. STEPHEN (CONT'D) I would walk briskly, pausing only for important measurements and almost certainly making valuable discoveries... JACK (interrupts) If wind and tide had been against us I should have said yes. They are not and I am obliged to say no. (with finality) No.STEPHEN is livid. Betrayed. STEPHEN I see. So after all this time in your service I must simply be content to form part of this belligerent expedition, hurry past inestimable wonders, bent solely on destruction... JACK ...you forget yourself, sir. STEPHEN No Jack, You have forgotten your self. You once believed in the rights of each individual man no matter how useless or lowly. But it seems to me now that the long exercise of power has brought you to the point where even a solemn promise... JACK The promise was conditional. STEPHEN ...a promise to a friend of ten years standing who has stood by you and supported you.... JACK (overlapping) I command a King's ship, not a private yacht... STEPHEN ...across half the worlds oceans often at risk to his own life JACK ...and we have no time for your damned hobbies, sir!"Hobbies". So that is JACK's honest view of STEPHEN'slifetime of work in science. He bows slightly, then leaves.215 QUARTERDECK - DUSKSTEPHEN stands alone at the taffrail watching as the islandsrecede in the distance.News of the violent argument has spread and there is many asympathetic glance, which further humiliates STEPHEN.BLAKENEY approaches him carrying something carefully in thepalm of his hand. BLAKENEY Sir, I found a curious beetle walking on the deck.He opens his hand - close, on a very plain little brownbeetle. BLAKENEY (CONT'D) I think it's a Galapagos Beetle, sir. STEPHEN I'm sure of it. BLAKENEY Were you to have walked all day on the island, you might never have come across it. STEPHEN That is more than likely, sure.BLAKENEY passes it to STEPHEN. BLAKENEY You can have it. STEPHEN Thank you, Mr. Blakeney.BLAKENEY hovers for a moment, unsure of further conversation,then retreats.216 IN THE GREAT CABIN - NIGHTJACK sits alone at the table. KILLICK enters with toastedcheese for two. KILLICK No music? That's a shameHe sets down the toasted cheese. KILLICK (CONT'D) I'll just leave the one plate then, if himself won't be joining. JACK Yes, Killick. Just the one.JACK cuts himself a portion, scowling at STEPHEN's cellowhich seems to watch him reproachfully as he eats.217. STEPHEN'S CABIN - NIGHTSTEPHEN takes a dropper, carefully measures twenty drops oflaudanum to a glass of water, and drinks.218. LOOKOUT - DAYThe lookout leaning out from the cross-trees. DOUDLE (shouting) On deck there. Object fine on the starboard bow.219. THE SHIP LYING STATIONARY - DAYA barrel is being lifted aboard from the skiff and passed upthe side of the ship.220. IN THE WAIST OF THE SHIPJACK comes down, accompanied by ALLEN, the acknowledgedexpert in these matters.Others gather round, including HOGG the whaler, inspectingthe stencilled markings. ALLEN Martha's vineyard. HOGG No, this here's from Boston. I was married there once. ALLEN Any road, it's a Yankee barrel. HOGG What they call a Bedford Hog in New England. MOWETT (to JACK) The Acheron touched at Boston. HOGG And it's not been in the water more than a week. ALLEN One can't say with any accuracy but... HOGG Yes you can. There's no sea chummer on it, and the dowels is sound.221. ON THE QUARTERDECK - DAYJACK returns to his post. JACK Continue due west, Mr. Bonden.TOM PULLINGS watches him. There has been a change amongst theofficers and crew toward JACK. His relentless driving afterthe Acheron has reached the point of obsession, an obsessionnot shared by his exhausted men.He is a lonely, haunted figure as he now steps up on thegunwale, one hand on the ratlines, scanning the empty sea,sensing his enemy is out there, just beyond the curve of theearth. DISSOLVE TO -222. LADDER (TIME LAPSE) - DAYA wild wind humming through the rigging as STEPHEN goestopside.223. FORECASTLE - DAYHe finds various hands making the boats secure. PLAICE Have you seen the bird, doctor? STEPHEN I have not - no bird these many days. What kind of a bird? PLAICE A sort of albatross I believe, or perhaps a prodigious great mew. He has been following the ship since... there he is, crossing our wake!224. ON THE GANGWAY - DAYSTEPHEN runs along the gangway to get a clearer view,checking himself when he sees JACK on the quarterdeck.Their eyes meet. The quarterdeck is JACK's domain now, andSTEPHEN avoids it.Then, behind JACK, the great bird suddenly appears.It's huge, with at least a fourteen foot wing-span, andflying very close to the ship, drifting and soaring on thegusting wind, appearing and disappearing between the sails.STEPHEN is mesmerized by it. He lets go of the rail, leaningforward to get a better view.At the same time across from STEPHEN on the opposite gangway,HOWARD and two or three marines open fire on the bird. Thebird drops low, flying right by STEPHEN.Again a crackle of gunfire, but the bird is apparentlyuninjured, and it banks away, skimming the surface of thewater.STEPHEN sags to the deck. A shout. People running. Bloodspreading across the white of his shirt. HOWARD there by hisside. HOWARD My God, man! I'm so sorry. The bird dropped low. I didn't see you there!JACK is there, shouting - JACK Calamy! Get Higgins! (then turning to BONDEN) Padeen, Davies, carry the Doctor below.STEPHEN gets slowly up, hands reaching to help him, HOWARD inthe background distraught, explaining to anyone who'll listenwhat happened. STEPHEN It's all right, I am quite capable of walking.He tries to stand, crumples.225. STEPHEN's CABIN - DAYHIGGINS presses clumsily around the wound as STEPHEN lies onthe bed, his abdomen rigid, his breathing laboured. JACKwatches from the door. STEPHEN You will just make it worse... by prodding, Mr. Higgins, it cannot be got at... except by opening me up.A violent pitching of the ship makes it obvious howimpossible this will be under sail.As STEPHEN lapses into unconsciousness, HIGGINS lookingalarmed, approaches JACK. HIGGINS (a whisper) The bullet took a piece of shirt in with it. Unless it is removed it will suppurate and fester. JACK Are you equal to the task? HIGGINS I'll need to read up on the Doctor's books, like. Study some pictures he has, get my bearings. Be better on land, but I'll manage somehow.JACK looks away from the alcoholic HIGGINS back to STEPHEN.226. OUTSIDE THE CABINJACK passes an anxious crowd of the ship's company: BLAKENEY,JOE PLAICE, KILLICK and HOWARD. JACK You men get about your business.There are dark looks in JACK's direction as he retreats tohis cabin.227. THE GREAT CABIN - DAYJACK throws a chart on the table.With his protractor he marches out great strides west intothe Pacific from the Galapagos Islands and marks the ship'sposition - they are maybe a hundred miles from the Galapagos,ahead, open sea until the Marquesas.228. INT. STEPHEN'S CABIN - DUSKLying on his bed, in some pain, STEPHEN hears thudding feet,shouted orders.In his weakened state, the sounds tend to merge. Hispitching cabin keeps swimming out of focus.There's a knock on the door and JEMMY DUCKS appears with amug of soup and some biscuit. JEMMY DUCKS ...sail on the horizon, sir. Hull down, running west. It may be a couple of days before we can catch her.STEPHEN nods, all he wants is quiet.JEMMY DUCKS retreats, as STEPHEN swigs from a little bottleof laudanum, which for a moment brings peace, effectivelyblocking out the noise from above.A smile to PADEEN, like a farewell, and he closes his eyes.229. FORECASTLE - DUSKJACK, telescope to his eye, studies the distant ship asPULLINGS jumps down from the ratlines to the deck. PULLINGS It might be the Acheron. If we put on more sail we'd come up with her before nightfall.JACK lowers the telescope, turns his back on PULLINGS,strangely abstracted. PULLINGS (CONT'D) (to his back) Do you wish me to set the topgallants? (no reply) Sir?A long silence. Then JACK walks away.PULLINGS stares perplexed from JACK's retreating figure tothe distant chase. DISSOLVE TO -230. INTERIOR STEPHEN'S CABIN - DAWNEarly morning light on the interior of the cabin. PADEEN isasleep, holding a Bible, in the doctor's chair.STEPHEN himself lies motionless with his eyes closed and hismouth open, no colour in his face.The sea is relatively calm. From outside the sound of thebosun's orders, over rattling blocks and pulleys. HOLLAR (O.S.) ...Clap on now! Every rope an end... Jolly-boat away... Slowly, Jenks! You grass-combing lubber!MOWETT comes in, sees STEPHEN, and takes him for dead. MOWETT (shouts outside) Davies! Slade!Two big men come in behind him. PADEEN wakes, confused andpushes them away, moving protectively to the doctor's side.The commotion disturbs STEPHEN. His eyes open. Like a deadman just come back to life. MOWETT (CONT'D) Doctor. You're still with us. Can we move you onto a stretcher?STEPHEN swallows uncomfortably and tries to make sense ofthings.231. A GALAPAGOS ISLAND - DAYA giant iguana watches as a small procession trudges up thestony beach.At its head, STEPHEN is carried in a litter up to where atent has been set up above the high-water mark.His P.O.V. as JACK appears in the blue sky above him. STEPHEN Tell me this wasn't on my account? JACK (dead pan) No. It was because of Higgins. (beat) Can't have him poking around in your belly without a solid platform to work on.He ducks as they enter -232. THE HOSPITAL TENT - DAYIn the creamy light, they lay STEPHEN down on a recently-constructed wooden operating table.HIGGINS squats on the ground, rummaging through various largesharp surgical instruments which he has emptied onto a pieceof Hessian. JACK All set, Higgins?STEPHEN grabs JACK's sleeve. STEPHEN Not Higgins. I do this with my own hand.Jack frowns, unsure what he means by this.EXT. THE TENT - NIGHTPADEEN stands, arms crossed at the closed tent-flap, keepingat bay a crowd of well-wishers, and the merely curious.INT. THE TENT - NIGHTSTEPHEN sits pale and sweaty, propped up on a series ofchests, his back against a coil of rope. In front of him,suspended by pulleys, LAMB and NAGEL have set up a largegilt-framed mirror.Beside him, on a white tablecloth, some small scissors andscalpels. STEPHEN (To Jack) [ ] You are sure you have a head and a stomach for this kind of thing? JACK (smiles) My dear Doctor, I have seen blood and wounds since I was a little boy. STEPHEN Then hold my belly, pressing firmly when I give the word.STEPHEN begins first with the knife, then the probe - thegrind of metal on living bone. STEPHEN (CONT'D) You will have to raise the rib, Higgins. Take a good grip with the square retractor. Up. Harder, harder. (to himself) Snip the cartilage.The metallic clash of instruments, perpetual swabbing. STEPHEN (CONT'D) Now, Jack, a steady downward pressure. Good. Keep it so. Give me the davier. Swab, Higgins. Press, Jack, press.JACK closes his eyes. STEPHEN draws in his breath, arches hisback, and it's done. STEPHEN (CONT'D) There she is.He pulls out the bullet, and with it, a fragment of hisshirt. STEPHEN (CONT'D) Is that all of it?The bloody piece of shirt is handed to HIGGINS who matches itto the hole in STEPHEN's old shirt. HIGGINS Aye, she'll patch up nicely, sir. STEPHEN Easy away, Jack. Handsomely with the retractor. Higgins, look to the Captain, while I swab.HIGGINS helps JACK into a chair, pressing his head downbetween his knees. After a moment, and a few deep breaths,JACK looks up. STEPHEN smiles at him. A hint of surlytriumph. FADE TO BLACK FADE UP ON -235. STEPHEN'S TENT - DAYThrough a gap in the door of his tent STEPHEN can see thedistant ship at anchor. Repairs are underway, guns beingunloaded, stores and fresh water being ferried aboard.BLAKENEY comes in, followed by PADEEN with a some numberedboxes hung round his neck. STEPHEN My goodness, what is this?BLAKENEY starts rolling up the sides of the tent as PADEENunloads his boxes, each with a beetle and a piece ofvegetation in it. BLAKENEY Well sir, Padeen and I have been doing some collecting for you. The beetles each come with a specimen of plant they were found on. Ooops. Catch him, Padeen! There he goes.He finishes rolling up the tent sides to reveal a collectionof cages, with native wildfowl in them, being fed by thepoulterer, JEMMY DUCKS. BLAKENEY (CONT'D) The birds were snared by Jemmy Ducks. Captain says we can keep them in the chicken coop.Then, producing a notebook - BLAKENEY (CONT'D) And I made a few notes if you want to see them.STEPHEN flips the pages:No 22. Large square black beetle with pincers. Found underrock. Eats earthworms. STEPHEN 'Pon my word you have the makings of a true naturalist.BLAKENEY is flattered but unsure. BLAKENEY Well sir, perhaps I could combine them, and be a kind of Fighting-Naturalist, like yourself? [ ]Stephen smiles at this description as he levers himself intoa sitting position. STEPHEN Shall we take a tour of your aviary?BLAKENEY looks doubtfully at the doctor's bandaged abdomen. BLAKENEY Should you really be up? STEPHEN Yes. Padeen!PADEEN puts the escaped beetle in his mouth for safe keepingand offers STEPHEN a hand. STEPHEN pulls himself painfully tohis feet and starts buttoning his shirt. STEPHEN (CONT'D) (To Blakeney) How long does the Captain intend that we stay here, do you know?ON THE BEACH - DAYJACK is watching those of the crew not on duty play cricketon the shore, with a canvas ball and stumps made ofdriftwood. JACK Oh, a week perhaps. There is no great hurry. STEPHEN But surely, we must make haste for the Marquesas? JACK It may not have been the Acheron that we sighted. Nor can we be sure of her destination. (looks away) No, I think we shall go home now, before peace breaks out with France, God forbid.He's making light of what has been a huge and far-reachingdecision. STEPHEN But how will it sit with the Admiralty? To have spent six months in a fruitless pursuit and then come home empty-handed? JACK "Empty-handed"? Not a bit of it. What about these plants and animals which Blakeney has been collecting? The British museum will need an entire new wing for 'em.STEPHEN regards him gravely, shaking his head. STEPHEN I fear, Jack, you have burdened me with a debt I can never repay.He is absolutely sincere about this, to JACK's greatembarrassment. JACK Tosh. Name a shrub after me. Something prickly and hard to eradicate. STEPHEN A shrub? I shall name a giant tortoise: Testudo Aubreii!237. SURPRISE CAMP - DAWNSTEPHEN, BLAKENEY and PADEEN leave the camp on STEPHEN'sfirst day of exploration. They are armed with nets, basketsand a day's supply of food and water.STEPHEN walks slightly stooped, leaning on a walking stick.238. COUNTRYSIDE - DAYA strange and wonderful landscape lies before them, with itsorganically-shaped lava flows and alien-looking flora andfauna.Everywhere STEPHEN looks there are creatures unique to theislands. He is in his element, collecting specimens whichPADEEN carefully stores in the baskets.BLAKENEY has his telescope trained on some distant humps. BLAKENEY Doctor, would you think it very unscientific of me to ride on the back of one of those tortoises. STEPHEN No, Mr. Blakeney. I would think it an experiment of absolutely vital importance. But afterwards, I do desire to find that flightless cormorant, assuming that is what it is, and that I still have strength enough to catch it.239. A VALLEY - DAYBLAKENEY gets astride a giant tortoise and burns his bottomon its scorching hot shell.240. LAVA BEDS - DAYSTEPHEN with his telescope taking notes on bird-life.241. LOW SCRUB - DAYThe huge, strangely balletic figure of PADEEN chasing after abutterfly in evening light.242. A HEADLAND - DAYWide to see another aspect of the countryside - a hint ofdistant sea, a rocky headland rising from the plain.The group is widely scattered. STEPHEN at the base of theheadland, BLAKENEY half a mile further inland. PADEEN comingup slowly behind, laden with the fruits of their expedition.243. BASE OF THE HEADLAND - DAYSTEPHEN rests a moment. Some stones rattle down from thehillside. He looks up to see a flash of black feathers nearthe crest - the cormorant.On his shirt a red smudge has appeared. His wound has begunto bleed again.Ignoring this, Stephen pushes on after his quarry.244. THE ROCKY SLOPENear the top, STEPHEN pauses to catch his breath and glancesabove him.Again the bird, moving higher, as if leading him on.STEPHEN gets down on all fours, crawling cautiously to thecrest just above him.245. TOP OF THE HEADLANDA clearing. There is movement in the bushes.STEPHEN slowly rises, climbs the few paces to the hilltop andenters a clearing.He searches amongst the bushes. Nothing.He turns and looks back down the hillside to see BLAKENEY andPADEEN far below, then sits to get his breath back again.STEPHEN'S P.O.V: on the ground between his feet, a beetle. Hepicks it up.Close, on his hand. It is the same type of beetle BLAKENEYgave him aboard the Surprise.Smiling at the coincidence STEPHEN raises the tiny creatureto eye level.His P.O.V.: the beetle, the creature in sharp focus, behindit the sea, and on the sea, a black shape.The focus shifts to the background - a ship at anchor in abay.The beetle flies away as STEPHEN stares out at the ship. It'sthe Acheron, and they are weighing anchor.246. COUNTRYSIDE - DUSKBLAKENEY urging STEPHEN to hurry as they make their waythrough the darkening landscape. All kinds of creatures areappearing around them, and every few yards STEPHEN pauses toexamine something. BLAKENEY Sir, you must hurry! STEPHEN A moment! You're a worse tyrant than any ship's captain.He's breathing hard, exhausted. BLAKENEY You must carry him, Padeen!PADEEN looks at the collection of baskets he carries. BLAKENEY (CONT'D) Leave them! We must get back to the ship.STEPHEN raises his hand in protest, but BLAKENEY is alreadydivesting PADEEN of his load.247. COUNTRYSIDE - LAST LIGHTPADEEN carrying STEPHEN 'piggy-back', BLAKENEY out aheadurging them on.247a THE DISCARDED COLLECTING BOXESA variety of small bugs and animals crawling free248 STEPHEN'S CABIN - NIGHTSTEPHEN gingerly lowers himself into his 'elbow-chair',gripping the table and BLAKENEY's good arm for support.Sighing, he begins emptying his pockets of various smallitems collected during the day - some leaves, rocks andinsects - and places them in ordered piles around hismicroscope.All about them can be heard the urgent sounds of departure -the anchor rattling up, shouted orders and the drumming ofbare feet on the deck above.He holds up a stick in a specimen-jar, and is examining itwith his magnifying glass when JACK enters. JACK I forgot to ask you - did you see your bird?STEPHEN's eye grossly enlarged through the lens. STEPHEN I did not. My greatest discovery was your phantom. JACK Indeed it was, I'm sorry... STEPHEN (waving the magnifying glass) Not a bit of it. William and I made a unique discovery.Handing JACK the jar and magnifying glass. STEPHEN (CONT'D) Tell him, Mr. Blakeney. BLAKENEY (beaming) It's a rare phasmid, Sir.JACK inspects the stick. It winks at him. JACK A phasmid? BLAKENEY It's an insect disguised as a stick.JACK stares at the creature. BLAKENEY (CONT'D) In order to confuse a predator.JACK looks up at STEPHEN.249. BAY, GALAPAGOS - NIGHTThe Surprise alive with crewmen on the deck and in therigging. Shouts and commands drift across the water as sheturns and heads out from the bay.249a GANGWAY - SAME TIMEJACK strides along the quarterdeck towards the forecastleissuing a stream of orders - JACK Mr. Hollar, rouse up all the yellow paint we have. I want six men with brushes slung over the side. (moving on) Doudle! DOUDLE Yessir.JACK hands him a piece of paper with a sketch on it. JACK Get your sail makers working on this. Sixty yards by five yards with an eyelet every seven feet. DOUDLE Aye, Sir.He shouts to HOGG who, with a few men, is manhandling a largemetal cauldron from the ballast to the gun-deck. JACK (to HOGG) Have Nagel patch it up and light a fire in it. (shouts) Mr. Calamy! CALAMY Aye, Sir. JACK Once we're underway, replace some of the sails with the oldest, most patched set we have. CALAMY They'll be in the afterhold, Sir. I'll need some men to move all the clutter. JACK Good. Spread it around the foredeck. The more mess the better.249B. SIDE OF THE SHIP,. NIGHTThe ship powers ahead as men swing in harnesses above theracing water, painting out the Nelson chequer.249C. ON DECK. NIGHTNAGEL positions the great cauldron amidships as men come upfrom below with old barrels and bits of rope. CALAMY Haul away!On the gangway, Men under CALAMY's instructions haul onropes, pulling up the old patched sails.The sails lead us up to250. CROSSTREES - NIGHTJACK, PULLINGS and the whaler HOGG scan the dark horizon. HOGG There, Sir. A mainmast toplight.JACK has to use a telescope. JACK You've got good eyes, Hogg.Shouts down to the helm - JACK (CONT'D) Mr. Bonden, set a course west-south-west. (to PULLINGS) We'll drop below the horizon and come up on the other side of him, let him think he's seen us first.251. SURPRISE - DAWNFirst light reveals the results of an overnighttransformation - from a naval warship to a shambolic-lookingPortuguese whaler.The gunwales are painted an untidy ochre and the gun-portshidden behind broad strips of canvas.The sails are patched and ragged, the forecastle clutteredwith barrels. Smoke billows from a cauldron amidships.On deck and in the rigging, there's a quarter of the normalcomplement of men, all of them dressed in purser's slops.252. QUARTERDECK - DAWNA bemused STEPHEN looks about him as he approaches JACK. STEPHEN I see. A wolf in sheep in sheep's clothing JACK A phasmid, doctor. It was you what gave me the idea. STEPHEN I'm not sure a phasmid can be a predator. JACK No? Well this one is.253. BERTH DECK - DAWNHOWARD and his marines change out of their smart uniforms,into the oldest most ragged clothes on board the ship, muchto the amusement of the passing sailors. CREW MEN AD LIB Very fancy. Blue to match your eyes. Is there a skirt comes with it?254. GUN-DECK - DAWNMen are checking the breechings of the great guns andchipping cannonballs to make them more perfectly spherical,more deadly.The armourer is at his grindstone sending out showers ofsparks, a group of seamen round him relaying one another atthe crank, stacking newly honed cutlasses and boarding axesat their feet.Another team check and load pistols by the score.254. MIDSHIPMEN'S QUARTERS - DAWNAlone, BLAKENEY awkwardly draws his dirk, left-handed fromits scabbard. It glints momentarily in the lamp-light.CALAMY enters, face aglow, abruptly trying to cover his joywhen he sees BLAKENEY. BLAKENEY [ ] It's all right. Permission to boast. You're to lead the boarders from the forecastle. Congratulations. CALAMY Thank you. BLAKENEY You'll make lieutenant out of this.The others come in. BOYLE He already has. 'Acting' 3rd Lieutenant Peter Calamy.Oohs and aahs from all. BLAKENEY [ ] Then I'll see you at the forecastle, 'Lieutenant'. CALAMY That's not your station.BLAKENEY looks from CALAMY to the others, who avoid his eye. BLAKENEY But naturally I'll board with you? CALAMY I'm sorry, Will. Captain's orders.BLAKENEY is devastated.Rye bursts in, in a state of high excitement. RYE She's seen us!256. QUARTERDECK - DAWNJACK raises his glass, focuses on the Acheron, plainlyvisible in the distance, with a line of signal flags runningup her backstay. MOWETT She's asking us to heave to. Shall I give the order? JACK No, make a show of fleeing upwind, but panicky and disorganized, like a whaler might do.Allen smiles at this unintended slight JACK (CONT'D) No offence, Mr. Hogg.257. WIDE ON THE SHIPS - DAYA show of chaos on deck as the Surprise veers upwind, awayfrom the Acheron. As she presents her stern we see her newname: Malacca.258. QUARTERDECK OF THE SURPRISE - DAYThrough his telescope, JACK looks back at the Acheron inpursuit, a dark figure on her foredeck. JACK (to Mowett) Run up Portuguese colours. (then down to the gun-deck) Load, Mr. Pullings. Triple shot 'em.BLAKENEY comes onto the quarterdeck and salutes, lookingflushed and angry. BLAKENEY May I speak with you, Sir. JACK No saluting, Mr. Blakeney, we're whalers here. BLAKENEY Mr. Calamy says I am not in the boarding party, I wanted to say - JACK (interrupts) I know what you want to say and my answer is no. I promised your mother I would return you in one piece and I have already failed her on that score. You will command a gun and then retire to defend the quarterdeck here with Dr. Maturin. BLAKENEY But sir - JACK (cutting in) Go to your station, Mr. Blakeney.BLAKENEY begins to salute, doesn't, and retires, tearsburning his eyes.A moment later there's a flash of orange astern as theAcheron opens up with her bow-chasers. An 18 pound shotscreams past the side of the Surprise to land with a columnof spray just off their bows. JACK (CONT'D) Good shooting. Remind me to press her bow gunner, Mr. Pullings.The second ball takes down some rigging. JACK (CONT'D) Start the water and throw some barrels overboard.He goes below.259. WAIST - DAYBarrels go overboard and pumps spout streams of water overthe side as JACK runs down to260. THE GUN-DECKThe great majority of men are gathered here, more than ahundred of them crammed together with their muskets andsabres, listening to the odd thump from topsides as anotherball from the Acheron hits home.CALAMY and his gang of young tykes are squashed in theresomewhere, BOYLE, WILLIAMS, ADDISON and the rest, eyesshining with nervousness and wild anticipation, as JACKaddresses his men, who shout encouragement, ad lib, in everypause. JACK (plus the men ad lib) We're a long way from home. (Right you are, Captain!) A long way from anywhere, (Too true!) But if Britain rules the waves she rules these waves too. (Right she does!) And the blow we shall deal for his Majesty here will be felt just as keenly (I'll say it will) aye - and cheered just as loudly ('specially by the wimmin!) - as any dealt at Trafalgar or Cape St. Vincent.The camera moves over the upturned faces, PLAICE, NAGEL,DOUDLE, KILLICK, the midshipmen, the powder-monkeys, thewhole fellowship of the ship. And finally STEPHEN watchingJACK doing what he does best: transmitting his ownfearlessness into other men - the total warrior, theconsummate leader. JACK (CONT'D) I don't say it will be easy. She's twice the men we have and they'll sell their lives dearly. But every man here is worth three of Boney's privateers, and I know there's not a faint heart among you.CALAMY pipes up - CALAMY Three cheers for the Captain. MEN (deafening) Huzzah huzzah huzzah!On CALAMY, cheering like a kid at a football match as...261. QUARTERDECK - DAYAnother well-placed shot from the Acheron smashes through therigging, sending down a shower of rope and cordage.JACK is back at his station by the wheel, the Acheron littlemore than a half a mile astern, the figure of the captain inhis black coat clearly visible.JACK studies the looming black vessel, then turns and crossesto BONDEN at the helm. BONDEN nods, lifting his hands fromthe wheel as JACK grips the curved timber decisively, takingthe strain.He feels the pulse of the ship through his fingers, looks upto the sails then back to the Acheron. STEPHEN appears besidehim, casually smoking a cigar. He offers one to Jack, whodeclines [ ]Another shot pierces the mizzen foresail above them, butneither man flinches. KILLICK appears with two cups ofcoffee, and in his belt a brace of pistols. KILLICK I took the liberty, Doctor. STEPHEN [ ] Thank you, Killick.JACK steers one-handed as he sips his coffee. JACK Mr. Mowett? [ ] A poem might be in order.Another shot through the sails. MOWETT A poem, Sir? [ ] (after a moment's reflection) 'Oh were it mine with sacred Maro's art, To wake to sympathy the feeling heart,A ball goes howling past the ship, MOWETT winces. MOWETT (CONT'D) Then might I, with unrivalled strains, deplore, Th'impervious horrors of a leeward shore.'JACK smiles, nods. MOWETT (CONT'D) 'Transfixed with terror at th'approaching doom...' JACK What! MOWETT (apologetic) ...they were only people of the merchant service, of-course, Sir.262. P.O.V. ACHERONShe's now less than five hundred yards from their stern, andgaining.263. QUARTERDECKJACK turns back to MOWETT. JACK We have her Mr. Mowett. Strike the Portuguese colours and run up the Jack... Mr. Pullings. Canvas off the gun-ports, and run 'em out. Mr. Howard? Marines away aloft.The British Jack rises to the masthead replacing thePortuguese colours, as PULLINGS descends to the gun-deck.264. SHIP'S SIDE -The black muzzles appear with a low rumbling sound, as265. QUARTERDECKJACK, with a wink to MOWETT, yells at the top of his voice JACK Helm's a lee!....and spins the wheel hard to starboard.266. THE SURPRISEWide, to see her swinging broadside on, across the path ofthe oncoming Acheron.267. POV ACHERON DAYConfused shouts from the enemy's deck, chaos on herforecastle, somewhere a drum beating.268 + 269. DELETED270. THE SURPRISE QUARTERDECK - DAYJACK hands the wheel to BONDEN. JACK Run us down her larboard side then cut across her wake! (shouts down to the gun deck) Hold fire Mr Pullings! Hold till we're broadside on!271. - THE SURPRISE AND THE ACHERONWide, to see the Surprise turning downwind, back towards theAcheron, so they will pass broadside to broadside [ ] nomore than thirty yards apart.272. QUARTERDECK/ GUN-DECK, SURPRISEThrough a furious exchange of musket fire JACK runs down theladder to the gun-deck- JACK Fire as she bears! Every gun to concentrate on her mainmast!Through the gunports the Acheron's great hull becomesvisible. Some of the Acheron's guns have run out, but thecrews are unprepared and disorganized. PULLINGS On the uproll! Fire for the mainmast as you sight her!As the Surprise rolls and the upper deck of the Acheronbecomes visible.273. THE SURPRISE GUNSBarking, leaping back one by one, great tongues of flamespitting from their barrels, dense clouds of smoke rising.274. VIEW OF THE ACHERONWith an almighty splitting sound their mainmast falls,dragging yards and rigging with it, the whole mass fallingover their side, obscuring many of their gun-ports.275. GUNDECK/QUARTERDECK, SURPRISE -Cheers from the crew. Jack yelling up the companionway JACK Now Mr Bonden! Hard a'starboard!276. THE SURPRISE AND THE ACHERONThe Acheron wallows, bought to a standstill by the enormousdragging weight of their mainmast.BONDEN wheels the ship across the enemy's wake, past theexposed, vulnerable stern.277. DELETED277A. GUNDECK, SURPRISE JACK Fire at will!278. GUN-DECK, SURPRISEIn random sequence the Surprise's gunners pound it into theAcheron's stern. Casement windows vanish in a cloud of woodand glass, exposing the Acheron's terrified gun-crews, nowopen to devastating fire as the Surprise glides past.279. QUARTERDECKJACK climbs up on the gunwales, shouting to BONDEN - JACK Lay me alongside!280. THE SURPRISE AND THE ACHERONThe bow of the Surprise lurches into the Acheron mid-ships,spars interlocking, the Surprise guns firing into her atpoint-blank range.The crew throw grappling hooks.281.. QUARTERDECK JACK Boarders away!And he leaps to the enemy deck, a great tide of men followingafter him.282. FORECASTLECALAMY leads his own children's crusade from the bows andforecastle: youthful but terrifying, screaming and swingingtheir blades.283. QUARTERDECKAn agonized BLAKENEY watches from where he stands besideSTEPHEN. JOE PLAICE is close by with some of the older men,ready to ferry the wounded below.284. ON THE ACHERONAs the Surprises pour onto the quarterdeck they facewithering fire from the enemy. A dozen men go down, some ofthem fatally wounded. Among them are DOUDLE, BOYLE, ALLEN andHORNER in quick succession.The attack momentarily falters, and the Acherons surge backat them.JACK rallies his men and they charge again - the marine,TROLLOPE, and NAGEL are blown backwards by grapeshot.LAMB, enraged, surges past NAGEL's body, swinging his axe todevastating effect, with HOLLAR by his side and JEMMY DUCKSprotecting their rear, a pistol in each hand, firing from thehip.JACK keeps pushing onwards, the centre of the milling,swirling, hacking crowd, stabbing and pistolling each otherwith barely room to fall.The Acherons are gradually forced back across theirquarterdeck and down into the waist of the ship.285. WAIST OF THE ACHERONJACK crosses swords with a man in front of him, as an enemypikeman drives his blade into his left arm, tearing throughthe sleeve. BONDEN fires a pistol by his ear, deafening JACKand killing the pikeman.To either side, privateers are trying to reach them,shouting, swearing in English, French and Spanish.Bullets and missiles rain down from above, killing friend andfoe alike.KILLICK is in the thick of it, a pistol in either hand, andfrom his lips a high-pitched blood-curdling scream.AWKWARD DAVIES is foaming at the mouth as he swings a meat-cleaver right and left.286. QUARTERDECK, ACHERONA commander of the privateers notes the poorly defendedSurprise, and leads a counter-attack over onto herquarterdeck. CALAMY Look to our quarter-deck!287. QUARTERDECK, SURPRISEBLAKENEY, dirk in hand, turns to face them, as does HOWARDand his men, but they are gravely outnumbered.288. FORECASTLE, ACHERONCALAMY sees the danger and leads his gang back onto theSurprise, calling for others to follow. Calamy This way! Follow me!289. QUARTERDECK, SURPRISESTEPHEN, PADEEN and JOE PLAICE appear from below. STEPHENpicks up a pistol and with deadly accuracy shoots a privateerlunging at CAPTAIN HOWARD. The man drops, a neat hole in hisforehead. A moment's astonishment from HOWARD at the Doctor'ssurprising skill.CALAMY fights his way to BLAKENEY who is down on his kneesstabbing at the legs of the attackers.290. WAIST, ACHERONJACK, BONDEN and DAVIES are driving a wedge toward the stern,the defenders falling back in disarray.291. QUARTERDECK OF THE ACHERONPULLINGS and MOWETT fight side-by-side.A swivel-gun mounted on the taff-rail is swung to face them.The gunner is about to fire when a perfectly-aimed musketball hits him, again fired by STEPHEN.292. QUARTERDECK, SURPRISE/ACHERONCALAMY, BLAKENEY and their group force the counter-attackback onto the deck of the Acheron. The two boys fight as ateam as they move toward the stern.292. SIDE OF THE ACHERONSome Acherons jump overboard to escape the furious attack.Others are thrown, grasping at woodwork as they fall.293. QUARTERDECK OF THE ACHERONJEMMY DUCKS turns the swivel on a group of Acherons, thegrapeshot blasting them up against the gunwale.294. IN THE WATEROil burns. Men drown, others struggle to stay afloat,clinging to the mass of wreckage floating by the hull.295. WAIST OF THE SHIPCheering from the Surprises, demands to surrender in manylanguages, some beg for mercy, others fight on.296. BELOW DECKSJACK moves alone, down to the berth deck. He smashes thechain off a locked-door, releasing a dozen or more prisoners.Everywhere signs of the lethal blast through the ship'sstern, bodies, guns upended, shattered timbers.He makes his way through to the Great Cabin.297. GREAT CABIN, ACHERONFour privateers look up as JACK bursts in.They have been looting their own ship's valuables, two ofthem are too drunk to be scared. JACK Where is your captain? Ou est votre capitaine?One man leaps out through the shattered windows. A couple ofothers raise their hands and start jabbering in French andSpanish.298. QUARTERDECK, ACHERONIt's all over for the Acherons as a French officer hauls downtheir colours.A cheer from the Surprises - a few last shots fired. CALAMYand BLAKENEY cheering, BLAKENEY holding aloft the capturedflag.A dying Frenchman suddenly lunges at CALAMY with a sabre.BLAKENEY steps in front of him and takes the blow.299. IN THE SICK-BERTH, ACHERONA doctor is working here, a callow-faced man in a bloodyapron, red-eyed from fatigue.JACK enters, a fearsome sight, with his singed yellow hairand blood-stained cutlass. JACK Le Capitaine? Where is he?The doctor points at a body on the operating table.JACK approaches, looks down at the dead man. He's [ ]somewhere about JACK's age, fine-featured, with his blackcoat draped over his body. DOCTOR Il m·vait prie de vous donner ceci.Passing JACK the captain's sword.300. QUARTERDECK, ACHERONJACK picks his way through the dead and wounded to whereCALAMY sits nursing BLAKENEY. CALAMY He's dead, sir.Gently, JACK picks up the lifeless body and walks slowly backdown the quarterdeck, the boy draped across his arms.Friend and foe part silently in front of him as he crossesthe gangway to...301. QUARTERDECK, SURPRISE...then with CALAMY following, he goes below.302. THE GREAT CABIN - DAYJACK in wide shot, sitting alone on the bench running underthe stern windows. His hunched posture and red tear-stainedeyes give a glimpse of his familiar post-battle mood - a mixof grief and depression, the old question, "Was it worth theprice?". FADE TO BLACK FADE UP ON -303. ACHERON AND SURPRISE - DAWNThe two ships anchored close together on the ocean.304. QUARTERDECK, SURPRISE - DAWNAs eight bells are rung for the change of watch we see a rowof canvas hammocks each containing the body of a fallencrewman.DAVIES and PLAICE stitch the bodies into their hammocks,BLAKENEY the last body in the line. As the men approach - CALAMY I'll do it.JOE passes him the needle and twine, then they leave himalone.As CALAMY sews up the hammock, HOLLAR's voice is hearddistinctly from below. HOLLAR (O.S.) Rise and shine, show a leg there. Tumble up! Tumble up!In close-up: the peaceful face of BLAKENEY HOLLAR (O.S.) (CONT'D) Sleepers awake!...as CALAMY's hands stitch the canvas closed.305. WIDE ON THE SURPRISE - DAWNThe small figures of the crew assembled on the quarterdeck.JACK's voice drifting across the water. JACK John Henry ALLEN... Joseph NAGEL... William Horner... Stephen Winston Boyle... and Lieutenant William Blakeney We therefore commit their bodies to the deep, looking for the resurrection of the body, when the sea shall give up her dead... Amen. ALL Amen.The bodies in their weighted hammocks slide into the sea.306. BOW OF THE SURPRISE - DAYWide on STEPHEN and BLAKENEY as they sit watching twodolphins surfing the bow-wave, STEPHEN pointing out variousfeatures of these magnificent creatures, doing his best totake the boy's mind off the loss of his friend.307. THE SURPRISE AND THE ACHERON - DAYThe two ships sail abreast - the Acheron, her shattered mastsjury-rigged.308. QUARTERDECK, SURPRISE - DAYJACK stands with LIEUTENANT MOWETT and the signalsmidshipman, WILLIAMSON. They look across at the Acheron. JACK Signal... 'Parole prisoners Valparaiso'... WILLIAMSON You mean Lieutenant Pullings, Sir? JACK No. Captain Pullings.WILLIAMSON hurries to the signals locker, the signal book andJACK's message in his hand.309. TELESCOPE POV DAYThe line of colored signal-flags run up to the mast-head ofthe Surprise.309A QUARTERDECK ACHERONMidshipman Rye is reading the signal for Pullings RYE ....then 'Rendezvous Portsmouth. God- speed, Captain Pullings.'A contented smile on Pullings face as his promotion isconfirmed. He waves across to JACK as the Acheron makes asharp turn away from the Surprise.310. DELETED311. ABOUT THE SHIP - DUSKSlowly the crew come back to life as old familiar habits androutines reassert themselves.∑ Acting First Lieutenant MOWETT walks the quarterdeckcomposing a poem in memory of the battle.∑ JOE PLAICE tells a story of witchcraft and haunted ships toa small attentive audience.∑ While AWKWARD DAVIES works further on the tattoo aboutBECKETT's waist. The chain begun off BRAZIL now winds its wayaround most of his torso.∑ BLAKENEY and JEMMY DUCKS are feeding the assorted creaturescollected at the Galapagos, as...∑ BONDEN reads his first book, 'Diseases of Seamen' byStephen Maturin, his brow furrowed, his lips moving silently.∑ While the powder-monkeys skylark in the rigging313. INTERIOR, GREAT CABIN - NIGHTSTEPHEN plays a note on his cello [ ] STEPHEN Shall we begin?JACK pauses, gazing into space. STEPHEN (CONT'D) Jack, brother, you're gathering wool. JACK (smiles) Thinking about their captain. A great seaman, whatever you may say of him. The doctor said he was killed by our first broadside. I'd have liked to talk to him, face to face. STEPHEN Maybe you did. JACK What? STEPHEN While I was tending the prisoners they told me their doctor died of fever, two weeks ago. There was no doctor on that ship when we boarded it. And I doubt you will find one there now.JACK goes very still. A silence broken only by the sound ofwater flowing gently past the hull.He looks down at the captain's sword on the table, thethought of a possible final deception flooding through him. STEPHEN (CONT'D) Shall we?He starts to play, the deep booming sound of the cellocarrying through to ....312. OUTSIDE THE GREAT CABIN - NIGHTKILLICK, wearing an ostentatious bandage about his head, ispreparing toasted cheese with BLACK BILL. KILLICK That's the last of the cheese and like as not they'll leave it seizing to their plates with their tweedly tweedly tweedly. JACK (O.S.) Killick? KILLICK THERE! KILLICK (projecting) Which it will be ready when it's ready!In the cabin, the violin joins with the cello. Rolling,undeniable music, the music of the waves, resonating throughthe great ship and filling the night. Stephens mind is faraway. Jack breaks off abruptly: JACK You're still missing your cormorant... flightless eh...well then. It will still be there when we come backAnd he breaks into a merry jig313. SURPRISE, EXTERIOR - NIGHTWide, to see the stern of the ship and a patch of surroundingwater lit by the great stern lantern. Through the casementwindows the two men can be seen playing.Wider, to the vast dark sky and the heaving ocean all around,with the stern cabin, a tiny orange light, still faintlyvisible in the darkness.314. FURTHER BACKAnd further still. Until we see the curve of the earth, andthe planet spinning on its journey through space.*** \ No newline at end of file