20,000 Leagues Under the Sea Page #2

- That's very kind of you.

- We accept.

Good.

If you don't mind,

I'd like you to come downstairs

and meet Captain Farragut.

He's in command of the warship

upon which you're sailing.

I might add that he has

some rather strong ideas

on the subject of sea monsters.

- You mean that his mind is not open?

- Most emphatically not.

We headed south,

and excitement ran high.

Every man aboard was on the lookout,

and the watch was kept day and night.

Regardless of his own feelings

in the matter,

Captain Farragut left nothing to chance.

With traditional thoroughness,

the Navy plan was to cut the South Pacific

into squares and search each square.

For the first month, we steamed in circles,

crossing and recrossing our course.

There was no sign of our quarry.

False alarms were common,

and they didn't help our morale.

Blow!

Off the weather bow!

For endless days and nights,

we scoured the South Pacific.

Our hopes began to wane.

It came as no surprise...

when Captain Farragut

on the night of December 8, 1868,

summoned us to the war room.

Gentlemen, I believe my obligation

to this legend has been dispatched.

I offer these charts in evidence.

They represent an accurate record...

of three and a half months

cruising under steam...

in search of a sea monster.

In my considered opinion, no such monster

exists or ever did.

- Are you abandoning the search?

- There's no other choice, Professor.

If we've gained nothing else, we can

at least give the lie to those rumours

and make the newspapers

retract their exaggerations.

It doesn't seem to me we have proved

anything one way or the other, Captain.

I don't feel justified

in wasting further time.

My decision stands.

We'll set you ashore in Saigon.

Gentlemen.

Cheer up, Professor.

You'll forget all about fishing

when you see the gals in Saigon.

I thought they promised you a bonus

if you harpooned this monster, Mr Land.

Knowing full well I couldn't collect it.

When I get back, I'm shipping out

on the first whaler that'll take me.

I won't get rich, but I won't be sitting

around, picking my teeth with my harpoon.

Maybe we are lucky.

It might have sunk us.

You scare me.

Be a good loser, Professor. The fish

that got away is always the biggest one.

What a pity, Professor.

I know you had visions of that monster

mounted in the National Museum.

Got a whale of a tale to tell you, lads

A whale of a tale or two

'Bout the flapping fish

And the girls I've loved

On nights like this with the moon above

A whale of a tale, and it's all true

I swear by my tattoo

There was Mermaid Minnie

Met her down in Madagascar

She would kiss me

Anytime that I would ask her

Then one evenin'

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