Mutiny on the Bounty Page #2

This is my first captaincy.

- The first of many, I'm sure.

- Thank you.

Good luck, Captain.

Come along, Therese.

Excuse me, sir.

No, don't bother

to come with us, Fletcher.

Last minute attentions are always hollow

and you are insincere to start with.

Oh, dear.

Well, sir,

I understand we're taking this river scow

halfway round the world

on a grocer's errand.

I take a somewhat different view.

So do their Lordships of the Admiralty.

- Do they really? How extraordinary.

- Tell me,

what is a man of your particular interests

doing in the navy?

Oh, process of elimination.

There's something dusty about the army

and affairs of state are rather a bore.

You know, one must do something.

Here's a fellow

trying to catch your eye, sir.

Looks like an embalmer.

Beg pardon, sir. Might I have a word?

- Are you our gardener from Kew?

- Yes, sir. Brown, sir.

- Good. Found your quarters yet?

- No, sir.

Get him a good billet.

This is the most important man aboard.

- Aye, aye, sir.

- Well, I'm hardly that, but thank you, sir.

I have a message for you, sir,

from our chief botanist.

Well, what is it?

He has reached the conclusion that

the breadfruit has a dormant period, sir.

According to his experiments,

it begins some time in October.

A dormant period?

Four or five months

when the fruit cannot be transplanted.

The cuttings die.

Well, October's some way off.

That shouldn't worry us,

unless your botanist

is wrong about the date.

Exactly, sir.

- Mr. Christian.

- Yes, sir?

Oh, sir,

does it really matter

when these vegetables arrive in Jamaica?

It matters to the tune

of L1,000 a day, Mr. Christian.

My word,

that is an impressive amount, yes.

The West India merchants

are impressed by it.

So is the Admiralty. And so am I.

It is my intention

to land our cargo in Jamaica,

as far ahead of the Admiralty's timetable

as is humanly possible.

Yes. Well, one can understand that.

Doing so, one can look forward

to promotions and even honors.

And all that, yes.

I will do exactly all that, Mr. Christian.

Which brings me

to the subject of yourself.

I will tolerate nothing less

than a man's best efforts,

officer or seaman.

Highborn connections

are no substitute for hard work.

No, indeed they're not, sir.

But, personally, I see no reason

why a good officer

cannot be a gentleman, as well.

- Do you disagree, sir?

- Not if he's first a good officer.

It's a debatable point,

but a good subject

for a dinner's conversation.

But I'm keeping Mr. Brown waiting.

And I mustn't neglect

the most important man on our ship.

Excuse me, sir.

Hello, Brown.

- Make ready for sail, Mr. Christian.

- Aye, aye, sir.

Hands to stations for leaving harbor!

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