The Ghost Ship Page #2

...even the king of Siam...

...or the president

of the United States.

Why, a captain can marry you.

Not me. I had a wife.

No, sir. I don't feel any different.

When I was on the training ship,

I was a cadet. Now I'm an officer.

- Somehow, I don't feel different.

- You should.

It's all the difference between

being a man and being a boy.

It's more than that.

It's the difference between

being a man and being an officer.

I know, but somehow,

I can't believe yet that I'm an officer.

I passed my examinations,

I'm qualified...

...but still I haven't that feeling

that you speak about.

- That feeling of authority.

- You'll learn it.

You'll even learn to take great joy in it.

- You seasick?

- I have never been seasick.

Papa rocked me in his arms

when I was baptized.

That's the way you keep a good Greek kid

from getting sick at sea.

- What's the matter with your belly, then?

- It hurts.

She's a beautiful ship, captain.

A beautiful ship for a first berth.

She's a beautiful ship to command.

Hiya, Tertius.

I'm Sparks.

- What did you call me?

- Tertius.

What's that mean?

You share Bill Shakespeare's lack

of knowledge. No Latin and less Greek.

Tertius, my ignorant friend, means "third,"

and you're the third officer.

I suppose it would be a big help

to give deck orders in Latin.

It's not much use on the radio either.

- Come on in.

- All right.

It's a relief to find

someone onboard I can talk to.

All I've been doing is saying,

"yes, sir," all morning.

- The captain?

- No, thanks.

Me, I take the captain

cum grano salis.

Remember, I'm like Shakespeare.

With a grain of salt.

I like the old man.

He seems a good skipper.

- I've sailed with him before.

- No, I mean it.

I like the way he talks.

The things he has to say.

I don't know. I just stick to my job here.

I don't mix with the officers.

But I'll be glad to teach you Latin

or take money away from you at cards.

All right. I'll look in on you

after my watch.

Okay, I gotcha.

One forty-two.

One forty-two, sir.

Everything gone well

on your watch, Mr. Merriam?

Everything's fine, sir.

But I think I'll have that hook secured

before I go below.

- We might run into a sea.

- That's fresh paint, Mr. Merriam.

A line will mar it.

- I like a neat ship.

- Yes, sir.

Want that hook made fast, mister?

Might be hard to do if it gets sloppy.

No, Boats. Not yet. Paint's too wet.

Lights are bright, sir.

Better turn in, Tom.

Get some sleep before your watch.

Okay.

Haven't you deck officers

any regard for life and limb?

- Why, that's all right.

- All right?

Why, you fellows could kill a guy

with that. You better secure it.

It's freshly painted.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes