Billy Budd Page #5

That's the mess boy's job.

It's yours when I order it so.

I'll clean it up.

After all, sir, it was I who spilled it.

Stand back, boy.

Might as well clean that up too.

- Sir, he's sick.

- Sick?

I'm sorry to hear that.

Is that what you'd like to do, Jenkins?

Perhaps you'd do it...

...if you weren't so...

So sick.

You others feel well enough, I hope.

Here I am, unarmed.

Now's the time.

To make it easier...

...l'll turn my back on you.

You lack fiber, men.

Or have you some more

devious plan for me?

- Some night when there's no moon.

- Don't be a fool.

That's a very good plan indeed.

A plan worthy of pigs like you.

You'll soon feel better, Jenkins.

Just keep your hate for me alive

until that time.

Damn his flaming soul.

I can't stand it no more.

What are you gonna do about it, mate?

Stick him. Stick him

one of these nights like he said.

He's waiting for it.

Don't do nothing foolish, mate. You can

get hung for no more than an angry look.

Oh, I'm sick of the taste of blood, boy-o.

Why is he so friendly to me?

It was I who spilled the food.

Don't you believe it.

It was him lurched into you. I saw it.

I'll ask him why.

No, you don't, Billy.

Not a word, you hear?

Just thank your stars he's still

smiling at you, lad, and leave it at that.

He never did smile at me. Never.

Not even the first day.

It's all right for you to give advice,

you've had your food. I'm hungry.

That don't mean much.

I ate mine, I'm hungry too.

I'll ask him when I get a chance.

I will.

You recommend Budd

for a post of more responsibility...

...yet here's his name

on ship's report again.

These are just misdemeanors.

Nothing serious.

An infraction of any rule is serious.

- Mr. Ratcliffe.

- Sir.

You took him off that merchant ship.

When he cried out:

"Goodbye, old Rights of Man,"

what did you take it he meant?

At the time, sir, I wasn't sure.

Now I'm sure he meant nothing.

He knew of the shameful mutinies

at the Nore and at Spithead.

It was common gossip

aboard that merchantman.

I charged him to keep

the knowledge to himself.

As far as I can ascertain,

he's kept his secret well.

- Must be a hard one to keep.

- Yes.

He was the only man I dared impress,

if you remember, sir.

The boy has a quality of trust.

Thank you, Ratcliffe, that'll be all.

- Claggart. What does he recommend?

- I've not discussed it with him, sir.

- Well, why not, pray? The boy has sworn...

- With your permission, sir.

In this matter,

I didn't think it necessary.

What do you know about Claggart?

Before he came aboard this ship,

I mean.

Not much, sir. Nobody does.

- There are rumors.

- Rumors?

- But then there always are in any ship.

Rate this script:5.0 / 1 vote