The Making of 'The Bounty'

(Sound of drums)

This way.

Court is assembled

by the Right Honorable Lords,

Commissioners of the Admiralty

and I quote:
To enquire into the cause

and circumstances of the seizure

of His Majesty's armed vessel,

The Bounty,

commanded by

Lieutenant William Bligh

and to try the said

Lieutenant William Bligh

for his conduct

on that occasion.

Surrender your sword

and be seated.

Lieutenant Bligh.

Perhaps it would be useful if you

told the court in your own words

the events

of April 28th last year.

Yes sir. If it please my Lords,

I will first read a list of the mutineers

who seized my ship.

The crew is not on trial here,

Mr Bligh. You, sir, are on trial.

The question at issue is

how you came to lose your ship.

To understand that, Captain Greetham,

it is essential to know

who were the mutineers

aboard that ship.

Alleged mutineers.

Continue Mr Bligh.

Fletcher Christian,

Masters Mate.

Wasn't this Christian

a friend of yours?

He was, sir.

(Voices in crowd)

Fifty guineas says he's dead.

Sixty says he's alive.

I'll wager he's still alive.

(Voices in crowd)

How much?

We'll dine within the hour.

- How much?

- Sixty guineas.

Taken.

I'll be back to collect it.

Graham!

Fletcher!

What are you all doing?

One of our members collapsed.

We're betting

on whether or not he's dead.

What brings you

to this den of iniquity?

Is there somewhere we can talk?

It's a breadfruit.

Breadfruit.

The Admiralty has instructed me to take

breadfruit plants from Tahiti to Jamaica.

Tahiti?

Fletcher, I want you

to sail with me again.

In what capacity?

The Admiralty's already assigned a

Mr John Fryer as Master of the ship.

He's a good man I think.

But I want you to be Master's Mate.

- If you agree, that is.

- Agreed.

Good, splendid! Good.

Why take breadfruit to Jamaica?

Cheap fodder for the slaves

on the plantations there.

Bananas are very expensive

there these days.

It lacks glory, William.

Well I don't have your connections,

you see Fletcher.

I want to make a name for myself,

before I'm too old.

And this green grocery trip

will make your name?

Now look, we'll go around

Cape Horn to Tahiti.

We'll pick up the breadfruit

then continue on

through the Endeavour Straits around

the Cape of Good Hope to Jamaica.

And then back to England.

We'll circumnavigate the globe.

Yes, but why risk

going round the Horn?

Because it is

the quicker route, Mr Fryer.

Quicker if we strike the one week

in a hundred

when there isn't a storm raging.

Oh. So you would have us go the long

way? Around Africa and Australia.

There and back.

Avoid the Horn altogether.

(Sound of clock chiming)

What conditions

do the plants need?

Warmth, light and water.

I shall be giving up my cabin to them.

We shall be like little pigs

in a stye. Shan't we?

No sir, we shall not.

I run a healthy ship, Mr Fryer.

I only say

the Bounty's too small.

We should have a frigate,

not a chamber pot.

Yes, and I should

have promotion to Captain.

But the Navy Board would

not heed either request. See?

Quickly now, children.

Ah, my little ones.

They've come to say goodnight.

Oh, goodnight,

goodnight. Off you go...

Aren't you going to say goodnight to Mr

Christian, Mr Fryer? Don't I get a kiss?

(Children giggling)

Goodnight, young ladies.

Goodnight, goodnight.

William a toast.

To circumnavigation.

To circumnavigation.

Circumnavigation.

And your safe and speedy return.

(Bligh) Yes.

(Crowd voices on quayside)

(Bligh voice over)

We set sail two days before Christmas,

Stand by to set the mainsail.

What are you staring at me for? Aloft!

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