Original subtitles

A goodly vessel, Caroline.

Impressive.

I'm told you can tell a captain by his ship.

In that case, maybe Captain O 'Neill isn't that we need for our enterprise.

Sure he is, Henry.

A charter to Brazil, you say? To the Amazons, to be precise.

Well, we know the Amazon, do we not, Mrs. Morton?

Some rather bitter memories of the place, please.

Carry our cargo for the return voyage only, but we should pay you for the

trip. Oh, and what is the cargo?

Black gold.

I beg your pardon?

Rubber.

I see.

Mr. Wickham is in the employ of Dr. Hooker at the Royal Botanical Gardens at

Kew.

Dr. Hooker dared the Andes to procure the wild Chimtona tree.

So the quinine should be available to the world.

He is also famous for bringing in the giant azaleas and rhododendrons of the

Himalayas. And now you aim to transplant the rubber tree.

Where?

India?

I may as well admit it.

We foresee that before the turn of the century, every industry, every machine,

every steamship will have need of rubber.

As important as that? Yes.

But due to the excessive commercial activity and the unscientific tapping of

rubber tree in the Amazon, it faces extinction.

Already there are vast areas where the only rubber tree is a caiman, a worn

tree. Totally useless.

Yes.

Now, we believe that we can, and indeed we must, develop rubber plantations in

India, which will yield a regular harvest.

Indefinitely, like the grapevine.

Well, there's only just one snag. The Brazilian government...

Guard their black gold, as you call it, very zealously. They've put an embargo

on the exporting of all rubber seeds from Brazil.

We could, um, gather the seeds ourselves.

Yeah, well, I'm a ship owner, not a seed picker.

You refrain from actually picking the seeds, Captain O 'Neill.

However, you and your vessel could be indispensable to smuggle them out.

Yes, and how do I deal with the Brazilian government, eh?

I know a number of people in the region.

You should be paid for every seed.

Oh. How much?

Fifteen pounds per thousand.

More for the price of the charter, Captain Oneiden. You'd be well in

Yes, well, I am well in profit. My ships are fully laden.

I've neither the necessity nor the disposition for such a venture.

You would be rendering your country an invaluable service. Well, that argument

appeals to those who seek glory in patriotic thieving.

Am I to take it your refusal is final, Mr. Oneiden?

I'm afraid it is, Mr. Wickham.

Little Charlotte. You're going to have a lovely birthday then.

James is here.

Oh, good afternoon, James.

Water.

It's saving me yet again.

We were bound for the Caribbean, Fogarty.

Aye, but something else has come up.

Profitable, I hope.

Aye.

Caroline, Elizabeth, if we don't hurry up, this camp will be ruined.

Robert, do you want to fetch in the cake?

Oh, come on.

Come on, I'll be coming over. There we are now.

James, if you would deign to spoil your daughter a little bit.

She's getting to look more and more like you, sir.

That'll stand her in good stead, won't it?

You're not stranded for a cargo, are you, Captain Fogarty?

No, just a change of plans.

It's ready.

Come along, Captain Baines. I expect you to enthrall us with tales of your

adventures. Here we are.

Mrs. Charlotte's going to blow out the birthday candles.

Yes, you will.

Here we are, darling. Birthday?

Charlotte's birthday, Jane. Jane,

Annie's dead. It's the living you can wish for now.

Elizabeth's right, Jane.

If you persist in going on like that, poor Mrs. Charlotte will never be

to celebrate her birthday.

It's just a day's... Oh, he begrudges the poor little mite her life. That's a

terrible thing to say, Sarah. Well, it's the truth.

Oh, after all the trouble I've been to. Perhaps she might at least have had the

decency to sit down and eat with us. Perhaps you shouldn't have gone to all

trouble, Sarah.

Perhaps you should have left well alone.

Listen, Elizabeth Fraser. Sarah, Elizabeth.

Excuse me, ma 'am. I think I'll go out and see Mr. O 'Neill.

It's Charlotte's birthday. Let's not spoil it.

Miss Biddulph, will you help Charlotte light the candle?

Come on.

Let's blow the candles out, eh?

Come on. One, two, three.

This is what I

was looking for.

I should think a tropical umbrella is a must for the Amazon.

Lovely.

Albert bought it back on one of his trips to America.

You do miss him, don't you?

No, I don't.

Well, just at times like that birthday party today.

Still, it served your purpose.

It served my purpose?

Well, what else do you think made James change his mind?

Oh, you mean about going to the Amazon, after all?

James has never been one to involve himself in family matters, particularly

family.

He should marry again to escape us.

But she'll have to be someone special, someone who'll comfort him, who won't

on his shoulder, someone who knows her own mind, like... Like his late wife.

I should be most interested to know what happens on your trip to the Amazon.

Nothing will happen. Particularly as Mr. Wickham has had to cry off.

Meaning?

Something very romantic about tate -a -tate dinners after six pounds on a long

voyage. You're talking from experience, I take it.

Imagination. You seem to forget one thing.

Should James wish to marry, there is a bride most willing.

Leonora's a nice girl.

Captain Payne, do you think we'll catch the tide at this rate?

Aye, sir.

It's good to have a woman aboard again.

If you must know, I don't give ourselves a very good chance. Oh, I wouldn't say

that. Mr. Wickham and I have somewhat modified our plan of attack.

Oh, have you?

Yes. I am to approach one of the rubber barons as a representative of Dr.

Hooker and ask him in all innocence to provide us with exotic botanical

specimens.

One Manuel Ortega.

Will he oblige? Yes, certainly.

In the case of the botanical specimen.

I thought we were up to rubber, say so.

He won't provide those, of course.

But my hope is that while he is preoccupied with my requirements, you

able to collect them.

I've already told you.

I'm not a feed picker. I don't mean you personally.

Captain Baines.

Captain Baines. I doubt very much whether he'll oblige. I've already

him. He's most willing.

And what else have you arranged on our behalf?

I've smuggled aboard a most delicate wine.

In gratitude for your gallantry.

Gallantry? Was it not gallantry that finally decided you to accompany me?

I was offered a general cargo at very favourable rates by your friend, Mr

Wickham. Oh, dear.

Does that mean you're going to abandon me at Parra?

Don't tempt me.

You know, we women do have our uses.

Do you know your place?

What is our place?

Out of a man's way.

Now, that wasn't the case with your late wife, was it?

Anne was different.

William should be back soon.

I would like to see him before I leave.

We need that.

Next time.

Oh, with last -minute things to do.

Is that what saying goodbye to your son is, a last -minute thing to do?

It certainly is not.

Yesterday was Sunday. You could have spent the whole day with him.

Well, I had to be on hand for the Lordy. Of course.

Will you be seeing James at Parra?

I doubt it.

Why?

I have a letter for Mrs. Morton.

I can see she gets it.

I've never known you be so mysterious about a voyage, Daniel.

Mysterious?

Trifle guilty, maybe.

Master of a steamship, after all I've said about him.

Well, you've commanded one before.

At least you're moving with the times.

How's Emma?

Same.

How's Albert?

The same.

Do wait for William.

That could be.

Miss Binnell.

Good morning, Mrs. Fraser. I wonder, could I trouble you for the key to

house? I thought I'd dust the upstairs rooms.

Oh, dear, I see I've come at an inconvenient time.

Captain Fogarty?

Miss Biddiff?

Captain Fogarty just came to collect a letter for Mrs. Maudsley.

Yes, I... I must be leaving, Mrs. Fraser. No, no, I can come back later.

need, Miss Biddulph.

Here's the key.

Do you have a carriage outside, Captain Fogarty?

No. Pity.

You could have dropped Miss Biddulph off at my brother's house.

No, don't worry. I like walking.

Well, then, good day to you, Miss Biddulph.

And good day to you, Captain Fogarty.

Thank you for your trouble.

Well, we're over the first hurdle.

Manuel Ortega cordially invites us to Santarém.

Santarém? But that's upriver.

Oh, it's only about 400 kilometers.

Well, there are plenty of riverboats for charter.

Santarém as soon as well, ma 'am. Oh.

And so you know all about rubber seeds, do you, Camp Baines?

I have some friends in Santarém, sir.

Friends? Indians.

Oh, but that's splendid.

They can help you collect the seeds.

Aye, ma 'am, that's what I thought.

I was shipwrecked one time off Trinidad.

and the ship that picked us up dropped me a parrot. I had no money, and I

couldn't sign on another ship immediately, so I worked on the river

And on one of the trips, I saved the life of the chief, and they sort of

me, you know, made me a blood brother like him. Ah, saved him from the rubber

barons, did you?

Well,

you know how it is.

I mean, life is cheap out here, and theirs is the cheapest of the lot.

Each pound of rubber tapped out here costs the life of at least one Indian.

Excuse me. I'd better see about chartering the river.

Oh, and there's little Charlotte.

Oh, isn't she lovely?

James must miss her very much.

He can do no wrong in your eyes, can he?

He's not the only man in the world, you know.

No, but he's the only one I want.

I see.

You don't mind.

I mean, you're not against me.

Oh, no, I'm all for it. The sooner you do, the sooner Robert and I can get on

living our own lives again.

If only I could make him notice me.

Well, they say the way to a man's heart is through his stomach.

But I very much doubt if it's the way to James and Edith's heart.

No, I've found that much out already. I mean, I've cooked his supper, I've

cleaned his house, and then he sails off to Brazil with her.

Oh, he's not interested in Mrs.

Maudsley.

I wish I could be sure of that.

She has such an air of confidence.

Mrs. Fraser has it, too.

When I went to pick up the key to James' house last week, Captain Fogarty was

there.

Oh, I forgot. I have to make out an order for some soap.

He's come to pick up a letter.

But by the way he looked at her... Captain Fogarty is a very old friend of

family.

I didn't wish to imply anything improper.

It was just that it made me think that Captain Oneida never looks at me like

that.

Your phone, now.

How's Mr. Robert?

Working hard.

On his campaign?

Aye, and it's a busy time in this shop.

My father says he has a great political future.

Well, yes.

Robert could be as important as Samuel Plimsoll.

He could campaign more, that is.

Well, then you must see that he does.

It means travelling.

Well, then he must travel.

And you with him.

And who'd look after Charlotte and the shop?

Well, as for the shop, you'd have to find somebody, but I'd willingly look

Charlotte.

I tried.

I think we should have started up river finances.

Thus we must pay our respects to this Ortego, gentlemen.

I'm ready.

Captain Bain, shouldn't you have left for the occasion?

He's not coming.

Captain Bain, it's only a private dinner party. Aye, ma 'am, but we thought Mr.

Ortego shouldn't know about me.

Oh, yes, I understand.

Perhaps you could show me where we're likely to find the plantation, ma 'am?

yes.

Ah, here.

Down at Tapao's River, this is where we must aim for.

Tapao's River it isn't. You must remember we have a very narrow margin

delay.

Those rubber trees should already have reached ripeness.

But you must wait until the pods burst.

Burst? Oh, yes.

And they sometimes shoot some 50 yards or so, so I fear it'll be a back

-breaking job.

Aye, aye, ma 'am.

Well, if that's all, I suggest we don't keep this Manuel Ortega waiting.

Of course. Shall we go?

Dear Dr. Hooker, he has sent me the prettiest flower in the world, and all

asks in return is a few botanical specimens.

You're most flattering, Manuel.

But it is not true, Mr. O 'Neill.

The what?

That I have the best of the bargain.

Is not Mrs. Maudsley the most beautiful of them all?

Really?

Yes, indeed.

Most handsome.

Handsome! Trust the English to use a masculine adjective to describe feminine

beauty.

Thank you for your hospitality, Mr. Bottega.

I think we must be going.

Please, Mitro, need him.

You cannot deprive me of Caroline's company for two.

Well, we wish to make an early start in the morning. You know, we've got to add

a lot of work to do. Oh, work, work, it can wait.

We have so much to talk about, my dear.

Old times and the present.

It's not that late, surely.

But should you wish to go, Mr. O 'Neill, then please don't feel obliged to stay.

She's not leaving yet, she said so.

Let me stay for a minute, if you don't mind.

Of course.

Happy reminiscences, eh?

Aye.

We've made good time, Captain.

Either, uh, pass these steamships.

Worth the soot in your hand.

We may need to make faster time going back.

Tomorrow we track up River.

Stray.

It must not be observed.

The jungle.

Aye, for one, we'll be a fish out of water.

Jungle is my element.

But it can be as dangerous as sea.

Okay.

with Ortega in the middle of the jungle. I shall be safe.

Look, surely you can't be blind to his interest in you. He has always been

interested in me, even when my husband was alive.

Ah, you encourage him.

There are some men you don't have to encourage.

I would like to remind you I'm here for one purpose, to distract him whilst you

collect the seeds.

That is what I am doing.

Well, I'll not leave you alone with him.

You forget, his word is law here.

What does he want?

He's come to fetch me.

Manuel Ortega is giving a ball in my honor.

I shall tell him you've decided not to accompany us on our excursions.

Now, you see that rubber capsule up there?

Watch it.

Any minute now, it'll explode.

The ingenious ways of nature. Eh, what, Captain?

I'll do the other suit.

Must do something or I'll... Tomorrow I'm coming with you.

What will Mrs. Morsley say, sir? Oh, damn Mrs.

Morsley. Where are they? Or if Ortega gets to know about it, sir. Well, damn

Ortega, then!

Coffee, Caroline?

Thank you.

How much do you know about me, Caroline?

What an odd question.

It has a purpose.

Well, let me see.

You are one of the richest men in South America.

Domains cover half of the Amazon.

And I am cruel and heartless.

Do you think I am?

Well, I have had no proof of it, but I have heard it mentioned.

Are you?

You want me to be frank?

Of course.

Yes, I am.

Or rather, I have been.

I see. But there is another me.

Oh? And there is inside every tyrant, one who yearns to be tender, devoted,

one who wants to love.

Do you believe me?

Why shouldn't I?

It's important that you do because, you see, this other me, he needs just a

little encouragement to blossom.

For instance, if you decided to stay here permanently... Oh, Manuel, really?

no, please, please, I wouldn't joke about it. Manuel, how long have we known

each other?

If you ask me how long I have loved you, I would say, without exaggeration, from

the third hour of our first meeting in Lima.

How very precise.

I tell you this because...

I don't want you to think of me simply as a lonely man stranded here at the

frontiers of humanity who could not help falling in love with the first

beautiful woman he saw now.

I have loved you for a very long time.

I don't know what to say.

You could say that you have known this to be true.

Known it? Well, at least that you suspected it.

But I didn't. Oh, I think you did.

Otherwise you would not have called on me. You have many other acquaintances in

this region. Manuel, I came to you as an old friend. Old friends are notorious

for proving unhelpful. No, no.

You came to me because you knew I would help you.

Do anything for you.

Because you know, I would risk a great deal to please you.

Risk, Manuel?

I would risk all for you.

So please think about it.

We should have enough by now.

I'd have liked more, but we've been too long already.

The jungle's not our only enemy.

When we get back to the ship, the next chance of discovery.

Mr. Needham, sir.

I've seen symptoms like this before.

My guess is this lad's suffering from malaria.

This is more than airplanes.

It's kings.

Come on.

I'm going to go and see if I can find some cinchona to make some quinine.

Malaria? It appears so.

You should leave me.

Yes, you have to come do that.

You'll be all right in a couple of days when you pass the crisis.

The seeds, they'll perish.

Don't you worry about the seeds.

You just try and sleep.

Apart from the Javier Brasiliensis, that, I think, is all that the Amazon

offer. What is the Javier Brasiliensis?

The best rubber tree.

Well, we have rubber seeds.

Caymans. They are useless to Dr. Hooker.

Useless? He will never break the Amazon's monopoly with those.

What monopoly?

The rubber monopoly, of course.

Seeds grow into plantations, my dear.

You came here fully aware of my weakness for you, and to take advantage of it.

I should be angry, but, well, all roads lead to Rome.

You are here by my side, and as I said before, I am willing to risk everything

for you.

Manuel, I have been thinking about your proposition. Now, please, please, let me

finish. I want you to consider further factors before you decide.

I know what Captain O 'Neill and Captain Baines have been doing.

Oh? I should think by now they have enough seeds to start a few plantations.

Now, I am willing to let them go if you decide to stay here.

And if I don't? Then I shall confiscate the seeds and see that Captain Oneiden

and Captain Baines are suitably punished.

I see.

I very much hope that you do, my dear.

Consider all that I have to offer.

A chance to render your country a great service.

As well as to ensure the welfare of Captain O 'Neill and Captain Baines.

Then there is, of course, my wealth, with which you can indulge your

whims.

What if I already hold an affection for someone else?

Captain O 'Neill?

I posed a theoretical question.

That would give me a very strong weapon.

One which would ensure your sacrifice.

Oh, you do admit it would be a sacrifice. Perhaps not as great as mine,

I'm endangering my country's prosperity, but a sacrifice all the same.

You may discover that I don't exactly lack Captain O 'Neill's qualities.

You're being most persuasive, Manuel.

I very much hope that I am.

Perhaps this time you should think it over very carefully.

Yes.

I think I should.

I couldn't find anything sooner. This is Remigio. Same family.

To marry Ortega.

He knows about our deception. You've done the deception.

Do you really want to marry him?

If it means your safety.

Oh, come.

You're hardly the sacrificial lamb.

Well, it's not a fate worse than death.

In fact, it's quite tempting.

Are you serious?

Why, Mr. O 'Neill...

You seem almost concerned.

Do you really want to marry him?

Do you need me to answer?

Hurry up and pack.

Try and get this done.

The salt's from the bark.

It's a quinine of sorts.

Thank you.

Get those dirty things off.

I'm terribly sorry to disturb you, but there's something the matter with

Charlotte. Something the matter?

Yes, it's a rash.

Have you sent for the doctor?

No, I... Well, where is she now?

She's in the house.

You mean you left her there alone?

Yes.

You matter?

I think the worst is over.

I can help you now. Oh, no, you can't.

You just rest and get your strength up. It says we can get you back to the ship.

I've delayed you long enough already.

Oh, dear chap, it's been a blessing in disguise.

We've got 90 ,000 seats while we waited for you.

We've done it, then.

Well, ask me that again when we're clear of Brazilian waters.

You don't like me very much, do you?

You make a good cup of tea.

You know I want to marry your brother, and your allegiance is with Mrs.

Maudsley.

Allegiance? You make it sound like a war. Isn't it?

Well, if so, the spoils are most meagre.

I thought you'd understand.

You of all people.

What do you mean by that?

Have you been listening to gossip?

No. If you think Daniel Fogarty and I... I really don't see why I should explain

myself to you.

I intend to marry your brother. That's your affair.

But to use an innocent child... I'm not using her. I'm looking after her. And

not very well.

At least I'd give her the affection she needs if I were given the chance.

You're not right for James, you know. I'll tell you that. How do you know? How

can anybody know till it's put to the test? My concern is not for my brother.

can take care of himself.

But you have my sympathy.

I don't need it, I assure you. You will do.

If you ever succeed in marrying him, James will make your life a calvary.

I'm not made of butter, Mrs. Fraser.

I can see that.

You are no doubt asking yourselves how I managed to get to Parra ahead of you.

How did you?

There is a quicker way via the tributaries.

The ancients did not exaggerate when they called the Amazon the inland sea.

You're trespassing.

Trespassing?

You need permission to come aboard my ship.

Your ship is under custody, Captain O 'Neill.

Lieutenant Mendez is here to inspect your cargo.

If he should find one rubber seed, he has orders to destroy your cargo, And he

found your ship.

We have full customs clearance.

Did he ask about the thieves?

Well, the few I showed him.

And?

Botanical specimens for Kew Gardens.

And quite right, too.

Consider yourself under arrest, Captain O 'Neill.

On what charge? While smuggling rubber seats, of course.

But our cargo was botanical specimens and caiman seagull provided by you.

Which makes you an accessory to the crime.

Oh, I take it you assume there will be a trial.

I shall make damn sure that there is a trial. You don't seem to realize I can

have you executed simply by giving an order. And what about me, Manuel?

You shall be deported, my dear.

We are under the protection of Her Majesty's government.

Gunboats. In case of just this trouble, Mrs. Morsley deposited a sealed letter

with Mr. Shipton Green.

He's the British consul.

Accusing me of ruthless tyranny and so forth.

Facts, even statements from your Indians.

All attested.

But it wasn't necessary, was it?

I mean, you are going to be gentlemen enough to take the seeds and let us go.

Are you not, my dear?

A toast, gentlemen.

I'll grant you this, you're a good loser.

Ah, but we haven't lost.

Only the seeds.

The seeds are on their way to Liverpool.

On their way to Liverpool?

What are you talking about?

Mr Wickham and Captain Fogarty have 100 ,000 seeds aboard the Amazon.

Fogarty?

Excuse me, ma 'am. I don't understand.

Forgive me, but Captain Fogarty was approached for this task when you told

find another master.

When later you reversed your decision, Mr. Wickham decided that perhaps two

masters might have a better chance of success.

I'm glad to say he was proven right.

So we was just a decoy.

Well, if you'd known about Captain Fogarty, you might not have agreed to

Thank you.

Shall we call it truth?

Fogarty.

What did he get out of it? Pride.

And having served his country.

You can't eat that.

Well, then, am I forgiven? You employ my time, my crew, my ship,

on a fool's errand.

Now I'm to smile and say you're forgiven.

Don't like being used, Mrs. Maudsley.

No man does.