Original subtitles

I didn't hear you come aboard, ma 'am. You are the watchman?

I am the captain.

Then who is Captain O 'Neden?

Captain O 'Neden is the owner, ma 'am. He'll be aboard soon if you care to sit

there.

I was having to make amends.

It's Turk's head I see.

Yes, ma 'am.

Might I ask who you are and what is the nature of your business?

My name is Miss Indigo Jones and my business is with your employer.

Yes, ma 'am.

Anne is virtually

separated from James and been living in the most dreadful circumstances.

Did you know?

Yes? Bet you did not think to tell me.

Since when has other people's unhappiness been your concern?

I want to know why.

Then you can ask her, because she's due here with repayments. Repayments?

I lent her a small sum.

I didn't ask for it back. She insisted on making repayments.

My father tells me she's been living in common lodging houses.

Did you know that?

Anne has a will of her own.

I did not think you could be so indifferent.

I don't understand.

What happened to that cashier's post you had at Chumley's?

I was dismissed.

The other work people wouldn't have a woman take on a man's job.

I don't know it.

Well, spinster you started and spinster you'll end. Look at you, taking in

washing. A naval officer's daughter.

You should be glad I remembered you. Look at your hands. A washerwoman's

I make my way as best I can.

I'll say one word.

You've got a husband. Go to him and make your peace.

No. Now, listen, you're a married woman and you've obligations.

Every week that goes by, you put yourself further in the wrong.

In a court of law, you wouldn't have a right to stand on his desertion.

In one... One word?

Well, I can't stand to see you like this.

Where are you living?

With Alan Jessop. What, a strike leader's wife?

I've no one else to turn to.

You'd best turn to James before he loses sight of you altogether.

The cable jammed on the bell. The horse pipes were torn out and her bowels were

drawn under.

She was swept clean from stem to stem.

Where's the Samantha now?

Anchored off cork.

If the damage made good.

We had 120 days of voyage.

From?

Peru.

And no cargo, Miss Jones?

Captain Baines, if you'd be so good as to leave us. Now, I

want to get this quite clear, Miss Jones.

In passage from Peru, you anchored off Cork and came here alone?

Yes. Just you and Captain Jones aboard?

And a pantomime.

Just the three of you, eh? Come on, shorthand it. It's hardly the word for

Why didn't you send it to Cork for assistance?

Not possible.

There is no one word to describe that voyage.

First the earthquake, then superstition.

A voyage beset with difficulties and incidents.

And all your crew deserted, eh?

Deserted or dead.

After the earthquake, the carpenter thought he saw the Colucci.

The Colucci?

It's a legend of Chilean sailors. A phantom ship.

She proceeds, then follows disaster.

An apparition, you understand.

And of those that died?

Nine by drowning.

And the rest?

It would be wrong of me not to be frank at the outset.

There was a certain amount of fever aboard.

Ah.

How many cases?

Three, certain.

Miss Jules, Samantha's cargo.

She carries guano.

Bird dropping?

When fertilisers are in short supply, as they are now, guano fetches up to 20

pounds a tonne.

The farmers are in sore need of it.

Where did you pick it up?

I cannot tell you that, of course.

Do not most of the South American governments put an export duty on it?

I have found a source where the controls do not apply.

Then all you want me for is a fetch and carry job.

No. She must be quickly discharged on arrival.

So that you may return for another shipload without delay, eh?

The discovery of undisturbed deposits of guano is a matter of luck and

information.

Neither holds good forever.

So we cannot risk three weeks' quarantine or too many questions.

Oh, I understand, Miss Jones.

Well, Captain O 'Neill?

Cork to Liverpool?

Will you help me shepherd this monster home?

I've got to the stage where I can't reason with the girl. And James is

on board. Won't speak to us all.

He's got a woman of colour aboard.

A woman of colour?

Oh, she's not a fandango.

No, she's a charterer, I gather.

Could you spell another drop?

I have an affliction of the gums from my naval days.

No, and he's determined not to return them.

Then we'd best not interfere. If James has a charter, things may very well

improve upon his return.

Is it all you have to say, madam?

Would Robert's brother have straged?

Brother or no, James has done quite enough harm in this port.

What's the job, sir?

I told you, mouth shut job.

And we'll have a lady passenger aboard.

Or she could have my cabin. I'll dust down here.

Right. I want to sail on tonight's tide. Not a word of this ashore.

To my first, ma 'am.

Like you.

Name? Twinty Morgan, captain.

Twenty? I says twenty for twenty.

Where were you rated, Abel Seaman?

Copper or shade.

Swansea, nowt.

What ships?

Packets, mostly.

Did they not have names?

Answer the captain.

I forget.

What a hard man are you, Morgan.

I've been all round, Captain.

Keep your mouth shut, can you, Morgan?

Depends. On what?

On who's paying for one and what the job is.

Fetch and carry, Morgan.

Schooner selling from Cork, short -handed.

Months wages, weights work.

I've been short -handed before, Captain.

Ah, wait upon deck. And the next one, Captain.

Next.

I smelt that smell before somewhere.

Billy Bones, sir.

Knacker's yard, it is.

Well, no place for a seaman, sir. What are you doing there, then? The Knacker's

daughter, sir.

Well, six months gone, so he had to make an effort, sir.

What ships?

The Money Wigram boats on the east end of your run. Got your papers?

No, I ain't got none, sir. Why not?

Knacker's got them.

Trying to keep me strapped.

You'll be anxious to start sailing again, then, eh? A long haul and fail me

all there's to do me, sir.

All right, sign them up, cut. Thank you, sir.

And the next one can be.

Aren't you?

Name.

Yeah, I can see you've got your discharge papers. Name.

He's got no roof to his master.

No roof to his master, eh?

Well, that's the kind of man we want for this job.

Can't answer back. Sign him on, Captain Baines.

Charter wants a quick turnaround.

Night and day on loading, double gangs.

Why? Well, two reasons.

Cargo's worth more than £10 ,000, and she wants to get back before anybody

finds this arse. Do you know this, though? Not yet.

Samantha had a rather unfortunate voyage.

Fever, desertion, probably a few irregularities. But if we can get her

discharged without an eyebrow raised, we can bargain for a bit of that cargo,

you and I.

Fever, you say?

Yeah, but you've got to...

Cousin in the customs, eh? John?

Yes, he's an outdoor officer, but I don't quite see what that... Well, I

want anything to get in the way of a quick discharge. You know, it's just so

much routine.

Ships log to be checked, papers, clean bill of health.

Now, if you were there with your cousin, John, you could make it a rather social

affair.

Very well, James.

I'll see what I can do on your behalf.

Oh, Albert, on our behalf.

Mrs. O 'Neil?

Morning, ma 'am.

What have you got there?

Washington. Stone Eden's not me.

No, some of yours. She asked me to bring it to you.

I had no idea you were at this. I've not seen my sister.

She knew me, of course.

I spoke so high of you.

Does the captain know you're at this, then?

It is I've not told him.

You see, I've not spoken to him for some time.

I... I heard you in the park.

Captain Bane!

Excuse me, ma 'am.

Captain O 'Neill said I was to use your cabin.

You don't bother to stir my gear?

Yes, ma 'am.

Who's that?

Charter. Charter?

I don't know what Mr. O 'Neill is about in anything, ma 'am.

I find your Captain Baines unspeakably coarse.

Aye, well, he wouldn't grace Sam Cunard's table, but he is a good seaman.

So am I.

Now then, I understand there are some complications?

Well, in addition to ferrying out a new crew, you have asked me to engineer the

discharge of a ship under very unusual circumstances.

My partner.

You did not mention a partner.

Mr Fraser will be of invaluable assistance to us.

Then what is the difficulty?

Well, it's what it always is, Miss Indigo.

You see, Miss Indigo, the county families have grand mottos in Latin, but

need in line has how much?

I'll do your fetch -and -carry job for you, on condition that we split the

profits of the cargo three ways, yourself, your father, and us.

One quarter.

Payable in cash the moment the ship discharges. By whose reckoning? Well,

current price of Guano.

Payable the moment she clears customs, her cargo discharged and delivered as

bills of lading?

Provided that she has a clean bill of health.

James, you seem very anxious about this clean bill of health.

Be gone, sir, or worse.

Captain Baines, I'm engaged on company business.

Leave to speak, Captain Baines. I can wait.

It's Mrs. Owings.

You will excuse me.

I'm told you wish to see me.

No, I just chanced to see Captain Baines.

With your sack on your back.

I've experienced worse things even than being spoken to like that.

That's what they'll say.

Well, I'll charge us to entertain.

James, if you'd only unbend.

Unbend? You've so much pride still.

My pride's to stand upright and not to go begging.

And to do that, I'll use my wits if I have to while you're with your hands in

your chapel heart about nothing but sickness.

I'll remember that.

Look, I must sail with this tide.

I'll ask Baines to summon a cab.

James, is that...

Foreign woman sailing with you?

Ah, she is.

Is she the charterer?

She is.

I've no wish to interfere.

No good advice, if you please.

If there's a profit involved, I'll sail with the Queen of Sheba and not a qualm

of conscience about it.

Mr. Baines!

Yes, sir. Kindly see Mrs.

O 'Neill ashore.

And in future, trouble me with ship's business only.

Aye, aye, sir.

I'm sorry, ma 'am.

A patch and carry job, you said?

Yes, ma 'am.

And he's told you nothing more?

No, ma 'am.

He's nothing illegal, is he?

Oh, no, ma 'am. He's just not been himself, that's all.

Snapping the heads off everyone, certain strangers.

I don't know what lengths my husband will go to to make his profit, Mr.

My greatest concern is what he will do for himself.

Is that that, Johnny?

Johnny, bring whiskey.

Is that that again?

You go stumble.

Indigo come back. Long time chop chop. Soon come back.

I knew he was there.

Captain Pan, drink whiskey. He go away.

You done the job Miss Indigo give you?

Yes, all except him.

Johnny see to it now, eh?

Wait him with anchor shackles. Anchor shackles all gone.

What? Johnny see to it. Me got both anchors.

He is dead, is he?

Yes, Capitan.

Him dead.

Him go bye -byes now.

Mrs. O 'Neill has stuck up with my sister Alice in Wellington Street.

She was asking about the charter, if it was, uh, well, you know, all about board

legal, like.

Boy didn't say anything, just ferrying out sailors to a stranded schooler.

You said what?

Well, what little I knew.

She's your wife, and not a stranger. She's been good to me.

Look, I told you, this was a mass search -up.

Mr. O 'Neill, I don't like having words or feelings.

Sealed orders I've been under before, but Malshot's not sealed orders.

And I am the master, and I have a right to know the charter proper.

I'll board her, bring her up channel, and you'll follow on behind.

You're taking her into Liverpool?

No, the captain will do that. I'm deliverer, no more.

You'll pick me up before she's towed in.

What's the cargo?

Guano.

Guano?

The birds get rid of it because they don't want it. Why should we have it?

Because it's worth more than 20 pounds a ton.

Now, this Miss Indigo, she's found a source with no export duty to pay.

Why don't we go after a shipload ourselves?

Because I don't know the source.

And because this Miss Indigo, she might talk a lot, but she knows when to keep

her mouth shut.

Well, Chile, Peru, Ginger Island, or Lobos de Afuero.

That's the fever coach.

Morgan!

I've got some work for you, my lad.

What?

I've signed Samantha.

Now then, young country, on your feet, my lad. Move!

What's that all about? But I can't work.

Damn, to sign Samantha.

Well, you've heard of ship's articles, haven't you?

Pray do not think me flirtatious

when I am but gay.

Those are my letters. Return them, Diddy.

Daniel Fogarty always behaved honourably. Diddy, indeed.

The father of your child.

Must you leave them in a drawer where I must surely find them?

Because we are married, am I to have no life of my own?

No thoughts, no private place. Where, you deceive me?

Are my thoughts to be purchased?

Look, what am I to do these long nights? You leave me alone constantly.

I'm interested in neither your steamship nor your drawing board.

Oh, I... I'm sorry, Elizabeth.

It's the age old wives complain to.

I apologise.

Oh.

Come to bed.

Come on, Elizabeth.

I'm not tired.

Oh, the better, then.

Oh, save me your jest.

Elizabeth! William was breathing heavily. In case he should wake, I shall

beside him.

Looks like the Samantha.

See the way that broker is rigged?

She's come home short -handed. A fever boat, more or less.

I'll never get a crew aboard her.

They don't know, and they won't.

I'll board her myself, to square off.

But you'll never clear her in Liverpool.

It's been arranged.

Arranged?

Mr. Fraser?

Now, tonight, when the crew have got their heads down, I'll board her with

Indigo. Give me time to square off.

We'll never get away with it.

It's my risk, Captain May. It's not yours.

Yes!

Pardon me, sir.

This is Captain O 'Neill.

Jones is the name, sir.

Captain Zachary Jones.

I should like to see the fo 'c'sle.

Ship's log, papers, consul signatures from ports of loading.

First the fo 'c'sle.

Here, you.

Come with me.

If Johnny talks... He won't.

Johnny.

You and me, Polly.

Yes, boss.

Where from?

Rica, boss.

North by Pizagua.

San Marcos de Rica.

Guana long time in Tacna. Brought down by Gulliman.

Find Samantha, but he's boarded her alone.

Why? Well, I'll tell you.

Make sure you've got a featherbed boat all the way home.

Now get up topside, you'll graft here in the wild.

Not me. I find Samantha.

That was yesterday.

Only stone him today, I think, and then we'll have the bilges pump them back to

only stone him. Because now you're at the master's table, lad.

And I come up the oarspipe.

The hard way.

Oh, I'll learn you, lad.

When I finish with you, you'll be a real Western Ocean man.

Blue water, blue eyes.

When did the Lachman die of fever in that photo?

I can't remember exact.

No interest in your log?

I'll give you no log at all, ships, papers, bills, a lady. They will be

and put in order.

Aye, aye, aye.

That Vauxhall stinks of fever.

You know, the way she is, you'll never get a clean bill of health, and without

that, you'll rot in quarantine, bird droppings and all.

Now, before the crew come aboard, she's got to be squared off, stem to stern,

fumigated, white -lined, and if you have any drinking water, you want to get rid

of it.

Drinking water?

How do you think I survived, mister?

Captain, you need to take the ship in alone.

When the hands get aboard, it might be of help if you had more than one leg

under you.

Childless boys.

Thinks I'm your daughter.

You indigo carrier.

You reek of drink.

Drink?

Why not?

You've seen the things I see in this trip.

The things I've done for you, you do more and drink.

If it's a fever, what's worrying you? First thing I done was ditch the

water.

Barricade myself in here.

What's happened to our little book, then?

Mouth shut job, remember?

I dare say you've sailed with buckles and been all over, but this voyage is to

be quiet.

Maybe she was handed.

It's in all that you knew that when you signed on. What happened to her then,

sir? All hands it must have been.

You'll be paid in sovereigns the moment that she gets into port. And in me.

This white thing's fairly dry.

Yeah, it's clean, ain't it?

You ought to sail on some real pool packets, mate.

Did you see her yacht?

She came home under courses, with the gallant sent down and her gear half

carried away.

And I'll tell you something else. I can smell the blood boats, I can.

There's killing been done in here.

Sailor killing.

Monday, 20th July.

Latitude, 6 by 58 north.

Longitude, 21 by 31 west.

Course, 3 by east. Three -quarter east.

Ship struck by strong gusts of wind.

Healed over suddenly.

And the Tagallant carried away.

About two feet above the cap.

Twenty -five.

Twenty -second.

Twenty -second.

That was the day we put the mate over the side.

The force will hang in in repentance.

It was flapping all the time.

When Johnny and I carried the mate on deck.

Alive he was when they put him over the side.

That sail.

Flapping above us all the time.

Like an undertaker's blind.

Johnny Hippo.

Johnny Hippo?

Yes. Who do you hear for, Johnny?

Oh, me, Captain Tiger.

How many men he kill, Johnny? How many sailor men?

Oh, Captain, he no kill many sailor men.

How many, Johnny?

Captain, he drink plenty whiskey.

He forget plenty.

And what about his daughter?

Daughter?

Not the author.

He got him hot chicken from Coquimbo.

She very litch, bad lady, she.

Yes? Chicken litcher.

Very nasty, always making Johnny Hevo plenty chop -chop. Well, what happened

the crew, then?

Oh, the crew.

Oh, very sorry, Captain.

Questions, Captain?

You're signed on in passage and you'll sign off with a jingle in your tin.

What more does a sailor want?

There's been sailor killing done on this ship.

We're only bringing her home, Morgan.

Whatever happened on board this ship before we joined her is no concern of

Get your hands out of there.

Me no steal, boss. Me look here. Me no steal live sailor.

Live sailor? No, boss. Only dead men.

Me cut links.

Back links. Me show.

Better on Johnny Heave -O than David Jones' locker, no?

Look, boss.

In back, me cut links with finger.

Finger? Me cut him, no come off yet. Me show.

You're not a...

What robber are you? No, boss, only finger. After Colucci, then comes fever.

Fever? Then Mrs. says, get by by Salem and Little Bush, and I'll go to Davy

Jones. Little Bush? No, boss. No, still, my fellas.

No, she said they will die of fever, so why not?

Fever is God's fever.

Fever come make and faze all souls.

Very nasty, pretty lady.

And the captain knew about this?

The captain like hot chicken too much.

She said, jump, he jump.

She said, push, he push.

You mean he drowned them.

Oh, bye -bye, Davy Jones Locker.

Go, sir.

Get your papers ready.

I got it all, mister.

Including a rat certificate.

And consul signatures from all over.

You'll have to do a bit more than wave them in the air.

So will my partner when we get there.

Do you hear the way he treats me?

After what I done?

What I put up with? What I witnessed for you?

dead. We run out of shackles to wait him down even.

What's he got then, this scow boatman?

I'll tell you what he haven't got.

He haven't got eyes what seem what I've seen.

Neither the dying, nor the cursing, nor the looks they gave them that were still

alive.

Oh, you're like the Calucci you are.

One's seen that Jake's as good as I...

Zachary Jones.

I understand from the daughter he's quite a character and well -known on the

Guano coast.

The fever coast, eh?

Guano's such filthy stuff you'll be as anxious as we are to get it off the

docks. Shall we go out on the hero?

It's against regulations.

Surely you don't have regulations this early on a wet Monday morning.

The launch is alongside the Samantha now, sir.

Very good, Captain Baines.

What if they find out about the fever?

What fever, Captain Baines?

Are you carrying any mails, Captain?

A mail, sir?

Not this trip, no.

And can I see your manifest?

Certainly, sir.

Indigo.

Ah, thank you.

And, um, have you anything to declare?

Oh, usual stores under bond.

Spirits? Much depleted, I'm afraid.

There's been a run of smuggling from the American ports.

Cigars and the like.

Mister, if you could give me a cigar, you'd make a friend.

Oh, I think I can oblige. Oh, thank you, sir. Thank you.

You, um, didn't make the ship's number, Captain.

Number?

No.

No, sir.

And that's where I'm going to have to crave your indulgence.

A flaglocker went.

A flaglocker and the galley washed out.

No fire for days, no.

And there's no sickness on board? Oh, none whatsoever, sir.

Pate a drop, see, early on. Blew itself overboard.

Now, let me fill your glass.

Oh, thank you, Captain.

I'll put the rummages on board. Then if you'll come along to the customs office

with the...

Cargo manifest?

We'll see to your clean bill of health. Thank you, sir.

We're very anxious that everything should be signed quickly.

We would like the ship turned round as soon as possible.

Yes, a cargo of guano, eh?

You want to return to the source before someone else finds it. How soon?

As soon as the paper's assigned, but it'll be a formality.

I can see the only thing that's bothering you, sir. And what's that?

No cigars.

You'll have to oblige, sir.

It would seem we brought the contraband with us. Yes, John.

There they go.

Here.

Right, I want a new crew assigned this morning.

Eight men, lad.

We'll jet you to the last ground.

It's time you come flicking your own.

So, with this time... The better we found to watch the cargo.

You know where you're bound, then?

The Charlotte Roads. I hear her jumping off in a rake. That's all I know.

I'll see you.

Yeah, good luck.

Oh, come on, Johnny.

You come longsides.

Plenty of jobs longside.

No need work.

Johnny Litchman now.

You come with us to Mother Hubbard's, mate.

Johnny here for a long time in Samantha.

Yeah, and better times ashore.

Well, come on, let's get at it.

I fancy a bit of fandango for supper.

Chop, chop, Johnny.

I'm very grateful to you, Captain O 'Neill.

We're sailing for South America as soon as possible.

What are your plans?

I shall find some cargo or other, no doubt.

I never think as close mouthed as in this company.

What are we bound for for then?

Hanging up to tree stumps some.

Round the horn and up the guano coast.

Oh, you found out where Miss Indigo's guano is then?

I've never seen a man like Mr. O 'Neden.

He don't miss a trick.

What's the matter, Johnny?

Johnny?

What is it?

Well,

come on. One of you say something.

Come on, Anne. It's time to settle your differences.

Your husband's home from the sea.

I'll swallow your pride and make it up. Not I. It was James who asked me to come

here.

I did.

I did not say that. You said that. Well, Sarah intimated. Look, you said Anne

said she wanted to see me.

We meant well, James.

You're like a stone man. Had you not a word to say to her?

Well, I came, didn't I?

Oh.

We've made a step forward.

This little venture has put us on the road to regaining control of the

And we can buy nigh on 2 ,000 pounds worth of shares.

Another news for a new trade.

What trade?

Fetch and carry.

Free as air.

James.

May I have a word with you alone?

It's company business. We are all directors.

Three seamen have died in a boarding house in Wellington Street.

Of yellow fever.

Yellow fever?

Paid off the Samantha.

Are they sure it's yellow fever?

There's no doubt whatsoever.

Yellow fever acts quickly and violently.

But in this hot weather, it's worse than cholera.

And we brought it here.

It's true, James. We are responsible.

Oh, nonsense.

She paid off under her own master.

Closed and opened articles in the normal run of commerce. James! In the normal

run of commerce.