Original subtitles

[NARRATOR] 1797...

THE YEAR OF THE MUTINIES

OF THE FLEET AT SPITHEAD AND AT THE NORE

AND OF THE CONTINUING WAR WITH A REPUBLICAN FRANCE.

AUGUST 16th...

HIS MAJESTY'S FRIGATE AVENGER

ON A WARTIME CRUISE

WITH ORDERS TO REINFORCE THE BRITISH SQUADRON

OFF THE COAST OF SPAIN.

JOHN CLAGGART,

MASTER-AT-ARMS, ROYAL NAVY.

EDWIN FAIRFAX VERE,

POST CAPTAIN, ROYAL NAVY.

THE DANSKER,

SAILMAKER.

PHILIP SEYMOUR,

FIRST LIEUTENANT.

JULIAN RATCLIFFE,

SECOND LIEUTENANT.

STEPHEN WYATT,

GUNNERY OFFICER.

ENOCH JENKINS,

MAINTOPMAN.

SQUEAK,

ASSISTANT TO MR. CLAGGART.

ADAM PAYNE,

MAINTOPMAN.

LIAM O'DANIEL,

MAINTOPMAN.

ARNOLD TALBOT,

MAINTOPMAN.

NEIL KINCAID,

MAINTOPMAN.

ALFRED HALLAM,

CAPTAIN OF MARINES.

ON THE SAME DAY, AT THE SAME HOUR,

THE MERCHANT SHIP RIGHTS OF MAN,

OUT OF DUNDEE,

BOUND FOR THE WEST INDIES

WITH A CARGO OF MANUFACTURED GOODS.

NATHANIEL GRAVELING,

SHIP'S MASTER.

AMOS LEONARD,

FIRST MATE.

CHARLES MATTHEWS,

MERCHANT SEAMAN.

BILLY BUDD,

MERCHANT SEAMAN.

DOWN A LITTLE.

DOWN A LITTLE, SIR.

WEREN'T IT BETTER TO HEAVE TO, SIR?

SHE'S A MAN-OF-WAR.

NOT AN ENEMY, IS SHE?

NO, SIR. SHE'S BRITISH.

AH.

HER NAME'S THE RIGHTS OF MAN.

DANGEROUS NAME FOR A VESSEL

IN THIS DAY AND AGE.

IS SHE HEAVING TO?

NO, SIR.

AYE. IT'S WORSE THAN ANY ENEMY.

IF SHE'S BRITISH, I'LL NOT HEAVE TO.

IF SHE'S FRENCH,

SHE ONLY WANTS TO SINK US.

EVERY SEAMAN LEADS HIS LIFE

IN EXPECTATION OF BEING SUNK.

AND IF SHE'S BRITISH, SHE'LL TAKE MY BEST MEN.

I'LL NOT STAND FOR THAT.

HOIST THE T'GALLANTS.

HOIST THE T'GALLANT!

HEY, BUDD.

BILLY BUDD, GIVE US A SONG.

♪♪ THEY CALLS ME HANGING JOHNNY ♪♪

♪♪ AWAY, BOYS, AWAY ♪♪

♪♪ THEY SAYS I HANGS FOR MONEY ♪♪

♪♪ ALL HANG, BOYS, HANG ♪♪

♪♪ AT FIRST I HANG MY SALLY ♪♪

♪♪ AWAY, BOYS, AWAY ♪♪

♪♪ AND THEN I HANG MY FAMILY... ♪♪

SHE'S HOISTING MORE CANVAS.

THEY APPEAR TO BE SINGING, SIR.

ARE THEY SO IGNORANT

THEY CANNOT UNDERSTAND OUR PURPOSE?

I DOUBT THAT IT'S IGNORANCE

WHICH MOTIVATES THEIR ACTIONS, MR. RATCLIFFE.

CAPTAIN HALLAM.

SIR.

WE ALL ENVY YOUR WORD OF COMMAND.

TELL THEM TO HEAVE TO.

MY COMPLIMENTS.

SIR.

♪♪ AWAY, BOYS, AWAY... ♪♪♪♪

CAPTAIN'S COMPLIMENTS.

WILL YOU HEAVE TO?

CAPTAIN, THEY'RE ORDERING US TO HEAVE TO.

THERE CAN BE NO MISTAKING THEIR MEANING NOW.

THAT DON'T PREVENT ME BEING A BIT HARD-OF-HEARING,

DO IT?

FALL OFF.

FALL OFF, SIR.

I'LL GET THE BEST I CAN OUT OF HER.

SHE APPEARS TO BE FALLING OFF

TO MAKE A FAIR WIND OF IT, SIR.

YOU'RE SURE SHE'S NOT A FRENCHMAN IN DISGUISE?

NOTHING SO ADVENTUROUS.

HER REFUSAL TO HEAVE TO

PROVES SHE'S ONE OF OURS, BUT I WILL BE OBEYED.

SEND A SHOT ACROSS HER BOWS.

WE'RE AT WAR, MR. SEYMOUR.

FIRE THE BOW CHASER.

[CANNON FIRES]

WELL...

CAN'T PRETEND TO BE BLIND, TOO, CAN I?

BACK THE MAIN YARD, MR. MATE.

BACKING THE MAIN YARD, SIR?

THERE'S NO AVOIDING IT, MAN.

GET UP ON THE FO'C'S'LE.

IF I SPIT NOW, I GET HIM FAIR AND SQUARE.

WHY WASTE IT ON HIM? HE'S NOT SO BAD.

THERE'S NO DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ANY OF THEM.

CAST OFF, BOYS.

AND WHAT DO YOU WANT, THEN?

DOWN OARS.

ALL TOGETHER.

ALL HANDS ON DECK!

ALL HANDS RIGHT OVER THE FO'C'S'LE.

BUDD.

GET UP ALOFT AGAIN.

MAYBE THEY WON'T SEE YOU.

MEN LINED UP ALREADY, CAPTAIN?

THERE'S NO DOUBT ABOUT YOUR INTENTIONS.

IS THAT WHY YOU FAILED TO OBEY OUR ORDER?

I NEVER THOUGHT I'D SEE THE DAY

WHEN I'D PRAY FOR A FRENCH SAIL ON THE HORIZON.

A FRENCH SAIL? WHY?

THEN THE ROYAL NAVY COULD DO ITS DUTY FOR A CHANGE--

PROTECT OUR MERCHANT SHIPS INSTEAD OF PREYING ON THEM.

YOU HAVE IDEAS OF YOUR OWN, CAPTAIN.

I'M NOT ALONE IN THAT.

[WHISPERING]

[MOCKING LAUGH]

WHAT'S THIS MAN'S RECORD?

GOOD.

HMM. LOOKS A LIKELY MAN.

WITH THE WHOLE OF THE NORE ON THE MUTINY?

WHO'S THE LIKELY MAN NOW, LIEUTENANT?

AYE. THERE WAS OFFICERS KILLED.

WHERE DID YOU HEAR THIS?

AYE. IT'S COMMON KNOWLEDGE.

WE'RE NOT LONG OUT OF PORT.

THE MAINLAND'S BUZZING WITH IT.

AND YOU'LL WANT TO READ THE NEWSPAPERS

THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT REFORMS IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS.

YOU KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS.

IT MEANS THE REFORMS ARE A CENTURY OVERDUE.

WHO IS THAT?

BILLY.

BILLY BUDD.

ACCORDING TO THE RIGHTS OF WAR,

A MAN-OF-WAR CAN IMPRESS A SEAMAN FROM ANY OTHER VESSEL.

DO YOU UNDERSTAND, BILLY?

AYE, CAPTAIN.

YOU ALSO UNDERSTAND THERE'S NOTHING I CAN DO ABOUT IT?

AYE, CAPTAIN.

YOU UNDERSTAND TOO MUCH, TOO WELL.

ARE YOU AT LEAST SORRY TO BE LEAVING?

AYE, THAT I AM, CAPTAIN.

IT'S A GOOD SHIP.

YOU HELPED MAKE IT GOOD.

A MAN-OF-WAR, YOU'LL FIND, IS DIFFERENT.

DIFFERENT, SIR?

AYE, BILLY.

DO YOUR WORK WELL,

KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT--

EXCEPT AT MEALTIMES.

IT'S NOT AS IT IS HERE.

NOW, THERE'S A GOOD LAD.

GO FORWARD AND GET YOUR GEAR.

AYE, CAPTAIN.

MY COMPLIMENTS TO YOUR CAPTAIN.

TELL HIM I REGRET I DID NOT COMMAND A FASTER SHIP.

CAST OFF LINE.

LET DOWN OARS.

ALL TOGETHER.

GOD GO WITH YOU, BILLY BUDD,

FOR IT'S A FACT THAT YOU GO WITH GOD.

GOODBYE TO YOU ALL.

GOODBYE TO YOU, TOO, OLD RIGHTS OF MAN.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THAT, BOY?

NOTHING, SIR.

ALL THAT TROUBLE FOR ONLY ONE MAN?

MUST BE A REASON, SIR.

OH, YES, I CAN IMAGINE THE REASON,

KNOWING THE TEMPER OF THAT VESSEL'S MASTER.

WELL, SEYMOUR,

OUR CHOICE HAD BETTER BE GOOD.

GET A ROPE DOWN!

DO YOU SWEAR TO ABIDE BY THE ARTICLES OF WAR,

TO OBEY ORDERS,

AND, IF NEED BE,

TO LAY DOWN YOUR LIFE FOR KING AND COUNTRY?

AYE, SIR.

UM...

[WHISPERING]

LIKE THAT?

[SEYMOUR] SAY "I SWEAR."

I SWEAR.

AGE?

I DON'T KNOW, SIR.

YOU DON'T KNOW YOUR AGE?

THAT IS, SIR, I'M NOT QUITE SURE.

I THINK 17, 19, OR...

OR...

18?

OR 15 OR 14?

[CREW LAUGHS]

YOUR PLACE OF BIRTH.

PLEASE, SIR, I DON'T KNOW THAT EITHER.

DON'T KNOW YOUR AGE OR WHERE YOU WERE BORN?

I WAS FOUND ONE MORNING IN A SILK-LINED BASKET

HANGING ON THE KNOCKER OF A GOOD MAN'S DOOR IN BRISTOL.

SILK-LINED?

I TAKE IT, THEN, YOU'RE...

A BASTARD, SIR?

AYE.

AYE.

[LAUGHTER]

SIGN.

MASTER-AT-ARMS.

CLAGGART,

OUR NEW RECRUIT WILLIAM BUDD.

I SUPPOSE THAT IS YOUR NAME.

AYE, SIR.

YOU LOOK STURDY ENOUGH.

WHAT WAS YOUR STATION ABOARD?

I WAS A MERCHANT SEAMAN, SIR.

WE TOOK TURNS AT DOING EVERYTHING.

YOU'LL HAVE A STATION HERE--

MAINTOPMAN.

JENKINS' WATCH.

SQUEAK, TAKE HIM BELOW,

ASSIGN HIM A HAMMOCK,

AND SHOW HIM WHERE TO STOW HIS GEAR.

AYE, SIR.

THANK YOU, SIR.

WELL, LIFE'S FULL OF SURPRISES,

I ALWAYS SAY.

AND THE BETTER FOR IT, CAPTAIN HALLAM.

THIS IS YOUR HAMMOCK.

ALL HANDS ON DECK

TO WITNESS SHIP'S PUNISHMENT.

[GROANING]

BEST PUT DOWN YOUR BAG, BUDD.

IT'LL ONLY BE A MATTER OF MINUTES.

DANSKER, LOOK AFTER BUDD.

[DRUM BEATS TATTOO]

BOATSWAIN...

DO YOUR DUTY.

[MOANING]

[LASH]

[LASH]

UHH!

[LASH]

[LASH]

[LASH]

[LASH]

[LASH]

[LASH]

[LASH]

[LASH]

[LASH]

[LASH]

[LASH]

[LASH]

[LASH]

[LASH]

[LASH]

[LASH]

VERY WELL, BOATSWAIN.

RELEASE THE MAN.

MR. FERRIMAN,

YOU WILL SEE HIM TO SICK BERTH.

SHIP'S COMPANY,

DISMISSED!

AWAY THERE, MATE.

WHAT WAS HIS CRIME?

GOD ONLY KNOWS, YOUNG MAN.

YOU MEAN YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT HE DID?

FLOGGING...

IT'S THE ONLY SOLUTION TO EVERY PROBLEM.

I WARRANT

EVEN THE CULPRIT HIMSELF DOESN'T KNOW.

IT WAS JUST HIS TURN.

WHAT IS IT, BUDD?

DID THEY NOT INDULGE IN FLOGGING

ON THE RIGHTS OF MAN?

[STAMMERING]

N-N-NO, SIR.

ALL RIGHT, BUDD.

YOU'LL KEEP YOUR HAMMOCK PROPERLY LASHED IN THIS MANNER.

NEVER GET CAUGHT WITH YOUR BAG OUT OF ORDER.

YOU WOULDN'T WANT TO FIND YOURSELF ON SHIP'S REPORT

LIKE THE LAD WHO WAS FLOGGED?

WHY WAS HE FLOGGED?

COULD HAVE BEEN FOR ONE OF MANY REASONS.

YOU MEAN YOU DON'T KNOW?

IT'S NOT FOR THE LIKES OF US TO KNOW,

JUST TO WITNESS, SEE?

HUNGRY?

AYE.

THIS IS THE CAPTAIN OF THE MAINTOP--

JENKINS.

ALL RIGHT, BUDD, THIS IS YOUR TABLE.

MAKE ROOM FOR HIM.

ALL EVENTS, YOU'RE WELCOME HERE, LAD.

HERE, BOY.

TAKE MY SEAT.

HERE'S YOUR PLATE.

HIS FIRST DAY ABOARD OUR HAPPY SHIP.

WHAT'S THE NAME OF THE SHIP

THEY IMPRESSED YOU OFF?

I COULDN'T READ IT AT THAT DISTANCE.

YOU CAN'T READ AT ANY DISTANCE.

DON'T TAKE OFFENSE.

YOU'RE IN GOOD COMPANY.

I CAN'T READ EITHER.

SHE WAS CALLED...

THE RIGHTS OF MAN.

YOU COME OFF A SHIP CALLED THAT?

RIGHTS OF MAN?

MY NAME'S WILLIAM.

BILLY, IF YOU LIKE.

OH, UH, THIS IS PAYNE.

KINCAID. JENKINS. O'DANIEL.

AND I'M TALBOT.

OH, AND THAT OLD TAR IS CALLED DANSKER.

HE'S DANISH,

OR, UH, HE THINKS HE IS.

UH, DANSKER,

HAVE YOU EVER HAD A REAL NAME?

NOT FOR MANY YEARS.

WHY DON'T YOU SPIT IN THE STEW, BOY?

IT CAN'T TASTE NO WORSE.

NOBODY'S MAKING YOU EAT. WASH YOUR FEET IN IT IF YOU LIKE.

SEEMS THE COOK ALREADY HAS.

THERE'S A SPLINTER IN IT.

THAT'S ENOUGH OF LAUGHING AT MY DEFORMITY.

YOU EVER EAT THIS DIRT?

I CAN'T COOK. YOU KNOW THAT.

THEY ONLY GAVE ME THIS EMPLOYMENT

BECAUSE I'M UNFIT FOR ACTIVE SERVICE.

YOU OUGHT TO BE ASHAMED.

WELL, BILLY, THERE'S THE ROYAL NAVY FOR YOU.

CAN YOU COOK?

I CAN MAKE A STEW.

I'LL PRAY THAT YOU LOSE A LEG.

[SLURPING]

LIKE IT, BILLY?

TASTE GOOD?

IT'S HOT,

AND THERE'S A LOT OF IT.

I LIKE EVERYTHING ABOUT IT

EXCEPT THE FLAVOR.

[CHUCKLING]

AH, AND HOW DO YOU LIKE THE COMPANY, BILLY BOY?

NOT QUITE WHAT YOU'RE USED TO?

EVER SEEN SO MUCH IGNORANCE

ALL DUMPED TOGETHER IN ONE PLACE?

EVER HEARD SUCH A DIN

AS THESE... GENTLEMEN EATING?

LET THE LAD BE.

BABY HAS TO LEARN.

THERE'LL BE OTHERS TO TEACH HIM...

SOON ENOUGH.

HE'S IN MY WATCH.

WOULD YOU HAVE HIM LEARN LASHED TO THE GRATING?

WHY WAS THAT MAN FLOGGED?

HE MAY HAVE... SPAT AGAINST THE WIND

OR MUMBLED IN HIS BEARD.

IT MAY HAVE BEEN A PRAYER.

TO THEM IT WAS A PROTEST.

YOU DON'T KNOW WHY.

IT'S WRONG TO FLOG A MAN.

I...

[STAMMERING]

'Tl--

'TIS AGAINST HIS BEING A MAN.

AYE.

AYE, LAD, IT IS THAT.

WHY DO YOU... STAMMER, BOY?

BECAUSE I SOMETIMES CAN'T FIND THE WORDS...

FOR WHAT I FEEL.

OUR YOUNG BASTARD'S STAMMERING

'CAUSE HE'S SCARED.

LEAVE HIM ALONE.

COME ON, B-B-BABY,

T-T-TALK BACK, WHY DON'T YOU?

IS IT A FIGHT YOU WANT, THEN?

AYE. FOR YOUR OWN GOOD AND MY SATISFACTION.

I WANT TO BAPTIZE YOU

IN THE WAYS OF OUR WORLD.

THERE WAS A LAD ON THE RIGHTS OF MAN

USED TO LIKE A FRIENDLY FIGHT.

NAME OF MATTHEWS.

AHEM.

GO ON, JENKINS. DO SOMETHING.

GO ON.

WELL, YOU ASKED FOR IT, DIDN'T YOU, B-B-BABY?

[LAUGHTER]

I'LL GET YOU IN A MINUTE.

[LAUGHTER QUIETS DOWN]

COME ON, LAD. COME ON.

COME ON.

[LAUGHTER]

WHY...

WHY, YOU!

WRING HIS NECK FOR IT!

ALL RIGHT, BILLY.

HANG ON.

HOLD IT. HOLD IT.

COME ON.

HANG ON.

HOLD HIM, BILLY.

STEADY, JENKINS!

EASY!

[LAUGHTER]

ALL RIGHT, I'LL, UH,

I'LL LET YOU OFF THIS TIME,

BUT DON'T DO IT AGAIN, BOYO.

I'M WARNING YOU.

WILL YOU SHAKE HANDS, MATE?

SHAKE HANDS, IS IT?

YOU'RE A HELL OF A PEACEMAKER, BILLY.

WELL, YOU'VE BEAT ME FAIR.

FIRST TIME I EVER HEAR JENKINS EAT HIS WORDS.

WHAT A TERRIBLE DIET THAT IS--

WORSE THAN THE STEW.

DON'T BE GETTING WRONG IDEAS.

I'M MORE THAN A MATCH FOR YOU, BOYO.

AYE. I TOOK YOU OFF YOUR GUARD.

AYE.

HA HA HA HA!

YOU MAKE FRIENDS QUICKLY, MASTER BUDD.

COME HERE, BOY.

WHAT WAS THE FIGHT ABOUT?

WELL, I...

NOTHING TO SAY?

AND THE REST OF YOU?

MR. CLAGGART!

[STRIKES HIM]

WATCH WHAT YOU'RE DOING.

DON'T YOU EVER TOUCH ME!

I SWEAR, I--

YOU SWEAR...

WHAT?

NONE OF YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY?

IT WAS NOTHING, MASTER-AT-ARMS.

A TEST OF STRENGTH.

YOU'LL NEED YOUR STRENGTH

FOR THE FIGHTING TO COME, BOY.

[CLAGGART] AYE, BUDD.

YOU DO INDEED MAKE FRIENDS QUICKLY.

THAT'S A GOOD QUALITY TO HAVE.

BILLY...

BE CAREFUL OF THE MASTER-AT-ARMS.

CAREFUL?

WHY?

HE HAD A PLEASANT SMILE FOR ME.

THAT'S WHY.

MAKE EIGHT BELLS!

[BELL RINGS]

[BELL RINGS]

FIRST WATCH ABOARD A MAN-O-WAR, BILLY?

DON'T FALL!

OR JUMP!

COME ON! GET ON UP THERE!

AYE, HE'S QUITE A HAND FOR JOKES.

ALWAYS CHEERFUL, TOO.

ALWAYS SMILING, WAVING AT PEOPLE.

LOVELY LITTLE CHARACTER.

ALWAYS--

AFTERNOON, SIR.

WIND SEEMS TO BE FRESHENING A LITTLE,

WITH YOUR PERMISSION, SIR.

FRESHENING DID YOU SAY, MASTER-AT-ARMS?

YES, IT DOES INDEED, MASTER-AT-ARMS.

INDEED.

OUR YOUNG NEWCOMER SEEMS TO FEEL QUITE AT HOME.

AYE, SIR.

INDEED HE DOES.

YES.

HE'S EVEN MELTED OLD STARRY VERE'S STONE HEART.

HE'LL MAKE THE OLD AVENGER A MERCHANTMAN YET.

AAH, THE TROUBLE IS

I CAN'T FIND THE DISTANCES LIKE I USED TO.

I'LL TAKE YOUR TURN TOMORROW WHILE YOU STAY BELOW DECKS.

[SHUFFLING]

WHO'S THERE?

WELL, WHAT'S UP, THEN, SQUEAK?

ROUTINE INSPECTION, JENKINS.

WHAT'S THE MATTER?

SICK, ARE YOU?

MY HEALTH DOES NOT CONCERN YOU.

NO NEED TO BE UNCIVIL, JENKINS.

IS, UH...

IS THIS SICKNESS SOMETHING

MASTER-AT-ARMS SHOULD KNOW ABOUT?

HE'LL KNOW WHEN I WANT HIM TO KNOW, BOYO.

I HOPE IT'S NOTHING SERIOUS.

EVENING.

GOOD EVENING.

OH, IT'S ON A PETTY REPORT YOU ARE AGAIN, BUDD.

WELL, I MEAN, LOOK AT IT.

IT'S A PITY YOU WILL NOT LEARN.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND.

THAT'S THE SECOND TIME IT'S HAPPENED LIKE THIS.

NEXT TIME SEW YOURSELF UP IN IT,

AND THEN YOU'LL BE SURE TO KNOW

IF SOMEBODY MEDDLES WITH IT.

HMM?

OH, DANSKER.

HMM?

WHAT?

READING?

HMM.

HOW MANY TIMES MUST YOU BE ON SHIP'S REPORT

BEFORE THEY TIE YOU TO THE GRATINGS AND FLOG YOU?

THAT'S A MATTER HE DECIDES.

HE?

AYE.

THE MASTER-AT-ARMS...

MR. CLAGGART.

GO ON. THAT'S ALL YOU'RE GOING TO GET.

FISH.

THEY'RE SERVING FISH.

CAN'T THINK WHY.

IT'S WEDNESDAY.

AH, WELL, I HOPE IT'S BETTER THAN THAT HORSE MEAT

WE'VE BEEN GETTING.

MAYBE IT'S A SEA HORSE.

JENKINS, AREN'T YOU EATING ANYTHING?

WELL, YOU GOT TO EAT SOMETHING, YOU KNOW,

OR GO SICK.

WELL, AT LEAST COME IN OUT OF THE SUN.

HERE, HANG ON!

HANDSOMELY DONE, LAD.

BUT THEN HANDSOME IS AS HANDSOME DOES.

CLEAN UP THAT MESS.

I THOUGHT I SAID CLEAN UP THAT MESS.

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...

I'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 GOING TO DO ABOUT IT, MATE?

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.

I'M SICK OF THE TASTE OF BLOOD, BOYO.

WHY'S HE SO FRIENDLY TO ME?

IT WAS I WHO SPILLED THE FOOD.

DON'T YOU BELIEVE IT!

HE LURCHED INTO YOU.

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.

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 HIS NAME'S ON SHIP'S REPORT AGAIN.

THESE ARE PETTY 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 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.

HE'S KEPT HIS SECRET WELL.

MUST BE HARD TO KEEP.

HE WAS THE ONLY MAN I DARED IMPRESS.

THE BOY HAS A QUALITY OF TRUST.

THANK YOU, RATCLIFFE. THAT WILL BE ALL.

CLAGGART--WHAT DOES HE RECOMMEND?

I'VE NOT DISCUSSED IT WITH HIM, SIR.

WHY NOT, PRAY?

THE BOY HAS SWORN--

IN THIS MATTER, I DIDN'T THINK IT NECESSARY.

WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT CLAGGART?

BEFORE HE CAME ABOARD SHIP, I MEAN.

NOT MUCH, SIR. NOBODY DOES.

THERE ARE RUMORS.

RUMORS?

THERE ALWAYS ARE ON ANY SHIP.

WHAT RUMORS?

THAT HE WAS ONCE ARRAIGNED AT THE KING'S BENCH

ON SOME MYSTERIOUS CHARGE,

THEN VOLUNTEERED FOR THE KING'S NAVY

AS PAYMENT FOR THE CRIME.

HOW FLATTERING FOR US.

TOO MUCH OF THE NAVY IS MADE UP OF DEBTORS,

MURDERERS, DRUNKARDS WITHOUT THE STEADY LEGS TO ESCAPE IMPRESSMENT.

IF NOT TRUE IN HIS CASE,

WHY WOULD A MAN OF HIS INTELLECT HAVE ACCEPTED

LIFE ABOARD SHIP ON SUCH A LOWLY STATION?

AYE. AYE.

HE'S A GOOD MASTER-AT-ARMS,

THE BEST I'VE EVER SAILED WITH.

THE SHIP IS YOURS, SIR.

THE CHOICE OF MEN TO MAN HER, TOO.

CHOICE.

WHAT MASTER-AT-ARMS IS EVER LOVED BY THE CREW?

LOVED?

THEY HATE HIM, SIR.

THAT MAY BE BETTER THAN INDIFFERENCE, SEYMOUR.

WHO KNOWS?

THE FACT THAT I COMMAND

DOES NOT RELIEVE ME FROM DOUBTS.

ON THE CONTRARY, IT MAGNIFIES THEM.

A MAN-OF-WAR DOES NOT COME TO LIFE

UNTIL IT'S IN ACTION.

WILL WE ACQUIT OURSELVES WELL...

OR BADLY?

WHAT KIND OF A WEAPON HAVE WE FORGED?

AND WHEN THE TIME COMES,

WILL I KNOW HOW TO USE IT?

CLAGGART IS A FORCE FOR ORDER, MR. SEYMOUR,

A FORCE FOR ORDER I MUST HAVE.

SIR...

IF HE SHOULD BE OPPOSED TO BUDD'S PROMOTION...

YOU KNOW, SEYMOUR,

THERE ARE SOME MEN

WHO CANNOT STAND TOO MUCH PERFECTION.

THEY SEE IT AS A... AS A DISEASE...

WHICH MUST BE STAMPED OUT AT ITS FIRST RASH SHOWING.

I WILL THINK OVER

THE MATTER OF BUDD'S PROMOTION.

UHH...

HERE!

WHAT'S THE MATTER WITH HIM?

WHAT IS IT, MATE?

IT'S NO GOOD, BOYO. I FEEL SICK.

SICK AND DIZZY.

COME ON. LET'S GET ALOFT.

NO, WAIT.

GET HIM DOWN BELOW.

[CLAGGART] WHERE ARE YOU TAKING HIM?

SICK BERTH.

THIS SICKNESS BEGINS TO GROW TEDIOUS, JENKINS.

HOW DOES IT STRIKE YOU? IN THE HEAD?

IN THE LIMBS?

MAYBE IN THE GUT.

DOES IT EXIST AT ALL?

CAN'T YOU SEE?

WE'RE UNDERMANNED.

GET ALOFT.

YOU CAN'T LET A SICK MAN HANG FROM A SPAR LIKE THAT.

HE'LL FALL, SURE!

WE'RE IN FRENCH WATERS.

ORDERS ARE A MAN ON EVERY SPAR.

NOW GET ALOFT.

YOU THINK I'M SHIRKING?

YES, I DO.

BE DAMNED TO YOU. I'LL STAND MY WATCH.

AT LEAST LET THE DOCTOR--

I'LL STAND MY WATCH!

FRENCH WATERS...

UNDERMANNED...

THAT'S NOT WHY YOU'RE SENDING ME ALOFT,

MR. CLAGGART.

[GROANING]

UP THE SIDE. COME ON.

[MOANS]

A SAIL 1 MILE OFF THE STARBOARD BOW!

A FRENCHMAN! BEAT TO QUARTERS! CLEAR FOR ACTION!

BEAT TO QUARTERS! CLEAR FOR ACTION!

MR. SEYMOUR, SIR!

HERE! GET OVER THERE!

GO ON, YOU LAZY LANDLUBBERS! GET ON WITH THIS!

MOVE UP THERE. MOVE UP.

HURRY!

BATTLE STATIONS FULLY MANNED, SIR.

SET FULL SAIL AND GIVE CHASE.

WE'LL NEVER CATCH HER, SIR.

SHE MAY NOT HAVE SEEN US.

AYE, AYE, SIR.

SET FULL SAIL, MR. LEVERETT.

SET FULL SAIL, MR. SEYMOUR.

STAY CLOSE TO THE WIND, SIR?

AYE.

QUARTERMASTER, STAY BY THE WIND.

BY THE WIND IT IS, SIR!

WHY IS THAT MAN LEAVING HIS POST?

WHO IS IT?

BUDD, SIR.

BUDD?

FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, BILLY,

LOOK TO YOURSELF.

AAH!

[ALL TALKING]

CLAGGART!

DAMN YOUR BLOODY EYES!

THE MAN IS DEAD, MR. RATCLIFFE.

TAKE THE BODY BELOW.

AYE, SIR.

YOU...YOU.

THOMSON, RIDLEY.

BEAR HIM BELOW.

FRENCHMAN'S DRAWING AHEAD.

COMMENCE FIRING, MR. SEYMOUR.

SIR, IT'S HOPELESS. IT'S OUT OF RANGE.

YES, MR. SEYMOUR.

WE COULD ATTRACT OTHER ENEMY SHIPS.

I KNOW YOUR OBJECTION, MR. SEYMOUR.

WE STAND NO CHANCE OF SINKING THE FRENCHMAN.

ALL I CAN DO IS TO LESSEN THE TENSION ABOARD MY OWN SHIP.

COMMENCE FIRING, MR. SEYMOUR.

STARBOARD BATTERY, OPEN FIRE!

OPEN FIRE, SIR.

FIRE AT WILL.

FIRE AT WILL!

FIRE AT WILL.

FIRE AT WILL!

WHAT ARE WE FIRING AT?

DON'T QUESTION COMMANDS, OBEY THEM! FIRE!

FIRE!

LOOK OUT.

[CANNONS FIRING]

MR. SEYMOUR.

SIR?

OFFICERS WILL WEAR SWORDS ALL THE TIME FROM NOW ON.

WE'VE LOST HER, SIR.

GIVE UP THE CHASE, MR. SEYMOUR.

AYE, AYE, SIR.

WHAT ELSE DO YOU EXPECT ME TO TELL YOU?

HAND IN YOUR ARMS.

OH, UH, KINCAID.

YOU'RE UNDER SHIP'S ARREST. TAKE HIM BELOW.

HAND IN YOUR ARMS.

HAND IN YOUR ARMS!

WHAT'S THE MATTER, MASTER-AT-ARMS?

THESE DOGS ARE OUT OF TEMPER, SIR.

WHY?

I DON'T KNOW, SIR.

WHAT IS THIS ABOUT?

YOU WILL COME TO ATTENTION WHEN I ADDRESS YOU!

MAY I REMIND YOU THAT THIS SHIP IS AT WAR.

THIS IS A WARTIME CRUISE.

WE SAIL UNDER THE ARTICLES OF WAR.

VOLUNTEER OR IMPRESSED MAN,

VETERAN SEAMAN OR RECRUIT,

YOU ARE NO LONGER CIVILIANS, BUT SAILORS,

A CREW THAT I SHALL MOLD INTO A WEAPON.

ONE LAWLESS ACT...

ONE SPURT OF REBEL TEMPER FROM ANY ONE OF YOU,

HIGH OR LOW...

I SHALL PAY YOU OUT IN COIN YOU KNOW OF.

YOU HAVE ONLY TWO DUTIES HERE--

TO FIGHT AND TO OBEY.

AND I WILL BEND EACH CONTUMACIOUS SPIRIT,

EACH STIFF-NECKED PRIDEFUL SOUL OF YOU...

OR CRUSH YOU...

IF I MUST.

ABIDE BY THE ARTICLES OF WAR

AND MY COMMANDS,

OR THEY WILL CUT YOU DOWN.

NOW...

CHOOSE.

KINCAID, YOU SHOUTED. WHY?

WHY DID JENKINS FALL, SIR?

MASTER-AT-ARMS, THAT ACCIDENT--

THE MAN WHO FELL UPON THE DECK FROM THE YARDARM--

DO YOU KNOW HOW THIS OCCURRED?

I DO NOT, SIR.

YOU WERE HIS MESSMATES.

DOES ANY MAN HERE KNOW HOW THIS OCCURRED?

YOU?

NO, SIR.

BOY, YOU LEFT YOUR POST. WHY?

I KNEW THAT JENKINS WAS SICK, SIR.

I SAW HIM SWAY.

YOU KNEW HE WAS SICK?

MR. CLAGGART, DID YOU SEND A SICK MAN ALOFT?

HE SAID HE WAS,

BUT WHEN I QUESTIONED HIM, HE CHANGED HIS MIND

AND WENT TO STAND HIS WATCH.

[BUDD] THAT'S NOT THE WAY IT HAPPENED,

MR. CLAGGART.

DON'T YOU REMEMBER?

THAT IS THE WAY IT HAPPENED, SIR.

I SEE.

HAND IN YOUR ARMS.

TAKE HIM BELOW.

"WE THEREFORE COMMIT HIS BODY TO THE DEEP

"TO BE TURNED INTO CORRUPTION,

"LOOKING FOR THE RESURRECTION OF THE BODY

"WHEN THE SEA SHALL GIVE UP HER DEAD

"AND THE CORRUPTIBLE BODIES

"OF THOSE WHO SLEEP IN HIM

SHALL BE CHANGED--"

"AND MADE LIKE UNTO HIS GLORIOUS BODY

"ACCORDING TO THE MIGHTY WORKING

"WHEREBY HE IS ABLE

"TO SUBDUE ALL THINGS...

UNTO HIMSELF."

AMEN.

AMEN. AMEN. AMEN.

SHIP'S COMPANY, DISMISS!

WELL, THAT'S THE END OF ENOCH JENKINS.

OVER THE SIDE HE GOES,

AND HIS MATES SOON FORGET HIM.

THEY'LL NOT FORGET HIM SO SOON, I'M THINKING.

AH, WHATEVER'S HAPPENED TO JENKINS,

HE AIN'T WORRIED NONE.

HE'S GOT 100 FATHOMS

BETWEEN HIM AND THE TROUBLES OF THIS LIFE.

I'D RATHER BE BURIED AT SEA THAN ON THE SHORE

WHEN I COME TO DIE.

WILL YOU STAND BY THE PLANK, MATES,

SO I CAN SHAKE A FRIENDLY HAND BEFORE I SINK?

BUDD.

CAPTAIN VERE WISHES TO SEE YOU.

[KNOCK ON DOOR]

COME IN.

SEAMAN BUDD, SIR.

YOU SENT FOR ME, SIR?

YES, BUDD. YOUR DIVISIONAL OFFICER RECOMMENDS YOU

FOR A POST OF MORE RESPONSIBILITY.

HE THINKS YOU CAN PERFORM DUTIES

OF A HIGHER STATION, AND SO DO I.

THE SPIRIT YOU SHOWED LAST NIGHT,

UH, WARRANTS IT.

FROM NOW ON, YOU ARE CAPTAIN OF THE FORETOP.

OH, UH...

YES. THAT'S A REAL HONOR

FOR A MAN SO NEW ABOARD.

YOU CAN TRUST ME, SIR.

I DO.

VERY WELL, THEN. THAT'S ALL.

OH. UH, AYE, AYE, SIR.

THANKS.

CAPTAIN VERE, SIR,

WITH YOUR PERMISSION.

YES?

YOU MUST BE AWARE, SIR,

THAT...BUDD IS... WELL...

IT'S UNLIKE YOU TO FALTER, MR. CLAGGART.

HE HAS BEEN ABOARD SUCH A SHORT TIME.

LONG ENOUGH TO PROVE HIMSELF TO ME.

HE LEFT HIS STATION LAST NIGHT.

IN A GOOD CAUSE, NO DOUBT, MASTER-AT-ARMS.

HE SHOWED INITIATIVE.

THE CAPTAINCY OF THE FORETOP IS HIS REWARD.

WITH YOUR PERMISSION, SIR,

WILL THERE NOT BE SOME DISSATISFACTION

AMONG THE FORETOPMEN WHO'VE BEEN ABOARD MUCH LONGER THAN BUDD?

OH, MASTER-AT-ARMS,

I CONCERN MYSELF WITH THESE MATTERS.

THEY'RE REALLY NONE OF YOUR FUNCTION.

UNTIL SUCH A TIME AS THE SENIOR TOPMEN

FORMALLY OBJECT TO BUDD FOR INCAPACITY,

AND FOR NO OTHER REASON WHATSOEVER,

HE IS CAPTAIN OF THE FORETOP.

MAKE IT SO ON THE BILL.

CAPTAIN VERE, SIR, WITH YOUR PERMISSION--

WHAT?

IN THE MATTER OF KINCAID--

THE MAN WHO SHOUTED FROM THE MAST--

IT WAS A SERIOUS BREACH OF SHIP'S DISCIPLINE

WHILE ENGAGING THE ENEMY.

WHAT PUNISHMENT DO YOU RECOMMEND?

10 LASHES.

IT WAS WHILE ENGAGING THE ENEMY.

10 LASHES.

MR. CLAGGART.

AYE, SIR.

DO YOU CONSIDER THE SENTENCE JUST?

MAY I SPEAK FREELY, SIR?

I DO NOT ASK QUESTIONS

IN ORDER TO GET INSINCERE ANSWERS.

10 LASHES WOULD SEEM TO ME A MILD SENTENCE

UNDER PEACETIME CONDITIONS.

100 WOULD, TO MY MIND, BE APPROPRIATE.

100?

WE MUST SERVE THE LAW, SIR,

OR GIVE UP THE RIGHT AND PRIVILEGE OF SERVICE.

IT IS ONLY WITHIN THAT LAW

THAT WE MAY USE OUR DISCRETIONS

ACCORDING TO OUR RANK.

YOU'RE SO LUCID AND INTELLIGENT FOR THE RANK YOU HOLD.

I THANK YOU, SIR.

THAT'S NO FLATTERY, MR. CLAGGART,

IT'S A MELANCHOLY FACT.

IT'S SAD TO SEE SUCH QUALITIES OF MIND

BENT TO SUCH A SORRY PURPOSE.

WHAT'S THE REASON FOR IT?

I AM WHAT I AM, SIR...

AND WHAT THE WORLD HAS MADE ME.

THE WORLD?

THE WORLD DEMANDS THAT BEHIND EVERY PEACEMAKER

THERE BE THE GUN...

THE GALLOWS...

THE JAIL.

DO YOU THINK IT WILL ALWAYS BE SO?

I HAVE NO REASON NOT TO, SIR.

YOU LIVE WITHOUT HOPE?

I LIVE.

THEN, REMEMBER, MR. CLAGGART,

THAT EVEN THE MAN WHO WIELDS THE WHIP

CANNOT DEFY THE CODE WE MUST OBEY...

AND NOT BE BROKEN BY IT.

THAT WILL BE ALL.

AYE, SIR.

WITH YOUR PERMISSION, SIR.

IS IT STILL TO BE 10 LASHES?

IT IS.

[LASH] 1...

[LASH] 2...

[LASH] 3...

[LASH] 4...

[LASH] 5...

[LASH] 6...

7...

8...

[LASH] 9...

[LASH] 10...

RELEASE THE PRISONER.

DISMISS SHIP'S COMPANY, PLEASE, MR. SEYMOUR.

SHIP'S COMPANY, DISMISS!

I EXPECT THE FRENCH

WILL BE PUTTING US TO OUR STATIONS ANY HOUR NOW.

AYE.

IN THE QUESTION OF JENKINS,

BUDD WAS TELLING THE TRUTH.

I KNOW, SIR.

WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT CLAGGART?

WHAT CAN I DO BUT WATCH AND WAIT?

NO COURT-MARTIAL WOULD DO MORE

THAN STRIP HIM OF HIS RANK.

THEN WHAT? AS A RATING,

HE'D BE SLAUGHTERED BY THE OTHER MEN.

WHO WOULD REPLACE HIM?

AND WOULD THE FRENCH REFRAIN FROM ATTACKING US

WHILE WE SETTLED OUR PETTY DIFFERENCES?

NO. I MUST GIVE HIM HIS HEAD

UNTIL SOME ACT PUTS HIM SQUARELY COUNTER TO THE LAW

AND THEN LET THE LAW CONSUME HIM.

WHAT WOULD YOU DO...

IF YOU WERE CAPTAIN OF THIS SHIP?

I'M NOT CAPTAIN OF THIS SHIP, SIR.

ONE DAY YOU MAY BE, PHILIP.

AND THEN...

REMEMBER.

[CLANGS BELL]

GOOD EVENING, SIR.

GOOD EVENING.

WOULD IT BE ALL RIGHT IF I STAY TOPSIDE A BIT

TO WATCH THE WATER?

I SUPPOSE THE HANDSOME SAILOR

MAY DO MANY THINGS FORBIDDEN TO HIS MESSMATES.

THE SEA'S CALM BY NIGHT, ISN'T IT?

CALM AND PEACEFUL.

YOU'VE MADE A GOOD IMPRESSION ON THE CAPTAIN, BILLY BUDD.

YOU HAVE A PLEASANT WAY WITH YOU.

OH. THANK YOU, SIR.

IF YOU WISH TO MAKE A GOOD IMPRESSION ON ME, TOO, HOWEVER,

YOU WILL NEED TO CURB YOUR TONGUE.

NOW, SIR?

NOT NOW.

CAN IT BE THAT YOU REALLY DON'T UNDERSTAND MY WORDS?

IS IT IGNORANCE OR IRONY

THAT MAKES YOU SPEAK SO SIMPLY?

UH, IT MUST BE IGNORANCE, SIR,

'CAUSE I DON'T UNDERSTAND THE OTHER WORD.

LET US SEE WHICH IT IS.

TELL ME, WITHOUT FEAR, IF YOU CAN,

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF ME?

I NEVER MET A MAN LIKE YOU BEFORE.

YOU BLAME ME FOR JENKINS' DEATH.

YOU MUST HAVE HAD A REASON

FOR DOING WHAT YOU DID.

IF YOU THOUGHT I HAD A REASON,

WHY DID YOU CONTRADICT MY WORDS BEFORE THE CAPTAIN?

IN MY IGNORANCE, SIR, I COULD NOT GUESS THE REASON.

I ONLY KNEW THE TRUTH AND TOLD IT.

THE SEA IS CALM, YOU SAID.

PEACEFUL.

CALM ABOVE...

BUT BELOW, A WORLD OF GLIDING MONSTERS

PREYING ON THEIR FELLOWS.

MURDERERS, ALL OF THEM.

ONLY THE STRONGEST TEETH SURVIVE.

AND WHO'S TO TELL ME

IT'S ANY DIFFERENT HERE ON BOARD

OR YONDER, ON DRY LAND?

YOU KNEW MY REPUTATION...

AND YET YOU DARED

TO SPEAK WHAT YOU CALL THE TRUTH. WHY?

I KNOW SOME OF THE MEN ARE FEARFUL OF YOU--

HATE YOU-- BUT I TOLD THEM,

YOU CAN'T BE AS THEY THINK YOU ARE.

AND WHY NOT, PRAY?

NO MAN CAN TAKE PLEASURE IN CRUELTY.

NO?

TELL ME, DO YOU FEAR THE LASH?

AYE.

AND WILL YOU SPEAK THE TRUTH AGAIN?

I'M ON MY HONOR, SIR.

IF THE CAPTAIN ASKS--

[LAUGHING]

[LAUGHING]

WHY ARE YOU LAUGHING, BOY?

LAUGHTER'S GOOD, SIR.

AND, UH, IT'S GOOD TO HEAR YOU LAUGH.

LAUGHTER'S GOOD.

EVEN THE LAUGHTER OF FOOLS AIMED AT NOTHING?

NO, SIR.

YOU DIDN'T LAUGH AT NOTHING.

WHAT DID I LAUGH AT, THEN?

I DON'T KNOW, SIR.

BUT I THINK YOU WERE LAUGHING AT YOURSELF.

WHY SHOULD I LAUGH AT MYSELF?

THERE'S TIMES WHEN ALL MEN DO--

MEN AS YOU CAN CALL MEN.

THEY MAKE MISTAKES... BEHAVE LIKE FOOLS.

THEY DO?

TELL ME, IN ALL IGNORANCE,

DO YOU DARE UNDERSTAND ME, THEN?

I THINK SO, SIR.

WHY DID JENKINS DIE?

YOU DID NOT WISH HIS DEATH.

NO, I DID NOT.

YOU DIDN'T EVEN HATE HIM.

I THINK THAT SOMETIMES YOU HATE YOURSELF.

I WAS THINKING, SIR...

THE NIGHTS ARE LONELY.

PERHAPS I COULD TALK TO YOU BETWEEN WATCHES,

WHEN YOU'VE NOTHING ELSE TO DO.

LONELINESS.

WHAT DO YOU KNOW OF LONELINESS?

THEM'S ALONE AS WANT TO BE.

THE NIGHTS ARE LONG.

CONVERSATION HELPS PASS THE TIME.

CAN I TALK TO YOU AGAIN, THEN?

IT WOULD MEAN A LOT TO ME.

PERHAPS TO ME, TOO.

OH, NO.

YOU WOULD CHARM ME, TOO, HUH?

GET AWAY.

SIR?

GET AWAY.

MASTER-AT-ARMS.

MR. CLAGGART, SIR?

WHAT'S THE...WHAT'S THE "GET THEE BEHIND ME" FOR?

WHICH OF US IS SATAN, THEN?

WHY, I'M NOT AMBITIOUS.

WELL?

COULDN'T FIND NOTHING WRONG WITH BUDD'S GEAR, SIR.

ALL STOWED PERFECT.

WELL, DISARRANGE IT, MAN.

YOU'VE DONE IT BEFORE.

I WAS NEARLY CAUGHT. TWO OF HIS MATES WOKE.

BE MORE CAREFUL.

I WANT HIM ON REPORT, NOW MORE THAN EVER.

DO AS YOU WISH.

IT'S NOT EASY.

HOW'S YOUR GEAR, SQUEAK?

ALL STOWED PERFECT?

MOON'S IN AND OUT TONIGHT.

THERE'S A STORM SOMEWHERE.

AYE, OLD MAN.

THERE'S A STORM SOMEWHERE.

WELL, I HAVE MY WATCH TO DO.

BILLY.

BILLY.

SLIP INTO THE LEE FORECHAINS.

THERE'S SOMETHING IN THE WIND.

WHAT? YOU--

NO. DON'T SPEAK HERE. I'LL MEET YOU THERE.

WE HAVE TO TALK QUICKISH, BILLY.

DAWN WILL BE ON US BEFORE YOU CAN SAY MUTINY.

WHAT DO YOU WANT?

IT'S AGAINST THE RULES TO BE UP HERE.

I SAW YOU AND CLAGGART TALKING.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT WAS SAID,

NOT LIKING TO LISTEN

TO OTHER FOLKS' CONVERSATIONS,

BUT IF IT'S BUTTERING HIM UP YOU ARE,

BEWARE.

I TRIED THAT.

I--I WAS FRIGHTENED OF HIM.

THAT'S HOW I BEGAN, SEE?

I TALKED TO HIM ONE NIGHT, AND...

AFTER THAT, I WAS HIS SLAVE.

I AMUSED HIM, SEE?

SOMETHING ABOUT ME AMUSES HIM.

THERE'S NOTHING I CAN DO ABOUT IT.

ANYWAY, I...

STARTED SPYING ON PEOPLE FOR HIM

ONLY TO ESCAPE THE LASH.

A MAN CAN'T HELP

BEING FRIGHTENED, CAN HE? EH?

I MEAN I-IT'S HUMAN IN SOME OF US.

EVERY TIME HE LAUGHS AT ME, I...

I KNOW I'M SAFE.

TILL THE NEXT TIME, THAT IS.

[DANSKER SINGING]

IT'S ONLY OLD DANSKER PASSING AWAY HIS WATCH.

HEY, YOU KNOW WHEN

YOU KEPT FINDING YOURSELF ON REPORT?

WELL, THAT WAS MY DOING.

YEAH, BUT I WAS ONLY OBEYING ORDERS.

HIS ORDERS. CLAGGART'S.

CLAGGART'S?

HMM.

I THOUGHT IT WAS YOU, OUT OF SPITE.

ME?

I'VE GOT NO SPITE IN ME.

NOW, TAKE TONIGHT--

I'M SUPPOSED TO GET YOU ON REPORT AGAIN, SEE?

CLAGGART SENT ME TO STEAL YOUR KIT

WHILE YOU WAS ASLEEP.

INSTEAD, I WOKE YOU UP.

MY--MY CONSCIENCE WOULDN'T PERMIT ME TO OBEY,

WHATEVER THE CONSEQUENCES.

I SAID TO MYSELF,

"YOU--YOU CAN'T DO THIS TO BILLY. NOT THIS."

OH.

WELL, I OUGHT TO THANK YOU, THEN, DIDN'T I?

NO. NO, I'M A HUMAN BEING,

SAME AS THE NEXT MAN.

I WANT NO THANKS.

CAN'T HELP BEING A COWARD, THOUGH.

THAT'S MY TROUBLE.

I HATE CLAGGART.

THAT'S WHAT HE DON'T REALIZE--

I HATE HIM.

YOU HATE HIM?

YES, I DO.

DON'T YOU?

NO.

YOU DON'T?

NO.

YOU MUST DO.

[DANSKER'S SINGING STOPS]

WHY'S THE OLD MAN STOPPED SINGING?

GET AWAY, OLD MAN.

AYE.

I'LL LEAVE YOU IN THE DARK, KINCAID,

BUT THINK AGAIN.

[RESUMES SINGING]

EVEN THOUGH YOU DON'T HATE HIM,

THERE'S MANY AS DOES, AND THEY NEED YOUR HELP.

THEY CAME TO ME AND SAID,

"DO YOU THINK BILLY'LL HELP US?"

I SAID, "I'VE NEVER KNOWN HIM

NOT TO HELP THEM IN NEED."

WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO DO?

[DANSKER SINGING]

TOMORROW NIGHT...

TALK TO CLAGGART AS YOU DID TONIGHT,

WITH HIS BACK TO THE DECK.

THAT'S IMPORTANT.

THE LADS WILL DO THE REST.

THE REST?

IT'S A...

IT'S A LOVELY KNIFE YOU GOT THERE.

DAMN! I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU MEAN.

FORGET I EVEN TALKED TO YOU.

YOU GO BACK WHERE YOU BELONG.

I'M GOING. I'M OFF.

START, OR I'LL TOSS YOU OVER THE RAIL.

I NEVER SAID NOTHING.

[RUNNING FOOTSTEPS ON DECK]

WELL?

WELL, WHAT?

I HEARD YOU MUTTERING WITH HIM.

I TRIED SOMETHING YOU ONCE SUGGESTED.

I TOLD HIM THE LADS WAS OUT TO KILL YOU,

TRIED TO GET HIM TO JOIN IN.

AND?

HE WOULDN'T DO IT.

FOOL! BLITHERING IDIOT!

YOU DIDN'T TEMPT HIM RIGHT.

YOU MADE MISTAKES.

YOU WERE TOO OBVIOUS, WEREN'T YOU?

NO, I TRIED TO BE SUBTLE.

I TOLD HIM HOW MUCH I HATED YOU.

AND HE DIDN'T LET FORTH ONE HINT THAT HE AGREED?

NO, MASTER-AT-ARMS, NOT ONE WORD.

MR. CLAGGART, WE DONE ENOUGH TO HIM.

HE'S A GOOD LAD, SIR.

COULDN'T IT BE SOMEONE ELSE?

KINCAID, MAYBE?

SO HE'S SOFTENED YOUR HEART, TOO?

I'LL SEE YOUR BACK LAID RAW WITH A FLOGGING WHIP.

NO! NO--

QUIET.

YEAH.

HE HATES YOU,

DOES BILLY BUDD.

HE WANTS YOUR LIFE LIKE THE REST OF THEM.

YOU SWEAR IT?

I SWEAR IT.

ON MY OATH.

I KNEW IT.

WHY DON'T YOU GO TO MR. SEYMOUR...

OR TO THE CAPTAIN?

THEN I'D BE AN INFORMER.

NO, NO, DANSKER, I CAN'T.

IT'S KINCAID.

LEAVE HIM BE.

NO.

LEAVE HIM BE, BILLY BUDD.

KINCAID, WHAT ARE YOU DOING TOPSIDE?

YOU'RE AFTER MR. CLAGGART.

WELL?

IT'S WRONG, KINCAID, HE KNOWS.

HE'S WAITING FOR YOU.

NO MORE THAN I'M WAITING FOR HIM.

OUT OF MY WAY, LAD, AND LET ME DO IT.

NO, I WON'T LET YOU HANG YOURSELF.

I DON'T GIVE A FIDDLER'S DAMN WHAT HAPPENS TO ME.

OUT OF MY WAY, LAD.

GIVE ME THAT KNIFE.

BILLY, YOU'RE A NICE BOY, BUT I'M NO PLAYING.

THIS IS NO GAME FOR BOYS.

DAMN ME, I WON'T LET YOU HANG YOURSELF.

[FOOTSTEP]

THE MOON'S UNDER NOW.

SWEET MOTHER OF GOD, WILL YOU LET ME GO?

NO.

[KNIFE CLATTERS]

AAH.

OOH, MY BACK.

[DECK CREAKS]

EXPLAIN THIS.

UH...

IT WAS NOTHING, SIR.

AN ARGUMENT.

AN ARGUMENT?

WHOSE KNIFE IS THIS?

MINE, SIR.

TRUTH, BOY.

TRUTH.

ISN'T THAT THE COURSE BY WHICH YOU STEER?

OR AM I WRONG?

"THAT'S NOT THE WAY IT HAPPENED."

THAT'S WHAT YOU TOLD THE CAPTAIN

WHEN JENKINS SLIPPED FROM CARELESSNESS.

THERE ARE MANY WAYS TO LIE, MR. CLAGGART,

BUT THERE'S ONLY ONE WAY TO TELL THE TRUTH.

JENKINS WAS UNFIT.

UNFIT?

WELL, HERE'S ANOTHER ONE THAT'S UNFIT.

UP, MAN. ON YOUR FEET.

I'VE BEEN EXPECTING YOU, KINCAID.

WHY DID YOU TRY TO STOP HIM?

WHY SHOULD I WANT YOU--

KILLED?

"WHY SHOULD I WANT YOU KILLED?"

[WYATT] WHAT'S THE DISTURBANCE THERE?

YOU THERE, FOR'ARD.

MASTER-AT-ARMS REPORTS ALL IN ORDER, SIR.

STAND WHERE YOU ARE.

SAY NOTHING TO THIS OFFICER.

UP. ON YOUR FEET.

WHAT'S THE MATTER, MASTER-AT-ARMS?

IT'S AN ODD HOUR FOR STARGAZING.

A SLIGHT MATTER, SIR.

I FOUND THESE MEN TOGETHER HERE ON DECK

CONTRARY TO CAPTAIN'S ORDERS.

I WAS SENDING THEM BELOW WHEN YOU CALLED OUT.

SURELY THERE'S MORE TO IT THAN THAT.

THE STORY'S LAME, MAN.

WHAT OCCURRED?

YOUR KNIFE, MASTER-AT-ARMS?

WILLIAM BUDD'S, SIR,

I BELIEVE.

RETURN IT TO HIM.

YOU REPORTED ALL IN ORDER, MASTER-AT-ARMS.

I'LL TAKE YOUR WORD.

CONSEQUENTLY, I DO NOT WISH TO SEE

EITHER OF THESE MEN'S NAMES ON SHIP'S REPORT TOMORROW.

SIR...I FEEL THAT I--

EITHER ALL IS IN ORDER, MR. CLAGGART, OR IT IS NOT.

IF IT IS NOT, I WISH TO KNOW ABOUT IT NOW.

THERE IS NO REASON FOR THESE MEN'S NAMES

TO BE ON SHIP REPORT, SIR.

GOOD.

THANK YOU. GOOD NIGHT.

GET BELOW.

BOTH OF YOU.

GET BELOW.

MORE SAIL, PLEASE, MR. RATCLIFFE.

THE GLASS IS FALLING, SIR.

OUR MISSION IS TO JOIN THE FLEET. MORE SAIL.

AYE, SIR.

MORNING, MASTER-AT-ARMS.

- BATTLE STATIONS FULLY MANNED. - CARRY ON.

WITH YOUR PERMISSION, SIR.

I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TO YOU IN PRIVATE.

IF THIS IS NOT A MATTER OF GRAVE CONCERN--

IT IS OF GRAVE CONCERN, SIR.

[SEAMAN] SET THE T'GALLANTS!

VERY WELL.

I'LL BE IN MY CABIN, MR. WYATT.

AYE, AYE, SIR.

NOW, MASTER-AT-ARMS, BE BRIEF IF YOU WILL.

I'M REQUIRED ON DECK.

LAST NIGHT, WHEN ON MY ROUNDS,

DISCOVERING BUDD'S HAMMOCK WAS UNUSED,

I COMBED THE SHIP

AND FOUND HIM IN CONCLAVE WITH SEVERAL GROWLERS--

MEN WHO, LIKE HIMSELF,

SPREAD UNREST AND REBELLION AMONG THE CREW.

BUDD SPREADS REBELLION?

AYE, SIR.

AN ACCUSATION, I TAKE IT.

AYE, SIR.

RATCLIFFE!

- OH, CAPTAIN HALLAM. - SIR.

WOULD YOU BRING BUDD, PLEASE, CAPTAIN OF THE FORETOP?

- YES, SIR. - THANK YOU.

THEY WERE COLLECTED HERE, NEAR THE LEE FORECHAINS.

WHEN I ORDERED THEM BELOW,

YOUNG BUDD AND OTHERS THREATENED ME,

SWORE THEY'D DROP ME

AND SOME OFFICERS THEY HATE OVERBOARD

ON SOME MISTY NIGHT.

SHOULD YOU DESIRE SUBSTANTIAL PROOF, SIR,

IT IS NOT FAR.

WEIGH WHAT YOU SPEAK.

THERE IS THE ROPE AND YARDARM FOR FALSE WITNESS

IN PEACE AS IN WAR.

I UNDERSTAND, SIR.

I'M GLAD TO HEAR IT.

[KNOCK ON DOOR]

BUDD, SIR.

BRING HIM IN.

VERY GOOD, SIR.

COME IN, BUDD.

CAPTAIN HALLAM, SEE WE'RE NOT DISTURBED.

- VERY GOOD, SIR. - THANK YOU.

TELL THIS MAN TO HIS FACE WHAT YOU TOLD ME.

CERTAINLY, SIR.

I SAID THIS MAN,

THIS WILLIAM BUDD,

ACTING SO OUT OF ANGRY RESENTMENT AGAINST IMPRESSMENT

AND AGAINST HIS OFFICERS--

AGAINST THIS SHIP, THIS SERVICE, AND THE KING--

HEADS IN THE CREW A SPIRIT OF REBELLION

AGAINST THE OFFICERS, THE MATES, AND ME

AND URGES THEM TO THE OUTRAGE OF MUTINY.

THIS VERY NIGHT, I SURPRISED HIM IN THE LEE FORECHAINS

AND BOTH SAW AND HEARD HIM CONSPIRE WITH KNOWN MALINGERERS

AND MEN WHO CONTINUALLY GROWL ABOUT UNFAIR PAY,

MISTREATMENT, THE LACK OF SHORE LEAVE,

AND SIMILAR COMPLAINTS.

I HAVE THE NAMES OF THE OTHERS

INVOLVED IN THIS SINISTER PLOT:

THE MAN KINCAID,

THE OLD SAILOR WHO GOES BY THE NAME OF DANSKER,

AND, REGRETTABLY, MY OWN HITHERTO TRUSTED CORPORAL.

BUT THERE IS NO DOUBT IN MY MIND

THAT BUDD IS THEIR RINGLEADER.

I SAY THIS MAN THREATENED HIS OFFICERS

WITH MURDER

AND WAS BENT TONIGHT IN URGING OTHER MEN

TO ACT CONCERTEDLY IN MUTINY.

I HAVE NOTHING FURTHER TO SAY AT THIS TIME, SIR.

MM-HMM.

SPEAK, BUDD.

[VERE] DEFEND YOURSELF, BUDD.

AH...AH...

NOW, TAKE YOUR TIME, TAKE YOUR TIME.

THERE'S NO HURRY.

MAY I ADD, SIR,

I'M AS SURPRISED AS YOU SEEM TO BE AT BUDD'S COMPLICITY,

AS I'D HITHERTO SHARED YOUR HIGH OPINION OF HIM.

GIVE THE LAD HIS CHANCE.

YOU'VE MADE YOUR ACCUSATION. HE MUST DEFEND HIMSELF.

WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, SIR...

[VERE] MR. CLAGGART.

I DON'T THINK HE CAN.

IT'S NOT SO MUCH THAT HE CAN'T FIND THE WORDS

AS THAT THERE ARE NO WORDS TO FIND.

MR. CLAGGART!

[THUD]

[BILLY WHIMPERING]

CAPTAIN...

[WHISPERING]

SEYMOUR?

GO IN THERE UNTIL I CALL YOU.

CAPTAIN HALLAM.

UH--OH, YES, SIR.

FORGIVE ME FOR IMPOSING UPON YOU AGAIN.

COULD YOU CAUSE THE SURGEON TO COME?

THE SURGEON, SIR?

I DO HOPE, SIR, THAT YOU'RE NOT--

NO, NO...

NOTHING.

VERY GOOD, SIR.

[DOOR OPENS]

GOOD MORNING, SIR.

I TRUST YOU'RE IN GOOD HEALTH.

HOW IS IT WITH THIS MAN?

IS IT SO, THEN?

I THOUGHT IT.

VERIFY IT.

THE MAN IS DEAD, SIR.

BUT IS THAT POSSIBLE?

ONE BLOW?

TEMPLE.

I'VE KNOWN THE LARGEST MEN TO HAVE THIN SKULLS.

THIS MIGHT'VE HAPPENED AT ANY TIME AND FOR ANY REASON.

UH, RATCLIFFE.

[WHISPERING]

WHAT?

[WHISPERING]

WHY THE DRUMHEAD COURT-MARTIAL?

COULD NOT THE PRISONER BE KEPT UNDER GUARD

AND THE MATTER REFERRED TO THE ADMIRALTY BOARD IN PORT?

WE DO NOT SAIL TO PORT, MR. SEYMOUR.

WE SAIL INTO BATTLE.

BATTLE MAKES A MOCKERY OF JUSTICE.

WE MUST CLING TO WHAT VESTIGES OF ORDER WE CAN.

IT MUST BE DONE QUICKLY.

SINCE WHEN IS JUSTICE COMPATIBLE WITH SPEED?

YOU REALIZE AS WELL AS I DO THAT WE WERE SPARED A MUTINY ABOARD THIS SHIP

SIMPLY BECAUSE WE WERE NOT IN PORT.

BUT THE MEN KNOW.

RUMORS FLY OVER THE EMPTY SEA

AND WITH THEM THE TEMPER OF OUR TIMES.

AND SO WE ARE AFRAID.

JUSTICE MUST BE NOT ONLY QUICK BUT ALSO EXPEDIENT.

WHAT DID YOU SAY?

I APOLOGIZE, SIR, FOR THE MANNER,

NOT FOR THE MATTER.

CLAGGART WOULD'VE HUNG FOR FALSE WITNESS

IF BILLY HADN'T KILLED HIM.

YES, HE WOULD'VE DONE, BUT BY FAIR PROCESS OF LAW,

BUDD'S PREVENTED THAT AND TURNED THE LAW AGAINST HIMSELF.

YOU CAN'T CONDEMN THE BOY

FOR ANSWERING WITH HIS ARM FOR LACK OF WORDS!

HE WAS TEMPTED BEYOND ENDURANCE.

THE MOTIVE WAS CLEARLY JUSTIFIED.

AYE, BUT WAS THE ACT?

THIS MASTER-AT-ARMS,

YOU KNOW HIM FOR A LIAR, A VICIOUS DOG.

A DOG'S OBEYED IN OFFICE.

CLAGGART WAS AUTHORITY.

SEYMOUR, TRIAL THERE MUST BE,

AND YOU CANNOT MAKE THE DEAD STAND TRIAL.

SO THE LIVING MUST STAND TRIAL

FOR A DEAD MAN'S CRIMES.

IT'S MORE THAN ANY MAN

CAN HAVE TO ANSWER FOR, CAPTAIN...

TO HIS GOD OR EVEN TO HIS KING.

[KNOCK ON DOOR]

COME IN!

[VERE] YOU ALL KNOW WHY YOU'VE BEEN SUMMONED HERE?

AYE, SIR, IN A GENERAL SORT OF WAY.

YOU TOOK ALL PRECAUTIONS, GENTLEMEN?

NO MAN ABOARD KNOWS WHY YOU'RE HERE?

[WYATT] NO, SIR.

OH, UH, CAPTAIN HALLAM,

THE BODY?

IT STILL LIES IN THE COMPARTMENT BELOW, SIR.

NOBODY SAW THE MEN WHO PUT--

PUT IT THERE?

NO, SIR. I MADE SURE OF THAT.

THANK YOU, CAPTAIN HALLAM.

I'VE NEVER SEEN HIM SO DISTURBED.

AYE.

I GAVE HIM CAUSE.

VERY WELL, MR. SEYMOUR.

YOU MAY PROCEED.

GENTLEMEN...

YOU ARE APPOINTED MEMBERS OF A COURT-MARTIAL

CONVENED BY CAPTAIN VERE

IN EXTRAORDINARY CIRCUMSTANCES.

I AM SENIOR MEMBER...

AND I DECLARE THESE PROCEEDINGS OPEN.

AS YOU KNOW, THE MASTER-AT-ARMS HAS BEEN KILLED

BY THE FORETOPMAN BUDD.

WHETHER BY ACCIDENT OR BY DESIGN

AND WHETHER THE ACT

SHALL CARRY THE PENALTY OF DEATH OR NO,

YOU ARE TO DECIDE.

SENTRY.

SIR.

BRING THE PRISONER IN.

THERE IS ONLY ONE WITNESS...

CAPTAIN VERE.

I SHALL CALL ON HIM TO GIVE HIS DEPOSITION

AS SOON AS THE SENTRY BRINGS IN THE PRISONER.

[DOOR OPENS]

SENTRY, STAND OUTSIDE.

SIR.

UH, YOU MAY SIT DOWN, BILLY.

THANK YOU, SIR.

CAPTAIN, WILL YOU BE GOOD ENOUGH TO GIVE US YOUR ACCOUNT?

I SPEAK NOT AS YOUR CAPTAIN

BUT AS A WITNESS BEFORE THIS COURT.

THE MASTER-AT-ARMS EARLY THIS MORNING DETAILED TO ME

AN ACCOUNT OF MUTINOUS SENTIMENTS EXPRESSED BY BUDD

AND SPOKE IN PARTICULAR

OF OVERHEARING A SPECIFIC CONVERSATION LAST NIGHT DURING MIDWATCH.

BUDD A MUTINEER? THAT'S ABSURD!

LIEUTENANT WYATT, DO NOT INTERRUPT THE WITNESS.

AND NOW, SIR, WITH YOUR PERMISSION...

BUDD, DID YOU SPEAK WITH ANYONE

IN THE MASTER-AT-ARMS' HEARING LAST NIGHT?

HMM...

I SPOKE A LITTLE, WITH THE DANSKER, SIR.

THE SAILMAKER.

SENTRY!

SIR.

DO YOU KNOW A SEAMAN

REFERRED TO AS THE DANSKER?

SIR.

GO FIND HIM.

LET HIM KNOW HE IS WANTED HERE,

AND ARRANGE IT

SO NONE OF THE OTHERS NOTICE HIS WITHDRAWING.

SEE YOU DO IT TACTFULLY.

I WANT NO CURIOSITY AROUSED AMONG THE MEN.

SIR.

WILL YOU GO ON, SIR, PLEASE?

I SENT AT ONCE FOR BUDD.

I ORDERED THE MASTER-AT-ARMS

TO BE PRESENT AT THIS INTERVIEW

AND REPEAT HIS ACCUSATIONS TO BUDD'S FACE.

MAY I ASK WHAT WAS THE PRISONER'S REACTION

ON BEING CONFRONTED BY THE MASTER-AT-ARMS?

I PERCEIVED NO UNEASINESS IN HIS DEMEANOR.

I BELIEVE HE SMILED.

AND FOR THE MASTER-AT-ARMS?

WHEN I TOLD HIM

TO MAKE HIS ACCUSATIONS TO BUDD'S FACE,

HE DID SO.

DID BUDD REPLY?

HE TRIED TO, BUT...

COULD NOT FRAME HIS WORDS.

AND THEN, SIR?

HE ANSWERED WITH A BLOW.

THE ACCUSER FELL.

IT WAS EVIDENT THE BLOW WAS FATAL,

BUT I SUMMONED THE SURGEON TO VERIFY THE FACT.

THAT'S ALL.

YOU'VE HEARD CAPTAIN VERE'S ACCOUNT.

IS IT OR IS IT NOT AS HE HAS SAID?

CAPTAIN VERE SPEAKS THE TRUTH.

IT'S JUST AS CAPTAIN VERE SAYS.

BUT IT IS NOT AS THE MASTER-AT-ARMS SAID.

I'VE EATEN THE KING'S BREAD AND I'M TRUE TO THE KING.

I BELIEVE YOU, BOY.

GOD KNOWS I--MMM--I...

THANK YOU, SIR.

WAS THERE MALICE

BETWEEN YOU AND THE MASTER-AT-ARMS?

I BORE NO MALICE AGAINST THE MASTER-AT-ARMS.

I'M SORRY THAT HE IS DEAD.

I DID NOT MEAN TO KILL HIM.

IF I'D HAVE FOUND MY TONGUE,

I WOULD NOT HAVE STRUCK HIM.

BUT HE LIED FOULLY TO MY FACE,

AND I HAD--WELL, I HAD TO SAY SOMETHING.

I COULD ONLY SAY IT...

WITH THE BLOW.

GOD HELP ME.

UH, ANYBODY SEEN MR. CLAGGART ABOUT?

WELL, HE WAS NOT AT THE INSPECTION.

WELL, YOU BETTER NOT LET HIM CATCH YOU

LYING AROUND LIKE THIS.

YOU HAVE BEEN SUMMONED IN SECRECY

TO APPEAR BEFORE THIS COURT AS A WITNESS,

OF WHICH I AM SENIOR MEMBER.

I MAY NOT DISCLOSE TO YOU

THE NATURE OF THE OFFENSE BEING TRIED.

HOWEVER, THE OFFENDER IS WILLIAM BUDD,

FORETOPMAN.

DO YOU CONSENT TO GIVE THIS COURT YOUR TESTIMONY,

THOUGH IGNORANT OF THE CASE AT TRIAL,

AND FURTHER, TO KEEP IN STRICTEST CONFIDENCE

ALL THAT PASSES HERE?

AYE.

DO YOU SO SWEAR?

I DO.

THEN THIS IS MY QUESTION--

IN YOUR OPINION,

IS THERE MALICE

BETWEEN THE MASTER-AT-ARMS AND BUDD?

AYE.

EXPLAIN YOUR STATEMENT.

MASTER-AT-ARMS BORE MALICE

TOWARDS A GRACE...

HE COULD NOT HAVE.

THERE WAS NO REASON FOR IT...

THAT ORDINARY MEN COULD UNDERSTAND.

PRIDE WAS HIS DEMON,

AND HE KEPT IT STRONG BY OTHERS' FEAR OF HIM.

HE WAS A PHARISEE AMONG THE LEPERS.

BILLY COULD NOT UNDERSTAND SUCH A NATURE.

HE SAW ONLY A LONELY MAN--

STRANGE, BUT A MAN STILL.

NOTHING TO BE FEARED.

SO CLAGGART, LEST HIS WORLD BE PROVEN FALSE...

PLANNED BILLY'S DEATH.

I NOTICE IN YOUR TESTIMONY

YOU'VE BEEN USING THE PAST TENSE.

WHY?

I LOOK AROUND...

AND SENSE FINALITY HERE.

HAVE YOU ANY MORE QUESTIONS?

ONE THING MORE--

EVER SINCE THIS MASTER-AT-ARMS CAME ABOARD,

FROM GOD KNOWS WHERE,

I HAVE SEEN HIS SHADOW LENGTHEN ALONG THE DECK,

AND BEING UNDER IT, I WAS AFRAID.

WHATEVER HAPPENED HERE...

I AM IN PART TO BLAME.

HAVE YOU ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS

TO PUT TO THE ACCUSED?

NONE.

NO.

WILLIAM BUDD,

IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING FURTHER TO SAY FOR YOURSELF,

SAY IT NOW.

I'VE SAID ALL, SIR.

SENTRY!

SIR.

REMOVE THE PRISONER TO MY COMPARTMENT.

HAVE YOU ANYTHING TO SAY, RATCLIFFE?

YES, SIR.

CLAGGART WAS KILLED BECAUSE BUDD COULDN'T SPEAK.

IN THAT SENSE THAT HE STAMMERS,

HE'S A CRIPPLE.

YOU DON'T HANG A MAN

FOR SPEAKING THE ONLY WAY HE COULD.

IF YOU CONDEMN HIM,

IT'S THE SAME THING AS CONDONING THE LIE

THE MASTER-AT-ARMS CLEARLY TOLD.

I'D HAVE STRUCK HIM MYSELF.

AND THE BOY IS CLEARLY INNOCENT.

STRUCK IN SELF-DEFENSE.

AYE. I'M READY TO ACQUIT HIM NOW.

THEN WE CAN REACH A VERDICT AT ONCE.

UM...

ONE MOMENT, GENTLEMEN.

WITH YOUR PARDON, SIR.

AS SENIOR MEMBER OF THIS COURT,

I MUST ASK IF YOU SPEAK NOW

AS OUR COMMANDING OFFICER

OR AS A PRIVATE INDIVIDUAL.

AS CONVENING AUTHORITY, SEYMOUR,

I SUMMONED THIS COURT,

AND I MUST APPROVE ITS FINDINGS

BEFORE PASSING THEM TO THE ADMIRALTY.

THAT IS YOUR RIGHT.

NO RIGHT. WHICH ONE OF US HERE HAS RIGHTS?

IT'S MY DUTY, AND I MUST PERFORM IT.

BUDD KILLED A MAN--

HIS SUPERIOR OFFICER.

WE HAVE FOUND A VERDICT.

AND YOUR VERDICT SETS HIM FREE,

AND SO WOULD I WISH TO DO.

BUT ARE WE FREE TO CHOOSE

AS WE WOULD IF WE WERE PRIVATE CITIZENS?

THE ADMIRALTY HAS ITS CODE.

DOES IT CARE WHO BUDD IS,

WHO YOU AND I ARE?

WE DON'T FORGET THAT, SIR,

BUT SURELY, EVEN WITHIN THAT CODE,

EACH CRIME IS DIFFERENT.

WE--WE CAN'T IGNORE THE FACTS.

THE FACTS. COME, YOU KNOW THE FACTS,

WHICH ARE THE MUTINY ACT'S PROVISIONS.

AT SEA, IN TIME OF WAR,

AN IMPRESSED MAN STRIKES HIS SUPERIOR OFFICER

AND THE BLOW IS FATAL.

NOW, ACCORDING TO THE ACT,

THE BLOW ALONE WOULD BE ENOUGH TO HANG HIM,

BE IT FATAL OR NO.

THE MEN KNOW THIS AS WELL AS YOU AND I.

THEY KNOW THE PENALTY FOR BUDD'S ACTION.

BUT THEY KNOW BUDD, SIR.

CLAGGART, TOO, I DARESAY,

AS WELL AS ANY DRY LETTER OF THE LAW.

THEY WOULD APPLAUD THE DECISION THAT FREES BUDD

AND FIGHT THE BETTER WHEN THE TIME COMES.

STRING HIM TO A YARD,

AND THEY'LL TURN AROUND AND RESCUE HIM

AND STRING US UP INSTEAD.

IT'S TWICE AS DANGEROUS TO HANG THE BOY

AS IT WOULD BE TO LET HIM GO.

WHATEVER STEP WE TAKE, THE RISK IS GREAT,

BUT IT IS OURS.

THAT IS WHAT MAKES US OFFICERS.

IF BY OUR LAWFUL RIGOR MUTINY COMES,

THERE IS NO BLAME FOR US.

BUT IF IN FEAR, MISCALLED A KIND OF MERCY,

WE PARDON BUDD AGAINST SPECIFIC ORDER

AND THEN THE MEN REVOLT,

HOW CULPABLE AND WEAK OUR VERDICT WILL APPEAR.

I CONCEDE THAT, SIR,

BUT THIS CASE IS EXCEPTIONAL,

AND PITY, IF WE ARE MEN, MUST MOVE US, CAPTAIN.

SO AM I MOVED, RATCLIFFE,

BUT WE CANNOT HAVE WARM HEARTS

BETRAYING HEADS WHICH SHOULD BE COOL.

OFFICERS ARE ONLY MEN IN UNIFORM.

WE HAVE OUR STANDARDS,

ETHICS, SCRUPLES.

CHALLENGE YOUR SCRUPLES.

COME, DO THEY MEAN SOMETHING LIKE THIS?

CAN WE ADJUDGE TO SUMMARY AND SHAMEFUL DEATH

A FELLOW CREATURE

WE BELIEVE TO BE INNOCENT BEFORE GOD?

DOES THAT STATE YOUR CASE RIGHTLY?

THAT IS MY FEELING, SIR.

ACQUIT HIM, THEN YOU SAY, AS INNOCENT.

YES. OH, I KNOW THE ARTICLES PRESCRIBE DEATH

FOR WHAT BUDD HAS DONE--

STOW THE ARTICLES.

THEY DON'T ACCOUNT FOR SUCH A CASE AS THIS.

YOU'VE SAID YOURSELF, SIR,

BUDD IS INNOCENT.

IN A COURT MORE MERCIFUL THAN A MARTIAL ONE,

OUR VIEWS MIGHT COUNT.

THEY MIGHT EVEN SET HIM FREE.

WHEN CLAGGART TOLD YOU HIS LIES,

THE CASE IMMEDIATELY WENT

BEYOND THE SCOPE OF MILITARY JUSTICE.

THERE, SEYMOUR, YOU REVEAL THE WHOLE WEAKNESS OF YOUR ARGUMENT.

HERE NOTHING IS BEYOND THE SCOPE OF MILITARY JUSTICE.

WHEN WE FIRST PUT THIS ON,

WE RESIGNED OUR FREEDOM.

THE GOLD WE WEAR SHOWS THAT WE SERVE THE KING,

THE LAW.

FOR THE TERM OF MY ACTIVE LIFE,

I'M BOUND BY AN OATH I TOOK

WHEN I WAS HALF THE AGE OF ANY OF YOU HERE.

NOW I FEEL THE FULL WEIGHT

OF THOSE WORDS I SPOKE SO SOLEMNLY

AS A MIDSHIPMAN, IGNORANT OF THEIR MEANING,

WITH NOTHING BUT DREAMS OF GLORY IN MY MIND.

YES, BUT...

GENTLEMEN, YOU TOOK THAT OATH AS WELL.

THERE'S NO ESCAPE.

ALL I KNOW IS THAT I CAN'T SIT BY

AND SEE AN INNOCENT MAN HANGED.

WHO WOULD GAIN BY BUDD'S DEATH? THE ADMIRALTY?

YOU WANT TO MAKE US MURDERERS!

WHAT IS THIS SHIP, AN ARK OF PEACE?

GO COUNT HER GUNS,

THEN TELL YOUR CONSCIENCE TO LIE QUIET.

BUT THAT IS WAR.

THIS WILL BE DOWNRIGHT KILLING.

IT'S ALL WAR, RATCLIFFE,

WAR TO THE DEATH FOR ALL OF US.

OH, YOU SEE THAT, SEYMOUR,

THAT THIS WAR BEGAN BEFORE OUR TIME?

AND WILL END LONG AFTER IT.

AYE.

IF EVER MEN DESERVE TO BE AT PEACE.

COULDN'T WE...

MITIGATE THE PENALTY IF WE FIND HIM GUILTY?

NO, RATCLIFFE. THE PENALTY IS PRESCRIBED.

I'D...

LIKE TO THINK ABOUT IT, CAPTAIN.

I'M NOT SURE.

THE FRENCH ARE NOT FAR OFF.

SOON THE MEN WILL KNOW WHAT HAPPENED.

OUR CONSCIENCES ARE PRIVATE MATTERS, RATCLIFFE,

BUT WE ARE PUBLIC MEN.

DARE WE GIVE OUR CONSCIENCES PRECEDENCE

OVER THE CODE THAT MADE US OFFICERS

AND WHICH CALLED THIS CASE TO TRIAL?

DARE WE?

NO, SIR.

CAN YOU STAND BUDD'S MURDER ON YOUR CONSCIENCE?

WYATT, HOLD YOUR TONGUE.

I SAY LET HIM GO!

SIT DOWN, SIR.

I WON'T BARE A HAND

TO HANG AN INNOCENT MAN.

MY BLOOD'S NOT COLD ENOUGH FOR THAT.

I CANNOT GIVE THE KIND OF JUDGMENT

THAT YOU WISH TO FORCE UPON US.

I BEG TO BE EXCUSED

FROM SITTING UPON THIS COURT-MARTIAL.

WYATT...

WE DO NOT DEAL WITH JUSTICE HERE

BUT WITH THE LAW.

WAS NOT THE ONE CONCEIVED

TO SERVE THE OTHER?

WYATT, CAN'T YOU SEE

THAT YOU MUST FIRST STRIP OFF THE UNIFORM YOU WEAR

AND THEN YOUR FLESH

BEFORE YOU CAN ESCAPE THE CASE AT ISSUE HERE?

DECIDE YOU MUST, WYATT,

OR ELSE REASON WITH US.

SHOW US HOW TO SAVE THE BOY

WITHOUT SETTING ASIDE OUR FUNCTION.

DO YOU THINK SEYMOUR AND RATCLIFFE AND I

WOULDN'T SAVE THE BOY

IF WE COULD FIND A WAY CONSISTENT WITH OUR DUTY?

WELL, PERHAPS YOU CAN DO THIS.

CAN YOU DO THIS?

SPEAK, MAN.

SPEAK.

SHOW US HOW.

SAVE HIM, WYATT,

AND YOU'LL SAVE US ALL.

DO NOT THINK ME PITILESS IN THUS DEMANDING SENTENCE

ON A LUCKLESS BOY.

I FEEL AS YOU DO FOR HIM.

AND FOR MYSELF...

REVULSION...

SHAME...

AND RAGE.

IS THERE HOPE FOR ME, CAPTAIN?

BILLY...

WHAT HOPE IS THERE...

FOR ANY OF US?

TELL ME WHY.

I ONLY WANT TO UNDERSTAND.

A CHILD OF HIS ENDLESS WHYS--

"WHY ARE THERE WARS?

WHY MUST MEN KILL EACH OTHER?"

A CHILD WILL ASK,

AND THE PARENT WILL GROW IMPATIENT,

BELIEVING THESE QUESTIONS TO BE FOOLISH.

THEY'RE NOT FOOLISH, BILLY.

THEY'RE JUST QUESTIONS

TO WHICH GROWN MEN HAVE LOST THE ANSWER.

THE ANSWER WENT WITH INNOCENCE.

WHY?

I CANNOT TELL YOU WHY.

I FEEL SORRY, CAPTAIN, BUT NOT GUILTY.

NOR SHOULD YOU.

CLAGGART KILLED YOU THE MOMENT YOU KILLED HIM.

BUT I'M STILL ALIVE.

YOU IN--IN YOUR GOODNESS ARE AS...

AS INHUMAN AS WAS CLAGGART IN HIS EVIL.

AT LEAST BE HUMAN NOW, BILLY.

GIVE IN TO ANGER FOR ONCE.

HATE ME FOR WHAT I DO TO YOU.

PLEASE, BILLY,

PROMISE ME YOUR FURY AND RESENTMENT.

HATRED WILL MAKE YOU CONQUER YOUR FEAR.

I'M NOT AFRAID, SIR.

I DID MY DUTY. YOU'RE DOING YOURS.

SENTRY!

TAKE BUDD INTO YOUR CHARGE.

MERRYWEATHER!

TIME TO GET UP, BUDD.

MARINE DETACHMENT, ATTENTION!

MARINE DETACHMENT PRESENT AND CORRECT, SIR.

THANK YOU.

OVER THERE.

MR. SEYMOUR.

SHIP'S COMPANY, FORM RANKS!

COME ON! MOVE UP THERE!

ATTENTION!

DIVISION COMMANDERS' REPORT!

AFTERGUARD PRESENT OR ACCOUNTED FOR, SIR!

STARBOARD BATTERY PRESENT OR ACCOUNTED FOR, SIR!

LARBOARD BATTERY PRESENT AND ACCOUNTED FOR, SIR!

FULL, MAIN, AND MIZZENTOPMEN--

FIVE WORKING PARTY, ONE ABSENTEE, SIR!

ONE ABSENTEE.

ALL HANDS WILL STAND BY TO WITNESS PUNISHMENT.

STAND EASY!

WHO COULD THEY BE PUNISHING?

AND WHAT FOR?

IT'S GOT TO BE A FLOGGING.

I OUGHT TO KNOW.

WHY HAVE THEY KEPT US OFF THE CATWALKS?

THEY FLOG MEN AT NOON.

THE EARLY MORNING...

IS FOR A HANGING.

HANGING?

HANGING.

HANGING?

WHERE'S FERGUSON?

AND WHERE'S BILLY?

AND TURNER.

AYE. MORRISON, TOO.

THERE WERE FOUR HAMMOCKS EMPTY LAST NIGHT.

THAT'LL BE THE WORKING PARTY.

BUT THERE'S FIVE IN THE WORKING PARTY.

ONE ABSENTEE.

HEY.

WHERE'S CLAGGART?

YOU DON'T SUPPOSE IT'S HIM, DO YOU?

OH, JUDAS, LET IT BE THAT--

NOT HIM. HE'S TOO SMART, HE IS.

WHERE'S SQUEAK, COME TO THAT?

HE'LL BE WITH CLAGGART.

WHY ISN'T CLAGGART HERE?

HE IS HERE.

WHERE?

I DON'T SEE HIM.

HE IS HERE.

AH...

YOU'RE BALMY, OLD MAN.

SHIP'S COMPANY, ATTENTION!

MARINE DETACHMENT, ATTENTION!

SHIP'S COMPANY PRESENT TO WITNESS EXECUTION, SIR.

VERY WELL.

SHIP'S COMPANY READY TO WITNESS EXECUTION, SIR.

CAPTAIN HALLAM.

ESCORT, BRING FORWARD THE PRISONER.

BILLY!

IT CAN'T BE!

BILLY. BILLY.

NO TALKING IN THE RANKS!

THEY'LL PAY FOR THIS.

STEADY, MATE, STEADY.

FORM UP!

[MURMURING]

DO YOU HEAR ME? SILENCE IN RANKS!

ESCORT.

SORRY, BILLY.

COME ON. KEEP MOVING.

KEEP SILENCE THERE!

"PROCEEDINGS OF THE COURT-MARTIAL

"HELD ABOARD HMS AVENGER

"ON THE 28th AUGUST, 1797,

"CONVENED UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF EDWIN FAIRFAX VERE,

"POST CAPTAIN, ROYAL NAVY,

"AND COMPOSED OF THE FIRST, SECOND, AND THIRD LIEUTENANTS

"OF SAID VESSEL.

"THE CASE OF WILLIAM BUDD,

"FORETOPMAN, ROYAL NAVY.

"WHILE ATTACHED AND SO SERVING THE AFORESAID VESSEL,

HE DID ON THE 28th DAY OF AUGUST, 1797..."

[GULLS CRYING]

"STRIKE AND KILL HIS SUPERIOR OFFICER,

ONE JOHN CLAGGART--"

DID YOU, BILLY?

GOOD LAD! GOOD LAD!

QUIET!

GOOD LAD!

SILENCE, YOU MEN! FORM UP!

STAND TO ATTENTION, HANG YOU!

SILENCE IN THE RANKS!

YOU WILL BE SILENT

AND REMAIN AT STRICT ATTENTION UNTIL DISMISSED!

[SHOUTING DIES DOWN]

"MASTER-AT-ARMS, ROYAL NAVY.

"THEREFORE THE COURT SENTENCES THE AFOREMENTIONED WILLIAM BUDD,

"FORETOPMAN, ROYAL NAVY,

"TO DIE BY HANGING ON THE FIRST WATCH OF THE DAY

FOLLOWING THESE PROCEEDINGS."

DON'T WORRY, BILLY!

DO YOU HEAR, SIR?

"BY AUTHORITY OF HIS GRACIOUS MAJESTY GEORGE REX

"AND ALAN NAPIER, VISCOUNT KELSEY,

"FIRST SEA LORD.

SIGNED...

"PHILIP SEYMOUR,

SENIOR MEMBER."

[YELLING]

MAKE THEM DANCE ON ROPE'S END!

YOU'RE NOT HANGING BILLY BUDD!

SILENCE!

YOU'LL RESUME DISCIPLINE INSTANTLY!

BE WARNED!

FOR THE LAST TIME, YOU SCUM, WILL YOU OBEY ORDERS?

[SEYMOUR] STAND BACK INTO RANKS!

RESUME RANKS! BE QUICK ABOUT IT!

[SEYMOUR] PRISONER...

HAVE YOU ANYTHING TO SAY?

IF YOU HAVE NOTHING TO SAY,

THE SENTENCE OF THE COURT WILL BE CARRIED OUT.

GOD BLESS CAPTAIN VERE!

SOUND OFF!

[DRUMROLL]

MARINES,

COVER THE HANGING PARTY!

NO, BILLY!

AAH!

PERMISSION TO DISMISS THE MEN, SIR.

PERMISSION TO DISMISS THE MEN, SIR.

[RATCLIFFE] SIR?

DO AS YOU WISH, MR. SEYMOUR.

IT'S OF NO FURTHER CONCERN TO ME.

SIR, A DECISION MUST BE MADE.

A DECISION HAS BEEN MADE, MR. RATCLIFFE.

I'M ONLY A MAN...

NOT FIT TO DO THE WORK OF GOD...

OR THE DEVIL.

SHIP'S COMPANY!

SHIP'S COMPANY!

BY DIVISIONS...

DISMISS!

AFTERGUARD...

DISMISS.

STARBOARD BATTERY...

DISMISS.

LARBOARD BATTERY...

DISMISS.

FORE, MAIN, AND MIZZENTOPMEN...

DISMISS.

REPEAT THE ORDER!

CAPTAIN HALLAM!

FIRE INTO THEIR RANKS!

MARINES, TAKE AIM.

[CANNONS FIRE]

TAKE QUARTERS!

CLEAR DECKS FOR ACTION!

COME ON, LADS!

LET'S PUNISH THE FRENCH FOR TURNING UP LATE!

[YELLING]

THE REST BELONGS TO NAVAL HISTORY.

BUT IF THE SACRIFICE OF BILLY BUDD

HAS SERVED TO MAKE MEN MORE CONSCIOUS OF JUSTICE,

THEN HE WILL NOT HAVE DIED IN VAIN.

MEN ARE PERISHABLE THINGS,

BUT JUSTICE WILL LIVE AS LONG

AS THE HUMAN SOUL...

AND THE LAW AS LONG AS THE HUMAN MIND.