The Lightship

My old man was a captain in the Coast Guard.

We never saw too much of each other.

Most of the time, he was away at sea.

But this time, I was lucky.

He made it to my graduation.

Come on. Get out.

I said, get out!

He even wore his uniform to the ceremony.

- Captain Miller? - Thank you, Sergeant.

My father taught me respect for men in uniform.

Come on.

Right here, Captain.

Come on, Alex.

- Stump, this is my son, Alex. - Good to meet you, kid.

Were you fighting because of me?

What difference does it make?

Before we bring you the farm report, this special bulletin.

Three people are dead in a daring daylight robbery of a U.S. Treasury courier.

The two gunmen are described as being in their late 20s.

One is of heavy build and average height.

The other was reportedly wearing a Hawaiian shirt and a black leather jacket.

No description is available on the getaway driver...

but police are confident of early arrests.

And now for the farm report.

Wheat holding steady at $196. Corn off at $135.

Alfalfa slightly higher at $79. Peanuts slightly lower at $273.

Pork bellies firm at $38.

I didn't know much about ships.

But I knew my old man must have screwed up...

to end up the captain of the Hatteras.

It's not the kind of job you volunteer for.

Lightships never move.

Captain, I have yet to sign the log this morning.

Sir, you brought an unauthorized person aboard this vessel...

during my watch, sir.

I didn't know whether you wanted me to report it or not.

Now, recorded and signed.

Anything else?

The pen, sir.

Yeah.

What the hell are you doing here?

Come on.

What's the matter with you?

That plate was property of the United States Coast Guard.

Come on.

What happened here, Nate?

- It's running. - I'll stop it.

- There we are. - Fine. I'll have two cups of coffee.

- Don't worry about it. I'll fix that. - All right.

You know, last night, I got him to say it a couple of times.

That it was just as clear...

I was so proud of him, Captain.

Do you want to hear it?

Yeah, okay. Come on now, Fred.

Say it for the Captain now.

Come on, say it for me now.

Don't you embarrass me in front of the Captain.

Come on, Fred. Say it for me now.

Love Nate.

Come on, my good bird. Yeah. That's my bird.

Mr. Thorne, this is my son, Alex.

Hi.

Can you call the shore?

Who do you want to call?

Somebody who can get me out of here.

How's the weather?

We have a storm coming up from the south. Should be here tonight.

I'd rather be in jail.

Captain!

Looks like we got a drifter about a mile and a half out towards Nevens Ledge.

A motorboat.

I've been watching them for a while. Looks like they ran out of power.

I don't know if you can see them.

What will you do with them?

Got to call the coast station for a boat to pick them up.

We're not running a hotel.

Ever been in one of those situations where you were trapped?

Then, without you doing anything, a door opens up.

And there it is, the way out.

I didn't care who they were.

But when those guys left the Hatteras...

I was going with them.

- Permission to come aboard, Captain? - Permission granted.

Are you a Navy man?

I? No, but it amuses me to know the rules and customs that other men find important.

Calvin Caspary at your service.

Miller, my pleasure.

- Calvin Caspary. - Mike Carousa. Call me Stump.

- Dr. Caspary. - Nate, sir.

- Calvin Caspary. - Alex Miller.

- Your son? - Yes.

I find families fascinating.

My colleagues, Eugene and Edward Waxler.

- This is Eddie. He's a good boy. - Don't touch me.

After Eddie, their parents knew they would have to try again.

And after Eugene, they knew there was no point...

so they took vows of celibacy.

You tell them, Mr. Caspary.

I like to hear Mr. Caspary talk.

So would you follow me?

Gentlemen, sit down.

Would you join us, Captain?

- No, thank you. - He looks funny, Mr. Caspary.

- He looks like a big chicken. - Eugene.

Cheers. Thank you for bringing us here.

It's part of my job.

Nevertheless, thank you.

Yours must be a very lonely occupation.

Do you get many visitors out here?

Visitors? No.

Your colleagues from the mainland don't come by and bring you hot biscuits?

Tuck you in for the night, that sort of thing?

No, but we will get them on the shortwave.

I'm sure they will send someone for you.

A generous offer, but no, thank you.

To go ashore would be a retreat.

You see, we have a rendezvous in a few hours at sea...

and in a world of vagaries and inconstancy, Captain...

it amuses me to set a course and stick to it.

As a nautical man, I'm sure you would appreciate that.

Listen, gentlemen.

If we can't repair your boat, we'll either call the mainland...

or hail a fishing boat to pick you up. All right?

You talk funny. Where'd you learn to talk like that?

Germany. I was born in Germany.

Where's Germany?

- Yeah. - Pour me a drink.

- Pour me a little one. - I don't think you want any more, Eugene.

It isn't very good stuff.

And you know what happens when you drink bad stuff.

It makes our teeth loose.

Just for our three guests, Captain?

- Yeah. Alex, do you? - Thanks, no.

Lovely. We have... What?

- Chipped beef on toast? - Shit on shingles.

Eddie!

I'm looking forward to this. I'll say the blessing.

Our Heavenly Father, we thank you for these blessed people...

who brought us in when we were in need of refuge.

We thank you for the kindness that brings us to the safety of this lovely abode.

We ask that you bestow grace upon all that are in this room...

Capt. Miller and his entire crew, on Eugene and Eddie.

We thank thee and glorify thee and love thee.

Ask for your blessings upon us. Amen.

Excuse me, Captain. It's almost 2:00.

You were to see Stump on the bridge about that cracked valve.

Yes.

We agree there's no more Coast Guard, no hailing of boats.

I'm sure your men will fix ours, and then off we go.

- Come with me. - No, let him stay.

You have him forever.

I know nothing about what young people think these days.

If young Alex could educate me, I'd be very grateful.

- Eddie. - No, thanks.

Ed, you ain't eating?

- I like shit on shingles. - Eugene.

How old will you be on your next birthday?

- Seventeen. - Do you have a sweetheart?

- What's your sweetheart's name? - Karen.

That's a lovely name. Really.

What sort of things do you do with your girlfriend?

What's this nonsense about a cracked valve?

I got to show you something, Captain.

Coop found this under the floorboards of their boat.

- A beauty, huh? - Nice.

Wait till you get a load of this.

The pièce de résistance.

Look, the way I figure it, there's three of them, there's six of us.

- We can take them. - You forgot about their guns.

- I am sure they have more of them. - We've got these.

And they have the ammunition.

Now put this stuff back in...

and tell Coop to fix their boat.

- Okay? - Okay, sir. And then what?

Dinner.

And New York...

New York, to me...

is the most magnificent city on the continent, any continent.

For a young man of your clear abilities and intelligence...

New York is like the Garden of Eden.

Where you can satisfy every appetite, fulfill every dream.

Captain Miller, we were just discussing New York.

- Do you know the city? - I know the docks.

The waterfront. Most interesting, I'm sure.

Alex, do me a favor. Tell Coop I want to see him.

In a minute. We're talking.

Alex, do as your father asks.

A son's first duty is always to his father.

I can handle this.

Of course. I don't mean to intrude between father and son.

That is sacred territory. Believe me.

Unfortunately, my father blew his brains out before we could come to an understanding.

Sometimes, I regret the lost opportunity.

Of course, death of the father...

does free the son.

That's an expensive freedom.

Freedom is the greatest prize of all. Why shouldn't the cost be high?

- Nonsense. - Is it?

We won't be together long, Captain...

but if you learn only one thing while we are...