Reap the Wild Wind

1840. America's lifeline is the sea.

Railroads are almost unknown.

Only the great sailing ships

linked the busy states of New England...

with the rich Mississippi Valley.

The sea, and the sea alone,

makes America one nation.

But along this lane of commerce,

lie the shark-like teeth of the Florida Keys,

where savage hurricanes come screaming out of the Caribbean,

to drive tall ships under the destroying shoals.

Here, storm-riding men in frail schooners,

the salvage masters of Key West,

stand guard beside America's lifeline.

They reap the harvest of the wild wind,

fighting the hurricanes to save lives

and cargo from the wrecked vessels.

But tales of great salvage profits

have drawn reckless men to this dangerous harvest,

spawn of the Seven Seas.

So, among Florida's heroic salvage masters,

appear lawless captains,

who plot to destroy for their own profit...

the great ships they are pledged to save.

America's very future on the sea is being fought for

beside the roaring reefs of Key West.

You men! Lash Captain Stuart to the mizzen fife rail!

Breakers off the starboard bow!

Lay forward and rig a preventer stay.

I'll take the wheel.

Get goin'! Go on!

Breakers dead ahead!

I ain't through. I'm gonna take out another ship.

Why, you're still a young man.

Hark! Hark, ye!

- Who's hollering? - I don't know.

Quiet. It sounds to me like...

- Wreck ashore! - Wreck ashore, men!

Sam! Loose your forestay'l and your mains'l and stand by' Sam!

You better move fast, Cap'n Phil,

or Cutler'll beat us out of our share again.

I'll be there. You single up.

You get the boss. We'll be ready.

Anyone know where they took the bottom?

She won't live long in that sea!

Claiborne men, 'board!

- What vessel struck? - Don't know.

She'll soon be breakin' up.

- What reef? - Claiborne men, look alive!

Be careful, Pa.

And bring me back a nice piece of black silk...

for a Sunday dress.

Ahoy, Loxi!

Loxi!

Loxi Claiborne, you come right down from that widow's walk.

You'll blow away up there, Cousin Loxi.

Can you sight her, Loxi?

She's on Sambo Key, driven hard!

What ship?

Looks like the Jubilee of the Devereaux line.

She's breakin' up fast, too.

Jubilee! Why her cargo's dead rich!

Come on, gal!

- I'm worried about the crew. - Crew?

Consarn it! Ain't no money salvaging the crew!

Loxi, you're not going out to that rig!

Mercy! Stay covered.

Bring along my petty skirt, Drusilla honey.

- Loxi, once and for all... - I'm not goin' anyplace hardly.

Maum Maria, help me rig for wreckin'.

Now, Miss Loxi, you know what way

yo' mama think about you goin' out to them wrecks!

Tryin' to make a lady outta her

is keepin' me wore to a shadow.

- Gimme my sea boots. - Yo' mama say...

Loxi, I forbid you!

The Cutlers won't pick the bones

of this wreck if I can help it.

- How you gonna stop 'em? - We'll be broke if I don't.

What's Drusilla going to tell the family

about you when she gets back to Havana?

We can't run a salvage business without salvage.

Cousin Loxi, I think you're so brave goin' out to that wreck.

Brave! Fiddle-be-dee! She'm just pigheaded!

If only your father were alive!

Throw me that sou'wester, Drusilla.

If father were alive' I wouldn't be runnin' the salvage business.

Loxi!

Loxi! You fouled your anchor?

Land o' Goshen! Crank on, will ya?

I'm coming, Cap'n Phil.

Loxi, I worry every time you go a-wreckin'.

The hurricane's all over, Mommy.

You mama say you ain't goin'!

Maybe we better let her go.

Larboard, half a pint!

Tail onto that foresheet and trim 'er.

Aye, Cap'n Phil.

The Moro's fallen astern, Cap'n Phil!

We'll speak the wreck ahead of 'em all!

Wreck ho!

Where away?

Dead ahead on Sambo Key.

There she lies!

The Falcon's lyin' close by.

The Cutler brothers are there before us.

Them fo'c'sle rats must've known.

No man alive can foretell a wreck,

'lessin' he plans it hisself.

We'll get no part of her rich cargo.

Cutler and his brother are boardin' her now.

Come on! Get aboard!

Hey, King, look there.

Put a shot across the bow of the Claiborne.

Yeah! We salvage this wreck.

- Aye, aye, sir! - Ready.

Turn your pipe into that touch hole.

Can't even shoot straight!

Ram that pirate! Ram her, Cap'n Phil!

And sink us both? Land o' love, gal!

Heave to. Lower the dory.

- Aye, sir. - Aye, sir.

Ho-ho-ho. That stopped 'em.

Get to work on that cargo, Dan.

You Falcon men, break open that hatch!

I'm in command here.

Cap'n Stuart's taking a little rest.

We got hurt men aboard!

We'll move 'em later.

- You'll move 'em now. - My brother said later!

We're going to save this cargo for you, boys,

whether you like it or not.

Foward!

Have any trouble with the skipper?

He never knew what hit him.

I'm expectin' a fat bit for this, Mr. Cutler.

You'll be taken care of, Widgeon.

Here.

Sign this.

Pull 'er close! Hang on, Loxi.

Ahoy, Cutler!

We demand salvage shares in this vessel.

I'm takin' charge of the cargo!

You take the crew!

Ain't no pay for that, ye benighted blowfish!

Take 'em anyway. He'd let 'em drown.

Alright!

Jump into the mizzen and rig the cro'jack yard.

- Aye, aye, Dan. - Make it lively!

Get off me, you filthy...

Quick! Give me an oar!

Oh, the poor little fella!

Grab it! There's a squid out there!

Grab it! Grab it!

Oh! Oh, poor fella.

Here, take him.

- Set me aboard that hulk! - Now, Loxi!

Now, Loxi!

Has the water got to that cargo?

Who pitched that monkey into the sea?

Get off this deck, or there'll be two of 'em in the sea.

You weaselin' crimp!

I'll coil your rope for you.

Over the side, men!

What we'll do? Walk?

The Claiborne's waitin' to take you.

- Who's that? - The skipper.

You better get him off before we start swinging cargo.

Get your men off this ship!

Larboard your helm! Larboard your...

Don't fret your head till it's in one piece again.

Widgeon! Where's that...

Take it easy! The salvage boats are standing by.

Lie still. They're taking off the crew now.

Who are you? What are you doin' here?

I'll be here just as long as you need me.

I hope that'll be a... long time.

Bringin' the man in here, that's charity.

But bringin' the ape, that's obnoxious!

Fifty percent.

Why, that's piracy!

It's legal. Your mate signed it.

The Jubilee was 15 months at sea.

You salvaged her cargo in a few hours,

And get it.

If your owners break you, come to me.

I'll show you how to own your own ship in a year.

Yes, and hang in two!

I brung your duffel.

Where would any of your cargos be

if it weren't for me and my ships?

Maybe still afloat.

What do you mean, you little culch?

- I'll bust you in the... - No.

The door's right over there, Mr. Cutler.

And it's open.

You're not a good loser, Miss Loxi.

Not to you, Mr. Cutler.

Here, drink this.

If your owners do break you, Capt. Stuart, look me up.