Fair Wind to Java

'This is a story of the East Indies in 1883.

'When, in the calm and beautiful Java seas,

'there occurred the most terrifying spectacle

'nature has ever presented to the sight of man.

'The islands were accustomed to volcanoes,

'but not to anything like Krakatoa.

'That island - 3,000 feet high - blew in half,

'exploding with a report heard 5,000 miles away.

'And set up a tidal wave which drowned 50,000 people on nearby islands.

'About three weeks before that terrible event,

'an American ship was sailing the Java seas.

'She was the Gerrymander, commanded by a Captain Boll of Boston. '

Mr Flint!

Break out the royals. In this wind, sir? Break out the royals!

I'm responsible to Culver & Adams for the safety of their ship.

If the masts carry away, that pirate will have us.

If we don't set the royals, he'll have us anyway.

You're first mate on this ship. Now, pass the word. Aye, sir.

Break out the main royal! The main royal!

The old man's really piling it on.

I hope she holds together. It's better than being caught by pirates.

The schooner's getting mighty close.

O'Brien, when you've done that, come aft.

We'll set up our signal guns with cannon balls. Aye, sir.

Get the signal cannon on deck. Aye, sir.

We'll give Mr Pulo Besar a taste of his own medicine.

That fire-water spoils your aim, Mr Wilson.

Elevate the muzzle.

More! More! Secure it.

Steady as she goes, Mr Reader.

That'll slow him up.

Set a course sou' by sou'west for Surabaya. Sou' by sou'west!

A great man!

A great man has to have a heart. He's got a big heart!

He'd never give up. Not when there's money involved!

Or his ship, Mr Wilson.

You wouldn't strike the bosun. It's mutiny. Against the laws of the sea.

Well, Mr Flint? Just this, Captain.

Why was Pulo Besar on our trail?

For the usual reason, I imagine.

A pirate wanting to gather some loot. Is that all?

Yes, that was all.

If you weren't an agent for Culver & Adams, I'd throw you off!

Since I am an agent for Culver & Adams, you'll tolerate me. You can leave now.

Remember that unless you show a profit from this ship in six weeks,

you'll be without a ship. And you'll be Captain?

I wouldn't object if I were.

It'd almost be worth it to see you struggling.

You're too new to know it, but the Dutch East Indies is not encouraging to non-Dutch traders.

An American has to be a genius to show a profit. Nevertheless, Culver & Adams expect one.

Your boat's ready, sir.

Where's he going this time of night?

It has to do with a letter he got from Macassar.

Whisky.

You got my message? Yeah. I must speak quickly.

Tuan, this is part of the Peterson treasure. Here, take it.

It is one of the 10,000 diamonds.

You can see from the size.

Tuan, since you saved my life from sharks three years ago...

Get on with it, Gusty. What about the diamonds?

Yes, Tuan.

You give me present - my life.

Now I give you present.

The ring will help you find hidden diamonds.

They follow me, Tuan... Sshh.

Who follows you?

Men from Ebenezer the Saint.

Quickly.

Go to harbour. Find Chinese junk.

Chinese captain, Ha-Patu. Double-sized man.

Buy secret cargo. He will sell for big price.

Secret cargo give clue you seek.

I must go now.

Goodbye.

It is death to be seen with me.

So the traitor waits for his death in fear and trembling.

Very appropriate for a traitor.

He's making too much use of his breath. Squeeze the rest out of him.

Gusty?

You killed him. I wouldn't use that, Captain Boll.

I have a little influence with the Dutch. It would be murder.

It'd be your word against mine,

and I'm a respected trader here.

You'd never trade again in the Dutch East Indies, and you might hang.

You seem to be forgetting, Captain, you are a foreigner here.

The dead man is only a native. Yeah. He's only a native.

Now, I'd like to give you some advice.

I don't know how much he had told you,

but you'd be wise to forget the Peterson diamonds.

And I warn you, that if you cross my trail again,

you'll end up as your friend did.

I'll cross your trail again, Ebenezer, then you'll pay for this.

Ha-Patu? Me Ha-Patu.

I've come to trade. Late night for trading.

I understand you have a secret cargo.

Secret? Nothing secret. Who are you?

I'm Cpt Boll of the Gerrymander. I know a man named Gusty.

That's the secret cargo? Yes.

There's a law here against slavery.

Who shall know about girl?

What would I do with a...?

How much?

Very high value. Dancer. Sultan's palace.

100 guilders.

Crazy man! Absolute no less 700!

I cut my neck and Kim Kim too first!

400.

Before I sell Kim Kim 400,

I cut neck. I finish. I finish!

Go ahead. Cut her throat.

600.

450. No more.

Crazy man. Stealing. Robbery.

All right.

I get chest to carry Kim Kim.

Man to help. Chang!

Take to Dutch gunboat. Give to sentry. Say nothing.

Jess, give us a hand here.

Careful with it, lads. It's a souvenir from Surabaya.

Pretty heavy, ain't it?

Yeah. Probably a dancing girl for the captain!

Put it over there in the corner.

That's all, boys.

Come on.

Here.

Put them on.

Mala hangan dulan hangan?

Hm... Dulan hangan?

What does it mean? It's not Malay, is it?

So you spoke English all the time.

Yes. My father was white.

A slave-girl speaking English!

I am not a slave girl! I was a dancer.

You buy me because you like me?

Sure. Sure I like you.

That bracelet...

It's a volcano, isn't it?

What does it mean?

Only a design. A volcano.

Kim Kim, have you heard of a Dutch ship called the Peterson?

It sunk 200 years ago with diamonds on board.

Many times I have heard of the Peterson.

Everyone knows in Bali where I was a small girl.

Have you ever heard of an Australian called Saint Ebenezer?

Saint Ebenezer?

Yeah.

No, Tuan.

Tuan! It's an earthquake. It can't harm us on board.

Yes? Captain, about the earthquake... I know.

Just a minute, Captain.

What about the Peterson diamonds? Sounds interesting.

You were listening?

Yes. The shipping line would like to hear, so would the authorities.

Slavery being a crime round here.

Come out here.

Mr Flint, I ought to throw you in the brig. But you won't.

You wouldn't do that to a partner. A partner?

All right.

Our next stop is Bali, as soon as we load cargo. The girl came from Bali.

Maybe we'll find something there.

Break out the topsails. Aye, sir.

Haul around the headyards. Break out the topsails!

Dutch ship of war putting out after us, sir.

Looks like they're going to board us. Yes, sir.

Back the mainyards, Mr Flint. Mr Wilson, mainyards to back!

Is our "cargo" all secure? Don't worry, Mr Flint. It will be.

Captain Boll? Yes. We're bound for Bali.

I have a warrant to search the ship.

Search away, Lieutenant.

Search ship!

No luck? No. Why do you think you'll find a runaway dancing girl here?

Or do the Dutch always suspect Yankee traders?

We cannot disclose our sources, or discuss the policies of the Netherlands East Indies.

I'll save you time. You won't find the girl. Thank you, we must search anyway.

Very well, Captain. We found no trace of the girl.

We are sorry we have detained you.

What did you do? Throw her overboard?

No, but I still hope she doesn't drown.

We'll find out as soon as possible.

Captain?

Did she drown?

All right. I've got her in a half-filled water cask on deck.

Hasn't she made a sound? Not yet.

I spoke too soon.

Look what we've got here! Let's divide her up.

Not so fast. What's happening here?

Ahab and I saw the cask move, sir.

Yes, sir. It was jumping about

So we opened it, and there she is.

Stowaway, huh? The Dutchies were looking for her.

We'll treat her like a human being.

Put her ashore, Captain. The boys may want to play cribbage with her!

This girl is our passenger to Bali. She'll take your quarters, Wilson.

Show her, Flint. Aye, sir. See she gets some dry clothes.

And you men...

If any of you lays a hand on her, you'll answer to me, understand?

A likely story he's telling us.

Stowaway, huh? I say he knew she was in there all the time.

Stop picking on the lad like that!

Or your noggins will be knocking on the deck like a heathen drum.