The Bounty

This way.

Court is assembled

by the Right Honorable Lords, Commissioners of the Admiralty

and I quote: "To enquire into the cause and circumstances of the seizure

of His Majesty's armed vessel, The Bounty,

commanded by Lieutenant William Bligh

and to try the said Lieutenant William Bligh

for his conduct on that occasion."

Surrender your sword and be seated.

Lieutenant Bligh.

Perhaps it would be useful if you told the court in your own words

the events of April 28th last year.

Yes, sir. If it please, my Lords, I will first read a list of the mutineers

who seized my ship.

The crew is not on trial here, Mr Bligh. You, sir, are on trial.

The question at issue is how you came to lose your ship.

To understand that, Captain Greetham, it is essential to know

who were the mutineers aboard that ship.

Alleged mutineers. Continue, Mr Bligh.

Fletcher Christian, Masters Mate.

Wasn't this Christian a friend of yours?

He was, sir.

Fifty guineas says he's dead.

- Sixty says he's alive. - I'll wager he's still alive.

How much?

We'll dine within the hour.

- How much? - Sixty guineas.

Taken.

I'll be back to collect it.

William!

Fletcher! What are you all doing?

One of our members collapsed.

We're betting on whether or not he's dead.

- What brings you to this den of iniquity? - Is there somewhere we can talk?

It's a breadfruit.

Breadfruit?

The Admiralty has instructed me to lead an expedition,

to take breadfruit plants from Tahiti to Jamaica.

Tahiti?

Fletcher, I want you to sail with me again.

In what capacity?

Well, the Admiralty's already assigned a Mr John Fryer as Master of the ship.

He's a good man, I think. But I want you to be Master's Mate.

- If you agree, that is. - Agreed.

Good, splendid! Good.

Why take breadfruit to Jamaica?

Cheap fodder for the slaves on the plantations there.

Bananas are very expensive there these days.

It lacks glory, William.

Well, I don't have your connections, you see, Fletcher.

I want to make a name for myself, before I'm too old.

And this green grocery trip will make your name?

Now look, we'll go around Cape Horn to Tahiti.

We'll pick up the breadfruit then continue on

through the Endeavour Straits around the Cape of Good Hope to Jamaica.

And then back to England. We'll circumnavigate the globe.

Yes, but why risk going round the Horn? - What?

Because it is the quicker route, Mr Fryer.

Quicker if we strike the one week in a hundred

when there isn't a storm raging.

So you would have us go the long way? Around Africa and Australia.

There and back. Avoid the Horn altogether.

What conditions do the plants need?

Warmth, light and water. I shall be giving up my cabin to them.

We shall be like little pigs in a stye. Shan't we?

No, sir, we shall not. I run a healthy ship, Mr Fryer.

I only say the Bounty's too small.

We should have a frigate, not a chamber pot.

Yes, and I should have promotion to Captain.

But the Navy Board would not heed either request. See?

Quickly now, children.

Ah, my little ones.

They've come to say goodnight.

Goodnight, goodnight. Off you go...

Aren't you going to say goodnight to Mr Christian, Mr Fryer? - Don't I get a kiss?

Goodnight, young ladies.

Goodnight, goodnight.

William, a toast. To circumnavigation.

To circumnavigation.

Circumnavigation.

And your safe and speedy return.

Yes.

We set sail two days before Christmas,

23rd December 1787.

Stand by to set the mainsail.

What are you staring at me for? Aloft! Loose that mizzen topsail, lively!

Remove some of these gussets!

Back down in the rigging!

Stand by, you crew gunners!

Away, you crew gunners.

Southwest by south. That's your course.

Southwest by south. Aye, aye, sir.

Right men! Food up! Come on.

What's the name of the cook? Lamb? Hey, Lamb!

I hope you got some lamb in that stew.

Hey, is it true what they say about Tahiti?

You mean the women.

Do they really go around with no clothes on?

All they wear is tattoos. In wonderful places.

True?

Cross my heart. Paradise.

You're in my place, Quintel.

Move yourself.

Don't look at him. There'll be trouble.

I said you're in my seat.

- Piss off. - Bugger off.

- What did you say? - Shut it, Churchill.

You keep out of this.

Look out, he's got a knife.

Keep it quiet, Churchill.

Keep it down, lads.

Churchill!

The King.

The King. God bless him.

To the ship. May she swim well.

The ship.

The men are very quiet.

Charming tune.

And a fine musician. We're lucky to have him.

Yes. He is not there by chance, Mr Nelson.

Having him there is good for morale.

Dr Huggen, another glass?

No, thank you, sir.

You're uncommonly abstemious tonight.

Well, more men have died at sea from drink,

disease and dirt than ever died by drowning.

Depend upon it, gentlemen.

I'm determined the Bounty shall not lose a single man.

By heavens! I'll drink to that.

- Striking a superior officer. - No, I didn't.

- It's a hanging offence, sir. - Sorry, sir.

Can't be helped. We shall all get to know each other pretty closely.

I wonder what we shall find out.

It depends how inquisitive we are, Mr Young.

It doesn't sound quite right to me.

Do you think someone had better go and look?

Good evening, Mr Heywood, sir.

Good evening, Adams.

Evening, Mr Adams, sir.

Everything alright here?

Couldn't be better, sir.

My place.

Stupid buggers.

You watch your mouth too, old man.

Don't old man me, Churchill. You haven't got a lucky face.

Seasick, Mr Heywood, sir?

Just leaving England.

Home sick.

- Feels you'll never see it again. - Don't say that, sir. It's bad luck.

Sorry. Never been to sea before. Two months ago I was still at school.

Never been to school meself.

Can't even read.

I can't steer a ship.

Any fool can steer a ship, sir. It's just knowing where to take it.

23rd December 1787.

The end of our first day at sea.

Tot of rum, sir?

No, thank you, no.

Come on, sir. We don't cross the Equator every day.

No. Thank you. No. Make sure Mr Heywood has some, though.

OK. That'll do. Haul him in. Away.

Coming up for sup, Mr Heywood. Sir.

Here you go, sir. Have some of that. Have some of that, sir.

Revive the spirit as they say. Have a sup of that. Go on.

Get some of this muck down you.

Well done, sir.

Thank you, Quintel.

Lieutenant Bligh, I have your log here before me.

In it, there is the frequent entry of a single word: dancing.

Can you explain that?

I can, sir.

A crew on a long voyage may easily fall into melancholy and violence.

I believe this can be relieved by regular exercise.

So for 20 minutes each day, I had the crew mustered and I had them dance.

- Dance? - Yes. They danced.

An activity they participated in wholeheartedly?

I think so. Yes.

And yet, Mr Bligh, in your own log,

you admit that this rather unorthodox form of exercise

led to grave discontent.

On one occasion only, sir. And not grave.

Charlie. If you only had a frock on, I'd ask you for a dance.

Get your knees up, Quintel.

I'm doing me best, sir.

Don't answer back.

We're bloody sailors, not bloody dancers.

Mr Christian. Mr Young. Put a gag on Quintel.

It wasn't bloody me!

Don't make it worse, Quintel.

It wasn't him, sir. It was me.

Come along, Mr Christian.

You've got the wrong man, sir.

Churchill said it was he who made the remark.

Gag them both.

Jesus Christ.

- Do as he says, Mr Christian. - Sir!

Fletcher.

William, don't you think those men have been gagged there long enough?

They were both guilty of an act of insubordination.

I could have passed it off with a laugh and have done less harm.