ll come back an admiral,
with a necklace for you.
Pearls as big as coconuts.
I'll name a nice shiny island
after you, Sir Joseph.
- I owe you for my appointment.
- You've been appointed for one purpose:
To make me a dictionary
of the Tahitian language.
I've made that clear to Captain Bligh.
- What's he like, sir?
- Captain Bligh?
He's a seagoing disaster.
His hair is rope yarn.
His teeth are marlinespikes.
BYAM:
Marlinespikes? Good.
Sounds rather terrifying. But perhaps,
as your father used to say:
"A taut hand at sea is better
than a slack one."
You'd have made a rare sailor, ma'am.
Why don't you stow away, Mother?
I've considered it. Very seriously.
Well, here's to the voyage
of the Bounty.
To the voyage of the Bounty!
Still waters and the great golden sea.
Flying fish like streaks of silver
and mermaids that sing in the night.
The Southern Cross, and all the stars
on the other side of the world.
Bless my soul.
To the voyage of the Bounty!
Is that the Bounty?
No, sir. That's the flagship of the fleet.
There's your little pint-pot.
BYAM:
That's the Bounty for Tahiti?
She isn't very big, is she?
It ain't the size that counts, youngster.
It's the salt in the lads that man it.
- Where's your sweetheart?
- She married a sailor.
Oh.
It's Ellison, sir.
He tried to break ship.
- On deck, Morrison.
- Aye, sir.
- Churchill.
- Aye, sir.
Break ship, would you?
I can't face it, sir. Not two years.
I might not come back.
Then she's left with the baby.
Flog me, send me to jail,
but don't take me, sir!
Don't.
Now, listen to me, Ellison.
The sea's hard, but you whistle it off.
Do your spit and polish and you'll
come home with the seals...
...following in admiration.
I was like you when I first came to sea,
Cumberland moss all over me.
Now it's turned to barnacles.
That's better.
On this voyage, if you get in trouble,
come to me. I'll see you get justice.
But if you're wrong,
look out for squalls.
Now, get your chin up.
Go on deck. Say goodbye to your wife.
- You've got her aboard, sir?
- And the baby.
- Come on. Shake a leg.
- Thank you, sir.
- So you're going to the South Seas?
- Aye.
Here. Take this with you.
You can buy your own island.
Ten shillings.
Ten? I ain't seen the king's face
on a shilling for so long...
...I've forgotten which George it is, but
I'll take it and pay you when I get back.
Sailor! You're not coming back,
not in this little half-walnut.
WOMAN:
Here you are. Diamond brooch.
Real gold, mister,
owned by Captain Kidd.
With a map of the treasure
under the works.
Here. Stand clear with the tinware, Joe.
You keep leeward
of the ship's gentlemen.
All right, now. Ta-ta. Ta-ta!
Mr. Byam? I'm Fletcher Christian,
lieutenant and master's mate.
- You'll be my instructor.
- Yes, in navigation and trigonometry.
You'll have a watch, keep order,
go aloft to mend canvas, reef and furl.
Otherwise, your time is your own.
Mr. Christian, in my hands,
the ship is safe.
I understand.
"A little child shall lead them."
Come along, I'll show you below. You
there, take Mr. Byam's box to his berth.
- Ahoy, Mr. Christian!
CHRISTIAN: Ahoy!
Excuse me.
Good morning, sir.
Nothing lost, Mr. Christian.
Think I've got enough
for a two years' voyage?
CHRISTIAN:
You know your draft better than I do.
My lad, nobody can estimate my draft,
least of all myself.
- Easy, easy.
- What makes her roll so?
Here's a navy for you.
Rum in the skimmers today
and blood in the scuppers tomorrow.
This is our ship's surgeon.
We call him Mr. Bacchus.
- He's never told us his real name.
- I've forgotten it.
Pleased to meet you.
Mr. Byam, I should never
have gone ashore.
England's only an island,
and all islands are alike.
I'm going below. Bear a hand.
Easy, now. Easy.
Oh, Tommy, I'm afeard.
This ship's unlucky.
They've changed the name.
Well, I changed your name, didn't I?
Was that unlucky?
Oh, Tommy.