Original subtitles

You fools!

That's money you're heaving over the side!

Money!

You'd better never let me come across your boss again.

Neither of you.

Because I will slice you up into pieces too small for bait.

Good evening, sir. Good evening.

May I help you? I'm looking for a gentleman named Maverick.

I hope you haven't lost him. He's an old friend.

May I ask your name?

Maverick. Of course, Mr. Maverick. Mr. Maverick is expecting you.

He's in room 119.

Thank you.

How long has the game been going on?

Oh, four days.

What game?

There's your thousand.

I'll put up another thousand.

I'm a man of deep faith, Mr. Longhurst.

Not misplaced, I trust.

Come in.

Mr. Maverick.

Bart.

How are you? Good to see you.

Gentlemen, I'd like you to meet my brother.

Mr. Longhurst, Mr.

Campbell, Mr.

Williman, Mr. Murchison.

Gentlemen, my honor.

If you'll excuse me, I have some business for the moment with Mr.

ahead.

Now, Mr. Longhurst, I'll leave it to your call.

Your 1 ,000 and up three.

Well, I'll just call.

And 3 ,000 more.

I don't happen to have 3 ,000 more with me at the moment, Mr. Maverick.

Well, your word's good, Mr. Longhurst. Thank you.

Very well.

I call.

At this point, gentlemen, I have a proposition.

I hold IOUs from each of you gentlemen for some $6 ,000.

Are you implying that those won't be made good? I know they will be.

But you owe $3 ,000 in the pot, Mr.

Longhurst. Now, if I win the pot, we'll call the $3 ,000 square and I'll tear up

the IOUs in the bargain.

Well, from the way you play poker, Mr. Maverick, I can't come to the conclusion

that you're giving us $9 ,000 in the name of mercy.

Just what is your proposition?

The $9 ,000 buys me into the ring.

We've turned down much better propositions, Mr. Maverick.

No doubt.

But here it's a matter of poker.

Poker's a matter of nerve, and nerve is a matter of how much a man's got.

If it's a question of nerve, Mr. Maverick, I think my partners and I will

to your proposition.

Especially since I believe I have the winning hand.

I have the ace you were wondering about, Mr. Longhurst.

Welcome to the ring, partner.

Thank you, sir.

Nice to meet you, Mr. Maverick. Thank you, sir.

Oh, incidentally, there's an auction tomorrow morning.

My partners and I are not particularly interested.

It's a little small for us.

Well, I don't mind beginning in a small way.

The name of the ship is the Flying Scott.

Good evening, Mr. Maverick. Good evening.

to help me swing the deal, but I did it myself with a pair of aces and a fair

knowledge of the grand game of poker.

I suppose I should be happy for you, Brother Brad.

But for what?

What's the ring?

The ring buys up wrecked ships at auctions. It's always been closed

a lone shark's fist to outsiders.

Nobody bids against them.

But enough of that.

Tonight, I'm going to show you the city of San Francisco.

Just so you can't say that I brought you out here on a wild goose chase. Yeah,

but whatever. The questions can wait.

When this night's over, you're going to wonder why there's still any people

living east of the Rockies.

Morning, Bruce.

Morning, sir.

And what's the way to work?

I'll take the first bid. Gentlemen,

we are here to offer a vessel, the Flying Scud, at auction.

She is valued at $10 ,000, including rice and fine silk from the Orient.

The Flying Scud is beached at Midway Island, and the buyer assumes all

responsibility for taking her off.

How much will it cost to bring her back here?

Oh, $1 ,000 at the most.

We're getting her for $300, leaving some $8 ,000 for her.

If you're ready, gentlemen, I should like to hear an opening bid.

$100. Thank you, sir. I am offered $100.

$150. Thank you, Mr. Longhurst. $200.

$200. $250.

$250.

$300.

I defer to Mr. Maverick.

The bid is $300.

Do I hear more? If not... I... $350.

There is a bid of $350 from that gentleman.

$400. $400?

$450. He in the ring?

No.

I have a bid of $500.

$550.

$550.

Looks like the gentleman doesn't know you're supposed to get the flying scud.

Could be you're getting whipsawed, but... $600.

$600.

$650.

Mr. Markham. At your service, Mr. Longhurst. One moment, if you please.

Certainly, sir.

Gentlemen, would you mind?

What's going on, Mr. Longhurst?

I thought we were supposed to get this ship.

I'm just as surprised as you are.

I've no idea who the fellow is.

Are you sure of that, Mr. Longhurst?

Quite sure, Mr. Maverick. You have my word.

And to prove our good faith, and to let our little friend over there know that

he's made a big mistake.

The ring will back your bid up to $5 ,000.

$700.

$4 ,050 is the bid.

$5 ,000. Mr. Maverick's bid is $5 ,000.

Do I hear an advance of that bid?

$5 ,500.

$5 ,500.

That's it, Mr. Maverick. The ring will not back you beyond $5 ,000. Oh, look,

mister. Mr. Markham, may I have a minute, please?

Mr. Markham, if Mr. Maverick wants to top my bid, I demand that he do it

immediately or drop out. I shall give Mr. Maverick exactly one minute.

No more.

There's something somebody wants on the flying scut. She's not worth even $5

,000 to us as she stands.

Then you're dropping out of it, Mr.

Longhurst. If your brother wants the flying scut, he takes her on his own

responsibility.

What do you think, Mark?

$5 ,500 is still a lot of money for rice and silk, even if you're a hungry

dressmaker. Well, maybe it's not just rice and silk that somebody's after.

Then somebody looked at the whole card.

Could be.

You know, there's a war on in China.

Now, that, Brother Brett, is exactly what I've been waiting to hear you say.

explains everything.

Oh, look, you don't see it.

Bullion, go.

Maybe smuggled out of China on the flying scut.

Unless it's some kind of a squeeze.

Between Longhurst and that fellow that's been bidding against you?

Can't be.

Now, we could drop out now and leave them holding the bag for what they've

already bid.

Besides, I know Longhurst and his reputation.

This is between us and the little man.

Time's up, Mr. Maverick. Do you wish to bid?

I'm with you, Brett.

Go ahead and bid.

$6 ,000.

$6 ,000 is Mr. Maverick's bid.

$6 ,100.

$6 ,100.

The bid is $18 ,700.

Mr. Maverick's bid.

I... Uh... 18... No,

no, uh, 19 ,000. The gentleman says $19 ,000.

Well, as Pappy used to say...

Faint heart never filled a flush.

That's right.

Go ahead.

I'm going to have to leave my head with a loan shark to get the money.

You'd rather be rich than ugly, wouldn't you?

Bid.

$20 ,000.

$20 ,000.

$20 ,500.

$20 ,500.

$21 ,000.

$21 ,000.

Mr. Markham, I must beg your indulgence. I'm not representing myself, but my

principal. And I've already gone $500 over my authorized limit.

I take it then, sir, you wish to drop out?

No, no, no. I just want 20 minutes in which to see my client and see if he

to... I'm sorry, sir. That's against rules and policy.

We may not hold up a sale.

But I assure you, sir, I'll be back.

Mr. Maverick's bid was $21 ,000.

Do you wish to top that?

The flying stud is yours, Mr. Maverick.

It's ours.

What is ours, Brother Brett, for $21 ,000?

Next question.

You've made a purchase, Mr. Maverick. There are certain formalities, papers to

be signed.

There's more money in my bag at the hotel.

It's all yours.

I'd like to buy your next drink, Mr... My name is Bel Airs.

Thomas Bel Airs.

It's my pleasure, Mr. Bel Airs.

Oh, my name is Bart Maverick.

Pretty stiff bidding back there, Mr. Bel Airs.

Somebody must have really wanted the flying scud.

What's the trouble, Mr. Bel Airs?

You two did me out of a fortune.

I could have bought that boat for nothing.

Pocket of the difference?

Between nothing and 20 ,000?

Why did you do it to me, hmm?

It was open bidding, Mr. Belairs.

Yeah, but I had a limit.

My client... Who is your client?

I am not privileged to divulge that information.

Well, why did he want the flying scud?

Why?

No, he just came to me. I'm a lawyer.

He just came to me.

Who? Mr.

Oh, Lord, no.

Well,

it's just a shame about the commission.

You did me out of it.

If you tell me who your client is, that $500 is yours.

Client's business is privileged. I can't tell. Nope, nope.

It's not your fault. He put a limit on what he'd pay.

That's right.

Your obligation to him has ended.

Now, I am your client.

And your first commission is to tell me who bid on the flying scud.

The $500 is a fee?

James Dixon.

Is this the right address?

Mr. Maverick, I'm proud to have you as a client.

Bellas? Telegram for Mr. Dixon.

Put it under the door.

All right, Mr. Dixon.

There's no telegram.

Who are you? My name's Maverick.

I want to talk with you.

I don't know you. You have no business with me.

It's about the flying scud.

What about her?

I own her now.

Since you wanted the ship so badly, I thought we might get together and

it.

Go away.

Go away and leave me alone.

What's on the flying scud, Mr. Dixon?

Get away.

I don't want to see you or talk to you. I warn you, sir, get away.

I don't know the name.

I waited around for two hours.

He wouldn't come out.

What did you learn?

The ship's registered with the commission, all right.

Is that all?

Her master was Captain Wicks.

Where's he?

Nobody knows.

What? It's true.

A British man of war picked up Wicks and the rest of his crew after the flying

scud had been beasted midway.

As soon as Wicks got to San Francisco, he notified the commission. The

commission got in touch with the owners, and they put the ship up for auction.

And the rest of the crew?

Right into thin air. Why, Brett?

Why?

Shall we find out?

Glad to.

How? Why, there are hundreds of waterfront dives seamen hang out.

Secrets pretty hard to keep.

Somewhere, someplace, there ought to be someone who knows at least one of the

crew. We just pass the word around that we're looking for one of them and offer

money for information.

How much?

Bart, I haven't got a nickel.

I've signed notes to get what we needed.

Sixty -day notes.

How much am I in for?

Well, you said... Take it.

You saved me a color button. A brass one.

All right.

Let's start passing the word.

Jamie Craven?

My name's Maverick.

Hoist, hoist.

Sailor, move on.

Beat it!

Sit down.

If the scuttlebutt's right, you're looking for some of the crew from the

scud. That's right.

You got a good reason?

I've got a reason.

You got a price?

There's a man living at the Square Rigger Hotel.

His name is Jerome Brouse.

Kill him?

No. What'd he come here for? What'd he want?

He knows all about it, Mr. Carthew. He knows all about it. What's gonna happen

with him? Shut up.

It's all right. Don't worry. It ain't all right.

Why'd you buy the fine scud if it's all right? The boat was bought for salvage.

For over $20 ,000?

I say get rid of him once and for all.

We can breathe again.

Now, that's enough.

It's all right for you, Mr. Carthew.

Got enough money to get yourself lost.

You had your share.

Yeah, little enough it was for what I've done. Now you shut up and listen.

Now you've got to get out of here, or I'll give you enough money to satisfy

you. But be where I can find you.

I ask you again, what about him?

When and if it becomes necessary, I'll take care of him.

I should have known. Somebody was watching my every move.

Shall we go back and do some skull -tapping ourselves?

No, it's too late. The fellow Jerome Browser, whatever his name is, he's long

gone.

After the flying scud, what if they beat us to it?

Hey, Dixon, the fellow that was bidding on the ship, he'd have enough money to

hire a ship and a crew.

That's what we've got to do fast.

With what?

Hey, there might be a skipper who's willing to make the trip.

On a percentage deal.

What kind of a skipper?

We can't pick and choose, Brother Barton. We have to take what the devil

us.

You don't have the money to hire me or my ship.

And you say you are willing to make a deal?

You are the one who is needing.

You do the offering.

My brother and I pay $21 ,000 for the flying scud.

The story got around.

Either you know something or you're a pair of fools.

Guess which, Captain?

You don't look like the fool, but I don't know about your brother.

Well, take my word for it. I've known him a long time.

If he ever does anything foolish...

It costs other people money.

Make your deal, Mr. Maverick.

Ten percent for you and your crew.

Isn't enough to pay for the job of close hauling the gift?

Fifteen.

I've got to have a crew of at least six.

After I finish paying them off, I'll be holding a slack line.

You're slick as a greased axle, Captain.

Well, I might as well go my limit.

Twenty. Forty.

The limit just went up.

Thirty. Thirty -five.

I wouldn't be a bit surprised if you flew the Jolly Roger.

Thirty -five it is.

Tomorrow morning good enough for you, Mr. Mavrick? Can you get a crew together

that soon?

You have yourself aboard the Nora Kreener tomorrow morning. The crew is my

lookout.

And don't expect a flock of smiling angels.

I've seen better crafts hauling bait for fishing boats.

She floats.

That's all we can ask for.

You know, I still think you gave me a fast shuffle.

You take a nice ocean cruise while I stay here and fight off the creditors.

I'm not back in 60 days to put up a good fight.

Now, Bart, look, we've been broke before, but not dead.

Why don't we just forget the whole thing?

Better come aboard, Mr. Maverick.

We're ready to move out into the narrows.

I want to get underway with the turn of the tide.

Take care.

Well, Captain, I hope it's a nice trip.

Your quarters are off, Mr. Maverick.

Thank you.

Take that away.

You waiting around for me to die?

People rarely die of seasickness, sir.

Wait a minute.

What's your name?

Matthew Higgins, sir.

Don't I know you?

No, sir.

You better eat some food, sir.

Get out of here.

Your belly back on an even keel, Mr. Maverick? Well, I've decided to go on

living, Captain.

Very thoughtful of you to send that food down. My condition to the contrary.

The man who brought it was also thoughtful.

He said his name was Matthew Higgins.

How do I care if his name is John Beelzebub? I needed the crow and I got

Higgins?

Captain? Maverick ever see you before, Higgins?

No, why?

Just asking.

What's aboard the flying scud, Mr. Higgins?

I paid you $2 ,000 to get to Maverick, take me aboard this ship.

There's nothing else you need to know.

You're right.

Mr. Higgins, if that's your name.

Land ho!

Is that the ship, Captain? Yeah.

Hung up on an underwater reef from the look of her.

I want to get to the flying scud as soon as possible.

Higgins, you go ashore with Mr. Maverick and me.

The rest of you scout the island for fresh water and for fruit.

You ever been to Midway, Mr. Higgins?

No, sir, never.

Neither have I.

Should prove interesting.

That's a great chest.

Now let's get to the hold and look at that cargo.

Yeah.

See if there's some oil in that lamp there, will you?

Aye, aye, sir.

Aye, it's nice, all right.

Silk. Well, I judge this whole cargo isn't worth more than $3 ,000.

Captain, I want your men to tear the ship apart.

Apart? Every inch of it.

Oh, I see what you mean, Mr. Maverick. You figure there's something hid there,

huh?

I want all of us to be happy.

Especially me.

Higgins, go get the rest of the crew.

Tell them to bring crowbars and axes from the Noracrina. Bring them right

here.

Aye, aye, sir.

Did you take a good look at this ship as we came up on her?

Is there something I missed?

If you know the first thing about sailing, you would see that this ship

lifted off this reef the easiest taking a baby out of a crib.

And no captain worth a rotten piece of line would leave his ship when there's

half a chance of saving it.

Now, I ask myself and I ask you, Mr. Maverick, why?

Why was she left here?

So far, no sign of anything.

So far, we've only torn her half apart.

Keep trying, Captain.

All right, Higgin.

Addiction.

Never buck the odds when they're this high.

Better give me that.

You'll have to kill me to get it.

Look, Maverick, if it's money you want, you can have it. Any amount.

Oh?

How much money do you have, Mr. Dixon?

We'll go back to San Francisco, to my bank.

Everything there is yours.

I'd rather see that.

I said you'd have to kill me first.

I meant it.

I could shoot that knife out of your hand before you had a chance to use it.

And you'd kill me.

What makes you think that'd stop me?

I don't know.

But it's up to you.

I've played enough poker to know when a man's running a bluff.

You're not.

That's right.

What is it?

Opium.

Where was it?

In the rice bales.

The flying scud was smuggling opium.

Yeah. Laura was about to when she was beached. How much is this stuff worth?

Ten, twelve thousand.

Depends on the market.

That still doesn't make twenty thousand.

No, no, it isn't. But, uh, it's something.

Anyhow, we don't go home empty -handed.

Well, they put you in jail for smuggling opium, Captain Nairs.

Jails aren't pleasant.

I'm not the boy, Mr. Maverick. There are ways of getting this stuff in.

I'm sure there are.

And I'm just as sure you know all of them and could think up a few new ones.

But just the same, I charted your ship, and I don't intend to spend several

years in a federal prison for smuggling dope.

A joke is a joke, Maverick, and this is no time for it.

Well, if the risks don't bother you, I can come up with a few personal

objections. You're talking about right and wrong.

Tell your men to dump it overboard.

Now, there's a handy profit to be made in this stuff.

A nice sum for each of us.

Now, I made this run on a percentage, and so did my men.

Now, we are poor men, Mr. Maverick.

Following the sea is a hard life.

And we made a long run here to Midway.

And you wouldn't want to see us go back poor men, would you?

I like money too, Captain Ayers.

But not this kind.

Be reasonable.

Even if I agreed with you, my men would not like it.

So, let's stop the argument.

He's got a gun, Captain.

And I judge he knows how to handle it. Up with your hands.

Now, we tie him up good and tight and we drop him in deep water.

Get up, Maverick. Tell the men to stand back, Mayors.

Stand back.

You're in the hole. Come on up.

Why did you do it?

You could have killed me.

You didn't.

All right, men.

Throw your knives down into the hole.

Now, turn around.

Put your hands on top of your heads.

On top.

You forgot one thing.

How are you going to get away?

You can't sail Lenora Kreener without me and my crew.

And you ought to think of one other thing.

Mr. Higgins here.

He paid me to come to you and get him aboard.

Now he's double -crossed me.

And he'll do the same to you.

I don't think so, Captain.

Money you're heaving over the side!

Money!

You'd better never let me come across your boss again.

Either of you.

Because I will slice you up into pieces too small for bait.

You know, Maverick, Nairs is right. We can't sail Lenore or Carina by

We'd have to set them loose.

We might as well cut our own throats and save time.

What chance do we have if we keep watch on them?

Well, we'd need fine weather every mile of the way. That's impossible.

The first sign of bad weather and we'd need them and they wouldn't need us.

Afraid you're right.

We'd have to take turns sleeping.

That'd leave only one of us to watch seven.

I'd rather draw to an inside straight and play it blind.

There is one other way.

One of the small boats.

That's a big ocean, Mr. Dixon.

It'll get bigger, too. We could rig a sail and load up with food and water. At

least we'd stand a chance that way. We'd be in the trade lanes.

Is that the only way?

Afraid so.

What about Nares and his men?

They'll get a little hungry before they get loose.

But we'll have a long start.

That's it, then.

One of the small boats.

I expect you know we may never be picked up.

If that's the case, there'll be something on my tombstone I never

Bart Maverick died at sea.

In three days, you'll be bathed, if you last that long.

Now, listen to the reason. I give you my word.

I'll take the ocean, Captain Ayers.

Now, what do you think?

I think we've probably drifted out of the trade lanes.

You want to tell me about it now?

It might help at a time like this.

You could have taken this, you know, while I was sleeping.

Ma, but you could have dumped it overboard any time.

Why didn't you?

Morbid curiosity, I expect.

I wanted to read it all. I'd only read part of it. What would I have seen it?

My name isn't Dixon.

It's Paul Carthew.

I... I was a remittance man in New Zealand.

Is that log the only reason you went after the flying scud?

Not the opium?

There was murder aboard that ship.

Terrible murder.

And I was part of it.

A year ago, I joined up with some pearlfishers in the Dutch Indies.

We'd made quite a haul when a Dutch cutter gave chase.

We lost them in a fog, but we cracked up on a reef and took to a small boat.

We managed to get to Midway and light a signal fire.

Three days later, the flying scud saw our signal and picked us up. Captain

and his crew found out about the pearls we had.

They wanted their share.

They wanted all of it. My share alone was worth over 10 ,000 guineas.

A fight started and... I was hit across the head.

When I regained consciousness, the flying scud was like a slaughterhouse.

Captain Wicks and his crew were... Murdered? But I swear, I had nothing to

with it. I didn't even know until... But I had to go along with them.

We ran the flying scud onto a reef and... A British man of war picked us

And you and the others pretended to be Captain Wicks and his crew.

Yes. That's why I had to go back and get this log.

Why didn't you take it with you then?

I thought I had.

I took the captain's log and then when I read it, I found a mate had kept

another one. This one.

Has everything in it.

How the flying scud picked us up and pearls.

All our names listed in it.

Didn't you think of just telling your story to the law?

A captain of a ship dead by violence.

We'd have all been hunted down and hanged. So when you got back to San

Francisco, you reported the flying scud as beached.

Then you dropped out of sight.

I had more than enough money from the sale of the pearls to buy the flying

and get to her and burn her into the sea.

Wipe out that terrible... I swear, I swear by all that's holy, I killed no

Even my friends are innocent in a manner of speaking. They didn't start the

fight. Well, whatever it's worth, I believe you.

It's worth a great deal, Bar.

Thank you.

I'm sorry, Bart.

Sorry?

Why?

Maybe I deserve to die like this.

Had it coming, I expect.

But not you.

Don't let it worry you.

As a matter of fact... But it does worry me.

If I'd made a clean breast of things when you came to me in San Francisco, if

I'd told you then, you wouldn't be here now.

Believe me, I'd do anything to make it up to you. But it's too late.

But your intentions are good anyway.

At least at the moment.

If things were different, I swear I'd make it up to you. Somehow.

Some way.

You don't think we have a chance?

Not now.

Well, I'm just wondering about my brother.

He's up to his neck in debts.

The flying scud was worth what we paid for. He could still claim her and...

Salvage something out of the mess.

But she isn't worth it.

And I hope you'll forgive me for what I did to your brother.

And to you.

You, uh, you said you'd make it up to me.

How? Oh, there's no sense in talking about it, Bart.

We're a couple of dead men and we both know it.

Well, maybe you're right, but it's a way to pass the time.

What, uh, would you do if you could?

I've got $50 ,000 in the bank in San Francisco.

I'd give every nickel of it.

25 ,000 is enough.

We're a couple of fools, Bart, talking like this.

Maybe, but what else have we got to do?

Got a pencil?

I feel like dying a rich man.

Make out a draft for 25 ,000 payable to Brett and Bart Maverick.

Looks like you broke first, Bart.

Why not 50 ,000?

Stand as much chance of cashing it.

25 ,000 is plenty.

We'll both be the wealthiest corpses in this part of the Pacific Ocean.

How many more days to Midway, Mr. Hanson? Well, yesterday it was five, so

it should be four.

Maybe not.

The captain was all in course to pick up survivors.

Survivors? A small boat just off there.

I thought you said this was a big ocean, Mr. Hanson.

You know of a bigger one?

Well, after we pick up our survivors, unless the captain's got another reason

for stopping at Midway, you can tell him to forget it.

Before you give it to me, look over your right shoulder.

How long have you known that boat was back there?

Just long enough.