All language subtitles for Billy.Budd.1962.1080p.BluRay.H264.AAC-RARBG (2)

[NARRATOR]
1797...

THE YEAR
OF THE MUTINIES

OF THE FLEET AT SPITHEAD
AND AT THE NORE

AND OF THE CONTINUING WAR
WITH A REPUBLICAN FRANCE.

AUGUST 16th...

HIS MAJESTY'S FRIGATE
AVENGER

ON A WARTIME CRUISE

WITH ORDERS TO REINFORCE
THE BRITISH SQUADRON

OFF THE COAST OF SPAIN.

JOHN CLAGGART,

MASTER-AT-ARMS,
ROYAL NAVY.

EDWIN FAIRFAX VERE,

POST CAPTAIN,
ROYAL NAVY.

THE DANSKER,

SAILMAKER.

PHILIP SEYMOUR,

FIRST LIEUTENANT.

JULIAN RATCLIFFE,

SECOND LIEUTENANT.

STEPHEN WYATT,

GUNNERY OFFICER.

ENOCH JENKINS,

MAINTOPMAN.

SQUEAK,

ASSISTANT
TO MR. CLAGGART.

ADAM PAYNE,

MAINTOPMAN.

LIAM O'DANIEL,

MAINTOPMAN.

ARNOLD TALBOT,

MAINTOPMAN.

NEIL KINCAID,

MAINTOPMAN.

ALFRED HALLAM,

CAPTAIN OF MARINES.

ON THE SAME DAY,
AT THE SAME HOUR,

THE MERCHANT SHIP
RIGHTS OF MAN,

OUT OF DUNDEE,

BOUND
FOR THE WEST INDIES

WITH A CARGO
OF MANUFACTURED GOODS.

NATHANIEL GRAVELING,

SHIP'S MASTER.

AMOS LEONARD,

FIRST MATE.

CHARLES MATTHEWS,

MERCHANT SEAMAN.

BILLY BUDD,

MERCHANT SEAMAN.

DOWN A LITTLE.

DOWN A LITTLE, SIR.

WEREN'T IT BETTER
TO HEAVE TO, SIR?

SHE'S A MAN-OF-WAR.

NOT AN ENEMY,
IS SHE?

NO, SIR.
SHE'S BRITISH.

AH.

HER NAME'S
THE RIGHTS OF MAN.

DANGEROUS NAME
FOR A VESSEL

IN THIS DAY
AND AGE.

IS SHE HEAVING TO?

NO, SIR.

AYE. IT'S WORSE
THAN ANY ENEMY.

IF SHE'S BRITISH,
I'LL NOT HEAVE TO.

IF SHE'S FRENCH,

SHE ONLY WANTS
TO SINK US.

EVERY SEAMAN
LEADS HIS LIFE

IN EXPECTATION
OF BEING SUNK.

AND IF SHE'S BRITISH,
SHE'LL TAKE MY BEST MEN.

I'LL NOT STAND FOR THAT.

HOIST THE T'GALLANTS.

HOIST
THE T'GALLANT!

HEY, BUDD.

BILLY BUDD,
GIVE US A SONG.

♪♪ THEY CALLS ME
HANGING JOHNNY ♪♪

♪♪ AWAY, BOYS, AWAY ♪♪

♪♪ THEY SAYS
I HANGS FOR MONEY ♪♪

♪♪ ALL HANG, BOYS,
HANG ♪♪

♪♪ AT FIRST
I HANG MY SALLY ♪♪

♪♪ AWAY, BOYS, AWAY ♪♪

♪♪ AND THEN
I HANG MY FAMILY... ♪♪

SHE'S HOISTING
MORE CANVAS.

THEY APPEAR TO BE
SINGING, SIR.

ARE THEY SO IGNORANT

THEY CANNOT UNDERSTAND
OUR PURPOSE?

I DOUBT THAT
IT'S IGNORANCE

WHICH MOTIVATES
THEIR ACTIONS,
MR. RATCLIFFE.

CAPTAIN HALLAM.

SIR.

WE ALL ENVY
YOUR WORD
OF COMMAND.

TELL THEM
TO HEAVE TO.

MY COMPLIMENTS.

SIR.

♪♪ AWAY, BOYS,
AWAY... ♪♪♪♪

CAPTAIN'S COMPLIMENTS.

WILL YOU HEAVE TO?

CAPTAIN,
THEY'RE ORDERING US
TO HEAVE TO.

THERE CAN BE
NO MISTAKING
THEIR MEANING NOW.

THAT DON'T PREVENT ME BEING
A BIT HARD-OF-HEARING,

DO IT?

FALL OFF.

FALL OFF, SIR.

I'LL GET THE BEST I CAN
OUT OF HER.

SHE APPEARS TO BE
FALLING OFF

TO MAKE A FAIR WIND
OF IT, SIR.

YOU'RE SURE SHE'S NOT
A FRENCHMAN IN DISGUISE?

NOTHING SO ADVENTUROUS.

HER REFUSAL TO HEAVE TO

PROVES
SHE'S ONE OF OURS,
BUT I WILL BE OBEYED.

SEND A SHOT
ACROSS HER BOWS.

WE'RE AT WAR,
MR. SEYMOUR.

FIRE THE BOW CHASER.

[CANNON FIRES]

WELL...

CAN'T PRETEND
TO BE BLIND, TOO, CAN I?

BACK THE MAIN YARD,
MR. MATE.

BACKING
THE MAIN YARD, SIR?

THERE'S NO
AVOIDING IT, MAN.

GET UP
ON THE FO'C'S'LE.

IF I SPIT NOW,
I GET HIM FAIR AND SQUARE.

WHY WASTE IT ON HIM?
HE'S NOT SO BAD.

THERE'S NO DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN ANY OF THEM.

CAST OFF, BOYS.

AND WHAT
DO YOU WANT, THEN?

DOWN OARS.

ALL TOGETHER.

ALL HANDS ON DECK!

ALL HANDS RIGHT OVER
THE FO'C'S'LE.

BUDD.

GET UP ALOFT
AGAIN.

MAYBE THEY WON'T
SEE YOU.

MEN LINED UP
ALREADY,
CAPTAIN?

THERE'S NO DOUBT
ABOUT YOUR INTENTIONS.

IS THAT WHY YOU FAILED
TO OBEY OUR ORDER?

I NEVER THOUGHT
I'D SEE THE DAY

WHEN I'D PRAY
FOR A FRENCH SAIL
ON THE HORIZON.

A FRENCH SAIL?
WHY?

THEN THE ROYAL NAVY
COULD DO ITS DUTY
FOR A CHANGE--

PROTECT OUR MERCHANT SHIPS
INSTEAD OF PREYING ON THEM.

YOU HAVE IDEAS
OF YOUR OWN,
CAPTAIN.

I'M NOT ALONE IN THAT.

[WHISPERING]

[MOCKING LAUGH]

WHAT'S THIS MAN'S
RECORD?

GOOD.

HMM. LOOKS
A LIKELY MAN.

WITH THE WHOLE
OF THE NORE
ON THE MUTINY?

WHO'S THE LIKELY MAN
NOW, LIEUTENANT?

AYE. THERE WAS
OFFICERS KILLED.

WHERE DID YOU HEAR THIS?

AYE. IT'S
COMMON KNOWLEDGE.

WE'RE NOT LONG
OUT OF PORT.

THE MAINLAND'S
BUZZING WITH IT.

AND YOU'LL WANT TO
READ THE NEWSPAPERS

THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT REFORMS
IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS.

YOU KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS.

IT MEANS THE REFORMS
ARE A CENTURY OVERDUE.

WHO IS THAT?

BILLY.

BILLY BUDD.

ACCORDING
TO THE RIGHTS OF WAR,

A MAN-OF-WAR
CAN IMPRESS A SEAMAN
FROM ANY OTHER VESSEL.

DO YOU UNDERSTAND, BILLY?

AYE, CAPTAIN.

YOU ALSO UNDERSTAND
THERE'S NOTHING
I CAN DO ABOUT IT?

AYE, CAPTAIN.

YOU UNDERSTAND
TOO MUCH, TOO WELL.

ARE YOU AT LEAST SORRY
TO BE LEAVING?

AYE, THAT I AM,
CAPTAIN.

IT'S A GOOD SHIP.

YOU HELPED
MAKE IT GOOD.

A MAN-OF-WAR,
YOU'LL FIND,
IS DIFFERENT.

DIFFERENT, SIR?

AYE, BILLY.

DO YOUR WORK WELL,

KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT--

EXCEPT AT MEALTIMES.

IT'S NOT
AS IT IS HERE.

NOW, THERE'S A GOOD LAD.

GO FORWARD
AND GET YOUR GEAR.

AYE, CAPTAIN.

MY COMPLIMENTS
TO YOUR CAPTAIN.

TELL HIM I REGRET
I DID NOT COMMAND
A FASTER SHIP.

CAST OFF LINE.

LET DOWN OARS.

ALL TOGETHER.

GOD GO WITH YOU,
BILLY BUDD,

FOR IT'S A FACT
THAT YOU GO WITH GOD.

GOODBYE TO YOU ALL.

GOODBYE TO YOU, TOO,
OLD RIGHTS OF MAN.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN
BY THAT, BOY?

NOTHING, SIR.

ALL THAT TROUBLE
FOR ONLY ONE MAN?

MUST BE A REASON, SIR.

OH, YES, I CAN
IMAGINE THE REASON,

KNOWING THE TEMPER
OF THAT VESSEL'S
MASTER.

WELL, SEYMOUR,

OUR CHOICE HAD
BETTER BE GOOD.

GET A ROPE DOWN!

DO YOU SWEAR TO ABIDE
BY THE ARTICLES OF WAR,

TO OBEY ORDERS,

AND, IF NEED BE,

TO LAY DOWN YOUR LIFE
FOR KING AND COUNTRY?

AYE, SIR.

UM...

[WHISPERING]

LIKE THAT?

[SEYMOUR]
SAY "I SWEAR."

I SWEAR.

AGE?

I DON'T KNOW, SIR.

YOU DON'T KNOW
YOUR AGE?

THAT IS, SIR,
I'M NOT QUITE SURE.

I THINK 17, 19,
OR...

OR...

18?

OR 15 OR 14?

[CREW LAUGHS]

YOUR PLACE
OF BIRTH.

PLEASE, SIR, I DON'T
KNOW THAT EITHER.

DON'T KNOW YOUR AGE
OR WHERE YOU WERE BORN?

I WAS FOUND ONE MORNING
IN A SILK-LINED BASKET

HANGING ON THE KNOCKER
OF A GOOD MAN'S DOOR
IN BRISTOL.

SILK-LINED?

I TAKE IT, THEN,
YOU'RE...

A BASTARD, SIR?

AYE.

AYE.

[LAUGHTER]

SIGN.

MASTER-AT-ARMS.

CLAGGART,

OUR NEW RECRUIT
WILLIAM BUDD.

I SUPPOSE
THAT IS YOUR NAME.

AYE, SIR.

YOU LOOK
STURDY ENOUGH.

WHAT WAS
YOUR STATION ABOARD?

I WAS
A MERCHANT SEAMAN, SIR.

WE TOOK TURNS
AT DOING EVERYTHING.

YOU'LL HAVE
A STATION HERE--

MAINTOPMAN.

JENKINS' WATCH.

SQUEAK,
TAKE HIM BELOW,

ASSIGN HIM A HAMMOCK,

AND SHOW HIM WHERE
TO STOW HIS GEAR.

AYE, SIR.

THANK YOU, SIR.

WELL, LIFE'S
FULL OF SURPRISES,

I ALWAYS SAY.

AND THE BETTER FOR IT,
CAPTAIN HALLAM.

THIS IS YOUR HAMMOCK.

ALL HANDS ON DECK

TO WITNESS
SHIP'S PUNISHMENT.

[GROANING]

BEST PUT DOWN
YOUR BAG, BUDD.

IT'LL ONLY BE
A MATTER OF MINUTES.

DANSKER,
LOOK AFTER BUDD.

[DRUM BEATS TATTOO]

BOATSWAIN...

DO YOUR DUTY.

[MOANING]

[LASH]

[LASH]

UHH!

[LASH]

[LASH]

[LASH]

[LASH]

[LASH]

[LASH]

[LASH]

[LASH]

[LASH]

[LASH]

[LASH]

[LASH]

[LASH]

[LASH]

[LASH]

[LASH]

VERY WELL, BOATSWAIN.

RELEASE THE MAN.

MR. FERRIMAN,

YOU WILL SEE HIM
TO SICK BERTH.

SHIP'S COMPANY,

DISMISSED!

AWAY THERE, MATE.

WHAT WAS HIS CRIME?

GOD ONLY KNOWS,
YOUNG MAN.

YOU MEAN YOU DON'T
KNOW WHAT HE DID?

FLOGGING...

IT'S THE ONLY SOLUTION
TO EVERY PROBLEM.

I WARRANT

EVEN THE CULPRIT
HIMSELF DOESN'T KNOW.

IT WAS JUST HIS TURN.

WHAT IS IT, BUDD?

DID THEY NOT
INDULGE IN FLOGGING

ON THE RIGHTS OF MAN?

[STAMMERING]

N-N-NO, SIR.

ALL RIGHT, BUDD.

YOU'LL KEEP YOUR HAMMOCK
PROPERLY LASHED
IN THIS MANNER.

NEVER GET CAUGHT
WITH YOUR BAG
OUT OF ORDER.

YOU WOULDN'T WANT
TO FIND YOURSELF
ON SHIP'S REPORT

LIKE THE LAD
WHO WAS FLOGGED?

WHY WAS HE FLOGGED?

COULD HAVE BEEN FOR ONE
OF MANY REASONS.

YOU MEAN
YOU DON'T KNOW?

IT'S NOT FOR THE LIKES
OF US TO KNOW,

JUST TO WITNESS, SEE?

HUNGRY?

AYE.

THIS IS THE CAPTAIN
OF THE MAINTOP--

JENKINS.

ALL RIGHT, BUDD,
THIS IS YOUR TABLE.

MAKE ROOM FOR HIM.

ALL EVENTS, YOU'RE
WELCOME HERE, LAD.

HERE, BOY.

TAKE MY SEAT.

HERE'S YOUR PLATE.

HIS FIRST DAY
ABOARD OUR HAPPY SHIP.

WHAT'S THE NAME
OF THE SHIP

THEY IMPRESSED
YOU OFF?

I COULDN'T READ IT
AT THAT DISTANCE.

YOU CAN'T READ
AT ANY DISTANCE.

DON'T TAKE OFFENSE.

YOU'RE IN GOOD COMPANY.

I CAN'T READ EITHER.

SHE WAS CALLED...

THE RIGHTS OF MAN.

YOU COME OFF A SHIP
CALLED THAT?

RIGHTS OF MAN?

MY NAME'S WILLIAM.

BILLY, IF YOU LIKE.

OH, UH,
THIS IS PAYNE.

KINCAID. JENKINS.
O'DANIEL.

AND I'M TALBOT.

OH, AND THAT OLD TAR
IS CALLED DANSKER.

HE'S DANISH,

OR, UH,
HE THINKS HE IS.

UH, DANSKER,

HAVE YOU EVER HAD
A REAL NAME?

NOT FOR MANY YEARS.

WHY DON'T YOU SPIT
IN THE STEW, BOY?

IT CAN'T TASTE
NO WORSE.

NOBODY'S MAKING YOU EAT.
WASH YOUR FEET IN IT
IF YOU LIKE.

SEEMS THE COOK
ALREADY HAS.

THERE'S
A SPLINTER IN IT.

THAT'S ENOUGH OF LAUGHING
AT MY DEFORMITY.

YOU EVER
EAT THIS DIRT?

I CAN'T COOK.
YOU KNOW THAT.

THEY ONLY GAVE ME
THIS EMPLOYMENT

BECAUSE I'M UNFIT
FOR ACTIVE SERVICE.

YOU OUGHT
TO BE ASHAMED.

WELL, BILLY, THERE'S
THE ROYAL NAVY FOR YOU.

CAN YOU COOK?

I CAN MAKE A STEW.

I'LL PRAY
THAT YOU LOSE A LEG.

[SLURPING]

LIKE IT, BILLY?

TASTE GOOD?

IT'S HOT,

AND THERE'S A LOT OF IT.

I LIKE
EVERYTHING ABOUT IT

EXCEPT THE FLAVOR.

[CHUCKLING]

AH, AND HOW DO YOU
LIKE THE COMPANY,
BILLY BOY?

NOT QUITE WHAT
YOU'RE USED TO?

EVER SEEN
SO MUCH IGNORANCE

ALL DUMPED TOGETHER
IN ONE PLACE?

EVER HEARD
SUCH A DIN

AS THESE...
GENTLEMEN EATING?

LET THE LAD BE.

BABY HAS TO LEARN.

THERE'LL BE OTHERS
TO TEACH HIM...

SOON ENOUGH.

HE'S IN MY WATCH.

WOULD YOU HAVE HIM LEARN
LASHED TO THE GRATING?

WHY WAS THAT MAN FLOGGED?

HE MAY HAVE...
SPAT AGAINST THE WIND

OR MUMBLED IN HIS BEARD.

IT MAY HAVE BEEN
A PRAYER.

TO THEM
IT WAS A PROTEST.

YOU DON'T KNOW WHY.

IT'S WRONG
TO FLOG A MAN.

I...

[STAMMERING]

'Tl--

'TIS AGAINST
HIS BEING A MAN.

AYE.

AYE, LAD,
IT IS THAT.

WHY DO YOU...
STAMMER, BOY?

BECAUSE I SOMETIMES
CAN'T FIND THE WORDS...

FOR WHAT I FEEL.

OUR YOUNG BASTARD'S
STAMMERING

'CAUSE HE'S SCARED.

LEAVE HIM ALONE.

COME ON, B-B-BABY,

T-T-TALK BACK,
WHY DON'T YOU?

IS IT A FIGHT
YOU WANT, THEN?

AYE. FOR YOUR OWN GOOD
AND MY SATISFACTION.

I WANT TO BAPTIZE YOU

IN THE WAYS
OF OUR WORLD.

THERE WAS A LAD
ON THE RIGHTS OF MAN

USED TO LIKE
A FRIENDLY FIGHT.

NAME OF MATTHEWS.

AHEM.

GO ON, JENKINS.
DO SOMETHING.

GO ON.

WELL, YOU ASKED FOR IT,
DIDN'T YOU, B-B-BABY?

[LAUGHTER]

I'LL GET YOU
IN A MINUTE.

[LAUGHTER QUIETS DOWN]

COME ON, LAD.
COME ON.

COME ON.

[LAUGHTER]

WHY...

WHY, YOU!

WRING HIS NECK
FOR IT!

ALL RIGHT, BILLY.

HANG ON.

HOLD IT.
HOLD IT.

COME ON.

HANG ON.

HOLD HIM,
BILLY.

STEADY,
JENKINS!

EASY!

[LAUGHTER]

ALL RIGHT, I'LL, UH,

I'LL LET YOU OFF
THIS TIME,

BUT DON'T DO IT
AGAIN, BOYO.

I'M WARNING YOU.

WILL YOU
SHAKE HANDS, MATE?

SHAKE HANDS, IS IT?

YOU'RE A HELL
OF A PEACEMAKER,
BILLY.

WELL, YOU'VE
BEAT ME FAIR.

FIRST TIME I EVER
HEAR JENKINS
EAT HIS WORDS.

WHAT A TERRIBLE DIET
THAT IS--

WORSE THAN THE STEW.

DON'T BE GETTING
WRONG IDEAS.

I'M MORE THAN A MATCH
FOR YOU, BOYO.

AYE. I TOOK YOU
OFF YOUR GUARD.

AYE.

HA HA HA HA!

YOU MAKE FRIENDS QUICKLY,
MASTER BUDD.

COME HERE, BOY.

WHAT WAS
THE FIGHT ABOUT?

WELL, I...

NOTHING TO SAY?

AND THE REST OF YOU?

MR. CLAGGART!

[STRIKES HIM]

WATCH WHAT YOU'RE DOING.

DON'T YOU EVER TOUCH ME!

I SWEAR, I--

YOU SWEAR...

WHAT?

NONE OF YOU HAVE
ANYTHING TO SAY?

IT WAS NOTHING,
MASTER-AT-ARMS.

A TEST OF STRENGTH.

YOU'LL NEED YOUR STRENGTH

FOR THE FIGHTING
TO COME, BOY.

[CLAGGART]
AYE, BUDD.

YOU DO INDEED
MAKE FRIENDS QUICKLY.

THAT'S A GOOD QUALITY
TO HAVE.

BILLY...

BE CAREFUL
OF THE MASTER-AT-ARMS.

CAREFUL?

WHY?

HE HAD A PLEASANT
SMILE FOR ME.

THAT'S WHY.

MAKE EIGHT BELLS!

[BELL RINGS]

[BELL RINGS]

FIRST WATCH ABOARD
A MAN-O-WAR, BILLY?

DON'T FALL!

OR JUMP!

COME ON!
GET ON UP THERE!

AYE, HE'S QUITE
A HAND FOR JOKES.

ALWAYS CHEERFUL, TOO.

ALWAYS SMILING,
WAVING AT PEOPLE.

LOVELY LITTLE CHARACTER.

ALWAYS--

AFTERNOON, SIR.

WIND SEEMS TO BE
FRESHENING A LITTLE,

WITH YOUR PERMISSION, SIR.

FRESHENING DID YOU SAY,
MASTER-AT-ARMS?

YES, IT DOES INDEED,
MASTER-AT-ARMS.

INDEED.

OUR YOUNG NEWCOMER SEEMS
TO FEEL QUITE AT HOME.

AYE, SIR.

INDEED HE DOES.

YES.

HE'S EVEN MELTED
OLD STARRY VERE'S
STONE HEART.

HE'LL MAKE
THE OLD AVENGER
A MERCHANTMAN YET.

AAH, THE TROUBLE IS

I CAN'T FIND THE DISTANCES
LIKE I USED TO.

I'LL TAKE YOUR TURN
TOMORROW WHILE YOU
STAY BELOW DECKS.

[SHUFFLING]

WHO'S THERE?

WELL, WHAT'S UP, THEN,
SQUEAK?

ROUTINE INSPECTION,
JENKINS.

WHAT'S THE MATTER?

SICK, ARE YOU?

MY HEALTH DOES NOT
CONCERN YOU.

NO NEED TO BE
UNCIVIL, JENKINS.

IS, UH...

IS THIS SICKNESS
SOMETHING

MASTER-AT-ARMS
SHOULD KNOW ABOUT?

HE'LL KNOW WHEN I WANT HIM
TO KNOW, BOYO.

I HOPE IT'S
NOTHING SERIOUS.

EVENING.

GOOD EVENING.

OH, IT'S ON A PETTY REPORT
YOU ARE AGAIN, BUDD.

WELL, I MEAN,
LOOK AT IT.

IT'S A PITY
YOU WILL NOT LEARN.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND.

THAT'S THE SECOND TIME
IT'S HAPPENED LIKE THIS.

NEXT TIME
SEW YOURSELF UP IN IT,

AND THEN YOU'LL
BE SURE TO KNOW

IF SOMEBODY
MEDDLES WITH IT.

HMM?

OH, DANSKER.

HMM?

WHAT?

READING?

HMM.

HOW MANY TIMES
MUST YOU BE
ON SHIP'S REPORT

BEFORE THEY TIE YOU
TO THE GRATINGS
AND FLOG YOU?

THAT'S A MATTER
HE DECIDES.

HE?

AYE.

THE MASTER-AT-ARMS...

MR. CLAGGART.

GO ON. THAT'S ALL
YOU'RE GOING TO GET.

FISH.

THEY'RE SERVING FISH.

CAN'T THINK WHY.

IT'S WEDNESDAY.

AH, WELL, I HOPE IT'S BETTER
THAN THAT HORSE MEAT

WE'VE BEEN GETTING.

MAYBE IT'S
A SEA HORSE.

JENKINS, AREN'T YOU
EATING ANYTHING?

WELL, YOU GOT TO EAT
SOMETHING, YOU KNOW,

OR GO SICK.

WELL, AT LEAST
COME IN OUT OF THE SUN.

HERE, HANG ON!

HANDSOMELY DONE, LAD.

BUT THEN HANDSOME IS
AS HANDSOME DOES.

CLEAN UP THAT MESS.

I THOUGHT I SAID
CLEAN UP THAT MESS.

THAT'S
THE MESS BOY'S JOB.

IT'S YOURS
WHEN I ORDER IT SO.

I'LL CLEAN IT UP.

AFTER ALL, SIR,
IT WAS I WHO SPILLED IT.

STAND BACK, BOY.

MIGHT AS WELL
CLEAN THAT UP, TOO.

SIR, HE'S SICK!

SICK?

I'M SORRY TO HEAR THAT.

IS THAT WHAT YOU'D
LIKE TO DO, JENKINS?

PERHAPS YOU'D DO IT...

IF YOU WEREN'T SO...

SO SICK.

YOU OTHERS FEEL
WELL ENOUGH, I HOPE.

HERE I AM, UNARMED.

NOW'S THE TIME.

TO MAKE IT EASIER...

I'LL TURN MY BACK ON YOU.

YOU LACK FIBER, MEN.

OR HAVE YOU SOME
MORE DEVIOUS PLAN FOR ME?

- SOME NIGHT WHEN
THERE'S NO MOON...
- Don't be a fool.

THAT'S A VERY GOOD PLAN,
INDEED.

A PLAN WORTHY
OF PIGS LIKE YOU.

YOU'LL SOON FEEL BETTER,
JENKINS.

JUST KEEP YOUR HATE
FOR ME ALIVE
UNTIL THAT TIME.

DAMN HIS FLAMING SOUL.

I CAN'T STAND IT
NO MORE.

WHAT ARE YOU GOING
TO DO ABOUT IT,
MATE?

STICK HIM
ONE OF THESE NIGHTS,
LIKE HE SAID.

HE'S WAITING FOR IT.

DON'T DO NOTHING
FOOLISH, MATE.

YOU CAN GET HUNG
FOR NO MORE
THAN AN ANGRY LOOK.

I'M SICK OF THE TASTE
OF BLOOD, BOYO.

WHY'S HE SO FRIENDLY
TO ME?

IT WAS I WHO
SPILLED THE FOOD.

DON'T YOU BELIEVE IT!

HE LURCHED INTO YOU.

I'LL ASK HIM WHY.

NO, YOU DON'T, BILLY.

NOT A WORD,
YOU HEAR?

JUST THANK YOUR STARS
HE'S STILL SMILING
AT YOU.

LEAVE IT AT THAT.

HE NEVER DID
SMILE AT ME. NEVER.

NOT EVEN THE FIRST DAY.

IT'S ALL RIGHT FOR YOU
TO GIVE ADVICE.

YOU'VE HAD YOUR FOOD.
I'M HUNGRY.

THAT DON'T MEAN MUCH.

I ATE MINE.
I'M HUNGRY, TOO.

I'LL ASK HIM
WHEN I GET A CHANCE.

I WILL.

YOU RECOMMEND BUDD
FOR A POST
OF MORE RESPONSIBILITY,

YET HIS NAME'S
ON SHIP'S REPORT AGAIN.

THESE ARE
PETTY MISDEMEANORS,
NOTHING SERIOUS.

AN INFRACTION
OF ANY RULE IS SERIOUS.

MR. RATCLIFFE.

SIR?

YOU TOOK HIM OFF
THAT MERCHANT SHIP.

WHEN HE CRIED OUT,
"GOODBYE, OLD
RIGHTS OF MAN,"

WHAT DID YOU
TAKE IT HE MEANT?

AT THE TIME
I WASN'T SURE.

NOW I'M SURE
HE MEANT NOTHING.

HE KNEW OF THE SHAMEFUL
MUTINIES AT THE NORE
AND AT SPITHEAD.

IT WAS COMMON GOSSIP
ABOARD THAT MERCHANTMAN.

I CHARGED HIM TO KEEP
THE KNOWLEDGE TO HIMSELF.

HE'S KEPT HIS SECRET WELL.

MUST BE HARD TO KEEP.

HE WAS THE ONLY MAN
I DARED IMPRESS.

THE BOY HAS
A QUALITY OF TRUST.

THANK YOU, RATCLIFFE.
THAT WILL BE ALL.

CLAGGART--WHAT DOES
HE RECOMMEND?

I'VE NOT DISCUSSED IT
WITH HIM, SIR.

WHY NOT, PRAY?

THE BOY HAS SWORN--

IN THIS MATTER,
I DIDN'T THINK
IT NECESSARY.

WHAT DO YOU KNOW
ABOUT CLAGGART?

BEFORE HE CAME
ABOARD SHIP,
I MEAN.

NOT MUCH, SIR.
NOBODY DOES.

THERE ARE RUMORS.

RUMORS?

THERE ALWAYS ARE
ON ANY SHIP.

WHAT RUMORS?

THAT HE WAS ONCE ARRAIGNED
AT THE KING'S BENCH

ON SOME MYSTERIOUS
CHARGE,

THEN VOLUNTEERED
FOR THE KING'S NAVY

AS PAYMENT
FOR THE CRIME.

HOW FLATTERING FOR US.

TOO MUCH OF THE NAVY
IS MADE UP OF DEBTORS,

MURDERERS, DRUNKARDS
WITHOUT THE STEADY LEGS
TO ESCAPE IMPRESSMENT.

IF NOT TRUE IN HIS CASE,

WHY WOULD A MAN
OF HIS INTELLECT
HAVE ACCEPTED

LIFE ABOARD SHIP
ON SUCH A LOWLY STATION?

AYE. AYE.

HE'S A GOOD
MASTER-AT-ARMS,

THE BEST I'VE
EVER SAILED WITH.

THE SHIP IS YOURS, SIR.

THE CHOICE OF MEN
TO MAN HER, TOO.

CHOICE.

WHAT MASTER-AT-ARMS IS
EVER LOVED BY THE CREW?

LOVED?

THEY HATE HIM, SIR.

THAT MAY BE BETTER
THAN INDIFFERENCE,
SEYMOUR.

WHO KNOWS?

THE FACT THAT
I COMMAND

DOES NOT RELIEVE ME
FROM DOUBTS.

ON THE CONTRARY,
IT MAGNIFIES THEM.

A MAN-OF-WAR DOES
NOT COME TO LIFE

UNTIL
IT'S IN ACTION.

WILL WE ACQUIT
OURSELVES WELL...

OR BADLY?

WHAT KIND
OF A WEAPON
HAVE WE FORGED?

AND WHEN
THE TIME COMES,

WILL I KNOW
HOW TO USE IT?

CLAGGART IS
A FORCE FOR ORDER,
MR. SEYMOUR,

A FORCE FOR ORDER
I MUST HAVE.

SIR...

IF HE SHOULD BE
OPPOSED TO BUDD'S
PROMOTION...

YOU KNOW, SEYMOUR,

THERE ARE SOME MEN

WHO CANNOT STAND
TOO MUCH PERFECTION.

THEY SEE IT AS A...
AS A DISEASE...

WHICH MUST BE STAMPED OUT
AT ITS FIRST RASH SHOWING.

I WILL THINK OVER

THE MATTER OF BUDD'S
PROMOTION.

UHH...

HERE!

WHAT'S THE MATTER
WITH HIM?

WHAT IS IT, MATE?

IT'S NO GOOD, BOYO.
I FEEL SICK.

SICK AND DIZZY.

COME ON.
LET'S GET ALOFT.

NO, WAIT.

GET HIM DOWN BELOW.

[CLAGGART]
WHERE ARE YOU
TAKING HIM?

SICK BERTH.

THIS SICKNESS BEGINS
TO GROW TEDIOUS, JENKINS.

HOW DOES IT STRIKE YOU?
IN THE HEAD?

IN THE LIMBS?

MAYBE IN THE GUT.

DOES IT EXIST AT ALL?

CAN'T YOU SEE?

WE'RE UNDERMANNED.

GET ALOFT.

YOU CAN'T LET A SICK MAN
HANG FROM A SPAR LIKE THAT.

HE'LL FALL, SURE!

WE'RE IN FRENCH WATERS.

ORDERS ARE
A MAN ON EVERY SPAR.

NOW GET ALOFT.

YOU THINK
I'M SHIRKING?

YES, I DO.

BE DAMNED TO YOU.
I'LL STAND MY WATCH.

AT LEAST LET
THE DOCTOR--

I'LL STAND MY WATCH!

FRENCH WATERS...

UNDERMANNED...

THAT'S NOT WHY
YOU'RE SENDING ME ALOFT,

MR. CLAGGART.

[GROANING]

UP THE SIDE.
COME ON.

[MOANS]

A SAIL 1 MILE
OFF THE STARBOARD BOW!

A FRENCHMAN! BEAT TO
QUARTERS! CLEAR FOR ACTION!

BEAT TO QUARTERS!
CLEAR FOR ACTION!

MR. SEYMOUR, SIR!

HERE! GET OVER THERE!

GO ON, YOU LAZY LANDLUBBERS!
GET ON WITH THIS!

MOVE UP THERE.
MOVE UP.

HURRY!

BATTLE STATIONS
FULLY MANNED, SIR.

SET FULL SAIL
AND GIVE CHASE.

WE'LL NEVER
CATCH HER, SIR.

SHE MAY NOT
HAVE SEEN US.

AYE, AYE, SIR.

SET FULL SAIL,
MR. LEVERETT.

SET FULL SAIL,
MR. SEYMOUR.

STAY CLOSE
TO THE WIND, SIR?

AYE.

QUARTERMASTER,
STAY BY THE WIND.

BY THE WIND
IT IS, SIR!

WHY IS THAT MAN
LEAVING HIS POST?

WHO IS IT?

BUDD, SIR.

BUDD?

FOR THE LOVE
OF GOD, BILLY,

LOOK TO YOURSELF.

AAH!

[ALL TALKING]

CLAGGART!

DAMN YOUR BLOODY EYES!

THE MAN IS DEAD,
MR. RATCLIFFE.

TAKE THE BODY BELOW.

AYE, SIR.

YOU...YOU.

THOMSON, RIDLEY.

BEAR HIM BELOW.

FRENCHMAN'S
DRAWING AHEAD.

COMMENCE FIRING,
MR. SEYMOUR.

SIR, IT'S HOPELESS.
IT'S OUT OF RANGE.

YES, MR. SEYMOUR.

WE COULD ATTRACT
OTHER ENEMY SHIPS.

I KNOW YOUR OBJECTION,
MR. SEYMOUR.

WE STAND NO CHANCE OF
SINKING THE FRENCHMAN.

ALL I CAN DO IS TO
LESSEN THE TENSION
ABOARD MY OWN SHIP.

COMMENCE FIRING,
MR. SEYMOUR.

STARBOARD BATTERY,
OPEN FIRE!

OPEN FIRE, SIR.

FIRE AT WILL.

FIRE AT WILL!

FIRE AT WILL.

FIRE AT WILL!

WHAT ARE WE
FIRING AT?

DON'T QUESTION COMMANDS,
OBEY THEM! FIRE!

FIRE!

LOOK OUT.

[CANNONS FIRING]

MR. SEYMOUR.

SIR?

OFFICERS WILL WEAR SWORDS
ALL THE TIME FROM NOW ON.

WE'VE LOST HER, SIR.

GIVE UP THE CHASE,
MR. SEYMOUR.

AYE, AYE, SIR.

WHAT ELSE DO YOU
EXPECT ME TO TELL YOU?

HAND IN YOUR ARMS.

OH, UH, KINCAID.

YOU'RE UNDER SHIP'S ARREST.
TAKE HIM BELOW.

HAND IN YOUR ARMS.

HAND IN YOUR ARMS!

WHAT'S THE MATTER,
MASTER-AT-ARMS?

THESE DOGS
ARE OUT OF TEMPER, SIR.

WHY?

I DON'T KNOW, SIR.

WHAT IS THIS ABOUT?

YOU WILL COME TO ATTENTION
WHEN I ADDRESS YOU!

MAY I REMIND YOU THAT
THIS SHIP IS AT WAR.

THIS IS A WARTIME CRUISE.

WE SAIL UNDER
THE ARTICLES OF WAR.

VOLUNTEER OR IMPRESSED MAN,

VETERAN SEAMAN OR RECRUIT,

YOU ARE NO LONGER CIVILIANS,
BUT SAILORS,

A CREW THAT I SHALL MOLD
INTO A WEAPON.

ONE LAWLESS ACT...

ONE SPURT OF REBEL TEMPER
FROM ANY ONE OF YOU,

HIGH OR LOW...

I SHALL PAY YOU OUT
IN COIN YOU KNOW OF.

YOU HAVE ONLY
TWO DUTIES HERE--

TO FIGHT AND TO OBEY.

AND I WILL BEND
EACH CONTUMACIOUS SPIRIT,

EACH STIFF-NECKED
PRIDEFUL SOUL OF YOU...

OR CRUSH YOU...

IF I MUST.

ABIDE BY
THE ARTICLES OF WAR

AND MY COMMANDS,

OR THEY WILL
CUT YOU DOWN.

NOW...

CHOOSE.

KINCAID, YOU SHOUTED. WHY?

WHY DID JENKINS FALL,
SIR?

MASTER-AT-ARMS,
THAT ACCIDENT--

THE MAN WHO FELL
UPON THE DECK
FROM THE YARDARM--

DO YOU KNOW
HOW THIS OCCURRED?

I DO NOT, SIR.

YOU WERE HIS MESSMATES.

DOES ANY MAN HERE
KNOW HOW THIS OCCURRED?

YOU?

NO, SIR.

BOY, YOU LEFT YOUR POST.
WHY?

I KNEW THAT JENKINS
WAS SICK, SIR.

I SAW HIM SWAY.

YOU KNEW HE WAS SICK?

MR. CLAGGART, DID YOU
SEND A SICK MAN ALOFT?

HE SAID HE WAS,

BUT WHEN
I QUESTIONED HIM,
HE CHANGED HIS MIND

AND WENT TO STAND
HIS WATCH.

[BUDD]
THAT'S NOT THE WAY
IT HAPPENED,

MR. CLAGGART.

DON'T YOU REMEMBER?

THAT IS THE WAY
IT HAPPENED, SIR.

I SEE.

HAND IN YOUR ARMS.

TAKE HIM BELOW.

"WE THEREFORE
COMMIT HIS BODY
TO THE DEEP

"TO BE TURNED
INTO CORRUPTION,

"LOOKING FOR
THE RESURRECTION
OF THE BODY

"WHEN THE SEA SHALL
GIVE UP HER DEAD

"AND THE CORRUPTIBLE
BODIES

"OF THOSE WHO SLEEP
IN HIM

SHALL BE CHANGED--"

"AND MADE LIKE
UNTO HIS GLORIOUS BODY

"ACCORDING TO
THE MIGHTY WORKING

"WHEREBY HE IS ABLE

"TO SUBDUE ALL THINGS...

UNTO HIMSELF."

AMEN.

AMEN.
AMEN. AMEN.

SHIP'S COMPANY, DISMISS!

WELL, THAT'S THE END
OF ENOCH JENKINS.

OVER THE SIDE HE GOES,

AND HIS MATES
SOON FORGET HIM.

THEY'LL NOT
FORGET HIM SO SOON,
I'M THINKING.

AH, WHATEVER'S HAPPENED
TO JENKINS,

HE AIN'T WORRIED NONE.

HE'S GOT 100 FATHOMS

BETWEEN HIM
AND THE TROUBLES
OF THIS LIFE.

I'D RATHER BE
BURIED AT SEA
THAN ON THE SHORE

WHEN I COME TO DIE.

WILL YOU STAND
BY THE PLANK, MATES,

SO I CAN SHAKE
A FRIENDLY HAND
BEFORE I SINK?

BUDD.

CAPTAIN VERE
WISHES TO SEE YOU.

[KNOCK ON DOOR]

COME IN.

SEAMAN BUDD, SIR.

YOU SENT FOR ME, SIR?

YES, BUDD.
YOUR DIVISIONAL OFFICER
RECOMMENDS YOU

FOR A POST OF MORE
RESPONSIBILITY.

HE THINKS YOU CAN
PERFORM DUTIES

OF A HIGHER STATION,
AND SO DO I.

THE SPIRIT
YOU SHOWED LAST NIGHT,

UH, WARRANTS IT.

FROM NOW ON,
YOU ARE CAPTAIN
OF THE FORETOP.

OH, UH...

YES. THAT'S A REAL HONOR

FOR A MAN SO NEW ABOARD.

YOU CAN TRUST ME, SIR.

I DO.

VERY WELL, THEN.
THAT'S ALL.

OH. UH, AYE, AYE, SIR.

THANKS.

CAPTAIN VERE, SIR,

WITH YOUR PERMISSION.

YES?

YOU MUST BE AWARE, SIR,

THAT...BUDD IS...
WELL...

IT'S UNLIKE YOU TO FALTER,
MR. CLAGGART.

HE HAS BEEN ABOARD
SUCH A SHORT TIME.

LONG ENOUGH TO PROVE
HIMSELF TO ME.

HE LEFT HIS STATION
LAST NIGHT.

IN A GOOD CAUSE, NO DOUBT,
MASTER-AT-ARMS.

HE SHOWED INITIATIVE.

THE CAPTAINCY OF THE FORETOP
IS HIS REWARD.

WITH YOUR PERMISSION, SIR,

WILL THERE NOT BE
SOME DISSATISFACTION

AMONG THE FORETOPMEN
WHO'VE BEEN ABOARD
MUCH LONGER THAN BUDD?

OH, MASTER-AT-ARMS,

I CONCERN MYSELF
WITH THESE MATTERS.

THEY'RE REALLY
NONE OF YOUR FUNCTION.

UNTIL SUCH A TIME
AS THE SENIOR TOPMEN

FORMALLY OBJECT TO BUDD
FOR INCAPACITY,

AND FOR NO OTHER REASON
WHATSOEVER,

HE IS CAPTAIN
OF THE FORETOP.

MAKE IT SO
ON THE BILL.

CAPTAIN VERE, SIR,
WITH YOUR PERMISSION--

WHAT?

IN THE MATTER OF KINCAID--

THE MAN WHO SHOUTED
FROM THE MAST--

IT WAS A SERIOUS BREACH
OF SHIP'S DISCIPLINE

WHILE ENGAGING THE ENEMY.

WHAT PUNISHMENT
DO YOU RECOMMEND?

10 LASHES.

IT WAS WHILE ENGAGING
THE ENEMY.

10 LASHES.

MR. CLAGGART.

AYE, SIR.

DO YOU CONSIDER
THE SENTENCE JUST?

MAY I SPEAK FREELY, SIR?

I DO NOT ASK QUESTIONS

IN ORDER TO GET
INSINCERE ANSWERS.

10 LASHES WOULD SEEM TO ME
A MILD SENTENCE

UNDER PEACETIME CONDITIONS.

100 WOULD, TO MY MIND,
BE APPROPRIATE.

100?

WE MUST SERVE THE LAW, SIR,

OR GIVE UP THE RIGHT
AND PRIVILEGE OF SERVICE.

IT IS ONLY
WITHIN THAT LAW

THAT WE MAY USE
OUR DISCRETIONS

ACCORDING TO OUR RANK.

YOU'RE SO LUCID
AND INTELLIGENT
FOR THE RANK YOU HOLD.

I THANK YOU, SIR.

THAT'S NO FLATTERY,
MR. CLAGGART,

IT'S A MELANCHOLY FACT.

IT'S SAD TO SEE
SUCH QUALITIES OF MIND

BENT TO SUCH
A SORRY PURPOSE.

WHAT'S THE REASON
FOR IT?

I AM WHAT I AM, SIR...

AND WHAT THE WORLD
HAS MADE ME.

THE WORLD?

THE WORLD DEMANDS
THAT BEHIND
EVERY PEACEMAKER

THERE BE THE GUN...

THE GALLOWS...

THE JAIL.

DO YOU THINK IT WILL
ALWAYS BE SO?

I HAVE NO REASON
NOT TO, SIR.

YOU LIVE WITHOUT HOPE?

I LIVE.

THEN, REMEMBER,
MR. CLAGGART,

THAT EVEN THE MAN
WHO WIELDS THE WHIP

CANNOT DEFY THE CODE
WE MUST OBEY...

AND NOT BE BROKEN
BY IT.

THAT WILL BE ALL.

AYE, SIR.

WITH YOUR PERMISSION, SIR.

IS IT STILL TO BE
10 LASHES?

IT IS.

[LASH]
1...

[LASH]
2...

[LASH]
3...

[LASH]
4...

[LASH]
5...

[LASH]
6...

7...

8...

[LASH]
9...

[LASH]
10...

RELEASE THE PRISONER.

DISMISS SHIP'S COMPANY,
PLEASE, MR. SEYMOUR.

SHIP'S COMPANY,
DISMISS!

I EXPECT THE FRENCH

WILL BE PUTTING US
TO OUR STATIONS
ANY HOUR NOW.

AYE.

IN THE QUESTION
OF JENKINS,

BUDD WAS TELLING THE TRUTH.

I KNOW, SIR.

WHAT ARE YOU GOING
TO DO ABOUT CLAGGART?

WHAT CAN I DO
BUT WATCH AND WAIT?

NO COURT-MARTIAL
WOULD DO MORE

THAN STRIP HIM
OF HIS RANK.

THEN WHAT? AS A RATING,

HE'D BE SLAUGHTERED
BY THE OTHER MEN.

WHO WOULD REPLACE HIM?

AND WOULD THE FRENCH
REFRAIN FROM ATTACKING US

WHILE WE SETTLED
OUR PETTY DIFFERENCES?

NO. I MUST GIVE HIM
HIS HEAD

UNTIL SOME ACT
PUTS HIM SQUARELY
COUNTER TO THE LAW

AND THEN LET THE LAW
CONSUME HIM.

WHAT WOULD YOU DO...

IF YOU WERE CAPTAIN
OF THIS SHIP?

I'M NOT CAPTAIN
OF THIS SHIP, SIR.

ONE DAY YOU MAY BE,
PHILIP.

AND THEN...

REMEMBER.

[CLANGS BELL]

GOOD EVENING, SIR.

GOOD EVENING.

WOULD IT BE ALL RIGHT
IF I STAY TOPSIDE A BIT

TO WATCH THE WATER?

I SUPPOSE
THE HANDSOME SAILOR

MAY DO MANY THINGS
FORBIDDEN TO
HIS MESSMATES.

THE SEA'S CALM BY NIGHT,
ISN'T IT?

CALM AND PEACEFUL.

YOU'VE MADE
A GOOD IMPRESSION ON
THE CAPTAIN, BILLY BUDD.

YOU HAVE A PLEASANT WAY
WITH YOU.

OH. THANK YOU, SIR.

IF YOU WISH TO MAKE
A GOOD IMPRESSION
ON ME, TOO, HOWEVER,

YOU WILL NEED
TO CURB YOUR TONGUE.

NOW, SIR?

NOT NOW.

CAN IT BE THAT
YOU REALLY DON'T
UNDERSTAND MY WORDS?

IS IT IGNORANCE
OR IRONY

THAT MAKES YOU SPEAK
SO SIMPLY?

UH, IT MUST BE
IGNORANCE, SIR,

'CAUSE I DON'T UNDERSTAND
THE OTHER WORD.

LET US SEE
WHICH IT IS.

TELL ME, WITHOUT FEAR,
IF YOU CAN,

WHAT DO
YOU THINK OF ME?

I NEVER MET A MAN
LIKE YOU BEFORE.

YOU BLAME ME
FOR JENKINS' DEATH.

YOU MUST HAVE
HAD A REASON

FOR DOING
WHAT YOU DID.

IF YOU THOUGHT
I HAD A REASON,

WHY DID YOU
CONTRADICT MY WORDS
BEFORE THE CAPTAIN?

IN MY IGNORANCE, SIR,
I COULD NOT GUESS THE REASON.

I ONLY KNEW THE TRUTH
AND TOLD IT.

THE SEA IS CALM,
YOU SAID.

PEACEFUL.

CALM ABOVE...

BUT BELOW, A WORLD
OF GLIDING MONSTERS

PREYING
ON THEIR FELLOWS.

MURDERERS, ALL OF THEM.

ONLY THE STRONGEST
TEETH SURVIVE.

AND WHO'S TO TELL ME

IT'S ANY DIFFERENT
HERE ON BOARD

OR YONDER,
ON DRY LAND?

YOU KNEW
MY REPUTATION...

AND YET YOU DARED

TO SPEAK WHAT YOU
CALL THE TRUTH. WHY?

I KNOW SOME OF THE MEN
ARE FEARFUL OF YOU--

HATE YOU--
BUT I TOLD THEM,

YOU CAN'T BE
AS THEY THINK YOU ARE.

AND WHY NOT, PRAY?

NO MAN CAN TAKE PLEASURE
IN CRUELTY.

NO?

TELL ME, DO YOU
FEAR THE LASH?

AYE.

AND WILL YOU SPEAK
THE TRUTH AGAIN?

I'M ON MY HONOR, SIR.

IF THE CAPTAIN ASKS--

[LAUGHING]

[LAUGHING]

WHY ARE YOU
LAUGHING, BOY?

LAUGHTER'S GOOD, SIR.

AND, UH, IT'S GOOD
TO HEAR YOU LAUGH.

LAUGHTER'S GOOD.

EVEN THE LAUGHTER
OF FOOLS
AIMED AT NOTHING?

NO, SIR.

YOU DIDN'T LAUGH
AT NOTHING.

WHAT DID I LAUGH AT,
THEN?

I DON'T KNOW, SIR.

BUT I THINK YOU WERE
LAUGHING AT YOURSELF.

WHY SHOULD I
LAUGH AT MYSELF?

THERE'S TIMES
WHEN ALL MEN DO--

MEN AS YOU CAN CALL MEN.

THEY MAKE MISTAKES...
BEHAVE LIKE FOOLS.

THEY DO?

TELL ME,
IN ALL IGNORANCE,

DO YOU DARE
UNDERSTAND ME, THEN?

I THINK SO, SIR.

WHY DID JENKINS DIE?

YOU DID NOT
WISH HIS DEATH.

NO, I DID NOT.

YOU DIDN'T EVEN
HATE HIM.

I THINK THAT SOMETIMES
YOU HATE YOURSELF.

I WAS THINKING, SIR...

THE NIGHTS ARE LONELY.

PERHAPS I COULD TALK
TO YOU BETWEEN WATCHES,

WHEN YOU'VE NOTHING ELSE
TO DO.

LONELINESS.

WHAT DO YOU KNOW
OF LONELINESS?

THEM'S ALONE
AS WANT TO BE.

THE NIGHTS ARE LONG.

CONVERSATION HELPS
PASS THE TIME.

CAN I TALK TO YOU
AGAIN, THEN?

IT WOULD MEAN
A LOT TO ME.

PERHAPS TO ME, TOO.

OH, NO.

YOU WOULD CHARM ME,
TOO, HUH?

GET AWAY.

SIR?

GET AWAY.

MASTER-AT-ARMS.

MR. CLAGGART, SIR?

WHAT'S THE...WHAT'S THE
"GET THEE BEHIND ME" FOR?

WHICH OF US
IS SATAN, THEN?

WHY, I'M NOT AMBITIOUS.

WELL?

COULDN'T FIND NOTHING WRONG
WITH BUDD'S GEAR, SIR.

ALL STOWED PERFECT.

WELL,
DISARRANGE IT, MAN.

YOU'VE DONE IT BEFORE.

I WAS NEARLY CAUGHT.
TWO OF HIS MATES WOKE.

BE MORE CAREFUL.

I WANT HIM ON REPORT,
NOW MORE THAN EVER.

DO AS YOU WISH.

IT'S NOT EASY.

HOW'S YOUR GEAR,
SQUEAK?

ALL STOWED PERFECT?

MOON'S IN AND OUT TONIGHT.

THERE'S A STORM SOMEWHERE.

AYE, OLD MAN.

THERE'S A STORM
SOMEWHERE.

WELL, I HAVE
MY WATCH TO DO.

BILLY.

BILLY.

SLIP INTO THE LEE
FORECHAINS.

THERE'S SOMETHING
IN THE WIND.

WHAT? YOU--

NO. DON'T SPEAK HERE.
I'LL MEET YOU THERE.

WE HAVE TO TALK
QUICKISH, BILLY.

DAWN WILL BE ON US
BEFORE YOU CAN SAY
MUTINY.

WHAT DO YOU WANT?

IT'S AGAINST THE RULES
TO BE UP HERE.

I SAW YOU AND CLAGGART
TALKING.

I DON'T KNOW
WHAT WAS SAID,

NOT LIKING TO LISTEN

TO OTHER FOLKS'
CONVERSATIONS,

BUT IF IT'S BUTTERING
HIM UP YOU ARE,

BEWARE.

I TRIED THAT.

I--I WAS FRIGHTENED
OF HIM.

THAT'S HOW I BEGAN,
SEE?

I TALKED TO HIM
ONE NIGHT, AND...

AFTER THAT,
I WAS HIS SLAVE.

I AMUSED HIM, SEE?

SOMETHING ABOUT ME
AMUSES HIM.

THERE'S NOTHING
I CAN DO ABOUT IT.

ANYWAY, I...

STARTED SPYING
ON PEOPLE FOR HIM

ONLY TO ESCAPE
THE LASH.

A MAN CAN'T HELP

BEING FRIGHTENED,
CAN HE? EH?

I MEAN I-IT'S HUMAN
IN SOME OF US.

EVERY TIME HE LAUGHS
AT ME, I...

I KNOW I'M SAFE.

TILL THE NEXT TIME,
THAT IS.

[DANSKER SINGING]

IT'S ONLY OLD DANSKER
PASSING AWAY HIS WATCH.

HEY, YOU KNOW WHEN

YOU KEPT FINDING
YOURSELF ON REPORT?

WELL, THAT WAS MY DOING.

YEAH, BUT I WAS ONLY
OBEYING ORDERS.

HIS ORDERS. CLAGGART'S.

CLAGGART'S?

HMM.

I THOUGHT IT WAS YOU,
OUT OF SPITE.

ME?

I'VE GOT NO SPITE
IN ME.

NOW, TAKE TONIGHT--

I'M SUPPOSED TO GET YOU
ON REPORT AGAIN, SEE?

CLAGGART SENT ME
TO STEAL YOUR KIT

WHILE YOU WAS ASLEEP.

INSTEAD, I WOKE YOU UP.

MY--MY CONSCIENCE
WOULDN'T PERMIT ME
TO OBEY,

WHATEVER
THE CONSEQUENCES.

I SAID TO MYSELF,

"YOU--YOU CAN'T DO THIS
TO BILLY. NOT THIS."

OH.

WELL, I OUGHT TO THANK YOU,
THEN, DIDN'T I?

NO. NO,
I'M A HUMAN BEING,

SAME AS
THE NEXT MAN.

I WANT NO THANKS.

CAN'T HELP BEING
A COWARD, THOUGH.

THAT'S MY TROUBLE.

I HATE CLAGGART.

THAT'S WHAT
HE DON'T REALIZE--

I HATE HIM.

YOU HATE HIM?

YES, I DO.

DON'T YOU?

NO.

YOU DON'T?

NO.

YOU MUST DO.

[DANSKER'S SINGING STOPS]

WHY'S THE OLD MAN
STOPPED SINGING?

GET AWAY, OLD MAN.

AYE.

I'LL LEAVE YOU
IN THE DARK, KINCAID,

BUT THINK AGAIN.

[RESUMES SINGING]

EVEN THOUGH
YOU DON'T HATE HIM,

THERE'S MANY AS DOES,
AND THEY NEED YOUR HELP.

THEY CAME
TO ME AND SAID,

"DO YOU THINK
BILLY'LL HELP US?"

I SAID,
"I'VE NEVER KNOWN HIM

NOT TO HELP
THEM IN NEED."

WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO DO?

[DANSKER SINGING]

TOMORROW NIGHT...

TALK TO CLAGGART
AS YOU DID TONIGHT,

WITH HIS BACK
TO THE DECK.

THAT'S IMPORTANT.

THE LADS
WILL DO THE REST.

THE REST?

IT'S A...

IT'S A LOVELY KNIFE
YOU GOT THERE.

DAMN! I DON'T KNOW
WHAT YOU MEAN.

FORGET I EVEN
TALKED TO YOU.

YOU GO BACK
WHERE YOU BELONG.

I'M GOING. I'M OFF.

START, OR I'LL TOSS YOU
OVER THE RAIL.

I NEVER SAID NOTHING.

[RUNNING FOOTSTEPS ON DECK]

WELL?

WELL, WHAT?

I HEARD YOU
MUTTERING WITH HIM.

I TRIED SOMETHING
YOU ONCE SUGGESTED.

I TOLD HIM THE LADS
WAS OUT TO KILL YOU,

TRIED TO GET HIM
TO JOIN IN.

AND?

HE WOULDN'T DO IT.

FOOL!
BLITHERING IDIOT!

YOU DIDN'T TEMPT HIM
RIGHT.

YOU MADE MISTAKES.

YOU WERE TOO OBVIOUS,
WEREN'T YOU?

NO, I TRIED TO BE SUBTLE.

I TOLD HIM HOW MUCH
I HATED YOU.

AND HE DIDN'T LET FORTH
ONE HINT THAT HE AGREED?

NO, MASTER-AT-ARMS,
NOT ONE WORD.

MR. CLAGGART,
WE DONE ENOUGH TO HIM.

HE'S A GOOD LAD, SIR.

COULDN'T IT BE
SOMEONE ELSE?

KINCAID, MAYBE?

SO HE'S SOFTENED
YOUR HEART, TOO?

I'LL SEE
YOUR BACK LAID RAW
WITH A FLOGGING WHIP.

NO! NO--

QUIET.

YEAH.

HE HATES YOU,

DOES BILLY BUDD.

HE WANTS YOUR LIFE
LIKE THE REST OF THEM.

YOU SWEAR IT?

I SWEAR IT.

ON MY OATH.

I KNEW IT.

WHY DON'T YOU GO
TO MR. SEYMOUR...

OR TO THE CAPTAIN?

THEN I'D BE
AN INFORMER.

NO, NO, DANSKER,
I CAN'T.

IT'S KINCAID.

LEAVE HIM BE.

NO.

LEAVE HIM BE,
BILLY BUDD.

KINCAID, WHAT ARE YOU
DOING TOPSIDE?

YOU'RE AFTER MR. CLAGGART.

WELL?

IT'S WRONG, KINCAID,
HE KNOWS.

HE'S WAITING
FOR YOU.

NO MORE THAN
I'M WAITING FOR HIM.

OUT OF MY WAY, LAD,
AND LET ME DO IT.

NO, I WON'T LET YOU
HANG YOURSELF.

I DON'T GIVE
A FIDDLER'S DAMN
WHAT HAPPENS TO ME.

OUT OF MY WAY, LAD.

GIVE ME THAT KNIFE.

BILLY,
YOU'RE A NICE BOY,
BUT I'M NO PLAYING.

THIS IS NO GAME
FOR BOYS.

DAMN ME, I WON'T LET YOU
HANG YOURSELF.

[FOOTSTEP]

THE MOON'S UNDER NOW.

SWEET MOTHER OF GOD,
WILL YOU LET ME GO?

NO.

[KNIFE CLATTERS]

AAH.

OOH, MY BACK.

[DECK CREAKS]

EXPLAIN THIS.

UH...

IT WAS NOTHING, SIR.

AN ARGUMENT.

AN ARGUMENT?

WHOSE KNIFE IS THIS?

MINE, SIR.

TRUTH, BOY.

TRUTH.

ISN'T THAT THE COURSE
BY WHICH YOU STEER?

OR AM I WRONG?

"THAT'S NOT THE WAY
IT HAPPENED."

THAT'S WHAT YOU TOLD
THE CAPTAIN

WHEN JENKINS SLIPPED
FROM CARELESSNESS.

THERE ARE MANY WAYS
TO LIE, MR. CLAGGART,

BUT THERE'S ONLY ONE WAY
TO TELL THE TRUTH.

JENKINS WAS UNFIT.

UNFIT?

WELL, HERE'S ANOTHER ONE
THAT'S UNFIT.

UP, MAN. ON YOUR FEET.

I'VE BEEN EXPECTING
YOU, KINCAID.

WHY DID YOU
TRY TO STOP HIM?

WHY SHOULD I WANT YOU--

KILLED?

"WHY SHOULD
I WANT YOU KILLED?"

[WYATT]
WHAT'S THE
DISTURBANCE THERE?

YOU THERE, FOR'ARD.

MASTER-AT-ARMS REPORTS
ALL IN ORDER, SIR.

STAND WHERE YOU ARE.

SAY NOTHING
TO THIS OFFICER.

UP. ON YOUR FEET.

WHAT'S THE MATTER,
MASTER-AT-ARMS?

IT'S AN ODD HOUR
FOR STARGAZING.

A SLIGHT MATTER, SIR.

I FOUND THESE MEN
TOGETHER HERE ON DECK

CONTRARY TO CAPTAIN'S
ORDERS.

I WAS SENDING THEM BELOW
WHEN YOU CALLED OUT.

SURELY THERE'S MORE TO IT
THAN THAT.

THE STORY'S LAME, MAN.

WHAT OCCURRED?

YOUR KNIFE,
MASTER-AT-ARMS?

WILLIAM BUDD'S, SIR,

I BELIEVE.

RETURN IT TO HIM.

YOU REPORTED ALL IN ORDER,
MASTER-AT-ARMS.

I'LL TAKE YOUR WORD.

CONSEQUENTLY,
I DO NOT WISH TO SEE

EITHER OF THESE MEN'S NAMES
ON SHIP'S REPORT TOMORROW.

SIR...I FEEL THAT I--

EITHER ALL IS IN ORDER,
MR. CLAGGART, OR IT IS NOT.

IF IT IS NOT,
I WISH TO KNOW ABOUT IT NOW.

THERE IS NO REASON
FOR THESE MEN'S NAMES

TO BE ON SHIP REPORT,
SIR.

GOOD.

THANK YOU. GOOD NIGHT.

GET BELOW.

BOTH OF YOU.

GET BELOW.

MORE SAIL, PLEASE,
MR. RATCLIFFE.

THE GLASS
IS FALLING, SIR.

OUR MISSION IS TO JOIN
THE FLEET. MORE SAIL.

AYE, SIR.

MORNING,
MASTER-AT-ARMS.

- BATTLE STATIONS
FULLY MANNED.
- CARRY ON.

WITH YOUR PERMISSION,
SIR.

I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK
TO YOU IN PRIVATE.

IF THIS IS NOT A MATTER
OF GRAVE CONCERN--

IT IS OF GRAVE CONCERN,
SIR.

[SEAMAN]
SET THE T'GALLANTS!

VERY WELL.

I'LL BE IN MY CABIN,
MR. WYATT.

AYE, AYE, SIR.

NOW, MASTER-AT-ARMS,
BE BRIEF IF YOU WILL.

I'M REQUIRED ON DECK.

LAST NIGHT,
WHEN ON MY ROUNDS,

DISCOVERING BUDD'S
HAMMOCK WAS UNUSED,

I COMBED THE SHIP

AND FOUND HIM
IN CONCLAVE WITH
SEVERAL GROWLERS--

MEN WHO,
LIKE HIMSELF,

SPREAD UNREST
AND REBELLION
AMONG THE CREW.

BUDD SPREADS
REBELLION?

AYE, SIR.

AN ACCUSATION,
I TAKE IT.

AYE, SIR.

RATCLIFFE!

- OH, CAPTAIN HALLAM.
- SIR.

WOULD YOU BRING BUDD, PLEASE,
CAPTAIN OF THE FORETOP?

- YES, SIR.
- THANK YOU.

THEY WERE COLLECTED HERE,
NEAR THE LEE FORECHAINS.

WHEN I ORDERED THEM BELOW,

YOUNG BUDD AND OTHERS
THREATENED ME,

SWORE THEY'D DROP ME

AND SOME OFFICERS
THEY HATE OVERBOARD

ON SOME MISTY NIGHT.

SHOULD YOU DESIRE
SUBSTANTIAL PROOF, SIR,

IT IS NOT FAR.

WEIGH WHAT YOU SPEAK.

THERE IS
THE ROPE AND YARDARM
FOR FALSE WITNESS

IN PEACE AS IN WAR.

I UNDERSTAND, SIR.

I'M GLAD TO HEAR IT.

[KNOCK ON DOOR]

BUDD, SIR.

BRING HIM IN.

VERY GOOD, SIR.

COME IN, BUDD.

CAPTAIN HALLAM,
SEE WE'RE NOT
DISTURBED.

- VERY GOOD, SIR.
- THANK YOU.

TELL THIS MAN TO HIS FACE
WHAT YOU TOLD ME.

CERTAINLY, SIR.

I SAID THIS MAN,

THIS WILLIAM BUDD,

ACTING SO OUT OF
ANGRY RESENTMENT
AGAINST IMPRESSMENT

AND AGAINST
HIS OFFICERS--

AGAINST THIS SHIP,
THIS SERVICE,
AND THE KING--

HEADS IN THE CREW
A SPIRIT OF REBELLION

AGAINST THE OFFICERS,
THE MATES, AND ME

AND URGES THEM
TO THE OUTRAGE
OF MUTINY.

THIS VERY NIGHT,
I SURPRISED HIM
IN THE LEE FORECHAINS

AND BOTH SAW
AND HEARD HIM CONSPIRE
WITH KNOWN MALINGERERS

AND MEN WHO CONTINUALLY
GROWL ABOUT UNFAIR PAY,

MISTREATMENT, THE LACK
OF SHORE LEAVE,

AND SIMILAR COMPLAINTS.

I HAVE
THE NAMES OF THE OTHERS

INVOLVED
IN THIS SINISTER PLOT:

THE MAN KINCAID,

THE OLD SAILOR WHO GOES
BY THE NAME OF DANSKER,

AND, REGRETTABLY,
MY OWN HITHERTO
TRUSTED CORPORAL.

BUT THERE IS NO DOUBT
IN MY MIND

THAT BUDD
IS THEIR RINGLEADER.

I SAY THIS MAN
THREATENED HIS OFFICERS

WITH MURDER

AND WAS BENT TONIGHT
IN URGING OTHER MEN

TO ACT CONCERTEDLY
IN MUTINY.

I HAVE NOTHING
FURTHER TO SAY
AT THIS TIME, SIR.

MM-HMM.

SPEAK, BUDD.

[VERE]
DEFEND YOURSELF,
BUDD.

AH...AH...

NOW, TAKE YOUR TIME,
TAKE YOUR TIME.

THERE'S NO HURRY.

MAY I ADD, SIR,

I'M AS SURPRISED AS YOU SEEM
TO BE AT BUDD'S COMPLICITY,

AS I'D HITHERTO SHARED
YOUR HIGH OPINION OF HIM.

GIVE THE LAD HIS CHANCE.

YOU'VE MADE YOUR ACCUSATION.
HE MUST DEFEND HIMSELF.

WITH ALL DUE RESPECT,
SIR...

[VERE]
MR. CLAGGART.

I DON'T THINK HE CAN.

IT'S NOT SO MUCH THAT
HE CAN'T FIND THE WORDS

AS THAT THERE ARE
NO WORDS TO FIND.

MR. CLAGGART!

[THUD]

[BILLY WHIMPERING]

CAPTAIN...

[WHISPERING]

SEYMOUR?

GO IN THERE
UNTIL I CALL YOU.

CAPTAIN HALLAM.

UH--OH, YES, SIR.

FORGIVE ME FOR IMPOSING
UPON YOU AGAIN.

COULD YOU CAUSE
THE SURGEON TO COME?

THE SURGEON, SIR?

I DO HOPE, SIR,
THAT YOU'RE NOT--

NO, NO...

NOTHING.

VERY GOOD, SIR.

[DOOR OPENS]

GOOD MORNING, SIR.

I TRUST YOU'RE
IN GOOD HEALTH.

HOW IS IT
WITH THIS MAN?

IS IT SO, THEN?

I THOUGHT IT.

VERIFY IT.

THE MAN IS DEAD,
SIR.

BUT IS THAT POSSIBLE?

ONE BLOW?

TEMPLE.

I'VE KNOWN
THE LARGEST MEN
TO HAVE THIN SKULLS.

THIS MIGHT'VE
HAPPENED AT ANY TIME
AND FOR ANY REASON.

UH, RATCLIFFE.

[WHISPERING]

WHAT?

[WHISPERING]

WHY THE DRUMHEAD
COURT-MARTIAL?

COULD NOT THE PRISONER
BE KEPT UNDER GUARD

AND THE MATTER REFERRED
TO THE ADMIRALTY BOARD
IN PORT?

WE DO NOT SAIL TO PORT,
MR. SEYMOUR.

WE SAIL INTO BATTLE.

BATTLE MAKES
A MOCKERY OF JUSTICE.

WE MUST CLING
TO WHAT VESTIGES
OF ORDER WE CAN.

IT MUST BE DONE QUICKLY.

SINCE WHEN IS JUSTICE
COMPATIBLE WITH SPEED?

YOU REALIZE AS WELL AS I DO
THAT WE WERE SPARED A
MUTINY ABOARD THIS SHIP

SIMPLY BECAUSE
WE WERE NOT IN PORT.

BUT THE MEN KNOW.

RUMORS FLY OVER
THE EMPTY SEA

AND WITH THEM
THE TEMPER OF OUR TIMES.

AND SO
WE ARE AFRAID.

JUSTICE MUST BE
NOT ONLY QUICK
BUT ALSO EXPEDIENT.

WHAT DID YOU SAY?

I APOLOGIZE, SIR,
FOR THE MANNER,

NOT FOR THE MATTER.

CLAGGART
WOULD'VE HUNG
FOR FALSE WITNESS

IF BILLY
HADN'T KILLED HIM.

YES, HE WOULD'VE DONE,
BUT BY FAIR PROCESS OF LAW,

BUDD'S PREVENTED THAT
AND TURNED THE LAW
AGAINST HIMSELF.

YOU CAN'T CONDEMN
THE BOY

FOR ANSWERING
WITH HIS ARM
FOR LACK OF WORDS!

HE WAS TEMPTED
BEYOND ENDURANCE.

THE MOTIVE WAS
CLEARLY JUSTIFIED.

AYE, BUT WAS THE ACT?

THIS MASTER-AT-ARMS,

YOU KNOW HIM FOR A LIAR,
A VICIOUS DOG.

A DOG'S OBEYED
IN OFFICE.

CLAGGART
WAS AUTHORITY.

SEYMOUR, TRIAL
THERE MUST BE,

AND YOU CANNOT
MAKE THE DEAD
STAND TRIAL.

SO THE LIVING
MUST STAND TRIAL

FOR A DEAD MAN'S CRIMES.

IT'S MORE THAN ANY MAN

CAN HAVE TO ANSWER FOR,
CAPTAIN...

TO HIS GOD
OR EVEN TO HIS KING.

[KNOCK ON DOOR]

COME IN!

[VERE]
YOU ALL KNOW WHY YOU'VE
BEEN SUMMONED HERE?

AYE, SIR,
IN A GENERAL SORT OF WAY.

YOU TOOK ALL PRECAUTIONS,
GENTLEMEN?

NO MAN ABOARD KNOWS
WHY YOU'RE HERE?

[WYATT]
NO, SIR.

OH, UH, CAPTAIN HALLAM,

THE BODY?

IT STILL LIES IN
THE COMPARTMENT BELOW, SIR.

NOBODY SAW
THE MEN WHO PUT--

PUT IT THERE?

NO, SIR.
I MADE SURE OF THAT.

THANK YOU,
CAPTAIN HALLAM.

I'VE NEVER SEEN HIM
SO DISTURBED.

AYE.

I GAVE HIM CAUSE.

VERY WELL, MR. SEYMOUR.

YOU MAY PROCEED.

GENTLEMEN...

YOU ARE APPOINTED
MEMBERS OF
A COURT-MARTIAL

CONVENED
BY CAPTAIN VERE

IN EXTRAORDINARY
CIRCUMSTANCES.

I AM SENIOR MEMBER...

AND I DECLARE
THESE PROCEEDINGS OPEN.

AS YOU KNOW,
THE MASTER-AT-ARMS
HAS BEEN KILLED

BY THE FORETOPMAN
BUDD.

WHETHER BY ACCIDENT
OR BY DESIGN

AND WHETHER THE ACT

SHALL CARRY THE PENALTY
OF DEATH OR NO,

YOU ARE TO DECIDE.

SENTRY.

SIR.

BRING THE PRISONER IN.

THERE IS ONLY
ONE WITNESS...

CAPTAIN VERE.

I SHALL CALL ON HIM
TO GIVE HIS DEPOSITION

AS SOON AS THE SENTRY
BRINGS IN THE PRISONER.

[DOOR OPENS]

SENTRY,
STAND OUTSIDE.

SIR.

UH, YOU MAY
SIT DOWN, BILLY.

THANK YOU, SIR.

CAPTAIN, WILL YOU BE
GOOD ENOUGH TO GIVE US
YOUR ACCOUNT?

I SPEAK
NOT AS YOUR CAPTAIN

BUT AS A WITNESS
BEFORE THIS COURT.

THE MASTER-AT-ARMS
EARLY THIS MORNING
DETAILED TO ME

AN ACCOUNT OF
MUTINOUS SENTIMENTS
EXPRESSED BY BUDD

AND SPOKE IN PARTICULAR

OF OVERHEARING
A SPECIFIC CONVERSATION
LAST NIGHT DURING MIDWATCH.

BUDD A MUTINEER?
THAT'S ABSURD!

LIEUTENANT WYATT,
DO NOT INTERRUPT
THE WITNESS.

AND NOW, SIR,
WITH YOUR PERMISSION...

BUDD, DID YOU SPEAK
WITH ANYONE

IN THE MASTER-AT-ARMS'
HEARING LAST NIGHT?

HMM...

I SPOKE A LITTLE,
WITH THE DANSKER, SIR.

THE SAILMAKER.

SENTRY!

SIR.

DO YOU KNOW A SEAMAN

REFERRED TO
AS THE DANSKER?

SIR.

GO FIND HIM.

LET HIM KNOW
HE IS WANTED HERE,

AND ARRANGE IT

SO NONE
OF THE OTHERS NOTICE
HIS WITHDRAWING.

SEE YOU DO IT
TACTFULLY.

I WANT
NO CURIOSITY AROUSED
AMONG THE MEN.

SIR.

WILL YOU GO ON,
SIR, PLEASE?

I SENT AT ONCE FOR BUDD.

I ORDERED
THE MASTER-AT-ARMS

TO BE PRESENT
AT THIS INTERVIEW

AND REPEAT HIS ACCUSATIONS
TO BUDD'S FACE.

MAY I ASK WHAT WAS
THE PRISONER'S REACTION

ON BEING CONFRONTED
BY THE MASTER-AT-ARMS?

I PERCEIVED NO UNEASINESS
IN HIS DEMEANOR.

I BELIEVE HE SMILED.

AND FOR
THE MASTER-AT-ARMS?

WHEN I TOLD HIM

TO MAKE HIS ACCUSATIONS
TO BUDD'S FACE,

HE DID SO.

DID BUDD REPLY?

HE TRIED TO, BUT...

COULD NOT
FRAME HIS WORDS.

AND THEN, SIR?

HE ANSWERED WITH A BLOW.

THE ACCUSER FELL.

IT WAS EVIDENT
THE BLOW WAS FATAL,

BUT I SUMMONED THE SURGEON
TO VERIFY THE FACT.

THAT'S ALL.

YOU'VE HEARD
CAPTAIN VERE'S ACCOUNT.

IS IT OR IS IT NOT
AS HE HAS SAID?

CAPTAIN VERE
SPEAKS THE TRUTH.

IT'S JUST
AS CAPTAIN VERE SAYS.

BUT IT IS NOT
AS THE MASTER-AT-ARMS
SAID.

I'VE EATEN THE KING'S BREAD
AND I'M TRUE TO THE KING.

I BELIEVE YOU, BOY.

GOD KNOWS I--MMM--I...

THANK YOU, SIR.

WAS THERE MALICE

BETWEEN YOU AND
THE MASTER-AT-ARMS?

I BORE NO MALICE AGAINST
THE MASTER-AT-ARMS.

I'M SORRY THAT HE IS DEAD.

I DID NOT MEAN
TO KILL HIM.

IF I'D HAVE
FOUND MY TONGUE,

I WOULD NOT
HAVE STRUCK HIM.

BUT HE LIED FOULLY
TO MY FACE,

AND I HAD--WELL,
I HAD TO SAY SOMETHING.

I COULD ONLY SAY IT...

WITH THE BLOW.

GOD HELP ME.

UH, ANYBODY SEEN
MR. CLAGGART ABOUT?

WELL, HE WAS NOT
AT THE INSPECTION.

WELL, YOU BETTER NOT
LET HIM CATCH YOU

LYING AROUND LIKE THIS.

YOU HAVE BEEN
SUMMONED IN SECRECY

TO APPEAR BEFORE
THIS COURT AS A WITNESS,

OF WHICH
I AM SENIOR MEMBER.

I MAY NOT
DISCLOSE TO YOU

THE NATURE OF
THE OFFENSE BEING TRIED.

HOWEVER, THE OFFENDER
IS WILLIAM BUDD,

FORETOPMAN.

DO YOU CONSENT
TO GIVE THIS COURT
YOUR TESTIMONY,

THOUGH IGNORANT
OF THE CASE AT TRIAL,

AND FURTHER, TO KEEP
IN STRICTEST CONFIDENCE

ALL THAT PASSES HERE?

AYE.

DO YOU SO SWEAR?

I DO.

THEN THIS
IS MY QUESTION--

IN YOUR OPINION,

IS THERE MALICE

BETWEEN
THE MASTER-AT-ARMS
AND BUDD?

AYE.

EXPLAIN
YOUR STATEMENT.

MASTER-AT-ARMS BORE MALICE

TOWARDS A GRACE...

HE COULD NOT HAVE.

THERE WAS
NO REASON FOR IT...

THAT ORDINARY MEN
COULD UNDERSTAND.

PRIDE WAS HIS DEMON,

AND HE KEPT IT STRONG
BY OTHERS' FEAR OF HIM.

HE WAS A PHARISEE
AMONG THE LEPERS.

BILLY COULD NOT UNDERSTAND
SUCH A NATURE.

HE SAW ONLY A LONELY MAN--

STRANGE, BUT A MAN STILL.

NOTHING TO BE FEARED.

SO CLAGGART, LEST HIS WORLD
BE PROVEN FALSE...

PLANNED BILLY'S DEATH.

I NOTICE
IN YOUR TESTIMONY

YOU'VE BEEN USING
THE PAST TENSE.

WHY?

I LOOK AROUND...

AND SENSE FINALITY HERE.

HAVE YOU
ANY MORE QUESTIONS?

ONE THING MORE--

EVER SINCE THIS MASTER-AT-ARMS
CAME ABOARD,

FROM GOD KNOWS WHERE,

I HAVE SEEN HIS SHADOW
LENGTHEN ALONG THE DECK,

AND BEING UNDER IT,
I WAS AFRAID.

WHATEVER HAPPENED HERE...

I AM IN PART TO BLAME.

HAVE YOU ANY
FURTHER QUESTIONS

TO PUT
TO THE ACCUSED?

NONE.

NO.

WILLIAM BUDD,

IF YOU HAVE
ANYTHING FURTHER
TO SAY FOR YOURSELF,

SAY IT NOW.

I'VE SAID ALL, SIR.

SENTRY!

SIR.

REMOVE THE PRISONER
TO MY COMPARTMENT.

HAVE YOU ANYTHING
TO SAY, RATCLIFFE?

YES, SIR.

CLAGGART WAS KILLED
BECAUSE BUDD
COULDN'T SPEAK.

IN THAT SENSE
THAT HE STAMMERS,

HE'S A CRIPPLE.

YOU DON'T HANG A MAN

FOR SPEAKING
THE ONLY WAY HE COULD.

IF YOU CONDEMN HIM,

IT'S THE SAME THING
AS CONDONING THE LIE

THE MASTER-AT-ARMS
CLEARLY TOLD.

I'D HAVE STRUCK HIM
MYSELF.

AND THE BOY
IS CLEARLY INNOCENT.

STRUCK
IN SELF-DEFENSE.

AYE. I'M READY
TO ACQUIT HIM NOW.

THEN WE CAN REACH
A VERDICT AT ONCE.

UM...

ONE MOMENT, GENTLEMEN.

WITH YOUR PARDON,
SIR.

AS SENIOR MEMBER
OF THIS COURT,

I MUST ASK
IF YOU SPEAK NOW

AS OUR
COMMANDING OFFICER

OR AS A PRIVATE
INDIVIDUAL.

AS CONVENING AUTHORITY,
SEYMOUR,

I SUMMONED THIS COURT,

AND I MUST
APPROVE ITS FINDINGS

BEFORE PASSING THEM
TO THE ADMIRALTY.

THAT IS YOUR RIGHT.

NO RIGHT. WHICH ONE
OF US HERE HAS RIGHTS?

IT'S MY DUTY,
AND I MUST PERFORM IT.

BUDD KILLED A MAN--

HIS SUPERIOR OFFICER.

WE HAVE FOUND
A VERDICT.

AND YOUR VERDICT
SETS HIM FREE,

AND SO WOULD I
WISH TO DO.

BUT ARE WE FREE TO CHOOSE

AS WE WOULD IF WE WERE
PRIVATE CITIZENS?

THE ADMIRALTY
HAS ITS CODE.

DOES IT CARE WHO BUDD IS,

WHO YOU AND I ARE?

WE DON'T
FORGET THAT, SIR,

BUT SURELY, EVEN
WITHIN THAT CODE,

EACH CRIME
IS DIFFERENT.

WE--WE CAN'T
IGNORE THE FACTS.

THE FACTS. COME,
YOU KNOW THE FACTS,

WHICH ARE THE MUTINY ACT'S
PROVISIONS.

AT SEA, IN TIME OF WAR,

AN IMPRESSED MAN STRIKES
HIS SUPERIOR OFFICER

AND THE BLOW IS FATAL.

NOW, ACCORDING TO THE ACT,

THE BLOW ALONE WOULD
BE ENOUGH TO HANG HIM,

BE IT FATAL OR NO.

THE MEN KNOW THIS
AS WELL AS YOU AND I.

THEY KNOW THE PENALTY
FOR BUDD'S ACTION.

BUT THEY KNOW BUDD, SIR.

CLAGGART, TOO,
I DARESAY,

AS WELL AS ANY
DRY LETTER OF THE LAW.

THEY WOULD
APPLAUD THE DECISION
THAT FREES BUDD

AND FIGHT THE BETTER
WHEN THE TIME COMES.

STRING HIM
TO A YARD,

AND THEY'LL
TURN AROUND
AND RESCUE HIM

AND STRING US UP
INSTEAD.

IT'S TWICE AS DANGEROUS
TO HANG THE BOY

AS IT WOULD BE
TO LET HIM GO.

WHATEVER STEP WE TAKE,
THE RISK IS GREAT,

BUT IT IS OURS.

THAT IS WHAT MAKES US
OFFICERS.

IF BY OUR LAWFUL RIGOR
MUTINY COMES,

THERE IS NO BLAME FOR US.

BUT IF IN FEAR,
MISCALLED A KIND OF MERCY,

WE PARDON BUDD
AGAINST SPECIFIC ORDER

AND THEN THE MEN REVOLT,

HOW CULPABLE AND WEAK
OUR VERDICT WILL APPEAR.

I CONCEDE THAT, SIR,

BUT THIS CASE
IS EXCEPTIONAL,

AND PITY, IF WE ARE MEN,
MUST MOVE US, CAPTAIN.

SO AM I MOVED, RATCLIFFE,

BUT WE CANNOT
HAVE WARM HEARTS

BETRAYING HEADS
WHICH SHOULD BE COOL.

OFFICERS ARE ONLY
MEN IN UNIFORM.

WE HAVE OUR STANDARDS,

ETHICS, SCRUPLES.

CHALLENGE YOUR SCRUPLES.

COME, DO THEY MEAN
SOMETHING LIKE THIS?

CAN WE ADJUDGE TO SUMMARY
AND SHAMEFUL DEATH

A FELLOW CREATURE

WE BELIEVE TO BE
INNOCENT BEFORE GOD?

DOES THAT STATE
YOUR CASE RIGHTLY?

THAT IS MY FEELING,
SIR.

ACQUIT HIM, THEN YOU SAY,
AS INNOCENT.

YES. OH, I KNOW THE ARTICLES
PRESCRIBE DEATH

FOR WHAT BUDD
HAS DONE--

STOW THE ARTICLES.

THEY DON'T ACCOUNT
FOR SUCH A CASE
AS THIS.

YOU'VE SAID
YOURSELF, SIR,

BUDD IS INNOCENT.

IN A COURT MORE MERCIFUL
THAN A MARTIAL ONE,

OUR VIEWS MIGHT COUNT.

THEY MIGHT EVEN
SET HIM FREE.

WHEN CLAGGART
TOLD YOU HIS LIES,

THE CASE
IMMEDIATELY WENT

BEYOND THE SCOPE
OF MILITARY JUSTICE.

THERE, SEYMOUR, YOU REVEAL
THE WHOLE WEAKNESS
OF YOUR ARGUMENT.

HERE NOTHING IS BEYOND
THE SCOPE OF MILITARY JUSTICE.

WHEN WE FIRST
PUT THIS ON,

WE RESIGNED OUR FREEDOM.

THE GOLD WE WEAR SHOWS
THAT WE SERVE THE KING,

THE LAW.

FOR THE TERM
OF MY ACTIVE LIFE,

I'M BOUND
BY AN OATH I TOOK

WHEN I WAS HALF THE AGE
OF ANY OF YOU HERE.

NOW I FEEL THE FULL WEIGHT

OF THOSE WORDS
I SPOKE SO SOLEMNLY

AS A MIDSHIPMAN,
IGNORANT OF THEIR MEANING,

WITH NOTHING BUT DREAMS
OF GLORY IN MY MIND.

YES, BUT...

GENTLEMEN,
YOU TOOK THAT OATH AS WELL.

THERE'S NO ESCAPE.

ALL I KNOW IS
THAT I CAN'T SIT BY

AND SEE AN INNOCENT
MAN HANGED.

WHO WOULD GAIN
BY BUDD'S DEATH?
THE ADMIRALTY?

YOU WANT TO
MAKE US MURDERERS!

WHAT IS THIS SHIP,
AN ARK OF PEACE?

GO COUNT HER GUNS,

THEN TELL YOUR CONSCIENCE
TO LIE QUIET.

BUT THAT IS WAR.

THIS WILL BE
DOWNRIGHT KILLING.

IT'S ALL WAR,
RATCLIFFE,

WAR TO THE DEATH
FOR ALL OF US.

OH, YOU SEE THAT, SEYMOUR,

THAT THIS WAR
BEGAN BEFORE OUR TIME?

AND WILL END
LONG AFTER IT.

AYE.

IF EVER MEN DESERVE
TO BE AT PEACE.

COULDN'T WE...

MITIGATE THE PENALTY
IF WE FIND HIM GUILTY?

NO, RATCLIFFE.
THE PENALTY IS PRESCRIBED.

I'D...

LIKE TO THINK
ABOUT IT, CAPTAIN.

I'M NOT SURE.

THE FRENCH ARE NOT FAR OFF.

SOON THE MEN
WILL KNOW WHAT HAPPENED.

OUR CONSCIENCES ARE
PRIVATE MATTERS, RATCLIFFE,

BUT WE ARE PUBLIC MEN.

DARE WE GIVE
OUR CONSCIENCES PRECEDENCE

OVER THE CODE
THAT MADE US OFFICERS

AND WHICH CALLED
THIS CASE TO TRIAL?

DARE WE?

NO, SIR.

CAN YOU STAND
BUDD'S MURDER
ON YOUR CONSCIENCE?

WYATT, HOLD YOUR TONGUE.

I SAY LET HIM GO!

SIT DOWN, SIR.

I WON'T BARE A HAND

TO HANG AN INNOCENT MAN.

MY BLOOD'S NOT
COLD ENOUGH FOR THAT.

I CANNOT GIVE
THE KIND OF JUDGMENT

THAT YOU WISH
TO FORCE UPON US.

I BEG TO BE EXCUSED

FROM SITTING UPON
THIS COURT-MARTIAL.

WYATT...

WE DO NOT DEAL
WITH JUSTICE HERE

BUT WITH THE LAW.

WAS NOT THE ONE
CONCEIVED

TO SERVE
THE OTHER?

WYATT, CAN'T YOU SEE

THAT YOU MUST FIRST STRIP
OFF THE UNIFORM YOU WEAR

AND THEN YOUR FLESH

BEFORE YOU CAN ESCAPE
THE CASE AT ISSUE HERE?

DECIDE YOU MUST, WYATT,

OR ELSE REASON WITH US.

SHOW US
HOW TO SAVE THE BOY

WITHOUT SETTING ASIDE
OUR FUNCTION.

DO YOU THINK SEYMOUR
AND RATCLIFFE AND I

WOULDN'T SAVE THE BOY

IF WE COULD FIND A WAY
CONSISTENT WITH OUR DUTY?

WELL, PERHAPS
YOU CAN DO THIS.

CAN YOU DO THIS?

SPEAK, MAN.

SPEAK.

SHOW US HOW.

SAVE HIM, WYATT,

AND YOU'LL SAVE US ALL.

DO NOT THINK ME PITILESS
IN THUS DEMANDING SENTENCE

ON A LUCKLESS BOY.

I FEEL AS YOU DO FOR HIM.

AND FOR MYSELF...

REVULSION...

SHAME...

AND RAGE.

IS THERE HOPE FOR ME,
CAPTAIN?

BILLY...

WHAT HOPE IS THERE...

FOR ANY OF US?

TELL ME WHY.

I ONLY WANT TO UNDERSTAND.

A CHILD
OF HIS ENDLESS WHYS--

"WHY ARE THERE WARS?

WHY MUST MEN
KILL EACH OTHER?"

A CHILD WILL ASK,

AND THE PARENT
WILL GROW IMPATIENT,

BELIEVING THESE QUESTIONS
TO BE FOOLISH.

THEY'RE NOT FOOLISH,
BILLY.

THEY'RE JUST QUESTIONS

TO WHICH GROWN MEN
HAVE LOST THE ANSWER.

THE ANSWER
WENT WITH INNOCENCE.

WHY?

I CANNOT TELL YOU WHY.

I FEEL SORRY, CAPTAIN,
BUT NOT GUILTY.

NOR SHOULD YOU.

CLAGGART KILLED YOU
THE MOMENT YOU KILLED HIM.

BUT I'M STILL ALIVE.

YOU IN--IN YOUR GOODNESS
ARE AS...

AS INHUMAN AS WAS CLAGGART
IN HIS EVIL.

AT LEAST BE HUMAN NOW,
BILLY.

GIVE IN TO ANGER
FOR ONCE.

HATE ME
FOR WHAT I DO TO YOU.

PLEASE, BILLY,

PROMISE ME YOUR FURY
AND RESENTMENT.

HATRED WILL MAKE YOU
CONQUER YOUR FEAR.

I'M NOT AFRAID, SIR.

I DID MY DUTY.
YOU'RE DOING YOURS.

SENTRY!

TAKE BUDD INTO YOUR CHARGE.

MERRYWEATHER!

TIME TO GET UP, BUDD.

MARINE DETACHMENT,
ATTENTION!

MARINE DETACHMENT
PRESENT AND CORRECT, SIR.

THANK YOU.

OVER THERE.

MR. SEYMOUR.

SHIP'S COMPANY,
FORM RANKS!

COME ON! MOVE UP THERE!

ATTENTION!

DIVISION COMMANDERS'
REPORT!

AFTERGUARD PRESENT
OR ACCOUNTED FOR,
SIR!

STARBOARD BATTERY
PRESENT OR
ACCOUNTED FOR, SIR!

LARBOARD BATTERY PRESENT
AND ACCOUNTED FOR, SIR!

FULL, MAIN,
AND MIZZENTOPMEN--

FIVE WORKING PARTY,
ONE ABSENTEE, SIR!

ONE ABSENTEE.

ALL HANDS WILL STAND BY
TO WITNESS PUNISHMENT.

STAND EASY!

WHO COULD THEY
BE PUNISHING?

AND WHAT FOR?

IT'S GOT TO BE
A FLOGGING.

I OUGHT TO KNOW.

WHY HAVE THEY
KEPT US OFF
THE CATWALKS?

THEY FLOG MEN AT NOON.

THE EARLY MORNING...

IS FOR A HANGING.

HANGING?

HANGING.

HANGING?

WHERE'S FERGUSON?

AND WHERE'S BILLY?

AND TURNER.

AYE. MORRISON, TOO.

THERE WERE FOUR HAMMOCKS
EMPTY LAST NIGHT.

THAT'LL BE
THE WORKING PARTY.

BUT THERE'S FIVE IN
THE WORKING PARTY.

ONE ABSENTEE.

HEY.

WHERE'S CLAGGART?

YOU DON'T SUPPOSE
IT'S HIM, DO YOU?

OH, JUDAS,
LET IT BE THAT--

NOT HIM.
HE'S TOO SMART, HE IS.

WHERE'S SQUEAK,
COME TO THAT?

HE'LL BE WITH CLAGGART.

WHY ISN'T CLAGGART HERE?

HE IS HERE.

WHERE?

I DON'T SEE HIM.

HE IS HERE.

AH...

YOU'RE BALMY, OLD MAN.

SHIP'S COMPANY,
ATTENTION!

MARINE DETACHMENT,
ATTENTION!

SHIP'S COMPANY PRESENT
TO WITNESS EXECUTION, SIR.

VERY WELL.

SHIP'S COMPANY READY
TO WITNESS EXECUTION, SIR.

CAPTAIN HALLAM.

ESCORT, BRING FORWARD
THE PRISONER.

BILLY!

IT CAN'T BE!

BILLY.
BILLY.

NO TALKING
IN THE RANKS!

THEY'LL PAY FOR THIS.

STEADY, MATE,
STEADY.

FORM UP!

[MURMURING]

DO YOU HEAR ME?
SILENCE IN RANKS!

ESCORT.

SORRY, BILLY.

COME ON. KEEP MOVING.

KEEP SILENCE THERE!

"PROCEEDINGS
OF THE COURT-MARTIAL

"HELD ABOARD HMS AVENGER

"ON THE 28th AUGUST, 1797,

"CONVENED UNDER THE AUTHORITY
OF EDWIN FAIRFAX VERE,

"POST CAPTAIN, ROYAL NAVY,

"AND COMPOSED OF THE FIRST,
SECOND, AND THIRD LIEUTENANTS

"OF SAID VESSEL.

"THE CASE OF WILLIAM BUDD,

"FORETOPMAN, ROYAL NAVY.

"WHILE ATTACHED
AND SO SERVING
THE AFORESAID VESSEL,

HE DID ON THE 28th DAY
OF AUGUST, 1797..."

[GULLS CRYING]

"STRIKE AND KILL
HIS SUPERIOR OFFICER,

ONE JOHN CLAGGART--"

DID YOU, BILLY?

GOOD LAD!
GOOD LAD!

QUIET!

GOOD LAD!

SILENCE, YOU MEN!
FORM UP!

STAND TO ATTENTION,
HANG YOU!

SILENCE IN THE RANKS!

YOU WILL BE SILENT

AND REMAIN AT STRICT
ATTENTION UNTIL DISMISSED!

[SHOUTING DIES DOWN]

"MASTER-AT-ARMS,
ROYAL NAVY.

"THEREFORE THE COURT SENTENCES
THE AFOREMENTIONED WILLIAM BUDD,

"FORETOPMAN, ROYAL NAVY,

"TO DIE BY HANGING ON
THE FIRST WATCH OF THE DAY

FOLLOWING
THESE PROCEEDINGS."

DON'T WORRY,
BILLY!

DO YOU HEAR, SIR?

"BY AUTHORITY
OF HIS GRACIOUS MAJESTY
GEORGE REX

"AND ALAN NAPIER,
VISCOUNT KELSEY,

"FIRST SEA LORD.

SIGNED...

"PHILIP SEYMOUR,

SENIOR MEMBER."

[YELLING]

MAKE THEM DANCE
ON ROPE'S END!

YOU'RE NOT HANGING
BILLY BUDD!

SILENCE!

YOU'LL RESUME DISCIPLINE
INSTANTLY!

BE WARNED!

FOR THE LAST TIME, YOU SCUM,
WILL YOU OBEY ORDERS?

[SEYMOUR]
STAND BACK INTO RANKS!

RESUME RANKS!
BE QUICK ABOUT IT!

[SEYMOUR]
PRISONER...

HAVE YOU ANYTHING TO SAY?

IF YOU HAVE NOTHING TO SAY,

THE SENTENCE OF THE COURT
WILL BE CARRIED OUT.

GOD BLESS CAPTAIN VERE!

SOUND OFF!

[DRUMROLL]

MARINES,

COVER
THE HANGING PARTY!

NO, BILLY!

AAH!

PERMISSION TO DISMISS
THE MEN, SIR.

PERMISSION TO DISMISS
THE MEN, SIR.

[RATCLIFFE]
SIR?

DO AS YOU WISH,
MR. SEYMOUR.

IT'S OF NO
FURTHER CONCERN
TO ME.

SIR, A DECISION
MUST BE MADE.

A DECISION
HAS BEEN MADE,
MR. RATCLIFFE.

I'M ONLY A MAN...

NOT FIT TO DO
THE WORK OF GOD...

OR THE DEVIL.

SHIP'S COMPANY!

SHIP'S COMPANY!

BY DIVISIONS...

DISMISS!

AFTERGUARD...

DISMISS.

STARBOARD BATTERY...

DISMISS.

LARBOARD BATTERY...

DISMISS.

FORE, MAIN,
AND MIZZENTOPMEN...

DISMISS.

REPEAT THE ORDER!

CAPTAIN HALLAM!

FIRE INTO THEIR RANKS!

MARINES,
TAKE AIM.

[CANNONS FIRE]

TAKE QUARTERS!

CLEAR DECKS FOR ACTION!

COME ON, LADS!

LET'S PUNISH THE FRENCH
FOR TURNING UP LATE!

[YELLING]

THE REST BELONGS
TO NAVAL HISTORY.

BUT IF THE SACRIFICE
OF BILLY BUDD

HAS SERVED TO MAKE MEN
MORE CONSCIOUS OF JUSTICE,

THEN HE WILL NOT
HAVE DIED IN VAIN.

MEN ARE PERISHABLE THINGS,

BUT JUSTICE
WILL LIVE AS LONG

AS THE HUMAN SOUL...

AND THE LAW
AS LONG AS THE HUMAN MIND.