Mutiny on the Bounty Quotes
The Bounty leaves Portsmouth in 1787. Its destination: to sail to Tahiti and load bread-fruit. Captain Bligh will do anything to get there as fast as possible, using any means to keep up a ... See full summary »
[Byam enters the courtroom and sees that the midshipman's dirk on the table points toward him; he knows that he has been condemned to death]
Lord Hood: Have you anything to say before the sentence of this court is passed upon you?
[long pause]
Byam: Milord, much as I desire to live, I'm not afraid to die. Since I first sailed on the Bounty over four years ago, I've know how men can be made to suffer worse things than death, cruelly, beyond duty, beyond necessity.
[turns to Captain Bligh]
Byam: Captain Bligh, you've told your story of mutiny on the Bounty, how men plotted against you, seized your ship, cast you adrift in an open boat, a great venture in science brought to nothing, two British ships lost. But there's another story, Captain Bligh, of ten cocoanuts and two cheeses. A story of a man who robbed his seamen, cursed them, flogged them, not to punish but to break their spirit. A story of greed and tyranny, and of anger against it, of what it cost.
[turns to Lord Hood]
Byam: One man, milord, would not endure such tyranny.
[turns again to Captain Bligh]
Byam: That's why you hounded him. That's why you hate him, hate his friends. And that's why you're beaten. Fletcher Christian's still free.
[back to Lord Hood]
Byam: Christian lost, too, milord. God knows he's judged himself more harshly than you could judge him.
[turns to Fletcher Christian's father]
Byam: I say to his father, "He was my friend. No finer man ever lived."
[addresses the court again]
Byam: I don't try to justify his crime, his mutiny, but I condemn the tyranny that drove 'im to it. I don't speak here for myself alone or for these men you condemn. I speak in their names, in Fletcher Christian's name, for all men at sea. These men don't ask for comfort. They don't ask for safety. If they could speak to you they'd say, "Let us choose to do our duty willingly, not the choice of a slave, but the choice of free Englishmen." They ask only the freedom that England expects for every man. If one man among you believe that - *one man* - he could command the fleets of England, He could sweep the seas for England. If he called his men to their duty not by flaying their backs, but by lifting their hearts... their... That's all.
Lord Hood: Have you anything to say before the sentence of this court is passed upon you?
[long pause]
Byam: Milord, much as I desire to live, I'm not afraid to die. Since I first sailed on the Bounty over four years ago, I've know how men can be made to suffer worse things than death, cruelly, beyond duty, beyond necessity.
[turns to Captain Bligh]
Byam: Captain Bligh, you've told your story of mutiny on the Bounty, how men plotted against you, seized your ship, cast you adrift in an open boat, a great venture in science brought to nothing, two British ships lost. But there's another story, Captain Bligh, of ten cocoanuts and two cheeses. A story of a man who robbed his seamen, cursed them, flogged them, not to punish but to break their spirit. A story of greed and tyranny, and of anger against it, of what it cost.
[turns to Lord Hood]
Byam: One man, milord, would not endure such tyranny.
[turns again to Captain Bligh]
Byam: That's why you hounded him. That's why you hate him, hate his friends. And that's why you're beaten. Fletcher Christian's still free.
[back to Lord Hood]
Byam: Christian lost, too, milord. God knows he's judged himself more harshly than you could judge him.
[turns to Fletcher Christian's father]
Byam: I say to his father, "He was my friend. No finer man ever lived."
[addresses the court again]
Byam: I don't try to justify his crime, his mutiny, but I condemn the tyranny that drove 'im to it. I don't speak here for myself alone or for these men you condemn. I speak in their names, in Fletcher Christian's name, for all men at sea. These men don't ask for comfort. They don't ask for safety. If they could speak to you they'd say, "Let us choose to do our duty willingly, not the choice of a slave, but the choice of free Englishmen." They ask only the freedom that England expects for every man. If one man among you believe that - *one man* - he could command the fleets of England, He could sweep the seas for England. If he called his men to their duty not by flaying their backs, but by lifting their hearts... their... That's all.
Captain Bligh: Now don't mistake me. I'm not advising cruelty or brutality with no purpose. My point is that cruelty with purpose is not cruelty - it's efficiency. Then a man will never disobey once he's watched his mate's backbone laid bare. He'll see the flesh jump, hear the whistle of the whip for the rest of his life.
Fletcher Christian: I was just thinking, sir, that our little errand for groceries might wind up in a page of naval history if we succeed in negotiating The Horn in the dead of winter.
Captain Bligh: Why shouldn't we succeed? Admiral Anderson did.
Fletcher Christian: Yes, but of course he didn't choose to attempt it in a ninety-one-foot chamber pot. In any event, his was the only ship to do it and I believe he lost fifty percent of his crew.
Captain Bligh: Why shouldn't we succeed? Admiral Anderson did.
Fletcher Christian: Yes, but of course he didn't choose to attempt it in a ninety-one-foot chamber pot. In any event, his was the only ship to do it and I believe he lost fifty percent of his crew.
Captain Bligh: I wonder why an alleged gentleman should give his first loyalty to ordinary seamen.
Fletcher Christian: Instead of to other alleged gentlemen?
Captain Bligh: Impertinence noted.It shall be logged. Do you care to enlarge the entry?
Fletcher Christian: Yes, only with this observation, which I will report to the Admiralty in any case: in my years of service I have never met an officer who inflicted punishment upon men with such incredible relish. Sickening.
Captain Bligh: Then go and be sick in your cabin, Mr Christian. I have never met a naval officer who was so proud of a weak stomach.
Fletcher Christian: Instead of to other alleged gentlemen?
Captain Bligh: Impertinence noted.It shall be logged. Do you care to enlarge the entry?
Fletcher Christian: Yes, only with this observation, which I will report to the Admiralty in any case: in my years of service I have never met an officer who inflicted punishment upon men with such incredible relish. Sickening.
Captain Bligh: Then go and be sick in your cabin, Mr Christian. I have never met a naval officer who was so proud of a weak stomach.
Fletcher Christian: [Lying on the beach in Pitcairn] So, it was your work, the burning. Was it? You filth.
John Mills: I had no want in me to harm you. For the love of God, believe I regret what has happened to you. We all do. But each man has to follow his own belief, no matter what. You said this many times after the mutiny. So I did what I thought I had to do. I burned the Bounty for the good of all. It wasn't in bad faith. It was just bad luck.
Fletcher Christian: For the good of all, Mills?
John Mills: Yes, sir.
Fletcher Christian: But why did you have to burn the Bounty? You had no reason to fear me.
John Mills: We were afraid, Mr. Christian. We were afraid that you were going to take us to London by force. We are sick and sorry for what has happened to you. We will never forget what you've done for us.
Fletcher Christian: It's alright, Mills. It wasn't your fault. Bligh left his mark on all of us.
John Mills: Goodbye, Mr. Christian.
John Mills: I had no want in me to harm you. For the love of God, believe I regret what has happened to you. We all do. But each man has to follow his own belief, no matter what. You said this many times after the mutiny. So I did what I thought I had to do. I burned the Bounty for the good of all. It wasn't in bad faith. It was just bad luck.
Fletcher Christian: For the good of all, Mills?
John Mills: Yes, sir.
Fletcher Christian: But why did you have to burn the Bounty? You had no reason to fear me.
John Mills: We were afraid, Mr. Christian. We were afraid that you were going to take us to London by force. We are sick and sorry for what has happened to you. We will never forget what you've done for us.
Fletcher Christian: It's alright, Mills. It wasn't your fault. Bligh left his mark on all of us.
John Mills: Goodbye, Mr. Christian.
Captain William Bligh: [before being set adrift] Mr. Christian, I give you your last chance to return to duty.
Lt. Fletcher Christian: I'll take my chance against the law. You'll take yours against the sea.
Captain William Bligh: But you're taking my ship. My ship!
Lt. Fletcher Christian: Your ship? The King's ship, you mean! And you're not fit to command it! Into the boat!
Lt. Fletcher Christian: I'll take my chance against the law. You'll take yours against the sea.
Captain William Bligh: But you're taking my ship. My ship!
Lt. Fletcher Christian: Your ship? The King's ship, you mean! And you're not fit to command it! Into the boat!
Captain Bligh: In a civilised soceity, certain lewd intentions towards the female members of one's family would be regarded as a, well, as an insult. Do you follow me?
Fletcher Christian: I think so, sir.
Captain Bligh: But in Tahiti, the insult lies in the omission of those lewd intentions. Manners that would offend a dock-side harlot seem to be the only acceptable behaviour to King Hitihiti.
Fletcher Christian: I think so, sir.
Captain Bligh: But in Tahiti, the insult lies in the omission of those lewd intentions. Manners that would offend a dock-side harlot seem to be the only acceptable behaviour to King Hitihiti.
Fletcher Christian: [wanting to flog Bligh before putting him in the boat, but he slowly puts the flog on Bligh's shoulder] Take your flag with you.
Captain Bligh: [chuckling while rolling the flog, then throws it on the deck] I don't need a flag, Mr. Christian. Unlike you, I still have a country. What a big price to pay for a little show of temper. I pity you.
Captain Bligh: [chuckling while rolling the flog, then throws it on the deck] I don't need a flag, Mr. Christian. Unlike you, I still have a country. What a big price to pay for a little show of temper. I pity you.
court-martial judge: Your methods, so far as this court can discern, show what we shall cautiously term an excess of zeal. We cannot condemn zeal. We cannot rebuke an officer who has administered discipline according to the articles of war but the articles are fallible, as any articles are bound to be. No code can cover all contingencies. We cannot put justice aboard our ships in books. Justice and decency are carried in the heart of the captain, or they be not aboard. It is for this reason that the Admiralty has always sought to appoint its officers from the ranks of gentlemen. The court regrets to note that the appointment of Captain William Bligh was, in that respect, a failure.
Captain Bligh: [On the main deck, next to the water cask] Mr. Christian...
Fletcher Christian: Yes, sir?
Captain Bligh: I'll have a sentry posted at the water cask, if you please.
Fletcher Christian: Aye, aye, sir.
Captain Bligh: [Holding a long-handled water ladle] I want this slung from the main t'gallant yardarm. Any man desiring water will climb and fetch it. He may have just as much water as this ladle holds, and no more. Then he will replace the ladle at the yardarm.
Fletcher Christian: Are we short of water, sir?
Captain Bligh: [Gruffly] Do you wish me to repeat the order?
Fletcher Christian: No, sir, it's perfectly clear... A bit bewildering, but clear.
Captain Bligh: Then do it! Don't think about it... thinking seems to confuse you!
Fletcher Christian: Yes, sir?
Captain Bligh: I'll have a sentry posted at the water cask, if you please.
Fletcher Christian: Aye, aye, sir.
Captain Bligh: [Holding a long-handled water ladle] I want this slung from the main t'gallant yardarm. Any man desiring water will climb and fetch it. He may have just as much water as this ladle holds, and no more. Then he will replace the ladle at the yardarm.
Fletcher Christian: Are we short of water, sir?
Captain Bligh: [Gruffly] Do you wish me to repeat the order?
Fletcher Christian: No, sir, it's perfectly clear... A bit bewildering, but clear.
Captain Bligh: Then do it! Don't think about it... thinking seems to confuse you!
Fletcher Christian: [after striking Captain Bligh] You bloody bastard! You'll not put your foot on me again!
Captain Bligh: [laughing] Thank you! Thank you! I've been puzzling for a means to take the strut out of you, you posturing snob. Now, you've solved that for me, haven't you? You have witnessed Mr. Christian's act of violence toward a superior officer. He will be placed in confinement until a court martial can be convened. In Jamaica, I expect. And will your fashionable friends be there to witness your execution, I wonder? Let's hope so. Pity if your last function were to be a social failure. Mr. Fryer, take him below.
Captain Bligh: [laughing] Thank you! Thank you! I've been puzzling for a means to take the strut out of you, you posturing snob. Now, you've solved that for me, haven't you? You have witnessed Mr. Christian's act of violence toward a superior officer. He will be placed in confinement until a court martial can be convened. In Jamaica, I expect. And will your fashionable friends be there to witness your execution, I wonder? Let's hope so. Pity if your last function were to be a social failure. Mr. Fryer, take him below.
Seaman William McCoy: Excuse me Mr.Christian Sir, if this isn't my place to say this, but I know how you must be feeling. Might I say so sir, considering my years and such.
Captain Bligh: What is it Smith?
Seaman William McCoy: Things are going to be alright for you sir. They've got to be. When a man gives up as much as you did, just because he thinks its right, the good Lord would never let him down. Where ever we might go, bet it to China or Iceland or anywhere. Youl find a happy life sir. Its God's will, I know...
Captain Bligh: What is it Smith?
Seaman William McCoy: Things are going to be alright for you sir. They've got to be. When a man gives up as much as you did, just because he thinks its right, the good Lord would never let him down. Where ever we might go, bet it to China or Iceland or anywhere. Youl find a happy life sir. Its God's will, I know...
Fletcher Christian: [regarding Norman] Since we are not at war, sir, I would hope to give him a decent burial. Yes, sir.
Captain Bligh: I am at war. Against ill winds, contrary currents and incompetent officers. You'd best join my war, Mr. Christian, for if I don't start winning soon, the casualty list will be real enough.
Captain Bligh: I am at war. Against ill winds, contrary currents and incompetent officers. You'd best join my war, Mr. Christian, for if I don't start winning soon, the casualty list will be real enough.
