Mutineer

By Tom Van Gemert

FADE IN:

EXT. SHIP - DAY

A large white merchant ship from the late 1800s named the "Penianna" sails fast through calm waters. From a cloudless sky the sun sets shadows across the deck from the many sails straining from the gusting wind. Beyond the ship nothing can be seen on the horizon save the thin line of haze that separates dark blue from light blue. People scurry around on deck.

EXT. SHIP DECK - DAY

BRICE MORRISON finishes tying a sail rope through a bronze ringlet. After giving it a firm tug he stands up and wipes the back of his hand across his brow. He has fairly regular features; round brown eyes set a little deep under dark eyebrows; no growth on his cheeks, and a slightly large, protruding chin.

He dashes forward, ducks under the boom and grabs another rope just untied by FINCH, the second mate. He pulls it around in a half circle and tugs hard emitting a large FLAPPING from a sail above. He squats down and knots it rapidly through a loop. Breathing heavily he remains on one knee and stares at the floor board, his head bobbing up and down with each gasp of air.

CAPTAIN

         Get up Morrison! Finch needs assistance!

Brice's head darts up and he glares at the captain. Dark, oily, black hair slicks back from a square, sunburned forehead; Dark rings under cold, grey eyes compliment a rough goatee around a large mouth. Ben bolts up and scrambles across the deck again.

INT. GALLEY - NIGHT

Eight crew members are huddled around a medium sized oval table, chattering and eating. The captain taps a fork against the side of an empty wine goblet. The others hush instantly.

CAPTAIN

          Here's the situation mates. We're a hundred and forty knots from Jasper Bay.  That's two and a half days behind schedule!

He slams his fist on the table and the silverware rattles.

CAPTAIN

          What's it gonna take to get you all to hustle more! Maybe we should start the day a half hour earlier? Or skip breakfast?

He notices Finch reaching for the last apple dumpling.

CAPTAIN

          Would you please pass the dumplings Finch?

Finch looks down in slight disappointment and hands the dish over. Brice stares grimly at the captain as the last dumpling is devoured.

INT. GALLERY - DAY

RIGGS, the thin helmsman, drops down on the steps from above.

RIGGS

          We've spotted a small raft westward sir.

The captain, seated at the table, stops scrawling in a small journal and looks up with a puzzled expression on his face.

EXT. DECK - DAY

The captain stares off in the distance at a small speck on the horizon. Thorton hands him a periscope.

THORTON

          It looks like it's just one man sir.

The captain lifts the scope to his eye and tightly squeezes the other one shut, his mouth parting slightly.

CAPTAIN

          Damn it! A lost soul is the last thing I need right now. All hands on deck! Thirty degrees west full sail!

Brice peers out at the small brown speck on the horizon and then grabs a rope and begins pulling with a grunt.

EXT. DECK - DAY

The "Penianna" drifts slowly alongside the tiny, splintery raft. Six crewmen including Brice and the Captain are leaning over the ship rail looking down at it. MASON SCOURPE is lying on his back with arms clasped behind his head, looking back at them. He has wild blond curly hair and sharp eyes. High set cheek bones accompany a thin pointy nose. A giant grin reveals grey straight teeth. His skin is bright red and loose, torn, khaki clothes flutter madly along with his hair. He makes no movement except for a slight shaking of silent laughter.

INT. GALLEY - NIGHT

Nine crew members sit around the dinner table. A small bowl of chili is in front of each of them. All eyes are on Mason who makes extreme hand gestures.

MASON

          So when I came to, my arm was hanging over a board and I was

choking on salt water. The entire ship and the crew were sunk save for a few pieces of wood that I collected and made into a raft with my belt and sweater.

CAPTAIN

          That's an amazing story you tell. Almost too amazing. You say you were first mate aye? Well that position is already filled but I can find work for you don't you worry. Let's start with you clearing the table.

The captain wipes his mouth with a white cloth napkin and throws it down on his bowl. He gets up and walks out with the rest of the crew some of them laughing. Brice is the last one out the door and he turns and shrugs at Mason before leaving. Mason's eyes are in shadow from the single light shining down over the table and the rest of the room is completely dark. He picks up his napkin and slams it down.

EXT. DECK - DAY

It is early dawn and Brice pops up from the cabin. In the midst of a yawn and stretch he hears SCRATCHING and notices Mason on hands and knees scrubbing the deck.

BRICE

          How long have you been up here?

MASON

          Hours. I'm beginning to wish I was still on my raft. I was starving yet comfortable. What's with the skipper? Is he always this way?

Brice hunches and puts a finger to his lips. His eyes widen and he looks at the cabin hatch.

MASON

          So what if he hears me! Three hours of sleep can make a man mighty irritable!

Brice crouches and kneels down right in front of him whispering.

BRICE

          Unless you really want to be on your raft again, I suggest you shut your mouth. He'll be up here any second.

As Brice finishes his sentence the captain rises from the cabin.

CAPTAIN

          Am I feeding you to talk Scourpe? Get back to work! Morrison

I want all back up sails checked and ropes secured before breakfast.

BRICE

          Yes sir.

Mason looks at Brice in disgust before continuing to scrub.

EXT. DECK - DAY

Brice finishes tightening a rope and looks up to see Mason talking to Riggs. Mason's arms are shaking with palms up and fingers curled. Riggs looks down at the wheel and nods his head. Mason turns from Riggs and SLAPS his hands down on his thighs, shaking his head also. He walks over to Brice.

MASON

          Hey Brice how are you doing? I've got a quick question for ya. Am I the only one on this ship that doesn't enjoy being pushed around?

Brice stands up and leans close to Mason murmuring in his ear.

BRICE

          Listen, I don't like the man any more than you do. But I learned to put up with him and I suggest you do the same.

MASON

          Do you truly mean that?

Mason's eyes stare intently at Brice who unable to hold the gaze, looks down at the floor boards

BRICE

                 Yes.

The tone in his voice makes him sound as if he is trying to convince himself. His eyes are unfocused and his knuckles are white from a death grip on the rope. He storms away and drops down the hatch. A sinister smile forms on Mason's lips.

INT. SLEEPING QUARTERS - NIGHT

Brice is sleeping on his side in his bunk. Mason appears in white and brown striped pajamas and kneels down next to the berth, nudging Brice's shoulder with his fist. Brice groans and then his whole body stiffens in alert.

BRICE

                 What? What's going on?

MASON

                 Brice, I'll be frank about this. I'm here to ask if you'll join me in mutiny against the captain.

BRICE

                 What? Are you out of your mind? Go back to bed.

MASON

                 Hear me out will ya? I don't know the crew as well as you do and...well I thought it would be better if you took the captain's place.

BRICE

                 Me...captain? You're talking to the wrong man. I don't want to be captain and I couldn't be even if I did.

                                                                 MASON                                                                    (shaking his head)

                  Come on now. I know you want him out of here Brice. I could see it in your eyes earlier today. Who's gonna lead when he's gone. The crew won't listen to me. I need your help. Just imagine the freedom we'd have. No more five hour shifts without a break. No more meager rationing....

Brice twists his bed sheet into a large knot around his shaking hands.

BRICE

                 Did you talk to Thorton?

MASON

                 I've talked to all of them. They're all mindless drones.  I only saw some hope in you. I don't think this will work without you. Come on now, are you in?

BRICE

(above a whisper)

                 How many times do I have to tell you you're talking to the wrong man? I can't be captain. I...I couldn't handle it.

The pressure and all. It just isn't for me.

A loud SNORTING emits from above and the two freeze in silence. Slight CREAKING and SHIFTING is heard before a moderate SNORING continues.

MASON

                  Brice I'm going to ask you one final question. Are you a

leader or a follower?

Brice turns away and there is a long moment of silence.

Mason stands up and exits the room without a word. Brice stares wide eyed at the darkness in front of him a brief moment before rolling slowly onto his side and curling up into a little ball, pulling the covers tightly around his shoulders.

EXT DECK - DAY

The sun begins to peer over the horizon opposite a large group of dark clouds. Brice checks the sails and keeps glancing at Mason scrubbing the boards. Mason never looks up. Brice has a pale hue to his face and his eyes wide and frightened. The captain pops out of the hatch and stares off into the distance. Brice breathes a sigh of relief.

CAPTAIN

                 Why wasn't I informed about the storm clouds? All hands on deck!

EXT. DECK - DAY

A flash of lightning CRASHES down from a purple, cloudy sky. Rain pours down heavily and the waves are high and the deck is all awash. The ship tosses violently from side to side and crew members frantically work to maintain the sails.

Mason unties two ropes and shoves the boom into the captain with a THUD. The captain falls to the floor and Mason springs on top of him. They both clutch at each other's throats and roll across the deck as gigantic waves crash over them. Brice scurries to fix the sails and looks up frantically now and then at the fight.

Standing up, Mason yanks the captain up by the front shirt and right hooks him in the face sending him flying over the rail. The captain grabs on to the bar with both hands and his feet splash into the water.

The ship lurches extremely to one side and the water descends ten feet below the captain leaving him dangling in mid air. A wave slams into him and the side of the ship at the same time thunder CLAPS loudly. Mason's hand pulls a knife out of his back pocket. Brice jolts up from tying a knot and lunges his arm forward.

BRICE

                 No!

CAPTAIN

                 Morrison! I order you to kill Scourpe!

MASON

                 Hear that Brice? He's hanging on for his life yet he still manages to order people around! Let me finish him and we'll be free!

Mason takes another step towards the captain. His knife glistens, reflecting the light from a flash of lightning that crashes nearby with a large BOOM.

Rain rails against Brice's face with high eyebrows and forehead bunched up in many wrinkles. His body freezes with arms down and trembling fingers spread wide apart. Mason steps up to the rail and begins to lower the knife to the captains fingers. Brice's eyes widen.

MASON

                 Finally some cooperation.

He presses the blade to the captain's knuckles who screams and releases the hand, hanging on with only one. Mason grins and slowly moves the knife to the other hand. The captain's mouth is wide open and his eye's stare frantically at the shiny blade.

MASON

                 So long skipper!

BRICE

                 No!

Brice charges at Mason and slams his shoulder into his side, sending him crashing into the front ship rail and flipping over board. Brice leans both hands on the rail and looks down at the water panting heavily. Loud thunder ECHOES through the SPATTERING of the rain. Mason thrashes his arms and splashes amongst the huge rising and falling waves.

EXT. DECK - DAY

Brice stands in the same position leaning on the rail with both hands. The sea is calm and his clothes are dry. Seagulls SQWALK and the sails FLAP gently. Brice stares out on the horizon and the sun radiates off his features. His eyes are squinting and a slight look of shame is on his face. The captain, in the background, turns his head in Brice's direction.

CAPTAIN

                 Get back to work Morrison on the double!

Brice's jaw tightens, his knuckles whiten around the rail, and his fists shake slightly. He turns abruptly and walks away.

EXT. SHIP - DAY

The silhouette of the "Penianna" sails in front of the bright falling sun. A few bright rays flash around the flapping sails. The water's calm ripples reflect the orange glow surrounding the long dark shadow cast by the ship.

FADE OUT

Back To Collected Screen Plays               E-mail comments about the script 1