Wake of the Red Witch (1948)

1
From Marquesas to the Celebes,
from Sumatra to the Hawaiis,
the idyllic peace and beauty of the South
pacific lay undisturbed for centuries,
but the white man came eventually.
He rolled it up, put it in his pocket,
and took it home to sell.
His great trading empires,
like Batjak, limited,
the Batjak of the Dutchman Mayrant
Sidneye reached out everywhere...
Hungry, greedy, demanding...
In the year 1860 that I shipped out on
the Red Witch, flagship of the Batjak line,
under the command of captain Ralls.
Stand clear.
Wet them down, Mr. Loring.
They can go some more.
Mr. Arrezo, water.
- They had enough, captain Ralls.
- Did I ask your opinion?
You're getting it.
Anybody else who wants
to fight aboard this ship...
can see what he'll look
like when he is through.
Now throw them in the brig.
Follow me, Rosen.
Strange, sadistic, and cold.
His eyes seemed to hold
some hidden story.
Yet he commanded loyalty and a
strange devotion from those about him.
I was one of them. My name is Rosen,
Sam Rosen, and this is my story.
Hand me a pair of those glasses.
- Careful, are you?
- Yes, sir.
Rosen, what would you say if I were to
tell you I was going to throw you in irons?
Say? You're the captain.
If I object, mutiny.
But you'll be making a mistake.
- Got your master papers?
- Yes, sir.
I don't know what you were doing
on the beach when we picked you up.
That's your business.
But I had an eye on you Rosen,
seem to know what you want,
And I think I know what it is.
Nice round pieces of silver.
Round enough maybe to
roll right into a court of inquiry.
As long as they don't
stick on the deck there.
All right.
Our sailing orders call for a meeting with an
American ship at Davao in the Philippines.
Course East the Carolines and due west.
Now, somewhere around longitude 149,3 degrees
South, we're going to need a new mate.
Named Rosen?
Named Rosen.
That's for the benefit of the crew.
- Is that clear, Mr. Arrezo?
- Aye, sir.
Ripper...
- What are we doing on a starboard tack?
- Mr. Loring orders.
- I told you port tack.
- I thought you said starboard.
What's the matter with you lately?
- Nothing captain only you...
- You look tired, are you sleeping?
Not very well, no.
- You worry too much.
- Yes, sir.
Now listen carefully, Mr. Loring.
Head due north one hour and then
west by South for St. George channel.,
- But that's off our course, sir.
- Is it, Mr. Loring?
- Don't you know our destination?
- Davao.
What course would you follow,
the Southern or the Caroline skirt?
We were mapped due north
to Kieta, but as you say, sir.
I don't like it, Mr. Arrezo.
That man is sick.
Loring is been acting
like he's off his rocker or any.
- Bring him to my cabin in a few minutes.
- Aye, sir.
Mr. Rosen.
- Know who owns this ship?
- Batjak limited.
- Know what Batjak is?
- Mayrant Sidneye.
Sit down.
Know anything about him?
Only that he seem to own
most of this part of the world.
I sailed this ship for him a long time and
he has great confidence in his captains.
But Loring? A very noble character.
Protector of Cargos.
Especially protective now.
See, we're carrying a cargo
of 5 million dollars in bullion.
That's why I'm scuttling this ship.
Come in.
What's your course, Mr. Loring?
Why, due north.
Your head cold, Mr. Arrezo?
I said head this ship
2 points west from north.
But, sir, I...
I'm sorry to contradict
you captain, you said due north.
Mr. Arrezo, what did I say?
- West, sir.
- Mr. Rosen?
West.
And that's the way it's entered in the log.
Nobody told you
to sit down, Mr. Loring.
Captain, what are you trying to do?
Do, Mr. Loring?
If I keep changing the orders
around the crew will think I'm crazy.
Not just the crew.
But you're not, Mr. Loring.
Just a sick man, need attention.
Look at me.
Turn your head to the left.
To the left, Mr. Loring.
Put him to bed, Mr. Arrezo.
To protect the crew
keep him locked in his cabin.
Locked in my cabin? Wait a minute.
This is a trick, you can't do this to me.
It's all right Mr. Loring, now you
got no more worries, you're crazy.
- This is going too far.
- Off to bed.
- I take we're near longitude 149.
- Very close, Mr. Rosen.
I want you to remember every
detail of what happened today.
The court will connect our stories.
Another thing...
Tomorrow make sure this position
reaches the ears of the crew.
Where will we really be?
Right here under short sail.
You and Ripper take over the watch,
head her into the sun.
- Yes, sir.
- No questions?
No sir, I follow orders.
One night, while skirting the
Caroline reef under shortened sail.
There was a feeling of tension,
uneasiness throughout the ship.
Ralls was in his cabin in
one of his black, strange moods.
I sensed tonight I would
know something about him.
The man who held the destiny
and fate of all of us in his hands.
I got out, Ralls.
You're not going to keep me locked up,
not now or any other time.
I know what you're trying
to do and I'll stop you cold.
I'm going to take this cargo
to Davao even if I have to...
Get forward.
Look like Mr. Loring picked a
bad time to break out of his cabin.
- How so?
- Look...
Been expecting to see them
bottles two or three days now.
- Ralls was drunk, eh?
- Yeah, only not like you and me or anybody.
- Does he do it often?
- Only once in a while.
He's a good man most of
the time, only drink a little, but...
- when he gets like that he, he is bad.
- Why did he do it, then?
- Maybe he remember things.
- What things?
I don't know. His whole life, I guess.
It was near dusk and we're heading
into the rays of the fading sun.
Even though the plan was set...
I felt that Ralls was destroying a
part of himself in sinking the Red Witch.
- We all set?
- Yes, sir.
Give me the wheel.
Get to your station.
All hands abandon ship.
Mr. Van Schraeven, you want to
question this man on behalf of Batjak?
- There's no need.
- Thank you.
Captain Ralls's defense is based on the
ships log and Mr. Loring supposed insanity.
Batjak, that is my brother in law Mayrant,
whose illness prevents his being here,
believes that Mr. Loring is sane,
that the log entries are false.
- The only log there is.
- Yes Mr. Ralls, you made certain of that.
But there are other points
which have yet to be brought up.
One is that you sailed contrary to orders
after you been relieved of your command.
First time I heard that.
Mr. Loring...
did Mr. Ralls receive a note from
Mr. Sidneye a few hours before sailing?
- Yes sir, I brought it to the ship myself.
- What was in that note?
- I don't know that, sir.
- Mr. Arrezo, did Mr. Loring bring me a note?
No sir, he came aboard
empty-handed, empty headed too.
You're a liar, Mr. Arrezo.
Ralls, I gave you that note
as sure as I'm in this room.
Are you sure you're
in this room, Mr. Loring?
Captain Ralls, Mr. Loring, please.
Very well then,
disregarding the note...
perhaps Mr. Ralls can explain this
in terms of Mr. Loring mental health.
If the Red Witch sank in the
position indicated in this log...
why did it take the survivors only 12
hours to reach a place that should taken 50?
My explanation to that is that unfortunately
you're picked up sooner than you expected.
Will you explain this, captain Ralls?
I see.
Captain Ralls, it is the purpose...
of this investigation to determine whether
or not an act of barratry has been committed.
And in the event that it has, to recommend
that you be held for further investigation.
- The evidence presented...
- Mr. Prosecutor...
I just received a
communication from Mr. Sidneye.
Batjak limited withdraws its complaint.
The court is adjourned.
Pardon me.
Jail don't bother me none,
I got out jail.
But that Sidneye, he is
something else, you can.
Once he gets his hands on you,
you never gets free.
I'm telling you Captain,
old Ripper is scared.
What you figure on doing?
Picking up a little schooner
and keeping out of sight.
Plenty of routes in these island
they never heard of Sidneye.
In a year or so, we'll
head back for the Witch...
- and the gold.
- How do we live till then?
Fishing, we'll cut up old Ripper
here and use him for bait.
Yeah, I'll bet is a better deal
than he'll get from Sidneye.
I can't understand why
Sidneye dropped the charge.
- They had us good.
- They got his own ideas.
And his own ideas I don't like.
I'm telling you Sam,
that Sidneye is a bad one.
One fella did something to him once...
and he put this fella in the mountains
with cannibals for ten or fifteen years.
With cannibals.
What is to me, they
gave him a ring in his nose.
Any ring old Ripper is wearing,
is wearing right hear in his ear.
Hello, Munsey.
I thought you settled down.
How is their majesty Navy?
Still able to fire a shot across your
bow ship if the occasion arise.
Look as if you got yourself
into real trouble this time.
- Not at all, you were at the hearing.
- That means nothing.
Mayrant Sidneye is a big man.
- He doesn't let go so easily without reason.
- I agree.
He's hard and tough and crafty.
- So I heard tell.
- No one has beaten him yet.
- Is that include your majesty Navy?
- The Navy has infinite patience.
We shall reckon with Mijnheer
Sidneye sooner or later.
- It goes for me too, eh?
- Definitely.
- How about a drink?
- Why not? This may be our last together.
Ralls said we spend a year fishing
and that's pretty much what we did.
But it wasn't that lazy, basking in the
sun sort of thing like fishing for pleasure.
This was a relentless game of hide and
seek that just gnawing us day and night.
We bought an old schooner, the Melbourne
Queen and sailed the little-known routes.
But every port we hit, there
was either Munsey or Batjak.
One or the other
always there watching, waiting.
We didn't mind at first.
But constant tension of being spied on
gradually wore our nerves raw.
Ripper worried about Batjak.
I worried about Munsey,
But if I have known then what
Ripper knew, I would've.
Well, anyway I finally bought a map of a pearl
island from a sailor in a Singapore saloon.
We went to see if we could find it.
Well, she isn't on the charts,
but she is there, all right.
Yeah, maybe we
struck it lucky for a change.
About time.
By the teeth 9.
Hard and fast, Ripper.
That ain't on the map.
Welcome, captain Ralls.
It's so very good to see you.
To what my I ask do I owe this visit?
To our mutual weakness Mijnheer, greed.
And this well-planted map.
- It's a big surprise, isn't it?
- I'll give you credit for that.
The last time we saw each other I
make a vow that the next time we met
I'd give you a surprise you never forget.
- You went to a lot of trouble.
- It will be worth it, you see Ralls...
I'm not one of those
eye for an eye men.
No. I always take two eyes.
But you've got to
get your hands on them first.
I got my hands on them.
So I suggest you prepare yourself
for an extended visit here.
Oh, I thought I lie in here for a while, but
I can't afford to expose myself to scurvy.
So I may change my mind.
Oh, but you won't
because you're my guest here.
And as my guest, I prefer that you accept
my hospitality until I'm ready for you to go.
So you'll join me at dinner
tomorrow night, captain?
- It will be Rijsttafel.
- Sorry, no Rijsttafel.
Can't stand curry.
That's too bad.
Perhaps you Mr. Rosen, will join me and
make up in part for the captain absence.
- Is that...
- Just an old trader, Sam.
Sidneye.
Come on boys, make it fast.
- What's all the commotion?
- Well, that's fresh water, captain.
- I'll be ready soon, quick.
- Ready for what?
Ready to shove off fast as we can.
It's Ripper idea,
I think is a pretty good one.
We're not shoving off.
- We're after pearls, remember?
- The oysters can take them.
Yesterday all you want
to speak was about pearls.
Well, here is where
they're supposed to be.
And we're welcome to them.
- Let's get them up.
- What about Sidneye?
He ought to be getting used to
having things taken from him.
Give me those glasses.
Take a look across that inlet.
What you see, Sam? Something bad, eh?
It's not good.
Looks like Ripper was right.
That fellow plays rough.
Let me grab and make a deal.
- Tell Sidneye where the gold is and get out.
- I come as far as I'm going to, Sam.
From now on, Sidneye comes to me.
- You're sure he will, eh?
- Very sure.
- He wants me more than he does that gold.
- He wants us all.
I don't think so.
What makes you so sure?
Never mind.
What you mean, never mind?
When I stand a chance of have
my head ended swimming in a
platter, I got the right to know why.
You're not in this thing as
deep as you think you are.
- My book doesn't read that way.
- Captain, we got to get out of here,
even if we had to take the
boat and row a 1,000 Miles.
Well, It will be that first mile
that will be the tough one, Ripper.
Joking about that isn't
going to get us out of here.
Who bought that map?
- All right, it's my fault.
- Not at all.
- I just wondered if you had any plans.
- No, have you?
- One or two.
- Look...
I don't know what else besides gold is going on
between you and Sidneye, but it's something.
And I'm going to find out what it is.
Maybe Sidneye will tell you,
why don't you ask him?
That's what I ought to do.
- Where you going, Sam?
- To get a breath of fresh air, shove off.
You'll breathe longer here.
Come on, get those empty casks back.
- More water?
- Yeah, we'll have plenty for when we sail.
Now all we had to do is get the wind up
and the gates down we are all set, eh?
You bet.
- Miola, lower away that skiff.
- Where you going, captain?
Get a breath of fresh air.
- You are Mr. Rosen?
- That's right.
- I'm Talia Van Schraeven.
- I know, I've seen you before.
- Oh, you remember?
- As though it were yesterday.
You're coming to dinner
tonight, aren't you?
I've been invited.
Does that mean perhaps you won't come?
- Maybe.
- Good.
What?
Every minute you're on this island,
you're in danger.
People watch every move you make.
Are you going to be there?
Why?
- Where?
- At dinner tonight.
I have no choice.
- Hello.
- Why did you come?
- Said perhaps you wouldn't.
- We changed my mind.
- You're being very foolish.
- No more than usual.
- Did you see anyone on your way here?
- Only you.
Go back, go back.
How can you be so blind?
This place is full of hate.
It's everywhere, it's reaching out at you.
And captain Ralls and your whole
crew, you got to get away.
- Now, all of you.
- Through the gate?
- Gate can be lowered.
- How?
Well, we have one guest anyway.
Come in Mr. Rosen, come in.
- Are you alone, Mr. Rosen?
- All alone.
- Captain Ralls didn't care to come?
- Said he wasn't hungry.
I see. Well, evidently you are.
We shall do our best to accommodate you.
May I present my very old friend Jahrma.
This is Mr. Rosen, captain Ralls first mate.
- How do you do?
- How do you do?
And Dr. Van Arkin, this is Mr. Rosen.
- How do you do?
- How do you do?
I believe you and Mr.
Van Schraeven have already met.
Well, I suppose captain Ralls
has painted me very black to you.
He hasn't painted you any color.
Still in good form, I see. Just as well,
leaves you with an open mind.
You seem to be an
enterprising young man,
A man I could quite possibly use.
But to get down to cases, under the law
Mr. Rosen, you're guilty of barratry.
And I know that up here you have the location
of 5 millions in gold which I want back.
Now, you may have thought
that the sinking of the Red Witch
was a daring and intrepid adventure,
I can understand that attitude.
It would've been mine at your age.
But Mr. Rosen, whether
you're aware of it or not,
you've gone into partnership with a
very dangerous man, a murderer, in fact.
- A pretty strong accusation.
- It's not an accusation, young man.
A statement of fact.
Talia, more Brandy.
Yes, you're being used
by Ralls for his own purposes,
purposes which I shall try
to make clear to you.
If I know captain Ralls, he is told
you very little about himself and...
as you say, nothing about me.
So...
I'm going to tell you the real reason
for the sinking of the Red Witch.
And I'm not going to leave anything out.
Even though occasionally
you may see me in a bad light.
Are you willing to listen?
Good.
We must go back a few years,
let us say, seven.
To my first meeting with Captain Ralls.
A a peculiar meeting, say the least.
In my Younger days,
I myself had driven the Red Witch
into every port in the Western Pacific.
She was the beginning
of Batjak limited.
On this day we were off making Gilbert
islands, due South at 172 degrees from threep.
On board, as owner, I was
demonstrating to captain Younger
the proper reward
for breach of discipline.
I'm a strong advocate for discipline.
Here you, go back there.
If you don't want to watch, perhaps we can
put you in a position where you won't see it.
Say, in his place.
- Well?
- The boy has fainted, sir.
- How many has he had?
- 16, sir.
And the penalty for speaking
back to the captain?
25, sir.
Then we owe him nine, captain Younger.
Pay our debt to him.
Oh, give him the other nine, captain.
- Give him the other nine.
- Aye, aye, sir.
Man adrift.
Dead ahead.
Starboard your helm.
Glass, my glass.
Steady, steady as she goes.
Here you are, sir.
Fire a charge to drive off the sharks.
And how can a man
get himself in that position?
We're off the Gilberts, Mr. Sidneye, and...
Yes, I know. That's a
law that anyone who molests
a Gilbertese girl gets slow death by sharks.
Have you been molesting, Mijnheer?
If you're a Gilbertese mister,
you can set me adrift.
- If you're not, pull me out of here.
- Still a lot of fight left in him, eh?
All right. Bring him up.
All right, doctor.
- Fill it up.
- He's had enough.
- What's your name?
- Ralls.
- Your full name.
- Captain Ralls.
Captain Ralls?
Well...
In that case, hadn't we better extend the
captain the courtesy of the ship locker, eh?
Come in.
- Good evening.
- Come in, come in Ralls, sit down.
Beautiful night out, make me
wish I were back in the Gilberts.
- Now, we were just talking about you, Ralls.
- Yes?
Yes, captain Younger here
seems to express some doubts that
you're really the master of a
vessel at all, isn't that so, captain?
That's what I said.
- Where are you bound, Mr. Sidneye?
- Papeete.
- Tell me, what did happen to your ship?
- Sunk.
- Wrecked?
- Sunk.
- As a matter of fact, I need a new one.
- Yes, I should imagine you would.
Dory should do.
Not for the cargo I'm after.
- What might that be?
- Pearls.
Pearls, captain Ralls?
As big as your eyeball, Mr. Sidneye.
Where?
- I'm no fool.
- No, of course not. But as you're a trader.
We should be able to reach
some sort of agreement.
- We might.
- On what terms?
First, that you make me
master of the Red Witch.
- Over my dead body.
- I'm as good as any other.
Captain Younger...
would you excuse us for a short while?
Tell me...
what makes you think you're
a better man than Younger?
By looking at him.
How do I know you can
deliver the pearls?
You don't.
Master of the Red Witch first.
- And second?
- A half-share of the pearls.
Quarter.
- You drop me at the next island.
- Oh, captain Ralls...
your drink.
Ah, it's a pity, but...
I'm the victim of one of
the seven deadly virtues...
Greed captain Ralls, greed.
I think we understand
each other, Mr. Sidneye.
Now you can set your course
for an island called Tahuta.
- I think I know it, under French mandate.
- That's right.
- Have you been there lately?
- About three months ago.
Captain Younger.
Where I lost my ship.
- To very good health, captain Ralls.
- Thank you.
You call me, Mr. Sidneye?
Oh yes, throw this man in the brig.
Yes, sir.
I'll do it personally and with pleasure.
- I hope I haven't inconvenienced you.
- Not at all.
I wanted to be sure you
understood this is still my ship.
I understand all right.
Of course, it may be yours, but
remember, no pearls, no ship.
- And don't forget I always keep my word.
- I heard that you do.
Now that I made everything is clear,
are you ready to go ashore?
- That's Tahuta, I'll wait.
- Why?
I don't think the commissaire
will be very happy to see me.
- Why? What did you do to him?
- Nothing to him.
Maybe upset his natives a little.
- Same way you did the Gilbertese?
- No. Here they were going to burn me.
How you get out of it?
- If I told you, you wouldn't believe me.
- Ready to go ashore, Mr. Sidneye?
Very well, Younger.
Oh, Younger...
From now on, whether afloat or ashore,
consider captain Ralls
as out of your jurisdiction.
He's on a special mission for Batjak.
After you, captain.
- You're the commissaire?
- Oui. Dusset is the name.
- This is my niece Angelique.
- Mayrant Sidneye.
- Captain Younger.
- Monsieur.
I heard much of you Mr. Sidneye but
I never expected to see you on Tahata.
Oh rudder trouble. I'm afraid we shall have
to infringe on your hospitality for a few days.
I should like nothing better.
And you come in a very good time
there's a native festival soon.
Make my home your own,
beginning with dinner tonight.
Oh, delighted.
Oh, I forgot to mention monsieur Dusset,
we have another captain aboard.
- Will it be permissible to bring him too?
- But of course, I shall be delighted.
Very prompt, monsieur.
- And this is the other captain?
- Captain Ralls, monsieur Dusset and...
Mademoiselle Angelique Dusset.
Weren't here a few months ago
by any chance?
- Must've been my brother.
- What was he doing here?
He was after pearls.
- That was my brother, all right.
- A remarkable resemblance.
Shall we go in?
Beautiful.
Play well, mademoiselle.
Yes, you play extremely well.
Brandy, captain Ralls?
Are there many pearls like
these on the islands, monsieur?
For the natives, yes.
More Brandy, captain?
It's part of their worship.
Each month they have a great feast.
Bake one at the foot of their monolith.
Then scatter the ashes to the sea.
Pearls are kept in
an iron chest in a cavern.
Which is also
the home of a giant octopus.
The diver who goes to get
them is a hero if he returns.
An offering to the gods if he fails.
Very violent religion.
Certainly no white man
would want to tamper with those.
Captain Ralls's brother did.
- Was he successful?
- Not quite.
The natives wanted
to bake him at the monolite
but a providential rain
came and put out the fire.
After that they started calling
him the son of the gods.
I found it wise to
order him from the island.
Captains Ralls's brother
seems to be living a full life,
- You know him, monsieur?
- I heard of him.
Still there monsieur, just the way you
left it and I intend that it stay that way.
What is it?
Perhaps captain Ralls's brother
could tell you If he were here.
We come for son of gods.
Son of Taro Tahto, beloved of gods.
Maika Ino.
Your father has found
you out, monsieur.
Beloved of the gods?
Those whom the gods love die young.
- You ever hear that proverb, monsieur?
- I have now.
It is wish of Wanuka that son of
Taro Tahto come with us...
to place of gods.
Ehe oy?
What a strange man.
I suppose your Uncle has
spoken to you about me.
Yes, monsieur.
Well?
I'm waiting for your answer.
The fact that you are
waiting monsieur, is my answer.
I see.
You know what I'm
prepared to offer you?
- Love, monsieur?
- Yes Angelique, love too.
Monsieur, you have many things...
Ships, men, warehouses, gold.
And now it seems you want me too.
But I'm not a ship or
a warehouse, I can't be bought.
And if my name were captain Ralls?
I see.
You realize of course, that he is a
dangerous man. He'll kill someday.
Monsieur, I told my Uncle I won't
marry you and now I tell it to you.
I'm sorry. There's nothing more to say.
- Good morning.
- Morning.
- How is the son of the gods this morning?
- Fine.
- Your parents well?
- Best of health, thank you.
I should like to meet them sometime.
- Any night.
- Oh, don't they appear in the daylight?
Not to such good advantage.
- Finding any pearls?
- Few.
Big ones?
Like this.
- Oh, I'm sorry.
- Kahluna.
- Is he all right?
- It's all right son, it's all right.
Come on kid, get us ashore.
I learned a great deal
about you this morning.
Yes?
For one that you love children.
- Afraid to admit it?
- Too bad they have to grow up.
I, I'm sorry I joked with you
about being a son of the gods.
- No reason to be. It's funny.
- But you mean a lot to these people.
Yeah, kind of childish, naive.
But this is beautiful.
That's beautiful too.
Our ship?
Ships fascinate me.
They seem so...
so alive and yet just wood and iron...
beams and planks...
and yet someone somewhere
put it together and it becomes alive.
It slides down the waves and it's a ship.
It's more than a ship.
It's a home, a world...
A breathing thing. Nothing holds it back.
The wind takes it and carries it for 10,000
miles and anyone of those Miles you're free.
Like being a bird, instead
of the sky is the sea.
You have a whole empire
of freedom, sea freedom.
You're alive the same way
the ship is alive.
You run before the wind.
You never want to stop.
- What is it?
- Now I'm talking foolish.
Oh, I don't think so.
I think people should talk
about the things they love.
Some people don't dare to love.
And so with great dignity she said to the
emperor, the emperor of France, mind you...
Captain Younger, he hasn't finished.
And she said, sire, if you love me,
tell me so but don't ruin my slippers.
And now I have something
most exciting to tell you all.
It is with great pleasure that I
announce the forthcoming marriage
of my niece Angelique to my charming and
unexpected guest Mr. Mayrant Sidneye.
Let us drink to their happiness.
You got to be
congratulated for many reasons...
Ralls.
The son of the gods seems upset.
My little Angelique too.
You're a man of
violent method, monsieur.
I would've chosen a more gentle way.
In my country monsieur...
the family arrange all these
affairs of the heart first.
- Should we lower away a boat, sir?
- No.
- But he might drown.
- Let him, the drunken fool.
Ralls?
Ralls.
Ralls.
Ralls.
I know what you must think of me.
The way you looked
at me so, so accusingly.
But you must believe me, I knew
nothing about marrying Mr. Sidneye.
Why it shocked me even more than you.
I've been looking everywhere to
tell you. Oh, you frightened me.
But I'm not frightened anymore.
You don't know anything about me.
- Well, I heard things.
- Didn't Sidneye tell you where he found me?
What difference does it
make where he found you?
We found each other.
Oh, it's no good.
Ralls.
A man like Ralls Mr. Rosen,
an unbalanced man.
Who can say what he might do? Not I.
And I assure you I
never underestimated him.
During the next few days, I sensed
a brooding, dangerous tenseness.
But nothing definite.
Until at last what had been seething
inside him burst through the surface.
The natives were preparing a great feast.
A feast that none of us who
attended would ever forget.
It was their festival of the half-moon,
the ceremony of the pearls Mr. Rosen.
Taro Tahto good.
Divers bring chosen pearl.
- Only Taro Tahto can save pearls.
- Or perhaps the son of Taro Tahto.
- Aye, son of Taro Tahto can save pearls.
- Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye.
Ralls, no.
- I bet 1,000 francs he never comes up.
- I'll take that bet.
Never underestimate
men like Ralls, monsieur.
- Taro Tahto good to son.
- It's hot.
His people happy.
I bring word to Wanuka.
You rest.
Come later.
It's kind of close.
- Much too close.
- Yes, yes.
- I guess the festival started.
- Ralls, what makes you do such things?
- What happens to you?
- I don't know.
Well, it doesn't matter. The only thing
that matters is you're still alive.
- Only that?
- That includes everything.
You? Includes you?
- I don't want to ever hurt you.
- You never will.
- I hurt everything.
- Not anymore.
- You believe that?
- I believe in you.
Something happened today in that water.
I felt myself floating up.
Got bright, were singing.
Everything dark was washed
away and I couldn't look back.
Then I heard your voice...
- and you said...
- I love you, Ralls.
- That's what you said.
- That's all I ever wanted to say.
If someone had told me...
one day I open my eyes and find
a new world, I'd called him a liar.
But it's true, there is a
new world and I found it.
- It's you.
- And you won't leave it now.
I'll never leave it now.
Look.
First the pearls, then Angelique.
All in good time, Dusset.
- Do you think we were wise in coming here?
- Something I got to do.
- What's it?
- Keep a promise that I made to a...
Friend.
Taro Tahto has spoken.
Pearls of iron chest
never return to sacred cave.
They will fly over face of earth...
in hands of son of Taro Tahto.
They are his to spread over world.
The gods are with us tonight, monsieur.
Taro Tahto tell us...
to burn Eye of demon
and spread ashes to the wind.
Here is pearl, there is chest.
Oh, the gods are strong, monsieur.
Now Ralls owns all the
pearls and every year more.
The son of Taro Tahto is false.
He is a murderous scoundrel
who's robbing you of your wealth.
In the name of the emperor
I place you under arrest.
Do you submit?
- For the last time Ralls.
- No.
- Oh, my God.
- No.
It is justice of gods.
It is wrath of Taro Tahto.
I kept my bargain.
So there you are, my friend.
Now you know what Ralls had never told you.
Not a very pleasant story.
I kept my part of the bargain.
I even had the charge of murder dropped.
I made him master of the Red Witch.
He got everything he wanted except
the one thing he couldn't have...
Angelique.
- She never forgave him.
- Never?
I married Angelique.
Now do you think Ralls sank
the Red Witch for gold alone?
No.
The reason was hate, insane and bitter.
He knew he couldn't reach
me through Angelique.
So he destroyed the thing
next dearest to my heart.
And you helped him Mr. Rosen.
I wonder if you excuse me, Mr. Sidneye.
I got a lot of thinking to do.
Certainly, and Mr. Rosen...
I'd like to think that eventually...
you'll be on my side.
- Good night.
- Good night.
I was afraid you'd be
back on the ship already.
- I got to talk to you.
- What's the matter?
Did you believe what
my Uncle said tonight?
I don't know. I'm all mixed up.
- Was he lying?
- Not lying, leaving things out.
- Such as?
- The real end of the story. I...
You don't know my Uncle.
He like to pit you against Ralls,
the same way he did Dusset.
Simply for his own amusement.
So he twisted the
facts all out of shape.
So, I was afraid you believe him
and go over to his side.
Go on, I'm listening.
Well...
what he didn't tell you was that
Ralls saw Angelique again.
Twice.
The first time was nearly a year ago.
The Red Witch came into Serebaya
for the first time in years...
to pick up a very important cargo...
gold.
I was visiting Angelique then,
we were in the sewing room.
A gentleman to see you.
- Thank you Jahrma, did he give his name?
- No name.
Talia, this is captain Ralls.
My niece Talia Van Schraeven.
- It's been a long time, captain.
- Very long.
Please excuse me.
I just remember something.
- Why you come here?
- Orders.
- But to this house?
- I had...
I known for a long time that I have to.
- Angelique.
- Oh, Ralls.
- Ralls, all those years.
- Did you hate me so much?
Only at first and then it was too late.
I'll make it up.
- It's lost.
- Nothing was lost.
- We'll go away now.
- Away?
He took you from me, I'll take you from him.
- No, is not that easy, there's a child.
- Bring the child.
Oh, by all means, bring the child.
Jahrma told me you had a visitor.
I'm reminded Ralls, of
the years of the locust.
Sleeps for seven then comes up out of the
ground and devours everything in sight.
I should have remembered this was the
seventh year and kept you underground.
Not aware, however, that the flower had
been waiting for seven years to be devoured.
Ralls, please go.
I won't leave you, Mayrant.
And you should remember
in whose arms you find yourself.
- Ralls, please go now.
- And leave you with him?
I'll be all right.
- Angelique, you don't owe any loyalty...
- Ralls, please.
Look to yourself, Ralls.
You made your last voyage for me.
If I ever hear that you hurt her
I'll come back and kill you.
You won't hear it.
By dark, I'll have you on the beach and
drummed out of every island in the pacific.
Remember what I said.
Jahrma.
Bring Mr. Loring to me.
You destroy everything, don't you?
Everything.
Before Sidneye could stop him. That night
Ralls took the red witch on her last voyage.
I know, I signed on that night.
Now you know why he did it.
You said he saw Angelique twice.
It happened right after the
sinking of the Red Witch.
Angelique was ill.
My Uncle was taken sick first. He
was sick during the barratry investigation.
His will to live pulled him through.
But you can see how left him.
Angelique is different.
I remember.
Ralls disappeared for a month
when we were tied up at Bali.
I don't know how she
got the message to him,
but she did, and he came to her.
Have you no respect?
Angelique.
You came back.
I knew you would.
I've been waiting...
Knowing that someday I look out there and
I see your ship sailing into the harbor.
The waiting is over now.
It's over.
Now we can be together always.
When you get well, I'm going
to take you away from here.
To a new place, a new life.
I won't get well, Ralls.
Oh, yes, you will. You got to.
The mistakes I made...
They're not yours, Angelique,
mine, all of them mine.
Ralls, don't forget me, never forget me.
Don't talk like that.
You're going to get well.
Hold me up.
I want to look at the sea again, your sea.
The hours I spent out here.,
watching the water and thinking of...
You love the sea.
Only you.
My darling.
Wherever you go, whatever you do,
I'll be beside you.
This isn't the end, the beginning.
Angelique, Angelique.
And now you have the whole story,
all the pieces my Uncle left out.
Now you can see things
as they really are.
Why didn't Sidneye
hold Ralls when he had him?
Because he's not that direct,
he's not that rational anymore.
The trouble he went to to get Ralls here
wasn't the act of a rational man.
I don't know.
He seems to see himself as a kind of
spider with this island as a web.
- He didn't love Angelique.
- No, but he owned her.
And that to my Uncle is more than love.
Possession is the only thing he understands.
Ralls knows that. That's why he
took the gold, to save himself.
Ralls was right.
Looks like the one wrong
thing in the sea was me.
But you don't have to continue to be.
What do you think will happen now?
My Uncle will kill him
if he doesn't get away.
You said the gate could be lowered?
- Yes.
- When?
Tonight, I think.
- Could you go out tonight?
- You can get the gate down?
Go back to the ship and wait.
If I can do it, I'll let you know.
I'd better be getting back,
they'll be looking for me.
- Talia.
- Yes?
You won't get in trouble, will you?
I mean I wouldn't want anything
to happen to you because of...
I'll be all right.
She must tell a pretty good story.
Ralls, it's your fight, yours and Sidneye's.
It's a personal matter
and I don't belong in it.
If I had the facts before
I went into this thing I...
wouldn't have gone in, in the first place.
I hope you win, but
you'll have to do it without me.
It's a bad business all around.
If I got to get mixed up in a feud
it will be my own, not somebody else.
I realize tonight that
I have a life to live too.
- All right, Sam.
- You'll take her out?
Just the way you want it.
Make you happy?
It's better that way.
Ripper, it looks like you're going
to be richer than you expected.
Yeah, just so I ain't deader.
- I was worried.
- So was I for a while.
- That means everything is set?
- Yes.
- We're going to sail for sure now, captain?
- Get forward and make ready.
That girl, is an angel.
Don't go.
I got to go. But I'll come back, Talia.
I'll come back. I love you.
Don't go away.
- Don't leave me.
- I made a bargain.
I got to see Ralls
out of here. I owe him that.
You owe Ralls nothing.
If you go with him my Uncle
will hunt you both until death.
You'll never be free as long
you're with Ralls.
You'll be running for the rest of
your life and for what? The gold.
You said you loved me.
Don't let anything or anybody
destroy what we found.
I don't want to be another Angelique.
I'm sorry, Sam.
It's just that...
All right, it's time.
Ripper.
Cast off.
Stay with her, Sam.
Tell Sidneye where
the gold is but stay with her.
I told you to disable the ship not blow it to
Kingdom Come, you fool, you stupid idiot.
You'll live to regret this day if you
live. Now, get out of my sight.
And you, yes.
Both of you.
Thought I was stupid enough
to rely on the gate alone, didn't you?
Stumbling blindly ahead,
destroying the work of years.
Now you killed Ralls, I didn't do it.
You did. You, you.
You wanted him dead.
In my own time, my own way.
A man can be alive and still be dead.
Alive, Ralls meant something to me,
something you wouldn't understand.
- Now, if you were my daughter...
- If I were,
I would've done the same thing.
Where is the Red Witch?
When you blew up the Melbourne queen you blew
your last chance of ever finding the witch.
I don't care how you thought of Ralls,
or how much you hated him.
If he went bad was as much your fault than
his own, you've been hounding him for years.
Now he is gone.
He is off your hook, Sidneye.
- And so is the Red Witch.
- That's a pretty speech Sam, I love you too.
That one of your little brown
brothers that tried to finish the job.
- What about Ripper?
- He is on the beach.
You can scare him,
but you can't kill him.
Ralls?
- Sidneye, you owe me a ship.
- Really?
I should say we're
even in the matter of ships.
The only thing that doesn't
balance is the matter of money.
Balances in my books.
But the books you're
using now are mine.
So I was on the point of persuading Rosen
here to divulge the location of the witch.
- Why don't you try to persuade me?
- That will be even more interesting.
- Now I'm willing to bargain.
- Bargain? You?
- Mayrant.
- Yes, yes, what's it?
- Captain Younger is outside.
- Oh, he is.
He has captain Munsey with him.
- Munsey?
- See what I mean?
Oh, captain Munsey.
Well, well, you honor us, sir.
Actually, I'm not here on pleasure.
- He followed us from Serebaya, sir.
- Really? Why? What's on your mind, captain?
I intend to put you and all your
associates in a cell at Larangua.
And I won't hesitate a moment
if the circumstances warrant it.
Well then, I can't say I should
be sorry to see you disappointed.
This time I may not be, a ship was
blown up tonight just outside the lagoon.
Oh, yes, yes, yes, there was.
I was her master.
Oh, then the vessel
was the Melbourne queen.
That's right.
What happened?
Both Mr. Rosen and I put into the lagoon here
a few days ago to mend sail and repair ship.
- Mr Sidneye was kind enough to entertain us.
- Yes.
In return, we accepted
a cargo of dynamite for Serebaya.
We sailed tonight to
take advantage of the tide
with the help of
flares to get through the reef.
All of a sudden it happened,
that's all there's to it.
The dynamite was left over from
cargo brought in to widen the lagoon.
You'll find it declared in
the records at Larangua.
Very strange wasn't it, that you should
choose this particular lagoon?
I was under the impression there was
bad blood between you and Mr. Sidneye.
Oh, no.
You know, if there was bad blood between us,
would I have put in here in the first place?
As my guest captain Munsey,
your visit is most welcome.
But as a meddlesome official, no.
That's most unfortunate...
because I shall no doubt, visit
you again as a meddlesome official.
As it stands, I shall enter
what has been told me...
in my report.
Captain Munsey,
I'll walk to the gate with you.
- Mayrant, I don't like this.
- Ralls is planning something.
Mr. Sidneye, if I mix
with Ralls again, I'll kill him.
Of course he is planning something.
Mayrant you know that man is not to
be trusted, you must do something.
- Yeah, before it's too late.
- My colleagues...
What a miserable, sniveling lot Ralls
has made of you, every one of you.
Babbling like a lot of idiots.
Turn back to the window
and keep your eyes on a man.
Ralls lives.
He makes every day of living a challenge.
Beside him, you're all decadent.
Dead.
Ralls, I didn't believe
a word you said in there.
I didn't think you would.
- I mean to investigate this thing thoroughly.
- I might be of some help to you.
Oh?
We'll be off Dopple reef tomorrow
around 2:00, you might learn...
something of interest about
the Red Witch and a few other things.
Such as what happened here tonight?
Well, I be off Dopple reef
tomorrow around 2:00.
- And where will you and Mr. Sidneye be?
- Oh, we'll be there.
- In that event, I'll wait and sail with you.
- Oh, no.
Sidneye will never set sail from this
lagoon as long as you're standing by.
I see.
Very well, Ralls.
But remember, if you fail me...
- I'll be back.
- That I'm depending on.
Nice fellow, Munsey.
Well, Sidneye, I'm ready to bargain.
- Your bargaining power is on its way to sea.
- That's right, to the Red Witch.
- You gave Munsey the position of the witch?
- False position.
Munsey is expecting us tomorrow at Dopple
reef, when we don't show up, he'll be back.
Looking for you.
When I tell him a little different
story on the Melbourne queen,
he'll be looking for both of us.
You have 24 hours to get the gold.
- Can we make it?
- If we can make a deal.
Well, that depends. What's it?
- Half the gold and the three of us go free.
- Ah, no.
They will go free with part of the gold,
but you and I have something to settle.
Done.
- Younger, get ready to sail as soon as you can.
- Yes, sir.
Ralls.
What are you doing? You had a way out to
safe out with Munsey and you let them go.
Want to spend part of
that 5 million, Sam.
What's the matter, man?
Mr. Sidneye, that ship is hanging over
the edge of the world down there.
Her bow is on a reef and her stern is
hanging over 1,000 fathoms of nothing.
- You mean you're afraid?
- Yes, sir, I am.
She's rolling down there
something terrible.
You got to go.
I'll double your wages, triple them..
I wouldn't go down there again for
all the gold that's ever been sunk.
Neither would I. I got a wife and kids.
If I had my way, I send Ralls over the side.
If I had to put him in chains to do it.
I go down there for it was worthwhile.
You should be made to go down.
That gold is there because of you,
Mayrant should force you to bring it back.
He is a sick man because of you.
You made us all suffer.
You should be made to pay
whether the gold is recovered or not.
I'll said I go if they
made it worth my while.
I wouldn't give you one penny.
I'll make it worth your while.
I believe you would.
- What's happened?
- Ralls is going after the gold.
- What the matter with the divers?
- A little family trouble.
Take that exhaust valve.
Well Sam, here we are
right back where we started.
You got what you wanted.
Now I'm going to get what I want.
All right, jacks.
You be careful, captain.
Red witch don't like you no more.
Feed out the line.
More slack. More slack.
Speed up the pump.
Lower the basket.
The basket, bring up the basket.
- He is in trouble.
- No, no. He mustn't be in trouble.
- She's fighting him.
- Shut up.
He is in trouble, bring him up.
She's got him.
Ralls.
Ralls.
She was waiting for him all this time.
Ralls has gotten what he wanted, Sam.
Wherever you go, whatever you do,
I'll be beside you.
This isn't the end, is the beginning.