The Laws of Kings

Wesley's Notes for Exodus 20:16

20:16 Thou shalt not 

bear false witness - 

This forbids, Speaking 

falsely in any matter, 

lying, equivocating, and 

any way devising and 

designing to deceive 

Our Neighbour. 

Speaking unjustly 

against Our Neighbour, 

to the prejudice of His Reputation; 

And (which is the highest offence 

of both these kinds put together) 

Bearing false witness against him, 

laying to his charge things 

that he knows not, either upon oath, 

by which the third commandment, 

the sixth or eighth, as well as this, 

are broken, or in common converse, 

slandering, backbiting, tale-bearing, 

aggravating what is done amiss, 

and any way endeavouring 

to raise Our Own Reputation 

upon the ruin of Our Neighbours'.

"Captain" Bligh,

Commander of HMS Bounty : 

It's a Breadfruit. 

Fletcher Christian :

A Breadfruit?

"Captain" Bligh,

Commander of HMS Bounty : 

The Admiralty's instructed me to 

lead an expedition to take 

breadfruit plants from 

Tahiti to Jamaica.

Fletcher Christian :

Tahiti?

"Captain" Bligh,

Commander of HMS Bounty : 

I want you to sail with me again. 

Fletcher Christian :

In what capacity?

"Captain" Bligh,

Commander of HMS Bounty : 

The Admiralty's already assigned a 

Mr. John Fryer as Master of The Ship.

He's a good man, I think, but 

I want you to be master's mate. 

If you agree, that is.

Fletcher Christian :

Agreed.

"Captain" Bligh,

Commander of HMS Bounty : 

Good. Splendid. Good.

Fletcher Christian :

Why take breadfruit to Jamaica?

"Captain" Bligh,

Commander of HMS Bounty : 

Cheap fodder for The Slaves 

on the plantations there.

Bananas are very expensive 

there these days.

Fletcher Christian :

It lacks Glory, William.

"Captain" Bligh,

Commander of HMS Bounty : 

I don't have your connections, Fletcher.

I want to make A Name 

for myself before I'm too old.

Fletcher Christian :

And this greengrocery trip 

will make your name?

"Captain" Bligh,

Commander of HMS Bounty : 

Now, look -- We'll go along 

Cape Horn to Tahiti.

We'll pick up the breadfruit, and then 

continue through the Endeavour Straits,

round the Cape of Good Hope 

to Jamaica, then back to England.

We'll circumnavigate The Globe.

Mr. Fryer,

Master of HMS Bounty : 

Yes, but why risk going round the Horn?

"Captain" Bligh,

Commander of HMS Bounty : 

What? Because it is the quicker route, Mr. Fryer.

Mr. Fryer,

Master of HMS Bounty :

Quicker if we strike the one week in a hundred 

when there isn't a storm raging.

So you would have us go the long way, 

round Africa and Australia, there and back?

Avoid the Horn all together?

What conditions do the plants need?

"Captain" Bligh,

Commander of HMS Bounty : 

Warmth, light and water. 

I shall be giving up my cabin to them.

We shall be like pigs in a sty, shan't we?

"Captain" Bligh,

Commander of HMS Bounty : 

No, sir, we shall not.

I run a healthy ship, Mr. Fryer.

I only say the Bounty is too small. 

We should have a frigate, 

not a chamber pot.

"Captain" Bligh,

Commander of HMS Bounty : 

Yes, and I should have 

promotion to Captain.

But the navy board would 

not heed either request.

Cook returned to Hawaii in 1779. After sailing around the archipelago for some eight weeks, he made landfall at Kealakekua Bay on Hawai’i Island, largest island in the Hawaiian Archipelago. 

Cook’s arrival coincided with the Makahiki, a Hawaiian harvest festival of worship for the Polynesian god Lono. Coincidentally the form of Cook’s ship, HMS Resolution, or more particularly the mast formation, sails and rigging, resembled certain significant artefacts that formed part of the season of worship. Similarly, Cook’s clockwise route around the island of Hawaii before making landfall resembled the processions that took place in a clockwise direction around the island during the Lono festivals. It has been argued (most extensively by Marshall Sahlins) that such coincidences were the reasons for Cook’s (and to a limited extent, his crew’s) initial deification by some Hawaiians who treated Cook as an incarnation of Lono

King Tynah of Ta-Hiti :

Maeva, Captain Bligh.

Lt. Bligh : Mauriuru, King Tynah.

King Tynah of Ta-Hiti : Enoho.

- Thank you, Your Majesty.

I bring you greetings from

His Majesty King George of England.

King Tynah of Ta-Hiti : 

How is the great Captain Cookie?

King Tynah of Ta-Hiti : 

Captain Cook? 

He's Well, and he also sends his greetings.

King Tynah of Ta-Hiti :

He Lives...?

King Tynah of Ta-Hiti :Yes.

King Tynah of Ta-Hiti :

He is My Friend.

 I know.

King Tynah of Ta-Hiti :

Now you see - He gave me his picture.

 Yes.

King Tynah of Ta-Hiti :

Some People Say 

He was killed by 

the people of Hawaii.

No...

Captain Cook is very much alive

and he's in good health, King Tynah.

He's very much alive.

As I said, he sends his greetings to you

and he's always talked of you

as his very close friend.

You told that to this man Tynah?

King Tynah, sir.

A savage king?

A King, my lord, descended 

from many kings.

As our King George is descended 

from many Kings?

Yes, in a way, sir.

Then why did you lie to him?

Why did you not tell him 

Captain Cook was murdered 

in Hawaii 10 years before?

Because they believe that

Captain Cook is immortal.

 Literally?

Yes, I think so, sir.

They seem to regard his likeness 

as a sacred image.

Interesting.

They also believe that every British officer

is more or less related to him.

So you were more or less immortal, too?

It would appear so, sir,

and I also needed their assistance.

Captain Cook was our guarantor.

How long you stay in Tahiti?

About two months, around the islands.

Stay here. Do not go to the other islands.

No welcome there for you.

Everything you need is here.

I'm much obliged to you.

His Majesty King George has

sent you many gifts, King Tynah.

Perhaps I could carry back in return gifts

from yourself to His Majesty King George.

Anything for A King.

Pigs, bananas, coconuts, breadfruit...

Breadfruit! Breadfruit is a very good idea.

Yes, breadfruit. I think His Majesty likes

breadfruit. Isn't that true, Mr. Nelson?

Indeed it is, sir.

His Majesty is a very keen gardener.

He would appreciate breadfruit greatly.

If you sent him little breadfruit plants,

he could grow them in his own garden.

We shall grow him many little plants.

Thank you.

Mr. Christian, Mr. Cole.

Would you distribute the gifts

to King Tynah and his good people?

These are gifts from His Majesty King

George of England to yourselves.

Oh, dear God!

- I hoped to avoid this.

- Avoid what, sir?

Damn it all, man.

I'm expected to sleep with her.

She's one of King Tynah's wives, a gift from

one chief to another, as it were.

Now, look. Five minutes after I go below,

call me up on important business.

Yes, sir. What business?

Business, damn it! 

Any bloody business.

Welcome aboard, ma'am. This way.

Yes.

- Get on with your work.

- Yes, sir.

She should soften the old man up a bit.

Hot.

Pretty.

That wouldn't feed a dog for 

two nights, never mind me!

Emma

- Excuse me, sir, I...

- Mr. Christian!

- Sir?

What demands my immediate attention?

It could wait until tomorrow.

What is it, damn you?

The ship is sinking, sir.

Good.

Ma'am.

Was Fletcher Christian at this time

still your friend and ally?

At that time, yes.

There was no indication of any

resentment towards you?

No, none.

Mr. Bligh, when you planted out your breadfruit, 

did not the savages carry out some sort of

ceremony? An indecent ceremony?

Is this relevant, Captain Greetham?

Milord, if The Crew were allowed 

to witness it, yes.

Were The Crew present, Mr. Bligh?

Yes.

And was it indecent?

It is their deep belief that

the earth is rendered fruitful

by the coupling of their gods

and that the gods can be roused by 

the coupling of men and women.

So it did begin at the ceremony?

No, sir, not at the ceremony.

No, it was Fletcher Christian

and the native girl.

You misunderstood the depth

of the emotion between them?

Yes, I realise that now.

I had assumed that it was

simply youthful passion.

It takes more than

an infatuated youth to make a mutiny.

- It takes a discontented crew.

- They were anything but discontented.

Fletcher Christian corrupted them.

But what made them so easy to corrupt?

I don't know. It was the place itself.

If I did sail beyond the sea

I'd take my pretty girl with me

And she would cook and care for me

And I'd be the pride of the king's navy

But, alas, it is the law

I had to leave her on the shore

- Mr. Christian?

- Come in, whoever you are.

Captain Bligh is surprised he hasn't had

your company at supper for some weeks.

Do you still do that?

He says he'll expect you this evening.

But Today, Today's not Friday.

6:00. Prompt, if you please.

Wait, Dr. Huggan.

I found the most extraordinary plant today.

On the west side of the island, 

just by the mouth of the river.

Mr. Christian, it is 7:30.

The Law of Christian

 

You remarkable pig. 

You can Thank 

whatever 

Pig-God you Pray to 

that you haven't 

turned 

Me into a Murderer.

Mates, there's only one thing missing : Captain Bligh.

Oh, yes. I'd give a leg or two

if he could see us now.

Eating away to our heart's content

without a care in the world.

Yeah, I like him better 

where he is.

I like him going away 

in his little boat,

with the hot sun 

beating down

on his hot 

little head.

Well, God grant 

him a dry mouth —

Do You remember when 

he bid us goodbye,

all blown-up like 

a toad?

"I'll never leave you, 

Mr. Christian. Not ever. 

No matter where you go,

I'll always be at 

your shoulder, with 

a rope in Me-Hand."

Of course, he's a man of 

His Word, is Captain Bligh.

So perhaps we ought 

to set him a plate.

"Why, hello there. 

Captain Bligh, sir.

Sit down, sir. Sit down.

Here have a bird wing or two.

And kindly explain why 

you ain't here."

Christian :

There's no doubt about it --

Nobody's glad 

to see A Captain

who comes Home 

without His Ship.

You know, I'd give 

a stick of tabaccy to 

see his ruddy report.

Those Admiralty Lords 

will look at him like 

he was a piece of 

rotten biscuit.

Christian :

I'm afraid your laughter is unwarranted, gentlemen.

Captain Bligh will be acquitted.

He'll be given another ship.

A larger cat-o'-nine-tails to run it with.

You're forgetting 

there's mates of ours

went along with Bligh, sir.

They'll tell what the old pig did.

And they'll tell how he was out

to execute all of us, one by one.

Christian :

Sure. Your Friends are under 

The Shadow of arraignment 

themselves for Mutiny,

if Bligh chooses to charge that 

They Failed to Rally 

to His Calls,or to 

Protect him properly.

Why should they 

invite His Anger?

They won't be given any choice, sir.

They'll be asked questions, 

and The Facts will speak 

for themselves, right?

Christian :

The bare facts alone 

will not indict Bligh.

It's The Privilege of 

every Captain to decide 

when An Emergency warrants the 

reduction of water rations.

Who can deny there 

was an emergency?

The Bounty carried breadfruit.

Vital to the Economic Life

of The British Empire.

Do you suppose it'll 

be acceptable that 

Bligh should return after 

a two-year voyage with 

His Ship laden with dead plants?

Better than with dead men, sir.

Christian :

You're forgetting The Traditional Answer, Mills :

Mission comes First, and 

Lives of Men second.

Well, it's all the one to us now.

Let them make Captain Bligh

King of China if they want to.

We can forget him, Thank God.

And I move we start 

forgetting him right now --

Bligh, Guilty, or Bligh, Not Guilty,

it makes no difference 

to our lovely little island.

And if it did, we could 

write out papers telling our side 

of the story, seal them in bottles and 

send them floating on the sea.

Hey, That's a Thought.

One of them might even bob along

and reach England ahead of Bligh.

That'd put a spike in his coffin.

Christian :

We can make certain that 

his coffin is spiked.

What do you mean, sir?

Christian :

By returning to England ourselves.

Well, what the holy hell for?

You're not serious, Mr. Christian.

It's a joke he'll be after 

having, that's all.

Well, it was a joke to 

spoil me dinner.

Hold it, hold it -- Mr. Christian is 

Meaning what he says, I'm afraid.

Christian :

Yes, I am, Mills.

Then I've got a better idea, sir.

Why don't we hang each other

from the yardarms in the morning?

It'll save us a trip!

Yes.

Christian :

Listen to Me for one moment, gentlemen, please --

I put it to you that we shall never 

find contentment on this island.

Sir, it sounds like you've 

gone Out of Your Mind.

There's no chance for people 

like us to go back to England,

give Bligh a bad name and 

walk free men ourselves.

And anyone who thinks otherwise

 hasn't got the sense that 

God gave geese!

Christian :

You're right, Mills.

We may all very well be hanged.

But Decency is worth fighting for.

You can't live without it.

And hiding here, shivering 

like convicts, when we've a just case 

to present to the courts,

is just another way of Dying.

And a far less bearable one.

I didn't know until 

this moment, what 

the rightful course to pursue was.

But I know it now.

Will You Trust Me?

Look, supposing Bligh's 

been picked up already.

Supposing he's been 

Tried and Acquitted

by the time we get there.

Let it Be So.

Our court martial will be 

Bligh's court martial over again.

Our jeopardy will be Bligh's' jeopardy as well.

And our acquittal will be Bligh's defeat.

It'll mean no more Captain William Bligh

or any like him in His Majesty's Service.

We need only persuade 

The British People

of something they 

already know, that 

Inhumanity is its 

poorest servant.

Gentlemen, I beg you : 

Help me to carry 

that word back to England.

That's a big Thought for 

People Like Us.

Do you mind if we take 

the night to talk about it?

Christian :

Certainly.