THE NIGHT WATCHMAN2wildsoundfestival.com/the_night_watchman_winning_play.pdf · 2013-10-12 · Synopsis: The Night Watchman This is a play in five acts, which is structured around

THE NIGHT WATCHMANTHE NIGHT WATCHMAN (Or: A WHALING STORY)

This Play examines the moral hazards of

command and the peril of souls

By

E. Thomalen 7600 Osler Drive, Suite 201 Towson, Maryland 21204

Fax 410-321-6340 Phone 443-768-7001

E mail: [email protected] Web: www.ethomalen.com

Synopsis: The Night Watchman This is a play in five acts, which is structured around the inquiry into the sinking of Captain Pollard's second ship the Two Brothers that occurred in the Pacific. This allows for the development of the facts relating to the sinking of his first ship, the Essex to emerge, as well as the events leading up to it. Pollard is at the time a man young in years but old in tragedy, a hero in somewhat the same way that Oedipus of Thebes is, not so much for what he does but for what he endures. The staging of the play should be toward a minimalist set, allowing the audience’s imagination freest reign. The cast, although large, could be reduced by using one actor to play several parts. The Night Watchman Copyright l986 E. Thomalen All Rights Reserved For permissions contact: E. Thomalen 7600 Osler Drive, Suite 201 Towson, Maryland 21204 443.768.7001 www.ethomalen.com

READERS COMMENTS

“This is a fascinating work, managing to take hold of one’s curiosity from the onset. A pair of women speculating on Captain Pollard’s “scarred soul” suggest darker forces and heady portent, balanced by the children’s cruel jokes which follow Pollard at the end. After that the facts surrounding the case flow effortlessly…The theatrical medium is capably exploited, enabling the action to criss-cross the seas and spans of time through a Shakespearean trust in imagination rather than scenic verisimilitude. While many of the questions raised early on are satisfied by the end, we still look…to Pollard’s larger spiritual struggle.” Timothy Mooney

The Script Review 1991The Script Review 1991

* * * * * “Nineteenth century seafaring tale, based on fact, of Captain Pollard who loses two ill-fated whaling ships. A surprisingly gripping, poetic, well-structured … plot with appropriate period language and polished dialogue. The author skillfully moves back and forth in time with no confusion. Knowledgeable use of dramatic techniques…An empathetic yet creative director is critical here.” Baltimore Playwrights Festival 1991 Reader

* * * * * “This is a re-enactment of an inquiry into the sinking of 2 whaling ships commandeered by George Pollard from Nantucket, Massachusetts in the years 1819-1823. As Pollard explains the events that occurred …the story is played out. The play is written in a historical epic style and it conveys the morals, goals, fears and courage of the people in early American 19th century. The play sustained my interest in it tension and mystery. I have no interest or background in this period but I got caught up in what I suppose is a historical perspective. While these people are vastly different from what goes on today I could sense how their behavior has shaped who we are today…I think the play basically is very workable and it is nice to see writing that uses drama well as a means to illuminate history.” American Theater Ventures 1991

* * * * * “Your dialogue is sharp and interesting. Pithy. You seem to have a good feel for the period. Nice distinction between hunger and starvation. The weaving between past and present time scenes, and the occasional simultaneity of times was interesting. While another writer might have turned all the flashback material into endless monologues—you made the active choice to present them as action.” Dwight Okita Chicago Dramatists Workshop Network 1994

“It is with the deepest regret that I’m (finally) returning your script The Night Watchman to you. Your story was a particular favorite of mine and I very much wanted the Triangle Radio Theatre to produce it as our first two or three part serial production. It’s a grand story, combining element of Moby Dick, The Caine Mutiny, and perhaps of Edgar Alan Poe all into one dark tale that I feel could have been done fine justice as a radio drama. However, The Triangle Radio Theatre has ceased operations (due to) unfortunate event(s).” Jay L. Shapiro Secretary, Triangle Theatre, 1998

* * * * *

AWARDS

New Century Writers Awards Winners 1998

Semifinalist Eugene O’Neill Theater Center 1987 Finalist Shiras Institute/Panowski Playwriting Award Competition 1993

The Dream of Gerontius By

Cardinal John Henry Newman

Soul Take me away, and in the lowest deep

There let me be,

And there in hope the lone night-watches keep, Told out for me.

There, motionless and happy in my pain, Lone, not forlorn –

There will I sing my sad perpetual strain, Until the morn.

There will I sing, and soothe my stricken breast, Which ne’er can cease

To throb and pine, and languish, till possest Of its Sole Peace.

Bona Fides "I saw Captain Pollard" (l847) Journal of Ralph Waldo Emerson "Congratulate yourself if you have done something strange and extravagant, and broken the monotony of a decorous age." Heroism by Ralph Waldo Emerson "Since writing the foregoing I--sometime about l850-3--saw Capt. Pollard on the island of Nantucket, and exchanged some words with him. To the islanders he was a nobody--to me, the most impressive man, tho' wholly unassuming even humble--that I ever encountered." Longhand notes by Herman Melville in his copy of Owen Chases' Narrative used while writing Moby Dick Moby Dick--References to the sinking of the Essex in the "Extracts" and "Chapter 45 The Affidavit" "At this day Captain Pollard is a resident of Nantucket. I have seen Owen Chase, who was chief mate of the Essex at the time of the tragedy; I have read his plain and faithful narrative; I have conversed with his son; and all this within a few miles of the scene of the catastrophe." Moby Dick Chapter 45 “The Affidavit”

THE NIGHT WATCHMAN ACT I: THE INQUIRY ACT II: THE PREPARATIONS ACT III: THE DIFFICULTIES ACT IV: THE DISASTER ACT V: THE RETURN

THE NIGHT WATCHMAN ACT I: THE INQUIRY Scene I: Two Old Women ii: The Inquiry iii: The whale ship Two Brothers iv: The Inquiry ACT II: THE PREPARATIONS Scene I: Owner's office ii: Riddell's living room iii: Nantucket wharves iv: A Conspiracy v: Congregational church ACT III: THE DIFFICULTIES Scene I: The whale ship Essex August l2, l8l9 ii: The Inquiry iii: To turn back? iv: The Archimedes v: The Pollard's living room vi: The Inquiry vii: The Essex November l6, l820 iii: The Essex November l7, l820 ix: The Essex November l8, l820 ACT IV; THE DISASTER Scene I: The Essex November l9 and after ii: Ducie's Island iii: The Inquiry iv: The Burial at sea v: The Inquiry vi: The Third Boat vii: The Captain's Boat viii: The Inquiry ix: The Dream x: The Captain's Boat xi: The Inquiry xii: The Captain's Boat xiii: The Inquiry xiv: The Hospital ACT V: THE RETURN Scene: i: The Inquiry ii: The Two Brothers under Captain Worth iii: The Inquiry iv: The Two Brothers under Captain Pollard v: The Inquiry vi: The Pollard's living room

vii: The Widows Walk Most of the action occurs in the ship-owners offices where the Inquiry is being conducted. The story that is being related, and that occurs outside of those offices, should be suggested by changes in the lighting and appropriate sound effects and by having the actors occupy a part of that office behind Pollard where he can turn and join them. Essentially, Pollard, Ransom and Worth are seated at a table which is stage right, far enough over to allow adequate space for the rest of the scenes to take place.

CHARACTERS (in order of appearance)

First Old Woman............................ Cleaning Woman Second Old Woman........................ Cleaning Woman Jerrard Ransom............................… Insurance Adjustor George Pollard............................… Captain: Essex, Two Bros. George Worth................................. Capt. Two Bros. & Co-owner Eben Gardner................................… First Mate: Two Bros. Gideon Folger.................................. Essex: Owner Mary Riddell Pollard....................... Wife: Capt. Pollard Owen Coffin.................................… l7 year old nephew of Capt. Pollard, son: Nancy C.

Mrs.. Nancy Coffin ........................…Aunt of Capt. Pollard Pastor.............................................. Congregational Church Owen Chase..................................... First Mate - Essex Matthew Joy.................................... 2nd Mate - Essex Thomas Chapple.............................. Crew - Essex Joseph West..................................... Crew - Essex Lawson Thomas............................... Crew - Essex (Black) Charles Shorter................................ Crew - Essex (Black) Isaiah Shepherd................................ Crew - Essex (Black) William Bond................................... Crew - Essex (Black) Benjamin Lawrence.......................… Crew - Essex Thomas Nicholson........................... Crew - Essex Isaac Cole......................................... Crew - Essex Richard Peterson............................. Crew - Essex (Black) William Wright................................ Crew - Essex Obed Hendricks.............................… Crew - Essex Brazilia Ray..................................... Crew - Essex Charles Ramsdale............................ Crew - Essex Samuel Reed................................... Crew - Essex (Black) Seth Weeks...................................... Crew - Essex George Coffin.................................. Capt. Archimedes Woman............................................. In Dream Bow Watch...................................... Two Brothers Woman............................................... Age indeterminate Though the cast is large, it is possible to have an actor/actress play more than one role.

Thomalen/WATCHMAN 1

THE NIGHT WATCHMAN

ACT l Scene i

Two old women are standing at the window of the offices of a ship-owning company near the wharves in Nantucket town, one is leaning on the handle of a broom, the other on the handle of a mop. It is early evening in May of the year l845. FIRST WOMAN There he goes. SECOND WOMAN A strange man. FIRST WOMAN A peculiar man. SECOND WOMAN A man with a scar on his soul as another might have on his hand or his face. FIRST WOMAN He doesn't talk of it much. SECOND WOMAN He is cut off from his soul by the scar. FIRST WOMAN He never speaks of it. SECOND WOMAN Everybody knows! FIRST WOMAN Still he never speaks of it. SECOND WOMAN No one asks! FIRST WOMAN No one wants to hear it. SECOND WOMAN But to never speak of it. FIRST WOMAN He spoke during the first Inquiry and was given another ship. SECOND WOMAN He is an unlucky man. FIRST WOMAN To be still about such a thing. SECOND WOMAN Perhaps he speaks about it to his wife. FIRST WOMAN Perhaps. . . Yet I think not. SECOND WOMAN He could not speak about it to his family. FIRST WOMAN His Mother. . . SECOND WOMAN May she rest in peace. FIRST WOMAN His Mother found it too terrible, too disturbing. SECOND WOMAN It was her sister's child. FIRST WOMAN Of course! SECOND WOMAN

Thomalen/WATCHMAN 2

Now he says nothing about it. FIRST WOMAN Maybe he hopes people will forget and let him rest. SECOND WOMAN But he cannot forget and rest. FIRST WOMAN He seems to like the hours by himself. SECOND WOMAN He inspects the wharves, then stands at the end gazing out to sea. FIRST WOMAN Who knows what he is thinking. SECOND WOMAN He is not exactly mad . . . FIRST WOMAN No. SECOND WOMAN He likes it best in the dark - to be alone in the dark. Nobody can see him brooding. FIRST WOMAN He is faithful to the Darkness as to any wife. SECOND WOMAN They have an understanding. FIRST WOMAN He knows Her power and She has tested him. SECOND WOMAN They are comfortable in each other's bed. FIRST WOMAN It is an Unholy thing. SECOND WOMAN God has made the Darkness as well as the Light. FIRST WOMAN Aye, that He did, but He made the Darkness for man to sleep through. SECOND WOMAN Yet some men He made to look upon the Night side of Creation. Once having flown open, their eyes can never again wholly accommodate the Day!

FIRST WOMAN A monstrous thing. SECOND WOMAN To be told by the Mute to the Deaf. FIRST WOMAN Yet, from this strange man's story Let each man draw succor, Against the time When he might be Night's solitary company.

Thomalen/WATCHMAN 3

ACT I Scene ii Captain George Pollard, Captain George Worth, Insurance Agent Mr. Jerrard Ransom in the same office of the Ship-owning company September l823. MR. RANSOM Name? GEORGE POLLARD George Pollard. MR. RANSOM Occupation? GEORGE POLLARD Night Watchman. MR. RANSOM What? GEORGE WORTH No. It’s Captain George Pollard, whale-ship master member of the Pacific Club, driver of the Nantucket sleigh, fueler for the lamps of the world. MR. RANSOM Then it's Captain Pollard. GEORGE POLLARD Yes. MR. RANSOM You are too modest Captain. GEORGE POLLARD I did not mean to be modest. MR. RANSOM Your present employment is temporary, surely. GEORGE POLLARD I think not. GEORGE WORTH You should not prejudge this hearing Captain. GEORGE POLLARD I am not prejudging it. MR. RANSOM It will not garner any sympathy for you, the case must be decided on the facts. GEORGE POLLARD What do the facts tell of it? MR. RANSOM We must have the facts to make our decision. GEORGE POLLARD Which facts do you want? MR. RANSOM You have been through this before Captain. GEORGE POLLARD With the Essex? MR. RANSOM Indeed Sir. And you were given another ship. GEORGE POLLARD The Two Brothers. MR. RANSOM Yes, it is the destruction of that ship that we are inquiring about. GEORGE POLLARD Do you not think they are related?

Thomalen/WATCHMAN 4

MR. RANSOM How can they be related, they were two different ships, two different owners, different crews . . . GEORGE POLLARD They are related by...I believe they are related. MR. RANSOM Sir, it is only the Two Brothers that we are concerned about. GEORGE WORTH Let him tell his story as he wishes. If you do not care to take it all down, Mr. Ransom, then just take down that which concerns the Two Brothers. MR. RANSOM Very well. GEORGE POLLARD Thank you Captain Worth. GEORGE WORTH Proceed Captain Pollard. GEORGE POLLARD Mr. Ransom, I will satisfy you first and tell you what happened to the Two Brothers. As you know we sailed on October 8, l82l for the Azores and from there round the Horn to the Pacific. We were in the Pacific over a year. Having fished off the coast of South America and taken on a good store of whale oil, we were bound out for the hunting grounds off Japan. We even passed near to where the Essex was stricken and from where we…where I had pushed off two years before on a fateful voyage in a small boat. Sir, might I have some water, if it would not be too much trouble. MR. RANSOM Certainly Captain (he hands a glass of water to Pollard). GEORGE POLLARD Thank you. Have you ever been thirsty Mr. Ransom? MR. RANSOM Of course! GEORGE POLLARD No, Mr. Ransom, I mean truly athirst? MR. RANSOM I am not sure I know what you mean. GEORGE POLLARD I mean, Mr. Ransom, have you ever been so droughty that your skin was stitched to your bones, that your tear ducts could produce no tears, and your groans had to be lightered to pass over your lips. MR. RANSOM Captain, I do not understand you. GEORGE POLLARD No, I can see that you do not. MR. RANSOM What has this to do with the wreck of the Two Brothers? GEORGE POLLARD Everything, Mr. Ransom….and, then again, nothing. MR. RANSOM Please, Captain Pollard, get on with it. I do have other business. GEORGE POLLARD Yes, I am sure you do, I would I had had "other business." Excuse me, Mr. Ransom and Captain Worth for taking up your time. It has not been considerate of me, and Captain Worth, I owe you such a great deal. GEORGE WORTH It was nothing, Captain Pollard. GEORGE POLLARD

Thomalen/WATCHMAN 5

Nothing! Nothing you say! You were kind enough to give me another ship. GEORGE WORTH I could tell from speaking with you on the way home from Valparaiso that you deserved another ship. I was just an old sailor looking for a chance to retire, and I had an opportunity to become an owning partner, and see my ship in good hands. GEORGE POLLARD You gave me your ship Sir. And I have lost it. GEORGE WORTH That is Mr. Ransom's problem, not mine. You did the best you could. I'm sure of it. GEORGE POLLARD Did I? MR. RANSOM That is what we are here to find out Captain Pollard, Captain Worth is a bit too hasty. GEORGE POLLARD Quite right, Mr. Ransom, quite right! That is what must be determined, determined exactly, precisely, dispassionately. Truth served! There must be no withholding, no reservation of any kind, the accounts rendered to the souls last pennyworth. That is the way I would have it! MR. RANSOM I am glad that you agree Captain. GEORGE POLLARD I do indeed! MR. RANSOM Please then, proceed. GEORGE POLLARD Where was I? MR. RANSOM You said you had left the South American hunting grounds and were sailing toward the Pacific grounds and had passed the place where the Essex was lost. GEORGE POLLARD Yes, indeed it was so. We were west of the Sandwich Islands when the winds began to rise.

ACT I Scene iii First Mate Eben Gardner and Captain Pollard aboard the Two Brothers. EBEN GARDNER Captain! Captain! GEORGE POLLARD What is it Mr. Gardner? EBEN GARDNER She is blowing too hard for the sail we have out. GEORGE POLLARD Quite right! EBEN GARDNER Shall I take down the top gallant yards Sir? GEORGE POLLARD Aye, Mr. Gardner. I do not like the looks of those angry black clouds coming at us. EBEN GARDNER

Thomalen/WATCHMAN 6

No Sir, nor me Sir. GEORGE POLLARD The wind has changed directions on us and veered round to the West. I am going to change course to the North East to put the Archipelago we have been following between us and the storm. What do you say to that plan Mr. Gardner? EBEN GARDNER I like it as well as any other! GEORGE POLLARD What did you say Mr. Gardner? EBEN GARDNER I said, that I liked it as well as any Sir. I think it is a very prudent plan Sir. Do you feel alright Sir? GEORGE POLLARD Yes, thank you, Mr. Gardner. And Mr. Gardner see to it the boats are secured and if the wind keeps rising close reef the fore and main sails and furl the mizzen and topsails. EBEN GARDNER Aye Aye Sir. GEORGE POLLARD The other side of these islands is a reefy place, so tell the bow watch to keep a sharp eye out. EBEN GARDNER Aye Sir. I shall take care of it right away Sir. GEORGE POLLARD (After Mr. Gardner leaves) Can I think he used those words deliberately to torment me, to set off a charge of powder in my brain? I must not allow myself to think that. It is a common form of speech, appropriate to the circumstances, it meant nothing…Owen! Owen? No, No… I must forget about it, put it behind me, this ship will not suffer such a fate. There it is again. Owen what did you say? Owen! Your hair is on fire or is it merely the reflection of mine own head. We shall escape it this time Owen. You'll see. We will. Why do you nod your head and turn away Owen? Come back!

ACT I Scene iv The office of the ship- owning company. MR. RANSOM Are you saying, Captain Pollard, that you were confused by what your first mate Eben Gardner said to you? GEORGE POLLARD It was his words that troubled me! MR. RANSOM He indicated he agreed with you. GEORGE POLLARD He said that he liked it "as well as any other", Sir. MR. RANSOM Yes, so you said. GEORGE POLLARD Don't you see? MR. RANSOM

Thomalen/WATCHMAN 7

No, I don't follow you Captain. GEORGE POLLARD Those were the words of Owen Coffin. MR. RANSOM I thought you said that they were the words of Mr. Gardner. GEORGE POLLARD Owen Coffin used them first. MR. RANSOM (looking at the log) I don't believe that there was an Owen Coffin on the Two Brothers, Captain. GEORGE WORTH He was a seaman aboard the Essex, Mr. Ransom. MR. RANSOM I do not understand why you would be troubled by similar words that two men might have spoken at different times on different vessels; to me it merely attests to the commendable familiarity of our seaman with common, courteous English usage. GEORGE POLLARD (to Captain Worth) You see, he cannot understand me. GEORGE WORTH He cannot understand it unless he knows the history of the Essex. MR. RANSOM I do not see why that is necessary... but if it will shed light upon what happened to the Two Brothers, then please, Captain, share it with us. GEORGE POLLARD It all began with so little notice of the appalling possibilities contained in that moment. Indeed they were not even considered. I had been first mate on the whale ship Essex that returned to port April 9, l8l9, and in May the owner, Gideon Folger, asked to speak to me.

ACT II Scene I Gideon Folger and George Pollard in the offices of a ship owning company. GIDEON FOLGER Well, Mr. Pollard, how did you like being first mate aboard her? GEORGE POLLARD She is a good ship, Sir. GIDEON FOLGER I dare say. GEORGE POLLARD

Thomalen/WATCHMAN 8

Indeed Sir, a good ship and a trusty one. I should be happy to pass all of my seagoing days as mate aboard her. GIDEON FOLGER Would you now? GEORGE POLLARD Yes Sir. GIDEON FOLGER Well, I have come to talk to you about that, Mr. Pollard. GEORGE POLLARD Sir? GIDEON FOLGER Did Captain Russel speak to you about his plans? GEORGE POLLARD He did Sir, briefly. GIDEON FOLGER Did he tell you that he planned to retire after this last voyage? GEORGE POLLARD He did mention it Sir. GIDEON FOLGER Did he say that he would recommend you to be her captain? GEORGE POLLARD He did say so, Mr. Folger... Sir. But of course there are a lot of first mates about, and even some Captains looking for another ship, so I did not pay it any mind, Sir. GIDEON FOLGER Very good, Mr. Pollard. GEORGE POLLARD Thank you, Sir. GIDEON FOLGER You don't push yourself forward, incline to overreach yourself, Sir. I don't fancy those kinds of men, Mr. Pollard. GEORGE POLLARD No, Sir. GIDEON FOLGER But I don't want to waste words, we have decided to offer you the position of Captain of the Essex if you are willing to take it. The terms are the usual. GEORGE POLLARD Do I understand that you are offering me the mastery of a whale ship, Sir? GIDEON FOLGER Indeed, Sir, will you take it? Do not tell us we must look for someone with no experience aboard her, Mr. Pollard. GEORGE POLLARD Well then... I accept. GIDEON FOLGER Excellent, Very good! It is a tribute to our ship and our company that you wish to be her master and continue in our employ. GEORGE POLLARD I have no complaints about either! GIDEON FOLGER Well said Mr...Captain Pollard. GEORGE POLLARD Thank you, Sir. GIDEON FOLGER How soon, Sir, can you outfit her to go out for a voyage of three years in the Pacific to hunt for the biggest whales that you an find and make us both rich, eh Captain?

Thomalen/WATCHMAN 9

GEORGE POLLARD It will take me about three months, I would judge. Gideon Folger Expedient Sir, capital! Then we may expect you to be setting sail near the middle of August. Is that correct Sir? GEORGE POLLARD I believe that you can count on a departure date of around that time. GIDEON FOLGER Good. And... Captain Pollard, you should take a wife. I like a man with a family as master of my vessel, he has reason to fill her hold quickly with barrels of oil, whilst not unduly risking the safety of the vessel or the crew. GEORGE POLLARD Quite right, sir. GIDEON FOLGER Is there anyone, Captain? GEORGE POLLARD There is sir, and her Father is a retired whaling Captain. But I have put off a proposal of marriage until I felt that I might adequately support a wife, or until I had prospects of doing so. GIDEON FOLGER Good! Then put it off no longer. And Godspeed, Captain Pollard. GEORGE POLLARD Thank you, Sir.

ACT II Scene ii In the living room of the home of Mary Riddell. MARY RIDDELL The women say that you are a very eligible bachelor. GEORGE POLLARD I don't wish to be any longer. MARY RIDDELL What do you mean? GEORGE POLLARD I want someone to share my good fortune with. Mary I have prospects and I believe I can afford, now, to take a wife and I want to know if you will marry me? MARY RIDDELL But do you love me, George? GEORGE POLLARD Yes, I have always loved you. MARY RIDDELL Then I will marry you. GEORGE POLLARD In this year I consider myself to be a very lucky man. Two of my most cherished dreams have been realized. MARY RIDDELL When do you sail... Captain Pollard? GEORGE POLLARD In the middle of August. MARY RIDDELL

Thomalen/WATCHMAN 10

You will be careful, George? GEORGE POLLARD I am a careful man, that is why he picked me. MARY RIDDELL We must set the wedding date soon. GEORGE POLLARD In June, Mary, so that we will have some time together before I leave! MARY RIDDELL I would like that too.

ACT II Scene iii The sun is low but not yet set. Captain Pollard is leaving the wharves having spent the day supervising the provisioning of his ship. A young man approaches him. OWEN COFFIN Cousin... GEORGE POLLARD (Squinting into the sun and shielding his eyes.) Who is it? OWEN COFFIN It's me. GEORGE POLLARD Owen Coffin? OWEN COFFIN Yes. GEORGE POLLARD What is it Owen? OWEN COFFIN Is the Essex about ready? GEORGE POLLARD Almost. OWEN COFFIN Have you filled all her births yet? GEORGE POLLARD I have filled most of them. OWEN COFFIN But not all? GEORGE POLLARD No, not yet. OWEN COFFIN Cousin,… GEORGE POLLARD What is it? OWEN COFFIN Have you taken my friend, Charles Ramsdale? GEORGE POLLARD Yes. OWEN COFFIN


Would you take me? GEORGE POLLARD Take you? OWEN COFFIN Yes, I am seventeen now. GEORGE POLLARD What does your Mother say? OWEN COFFIN My Father would approve. GEORGE POLLARD Yes, but . . . OWEN COFFIN I know, I am still wearing the black armband for him. GEORGE POLLARD Aye... and he was lost on a whaling cruise. OWEN COFFIN But... we talked about it, he hoped I would follow him. GEORGE POLLARD What does my Aunt say, Owen? OWEN COFFIN It will be all right with her - if I can go with you. I know it will be all right. You're kin, and you have to be good to be a ship's master at your age. Besides, she won't have to worry about feeding me for three years. You went to sea younger than I, and you've seen something of the world, made something of yourself, while I have rotted at home looking out for my Mother. But the bitter truth is that my Mother doesn't need me to look out for her. Please, cousin, take me with you, I want to make something of myself too, before it is too late. If you won't take me, I'll sign on with somebody else, but I am determined to go. GEORGE POLLARD Owen, if you get your Mother's permission, but only then. OWEN COFFIN Thank you, George. GEORGE POLLARD One thing, Owen... OWEN COFFIN What's that? GEORGE COFFIN Until we set foot back in Nantucket, there'll be no more "cousin" or "George”, only " Captain" and whatever I say you are 'lookout', 'helmsman', 'oarsman', 'cutter'. Is that clear to you? OWEN COFFIN Yes, Captain, it is. And thank you…. Captain Pollard. GEORGE POLLARD Aboard ship your job is to do what I say. OWEN COFFIN I will learn what you want and do it before you can say it. GEORGE POLLARD Good, then you will do well. OWEN COFFIN Thank you, Captain. GEORGE POLLARD Goodnight , Owen. You are still my cousin until my Aunt says that you can sign the papers. OWEN COFFIN Goodnight, cousin.


ACT II Scene iv The wharves, a short time later, Charles Ramsdale arrives. CHARLES RAMSDALE What did he say? OWEN COFFIN He said I can go! CHARLES RAMSDALE Did he? And you were worried... OWEN COFFIN He said I could go if my Mother will give permission. CHARLES RAMSDALE He wouldn't have required that of you if you weren't family. OWEN COFFIN I don't know if my Mother will give it. CHARLES RAMSDALE Come on, we have to talk to her, explain things to her. OWEN COFFIN You know her. CHARLES RAMSDALE Aye. OWEN COFFIN I don't think she will give it, she won't give it, I know it. CHARLES RAMSDALE Don't give up so easily, we can talk to her. OWEN COFFIN It won't do any good. I have talked to her before. And so have you. CHARLES RAMSDALE But you didn't have the actual possibility before. That's different! OWEN COFFIN It won't be to her. CHARLES RAMSDALE You could have your cousin talk to her. OWEN COFFIN He will defer to the wishes of his Aunt. He will not present a strong case for me if he senses she opposes it. CHARLES RAMSDALE I have another idea. The Pastor might talk to her. He always likes to see the islanders working hard, earning money and making contributions to his church. OWEN COFFIN Do you think he could convince her? CHARLES RAMSDALE The widows trust him. OWEN COFFIN If she thinks we have arranged it to convince her she will not agree. CHARLES RAMSDALE I will suggest it to her, but you must oppose the idea. You suggest that she talk to the Captain. OWEN COFFIN I will. Your idea is worth trying, nothing else has worked.


ACT II Scene v In the Congregational Church in Nantucket, the Pollards are waiting for Mrs. Nancy Coffin, Owen, and the Pastor. MARY POLLARD Your cousin is very grateful that you are willing to take him with you. GEORGE POLLARD It is a hard business and dangerous, but I will keep him in the same boat with me. I am well enough familiar with the hazards of the trade. MARY POLLARD But what if something should happen? His father died fighting savages. GEORGE POLLARD Aye, he tried to protect a party he had lead ashore for water. But I am not so heedless, I only stop at known ports for supplies. And if it came to it, I would not do less than his father to protect my men. MARY POLLARD I do not question your courage, George. Your Aunt has arrived. (Mrs. Nancy Coffin and Owen arrive.) NANCY COFFIN Hello, George, Mary. OWEN COFFIN I am sorry George. NANCY COFFIN Owen is unhappy that I have insisted on getting the Pastor's spiritual guidance on this decision. GEORGE POLLARD You must do what you must do. NANCY COFFIN I was against his going you know, no offense to you, George, you seem well regarded in the trade. GEORGE POLLARD I would not take Owen without your permission. NANCY COFFIN If I let him go, take care of him for me, will you? Please! GEORGE POLLARD You don't even have to ask that. (Nancy Coffin cries) OWEN COFFIN Mother! MARY POLLARD I understand, Nancy. NANCY COFFIN (angry) Not yet you don't, not yet! Pray God you never do! MARY POLLARD I'm sorry. GEORGE POLLARD The pastor has arrived, hello, Reverend. PASTOR Hello Captain, Mrs. Pollard, Mrs. Coffin, Owen.


NANCY COFFIN Thank you for meeting us. PASTOR I can't stay long. There are some wealthy members of the congregation I must call on. They wish to make a contribution to the building fund for the new church. Captain, have I shown you the plans? It will be larger, a more fitting way to thank God for the success of the trade on this Island. NANCY COFFIN Reverend, please, I need your help. PASTOR What with? NANCY COFFIN Owen wants to sail with George on the Essex. PASTOR I see Mrs. Coffin, and you are worried about letting him go? NANCY COFFIN Reverend, I have only just lost my husband at sea. PASTOR My heart goes out to you in your grief. I have visited many widows on the island. You, having endured one painful loss, wish to prevent another by holding on to your son. You would turn to Owen to fill the emptiness. You are like one of Jesus' disciples by the edge of the Sea of Galilee, with only a single loaf of bread in your hand - your son. You would hide it away if you could, to feed yourself, for you are wanting and in need. You would ask the Lord to allow you to have your own loaf. But now you are being asked, by your son, really by that order that God has placed in the Universe, to let go of him so that he can become a man. You are being asked to literally: " Cast your bread upon the waters"; to let your son go to sea; and you fear losing him. You fear that he will be lost, that that small morsel by which you hoped to feed yourself, and quiet the raging hunger within, will be no more. You want to hold fast to him, to keep from letting him go, thinking only of yourself and your neediness. But, he is ready to be let go, still you fear he will be gone forever. The followers of Jesus, too, feared that if they shared their loaves and fishes with the five thousand that they would go hungry, their stomachs would be empty. But that is what Jesus asked them to do. Now it is your turn to share your loaf, your son, and you hesitate, you wish to shrink back, you wish to save it, to keep him close. Certainly that is a natural feeling at this time. So were the feelings of the disciples, to hold on to what they had, lest they have nothing. But the World is beautiful, rational, orderly, intelligible. There was a reason why He performed the miracle of the loaves and fishes. He performed it for our edification, so that the Ages of men and women that followed would be capable of taking the difficult step of letting something precious go which they were not sure they would not lose! It is exactly in these circumstances that you must have faith, Mrs. Coffin. And as our Lord taught us, is it not possible that by going to sea with Captain Pollard, Owen, here, may become a man? May he not become a man and prosper, perhaps become a Captain himself, an owner even, and may he not, as a result of his good fortune, marry and have children and provide you with the happiness of grandchildren, and be an upright and contributing member of the church. So that by giving up your loaf, may it not increase and come back to you many fold which, had you not had the courage to do that, you might have quickly used it up in your grief and despair. and in his hopelessness and disappointment. There is no room for doubt or superstition; for ignorance or fear. Let your mind grasp hold of this lesson, Mrs. Coffin, and when it has, I am sure that you will make the right decision about your son. NANCY COFFIN


Thank you, Reverend! OWEN COFFIN I am no loaf of bread! PASTOR (laughs) No , Owen, certainly not! Captain, let me show you those plans that I spoke of. You may be interested in helping us when you come back.

ACT III Scene i On the deck of the whale ship, Essex, August l2, l8l9; Captain Pollard addresses his crew. GEORGE POLLARD As Captain, custom requires that I address you at the start of the voyage in regard to what I expect of you. I have been chosen to conduct the vessel and you are here to assist me. Discipline is essential and my orders will be made known to you by myself or through my officers. Obey them as you would me. We will set a lookout in the masthead from the start of the voyage to its end. If you see a whale sing out - if she white waters sing out: "There she breaches"; if she spouts sing out: "There she blows"; if she flukes sing out: "There she flukes". If it is something other than a whale that you see, then sing out: "Sail ho" or "Land ho". If it is something that you cannot make out, we have glasses for the purpose, I want them brought into use to make out all things that may appear to us, so we may avoid hazards and follow what profits us. There is no need for disappointment if we use all the means at our disposal. Now let me introduce you to your officers: Owen Chase - first mate; Matthew Joy - second mate. I have divided you men into boats as follows, step forward as I mention your name: Thomas Chapple, step forward, Joseph West, Lawson Thomas, Charles Shorter, Isaiah Shepherd and William Bond the third boat with Mr. Joy; Benjamin Lawrence, Thomas Nicholson, Isaac Cole, Richard Peterson, and William Wright, you are in the second boat with Mr. Chase. The rest are with me: Obed Hendricks, Brazilia Ray, Owen Coffin, Charles Ramsdale, Samuel Reed, and Seth Weeks. Are there any questions? If not, then Mr. Chase you may give the men their orders.


ACT III Scene ii In the offices of the ship owning company. MR. RANSOM What you have related so far is not unusual in any of its essentials, Captain. GEORGE POLLARD On the second day at sea after we had left the port of Nantucket we were hit by a sudden severe squall that nearly ended our voyage at that point. We were struck by it and knocked over on the ships beam, the sail was in the water, but fortunately the ship righted herself again. However, from the strength and suddenness of this storm we lost three boats destroyed or seriously damaged and the cam house was thrown down. Some spars and rigging were lost as well, but that we easily made up. We considered turning back...

ACT III Scene iii The Essex, August l4, l8l9, Captain Pollard and Mr. Chase. GEORGE POLLARD Mr. Chase what do the men think? OWEN CHASE I have spoken to Mr. Joy. He is of the opinion that we should go back and re-outfit as regards our boats. He is not feeling well I am afraid and I don't know if that has influenced his opinion. He feels we have been out a relatively short time and that doubling back now would cost us little. GEORGE POLLARD What do the rest of the crew think? OWEN CHASE They are divided on it, some would prefer to go on, others to go back. GEORGE POLLARD And you? OWEN CHASE I can see the possible advantages of going back as Mr. Joy says. Yet I also see the advantages to going on, and perhaps purchasing some boats from a whaler coming home. A return to port risks the loss of some of our crew which might delay us, and the owners might raise questions about our steadfastness and skill, which I do not believe can be faulted. But a return might signify that we have doubts about our ability to see this voyage through. GEORGE POLLARD You are right, Mr. Chase. OWEN CHASE What will you do, Captain? GEORGE POLLARD Your arguments for continuing our voyage seem to me to have the upper hand. I say we shall not go back. Please inform Mr. Joy and the others. OWEN CHASE Aye, Captain.


ACT III Scene iv The Essex, Captain George Pollard and Captain George Coffin. GEORGE POLLARD Captain George Coffin, welcome to the Essex! GEORGE COFFIN Thank you, Captain Pollard. GEORGE POLLARD I am sorry for your misfortune. GEORGE COFFIN Thank you, Sir. GEORGE POLLARD What was her name? GEORGE COFFIN She was the Archimedes out of New York. GEORGE POLLARD The Archimedes? GEORGE COFFIN Yes, Sir. GEORGE POLLARD Then upon a principle, Sir, she should not have been in danger. GEORGE COFFIN She did not founder upon a principle, but upon a very dense and unforgiving reality. GEORGE POLLARD But with such a name.. GEORGE COFFIN Sir, having the name Archimedes does not assure that a ship will be able to displace enough water to float, especially when she has gashed her side upon a rock, just as, Sir, being a Christian does not assure that a man is charitable, nor does being a Captain assure that a man has a ship. We were lucky to run aground and save the crew, but we are beached here now. Do not make light of my situation, Sir. GEORGE POLLARD Forgive me, Captain. GEORGE COFFIN I have lost my ship, and without a ship what is it to be a Captain? Do you think I will be given another ship? Not likely. A Captain who brings his ship back, takes her out again; but if he loses her, ah that is another matter. There are many captains ashore who make the rounds of the owners, their seamanship exonerated by Boards of Inquiry, but they cannot find work as the master of a vessel. The owners would rather entrust it to a young captain, like yourself, no offense, Sir, who served under a reliable retiring principal officer that recommends him, than to take a chance upon a Captain who has a mark against him. There is only one opportunity Captain, use it well! GEORGE POLLARD You will find work in the trade, Sir, I am sure of it. GEORGE COFFIN Empty words Sir, empty words. Do you think I could ship on as an ordinary sailor after having been Captain, or even, Sir, as a First Mate? That is not possible once you have been the principal officer Sir. When you stand before all men upon the deck and give the order that determines the fate of yourself and all who sail with you, it is not possible to give it up again, to leave such a responsibility to someone else. As a Captain Sir, you stand eye to eye with God, unflinching before whatever He designs to test you, in the seas or in the ship or in the crew. Expect no


mercy, Sir, a good conscience is the best that you can hope for in the end, some children who don't know you and a little money to see you through the final passage. Few get that much! GEORGE POLLARD Sir, your speech is chilling even in the warm Azores. But no more of that, we have a request to make of you. GEORGE COFFIN What little we can do for you is at your service. GEORGE POLLARD We should like to purchase your whaleboats. We were struck by a severe squall shortly after our departure, that did some damage to the Essex, the most serious of which was that we lost completely two of our whaleboats and damaged a third. We hope that since you will not have further need of the ones you have, you might be willing to sell them to us. GEORGE COFFIN Ah, you wish to buy the dead man's clothes do you? That is not hard to arrange. I'm sure that we can come to a price. But take care, if Death still inhabit them, then the price that you pay may prove higher than you bargain for. GEORGE POLLARD Without whaleboats we shall return from our voyage with nothing to show for it. GEORGE COFFIN Sometimes Sir, just returning is no small thing! GEORGE POLLARD Your warnings are born of your own misfortune, Enough, Sir! GEORGE COFFIN As you wish. GEORGE POLLARD I believe I have a distant cousin of yours aboard my vessel. GEORGE COFFIN Really? GEORGE POLLARD Are you related to the Nantucket Coffins? GEORGE COFFIN Assuredly. GEORGE POLLARD Then you must be related to this young man. GEORGE COFFIN What is your name lad? OWEN COFFIN It is Owen Coffin, Sir. My Father was Hezekiah. GEORGE COFFIN Indeed! I have heard of him. Was he not killed by savages off Timor? OWEN COFFIN Aye, Sir, he was. GEORGE COFFIN He was a distant cousin. It is always a pleasure to come across a relative in the world. GEORGE POLLARD Sir, we also are related - my Aunt is this boy's Mother. GEORGE COFFIN You are related to him? GEORGE POLLARD Aye, and through him to you. GEORGE COFFIN Take care, take care. I wish to hear no more of it. GEORGE POLLARD What is the matter?


GEORGE COFFIN I never take a relative aboard my own vessel, I believe it to be bad luck. GEORGE POLLARD Why, Sir? GEORGE COFFIN The crew will grumble, Sir, that you are playing favorites, and you must bend backwards not to be accused of it. Suppose that you are in a severe gale and somebody must go into the rigging to take down the sail; if you send him and he plunges to his death your family will never forgive you, but if you avoid sending him, and send another member of the crew, and a like fate befalls him, then the crew will never forgive you. And if you, being unable to make a choice, lose your ship then no one, including yourself, will forgive you. No, I say it is bad luck. Forgive me for speaking to you so honestly. GEORGE POLLARD Each man takes his chances. Owen is just another member of my crew, it is the way he wishes it, and the way I do, Sir. GEORGE COFFIN You delude yourself Captain. GEORGE POLLARD For a Captain whose ship is wrecked you find a lot to criticize in me. GEORGE COFFIN Aha! There it is, Captain, there it is. Your absolution and assurances are revealed as false! What matters to you as to everyone else is the fact of my shipwreck, that spare and empty fact alone! From it am I discounted, as damaged as my ship!

ACT III Scene v

Mrs. Mary Pollard is reading a letter in her living room. MARY POLLARD Dear Mary: The voyage thus far has experienced some minor and some more serious mishaps, but as of this present writing all is well, or at least taken care of. Our passage round the Horn was difficult. It seemed as though Nature, Herself, was conspiring to keep us from whaling and out of the Pacific that was our destination. However, we proved as stubborn as She, and finally She granted our passage. Once having yielded, She was much more moderate and by January l820, we had arrived off the coast of Chile, looking for other ships from home to exchange bits of news and to find some ship homeward bound to pass these letters too. I have been quite pleased with my young cousin Owen so far; please tell his mother. He has learned quickly and applies himself with a ready will to whatever task is required of him. He seems glad to have his friend Ramsdale aboard and I have assigned them both to the same watch as they work well together and prefer each others company while off duty. They also compete, as friends will, with each other and it spurs them to excel at their employments. We have had several lowerings and taken eight Spermaceti whales which have supplied us with two hundred and fifty barrels of oil. The season here is ended and we shall hunt next off the coast of Peru and from thence to the Japanese hunting grounds. I hope that this letter finds you in good health and that your search for a home for us has been successful. I myself feel well and all on board, with the exception only of our Second Mate, Matthew Joy (who suffers again with a spell of the ague that has plagued him since our departure) are well. With my deepest affection for you my dear Mary, I am your loving husband.


George Pollard, Jr.

ACT III Scene vi In the offices of the ship owning company. GEORGE POLLARD There was yet one more difficulty on this part of our voyage. Although it is not uncommon to lose a boat in the chase after a whale, yet, because of earlier losses in the storm of some of our boats, the loss of this one cast more of a pall than it might have otherwise. Still we maintained good spirits, since we had made up our losses before. MR. RANSOM Captain, please, get on with it. GEORGE POLLARD It is important Mr. Ransom that you know how we looked at things, for without that information you cannot understand the way subsequent events affected us.

ACT III Scene vii Captain Pollard, first mate Owen Chase and Owen Coffin are standing together on the deck of the Essex in the late afternoon of November l6. The First Mate still looks somewhat bedraggled, his boat having been thrown into the water earlier. GEORGE POLLARD I saw it happen to you. OWEN CHASE There was nothing to be done about it. GEORGE POLLARD You could not have prevented it. OWEN CHASE Our harpoons were at the ready but she simply came up under us and with one blow of her tail smashed the bottom. GEORGE POLLARD You don't look the worse for your bath. OWEN CHASE My clothes are still wet. OWEN COFFIN You should have been in the Captain's boat, you would be drier. GEORGE POLLARD It has happened to me.


OWEN COFFIN Were you afraid? OWEN CHASE No, Mr. Coffin, for I could see the ship coming toward us, the snap and rustle of her sails, her broad beam lumbering in our direction in a pitching perambulation across the waves, and having the sure and certain feeling that she had kept an eye upon us and would, ere long, rescue us from all our troubles. I could anticipate her raising me up to her deck and enfolding me again in her bosom. Aboard her we are safe from all those things, hidden beneath the surface of the sea, which might attack us, devour us, or harm us in some other way for no reason known to us. I have quite a warm feeling about the Essex, Mr. Coffin. Some men condemn her for all the pains we have been put to on this voyage, but I, sir, say that she has saved us from worse and that she had nothing to do with those difficulties we have had for they are simply attendant upon going forth into the wider world. Had we not had this good ship we might have perished or been stranded like the Archimedes crew. So, Sir, treat her well, I say and she will continue to do the same to us. GEORGE POLLARD Aye, Mr. Chase, you are quite right. Listen with all your soul, Owen, to what the First Mate says, for he sees the Essex as she truly is for us. Now turn to the task of stoking the fires under the try pots and put her to work cooking the oil that will one day put food on our plates in Nantucket.

ACT III Scene viii The Essex November l7, l820, Owen Coffin and Charles Ramsdale talking. OWEN COFFIN He won't give me a chance at it! CHARLES RAMSDALE He will, just be patient! OWEN COFFIN No, I don't think he will. I have been patient. CHARLES RAMSDALE What can you do about it? OWEN COFFIN I don't know. CHARLES RAMSDALE He has promised you the next time. OWEN COFFIN I just want to throw that harpoon once. CHARLES RAMSDALE Next time. He said he would give you a chance next time! OWEN COFFIN He has said it before, but then he doesn't do it, says he doesn't want to lose the fish or the conditions aren't right or it's something else. CHARLES RAMSDALE Do you think, maybe, he is looking out for you? OWEN COFFIN Why? CHARLES RAMSDALE Because of your mother? OWEN COFFIN


I don't want his protection! Mr. Chase went from Harpooner to First Mate on his next voyage. When I get back, how can I tell anyone that I can throw a harpoon if he doesn't give me a chance at it? CHARLES RAMSDALE You will get your chance! OWEN COFFIN No! I don't think so! CHARLES RAMSDALE We still have a long voyage ahead. OWEN COFFIN There is only one way to change matters. CHARLES RAMSDALE What is that? OWEN COFFIN Switching boats! CHARLES RAMSDALE Switching boats? Leave the Captain's boat? OWEN COFFIN To the Mate's or Mr. Joy's! CHARLES RAMSDALE Have you talked to him about that? OWEN COFFIN Not yet. What do you think? CHARLES RAMSDALE I think it would be a mistake. OWEN COFFIN Why? CHARLES RAMSDALE You would offend him. OWEN COFFIN He has offended me by treating me like a child. CHARLES RAMSDALE He might not agree to it and he might be hardened against you. OWEN COFFIN That is true. CHARLES RAMSDALE Better to wait. Besides, I would miss you!

ACT III Scene ix The Essex the next day, Brazilia Ray, Owen Coffin, Charles Ramsdale are talking. OWEN COFFIN Another day and none have been spied. BRAZILIA RAY They will, what is your hurry? CHARLES RAMSDALE He hopes the Captain will let him throw the harpoon.


BRAZILIA RAY You want to be a harpooner eh? Tired of just pulling on the oars like the rest of us? OWEN COFFIN That's right. BRAZILIA RAY What makes you think you deserve to throw the iron? Because you are related to the Captain? Is that it? OWEN COFFIN No. It's because I believe I can do it. BRAZILIA RAY Oh, he believes he can do it. First voyage and he believes he can do it. He has never done it but he believes he can do it. CHARLES RAMSDALE Stop spearing him! BRAZILIA RAY Why should I? You two are always swimming together if one spouts the other does. CHARLES RAMSDALE Have we caused you any trouble Mr. Ray? BRAZILIA RAY No and be sure you don't! By rights I should be the next man in the Captain's boat to have a chance at it. I'm older; ain't afraid of the whale, won't wet my pants or throw up. But I'm not related to the Captain like some others on this ship. OWEN COFFIN Is that it? CHARLES RAMSDALE Owen's not afraid of the whale. BRAZILIA RAY Course he ain't or he wouldn't be in this boat. But I say harpooning is too important to be trusted to a tadpole. Got to have a clear eye and steady arm. CHARLES RAMSDALE Like you? BRAZILIA RAY Yeah, like me! CHARLES RAMSDALE And what about aim? BRAZILIA RAY That's the most important thing. To be able to put the point of the iron where you want it, deep in the whale at the right spot. Then you got him. No matter how far he runs, nor how fast. You got it in him and he can't get it out, can't get away. He's yours! Everyone goes home a little sooner. That's what is needed, a good aim. CHARLES RAMSDALE Well then maybe we ought to see if your aim is truer than Owen's, to decide who gets the first chance. BRAZILIA RAY How we going to do that? OWEN COFFIN We'll set up this barrel and put and “X” on it and the closest to the X wins. BRAZILIA RAY Fine by me. I seen you practicing but I don't mind, it's natural to me, don't need practice. If you know how to do it, you can do it. What is the wager? OWEN COFFIN If the Captain gives me first chance at it I give it to you or the other way around. BRAZILIA RAY Yeah!


OWEN COFFIN And you get to brag over it. BRAZILIA RAY You bet I will. OWEN COFFIN Charles put the barrel a ways off. CHARLES RAMSDALE Far enough? OWEN COFFIN There. Mr. Ray you can go first. BRAZILIA RAY This will show you who is suited to be a harpooner! (Throws the harpoon to one side of the X). I must have been a little off that time but I'm not worried. Go ahead Mr. Coffin. OWEN COFFIN My turn? (Steps up and throws it closer to the mark) How did I do? CHARLES RAMSDALE Owen is closer Mr. Ray. Come here and look if you don't believe me. BRAZILIA RAY Don't mean nothing! We didn't shake hands on that bet, so it is off, doesn't count. CHARLES RAMSDALE You can't do that Mr. Ray! BRAZILIA RAY Why not? Your friend going to tell the Captain on me? I'm going below. It was a dumb contest, means nothing. You two ganged up on me. OWEN COFFIN My Pa said a man that don't keep his word ain't much of a... BRAZILIA RAY (glaring) What? OWEN COFFIN Nothing. BRAZILIA RAY Good! (leaves) CHARLES RAMSDALE He sure is mad. You showed him up. Your harpoon hit the mark in his pride! OWEN COFFIN What can he do, hit me with his tail?

ACT IV Scene I The deck of the Essex in the evening of November l9, l820. The crew is sitting about and Brazilia Ray is playing an harmonica and the crew is singing. The Captain stands at the edge of the group, behind the witness chair with his hands upon the back of it, his words directed at times to the audience and at times to the crew. GEORGE POLLARD


Those disagreements were to be expected on a long voyage, they were nothing to worry about. The crew was on the whole harmonious. CREW “Come all you young fellow, That's bound after sperm, Come all you young fellows, That's rounded the Horn, Our captain has told us, And we hoped it was true That there's plenty of sperm whales, Off the coast of Peru.” BRAZILIA RAY Captain was right! CREW We have weathered the Horn, And have now left Peru, We are all of one mind, And endeavor to do, Our boats are all rigged, And our masthead is manned, Our riggin's rove light, And our signals all planned. In the morning so early, At break of the day, The man at the masthead, Will cry 'yonder she spouts'. OWEN COFFIN Where away does she lay? CREW And the answer from aloft. CHARLES RAMSDALE Two points on our lee bow, About three miles off. CREW Then it's call up all hands, And it's be of good cheer, Put your tubs in your boats boys, Have your bow lines all clear, Sway up your boats now, Jump in you boat's crew, Lower away now, lower away, My brave fellows do! GEORGE POLLARD That, to the best of my recollection, is how it was on the evening before the first disaster struck us; which, we at the time, naively, believed must be the worst. I see it now only as the proximate cause of the horrors that followed. We were, by then, an experienced crew, officers and men, having been at sea fifteen months; and having completed over half of our anticipated voyage. We had left the South American hunting ground and were looking for whales in the Pacific. On November 20, in the year of our Lord l820, the word from the masthead was... SETH WEEKS There she blows! GEORGE POLLARD I ordered the boats lowered to take what we could of a shoal of spermaceti whales. The first mate's boat was damaged when the creature into whom he had thrown his harpoon tossed himself


at Mr. Chase's boat and gave the boat a blow with his tail flukes. Mr. Chase immediately cut himself loose from the whale and using oar and sail made it back to the ship where he repaired the boat. But while working on it he saw another whale, a rogue whale, very large, about l00 yards off the weather bow that suddenly spouted and disappeared reappearing a ships length off and making directly for the ship at a speed of 3 knots, the ship going at a like velocity in the opposite direction. OWEN CHASE Steerer, Hard up! GEORGE POLLARD But it was too late and the whale struck the ship and threw all aboard to their hands and knees. The whale had damaged the bow and the ship began to settle in the water while the whale after apparently convulsing from the blow came toward her again traveling at twice his former speed and struck her a second time completely stoving in her bows. OWEN CHASE Cease pumping! Provide for yourselves! GEORGE POLLARD We in the meantime continued to pursue the hunt, oblivious to the danger the ship was in until a member of my boat, Obed Hendricks, stood up. OBED HENDRICKS Captain! Where is the ship? GEORGE POLLARD At that moment I turned around and swept the horizon but could not see a ship or a sail anywhere. I cut us loose from the whale and signaled the other boat to do the same and we made haste in the direction where the ship had been. When we finally came upon it, I saw the first mate disconsolately seated in his boat, two ships length from the wreck and the Essex on her side, slowly sinking (turning to Owen Chase). My God, Mr. Chase, what has happened here? OWEN CHASE We have been struck by a whale. GEORGE POLLARD He further elaborated upon this as I have told you. We then were twenty men in three light open boats upon the immensity of the Pacific Ocean, more than a thousand miles from the nearest land, watching that, which represented some hope of security, sinking before our very eyes; buoyed up, temporarily, only by the barrels of whale oil that we had been at such pains to secure. Before she broke up and sank we managed to salvage two quadrants, two compasses, two sets of charts and as much hard bread and fresh water as we dared to load in our boats. Along with that, some extra nails, hammers and wood to try to build up the sides of our boats so that they might survive at least moderate seas and for us to be able to make modest repairs. We also rescued some fire arms, two pistols and a musket, we left the latter with the men on the island. But I am getting ahead of my story. We were moored to the wreck for two days, salvaging what we could until I called out (to the crew): Push off! We were determined to stay close together and the next day the mate called over. OWEN CHASE Captain we have recrossed the Equator and are in the southern latitudes again. GEORGE POLLARD The day after the seas began to rise and at night it came into the boat. CHARLES RAMSDALE Captain, the salt water has damaged our provisions. GEORGE POLLARD Then we will eat the damaged portion first. Otherwise it will spoil and reduce the chances of our survival! (to the audience) That decision was the means of our preservation for without the whole of our rations every man of us would have perished! Nevertheless, the thirst that the salt water damaged bread created in us and which we dared not satisfy with our limited supply of water can better be imagined than described. We held seawater, and even our own urine, in our mouths in the desperate hope of reducing that thirst. But all to no avail! We were in our boat for


thirty days, alternately despairing and filled with hope of rescue, blown on our course by favorable winds and buffeted by unfavorable ones, attacked by the elements and even creatures of the deep. These incursions were of such a serious nature that both my boat and my first mate's boat required make-shift repairs. The great fear was that we should lose any of our boats and have to add the occupants of that boat to the remaining boats, thus overloading them, reducing the rations in them available for each man, and seriously reducing what small chance we had of surviving. On December 20, a month after we were wrecked and set adrift, a man in the third boat cried out. ISAIAH SHEPHERD There is land! GEORGE POLLARD It was, we believed, Ducies Island in the South Pacific 24o 40' South Latitude and l24o 40' West Longitude. It was formed of coral, oval in shape, and a mile or so in length with vegetation on it. We did not know if it might be inhabited by hostile savages.

ACT IV Scene ii

On Ducie's Island, two crewmen Seth Weeks and William Wright are speaking, when a third, Thomas Chapple comes up and joins them. WILLIAM WRIGHT I thought, after he found water, he was decided to stay. SETH WEEKS It is a miserable spring, only reachable at low tide. WILLIAM WRIGHT It is better than any other we have seen since we left the wreck. SETH WEEKS True enough! THOMAS CHAPPLE (Joins them) Why so glum mates? SETH WEEKS The Captain is making preparation to leave this island. THOMAS CHAPPLE Is he? WILLIAM WRIGHT Yes. THOMAS CHAPPLE What has persuaded him to leave? WILLIAM WRIGHT He says that there is not enough food on this island to supply all of us and it is better to leave while we still have rations left. THOMAS CHAPPLE Do you agree with him? WILLIAM WRIGHT It is better to try to find help than starve to death, but I've no wish to put out again in those clinker built boats. SETH WEEKS


What choice do we have, he wants all of us to remain together! THOMAS CHAPPLE If he were the Lamb of God I would surely follow him, but he is only a man, and he has gotten us into this. He wants us to remain with him, but do you want it mates? WILLIAM WRIGHT He finds the idea of any separation utterly repugnant. SETH WEEKS What are you after Thomas? THOMAS CHAPPLE I mean I have decided I am staying here. I was born on an island and I'll die on an island, this one if I have to. But if I have any hope of seeing England again, I don't believe it is bobbing on the waves in those thin bottoms. This is my ship, mates, safe from the storms, no sails to trim or bailing to do, as much sweet, fresh water as I want every day. At least I will not die of thirst! I'll take my chances on catching a fish or a bird now and again. WILLIAM WRIGHT But you have no chance of rescue. THOMAS CHAPPLE And what do you think he has? Besides lads, If he is rescued he will not forget to tell 'em about his old shipmates, will he? WILLIAM WRIGHT He will not let you stay! THOMAS CHAPPLE I think he will when I lay it out for him. It's one less man to take a share in the provisions and it will lighten the boat in the water and give him a better chance. He may object at first, but when he thinks about it he will see it my way. It's best for both of us. He couldn't ask it of me, but he won't turn down the offer when it will put a bit more in his stomach. And this island may not support twenty men, but I wager it will support two or three. Think about it mates, it would be nice to have some company. WILLIAM WRIGHT I would like to stay with you, Thomas. SETH WEEKS I am with you, too. THOMAS CHAPPLE Good. We will be enough for a small society!

ACT IV Scene iii

The offices of the ship owning company. GEORGE POLLARD We departed Ducies Island seven days after we arrived, our water supply restored and our bread untouched. We bade farewell to the men we left on the island. MR. RANSOM You did not take them with you? GEORGE POLLARD It must be understood that we did not abandon them... MR. RANSOM Must it be, Captain? GEORGE POLLARD


We gave them every opportunity and encouragement to pursue with us our strivings to bring about our own salvation. MR. RANSOM Your salvation, Captain? GEORGE POLLARD At the time we believed that their death from starvation could not be avoided, and we promised to send them help if we should be so fortunate as to find any ourselves. We did not think it prudent, however, to leave them any of our provisions... MR. RANSOM Not prudent, Captain? Not prudent or merely self-serving, Captain; how can one decide? GEORGE POLLARD We did not think it prudent, for it might only temporarily put off their starvation while perhaps seriously compromising the larger party, which had put its faith in our own efforts. GEORGE WORTH I see nothing wrong with that, Mr. Ransom. MR. RANSOM It was, shall we say, Captain Worth, less than disinterestedly decided upon. Why were the men remaining on the island not left with the portion of the rations to which they were entitled? GEORGE POLLARD I am secure in the knowledge, Mr. Ransom, that had we done as you suggest not one of us would have survived. As it is, some did survive including, and especially, Sir, the three men left on the island. GEORGE WORTH The results speak for themselves. MR. RANSOM Perhaps, Captain Worth... or perhaps not! But please, Mr....Captain Pollard, continue. GEORGE POLLARD So it was that on December 27, l820, we left Ducies Island and set our course for Easter Island some 850 miles to the East with the reasonable expectation that more sustenance would be found there; and that we might from that Island either be rescued or be able to replenish our supplies and continue toward the coast of South America. Since we had remaining a small allowance of bread for each man, enough to last thirty days, and since we had traveled over a thousand miles in a like period of time to reach Ducies Island from the wreck, we believed that we should reach our destination and still have a small amount of our provisions left. Accordingly we went forth as sanguine about our situation as could be expected. But it was not long before we encountered unfavorable winds and were blown off course and found that we were south of Easter Island and the wind blowing East Northeast would not allow us to reach it. We therefore were forced to make up our minds to steer for the next nearest landfall, a small island just off the coast of South America, not 850 but 2500 miles away. Whether it was this circumstance and the attendant despair, or simply the rigors of the hardship and privations to which his always-delicate state of health had been exposed, my second mate Matthew Joy passed from this life.

ACT IV Scene iv


Captain Pollard, in his weakened condition, struggles to come aboard the third boat accompanied by another member of the Captain's boat, Obed Hendricks. GEORGE POLLARD Gentlemen, though we face adversity, even desperate circumstances, we are still men of discipline, restraint, obedience. We are God fearing men and men of the sea, each man follows his orders, performs his duty, as well as he can. I have come aboard to perform the funeral service for Mr. Joy and I have brought Mr. Hendricks from my boat to take charge of this boat so that no man need feel that I have abandoned him and withdrawn my benevolent authority and influence from him. Mr. Hendricks will carry out my orders, and when I am not available he will command you in conformity with how he believes I would in those circumstances; or according to his own best judgment if it is not clear to him from previous experience and his knowledge of me, what I would be like to do. Is that understood? ALL Aye, Aye, Captain. GEORGE POLLARD Mr. Hendricks? OBED HENDRICKS Aye, Sir. GEORGE POLLARD Very well. Mr. Shorter, have you fixed the ballast rock to the body of Mr. Joy? CHARLES SHORTER Aye, Sir, I have done it. GEORGE POLLARD Then let us begin the service for Mr. Joy. I will recite the twenty-third Psalm, and request all of you to join me. "The Lord is my shepherd..." ALL "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake. Yea though I walk through the valley of the of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: Thou annointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever." Amen GEORGE POLLARD Thank you. "Unto Almighty God we commend the soul of our second mate Matthew Joy passed from this life on January l0, l82l and we commit his body to the deep; in the sure and certain hope of the Resurrection into eternal life, through our Lord Jesus Christ: at whose coming in glorious majesty to judge the world, the sea shall give up her dead." You may gently lift the body of our mate and place it in the water. (several men comply with the captain's order, after the body is no longer in the boat) "Earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust. The Lord gives and the Lord hath taken away, blessed be the name of the Lord." Amen. ALL Amen.

ACT IV Scene v In the offices of the ship owning company. GEORGE POLLARD Two days later, in a gale, my first mate's boat separated from us; but my anxiety about him was, if not entirely allayed, at least partly diminished because of our prior conversations about the possibility of such an event occurring and the fact that he was provided with compass, quadrant and charts as well as a pistol to insure discipline under whatever circumstances might arise. I did not see him again until we both reached the coast of South America, each aboard different vessels. However, the responsibility for the third boat was now entirely mine, as that boat was


provided with neither an experienced officer nor the means of independent navigation. Four days after Mr. Chase's boat separated from us the third boat informed us that their last provisions were entirely gone. They did not ask for any from us, nor did we make the offer. All was understood. MR. RANSOM How can anything like that be understood? GEORGE POLLARD You were not there. MR. RANSOM Should you not at least have offered… GEORGE WORTH They all began with the same portion, the captain's men would not have acquiesced to it! MR. RANSOM But were they asked? GEORGE POLLARD No one volunteered that we should share our meager remainder of food with the men in the third boat, and I did not feel that I could ask it of them. Nor, Sir, to answer your unarticulated question, did I offer to share mine. GEORGE WORTH A Captain must insure his own survival for as long as is possible, out of an obligation to his crew. He does not have liberty to sacrifice himself for personal considerations no matter how noble they may be. He is under an obligation to those who depend upon him to see them through to the end of their voyage. MR. RANSOM Captain Worth you have satisfied me on this point; continue Captain Pollard. GEORGE POLLARD Six days later, a black man, Lawson Thomas, died.

ACT IV Scene vi In the Third Boat, at one end are Obed Hendricks and Joseph West; at the other end are Charles Shorter, Isaiah Shepherd, and William Bond. Between them is the body of Lawson Thomas. WILLIAM BOND He (nodding to Hendricks) want us to think it over. CHARLES SHORTER Ain't nothing to think over! ISAIAH SHEPHERD He want it, he's white like the Captain. We ain't got no choice has we? CHARLES SHORTER We ain't got nothin' to eat, neither. ISAIAH SHEPHERD Captain put him in charge of this boat when the mate passed away. WILLIAM BOND But he asked us, ain't he? ISAIAH SHEPHERD Nobody suggested it when the mate died.


CHARLES SHORTER We had biscuit then, we ain't got it now. ISAIAH SHEPHERD I say nobody suggested it then 'cause he was white! Lawson Thomas is just a nigger. CHARLES SHORTER Don't have nothing to do with that! ISAIAH SHEPHERD Sure it do! WILLIAM BOND You don't have to be part of it, if you don't want to. ISAIAH SHEPHERD I don't like it, but I accept it, just like you. But what's the Captain going to say? CHARLES SHORTER Most white folks follow their Bibles, 'specially when it comes to dying! ISAIAH SHEPHERD And they wants Black folks to follow the White man's Bible too! CHARLES SHORTER Even if it means he gotta die? ISAIAH SHEPHERD Especially then! The way I see it, we shouldn't ask the Captain! WILLIAM BOND We could sail as good as the White man. CHARLES SHORTER But we ain't got no charts, no compass, we'll sail in circles from now '’till kingdom come. ISAIAH SHEPHERD I say we should take our chance with Providence. God will help us, we don't need the White mens. WILLIAM BOND It's our boat. CHARLES SHORTER We got to do what must be done. ISAIAH SHEPHERD Don't harm them, don't harm us. WILLIAM BOND Maybe if we was to give them a share, they couldn't condemn us. ISAIAH SHEPHERD They still got bread...and they got the pistol. CHARLES SHORTER And don't offer us none of that biscuit. ISAIAH SHEPHERD They wouldn't accept nothing from us, and might threaten to shoot us if we do it. WILLIAM BOND Can't say nothing. If we going to do it, then we just got to do it. If they shoot us, well better than dying this way!

ACT IV Scene vii


January 20, l82l, the Captain's boat, at the end of Mr. Ramsdale's watch, the Captain is waking up. The rest of the crew are slumped against the side of the boat. CHARLES RAMSDALE Captain, there is nothing unusual to report on my watch. GEORGE POLLARD No sign of a ship? CHARLES RAMSDALE No, Sir, and the winds have continued light. GEORGE POLLARD Have they conducted the burial of Mr. Thomas' body yet? CHARLES RAMSDALE Not yet, Sir. I think they are waiting for you. GEORGE POLLARD In a few moments then, Mr. Ramsdale. CHARLES RAMSDALE Wait, Captain, Mr. Hendricks is behaving strangely. He is standing over Mr. Thomas' remains in the boat with a knife. My God, he has sunk it in the dead man's chest! GEORGE POLLARD Has he gone mad? Are the others restraining him? CHARLES RAMSDALE No, Sir, the others are all about him and he has removed the dead man's heart. They are dividing it. They are (puts his hand to his mouth). . . GEORGE POLLARD What, Mr. Ramsdale? What is it? CHARLES RAMSDALE They are consuming it, Sir! GEORGE POLLARD What have we come to? CHARLES RAMSDALE Shall I order them to stop, Captain? GEORGE POLLARD Order them to stop? They have nothing else to eat, Mr. Ramsdale. CHARLES RAMSDALE It is a sacrilege... against the dead. GEORGE POLLARD Do not judge them, Mr. Ramsdale, they have been forced to it, we have only a week of scanty rations left before we may be in a like circumstance.

ACT IV Scene viii The offices of the Company with Captain Pollard, Mr. Ransom and Captain Worth. GEORGE POLLARD Our provisions ran out just as I had feared, and two days after that another black man in the Third boat died, Mr. Shorter. Our scruples, such as they had been, were overcome by necessity, and we willingly shared what was offered to us by the Third boat. Then four days later another man in the Third boat died and we followed a similar procedure. The day after, the only black


man in our boat, Mr. Reed, died and we made preparations to share with the Third boat, but that night the Third boat separated from us and we were unable to do so. MR. RANSOM Captain Pollard, you say that the Third boat separated from you, but is it not possible that you separated from that boat? GEORGE POLLARD It is all the same. MR. RANSOM Not quite, Captain. GEORGE WORTH Are you suggesting that Captain Pollard deliberately abandoned his Third Boat in order not to share the. . . "sustenance" he had with them? That is a shameful imputation, Sir, and can reflect only upon its source. MR. RANSOM I am not a man of the sea, Captain Worth, only an insurance agent. It is necessary for me to consider a particular situation from all possible vantage points in order to see completely the perils in them, human and otherwise. GEORGE POLLARD We expected rescue soon for ourselves, and the Third boat, for we believed that if the Good Lord wished us to survive it must happen soon or else we would not survive at all. MR. RANSOM What happened to the Third boat? GEORGE POLLARD It was never heard from again. GEORGE WORTH Continue, Captain Pollard. GEORGE POLLARD Eight more days of fearful hunger passed with no morsel of food to sustain us after we consumed the emaciated body of Mr. Reed. Our dreams were filled with our terrible longings.

ACT IV Scene ix There are four people at a table; one at the head, a woman, two men on one side and one on the other. There are, however, five places. All the people are in shadow except for Captain Pollard. The table gives the suggestion of being piled high with food, though it cannot be clearly seen. There is a wall to one side of the table with two windows and a door. GEORGE POLLARD Will it be much longer? WOMAN Can't say! GEORGE POLLARD Must we wait for him? WOMAN That is good manners! GEORGE POLLARD Do... we know him? WOMAN


I believe so. GEORGE POLLARD What's his name? WOMAN He is familiar to you. GEORGE POLLARD I thought that I saw someone pass the window! WOMAN When he comes in you may begin. (There is a rattling of the latch, everything disappears, the table and the diners; and Pollard is left holding onto the back of the witness chair.) GEORGE POLLARD Always at the moment that his hand on the door latch heralded his imminent appearance, I awoke; my heart beating violently against my hollow chest.

Act IV Scene x The Captain's boat, February 6, 1821, Captain Pollard, Owen Coffin, Brazilia Ray and Charles Ramsdale in a wretched state. OWEN COFFIN Captain, how long can we continue with nothing to eat? CHARLES RAMSDALE I have not the strength to set the sail. BRAZILIA RAY If we ship water in a storm, or from a small leak, none of us has the strength left to bail it from the boat. GEORGE POLLARD It is true that we are in a desperate condition, but what is there to do about it? CHARLES RAMSDALE We can hope for a sail. OWEN COFFIN We have hoped and prayed Charles for 78 days. I believe God has set his face against us. GEORGE POLLARD What else is there to do? BRAZILIA RAY I have heard stories, Captain, passed down from sailor to sailor, Captain, the means to give some a chance. GEORGE POLLARD Say what you are thinking, Mr. Ray! BRAZILIA RAY It is not my place, Captain. GEORGE POLLARD Damn you, Mr. Ray! If you know something that can help us, out with it, Sir! I order you to speak! BRAZILIA RAY Very well, then, Sir, ship wrecked men who are near to death from starvation have been known to cast lots to decide which of them are to survive and which are to be sacrificed for the others.


GEORGE POLLARD I have heard of that Mr. Ray, but have we reached that point? BRAZILIA RAY Ask your crew, Captain. GEORGE POLLARD Mr. Coffin? OWEN COFFIN Aye. GEORGE POLLARD Mr. Ramsdale? CHARLES RAMSDALE Aye. GEORGE POLLARD Mr. Ray? BRAZILIA RAY Aye. GEORGE POLLARD How shall it be done? Shall I tear four strips from the log book and pinch one of them short? Who draws the short one agrees to sacrifice himself for the rest? Is it agreed? ALL Aye! CHARLES RAMSDALE Who shall do it, Captain? GEORGE POLLARD (draws his pistol out of his sea chest and places it on a seat) Those remaining shall draw again? Is that also agreed? ALL Aye! GEORGE POLLARD (turns away from his shipmates and tears the paper, speaking to the audience) I was convinced that Brazilia Ray would draw the short length since he had been the one to put forth such a hellish and unspeakable idea that had the power to draw desperate men to it as flies to a dung heap. I did not consider that, since I was in charge, the punishment might fall upon me, though I was prepared to die. Yet the Lord in his infinite wisdom made the punishment worse than I had ever, at that moment, imagined. (turning back to the others) Here, gentlemen, who will choose first? OWEN COFFIN I will! (he pulls the short paper) GEORGE POLLARD Oh my God, Owen, it is you! OWEN COFFIN George, am I to die? GEORGE POLLARD Owen, if you do not like your lot, I will shoot the first man that touches you! (glaring at the others) OWEN COFFIN (hesitating) I ...like it...as well as... any other.


ACT IV Scene xi

Offices of the ship owning company. MR. RANSOM You said that you drew lots, but were the lots equal Captain? GEORGE WORTH He said that he pinched one of them short, the one that Owen Coffin drew. MR. RANSOM No, Captain Worth, I mean...were the risks equal? GEORGE WORTH Each man in the boat had an equal chance to draw the short lot, and each was prepared to present himself to be sacrificed if he should draw it. Captain Pollard was as willing to sacrifice himself for the others as they were for him. MR. RANSOM The men were in the habit of deferring to their captain, if the short lot had fallen to him... what would they have done? I do not believe the risks were equal. GEORGE POLLARD I think Captain Worth that what Mr. Ransom is saying is that although I was as willing to sacrifice myself as everyone else in the boat, yet the others would not have been as willing to accept my sacrifice as they were willing to accept that of anyone else because I had been the steward of this voyage, and was still, and was the one most familiar with the charts and instruments of navigation. Indeed, Mr. Ransom, I think you are right. I do not know if it occurred to me at the time, but from time to time since then, it is a thought which has occurred to me, and it has the power to throw me into the deepest despair. I sometimes can find comfort in the idea that if the short lot had fallen to me, although I was prepared to forfeit my life for the others, they might have given up the plan and it would have ended at that point, my conscience clear, my conduct unquestioned, and the mastery of my boat unimpeached. MR. RANSOM Excuse me Captain, but a question must be posed... based upon the facts as we have heard them. This was your first voyage as a captain, it was characterized by a series of disasters, the men left on the island expressed by their action a lack of confidence in your ability to bring the remaining hazardous voyage to a favorable conclusion, and by your own description the second and third boat had just recently deserted your command... Is it not possible that you were more concerned at that moment about your own position and authority in the boat than about what happened to a human life, even that of your own flesh and blood? GEORGE WORTH Captain Pollard offered to shoot anyone who threatened to harm Owen and to enforce discipline in the boat, with a pistol if necessary. No, Mr. Ransom, I think that your conclusion cannot be supported by the facts! Indeed, Owen Coffin indicated his wish to abide by the agreement and chose death over living under conditions of such deprivation. MR. RANSOM You mentioned that there was to be two drawings, Captain... GEORGE POLLARD Yes!

ACT IV Scene xii


The offices of the ship owning company and the Captain's boat on February 6, l82l, now presented simultaneously. BRAZILIA RAY We must draw for who does it, Captain. GEORGE POLLARD I will prepare them. (he turns away) Though at the time I prayed that I would not draw the short one my self, yet now I think that if I had, the immediacy of having to perform that act would have dissuaded me from such a devilish nostrum, whatever the consequences for our ultimate survival or my authority. But having once embraced the plan, my neediness, my weakness and an unforgiving destiny determined that I should be spared nothing, not one drop of the bitter drink, (turning back) I have them. BRAZILIA RAY Here. (takes the first one and holds it up) CHARLES RAMSDALE (Takes his) Is it the short one? GEORGE POLLARD It's the one you drew! CHARLES RAMSDALE My God, must I shoot my best friend? BRAZILIA RAY You have no choice, we agreed! OWEN COFFIN I will not hold it against you, Charles. George, if you return, tell my mother how I died. CHARLES RAMSDALE Captain, must I do it now? OWEN COFFIN If it must be done then let us all get it over with. Goodbye George, Brazilia, Charles. (He puts his head on the gunwale and Charles Ramsdale fires the pistol.)

ACT IV Scene xiii Offices of the ship owning company. MR. RANSOM And Captain, to the best of your knowledge, when did these events take place? GEORGE POLLARD February 6, l82l. GEORGE WORTH They had been on starvation rations since November 20 of the previous year when the Essex was stricken, that is …78 days. MR. RANSOM And when were you rescued? GEORGE POLLARD On the 23rd of February. MR. RANSOM Seventeen days after that. Who beside yourself survived? GEORGE POLLARD


Charles Ramsdale. MR. RANSOM What happened to Brazilia Ray? GEORGE POLLARD He died from hunger on the eleventh. MR. RANSOM You said he died of hunger, did you mean starvation? GEORGE POLLARD Hunger, Mr. Ransom, I meant hunger. Do you know anything of the difference between them? MR. RANSOM Prolonged hunger leads to starvation. Hunger is a painful sensation in the stomach, that is the difference. That is all! GEORGE POLLARD I can see that you do not have any understanding of it! None! MR. RANSOM What is it then, Captain Pollard; I would be pleased if you would enlighten me. GEORGE POLLARD Hunger is a painful desire that cannot be satisfied, it corrupts the soul, turns its ideals to excrement, withdraws to itself all interest in the world until the joy of living itself is extinguished. Starvation deprives the body of the means to continue its material existence; but hunger deprives it of the desire to do so. MR. RANSOM You did not resort to casting lots again? GEORGE POLLARD No. MR. RANSOM Did that mean, Sir, that you regretted what you had done? GEORGE POLLARD I believe it speaks for itself. GEORGE WORTH He did what he had to in order to survive! Those were not ordinary circumstances and they cannot be judged by ordinary standards!

MR. RANSOM Did the Third boat resort to casting lots? GEORGE POLLARD They were not heard from after they separated from us, and before that time none of the boats had found it necessary. MR. RANSOM And Mr. Chase's boat, what did he do? GEORGE POLLARD He did not resort to it. GEORGE WORTH He was rescued five days before Captain Pollard. MR. RANSOM But he did not commit that act? GEORGE WORTH Perhaps no one in his boat suggested it, perhaps he had not heard of it! MR. RANSOM Is that what you think, Captain Pollard, that he did not know about it, that simple ignorance kept him from such a grievous act? GEORGE POLLARD No. MR. RANSOM What... then, Captain? What was it that made him refrain from it?


GEORGE POLLARD I... I don't know. MR. RANSOM You don't know? But Captain, you had been sailing with him for many months, years even! GEORGE POLLARD Yes, he sailed with us when I was first mate on the Essex under Captain Russel. MR. RANSOM So, you knew him well? GEORGE POLLARD Yes. MR. RANSOM What was it? By this time, Captain, you must have some ideas on the subject? I, for one, would very much like to know what you think made him act differently than you in similar circumstances. GEORGE POLLARD I don't know, God, I don't know. I wish I had died. I talked with him in Valparaiso... MR. RANSOM Did you go to him? GEORGE POLLARD No, he came to visit me in the hospital.

ACT IV Scene xiv In Valparaiso March l7, l82l, a hospital room. Mr. Chase enters. GEORGE POLLARD My God, go away, I have suffered enough of those dreams! (Pulls covers over his head) OWEN CHASE Captain, it is me! I am alive! GEORGE POLLARD Mr. Chase, what do you want of me? I cannot help you! OWEN CHASE I want nothing, Captain, only to see you again. GEORGE POLLARD (looks out) Mr. Chase, is it really you, not an empty chimera,.. is it you? OWEN CHASE Yes! GEORGE POLLARD My God! (Pulls the covers over his head again.) OWEN CHASE Captain do not hide yourself. GEORGE POLLARD I must, I am not fit to be among the living. OWEN CHASE Captain your crew needs you. GEORGE POLLARD My crew? They are for the most part dead, their days hideously ended, their bones scattered across the Pacific...


OWEN CHASE I had despaired of ever seeing you again but then I heard from the officers on the USS Constellation that they had received reports that you were rescued. GEORGE POLLARD (looks out) Saved, Mr. Chase, that is what is was! OWEN CHASE Saved, yes, and me too. GEORGE POLLARD Who remains from your boat? OWEN CHASE Benjamin Lawrence and Thomas Nicholson. GEORGE POLLARD Only Charles Ramsdale was spared with me. OWEN CHASE How is it that we survived? GEORGE POLLARD Yes, how, indeed, how? (whispering) Did you hear about it? OWEN CHASE What, Captain? GEORGE POLLARD What we had to do? OWEN CHASE We were forced to do it, also. GEORGE POLLARD You were? OWEN CHASE Yes. GEORGE POLLARD Who was sacrificed? OWEN CHASE Sacrificed? GEORGE POLLARD Yes, you said you were forced to it also. OWEN CHASE We were forced to survive... off our dead shipmates. GEORGE POLLARD But you did not... cast lots? OWEN CHASE No! GEORGE POLLARD My God, my God, I am lost! OWEN CHASE You did? How terrible! GEORGE POLLARD See I cannot help you. I cannot help anyone. OWEN CHASE You did what you thought best! GEORGE POLLARD The Angel of Death hovered over my boat. I saw his shadow. I hoped that by giving him one life he would be satisfied, he would be merciful to the rest. But he took two-thirds of my remaining crew! OWEN CHASE I saw him too!


GEORGE POLLARD How did you keep him away? OWEN CHASE I spoke to the men. I urged them not to give in to him, to fight against him, always and everywhere! GEORGE POLLARD But you didn't take any action on their behalf? OWEN CHASE I did not believe that by helping him I could prevent his taking any members of my crew. GEORGE POLLARD Aggh! Stand back! Turn away from me! I am become Death and he...me! I see truly now, I am a false hope, a danger to all! OWEN CHASE It was not you, Captain, it was the circumstances, no man who was not faced with the same needs and circumstances can condemn you. Not even I faced what you have! GEORGE POLLARD Thank you, Mr. Chase. Would to God I could accept your consolation!

ACT V Scene i The offices of the ship owning company. MR. RANSOM Did you return with the others from Nantucket? GEORGE POLLARD No! The medical faculty at the hospital in Valparaiso desired that I remain an extra few months in their care. MR. RANSOM What did they do for you? GEORGE POLLARD A priest visited me regularly. MR. RANSOM A priest? GEORGE POLLARD


Yes. He assured me that if I asked God's forgiveness it would be given and, he said, I must not condemn myself. He offered to confess me if I converted to Catholicism. MR. RANSOM Did you? GEORGE POLLARD No. MR. RANSOM What else did he say to you? GEORGE POLLARD He said that I was like Job, and that after God tested Job, He restored all things to him. So, he said, if I trusted in God, He would do the same with me. I looked forward to my conversations with him, and found them to be a great help. MR. RANSOM Did they keep you in the hospital primarily to minister to your soul, Captain? GEORGE POLLARD No. The doctors watched over my diet, applied salves to the sores upon my body, and prescribed exercises to increase my strength as my health improved. MR. RANSOM When did you go home? GEORGE POLLARD I arrived a few months after Mr. Chase. Mr. Chase left on a whale ship with the others a few days after he had visited me in Valparaiso. I left with Captain Worth about two months later. MR. RANSOM Two months after the others? GEORGE POLLARD That's right. MR. RANSOM Did you wish to see first how the others would be received before returning yourself? GEORGE WORTH Mr. Ransom, you continually overstep your bounds, Sir! MR. RANSOM The Captain has taken us on a long detour away from the sinking of the Two Brothers. GEORGE POLLARD I did not wait, Mr. Ransom. I was at sea myself when the others arrived. But I will tell you that I would gladly have considered joining a monastic order in the mountains when I left the hospital had I not had a wife, for I doubted if I would ever have been accepted again in a civil society. MR. RANSOM And how, Captain Pollard, did the discussion arise about your becoming master of the Two Brothers?

ACT V Scene ii Captain Worth and George Pollard aboard the Two Brothers end of July l823. GEORGE WORTH Well, you have improved quite a lot since your rescue by the Dauphin in February. GEORGE POLLARD


That improvement has been due to the kind care I received in Valparaiso, and then from you on the Two Brothers. GEORGE WORTH It's nothing. What would have happened if Ramsdale had given up like that Brazilia fellow? GEORGE POLLARD I don't know what I would have done, probably sunk into madness from the absence of human company. I hope that he can help me explain what happened back in Nantucket. GEORGE WORTH I hope so. GEORGE POLLARD They will never understand it. GEORGE WORTH It is beyond understanding. GEORGE POLLARD I am afraid so. They will never give me another ship! GEORGE WORTH Nonsense, they will not understand it, but that doesn't mean they will hold it against you. Besides, lightning never strikes twice in the same place. You have had your share of bad luck. I would say more than your share! You held up, came through it, never gave into it! You are exactly the sort of man I would want to take out a ship of mine if I were an owner. GEORGE POLLARD That is kind of you, yet I don't think others will see it that way. GEORGE WORTH I may be able to help you myself. I am thinking of retiring after this voyage and I will own a piece of this ship. We shall see whether you are as finished as you believe!

ACT V Scene iii Offices of the ship owning company. MR. RANSOM You believed that lightning would not strike twice in the same place? GEORGE WORTH Yes! MR. RANSOM And did you think that by giving him the mastery of your ship, Captain Worth, you might also raise his spirits? GEORGE WORTH Perhaps that too, I did not believe it should be held against him, it was not of his doing. He was not a bad man but a man who had suffered terribly, through no fault of his own. It could have happened to me and I would have appreciated someone doing a kindness for me. But mostly (recovering himself) it was because I trusted him, he was a good officer, he ran a good ship! MR. RANSOM Captain Worth, did you allow your Christian charity and, perhaps, superstition to color your judgment about Captain Pollard's abilities? GEORGE WORTH I do not believe so. MR. RANSOM


Isn't that at least possible? GEORGE WORTH No! Mr. Ransom, you have turned this Inquiry into an Inquisition. MR. RANSOM The Captain has requested that we exonerate his soul as well as his seamanship. To that end we must examine the evidence that bears upon it. All of the evidence! GEORGE WORTH Are you in the business of indemnifying owners of souls as you are owners of ships, Sir? MR. RANSOM We have no actuarial tables for that business, Captain. GEORGE WORTH Speaking for myself, I do not believe he is guilty of any sin! MR. RANSOM Is it that you believe the evidence does not support it; or that you simply refuse to believe the evidence? GEORGE WORTH What is to be gained by condemning him? MR. RANSOM What is to be gained by exonerating him? GEORGE WORTH I suggest we confine ourselves to things we are more expert at! MR. RANSOM As you wish, Captain Worth. I am interested less in Captain Pollard's soul, or how he became Captain of the Two Brothers, than I am in her sinking! GEORGE POLLARD Then we must return to it.

ACT V Scene iv Captain George Pollard and Eben Gardner aboard the Two Brothers. EBEN GARDNER The squalls have become a gale, Sir. GEORGE POLLARD Indeed, Sir. Have you been able to take any sightings to plot a position? EBEN GARDNER I have tried, Captain, but I cannot vouch for them. GEORGE POLLARD If we do not stay in the channel we shall wreck on a reef or the shoals. EBEN GARDNER I did my best, Sir. GEORGE POLLARD Have you posted the extra watch? EBEN GARDNER I have, Sir! GEORGE POLLARD With the driving rain and the approach of darkness I do not know now much good it will do. EBEN GARDNER


It must do some good, Sir. GEORGE POLLARD I hope so, Mr. Gardner, I hope so! BOW WATCH Breakers Ahead! GEORGE POLLARD Bow hard a weather, Helmsman, Hard , Sir!

ACT V Scene v Captain Pollard, Captain Worth, Mr. Ransom in the company's offices. MR. RANSOM We have a report from your first mate, Captain, which I will read to you: "the Ship struck on A Reef of Rocks . . . (she) Appeared to float once her Length & Then Struck Again so heavy As Shattered her Whole Stern, the Sea made A Road over us & in a few Moments the Ship was full of Water." Is that what happened Sir? GEORGE POLLARD We took to the boats and fought against the storm through the night. The next day we were rescued by the Martha and lost no hands! MR. RANSOM Yes, but Captain, you lost your ship! GEORGE POLLARD I did, Sir, I did. But not one member of my crew! MR. RANSOM Are you not expected to bring your ship and your crew back safely, Sir? GEORGE POLLARD That was impossible! MR. RANSOM So you say. GEORGE POLLARD So it was! MR. RANSOM How many barrels of oil aboard her? GEORGE POLLARD Eight or nine hundred. MR. RANSOM And of course you lost it all. GEORGE POLLARD Yes. MR. RANSOM It adds to the loss of the ship, Captain. You see Captain, your men may be willing to sail under you again, but they cannot offer you a ship. GEORGE WORTH He is an able mariner, Mr. Ransom! MR. RANSOM Perhaps, Captain, Worth. But the facts are he has sailed out master of two vessels and has come back with neither. He made no obvious errors in seamanship, still he has lost two ships. To what shall we ascribe it? To you and Captain Pollard whaling may be a contest with the sea as well as a profession, but to me, Sir, and to the owners, it is a business. Risks, Sir, must be modest, must be calculable... so many losses in so many voyages. It is necessary that we be able to determine the risk of losses so that we can establish charges that allow us to make a small profit. Now I ask you, Sir, having lost two ships, how would you rate the chances of Captain Pollard preserving his next one? You may say that there is nothing that connects them, but the fact is he connects them! Though the formal laws of mathematics may compass the possibilities of the soul-trying misfortunes of this man, still the very sensible improbabilities of his story


point to something beyond them! I, for one, would not wish to test it again. Well, I am sorry for speaking out of turn, I was speaking for myself alone. I will have a written record of this Inquiry prepared for all the owners and they shall render a decision on the Captain's conduct of his vessel. Thank you gentlemen!

ACT V Scene vi Captain George Pollard and Mary Pollard in their living room. GEORGE POLLARD Well, it was not unexpected. MARY POLLARD What did the owners decide? GEORGE POLLARD Nothing. MARY POLLARD They made no determination? GEORGE POLLARD That was their conclusion. MARY POLLARD They did not blame you, then! GEORGE POLLARD Nor did they clear me! MARY POLLARD What does it mean? GEORGE POLLARD No owner will sign me on again as Master. MARY POLLARD They should have found for you! GEORGE POLLARD It makes no difference, Mary, they see me as ill fated. MARY POLLARD It is not fair! GEORGE POLLARD I myself do not wish to go to sea again. MARY POLLARD Still, it was not kind! GEORGE POLLARD This is a small thing. For me sometime ago the gentle eye of mercy in the universe was torn from its socket and I find only an unsightly scar when I go to look for it.


ACT V Scene vii A woman stands by the railing on the widows walk above her house looking out to sea. She moves to the adjoining railing. WOMAN They leave us as innocent boys and come back to us as men that we cannot understand, haunted by spectral ghosts we do not know. THE END

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THE NIGHT WATCHMAN2wildsoundfestival.com/the_night_watchman_winning_play.pdf · 2013-10-12 · Synopsis: The Night Watchman This is a play in five acts, which is structured around