Moonfleet (2013) s01e02 Episode Script

Part 2

1 The Mohunes are back.
No! Colonel Blackbeard Mohune.
Tell me about the diamond, Ratsey.
Anyone who's ever met Blackbeard's ghost in that graveyard has not lived to tell the tale.
Do you understand? I'll be watching you, boy.
Every minute of every day.
Where are you, Blackbeard? I will put a light in the tower every night to guide you home to Moonfleet.
It's your mother's Book Of Common Prayer.
My wicked ancestor.
On your knees! Fire! Aaaaaah! Easy, boy.
Easy.
You'll be all right, boy.
It's only a flesh wound.
You must sign the requisition for the immediate apprehension of your father's murderer, Elzevir Block.
I was told Mr Block was a good man.
You say he took my father's life.
He did not just take his life, miss.
He executed him.
Block put your father's own pistol to his forehead.
Enough, officer.
If you do not sign it, we cannot prosecute and your father's murderers will go free.
Was there anyone else there when he died? There was a boy next to him when it happened.
Name of Trenchard.
He's a good lad.
He would not be involved in that.
Is he caught? Not yet but he will be.
What did he do? Nothing.
He just stood by and watched.
I don't believe it.
I saw it with my own eyes, miss.
They took your mother and now they have taken your father.
Mohune's pistol.
Use it if you need to.
Where are you going? To see how the land lies.
You get some rest.
There's a light in the window.
Grace Our friends in France are waiting for you.
What happened to Meech? Taken to his heels.
You look after these people, Ratsey.
Go well, Elzevir.
I hope to meet again.
In that I have no doubt.
Did I not teach you to shoot better than that? You've told them this is not the truth? This is our truth now.
If we can make it to France, we'll be beyond the reach of the Excise for life.
Outlaws.
Alive.
You go.
Leave me here.
You go where I go, remember? I'm done with all that.
Oh, and you who'd tell anyone who'd listen, man or girl, what a great man you was to become.
Did you see Grace? I won't have a broken heart slow you down.
Did you see her? No.
But there was a light in the window.
Yes.
I knew it.
I'll come with you, Elzevir.
You sleep now.
Argh! Jump! It's our only chance! I know for a fact there are only 17 verses in it.
This verse comes tenth.
But he calls it the 21st.
Elzevir! I'm here, boy.
How are you feeling, John? There's a spring tide that could take us halfway to France.
He didn't turn to the Lord, Elzevir.
Who are you talking about? Blackbeard.
He wrote down the secret location of his diamond.
Look, you can have all your daydreams when we're safe in France.
It is no daydream.
Look.
He's written down the number of the psalm correctly.
But in every instance, the number of the verse wrongly.
He was a rogue not a clergyman.
There is no wonder in that.
But what if there's method in his madness? What if the second number actually refers to the number of the word in the psalm.
You still in your fever, boy.
21st word in verse 10 is fourscore.
And the second text is feet.
Fourscore feet.
Go on.
Then we have 'deep', then 'well'.
And lastly 'north'.
Fourscore deep well north.
It means something.
I know it does.
All right, all right.
Let's assume he hid the diamond down a well.
There's not a well in Dorset, let alone Moonfleet that is fourscore deep.
What if he hid it before he came back to Moonfleet? What, the night before he picked it up? But where? It said it was used as a bribe by Charles I.
Blackbeard was his jailor at Carisbrooke Castle.
Carisbrooke Castle .
.
has a well that is 50 fathoms deep.
80 feet down on the north side.
Diamond's in the well.
And no-one will expect us to break into a prison, that's for sure.
If the diamond's there - It is there.
I know it is.
We let France be for now and we head for Carisbrooke Castle.
Look, Elzevir.
Moonfleet.
We'll return rich men.
How are we ever going to get in there? It's hopeless.
Nothing's hopeless when men are greedy.
Watch the turnkey.
See? Come on.
You wouldn't get this in Moonfleet, Elzevir.
I think I'm frightened.
You should be.
You stinking, lying cheat! Nice young man.
Molly, I assure you, I thought I had the money in my purse.
The next time you try that on with me, I will slit your throat from ear to ear! Unhand me! I am an officer of His Majesty's presence.
What you looking at, boy? Nothing.
Looking for company, sir? Alas, sister, I'm looking for work.
If you need something on account .
.
come and find me.
Come on.
I do not need more masons.
Now, out of my way.
It would mean a lot to us to gain a reputation on the isle, sir.
What if I was to, I don't know, give you some kind of warranty? Warranty? To prove that we are trustworthy and we won't let you down.
What form would this warranty come in? I don't know.
Erm One day's wages in advance? Talk is cheap.
'Tis a royal prison.
I cannot have riff-raff I barely know coming or going.
Well, let's say two days.
'Tis all the money we have in the world.
Be at the main gate at dawn.
Thank you, sir.
I wasn't lying when I said 'tis all the money we have in the world.
You get some sleep.
Where are you going? A man cannot live by diamonds alone, John.
Would you like to come with me? No.
Look a woman says she will wait for you forever.
And at the time of saying it, she means it.
Maybe the sort of women you know.
Don't wait up.
Aunt Lydia Grace? Grace Mohune? Oh, dear! A country mouse in a hessian sack.
What on earth am I supposed to do with that? The turnkey has our papers, sir.
Come on, boys.
Let them through.
They've got work to do.
Thank you.
Make sure he pays you before you do the work.
That's what the ladies say, anyway.
Work.
Boys He's new.
He's my apprentice.
Idiot! Sorry, Elzevir.
You call me by name, boy .
.
and you'll hang us both.
What is going on here? I'm sorry, sir.
We're We're just very excited to be working again.
Turnkey, there's a woman at the gate asking for you.
Who is it? Says her name is Molly and she's righteously sorry.
Get on with your work.
More water, boy.
Molly'll keep him occupied but we've got to be fast.
Why would she do that for you? Well, when a man and a woman love one another very much Shut up.
Too much woman for you, boy.
Enough for 80 feet.
That's the north side.
You ready for this, boy? Quick as you like.
Stop! Anything? Not yet.
Are you sure you measured the plummet true? The knot is at 80 feet.
There's nothing here.
This'll do nicely.
Right No, not here, sir.
Why not? It's too public.
But you're a Oh, no.
Sorry, sir.
I couldn't do it in there.
Rats! Rats? It's a prison.
If this is some sort of stupid game - What's the matter, sir? Just a little bit further.
It'll be worth every step.
It's a new floor.
It's a new floor, John.
Perhaps it's been raised.
Lower me.
Stop, stop! Wait! You all right, John? John? We're running out of time.
My diamond! Elzevir! Now bring me up! What? Everything's changed, Elzevir.
Everything.
I'll have that now, my brave boys.
Give it to me and I'll escort you out of the prison.
'Tis nothing.
I'll be the judge of that Mr Elzevir Block.
I know who you are.
£50 on your head, 20 on the boy's.
Well, you shoot one of us and the other will be upon you.
Give me the diamond or I fire.
I'll give you a third.
And a third for each of us.
No, Elzevir.
How can I trust you? You have no choice.
You shoot one of us, the other kills you.
Or you help us and live out the rest of your days a very rich man.
Why are you even talking to him? He's pointing a gun at my head.
Half for me.
For that, you'll have safe passage out of the prison.
You have my word.
All the same .
.
I'll feel safer with the diamond in my pocket.
No! Waaaah! Help me! Help me! Hold tight, man! I cannot! We have to go, Elzevir.
They will have heard the shot.
No man should die for a stone.
Not even this one.
We have to go! John, help me.
Aaaaaah! What have you done? You killed a man.
I had to.
Like you would have killed Grace's father.
Vengeance for my boy, to save my men, yes.
But for a thing? For a bauble? No.
It's not a bauble! You said it yourself: think what we could buy with it! You can't buy a woman's love, not even a Mohune woman! Are you not the man you said you were, Elzevir? Were the others right? When you cradle your only son in your arms, and watch the life seep out of the hole in his head .
.
then you can tell me what a man is.
What happens now is we go to the Hague, we sell the diamond and we set sail for the New World.
The Excise cannot reach us there.
And you can grow into the good and decent man I have always known you to be.
And what about Grace? Well, she said she would wait for you.
Make something of yourself, John, and return in 10-20 years.
20 years?! At least until it's all blown over, and you can return as a rich stranger with a colonial accent.
From now on you do as I say.
You have my word.
Good.
The man we seek is named Aldobrand.
Why him? Because he'll ask fewer questions than the others.
Come on.
We'll tell him we're just common sailors and we won it at cards.
Any sign of trouble, the merest hint, we get out.
Boy! My word on it.
I hear you have a jewel to sell but you must know I do not purchase sailors' flotsam.
So if 'tis moonstone or catseye, or some pinhead diamonds, keep it, and make toys for your sweethearts.
'Tis no toy.
Out with it, let me see.
Not in here, sir.
Here or nowhere, my friend.
How do you like our flotsam, sir? This way.
What is your name, boy? And whence do you come? John Trenchard, sir.
Moonfleet, Dorset.
And how did John Trenchard come by this? We come not to play at questions and answers, but to see if his worship will buy a diamond and for what price.
Is it not beautiful, sir? We need your answer now.
You need an answer and you shall have it.
This is no stone at all, my friends, but glass.
Paste, as we call it.
Not that it is not excellent paste, perhaps the finest I have seen.
It's fake? Then we will take our paste and be on our way.
I risked my life for a piece of glass? I did not say it is worthless.
Paste this fine How much? I will offer you ten silver crowns for it.
A goodly sum for sailor boys and more than any other buyer in this town would bid for it.
Give me back my diamond, sir.
20 crowns .
.
because I see the truth is painful.
He's lying.
Watch your tongue, boy.
You are a long way from Moonfleet, Dorset.
Let him have it, John and Blackbeard's curse with it.
Curse? Mm.
I'm trembling This could be the making of us, John.
No! We can go to the New World with this.
A new life.
You gave me your word.
What I want is in Moonfleet, not in the New World.
Help! Thieves! Your greed will kill us both! It is for her, not for me! There was no light in the window! She's not there waiting for you.
Do you not understand? You're lying! No! Oof! Leave it! Take them to the magistrate.
Damn you, Aldobrand! And may Blackbeard's curse be upon you! Sir John.
Please, Aunt, don't make me go.
Not only are you going, my little niece, you are going to be the belle of the ball.
Even if it kills me.
The Assembly Rooms are the shop window and you are the goods.
So hold still while we wrap you up.
Tighter.
How could you lie to me, Elzevir? Let me have hope when you knew there was none? Oof! Because you were not man enough for the truth.
I'll escape, I'll get back to her.
Do you still not know what you have done? We're never going back.
Ymeguen Prison.
The end.
Come on! Sit down! Aaaaargh! One day I'll be a rich man.
There aren't enough fish heads in the world.
You won't mock me when I have a great house and a carriage to go with it.
Grace.
Grace Spark up those eyes, young lady, and remember who you are.
Sans parents, sans fortune.
Get yourself a husband and get one quick.
Sorry, John.
Who's there? So help me I'll kill you! Just a man, sir.
Once a man.
Meech? It's me, Meech.
John Trenchard.
John Trenchard? Moonfleet? Take me home Moonfleet.
Take me home.
Why did you betray us? Elzevir.
Elzevir.
He's here.
Imprisoned.
I'm sorry, I'm sorry.
El I'm sorry The best of us.
I'm sorry.
Don't talk.
I betrayed him for money.
Me too.
I betrayed him.
The best of us.
The very best of us.
Where are we going? We stay here, in the prison.
And them? They take them to Java, in the Dutch West Indies, to work the sugar plantations.
If they survive the journey they will die there.
Take me! I go where you go! Head down, mouth shut.
John! Elzevir! Argh! Elzevir! I thought we'd go back one day, Elzevir.
Following clouds of glory.
You gave me a home and hope and this is how I repaid you.
I hope you've got your sea legs on, my pretties.
There's a big storm coming.
Get back.
Get back! Eat, Elzevir.
Please, you have to eat.
You must eat! Rain water.
Drink, Elzevir.
Drink.
Drink.
I have known better ships sunk by less than this.
Elzevir! We'll never make the Atlantic let alone the Indies.
We will flounder? Yes.
You should not be here.
I go where you go, remember? I was angry.
Forgive me.
'Tis I who should beg forgiveness of you.
When my Davey died No, Elzevir.
Don't speak of it.
I was lost and broken .
.
and you gave me .
.
life itself.
And now we die.
Come here.
Abandon ship! Abandon ship! Take it and make the most of it! We leave! God favours the brave and the devil take the hindmost! We must be in the Channel.
We're not far from home.
Moonfleet? Yes.
Our story doesn't end here, John.
Give them to me! Give them! Give me the keys! Do not leave the ship! Though every sinew in your body screams otherwise! Do not leave the ship! We shall soon be in the breakers where this ship will split up! Each man will have a chance to fight for his own life! Do not leave the ship! The Bay! Moonfleet Bay! Can we make it? Stay close to me, John! Hold fast! To the wheel, John! To the wheel! John! John! The wheel! Come on! Hold on! Starboard! John! We'll run her dead for the beach! Damn! What? I have nothing to guide me! Look, there, Elzevir! There's a light! The Manor House.
Grace.
There's a shallow shelf at the edge of the bay.
'Tis our only chance.
Starboard! We go when the wave returns! On my word, we jump.
Run up the beach as fast as you can.
Try to grab the ropes! Elzevir we made it home.
Good luck, John.
And may God save us both.
Are you ready, son? I'm ready, Father.
Hard to port! Brace yourself! Now, John! Run! She's breaking up! Hold on! Wait till the tide's out! Elzevir Elzevir! John, John.
It's me, Ratsey.
Where is he, Ratsey? Come on, look lively.
Further up the beach.
The Lord's my shepherd, I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures.
He restoreth my soul.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death Forgive me, John, for thinking ill of you.
You kept the light burning.
I hate to be the one to say it, but 'tis not safe for you here.
They look for me still? If only you'd drowned in the shipwreck.
For as much as it hath pleased Almighty God of his great mercy to take unto himself the souls of our dear brothers here departed Elzevir Block and John Trenchard.
We therefore commit their bodies Elzevir Block.
A great man.
The very best of us, Ratsey.
John Trenchard.
I never liked him.
.
.
In sure and certain hope of resurrection to eternal life.
What will you do now, ghost of John Trenchard? I will stay in the village I should never have left.
And I will marry the only woman I have ever loved.
If she'll take me? She will.
Even though I only have my love? Even though.
John This was delivered to me when you were away.
I have never opened it.
In the hope that you would return and open it yourself.
'John Trenchard, Moonfleet, Dorset.
' Who's it from? A lawyer in The Hague.
You remember the man, Aldobrand, who stole the diamond? Well, according to this, soon after, he was taken ill and died a painful death.
He said the diamond was cursed.
And before he passed away directed that it should be returned to me.
Blackbeard's diamond? It's beautiful! I thought so once.
You or me? Well, rightfully, it belongs to you.
But 'twas you it bewitched.

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