"On a Wednesday excursion, when I was a little girl, my father bought me a beaded wire ball that I loved." "Its hinged wires traced the same pattern of intersecting circles that I had seen on the globe in my school room;" "the thin black lines of latitude and longitude." "As we strode up Fifth Avenue to Rockefeller Center, with me on his shoulders," "I remember we stopped to stare at the statue of Atlas, carrying heaven and Earth on his." "The bronze orb that Atlas held aloft," "like the wire toy in my hands, was a see-through world, defined by imaginary lines." "Even as a child, I could recognise, in the graph-paper grid imposed on the globe, the powerful symbol of all the real lands and waters on the planet." "Lines of latitude and longitude remain fixed as the world changes beneath them, with national boundaries repeatedly redrawn by war or peace." "Any sailor worth his salt can gauge his latitude well enough by the length of the day, or by the height of the sun." "However, to learn one 's longitude at sea, you need to know what time it is aboard ship, and also the time at your home port." "Every four-minute difference between the two times indicates one degree, east or west, of longitude." "This information, so easily accessible today, from any pair of cheap wristwatches, was utterly unattainable during most of human history." "On the 22nd October 1707," "Admiral Sir Clowdisley Shovell summoned the captains of the British fleet to his flagship, The Association." "That morning, he had ordered the execution of an able seaman." "The navigation of His Majesty's ships is the sole concern of His Majesty's officers" "The crime was keeping a private reckoning of the ship's position and publicly disputing the admiral's calculation." "..ball of bloody twine, every damned instrument in the possession of any seaman on any ship under my command confiscated." "Any further questioning of our position will be treated as an act of mutiny and dealt with accordingly." "Is that clear?" "." "Now, by my reckoning, we are here," "30 miles off the coast of Brittany." "Gentlemen, what are your figures?" "." "30 miles the Romney, sir." "Captain Ainsley?" "." "Er, the same, sir." "And where did the late Able Seaman Marston put us, Captain?" "Here, sir." "90 bloody miles away!" "." "In the lsles of Scilly!" "Leave it." "He gets upset if you move it." "So, go on, then." "No, I did not!" "Well, not exactly." "What does "not exactly" mean?" "." "Well, I couldn't just leave it like that, could I?" "." "Can he hear us?" "." "Well, he can't speak, so even if he can, he can't tell anyone, can he?" "." "Lieutenant Gould, your reflexes are normal." "There's no damage to your vocal chords." "You can speak...if you choose to." "For God's sake, you're not like the others out there." "You're an officer in His Majesty's navy." "Four years' service, exemplary record, you're expected to set an example." "Broken, I'm afraid." "I keep meaning to get it fixed." "Fiddly bloody things, aren 't they?" "." "I think I'll stick to human beings." "Honourable members, who mourned with us, the recent tragic loss, off the Scilly Isles, of four of Her Majesty's ships and 2, 000 wretched souls therein, under the command of Admiral Sir Clowdisley Shovell," "will be pleased to know that Her Majesty's government is to offer a reward." "A prize of 20,000 pound, to any man offering a practicable and useful solution to the problem of finding longitude at sea." "A Board of Longitude will be set up, whose sole business will be to investigate any serious suggestion and, finally, it is profoundly to be hoped, to award this prize." "* .. his praise forth tell" "* Come ye before him and rejoice" "Thank you, gentlemen." "Much better." "I'll see you all on Sunday." "William, wait here." "What do you think, Sir Charles?" "Extraordinary." "Could you hear the difference?" "Mr Harrison, does it matter?" "." "The sound was beautiful." "Could you spare me a moment, sir?" "." "of course" "It's not just beautiful, it's divine." "That's where the beauty lies, you see." "Each note on the scale is calculated by a mathematical formula, based on the circumference of a circle, you see?" "Er...almost." "The step between each note is composed of larger and lesser intervals, each derived from pi." "It is divine, because, for the first time, we are listening to music as the Lord intended." "Two grasshoppers' meets." "Three grasshoppers' meets." "Four grasshoppers' meets." "Cecil!" "oh, leave him darling." "He's been in the car for ages." "It's a long journey for a little boy." "Cecil!" "Especially to look at a silly-billy old clock." "oh, is that my stable yard clock?" "." "Yes." "It's being adjusted." "Does it work, then?" "." "I have it to under five seconds a month." "But that's absurd!" "Sir Charles, if we had funds to produce a small pamphlet," "I've already prepared an outline of the text." "Inexpensively printed, it could be made available to every village choir in the country." "We showed it to an American gentleman last summer." "He seemed rather disappointed when he saw it, as I recall." "These partitions wouldn't have been here in Harrison's time, of course." "He probably did some work on the panelling." "He was a carpenter by trade, you see." "Yes, I know." "This way." "How can you tell if a clock is running five seconds faster or slower?" "." "My own pendulum clock is adjusted to one second a month." "No clock could be that accurate." "Mine can." "John, what are you doing?" "." "Good day, Mrs Harrison." "Sir Charles." "Sir Charles was asking about the choir." "Where's William?" "oh, dear." "Look how it just touches the wheel, hardly using any energy." "It's named after an insect - the grasshopper escapement." "It's funny." "It's 200 years old, built before Nelson was born." "And can you see what it's made of?" "Wheels." "Wood." "It's made of wood." "Darling, we're going to be late, and Jocelyn's starving." "If you close that door, I'll close this one." "William William." "What did he say?" "." "He said he'd think about it." "In you get." "Is it accurate?" "Well, it wouldn't be there otherwise, would it?" "No, I suppose not." "It doesn't need oil, you see." "The wooden bearings just lubricate themselves." "You just wind it and walk away." "oh, very good." "Thank you, sir." "I just hope you're not thinking of giving up your regular work." "I've got three farms to build this spring." "No, sir." "So it's not true what I hear about you wanting to build a clock that you can use at sea?" "Impossible, sir." "A clock needs a pendulum." "You can't take a pendulum to sea." "Not like you to say impossible, John." "No, sir." "So that's it?" "A wooden clock, that's his claim to fame?" "It was the first accurate clock ever built." "That's certainly one claim, but not the most important." "It's the sea clocks, they're the masterpieces." "And where are they?" "John o'Groats?" "I don't know." "I've never seen them." "Greenwich, I suppose." "Am I keeping you awake?" "You are, not the music." "You've made up your mind, haven't you?" "." "No." "You mean you're not going?" "." "Not going where?" "To London." "I didn't say that." "You've found a way to build this sea clock, haven't you?" "." "With God's help, it might be possible." "I mean, why did he encourage me to build a perfect timepiece in the first place?" "So the blacksmith might start work five seconds earlier or later?" "or was it to give us the ability to explore his creation in safety, to move without fear in the space he's given us to inhabit?" "London is no place for a boy." "Don't worry, he's old enough, and he'll be company." "Take James if it's company you need." "No." "I need James to stay here in the workshop if we 're to eat." "Besides, it's for William I'm doing all this." "*20,000..." "He'll be a gentleman." "What does he need with money?" "I wonder if you could..." "No parlo lnglese." "Scusi." "At midnight precisely, a rocket would be fired 3,000 feet in the air." "from each barge, moored at intervals of ten miles, thus!" "Did you say moored?" "Yes, sir." "The Atlantic ocean is no more than two leagues deep at any point." "Sailors over distances of several miles would be able to observe the rocket at precisely midnight, London time, and, knowing both London time and the time aboard ship..." "Er...excuse me." "...they calculate their longitude position simply and safely." "How many of these barges do you propose?" "." "Um... 600." "Approximately." "And who, exactly, is to fire these rockets?" "." "Her Majesty's navy, or, in time of war, patriotic citizenry." "Anybody prepared, in fact, to live on a stationary barge in the middle of nowhere 365 days a year." "And how, exactly, would these men be fed?" "." "Well, sir... provisioning ships would need to visit the barges on a regular basis." "Now, you wait here, while I go in to see Doctor Halley." "I think it went quite well." "Now, it is vital to my process, Sir Edmund, that each dog be wounded with the same knife... as these three animals have been, under my instructions, some three days ago." "Now, the animals are then to be conveyed aboard one of His Majesty's ships, under the supervision of a designated officer, whose task it is to prevent the wound from healing." "The knife, however, would remain here, in London, and at precisely noon, each day, is to be plunged into the powder of sympathy," "which would immediately aggravate the wound so that each dog, no matter how many thousands of miles away he may be in his particular vessel, would begin to howl, thus." "The navigational officer on board each ship would therefore know instantly that it would be midday in London, and would thus be able to calculate his longitudinal position accordingly." "Get rid of them!" "Dr Halley, there's one further..." "No more today." "I've had enough longitude lunatics for one afternoon." "I'm sorry, sir." "Don't touch that, boy!" "I didn't, sir, honest." "I was just looking." "Do you know what that is?" "It's to tell the movement of the stars." "How do you know that?" "It's my job at home." "You have one of these at home?" "." "No, sir." "We use Mr Johnson next door's chimney." "And, pray, what is it you learn from Mr Johnson next door's chimney?" "." "The time." "How can you tell the time with a chimney?" "If you stand in the right place, you can see Sirius." "Sirius?" "." "It moves behind Mr Johnson's chimney three minutes and 56 seconds earlier every day." "We need the time for our timepiece to tell if it's true." "And is it?" "It's bloody perfect, sir." "William!" "This bulb's gone." "I'll go and find one." "It's all right." "I brought a torch." "Who did you say you worked for?" "The hydrographer's office, same as you." "If they were here, I'm sure I'd have known." "Well, if they're nowhere else, it stands to reason..." "They must be here." "Mr Harrison, whatever the solution of the longitude, it will not be a timekeeper." "George Graham's clock here at the observatory is the most accurate in Europe, yet it loses 33 seconds a month in the summer and gains as many in the winter." "But I have two timekeepers at home, sir, accurate to one second a month, that hold the same time both summer and winter." "How can you possibly tell?" "By celestial observation." "oh, of course, Mr Johnson next door's chimney." "I hope to persuade the Board, sir, that..." "Mr Harrison, there is no Board of Longitude." "It has never met." "Now, do you know why?" "No, sir." "Because we know the answer to the longitude problem: the stars, the only mechanism accurate enough for the purpose." "When we have learnt to map the heavens, we shall chart the oceans beneath and the longitude problem will be solved." "Sir, I have some papers with me." "Do you know Mr Graham?" "No, sir." "He's the finest instrument maker in Europe." "If you have a timekeeper as accurate as you maintain, he's the man you should talk to, not me." "My secretary will write an introduction." "Draw a map, would you, Samuel?" "Yes, sir." "Goodbye, William." "A pleasure making your acquaintance." "Goodbye, sir." "Goodbye, Mr Harrison." "Excuse me." "I'm looking for the Astronomer Royal's office." "There was some confusion at the gate as to where he was." "You've found him." "Things are still in a bit of a muddle, I'm afraid." "We've had to store a lot of stuff." "Is Sir Frank expecting you?" "." "Gould." "I have an appointment." "Have a seat." "I won't be a moment." "The speed is perfect now, ma'am, but it must be wound no more than five turns every day." "Let that be the task of one man only." "Mr Graham, the work will be my own, I assure you." "No-one else shall touch it." "Your ladyship is most gracious." "Mr Graham?" "Do you wish to make a purchase, sir?" "No, sir." "Then make your application to the door at the rear of the premises." "I've been sent by Dr Edmund Halley, sir." "oh..." "You'd better come in." "Don't touch anything!" "Please." "one second a month, sir?" "." "You're either a liar or a fool." "Who are your makers?" "Myself and my brother James." "Really?" "." "Who were you apprenticed to?" "My father." "I'm a carpenter by profession, as was he." "A carpenter?" "!" "My timekeepers are made of wood." "I brought some drawings with me." "I'm sorry, I mistook you." "This is a joke, sir." "Am I right?" "." "Mr Halley seeks to derive some pleasure from this contrivance." "Is he here, hiding in a corner, to watch my performance?" "It is I who am sorry, sir." "The fault is mine." "It was my impression I was here to see a clockmaker." "I find myself in a toy shop by mistake!" "William!" "Mr Harrison." "Summer and winter, how is it done?" "How is it done, the compensation?" "I use a pendulum of different metals that work against each other." "Impossible." "It doesn't work." "I've tried it." "It is possible." "It does work." "I built it." "Commander Gould, I have read your letter several times, in fact, and nowhere in it can I find any reference to any qualification for the work you propose." "Well, I'm a trained navigator and I'm working on a history of the chronometer." "I am referring to formal qualifications, Commander." "The Harrison clocks are possibly the most valuable, and certainly the most important timekeepers that we possess." "Yes, I am aware that they have been neglected, and I suppose I must be grateful to you for pointing that out to us." "However, there has been a war on." "It is taking us a little time to sort ourselves out." "Now, I believe that you are no longer on active service, Commander." "No, sir, I'm retired." "Yes, Admiral Douglas's office." "It must be a quiet life, just staring at maps after your service on the China seas." "I had what is popularly known as a nervous breakdown." "Quite." "Sir Frank, I'm not asking to mechanically alter the Harrison machines." "I just want to bring them back to their proper condition." "If they're left as they are much longer, I fear they may become unrecoverable." "I know my qualifications appear unlikely." "I can only plead that they're no more so than Harrison's own." "And I promise, I won't fall to the floor and foam at the mouth." "It was not my intention to make light of your condition." "Nor mine." "What about the admiral?" "Has he agreed to this?" "Not exactly." "I'd have to do it in my own time, evenings, weekends, that sort of thing." "There can be no question of payment." "I seek none." "I want to create a clock without a pendulum." "I brought detailed drawings of my idea, which I want to submit to the Board of Longitude." "The Board is looking for a solution." "They won't reward a theory." "Besides, not a mechanic among them." "They're astronomers all." "As far as they're concerned, the answer is in the heavens." "May I...?" "." "I'm a clockmaker, not a thief." "Let me see your papers." "You needn't be afraid." "I'm no carpenter." "May I tell her?" "You may." "William!" "We got the money!" "You won the prize?" "." "We've won no prize, but we will." "Mr George Graham's given us 200 pound." "I'm to build my marine timepiece." "All right, sir?" "Mm." "Yes." "Thank you." "It is just under 200 years since John Harrison returned to Barrow with the money to start construction of his marine clock, which I shall call Harrison 1." "Graham's money was not enough to feed his family and pay for tools and materials," "so he was forced to continue with his work as a carpenter alongside construction of the marine timepiece." "Mark that." "Thus, alone, without advice or assistance," "Harrison set out to tackle a problem that had defeated every other craftsman on Earth." "His solution to the pendulum problem was a new kind of mechanism that was not affected by exterior movement;" "two balances that could compensate for any angle at which the clock was held." "He also incorporated into the structure the temperature compensation techniques that he 'd used on his wooden clocks." "And he then began a rigorous programme of comparison between the sea clock and his original regulating clock." "Keep it steady, William." "It's too close to the fire." "That's nonsense." "Now we have two enemies, the climate and the inclination of the oceans." "We must be sure, as the piece is heated, be it by the Jamaican sun or by the fire, that the movement doesn't change." "Is it cold enough in here?" "Yes." "oh, that's good." "Yes." "54, 55..." "Now, the rule set by the pendulum allows us to fix the motion to one twentieth of a second." "Louder, James!" "59!" "Well, William?" "Four seconds." "Four?" "So, the sea clock is losing a second an hour to the pendulum clock." "I must keep making adjustments, make it perfect." "Each adjustment of the new machine required that it be fully dismantled, which is an extremely demanding task." "I am now able to achieve this in a little under eight hours." "With the same time to be allowed again for reassembly." "I have already had to do this four times." "Harrison, when he was adjusting the clock, must have done it hundreds of times." "Steady now." "That's good." "Keep it even." "Steady now!" "Start your count." "Carefully, now." "51 -52." "52." "53." "54, 55, 56." "57 58 59 57, 58, 59." "60" "Stop!" "oh, for God's sake, stop!" "Well, it's not constant." "When it was still I could get under a second an hour." "Now it's two seconds." "That's 48 seconds a day." "Is 48 seconds so very much?" "." "on a seven-week voyage to the West lndies, that's over half an hour, which would mean an error of nearly 500 miles." "We can't afford to lose more than a second a week." "Is it possible for a machine to be so accurate?" "John believes it is." "There it is!" "Put a stop there." "It keeps the lever from falling too far back." "Commander?" "Good God, man, what are you doing here?" "I thought I was on my own." "I'm going crazy!" "oh." "No, don't worry, not..." "..that kind of crazy." "It's this machine." "There's not a straight line in it." "It's layer upon layer of corrections, each one fitting on top of the other." "Whenever he came across a problem, instead of going back to the beginning, he...he'd add another level of complexity, springs working against levers, working against other springs and other levers." "I mean, it's madness, madness born of a refusal to be wrong." "He couldn't just say, "I've made a mistake. "" "He'd say, "I'll add something else, then it won't be a mistake."" "Look, can I get you something?" "I think I've got a bottle of sherry somewhere." "Why don't you come and have a drink?" "No, that's all right." "I'll..." "I'll be all right in a minute." "Well, if you're sure." "I thought about you today." "I thought about the first time I saw you." "You'd copied out a poem of Robert Graves'." "I don't remember which one." "You'd drawn faces all around it, and I thought, "This is someone special."" "Not particularly because of the poem or the drawings." "I don't know what I'm trying to say, really." "It was the concentration, I think." "There was so much noise going on around you, and you paid no attention to anything, except to what you were doing." "And I thought, "This is a man who can be anything he wants."" "What are you talking about?" "Nothing." "I want you to give up the clock." "I will." "When it's finished." "Yes, I knew you'd say that." "Silly of me, really." "He's ready." "Can you see them?" "out there." "Should be less than a minute now." "There's the stand to." "Can you see him?" "Now!" "William!" "He looks happy." "What happens now?" "London." "And then the West lndies." "If he's to win the prize." "Oh, God." "The machine moves with an elegance in every detail that I have never seen surpassed, where every action is greeted by an equal and opposite one." "Come, see for yourself." "Be brave, sir." "It's built to withstand the greatest storms ever faced at sea." "I have, myself, tried with the utmost vigour to disturb the motions of the balances." "And, at sea, the clock will be housed in a protective casing which will also contribute to its stability." "Mr Harrison, it seems I misjudged you when we last met." "And, looking at it, I perceive that I must adjust the society's clock." "How can we help you?" "I wish to apply for a trial at sea." "The admiralty may order a sea trial." "I will prepare a letter with the authority of the Royal Society." "We will all sign it, testifying to what we have observed of your timepiece." "Take it to the First Lord, and, if you meet with success, be assured the Longitude Board will be assembled." " Thank you, sir." " Well done." "Thank you." "The Board of Longitude has three elements:" "academics, sailors and politicians." "Now, you've met most of the academics at the Royal Society, and they support you, and if you can convince the admiralty, then you have two thirds." "That only leaves the politicians." "If I had my way," "I'd have the man flogged before the fleet." "To lose a ship of the line, and on these shores, at a cost of 200 lives, and he 's still..." "Mr John Harrison." "Good luck." "Thank you." "But remember, this is the navy." "Mr Harrison?" "oh, no, it's no good there." "We shall have to order them all back." "Who the bloody hell is that?" "!" "oh. oh." "Well?" "My lord, I've come to beseech you that you see fit to send my machine for determination of the longitude for trial at sea." "other ear, sir." "Bloody Spaniard did that to me." "Bloody useless ever since." "It is specified by act of parliament that such a trial should take place on a voyage to the West lndies." "This is my petition to your lordship." "Are you a seafaring man, sir?" "No, sir." "Pity." "What?" "I have the certificate of your mathematical friends at the Royal Society, Mr Harrison, but I am no scientist." "May I ask a simple question of you?" " Yes, sir." "Will your machine keep its time at sea?" "Yes, sir, I believe it will." "I have seen men die where they should not too often not to pray success for your endeavour." "God's blood!" "It's an improvement on sticking a knife in a damn dog, what?" "Get me the Portsmouth list." "I cannot promise you the West lndies, but we'll find you a ship." "John, I do not ask you to be a politician, God forbid, but you must not assume that every man is your enemy." "But why Lisbon?" "The Act of Queen Anne says the trial must be to the West lndies." "Be patient." "The journey is short." "You'll be back in less than a month, if you're lucky." "And, if the machine performs, the Board will have to order a further trial." "Have you been to sea before?" " No." "You may be glad of a quick voyage." "Your first time, Mr Harrison?" "Mr Harrison requests permission to board." " Permission granted." "Steady, sir." "Give me your arm." "Mr Harrison, Lieutenant Bertie." "Lieutenant." "Captain Proctor presents his compliments, and asks you to stow the machine in the great cabin." "Has he seen it yet?" "I don't think so." "Good God!" "Gently does it, lads!" "Steady there!" " Please ask your men to be careful." "Don't worry, Mr Harrison." "This is the navy." "Boatswain, get all the men, on the double." "Steady there." "Get that grip off her." "Campbell, take Mr Harrison to the great cabin with his clock, while I report to the captain." "Aye aye, sir." "This, sir, is the so-called great cabin, Captain Proctor's quarters." "That's where he sleeps and where he eats." "It's smaller than I imagined." "And it'll be smaller still with your machine in it." "The machine won't fit." "Case is too large." "Don't worry, sir." "This is a fighting ship, not a common inn." "Gentlemen, will you give me action stations?" " Aye aye." "You see, Mr Harrison, you don't need a drawing room when you're fighting a battle." "Watch yourfoot there, Mr Sailor!" "Prepare to receive the admiral's signal." "Gunner standing by, sir." "What was that?" "The commander's signal to get under way." "Steady there!" "Number two gun, fire!" "Clear!" "Stand clear!" "Number three gun, fire!" "Is there harm done?" "I don't know." "Loose the mizzen topsail." "Loose the mizzen topsail, Mr Sprague!" "Aye aye, sir." "Treen ho!" "Will there be more firing?" "Not unless the French declare war, which isn't due to happen this week." "This is the berth deck, where the crew sleep and eat." "The wardroom, where you'll be quartered, is above us." "Don't pay any attention to what you've heard about navy food." "It's a short voyage, and we've plenty of fresh provision." "This is Mr Harrison." "Make sure you look after him." "This is Ned and Seth." "Aye aye, sir." "Aye aye, sir." "one hammock, quite comfortable, with a bit of practice, and your very own nine pound of earth." "Whose quarters are these?" "Don't worry about Lieutenant Draper." "He and Lieutenant Bertie are on different watches." "I'm afraid you must excuse me." "I should go back on deck." "The air here is..." "Poisonous?" "You'll get used to it." "Most people don't notice it after the first couple of years." "Daddy?" "What are you doing up?" "It's the middle of the night." "You little pickle." "You should be in bed." "Where have you been?" "At work." "on the clock?" "Yes." "How did it get broken?" "I don't know." "I suppose somebody didn't take care of it properly." "Darling, is that you?" "Yeah." "Why are you waking the children?" "I'm not waking them." "Well, you've woken Laura." "I'm sorry, Miss Gurney." "I'm all right." "Night, everyone." "I know you don't like having a lodger, but we don't have much choice, do we?" "I suppose we don't." "I'm going to bed." "Make sure you turn out the lights." "Good night." "Captain in the wardroom." "Relax, gentlemen." "I came to see that our guest was comfortable." "Mr Harrison chose not to dine this evening, sir." "His stomach did the choosing." "Well, keep an eye on him, Lieutenant Draper." "The admiral won't be too pleased if we lose him." "I tried to took a reading from his machine this evening, and plotted a position that had us sailing through the city of Corunna." "I brought you a little broth." "It'll help ease your stomach." "Thank you, Mr Campbell." "Mr Campbell, would you do me a little kindness?" "My machine holds to London time, which is different from the time aboard this ship." "I need to have a reading of the clock at ship's midday precisely." "Can you do that for me?" "Aye, sir." "Here, give me that." "I'm not much of a sailor, I'm afraid." "oh..." "How long have you been at sea?" " Four years." " For God's sake, why?" "I was pressed." "It was my own decision." "I was apprenticed to the master of a cutter out by Argyll." "We'd heard an English frigate was pressing men farther south, but we didn't expect to find them anywhere near us." "What happened?" " We gave them a good run, but they caught us." "They had twice the canvas." "They took every man except me and the master." "We were supposed to get her back to port." " But you didn't?" " The first mate was a good friend of mine." "He'd been married two weeks before." "He was in a terrible way." " I offered to take his place." "All hands!" "Try and finish your broth." "And no matter, Mr Harrison." "I was young, and I didn't want to spend my life on a cutter." "Sir Charles," "I must thank you for your help with Mr Harrison's machine." "Mr Halley, if your machine can do what its maker claims, then I will make you a promise." "Within 12 months, His Majesty's navy will control the high seas." "No-one will move on water without our permission." "I'm not sure that is quite what he has in mind." "Who cares what is in the man's mind?" "Very little except the ticking of his damn clock, was my impression." "But if he gives us the power to navigate the ocean, without holding onto each other's coat tails like blind men in a brothel," "I'd give him 20,000 pound a year!" "What?" "Mr Harrison!" "You've found your legs at last." "I apologise for my behaviour, sir." "Not one of us hasn't felt like you have, sir." "No apology required." "How's your machine?" "I need to take some more readings before we arrive in Lisbon." "You've got two days, by my reckoning." "Thank you, sir." "Excuse me, sir." "I think I preferred him when he was sick." "48 49 50..." "48, 49, 50... 51 52..." "51, 52..." "It's no good." "I still have us 20 miles inland." "Check again." "I have!" "My reading on the first day was close to Proctor's." "For the last two days, my clock has lost two seconds, three seconds, maybe four, but, according to the map, we've lost four minutes or more." "The map must be wrong." "We sighted Cape Finisterre this morning." "The map is true." "I'm writing a report to the admiralty about your machine." "They wish to know if the voyage has been a success." "I'm not entirely sure what to say." "I cannot tell until I get back to London and compare it with my pendulum clock." "I suppose you think I'm a bloody fool." "Well... ..don't worry, I'm used to it." "But I know a little navigation, and I can...read the time on your machine." "It's not showing the true longitude." "You realise that, don't you?" "Yes." "Now, do you know why it isn't working?" "Something's happened to the machine, some kind of accident, while I was ill." "You mean it stopped?" "I'm not sure." "Perhaps." "I'm over four minutes slow, yet, while I've been with the machine these last three days," "I'm certain it kept true time." "That is indeed remarkable." "Well, we must tell the admiralty, then, to wait till you get back to London, mustn't we?" "Thank you." "Thank you." "Pipe aside." "Captain Proctor, excellent time!" "No sign of the Dolphin, who left two days before you." "Thank you, sir." "Yes." "Who is that?" "Admiral Sir John Balchen." "Not a man I'd wish to sail with." "His ships have a habit of being captured." "Maybe because they're usually weighed down with wine and tobacco." "What the bloody hell is that?" "!" "It's a timepiece, sir." "Ah..." "The carpenter's clock." "I'm supposed to take charge of its return." "Admiral Wager's instruction." "Does it work?" "Mr Harrison says he won't know till he's back in London." "What a monster!" "I certainly don't intend to have it in my cabin." "And I doubt if any of my captains will want it either." "What do you think, Lieutenant?" "Put it on the orford, sir." "Captain Man won't notice it's there." "He will, if it's in his bloody cabin." "Get up top and steady it." "Heave!" "Easy!" "Steady as she goes." "The accent needs a bit of work, but you seem happy to be on dry land again." "I've decided what to do." "I'll take a sighting here in Lisbon, and calculate Lisbon time on the voyage back." "So you can start with a clean slate?" "I've purchased my own chart, that I may make my own record of observations." "The wording's in French, I'm afraid,but it looks fair." "Well, I wish you every success on the orford." "It looks like you'll get better weather anyway." "Coming through." "Mr Harrison, my orders are the orlop deck aft with the other stores." "Sir, it cannot go down there." "I need more light, room for it to move and easy access to the deck." "Sir, this is a very crowded ship I'll see what I can do." "I only asked if you'd see me." "Speak English." "English, woman!" "Do you know anything bloody rude in Portuguese?" "No, sir, I'm afraid I don't." "Pity." "Knorvler, Lieutenant." "John Harrison." "How do you do?" "I don't know where you're going to sleep." "We're pretty full." "Ladies, let's get you ashore now." "Mr Wills!" "Mr Harrison." "With your permission, I'll put my machine here." "That's the gun deck." "I need space and light." "There's nowhere else." "Besides, the centre of the ship will give it an easier passage." "If you'll excuse me, Mr Harrison, I am rather occupied at the present." "You must get down from there." "Sorry, madam." "Meant no harm to the child." "Mr Harrison?" "Yes." "Who was the joiner?" "The case is my work, if that's your question." "Arthur Mason, ship's carpenter." "Pleased to make your acquaintance." "My men will take this." "Where do you want it?" "Thank you." "Put it on the gun deck by the mainmast." "Don't worry, we'll look after it." "Thank you, Lieutenant." "Give me your arm a moment, will you?" "Will you ask Mr Wills to attend me in my cabin?" "The admiral expects to weigh anchor on the evening tide." "Very good, sir." "Get this chair stowed away." "Sharp." "Aye aye, sir." "Lieutenant Knorvler, was the port wine loaded according to my instructions?" "70 cases, sir, all accounted for." "Good." "Good." "Mr Wills!" "Sir?" "Who the damned hell is that?" "Mr Harrison." "We got a signal from Admiral Balchen." "The bloody carpenter?" "Would you give him my compliments and inform him that if he's going to wave that octant around on my ship, he can confine himself to the fo'c'sle, where he may be less disturbing to members of the crew." "Get on with it, man." "Yes, sir." "Mr Harrison..." "Don't worry, Lieutenant, I heard." "I'm finished for now, anyway." "What's the matter, Jos Killick?" "Ain't you never seen a clock before?" " What's it doing here?" " It's a marine timepiece." "A navigation device, help you get home." "How are you going to navigate down here in the dark, eh?" "Because I can find where we are by knowing the time." "Yeah?" "How's that?" "There's only one sun." "It cannot be in two places at the same time." "When it's dark on one side of the globe, it's light on the other." "The sun passes over a given point once every 24 hours." "If we can find out how long it takes the sun to get from Jamaica to Portsmouth, it's simple to work out the distance between the two." "So where are we, then?" "We're here." "Boatswain's mate, I want all these hammocks slung." "Hammocks up." "Come on, hammocks up." "If your machine is a disturbance to the men, Mr Harrison, it'll have to go." "I'm not intending to disturb anyone, Lieutenant." "Good." "Ah!" "Dash!" "Will you be finishing soon, sir?" "only, I have to lock up, you see?" "Mm." "of course, yes." "No, I'm finished for the day." "So er..." "What time is it exactly?" "It's past midnight." "oh, dear." "Mr Harrison, do you know how to rid your bread of maggots?" "No, sir." "You take a piece of rotten meat, and place the bread on top of the meat and count to three whilst you watch the maggots leave the bread for the meat then you pick up the bread and swallow it fast," "before the little buggers can change their mind." "oh, thank you, sir." "I hear you're keeping a chart, Mr Harrison." "I am." "Perhaps you'd be kind enough to let me see it tomorrow?" "Certainly." "I didn't hear you come in." "I tried not to wake anybody." "Rupert... how long is this going to go on for?" "You know what I'm talking about." "Do you remember when we used to discuss you becoming a lawyer and studying at the bar?" "That was when I'd finished the clock." "That was when the clock was a few weekends, not the unpaid work of a lifetime." "It's destroying us." "No, it isn't." "Well, it is me!" "I brought you a piece of fish." "No, thanks." "Don't worry, I caught it myself this morning." "Thank you." "Is it telling you what you want to hear?" "No." "It makes no sense." "According to this, we aren't headed for England at all, but for the Americas." "Well, we're sailing west, that's for sure." "The wind's against us, so Balchen's taking us west in the hope that we'll pick up something that'll take us back up the Channel, so maybe you are not so far out." "This isn't a coracle, you know." "You can't turn the British fleet around on a farthing." "Thank you for the fish." "on the 1 8th, we were at eight degrees 47." "I have nine degrees 2." "And yesterday?" "." "Six degrees 1 0." "Then you're about 53, 54 miles west of us." "How can you be so sure?" "." "I can't, Mr Harrison, not till I see land, but I know these waters well, and I don't think I'm wrong." "Land ho!" "There it is." "Start Point." "I have it." "Mr Wills, can you show me from the map where we are?" "." "Here, sir." "You'll see the Berry Head just there in a moment." "Mr Wills, according to my calculations, we're here." "That is the Lizard Rock." "We stay on this course, it's Dodman's Point we'll be seeing." "No, sir." "Sir, I've slept by my machine for 30 days, taken a reading from it every six hours." "I am not mistaken." "Mr Harrison, did you see Dodman's Point?" "." "No, sir, I did not." "Pray you never will in a southeasterly like this, or that sight will be your last." "That is the Black Stone." "What did he mean?" " If you were right, Mr Harrison, we're passing up through the Manacles with the wind in the southeast." "We should be smashed to pieces." "Mr Wills..." "Mr Harrison" "That was the Lizard Point, Mr Wills, and over there is Dodman's Point." "I'd stake my life on it." "What's he saying?" "." "That is Dodman's Point!" "You're 60 miles west." "Lieutenant Stewart, escort Mr Harrison below and confine him there until further orders." "Excuse me, sir, topgallant lookout reports Eddystone on the starboard bow." "I have it." "It's the Eddystone all right." "Sir, we must signal the admiral." "The admiral is closer than we are." "If he can't see our position, who am I to suggest otherwise?" "." "Our orders are to keep station." "Sir, we have very little time." "I can signal the master of the Princess Amelia." "Gentlemen, I'm going below." "Lieutenant Knorvler, take charge." "Aye, sir." "Mr Wills, send this signal to the Princess Amelia." "Immediately." "What are they doing?" "." "Can't change course without an order from the admiral." "But how can they warn him?" "." "Cannon, Mr Harrison, and we'll have to reply." "Mr Stewart, prepare to put her about." "Cannon?" "." "I'd better get below." "Boatswain, pipe action stations." "Have the gunners stand by to fire 15 rounds." "You have it, Mr Wills." "Bring her about." "Give me 1 5 rounds." "15 rounds, Mr Sadler." "Number one gun, fire!" "Number two gun, fire!" "Number three gun, fire!" "Number four gun, fire!" "Can we clear the Point against this wind?" "." "We'll take some time, but we will." "We have to." "Mr Harrison, congratulations!" "Boatswain's mate, all hands on deck." "I need every man at his station." "We all have you to thank for our lives, Mr Harrison." "Congratulations." "Thank you." "Dyson!" "Is Sir Frank in?" "." "No, he isn't." "What's the matter?" "." "Nothing." "Don't worry." "Good God, man!" "What's the matter?" "." "Come with me." "They've been going for an hour." "I've just been sitting here, staring at them, hardly daring to breathe." "That is incredible, completely and utterly incredible." "Is everybody all right?" "." "I'm very all right." "Is this it?" "." "It's beautiful." "Mr Harrison, I would like you to take a look at my entry to the log for the 2nd." "You will see that it reads that Admiral Balchen fired 15 guns, ordering the fleet to disperse to their destinations, which they did in an orderly fashion, after giving an answering signal." "That isn't true!" "I'm showing you this so that you do not suffer from any confusion at a later point." "I've also written to the admiral and informed him of my intention to resign from the service." "He's kindly indicated today that he will recommend my appointment as a captain at Greenwich Hospital, a position that I shall be honoured to accept." "I trust this makes things clear between us." "So yesterday never happened." "Our orders are to proceed to Chatham." "You may disembark there and take your machine back to London." "Is that clear?" "." "Perfectly clear." "I compared the machine with my pendulum clock." "It has lost six minutes and four seconds since I left London, yet the journey back from Lisbon took 32 days, and I believe it kept near-perfect time." "Something happened on the Centurion, something I don't understand." "Well, you need another trial." "No, no, I need time, time to think, time to test it again, but not at sea." "It's too big." "I realise that now." "The Act of Queen Anne demands a practical solution." "It's impossible." "The machine is perfect." "You should have seen the people who came in today to see it." "The test was useless." "I have no proof." "No-one will believe me." "The machine is impressive, Mr Harrison, and you assure us that, on the Lisbon test, it performed well." " Yes, sir." " But you have no documentary evidence." "No, sir, I do not, but I'm not asking for the test..." "No copy of the ship's log?" "." "No certificate from the ship's captain?" "." "If the machine performed as well as you suggest, does that not seem to you a little strange?" "." "I understand that there is no proof, but..." "Mr Bradley, the admiralty has had some difficulty in obtaining Captain Proctor's papers since his untimely death in Lisbon in october." "Captain Man, as we've already discussed, failed to report the timepiece in his log." "This is why we're discussing a further test." "My lord, is it wise to squander our resources on a second test when there is no clear evidence for the success of the first, particularly when other research, Sir Edmund Halley's lunar observations, for example," "is proving very successful?" "." "Mr Harrison, are you prepared for such a test?" "." "No, sir, I am not." "My point, I think, gentlemen." "The machine is no good!" "The machine is good." "I've tested it myself, day and night, in my workshop since my return, under the most extreme conditions, but I intend to produce a better." "However, I must ask for additional funding." "I beg the indulgence of your lordships in this matter, but I can assure you, that, since my voyage, there's no man on Earth more eager to solve this problem than myself." "Mr Harrison, we do not doubt your enthusiasm, but it is not the business of the Board to speculate upon it." "Excuse me, sir!" "I am seeking the Board of Longitude." " Never heard of it, sir." "This is the admiralty." " It's their first meeting today." "It is, I believe, in the boardroom." "The boardroom?" "." "Why didn't you say so?" "." "You're looking at it." "obliged to you, sir." "My lords." "I beg leave to approach." "If it pertains to the matters we're discussing." "Indeed it does, my lord." "I have in my hand a certificate from one Roger Wills," "Lately master of His Majesty's ship the Orford." "May I read?" "." "Yes, yes, yes." "Very well." "Excuse me." "I haven't run so fast since I was a child." "Refreshments for the gentleman." " No, my lord." "Thank you, my lord." "This is the passage." "When we made the land, according to my reckoning on others, it ought to have been the Start, but John Harrison declared to me and the rest of the ship's company that, according to his machine," "it ought to be the Lizard, the which, indeed, it was found to be." "His observation showing the ship to be more west than my reckoning, above one degree and 26 miles." "My lord, I trust this will assist you in your deliberations." "Mr Wills is present if you should require further confirmation." "Thank you, Mr Graham." "Mr Harrison, would you excuse us for a moment, please?" "." "Ah, thank you." "Thank you very much." "It didn't sit right with my conscience to let a lie stand in the way of your machine, not when it may do some good for poor sailors like myself." "500 pound." "Half now, half when the second clock is complete, the sum to be set against any future prize winning." "George tried for more, but they wouldn't have it." "At least you may go home with some money in your pocket." "I'm not going home." "I'm going to take a place in London." "I've got to work fast." "Your family?" "." "They'll have to come with me." "The good news, if that is the term for it, is that Mrs Gould will be unable to get a divorce unless she can prove adultery." "Am I to take it this is not the case?" "." "No, it is not." "Then she has only one alternative, and that is to seek a judicial separation." "That would mean an order from the court that you are to live separately, even though you are still technically married, and, therefore, unable to consider remarriage." "I don't think Muriel wants to get remarried." "Quite." "Lacking adultery she would have to cite mental cruelty." "Do you know what that means?" "." "I can guess." "Allow me to explain it to you clearly." "It would be necessary for her to make certain allegations in open court." "These allegations may be reported in the newspapers." "There's nothing we can do to stop that." "If we are to proceed, you must consider the consequences of this." "I don't understand." "Why would the newspapers be interested in me?" "." "Well, they aren't, but a wife suing her husband is uncommon enough, I'm afraid, to arouse their curiosity." "Now, I have been sent several statements from your wife's solicitors, and they're very detailed indeed about your alleged drinking, the instability of your mind and your character." "I see." "Commander, it is my duty to inform you that you stand to lose your children, your house, your reputation and, quite probably, your job if you both continue in this action." "Well, thank you, Mr Worthington." "You made things very clear." "Thank you for your advice." "I wonder... do you think Muriel understands all this?" "." "I'm sure Mrs Gould is competently advised." "Yes, of course." "I'm sure she is." "Thank you." "So, there's two bedrooms, a small attic room and this is the sitting room." "I see that the machine has already chosen its quarters." "The money the Board has given is to pay for a new timepiece." "Not much left for us, I'm afraid." " It's the best I could do." " How long?" "." " Two years at most." " And then we go home?" "." " Then we go home." " Right, let's get started, then." "Thank you." "Would you have a cake?" "." "No, thank you." "oh, I've got some pictures for you that Cecil drew." "oh, God, I can't find them." "I've forgotten them." "You will mention them to him, won't you?" "." "one of them was of a boat, and the other, I'm not sure." "I'll post them." "But do be sure to say something." "What time's your train?" "." "Ten to." "I've finished the first one." "First what?" "." "Clock." "It's so beautiful." "I wish you'd come and see it." "I think they'll let me work on the second one." "That'll be harder, of course." "It's..." "It's smaller and... more compact." "I'm so sorry." "It's just I don't know what to say." "They'll be here in a moment." "I only wish Halley had lived to see this." "He understood your work." "The Earl of Macclesfield fills the Board with astronomers, confident the lunar method will win." "They don't have much sympathy with us poor mechanicals, I'm afraid." "I don't need sympathy." "Maybe you don't, but you do need money." "If this machine is a success, it is my intention to propose that the society award you the Copley Medal." "It's their highest honour." "Did you bring the record of your new tests?" "." "I have them, yes, but they mean nothing." "Enough!" "The results are spectacular." "I've seen them myself." "There is a fault." "What do you mean, a fault?" "." "In the machine." "The fault was in the first machine too, but I didn't understand." "I found it by accident." "Something that could never have been discovered with the testing at sea." "Look." "Stop!" "What are you doing?" "." "Are you mad?" "." "That's not the motion of a ship!" "Centrifugal movement." "It slows the clock down." "That was exaggerated." "When a ship turns or changes course, centrifugal movement causes the machine to lose a fraction of a second." "On a long voyage, that'll mean minutes." "Then make an adjustment in the cradle." "oh, the cradle will make no difference." "I've already started a new machine with different balances," "George." "They're circular." "Well, for God's sake, don't say anything to them." "Gentlemen." "Harrison's second machine was mechanically a replica of his first with some improvements in detail." "However, it was more compact, the main concern being to create a machine that could be managed more practically." "But it was never to be tested at sea." "The problem of centrifugal force, caused by the pitching and yawing of a ship, appeared to be insoluble." "on no account comment on any of his machines, or display any interest in them." "He'll be convinced that you're trying to steal an idea from him." "Keep your eyes on the floor at all times." "Did you bring your samples?" "." "Yes, Mr Graham." "Three pocket watches, as you instructed, and a model of a clock escapement." "He won't be interested in the watches, but he should get an idea of the quality of your work." "It is a beautiful piece of work, is it not?" "." "It's interesting, although I think there's too much tension in the mainspring, but the workmanship is fair." "Mr Jefferies has worked for me for over 12 years on every kind of matter." "I can assure you he will make a most excellent and diligent assistant." "I don't need an assistant." "My son will be my assistant when he's older." "John, you need some help now." "You know you do." "Mr Jefferies, it's an honour to make your acquaintance." "As it happens, you may be able to oblige me." "I'm in need of a pocket watch." "I would be honoured!" "Very good." "It must be suitable for use in different climates." "I'd need some particular alterations." "If you wouldn't mind looking at these drawings." "I'll do my best to give satisfaction." "I need it to carry time from my regulating clock in the captain's cabin to the deck, where the observations are made." "Anything you don't understand, come back and see me." "Thank you very much for coming over here, George, but now I have work to do." "Goodbye, John." "Thank you, George." "Why would you not let them see anything?" "." "There's nothing for them to see." "I have no solution." "I've failed." "So what will you do?" "." "I think perhaps we should go home." "Don't say that if you don't mean it." "Please, don't." "Sir Frank's expecting me." "Yes, of course." "Just one moment." "Commander Gould is here to see you." "You can go in now." "There it is." "Very nasty." "I don't know what business the newspapers have to interfere." "Nothing like other people's misery to cheer up your morning." "Quite." "I hear you've resigned from the hydrographer's office." "No." "I was sacked, as a matter of fact." "I think Admiral Douglas was pleased to have the excuse." "oh, dear." "I'm very sorry to hear that." "Very sorry." "But perhaps the opportunity to rest will do you good." "I've tidied up H2." "It's in...pretty good order." "I thought that, under the circumstances, you'd be happier if I didn't continue to work on it." "Yes, well, perhaps that would be for the best, if it would suit you too." "Well, thanks for dropping by." "I really am very sorry." "Gentlemen, I am most pleased to announce the presentation of the prize medal of gold, annually bestowed by this society, to Mr John Harrison of Orange Street, Red Lion Square, in consideration of those very curious instruments invented and made by him" "for the exact measurement of time." "Honourable members..." "Sit down, John." "It's not your turn yet." "I call upon Sir Martin Foulkes to give an account of Mr Harrison's achievements." "You need this medal, John, if your work is to continue." "Just smile." "It's all they need." "There's another bag in the back, and then that's everything." "Darling?" "Mother." "oh, you're so cold!" "Was the journey awful?" "." "Pretty frightful." "Come and get warm." "Mr Harrison, I must congratulate you on your services to horology." "Your machines are truly masterpieces." "As for the longitude, well, you came close, but I think you must admit the matter is now best left with the astronomers." "Would you like some wine?" "." "Yes, I think I would." "Mr Bardner, do we have any wine?" "." "No, madam." "oh, dear." "I'm afraid you'll find us rather dull after London." "Would you like some sherry?" "." "No, thank you." "Perhaps a whisky after dinner." "oh, have some now, dear." "Mr Bardner, a little whisky for Rupert." "So, dear, have you thought what you're going to do?" "." "No, Mother." "No, I haven't." "May I come in?" "." "I'm sorry to call so late." "John!" "It took me a long time to find you." "What's happened to you?" "." "Did you not hear about us, then?" "." "You stayed on the Centurion?" "." " Aye." "I'm a lieutenant now." "Sailed round the world with Lord Anson." "And I'm a rich man." "My share from the capture of the Hacienda was 21.7%." "So, this is the new one?" "." "I heard that you were building another." "Sit down." "Can I get you something?" "." "No, thank you." "I sailed in the company of 961 men, sir." "203 returned to England." "of the 760 who died, only 48 were killed by enemy action." "And the rest?" "." "Disease, despair." "We were lost." "Weeks on end without sight of land, fresh food, water, although, much of the time, we were within six hours' of Juan Fernandez, but we mistook our position." "Didn't know it." "I saw more men die than any Roman emperor, men who you'll remember, and who remembered you." "John Sprague John Sprague," "Lieutenant Draper, the mess boys, Ned and Seth." "They didn't even make a fortune." "We all heard about the orford, and how your machine performed as we sailed hopelessly on," "heaving man after man over the side." "Have you seen a man die of scurvy?" "." "No, I haven't." "The body starts to swell like a balloon." "The legs are the worst." "Every movement causes pain." "Then the skin starts to split, horrible, bleeding gashes." "Your tongue grows in your mouth, and the throat swells, so that eating and drinking... is impossible." "Death is a release." "I thought only of one thing, a piece of twisted brass spinning." "There, look." "Its little heart's still beating." "I thought to myself, "This'll never happen again." "There'll be a machine to tell us where we are."" "I swore that if I lived, I'd come and find you." "John, when they were dying, who did your men curse for their misfortune?" "." "Their god or their admiral." "When you're afloat, there's little difference." "And if they had a clock and the clock didn't work, and the men still died," "who would they curse then?" "." "When you're young, you think that anything is possible, but as you grow older, you discover that it isn't." "Well, then, don't grow older," "Mr Harrison." "Thirty all." "Fault." "Out." "Er... 30-40." "Leave it." "I can manage." "I thought that was supposed to be for Cecil." "It bores him, I think." "Don't worry, he'll grow into it." "Bardner needs to set the table." "Perhaps you'd better take it to the attic for now." "There's plenty of space up there." "All right." ".. by using information set out in tables, he can calculate his longitude." "Excuse me, Reverend Maskelyne," "I shall have to let them in now." "May I have one minute, Dr Bliss?" "Most certainly." "What are you going to do about your precious clocks?" "Well," "I'm giving a talk to the Horological Society." "For money?" "Of course not." "You can't just sit around here for the rest of your life, you know." "I do know." "May I make a suggestion?" "Mm-hm?" "Admiral Douglas had no right to stop your work." "It was all that publicity about your divorce that gave him the chance." "If you brought the matter to the attention of the navy board yourself, he would have no legal argument." "You're saying that I should write to them?" "Write to Douglas first, hinting that you might, but um... giving him the opportunity to um... change his mind." "But that would be blackmail." "Precisely." "I think that's rummy." "Dr Mayer's lunar tables allow the navigator to calculate his longitude at sea, making allowances for both refraction and parallax distortion, using simple trigonometry." "They suggest that the longitude problem is finally to be solved by a clock, not a clumsy, man-made device of spinning wheels and levers, but a celestial clock, whose hands are the moon and whose numerals are the stars," "a dial writ across the sky by the Creator himself." "What do you make of him?" "A lunatic, and a serious one." "Very good." "Terribly good." "Thank you." "My Lord Sandwich." "Morton." "You honour the Society." "I had thought you might be attending the opera again tonight." "No, my lord, but rest assured, the opera will be visiting me." "Congratulations, sir." "Most interesting." "Thank you, Your Lordship." "The longitude prize is yours, then." "My lord, I am, I hope a scientist." "Knowledge itself is my reward." "Oh, very good." "He has ability, that young man, but little sense." "How long will it take to prove these tables?" "Oh, not so long." "Four years, perhaps." "Can he beat the old carpenter?" "Harrison?" "He has lost his way." "His third machine has defeated him, or so the rumour has it." "This Society was created so that men of science might solve the mysteries of our planet." "I would not wish to see the longitude prize stolen by a country tool-maker." "Did you find the paper of interest, Mr Harrison?" "I certainly enjoyed the Reverend's enthusiasm for trigonometry at sea." "My lord, the moon may only be observed 20 days in every month, and then only when there is no cloud." "It is not a practical solution for navigation." "Please forgive my son William, my lord." "But he is right, Mr Harrison." "A practical solution is what we all seek." "Tell me, the Society's clock, is it still adjusted by celestial observation?" "I believe it is sir." "Why?" "Is your watch wrong?" "No, my lord, it's almost right, which is much more curious, don't you agree?" "William." "My lord." "Four seconds." "Still no change, then." "It's remarkable." "Mr Harrison, you asked to see me." "Mr Jefferies, I hoped you might be able to do some work for me." "I would be delighted." "Could you make me one of these?" "I need the teeth to be set a little further apart." "I've done a sketch of the details." "Yes." "Yes, that should be possible." "Would next week be acceptable?" "Oh, yes, yes, of course." "Thank you." "Oh, Mr Jefferies, your watch..." "Is there a problem, Mr Harrison?" "No, no." "I'm quite pleased with it." "The modifications are encouraging." "I want to make another." "It must be a little larger, of course, to incorporate some changes I have in mind, and I was wondering if you would consider assisting me." "I would be happy to." "Thank you, Mr Jefferies." "See you next week." "What are you doing?" "I mean to make another." "But the third is almost ready." "We cannot afford to be distracted now!" "You've seen how the watch has performed in the test." "It's not perfect, but what if I could make it so?" "What if I could make a timepiece no bigger than the span of a man's hand that could be taken to sea?" "Now, wouldn't that be a practical solution?" "Harrison's fourth machine, by reason alike of its beauty and its accuracy, must take pride of place as the most famous chronometer that ever has been or ever will be made." "But the journey from his third machine, which you see behind me, to his fourth, thank you, is one of the most extraordinary mysteries in horology." "Faced as he was by a seemingly insuperable problem of centrifugal forces, Harrison took a daring and lateral leap." "It is as though an aeronautical engineer suddenly ceased development on a new aircraft, and, instead, adapted the technology to make his bicycle fly to France." "H4, as I've come to call it, resembles a large, silver, pair case watch, about five inches in diameter." "Indeed, it seems to have been designed for daily wear in the pocket of some Brobdingnagian." "At the moment, it's not working, but that is a state of affairs that I hope, very shortly, to do something about." "We should be finishing our third machine, not wasting time on this deck watch." "Wasting our time?" "The machine is almost ready for its sea trial." "We've not had time to conduct a 28-day test on this watch, let alone three- or six-month trial." "I'll go when I'm ready, and not before." "Then we need to apply for more money." "We cannot survive any longer on what we have." "Mr Jefferies at least should be paid, even if we are not." "Are you unhappy, Mr Jefferies?" "Me, sir?" "No, sir." "There, you see?" "Mr Gould, Francis Grey." "I enjoyed your talk very much." "I'm looking for people who can explain science in language that anybody can understand." "Children, for example." "Do you have any of your own?" "Two, but we're separated." "Not divorced?" "No." "Oh, well, that shouldn't be too much of a problem." "Next time you're in town, perhaps you'd care to come and see me." "I'd like to talk to you about something." "Certainly." "Oh, good." "Here's my card." "You'll find me at the BBC." "Mr Harrison." "Reverend." "I think you know Captain Campbell." "Captain Campbell of His Majesty's ship Dorsetshire." "Congratulations." "Captain Campbell has been assisting me in the testing of Dr Mayer's tables." "The Reverend is making me a mathematician." "The results are very encouraging." "I've been commissioned by the Royal Society to go to St Helena to observe the transit of Venus, so, on the way, I am to make further tests of the tables." "What brings you here?" "We're applying for..." "A trial." "A West Indies trial, specified by the Act of Longitude." "That's great news, and not before time." "I'd almost given up on you, Mr Harrison." "I hope you will accept my services in any way I can be of assistance." "Thank you." "Mr Harrison." "Gentlemen." "My lords, I have come..." "For more money." "That is your normal reason for honouring our presence, is it not, Mr Harrison?" "Your lordships, my third timepiece is completed." "I'm testing a fourth, which may be of great service with respect to the longitude." "My son has been urging me for some time to put them to trial." "I've decided to agree, and wish to apply to take them to the West Indies." "What?" "!" "A West Indies trial?" "You told me the machine was not even adjusted!" "That is what I understood, my lord, but apparently he's making a new machine." "What did the Board resolve?" "It was suggested that he travel to the West Indies with Captain Campbell on the Dorsetshire." "If he has to have a trial, it mustn't be with Captain Campbell, who is his friend." "Maskelyne's trip to St Helena will take four months." "Harrison must not be permitted to return first." "We must find some other occupation for the Dorsetshire." "With your permission, my lord." "Please, carry on." "Please, please, stay." "Observe." "I think you'll find this most interesting." "This is the pineal gland, the gland that controls our emotions." "So, this is the first." "Yes, sir." "My father took it to Lisbon when I were eight years old." "Beautiful." "Quite beautiful." "May I?" "Of course." "Oh!" "Remarkable!" "It has kept time continuously for 24 years." "And this is the second, and this the third?" "And this is our new watch." "Extraordinary!" "I congratulate you, Mr Harrison." "Which will you take to the Indies?" "I will take neither." "I'm an old man, not fit for a long journey." "Besides, I'm no sailor." "My son has an enthusiasm for the sea which I do not share." "I shall send him in my stead." "But you must be present for the trial." "My lord, as you know, we've had difficulty in finding a ship." "Mr Campbell wished to take us, but he was ordered away on other business." "The delay has, however, allowed me to continue testing my watch." "I'm pleased with it." "Very pleased." "I shall keep the third machine here in London with me, send the watch for test under the care of my son William." "Well, I hope to be of assistance." "I can't promise you a captain as sympathetic as John Campbell, but I will do my best." "Thank you, my lord." "What is their crime?" "Selling alcohol." "There's a rumour that the ship's beer is rotten and the men may be forced to drink water." "These three were caught selling their own brew at an exorbitant price." "Is water so terrible?" "Mr Harrison!" "Please do not walk away!" "It is a requirement that punishment should be witnessed by the whole crew." "Every stroke that you do not observe will be taken again." "Thank you, gentlemen." "This is what I mean." "This is your water, sir." "This is what there is for the men to drink if the beer is foul." "How far do you reckon Madeira, Mr Learmouth?" "Two days, travelling south-southwest." "Damn and blast the bloody purser." "We should all have dry throats by then." "I believe that we are closer than that, but the direction is due south." "Did you speak, Mr Harrison?" "Well, according to the watch, we should sight Porto Santo at dawn tomorrow if we hold our present course, due south." "I've checked the figures very carefully." "What do you say, gentlemen?" "Mr Harrison," "I don't pretend to understand your calculations, but I'm under instruction to test your watch." "And test it we damn well shall." "Mr Learmouth, hold this course until tomorrow morning." "Yes, sir." "Send my compliments to the captain." "I think he should come down here." "Pigswill!" "Pour me a drink." "Neither myself nor my officers will drink anything this evening other than the same water that is in front of you." "It ain't fit for..." "Stop that man!" "I will not tolerate being interrupted when I'm speaking!" "Now, I am aware that what is in front of you is not the sweetest of beverages," "but we have a guest on board our ship under instruction from the Admiralty." "He has assured me that we will be able to take on fresh water tomorrow from Madeira." "He has a machine that has made this clear to him." "Is there anyone here who wishes to quarrel with Mr Harrison's machine?" "Good." "Then kindly get on with your meal." "Good morning, sir." "Good morning, Captain." "What time is it?" "Five." "Not long now, then." "No, sir." "Lookouts aloft, Mr Learmouth?" "They've been up for half an hour." "And the horizon?" "Horizon!" "Horizon clear!" "Horizon clear!" "Thank you, Mr Learmouth." "Let's put an end to this." "Mr Seward, I want all hands to quarters within the hour." "Mr Learmouth, set a new course, please, south-southwest." "If there are any complaints about the delay, the men can take the matter up with Mr Harrison." "Sir..." "Lieutenant?" "Just that cloud over there." "You don't think it could be...?" "Give me your glass." "Land ho!" "Land ho!" "Mr Harrison, it seems I owe you an apology." "And may I put my marker down here and now for the first watch that your father makes to go on sale to the public?" "Can you manage all right?" "If you put it on the back seat, I think it will be good." "Rupert!" "I think you'd better take this as well." "H4." "Thank you very much." "I'm sorry if we appeared to act a little hastily." "Anyway, I'm very pleased." "I feel like Jack and the Beanstalk, stealing the treasure from the giant's castle." "What?" "Nothing." "Nice motorcar!" "Not mine, I'm afraid." "Borrowed it from a chum in the RAF." "I can't afford one." "Of course." "Are you all right?" "Thank you so much." "Look, if there are any expenses involved, tools or whatever, make a note of them and send them to me." "Thank you so much." "News of your achievement is all over town, as is the fact that you are about to win 20,000 pounds." "You're going to be a very popular young man, Mr Harrison." "I envy you." "Thank you." "But I have to get back to London before I can be sure." "Mr Harrison..." "You are clearly not aware that while you were at sea, war was declared with Spain." "Frankly," "I'm surprised the admiralty permitted you to travel to Jamaica at all." "They must have known that you were likely to be stranded here." "Well, there has to be a ship going back to England." "No." "I'm afraid not." "Besides, it would be too dangerous to travel unescorted." "I'm sure you wouldn't wish your watch to be captured by the Spanish." "Enjoy yourself." "This is a very beautiful island." "Where are you going to put it?" "In the attic." "And the job?" "What?" "You said you were going to London about a job." "Oh, yes, I did." "I met Uncle Mac." "Uncle Mac?" "You don't have an Uncle Mac!" "I do now." "He offered me a job on the wireless." "You're not going to play records, are you?" "Not quite." "Do you speak English?" "She wants to know which of you is the rich bastard." "My dear girl, I'm the rich bastard." "Perhaps you would allow me the honour of the next dance." "Look over there." "Who are they?" "They're from the Merlin." "Arrived this afternoon to offload some prisoners and claim their bounty." "The ship's a hulk, two masts sprung, and half the rigging gone." "They were on their way to England when they came across a privateer." "Lucky bastards." "What's the name of the captain?" "Irish fellow." "Bourke." "William Bourke" "Let's see... two, four, six," "8 10 12 eight, ten, twelve." "So, that's three officers and twelve men," "Harrison, we'll take you with us as long as you're ready to leave tomorrow." "Tomorrow?" "We sail on the noontide." "Mr Sayer!" "Sir?" "I need you finished up there within the hour." "We'll be ready." "I'll have to check to establish the longitude of the island." "Can't you wait another day?" "My orders say I must make sail as soon as I'm seaworthy." "So... you'd better get on with it, then." "How is it?" "Almost there." "What time do you make it?" "Well, the watch says..." "Not the watch." "I don't need the time back in England." "The Merlin leaves on the noontide." "How long have I got?" "About an hour, I should say." "I'll do the calculations later." "I don't want to be stranded here for four months." "Maskelyne may be on his way back from St Helena with his lunar results." "Come on." "Give us a hand." "William, one of these chaps says he's a fisherman." "He's got a boat moored on the beach below." "He could take you out." "It would save time." "Are you sure?" "I don't think you have an option." "The Merlin won't wait for you." "Well, come on, then!" "Good luck!" "Thank you!" "Mr Harrison, I can see you live dangerously." "I like that." "Welcome aboard." "Thank you, Captain." "I can see I'm not the only one." "Set the upper topsails, Mr Parker." "Aye, Captain." "Set the upper topsails!" "Set the upper topsails!" "Have done with your sums, Mr Harrison." "Go up on deck." "It's a fine sight." "I cannot be certain till we are back in England, but, according to my workings, if we take the rate into account, we've lost under a minute since the watch left London ten weeks ago." "The er... rate?" "Well, we know the watch loses 211/22 seconds a day." "We call that the going rate." "I used that in my calculations for Madeira." "Taking that into account, there's a possible error in longitude of less than half a degree." "Let me be the first to congratulate you." "No, thank you." "I'm already drunk." "All my life... my father's life, has been for this moment." "Listen." "If the watch stops now, sir, so does my heart, for there will be no proof of its achievement." "Half a degree." "We've won the prize, Captain." "We've won the prize!" "Captain, Spaniard about a cannon shot away." "Every man to his station!" "Tell the master gunner to report to me on deck." "Aft, loosen your guns!" "Get those portholes open!" "I don't know what she's waiting for." "Stand the guns by." "Aye, Captain." "Steady!" "Fire as she comes by!" "Fire as she comes by!" "The dial is of white enamel with an ornamental design in black." "The hour and minute hands are of blued steel, and there is a polished centre second hand." "The movement can be swung out of the case, turning on a bolt and joint, exactly as do those of ordinary watches of the period." "It's no good." "We're going to have to try and outrun her." "Mr Markland, put on all the sail she can carry and set a course due east." "Aye aye, Captain." "Can we get any more men aloft, Mr Bandelwine?" "We're taking on water forward." "We've got to keep the pumps manned, sir." "I want eight men at the pumps at all times, changing every quarter." "Mr Hallam, I'm holding you responsible." "Yes, sir." "The pallet radius and crown wheel are both very small compared with the balance, but, not content with this," "Harrison fitted, between the fourth and crown wheels, a most ingenious remontoir, whose action, at first sight, is almost uncanny." "Right, lads, over she goes!" "Steady up now." "Take it up." "Take it up there." "Boatswain?" "If we get it on top of the hole, the suction should hold it." "We'll have to keep the pumps going day and night, sir." "The mist is starting to lift." "Quick as you can, Boatswain." "You heard the captain." "Steady now." "Haul away!" "Come on, now!" "The watch beats five to a second, a slight recoil being perceptible at each beat," "and goes for 30 hours." "The plates are of brass, polished, but not gilt." "The pivot holes are jewelled as far as the third wheel, that is to say, those of the balance, staff, detent, contrate wheel, fly, fifth, fourth and third wheels." "The jewels are rubies, and the end stones, diamonds." "It is a masterpiece, weighing only slightly less than the brain that conceived it." "Harrison." "Morning, Captain." "How is your watch?" "Dry, sir, I think." "It must be the only thing on board the ship that is." "Who will believe in a naval watch that cannot survive a storm?" "There's many a ship that doesn't survive a storm, Mr Harrison, but the navy don't stop making them." "It's not the navy I have to convince, sir." "It is the Board of Longitude." "I'm very sorry, Reverend, to hear that your journey to St Helena was unsuccessful." "Unsuccessful, sir?" "I think you've been misinformed." "1,000 miles to observe the planet Venus, and it turns out to be a cloudy day." "Am I misinformed?" "The transit of Venus was but one part of my expedition." "My lunar observations on board were most interesting, as I shall explain to the Board." "Mr Harrison." "Mr William Harrison." "We'll go together." "My instructions are quite clear, sir." "Don't worry, they can't hurt us." "We've won." "Mr Harrison, is this your idea of a scientific observation?" "I must apologise, sir, but the journey back was very difficult, and the papers were damaged." "I am referring to the fact that it appears only one observation was taken in Jamaica." "No, no." "Two, sir." "But the second, it appears, was taken from another position." "I had very little time, sir, but I can assure you the observation was most carefully taken, with witnesses present, as instructed by the Board." "Mr Harrison, do you have any formal astronomical training?" "No, sir, but I have been taking observations for my father since I was six years old." "Really?" "Mr John Harrison." "My lords, gentlemen, if I may beg your indulgence, it is 25 years since I first had the honour to address this Board under the chairmanship of Dr Edmund Halley, and since that time I worked with only one ambition to" "to satisfy your requirements, as laid down by act of parliament for the discovery of longitude at sea." "It is with both great pride and honour and humility that I stand here today with my son after his great trial." "Thank you, Mr Harrison." "May I?" "Thank you." "I have asked you here to inform you of the resolution of the Board, that firstly, the brief calculations of Mr William Harrison are to be sent for computation and the instruments used in those observations are also to be sent for examination." "The Board will then consider these reports at a further meeting, the date of which will be announced in due course." "That will be all for now, gentlemen." "Sir, I am an old man, and an old man can sometimes find his senses unexpectedly weakened." "There is, perhaps, an element of your argument that I have misunderstood, or even misheard." "My watch..." "Lost one minute, 53 and half seconds after 81 days at sea, as witnesses signed in the papers you have before you, which you seem so keen to put away." "I have fulfilled the terms most exactly, as laid down in the Act of Queen Anne, and I demand that you consider the question of my reward." "Mr Harrison," "I am not a commissioner of the gaming board here to settle some bet." "I am a scientist, bent on investigation of a most serious subject." "Now, the Board are, at present, unsatisfied with the information before them, but have decided to make further investigation with the help of some expert advice." "Now, you will be summoned in due course to hear the results of that investigation." "Thank you." "They're disputing the observations." " On what grounds?" "Too few, taken from different positions." "It is no more necessary to make multiple observations" "}than it is to look at one's watch 100 times to tell the time." "I'll go to Greenwich and start a programme of experiments to prove that." "We shall fight them." "They're interested only in observations, not in the timekeeping of the clock." "Because they are astronomers." "It's all they understand." "Rupert Gould, 10.30." " Programme?" " Children's Hour." "You've got 7 and half minutes, which is about 1,500 words." " How long is your script?" " I don't have a script." "But you have to have a script." "I have a watch." "Don't worry, it'll be 7 and half minutes." "Well, don't forget, at the end, say, "Goodbye, everyone,"" "count to three, one, two, three, then say goodbye." "Why the pause?" " So the children can say goodbye back to you." "I want you to close your eyes and try to think a thought that nobody else has ever thought before." "Think very hard." "Pay no attention to anybody else around you." "what you see, is it just darkness?" "Or is there a picture?" "Most of us, with our eyes closed, just see the dark, but the artist or the scientist can sometimes see something new, something never thought of before." "It's these ideas that can change our lives, and the people who think of them, whether they are musicians, painters, architects or engineers, are called inventors." "Some of you listening now are inventors." "Open your eyes." "Look around." "Can you tell who it'll be?" "Will it be somebody with untidy hair?" " Very good." "I doubt it." "But new inventions often seem strange at first, even frightening." "Something that seems normal to us, the clock ticking on the mantelpiece, would have seemed like a magician's trick a few hundred years ago." "Mr Harrison, we have asked you here to acquaint you with the resolutions of the Board." "We find that the Jamaica trial recently undertaken was not sufficient to determine the longitude at sea laid down by act of parliament." "Sir, I beg to differ." "Please, let me finish, Mr Harrison." "The Board therefore wishes to instigate a further trial, with Mr Harrison or some suitable individual, accompanied by an astronomer approved by the Board to witness the observations." "Gentlemen, at our last meeting you questioned the observations taken by myself in Jamaica." "Since then, I have compiled an extensive report prepared at Greenwich." "Please don't exert yourself, Mr Harrison." "The Board has withdrawn the objections to your observations." "Then why did we fail?" "One trial of the watch proves nothing." "The results may have been chance alone, and, besides, the Board is not satisfied that the true longitude of Jamaica is known, and feels, therefore, that a proper evaluation is impossible." "But you knew that all along." "May I see the results of these computes?" "I don't think so, do you?" "No, I'm afraid not." "I mean that would require their individual permissions, and we don't have that at the moment." "Now, I must ask you, Mr Harrison, whether you will accept the resolution of this Board for a further trial accompanied by an official astronomer?" "A maritime museum's a marvellous idea." "And the perfect place for Harrison's masterpieces." "We've already written to the Science Museum to tell them that we want them back." "They were not pleased, I can tell you." "In fact, I've applied for one of the curatorships." "Yes, I know." "I wanted to talk to you about that." "Have they considered my application?" "I'm afraid your application was not officially put before the committee." "Why?" "Well..." "I'm not the one that decides these things, but after all that nonsense in the newspapers, it was not felt... appropriate." "That's it, keep her level." "Steady as she goes." "Very good." "Excellent." "Keep coming." "There." "Yes." "Thank you." "Thank you so much." "Oh, I'm so sorry." "Of course." "Ah, good morning." "Christopher Irwin and the marine chair." "Oh, good morning to you, sir." "Mr John Jefferies at your service, and may I present Mr John Harrison?" "The clockmaker?" "I'm very honoured to meet you." "I take it this machine is intended for the taking of lunar observations." "Yes, impervious to the weather..." "And the waves." "It's er..." "It's my own invention." "John!" "It's..." "Up we go." "It's simple, yet... .. effective, and will completely solve the problem of the longitude." "I've made two, ready to sail to Barbados with Reverend Maskelyne." "Maskelyne?" "Yes." "They said I should be here at midday." "Mr Bliss was most particular." "Mr Harrison." "Oh, I can manage, Jefferies." "Mr Irwin." "My lords, this is prevarication." "If no astronomer is appointed, then the matter must be postponed." "I humbly beg your indulgence..." "Sir, we're aware that you have made various unsuccessful applications, and, not surprisingly, no reputable man has agreed to waste his time on such an expedition." "We should therefore move on to other matters." "Ah." "My lord..." "I must apologise for my late arrival." "Mr Harrison, we are discussing the matter of an astronomer to accompany the trial of your father's watch." "My lord, I have a proposal." "Mr Greene near Greenwich has..." "We have already covered this." "We did write to Mr Greene, but sadly, I spoke to him yesterday, and he must decline." "His recent duties at the observatory are extremely demanding." "I can confirm this, my lord." "I was there, and Mr Greene was adamant." "My lord, I've just come from Greenwich, where I had the good fortune to speak to Mr Greene." "I trust, Mr Harrison, it's not your intention to question the word of two members of this Board." "No, my lord, but Mr Greene has kindly agreed to accompany me here." "No, I certainly have never seen anything like it." "Most extraordinary." "It stays completely upright in any weather." "I see." "Mr Greene?" " What are you doing here?" " I am not sure, Reverend." "It has been a most confusing morning." "Christopher Irwin." "The marine chair." "Mr Greene." "Excuse me." "You wouldn't, by any chance, be the Reverend Maskelyne?" "What?" "My name is Christopher Irwin, and this is..." "The marine chair." "Yes, I think I'd gathered that." "Right." "So, in principle, Mr Greene, you would be prepared to accompany the expedition?" "Yes, but..." "But what you are saying, I think, is that you would require permission from your superior." "Correct me if I'm wrong." "Well, perhaps my colleagues and I could help you in that." "Dr Bliss, who, exactly, is Mr Greene's superior?" "You know perfectly well he works for me at the observatory." "If you were to remove your objection, the matter may be settled." "My lord, I believe the Reverend Nevile Maskelyne would be a more suitable observer." "His presence on the trial would allow us to test the lunar data he is compiling." "I have here a copy of his new publication, The British Mariner's Guide." "It contains an entry for the position of the moon at every day of every hour for the next three years." "It enables, with observation, the calculation, at sea, of the longitude." "Very well, my lord, I propose that both Mr Greene and Mr Maskelyne go." "Can we all agree on that?" "Then the matter is settled." "I think there may be one or two other points to clarify." "We would like to see six equal-altitude observations per day for three consecutive days." "Impossible." "You cannot get six observation a day at Greenwich, let alone the West Indies." "Captain Campbell?" "He's right, my lord." "Let it read, "as many as are practical"." "Very well, for as many as are practical." "Keep him level." "The watch must be submitted to me at the observatory for testing to determine its rate before the second trial." "I'm not letting the watch out of my sight." "We need to determine the rate." "Captain Campbell, enlighten us." "My lord, I think the rate should be determined by whoever is closest to the instrument, which must be Harrison." "If it is disclosed before the voyage starts, there is no possibility of dissimilation." "We believe the Reverend Maskelyne should travel on a different ship than the Harrisons' so that he may have more time to set up his instruments for the observation of Jupiter's moons." "Agreed." "Agreed." "The Reverend Maskelyne will be in Barbados one month before you, and will have everything prepared for your arrival." "It remains for us to wish you every success aboard His Majesty's ship Tartar." "Hear!" "Hear!" "Mr Harrison." "Here's to a successful voyage." "Well?" "I'd like to take another observation." "Just to be sure." " Indeed." "Captain Lindsay." "Certainly." "Mr Irwin, you're just in time to witness our observation." "We were expecting you to meet us." "No-one told us that you had arrived." "The transmission of information is not a strong point among the inhabitants of this island." "How was the voyage?" "Very satisfying." "Where is Maskelyne?" "The man's an idiot." "Could you hold this a moment?" "Er... yes, of course." "He has no understanding of my chair." "Simply because a hinge broke on the second day out, causing him some very minor inconvenience, he's refused to use it." "What sort of a scientist does that make him?" "23 degrees of elevation." "And the watch at... 3.57." "That gives us a longitude of 59 degrees, 0 minutes and 30 seconds." "Captain Lindsay, would you be kind enough to give me your signature, sir?" "Is that it?" "What do you mean?" "Is that all you do?" "Sorry to disappoint you, Mr Irwin." "What did you expect?" "Mr Greene, would you care to witness?" " Of course, Mr Harrison." "Well, the Reverend Maskelyne spends half the day calculating his sums, and with a good deal of bad temper besides." "I have, once or twice, offered to help, being something of a mathematician myself, and have been most rudely addressed by him." "That's lunatics for you." "You'll find him very confident." "Of what?" "That the longitude solution is found." "He was very annoyed that it was not recognised after the voyage to St Helena, but he's convinced it is his now." "He's told half the island, as a result of which, he's followed everywhere by the three unwed ladies of the town and their mothers, who are convinced he is to be rich." "He doesn't seem to notice, though." "I don't think he's very... interested." "Oh, it is a hard life, I admit, but I find myself enjoying it." "No, there's no more training required whatsoever." "I mean, anyone who's sat down before can use it." "Well, almost everyone." "Thank you." "I'd expected to see the Reverend Maskelyne here." "He sends his apologies." "Thank you." "He's at his observatory." "It's out there in the hills, outside the town." "He's expecting to see you tomorrow morning." "You must be proud to be part of his expedition." "I beg your pardon?" "Madam, Mr Harrison intends to challenge the reverend gentleman, not to support him." "He is his competitor." "Oh, dear." "How silly of me." "Congratulation on the safe trip" "Welcome to this island paradise." "Good morning." "I was sorry to miss you at dinner last night." "Those things become predictable after a while." "It was such a perfect night." "I understand you are to be congratulated." "Really?" "Everyone at dinner informed me you'd won the longitude prize." "You should not take talk like that seriously." "I wouldn't, were it not for the fact that the talk apparently came from you, Reverend." "Under the circumstance, I think it would be improper that you take the equal altitude observations that will determine the accuracy of my watch." "I would prefer them to be taken by Mr Greene and witnessed by Captain Lindsay." "How dare you say that to me, sir?" "I am a scientist." "Oh, dear boy, I don't think he meant..." "Shut up, you stupid man!" "Gentlemen, could I suggest a compromise?" "Damn and blast this bloody contraption!" "It's impossible to take a measurement under these circumstances." "28 degrees and 15 minutes." "28 degrees and 15 minutes." "28 degrees, 15 minutes." " Would you be quiet?" "I'm so sorry to have disturbed you." "We are quite finished." "Look, old man, why don't you make another observation tomorrow?" "I'm sure the conditions will be better." "Get out of my way!" "William..." "I thought we'd lost you." "I think perhaps you have." "You know, today is the first day I can remember when I haven't looked at a clock or a watch, or even done a calculation." "I didn't know what to do at first." "I had just started to walk." "What is it?" "Bad news, I'm afraid." "I've found you a ship." "She's a merchantman." "Captain's name is Robert Manly." "He seems a good fellow, and er... she sails at noon tomorrow." "What will you do?" "Sell the house, I suppose." "No choice about that." "I can't afford to keep it." "Well, where will you live?" "Oh, I'll find somewhere, a small hotel." "What about the clocks?" "I don't suppose a hotel would put up with them." "There's only one left, you'll be pleased to hear." "It's proving to be a bit tricky." "I'm sending it back to Greenwich." "I'll finish working on it there." "Oh, yes." "Cecil said you'd applied for a job as a curator." "No, no, I er..." "I changed my mind about that." "Well, goodbye, then." "Goodbye." "Laura says there's going to be war." "What do you think?" "I don't think so." "It's all phooey." "Thank you so much for coming." "How is he?" "Very weak." "He's angry he could not be there to greet you." "He received your letters." "How long has he been like this?" "Since you left." "Try not to get him excited." "The fever is strong." "I have bled him, but he's very weak, and I dare do no more." "I'll come back tomorrow." "Thank you." "When I was just a baby," "I remember lying in bed very sick, and my mother holding a watch in front of my face while she sang to me." "I don't remember the song, but the ticking of the watch seemed like an orchestra playing with her," "and then she... she laid the watch on my pillow." "Afterwards, she used to say it sent me to sleep." "But it didn't." "People say the tick of a clock is like a single sound," "but it's hundreds." "It's hundreds of tiny frictions, expansions and contractions, all twisted into a single moment." "I'm very sorry I wasn't there to meet you." "Don't mind about that." "We did it." "Mr Greene was there and witnessed everything." "Even Maskelyne can't deny it." "This time they can't refuse us." "I'd like to see their faces when you tell them." "He looks pleased with himself." "Still, there is one piece of news." "The Very Reverend John Bliss fell off his horse whilst taking exercise in the park." "He did not recover." "It's devastating, isn't it?" "Who is to be Astronomer Royal?" "Not decided yet." "Mr William Harrison." "Mr Harrison, you may have heard of the sad death of the Astronomer Royal in your absence." "I'd like to take this opportunity to present the new Astronomer Royal." "Good morning, William." "The Reverend Nevile Maskelyne, recently returned from a successful trip to the West Indies." "The members of the Board will be familiar, I think, with his report and the astonishing success he had on his journey, and the triumphant use of Professor Mayer's tables." "My lord, I'm sure I also must congratulate the Reverend Maskelyne, but as we all know, the calculation with the watch may be completed in a matter of minutes, and does not depend upon the weather." "Be quiet, Mr Harrison." "We are coming now to the matter of the watch and the opinion of the computers." "Captain Campbell." "You attest this is your report and that you and your colleagues agree on it?" "We do." "Very well." "Mr Harrison, please step forward." "It is the finding of this board that the watch or timepiece created by John and William Harrison did keep correct time within the greatest accuracy required by the Act of Queen Anne as drawn up by parliament 51 years ago." "My lord, may I have a copy of those to show my father?" "He has waited a long time to hear Your Lordship's kind words." "In good time, Mr Harrison." "Astronomer Royal, would you be kind enough to read the fifth paragraph of the Act?" ""And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid that as soon as such method for the discovery of the said longitude shall have been tried, and found practicable and useful at sea... "" "Thank you. "Practicable and useful. "" "Those are the words I wish to draw to your attention." "We accept the usefulness of the watch, but is it practicable?" "Mr Harrison has never permitted this committee to examine the workings of his timepiece." "I suggest to you that is because he himself has doubt about the practical use of his invention." "My lords, you must understand that my father has sought to protect his work from those who might steal his invention, but if this Board requires it, we shall submit detailed drawings of the workings of the watch" "when he has received his prize." "Mr Harrison, this Board does not accept restrictions placed upon its work, as prescribed by parliament." "Here are the conditions required for fulfilment of the terms of the Act." "First, your father must, in person, take the watch apart, and explain the working of every detail to the satisfaction of such persons as this Board shall appoint." "This shall include any experimental observations they may require." "Secondly, he shall make, or cause to be made under his sole direction, two further watches of the same design to demonstrate the practicality of their construction." "And, thirdly, these new watches shall be subjected to such test or tests as this Board shall require to ascertain their usefulness under the terms of the Act." "Then, and only then, will he receive his prize." "My lord, my father is sick and he is 73 years old." "He has until Thursday to accept the conditions, which, I must inform you, have been submitted to Parliament, and will form part of a new amendment to this bill." "Call Mr Christopher Irwin, please." "Are you all right, old man?" "Yes, thank you." "What's Maskelyne doing here?" "He's the new Astronomer Royal." "Oh, turd." "Is this everything, sir?" "Er... yes." "Thank you." "My lords, if I may beg your indulgence." "I'm not yet used to speaking." "Let my son speak for me." "Perhaps your father would like a chair." "No, thank you." "No, thank you." "Let us proceed to the business." "Do you accept the terms of the Board?" "My father accepts the need for disclosure of the working of his watch, but wishes that he might demonstrate the mechanism to such as may understand it, not to theorists." "That is for us to decide." "They can choose who they like." "I'll choose who I let in my own house." "I beg pardon, Mr Harrison?" "My father is pleased to accept the Board's nominations." "There is one question." "Your Lordship requires that we be prepared to do experimental observations." "My father is not clear what that means." "Well, it... it..." "Reverend Maskelyne?" "Um... there's nothing sinister about it, merely that if there is a detail not understood by the committee, such as how Mr Harrison is accustomed to... um..." "What's the word?" ".. temper a spring, for example, he should demonstrate his technique to us." "What does he understand about the tempering of a bloody spring?" "Would it be possible to set out more explicitly what the Board requires so that we might be prepared for it?" "No, sir!" "It would not!" "It is not your business, sir, to limit the enquiry of this Board but to satisfy it." "It is not my business, sir, to explain the workings of a lifetime to a group of dog-collared university book swallowers who wouldn't know the difference between a balance spring and a bent hat pin!" "For 30 years I've stood before this Board" "I've never once had the occasion to talk to anyone who knew anything about what I was actually doing, any sense of the mechanisms I created," "but I carried on, trusting that if I fulfilled the Act of Queen Anne," "I'd get my just rewards." "I have fulfilled that Act." "I have made such a mechanism." "Give me my prize and I'll use the money to build a factory, make a hundred watches, a thousand, each one the same, but I will not... as long as I've got a drop of English blood in my body," "I'll not dance to the tune of a group of ignorant schoolboys." "Mr Harrison..." "Mr Harrison!" "Father..." "Don't give me any more of your fine words and clever explanations." "William, you know about what I've put up with" "What do you understand about what I've done?" "Could you build a watch, sir?" "No, you damn well couldn't." "Get away from me!" "Get away from me!" "William..." "William..." "If you wouldn't mind...?" "Mr Harrison, either your father signs an oath agreeing to these terms, or this matter ends here." "We are prepared to pay half the award, less those monies paid out, once we are satisfied with the disclosure, and the other half when the new watches made by your father have proved their worth." "My lord, if you would just change the wording of experimental observations, he would sign." "No!" "No!" "No!" "No!" "No!" "How many times do I have to say it to you bloody people?" "You do not negotiate with this Board!" "I'm 40 years old, and what family I have is here in this room." "These machines are my brothers and sisters." "Certainly, I know them better than any human." "So do you." "Ever since I were a child," "I've watched how carefully you touched them." "Never angry, always loving." "Nothing I could ever do could make your eyes light up in the way an infinitesimal silver of time could sometimes make you weep with joy." "So I tried to slide myself between them and you, hoping that some tiny drop of that feeling might fall on me." "As I grew older, I thought..." "If I can understand them, perhaps you would begin to understand me, until they became my life too." "And so, I find myself now, knowing the touch of a brass wheel better than flesh and blood." "I will do as they wish." "I wanted you to be safe." "I thought I could make us impregnable." "What's going on?" "We've been ordered to move all valuable exhibits out to Cambridge." "Why on earth would Hitler bomb a museum in the middle of a park?" "It's just orders." "Oh, just orders." "I've heard that..." "Do you mind if I do that?" "There's a special case for it." "I made it myself some time ago, but I'm sure I can still find it." "Help yourself." "It's a funny-looking thing, isn't it?" "Yes, it is a funny-looking thing." "Do you think I could have a chair?" "Thank you." "Look, er..." "Are you all right?" "No, I don't think I am." "How old are you?" "18, although I don't know what that's got to do with it." "Nothing." "Nothing at all." "Don't take any notice of me." "It's just..." "Do you have any idea what it's like?" "War?" "Is that what you're worried about?" "It'll all be over before it begins." "Germany don't want a war." "It's just their way of waking us all up." "Look, can I get you something?" "A cup of tea?" "Yes." "A cup of tea." "That'll do the trick." "I suggest they go to different destinations, then, if one is destroyed, the others will survive." "Is that possible?" "I'll do my best." "At the moment, it's all I can do to get everything over to Cambridge." "Oh, we are sending some of the smaller items to a science museum vault in Beckenham." "I could try and get one in there." "Yes, Beckenham would be good." "Well, leave it with me and I'll sort something out." "Where are you going with that?" "Whoa!" "Watch where you're going!" "Muriel?" "Muriel!" "Is that you?" "Rupert?" "I've just had..." "Rupert?" "Rupert, is that you?" "Where's he gone?" "Down there." "They're all satisfied." "Now, if we just put the watch together and take it to the committee, they'll give us half the prize." "What watch?" "There is no watch." "Look at it." "You know, the strange thing is I want to build another one." "Taking it apart and putting it together again, I can see improvements." "You have to make a duplicate." "Those were the terms." "Terms?" "What do they know?" "There wasn't one of them who understood what I was saying." "Even the watchmakers didn't see everything." "They think in straight lines, not prepared for the curve, the line of surprise that takes you to a place you cannot see." "And how are we to know that this is the same watch that was used at the disclosure?" "If I could make a watch in five days, then I'd have the prize money by the end of the week." "Very well." "I am pleased to offer you the certificate of this Board." "Congratulations." "You've made something useful." "How long will it take you to make two further watches, as required by the Act?" "The new Act." "I beg your pardon, sir?" "Additional instruments are not required by the Act of Queen Anne." "The Act required that the invention be practical." "We have merely clarified that issue in our recent amendment." "How long will it take?" "Two years, if my watch is returned to me to work on." "I'm afraid that is impossible." "Your watch, as you call it, is, of course, our watch." "And this Board intends, under the direction of the Astronomer Royal, to conduct a series of tests, at the observatory in Greenwich, at the conclusion of which, Mr Larkin Kendall will make a copy of the watch" "and, I think you will agree, his need is the greater." "It will take a further year if I'm forced to work without it." "So be it, Mr Harrison." "So be it." "Thank you." "Mr Harrison..." "I have instructed the Astronomer Royal to collect the rest of the timepieces." "Why?" "Because they are the property of this Board." "He has brought an open cart with no suspension." "He means to destroy them on the journey to Greenwich." "Good morning." "I have come..." "I know why you're here." "Mr Harrison." "Reverend Maskelyne." "The machines are ready for collection." "I will need a certificate from you that they're in good order." "I'm not sure I'm a good judge of that, sir." "For once, I agree with you." "I can state that they appear to be in good order." "I can state as a fact they're in perfect order." "That will not be necessary." "I will need it to be understood that when they left my property, that was the case, and that you are entirely responsible for their safety from this moment on." "I accept that responsibility." "What is their normal method of transport?" "Boat." "Do not bandy words with me, sir." "I am serious." "They should go to Greenwich by barge, not some old cart like a butcher would carry a bag of bones in." "I merely wish to know whether it is the custom to take them to pieces before moving them." "No." "But they must..." "Enough, enough!" "He has the authority of the Board." "Let him exercise it." "This is quite childish." "I know perfectly well how to achieve this." "This is the case." "We will need a... a blacksmith to help us take it apart." "One, two, three..." "Your father has been cruelly used, but while I'm out of the admiralty, there is little I can do." "But there must be some other way." "He cannot finish two further watches." "It would kill him." "Do you have any skill at cards, Mr Harrison?" "No, my lord." "No." "Neither do these ladies, it would appear." "Perhaps they flatter me." "Well, parliament has already been the instrument of much mischief." "There is, therefore, only one court of appeal I could recommend." "And that is?" "The Crown." "Could I have a look at that?" "A look at what?" "Your watch." "Sit up." "Down you go." "They took mine away." "Here you are." "Mind you look after it, or you'll get me into trouble." "Thank you." "It will be quite informal." "Just bow, and address him as Your Majesty." "I will divert the Queen, whose taste is more inclined to scandal than to science." "Oh." "It's the enemy!" "It's the enemy!" "I see we are to meet the entire family." "His Majesty is a most conscientious father." "Shh..." "Quiet, everyone." ".. with that one." "Go on, pass it on." "Yes, sir." "It's "Aye aye, sir"!" "Fire!" "Hold your fire, gentlemen." "Hold your fire." "My dears, we are saved." "Lord Sandwich knows about the running of the ship." "He will come to our rescue." "Your Majesty, may I present Mr John Harrison?" "Mr Harrison." "I am very pleased to make your acquaintance." "Please, excuse our exuberance." "Mr William Harrison." "Have you sailed on a frigate, sir?" "I have, Your Majesty." "And where, pray, were the mortars situated?" "On the fo'c's'le deck." "Ah-ha!" "Georgie, you are in the right, sir, and I am in the wrong." "Mr Harrison will show you the positioning of your mortars." "You may need some more ammunition." "My dear, you mustn't get the children so excited." "They'll never sleep." "Mr Harrison, I think I have something here that might interest you." "Please excuse my husband." "Come and look at our battleships, Mama." "May I come aboard?" "This was presented to me by Mr Priestly, a most wonderful creation for the production of electricity." "And what is its use?" "I haven't the foggiest, but dashed pretty, what?" "Mr Harrison, I have been informed at length about your trials, and I must tell you that we are very disturbed by the news." "The safety of our ships is our dearest concern, and we are most grateful for your endeavours on their behalf." "Thank you, Your Majesty." "Have you started work on the new watch?" "I have, sir." "When it is finished, will you do something for me?" "Let me see it." "I would be most interested." "Oh, have you seen this?" "I wore it today, especially for you." "Mr Arnold made it for me." "Papa!" "Come and see our mortars!" "We've blown up Lord Sandwich." "I hope not!" "The admiralty may want him back." "So, do I get my watch back, then?" "I'm not sure I can do without it yet." "Have you had a walk today?" "I'm getting you up." "Do you have a name?" "Rupert." "Do you?" "Grace." "But it's Nurse Ingrams to you." "What do you think?" "It's good." "Fit for a king?" "Rupert?" "Rupert..." "It's all right." "I'm here." "Rupert, there's nothing to be alarmed about." "It's only a drill." "Feel the time." "I can feel your heart." "That's better." "Finish the story you were telling me yesterday, about him taking the watch to the King." "Did he?" "Yes, he did." "The King decided to do his own experiment, an experiment that lasted... months." "Did it work?" "No, not at the beginning." "At the beginning, it was a disaster." "It is a most perplexing matter." "Dr Demainbray, my astronomer and dear friend, came to me this morning with the news." "Well, I can tell you, sir, that I did not believe it." "I came here to see for myself, and he was right." "Absolutely and utterly correct, I don't know what to make of it." "I don't understand." "What was wrong?" "Wrong?" "What?" "Was it slow?" "Did it stop?" "I would that it had, sir." "No, the problem is more serious than that." "Your watch, sir, your watch, sir, is going backwards." "I noticed it this morning, sir, and I immediately informed His Majesty." "The er..." "The position, I believe, is correct." "The position is fine." "I have no explanation for this." "Wait." "What?" "The compass needles." "What do you think?" "The needles?" "When we were magnetising the needles, what did we do with the...?" "Whatever do you call it?" "The lodestones." "Where's the key?" "The key..." "Quick, man, quick!" "Check your waistcoat." "Ah..." "Lodestones." "You think the magnets affected the clock?" "I am sure of it, sir." "Take these out and throw them in the garden." "Immediately." "There." "Now we must start all over again." "Your Majesty is very kind." "Piffle, sir." "I'm a scientist." "That's it." "That's right, watch the ball." "55, 56, 57... 58, 59... 11 o'clock." "Well, let me see, Mr Harrison." "I think we are on target, gentlemen." "Good." "You're getting the hang of it now." "Sneaky!" "January and February," "March and April..." "June and July." "They're going to kick you out soon." "They can't." "I'm feeling particularly mad at the moment." "I don't think they cure that kind of madness here." "What will you do?" "I don't know." "Pitch a tent outside the gates, I suppose." "Do you have any objections to a life under canvas?" "Not more than a couple of thousand." "Seriously, though..." "Seriously, though," "I've no idea." "It's just..." "You could move in with me." "What, in the nurses' quarters?" "Wouldn't Sister object?" "Or do you imagine I'll wear some sort of disguise?" "Don't be silly." "It doesn't suit you." "No, I'm... thinking about going home, before they throw me out too." "My mother needs some help, and I feel I ought to be with her." "It's not ideal, I know, but..." "You could come too." "If you wanted." "It sounds pretty ideal to me." "They've had hundreds of proofs." "Why should one more change their minds?" "They must listen to the King, and there is one thing in our favour." "Lord Morton is deceased." "I moved to enter the results of the recent trial at the King's observatory in Richmond, which show that in a trial of 70 days, greater than the time of the West Indies voyage stipulated in the Act of Queen Anne," "the watch lost less than a tenth of a second a day, which would be consistent with finding a longitude in those West Indies to a distance of less than one mile, and, therefore, wholly within the Act." "Sir, this Board..." "This Board cannot accept an unsupervised trial, no matter how eminent the participants may have been." "This Board is charged by a most solemn act of parliament, as these members are here to witness, and must satisfy its observations, and not those of any other party." "The royal trial was carried out under the strictest conditions, with three separate key holders," "His Majesty graciously consenting to be one of them." "The regulating clock was the subject of nine observations of the sun to keep a check on its accuracy, something the Astronomer Royal never attempted once during his own trial." "Sit down, Mr Harrison!" "I would like to call upon Captain John Campbell, who has a report recently arrived from Jamaica, concerning the exploratory voyage of His Majesty's ship Resolution under the command of Captain James Cook." "Captain." "Gentlemen, Captain Cook is carrying a copy of Mr Harrison's timekeeper, made by Mr Kendall, and the astronomical tables of the Reverend Maskelyne." "His full report will not be available until his return, but I am able to read you this extract from his log." ""It would not be doing justice to Mr Harrison and Mr Kendall if I did not own that we have received very great assistance from this useful and valuable timepiece." "The watch was used to predict the landfall of St Helena within three miles. "" "This is not evidence but anecdote!" "This Board, under the direction of the late Lord Morton, made its conditions perfectly clear." "When Mr Harrison has completed his second copy, both watches will be subjected to a trial of several months, on land and at sea, with the utmost rigour." "No other test will suffice." "If you will excuse me, I have an important matter I must attend to." "Mr Harrison, if your business is finished here, perhaps you would care to accompany me." "With the Board's permission." "I want to thank the Board for giving me the opportunity to make a second copy of my watch." "It is not often that the father is permitted to revisit the childhood of a much-loved child, as I have been allowed to, and on that journey," "find a new respect and love for that child." "I..." "If I can beg your indulgence, my lordships," "I am an old man, and I've never been accounted a speaker of merit." "I may not be spared to complete another watch, but I've begun one." "It will not, gentlemen, be a copy, because I am mindful of the Act of Queen Anne, to which I've clung for over 50 years, like a..." "like a shipwrecked sailor to a barrel." "To be practical." "In all my life, that's been my gospel and my creed." "I have an idea that the heat compensation must be within the balance of the watch, and not around it, and, this morning, I made this." "I tried the idea in my first sea clock over 40 years ago." "I failed." "I didn't understand it." "So much I didn't understand." "A compensating balance wheel will simplify the adjustment of the machine so others may make my watches more easily," "should God grant me the time to complete my labours." "Thank God you're here." "Hurry, please." "The producer's having kittens." "But I thought the programme started at eight?" "This is television, Commander." "We have rehearsals." "I'll have to take you straight to make-up." "Oh, really, is all this absolutely necessary?" ".. having constructed a timekeeper, from which discovery we have..." "John Harrison never received his award from the Board of Longitude." "It came to him by special act of parliament when he was 80 years old." ".. to pay or cause to be paid to the said John Harrison, that sum long promised to him by this house as a reward!" "Hear!" "Hear!" "He had the furthur two years left to him to enjoy his wealth" "After his death in 1776," "William married, but never made another watch." "After the War, Rupert Gould became a regular member of The Brains Trust, a popular panel show, and appeared several times on television." "What makes a man great?" "A man may be great in his aims or in his achievements or in both, but I think that man is truly great, who makes the world his debtor, who does something for the world which the world needs," "and which nobody before him has done or known how to do." "John Harrison was such a man." "In 1946, Gould was finally made a curator of the National Maritime Museum, and a year later, he was awarded the gold medal of the British Horological Institute." "He died in 1948." "And even today, there is not a seaman alive anywhere whose track is not made straighter, safer and more prosperous by the possession of a timekeeper." "Gould's notebooks are displayed today at the Royal Observatory." "Next to them stand John Harrison's four marine timepieces, which, together represent one man's struggle against all odds to use the fourth dimension, time, to connect positions on our three-dimensional globe." "Thanks to Harrison's work, and others," "Greenwich is recognised all over the world as the prime meridian, the longitude zero, by which all time and space is measured, from one millennium to the next."