"Director GEORGE FRANJU" "In July 1888, MARLOW, the literary personification of the author Joseph CONRAD, left the steamship VIDAR, on which he was an officer and disembarked at Singapore." " Do you have a room?" " Are you staying long?" "No, I'm returning to Europe." "I'm awaiting the steamer." "Excuse me Sir." " And staying here at the moment?" " Captain Giles and a young lieutenant." " The luggage has arrived." " Very good Sir." "Luncheon will be served at noon." " So my friend, you are free just now." " Since eleven this morning" "Come on, let's take our coffee on the terrace." "Poor lad, he's really is ill." "He was employed by the Raja." "There was some business, last year." "An easy life out east for a white man." "That is if you can remain one." " Why did you leave your position?" " You disapprove?" "I didn't say that." "I've let myself go a bit." "On land I always need to take my siesta." " Is there anything for you in Europe?" " Nothing." " In that case you must find something." " You know nothing." "I'm leaving the sea." "Perhaps you think me unreasonable, but that's as it is." "All the more reason to hear me out." "Will you?" "This is what I've learnt this morning." "The Captain of an English ship has died at Bangkok." "And the Consul-General has cabled here for a competent man to take command." "I'm not in the least interested." "Your own command." "I believe you have a preference for sailing ships." "Is it a sailing ship?" "The Otago is a very fine Brigantine it seems." " There's still time to get there." " Where?" "The Harbour Office." "We could see." "After everything I've told you?" "I've nothing to add." "Of course." " Is there a steamship for Bangkok?" " The Melita." "Are you leaving." "No not me, a friend perhaps." "You are now your own master." "Above all, I want something new." " But you don't know what." " No." "Only that the moment has come." "The moment has come." "Like a fairy tale perhaps." "But you aren't astonished." "I understand you." "When the carriage is produced out of a pumpkin to take her to the ball..." "Cinderella shows no surprise, but gets in, quietly." "I owe my first command to you Captain Giles." "I won't forget." "Bon Voyage, Captain Marlowe." "and a fair wind." "I embarked at Singapore the steamer Melita." "And disembarked at Bangkok." "The Otago was laid up." "I am the new captain of this ship." " Where is the chief officer?" " He is in the hold, Captain." "Tell him I'm on board." "Here is your new Captain." "Marlowe." "Burns, your chief officer." "I see you've kept everything in very good order here." "It's a fine ship." "A ship must have a Captain to show what it is capable of." "The former Captain died." "In the mess room." "Just where you're sitting." " Where were you at the time?" " At the entrance to the gulf." "I had gone onto the bridge with a sextant to take the height of the sun." "It was almost midday." "I wanted to determine the latitude exactly." "When I returned the Captain was dead." "He died whilst I was observing." "At exactly noon." "You will find his papers in his cabin." "There is a letter from the provisioner." " It has not been opened." " How is that?" "He was a strange, hard, taciturn man." "He shut himself in his cabin and day as well as night would play the violin." ""The vagabond of the sea"" "And why all this madness?" "He fell in love at Haiphong." "With some postcard seller." "We found a photo of the woman." "In a drawer, amongst his papers." "I must see these papers, the accounts." " Everything is in order, Captain" " Fine." "I'm going ashore." "I'll need to know about provisions." "What does one carry here, Sugar?" " Sugar, that would be best" " Very good." "Here is our doctor, Captain." "I'd heard of your arrival." "I'm happy to make your acquaintance." "Your crew has been sorely troubled by their last voyage." "The last voyage has seemed truly like a last voyage." "You must go gently with your men." "And now I must do my rounds." "And I'll begin with him." "Ransome." "Here is our cook." "Ransome." " At your service, Captain." " Come on, I'll see you now." "The best sailor of our crew." " How does he come to be the cook?" " His heart." "There's something wrong with his heart." "He's not able to exert himself." "He may drop dead suddenly." "Enter." "A gentleman is waiting for you in the mess room, Captain." " So early?" "Did you ask his name?" " Mr. Jacobus." "Jacobus, tell him I'm coming." "That's him." "Merchant and charter." "Very good." "Would you allow me to ask of you just a cup of coffee?" "It's three weeks since I've eaten a potato." "Your tastes are excellent." "They are simple enough." "And are provisions expensive here?" "I wouldn't say that." "Excuse me Captain, I have an order to give." "Are you coming?" "My compliments, steward." "You've done wonders." "Is that all you're having, A cup of coffee?" "Thank you, but I'm fine with that." "I hope that you will come to see my at my shop some time." "Come whenever you wish." "But not this afternoon." "I'm going to the cemetery." "Poor Captain Harriman." " And you, you aren't married?" " Neither married nor engaged." "Thank you for your invitation." "I'll visit in a day or two to confirm the instructions regarding supplies." " You have the letter?" " You must be thinking of my brother." "To what do I owe the pleasure?" "My brother is very different." "But I'm well known in this part of the world." "Alfred Jacobus:" "Ships' Provisioner" "I've never heard speak of you sir, just your brother Ernest." "You will be very satisfied." "Reasonable prices." "Was it you who provided all that?" " It was nothing." " If you think we'll live on this scale?" "The flowers cost nothing." "They came from my garden." "I have an old garden, very beautiful." "You must come and see it." "Excuse me, I've got to look for my shipper." "I remain at your disposal." "Goodbye Captain." "After knowing the woman at Haiphong, the Captain disappeared for a week." "He returned one night, I saw him." "He looked wild, and ill." "One day he gave the order to leave, to take off for Hong Kong." "Against a violent monsoon, it was an insane project." "What did the Captain do?" "Wedged himself into his settee, against the bounding of the ship... and played the violin." "What is this malady doctor, that can turn a man so strangely." "You mustn't be carried away by your imagination." "You think so, but that's how it was." "Good day gentlemen." "Please be seated." "There's not much I require." "I've heard mention here of a young man, Gabriel Winter... that I knew in Bombay." "I'm coming aboard today Captain, to inspect the state of your pharmacy." "Let's go." "As you won't need me for this..." " I have one or two things to do ashore." " Me too." "Everything seems excellent." "Good medical provisions." "Quinine." "Important in a climate such as this." "I wouldn't advise you going to sea." "Your men are in pretty poor shape." "I know Doctor." "Anyway, I'm stuck here." "I'm waiting the loading of the sugar." "I'm not leaving without the cargo." "Ah Mr. Burns, how have you profited by going ashore?" "I've been hearing about that provisioner who paid us a visit this morning." " The Jacobus affair." " You are curious." "Never mind what you heard ashore." "I've found no respectable persons frequenting Jacobus." "He lives in a large house." "There's a young woman shut up there." "What about it." "It's his brother interests me." "I'll be visiting him tomorrow." " This must be Mr. Jacobus' place." " Yes sir." "Would you announce Captain Marlow from The Otago." " Isn't he in his office?" " Yes Sir." " Have you understood me?" " Yes sir." "You did it on purpose you cur." " Enter, Sir." " Come in, since you're there." "What d'you want?" "To inform you of the requirements of my provisioner." "I didn't understand what that imbecile told me." "He must learn not to disturb me during my siesta." "Sit down then Captain." "Because of what I have to say, I'll remain standing." "Look at him." "If you don't want to sit and talk business, then go to the devil." "The devil?" "After meeting you it would be a pleasure to meet the gentleman." "What impudence!" "I'll discredit you to the owner." "That's what I think of you." "You aren't worth the trouble." "Go to the devil!" "I'll give you such a hiding if you disturb me before half past three again." "Whoever you are, d'you hear?" "Whoever!" "Between you and me, it would be better not to talk of the matter." "But that's why I did." "I didn't think you so strict." "Let them live their provincial, colonial lives." "M Jacobus is highly respected." "If he beats his son," " His son?" "It gets better." "A son like that, you understand." "Ernest Jacobus was never married." "You think that gives him the right to maltreat the child?" " The child is a bastard." " I see." "I confess, I prefer the brother, He's not such a bully." "He invited me to view his garden." "Admirable it seems." "I have a weakness for flowers." "And he hasn't." " Is the garden bewitched?" " No but Jacobus was, by a circus rider." "He was married, but left, toured the world with his fancy woman," "And he returned here, a broken man, little girl in hand." "I heard of a young girl living with him." "It's the daughter of the circus rider." "She is 18 now." "Captain, could we ask you certain questions?" "A question of love." "What quality do you admire in women?" " Beauty." " Brunettes or blondes?" "The one... the other." "Beware." "My sisters are sirens." "I hope to meet such gracious ones at sea." "What is your favourite flower?" "The flowers in the garden of Jacobus." " You are indecent, Captain." " You have shocked my wife." "We'll supply you with 15 tons of sugar." "But we're not bound by contract to bag it up." "Certainly." "It's not your fault if the warehouses burn down with all the sacks inside." " A truly annoying situation." " And really nothing in reserve." "Unfortunately." " Good evening my friend." " Good evening." "For one week, I visited all the provisioners of Bangkok... to procure the supplies." "In vain." "Could you tell the Captain of the urgency to take him to hospital." " I'm worried about his fever." " What would it be?" "With this climate, in a weakened state, it could prove fatal." "This fire has created a spirit of speculation." "Those who have the sacks, wait." "It's difficult." "Very difficult." "And you are the only one who could find 1,500 sacks." "Bring the potatoes!" "Would you like to order 10 or 15 tons?" "You joke." "My crew wouldn't consume that in a year." "I'm merely proposing a bit of business." "Look how beautiful they are." "I wouldn't ask much for them." "I'm not interested in such a proposal." "It's impossible to talk here." "But if we could go to my house." "It's a poor place." "I'll take you there and then return here for some business." "You could wait in my garden." "And then we'll see to business." " Does that suit you?" " Perfectly." "Could I go ahead?" "Alice, my daughter." "Make yourself at home, I shan't be gone long." "What a lovely garden." "Really enchanting." "I like flowers, but don't know their names." "The most beautiful is the lily." "How did you get in?" "What are you doing here?" " Miss, would you answer?" " It's father." "What's your father up to now?" "Some captain." "Leave me alone." "I'm here on business." "With Mr. Jacobus." "Poor innocent." "The shop is for business." "Why can't you talk there." "Standing there, looking at the girl." "Is that what you call business?" "No, I call that pleasure." "An unexpected one." "Riff raff!" "Sorceress" "Do you expect any good to come of this?" "It's not easy, Captain." "I've thought over the matter of your sacks." "It's very delicate." "We must see." "What do you think of my garden?" "Quite splendid." "Come and eat!" "Hurry up!" "." "It is true that we never see anyone." "My twin brother and I don't talk." "You understand." "Haven't you finished your business?" "I believe that you should buy those potatoes." "I don't believe so." "Think wisely, Captain." "When did she last eat?" "I can't bear the thought here, hungry and in the dark." " Have something, please." " Not bothered." "Your absurd behaviour will stop me coming here any more." "What's that to me?" " You like it." " It's not true." "Go back to them." "She wouldn't listen." " If you'll allow me, I think it's time." " I'll come with you." "Goodbye." "Tomorrow perhaps." " Anything happened?" " No, nothing." "What would you say to a supplementary cargo of some tons of potatoes." "That's all we want!" "Potatoes" "The old captain was mad." "But this one is no better." " Is everything running smoothly?" " Fine, thank you." "I've brought some flowers from my garden." " If your steward could take them." " He's been taken to hospital." " Really?" "Why?" " Symptoms of cholera." "We must leave here." "There's something brewing." "The open sea will sweep it away." "Take these flowers to my cabin." " When are you leaving Captain?" " tomorrow morning, early." " Visit us this evening." " With pleasure." "Can't you leave us alone?" "Do you take me for a servant now?" " I'm leaving tomorrow at day break." " Already?" "You're shaking." "Alice, what's wrong?" " Go away!" "Go away!" "Go away!" " Why?" "Why are you so afraid?" " I don't know." " I won't do anything." "I believe you." " You're back early." " Business is quiet." "Sit down." "Have you thought about the potatoes we discussed?" "Not at all." "You should, Captain, you should." "Do you think that it would be a good thing for us to trade?" " I believe you should take thirty tons." " Thirty?" " With what money?" " How much have you?" "This is what I'll do." "I'll buy all I can afford of your potatoes." "On one condition." "That we do it now." "Perfect." "That will be for the best." " You came back." " I'm looking for my shoe." " Your father picked it up." " I'm not afraid of Papa, by himself." " It's people like me..." " I'm not afraid of you... not now." "You won't see me again before I go to sea." "But I shall often think of you in this garden." " You must love this garden." " I love nothing." "Goodbye." "Have you seen that pile of potatoes and that fat chandler waiting in there?" " What is the meaning..." " Mr. Burns!" "Here is the key to my desk." "Pay Mr. Jacobus and see him off the ship." "You can't put them down there." "Please Mr. Burns." "No wind." "And so no possibility of leaving, as I had supposed." "Not too well?" "Can't a man take an afternoon off with a headache - for once?" "Of course." "Rest up." "I'll see you later." " What's wrong with Mr. Burns?" " Headache, fever." " It's not like him to be ill." " I hope it's not serious." "Tell me, Ransome, the flowers in my cabin." " Could you find the time for them." " Certainly Captain." "Becalmed." "It's the fault of the old captain." "He's cursed us." "It's even worse than if he were still alive." "Don't be afraid, Mr. Burns." "You're tired." " Is there a chance to get underway?" " But we'd only drift." " Good night, Mr. Burns." " Good night, Captain." "The wind is getting up." "We must get ready." "To the capstan!" "Hoist the sail!" "The breeze is dying." "A shame." "Nevertheless." "Unfurl the sail." "For four days we were off the Southern Cape." "But the wind was so weak, we could only make four knots." "Land ahoy!" "Cape Liant." "We were crawling." "How are things Ransome?" "I'm afraid we've not finished with the sickness yet." " What's wrong?" " A couple with a fever in the night." "Fever." "A strong breeze might just blow away the infection." "Come with me Ransome." "We must administer the quinine." "Happily, there are still four bottles of quinine unopened." "Here!" "For the twelve invalids." " This heat is terrible." " I know Captain." "In this calm it's unbearable." "The stench from the potatoes is poisonous." "Throw overboard all those which are rotten." "I've heard there is a new sickness aboard." "The stink of rottenness is not the potatoes by any chance?" "If you left your door open you'd have a bit more air." "The sugar is what's important, not that stinking mess." "It's nothing." "Don't let it concern you." "As the old captain for a good passage." "There he'll be, the latitude." "Exactly on our route." "He's there waiting for us, at the entrance to the gulf." "It's him the..." "Alright now, Mr. Burns." "Better get some sleep." "Mr. Burns is delirious." "I can get no sense out of him." "The illness itself seems to keep me at a distance." "I feel myself a stranger to the ship." "And it must be said somewhat a stranger to myself." "Night follows day, and day night." "The situation becomes worse." "The crew are rendered prostrate by the fever." "The calm more dangerous than any storm." "We've made a bit of progress." "Hardly." "With what we have to put up with." "The currents which flow against us, and the fevers which hang over us." "And here we stay." "There's only you and I left." " Follow the figurehead." " At least she knows the region." "It's not like his hallucinations." "The devil, right on our route." "At night you can sleep on the bridge in order to keep cool." "I'd advise you to do this." "Courage." "Now back to your posts." "I'm feeling better." "Well enough to go up on deck." "No, you stay there." "The isle of Koh-ring." "Still in view." "I can't bear this any more." " It's like being bewitched." " Well said, Captain." " What do you mean?" " You know very well." "That a dead man has the power to affect the weather?" "The breeze from the sea and land have died." "Once we're past 8d 20' latitude..." " Then you'll see!" " Now, now Mr. Burns." "Less of that nonsense." "What was troublesome was Mr. Burns worried manner." "Constantly with his abrupt words, nervousness, even his silences... imply his meaning." "The ship wasn't safe in my hands." "All sense of time is lost as all we do is wait." "We must double the dose of quinine." "It's our only chance." "This isn't quinine." "What does it mean?" "It's sweetish, saltish." "Horrible." "That's the men's health thrown away." "Stop it, are you mad?" "What are you doing?" "I'm trimming my beard." "I've just come from the pharmacy." "There's no quinine in the bottles." " What is it?" " I don't know." "A white powder, but too heavy for quinine." " It'll be of no use." " A dirty business." "I always thought he would play us some trick like this." "I suppose he'd have got about £15 for it in Haiphong." " Mr. Burns!" " Why not?" "Quinine is pretty expensive in this part of the world." "And fairly scarce too." "What can we do?" "He believed not in God nor the devil." "Not in man, the wind nor the sea." "Not in his own conscience." "He hated everyone." "Everything." "But why refill the bottles?" "Perhaps to fool us into thinking they hadn't been emptied." "I'll go and tell the men." "If only I could..." "Well my friends, there's nothing we can do for those fallen ill." "I don't want to hide the seriousness of the situation... for which I take responsibility." "There's no need for you to stay here." "It makes no difference." "There's no air anywhere to breathe." "The sails are stirring." "The course is south." "Get ready!" "Brace the yard!" "Again no wind." "We'll never leave." " Wake me if there's any need." " I understand." "Go and sleep" " Can you manage?" " I think so." "Would you like to try and eat something Captain?" "How long have I been on the bridge?" "I've lost track." "14 days." "Ever since we raised anchor." "You are doing well Captain." " You and I are the only ones spared." " Spared?" "By the devilish fever shrouding this ship." "I want to talk to Burns." "I'm going below." "I'll see you in the cabin." "Such silence." "Hours pass without the slightest sound." "The only voice I ever hear is yours Captain." "Your orders given to a crew of ghosts." "No man sings or shouts at a dog." "Not enough breath for that." "Any more dead, Captain?" " No" " He won't, he won't leave us be." "He's got us in his power, tightening his grip." "Don't be absurd." ""If I had my wish neither the boat nor any of you would ever reach port."" "Such were the last words of the old captain." "That night, with all of his strength he threw his violin over the side." "Mr. Burns says that the old captain threw violin into the sea." "He found the case, but it was empty." "Still no breeze." "It's hopeless to ever expect to reach port." " Have you seen the sky?" " Yes, it looks menacing." "Menacing is the word." "I don't know." "Perhaps a squall." "All the sails could be torn down." "Or the force of the canvas could break the yardarm." "Enter." "I've come down to close the port-hole of Mr. Burns." "In case it rains." "I'll check yours too." "If you are staying in your room." " How is the weather?" " Darker every moment." "There's definitely something brewing." " From which side?" " Every side." " You think I should be on the bridge?" " Yes Captain" " Are you there?" " We're all here Captain." "We must take in the mainsail." "Now my friends, let's go astern to brace the main-yard." "It's about all we can do for the ship." "The rest is down to chance." "Mr. Ransome, have you been helping." " Yes Captain" " You mustn't, what with your heart." "Yes Captain." "I think..." "I don't feel too good." "Around this frozen ship, the darkness had the solidity of a wall." " Not too good?" " This fever has me as weak as a baby." "I need a man at the wheel." "Do you think you can manage?" "I'm alright Captain." "Hold the ship, even if it starts to sink." "I've still enough strength to hang on." "I'll make sure the ropes don't drag on the bridge." "Hold on to the wheel!" "Keep the wind behind if it rises." "This blessed ship of silence, with its crew of tiptoeing cowards." "Talking in murmurs." "There's not one in the whole bunch capable of a work song." "Why have you left your bed?" "What are you doing on the bridge in this state?" "What's the use of hiding?" "We must defy them." " You see, we must be bold." " Brace yourself." "Watch him, Captain!" "You'd better watch him!" "We glide over the sea and nothing betrays the movement of the ship." "We're moving." "We must." "It was time for me to go on the bridge." "I preserved my strength, just for that." "You've done well Mr. Burns, but now you must rest." "Go below?" "certainly not." "You never know where you are with such a brute." "When I think of the burial service we read." "Our departed brother." "Ah!" "what a joke." "Departed brother." "A swindler more like." "What?" "Calm again?" "." "It's the kind of weather we've had right from the start." "A light breeze... and then calm." "In a moment you'll see the ship pivot on its keel and tack." "Heading for the devil." "That's it." "The devil and his accomplice." "What is it now?" "Ah!" "You dogs." "Found your tongues at last?" "Alright." "Laugh, laugh." "Let's laugh together." "I think he's unconscious." "Take his legs." "There's someone." " What course Captain?" " Straight, a tail wind for the moment." " If we take him..." "He would be better in his hammock." "Take him below." "Don't let go on the ladder." "Don't let go of me." "Go and rest Pantchi." "Pantchi, pretends he's still strong, but I don't think so." "Me neither." "If the wind starts to turn when we're ready to land... what shall we do?" "With three men to handle her if the breeze turns sharply," "Put the ship on the coast or dismast it." "Or both at the same time." "It's he who takes us now." "It's a ship without a crew." "Looks like this breeze has refreshed us Mr. Burns." "True, Captain." "You've yet to speak to me of that old rascal." "No." "He who is dead, is dead." "It's the old captain's violin case." "Into the sea!" "Singapore." "I could perhaps go down below now?" "Yes of course." "Go ahead." "Take the wheel, Mr. Burns." "We'll anchor in the harbour." "We'll just have to hoist the flag for medical assistance." "Good day Captain." "Where are your wounded?" "Not wounded but sick." "Follow me." "What on earth's that?" "That is Mr. Burns, my chief officer." "I imagine we'll be taking him to hospital." "Oh no, not that one." "He'd never allow it." "Besides he's convalescing." " You yourself seem..." " I'm not sick." " seem a trifle strange." " 17 days on the bridge." "Seventeen?" "But you slept?" "I suppose so." "I don't know." "But I've not slept for forty hours." "I urge you to take a narcotic." "I'll give you a prescription." " Who's that?" " The customs is here Captain." "Very good." "I'm coming." "Good day Captain." "We're going to unload all this rot." "It's forbidden to throw garbage in the harbour." "You must feel now severely fatigued." "No, I feel old." "You do indeed seem to have aged." "In truth, one shouldn't do too much in life." "For good or for evil." "Life taken slowly with a return to one's starting point." "Some are blessed if they can manage it." " Are you leaving soon?" " As soon as I have a new crew." "The crew of a wrecked ship is here at this moment." "Perhaps you could take them?" "Thank you." "I'll see the men tomorrow." " Good evening Captain Giles." " Good night Captain Marlowe." "Sleep well." "THE SHADOW LINE" "Directed by GEORGES FRANJU" "Subtitles:" "Corvusalbus and Fifounet"