Occasionally I submit a particular line in this thread.
I think it one of the best lines in any movie.
But I wonder whether anybody recognizes it at all when I submit it.
So I think to provide the line in context:
We'll start with this youtube snippet from
Mutiny on the Bounty,
the Marlon Brando / Trevor Howard version.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6IJ8LfJnJvQ
I didn't find exactly the bit I wanted, but that is the lead-in to the scene.
So this next is from an online script. It's un-formatted and has no speech tags,
so I'll make such adjustments as I can manage here. Plus I'll add comment.
We begin near the end of the Youtube above:
=== begin transcript excerpt ===
Captain Bligh (Trevor Howard)
Mr. Christian?
Mr. Christian (Marlon Brando)
You spoke, sir?
Captain Bligh
That's the King's daughter
you're tampering with.
You should know better
than to risk his displeasure.
Kindly satisfy your lust elsewhere.
Mr. Christian
Quite actually, sir, we were simply
discussing the incredible variety
- of Tahitian vegetation. It was...
Captain Bligh
- Acknowledge the order.
Mr. Christian
Lust to be satisfied elsewhere, sir!
Captain Bligh
But not today.
Report onboard, immediately.
Mr. Christian
You bloody fool.
Well, I'm sorry, old girl.
New Scene: Mr. Christian is on deck when the king comes to visit.
Mr. Christian
Good morning.
...
Would you like to come aboard?
King Hitihiti angry
You come here.
Mr. Christian
Yes, of course.
King Hitihiti
You tell Captain Bligh
he not get breadfruit.
Mr. Christian
No breadfruit?
King Hitihiti
Last night you go away from Maimiti.
Mr. Christian
Yes, regretfully. You see, I...
King Hitihiti
Hitihiti say,
daughter not good enough for England,
breadfruit not good enough.
Mr. Christian
Well, that's certainly
a very sound point of view.
King Hitihiti
- You tell Captain Bligh, no breadfruit.
Mr. Christian
- Yes.
May I suggest
that you tell Captain Bligh, yourself?
You see, I don't think
that he would believe me.
King Hitihiti
- I tell, yes.
Mr. Christian
- Thank you.
Mr. Christian
- Mr. Morrison?
Mr. Morrison
- Aye, sir.
Mr. Christian
Would you direct this gentleman
to Captain Bligh, please?
Mr. Morrison
Yes, sir.
Please come with me.
New Scene: Mr. Christian enters Captain Bligh's cabin
Mr. Christian
You sent for me, sir?
Captain Bligh
Sit down.
...
A rather awkward situation has developed.
...
That daughter of Hitihiti's...
It seems he's quite attached to her.
Mr. Christian playing it straight, giving no hint that he knows what this is about
Yes, she's a lovely girl.
Captain Bligh
In a civilized society,
certain lewd intentions toward
the female members of one's family
would be regarded as...
Well, as an insult.
- Follow me?
Mr. Christian
- I think so, sir.
Captain Bligh
But in Tahiti, the insult lies
in the omission of those lewd intentions.
Manners that would offend
a dockside harlot
seem to be the only acceptable behavior
to King Hitihiti.
Mr. Christian still blank and innocent
Well, it takes all sorts
to make a world, sir.
Captain Bligh
What I'm trying to say is that
you have offended his code of etiquette.
Mr. Christian feigning astonishment
Well, I can assure you, sir,
that I have done nothing
that could be construed as offensive.
Captain Bligh
I know. I know. That's just the point.
Mr. Christian
Which point, sir?
Captain Bligh
The success of our mission depends upon
retaining the good will of Hitihiti.
Mr. Christian
Well, there's no doubt of that, sir.
Captain Bligh
Well, then.
Mr. Christian
Well, you have my fullest attention, sir.
Captain Bligh
Don't you understand what I'm saying?
Mr. Christian
I'm trying to understand
exactly what it is you wish me to do, sir.
Captain Bligh
Make love to that damn daughter of his!
Mr. Christian
Is that an order, sir?
Captain Bligh realizing that Christian is pulling his chain, says nothing
Mr. Christian
Might I have it entered in the log?
Captain Bligh
That will be all.
Mr. Christian
You see, it is a rather different thing
than being asked
to fight for one's country.
...
Very well, sir.
I'll try my best, sir.
Thank you, sir.
New scene: Mr. Christian emerges from the captain's cabin.
Mr. Christian
- I'll have the cutter, Mr. Fryer.
Mr. Fryer
- Aye, aye, sir.
Hold the cutter,
Mr. Christian coming aboard.
- Shall I take you off the duty roster, sir?
Mr. Christian
- Yes.
My commission ashore
will detain me quite some time.
