Jerry has...
excuse the expression... Clam fritters!
I'm not eating them alone! Come on.
Lorenzo.
Here, kitty.
Yeah! There you go!
They got to be the worst
clam fritters I ever ate.
Is that so?
Even Lorenzo thinks so.
Ain't no worse than that goose
you cooked last week.
Even my stomach
still gets upset just thinking about it.
Well, I promised John Bartlett.
I'd take his cranberry barrels
up to him, so...
...you two can match coins
to see who's going to wash the dishes.
I won't do them.
Blessed if I'd do the darn things
if Teddy Roosevelt himself asked me to.
Where's my hat?
I can't find anything in this mess.
I suppose you fellers think
I'm going to do them all the time.
Well, if you think that,
you're mistook. I ain't!
Aw, this... This just don't work.
It don't work.
What don't work?
This plan of ours.
I thought not going to sea,
settling down with you sailors...
...living on the cheap
was going to be the ticket.
It was going to be fine. But it ain't.
I mean, I don't mind
doing my share of the work.
You know, swabbing the deck, and...
But, I mean, that's not
the way it worked out.
I'm doing the work!
I'm just so sick of this!
I'm sick of living in a pigpen!
Well, now, I'll tell you what.
This craft...
...needs a steward.
A steward.
Or a woman!
A woman?
Yeah.
I'm not kidding. A woman.
We could use a housekeeper.
Nobody's talking about a housekeeper.
I'm talking about a woman.
This house needs a woman!
It's simple.
One of us has to get married.
- Married?
- Married.
And take the other two
as boarders into his house.
Look, when a shipwrecked crew is starving...
...one of them has to be sacrificed
for the good of the rest.
One of us has to get married
for the good of the other two.
Well, that's pretty good, Perez.
So...
...you going to be the first offering?
If it's my luck, yes.
But I had this idea...
...maybe we'd match for it
like we do for the dishes.
Well, I don't know.
I'll tell you what.
Why don't you just marry...
...Melissy Busteed.
She's awful sweet on you.
No, you don't. She is the town gossip.
She's already buried two husbands...
...and I ain't looking to be the third.
Where you going to find this wife?
Well, sir, I'm about to show you.
The Nuptial Chime...
...a journal of matrimony.
Chock-full of advertisements...
...from women who wants husbands.
Well, seems to be a strong running...
...for "vivacious brunettes,"...
...and over here, "blondes of tender...
...and romantic dispositions. "
So, Mr. Perez...
...which one of these types
are you suffering for?
Why don't you hush up?
You really think that
I would write anyone in there?
What we have to do...
...is make our own advertisement.
Say exactly what kind of woman we want...
...and then sit back
and wait for the answers.
Simple.
What do you think about this, Jerry?
Well, seems like a good idea.
We got to do something...
...and that's the only sensible thing.
So you have to do it.
Yes, you do.
We agreed to stick together.
Two-to-one's a vote.
So you got to do it.
We'll match for it.
Come on, Zeb.
Ain't going to mutiny, are you?
All right.
I'll stick with the ship.
Heads.
Heads.
Tails.
Well, there it is.
Well...
...don't feel bad...
Jerry.
There it is.
It's Providence.
Me and Perez are bachelors.
We'd just be green hand.
You're an able seaman.
You already know...
...what it is to manage a wife.
Dang it to hell.
I know what it is...
...to be managed by a wife.
Hey! Here's Captain Zeb.
Well, Cap'n, how's she heading?
Well, I'd say pretty much
northeast by north.
Running fair, but watch out
for some wind ahead.
- I calculate you ain't heard the news, Zeb.
- Yeah?
Web Saunders has got his
original package license.
Come on the noon mail.
- Is that a fact?
- I seen it myself.
Web was showing it around.
We was wondering what kind of fit
John Bartlett would have now.
He's been pretty nigh distracted...
...ever since Web started
his billiard room...
...calling it a haunt, a sin,
and a whole lot more names.
And when he hears
that Web's going to sell rum...
...why, that's going to
set him off real good.
- Morning.
- Morning, Zeb.
Excuse me!
Whoa, Daniel.
I'm afraid I'm mixed in my directions.
A gentleman at the train depot
told me the way to the cable station.
But I've forgotten
whether I turn to the left...
...once I reached here or to the right.
How was you calculating to get there?
I intended to walk.
Did you tell those fellas at the depot
that you were going to try to walk?
- Certainly.
- One thing they forgot to tell you is...
...the station's out on the outer beach.
There's about a half a mile
of pretty wet water...
...between here and there.
- You don't mean it.
- I do.
Unless, of course, there's
been an almighty drought...
...since I was at the house.
I tell you what.
I'll give you a ride down to the shore...
...and find somebody to row you over.
Here. Give me your flipper.
There you go.
Thank you.
Come on, Daniel.
My name is Hedge.
Pleased to meet you, Mr. Hedge.
My name's Hazeltine.
Yeah. You're the new engineer
for the cable station.
All educated, I hear.
Whole town's been expecting you.
Is that right?
Who told you?
Well, I can't say for sure...
...but Melissy Busteed
got a hold of the information...
...and from there on, it's plain sailing.
You see, Chatham's not big enough
to have its own newspaper.
Come on, boy.
So...
...the Almighty gave us Melissy, I guess...
...as a sort of a substitute.
You play pool, Mr. Hazeltine?
Sure. Sometimes.
Yeah. Come on, Daniel.
Good boy.
John.
This is Mr. Hazeltine.
He's the new man at the cable station.
Mr. Hazeltine, this is
my friend John Bartlett.
- Captain John Bartlett.
- Nice to meet you, sir.
So I brought those barrels up for you.
Thanks, Zeb.
I'll probably be up sometime tomorrow.
I want to talk to you about that...
...billiard room business.
God Almighty's got his eye on that place...
...and on them that's running it.
Well, then, it's in good hands...
...and we won't have to worry, do we?
Boy, am I glad to see you.
First of all...
...how do you spell "conscientious"?
I don't.
What would you want to spell it for?
We've writ about 400
of these advertisements...
...and ain't one of them fit to feed a pig.
Perez has got such fancy notions...
...that only a circus bill
would make him feel happy.
I don't see why we can't have
something plain and simple...
...like, "Woman needed to wash dishes...
...and clean house for three men. "
Why wouldn't that be all right?
That's really going to get you...
...an answer from a woman
in a hurry, isn't it?
"Woman to wash dishes for three men"?
You think that that's a bait
to get you a wife?
Come on! You got to do better than that.
You got to be... I don't know...
soft-soap them...
...a little more high-toned, sir.
You got to make them think
that you're a catch!
I am a great catch...
...like you're talking about.
Pass me that pen.
Wife wanted...
...by ex-seafaring man...
...of...
...steady habits.
Willing to work...
...and keep house...
...shipshape...
...and aboveboard.
No sea lawyers...
...need apply.
Address...
- "Skipper. "
- Good.
I liked that bit about sea lawyers.
It'll keep the loose-tongued
ones away.
Well, Jerry.
Now all you have to do
is pick yourself out a wife...
...and tell us what you want
for a wedding present.
A divorce.
Mighty sharp buggy, Web.
Good day to you, gentlemen.
Nice weather.
Good for picking
them cranberries, I hear.
Slick. Slick.
Now that he got
that rum-selling license...
...he'll be purring just like a cat.
I'm all right with cats...
...but there's something about a cat man.
- How do you do, Captain?
- Mrs. Small.
What a surprise to see you here.
I swear if you ain't been a stranger.
Ezekial, get up and give
Captain Hedge your chair.
No, no.
Don't go to all that trouble, Mrs. Small.
I'll just sit over there on the sofa
with Captain Bartlett.
- Hey, John.
- Hey, Zeb.
I didn't expect to see you here.
I'm glad, though.
Every God-fearing man in this town...
...has need to be on his knees this day.
Have you heard about it?
Captain John is talking about
that rum-selling license.
Web Saunders has got.
Ain't it awful?
How you doing, Melissy?
Yes, of course. Hello, Captain.
And how is Captain Perez?
He's just dandy.
He always has a kind word for you.
Anyway, I says to Prissy Rend.
"There is going to be
a judgment on this town...
...sure as you're
a living woman," says I.
And she says, "You are right,
Melissy. " And then I says...
We are blessed this day.
...to have with us the Reverend Perley.
...to lead us in the meeting.
Amen!
Brothers and sisters...
...here we are, a-kneeling
at the altar's foot.
And what's going on outside?
Why, the devil's got his clutches in our
midst.
The horn of the wicked is exalted.
They're selling rum...
rum in this town!
The people of Chatham have been
slow-footed in the Lord's vineyard.
I tell you, brothers and sisters...
God has given us a task to perform.
And what have we done with it?
We sat still...
...and let the devil have his way.
And now the grip of Satan
is tighter on the town...
...than it ever was before.
Do you think that
that hellhole down yonder...
...is going to shut up
because we talk about it at meeting?
You think Web Saunders
is going to quit selling rum...
...because we say he ought to?
Do you think God is going
to walk up to that door...
...and nail it up himself?
No, sir!
He don't work that way!
We've talked and talked,
and now it's time to do!
Ain't there anybody here
that feels a call?
Ain't there axes to chop with
and fire to burn?
I tell you, brothers,
we've waited long enough.
And I, old as I am...
...am ready.
Lord, here I am.
Here I...
Play, sister.
...from temptation.
And show to us a sign.
That to every small...
Okay, here we go.
Zeb...
...do you believe...
...that man's law...
...ought to be allowed
to interfere with God's law?
Well, in most cases...
...it's been my judgment that it pays...
...to steer close to both of them.
Suppose God called you...
...to break man's law and keep his.
What would you do?
Well, I guess...
...the first thing would be to make sure...
...that it really was the Almighty
that was calling.
Let me help you aboard, Captain.
Maybe there just ain't
no interest in having...
...a seafaring man of steady habits.
Jerry, it's just exactly like I told you.
Here's my favorite.
Well...
Nifty writing.
"Mr. Skipper, sir...
"I saw your advertisement in the paper.
"and think perhaps you might suit me.
"Please answer these questions
by return mail:
"What is your religious belief?
"Do you drink liquor?
"Are you a profane man?
"If you want to...
...you might send me your real name...
...and a photograph. "
Photograph? The only one I got
is a cracked one...
...from my first marriage.
It's turning yellow.
Will you please let the man finish?
Thank you, Perez.
"If I think you will suit...
...maybe we can sign articles. "
"Yours truly, Martha B. Snow...
Nantucket, Massachusetts. "
She sure don't mince words, do she?
You know what I like about it most?
The shipshape way she puts it.
You know what I like
is that part about signing articles...
...like she was signing on to a voyage.
Seems to be exactly
what we're looking for.
Well, I don't know. What's the hurry?
I mean, next batch of letters...
...are liable to have
one that's much better.
In the meantime,
this house keeps looking...
...like the fo'c'sle on a cattle boat.
You know, Jerry...
...I don't really see how
you could do much better.
Go ahead, you know. Do what you like.
I'm only a devilish fool that's got to
take in boarders and get married.
That's all the hell I am.
Excuse me.
Be careful.
Right there it says...
"Are you profane?"
You fellas are enough
to make a preacher cuss.
Well, go ahead and write her...
...but I'm giving you fair warning.
I ain't going to have her
if she don't suit.
I ain't going to marry a skeleton.
...and crawl into bed
with a bag of bones.
We did not open it.
We felt all hands should be on deck...
...before we did anything that important.
Hurry up and open it
before he messes his pants.
Oh, please!
Thanks, Perez.
"Captain Jeremiah Burgess.
"Sir...
"I like your looks well enough...
"though it don't pay to put
too much dependence on looks...
"as nobody knows better than me.
"Besides, I judge that picture you sent.
"was took quite a spell ago.
"Anyway, you look honest...
"and I am willing
to risk money enough.
"to carry me to Chatham and back...
"though the dear land knows.
"I ain't got none to throw away.
"If we don't agree to sign articles...
"I suppose likely you will be willing.
"to stand half the fare.
"That ain't any more than right,
the way I look at it.
"I shall come to Chatham
on the noon train Thursday.
"Meet me at the depot.
Yours truly, Martha B. Snow. "
And there's a postscript.
"I should've liked it better.
"if you was a Methodist...
"but we can't have everything.
...just as we want it in this world. "
She sure don't waste
no time, does she?
She's pretty prompt,
I'll sure say that for her.
Is that all you've got to say
after getting me in this scrape?
Don't go on your beam-ends, Jerry.
- There ain't no harm done yet.
- Ain't no harm done?
I don't know nothing about her.
She might be 100 years old,
for all I know.
And she's coming down here
on the forenoon...
...to marry me by main force...
...and you expect me
to marry a Methodist?
- Now, hold on!
- I'm a pilgrim!
Hold on!
Jerry, I like the way...
...the woman's got it put together.
She's got sense.
You can't just sell her a cat in a bag.
A cat in a bag?
Well, I don't know
what you mean by that.
You had me doing all this
at a flip of a coin...
...and then I'm going to have to
pay her fare, too?
If she comes down here...
...and signs articles,
like she says in here...
...we all are going to be paying
a lot more than just fares.
And I agree with him.
This woman has a lot of sense.
And you, sir...
...will be going to the depot.
...as well as he and I.
The three of us will go to the depot.
Why don't you go down there
and you meet her...
...and you bring her here?
- I'll wait for her here.
- No, Jerry.
Got to treat her decent.
You are going to the depot.
Here they come.
Godfrey domino!
Heave to! Heave to!
There's no danger.
What do you mean no danger?
She knows where we live!
We're going to scoot back to the shanty...
...and we'll stay there
until she gets tired and goes home.
That's it.
Yeah. Go on. Laugh.
You set there tee-heeing
like a Bedlamite.
That's what I'd expect of you.
Oh, my body and soul.
There she comes now.
She's heading up the hill!
- Did you lock the dining room, Perez?
- Why should I lock it?
She'll go in there and sit and wait for us!
Well, now...
...one of us has got to go up there...
...and tell her she don't suit...
...and pay her fare back home.
And I think Jerry
ought to be the one, since...
...since he's the bridegroom.
Me?
You fellas got me in this scrape.
Now let's see you get me out of it.
I ain't going to move a step
unless it's out to sea.
It's a man.
He's been up to the house.
Hey.
Over here!
Over here, on your lee bow!
Mr. Hazeltine, just...
...just go on around to the back.
- Here.
- Captain.
Mr. Hazeltine, I'd like you to make...
...the acquaintance of Captain Jerry here.
- And Captain Perez.
- Hello.
- Pleased to meet you both.
- My shipmates.
We're... Sort of up to here.
We're waiting to get our bearings.
We're...
We're not out of our heads.
I'm saying that because I know
that's what it looks like.
Well, I'm glad to hear it.
What we want to know is...
...have you been up to our house,
and was there anybody there?
Yes, I've been there.
The housekeeper.
That is, I suppose
it was the housekeeper...
...that opened the door
and said you were out...
...and I should wait or come back.
I told you.
I knew it. Didn't I tell you? Yeah.
Just hush up for one minute, Jerry.
Now, this woman that you say
you thought was a housekeeper...
...what was she doing?
She seemed very much at home.
That's why I thought
she was the housekeeper.
There you go. I mean, she's going to
stay there maybe forever.
I mean, she's got...
...she's got too good a thing going for her.
- That's... Come on.
- Too big a thing going...
Hush!
The thing is we're in kind of
a ridiculous scrape here...
...one that we got to get out of alone.
I'll...
I'll tell you about it sometime...
...but not now.
Well, I'll leave you to it, then.
Yeah.
Good day to you all.
All right. Now that's it.
No more stalling!
We got to go up there and see her.
And that's all! Now come on.
No! I'm telling you...
...that all this running around,
this hiding...
...it just sickened me
on this whole subject.
And I'm just not... I'm not about to do
nothing, have nothing to do.
I ain't going up there.
If there's any kind of talk of marriage...
...or any other female up there.
All right. I'll go.
Good.
And I'll tell her you're bashful...
...and you're dying to get married.
No! You ain't going to do that!
He ain't going to do that, is he?
I don't know. But, uh, maybe you shouldn't
have been so pig-headed.
You're not Captain Burgess.
No, ma'am.
My name is Hedge.
You're not Miss Snow?
Mrs. Snow.
I'm a widow.
I feel as if I know you, Captain Hedge.
The boy in the depot wagon
told me all about you...
...and Captain Ryder
and Captain Burgess.
Well, hey, I hope he gave us a clean bill.
Well, he didn't say nothing against you,
if that's what you mean.
If he had, I don't think it would've
made much difference.
I've lived long enough to want
to find things out for myself...
...not take folks' say-so.
I judge you got my letter
and was expecting me.
Now, if it ain't too much trouble...
I'd like to know
where Captain Burgess is...
...and why he wasn't at
the depot to meet me.
Well, the truth is, ma'am...
...we was at the depot.
You was?
Thing is...
...we thought you was
somebody else.
No.
We thought
somebody else was you...
...and, though, I'm sure
she's a fine lady...
...she was...
Well, there. If that don't beat all.
I don't blame Captain Burgess
a mite, poor thing.
I guess I'd have run, too,
if I'd seen that woman.
I mean, she was sitting
in the seat next to me, and...
Well, she had a shut-over bag
considerable like mine...
...and when she got up to get out,
she took mine by mistake.
Oh, dear, dear.
Where is Captain Burgess?
He's in a fish shack down the road...
...and as upset as he is...
I'm not sure when he's ever
going to break cover.
Rock of ages.
Cleft for me.
Let me hide.
Myself in thee.
Well, Captain Hedge,
there are one or two things.
...that I need to say right here.
In the first place, I ain't in the habit.
...of answering advertisements
from folks that wants to get married.
I ain't so hard up for a man
as all that comes to.
And the next thing, I didn't come here...
...with my mind made up
to marry Captain Burgess...
...not by no means.
I'll tell you what. I...
I'll go down to the shack...
...and I'll get Captain Burgess, and...
No, you shan't, either.
I'll tell you what we'll do.
It's nearly supper already...
...and I need to be getting to the tavern.
I suppose if it's not too much trouble,
you could walk me there.
And I'll stay there tonight...
...and tomorrow, I'll come down here...
...and we'll all have a commonsense talk.
That is the most sensible thing
I have heard today.
Come on! Keep that water
moving, will you?
Big fire in the village!
All hands on deck! Hey!
Come on, you!
Keep that water going there!
And don't break the bottles!
- Keep it going!
- Get those bottles out of there!
Keep that water moving, will you?
How'd it start, Web?
- How'd it start?
- Yeah.
I know mighty well how it started.
But what I'm going to find out
before this night is over...
...is who started it,
and they're going to pay!
You hear me? Come on, you!
Keep that water going there!
- Come on!
- Get the water on there!
"He burnt all their houses
wherein they dwell...
...and all their goodly castles with fire. "
Oh, no. That's not good.
It's all right, John.
Kerosene.
I'm going to get you out of this.
Well, don't worry, shipmate.
I'll fix it up.
Make sure they'll think...
...you were running to help
put out the fire.
Yeah. They'll never know you set it.
Okay.
All right. Here.
Oh, yeah.
We have a man upstairs in our house...
...who may live and who may not live.
If he lives...
...he's going to be
sick in our house for a long time.
What do we do?
Who's going to take care of him?
You got to get married now.
To the fat lady?
Well...
...she'd be shade in the summer...
...warm in the winter.
We wouldn't have
the money to feed her.
Well, you think he'll live?
I can't say.
He's had a stroke of paralysis...
...and there seem to be other
complications as well.
If he regains consciousness,
I shall think he has a chance.
Not a very good one.
I don't think he'll die tonight.
But if he lives, he's going
to need a good nurse...
...and I don't know of one in town.
Neither do we.
Watch that top step now.
Yeah.
There you are.
Dr. Palmer...
I would like you to meet Mrs. Snow.
- Mrs. Snow, this is Dr. Palmer.
- Pleased to meet you.
Captain Perez...
- This is Mrs. Marthy B. Snow...
- Ma'am.
...of Nantucket.
Pleasure is mine. All mine.
Mrs. Snow is sort of a relative...
...so to speak, of Captain Jerry.
And...
...it turns out she has had
considerable nursing skills...
...and she said she is willing
to take care of John...
...until he feels better.
Well, that's... That's wonderful.
That's wonderful.
Captain Bartlett's upstairs?
Shall I go right up?
Oh, yes, ma'am.
You have nursed before,
I believe the captain said?
Yes. Five years with my husband.
He had slow consumption.
And before that, with my mother...
...and my brother and sisters
at one time or another.
I've known considerable
sickness my whole life.
More of that than anything else, I guess.
Now, if you'll go up with me...
...so as to tell me
about the medicine and so on.
Oh, yes, ma'am. This way.
Excuse me, Captain.
She has lost quite a bit of tonnage.
She's also...
I don't know...
...prettied up a bit, wouldn't you say?
You, uh, haven't told me
something, have you?
Jerry, it's safe now.
You can come on out
and show yourself.
Wait a minute. Didn't I tell you fellas...
...that there was a slight case
of misidentity at the station?
It had something to do
with a couple of valises.
- I told you that.
- Told us nothing.
No, I did. Told us nothing.
- Really?
- No.
- I must be getting old.
- She'll do.
If all your relatives are
like that, Captain Burgess...
...well, I'd like to know them.
Anyway, he seems
a little bit better now.
There should be no change for a while.
If there is, send for me, all right?
I'll call in the morning.
- Thank you, Doctor.
- Good night, Captains. Good night.
Good night, Captain Burgess.
Thank you, Doc.
Well, Jerry...
...don't you think it's
about time you went up...
...and introduced yourself
to your future wife?
She's busy up there.
I'm so tuckered out...
...if I have a little nap...
...I'll make a better presentation...
...is what I'm thinking.
Naps are out.
You go upstairs now.
- Come on.
- It's time. It's time.
Oh, no. Come on, Jerry.
Mrs. Snow...
I think you'd better sleep in my bedroom,
long as you're here.
I'll just bunk downstairs
along with my shipmates.
All right.
Perhaps you should introduce me
to Captain Burgess.
I don't think we've ever met,
if we are relations.
Oh, why, of course.
Excuse me, ma'am.
Jerry, this is Mrs. Snow.
I don't know what's gotten into me.
- You're sure pert, ma'am.
- Thank you.
Well, he seems to be doing better...
...so I think you all should go to bed...
...and we can talk tomorrow...
...I mean, today.
I forgot it's next door to daylight already.
Good night.
Jerry's correct, ma'am.
You sure are pretty.
Thank you.
Mrs. Snow.
What's the matter?
Nothing worth gabbing about.
You just look awful upset.
You look awfully down.
Do you want to tell me
what the matter is?
I'm fine, really.
Well, if there's ever anything I can do...
...do you promise that you'll tell me?
You're a sweet man.
Captain Perez.
It's...
Mrs. Snow here is feeling awfully blue.
I just...
I got an idea.
This weekend,
in order to cheer her up...
...we ought to have
some kind of an outing.
Go down and see Luther
and the boys.
A picnic! We'll make it a picnic.
Jumping Jehoshaphat.
What's got into Jerry?
He have an epiphany or something?
Captain Burgess?
He didn't tidy up and fix the table,
if that's what you mean.
Captain Bartlett was...
...seemed to be sleeping
or in a stupor-like...
...and the doctor, when he come,
said that I could.
...leave him for a few minutes
and run downstairs.
A doctor?
He's been here already this morning?
Oh, yes.
He came an hour ago.
Now, if you wouldn't mind going up
and staying with Captain Bartlett...
...while I finish getting breakfast...
...and if you wouldn't mind
going out to the barn...
...and gathering a few eggs,
that would be a help.
I've been up and down the stairs
so many times in the last half hour...
I don't know I'm certain
whether I'm on my head or my heels.
She hugged me.
John, if you can hear me...
...I done what I can...
...but I can't for the love of Pete...
...find that darn coat.
I just hope it's just
some kid that found it...
...and don't put it together with you.
Zeb, ain't this gay?
Eggs boiled to a T.
Not like the ones Jerry made.
Why, you boil them so hard...
...if you threw them, you'd dent the barn.
- She's good.
- Yes.
How's he doing up there... John?
About the same.
Listen we got to talk a little...
...about the arrangements
for this marriage question.
If Jerry here wasn't so pig-headed...
...he'd marry her right away.
Because the way I see it...
...there's going to be a long line
of suitors as soon as word gets out...
...and I am going to be one of them.
Captain Perez,
keep your eye on the business.
Well, you fellas forget.
I've been married twice before...
...and those women were very handsome...
...but the marriages
weren't always so pretty.
So I'm just taking a
little time, that's all.
This...
This Mrs. Snow ain't nobody's fool.
We put out bait
that any sensible person...
...would say would get us
nothing but sculpin...
...and by Almighty,
we got ourselves a halibut.
You know what we can do?
We can explain.
...that Jerry ain't real comfortable...
...with getting married...
even talking about it...
...while Captain Bartlett is upstairs.
...so sick in our house.
And if she's willing...
...we can put it off.
...until he either dies or gets better...
...and we'll pay her to stay on as a nurse.
Pay her?
You pay her or you marry her.
Mr. Hazeltine, I was wondering...
...could you come over to our place
and keep an eye on Captain Bartlett...
...while I attend to some chores?
I'd be happy to.
- Hello.
- Is Captain Hedge in?
No. Captain Hedge is out just now.
Oh, dear.
- I think I will come in and wait.
- Yes, certainly.
- Please do come in.
- Thank you.
Won't you take a chair?
Thank you.
Certainly a pleasant day.
Yes.
Are you Captain Zebulon Hedge?
Yeah.
I'm so glad.
I received your telegraph.
I hurried down on the first train.
I'm Elizabeth Preston...
Captain Bartlett's granddaughter.
You wrote me that he was ill...
...and I felt like I needed to be here
as quickly as possible.
- Elsie.
- Elsie. Yes.
Well, don't that beat all?
- Please, sit. Sit down.
- Thank you.
I'm so glad to see you.
I'm mighty glad to see you.
Please tell me about Grandfather.
How is he? Can I see him?
Well, Miss Preston...
...your grandpa is pretty sick.
He's got a stroke of palsy or something.
He doesn't have much of a sense
of what's going on around him.
He might not even recognize you.
Well, don't you worry now.
Doc says he's considerable better.
- Isn't that right, Mr. Hazeltine?
- Yes, he did.
What on earth am I thinking?
I'd like to make you known
to Mr. Hazeltine here.
- Pleased to meet you, ma'am.
- He's sort of a neighbor of ours.
Actually, over there, across the bay.
And...
Well, Mr. Hazeltine,
if you will excuse us...
I'll escort Elsie upstairs now.
- It's nice to meet you.
- You, too.
A looker, ain't she?
I swear.
If I wouldn't sooner
have these beans than turkey.
Especially better than that burnt one
you had for Christmas.
No, no. It was Thanksgiving.
Well, it hung around till Christmas.
I want to thank you all.
You've been so good to my grandfather.
Well, Mrs. Snow told me all about it.
We done ship together. He's our mate.
You've just been so kind...
...and I really appreciate it.
Hello, Mr. Hazeltine.
Hello, Captain.
I just stopped by your house...
...to inquire on Captain Bartlett.
Mrs. Snow seems to have
things quite in hand.
She seems as though trouble
doesn't trouble her at all.
I judge she's seen enough of it, too.
It's queer how trouble acts in folks.
Sort of like hot weather.
It spoils milk, but it sweetens apples.
She's one of the sweetened kind.
Afternoon, Melissy.
Well, hello, Captain. What a spectacular
afternoon we're having.
Melissy, we're having...
...kind of an outing day after tomorrow.
We'd love for you to join us.
Will Captain Perez be there?
Why, yes, ma'am.
Asking you to come along was his idea.
Well.
Well, I'll be there.
You can count on me.
Come on, baby.
Whoa!
Spied you coming, Zeb.
Jump right down and come right in.
This is where we keep the boat
and the rest of the gear.
The spare oar is on the wall.
The regular ones are in the boat.
Captain, where's the famous "breeches buoy"
I've always read about?
Right up there.
I don't believe you'd
get me into that thing.
I don't know, but I think
I'd rather be drowned...
...than to make a show of myself.
Only used it once
since I've been at the station.
Most of the time, the wrecks
are too far offshore...
...and we have to get the boat out.
Chowder's warming, Father.
Should be ready soon.
If y'all don't mind...
I think I'll break out the picnic baskets.
Why don't you show Melissy here
the lookout tower?
I don't believe she's ever seen it.
Really?
I don't want to go.
I believe I'd love to see it!
Listen, go easy, Perez.
You and Melissy are like
our insurance policy...
...just in case Jerry gets cold feet.
- You know what I mean?
- If Jerry gets cold feet...
...I'm the one stepping into his shoes...
...immediately.
Captain Norris, you must've seen
some plucky things in your day.
What's the bravest thing you've ever seen?
Well, I've seen something done once...
...that may not strike you
as being anything out of the usual run...
...but has always seemed to me
clear grit and nothing else.
So I says to Prissy Rend, says I,
"That Captain Perez Ryder...
"he sure is a case.
Prissy says there's no woman alive
who can tame a man...
...once he hasn't been tamed already.
But I said, "No, Prissy.
If anyone can tame him, I can tame him.
I'm going to housebreak him
just like I did my second husband.
It happened off the coast of Maine
along in the '70s.
I was working as a sort of
second mate on a lumber schooner.
We struck a rock that
wasn't down on any chart.
Punched a hole in the schooner's side.
Did you abandon ship?
Well, that was my thought.
But the skipper...
he wasn't that kind.
He sized things up in a hurry, I tell you.
Half the crew
was praying to the virgin...
...the other half swearing a blue streak.
But the skipper...
he drove them to the pumps...
...and set me over them
with a revolver to keep them working.
- And she said that...
- Now, Melissy, look.
I hate to interrupt you there
in your story, but...
I see where you're driving...
...and...
...I just don't want to give you
no encouragement.
I mean, I like you...
...but...
...not in the marrying way.
I don't mean to offend you.
It's just that I'm...
I'm not ready to settle down yet.
I mean, I'm...
...still a seafaring man.
Out there, there's...
...still maybe voyages to take, and I...
Captain, you make
as much common sense...
...as a duck in a henhouse.
Don't... Please don't cry.
I didn't mean...
When they was done...
...we had to carry
the first mate to the cabin.
But the skipper...
he just sent the cook...
...for a pail of boiling hot coffee...
...drunk the whole of it...
...put dry clothes over his flannels...
...and stayed on deck and worked
that schooner into Portland Harbor.
Who was he, Captain Norris?
It was Captain Zeb.
That's right, ma'am.
Perez told you, I suppose.
No. Nobody told me.
I just guessed it.
I've seen a good many folks
in my time...
...and I calculate that I've got so
that I can tell what kind a man is...
...after I've known him a little while.
Thank you.
He's been sleeping peaceful
the last hour.
Dear Miss Preston...
...if you don't want the sheriff to come...
...and haul your grandpa
into state's prison...
...you better come and see me...
...at the billiard hall right away.
Web Saunders.
Sure I can't help you
with them dishes, Mrs. Snow?
No. Don't you fellas ever
touch another dirty dish.
Ever since I caught you with
a dust rag as a dishcloth...
...of all the silly things.
Don't fleck out with me.
When did you have a dust rag
and a dishcloth?
I don't know what...
It's a pity she won't let us help her.
There.
Well, hello.
You come to learn the trade?
Captain Zeb, I want
to have a talk with you.
A business talk.
I want you to help me get a position.
A position.
Well, I've been thinking
a great deal lately...
...and now that Grandfather
seems to be a little better...
...and he doesn't need as much care...
...I want to do something
to earn my living.
Earn your living?
Why, child alive...
...you don't need to do that.
Your grandfather is not so poor...
...that I can't give you
a little change now and then...
...that he wouldn't pay me back.
No, I don't want to use your money...
...or his.
I want to get the teaching job here
at the grammar school.
Look here, Elsie.
I don't want you to think I'm curious
about your private life...
...but are you sure there's not
some other reason...
...why you want to take this place?
No, Captain Zeb.
It's just as I've told you.
I just don't know
what you must think of me...
...answering an advertisement
for a husband that way.
I just...
I'm ashamed of myself
to think of it, I declare.
And in that kind of paper, too.
Well, I will say...
I did wonder more than a few.
Well, I am surprised that you
ain't asked me before.
My husband's name was Jubal Snow.
He was a good husband.
No better anywheres.
He and I had a good life together.
Our trouble was we didn't calculate...
...that fair weather
wouldn't last all the time.
Well, he took down sick...
...and he had to quit going to sea.
And we had a little house in Nantucket...
...and we settled on it.
Finally, we come to where we
had to do something right away...
...and we talked the whole thing out...
...and we decided to mortgage the house.
The money we got
from the mortgage, though...
...lasted until Jubal died.
They foreclosed the mortgage
and gave me notice to move out.
So I packed my things...
...and watered my flowers for the last time.
You know, I had a beautiful garden.
Fire. Fire.
It's blazing.
It's burning. The fire...
John, don't talk so.
Where's the kerosene...
...and the matches?
Now, softly...
...softly...
The shavings.
It's dark here in the corner.
"And all their goodly castles with fire. "
John, be still.
Be still.
Be still.
He had just such a turn last night.
Did he talk like he did just now?
Just the same.
Saying the same things?
Yes.
Then you knew.
That he set the billiard room afire?
Yes.
I always rather suspicioned that he did...
...and, of course, last night
just made me sure of it.
Did you think that I knew?
Always thought that you did.
When I found him,
he had his coat on...
...and it was... it was all burnt...
...and he had
an empty kerosene bottle...
...in his pocket.
I hid them both...
...and then I turned him around
so it looked like...
...he was running towards the saloon...
...instead of from it.
I feel like I'm
a firebug myself sometimes.
Captain Zeb,
do you think I blame you...
...for trying to keep
your best friend out of trouble...
...for being, well, out of his head?
Land of mercy.
He ain't no more to be
held responsible than a baby.
You did exactly what I would've done
if I'd been in your place.
Mrs. Snow...
...you are just exactly...
...the kind of woman...
...that I wish I'd had...
...for a sister.
Yes...
- Did it again, did you, Margaret?
- Hi.
Nice work.
I was just helping Martha here...
...take some groceries home.
I was telling her how wonderful it was...
...that we've got her
to take care of us.
Well, with John Bartlett and all, it's...
Were you, now?
Captain Perez has been
such a comfort to me today.
Insisting on carrying the groceries
and helping clean the house.
Some girl will be awfully lucky
to land him one day.
Well, if he ever consents to marry.
A confirmed bachelor, he is.
Now, Melissa will marry him...
...but he won't have none of that.
That's not true.
I'd marry.
Melissa... Just isn't my type.
Perez, can I have a word with you?
Excuse me.
Now what?
Stop two-timing Jerry.
Melissa's the one for you.
That's our backup.
She's a sure thing, not Mrs. Snow.
Why not?
Well, don't take this
personal or nothing, Perez...
...but when all you got is a hand line...
...and a scrap of squid for fishing...
...you really can't be going after whales...
Hey, Sonny, is Miss Preston gone yet?
No, she ain't. She's up there.
Mr. Saunders is there, too.
Saunders? Web Saunders?
I'm telling you right now...
I ain't nobody's fool.
You're making $14 a week,
and all you're paying me is 6!
I want more, I tell you.
Sure smells good.
I hope you didn't spend all day.
Making that?
Oh, no. I didn't spend even
a second on it.
Melissy Busteed made it.
She brought the whole pot
over this morning.
Really? She wanted you
to have the first taste.
- Is that true?
- Oh, yeah.
For me.
Miss Busteed.
What?
Not only did I find that burnt coat.
...and empty kerosene bottle on the hill...
...but I found his big, fancy, white hat.
Found that hat, did you?
That's I done.
Where do you think I found it?
In the back of my shed...
...right where the fire started.
And there was a pile
of ashes there, too.
And there was kerosene on him.
What kind of fool do you think I am...
...that I wouldn't know
who started that fire?
I knew the night she burned.
And when Doc Palmers said
that Bartlett had took sick...
I went right up the hill,
and I started hunting.
And I found things.
And the things I found, I kept.
Do you, now?
Dear, dear.
And when that girl come here...
...and starts swelling around
and putting on the airs...
I sees my chance.
So I tell her, "You better pay up...
...or I'm going to have your old granddad
shoved into Barnstable jail. "
You lowlife, thieving rascal.
I'm giving you a chance
you don't deserve.
You either pay back that money
to that girl you stole it from...
...or I'm going to walk out that door...
...and when I'm come back,
I will have the sheriff with me.
Go ahead.
Bring the sheriff up here...
...and I'll march him
right down to your house...
...and I'll show him the man
that set my house on fire.
That doesn't frighten me.
It doesn't?
It doesn't. Why not?
He's gone someplace
where you can't get him.
He just died just before I left the house.
He died?
Died.
And your proof don't amount
to a hill of beans.
Well...
Well, now...
Captain Hedge...
I don't think we ought
to be fighting like this.
Neither one of us...
...really wants to see any trouble,
so maybe there's a way...
...that this thing could be worked out?
You no-good scoundrel.
You give her that money back...
...or I'll break you in two myself.
John is gone.
He's gone to a better place.
He being gone is a great loss to us...
...a great loss for this town...
...but a great blessing for heaven.
We're going to miss his courage...
...his insight...
...and the powerful example he was...
...for... For all of us.
Let us pray.
So, Jer...
...now that John's in the ground...
...we got to talk about
this marriage business.
Well, I don't see why she can't keep on
being a housekeeper...
...like she was.
Well, I do. Jerry...
...you've got to ask her to marry you.
Now, why don't you stick
to your own concerns...
...and give me a bit of time?
Jerry, you've had enough time.
I think a heap of Mrs. Snow.
She's a fine, pretty woman.
I'd be proud to have her as my wife.
But I just ain't
the spunk yet to ask her.
The spunk?
It don't take much spunk.
I need a month at least.
- A month?
- Well, three weeks.
A week.
I give you one week.
Get...
There's Melissy.
I think I'm going to go over
and say some nice words to her.
Perez, I thought you weren't
too keen on old Melissy.
I'll give you she's talkative.
She's talkative. But after she brought
the chowder the other day...
I have a whole new appreciation...
...for the woman.
Listen to that wind.
I think we're in for a northeaster.
How about a game of cards?
I should like to stay, Captain...
...but how will I get back to the station...
...if this storm grows any worse?
I think it's getting worse.
I ought to be back at the station.
Well, yep, but you ain't.
So you're just going to have to put up
in this here boarding house...
...until morning at least.
First thing in the forenoon...
I'll take you back
to the station myself.
Maybe we'll stop in and see Luther
and the boys on the way.
Nice day for ducks.
Luther, wake up!
You got visitors.
What are you doing here?
I come out here with the news.
I might ask you
what you're doing here.
Well, I'm taking Mr. Hazeltine...
...up to the cable station...
...and I thought I'd drop in
and see the boys.
There's been a wreck.
A schooner's hung up
on Hog's Back.
Luther and his crew went out there
well over two hours ago.
And I'm getting worried.
I was on my way out to the point
to see if I could see any sign of them.
Well, we're going with you.
Wind's letting up a little might.
We've had the worst of it, I guess.
- There ain't so much...
- Good God!
They need help!
Godfrey mighty!
Quick now!
Quick now! Lively!
There's Luther Norris.
He's all alone.
Yeah.
- Looks like he's out cold!
- I got to go out there.
I'm going, Captain.
I'm younger than either of you,
and I've got the best chance.
I mean it. I'm going.
All right, Mr. Hazeltine.
But we need the medicine chest.
You run back there
as fast as the Lord Almighty will let you...
- And you get it back here.
- Yes, sir.
Don't give me that look, chummy.
That young fella's got a life to live.
You do not have to do this.
You think I'm too old.
I think you're going to die.
All right.
If I don't come back...
...you make sure Jerry marries...
...that wonderful woman from Nantucket.
Don't let me down, Perez.
Lute, we're going to try land.
You hear me?
What's the use?
They're all gone!
My whole crew!
I might as well go with them.
Lute Norris, I never thought.
I'd see you playing crybaby.
That wily coot!
The medicine chest
was in the wagon the whole time.
Let me see that.
Brace up. What are you, anyway?
All right, Zeb. I'm with you.
But I ain't much good.
I got you now.
Just hang on.
Nice knot you tied there, Cappie.
He's a damn fool Bedlamite.
And to think that you
might've been drowned.
I knew something was happening. I...
I could just feel it somehow.
I couldn't think of anybody
but you all the forenoon.
Mrs. Snow...
...you know...
...when I was in the worst of it...
...all I could think about was you.
I mean...
...I thought about Luther.
...and them poor souls, of course...
...but my mind was mainly on you.
I...
...I kept thinking.
...that I might never see you again...
...and...
...that's all that kept me going.
You know...
...Mrs. Snow...
...we've been so happy together
since you've been here.
I was wondering if...
...maybe you could be...
...happy with me...
...always...
...if...
...if we was...
...if we was married.
Now, think about it.
I'm not young. I'm not rich.
What am I?
You willing to give it a try?
Yes.
Yeah? Did you say yeah?
Yes.
Oh, yes.
I plain forgot.
I'm two-timing Jerry.
Hey, Jerry.
Hey.
Zeb, I had you at half dead.
You don't look so bad
for a half-dead man to me.
Well, I'm half alive.
Listen, Jerry...
I have to talk to you about Mrs. Snow.
You just have to stop
pestering me about this.
You gave me a week,
and it ain't half over.
I mean, I've thought
of a million things to ask her...
...but none of them seems to suit.
Just stop nagging me...
...and let me be...
...till my time's up.
I'm not nagging you, Jerry.
I came to tell you
that you don't have to ask her.
I've been talking to her, and...
Zebulon Hedge, I thought
you were a friend of mine.
I give you my word
I said I'd do it in a week...
...and at least it would seem to me...
...that you could give me
a chance to keep my word.
But no. You and Perez...
...all you think about is yourselves.
You're so afraid you're going
to lose your housekeeper.
She'll say no.
What'd she say?
Well, she said yes to what I asked her.
So you see?
She's known me for quite a spell.
Know what kind of man I be.
Of course she'd say yes.
What'd you do?
You set the wedding, too, did you?
Not yet.
You're making kind of a mistake here.
I didn't ask her for you.
I asked her for me.
She's going to marry me.
Look, it's hard
to explain how it happened.
But in the time
that Mrs. Snow has been here...
I've really taken a liking to her...
...and today I found out...
...she feels the same way about me.
It just come out.
Anyhow, we're going to be married.
Jerry, I can't tell you how...
...how small I feel about...
...the way I've treated you here.
Zeb...
...I don't mind...
...but I can't say that I ain't hurt.
Because, well, it's just...
Let me sit here for a while...
...till I get used to the idea.
All I can do, Jerry, is say...
I'm sorry.
Well, you done stole my wife.
Ain't you going to shake my hand?
Sure.
We're still shipmates, right?
Always.
Congratulations.
Thanks, partner.
Well, you got to dig deeper.
Come on. Hurry up.
You're moving as slow as molasses.
I'm just learning.
Here's your bulb.
No chowder till you're done.
It's not fun yet.
You said marriage
was going to be fun.
When's it going to be fun?
Glad to see Elsie
and Mr. Hazeltine sparking.
Her grandpa would be proud.
Looks like we're going to have
a fair day tomorrow.
Maybe so.
But if it ain't...
I know I've got a good pilot.
Subtitled By J.R. Media Services, Inc.
Burbank, CA