(ROADSHOW SCENE NO. 1) BORDELLES Seems to be a first-rate engineer, sir. COLLINS You take a good look at his service record? BORDELLES Yes, sir. Nothing but four-oh marks. COLLINS In everything but leadership. He's also had seven transfers in eight years. They both look down at Holman, leave the gratings, head to the bridge. EXT. FANTAIL - DAY A coolie, SEW-SEW comes up to Holman and Frenchy. He carries a narrow board with a set of strings hanging from it. It has a big Chinese character in red at one end and smaller ones in black above each cord peg. FRENCHY This is Sew-Sew. He'll make your uniforms for you. Sew-Sew starts to measure Holman. Each of the cords is used to measure a part of the body -- arm, leg, chest. Sew-Sew snips pieces of the cord if he finds them too long. SEW-SEW This befoh time belong P'tocki. Me tinkee you litee bit all same P'tocki. HOLMAN (to Frenchy) Who's P'tocki? FRENCHY The man you replaced. He died last winter in Changsha. Typhus. (to Sew-Sew) He'll need shorts. HOLMAN And dungarees. SEW-SEW Sam Pebble any man no wanchee too much dunglee. HOLMAN This man wanchee plenty dunglee. You makee all same. (to Frenchy) I want to go below and check out the engine. Get to know the plant. FRENCHY Old Chien'll show you the works. He knows more about it than anyone. Holman reacts sharply to this. The bugle blows. He looks toward the gratings. FRANKS All hands repel boarders, starboard! Repel boarders, starboard! 44 EXT. MAIN DECK - DAY The sailors all snap to it again. Holman looks to starboard incredulously and sees: 45 EXT. PONTOON AND EMBANKMENT - DAY Nothing but grinning and laughing coolies, clapping their hands as they see the show starting. 46 EXT. MAIN DECK - DAY Holman turns to Frenchy. HOLMAN (baffled) Who we s'posed to repel? Franks is coming down from the gratings. FRANKS On the double, Holman. You man the hose in the waist party. Frenchy runs to his station. Holman moves along with Franks. FRANKS I'm Franks, Chief Bos'un's Mate. Holman nods blankly. They move toward the quarterdeck. END...
Return to Roadshow/Audience Test Scene Index