ANNOUNCER
Thus the Pilgrims incurred the enmity of the Dutch West India Company, and though the terms of the London merchants were not so generous as those offered by the Dutch company, the Pilgrims accepted them and set about making their preparations for the great adventure.
They secured for their voyage two ships, the Speedwell and the Mayflower.
Our next scene is early in July of 1620. The Mayflower has been engaged for the voyage, and is lying at anchor in the Thames River off London, where it is undergoing some repairs preparatory to taking on cargo, which is to come to the New World. Aboard the ship is only the master, Captain Jones, when he is disturbed by—
KIEFT [off]
Ahoy, the Mayflower!
JONES
Ahoy! Who's hailing the Mayflower?
KIEFT
Here—alongside! May I come aboard?
JONES
What do you want?
KIEFT
I want to talk to the master of the ship.
JONES
I'm master. What do you want?
KIEFT
May I come aboard?
JONES
Come aboard. The ladder's over the side.
KIEFT
All right, I'm coming. [lower] Keep the boat alongside!
VOICE
Aye, aye, sir!
KIEFT [low]
Stay here till I'm ready to leave!
VOICE
Aye, aye, sir!
JONES
Here you are—right up here, sir. Give me your hand! Ah, there you are, sir!
KIEFT [in]
Thank you, sir. Are you the master of the ship?
JONES
I am, sir.
KIEFT
I understand you are engaged for the voyage.
JONES
That we are, sir, to America.
KIEFT
Aye, yes—by a company of London merchants.
JONES
And what's that to you, sir, begging your pardon?
KIEFT
No matter, I know well enough you are. And now, sir, I want to know if you'd like to put yourself in the way of earning a hundred pounds?
JONES
A hundred! Law, sir, and who wouldn't?
KIEFT
Exactly! I hoped I'd find you a man of sense.
JONES
What do you want me to do?
KIEFT
You are sailing for northern Virginia, are you not?
JONES
That's the orders.
KIEFT
Where do you expect to make land?
JONES
I was looking to make it in the mouth of the Great North River.
KIEFT
Hm—you know, I suppose, that the Dutch West India Company claims all the land bordering on the Great North River.
JONES [laughing]
Why, sir, everybody claims it. That's no matter. King James has proclaimed that all the land that has been settled belongs to them that has settled it; the rest is anybody's. When the company I'm taking gets their plantation settled, the Dutch can't claim the land any longer.
KIEFT
Perhaps not, but your company is not going to land on Dutch territory.
JONES
Eh?
KIEFT
You are going to lose your bearings—
JONES
Me—a sailor—lose my bearings?
KIEFT
Certainly—for one hundred pounds.
JONES
Well—
KIEFT
And you will make land far to the north of the Great North River.
JONES
I'll have to see the color of the money.
KIEFT
Is it a bargain?
JONES
Have you got the money with you?
KIEFT
I have, and on your promise, I'll pay it.
JONES
All right. I'll see that the company is landed where you wish.
KIEFT
Good!