Mary Bryant - Mini

I was 17 from a fishing family.

A family that was starving.

I've always been a bit wild.

I should've listened to my father.

I should've listened to my mother.

But I didn't.

Hunger, real hunger, it takes you over.

It doesn't leave you room to think.

I was sentenced to death...

but dear King George besthoad his compassion.

I'd never been 5 miles out of my village.

Now I was transported to the other side of the world.

I had no idea what that meant.

There were hundreds of us going...

packed like animals into eleven ships.

The first fleet to sail to New South Wales.

And as if that wasn't enough...

I've just realized that I was with a child.

I didn't marry you for this. Six months down there!

- I won't do it! - Alicia, darling!

We are second only to the captain with regard...

to accommodation.

For you to sink as low as this:

carting off the nation's rubbish, wretched vile...

creatures. They'd better off dead.

Lieutenant Clarke!

Come on up lads, I told you we'd be looking at paradise!

Behave yourselves, do as you're told...

and these officers will see to it that you are given...

a protected and passage.

'His Majesty's officers'! 'A safe passage! '

- Up whose arse? - Get them below Sergeant!

What are you staring?

Back off!

Come on, lads. Let the fox see the rabbit.

It pays to work out the pecking order early on.

You're safe here, all well down the line.

The London Times thought a colony on the moon...

a better prospect

We've all seen the moon, unlike New South Wales...

which has only ever been by Capitan Cook.

Seen by Captain Cook.

We're not just solving the problem of overcrowded prisons...

we're expanding empire, and ahead of the French.

Oh, we're honored.

Do you know who they're entertaining up there?

Lord Muck himself.

Captain Arthur Phillip...

He's to be Governor of the colony.

A good man?

Lieutenant Clarke?

Perhaps you'd like to share your thoughts on our prospects.

Yes, sir, I was just thinking of the question...

of the reform of our human cargo.

Good thought.

There should always be hope... always hope.

But with regard to the criminal, classes, experience tells...

us there should be very little of it.

But I think turning wretches into work-horses is

as much as we can expect. - I do what I can.

I did try reading to the women... excuse me.

But the stench down there. It's enough to floor and ox.

Pork!

When was the last time any of us felt some pork...

at the back of our throats.

They use to draw it.

And they said we'd never see the sun down here.

But there you are, and the smile...

enough to light up the whole ship.

We'll meet on deck.

They'll be sunsets, moonlight, gazing at strange...

and wonderful lands together.

And with any luck they'll leave you behind tied...

to a tree on one of them.

My name's Will.

So what do you know about this Botany Bay...

the dragons and the cannibals?

Nonsense.

Odd looking natives where we're going though...

three, four foot high, covered in hair, noses like beaks.

They must think some of us very good swimmers...

keeping us locked up down here.

Still, you can't blame them, I hear we have some...

very desperate women on board.

It's even said there's one who dabbled in 'highway robbery'.

Now she'd have to be a real 'pistol'.

Enter ye in at the strait gate.

Just what we needed, this'll fill our stomachs.

For wide is the gate, and broad is the way that leadeth...

to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat.

That's mine, you bastard thief!

Sorry, I didn't catch your name

or what you were doing down here.

Murderer and a thief!

You killed a baboon and stole his face.

Silence back there!

Let us all pray.

Dead God get us out of this hell hole.

Again, sergeant Ryan, a quicker pace and let's have...

it in concert this time.

Yes, sir. A word with you first please, sir.

Our supply of shot and powder was left sitting...

On Portsmouth quayside, sir

One more round and we'll be out of it altogether.

Sergeant Ryan, did you give orders for the men to stand to?

No, sir.

Get these women out of their rags, and properly dressed...

I won't have the men distracted.

Unfortunately, sir, 'women's clothing' is also...

sitting on Portsmouth quayside along with our ammunition.

But if the women serve to distract the male prisoners...

the two oversights might cancel each other out.

Well, I have an idea how we may clothe the women.

- Dismiss! - Excuse me, sir.

Oh, dear. And these are nothing to the seas...

we're going to be traveling through.

Don't worry, you'll soon get your legs.

I've been in fishing boats from before I could walk...

nothing wrong with my legs.

Excuse me, sir. I did wrong just once, sir.

I was starving, I know it was wrong but...

and I can't survive on the food we're given...

and the foulness of the hold makes me ill...

and I'm scared of the men, and their wicked desires.

If there was a way you could use me.

Your clothes washed and cared for...

your cabin cleaned, in return for fresh air...

and food from your table.

Please, sir. It's Mary, sir.

I've heard of other officers making such arrangement.

They may well have.

Is this what you mean to dress the whores in, sir?

Perfect.

Favors from that one?

You're more likely to get a fart out of dead man.

Did you say you knew your way around a fishing boat.

An east wind...

From the look sky it'll change for the worse... a storm.

A storm? Not a chance.

There's only one cure for that, Thomas.

You need to find a tree to sit under.

A free passage to Botany Bay!

Every day a high day and holiday...

no board and lodging, no taxes!

Who of us wouldn't have volunteered for this!

Hey, Tom.

I said it, didn't I?

Now's your chance, Mary. If you want to get that baby...

you'll offer to sell what you seek.

Don't wait for an officer, any sailor will do.

Take what's on offer, Mary...

food, drink and fresh air for your baby.

- How did you know? - I've had two of my own.

Who was he?

A gaoler, in the prison hulk.

He was share his bed or starve.

And you'll share this wretched world with his child.

My child will not live like this.

As if you can help it.

Here! For the ride of your life!

Mary! Did the sky tell you anything about how long...

this camp weather would be traveling with us?

Mary!

She's drowning. Down here, sir.

Come on, Mary! Somebody help me!

Come on Mary! Come back!

Here! Over here!

Hey, you there. Elizabeth.

It there any word?

There's only one cure for what you've got...

you both need to lie under the same tree.

Here...

your readings were such a comfort to us.

Could I hear a few words from the good book?

About turning away from weakness?

Give them a scratch back.

And she sleeps on the floor?

What concerns me is the influence of bad company...

she knows nothing of the world.

She's no more than an innocent child.

A rather well developed one.

And just remind me, what was her crime?

The theft of a bonnet...

and some money.

If she were isolated from the others, reform...

is a very strong possibility.

You mean to keep her in your cabin?

If we can save just one of them, it must be worth the effort.

Very well, the arrangement has my blessing.

But a ship is a very small village.

You should be prepared for some to think the worst of you.

I remain a faithfully married man and the girl will remain...

an innocent under my charge.

You have transformed my cupboard.

It's palace to me, sir.

- Is this Botany Bay? - Yes...

according to Cook's account. Meadows, streams...

There'll be wild game and fish to feed us...

before our own crops begin.

- And this is our voyage? - Yes.