Jack London (1943)

[bunniefuu]

"Ensenada, California."

"A great crowd in the West gathers to witness the launch of a Liberty Ship."

"There is something about this crowd, as there is about this ship."

"That is different from any other."

"Something you cannot see."

"Yet something that all who are assembled here can feel."

"The presence of an unseen yet vital personality."

"For the name of this ship is: Jack London."

"Never was a Liberty Ship more fittingly named."

"The fearless spirit and purpose of the man."

"Lives again in every member of its crew."

"And invests the ship itself."

"With true significance."

"For Jack London was more than a great author."

"He was a real American."

"He lived .. and wrote."

"That others might be free."

"Free to read the truth."

"Free to right a wrong."

"Free to raise their voices."

"On behalf of the welfare of their fellow men."

Is it bad? It was awful.

She just sits there and falls asleep.

And the next thing you know, she's into it.

And the machine smashes her hand.

Come on all of you. Everybody back to work.

Hey, London. You, too.

Come on. Get back to work or you won't have a job.

It could have been my fingers just as easily as that girl's.

Lots of times I've almost dozed off and just caught myself in time.

It's the rotten air and the noise that never stops.

Twelve hours a day beating in your brain .. for ten cents.

Ten cents an hour.

Oh I know, honey.

But things are bad all over.

It isn't that, Mammy Jenny. It's ..

It's just that people like us.

Poor people have to work in filthy holes just to exist.

And that other people, rich people, can have everything they want.

Fine clothes and carriages and not only things.

But time.

Time to live and time to think and time to learn.

That's what I want, Mammy Jenny.

Time.

I guess you're right, Jack.

Mammy Jenny, have ..

Have you got any money?

Well, I've got some. Some, I've been saving.

Could you .. lend it to me?

What for?

I want to get myself a boat.

I could make money. Lots of it. Fast.

Jack London.

What are you thinking about?

Oyster hauling.

Oyster hauling?

Oyster pirating, you mean.

I wouldn't stay in it long, Mammy Jenny.

Just a few hauls and I'd have enough money to last me three months.

Or a whole year, maybe.

Then I'd be free to get some schooling.

Don't you let me hear you talk like that.

I helped to bring you in this world.

And I want to see you grow up right, so you will amount to something.

I ain't going to help you get into no trouble.

I don't want to get into trouble. I'm trying to get out.

Is it wrong to want to fight your way out?

I'll pay you back. Every cent. More, even.

Oh, it ain't the money, darling.

You can have all I've got.

But .. but I couldn't sleep nights, worrying over you.

Oh, Jack.

If anything would happen to you.

I'd never forgive myself.

Never mind, Mammy Jenny. Forget about it.

One seventy .. one eighty.

Two hundred.

Two twenty.

And five makes two hundred and twenty-five.

And you get a bargain boat here.

I tell you straight, I hate to give her up.

But I got the chance to buy a bigger boat.

I've had my eye on her for a long time.

I've been a worker working in those jute mills and canning factories.

Well come on. It's a deal.

Right.

Oh, Mamie.

Get your stuff off that boat.

Meet me later.

You know, you're going to like that boat. A nice good boat.

Hello.

What are you doing here?

I fell asleep below.

Are you going in with French Frank?

What's that got to do with you?

Nothing.

Only there's an awful lot to learn about oyster pirating.

Who taught you? My brother.

He was the best of them.

Until he got a b*llet in him.

You're sort of young-looking for getting a b*llet in you.

When you get the chance, you take it.

Hey, you shouldn't go out tonight. Why not?

With the moon up?

I'm not going on for a haul.

You just like to try her out, huh?

That's right.

Then you get a boat of your own and ..

It sort-of makes a man out of you.

Don't it? It sure does.

We've got some sail-patching to do.

The rot must have got at this one.

Hey, there's Scratch Nelson.

Hiya, Scratch.

Hello, Jack. Hiya, Mamie.

Hi. How have you been? I haven't seen you around lately.

I mean, what happened to you?

Oh, I had ..

I had a run-in with French Frank over the split.

Well, a new dress.

New everything. From the skin out.

Yes, sir. Maybe the Queen of the oyster pirates.

Come on, let's sit down, huh? Yeah.

Jack.

You know, I was just wondering.

How's about me coming in with you?

Why sure, Scratch.

We make enough for a 3-way split. We'd be glad to have you.

Only you'd better talk to my skipper here.

Well, what do you say, Mamie?

Sure. Why not?

Then I'd have someone to chew the fat with ..

When Shakespeare here is writing one of them yarns of his.

Hey, Curly.

Double drinks all around.

My new partner. Coming up, Jack.

We'll have a real blowout after our first big haul.

Alright Mamie, tie her up.

There.

Well, we're in first again, Scratch. We ain't been second yet.

Here comes Frenchy.

Yeah. Coming in on a drag anchor.

Come on, let's beat them to the market.

Pitch up, boys. What do you say?

[ g*nshots! ]

What are you thinking?

I'm thinking that one of these days it's going to be me laid out there on a slab.

Like a hulk, a dead fish. Or worse, a ten-year prison stretch. Life, maybe.

Let's go someplace, huh? I can't.

What are you going to do? I'm through with this rotten business.

Oh, don't talk like that, honey.

You're just downhearted about what's happened and losing your boat.

It isn't that. I'm through with it.

What about me?

You gotta choose for yourself.

You bet your life I'll choose, if that's the way you are.

I'm sorry, but I've got to.

You're yellow. That's what you are.

Quitter! Dirty, stinking quitter!

Thirty dollars a month and found. Sign here or make your mark.

Thirty dollars a month and found. Sign here or make your mark.

Thirty dollars a month and found. Sign here ..

Well, Tom.

Old Forty Acres. Why, I thought you were back on that farm?

I didn't make it.

I'll make it this time though, you bet.

How long is this cruise?

About seven months. The Bering sea.

That ain't ..

That ain't so long. That's right, Tom.

That's right.

Thirty dollars a month and found. Sign your name.

Thirty dollars a month and found. Sign here or make your mark.

Thirty dollars a month and found. Sign here.

Name? Jack London.

Experience?

Not very much sir, but I'm a good sailor.

What are you signing on for? Able bodied seaman.

Alright. Thirty dollars a month and found. Sign here or make your mark.

He writes fine, just like a girl.

Thirty dollars a month and found. Sign here or make your mark.

Thirty dollars a month and found. Sign here or make your mark.

Thirty dollars a month and found. Sign here or make your mark.

How soon do we sail, Captain?

Oh, you're anxious to sail, eh? I sure am.

You just can't wait to tangle with them seals, eh?

Down the fo'c'sle.

Help yourself, mate.

Everybody for himself.

You're going to like this old boat.

I'm glad to be on her.

Hey, you.

That's my bunk and my things are put in it.

Those are my things in there now. Listen.

I always want a bunk by the ladder. I'll match you.

Go ahead.

You lose.

Maybe I'll want one by the ladder next trip.

Oh shut up!

Well if isn't old Forty Acres.

You mind your own business. Keep your mouth closed.

How is the farm? Shut up!

What's that, a bible?

No, but I got a bible if you want one. What's this about, dames?

No, it's about men. Darwin's origin of species.

For heaven's sakes.

Hey, mates!

We got a professor aboard. Give me that book.

You ain't going to be bore us with your learning, are you?

Give me that book! Hey, read this.

That's something you won't get out of books.

Why don't you leave the boy alone?

Let's finish the game.

Seals ahead.

They're away ..

Somehow, it doesn't seem right. k*lling these poor innocent seals.

Only to get a fur coat for some dame.

Who is doing it for dames? We're doing it for dough.

You mean we're doing it for dough to put fur on dames.

Right.

Well, I got one down in New Orleans and I'm going to marry her after this trip.

We're going to have plenty of kids, too. That's right.

Yeah, the trouble is you'll never get past the first saloon.

Not this trip. Boy, I'm going to save every cent I make this time.

Yeah .. like Old Tom.

He's always going to buy a farm.

You mind your own business.

Shut your big mouth.

Yeah, why don't you leave the old man alone.

Hey, Victor. Come here.

Oh, landlubber.

Greenhorn.

Hey, London.

What did you do with that whetstone?

I left it aft.

Well get it, will you. This knife of mine wouldn't scrape a seal's eyelash.

I'm going to slip a seal in Jack's bunk.

Don't nobody say nothing.

We're going to have a rip-roaring time.

Hey, where you going with that?

He's got a date. Nobody say nothing.

Pretty soon, this dirty sealing business will be finished.

Then we'll be heading for Yokohama.

You ain't never been there, have you, Jack?

What's it like?

Just imagine they was here. With a flock of geisha girls ..

Swarming all around you. Geisha girls, huh?

Just like any other girl only better in some respects.

It sure sounds great.

I wish it would happen soon.

It will be soon enough.

You can experience comfort that you'll never forget.

Never.

It sure sounds wonderful.

Looks like the kid turned the tables on you.

The joke is on you!

Jack.

You'd better get out of here until he cools off.

Come on, Jack.

Get up, Jack.

Will you leave me alone? Will you leave me alone?

Now will you leave me alone?

Will you leave me alone? Will you leave me alone?

Why don't you turn in and get some sleep?

I just want to set something down.

Not a man, but a beast.

A wolf.

A sea wolf.

And that's what we all are.

But it's the sea that makes us that way, son.

Cooped up here like a lot of animals.

Doing the same thing day after day.

Thinking the same things, night after night.

No wife. No kids.

Nothing.

Just dreams.

Pretty soon, we'll be back where we started from.

Then you'll see.

The big pay will go in a night.

And the dreams will go in a night, too.

Then we'll .. sign on again and ..

It will be the same thing all over.

Not me .. I'm going to be a writer.

What you going to write about?

Oh .. about all this, I guess.

Only sometimes I worry about words.

I don't know enough about words.

Well keep digging, kid.

They'll come to you.

And when they do .. weave them.

Make every one count.

I don't know anything about writing stories, but it ..

Seems to me it ought to be something like ..

Well .. like making a good net.

Make every string and every knot mean something.

And when you've got them together, make them hold.

Make them strong.

I hardly ever went to school.

And there is so much I want to learn.

Well, keep after it, kid.

Just steer a straight course.

And keep that slush-light burning.

Good morning.

Good morning.

I spent a pleasant evening going over your short-story compositions.

As usual, I have selected examples from the submissions.

And as usual, the author shall remain anonymous.

So if the shoe fits, you can hide your consternation behind a poker face.

The two stories I have selected represent the extremes in writing.

One is fraught.

An attempt at whimsy that evaporates into thin air.

The other is raw.

Almost brutal to the point of unbelief.

In other words, one of you was tickling the clouds with a feather.

And the other has battered good taste with a sledge hammer.

I shall read from the feather.

"Penelope nibbled at her bonbon."

"Her thoughts skipped from nothing to nothing."

"She was in a pink blue haze."

"Her mama wafted in and blended with the nothingness."

"She seemed desperately worried."

"Penelope, she breathed."

"Have you seen my pimple?"

This made a profound impression on me.

I immediately stopped reading and went back to my Police Gazette.

I now come to the sledgehammer.

"Go on, he advised her. Pull the trigger and k*ll the man."

"Spatter his brains on the floor."

"And slap a hole in him the size of your fist."

"That's what k*lling a man means."

Excuse me, Professor Hilliard, but ..

Since you've made me a horrible example, will you mind discussing my story a bit?

Not at all. Not at all.

Well sir, just what is it that's so wrong with my writing?

Well, boiled down, I should say: too much imagination.

Too much exaggeration.

After all, you know, London ..

"Slap a hole in him the size of a man's fist" is ..

I saw it happen in a joint in Singapore.

You saw it happen?

Well .. perhaps I shouldn't have brought it up.

You see, Professor Hilliard, I've only written about what I saw.

It seems to me there is nothing wrong in writing about life and truth.

But do you think you will get very far writing about ..

Poverty, cruelty, brutality?

It is my experience that they exist, sir.

And if I can put them down on paper so people would think about them ..

And try to destroy them ..

Then I'm doing something.

Ah .. now we're coming to it.

Do you want to be a writer?

Or a crusader?

Well I don't know if I'm capable of being either.

I knew when I came here I was different from the rest of you ..

But that didn't stop me.

Your entrance exams almost did, but ..

I crammed myself with what I needed, to get by.

I knew I had to dig harder than the next man because I'm rough and barren ground.

But sir, I've watched the Chinese cut terraces into a rocky hillside.

And patiently wait for the rain to wash down silt.

So things could be planted and made to grow.

In a way, I felt that I was like that. That with a little help ..

I could make the things grow that are inside of me.

I learned that a strong back wouldn't take me half as far as a good head.

If I could develop one.

That's why I came here.

But Professor Hilliard ..

If my great fault lies in writing about what I know and what I've seen, then ..

I'm afraid it's a fault that can't be corrected here.

I'm sure you didn't intend to ridicule me, sir. It's ..

Perhaps a trick of yours to make me think.

Well sir, the trick has worked.

Thank you, Professor Hilliard.

You have just witnessed an unusual display.

Unusual in that we so seldom meet with it today.

The uncommon thing .. called courage.

I would suggest that the rest of you do not try to emulate him.

It takes a lot of ..

Intestinal fortitude.

For which, Mr London, undoubtedly .. has another word.

Jack .. Jack, darling. What's wrong? You in trouble?

No Mammy Jenny I sent for you to help me pack and store some things.

Pack and store?

What are you talking about?

I'm going away, Mammy Jenny. I don't know when I'll be back.

Oh .. whiskey and foolishness.

What about your schooling?

What about your writing?

Here goes most of it.

You .. you mean you're burning all them stories you done wrote?

And rewrote, Mammy Jenny.

Not all to them, though. I'm saving some.

And one of these days when I'm successful, I'll ..

Dig them up out of this trunk and dust them off and ..

Send them to the same editors that are turning them down now.

They'll buy them when I'm famous and write to tell me how good they are.

But Jack, you got me all mixed up.

First, you sweat and you grub and you work yourself sick ..

So as you can go to school and learn to write.

And toss it .. just like that.

And say you're going away.

Where you going?

In the Yukon, Mammy Jenny.

Yukon?

Where is that? Up north, in Alaska.

What are you going up there for?

To get some money, Mammy Jenny.

There's been a gold strike.

And with a little luck, I can hit it.

Then I won't have to worry.

I can sit tight and study and read and write what I want to write.

Not what a lot of editors and professors expect me to write.

But .. but how do you know you can do better up there than you can do here?

And how are you so sure you ain't biting off more than you can chew?

I got as much chance as the next fellow.

You don't understand, Mammy Jenny.

I just can't stay around here and be clamped between the jaws of a vice.

I've got to get out. I've got to get away.

Oh, I just wish I could be sure ..

You wasn't jumping yourself out of the frying pan into the fire.

It's so easy for you, Jack.

But there is very few people.

That can jump out of the fire and back into the pan again.

Nothing could be as bad as the fire that is burning inside of me now.

It's trying to burn through. It's got to burn through.

Someday Mammy Jenny, maybe you'll know what I mean.

Someday.

Maybe a lot people will know what I mean.

Ain't that pretty.

I'll make it fifty more.

And a hundred.

That's nothing much.

Call. Two hundred more.

I'm out.

How are you, stranger? Fine. How are you?

Writing home to your best gal?

No. Just jotting down an idea.

Mister Sourdough over there is betting his fool head off.

It's all wrapped up in rabbit's feet.

That's Lucky Luke Lannigan.

That's the end of the poker game, boys.

Now get back to the bar. I'll buy drinks for all of you.

Give them anything they want, Al.

Hey, Freda, Freda.

I just won a claim worth a million bucks.

Imagine that guy trying to bluff me out of a pair of deuces.

Come on baby, I'll buy up the joint. I'm busy. Can't you see?

Well, don't give me that, now.

Look, Rabbits.

You promised me if ever I won .. Let me go.

You heard what she said, didn't you? Some other time.

What happened?

Oh what's the difference. Come on, I just made a million bucks.

Everybody to the bar.

He's quite a character.

Say, where are you from?

California.

You from .. Spain? Uhuh .. I'm Greek.

The isles of Greece. The isles of Greece.

Where burning Sappho loved and sang.

You know your Byron.

Hey, what's your name? Freda Maloof.

Freda from Athens.

Freda, do you remember these famous lines?

Oh, maid of Athens, dare we part?

Give, oh give me back my heart.

Why don't you stay here for a while?

For a stop.

We could have a great time together with Byron and Shelley.

Well.

Maybe I will.

[ Door knocks ]

See who that is.

It's Jacko. Hello .. you got a minute?

Where have you been all day?

Well I got an idea last night from what you were telling me about that masked ..

Excuse me.

I got an idea last night from what you told me about that masked ball.

I wrote a story about it ..

Of course it's still rough, but I think I caught something of you in it.

I'm going to call it the Scorner Of Women.

Hey, that doesn't sound bad. Well, here goes.

"Freda was a Greek girl."

"At least, she purported to be Greek."

"Her furs were the most magnificent from Chilkoot to St Michael."

That's overdoing it a bit, isn't it.

"And her jewels were the envy of every woman."

[ Door knocks ]

Ready, Miss Maloof.

Alright.

Are you going to come and hear my number?

Sure, but I want to fix this first.

What's all the excitement? Gold strike. Biggest since El Dorado.

Whereabouts? Eighty miles from here.

Jack.

Where are you going?

There's been a gold strike 80 miles north of here.

Oh, but you're not going, are you? Well, sure I am.

Oh listen to me, Jacko.

You haven't got a chance out there.

I know this Yukon game.

You will muck in the grass roots until your heart breaks.

Until you rot of scurvy on the trail.

I know, but .. Believe me.

In the end, the winner is a loser.

All the money comes here.

It stays here. Right here in Dawson.

Thanks, Freda.

I don't think I'm cut out for this stuff.

Idealist.

Listen, I gave up a million bucks for you last night.

Doesn't that mean anything to you? Everything, beautiful.

Oh, dear Jacko.

I'll think of you on the trail every day.

Byron and Shelley under the stars.

And I'll wish I was back here with you.

Buck, where does all that snow come from?

And why?

It could snow a man in all winter.

Keep him from his purpose.

A frozen land.

See, there is an idea for you.

A man commits a crime, evades the police and escapes to the Yukon.

He gets snowed in.

He spends the whole winter in solitary confinement.

Ah, you don't like that, huh? Not good.

Well, maybe you're right.

Well, let's light the lamp and spend a cosy evening working.

Now if you're a good fellow, I'll let you in on the last two chapters I wrote.

Remember where we left off last night?

Right in the middle of the big fight.

Well, listen to this.

In vain, Buck strove to sink his teeth into the neck of the big white dog.

Fang clashed fang and lips were cut and bleeding.

But Buck could not penetrate his enemy's guard.

Time and time again he tried for the snow-white throat.

Where life bubbled near to the surface.

Where life bubbled near to the surface.

Not a bad phrase that. What do you say?

Hey, you! Buck.

Wake up.

Aren't you even interested in hearing about yourself?

Why, you're a lazy dog.

Say, where did you get that terrible scar?

That must have ripped you wide open.

I wouldn't have liked to have lost you.

If you could only speak, what stories you could tell.

What a collaborator you'd be.

Thank you, Mr Brett.

There is only one little point I want to mention.

What I am not awfully keen about.

Oh? What's that?

The title you've chosen. The Call Of The Wild?

Why, that's a wonderful title.

It's the whole idea of the story, sir. I wouldn't change it for the world.

A dog reverting to the primitive.

Just as a human-being under hardship and brutality reverts to the wild.

Well, it's your baby.

I'm only the Godfather.

I'd like to change it for you, Mr Brett but ..

That's its name. It was born that.

Alright, Gordon. Thank you, sir.

Off we go.

Sometime, you must tell me how it was born.

Writing like that doesn't come out of nowhere.

It came out of the Yukon.

Unless I missed my guess, it's going to mark a milestone in American letters.

A story about a dog?

A dog, huh?

Here you are, Mr Brett. Thank you, Jenny.

That's what it's about, sir. It's about life. You said so yourself.

It wouldn't surprise me if the critics hailed you ..

As the rugged Kipling of this country.

Kipling? He's always been my idol.

He was mine too, until ..

Well, quite recently.

Charmian.

Why hello, Mr Brett.

You two must know each other of course.

No, I'm afraid not. Let me introduce you.

Miss Charmian Kittredge and my favorite author, Mr Jack London.

How do you, Miss Kittredge.

Oh.

How do you do.

I'll see you later, Mr Brett?

Well.

Hello, Miss Kittredge. Hello, Mabel.

I beg your pardon. Did you wish to see someone?

You must excuse me for trailing you here, but ..

I had to ask you an important question that just couldn't wait.

I can imagine why you're really here.

I want to apologise to you, Mr London.

Apologise? Yes.

I ..

I was in such a hurry to ..

To ..

I'm afraid I was a little abrupt on the street just now.

Abrupt?

I'm glad you didn't notice it.

I have to get to work.

But I'm happy you gave me this chance to explain why I didn't snub you purposely.

Of course you didn't.

Why did you snub me .. purposely?

I assure you I didn't. You snubbed me, purposely.

Believe me Mr London, I didn't. Purposely.

But everyone says you'll be a goldmine to the firm.

I wouldn't dare snub you. Why, what would Mr Brett say?

Purposely.

Mr London, if you're not going to believe me.

Pardon me, Miss Kittredge.

Mr Brett wants to see you right away.

And may I offer a couple of words of advice?

What? Don't go.

No, you stay here. Let me go.

I'll explain and say it's alright as far as I'm concerned.

Thank you, Mr London. But I am quite capable of managing my own affairs.

Well.

Do you usually read what you find on other people's desks?

I have no compunction about reading my own manuscripts.

But I do wish you'd consult me before making additions.

Additions? Yes. For instance.

"Once in ten thousand times .."

"A manuscript appears from an unknown author which is a masterpiece."

"The Call Of The Wild by Jack London."

"Makes a reader's life worth living at last."

Thank you, Miss Kittredge.

"P.S."

"Unless you want to lose your favorite reader .."

"Never introduce me to Mr London."

"If he's anything like his book .."

"My heart will stand still .."

"When I meet him."

I .. I wish you'd go.

Did Mr Brett rake you over the coals?

No, it .. it isn't Mr Brett.

It isn't you.

Maybe it is myself. I don't seem to be ..

To know what I'm saying, do I. I guess I'm babbling.

Mr London, I assure you I'm not this sort of person at all.

I don't what kind of a person you are, Miss Kittredge.

But I do know you're a person.

I don't think that horse likes me.

He doesn't like the way you ride him.

No, and I don't like the way he rides me.

You know, I don't get it.

When I was poor, I rode the rods because I had to.

Now I ride a horse and I don't have to.

Is that supposed to be an improvement?

I guess it ..

It wouldn't matter if you were rich or poor.

Obscure or famous.

You'll always be writing somewhere.

You see, you just wrote the books. I read them.

I think I know more about you than you know about yourself.

You're not like other men. That's not true.

You should read the works of Jack London sometime and find out about yourself.

You know, an ordinary man is content to stay put.

You've got something in you that won't let you rest.

Well, it's just that I hate traps.

When I was young.

I thought poverty was the only trap and I swore I'd get out of it.

Now I find that money can be just as much of a trap.

Words can be a trap, too.

Have you ever thought of people who've been caught and held by words like ..

"Honor" and "duty" and "love"?

Do you mean that .. you think love is a trap, too?

No, I didn't mean that. I mean that .. I understand.

You're afraid for me, aren't you.

You're afraid that I'll be the one to be caught in a trap.

Oh don't be foolish. I thought you understood about women.

Don't you remember Frona?

Your own heroine in Daughter Of The Snows.

A girl who makes her own way. Daring, courageous, loyal and understanding.

She loved a man.

Without that terrible possessiveness.

You're like that. I'd like to be.

Charmian.

When a man and woman meet, who were meant for each other.

It's like a ship, new-launched, rushing to the sea.

The sliding-ways rebel.

But neither sea nor ship hear them.

As they rush into each other's lives.

Happy New Year.

Happy new year, Mammy Jenny. Happy new year to you.

A special happy new year for you, ma'am.

Ah, thank you Captain Allen, thank you.

But .. ain't you a little mixed up with Christmas?

Oh this is a different kind of happy new year, Mammy Jenny.

It comes only once every hundred years.

Happy new century, you mean. That's right, yes.

Oh, I can't wait to see what I got.

Oh.

That's beautiful, Captain Allen.

Just beautiful.

Now, if you're good, I'll be back with the mate to that.

In a hundred years.

No sir, Captain Allen.

In a hundred years, we're both going to be wearing golden slippers.

I hope.

But gentlemen, there has never been a century like it.

When you think of the progress we've made in culture and industry.

The comforts we enjoy. The electric lights, the telephone.

Don't forget those horseless carriages.

A friend of mine has one.

A one-lunger.

And I swear we must have been whizzing along at twenty miles an hour at least.

No doubt about it, Jack. Civilisation has darned near reached the apex.

The millennium, huh? Not far from it.

Well the way I see it, we've only got one foot out of the dark ages.

Machines are great, sure.

But they only make more things more quickly.

There is nothing spiritual about them.

You can't change what is in a man's mind or in his heart.

You can brag all you want about culture and progress.

But what bucks big in a man's mind today is materialism.

Money.

Money out of machines, and money out of everything.

That's what rules this world today. Greed and selfishness.

In people and in nations.

Before we get through.

Instead of a millennium, we'll be ringing in a century of tyrants.

Oh Jack .. You old pessimist.

Good evening, Mammy Jenny. Good evening, Mr Brett.

Happy new year. Happy new year to you.

How do you do, Mr Brett. Glad you came.

Hello, Jack. Jack I took the privilege of bringing a friend of mine.

Mr Kerwin Maxwell. How do you do, Mr Maxwell.

London, I've wanted very much to meet you.

Thank you, sir. I'll take those, Mammy Jenny.

Now you can go back to your decorating. Yes, sir.

Having quite a shindig, aren't you. Yes. Why not go in. You know everyone.

Jack, Mr Maxwell would like a word with you privately.

Something rather interesting. Oh?

You will forgive my barging in on your party like this.

That's quite alright, sir. Glad you could come.

Sit down. Cigar?

No thank you, sir. I'll stick to these.

What I want to talk to you about won't wait.

Oh .. what is it?

How would you like to cover the Boer w*r for my papers?

The Boer w*r?

There's nothing I'd rather do, but ..

I've never done any newspaper reporting, much less w*r reporting.

You are very modest, Mr London. I've read your stories.

You have the gift of setting down what you see.

And that in my opinion is the quintessence of good reporting.

Well, thanks. Thanks very much.

You will have to leave immediately for London. From there, to South Africa.

What do you say?

I'd like to, but ..

Will you excuse me a moment?

What is it, dearie?

It's quite a surprise. I hardly know how to tell you.

Mr Maxwell of The Globe has just made me a very flattering offer.

Well, that's wonderful.

Maybe it is, maybe it isn't.

You see, he wants me to leave right away for South Africa to ..

To cover the Boer w*r.

What did you tell him? I ..

I didn't tell him anything.

But you want to go, don't you?

It's out of the question, of course. It would mean postponing all our plans.

We'll have all our lives.

It would be a great adventure for you.

But ..

Happy new year.

My sweetheart.

Special delivery for Miss Charmian Kittredge.

Alright.

Thank you, sir. Thank you.

Oh, Miss Charmian.

Miss Charmian, here is a letter from Mr Jack.

Return address: Port Said.

He's on his way home. He'll be here on the 16th?

But today is the 16th. It sure is.

Well, lay out some things, Mammy Jenny. Sure will.

Market 9623, please.

"Cunard Line"

Can you please tell me what time does the Cambria get in?

"Why, the Cambria docked two hours ago."

Thank you.

I won't have time to change, Mammy Jenny.

The boat docked two hours ago.

For goodness sake. Just give me my cape.

Yes, ma'am. And my gloves.

And Mammy Jenny, don't forget my purse.

Thanks. Goodbye. You're welcome.

You're as lovely as I knew you'd be.

Jack.

Oh, Jack.

Oh, Jack.

It's beautiful.

I got that at a bazaar in Benares.

To tell you the truth, I wasn't going to buy it but you made such an awful fuss.

I ..?

Everywhere I went, you were right with me.

And now you're really home.

For keeps.

Nothing will ever take me away from you again.

Nothing, darling.

Do you really still want to marry me?

Tomorrow?

And tonight we celebrate.

I just sent a batch of that only yesterday.

To that outlandish place you was at.

Good. Then I won't have to answer them.

Mr Jack .. here is a telegram. A telegram?

Yes, it just come for you about an hour ago.

Do you want these, Mr Jack? No, thanks, Jenny.

I won't do it.

I won't do it. I tell you I won't go, Mammy Jenny. I won't go.

But this has got to be the last.

It's past closing time.

You want to have me lose my license?

But Mike, we got to settle this first.

There is only one way to settle it.

I've been telling you all evening.

Get married and raise a house full of kids.

But how can I do that with a w*r breaking out?

It ain't our w*r. We aren't even in it.

But I'm in it.

They want me to leave in the morning for Japan.

A lot of correspondents are going.

Jimmy Hare and Fred Palmer.

And Richard Harding, they ..

I've never seen a w*r before.

You can live your whole life and never see a w*r.

Sure.

But what beats me is, if you brave enough to face a w*r ..

Why can't you face her and tell her you're going?

Mike.

In a w*r you got a chance.

But with a woman ..? Yeah, I know.

You're licked before you start.

But I gave her my word of honor.

And if you go, you lose her.

And if you don't go, you lose the w*r.

That's right.

That's what I've been telling you all evening.

Then we're right back where we started.

Goodnight, Mike. Thanks.

You've been a big help.

Better stay home Jack, and raise them kids.

Now don't start that again.

Hello.

Hello.

This is a fine way to keep our first date in three years.

Darling, please don't ..

How could you?

I was detained. How? Where?

Well I received a telegram from Mr Maxwell and ..

I had to go and see him about it.

Can you imagine?

He wants me to leave for Japan .. in the morning.

Japan?

Yes. There's a w*r breaking out with Russia.

What did you tell him? Well, I .. I ..

I told him "No". Of course.

And did it take you until 2 o'clock in the morning to say "No"?

Well, Maxwell is a funny fellow. He ..

He can't take "No" like an ordinary person.

He kept insisting that ..

This was the chance of my lifetime.

Wars are getting scarcer and scarcer.

And marriages are getting commoner and commoner.

Well, you can go.

It is perfectly obvious I mean nothing to you. Nothing whatsoever.

You mean everything.

No. It's no use, Jack.

If you think I'm going to ruin my life for a man who's blown here and there ..

By every wind of adventure, you're very much mistaken.

I won't let you go.

Even if I was a little tempted by Maxwell's offer, which I don't admit ..

You come first.

I love you, darling.

And I swear I will never think of leaving you again.

Promise?

My sacred word.

Your bags, Mr Jack.

All packed and ready to go.

Of course you're going, darling.

Mr Maxwell tried to catch you at my house. I knew all about it.

They are certainly breaking their necks to make us comfortable.

You can have it, geishas and all.

What I'd give for a steam beer and a corned beef sandwich.

Looks like you'll have it. They're concluding peace negotiations right now.

Seven thousand miles to Tokyo and nothing to show for it, but ..

A nice pot belly from washing rice down with Saki.

You can't tell. As long as skirmishes on the Korean border keep up ..

They don't mean a thing, d*ck.

Just sabre rattling to scare the Czar into conceding some point or other.

Maybe.

I'll string along with Davis.

Russia doesn't want w*r. That's a cinch.

And if these boys want peace ..

Why are they sending troops into Korea?

Who said they are? I say they are.

I was down at the waterfront this morning.

Hey!

[ Japanese language ]

[ Japanese language ]

Can you understand him? I can't make it out.

You know what he's talking about, d*ck? No, I don't get it.

[ Japanese language ]

Say, just a minute.

What's all the excitement?

I have the pleasure to report.

That our honorable Navy has just sunk the Russian fleet at Port Arthur.

I believe they're all here.

I deeply regret.

That I cannot grant your minister's request ..

That you be allowed to go to the front at this time.

Personally, I have no objection.

But unfortunately ..

Such permission must come from a higher official ..

Than I have the honor to be.

However.

I will use my humble persuasion.

In an effort to make your desires possible.

We shall arrange a banquet.

Where perhaps you will meet the official.

Who can grant permission for you to go to Korea.

A banquet won't bring us any closer to the front.

We're all accredited correspondents, Mr Hiroshi.

All we want to do is get the news.

And get it back to our papers so the world will know what is going on.

Sometimes it is not practical that the world knows what is going on.

If, for instance.

The Russians would have known what was going on ..

There would have been no Port Arthur.

We could not have dealt, what you call in your country ..

The first punch.

You're a little mixed up, aren't you.

You mean "sneak punch".

The idioms of your country are so quaint, young man.

I'm sorry.

There is nothing I can do at the moment.

Who is that young man? One of our new writers.

Very brilliant and very popular.

Yes.

It will be very interesting to follow his career.

Hey d*ck, what are we going to do about this?

Well, there is no use arguing about it.

We're in the same predicament as the girl who's told she could go swimming ..

But not to go near the water.

Well, I'm going near the water.

I don't care what that little sawed-off runt says.

Permission or no permission. I am going to Korea.

Jack, that's being plain bull-headed. I've been in the game too long.

You can't get out of Tokyo without official sanction.

d*ck, I'll bet you a hundred dollars I can get to the front.

I'll bet you a hundred dollars you won't.

You're on.

Say, Jack ..

Good luck, Jack.

Good luck, Jack.

Hey, I got money. I want to go on a boat.

Across the Yellow Sea.

I got a lot of money. A lot of money.

I got money to go across the Yellow Sea, yeah?

Hey, I'd like to get passage ..

Look, I'd like to get passage on one of the sampans across the Yellow Sea.

No can do.

I'll pay. Plenty money.

Sampan no go.

Let me see that, please.

I'm an American w*r correspondent.

Yes. But this is a forbidden zone.

And pictures sometimes fall into the wrong hands.

Wonderful.

A very fast lens, I imagine.

Let me congratulate you.

Let me congratulate you on your knowledge of my language.

You must have spent some time in America.

Yes.

Although I learned my English at Oxford.

I am Captain Tanaka.

Glad to know, Captain. My name is Jack London.

Oh, I've read some of your books.

Very good, too.

Thank you very much.

Now you know I'm not a spy.

Where are you going?

To the front. If I can persuade someone to give me permission.

I have tried to arrange it.

Meanwhile, it will be a great honor to have you as my guest.

Come along.

Better try some of this excellent caviar.

It will do much for your appetite.

No thank you.

This is fine.

This is a nice, cosy place you have here, Captain.

I believe in comfort, Mister London.

Especially.

When our enemies are gracious enough to possess good taste.

As we go deeper towards Russia.

I expect to add to my collection.

Is this part of your collection?

No, Mr London.

This is a game we've devised.

Which has become very popular in my country.

We call it Hinund�.

Hinund�?

Literally, that means "patience".

But you might even call it .. "Destiny".

Now this little contrivance here.

I call ..

Nunengchah.

The "Prophet".

Since it foreshadows.

Coming events.

Interesting, is it not?

Yes. Very interesting, Captain.

You see, Mr London.

This is not only the rising sun.

It is also a wheel.

The center or hub of which .. is ..

Japan.

It's a very unusual map you have there, Captain Tanaka.

Yes.

Our eventual sphere of influence.

Here. I shall show you.

You will note.

That the spokes radiate in all directions from the hub.

From which they naturally emanate.

And to which perforce, they must converge.

Now, if you will be good enough to watch the map, I shall explain more fully.

Here.

Is the theater of our present operations.

But tomorrow.

As you shall see, we will have crossed.

The Yalu River.

Soon, we will have all of Korea.

A stepping stone to Manchuria.

Manchuria? And then ..

Mongolia.

A land of milk and honey.

Two hundred million tons of timber.

A billion tons of iron.

Two billion tons of coal.

Enough to last Japan for seventy years.

We will be stronger then.

Able to move both east and west.

You are out to gobble up all Asia?

Oh yes.

No, not at once.

First, we must conquer .. China.

It sounds a little bit incredible.

But entirely logical, I assure you.

Oh, won't you be seated, Mr London? Thank you.

You see, a policy of peace is ..

Quite impossible for Japan.

England can afford to pursue peace and develop trade relations.

Because it has India and Australia.

To supply her with foodstuffs.

So can America.

Because of South America and Canada.

But, in Japan.

Our food supply.

Decreases in proportion to our population.

Do you understand?

If we merely hope to develop trade.

We shall be defeated by England and America.

In the end, we will get nothing.

That is a mathematical certainty.

We've got to control China.

But in order to control China.

We will have to crush your country and England.

That may take many years, of course.

Fifty, a hundred perhaps.

But it has all been carefully planned.

Scientifically.

The rising sun has a destiny.

But expansion is inevitable.

This .. the taking of Korea.

Is only the first step, the first act of the drama.

But the play is on .. the curtain is up.

And it will ring down .. you will see.

Upon a Japanese world.

Why are you telling me all this?

Why not?

You'll not believe it.

We scooped the whole world!

No other newspaper has it. Not even the European papers.

Wait a minute, wait a minute, boys.

If you want to hear some good reporting, listen to this.

I knew he would do it. I knew it.

Isn't it wonderful? Read it, Mr Brett.

He's jumped the g*n on us. And he said he'd do it.

Just a cub reporter at that.

You know what I'm suggesting? Yes?

That we draw up a petition to the Japanese government.

Protesting .. demanding ..

That London be ordered back from the front.

Or else.

We be granted instant permission to leave.

I second that idea. We'll all sign it.

You write it out, David.

I'm as mortified as the rest of you celebrated w*r correspondents.

Being scooped by a novice.

As a matter of fact I should feel worse, having lost a hundred dollars to boot.

We all had the same chance to get to Korea, at the risk of our lives.

To my mind, we should draw up a commendation.

To a very courageous newspaperman.

I suppose you're right, if you look at it from that point of view.

I propose a toast.

As a matter of fact I read it in one of London's books.

Here is to the man on the trail this night.

May his grub hold out.

May his matches never misfire.

I'll drink to that. Hear, hear.

Hear, hear.

You are under arrest.

What for?

Take off .. hat.

Oh. Sorry.

How did you get to Korea?

By Sampan across the Yellow Sea.

How did you get past .. Chemulpo?

Through the courtesy of Captain Tanaka.

Tanaka?

Tanaka?

He won't believe you.

Well, why don't you ask Captain Tanaka?

Why did you take pictures in Nagasaki?

Hmm?

Why did you take pictures in Nagasaki?

I was never in Nagasaki.

Japanese custom different from American.

Therefore, you must not tell any lies.

The General .. is all through.

Good, good.

You stay, in the jail!

Wait a minute.

All they want is water. Why don't you give it to 'em?

Them, no.

You?

What? Aren't you in a rush?

Good morning, Your Excellency. Any news?

Oh yes, news. Very good news.

Oh, about that writer friend of yours, Jack London.

Yes?

No wonder he was so anxious to get to the front.

Why?

He is in jail in Ping Yang.

He turned out to be a Russian spy.

A cable blank, please.

The Japanese Ambassador, Mr Takahira.

You wish to see me, Mr President?

Kindly inform your Mikado that I demand the immediate release of Mr Jack London.

I will convey your suggestion, Mr President.

General Fuji say ..

He very sorry.

His most honorable ancestor.

Very sorry.

Me very sorry, too.

Sorry, you have .. been detained.

He say, he find out .. you ..

Very truthful young lion.

He say: Our most honorable country.

And your most honorable country.

Always ..

Most honorable friends.

Well, that's just dandy.

Now tell General Fuji to give me my honorable camera.

"Japanese peril."

"The brown beast."

"Asiatic dream."

Great writing, Jack. Great.

But good heaven's man, you don't expect me to publish these things?

Why not?

Because you're known for good common sense, for hard facts.

For the truth. Now who do you suppose is going to swallow this stuff?

A big truth is more difficult to swallow than a big lie.

But it doesn't make it any the less the truth.

I didn't write these articles for fame and money, Mr Maxwell.

I wrote them because I felt it was my patriotic duty.

And it is your duty as a publisher to print them.

I'm sorry Jack, but I can't. For two reasons.

First, you've nothing to substantiate the charges you make against Japan.

But I saw it with my own eyes.

Japanese treachery, Japanese barbarism.

I've told you the hours I spent listening to Tanaka.

An army Captain, a madman most likely.

Genghis Khan was a madman, most likely.

So was every conqueror down through history.

And the second is the most important. Japan and this country are friends.

Japan is one of this country's best customers.

We do billions of dollars of business with her ..

And you insult her at every turn. Look. You say here that:

"The Japanese race has embarked on a course of conquest .."

"The goal of which no man knows."

That's right.

And here again:

"The head men of Japan are dreaming ambitiously. A Napoleonic dream."

I say more.

What happened at Port Arthur will happen again someday.

Will happen here to us. When the Japs beat the Russians ..

They conquered the white man for the first time in history.

And they mean to go on conquering him.

Someday the white man's dream bubble of peace with Japan will be punctured.

But one country at least won't be surprised.

That country will be Russia.

She wakened from her dream. We're still dreaming.

Dreaming? Why Jack, you're a cook.

Those sawn-off little runts in their papier-m�ch� little island. Why ..

We could lick them with one hand tied behind us.

Mr Maxwell, if Jack feels so strongly .. Don't argue with him, Charmian.

I'll get this stuff published. I'll yell it from the rooftops.

Come along, dearest.

Alright, you old firebrand.

But nobody will believe you.

Two reasons.

It's not the truth he's worried about. I've proved that to him. It's money.

Two billion dollars' worth of business. Sure, sure. Lull yourself to sleep.

Then your little brown customer sneaks up and slits your throat.

And he says they won't believe me.

Maybe they won't believe me?

0f course they'll believe you.

Darling, everything you write, everything you say, rings of truth.

It's real and honest. It's you.

It's the spirit of Jack London.

You are that part of me.

I knew it when I first met you.

Remember what I told you?

About a ship and the sea?

I'll always remember.

When a man and woman are meant for each other.

Like a ship new-launched, they rush to the sea.

The sliding-ways rebel, but neither sea nor ship hear them.

As they rush into each other's lives.