1

[On the train]

Audio 1

Slowed-Down Audio A
Roger: Where are we?
Mother: Wont be long now
Titty (quoting a poem) The endless trek, through the
Sahara Desert;
See the camels bravely plod though the sand,
(Susan laughs, because outside the window are not
camels but cows)
Susan: Titty! (meaning your poem is a bit crazy as we
are in England)
Mother: At least camels dont need water When I was a
child we had thousands of sheep that died during the
drought.

[Mother is from Australia, it seems, and I guess from a

farming family]
Roger: In Australia?
Mother: yes
Roger: Sheep must be quite pleased to be English
Titty: Do they have sheep in China?
Susan: Of course
(Susan looks at her as if to say : you are stupid!)
Titty: Well even if daddy misses this holiday, he will see
Chinese sheep when he gets to Hong Kong
(She is imagining the journey her father is making by
ship. She knows that the timings of arrivals of ships are
not certain and that they do not know exactly when their
father will return)
John: Where is he now, Mother?
Mother: His boats in Malta waiting for orders to sail
(Mother makes a mistake her because large boats on the
sea are called ships and the small boats which the
children sail are called boats. Maybe she is simplifying
so that the children can understand)
Roger: I expect hed rather be with us
Mother: Of course he would. He loves the Lakes. He would
be showing you everything

(The Lakes is a way English people describe the Lake

District)
Mother: Hed say: Just look at that scenery!
TRAIN WHISTLE
Children laugh
Train goes through a tunnel.
*
Titty: Please can we go exploring?
Mother: Its a little late
Titty: Its still light. We wont be long
Mother: All right! But itll soon be supper time.
Roger (to a local farmer) Hello, sir!
Farmer: Hello!
*
(John) : Dear Father, we arrived safely. Mother says I am
to ask your permission to build a camp on the island on
the lake. We have found a boat that will be quite suitable
for the voyage.
Audio 2
Hope that you have a happy voyage to Hong Kong. Please
answer soon. Love, John
(Susan): PS. And Susan

(Titty): If we wreck ourselves on a coral reef, we will go

down bravely. Not that we will. Please. Love, Titty.
(Roger): Please, Daddy, may I go too?
*
Roger: Stand by to go aboutReady, about! Stand by to
go about. Ready, about! Stand by to go about. Ready,
about!
Mother: Roger! Well sailed.
Roger: Is it the answer? Does it say yes?
Mother: Better drowned than duffers: if not duffers, wont
drown!
Roger: Does that mean yes?
Mother: I think so.
Roger: But does that mean me too?
Mother: yes, if John and Susan will take you. And if you do
as youre told.
Roger: Shall I go and tell the others?
Mother: All right. Dont be late for supper! And dont wake
Vicky when you come in
*
John: Dispatches?
Roger (shouting as he runs) Its yes and for me too, so it
must be for Titty as well.!

Susan: Read it aloud!

John: Better drowned than duffers: if not duffers, wont
drown! Hurrah for Father!
Roger: What does it mean?
Titty: It means, that Father thinks we wont drown, but if
we do, good riddance.
Susan: But what does duffers, if not duffers mean?
Titty: No, youre wrong. It says: if we were duffers, we
might as well drown. But then it stops and starts again,
saying, as we are not duffers, we wont drown.
Roger: But why doesnt he just say yes?
*
[The children are packing for the expedition]
Susan: Mrs Jackson, can we borrow a frying pan?
Mrs Jackson: Yes, certainly, love.
Susan: Im best at buttered eggs
Mrs Jackson: Are you really? Most folk are better at boiled.
Susan: I dont really count boiled.
*
[ Mother is demonstrating how to put up a tent]
Mother: You see, on rocky grounds, stones are better than
pegs for holding tents down except in a high wind.

Father and I often used to sleep in one when we were

young.
Titty: Are you really old?
Mother: Not really, its just I was younger then
[tent collapses]
[John is seen practicing Morse code and semaphore]
[Susan is seen reading an old recipe book]
[Titty is seen reading Treasure Island]
{Roger is tossing and turning, unable to sleep as he is
excited]
*
[Swallow is launched]
John: Hoist the sail. Mr Mate!
Susan: Aye, aye, sir.
[Titty and Mother arrive at the quay]
Titty: Here is Good Queen Bess, come to see us off on our
voyage to the Pacific
Mother [to John] Captain Drake, pull the boom down.
Thatll get those cross wrinkles out.
Titty: I wonder if the real Queen Elizabeth knew much
about ships?

Mother: That Queen Elizabeth wasnt brought up close to

Sydney harbor
Susan: All aboard come on, lets go!
Titty: Alright!
Mother: Have you got everything?
Susan: Ive checked the list
Mother: Everything!?
[produces a box of matches]
John: We couldnt have lit a fire without them!
Mother: Safe voyage..! Bye-Bye!
All: Goodbye!
John: Three cheers for the Stay-at-homes: hip, hip:
hooray!
[the children repeat the hoorays]
[Titty leads the other children in the song, Spanish
Ladies:
Adieu and Farewell
To you fair Spanish ladies
Adieu and Farewell
To you ladies of Spain!
For were under orders
For to sail for old England
And we may never see you fair ladies again
*
Titty: But we will, really though!

Here we are, intrepid explorers, making the first ever

voyage into uncharted waters. What mysteries shall they
hold for us? Dark secrets shall be revealed.
*
[They narrowly miss colliding with a steamer...]
Roger: Look, John, over there. Steamer ahead. Stand by
to go about. Ready, about!
Titty: Natives!
*
[Roger spots the Houseboat...]
Roger: A ship! A ship!
John: Its a houseboat.
Titty: Whats a houseboat?
John: A boat you live in, like a house.
Susan: I wish we lived in a houseboat all the year round
John: Father does.
Susan: Thats different. Hes in the Royal Navy. A
destroyer isnt a houseboat.
John: They live in it all the same!
*
Titty [looking across at Captain Flint in the Houseboat]
Whos that man?
Roger [looking through the telescope] I cant see
Titty: Why not?
Roger: I cant see anything
John: Take the cap off the end!
Roger: Oh! Hes writing
Titty: Let me have the telescope Hes got a parrot! Hes
probably a retired pirate
Roger: Pirates always have parrots
Titty: Hes working on his devilish crimes
Roger: Its my turn now [looks through the telescope]
Hes got a cannon He IS a pirate

John: Keep still, you two. Youll turn us over!

*
Titty: Theres another island!
[looking at the cormorants]
Theyve got India rubber necks.
Roger: What? What can you see?
Titty: Cormorants. We must be near the coast of China!
The Chinese have cormorants They train them to catch
fish for them Daddy sent me a picture
Susan: Theyre fishing now
*
Roger: Look! Land ahoy! Land ahoy!
John: Stand by to go about! Ready, about!
[to Roger] Keep a lookout for a good landing place!
Roger: Aye, aye, sir!
Titty: And keep a good lookout for savages, too.
Susan: Boy Roger, sing out like anything if you see any
rocks under the water
Roger: Aye, aye sir.
*
Susan: How about there, for a landing place?
John: Lets try!
Susan: Stand by to go about!
John: Ready, about!
*
[landing on Wild Cat Island]
John: [to Roger] Get the painter!
[The ship beaches, and Roger runs forward to tie the
painter to a tree]
John: [to Susan] Susan, you come forward to take this
halyard. Lower away.
John: Dont lets unpack now. Lets explore!

10

[They run onto the island. Titty runs back to move the
supplies up the beach]
Titty: Might be a tidal wave!
*
[They examine a very high pine tree]
Roger: Look!
John: Properly we ought to have a flagpole on the top.
Roger: What for?
John: To hoist a flag for a signal
Titty: It would make a superb lighthouse If any of us
were sailing home after dark we could hoist a lantern up
there.
Roger: Weve got a lantern
Susan: We havent got any rope though
John: We could get someGood idea!
*
Susan: Lets go and look for a camp now!
John: OK, well split up. Roger, you go that way, Susan
that way, Titty, that way; and Ill go this way.
Audio 3
[Roger finds the best place to camp]
Roger: Hey!
The Others: Hey!
Susan: What a lovely place for a camp!
John: Well done, Roger!
[They notice the old fireplace made by previous
campers]
Titty: Natives
Sarah: Well the natives certainly knew how to choose the
right place
Roger: Suppose theyre still here

11

John: These ashes look pretty old to me. I think were

safe
John: Come on, lets fetch the tents
[Roger shows Susan some firewood]
Susan: Youll need much more than that
[The children jump out on Roger as he arrives with the
firewood]
Susan: Lovely. You can see the fireplace from inside [the
tent]
John: Everythings all right, apart from the landing place:
everybody can see it.
John: Titty, lets go and see if we can find a better harbor.
John: Oh, Id better have the whistle
Roger: Oh, can I come?
Susan: No you fill a kettle while I unpack.
[Susan views the water in the kettle]
Susan: Thats got scum on it! Come on, Ill show you how
to do it
*
[Titty and John]
Titty: We ought to have brought machetes like Red
Indians use.
[They see the harbor]
John: Wow!
John: Come on, lets get Swallow.
[Susan and Roger]
Susan: Look, all you have to do is put the spout in the
water and no scum comes in!
[Susan and Roger prepare breakfast while John and Titty
take Swallow to the new harborHearing a whistle, Susan
and Roger run to join the others, to examine the new
harbor]
*

12

Titty: I expect someone hid on the island hundreds and

hundreds of years ago, and kept their boat here.
John: Its perfect for keeping Swallow safe at night
Susan: Its marvelous, but why didnt we see it before?
John: Oh, the rocks go out so far...
[Roger finds a cross marked on a tree stump...]
Roger: John, why did you put this cross here?
John: I didnt. It must have been there already
Titty: Natives, again. Or cannibals. This marks the spot
where they ate six missionaries.
Susan: Oh! the teall spoil. Come on.
*
[After breakfast]
John: We can begin our chart tomorrow, and put on it
everything that we discover
Titty: Well invent our own names
John: Of course we will
Susan (to Roger): Roger, eat your apple!
Roger: Must I?
Susan: Yes, Mother says we must eat plenty of green
things, or else well all get scurvy.
Roger: What is scurvy?
Titty: Sailors die from it like flies.
*
[Lights-out]
John (calling to the other tent...) Are you all right? Susan,
Titty?
Titty: Aye, aye, sir!
Susan: Is the boy all right?
John: Hes all right, Mr Mate
John: Are you ready for the lights-out yet?
Susan: Yes!
John: Lights-out! Goodnight!
Roger: Goodnight!

13

Audio 4
[early morningTitty is writing and looking]
Titty: Hello!
Roger: Hello! Wheres Susan?
Titty: Asleep.
Susan: No, she isnt. And shes going bathing!
[Susan runs down to swim in the lake...]
Susan (to John): Time to get the milk, John!
[John goes for the milk by boat to the farm]
[Titty and Roger join Susan, swimming in the lake]
Roger: Its cold!
Titty: No it isnt, its lovely!
Susan: Dont just splash swim!
*
[John is collecting the milk from the farm]
Mrs Dixon: Mind now, if theres anything else you want,
dont be afraid to come and ask for it
Mr Dixon: Grand weather were having
Mrs Dixon (to Mr Dixon) Shoo! You just get those dirty
boots out of my clean dairy!
Mr Dixon: Ooh!
Mr Dixon (to John): Ive had a good morning! (showing a
tobacco tin; Mr Dixon has been digging for worms for the
children) Do you want some?
John: Tobacco?
Mr Dixon: No, bait for when you go fishingGood bit of
perch down by the weeds!
*
[The children are fishing]
John: How far down is your hook, Susan?
Susan: Just about as far as my float will let me.
Titty: Mines only three feet down.

14

John: Thats no good! It should be about a foot from the

bottom! Reel it in and Ill push your float up for you
[Susan, suddenly noticing that John is catching a fish]
Susan: John! Your floats gone!
[John hauls in the fishThe children settle again. In a
moment a large pike nibbles at Rogers bait]
Roger: Its a shark, its a shark!
Other children: Pull, pull it hard! Go on- pull it in! Go on!
Oh!
[The pike escapes]
Roger: Do you think it is really safe to bathe in this place?
[The children prepare the fish]
Titty: I wouldnt like to be a fish
Roger: But Id like to be a fish swimming underwater
Titty (indicating the prepared fish): youll be like that
soon
*
[The children are discussing place names]
Titty: Itll have to be Arctic for the north and Antarctic for
the south
Susan: What shall we call the town?
Titty: Why not Rio?
Roger: Why Rio?
Titty: Because of the song, Away to Rio
Roger: What about the bay where we fished?
John: Dixons Bay. Its very near the farm
Titty: No, Shark Bay, because of Rogers great fish
John: What shall we call the place where we saw the
houseboat? In this bay here [indicating on Tittys map]
Titty: Houseboat Bay
John: Hm.
Titty: I wonder if the retired pirate is working on his
treasure charts

15

Roger: Do you think hes the only retired pirate on board?

Titty: Oh, maybe others below deck: slaves he gets to do
all the dirty work He has an easy life I bet
[sound of firework exploding on Captain Flints boat
children rush to see what is going onSmoke is drifting
across the bay from the firework, which Captain Flint has
tried to extinguish]
Children: Come on!
Titty: He must have fired his cannon! Look over there!
[Roger notices the Amazon sailing towards Wild Cat
Island]
Roger: Who are those two boys?
John: Get down! They may be enemies
[Titty notices that they have hoisted the Jolly Roger flag]
Titty: Theyre pirates!
Roger: Lets chase them!
Others: Lets!
John: Come on, then!
Roger: If theyre pirates, why did the pirate on that
houseboat fire at them?
Titty: Perhaps he didnt
Roger: He must haveHes got a cannon and the others
havent
John: Theyre going round the island! Lets go that way
and head them off!
[Captain Flint, meanwhile, on the deck of the houseboat,
is waving his fist at the children in the two yachts]
Roger: Why is he waving?
Titty: Hes not waving; hes very angry
John: A-M AmA-Z-O-N Amazon!
Titty: Hurry, hurry! Were losing them!
Susan: they must be making for Rio
John: Theyve given us the slip

16

Susan: Lets go and explore Rio!

Titty: We could buy the rope for the lighthouse tree!
John: Roger, you stay here and look after Swallow!
Titty: Beware of natives!
Audio 5
[In the shop]
John (to the shop man): And four bottles of grog, please
Titty: Ginger beer
Man: Its a lovely day
John (neutrally) Yes, isnt it?
*
[Roger is approached by a well-dressed man in a purple
blazer]
Man: Thats a nice little ship youve got there
Roger: Yes.
[Man walks away]
*
[The children re-board Swallow with their provisions]
John: Anything to report, Boy Roger?
Roger: A native came along and said, Thats a fine boat
youve got there
John: What did you say?
Roger: I said: Yes.
[Roger helps himself to an iced bun]
Susan: Put them back, theyre for supper
Roger (tasting the bun) Natives are quite good at some
things

17

[cut to scene back at camp where they are having their

meal]
Susan: You a greedy little pig, Roger!
*
John: Why did the native on the houseboat shake his fist
at us today?
Titty: Perhaps this is his island
Roger (hearing a noise): What was that?
John: Oh, nothingprobably a bird.
Susan: if this is his island then why doesnt he live on it?
Titty: Much nicer for his parrot
[A green-feathered arrow suddenly lands close to the
children]
Titty: Dont touch the point, it might be poisoned..!
The others: Shh!
Titty: Its him again hes winged his arrows with that
poor parrots feathers.
Susan: Shut up, Titty!
John: Well split up and searchWell need a signal. One
hoot like an owl means its all right; three hoots means
somethings up! Cone on, Ill take the landing place!
Susan: Come on, Roger!
[The children exchange hoots. But when John gets to the
landing place he discovers that Swallow is not there]
John: Swallows gone! [The others here three owl hoots
from John, and run to the landing place]
Titty: Me and Roger pulled her right up.She couldnt
have drifted out
[Roger discovers a knifethey hear childrens voices in
the distance]
Voices: Hooray! hooray!
Voice: Halt! Hands up!
John: Down on your faces!

18

[The children drop to the groundAn arrow is shot over

them. They look up, and Nancy emerges from one of the
tents, with a bow and arrow.]
Titty: the Amazons.
Roger: Theyre girls!
[Nancy shoots another arrow over their heads]
*
Nancy: Stand up! Now hands up!
John: Before they reload, charge! [All shout]
Nancy: Halt! A parley!
John: All right then. No tricks. What have you done with
our ship? Wheres Swallow?
Nancy: Shes our prize. Shes in our harbor.
John: Our harbour!
Peggy: Your harbour? How long have you been here?
Titty: Days and days
Nancy: This is Wildcat Island. Its been our island for years
and years.
Who built the fireplace? Who marked the harbor?
John: A white cross. Anybody could put a white cross on a
tree.
Nancy: Shows its our island.
Peggy: You dont even know how the harbours marked!
Roger: Wewe do
[The Amazons smile]
*
John: Come on, then. Lets parley. Weapons down.
[The weapons are thrown down, including the knife which
Roger found]
Nancy: Peggy, you donkey, theyve got our knife!
Roger: I found it!
Peggy: Its our knife. It was a present from Uncle Jim. We
polished the cannon on his houseboat.

19

Nancy: Shut up, Peggy!

Titty: Is he your uncle? We thought he was a retired
pirate!
Nancy: Thats quite a good thing for him to be really.
Peggy: He can be Captain Flint.
Titty: But youre pirates too.
Peggy: Thats why he hates us: he knows what pirates
are
*
John: Its time for the parley. Im John Walker, Master of
the Swallow; Susan, Mate; Able-Seaman Titty and the Boy
Roger.
Nancy: Im Nancy Blackett, Master and part-owner of the
Amazon.
Peggy: The Terror of the Seas.
Nancy: This is Peggy Blackett, Mate and part-owner of the
same.
Peggy: Her name isnt Nancy really, its Ruth, but Uncle
Jim says the Amazons were ruthless.
Nancy: Ill shiver your timbers for you if you dont stop
chattering, Peggy! [The Swallows smile]
Nancy: Lets be allies against Captain Flint and all the
natives. You see, Captain Flint used to be friendly, but
now hes worse than any native. Because hes writing a
book and he says he hasnt time for us.
John: If were allies it doesnt matter who the island
belongs to.
[Nancy and John shake hands]
*
[Nancy shows John how the harbor is marked]
Nancy: You see, there ought to be two marks, but two
white crosses would be too easy for anyone to guess.

20

John: So whats your other mark then?

Nancy: This tree hereWhen you want to sail into the
harbour, you keep the cross here and the tree in a
straight line, and youll come clean through the rocks.
*
Peggy: He bought the parrot in Zanzibar. Hes been all
over the world, you know. Mother said he was the black
sheep of the family. Last year he came home and he said
hed gathered enough moss and meant to settle here.
Mothers his sister, you know. Last year he was one of us,
and even bought us Amazon. This year, he said he was
writing a book; and refused to join in Hes in league
with the natives. Weve tried everything to wake him up,
but its no good Its ended by him forbidding us ever to
go near him
John: Did he really fire at you today?
Nancy: No, that was us!
Peggy: It was the most marvelous banger left over from
last November.
Roger: It was a jolly good bang.
Nancy: Lets plan a combined attack on Captain Flint.
Susan: Wholl be Captain?
Nancy: I will, of course
Titty: Johns our Captain
Peggy: There can only be one Captain!
John: It should be me! There are more of us Swallows
than you Amazons!
Nancy: Lets fight for it! [John looks sulky and puzzled]
Well try and capture each others ships.
Peggy: Thatll be good practice
Nancy: Whoever wins will be flagship.

21

Audio 6
Roger: Well win! [Nancy smiles]
John: But where do you keep your boat?
Nancy: You go north, across the wide, open sea; till you
come to our river
Peggy: The Amazon Then youll see our boathouse; and
thats where we live.
*
Susan: The only trouble is the Amazons know the lake
much better than we do.
John: Yes, like those marks in the harbor
Titty: If there was only something we could do and they
couldnt, that would be a help.
John: Got it! Leading lights! Roger, go into our tent and
get the lantern. Oh, and bring a hammer and two large
nails.
*
[At the shore in the darkSusan and Roger are in
Swallow, trying to follow two lanterns, which have been
placed on the landing marks]
Roger (to Titty, pointing out Swallow): Look! There they
are!
[in the boat]
John (calling to the Susan in the bows): Are they in line
yet?
Susan: No, the top lights a little to the left of the lower
John: Sing out when theyre above each other
Susan: Left a littleNow! Leftkeep leftright [boat
beaches]
John: Weve done it!
Roger: This will win us the war!

22

John: The Amazons think that they are safe from us at

night!
*
[Next day. John is testing for wind. There is none]
John: Oh well! No war today!
Roger: We can row
John: Too far Well have to wait until tomorrow.
Susan (comfortingly, to Roger): We can do something else
instead.
Roger: What?
Susan: We can go and explore...
Roger: Where?
Titty: Over there on the mainland.
*
[They find a waterfall.]
Titty: It must be Niagara. We could get a barrel and
bounce down it!
Susan: Not today!
Roger: Its a real forest!
Susan: Jungle almost! Wed better keep together!
[Roger sees a squirrel]
Its almost as good as a monkey!
Titty: If only there were some parrots
Slowed-Down Audio B
[she sees a woodpecker]Woodpeckerstheyll do(to
Roger) Theyre savage parrotsTheyre saying Pretty
Polly in savage language.
[They find the settlement of some charcoal-burnersa
burning mound and a straw hut]

23

Titty: Look, a Red Indian wigwam!

*
First Charcoal Burner (Old Billy): Hello, you! Come to have
a look, have you?
Children: Good morning!
Old Billy: Oh! Its blowing up a bit
Old Billy: Want to have a look inside, do you? [referring to
the wigwam]Folk generally want to.
Titty: May we?
[They penetrate into a smoky atmosphere which makes
them cough]
Old Billy: Sit down!
Susan: Do you always live here?
Old Billy: Aye! When were burning charcoal, someone has
to keep the fire down, like, day and night That way the
charcoal is smooth and black and good to use
[he shows them some charcoal]
Titty: For artists to draw masterpieces with?
Old Billy: Thats right, lass. Try a bit.
[Titty tries out the charcoal on an old newspaper]
Old Billy: Would you like to see what we keep for luck?
Titty: What is it?
Old Billy: A snake
Billy: Would you like to see it?
All the children: Yes, please
Billy: Youre sitting on it
[The children jump up at onceOld Billy laughs and
retrieves a wooden cigar box from under the bed which
the children were sitting onThe snake is taken outside
into the sunshine. Old Billy calls to his son]
Old Billy: Young Billy!
Young Billy (descending from the charcoal mound) Dads
been showing you around, has he?

24

Titty: Is he your son?

Old Billy: Thats right.
Roger: He doesnt look much like a son
[Young Billy takes a stick, opens the box with the stick,
and removes the adder with the stick, to show the
children. The adder hisses]
Susan: Is it safe to touch?
Young Billy: I wouldnt. Never go near an adder. [He shuts
the box] Mind how youre stepping in the woods. Theres
plenty about. If you happen to step on one, hell bite
But hell get out of the way if he sees or hears you.
[Noticing the fire] O look there! A little bit of a hole
Out he comes [Young Billy puts a grass turf on the hole
in the charcoal mound to stop the smoke] Like the
adder, is fire.
Old Billy: Are you camping on the island?
John: Yes.
Old Billy: You had those Blackett lasses with you
yesterday, hadnt you? We saw their little boat. I can
remember when their mother and Master Jim used to
come up hereThey were no bigger than you are.
Titty: The man on the houseboat?
Old Billy: Aye.
Roger: Captain Flint. Were going to fight with him
Titty: Quiet, Roger!
Young Billy: You know, Dad, I think itd be a good thing if
we let him know what folks are saying
Old Billy: Aye, youre right. (to the children) Will you be
seeing those lasses again?
John: Yes as soon as theres the wind for sailing
Old Billy: Whats wrong with today?

25

John: Well, this morning on the lake, there was a dead

calm.
Old Billy: Ah! Never mind. You tell them to tell their Uncle
Jim
Titty: But they cant, theyre at war with him!
Young Billy: Theyll tell him, right enough You tell em to
tell him, that Young Billy, thats me, sent him word to put
a good strong padlock on that houseboat of his, if hes
going to leave it alone at nights. Down in the pub theres
a deal too much talking going about that houseboat and
the valuables inside. Theres more than plenty of wild
young lads that are up to anything without thinking twice.
John: Well tell them.
Susan: Thank you very much for having us
Titty: And thank you so much for letting us see your
lovely serpent
Children: Goodbye!
Young Billy: GoodbyeHere! [Gives Susan the basket she
had forgotten]
Susan: Thank you! Goodbye!
Young Billy: Bye!
Audio 7
[Susan is training Titty and Roger in rowing]
Susan: Inpullinpullinpull! Go on! Give it your
back! Go on, pull! Inpullinpull! [to John] What is it,
John?
John: How can I give a message to Captain Flint? Hes our
enemy now.
*

26

The children arrive on the island to find a notice from

Captain Flint which reads: CALLED TO TELL YOU THAT YOU
HAD JOLLY WELL BETTER LEAVE MY HOUSEBOAT ALONE. ONCE IS
QUITE ENOUGH. NO JOKING JAMES TURNER

John: Called to tell you that you had jolly well better
leave my houseboat alone. Once is quite enough. No
joking. James Turner.
Titty: But we never touched his horrible houseboat.
Roger: He is a beast!
Susan: You had better go and see him, John.
Roger: Lets go and sink his beastly houseboat!
John: No Susans right! Ill go and explain and give him
his message.
Titty: And hes used my crayons, too.
*
[Captain Flint is packing for a journey away from his
houseboat. He sees John approaching in Swallow, and
Johns mission to deliver the message from the charcoal
burners is not a success]
Captain Flint: Now look here, did you find my note?
John: Yes!
Captain Flint: Can you read?
John: Yes!
Captain Flint: Did you read it?
John: Yes!
Captain Flint: I told you to leave my houseboat alone.
Now youre here again. Clear out, fast!
John: But I never
Captain Flint: And if youve got any more fireworks, the
best thing you could do is drop them in the lake!
John: But I havent!

27

Captain Flint: Oh, that was the last one, was it? Well, you
did enough damage with it
John: Ive never had any fireworks. At least, not since last
November.
Captain Flint: Now, look here, that wont do!
John: And Ive never been near your boat! Well never as
near as this
Captain Flint: Then who did set fire to her?
[John remains silent, as he does not want to implicate the
Amazons...]
Captain Flint: Clear off. Ive nothing more to say to you.
John: I came to tell you
Captain Flint: Clear off. I dont like talking to liarsAnd
dont let me see you here again!
[John leaves. In Captain Flints boat we can see the parrot
cage]
*
On the island, the other three children are swimming.
Roger can now swim quite wellTitty is plunging
underwater
Roger: Why do you wave your legs in the air, Titty?
Titty: Im trying to be a cormorant, but its quite difficult!
Susan: Look, theres John!
Titty: Did you see the parrot?
Roger: Did you capture the houseboat?
Susan: What did he say when you gave him the message?
John: I didnt give him the message. He wouldnt let me.
Titty: Did you declare war on him?
No: He called me a liar.
*
[We see Captain Flint, with the parrot, arriving on the
quay at Rio]

28

*
[The day of the war between Swallows and Amazons]
John: You cant get a fairer wind than this!
Roger: Can we attack, then?
John (quoting): In naval warfare two things are important:
to know exactly what you want to do; and to do it in the
manner your enemy will least expect.
[The children nod...]
Titty: Amazons, beware!
*
[Nancy and Peggy at their port on the Amazon river]
Nancy: Its a fair wind for the SwallowsAll we have to
do when they do come is to keep out of sightAnd when
they do come, well slip away quietly, go to the island,
and when they return, well take Swallow
Peggy (frowning): how do we manage all that?
Nancy: Ah!
*
[John is climbing the highest tree on Wild Cat Island in
order to place a rope over a branch; and from this branch
to hang a lantern...]
John: A fine place for a lookoutLet me out some more
rope [He hangs the rope over the branch] Tie the
lantern on as I said: and then well hoist it up [He
climbs back down the tree]
*
Susan: I still dont see how we surprise them
John: Well, with this wind, hey expect us to attack them,
and do it early enough to get back here in daylight
Susan: Yes, of course

29

John: But we dontNot until after dark, when they think

weve given up
[Susan smiles]
John: They dont know about our lights
John: Then, we sail up their river, find their boathouse and
pitch their boatThen we sail both boats back here!
Susan: But what happens if they attack us first?
John: Well watch and wait for them on the lake all day
Titty: Except me! Ill be staying here!
Susan: Are you sure you can manage all on your own,
Titty?
Titty: Of course! Id love to stay here!
John: You light the lighthouse lantern; and hoist it up as
soon as it starts to get darkThe candles in the small
lanterns wont last long, so dont light them till youre
sure were coming Well give you an owl call so that
youre sure its us and not the enemy!
*
[The Amazons are cleaning their ship]
Peggy: What do I do when Ive left you on the island? its
obvious!
Nancy: You sail on to the next bay; while I wait for
Swallow, capture her; and then come and join you!
Peggy: But I want to be there when you capture Swallow!
Nancy: You cant be in two places at once! It is the most
exciting part!
{Peggy looks very disappointed]
*
[The expedition sets sailRoger arrives]
Susan: What are you wearing?
Roger: You said put two of everything on!

30

Susan: I said bring not put on two of everything

Pretend you are going to the North Pole! (to the crew) All
aboard! (to Titty) Dont forget about the lights, Titty!
Titty: Aye, aye sir! Oh, Oughtnt I to have the telescope
for keeping watch..?
John: Yes I think you ought
Titty: Thank you! [Titty pushes Swallow off} Swallows
forever!
Roger: Good luck, Titty! [They all wave]
*
[Titty pretends to be Robinson Crusoeshe imagines
vividly all the sounds and scenes of his being wrecked on
the desert island
]
Twenty-Five years ago, I, Robinson Crusoe, was wrecked
on this desolate place. [Titty imagines a ships bell
ringing and the wind howling, and acts out Robinson
Crusoe reaching the beach of the desert island]
Titty What a good place for a camp! Ill build my hut
herewith branches and moss. Audio 8 thinking cant
be two tents for one shipwrecked mariner [she thinks
about removing one tent, but thinks better of this idea.
Instead, she tries to make the tent she shares with Susan
look like the tent of Robinson Crusoe; so, for example, she
removes some flowers which Susan has placed in the tent
as a decorationand places the beds together as one
bed]
Titty: Better not. Ill leave it for Man Friday. When I find
him. [looking inside the tent] Still a very Susan-ish
tent [Noticing one or two ants, she says:

31

Titty: Ill have to sleep up a tree, for fear of ravenous

beasts [she climbs a little way up a nearby tree; then
comes back down] Im not afraid of ravenous beasts,
anyway Time for a feast!
*
[Scene of the Swallow crew, minus Titty, waiting for the
Amazons, whom they have not seen; and waiting for
evening, when they can maybe attack the Amazons]
John: Well, they cant have gone by
Roger: Come on sun! Hurry up! - sink!
Susan: I hope Tittys all right!
*
[On the island, Mother appears, to the delight of Titty]
Titty: Man Friday!
*
[Cut to the other three Swallows]
John: Well, here goes!
Susan: They must have had supper ages ago!
John: I wonder what theyre up to!
Roger: Its going to be quite dark soon!
*
[Mother is cooking a nice supper for Titty, of potato and
corned beef burgers...]
Mother: I expect theyve gone to meet the Blackett
childrenI heard youd met them
Titty: Man Friday oughtnt to know anything about them
Mother: Very well. I wontWhat are you doing all by
yourself..?

32

Titty: Well, properly, Im in charge of the camp; but while

theyre away, it doesnt matter if Im Robinson Crusoe
instead
[Mother smiles]
Titty: Man Friday: Would you mind telling me some of your
life before you came to this island?
Mother: I was caught by some very savagesavages
They put me in a huge stew-pot and chanted strange
songs
Titty: Then what?
Mother: They lit a fire under the stew-pot and began to
dance, all round!
Titty: What did you do?
Mother: I waited till no-one was looking; then I jumped
out of the stew-pot; and escaped!
Titty: Were you scalded badly?
Mother: Badly; but I buttered the places that hurt most...
*
[The Amazonsawaiting a sighting of Swallowin the
reeds...]
Peggy: What happens if they dont come?
Nancy: Theyre bound towe just wait and watch
[The Swallowssailing nearbyunaware that the Amazon
crew are very close by]
John: Now for the enemy stronghold! Quiet,
everyone..!
[Cut to: Mother leaving Titty ; she is rowing back from
Wild Cat Island to Holly Howe...]

33

Mother: Are you sure youll be alright yourself?

Titty: Theyll be back soon
Mother: Well I hope so. Itll be dark fairly soonWouldnt
you like to come back with me? Just for tonight? We can
leave a note for John
Titty: Id rather staythank you
Mother: All rightGoodbye, Robinson Crusoe!
Titty: Goodbye, Man Friday!
[Titty waves her off. She looks through the telescope at
her departing mother. She sheds a tear. She mops it
away]
Titty (to herself): Duffer! Thats through looking too
hard! Try the other eye!
[Cut tothe Swallows, at twilight, in the Amazon river
and lagoon]
Roger: Were in the river!
Susan: Any sign of the enemys boat house?
Roger: No, Mate!
John: Shh! They mustnt hear us coming
[Nancy and Peggy are hidden in the reeds. Peggy imitates
a duckthey are watching swallow pass by]
Peggy: Quack...quack, quack, quack, quack, quack,
quack!
Susan: Whats that?
John: A duck
*
[Nancy and Peggy giggle silently]
Nancy: Stow it, you goat! Dont overdo it!

34

*
[On Wildcat Island, Titty is hoisting the lantern on the big
treeshe will be ready now to light it when the time
comes]
*
[Swallow finds the Amazons boathousethere is a Jolly
Roger symbol on the wall]
Roger shouting) There it isthere it is!
[Susan motions Roger to be quiet! ... Passing a big
house just up the hill from the lake, they arrive at the
Amazon boathouse, find no Amazon boat there; but just a
note marked, To the Swallows inside it reads: Ha ha!]
John (reading) : To the Swallows ha ha the Amazon
Pirates... .
John (throwing away the note in consternation): Quite
simple theyve hidden her up the river. Its an old pirate
trick
Susan: Shouldnt we be getting back, John?
Roger: No. Lets go up the river Please, John
John (justifying his decision) It wont take long. We know
they havent put to sea. We have been watching all day
Audio 9
[The Amazons notice that they are sailing away up the
Amazon river, out of harms way, and rapidly paddle out
of the reeds and set sail for Wildcat Island, where they
believe there are no Swallows.]

35

Nancy: Wildcat Island and the Amazons forever!

Peggy: Weve done them fairly brown!
*
[Titty is by the fire on Wildcat Island, looking after the fire
and trying to keep warm. She is wrapped in a blanket]
[Swallow is amid the water-lilies in the Amazon riverit is
dusk]
John: This must be the place they call the LagoonIts
just the place for them to hide their ship! Susan you
take the oars now: Ill jeep a lookout!
John: I wish it wasnt so dark, though!
[They are getting stuck in the water lilies]
Susan: Somethings pulling at my oars!
[They nearly lose an oar, but Roger splendidly retrieves
it]
John: Its all right: its only water lilies!
Susan: It clings on to them like octopuses!
Roger: Perhaps they were octopuses! Titty read out of
a book how they put their arms out and grab people out
of boats.
Susan: Nonsense Roger, theyre only flowers!
Roger: II wouldnt mind even if they were octopuses!
*
[Nancy and Peggy in the Amazon are sailing to Wildcat
Island and see lights on Captain Flints houseboat. In fact
it is the burglars, who are trying to steal something
valuable from the houseboat]
Peggy: Look! Uncle Jim must be back!

36

[scenes of Captain Flint/Uncle Jims houseboat being

ransacked]
*
[Swallows, still in the lagoon]
John (to Susan): Its easier if you slope the oars down and
forwards. That way, they dont go deep in the water and
get stuck
Susan: I cant move the tiller!
[John moves aft to investigate]
John: Its all stuck up with lily stalks: between the rudder
and the boat! They wont budge!
Susan: Careful!
John: Try now!
[It is now OK]
Roger: There isnt any light at all!
Susan: Well never find the Amazons now!
John: If we wait until morning we might find her!
Susan: And what about Titty?
{John thinks]
John: Well go back Shell be worried
*
{Shot of Titty sleeping by the fire, wrapped in the
blanket]
*
[Peggy and Nancy in the Amazon]
Peggy: Whats that?
Nancy: Its a lighthouse. Very thoughtful of them!
Nancy: Stand by to jibe
Peggy: Aye, aye sir
*
[Wildcat Island. An owl hoots. Titty wakes. She imagines it
is the Swallows owl callShe hears a second callshe
takes the two lanterns and sets up the leading lights on

37

the two marks under the Lighthouse which she has

already lit]
*
[On the Swallow]
Susan (to Roger): Are you cold, Roger?
Roger: Rather
John: Thank goodness we can sail at last Im going to
raise the sail and reef. Even father said not to be
ashamed to reef a small boat in the dark [Susan raises
the sail. Roger sleeps]
*
[Titty is seen setting up the two smaller lanterns, the
leading lights but after having done two owl hoots
and got no response she is puzzled, after hearing what
she thought was an owl call, that Swallow is not coming
towards the harbour, but instead another boat; and so
very shortly, in a moment or so, she will understand that
it is Amazon which is coming; and so will run and hide]
*
[John is trying to sail Swallow home correctly in the dark.
He uses the compass
John: Almost exactly southeast Now well have to tack
all the way backbut short tacks, so as not to hit the
shore
Susan: But how are we going to know how far weve
gone?
John: Ill count a hundred on each tack Susan, youd
better snuggle down now Ill take the mainsheet. Ill
need your help among the islands off Rio Onetwo
threesixseveneight

38

[Susan rests in the bottom of the ship, wrapped in a

blanket]
*
[Titty is now aware of her mistake. She hears the Amazon
approaching, and runs to hide]
Nancy: Watch the boom, Peggy!
[Titty runs back to double check, and then disappears
again]
Peggy: Jolly good idea of theirs, to put lights on the
marks
Nancy: What beats me is how they got here before us!
Peggy: But they went up the river! They must have rowed
like smoke...!
Nancy: Its unbelievable!
Peggy: Hey! Why isnt Swallow in the harbor?
Nancy: They must have left her at the landing place, lit
the lights, and then scooted off to the camp
Peggy: I bet theyll pretend theyve been there for hours
and hours
Nancy: Come on, lets give them a fright!
[Meanwhile Titty sees that Amazon is not being guarded
by anyone, so gets in and rows the boat away, capturing
itmeanwhile, Nancy and Peggy rush up to the Swallows
tents]
Nancy (shouting): Ahoy, Swallows; Swallows, ahoy!
Nancy and Peggy: Ahoy there, Swallows; Swallows, ahoy!
Nancy: Swallows, ahoy!
[Nancy and Peggy run back to the shore and discover that
their boat is gone]

39

Peggy: Where on earth are they? [noticing there is no

Amazon] She must have drifted
Nancy: (to Peggy) You cant have beached her properly!
Peggy: Me? She cant have drifted against the wind
Nancy: Then weve been done theyve outwitted us
Peggy: The Swallows?
Nancy: Who else, you chump-headed galoot!
Peggy: What are we going to do? Were supposed to be in
bedIf we dont go to breakfast in the morning
Nancy: Oh, shut up, Peggy!
*
[John still at sea is counting tacks]
John: Ninety-eight, ninety-nine, a hundred. , about!
John: Onetwo
Roger: Wouldnt Titty have liked this?
Susan (irritated): Liked what?
Roger: Sailing like this in the dark
John: Six, seven, eight, nine
*
[Titty anchors Amazon not far from Cormorant Island
John is still tacking, but suddenly notices something]
John: Fifty-sevenfifty-eightfifty-ninenine
Sixty.sixty-one [he stops and listens]
Susan: Whats the matter?
John: Cant you hear it? The wind in the trees. We must be
near the bank. Quick, Susan lower the sail! Roger,
catch the yard as it comes down!
Roger: Ow!
John: Give me the painter! (He scrambles onto a landingstage]
John: Its a landing-stage, thank goodness.
Audio 10

40

Roger: What are we going to do now?

John: Stay here till first light
Susan: What about Titty?
John: Shes at the camp shell be all right: shes got a
tent
*
[Everyone is now out of position. Titty is in the Amazon,
sleeping in the bottom of the boat. The Amazons are at
the Swallows fire, wrapped in blankets and not very
happy. The Swallows are marooned on a landing-stage on
an island in the middle of the lake and must wait for dawn
before they can carry onAnd everyone is asleep. But
just at this moment, something dramatic happensTitty
wakes up to hear mens voices nearbya boat is
comingin it are two men with a chestthey are
preparing to land on Cormorant Island and hide the chest
there]
*
First Man: We must be near it now
Second Man: Look at the light. Those kids are on the
other island
First Man: Another hundred yards at least
[The boat beaches roughly!]
Second Man: Damn!
First Man: Blast!
First Man (to Second Man): Give us a hand!
[They pick up a large chest which they carry off the boat
onto the island]
Second Man (to First man) I dont see why we couldnt
have taken it with us
[Second Man slips on the stony beach...]

41

Second Man: Ugh! That motorbike

First man: Well bring a car next week
Second Man: Blast: Why didnt you bring a chisel, to
smash it open?
First man: Itll take more than a chiselIts heavy
enough
[Titty is listening] Whatever he keeps in there must be
worth having
Second Man: Come on, then. Lets get away from here.
*
[In the early morning, Swallow is at last coming near
Wildcat Island They spot Amazon]
John: Its Amazon: shes adrift.
Susan: No, shes at anchor...
Roger: Its Amazon, its Amazon!
Susan: Shh!
Susan: They must be asleep
Roger [looking into the boat] Its Titty! Its Titty!
Titty [Waking up and looking round] Ive got her! Ive
got her!
Susan: Hooray, well done!
John: Well done, Titty!
Roger: Hooray! Weve won the war!
[They take down Amazons Jolly Roger flag and sail both
boats to Wildcat Island On Wildcat Island, Nancy and
Peggy have set up a whitish blanket as a sign of
surrender]
*
Nancy: Ahoy Swallows! Ahoy!
Roger: Look!
[Nancy and Peggy run along the shore towards the
landing place]

42

Nancy and Peggy: Ahoy, Swallow!

John: What are they doing?
Titty: Nancy looks like shes dancing with rage! Whats
that thing fluttering there?
Nancy and Peggy: Swallows, ahoy!
Titty: Its one of our blankets
Susan: Theyre surrendering! Its a white flag!
John: It doesnt look very white to me!
Nancy and Peggy: Swallows! Swallows!
Roger: Ready, about!
[Swallow turns]
Nancy: Hurry up!
John [calling to Nancy]: Do you surrender?
Nancy: We jolly well do! But hurry up!
John: No trickery!
Nancy: Honest Pirate!
John: Honest Indian, too?
Nancy: Honest Indian. Honest anything you like; but hurry
up!
Peggy: Were supposed to be in bed!
[John laughs and sails the Swallow over to the harbor
the girls run through the trees across the island]
John: Captain Nancy, which ship is the flagship?
*
Nancy: Swallow is!
Peggy: Yours was a great plan!
Susan (disembarking): It was luck, really!
John: Titty was the real hero!
[Titty looks pleased]
Nancy: By Thunder, Able seaman, I wish you were in my
crew!
[Titty smiles with pleasure]
*

43

Peggy (to Nancy) : Nancy, we must get going!

Nancy: Goodness! I forgot. (to the Swallows) Well see you
later!
Mother says we can come and camp here tonight
Swallows: Bye!
Amazons: Bye!
[Titty passes back to Nancy the captured Amazon flag]
*
Susan (to Roger): Roger, time you were in bed!
Roger: But its tomorrow!
Susan: I dont care if its the day before yesterday! Quick
march! [She pushes him, not unkindly, ashore in in the
direction of the camp]
*
[Mother in her study at Holly Howe. She is writing a letter.
John has come to explain their recent adventures]
John: Mother? I thought I ought to talk to you
[Mother is not very happy with Johns dangerous
adventures]
Mother: Ill say you should. Why were you back so late
last night? You know, after I left Titty, I spent a long time
on the lookout for you
John: We didnt get back till morning
Mother: Oh, the Blacketts made you spend the night?
Poor Titty!
Roger: It wasnt poor Titty at all. She did better than the
rest of us. She captured the Amazon all by herself.
Mother: Where were the Blacketts?
John: On Wildcat Island

44

Mother: And where were you?

John: [after a short pause] Well, we were up the Amazon
riverwhere they liveand it got too dark. We had to
wait until it was light enough to see again.
Mother: Dont you think that was very nearly like being
duffers?
John: WellIt was rather, but it was war and our only
chance.
[Mother is silent] I promise we wont stay out at night
againAnyway theres no need. The wars over and
weve won. And nobody caught a cold or anything.
Mother [more friendly now, impressed by Johns story] All
right. But no ore sailing at night and no more scrapes of
any kind. Weve only got two days left; and I dont want
to hear of any of you getting into any more trouble
*
[A policeman has arrived on Wildcat Island]
Policeman: Names and addresses, please.
John: My name is John Walker.
Policeman: Name: Walker. Address?
John: Here.
Policeman: Where?
John: Here.
Policeman: Now, that wont do. Where do you live?
John: In these tents.
[Captain Flint/Uncle Jim arrives]
Captain Flint: Now look here, stop this nonsense. Youve
gone too far this time. Ive had enough
[The Amazons arrive, clutching sleeping equipment and
camping things]
Nancy: Enough of what, Uncle Jim?
[going up to Nancy and Peggy]
Uncle Jim: What the devil are you doing here?

45

Nancy: What is going on?

Policeman: Now then, Miss Nancy Your uncles
houseboat was burgled last night. He thinks these
children done it.
Nancy: What rot! They never had anything to do with it!
John: We werent even here last nightwe never did
anything!
Susan: The charcoal burners told us to warn you
John: And we rowed over to tell you
Titty: And you wouldnt listen!
Policeman: Well what about that firework burning Mr
Turners roof, theneh?
Nancy: That was us, and not the Swallows
Peggy: You deserved it! You havent spoken to us all
summer because youve been writing your stupid book!
Nancy: They tried to warn you, but you wouldnt listen
and now youve been burgled, it serves you right!
Audio 11 Youve been an awful pig to John!
[A pause. Captain Flint/Uncle Jim walks over to John. He
hesitates a while and then speaks]
*
Captain Flint: Young man, ermits altogether my faultI
should have known you were telling the truth Anyhow, I
should have listened to you Im very sorry
[They shake hands]
John (whispering, almost): Its all right now
[Captain Flint is now having tea with the Swallows and
Amazons]
Captain Flint: What a cross-grained, curmudgeonly idiot [I
was].

46

If Id have listened to Johnmy boat looked as if half a

hundred wildcat had had a scrimmage in it! And of
course they took my cabin trunk!
Titty: Was it a heavy one?
Captain Flint: It was, rather
Titty: Did it have gold ingots in it?
Captain Flint: Afraid not!
Typewriter, diaries, old log books And worst of all, the
book Ive been writing
Titty: About your pirate past?
Captain Flint: Well
Titty: Was it a very good book?
Captain Flint: I doubt itAnd now I might just as well not
have written it!
Nancy: And been more friendly all summer!
Captain Flint (to Nancy) Dont rub it in! [Nancy smiles]
John: I didnt only come to warn you: I came to declare
war on you as well!
Captain Flint: O really? Thats very friendly of you!
Why not do it now better late than never or Ill do it for
you
[He stands up]
Captain Flint: I challenge you to capture my boat at 3 pm
tomorrow afternoon!
[He throws his hat down, the traditional gesture when
making a formal challenge]
Amazons (to the Swallows, shouting): Accept, accept!
Captain Flint (histrionically): Blood and Thunder! Death or
Glory!
Peggy: He can be a jolly good pirate when he wants to
Captain Flint: Well, I must be off
[Titty runs after Captain Flint she wants to tell him
about the treasure hidden on Cormorant Island]

47

Titty: Captain Flint, I know where the treasures hidden!

Captain Flint (faintly): What?
Titty: I heard some pirates burying it last night
John: Steady on, Titty!
Titty: They had a huge box it was very heavy!
Susan: You were dreaming!
Titty: No I wasnt, I heard them
Susan: It was the middle of the night
Titty: Captain Flint, you must believe me: its true!
Captain Flint: I only wish I could. Well Goodbye,
Swallows and Amazons
Children (except Titty) Bye!
[Titty is upset because Captain Flint has not believed her
story]
Titty (finally) Goodbye!
*
[Next morning. Titty emerges from her tent, wakes Roger,
and they row to Cormorant Island]
Titty: Pull harder, Roger!
[Titty rushes onto the island while Roger ties up the boat.
But he trips]
Roger: Ow! My knee!
Titty (returning): Which Knee was it?
Roger: The one which I didnt scrape beforeAt least
not the one which got scraped lastbut the other one
[Titty bandages the scraped kneeShe walks round the
islandOn the far side, she finds a pipeshe inspects it
checks if it is warm.It seems to be still a little warm]
Titty: Roger!
[Roger arrives]
Titty: Look! The treasure must be here I found thisOn
of the pirates must have dropped it

48

Roger topples a tree root by standing on it. Underneath

are some loose stones and the missing treasure box]
Titty: Weve found it! Weve found it!
*
[Final scene. Captain Flint, dressed as a Pirate, fires his
canon. swallow and Amazon sail towards the
houseboat]
John: Lower sail as we come alongside! Grapple and
board him!
Swallow on port side; Amazon on starboard He cant go
for both of us! Fleet will now attack!
Amazons: Amazons forever!
Swallows (shouting ) Kill! Death to Captain Flint!
[Both ships lower their sails and approach the Houseboat
from each sideCaptain Flint fires his canon several
timesThey board the HouseboatCaptain Flint emerges
from below, brandishing two red cushions]
Captain Flint (roaring) : Death or Glory! Man the
cutlasses!
Nancy: Death to Captain Flint! Swallows and Amazons
forever!
[Captain Flint is flying an Elephant flag, the flag of Siam
He flights the children playfully with the red cushions
Nancy jumps off the cabin roof onto Captain Flint and
almost floors him.]
Peggy: Down with the White Elephant!
[She sets about taking down Captain Flints sail Nancy
bangs Captain Flint over the head with a red cushion]
Nancy: Yield!
Captain Flint: Not while my flag flies! Elephants!
Elephants forever!

49

John: Weve won, your flag is struck!

[Children cheerThe Swallow flag has replaced the
Siamese flag on the HouseboatNancy and Titty begin to
tie up Captain Flint. Susan gives him a huge blow with a
red cushion]
Captain Flint: So it is. Well that was quick work. Oh! I
surrender!
Nancy and the Swallows: Bind him, come on, bind him!
Captain Flint: No! [He groans and laughs]
Nancy: Dont laugh!
Peggy: Hands up for making him walk the plank!
[Peggy and Nancy raise their hands immediately. Some
Swallows hesitate]
Nancy: Look here, no weakening now!
Peggy: Its too good a plank to waste!
John: Dont you think we should untie his hands and give
him a chance to swim for it?
(Nancy and Susan nod]
Nancy: All right, we agreeAll hands up! [The children
put their hands up] Bandage his eyes and make him
walk the plank!]
Captain Flint: A clean handkerchief, I hope
Peggy: Mine. Well it was clean yesterday
Captain Flint: o-hoo! Would someone help that pirate
out of my helmet and put it on my head? A last wish!
Audio 12
[Roger has been wearing Captain Flints helmet. Susan
takes it off Rogers head and places it on Captain Flints
head Titty helps Captain Flint reach the plank]
Captain Flint: Whoops! Mercy, mercy!
Nancy: Now walk, you son of a sea dog!

50

[The children guide him to the plank He walks slowly

along it]
Captain Flint: Ohh! [He totters to the end and jumps off
the children cheer His hat floats up]
Titty: Perhaps he cant swim! I never thought of that!
[He emerges, gaspingpulling off the blindfoldthe
Swallows run to their boat, to collect the treasure which
that have brought back for Captain Flint]
Captain Flint (play-acting) Sharks! sharks! The place is
stiff with them! [Roger is amused]
Roger: Are there really sharks there?
Captain Flint: A rope, a rope! [pretending to be bitten by
a shark]
Agh! My foot! [he sinks into the water again]
Roger: Are they ready yet?
[Three Swallows, John, Susan and Titty, raise the treasure
from Cormorant Island which has been in Swallow - on
to the Houseboat Roger runs to the three other
Swallows in the Swallow boat]
Roger: Nancy says are you ready yet?
John: Almost!
[Captain Flint emerges from the water again, paddling to
keep himself up]
Captain Flint: A rope! A rope! You hard-hearted pirates a
rope!!!
Titty: Hes been in the water a good long time
Nancy [Calling down to Captain Flint in the water]: And
youll never be in league with the Natives again?
Captain Flint: Never. A rope!
[The children place the chest the treasure on the
Houseboat]
John: All right, Nancy!

51

Nancy: Well give you a rope

Captain Flint: Id rather have a rope laddertheres one
just there by the springboardI mean the plank. A
rope! Chuck the end over!
[The children help him back on boardNancy smiles at
him]
Captain Flint: Well thats that. even Amazons arent
ruthless enough to make a man walk the plank twice in
one day! Are all my sins forgiven? [Titty nods] If so
after every great sea-battle, theres always a big
banquet! And theres one waiting for youinside!
[All the children cheer]
*
Titty: Captain Flint, weve got a surprise for you!
Captain Flint: And whats that, Able-Seaman?
[He sees the chest, the treasure]
Captain Flint: My book! Goodness me! What a find!
*
[The children are having the feast with Captain Flint on
the Houseboat]
Titty (to the parrot, which is perched on her shoulder)
Say, Pieces of Eight come on, say, pieces of eight!
[The parrot says, Pretty Polly]
Peggy: (to the parrot): Youre not fit to be a pirates
parrot!
[Captain Flint brings some ice creams]
Captain Flint: These ices still seem pretty firm. I think we
ought to start on them straightaway Excuse me. Here
you are, ladiesJohnRoger
[John and Roger say thank you]
Susan: You mustnt eat ices after walking the plank;
theyll give you a chill!

52

Captain Flint [putting down the ice-cream] By Jove, I

suppose I shouldnt
Titty: You did walk the plank most awfully well!
Captain Flint: Practice!
[The children laugh. Captain Flint has put a cake, under a
cover, on the table. He approaches, with a knife to cut
itHe removes the cover. We see a miniature Swallow
and Amazon on the cakeTitty gasps]
Roger: The Swallow and the Amazon!
Captain Flint: Thats what theyre supposed to be!
[He removes the little cake decoration shipswhich have
a miniature Swallow and Amazon flagand gives them to
Roger]
Captain Flint: There you are
[Nancy and Peggy remember that their holiday is now
finishing and that they must go back to school soon]
Peggy: Its jolly well not fair! Its schools and lessons for
us, while you junket about and enjoy all the winter in
Africa.
Captain Flint: Im not enjoying myself. Its really quite a
hard job
Titty: I wish I was going to Africa Id see forests, full of
parrots
Captain Flint: Ill bring you back one. [Titty laughs
delightedly] Which kind do you prefer..?
Titty: I like the green ones best
Captain Flint: Oh, I may as well bring you one all round, if
thats what you want
Roger: No thank you Please may I have a monkey
instead?
Captain Flint: Oh! With or without a tail? Oh, with a tail,
please: the others are only apes [Susan laughs]

53

John: It has been a grand holiday!

But much too short!
Captain Flint: Oh, cheer up. Youre coming back next year,
arent you?
Titty: Next year and for all the other years for ever and
ever
Nancy: Uncle Jim, do play your accordion
Captain Flint: Mn!
*
[Titty is still enjoying talking to the parrot. Nancy is
cutting the huge cake]
Titty: Say, Pieces of Eight just once! Please!
[The parrot says Pieces of Eight once, rapidly]
Nancy: Well, Shiver my timbers!
Peggy: He never said it for us!
*
Captain Flint [returning with his accordion] : I say, Titty, It
is a long time to wait till I come back in the spring Why
not have Polly now? You always said you liked the
green ones!
[Titty looks amazedhesitatesthen double-checks]
Titty: Am I really to take him?
Captain Flint: of course you are! Youve earned him ten
thousand times over!
Titty [delighted, and stroking the parrot in her joy...]
Thank you, thank you so much! [But then she has a
charitable thought]
Titty (considerately) Wont you be very lonely without
him?
Captain Flint: I have to think of him too, you know He is
a young parrot, and its much better for him to be with
young people like you than with an old retired pirate like

54

me [Titty looks round, profoundly touched by this act of

generosity]
Titty (to Peggy) Hes not so very old!
*
Captain Flint: Come along, now: all sing!
[He starts the sea shanty, What Shall we do with the
Drunken Sailor the children gradually join in, forming a
circle, clapping, and stamping their feet The word
early is traditionally pronounced ear-ligh in this song]
What shall we do with the drunken sailor?
What shall we do with the drunken sailor?
What shall we do with the drunken sailor?
Early in the Morning!
Hooray! And up she rises!
Hooray! And up she rises!
Hooray! And up she rises!
Early in the Morning!
*
[Swallow and Amazon cast off from the Houseboat, as
Captain Flint continues the melody; then segueing into a
Sea Shanty, in a more tuneful keyas the children sail
away, with the parrot as a trophy in his cage, covered by
an old piece of cloth made from curtain. The music
fades into the title end sequence and the conclusion of
the film, showing Swallows and Amazons sailing
splendidly, in marvelous wind and sunshine, on Lake
Coniston]
FINIS

55

Screenplay by David Wood contact webpage does not

function
Film (1974): details here

This transcription has been made in line with fair use of

extant educational material; and with a particular desire
to provide enlightenment to students abroad about
English history, geography, habits and traditions!
Further developments will be published on
www.scribd.com/MFMSmith and martin english.co.uk

56

Martin Smith,
Bolnisi, 6 January 2014
I have greatly benefited from reading the current deluge
of material on this subject by Sophie Neville, who plays
Titty in the 1974 film