The Silver Darlings

-NARRATOR:

-'In the early years of last century,

'people of the Highlands of Scotland were brutally evicted

'from their small farms or crofts

'by landlords who found they could make more money out of sheep.

'Their ancient homes in the glens were destroyed

'and the crofters were driven to the barren seashores.

'On the these wild, rock-bound coasts,

'they had to turn for a living to a new and treacherous element.

'The sea.

'Many were the perils they encountered,

'from the press gang that hunted them

'to the cholera that swept their land.

'But their spirit was indomitable.

'Through storm and loss,

'with humour and grim power,

'they fought on.'

LAUGHTER

Look! There's your mother, Finn!

Whee! Whee! Whoa!

What have you got there, Tormad?

It's our first catch! Ha-ha!

Maybe it won't be our last, eh?

Mother will let you out, Finn.

No, you'll not let my luck out of the net! Come on, son!

LAUGHTER

Tormad! >

We are waiting! >

That's Angus. I'll need to be going.

I'll have to go, Catrine.

All right, then.

Very well, that's fine.

Why don't you go?

-Catrine, won't you give me your blessing?

-Why don't you go?

-Catrine...

-Go! Go, I tell you.

Catrine, listen to me. There is nothing here.

Nothing in this barren piece of land for us.

We must get food, my own one. You know that.

I'm frightened, Tormad.

I have a terrible fear the sea's going to take you.

Oh, nonsense, Catrine.

That's because you saw two men swept off the rock.

But we don't have to fish from the rock now. I have a boat.

I am so afraid.

Hey, Tormad, come on! >

Come, now. I have to go.

Tormad, don't go!

Why are you behaving like this?

Father?

Can I go with you, Father?

You'll not go with him.

The sea shall never get you.

-You're the lucky one, Tormad.

-Lucky?

To have such a woman to come back to.

Why don't you find one yourself?

Find me a woman like Catrine?

What are we waiting for? Angus, come on.

BIRDS CRY

Look, there's Finn!

Father!

A seaman told me the fish would take with the turn of the tide

and the grey of the morning.

It's grey enough now.

Aye, and my stomach's turning, let alone the tide.

-The buoy, look!

-Think you it's herring?

It is! What else? Herring!

Herring! Yes, it's a silver one!

-Ha-ha!

-We've done it!

Pull in, pull in!

Ha-ha!

Quickly, quickly!

-Pull it in, pull it in!

-Both hands or we'll be in the sea!

Look!

A ship.

A man o' war.

Good! Get the net in.

-Maybe they'll buy the herring.

-Fire!

CANNON IS FIRED

That doesn't sound like buying fish.

-A boat is coming this way.

-Let them come.

Ahoy, there!

Pay no attention. The sea belongs to no man.

Ahoy, there!

They threw us off the land, but they can't throw us off the sea.

In the King's name, I command you

to come alongside His Majesty's ship of war

and present yourselves to the commander.

I'll give him "present yourself"!

Steady, Angus, steady.

Out oars!

Make way together!

A boat!

It's Tormad's.

It's empty.

-What has happened?

-Maybe it was the press-gang.

-How long will they be gone?

-It may be 10 years.

It may be 20.

We'll never see them again.

I'm going away.

I can't bear it any longer.

Everything reminds me of Tormad.

But where will you go?

To Aunt Kirsty's.

What will happen to my son's croft?

And to the little one?

It's many a long, weary mile to Dunster.

I'll leave Finn here for a while.

Maybe, one fine day, Tormad will come back from the sea

and what if you're not here waiting for him?

Listen to me, Catrine. Stay here a while longer.

No, no. Really, believe me, I can't.

Oh, well.

Each of us must take our own lonely road.

Argh!

Wait! Hey!

Wait, I tell you!

Wait!

I'll not eat you!

Ha-ha, ha-ha!

Ha-ha, ha-ha!

Ha-ha, ha-ha!

Ha-ha!

You seem frightened.

I was frightened.

-You're a stranger here.

-Yes, I walked from Helmsdale.

Walked? You'd better step along with me to my croft

and have some food and rest.

No, thanks. I must be getting on.

Could I be asking where to?

-To Kirsty Mackay's. She's my aunt.

-Is she now?

Well, I know her. I'll step back the road with you, if I may.

Oh, no, thank you. I'll not be troubling you.

Going your way would not be troubling me.

HE SINGS A TUNE

Have you been to Dunster before?

-Yes, once.

-Have you now? I don't ever remember seeing you.

Oh, it was just for the day.

-Ach, well, then I must've been away at sea.

-I was only eight at the time.

Well, I still think I must've been away at sea.

HE HUMS A TUNE

-I hear they've started the fishing at Helmsdale.

-Yes.

Wasn't it from round there that some of the lads were press-ganged?

What is it?

My husband was one of them.

I'm sorry.

It's all right.

What place is this?

It's an old religious place. We call it the House of Peace.

The House of Peace.

The House of Peace.

-You like the name?

-It's a beautiful name.

One, two.

HE WHISTLES THE SAME TUNE

That's Kirsty's croft.

Thank you.

What's your name?

Catrine.

It's a beautiful name. Mine's Roddie.

You are safe now.

-Goodbye.

-Goodbye.

Thank you.

RODDIE SINGS

Is it Catrine?

Catrine, my little one.

Is it yourself? And come to see me.

Oh, Kirsty!

You remembered old Kirsty.

My sweet one.

Happy am I to see you this day.

I had such a longing to come and see you.

Indeed, and why shouldn't you?

-And did you walk all the way?

-Yes.

And tired it is you must be.

Ha-ha!

Oh, it's you!

Are you too busy to see a fellow passing?

There's one.

Now I know who leaves the fish on our doorstep.

Kirsty's fond of a bit of fish.

I'll step across with you, if I may.

Oh, careful now.

-Are you liking our part of the country?

-Oh, yes, indeed.

Oh, it's very nice, but...

But you're homesick for Helmsdale?

Is that it?

Well, no, no. Indeed I'm not.

-I like it here, but if only...

-If only he were here.

-Yes.

I've haven't seen my little boy for three months.

Your little boy? Where is he?

He's with his granny in Helmsdale.

Ach, so that's what's worrying you!

And what if I brought him from Helmsdale one of these days?

Oh, I'd give my life to have him here.

Well, there's little more one can be asking of you.

-What, you again?

-Aye, me and the fish.

-Not so good for fishing today, eh?

-Not so bad.

What have you got this time - haddocks?

-Aye, a couple of flounders.

-You know what I like.

-Thruppence, is it?

-If it's not too much.

Well, it's a lot of money!

Ah, just the man I want!

Come on, man.

Now, sit down.

I was in Wick yesterday, great news, tremendous excitement!

-Is Napoleon dead?

-Napoleon, ha!

We dealt with him.

-Do you know what the government's going to do?

-No.

They're going to pass a bill through Parliament

allowing a bounty of four shillings

on every barrel of herring cured on the coast.

Four shillings! RODDIE WHISTLES

Up until now, the Dutch have had it all their own way,

but now we'll do the fishing and the curing!

Here's your three pence, Roddie.

Threepence? Threepence! Get out, woman! You and your thruppence!

Here I am telling a man how we're all going to make our fortune

and you go blathering about thruppence.

What, fish again? Where did you get it?

-From Roddie Sinclair.

-Mm-hm.

Funny, for a long time we hadn't had fish

and now we have fish every other day.

Yesterday, I bought a boat and gear - the Morning Star.

20 feet overall. She's lying in Wick, all ready to be taken up.

And she's yours to skipper.

Pick your own crew and bring her round.

Well, what do you say to that?

Well...

Come on, man! Can't you say anything else but, "Well?!"

Wake up, man! We're living in great times!

-I'll have a word with the lads about it.

-Fine!

Now for terms.

Now, there are two ways of making our bargain.

First, I'll own the boat and take one half of the earnings.

The other half, you'll divide between yourself and your crew,

taking a larger share for yourself, of course.

-Yes, well, that's fair enough.

-The second way is this.

I'll make the boat over to you at the same price I paid for her.

Now, a cran makes a little more than a barrel.

I'll draw the government bounty on the barrel

and you'll sell your catch to me at seven shillings the cran.

Well, come on, man. Which is it to be?

-I don't know.

-Well, speak your mind, man!

I'd like to own her.

That's the spirit! Here, mind your dram!

The trouble is, I haven't got enough money to pay for the boat.

Well, pay me some now and owe me the rest.

-I've got £7.

-No.

I'll not take the seven.

I'll take £6.10s and you can bring it down tonight.

This is your chance, our chance! And we're going to take it!

Now, Roddie Sinclair,

are you willing to take on the Morning Star on those terms,

and use me as your curer in Dunster?

I will.

THEY SPIT

The Morning Star, what a sight!

I can smell the big money from here!

Come on, boys, we'll put her through her paces

all the way to Helmsdale and back.

What's taking you to Helmsdale? A new girl?

No, picking up a new member of the crew.

Well, Finn, do you like being at sea?

Yes.

RODDIE LAUGHS

-Quite sure you wouldn't rather be with your granny?

-No.

Oh, you wouldn't? You hear that, Rob?

We'll have to keep a place for him in the boat.

-Are you all right, Finn?

-Yes.

Mother!

Oh, Finn! Oh, my Finn!

There you are, I brought him for you.

I've got Father's hat.

RODDIE LAUGHS

-How did you bring him?

-We came by sea, didn't we?

-Yes.

-You brought him in a boat?!

-Yes, he's a grand little sailor.

We're going to sail together one of these days, aren't we, Finn?

You wouldn't dare!

Here, get these nets aboard. Where's Roddie?

-Aren't you going to sea tonight?

-Aye, we're all ready.

The skipper will be round in good time.

Catrine, I want to have a word with you.

You gave me a fright. What is it?

Well... I...

I...

I came to have a word with you about what happened this afternoon,

-about young Finn.

-Oh, I see.

If I'd known that you didn't want to bring him by sea,

I wouldn't have brought him.

I should have thanked you before for bringing him,

but I was so upset.

-He's a grand little fellow.

-Yes.

I'm so happy to have him with me

and I am very grateful to you for bringing him.

Grateful.

-You said you'd give your life.

-Yes.

No, you don't understand! What I meant was...

Mother!

I must go now.

-Goodbye.

-Goodbye.

Finn, why don't you go to sleep?

Thank you.

What's her name, Roddie? Who shall we drink to?

To the silver darlings!

-ALL:

-The silver darlings!

We're well on the way.

We'll make this coast the biggest herring centre in the world.

Bigger boats, bigger stores and curing stations.

Where's all the money coming from?

From the landlords - who else?

I doubt it, knowing the landlords!

It'll be a goldmine to them.

Think what it would mean - ten shilling on every croft rent.

They wouldn't stop at ten shillings.

The rents would go up and up until we couldn't pay them.

Then we'd be turned out,

just as our folks were turned out, BURNED out,

when the landlords found they could make more money out of sheep.

Not this time, Roddie.

This time, the landlords will find it pays to build stores

and curing yards. It will pay them if men fish.

I don't know, I don't think so.

-NARRATOR:

-'Today, the harbour is empty.

'Stagnation and despondency all around.

'The only thing that can save us is work.

'But we will succeed.

'We will make this coast a beehive of industry.

'We will build bigger boats, bigger gutting stations,

'we will get enormous quantities of herring,

'we will salt them, pack them into barrels

'and, by their thousands, these barrels will be shipped abroad.

'The great herring fleet will haul wealth out of the sea.

'A stream of silver herring out

'and, from Hamburg, from the Baltic,

'from Russia, from all over the world,

'a stream of silver money back...

'..to us.'

Aye, it's 12 years since the first herring boat

sailed from this port with Captain Roddie in full command.

You, my friend, have made plenty money. No?

I manage to feed the cat!

It is these ten years I come here now

and the herrings are like nowhere else. Wunderbar!

So, you're 16 today. Well! This calls for a celebration!

Ah, Roddie, man! Roddie, how are you? How are you? And you, Finn?

Come and have a drink. Come and have a drink, here you are.

Right on time! He's 16 today.

16 today! We must drink to that.

There you are, and Finn.

-ALL:

-Slainte!

Well, you'll be going to sea soon, my boy.

-Yes, Mr Hendry, I'd like fine to go to sea.

-Ah, that's the spirit!

Have you got a place in the boat for Finn?

Well, it's difficult.

-You see...

-No, I don't see! Come on, speak your mind, man!

It's Catrine. She won't hear of it.

Roddie, man! I'm surprised at you!

Women are always the same.

Where would I be today if I had listened to my wife?

Finn, my lad, let me give you a piece of good advice.

You go your own way.

And don't pay any heed to what the women say.

John, come here. I want a word with you.

I-I-I'm coming.

I'll be back.

Once you promised me a place in your boat. Do you remember?

I won't forget. Let me have another word to your mother about it.

RODDIE SINGS

-What have you two been doing?

-Celebrating Finn's birthday.

Well, Finn doesn't seem too happy about it.

-Oh, don't worry, he's all right.

-Oh, of course I'm all right!

He's been drinking!

No, no, no, two or three drops to celebrate, nothing at all.

I'm going to sea!

-What?!

-I'm old enough now and I'm going!

You're not going to sea, do you hear me?

If the boy wants to go, you'll never stop him!

I will stop him! He's my son! I tell you, I'll never let you go to sea.

-And I tell you I will go!

-Finn!

There's a place in Roddie's boat and I'm going!

Be sensible, Catrine. You can't expect to keep him at home

when all the other lads are going to sea.

The other lads are not my sons, they can do as they wish,

but Finn won't go, not if I can help it.

-Give him your blessing and let him go.

-No! Never!

You know what the sea did to me 12 years ago.

I've been to sea for many a long year and I've come to no harm.

You've come to no harm!

And every time you've sailed and the wind rose,

I lay awake, listening, with fear in my heart.

Don't touch me.

You know I care for Finn...

just as you know I love you, Catrine.

Yes, Roddie.

It's been a long 12 years. Why do you go on making yourself unhappy?

Tormad will never come back.

I don't know, I don't know!

And the years pass - our years, yours and mine.

Oh, Roddie... What will I do?

Marry me, Catrine?

I can't.

I can't!

It's the pack man! It's the old pack man himself!

-Now we shall have some presents!

-LAUGHTER

Well, man, where do you come from and what's the news?

I have come from over the Ord of Caithness.

What, with this on your back?!

Lord, are the people in the great south so poor

they couldn't buy the goods in your pack?

They have the money.

They also have...

a terrible and mysterious visitor.

I have fled from before him.

You didn't run far with that on your back!

Tell me, who is this mysterious visitor?

Death.

Death?

There's no mystery.

This death is...

Suddenly, you grow cold,

you turn blue and senseless...

..and in two days,

you are dead.

A report has just arrived by special messenger from the north

that a further outbreak of cholera

has occurred in the county of Caithness.

You see, gentlemen...

cholera travels fast.

The victims of the disease

are in the neighbourhood of 40 cases per thousand lives,

with a death rate of 20 deaths per thousand.

I suggest, Dr Sutherland,

that you leave for Thurso with the night coach.

A final word to you before you go.

You will undoubtedly meet with a great deal of opposition

from local prejudice and superstition.

The people are burning infected houses.

This must be stopped at once.

Left to me, my lad, I'd take you, but you know what your mother says.

-I've got to go some day, haven't I?

-Well, I'm not stopping you, am I?

Look who's here. Lucky for you, my lad, you weren't on the boat.

-When are you putting out?

-About an hour or so. Why?

Take Finn with you.

Did you say take Finn with me?

On a...boat?

-You'll go, Finn? I've brought your coat.

-Yes, I'll go, I'm ready.

Why this sudden change? What's happened?

Never mind now, Roddie. Please take him and go. Go now.

But he'll need food.

-We'll be out for some days.

-Some days?!

That's fine.

I've put food in the coat pocket. If you're ready now, you can go.

There's nothing to keep you waiting, is there?

Catrine, what is all this about?!

You'll look after him, won't you?

Goodbye, Finn.

Goodbye, Roddie.

"Goodbye, Roddie, goodbye, Finn."

She can't get us off to sea quick enough!

Go on, jump onboard before she changes her mind!

THEY LAUGH

THEY SING A SOLEMN HYMN

There is but one thing to do now.

HYMN CONTINUES

Hey! Look!

-What is it?

-It's fire. Houses are burning.

The whole coast seems to be afire.

We'd better get back and see what it is.

Turn around, Rob, head for home.

So that's why your mother wanted you to go to sea.

Come on!

Roddie! Look!

It's the plague!

-You mustn't go in.

-Why?

-Don't you realise, the plague is in the house?

I'm going in, I'm not afraid.

It's locked. I'll break it in.

No, you're not going in. If anyone must go in, I will.

You?! Why should you go in? She's my mother! What is she to you?

Mother!

Go away and leave me alone, I'll be all right.

But what can I do?

There's nothing to do.

We must do something!

Listen, Finn, there is a doctor in Thurso, I'm going to get him.

Let me go! I know the way! I'll take the pony!

A pony!

Right, quick, quick! Hurry!

Catrine, open the door! Open the door, Catrine!

Go away, Roddie!

Stand clear of the door!

-Catrine, are you all right?

-Yes, I'm all right, but Kirsty has it.

-Then you must come away.

-Someone must look after her.

-I can't leave her alone. I must stay with her.

-I'll stay with you.

-No.

-No, Roddie, please!

-All right.

A doctor will be here before morning.

If you need me, I'll be here outside.

Where's Finn?

You'll never keep that boy from the sea.

If you wish him well, don't try.

You'll put the boy against his nature and you'll lose him.

Remember that.

Remember that.

Am I right for Thurso?

-Where have you come from?

-Dunster.

Go back in.

Keep right on over the hill and you'll come to Thurso.

-Well, what is it, then?

-This young man wants to see you, sir.

-All right.

-What's the matter with you?

-Sir, I come from Dunster.

My mother is in the house with my Aunt Kirsty.

There is a plague in the house. What will we do?

Kirsty!

CATRINE SOBS

Roddie said that you were the doctor

who could help us against the trouble.

Roddie said... Oh, yes, yes.

Well, we'll see what we can do.

Now, tell me, has any doctor been visiting Dunster?

No, but there is a man who does doctors' work.

Indeed, and who is this man?

-The shoemaker.

-Oh, the shoemaker.

It's inside you'll need it, man, not outside.

Well, maybe a drop of what you take yourself, mister, will not be wasted.

This is not the time nor the place to be making frivolous remarks.

That will take the nails out of your boots. Next!

You go first. If you drop dead, I'll catch you.

Come on. Open your mouth.

Lizzie, get my bag, will you? I'm off to Dunster at once,

before my colleague the shoemaker kills off the entire community.

-Yes, sir.

-Thank you.

Now they've taken Kirsty away,

there's nothing left to do but to burn the old place down.

There must be some other way.

Don't give in, Mother! I've brought you the doctor from Thurso!

Finn! He's back!

Finn, my darling!

SHE GASPS Catrine!

What is it? What's the matter? Catrine!

Catrine, my darling...

We won't have to burn the house!

Catrine!

Doctor...

Where's Mother?

-She's ill! Where's the doctor?

-He's coming!

-Doctor! Doctor!

-Yes, yes, yes. Here I am.

Thank you.

Now, let's see.

Is it the fever?

I came just in time.

But there's no need to worry.

-I'd like some water, please.

-Yes.

-I want fresh water.

-I'll get fresh water.

-Is there anything I can do, Doctor?

-No.

She'll be as right as rain in about... Well, a few days.

Thank you.

That's enough.

Take this, come on.

Come on, all of it.

That's better.

Give her those powders three times a day.

The important thing is boil all clothing.

Remove all furniture into the open air.

Wash and scrub everything.

I don't think he'll ever have to travel 30 miles again, eh?

We've completely broken the scourge.

Goodbye.

I had a word with the schoolmaster this morning.

He said you were always clever at your lessons.

He could teach you Latin.

The 40 sovereigns Kirsty left us would be enough

to send you to the university at Aberdeen.

That's what he said.

He asked me to talk it over with you and let him know.

What do you think, Finn?

I want to be a skipper.

All right, Finn. I'll not stand in your way, you must know that.

The money is yours for whatever you need.

Oh, Mother! Thanks!

Hooray!

From Dunster, north about, through the Pentland Firth

and away to Stornoway. That's your course, Roddie.

And you'll be the first boat to sail from this coast round to the west.

It will be two months before the herring season starts here

and if you can prove there is an early season in the west,

then you'll double everything for all of us.

It's into the unknown you go.

It's a great new adventure.

A lot depends on you, Roddie.

I'll do my best.

Who is it?

Angus Macrae!

Yes, Catrine. Angus.

I sailed with your man, Tormad, 12 years ago.

Tormad. Is he...?

He'll never come back.

He died at sea.

He died at sea.

Yes.

He'll never come back.

WIND HOWLS

-Callum looks far through.

-Pass him some water.

-Can I have a draught?

-No, Finn boy, there's none to spare.

Let's keep the water for Callum.

Three days we've been at sea now and still no sign of land.

Where do you think we are?

Seems to me we're heading straight into the Atlantic.

Fine, were heading for America!

There's nothing to do but... ride with weather.

Keep on bailing!

Come on, Finn boy, get at it! Keep on!

It's land! Look, boys! It's land!

Stand by! Stand by, boys, it's land!

It's a fearsome-looking place. Maybe we'd better go away again.

I wonder if there's any water up there.

Let go the anchor.

Where are we? What island is this?

I don't know, Callum boy.

-Sheep! There must be water up there!

-Yes.

-I could go up.

-No-one is going to climb that cliff.

If you land me, I'll climb it.

You heard what I said.

We must get water! You know that!

You're not going to climb that cliff. I'm responsible for you.

-Responsible?! Who to?!

-Never mind who to!

As long as I'm the skipper of this boat...

-I can climb that cliff, I tell you!

-Well, it's too dangerous.

Callum needs water! You must let me go up!

He won't last much longer!

All right. You'd better go.

-I'll bring her in stern first. Look out for rocks below.

-I'm ready.

Now, when she comes up, jump.

Careful...

Here she comes.

Right-oh, good luck!

The buoy!

I'll bring you a special!

He's done it!

You wouldn't be hearing anything yet awhile, Catrine.

It's a long way to Stornoway.

I don't trust the sea.

You trust Roddie. And don't you go worrying about Finn either.

He's sailing under the best skipper in the north.

Roddie will look after him like a father.

SEABIRDS CRY

-SHOUTS:

-Hey-ho-o-o-o-o-o!

WIND GUSTS

There he is!

He's lost his hold!

I'm going up to get him.

Get ready on the oars, Rob.

Back her in.

I'll hold her.

Can you see me, Finn? I'm right above you.

Yes!

There's a rope coming down. Get your leg into it.

Ready!

Ready? All right!

Down you go!

-Are you all right, Finn?

-Of course I'm all right.

Didn't even break your neck or something?

-I broke nothing, but he nearly did!

-What?

-Eggs!

-Eggs?!

-Yes, eggs! Here, catch.

Go on, catch.

THEY LAUGH

-NARRATOR:

-'Once more they steered their little boat,

'without chart, without compass,

'into the grim, grey vastness of the North Atlantic Ocean,

'west and further west,

'towards the lonely Hebrides and Stornoway.

'Then, at last, success.

'They found what they wanted -

'a second season.'

Herring! Herring! Herring!

THEY LAUGH

Come on, you beauties!

Heave! Why, it's a sight I'd near forgotten!

My silver darlings!

My agent writes to tell me

of our great success fishing on the west coast.

This is great news indeed!

Instead of one fishing season a year, now we have two.

It proves what one boat can do.

Next season, I'll send 20 boats.

It's beautiful. It's lovely.

-So, you did think of your mother?

-You look fine.

Aren't you going to wear it?

Wear it?! No, it's much too pretty to wear!

Finn... There's something I want to tell you.

JOYFUL SINGING OUTSIDE

While you were away, an old friend of your father's came to see me.

You've heard me speak of Angus?

Angus? The man who sailed with Father?

Yes. He was with him in the boat when they were taken away.

He was with him when he died.

Father is dead.

I must see this man, Angus.

THEY SING A JAUNTY TUNE

When we went fishing, the last glimpse your father had was of you.

Suddenly, we saw a ship, a man o' war.

We were taken.

You scum!

MEN LAUGH

-Name?

-Stand to attention when you're spoken to!

Angus!

-Put that man in irons!

-Me?!

THEY LAUGH

And that's how he died.

A fine man was Tormad.

You can be proud of him.

Aye. And he was my father.

SINGING DROWNS SPEECH

-There is Angus now, talking to Finn.

-Oh, so that's Angus.

-I'd like to have a word with him.

-Oh, no, not now. Some other time.

All right.

Aye, it does the heart good to see the world young once more.

Are you feeling it in your feet, Donald?

Aye, I feel the youth of the world in my feet!

Aye, but could you dance now?

-I could not!

-That's the spirit!

-Have a drink!

-Oh, no, I've had enough.

-All right, give me a small one.

-Small one, man?!

Do you not understand that we're living in the midst of great doings?

Our lads are showing an example to the rest of the world.

THEY CHEER AND WHOOP

-Aye, you're a bit slow!

-No, it's the music that is too fast!

SINGING, WHOOPING AND LAUGHTER

THEY WHOOP

Look. There is a halo around the moon.

That means a storm.

Och, it's nothing to be frightened of.

I always fear when the gale is arising.

Still being frightened!

You know, you were being frightened the first morning I met you.

-Do you remember that day by the old house of peace?

-Yes.

You said Catrine was a beautiful name.

I did.

But you've changed since then, you know.

-Have I?

-Oh, yes.

You're more beautiful now.

I loved you the first moment I set eyes on you.

And I shall love you till I die.

Will you marry me, Catrine?

Yes, Roddie. I'll marry you.

We'll have a wedding fit for a king and queen.

Here's to the best skipper in the north and to his new mate!

Hey, Finn, who is going to be best man at the wedding?

What are you talking about?

Roddie is a smart one.

He picked the prettiest lassie on the coast

and little Finn didn't know it.

Here's to Roddie Sinclair and his best catch, sweet Catrine.

LAUGHTER

What are you laughing at, you fool? It's a lie!

You don't understand, you're drunk!

# Roddie now has got his lass

# Catrine has her laddie-oh

# Everyone should happy be

-# Then there's nothing... #

-Stop it, stop it!

Hey, Finn! Take it easy!

Keep your chin up, lad.

It's not true, do you hear me? It's not true!

Of course it's not true, they were just having their fun.

-But I tell you it's not true!

-Well, you'll never know.

HE LAUGHS

Well, if it is true,

I'll never speak to Roddie again as long as I live.

# Roddie now has got his lass Catrine has her laddie-oh... #

SINGING CONTINUES

Oh, Finn, I'm so glad you're back. I've got something to...

What's the matter with you, Finn?

What's the matter with me?! Nothing.

Oh...

Finn! Finn, I want to speak to you!

-Eat your breakfast, Finn.

-I don't want it.

Finn, I've something to tell you.

Roddie has asked me to marry him.

It's nothing to me what you do.

Hey, Finn!

Good morning, Catrine.

Good morning, Roddie.

I called to see if you wanted any peat cutting.

-Peat?! Well, you know we've got plenty of peat!

-Oh.

That wasn't why you called, was it?

-No. Not exactly.

-What, then?

To give you this.

It's real silver.

-A silver ring!

-It's very old. It was my grandmother's.

Well...aren't you going to put it on for me?

Now you are promised.

-Yes.

-Did you tell Finn?

-Yes, I spoke to him this morning.

-What did he say?

He rushed out of the house without saying anything

and slammed the door behind him.

Oh, so that's why he passed me without a word, looking like murder.

I can't think what's happened to him lately.

I can't do anything with him these days.

-He needs a man to take him in hand.

-Oh, no, I couldn't bear it

if there were any trouble between you and Finn.

There'll be no trouble, Catrine.

Rest your mind easy on that.

I wonder what's keeping the skipper.

Hey, Finn, where's Roddie?

How should I know where he is?

-Everything shipshape?

-Everything is shipshape.

Where's that creel?

Hey, Finn, throw that creel down.

-Is that the way to handle a creel?

-Handle it yourself!

Watch your step, young man.

Looks like we're going to have a good trip to Stornoway!

Can it be there's no more fish in the sea?

Come on, boys, get those nets in quicker.

Come on, come on, get them in and we'll make for Stornoway.

-Have one yourself.

-Thanks.

-When are you leaving Stornoway, mister?

-Turn of the tide.

Glad I'll be to see the back of you, with your fights and brawls.

Six bottles smashed last night.

It's killing somebody you'll be, one of these days.

Not for the first time. Have a drink?

I don't drink with murderers.

Well, good luck to you and a fair wind back to Helmsdale.

The smart east-coasters(!)

They've been out for days and what do you think they've caught?

Nothing! Not one fish!

LAUGHTER

Whisky.

It's not every day you see a skipper who can't catch fish!

LAUGHTER

Hey, sailor, that'll be enough from you!

If it isn't my old friend Finn!

Come and have a drink, my lad. Come on.

You will be tired, pulling in no fish.

You see, Finn, my lad, when you go after herring,

you've got to have a skipper who knows his job.

It's no good just sitting in a boat wearing a skipper's cap.

That's the trouble with you east-coasters.

You haven't got anyone who knows anything about the sea.

When I sailed with your father, I sailed with a real skipper.

A real skipper.

Not one who stole their girl when better men were out of the way.

-Stop them!

-Let them fight it out.

ANGUS GROANS

All right, come on, all of you.

It's the truth he was speaking and you know it!

-CATRINE:

-'I couldn't bear it

'if there were any trouble between you and Finn.'

Skipper(!)

JEERING AND LAUGHTER

Looking bad. Glad you got back before the weather broke.

Look at those clouds! There's a storm brewing up!

Finn, what are you doing in that boat? Where's Roddie?

-I left him in Stornoway.

-Why did you leave the Morning Star?

There's no room for Roddie and me in the same boat.

Why are you behaving like this?!

Stop behaving like a child! You're a man now!

-It's coming up fast.

-We'll never get through this storm!

There's too much weight in the boat.

It's herring that's weighing us down.

That will have to go. Dump the fish.

-But, Roddie, if the herring goes...

-What did I tell you?

Dump the fish!

Dump the lot!

A boat!

FRANTIC KNOCKING

A boat! She's in trouble!

-SCREAMS:

-Roddie!

She's on the rocks! She's finished! Not a chance!

-What boat is it?

-The Morning Star!

-Lower the ropes down!

-It's useless, they're too far out!

Give me the ropes, I'm going down!

Finn, please, Finn!

WOMEN SING A HYMN

Don't give in, Roddie!

I'm all right, Finn!

LAUGHTER

Well, well, now I'll get the other lads up.

-Is Finn safe?

-Yes, he's safe.

There he is!

You did well, son.

-Och, it was nothing.

-Thanks.

-NARRATOR:

-'And so, through storm and tragedy,

'they measured their strength and courage against the sea.

'As season followed season, they sent out bigger boats

'and built bigger curing stations.

'The people once driven from the land to the sea,

'by tenacity and hard work,

'succeeded in making that rock-bound coast of Scotland

'the herring mistress of the world!'