Page 33

on May 11, 2022
Chapter:

Chapter 5 opens with some fundamental misunderstandings about how the lay system works. If you’d like to be more equipped than Mr. Nelson about the ins and outs of how pay worked, please read my blog post : here: !

↓ Transcript
Panel 1 [Establishing shot of the docks at morning, little patches of snow melting in the corners in the rising sun. In the foreground a storm petrel is perched on a barrel, and in the background the Valor bobs in the harbor. There is a bustle around her as people are loading supplies on board, and a line of men stands clustered by the dock]

Panel 2 [Shot over the shoulders of these men waiting to sign on to the ship, is Hanshaw seated at a makeshift table over a logbook.]

HANSHAW:
You get $75 for joining up, Mr. Nelson, and we’ll mark you down for the 180th lay.

Panel 3 [Camera shifts to show the man Hanshaw is speaking to, SAMUEL NELSON, (standing on the other side of the table who is looking angry. Hanshaw looks up at him passively, almost suspiciously.]

SAMUEL:
180th?

HANSHAW:
You take issue with this?

SAMUEL:
Yes I take issue with this. I want 200.

HANSHAW:
…The…200th lay?

Panel 5 [Samuel stands resolute with his arms crossed. A boatsteerer--WILLIAM WILLIAMS--in line behind Samuel, leans around him, trying to interrupt negotiation, but Hanshaw snaps his fingers and cuts William off]

SAMUEL:
I won’t take any less.

WILLIAM:
Mate, that’s not how it wor—

HANSHAW:
Hush, man. You and I be not yet in conversation with one another.