Plot summary
During the French Revolutionary Wars in 1797, Captain Crawford commands the frigate HMS Defiant. His humane treatment of the crew puts him at odds with his first officer, Lieutenant Scott-Padget, a sadistic officer who believes Crawford is too soft. Scott-Padget has powerful family connections and has beached two previous commanding officers, so Crawford feels unable to stop him. To gain leverage over the captain, Scott-Padget torments Crawford's son, a young midshipman named Harvey Crawford, with repeated harsh punishments. Meanwhile, seaman Vizard leads part of the crew in preparing a written petition for better conditions, part of a fleet-wide movement that insists violence must be no part of it. Scott-Padget's continuing cruelty makes that peaceful aim difficult.
Cast
- David Robinsonas Harvey Crawford
