Ben quotes from Pocahontas (1995)

These are not men like us, but strange beasts with bodies that shine like the sun, and weapons that spout fire and thunder. They prowl the earth like ravenous wolves, consuming everything in their path.

Ben

It can look like Ratcliffe's knickers, for all I care, just as long as we get off this stinkin' boat!

Ratcliffe

I'd help you to dig, boys, but I've got this crick in me spine.

You must choose your own path.

Ratcliffe

They're not like you and me, which means they must be evil!!!

Ben

Watch your feet, you big oaf!

Lon

It wasn't me! It was the tree.

In sixteen hundred seven (1607) / We sail the open sea / For glory, God and gold / And the Virginia Company / For the New World is like heaven / And we'll all be rich and free / Or so we have been told / By the Virginia Company / So we have been told / By the Virginia Company / For glory, God and gold / And the Virginia Company

Ready to hoist the cannon? Aye!

Lon

Hey look. Is that Smith?

Ben

That's him, all right. The old sea dog.

Thomas

Captain John Smith? I've heard amazing stories about him.

Lon

Are you coming on this voyage, too?

Ben

Of course he is, you half-wit! You can't fight Indians without John Smith!

John Smith

That's right. I'm not about to let you boys have all the fun.

On the beaches of Virginny / There's diamonds like debris / There's silver rivers flow / And gold you pick right off a tree / With a nugget for my Winnie / And another one for me / And all the rest'll go / To the Virginia Company / It's glory, God and gold / And the Virginia Company

Full anchor release!

Come on, lads, come on!

Give me a hand, someone!

Watch out!

Faster! She's taking up more water!

Look out!

Thomas

John! Get down here! The cannons are breaking loose!

John Smith

Reef the topsails!

Aye, sir!

John Smith

Steady on the course. It’s all right, Thomas. We'll get her tied off.

Say your prayers, lad!

Look out!

Oh no!

John Smith

Thomas, watch out!

Thomas

Help!
Settler in Crow's Nest: Man overboard!

Thomas

Help!

Ben

Stay your course. He's lost.

Thomas

Help!

John Smith

Pull the pin!

Aye, sir!

Ben

Smith! Smith! Are you crazy?

John Smith

Hang on, Thomas. I've got you.

Lon

Quick, the rope!

Ben

Heave! Come on, lads, pull! Pull! Pull! Put your back into it!

Pull! Pull!

Lon

Hang on!

Yeah!

Ben

There, me lucky lad.

John Smith

Well, that was refreshing.

Lon

Well done, Smith.

John Smith

Of course. You'd all do the same for me.

Ben

Oh, sure, sure, of course we would.

Lon

Yes yes, yes. We would.

Ben

Absolutely.

Governor Ratcliffe

Trouble on deck?

Thomas

Governor Ratcliffe!

John Smith

Thomas fell overboard, sir.

Governor Ratcliffe

Thank heavens he's been successfully retrieved. Well done, Smith.

John Smith

Thank you, sir.

Governor Ratcliffe

Don't lose heart, men. It won't be long before we reach the New World, and remember what awaits us there: freedom—

Governor Ratcliffe

Prosperity—

Governor Ratcliffe

The adventure of our lives. You are the finest crew England has to offer and nothing, not wind nor rain nor a thousand bloodthirsty savages shall stand in our way. Carry on, men!

A stirring oration sir. I'm sure the men were most exhilarated.

Governor Ratcliffe

Let us hope so. I’ll need those witless peasants to dig up my gold, won’t I?

Thomas

This New World's going to be great, John. I'm going to get a pile of gold, build me a big house and if any Indian tries to stop me, I’ll blast him.

John Smith

You just worry about that fortune of yours, Thomas. Leave the savages to me.

Lon

You think they'll give us much trouble?

Ben

Not as much trouble as Smith'll give them!

We’ll kill ourselves an Injun

John Smith

Or maybe two or three

We're stalwart men and bold / Of the Virginia Company

Thomas

What do you suppose the New World will look like?

John Smith

Like all the others, I suppose. I've seen hundreds of new worlds, Thomas. What could be possibly different about this 1?

It's glory, God and gold / And the Virginia company

Governor Ratcliffe

Look at it, Wiggins. An entire New World chock full of gold, just waiting for me.

And scores of adventures waiting for us, right, Percy? Do you think we'll meet some savages?

Governor Ratcliffe

If we do, we shall be sure to give them a proper English greeting.

Oooh, gift baskets! [holds up a pair of gift baskets]

Governor Ratcliffe

And he came so highly recommended.

John Smith

It's perfect, Governor. The water's deep enough, we can pull right up to shore. [to Percy; ruffles his fur] Hey there, Percy.

Governor Ratcliffe

Very well, then. Give the order.

John Smith

Already done, sir. I've got a crew assembled and they're ready to go.

Governor Ratcliffe

About the natives, I'm counting on you to make sure those filthy heathens don't disrupt our mission.

John Smith

Well, if they're anything like the savages I've fought before, it's nothing I can't handle.

Governor Ratcliffe

Right. That'll be all, Smith, there's a good man.

John Smith

See ya, Percy. [Percy growls; leaves]

Governor Ratcliffe

The men like Smith, don't they? [Percy growls again over Smith ruffling his fur] I've never been a popular man.

I like you.

Governor Ratcliffe

And don't think I don't know what those backstabbers at court say about me.

Oh yes, all that talk about you being a pathetic social climber who's failed at everything he's--

Governor Ratcliffe

I'm very well aware that this is my last chance for glory. But mark my words, Wiggins, when King James see the gold these peasants unearth success will be mine, at last.

Ben

Wake up! Shake a leg!

Lon

It's incredible.

Thomas

And it's all ours. I've never seen anything like it.

Ben

It can look like Ratcliffe's knickers, for all I care, just as long as we get off this stinking boat.

John Smith

Come on, men, we didn't come all this way just to look at it.

Ben

Keep it taut, lads, keep it taut! Steady, steady.

Lon

Ah, that's far enough! All right now, tie her off.

Thomas

Here, John, tie up this end. John? John? What are you doing up there?

John Smith

Getting a better look. [Meeko bumps into him.] Hey! Well, you're a strange-looking fellow. You hungry? Here you go, it's a biscuit. It's food... Well, sort of. You like it, eh? Well, try eating it for four months straight. You got a friend back there? [Flit attacks him.] Hey, what, what, watch out! No... Get that... Look out!

Thomas

John! You better get down here! The Governor's coming ashore!

John Smith

All right, all right, I'm leaving.

Governor Ratcliffe

That's it. Keep at it, men. Keep digging. It has to be here somewhere.

There's thirty more of them, down by the ridge.

That makes more than a hundred!

Governor Ratcliffe

Anything yet?

Thomas

Nothing but rocks and dirt, sir.

Lon

Um, how long are we going to keep digging like this, sir?

Ben

Aye, we're slaving apart, busting our backs day and night--

Governor Ratcliffe

For king and country. I know, I know, and I share your fatigue. [takes a bite of his drumstick, clearly not enjoying it] Wiggins? Wiggins!

Coming!

Governor Ratcliffe

Dispose of this.

Uh-huh. Who's a good doggie, huh? Who's a good doggie? [the pug just sighs annoyingly, and he throws the drumstick] Fetch, boy!

Governor Ratcliffe

Savages! It's an ambush! Arm yourselves!

Run! [ducks behind the topiary sculpture he carved and falls to the ground, teeth chattering in fear]

Governor Ratcliffe

Arm yourselves!

Governor Ratcliffe

Make sure every man has a musket! Shoot! [Thomas runs past him, but accidentally trips on a log and his gun goes off, narrowly missing Governor Ratcliffe and hitting a water barrel] Them, you idiot!

Governor Ratcliffe

Where's that blasted Smith if I need him?

Namontack!

Back to the village!

Governor Ratcliffe

Shut up. Shut up, you fools! They'll be back. [As the cheering continues, Wiggins pokes his head out of the topiary, which has several parts shot apart and arrows stuck in it as a result of the fight] Everyone, back to camp. Get the rest of the cannons ashore and finish building the fort!

Ben

Aye, Governor.

Governor Ratcliffe

And you! Learn to use that thing properly. A man's not a man unless he knows how to shoot.

Ben

Alright! This one's ready to hoist!?

Lon

Two on each side. Ready now? Push! Watch it! It's slipping!

Ben

Come on, lads, it's only a little picket fence.

Lon

Steady! Steady!

Ben

There you go.

Thomas

That'll keep everything out, eh, John? [John digs a shovel] Something wrong, John?

John Smith

What?!

Thomas

You've been quiet the last few days.

Lon

Oh, he's just mad he missed all the action.

Thomas

Ah, don't worry, John. You'll get your chance to deal with Indians.

Lon

Yeah. We'll take care of them, like we did last time, eh, mates? [singing] We shot ourselves an injun, or maybe two or three.

Ben

All right, you howling nutter! Get to work!

Lon

Come on, Ben, it's just just a little fun.

Ben

Oh, sure, we're having loads of fun. Right, look at us. No gold, no food, while Ratcliffe sits up in his tent all day happy as a clam.

Governor Ratcliffe

I'm doomed! I should be wallowing in riches right now, and I haven't found as much as a speck! [Meeko sniffing to sees Percy] Think. Think! It's got to be around somewhere. Where could it be? [Percy is seen playing with a merry-go-round that has dog biscuits, Percy begin to eat the biscuits, but then he notices Meeko eating them.] I've mined the forests and the hills and the swamps... and NOTHING! [Percy begins to chase Meeko away without Governor Ratcliffe even noticing] Why can't I find it?! What am I overlooking?!

I... I... [he takes off his headband, made from an native's arrow] I made it myself!

Governor Ratcliffe

Take that silly...! [looking at the arrow] Of course. The Indians. Wiggins, why do you think those insolent heathens attacked us?

Because we invaded their land and cut down their trees and dug up their earth?

Governor Ratcliffe

It's the gold! They have it, and they don't want us to take it from them. Well, I'll just have to take it by force then, won't I?

Governor Ratcliffe

You there! Where's Captain Smith?

Lon

Well, he's... gone.

Ben

Ay, your singing must have scared him off.

Governor Ratcliffe

Well then go get him, for heaven's sake!

Lon

What if we run into the Indians?

Governor Ratcliffe

That's what guns are for! Now arm yourselves and get moving!

John Smith

Easy, Thomas. It's me.

Thomas

Oh, John! I could've killed you!

John Smith

Not aiming like that, you couldn't. Keep both eyes open when you shoot. You'll see twice as well.

Ben

Smith! There ya are!

Lon

We were looking all over for you.

Governor Ratcliffe

Smith! Where have you been?

John Smith

I was out scouting the terrain, sir.

Governor Ratcliffe

Excellent. Then you must know the Indians' whereabouts. We'll need that information for the battle.

John Smith

What battle?

Governor Ratcliffe

We will eliminate these savages once and for all.

John Smith

No! You can't do that!

Governor Ratcliffe

Oh? Can't I?

John Smith

Look, we don’t have to fight them.

Thomas

John, what's gotten into you?

John Smith

I met one of them.

Ben

You what?

Thomas

A savage?

John Smith

They're not savages, they can help us. They know the land, they know how to navigate the rivers. And, look! It’s food!

Lon

What is it?

John Smith

It's better than hardtack and gruel, that’s for sure.

I like gruel.

Governor Ratcliffe

They don't want to feed us, you ninnies! They want to kill us! All of us! They've got our gold, and they'll do anything to keep it!

John Smith

But there is no gold!

Ben

No... gold?

Governor Ratcliffe

And I suppose your little Indian friend told you this.

John Smith

Yes.

Governor Ratcliffe

Lies! Lies, all of it! Murderous thieves, there’s no room for their kind in civilized society.

John Smith

But this is their land!

Governor Ratcliffe

This is my land! I make the laws here. And I say anyone so much as looks at an Indian without killing him on sight, will be tried for treason and hanged.

Ben

Ratcliffe wouldn't take us halfway 'round the world for nothing.

Lon

But what if Smith is right? What if there is no gold?

If you ask me, Ratcliffe's been lying to us since we left London.

Ben

Listen to you, you bunch of idiots! Those savages didn't attack us for nothing. They're hiding something.

Lon

If they do have the gold, I reckon we'll have to fight them.

Thomas

Help! Somebody, help! Help! Help!

Lon

Easy, lad. What is it?

Thomas

It's Smith! They got him!

Ben

Who got him?

Thomas

The savages!

Savages?

Thomas

They captured him, dragged him off!

Ben

Where'd they take him?

Thomas

They headed North!

Lon

How many were there?

Thomas

I don't know, at least a dozen.

Ben

Filthy beasts!

Governor Ratcliffe

It's perfect, Wiggins! I couldn't have planned this better myself. The gold is as good as mine!

Thomas

We've got to save him! He'd do the same for any of us.

Ben

Thomas is right! We've got to do something.

Governor Ratcliffe

And so we shall! I told you those savages couldn't be trusted. Smith tried to befriend them, and look what they've done to him. But now I say it's time to rescue our courageous comrade. At daybreak, we attack!

Governor Ratcliffe

What can you expect / From filthy little heathens / Here's what you get when races are diverse / Their skin's a hellish red / They’re only good when dead / They're vermin as they said and worse / They're

Savages, savages

Governor Ratcliffe

Barely even human

Savages, savages

Governor Ratcliffe

Drive them to our shore / They're not like you and me / Which means they must be evil / We must sound the drums of war

They're savages, savages / Dirty shrieking devils / Now we sound the drums of war

This is what we feared / The Paleface is a demon / The only thing they feel at all is greed

Beneath that milky hide / There's emptiness inside

I wonder if they even bleed

They're savages, savages

Barely even human

Savages, savages

Killers at the core

They're different from us / Which means they can't be trusted

We must sound the drums of war

They're savages, savages / First we deal with this one / Then we sound the drums of war

Savages, savages

Ben

Let's go get a few, men

Savages, savages

Governor Ratcliffe

Now it's up to you, men

Savages, savages / Barely even human / Now we sound the drums of war

They're going to kill him at sunrise, Grandmother Willow.

Grandmother Willow

You have to stop them.

I can't.

Grandmother Willow

Child, remember your dream?

I was wrong, Grandmother Willow. I followed the wrong path. I feel so lost. [Meeko gives her John's compass.] The compass? Spinning arrow!

Grandmother Willow

It's the arrow from your dream!

I was right! It was pointing to him. [Sunlight hits her face.] Sunrise!

Grandmother Willow

It's not too late, child. Let the spirits of the earth guide you! You know your path, child... Now follow it!

Governor Ratcliffe

This will be the day / [spoken] Let's go, men!

This will be the morning / [spoken] Bring out the prisoner!

We will see them dying in the dust

I don't know what I can do / Still I know I've got to try

Now we make them pay

Eagle help my feet to fly

Now without a warning

Mountain, help my heart be great

Now we leave them blood and bone and dust

Spirits of the earth and sky

It's them or us

Please don't let it be too late

They're just a bunch of filthy, stinking / Savages, savages / Demons, devils

Governor Ratcliffe

Kill them!

Savages, savages / What are we waiting for? / Destroy their evil race / Until there's not a trace left

How loud are the drums of war

We will sound the drums of war / Savages, savages / Now we sound the drums of war / Now we see what comes / Of trying to be chums / (Now we sound the drums of)

Is the death of all I love / Carried in the drumming of

War!

No! If you kill him, you'll have to kill me too.

Daughter, stand back.

I won't! I love him, Father. Look around you! This is where the path of hatred has brought us. This is the path I choose, Father. What will yours be?

My daughter speaks with the wisdom beyond her years. We have all come here with anger in our hearts. But she comes with courage and understanding. From this day forward, if there is to be more killin', it will not start with me. Release him.

Governor Ratcliffe

Now's our chance! [draws sword] Fire!

Thomas

No!

Governor Ratcliffe

What!?

Thomas

They let him go!

Ben

They don't want to fight!

Governor Ratcliffe

It's a trick! Don't you see!? FIRE!!! [The Englishmen scowl at him. Governor Ratcliffe wavers for a moment, then throws his sword to the ground and grabs a musket] Fine! I'll settle this myself!

John Smith

NO!

Thomas

John! [to Governor Ratcliffe as Pocahontas rushes to John Smith's side] You shot him!

Governor Ratcliffe

He stepped right... right into it! It's his own fault!

Ben

Smith was right all along!

Lon

We never should have listened to you!

Ben

Get the gun! [The men swarm over Governor Ratcliffe and restrain him]

Governor Ratcliffe

Traitors! Unhand me, I say! How dare you!

Thomas

Put him in chains!

Governor Ratcliffe

I'll see you all HANGED for this!

Thomas

And gag him as well! [Thomas looks up at John as Pocahontas and Chief Powhatan tend him worried rushes to him]

Ben

Is he going to make it, Thomas?

Thomas

The sooner he gets back to England, the better.

Lon

Well, let's hope the wind is with him.

Thomas

Is the ship ready yet?

Ben

Any minute now. Just loading the last bit of cargo. [Governor Ratcliffe, tied up in chains and gagged, is tossed into a longboat]

Governor Ratcliffe

How dare you! Untie me at once! I'LL HAVE YOUR HEADS FOR THIS!!!

And he came so highly recommended. [sighs]