HOOK's quarters. HOOK is in bed, naked to the waist, with his abdomen bandaged. He moves in a restless delirium. The CABIN BOY sits at the head of the bed wiping HOOK's forehead with a cloth.
HOOK stirs
CABIN BOY My Captain? How fare you?
HOOK The beast - where is the beast?
HOOK tries to sit up, but the CABIN BOY puts a hand on his chest to restrain him.
CABIN BOY
'Tis gone. Five days now, you have lain abed.
And near to death; but now the fever's past.
I have here food and drink if you desire.
HOOK
Five days. And wast thou with me all this time?
Thine eyes are shadowed - hast thou slept at all?
CABIN BOY I was, my Captain. I slept in this chair.
HOOK Why wouldst thou do this for me, boy? Come, speak.
CABIN BOY You are my Captain. Needs there more than this?
HOOK
Nay - there is more than that. This is more care
Than that Boy owes to Captain. Seekst thou gold?
How now my boy? Thou tremblest, and lookst pale
If thou wouldst speak, then speak! I have no time
For stamm'ring fools. Out with it, and be done.
CABIN BOY
There is a thing that I have longed to say
For many days and nights, and never dared
'Til now.
And even now, the words come hard.
Each like a barnacle to be pris'd loose
From my most fearful heart. Enough. I'll speak.
I love thee. I have loved thee long. I yearn
To kiss thee, and to hold thee in mine arms.
Perhaps I speak too boldly, yet i'faith
These last few days and nights I seem to have seen
A shadow of my feelings in thine eyes.
'Tis love that makes me crave a lover's kiss
'Tis hope that makes me bold enough for this
The CABIN BOY bends down and kisses HOOK. HOOK seems to respond at first, and then turns his head away.
HOOK
Thou art mistaken boy, I love thee not
Nor never will. I felt naught but disgust
At thy lips touch. Leave me and nevermore
Speak to me of thy unnat'ral desires.
CABIN BOY
Forgive me. I will speak of it no more.
Nor seek your love. But let me here remain
And still attend you, for I fear those wounds
You bear are perilous, and I do know
Those remedies which best can ease your pain...
HOOK Didst thou not hear me? Go!
The CABIN BOY leaves.
HOOK to himself
'Tis better not to love me lad. Though now
Seems harsh, thou'lt thank me in the years to come
When some fair maid or boy assails thine eye
One who's thy mirror, innocent as thee
Who'll give thee what I never can: true love
Unsullied by the bitter taint that flows
Within me as the salt within the sea.
I was not made to love; nor made to weep.
And so I'll wear a smile, and say "I am
Unmoved. His tenderness hath touched me not"
And if I say it oft enough, I may
Believe it, and my heart may thus be stilled.
O wretched heart! I would thou wert a stone,
So could I rest content to be alone.