 a float with Henry Morgan a float with Henry Morgan is an original story written for radio by Warren Barry and a George Edwards production history contains stories of colorful people rogues heroes kings and commoners but there were few had such a picturesque bloodstained career culminating in honored glory as a man named Morgan in the 17th century Henry Morgan pirate whose foul deeds and in the name of Colossus of the Caribbean eventually it became sir Henry Morgan King's representative governor of Jamaica in the Caribbean Sea the sun at day's end dips like a blazing ball into the ocean throwing over the sea a dancing pink mantle and over the islands a soft pink glow that blends in with the cool white buildings which stand invitingly midst waving fronds and green foliage thus the spirit of night gives warning of a coming over the British island of Jamaica and the Spanish possession of Cuba but in Havana a capital of Cuba inside a large white Moorish type of home the serenity of the evening is gone beside a highly polished cedar desk white and shaking with raid stands Don Pietro Pizarro Spanish governor of Cuba before him hesitant full of apology stands a seaman of high rank after losing a ship you have the effrontery to return here to Havana and face me I have tried to explain Don Pietro it was no fault of mine no fault of yours that you let the ship lay them down with treasure and part of it my own treasure be taken by that pirate Henry Morgan it was the will of heaven before I left Excellency did I not go on my knees and pray that you would let me put more armor on my ships I had escorts they were to protect hand like the blundering fool you are you get separated from them and allowed yourself to fall prey defenseless to Henry Morgan you failed to understand Don Pietro you yourself know the nights in the Caribbean are dark when there is no moon suddenly as if from nowhere a storm arises we hurry to bring in our canvases to make our ship secure and before we know what has happened we are scattered to the winds and then comes the morning the storm is gone and in the blaze of glory the night changes to gray then flaming red and the ship is tending nearby that's the site I give thanks to heaven that I still have one of my escorts to protect me and then breaks the flag and I know I am victim to Henry Morgan Henry Morgan Henry Morgan Henry Morgan is there and no one in the world who will read us of him must we always fear the man Henry Morgan and those aboard the ship what of them taken by Henry Morgan to Jamaica to be sold as slaves and you are lucky Curtis my luck depends on your clemency excellency oh perhaps it was partly my fault for for not allowing you extra armor to defend yourself but Curtis witness this much I say to you I pray to heaven for one grant one gracious gift to see Henry Morgan in chains in Havana to have him in the hands of the Inquisition to see his broken body hanging by the neck in the slave market that is what I wish from heaven and with heaven's aid I will have my wish Don Pedro's voice shakes with emotion as he sends his prayers heavenwards and then with a curtain odd Cortes is dismissed the governor watches him go and the heavy cedar doors close on him but already Cortes has gone from Don Pedro's mind that is something else to be faced the wrath of someone he fears when she is in anger the loss of his own personal treasure is cause for grave concern yet the thought of the coming meeting gives him far greater worry like a man who realizes it is no good postponing trouble he lets himself out through a small door into a cool and biting courtyard with stereo vines climb and twist themselves around arches the mow blossoms hang in their grape-like bunches the scent of the flowers mingles with the perfume waters of the fountain which plays to cool the hot breath of coming night the atmosphere of the courtyard is languid peace but all the beauty and pieces lost on Don Pietro as his steps echo on the marble pavement eyes are on the figure sitting on the stone seat looking at the well-fed goldfish in the fountain pond the closer he gets the greater his trepidation how to tell her help me how to tell her the girl by the fish pond looks up the falling dust gives her an added beauty emphasizing the whiteness of a skin the softness of her arms and shoulders gives luster to a raven hair and jet black eyes gives a deeper you to a passionate manna a frown crosses the fathered a new light enters her eyes something has gone wrong I know that expression of his it doesn't know how to tell me she waits until he comes up close and as he fidgets with the cravat at his neck then with a curl of his wig she sits waiting for him to speak first then can bear his agitation no longer I know tell me what it is the Lord is I I do not know how to tell you but remember please do not lose your temper I have had bad news I could not stand a seat what is it what has gone on now Cortes has just left me Cortes how can he be in Cuba he is captain of the treasure ship on his way to Spain he was the captain but he fell into the hands of Henry Morgan the English pirate he took the treasure our treasure the Lord is please do not lose your temper I cannot stand it yes they storm scattered the Spanish ships Morgan took Cortes ship with the greatest of ease our treasure gone that doesn't matter so much we can get more gold from the mainland but don't you realize the egg that was on that ship my necklace worth more than money can tell the Lord I I will make it up you I I will obtain for yourself a whole shipload of gold gold I don't want the gold it is the ethnic necklace I want and I shall have it back I shall get it I swear by heaven that no fat English Senora will wear the ethnic necklace which belongs to Dolores Pizarro so two oaths are taken on this barmy tropical nights and because of them our tale is spun the spirit of night and closes the Caribbean in a cloak of black spangled with large dancing stars and as she speeds across the sky the edge of a cloak lifts in the east showing a great promise of a new day which warns the sun it is time for work like a man disturbed from a heavy sleep he climbs into the heavens angry and red casting vengeful rays over the ocean reaching out to a light on the topmost peak of a sail and down the snow white canvas until they embrace the hull making the ship as though of gold early as it is the ship is alive with movement for land as a head on the poop with one hand resting on the rail stands captain Henry Morgan except handsome burley beside him kneeling at an open chest is a swathe young man handsome in a sinister sly way his dark eyes are a light with greed as he looks into the open chest his tongue slowly moistened his lips as he looks upon the treasure I think you'll fill the arts that's your payment for your treasury to your countrymen you are generous captain Morgan and giving me this load as my share you served me well I'd award well those who serve diamonds rubies gold pieces will make my stay in Port Royal a happy one captain you'll be a welcome visitor in the Dolphin Tavern kitty the buccaneers bellow be glad to see you laden down with that look there'll be necklaces to hang around a nice neck I kept them on and look at this one I shall hang it around her neck my centipede and it to me no answers my here but here I beautiful gold so finally beaten it looks like lace emeralds and rubies of the finest quality it's too fine a thing to have scum like you waste upon a wanton's neck that'll be better in my own pocket it will you'll give it back to me it has mine you gave me this chest and all the in it give my money back what's this your renegade Spanish rats in subordination you're sailing under Henry Morgan and Henry Morgan tastes what he wants but that necklace it is mine give it to me I'll give you this your Spanish dog in exchange get you about your business the wind is falling we'll not make Port Royal by tonight see that every slipper can versus bread to catch the failing wind Henry Morgan's fear of the failing when proves correct soon it dies away until it is just a faint whisper the sun beats down on the boiling sea in the gallant ship barely moves towards that smudge in the horizon which is to make a tantalizing nearness of the land and the baking sun makes tempers edgy and crafty mine's treacherous listen to me your turn and Morgan gives us the crumbs and keeps everything for himself and two pairs of shifty the ats as he talks enough loot was taken on the trip to keep us in luxury for the rest of our lives but Morgan six to keep it all not an agreement and so a plot is born we won't reach well until late tonight Morgan will leave the ship to visit the governor why not you to wait for him a quick dagger thrust in the neck and we all share his ship Lord of Gold greed makes the other two fall in with the plan and blinds the fact that they do it while deats has no hand in it deats is right it is late when Port Royal is reached and the town is wrapped in darkness before long captain Henry Morgan leaves the ship and goes along the dirty laneways near the docks figures lurks suspiciously in dark and always feel full it is the ground at his feet two pairs of eyes watch out for him and see him come closer and then spring forward the sudden city tax rose Morgan to the ground tonight stop your secret take my life to your visit from nowhere a third figure pray a second night flesh as well as twice and two figures like that amongst the both Morgan has helped us eat I thank you you saved my life I never did like to against one who is it I have to think I know you're not you know me not it isn't why isn't you maker to ask questions of a stranger I have done you a favor this night now do me one seek not to question who I am a strange meeting on a dark night the beginning of an adventure tale the next exciting episode of a flute with Henry Morgan