Maddox, a sailor recovering from a brush with malaria in Boston, receives a note from his old employer asking him to resume his position as first mate to the August, a merchant ship bound for England. Accepting the offer, Maddox meets his new captain and finds the August a ship's doctor.
A tale of queer love and mutiny on the high seas! Tune into the Voyage of the August, a nine-episode serial radio drama chronicling the final voyage of a merchant ship bound for England in 1717, whose crew takes their fate into their own hands. The story centers around the August’s first mate, Robert Maddox, a well-respected officer with frustrated ambitions; Dr. Leon de Isla, a surgeon with an unhappy past who follows Maddox to sea for reasons of the heart; and Sophia Montague, the willful daughter of the shipping line’s owner. Exploring 18th century nautical culture, queer history, and shipboard conflict, this work of historical fiction will be be released in nine weekly installments starting August 1st, 2020. Find episodes weekly on our website and also on the Electric Lite Collective Youtube channel.
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Cast (in order of appearance)
Caraid O'Brien as the Intro Voiceover
Sebas Ward as Robert Maddox
Tiz Rome as Leon Francesca de Isla and Harold Blackwall
Daniel Haas as Richard Montague
CJ Humphries as Ambrose Teague
Minna Gorry-Hines as Cecil Laurence
Ernie Alugas as James Douglas
Memphis Washington as Sophia Montague
Katie Faust-Little as Silvia Montague
Special thanks to Jim Wald, Will Ryan, and Ezekiel Baskin.
Voyage of the August is written, directed, and sound designed by Wynn MacKenzie and Sean French-Byrne, with shanties arranged and directed by Wynn MacKenzie and acoustic tracks written and performed by Sebas Ward. Sound effects courtesy of the community of freesound.com.
Full sound attributions below:
"Door, Church, Close, E.wav" by InspectorJ (www.jshaw.co.uk) of Freesound.org
“Papers Rustling.wav” by f4ngy of Freesound.org
“Handle_2.wav” by blaukreuz/Tom Chapman (www.soundcloud.com/blaukreuz) of Freesound.org
“Shivering Chandelier.wav” by yadronoff of Freesound.org
“Waves and seagulls.wav” by justkiddink of Freesound.org
“Canadian Horse Carriage.wav” by vero.marengere (www.veromarangere.com) of Freesound.org
Episode 1: Summons
MADDOX’s episode
Boston, spring of 1717.
Leon and Maddox’s rooms, somewhere near to the docks in Boston. Muffled through the wall, the sound of people passing by, horses’ hooves clattering on the paving stones, and seagulls crying, along with the faint noise of the ocean.
Leon is sitting at his workspace, with his surgeon’s chest open, cleaning his instruments. Maddox is sitting near him, drinking tea and picking at a scrimshaw he’s been working on.
MADDOX: (casually) Did you hear of the lighthouse they’re building, on Little Brewster?
LEON: (absentmindedly) Little Brewster?
MADDOX: The wee island, far out from the docks.
LEON: (tongue in cheek) No, I fear the health of the good citizens of Boston has occupied more of my time.
MADDOX: Mhm...How do you think that fellow you bled earlier will fare?
LEON: I wish I were a miracle worker, but I wouldn’t put much on his chances. Not with a case as advanced as that.
MADDOX: Hmm. Shame.
LEON: Oh, out with it, Maddox. What’s on your mind? You know I can’t abide dancing around a subject.
MADDOX: (with a surprised laugh) You know me too well for my own good, Leon.
LEON: The point, man.
MADDOX: I received a note today. From old Mr. Montague.
LEON: He offered you the captaincy again?
MADDOX: … (with a half-hearted laugh) If only I were so lucky. (reading from the note) No, it seems his new captain has found himself down a few officers for the August’s next voyage, and he’s offering me my old position as first mate.
LEON: Where’s it headed?
MADDOX: To England, and then from there around the Horn to India, and back.
LEON: That’s two years or more.
MADDOX: Aye. I think I’m well enough to do this. I’m starting to miss the sea.
LEON: You know, an ague like yours is likely to reoccur.
MADDOX: (sharply) I’m hale and hearty now; there’s no use dwelling on possibilities.
LEON: But if it does… You’ll be half the world away, and with no guarantee of good treatment.
MADDOX: I’ve learned a thing or two from you; despite your best efforts. Send me along with some of that tree bark of yours, and I have every confidence in the world.
LEON: … It’s not so simple as that. Without a physician-
MADDOX: Montague never sends his ships to sea without a surgeon.
LEON: A surgeon! Oh, yes, some loblolly boy with a year’s service cutting off limbs.
MADDOX: I cannot play the invalid forever, Leon, and as much as I enjoy your company, I make a very poor physician’s assistant.
LEON: Well, you could-
MADDOX: And I’m very near to coming up short on rent, which will make me a poor roommate as well.
LEON: A little thing like that-
MADDOX: I can’t indebt myself any further to you.
LEON: Alright, alright, you’ve made your point. Forgive me. I… got carried away.
MADDOX: Leon-
LEON: I should get to seeing Mrs. O'Donnell. It’s almost the hour she asked me to call upon her.
There is the rustling of surgical tools as Leon begins to reassemble his physician’s bag.
MADDOX: And I should call upon Mr. Montague. But Leon-
LEON: Yes?
MADDOX: (slightly awkwardly) I have much to thank you for. I… (He searches for words) You have been… Thank you.
LEON: (flustered) I… you’re welcome, Maddox. (recovering himself) You’ll stop in before you set sail, I trust?
MADDOX: Of course. I suspect I’ll have at least another night ashore, if not more. But even if I’m not-
LEON: Good. I’ll have your bark ready for you, by then. Along with some instructions. I trust you can follow instructions?
MADDOX: (with a laugh) I may not be as learned as you, Leon, but I think I can manage eating some tree bark without trouble.
The sound of medical instruments and their voices fades into MADDOX, LEON, CECIL and TEAGUE singing “Spanish Ladies”, accompanied by LEON’s guitar.
As MADDOX approaches the docks, the shout of sailors and the clunk of crates and cargo being moved into winches and hefted onto ships becomes louder. The waves lap against the dock, and high above, seagulls cry on the thermals.
A man’s voice drifts out of the hubbub, becoming clearer as he draws closer.
T0EAGUE: Maddox? Maddox!
AMBROSE TEAGUE emerges from the crowd. TEAGUE is a skinny man clearly more at home at sea than on land, with a scarred face perpetually stuck in a half a grin. He has a few years on MADDOX, but it doesn’t show in his bearing or countenance.
MADDOX: Ambrose Teague! You gave me a start.
TEAGUE: Gave you a start? I had half a thought I was seeing a ghost, when I caught sight of that red head of yours. Lord, it’s good to see you on your feet again. After the-
MADDOX: I’m quite well now, no need to worry.
TEAGUE: I can see! What are you doing? Can I buy you a drink? I’ve got a half an hour before the captain expects me aboard.
MADDOX: I’m on my way to see Mr. Montague just now, actually-
TEAGUE: The old man himself! Did he finally give you that captaincy...?
(Beat.) (A very awkward beat.)
TEAGUE reads by the look on MADDOX’s face that this clearly isn’t so.
MADDOX: Ah. No. After my illness… The position was already filled.
This is only part of the truth, and TEAGUE seems to realize this.
TEAGUE:(carefully) Ah. Hard luck.
(Beat.)
In the awkward silence, the clock strikes noon; it is answered by nearest ship’s bells.
TEAGUE: I’d best get back to the August-
MADDOX: You’re sailing with the August again? We’ll be shipmates, then.
TEAGUE: (genuinely pleased) Ah, truly?
MADDOX: Mr. Montague offered me my old position as first mate. The damnedest thing, though, hiring a first mate less than a week out from the voyage.
TEAGUE: I’ll be your second mate then! (He continues less enthusiastically) I’m not surprised, honestly. Our crew was… much reduced, after last voyage.
MADDOX: By illness?
TEAGUE: No more so than usual. No, by the… there were many who did not take to the captain.
MADDOX: (carefully) I see. Blackwall, was it? A Navy man, Mr. Montague wrote. I’ve never sailed under a former Navy captain.
TEAGUE: Yes. Well. It doesn’t do to speak ill of one’s captain.
(Beat.)
TEAGUE: Have you given Mr Montague your word yet? As much as I would be glad to share a mess with you again… The Captain…
MONTAGUE: Maddox! There you are! Where have you been, man?
MADDOX: … We’ll speak later, Teague. You’d best get aboard.
TEAGUE:(already falling back into old patterns) Aye, sir.
MONTAGUE: Maddox. Damned timing, you have. Still, I suppose I can’t complain; damn good fortune you were here to take the job. (offhand) The last mate put us in a bit of a spot. I suppose we could have promoted Mr. Williams, but I’ll take a man I know and trust over a stranger any day. Isn’t that so, Captain Blackwall?
BLACKWALL: Just so, Mr. Montague. Just so.
MONTAGUE: This is the fellow I wrote you about, Harold. He’s sailed on my ships for nigh on- fifteen years, is it now? And he brought the Falmouth back safe after her captain took sick.
MADDOX:(humoring him) Something near to that, sir. Since I was a lad.
MONTAGUE: My ships practically raised the man. That’s how you know you can trust a sailor, Harold. I daresay you feel the same about your Navy boys.
BLACKWALL: Indeed, Mr. Montague. Be that as it may, men, like iron, require tempering no matter where they are from. I am glad to hear that you have faith in your Maddox.
MADDOX: You could say I’m a well-tempered man, Captain.
BLACKWALL laughs genuinely and MONTAGUE chuckles along awkwardly--he is not as familiar with the sailor tradition of puns, but wants to be included.
MONTAGUE: Oh--Maddox, Captain and I were just discussing a spot of trouble. That fool Jacobsen’s run off to be married and now we’re in want of a surgeon.
MADDOX: Mr. Montague, I have your man! I... happen to be acquainted with a fine doctor in Boston, knows his medicine, knows the deck of a ship. I could inquire.
MONTAGUE: Aren’t you the man of the hour! Captain Blackwall, I told you he was capable.
BLACKWALL: So you did, Montague. And he knows his duty to his captain.
MONTAGUE: Damn right. Capital. When shall I bring Sophia down to board the August?
BLACKWALL: Bring her down tonight, Mr. Montague. We’ll be sailing early on the tide tomorrow morn. If that’s serviceable to you, Mr. Maddox, and your surgeon.
MADDOX: Of course, Captain. I’ll see to it tonight.
MONTAGUE: Well, now that’s all settled, if it’s amenable to you gentlemen, I suggest we abscond to the Captain’s quarters to review our course. I have heard some tell of pirates off the coast, to the south.
BLACKWALL: Damned pests. Certainly, Richard.
MADDOX: Lead the way, sir. I will be glad set foot on the good old August again.
The sound of the docks rushes in again, and the footsteps of the three men are heard ascending the plank.
SAILOR: (bored) Captain and Mr. Montague’s on board--
CECIL: (with excitement, louder) Mr. Maddox! You’re back!
MADDOX: Ce-Mr. Lawrence! Damned good to see you. Is that a new lad behind you?
CECIL: Yes, sir, may I present James Douglas, the newest midshipman. Don’t be shy, Mr. Douglas!
DOUGLAS: Hello, sir.
MADDOX: Fine to meet you, lad! Have you your sea legs?
DOUGLAS: Well, I just came aboard, I reckon they’ll come in time.
BLACKWALL: Not a moment to waste, Mr. Maddox.
MADDOX: Right, right--keep a weather eye, we’ve some precious cargo coming aboard. Don’t be slacking, Douglas!
MONTAGUE: Come now, then.
The sound of footsteps across the deck, a door shutting, and normal indoor ship ambience, inside the captain’s quarters. Parchment rustles as maps and charts are spread out on the captain’s desk.
MONTAGUE: There, gentlemen, not a fortnight hence, a damned disreputable ship by the name of the Whydah was spotted. Keep clear of that coast of Rhode Island, for now.
BLACKWALL: Do you foresee much trouble with pirates, Mr. Montague? I trust we are properly insured?
MONTAGUE: Insurance is the least of my worries, good Captain. I happen to be trusting you with the lives of my daughter and wife.
BLACKWALL: (pointed) Ah, yes. Your wife. (casual again) There’s no need for worry. I drilled the men on gunnery all the way over from England; I don’t accept anything less than Navy-readiness aboard my ship.
MONTAGUE: Excellent, excellent. But- do remember, none of your naval ways of engagement, Captain. When possible, the best course of action is to run and avoid a fight. Cowardice is preferable to lost profit, you see.
BLACKWALL: … Of course, sir. I will...take every care. But if we do happen to encounter trouble- Mr. Maddox, have you ever seen action?
MADDOX: My fair share of times, sir, by merchant standards at least. There were a few damned uncomfortable spots on my last voyage, with some French frigate bent on taking us for a prize.
BLACKWALL: I see, I see. I’m glad to hear it. I find some of these soft merchantmen who have never seen action before a little… slow for my taste. A little behind what is required of a man at sea, in my view.
MADDOX: (perhaps slightly noncommittally) I see your point, sir. I cannot claim a Naval career, but I’ve seen action.
MONTAGUE: Splendid. Between the two of your, I trust I put Sophia and Sylvia in good hands. You remember Sophia, do you not, Maddox?
MADDOX: (genuinely) Of course, sir. It will be a pleasure to have her aboard again.
MONTAGUE: You have license to take a firm hand with her, sirs, if need be. She’s a fine young lady, but not always...circumspect as to her place aboard a ship. I fear she’s grown too comfortable with the crew, growing up in this damned provincial environment.
BLACKWALL: Of course. I will take every care to assure the proper environment is maintained for young Miss Montague, and of course the Mrs. Montague.
MONTAGUE: I have every confidence in you. Captain Blackwall, Mr. Maddox, thank you for your time. I’ll have Sophia aboard tonight, and see you off.
MADDOX: I’ll fetch our new surgeon, then. Captain, Mr. Montague.
The sound of footsteps, and the door to the captain’s quarters opening and closing as MADDOX and MONTAGUE exit.
MADDOX makes his way back to the house he shares with LEON, through the sunny hustle and bustle of the Boston docks. A sailor calls out to him, he calls back. After a time his footsteps can be heard climbing a set of stairs, and a bit of a wheeze in his breath as he opens the door to his home.
MADDOX: (coughing a bit) Leon! I’ve news!
LEON: Sit down, man, catch your breath. What’s this?
MADDOX: The good August is in need of a surgeon, the last one ran off with a woman.
LEON: Poorly named, isn’t she.
MADDOX: (laughing) Spare me your puns! I told Montague I knew a man. What say you to a voyage ‘round the Horn?
End music: Spanish Ladies