David Bianculli

So they begin to wage this war over the truth, releasing their accounts. And they each shape their account, probably the way we all do in some way, in order to emerge as the hero of their stories. There's a famous line from Joan Didion who says, we all tell ourselves stories in order to live. But in their case, it's quite literally true.

So they begin to wage this war over the truth, releasing their accounts. And they each shape their account, probably the way we all do in some way, in order to emerge as the hero of their stories. There's a famous line from Joan Didion who says, we all tell ourselves stories in order to live. But in their case, it's quite literally true.

They must try to tell a convincing tale in order to spare their lives. And during this battle over information, there is disinformation. It's just like today. There is misinformation, disinformation. There were even allegations of fake journals and a kind of fake news of the 18th century.

They must try to tell a convincing tale in order to spare their lives. And during this battle over information, there is disinformation. It's just like today. There is misinformation, disinformation. There were even allegations of fake journals and a kind of fake news of the 18th century.

They must try to tell a convincing tale in order to spare their lives. And during this battle over information, there is disinformation. It's just like today. There is misinformation, disinformation. There were even allegations of fake journals and a kind of fake news of the 18th century.

So Bulkley and Cheap are called to a court-martial hearing by the Navy. And Bulkley is concerned he's going to have to defend himself against the charge of mutiny. And Cheap's main concern is that he's going to face a charge of murder, which is punishable by death for the shooting of the midshipman Henry Cousins. The court-martial actually takes a surprising turn. What happens there? Yeah.

So Bulkley and Cheap are called to a court-martial hearing by the Navy. And Bulkley is concerned he's going to have to defend himself against the charge of mutiny. And Cheap's main concern is that he's going to face a charge of murder, which is punishable by death for the shooting of the midshipman Henry Cousins. The court-martial actually takes a surprising turn. What happens there? Yeah.

So Bulkley and Cheap are called to a court-martial hearing by the Navy. And Bulkley is concerned he's going to have to defend himself against the charge of mutiny. And Cheap's main concern is that he's going to face a charge of murder, which is punishable by death for the shooting of the midshipman Henry Cousins. The court-martial actually takes a surprising turn. What happens there? Yeah.

Yeah, so many of them fear they're going to be hanged, and they have good reason to fear that, given the naval code, given that this had been a full-blown mutiny, given that Jeep had shot somebody without asking questions, without a proceeding. Some of them prayed before going in. But when they go into the court-martial, something astonishing happens, right?

Yeah, so many of them fear they're going to be hanged, and they have good reason to fear that, given the naval code, given that this had been a full-blown mutiny, given that Jeep had shot somebody without asking questions, without a proceeding. Some of them prayed before going in. But when they go into the court-martial, something astonishing happens, right?

Yeah, so many of them fear they're going to be hanged, and they have good reason to fear that, given the naval code, given that this had been a full-blown mutiny, given that Jeep had shot somebody without asking questions, without a proceeding. Some of them prayed before going in. But when they go into the court-martial, something astonishing happens, right?

They aren't asked about anything that happened on that island, none of the alleged crimes. Instead, they're only asked about what had caused the shipwreck. I would compare it to the authorities stopping a car and finding a dead body in the trunk and asking the driver only why he or she had a busted taillight.

They aren't asked about anything that happened on that island, none of the alleged crimes. Instead, they're only asked about what had caused the shipwreck. I would compare it to the authorities stopping a car and finding a dead body in the trunk and asking the driver only why he or she had a busted taillight.

They aren't asked about anything that happened on that island, none of the alleged crimes. Instead, they're only asked about what had caused the shipwreck. I would compare it to the authorities stopping a car and finding a dead body in the trunk and asking the driver only why he or she had a busted taillight.

And it turned out that the Admiralty and those in power really didn't like any of these stories.

And it turned out that the Admiralty and those in power really didn't like any of these stories.

And it turned out that the Admiralty and those in power really didn't like any of these stories.

Right. And Bulkley and Cheap, while they have a lot of concerns about each other's behavior on the ship and who is responsible for the wreckage of the ship, they decide to censor themselves because they see the way that the court-martial is going, that they're not going to have to face those more serious crimes.

Right. And Bulkley and Cheap, while they have a lot of concerns about each other's behavior on the ship and who is responsible for the wreckage of the ship, they decide to censor themselves because they see the way that the court-martial is going, that they're not going to have to face those more serious crimes.

Right. And Bulkley and Cheap, while they have a lot of concerns about each other's behavior on the ship and who is responsible for the wreckage of the ship, they decide to censor themselves because they see the way that the court-martial is going, that they're not going to have to face those more serious crimes.