Hungover crew members are breaking out holystones, Brasso, and deck brooms, scrubbing and polishing until every nook of the schooner Mudcat gleams in the rising sun.

The gangway watchman grabs the lanyard of the large brass bell and rings it eight times, looking around for his relief, and picks up a banjo left by a late night libertyman at the quartdeck, and plucks it thoughtfully.

"On all of the stormy seven seas
I have sailed before the mast,
And in every port I ever made,
I swore 't would be my last!

A landsman's life is all his own,
He can go or he can stay,
But when the sea gets in your blood,
When she calls, you must obey...

So I'll sing farewell to Carlingford
And farewell to Greenore
And I'll think of you both day and night
Until I return once more, until I return once more

The relief appears to stand duty at the gangway head, and the watchman crosses to the waist where the topmast halyards are secured, a blue flag, furled and neatly tied. He undoes the stops and hauls away, raising the Blue Peter to the topmast, where the morning breeze sends it fluttering and calling, high above the schooner's gleaming deck, warning all hands that they must soon return to the sea. The watchman, relieved, goes forrard and retires below...