What Are Bygones?

Lobster Girl! says Terence.

If you call me that again, I'll pinch you, says Ageless.

Lobster Lady! says Terence.

Ageless attempts to pinch Terence, to no avail.

You can't pinch me, says Terence. 

Then I'll do something worse, says Ageless.

That will do, says Gaius. 

Something worse? says Terence.

That is not what I meant, says Gaius. Let this be the end of it. No more threats, no more teasing.

Yes, no more teasing, says Denis. 

Captain Baudin returns with the tray, and four more hot toddies.

Hum, says Gaius. I think we've all had sufficient hot toddies.

Except for me, says Ageless. 

Ageless takes a hot toddy, and drinks it down fast.

Have another, says Captain Baudin. 

Ageless takes another.

Now we're all together, says Gaius, let's agree on an agenda.

Number one: stick together, says Ageless. 

That should go without saying, says Gaius.

It hasn't so far, says Ageless.

And whose fault is that? asks Denis.

De Freycinet's, says Captain Baudin. And he is not here. Let bygones be bygones.

What are by-gons? asks Terence.

Events that have gone by, says Denis. 

Like what? asks Terence.

Like when you teased Ageless, says Denis. That has gone by, because you let it.

I didn't let it, says Terence. I got told off by Gaius.

So did I, says Ageless. And I am his equal.

In this case, says Gaius, you are not my equal.

He's right, says Captain Baudin. 

Who's right? asks Gaius.

You, Gaius, says Captain Baudin. You are in charge of the mission, as I understand it. So your word prevails.

Remember I'm here on a voluntary basis, says Ageless.

And I'm here as a friend who has little better to do, says Denis. Yet, I'm quite prepared to take orders.

Me too, says Terence. Give me an order.

I already did, says Gaius. 

Another one, says Terence. I want to show Ageless.

How about helping Captain Baudin wash the dishes, says Gaius.

Hold it! says Captain Baudin. These are my precious hot toddy glasses. I'm not trusting them to a cement boy.

He could dry them, says Gaius. I'm sure he'd be careful.

I have to be careful if it's an order, says Terence.

Let me remind everyone that I'm the captain of this lighthouse, says Captain Baudin. No one will help me do the dishes. 

Boo! says Terence.

But the others, on reflection, are glad.