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Randall
Randallpro2
Vital statistics
Title Boatswain (Former)

Ship's Cook (Former)

Gender Male
Status Deceased (killed by Vane's men)
Ships Walrus
Spanish Man O' War
Relationships James Flint (Captain)

John Silver (Caretaker)

Appearances First: I.
Last: XVIII.
Portrayed by Lawrence Joffe
"No one pays him any attention...so he sees everything."
John Silver about Randall[src]

Randall was a pirate and member of Captain Flint's crew. Despite supposedly losing his sanity during a fight, he retained the loyalty of the crew.

Biography[]

Background[]

Randall was a Boatswain on the Walrus. While the crew was taking a prize, he was beaten within an inch of his life. Despite his injuries, he recovered physically, but was mentally crippled, and no longer fit for combat. Despite having "lost his wits", he was understood by most to be capable of basic communication, and conducting simple tasks. Due to their loyalty to him and vice versa, he was kept on the crew as the ship's cook. [1]

Season One[]

Randall was the ship's cook, although it was made clear that it was temporary until a replacement could be found. When John Silver joined the crew as a cook, Billy Bones was the one to tell Randall that he would no longer serve as cook, but that they would find him a new job that he could perform. When Silver asked why they kept him on the crew, Billy explains that while he lost his mind, he never lost their loyalty. During the duel between Singleton and Flint, Randall is there to witness the fight, where Flint is victorious over Singleton. Flint then informs them that the prize they are chasing is the Urca de Lima, the largest Spanish treasure galleon in the New World, much to the crew's delight[1].

After the duel, Randall ominously tells Silver that he shouldn't steal, or he'll suffer Singleton's fate and that they don't like thieves, unnerving Silver. He then announces that he's hungry, and Silver leaves, saying he'll see to it. He then repeats what he said about thieves, angering Turk, one of Singleton's allies in his push to become captain, but Morley silences them, warning them not to arouse the suspicions of the rest of the crew[2].

Randall Peeling

Later, after Flint catches Silver with the stolen schedule, Bones leaves Silver with Randall, telling him that John had lost a bet, and had to help peel potatoes. Randall says that they aren't supposed to wager on the ship, but Billy says it was made over a beer at the tavern, so it's all in good order. Randall agrees and screams to let Bones know what he will do if Silver should attempt to escape. As Silver helps Randall peel the potatoes, he discovers Randall's doubts of Singleton being a thief, and anger regarding his death. Silver uncovers that Randall, Turk, and Morley are still loyal to Singleton and the remnants of the mutiny. When Silver tells Bones, they both agree that whilst Morley may be a risk, Randall is no real threat to the captain[3].

Randall traped S1E4

Randall while his leg is being amputated.

After the crew careens the ship to clean the hull of barnacles, Randall spends the first part of his duties supplying John with the pig for the barbecue, taking the time to make it clear he is still upset over losing his old job. After the ship starts to tip, Randall is among the crew who are working. While leaving, he turns and sees his cat still in danger, and goes back to get it. The next thing heard is Randall screaming as the boat tips. Morley and Captain Flint both run to help him, finding him with his leg pinned under the ship. Despite the efforts of Morley and Flint, they were unable to get Randall out, and they were risking their own lives staying, John arrived and threw them the meat cleaver he was using, then leaves Flint and Morley. Flint cuts off his foot, and they were able to drag Randall out, but not before the ship fell onto Morley, killing him.[4]

After the crew leaves to chase the Andromache, Flint left Randall behind with Silver in Eleanor Guthrie's office, as Randall was still recovering from his lost foot. When Eleanor finds them, the two are shackled together, with Randall being asleep on the couch heavily drugged with opium. When Eleanor finds them, Silver explains that Randall lost his leg, he has been left behind with him to prevent him from getting killed in the fight with the Andromache, thus taking the knowledge of the Urca schedule to his grave, and he is shackled to Randall so he doesn't run. Eleanor then releases Silver from Randall, but then attaches the shackle to the arm of the sofa. They also discuss their plot with the schedule, and Eleanor blames Silver for roping Max into his original scheme[5]

That night, after removing the ban on Vane's crew at Captain Benjamin Hornigold's insistence, Eleanor confronts Silver, still shackled to the sofa while Randall sleeps, and orders him to help her kill the remainder of the Ranger Crew. Silver refuses, but eventually agrees after Eleanor promises to guarantee his safety after he gives the final part of the schedule to Flint[6]

However, while recovering he overheard John and Eleanor talking, but pretended to be asleep the whole time. While he "slept", he overheard John admit to being the thief, and that Flint had known about it. After the crew returns; De Groot brings up the issue of having a one-legged man in the galley due to his potential to be a fire hazard. The crew then voted to expel Randall . When Silver was brought before him to allow him to say his piece, Randall, accuses him of theft of front of Dr. Howell and De Groot. After they take the matter to Dufresne, the three decide to handle things privately instead of taking this matter to the crew and Captain to risk the payout they have been working for. While the three of them argue of the next step, Silver goes to Randall and asks him what will happen if they decide on the money over Randall. He is able to convince Randall to change his story on the agreed terms that Silver becomes his caretaker. After Randall accuses a few members of the crew of theft to convince them he is just crazy and that had they decided to charge Silver they would do so without a witness, Silver takes on Randall as his caretaker as agreed. As they prepare to leave Nassau, Silver suggests that, given what he has seen, he believes that Randall is not as stupid or crazy as people believe. He goes on to surmise that Randall is actually a genius and that he has just been playing dumb as a way to remain on the crew and still profit without incurring the extra risk. Randall's only response to being called a genius is to break wind[7].

As the Walrus sails through a hurricane during the final leg of the voyage, Dr. Howell gets Silver to help him try and get Randall to agree to have a prosthetic leg fastened to his stump. Randall refuses, and sits in his hammock eating an apple, and points the knife he'd been using to slice it at the two when they move closer. Howell hands Silver the peg leg, declaring it to be his problem. Silver tries to convince Randall once more, saying it will make him more comfortable, but Randall refuses again. Silver then tosses the leg into Randall's lap and departs. After Flint's plans to take a large portion of gold come to light as Dufresne leads his mutiny, Randall's only involvement is stopping De Groot's attempts to apprehend Silver by knocking the former unconscious with his peg-leg. Randall manages to survive the failed attack on the Spanish Man O' War and makes it to shore[8].

Season Two[]

Randall survives the disastrous battle with the Spanish Man O’ War. Randall is present when  Flint illustrates his plan to take the Spanish Man O’ War, in which two men swim out while the sun is setting, but before the night watch arrives and eliminate the watch on the mainmast. They will then signal the rest of the crew that it is safe to board. Flint volunteers to be one of the first two out in exchange for the crew’s pardon. No one else volunteers except John Silver[9].

Randall continues to serve as the cook once the crew captures the Spanish Man O’ War. While he cooks for them, Silver muses aloud at trying to find a way to ingratiate himself with the crew. He tells Randall that the crew can hate him, but they need to need him. Muldoon then enters the galley and tells Randall to hurry up because the crew is hungry. Muldoon also tells Randall not to spit in his bowl, and that everyone knows he does that when he’s ornery. Muldoon promises that he will know if Randall spits in his bowl, and calls both Randall and Silver curs before leaving. Silver asks Randall if he is going to spit in the bowl anyway, and Randall does. While Silver is disgusted by this, Randall says he doesn’t like Muldoon. Silver gets an idea and asks Randall who else doesn’t like Muldoon. Silver begins trying to use information from Randall, who sees the less than savory things the crew does, but Randall sees because they don’t pay attention to him. Silver tells the crew that a member of the night watch fell asleep, and another member of the watch took three pieces out of his pocket. Wayne then stands up and punches Silver, and tells him to shut up while the crew is eating. Silver then explains to Flint that his strategy is to remind the crew of how much they dislike each other using gossip he obtains from Randall.

In Silver’s next address, he tells the crew that a member of the rigging team was moving his bowels over the side of the ship, but when, left with nothing else to wipe with, chose to use the bare palm of his hand. Dooley then stands up and punches Silver, knocking him to the ground, and then slowly drags his hand over Silver’s face.Silver’s next item is that a member of the third watch entered the livestock pen late the previous night. While he was not seen entering or exiting, it was clear he had been there, for it was seen that the dairy goat’s anus was irritated from overuse. A pirate then stands up and punches Silver, but when he looks to the crew, they are all angry with him. Joshua leads the other members of the crew in beating the pirate for having sex with the dairy goat.[10]

After this, Silver’s addresses become a tradition amongst the crew. Silver uses Randall’s information to tell the crew about an incident that involved Joji masturbating on the ship’s figurehead, much to the crew’s amusement. Silver then announces that they will not be anchoring in the harbor and going ashore, to Dooley's dismay, but the rest of the crew agrees to it. That night, Flint informs the crew that they will be combining with Captain Benjamin Hornigold's in order to oust Charles Vane from Fort Nassau, lest he use his position to extort the gold from them[11].

Randall is sent out with Silver to ensure that more pirates do not join Charles Vane. Silver pays a man to pretend that he is a survivor of Hornigold’s garrison in Fort Nassau, and he describes to the people of Nassau horrific acts of butchery that Vane’s men enacted. Afterwards, they approach a crowd and Silver tries to talk to one of the men about the feud between Vane and Flint over the fort. The man then tells Silver that they pulled a Walrus man out of the water, and Silver sees that it is Billy Bones, long thought dead after falling overboard while the Walrus escaped from the Scarborough. Silver and Randall hide Billy in a tobacco storehouse. Randall tells Silver that they’re doing wrong but Silver says that Billy will have his fair share of feelings over the events that have transpired over the past weeks. Silver tells Randall that if those feelings are shared with the crew, it could destroy whatever chance they have at getting the gold. When Billy wakes up, he tells them to fetch Gates[12].


Randall stays in the storehouse cutting strips of tobacco while Silver discusses Gates' death with Billy Bones. He claims to have seen the absolute heartache in Flint's eyes after the deed was done. A shocked Billy asks how Flint is still captain. Silver explains that the crew realized that Flint's leadership is the best way for them to get the gold. Silver continues to try to convince Bones that Flint is doing the right thing. Billy says he knows Silver is worried that Billy will try and get the men to challenge Flint. Silver begs Billy to see the bigger picture as he did when he took the blank page from Singleton's corpse and said it was the schedule. Billy replies that he's had enough and says he is going to see his brothers, but is prevented because he is shackled to a post. Silver says that until he knows what Billy will say to the men, he can't let him say anything to the men.

Silver interrogates Billy about how he escaped the Navy's clutches. Billy ignores the question and asks Silver why he is defending Flint. Silver explains that he's realized that a crew needs two men to function, one to tell the men what to do and another to why they want to do it. With Gates dead, Silver thought he could fill the latter role. Billy remains shocked that Silver was able to do this, and he smugly replies that he's a hard man not to like. Randall then pipes up and says "we like him." Billy replies that Silver must be very dangerous or very stupid for trying to fill a position that cost Gates his life. Silver replies that he won't make the mistake of believing in Flint, to him Flint is just a means to an end- the gold. Silver tries again to ask Billy to describe the events of the battle with the Andromache. Billy replies that he should be more worried about what took him out. He adds that sooner or later Silver will have to release him, for the longer he delays the more likely Billy will take it personally. Silver responds that he has all the power in this situation, but Billy replies that he doesn't while Randall is present. Randall then repeats "we like him, too."[13]

Billy is released and he goes to the men and tells them that Flint tried to save him. Shortly thereafter, Hornigold calls for an election over the captaincy of the combined crew after Flint reneges on his promise to drive Vane out of the fort[14].

That night, the crew gathers in the warehouse. Hornigold goes first, and gives a speech about how Flint is guilty of theft, betrayal, lies and murder. He says Flint is untrustworthy and will betray all of them if it suits him. The proceedings are interrupted when Nicholas and Vincent return with the news that the gold has been reclaimed by the Spanish. The crew argues amongst themselves for a while before Silver goes to speak on behalf of Flint. Silver points out that Flint is the only one offering them a path where they retain both their lives and their freedom, and is persuasive enough that over 70 of the 107 men to vote for Flint[15].

As the crew sails to Charles Town, Randall listens to John Silver's Account of Goings-On, where he instead tells them a personal story of the first time he saw Charles Town. He tells the crew that he was amazed by the city walls and fleet. In the town square, he saw a pirate being hanged while the crowd laughed and cheered. He warns the men that everyone in Charles Town wants to see them dead, and the crew will have to be focused and at their best if Flint is to make it through this alive[16].

While the crew relaxes at night, Silver goes belowdecks to find Randall so he has new tidbits for the Goings On. When he arrives at the galley, he begins asking Randall for gossip before realizing something is amiss, and then realizes that Randall has been stabbed to death. Silver and Vincent then hide, while Charles Vane and his men begin their assault.[17]

Trivia[]

  • Director T. J. Scott claimed that Lawrence Joffe, the actor who played Randall, was the only actor on the set who stayed in character in between takes.

Memorable Quotes[]

"Randall was the ship's boatswain before he got beaten to within an inch of his life while taking a prize. He lost his wits, but not our loyalty. We like Randall. [As for] You? We'll see."
Billy Bones to John Silver about Randall[src]

Image Gallery[]

References[]

Appearances[]

Season One
I. II. III. IV.
V. VI. VII. VIII.
Season Two
IX. X. XI. XII. XIII.
XIV. XV. XVI. XVII. XVIII.
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