Hornblower: Duty Page #2

At your service.

Styles, belay that order.

Doughty, i'd like

some coffee.

With pleasure, sir.

I know how to cook

a bit myself.

I was the captain's

last steward.

We're giving him

the beef in crust

With french beans

and spanish fritters.

French and spanish.

Mr. Hornblower

won't like that.

They're vegetable

styles, not navies.

You might want to

put a little bit

Of extra pepper

in that.

Is the beef not

to your liking, sir?

Yes, thank you.

Sir edward always

enjoyed my royal

Beef casserole

in dainty crust.

I have simple tastes.

There's not too much

pepper, is there?

I thought the wedding

most pleasant, sir.

I never thanked you

properly, william,

For the carriage

and the hands.

Mrs. Hornblower said

you made her very happy.

I believe it is you that

made her happy, sir.

No doubt

she considers herself

A very lucky woman.

[Clearing throat]

that may be, mr. Bush, but...

We now have more important

things concerning us,

Like finding out what happened

to the "grasshopper. "

Captain bracegirdle...

What manner

of man is he?

He's wise, amusing...

and was once very kind

To a nervous,

young midshipman.

My apologies, sir.

Mr. Prowse's respects,

But he requests your

presence on deck.

Very well.

Doughty, i do not need

your assistance

Every time i stand up

or sit down.

I'm not an admiral.

No, sir. Of course.

Man, shouting:

oh, to be out

In the open air

again, eh?

Thank you, mr. Orrock.

How does it steer?

Prowse:
holding

steady, sir, but...

Always a "but,"

mr. Prowse.

Ship boat!

Where away?

4 points off

the larboard bow!

Couldn't be the "grasshopper's"

people, sir.

Not this far north.

Well, whoever

they are, mr. Bush,

We must go to their aid.

Mr. Orrock!

Launch the quarter boat!

Aye-Aye, sir!

Mr. Prowse!

Take us to windward!

Get her under our lee!

Aye-Aye, sir!

Pull, men! Pull!

Close as you dare,

mr. Prowse!

Aye-Aye, sir!

We're coming!

Hold on!

Thank god, sirs!

We're sinking! Thank god!

Americans!

They're a long way

from home!

Here, sir!

Take hold!

This way, sir!

Come on, ma'am!

No, maguire!

You go first!

After you, ma'am.

I insist!

Man:
quickly now!

Both of you!

Do as i say, maguire!

Come on, ma'am!

Take my hand!

She's gone!

She's gone over!

Where is she?

Matthews,

man, where is she?

Matthews:
overboard!

[Coughing]

help!

Help!

It's all right, ma'am!

I've got you!

It's all right, sir.

Just grab hold of me, sir.

I'm tied to a rope, sir.

Well done, doughty.

You swim, doughty!

You cook,

and you swim!

What a useful man

you are!

Thank you, sir.

I thank you, sir.

My husband and i

will thank you.

Merci, monsieur.

He's a frog.

Man:
no!

[Speaking french]

I'm not french!

My name is joseph billen.

I'm from switzerland!

This is my

american wife.

Bound for france,

Yet you claim

to be swiss.

Mr. Bush!

Woman:
joseph's father

is dying, captain.

We were on our way

to switzerland,

So he could see me

before-

He wants to meet betsy.

He wants to see us.

It's his final dream.

And you would risk

this dream by leaving

Your ship and attempting

to row ashore

In a quarter boat

in a storm?

Betsy:
i am

to blame, sir.

Our captain refused

to put in to brest.

I offered maguire

money.

And you took it?

It was more money

Than i could refuse,

sir.

And we'll offer you

the same amount, captain,

If you'll take us

ashore now.

Mr. And mrs. Billen

will occupy

Mr. Bush's quarters.

Aye-Aye, sir.

As for you, we've always

room for another hand.

I'm an american

citizen, sir.

Well, you're an able

seaman in the royal navy

Until you can prove it.

I won't take

your money, sir,

And until this storm

has abated,

You'll be going nowhere.

So we don't trust them

at all, sir?

We don't know enough

yet either way...

But let's be cautious

until we do.

No sign of

the "grasshopper," sir!

Though, i fear,

in this weather,

We'd not see her, even if

she were right before us!

If we can find

the ship's boat

In the middle of

the ocean, mr. Prowse,

We'll find

a sloop of war.

How is our french

friend, sir?

He's swiss,

mr. Orrock,

You'd do well to

remember that.

I've shown our guests

to the quarters,

But some of the men, sir,

they're asking

Who it is who's

come aboard.

What did you

tell them?

I said they were

american, sir,

And i told maguire and

doughty to say the same,

But i fear when

the rest of the men

Hear the gentleman's

accent, sir,

They may jump to

the wrong conclusion.

Indeed they might.

So, maguire, what

are you at heart then?

A paddy or a yank?

Me dad was a paddy

all his life.

But for me,

it's life, liberty,

And the pursuit

of happiness,

Which don't include

serving

In his majesty's

navy.

It's his majesty's navy that

saved your life, shipmate.

Don't you forget it.

Here comes the man who

saved the captain's life.

Anyone could have

done that.

He even needed a rope.

I wouldn't have needed

no bloody rope.

Nay, man.

You can't even swim.

Hero, my eye.

Look at him.

Mollycoddling

the bloody americans.

The americans are

our guests, styles.

I'm sure you would

be equally attentive,

Were you still

the captain's steward.

Enter.

Ahh! Madam billen.

I trust you are rested.

Yes, thank you,

captain hornblower.

Forgive me, madam,

but i think it might

Be best if both

you and your husband

Confined yourselves

to your cabin.

You mean

we are prisoners.

No, madam,

but we are at war,

And this is not

a pleasure craft.

I only wanted

to say thank you,

Captain hornblower.

Sir, i don't suppose it

is my place to say,

But you were looking for

a ship, were you not?

An english ship.

We are.

What of it?

Well, we saw a ship

in distress.

Too close to the rocks,

our captain said,

Indeed, he refused

to even consider

Landing us

in such waters.

When? When did

you see this?

Only yesterday.

It was further

north, sir.

They were sailing south.

You're looking

the wrong way.

You tell me this now.

Why now?

Forgive me for asking.

So you might

set us ashore,

Captain hornblower.

In france.

We do not wish to impose

upon you any longer.

Your husband sent you

to me, didn't he?

No, sir.

I do not think my

husband would thank me

For trading in this

fashion with you.

Because he's a frenchman?

You know little

of the seas,

So i'll forgive you.

But let me inform you.

Were you in

the british navy,

The punishment for striking

any superior is death.

I'd hate to think that i

had saved you for nothing.

Northwest, sir?

Yes, mr. Bush,

northwest.

Bush:
sir, i don't

trust the lady.

I think it could

well be a trap.

I know, mr. Bush.

But she's little

to gain

And much to lose

by lying.

I fear, sir, that this

may take us back

Into the eye

of the storm.

Yes, mr. Prowse.

So... we'd be heading

into a trap

And a storm then,

gentlemen.

Rest assured that

captain bracegirdle

Would do the same

for us.

Aye-Aye, sir.

No sign of the

"grasshopper," sir.

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