Hornblower: Duty Page #4

Splintered

on those rocks.

And what happened

to those who survived?

What happened to you?

They did not blame me

for my actions.

They were loyal to me

to the last.

They managed

to get ashore.

And as those bastard

frogs came at us,

My men stood by me,

And my men died for me.

And in amongst their bodies,

I was left for dead.

I wish i were dead,

horatio.

I lost my ship

and all my men.

And even if

a court martial

Were to acquit me,

I'd never get

a command again.

You can't be sure of that.

Can i not?

If you'll excuse me.

If it helps you to know...

I believe

that i would have

Done the same.

Whatever the frogs

are up to in that inlet,

It is our duty

to find out.

The gamble you took...

i would've taken it, too.

All well?

Aye, sir. All well.

I wouldn't count on us

making it till morning.

What's got to you, man?

Nothing, sir.

It's just...

Got this feeling,

that's all.

There's nothing out there,

but a long, cold night.

Come.

I wish you would keep

to your quarters.

Woman:
it is my husband

you fear wandering,

Is it not?

And he is fast asleep.

He has the right idea.

You wish we weren't

aboard your ship, sir?

It certainly doesn't help

my mission, madame.

That is all

you care about?

I fear my husband

would be the same

Were he at war.

Did he give you that?

As a token

of his love, yes.

Do you have a keepsake

from a sweetheart?

No, madam.

When we left, my... wife,

She-She gave me

some gloves.

Are you long married?

No.

Nor me.

Put us ashore, sir,

as soon as you can.

We are not a cargo

you wish to hold.

Please. Trust me.

Bloody hell.

Don't shoot!

It's me!

It's your old friend,

maguire!

It's maguire!

Over here!

Take this line!

All fast! Pull away!

Pull away, boys!

Men:
heave!

Heave!

We heard

you were dead, man.

I very nearly was, sir,

But it will take more

than a few frogs to hold me.

You were captured, then?

I was sir, yes.

Outnumbered i was, sir.

I tried to fight,

But it was

absolutely useless.

And then

a miraculous escape.

We're boarded!

Man:
all aboard!

Do you believe me now, eh?

Come on!

Well done, soldier.

Let's find our man.

He'll be in the first

lieutenant's cabin.

Hornblower:
wolfe?

Don't waste time here.

Drop your weapon,

wolfe.

Captain hornblower,

You have something

belonging to france

And i'm here to collect it.

So you're still

risking your life

For bonaparte.

You know how it is.

He scratches my back,

i scratch his.

Die!

Styles, with me.

Put the weapon down,

wolfe!

Put the weapon down!

Stop there, maguire,

or i'll shoot.

I wish my guests to stay.

Ignore him, maguire.

He'd never shoot a man

in cold blood.

But i would, and gladly.

I will kill him, wolfe.

I have cause enough.

Mr. Bush, relieve him

of his weapon.

He comes near me

And i shoot you,

hornblower.

So which is it to be,

me or you?

Or us both?

Kill him, mr. Bush,

And let him die

for france.

Can't.

The decent englishman.

If only you had

the guts to match.

Obey my orders, mr. Bush,

damn you!

All right, mr. Bush,

let us have it your way.

Let us surrender.

Hornblower:

wolfe's getting away!

Stop him!

I surrender, captain.

I am not swiss.

I am a frenchman.

I know that you are

french, monsieur.

Madam, might i see

that locket?

I thought i recognized

this crest.

A prominent family,

i believe.

The "b" does not stand

for "betsy" does it?

Does it?

Who do i have the pleasure

of addressing, sir?

This "b" is for...

Bonaparte.

I'm jerome lucien

alexandre bonaparte.

I'm the brother

of napoleon.

Lock him up.

Man:
marines!

Lock them both up.

You have the brother

Of england's

archenemy aboard.

I'd say you have

good reason

To return to england.

Is that what you would do

if you were captain?

Something else

is happening here.

Ships cannons on land.

Gunboats, frigates,

and now wolfe.

Would you leave and let

All these questions

go unanswered?

We've been boarded once

And we'll be

boarded again.

Bonaparte wants

his brother back.

Bonaparte wants the world.

He wouldn't waste

such time and effort on-

On family.

No, we are but a diversion.

I'm sure of it.

Well, if you're right,

Let me be the one

to go ashore.

This is still

my mission, horatio,

And if i am to face

a court martial

For the loss of my ship,

Let it not be in vain.

Man:
stand by

to leave ship!

Mr. Bush, a moment

if you please.

When wolfe

held his gun to me,

You should

have shot him.

Damn it, man,

He could have taken

the whole ship.

I couldn't do it.

Don't disobey me,

william.

Never again.

I command the "hotspur,"

And that is all

that matters to me.

Captain bracegirdle

has lost his ship

And he's a carcass

of a man.

I'd rather die

than share his fate.

Man:
bonaparte's

brother, damn it,

On one of my ships.

Which one?

Which brother

or which ship?

Mr. Etheridge,

This is not a matter

for jest.

Good god,

boney's brother.

I had a right to know.

And now you do.

The ship is the "hotspur. "

How do you know this?

We have contacts in france.

So tell me,

is the captain

Of the "hotspur"

a naval officer?

Yes. He's one

of my best.

Good, so now

the weather is improved,

I trust he will deliver

his burden back to england

In, say, two days?

I'm sure the captain

will trust his intuition

And exercise

the proper judgement.

That is all.

I'll say good day, sir.

The french know

we're here,

So let's keep

this visit brief.

Matthews you will go

with captain bracegirdle

To the south

of the inlet.

Mr. Bush,

you will come with me

To the north.

Mr. Orrock.

Sir?

I shall leave you

in command.

If we are gone any longer

than two hours,

You know

what you must do.

Press sail to england, sir,

And deliver our guests

to the authorities.

Good. Let's hope

we all sail with it.

Carry on.

Don't forget, captain,

we only have two hours.

I won't.

I ask you,

Going all that way

to face boney's army

When we've got his own

brother right here...

Styles.

You watch yourself.

Aye-Aye, sir.

Keep a sharp look out.

Any sign of the french,

And you return

to the ship.

Aye-Aye, sir.

Keep up, matthews.

It's but a stroll.

Begging your pardon, sir,

It's a bloody great cliff.

Prowse:

rather them than me.

Mr. Orrock, sir,

I was just wondering if...

Well, i had been making

our guests breakfast.

They're prisoners now.

No breakfasts.

They can go hungry.

Let the men

see them go hungry.

Do you have a problem,

mr. Prowse?

No, sir.

You're in command.

Another ship's cannon.

Come on.

I think we might be

outnumbered.

Come along.

Time's winged chariot.

oh, jackie,

oh, we rescued her

and she don't need

her pony

but with her

on her..

she's got a...

Stop that at once.

It's just a little ditty, sir.

There are nothing

in the articles of war

Saying we can't make up

our own words,

Is there, sir?

I see no ship, sir.

Then they must be

further down

Where it opens out again.

But that must be

another mile, sir.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes