Hornblower: Duty Page #5

We might be able

to get there.

We'll never get back

in the time, sir.

I've come this far,

matthews.

I'm not giving up now,

But neither do i wish

to remain in france.

I think i'll boat across

To captain hornblower's side

at the inlet.

Tell him

i'm right behind you.

Tell him

i need more time.

But, sir-

You wait there

for captain hornblower,

Send our boat

back for me.

If you're sure, sir.

It's an order, matthews.

Pleasant as ever.

I knew he wasn't here

To rescue

a missing frenchman,

However noble

that frenchman's birth.

Wolfe:
you lazy dog!

We truly are surrounded.

Bracegirdle:
great god,

let this be it.

Damn.

What are you doing here,

matthews?

What's happened

to captain bracegirdle?

He said he needed

more time, sir.

He said he won't be long.

I sent the other boat

back to wait for him, sir.

Very well.

You'll have

to come with us.

Aye-Aye, sir.

Have you good news

for me, soldier?

How long have we left?

Dead on, sir.

Thought you might

want these, sir.

Wind's getting up, sir.

Prepare to make sail,

mr. Prowse.

Aye-Aye, sir.

Captain!

At the cliff top, sir!

Glass.

Let's close the distance

for them, mr. Prowse.

Aye-Aye, sir.

It's not a ship's cannon

this time, is it, sir?

No, mr. Bush.

I don't

believe it is.

Row, damn you! Row!

Captain hornblower!

I know!

I can't make out

what he's saying.

It's not the cannons!

The ship!

Not a chance.

Tres bien.

Now, let's see

if we can get the real prize.

3 cheers for the captain!

Hip hip!

Resume your duty,

mr. Orrock.

Throw the damn thing

overboard.

Enter.

Ah, mr. Bush.

We sail for england.

Tell mr. Prowse

to plot a course.

Aye-Aye, sir.

Should i get doughty

And, say,

look at your hand?

Do you suppose

he has a potion for it?

Do you suppose

he has a potion

For captain bracegirdle?

No, i wish to be

left alone for awhile.

I wish to write my report.

I trust you'll mention

Your part

in the action, sir?

I'm sorry, mr. Bush?

The shells.

Do you mean

the 5-Inch shell

That was fired from shore

Which failed to explode,

mr. Bush?

That shell?

Well, that's hardly

a full account, sir.

Was it not

a 5-Inch shell?

Yes, it was.

Was it not fired

from shore?

Of course.

Did it perhaps explode

Without my noticing,

mr. Bush?

The reason it

didn't explode, sir,

Is because of

your bravery,

Bravery which

should not

Go unacknowledged.

Don't presume to tell me

i was brave, mr. Bush.

I thought i'd be

blown to bloody rags...

Like my dear friend.

Which makes

your heroism, sir,

All the greater.

We are not actresses.

We are

the king's officers,

And we have

a duty to do.

And we've not

a thought to spare

For anything else.

Now, remember that,

mr. Bush.

Yes, sir.

Now... take us home.

Enter.

Ah.

Hornblower.

My report, sir.

I regret

to inform you that

Captain bracegirdle was

killed in action, sir.

Indeed.

That is

to be regretted.

He died in the line of

duty, sir,

And with honor.

He was endeavoring

to let us know

What he had discovered

when his boat was...

Well, destroyed.

However,

you should have returned

When you discovered

the identity of

Your passengers.

Yes, sir.

Something's happening

along that coast.

An army led by

a tyrant apprentice.

You remember

the renegade wolfe, sir.

God. That damn man

is back to haunt us, is he?

Yes, sir, and i'd like

to return to france

To find out exactly

what he's planning.

Well, i'm afraid,

hornblower,

It's not quite as

simple as that.

The diplomatic service

has taken quite an interest

In your antics.

They knew i had

a bonaparte on board.

Indeed they did.

And their authority

knows no bounds.

Their authority, in fact,

Has quarantined

your ship.

Quarantined?

Lest half of portsmouth

Be privy to

matters of state,

No one is allowed

off the "hotspur,"

And no one is

allowed on.

Sorry. It's not

my decision.

Mr. Bush has already

been informed.

And how long

will this last?

Surely this quarantine

doesn't include me.

What will i do?

I'd make the most of

this sorry situation

And go home

to your wife.

Try and

remind yourself

What you're

fighting for.

You've been here 3 days,

Yet each morning

you seem

Surprised to see me.

Pleasantly surprised,

my dear.

And each morning,

You go to the window

And look out at

the harbor.

You're right,

of course.

Oh, horrie.

Can't you forget about

your ship for one day?

No, maria, i don't

believe i can,

Not while my men are

still aboard her.

Do you think they'll be

let ashore before christmas?

I hope not.

I think the "hotspur"

may set sail

By the week's end.

I know you want me here.

But right now, i...

I wish i was at sea.

It's where i'm needed.

Try to understand.

I found your gloves

whilst you were sleeping.

They're in

a sorry state.

It was nothing.

Perhaps you might

tell me

Some stories of

your life at sea.

They're not stories,

maria,

And i do not wish

to talk about it.

Then do not expect me

to understand.

Strangers on board,

you'll look to the ford.

Oh...

But i was right

all along.

Right about what?

Well, first,

Our guests turned out

to be bonapartes.

Next,

captain bracegirdle

Goes and gets himself

killed,

Then we're left

out here to rot

As if we've got the

plague. We're cursed.

Oh, do shut up, styles.

It's bad enough

you look like

A gypsy soothsayer

Without babbling on

like one.

What do you care?

Steady.

You didn't even know

captain bracegirdle.

You're just as much

a stranger on this ship

As-As our frogs.

It's just a bad

turn of events, that's all.

Bad? What, it's all

right for the captain?

Having a grand old

time on shore.

This ship's gone

all to hell.

I didn't catch

that, styles.

I think styles

was just saying

How much he

loves serving in

The "hotspur,"

mr. Bush.

Isn't that

right, styles?

Yes, sir.

That's right, sir.

Bush:
matthews.

Be careful what you

let the men mumble.

Wouldn't want them

to be misunderstood.

I don't care much

for reading,

But i'm told there's

mention of you in here.

I'm sure it's about

captain bracegirdle

Rather than myself.

Yes, i hear

he died a hero.

You men in uniform.

Could've been

you, horatio.

"Captain hornblower

reported the 'hotspur'

"Was struck by

a 5-Inch shell,

"Which did considerable

damage aloft

But which, fortunately,

failed to explode. "

Oh, horrie.

It was nothing.

As clear as it is

written in black and white,

It did not even explode.

You could have died.

My friend bracegirdle

did exactly that,

And i wish i were

back aboard my ship

Ensuring he did not

die in vain.

I'm sorry.

Maria, please.

Please don't cry.

Horatio.

You think you're just

the "hotspur"'s captain.

You think only of

your 100 crew.

But you're also

a husband now.

Is it too much

that you might

Think of one wife?

That you might

think of her as

Your duty, too?

The fat arse of

the body politic

Finally stirs,

And this is

what we get.

Etheridge:
it was

thought, initially,

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