Hornblower: Duty Page #6

That bonaparte's

brother could be

A tool for

propaganda,

But after

much debate,

It has been

agreed that

This callow youth

means little to us

After all,

At least

politically.

Indeed,

he could prove

A severe

embarrassment

To his majesty,

if he were to

Set foot on

english soil.

Mmm. From a military

standpoint, he knows nothing.

He's been in america

for the last 3 years.

He's no use to us.

Which is why

we have decided

To take this

course of action.

So, captain hornblower's

to throw his fish

Back into the sea.

Having endangered his ship,

Having him aboard

for nothing.

Etheridge:
not for

nothing, sir edward.

Not entirely.

You will

deliver jerome

Back to france,

and then you

Will return

and rendezvous with

The american ship

"liberty,"

And reunite

father and daughter.

But why part the couple?

Pellew:
it seems jerome

Married somewhat in haste

And against his brother's

express command.

And now boney

won't let him

Set foot in france

unless he's alone

And penitent.

Which is why

we found them

Rowing ashore,

Not because

their captain

Would not land them,

but because

France would not

let him,

Not with her

on board.

Your intelligence

surpasses your occupation,

Captain hornblower.

You should be

in politics.

Thank you, sir,

but i fear

I would not have

the heart for it.

I fear you underestimate

yourself, sir.

Now, good day, gentlemen.

It seems

the diplomatic service

Have made their orders

perfectly clear.

Perfectly, sir.

I hope your admiral's

orders are equally clear.

Yes, sir. I shall

trust my intuition

As well as observe

And execute

my orders.

Captain hornblower.

Sir.

You were very fortunate

The day captain bracegirdle

was lost

That the shell

did not explode

Aboard the "hotspur,"

were you not?

Yes, sir.

And i say,

it's unbelievable

What a hotbed of gossip

a fleet can be.

The wildest tales

are circulating

Regarding that shell.

You cannot hold me

Responsible for

that, sir.

No, indeed.

May good fortune

Always go with you,

hornblower.

Thank you, sir.

Set a course,

mr. Prowse.

Take us back to

The "grasshopper's"

grave.

Aye-Aye, sir.

We've been put off

long enough, mr. Bush.

I hope the men are

ready to fight.

I fear the men wish

only to be rid of

The bonapartes, sir.

May i ask

why we didn't

Unload them while we

had the chance?

No, mr. Bush.

You may not.

My apologies, sir.

Monsieur and madame

bonaparte

Are asking for you.

Tell them that

i do not wish

To speak to them.

As you wish, sir.

But... prepare them

a decent meal.

Yes, mr. Orrock

had kept them on

Rations, sir,

in order that

The men's morale

might improve.

Morale will improve

in due course.

Meanwhile, doughty,

a decent meal,

If you please.

Why, aye, sir.

Rest assured, mr. Bush,

It will be

their last together.

What's this?

And i thought

they were on

Ship's biscuits

and water.

Styles, let me pass.

It is simply

a bowl of stew.

No. It's a bowl of

our stew.

Don't be

an idiot, man.

There's plenty

enough for everyone

On second thought,

You wouldn't catch

me eating that.

I know what's in it.

I reckon

the frogs deserved

A bit of extra meat.

You bloody simple-Minded

muttonhead.

You wouldn't understand

the notion of

Taking some pride in

doing your duty.

Go mollycoddle

your foreign pets.

The only thing that

makes this bloody life

Bearable to me

Is being

a decent steward!

The bonapartes are

jonah, doughty.

You're serving

a bloody jonah!

Superstitious

dumb nonsense.

No good has come of

having them aboard!

Superstitious

dumb nonsense!

Belay there!

Doughty, styles!

I'm sorry to put you

out like this, sir.

You struck

a superior officer.

Once we return

to england,

You will face

a court-Martial.

And i will hang, sir.

They will have

no choice.

Your second shirt

needs a button, sir,

And a darning

of the cuff.

Why did you do it?

I don't know, sir.

Take him below.

Put him in irons.

I don't wish

to look at him.

Mr. Orrock

seems forgiving.

He thinks that

doughty was

Simply trying to

defend himself.

Doughty was defending

My decision to feed

the guests.

But he'll hang

all the same,

No matter what i say.

Our one aim is

To complete

our mission, mr. Bush,

To discover exactly what

Boney's up to

along this coast.

Nothing must be allowed

to distract us from that.

Then we'd be

better off without

Our guests on board,

sir.

Man:
land ho!

Hop on leg.

You alone.

Where are we?

A little

south of brest.

You are to be

returned to france.

This is wonderful.

Why?

My men will

row you ashore.

I'll help my wife.

Perhaps we can have

some assistance

With our possessions.

Thank you.

You travel alone.

I what?

You depart the ship

Alone, or not

at all.

It's your choice.

Rot in an english

prison or...

Or seize the chance

To change your

brother's mind.

So you know.

Why did you not

tell your wife that

Bonaparte does not

Accept this

marriage?

Because i love her,

And because he will

accept it.

I will persuade him.

This is the only

chance you have.

No. I can't go

without her.

It'll break her heart.

I don't doubt it.

Matthews.

Get the boat ready.

Aye-Aye, sir.

I may be

a bonaparte, captain,

But do not judge me

as my brother.

I'm a man

in my own right,

Whatever my family name.

It's not my place

to judge you,

Merely to follow

my orders.

What would

you do, captain?

Would you

abandon your wife,

Leave her without

any notice?

Tell me.

I'd like to know.

What would you do?

My duty.

My duty, then.

Where is my husband?

Where is he?

My jerome?

And why are we

set free?

He's not here.

He's gone home.

Home?

To france.

He was permitted

to return,

But only if alone.

He agreed with

those terms.

You're lying.

What have you done?

If you've hurt him-

I've done nothing.

Damn you.

Jerome! Jerome!

Calm yourself.

He would not

leave me.

He would not.

He loves me.

Are you so naive?

Look, this is war.

Thousands and thousands

of men,

Putting their lives

at risk.

A tyrant

destroying europe.

Do you honestly think

That what you feel

in your heart

Compares with that?

When we return

to england,

In neutral waters,

You will be delivered

to the "liberty,"

Which will return you

to america.

I hope the french

kill you, sir.

The odds are certainly

in their favor.

Perhaps tomorrow

they may succeed.

No bonaparte on board?

My sore head has

all but mended,

And there's a nice

pretty bit of snow.

Things are looking up,

mr. Prowse.

There's no pretty about

snow at sea, mr. Orrock.

We will take

advantage of

The mist,

mr. Prowse,

If not the snow.

Mr. Bush and i are

to go ashore again,

So again,

the ship is yours.

Aye-Aye, sir.

Best make haste, sir.

No telling how long

this mist will hold.

Rest assured,

mr. Prowse,

I have no intention

of leaving you

For any longer

than i need.

Come on! Come on, you lazy

little bastards!

Allez! Allez!

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