Hornblower: Loyalty

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It's definitely

the hotspur, sir.

Yes, matthews.

Styles, put a ball close to

her stern, but not too close.

Aye, aye, sir. Close

but not too close it is.

But it's-

It's the hotspur, sir.

Aah!

Styles,

for god's sake, man.

Sorry, sir.

Look, sir. Now she

shows her true colors.

I thought something

was wrong.

Well, if the frogs have

taken the hotspur, sir,

It's only proper

we should take it back.

Indeed, matthews.

Lay us alongside. Aye, aye, sir.

Matthews:
gunners, stand by!

Contact at the next head!

Matthews:
come here! Look at that!

That's their idea

of the cavalry?

Pity the poor bastards.

Why has he

got the flag down?

Where is your captain?

I don't know, sir.

It's to me.

Oh, yes.

And do you surrender?

Well done, sir,

And, uh, i just thought

you ought to know, sir.

There's a cutter

headed this way.

And do you suppose this cutter

to be a threat, matthews?

No, sir.

I don't quite know

what it is, sir.

I just thought

you ought to know, sir.

Look at this, sir.

He served

the victory, sir.

Are you british?

Irish, sir.

And proud

to be, sir.

English rule

is ireland's curse,

And if the french offer

us a hand, we'll take it.

The irish rebellion

was crushed years ago, man.

It's not

finished yet.

Man:
ahoy!

Peace, lads!

Different man:

it's peace with france!

It's peace! It's peace,

lads! Lads, it's peace!

Ahoy, the ship!

Can you hear us?

It's peace!

Peace with france!

It's peace?

It's peace!

Leave him, matthews.

Killing one more poor devil

won't change the world.

The war is over, man.

Yeah. Yeah!

The war is over!

The war is over.

Man:
lay on your oars!

Homeward a larboard!

Man:
all right. Mind

your back. Coming through.

Man:

all right, missis.

What can i do

for you today?

Different man:

mr. Hornblower,

You're here to redeem

your gray coat, no doubt.

The weather

is most inclement.

Alas, no.

Ah.

I can offer you

Alas, mr. Hornblower,

with the peace,

There's little demand

for naval swords.

Watch where

you're headed, man.

Beg your pardon, sir.

Sir?

Sir.

Mr. Bush?

It's good to see you.

It's good

to see you, sir.

You needn't call me sir.

Look. No epaulet.

But you're a commander.

You're captain

of the retribution.

I was a commander.

Now that we're at peace,

I'm once again

a mere lieutenant.

Infernal luck.

And what's more,

lieutenant without a ship.

Me, too. Well, it's

cold. Where's your coat?

Why don't we go

to my lodgings?

We can talk there.

I come every month,

collect my half pay,

Stay wherever

it's convenient.

Cheap,

in other words.

Well, why not

lodge with me?

It's cheap here,

i assure you.

Oh, it's you.

Lieutenant bush,

mrs. Mason,

The lady

of the house.

Mr. Bush will be

my guest tonight.

You're very free with your

hospitality, mr. Hornblower,

For someone whose rent

is so far in arrears.

I don't mind paying

in advance, madam.

It'll be a shilling

for the bed.

I can't wash the sheets

for less than that,

Not with soap,

as it is.

And that just leaves mr.

Hornblower's 15 that he owes us.

Oh, uh, sorry, mother.

I forgot.

Mr. Hornblower gave me half a crown

this morning. It's up in my room.

If you spent less time daydreaming...

You're just like your

father- Head in the clouds-

And look where

that got him.

I want that balance

by the end of the week.

This way.

I'll be up

presently.

She doesn't mean

to be so hard on you.

I think she does,

maria,

And with

good reason.

I'm not a good lodger,

not by any means.

Oh, please don't, sir.

I know you're good for it.

But your mother

will expect to see

This mythical

half crown.

I can handle my mother.

I have something put by

for my teaching,

And you have more need

of the money than me.

You truly are

a good friend, maria.

I thought i had none

left in the world.

I hope i'm more

than that, sir.

Maria, don't pin

your hopes on me.

I'm but a penniless

sailor with few connections

And fewer prospects.

I know you are

a true gentleman,

And a gentleman...

Needs his sword.

Well, thank you.

Please, sir.

You have an admirer-

Your landlady's

daughter.

I saw the way

she looked at you.

Maria? No.

No, no, no.

Nonsense.

How could you

possibly afford

To come here

on half pay?

Follow me,

and i'll show you.

Man:
ah,

mr. Hornblower.

Are you well, sir?

Admiral pellew, sir.

Yes. Very well, thank you.

You remember lieutenant william bush.

We served together

in the renown.

To great effect, as i

recall. Thank you, sir.

You joining us for cards, mr. Bush?

Mr. Bush is purely a

spectator this evening,

But i shall be

honored, as always.

Then allow me

to introduce

An old acquaintance

to the table.

I think you'll find this

a very stimulating contest.

You earn

your living here?

Well, my winnings usually

outweigh my losses.

Ah, hornblower.

Good evening,

captain hammond.

A humble sloop takes on

two ships of the line. Hmm.

Now, we shall soon see

if that is valor

Or mere foolhardiness.

Gentleman,

my nephew jack hammond.

Well, step up, lad.

Step up.

Good evening, gentlemen.

On his first visit to the

fleshpots of portsmouth,

Hoping to be posted

to a ship.

You're in good company.

Some of the navy's

finest captains come here.

Pellew:
so, mr. Hammond,

given the choice,

With whom

would you serve?

Though, naturally, i

can make no promises.

Well, come along.

Come along.

You study

the naval gazette.

Well, there is

one man, sir,

But he's not a captain.

I've read much

of your exploits, sir.

What? Horn-

Well, i'm sorry.

I'm in no position

to offer you anything.

Indeed. You should think

more carefully, sir,

Before you nail

your colors to the mast.

Well, if he wishes to go into

battle with mr. Hornblower,

There's always

the card table,

But i warn you,

mr. Hammond.

The lieutenant is an

exceptionally gifted player.

My trick again,

by god.

One more trick,

and the game is ours.

Well, you and your nephew

Have all the luck of the

devil, captain hammond.

Mr. Hornblower, why are

you a lieutenant again

And no longer

a commander?

Because my promotion

was disallowed

When the retribution

was laid up.

The country can't afford

to keep a wartime navy.

Otherwise, we'd be paying this

damned income tax every year.

Let's hope england's

haste to decommission

Does not prove

to be premature.

What do you think,

mr. Bush,

Or do you decline

from speculating

As well as gambling?

I'm equally poor

at both, sir,

But if i were

a gambling man,

I'd wager that this

peace won't last long.

Whatever bony's planning,

We'll be ready for him,

won't we, uncle?

This is hardly

the place to gossip

About military

matters, boy.

It's an officers club.

Even in such illustrious company, sir,

The best part of valor

is discretion.

And for all we know,

mr. Hornblower here

Might be sharing

his berth

With some republican

strumpet.

Oh.

Indeed,

i'm not, sir.

Oh, no,

not mr. Hornblower.

Unlucky with women.

Unlucky at cards.

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