Hornblower: Mutiny Page #4

Well?

Sir, do I proceed?

Well...

It's quite straightforward,

Dr. Clive.

Mr. Matthews has beaten

Mr. Wellard insensible.

Does he

continue?

Punishment ended.

Bring him to the sick bay.

Then get back on watch,

Mr. Hornblower.

Mr. Hornblower.

Nasty business, that,

nasty business.

But then again, boys have been

beaten since history began.

It would be a bad thing

for the world

if ever boys should

cease to be beaten.

That may well

be your medical

opinion, Dr. Clive

but I can see no

useful purpose served

by thrashing

a young boy

within an inch

of his life.

Come, come, Mr. Hornblower.

A little tincture

of laudanum for the pain

and all will soon be forgotten.

Forgotten, maybe,

Dr. Clive

but forgiven?

Careful, Mr. Hornblower.

I've had the good fortune

to serve the captain

for over 15 years,

and he has inspired

nothing but loyalty in

the men under his command.

And that, too, is your medical

opinion, is it, Dr. Clive?

SAWYER:

Article 19:
If any person

in or belonging to the fleet

shall make or endeavor

to make any mutinous assembly

upon any pretense whatsoever

every person offending herein

and being convicted thereof

by the sentence of the court

martial shall suffer death.

And if any person shall utter

any words of sedition or mutiny

he shall suffer death.

And if any officer,

man in arm or soldier

shall behave himself with

contempt to his superior officer

or shall disobey

any lawful command

every such person

shall suffer death.

And I'll have

you all know

that these articles

apply to my officers

as much as to anyone else.

Carry on,

Mr. Buckland.

BUCKLAND:

Aye, aye, sir.

Division officers

dismiss your divisions.

Dismiss!

Dismiss!

Dismiss!

Look lively there.

Dismiss!

SAWYER:

Mr. Buckland.

Sir.

Half-duty,

Sunday, today.

Double rum for all

these good men.

Sir.

"Extra rum for the crew."

"This rule applies

to my officers."

Yes.

It's an interesting method

of fostering cooperation

in the crew.

Have you ever come

across it before?

No, I most certainly have not.

Perhaps Captain Sawyer's methods

will prove consistent

in the end.

Perhaps it's only

an impression.

What?

The erratic nature

of his command.

How do you find it?

Erratic.

Most erratic, to say the least.

Thank you, sir.

I needed reassurance

that I was not misjudging

the captain's mental powers.

Not at all.

That is to say, probably not.

It's a matter

for Dr. Clive to pronounce him.

That would be

the appropriate course, yes.

Good evening,

gentlemen.

You are the officer

of the watch

are you not,

Mr. Hornblower?

If you'll excuse me, sir,

I'm needed up on deck.

Well, waste not,

want not.

Put that back.

Put that back.

Or do you want me to smarten up

your big ugly face?

Styles.

Randall...

put it back.

Mr. Hornblower.

Well rested, I trust.

Sir, I'm...

Asleep on watch--

you're as good as dead already.

I'll take you out

and hang you by the neck

unless...

I do believe

your life is in my hands.

You fear me, sir?

I've always held you

in the highest regard, sir.

Indeed...

I was once like you--

young, intemperate...

a danger to fellow officers.

You would shoot me

where I stand.

Sir...

Here.

Captain Sawyer, please.

Don't trifle with me, sir.

Shoot me.

Stop that!

You, too, Dr. Clive?

Is there anyone I can trust?

CLIVE:

You should be

in bed, sir.

Give it to me.

You could do yourself

an injury, sir.

Come.

I shall give you something

to help you sleep, sir.

Your life is in my hands.

Don't forget.

Your life is

in my hands.

He won't forget, sir.

Will you, Mr. Hornblower?

I will not, sir.

You'd do well not to let

Randall get to you.

But he's so...

Hey...

you're boatswain's mate now.

It's your job to order.

Message from

Mr. Hornblower.

Could you turn

to him on deck?

Is that all he said?

No, he said look lively.

Archie.

Long night.

Oh, time is only the half of it.

I fear you

the captain returning.

Oh, why?

What new madness

has he embarked upon?

What can we do for you,

Mr. Hobbs?

HORNBLOWER:

Captain Sawyer.

I've never seen a man

so unstable in his mind.

He wants to die, Archie.

Then let him.

My fear is

that in doing so

he'll delight in one

of us dying with him.

What now, Hobbs?

It's Matthews, sir.

You wanted to see me, sir?

I think I'll call her Betty.

Sir.

We have unfinished business,

Styles.

You're not so tough without your

mate Matthews around, are you?

I don't need any help to teach

you some manners.

I don't need no knife neither.

Styles:

Get off me, ~censored~!

Get off!

Should have realized I'd been

sent on a wild goose chase.

HORNBLOWER:

Get off him, damn you!

By God, you'll pay for this.

Now put him in irons.

Huh?

What?

He said he was winning, sir.

Now take him to the sick bay.

What the devil do you want?

I heard there was some

sort of argument going on.

Natural high spirits

below decks, I daresay so.

I therefore ordered

Randall to be placed

in irons

and Styles, who they'd

kicked almost to death.

You exaggerate, Mr. Hornblower.

There he stands large as life.

You're too squeamish--

I've noticed that about you.

I daresay, sir...

Styles, if you

would, please.

Nevertheless, there he stands.

As I say

your squeamishness clouds

your judgment.

I advise you to conquer it.

It does not bode well

for your conduct

under fire...

Mr. Hornblower.

With respect, sir,

I find...

Respect?

What do you know

of respect?

You come before me

with these men

whose boisterous high spirits

led them

to knock each other about a bit

and you expect me

to punish them.

I like high spirits

in my men, do you hear?

What I do not like are

weak-kneed officers

who do not know

how to keep order.

Do you understand?

I understand, sir.

Charges dismissed.

Well?

Charges dismissed.

Believe me now,

do you?

What the devil

is he up to?

I suspect the evidence was

before the captain

I opened my mouth--

the evidence he to hear,

that is.

By God, I believe

you're right.

"Weak-kneed officers

who do not know how

to keep order."

Never heard the like.

Order? He doesn't know

the meaning of the word.

SAWYER:

Stay where you are, gentlemen.

There-- every sign of guilt.

Bear witness to it, Mr. Hobbs.

SAWYER:

Stand still!

A mutinous assembly, I believe.

No, sir.

SAWYER:

Do you give me

the lie

on my own

quarterdeck--

plotting, whispering, scheming

now treating me

with gross disrespect?

I'll see that you regret this,

Mr. Buckland.

I intended

no disrespect, sir.

SAWYER:

Again you give me

the lie.

Mr. Bush...

I'm disappointed

in you.

Why did you not see fit

to report

this mutinous assembly to me?

I wasn't aware

of them, sir.

I was helping

Mr. Wellard take

a noon, sir.

Ah...

Mr. Wellard...

of course.

He will be in this, too.

You will be in trouble

with these gentlemen

Mr. Wellard.

You didn't keep

a sharp enough lookout,

did you, boy?!

I doubt if you'll have

a friend left on the ship.

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