Hornblower: Mutiny Page #6

He's very severely

concussed.

I think what

Mr. Buckland means is

will he recover sufficiently

to resume command?

Impossible

to say.

His skull's intact.

That's all I can tell you.

I will be on

continuous watch, sir.

We'll go with the captain's

orders until we know more.

Aye, aye, sir.

:

Well, what else can I do?

He might wake up

this afternoon,

for God's sake.

Then what?

Out of my way, please,

Mr. Hobbs.

I don't seem able

to move.

Awkward,

isn't it?

It can't be helped.

Though, uh...

you can help

me, sir.

In what way?

Well, I was

wondering

what happened

to the captain.

And I fancy

you know exactly

what happened.

Get out of my way,

or I shall report you.

How can I help you with that?

I wasn't there.

Oh, I think you can, sir.

For when the captain's

recovered

there'll be shootings and

hangings aboard this ship.

And you won't want

to fall foul of those.

So I think

you'll tell me.

After all, we wouldn't

want to see

your young neck stretched

like a chicken... sir.

I don't like it.

I don't like it at all.

Mr. Buckland,

we didn't

Perhaps not, but we all know

what was said.

Yes, but

to no effect.

The events

overtook us.

That does not mean

that I am comfortable with it.

We did nothing

other than

consider our options

in those circumstances.

Fate intervened,

Mr. Buckland.

And the air

smells all the

better for it.

The captain's incapacity

is not a matter for celebration,

Mr. Kennedy.

Unless and until

Dr. Clive pronounces otherwise

I would remind you that he

is still in charge of this ship.

Do you want me

to wake him, sir?

He hasn't slept for days.

Let him have

a little longer.

I don't envy

his position.

He's the one that would

have to assume command.

I bet the responsibility

weighs heavy.

Why don't you get some sleep,

Mr. Kennedy?

I'll stand watch

for you.

Thank you, Mr. Bush, but I will

share the watch with you.

Very well.

Two days' sail

from Santo Domingo.

Not long to whip

this crew into

fighting shape.

No, Mr. Bush,

but I'm sure

the task will not

prove beyond us.

How did it happen?

How did what happen?

How did the captain

fall down the hatchway?

He must have overbalanced.

Is that all?

All? What do you mean, all?

You know what I mean;

you were there.

Mr. Buckland's

compliments...

and can you both

attend him

in the captain's cabin

immediately?

BUCKLAND:

He's lost

his memory?

Yes, he does

not remember his

accident at all

or the hours

preceding it.

Is he capable

at present

of commanding

this ship?

It needs to

be established,

Dr. Clive.

At present, no.

Then we

know where

we stand.

For the present,

we do.

How do you propose

to treat him?

By bleeding

him.

I may purge

him later.

I have yet to

refine a regime.

He's certainly calmer.

Calmer?

In what way has he

not been calm?

He looks comatose.

That may be a natural reaction

to his memory loss

and so on... to his injuries.

And what was this

quite "natural reaction"?

He became a little agitated--

that is all.

How? In what way, agitated?

He showed symptoms, not extreme

of a certain paraphronesis

with occasional

phrenetical impulses.

And in plain English?

I could perceive

certain symptoms,

as I say...

tendencies which led me

to suppose some irritation

of the meninges--

the brain lining--

in plain English

which caused me

to think...

In plain English,

Dr. Clive

is the captain capable

of resuming command?

No.

Thank you.

For the time being.

We're back there

again, are we?

We won't know, will we, if you

keep him in this condition?

What do you mean?

You're giving him laudanum,

aren't you?

What business is it of yours?

I'm his doctor.

One does not need to be a doctor

to know the effects

of an opiate.

What, you're dosing him

with laudanum, Dr. Clive?

Well, are you?

A certain dosage seems

to be appropriate.

How will we ever

know if the captain

is capable of running

this ship

if you keep him in a

constant state of sedation?

You will oblige me,

Dr. Clive

by leaving off your

drugging of the captain.

I do believe

a bit of bruising about the face

improves your looks.

I've had worse beatings

at the hands of me father...

if he me father.

Next time, I'm going to do

you for good, Styles.

It's you we'll be tossin'

to the crabs, Randall.

Except they'd

spit him out.

Because they're very particular

about what they eat, the crabs.

It's more likely

when the captain comes back

you two will be dancing

from the end of a rope.

You and whoever it was

who pushed the captain.

Save it, Styles.

He's all mouth.

Oh, no, that's a promise.

I've got a nice bit of yardarm

for you two

and an extra bit

for Mr. Wellard.

The captain fell;

we all know that.

Of course he did.

Anyway, you two won't be

so leery

if the captain doesn't

come back, I'll tell you.

Oh? Why not?

Because Lieutenant Buckland

is a born fool.

He couldn't command

a trip round the bay

never mind a seventy-four.

Dr. Clive...

it is necessary for me,

formally

to assume command

of this ship.

What's preventing you?

are, Dr. Clive.

KENNEDY:

You will not declare

the captain

unfit for command.

You keep prevaricating.

Until you declare him unfit, it

will be a usurpation of power.

"Mutiny" in other words!

Why are you so frightened

of the word?

You don't seem

frightened

that someone

may have shoved him

down that ladder,

nearly killed him.

That's what you should

be concerned with;

not the niceties of taking over!

Dr. Clive,

this is hardly helpful.

Helpful be damned!

I've served with him

on three ships.

I know him!

The man's a hero.

You're drunk, damn it.

You're drunk.

BUCKLAND:

Dr. Clive...

we are less than two days' sail

away from Samana Bay

where we are to see action.

It is vital

that you declare

the captain

unfit to command

this ship

and for it

to be noted.

You will please satisfy us

as to this point.

Damned if I will!

There he is!

decide.

Satisfy yourselves!

It may be a useful

a cautionary measure, sir

if Mr. Kennedy were to note Dr.

Clive's inebriated condition.

It may be that he is

incapable himself

of carrying out his duties.

Too slow, gentlemen!

We need to be faster

when we engage the enemy!

Call yourselves a gun crew?

We'd be blown out of the water!

Right, let's show these ~censored~

how it should be done, eh?

Reload!

Reload!

Gun ready,

Mr. Hornblower!

Run her out!

Gun ready, Mr. Bush!

Run her out!

Heave!

Fire!

Fire!

One minute 35, Mr. Bush,

to my one minute 28.

Better.

But not good enough.

Both:

Reload!

You're a real taskmaster,

Mr. Hornblower.

We'll make a crew

out of them yet, Mr. Bush.

Much better, gentlemen.

We're getting

there, sir.

Are you unwell,

Mr. Hornblower?

No, sir.

But I have a request, sir.

He wants to do what?

That's what he said.

Well, whoever heard of that?

Come and look

at this.

Could you do that?

Hey, Mr. Hornblower!

Hey, stop that, Styles.

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