Hornblower: Retribution Page #2

And I will have my answer.

You can depend on it.

MATTHEWS:
Out or down!

Come on! Show a leg.

(Groans)

Come on!

Out or down!

What the...

They've run.

The buggers have run!

Styles!

On deck! Move yourselves!

Stay away from the side there!

Any man so much as looks at the water

will be shot.

- Sergeant.

- Aye aye, sir.

Keep away from the side!

You heard the officer.

Well, Mr Matthews?

We're missing 34 men, sir.

Sorry, sir. That's 33 men missing, sir.

I'm...

not entirely sure how best to proceed.

Sir, if I may suggest.

I believe the crew is afraid.

Afraid of what awaits them in Kingston.

What awaits all of us.

They need something to rally behind?

You think I should attack the fort?

Action may raise spirits, sir.

But we have to do it quick, sir.

And if we fail, I am double damned.

To be damned once will settle for us all.

Do it, Mr Bush.

Let's try and save ourselves.

We attack the fort!

ALL:
Hooray!

We'd best make haste.

I fear daylight's upon us.

- If Mr Buckland had decided earlier...

- I'm partly to blame for that.

Put that behind us. We can still rely

on surprise. And a little Spanish apathy.

Careful, Mr Wellard.

We don't want to let the dagos know

we're here for breakfast, do we?

No.

You stick by me, and

I'll see you're all right.

That's right, Mr Hobbs.

We stand by each other.

As you did,

when you picked up that nasty head wound.

I'm ready to do my duty, Mr Matthews.

Ha.

Horatio?

- What is it?

- It's Randall and the deserters, sir.

Well, get down, man.

There's nothing to fear, sir.

Oh, my God.

Well, I take it we are all agreed that

Captain Sawyer's good name

must be preserved.

Of course.

Good. Yes.

But together with the lives of those

young officers caught up in a situation...

(Sighs) not of their making.

Quite so.

I am simply concerned

that we need a clear outcome.

What do you propose, Hammond?

Hang them all from the nearest yardarm?

No, no. Nothing so spectacular.

But if there were one man...

A scapegoat.

No. A guilty party.

Maliciously motivated.

Jealous.

Ambitious.

Who do you have in mind?

It's early days.

But we will find someone...

(Fly buzzes)

.. to take away the smell.

(Sighs)

(Grunts)

It seems the Dons were more vigilant

than we thought.

So much for the virtue of surprise.

Horatio?

You think this the work of the Spanish?

No gunfire. No sign of a struggle or alarm.

It looks like they were taken

in their sleep.

- Permission to bury the dead, sir?

- I fear we have no time. Come on. Move up.

Mr Hobbs.

Hey, Hobbs.

Randall's a crab's breakfast affer all.

I heard, Styles.

If you weren't such a decent sort

you'd be lying there with him.

(Whispers) Styles?

Raise your voice one more time,

I swear, if the Spanish don't get to

you first,I'll kill you. Understand me?

Yes, sir.

Bloody hell. I thought Sawyer was a bastard.

A friendly word of advice, Styles. Shut it.

Soffly, now. Quiet as you can.

So if it wasn't the Spanish...

Then, with luck, they won't

be expecting us.

Mr Hornblower,

if it wasn't the Spanish, who was it?

I wouldn't like to guess, sir.

(Knocking)

Come in.

Is he asleep?

It looks like it.

Paperwork, Dr Clive.

The burden of rank, Mr Buckland.

Every page read by the Admiralty.

I fear I can't be careful enough.

This always helps me.

Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown.

Isn't that so, Acting Captain?

Especially when your head's

not born to lead.

He's awake.

You're not well.

I'll work in the wardroom.

That's it. Go on. Run away.

Captain, be still.

Oh, my ancient lieutenant.

Can't decide. Can't control. No authority.

Dither. Dither. Dither.

Sir, with respect...

Untie me, and I'll speak for

you in Kingston.

You're too young for the noose.

Pray, be silent.

Even though too old for anything else.

Dr Clive, more laudanum.

He already has enough in him to fell an ox.

(Knocking)

- Yes!

You're needed on deck, sir.

That's my boat!

What in God's name...?

MAN:
Arretez!

I am Francois Lefanu,

Colonel of the Free Army of Santo Domingo.

I say to you, sir,

this is not your fight.

Leave this place!

- Free Army.

- Jumped-up slaves.

What's he doing on my boat?

And with my own men.

- Do I give the order to fire, sir? - No.

You will do no such thing. N -Not until I...

Sir. Get us out of here! Sir!

You will return my men at once,

or I will open fire.

Marines, ready!

Our army has liberated this island

for our own people.

- You could ask them aboard.

- How would it look? Talks with a slave?

He's in range. We could take him now, sir.

No! I said no.

Well?

I think we have the advantage of them, sir.

Indeed we do.

What news?

Would you care to observe the enemy,

Mr Kennedy?

(Laughs)

Good God!

That gentleman needs no lessons in his duty.

BUSH:
Even in this hour.

KENNED Y:
Well, well, well.

That's enough, Mr Kennedy.

May I remind you why we're here.

Recall your men

and there will be no more bloodshed.

Sir!

Bloodshed? What bloodshed?

Randall and the other deserters. sir.

We believed they were Spanish.

But we have no quarrel with you.

Recall the rest of your men,

and no harm will come to these two.

- Mr Buckland.

- One moment.

Gardez I'homme! Vite!

Bring them on.

(Laughs) Still at it, sir?

Styles.

That's the last warning. From now on,

if you breathe out of turn

I'll have your neck. Agreed?

Release my men at once!

I said release... my... men.

Front rank, present.

- Do we fire, sir?

- Fire?

(Gunfire)

What bloody fool?

No. I said no!

Cease fire!

I gave no order!

Cessez! Cessez!

Oh, God.

Sir.

Renowns, charge!

(Cheering)

You will regret this.

- Front rank, load!

- I swear to you, sir, you will regret this!

The men saw me undecided,

and they acted without me.

Now I've sent the Spanish fort

a note by pigeon post.

We cannot be sure.

Oh, yes. I think we can.

If we'd gone to Kingston, as I wished...

We've lost enough time.

We head back to the mouth of the bay.

- Sir?

- The bay, Dr Clive.

To take off what survivors there may be.

(Cheering)

Marines, form line. Engage the parapet.

Renowns, with me!

Go on, sir!

Present! Fire!

Back! Back! Back!

(Confused shouting)

Up against the wall!

Keep it tight!

- Archie. Up there. Your friend from the tower.

- What?

Look!

- What's he doing up there?

- Exactly. Matthews, come with me.

Aye aye, sir.

Hornblower! Where the hell are you going?

Marines, to me!

We must find Hobbs and that gunpowder.

Quickly now!

The only way out is up, sir.

Anything that's not brush.

Mortar, a pipe, anything.

Horatio, what the hell are we doing here?

- The officer.

- What, from the tower?

How did he get across to the fort?

Plain daylight. Heavy crossfire.

He came by his own route. He came...

Sir? Over here, sir.

(All shout)

Hola, mi amigo.

I'll make you smile, you bastard!

Argh!

What is this, sir?

This, Matthews, is our back door.

It's not a very big one, sir.

What?

- Everything all right, Mr Wellard?

- Fine.

What do you see, Mr Wellard?

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes