Hornblower: Retribution Page #3

Nothing yet.

It looks clear.

Now, let him down.

- Easy, easy.

(Gunshot)

Arrrgh!

All right, Mr Wellard?

Nothing broken, sir.

HORNBLOWER:
What do you see?

- Mr Wellard?

- Oh, no...

What do you see, Mr Wellard?

They're coming, sir.

Mr Wellard.

Fire! You must fire!

Run, boy. Run!

(Shouting in Spanish)

(All shout)

(Shouting)

Right face! Right face!

Damn Hornblower!

Mr Wellard!

Wellard!

Sir.

Come on, men!

The leff side!

Atencion!

Son los ingleses! En las galerias!

Las galerias!

- It's hopeless, sir.

- I'll say when it's hopeless, Styles.

Apunta.

Fuego!

- What now?

- Full toss, Mr Hobbs.

Aye aye, sir.

(Shouting in Spanish)

You must surrender.

If you live to see Mr Hornblower,

tell him...

Nothing.

Come on, men!

You must surrender.

Tell him he'll hang from the yardarm.

(Screaming)

Glad to see you're safe, Mr Bush.

Renowns! To me!

- Come on, men!

(All cheer)

Over there!

Will you surrender?

Any sign of the Renown?

I don't believe it. They're escaping.

- Who?

- The Spanish ships, that's who.

Marines! Present!

Now will you surrender?

Sir.

BOTH:
Sir!

Still no sign of the Renown. Damn!

If those ships make it out to sea we might

as well not have bothered with the fort.

Hot shot, sir. Nothing like it.

Haul away!

May I, sir?

By all means.

Run her out.

Fire!

Mr Kennedy?

20 yards short. The sea boils, Mr Bush.

We want burning ships, not a boiling sea!

Sir.

This shot won't go in. It's too big.

And I don't like the look of this, sir.

Stop! Leave the gun!

- She's going to blow!

- Leave the gun! Run! Run!

(Groaning)

I know what happens when metal overheats.

My uncle was a blacksmith.

I believe they call it the coefficient

of expansion.

I call it bloody dangerous.

I'm glad you find some amusement

in the situation-

because of my... elementary mistake.

Come, gentlemen. No time for soul-searching.

The furnace awaits.

Haul away! Coming up.

Belay!

Well done.

Must have been a job persuading them back.

- Yes, sir.

BUSH:
You can understand their reluctance.

Quite. Hot shot!

- May I?

- Of course, sir.

Run her out!

And... fire!

Mr Kennedy?

(Laughs) A hit! A hit! A palpable hit!

Run it out again, sir.

Congratulations, sir.

Beginner's luck. No doubt.

Stand clear!

What was that? Another hit?

No. Better than that.

It's the Renown, sir!

(Cheering)

What an ingenious plan, Mr Hornblower,

attacking the fort via an underground route.

Highly original.

Thank you, sir.

Whilst leaving Mr Bush and the rest

to fend for themselves.

Placing their lives in jeopardy.

But the end result was a triumph.

Would you not agree, Captain Hammond?

And then to hoist the Spaniards

with their own petard - a double triumph.

Ah, yes. The hot shot.

Nearly a disaster here, I fear, were

it not for Mr Bush's sharp intervention.

I am indeed indebted to Mr Bush.

Foolhardy actions. Rash judgments.

Irresponsible adventures.

Is this to be the measure of your career?

Come,now. That is the blackest

interpretation of these events I can imagine.

Quite. Others might well be praising

Mr Hornblower for his ingenuity.

I only endeavour to do my duty, sir.

Well, I think we shall be the judge of that,

Mr Hornblower.

(Church bell tolls)

Well, Commodore, I think our course is set.

Yes.

And one young officer

condemned already,

if we are to follow Captain Hammond's

gospel.

Yes. Pity.

I had heard young Hornblower

was one to watch.

He served with you, did he not?

Yes.

He was one of the finest.

One of the very best.

I can see how this would make you feel...

uncomfortable.

Uncomfortable?

I've never felt less comfortable

in my entire life, sir.

But I will not hang out of hand

a man so dear to me as my...

.. as one of my very own.

You have a duty to the law, Commodore.

Yes. I have not forgotten it, sir.

But I will not rush to judge any man

because the admirals want to

sleep peacefully in their beds.

I will weigh the facts carefully,

as we all will, I trust.

You doubt it?

Just asking for a fair trial, sir.

And your man will have it.

I only hope you're not surprised by

what you find.

As do I.

I take it the fort is ours.

- Well done, gentlemen.

- Thank you, sir.

Spanish boat approaching

under flag of truce.

It may be the Spanish

commanding officer, sir.

I have arrived just in time to greet him.

I dare say you heard about our own

little spot of bother aboard the Renown?

Yes, sir. We heard.

I hope it didn't put you off your

stride in any way.

No, sir.

Free army. Local peasant banditry.

- I doubt if they'll be back in a hurry.

- I hope not, sir.

Ah.

Colonel Francisco Manuel Ortega

of the Royal Engineers

of His Most Catholic Majesty Carlos IV.

Captain Buckland of

His Majesty's ship Renown.

You wish to give up the entire island?

I know a stalemate when I see one, Captain.

Besides, I want to see the women and

children safe, including my own wife.

You have nothing to fear there.

There is space aboard our ships

to carry my people off.

We will evacuate the island

and sail with the first tide.

And if we refuse?

The consequences are on your head, sir.

Very well.

I expect you'll hear from us

within the hour.

Thank you, Mr Hornblower.

It was you who led the attack

through the tunnel?

Yes, sir.

A bold stroke, Mr Hornblower.

You must watch this man, Captain Buckland.

I do.

Closely.

All right.

Within the hour, Colonel.

As you wish.

With respect, sir,

I think we're selling ourselves short.

What do you have in mind?

Make off with their women?

I suggest we demand

an unconditional surrender.

Why on earth would he want to do that?

I don't see they have much choice.

The fort is ours already.

Look, Mr Hornblower,

may I remind you

of an old and trusted adage?

Tell him, Mr Bush.

Sir...

Never look a giff horse

in the mouth.

The island, sir, in British hands.

If the island means so much to him,

why is the colonel so keen to quit it?

Because that man, at least,

knows when he has lost!

The garrison's supplies, sir.

There's not enough here to feed a family.

Where's the rest?

This is the rest, sir.

The colonel did not speak plainly to us.

The people here are starving.

And the fort - I feel it is under siege.

It's under siege? From whom?

The rebel slaves, sir.

I- I saw them off.

Dr Clive will bear witness.

A scouting party.

The army may be a different matter.

Then we must leave this place.

With all speed.

Or if we hold our nerve, sir,

perhaps we can turn this to our advantage.

Ready, Matthews?

On the count of three.

One, two, three. Heave.

Thank you, Mr Wellard. Steady.

Ow! Watch it!

Any damage to this gun

comes out of your pay, Styles.

- Come on. Quickly. - I hope old

Buckland has his wits about him.

If we can pull our weight,

I dare say he can pull his.

Colonel. I'm afraid my men are all busy

about their duties,

but I would be honoured

if you would dine with me on the Renown.

Very gracious of you, Captain.

What little we have is yours.

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