Hornblower: Retribution Page #6

Leave him, Mr Hobbs.

His mind is gone.

Oh, you'd hope so.

You of all men.

I didn't push him. You're mistaken.

No. It wasn't him. Too small.

Give me a minute. I'll remember his name.

You, sir! You! I know your face.

You are... Admiral de Brueys.

No. He died long ago.

Cut in two.

Lying on the arms box.

Better take the captain

back to his cabin, Hobbs.

I will, sir.

But when the captain is rested,

and his mind is clear,

I will bring him back.

And I will ask him again,

and he will remember.

If not today, then tomorrow.

Or the day affer that.

Sir.

Habla espanol?

No.

Quieres joderme, hm?

Pero...

Te voy a matar.

WELLARD:
I think Mr Hobbs is right.

I think the captain may name

the man who pushed him.

(Sighs) Even if it's Admiral de Brueys.

You've nothing to fear

from the noose, Mr Wellard.

I've no fears on my account, sir,

but I owe a great debt

to two men on this ship.

I would do anything to repay it.

What are you suggesting, Mr Wellard?

I cannot tell who pushed the captain, sir,

but I know there were three of us down here.

Any one of us could have done it.

And one of us will hang for it.

Shan't sleep.

Shan't sleep.

Now I remember.

Vamos! Sssh.

All quiet?

(Urgent whispering)

Vamos! Apuranos. Silencio.

Tie him to the bed.

- By God, sir. I'm a fellow officer.

- No. You were never that.

Renowns! We're taken!

This way.

All hands! All hands!

Every man on deck!

(Gunfire)

Sorry to wake you, sir.

I thought you should see for yourself.

All hands on deck. Quickly now.

All hands on deck!

Shortly affer eight bells

the French frigates opened fire.

We were outnumbered and outgunned,

having lost half our men already.

But in the hours that followed

we regained our advantage and...

I can't let you remember.

I can't let you get to Kingston.

And I will not see them hang.

Either of them.

Then you'd best use both hands,

if you want to pull the trigger.

Take her alongside, Matthews.

Aye aye, sir.

Stand by to board!

Captain Sawyer, sir.

Hobbs, the enemy is here!

(Cheering)

Renowns, to me!

It's a clumsy weapon for any man.

No use at all for a boy like you.

Don't call me boy.

Oh? What would you have me call you?

Coward?

I'm no boy, sir.

And I am no coward.

And I'm no scarecrow that has to be tied up

so he don't bite his own shadow... sir.

See?

I'm no boy.

And you are no man at all to strike me so.

No.

To me, Renowns!

- Mr Wellard.

- Sir?

I know who pushed me.

Here. At least one of us can face the enemy

with a clear head.

Abre la puerta! Abre la puerta!

Mr Wellard.

Abre! Aaargh!

Fire!

Brave lad.

Do you surrender? The colonel is dead.

Marines, present!

Throw down your weapons.

Rindan las armas.

- Matthews, take them below.

- Aye aye, sir.

Below, with you!

Come on. Get them below.

Thank you, Styles.

I fear I'm done.

Not in a thousand years.

Sir! Mr Bush.

How is he?

He doesn't need any help from you.

He needs needle and thread. Out of my way.

You did your work. Let me do mine.

Yes, sir. You're right.

Come on, Styles.

He recovered at the last, did he?

He said I was brave.

You are.

He knew.

He knew who pushed him.

Get it off your chest. Tell me.

Mr Hobbs.

I'm sorry that his last command

was taken away from him...

.. but he was a leader of men.

And he died in battle.

It's all over now, sir.

All over.

(Groans)

- Are you hurt, sir?

- Can you see any blood?

The prizes are safe, sir,

and Renown is recovered.

I can see it's recovered

and I can see who recovered it!

I heard about Buckland.

(Laughs) Silly old fool.

Let him be, Archie.

Had you seen him as I did...

Is that your blood?

Oh. It's just a scratch.

Prisoners under lock and key...

I said, is that your blood?

Archie...

Not as bad it looks.

Horatio.

And so, Mr Buckland, under your command

misfortune was, for a brief spell,

turned to advantage.

And then what?

Sir?

A ship of the line fallen into

prisoners' hands. A calamity, sir.

While this fellow lay dreaming in his bed.

(Laughter)

I fear it will be your epitaph.

'Here lies Buckland of the Renown,

the captain who was caught napping. '

(Raucous laughter)

Thankfully, there was at least

one fellow officer...

You speak of Mr Hornblower!

- Well, I'll tell you something, Commodore.

- Have a care, sir.

The reason I'm here

is because Captain Sawyer was

mentally incapable of commanding a vessel!

Enough!

He endangered the lives

of every man on board that ship.

I charge you, sir, do not blacken the name

of one of Nelson's own.

- Damn you, sir. I will speak!

- Sir!

Captain Sawyer was unfit to command

for one reason only.

He didn't fall into that hold.

He was pushed!

- What?

- By whom, sir?

By Lieutenant Horatio Hornblower!

Is there anyone else

who can support this claim?

Yes.

I believe there is.

A kiss from me.

Judas.

(Sniffs)

No sign of mortification.

Nothing like a good, clean cut

stitched up in its own blood.

(Gasps)

(Coughs)

You'll mend, Mr Bush.

You'll mend.

You know why you're here.

To corroborate the evidence of Mr Buckland.

I do, sir.

I'd have gone through hellfire

for Captain Sawyer.

Yes. Yes.

In my book he was equal to Nelson himself.

Nelson. Yes.

But to the matter at hand, Mr Hobbs.

Sir.

Who pushed him?

Who pushed your captain into the hold?

My captain...

was a leader of men

and he died in battle.

But I'm afraid

I cannot tell you who pushed him.

(Murmuring)

Sir.

Gentlemen, I'm asking you

to halt this court martial,

and save the life of a man willing

to abandon his own life for others.

A man for whom others

would gladly give their own lives.

We should not try to hang this man.

We should promote him.

Captain Hammond?

Well, where the commodore leads,

we must all gladly follow.

But, sir, this "heroic" young man,

I confess I fear for him.

Mr Buckland has slandered him.

So, for his own sake,

we cannot let the insult stand.

We must put the question to him,

and make an end of it.

Did he push the captain down the hold?

And, as a man of honour,

he will answer it.

Mr Kennedy, who am I?

You're Clive, you great fool.

Very well, Mr Kennedy.

Horatio.

Don't overtire him, Mr Hornblower.

Well, I must leave you.

Um...

I wish you the very best.

Thank you, Dr Clive.

When are you due back in court?

Tomorrow. The court adjourned to give

me more time to consider my testimony.

And when they ask you,

'Did you push Captain Sawyer into the hold?'

- Are you asking me that question now?

- I am not.

Then I will answer it when the time comes.

Until then I see no reason to speculate.

(Cock crows)

- Right you are.

- One, two.

Where is he?

Oh, he's up and about.

Call the next witness.

MAN:
It's Mr Kennedy!

I was hoping to see him before

I was recalled.

And see him you shall.

Where is he?

Wait. Wait, man. Wait. Wait. It must be done.

No. Marine!

I alone pushed him.

(Shouting)

I alone pushed Captain Sawyer into the hold.

I think we've heard enough, gentlemen.

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