Hornblower: The Duchess and the Devil Page #2

Duchess:

Yes, I was stuck

In Florence

when the French marched in,

Sir Edward.

So, I made my way

to Leghorn

bribed a coaster

to bring me here

and then, uh, well,

bullied Sir Hew here

into getting me

a passage home.

I hear the, uh, statuary

in Florence

is very fine, Your Grace.

Somewhat naked,

but very fine indeed.

Oh, statuary, my arse,

Sir Edward.

I were there for my

late husband's business.

Keep those pesky Florentinos

in line.

You see, the Duke

of Wharfedale owned mills

and my father

usd to manage them.

Well, that's how I caught

the Duke's eye.

At least that's

what my friends say.

My enemies say

I caught some'at else.

(laughter)

Your Grace, gentlemen,

ladies...

The King.

All:

The King.

The King.

As for the enemy

May the dons never leave

their boathole in Cadiz.

Ah, then, a bumper to the dons,

Sir Edward.

But, I doubt the Spanish

will leave Cadiz

For all their alliance

with the French.

They'll sit out the war

and then sail forth

to congratulate the winner.

Perhaps.

What is your opinion,

Mr. Hornblower?

Why have such a force

and not use it?

I believe they will come out

to fight.

And you hope

you will be there

When they do, don't you,

Mr. Hornblower?

Indeed, I do, Your Grace.

Hunter:

There's two swivel guns

on each side.

We won't be able to put up

much of a fight, sir.

We won't put up any fight,

Mr. Hunter; we will run.

We'll head due south out

of Gibrattar, Matthews.

Put some sea

between ourselves

and any frog privateer

lurking in Algeciras

before we head west.

Matthews:

Aye aye, sir.

Once through the straits

and off Tarifa

we will set a course nor-nor west

for Cape St. Vincent.

Boat ahoy!

Captain Pellew's

coming aboard, sir.

And, uh, a lady, sir.

Nice dress, sir;

good looking.

Don't froth at the mouth, Styles.

You've seen a woman before,

man.

Not in six bloody months,

I haven't.

Call this a ship, Mr. H?

Welcome aboard,

Your Grace.

I'd be frit out of my wits crossing

Thames in this.

She's safe enough,

Your Grace.

Mr. Hunter will show you

to your cabin.

Thank you.

Ma'am.

Mr. Hunter.

Mr. Hornblower.

The port admiral gave me these.

They are for the admiratty.

They contain information

worth more

Than the whole

of Jervis's squadron.

Should you be boarded or

even threatened with boarding

These go to the bottom

of the sea.

Aye aye, sir.

Well, wind is set fair.

Duchess:

I say, Mr. Hornblower.

Your Grace.

I'm used to roughing it.

But, um... but, I can

hardly unbutton myself

in that damn cupboard.

Could you swap me your cabin?

I believe Mr. Hornblower

has already given you

his cabin, Your Grace.

It is the best I can offer,

Your Grace.

Oh, there I go again, putting

my foot in my mouth.

(laughter)

I do apologize, Mr. H.

Well, I'm sure you want me

out the way

so you can sail the damn thing.

Sir Edward...

How can I ever thank you?

No, not at all,

Your Grace.

Not at all.

Well, she's all yours,

Mr. Hornblower.

Good luck, sir.

What are you staring at?

All hands to the windlass.

Do you want to waste

this wind?

All hands

to the windlass!

Ma'am.

Oops.

Duchess (weakly):

Yes.

Forgive me for disturbing you,

Your Grace.

I was wondering,

would you do the honor

of joining me for dinner?

Oh, bugger dinner.

When is this storm going to end?

Storm, Your Grace?

We have a fair wind

and a calm sea.

Leave me alone.

(retches)

It's coming up

thick, sir.

It'll be thicker

by morning.

Atter course, Matthews,

due west.

We can't risk not clearing

Cape St. Vincent.

Plenty of sea-room,

sir.

To atter course

will only delay us.

Thank you, Mr. Hunter.

When I need your opinion,

I'll ask for it.

Atter course, Matthews.

Aye aye, sir.

She's, uh, quite some woman,

that duchess

Isn't she, sir?

What's that got to do

with attering course?

Nothing, sir.

Aye aye, sir.

(breathing heavily)

(whispers):

Mr. Hornblower, sir.

Sir, Mr. Hunter asks won't

you come on deck, sir.

Good morning,

Mr. Hunter.

Shh, quiet.

Listen.

(men shouting in Spanish)

Dagoes, sir.

Shh.

We're in the middle of a fleet,

by God.

You should never have

attered course.

Yes, thank you, Mr. Hunter.

Call all hands.

Quietly.

(shouting continues)

So, the dons have left Cadiz.

(bell ringing)

Sir... Starboard.

There.

(bell ringing)

Styles:

It's a two-decker, sir.

The San Nicolas.

84 guns.

Mr. Hunter,

find the French colors.

Sir?

Le Reve's colors, man,

run them up.

The dons might not wish

to fire on their allies.

Aye aye, sir.

It's a poor ruse,

but it might buy some time.

This fog could hold for

five hours or five minutes.

Mr. Hunter, what sail did

the San Nicolas have?

T'gallants

and topsails, sir.

Very well,

take in the topsail.

But the wind is fair, sir...

And ease the sheets.

I wish to slow her down,

Mr. Hunter.

Aye aye, sir.

Keep her steady, Matthews.

Aye aye, sir.

You're hoping the Spaniards

will pass us by.

Hope is the word, Matthews.

Hope and a prayer

that this fog holds.

Styles, in the stern,

if you please.

Inform me if any don

sniffs us too close.

Sir.

(whispers loudly):

Sir!

Ship dead astern, sir.

Course?

Straight for us

and gaining, sir.

Matthews, three points

to windward.

Aye aye, sir.

She's passing us starboard, sir.

Abeam, sir.

Sir.

The sun.

Matthews:

It'll burn off

the fog, sir.

Your hat.

Hmm?

Your hat, Mr. Hunter.

That must be the Oriente.

(man shouts in Spanish)

How many guns would you say,

Mr. Hunter?

Oriente...

Guns, 74, sir.

So if it came to matching

broadsides

I expect we would lose.

But it would be

a damn close-run thing.

Don't you think, Styles?

Damn close, sir.

Take 'em at least a minute

to sink us.

Mr. Hunter.

Go below, find what

French clothes you can.

Pass them round the crew.

No man is to show his face

above decks

Unless he looks like a frog.

Aye aye, sir.

Oldroyd, get aft.

Mr. Hunter

has clothes for you.

Aye aye, sir.

Duchess:

Oh, I wouldn't say no

To that dinner now.

Shh!

What? Have I said something?

It appears we are surrounded by

the Spanish fleet, Your Grace.

I would respectfully suggest

that you keep to your cabin.

What? And miss all the fun?

For your own safety, ma'am,

and, dare I say it, for ours.

What is it, Oldroyd?

You might want to put these on.

Very well.

Take it to the quarterdeck.

Tell Mr. Hunter

All men to keep their

own clothes beside them

in the event we are taken.

I don't want us all

to be hanged as spies.

Aye aye, sir.

Trying to pass yourself off

as a Frenchman, aren't you?

Well, I would

respectfully suggest

That a well-dressed woman

on your deck

might add to that impression.

As Your Grace pleases.

Do you think you'll slip

the dagoes, Mr. H.?

The odds are long,

Your Grace

even for a gambling man.

The breeze is freshening.

We won't have refuge

in the mist much longer.

Mr. Hunter's compliments, sir.

The wind's

getting up again.

Look.

Keep her steady,

Matthews.

Aye aye, sir.

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