Hornblower: The Duchess and the Devil Page #4

(door clangs shut)

This... is

Lieutenant Hornblower

Your Excellency.

Mr. Hornblower,

His Excellency

Don Alfredo de Massaredo.

Senora La Duquesa

has begged a favor of me

that you should

be allowed

two hours of exercise

daily.

And I would be happy

to allow you

to accompany her on her walks.

But I must ask you

first

to give your parole

as a gentleman

that you will not try to escape.

Thank you, sir.

I'm happy to accept

and to give you my word.

However, sir,

I must inform you

That outside the hours

of my parole

I consider it my duty

to attempt to return to my ship

and my country.

Hmph!

So long as you do not try

to murder me in my bed, sir

I wish you every luck

in your attempt.

Here.

Hornblower:

How did you come here,

Your Grace?

Well, it seems

the dons

had a battle off

Cape St. Vincent.

So the ship that was

taking me to Lisbon

had to run back to Cadiz.

They dropped me off here

like a cask of beef

gone off.

Your Grace

I must ask...

the dispatches?

Oh, I gave them up in exchange

for a good room.

(laughs)

Don't worry, Mr. H.

They're hidden.

Safe and sound.

(sighs)

Oh, thank you, Mr. H.

I can see I will enjoy

our conversations.

Our conversations?

Yes. Every day, 5:00.

Well, Your Grace

cannot expect

My presence here

indefinitely.

I consider it my duty

to escape as soon as I can.

Oh, yes, as you told

Don Massaredo.

And, uh...

What about

your dispatches?

Well, they will

come with me, ma'am.

Will they?

The dons will have

no compunction

About rifling

your petticoats.

So, we will converse

exchange opinions,

debate.

When you are

an admiral, Mr. H.

And in society

that is what will be

expected of you.

Not just your tacks

and your jibs

and your "Avast there,

me hearties"

but conversation.

Quips, sallies,

anecdotes

and the like.

You do have opinions,

don't you, Mr. H.?

No.

Nor razors, neither.

How was your walk?

Interminable.

(sighs)

Fresh air, attractive company.

Very fine.

Almost makes it worthwhile sitting

the war out, doesn't it?

The presence of the Duchess

atters nothing.

We'll escape when we can.

And if she can be

the means

Of facilitating that escape,

then all to the good.

(sucks teeth)

If you say so...

Sir.

(laughs)

Go on, you little beauty.

(talking softly)

(squeaking)

Come with me.

(metal clanging)

Good afternoon,

gentlemen.

The commandant

has allowed me

to pick some fruit

for you from his orchard.

Your Grace is too kind.

Oh, stuff.

It's the least I can do.

Well, come on, men.

Three cheers for Her Grace.

Hip, hip.

All (weakly):

Hooray.

Hip, hip.

Hooray.

Come on,

Mr. Hornblower.

Sir.

We'll not be bought

with this muck, lads.

It's English beef we want.

And English beer!

(grunting furiously)

And we won't get it

sitting here.

He's a lucky dog, he is, eh?

He's thinking on something,

Mr. Hornblower.

You mark my words.

He's thinking on something,

but it don't concern us.

It's how he can board

Her Ladyship there

that's what he's thinking on.

(thunder rumbling)

No walk for you today,

Horatio?

No.

It must be something

to walk in the sun

with such a lovely woman.

Do you have a sweetheart

in England, Archie?

Archie?

Archie.

Archie...

Archie.

Archie!

Guard, guard!

Hunter, get help!

Why?

Archie.

What's happened to him?

Starvation.

We gave him the same rations

as us.

But he didn't eat them.

Why not?

Why didn't you tell me?

I assumed you knew.

What is this?

He's dying!

Archie, why did you do this?

Duchess:

Mr. Hornblower.

What's happened?

He hasn't been eating.

He starved himself to death.

And I didn't notice.

Because I was too busy

promenading on cliffs

having conversations.

The crown of the earth

doth mett, my Lord.

O, withered is the garland

of the war.

Archie, what are you saying?

Shh. Don't fret yourself.

Nothing left remarkable

beneath the visiting moon.

What was he saying?

He's delirious.

No, no, no,

it wasn't like that.

It, it was from something.

(knocking)

(murmuring, groaning)

No, Simpson!

Archie, shh.

It's all right.

Here.

Drink.

You're going to drink.

You're going to eat.

And you're going to get better.

And then, we're going to get

out of here.

No.

Well, don't you want

to get back?

Hmm?

Stand on the deck of the Indie?

Hear the wind

In the rigging?

And hear how Horatio Hornblower

rescued his shipmate

from prison.

It wouldn't be like that.

It would be just like that.

You'd do the same for me

if I were in your shoes.

But you're not.

And you never would be.

Archie...

I won't survive

if you don't help me.

None of us will.

You don't need me.

You're one of us.

We don't leave unless you do.

You can't let us down.

You must get strong.

Now drink.

Guards here,

here, here...

Here.

The alarm bell is here.

The guard nearest

the alarm bell

has to be disarmed

first.

Is that clear?

Come and join us, Oldroyd.

There's always room

for a good man.

(jingling)

Excuse me.

Gentlemen.

Oh, I wouldn't worry

about Mr. Hornblower, Oldroyd.

He'll be busy

for an hour or two.

(laughter)

How are you, Archie?

Hungry.

Good. I shall ask the innkeeper

immediately.

Roast beef, perhaps?

Ham and eggs, a trout or three?

Horatio, there's something

I have to...

Ah, don't worry about a thing.

Let's just get you back

on your feet again, eh?

No, listen to me,

Horatio.

It's the Duchess.

She isn't a duchess.

She might be Cleopatra,

but she's no duchess.

Archie, what are you talking

about?

Cleopatra

over Anthony's body

Lady Macbeth,

Beatrice, Gertrude.

She's an actress.

You're raving.

No, I'm not.

Her name's Katherine Cobham.

I knew Drury Lane

like it was my home.

My word on it, Horatio.

She's an actress.

Mr. Hornblower?

Don Massaredo.

I would be honored

by your presence

at dinner tonight.

I have a guest

Colonel Etienne de Vergesse,

of the French Army.

Thank you, sir.

Don't forget to bring us back

a few scraps, sir.

Some fruit.

(laughter)

So, Mr. Hornblower.

Her grace tells me

that you were careless enough

as to sail your ship

straight into the middle

of the Spanish fleet.

I must protest, sir.

Those were not my words.

Colonel:

But that was your meaning.

Massaredo:

Come.

Colonel, a truce

prevails here.

Fog and wind can

make fools of any man.

(chuckles)

No, I meant no offense

to Mr. Hornblower,

Your Excellency.

And besides,

I was going to thank him.

If he had not made

his unlucky rendezvous

we wouldn't have the pleasure

of Her Grace's company

Tonight.

It is some years

since I was in London

but I believe, madam,

we may have met before.

I don't recall it, sir.

Did you find London pleasing?

After a fashion.

I confess that,

compared to Paris

I found it dirty and crowded,

and the food, well...

But your theater,

on the other hand

second to none.

Is it true there was

an engagement

off Cape St. Vincent recently, sir?

There was.

Do you wish to embarrass

a Spanish gentleman

in front of his guests?

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