Hornblower: The Examination for Lieutenant Page #3

---

Generosity for the dead man's widow.

Who'll give me a start?

A penny for the lot.

Come on gentlemen, this is serious.

Now, we've got a good

sturdy pipe, here.

- Who will offer me 5 pence?

- Ten shillings for the lot.

That's more than a week's pay.

Are you sure, man?

Bunting!

- A black day, Matthews.

- He was a fine man, sir.

- And as such he will be remembered.

- Yes, sir.

This... fellow, Bunting, seems

to be taking it bad.

Yes, sir. They were mates

on another ship

when Bunting was first pressed.

The way I heard it, Finch helped

him to settle down.

- I see. Thank-you, Matthews.

- Aye, aye, sir.

We are to accompany the

transport brig, "Caroline"

on a supplies mission to Oran.

My compliments to the Master.

Please inform Mr. Bowles to ready

the ship for sail.

We are to be joined by a Mr. Tapling

of the Diplomatic Service,

who will conduct negotiations.

See to it he's comfortable.

For goodness sake, man,

keep it steady!

Swing him inboard and lower it away.

Steady with those ropes.

Steady man!

- Welcome aboard, sir.

- Welcome aboard?

I've never been so mishandled

in my entire life.

- Do you know who I am, sir?

- Mr. Tapling, sir

- of the Diplomatic Service.

- Well, at least that's something.

Mr. Hornblower, get that raffle

cleared away immediately!

- Aye, aye, sir.

- Well, help me!

They have their own secret

store of supplies.

- Who told you that?

- They dine like kings.

- 'Away with ya, man.

- Sure as I'm pressed here!

That's why we're on half rations

to keep them

in their kingly ways.

If it weren't for the officers,

we'd be on two-thirds at least.

Mr. Hornblower, sir.

A word

Sorry, sir. 'Didn't mean no harm.

- Just idle talk, is all.

- Idle talk will get you hanged, man.

What if I'd been the captain?

- And where did you hear such stories?

- Just been talking, sir,

talking in general.

I can't rightly remember where.

- Very convenient.

- Do you require assistance, Mr. Hornblower?

No sir, I will deal with it.

These... stories, do you take

them to be true?

No, sir.

I'm sorry, sir. I was out of

place in what I said.

Indeed you were.

I understand that

Finch was a close friend.

I owed him much, sir.

I, too, was in his debt.

And that is why you are not

already in irons. But,

you must understand there

can be no excuse for mutinous talk.

- Yes, sir.

- I shall be watching the men closely.

If morale sinks, I'll know who

to blame.

Return to your work.

We take what's ours.

- That's stealing.

- How can you steal something

that rightfully belongs to you?

- You're talking mutiny, Bunting.

- And what if I am?

How else can we put a stop

to this injustice?

I won't be party to this

sort of talk.

Nor I.

Nor I.

You'll think differently when

you're spitting out teeth!

Mr. Hornblower, a word if you please.

My quarters are entirely

unacceptable.

They are the best we have

to offer, sir.

They smell of sweat, and worse.

See to it that I am moved

immediately.

Thank-you.

I came back to find the lock burst.

I'm sure he's in the hold.

Bunting! What do you think

you're doing?

I'M HUNNGRRY! I'M HUNNGRRY!

What kind of man are you?

That would steal food from

his shipmates' bellies?

Have you no shame?

I despair, I really do.

Very well. We must follow

example with example.

Mr. Hornblower, let the crew show

their disgust for this...

- ... creature.

- Sir?

The gauntlet, Mr. Hornblower.

Please sir, it was a

moment's madness.

Quiet! The punishment

shall fit the crime.

If I may interject, sir.

I should bear the responsibility

for Bunting's actions.

You?

I earlier overheard him goading

the crew with rumours and lies.

I should have dealt with

him more firmly.

Very well, Mr. Hornblower, you

shall make your amends

by leading him yourself,

through the gauntlet.

Bring him out.

This man is a thief!

A man caught stealing food

from the hold

steals it from each and

every one of you.

Make sure you teach him his lesson.

Any man going easy on him

will be implicated in the theft.

Carry on, Mr. Hornblower.

Enough!

Enough, I say!

I think the lesson is well-taken.

From this day forth,

the next man stealing food

from the hold shall hang

from the yardarm.

Mr. Hornblower, about

these new quarters

Well, sir, it's a pretty

sight from here,

but a closer inspection will show

that the eye is deceived.

- Sir?

- You'll soon regret volunteering, Mr. Hornblower.

I doubt that, sir.

Right sir, lay alongside the jetty

there would you?

Very good sir.

One and two steady.

Lay on your oars. Toss your oars.

What do we do now, sir?

We wait. Our presence has been noted.

Steady.

Rig that sail so it gives us some

shade, Matthews.

What the?

Stop him! Stop that man!

Have you lost all sense, man?

Theft, and now desertion?

Are you determined to hang?

The captain will decide your fate.

Secure him in the boat.

I will not live with injustice!

Wait!

If he makes another sound, gag him.

Aye, aye, sir.

Bring him aboard!

I fancy he would be at home here

amongst the heathen.

Oh no, look at that.

Looks like a man who's taken

a drink, sir.

- Muslims don't drink, Styles.

- It's illegal, unlawful

and impossible to obtain.

He's managed somehow, sir.

His majesty's consul, I believe.

Your servant, Mr. Duras.

May I present acting lieutenant,

Horatio Hornblower,

of the frigate Indefatigable.

May I introduce the treasurer of

his highness,

here to fetch the gold.

The gold, sir, is there, in the

sternsheets of the longboat.

You will have a closer view

of it when we have

a closer view of the stores.

Now, the gold.

- Mr. Hornblower.

- Very good, sir.

- Bring out the gold, Matthews.

- Aye, aye, sir.

- Well, Cook?

- Very good, effendi.

Are you unwell sir?

It's this infernal heat.

Sir, what's happening here?

- Oh my goodness.

- What is it, sir?

It's the plague, Hornblower.

It's the Black Death.

The Plague!

Stand still there!

Marines! Stand to!

Charge bayonets!

- I must report this to the ship.

- The fleet won't have us back,

not until we've served three

weeks of quarantine.

Now, that is three weeks after

the last case has occurred.

- We shall have to stay here in Oran.

- Nonsense, no one

- would order that.

- Have you seen an epidemic in the Fleet?

Have you seen 9 out of 10 men

die of putrid fevers, Mr. Hornblower?

I have.

I have seen the Plague

in Smyrna in '86.

Now, no captain would run that risk

for a crew of twenty men.

We have been here for hours.

We have been

close to that. To him.

To hear him speak.

- To catch his breath.

- Control yourself, Mr. Tapling.

- Which of us will be first?

- Please, bite your tongue

- for the sake of the men.

- And, there is the fleet.

Those supplies would have

been a godsend.

Darn it,we can do something about it.

Mr. Bowles!

- What is it?

- I must speak to the captain!

Come aboard and speak to him, then.

What's going on?

Please tell the captain

I must speak to him.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes