Hornblower: The Examination for Lieutenant Page #5

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My duty is clear.

Your duty?

To save a man so that he may

be killed more slowly?

You will return with me to the ship.

Never!

I believe your duty is fulfilled,sir.

- Three killed, two fled, sir.

- Very good, Matthews.

What of Bunting, sir?

We'll take him aboard

and bury him at sea.

- The man was beyond saving, sir.

- I should have found a way.

- What, for Gods name?

- The Dreadnaught, I believe, sir.

What the heck is that boat doing?

They've got a couple of sides

of beef in there, sir!

- Quick, after her!

- Boats crew!

Pull away! Pull for all you're worth!

Heave to. Heave to, God dam you.

Return those supplies to my ship!

You have a problem, Mr. Hornblower?

With respect, sir, you have

no right to these supplies.

- Indeed! And by whose judgment, sir?

- We are a plague ship, sir

I am aware of that, Mr. Hornblower,

but your quarantine's

almost over. I am sure you can

spare me a few head of cattle.

The quarantine has a week

to run, sir.

We cannot be certain we are clear.

The cattle must be returned

to my ship and these hands should

accompany them.

Now, surely you can give me these

- two scrawny beasts, Mr. Hornblower.

- My duty is to see that

the fleet is protected

from the Black Death, sir!

And what about your duty to

a superior officer, sir?

I know my duty, sir.

And it also lies with the lives

of the men.

I will not barter with you,

Mr. Hornblower. You will surrender

your supplies or I shall take them

by force, if necessary.

Then the supplies are yours, sir.

And the responsibility is yours,also.

Pull for the Caroline.

I will see you in Gibraltar,

Mr. Hornblower.

We therefore commit his body

to the deep, to be turned

into corruption; looking for the

resurrection of the body

when the sea shall give up her dead,

and the life of

the world to come through

our Lord, Jesus Christ;

who, at his Coming, shall change

our vile body that it may be

like His glorious body, according to

the mighty working

whereby He is able to subdue

all things to Himself.

Amen.

Such a senseless waste of life.

Your grief is admirable, Captain,

but I fear you take it

too much to heart.

I killed him, Mr. Tapling.

The man had long since lost

his respect for life, but your

courage in command of this ship

will save the lives of many.

I feel certain Captain Pellew

would have found a solution.

I fear I must question my readiness

for command.

Well,Captain Hornblower,a sight

to gladden the heart,is it not?

Indeed, Mr. Tapling.

You served us well, sir.

No more than my fair share,

and I gained much in return

a new acquaintance with

the cuts of a bullock,

and the worth of full bellies

for the men.

Such knowledge will serve me well.

What is the meaning of

this commotion?

There, sir!

Good heavens!

Hello, Noah! How are Shem and Ham?

Shem and Ham have brought home

the supper.

Well done, Mr. Hornblower.

I regret that Mr. Bracegirdle

can't say the same.

Mr. Tapling has already informed me

of the man, Bunting.

You carry the weight of his death

on your shoulders.

A month ago,

Mr. Bracegirdle bade me test

my readiness

for office with the men.

- I failed that test, sir.

- Mr. Hornblower,

men like Bunting choose to cast

themselves adrift.

You attended to your duty as

an officer.

I failed to find a way inside the man

You have nothing to reproach

yourself with.

One man has died.

Others may live,

thanks to you.

- Yes, sir,but his death was needless.

- That is the price

of command, I am afraid. And

it doesn't do to dwell on the past

- Besides, you have much to prepare.

- Sir?

The examination for lieutenant takes

place tomorrow

at Admiralty House. I presume you

still wish to present yourself

Good, then advise Mr. Bracegirdle

that I've given you permission

- to take away one of the ship's boats

- Aye, aye, sir.

That will be all

- One thing more, Mr. Hornblower.

- Sir?

I understand you allowed your men

to feast on fresh beef.

In the circumstances,

I thought it best.

You thought it best!

You thought it best, sir!

Fresh beef when there were other

provisions on board?

Wanton extravagance!

- I'm surprised at you.

- Sorry, sir.

Good to have you back on board,

Mr. Hornblower.

Can anyone lend me a clean

white shirt?

- What's so funny?

- You can have one of mine, lad.

This will never do.

- I hear the steward has a flatiron.

- Thank-you.

It is not a simple request.

I've got one pair of hands.

I've got better things to do

with my time

than iron your neckerchief,

Mr. Hornblower.

I'll do it myself.

Just give me the iron.

I'll have a queue at my door

every morning.

I'll give you my spirit ration.

Well, at least you won't

disgrace the ship.

Thank-you Mr. Bracegirdle.

My hat!

Well, take it off as soon as

you can and,

carry it under your arm.

Maybe they won't notice.

You're as ready now as you

ever will be.

Thank-you, sir.

Here he comes, lads! Three cheers

for Mr. Hornblower!

And, another three!

- Good luck, Mr. Hornblower!

- Good luck, sir.

Acting Lieutenant Hornblower,sir,

reporting for the examination

There's forty of us.

How many of us will they pass,

do you think? Five?

Here they come!

Black Charlie Hammond, looking as

if he's lost a guinea

and found a sixpence.

Harvey, of the Dockyard.

And Dreadnaught Foster, no less.

First young gentleman!

Three more months at sea, be darned.

I was told to send the next man.

What did they ask you?

They began by asking me to define

a rumb line.

- Rumb line?

- Well, don't keep them waiting,

- I advise you.

- You were there ten minutes.

Forty of us, ten minutes each,

why, it will be midnight before

they reach the last of us.

They'll never do it.

If time runs out, perhaps they'll

try you in batches,

like the French tribunals.

Next!

How did you fare?

Bad luck.

Next!

Well, if it isn't Pellew's young

upstart.

Well, sir? Report yourself.

We've no time to waste.

H- Hornblower, sir. H - h - Horatio

Hornblower, midshipman.

I mean, acting lieutenant.

Indefatigable.

Certificates, please.

Well, sit yourself down.

You're close-hauled on the port tack,

Mr. Hornblower,

beating up channel with a

nor'easterly wind blowing strong

with Dover bearing north two miles.

Is that understood?

Yes, sir.

Now, the wind veers four points,

taking you flat aback.

What do you do, sir? What do you do?

By now you are dismasted.

Dismasted, sir. Cliffs of Dover

under your lee.

You're in very serious trouble,

MrHornblower.

Are we to receive the fountain

of your wisdom, Mr. Hornblower.

Or did you perhaps leave your tongue

on the plague ship?

I. Dismasted, you say?

Indeed.

Dover Dover cliffs

What's going on?

It's a general alarm. See?

There!

There, sir! A fire ship!

If it touches a ship, she'll go up

like paper.

- We must get back to our ships.

- They're firing on it, sir!

Pray they sink it.

You! You! Shoreboat,

Come along side. Come along side,

blast you!

Come alongside or I'll fire into you.

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