Hornblower: The Frogs and the Lobsters

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Captain Pellew, come in, sir.

My apologies for requiring you

at such short notice.

-Not at all, my Lord.

-Captain Pellew,...

may I introduce General, le baron

de Charette,

commander in chief of His Majesty

King Louis's army in exile.

The general is going to invade France

and we're going to help him.

Once your ships have carried us

across the Channel,

we shall raise an army of the people

and march on Paris-

to restore His Most Catholic Majesty

onto the throne.

May I ask, sir, how many men you

expect to raise for this army?

Within a matter of days,

I shall have 10,000,-

maybe 20,000 men in arms.

Then we shall move east, gathering

more as we go.

Never doubt the loyalty of the people

monsieur.

I understand, sir, in fact, arms have

been raised-

against the rebel government before.

-Certainly, many times.

-without any success.

Captain Pellew,

for 5 years I have lived in exile

while traitors-

have laid waste to my country.

Well, now the nobility of France

is going home;

and this time, when my countrymen

fight,

we, their rightful leaders,

will lead them into battle.

Can I not take it, sir,...

that we have your support in

this great venture?

Oh yes, Baron, you can depend on

Captain Pellew's full support.

You have His Britannic Majesty's

word on it.

-How do I look?

-A most startling improvement,

if I may say so, sir.

So,with 2 shirts,half britches,

buttons and buckles,the sum is-

11 lb. 9 shillings and three pence.

Perhaps pinchbeck instead of silver

for the shoe buckles?

That would make it ... shall we say,

11 lb even.?

Very well, Mr. Collins.

I asure you, baron is still a

figure head-

amongst those loyal to King Louis.

His name will provide the spark-

that sets all northern France afire.

But the Royalist force, my lord,

they're nothing more than-

the remnants of a defeated army.

-A final cast of the dice,I grant you

-Indeed sir,

-and a desperate one.

-You forget what is at stake,

Sir Edward.

For the cost of ferrying

General Charette-

and his men across the Channel,

we can put an end to-

the war with France.

Surely, even in your estimation,-

it's a trifling effort for a place

in history.

Yes, but, if the expedition

should fail, sir,-

what of the cost in lives?

Men die every day this war

continues. When it's over,-

we may count costs at our leisure.

Make way! Make way!

-My lord! My lord!

-Speak up, man!

-The orders

-Well?

Gone, my lord.

My lord?

He was carrying a copy

of General Charette's-

plan to the First Lord.

Oh, my God!

-What if they fall into enemy hands?

-Well,we do not know that.

They may be at the bottom of

the Thames, the thieves drunk-

-in a tavern.

-Sir, what if they're not?

His Majesty's government

has decided,

and they are not in the business

of changing their minds.

Should General Charette

know of this?

I don't believe there's any need

to trouble him.

What has passed here will remain

between ourselves.

Is that understood?

Yes, sir.

However, since it would not be

politic for King Louis-

to think that we might have cast

his general ashore unaided,

you will remain on station after

the General has disembarked.

If worse comes to worst,

you can provide him-

-with a means of escape.

-As you wish, sir.

Very well. You have your orders,

Captain Pellew.

Carry on, sir.

-Mr. Hornblower!

-Sir!

Well, don't stand there dawdling,

sir. We must return-

to Plymouth as soon as possible.

Welcome aboard, sir.

A profitable meeting at the Admiralty

I trust.

Quite satisfactory, Mr. Bracegirdle.

Signal the ships Dunbarton, Sophia

and Catherine and-

request the attendance of their

captains in one hour.

Mr. Hornblower, my compliments

to the senior officers.

I will see them in my cabin

in 20 minutes.

-Aye, sir.

-So, Mr. Hornblower, what news?

I know no more than you,

Mr. Bracegirdle.

Well, I expect we shall find out.

By the way, I think you have a splash

of mud on your jacket.

You look every inch the new

lieutenant, Mr. Hornblower.

Long may it remain so.

Gentlemen,the captain's compliments

and he will see-

-all officers in his cabin in

20 minutes.

-What is this?

Gentlemen, it appears we have

a stranger in our midst.

No, no, I'm mistaken.

It's Lieutenant Hornblower,

from top to toe a new man.

And not a patch in sight.

Indeed it is,

acting Lieutenant Kennedy.

Gentlemen, it appears that

Mr. Hornblower is now the standard-

by which we must all measure

ourselves.

All right, all right, that's enough.

Thank-you, Mr. Bowles.

Oi, watch it.

What do you reckon the orders

will be then, eh?

-Stay here and take it easy.

-Not unless the captain-

-has gone soft.

-Naw, pity though.

I could just do with another month

on fresh rations.

Maybe we'll be sent to the Indies,eh?

How about that?

-Palm trees, sunshine.

-Tropical diseases.

It could be the Med again,

have another go at them Dagos.

Yeah, we could go back, give them

another pasting easy. Do it-

on our own too, leave the rest

of the fleet in the Channel.

Oi, Fanny Fearless, 'missed a bit

-Where?

-Behind you.

Where?

Gentlemen, as you are no doubt aware,

I have lately returned from a meeting

with Admiral Hood.

Our orders are to join the ships

Catherine,Dunbarton and Sophia

and convey a General Charette,

together with forces comprising-

of French Royalist troops and

British infantry,

to the coast of France.

-An invasion, sir?

-Mr. Kennedy,four ships could hardly-

-constitute an invasion, sir.

-Then what is the point, sir?

The point, Mr. Bowles, is that we are

at war, sir;

and when at war, we react to an order

without hesitation.

I understand, Gentlemen, that this

plan may seem somewhat...

...cavalier.

However, it is the general's plan,

once landed,to raise an army

with which to march on Paris and

place King Louis on the throne

That would mean an end to

the war, sir.

I believe that is the intention,

Mr. Bracegirdle.

Sir, are we permitted to know

where the general's troops-

-will be landing?

-No, our destination will remain

secret-

until we set sail and then

there is no chance of word-

reaching the French until we arrive.

In the meantime, I want-

all dispatch in the loading of

the general's men and supplies-

as soon as they arrive.

Thank-you, Gentlemen.

Perhaps next week we could

be toasting the downfall-

of the French Republic, sir.

Yes, Mr. Hornblower.

That is the plan, at least.

Styles, let's get those bales loaded

as soon as possible

Frogs! What in the world

are they doing here?

Well, what do you make of

them, Horatio?

They seem a little disorderly.

The word, "shambles" might be

more appropriate.

Look out for the lobsters!

Battalions...halt!

Good morning, Gentlemen.

Major Edrington, 95th Foot.

I have been told someone here

can see to the embarkation-

-of my men onto the Indefatigable.

-Lieutenant Hornblower.

Acting Lieutenant Kennedy, sir.

-I will see to it myself.

-Excellent.

Your men look very fine, Major.

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