Hornblower: The Frogs and the Lobsters Page #6

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and you dare to ask me

to betray my own people.

Your silence could mean

more bloodshed, not less.

If you mean those butchers.

I am glad of it.

It is not them I was thinking of.

If my men are not prepared

You...yourself could die.

The Republicans came three days ago.

Now, please go.

You cannot win here.

Take your men and leave now,

while you still can.

Horatio!

I have lost too many people

without saying good-bye.

I will come back and take you

away from here,

if that's what you want.

Now, go.

Bring forth the next man.

Name?

You have been found guilty of

sedition and treason, and-

have been sentenced to death by

order of the lord of Muzillac.

I knew we should have went

to the Indies.

I told you before,

yellow fever, typhoid;

Much better off here, eh?

Have a look at this.

Look out for the lobsters!

Oldroyd!

I believe we've been made fools

of, Mr. Hornblower.

There's no army here,just a handful

of Frogs making idle sport.

I'm convinced the army's massed

to the north, my lord.

We're facing the wrong way.

Did you speak to the colonel of this?

-The colonel?

The village it's just butchery.

I see. In that case,I suggest we look

to ourselves for command.

I think we have no choice, my lord.

Come on men!

Pull!

Pull! Pull!

Pull!

There.

This expedition becomes more

ill fated-

by the moment, Mr. Hornblower.

Quickly now, bring those in.

I don't reckon they'll be

back in a hurry.

Better off without them.

My lord, it seems the emigrees

have had enough.

They may lack discipline,Mr.Kennedy

but those men are no cowards

-They are going to defend the village

-Will it hold, my lord?

It might for a while.

Mr.Hornblower is there now,

organizing their defenses. But, as-

the commanding officer here,

I think there is-

little more we can

do for these people.

-You wish to retreat?

-I do

though it gives me no pleasure to

say it. We will take up-

a defensive position on the other

side of the river.

If your men would make ready

to blow the bridge.

At once, my lord.

What of Mr. Hornblower, my lord?

We will give him as long as we can.

Let us hope he does not abandon

his customary caution.

Bring it in!

Quickly, now!

Colonel! Colonel!

-What?

-The enemy is massing on the edge

of town.

Your men, they need you, sir.

Very well.

Do we take the cannons, sir?

No it would take too long.

We spike them and then fall back.

Mr. Kennedy, sir, what do we do

if the Frogs get to the bridge?

You heard the major, we blow it up.

-Right, sir; then what?

-Then Styles,we withdraw to the beach

and...we hope for the best.

Fire!

We've spiked the guns, sir, and

we've blown the trunnions off-

-for good measure.

-Well done, Matthews.

-Mr. Kennedy! Is the powder primed?

-It is, sir.

Then lay the fuse, if you will.

Aye, aye, sir.

Lay the fuse.

-Colonel, we must withdraw.

-We need more men.

-Send for Major Edrington's troops.

-Colonel, our cause is lost

-You must withdraw.

-I know you do not like me-

Mr. Hornblower, but this is

my country.

Your fight may be over but mine

cannot be so quickly abandoned.

I have left here once already.

I will not leave again.

Pull! Pull!

Come on men, pull, pull together.

Captain Pellew, sir,

we have a wind!

Lay on your oars!

Recall the boats, Mr. Bracegirdle!

Pray God it's not too late.

-All set, Matthews?

-Aye, aye, sir.

I believe we are of the

same mind, Mr. Kennedy.

Perhaps we might give it a few

moments more, my lord.

I daresay Mr. Hornblower

will surprise us yet.

Aye, sir.

If he is alive.

You can climb down, no one

will see you.

Do you suppose for one minute

I would leave this place-

-without you?

-Hurry!

Come with me.

-C'est la folie.

-I won't leave without you.

All right, go on.

Come on!

Jump!

-Mon pied!

-Are you all right?

-Ca va.

-Come on! Let me help you.

One, two, three.

Sir, we've not got much time left.

Let me do that, sir.

Make ready.

Present!

Hold your fire!

Give covering fire.

Fire!

Mr. Kennedy!

It's no good Horatio, she's gone.

Come on. Come on.

Well, that should hold them

for a while, at least.

Mr. Kennedy, we will retreat

to the beach and-

-make our stand from there.

-Aye, my lord.

-March the men off, Sargent Major.

-Shoulder arms!

Mr. Kennedy.

Just look after him, will you?

Of course.

Come, Horatio.

You did all you could.

First company, halt!

That's lovely, that is.

Well, take your pick, the devil

or the deep blue sea.

Sargent, form the men up

and colours to the rear.

Very well, sir.

Battalion will form line.

Five sections on the right.

Right way! March!

I believe our old friends are

upon us.

Ahoy!

One more step and I'll see

you in hell.

Not that Frog.

That Frog is a good Frog.

Mr. Bowles!

I thought to see you gentlemen

in Paris by now.

Front rank, make ready!

Front rank, kneel!

No one fancies a swim then, eh?

Present!

Fire!

-It's the Indy!

-Alternate guns...

Fire!

I think we are well done with

this place, Mr. Hornblower.

Aye, my lord.

Well done, indeed.

My lord.

Where's your coat, Mr. Bowles?

Welcome back, Mr. Hornblower.

Mr. Kennedy.

Mr. Hornblower! Your report in

my cabin, if you please.

Aye, aye, sir.

Sir, I must report the loss

of six men and two cannon-

from the ship's company.

Not to mention our French allies.

Yes, sir.

If a captain loses his ship,

Mr. Hornblower, he must face-

a court-martial whatever the

circumstances of his defeat.

-Yes, sir.

-And he must defend himself

and his reputation.

-Do I make myself clear?

-Yes, sir.

Well, man? Well?

Sir, I have nothing to say.

The cannons were lost, the men died;

and the Royalist cause

A failure then

like the rest of this miserable

expedition-

we've been engaged upon.

Yes, Mr.Hornblower...

I include myself.

What were we doing there, sir?

We were not wanted.

We brought nothing butdestruction

deathand defeat.

Forgive me, sir.

It's all right, Mr. Hornblower.

It's all right.

Come on, man, look at you.

Look at your new uniform.

What a sorry state.

Hardly the image we've come

to expect, is it?

Ah, no sir.

When we put on this uniform,

Mr. Hornblower,

we entered into a life of adventure

and adversity.

But, above all, a life of duty,

A duty to our people, our king,

our country,

but also a duty to our men.

We must always be a source

of inspiration to them,-

Mr. Hornblower;

and whatever may befall us,

whatever,

we must never forget we are officers

in His Majesty's Navy.

Indeed, sir.

I'm glad to see you safe,

Mr. Hornblower.

And I to be back, sir.

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