Michiel de Ruyter Page #2

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Just go.

I made you a promise.

There is no use staying home

if there is no home left.

Engel, come on.

We need a strong leader who is

respected by other kingdoms.

What do we do about it?

The Prince of Orange...

is nothing but a brat.

A brat.

Are we sure that the Prince is a real man?

I've been told he prefers ballet

over military strategy.

What effrontery!

This will endanger the republic!

Order, order.

Gentlemen.

Let's keep it somewhat civilized.

What do you propose, regent Kievit?

I propose we appoint the

Honorable Lord Cornelis Tromp...

son of our greatest naval hero ever,

as our new Admiral.

Bestevaer!

And opinion of your own,

not the people's choice.

Your own opinion!

Mr.de Witt?

Mr.Tromp.

Do we have an appointment?

No, we don't.

I thought I'd speed things up.

Since your father's funeral

I haven't had a chance...

You're looking for someone

to replace my father.

I'm looking into it.

You probably don't realize...

but the fleet will only accept

one man as their new Admiral.

And who is that?

My blood is his blood.

The blood of Bestevaer.

You might not understand.

I understand the Admiral was

a father figure to his men.

But Bestevaer is a title of respect.

You have to earn it,

it's not hereditary.

I'm afraid it is, Mr.de Witt.

Heroes father heroes,

that's how sailors see it.

And that, Mr.de Witt,

will never change.

You're still thinking about De Ruyter?

Why not invite him to dinner?

Johan, he's stubborn.

Invite his wife too, this time.

Mr. and Mrs.De Ruyter, welcome.

Come in.

Was it a long trip, De Ruyter?

From Vlissingen to The Hague.

Of course.

Darling, don't just stand there.

Won't you offer our guests a drink?

Yes.

You didn't tell me they have a baby.

My wife, Wendela.

What a cutie.

Excuse me.

What for?

She is a cutie.

I'll show you round the house.

Wine?

Or do sailors only drink beer?

Girls.

Why don't you show us around?

We need larger ships with more cannons.

Larger ships, fine.

They must be agile and

have a shallow draught.

Merchant ships are of no use to me.

I'll arrange it. What else?

Better pay for the crew.

Higher wages?

If they die, they leave a family behind.

Consider it done.

Doesn't the parliament

have to approve, first?

Leave that to me.

Each winter, the fleet lies at anchor.

It's a waste of time.

I agree.

If I were Admiral, I'd train the crew in winter.

Exactly.

And that costs money, too.

Carry on. What else?

The sea-battles?

In battle now, it's every ship for itself.

It's total chaos.

Organization is key.

You mentioned sign flags in the past.

The English have been

using them for years.

But their system is too limited.

The ladies are chatting.

Mr.prime minister?

Allow me to introduce my brother,

Cornelis.

Tell us about the

system we developed.

Our system?

I happen to have it right here.

We disagreed about the colors.

Johan felt we were using too much orange.

A bit too much.

So, what do you say, De Ruyter?

Are you going to do this job?

Or do you have more demands?

I, Michiel Adriaenszoon de Ruyter...

The English have a limited flag system.

We're expanding our flag system

with all these codes.

...swear allegiance to the Republic

of the United Netherlands.

And then change the signal.

Only these 6 bow cannons are a problem.

We tack as fast as

we can and then...

bum bum bum bum!

The seven provinces

We fire everything we have on the

port side on these ships here.

Fire.

Cool and reload.

Come on. Faster.

And?

We're here.

Wait.

Do you really think I look all right?

You're the Prince of Orange.

All of the Netherlands loves you.

Hooray! Hooray! Hooray!

Inspection fleet on Texel

Huzzah, huzzah, huzzah.

Your Highness.

Prime minister.

May I introduce gentlemen De Witt,

Tromp and our new Admiral?

Admiral De Ruyter, our great sea hero.

You can't imagine how

glad I am to meet you.

I want to hear all about your travels

to Africa and your escape from France.

This is my wife, Anna.

Your Highness.

Fascinating.

Fascinating.

Hooray! Hooray!

I promise to do my utmost

to truly follow...

the instructions and orders...

in regards to my position as Admiral

the Supreme Commander of the Fleet.

You're very brave to be here Your Highness,

surrounded by these republicans.

The English fleet has set sail.

Four squadrons.

They're blocking our merchant ships.

We have to take action

before our goods are lost.

One, two, all together...

One, two, all together...

One, two, all together...

Work those ropes.

Get that wind in the sails.

Render those ropes further.

Come on.

One, two, all together...

The battle of 4 days,

If the wind turns, the rear

squadron sails around them.

So I have to keep an eye on your flags

while I'm surrounded by flying canon balls?

Just give me an extra 150 men.

No, it'll be chaos.

The English have more ships,

bigger guns.

We stick to the plan.

Or do we want another defeat like Lowestoft?

We must make sure we're well-organized.

Good, we'll do it your way.

You stubborn Zeelander.

Are you prepared to die

for the fatherland?

To the fatherland.

Wonderful.

God bless you.

Half a turn to port.

Half a turn to port.

What's going on?

Gout.

Am I in the way?

Not at all.

A perfect target for the English.

The Royal Charles.

Unsinkable, or so they say.

All ships are unsinkable, Jan.

Until they sink.

Places, everyone!

HMS 'Royal Charles'

Places, everyone!

They are again in the minority.

Incredible! These cheese makers

I want to take a thrashing.

Where 'the admiral?

Admiral

Michiel de Ruyter, sir.

And 'the new flagship.

They called it 'The 7 Provinces.

Signal:
In line.

You mean this one, sir?

Put it up.

It's impressive.

You'll see, it'll be every ship for itself.

Sail aligned.

The name of their admiral?

Admiral De Ruyter,

the British are coming.

Captain.

Yes, sir.

Vanguard closer to the wind.

Vanguard, luff up.

Ready to go about, now.

Pull up the mizzen sail.

Come on, keep pulling those braces.

Bring us into position.

Into position now!

And make sure my tea's

is ready on time.

Bring the cannon to position!

Riflemen on deck.

Places, everyone.

Load starboard.

Load starboard.

Do you want me to call your mother?

Get to work.

Faster, faster.

Hoist the spinnaker.

Prepare to fire.

Mainsail halyard.

Come on, load.

Faster.

Faster.

Keep it in the wind.

Hoist the spinnaker!

Get to positions now!

Men, ready to fire?

Hold.

Hold.

Hold it!

Hold.

Brace yourselves.

Wait.

Wait.

Wait.

Everybody wait.

Jibs forward.

Luff up.

Wait.

Wait!

Wait!

Wait!

Attention!

Fire.

Fire!

Recharge the cannons.

Reload the cannon!

Admiral?

Trim the lines.

Fire.

Fire!

Port side, fire!

Fire!

Let him be.

Get back, keep firing.

Pull up the mizzen sail.

Luff up.

Come on, get going.

Come on.

They need to reload faster.

Come on.

Fire!

You're too slow.

Why is it taking so long?

Faster, or you're going overboard.

Speed it up.

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