That Hamilton Woman Page #6

And Hardy, good old Hardy said,

''Well, I'll be blowed, Your Ladyship.

What I mean to say is,

well, you know what I mean.''

And... Oh, goodness! I'm so tired!

What did he say?

He who?

He.

Oh, he didn't say anything.

He never says much, you know.

People were saying that he should have sat

on your right during dinner,

not on your left

What? And give the Queen the side

with the eye on it? Not likely.

He seemed very happy.

Yes, I really think he's better now.

Tonight, he seemed to forget everything.

Ships, the war, Napoleon, everything.

Could any man think of worldly cares

in the spell of Emma's magic?

He deserved his happiness this evening

After such happiness how sad to find oneself

the next morning at sea again.

And at war

What do you mean?

We're going to Pompeii tomorrow.

Lord Nelson will be on his way to Malta.

I think there must be some mistake, William.

Lord Nelson left ten minutes ago and said

he would be with us at 12 tomorrow.

The dispatch arrived while dessert

was being served.

I had it sent straight aboard his ship

He's probably reading it at this very moment

Why didn't you tell me this before, William?

But my dear I wouldn't have spoilt

your evening for anything in the world

You mean,

you wouldn't have spoiled yours for anything.

You tried to prevent me

from saying goodbye to him

You know Emma

there are three kinds of deceived husbands

in the world.

First there are those

who were born to be deceived.

Second, who do not know.

And third, who do not care.

I've been wondering for some time now,

which of the three I should be myself.

Have you forgotten the fourth kind, William?

The kind that is hard and empty

and gives nothing.

You married me because you wanted

a new ornament for your house.

Like that painting or that statue or that vase.

As far as you're concerned,

I'm just as ornamental.

And just as dead.

But, my dear,

how can you call my statues dead?

When I'm alone and rather tired, think what

it means for me to have my statues with me.

To know that they'll always be lovely,

will never grow old,

and never walk out with sailors.

What a pity you're not going to see him again.

It would have been a farewell scene

of lasting beauty.

I shall sleep beautifully tonight.

Good night, my dear.

My darling...come back.

Come back.

Emily, he's waiting for you...out on the balcony.

(Bell rings)

(Foghorn)

You shouldn't have come.

People will see you. They'll talk.

Oh, let them talk. I don't care. Do you?

Are you sorry?

I'm only sorry for all the wasted years

I've been without you.

For all the years I shall have to be without you.

You'll come back, won't you?

I wonder if I shall.

I feel I should not.

You are married and I am married.

In the magic and music and the ballroom,

these things become rather blurred.

But they stand out very clearly in the dawn.

Your life is here.

My life is...there.

We must obey the creeds and codes

that we've sworn our lives to.

kn ow t h at must n ot co m e back

And I know that nothing in this world

can keep me away.

FlRST MATE:
Up oars!

Down!

Pull, oarsmen!

Together!

(Wind roars)

If I understand you correctly, sir,

our first objective is to recover Malta.

In that case, I suggest we send

the Culloden, the Lion and the Goliath,

under Ball, to blockade the island

and then take possession of it.

Aiuto!

BO'SUN:
Excuse me, sir.

What is it?

We've just picked up a fishing boat

with refugees from Naples

Refugees from Naples?

Yes, sir. They say revolution has broken out.

The Government got away, but the King

and Queen are locked up in the palace.

I don't understand everything he says sir

but there must be plenty of shooting looting

and murdering in the town

That's what you've always said, sir.

Just wait until we've gone. Serves them right.

If they can't help themselves nobody else can

This is Lord Keith's orders

We've got to meet the Alexander

the Foudroyant and the Minotaur

at the point of intersection

Blackwood, go back to your ship.

Arrange with Ball to blockade Malta.

The rest of the fleet sails to Messina

Well, what course are you taking, sir?

Back to Naples.

What are you waiting for, Trowbridge?

But, sir, Lord Keith's orders...

Lord Keith's orders are addressed to me!

Mine are addressed to you.

- Yes, sir.

- Return to your ships at once

HARDY:
May I speak sir?

Yes.

I'm under your order, sir. I'll do as I'm told.

I'll sail this ship anywhere

where there's water under her keel.

But I implore you,

call Blackwood and Trowbridge back,

and send the fleet where it's ordered to

And leave our allies the King and Queen

of Naples at the mercy of that rabble?

You know what that mob will do to them.

Do you want them to build that bestial guillotine

in Naples?

But in London they will say

it wasn't the Royal Family you went back for.

- Be careful what you say!

- I will say it!

They will say it was for Lady Hamilton.

Let them say it. Let them say what they wish!

l will not see those I love

and owe loyalty to left alone.

Back to Naples

I understand, sir.

In the face of such open disobedience,

I must ask your Lordships for a clear decision.

Where is Nelson now?

At Palermo, where he took the whole party

after he got them away from Naples.

As much as I dislike discussing personalities

and private matters,

I must say he does not behave in a manner

befitting a British Admiral.

Hear, hear.

I quite agree with what you're saying.

Gentlemen.

Gentlemen.

Lord Nelson has some excuse

for his disobedience.

How can there be an excuse for disobedience?

He did save the royal family of an allied nation

from certain death at the hands of the mob.

He also saved the British Ambassador

and his wife.

- What's the point of saving the husband?

- (Laughter)

Yes, you think it very funny.

The whole of England thinks it's funny.

The whole of Europe.

- But it's high time that...

- Steady, Keith. Steady.

No-one questions the seriousness of this matter.

Lord Nelson is a very gallant sailor.

But not even the greatest hero is strong enough

to defeat the prejudices

and conventions of society.

We must be tolerant of poor Nelson.

lt'd be best to bring him home at once.

Let him say farewell

to this charming little romance of his.

Let him forget the beautiful Emma.

- Oh, that's appalling.

- It's wonderful, magnificent.

- This time we have them at our mercy.

- That's the worst hand we've had.

I know, but we will bluff them. Smile, just smile.

Fortunately, they don't understand us.

- Possiamo cominciare, Signora?

- Qual la posta?

- Il doppio.

- Il doppio.

- But we haven't a chance.

- We shall in a minute. Smile.

- The seven of diamonds.

- The ace of diamonds.

There, you see.

The queen of clubs.

- But that's mad...

- Treble the stakes! Triplichiamo la posta.

- But, darling...

- The king of spades.

The seven of diamonds.

And the ace of hearts.

E bene, signori, a mio parere.

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