Hornblower: The Duchess and the Devil

I had one of them in my sights.

Why not let me shoot?

Because that is not my plan, Mr. Hunter.

The plan?

We're here to fight them, aren't we?

No, we're here to defeat them.

Bonjour, mes amis.

Huh?

Les Anglais!

Hunter!

Dubois!

Dubois!

No, it's King George, frog-face!

Come on, men!

Forward, men!

You evil...

attention...

Oh...

It'll take a bigger rat than you, boy.

Quarter-deck, get the officers!

I must ask you to surrender, Captain.

Lay down your arms!

Very well.

To whom do I have the honor

of surrendering my ship, sir?

Horatio Hornblower, acting lieutenant

of His Britannic Majesty's frigate, Indefatigable.

Mr. Hornblower, where are the rest of my men?

Lieutenant Dubois?

They met with an... accident ashore.

But they are unharmed.

Do you want this one below, sir?

You have my sword.

I will not attempt to escape.

I have already lost my ship.

I will not compound my shame by breaking my word.

Today the luck was with me, sir.

Make sail for Gibraltar, Mr. Hunter.

We will rejoin the Indie.

Aye aye, sir.

Mr. Hornblower's plan worked out handsomely

didn't it, Mr. Hunter?

Aye, it did.

With some luck it did.

Aye, well, he is lucky, our Mr. Hornblower.

Got the devil's own luck.

And we should make a tidy profit

if those whoresons of prize clerks

don't try to cheat us of it.

Which they might well do

if they find out how we cheated to win her.

Sour bastard.

Hip, hip...

Hooray!

Hip, hip...

hooray!

Hip, hip...

hooray!

The Indie's cheering us, sir.

Thank you, Matthews.

Keep your eyes on the job.

Helm-a-lee.

Aye aye, sir.

Let fly!

Douse the staysail!

Come back on those halyards!

And let go!

The capture of Le Reve was the first successful action

this squadron has taken against French or Spanish ships

in the entire six weeks of blockade.

Your plan was good, your execution excellent.

Thank you, sir.

By my reckoning though, Mr. Hornblower

it has made you somewhat richer.

That's why you wanted the Indefatigable hid out of sight, isn't it?

Not at all, sir.

So that her captain and her officers

and her men would not have a share in your fortune.

Sir, I do protest.

That was not my intention.

The captain is jesting, Mr. Hornblower.

I see, sir, nevertheless...

How much do you think the Le Reve is worth, Mr. Bracegirdle?

A good £4,000, sir.

Makes you richer by a thousand...

Mr. Hornblower.

Ever had a thousand pound?

A thousand?

No, sir, not even a hundred.

Oh, well, at least you'll be able

to spend some of it on a new uniform.

I can recommend Cutler and Gross in Portsmouth.

They'd be very happy

to deprive you of some of your riches.

Portsmouth, sir?

Portsmouth.

They want me to...

I think they "request and require you to. "

Request and require me to take Le Reve to England.

To Portsmouth.

She is to be purchased into the service

as a... dispatch vessel.

The utmost expedition.

England, sir?

Yes, England, boy.

A big, damp, foggy island, nor-nor east of Ushant.

Think you can find it?

Oh, yes, sir.

Good. You sail tomorrow.

However, before you slip your moorings, Mr. Hornblower

I think you will find here a much sterner test.

Their excellencies, Major General Sir Hew

and Lady Dalrymple, request the pleasure

of Sir Edward Pellew and...

acting Lieutenant Horatio...

Dinner?

At Government House?

Dinner?

Bet you wish you had that new uniform now

eh, Mr. Hornblower?

What do I do if they ask me to carve, Mr. Hunter?

I doubt they'd risk your ruining their dinner.

Here, try these.

Well, if they do, remember, carve away from the bone.

Venison, thick slices.

Mutton, medium.

Beef, thin.

And, uh, try not to saw at the chicken.

Thank you, sir.

Venison...

Thick.

Venison thick.

Mutton, medium... beef.

They won't have venison, will they?

No. Gib's been beleaguered two years now.

Main dish will probably be monkey.

Monkey?

Hmm.

Um, rock ape.

And monkey you mince

with a sort of a...

chopping motion.

Monkey, mince.

Chopping motion.

Hmm.

Thank you, Mr. Hunter.

Most helpful.

Ah, yes.

Well, what you could do is stuff them

with some of the surplus food.

That'll take out the slack

and, uh, give your starving friends a treat.

I hear Sir Hew keeps an uncommon fine table.

Perhaps you would share your good fortune with us.

Oakum.

Hokum?

Sticking plaster, pads of oakum.

Excuse me.

May I introduce acting Lieutenant Horatio Hornblower

captain of Le Reve.

Good evening, Mr. Hornblower.

Sir Hew, Lady Dalrymple.

Captain?

What, that puppy?

Are you entrusting me to a mere babe, Sir Hew?

Your Grace.

If I may present Sir Edward Pellew

captain of the Indefatigable

and acting Lieutenant Hornblower.

Her grace, the Duchess of Wharfedale.

Look at the lad.

He's like a goose on a green.

Any second now, he'll be hissing at me.

Er, sorry, Your Grace.

Oh, don't be, Mr. Hornblower.

I expect you're right proud of yourself

getting a ship at your age.

Gentlemen, my chef is of a combustible temperament.

Let us not keep him waiting.

Your Grace.

Thank you.

Come along.

Your health, my lady.

Your Grace.

At last, Sir Edward.

I was choking.

Mm-hmm.

Oops, I'm forgetting my manners.

To you, Sir Hew.

And to the lad and me having a safe voyage home.

Oh.

I hope your cellar boasts

as good as this, Mr. Hornblower.

My cellar?

On your ship.

You have to keep

your passengers happy, don't you?

Passengers, Your Grace?

You have been given the honor, Mr. Hornblower

of bearing her grace back to England.