Hornblower

It's definitely The Hotspur, sir.

Yes, Matthews.

Styles, put a ball close to her stern, but not too close.

Aye, aye, sir. Close but not too close it is.

But it's... it's The Hotspur, sir.

Aah!

Styles, for god's sake, man.

Sorry, sir.

Look, sir. Now she shows her true colors.

I thought something was wrong.

Well, if the frogs have taken The Hotspur, sir,

It's only proper we should take it back.

Indeed, Matthews.

Lay us alongside. - Aye, aye, sir.

Matthews: Gunners, stand by! Contact at the next head!

Matthews: Come here! Look at that!

That's their idea of the cavalry?

Pity the poor bastards.

Why has he got the flag down?

Where is your captain?

I don't know, sir. It's to me.

Oh, yes.

And do you surrender?

Well done, sir,

and, uh, I just thought you ought to know, sir.

There's a cutter headed this way.

And do you suppose this cutter to be a threat, Matthews?

No, sir.

I don't quite know what it is, sir.

I just thought you ought to know, sir.

Look at this, sir.

He served the victory, sir.

Are you British?

Irish, sir.

And proud to be, sir.

English rule is Ireland's curse,

and if the french offer us a hand, we'll take it.

The Irish rebellion was crushed years ago, man.

It's not finished yet.

Ahoy! Peace, lads!

It's peace with France!

It's peace! It's peace, lads! Lads, it's peace!

Ahoy, the ship! Can you hear us?

It's peace! Peace with France!

It's peace? It's peace!

Leave him, Matthews.

Killing one more poor devil won't change the world.

The war is over, man.

Yeah. Yeah!

The war is over!

The war is over.

Lay on your oars! Homeward a larboard!

All right. Mind your back. Coming through.

All right, missis.

What can I do for you today?

Mr. Hornblower,

you're here to redeem your gray coat, no doubt.

The weather is most inclement.

Alas, no.

Ah.

I can offer you 15 shillings.

15?

Alas, Mr. Hornblower, with the peace,

There's little demand for naval swords.

Watch where you're headed, man.

Neg your pardon, sir. Sir?

Sir. Mr. Bush?

It's good to see you.

It's good to see you, sir.

You needn't call me sir. Look. No epaulet.

But you're a commander.

You're captain of the retribution.

I was a commander. Now that we're at peace,

I'm once again a mere lieutenant.

Infernal luck.

And what's more, lieutenant without a ship.

Me, too. Well, it's cold. Where's your coat?

Why don't we go to my lodgings?

We can talk there.

I come every month, collect my half pay,

Stay wherever it's convenient.

Cheap, in other words.

Well, why not lodge with me?

It's cheap here, I assure you.

Oh, it's you.

Lieutenant Bush, Mrs. Mason,

the lady of the house.

Mr. Bush will be my guest tonight.

You're very free with your hospitality, Mr. Hornblower,

For someone whose rent is so far in arrears.

I don't mind paying in advance, madam.

It'll be a shilling for the bed.

I can't wash the sheets for less than that,

not with soap, as it is.

And that just leaves Mr. Hornblower's 15 that he owes us.

Oh, uh, sorry, mother. I forgot.

Mr. Hornblower gave me half a crown this morning. It's up in my room.

If you spent less time daydreaming...

you're just like your father... head in the clouds...

and look where that got him.

I want that balance by the end of the week.

This way.

I'll be up presently.

She doesn't mean to be so hard on you.

I think she does, Maria,

and with good reason.

I'm not a good lodger, not by any means.

Oh, please don't, sir. I know you're good for it.

But your mother will expect to see

this mythical half crown.

I can handle my mother.

I have something put by for my teaching,

and you have more need of the money than me.

You truly are a good friend, Maria.

I thought I had none left in the world.

I hope I'm more than that, sir.

Maria, don't pin your hopes on me.

I'm but a penniless sailor with few connections

and fewer prospects.

I know you are a true gentleman,

and a gentleman...

needs his sword.

Well, thank you.

Please, sir.

You have an admirer...

your landlady's daughter.

I saw the way she looked at you.

Maria? No.

No, no, no. Nonsense.

How could you possibly afford

to come here on half pay?

Follow me, and I'll show you.

Ah, Mr. Hornblower.

Are you well, sir?

Admiral Pellew, sir. Yes. Very well, thank you.

You remember Lieutenant William Bush.

We served together in the renown.

To great effect, as I recall. Thank you, sir.

You joining us for cards, Mr. Bush?

Mr. Bush is purely a spectator this evening,

but I shall be honored, as always.

Then allow me to introduce

an old acquaintance to the table.

I think you'll find this a very stimulating contest.

You earn your living here?

Well, my winnings usually outweigh my losses.

Ah, Hornblower.

Good evening, Captain Hammond.

A humble sloop takes on two ships of the line. Hmm.

Now, we shall soon see if that is valor

or mere foolhardiness.

Gentleman, my nephew Jack Hammond.

Well, step up, lad. Step up.

Good evening, gentlemen.

On his first visit to the fleshpots of Portsmouth,

Hoping to be posted to a ship.

You're in good company.

Some of the navy's finest captains come here.

So, Mr. Hammond, given the choice,

With whom would you serve?

Though, naturally, I can make no promises.

Well, come along. Come along.

You study the naval gazette.

Well, there is one man, sir,

but he's not a captain.

I've read much of your exploits, sir.

What? Horn...

Well, I'm sorry.

I'm in no position to offer you anything.

Indeed. You should think more carefully, sir,

before you nail your colors to the mast.

Well, if he wishes to go into battle with Mr. Hornblower,

There's always the card table,

ut I warn you, Mr. Hammond.

The lieutenant is an exceptionally gifted player.

My trick again, by god.

One more trick, and the game is ours.

Well, you and your nephew

have all the luck of the devil, Captain Hammond.

Mr. Hornblower, why are you a lieutenant again

and no longer a commander?

Because my promotion was disallowed

when the Retribution was laid up.

The country can't afford to keep a wartime navy.

Otherwise, we'd be paying this damned income tax every year.

Let's hope England's haste to decommission.

Does not prove to be premature.

What do you think, Mr. Bush,

or do you decline from speculating

as well as gambling?

I'm equally poor at both, sir,

but if I were a gambling man,

I'd wager that this peace won't last long.

Whatever Bony's planning,

we'll be ready for him, won't we, uncle?

This is hardly the place to gossip

about military matters, boy.

It's an officers club.

Even in such illustrious company, sir,

the best part of valor is discretion.