Horatio Hornblower - Command Of The La Mouch

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Presenting Michael Redgrave at CS Foresters in Dominable Man of the Sea, Horatio Hornblore.

Presenting Michael Redgrave at CS Foresters in Dominable Man of the Sea, Horatio Hornblore.

Presenting Michael Redgrave at CS Foresters in Dominable Man of the Sea, Horatio Hornblore.

I had had brief snatches of command before, of course, a quarantine cattle boat, a cargo ship

groaning with tons of waterlogged rice. This was the first time a presentable craft,

smaller she was, had been entrusted to me. Aged barely 21, I felt as if every telescope in our

Mediterranean fleet must be trained on me, as I sailed our little prized ship, La Moussin, to

Gibraltar's harbor. No, it's too bad, sir. Can't quite understand you.

What's too bad, Mr. Winnie? Why, I don't think she's in herself yet, sir.

I've been using my glass all the way up the anchorage, not a sign of the indefatigable.

Perhaps you put in a molter, after all. Well, anyhow, our crew won't mind a little rest.

I know, I won't, sir. That's certain. Oh, confundent, with Captain Perlu not yet returned,

I suppose it's my duty to report to the port admiral fairly quickly.

Well, sir, rather catch up on my sleep.

Oh, welcome back aboard, sir. They've already come to the prisoners.

You look a little weary, Mr. Hornblower. I am winded.

Three hours wait after I had reported in, and then three minutes were the admiral.

There's warm enough over there today, too. Winter or not, in this dress uniform.

I've got some news for you, though.

News, sir? Are we going to have sorely?

Well, tonight, perhaps, but not tomorrow. We'll be too busy.

Our moosh is to be commissioned into the service without delay.

Into the British service, sir?

The idea. Good, good. We never have enough with dispatchers, and then he gave orders

for all the proper transport papers and all that, and I had to wait around for another hour.

This batch is, but sorely we're not going out at once, not before our own captain comes back.

I've got our orders here.

You are here by the quested and required to take his majesty's slupe la moosh under your command.

So soon as the latest dispatches destined for England shall be put in your charge,

you are commanded to proceed to Plymouth with the utmost expedition.

To Plymouth? Well, that sounds better, do you, eh?

Yes, sir, sir. I haven't been home for more than a year.

Yes, I can understand that. I last set foot on English soil three years ago.

Thank you, sir.

My pardon, Mr. Hondler, I just remember, while you were gone, a catch from sore delivered you this letter,

a half hour ago. It couldn't be the dispatches, well, how they up, and let me see.

There shouldn't be so forgetful wind yet.

Parts.

No, we can find it.

But rather, it were the dispatches, with orders to sail at once in this order.

God, listen to this.

Their excellences, major generals, the Hugh and Lady Dowl Rimpo,

request the pleasure of acting Lieutenant Horatio Hondler's company at dinner today,

at five o'clock at Government House.

My name is Alexander. I'm Lord Philip Alexander.

You?

Horatio Hondler, sir, acting Lieutenant aboard the Interfatic, well,

no, I suppose I should say, commanding the new stoop, La Mouche,

it's my first independent command.

Thank you.

And their excellences are most happy that you could bind them, Hondler.

Well, thank you, I, if I may, present to you, sir, we'll come this way.

Your excellences, this is Mr. Hondler, the new captain of La Mouche.

Oh, we're pleased to see you, Mr. Hondler.

Thank you, sir.

Thank you, kind of.

And now, Mr. Hondler, may I present to the Duchess of Warfdale,

your grace, this is Mr. Hondler of La Mouche.

That is Warfdale, Mr. Hondler.

Your grace.

So this is the fellow in question, your excellency.

Oh, now, really, Martyr, you're going to interest me to an infantine arm.

Young fellow, you look exactly like a gander on the green.

I expected it in any moment.

And then, and there, she did an imitation of me, sticking a chin out and dangling her arms,

which brought a brawl of laughter from the whole room.

I just stood there in red-faced confusion.

Now, don't be hard on the young fellow, you people.

Very so awfully young.

And if that had to be a shame, Dorf, it would be proud of for that matter.

I think it's wonderful, Mr. Hondler, to be trusted with the ship at your young age.

Oh, yes, sir, yes indeed, your grace.

Oh, yes, sir.

Ah, may I give you my arm, my dear Duchess?

Don't sound, I'm sure.

I confess, I'm terribly misdivide, Lord Philip.

What does she mean about interesting hair to me, Prince?

As usual, the man most concerned is very large now.

What is it?

When you sailed tomorrow with dispatches, Hondler,

we're going to have the honour of bearing her grace with you two Englishmen,

but you're not, oh, no, you're not serious.

But who is she?

I mean, she doesn't go hurt my instructions, didn't do.

She's the Duchess who walked down, eh?

Well, yes, but I like her.

Don't make a sound as if I'd, you know, she,

but she doesn't talk like a Duchess.

No, no, no, no, no.

Yeah, Duke was in his day to get to where he married, I was here.

She was at the tavern he was with us, her friends there.

Imagine if you like what I said.

It's the most important thing she's doing and the polter.

No, she was at Florence when the French marched in.

She got to Ligwell and brimed the coast that had bring her here.

She asked the Hugh to find her passage-hound ring,

but the Hugh veils the admiral.

And that's where you come in, Ophela.

I was up at dawn the next morning to see that my precious ship,

my first independent command was in condition to face the sea

and our enemy's sailing to sea.

I had exactly four pop-gun, four punters,

arms on my crew numbered only 11,

so I knew our only safety.

Lay in flight if we ran into trouble.

Thoughts noon the dispatchers arrived,

then came the Duchess and I made a company by Sir Hugh

and laid it down Rumpor.

Welcome aboard, your Excellency.

I see clear a dread that I can muster

but two bursting spikes in your honor.

You'll see Sir Mike.

Oh, I'm in a problem, Mr. Hornblower.

As Governor of Gibraltar one tar the ceremonials, you know.

Well, well, as a young man,

how sweet you are to bother with two extra passengers, Mr. Hornblower.

Two, you'll be.

Yes, my maid, Mary.

Oh, Ophela, a great honor, Your Grace, I assure you.

I must have apologised to her Grace in advance

for her somewhat cramped quarters, your Excellency.

You see, in so small a loop, ma'am,

your cabin will be, well, my newt.

Oh, Mary, and I can live through it.

As soon as the Governor had gone ashore,

we brought La Mouss up to the anchor.

Anchors, the waves are,

in Helios.

I am Helios.

I'm Isaac.

La Mouss came round before the wind

and began her course for England.

Several hours wore on.

We rounded Cape Marrake,

and set a course for Cape St Vincent.

Backstatton's nearing visible on the horizon over there?

Where, and I'd end it, sir.

Here's, coming up, Patrick.

Well, that's the price you have to pay for a fair wind and wintertime.

The Kuhnland breeze strikes the Atlantic and the fog is the result.

The thicker still been morning, I wouldn't wonder, sir.

Yes, I think I shall revise my knight orders.

We must be sure of keeping clear of Cape St Vincent in the fog.

Yes, sir.

I'm set a course due west instead of west Benorth.

Is that you, sir?

I can't see for the fog.

Oh, what's wrong with it?

Don't speak too loud, sir.

But simply listen.

I don't hear anything.

Except to see at our bars and our blocks clattering and...

Well, wait.

We did listen.

Do I?

Yes, do I hear the seed breaking under someone else's bars?

Is that it?

There's a ship close alongside in the fog that I'm on,

that's positing.

What kind of ship?

It got me the idea.

I'll try send them low for you, sir.

I've heard an order given in Spanish.

I have inspired your style.

I haven't written with it.

Listen to all those bells.

La midnight."

In the middle of an opening field

they have ships, too, sir.

It seems the dons are out in force, eh?

And my change of course would put us back into the midst of them in the night.

Or if I'd only held to my first course?

It's too late for that now.

Listen, NASA, what's going on now?

It's positively uncanny.

We're within arms length of each other, and they don't know it.

They're setting more sail now that dawn is coming.

Spaniards always snuck down at night.

Don't set that to gallon till they break.

They make enough noise about it.

Let's hope they're on a different course from ours.

And we'll soon be beyond them through them, aren't we?

Well, we can hope so, yes.

But, well, it's hardly likely.

When it was right, it was uncanny.

As soon as we did, if we were crossing their course,

we'd have passed some ship very close where we haven't.

The thing that worries me is, how long will this fog hold?

The light's growing.

Can't be altered course.

Wait, look, look for it there.

It's a clear patch of sea. We're almost into it.

Sir, sir, I can see the sea, but the sea's spaniards stand still.

Tell us, man, for it stands still too.

No panic, no running.

We draw attention to our souls, we're done.

Oh, thank heaven, at least our men understand.

I know more of that bustle, I'm decked.

You must behave as if we had every much of right to be here as any of them.

I told you there's another bank of mist.

About any state-thru ended.

Oh, thank the Lord.

Yes, hands were shipped at them.

Lay it on the port pack.

They told us.

Oh, oh, it's just a June, huh?

Look, don't you think our grace had better go below?

No, please.

I did go below before when you ordered me so sharply,

I had to know what was happening.

So I came up again and stood way after you'd be out of your way.

Well, I'm sorry, ma'am.

I've got no time for a conversation now.

Go.

Good morning.

I forgot the dispatches.

What, sir?

The dispatches are different.

Here, you take over the quarter-deck when you're done.

I've got to go run down to my cabin.

Find them, sir.

Yes.

I did, indeed.

Now, hand me that billy inked in.

And I want a bit of line.

I need to go overboard.

They've got to sink.

Please, please.

The stolen blower.

Do tell me what you're doing.

Thanks for thinking our dispatches your grace.

Two envelopes of life.

But they'll be lost for good.

No, I have no idea what they can tell you,

but I don't want the Spaniards to read them.

I could look after them for you.

Indeed, I could.

The stolen blower.

No, no.

They'd search your back.

It's too far to put them in my bagage.

I'll put them next to me.

It's a skin, that's what I'll do.

They won't search me in any case.

Remember, after all, I am a duchess.

And the Spanish are nothing if not gentlemen.

Well, ma'am.

Don't stand there staring young man.

If they should capture us.

I hope they won't.

But if they should, they'll never keep me prisoner.

They'll send me back to Lisbon,

or put me aboard a British ship as soon as ever they can.

So I could deliver your dispatches.

Better late than never.

Oh, possibly tonight.

I've got them like my life.

I swear I will.

I'll tell no one I have until I hand them to a king's office in England.

A fog's filling, sir.

Quick, give them here.

Hand me a yard of that rope.

You, ma'am.

Turn your back of now, you two young men.

I'll have them stowed in no time.

The sun's coming out, sir.

Full this time, I'm afraid.

So we're going to lose that fog for good.

Desolving farce that port.

Look, there's a Spanish flag.

Yes.

How many ships are there?

I see three or four, right?

At least a dozen, ma'am.

Seems we're surrounded.

Go, my helmsman.

Starboard, two points.

Starboard, two points, it is there.

What's that?

That's a cannon shot, your grace.

They've seen us finally for what we are.

Those aren't simply warning shots.

We could beat them off once, at least, sir.

No, no.

Play that order in the guns.

Look over there.

20 guns, plain others, deported.

50 more to Starboard.

And we're the size of a pleasure yard.

No.

Don't fire.

But, sir.

No point in dying, useless, they're Matthews.

We have women aboard, remember.

They could sink us in ten seconds.

Sir, the frigates putting two boats into the waters.

The port is?

Yes, your grace, the better look to your baggage.

You'll be leaving as soon for, well, I'll tell you.

You'll be leaving as soon for, well, other quarters with the guns.

I hope more comfortable.

Your first ship.

I wish I could tell you how sorry I am.

If I don't, they held my court.

You see that?

Don't ever blame yourself.

Promise you won't, sir.

Come over here at a moment.

There's something I must say to you in private.

Yes, sir.

Now, stop your gracing me.

I'm no duchess.

What do you mean?

No time to tell you at all now.

Those Spanish boats are almost here.

I'm Kitty Cobbon.

Never heard of me.

Kitty Cobbon?

Well, I may have done that somehow.

Somewhere, I think.

Never mind.

You're too young for the name for me much anyhow.

But five years ago, I was playing a true lancerter

and six children himself that he'd never had a better Lydia language.

I'm interested.

Oh, that's it.

Yes, Kitty Cobbon.

Sir, the John's boats are hooking on.

Yes, yes.

Come with me, please.

Come with me.

Do you speak, Kitty, sir?

Perhaps three words.

Vengo a bordo para prenderles, señoras, señoras.

Señor, teniente, español.

We have ladies aboard.

Ladies.

All proper considerations must be asked for.

Señoras, la duqueza, la duqueza.

Ah, la duqueza.

Señor, teniente, ce shall be very great, respect.

Ah, la duqueza, la duqueza.

Ah, la duqueza, la duqueza.

Captivity is the best, a dreadful thing.

A few weeks at Cadiz,

and then I was transferred to the Spanish naval prison at Ferral.

An empty sail loft,

where I lived with other captive officers.

Four months of this.

Then one day I was escorted to the office of the commandant,

who had as aid a renegade adishman named O'Brien.

You've been promoted.

Well, promoted. Here's the letter.

The Spanish authorities are informed that on account of his

military service, the act in commission of Mr. Horacio Hornblower,

midshipman and act in lieutenant has been confirmed.

And here's the letter for you, lieutenant.

Must have come in the same dispatch.

Looks like it's been readjusted over Spain.

There.

Now, if you all, you could read it on the card or outside.

Oh, thank you, Mr. Brown.

A letter.

My first letter since my capture.

What's it?

Darling, boy.

Oh, and this would start a letter to me calling with darling, boy.

I hope it will make you happy.

It will learn that what you gave me has reached a destination.

They told me at the admiralty, when I delivered it,

that they were very pleased with what you'd done.

And just imagine one of those admirals,

he's an old deer, he's a shareholder, true relay,

whoever would have thought of such a thing.

And he smiled at me.

And I smiled at him.

I didn't know he was a shareholder then.

And I only smiled out of the kindness of my heart.

That's a big heart, kitty-coboom, isn't it?

A racial hornblower, starring Michael Redgrave,

is based on the novels by C. S. Forester,

music composed and conducted by Sydney Torch,

produced by Harry Allen Towers.

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