Hornblower: The Examination for Lieutenant

Visitors, sir. Spanish colours. A captain among them.

Inform Captain Pellew, Mr. Hornblower.

Aye, aye, sir.

Side boys! Bos'n's mates!

Drummers! Man the sides!

- Captain, you said? - Full dress uniform, sir.

I fear the worst, Mr. Hornblower.

Commander Morris!

- A fair wind at last, Commander. - In our favour, Captain Foster.

You'll see Gibraltar and the Dreadnought before mid-day.

Nor before time, Commander, not before time.

Deck there. Sail fine off the starboard bow!

Allies, thank goodness. A Spanish frigate.

Spanish? Never trust the Spanish, Commander Morris.

Steer well clear of her, Master Figgis.

- How's your Spanish, Hornblower? - Not good sir.

Then he'll surely understand French.

Ask him below for a glass of wine.

He declines the offer sir, and says that the letter is

from the Duke of Belcite. He insists you open it at once.

Oh, does he? Does he indeed?

I suppose this means that the Spanish

have made peace with France.

They want us to heave to. I don't like the smell of this.

Luff and touch her, Master Figgis.

We might be able to outrun her to windward.

Outrun her? Are you mad? She'll be on us in minutes.

His Excellency, the Duke of Belchite grandee of the first class

Commander-in-chief of his Catholic majesty's forces

by land and by sea,

knight of the Most Sacred Order of the Golden Fleece,

First minister of his most Catholic majesty,

- Captain General of Andalusia-- - Yes, all right, Mr. Hornblower.

I think we've quite established our friend the Duke's eminence.

- What else does he say? - Hold your luff, Master Frigus.

- We may outrun them yet. - Belay that order!

She'll blow us out of the water. We must turn and

defend ourselves. Let her go off.

- I am in command of this vessel, sir. - And I am of superior rank

and I assume command of this vessel. Hard up on the helm!

We are out-manned and outgunned this is sheer madness!

What? What is he saying?

According to the rules of neutrality,

we have 6 hours before the Spanish start firing on us, sir.

You tell him, sir--

Damned if I'll let him see he's made me angry.

- We must surrender before it's too late! - Hold your course.

You tell him, sir.

You know the kind of thing I want said

- don't you, Hornblower? - Yes sir.

Get him over the side, with dignity.

Mr. Bowles, I want to be underway within the hour, if you please.

Go and jump, men!

Winds of change, Mr. Hornblower.

How quickly friends become enemies in the teeth of war.

Enemies, sir? The duke said they were to be neutral.

A meaningless word. A short step from there into bed with France.

I foresee a day when the whole of Europe

will be arrayed against us.

We will prevail, sir. They say we have God on our side.

Really? Then let us pray the Almighty

never chooses to become neutral.

Where is the frigate?

- Where's the frigate? Answer me! - You killed us all.

Anybody else? Anybody else?

Wreckage in the water to larboard, sir!

Inform the captain, Mr. Cleveland.

Poor devils.

Looks like one of ours.

A supply ship, sir.

Must have been returning to Gibraltar.

The work of a neutral power, Mr. Hornblower?

Spanish, sir? That would be an act of war!

I expected nothing less.

Over there, sir. Survivors.

Let me see.

Goodness gracious. Unless my eye deceives me--

- Yes, we have an honoured guest. - Sir?

- Captain Foster, I believe. - "Dreadnought" Foster, sir?

I do not care for such overblown titles, Mr. Hornblower.

Mr. Bowles, bring us up to windward of them.

Aye, aye, Captain. Man braces, stand by to luff up!

You're all right now lad, that's it. There you go. Come on, then.

Captain Foster.

- Captain Pellew. - Welcome aboard, sir.

I congratulate you on your impeccable timing, sir.

An honour to be of service, as ever.

Forgive me if I forego the usual pleasantries, Captain,

till I have discovered my limbs.

Of course.

Mr. Hornblower, have quarters prepared for the captain here,

and pass word on to my servant to find him

- some old clothing of mine. - Aye, aye, sir.

I would welcome your presence at dinner in my quarters, Captain.

Why, I shall be honoured to attend, sir.

Pass word on to the other officers, Hornblower.

Oh, get that off me man. Take me to the rum.

I fear our captain is not counted amongst

- our guest's admirers, Mr. Hornblower - The man is a legend.

Indeed, but there are some who might

consider his methods reckless.

Well, I was merely a passenger on the schooner

on my way to Gibraltar to resume command of the Dreadnought

when this, this Spanish frigate blocked our path.

We were out-manned and out-gunned, and should we have run,

we should certainly have been outpaced.

Did they fire without warning, sir?

Oh, they had the decency to fire a warning shot.

The audacity of them!

Three supply ships taken by the French in as many weeks,

and now the Spanish think they can do the same?

Well, this was one ship they would never take. So...

I assumed command of the schooner,

gave the order we should attempt to rake her.

Now, of course, I knew our chances were slim,

but I took comfort from the fact that they would be forced

to destroy their prize, and had I not acted,

the schooner and her supplies would at this very moment

- be in the hands of the Spanish. - What of the crew?

You have a question, Captain?

I was merely wondering how many of the crew

- did the Spanish take from the sea? - I have no idea.

At the time, my mind was engaged

in more important matters than arithmetic.

Am I to presume Captain Pellew that you would have surrendered?

This is neither the time or the place, sir, to discuss tactics.

Nonsense! We're all men of the sea here.

- You! - Yes, sir?

How would you have reacted to such circumstances?

- I think perhaps—— - Come on man, out with it.

I am pleased the Spanish have been deprived of our supplies, sir.

I take my leave, sir.

I fancy you shall go far, young man, I fancy you shall.

- Algeciras. - Sir?

A cruel hand dealt by the Almighty to set a Spanish anchorage

six miles off Gibraltar, don't you think?

Report, if you please.

Eight ships, I think, sir.

- Nine, with their yards crossed. - Thank you.

Captain Pellew, sir.

I believe I might have offended you earlier.

Yes, Mr. Hornblower?

Might I offer my apologies, sir?

Your apology is noted.

Thank you, sir.

Let go!

- Mr. Hornblower. - Sir.

When we next meet, I believe you will have your commission, sir.

- Sir? - Well, I presume you are putting yourself forward

for examination for lieutenant.

That is my captain's decision, sir.

The port admiral awaits.

You're much taken with our famous Captain Foster

and he with you.

He's a truly great man, sir.

To be half the man that he is would see my life fulfilled.

Careful, Mr. Hornblower.

Such greatness always has its price.

Come.

You wish to see me, sir?

Mr. Hornblower. Yes, I hope you consider this good news.

- You're ready to take your examination for lieutenant? - Yes, sir.

Good. Then I shall put you forward for next month's round.

- I would be honoured, sir. - Should you do well,

you will already have two months seniority. Do badly,

and it's back with the midshipmen for six months at least.

- I understand that, sir. - Well, you'd better spend

- your spare time in study. - Yes, sir.

You're on a run, Mr. Bowles.

I do believe your hands are tied, Mr. Bracegirdle.

No prison's held me yet, sir. Yes!

Your throw, sir. The tables are turning.

Hold still lad. Don't want to waste it.

I see you've taken me at my word, Mr. Hornblower.

But, could you not find a place to study below decks?

No sir, I was searching for some peace and quiet.

Oh yes, of course. I apologize for disturbing you.

- No sir, I, I didn't mean—— - As you were, Mr. Hornblower.

Yes, you'll find time to study,

when these high spirits are dulled.

- Why is that, sir? - Captain Foster's recent engagement

with our Spanish friends has deprived

the fleet of its regular supplies

leaving me no alternative but to cut the rations...

- by half. - Half, sir?

Indeed, Mr. Hornblower. No doubt Captain Foster

will be forced to follow a similar prudent path.

Yes, sir.

A side of beef and a gallon of rum, if you please.

Sounds like you've been at the rum already.

- What's this? - Half rations. Captain's orders.

On account, Bunting, there's been no supply ship for seven weeks.

What of the captain? Is he on half-rations?

That's dangerous talk, Bunting.

You'd better bite your tongue to save it.

Styles.

Oldroyd.

Finch.

And that should just leave Bunting and me.

For what we are about to receive,