 Call all hands, speak to quarters. Turn by this towered battery. One broadside into it, if you please, Captain Bush. Point to some targets. Limps tops ready. At C.S. Foresters, Indomitable Man of the Sea, a ratio hornblower. Even there in the Westin. We've taken two Spanish fortresses, destroyed a nest of privateers, and gained security for future convoys making use of the Monae Passage. No wonder my new friend, Bush, now second-aid command of the renowned, stood grinning to himself there on the quarter deck as he applied his eye to the ship's telescope. Morning, Mr. Bush. Happy New Year. Surely I'm right. This is New Year's Day, despite the temperature. Hornblower, happy New Year to you too. I hope we both deserve it. You look happy enough. What are you trained on? Here, on the sea. The second fort here at the harbour mark. Our party's leaving there. Boat's putting off from the landing right now. Yes. There'll be some fireworks any moment then. Oh, not till they've got a little farther off. Tell me, um... does Captain Buckham seem at all, um... related to you, Bush? Not particularly. No. Well, to me, it's strange, isn't it? Three prize ships lying off our stern that go with us to Jamaica. 500 pounds prize money for our good captain. Heaven and the Nose, the hands are pleased enough with the five shillings they'll collect. Perhaps he's only thinking of the fourth private here we had to see. I don't suppose I'll ever understand that, man. Two Spanish fortresses taken. One of them already destroyed and... The party's safely away. No more do Spanish guns rule the entrance to Samana Bay, you know, Jesus. Fountains of smoke and flying masonry. I haven't two tons of gunpowder. We're quite sufficient, aren't we? We should be losing sail now, anyway. As soon as his nib sends up word from his cabin, huh? Well, with four ships, three prizes, and we ourselves, jammed full of prisoners and their women, at least our voyage to Jamaica won't be boring. Mmm, the women must be watched, I'd say. Coming aboard, I thought the men seemed tractable enough, even resigned. Probably had enough of that weird island here. Tropic heat, rebellious natives, yellow fever. Some of them have been stationed there in Garrison for years, but they're sullen wives and daughters. If baleful looks could kill, they'd have withered every man of us. They don't mind showing, they can hate, do they? Well, separating them in the way we have ought to take care of that. Only about fifty women and their children batten down in our midshipman's berth, and marine sentries always on guard, remember? They're in its fixed and muskets loaded. Well, and all four hundred of their men stood on our lower gun deck. Every hatchway guarded by prisoners aboard each of the three prizes, too, remember? Yes, but not as many. And we've got good men of our own aboard those prizes. Look, there goes Elphan's now in Captain Buckman's gig. He's boarding the one they call Lar Gaddy Turner. Yes. You shan't as if I still hadn't convinced you. I'll be convinced once we're safely in Kingston Harbor. And that's a full week away. We'll have to let them up, you know, for exercise and air. Conditions down there are no better than doing a slave ship. Oh, I'll grant you that. Look here, hornblower. If I'm being a bit more cheerful, will you? You'll have to give me nightmares. Oh, well, isn't sending word this time our captain comes himself? Lieutenant Bush. Captain, it looks as if the damage ashore is complete enough, doesn't it, sir? Yes. Well, get underway just as soon as the shoreboat's hoisted in, if you please. Aye, sir. All hands, stand by to get underway. All hands, stand by to get underway. Aye, aye, sir. Of course, that shoreboat landed on India. She was entitled to feel satisfied, I suppose, as one day followed another without event. There we were, a small Armada, one British ship shepherding three Spanish prizes, four specks alone and tiny in a vast sun-wrenched sea. On the renowned, we were left short-handed, both as two officers and men. Although each of the prize crews was small enough in all conscience, this fact produced no crisis. Watch seceded watch and all was calm. The tight and proper routine seemed to have been established. Yet I still couldn't avoid a slight uneasiness. Exercise period beginning? Yes, the regular hour after um, no doubt. Bush, look, am I seeing things again or am I right? That woman over there by the hatchway beside the sentry. She doesn't look exactly sullen. No, she's fine. Sure, she's fletching with one of our Marines. Sergeant Billings, come here, please. Sit down, gentlemen. Sit down. Thank you for coming. Oh, shut the door, please, Lieutenant Bush. Ah, certainly not. I haven't tightened up too much on sailing orders during the voyage, so long as we could keep the three prize ships under surveillance. But now that we'll be entering a British harbor, some changes are called for, I think. Changes, sir? Yes, Mr. Bush. You can't have those Spanish vessels struggling along in any fashion. Simply won't do. Must keep at least a trim formation. Understood, gentlemen? Yes, sir, of course. But may I respectfully suggest, sir, that in this instance, well, appearances aren't really as important as... No, Mr. Hornblower, you may not. And listen, if you please, to my instruction. Yes, sir. Mitchamon Brown will replace Mr. Hornblower temporarily a second lieutenant of the renown under Lieutenant Bush. Mr. Hornblower, this afternoon, well before nightfall, you will transfer to the first of the privateers, like Aditana. Yes, sir. From there, in consultation with the other prize crews, you will pre-organize a more efficient disposition. Bring all three into port in an orderly manner. Sir, um... May I be permitted to point out that... Well, we've already shorthanded aboard renown. I don't know why it is that certain officers feel called upon to offer me advice when I don't ask it. Very well, gentlemen. That will be all, I think, for the moment. I'll leave myself. Once aboard Gaditana, I set about hoisting signals to our other two prize crews, pursuing Bucklin's instructions as best I could. Bush told me his story later. I was able to piece together pretty clearly much of what had happened aboard the renown in my absence. It was a dark and lovely Caribbean night under bright stars when Bush completed his last evening rounds. He was dog-tired and soon asleep. Chip's sounds did not disturb him in the least. But sometime after midnight, Bush became suddenly awake. His ears told him that something was amiss. There were loud cries. There was a rush of feet on deck. A woman screamed. Then there was another rush of feet. Bush had leapt from his cot, snatched his sword and fistles to my back against the cabin bulkhead. He scrapped his sword radar. He fought to tear it from their grip. Struck wildly at the pressing mob. Kicked out of his bare feet at the attackers. Bush struggled to rally them. A few more of the crew of the renown fought to his side. And suddenly he found himself strolled on the deck. He was struck down. He was bathed in blood. His own and that of others. His head swam. He was weak beyond belief. And then the two might seem to die away. Bush, sir. Mr. Bush. They've come from that there Spanish prize. Who's come? I do believe it's Mr. Renown, sir. With his prize crew. That's right. All your reliance will still walk this way. He's fair trampled, too. Oh, they do not. I'm glad to say it. Thank God that you and a few others held him off till we got there. They never reached the quarter deck. Where's Captain Buck? Well, they took him prisoner while he still lay a bed. Oh, he's all right. We released him as soon as we got the Spaniards under control. And he... Bush. Bush. Yeah, man. He's unconscious again now. Lift him gently now. Gently. Have him in his cabin in no time. There's a very great deal I'd like to say to you. In gratitude. Hmm. Lemonade? What is lemonade? Bumbug from shore has already been alongside. Bought some lemons for you. That was all. I didn't mean lemonade, you know. Last night I... Well, this is no time for you to talk. How are you feeling, anyhow? Movement not very easy, eh? I should think now. Clive tells me he had to close a lot of gashes in your body. Oh, fifty-three is to choose from, Blaire. Fifty-three? I'm seven up like a crazy quilt. That'll mean some mending up in base hospital ashore. Not bad. I hear they feed you quite well up there. I... Rather envy you at the moment. Things are going to be slightly difficult aboard. Was I dreaming last night? Or did you tell me that they'd taken Captain Buckland to his bed? Oh, it's true enough. They bound him with his bedding, and he let her help us throughout the battle for the ship. I... Of the worst part, Bush is his... His hand dog look this morning. I'll capture you to sleep in bed. I suppose you'll never live that down. Will there be a court of inquiry, do you imagine? Oh, it was bound to be. You see, Bush, you are lucky to be here. Whatever happens, it's going to be embarrassing. Oh, Blower, how the devil hit those prisoners' escape. Come in. Oh, it's you, sir. Nice of you to stop in and see, Mr. Bush. Afternoon, Captain. Good afternoon, Mr. Bush. Thought I'd just look in on you for a moment before going ashore. You were... You're going ashore to make your reports? Yes. Well, it's... It's a beautiful afternoon, sir, so far as I can judge, and you do look most impressive, sir, those spotless white trousers and uniform coat and your sword. I... Oh, yes, I've dressed with the utmost care and my finest so I could find. I've carefully prepared my reports, and I wish to heaven I would get. Oh, sir, I... I don't say that, sir. I wish I were. Your gigs alongside, sir, and the free prizes are just anchoring the stand of us. Thank you, Mr. Brown. Nice to be up in a moment. Aye, aye, sir. Yes, remember the Spanish prizes, Captain. They'll bulk very large to the gold braid ashore. Oh, well, I... How in heaven's name did those Spanish maniacs escape? Well, it must surely have been due to the, uh... Well, carelessness of the Marine guards, sir. Certainly, it was well planned. Perhaps none of the women, well, quite sold themselves in exchange for a portrayal, but if they're seeming complacency, it must have led some of our men to leave a hatchway unfarced. Yes, I... We must institute an investigation at once. Sergeant Billings has already reported, sir. He seems quite certain, after much enquiry, that two Marines were responsible, and both of them died in the fighting last night. Oh, well, at any rate, I want you gentlemen to know I've treated you well in these reports. For instance, Mr. Hornblower, I've given you full credit for what you did at IED and for boarding the ship when the prisoners rose. Oh, thank you, sir. It's more than I deserve. Well, I'll be off. Good fortune to you, Mr. Bush, if you've been taken ashore before I'm back. Oh, thank you, sir. And good luck to you, too, sir. I'll ashore. A man on his way to the gallows might look rather like that, don't you think, Bush? Yes. Well, get some sleep now, if you can, sir. I'll attend to my other duties, and then we'll see that you get ashore. In Buckland, off, there was much else to be seen to while we were waiting for the stretcher-bearers from Kingston. Meanwhile, up on deck, I asked Sergeant Clive about Bush. Hmm, yes, Mr. Hornbrode. His condition is rather serious. Serious? Well, you didn't tell me that this morning. He's grown feverish, and with so many wounds, both large and small, I fear infection. Oh, well, he's not in such a bad shape as those three seamen who stood with him. Don't worry. They've a really excellent naval hospital here, I'm informed. Ah, I do believe that's the hospital lighter now. Am I mistaken? I think you're up, Miss Second Doctor. Dawson, stand by to receive those stretcher men from the boat coming alongside. There should be stretchers for six men in all. Delighted enough. To be honest, Bush, sounds a bit blinding, isn't it? Hornblower, I knew there was something I had to ask you. What's that? Kept coming back, too, to bother me all morning. When you recaptured the renown last night, you came all the way from the garrison. Well, yes, naturally. How did you know that anything was wrong? You were so far away. I heard a couple of musket shots at first, and then I saw the renown come up into the wind, and that seemed aimless and peculiar. So you collected all three prize crews together. Was that his? Yes. The thing that puzzles me, stripping all three of our seamen, weren't you afraid of losing the prizes? Hornblower, they all carried prisoners aboard. Better to lose the prizes than the renown, Bush, besides. Besides what? Well, I had every sheet and halyard cut in the prizes before we left them. I took them so much time to read new ones that we had no trouble at all retaking them. Oh, so that was it. And you had to retake them. Yeah. By the holy, you had a busy night all in all. Well, yes, rather. Into the boat with them now, men, and watch those slings. I saw it. Bush, oh, goodbye, Hornblower. Good luck, and carry on. Goodbye, Bush. We'll be waiting for you here in the renown. Starring Michael Redgrave is based on the novels by C.S. Forrester. Music composed and conducted by Sidney Torch. Produced by Harry Allen Towers.