 Call all hands, beat the quarters! Tabard battery! One broadside into it, if you please, Captain Bush. Pointes on target! Blin stops ready! Aye aye sir! You bad CS foresters, indomitable man of the sea. Horatio Hornblower! And far removed from those days of stress and expelosive, my old friend and colleague, Captain Bush, is still a poignant memory. At that time, when it only just occurred, it seemed unbearable. Unbelievable. But as I sat receiving Colonel Dobbs' report in my room at the Hotel de Ville, I realized that I could hope no longer. It seems that when Bush laid his bolts off the river to attack the powder barges, his own bolt was last seen right beside the bars that blew up. Well, if that's the case, there would have been no chance whatever of his survival. I fear not, sir. General Hewell says that he found and buried the remains of a number of men, but none was identifiable. I see. Poor Bush. He served with me for the greater part of my career, you know. It was why we were escaping from our imprisonment in France that he lost his leg, and only for this. He died in action, sir. He would have wished that. You see, to wish to enable action, not to bloody skirmish on a river bank, pieces on the horizon, Dobbs. The Allied armies are already closing in on Paris. If only Bush had survived this one last skirmish, he would have enjoyed peace and retirement. I doubt if he would have enjoyed retirement, sir. Captain Bush was his colleague. So what is it, Captain Hardt? A soup of war gazelle, just ending harbours her. She's wearing the Bourbon flag at a main, and signaling that she has onboard the Duchess of Orleans. Has she by thunder? Haven't I had enough trouble making the Duke behave without his wife as well? Oh, well. I'll have to receive her on the key, I suppose. Tell the Duke a range of bad salutes, sir. Brown? Where's Brown? Where's Martin? My dress coat and sword, Brown. Deeply honoured, Your Royal Highness. Oh, no, no. Not your ratio. The honour is mine. Thank you. Do you not see what I have brought? Open your eyes, man. Forgive my dullness, Your Royal Highness, but you mean, you mean that serving girl over there? What's she got to do with Barbara? Her ratio. My dear, why do you not arrange a less dramatic meeting? This unbridled embrace is hardly fitting before royalty. Every collection of tangent, even royal embraces were not bridled. You have a beautiful and most accomplished wife's ratio. Was it not a pleasant surprise? It was most pleasant. You're very kind, Your Royal Highness. The Lord Carcerer thought the Duchess ought to come here, so I asked if I might come too. It was an inspiration, in which I'm divinely grateful, my dear. You overwhelm me, her ratio. For me, for my formal attitude, I could not help myself. My mind was in a turmoil. Dad, though I was to see her again, I feared the distraction her presence might bring. After all, the mainspring of my life was my professional duty. As I let her to our quarters in the hotel, the sentries and orderlies sprang to attention, and Dobbs and Hyde gaped at the spectacle, the governor ushering in a lady, and the more so, as that lady was the sister of England's hero, the Duke of Wellington. You are pleased to see me? Of course. Of course, dear. It's just, I can hardly believe that you are here. Little Richard is well and happy. Good. He talks unceasingly, and he still digs. His corner of the shrubbery looks as though an army of badges lived there. I have some drawings of his in my trunk. Though one could hardly say that they display an inertial artistic ability, I... Sorry to disturb you, sir, but the dispatchers brought by the gazelle are important. Yes, very well. I'll come to the office. Excuse me, my dear. Boney's been beaten again, sir. He has, well. The Prussians are taking soissons, sir, and cut up two of Boney's army corps. But that's not all. London's going to put some forces at our disposal at last. Perhaps at last I shall be able to launch a campaign against Paris. What are the forces? Militia, sir. They've begun to volunteer for foreign service. Now that the war is nearly over, and we can have as many battalions as we want. Militia, I wonder what their military capacities are. We shall lead a general to command them. I suppose a general will be senior in rank to me. Would that lead to complications? Well, we'd better write some letters, Dobbs. There's just time before dinner. We can't demand Bill and the lady with him is his sister. It's amazing how many people are here. I'd never seen such a variety of uniforms even at our own courts. They're better respectful. I'd call it a secrecy. I prefer the discipline respect of the Navy. You think we were royalty from the way they bowed and scraped? You really should try to accept homage graciously, dear. After all, we... you are entitled to it. Oh, you may be. I'm not. You love this sort of thing, and it suits you. It only makes me feel ridiculous. How do you do? Yes, yes, a delightful voyage, thank you. They really are most pleasant people. Oh, by the way, Barbara, you didn't know, um... Bush is dead. What? Yes, he was killed four days back. He was leading... Oh, I'm so sorry, my dear. I didn't think that... Oh, please. Please let us wait here a moment. I can't go in yet. Oh, Horatio. Well, why did you have to tell me now? I'm sorry. All of that threshold of royal reception. It was cruel. I'm sorry, Barbara. I spoiled your evening. I'm sorry. I really didn't mean... Of course, I... You know, I forgot. You enjoy this sort of thing, and... There are Excellencies, the Governor, and Milady Balbara on board. Something new happened? Yes, sir. Good morning, Milady. Please pardon my intrusion. Yes, sir. Dispatch from the army. The frogs have gone, sir. Gone? Upsticken away, sir. General Keough left for Paris last night. There's not a French soldier left in wrong. But, by heaven's stop, this is sensational. Burn-up art must be desperate for troops to defend Paris. By recalling Keough, he's left all Normandy at home this evening. Yes, sir. I wondered if you'd have any orders in the light of this news. Well, yes. Tell Howard... No, I'll tell him myself. Excuse me, my dear. Is there not even time for you to eat your breakfast? Sorry. I was taught at school that Drake had time to finish his game and beat the Spaniards, too. That's quite right, my dear. Go and have some coffee, officer. Thank you. This is victory. This is the end. Do you really think so? I know it in my soul. That man who has bathed the world in blood is about to fall. Do you realize, Barbara, that the world has been at war with children, and now it will be peace? Peace? I hardly know what it means. I shall have to enter Rouen in state. The royalists must be kept happy. Wait a minute. If I haven't, I've got an idea. We'll rub in the lesson that it's England's sea power which has turned the scale in this war. Colonel Dobbs... Yes, sir. ...worn Howard to have the flame and the imported chaeli ready to get underway. We'll take the Duke and Duchess up to Rouen by water. Horatio, what a splendid idea. May I come, too? Well, why not? Tell Howard it's to be a sort of state voyage. Warm the captains to see about accommodation. Our entry into Rouen shall be one of the most famous naval locations in British history. It was like heaven to tread a deck again and have my broad pen and hoisted, even though the bore bone white and gold flew beside it. We bowled up the estuary at a full eight knots, but I knew that when the river narrowed, it might be a different story. I was happy again, and Barbara was happy to see me so. Even the Duke condescended to engage us in conversation, and it seemed no time at all before luncheon was announced. The party trooped the loam, the women squealing at the lowness of the decks and the difficulties of the companion. But hardly was I seated when Freeman slipped in and whispered to him, Carterbeck is inside, sir. He asked me to let you know. Carterbeck, thank you. I'll come up. Please, pardon me, your Royal Highness, ladies, my presence is required on deck. That's Carterbeck, sir. The top of the reach looks a little nasty slight. It does indeed. I begin to understand the nature of the explosion that caused Captain Bush's life. Look at those houses. Everyone has been cut off six or eight feet from the ground. The churches could have, sir, except the roof and the windows, but the key is in ruins. This must have been devastating. After the war, I went to erect a monument on the riverbank there above the key in honor of Bush. Before the day was over, I had regretted bringing the royal party by water. They were like a crowd of silly children and as difficult to manage in the cramped confines of the brig. For myself, I slept that night in a hammock slung on deck, and soon after dawn, we rounded a bend in the river and could see the cathedral towers of Rwamaw in the distance. But navigation was very difficult. It was early afternoon before we swung round the last bend and anchored in full sight of the city. Barbara joined me on deck. What a beautiful city. And how quiet it seems. I'm afraid it will be my business to wake it up. Barbara, look at those soaring Gothic towers. Yes. You know, it's strange to think that they looked down on the burning of Joan of Arc. Ah, here comes the man. We're gathering on the keys. Oh, here's the duke. Ah, I do. I see no sign of any deputation of greeting, sir Royce. No, your Royal Highness. I think it might be wise that if I went to shore first to carry out a survey. Martin, my boat. Where is the reception for his Royal Highness? Why are there no salutes being fired? Why are the church bells not ringing? Your Excellency, we did not know you. Your Excellency, we did not know if we were not certain. You know the Royal standard. You know that his Highness was on his way here to Roan. Well, there had been rumors. Yes, but your Excellency would understand in the present unsettled state of affairs. You do not wish too definitely to commit yourself. Is that it? Well, I guess. His Royal Highness is very seriously annoyed, Mr. Mayor. If you wish to regain his favor and that of his Majesty the King, who will follow him, you will make all the amends in your path. A deputation of every person of importance must be on hand two hours from now to welcome his Royal Highness. But, Your Excellency, if General Bonaparte should return... Every person of importance. Note will be taken of who is present and who is absent. The church bells can begin to ring immediately. The streets will be decorated in accommodation provided for his Royal Highness and his suite. But, Monsieur, you do not understand all that this implies. It means... It means the joy of going to have to decide whether to enjoy the King's favor or not. That's the choice before you. And also the guillotine, if General Bonaparte should prevail. France is free again. A wise man will not hesitate for a moment. My armies at your gates, my ships, could blow up your time to pieces. But that's not the manner in which his Royal Highness wishes to enter. Rouen, Monsieur Le Mayor, time presses. Come on. Your Excellency leaves me no choice. It shall be as you wish, though my life becomes forfeit from this moment. Your care shall be my special charge, Monsieur. This is a ride in this carriage. I think it's wiser for my servant, Lady Barbara, to ride with you as far as the hotel. It... it was a very small reception. Well, all the notables of the city were present, save those who had already fled. The city is decorated. The white flags are out. Your Royal Highness is accepted. Yet the crowds are very silent, huh? They are numbed with disaster and do not know which way to turn. For all they know, Bonaparte may yet return himself. He will not return. I am here. Oh, what's that? Who is it? It's the Barton Hughes. Make him in, sir. Well, just wait a moment. What's the matter, dear? It's... it's Dobbs. It must be important. I... um... Yes? What is it, Dobbs? It's over, sir. Bonie's abdicated, Lucius, in Paris. Abdicated by him? Victory, Dobbs? The end of 20 years' war? And it's official, sir. Here's the dispatch. Well, the Duke must be towed. Is the King still in England? What does the dispatch say? Horatio, what is it? Uh, it's all right, Dobbs. I'll be with you in five minutes as soon as I dress to you. Yes, wait for Duke and tell him I'm coming. Right, sir. I'll tell him immediately. Barbara... Barbara, darling, it's... it's peace. Look in your park and serve it. This is a bit better way of coming to Paris than the last time you came this way. It certainly is, Martin. I was a prisoner then, coming to be shot. Now we ride in as conquerors. Still I'd rather sail in, sir, any day. Yeah. Well, I'm finishing brute resources, too. Oh, what's the matter with it? Looks a very good horse to me, Martin. Oh, he's all right. Shall I try to love him, sir? He won't love no more. He falls off three points every time. He pulls me arms out, sir, trying to keep him close old. Yes, we'll drop back now, Martin. Um, attention, everybody. Swat it out. All Paris is watching. Oh, dear, wonderful. But do you mean to tell me that you've had this parchment for two days and have not read it? It's not like that today, but I've been busy, my dear. Busy? Oh, I know that it's only married to you, but still, listen, listen, let me read it to you. Oh, very well, my dear. Listen, as the grandeur and stability of the British Empire depend chiefly upon the knowledge and experience in maritime affairs, we esteem those worthy of the highest honour who exert themselves in maintaining our dominion over the sea. Yes, yes, yes. We needn't read all that there. It goes on for hours. England at least knows your value. And listen, the parchment ends. It is just, therefore, that we should distinguish with higher titles a subject who has so eminently served us in his country, both as monuments of his own merit and to influence others into a love and pursuit of virtue. Oh, I am very proud of you, dear. There are only two or three cases in history of a naval officer being raised at the pierage before attaining flag rank. I congratulate you, my lord. Haven't said that I can live up to it. Lord Hornblower of small bridge in the county of Kent. Knight of the Bath and the baronet of the United Kingdom. I'd give every title and every order to have dear, honest old Bush back at my side. Michael Redgrave is based on the novels by C. S. Forrester. Music composed and conducted by Sidney Torch. Produced by Harry Alan Towers.