 Call all hands beat the quarters and buy this tablet battery one broadside into it if you please Captain Bush pointers on target Lin stocks ready Presenting Michael Redgrave as C.S. Forester's indomitable man of the sea Horatio Hornblower The story of the fabulous Horatio Hornblower wedded since early youth to Britain ships and Britain's destiny at sea Adventuring across the seven oceans as midshipmen as lieutenant as captain of the line Hornblower has seen the threatening shadow of Napoleon Bonaparte fall on half the world has himself Even been Napoleon's prisoner of war in France But now respite has come home again in England laden with honors Relieved from duty by his king ex-captain Hornblower can relax at last the year is 1812 When you've been many years at sea it sometimes seems a little difficult I might even say arduous to live ashore Especially when your lovely wife or adored recent bride rather expects you to become a country gentleman Well life is made up of change they say but for an old seadog new tricks come harder than for other breeds I think Well, there I was not long returned from confinement in France as the unwelcome guest of Bonaparte Granted a knighthood happily married to my enchanting lady Barbara free of all financial cares at last and yet and yet so Yes, I knew it for my fault, but Somehow there in the quiet English countryside. I hadn't quite come home as yet More bathwater sir. Oh heaven forbid it's mostly on the deck the floor already, isn't it? Tins of the size of a teapot fine way for a grown man to bathe himself. Yeah, all right. I've had enough give me that towel Ridiculous contrivance is give me a washdeck pump and gallons of cold seawater remember brown. Oh, I remember sir Aracia's belay that sir Aracia old terms are good enough aren't they you idiot? Yes, sir It's a lovely morning, sir. Is it? Yes, yes, I suppose so Still and quiet it's very quiet It's queer when I wake here. I still keep listening for the sounds rattle of blocks the cordage wheezing and Oh, never mind. I've laid out your new suit, sir. But you mean that tight buff color thing. It's a beautiful suit, sir I think I'll do you tight trousers fancy coat flowered waistcoat and a stock Oh, I'll never draw an easy breath in that confounded choker Well, let's get it on mustn't keep lady Barbara waiting downstairs for her breakfast I Welcome to the new Squire of Smallbridge laughing at me, you know perfectly well Barbara how I felt about that insufferable ceremony yesterday I do know my dear and you were sweet suffering it all without complaint Only the faintest glare of defiance now and then during the speechmaking Coffee dear. Thank you. Well, what we have planned today. I thought that you and I might drive across the downs this morning Of course you said you had a lot of reading you'd been putting off Gibbon was it well. Yes, sir Yes, I do want to get at that. It's a Yes quite soon in fact a letter for you, sir ratio. Oh, thank you Wiggins. The messenger is waiting my lord He's from the Admiralty in London the Admiralty Admiralty Darling it It couldn't be listen to this the Lord's commissioners request that I present myself at once a Matter of extreme importance, which cannot even be discussed except in Hey Wiggins, where's brown tell him to get out my best uniform and sword tell him to pack my things for the night And look tell him that you're going to London right away I love the letter says at once remember we're still at war with Bonaparte now off with you Wiggins Tell Brown I'll be upstairs immediately. I want him to drive me. We'll take the chariot I wished I didn't need to look at her just then after the first surprise she would try so hard to appear calm and and pleased that I was pleased I Hadn't been quite frank with her perhaps to be exact to the letter asked whether or not I would accept a new appointment. I Didn't know what to say to Barbara, but oh my dear. It's merely for the night. I'll be back in the morning Whatever this am I still yes for a day or so perhaps? Oh Just look at your brazen child excited as a midshipman. It's breaking over you in waves Do you suppose I don't see it? Oh my dear when well when the Admiralty itself Well, I must at least find out. I know what you'll find out wild horses couldn't hold you now, of course Do you know how long we've lived here at small bridge? Why? Two months two months tomorrow. I oh dearest I've always known Retirement simply isn't in your line It's a great honor to be recalled so soon You must be pleased and I am too if they If they appointed me a Commodore well, they might you know well well if they did I I might have to go back to see again Darling, we've been married six whole months a wonderful half-year I've had that much of happiness with you and Whatever happens you'll come back to me. I know you will of course. I will Barbara I swear you're a woman in 10,000 In all my life, I'd said no truer word than that I told myself as we drove up to London But we made excellent time Brown knew his business with horses. I never understood the peculiar beast The Brown was good at everything best captains coxswain in the Navy and now the perfect man servant still Rather thought he mightn't mind going back to sea again There was a queer look in his eye Especially when we drew up before the Admiralty in Whitehall and I was ushered into the first Lord Sit down sit down captain or a show Well, well left your newfound domestic miss behind a when you received our letter Well, may I ask what it is you have in mind for me, sir? Of course you may The Baltic Horatio the Baltic is Russia coming into the water who knows I wish I did That very questions of the heart of this whole project Our letter did say didn't it that you'd take rank as Commodore with a captain under you You have six ships the nun such 74 a ship of four nun such I know her well, sir Both the Russians are and Prince Bernadotte of Sweden have teetered back and forth for months You know from all I've heard bony's making tempting offers to them both and Bernadotte's a Frenchman after all Is there really any chance that they might join us? They might if we handle them sensibly They have as much fear as we know bony's gobbled up most of the continent The dial be cast any day we think If we can show those Baltic power some British naval strength to count on I understand that at any rate We've got to keep the Baltic open for supplies So much that we need here comes by those sea lanes Well, are you ready? Is it settled? Yes, it's settled good. Now. Tell me who would you like for captain of the nuns? I'll do you I'd like to have Bush sir if he's available. I'd hate to go to sea without old Bush I rather thought you'd ask for him That wouldn't leg of his won't be a handicap. Oh, I think not sir You two have seen some things together. Haven't you first made as young left tenants on the over and now Well, then Bush it shall be now then let's walk across and see the foreign secretary. He's sure to have some secret orders for you Time had come to say goodbye to Barbara She drove with me from small bridge to deal jet it The nuns such and the five others of my pretty new squadron lay far offshore half lost in morning mist Brown was looking much too pleased. I had to take him down a little Stop moaning at those mast heads Brown go hire a Luggerman to take us out step lively not yes captain Commodore that is Winds veering Norrid a little West by north now, I think yes dear so you remarked as we were driving I beg your pardon You were telling me about my shirts. I interrupted you. No, I'd finished with the shirts What I was saying was that all your cold weather things are in the flat sea chest The sheeps can coat and heavy socks and mittens and oh Well brown understands He also hasn't his care a certain little package a surprise surprise with you After all I wouldn't try to surprise you. It's just a woolen neck scarf I've been knitting for you. It's likely to be cold up in the Baltic even now. Yes. I don't like cold I hope I do hope so much that you'll be back before the winter. So do I Both men's alongside sir if you're ready. Yes, Brian Well Now my dear you're going out by the ordinary Lugger. I could come too. He could bring me back No, no, that would be foolish. Look at that choppy seed be quite wet and cold Well, I may even be seasick in that nutshell sometimes. I'm you know, just at the start. I shouldn't like you to have you witness my capitulation My dear girl I've been such a fool. It's all my fault. I see it now. What have I done to our our sweet life together? I needn't have taken this Just think of the high compliment you'll pay by this command your ships are beautiful Yes, but there is to leave you now. Oh It was much too proud much too impulsive. I I should have told them that I'm Stayed at home you darling. Don't be absurd Brands in the boat with all your gear they're waiting you must go think of me Barbara I'll need you ask that you'll write me everything Everything won't you the bad things too, of course Goodbye Come back to me come back to me It touched me that you should say that come back to me like any witless wife of any common seamen If by some power of my own I could control French cannon shot You made my heart a tool that she should say such foolish things for all her pride and elegance a Little lager pitched and rolled a long trip all alone out to my ship. I Could have let her come along. It would have done no harm They'd seen me from the nuns such as we came tossing up the wind and laid into the big two-deckers Lee My old friend bush as captain had turned the whole crew out full dress And I was piped aboard with all the honors of a Commodore Ship and every man aboard was in a state of polish right brass work six side boys in white gloves the whole Marine Guard and their band double lane of Bosen's mates with pipes Childish display perhaps some say it is but though it has its Well exhilarations among There was old bush on the quarterdecks surrounded by his officers and all saluting stiffly I had to check myself or I might actually have been that that would have been ruinous to discipline So naturally I just stalked up the line and it's a loop Morning captain bush. Good morning, sir. Welcome aboard sometimes since we've met captain bush Bush was stiff and correct, but his craggy face kept softening up at me as if he wanted me to laugh This made it very difficult of course before the men your notes, sir that your penance going up Commodore's flag to designate your ship in the flotilla. Oh Indeed well captain bush We shall get underway at once if you don't mind no time to lose be good enough to signal the others of the squadron Hi, sir, very good. We sail on secret orders. I'll appraise you of their nature captain bush if you'll kindly dine with me this afternoon I I should be there sir. Thank you. Mr. Adams pass the word to our five other ships Underway at once and keep formation What bush I see who's scouting off to starboard sir. May I find your glass? Is it the sloops? No, no, no, it's nothing bush No, I was just trying to make out the jetty my wife's there Mist hasn't quite cleared yet Michael Redgrave returns as Horatio Hornblower and now continuing our story Michael Redgrave as Horatio Hornblower awaits his old friend captain bush in his Commodore's cabin aboard the flagship none such Captain bush will be dining with me here. Be sure the things come up hot from the galley, will you? Of course, sir I finished your unpacking. I trusted satisfactory, sir. I Place the gift from Lady Barbara there on the um falcare show. Yes, I saw it brown. Oh, it's a beautiful neck scarps A such fine soft wool. Yes, I was um to remind you to wear it sir cold morning. Yes. Yes. Yes, all right I'll consider it come in Captain bush I'll go and bring a dinner sir Well alone at last look you know you had me grinning like some absurd schoolboy up there this morning I was so proud. So flattered that you'd asked for me Horatio. I Come and sit down. My dinner will be coming any minute. I'm glad to see you my old friend. Oh, well, let's go down to things of more importance Look, I've been studying my so-called secret orders and these charts were headed for the skagger act my friend I was inclined to think so sir then through the catagat and up the narrows The Danes will resist I suppose can't help themselves Napoleon's on their backs. And what about the Swedes? That's just what no one seems to know It's touch and go apparently with both the Swedes and Russians. We have to be prepared for anything Catagat sound is only three miles wide part of the way Sweden to port Denmark to starboard real skillet and Caribbean, huh? Well bush the powers that be of left decisions up to us and we are going to have to improvise Now once we're off Götterborg I'm going to try and pick up some fresh news on Swedish doings Well, let's hope that Bernadotte is leaning our way by then so yes bush. If not, we'll simply have to blast our way in somehow Up through the North Sea into the skagger act scarcely a sail sighted off our bows the whole first week Deserted waters even in the skagger act off Denmark Now and then we'd see a tiny fishing boat far off none within hail They had no news We strained our eyes for some revealing sign Had Bernadotte made up his mind by now were he and Russia enemies Neutral or even friends if handled sensibly Before sunrise I found bush on the quarter deck. Well, still no news Are we to run the gauntlet then we're nearing the Helsingboard narrows I wonder bush how many guns are on that Swedish shore Multitudes, sir. You may be sure the charts show a good dozen forts Shouldn't we send a boat in sir find out how Sweden stands last night? I thought so bush. It has its logic. I admit On the other hand a boat would surely advertise our presence But sir if both sides of the category to hostile we could dash in the moment There is light enough to see the channel surprise them and and perhaps get through even if Sweden does resist Yes Then if Sweden has joined Bonaparte Won't we be bottled up inside the Baltic? Well the Baltic is a sizable sea bush. I suspect we could maintain ourselves a while Still almost an hour till dawn and gives us time to clear our decks Yes, I think we'll go in bush this morning Very good, sir voice the yard arm lanterns signal all vessels clear for action if you please All hands to quarters. Mr. Adams clear for action pass the word All ships to clear for action We came into the narrow channel just as the dawn broke in a dollar gray mist To starboard hostile Denmark to port the riddle Sweden Was she our enemy? Well, we'd soon know at all events are the guns run out Captain Bush Hi, sir, and the fire pumps manned on every ship here is for it then What signal for hoisting to our other ships are the signal is proceed to lured in battle order Lotus shall lead Lotus she'll lead so did you say I did We'll bring up the rear bush naturally your face I Know I know it's disappointing not to lead, but we're the shepherd of this little flock We're the best built the lead ships might get through before those shore gunners wake up Wake already. Hmm. What sure fire that the Danes they seen us sir. Yes. There's the drifter smoke to starboard Is firing to starboard captain bush Yes, mr. Adams, so I gather by the way, did you know that those low cliffs are else in or where Hamlet walked I beg your pardon We've no time now for literary small talk. Have we signal to Lotus mr. Bush return the fire to starboard We'll keep exact station the star of the Harvey if you please I say Lotus and clam are giving back as good as they're getting They are they are bush bush this channel's full of souls. I remember that from years ago I remember too, sir. I've put ledsman in the chains. They'll sing out when we're reaching shallow water The sloops and the three others don't draw as much as well. Let me compliment you bush. You thought of everything. Well, Brown You're next car. Oh nonsense in the midst of an action. How dare you come up? It's very cold this early in the morning begging your pardon, sir. I had my orders you'll get below brown or all right All right, give me the scarf Yes, the air is a bit chilly We've else in or about the channel widened we were out of range from shore There'd be about an hour. I reckon before we reached the further narrows a longer gauntlet to be run And if it's end to Danish islands salt home and Amagan we had to pass between these close to both Full daylight now. They'd see us coming. We could no longer profit by surprise But anyhow all hands at breakfast and relaxed and waited as I knew for the real test An infernal din of guns broke out as we approached the channel The last starboard guns can speak together after all well done. I wasn't too sure about that it else nor a little ragged So far the Swedish guns had all stayed silent and as if to make up for that though the Danes were throwing in everything They had at us salt home and wider waters seemed a very long way off If I must have walking up and down well that wouldn't do indifference Commodore so I stood still looked about me casual in Six films are quite an plant they bush with the tide making I think so sir I wouldn't care to risk less than five though her just now Put another list one on the Port chains quickly adults look bush salt home and Amiga at last See them reeling up ahead there. Those grisling are be bound. Yes smoke bursting from Amiga already This tells the story doesn't it so tall is where they keep their power stored Shaving a show. That's certain. I hope Bush the Harvey's hit Oh men must on We're nearing those shows do Harvey's quite help is a Damnable luck bush. We'll be a long cider in a moment back the main tops Speaking jumping We'll bring this demand of all here then send men down for him Captain Bush What's that we hit to a mism top mask on That's better we must be bearing off the show Near here that one reaching as much to easily from salt home. I don't like it. Yes, sir short range Now that we're delayed look here those powder stores of theirs. Let's make a try for those They might line just beyond the highest fort. It seems fairly logical. Why not? But sir, how do we know where to? Aye aye sir, certainly. Mr. Adams has starboard batteries raised sites try for a hit beyond that big red fort say by Why 15 yards by 15 yards past the water Adams instantly Wild idea, I suppose bush, but we simply can't sit here till the Harvey is in tow It's too much like duck hunting with the nuns such as the duck Oh good sir, and the Harvey's got us trapped under those guns. They'll sink her any minute and ask with her Let's try another salvo bush 20 yards beyond the board this time Pass the word Adams 20 yards Even taken the fort with it at least they're single at this island I still don't quite believe my eyes Lucky guess in place of sound ballistics, eh? That makes no sense Well, hmm. Yeah to business now. Where's my trumpet? Mr. Smith, Mr. Smith, have you our lines? Are they secure ready to get out of here? Well, the cables coming over now. We'll take you out stand first understand Well, sir not a bad afternoon. Harvey's in tow Lotus took one poor hit We have a whole or two in our own shroud, but no ships lost. I Can't forget what we did to those powder stores on salt home. Yes, that was a satisfactory moment There's been no firing for a good 10 minutes. They can't quite reach us anymore We'll sail around false to vote clear of all batteries. I think I'm a bit tired Adams, uh, mr. Adams is mr. Mound been brought up yet. Yes, sir. He's off unconscious now the sergeant with him I want to see him Shoulderwood Well, here you are mind Surgeon taking care of you all right. Yes. Thank you, sir We're taking him below the sick bay in a moment I'm proud of all my young officers today mind Not too uncomfortable. Oh, did all of us get through sir all our ships that we did What pleases me those Danish guns raked us with all they had but not one shell from Sweden's coast They're they're not against us yet at any rate Shivering atoms as cold as afternoon. Yeah, what this scarf around his neck and shoulders. I don't need it But sorry, he's bleeding at your spot. Oh, come on take it. Oh, well, then I'll do it myself That better man Yes, wonderful. Thank you. We held a fishing boat a few minutes ago Mound found out the Blanche Fleur passed through the border yesterday big French Corvette with at least 20 guns She must be just ahead of us You have to get well quickly mind Won't want to miss the fun, will you? Thank you Wiggins Why? Why it's from I thought so Milady. I'm very pleased for you my dearest wife I Found a means of sending this brief note to you by way of Sweden And I want you to know that all is well with us here in the Baltic On the whole we've had a remarkably quiet time few slightly sticky moments getting in The Danes on the shore showed a bit of ill temper, but There's very little to report that isn't merely ships routine My dear you're such a bare-faced liar, I'm sure But I do love you very much It is my hope that somehow I shall soon receive letters from England and know thereby that you well and happy I'm sure you will like hearing that Brown takes magnificent care of me Fastes over me far too much seems to think that in doing so he's following someone's orders. I can't think The weather is surprisingly fine. We'll be glad to know that it's quite warm. I haven't even needed the handsome scarf you needed lately But rest assured that all goes well with me. I Send you my whole My heart's of love starring Michael Redgrave is based on the novels by C.S. Forester The radio script was written by Philo Higley music composed and conducted by Sydney torch produced by Harry Ellen towers