 Call all hands, speak to quarters. Stand with battery. One broadside into it, please, Captain Bush. Pointes on target. Lint stops ready. Aye, aye, sir, ready. Bad CS foresters, indomitable man of the sea, Horatio Hornblower. Our new captain, Buckland, under a griever shadow for his laxity on the night of the insurrection. And many of our crewmen still recovering from wounds. It seemed for a time as though nothing would come right. Even our three Spanish prize ships, bagged in Haiti, served but little to lift the spirits of our ship's company. And then, one sunny morning, to add to our conclusion, we had our first notice of an important change in Bending. Mr. Hornblower, sir, is Captain Buckland still ashore? Yes, Mr. James. The boat's coming alongside, sir, from ashore. What boat? A uniform of Captain's Wrangaboard. Well, very well, Mr. Shipman James. No need for undue excitement, is there? Order up the Bursons mates at once, if please, and Side Boys and Marine Guard too, don't forget. We'll fight them aboard with all due honor. Yes, sir. I'll call them up once. Bursons mates, top-side and live-in. Lieutenant Hornblower, all in all tight. Fastened alongside, and sure enough, will the entry port emerge to Captain. His gold lace slaining in the tropic sunshine. I touch my hat respectfully. You are at present the senior lieutenant on both the ship. Yes, sir. Lieutenant Horatio Hornblower at your service, sir. My name is Cogshill, sir. And here I have a paper I'm required to read to you. Orders from Sir Richard Lambert, Vice Admiral of the Blue Knight of the Baths, commanding his majesty's ships and vessels on the Jamaica Station, to Captain James Edward Cogshill of his majesty's ship, Buckler. You are hereby requested and required to repair immediately on board his majesty's ship, Renown, now lying in Port Royal Bay, and to take command pro tempore of the aforesaid ship Renown. Well, Mr. Hornblower, now you know. Yes, sir. As you must be well aware, no orders I might give aboard this ship would be legal unless I had read aloud my authority. Yes, sir. So it goes, and the kings may be. So it goes. Yes. Well, welcome aboard, sir. We're only a little surprised, I suppose. But you see, none of us had heard. Yes, I understand. Yes, sir. It's only that, well, Lieutenant Buckland had succeeded our deceased Captain Sawyer some weeks ago, and so he was now Captain Buckland, naturally. Naturally. Well, would you have any idea, sir, what they might have in mind for him? Not an idea in the world, Lieutenant Hornblower. Oh, he may revert to his first lieutenancy here on the Renown, of course. I couldn't be sure. Yes, sir. Well, then there's Lieutenant Bush, who was lying in hospital ashore. Mr. Bush had succeeded him, Captain Buckland. I'm only a temporary replacing Bush. Well, you have been a bit disorganized, eh? Yes, sir. There's always confusion at times like these. We'll see. We'll see. Things will be straightened out, I'm sure. But I couldn't possibly guess Hornblower what Sir Richard might have in mind. No, sir. Yes, sir, I do have one interesting piece of news, however. The Admiral is taking the first of your prize ships into the Royal Navy. Sir? What's her name? The Gattetown. Oh, she's the largest one. The Gattetown, eh? Yes, that's it. Captured from the Spaniards at Samamary. Yes, sir. I was a board officer when our prisoners revolted. Well, Sir Richard liked her looks, it seems. He's renaming her the retribution. The retribution? Someone will have to be promoted to command her. Oh, well, as I say, we'll see. Things will be straightened out in their own time. It's the Navy way. Afternoon, I had my first opportunity to go ashore. I made my way at once to Kingston Naval Hospital, and I still lay a bed nursing his wounds. I knew he'd be thirsting for news of us, and now I had something to tell him. Say, it is good if you'd have come. I've tried to ever since we sent you ashore in that stretcher. This is the first chance I've had to leave the run-on. Well, you can guess how busy I've been. Well, can't I just? I've been following everything you've had to do with my mind's eye. Completing run-on again with powder and shot, food and water. Cleaning up after the prisoners, getting rid of the traces of that cursed battle on deck. I'm surprised you look so healthy, old lad. What's in that basket? Oh, well, poor paws, mangas, and a pineapple. Do you know that's the only second pineapple I've ever seen in my life? Oh, thank you. Very kind of you. You know, I owe you thanks for much more than... Oh, Bush, I say, we've got a new captain. What? Cogs Hill, transferred from the buckler. Came aboard this morning, read himself in with a flourish. No wonder. Promotion to a ship of the lion from a 28-gun frigate. Well, quite a step. Poor buckler. I don't suppose he'll ever live down being taken by the prisoners to sleep in his bed. I'm afraid he can't look for promotion. They may not even discipline him in any obvious way, I mean, but... Well, you know, he'll just simply be passed over the rest of his maybe life. You know, I've been thinking lying here. It really doesn't seem quite fair, did he? It was only my good luck I'd wakened up in time the night of the writing. You've got plenty of sword guts, call it good luck, if you like. You've fought to do a fair long contour. Bucklin would have done the same, had the opportunity been granted. Oh, yes, probably. Well, Bush, I've been long enough in the service to think that fortune's more capricious here than in other walks of life. Don't you agree? Oh, by the way, I've got another piece of news. Oh, good. I'm glad of any gossip in this place. Here's our prize. The Garedetana is being commissioned into the Navy. Now, is she? My George. Yes. 18 guns, six pandas and rinds. She'll rate it a stroke of war, and she's to be renamed the Retribution. Oh, so the Admiral will have to promote a commander for her. A nice birth to somebody, eh? Yes, well, it might have been Bucklin, depending. Well, it still might be. Of course, if I don't give much weight to his being caught napping. As our brand-new captain is fond of remarking, I wouldn't attempt to guess. Of course, they can always... Hello. Who's this? Come in. Well, will, Mr. Bush, and how are we feeling, eh? Oh, we have company. Hornblower. This is Sergeant Sankey, head of the hospital. I'm happy to meet you, sir. Oh, I heard of Lieutenant Hornblower. Not from Mr. Bush alone. Delighted to see you, Mr. Hornblower. Thank you, sir. You've made quite a name for yourselves, I gather, during that Haiti campaign. I don't know about that. Our patient here, George. Oh, rather well. Very, very, Doctor. I don't look so worried, Mr. Bush. I wish I was embarrassed, Mr. Hornblower. Well, sir, I bring you all that's bound to interest you. Uh-oh. I've just received a visit from an Admiralty aide. It seems the gold braid of the station awaits your recovery with impatience, Mr. Bush. A court of inquiry is to be convened. A court of inquiry? Oh, yes, yes. Of course, ma'am. What did you expect? And it's only a court of inquiry. After all, it's not a court of muscle, of course. Anyone? I think that they want to shift effect of some of the doings aboard your ship. I thought by now they might have changed their minds. Ah, then it's newest to you too, is it, Mr. Hornblower? Well, um, yes, in a way. After all, some strange things did transpire. Am I not right? At least that's what a station rumor indicates. Your Spanish prisoner is rising in the middle of the night, taking the ship against almost no resistance. It would have taken it, I've been told, had it not been for the fortune that Edwin is the Hornblower I hear. A special scuttle but is never very reliable, Dr. Hagley. Did you make the bush? I was pressed to the car when you might be ready to make an appearance. So now, uh, let's have a look at you, eh? Oh. Then I will send word to the admiral. Yes, ma'am. Oh, but I promised, I promised the bush. Oh, good Lord. You're a fortunate admiral. These are all insightful. Let me just pull back the sheet a little further, huh? Yes, yes, it's contrary to all my professional experience. Usually the Spanish can be relied on to use their knives far more. Effectively. Mr. Hornblower. Yes, Doctor? Just look at this cut here. Eight inches long at least. And yet not more than two inches deep. Four inches with a point would have been better. The effort of a tire like this. Mm. I mean, now, don't, Mr. Hornblower, the next time you use a knife to give a poor inclination to the point. Far more effective. I say thank you. In our superficial laceration, in this instance, the human ribs lie open to welcome an upward thrust. Before a downward thrust, they overlap a forbid all entrance. Turn over, please. Yes, yes, yes. Here the descending knife again bounded in vein from one rib to the next. Oh, I'm glad you did. And as you see, each cut is healing very well now. Know the sign of mortification, Mr. Hornblower? Two days ago I wasn't sure. Not in the least. Yes, these are the most keen cuts, unfortunately. Have been with me a few years. Your honorable scars, Mr. Bush, will almost disappear in a few yards. Good. Yes, here's tomorrow. I shall remove the sutures. You will observe that Mr. Bush is still a trifle weak. Is he? I wasn't certain. He was entirely ex-sanctinated by his wound. Uh-oh. What does that mean? Well, the grain of his blood, I mean, of course. But if the court isn't ready, will but indulge him with a chair when he gives evidence? Oh, but I don't think I'll be ready for a while, yes, sir. Oh, nonsense. You're doing splendidly. In three days' time, we will be quite prepared to answer any questions, Mr. Bush. Oh. Yes, I'm very rush, Ard. Let me see now. That will be Friday, will it not? Friday. After all, to assemble a court on this station is not easy when every ship is absent on necessary duty so much of the time. Thank you for the progress you're making, Mr. Bush. I shall inform the admiral of it. Thank you. Thank you very much. Did I tell you, the court will be convened aboard your own vessel, the renown. Your new captain himself is named a member of the board. We'll see you get there, Mr. Bush. We'll now continue progress to you as I am. See you tomorrow. Yes, indeed. Pleasure to meet you, Mr. Honour. Goodbye, Doctor. All that I do feel like a crazy croot. One sewn by hand. Yes, Bush, I can see why. Court of inquiry, eh? Oh, I hope they might forget about it. Poor Buckland. Doomed to remain an aging first lieutenant, I must say. It's nothing worse. It's nothing worse. Well, I must get back to the ship. I hope I haven't tired you out. Oh, of course you haven't. You're known as a magpie chatterer, that old gossip sanky. All right. It was good of you to come home. Good morning. Well, see you Friday, Bush, if I take it. Yes, of course. Friday. We'll both be witnesses, I suppose. I'm going to do the best I can for old Buckland. We may have had our disagreements, he and I, but, well... Ah, see you Friday, Bush. Good luck. Sergeant Sanky was right. Lieutenant Bush, though still a bit weak, was able to be about by Friday and to hobble aboard our ship, together with an impressive array of other officers, all captains, named by the Admiral to make up the board. A court of inquiry I found was not so awe-inspiring as a court marshal, yet it seemed formidable enough. Please take a seat, Mr. Bush. I understand you're still weak from your wounds. Only a little, sir. We've read the report which you addressed to Captain Buckland following the attack on Simone of Bay in Haiti. This report is a great credit, Mr. Bush. The credit should be given to Lieutenant Holmblood, I say. But his plan we used in our attack on the Spanish fortress. Sir, you were very handsomely saying you're a porter. I may as well state here and now, that in the opinion of this court, all the circumstances surrounding the attack on Simone and the subsequent capitulation of the enemy are in accord with the best traditions of the service. Thank you, sir. But now we come to the next matter, the attempt of your prisoners to capture the renown at sea. You were by this time acting as first lieutenant of the ship? Step by step, Bush was taken through the bloody events of that recent night. The difficulty of supervising the women prisoners, the Marine Guard kept at the hatches night and day. The sudden unexplained outpouring in the dead of night, only a few hours before we would do it to make it. Careful, what you've got there. Naturally, I do recall that Lieutenant Holmblood expressed his doubts about the women prisoners some days before. Indeed. Why, yes, sir. In fact, he'd been concerned about the whole situation of the prisoners on several occasions, he'd said. Poor Bush, I could have strangled him. Out of some mistaken sense of loyalty to me, he was destroying one by one Buckland's few last remaining claims to their indulgence. I made up my mind then and there to help Buckland in any way I could, even to lie, if necessary, when my term came. And of course, sir, you were found among the dead after the rebellion was suppressed, unconscious from your wounds. Well, yes, sir, but... Very well, thank you, Mr. Bush, that would be all. Lieutenant Holmblood is the next witness before this court. Lieutenant Holmblood? Please come forward, Mr. Holmblood. I'm here, sir. I felt anything but reassured. The man was pale and desperately unhappy. I could see it. What could I do to help his cause, I wondered. I suggested, Mr. Holmblood, that the attack on the fort at Samana Bay, as well as the hoisting of the gun to search the bay, were on your initiative. I can't think why that suggestion was made, sir. Captain Buckland bore the entire responsibility. Well, I won't press you further about that then, Mr. Holmblood. If we understand, I think... Let us hear about your recaptures and renown the other night. You were bored to get into town, I'm informed. What first? I heard Musketfire, sir, so I collected the prize crews and set out to the renowns. Were you not afraid of losing the prizes, Mr. Holmblood? No, sir. Not with every sheet and hair they had cut before I left. Ah, right, right. Well, you seem to have thought of everything, Lieutenant. Seems you've made a very prompt counterattack on the renown. The captain of the prisoners who take the ship might have already failed. Well, in that case, no harm was done, except the disabling of the prize ship's rigging, sir. Of course, I knew that Captain Buckland provided no accident as before, and he would have skilfully organized the systems. In fact, that he would immediately... Yes, unhappily an accident did before him. Well, we, uh, understand. Tell me that you were transferred to the Gettitana. Well, it seemed feasible, sir, to organize a better disposition of the prize ships. We were only a day away from Jamaica by then. I see. And is it true that you had several times expressed concern as to the intentions of the women prisoners? Well, no more concern than was felt, I'm sure, by Mr.... I mean, Captain Buckland. Well, thank you, Mr. Holmblood. Thank you. Thank you. That will be all. The court's official findings placed no blame. Recommending only that strict inquiry should still be made among the Spanish prisoners in an effort to discover who had led them in the revolt. It was clear in every tone of voice and in every face that Buckland was to be made to suffer unofficially. It isn't fair, I tell you, but it isn't fair. Not so loud, my friend. All those captains are still aboard. I don't care. They didn't dare to say to his face that they found him guilty, but still, they want him to pay. That's obvious in every word they said. He gods, if I were Buckland... Oh, speak lower, will you? The court's a court getting yourself in trouble isn't going to help Buckland, one bitch. But did you see his face, Bush, when they walked past him? Walked past him without so much as a glance. He's utterly miserable. Yes, but you did everything you could, I noticed that. All right. Buckland's hopes are at an end. Can't help it. His hopes must have risen, my telly, after our success at Samana, Bush. I can't help thinking of that. Well, with that to his credit and the temporary captains, he must have felt promotion in the air to command, or at least if not to permanent captain, and then to have everything snatched away. This isn't like you. Be realistic. Consider the man for him. There was no other outcome possible. Be honest. Isn't that the truth? Well, if it is, I don't want to admit it. Here comes Captain Cuxill. Well, gentlemen, be cooler as the sun goes down, you've never? Yes, Captain Cuxill. This is much better than the hospital up there. There, the island heat closes around you like warm water in a bath. Glad to have you aboard, Mr. Bush. Sergeant Sanky has given me good word of your progress. Thank you, sir. I'll be happier when I'm released and back aboard the renown for good. Oh, I hope you will at least remain on board to have dinner with me. Oh, I'd be delighted, sir. Mr. Hornblur, you too. Thank you, sir. And I shall hope to secure the presence of Lieutenant Buckland and Grayson. Oh, with much pleasure, sir. In 15 minutes' time then, as soon as I have seen the assembled captains for their gigs, that will be excellent. Our new captain was a courtly host. There were flowers in the great cabin now. The food was excellent. Seated next to the silent Buckland, I grasped the trivialities to keep the conversation going. And I was grateful for Captain Cuxill's loquacious appreciation of his own table. Oh, that is a land crab salad before you gentlemen. Cook cannot fed land crabs. Some prefer it to dairy fed pork, you know. Mr. Hornblur, perhaps you will serve it to those who'd care for some. With pleasure, sir. And with it a saddle of fresh lamb. Sheep do badly in these islands, I'm told. But perhaps we should try it. Sir, Mr. Buckland, will you be kind enough to come? With pleasure, sir. Ah, you see, gentlemen, we still have some real potatoes left. One just so weary of yams. Mr. Hornblur, would you take wine? Oh, thank you, sir, yes. And you other gentlemen, Mr. Grayson. Oh, thank you. Excellent, excellent. Conviviality is most needful on occasions such as this. Mr. Bush, to your speedy recovery, sir. Thank you, Captain. Thank you very much, sir. Ah, how good that tastes. Careful, Bush, didn't the doctors warn you about over and out? I don't remember a word of it tonight, I assure you. Now, contemplate this steaming dish which has just been laid before us. Any of you gentlemen who have served on this station before will recognize it, I think. Oh, where's the Indian pepper pot? Mr. Hornblur, will you make your first essay? Come in. Well? I'm set by the Admiral, sir. Oh, I should have known, of course, Mr. Shipman. I feel I'm no other star, but you look quite so smartly turned up. What's the message? The Admiral's compliment, sir. And he'd like Mr. Hornblur's presence on board the flagship as soon as it is convenient. flagship, eh? And, you know, not halfway finished. Oh, this is too bad. I'd better go, sir, if I may. May I have a boat, sir? Oh, pardon me, sir. The Admiral said the boat which brought me should convey to the flagship. Well, well, that settles it. We'll save some of this pepper pot for you. You are gassed your return. We'll have the brandy out by that time, too, eh? Yes, but you'd better go, Mr. Hornblur. Oh, thank you, sir. Now, what in the world do you suppose the Admiral can once with Hornblur, eh? I was gone nearly an hour. When I returned, I saw at once that the wine had been passed very generously, followed by Dutch and Swedish liqueurs together with brandy smuggled from France. Bush sat in a suddenly happy glow. And there was a strange look on Bucklin's white face as he peered at me in the doorway. Sit down, sir. So, sir, just beginning. Now, Mr. Bush. It's your turn, Mr. Bush. The fumes of gore surprises us all. Mr. Bush, drink fair, Mr. Hornblur. We have a start of you already. And a stern chase is a long chase, eh? Mr. Bucklin? Well, the Admiral, Mr. Hornblur. Yes, sir. I think so, sir. He's made me commander of the retribution, sir. Oh, that's my surprise. Then that is our newest toast, gentlemen, to the new commander with a cheer. Wonderful. Why, today, without this, too, I must command you to be silent. Oh, gentlemen. We shall forget this little episode, eh? And continue with our pleasantries as before. He has appealed the class. A blemer there, Mr. Bucklin. Now, our country, noble England, queen of the wave, and may pony-grope boney-ear them. Now, calm along, Bush, old boy. Just one more foot and another does it. You're perfectly all right. Of course, I'm perfectly all right. Of course I am. We can't send you back to hospital tonight. We'll have to sleep in your own little bed aboard. I'll take you there. Good old ratio. Best of man, that bucklin. Gratitude of the human. See, you shouldn't have tried to protect him. Never mind it now, Bush. Never mind it. You get you into your bed and we'll talk it over later. Are you all the new commands of the wretched youth? That's right. Gladly. Gladly, ratio. Oh, but I shall miss you. Oh, but that I shall. That was how I came to leave the old renown with certain regrets, but with high hopes for my new promotion. For days I was fantastically making the price ship ready for sea under her new colours. Organising the scratch crew who had drafted into her. And then, it seemed too quickly, one grey dawn, we were ready to sail. I was touched to find Bush on hand. He'd followed Captain Cogsill's gig and had come across to wear my ship there. You, it's still so dark I can hardly see you. No, it's me all right, sir. That is, it's I. Good to see you. I'd have been over before, but as you know, we're just back from a practice cruise in the renown. I know. Lambert couldn't have made a better choice. Already told you that, haven't I? But with Hugh's commander, it all seems right. After all, a fighting navy needs to fight and needs a fighting man to lead it when she does. With a bow and sack. It seems funny calling you, sir, for a change. Well, we're bound for England. No, oh, I'll do that again. A convoy to the downs, to statues for the commissioners, pick up the replies and convoy out again. You'll get your commission confirmed, sir. While you're there. I hope so. That is, if they don't make peace with Bonaparte. Peace. Not very likely. As a matter of fact, you may run into the French on your way across the Atlantic. Yes, sir, ma'am. A little lighter now. I must be getting back. You'll sail with the land breeze, I suppose. Steal out around the points and then we're gone. No, I told you I'd. I admire the way that new epaulette sits your shoulder. Well, thanks. I'll miss you, bud. Quite a night we had to go there in Kingston. When the prize money from Samarna was paid out. Let's set about that the better now, possibly. At least it didn't send you back to hospital. Oh, you really do a thank you, ma'am. Yes, I'll thank you, Clarkson. I'll be on the quarter-deck in just a moment. Well, good luck, sir. Good luck, Bush. Till we meet again. This life in the service means many partings. I'm proud to have known you. Don't forget that, will you? Just see you down to the entry port. No, Bush, don't forget. Same goes for me. Here, shake hands. Wherever they take you. Goodbye, Bush. A ratio hornblower starring Michael Redgrave is based on the novels by C.S. Forrester. Music composed and conducted by Sidney Torch. Produced by Harry Allen Towers.