 Call all hands beat the quarters buy this tablet battery one broadside into it if you please get in bush Point of the target been stopped ready bad CS foresters indomitable man of the sea a ratio hornblower Only several months ago. I'd been a country squire. So a ratio homeblower in residence with my lovely wife lady Barbara Wearing fashionable clothes sitting down meat meal time to choice foods My conscience troubles me in saying it I'd left it all with no trace of regret and Once aboard the nun such a Commodore now in command of a squadron of six vessels. I felt really alive Not until Brown my orderly reminded me that evening off-born home Did I realize I hadn't so much as touched the delicacies that Lady Barbara had so thoughtfully provided when we sailed There's cheese sir, and there's wine and there's butter in crocs Ladieship made a special point that the butter would turn rancid as it was used to my time to suffer already brown for Bell sir and Captain Bush is dining with you as usual I should think a bit of cheese instead of ship's biscuit and salt beef would be a welcome change There's nothing wrong with biscuits and beef brown. Good name if they're both of them Oh, yes, sir. Oh, but picking your part in sir, I I signal from the Raven sir the Raven. What is it? She cited a Swedish vessel of ones to speak with the Commodore. I see must have someone of importance aboard Right, I'll come on deck. Ask Captain Bush if you'll be kind enough to join me. Hi. Hi, sir. What brown? Oh What we shall have for supper? Oh, oh suit yourself, Brons. Suit yourself No sooner had I snapped at him than I regretted being so brusque Get how could I bother with food with my mind full of so many concerns? We'd been a month already in the Baltic with express orders from the Admiralty to make it as Uncomfortable as possible for Bonaparte a show of British strength was needed definitely Russia was neutral but with all Europe in Boney's grasp Russia's help was desperately important and what strength had we shown a few small engagements It would take more than that to bring the Tsar to side with us against Napoleon As I stood on the quarter deck beside Captain Bush waiting for the Swedish vessel to come alongside I came near to telling him my doubts and worries I decided against it at least for now. There's two of them coming aboard sir quarter glimpse of that first one It's a sweet. I hope he brings some news whoever he is. How long has it been since we've had any bush? I'd say weeks so should I for all we know Bonaparte may have already attacked Russia Or Russia may have given up without us Yes, sir Sir the second one aboard if there isn't a British uniform. I must starfish it is a guards uniform A colonel bush a colonel of the guards here in the middle of the Baltic Ah, at least he knows enough of ceremonial to make sure he salutes our quarter deck Good evening, sir. You are captain. So raise your hornblow. Yes plumber door commanding this squad I'm colonel lord witchwood. I've dispatched view from our ambassador of Stockholm, sir And I've also said with the latest newspapers newspapers are good. We've been quite short on news, of course Yes, I'm sure you have. Oh, have you made the acquaintance of Baron Bassett on that? He's a representative of Sweden He also has some messages for gentlemen. Forgive me. Perhaps the best place for this discussion would be in my cabin Captain bush and I were just about to die and if you'd be good enough to join us Well, our table can still boast a few small delicacies. There's cheese still to my believe and uh, um, oh, brown Yes, sir, but there's cheddar also and there's smoked mutton and jam, sir Well break it out at once, sir brown lord witchwood. I noticed that these newspapers are in german and polish quite, sir You can translate I Barbarous stuff is like that, sir English good enough for me, sir and you bannon beg pardon. German I can to some extent, but the polish now Oh, well, we'll manage bannon bush. Will you pass the word to my clerk saga to come to my cabinet six bells He's a fin but he's told me that he speaks all the Baltic languages This one is the kernix bagger heart and just sight on sir ratio Published and a French censorship, of course It reports on a meeting at dresden bonaparte is there at dresden. Yes, battle. Go ahead zoker. Go ahead There are nine army cock at dresden at waltz. So at dancing half all aimed at russery to be as old blah How many men would you say that meant all together? Well, you'll be able to calculate that better than I can Oh, yes, yes army man, of course Oh, but the light shade it might come to half a million. But we here is something sorrow ratio The waltz of gazette has a long article about russia read it. So that really it calls alexander The barbarian ruler of a barbarian people. Thank you so good. Um, yes, I think that will do for now. Yes, sir Good night gentlemen It's strange one that's one comador. He has hate in his eyes possibly baron bastard. However It goes late and if you and kernel which would intend going back ashore, we must Commodore hornblower. I don't think we are going ashore. What's that? To put it another way of baron bastard, and I wish to stay on board the nun side. This is a ship of war kernel I'm afraid I must Allow me to present this dispatcher. You will notice it from his britannic measures as ambassador to the court of stock Let's see Bonaparte has invaded swedish pomegranate. Now, this is news Um baron bastard is is sweden and no longer neutral. There has been no formal declaration of war. Yes, but you have been invaded Uh-huh, I understand. Yes much still depends on russia. Is that it everything depends on russia We scarcely could move alone. Well baron. That's one reason we are here to prove to you that you are not alone The balance of the dispatch explains more fuller in sorrow ratio. Yes. Thank you. Thank you Uh, I am directed and required to enable lord witchwood to open communication with the russian government So as to assure his imperial majesty the czar of the full support by land and sea of british forces In the event of war between russia and france I am further directed to make use of any opportunity That may present itself to further better relations with the russians better relations What's that mean, sir diplomatic language bullshit means bring young sar alexander into our camp as an ally Exactly exactly and by whatever means it had better be soon 600,000 of napoleon's troops masked on our borders a show of strength that sweden cannot match We've got our own strength balance strength captain bush six british ships Oh, no, no, don't look down your noses and better besides alexander the curious fellow As a minor of his own highly emotional Never know what might influence him one way or the other might be anything. Oh, no disrespect to his great eminence, of course Well com at all Colonel witchwood this dispatch employs the words directed and required. Yes May I point out that the wording should have been request and advised an ambassador cannot give orders to a naval officer Well, I say now furthermore my orders from the admiral t said nothing about taking part in politics politics, sir Important politics sir. What could be more important than to convert alexander to your cause naval officer not a politician Still sir, if I may point out something yes, yes, no need to point it out bush I know what you're going to say The very presence of a british squadron well to eastward in the Baltic could have a sizable effect on alexander. Yes Gentlemen, I offer you the hospitality of my ship captain bush. Will you give orders to alter our course if you please? Our destination is the russian port of cronstadt In cronstadt harbour not all night long we lay under the guns of russian fortresses I tried to show much more assurance about this whole queer project than I felt But at least the russians had returned our entering salute The following morning we had only one visitor the harbour doctor to give us pratique I accompanied him to the sick bay and to index No sickness no plague no pestilence none Yes, I have seen for myself only the winded man. His name left him and one. Yes. Yes. He does very well after use Later that morning the wind began to floor it was very light changing first from one quarter to another I had requested witchwood and the baron and bush and one or two of my senior officers to meet me in my cabin There was much to decide and one of them I think it was left in and adams gave voice to what we all had on our minds changeable Sir that's what these russians are just like the wind exactly why we're here mr. Adams We can do nothing about the weather. We must do something about the russians When does his majesty arrive on board exactly incognito baron remember incognito the cone to north his party will arrive at seven bells Sir, we'll be taking on war from farward then. Yes, sir. We will bush. I can give orders to have it put off till tomorrow You will have to serve an elaborate luncheon, sir. I show what in mid-afternoon or absolute with russians There must always be something to eat the baron's right hallblower is their custom always very well We'll offer him something to eat. Why not oh pity that butter yours has turned rancid You know what I suggest hallblower Send a party ashore dig up some of that caviar stuff and sturgeon or whatever it is fish He's ruski's positively dot on fish colonel. This is a British ship for my dear fellow What's it got to do with it when in Rome where you know the rest of that one? Yes? Yes, you must make a considerable impression politic my dear hallblower It would be most politic shall I put off the water of farward soon and No bush no But how can we take in water and be in a fit state for the czar to come aboard sir? Unless we water the flitterer first from what I've heard of the czar. He's a man of sense He'll show him the hands at work. That's all ships routine at work But common all in every quarter of the ship exactly colonel between decks in the rigging in the sick bay as for food We'll give him what we always have ships biscuit pea soup boiled beef Oh my dear fellow but but but but hornblower. I do believe you must be mad Offenders are in that manner. He'd go over to burn apart quick as a wink I beg of you just biscuit pea soup and boiled beef lord, which would Now you've all been recommending if we put on unnatural layers I don't believe in that kind of dissembling. He wants to see a British ship of war does he? Very well then he shall I hope our little widget does not Discomodio greatly Compared to the honor done to the ship sir May I present Woodwood honored you are mad Sir baron bassin or net sir captain bush master of the nonset You're certain sir captain bush. We look aboard as to prepare the ship for taking on water and firewood Mr. Lecourt, uh, if you would care to see more of the ship. I would indeed The gun deck sir. Yeah, watch your head sir. There's very little clearance for the man of your height So I observe We've opened the gun ports to give you a demonstration, sir. Mr. Carlin if you please I Notice the guns are loaded blank cannon balls of pressures not easy to come by when long at sea, sir I think blank will suffice Interesting most interesting The midshipman's birth mr. Lecourt this tiny space. Yes, sir Commodore you were once a mitchip and yourself for four years, sir In the British navy everyone starts at the bottom four years You lived four years in a bath like this. Well, not quite as comfortable as this, sir I was in a frigate. This is a battleship. It's not as crowded Yeah, I suppose it is necessary How long have you served? I've been in the navy 19 years, sir. How long at your present rank? It's Commodore only two months nine years before that as captain six years after that and Four years as a midshipman 19 years And yet you seem none the worst for it sir. They've been my happiest days of my life Mr. Lecourt, it's grows late May I suggest luncheon That we were seated in my cabin around the table a wave of doubt swept over me real doubt And when I was certain that what I'd done was utterly wrong I cursed myself for a headstrong fool What did an imperial monarch care about life on board a man of war? All he said was Incredible amazing Then left tenant Adams reached for a ship's biscuit He wrapped it on the table and I wished with all my soul that I were dead Why do you do that, sir? This oh well, I was just uh Um, pray continue mr. Adams. Uh, we do that sir to get rid of the weevils the weevils Uh insect family sir. He's knocking them out. Yes, that that's right So if you tap gently they come out of their own accord. Well this way do you see sir? Uh, Yes, yes, I see Captain bush, uh, will you pass mr. Lecourt the biscuit tray? No, no, no. Thank you. I I think not. Thank you Brown, will you serve the soup? Yes, uh Pea soup mr. Lecourt in the british name a pea soup is a tradition pea soup Hey, hey, this is extremely good soup. Yes Extremely, I commend it to your excellency. Well, I Come come brown service all his excellency the minister baron basset. I'm hungry as a bear Oh Very good Quite strong cover as british from your excellency the life blood of the navy, sir Does bone apart need a reason for invasion? He's a tyrant Tyrants make up any excuse or none at all now He controls the entire Baltic coast as far as the frontiers of your of his of his imperial majesty's domain And now that pray continue Well, I know a little of politics and what little you know seems to be most important Bonaparte has threatened russia. There are great decisions to be made I understand that the prince bernadotte is meeting with desirate peterhoff at any moment. Yes, I've heard that too Sir Bonaparte threats are always serious His methods are always the same a demand and then another demand a concession and then another concession and finally When the last concession has made his pro too weak by then to resist fully He marches in and makes an easy conquest. He wishes every nation in bondage to you are very eloquent I speak from the arts I speak for lord witchwood and captain bush and lieutenant adams and lieutenant carlin I speak for every british soul who's fought against this monstrous power and to what effect have you fought britain is still free Yeah, yeah, britain is striking back portugal is free at last sicily too. Thanks to england There is only one way left for bonaparte turn We've closed him in on the south and the west and the north and all that is left to him is the east Imperial russia You hear sir the hour strikes Gentleman May I propose a toast to the emperor of all the russians? The gentleman another toast the king of great britain Okay, if you please brave my dear colonel will you refill the glasses? gentlemen I give you commodore for ratio hornblower and the british royal navy May they join with mother usher to defeat the french tyrant join with For sir to that we all drink. Oh, yes, sir. Most heartily The ratio hornblower starring michael redgrave is based on the novels by c.s. Forrester Music composed and conducted by sydney torch produced by harry allen towers