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Call all hands. Speak to quarters.
Come out the guns. Stand by this terrible battery.
One broadside into it, if you please, Captain Bush.
Pointers on target. Blind stops ready. Eye eyesore ready. Fire!
Fire!
Presenting Michael Redgrave as C.S.
Forrester's indomitable man of the sea, Horatio Hornblower.
Thank you.
I have faced many difficult problems in my seafaring career. But as I look back now, I can remember none graver than that which faced me as I prepared to sail in my frigate in search of the Natividad. I had captured her before in harbor, by night and by surprise. Now I must meet her on the open sea, where her enormous superiority in firing force must give her the advantage.
That was bad enough.
Now I had the additional responsibility of a highborn and influential.
Passenger, Lady Barbara Wellesley.
When I returned to the ship after calling on the viceroy at Panama, I summoned Bush, my first lieutenant, to my cabin.
Mr.
Bush, where's Lady Barbara? She's on the corridor deck, sir. I had the carpenter knock up her hammock chair for her. I had a bit of awning reeked so as to give her some shade.
Mr.
Bush, the Lydia is a frigate about to go into action, not an Indianman.
With nothing to do but pamper passengers.
No, sir.
If Lady Wellesley takes advantage of her position and forces me to carry her to England, I cannot refuse. But this is no reason why my ship should.
Be turned into a boudoir. No, sir.
Constable Bush, can't you say anything but no, sir?
Yes, sir.
Forgive me, sir, but it would have been highly dangerous for a lay ship to stay ashore with yellow fever spreading as it is. So she seeks safety by coming aboard a ship which is about to fight an enemy twice its size.
Okay, Mr. Bush, no good will come of this.
If we win the battle, we shall be censured for exposing her ladyship to danger.
If we lose it, we shall.
I cannot imagine you losing any battle, sir. Not if it was the whole Spanish fleet, instead of just one ship.
When I want your opinion, Mr. Bush, good or otherwise, I will ask for it.
How am I going to pace my court deck with a woman sitting there? The thing I've just thought is my shower bath under the pump on deck.
Look, have a screen rigged.
See that the crew are warned about dress, too.
In this heat, most of them work half naked. Aye, aye, sir.
She was still on the quarterdeck when I went to attend to the business of getting the ship underway.
It was infuriating.
Heave!
Heave!
There he is! Heave!
There he is!
The cable's falling, sir! The anchor's falling, sir!
My mind had to juggle with many factors at once. The drag of the cable on the bows, the pressure of the wind on the driver and topsoil, the set of the tide, the increasing sternway, the amount of cable still to run out. When I sailed forward, I must do so dead in line with the anchor, with no slack in the cable, or we might well bring the masts and rigging about our ears.
Harder, starboard.
Starboard it is, sir.
Smartly with the braces, now. Now she's checked, Mr. Bush. She's moving forward. Mr. Bush, now, hands aloft. Set every sail a little draw.
All hands aloft. Take in the cable. She's making, sir. She's making.
Yes, but we mustn't sail up to our anchor with too much speed on it. When I give the order, Mr. Bush, we shall see how well you've drilled your crew. Those sails must come off her like lightning, or else we're not to be taken aback.
They will, sir. I swear by the crew. Stand by. Now.
Take a look, sir. Corses, Totson, and Gulls, be alive. Harder, Horace. Harder, Horace. Totson there. Cable him. Quicker. Quicker.
The moment had come. With sail off, Lydia was drifting up to her anchor. Now was the moment when either she would raise it or the maneuver would end in disaster. Every man aboard, save the wildly rushing capstan hands, held his breath.
Make us free, sir!
Set all sail, Mr. Bush. Aye, aye, sir. By heaven, sir.
You've shown those Spaniards the finest bit of seamanship they'll ever see in their lives.
Kindly attend to your duties, Mr. Bush. Aye, aye, sir.
Not until we were standing out of the gulf, close-hauled, that I was free to communicate to Lady Barbara the news.
I had heard from the Viceroy.
In any case, good manners necessitated that I should address her.
I couldn't ignore her presence, however much I might present it.
She sat in her hammock chair by the taffrail, her servant Hebe, the negress, at her feet. She was in animated conversation with Gerard, the officer of the watch, and I noted with amusement that Gerard broke off the conversation and moved away as I approached.
He acknowledged my bow with a smile.
Oh, it's heavenly to be at sea again, Captain. And may I congratulate you on your amazing seamanship in raising your anchor. Also, you've given me no opportunity to tell you how grateful I am to you for taking me away from Panama. I was treated well enough, but, well, I was in charge of her excellency. An admirable woman, but oh, so dull. In Spanish America, women are treated like Mohammedans. And Spanish-American food.
On the latter point, I agree heartily, Your Ladyship.
Well, will you not sit down, Captain?
Sit down?
I'm my own quarterback.
Thank you, Your Ladyship, but I've never done such a thing in my life.
If you'll forgive me, I prefer to stand.
I came to give you good news. Your brother, Sir Arthur, has won a great victory over the French in Portugal.
A great victory?
Well, that is very good news. I've always been proud of Arthur, and this makes me prouder still.
Well, I am happy to be the first to congratulate his sister.
Oh, Captain, just look at that setting sun.
One almost expects to hear the hiss as it sinks into the sea.
Yes, I endeavor never to miss the sunset in these waters, Your Ladyship.
It's a daily miracle. Beautiful. Beautiful.
I hope your ladyship was well provided for during my absence ashore. If there's anything further that lies within my power.
Well, there's just.
One thing, Captain, that I should like to ask as a favor.
What is that?
That is that you do not call me your ladyship. Call me Lady Barbara.
If you will. Certainly, Lady Barbara.
And if Lady Barbara doesn't come easily to you and you wish to attract my attention, you can always say... Oh, Captain, I'm so sorry. Please accept my apologies. I realize now that to mock you was quite unforgivable.
There is nothing to forgive, ma'am. And now, if you will forgive me in your turn, I must attend to my duties.
One moment, please.
Captain, I know that you have much on your mind. I know that before you sail for home, you must fight the Natividad. Will you tell me, what are your prospects in that battle?
Well.
The Natividad, ma'am, is a two-decker with 50 guns against my 36. She is commanded by Vice Admiral de Crespo, a ruthless and bloodthirsty man who will never surrender. Whatever his faults, he's no coward. But against his force, I have perhaps a little experience. Capable and loyal officers and a very well-trained crew.
And they are English. That counts for much. You may be frank with me, Captain. What will happen if we should lose?
If I or my crew are taken alive, we shall be hanged or tortured. El Supremo will show no mercy to us for having turned against him.
And you....
It shall be my last care to see that you do not fall into the hands of De Crespo.
Alive.
Thank you, Captain. But you are not to worry about me, nor to allow my presence to influence you. Should it come to the worst.
I too.
am English and a Wellesley. I know how to die.
Surely, girls, surely. Lash up and stow. Lash up and stow. Lash up and stow.
Weather's thickling, Mr. Bush.
I've just got to send down to you, sir, for permission to shorten sail. Yes, get the courses and the gallants off.
Her, Mr.
Bush. Aye, aye, sir. Hands to shorten, sir.
I know. Lady Farmer, you ought to be below.
I'm afraid we're going to have a stiff gale.
Oh, no, Captain.
This is too delicious after the heat.
It's your health, ma'am, about which I'm anxious.
If salt water was harmful, sailors would die young.
Oh, this is really.
Jack, sir! Sail home!
Sail?
Right ahead! Look like the Nativity, sir!
I see her!
On the starboard, Jack, sir! Same as us! She is the nativinat, sir. I can see the cut of her dorsal. Report any activity. Aye, aye, sir. She's seen us, sir. She's wearing out on port deck heading up the window to us, sir.
Oh, is she? Unusual for a Spanish ship to face a virgin challenge. Of course, she's not a Spanish ship now. She shan't get the weather gauge of me, whatever happens.
How diverse is that? You all keepers, we are willing to see you live.
Mr. Bush, beat the porters, if you please, and clear for action.
Your place is.
Below, Lady Barbara. Take your maid with you and stay in the cockpit until the action is over. No, no, not the cockpit. We'll leave that for the wounded. Go to the cable tier.
Captain!
I have no time to discuss the matter, ma'am.
Mr.
Clay, conduct her ladyship to the cable tier. See if she is safe before you leave her. Those are my orders, Mr.
Clay. Mr.
Bush's incessant drilling of the crew showed its value now. Every man knew his job and did it swiftly and well. The decks were sized with water and strewn with sand. The bulkheads were knocked away. The fire parties took their places at the pumps. The boys ran with cartridges for the guns. And down below, the acting surgeon was dragging the midshipman's chests together in the.
Cockpit to make an operating table. Mr.
Bush's incessant drilling of the crew showed its value now. The more this thing gets.
Up, the better, sir.
The Virginia cat won't be able to open a lower gun port.
No.
I'll probably have two weeks taken in those topsails.
Aye, aye, sir.
Top below! Two reefs in the top, sir!
Excuse me, sir.
With all this spray breaking aboard, do you think we can rely on.
The flint triggers for the guns?
Or shall we have the slow matches lit at the tubs?
Yeah, better light the matches, I guess. We'll have steel small blasted. Most ships are approaching each other at an angle.
Scare so that when we meet, our ship has the window to the other.
Do you understand?
Aye, aye, sir.
Look, sir.
There's a puff of smoke.
She's open fire. Man's a fool to waste powder and shot at such range. Never forget, Mr.
Bush, a first broadside discharge at close quarters with guns carefully loaded by crews with time to think is worth ten under any other circumstances.
Yes, sir.
We've been passing mighty close, sir. If we both stay on this course, in fact, we'll meet bow to bow. No telling who'll have the weather gauge. That was closer.
Here comes another.
That got us.
Two men down at number four gun, sir.
Christmas.
We could have shaved it close. Stand by, Mr.
Rainer.
Fire as your guns bear. Wheel up. Put your helmet on. Over there, sir. Now, hold it as she comes on.
Six. With action at last, my nervousness and fear of some fatal error was gone. I stared across the tossing sea of the Natividad. I could see the Crespo up on the poop. The fellow actually had the insolence to wave airily at me. We'd had the advantage from our maneuver, two broadsides into it at close range with only one shot in reply.
Now we had to pay for it.
I saw the rudder of our opponent kick over, and the next moment the two-decker had swung round and was hurtling down upon us.
Pop your arms! Take your legs!
Now, steady, lads.
We shall have a broadside from her, too.
Fire!
Stop your vents! And the smoke tears! Fire as you will! Fire!
De Crespo was evidently unable to trust his crew to fire an independent missile and.
Was working him to the word of command. He was doing it well, too.
At intervals, as the sea permitted, her lower deck ports were opening like clockwork and her big 24-pounders were vomiting flame and smoke.
What work this, sir? Yes, Mr. Bush, have the dead carried away from the guns.
The crew is going to work properly.
The men had better lie on the deck and drag them.
It's death to stand in that iron hail. And, uh, Mr.
Bush?
I feel the Natividad superior force is too great for us to continue this close work.
We shall have to use running if we are to survive. It's a busy show, but I'm afraid you're right. Now, Mr. Bush, back the main tops of the trifle to take way off this.
And let the Natividad get ahead. Aye, aye, sir. Now, tack ship will run across our stern.
Approach, aye, Mr. Jones.
Aye, aye, sir. Now attack again. Back across the stern. Your guns were spread out. Glorious. Damn my height.
Glorious.
Too broadside.
Too astern.
She's too big of a country to deck about like us, sir. Yes, save the satisfaction for the end. She's coming back at us.
Oh, she is, sir. And the lower gun ports are open as well this time. I'm going to take some real punishment now.
There's Dick Crispo. Drilling like a knife. I hope he was killed, sir, in our broadsides.
Here she comes.
Oh, what we're about to receive.
Sir, commander, the basic mass is coming down. Woo!
Captain, hold on. Are you all right, sir?
Ricky, push.
Cut it away from me. I'll have you free in a jiffy.
We have a hand here, shall we? To free a captain. Now, sir. Let me get you below, sir. You're covered with blood. Get on with your work, pastor. It's not my blood. I'll kill this mess.
Or we're lost.
The missile has carried away the main.
Tagallon mast with it.
Ike Tagallon!
Hey!
Stop! Stop! Ike is here.
Cut that wreckage away. Look out! Here comes all the broadsides.
Here's your work. I'll run my sword.
Into the man who moves away.
The new broadside thundered into us, and I felt the Lydia leap and twist like something human as the great shots plunged into her vitals.
A man wielding his axe near me suddenly.
Vanished in a red mass.
I picked up his axe and attacked the tangled wreckage myself.
Suddenly I felt the ship lurch and swing. She was free of the wreckage.
Most of the men who had been.
On the quarterback with me were dead. Marines, seamen, officers. My tibetan was wearing round again, and I forced.
My mind to concentrate on the problem of how I could maneuver my crippled ship and continue the fight.
And the braces.
Mr.
Bush, we'll try and bring her into the wind.
We'll, uh... I'm a starboard.
Starboard, sir. Stand to your guns, men.
Fire!
Fire! Well done, you lads! There goes our foremost! Hello! You're here again! I've been in there! The foremaster's gone to take the bait of the swimming. She's swinging round into the wind. She's as helpless as we are.
And finally, the gale is blowing us apart.
Cease fire, then. You're only wasting your sight of this, Reims.
With the mission gun, sir, I can't get enough leverage to.
Sail into the wind. No, it's infuriating, but she's in the same trouble.
Mr.
Bush, the ship which is ready for action again first will win this battle.
Aye, aye, sir.
I'll get that... Mr.
Bush... You're hurt. I'm sorry about you.
You'll fall in blood, Courtney. I'll turn it up for now.
Are you all right, sir?
Heaven's sake, don't stand there asking questions.
Like a fool. I'm standing, aren't I?
Get this deck cleared up so we can move. Lady Barbara, who gave you permission to.
Come on deck? My orders were for you to stay below. The deck is no place for you.
I can see that, Captain. I've no intention of obstructing you.
I propose to lock myself.
In my cabin.
How are you?
Cabin? Yes. Please allow us to go to my cabin, sir. Ha, ha.
There's no cabin left for you, ma'am.
I forget.
Four broadsides of 24 pounds softened and exhibit out of class to your cabin, ma'am. And what is left of it wouldn't shelter a fly.
Oh, dear.
We've much to do to make our ship ready to fight again. I... Very well, Captain.
Let's go.
Your coat is torn, sir. You are bloody. Can I help you at all?
Yes, ma'am.
You can help me and all of us by going back to the cable here.
I offer my humble apologies, Captain.
Mr. Bush, you will no doubt appreciate the situation.
Yes, sir.
The frigate jury must then get back into battle as soon as possible.
Impress on the men, Mr. Bush, that their lives and liberty depend upon speed. The first ship ready for action is going to win this battle.
Horatio 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. Thank you.
