Horatio Hornblower - The Duel

0:00Call all hands, big to quarters. Now I've got standby, let's have a better. One broadside, in order to please Captain Bush. Point of some target. Windstuff, ready? Eyes are ready. Fire! Presenting Michael Redgrave at C.S. Faresters in Domitable Man of the Sea, Horatio Hornblore.

2:00We had halted the French advance at Wieger, but now both they are near the dug-in there, Stubbendly. Unfortunately, Faresters meant a stale mate. A summer faded into water, and flurries of snow, harridous storms, one of those early Russian winters. Wieger Bay, where my squad in lab was covered with a thin film of ice. I don't like it at all, Bush, not at all, with winter coming. I know, sir. You've wasted on here much longer, we're sitting to be frozen in. And yet the atmosphere in my orders, from the atmosphere, nothing at not explicit. The remain here at all costs, give every support within our power. Wieger must be protected to the last man and ship, in their words. Yes, sir. If only we could be sure that Alexander would hold first, if he doesn't have a reputation for a constant, you'll see I'm afraid. Oh, well, at least we're helping to block the French path to St. Petersburg.

3:00I said, Bush, what are they doing up for at Midshipman's class? Yes, we've all this recent activity. Our youngsters needed some work. I've ordered regular assumption of all peace-time instruction under the sailing master, Mr. Tux, excellent idea, Bush. Midshipman are the curious breed bush. I'm afraid that a lot is not a happy one. Did I have a tell you of my first dubious distinction in the service of his majesty? But there I came aboard the old Justinian, his Midshipman. She lay just off portements. And I was seasick, Bush. Seasick in spirit and all. I was too thin, too tall, too young, too shy, too gorky, not long out of a quiet country village. Nervous, but deeply conscious of my new estate in life.

4:02Poor old king, Captain, the Justinian, already a sick man, very, very morose. Yet he was not unkind that day when I reported to his cabin, rather shaggyly. Mr. Fonda, I'm glad to welcome you on board my ship. Yes, sir. That is my eye, sir. Your age is, let me see, 17. Is that correct? Yes, sir. The birth date of life, 4th, 17, 76. I've been six years as left tenant before you were born, Honda. Yes, sir. Dr. Sane, how far did your education go? I studied Greek at school, sir. I read Cicero, too. Better if you could for serious fall in time to get the to-gallons in with no use for ablative absolutes in the Navy. Yes, sir. I mean, yes. Did you bring your Donnage aboard with you?

5:03My seatchester, oh yes, it's at the entry port. I'll get a boy to show you down to the midshipman's quarters. Well, obey orders for an blower, learn your duties, and no harm can come to you that will do. Thank you, sir. Despite the captain's words of a bush, harm began to come to me almost at once. I was let down latter after latter, into the twilight of the tween decks, and came at last to an especially gloomy recess. There, half a dozen shits, leave young men, all a good deal old as in my self, set around the table, lighted faithly by a candle then. I entered, rather hesitantly. Well, well, who's this? Oh, this! Can it be our ranks of swelling? Simpson, look at him. Look, he's positively greener. No, no, I'm kind of right. That's just...

6:03Well, that sure bit tossed quite a bit in me. I'm aware, man. Do you know what it is, Simpson? I do believe you see sick. What will we send us next, Simpson? Three-sick and spithead? Oh, we're still at ankle, shall we? Do you know it? Three-sick and spithead. I thought to myself that I was now labeled for life, but I'd soon ceased to care. A moment later, I was prone in my hammock. In the days that followed, I learned a great deal more about the arrogant, Mr. Simpson. Then he goes now. Notice that struck? I've let me hear the handsome, dude. Yes, sir. He's perfect. You see, home blossoms in mountains angry at himself and at the world. He had high hopes, but just before you came aboard, he was sent back here to senior water in the episode of Mitchitt. Oh, Mr. Commission.

7:04Exactly. Two-week in mathematics, captain's boat turned into hand. So acting at turn in Simpson is now a Mitchittman game. Maybe for years. Simpson must be 35 at least. I understand him better, though. Make true well. Sorry for him, sir. Well, thank you, gentlemen. You know, you're the first aboard who's taken time to say a word to me on any subject. Just keep out of his way as much as you can. Anytime anyone knows, he just pans in senseless with those big fists. He did a notable prize fight. It's always the other who has the black eye and gets the captain's mast for fighting. All of us hate the man on the low, and that's an understatement. All of them did hate Simpson, and some of them even showed it. But from the first, this didn't prevent him singling me out as his favorite victim. His tyranny is one petty, but ingenious.

8:07With all the help, don't put on your coat. You haven't finished here. But you said that my sense worked on our birthday. You called on a clean deck from the Simpson. If you haven't just tracked down. There's only a hen on the meat on the... Put some gristle into it. Got any? Yes, sir. Have we forgotten how to give you a beating yesterday, have you? No more miserable, lonely, midship, whenever wrote a British ship. We hadn't even said say it, we had weeks passed, and we stood lay and spit head. We're waiting the rest of the channel for you. Shine has kept me from making friends, and Simpson's persecutions mounted daily. I even thought of death as one way I... In my black despair, the waters of spit head promised a friendly escape, and often at night I made elaborate plans for suicide. And then, one afternoon, some of us had surely been porcelainous.

9:09By chance, I wanted into the Georgian, three of our ships come, and they were looking for a fourth of that card, table. Why, it's young hollower. I say, youngster, do you play whist to the means of passing the time? I guess, sir. Left-end masters, yes, I do. Ah, I adjust the man we've all been. Have been able to find anybody else. Come over here. We barely need a fourth. Mr. Simpson, Mr. Graves and I... Simpson? I like whists, sir, but... Well, I just remember that I have an appointment. No, no, no, no. I shall let you escape now. Do my Simpson. As senior left in it, I could only, you best say, young man. Now come along, come along. Yes, sit down, hon. Simpson, then, to give me a curt nod, as I said, he and Graves have been drinking wine. Their faces were quite fresh. I hadn't, but I did like whist for years. I'd made a fourth at home. I even had a kind of passion for it.

10:10Excellent, excellent. Now we've been cut for places and partners. Ah, Simpson and Graves, can you and me, hon, blow up? Shilling a trick of stakes, is that too steep, gentlemen? How's your whistlet, gentlemen? Well, again, it's all of gambling. Good, good. Joining him with the Graves, that is be added. It soon appeared that Simpson was a very poor whist player. Those shaky mathematics, possibly. On the other hand, I was a rather experienced. Masters and I took the first game, and the second, Simpson grew more and more solid than an angry one. Then, in the end, the third game. But the rest of my audience, I'm talking about King of Holt still in my hand? I've tricked, game and rubber. But then I'll take it. Well, all right, hon, blur. You know too much about this game, my cocky friend.

11:11Now the back of the cards have been of the front, Sturndger. Simpson was muddled, I'm quite sure he spoke without intention, but suddenly a plan occurred to me in Stark's outline. His life, for my, Patrick was my only escape from an intolerable existence. That's a, that's a very insulting remark, Mr. Simpson. I shall, I shall have to ask satisfaction, I'm afraid. Satisfaction? No, no, I see here. All glory, you can't be. Now look, look, gulings are serious business. I'm sure Mr. Simpson will explain that he was merely joking. I mean, accused of cheating at cards, Mr. Masters. That's a hard thing to explain away. Mr. Holmblur, I must insist. Now now come. The wine was in and the witch was out. Let's forget this. Well, with pleasure, sir, Mr. Simpson will apologize at once, and we'll keep that he spoke in a manner most ungentimate. I'll apologize, say you, your little whipper, Snapper. Say you. I'll see you in Stibon and devil first.

12:12Let that's a gentleman. Go! Go! Here's the second laugh now at that solemn desperate lad who wore my name, but then there was a life or death issue. The only half is age. The only more than a boy. I had a German oppressor's murderous business. Yes, sir. But why? Why? I've weighed the person, sir. Well, I'll be frank. Simpson has the advantage, Physic Lim. These conditions are the only ones that give me an even chance.

13:12Mathematically, one shot from each of us is better. All right, all right, I understand. Well, since you won't call it off, you better know. The captain's ordered me to attend the dueling person, as to help provide the surgeon also attend. Hi, Ayesha. Hey, well. The place selected is the small Heath North of Portsmouth. The hour had torn tomorrow. The two parties will go separately, of course. Mathematically, I trust you've made the right decision, Mr. Hornblower. I hope you'll get some sleep tonight. Good luck. Only one yard between. That means no distance is to be phased off. When you stand here, Mr. Simpson, Mr. Hornblower, yeah. The Rome is best, best, yet even. The last time, can you not be reconciled?

14:16Well, then, so be it. We haven't settled. Who's to give the word? Let Mr. Masters give it grace. Why not? Very well. I say one, two, three, and fire. The last word you can fire as you will. Are you ready? Ready. Yes? Ready. One, two, three, five. I pulled the trigger. There was a click, and that was all. Mine was the unnoted pistol. A half-second burst and Simpson fired him. Another click. On both of us still stood there stiff and dazed. A misfire by heaven. A misfire home, Lord. Give me a little spiss for me. No one might still be hanging fire. Which was the loaded one. That's better not to know. I'm shuffling them. But why not a second shot?

15:16There will be no second shot, Mr. Gerard. Honor is satisfied. No one can now think that a little bit, Mr. Simpson, if he regrets his hasty words. No, Mr. Hornblower, if he accepts those regrets graciously. Their faces, their faces, your young fools, you ought to see how you all look. So long as now, Mr. Hippel White, your behavior is ridiculous. Our coaches are waiting on the road. The country is at the jetty. Any goal of us can do with a little breakfast now, including Mr. Hippel White. That should have ended the affair, of course, but aboard the Justinian, there were whispers. Whispers had circulated forward and after. At last, I decided to speak privately with Captain Keen.

16:20I'm so hurt and so angry, I beg your pardon, initially, I'm afraid. Sir, now keep your head young, man. I can guess what you're going to say to me. Those pistols in the duel were not loaded. Neither of them. Hippel White, blab, dice, suppose. The man to understand that was by your orders. And that is correct. I gave those orders to Mr. Loster. It was no morning for boldly, but it certainly was. But I saved a life for the king's service, a young life. Both you and Simpson have had your courage, amply proved, and no one's harm. You'll touch my personal honor, sir. Do I understand that you are now issuing me a challenge? Let me remind you, Mr. Honda, of one useful regulation of the Navy. No junior officer may challenge his superior to a duel. Indeed, it is a court martial offence. Yes, I know, sir.

17:20Now here is some good shirtless advice. You have fought one duel with honor, that is good. Never fight another. Some men acquire a taste for dueling, they're never good officers. It seems to become a habit to occupy the center of the stage. I understand, sir. But as another matter, I wanted to take up with you, Mr. Honda. Captain Pallur of the Figur in the Fatigawa has a room for another midshipman. Perhaps you haven't been too happy here, and Pallur is partial to a game of whist. Has no good forth on body ship, in fact. He and I have agreed to consider favorably your application for the transfer, if you should care to make it. Figur, sir? Well, I would be... Well, anybody, jump at the chance of... Well, what were you about to say? Is it settled in? It's very good of you, sir. I don't know how to thank you, but you accepted me as a midshipman, sir.

18:21Of course, I should have made it with you. I appreciate your saying that I know the heart burning is entails. But I think I'm going to insist on your accepting Pallur's offer. This ship is not the place for you. The ship with her ailing, outworn cattle. Sir, please. Don't interrupt me. I have the good of the service in mind, Mr. Hornblur, when I suggest you go. And, uh, might be less disturbing for us if you did. Oh, well, well. Our poor little Keena. I never saw him again. He's been dead a long time now, I've been... I've always thought of him no one I... When I became a captain and learned of Uncle Lose extra burdens that go with the command... There. Well, at least we've passed a little while away from our Russian winter. And we've still got regated to end of the morning. It must be the rings up here.

19:24The tenon comb must be worried. Well, kind of make a point. I'm not sure if I can get the ring. I'm not sure if I can get the ring. I'm not sure if I can get the ring. I'm not sure if I can get the ring. The tenon comb must be worried. Well, kind of make a point. If you please get the ring. Come and go around board. Or as well. A ratio hornblower, starting Michael Redgrave, is based on the novels by CSFernister. Music composed and conducted by Sydney Torch. Produced by Harry Alan Towers.

20:36Music composed and performed by Harry Alan Towers. Music composed and performed by Harry Alan Towers.