Hornblower: Retribution
Tags: violence, action, historical fiction

Plot synopsis:
At the tribunal in Jamaica, the officers on the Renown are being charged with mutiny.Flashback to the Renown in St. Domingo. The men killed in the skirmish at the fort are being given a proper burial at sea. First Lt. Buckland is now the acting captain. Captain Sawyer is in his cabin, restrained by a straightjacket. He makes odd statements; it's obvious that he is unwell mentally. First Lt. Buckland is anxious to get underway and head for Jamaica.But Horatio proposes that the Renown make another try at attacking the fort. He feels that with surprise on their side, it will be a victory. Horatio thinks that this victory would help the officers of the Renown during the mutiny trial that they are sure to face once they arrive in Jamaica. But Buckland is convinced that they will have nothing to fear in Jamaica, and because Bush doesn't support Horatio's plan, Buckland decides against attacking the fort and continues to plot their course for Jamaica.Flashforward to the trial. Dr. Clive is still strongly supporting Captain Sawyer, even though he agreed that Sawyer was unfit for command during the battle at the fort when the officers took command from Sawyer. He testifies that he agreed to declare Sawyer unfit under duress from Horatio.Flashback to the Renown. Bush, Kennedy and Hornblower discuss Horatio's plan to attack the fort. Bush admits he was wrong not to support him with Buckland. They all agree that they should move forward with the plan and attack the fort.Meanwhile, Gunner Hobbs is talking with Seaman Randall (the man who is always fighting with Styles). Randall and some other men are planning to desert the Renown. He invites Hobbs to join them, but Hobbs is unwilling to desert "his Captain" (Sawyer) to leave him "at the mercy of" the other officers. Hobbs does assist the desertion, though, by clubbing the marine on watch and knocking him out. More marines are attacked by the deserters as they prepare to leave the ship. Randall's last action before climbing off the Renown is to punch Hobbs in the face, knocking him out. He and the rest of the deserters (approx. 2/3 of the Renown's seamen) swim for shore under the cover of darkness. They are seen coming out of the water on a beach of the island where the fort is.Flash forward to Jamaica: Horatio testifies that the reason he and the other officers wanted to press on with the attack was to fulfill their duty to their captain and to the service. Admiral Hammond suggests that Horatio is ambitious. Pellew continues to be fair and shows support for Hornblower.Flashback to the Renown. Matthews is seen rousing the seamen from their sleep. He discovers that many have deserted and quickly informs the rest. Buckland is concerned, now that so many men are found to have deserted, so he agrees to Horatio's plan to attack the fort. He feels that the officers of the Renown will need this victory to save them from hanging for mutiny.Four boats of seamen and marines row to the island from the Renown. It is nearly daybreak. Horatio, Bush, Wellard, and Hobbs are with them. As they begin hiking toward the fort, they discover the deserters, all dead, but they have no idea how that came to happen.Flashforward to Jamaica. Hammond tells Pellew that they will need a "guilty party" on whom to blame the mutiny. (Pellew calls it a scapegoat.) They seem reluctant to ruin Captain Sawyer's career.Flashback to the island. Day is beginning to break. As the attack force makes their way toward the fort, the 3-4 men who remained behind to guard their boats are attacked by natives.On the Renown, Sawyer rambles on and on, taunting Buckland and making him doubt himself while Clive watches and listens. Sawyer tries to convince Buckland to release him, promising to speak on his behalf when they get to Jamaica. Clive tries to get Sawyer to keep quiet. Buckland orders Clive to give Sawyer more laudenum.The rowboats, filled with native men, approach the Renown. Buckland realizes they are freed slaves from the island. The freemen want the Renown to leave, claiming they have no business in this fight.Back at the island, the officers prepare to attack, but Buckland's weakness in command has led to shots being fired from the ship, so the element of surprise is lost for the attack force on the island.The attack on the fort begins. Horatio notices that one of the Spanish soldiers atop the main fort is the same man they'd noticed earlier, on top of the tower. He tells Archie about it. Archie agrees it's the same man, so he, Horatio, Wellard, and Matthews return to a lower position where they had earlier stashed some kegs of gunpowder. They take several kegs of powder and return up the trail toward the fort. They're looking for something along the slope.Matthews notices a grate on the ground which leads to a tunnel below. Wellard is the only one of the group who is small enough to fit through the grate, so the others lower him, head first, into the hole. At the bottom, he hears Spanish soldiers approaching. Horatio warns him to run for safety while he and the others light a fuse to ignite a keg of powder which they have placed over the grate. Just as the Spanish soldiers arrive below the grate, the powder keg explodes, killing them. With the grate removed, Horatio and the others may now climb down into the tunnel, where they make their way toward the fort. A small group of Spanish soldiers are ready to attack them, but they run back the other way to avoid being shot.Meanwhile, Bush, the marines, and the other seamen are being fired upon heavily. It seems to be hopeless. Bush is about to surrender his sword to the Spanish commander when an explosion blows the door of the fort open, right in front of them. It is Horatio and the other men; they exploded more kegs of powder to defend their position. The blast also saves the rest of the attack party (with Mr. Bush) in front of the fort. Horatio and the others quickly join the frontal assault. The Spanish are soon subdued, so they surrender.Bush and Horatio discuss how they can prevent 3 Spanish vessels from escaping the bay. Horatio suggests "hot shots," which are cannon balls heated in a fire until they are red hot; they are then loaded into a cannon and shot. The balls explode like bombs when they hit a ship. (This is a trick the Spanish use against the English.) They manage to disable one vessel's sails. Then the Renown arrives and fires on the three ships.Flash forward to the tribunal in Jamaica. Again, Horatio is being accused of ambition. He insists he was only doing his duty. Later, Hammond tells Pellew that Hornblower seems guilty. Pellew explains that Horatio is very dear to him. Pellew will not rush to judgment; he explains that he will weigh all facts carefully, as will the others.Flashback to the Renown. The Spanish commander surrenders. He informs Buckland that he would like to use the small fleet of three Spanish ships to leave the island with his men and their families. He insists that he knows they are beaten and he hopes Buckland will agree to this limited surrender. Buckland is inclined to go along with the idea, but Horatio informs the Spanish Commander that he will receive an answer within an hour.Horatio explains to Buckland that the Spanish seem too willing to give up their ships and fort so easily -- and too anxious to leave. Archie discovers that the food stores are nearly depleted at the fort. Horatio suggests that the island will soon be under siege from the band of freed slaves. He thinks they should find a way to impose a complete surrender on the Spanish, taking the soldiers prisoner and the three Spanish vessels as prizes of the British navy.Buckland invites the Spanish commander and his wife to dine aboard the Renown. In the mean time, the other officers bring a cannon from the Renown to the top of the cliff overlooking the bay where the Spanish ships are moored. Captain Sawyer is still acting crazy. He gets loose and threatens Horatio with a razor blade. Horatio talks him out of it, speaking of his past glories and how Horatio would not like to see Captain Sawyer's good name and achievements ruined by his present condition and actions. The cannon is successfully placed on the cliff.At dinner with Buckland, the Spanish commander and his wife become concerned that the other officers have not arrived for dinner yet. Buckland tries to stall. Suddenly, they hear the sound of cannon fire. (A ranging shot fired from the cliff overlooking the bay.) The commander and his wife protest. Buckland informs them that they are now the prisoners of the British navy and will have safe passage to Jamaica. Their ships will be safe as British prizes of war. Buckland asks for the commander's sword, signaling that it is now an unconditional surrender.Horatio, Bush and the others watch as the Spanish ships take down their flags. They begin to cheer when suddenly, they come under fire from the rebel forces (former slaves) above them on the cliff. They spike their cannon and fall back in retreat. Buckland watches form the Renown as they run down the slope toward shore and questions the Spanish commander, asking him how long the island/fort had been under siege.Just then, Captain Sawyer can be heard singing "Spanish Ladies" from down below. Buckland is irritated by the captain's behavior. He goes below to attempt to quiet him down. Sawyer taunts him and baits him, making him doubt himself. He wants to convince Buckland that Horatio will outshine him and make him look foolish with the Admiralty. Sawyer even tells Buckland that unless he "strikes first," Horatio will take the Renown from him just as Horatio took the Renown from Sawyer. Dr. Clive enters and Buckland orders him to give Sawyer more laudanum.Flash forward to Jamaica. Pellew is questioning Buckland about his relationship with Horatio. He's trying to learn if Buckland harbors any ill feelings toward Horatio.Flashback to the Renown. The attack party from shore has returned on board. Buckland informs Bush that it will be necessary to destroy the fort before they set sail again; he hints that he wants Horatio to take charge of this mission. Horatio agrees, saying it would be an honor to volunteer. Bush seems suspicious about Buckland's motives. Archie and Bush offer to assist, but Buckland decides to keep Bush and Archie on the Renown. (The implication here is that Sawyer has been successful in making Buckland doubt Horatio.)Flash forward to Jamaica. Pellew asks Buckland if he wanted Horatio to survive this mission. Buckland insists that he does not send men to their death.Flash back to the Renown. Matthews is asking Buckland if he and Styles and some other men may escort Horatio and row him back to the Renown after his mission. Buckland denies the request, saying they are needed on board. Meanwhile, at the fort Horatio discovers that Archie and Bush have disregarded Buckland's orders and have come to help him after all. They fend off attacking rebels while Horatio sets up the powder kegs and charges. The fuse is lit; they run through the underground tunnel and climb up through the grate. Just as they surface, the powder explodes. The men on the Renown watch as the fort is destroyed. Hobbs tells Matthews and Styles, "Now you know what it's like to lose your hero." They tell Hobbs that Horatio will be back.Hobbs tells Buckland, "Your victory is complete." (The implication is that he has completed his mission, and that additionally, he has eliminated Horatio as a barrier to advancement in his naval career.) Buckland tells Matthews it's time to set sail for Jamaica. (He's leaving without Horatio.)Horatio, Bush and Archie jump from the cliff into the sea. They are spotted by Styles and Matthews, who inform Buckland. Buckland has no choice; he must wait for them. Horatio has a hearty reunion with Matthews and Styles on board the Renown. Buckland places Horatio in charge of the three Spanish vessels; he will be "responsible for their safe return." Buckland seems uncomfortable.Bush apologizes to Buckland for disobeying his orders and helping Horatio. Buckland replies that his actions were "true to form." He thinks Bush, Archie, and Horatio are full of themselves, he believes they think he is a fool. Bush replies that "nobody thinks command is easy." Buckland says, "I never expected it to be easy." As Bush walks away, he whispers to himself, "I expected to be fit for it."Horatio is aboard one of the Spanish ships, en route to Jamaica. Matthews is with him. They are having one of their frank conversations. Matthews tells Horatio, "After what happened today, I'd say [Buckland] is a man of no conscience." Horatio tells him that it is difficult commanding a large vessel and being responsible for so many men. They mention Captain Sawyer.Back on the Renown, Sawyer is acting crazy, crawling on the floor. Buckland tells the guard to release him from the straight jacket. Buckland tries to tell Sawyer that he "never wanted any of this." Hobbs tries to help Sawyer. Buckland pours himself a drink.In the brig on the Renown, the former Spanish Commander's wife is flirting with her guard. It's obvious that something is going on.Hobbs takes Sawyer to the hole where he'd fallen, earlier. He asks him what he sees; he's trying to help Sawyer remember what happened. Wellard tells Hobbs to leave him alone. Hobbs tells him to leave Sawyer alone. Sawyer says it wasn't him [Wellard] who pushed the captain. Sawyer is confused and mistakes Wellard for an Admiral he used to know. Hobbs informs Wellard that eventually, Sawyer will remember what happened to him. Hobbs takes Sawyer back to his cabin and puts him to bed. He's still acting crazy.The commander's wife is still flirting with her guard. He unlocks her cell and she gets out. They find a quiet place and he starts to kiss her. She removes a knife from her garter and sticks it into his back. She takes his keys and releases the other wives from the cell. Then she releases the men, who attack the marines standing watch. They take guns from the ship's armory and try a sneak attack on Bush, but he must have heard them coming because he is ready for them and shoots them with his pistol. Bush, Archie, and their men, including Styles, are under full attack on the Renown from the Spanish.On a Spanish vessel, Horatio is roused from his bunk by Matthews, who shows him that the Renown is under siege. He orders all hands on deck. They come alongside the Renown and assist the others in fighting off the Spanish.Wellard sneaks into Sawyer's cabin with a pistol in his hand. He says he can't allow Sawyer to get to Jamaica; he will not allow Sawyer to remember who pushed him. Sawyer taunts Wellard and belittles him, taking the pistol from him. Then, the fighting is heard outside Sawyer's cabin door. Sawyer tells Wellard he remembers who pushed him. Then he hands the pistol back to Wellard. They stand side-by-side to face the enemy. The door bursts open and they are both shot. Sawyer dies instantly. Hobbs enters the cabin.Horatio and the others have retaken control of the ships and the Spanish surrender again. Bush is badly wounded. Styles calls Horatio over to Bush, Dr. Clive begins to work on him.Wellard tells Hobbs how Sawyer told Wellard he was brave. He also tells Hobbs he knew who pushed him. Hobbs puts his ear to Wellard's mouth, then Wellard dies. Horatio comes in at that moment and tells Hobbs that Sawyer died a hero in battle, and that he was a leader of men.Styles and Horatio find Buckland tied up in his cabin. They release him; Horatio informs him that the Renown and other ships have been recovered. Buckland says that he can see that they are recovered, and he can see WHO recovered them. (He's not happy that Horatio has "bested" him again by succeeding where Buckland has failed.)Horatio leaves Buckland and returns to the deck. He and Archie have a little chuckle about "poor Buckland." Horatio notices that Archie is bleeding. He opens Archie's jacket to find his shirt covered in blood from a chest wound. Blood spews from Archie's mouth.In Jamaica, Archie lies in a sickbed, in a cell, recovering from his wounds while Horatio is escorted to the court-martial proceedings. Bush lies recovering in a bed next to Archie. Outside the tribunal, workers are building a gallows.Pellew questions Buckland about his command. He is criticized for losing control of the Renown to the Spanish prisoners. One of the tribunes makes a joke saying Buckland's epitaph will say he was "caught napping." The courthouse erupts into laughter. Pellew does not find it at all amusing. Neither does Capt. Hammond. Pellew begins to say that "thankfully there was at least one officer present who..." He is interrupted by Buckland, who cries that the reason the proceedings are taking place is all is because Captain Sawyer was unfit for command. He endangered the lives of every man on the ship. Pellew stops him and warns him not to "blacken the name of one of Nelson's own." Buckland interrupts again, insisting that Sawyer was unfit for command for ONE REASON: "He didn't fall into that hold, he was pushed... by Lt. Horatio Hornblower!" Buckland implies that Gunner Hobbs will support his claims.Later, out in the street, Styles spits into Hobbs' face and calls him a traitor.Dr. Clive examines Bush. He has a deep sabre gash in his chest. Clive tells him he'll mend. Archie coughs horribly.Hobbs is on the witness stand. Hammond confirms that he is there to corroborate Buckland's story. Hobbs speaks of his loyalty to Sawyer. Hammond asks Hobbs who pushed Sawyer into the hold. Hobbs says, "My captain was a leader of men, and he died in battle. But I'm afraid I cannot tell you who pushed him." (He essentially repeats the same words Horatio said earlier about Captain Sawyer.) A murmur goes through the room as people are surprised Hobbs does not implicate Hornblower.The three members of the tribunal meet privately behind closed doors. Pellew makes a plea to put an end to the proceedings in order to "save the life of a man willing to abandon his own life for others, a man for whom others would gladly give their own lives. We should not try to hang this man, we should promote him." Hammond responds that he would like them to put the question to Horatio and ask him if he pushed Sawyer down the hold. "As a man of honor, he will answer it."Dr. Clive examines Archie. Horatio enters. Dr. Clive offers him his hand, they shake hands. Archie asks Horatio what he will say at the hearing when they ask him if he pushed Sawyer. Horatio tells them he will not give that answer until they ask it.The next morning, Horatio stops to see Archie before going to the tribunal. He is not in his bed. He asks Bush where Archie is, but Bush tells him he's about somewhere.Archie is shown entering the tribunal with the assistance of Dr. Clive. He testifies that he and he alone pushed Sawyer into the hold.Back at the cell, Horatio suddenly realizes what Archie is doing. Bush tells him "it must be done."Archie is removed from the room just as Horatio arrives. Horatio is devastated.Later, Buckland is shown sitting at a table, pouring himself a glass a wine. The glass overflows and wine spills onto the table, but Buckland doesn't seem to notice, he just keeps pouring the wine. Someone knocks on his door and calls to him, but he doesn't respond. He is obviously very troubled by what is taking place.Back in Archie's cell, Dr. Clive checks on his patient. Bush has apparently been released. Horatio asks Archie why. He is choking back tears. Archie explains that he is very ill and doesn't think he'll live long enough to face the gallows. He tells Horatio he is frightened, but Horatio tells him he is the bravest man Horatio knows. Horatio feels badly about the sacrifice Archie makes to save him.Archie: "Poor Horatio. So quick to give, so slow to accept the simplest gift. You have done the same for me, you know, a thousand times."Horatio: "But never at such a dear cost."Archie: "Please take what I offer. Take it and say goodbye."Horatio: "Archie?" [He's really choking back the tears now.] "I am honored to have served with you."Archie: [smiling and choking back tears at the same time] "And I to have known you."Horatio: "Bye."Archie: [smiling] "You see? Better already."Archie gasps, moans, and then dies.Horatio whispers, "My dear friend." He is heartbroken. He remains sitting by Archie's bed. The image fades away and then comes back again. The bed is now empty, but Horatio is still sitting there.Commodore Pellew enters the cell. He gives Horatio a newspaper. A story describes how Sawyer was a hero. There is no mention of Archie. Pellew says Archie was a man of great loyalty who saw his duty and did it. Horatio says he went to his grave without the merit of his good name. Pellew says that he and Horatio will not forget what Archie did. (It is implied that Pellew does not believe that Archie pushed Sawyer down into the hold.)Pellew tells Horatio that one of the Spanish ships captured by the Renown is being renamed the Retribution. He hands Horatio orders that say:The Captain of the Retribution Commander Horatio HornblowerHoratio thinks that Bush, who was second in command, should have received the honor. But Pellew tells him he'd better accept a promotion when it is offered.Pellew: "I wish you a safe voyage, Mr. Hornblower." He and Horatio exchange a very meaningful look, like a father and a son would at a very important moment. Horatio thanks him.