Duty (film)

Plot

The film starts with the wedding of Commander Horatio Hornblower, captain of HMS Hotspur, and Maria Mason. Lieutenant Bush is Horatio's best man and despite not being invited, Matthews, Styles, and the rest of the crew of HMS Hotspur make their captain a sabre arch and man-haul the Hornblowers to the reception. However, Admiral Pellew arrives and gives Horatio his next mission: HMS Grasshopper, commanded by old friend Captain Bracegirdle, has gone missing while on patrol off the coast of France. Horatio's mission is to find the HMS Grasshopper. He also gives Horatio permission to sleep onshore with his wife Maria for the night.

The next day, Horatio says goodbye to his wife and sets sail. As a wedding gift, Admiral Pellew gives Horatio his steward, James Doughty, who replaces Styles. On a stormy night, HMS Hotspur comes across Americans and a man claiming to be Swiss on their way to France. Because the man speaks with a strong French accent, most of the crew, Horatio included, don't believe he is Swiss. One of the Americans says they saw a ship get stranded.

Hotspur finds Grasshopper grounded and most of the crew killed in the storm. Those who survived were killed protecting their captain from French troops. As Horatio and his men are attacked by the same French troops, they find Captain Bracegirdle. AsHotspur sails away, it is revealed Wolfe, from the last film, is leading the French troops. Meanwhile, back in England, Admiral Pellew is confronted by the diplomatic service, with orders from the Admiralty to find a young couple lost at sea; one the daughter of a wealthy American merchant and the other a Frenchman. On board Hotspur, the French, led by Wolfe and with the help of one of the Americans, try to take the ship, but fail and Wolfe escapes again. After the attack, it is revealed the "Swiss" man is both French and Jérôme-Napoléon Bonaparte, the younger brother of Napoleon himself.

With Jérôme as his prisoner, Bracegirdle suggests Horatio return to England, but Horatio chooses to continue with an investigation of the French activities in the area. Back in England, Admiral Pellew continues his conference with the Diplomatic Service, who finally tells him the French husband is Napoleon's brother and that with the help of French contacts, Jérôme is on the Hotspur. Back on the Hotspur, Horatio issues a two-hour investigation and gives Midshipman Orrock orders stating that, if they do not return in time, they must sail back to England with their prisoners. As prisoners now, they are given no special treatment while the crew, Styles included, performs "Yankee Doodle" as an insult.

Onshore, Horatio discovers the French are removing cannons from their own ships for reasons unknown. Bracegirdle goes off for more time and is seen by a Frenchman. As he is on his way back to the Hotspur, the French fire on the lifeboat and blow it up, killing everyone on board. When the French began to fire exploding cannonballs on the Hotspur, Horatio puts out the fuse, ruining the gloves Maria made him in the process.

Horatio then returns to England and immediately reports to Admiral Pellew. Horatio tells him of Captain Bracegirdle's death, but more importantly he requests permission to return to further investigate Wolfe's activities in France. The Admiral then tells Horatio that the Diplomatic Service has quarantined the Hotspur; no one leaves and no one boards, Captain included. Horatio takes the time to visit his wife, who finds his gloves and learns what happens to them in a newspaper article. Horatio then tries to explain it was nothing and accidentally yells at Maria about it, making her cry. Mrs. Mason then asks Horatio if, while he thinks more about his ship, he could also think about his wife.

The Diplomatic Service then informs Admiral Pellew and Commander Hornblower that they are to return Jérôme to France while his wife Betsy is to be sent home to America to be with her father, by orders of Napoleon. While Jérôme is being returned to France, Admiral Pellew also orders Horatio to continue his investigation. As it may be their last meal together, Horatio orders the Steward to make them a special meal. As Doughty is on his way to deliver it, he learns Styles placed a dead rat in it, which leads Doughty to fight with Styles. During the fight, Doughty accidentally strikes Midshipman Orrock, which according to the Articles of War is an court martial offence and is punishable by death if found guilty.

Once in France, Horatio wakes Jérôme and sends him ashore without his wife, who he tells is to be sent back to America, much to Jérôme's annoyance. When Betsy learns her husband has left her, she tells Horatio she hopes the French kill him. The next day, Horatio and Bush return ashore and find Wolfe and his men on the move. They also discover the reason for the removed cannons: With 200,000 French troops in Brest, the British fleet has blockaded the area, leaving the back door (i.e. Ireland) unguarded. The plan is for Wolfe and 3,000 French troops to invade Ireland, then England. Despite fog and ice, Horatio orders the Hotspur to sail inland. Using the same sign as the French, Horatio tries to trick them into believing the Hotspur is part of the French fleet and succeeds. He then attacks. As the other ships hit land and crash, Wolfe is swung onto the Hotspur, where he is shot by Bush and the marines before he can shoot Horatio.

On Christmas Day, the USS Liberty has come to take Betsy back to America. Horatio chooses to spare Doughty by having him go to the USS Liberty as well. As Betsy rudely says goodbye to Horatio, Doughty jumps overboard and swims to the American ship. Shortly after, Horatio is informed by the Diplomatic Service Napoleon has ordered his brother's marriage terminated. After the Diplomatic Service leaves, Admiral Pellew informs Horatio that they have both been promoted: Admiral Pellew to Admiral of the Fleet and Horatio to post-captain. Horatio then returns to his wife Maria, who tells him that she is with child.