- Master Bowles: Exceptionally fine shot sir. If I may say so sir.
- Captain Sir Edward Pellew: You may Mister Bowles. You may.
- Captain Sir Edward Pellew: You have fought your duel. That is well. Never fight another. That is better.
- [Hornblower and Styles bring Davey into the surgery, with his lower leg shot away. The doctor is treating Lt. Chadd]
- Midshipman Horatio Hornblower: This man needs help!
- Dr. Hepplewhite: I'll attend to him presently.
- Midshipman Horatio Hornblower: Lt. Chadd, may I inquire as to the nature of your injury, sir?
- Lt. Chadd: Splinter.
- Midshipman Horatio Hornblower: Sir, this man is from my division...
- Dr. Hepplewhite: He'll take his turn like all the rest!
- Midshipman Horatio Hornblower: [shouting] Well, damn it, if he's not seen to now, he'll bleed to death!
- Lt. Chadd: Mr. Hornblower...!
- [a scream from Davey cuts him off]
- Lt. Chadd: ...He's right, Hepplewhite. I can wait.
- Dr. Hepplewhite: Very well.
- Midshipman Archie Kennedy: His majesty's ship of the line Justinian, known elsewise among her intimates as the good ship Slough of Despond.
- Midshipman Archie Kennedy: You've heard the latest rumours of course, that King Louis the XVI was captured just before Christmas. What do you think they'll do with him? You can't kill a king!
- Midshipman Archie Kennedy: [after a battle] Did you see me? Did you see? We carried her by boarding, I killed two! Well... one, certainly...
- Midshipman Jack Simpson: [the night after Jack Simpson returns to the Inde. Archie walks into the wardroom to get his hat, but realizes he's not alone...] Hello, Archie.
- [Archie turns to look at him]
- Midshipman Jack Simpson: [Standing] It's been a long time.
- [Advancing on Archie]
- Midshipman Jack Simpson: Jack's missed you, boy.
- Midshipman Jack Simpson: [after Horatio tries to argue that Simpson is going against regulations] I *piss* on your regulations!
- Midshipman Jack Simpson: Where is he?
- Midshipman Clayton: I regret that my principle has met with an accident that prevents his attendance this morning
- Midshipman Jack Simpson: You mean the little coward has pissed himself?
- Midshipman Clayton: The beating he gave you, that was nothing. Believe me. You don't know half of what he's capable of.
- Midshipman Jack Simpson: [after Horatio interrupts his attack on Archie] We were just catching up on old times, Mr. Hornblower.
- Midshipman Horatio Hornblower: These are new times, Mr. Simpson. You have no hold over us here.
- Midshipman Jack Simpson: Now, the point of this inquisition is for me to get to know you better. See, I know these dogs. I know what gnaws at the souls at night, things they're rather no one knew. Now... what's your dirty little secret? A fancier of other boys, perhaps? Or is it... that you mother makes a living on her back?
- Midshipman Horatio Hornblower: You filthy-
- [headbutt]
- Capt. Forget: [Holding a pistol on Hornblower] The chart and the compass - if you please!
- Midshipman Horatio Hornblower: [after giving him the chart, Hornblower slowly and deliberately drops the compass overboard] Fish for it!
- Captain Sir Edward Pellew: The old adversary may wear a new face, but whatever mask he chooses to hide behind, a Frenchman is still a Frenchman and we will beat him as we always have beaten him!
- Capt. Forget: That was a foolish thing to do, boy. I might have killed you.
- Midshipman Horatio Hornblower: And forgo the pleasure of crowing at my discomfort? I think not.
- Capt. Keene: It is a sure opportunity for advancement, for distinction, for prize money!
- Midshipman Horatio Hornblower: It is the opportunity of a lifetime, sir, and I thank you for it, but...
- Capt. Keene: Any ambitious young officer would jump at the chance to serve on a frigate!
- Midshipman Horatio Hornblower: I know, sir. But you accepted me here as midshipman, and of course I must stay with you.
- Capt. Keene: Not many young men would have said that, Mr. Hornblower. I am very touched by your loyalty, even though I won't live to appreciate it.
- Midshipman Horatio Hornblower: But...
- Capt. Keene: No, please don't interrupt! Youth and quick wits belong where they will be rewarded, not on a Channel groper with a dying captain.
- Midshipman Horatio Hornblower: Sir?
- Capt. Keene: A midshipman's share of prize money is not much, I grant you, but at last you can start to repay the debt you owe your father. It is the good of the service I have in mind, Mr. Hornblower... when I insist that you take up this posting.
- Midshipman Horatio Hornblower: Aye, aye, sir.
- Lt. Eccleston: [Lying bleeding under a fallen mast] Where's Mr. Chad?
- Midshipman Horatio Hornblower: I regret that Lt. Chad is dead , sir.
- Lt. Eccleston: [sighing] The ship is yours, Mr. Hornblower.
- Midshipman Horatio Hornblower: [Incredulously] Sir?
- Lt. Eccleston: Take command. Get us back to the Indy...
- [Whispering with difficulty]
- Lt. Eccleston: ... safely.
- Midshipman Horatio Hornblower: I maintain the charge against Mr. Simpson, Sir! However, since I cannot prove it other than with my body, I have no choice but to accept his challenge!
- Midshipman Clayton: [to Horatio, as he lays dying]
- [referring to Simpson]
- Midshipman Clayton: I'm sorry... I didn't kill him.
- Midshipman Archie Kennedy: A duel? Are you mad?
- Midshipman Horatio Hornblower: Tomorrow see's an end to it, Archie. One way or another I shall be rid of him... I have an even chance.
- Midshipman Archie Kennedy: [looks to Clayton and then Horatio] An even chance? Simpson's reckoned one of the best shots in the Navy, he'll kill you certain shot!
- Midshipman Clayton: [Horatio looks to Clayton]
- [a beat]
- Midshipman Clayton: I'll act as your second, of course but... Have you ever fought a duel before?
- Midshipman Horatio Hornblower: [on the French schooner] Matthews?
- Matthews: Aye, sir?
- Midshipman Horatio Hornblower: You've the longest service, I believe.
- Matthews: Aye, sir. Eighteen years, sir.
- Midshipman Horatio Hornblower: Very well, I'll rate you Petty Officer.
- Matthews: [surprised] Aye-aye, sir. Uh...
- [salutes]
- Matthews: Thank you, sir.
- Midshipman Jack Simpson: I'm senior here. The ship is mine.
- Midshipman Horatio Hornblower: Lieutenant Eccleston instructed me to take command. You heard him, Mr. Bowles.
- Master Bowles: Mr. Simpson is senior, Mr. Hornblower.
- Midshipman Horatio Hornblower: Styles, Matthews, confine Mr. Simpson below.
- Master Bowles: Mr. Hornblower...
- Midshipman Horatio Hornblower: You heard me! Mr. Simpson is under close arrest.
- Midshipman Jack Simpson: Who do you think you are! I have command here! The ship is mine! And any man, ANY MAN stands against me... he will regret it. Now get to work shoring up this damage.
- [Nobody moves]
- Midshipman Jack Simpson: Get back to work, do you hear? I have command!
- Midshipman Horatio Hornblower: [calmly] Mr. Bowles. You will carry out my orders. If Mr. Simpson resists, you have my permission to shoot him.
- [Bowles cocks his gun and aims it at Simpson]
- Midshipman Horatio Hornblower: [after he and Clayton settle Archie after his first fit] What ails him?
- Midshipman Clayton: [Glances at Simpson] What ails us all.
- Midshipman Horatio Hornblower: [Running out across the mast, under fire and too high for comfort] Damn, damn, damn!
- Midshipman Clayton: [after shooting Simpson in a duel] Got you... Bastard...
- [blood pours from his mouth and he collapses forwards, shot in the gut]
- Midshipman Clayton: [Handing Horatio a flask] There's a drop of Grog in it to warm you through.
- [No response]
- Midshipman Clayton: Horatio?
- Midshipman Horatio Hornblower: Death.
- Midshipman Clayton: What?
- Midshipman Horatio Hornblower: I was thinking on death.
- Midshipman Clayton: Whose?
- Midshipman Horatio Hornblower: Mine.
- Capt. Keene: Time, gentlemen. Now, let's see how you have fared with the problem set for you by Mister Bowles. Mister Simpson, we must all rejoice! The sources of the Nile have been discovered at last. Your ship, as far as I can make out from your illiterate scrawl, is in Central Africa.
- Midshipman Clayton: Damned unsporting of the everlasting to fix his canon 'gainst self-slaughter. If you ask me.
- Midshipman Jack Simpson: They've fallen back, sir. The ship is ours!
- Lt. Eccleston: Thanks be praised.
- Midshipman Cleveland: [upon seeing Horatio] What's this then, Archie?
- Midshipman Archie Kennedy: Another mess mate, gentlemen.
- Midshipman Hether: And whose pretty arse did you neglect kissing to find yourself amongst the fleet's forgotten?
- [Horatio is quiet]
- Midshipman Hether: Well speak, apparition!
- Midshipman Horatio Hornblower: My name's Hornblower.
- Midshipman Cleveland: What an infernal piece of bad luck for you.
- Midshipman Clayton: How old are you, Mr.Hornblower?
- Midshipman Horatio Hornblower: Seventeen, sir.
- Midshipman Hether: Seventeen, sir! You hear that, Cleveland?
- Midshipman Cleveland: If you wanted to be a seaman, boy, you should've started at twelve.