Michiel de Ruyter Page #3

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You might not understand.

I understand the Admiral was

a father figure to his men.

But Bestevaer is a title of respect.

You have to earn it,

it's not hereditary.

I'm afraid it is, Mr.de Witt.

Heroes father heroes,

that's how sailors see it.

And that, Mr.de Witt,

will never change.

You're still thinking about De Ruyter?

Why not invite him to dinner?

Johan, he's stubborn.

Invite his wife too, this time.

Mr. and Mrs.De Ruyter, welcome.

Come in.

Was it a long trip, De Ruyter?

From Vlissingen to The Hague.

Of course.

Darling, don't just stand there.

Won't you offer our guests a drink?

Yes.

You didn't tell me they have a baby.

My wife, Wendela.

What a cutie.

Excuse me.

What for?

She is a cutie.

I'll show you round the house.

Wine?

Or do sailors only drink beer?

Girls.

Why don't you show us around?

We need larger ships with more cannons.

Larger ships, fine.

They must be agile and

have a shallow draught.

Merchant ships are of no use to me.

I'll arrange it. What else?

Better pay for the crew.

Higher wages?

If they die, they leave a family behind.

Consider it done.

Doesn't the parliament

have to approve, first?

Leave that to me.

Each winter, the fleet lies at anchor.

It's a waste of time.

I agree.

If I were Admiral, I'd train the crew in winter.

Exactly.

And that costs money, too.

Carry on. What else?

The sea-battles?

In battle now, it's every ship for itself.

It's total chaos.

Organization is key.

You mentioned sign flags in the past.

The English have been

using them for years.

But their system is too limited.

The ladies are chatting.

Mr.prime minister?

Allow me to introduce my brother,

Cornelis.

Tell us about the

system we developed.

Our system?

I happen to have it right here.

We disagreed about the colors.

Johan felt we were using too much orange.

A bit too much.

So, what do you say, De Ruyter?

Are you going to do this job?

Or do you have more demands?

I, Michiel Adriaenszoon de Ruyter...

The English have a limited flag system.

We're expanding our flag system

with all these codes.

...swear allegiance to the Republic

of the United Netherlands.

And then change the signal.

Only these 6 bow cannons are a problem.

We tack as fast as

we can and then...

bum bum bum bum!

The seven provinces

We fire everything we have on the

port side on these ships here.

Fire.

Cool and reload.

Come on. Faster.

And?

We're here.

Wait.

Do you really think I look all right?

You're the Prince of Orange.

All of the Netherlands loves you.

Hooray! Hooray! Hooray!

Inspection fleet on Texel

Huzzah, huzzah, huzzah.

Your Highness.

Prime minister.

May I introduce gentlemen De Witt,

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