Ghost Ship Page #19

INT. CHIMERA - RADIO ROOM - CONTINUOUS - DAY

Murphy pages forward to the last page of the radio call log

book.

On the page his finger runs down the columns of entries,

coming to "TRANSMISSION 1 Feb 53 21:34 hrs GMT. Engine trouble

notification made to passing vessel 'St. Charles.'"

His finger moves down to the next entry, coming to:

"TRANSMISSION 2 Feb 53 09:52 hrs GMT. Dead in Water.

Notification made to passing vessel 'Normandy.'"

His finger continues: "TRANSMISSION 2 Feb 53 14:07 hrs GMT.

Captain relieved of command. Notification made to passing

vessel 'China Sea.'"

MURPHY:

Captain relieved of command.

He holds there a moment, moving his finger down to the final

entry, reading:
"TRANSMISSION 2 Feb 53 21:24 hrs GMT. General

SOS."

He turns the page to see only the words "GOD SAVE US" scrawled

in faded red ink. A beat as he holds there, when a CHANNEL

OPENS WITH A SHORT BURST ON MURPHY'S RADIO. He looks to it,

but there is no response from the other end. Another SHORT

BURST AND THE CHANNEL OPENS AGAIN. This time it remains open,

but no one says anything on the other end, UNTIL THE CHANNEL

CLOSES AGAIN.

Murphy takes the radio.

MURPHY:

This is Murphy. Anybody trying to

call me? Over.

He waits as no response comes, then THE CHANNEL OPENS AGAIN.

Only silence from the other end as someone seems to be there,

but is not saying anything. Murphy presses the talk button.

MURPHY:

Greer? Dodge?

Again, there is no response, until the CHANNEL OPENS. Murphy

holds there as he is answered by silence, WHEN A GRAVELLY,

STRANGELY DISTORTED MALE VOICE COMES BACK ON THE RADIO:

VOICE (V.O. RADIO)

"Cock-a-doodle-doo," said the rooster

to the crow. "Where are you now? I

know, but won't say so."

Murphy is momentarily stunned. He hits the talk button.

MURPHY:

Who is this?

The RADIO CHANNEL OPENS. Only silence comes back, as if

someone were there but not speaking.

MURPHY:

Who is this!!

The CAMERA PUSHES IN AS MURPHY LISTENS.

VOICE:

Penny whistle toy. Penny whistle

toy. Penny whistle toy. Penny whistle

toy.

The CHANNEL CLOSES as the CAMERA STOPS CLOSE ON MURPHY.

Murphy squeezes the talk button.

MURPHY:

Greer! Dodge!

Only silence comes back from the radio when A MAN'S BLOOD

CURDLING SCREAM sounds from somewhere in the ship.

INT. CHIMERA - PASSAGEWAY - MOMENTS LATER - DAY

Murphy moves quickly down the passageway when his radio

sounds.

DODGE:

Dodge to Murphy.

MURPHY:

(taking radio)

Murphy.

DODGE:

You better get down here quick,

skipper. I'm on "C" deck. Cabin 400.

MURPHY:

What is it?

DODGE:

I think you better see this for

yourself.

INT. CHIMERA - STAIRWAY/PASSAGEWAY - MOMENTS LATER - DAY

Murphy comes down the stairs and into the passageway we saw

Greer in earlier. At the end, the light from the cabin falls

from the open door as he approaches.

AT CABIN 400

As Murphy comes to the door to see Dodge standing in the

middle of the cabin.

DODGE:

I found him like this.

Greer is lying supine on the floor. His legs are rigid and

his trunk is extended. His arms are flexed and twisted so

that the palms are facing away, fingers splayed, wrists

quaking over his chest as they fight to touch each other.

Murphy kneels beside him. Greer's eyelids are half closed,

his eyes rolled up into his head. His jaw is clenched, face

contorted in a bizarre grimace. And he speaks, uttering

nonsense words in harsh expulsions, as though speaking in

tongues.

GREER:

Oragishlaoomnudrasadrafantoshviska

getofedobrodijotosiantosg.

INT. ARCTIC WARRIOR - CREW QUARTERS - DAY

AN EYE - EXTREMELY CLOSE

As a light shines in it, the pupil is fixed and dilated.

EPPS (O.S.)

Hard to say.

BACK TO SCENE:

Greer lies unconscious on a bunk, now quiet, no longer seizing

as Epps shines a flashlight into his eye, Dodge and Murphy

looking on. She turns it off, standing upright.

EPPS:

I'm no doctor. But I'd say he's in a

coma.

DODGE:

A what?

EPPS:

I don't know what else you'd call

it. He's breathing on his own, but

his pupils are completely blown out.

He's totally unresponsive to pain.

(a beat)

What happened up there?

DODGE:

I heard a scream. When I got there I

found him on the floor. He was having

some kind of seizure. I didn't see

anybody else.

MURPHY:

He must've seen something.

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