Ghost Ship Page #4

GREER:

I been watching it for close to an

hour and it hasn't moved. I can't

raise it on the radio either. Makes

me think it might be in trouble.

MURPHY:

Alright. I'll be right up.

INT. ARCTIC WARRIOR - PILOTHOUSE - LATER - NIGHT

CLOSE ON RADAR DISPLAY as the sweep-refresh reveals a bright

point of light in the middle of nowhere.

MURPHY (O.S.)

Merchant vessel at position one seven

four one five west, five seven seven

five north.

Murphy holds the radio mic as Greer looks on, Epps and Dodge

standing back.

MURPHY:

This is tugboat Arctic Warrior whiskey

alpha sierra bravo four zero niner

two. Over.

Only the quiet hiss of white noise comes back from the radio

speaker as the bright point flashes on the radar screen.

MURPHY:

(to radio)

Merchant vessel at one seven four

one five west, five seven seven five

north, this is tugboat Arctic Warrior

whiskey alpha sierra bravo four zero

niner two. Over.

Again, only white noise comes back as the point flashes on

the screen.

MURPHY:

Too deep to anchor out there.

GREER:

Looks like it's adrift.

EPPS:

Could be a fishing boat.

GREER:

Too big. More like a freighter.

MURPHY:

What the hell would a freighter be

doing up here? It's way out of the

lanes. There's not a port for 800

miles.

DODGE:

Smugglers maybe.

GREER:

Smuggling what? Tundra grass?

A beat as Murphy holds there. He raises the radio mic.

MURPHY:

Merchant vessel at position one seven

four one five west, five seven seven

five north, this is tugboat Arctic

Warrior. Do you copy? Over.

Again, only the quiet hiss of static comes back.

GREER:

Call the Coastguard?

MURPHY:

Steer to one eight five. Let's check

her out.

EXT. OPEN OCEAN - NIGHT

The Arctic Warrior cuts a foamy break in the ink black water.

INT. ARCTIC WARRIOR - PILOTHOUSE - NIGHT

CLOSE ON RADAR DISPLAY as the phantom point flashes closer.

Murphy looks on as Greer pilots, Dodge and Epps watching.

MURPHY:

Alright. Back it off.

Greer throttles back and the boat slows.

MURPHY:

Hit the lights.

EXT. ARCTIC WARRIOR - CONTINUOUS - NIGHT

The halogen flood lights flare to life, brilliantly

illuminating the water in front of the boat.

INT. ARCTIC WARRIOR - PILOTHOUSE - CONTINUOUS - NIGHT

The four of them look intently into the darkness beyond the

light. Murphy reaches for the spot control, sweeping a broad

beam of light with a joy stick.

EXT. ARCTIC WARRIOR - CONTINUOUS - NIGHT

As the tug moves along, servo motors sweep the searchlight

over the bow of the boat and into the darkness.

INT. ARCTIC WARRIOR - CONTINUOUS - NIGHT

They peer into the night beyond the boat as it slowly moves,

when a shadow looms into view.

MURPHY:

Whoa, whoa.

Greer throttles down all the way and they drift, as the shadow

looms bigger before them in the light from the boat.

As they approach, the shadow appears to be a giant rusting

bow, rising up from the water, disappearing in the darkness

above them. Murphy sweeps the searchlight to reveal more of

what appears to be a large, darkened ship. As they come

around, the name "CHIMERA" can be seen above the anchor

alleys.

MURPHY:

"Chimera."

Murphy reaches for the mic, hits the LOUD HAILER.

MURPHY:

Chimera.

EXT. ARCTIC WARRIOR - CONTINUOUS - NIGHT

The tug is dwarfed by the massive rusting hulk of the Chimera

rising above it.

MURPHY (O.S. LOUD HAILER)

This is civilian tugboat Arctic

Warrior. Is there anyone aboard?

The quiet rumble of the tug's turbines is the only sound.

INT. ARCTIC WARRIOR - PILOTHOUSE - CONTINUOUS - NIGHT

Murphy raises the mic again.

MURPHY:

Chimera, I am hove to at your port

bow. Is there anyone aboard?

They wait, looking on at the silent, darkened ship under the

glare of their lights.

MURPHY:

Epps, come with me. You guys sit

tight.

EXT. ARCTIC WARRIOR - LATER - NIGHT

Epps and Murphy, in heavy parkas, climb a hydraulic deck

crane up to the Chimera as Dodge man's the controls against

the movement of the water.

INT. ARCTIC WARRIOR - CONTINUOUS - NIGHT

Greer holds the tug steady as Epps and Murphy can be seen

making their way up under the floodlights.

EXT. CHIMERA - FORWARD DECK - MOMENTS LATER - NIGHT

Murphy pulls himself up and jumps down onto the deck. Epps

jumps down behind him. Murphy throws his light up on the

superstructure. All remnants of paint have been rusted over,

lending a still darker ominousness to it.

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