One Way Passage Page #10

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CUT TO:

INT. THE MALOA - CONTINUOUS

The doctor opens the cabin door for Dan who carries Joan inside and sets her

on the bed. The lively Hawaiian melody gives way to the more somber "Aloha Oe"

as the doctor quickly examines her.

DAN:

Is she all right, Doctor?

After a moment, the doctor looks at Dan and nods.

DOCTOR:

I believe so.

Dan starts to withdraw. Joan looks like death warmed over. Dan takes a last

look and turns to go.

But Joan, without opening her eyes, regains consciousness and calls out to

him.

JOAN:

Dan ...

He pauses and reluctantly returns to the bed, leaning over her.

DAN:

Yes, dear?

She can't open her eyes but somehow has the strength to put her arm around

him.

JOAN:

Dan ... Don't leave me ...

The ship's horn blows noisily. Dan looks around, realizing he can't get off

the ship. He strokes her hair and presses his cheek to hers gently. She

manages a smile.

The doctor, pleased at this, withdraws.

Dan pulls away from her, seeing that Joan has fallen unconscious again.

Burke brusquely enters the cabin but pauses at the sight of Dan at Joan's

bedside. Clearly, Dan isn't going anywhere. Joan's hand falls limp at her

side. Burke turns away thoughtfully and slowly exits, taking one last look at

the couple before quietly closing the cabin door behind him.

IN THE HALL:

Burke fails to see Betty standing behind him as he shuts the door, turns and

talks to himself, sadly.

BURKE:

Poor guy.

BETTY:

What did you say?

Startled, Burke turns to see Betty. He is immediately self-conscious.

BURKE:

Oh, I didn't say nothin'.

Betty watches as Burke, flustered, walks off. After a moment, she follows him

down the hall.

IN THE CABIN:

As Dan watches over an unconscious Joan, he notices an envelope on her night

stand:
the farewell letter he had written to her early that morning. Somewhere

off screen, a chorus of singers croons "Aloha Oe" as Dan takes the envelope

and pockets it.

ON DECK:

Streamers fly as a sour-faced Burke leans against the railing and watches the

crowd. A sympathetic Betty joins him and takes his hand affectionately. She

maintains her European accent even as she tells him:

BETTY:

Ah, you're a swell guy, Steve.

She rests her head on his shoulder. Burke gives her a puzzled look, then

brightens a little and straightens up. The two look down to see:

THE GANGPLANK:

being unhooked from the ship. A huge crowd of well-wishers fill the dock

waving to passengers on deck and singing "Aloha Oe." Bursting out of the crowd

is Skippy, wearing a lei. He races up the streamer-clogged gangplank just as

it is pulled away and jumps onto the ship, well ahead of the two Hawaiian

policemen chasing him. Left stranded at the dock, they shake their fingers and

yell for him to "Get out!" and "Don't come back!"

ON DECK:

Burke rushes away from an amused Betty to join Skippy at the gangplank

doorway. Skippy points to the policeman.

SKIPPY:

Don't forget to write now, will ya?

Skippy laughs his annoying laugh as a grim-looking Burke, hands in pockets,

strides into view behind him. Skippy turns to see Burke and stops in mid-

laugh. Smugly, Burke nods and gives Skippy a sneering smile.

BURKE:

The next stop, sucker, is San

Francisco.

Without a word, Skippy adjusts his jacket and wobbles off.

THE SHIP:

pulls away from the dock as the crowd waves and finishes singing "Aloha Oe."

FADE OUT:

FADE IN:

A MAP OF THE PACIFIC OCEAN

The dotted line, marking the ship's progress, stretches from Honolulu in the

direction of San Francisco.

A superimposed text reads: 19th DAY

A superimposed image of the S. S. Maloa appears in the center of the map,

heading northeast.

DISSOLVE TO:

INT. DAN AND BURKE'S CABIN - MORNING

Dan lies half-asleep in bed. Joan's doctor sits at his bedside.

DOCTOR:

I'm sorry to disturb you.

Dan awakens and sits up, with concern.

DAN:

It's you, Doctor--

DOCTOR:

Oh, nothing's happened. I just want

to have a little talk with you.

DAN:

Well?

DOCTOR:

You're the only one that can help me.

(shakes his head sadly)

Her condition is desperate. She must

have absolute quiet and rest if

she's to reach the mainland alive.

She survived this attack but it

isn't humanly possible for her to

survive another. The slightest

excitement might kill her. A shock

surely would. Can I depend upon you?

DAN:

Of course.

DOCTOR:

Thank you. Now, try and get a

little more rest.

The doctor rises and heads for the door. Dan reaches a decision and climbs out

of bed.

DAN:

Oh, Doctor.

Dan rises and the doctor rejoins him.

DAN:

I've got to tell you this. There IS

a shock coming. And I don't know how

to avoid it. When we reach San

Francisco, I'll be met by the

police. They're taking me to San

Quentin ... for murder.

The doctor stares at him, speechless.

FADE OUT:

FADE IN:

A MAP OF THE PACIFIC OCEAN

The dotted line, marking the ship's progress, stretches from Honolulu to about

three-quarters of the way to San Francisco.

A superimposed text reads: 22nd DAY

A superimposed image of the S. S. Maloa appears in the center of the map,

heading northeast.

DISSOLVE TO:

EXT. SHIP'S DECK - DAY

We PAN ALONG a row of lounge chairs to discover Dan and Joan seated together,

dressed warmly against the chilly ocean breeze, a shared plaid blanket

covering their legs. Joan, recovering but restless, is in a playful mood.

JOAN:

I'll play you a game of pegs.

DAN:

I think you'd better rest.

JOAN:

(chuckles)

You're beginning to even look like

my doctor.

We PAN FARTHER DOWN the deck to discover Sir Harold asleep and snoring

noisily. Skippy, sitting beside him, sees this, then chuckles and rubs his

hands greedily as he sidles up to his sleeping victim, preparing to pick his

pocket.

FADE OUT:

FADE IN:

INT. BETTY'S ROOM - LATER

Skippy, cautiously looking around, walks to Betty's door and knocks a secret

knock.

Inside, Betty, brushing her hair, pauses, goes to the door and opens it,

careful not to be seen from the hall. Skippy enters, looks to see her behind

the door.

SKIPPY:

Oh.

Betty closes the door behind Skippy and goes back to brushing her hair as he

pulls out a wad of money and counts out some bills.

BETTY:

Shouldn't come here.

SKIPPY:

Nobody saw me. I came to pay you

the money I owe you.

Betty inspects the bills: English pounds.

BETTY:

Sir Harold?

SKIPPY:

(chuckles)

Uh huh.

BETTY:

Uh huh. Thought I told you to lay

off him.

SKIPPY:

Well, what was the use of lettin'

him go to waste? You weren't usin'

him.

BETTY:

I've been busy.

SKIPPY:

Oh, sure. With that copper.

(wags a finger at her)

You know, I think you're falling

for him.

BETTY:

Not such a bad guy.

SKIPPY:

Ah, sure. Copper-lover! Falling for

the Law. The fox falling in love

with the hounds. I'm ashamed of ya.

I tell ya, that guy's no good.

BETTY:

Now, wait a minute. His racket's on

the other side of the fence but he's

playing it on the up and up. He's

one hundred percent copper just the

same as you're one hundred percent

thief. And, you know yourself, a

hundred percent puts you at the

head of the class.

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