One Way Passage Page #7

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JOAN:

Oh, Dan, I'm so happy.

Dan kisses Joan's hand affectionately.

JOAN:

Tomorrow, Honolulu. I have the whole

day planned. First, we'll hire a car.

Drive across the Pali. Just we two,

hm?

DAN:

Yes.

JOAN:

You don't sound very enthusiastic.

DAN:

Only because ... There's something

that may prevent my going ashore.

JOAN:

Oh, Dan. And I'd counted on it so.

DAN:

Oh, don't worry, I'll get out of it

somehow.

JOAN:

Sweetheart.

Betty and Burke emerge on deck, laughing.

JOAN:

Think you can lose friend Steve?

DAN:

(wryly)

I'll make it my supreme effort.

Joan laughs. Betty and Burke approach Dan and Joan.

BURKE:

(to Betty)

I can't dance with everybody -- but

with you, Countess--

BETTY:

(amused, to Joan)

You know, Steven dances like a gigolo.

BURKE:

I wouldn't say that exactly. You two

ain't so bad yourselves. Why aren't

you going at it?

JOAN:

I'm saving my strength for tomorrow

in Honolulu. Dan's taking me for a

long drive.

Burke doesn't like the sound of that.

BURKE:

(to Dan)

Oh, so you're going for a long ride,

huh?

Dan averts his eyes. Betty senses the need to intervene.

BURKE:

That's swell.

BETTY:

I think I need a lemonade. Come,

Steven.

(to Joan)

We'll see you later.

JOAN:

Au revoir.

Dan politely rises as Betty and Burke move off.

BETTY AND BURKE:

stroll down the deck. Burke is moody.

BETTY:

What's the matter, Steven?

BURKE:

I wonder if that guy back there

thinks he's pulling me.

BETTY:

Why? What about?

They pause. Burke decides to level with her.

BURKE:

I may as well tell ya now. We ain't

pals. He's my prisoner.

BETTY:

Wha-at? You are a police officer?

BURKE:

Sergeant, First Grade.

BETTY:

(pretends to be impressed)

Oh! Ohhh.

BURKE:

And I know what's going on in that

guy's mind like I can open it and

look in it.

BETTY:

Oh, you're wonderful! You know, I

always wanted to meet a detective.

BURKE:

Honolulu's the last stop. That means

it's his last chance to make a get-

away. And that's what that guy's

thinkin', thinkin' every moment. But

he's only wastin' his time.

DAN AND JOAN:

Joan tells Dan her plans for the next day.

JOAN:

Cross the island, I - I know the

most divine spot. I'll take you

there. Have you all to myself.

Dan and Joan kiss, deeply, passionately.

BETTY AND BURKE:

continue their conversation farther down the deck.

BURKE:

Let him once get near the shore and

he'll risk his life to make a

getaway. But if he makes one phony

move ...

Burke shows Betty his holstered pistol.

BETTY:

(laughs nervously)

Oh, you frighten me. What are you

going to do?

BURKE:

I'm gonna put him in the brig.

BETTY:

Brig? What is "brig"?

BURKE:

That's what they call a jail on a

ship.

BETTY:

(understands)

Mmmm.

The two stroll off, arm in arm.

DISSOLVE TO:

INT. SHIP - LATER THAT NIGHT

Dan sees Joan to her door. She opens it and they regard each other lovingly.

JOAN:

Good night, Dan.

DAN:

Good night, Joan.

We hear their theme again briefly as Joan starts into her room. Dan takes her

hand and kisses it as she goes.

DAN:

Until tomorrow.

Joan closes her door and Dan heads off down the hall, lost in thought.

DISSOLVE TO:

EXT. DECK - LATER THAT NIGHT

A fog horn blows as Dan, in coat and cap, walks the deck, thinking. A passing

officer salutes him but he pays little heed.

DISSOLVE TO:

INT. BETTY'S ROOM - LATER THAT NIGHT

Betty opens the door for Skippy who enters and looks around puzzled. Betty

closes the door behind him and crosses to a table. Skippy follows.

SKIPPY:

What's the matter?

Betty scoops a half dozen bullets off the table into her hand and gives them

to a delighted Skippy.

SKIPPY:

From the copper's gun? How'd you get

'em?

Betty merely glances over to a nearby chair. Burke's bow tie is draped over

it. In the background: an unmade bed. Skippy starts to laugh but Betty covers

his mouth to hush him.

BETTY:

Now, get this. You go to Dan

Hardesty...

DISSOLVE TO:

EXT. DECK - LATER THAT NIGHT

A fog horn. Skippy, concealed between some lifeboats, steps out to peer down

the deck and sees Dan approaching. As Dan nears, Skippy emerges, taps him on

the shoulder and instantly retreats. Dan looks around to make sure he's not

being watched and joins Skippy between the lifeboats.

SKIPPY:

You're slated for the brig, any

minute.

DAN:

I was afraid of that.

SKIPPY:

But, look.

Skippy shows Dan a handful of bullets.

DAN:

From Burke's gun?

SKIPPY:

Yeah. Betty pulled his teeth.

DAN:

That gives me a chance.

Skippy whips out a wad of bills and hands it to Dan.

SKIPPY:

Hey, here's a bankroll. You'll need

it. Compliments of Betty.

DAN:

English money?

SKIPPY:

Well, that's the only kind Sir

Harold had.

DAN:

What a girl.

SKIPPY:

Come on, Dan, get goin'.

DAN:

Thanks, Skippy.

SKIPPY:

All the luck in the world, pal.

DAN:

I'll need it.

Dan hurries off.

FADE OUT:

FADE IN:

A MAP OF THE PACIFIC OCEAN

The dotted line, marking the ship's progress, stretches from Hong Kong to

Honolulu.

A superimposed text reads: 17th DAY

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

heading east.

DISSOLVE TO:

INT. SHIP'S BRIG - DAY

Early morning. An officer shows Burke a cell in the brig.

OFFICER:

He won't get out of there.

The officer hands Burke the key. Burke looks the cell over.

BURKE:

That's okay.

OFFICER:

Can I help you bring him down?

BURKE:

No, no, I don't need any help. I can

handle him myself.

The officer salutes and walks off. Burke gives the cell door a hard tug and,

satisfied, starts to leave.

CUT TO:

INT. DAN AND BURKE'S STATEROOM - DAY

Dan sits at a desk, writing a letter which reads:

Joan-

I am running away -

a fugitive condemned to

death. I've tried to tell

you but couldn't. I will

attempt to reach Mexico.

If you can forgive me,

come to me there. If not,

know that I understand

and love you always.

He signs it "Dan" and blots it.

CUT TO:

EXT. SHIP - DAY

Swimmers approach the ship as it motors toward the shore. Divers jump off the

ship and into the water.

CUT TO:

INT. SHIP - DAY

IN DAN AND BURKE'S STATEROOM

A British-accented steward stands by as Dan sits at the desk, sealing the

envelope and issuing instructions.

DAN:

I'd like you to deliver this to Miss

Joan Ames in stateroom B-fifty-five

-- about an hour after the ship

docks in Honolulu.

STEWARD:

Yes, sir.

DAN:

(hands over the

envelope)

You understand? About an hour after

we dock, not before that.

STEWARD:

Very good, sir.

DAN:

(rises)

And ... don't disturb me for a

couple of hours. I think I'll take a

nap. I'll ring you if I want you.

STEWARD:

Very good, sir.

Dan watches the steward exit, then quickly grabs a heavy glass water decanter

from a nearby table and dumps it out in the bathroom sink. Spotting a towel,

he grabs it and carries the decanter and the towel to the rear of the cabin.

He places the decanter strategically on the table, then opens the towel,

twists it into a gag and places it against his mouth for measure. Satisfied it

will gag Burke effectively, he hides it under a bed sheet.

IN THE HALL:

outside the cabin, Burke arrives. He pauses at the door, looks around. Then,

taking no chances, he draws his pistol and checks it. No bullets. He takes out

the clip:
empty. He casts a suspicious look at the door.

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