One Way Passage Page #9

---

DISSOLVE TO:

INT. WATERFRONT DIVE - MINUTES LATER

Seated at a table, Dan shows the wad of bills to another man, a tough-looking

ship's captain. Dan passes him some cash under the table and the captain

pockets it. The two men rise and Dan follows the captain to the rear where the

captain gestures.

CAPTAIN:

There she is. You can't miss it.

Dan looks and sees: a steamship at anchor.

CAPTAIN:

What time do we sail?

DAN:

Just as soon as it's dark.

CAPTAIN:

We'll be ready to shove off the

minute you step aboard.

DAN:

(nods)

Good.

The two men go their separate ways.

DISSOLVE TO:

EXT. ISLAND - DAY

Joan, still seated in the parked car by the flags, smiles as Dan rejoins her.

She sighs in delight at a giant lei, dense with flowers, that he carries and

presents to her as he climbs in next to her.

DAN:

Gardenias, [pekakee?] and camillia.

JOAN:

It's too beautiful.

Dan puts the car in gear.

JOAN:

Now, over the Pali. [?]

DAN:

We're off.

They drive away.

DISSOLVE TO:

EXT. BEACH - LATER THAT DAY

Dan and Joan sit together in some sheltered spot with beautiful island scenery

for a backdrop. Dan, pensive, smokes a cigarette. Joan, dreamy and contented,

lounges against a tree, wearing the lei. Hawaiian guitars play their theme.

JOAN:

I could stay here forever.

DAN:

I wonder.

JOAN:

I know it.

DAN:

Would you be content to spend the

rest of your life with me in some

... far-away place?

JOAN:

Anywhere, Dan.

He looks at her, wondering how to break the news to her. She removes the lei

and sits up to question him more closely.

JOAN:

Why so serious?

DAN:

Joan, dear, I've got to tell you

this.

JOAN:

Dan, if it's serious, I don't want

to hear it.

DAN:

But I must tell you, dear.

JOAN:

Not today.

DAN:

But, my dear--

She puts a finger to his lips and shushes him.

JOAN:

May I have a cigarette?

He reluctantly breaks eye contact with her and fishes out his cigarette case.

DAN:

You're incorrigible.

She takes a cigarette. He taps some ash off the end of his butt and lights

hers. As she exhales, they stare into one another's eyes for a long moment and

then slowly draw in for a passionate kiss. After a moment, Dan lowers his

cigarette and flicks it away. We PAN WITH the half-smoked butt as it lands in

the nearby sand. After a pause, Joan's barely-smoked butt lands next to it.

DISSOLVE TO:

EXT. STREET IN HONOLULU - DAY

Skippy stands in a shop doorway, looking around. He sees Sir Harold

approaching him on the sidewalk. Skippy looks thoughtful for a second, then

pulls out a half dollar, which he flips in the air like an expert. He gives

the coin a kiss for luck, then drops it on the sidewalk in front of him. He

instantly turns his back to Sir Harold, assumes a nonchalant pose, and starts

whistling.

Sir Harold approaches, sees the coin, pauses, steps on it, looks around

smugly, then bends to pick it up. As he does, he exposes the wallet in his

back pocket. Skippy, whistling, turns casually, plucks the wallet out of Sir

Harold's pocket and strolls away with it. Sir Harold, not realizing he's been

robbed, straightens with a satisfied smile, pockets the coin, and walks off.

Skippy, chuckling his inane laugh to himself, pauses in a doorway to inspect

the contents of the wallet. He opens up the wallet expectantly -- only to find

it empty.

SKIPPY:

Oh, boy, it's dark in there.

He throws the wallet down on the sidewalk in disgust. Angry and upset, Skippy

counts to ten to hold his temper.

SKIPPY:

Two, three, four, five, six, seven,

eight, nine, TEN!

As he reaches ten, Skippy rounds a corner and spots Sir Harold buying cigars.

CLERK:

Four dollars, please.

Skippy watches Sir Harold pull out a wad of cash from his other back pocket.

Skippy keeps counting, through gritted teeth, as he stalks angrily away.

SKIPPY:

Eleven, twelve, thirteen, fourteen,

FIFTEEN, SIXTEEN, SEVENTEEN!

FADE OUT:

FADE IN:

EXT. BEACH - EVENING

Twilight. Hawaiian guitars play. We open on the two cigarettes lying in the

sand, then PAN OVER to a deeply satisfied Dan and Joan. He sits against the

tree and holds her in his arms as she lies in his lap, looking at one another,

very much in love. Joan sighs a little.

JOAN:

This is living, isn't it, Dan?

He leans his head against the tree and shuts his eyes.

DAN:

Could we ask for more?

JOAN:

(apprehensive)

Only ... that it would never end.

It won't end, will it, Dan?

DAN:

(reassuring)

My dear, whatever happens, we belong

to each other, always.

JOAN:

Hold me closer.

They embrace. And kiss. And kiss. When they break, she runs her hand over his

cheek. He takes her hand and kisses it. They look out at the sea: a

spectacular sunset. Dan notices Joan's moist eyes.

DAN:

What's this? Tears? Oh ...

JOAN:

Can't help feeling a little bit sad.

It's been such a happy day. I guess

we ... we ought to go back, shouldn't

we?

DAN:

I suppose so.

Reluctantly, he rises and helps her to her feet. They walk off as the evening

sun sinks down into the sea.

DISSOLVE TO:

EXT. NEAR THE DOCK - NIGHT

The ship's horn blows as Dan and Joan drive up in their rental car and stop.

JOAN:

The dock's over there, Dan.

DAN:

Yes, it's still there.

JOAN:

The gangplank's there. We can - we

can make it if we hurry.

They climb out. Dan takes Joan in his arms.

DAN:

Joan, dear.

JOAN:

Dan, we have to hurry.

DAN:

I've got to tell you this.

JOAN:

What?

DAN:

You must go the rest of the way

alone.

JOAN:

What do you mean?

DAN:

I've been trying to tell you all

day. I'm not going back on the ship.

Joan's face falls, devastated.

JOAN:

You're ... not going back on the

ship?

DAN:

(shakes his head)

I can't go back, dear. Because I'm--

Joan's heart gives out -- she faints, collapsing into his arms.

DAN:

My dear? Joan? Dear?

But she is unconscious. A ship's horn blows. Dan looks up to see his chartered

steamship anchored nearby.

He glances down at Joan in his arms, then turns to see the S. S. Maloa in

front of him.

Joyful Hawaiian music plays. Passengers line the deck, tossing streamers and

waving "Aloha!" Also on deck: Joan's doctor, who peers at the shore,

worriedly.

Dan glances at his steamship, and at Joan who clearly needs medical attention,

then makes a decision. He hoists Joan up and starts to carry her toward the

Maloa just as a friendly Hawaiian man approaches.

HAWAIIAN MAN:

Might I help you?

DAN:

Yes, will you turn that car around?

And -- keep the engine going!

HAWAIIAN MAN:

Yes, sir.

Dan rushes off toward the gangplank with Joan in his arms.

CUT TO:

EXT. THE MALOA - CONTINUOUS

On deck, Burke and Betty lean on the railing, watching the festivities. Both

suddenly spot Dan on the dock hauling Joan in his arms. Incredulous, Burke

feels in his pocket for the brig key, pulls it out and looks at it. Betty,

fully aware of what's happening, keeps a stone face.

Dan carries Joan up the gangplank which is festooned with streamers. The

doctor meets him and they hurry off to Joan's cabin.

Burke, grim, pockets the key and rushes off -- without a word to Betty who,

after a moment, follows him.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes