S.O.S. Titanic Page #3

Why wouldn't I be sympathetic?

Our stories aren't so different.

- A couple of middle-aged refugees.

- Refugees?

Fleeing from bad marriages,

falling for younger women.

- Condemned to wonder forever.

- Wonder what?

Do they really want us for ourselves,

these golden girls,

or is it just the name,

the position, the money?

Did I wake you?

I er... hate getting old

and having a paunch.

What about mine?

I love that.

I love you.

Do you love me?

I...

Is it possible you love me?

Good night.

Good night.

If I had a chaperone

and a suite with a sitting room,

I'd invite you in for a chat.

As it is, I'm sharing a cabin

about this big with a total stranger.

So am I.

- We'll see each other tomorrow.

- I expect we will, yes.

Well, it's inevitable.

See you at breakfast?

- I say, I don't know your name.

- It's Leigh.

- Miss Leigh or...

- Miss Goodwin. Leigh Goodwin.

I'm Lawrence Beesley.

- I know.

- How?

I asked a steward. I told you

they know everybody's business.

Thank you very much.

Would you care for a go?

I'm not allowed.

- Who was that?

- The lift boy.

- The lift boy?

- I mean he runs the elevator.

I think he'd much rather be out here

playing games, but he can't.

Thank you.

- It isn't fair.

- What?

For anyone to be that beautiful.

If you were to stand down there, there's

a barrier between second and steerage.

You could talk to her

when she came round.

No. You couldn't do that.

I'm sorry.

All the arrogance of class

isn't at the very top, you see.

It's none of my business in any case.

I was talking out of turn.

I honestly am sorry.

- How's the patient?

- Expiring.

Ah, and what time's the rosary?

Blackguards.

- We missed you at lunch.

- We brought you fruit.

Don't, David. Don't ever say food

to me again as long as I live.

Kate, fetch the chamber.

No, you've nothing on your stomach.

It's a great pity to be lying there,

and you the grandest dancer

from Ballymahon to Drumlish.

Oh, they say

there's bread and work for all

And the sun shines always there

But I'll not forget old Ireland...

Is it true what the song says, Oli,

that there's bread and work for all?

For all who is willing to work hard.

Ja, I say so.

What you find naturally depends

what you're looking for.

- A bit of money.

- Amen to that.

- And you, Martin?

- What?

Give over, will you?

There's not a sorrier sight

than a man that's gone spoons

over a girl he's never spoken to.

- Leave it alone, Farrell.

- No, hear me out.

I'm your friend,

even if I've only known you a few days.

What I say,

it's clear to everyone but you,

that the lady will never honour us

with her presence again,

having stuck her pretty nose in

the one time only,

and you'll be far better off if you...

You were saying, James?

Go in peace, my son.

In your hour of rapture don't forget

tomorrow's the first Sunday

after Easter.

This is he that came

by the water and blood,

Jesus Christ.

Not by water only,

but by water and blood.

Let us sing

"Eternal Father, Strong To Save".

Eternal Father,

strong to save

Whose arm doth bind

the restless wave

Who bidd'st

the mighty ocean deep

Its own appointed limits keep

O hear us

when we cry to thee

For those in peril

on the sea

- What's all this in aid of?

- Slumming, do you suppose?

Steward?

The captain always inspects the ship

top to bottom every Sunday.

It's tradition.

Is it the custom

to have a lifeboat drill on Sunday?

- Yes.

- Will there be one today?

I haven't heard.

Isn't it rather important

that everyone should know which boat

is assigned to where it is?

Normally I'd say yes, very important,

but when you're talking about the

Titanic, she's a huge lifeboat herself,

ain't she?

That's put me in my place.

- Good morning.

- Good morning.

Another perfect day.

You could scarcely ask

for a smoother sea.

We've had a good few of those

from various sources.

How far away is this?

Not far. Chances are

we'll be well into it by midnight.

Do you plan

to alter speed or course?

I never have in the past.

The position is the same with

every large ship sailing this route.

So long as the weather's clear,

full speed ahead.

Put the danger behind you rapidly.

I've lived by that

and never encountered difficulties.

Had you anything in mind different

for the Titanic?

Certainly not.

The company have always had

utmost confidence in your judgment.

We'd be sorry

not to arrive on schedule.

Please carry on

as if I weren't even on board.

It's about time.

Thank you, Alfie.

Have you filled out a declaration form

for the American customs?

No, not yet. New York

still seems such a long way off.

Well, might as well be early as late.

The way they're pouring on the steam,

chances are we'll dock on Tuesday,

late Tuesday

rather than Wednesday morning.

Tonight seems likely

to be our last night but one.

Good heavens.

Dinner!

No reaction.

They must have their meals sent in.

- Are we dressing again?

- Of course.

Every night

except the first and the last.

Mesaba to Titanic.

Ice report in latitude...

Heavy packed ice, large icebergs also.

Field ice.

Weather good.

Clear.

Damned if I'm running up to the bridge

again. More of the same.

Sorry, polishing the old ivories.

What did you say?

Nothing.

- It's a raw night.

- Perishing cold.

Temperature's dropped four degrees.

- Not much wind.

- No, flat calm.

Aye, seems clear enough.

Perfectly clear.

- Captain in his cabin, is he?

- Yes.

- We're doing just over 22 knots.

- Not bad for a 21-knot ship.

He said if it becomes hazy

we must slow down.

I understand.

He's to be woken up

if there's any change.

- Right you are.

- I'll leave you to it, then.

- Good night.

- Good night.

Right, you lot, out you come.

- What's the word?

- Keep a lookout for small ice.

- Have you seen any?

- No.

But it's out there.

I can smell it.

Have fun, chaps.

Anything wrong?

I can't concentrate.

I keep thinking

how near the end we are.

Oughtn't we be doing

something special tonight?

- Like what?

- I don't know.

There's a concert in the lounge,

I believe.

Yes, I saw the announcement.

"The Flight Of The Bumblebee" and

other favourites on piano and violin.

- Would you care to go?

- Would you?

- Not really.

- Neither would I.

- It's probably over by now anyway.

- Very likely.

What else is there?

A turn on the deck?

Why not?

In first class

we might have gone dancing.

Yes.

On the way over

some of the more daring folk in second

sneaked up

and had quite a gay time of it.

- You didn't go?

- No, I was afraid of being caught.

I should be too.

- We're both cautious.

- Yes.

A turn on the deck won't be much

to look back on, will it?

Why not?

It's a beautiful night.

I don't think I've ever seen

so many stars all at one time.

Amazing, isn't it?

So bright up there, so dark below.

The sea doesn't reflect the stars,

have you noticed?

It's like a big black void, bottomless.

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