S.O.S. Titanic Page #4

I think this is much nicer than dancing

or listening

to "The Flight Of The Bumblebee".

You're wrong to say that tonight

won't be anything to look back on.

I'm sure I'll remember it

for a long time.

- Will you?

- Yes.

It was awfully lucky for me that we met.

- That I was so forward?

- Yes, there you are.

If you hadn't been, I'd never have

spoken for fear you'd think me a masher.

I could never do that.

It's obvious what sort of a man you are.

When you left the deck this afternoon,

the woman next to me said,

"Your husband is a perfect gentleman."

- "Your husband"?

- Isn't it silly?

Our spending so much time together

has aroused a lot of interest.

My cabin steward, for one.

Did he say something?

Yes. He's a very friendly sort of chap.

I expect he meant well.

He said...

"it must be hard with so many people

around to find a place to be alone."

And?

That was all.

Doesn't sound as if it were. It had

the ring of an unfinished thought.

He said something I couldn't repeat.

- I'll think it's something awful.

- It is awful.

Go on.

He said... We were talking

just outside my door...

He said, "There's an empty cabin

at the far end of the corridor."

I see.

Did he give you a key?

There is no key, it's unlocked.

Do you want me to go there with you?

I expect I do, yes.

Oh, you expect but you're not certain.

You haven't weighed

every possible consequence.

I scarcely dared think about it.

Then how can you be sure

it's what you really want?

Not just what you think I might expect

from you, the friendly thing to do.

Because we are friends,

or at least good companions.

Of course.

But we're not in love, are we?

Well?

Are we?

No, I don't expect we are.

Of course not.

Either way, I'm told

the same rule applies.

Shipboard friendship and romances

end with the voyage.

It's considered bad form

to pursue it further.

- You sound as if you're saying goodbye.

- No.

Just practising.

I will say good night, though,

if you don't mind.

I'm feeling the cold finally.

- I'm sorry. I'll see you to your door.

- No, don't. Stay. Have your walk.

- I'm all right.

- Please.

Please. Forget what I said.

It was clumsy and foolish.

- I don't know what possessed me.

- I think I do.

I think it was just a desire to be kind.

I'm not offended.

A little shocked, but not offended.

I suppose I ought to be grateful

and I am in a way, it's just that...

Forgive me

but I'm waiting for a better offer.

So you should.

Thank you.

You're a very special man.

I'll never forget you.

Good night.

- You're sure I can't...

- Good night.

I'm too old to be cavorting around

a dance floor with a girl half my age.

Especially when the girl

is a bit pregnant.

Especially then.

I really shouldn't ask you.

No, you shouldn't,

but I'd never forgive you if you didn't.

Everyone on the dance floor

is on his honeymoon.

And like us

they can't believe it's over.

- We still have tomorrow.

- I don't want it ever to end.

I want to go on sailing and dancing

and loving for ever and ever.

Christ!

What did you see?

- 'Iceberg right ahead.'

- Thank you.

Iceberg right ahead!

Hard to starboard.

We've had it.

Did you feel something?

- I did, a slight bump.

- A bump in mid-ocean?

- Why have we stopped?

- I don't know.

I don't suppose it's anything much.

- How did you ever get down there?

- You tell me.

Mr Barrett!

Where's the man got to?

Barrett, get some men down there

to help draw the fires.

Aye aye, sir.

Just how serious is it?

We're listing five points to starboard.

Oh, my God.

What are you doing about it?

I'm waiting for a report from Mr Andrews

and the Chief Engineer

as to the exact extent of the damage.

Fire down below!

Fire down below!

You want to get blown

to kingdom come?

I don't want you back here

till these boilers are out!

Is it hopeless, then?

It appears that the unthinkable

has happened.

The ship is designed to stay afloat

with any three of its first five

compartments flooded.

She would even float

if all five were gone, torn away,

but under no circumstances

can she remain afloat

with those five compartments flooded.

The weight of the flooding must

inevitably bring her down at the head.

Every sort of potential damage

was considered in the planning.

But who could have anticipated

a collision

that would leave a gash

close to 300 feet long in her side?

- The pumps will help, of course.

- Temporarily.

How much time

do you give us?

At a rough guess,

one hour, possibly two.

Gentlemen.

I must say something to you now,

which is the nightmare of every master

and which,

in 32 years of service to this company,

I never expected to have to say.

We must prepare to abandon ship.

- What is that?

- Steam.

Can't you stop it?

We have to let off steam

to avoid an explosion.

Mr Boxhall, tell the wireless operator

to send out the distress signal.

- He must be given our position.

- Sir.

There must not be any panic.

Well, get on with it.

Good night, ladies

Good night, ladies

I'm going to leave you now

Merrily we roll along

Roll along, roll along

Merrily we roll along

O'er the deep blue...

Blimey.

- Officer?

- Who's that?

- Cottam.

- What's the problem?

- I've had an urgent message.

- At this hour?

- It's the Titanic.

- Titanic?

She's sinking.

Sinking?

Impossible, she's unsinkable.

The message is to come at once.

Sir?

- Who's that with you?

- Cottam, sir.

- Cottam?

- Wireless operator.

- Oh, yes.

- Urgent message from the Titanic.

The Titanic?

- Well, what is it?

- It's a CQD, sir.

CQ...

Are you sure?

Yes, sir. They used

the new distress signal as well. SOS.

She struck an iceberg.

She's 58 miles away.

Our course is north 52 west.

Get back to your man on the Titanic,

tell him we're coming and

we should be there in four hours' time.

Four hours?

Johnson, give Mr Lightoller a hand.

You, help me over here.

Get started on number three.

Sir, a ship has been sighted

half a point on the port bow.

A light that might be a ship.

- Permission to break out the rockets.

- Use your Morse lamp.

The Carpathia is on her way

but she's 50 miles away.

- Tell her to come quickly.

- Aye aye, sir.

- Did you get through?

- I said within four hours.

What was his reply?

He said, "Please hurry. Engine room

flooded. We're sinking head down."

- Take that!

- Come here!

Stop it!

Stop it!

- Jimmy!

- This is rare sport.

If you have anything in the cabin

you value, come quickly.

There's water on the floor

and it's rising.

All passengers on deck

with their lifebelts on.

All passengers on deck.

- What happened?

- No cause for alarm.

There's been a mishap

and we're taking precautions.

Go back to bed.

Oh, do go back to bed.

That's right.

There's nothing whatever to worry about.

Nothing at all.

Go back to bed.

The order is for everyone

to get into their lifebelts.

- First I've heard of it.

- Now you know.

- Then take them to the boat deck?

- No, it's first and second class there.

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