The Big Blue Page #22

The dark diver flashes the high sign to JACQUES, thumb and

forefinger touching, fingers extended, all clear. JACQUES

does not respond. The diver repeats the signal. JACQUES

does not respond.

The diver taps JACQUES on the shoulder... a beat... and

then JACQUES responds, thumb and forefinger touching okay.

Slowly, reluctantly, he wraps his hand around the handle

of the balloon.

The dark diver quickly turns the handle for him. The

balloon inflates. JACQUES hangs on... lets it carry him

up.

At the plague marking 210 feet, JACQUES lets go of the the

balloon. With a burst of speed, it darts toward the

surface.

JACQUES follows slowly, undulating like a fish... He's

getting warm now... He closes his eyes.

Passes the medical control without stopping... without

even seeing it like someone asleep.

He's moving faster now, toward the warmth, toward the air.

JACQUES opens his eyes, watches the lights grow brighter.

The silhouette of the boat comes back into view. 60 feet

to go.

EXT. DIVING PLATFORM - DAY

In slow motion JACQUES' hand holding the plaque breaks out

of the water followed by his arm, in one continuous

movement, his shoulders and head.

He gasps for air.

A trickle of blood comes from his nose.

Flashbulbs flicker, spectators cheer.

EXT. OPEN SEA - A DOLPHIN

The dolphin, the one rescued last night, leaps into the

air, in perfect harmony with JACQUES' triumph.

EXT. DOLPHINARIUM

The dolphins in the dolphinarium leap into the air at the

exact same moment.

The trainer doesn't understand what's going on.

EXT. DIVING PLATFORM - DAY

JACQUES falls back into the water. Two divers run over

and pull him up onto the dock.

JACQUES seems completely dazed, almost in a trance. He

slowly comes to and starts screaming louder and louder.

It is the scream of his body in need of the surface, reality

and the feel of the land.

JOHANA is terrified. She can hardly breathe. Everybody

applauds.

EXT. HOTEL DOCK - DAY

JACQUES and JOHANA walk down the gangway. NOVELLI has

lead the way and the news has been spread.

JACQUES looks very weak and punchy.

JOHANA holds him up.

The spectators applaud as he goes by. Intrigued, JACQUES

looks at them all.

JOHANA:

(excited)

Jacques, listen to the applause.

He doesn't respond.

JOHANA:

(trying to keep up)

Jacques, you set a world record.

JACQUES:

I did?

JOHANA:

Aren't you happy? Don't you feel

proud...? I feel proud and all I

did was watch.

He is staring at her, he's returning to the real world.

Slowly he smiles.

She grabs hold of his arm and gives him a proud kiss on

the mouth. JACQUES is a little stunned.

EXT. TERRACE - SWIMMING POOL - DAY

ENZO walks into the hotel, his arms filled with packages.

He sees JACQUES and JOHANA. From the look on his face we

can tell he knows that JACQUES has beaten his record. He

deliberately puts on a huge smile as he walks over to them.

INT. TERRACE - SWIMMING POOL

ENZO:

Congratulations Jacques! It's

wonderful! Wonderful!

He drops his packages on the bar and gives Jacques a big

hug.

ENZO:

I'm happy for you!

He kisses him and starts handing out his presents.

ENZO:

(to Jacques)

Here...

(to Johana)

Here...

JACQUES:

What is it?

ENZO:

Little presents, nothing much... I

knew it, I just knew it! Look

here!

He holds up his arm: he is wearing two watches.

ENZO:

Roberto's watch! I won it! He

bet that you couldn't beat me!

JACQUES opens his present. It's a little ceramic dolphin.

ENZO:

You still collect them?

JACQUES:

Yes.

ENZO:

You don't have that one, do you?

JACQUES:

No. Thank you. It's really

beautiful.

ENZO:

Oh it's nothing. I knew it. I

told Roberto "He's very good that

little Frenchman, very good". I

lost my title but I won a watch!

JOHANA has opened her package. It's a big plate with a

text engraved on it.

JOHANA:

Is it a poem?

ENZO:

No, it's the recipe for spaghetti

"Frutti del mare".

(to Jacques)

You see I was right in getting you

out here. You're a world champion,

my friend!

JACQUES has opened the last small package. It's a measuring

tape. He looks at it without understanding.

ENZO EXPLAINS:

ENZO:

It's a measuring tape.

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