The Big Blue Page #24

ENZO:

Wake me up at 11:00.

ENZO closes his eyes. JACQUES looks over at the clock, it

says 11:
25. JACQUES doesn't say anything and stares blankly

out of the window.

ENZO:

(opening one eye)

Hmmm! Something wrong?

JACQUES doesn't answer.

ENZO:

Is it the girl?

JACQUES stares out the window.

ENZO:

Did she leave?

No answer. ENZO gets up and sits on the side of the bed.

ENZO:

Hey! I'm going to take care of

you!

I've got this job, on an oil rig, no sweat! I'm taking

you along... Come on! Get your bags packed! You're coming

with me, I tell you!

He pats him on the back.

ENZO:

We'll make a great team, the two

of us. You'll see!

EXT. OIL DRILLING PLATFORM - AT SEA - DAY

The platform shines in the morning light.

There are several stories of crew housing and offices above

the deck. Long steel legs disappear into the swelling

slate-gray ocean. We hear WHOP-WHOP-WHOP of a helicopter.

EXT. HELICOPTER - PLATFORM

The helicopter is landing. Crewmen rush to secure it to

the oil rig's deck. Doors open and two passengers get

off:
JACQUES and ENZO. They each carry a duffel bag of

personal belongings. They're both wearing fluorescent

diving suits.

The DRILLING SUPERINTENDENT comes to meet them.

SUPERINTENDENT:

Mayol, Molinari...?

They nod.

SUPERINTENDENT:

We've been waiting for you for

three days. Goddamnit!

ENZO:

Is that the way you talk to the

best diver in the world...? And

to his friend Jacques Mayol!

The SUPERINTENDENT smiles sourly, and gestures to a crewman.

SUPERINTENDENT:

Show them their quarters.

Five minutes later, JACQUES and ENZO are following the

crewman.

JACQUES:

(whispering)

He doesn't like us.

ENZO:

So what!? His job is to hand out

the paychecks. And he does that

very well, let me tell you.

INT. DIVING CAPSULE - DAY

The diving capsule, suspended by cables, begins its descent

through a trap door in the deck. It plunges into the sea.

The three men in the capsule are: JACQUES, ENZO and the

tough looking CAPSULE COMMANDER NOIREUTER, who is much too

professional for ENZO'S tastes.

ENZO watches through a porthole while the COMMANDER

concentrates on the control console. He runs through a

checklist of systems. JACQUES responds with a "check" as

he verifies each one. ENZO is already bored and fed up by

the procedures.

JACQUES is lost in thought, they don't look cheerful.

ENZO:

(suddenly)

You still thinking about her?

JACQUES doesn't answer. ENZO goes on.

ENZO:

Don't think about her anymore!

Let me tell you, you're just making

yourself unhappy! There are so

many women in the world!

He takes a cigarette from a pouch in his diving suit and

stares at NOIREUTER.

ENZO:

Plenty of women everywhere right?

NOIREUTER:

(coldly)

Smoking is absolutely forbidden.

ENZO:

It isn't lit yet.

NOIREUTER:

You shouldn't even carry cigarettes

on board!

ENZO:

Listen we're not supposed to piss

either but that doesn't stop you

from carrying "it" on board?!

NOIREUTER:

(stubborn)

The rules are the rules.

ENZO:

(checking out this

creature)

... What's your name again?

NOIREUTER:

Noireuter.

ENZO:

And where did you say you were

from?

NOIREUTER:

I didn't say...

(contemptuous)

Brussels!

ENZO smiles sardonically, shaking his head very slowly.

The COMMANDER'S answer explains it all.

INT. DRILLING PLATFORM - CONTROL ROOM - DAY

A technician is overlooking the capsule descent on a video

screen.

The SUPERINTENDENT watches over the technician's shoulder.

TECHNICIAN:

They're at 450 feet.

INT. DIVING CAPSULE - DAY

ENZO, a cigarette dangling from his lips, looks through

the porthole.

ENZO:

... I was seventeen, I loved her

so much I tried to die for her.

Two years later I couldn't even

remember her name! Let me tell

you, time erases everything!

JACQUES:

I don't want to erase anything.

ENZO:

You'd rather think about it and

make yourself miserable?

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