Titanic (Scriptment) Page #4

ON KELDYSH a heated debate is in progess between Lovett and Bodine, resident Titanic expert, ROV pilot and loudmouth. Bodine has assembled the world's largest database on the Titanic disaster, and accesses it through a sophisticated computer setup in the IMAGING SHACK on the lab deck.

Bodine says the old woman is a fake. A nutcase. She claims to be ROSE DEWITT BUKATER, who was traveling on Titanic in the party of steel heir CALEDON HOCKLEY. But Rose DeWitt Bukator was not a survivor of the sinking. Anyway, Rose DeWitt Bukater was 17 in 1912, she'd have to be 100 now.

LOVETT:

A hundred and one next month.

BODINE:

Okay, she's a very old, and very sweet, complete goddamned liar.

LOVETT:

She knows about the diamond, Lewis. And everybody who knows about the diamond is supposed to be dead or on this project. Now we better see what she has to say. Got it?

BODINE:

S'cuse me, I have to go check our supply of Depends.

THE SEA STALLION roars under us, closing on the Keldysh.

ON THE DECK OF KELDYSH, Lovett, Buell and Bodine watch the giant helicopter approaching.

IN A THUNDERING DOWNBLAST the helicopter's wheels bounce down on the Keldysh helipad.

The HELICOPTER CREW CHIEF hands out about ten suitcases, and then Rose is lowered to the deck in a wheelchair by Keldysh crewmen. Lizzy, ducking unnecessarily under the rotor, follows her out, carrying FREDDY the Pomeranian. The crew chief hands a puzzled Keldysh crewmember a goldfish bowl with several fish in it. Rose does not travel light.

HOLD ON the incongruous image of this little old lady, looking impossibly fragile amongst all the high tech gear, grungy deck crew and gigantic equipment.

As the Sea Stallion banks away over the ocean Lovett greets her and introduces Bodine, Anatolavich and Buell. He explains to her that the ship is a Russian research vessel which he has chartered for this salvage expedition.

ROSE:

You know, we haven't been on a ship in donkey's years, have we Lizzy? Not since that trip to Brazil for my eightieth birthday.

LIZZY:

I wasn't with you then, Rose.

ROSE:

Oh, I thought that was you. Of course it couldn't have been, I can never get you to go anywhere. You're such an old stick.

Lovett and Bodine exchange a look. If her memory is that shot, how is she going to give them any information from 1912?

Brock Lovett is actually quite gracious at their first meeting. They bring her a cup of tea and get her settled. Lovett says he was surprised at her offer to come out to the ship, but is happy to have her here.

ROSE:

As long as I can tell you something about the "Coeur de la Mer".

Brock laughs, caught off-guard by her directness, and says that of course he's hoping she may have some information which can help him in his search.

Rose then wants to know how he figured out the diamond was on the Titanic.

Brock explains that, as a world famous treasure hunter, he attracts tips like iron fillings to a magnet. He was contacted by a records clerk at a major insurance company who had found confidential documents over 80 years old showing that a claim had been settled on a priceless diamond called "Le Coeur de la Mer"... The Heart of the Ocean... so called for its shape and rare blue color.

This diamond is believed to have been cut from the fabulous 65 carat "Blue Diamond of the Crown" which was among the crown jewels of France, stolen in 1792. It was cut into a 41 carat triangular shaped brilliant, with two rounded corners, thus suggesting a heart shape.

It was reported lost less than two weeks after its purchase in April of 1912. The claimant was NATHAN HOCKLEY, the Pittsburgh steel millionaire, and the claim was settled under conditions of absolute secrecy. Hockley clearly didn't want the public to know anything about his family's involvement with the diamond. A little digging and some bribe money revealed that the diamond was purchased from Cartier's in Paris on April 6, 1912, by CALEDON HOCKLEY, Nathan's son, using his father's letter of credit.

BROCK:

If you are who you say you are, then the diamond was an engagement gift for you.

ROSE:

It was a surprise, actually. I didn't know about it at all until after the sailing.

After Titanic sank, the diamond was never seen again. The inescapable conclusion was that the diamond was on Titanic... most probably in the safe in Hockley's promenade suite. If recovered now, with its dramatic history, the necklace would be worth millions... but the money that could be made using it as the centerpiece of a touring exhibit of Titanic artifacts could be in the hundreds of millions.

Brock offers to compensate her for any information which leads to the recovery of the diamond.

ROSE:

Oh, I don't want your money, Mr. Lovett, but thank you for the offer. I know how hard it is for people who care greatly for money to give some away.

Brock realizes he's been harpooned. He sets out a small tape recorder, saying that he'd like to ask her a number of questions. Before he gets to the diamond and the events the night of April 14th and 15th, he'd like to get some general information about--

Rose cuts him off, saying that she'd like to see the drawing first. Lovett is realizing that this tiny, fragile creature is definitely going to be running the show.

CUT TO THE LAB DECK. Rose looks at the drawing in its tray of water, confronting herself actoss a span of 83 years. Until they can figure out the best way to preserve it, they have to keep it immersed. It sways and ripples, almost as if alive.

TIGHT ON Rose's ancient eyes, gazing at the drawing.

CUT TO a man's hand, holding a conte crayon, deftly creating a shoulder and the shape of her hair with two efficient lines.

THE WOMAN'S FACE IN THE DRAWING, dancing under the water.

A FLASHCUT of a man's eyes, just visible over the top of a sketching pad. They look up suddenly, right into the LENS. Soft eyes, but fearlessly direct.

BACK TO ROSE, in tight close-up. We see a tear welling at the corner of her eye.

Sensing how emotional this is for Rose, Lizzy suggests that she get some rest. Rose rallies, and wants to see more.

She didn't come all this way to sleep.

Bodine shows her some things they found in the staterooms of her entourage. There are fifty or so objects, from mundane to valuable. Rose picks up an ornate art-nouveau hair comb. A jade butterfly takes flight on the ebony handle of the comb. She turns it slowly, remembering. Sets it down.

She lifts a mother of pearl hand mirror. She caresses it wonderingly.

ROSE:

This was mine. It looks the same as the last time I saw it.

She turns the mirror over and looks at her ancient face in the cracked glass.

ROSE:

The reflection has changed a bit.

Next she examines a silver and moonstone art nouveau brooch in the shape of a mother and child, the infant's face wrapped in the tentacular hair of the mother.

ROSE:

My mother's brooch. How extraordinary. My father gave this to her after I was born. I remember she wanted to go back for it, when we went up to the boat deck. Caused quite a fuss.

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