Titanic Page #27

ROSE:

I saw the iceberg, Mr. Andrews. And I see it in your eyes. Please tell me

the truth.

ANDREWS:

The ship will sink.

ROSE:

You're certain?

ANDREWS:

Yes. In an hour or so... all this... will be at the bottom of the Atlantic.

CAL:

My God.

Now it is Cal's turn to look stunned. The Titanic? Sinking?

ANDREWS:

Please tell only who you must, I don't want to be responsible for a panic.

And get to a boat quickly. Don't wait. You remember what I told you about

the boats?

ROSE:

Yes, I understand. Thankyou.

Andrews goes off, moving among the passengers and urging them to put on

their lifebelts and get to the boats.

CUT TO:

170 INT. MASTER AT ARMS OFFICE

Lovejoy and the Master at Arms are handcuffing Jack to a 4" WATER PIPE as a

crewman rushes in anxiously and almost blurts to the Master at Arms--

CREWMAN:

You're wanted by the Purser, sir. Urgently.

LOVEJOY:

Go on. I'll keep an eye on him.

Lovejoy pulls a pearl handled Colt .45 automatic from under his coat. The

Master at Arms nods and tosses the handcuff key to Lovejoy, then exits with

the crewman. Lovejoy flips the key in the air. Catches it.

CUT TO:

171 INT. BRIDGE

Junior Wireless Operator Bride is relaying a message to Captain Smith from

the CUNARD LINER CARPATHIA.

BRIDE:

Carpathia says they're making 17 knots, full steam for them, sir.

SMITH:

And she's the only one who's responding?

BRIDE:

The only one close, sir. She says they can be here in four hours.

SMITH:

Four hours!

The enormity of it hits Smith like a sledgehammer blow.

SMITH:

Thank you, Bride.

He turns as Bride exits, and looks out onto the blackness.

SMITH:

(to himself)

My God.

CUT TO:

172 EXT. BOAT DECK - NIGHT

Lightoller has his boats swung out. He is standing amidst a crowd of

uncertain passengers in all states of dress and undress. One first class

woman is barefoot. Others are in stockings. The maitre of the restaurant is

in top hat and overcoat. Others are still in evening dress, while some are

in bathrobes and kimonos. Women are wearing lifebelts over velvet gowns,

then topping it with sble stoles. Some brought jewels, others books, even

small dogs.

Lightoller sees Smith walking stiffly toward him and quickly goes to him.

He yells into the Captain's ear, through cupped hands, over the roar of the

steam...

LIGHTOLLER:

Hadn't we better get the women and children into the boats, sir?

Smith just nods, a bit abstractly. The fire has gone out of him. Lightoller

sees the awesome truth in Smith's face.

LIGHTOLLER:

(to the men)

Right! Start the loading. Women and children!

The appalling din of escaping steam abruptly cuts off, leaving a sudden

unearthly silence in which Lightoller's voice echoes.

ON WALLACE HARTLEY raising his violin to play.

HARTLEY:

Number 26. Ready and--

The band has reassembled just outside the First Class Entrance, port side,

near where Lightoller is calling for the boats to be loaded. They strike up

a waltz, lively and elegant. The music wafts all over the ship.

LIGHTOLLER:

Ladies, please. Step into the boat.

Finally one soman steps across the gap, into the boat, terrified of the

drop to the water far below.

WOMAN IN CROWD:

You watch. They'll put us off in these silly little boats to freeze, and

we'll all be back on board by breakfast.

Cal, Rose and Ruth come out of the doors near the band.

RUTH:

My brooch, I left my brooch. I must have it!

She turns back to go to her room but Cal takes her by the arm, refusing to

let her go. The firmness of his hold surprises her.

CAL:

Stay here, Ruth.

Ruth sees his expression, and knows fear for the first time.

CUT TO:

173 INT. STEERAGE BERTHING AFT / CORRIDORS AND STAIRWELL

It is chaos, with stewards pushing their way through narrow corridors

clogged with peopel carrying suitcases, duffel bags, children. Some have

lifebelts on, others don't.

STEWARD #2

(to Steward #3)

I told the stupid sods no luggage. Aw, bloody hell!

He throws up his hand at the sight of a family, loaded down with cases and

bags, completely blocking the corridor.

Fabrizio and Tommy push past the stewards, going the other way. They rech a

huge crowd gathered at the bottom of the MAIN 3RD CLASS STAIRWELL. Fabrizio

spots Helga with the rest of the Dahl family, standing patiently with

suitcases in hand. He reaches her and she grins, hugging him.

Tommy pushes to where he can see what's holding up the group. There is a

steel gate across the top of the stairs, with several stewards and seamen

on the other side.

STEWARD:

Stay calm, please. It's not time to go up to the boats yet.

Near Tommy, an IRISHWOMAN stands stoically with two small children and

their battered luggage.

LITTLE BOY:

What are we doing, mummy?

WOMAN:

We're just waiting, dear. When they fiish putting First Class people in the

boats, they'll be startin' with us, and we'll want to be all ready, won't

we?

CUT TO:

174 EXT. STARBOARD SIDE

Boat 7 is less than half full, with 28 aboard a boat made for 65.

FIRST OFFICER MURDOCH

Lower away! By the left and right together, stady lads!

The boat lurches as the falls start to pay out through the pulley blocks.

The women gasp. The boat descends, swaying and jerking, toward the water 60

feet below. The passengers are terrified.

CUT TO:

175 EXT. / INT. TITANIC HULL AND MASTER AT ARMS OFFICE

TRACKING along the rows of portholes angling down into the water. Under the

surface, they glow green. PUSHING IN on one porthole which is have

submerged. Inside we see Jack, looking apprehensively at the water rising

up the glass.

INSIDE THE MASTER AT ARMS' OFFICE Jack sits chained to the waterpipe, next

to the porthole. Lovejoy sits on the edge of a desk. He puts a .45 bullet

on the desk and watches it roll across and fall off. He picks up the

bullet.

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