Titanic Page #3

but if I were a tennis player from Purdue,

I wouldn't believe it, not a single word.

A fine, healthy bumpkin.

Are you breaking ground for Annette?

You're up early.

I had to scratch around for clothes.

Not a bad shop. They have everything.

- Dinnerjackets, I trust.

- Naturally. It'll be ready tonight.

So... life can go on.

Good morning, Annette.

I thought you were a pot of coffee.

What time is it?

Eleven o'clock.

A brand-new day that's never been touched.

I'm absolutely famished.

Your brother never picks up anything.

Where is he?

Where's my breakfast?

I sent him to order it half an hour ago.

Beautiful. Lanvin?

Mm-hm.

- This one Lucille, I imagine.

- Yes, angel.

Your mother seems

to have packed everything.

Of course, some of them will be

a little out of place in Mackinac.

Still, plenty of practical things.

What, only high heels?

You'll have to have something to walk in.

As soon as we arrive, you ought to

buy her some of those flat shoes.

"Ground grippers", I believe.

She'll need lots of things.

That'd be a waste of money

forjust a short visit.

Let's not talk about that now.

Get up, Annette.

As your mother has said,

it's a brand-new day.

Yes?

Ah. Thank you, Emma.

Those cheeks of yours bloom in the salt air.

- Oh, Mr Sturges.

- Annette?

There we are.

- May I bone your kipper, mademoiselle?

- Yes, angel.

- Is today the 12th or the 13th?

- The 13th.

They should just be sitting down to luncheon

in that extraordinary room

overlooking the fountains,

the arthritic old princess

under the finest crystal chandelier in Europe,

and Mr Paderewski

complaining about the draught.

And at the end of the table, one young man

next to an empty chair with a tear in his eye.

A crystal tear is my guess.

What excuse did you give him, Annette?

I dropped him a note.

- Let's go.

- A note? Was I supposed to be somewhere?

It's perfectly all right if your mother

explained it to them. See you later.

- Wait. Explain it to me.

- What's one party more or less?

Julia, a luncheon at the Metternichs'

is not exactly a wiener roast.

Was there some reason, Mother,

I wasn't told I was invited?

Your mother's a sensible woman.

She probably felt something might come of

it, some involvement with the young master.

To be perfectly frank, I was afraid.

He's an arrogant little toad.

He does look a little like a toad.

But he's a highly eligible toad.

Not many young men are related to both

the Metternichs and the Rothschilds.

I don't think he looks like a toad. And I see no

reason why we couldn't have left a week later.

Annette, mind your manners.

It wasn't a question of a week or two weeks.

This was as good a time as any to bow out.

- "Bow out"?

- Yes, I'm afraid so.

Ah, adieu, great world.

What your father is saying

is that I'm taking you home for good.

I won't see an arranged marriage, or you

jumping from title to title the rest of your life.

Father, I want to ask you one question:

do you approve of all this?

Annette, I adore you, you know that.

Are you going to stay in Michigan for good?

I'm a hopeless case,

far too old to alter my preferences now.

- When are you going back?

- By the next boat.

Whenever you go, I go with you.

As for you, Mother, I love you very much,

but my address is Paris, France.

Thank you, Richard.

You were most helpful.

Now you see why

I wanted to steal a little more time.

Please, Julia, let's not bicker,

since there's no love lost between us.

That's the tragic part, Richard.

There's been so much love lost between us.

- Hurry up! We have our first match at 11:30.

- If it's not asking too much, what match?

- The shuffleboard tournament. I entered us.

- Good. We're the team to beat.

I'm going to dress for dinner. Alter course

at ten o'clock. It's posted in the chart house.

What's this note, "binoculars"?

- It's Murdoch, sir. We're shy on binoculars.

- Oh. How come?

I don't know, sir.

We've got enough for the bridge.

The lookouts and the crow's nest

are doing without.

Well, make up a requisition.

We'll pick up some in New York.

- It's very nice material.

- It's a beautiful suit.

I said it was nice material.

You did a fast job. Thank you.

I'd better have a handkerchief.

Norman, it's time for us to pick up our ladies.

- Norman?

- Yes, sir?

Would it be all right

if I ate in the cabin tonight?

We're dining at the captain's table.

That's just it, sir.

I'd feel out of place.

There's something bothering you.

What is it?

It's nothing, sir.

Is this what's worrying you?

There are two other boys on this ship.

They're an inch shorter than I am,

and they have long trousers.

You're a worthless scamp.

You've been growing behind my back.

Mr Webster, this is no way

to let a young man walk out of your shop.

- You'll have to put in some more overtime.

- It's a pleasure, sir.

- Your fitting, Mr Sturges.

- Thank you, sir.

Mother, could you help me with this snap?

If you're busy, I can call the stewardess.

That won't be necessary.

- I love those earrings on you.

- Thank you.

Are we going to cross the entire ocean

in polite silence?

I'd be very happy to chatter like a magpie

if I could think of a single word to say.

Come in.

- Well, are we ready?

- Yes, angel.

- You look beautiful.

- I'm glad you're pleased.

Norman's at the tailor's.

Will you pick him up?

- I don't want to go into dinner with him.

- Then you can trail at a respectful distance.

- We'll all meet at the captain's table.

- Yes, angel.

Well, Julia, I imagine after a few hours

we've reached the same conclusion.

We scream, we shout, we hurt each other,

but we calm down. Things aren't so bad.

They never are for you.

You always win.

I don't regard this as a victory.

It's an adjustment.

Before you go down,

you'd better know how things are going to be.

I've given up on Annette. Her standards will

always be the chic club, the royal enclosure,

and that's her decision,

she's almost of age.

But Norman is still a child. I'm not taking

any chances with him. He stays in America.

Now, wait a minute, Julia.

What is this all about?

I should think it would be perfectly clear.

I won't see Norman thrown away.

He stays with me. And if you try to interfere,

I'll be as common as you think I am.

I'll fight you tooth and nail.

I'll take you to the courts!

- Could you be common in a lower voice?

- I'll say it in any tone you want.

But that's the way it's going to be!

You crazy woman. You're talking about

the most important thing in my life.

- I have plans for Norman.

- That he should grow up to be you?

Possibly. I'm satisfied.

Is it so extraordinary that I should want

to have some portion of myself survive?

Some portion of your...? Oh, yes, I forgot.

The best-dressed man of his day.

That's what they're going to write

on your tombstone.

But I won't have it for Norman.

He stays with me!

My dear Julia,

I've been around enough bridge tables

to recognise someone

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