White Squall Page #15

SKIPPER:

I can take it.

ALICE:

They've become what you wanted.

They're a crew. That's why he came.

Skipper puts a loving hand on Alice's shoulder.

SKIPPER:

Why did we begin this?

ALICE:

We were idealists.

SKIPPER:

Because we believed we could make an

impact out here. Self reliance and

community through the disciplines of

sailing.

ALICE:

I haven't forgotten.

SKIPPER:

Phil, he's not looking inside. He's

just striking out at the world.

ALICE:

He has a lot of hurt inside him.

SKIPPER:

Well, he better learn to own it.

Actions have consequences.

(beat)

It's not what happens here Alice,

it's what they take away with them.

Alice runs her hands across his face.

ALICE:

You're still an idealist.

Skipper turns and slips into her arms.

SKIPPER:

Oh hell...

EXT. DECK - DAY

Phil is in the long boat with Skipper, ready to shove off.

Tension is high. It's as though they're all waiting for

Skipper to give Phil a reprieve. But, it's not coming.

They mumble goodbyes. Terry and Rick pass down Phil's

bags.

RICK:

Good luck.

Phil nods and turns to Skipper.

PHIL:

I'm ready.

Skipper starts to pull the oars to make the crossing to

the dock as the crew watches them go. Robin turns,

staring at the ships bell.

EXT. DOCK - SAME

Skipper ties off the boat and Phil hands up his bags. A

black limousine waits, brooding. Phil climbs up with

Skipper and stands, stares at it. The back door opens,

but nobody gets out.

EXT. ALBATROSS - SAME

The crew stand, watching.

CHARLIE:

His ol' man's gonna eat him for

lunch.

JOHN:

I know what that's like.

RICK:

Yeah.

Then, suddenly...

CHUCK:

My god...

All stares aloft. In the rigging, climbing up the mast,

is Robin. With the ships bell in his teeth, he is

sweating every rung. Perspiration glistens on his brow.

The crew watches, transfixed as he fights his way towards

the foretop.

EXT. DOCK - SAME

Phil turns to Skipper. Working up some courage to say

something, anything. But all that comes out is...

PHIL:

I'm sorry.

A pause between them.

SKIPPER:

I know, Phil.

Skipper extends a hand and they shake. Phil is about to

turn, when a familiar sound draws their attention.

EXT. FORETOP - SAME

Robin, holding on for dear life at the top of the mast,

rings the ships bell triumphantly over his head, waving to

Phil. Victorious. Ding ding! Ding ding! Ding ding!

The crew begin to cheer.

EXT. DOCK - SAME

Phil stares back, fighting his emotions. Slowly he raises

his hand in a single wave of acknowledgement. The ringing

stops as his eyes meet Robin's. Waves back. Skipper

turns.

SKIPPER:

They never gave up on you, you know.

Phil chews on it. Then...

PHIL:

Tell 'em I said... thanks.

(beat)

Goodbye Skipper.

ROBIN'S POV

Robin watches as the limo pulls away. He rings the bell

wildly. The crew below wave in a show of silent protest.

OLDER CHUCK (V.O.)

As Robin rang him out, we waved in

silent protest against Skipper's

decision. And in the days that

followed the low morale was matched

only by a sense of arrogance that

perhaps the master should step down

and let his students take over.

AERIAL SHOT:

Robin, the Albatross and the drama unfolding below spin

slowly away as we climb, turning, higher and higher.

EXT. ALBATROSS - ESTABLISHING - DAY

Foam sprays from her bow as the Albatross slices through

the swells.

INT. CABIN - SAME

Tod exits the head with a worried look on his face. He

grabs Chuck by the arm and pulls him aside. Morale is

extremely low.

TOD:

Listen man, I think I have a

problem.

CHUCK:

We all have problems.

TOD:

I'm pissin' fire man.

Chuck reacts.

INT. SKIPPER'S CABIN - DAY

Tight on Alice. Pull back to reveal Tod standing in front

of her with his shorts down around his ankles. Mortified.

ALICE:

Have a nice time in Curacao, did you

Tod?

Alice gets up and moves to her medicine chest. Tod starts

to pull up his shorts.

ALICE:

Not so fast.

She pulls out a menacingly large looking hypodermic

needle. Tod's embarrassment turns to alarm.

EXT. DECK - LATER

The crew stand in line, pissed. Lawford and George man

the deck with Skipper and exchange amused looks. The door

opens and Chris exits, red faced, rubbing his backside.

He glares at Tod who sits on the paint locker.

CHRIS:

Way-ta-go Valentino. I never even

copped a feel in Curacao.

TOD:

Yeah well, your sexual orientation

is not my problem.

RICK:

Man, is there a social disease you

haven't had?

CHARLIE:

So much for vestal virgins.

Lawford swings up a pair of binoculars. A vessel under

power is coming up fast behind them. He holds the binocs

out to Skipper.

LAWFORD:

What do you make of that?

Skipper turns and looks.

SKIPPER:

I don't know.

The ship pulls along the port side, keeping a couple

hundred yards between them. The boys move to the rail.

George sees them first.

GEORGE:

Jesus. She's got guns.

SKIPPER:

She's Cuban.

Everyone becomes alarmed. Even Alice looks concerned.

Suddenly a puff of smoke discharges from the gun boat.

SKIPPER:

(shouting)

GET DOWN! EVERYBODY DOWN!!

The entire crew hit the deck as a shell rockets across the

bow exploding in the water.

SKIPPER:

Jesus, we're Americans!!! We're

Americans!!!

Skipper grabs the American flag and starts waving it.

TERRY:

Jesus, they're gonna sink us!!

SKIPPER:

Bill drop everything. Do it now!

The crew scrambles for the rigging, frantically dropping

sail.

SKIPPER:

(hitting each word)

Who the hell do they think they are?

As the sail comes down, the Albatross slows to a stop.

The Cubans inch closer and begin speaking over a loud

speaker in Spanish. The seas are high and the two ships

rise and fall with the large swells between them.

GEORGE:

They want us to identify ourselves.

Chuck returns with a bull horn.

SKIPPER:

Tell them we're the American School

Ship, Albatross.

George replies in Spanish over the bull horn. The Cubans

answer.

GEORGE:

They think we're carrying Cuban

refugees.

(beat)

Skipper, they mean to board us.

SKIPPER:

Not a chance. Remind them that

according to the Geneva Convention,

firing on a civilian vessel on the

high sea is an act of war.

Another exchange between George and the Cubans. The crew

lay flat on the deck, terrified.

GEORGE:

They say they are acting on the

direct authority of Fidel Castro.

Skipper defiantly swings up onto the gunnel rail. The

Cuban Captain gives an order and one of his sailors jumps

into the turret of the anti aircraft guns and swivels

around pointing both barrels at the Albatross. Skipper

stands firm, between the shrouds. Silence. A standoff.

SKIPPER:

Tell 'em to come aboard.

George sends the return message. There is a pause, then

the murmurs of the relieved crew. Skipper swings down but

never takes his eyes off the gunboat.

SKIPPER:

(to crew)

We've come a long way gentlemen.

But this is no time for heroes. I

know you're much more, but I need you

to be boys right now. That's an

order. Now scatter and find your

passports.

INT. CABIN - DAY

Laundry, books and mementos go flying as each boy

scrambles to dig up his passport. Terry sits among his

things, dazed. Bill notices.

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