White Squall Page #5

BILL:

(singing)

"Not one of us was a sober..."

The boys return the verse half heartedly. Lawford ties

off his line and stares them down. Skipper notices that

the work has stopped.

SKIPPER:

What's wrong Mr. Lawford.

LAWFORD:

It seems we're short on singers.

Skipper walks amid ship and addresses the crew.

SKIPPER:

Everyone sings aboard a wind jammer

gentlemen. It lets everyone know

you're in sync. It shows unity,

that all thoughts are one. A crew

that sings together stays together.

Besides, I like it. So, pipe up and

be sailors.

JOHN:

(in a whisper)

Everybody swims, everybody sings...

What's next? Tap dancing?

Lawford and Rick leap up onto the line pulling it down

with their body weight. They sing out the chorus. The

crew returns the song, somewhat reluctantly as the great

mainsail starts to rise.

LAWFORD:

Tie it off!!

SKIPPER:

(to Bill)

Outer.

BILL:

Outer Jib!

CHARLIE:

(confused)

Outta what?

Coached by Tod, another group in the bow, awkwardly hoist

the jib.

SKIPPER:

(to Bill)

We'll bear off to port and run down

wind.

BILL:

Mr. Lawford, stand by to ease the

mainsheet. Rick, get on the jib

sheet. George, John, Philip, Tim

and Dick go aloft to unstop the

forecourse. George will show you

what to do. Tod, show your men the

forward pinrail and stand ready on

the buntlines and clewlines.

Forecourse first... work upward.

The newcomers watch Bill with new-found respect. George,

John and the others climb to the forecourse, and out onto

the footropes. It's unsteady work and there's confusion

everywhere. But through it all, they continue to sing.

Lawford moves to the mainsheet on the port side while the

others move into their positions. When Bill sees the

yardarm crew is in place...

BILL:

Unstop the squares!

YARDARM CREW:

Unstop the squares!!

SKIPPER:

(to Chuck)

Fall off to port. Ease her around

to a heading of northeast. Sing out

when you're there.

As the tops are released, the giant forecourse drapes into

a scalloped pattern. As the bow falls off the wind the

snapping main and jib billow. Stiffening to the wind, the

ship heels and surges forward.

Before her awakening power, everyone changes their stance

and grabs for a handhold. Lawford slowly pays out the

mainsheet while the forecourse crew move up the ratlines

releasing the stops on the other squaresails.

CHUCK:

(in a whisper)

Ah... Northeast... sir.

SKIPPER:

(barking)

Speak up boy!

Chuck jumps, startled. He self-consciously calls out.

CHUCK:

Northeast sir!

SKIPPER:

Unfurl the squares!

Tod's group first uncleats the clewlines and buntlines and

the great squaresail drops and billows to fullness sending

a shudder through the rig. The bow's wake sizzles with

the added surge. As each of the squares fall, Alice and

Lawford move to their sheets, setting each sail's

position.

Chuck looks up, amazed at the sheer magnitude and beauty

of the canvas that the Albatross carries.

BILL:

Raise the inner jib! Raise the

forestaysail!

SKIPPER:

Watch the tell-tales Chuck. If we

jibe now we'll have a lot of people

in the water.

CHUCK:

Yes, sir.

SKIPPER:

All stop on the engine.

BILL:

All stop on the engine!

Bill rotates the telegraph handle back and forth and moves

it to the stop position.

SKIPPER:

Behold gentlemen. The power of the

wind!

As the sails billow the Albatross seems transformed.

Everyone stops and looks up. The vessel heels and with a

powerful surge, launches into the waves. White foam

splashes over the bowsprit as the hull thunders through

the water. Chuck's face is full of wonder. It is a

magical moment. Then the crew begins to cheer.

SKIPPER:

Did we lose anybody?

ALICE:

Not yet.

LONG SHOT:

The Albatross under full sail is the handsome, powerful

image of another time. And yet, here she is.

ON DECK:

Each of the boys is awed by the majesty of this moment.

Music builds.

SKIPPER:

Chart us a course for the windward

side.

Alice considers his request.

ALICE:

That low passed through last night.

May be a little bumpy out there.

SKIPPER:

It's time these boys saw some real

blue water.

EXT. THE OPEN SEA - LATER

The bow of the Albatross explodes through the top of a

fifteen foot swell. The sky is clear but the wind is

fierce. In spite of the seas the ship is trimmed and

sailing well.

The crew has never seen mountains of water like this.

Disaster seems imminent. Bill has assembled them in front

of the wheel house. They are all holding on for dear

life. Even John seems shaken. Skipper magically stands

effortlessly before them on the rolling deck. He remains

perfectly dry.

SKIPPER:

Well... now that I have your

undivided attention... I'd like to

take this opportunity to make a few

points...

TERRY:

(aside)

This guy is certifiable...

PHIL:

Suicidal...

SKIPPER:

The first thing is I don't like

people talking when I'm talking so

the two of you, shut up.

Caught, Terry and Phil button up.

SKIPPER:

Second, the next one of you who

doesn't jump like a bunny when Mr.

Butler gives an order is gonna spend

the rest of this trip scrubbing

bilges. He's a better sailor today

than any ten of you will be when

this is all over.

Skipper directs the next comment directly at John.

SKIPPER:

And if I catch anybody, ever,

jumping off a yard arm again I will

personally break what bones are left

and send you home in a wheel chair.

A wave explodes over the bow. A wall of water crashes

over the deck knocking down several of the boys. Terry

can't take it anymore and explodes.

TERRY:

We're gonna die!!! We're all gonna

die!

He lunges at Skipper but Lawford one arms him.

SKIPPER:

Excellent point. As you might have

noticed, being out here pretty much

puts you in the moment. If you

panic, if you lose your head, you

die. Maybe you take your mates with

you. How'd you like to have to bet

on Terry here getting us home today?

Each one of you is responsible for

the rest. "Where we go one, we go

all". If your buddy is asleep at

the switch we're all fish food.

He's making his point which is lost on no one.

SKIPPER:

The ship beneath you is not a toy

and sailing is not a game. The

Albatross will take us far

gentlemen, but she demands constant

attention. Respect her, and we'll

do fine. Oh, and one more thing.

There is nothing that goes on, on

this boat that I don't know about.

She speaks to me in the night. So

don't test me. Not even a little.

Skipper walks over and puts an arm around Terry who is

fighting sobs.

SKIPPER:

Nothing like experience to put

things in perspective. Huh son?

(to Bill)

Alright. Let's go home.

INT. CHART HOUSE - DAY

Lawford addresses some of the crew. Chuck, Robin and John

are among them. John glares at Lawford. The guys giggle.

LAWFORD:

That's not a satisfactory answer.

JOHN:

Look, save it for somebody else will

ya. This ancient sh*t doesn't have

anything to do with me.

Lawford pauses for a moment and then explodes

theatrically.

LAWFORD:

Sh*t?!!!

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