White Squall Page #7

SKIPPER:

We're awfully quiet tonight.

The group remains silent. Lawford and George exchange a

glance. Skipper catches it.

SKIPPER:

Something on your mind, George?

George looks up and wipes his mouth with a napkin.

GEORGE:

I think you were too hard on

Weathers.

SKIPPER:

You do?

GEORGE:

Yes. I do.

Skipper nods.

SKIPPER:

I need to know what I'm working

with; what their boundaries are.

Their lives depend on it, and for

that matter so does yours. We've

got to bring them together. Make

them a crew. We're as strong as our

weakest link and I don't want to

find that out the hard way. So, I

will challenge them and they will

come together.

GEORGE:

(sarcastic)

Yes sir.

SKIPPER:

You know the best thing about being

a Skipper is the worst thing. It's

all my responsibility. So I'll tell

you what George, you stay off of my

bridge, and I'll stay out of your

galley. We'll get along that way.

Everyone's quiet, but clear. Skipper and Alice exit.

GEORGE:

F***ing bastard.

Lawford lets out a belly laugh.

LAWFORD:

I've seen him snatch the tail of the

tempest and stuff it, screaming,

into a bottle. The bilges are full

of them.

GEORGE:

What do you mean?

LAWFORD:

He's been beyond the reach. To the

edge of the abyss and back. He'll

do well by us all George. He's a

real salt. There's no malice in him

and there's nothing more dear to him

than his boys. So sleep well my

friend.

Lawford seductively produces a pair of Havana cigars,

passes one to George and winks.

INT. GALLEY - DUSK

Robin leans over the sink elbow deep in dishwater watching

through the cabin window, as the sun slips below the

horizon. Chuck stands in the doorway with a plate of

food.

CHUCK:

How ya doing?

ROBIN:

(without turning)

Fine.

CHUCK:

Good.

ROBIN:

Look, I appreciate, you know, the

concern and all, but like he said, I

can take care of myself.

CHUCK:

I just brought you something to eat.

Robin turns and notices the plate of food and nods. They

stand silently. It's awkward.

CHUCK:

I feel like I got you into this.

ROBIN:

Forget it.

CHUCK:

I'm used to spending a lot of time

alone. I guess that's what I

thought it would be out here. But,

it's not is it?

ROBIN:

(beat)

I'm sorry I left you hanging up

there.

CHUCK:

It doesn't matter. Really. I'm

just sorry you got chewed out.

Robin nods. They both stare out at the rising moon.

ROBIN:

My brother and I used to climb to

the top of this old beech tree in

the back yard and watch the moon

come up just like this. My parents

would fight all the time so we'd

sneak out there where we couldn't

hear 'em and recite scenes from our

favorite movies.

Robin grows quiet.

ROBIN:

Would you believe I miss it? The

middle of paradise and I'm homesick.

Chuck smiles and puts a hand on his back.

CHUCK:

(ironic)

Well, I wouldn't worry. It'll all

be there when we get back.

EXT. DECK - DAY

The sky is dark and a storm is building and the boat rolls

and pitches. Chuck sees Terry heaving over the side.

John and Tod hear the sound and turn.

JOHN:

(disgusted)

Come on man. Show a little

backbone!

(to Tod)

You believe that?!

Tod is fixated on Terry. Suddenly, without warning, he

breaks for the rail and lets fly.

Phil and Charlie are next. Chris climbs through the

companionway but doesn't make it to the side. Spontaneous

regurgitation. Bill and Lawford jump up onto the wheel

housing to avoid being sprayed. Suddenly everyone is

heaving.

CHRIS:

Sorry.

LAWFORD:

(to Bill)

We're gonna have nobody left up here

to crew. Better let Skipper know.

Bill nods and disappears. John joins Chuck watching the

events around him.

JOHN:

Well Gieg, I'm glad to see I'm not

the only guy on this boat that can

take a little rock'n roll. Bunch of

wusses, I swear...!

Chuck watches each of his shipmates. Then, suddenly, out

of nowhere -- Projectile vomit all over John. He looks at

Chuck, horrified, then he too, cuts loose over the rail.

JOHN:

Son of a b*tch!!

Chuck looks at John, furious with himself, and begins to

laugh. But after a moment he starts to laugh too. It's

infectious, they crack each other up. Then, in the middle

of belly laughing, they simultaneously retch again over

the side.

INT. SKIPPER'S CABIN - DAY

Skipper sits at his desk with some charts spread out in

front of him. There's a knock on the door.

SKIPPER:

Come in.

BILL:

Skipper, uh, the crew is pretty much

doing group boot over the side.

SKIPPER:

Well, that's all part of it.

BILL:

We've got weather moving in from the

west.

Skipper looks up.

SKIPPER:

That's part of it, too.

EXT. DECK - DUSK

Skipper stands at the wheelhouse with Lawford, George and

Bill, studying the horizon through binoculars. Dark

clouds. Chuck watches Skipper. Everyone, looking for a

cue.

CHUCK:

That a... storm, Skipper?

Skipper stays glued to the binoculars.

SKIPPER:

Uh, huh.

CHUCK:

Would you, um, say it's a big storm?

SKIPPER:

Sometimes it gets exciting out here.

LAWFORD:

What do you think?

SKIPPER:

Barometer's dropping. The first

blow'll come from the south. Might

get interesting.

CHUCK:

Shouldn't we turn away?

SKIPPER:

You can't run from the wind son.

You trim your sails, face the music

and let the chips fall. Bill, let's

close her up, dog, tight.

Close on hatches and skylights slamming closed and cinched

tight.

BELOW DECKS:

Bulkhead doors are closed and cranked down tightly.

IN THE GALLEY:

Pots and pans crash around.

IN THE MAIN CABIN

The cabin doors on the bookcase swing open and dump books

on top of Alice. She turns and looks at the mess,

annoyed.

EXT. DECK - SAME

SKIPPER:

Furl the squares, reef the main, and

bend on the storm jib, but keep it

furled. Drop everything but the

inner jib. I want everybody down

before we get any lightning.

Bill bolts forward with Lawford barking orders. Most of

the crew are still ill, but climb into the rigging and

begin dropping sail.

GEORGE:

Why's it always happen at night?

Skipper regards George, annoyed.

SKIPPER:

George... I want hot food in

everybody. Get to it.

George returns to the galley. Alice joins Skipper at the

wheelhouse handing him foul-weather gear.

ALICE:

Looks like weather.

SKIPPER:

Yep.

He slips on a yellow slicker.

SKIPPER:

Do me a favor and tell Bill once

she's dogged down I want everyone to

break out their slickers and make

sure their gear is stowed or we'll

spend the next week sorting

underwear.

(to the others)

Lawford, Bill, Mike, John, and Phil

will stand the watch. Everyone else

hit the racks.

PHIL:

(impulsively)

I'm not staying out here.

Skipper fires off a look that frightens even Phil.

SKIPPER:

No. That's for sure. Charlie, take

his place.

Phil goes below, a little ashamed. The crew scatters.

Chuck, still at the wheel, pipes up.

CHUCK:

If it's all the same, I'd like to

stay on deck.

Skipper regards Chuck, who looks back with both fear and

eagerness. Suddenly he sees something in this kid. Maybe

himself. He almost smiles. Almost.

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