第12页
It is the girl in the drawing. ROSE. She looks up at the ship, taking it in
with cool appraisal.
ROSE
I don't see what all the fuss is about. It doesn't look any bigger than the
Mauritania.
A PERSONAL VALET opens the door on the other side of the car for CALEDON
HOCKLEY, the 30 year old heir to the elder Hockley's fortune. "Cal" is
handsome, arrogant and rich beyond meaning.
CAL
You can be blase about some things, Rose, but not about Titanic. It's over a
hundred feet longer than Mauritania, and far more luxurious. It has squash
courts, a Parisian cafe... even Turkish baths.
Cal turns and fives his hand to Rose's mother, RUTH DEWITT BUKATER, who
descends from the touring car being him. Ruth is a 40ish society empress,
from one of the most prominent Philadelphia families. She is a widow, and
rules her household with iron will.
CAL
Your daughter is much too hard to impress, Ruth.
(indicating a puddle)
Mind your step.
RUTH
(gazing at the leviathan)
So this is the ship they say is unsinkable.
CAL
It is unsinkable. God himself couldn't sink this ship.
Cal speaks with the pride of a host providing a special experience.
This entire entourage of rich Americans is impeccably turned out, a
quintessential example of the Edwardian upper class, complete with servants.
Cal's VALET, SPICER LOVEJOY, is a tall and impassive, dour as an undertaker.
Behind him emerge TWO MAIDS, personal servants to Ruth and Rose.
A WHITE STAR LINE PORTER scurries toward them, harried by last minute
loading.
PORTER
Sir, you'll have to check your baggage through the main terminal, round that
way--
Cal nonchalantly hands the man a fiver. The porter's eyes dilate. Five
pounds was a monster tip in those days.
CAL
I put my faith in you, good sir.
(MORE)
CAL (CONT'D)
(curtly, indicating Lovejoy)
See my man.
PORTER
Yes, sir. My pleasure, sir.
Cal never tires of the effect of money on the unwashed masses.
LOVEJOY
(to the porter)
These trunks here, and 12 more in the Daimler. We'll have all this lot up in
the rooms.
The White Star man looks stricken when he sees the enormous pile of steamer
trunks and suitcases loading down the second car, including wooden crates
and steel safe. He whistles frantically for some cargo-handlers nearby who
come running.
Cal breezes on, leaving the minions to scramble. He quickly checks his
pocket watch.
CAL
We'd better hurry. This way, ladies.
He indicates the way toward the first class gangway. They move into the