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crewman rushes in anxiously and almost blurts to the Master at Arms--
CREWMAN
You're wanted by the Purser, sir. Urgently.
LOVEJOY
Go on. I'll keep an eye on him.
Lovejoy pulls a pearl handled Colt .45 automatic from under his coat. The
Master at Arms nods and tosses the handcuff key to Lovejoy, then exits with
the crewman. Lovejoy flips the key in the air. Catches it.
CUT TO:
171 INT. BRIDGE
Junior Wireless Operator Bride is relaying a message to Captain Smith from
the CUNARD LINER CARPATHIA.
BRIDE
Carpathia says they're making 17 knots, full steam for them, sir.
SMITH
And she's the only one who's responding?
BRIDE
The only one close, sir. She says they can be here in four hours.
SMITH
Four hours!
The enormity of it hits Smith like a sledgehammer blow.
SMITH
Thank you, Bride.
He turns as Bride exits, and looks out onto the blackness.
SMITH
(to himself)
My God.
CUT TO:
172 EXT. BOAT DECK - NIGHT
Lightoller has his boats swung out. He is standing amidst a crowd of
uncertain passengers in all states of dress and undress. One first class
woman is barefoot. Others are in stockings. The maitre of the restaurant is
in top hat and overcoat. Others are still in evening dress, while some are
in bathrobes and kimonos. Women are wearing lifebelts over velvet gowns,
then topping it with sable stoles. Some brought jewels, others books, even
small dogs.
Lightoller sees Smith walking stiffly toward him and quickly goes to him. He
yells into the Captain's ear, through cupped hands, over the roar of the
steam...
LIGHTOLLER
Hadn't we better get the women and children into the boats, sir?
Smith just nods, a bit abstractly. The fire has gone out of him. Lightoller
sees the awesome truth in Smith's face.
LIGHTOLLER
(to the men)
Right! Start the loading. Women and children!
The appalling din of escaping steam abruptly cuts off, leaving a sudden
unearthly silence in which Lightoller's voice echoes.
ON WALLACE HARTLEY raising his violin to play.
HARTLEY
Number 26. Ready and--
The band has reassembled just outside the First Class Entrance, port side,
near where Lightoller is calling for the boats to be loaded. They strike up
a waltz, lively and elegant. The music wafts all over the ship.
LIGHTOLLER
Ladies, please. Step into the boat.
Finally one woman steps across the gap, into the boat, terrified of the drop
to the water far below.