Quote from Film
In steerage, Fabrizio comes out into the hall to see what’s going on. He sees dozens of rats running by.
FABRIZIO
Ma-- che cazzo!
TOMMY
Cor!! What in hell--?!
He snaps on the light. The floor is covered
with 3 inches of freezing water, and more coming in. He pulls
the door open, and steps out into the corridor, which is flooded. Fabrizio
is running toward him, yelling something in
Italian. Tommy and Fabrizio start pounding on doors, getting everybody
up and out. The alarm spreads in several
languages.
CUT TO:
A couple of people have come out into the corridor in robes and slippers. A STEWARD hurries along, reassuring them.
WOMAN
Why have the engines stopped? I felt a shudder?
STEWARD #1
I shouldn't worry, m'am. We've likely thrown a
propeller blade, that's the shudder you felt. May I
bring you anything?
THOMAS ANDREWS brushes past them, walking
fast and carrying an armload of rolled up ship's
plans.
CUT TO:
Jack and Rose are leaning over the starboard rail, looking at the hull of the ship.
JACK
Looks okay, I don't see anything.
ROSE
Could it have damaged the ship?
JACK
It didn't seem like much of a bump. I'm sure we're
okay.
Behind them
a couple of steerage guys are kicking the ice around the deck, laughing.
CUT TO:
Fabrizio and Tommy are in a crowd of steerage men clogging the corridors, heading aft away from the flooding. Many of them have grabbed suitcases and duffel bags, some of which are soaked.
TOMMY
If this is the direction the rats were runnin', it's good
enough for me.
CUT TO:
Bruce Ismay, dressed in pajamas under a topcoat, hurries down the corridor, headed for the bridge. An officious steward named BARNES comes along the other direction, getting the few concerned passengers back into their rooms.
STEWARD BARNES
There's no cause for alarm. Please, go back to your
rooms.
He is stopped in his tracks by Cal and Lovejoy.
STEWARD BARNES
Please, sir. There's no emergency--
CAL
Yes there is, I've been robbed. Now get the Master at
Arms. Now, you moron!
CUT TO:
He turns to Andrews, standing behind him.
SMITH
A five degree list in less than ten minutes.
SHIPS CARPENTER JOHN HUTCHINSON enters
behind him, out of breath and clearly unnerved.
HUTCHINSON
She's making water fast... in the forepeak tank and
the forward holds, and in boiler room six.
ISMAY enters, his movements quick with
anger and frustration. Smith glances at him with annoyance.
ISMAY
Why have we stopped?
SMITH
We've struck ice.
ISMAY
Well, do you think the ship is seriously damaged?
SMITH
(glaring)
Excuse me.
Smith pushes past him, with Andrews and Hutchinson in tow.
CUT TO:
Stokers and firemen are struggling to draw the fires. They are working in waist deep water churning around them as it flows into the boiler room, ice cold and swirling with grease from the machinery. Chief Engineer Bell comes partway down the ladder and shouts.
BELL
That's it, lads. Get the hell up!
They scramble up the escape ladders.
CUT TO:
The gentleman, now joined by another man, leans
on the forward rail watching the steerage men
playing soccer with chunks of ice.
GENTLEMAN
I guess it's nothing serious. I'm going back to my
cabin to read.
A 20ish YALE MAN pops through the door wearing a topcoat over pajamas.
YALEY
Say, did I miss the fun?
Rose and Jack come up the stairs from the well
deck, which are right next to the three men. They stare as the couple climbs
over the locked gate.
A moment later Captain Smith rounds the corner, followed by Andrews and Carpenter Hutchinson. They have come down from the bridge by outside stairs. The three men, their faces grim, brush right past Jack and Rose. Andrews barely glances at her.
SMITH
Can you shore up?
HUTCHINSON
Not unless the pumps get ahead.
The inspection party goes down the stairs to the well deck.
JACK
(low, to her)
It's bad.
ROSE
We have to tell Mother and Cal.
JACK
Now it's worse.
ROSE
Come with me, Jack. I jump, you jump... right?
JACK
Right.
Jack follows Rose through the door inside the ship.
LOVEJOY
We've been looking for you miss.
Lovejoy follows and, unseen, moves behind
Jack and smoothly slips the diamond necklace into the pocket
of his overcoat.
CUT TO:
Cal and Ruth wait in the sitting room, along with the Master at Arms and two stewards (Steward #1 and Barnes). Silence as Rose and Jack enter. Ruth closes her robe at her throat when she sees Jack.
ROSE
Something serious has happened.
CAL
That's right. Two things very dear to me have disappeared
this evening. Now that one is back...
(he looks from Rose to Jack)
... I have a pretty good idea where to find the other.
(to Master at Arms)
Search him.
The Master at Arms steps to Jack.
MASTER AT ARMS
Coat off, mate.
Lovejoy pulls at Jack's coat and Jack
shakes his head in dismay, shrugging out of it. The Master at
Arms pats him down.
JACK
This is horse shit.
ROSE
Cal, you can't be serious! We're in the middle of an
emergency and you--
Steward Barnes pulls the Heart of the Ocean out of the pocket of Jack's
coat.
STEWARD BARNES
It this it?
Rose is stunned. Needless to say, so is Jack.
CAL
That's it.
MASTER AT ARMS
Right then. Now don't make a fuss.
He starts to handcuff Jack.
JACK
Don't you believe it, Rose. Don't!
ROSE
(uncertain)
He couldn't have.
CAL
Of course he could. Easy enough for a professional.
He memorized the combination when you opened the
safe.
FLASHBACK: Rose at the safe, looking in
the mirror and meeting Jack's eyes as he stands behind her, watching.
ROSE
But he was with me the whole time.
CAL
(just to her, low and cold)
Maybe he did it while you were putting your clothes
back on.
JACK
They put it in my pocket!
LOVEJOY
(holding Jack's coat)
It's not even your pocket, son.
(reading)
"Property of A.L. Reyerson".
Lovejoy shows the coat to the Master at
Arms. There is a label inside the collar with the owners name.
MASTER AT ARMS
That was reported stolen today.
JACK
I was going to return it! Rose--
Rose feels utterly betrayed, hurt and confused.
She shrinks away from him. He starts shouting to her as
Lovejoy and the Master at Arms drag him out into the hall. She can't look
him in the eye.
JACK
Rose, don't listen to them... I didn't do this! You
know I didn't! You know it!
She is devastated. Her
mother lays a comforting hand on her shoulder as the tears well up.
RUTH
Why do women believe men?
CUT TO:
Smith and Andrews come down the steps to the mail sorting room and find the clerks scrambling to pull mail from the racks. They are furiously hauling wet sacks of mail up from the hold below.
Andrews climbs partway down the stairs to the
hold, which is almost full. Sacks of mail float
everywhere. The lights are still on below the
surface, casting an eerie glow. The Renault is visible under
the water,. the brass glinting cheerfully. Andrews looks down as the water
covers his shoe, and scrambles back up the
stairs.
CUT TO:
Andrews unrolls a big drawing of the ship across the chartroom table. It is a side elevation, showing all the watertight bulkheads. His hands are shaking. Murdoch and Ismay hover behind Andrews and the Captain.
ISMAY
When can we get underway, do
you think?
Smith glares at him and turns his attention
to Andrews' drawing. The builder points to it for emphasis as
he talks.
ANDREWS
Water 14 feet above the keel in ten minutes... in the
forepeak... in all three holds... and boiler room six.
SMITH
That's right.
ANDREWS
Five compartments. She can stay afloat with the first
four compartments breached. But not five. Not five.
As she goes down by the head the water will spill over
the tops of the bulkheads... at E Deck... from one to
the next... back and back. There's no stopping it.
SMITH
The pumps--
ANDREWS
The pumps will buy you time... but minutes only. From
this moment, no matter what we do, Titanic will founder.
ISMAY
But this ship can't sink!
ANDREWS
She is made of iron, sir. I assure you, she can. And
she will. It is a mathematical certainty.
Smith looks like he has been gutpunched.
SMITH
How much time?
ANDREWS
An hour, two at most.
Ismay reels as his dream turns into his worst nightmare.
SMITH
And how many aboard, Mr. Murdoch?
MURDOCH
Two thousand two hundred souls aboard, sir.
A long beat. Smith turns to face his employer.
SMITH
I believe you may get your headlines, Mr. Ismay.
CUT TO:
Andrews is standing along the boat deck, as seamen and officers scurry to uncover the boats. Steam is venting from the pipes in the funnels overhead, and the din is horrendous. Speech is difficult adding to the crew's level of disorganization. Andrews sees some men fumbling with the mechanism of one of the Wellin davits and yells to them over the roar of steam.
ANDREWS
Turn to the right! Pull the falls taut before you
unchock. Have you never had a boat drill?
SEAMAN
No sir! Not with these new davits, sir.
CUT TO:
From inside the sitting room they can here knocking and voices in the corridor.
RUTH
I had better go dress.
Ruth exits and Hockley crosses to Rose. He regards
her coldly for a moment, then SLAPS her across the
face.
CAL
It is a little slut, isn't it?
To Rose the blow is inconsequential compared
to the blow her heart has been given. Cal grabs her
shoulders roughly.
CAL
Look at me, you little--
There is a loud knock on the door and
an urgent voice. The door opens and their steward puts his
head in.
STEWARD BARNES
Sir, I've been told to ask you to please put on your
lifebelt, and come up to the boat deck.
CAL
Get out. We're busy.
The
steward persists, coming in to get the lifebelts down from on top of a
dresser.
BARNES
I'm sorry about the inconvenience, Mr. Hockley, but
it's Captain's orders. Please dress warmly, it's quite
cold tonight.
(he hands a lifebelt to Rose)
Not to worry, miss, I'm sure it's just a precaution.
CAL
This is ridiculous.
In the corridor outside the stewards are
being so polite and obsequious they are conveying no sense of
danger whatsoever. However, it's another story in...
CUT TO:
BLACKNESS. Then BANG! The door is thrown open and the light snapped on by a steward. The Cartmell family rouses from a sound sleep.
STEWARD #2
Everybody up. Let's go. Put your lifebelts on.
IN THE CORRIDOR outside, another steward
is going from door to door along the hall, pounding and
yelling.
STEWARD #3
Lifebelts on. Lifebelts on. Everybody up, come on.
Lifebelts on...
People come out of the doors behind the
steward, perplexed. In the foreground a SYRIAN WOMAN asks
her husband what was said. He shrugs.
CUT TO:
ON PHILLIPS, looking shocked.
PHILLIPS
CQD, sir?
SMITH
That's right. The distress Cal. CQD. Tell whoever
responds that we are going down by the head and need
immediate assistance.
Smith hurries out.
PHILLIPS
Blimey.
BRIDE
Maybe you ought to try sending that new distress call...
S.O.S.
(grinning)
It may be our only chance to use it.
Phillips laughs in spite of himself and
starts sending history's first S.O.S. Dit dit dit, da da da, dit dit
dit... over and over.
CUT TO:
Thomas Andrews looks around in amazement. The deck is empty except for the crew fumbling with the davits. He yells over the roar of the steam to First Officer Murdoch.
ANDREWS
Where are all the passengers?
MURDOCH
They've all gone back inside. Too damn cold and
noisy for them.
Andrews feels like he is in a bad dream. He looks
at his pocketwatch and heads for the foyer entrance.
CUT TO:
A large number of First Class passengers have gathered near the staircase. They are getting indigent about the confusion. Molly Brown snags a passing YOUNG STEWARD.
MOLLY
What's doing, sonny? You've got us all trussed up
and now we're cooling our heels.
The YOUNG STEWARD backs away, actually stumbling on the stairs.
YOUNG STEWARD
Sorry, mum. Let me go find out.
The jumpy piano rhythm of "Alexander's
Ragtime Band" comes out of the first class lounge a few yard
away. Band leader WALLACE HARTLEY has assembled some of his men on Captain’s
orders, to allay panic.
Hockley's entourage comes up to the A-deck foyer.
Cal is carrying the lifebelts, almost as an
afterthought. Rose is like a sleepwalker.
CAL
It's just the God damned English doing everything by
the book.
RUTH
There's no need for language, Mr. Hockley.
(to Trudy)
Go back and turn the heater on in my room, so it
won't be too cold when we get back.
Thomas Andrews enters, looking around
the magnificent room, which he knows is doomed. Rose,standing nearby, sees
his heartbroken expression. She walks over to him and Cal goes after her.
ROSE
I saw the iceberg, Mr. Andrews. And I see it in your
eyes. Please tell me the truth.
ANDREWS
The ship will sink.
ROSE
You're certain?
ANDREWS
Yes. In an hour or so.. all this.. will be at the
bottom of the Atlantic.
CAL
My God.
Now it is Cal's turn to look stunned. The Titanic? Sinking?
ANDREWS
Please tell only who you must, I don't want to be
responsible for a panic. And get to a boat quickly.
Don't wait. You remember what I told you about the
boats?
ROSE
Yes, I understand. Thankyou.
Andrews goes off, moving among the passengers
and urging them to put on their lifebelts and get to
the boats.
CUT TO:
Lovejoy and the Master at Arms are handcuffing
Jack to a 4" WATER PIPE as a 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:
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 she 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 into the blackness.
SMITH
(to himself)
My God.
CUT TO:
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
(indicating the boat)
Ladies, this way.
No one moves. A couple of women look down
the side of the ship. It's a long way to the water. With the
steam cut off, and the music playing, the ship seems very safe and sound.
Like a big rock in the middle of the ocean.
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.
WOMAN IN CROWD
You watch. They'll put us off in these silly little boats
to freeze, and we'll all be back on board by breakfast.
CAL, ROSE AND RUTH come out of the doors near the band.
RUTH
My, brooch, I left my brooch. I must have it!
She turns back to go to her room but Cal
takes her by the arm, refusing to let her go. The firmness of his
hold surprises her.
CAL
Stay here, Ruth.
Ruth sees his expression, and knows fear for the first time.
CUT TO:
It is chaos, with stewards pushing their way through narrow corridors clogged with people Carrying suitcases, duffel bags, children. Some have lifebelts on, others don't.
STEWARD #2
(to Steward #3)
I told the stupid sods no luggage. Aw, bloody hell!
He throws up his hands at the sight of a family,
loaded down with cases and bags completely blocking
the corridor.
Fabrizio and Tommy push past the stewards, going the other way. They reach a huge crowd gathered at the bottom of the MAIN 3RD CLASS STAIRWELL. Fabrizio spots Helga with the rest of the Dahl family, standing patiently with suitcases in hand. He reached her and she grins, hugging him.
Tommy pushes to where he can see what's holding up the group. There is a steel gate across the top of the stairs, with several stewards and seamen on the other side.
STEWARD
Stay calm, please. It's not time to go up to the boats yet.
Near Tommy, an IRISHWOMEN stands stoically
with two small children and their battered luggage.
LITTLE BOY
What are we doing, mummy?
WOMAN
We're just waiting, dear. When they finish putting
First Class people in the boats, they'll be startin' with
us, and we'll want to be all ready, won't we?
CUT TO:
Boat 7 is less than half full, with 28 aboard a boat made for 65.
MURDOCH
Lower away! By the left and right together, steady
lads!
The boat lurches as the falls start to
pay out through the pulley blocks. Them women gasp. The boat descends,
swaying and jerking, toward the water 60 feet below. The passengers are
terrified.
CUT TO:
TRACKING along the rows of portholes angling down
into the water. Under the surface, they glow green.
Pushing in on one porthole which is half submerged. Inside we see Jack,
looking
apprehensively at the water rising up the glass.
INSIDE THE MASTER AT ARMS' OFFICE Jack sits chained to the waterpipe, next to the porthole. Lovejoy sits on the edge of a desk. He puts a .45 bullet on the desk and watches it roll across and fall off. He picks up the bullet.
LOVEJOY
You know... I believe this ship may sink.
(crosses to Jack)
I've been asked to give you this small token of our
appreciation...
He punches Jack in the stomach, knocking the wind out of him.
LOVEJOY
Compliments of Mr. Caledon Hockley.
Lovejoy flips the handcuff key into the
air. catches it and puts it in his pocket. He exits. Jack is left
gasping, handcuffed to the pipe.
CUT TO:
At the stairwell rail on the bridge wing, Fourth Officer Boxhall and Quartermaster Rowe light the first distress rocket. It shoots into the sky and EXPLODES with a thunderclap over the ship, sending out white starbursts which light up the entire deck as they fall.
WHIP PAN off the starbursts to Ismay. The Managing
Director of White Star Line is cracking.
Already at the breaking point from his immense
guilt, the rocket panics him. He starts shouting a the officers
struggling with the falls of BOAT 5.
ISMAY
There is no time to waste!
(yelling and waving his arms)
Lower away! Lower away! Lower away!
FIFTH OFFICE LOWE, a baby-faced 28, and
the youngest officer, looks up from the tangled falls at the
madman.
LOWE
Get out of the way, you fool!
ISMAY
Do you know who I am?
Lowe, not having a clue nor caring, squares up to Ismay.
LOWE
You're a passenger. And I'm a ship's bloody officer.
Now do what you're told!
(turning away)
Steady men! Stand by the falls!
ISMAY
(numbly, backing away)
Yes, quite right. Sorry.
CUT TO:
SECOND OFFICER LIGHTOLLER is loading the boat nearest Cal and Rose... Boat 6.
LIGHTOLLER
Women and children only! Sorry sir, no men yet.
Another rocket bursts overhead, lighting
the crowd. Startled faces turn upward. Fear now in the eyes.
DANIEL MARVIN has his Biograph camera set up, cranking away... hoping to get an exposure off the rocket's light. He was Mary posed in front of the scene at the boats.
MARVIN
You're afraid, darling. Scared to death. That's it!
Either she has suddenly learned to act or she is petrified.
ROSE watches the farewells taking place right
in front of her as they step closer to the boat.
Husbands saying goodbye to wives and children.
Lovers and friends parted. Nearby MOLLY is
getting a reluctant woman to board the boat.
MOLLY
Come on, you heard the man. Get in the boat, sister.
RUTH
Will the lifeboats be seated according to class? I hope
they're not too crowded--
ROSE
Oh, Mother shut up!
(Ruth freezes, mouth open)
Don't you understand? The water is freezing and there
aren't enough boats... not enough for half. Half on the
people on this ship are going to die.
CAL
Not the better half.
PUSH ON ROSE'S FACE as it hits her like
a thunderbolt. Jack is third class. He doesn’t stand a chance.
Another rocket bursts overhead, bathing her face in white light.
ROSE
You unimaginable bastard.
MOLLY
Come on Ruth, get in the boat. These are the first
class seats right up here. That's it.
Molly practically hands her over to Lightoller,
then looks for some other women who might need a
push.
MOLLY
Come on, Rose. you're next, darlin'.
Rose steps back, shaking her head.
RUTH
Rose, get in the boat!
ROSE
Goodbye, Mother.
Ruth, standing in the tippy lifeboat, can
do nothing. Cal grabs Rose's arm but she pulls free and walks
away through the crowd. Cal catches up to Rose and grabs her again, roughly.
CAL
Where are you going? To him? Is that it? To be a
whore to that gutter rat?
ROSE
I'd rather be his whore than your wife.
He clenches his jaw and squeezes her arm
viciously, pulling her back toward the lifeboat. Rose pulls out
a hairpin and jabs him with it. He lets go with a curse and she runs into
the crowd.
LIGHTOLLER
Lower away!!
RUTH
Rose! ROSE!!
MOLLY
Stuff a sock in it, would ya, Ruth. She'll be along.
The boat lurches downward as the falls are paid out.
TRACKING WITH ROSE, as she runs through the clusters of people. She looks back and a furious Cal is coming after her. She runs breathlessly up to two proper looking men.
ROSE
That man tried to take advantage of me in the crowd!
Appalled they turn to see Cal running toward
them. Rose runs on as the two men grab Cal, restraining him.
She runs through the First Class entrance.
Cal breaks free and runs after her. He reaches the entrance, but runs into a knot of people coming out. He pushes rudely through them...
CUT TO:
Cal runs in, and down the landing, pushing past the gentlemen and ladies who are filing up the stairs. He scans the A-Deck foyer. Rose is gone.
CUT TO:
HICHENS
Keep pulling... away from the ship. Pull.
MOLLY
Ain't you boys ever rowed before? Here, gimme
those oars. I'll show ya how it's done.
She climbs over Ruth to get at the oars, stepping on her feet.
Around them the evacuation is in full swing, with the boats in the water, others being lowered.
CUT TO:
Jack pulls on the pipe with all his strength. It's not budging. He hears a gurgling sound. Water pours under the door, spreading rapidly across the floor.
JACK
Shit.
he
tries to pull one hand out of the cuffs, working until the skin is raw...
no good.
JACK
Help!! Sombody!! Can anybody hear me?!
(to himself)
This could be bad.