269 EXT.
UNDERWATER – DAY 269
The Sea Cliff and the Turtle are handling the foam tanks and hoses.
270 FULL
SHOT – DECK OF THE TITANIC, UNDERWATER 270
The Deep Quest is moving just above the deck and its grappling arm at the ready.
271 INT.
DEEP QUEST – SEAGRAM, MUNK, WILLIS AND
Seagram,
Munk and Willis are in the forward sphere.
underwater and he’s fascinated.
MUNK
So, they finally let you come down
with us. I thought you’d never
make it.
SEAGRAM
So did I.
MUNK
There’s no time like the first
time. How’s it look to you.
SEAGRAM
Nothing like I expected.
WILLIS
It gives me the willies, you know
that?
MERKER
What do you mean?
272 OMITTED 272
273 ANOTHER
ANGLE 273
WILLIS
I don’t know. Just thinking
about all the people that went
down in that thing. A floating
palace they called it. Diamonds
and gold and women in fur coats.
Drinking champagne and laughing
it up.
Lots of rich people. Having a
good time. Not worrying about
anything.
WILLIS
All that money.
It didn’t help.
274 EXT.
DEEP QUEST, UNDERWATER 274
We SEE one of the foam hoses out of control. It snakes up and wiggles around in the water and drops down
into the tangle of junk in a smokestack well.
275 INT.
TURTLE 275
Klink, Pitt and Drummer are on board. Klink is at the radio.
KLINK
Deep Quest. This is Turtle.
We just lost a hose. Can you
lasso it for us?
MERKER (V.O.)
(filter)
This is Deep Quest. Can do. We
just spotted it.
276 DEEP
QUEST – LONG SHOT – UNDERWATER 276
Trying to free the foam hose. Deep Quest’s grappling arm hangs up in the tangle of the wire and steel cable.
It reverses its engine, pulls back and tries to free itself. At last it wrenches free but the engine’s power pulls it
down back and out of control. It crashes stern first in to a skylight above the Titanic’s great salon, breaks
through and lodges there.
277 INT.
DEEP QUEST 277
Seagram on the U.Q.C.
MUNK
Control . . . this is Deep Quest.
We’re in trouble down here.
We’re hung up and can’t get loose.
278 FULL
SHOT – TITANIC DECK 278
The Turtle appears and moves across to the Deep Quest.
279 INT.
TURTLE 279
Pitt surveys the situation. Klink and Drummer are with him.
PITT
Son of a gun. They’ve got
themselves locked into that
skylight.
280 EXT.
OCEAN SURFACE – WIDE SHOT 280
We see the entire flotilla
GIORDINO (V.O.)
Deep Quest . . . this is Control . . .
We read you weak and garbled . . .
Say again, over . . .
281 INT.
DEEP QUEST 281
They’re taking on water. The U.Q.C. SOUND BLURS OUT.
MUNK
That’s it. We just lost communication.
No reception either?
MUNK
Nothing. Dead as a dog.
Switch to the emergency unit and keep
trying.
282 EXT.
MODOC DECK 282
The crane brings the Turtle aboard. The hatch opens and Pitt climbs out. Burke and Sandecker cross to
meet him.
BURKE
How’s it look down there?
PITT
(shakes his head)
No good. Seagram picked up a lousy
day to go underwater exploring.
SANDECKER
Seagram? Who the heck authorized
him for submersible duty?
282A SINGLE
– PITT 282A
PITT
(after a beat)
I did.
283 TRAVELLING
SHOT 283
Pitt, Sandecker and Burke head for the chart room.
BURKE
What’s the problem?
PITT
They’re jammed into that skylight
like a cork in a bottle.
284 INT.
DEEP QUEST – UNDERWATER 284
The power is almost gone and the air is getting worse. There is nothing that they can do but wait and watch
the submersibles through the window.
They can’t cut us loose.
WILLIS
Sure, they can.
285 EXT.
SEA CLIFF – DEEP QUEST’S POV 285
The crew is trying with the twin grappling arms to get the Deep Quest free. But they are having no luck.
What if they can’t?
286
Pitt is checking the charts and the Titanic’s structural drawings.
PITT
We’re fighting time. They’ve lost
most of their power and their air
supply’s going. They’ll be lucky
if it lasts for six hours.
SANDECKER
So what are the choices?
PITT
No choices. We don’t have any.
If there’s no way we can bring
that submersible up, then we’ll
have to bring the Titanic up.
GIORDINO
In six hours?
SANDECKER
How can we do that? Our target
date is two weeks away.
PITT
Our target date just got changed.
287 EXT.
UNDERWATER – A NEW ANGLE 287
On the trapped Deep Quest.
287A INT.
DEEP QUEST 287A
Dear God . . . we’re up the creek.
SEAGRAM
No, we’re not. Pitt’ll come
up with something.
288
BURKE AND WOODSON
Pitt has pictures and diagrams of the Titanic spread out on the table.
PITT
Here’s what we have to do. Eighty
charges each one containing a
hundred pounds of explosives, at
these key points under the Titanic’s
hull.
(he looks at Sandecker)
Why are you shaking your head?
SANDECKER
It’s not just my head. I’m shaking
all over. Those charges are almost
double then what we’d planned.
PITT
No choice. We need to shake her
as hard as we can to break the
suction. We don’t have all the
hydrozine tanks in place.
SANDECKER
That old hull could blow apart
like an orange crate.
PITT
That’s right. If that happens
we’ll lose four men. If we don’t
bring them up, we lost them
anyway. They’ve got two chances
to die and one chance to live.
289 ANOTHER
ANGLE 289
PITT
(after a long beat)
All right. We’ll detonate the
starboard charge first. Eight
seconds later, the first one on
the port side. Another eight
seconds, and we’re back to
starboard. We’ll alternate the
charges and rock it like a car
that’s stuck in the mud.
BURKE
How about a big charge at the bow?
Wouldn’t it be better to jolt her loose?
PITT
Too chancy. This way we’ll get
the vibration we need with less
risk to the men.
290 A
SERIES OF SHOTS 290
The explosives are being laid. EXTERIORS and INTERIOR SHOTS of the submersibles in action.
Action in the communications rooms and on the decks of the tenders. And Dirk Pitt is also in action.
291 SINGLE
– PITT 291
He walks to the railing of the Modoc and looks down at the water.
PITT
(mutters to himself)
Seagram, you chowderhead.
292 INT.
DEEP QUEST 292
WILLIS
It’s like we’re squeezed in a
vise or something.
Munk shoots a switch to full power. The electronic HUM INCREASES. A violent shudder runs through
the Deep Quest but it cannot break loose.
(still trying to activate the radio)
How long can we count on the
life-support system?
WILLIS
With four men, normally, we’d
have maybe twenty hours.
MUNK
( at the hydrophone)
Deep Quest to Control. Over.
(no answer, again)
Deep Quest to Control.
(almost to himself)
It might as well be twenty minutes.
MUNK
I can’t make contact . . .
He is cut short by a flash of red and the BUZZ of the ALARM system. Seagram looks quickly at the
instrument panel.
293 INSERT
– PRIMARY
The needle is on full discharge.
294 BACK
TO SCENE 294
(pointing to the indicator)
That’s why. The battery’s shot.
And then smoke pours through the compartment, rising in the darkness and obscuring everything as the
Deep Quest blacks out. The men are choking, gagging and gasping.
WILLIS
Holy Moly . . .
Munk snares four breathing masks from a storage bin. He passes them out as:
SEAGRAM
How does this change our timetable.
The men don the masks.
MUNK
I’d say we’ve got five hours.
Maybe a little more.
(behind the mask)
Maybe a little less.
295 EXT.
UNDERWATER – FULL SHOT – DAY 295
We SEE the trapped Deep Quest with the Sea Cliff hovering nearby.
295A EXT.
DEEP QUEST 295A
All the lights flicker, fade, and then go out.
296 INT.
DEEP QUEST – CREW 296
Expending as little energy as possible. Sparks from the short-circuited wires fly around them like fireworks.
The
men’s breathing is short and rapid. In
the b.g. the HUM of the AIR PURIFIER.
from the burning insulation.
Dang it . . . can’t we get some
more air in here?
MUNK
I’m holding down the scrubber, to
keep it going as long as possible.
WILLIS
The carbon dioxide’s building up.
SEAGRAM
The less we talk, the longer we’ve
got.
The SCRUBBER RUMBLES, BLANKS and then GOES SILENT. Seagram staggers through the smoke
to
the scrubber. He removes the plate, and
stares at the gauge.
fist.
MUNK
It’s no use. The emergency
batteries are dead.
How much time we got now?
MUNK
I don’t know.
He glances at the viewport.
297 THEIR
POV – SEA CLIFF 297
Still standing by.
298 INT.
SEA CLIFF – BOHANNON 298
He is on the hydrophone.
BOHANNON
Control . . . this is Sea Cliff. Looks
like the Deep Quest ran out of power.
299
On the phone.
PITT
(beat)
All right. Give it one more try.
See if you can nudge her loose.
BOHANNON (V.O.)
Roger . . . we’ll give it a shot.
PITT
Easy does it.
BOHANNON (V.O.)
Roger . . .
300 EXT.
UNDERWATER – SEA CLIFF 300
He maneuvers to close in on the Deep Quest. Ever so carefully her grappler reaches out, plucking at the
Deep Quest’s super-structure. The mechanical jaw slips. The Deep Quest shudders slightly.
301 INT.
DEEP QUEST – CREW 301
Reacting to the impact.
What the heck are they doing?
No answer.
302 EXT.
UNDERWATER – SEA CLIFF 302
Again, it approaches the Deep Quest. Again, the grapplers reach out, and this time closing over a metal
fitting. The submersible backs away, strains and the fitting breaks off. The Sea Cliff swings about and is
lost in the murk.
303 INT.
DEEP QUEST – CREW 303
Straining to watch through the viewport. Over their shoulders, the Sea Cliff is swallowed up in the black
ocean.
WILLIS
I guess that’s that.
Where in the world are they going?
MUNK
Take
it easy,
304 EXT.
OCEAN FLOOR – DEEP QUEST 304
Still pinned to the Titanic’s deck.
305 INT.
DEEP QUEST – CREW 305
Still
in darkness. The cold has taken its
toll.
on a pipe fitting. Willis’ lips move soundlessly. Seagram stands benumbed. Nobody speaks. Air is getting
more precious. And there is nothing to say.
306 EXT.
UNDERWATER 306
The explosive charge in the Sea Cliff’s claw bounces off the Titanic’s side RESOUNDINGLY. The
IMPACT is HEARD inside the Deep Quest.
307 INT.
DEEP QUEST 307
WILLIS
What was that?
He looks out the viewport.
308 HIS
POV – SEA CLIFF 308
Easing the charge to the ocean’s bottom.
309 INT.
SEA CLIFF – BOHANNON 309
Watches the charge on the screen above the panel. The electric cable to it is carefully paid out to join the
other cables over the Titanic’s hull.
BOHANNON
Activate the charge.
310
They’re among a group of Navy engineers and civilian scientists. They work with slide rules, consult the
computers and read the print-out sheets.
PITT
(on the hydrophone)
Control to Sea Cliff and Turtle.
We’re setting up a total of eighty
-- repeat eight zero charges. How
many have you got to go?
BOHANNON (V.O.)
(from the Sea Cliff)
Sea Cliff has twenty-eight set.
Twelve to go on starboard.
SPENCE (V.O.)
(from the Turtle)
Turtle has twenty-six set on port.
Fourteen to go.
PITT
When you hit thirty, set the
remaining ten at five yard
intervals. How long to complete
the procedure?
SPENCE (V.O.)
Maybe an hour and a half.
BOHANNON (V.O.)
Hour and a quarter.
PITT
I want it done in an hour.
He flips off the hydrophone.
311 EXT.
OCEAN FLOOR – TITANIC 311
With the Deep Quest nailed to the twisted crane. Along her starboard flank, the Sea Cliff plants the final
explosive charge.
The submersible swerves around the Titanic’s stern to the port side where the Turtle has completed the same
procedure.
BOHANNON (V.O.)
Control, this is Sea Cliff.
Explosives planted. All clear.
PITT (V.O.)
(from the
Roger.
SPENCE (V.O.)
Control, this is Turtle. All
charges secured.
312 INT.
He’s with Sandecker and Captain Burke.
PITT
(on the phone)
Sea Cliff, Turtle . . . This is
Control. Get the heck out of
there.
BOHANNON (V.O.)
Moving out, sir.
SPENCE (V.O.)
This is Turtle. Roger Pulling
away from the Titanic.
312A INT.
DEEP QUEST 312A
(excited)
I’m making contact. I can hear
Pitt’s voice. It’s weak but I can
hear him.
SEAGRAM
Let me talk to him.
Seagram takes over the apparatus.
SEAGRAM
(continuing)
Dirk . . . this is Seagram. What’s
happening up there?
PITT (V.O.)
No sweat. Everything’s on the
rails.
SEAGRAM
Don’t give me a snow job. What
are the odds?
PITT (V.O.)
All on your side.
SEAGRAM
Are we gonna blow the whole
operation?
312B
PITT
Not a chance. You’ll be home
for supper.
Pitt hangs up the phone. He turns to CHAVEZ at the detonator panel.
PITT
(continuing)
Activate the charges.
(glances at the bulkhead clock)
Start the countdown.
313 EXT.
OCEAN FLOOOR – SEA CLIFF AND TURTLE 313
With the Titanic in the b.g. The submersibles curl in a tight arc and begin their pull away from the Titanic.
The CAMERA PANS to COME IN TIGHT on the Titanic.
WILLIS (V.O.)
Look at that. What the heck
does that mean?
314 INT.
DEEP QUEST –
Almost no light now. The air is hazy, damp and humid.
SEAGRAM
I don’t know.
The heck you don’t. It means
they’re giving up on us.
(turns to Willis)
Dear God. They’re leaving us
down here.
SEAGRAM
(almost to himself)
No they’re not.
315 THEIR
POV 315
The submersibles continued to move off till they disappear FROM THE SHOT.
316 SERIES
OF SHOTS 316
As we HEAR THE COUNTDOWN, we SEE activity. Men are in action. Detonators are waiting, the
submersibles are surfacing, tense faces, and the Titanic waiting, black and heavy, for the explosives.
The cranes begin to hoist the submersibles aboard.
317
CHAVEZ
Five . . . four . . . three . . . two . . .
signal transmitting . . . mark!
318 OCEAN
FLOOR 318
We SEE EXPLOSIONS in a series as they go off along the hull of the Titanic. Clouds of silt and great
murky gobs of sediment blast up from the ocean floor.
318A INT.
DEEP QUEST 318A
Vibrating and recoiling under the concussion. Another CHARGE GOES OFF. The crew is slammed against
the bulkhead.
Holy Moly! What was that?
He is cut short as another EXPLOSION reverberates through the Deep Quest. And then silence. Nothing
moves. Seagram and Munk stare at each other.
MUNK
They’re trying to blast us loose.
SEAGRAM
Can they do it?
WILLIS
They’ll blow us to Hades and back.
You feel that? It feels like
the world’s starting to shake.
312B
They’re waiting and watching the Titanic on the screen.
CHAVEZ
Cycle completed. All charges
fired.
All eyes are riveted on the screen. Nothing.
318C UNDERWATER 318C
The Titanic sits solidly on the ocean floor. Suddenly two heavy BLASTS come from near the bow.
SANDECKER (V.O.)
What the heck was that?
PITT (V.O.)
Late hits. The last two charges
just went off.
Another long and heavy pause . . . At last, the Titanic begins to tremble and move.
SANDECKER (V.O.)
(excited)
Something’s happening. Something’s
moving down there.
GIORDINO (V.O.)
Come on, you mother-grabber . . .
Slowly, tortuously and grindingly, the huge hull rocks CREAKS, trembles and tears itself loose from the
bottom. Then, with an agonizing, wrenching GROAM, in a cloud of bubbles and silt, the stern angles up
slowly, the hull twists, sucks free and starts to rise . . . slowly, ponderously, then faster.
CHAVEZ (V.O.)
She’s coming! She’s coming!
Sure as Hades!
318D EXTREME
CLOSEUP – PITT 318D
PITT
(very quietly)
Well I’ll be . . . . we did it.
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