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FLEET WEEK: Evanescence
Screenplay by David Redstone
ADAPTED from the NOVEL:
Fleet Week: Evanescence
by David Redstone
Email Address: redstone@earthlink.net
Mobile Phone: 310-945-6414 (Pacific)
WGAw Reg #: 1704165
Copyright © 2011-2015 by David Redstone
This screenplay may not be used or reproduced without the
express written permission of the author.
EXT. DECK RAIL - WW2 JAPANESE DESTROYER - LATE AFTERNOON
A YOUNG JAPANESE OFFICER, 20s, stands against the rail and
peers through binoculars at a calm sea.
YOUNG JAPANESE OFFICER
Gen'yu! Gen'yu! (Oil! Oil!)
A SENIOR JAPANESE OFFICER, 30s, looks through his own
binoculars.
SENIOR JAPANESE OFFICER
Koko de,? (Where?)
The Young Officer points at an area on the surface.
YOUNG JAPANESE OFFICER
Aru! (There!)
The Senior Officer sights down the line of the man's arm.
He then raises and focuses his binoculars.
An oil slick appears through the lenses.
SENIOR JAPANESE OFFICER
Hai, watashi wa sore o sansho shite
kudasai! (Yes, I see it!)
He turns to face the CAPTAIN up on the bridge deck.
SENIOR JAPANESE OFFICER (CONT'D)
Wareware wa, shirei-kan, sorera o
hitto! (We hit them, Commander!)
The Captain motions to a BRIDGE OFFICER who holds a bullhorn.
He takes the bullhorn from him and clicks it ON.
JAPANESE DESTROYER CAPTAIN
Wareware wa amerika-jin o te ni sa
rete imasu! Omedeto, dansei! (We
have hit the Americans!
Congratulations, men!)
Men on deck cheer and wave their arms.
On a nearby destroyer, officers and crew also celebrate.
INT. BRIDGE - U.S. SUBMARINE - LATE AFTERNOON
The red-lit, steeply-angled bridge is a scene from Hell.
Pressurized water sprays from various pipes and fixtures.
Explosions erupt across navigational gear along bulkheads.
The shrieking cacophony is punctuated by bangs and pops.
A sonar scope shatters. Glass from smaller gauges cracks,
then shards explode out.
A flying glass sliver buries itself into a blond MAN'S cheek.
He grabs at his face, loses grip on a deck-mounted swivel
chair and tumbles into the down-angled forward bulkhead.
A depth meter needle passes three hundred fifty feet.
Huge vibrations rock the bridge. TWO MEN lose their footing
and slide down to the forward bulkhead.
Seawater jets through the seal around the closed aft hatch.
Half a dozen MEN - mouths open - cling to equipment handles,
cables and table edges. All struggle to cover their ears.
The sub's down-angle increases sharply.
The aft hatch breaks free and a cascade of seawater roars
through the opening.
The hatch cover plows into the CAPTAIN near the periscope.
He's driven into a mass of bodies at the forward bulkhead.
The red battle lights flicker, then the bridge goes black.
EXT. OCEAN
The stricken boat plunges in a slow-motion cartwheel.
Blue-white sparks suddenly form around the sail of the
submarine as it tumbles downward.
A blue-white electrified outline spreads across and around
the submarine and pulses for several seconds.
The light flickers out and the sub disappears into blackness.
A wrenching squeal rises from the depths as the hull crushes.
Then silence.
FADE TO BLACK.
EXT. FORECOURT - GRAUMAN'S CHINESE THEATRE - MORNING
(Current day)
It's warm and sunny at this famous Hollywood landmark.
A young couple, early 20s, crouches around the Star Trek
square of handprints and footprints. He's DEREK GARNETT,
fit, very good-looking. She's KRYSTEL JANELLI, model looks.
A TOURIST points a camera phone at them. The tourist clicks
a button, then hands the phone back to Krystel.
KRYSTEL
Thank you so much!
Derek frowns as he glances at a group on the forecourt.
He opens his cell phone, then closes it.
KRYSTEL (CONT'D)
Again?
DEREK
We need to get going. C'mon!
KRYSTEL
Can't we relax for even one minute?
DEREK
We have to be at the campus by...
KRYSTEL
Terrific, people! He's using a
stopwatch on our vacation!
A few tourists look their way and smile.
DEREK
Well, it's a working vacation.
They come together and walk towards the street.
KRYSTEL
Wait, you almost made me forget.
Krystel grabs his arm and leads him back to the forecourt.
KRYSTEL (CONT'D)
Our faves, right? You first.
DEREK
Where was she?
KRYSTEL
Back there.
They go to Natalie Wood's square. Derek hurriedly crouches.
Once again he glances around and frowns, then faces Krystel.
She snaps the picture.
KRYSTEL (CONT'D)
Oh wow, dazzling smile. What's up?
DEREK
Nothing. Where's Cary Grant?
KRYSTEL
That way.
At Grant's square, Krystel goes down to a knee and smiles.
She looks off to a group of tourists and drops her smile.
KRYSTEL (CONT'D)
Oh my God! There he is again!
DEREK
There's who?
KRYSTEL
I thought someone was... Never
mind, just go ahead.
Krystel poses quickly, and Derek takes the photo.
She straightens up and grabs his arm.
DEREK
That was no Julia Roberts smile.
KRYSTEL
C'mon, let's get away from here!
DEREK
I've been saying that all along.
They hurry onto the sidewalk, then towards an intersection.
Krystel looks back anxiously as they cross the street.
INT. TAXI - 405 FREEWAY SOUTH - LATE MORNING
RAY KELVIN, blond, early 20s, good looks, sits up front.
The taxi paces a yellow Mustang.
A freeway sign appears: Bellflower Blvd 1/2 Mile. The
Mustang maintains its speed and lane position.
TAXI DRIVER
Should I exit?
RAY
No. Keep following.
INT. MUSTANG - 405 FREEWAY SOUTH - CONTINUOUS
Derek grips the steering wheel hard and pushes back.
The wheel slips, the car swerves. He instantly corrects it.
Krystel looks at him sharply, then faces forward.
Derek's lips move as if he's speaking. No sound comes out.
He stares ahead, unblinking, very intense.
INT. TAXI - 405 FREEWAY SOUTH - CONTINUOUS
The Mustang goes right past the freeway exit ramp.
RAY
He's supposed to jump off here!
Okay, keep pacing him until...
TAXI DRIVER
Sir, look!
INT. MUSTANG - 405 FREEWAY SOUTH - CONTINUOUS
Derek abruptly spins the wheel to the right.
The tires impact a raised apron bordering the exit lane. The
Mustang goes airborne, then slams down onto the apron.
The left front fender nudges a water-filled crash barrel. It
half-spins, topples and rolls down into the right lane.
A tractor-trailer nails the barrel and it pops like a water
balloon. The truck veers into the next lane over.
Vehicles in the two right lanes swerve, horns blast, brakes
screech and blue smoke clouds rise from skidding tires.
The Mustang jumps off the apron, cuts into the off-ramp lane
and nearly crashes into another car.
INT. MUSTANG - BELLFLOWER BLVD EXIT - CONTINUOUS
Krystel rocks in the seat as Derek struggles with the wheel.
KRYSTEL
What the fuck are you DOING?
Derek pumps the brakes. The Mustang slows and he finally
gets it under control.
The car they almost hit passes by on the left.
The OLD MAN driver gives them the finger out of his window.
KRYSTEL (CONT'D)
He's right! You almost killed us!
DEREK
Sorry, I got distracted.
KRYSTEL
Jesus! I don't want to die in
California, okay?
The Mustang crawls towards the green light ahead, while the
old man makes his left turn easily.
The light changes to yellow, then red. Derek flips on his
right turn signal and stops.
KRYSTEL (CONT'D)
I thought you were in a hurry?
EXT. INTERSECTION - BELLFLOWER BLVD EXIT - CONTINUOUS
A HOMELESS MAN, late 30s, dirty and shabby, starts to cross.
He reaches the front of their car and pauses.
The man shambles back over to the passenger side, aims a
spray bottle at the windshield and squeezes.
INT. MUSTANG - BELLFLOWER BLVD INTERSECTION - CONTINUOUS
The man squints his eyes to slits at Krystel. He focuses on
her as he applies a ball of soggy newspaper to the glass.
Krystel fixates on him as he shuffles in front of their car.
He comes to Derek's door, then thrusts a blackened hand
through the open window.
HOMELESS MAN
Fer the trouble...
Derek pulls a bill from his shirt pocket and offers it.
The man snatches the bill and winks. He eyeballs Krystel a
moment, then slowly backs away.
KRYSTEL
I wish he'd have scoured the paint
off this stupid car! What a creep!
DEREK
Creep? Krys, he's homeless!
KRYSTEL
I don't mean because of that! I've
seen homeless... Just forget it.
The lights turn green but their car stays put.
A horn beeps from behind. Derek turns onto Bellflower Blvd.
KRYSTEL (CONT'D)
You didn't see him looking me over?
Like I'm an animal in a zoo.
DEREK
I was watching traffic.
KRYSTEL
Of course you were.
Krystel removes a phone from her purse, presses some buttons
and holds it to her ear.
She smiles as she closes the phone and puts it away.
KRYSTEL (CONT'D)
Big date for Uncle T. Luck-y girl!
DEREK
How come?
KRYSTEL
She gets to be wined and dined by a
genuine Navy SEAL.
DEREK
When does he want us there, again?
KRYSTEL
Around two o'clock, two-thirty.
DEREK
That's tight. We still have the
Arrowtail, then our yacht at six.
KRYSTEL
He's family, hon. It's just for an
hour or so.
DEREK
Couldn't we go tomorrow morning?
KRYSTEL
He's driving to Carmel, early.
DEREK
But that cuts it awfully close
today, so maybe...
KRYSTEL
Then you stay in the room and I'll
take a cab. I'm seeing him this
afternoon. End of story.
They pass a green sign on the right: UCLB Campus
DEREK
All right, I'll go. As long as he
doesn't kick my ass.
KRYSTEL
That was years ago. Whomever he
did that to, deserved it. Hey?
Everybody loves my Uncle Tom.
Derek drives straight through at the campus intersection.
KRYSTEL (CONT'D)
Are we going in another way?
DEREK
What?
KRYSTEL
I thought we would turn there.
DEREK
Oh shit!
Derek cuts into the turn lane and stops at the next light.
KRYSTEL
What's wrong?
DEREK
Nothing.
KRYSTEL
Bullshit.
DEREK
I missed the turn, so what?
KRYSTEL
You've been away from me ever since
we boarded the plane in Wichita!
DEREK
That's your imagination.
KRYSTEL
You're acting fucking weird.
DEREK
Maybe it's the conference. You
don't know my boss.
KRYSTEL
That thing's not 'til Wednesday.
DEREK
I have to go over some new stuff...
KRYSTEL
Screw your boss and his conference.
Derek makes a sharp, fast U-turn when the light changes.
INT. TAXI - BELLFLOWER BLVD - CONTINUOUS
Ray and the driver coast towards the intersection of
University of California, Long Beach (UCLB).
Ray spots the Mustang and scrunches down in the seat.
The light changes. The Mustang turns into the campus drive.
RAY
All right, go through and then hang
a right at the next street up.
EXT. TAXI - ROAD FROM BELLFLOWER BLVD - CONTINUOUS
RAY
I should be back in an hour. If
not, then take off, okay?
He hands the driver several bills and walks away.
TAXI DRIVER
Thank you, sir!
INT. TAXI - ROAD FROM BELLFLOWER BLVD - CONTINUOUS
The driver stuffs the cash into a shirt pocket. He glances
in his side view mirror.
It reflects Ray as he walks towards Bellflower Boulevard.
The driver reaches over, resets the meter, then straightens
up and again looks in the mirror.
He frowns and sticks his head out of the window.
The sidewalk is empty.
EXT. WALKWAY - UCLB CAMPUS - CONTINUOUS
Krystel aims her camera phone at a huge Blue Pyramid.
KRYSTEL
Beautiful! What's it used for?
DEREK
Sports. Basketball, mostly.
Concerts.
People emerge from buildings and start to crowd onto the
walkway as classes break. Derek points ahead.
DEREK (CONT'D)
Engineering.
Krystel steps onto the grass and aims her phone at the
engineering buildings.
On the phone screen, Ray Kelvin passes Derek on the walkway
and continues towards her.
Krystel looks up.
Their eyes lock. Ray then looks down and quickens his pace
as he passes her.
Derek discovers Krystel isn't with him. He stops, turns
around, and a STUDENT nearly collides with him.
Krystel catches up to Derek, grabs his arm.
DEREK (CONT'D)
Hey, what's the matter...
KRYSTEL
I saw him again!
DEREK
Him?
KRYSTEL
The guy at the Chinese theatre!
DEREK
Which one... Who?
Derek darts his eyes around - apprehensive, worried.
Krystel backtracks alongside the walkway and scans the moving
clusters of students.
Derek joins up with her.
DEREK (CONT'D)
Who is this guy?
KRYSTEL
He recognized me!
Krystel searches for a few seconds more, then gives up.
Derek takes her hand and they continue up-campus.
KRYSTEL (CONT'D)
At the theatre I felt someone was
watching me. I'm pretty sure I saw
him when we did Cary Grant!
DEREK
What did he look like?
KRYSTEL
Sad, blue eyes. Decent-looking.
It's funny...
As they near the Engineering buildings, Derek points.
DEREK
Aerospace Hall. Funny?
KRYSTEL
I've seen him before.
DEREK
Yeah, you said. At the theatre.
KRYSTEL
Before that. But if he knows me
why doesn't he introduce himself?
DEREK
He probably just looks a lot like
someone else you know. C'mon...
KRYSTEL
Why do we know each other all the
way out here? You and my uncle...
DEREK
There he is!
Derek lets go of her hand and rushes forward.
EXT. AEROSPACE HALL - UCLB CAMPUS - CONTINUOUS
PROFESSOR TARANTO, 40s, sits on a bench outside Aerospace
Hall. He smiles and stands as Derek approaches.
They shake hands, then Derek looks around for Krystel.
She walks towards them with exaggerated nonchalance.
DEREK
Great to see you! This is my...
(to Krystel)
Krys, hey, c'mon!
(to Professor Taranto)
My fiancée, Krystel Janelli. And
this is Professor Taranto.
Taranto slowly appraises her head-to-toe as they shake hands.
Krystel picks up on it.
KRYSTEL
Hello.
PROFESSOR TARANTO
Pleasure to meet you, Ms. Janelli.
KRYSTEL
Krystel. Thank you.
PROFESSOR TARANTO
Did you guys take a taxi here?
DEREK
No, we rented this.
Derek opens his phone to show him a picture of their Mustang.
Professor Taranto takes a long look.
PROFESSOR TARANTO
Very nice. So, you're here for the
airframe conference?
DEREK
Yeah. Well, Krys wanted to see the
area and visit her uncle, too.
KRYSTEL
Actually Derek insisted I come.
PROFESSOR TARANTO
I'm happy he did.
(to Derek)
You're in WISSY, right?
DEREK
Uh-huh. Testing a new composite.
KRYSTEL
WISSY? What's WISSY?
DEREK
Wing Structures, Surfaces and
Integrity.
KRYSTEL
(to Professor Taranto)
He never tells me anything.
DEREK
We're modeling vortical drag on
wing slats during landing. A new
carbon fiber composite down in the
physical test research lab...
KRYSTEL
Mister Propeller Head? I'll be at
the blue pyramid. You guys catch
up and geek out while I'm gone.
Professor Taranto glances at Derek and nods very slightly.
DEREK
Cool. We'll be done in a few.
EXT. AEROSPACE HALL - UCLB CAMPUS - CONTINUOUS
Ray Kelvin hangs out near the building front and absently
pages through a newspaper.
Professor Taranto gives Derek a black velvet bag. Derek
pockets it.
They speak softly. Ray strains to listen while trying to act
casual. He overhears the word "Goddess".
Ray watches Professor Taranto scribble on a pad, rip out the
page and hand it to Derek, who quickly folds and pockets it.
Krystel joins them. She and Derek shake hands with the
professor, then they start down-campus on the walkway.
EXT. WALKWAY - UCLB CAMPUS - CONTINUOUS
Derek and Krystel walk at a fast pace. Then Derek slows and
quickly glances over his shoulder.
KRYSTEL
A lech. You should Velcro a sponge
onto his chin.
DEREK
The professor? Nah, he's cool.
KRYSTEL
I'm telling you! He'd have taken
me right there on that bench.
DEREK
I didn't notice a thing.
KRYSTEL
I know. Are we leaving?
Derek looks behind them again.
DEREK
Yeah.
KRYSTEL
Good. I'm starved.
Krystel opens her purse and drops the phone inside it.
DEREK
Someone... Someone's following us.
Derek quickly pivots in front of Krystel to step onto the
grass. He knocks her purse to the ground.
She bends down to pick up items that spilled out.
KRYSTEL
Thanks a lot! Hey...
Derek backpedals along the grass and scans the walkway.
He sees Ray Kelvin - their eyes meet. Then Ray takes off.
EXT. GRASSY AREA - UCLB CAMPUS - CONTINUOUS
Ray looks over his shoulder as Derek chases him.
He heads towards the Performing Arts Center, then changes
direction and sprints for the Blue Pyramid.
Derek matches Ray's pace, just twenty yards behind.
EXT. WALKWAY - UCLB CAMPUS - CONTINUOUS
A FEMALE SECURITY GUARD, 30s, drives a cart across the grass.
A MALE SECURITY GUARD, 20s, sits next to her.
EXT. BLUE PYRAMID APRON - UCLB CAMPUS - CONTINUOUS
Ray veers to the right. His feet skitter, he loses balance,
then he falls and slides out of control.
A potted small tree set into the concrete stops him abruptly.
Ray holds his right side as he tries to stand.
Derek pushes Ray down into the pot. He grabs Ray's collar
and looks sharply into his eyes.
DEREK
You're one of them, aren't you?
He shakes Ray roughly.
DEREK (CONT'D)
I don't know you! Who are you?
EXT. GRASSY AREA - UCLB CAMPUS - CONTINUOUS
The security cart rolls towards the Blue Pyramid apron.
Krystel runs towards Ray and Derek.
KRYSTEL
Is it him?
EXT. BLUE PYRAMID APRON - UCLB CAMPUS - CONTINUOUS
Derek turns his head towards Krystel.
Ray raises both his legs and kicks Derek's chest.
Derek crashes back into two ASIAN STUDENTS behind. All three
fall in a heap.
Ray extricates himself from the tree pot, gets up and runs
towards a corner of the Blue Pyramid.
The security cart swerves and closely follows him.
EXT. VENDING MACHINE AREA - UCLB CAMPUS - CONTINUOUS
Ray tears around the corner of the Blue Pyramid, then darts
between a Coca-Cola machine and a candy machine.
He faces outward and folds his arms.
The security cart races in, then stops. The guards jump out.
MALE SECURITY GUARD
Where? Had to have come in here!
FEMALE SECURITY GUARD
Probably behind one of those. I'll
clear this area, right?
MALE SECURITY GUARD
Cool! I'll check the front!
He runs to the front apron of the Blue Pyramid.
The woman detaches a mace cylinder from her belt.
She checks in between and behind several vending machines.
FEMALE SECURITY GUARD
No need to hide, sir. You're not
in trouble. Let's just talk, if
that's okay with you? Sir?
She leans in between the Coca-Cola and candy machines.
Suddenly she straightens up and freezes.
The woman frowns, then moves off. Scared, she rapidly checks
the rest of the vending machine spaces.
Just before she gets into the cart, the woman turns and walks
to the space between the Coca-Cola and candy machines.
FEMALE SECURITY GUARD (CONT'D)
Sir?
Finally she climbs into the security cart and drives off.
EXT. BLUE PYRAMID APRON - UCLB CAMPUS - CONTINUOUS
The male guard stands near the two Asian students who were
knocked over with Derek.
The female guard pulls the cart close to him.
FEMALE SECURITY GUARD
Cleared. He pulled a Casper on us.
MALE SECURITY GUARD
Ah. This other guy and the woman
took off down-campus. Vanished.
FEMALE SECURITY GUARD
It's not even Halloween yet. Okay,
you drive and I'll report in.
INT. REAR TORPEDO ROOM - ARROWTAIL SUBMARINE - LATE AFTERNOON
Arrowtail is a Cold War-era Russian submarine docked next to
the hotel RMS Queen Georgina in Long Beach, California.
Krystel and Derek step through a hatch and look around at
various displays, gauges and tour information panels.
DEREK
You ready?
KRYSTEL
Yeah, I've seen enough.
Derek climbs up a vertical ladder towards an open hatch.
Krystel follows. She glances at three empty bunks stacked
alongside the bulkhead, then continues up.
Derek's legs disappear through the hatch above.
He repositions himself and looks back down into the hatchway.
He extends a hand down to Krystel.
As she climbs up, Krystel glances again at the bunks.
A burly MAN, early 20s, in old Navy dungarees and sailor cap,
materializes on the middle bunk. He lies on his side, arms
folded. The man smiles and winks at Krystel.
Her foot slips off a rung. She shouts, then the other foot
slips. She grabs the ladder rails but starts to slide down.
DEREK
Krys!
Her right hand catches a rung, then her foot clangs as it
hits a rung. She regains balance a few feet above the deck.
Krystel looks at Derek, then at the bunk. The man is gone.
She shakes her head and climbs up fast, then grabs Derek's
hand. He helps her through the hatchway.
INT. CABIN SUITE - QUEEN GEORGINA - EARLY EVENING
Krystel lies on her back upon a king-sized bed.
KRYSTEL
He had two moles on his neck...
DEREK (O.S.)
Huh?
KRYSTEL
I said can't we take a scenic drive
along the coast?
Derek comes to the bathroom doorway with a hand towel.
DEREK
A drive?
KRYSTEL
I'm so jet-lagged I'm seeing
things. Let's go to a beach and
just walk around?
Derek strides across the room and points out the porthole.
KRYSTEL (CONT'D)
I don't feel like being on a damn
boat, hon. Can we call it a day?
Derek stays put. Krystel groans, slowly gets off the bed and
drags herself to the porthole.
KRYSTEL (CONT'D)
Reminds me of the river back home.
DEREK
The sun sets in about an hour.
KRYSTEL
Let's go up on deck by the
smokestacks and watch from there!
DEREK
But I paid for a chartered yacht!
Fine, money down the drain. We'll
drive to Laguna instead.
KRYSTEL
It's just... Things have been so
crazy and I just want to cool down.
DEREK
I did see your uncle, babe. I knew
it was important to you.
KRYSTEL
Okay! Okay, the boat it is.
DEREK
You sure?
KRYSTEL
Uh-huh. I'm taking a nap, first.
Derek pulls out his phone and looks at the screen.
DEREK
Yeah, that works. I'll go to the
dock and check out the boat.
KRYSTEL
How long?
DEREK
Half an hour.
She kisses him, then jumps on the bed and gets under the
covers.
DEREK (CONT'D)
Should I turn out the lights?
KRYSTEL
Don't? Or I'll never wake up.
DEREK
Be back in a jiff. Sleep fast.
Krystel does an exaggerated snore.
INT. PASSAGEWAY - QUEEN GEORGINA - CONTINUOUS
Derek closes the door and walks towards the elevators.
He opens his phone, clicks a button, speaks in a low voice.
DEREK
All the paperwork will be in the
back seat... No... No, she
doesn't. A lech. That's right...
See you in about fifteen. Bye.
EXT. YACHT - LONG BEACH MARINA - EARLY EVENING
A MAN and WOMAN, 50s, lounge on the open deck. They sip
drinks and watch the setting sun.
The boat next to them suddenly dips down near the stern, as
if someone stepped aboard. Its deck is empty.
INT. PASSAGEWAY - QUEEN GEORGINA - CONTINUOUS
Krystel yawns as she and Derek walk towards the elevators.
DEREK
You'll wake up on the yacht.
She catches her reflection in a hallway mirror.
KRYSTEL
God, I look like hell.
DEREK
You're gorgeous.
KRYSTEL
And you're sweet. What's the
boat's name?
DEREK
Goddess Melissa.
KRYSTEL
No fooling? I'll have to text
Melissa when we get back!
At the elevator Krystel presses the 'Down' button.
Derek reaches into his pocket.
DEREK
Damn it!
KRYSTEL
What now?
DEREK
My phone! Sorry...
He half-trots to their cabin suite door and pauses.
Derek looks back down the passageway at Krystel. She does a
look-at-the-time gesture and shakes her head.
He opens the door and slips inside.
INT. CABIN SUITE - QUEEN GEORGINA - CONTINUOUS
Derek clicks the light switch and slowly scans the room.
He goes to the porthole to view the Long Beach Marina across
the channel. After a moment he heads toward the night stand.
Derek catches his reflection through the open bathroom door.
He stops, lowers his eyes, then continues to the night stand.
He removes his phone from a drawer.
From his back pocket, Derek pulls out a note and places a
corner of it under the room telephone.
Handwritten words read: Staff: We have a family emergency
and had to leave immediately to catch a flight. Please pack
our belongings and charge our card to mail them to...
He takes a twenty from his wallet and lays it atop the note.
At the door, Derek gives the suite a final once-over, then
flicks the light switch and leaves.
INT. CABIN - NAKIMA - EARLY EVENING
Nakima's bow faces Queen Georgina across the channel.
A few sailboats and yachts move slowly in the waterway.
Ray Kelvin scans Queen Georgina with night-vision binoculars,
then sweeps across several watercraft cruising near her.
He stops and angles the lenses down.
A yellow car moves on the roadway adjacent to Queen Georgina.
Ray runs to the aft ladder and goes up.
EXT. STERN DECK - NAKIMA - CONTINUOUS
Ray focuses on a yellow Mustang through his binoculars.
The man and woman on the yacht next to Nakima notice him.
MAN ON YACHT
Ahoy there! Were you sleeping?
Ray ignores them and hurries down the stern ladder.
The man and woman look at each other, confused.
EXT. GANGWAY - QUEEN GEORGINA - CONTINUOUS
Derek and Krystel step off onto the sidewalk. She turns left
but Derek emphatically steers her right.
DEREK
The yacht's this way.
KRYSTEL
I'm so used to going to the car.
Our butt-ugly yellow car.
She looks out across the parking lot.
KRYSTEL (CONT'D)
Hey I can't see it...
DEREK
C'mon, we're late.
EXT. WALKWAY - ADJACENT TO QUEEN GEORGINA - CONTINUOUS
Krystel and Derek pass Queen Georgina and the Russian sub.
She glances uneasily at the submarine as they walk by.
DEREK
That's her.
He points to a yacht tied to a pier, its engines idling.
EXT. PIER - GODDESS MELISSA - CONTINUOUS
Krystel smiles as she steps onto the yacht's stern deck.
BRAD MCKITTRICK, 19, red hair, blue eyes, holds out a hand
and Krystel grabs it to steady herself.
BRAD
Welcome aboard!
KRYSTEL
Thanks!
BRAD
Cap'n McKittrick, but call me Brad.
Just don't call me late for dinner!
KRYSTEL
Oh, that's original! I'm Krystel.
BRAD
I like it! Well, let's get a move
on before we lose that sun. Derek,
you want to cast us off?
Derek unties the lines and then steps aboard.
INT. CABIN - GODDESS MELISSA - CONTINUOUS
Derek and Krystel walk by a table upon which rest trays of
hors d'ouevres and two bottles of wine.
They grab appetizers and continue forward, next to Brad.
BRAD
Help yourselves, guys, and anything
you need, just sing out. Ready?
The yacht gently pulls away and into the channel.
KRYSTEL
Let's go up on deck!
DEREK
(points aft)
We'll be back there, Captain.
BRAD
Okay. Mind your step, folks!
EXT. STERN DECK - GODDESS MELISSA - CONTINUOUS
The setting sun lights up Queen Georgina like a postcard.
KRYSTEL
This really is worthwhile seeing.
Derek and Krystel clink wine glasses and watch the sunset.
KRYSTEL (CONT'D)
Brad's gnar, don't you think?
Seems really, really mature.
DEREK
That's why they, uh, hired him.
KRYSTEL
We'll keep in touch online.
Suddenly, the yacht stops and the engines shut off.
Derek pulls out his phone and looks at the time.
Krystel makes some playful grabs for the phone.
INT. CABIN - NAKIMA - CONTINUOUS
Ray scans boats in the marina channel with binoculars.
Bright, silvery flashes flicker in the windows of a yacht.
Ray focuses. The upper halves of two SILVERY MEN walk
through the boat's cabin towards the stern.
He focuses on the bridge and witnesses Brad turn silvery.
Ray rips off the binoculars and flings them onto a seat.
EXT. STERN DECK - GODDESS MELISSA - CONTINUOUS
Krystel moves to the ladder and bends down.
KRYSTEL
Brad? Yo ho, Captain Brad?
DEREK
I wonder what's going on?
KRYSTEL
Is this part of the cruise? We
just float around now?
EXT. STERN DECK - NAKIMA - EVENING
A shimmering, Silvery Ray emerges from the stern ladder.
He dashes to the rail and scans above the Long Beach skyline.
A low-pitched hum starts. The man and woman on the adjacent
yacht see and hear nothing.
EXT. NIGHT SKY - CITY OF LONG BEACH - CONTINUOUS
A point of light rapidly grows in size. The low-pitched hum
increases in volume.
The light grows larger and becomes a long, glowing object
that descends as it angles to Ray's left.
EXT. STERN DECK - NAKIMA - CONTINUOUS
The glowing object draws closer.
Silvery Ray twists around to glimpse Goddess Melissa.
Two SILVERY MEN on her deck also watch the glowing object.
INT. CABIN - GODDESS MELISSA - CONTINUOUS
Silvery Brad stands at the foot of the stern ladder.
On the top step, Krystel looks down and right through him.
She descends the ladder rapidly.
Brad barely has time to back up and moves off to the side.
KRYSTEL
You here? Is something wrong?
She turns and sees Derek near the ladder above.
KRYSTEL (CONT'D)
Maybe he's in the bathroom!
Krystel walks to the cabin table and refills her wine glass.
She sips wine and looks directly through the spot where Brad
stands. She then returns to the ladder and climbs up.
EXT. STERN DECK - NAKIMA - CONTINUOUS
Silvery Ray watches the glowing object in full profile as it
slowly banks toward the marina channel.
It's a large multi-gun warship, World War 2 era.
He spins around and scrambles down the ladder.
INT. CABIN - NAKIMA - CONTINUOUS
Silvery Ray starts Nakima's engines.
He backs her out of the berth, turns, and speeds down the
center of the marina.
A boat obstructs his path ahead. Ray veers right at the last
moment. The boat bounces from his wake.
WOMAN ON BOAT
What are you doing? Jerk-off!
She's puzzled; no one is visible inside the cabin.
On moored boats, people shout profanities as Nakima passes.
Ray reaches the end of the marina lane and banks right.
EXT. MARINA CHANNEL - ABOVE GODDESS MELISSA - CONTINUOUS
The warship, with 88 on its hull near the bow, moves slowly
just above the surface. It bears down on Goddess Melissa.
The low-pitched hum steadies. No screws turn, no shafts
rotate on the warship.
Ray swings Nakima over and heads for the yacht.
The warship hovers several feet above the water alongside
Goddess Melissa.
Two glowing cargo nets drop over the ship's side.
A coil of rope falls from her deck.
EXT. STERN DECK - GODDESS MELISSA - CONTINUOUS
A splash sounds behind the yacht's stern.
KRYSTEL
Did Brad throw that? Brad?
DEREK
Hey, Brad?
Krystel suddenly falls backwards towards the stern ladder.
KRYSTEL
HON! WHAT?...
The half-full wine glass flies out of her hand and overboard.
DEREK
HEY!
Krystel floats several feet above the deck. She rocks
slightly, back and forth.
KRYSTEL
Put me the fuck down! HON!
Krystel screams as she swings out from the yacht over the
starboard side.
She disappears in mid-air. Her scream cuts off.
DEREK
What? KRYS?
Derek steps towards the starboard side. He suddenly floats
up jerkily and struggles.
He falls, then hovers a few feet above the deck.
An unseen force thrusts Derek over the starboard rail, and he
winks out.
EXT. CARGO NET - BRECKSVILLE - CONTINUOUS
The net rises quickly. Four sailors hold Derek down as he
struggles in it. They pin his arms and legs.
Derek sees Nakima gently bump the side of Goddess Melissa
through the cargo net's mesh.
EXT. HERMOSA AVENUE - HERMOSA BEACH HOUSE - NIGHT
Ray pounds on a front door. After a moment, he draws back
his fist to knock again.
The door bursts open. TOM GILMORE, 40s, fit, stands
silhouetted in the doorway.
TOM
You're early, Sabrina... Who the
hell are you?
RAY
May I speak with you, sir?
TOM
I asked who you are.
RAY
The name is Ray Kelvin.
TOM
Tom Gilmore. What's your pitch?
RAY
I need to talk with you about your
niece. Right now.
TOM
I have a whole canyonful of nieces.
RAY
Well, this is about Krystel.
TOM
Okay, that was a test. She's my
only niece. What do you want to
do, marry her? Too late, pal...
RAY
Look, this is goddamned important!
Can I come in?
Tom stands aside and dramatically ushers him through.
TOM
I've got a date on the way over so
you'd better double-time it.
INT. LIVING ROOM - TOM'S HOUSE - CONTINUOUS
The room is expensively decorated, wood-paneled, large.
TOM
Want a drink?
RAY
No thanks. So, Mister...
TOM
Nobody calls me mister. Tom.
RAY
You and I are leaving right now.
TOM
Oh we are? Hey, c'mon back here,
take a load off for a second.
Ray walks further in and sits on a chair edge at a polished
wood table. He's antsy.
Tom goes behind a bar and opens the refrigerator.
RAY
Nice place.
TOM
Real estate is some kind of racket,
eh? Cola? Ginger ale? How about
a frosted mug of almond cream
lager?
RAY
Nothing.
TOM
What's this about Krystel?
RAY
How old are you, Tom?
TOM
You answered me with a question.
RAY
How old?
TOM
Older than hydrogen. You a private
detective? Anyway, I'm forty-four.
Tom comes to the table. He swigs a beer and puts it down.
RAY
And how old do you think I am?
Tom sits down, across from Ray.
TOM
With that peach fuzz? C'mon, have
a brewski with me. Chrissakes I
won't turn you in, I give my...
RAY
Goddamnit, Gilmore, there's no time
for this shit! Now how old am I?
TOM
Twenty-one. With a smart-assed
yap.
RAY
Good guess. I was born in nineteen
twenty-four.
TOM
Nineteen what?
RAY
Nineteen. Twenty. Four.
TOM
Oh, well that makes you, um...
What's your secret? Tangerine tofu
yogurt? Organic water?
RAY
Listen up! Krystel is in danger
and we have to leave ASAP. Now you
just sit there and keep your...
TOM
HOLD IT! My niece is in danger?
RAY
Yes! Just give me thirty seconds
to convince you I'm for real and
then we'll go get her. Deal?
Tom jumps to his feet.
TOM
The hell kind of danger? Is she
alive, is she safe?
RAY
For the moment. But we need to get
started on...
TOM
So you're the kidnapper, or one of
them? What's your price, you
mother f...
Tom starts to move around the table.
RAY
STOP IT! I want to save her!
Ray's desperate tone halts Tom in his advance.
RAY (CONT'D)
Please. Please let me show you
what you're up against, all right?
Would you sit back down? We're
wasting valuable time!
Tom retreats to the chair and sits. He picks up his beer.
TOM
Okay. Bring it on, grandpa.
RAY
Just sit there quietly and watch.
Ray leans back in his chair.
He folds his arms and a second later - he winks out.
Tom's mouth opens. He stands. His beer drops to the floor,
the bottle crashes and breaks.
Ray reappears, arms folded. Tom falls back into his chair.
TOM
Holy shit! Do you... Is that...
Light-bending?
RAY
No.
TOM
What, then? Okay it must be...
It's... You're... Take me to your
leader!
RAY
Not ET. An Earthling like you.
TOM
The hell is left? Vampire?
Zombie? Or else... Casper?
RAY
Close enough. I died in a diesel
submarine. Or I thought I died.
TOM
You were a bubblehead?
RAY
(nods)
And you're a badass SEAL. We heard
all about you guys. Tom: We have
to fly to Saint Louis now if we
hope to save Krystel.
TOM
From what?
RAY
From those like me.
Tom stays seated.
RAY (CONT'D)
You have no alternative.
TOM
Just thought of one: Call the cops!
RAY
Out of the question.
TOM
FBI? Why not the military? I know
a few Navy people.
RAY
They cannot reach her. I can.
Ray stands.
RAY (CONT'D)
Trust an old man's wisdom.
Tom hesitates.
TOM
What's the full story here?
RAY
It's... complicated. I'll tell you
everything on the plane.
TOM
This is too fucking crazy.
RAY
Want to see Krystel again? Tom...
TOM
She's the daughter I'd wish for.
All right, Gramps. I don't suppose
you brought your flying carpet?
RAY
Sorry.
TOM
Um... Damn, I forgot your name.
RAY
Ray. Ray Kelvin.
TOM
I'll see what's going to Saint Loo.
Or, we'll get a charter.
Tom gets up and moves off down a hallway into a bedroom.
Ray walks to a wall of military memorabilia in the main room.
He focuses on a large brass insignia: An eagle clutching an
anchor, pistol and trident - the U.S. Navy SEAL insignia.
Tom, toting a backpack, taps Ray on the shoulder.
RAY
Why did you leave?
TOM
Setting up a flight, what else?
RAY
No, the SEALs. You left early.
TOM
They, uh, discovered I had an
inborn fear of water. Delta leaves
in fifty-five minutes so let's go.
RAY
Do you have guns here, weapons?
TOM
I could hold off Hermosa's finest
for a year.
RAY
We'll need whatever you can bring.
TOM
Flying isn't like in the forties,
Ray. We have cavity searches now.
RAY
Cavities?
TOM
Yep. You'll love it. C'mon.
Tom switches off lights, grabs his backpack and they leave.
EXT. GLOWING JETLINER - NIGHT (DREAM SEQUENCE)
MUSIC plays, a song by The Andrews Sisters, Don't Sit Under
The Apple Tree (With Anyone Else But Me).
Krystel, in a billowy white dress, hangs off the wing edge of
a silvery jetliner. It gently rolls to the right.
Krystel screams, her bare legs come off the wing.
The jet steadies, then dips to the right at a sharper angle.
One of Krystel's hands slips off the wing edge, then the
other. She falls as the jet speeds up and away.
She tumbles through the air and goes into a head-first dive.
Below is a deep blue sea. Black leafless trees grow from it.
The curling, jagged branches reach up as Krystel drops down.
Shiny black apples bloom instantly on the trees. She screams
again, cringes as she's about to land upon a branch...
INT. OFFICER'S CABIN - BRECKSVILLE - NIGHT
Krystel lies on her side in the lower of a two-tiered bunk.
She opens her eyes to a white wall six inches away.
Don't Sit Under The Apple Tree ends. Another tune starts,
Glenn Miller's Moonlight Serenade. Krystel sits up.
BRAD (O.S.)
Better fetch the skipper.
A door opens, then closes. Krystel twists around.
Brad McKittrick sits at a gray metal desk across the cabin.
He wears old-style Navy dungarees.
KRYSTEL
You? What...
BRAD
Hi Krystel.
KRYSTEL
Where's Derek? We were on...
BRAD
He's in another cabin. You okay?
Krystel springs off the bunk and yanks open the door.
A huge SAILOR stands in her way.
Krystel backs up as he comes into the cabin and shuts the
door. She whirls around to face Brad.
KRYSTEL
What the fuck is this?
Brad looks away from her.
KRYSTEL (CONT'D)
You kidnapped us? You're pirates?
BRAD
No!
KRYSTEL
Bullshit!
She steps towards Brad. The big sailor grabs her shoulders.
Krystel struggles to break free and the sailor gets her right
arm twisted behind her back.
KRYSTEL (CONT'D)
I don't have any money and neither
does my fiancé!
The door opens. Two officers enter the cabin.
One is LIEUTENANT BRIAN GRENASH, late 20s. The other is
CAPTAIN ALEXANDER BERTREL, mid-30s, authoritative, intense.
CAPTAIN BERTREL
My navigator, Lieutenant Grenash.
LIEUTENANT GRENASH
Ma'am.
Bertrel goes to the porthole. Lights of a town stream past.
CAPTAIN BERTREL
Out there is Tucumcari, New Mexico,
our thousand-mile checkpoint.
KRYSTEL
You're the ringleader behind this
kidnapping?
CAPTAIN BERTREL
I'm Alexander Bertrel, commanding
officer, USS Brecksville. Welcome
aboard.
He offers his hand to Krystel, who shrinks away from it.
Bertrel walks to the door and motions everyone out.
INT. FIRST CLASS SECTION - DELTA FLIGHT - NIGHT
Tom and Ray sit in the left aisle, Ray in the window seat.
RAY
This is unbelievable. Like the
Hilton.
Flight attendant JENNI, 20s, attractive, puts a silver bowl
of fresh fruit with powdered sugar on Tom's tray.
TOM
Thanks. We'll be fine for awhile.
She smiles and leaves.
TOM (CONT'D)
Okay, so you're in Scotland...
RAY
Right. Six weeks in a hospital.
After what we'd been through it
felt like heaven.
Ray puts down his drink, lowers his head and folds his arms.
TOM
You all right?
RAY
I don't know. When do we land?
TOM
Hour and a half or so.
RAY
I never felt like this Topside.
Maybe it's the altitude.
TOM
We'll take it easy for a while.
RAY
No! No time. So, they move me to
Pearl, and I draw the USS Dorsalis.
Five patrols, all good. And then
we're in a three-sub wolf pack off
the west coast of Australia, near
Perth...
INT. BRIDGE - DORSALIS SUBMARINE - AFTERNOON
Periscope view, torpedoes miss a destroyer trailing a convoy.
The destroyer turns towards Dorsalis.
The view shifts right. Another destroyer angles at Dorsalis.
RAY
The convoy is between us and our
other two boats. We're alone.
TOM
The destroyers nailed you?
RAY
Depth charges. Two hours of pure
hell. Something stabbed me...
Ray breaks off and turns toward the window, then faces front.
RAY (CONT'D)
We dropped like a stone, my God it
was like nothing...
Ray grips the seat arms, leans back and stares at the
ceiling. He closes his eyes and then rubs his left cheek.
TOM
Ray? Hey buddy?
Tom taps him on the shoulder lightly. Ray opens his eyes.
TOM (CONT'D)
How long before... the, um... the
ending?
RAY
Oh, forever? An instant? I don't
recall a sense of time. Blackness,
ink, like you're drowning in it, an
emptiness and then...
EXT. OCEAN BOTTOM
In the dark waters, a lanternfish with blue lights along its
side streaks by. Another one zips after it.
Total blackness, then a faint orange hue appears from above.
The hue becomes sparks, that slowly intensify.
The sparks coalesce into a descending outline of a man.
The glowing man changes color to a shimmering, silvery hue.
He flexes his knees as he lands on the ocean bottom, then
steadies himself. The man looks around, bewildered.
Other figures in the vicinity materialize in the same manner.
INT. FIRST CLASS SECTION - DELTA FLIGHT - CONTINUOUS
TOM
How does it occur?
RAY
Every living thing has a unique
electromagnetic signature. Well,
something in the Earth's
magnetosphere regenerated ours.
TOM
So, every ship sunk in the war?
RAY
It only affects armored warships
made of a special type of steel.
That, plus deep ocean pressures
applied while sinking.
TOM
Did you bear a grudge against the
Japanese? Have it out with them?
RAY
We've never encountered any
Japanese 'Neathers. Even so, we
cannot harm ourselves down there.
We pass right through each other.
Confused, Tom pokes Ray's solid arm with his finger.
RAY (CONT'D)
Hypernatremia.
TOM
Hyp...
RAY
Later. Once the whole sunken crew
is down, there's the Keeling...
EXT. OCEAN BOTTOM - CONTINUOUS
A group of silvery men gathers at a flat area. They form
themselves into several lines, shoulder-to-shoulder.
Talking ceases. All is quiet.
Gradually, orange sparks appear in front of them.
The sparks coalesce to form the long, narrow keel of a ship.
The orange luminescence changes color to blue-white.
The shape-forming effect spreads upward to form a submarine's
hull, deck, deck gun, diving sail and bridge.
The men break into cheers.
One by one they touch the shimmering blue-white submarine,
swim up towards the deck and haul themselves aboard.
INT. BRIDGE - BRECKSVILLE - NIGHT
Krystel, Bertrel, Grenash and crewmembers watch a distant,
lit-up city grow steadily larger.
CAPTAIN BERTREL
Recognize it? Home sweet home.
KRYSTEL
What kind of a ship flies, Admiral?
CAPTAIN BERTREL
Admirals are pencil pushers, Miss
Janelli. Good for shining seats.
Behind them comes the sound of footsteps. Krystel turns.
Derek approaches, flanked by two crewmembers.
KRYSTEL
Hon!
She rushes towards him and he gives her a huge hug.
DEREK
You okay, babe? Not hurt?
KRYSTEL
I'm fine. But these pirates are
afraid I'll hurt them.
She shows her handcuffed wrists.
Derek looks questioningly at Bertrel, then indicates Krystel.
KRYSTEL (CONT'D)
How come you're not handcuffed?
CAPTAIN BERTREL
Because he hasn't tried to escape.
Behave and we'll remove those.
DEREK
We're in separate cabins, Captain!
Put me in with Krys, I won't...
CAPTAIN BERTREL
Lovers in danger, Mister Garnett,
are very effective conspirators.
Bertrel indicates her cuffs. A crewmember unlocks them.
LIEUTENANT GRENASH
Wichita, Kansas, off the port bow.
They all turn and watch the Wichita skyline roll past.
DEREK
I want to know what's going on!
Explain it to us, Captain! Now!
Bertrel ignores Derek, but gives Krystel a wicked smile.
INT. FIRST CLASS SECTION - DELTA FLIGHT - NIGHT
RAY
Two U-boat crews in the North Sea
get credit for the discovery.
TOM
German engineering.
RAY
And, quite by accident. A crewman
named Luhn...
SERIES OF SHOTS:
Sailor-Ghosts float through a church.
LUHN flashes blue-white, then solid, as he passes through a
confessional door.
Sailor-Ghosts float through the plate glass window of a bar.
Luhn's arm gets stuck and he yanks it. The window breaks.
Patrons and staff look around shocked, confused.
INT. FIRST CLASS SECTION - DELTA FLIGHT - CONTINUOUS
RAY
So, he is sent back with a doctor
and they visit a medical clinic.
When Luhn solidifies, the doc talks
him through drawing a blood sample.
TOM
They discover he has hypoglycemia?
RAY
Hypernatremia. High blood salt.
It lets us become solid up here.
Ray points under his left arm.
RAY (CONT'D)
Saline actuator. Dumps salt into
the bloodstream - or removes it so
we can evanesce.
TOM
What's that?
RAY
Disappear.
TOM
How long does the actuator...
DELTA PILOT
(into aircraft's intercom)
Ladies and gentlemen, on the left
side of the aircraft you can see
Kansas City. We'll be over Saint
Louis in about thirty-five minutes,
and we thank you for flying Delta.
Ray turns and glances out at the distant glow of the city.
Suddenly he looks down, then behind. He half-rises from his
seat to get closer to the window.
A silvery bar of light far below recedes into the dark sky.
JENNI
Sir? Can I help you, sir?
Ray sits down and faces front. He looks at Jenni and shakes
his head. She frowns and moves away.
RAY
I think I might have seen her!
TOM
Brecksville?
RAY
Not a hundred percent sure. The
speed seems right, though.
TOM
How fast is she?
RAY
'Neather ships do about three
hundred fifty knots over land.
TOM
About four hundred miles per hour.
RAY
Yep. Half that speed, over water.
TOM
I hope it was her, because if they
aren't going to Saint Loo...
RAY
Then I'll have failed to save
Krystel.
TOM
We, and we're not hosed. Not yet.
When do you have to go back under?
Ray indicates the saline actuator under his arm.
RAY
Good for about a hundred seventy
five hours.
TOM
That's... Okay, let's see, a forty-
hour work week, multiply that by...
RAY
Seven days.
TOM
I can't do math this time of night.
RAY
We came up Sunday but... I won't
last the week, I know that.
Tom signals the flight attendant.
TOM
Can we still get coffee?
JENNI
I think so. May I take this?
TOM
Sure. And thanks.
She smiles approvingly at Tom, takes the tray and leaves.
Tom shakes his head, annoyed.
TOM (CONT'D)
That son of a bitch bastard was
inside my house!
RAY
They found his price.
TOM
Yeah. Well, I say we get my niece
and leave Derek with his new pals.
RAY
The 'Neather Charter forbids
involving Topsiders in our affairs.
TOM
It's a helluva lot tougher rescuing
two people. And aren't you
violating this... this Charter,
right now with me?
RAY
I couldn't see any other way.
TOM
You really want this rat bastard
out of there, don't you?
RAY
Sorry. We have to.
INT. OFFICER'S CABIN - BRECKSVILLE - NIGHT
Krystel sits on the bunk edge. She faces Brad, who leans on
the desk across the cabin.
STEN and BILGE, early 20s, burly sailors, stand by the door.
KRYSTEL
(to Brad)
You're my age, right? But you
seem... You're just too smart.
BRAD
They didn't tell you?
Krystel shakes her head 'No'.
BRAD (CONT'D)
I'm really older than I look. And
we're not pirates, we come up...
STEN
The old man said to button it!
Krystel studies Sten's neck for a few seconds, sees a pair of
moles on them and frowns.
BRAD
Think! She was kidnapped, Sten!
What, you wouldn't have questions?
BILGE
You never could shut your yap, Mac.
Drove us dog-crazy even then. Good
thing the Krauts never got you.
BRAD
Squat on a dipstick.
STEN
Ike should've made you our own
Tokyo Rose.
Sten and Bilge laugh.
KRYSTEL
I know you. Sten, is it? That was
you on the submarine when I was
climbing out.
Sten quickly looks away from her.
BRAD
What's this?
STEN
Don't worry about it. A sneak
preview, just having a little fun.
BRAD
Fun, he says! You could've FUBARed
the whole mission! So don't be...
CAPTAIN BERTREL (V.O.)
(into ship's intercom)
Attention, crew.
In port at zero three-hundred.
Short liberty for those not on
watch. That is all.
INT. FIRST CLASS SECTION - DELTA FLIGHT - NIGHT
The jet lands and taxies down the runway.
Ray looks out his window, scans the sky up and back.
TOM
I hope we beat them here.
Jenni hovers in the first class section and chats with some
of the passengers. Then she comes over to them.
JENNI
Thank you, Tom and Ray, and please
remember the VIP Lounge is open on
the second concourse level.
TOM
Very nice flight, Jenni, thank...
Jenni's eyes widen as she looks at Ray. Her smile drops.
Ray, very pale white, closes his eyes and folds his arms.
He half-disappears in the seat.
A second later he fully solidifies.
JENNI
Oh my God! My God! Are you...?
RAY
I'm fine, sorry, just very tired.
Jenni, shocked, backs away to passengers behind them.
TOM
Ray, you...
RAY
I know, Tom. I know.
TOM
Jesus! Don't you get any warnings?
RAY
A hiss in your ears, you get light
headed... This came from nowhere.
Tom grabs his backpack from under the seat ahead.
Passengers disembark. Jenni and another FLIGHT ATTENDANT
offer smiles and parting words.
As Tom and Ray exit the jet, Jenni stares at Ray in shock.
INT. CONCOURSE - AIRPORT - CONTINUOUS
Tom and Ray trot down the concourse to an escalator up.
TOM
Can you locate her? She might
blend in with regular air traffic.
RAY
What's the length of a Delta jet?
TOM
Beats me. Couple of hundred feet?
RAY
Brecksville is six hundred ten feet
long. It'll be like spotting a bus
on a bicycle path.
EXT. OBSERVATION DECK - AIRPORT - CONTINUOUS
Tom and Ray exit an elevator, then cross to a railing.
Ray scans the sky.
RAY
Wish I had the binocs.
TOM
They on the boat?
RAY
Yep. Which reminds me. Here.
Ray pulls keys from his pocket.
RAY (CONT'D)
She's Nakima, slip eighteen. I got
her for a week. I may have to cut
out early, so...
TOM
You'll get to finish this out.
RAY
I hope. If not, take her for a few
joy rides, then turn her in?
TOM
Gotcha covered.
Ray looks intensely at a moving light in the sky. It becomes
a large jetliner which lands several runways out.
TOM (CONT'D)
What's Captain Bertrel's plan?
RAY
Not sure what he wants to do with
my... with Krystel. A shipmate
told me a few things, but they got
wise and left him under. We'll
need to improvise.
TOM
That's a SEAL specialty. Think
he'll take her off here?
RAY
It is Bertrel's home town, but
Saint Louis is a hub for American
Fleet Weekers. A real party place.
Centrally located.
TOM
You actually are in love with her.
They watch a Boeing 777 take off. Ray is amazed.
TOM (CONT'D)
You'd do well by Krystel. Under
normal circumstances.
RAY
Krystel doesn't look like you or
her mother. She's so beautiful.
TOM
Thanks, bud.
RAY
Oh damn, I didn't mean...
TOM
(smiles)
My sister and her ex adopted
Krystel right after she was born.
RAY
You married?
TOM
Divorced. Happens a lot nowadays.
RAY
Kids?
Tom shakes his head 'No'.
RAY (CONT'D)
I never got to fall in love, once.
Not me, not all those other guys...
(freezes)
Holy Christ, she's here!
Tom scans the sky.
RAY (CONT'D)
Forget it, Tom, you're a Topsider.
You have to touch her to see her.
The glowing USS Brecksville banks into a slow turn, then
gradually loses height.
RAY (CONT'D)
She's headed to her regular berth!
TOM
You know where she's docking?
RAY
Of course.
EXT. WOODS - ADJACENT TO USS BRECKSVILLE PIER - NIGHT
Ray and Tom crouch in underbrush.
The silvery USS Brecksville sits anchored in the Mississippi,
not far from the riverbank. A gangway angles down to a few
feet above a wooden pier.
Silvery figures walk down the gangway, jump down and randomly
solidify as they continue down the pier.
TOM
Wish I could see the Brecksville.
RAY
She's breathtaking. You'll see her
soon enough.
TOM
Electromagnetic propulsion. We
need that. No more oil, nukes...
RAY
What you need is 'Neather steel.
TOM
Anyone else coming?
RAY
Uh-uh.
TOM
Ready? And... Let's go!
Tom and Ray scramble through trees and undergrowth, then run
across a bare area surrounding the pier.
EXT. PIER - BRECKSVILLE - CONTINUOUS
Tom drops and rolls smoothly underneath the pier.
Ray tries it, but his shoulder bangs a pier post and he falls
clumsily. He starts to crawl forward.
A thump sounds from the pier. Tom motions Ray to stay put.
EXT. PIER - BRECKSVILLE - CONTINUOUS
Tom watches shoes materialize above.
CAPTAIN BERTREL
Let's shake a tail. Time factor.
Another thump, a second pair of shoes materializes. Ray
folds his arms and disappears.
LIEUTENANT GRENASH
The roses. You take 'em, Al. You
going to make it?
CAPTAIN BERTREL
I think so.
A pair of shoes moves to the edge of the pier above Ray.
EXT. PIER - BRECKSVILLE - CONTINUOUS
LIEUTENANT GRENASH
Any of you guys down there? Hello?
Bertrel and Grenash's shoes finally turn and walk off. Their
footsteps grow faint as they progress down the pier.
TOM
Hey? Casper?
Ray solidifies.
TOM (CONT'D)
Can't get over how you do that.
Was that Captain Dickhead?
RAY
The same. You figured out how to
get us aboard?
TOM
Either the anchor chain or gangway.
Ray looks along the road opposite the pier.
RAY
They should've gone past by now.
TOM
Bridge watches are posted aboard?
RAY
Yeah, I'd guess.
TOM
We'll be spotted on the gangway.
RAY
Bertrel didn't go past, yet.
That's it. I'm off to follow them.
TOM
No way, Ray. We do not split up.
RAY
I have to know where they're going.
It might be the key. You go aboard
and secure Krystel. And Derek.
TOM
Okay, there is this. Much easier
for one man to get aboard unseen.
Ray nods, then prepares to dash out from underneath the pier.
RAY
You know where to hole up, so just
wait for me. I won't be long.
TOM
Casper?
RAY
Yeah?
TOM
Eliminations.
RAY
What's that?
TOM
Why I left the SEALs after eight
years. I had a big issue with up
close and personal eliminations.
Ray drags a finger across his throat in a questioning look.
TOM (CONT'D)
Uh-huh. No stomach for it. And
that, my friend, endangers the
whole team. Okay, good luck.
RAY
And you. See you aboard.
Ray scrambles across the open area and fades into the woods.
EXT. PIER - BRECKSVILLE - NIGHT
Tom stands, then raises his arms and feels for the gangway.
His hands brush against an invisible structure.
He jumps and grabs a cross rod on the gangway's underside.
The gangway and the entire USS Brecksville appear.
Tom hooks his ankles along the gangway edges and climbs up.
EXT. RESIDENTIAL STREET - NIGHT
Ray shadows Bertrel and Grenash as they near the top of the
street. Grenash has his arm around Bertrel's shoulder.
They both turn out of sight into a cemetery at the corner.
Ray reaches the cemetery gate and looks through. He folds
his arms and becomes silvery, then climbs the gate.
EXT. CEMETERY - CONTINUOUS
Ray hears a muffled shout. He moves behind a huge monument.
Bertrel and Grenash stand a dozen yards away. Bertrel
stifles a sob. Grenash has his arm around him.
LIEUTENANT GRENASH
She's one in a million.
CAPTAIN BERTREL
An artist, did you know? People
walk... walking by always stopped
to admire... our lawn. Small trees
she'd plant, each set in colored
stones. Stained glass. Canterbury
Cathedral. Loved stained glass.
The world lost... it lost a...
LIEUTENANT GRENASH
No finer lady anywhere, Al. None.
Bertrel bends to a knee. He places a bouquet of roses on the
ground, then lowers his head. He eventually straightens up
and they walk away slowly.
Ray waits until they climb the gate, then walks to where they
stood. He moves the bouquet. The gravestone reads:
MELISSA MARIE BERTREL
BORN AUGUST 30, 1917
DIED DECEMBER 14, 1942
Ray repositions the bouquet.
As he stands, he grimaces sharply.
He runs in a crouch towards the cemetery gate and grabs his
stomach with both hands, then falls to his knees.
He flickers between solid and silvery form. Ray presses the
actuator under his left arm, but remains visible.
Ray goes over the gate, then falls down the other side. He
rolls onto his stomach, struggles to his feet, then half-
runs down the road towards the highway.
EXT. HIGHWAY - ADJACENT TO WOODS - CONTINUOUS
Ray crawls across two northbound lanes. Headlights flash.
A car roars around the southbound curve. Its beams light up
Ray's face.
The car swerves wide, but its front tire clips Ray's heel.
He spins and rolls. The impact jolts him and he rises, then
limps across the highway and onto the shoulder.
Brake lights flash to his left. The car door opens, a middle-
aged WOMAN jumps out and runs towards him.
WOMAN FROM CAR
Oh my God, mister! Are you hurt,
are you okay oh please God! I'm so
sorry I didn't see you, oh no...
Ray finds a faint trail leading from the road shoulder into
the woods and weaves his way down it.
EXT. TRAIL THROUGH WOODS - CONTINUOUS
The woman draws nearer, but Ray quickens his pace.
He trips and falls, struggles to get up. A sound of flowing
water spurs Ray on. The woman is nearly upon him.
WOMAN FROM CAR
I want to help I can call 911 are
you hurt? Please sir my God...
Ray crawls, then drops down a slight incline towards the
riverbank. He slides out of control, faster and faster.
Ray goes over the edge of the riverbank and tumbles through
the air. Then he hits the river with a loud splash.
The woman eases down close to the water. She watches a
flickering body move down-river, sink, and fade to nothing.
EXT. GANGWAY - BRECKSVILLE - NIGHT
Tom reaches the hull and boosts himself over the port rail,
then scrambles under the gangway platform.
He pulls a rock from his pack and flips it off the ship.
Two seconds after the splash, footsteps pound down a ladder
from the superstructure area.
Tom crawls out and streaks across the deck to a gun turret.
EXT. FORWARD #2 TURRET - BRECKSVILLE - CONTINUOUS
As footsteps approach, Tom ducks beneath the gunhouse and
flattens himself against the barbette vertical shaft.
FIRST BRIDGE WATCH
You think Sherp fell overboard?
SECOND BRIDGE WATCH
That would make a tsunami.
FIRST BRIDGE WATCH
Go forward. I'll check aft.
SECOND BRIDGE WATCH
Give a shout if you see anything.
Tom grasps a steel beam within the gunhouse innards above.
He boosts his legs up, wraps them around a bundle of cables.
A pair of shoes stops near the turret.
Tom's arms shake, his legs begin to lose their grip.
The shoes point forward and move off.
Tom drops down and presses against the barbette.
FIRST BRIDGE WATCH
Anything?
Both sailors approach. Tom boosts his legs up again.
SECOND BRIDGE WATCH
Zip. Let's skedaddle!
Footsteps fade, then change cadence as they ascend a ladder.
Tom jumps down. He locates the gunhouse's rear port hatch.
He gives himself a silent count, then straightens, pushes up
the dogging handle, opens the hatch and steps inside.
The hatch shuts and the dogging handle locks down.
INT. BRIDGE - BRECKSVILLE - EARLY MORNING
Bertrel, Grenash, Derek and Krystel stand on the bridge with
other sailors. Four men each surround Derek and Krystel.
LIEUTENANT GRENASH
Captain, all crew is aboard and at
their stations.
Bertrel nods, then presses the bridge microphone Talk button.
CAPTAIN BERTREL
All hands, this is the Captain. I
trust you took advantage of the few
hours ashore. It was too brief a
layover but we'll return after the
mission is completed. Prepare to
leave port. That is all.
(to Grenash)
Navigator, you may get underway.
EXT. PIER - BRECKSVILLE - CONTINUOUS
USS Brecksville slowly rises out of the river. Her keel
breaks the surface, rivulets of water drip from the hull.
She turns slowly, majestically.
INT. BRIDGE - BRECKSVILLE - CONTINUOUS
The ship faces east. The sun shines orange off the river.
LIEUTENANT GRENASH
Through the wicket, Captain?
CAPTAIN BERTREL
Proceed.
Brecksville turns to port, angles up and moves forward.
The heavy cruiser swings around in a giant half-circle.
LIEUTENANT GRENASH
Height, one hundred fifty feet.
CAPTAIN BERTREL
Now watch our crack navigator strut
his stuff, folks.
A barge moves up the Mississippi River ahead.
Brecksville streaks forward. Her speed rapidly increases.
The ship bears down on the Gateway Arch and then arrows
through it, dead center.
Everyone turns aft. The Arch recedes rapidly behind them.
CAPTAIN BERTREL (CONT'D)
Good shooting, Lieutenant.
Grenash nods. He manipulates the keel propulsor controls
with his right hand, the wheel with his left.
LIEUTENANT GRENASH
Turning. Course zero six five.
The ship angles down slightly to the left.
EXT. MAIN DECK - BRECKSVILLE - MORNING
The portside hatch of #2 Forward Turret opens slowly.
Tom steps out, shuts the hatch and jumps down.
He picks his way along the deck towards the superstructure.
Tom gets to a starboard hatch, opens it and slips inside.
INT. VOID SPACE - BRECKSVILLE - CONTINUOUS
Tom switches on his penlight. The void bristles with wires,
switch boxes, pipes and cables.
The penlight illuminates a circular hatch above. Tom puts
the light in his mouth and climbs the narrow steel ladder.
At the hatch, Tom turns the dogging wheel. He listens after
a few turns, then rotates the wheel until it stops.
He ascends one step and uses his head to open the hatch.
Three stanchions border the hatch, steel safety chains looped
one stanchion to the other.
INT. OFFICER'S COUNTRY PASSAGEWAY - BRECKSVILLE - CONTINUOUS
Tom climbs from the open hatch. He pivots to lower it.
Footsteps and voices approach. Tom freezes.
He sits, then swivels his legs onto the ladder. He climbs
down a few rungs and lowers the hatch just barely enough to
look out.
Far down the corridor, some people emerge from a side
passageway, turn and walk towards him.
Tom bends down and the hatch closes.
INT. VOID SPACE - BRECKSVILLE - CONTINUOUS
Footsteps slow, then stop.
Tom eases up the hatch a few inches with his head.
He watches Krystel and Derek go through a door.
Two men position themselves on either side of the door.
INT. CAPTAIN'S STATEROOM - BRECKSVILLE - MORNING
Derek and Krystel sit in front of Captain Bertrel's desk.
Krystel notices a photograph behind him.
CAPTAIN BERTREL
You a baseball fan, Miss Janelli?
She glares at Bertrel.
CAPTAIN BERTREL (CONT'D)
The late Stan Musial, Navy man.
KRYSTEL
How thrilling. You bastard.
CAPTAIN BERTREL
He played on this ship's official
team, the Saint Louis Cardinals.
DEREK
I like the Royals. Did you hear
about the Show-Me Series in 1985?
KRYSTEL
What is this, a boys sweaty locker
room? Why did you kidnap us,
Admiral?
CAPTAIN BERTREL
Not kidnapped. Honored guests.
DEREK
Krys, let him get this over with.
KRYSTEL
Why don't you knock him into next
Thursday? Uncle Tom would, but...
CAPTAIN BERTREL
Enough, kids. Pay close attention.
Bertrel walks to a blackboard and picks up a pointer.
On the board is chalked the east coasts of Canada and the
USA, the Atlantic Ocean, Germany, France and British Isles.
CAPTAIN BERTREL (CONT'D)
You asked why you're here. Ready
for a little history lesson?
KRYSTEL
Fuck off.
Bertrel lowers the pointer. Krystel stands.
KRYSTEL (CONT'D)
Admiral, Professor, whatever you
are. I'm not your pupil, I'm a
prisoner. Take me to my cell!
Bertrel puts down the pointer and walks over to face Krystel.
He nods at two sailors nearby and they grab her upper arms.
CAPTAIN BERTREL
We can return you to the cabin and
chain you high on the bunk post.
Standing up, with a gag in your
sewer mouth. Would that suit you?
DEREK
Krys, maybe we should...
Krystel eyeballs Bertrel. She gives him the finger.
KRYSTEL
Does this suit you, dickhead?
She sits. Derek touches her arm. She pushes his hand away.
Bertrel, a tiny smile on his face, returns to the blackboard.
CAPTAIN BERTREL
You're aboard a heavy cruiser,
Cleveland class, launched 1942.
KRYSTEL
1942? What?
CAPTAIN BERTREL
We're dead, sunk. Or we thought
so, until we discovered that some
World War Two ships and their crews
somehow get regenerated.
KRYSTEL
You're a fucking ghost?
CAPTAIN BERTREL
We are 'Neathers. We don't know
exactly how this happened and most
of us don't give a hoot in hell.
Bertrel points to an area on the east coast of Canada.
CAPTAIN BERTREL (CONT'D)
Halifax, Nova Scotia. Just before
America entered the war on...
He aims the pointer at Derek.
DEREK
September something, 1941 I think.
He points at Krystel.
KRYSTEL
Why would I care?
CAPTAIN BERTREL
In the past. Meaningless, right?
Now before America's entry into the
war, Britain was supplied by
convoys that left from here.
He taps the pointer at a point east of Halifax.
CAPTAIN BERTREL (CONT'D)
Germany sprung their U-boat wolf
packs here. Nothing could stop...
Brecksville drops, then rolls up on the starboard side.
Bertrel stumbles but remains on his feet. Sailors crouch.
Derek and Krystel nearly fall out of their chairs.
The ship levels itself quickly. Bertrel moves to his desk.
LIEUTENANT GRENASH (V.O.)
(from captain's intercom)
Sorry, Captain. A small jet was
angling in on us from ten o'clock.
CAPTAIN BERTREL
It's daylight, Nash, are you aware?
LIEUTENANT GRENASH (V.O.)
Yes sir.
CAPTAIN BERTREL
Bridge lookouts have been doubled?
LIEUTENANT GRENASH (V.O.)
They have, sir. This jet was lost
in some tricky background...
CAPTAIN BERTREL
I don't want to hear it, Navigator!
Nothing is going to SNAFU this
mission, do you understand?
He clicks off the intercom and returns to the blackboard.
DEREK
Wouldn't they fly right through us?
CAPTAIN BERTREL
We're as solid as stone. Where
were we? After Pearl Harbor, Queen
Georgina gets converted for troop
transport.
KRYSTEL
You mean what we're staying on?
CAPTAIN BERTREL
Yes. Didn't you take the tour?
KRYSTEL
We'll do it when we get back.
CAPTAIN BERTREL
I recommend it. Queen Georgina was
packed to the gills with GIs, then
zigzagged across the ocean at top
speed. U-boats couldn't catch her.
Bertrel points to an area on the board, north of Ireland.
CAPTAIN BERTREL (CONT'D)
The Bloody Foreland. She picked up
an escort here mostly because of
German planes on patrol.
Bertrel puts down the pointer.
CAPTAIN BERTREL (CONT'D)
Our current destination. The scene
of the crime, lady. And gentleman.
With both of you to bear witness.
EXT. OCEAN - NIGHT
Icebergs bob in the black waters of the North Atlantic.
Up and back, a point of light grows quickly in size.
USS Brecksville, glowing, flashes past and forward.
INT. OFFICER'S CABIN - BRECKSVILLE - NIGHT
Krystel, alone, gets up from the bunk and opens the door.
Two sailors sit across the passageway, facing her.
KRYSTEL
Bathroom.
One of the sailors gestures down the passageway.
INT. OFFICER'S COUNTRY PASSAGEWAY - BRECKSVILLE - CONTINUOUS
Krystel walks down the dark passageway and opens the bathroom
door. She sees a silhouette in the mirror.
It's a shadowed man, reflected in the connecting passageway
behind. He stands flat against the wall.
The man raises a finger to his lips. Then he points.
Krystel goes inside.
INT. OFFICERS HEAD - BRECKSVILLE - CONTINUOUS
The man streaks across the passageway and into the bathroom.
He closes the door and turns on the light.
TOM
No ghost, Tiger. Genuine article.
KRYSTEL
Uncle T, what are you doing here?
TOM
Keep it down. No time. A man who
loves you very much got me aboard.
KRYSTEL
It couldn't be Derek.
TOM
A man named Ray Kelvin. Derek's
thrown in with Ber... You know?
KRYSTEL
Kind of. He's been weird ever
since he conned me into this trip.
TOM
I'll get you both off of here when
the ship stops. Okay, gotta run.
KRYSTEL
Not yet!
TOM
Sorry, Tiger. Now listen. Don't
tell Derek I'm here or that you
know about him, right?
She nods.
TOM (CONT'D)
When I hit the lights, you crack
open the door. If it's clear give
me a thumbs-up. No sound. Go.
Tom kisses her cheek and Krystel gives him a quick hug. He
turns off the light.
Krystel barely opens the door and looks down the passageway.
One sailor stares ahead at her cabin door. The other has his
head back against the wall, eyes closed.
She signals. Tom glides across the passageway and vanishes.
INT. WARDROOM - BRECKSVILLE - EARLY MORNING
Derek and Krystel sit at a table across from each other.
A sailor pours them coffee. Four other sailors stand nearby.
DEREK
You look so tired, Krys.
KRYSTEL
Gee, thanks. So do you.
DEREK
(yawns)
Couldn't sleep. Too keyed up.
The hum from the ship drops slightly.
KRYSTEL
I think we're slowing down.
DEREK
Captain said we're almost there.
KRYSTEL
Nice of him to keep one of us
informed, right, hon?
DEREK
I just wish it was all finished.
This is such bullshit.
KRYSTEL
It's all been bullshit.
DEREK
Yeah, it sure has been.
The door opens. Bertrel comes in and sits at the table.
CAPTAIN BERTREL
How was breakfast?
DEREK
When are we docking?
Bertrel ignores Derek and looks directly at Krystel.
CAPTAIN BERTREL
Very soon you shall see things no
Topsider has ever laid eyes upon.
Consider it a crossing of a
frontier between our peoples.
Bertrel gets up, goes to the wardroom door and opens it.
Tom stands there, wrists cuffed in front and ankles chained.
His left eye is bruised. Three sailors surround him.
CAPTAIN BERTREL (CONT'D)
We discovered this heroic fighting
man in our Number Two Turret.
Bertrel gestures them all to come in, then closes the door.
KRYSTEL
Uncle Tom? They kidnapped you too?
CAPTAIN BERTREL
We've three in sickbay thanks to
him. No worries, we heal quickly
Underneath. Petty Officer Gilmore,
have a seat with your family.
The sailors prod Tom forward to a chair next to Derek.
Krystel focuses on his bruised face.
KRYSTEL
What did these cowards do to you?
TOM
I'll live.
CAPTAIN BERTREL
I thought to hold you in the brig
but I think you'll enjoy our show.
Bertrel goes out the wardroom door and speaks low to CHIEF
PETTY OFFICER FUENTES, 30s, in the passageway.
Bertrel walks off. The chief comes in and closes the door.
KRYSTEL
How did that happen?
TOM
Someone's elbow. It's nothing.
Krystel gestures at Derek with a questioning look.
TOM (CONT'D)
No reason to hold back now.
Krystel nods, then moves to sit directly across from Derek.
KRYSTEL
You're a stinking rat.
Derek tries to look shocked.
KRYSTEL (CONT'D)
I know everything. You did all
this. You fucking liar bastard!
DEREK
I didn't... They're the ones who
lied to me!
KRYSTEL
Con man! You conned me and my
family! The only man I've ever
trusted in my whole life...
(points at Tom)
...and you got him too!
DEREK
I did what I did for you, babe!
KRYSTEL
For what? Money? And quit calling
me 'babe'! Don't you ever call me
that again, you motherfucker!
DEREK
You're the woman I want to spend
the rest of my life with!
Krystel yanks off her engagement ring and flings it at Derek.
It hits him in the chest, bounces onto the floor.
Derek gets up and storms off towards a porthole.
The hum from USS Brecksville stops.
KRYSTEL
(to Tom)
What can we do?
TOM
Sit tight, Tiger. We'll be jake.
CAPTAIN BERTREL
(into wardroom intercom)
Chief? Time.
CHIEF FUENTES
Yes, sir.
Chief Fuentes directs the other sailors to escort Tom,
Krystel and Derek. They all leave the wardroom.
EXT. MAIN DECK - BRECKSVILLE - MORNING
USS Brecksville hovers fifty feet above the North Atlantic.
The weather is overcast with choppy, wind-whipped waves.
Bertrel, Tom, Krystel and Derek stand outside the bridge,
starboard side. Ten sailors flank them.
The rest of the crew lines the starboard rail on deck.
Bertrel holds a bullhorn. He faces the three captives.
CAPTAIN BERTREL
We project images to each other as
a way to communicate Underneath.
We're going to share some with you.
DEREK
Are they holograms?
CAPTAIN BERTREL
They're a replay of electromagnetic
patterns, sight and sound, is what
our techs tell us.
TOM
Captain Bertrel, wait...
CAPTAIN BERTREL
All of you need to be educated.
Especially you.
Bertrel lasers in on Krystel.
TOM
Captain!
CAPTAIN BERTREL
What is it, Petty Officer Gilmore?
TOM
You can't force this on us.
CAPTAIN BERTREL
That is not and never will be our
intent. First, would anyone like
to go to their cabins? Krystel?
KRYSTEL
I can take it if you can.
CAPTAIN BERTREL
Quite the spirited lady you have
here, Mister Garnett.
Krystel moves away from Derek and closer to Tom.
CAPTAIN BERTREL (CONT'D)
If a viewing gets to be too much,
simply shut your eyes. I'll start.
Bertrel faces the water and closes his eyes.
He raises his hands, drops them behind his neck and massages
the base of his skull. The current scene fades.
EXT. OCEAN - AFTERNOON
The sun sparkles upon a blue ocean.
CAPTAIN BERTREL
Look to the left. The Gray Ghost!
A gray-painted Queen Georgina churns through rolling swells.
The silhouette of a bomber flies over the ship.
CAPTAIN BERTREL (CONT'D)
B-17 Flying Fortress. But the
Queen is about to lose air cover.
An engine drone sounds as the B-17 banks and heads away.
CAPTAIN BERTREL (CONT'D)
It's now up to us and six other
ships to shield her into Scotland.
Bertrel drops his hands, leans on the bridge rail a moment.
EXT. MAIN DECK - BRECKSVILLE - MORNING
CAPTAIN BERTREL
It was a hare-brained operation.
The Queen steamed faster than her
escorts and she couldn't slow down.
(raises bullhorn)
Petty Officer Cowdray?
The sailor COWDRAY puts his hands to the back of his head.
EXT. OCEAN - AFTERNOON
The port side of Queen Georgina appears, very close. Tiny
figures line all of her visible decks.
CAPTAIN BERTREL
Fifteen thousand troops aboard.
Since she's zigzagging, you see her
now off our starboard flank. Thank
you Mr. Cowdray. Chief Saladin?
Queen Georgina's starboard side is close, slightly behind.
CAPTAIN BERTREL (CONT'D)
He's looking off our port side, as
was nearly everyone topside.
Voices sound onboard the 1942 USS Brecksville.
1942 CREW VOICE 1
Hey Bulldog, what's she...?
1942 CREW VOICE 2
Christ almighty, what in the hell
is she doing?
1942 CREW VOICE 3
Holy shit!
1942 CREW VOICE 2
They see it, the dogfaces, they see
it!
Queen Georgina draws nearly even with Brecksville.
Gradually her bow angles in on the cruiser.
1942 CREW VOICE 3
Oh my God!
1942 CREW VOICE 1
Get back, get back, get to port...!
The entire scene goes black. Derek gasps in horror.
Krystel screams and falls back into two sailors.
EXT. MAIN DECK - BRECKSVILLE - MORNING
CAPTAIN BERTREL
Is everyone okay? Would you rather
go below now, Miss Janelli?
She shakes her head 'No'.
CAPTAIN BERTREL (CONT'D)
Very good. Seaman Skate?
EXT. OCEAN - AFTERNOON
A rolling swell makes the ocean appear to drop down.
Queen Georgina churns through wreckage and flotsam.
CAPTAIN BERTREL
The Queen slowed down after the
collision, but didn't stop.
A rolled up object floats a dozen feet away.
CAPTAIN BERTREL (CONT'D)
Petty Officer Gilmore, what's that?
TOM
Castanet.
CAPTAIN BERTREL
Right. A life raft that can carry
fifty men, but that day they
couldn't be unrolled.
DEREK
How come?
CAPTAIN BERTREL
Oil. The lashings were covered
with oil. No grip.
The focus shifts right.
The stern section of USS Brecksville explodes and sinks.
CAPTAIN BERTREL (CONT'D)
Many of us who perished immediately
were in the stern.
Thick black smoke billows up from burning oil on the surface.
CAPTAIN BERTREL (CONT'D)
When the Queen's stem rammed us, I
was killed instantly. Nearly
everyone on the bridge died as a
result of the impact.
The focus goes left. Brecksville's bow section floats level.
CAPTAIN BERTREL (CONT'D)
Almost everyone in the bow section
survived, except for the ones who
eventually gave up and drowned.
EXT. MAIN DECK - BRECKSVILLE - MORNING
CAPTAIN BERTREL
My men waited two hours for the
British destroyers to double back
and rescue them. Chief Curacoa?
EXT. OCEAN - AFTERNOON
Men cling to wreckage, to rolled-up castanets or hold onto
each other and float in groups.
Krystel gasps as a man near a castanet stares at the viewer.
Another man by himself struggles to stay afloat in the
swells. His head ducks underneath.
Globs of oil bob on the surface. One closes on the man. He
moves his arms weakly and tries to swim away from it.
The glob of oil floats onto his face.
The scene shifts skyward as a swell passes under. When the
surface becomes visible again, the man is gone.
EXT. MAIN DECK - BRECKSVILLE - MORNING
CAPTAIN BERTREL
Three hundred thirty-eight men.
Murdered by the recklessness of
Queen Georgina's skipper. One man
did this. One!
TOM
You take no responsibility at all?
CAPTAIN BERTREL
What was that, Petty Officer?
TOM
His ship was crammed with American
GIs! Couldn't you have avoided...
CAPTAIN BERTREL
No avoiding was necessary!
Bertrel whirls to face Tom and takes a step towards him.
Tom moves into combat stance, despite the handcuffs and ankle
chains. Sailors grab his arms.
Bertrel gets right in his face.
CAPTAIN BERTREL (CONT'D)
You never zigzag overtaking another
vessel! Yet that rule wasn't even
reviewed by the Board of Inquiry.
When Fleet Week became possible my
men and I uncovered their lies.
He backs up to the rail.
CAPTAIN BERTREL (CONT'D)
"Obstruction of a capital ship
during wartime maneuvers" was put
into my official record. That's
what I died with. And you...
Bertrel stabs his finger at Krystel.
CAPTAIN BERTREL (CONT'D)
You are going to set everything
right! You will cleanse my record!
KRYSTEL
Me? Fuck that noise, Admiral!
Stick that record up your ass!
Bertrel's face changes to pure rage. He advances on her.
She shrinks back.
CAPTAIN BERTREL
How dare you! You have no honor,
foul-mouthed wench, you should
be...
TOM
Sir! Captain Bertrel! Why her?
Bertrel slowly calms down.
CAPTAIN BERTREL
She's the living link to the outlaw
skipper of Queen Georgina, a rogue
named Randolph W. Hegessey.
KRYSTEL
I'm adopted, Admiral!
CAPTAIN BERTREL
We spent month after month tracing
his lineage. You, Miss Janelli,
would have a different name had
your parents kept you. You're
Hegessey's great granddaughter.
TOM
So it's her fault. And not a bit
of it yours. Fucking insane, sir.
CAPTAIN BERTREL
Petty Officer Gilmore: Would you
like to be cast into the Bloody
Foreland in front of your niece?
TOM
All right. I'll use my military
connections to get this reopened.
CAPTAIN BERTREL
The chain of command between
Hegessey and you is non-existent.
You are not of her true family.
KRYSTEL
Uncle Tom's the closest...
CAPTAIN BERTREL
Shut your stench of a mouth!
TOM
She is family, Captain! Like the
bond between a ship and her crew.
Bertrel turns and goes to the rail. He raises the bullhorn.
CAPTAIN BERTREL
Attention all hands! Secure from
stations! Ship will get underway
in thirty minutes! That is all.
The men along the rail slowly drift from it. Some form small
groups and hug. Others move towards hatches and ladders.
CAPTAIN BERTREL (CONT'D)
Very well, Petty Officer Gilmore.
Then I will hold you as responsible
as her to set things right again.
For myself, and for my men.
Bertrel walks towards a ladder leading down from the bridge.
TOM
Where are we going now, Captain?
CAPTAIN BERTREL
You're getting a magic carpet ride
to Wichita, Kansas. Then I and my
crew go back Underneath.
EXT. MAIN DECK - BRECKSVILLE - LATE AFTERNOON
Tom, Krystel and Derek stand along the starboard rail and
watch the panorama streak by. Krystel turns to Derek.
KRYSTEL
I want to talk to my uncle alone.
Derek looks down, then moves away towards the stern.
Krystel takes Tom's arm and they walk towards the bow.
KRYSTEL (CONT'D)
What's he like, Uncle Tom? The man
who helped you.
Tom focuses on the submarine-like sail close to the cruiser's
bow. Minor movements occur in the diving planes.
TOM
Ray's a good man, a real shipmate.
KRYSTEL
I think I saw him back there.
TOM
The viewing?
KRYSTEL
Yeah. But other places too.
TOM
He watched over you in Wichita.
Did you ever see him in your house?
Krystel shakes her head.
TOM (CONT'D)
He said he was in your house,
looking through things. That's how
he knew where to find me in Hermosa
Beach. He...
KRYSTEL
I know! Cowtown back home! After
working in the gift shop I'd go
sometimes to our Old West saloon...
INT. OLD WEST SALOON - WICHITA, KANSAS - NIGHT
Krystel, dressed in traditional Old West clothes, sits at a
large table with other men and women dressed similarly.
At the bar, a man in a cowboy hat drinks a beer. He turns on
his barstool and looks at Krystel's table a long moment.
EXT. MAIN DECK - BRECKSVILLE - CONTINUOUS
KRYSTEL
He was there a few nights in a row
but he never introduced himself.
TOM
In that case, how would you like to
go to Saint Louis with me tonight?
KRYSTEL
To meet this guy Ray?
TOM
He said if a 'Neather dies out of
the water it's all over. I want to
go back there, see that he's okay.
An object glances off Brecksville's hull.
TOM (CONT'D)
A bird.
KRYSTEL
Poor thing!
They continue walking towards the bow.
KRYSTEL (CONT'D)
Anyway yes, I'm going with you. I
owe Ray that much.
DEREK (O.S.)
I want to go too.
In front of the ship's diving sail stand four guards. Tom
and Krystel turn towards the stern. Derek approaches them.
KRYSTEL
What?
DEREK
I'm going with you to Saint Louis.
This was all my fault.
KRYSTEL
Uncle Tom? I don't know. We're
supposed to trust you now, right?
DEREK
Look, I already have some treasure
but I don't want any of it. I'll
give it all away.
TOM
I'd hold you to that.
DEREK
You won't need to, Tom.
Krystel walks to Derek, up close. He starts to turn away.
KRYSTEL
Look at me! You can come. But try
anything and I won't need my uncle
to avenge it. And forget about our
marriage. I don't marry con men.
EXT. SKY - WICHITA, KANSAS - EARLY EVENING
Brecksville moves above the city across the Arkansas River.
She floats over a bridge.
She descends, then turns towards a pier just past the bridge.
Brecksville moves close to the pier and hovers above it.
EXT. MAIN DECK - BRECKSVILLE - CONTINUOUS
Tom, Krystel and Derek stand near the gangway platform.
TOM
They may try and get cute. Jump to
the pier, then move out quickly.
We stay together no matter what.
EXT. PIER - ARKANSAS RIVER - CONTINUOUS
A FAMILY (father, mother, two small boys, one small girl)
with a dog walks slowly around the perimeter of the pier.
The dog bolts down the pier back towards the riverbank. The
girl runs after it.
The rest of the family begins to follow them.
One of the boys turns around, picks up a rock and throws it
towards the river.
EXT. MAIN DECK - BRECKSVILLE - CONTINUOUS
Krystel steps back. A click sounds below as the rock hits.
The boy looks directly through them. Then he turns, runs
down the pier and looks over his shoulder several times.
Bertrel approaches. Three sailors with seabags follow him.
CAPTAIN BERTREL
Your belongings. The bags are
mementos of our excursion.
The sailors hand a seabag to each of them, then withdraw.
CAPTAIN BERTREL (CONT'D)
Understand that we'll be watching
your every move. I expect a
complete reprieve, Miss Janelli.
Petty Officer Gilmore.
KRYSTEL
Bertrel, pray we don't tell
everyone about you and your sick...
CAPTAIN BERTREL
They won't believe. And even if?
We'll know. Then they'll know us.
Bertrel turns to the bridge, raises his arm, then lowers it.
He leaves them, and makes his way to the bridge ladder.
Brecksville drops and extends its gangway above the pier.
Tom, Krystel and Derek hesitate. A sailor gestures for them
to go quickly.
Krystel steps onto the gangway, followed by Derek, then Tom.
EXT. PIER - ARKANSAS RIVER - CONTINUOUS
Krystel and Derek both jump off the gangway to the pier.
Tom turns. Captain Bertrel salutes. Tom salutes back.
He jumps off the gangway and looks behind him, at the
opposite riverbank. USS Brecksville has vanished.
EXT. DRIVEWAY - DEREK'S HOUSE - EVENING
The threesome walks up the driveway to Derek's car.
TOM
I'll go in and set up the charter
flight while you guys are gone.
KRYSTEL
(to Tom)
I want you in the car with me.
TOM
(to Derek)
You got your phone?
Derek nods as he slides into the driver's side. Tom goes for
the back seat.
KRYSTEL
That's okay, I'll sit back there.
Tom shrugs and gets into the passenger seat.
A dejected Derek looks in the rearview mirror at Krystel.
She turns away from him as he starts the car moving.
EXT. DRIVEWAY - KRYSTEL'S HOUSE - CONTINUOUS
Tom jumps out of the car first, then he assists Krystel out.
KRYSTEL
Mom's SUV is here but I don't think
she's home.
TOM
We'll be back in about an hour.
KRYSTEL
Okay. When do we take off?
TOM
Nine o'clock or whenever we get
there. They'll wait. It's only an
hour to Saint Louis.
She gives Tom a quick hug and starts away. Derek leans far
over towards the passenger side window.
DEREK
Bye, Krys.
Krystel pauses for a second. She then continues up the
walkway to her door, opens it and steps inside.
She switches on the hall light, then waves through the screen
door as Derek backs the car out of her driveway.
INT. HALLWAY - KRYSTEL'S HOUSE - CONTINUOUS
Krystel drops the seabag and walks to the stairs.
KRYSTEL
Mom? It's me!
No answer. Krystel heads towards the kitchen.
A low thump sounds. Krystel stops, turns, and goes back to
the stairs. She climbs up a few of them.
KRYSTEL (CONT'D)
Mom? You in?
Krystel walks back towards the kitchen.
On her left, she sees the patio door slide open by itself.
KRYSTEL (CONT'D)
Hey! What?
Krystel stumbles backwards. She struggles, then is caught by
unseen arms that soon pin her to the floor. She tries to
yell but her voice is muffled.
Her sleeve moves up. A cotton ball rubs itself on her upper
arm. A syringe floats over and plunges into her arm.
She twitches, then relaxes and lies perfectly still.
Her seabag opens itself and upends. The contents fall out.
The seabag pulls over Krystel, feet first, then encloses her
whole body. The top buckle snaps itself shut.
The seabag floats out the patio door.
When it reaches the lawn, the seabag drops to the grass and
slides away from the house.
EXT. DRIVEWAY - DEREK'S HOUSE - EVENING
Derek leans against the car hood and fiddles with his phone.
Tom rushes out the door, shuts it, then runs to Derek's car.
TOM
What are you doing with that?
DEREK
No rush, Tom. We're good on time.
Tom raps on the hood of the car.
TOM
Let's get underway!
INT. DEREK'S CAR - WICHITA, KANSAS - CONTINUOUS
TOM
Did that jackal ever tell you
anything more about this scheme?
DEREK
I didn't even know about going to
the sinking. The professor said
we'd go on Brecksville, and then
Bertrel would take us to Wichita.
TOM
Is her number in this thing?
Tom grabs Derek's phone and holds it out. Derek presses a
few buttons on it. Four rings sound from the speaker.
KRYSTEL (V.O.)
Hi, it's Krystel and I'm not...
Tom breaks the connection.
TOM
Probably in the shower.
DEREK
We'll be there in a few minutes!
TOM
I know. Something doesn't jibe.
What does Bertrel have from us?
DEREK
Um, the Navy records, to fix them.
TOM
And that is all. Just our promise
to reopen an inquiry into his case.
Tom clicks the redial button. Krystel's recording starts and
Tom clicks it off.
DEREK
Yeah. And if we don't he
threatened to...
TOM
Seems too thin. Something else.
Until they got me it was easy-peasy
hiding on that ship. My SEAL
training, I figured at first.
DEREK
You're saying maybe they knew all
along you were aboard?
Tom shrugs. Derek points ahead to the Arkansas River.
DEREK (CONT'D)
That's where I proposed to her. On
a cruise ship during Riverfest.
TOM
Was the marriage his idea too?
DEREK
No! Just to get her to Long Beach.
TOM
Bertrel had this figured down to
the wire. The timing, your visit
with the professor at UCLB...
DEREK
Yeah. He told me about the yacht
and gave me some more treasure.
TOM
But why would he... Why?
DEREK
Like, a down payment? And I had to
show him our rental so he could
easily find it and turn it in. I
guess Bertrel didn't want cops...
TOM
Forget that, for now! Why stage
this whole thing in Long Beach?
Tom hits the redial again. Still no answer.
DEREK
That's where I graduated college?
TOM
Who cares where you went to school?
No. It's... Oh shit, it's the
river! See? That's the answer!
Derek is clueless. Tom points out the window.
TOM (CONT'D)
That son of a bitching river!
DEREK
But I said the marriage was our...
TOM
I ought to be sent back to middle
school! What did he just do?
DEREK
Bertrel?
TOM
Who the fuck else? He just dropped
us off on an open pier during rush
hour, like he was delivering mail!
DEREK
Yeah! But...
TOM
Have you and Krystel ever gone to
that pier?
DEREK
Of course. It's near my house.
TOM
Bingo! If Bertrel wanted to take
her on a joyride to lay on the
guilts about this sinking, then
grab her here! Why go across...
Tom hits redial again but disconnects after two rings.
TOM (CONT'D)
That ghost bastard just fucked us!
DEREK
What are you talking about?
TOM
They've got her!
DEREK
What? You're crazy!
TOM
Listen. Bertrel couldn't be sure
of everyone's loyalty, including
yours. He didn't count on me, but
probably factored in that someone
from the outside might interfere.
DEREK
Yeah. I mean now I want to help.
TOM
Bertrel had to purge his ship of
anyone who could possibly stop him.
DEREK
From doing what?
EXT. DRIVEWAY - KRYSTEL'S HOUSE - CONTINUOUS
Tom jumps out of the car and runs to the door.
TOM
The hall light's off!
He opens the screen, tries the knob, then beats on the door.
TOM (CONT'D)
TIGER? The key! Give me her
goddamned key!
Derek trots up and hands it to him. Tom jams the key home
and swings the door open. They both enter. Total silence.
Tom discovers the open patio door and steps through it.
TOM (CONT'D)
Check all the rooms, double-quick.
EXT. BACKYARD - KRYSTEL'S HOUSE - CONTINUOUS
Tom moves laterally in a crouch and examines the grass.
He looks up and focuses on a narrow lake that runs behind
other houses on Krystel's street.
He sees wet footprints on the lawn and runs a hand over them.
Derek steps out of the patio door and joins Tom.
DEREK
Nobody here.
TOM
Bertrel hovered above that lake and
dropped a raiding party into it.
He gestures down at the wet grass, the faint tracks in it.
TOM (CONT'D)
They've got her all right. C'mon!
Tom stands and they both head for the front of the house.
DEREK
You think she's in Saint Louis?
TOM
No way. What's in Long Beach?
DEREK
My college?
TOM
Fuck the college and think! Where
are you guys staying?
DEREK
The, um... Queen Georgina.
INT. CAPTAIN'S STATEROOM - BRECKSVILLE - EVENING
Krystel sits in front of Bertrel's desk, cuffed to her chair.
Four sailors stand nearby.
Bertrel comes in.
CAPTAIN BERTREL
We'll be fine. Go.
The sailors leave and Bertrel closes the door.
KRYSTEL
Where's Brad?
CAPTAIN BERTREL
Mr. McKittrick and a few others
left willingly before the viewing.
KRYSTEL
Too human for you, right? By the
way, I know that you're him.
CAPTAIN BERTREL
Who am I, love?
KRYSTEL
The... You were the guy who cleaned
our windshield at the college.
CAPTAIN BERTREL
Keen eye. Yes. If I asked your
turncoat fiancé for money, that
meant things at the college were
set up. Do I get an Oscar?
KRYSTEL
Why didn't you... Why did we have
to see that pervert Taranto?
CAPTAIN BERTREL
Your Judas boyfriend never trusted
me but he worships his professor.
So I had him deliver the change of
plans about the yacht. And the
thirty pieces of silver.
Bertrel removes a wallet photo and shows it to Krystel. She
frowns, examines it closely. The intercom clicks.
CAPTAIN BERTREL (CONT'D)
You see just what I see. My
Melissa looks so much like you.
(into intercom)
What is it?
LIEUTENANT GRENASH (V.O.)
Phoenix off the port bow, sir. On
schedule. Ninety minutes.
CAPTAIN BERTREL
Splendid. Let me know when we're
close to the Salton Sea.
Bertrel clicks off, walks to the porthole and looks out.
CAPTAIN BERTREL (CONT'D)
That inland sea will slow us up.
We only go half as fast over water.
KRYSTEL
Goddess... Melissa?
CAPTAIN BERTREL
A last minute addition, your love
boat. She was abandoned in the
Gulf of California.
He returns to his seat behind the desk.
CAPTAIN BERTREL (CONT'D)
My dear wife passed away two months
after me. When she heard U-boats
sunk us, that the captain went down
with the ship, she acted.
KRYSTEL
U-boats? But didn't the Queen...
CAPTAIN BERTREL
They held it back. Bad for morale,
love. My Melissa. Delicate soul.
So fragile, so dependent on me.
KRYSTEL
Is she... a 'Neather now, too?
He holds out his hand to Krystel for the photograph. Bertrel
takes it, caresses the edges.
CAPTAIN BERTREL
She died in the water. She'd
sliced her wrists in our bathtub.
KRYSTEL
Oh God...
CAPTAIN BERTREL
They buried my Melissa with our
unborn son still inside her.
INT. PASSENGER CABIN - CASSENTA SILKWING - NIGHT
DEREK
Are we landing at LAX?
TOM
Long Beach. We get to the marina,
to Ray's boat. Then we improvise.
DEREK
You think Bertrel might kill her?
TOM
What do you think?
DEREK
I'd have to kill him myself, then.
TOM
That's a helluva turnaround. Okay,
I need to know everything you know
about Bertrel. Did this all start
with your engineering professor?
DEREK
Yeah. Tom... I'm an asshole. Krys
is right, she always is. I don't
want to go into it now. Let's just
help her.
Tom turns in his seat and grabs Derek's upper arm.
TOM
Do you really want to help her? A
SEAL team finds out everything it
can about a target before striking.
Are you clear on the target?
DEREK
Well, yeah. We catch Bertrel and
get Krys away, I guess. Right?
Tom leans in close to Derek and speaks just above a whisper.
TOM
Does Krystel talk of her childhood?
DEREK
Um, not much. Hardly ever.
TOM
There's a reason. Ready? She had
an abortion when she was twelve.
DEREK
What? She had a what?
TOM
Keep it down.
The COPILOT turns to look at them, then faces front.
TOM (CONT'D)
My sister woke with a bad cough
late one night and her husband
wasn't in bed. Guess where he was?
DEREK
No! You don't mean...
TOM
Krystel missed the seventh grade.
Hospitals. Emotional trauma
therapy. Meds, you name it. That
bastard stole a year of her life
and more. Now she's being held...
Derek starts to turn toward the window. Tom grabs him.
TOM (CONT'D)
Listen to me! Your fiancée - my
niece - is being held by a madman
for God knows what purpose! What
are you going to do about it?
DEREK
We... we have to stop him.
TOM
We might have to splash the whole
fucking lot. Eliminations! Got
that? If you can't handle it then
I don't want you on my team.
Derek turns to the window. Tears fill his eyes.
TOM (CONT'D)
Look, partner. I'm beat and we're
going into action in a few hours.
We both should get some shut-eye.
Tom gets up and speaks to the COPILOT, female, 30s.
As he returns to his seat, the cabin lights dim.
INT. CAPTAIN'S STATEROOM - BRECKSVILLE - NIGHT
LIEUTENANT GRENASH (V.O.)
(via ship's intercom)
Trans water stabilize, standby for
speed reduction.
Krystel deliberately looks up at the Stan Musial photograph.
CAPTAIN BERTREL
Stan the Man, 1942 Series. Games
one and two split. They sunk us on
the off day. An American crew
later told us the Cards won it all.
LIEUTENANT GRENASH (V.O.)
Stand by for TWS... Now.
The ship drops slightly and angles down. The hum decreases.
KRYSTEL
We lived in Cairo, Illinois.
CAPTAIN BERTREL
Really? Did you like it there?
KRYSTEL
I don't remember much. We moved to
Wichita when I was four.
CAPTAIN BERTREL
After the meeting, we'll revisit
some Mississippi River haunts.
KRYSTEL
Meeting?
CAPTAIN BERTREL
To dispense with some business.
KRYSTEL
Oh. Okay if I powder my nose?
Bertrel opens the door and motions two men to come in.
CAPTAIN BERTREL
Escort her to the officers head.
They un-cuff her and head down the passageway.
Halfway down Krystel suddenly crouches, grabs the left leg of
the sailor on her right and pushes up.
He falls diagonally in front of the other sailor, who also
stumbles and falls.
Krystel hurdles over them, then runs at the open deck hatch.
She slides under the stanchion chain, gets her feet onto a
rung and climbs down.
The two sailors scramble to their feet. One turns back
towards the pair of sailors near the Captain's stateroom.
ESCORT SAILOR
Call the bridge!
INT. VOID SPACE - BRECKSVILLE - CONTINUOUS
Krystel climbs down the metal ladder awkwardly. She looks
up. A sailor several rungs above her descends rapidly.
She reaches the deck, turns and grabs the hatch handle. She
pushes it up and steps out just as the sailor jumps down.
EXT. STARBOARD HATCH - BRECKSVILLE - CONTINUOUS
On deck, Krystel turns and slams the hatch.
The sailor's arm catches between the hatch and the opening.
He bellows in pain.
She runs to the rail. A sailor comes at her from the right,
two more from the left.
She gets a leg over and brings up the other but they grab at
her, then pull her back over the rail.
They carry her to the bridge ladder, then up.
Krystel looks back and sees the moonbeam disappear off of the
Salton Sea.
Brecksville angles up and increases speed.
INT. PASSENGER CABIN - CASSENTA SILKWING - NIGHT
The copilot touches Tom's shoulder. He stirs and brings his
reclined seat upright. Derek wakes up and does the same.
SILKWING COPILOT
We'll be landing soon, but we must
divert to LAX. Long Beach has fog.
TOM
Oh Christ. Look, we can't be late
for our appointment on the ground.
SILKWING COPILOT
Have you reserved a rental car?
Tom nods.
SILKWING COPILOT (CONT'D)
We'll transfer that to LAX and
bring it to the tarmac.
TOM
Appreciate it. When do we land?
SILKWING COPILOT
Nine fifty-five.
TOM
Thanks again.
She leaves. Tom grabs a pad and pen and writes figures.
TOM (CONT'D)
Brecksville gets to Long Beach
between ten and ten-thirty.
DEREK
Great, we get there before them.
TOM
True, but we have to switch
vehicles. They can park
Brecksville anywhere.
INT. BRIDGE - BRECKSVILLE - NIGHT
KRYSTEL
One way or another he'll stop you.
CAPTAIN BERTREL
You'll shower. Refuse, and my men
provide a GI shower. Then you'll
change into the clothes and items
already laid out. Make a fuss and
they'll be most happy to assist.
KRYSTEL
I'm sure of that. Are you done?
CAPTAIN BERTREL
Go. The meeting approaches.
Bertrel nods at the sailors, who take her towards the ladder.
INT. RENTAL CAR - 710 FREEWAY SOUTH - NIGHT
Tom races in the left lane. The speedometer shows 85.
A sign reads: 710 Freeway Ends - 1/2 Mile
DEREK
Why don't we call the Coast Guard!
TOM
Good one. "Be On the Lookout for
an invisible flying warship".
Tom cuts off a car as he swerves into the right lane.
DEREK
You're not in the Grand Prix.
TOM
Ever see it here?
DEREK
Yeah, it was exactly like this.
Tom veers onto Shoreline Village Drive. Ahead in the
distance they see Queen Georgina, all lit up.
Tom drives to a parking gate. He leans over to his left.
TOM
Get the wallet out of my pocket.
Derek pulls the wallet, opens it and extracts a twenty. He
hands it to Tom.
PARKING ATTENDANT
Eight dollars after nine o'clock...
TOM
Right, whatever. Keep the change.
Tom gives him the bill, then nudges the car forward.
He starts through as the gate rises. It scrapes the rooftop.
Tom turns into the parking lot, crosses it and accesses the
berm roadway. He swerves into a parking spot and stops.
EXT. BERM PARKING AREA - LONG BEACH MARINA - CONTINUOUS
Tom and Derek run down the pier and jump to Nakima's deck.
TOM
Can you pilot a boat?
Derek nods. Tom tosses him the keys.
TOM (CONT'D)
I'll keep lookout from up here.
DEREK
Where to?
TOM
The waterway in front of the Queen.
INT. CAPTAIN'S STATEROOM - BRECKSVILLE - NIGHT
Four sailors avert their eyes as Krystel slips on a short
white satin dress. She steps into matching satin heels.
Gold and ruby jewelry lie on the captain's desktop. Krystel
walks to it, then puts on the arm bracelet, ankle bracelets
and a necklace with a single large ruby.
The hum of the keel propulsors ceases and the ship stops.
Krystel reacts to the quiet, then rests a tiara in her hair.
KRYSTEL
I feel like Cleopatra's bridesmaid,
boys. What's the insane Admiral...
The door opens and Bertrel enters, walks to Krystel.
CAPTAIN BERTREL
You two stay.
He points at them. The two others leave the stateroom.
KRYSTEL
What's this, Admiral? I know the
gold is real but the rubies...
CAPTAIN BERTREL
Carlota's. Maximilian and Carlota
once ruled Mexico.
The ship hauling their royal loot
sank and we found it.
KRYSTEL
You stole all their jewels?
CAPTAIN BERTREL
Finders keepers. We didn't take it
all, we never do. The last thing
we want is to draw any attention.
LIEUTENANT GRENASH (V.O.)
(into ship's intercom)
Laguna Beach off the starboard
side. All hands report topside.
CAPTAIN BERTREL
That policy is about to change.
KRYSTEL
What do you mean?
CAPTAIN BERTREL
Some of us reject the secrecy, the
Charter. We shall take what you
Topsiders have. No conditions.
KRYSTEL
You really are pirates after all.
He smiles devilishly. A double-knock sounds.
CAPTAIN BERTREL
You don't even know what's coming.
(at door)
Enter!
Chief Fuentes opens the door.
CHIEF FUENTES
Captain, we're ready.
CAPTAIN BERTREL
Thank you, Chief.
Fuentes motions in four sailors, who escort Krystel out into
the passageway. One sailor on each side grips her upper arm.
Bertrel closes and locks his stateroom door.
KRYSTEL
Captain Bertrel, my things...
CAPTAIN BERTREL
You won't need them until later.
The party moves towards the ladder leading to the main deck.
INT. CABIN - NAKIMA - CONTINUOUS
Derek stares out the cabin windows at Queen Georgina.
Tom comes down the stern ladder and approaches.
DEREK
Anything?
TOM
Cold normal. Let's head south.
DEREK
What are we looking for?
TOM
An invisible cruiser. Keep your
eyes peeled.
EXT. MAIN DECK - BRECKSVILLE - NIGHT
The ship hovers fifty feet above the ocean. Her bow faces a
docks area. Off her starboard side is the coastline.
Krystel steps down a port side ladder, two sailors behind,
two ahead. She reaches the deck, turns and sees Bertrel.
He stands on a red carpet that stretches to the bow. On both
sides down its length, sailors in dress uniforms face inward.
KRYSTEL
Oh perfect. I'm going to marry an
insane fucking ghost.
CAPTAIN BERTREL
No wedding today. The meeting...
the meet...
Bertrel folds his arms. Krystel tries to hide her surprise.
CAPTAIN BERTREL (CONT'D)
Yes, love. The window on Fleet
Week is closing for us all.
He reaches for her necklace. Krystel flinches, moves back.
Bertrel's eyes flash at her.
CAPTAIN BERTREL (CONT'D)
Soon comes the day when you shall
cling to me.
Bertrel nods at sailors nearby. Two move behind her. Two
more position themselves on either side and grasp her arms.
KRYSTEL
Are surface... I mean are topside
people attending this meeting?
CAPTAIN BERTREL
Certainly.
Bertrel faces her. Everyone else on deck grows silent.
CAPTAIN BERTREL (CONT'D)
Your role, my love, is dually
symbolic. First, as a figurehead
to inaugurate our new presence
Topside. Second, as a prize to me
personally. You shall have the
honor to be my woman Underneath.
KRYSTEL
You've got to be... I'm not going
under any-fucking-where with you!
Krystel raises her arms up but the sailors hold them.
Bertrel turns and walks to the edge of the red carpet.
A sailor loops a gag belt around Krystel's mouth. Others
grasp her legs and arms. They carry her to the red carpet.
Bertrel waits for her arrival, then leads a procession.
As he comes abreast of a sailor pairing they snap-salute,
then drop it as he passes. The next pairing does the same.
The procession moves past the forward turret, the sail with
diving planes, the windlasses and anchor chains.
A raised steel platform sits back from the point of the bow.
The platform supports a pair of brass poles, six feet high
and two feet apart. From each pole hangs leather straps and
buckles at various height intervals.
The men position Krystel between the poles. Sailors fasten
her legs with straps near her ankles, knees and hips. They
tie her arms with straps near her elbows and shoulders.
A man ties a strap across her forehead and removes the gag.
KRYSTEL (CONT'D)
Bertrel! Why didn't you take me
down in the cabin, tied to the
bunk? Don't you bastards know how
to do anything right?
Bertrel walks in front of her.
CAPTAIN BERTREL
No one touches you here or
Underneath, but me. We are
gentlemen, all.
KRYSTEL
Perverts is more like it!
Bertrel moves close. He suddenly kisses her neck.
KRYSTEL (CONT'D)
Fucking vampire!
CAPTAIN BERTREL
Lieut... Lieutenant...
Bertrel quickly folds his arms.
CAPTAIN BERTREL (CONT'D)
Lieutenant Grenash, proceed.
LIEUTENANT GRENASH
Aye sir.
Grenash clicks a switch on a device. The platform descends.
INT. FORWARD HULL - BRECKSVILLE - CONTINUOUS
The platform moves down and stops. Two lanterns switch on,
to the right and left of it.
A sailor at each side moves forward to the crease of the bow.
They release dogs on a hatch cover near the top of the bow.
A sailor removes a wooden shaft from brackets on the
bulkhead. He thrusts an end into the hatch center.
The hatch falls out and down. The other sailor looks up at
the square opening in the deck.
HATCH SAILOR
Bow hatch is away, Captain!
CAPTAIN BERTREL
Very well. Lieutenant?
EXT. MAIN DECK - BRECKSVILLE - CONTINUOUS
Grenash looks down from the bow point and toggles a switch.
The platform moves a few feet past the hatch and stops.
He presses another switch until the platform angles forward
approximately forty-five degrees.
INT. FORWARD HULL - BRECKSVILLE - CONTINUOUS
Krystel closes her eyes as she anticipates a fall into the
ocean. But the platform straps hold her tight.
Beneath her, a few sailboats and yachts sail leisurely.
KRYSTEL
Hey! Help me! Goddamnit look up
here! HELP!
Nobody on the boats pays any attention.
EXT. STERN DECK - NAKIMA - NIGHT
Tom sees a splash and focuses the binoculars to that area.
A cloud of fog approaches. As it moves left, the bow-on
silhouette of USS Brecksville slowly appears in mid-air.
Tom turns and crouches down at the stern ladder.
TOM
Derek? Found her! Found
Brecksville!
DEREK
Awesome! Wow! Okay, where to?
TOM
Go south but tack, and slowly!
Let's not attract their attention!
INT. BRIDGE - BRECKSVILLE - NIGHT
Grenash stands at the wheel.
CAPTAIN BERTREL (V.O.)
Descend.
Grenash presses buttons on the keel propulsor console.
EXT. MAIN DECK - BRECKSVILLE - CONTINUOUS
Bertrel goes to the bow point and looks down at Krystel.
The ship begins a slow, straight descent.
CAPTAIN BERTREL
You know Melville, love? His poem,
Figure-Head?
KRYSTEL
Stop this while you can, Bertrel!
CAPTAIN BERTREL
The Charles-and-Emma seaward sped,
Named from the carven pair at prow,
He so smart, and a curly head,
She tricked forth as a bride knows
how,
Pretty stem for the port, I trow!
The cruiser halts its descent fifty feet above the ocean.
INT. CABIN - NAKIMA - CONTINUOUS
Through the bridge window, Tom watches the silhouette of
Brecksville descend.
TOM
Prepare to repel boarders...
DEREK
Do we start our run?
TOM
Not yet. When I say.
Brecksville stops its descent.
TOM (CONT'D)
What's he doing? Keep it coming!
(to Derek)
Watch it!
Tom points. A Coast Guard cutter crosses ahead.
Derek turns as it passes, then straightens to meet its wake.
Tom raises the glasses.
EXT. MAIN DECK - BRECKSVILLE - CONTINUOUS
CAPTAIN BERTREL
Crew of heavy cruiser USS
Brecksville: To the meeting!
All the men on deck applaud raucously.
Bertrel turns to face the bridge. He raises his right arm
straight up and holds. Then he points it forward.
The ship moves ahead towards the docks area.
INT. CABIN - NAKIMA - CONTINUOUS
Through the binoculars, Brecksville's silhouette grows.
TOM
Christ, she's on the move!
The silhouette fills the field of vision in the binoculars.
Nakima bobs crazily as Brecksville passes directly over her.
TOM (CONT'D)
Turn about and get to the channel!
EXT. FORWARD HATCH - BRECKSVILLE - CONTINUOUS
The ship rises. Beyond the docks area, Krystel sees Queen
Georgina's port side.
Krystel looks forward as Brecksville angles down slightly.
She sees Queen Georgina directly ahead.
KRYSTEL
The meeting. Oh my God... This is
the meeting...
EXT. CENTER SMOKESTACK - QUEEN GEORGINA - CONTINUOUS
MARIA, Hispanic, 30s, attractive in a wedding dress and
WILSON, Irish, 40s in a tux stand in front of the smokestack.
JO BROOK, 30s, aims a long-lens camera at them.
JO
A big wet kiss, oh nice, you guys
are crazy about each other.
One more, let's both look at me,
real big smile and, tilt your head
Maria... Great!
Maria, Wilson and Jo walk to the front of the smokestack.
Rungs of a ladder lead all the way up top.
JO (CONT'D)
Maria? Go about five steps up, and
Wilson you stay there but raise
your arms. Not straight out, up,
there! Maria, put your right foot
on the next rung - your other right
foot, good, and look back. Now,
you're escaping! Give him a mondo
look of terror, really mug it...
A blue-white flash illuminates Maria and Wilson.
JO (CONT'D)
What? But I didn't...
Maria and Wilson look out over the port side, their faces in
total shock. Jo glances over her shoulder.
JO (CONT'D)
Oh shit, no...
EXT. DOCKS AREA - ADJACENT TO QUEEN GEORGINA - CONTINUOUS
Brecksville appears in mid-air and flashes blue-white.
At the waterline behind the superstructure, a black cylinder
punches through her hull at extremely high speed.
The black cylinder flashes blue-white as the profile of a
World War Two submarine. It slices Brecksville in half.
The submarine disappears.
The stern section of Brecksville, attached only at the keel,
bends down. She rolls starboard from the submarine impact.
Brecksville slowly rights herself as she plows ahead.
EXT. FORWARD HATCH - BRECKSVILLE - CONTINUOUS
Krystel screams as the submarine bashes into the cruiser.
A loud vibration shakes the ship.
Ahead, Queen Georgina's center smokestack grows in her
vision.
EXT. STERN DECK - NAKIMA - CONTINUOUS
The forward half of USS Brecksville barely skims over Queen
Georgina.
The bent-down stern portion slaps the middle smokestack and
obliterates it.
Brecksville continues ahead, then she angles downward.
Her stem smashes into the marina channel.
A giant double plume of spray blasts skyward and lights up
from the blue-white flashes of Brecksville.
EXT. FORWARD HATCH - BRECKSVILLE - CONTINUOUS
Black waves of the channel rush towards Krystel's face.
Brecksville's hull hits the surface and plunges underwater.
Krystel opens her eyes to blue-white bubbles racing past.
Brecksville suddenly angles up, its forward momentum driving
towards the Long Beach Marina.
Krystel's vision fades and she blacks out.
EXT. STERN DECK - NAKIMA - CONTINUOUS
Brecksville slams into the Long Beach Marina berm.
The ship obliterates trees, cars - everything in its path.
She halts on the berm, her stern portion still submerged in
the marina channel.
Slowly, Brecksville rolls halfway onto her starboard side.
Off to his right, Tom sees a huge wall of spray erupt from
the marina channel. At its bottom strobes a World War Two
submarine. Then the submarine disappears below the surface.
Nakima rises and angles sharply down as a giant wave from the
submarine's channel impact rolls into them.
INT. CABIN - NAKIMA - CONTINUOUS
Derek loses his balance and pitches forward. His head
crashes into the bulkhead.
EXT. STERN DECK - NAKIMA - CONTINUOUS
Nakima pitches sharply up as the wave's backside rolls
underneath. Items on the cabin deck slide to the stern.
Tom tries to maintain balance but falls into the stern ladder
well. His right shoulder crashes into the handrail.
He spins, grabs at a step and lands on his back.
Derek's body crashes down on top of Tom.
Tom opens his eyes. He carefully moves Derek off of him and
to the side. He checks his neck pulse.
TOM
Hang on, buddy.
Tom gets to his feet, then runs forward to the wheel.
Through the windows, he sees the wave that rolled under them
swamp the docks area.
Tom revs the motor and speeds across the marina channel.
To his right a Coast Guard cutter turns near capsized boats.
He maneuvers alongside a pier close to the beached cruiser.
Tom shuts off the engine, runs back to check Derek and then
scrambles up the stern ladder.
EXT. PIER - LONG BEACH MARINA - CONTINUOUS
Tom throws a line off Nakima, then jumps to the pier and
secures the line.
He sprints down the pier and turns towards the cruiser.
Tom glances at blue and red flashing lights in the city of
Long Beach, near the shoreline. Sirens wail.
Brecksville lies across nearly the entire berm. Tom heads
for a narrow gap in front of the ship's bow.
He gets around Brecksville's forward keel and looks up.
At the top of the bow there she is: Krystel.
Her body hangs limply from a brass post, held only by several
leather straps.
A screech of metal on concrete sounds and Krystel's body
jerks, as the ship jumps back towards the marina channel.
TOM
Oh Christ!
Tom runs to a fallen anchor on the berm. The anchor chain,
covered in muck, hangs from the forward deck.
Tom climbs up the chain. He winces and favors his right
shoulder, but continues up the anchor links.
He gets to within fifteen feet of Krystel.
An unseen force slams his right shoulder and knocks his right
hand off the chain.
His left hand eventually slips on the muck and he lets go.
Tom squeezes the chain with his legs, slides down, then his
legs separate. He falls backwards towards the concrete berm.
He curls in, twists and lands on his side with a loud snap.
Tom writhes in terrific pain on the berm.
Bertrel solidifies just above where his shoulder was hit.
CAPTAIN BERTREL
Repel all boarders, Petty Officer!
Your wench is mine! Captain's
privilege! Mine for all time!
Tom's vision goes to black.
INT. FORWARD HULL - BRECKSVILLE - CONTINUOUS
Bertrel swings in through the hatch from the anchor chain.
As he lands inside, Brecksville groans, slides towards the
channel, then stops.
CAPTAIN BERTREL
Take us, Thalassa! Return us home!
Krystel moves her free arm and leg slightly.
People run along the berm and look for a way to climb up and
onto Brecksville.
CAPTAIN BERTREL (CONT'D)
No time to waste, love. Filthy
Topsiders are trying to board us.
Bertrel draws a knife from a scabbard on his belt, holds
Krystel and cuts her free from the brass post.
CAPTAIN BERTREL (CONT'D)
We have to get you properly
mermaided if you're to be my wife.
Bertrel picks up Krystel, begins to move away from the bow.
A muffled shout sounds. Bertrel stops. Quiet.
He starts again. Another muffled shout, closer.
Bertrel sits Krystel against the angled starboard bulkhead.
She moans and tries to open her eyes.
DEREK (O.S.)
Krys! You here? Krys? Krys?
CAPTAIN BERTREL
(whispers)
The avenging angel! Come ahead,
foolhardy Judas Topsider!
Bertrel folds his arms and disappears.
Derek appears from behind a jumble of storage lockers, wires,
pipes and other debris broken loose by the cruiser's impact.
He sees Krystel against the starboard bulkhead.
DEREK
KRYS! Oh God, you're all right.
Krystel half-opens her eyes, shakes her head. Derek steps
over the anchor chain and reaches her.
KRYSTEL
No...
DEREK
Please Krys, Oh God please forgive
me! I'm okay now, everything is
clear.
KRYSTEL
NO!
DEREK
Please trust me. You can trust me
now, do you understand?
KRYSTEL
Cap...
DEREK
Is Tom here? Babe, where's Tom?
KRYSTEL
The cap...
DEREK
You were right about me, Krys, and
I'll do anything to make it up...
Krystel's eyes open wide. She looks up and over Derek.
Derek stands and turns.
He grunts, looks down. A knife protrudes from his stomach.
The blade moves up by itself, then withdraws from his chest.
Derek screams and falls away.
Bertrel fades in above Derek. Blood from the knife drips
onto Derek's face.
Bertrel moves back towards Krystel.
KRYSTEL
You... You fucking bastard!
The ship jumps back. Bertrel loses his balance, falls.
The ship stops. Bertrel stands and advances upon Krystel.
She moves to the forward hatch and looks back through it.
CAPTAIN BERTREL
That's a forty foot drop, love.
Better come my way! Now!
KRYSTEL
FUCK YOU!
Bertrel comes closer to her, a few feet away.
DEREK
BABE! MOVE! MOVE!
Krystel looks behind Bertrel, who half-pivots.
She dives from the hatch towards the starboard bulkhead.
Bertrel turns completely around, then starts to take a step.
Gripped by Derek, the wooden shaft that was used to knock out
the forward hatch earlier hits Bertrel in his midsection.
Bertrel flies backwards through the forward hatch.
He screams all the way down.
Derek drops the wooden shaft. He struggles to reach the
forward hatch. Krystel helps him. They stumble forward.
DEREK (CONT'D)
Have to see... have to...
Derek points forward. They trip and fall over debris.
The couple finally reaches the hatch and both look down.
Bertrel lies on the berm next to Tom, their faces inches
apart. Bertrel's hair is white, his face wrinkled and aged.
DEREK (CONT'D)
Died... Out of water...
Drydocked. You climb down now...
Derek points to the anchor chain.
KRYSTEL
C'mon, we have to get you down to
the hospital. Take my hand, hon.
Emergency vehicles race across the marina parking lot.
A construction crane with several EMTs in the carrier extends
up towards Brecksville's main deck.
USS Brecksville, her stern section now submerged, jumps back,
but this time she doesn't stop.
The cruiser slides rapidly towards the channel.
Brecksville's bow slowly rises.
Derek falls backwards.
KRYSTEL (CONT'D)
NO!
Derek tumbles and bounces off various objects and disappears
into the depths of the ship.
Krystel holds onto the bottom edge of the forward hatch as it
rises. She tries to climb onto it.
The ship's angle is too steep and she slides backwards,
towards a jumble of lockers.
Water completely floods the interior of the forward hull.
EXT. MARINA CHANNEL - CONTINUOUS
Her bow straight up, Brecksville slides under the water.
On the marina berm, emergency vehicles converge and stop.
Several helicopters appear over the area.
EXT. OCEAN BOTTOM - DARKNESS
From the sunken Brecksville near the superstructure, a
silvery figure, a 'Neather, emerges.
The 'Neather moves around the ship and searches. He makes
his way to the bow and looks through the forward hatch.
Finally, the 'Neather leaves the wreck and walks out across
the barren ocean floor.
The 'Neather half-trots, looks side to side. It's Derek.
He falls to his knees, then forward.
He grabs handfuls of sand, then falls forward and grinds his
face into the sea bottom.
EXT. OCEAN BOTTOM - MURKY LIGHT
Derek trudges onward. Ahead of him is the vast sea floor. A
few fish swim past.
He walks a few paces more and suddenly stops.
Derek's face changes from anguish to puzzlement.
He turns. He smiles wide, opens his arms and runs forward.
INT. PRIVATE ROOM - MEDICAL CENTER - AFTERNOON
From his bed, Tom watches CNN on the room television.
A bandage covers his head. A sling holds his right arm. A
cast encloses his left leg from hip to toe.
CNN NEWSCASTER
...framed behind me, the odd
spectacle of this majestic ocean
liner missing her center
smokestack. State and federal
officials have thrown a news
blackout over everything, but we
can report that three people
onboard Queen Georgina...
KRYSTEL (V.O.)
...and if not for her dashing Navy
SEAL Uncle Tom, this Kansas dish
would be sleeping with the fishes.
TOM
Tiger! Oh God!
Krystel stands in the open doorway to Tom's room. She walks
in, using a cane. Her left calf is bandaged.
KRYSTEL
You big faker. Let's go home.
TOM
I'm for that. Hey, you're limping.
KRYSTEL
Only thirty-six stitches. Cut it
getting out of that front hatch.
TOM
The captain... bastard...
KRYSTEL
Bertrel died and he didn't get back
Underneath. Thanks to Derek.
TOM
Bertrel, drydocked. Oh God, that
is the best news. Where... What
room is Derek in?
KRYSTEL
He's still missing. Bertrel... got
him, I think. Almost positive.
TOM
No. No no! Should've been me.
Me! I'm the one fully trained...
but I jeopardized him instead. My
partner. Let down my partner...
KRYSTEL
You're actually a hero, Uncle T.
You must have trained Derek pretty
well.
TOM
They didn't find Ray?
KRYSTEL
Well no, I don't think so. Was he
here? I thought you said Saint
Louis?
TOM
He and his submarine crew
intercepted the Brecksville.
A nurse comes in.
KRYSTEL
Well, I'm going.
TOM
Where?
KRYSTEL
Hermosa Beach. I'm your nursemaid
when they let you out.
TOM
Watch your six, Tiger.
KRYSTEL
You too.
She kisses Tom's cheek. His eyes tear up as Krystel leaves.
EXT. OCEAN BOTTOM - MURKY LIGHT
The silvery figures of Ray, Derek and some crewmembers appear
together. Behind them glows the USS Dorsalis.
DEREK
I've never felt more alone. I
wanted to be dead. Really dead.
RAY
Our apologies. We had to abandon
the area once Topsiders appeared.
DEREK
I tried to cry but I couldn't. Why
can't I cry?
RAY
So sorry.
DEREK
Ray... Where's Krystel?
RAY
Topside. We came to periscope
depth and watched them fly her away
in a medical chopper.
Derek falls to his knees and holds his face in his hands.
DEREK
Oh my God, thank God... When can
we go back?
RAY
We have to go deep for at least a
month to rejuvenate. That leaves
plenty of time for you to show us
exactly how you beat Bertrel.
You'll learn how to project images.
DEREK
I'll never be able to.
RAY
You will. But first, I have the
distinct honor to formally ask you,
Sir Derek Garnett, to join the
Underneath crew of USS Dorsalis.
THE END.
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