"GHOST SHIP"
(formerly "CHIMERA")
by
Mark Hanlon
First draft
FADE IN
INT. BARGE - DAY
Crewman EPPS (29), wearing a life vest and tool belt, jumps
down into the darkness. She stands in a great hollow cavern,
oily, wet, resonant with the sound of creaking, rusty steel
and WATER MOVING OVER ITS HULL on the other side.
INT. BARGE - LATER - DAY
Epps comes to a low point in the darkness, shining her light
on a lake of salt water sloshing against the bulkhead. She
kneels. As the water sloshes back she sees that it is leaking
in through the seams in the steel plate of the hull.
EXT. BARGE - LATER - DAY
Epps pulls herself onto the deck from below. She stands on a
rusting 5000 ton tank barge being pulled in the open ocean
by a brawny marine tug at the end of a 150 foot tow cable.
It is a typical summer day in the southern Bering Sea, which
means a healthy chop and a stiff cold breeze out of the north-
west. She closes the hatch behind her and makes her way
forward.
EXT. BARGE - BOW - MOMENTS LATER - DAY
Up ahead, the tug pulls steadily, grey-black clouds of diesel
smoke rising from its massive turbine vents.
Epps cinches and checks her body harness, focused and
professional. The product of a rocky childhood in the Pacific
Northwest and a few years of hard living, she's found her
true calling now. And under some grime, several polypro shirts
and a pair of orange men's Insulite pants she might even be
considered pretty.
She clips her harness into the tow cable where it attaches
to a heavy pair of eye cleats at the bow. She climbs onto
the cable, hanging out over the water as it breaks on the
bow beneath her. She pulls herself forward on a roller bearing
that fits over the width of the cable and starts off toward
the tug at the other end.
EXT. ARCTIC WARRIOR - LATER - DAY
DODGE and GREER look on from the stern, where the boat's
name "Arctic Warrior" is emblazoned on the transom. Dodge
(37), scruffy chief engineer, wearing de rigueur greasy
coveralls and nicotine stained fingers, is an expatriate
Texan and former merchant marine. GREER (42), is the boat's
first mate, African American, originally from some sweltering
red-neck hellhole, now a tug pilot intentionally well to the
north.
They watch as Epps pulls herself toward them, the cable
occasionally dipping a few feet with a spray of water as a
passing swell slackens it. Epps pulls herself to the stern
where the cable winds into a tow anchor.
EPPS
It's a slow leak.
She unclips and drops to the deck.
GREER
What's slow?
EPPS
Maybe twenty gallons an hour.
DODGE
Where from?
EPPS
Amidships starboard at the beam.
Just under the waterline. I don't
think it's a problem.
GREER
Hear that, Dodge? Epps don't think
it's a problem.
DODGE
I'll sleep good tonight knowing that.
INT. ARCTIC WARRIOR - PILOTHOUSE - CONTINUOUS - DAY
The view from the pilothouse commands 360 degrees as radar
and GPS navigation displays glow. MURPHY, the ship's master,
pilots the boat. He is 48, at sea all his adult life, and
most of the rest, a fact written on his face and one that
every crewman who's ever worked for him has been willing to
bet his life on. A walkie-talkie CRACKLES AWAKE.
GREER (V.O. RADIO)
Greer to Murphy.
MURPHY
(lifting the radio)
Go.
Murphy turns back to see Greer, Epps, and Dodge looking up
at him from the stern.
GREER
The number nine on the starboard
side's half flooded. Epps says it's
a slow leak just under the waterline,
about twenty gallons an hour. They
must've pumped it before we left
Sitka.
MURPHY
Of course they did.
GREER
Let the buyer beware.
MURPHY
What do you say, Dodge?
DODGE (V.O. RADIO)
(taking the radio)
If it started out at twenty an hour
the piece of shit'd be at the bottom
of the Gulf by now. Whether it'll
make St. Lawrence is anybody's guess.
EXT. OPEN OCEAN - DAY
HIGH AND WIDE as the Arctic Warrior pulls the barge against
the swell of a grey ocean and a darkening sky.
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. PORT GERMAINE - ST. LAWRENCE ISLAND - DAY
The shores of St. Lawrence Island open into a small port
town of mainly pre-fab buildings as the Arctic Warrior
approaches with the barge, now pathetically listing to one
side as it moves into the harbor.
EXT. PORT GERMAINE - DOCKS - LATER - DAY
A smaller harbor tug helps the Arctic Warrior jockey the
listing barge to the dock as Epps and Dodge jump off to tie
her up.
INT. ARCTIC WARRIOR - PILOTHOUSE - MOMENTS LATER - DAY
Greer feathers the tug into position and shuts down the
turbines.
EXT. ARCTIC WARRIOR - CONTINUOUS - DAY
Murphy jumps down from the pilothouse to the deck as a fat
Russian man, Vasili (60) and a MECHANIC in grease-covered
orange coveralls approach from the dock.
VASILI
I thought you say Tuesday.
MURPHY
Better late than never.
VASILI
(seeing the listing
barge)
What's this?
MURPHY
You got a leak in the number nine
compartment.
VASILI
No, no. You got leak.
MURPHY
You pump it out and re-seam the hull,
she'll be good as new.
VASILI
That cost me twenty grand at least.
MURPHY
Fifteen, at the most.
VASILI
Twenty. You knock off twenty and
then we see. After my guy looks at
it.
INT. VASILI'S OFFICE - DAY
In a prefab office with a view of the shipyard, Vasili cuts
a check as Murphy and Greer look on. He tears it out of the
book, handing it across the desk to Murphy, who inspects it.
MURPHY
You're kidding, right?
VASILI
You want fair pay, make hamburger
for Mickey D. Otherwise, please to
sign.
Vasili pushes a transfer register toward him. Murphy signs.
EXT. SHIPYARD - DAY
Greer and Murphy walk back toward the dock.
GREER
Not bad for dragging a leaky tub
half way to Russia.
MURPHY
He'll sell the scrap for three times
what he paid.
GREER
I must be in the wrong business.
MURPHY
You got that right.
GREER
(imitating Vasili)
Better than "making hamburger for
Mickey D."
INT. BAR - NIGHT
A typical port town bar. Except this one is on an island in
the middle of the Bering Sea. Epps lines up a shot at the
pool table as a couple of SEAMEN check out her ass and a
tattoo of Wiley Coyote poking out of her pants. Greer reads
a paper near-by.
Murphy enters, crossing to the bar where Dodge nurses a beer
and a cigarette. Murphy throws down an envelope with Dodge's
name on it. Dodge picks it up, thumbs through a thick stack
of hundreds.
DODGE
Much obliged, skipper.
INT. BAR - LATER - NIGHT
The place is a little more crowded now as Epps pushes her
way through to the bar, a cigarette dangling from her mouth.
She buys two beers and pays the BARTENDER from her envelope
of cash. She takes the beers back to the far wall where a
young off-duty COASTGUARDSMAN stands. He takes one, they
laugh.
AT A TABLE
Beers, cigarettes and pay envelopes on the table before them,
Dodge, Greer and Murphy look on at Epps across the room, who
is showing the coastguardsman a birthmark on her neck.
GREER
Looks like Epps' gonna get some
tonight.
DODGE
With that coxswain dickhead.
MURPHY
You aren't jealous, are you Dodge?
DODGE
Are you kidding me? Jealous? Epps?
Gimme a break.
Greer and Murphy trade looks as Dodge raises his beer.
DODGE
What a laugh.
A MINOR COMMOTION can be heard as they sit there.
WOMAN'S VOICE (O.S.)
I'll show you, bitch!
They look over to see the coastguardsman's GIRLFRIEND, late
20s, hefty in a red miniskirt and big hair.
GIRLFRIEND
You want to mess with me, I'll kick
your bitch ass, girl.
WITH EPPS
Epps coolly puts out her cigarette as a circle has gathered
around her and the girlfriend, anxious to see a girl fight.
EPPS
I don't know what you're talking
about. I just bought this guy a beer.
GIRLFRIEND
This "guy" is my man, honey.
COASTGUARDSMAN
Darlene --
GIRLFRIEND
You, shut up.
EPPS
(starting off)
Listen, I don't want any trouble,
okay -- ?
GIRLFRIEND
(stopping Epps)
Uh-uh. No. We're gonna fix this right
now.
MURPHY
(stepping up)
What seems to be the trouble, ladies?
RIVETER
Whyn't you mind your own business,
chief.
Murphy turns to see a shipyard RIVETER, a big man holding a
beer, still wearing his welding leathers. Murphy turns back
to Epps and the Girlfriend.
MURPHY
As I said, what seems to be the
trouble?
RIVETER
Didn't you hear me, grandpa? Or you
got your hearing aid turned down?
MURPHY
I heard you. But I'm choosing to
ignore you. Epps, let's go.
Epps starts forward but the Riveter stands in her way, taking
Murphy by the collar.
RIVETER
These ladies was having themselves a
discussion and you're interrupting
it.
MURPHY
You got about two seconds to get
your paws off me, Tarzan.
RIVETER
Or what?
Or WHACK! Murphy can't help but wince as a pool cue breaks
in two over the Riveter's head.
Dodge, cigarette in his mouth, takes a look at the cue half
he still holds, shaking his head.
The Riveter's hands fall from Murphy's collar and his legs
buckle. Some of his BUDDIES hold him up as Greer reminds
some of the others he's holding a pool cue of his own.
MURPHY
Epps?
He looks to Epps like let's get the hell out of here. She
grabs her coat.
COASTGUARDSMAN
Wait.
Epps holds there as the Coastguardsman steps up to his
girlfriend.
COASTGUARDSMAN
Darlene. It's over.
He gives her the ring from his finger. Murphy rolls his eyes
as the others look on.
COASTGUARDSMAN
I don't love you anymore.
Darlene breaks into tears as they all look on, some pat her
on the back.
COASTGUARDSMAN
(to Epps)
Come on, Candy. Let's get out of
here.
The Coastguardsman takes her by the hand. Epps looks to Murphy
and the others as he leads her out.
EXT. ARCTIC WARRIOR - DAY
Murphy, Greer, and Dodge ready the tug to leave as Epps
approaches on the dock. She jumps down onto the deck, a spring
in her step and a song in her heart.
EPPS
Morning everybody.
GREER
Show your tatoos to that coxswain
last night, did you Epps?
EPPS
Showed him a hell of a lot more than
that.
GREER
I bet you did.
MURPHY
Candy?
EPPS
It's my pen name.
INT. ARCTIC WARRIOR - PILOTHOUSE - DAY
Murphy throttles up the turbines and backs the tug away from
the dock as Greer studies the dawn sky.
GREER
Red sky at night, sailor's delight.
MURPHY
Red sky in morning, sailor take
warning.
EXT. PORT GERMAINE - DOCKS - CONTINUOUS - DAY
As the tug turns into the harbor channel, the sun rising
under a cloud bank of brilliant red and orange.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. ARCTIC WARRIOR - CREW QUARTERS - NIGHT
Dodge and Epps play cards at the galley table.
DODGE
Fuck it.
He puts down his hand. Epps takes another drag from her
cigarette, collecting her winnings.
EPPS
One more?
DODGE
Why not.
She gathers the cards, shuffles.
DODGE
What is your first name?
EPPS
What?
DODGE
It just occurred to me I don't know
your first name. All this time and I
don't know it.
She deals the cards in silence.
EPPS
(finally)
Maureen.
DODGE
What?
EPPS
Maureen.
DODGE
Maureen?
She looks on at him as he holds there, takes his cards.
EPPS
What's yours?
Dodge takes a drag from his cigarette, thinking about it.
DODGE
Roger.
EPPS
Roger?
DODGE
Yeah.
She wants to laugh, but only studies her cards.
DODGE
You think that's funny
EPPS
(lying)
No.
She takes a hit from her cigarette as she plays her hand.
EXT. OPEN OCEAN - BERING SEA - NIGHT
THE SONG "SOS" BY ABBA BLASTS as the tug plows westward
through a steady chop and a mild swell.
INT. ARCTIC WARRIOR - PILOTHOUSE - NIGHT
The MUSIC COMES FROM HERE. Greer has the CD player cranked
as he mans the helm in the glow of the pilothouse. He checks
the radar, holds there a beat. He turns the MUSIC DOWN and
picks up a walkie-talkie.
GREER
(into walkie)
Greer to Murphy.
Greer studies the radar display as he waits.
MURPHY (V.O. RADIO)
Yeah.
GREER
There's a large vessel out about ten
miles to the north-west.
INT. ARCTIC WARRIOR - MASTER'S QUARTERS - CONTINUOUS - NIGHT
Murphy sits at his desk over the ship's log, holding his
radio.
GREER
I been watching it for close to an
hour and it hasn't moved. I can't
raise it on the radio either. Makes
me think it might be in trouble.
MURPHY
Alright. I'll be right up.
INT. ARCTIC WARRIOR - PILOTHOUSE - LATER - NIGHT
CLOSE ON RADAR DISPLAY as the sweep-refresh reveals a bright
point of light in the middle of nowhere.
MURPHY (O.S.)
Merchant vessel at position one seven
four one five west, five seven seven
five north.
Murphy holds the radio mic as Greer looks on, Epps and Dodge
standing back.
MURPHY
This is tugboat Arctic Warrior whiskey
alpha sierra bravo four zero niner
two. Over.
Only the quiet hiss of white noise comes back from the radio
speaker as the bright point flashes on the radar screen.
MURPHY
(to radio)
Merchant vessel at one seven four
one five west, five seven seven five
north, this is tugboat Arctic Warrior
whiskey alpha sierra bravo four zero
niner two. Over.
Again, only white noise comes back as the point flashes on
the screen.
MURPHY
Too deep to anchor out there.
GREER
Looks like it's adrift.
EPPS
Could be a fishing boat.
GREER
Too big. More like a freighter.
MURPHY
What the hell would a freighter be
doing up here? It's way out of the
lanes. There's not a port for 800
miles.
DODGE
Smugglers maybe.
GREER
Smuggling what? Tundra grass?
A beat as Murphy holds there. He raises the radio mic.
MURPHY
Merchant vessel at position one seven
four one five west, five seven seven
five north, this is tugboat Arctic
Warrior. Do you copy? Over.
Again, only the quiet hiss of static comes back.
GREER
Call the Coastguard?
MURPHY
Steer to one eight five. Let's check
her out.
EXT. OPEN OCEAN - NIGHT
The Arctic Warrior cuts a foamy break in the ink black water.
INT. ARCTIC WARRIOR - PILOTHOUSE - NIGHT
CLOSE ON RADAR DISPLAY as the phantom point flashes closer.
Murphy looks on as Greer pilots, Dodge and Epps watching.
MURPHY
Alright. Back it off.
Greer throttles back and the boat slows.
MURPHY
Hit the lights.
EXT. ARCTIC WARRIOR - CONTINUOUS - NIGHT
The halogen flood lights flare to life, brilliantly
illuminating the water in front of the boat.
INT. ARCTIC WARRIOR - PILOTHOUSE - CONTINUOUS - NIGHT
The four of them look intently into the darkness beyond the
light. Murphy reaches for the spot control, sweeping a broad
beam of light with a joy stick.
EXT. ARCTIC WARRIOR - CONTINUOUS - NIGHT
As the tug moves along, servo motors sweep the searchlight
over the bow of the boat and into the darkness.
INT. ARCTIC WARRIOR - CONTINUOUS - NIGHT
They peer into the night beyond the boat as it slowly moves,
when a shadow looms into view.
MURPHY
Whoa, whoa.
Greer throttles down all the way and they drift, as the shadow
looms bigger before them in the light from the boat.
As they approach, the shadow appears to be a giant rusting
bow, rising up from the water, disappearing in the darkness
above them. Murphy sweeps the searchlight to reveal more of
what appears to be a large, darkened ship. As they come
around, the name "CHIMERA" can be seen above the anchor
alleys.
MURPHY
"Chimera."
Murphy reaches for the mic, hits the LOUD HAILER.
MURPHY
Chimera.
EXT. ARCTIC WARRIOR - CONTINUOUS - NIGHT
The tug is dwarfed by the massive rusting hulk of the Chimera
rising above it.
MURPHY (O.S. LOUD HAILER)
This is civilian tugboat Arctic
Warrior. Is there anyone aboard?
The quiet rumble of the tug's turbines is the only sound.
INT. ARCTIC WARRIOR - PILOTHOUSE - CONTINUOUS - NIGHT
Murphy raises the mic again.
MURPHY
Chimera, I am hove to at your port
bow. Is there anyone aboard?
They wait, looking on at the silent, darkened ship under the
glare of their lights.
MURPHY
Epps, come with me. You guys sit
tight.
EXT. ARCTIC WARRIOR - LATER - NIGHT
Epps and Murphy, in heavy parkas, climb a hydraulic deck
crane up to the Chimera as Dodge man's the controls against
the movement of the water.
INT. ARCTIC WARRIOR - CONTINUOUS - NIGHT
Greer holds the tug steady as Epps and Murphy can be seen
making their way up under the floodlights.
EXT. CHIMERA - FORWARD DECK - MOMENTS LATER - NIGHT
Murphy pulls himself up and jumps down onto the deck. Epps
jumps down behind him. Murphy throws his light up on the
superstructure. All remnants of paint have been rusted over,
lending a still darker ominousness to it.
EXT. CHIMERA - FORWARD DECK - MOMENTS LATER - NIGHT
Murphy and Epps move cautiously along, shining their lights
as they go. Despite the omnipresent corrosion, everything
seems to be in order. The decks are clear and there is no
apparent damage. They come to a hatchway. Epps shines her
light down the darkened passage. Murphy moves in.
INT. CHIMERA - PASSAGEWAY - CONTINUOUS - NIGHT
Murphy and Epps move down the passageway. Even the walls in
here are rusted. They come to a flight of stairs.
INT. ARCTIC WARRIOR - PILOTHOUSE - CONTINUOUS - NIGHT
Greer and Dodge wait. Greer reaches for his radio.
GREER
(into radio)
Talk to me, skipper.
After a moment, Murphy comes back on the radio.
MURPHY
We're in a stairwell just under the
main superstructure.
INT. CHIMERA - STAIRWAY - CONTINUOUS - NIGHT
Murphy and Epps climb the darkened stairway.
MURPHY
This is definitely an old boat, maybe
sixty years old. She hasn't been in
service for at least twenty years.
Probably a lot longer.
They top the stairs and walk into a wider passageway which
takes them into an open area. Their lights shine around them,
revealing sinks and counters and racks of old kitchen
equipment, a few pots still hanging.
They move through the galley and into another, narrower,
passageway.
INT. ARCTIC WARRIOR - PILOTHOUSE - CONTINUOUS - NIGHT
Greer and Dodge look on.
MURPHY
It's funny.
GREER
How's that?
MURPHY
Besides a little rust, everything's
pretty well-preserved.
Greer and Dodge look at each other.
MURPHY
How she got out here is one hell of
a good question.
(a long beat, then)
Jesus.
Dodge and Greer hold there, waiting. Only silence from the
other end.
GREER
What is it?
No answer.
GREER
Murphy.
No answer.
GREER
Murphy, goddamit.
MURPHY
(finally)
Sorry.
Another beat in silence.
GREER
What is it?
INT. CHIMERA - BALLROOM - CONTINUOUS - NIGHT
Murphy and Epps stand at the top of a stairway, looking over
an immense ballroom. Murphy raises his radio.
MURPHY
It's a passenger ship. It's a damn
passenger ship.
Though it is dark, there is enough light to see its ornate
opulence, tables and chairs in place near a large dance floor
and orchestra well, and a magnificent crystal chandelier
hanging over it all.
EXT. ARCTIC WARRIOR - FOREDECK - NIGHT
Epps and Murphy climb down the deck crane as Greer and Dodge
meet them at the bottom.
MURPHY
(jumping down)
There's nobody on that boat.
INT. ARCTIC WARRIOR - CREW QUARTERS - NIGHT
Dodge, Epps, Greer and Murphy sit around the galley table.
DODGE
Probably slipped her moorings, got
tangled up in a current.
EPPS
Out here? What, so a seven hundred
foot passenger liner drifted out of
Spokane harbor and nobody managed to
bump into her until now?
DODGE
Somebody's probably looking for her
as we speak.
MURPHY
Whatever the reason, she's adrift
and abandoned. We've got every right
to salvage her.
GREER
You mean tow her back? That's a thirty
thousand ton ship you're talking
about.
MURPHY
We've done it before.
DODGE
Yeah, from one side of the harbor to
the other. But we got half the Bering
Sea and the whole Alaskan gulf to
drag her over.
MURPHY
You have any idea how much a ship
like that could be worth in salvage?
The fittings alone could go for a
few million.
DODGE
If you get it back in one piece.
MURPHY
It's a risk I'm willing to take.
GREER
All we got to do is hit some rough
weather and you can forget about it.
MURPHY
So we cut her loose and wait it out.
A little weather couldn't be anything
she hasn't seen before.
DODGE
It's a bloody navigation hazard.
One boat can't control a ship that
size.
MURPHY
The damn thing's been floating around
for God knows how long and it hasn't
hit anything yet. So we take it easy.
A little of the old push pull.
A long beat as they hold there.
MURPHY
Listen. Forget this job's just a pay
check for a minute. You know I've
been good to you. But I'm prepared
to offer you something better now.
(a beat)
If we do this right, it's worth a
lot of money. A lot of money.
They hold there looking on at him, waiting.
EPPS
Go on.
MURPHY
Salvage fees on a vessel like this
could come in around four million
bucks. At least. Who knows, could be
more. Could be a lot more.
(a beat)
What I'm proposing is... we split it
four ways.
A beat. Dodge looks to Epps and Greer.
MURPHY
Think about it. A million bucks a
piece.
(a beat)
You want to spend the rest of your
days drag-assing tank barges on the
gulf coast, fine. Otherwise, let's
get to work.
EXT. ARCTIC WARRIOR - DAY
The tug is tied up alongside the Chimera, whose dark hull
stretches off for seven hundred more feet in the light of
day.
INT. ARCTIC WARRIOR - PILOTHOUSE - DAY
Murphy brings up the radio mic as Greer and the others look
on.
MURPHY
(to radio)
United States Coastguard, United
States Coastguard, United States
Coastguard. This is tugboat Arctic
Warrior whiskey alpha sierra bravo
four zero niner two. Over.
After a moment, a distance-warped, coolly professional, female
voice comes back.
COASTGUARD DISPATCHER (V.O. RADIO)
Arctic Warrior, Arctic Warrior, Arctic
Warrior. This is United States
Coastguard Station North Island.
Over.
MURPHY
North Island, I wish to declare myself
salvor-in-posession under section
four two charlie of the International
Maritime Convention.
COASTGUARD DISPATCHER (V.O. RADIO)
Affirmative, Arctic Warrior. What
type of vessel?
MURPHY
A passenger liner. Over.
COASTGUARD DISPATCHER (V.O. RADIO)
Say again. Over.
Murphy looks to the others, almost smiling.
MURPHY
A passenger liner, north island.
Over.
COASTGUARD DISPATCHER (V.O. RADIO)
What is the vessel name, registry,
and present position? Over.
MURPHY
Passenger vessel "Chimera." I will
spell: charlie hotel india mary echo
romeo alpha. No registry information
is available at this time. I have
determined to the best of my ability
that the vessel has been abandoned
on the high seas at position one
seven four west, five seven north
at...
(checking his watch)
Two zero one four hours zulu time.
Over.
COASTGUARD DISPATCHER (V.O. RADIO)
Affirmative, Arctic Warrior. Please
advise your salvage authority pending
registry check. Over.
MURPHY
Roger, North Island. Arctic Warrior
over and out.
EXT. ARCTIC WARRIOR - STERN WINCH - DAY
Dodge, Epps, Murphy and Greer are standing on the stern of
the boat under the power winch.
DODGE
Okay. We're gonna use a heavier than
usual twin cable rig this time,
consisting of a pair of number three
gauge braided wire tows.
(a beat)
We'll tie off through the anchor
alleys. And come down to the aft
port and starboard pins. Here. Thus,
we need to get two of these...
(indicating the cable)
Up there.
He indicates the bow of the Chimera.
DODGE
Seeing as though a foot of one of
these fuckers weighs about a hundred
pounds, it ain't gonna be what you'd
call easy.
(a beat)
Any questions?
EPPS
Supposing one of those cables breaks
under tow.
DODGE
Then we'll all be doomed. Any other
questions?
EXT. ARCTIC WARRIOR - DAY
Murphy has backed the tug up to the bow of the Chimera. Greer
operates the deck crane, one of Dodge's mammoth cables
dangling from it down to the winch on the stern.
WITH EPPS
Epps hangs on to the top of the crane as it comes to the
starboard anchor alley in the bow of the Chimera. Dodge pokes
his face out from the other side.
DODGE
Ready?
EPPS
Bring it on, dude.
Dodge disappears from the hole and his hand comes back with
a smaller pilot cable, which Epps takes and threads through
the loop at the end of the tow cable. She places the end of
the pilot cable in a vice collar and uses a wrench to tighten
it down, with the effect of joining the two cables.
EPPS
OK.
Dodge disappears, pulling up the slack from the pilot cable
through the anchor alleys.
DODGE (O.S.)
(finally)
Hit it!
Epps reaches over and unhinges the crane hook and the tow
cable explosively drops, banging loudly against the Chimera's
hull with a shower of black rust.
EXT. CHIMERA - WITH DODGE - CONTINUOUS - DAY
Dodge cranks a portable pulley winch on the deck, the pilot
cable slowly pulling the tow cable up through the anchor
alley.
It is heavy and the winch shows the strain as Dodge cranks
it. He continues, when something gives in the winch mechanism
and the whole thing slides forward on the pilot cable,
entangling Dodge's leg and dragging him on his ass along the
deck.
EXT. ARCTIC WARRIOR - WITH EPPS - CONTINUOUS - DAY
The tow cable creates a spray of rust and smoke as it spills
out of the anchor alley before Epps.
EXT. CHIMERA - WITH DODGE - CONTINUOUS - DAY
Dodge slides toward the anchor alley like a piece of meat
toward a sausage grinder, when the winch slams into it and
stops dead, the cable continuing on with a loud shriek
dangerously close to his face, until...
EXT. ARCTIC WARRIOR - WITH EPPS - CONTINUOUS - DAY
The last of the cable explosively whips out of the anchor
alley in front of Epps and splashes in the water below. A
beat as she holds there.
EPPS
Dodge? You alright?
EXT. CHIMERA - WITH DODGE - CONTINUOUS - DAY
Dodge lies tangled in the winch.
DODGE
Yes!
EXT. ARCTIC WARRIOR - DAY
Two tow cables extend from the Chimera's anchor alleys down
into the water and come up again from the water to the tow
anchor on the tug's stern.
Dodge looks on as Greer and Epps stand by. He raises his
walkie.
DODGE
Alright, skipper, real easy.
INT. ARCTIC WARRIOR - PILOTHOUSE - CONTINUOUS - DAY
Murphy slowly throttles up, moving the boat forward. He turns
to see as the Chimera drops back behind them.
EXT. ARCTIC WARRIOR - CONTINUOUS - DAY
The tug moves slowly away from the Chimera as Epps, Greer
and Dodge look on.
WIDE ON TUG AND CHIMERA
As the tug widens the distance, leaving the Chimera in place.
INT. ARCTIC WARRIOR - PILOTHOUSE - CONTINUOUS - DAY
Murphy holds the helm steady as the Chimera recedes.
DODGE
Steady as she goes.
EXT. ARCTIC WARRIOR - CONTINUOUS - DAY
Dodge, Epps and Greer look on as the tow cables begin to
rise in their wake.
DODGE
(into radio)
Throttle back.
The tug slows as the cables rise slowly from the water.
DODGE
More.
The tug slows still more.
DODGE
More.
It slows still more, until the tug just creeps along, and
the massive tow cables rise entirely out of the water,
straightening as the slack is pulled out.
EXT. CHIMERA - CONTINUOUS - DAY
Some fifty yards behind the tug, the tow cables come taught
in the anchor alleys of the Chimera.
INT. ARCTIC WARRIOR - PILOTHOUSE - CONTINUOUS - DAY
Murphy holds the throttle.
DODGE
Right there, skipper. Right there.
Murphy eases forward on the throttle and the turbines rise
in pitch.
EXT. CHIMERA - CONTINUOUS - DAY
As the tow cables stretch and the bow of the Chimera inches
forward.
EXT. ARCTIC WARRIOR - CONTINUOUS - DAY
The turbines grow louder as Greer, Epps, and Dodge look on
at the Chimera behind them, the massive tow cables bowing
under their own weight.
INT. ARCTIC WARRIOR - PILOTHOUSE - CONTINUOUS - DAY
Murphy eases forward on the throttle, picking up speed.
EXT. CHIMERA - CONTINUOUS - DAY
The giant ship CREAKS AND MOANS as it starts forward, a small
bow break forming on its hull.
EXT. ARCTIC WARRIOR - CONTINUOUS - DAY
The tug is kicking up a foaming wake as it pulls the Chimera
along behind it. Dodge lets out a hoot, exchanging high fives
with Epps and Greer.
INT. ARCTIC WARRIOR - PILOTHOUSE - CONTINUOUS - DAY
Murphy smiles as he looks back at the Chimera following
behind.
INT. ARCTIC WARRIOR - PILOTHOUSE - DAY
CLOSE ON A CHART. The south Bering Sea and the Gulf of Alaska.
A pencil traces a route.
MURPHY (O.S.)
I figure we go through at the Unimak
Pass here. Refuel at Sanak Island.
Greer looks on from the helm as Murphy, Dodge and Epps stand
over the map table.
MURPHY
With a little extra fuel, weather
permitting, we should make Sitka in
five days without another stop.
DODGE
Sounds reasonable.
GREER
Hypothetically speaking, what if we
get this boat to Sitka and find out
somebody wants it back?
DODGE
They shoulda thought of that when
they let her float away.
GREER
I don't care what, ain't nobody just
gonna let us walk away with a ship
that size.
MURPHY
The law's on our side. If they want
to challenge it, let them try.
EPPS
They must've scuttled it. Nobody
just lets a ship float away.
DODGE
Nobody just scuttles a passenger
liner either.
EPPS
Ever heard of insurance, big boy?
MURPHY
Either way, we found it. It's ours
now -- .
An EXPLOSIVE THUD shudders the boat. They look to each other.
DODGE
(moving for the door)
What the...
EXT. ARCTIC WARRIOR - MOMENTS LATER - DAY
Dodge jumps down from the pilothouse as another LOUD THUMP
BLOWS OUT OF THE TURBINE VENTS, SHOWERING OIL OVER THE DECK.
DODGE
(shouting up to the
pilothouse)
ALL STOP! ALL STOP!
INT. ARCTIC WARRIOR - PILOTHOUSE - CONTINUOUS - DAY
Greer shoves the throttle back.
EXT. ARCTIC WARRIOR - CONTINUOUS - DAY
The boat goes dead in the water, thick black smoke billowing
from the turbine vents.
EXT. CHIMERA - CONTINUOUS - DAY
as the bow slows in the water, the tow cables coming slack.
INT. ARCTIC WARRIOR - ENGINE ROOM - CONTINUOUS - DAY
Dodge pulls open the door. The place is thick with smoke as
he makes his way to the turbine gauges, Epps and Murphy
behind. Dodge opens the number one turbine cover, looks
inside.
DODGE
Mother fucker!
MURPHY
What is it?
DODGE
Threw a turbine blade.
Dodge looks over the smoking turbine, pulls back an aluminum
intake blade, hot to the touch.
DODGE
Son of a bitch!
EXT. ARCTIC WARRIOR - DECK - DAY
Greer, Dodge, Epps, and Murphy confer on the deck.
DODGE
The number one turbine's pretty well
trashed. Number two runs, but it's
way underpowered.
MURPHY
How long to fix?
DODGE
Hard to say. I gotta get in there
and have a look. At least a couple
days. Depending.
GREER
You think the extra strain caused
it?
DODGE
Nah. Everything was cool. It's just
one of those things.
EXT. CHIMERA - DAY
The Arctic Warrior floats tied to the side of the Chimera.
INT. ARCTIC WARRIOR - ENGINE ROOM - DAY
Dodge has both turbines opened up as he works.
INT. CHIMERA - MEZZANINE DECK - DAY
Lights shine on what was once an elegant interior promenade.
Murphy and Greer stand looking on at it.
MURPHY
Some classy tub in it's day, huh?
GREER
Yeah.
EPPS (O.S.)
Check this out.
AT THE PURSERS DESK
Epps looks through a file cabinet behind a heavy wood counter
as Greer and Murphy approach.
EPPS
Everything's still here. Ticket
records, receipts, books of account.
Greer picks one up.
GREER
One first class passage. Elizabeth
James. Dubayy to Halifax. January
29th 1953.
Murphy takes it, looking it over.
MURPHY
Chimera. Flag ship of the Dobbins
Kirk Line. Nova Scotia.
INT. CHIMERA - "B" DECK - DAY
Murphy, Epps, and Greer top a staircase out onto a long,
darkened corridor. They move down. Some of the doors are
open, faint light from port holes showing small cabins with
beds, desks, a few chairs.
INT. CHIMERA - TOP DECK - FORWARD PASSAGE - DAY
Murphy, Epps, and Greer come to a hatchway marked "BRIDGE."
INT. CHIMERA - BRIDGE - MOMENTS LATER - DAY
The forward windows show the expanse of the ocean before
them and the rusting foredeck about 150 feet below. Light
from the windows illuminates the bridge as Murphy, Greer and
Epps look around. Despite a little corrosion and a layer of
dirt, everything seems in its place.
MURPHY
(looking through
scattered charts and
papers)
I'd sure like to get my hands on the
general log.
Epps steps up to the wall, where several framed photos hang.
GREER
That must be the old man right there.
The uniformed man in the photo is a gaunt, stern-looking man
from another century, with dark, hollow eyes.
EPPS
Looks like one hell of a stick up
his ass.
GREER
He'd let you off at the nearest port,
that's for sure.
EXT. ARCTIC WARRIOR - NIGHT
A dimming purple horizon is giving way to night as the tug
floats under the bow of the Chimera.
EXT. ARCTIC WARRIOR - ENGINE ROOM - NIGHT
Dodge works up to his elbows in turbine 1 as Greer monitors
a pressure gauge.
DODGE
How about now?
GREER
Sixty pounds.
DODGE
What? You sure?
GREER
That's what it says.
DODGE
(geting up to have a
look)
Lemme see.
INT. ARCTIC WARRIOR - PILOTHOUSE - NIGHT
Through the pilothouse windows, the hull of the Chimera
disappears into the darkness beyond the tug's work lights.
Murphy sits at the chart table as Epps steps in.
EPPS
Coffee?
MURPHY
(sitting up)
Yeah. Thanks.
She brings him his cup, seeing the documents he brought back
from the Chimera.
EPPS
(taking a seat)
What'd you find up there?
MURPHY
Some charts. A crew manifest.
(looking them over)
Looks like her last voyage was January
1953. The question is where the hell's
she been since.
EPPS
She was sailing up north, right?
MURPHY
Her destination was Halifax, yeah.
EPPS
Well, suppose she got a little further
north than she should have. Got
stuck in the ice. The passengers and
crew evacuated. She froze into the
ice pack, which moved further north,
where it froze in solid. They write
it off. Fifty years later, the whole
global warming thing happens. The
ice melts, she gets loose and floats
around til somebody runs into her.
Murphy nods, considering it.
MURPHY
As reasonable an explanation as any,
I guess.
Epps takes a sip of her coffee as she thinks about it.
MURPHY
Ever heard of the Mary Celeste?
EPPS
Nope.
MURPHY
She was a two-masted brig boat sailing
out of New York in 1872. One day
she was sighted off the coast of
Portugal by a merchant vessel, the
Dei Gratia. As the crew of the Dei
Gratia got closer, they discovered
that no one was at the helm of the
Mary Celeste. On boarding, they found
her completely deserted. The captain,
his wife, their daughter, and the
entire crew, all gone. The last entry
in their log made no mention of any
trouble. The table was even set for
dinner. And in the nine days after
the last entry, she sailed 700 miles
without anyone aboard.
EPPS
So what did happen?
MURPHY
Nobody knows. There've been a lot of
theories, of course. But we'll never
really know for sure.
EPPS
You think she's sailing without a
crew?
Murphy looks out at the Chimera off the bow.
MURPHY
I think we'd be surprised where a
drifting ship might wind up with a
little wind and the right current.
EPPS
You're more practical than
superstitious.
MURPHY
Only way to be.
Epps nods, takes another sip of coffee, looking on at the
rusting hull of the Chimera stretching off in the light.
EXT. ARCTIC WARRIOR - DECK - DAY
Greer operates the crane arm as Dodge directs him. The crane
hoists out one of the massive turbine fans onto the deck.
Dodge gives him the thumbs up as it comes down easily.
MURPHY
What's this?
DODGE
Turbine rotor's shot.
MURPHY
I thought you said it was just a
blade.
DODGE
Metal's crystallized. Gotta replace
the whole deal.
MURPHY
How much longer's that gonna take?
DODGE
Like I always say --
MURPHY
I know I know, two ways to do anything --
DODGE
The right way and the wrong way.
MURPHY
But how long?
DODGE
Hard to say.
MURPHY
We gotta get outa here, Dodge. A
storm blows up and we're history.
DODGE
I'm telling you, you don't want to
be running that fan like it is.
MURPHY
What about running number two by
itself?
DODGE
It's a full 2500 horses down. We
couldn't drag that boat down hill on
ice with it.
MURPHY
How long, then?
DODGE
I gotta pull the blades and re-seat
everything in a new rotor -- .
MURPHY
How long?
DODGE
Three, four days.
MURPHY
Goddamit, Dodge.
DODGE
What do you want me to tell you,
that we can throw this sucker back
in and start pulling her like nothing
happened? Can't do it, skipper.
A beat as Murphy stands there, knowing he's right.
COASTGUARD DISPATCHER (O.S RADIO)
(from the pilothouse)
Arctic Warrior, Arctic Warrior, Arctic
Warrior. This is United States
Coastguard. Over.
A beat.
INT. ARCTIC WARRIOR - PILOTHOUSE - MOMENTS LATER - DAY
Murphy enters the pilothouse as the distance-warped VOICE
comes back on the radio.
COASTGUARD DISPATCHER (V.O. RADIO)
Arctic Warrior, Arctic Warrior, Arctic
Warrior. This is United States
Coastguard Station North Island.
Over.
Murphy raises the radio mic as Epps, Dodge, and Greer step
in.
MURPHY
(to radio)
North Island, North Island, North
Island. This is tugboat Arctic
Warrior. Over.
After a moment, the same professional, distance-warped voice
comes back.
COASTGUARD DISPATCHER (V.O. RADIO)
Arctic Warrior, we have submitted
your section four two charlie salvage
notification. However, the
International Maritime Authority
record for a passenger vessel Chimera
indicates it was lost at sea in the
Gulf of Oman day two month two year
one nine five three. Over.
A beat as Murphy holds there.
MURPHY
North Island, please repeat? Over.
COASTGUARD DISPATCHER (V.O. RADIO)
Arctic Warrior, passenger vessel
Chimera was lost at sea day two month
two year one nine five three. Over.
Another beat as Murphy holds there, as the others look on.
MURPHY
North Island, have you got any
additional information? Over.
COASTGUARD DISPATCHER (V.O. RADIO)
Affirmative, Arctic Warrior. The
vessel Chimera was registered to The
Dobbins Kirk Line, Halifax. Nova
Scotia. Date of commission day nine
month seven year one nine three two.
Over.
A long beat as the static of the open channel comes back.
MURPHY
Roger, North Island. I am tied to
the passenger vessel Chimera. And
she is afloat. Repeat, she is afloat.
Over.
COASTGUARD DISPATCHER (V.O. RADIO)
Roger, Arctic Warrior. I say again,
our records indicate the passenger
vessel Chimera was lost at sea.
Over.
MURPHY
Roger, North Island. Please advise
pending further information. Over.
COASTGUARD DISPATCHER (V.O. RADIO)
Affirmative, Arctic Warrior. This is
United States Coast Guard North Island
Station. Over and out.
A beat as they hold there, thinking about it.
MURPHY
Obviously it's some kind of screw
up. The shipping records aren't a
hundred percent accurate.
DODGE
Man, it gives me the creeps. We got
no business towing a ship that size
anyway. I say we fix the turbines
and hit the highway.
GREER
Are you crazy? Do you realize we got
ourselves a ship? We own a ship,
Dodge.
DODGE
Yeah, a ship that's supposed to have
been lost at sea fifty years ago.
You don't think that's just a little
freaky?
EPPS
If this thing turns out to be a ship
everybody thought sank a long time
ago, we just hit the jackpot.
DODGE
Yeah, well how the hell you get
something like that wrong? That's a
damn big boat. It's either sunk or
it ain't.
MURPHY
We all want to get outa here, Dodge.
Especially me. With that boat in
tow. You got three days. Make the
most of it.
next>>
|
