TITANIC: AFTERMATH
Chapter Sixteen
INT. CAL'S BEDROOM - 1811 WALNUT STREET -
EARLY AFTERNOON
Cal drags himself out of bed, sending an
empty bottle of brandy toppling off his dresser as he brushes past it. He
curses at it, as he wearily shuffles over to the mirror.
He appears irreparably crumpled. His head is
pounding, and his hair hangs incorrigibly in his eyes.
CAL (VO)
The next morning, I could think only of Anna.
I knew I needed her by my side. Indeed, if she really wanted me, who was I to
deny her this? And perhaps she was right. Perhaps I really had changed.
Cal studies his reflection.
CAL (VO)
I trusted in her judgment in all else, why
not this? Regardless, I should never have stormed out of her room that way, not
giving her a chance to speak.
EXT. ANNA'S BEDROOM - 1811 WALNUT STREET -
DAY
Cal knocks on her door. Silence. He knocks
again.
CAL
Anna?
EXT. NURSERY - 1811 WALNUT STREET - DAY
Cal stands in the doorway, watching the
children play. They seem oddly subdued.
The children notice his presence, and
everyone stops what they are doing. All stare solemnly at him. Molly stops
tending to a child who holds a toy ocean-liner.
She approaches Cal.
CAL
I was looking for Anna. Has she gone out?
Molly takes him aside, out of the room. She
scolds him angrily under her breath.
MOLLY
She's gone, Cal!
CAL
Gone?
MOLLY
Yes, gone! I don't know what you did to that
poor girl, but she wasn't here when I got up this morning!
Molly produces a note from her pocket. She
stuffs it angrily in Cal's hands.
His eyes sweep frantically over the paper.
ANNA (VO)
Given the present circumstances, I no longer
consider it appropriate that I continue working at 1811 Walnut Street as
governess and tutor. I hereby resign my position. - Anna Livingston.
Cal glances up, devastated.
INT. ANNA'S BEDROOM - 1811 WALNUT STREET -
DAY
Cal rushes into Anna's room, followed by
Molly.
The room is empty, sterile. All that remains
is the blue evening dress, and the necklace he gave her.
Cal reels around and rushes back to Molly. He
clutches Molly's arms desperately.
CAL
Well, where did she go? I must find her and
persuade her to return!
MOLLY
I don't know, Cal. Maybe she's back in
Atlantic City with her folks.
CAL
Yes, of course!
EXT. ANNA'S AUNT AND UNCLE'S HOUSE - ATLANTIC
CITY - DUSK
Cal knocks insistently at the front door.
Aunt Mary opens the door. When she sees Cal, her eyes widen. She pushes the
door shut.
Cal raises his hand to knock, then
indecisively lowers it back to his side. He hears Aunt Mary and Uncle Robert
fuss at each other inside.
Uncle Robert opens the door, but stands in
Cal's way.
UNCLE ROBERT
(diplomatically) She's asleep now. She was up
most of the night. Be on your way, and I'll tell her you called.
CAL
I wish to wait for her.
AUNT MARY
He said to go away! She doesn't want to see
you!
This assertion visibly tears at Cal.
UNCLE ROBERT
I think it will be a rather long wait, Mr.
Hockley.
Cal hangs his head down, and responds in a
near whisper.
CAL
I would still wait.
Uncle Robert steps outside, and shuts the
door behind him.
UNCLE ROBERT
We continue to be appreciative of all you
have done for our niece, Mr. Hockley...
Uncle Robert ushers Cal unwillingly to the
front gate.
INT. ANNA'S BEDROOM - ATLANTIC CITY - NIGHT
Anna stares out her window. Aunt Mary
comforts her.
ANNA
Poor Mr. Hockley. I'm just not ready to talk
to him, that's all.
AUNT MARY
Don't worry, dear. A man worth having will
wait for you.
EXT. END OF PIER - ATLANTIC CITY BEACH -
NIGHT
Cal lies, gazing up at the stars. The waves
churn and crash below.
INT. PARLOR - ANNA'S AUNT AND UNCLE'S HOUSE -
MORNING
Anna takes a seat nearby Uncle Robert.
ANNA
Good morning, Uncle.
UNCLE ROBERT
Good morning, Anna. How are you faring this
morning?
ANNA
Better. I'll be ready to speak with him soon.
Do you know if he returned to Philadelphia, or if he's staying here in Atlantic
City?
UNCLE ROBERT
He didn't really say. Hmm...ah, yes. He said
he'd meet you where you first met...but that's odd. That would be at the beach,
now, wouldn't it?
Anna turns pale.
ANNA
Oh, God!
EXT. BEACH - ATLANTIC CITY - DAY
Anna tears across the sand. She climbs the
stairs to the first pier.
She sees nothing.
She bounds down the stairs, and runs toward
the second pier. Anna reaches the top of the stairs of the second pier. She
gazes down its length, her heart pounding. She thinks she sees something at the
very end.
She starts toward it.
EXT. END OF PIER - ATLANTIC CITY BEACH - DAY
Anna kneels down beside Cal, and turns him
over, onto his back. He grunts, and his eyes open. Anna gasps a sigh of relief.
CAL
Anna?
ANNA
Mr. Hockley! I was afraid...
Cal slowly rises, stiff from sleeping on the
pier.
As his eyes meet hers, he can see that she
cares for him deeply. Cal takes Anna's hands gently in his, as he struggles for
words.
CAL
Anna...I'm sorry. I behaved terribly the other
night. I never wanted to chase you away. I just have a very hard
time...forgiving myself enough to consider having such joy in my life. I will
try...but I will be trying for YOU for a good while, you understand.
Cal's gentle, humorous admonishment leaves
Anna in tears.
ANNA
I'm sorry I left you! I just didn't know what
to do!
CAL
If you still want me, the wretch that I
really am, I'm yours, God help you!
Anna beams up at him joyously. She moves
toward him, but he prevents her embrace.
To Anna's surprise, Cal removes a gun from
his jacket pocket. He holds it gingerly, then drops it ceremoniously into the
water.
CAL
I think you should know...there have been
times that I wanted to exchange places with that man I hit with the oar. I've
lived for the longest time not knowing whether I have a duty to live or to die.
Quite honestly, I'm still not sure how I'll ever forgive myself. That man's
father hasn't forgiven me--
ANNA
But the truth is, you never meant to
seriously injure that man, did you?
CAL
No! I just...panicked! But so many men
behaved so nobly that night.
ANNA
Oh, Mr. Hockley! There's a slumbering
nobility that dwells in the heart of every man! Yours just took a little longer
to emerge, that is all. But it is here now, and that is what is important.
CAL
(unsure) Yes, yes. I suppose you are right.
ANNA
I know this may seem like a small
consolation, but I too have felt some of what you describe. We all have...Mrs.
Bingham surviving when children had died...all the widows, and poor Max!
CAL
(ashamed) Yes, he's spoken with me.
ANNA
We all wonder why we were spared when others
were not. There were times I felt so strongly that I belonged by Benjamin's
side. And after Dorian died, the loneliness was more than I could bear. You
see, I didn't just fall off the pier that night.
CAL
What? You?
ANNA
I thought of jumping. I had climbed to the
other side of the railing, and then realized that no good could come from my
death...but when I turned to climb back, I slipped.
Cal recognizes this story. His mind drifts to
Rose, then back to Anna. He grasps Anna's hands in his.
ANNA
I lost my will to go on, but you restored my
faith that night. When I saw you...caring so deeply whether I was all right...I
knew I had to keep trying. I soon knew I had something to give...to you, and to
all those wonderful children you brought into my life. It is you who restored
the light within me.
CAL
Oh, Anna...
ANNA
You helped me remember that joy comes from
giving selflessly, and if I devote myself to helping others, I'll never be
alone.
CAL
I thought you had taught me that!
They laugh, with tears in their eyes.
ANNA
No, Mr. Hockley...you see, you are needed,
not just for your money, but for your heart. Everyone in that house, and all
the men at the steel company...we all need you, but especially me. Your
kindness serves as an inspiration for us all.
Anna holds his hands tightly.
ANNA
So, you must never pay heed to that force
that draws you away from us. The force of love will tell you that you must
live, and that is the only voice you ever need obey.
Cal searches for words, but finds only tears.
He gently embraces her.
ANNA
(laughing and crying) You've given me back
the joy of living, so you HAVE to let me do that for you. If you didn't, it
simply wouldn't be fair!
CAL
I do want to be with you, Anna. Of that I've
always been certain.
Cal steps back. His back aching, he struggles
to get down on his knees, then removes a jewelry box from his pocket.
CAL
Anna, would you do me the honor of
considering becoming my wife?
The woman of inspiring words is suddenly
rendered speechless. She nods, with tears in her eyes.
His hands trembling, Cal removes the ring
from the box. He drops it. It bounces onto the pier.
CAL
Argh!
He carefully picks up the ring and slips it
onto her finger. She gapes in awe at the ring, overwhelmed with joy.
ANNA
Oh, Mr. Hockley! It's overwhelming...it's
lovely!
CAL
You can call me Cal, Anna. You ARE my fiancée...
They laugh. He rises, and they stand close,
poised to kiss. To Anna's surprise, Cal turns his head toward the water. The
waves tumble gently in toward the shore. Benjamin's ghost is nowhere to be
seen.
Cal turns back toward Anna. She wonders at
his bizarre behavior. Then, she thinks she understands.
ANNA
Yes, darling. This is where we first met.
Cal smiles and they delve into a passionate
kiss. Sunlight flows everywhere. A noise in the distance distracts them both.
Cal sees the source of the disturbance. He nods toward the shore. Perplexed,
Anna turns to look.
Uncle Robert, Ruth, Mrs. Bingham, Max,
Sheila, and Molly Brown realize they've been spotted. Molly applauds, and the
others join in. Molly waves.
Anna and Cal wave back, and break into a fit
of snickering. Cal waves for them to go on, frowning jovially.
CAL (VO)
And before long, we found ourselves making
plans to embark upon our lives together. I soon felt I could face anything,
with Anna by my side.