TITANIC: AFTERMATH
Chapter Seventeen
INT. CAL'S BEDROOM - 5001 GRANT AVENUE -
NIGHT
Cal and Anna enter. Anna shuts the door
behind them. Cal takes her in his arms, and they bask in each other's
adoration.
ANNA
I can't wait until we are married.
CAL
Neither me. But can we be any happier than we
are now?
Anna smiles impishly at him.
ANNA
You don't understand, darling.
Cal's afraid he's been insensitive. But, to
his surprise, she kisses him. She beams up at him, adoringly.
ANNA
(humorously) I can't wait any longer...for
you to make love to me. You're a very handsome man, you know. A woman cannot
keep her composure continually.
Cal laughs self-consciously. He hesitates.
CAL (VO)
Doubts continued to surface in my mind for a
good while, but Anna gave me the strength to work through them.
CAL
I haven't thought of myself as the handsome
and dashing sort for a very long time.
ANNA
But you ARE, and everything else a woman
could ever want or need. Kiss me.
Cal kisses her gently.
ANNA
Yes, that was very dashing!
They both laugh, but Anna sees Cal is still
fighting something.
CAL
I am trying. It's just at times...I fear I
could never be anything on the order of your first husband.
ANNA
I don't expect you to be like him...and he
wasn't a saint. He had a terrible temper, and he was never very good with
people.
CAL
(humorously) Well, at least I resemble him in
his negative aspects.
ANNA
Oh, come, now!
Anna laughs, and Cal nervously joins in. Anna
takes his hands tenderly in hers.
ANNA
Yes, Benjamin died a hero, but the truth is,
in life, he and I were really rather ill suited to one another. I married him
because I admired his passion for doing God's work...but as time went on, I
realized that we were worlds apart in our thinking, and if I were to disagree
with him, oh! It was as if the wrath of God himself would come tumbling down
upon me!
CAL
Really? Why, I can't imagine you in such a
situation!
ANNA
Benjamin could be so very rigid at times,
always telling others how to live, but you...you give of yourself simply by
following your heart. Remember what you did for that man at your plant, Mr.
Wood? Instead of calling him a sinner as Benjamin would, you made him feel
wanted and needed. You turned his life around, all the while assuming no
self-importance whatsoever. So, you see why I feel much more comfortable with
you. I belong...with you.
Cal begins to smile, his concerns assuaged.
Anna smiles too.
ANNA
So, kiss me again, darling. (caressing his
face) I need you to be that man of weakness for me.
Anna's smile grows. They both burst out
laughing.
CAL
You're sure you want to wake that bastard up,
are you?
Anna nods exuberantly and smiles. Cal smiles
too. He kisses her again, more passionately this time.
INT. ROSE'S APARTMENT - LOS ANGELES - NIGHT
Rose and Carl come bounding in the door out
of the rain. He chases after her in mock pursuit.
He grabs her, and lifts her up into his arms.
She screams and kicks furiously, like a maiden in distress. He sings diabolical
piano music as he reels her about maniacally.
Their eyes meet. Rose regards him
affectionately. She is ready to let him into her heart.
A tear comes to Carl's eye, as he sees the
moment he's been waiting for has arrived. He kisses her tenderly.
Rose smiles joyfully, as their kiss becomes
more passionate. Her spirit has finally found freedom in Carl's arms. A faint
image can be seen in the window across the room.
Jack's ghost peers in at them from a window.
It is a bittersweet sight for him, but he can rest now, knowing that Rose is
happy again. He smiles, then slowly turns and walks away.
INT. 5001 GRANT AVENUE - DAY - SUMMER, 1914
From a window, a crowd of people is visible.
People are lined up outside to congratulate Cal and Anna after their wedding.
EXT. 5001 GRANT AVENUE - DAY - SUMMER, 1914
Molly and Ruth walk out of the crowd
together.
RUTH
That was such a lovely piano piece. I
couldn't place it.
MOLLY
(apologetically) Ruth, there's something I
gotta tell you, honey. You'll probably want to ring my neck--
RUTH
(concerned) What is it, Margaret?
MOLLY
I'll tell you, but you mustn't tell Cal. It'd
only confuse the poor boy. He's so happy now.
Ruth nods, agreeing to Molly's conditions.
Nearby, Cal and Anna smile jubilantly.
CAL (VO)
Yes, Anna had changed my life in every way
possible. I couldn't have been happier then, or today. She's been my constant
companion and soul mate for almost 15 years, and I am in love with her as much
today as I ever was.
Cal converses jovially with ALFRED VANDERBILT
(36).
VANDERBILT
Hockley, I've never seen a man so anxious to
lose his freedom!
CAL
I'm the happiest man alive, Alfred...and the
luckiest!
CAL (VO)
The sinking of the Lusitania in May of 1915
came as a shock to all, particularly for us, as my friend, Alfred Vanderbilt,
was lost.
One would never guess by looking at
Vanderbilt, that this lover of fast horses, fast automobiles, and perhaps fast
women, would soon die a hero.
CAL (VO)
He was last seen handing out life jackets to
women and children on her decks, though he knew that he himself was not a good
swimmer.
Cal and Vanderbilt shake hands.
CAL (VO)
Much to Anna's dismay, I told her that I
would have been right there with him.
INT. PHILADELPHIA RESTAURANT - NIGHT - 1916
Ruth and Harold have dinner with some high
society acquaintances.
CAL (VO)
Ruth too, was soon to be married. She did
find happiness with her new husband, despite his occasional propensity to
embarrass her in public.
Ruth looks on as her new husband guffaws over
a bad joke. She gives him a firm little tap on the hand.
EXT. 5001 GRANT AVENUE - DAY
A cab pulls up in the driveway.
CAL (VO)
In 1917, two of our servants left to take
jobs in factories to help with the war effort. Mrs. Spivey also left our home
in November of that year, to travel to Russia.
Mrs. Spivey shakes hands with Mrs. Bingham
and Anna, then with Cal. Their parting on good terms is indeed a minor miracle.
CAL (VO)
Max and Sheila were married that year. Since
we feared Max might be called away for military duty, I felt it was time to let
the servants know the truth.
INT. PARLOR - 5001 GRANT AVENUE - NIGHT
Cal and Anna sit with Max, Mrs. Bingham,
Sheila, and Mrs. Ferguson. Max and Sheila hold hands.
CAL (VO)
Max took it quite well.
CAL
For so many years I've felt I didn't merit
your devotion.
Max loves that Cal wasn't a hero. It's a big
relief for him.
MAX
I know just what you mean, sir. I felt like
less than a man for a good while, until we had our talk that day. Then you
straightened me out.
CAL (VO)
Mrs. Bingham was the most understanding of
all.
MRS. BINGHAM
I've brought you some words of a very wise
man, Mr. Hockley. I've scribbled them down, so I can always refer to them when
I find myself unhappy.
Mrs. Bingham reads aloud from a scrap of
paper.
MRS. BINGHAM
Be quick to forgive, ready to forget, eager
to acknowledge when you have been wrong...none of us are perfect and we can
always detect shortcomings in others more quickly than we will recognize
greater ones in ourselves. Whoever may have been right should not exult and
taunt the other for having been wrong.
CAL
That's very generous, Mrs. Bingham. Tell
me...who is this wise man?
MRS. BINGHAM
It's Mr. Strauss, sir. It's from a letter he
wrote for his children to read after he died...on Titanic. If we all admire Mr.
Strauss, should we not heed his words, sir?
All are deeply moved by Mrs. Bingham's words,
especially Cal.
CAL
The Strausses were such kind and generous
people. After working for them, how could you work for me...especially when
you'd already made plans to retire?
MRS. BINGHAM
Why, you needed me, sir. I saw you on the
Carpathia, and I knew I had to apply for the position. And don't forget that
you are kind and generous too, sir.
CAL
You really are one of the finest people this
world has ever known, Mrs. Bingham.
MRS. BINGHAM
That is very kind of you to say, sir.
EXT. STRAUSS MEMORIAL - NEW YORK CITY - DAY
Cal, Anna, and Mrs. Bingham lay flowers on
the Strauss memorial statue.
CAL (VO)
With these wounds healed, I had only to
complete my duty to Ruth.
INT. LIBRARY - 5001 GRANT AVENUE - DAY
CAL (VO)
My confession to her yielded even more
surprising results.
Cal's voice falters, as he trembles with
shame.
CAL
So, you see, I feel in part responsible for
Rose's death.
Ruth lays her hand on his arm and smiles
gently.
RUTH
Cal...there's something I need to tell you.
INT. LIBRARY - 5001 GRANT AVENUE - DAY
Cal stands at the window, experiencing a
confusing jumble of emotions. Ruth places a comforting hand on his shoulder.
CAL (VO)
When I discovered Rose was alive, I didn't
know what to think or feel, except I wanted to be certain that she was safe. I
knew she had Le Coeur de la Mer, and I told Mrs. Brown that Rose could sell it
for its full worth if I were to re-settle my insurance claim on it. But Rose
has never approached us.
INT. CAL AND ANNA'S BEDROOM - 5001 GRANT
AVENUE - DAY - DECEMBER, 1929
Cal (age 47) sits at his desk, writing in his
diary. He pauses, thinking, then puts pen to paper.
CAL (VO)
We still have some hopes of hearing from her,
but know we probably never will. I only wish that things could have been
different between us.
INT. CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL - DAY - DECEMBER,
1918
Mrs. Bingham cares for a sick child.
CAL (VO)
After the war, I opened a hospital for the
victims of the flu epidemic that raged through the land.
She feels a fever coming on.
CAL (VO)
Mrs. Bingham died after contracting the flu
while taking care of Philadelphia's sick children. Her loyalty and devotion
were appreciated by all, and her company was sorely missed.
EXT. HALIFAX GRAVEYARD - DAY - 1920
Molly (52) places a wreath on a Titanic
passenger's grave.
CAL (VO)
Mrs. Brown continued on as a national
celebrity, her every move followed by the papers for a good while. When her
husband died in '22, she became estranged from her family. I hope that her
occasional visits to our household provided her with the feeling of family that
she so desperately needed.
She walks out of the graveyard. Every grave
behind her is lovingly adorned with a wreath she made by hand for them.
INT. PARLOR - 5001 GRANT AVENUE - DAY -
DECEMBER, 1929
Marie (22) shows off a newspaper article to
Geoffrey (26), his wife, HELEN (25), and Cal's daughter, ELIZABETH (14). The
women enjoy the article, but Geoffrey remains sullen and withdrawn.
CAL (VO)
Of the adopted children, only our eldest,
Geoffrey remains, residing in the west wing with his wife and infant son.
Appropriately, Marie, who was always so interested in our affairs as a child,
authors a successful society column in the local newspaper.
Elizabeth smiles at Marie, but is obviously
showing some strain.
CAL (VO)
Our own daughter, Elizabeth, has recently
celebrated her fourteenth birthday. Unfortunately, I recently allowed her to
read this diary, feeling that she should know the truth. When she discovered my
conduct on the Titanic, she was bitterly disappointed in me, and has been quite
distant these past few weeks. I am sure we will eventually reconcile, with
Anna's help.
Geoffrey stares straight ahead. He is
breaking apart inside.
CAL (VO)
Geoffrey is an impeccable young businessman,
but he has changed so lately, since the recent advent of economic turmoil. Anna
and I worry about him, as he puts such emphasis upon material wealth.
EXT. 5001 GRANT AVENUE - DAY - 1916
(FLASHBACK)
CAL (VO)
We knew this was a problem for him since he
was a boy, when he ended his friendship with his old pal, Chris, to associate
with the rich boys of the neighborhood.
Geoffrey (age 13) and his rich friends sneer
at Chris. Chris stomps off, out of his life for good.
GEOFFREY
Your mother's just a common factory slave!
INT. CAL AND ANNA'S BEDROOM - DAY - DECEMBER,
1929
Cal sits at his desk, writing.
CAL (VO)
I just hope I can reach Geoffrey. I think I
can, for I was like him once. He serves as a reminder as to how much I truly
have changed. Yet, through all of this, there is still a part of me that has
never forgiven myself for what I did that night in 1912. Perhaps I never
should.
Cal hears a door slam. He puts his pen down,
then rises and walks swiftly to the door.
EXT. LIBRARY - 5001 GRANT AVENUE - DAY
Cal hears whimpering behind the door. He
knocks.
CAL
Geoffrey? I want to talk to you.
There is no answer. The door is locked. Cal
removes a key from his pocket, and unlocks it.
INT. LIBRARY - 5001 GRANT AVENUE - DAY
Cal sees Geoffrey from behind, sitting at his
desk. Geoffrey turns toward Cal. He has tears in his eyes...a gun in his hand.
Cal slowly approaches Geoffrey.
CAL
Money just isn't that important, Geoffrey.
Now, put the gun down.
GEOFFREY
Can't you see? We're ruined!
CAL
Think of how Helen would feel. She needs you
to raise your son, Geoffrey.
GEOFFREY
What can I do for them now? It's all been
swept away! Maybe I'm a coward...but I can't bear to live like that again!
Geoffrey shrinks away from Cal.
GEOFFREY
Get back! I don't want you hurt!
CAL
Give me the gun, Geoffrey.
Geoffrey raises the gun to his head.
Cal dives toward him, grabbing the gun.
They wrestle. The gun goes off.
INT. CARL'S PARENTS' KITCHEN - CEDAR RAPIDS -
DAY - DECEMBER, 1929
Rose prepares a meal for her family. She
glances up, startled, as the screen door slams.
Carl and their two sons, ROBBIE (9) and SHAWN
(7) come inside. The boys romp out of the room, play-acting Robin Hood.
CARL
We're back! The boys will be great in the
school play. Robbie's got his lines down cold. Shawn...well, he's coming along.
Rose laughs, but her smile is tinged with
sadness. Carl holds her gently.
CARL
Hey, what's got you down? We won't live with
my folks forever. Times will turn around again.
ROSE
No, no. I'm happy here, as long as I'm with
you. It's nothing. I was just reliving some old memories...
For a reason she can't fathom, she was
thinking of Cal.
EXT. FAMILY GRAVEYARD - 5001 GRANT AVENUE -
PRESENT DAY
Lizzy and Brock stand over Cal and Anna's
graves, with Cal's daughter, OLD ELIZABETH (83), and her son, CALEDON WADE
(60).
LIZZY
So, that is how he died, then? It's not like
the papers said at all.
INT. LIBRARY - 5001 GRANT AVENUE - DAY -
DECEMBER, 1929
Anna, Elizabeth, and Helen gather around Cal,
who lies dead on the floor in a puddle of blood.
Anna kneels by Cal, crying inconsolably as
she holds his hand. Geoffrey stands nearby. He stares straight ahead, trembling
and pale as a ghost. Geoffrey, like his role model, will live with a terrible
secret and crushing remorse the rest of his life.
OLD ELIZABETH (VO)
He died a hero, like he always wanted to. It
was an accident, but we had to make it look like a suicide...to protect
Geoffrey, of course.
Anna squeezes Cal's hand one last time. She
places the gun in his hand, and gently lies his arm on the ground.
Elizabeth sobs, her stomach in a knot.
OLD ELIZABETH (VO)
I felt just horrible having rejected him. I
could only imagine how Geoffrey felt.
Helen slowly leads Geoffrey away.
OLD ELIZABETH (VO)
He was able to come to grips with his guilt,
eventually, with the aid of my mother, and his wife, and with the help of the
diary. He never got over it completely, though, not really. He died a hero too,
in the Second World War.
EXT. FAMILY GRAVEYARD - 5001 GRANT AVENUE -
PRESENT DAY
Lizzy places a flower on Anna's grave, and
one on Cal's. At long last, a peace is made. They turn to leave the gravesite.
BROCK
After reading Cal's diary, I just didn't see
him committing suicide. Now it all makes sense.
LIZZY
But he did in a way, feeling he had to be a
hero.
ELIZABETH
Yes. Anna didn't want that, but she
understood his feelings of guilt. She felt guilty, just for surviving when her
husband had died. Imagine that.
LIZZY
But she was pregnant! What else could she
have done?
ELIZABETH
Not a thing...but she saw so many women in
second class stay behind with their husbands, and she wished she could have
been like them. You know, I was never on Titanic, but even I feel guilty...for
rejecting my father. I've always felt it fitting I was named after a survivor.
LIZZY
You're named after a survivor? Really?
ELIZABETH
Yes. Little Betsy Moore. Father tracked her
to Trenton, New Jersey, and saw to it that she had money for schooling. She was
since married to a Mister Bainbridge, but I've never met her.
Lizzy's mind races. She stops walking.
LIZZY
(slowly, incredulously) Elizabeth Bainbridge
in New Jersey...is Betsy Moore?
BROCK
We're going there to pay her a visit! She's
one of Rose's old friends!
LIZZY
It was Nana's suggestion that my parents name
me Elizabeth...after her old friend in New Jersey...a little girl she and
grandpa saved from a fire at Coney Island!
ELIZABETH
Well, I would certainly like to meet her!
INT. BETSY'S NURSING HOME ROOM - NEW JERSEY -
DAY
The three Elizabeths sit together. All rise,
and say good-bye.
BROCK
Thanks for letting me print your story too,
Mrs. Bainbridge.
Many pictures decorate the walls. Lost among
them is a photo of Betsy as a little girl, playing dress-up at the DiGuilianis.
Betsy wears a big hat, costume jewelry...and
the Heart of the Ocean. Next to her, Rose nervously eyes the necklace Betsy has
grabbed from her drawer, but still smiles for the picture. Betsy's visitors
depart. No one notices the photograph.
EXT. NURSING HOME PARKING LOT - DAY
BROCK
Elizabeth...I'll understand if you don't want
Cal's story getting out. Rose has already allowed me to tell her story...but I
want to do justice to Cal some way. Maybe I shouldn't publish either of them.
Lizzy is touched by his willingness to give
up the opportunity of a lifetime to do the right thing. He really has changed.
ELIZABETH
Yes, I've given this some thought, and I
think it is time for his story to be told. You go ahead and publish every word
of that diary.
Brock beams ecstatically, and shakes Elizabeth's
hand.
BROCK
That's real sporting of you, Mrs. Wade!
ELIZABETH
Now, I'll be expecting to see some of those
royalties, young man!
All laugh. They say good-bye. The Wades walk
off to their car. Brock turns to Lizzy, bursting with excitement.
BROCK
I can't believe it Lizzy! This is going to be
great--
Lizzy grabs Brock and devours him with a big,
juicy kiss. We soar up higher and higher, above the bustling Philadelphia of
today, and out towards the sea.
FADE OUT