TITANIC: AFTERMATH
Chapter Nine
EXT. ANNA'S AUNT & UNCLE'S HOUSE -
ATLANTIC CITY - DAY
Ruth takes leave of her policeman escort as
she is shown in by Anna's UNCLE ROBERT. Their house is not opulent, but is
indicative of moderate, though limited wealth.
POLICEMAN
Our sincere apologies again, ma'am, for that
bump on his head.
INT. CAL'S BEDROOM (SECOND FLOOR) - 1811
WALNUT STREET - DAY
Cal lies in a bed, deep in slumber,
surrounded by Ruth, Anna, her AUNT MARY and Uncle Robert.
Anna sits near the head of the bed, wrapped
in a shawl, eyes resting fondly upon Cal. She worries about her gallant savior,
whose breathing is becoming increasingly difficult. Ruth rises to feel Cal's
forehead.
RUTH
I'm afraid this could develop into pneumonia.
Mr. Hockley's physician is the best in Philadelphia. We should transport him
there without delay.
ANNA
I would like to come along, if I may. I've
had some experience in nursing, and I would very much appreciate the
opportunity to tend to him personally.
Anna's soft eyes appeal beseechingly to Ruth,
then to her uncle.
AUNT MARY
Anna dear, you are also not well. You should
stay and recover.
ANNA
(gently, but resolutely) It's just a case of
the sniffles, Aunt Mary, and this gentleman has fallen seriously ill due to my
carelessness. No, my mind is made up. I must tend to him.
Uncle Robert smiles at Ruth.
UNCLE ROBERT
There's no arguing with this one.
RUTH
Why, yes. There is a guestroom. I am sure
you'd be welcome to stay.
EXT. WALNUT STREET - DAY - ONE WEEK LATER
A group of schoolgirls walks down the street
in two lines, following their adult leader like a bevy of ducklings.
CAL (VO)
Of course the press went completely mad with
the story. Even as I lay sleeping, my life was turned into a cheap romance
novel. Worst of all, I was hailed as a hero.
LOTTIE (12) and PEARL (14) bring up the rear.
Pearl sports pretentious blonde curls, and exudes an air of jaded
sophistication. Lottie is a bit of a ditz. She leans toward Pearl, and whispers
her secret desires.
LOTTIE
There's Caledon Hockley's house! I always
hope he'll come to that window up there...and I'll see him and wave, then he'll
wave back to me. Oh, he's so gallant and so brave!
Pearl is sickened by this gushing display of
pre-pubescent infatuation.
PEARL
Well, I'VE heard he's a right peculiar one,
myself. They say he lurks around alone in his room much of the day...then
wanders the house at night...and he'll burst out in anger for no reason at all!
I think he's creepy.
LOTTIE
Don't talk about my Caledon that way! He is
the finest of gentlemen. Everyone loves him...
PEARL
Hardly.
LOTTIE
...and he's rich, and so very handsome!
(gazing ahead in disbelief) Why, look at all those flowers!
INT. CAL'S BEDROOM - DAY
Cal lies in bed, awake. Being sick is almost
a welcome relief, as it affords him the opportunity to withdraw from the world.
Flowers from prominent Philadelphia families decorate the room.
CAL (VO)
I was ill with pneumonia for a while, but I
lived...much to my disappointment. Mrs. Bingham doted endlessly upon me, as
always. I did welcome the company of this charming lady whom I had retrieved
from the water. She was gentle and kind, and was capable of civilly suggesting
a course of action without making one feel forced to comply.
Mrs. Bingham reluctantly carries off a tray
of uneaten food. Anna sits by the bed, smiling gently and lovingly at Cal.
ANNA
Are you feeling any better this morning, Mr.
Hockley?
CAL
(glumly) I suppose so.
Anna rises, and walks to the window. She
peers outside.
ANNA
There is something happening outside, which I
think you'd find most interesting. Would you feel up to sitting at the window
for just a minute?
CAL
What is it?
ANNA
People have left things for you outside. It's
really quite extraordinary.
Cal's interest is aroused.
CAL
I suppose for just a minute.
EXT. CAL'S BEDROOM WINDOW - DAY
Anna and Max push Cal to the window in his
grandfather's wheelchair.
Cal's face emerges. He is dumbfounded when he
beholds the genuine display of affection that awaits him outside.
EXT. STREET BELOW CAL'S WINDOW - DAY
Cal sees the scores of bouquets of flowers
that adorn the staircase below. A lovingly assembled floral sash decorates the
railing.
The schoolgirls straggle behind to watch a
woman affix a bouquet to the railing. A photographer prepares to take a picture
of the spectacle.
Lottie catches sight of Cal, and her heart
jumps.
LOTTIE
(a little too loudly) Oh! There he is!
Everyone looks at Lottie, then up at Cal.
Lottie grins, and waves energetically to Cal.
Perplexed, Cal wonders if he knows her, and
waves back weakly.
Lottie clasps her hands, and lets out a
delighted little yelp. Pearl looks particularly sour.
The photographer repositions his camera to
aim at Cal.
INT. CAL'S BEDROOM - DAY
Cal desperately looks over his shoulder at
Max and Anna.
CAL
I am ready to return to bed, Max...NOW!
Anna and Max hurriedly wheel him backwards.
EXT. STREET BELOW CAL'S WINDOW - DAY
The photographer misses his shot. The teacher
tries to no avail to control her increasingly animated students. Two other
GIRLS (13) chime into Lottie and Pearl's conversation.
GIRL 1
Did you see her? The newspaper says she's a
Titanic survivor, too!
GIRL 2
Oh, how romantic!
LOTTIE
Oh, I don't want to hear about HER!
PEARL
What's so romantic? She was brooding over her
dead husband and slipped on a piece of fish or worm or something.
GIRL 1
No, no! Her hat blew off, then--
The teacher commands them to march on.
TEACHER
Enough! I'll box your ears, the lot of you!
INT. CAL'S BEDROOM - EVENING
Mrs. Bingham joins Anna at Cal's bedside.
Anna gently pats Cal's injured eye with a cool cloth, as she gazes down
sympathetically upon her soundly sleeping patient. Mrs. Bingham blushes with
embarrassment, knowing Cal mysteriously injured his eye well before he went to
Atlantic City.
Anna sits by Mrs. Bingham. They talk quietly.
MRS. BINGHAM
Sleeping again, I see.
ANNA
Yes, I shouldn't have asked him to get up. I
thought seeing the flowers would lift his spirits. I attribute his slow
recovery to a certain...sadness I feel about him.
MRS. BINGHAM
Yes, he's lost his spirit, poor man. His fiancée
died on the Titanic, you know. It was in all the papers.
ANNA
Oh, that's terrible! I'm sorry, I wasn't
aware...I don't generally make a point of keeping up with the lives of the rich
and famous.
Anna has made a point of not reading such
nonsense. Yet, the situation is curious. She carefully considers her next
words.
ANNA
I mean no disrespect, but may I ask how she
went down with the ship? She must have been traveling first class.
Mrs. Bingham is unsure whether she should
divulge anything, but she has a good feeling about Anna, and she does like to
talk. She leans toward her and whispers.
MRS. BINGHAM
Well, they say she left him for another
man...on the Titanic. She was with the other man when the ship went down. But
this is just hearsay. Mr. Hockley doesn't discuss this with us, of course.
ANNA
(deeply touched) Poor Mr. Hockley! He must be
heartbroken!
Anna rises, and gently pulls Cal's covers up.
MRS. BINGHAM
How are YOU faring, dear? You must think of
yourself, too. I'll watch over him now.
ANNA
I am not tired.
MRS. BINGHAM
But you've been working so hard, and this is
a difficult time for you, too, you know. Losing your husband on Titanic, and
your only child just a few months ago. Surely your faith must be tried.
Anna returns to her chair. She is convincing
herself of what she is saying, as much as she is addressing Mrs. Bingham.
ANNA
My circumstances won't change if I abandon
Mr. Hockley. One must keep faith and continue helping when one is needed.
Indeed, the purpose of faith is to get us through these trying times. This
would be the worst possible time to abandon it.
MRS. BINGHAM
Yes...you are right, but I still think you
are wearing yourself down.
ANNA
Much to the contrary, Mrs. Bingham. As I
share in his suffering, some of my own sorrow is alleviated. It is like our
experience on the Carpathia. We were all lifted in an atmosphere of vision,
where self-centered grief merges with that of others into some sort of...mystic
meaning. You were there. You understand.
Mrs. Bingham nods in understanding. She sees
Anna is one of those rare individuals who truly feeds off of caring for others.
ANNA
My feeling is that, in the midst of all that
horror, human nature never manifested itself as greater or tenderer. We were
all one, not only with one another, but with the cosmic being that for the time
had seemed so cruel.
They hear Cal stir in his bed, and look to see
he has awakened.
Cal fixes his eyes on Anna. He is moved by
her words, but is at a loss for what to say.
CAL (VO)
A remarkable woman, indeed an angel had
fallen into our midst. I felt completely undeserving of her attentions.
CAL
Mrs. Bingham is right. You need a rest.
Besides, she needs to take her turn at mothering me, or she will feel
completely at a loss for what to do with herself.
Anna smiles gently, and reluctantly concedes
to Mrs. Bingham.
MRS. BINGHAM
Yes. It is time for your supper, sir.
CAL
See?
Anna nods gracefully to Cal, then quietly
leaves the room.
MRS. BINGHAM
Thank you, sir. She pushes herself too hard.
She needs her rest, poor lamb.
INT. CAL'S BEDROOM - NIGHT - MAY, 1913
Cal sits at his desk, musing about Anna. Mrs.
Bingham enters.
CAL (VO)
But it wasn't long before I came to realize
that there was no substitute for Anna's attentions. I was thankful for every
moment she spent with us, but feared the day that she would move on.
MRS. BINGHAM
Your dinner, sir.
CAL
My! What is this? Some sort of fancy pastry?
Now, I've asked for you not to fuss over me, Mrs. B.
MRS. BINGHAM
Anna made them, sir. She insists upon helping
with everything. She's quite a remarkable young lady, isn't she, sir?
CAL
Yes, I couldn't agree more. We're very
fortunate she has decided to extend her stay. She's taken quite an interest in
the children, hasn't she?
MRS. BINGHAM
Oh, yes! She treats each one like her
own...but you know the children aren't the only reason she is here, sir.
Cal becomes intensely interested, but feigns
a casual attitude.
CAL
And what other reason might there be?
MRS. BINGHAM
Oh, really, Mr. Hockley! She's here for you
too, of course. She has a very high opinion of you, you know.
CAL
Is that so? Well, I'll have to have a word
with Anna about that.
Mrs. Bingham is perplexed by this comment.
She glances up toward the door.
Anna peers in the doorway.
ANNA
A word about what, sir?
Mrs. Bingham bows out. Taken by surprise, Cal
is not quite prepared to speak to her.
At Cal's invitation, Anna nervously takes a
seat on the settee.
CAL
Mrs. Bingham tells me you have a high regard
for me.
ANNA
Oh, yes sir.
CAL
Anna...I consider it my duty to tell you that
I am not as I've been portrayed by the press. I am not a philanthropist, and am
certainly not a hero. In fact, my conduct often leaves much to be desired.
Anna smiles shyly as Cal denigrates himself.
She doesn't believe a word of his self-effacing lecture, and only regards him
more highly as a result.
CAL
Besides, you have no continued debt to me.
You needn't stay here on my account.
Anna's heart sinks.
ANNA
Do you wish me to leave, sir? I HAVE lingered
here over a month.
Cal desperately wants her to stay.
CAL
No, no. I want you to stay, by all
means...but not out of a feeling of indebtedness to me.
ANNA
I stay because I want to stay, sir.
Cal inwardly breathes a sigh of relief. He
could not have asked her to stay merely to gratify his own wishes. He struggles
to hide his feelings for her under a business-like air.
CAL
Good, good. Well, I hear you get on famously
with the children, and are an excellent teacher and cook.
Cal indicates his dinner, approvingly.
ANNA
I very much enjoy the children...and I also
like to be of help to you, sir.
CAL
Um...well, are you planning to stay a while
longer, then?
ANNA
I can't foresee my wanting to leave, but I
don't wish to overstay my welcome.
CAL
Eh...perhaps we could see to some long-term
arrangement, then, as a governess?
Anna's face lights up. Her dream has come
true. She can remain with the man she loves, and can devote herself to helping
others, especially children.
Yet, her institution as governess reinforces
the class difference between herself and Cal, and imposes distance upon their
relationship. Her response is tempered by modesty.
ANNA
Oh, that would be wonderful, sir!
CAL (VO)
And so it was decided. Even then, I knew that
I couldn't bear to see her go, though I knew nothing could ever come of this.
At least my obsession with Anna helped me keep my mind off Rose.
INT. TRAVELING VAUDEVILLE THEATER - CHICAGO -
DAY - JUNE, 1913
Rose stands backstage with other dancing
girls, awaiting Carl's cue.
LIZZY (VO)
Rose was 18 then, and happy to be making her
living out on her own. She got to develop her skills at dancing, though she
didn't do much in the way of ballet.
The girls prance out on stage and begin
dancing. The dance is a little bawdy, but Rose doesn't seem to mind. She
flashes a big smile for the audience.
Carl watches from back stage. He's dazzlingly
handsome, and would be a favorite catch for any of these girls, but he has his
eyes on Rose.
Carl reflects on his relationship with Rose,
unaware of her attachment to Jack. Also unbeknownst to him, Carl is cursed with
a name that is much like that of Rose's nemesis.
LIZZY (VO)
Rose and Carl went everywhere together, but
they were still just friends. Carl hoped that some day that would change. He
could sense Rose was not ready for that, but didn't understand why.
INT. TRAVELING THEATER - CHICAGO - DAY
Rose assists Carl with his magic act. White
birds miraculously appear and take flight.
Rose and Carl smile at each other fondly,
then turn toward the audience, and take a bow.
LIZZY (VO)
Rose was very fond of Carl, but she was still
in love with Jack. She couldn't tell Carl then, and she never did. She knew it
wouldn't be fair to him to have to live in the shadow of a man like Jack.
EXT. CHICAGO TRAIN STATION - DAY - SEPTEMBER,
1913
Carl puts his arm around Rose as they walk.
Rose wishes she didn't feel so distant and could allow herself to love him.
Carl tries, not entirely successfully, to hide his love for her.
CARL
I'm sorry our bookings out west fell through,
but it'll be a really ripping show in Pittsburgh, full of that excitement
you're looking for.
They stop walking when they reach the
boarding area. As Carl turns to face her, he drops his facade of moderate
disinterest. He holds Rose's hands gently in his.
CARL
(earnestly) I wish you'd stay, Rose. You know
I'll miss you.
ROSE
I'll miss you too, Carl, but it'll just be for
a little while. We'll get back together soon and do all those things we talked
about.
He embraces her.
Rose holds him tightly. She doesn't want to
leave him, but feels she needs to go.
Carl steps back to take one last look at
Rose. He hands her a folded piece of paper.
CARL
Take care of yourself, okay? If you need me,
I'll be there, Rose. Just promise me you won't lose that fighting spirit of
yours.
Rose is moved by Carl's devotion. She feels
that perhaps she is starting to love him.
ROSE
(tenderly) Thank you, Carl. I promise.
LIZZY (VO)
Staying with Carl would have been a lot
easier for Rose, but she needed some time to be alone...with her memory of
Jack. Carl gave her his parents' address, so she could write him when he
returned home in the fall.
EXT. CHICAGO TRAIN STATION - SAME
Carl and Rose wave to each other as the train
chugs away.
LIZZY (VO)
They planned to meet later on in California.
EXT. FRONT PORCH - CHIPPEWA FALLS AREA FARM
HOUSE - DAY
Rose sits with a large family. They reminisce
about Jack.
LIZZY (VO)
Rose went to Chippewa Falls first, of course.
She got to meet some people who knew Jack growing up.
Jack's old friends tearfully relate their
memories of him with fond, warm smiles. These people are dirt poor, but are
rich of the soul.
FATHER
...but not Jack. He wouldn't let that old
bully get away with it, oh, no. He stood his ground...
Rose listens intently. She recognizes Jack's
character in these stories. She can't decide whether to smile or to cry, so she
does a little bit of both.
LIZZY (VO)
They spoke of him fondly, but no one had a
picture of him.
INT. CHIPPEWA FALLS AREA FARM HOUSE - NIGHT
Rose and members of the family gaze into the
crackling blaze inside the fireplace.
MOTHER
...so Jack rushed home. He tried to go inside
to save his folks, but it was too late. The fire was burning too hot...
Tears come to Rose's eyes. The farmer's wife
takes Rose's hand in hers.
LIZZY (VO)
For a short while it was almost like she had
a family again, but the time came for her to move on.
EXT. CHIPPEWA FALLS AREA FARMHOUSE - DAY
Rose waves good-bye to the family from a cab,
as she departs for the train station.
LIZZY (VO)
And just like that, she was alone again.