One Way Passage Page #5

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BURKE:

Well, anyway, you better stand it

and like it.

DAN:

'Fraid I can't agree to like it.

Suppose this ship were to sink.

Imagine my embarrassment to be found

dead anchored to you.

BURKE:

This ship ain't goin' to sink.

DAN:

Oh? They've been known to.

BURKE:

Well, listen, sucker, when it does,

I'll make you a little present of

this.

Burke pulls the handcuff key out of his vest pocket, shows it to Dan, then

pockets it again.

DAN:

When I was a kid, I used to swim

around a pier like that. Remember

your kid swimming days?

BURKE:

(increasingly irritated)

No.

DAN:

Didn't you ever have a boyhood? Can't

you swim?

BURKE:

No.

DAN:

Ha!

BURKE:

What's so funny?

DAN:

I was wondering what you'd do if you

were a cop in Venice.

BURKE:

Is that supposed to be a funny crack?

DAN:

Well, it has its humorous side.

Without Burke seeing, Dan rapidly unlocks the railing mechanism, pushes the

railing hard to make it swing free, then jumps backward off the deck, dragging

Burke with him as he falls. The two disappear over the side.

CUT WIDE as Dan and Burke fall backward into the water below, still cuffed

together. They hit the surface with a splash and disappear from view again.

IN THE WATER:

Dan and Burke bob to the surface. Dan forces Burke's body under the water and

digs around in Burke's vest pocket for the handcuff key. Somehow, he is able

to find it and unlock his cuff as the two men struggle. Burke tries to come up

for air but Dan forces him down again. Somewhere above, a whistle blows and

someone shouts, "Man overboard!"

ON DECK:

Officers and passengers rush to the ship's side to see what's happening.

IN THE WATER:

Dan looks up to see:

ON DECK:

A crowd gathering at the railing, peering down at him.

IN THE WATER:

With all those people watching, Dan has no choice but to haul Burke out of the

water by his hair.

ON DECK:

An even larger mob gathers.

IN THE WATER:

Dan reluctantly puts an arm around Burke and starts swimming for shore.

DAN:

(to the crowd)

It's all right, I've got him!

ON DECK:

Among the passengers watching with concern is none other than Joan. She peers

down at the two men in the water, failing to recognize Dan.

IN THE WATER:

Dan struggles toward shore with an unconscious Burke in tow. Peering up, he

sees:

ON DECK (TELEPHOTO ZOOM SHOT FROM BELOW)

Joan, wearing her big floppy hat, leans over the railing.

IN THE WATER:

Dan sees Joan (and her hat) and smiles in recognition. He keeps swimming.

ON DECK:

The crowd of onlookers, grouped near a raised anchor, watch with interest.

IN THE WATER:

Dan reaches a wooden pier and helps Burke on to a floating log lashed to it.

DAN:

Here ya are. Reach for the log.

Hold on.

Burke, regaining consciousness, grips the log as Dan pulls himself atop it.

Straddling the log, Dan helps Burke out of the water.

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