White Squall Page #3

RICK:

Up goes the jib and out roll Tod-o

and the mayor's daughter, naked as

pilot whales...

CHARLIE:

(to Tod)

I don't know who was more surprised,

you or Big Daddy.

TOD:

To tell you the truth, I think it

was her father.

At the top of a hill, the harbor comes into view.

RICK:

Well gentlemen, there she is.

The cab stops. Besides many colorful fishing boats, is

the ALBATROSS. At ninety-two feet, she dwarfs everything

in the harbor. Her white hull glows like ivory and her

twin masts and yard arms tower above her deck.

Breathtaking.

CHARLIE:

Home sweet hell on the water.

EXT. DOCK - DAY

The boys pile out of the taxi. What seemed like a

pristine ship from the hill looks like a rust bucket up

close. The white paint is streaked and barnacles cover

the hull. Looks of disappointment.

CHUCK:

What happened to it?

A voice from behind turns Chuck.

BILL:

She cleans up. We'll have her ship

shape before we shove off.

This is BILL BUTLER, 15, removed, the youngest of the crew

and... first mate. Bill gives Chuck a friendly slap on

the back and climbs aboard. He is greeted by a Viking

giant of a man, LAWFORD, 37, and bearded, the ship's

English professor.

Puffing on a huge Havana cigar, he stares coolly down at

Tod and the others. He speaks with the voice of Moses.

LAWFORD:

"That this same child of honor and

renown, This gallant Hotspur, this

all praised knight, And your

unthought-of Harry chance to meet.

For every honor sitting on his helm,

Would they were multitudes, and on

my head. My shames redoubled! For

the time will come...

Chuck feels something and looks up where he meets the

intense stare of a man standing between the deck cabins.

Their eyes lock.

LAWFORD:

... That I shall make this northern

youth exchange, his glorious deeds

for my indignities."

Then, the man is gone. Haunting. Only Chuck has seen

him. Tod smiles back at Lawford impishly.

TOD:

Would you be addressing me, sir?

LAWFORD:

I would.

RICK:

What's that supposed to mean?

LAWFORD:

(beat)

Henry the IV part I Act I Scene ii.

I suggest you read it.

Lawford sneers and walks away. It's all a show.

CHARLIE:

It means Shakespeare. B-o-r-i-n-g.

BILL:

It means if he catches anybody

basket-napping on watch this

passage, he's gonna use their lizard

for 'cuda' bait.

RICK:

(lightly)

Well that's a hell of a how-do-you-

do.

BILL:

Drop your gear, go below and pick

yourself some bunks.

Chuck and the others climb aboard.

INT. MAIN CABIN - DAY

Chuck makes his way down the companionway into the main

cabin. Other crew members are already unpacking.

The sleeping arrangement is Pullman-style with two rows of

bunks on each side of the cabin. In the middle of the

room is a gimbaled table. This is where the crew will eat

and study.

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