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~We'll be back aboard by breakfast~ |
**Rose, Ruth and Cal are waiting to get into the lifeboats. Officer Lightoller and his men have finished preparing the first boats to go down, no one quite knows the seriousness of it, that is except Rose and Cal**
on WALLACE HARTLEY raising his violin to play.
HARTLEY
Number 26. Ready and-
The band has resembled just outside the First Class Entrance, port side, near where Lightoller is calling for the boats to be loaded. They strike up a waltz, lively and elegant. The music wafts over the ship.
LIGHTOLLER (indicating to the boat)
Ladies, this way.
No one moves. A couple women look down the side of the ship. It's a long way to the water. With the steam cut off, and the music playing, the ship seems very safe and sound. Like a big rock in the middle of the ocean.
LIGHTOLLER
Ladies, please. Step into the boat.
Finally one woman steps across the gap, into the boat, terrified of the drop to the water far below.
WOMAN IN THE CROWD
You watch. They'll put us off in these silly little boats to freeze, and
we'll all be back aboard by breakfast.
CAL, ROSE AND RUTH come out of the doors near the band.
RUTH
My brooch, I left my brooch. I must have it!
She turns back to go to her room but Cal takes her by the arm, refusing to let her go. The firmness of his hold surprises her.
CAL
Stay here, Ruth.
Ruth sees his expression, and knows fear for the first time.