by bob chartain
JEAN
(moving to Tommy)
I know it's not fun, Tommy, but you need
discipline and balance. You're older now.
She sits down beside him and rubs his curly locks.
TOMMY
Jeanny, what's balance?
JEAN
You may be to young to understand this.
Balance means keeping things in perspective.
Life is series of opposing forces. ﾍ
The more experience you have
the better able you are to deal with them.
TOMMY
Oh, I see. Balance comes with experience
and experience comes with mileage.
JEAN
(laughing)
Something like that.
(pats his head again)
Balance is something we all could use
a little more of.
TOMMY
(looking up to her eyes)
You know Jeanny, you're the only person
who ever explains anything to me.
A LONG SHOT FROM THE TOP OF THE WATER, OF DAVID'S RAFT, IN ﾍ
MOONLIGHT, LONELY AND DRIFTING WITH THE CURRENTS.
The storm has let up, not another raft is in sight. David, worn from the storm, pulls the raftless rope in and -
EXAMINES THE WAY THE ROPE HAS BEEN CLEANLY CUT, -
and then gives a predetermined code whistle, but there is no answer. Joe is impassive.
DAVID
I knew it. I felt it in my bones.
THE SUBJECTIVE CAMERA UNDERWATER (AS AN ENEMY FROGMAN) -
looms up towards the dark bottom of the raft with it's two paddles breaking the water in rapid strokes. A knife blade flashes in the f.g. corner SCREEN.
JOE
They could of gotten lost
in the storm.
DAVID
I don't think so.
The raft slowly deflates. The HISS of escaping air grows louder.
THE SUBJECTIVE CAMERA IS HALF IN AND HALF OUT OF THE WATER -
as Joe trying to keep his balance on the rapidly sinking raft, fires rapidly at THE CAMERA. David stays low and removes his shoes and clothes.
JOE
They're all around us, Bubba.
A BULLET SPLASHES DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF THE SUBJECTIVE CAMERA.
and there is a GROAN.
JOE
Ya-hoo. I got one.
A DIVER FIRES A SPEAR GUN BEHIND JOE, -
and he bends forward, hit in the back and slumps into David's arms in the sinking raft.
JOE
David, you'll --
DAVID
Don't talk, save your --
JOE
(sweetly)
Take care of Maria.
and my kid.
Remember your prom.
David nods as Joe dies in his arms. David silently slips off the remains of the raft into the water.
DAVID DIVES TOWARD THE SINKING BODY OF THE DIVER, THAT JOE SHOT.
THE OTHER DIVER, - sees that David is now under water and goes after him as -
DAVID, -
now quickly swims as fast as he can to the body of the dead diver as -
THE OTHER DIVER -
closes in on him and fires his spear, which grazes by David's ear as -
DAVID -
reaches the body of the dead diver and uses it as a shield for another spear gun barrage. David's face is dark from lack of oxygen and -
THE OTHER SPEAR GUN RESTS FAR BELOW, ON THE BOTTOM.
DAVID -
takes a quick breath from the dead diver's regulator and then moves toward the bottom and the spear gun as -
THE OTHER DIVER -
takes his last shot, misses and moves forward knife in hand. ﾍ
DAVID AT THE BOTTOM - picks up the spear gun, and as -
THE OTHER DIVER, LUNGES, -
he receives David's shot in the chest.
DAVID'S HOUSE, TOMMY'S ROOM.
The partially completed "bomb" has now been moved to a corner as Tommy scrapes -
THE RADIUM FROM VARIOUS WATCH DIALS -
and there is a knock on the door.
JEAN
Tommy, Manny and Rosy are here.
TOMMY
(moving to the door, rapidly)
Oh great!
Tommy "secretly" opens and closes the door, then runs towards Rosy, but Manny, now completely healed, intercepts and tosses him high in the air, then drops him gingerly.
MANNY
Tomasito.
TOMMY
I'm glad you guys are here.
There's no one around to play with.
MANNY
Hey Tomasito, Rosy cooked your favorite.
TOMMY
(mouth watering)
Tamales and empaner-diters.
MANNY
Empanaditas? Si, practica, Tomasito.
ROSY
Oh Manny, we only see the boy once
a week. That's not often enough
for him to learn Spanish.
(beat)
Come Tommy, help me get these ready.
(to Jean)
Is that all right wi
th you Jean?
JEAN
All right? It's a pleasure.
They move toward the kitchen but Tommy lingers and grabs Manny by the hand and pulls him towards his bedroom.
TOMMY
Excuse me. Excuse me.
(getting attention)
I have to ask Manny some questions.
We'll be back in a minute.
MANNY
Why so serious, little one?
Tommy opens the door to his room and closes it secretively, whispering:
TOMMY
You and my dad work for the same company
don't you?
Manny acknowledges Tommy with a nod.
TOMMY
Do you know where I can get
some uranium?
MANNY
(astounded)
What do you need uranium for?
TOMMY
I'm building a present for my dad.
I tried scraping radium off of watch dials,
but I can't get enough. so I went to the
library and found out that I need uranium.
MANNY
What are you building?
Tommy proudly points to the corner of the room. The nuclear device, almost completed, pulsates between two mountains on the train layout.
TOMMY
Isn't it neat?
It's a nuclear device. Dad
needs it in his work.
Tommy hands the Top Secret Document from the briefcase to Manny, who almost faints at the sight of it.
MANNY
A WHAT?.
Where did you get this paper?
TOMMY
From my dad's briefcase.
MANNY
You opened your dad's briefcase?
TOMMY
(sheepishly)
I was trying to do something nice
for him, so that he would -- would love me.
(Tommy's head drops)
Manny moves closer to the boy, puts his arm around him and looks at the secret papers, shaking his head.
MANNY
You've put your father in
danger, son. I know you didn't
mean to, but --
Tommy breaks into tears and Manny hugs him.
MANNY (cont'd)
Your daddy loves you and you know
that Rosy and I do too.
Manny looks at the papers and shakes his head. ﾍ
THE EARLY MORNING - DAVID SWIMMING QUICKLY.
He discards the borrowed air tank. In the distance -
THE SUBMARINE -
waits patiently for the commandos to return.
DAVID -
striving for speed, discards his remaining clothing and the spear gun. The sub's engines start and as he nears the sub, it slowly moves.
THE CONNING TOWER OF THE U.S. SUBMARINE, -
where a lone SEAMAN keeps watch.
SUB COMMANDER V.O.
(on loud speaker)
Anything yet?
SEAMAN
(into speaking tube)
No more rafts in sight, Sir.
COMMANDER V.O.
All right, prepare to dive.
The diving klaxon SHATTERS the waterscape. David, swims like mad and AD LIBS pleas "to wait" as the sub dives under the surface just in front of him. David traces the sun's path with his finger and then slowly and methodically starts a slow swim pace in the opposite direction. In the far b.g., a shark's fin breaks the surface.
LATER IN TIME,-
David swims at an even slower pace. The hot afternoon sun beats ﾍon his brow. Flying fish whizz past his head and -
SOMETHING BUMPS HIM -
from underneath, almost throwing him out of the water.
A SHARK FIN BREAKS THE SURFACE -
and moves around David, curious. David grabs his knife, puts it in his teeth and pushes his swimming to the limit. To his rear and unseen by David a -
MILITARY HELICOPTER - ﾍ
crosses his trail, hesitates, then flies on. ﾍ
DAVID'S HOUSE
The kitchen phone rings and Jean, Manny and Rosy are finishing supper in the dining room. Tommy, red eyed from crying, races past them as Jean rises from the table.
TOMMY
I'll get it, I'll get it
MANNY
(catching Tommy as he passes)
Wait, Tommy. Did you take that
thing apart?.
TOMMY
It's in the trash.
Tommy reaches the phone on the third ring, fumbles and then picks up the receiver as Jean moves into the room.
TOMMY
Hello. No, but this is Thomas Carson.
Mr. Benson?
(pause for unheard dialogue)
Miss Morrow is here, sir.
Yes Mr. Benson.
The boy hands Jean the phone.
TOMMY
It's Mr. Benson from Washington.
He wants to talk to a grownup.
JEAN
<
br /> Jean Morrow here.
(long beat)
I see. Yes.
(beat)
No. I'll take care of it.
Jean hangs up slowly, looks at everyone, then at Tommy.
JEAN
It's your father, Tommy. He's missing.
Tommy sobs uncontrollably as Jean moves to his side.
TOMMY
My Daddy's missing and it's all my fault.
Jean bends and gathers Tommy in her arms.
JEAN
Don't say that, Tommy. Of course it
isn't your fault.
TOMMY
It is too! I took his papers.
IN THE DINING ROOM -
where Manny and Rosy are finishing dinner and discussing Tommy.
ROSY
I think Jean could use my
help. It would give her more
time to - -
Tommy runs into the dining room sobbing.
TOMMY
Manny, my daddy - he's missing!
DAVID IN THE WATER AT DUSK –
as the shark has now left and a group of friendly porpoises play around David's painfully slow swim. A sailboat sails against the sunset far in the distance and David uses his last
energies to try and hail it.
BENSON'S OFFICE AT LANGLEY -
where Manny sits across the desk and they discuss David's disappearance.
MANNY
You know damn well those guys may still be
alive. What happens next?
Benson shrugs delicately, examines his fingernails.
BENSON
Nothing, Ramirez.
(beat)
We're doing what we can.
Given the circumstances.
MANNY
(sarcastically mimicking)
"Given the circumstances", I'm
going down there.
BENSON
(smoothly)
No you're not. You're going to Berlin.
(eyes down at papers)
Seven-Three-Oh twelve hundred.
Manny flushes in anger, rises, stands over Benson's desk, and sweeps the papers off the desk.
MANNY
Don't "Oh twelve hundred" me ,
you little suck - up. I know where so
many bones are buried I'll make you
a graveyard. You'd hire the devil
if he'd suit your purposes.
Benson taps his pencil in a staccato. ﾍ
MANNY (cont'd)
Your Capitan friend we wasted down there.
the big anti - Communist - does the Chief
know that he snatched those hostages?
The press - not to mention your buddies on
the Hill would love that.and what about
the drugs.
BENSON
(trying to bluff it out)
You're speculating, Ramirez.
MANNY
Try me, tiger.
(as though remembering)
The Sherry Lynn thing out on the Coast.
You terminated her career.
If Carson's really gone,
and that got out --
BENSON
Carson's Oh Dee'd, .He's a madman,
Ramirez. You know that.
(beat, then shrugging)
If you want to have a look, go ahead.
But you damm well are on your own.
MANNY
Where did the raid originate?
Benson points at the wall map.
INSERT: A MAP OF THE CARIBBEAN
THE CAMERA MOVES TO A TINY SPOT; THE ISLAND OF DRY TORTUGA.
EARLY MORNING, -
where David lies at the edge of the surf in front of an old Spanish colonial, brick fort that covers the whole island.
DAVID MOVES -
his head, then falls back as COMMANDANTE UNO, a tall, imposing
man wearing riding boots and an SS style cap moves toward him, flicking a riding crop and holding a large Doberman on a leash. He is followed by two SOLDIERS.
DAVID struggles up as far as the -
RIDING BOOTS AND THE GROWLING DOBERMAN -
COMANDANTE UNO
Ah, Mr. Carson. We've been
expecting you.
DAVID
(then mutters weakly)
Some water --
The Comandante easily rolls him over with his boot, then pulls the waterproof envelope from Carson's clothing. He tosses David's pill box into the sea as David watches in anguish.
COMANDANTE UNO
You won't need those, Mr. Carson.
Take him away and get some life
back into him. After all we can't
mistreat our guests.
The soldiers pick up David and move toward the Fort as -
THE DOBERMAN GROWLS -
and then nuzzles up to the Comandante’ who twists and lights a Russian cigarette, then walks slowly toward the fort, where a lone SEAMAN keeps watch.