Titanic: Blood and Steel

All I ever get are stolen moments.

I've never spent more than one hour with him.

What do you think he wants from you?

Nothing.

Of course he does.

I don't understand what you mean.

Oh, Sofia, you weren't born yesterday.

Maybe he likes me. Have you thought of that?

Wait!

When was the last time you saw him?

Where does he go when he isn't with you? Is he married?

Have you asked yourself any of these questions?

No.

Well, maybe you should.

Have you seen Conor? No. Why?

I know where he'll be.

What is it?

What's happened?

I just left some money on the dresser for food.

God know it wasn't much. It was only sixpence.

And you think Conor took it? I don't know.

It was there. He went out and it was gone.

He can't have.

He knows all we have are mine and Michael's wages.

You! You have some explaining to do.

What's the matter with you? Not here. Not in front of Violetta.

You can say it here. I have nothing to hide.

Fine!

You're a thief.

You stole money from your own mother and you're spending it on drink.

I didn't steal it, I borrowed it.

In the meantime, your family go hungry, is it? Sorry about this.

Don't apologise to her, apologise to me. I'm paying it back.

It's a misunderstanding. He's..! What are you paying it back with?

You got no job 'cause you messed that up as well. Home, now!

Mother's in tears. Come on! Hey!

What's the matter with you?! Don't do that to me in front of her!

What?! You're frightened she'll see you for what you really are?

She's a decent girl from a decent family.

Why can't you leave her alone?

Don't you dare call me a thief again.

Especially not in front of her.

There's only one McCann she's interested in and it isn't you.

What are yous following me for?

We like to know who we're dealing with.

We're interested in men like you.

Are yous now? What have I done that's so special?

We've heard you talk. We know what interests you politically.

We also know you were kicked out of the British Army

for hitting your commanding officer.

I'm not proud of that. And we know you're out of work.

Who are yous?

Can you keep your mouth shut? And what kind of an answer is that?

It's a very serious question.

Because if the answer is no, then we're speaking to the wrong man.

I can keep my mouth shut.

What do you know about the Fenians?

A Republican Brotherhood that believes in nationalism for Ireland.

Do you believe in the cause?

I believe in a free Ireland. It shouldn't belong to Britain.

Would you pick up arms? Against the Brits?

It's possible, yes.

We're only looking for men who are serious and committed to the cause.

Well, I think yous have found one.

We'll be in touch.

You'll need to meet the leadership.

Remember what I said. Keep your mouth shut.

You alright?

Yes.

Sure?

Yes, just me.

Sorry.

I'll see you soon.

Hey, boys.

I've got a new man for your squad.

This is Neil Sullivan.

He's a skilled rivetter.

You won't find me lacking, boys.

I'm a hard worker.

Michael McCann.

- Bill Armstrong. - McCann?

Another one from the wrong side of Belfast.

Beggars can't be choosers.

I've got plenty more who want this job.

Mate!

Good luck.

Outside of this yard

I don't know you.

Is that clear?

Gentlemen, we have a larger problem than we thought.

I've written a report outlining my areas of concern.

When you say 'larger problem', Dr Muir, what exactly do you mean?

It's in the way the ships are being built.

Now we can't do anything about the Olympic,

but unless we make changes,

this could have SERIOUS consequences for Titanic.

How serious?

We found cracks in the steel plates of the Olympic.

Cracks in the plates are understandable.

It had been hit by another ship.

These cracks were found nowhere near the impact area.

Now, small cracks, so small that you can't see them,

are caused when you cold punch the rivet holes in the steel plates.

Now, as you know, the shockwave of the collision is sent

right the way down the length of the ship,

with each weak point getting weaker and weaker

and each crack getting wider as a result.

The collision between the HMS Hawke and the Olympic

took place at low speed.

Imagine the consequences had they been in open seas

at normal cruising speeds.

With the existing cracks in the steel plates,

even a single violent blow at 21 knots could have

severe repercussions well beyond the impact area.

You bring up truly valid issues,

some of which I have raised with the Board.

Yet nothing has happened. As I've told you...

..it's the tale between the Engineer and the Accountant.

Yes, but my findings on the Olympic tell you the accountants are wrong.

So..what do you suggest we do?

Heat the steel plates before you punch the rivet holes.

It prevents the cracks forming,

just as the Admiralty insists happens on all Navy ships.

We'd have to take the whole ship apart.

The Hawke only lost her prow. Had no other significant damage.

That should tell you something.

Well, do you have a second option?

50 years ago, our friend Brunel built ships with two hulls.

A second hull within the first with watertight compartments in between.

We don't build double hull ships because we don't need to.

You know as well as I do, it simply costs too much.

Yes, and Brunel's Great Eastern was torn apart when it hit rocks

and it did not sink, avoiding a financial and maritime disaster.

How much is the delay to the Olympic costing White Star?

250,000 pounds.

250? That's more than I thought.

I estimated 200,000 pounds.

Now the cost of a double hull is 375,000 pounds.

And God knows what it might save.

Perhaps the entire ship.

We live in a commercial world, Dr Muir.

Cunard doesn't build ships with a double hull.

But Cunard heat the steel plates before they punch rivet holes.

You do not.

They only do so in order to obtain a grant from the British government

by adhering to Admiralty regulations.

White Star is an American company. It doesn't have that luxury.

This isn't about luxury. This is about sound engineering.

Andrews, you know about this ship. Explain it to him. Lord..!

T-Thank you, Dr Muir. We need time to consider and digest your report.

You leave it with us and if we need anything clarified, we'll ask.

No, no, leave it. I want to consider it all.

Thank you.

Michael McCann.

Bill Armstrong.

Neil Sutherland.

How are we supposed to survive on this?

Derek Crozier.

Is he right?

A double hull would be safe.

But the ships haven't been double hulled in the last 50 years.

And the rivets?

To use these steel ones in the bow sector

would mean to get the *** closer to their work.

To keep them hot enough.

*** we can find.

We've got a hard enough time trying to find suppliers for the steel rivets we've got.

*** will refuse to pay.

But perhaps it's something we

should invest in.

The board will fight you all the way.

You are prepared for that?

We have to do something.

What?

Go on the streets and have the Army on us?

If that's what it takes.

We can't go on like this.

I'm not even paying the rent with this.

Why should we suffer because they've got a ship to prepare?

Unskilled men are a liability. Aye, they're also cheap.

They make us even cheaper.

But they need us. Right now, with two ships in, we are very valuable.

Think how far behind schedule they'd be if we decided we'd had enough.

We'd just get the sack. All of us?

And bring in even more unskilled men?

This is their pride and joy out there.

We have the power to make them do what we want.

But we have to act now.

All those in favour, raise your hands.

All those against?

In which case, we withdraw our labour

until our demands for fair play have been met.

Riveters of Harland & Wolff...

..we're now on strike.

They want an increase in the amount per rivet.

The average riveter is earning about 36 schillings a week.

Since we've brought the unskilled men in, it's almost halved.

So our bringing in more men to repair Olympic

has meant they suffer?

Yes, it seems so.