Titanic

Shoot the damn Papists!

Damn Papists! Down with the damn Papists!

Why is it taking so long?

Who's working on the wiring? Jim Maloney.

Maloney? He's a Catholic. He's our best man.

You don't have to look so offended. I hire Catholics.

As you well know, I'm jeered at in the street for it.

No, he can be the Pope's nephew, as far as I'm concerned.

But if he doesn't get this bloody wiring finished in the next ten days,

we're going to miss the bloody trials.

Steady on, Uncle Bill. Deep breaths.

How's it going, Maloney?

Slowly, I'm afraid, Mr Andrews.

You know our chairman, Lord Pirrie?

Why is it going slowly?

The system's more complicated than the scheduled time allows.

It's designed in independent sections. Why?

The trips mean if there's a fault in one, the others continue to function.

But there won't be a fault. Not on Titanic.

Ismay must be here by now. I'll be there in a minute.

Is there anything I can do to sort it out?

Not unless you can sort the country out.

Better men than I have tried.

Look at me. I am a qualified engineer

and I'm up a ladder with a screwdriver.

That's how it is for a Catholic in these parts.

So you've no faith in the Home Rule Bill?

Even if they get it through the Commons, they'll tear it to shreds in the Lords.

Why do you think those hooligans are screaming at the kids?

They'd rather die than see Home Rule.

There's no future for a Catholic in Belfast.

If I had any sense, I'd be on this ship on the way to America.

Why aren't you? I have a family.

Even if I had the money for the tickets,

there'd be nothing left to get us started once we were there.

If you were in charge, what would you do to change things?

Recruit new men, to begin with.

None of this lot know enough about electricity.

Could you find a better team? There are men I have trained myself.

But if they come from West Belfast, will that be allowed?

Really, Thomas, you're being stubborn.

We'll never need lifeboats for every passenger.

They're ferries, nothing more.

If liners sink at all, they take a very long time about it.

More than enough for other boats to reach them.

Exactly. When Republic sank, six people were killed in the collision

but everyone else was transferred to another vessel before the ship went down.

And we have four collapsibles in addition to the 16 boats,

so we've more places than we're obliged to provide.

Maybe, but it's...

It's what?

We seem to be cutting corners.

Do you mean to insult me or the White Star Line?

Or is your target your uncle's shipyard?

I'm sure he doesn't mean to insult anyone. Do you, Thomas?

No, of course not.

I apologise. But we ought to be aware of what's going on.

Look at the compartments in the hull. Aren't they your stroke of genius?

If I'd been allowed to continue them up to the deck.

It would take a gash of more than 200 feet before there was any danger.

Why are we using iron rivets instead of steel? We know they're weaker.

We have used steel rivets. On the sides.

We've iron at the prow and stern.

Where are they from? Random makers with no record with the company.

As for the riveters themselves...

It seems to me, you're trying to find fault.

Is this to serve as an excuse when, and if, your design is proved wanting?

So you're missing the trials?

Yes, I have to. I'm needed in the Liverpool office.

Good luck with it. I'll see you on the 10th of April.

I'm afraid I may fail you too.

I woke up with a sore throat which I want to get rid of before we sail.

But I shall want a full report. You'll have one.

How a man like that gets to be head of the White Star Line is a mystery to me.

Not an impenetrable one.

His father owned the company.

Oh... Ride your friend Maloney.

We can't miss the damn trials because of the electrics.

No.

Maloney, I have a proposition to make.

If I empower you to take over the completion of the wiring, you may recruit whom you like.

You travel with your family to New York on Titanic's maiden voyage.

Your savings will give you a start when you get there.

You'd pay for all six of us?

The company will provide free third-class passage for you all.

Steerage? Would your wife travel steerage?

For heaven's sake, man, it's five days of a little discomfort.

Is that a big price to pay for a new life... in a new country?

What about my work team? You can have who you like.

Leave that with me.

Very well. Good.

It's too late for a whole cabin in third,

but you and your sons will be together and your wife with the girls.

That's good of you.

Any problems to report, Chief?

Anything we should know about before we begin the trials?

Nothing yet, sir. Oh, good.

How are you doing with the crew, Mr Lightoller?

We're taking on men here in Belfast and in Southampton.

No problems so far, sir.

Mr Blair?

If a Second Officer is allowed to complain, sir, storage space is limited.

I'm packing equipment in all over the place, sir.

Well, make sure someone knows where it is.

We don't want to get caught out if you fall overboard.

Are we taking any measures against the anarchists, sir?

What? These are dangerous times.

I think Officer Murdoch means that a ship as famous as Titanic is an obvious target, sir.

Gentlemen, all White Star ships carry guns.

I don't believe a bomb would do sufficient damage to take us down.

I'm afraid that's all I can say to reassure you.

Life is a risk, every day that passes.

The truth is, Man might sink us.

Even if Nature can't.

Steerage? It won't be so bad.

No, of course it won't. I'm sure it won't.

Not on Titanic.

How are your plans going for when we get to New York?

Whatever turns up, it's bound to be better than Belfast.

Hasn't been so terrible.

There's no career for a Catholic in Belfast, Mary.

There might be a job in New York.

I have to weigh a doubt against a certainty.

You've always worked.

I've survived on scraps from the Protestants' table.

I only meant you've always found work here.

So I know you will when we get there.

I'm sure of it.

I hope you're right, darling.

Oh, God, I hope you're right.

I'm afraid I don't quite understand, sir.

You're being very slow, Mr Lightoller.

The company has decided Mr Wilde will replace Mr Murdoch as Chief Officer.

Mr Murdoch will become First Officer, and you will be Second.

But, sir, we've already allocated the duties between us.

Should we unravel all that, when we're sailing in a few hours?

May I say something, sir?

As you know, I've served as Chief to Captain Smith in Titanic's sister ship, Olympic.

It will be useful to have a Captain and a Chief who really know how the ship works.

Exactly.

But I've served on Olympic too, sir.

I know how Titanic works.

I'm afraid there's nothing more to be said on the subject.

So what happens now, sir?

Does Davy Blair replace Pitman, Pitman Boxhall, Boxhall Lowe, and so on?

No. Mr Blair will leave the ship here in Southampton.

All other officers will remain in their present posts.

Look, I'm sorry, Blair.

But you must understand I can hardly countermand a company order.

No, of course not, sir.

Well, I'm sure they'll find you a new berth soon enough.

I don't know what my mother will say, sir. She was so excited.

Well... I hope one day she'll be able to forgive us.

Theresa! Will you stop that now and come and stand by me, please!

Sean!

Sean!

Sean! Where are you?

Sean!

Sean!

He belongs to you, I think.

Don't run away like that!

Thank you.

Charming.

Oh, no, let me, sir.

Will the ship be full, sir?

First will be. There are some places in second and third.

What's your name?

Er... Annie Desmond, sir.

And your position?

Cabin stewardess in second class, sir.

And I look after the dining room for the servants of the first-class passengers.

Who will all be quite as difficult as their employers.

That's not for me to say, sir.

Oh! Sorry.

Crew? Right to the end and turn left.

Next time, don't use these stairs.

What numbers do the tickets say? I know where I'm going.

Come on.

Wait.

Why wasn't this unlocked with the others?

Excuse me. Permisso. Sorry.

Stay here.

All right. Quickly, quickly. Come on.

Come on, come on.

All right. Everybody in. Come on. Quickly.

Get on the beds. Quickly.

Up you get.

Hello.

There were a good many Italians coming on board when I arrived.

I don't know about a "good many".

Some stokers, the waiters for Signor Gatti's restaurant, but that's it.

Keep it that way. They're an excitable breed and politically unstable, to say the least.

We'll make sure they stick to the straight and narrow, sir.

You've heard Lord Pirrie's cancelled?

It's an ill wind... I promised a cabin next to Lord Manton, for his daughter.

Now they can have it.

But there's a waiting list, sir. Several passengers in first wanted a larger cabin if one came free.

Never mind that. The cabin will be taken by Lady Georgiana Grex.

So here we are. Packed into steerage with the sweepings of the streets of the city.

Don't be such a grump.