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LOGLINE – A shipping tycoon’s fortunes crash down to earth on the loss of his flagship in 1909 in chilling circumstances. A Court of Enquiry into the loss tries to determine accountability. Faulty design, top-heavy construction, irrational exuberance or simply, an unpredictable, freak Act of Mother Nature. The protagonists rags to riches story encapsulates personal tragedy, business rejection by London’s shipping elite, who had to “swallow a dead rat” as he became a force to be reckoned with. Sabotage by competitors could not be ruled out. From Australia, Denmark, South Africa and the United Kingdom, the adventure, trials and tribulations in building up a shipping fleet against all odds can only inspire. How will it end. Docudrama explores our protagonist’s life story leaving us wondering……….the search for the ship continues using the most advanced technology, only the searchers at that time could only dream about………..

SAMPLE FROM SCREENPLAY – A TRUE STORY OF EVENTS

Screenplay by Emlyn Brown and Guy Dobson Release 7.24

Copyright 2024 Blue Anchor Productions New Zealand Ltd all global rights reserved

EXT. MID-DAY – NOTORIOUS WILD COAST – EASTERN SEABOARD – SOUTH AFRICA – HEAVY DARK CLOUDING – FORCE 10 GALE, TEMPESTUOUS SEA.

WARATAH is passing into the twilight world of legend.

(SCORE) DRAMATIC DEEP STRINGS- CELLOS DEEP HARP PICKING – TROMBONES)

WARATAH battles enormous seas en route from Durban, south to Cape Town. Massive waves break over her plumb bow as she digs into a towering wave. WARATAH struggles to rise, hammered by another wave and ploughing into the next.

WARATAH rolls heavily from PORT TO STARBOARD…

CUT TO: INT.DAY – OPULENT FIRST-CLASS LOUNGE. CHAOS UNFOLDS.
Passengers grab hold of what they can, falling over each other. A grand piano smashes into the bulkhead. Dressed in black tie and tails musician JIM BROWN is pinned behind the piano…….

JIM (screams out in pain) “God help us….”

FADE IN ON SCREEN 28TH JULY 1909 – CROSS FADING TO

EXT. MIDNIGHT – FARM HOUSE SETTING – TOWN OF CRADDOCK, WESTERN CAPE. STARRY PEACEFUL NIGHT – OWLS HOOT IN BACKGROUND. – CUT TO:

INT. MIDNIGHT – MAIN BEDROOM – FIRST OFFICER CHARLES OWEN’S SISTER – PREMONITION OF DOOM.

In oil skins, dripping with water a look of death on his face, a man stands at the foot of her bed. She awakes startled gasping for breath. It is brother CHARLES. His mouth moves …GOING TO DIE…GOING TO DIE… fading out of view. – FADE TO BLACK

FADE-IN SCREEN LATE MORNING – 28TH JULY 1909 TIME OF SINKING – CUT TO

INT. DAY – WARATAH BRIDGE – ILBERY IN BLUE SERGE UNIFORM.
CAPTAIN JOSIAH ILBERY is losing control of the ship. Holding onto the compass binnacle, wide eyed with fear, he stares fixated on a deep trough ahead into which the ship will plunge. He reaches into his pocket for his snuff, it drops to the deck, the contents dissolving into the water-logged deck. Symbolic of the impending disaster.

CUT TO: INT.- BOILER ROOM
Blackened faced coal trimmers fall to the deck with the violent motion of the ship. CUT TO:

EXT – DECK – Water surges through open deck ventilators soaking coal in the bunkers.

CHIEF ENGINEER HODDER (shows fatigue – shouts out)
Watch those volatile steam pressures. Any higher, the feeders will blow… Use only coal for the furnaces… only dry coal.

LEAD STOKER JONES (in a raised tone of voice coughs, clears his throat and spits out) “Brace, yourself, the ship..
is lifting… we going into another deep trough…brace, brace!”
CUT TO:

EXT.POV – Ship’s stern rises out of the sea throwing coal trimmers across the deck amid groans and screams – propellers cavitate clawing the air, as shafts vibrate violently in their mountings. Ship settles back and levels out.
CUT TO:

INT.DAY – WARATAH BRIDGE
ILBERY holds onto the compass binnacle as a towering wall of green water obliterates the forward wooden hatchway. The ship shudders throughout.

ILBERY (terror stricken) My God, I have never seen the like! The ship cannot take much more, we are going to roll!

AERIAL POV – SLOW MOTION – WARATAH OVERCOME BY A SECOND WALL

all global rights reserved 2024 Blue Anchor Productions New Zealand Ltd –