Everything Was Against Us - The Titanic Aftermath by John Arco
Price $7.99 Add to cart
This Play is the copyright of the Author and must not be Performed, Copied or Sold without the Author's prior consent (The stage is dark. Sound of a large steamship whistle in the
darkness. LIGHTS brighten and we see ACTORS positioned in the semi-
shadows across the stage. These lines should overlap.)
SHADOWY VOICES:
It's the largest moving object ever made by the hand of man.
A ship so monstrous and unthinkable that it towered over the buildings
and dwarfed the very mountains.
Eight hundred eighty-two feet long! With a rudder as big as a giant
elm tree! Propellers the size of windmills!
"The Wonder Ship!"
"The Last Word In Luxury!"
"Unsinkable!"
"The Millionaires' Special!"
"Unsinkable!"
"The Biggest Ship In The History Of The World!"
MRS. CALDWELL: Is this ship really unsinkable?
DECK HAND: Yes, lady. God Himself could not sink this ship.
(One light slowly gets brighter illuminating CHARLOTTE COLLYER.)
CHARLOTTE COLLYER: There was peace, and the world had an even tenor in
its way. True enough, from time to time there were events ...
catastrophes—like the Johnstown Flood, the San Francisco
earthquake, floods in China—which stirred the sleeping world, but
not enough to keep it from resuming its slumber. It seems to me that
the disaster about to take place was the event, which not only made
the world rub its eyes and awake, but woke it with a start—keeping
it moving at a rapidly accelerating pace ever since, with less and
less peace, satisfaction and happiness. To my mind, the world of today
awoke on April 15, 1912.
(The lights fade to black. We hear the sound of a great ship plowing
through the waves. Then a BELL rings urgently THREE TIMES.)
FLEET: Iceberg right ahead!
(Isolated spots pick up actors speaking headlines.)
HEADLINES:
Titanic Sinks Four Hours After Hitting Iceberg!
Most Appalling Disaster In Maritime History Occurs When World's
Largest Steamship Strikes Gigantic Iceberg At Night!
Her Side Ripped Open As By Giant Can Opener!
Went Down With Her Band Playing "Nearer My God To Thee", Carrying
1500 Souls Back To Their Maker!
"Unsinkable" Pride Of The White Star Line Now Lies In A Watery
Grave At The Bottom Of The Atlantic Ocean!
Triumphs Of Man Proven Empty By Forces Of Nature!
Scarcity Of Lifeboats Is Blamed For Terrible Tragedy!
Congress, Aroused, Will Investigate Titanic Disaster!
United States Senate Orders Inquiry To Place Blame For Great Sea
Horror! Senator William Alden Smith To Chair Committee!
(Sound of gavel pounding. Lights up. Senator NEWLANDS sits at a wooden
table. Senator SMITH stands and pounds the gavel for order.)
SENATOR SMITH: This committee has been authorized to investigate the
causes leading to the wreck of the White Star liner, Titanic, with its
attendant loss of life so shocking to the civilized world. The object
of this inquiry is prompted by the desire to avail ourselves of
first-hand information from the active participants in this sad
affair. Our course has been guided solely by this purpose; to obtain
accurate information without delay. We have been empowered to summon
witnesses, and to take such testimony as may be necessary to determine
responsibility, with a view to such legislation as may be necessary to
prevent, as far as possible, any repetition of such a disaster.
HEADLINES:
J. Bruce Ismay To Face Senate Inquiry. Managing Director Of White Star
Line, Saved From Titanic, Will Testify.
(Lights up on the witness area, with ISMAY seated in the chair.)
ISMAY: In the first place, I would like to express my sincere grief at
this deplorable catastrophe. I understand that you gentlemen have been
appointed by the Senate to inquire into the circumstances. So far as
we are concerned, we welcome the fullest inquiry and have nothing to
conceal, nothing to hide. The ship was built in Belfast. She was the
latest thing in the art of shipbuilding. Absolutely no money was
spared in her construction. She left Belfast, as far as I can
remember, on the 1st of April, proceeding to Southampton; arriving
there on Wednesday the 3rd, I think. She left Southamption at 12 noon
on Wednesday the 10th and arrived in Cherbourg that evening. We left
Cherbourg and proceeded to Queenstown, arriving there, I believe,
about midday on Thursday. The weather during this time was absolutely
fine, with the exception, I think, of about ten minutes' fog one
evening. The—accident—took place on Sunday night. What the exact
time was, I do not know. I was in bed, asleep, when the accident
happened. The ship sank, I am told, at 2:20 on the morning of the
15th. That, sir, I think, is all I can tell you.
SENATOR SMITH: As Director of the White Star Line, were you officially
designated to make Titanic's maiden voyage?
ISMAY: I made the trip as a voluntary passenger. Nothing more.
SENATOR SMITH: Will you describe what you did after the collision?
ISMAY: I presume the impact awakened me. I lay in bed for a moment or
two, not realizing what had happened. Eventually I got up, put my coat
on, and went up to the bridge, where I found Captain Smith.
CAPTAIN SMITH: (in shadows) We have struck ice.
ISMAY: Is the ship seriously damaged?
CAPTAIN SMITH: I am afraid she is. We had better get the lifeboats
out.
ISMAY: I walked along to the starboard side of the ship, where I met
one of the officers. I told him to get the boats out—
SENATOR SMITH: What officer?
ISMAY: That I cannot remember. I assisted, as best I could, getting
the boats out and putting the women and children into them. I stood
upon the deck practically until I left Titanic in the starboard
collapsible boat, which was the last boat to leave the ship, so far as
I know. More than that I do not know.
[end of extract]
Price $7.99 Add to cart