1st Draft August 1996 Time Keeper Screenplay by John Monteleone Story by John Monteleone Michael Edelson James D'Ambrosio CONTACT: e-mail: writing@johnmonteleone.com PO Box 2723 Sag Harbor, NY 11963 _________________________________ Copyright 1997 by John Monteleone All Rights Reserved Registered with WGAE FADE IN: Black screen and a moment of silence. The far away sounds of a massive storm at sea begin to creep in. WE SEE a flash of lightning across the screen, illuminating the stormy sea for a brief moment, and then it's night again. The raging sounds of the water, wind, and thunder are loud and frightening. GOD'S POV: Of a ship in a vast, violent sea. Another crash of lightning fills the screen and WE SEE a panoramic view of ten foot waves, the huge storm covering an area that goes beyond our sight, the dark ocean fading into the night and the small ship rocking on the seas belly. EXT. BOW OF A SHIP--TWILIGHT The bow of a large wooden ship, the H.M.S. Persephone, is coming at us very fast. It rocks up and down and from side to side violently. The dark brown wood pounds against the roaring ocean as the huge waves crash into the ship's hull. WE HEAR men's voices topsides screaming, but they are only a clutter of inaudible far-away, desperate sounds, drowned out by the sea and the distance they are from us. INT. CAPTAIN BROWN'S CABIN--SAME TIME CAPTAIN BROWN, a large, very stocky man of 45 with a gray beard and weathered face, is desperately checking over his charts and maps. Water splashes up against the outside of the cabin; the portholes are closed. CAPTAIN BROWN Where in God's name are we? (he checks another map) This can't be... A sailor enters in a hurry. SAILOR Captain, we're takin' on more water than we can pump. Captain Brown storms out of his cabin. EXT. THE DECK OF A LARGE SHIP--SAME TIME The deck is washed under two feet of water coming mercilessly over the side. Two sickly looking men are on a large pump on deck. Men's legs are seen scurrying and slipping in every direction, and one man falls flat on his back, slides fast down the deck and overboard screaming to his death. Another sailor is on a high mast, trying to pull the huge, shredded sail down. Other men work in teams pulling down the great sails many of them ripped--it is a never-ending life-or-death battle against nature at her worst. CU: A huge wash of water from the crest of a raging ten foot wave comes at us filling the screen. BEGIN CREDITS. EXT. DECK OF THE SHIP AT THE WHEEL--SAME TIME Captain Brown and his First Mate are hanging onto the large wooden steering wheel for their lives, spinning it fast to the right, then left, as the ship rocks in every direction. CAPTAIN BROWN She's too hungry. Won't let go. Can't see a thing. Captain Brown and his First Mate continue steering the ship as a huge splash of water comes washing over the deck almost knocking them over. SAILOR Land captain, I see land. CAPTAIN BROWN (looks and immediately turns the wheel in the opposite direction) Turn her aroun'! There's a reef comin' up. I know the place well. We're off course again God damnit! EXT. THE SEA--SAME TIME The ship's bow hits rocks. The vessel lifts up high as the hull begins to split apart like an eggshell dropped on cement. Men are helplessly thrown from the deck into the raging sea. WE HEAR the screams of terror in the far away distance as man after man is thrust into the ocean to his terrifying death. EXT. A ROCKY BEACH--MORNING CU: A leg of a man, then a body, then another body, then a mass of dead men sprawled out along the beach front of an island. The ship is nothing but large chunks of a once huge boat run aground and one massive part of the ship is sinking slowly in the distance. The dry air washes over this horrifying death- sight, and the men, all two hundred and seven of them, lay dead under the sun in a variety of pained positions. The sounds of a man grunting deeply in pain is heard as he comes into view, dragging his broken body--it's Captain Brown. He collapses onto his back panting. He sees a woman approaching. She is a peasant woman and very ugly. She moves in like a vulture and takes out a large knife. The Captain's eyes bulge in terror and she plunges the knife in his chest violently. FAST CUT TO: The woman wipes the bloody knife on the Captain's pants, and begins to pull off a large ring on his finger. She is cursing under her breath. As Captain Brown lays lifelessly on the ground gazing into the sky, we see behind him the vast, lonely and beautiful sea, and his ship finally sinking under the water out of sight. There is debris washed up on the shore and upon the horizon the orange sun is coming up over the edge of nowhere sitting between the fine line of the sea that meets the azure and endless sky. CU. The ring, held between the peasant woman's fat fingers, shining in the sunlight against a deep, clear blue sky. END CREDITS. INT. THE KING'S CASTLE--DAY CU. Captain Brown's ring held between two male fingers. The CAMERA PULLS BACK to see FIRST NOBLEMAN RICHARD, one of the King's advisors, standing like a dedicated statue of royalty in front of the King. He is tall and skinny, about fifty with a very large, almost funny nose. There are guards standing erect with swords and a few other Noblemen nearby. The KING is a chubby man of 30, with a full beard, sitting on his throne cantankerous and ill at ease. FIRST NOBLEMAN (regarding the ring he's holding up) ...belonged to Captain Brown, your Majesty. We captured the woman who (MORE) (CONTINUED) WSACONTINUED: FIRST NOBLEMAN (CONT'D) took it and she confessed. They are all dead. KING How many? FIRST NOBLEMAN (clearing his throat) Two hundred and seven, Your Highness. The king groans. KING Last time it was four hundred. Before that, three ships with two thousand... (choking) ...my subjects. FIRST NOBLEMAN I know Your Majesty. Indescribable. KING And what is the cause of this disaster? FIRST NOBLEMAN The Longit... KING ...Please don't say it again! "Longitude is the menace. Longitude is the beast." (Looks in Richard's face) Our ships survive great battles only to be smashed to bits by this longitude--that's all anyone ever tells me as if it were the ill to all our problems, this Witch of the Sea--it's become a nobleman's excuse to his King! FIRST NOBLEMAN With all courtesy intended, Your Highness, it is a substantial problem. (MORE) (CONTINUED) CONTINUED: KING Well I won't honour it! I demand we stop the fear this very day... all the fleets, any scheduled voyages, even fishing vessels venturing beyond twelve miles will end their journeys today, and you will keep my priceless subjects from their deaths until someone finds a cure to this watery piece of hell, longitude. Silent disbelief. FIRST NOBLEMEN (gently) All respect intended, Your Majesty... the nation would go bankrupt. Your kingdom, all of England, would become rags upon the fire of our enemies--which are many. Pause. KING I was speaking facetiously, of course. (grabs his stomach) The first Nobleman gestures to his assistant who then motions to two men who carry on a large globe of the earth. The King watches incredulously and impatiently. The servants place the globe in front of the king. SECOND NOBLEMAN, a scientist, steps forward to help his friend the First Nobleman. SECOND NOBLEMAN (with a pointer toward the globe) Your Highness, we have mastered the latitude brilliantly, but it seems the ability to track down these nasty little vertical lines here, have been impossible to any man thus far. The King grunts. (CONTINUED) CONTINUED: FIRST NOBLEMAN (interrupting) Our greatest captains, with all their seaworthiness, must frequently pray to the grace of God to get them back to their ports safely without the loss of cargo and crew, Your Highness. KING (sarcastically) We can build glorious castles but we cannot tell where we are on the sea? How can this be so? First Nobleman looks to Second Nobleman. SECOND NOBLEMAN (nervous now) We can... estimate. KING What good is that? Men floating about an endless raging sea, estimating where land is? It's an absurd notion. SECOND NOBLEMAN Optimistically, Your Majesty, we have two theories of solution at present. The first is the Lunar- Distancing Method, which relies on the moon's position against particular star patterns. This theory was supported by Sir Isaac Newton himself and is the favoured method. The second... idea... which Sir Isaac himself thought unlikely at best, is the creation of a clock that could keep time on a "rolling sea." Some laughter in the crowd. KING Why are my other scientific advisors laughing? (CONTINUED) CONTINUED: SECOND NOBLEMAN Well, Your Majesty, pendulums swing with an even gate, but the sea is unpredictable and will give any clock known to man a desperate... belly ache. Low laughter. SECOND NOBLEMAN And then of course, there are things like... rust and grime and... More gentle laughter. KING ...If such a clock were to be found, how would one determine longitude on a wide sea with it? SECOND NOBLEMAN The... idea... is that from one point on land the time is clearly marked and accurately kept... (moves the pointer slowly, all the way across the globe, making it appear impossible) ...then... accurate time must also be kept on the ship at sea. The time of both clocks must be kept exactly together throughout the ship's voyage so that when joined with mathematical calculations, longitude may be determined from point "A"... (points to it) ...to point "B". (again points to it across the globe) The King seems to like this idea. FIRST NOBLEMAN However, due to the impossibility of creating such a clock for the sea, the focus of Parliament has been in supporting the Lunar Distancing Methodology. Low chatter. The King is clearly frustrated. (CONTINUED) CONTINUED: KING And where are we? Dead silence. Shuffling. The King remains staring at him. SECOND NOBLEMAN In... in order for the Lunar Method to work properly, the heavens must be mapped over a long period of time because they change daily, then along the same path, the moon's nocturnal position, essential to the calculations, but often irregular, must also be mapped with the ever- changing night-sky, so that... KING (demanding) ...How much longer will this system take to perfect? FIRST NOBLEMAN At present it is looking... quite... favourable Your Maj... KING ...Favourable? SECOND NOBLEMAN ...Greatly... (switching strategies) The scientific community is very enthusiastic. KING (a bit sardonic) I'm not interested in their spirit-- I want results... FIRST NOBLEMAN ...I assure you, so do they, Your Highness... KING (sarcastic and frustrated) ...It seems logical to me, that when it is overcast this "moon method" would be useless at best because no one could see the heavens! Is that not correct? (CONTINUED) CONTINUED: Dead silence, all eyes down. SECOND NOBLEMAN (almost a confession) It's our only hope, Sire. The king rises, and begins pacing in deep thought. KING (growing frustration) The H.M.S. Persephone. All those men... and her cargo. What was the cost? Pause. The two Noblemen look at one another fearfully. KING (deeply upset) I agree... don't tell me her value. I’ll faint. What about the H.M.S. Treaty? NOBLEMAN Twice the amount of the first, with all the refinements ordered, Your Majesty. KING (growing anger) Was she the one with all the cinnamon I so love? NOBLEMAN Two tons, and three tons of ginger, four tons of... KING (rising with fire in his eyes) ...Then we are but imbeciles in glorious attire awaiting our deaths upon this dusty ball! Mere monkey's wearing wigs! Little helpless worms in a... FIRST NOBLEMAN ...Well put, Sire. KING ...Don’t feed me that “Sire” stuff to shut me up! (calms himself) Look me in the eye, Richard. (CONTINUED) CONTINUED: First Nobleman Richard, looks him in the eye, nervously. KING I've had enough. Do you hear me? Quite Enough! Richard nods nervously smiling. KING (into Richard's face) When my men and cargo float on God's great oceans, they're going to know where they are. No more ship wrecks. No more lost ships. No more Captain's rings! (holds the ring high for everyone to see) Silent terror fills the room. The king throws the ring violently across the room. Men duck. KING (to all) I want a session in Parliament today to find a solution to this on-going massacre by the sea! A "Board of Longitude" must be made immediately. They will preside over the reward we decide upon henceforth. That's my final word on it. NOBLEMAN (politely) I will need a sum, Your Highness. KING (sitting again) Twenty thousand pounds--there you have it! Silence. It is clear that this is an unusually high sum. KING GEORGE What are you waiting for? My kingdom is at stake. Go! Noblemen Richard rushes out with several men following him. PEXT. FARMHOUSE, YORKSHIRE JUST OUTSIDE OF LONDON 1715--TWILIG HT JOHN HARRISON is walking down a country lane, pushing a wheelbarrow full of supplies: Woods, metal, screws, tools, etc. He is an average sized man of 24, disheveled in appearance. He approaches his house, a small, thatched cottage with an attached shed. His wife, Elizabeth, age 20, pregnant and very pretty in a natural way, greets him. HARRISON Hello Beth, m' love. ELIZABETH We’ve been waitin’ on ya, where ya been, John? HARRISON Gatherin'. ELIZABETH (seeing the pail of supplies) What ya been buyin' with the little money we don't have! HARRISON It’s to be a surprise for me lovely wife--I'm intendin' to make us a clock for Christmas. ELIZABETH I may be lovely, but I'm also a bit hungry, John, and a clock won't fill m' stomach. HARRISON I know. But this is m' food, Beth. Now leave me be. ELIZABETH Ya mad, John Harrison. Clocks on the brain is all you have these days and all you ever speak of. Whatever could possess a man so bright to be attracted to such a silly machine? HARRISON I can make a livin' with this trade, an' not work m' fingers to the bone like m' dad had to do from sunrise t' sundown in all kinds o' weather-- (MORE) (CONTINUED) CONTINUED: HARRISON (CONT'D) on a sliver of someone else's land. I got a sight for buildin' a life of dignity an' to do it m' hearts got to be in the work I love. Now shush and let me go to m' shop in peace. Suddenly a little girl runs out of the house and into his arms. BETH (AGE 5) Daddy... you've been gone too long. John is getting impatient. He kisses the child on her cheek. HARRISON Beth, now I have m' work to do. Go play like a good girl. BETH Ya never play with me. HARRISON That's ya mother's job. Go on now like I tol' ya to. Beth sadly runs back into the house, slamming the door. John exits into his shop and Beth wipes her hands on her apron, shakes her head and enters the house. INT. JOHN HARRISON'S SHOP--ALMOST NIGHT There are many small fine instruments hanging over a workbench with a large candle. John, lights the candle, takes out the new tools and supplies from the wheelbarrow, and meticulously lays them out on a white rag to be sure they stay clean. He lays another white rag center of the bench and goes to a wood cabinet, opens a lock, then opening the door carefully, takes out a half completed pendulum clock about three feet high by one foot wide. It has an ornate face with a sun on it. He takes the clock lovingly in his hands, and brings it over to his workbench gently placing it on the white cloth center on the bench. He opens the front of it, and WE SEE a variety of parts in silver and bronze but mostly in a variety of fine woods- -each piece carved by hand. John takes out a gear made completely of dark wood, approximately three inches in diameter. The spokes of the gear are half finished, the other side still smooth. One can see the grain on the gear moving in one direction. John takes a small sharp knife and begins to work on ONE very small fine gear tooth, carefully and gently scraping away at the gear until it is almost perfectly smooth and sharp. (CONTINUED) CONTINUED: ELIZABETH(O.S.) Supper's on the table, there's mutton and we're lucky to have it. HARRISON (to her) Comin'. (to himself) She's got feedin' on the brain like all fine mothers an’ wives do. (looking at his clock) I'll never get it done. He carefully puts his tools in the box, closes it, and lifts the clock from its place. He looks at it in awe of his own design. ELIZABETH (O.S.) Are ya comin' ta eat with ya family, or should we give ya plate to the dogs?! WE HEAR two dogs bark but John doesn't hear anything now. It's as if he were suddenly possessed. He puts the clock down again never taking his eyes from it, picks up the knife and continues to work the carving of the small, single gear meticulously and with great care. DISSOLVE TO: INT. SHOP AND WORKBENCH 12 YEARS LATER--NIGHT CU. On a half eaten plate of food. Then the same pair of hands are carving another very delicate clock mechanism out of wood. They finish, and place it into an intricate web of gears and parts, mostly made of wood. It snaps into place, wood into wood with precision. No nails or screws are used. The hands place a glass cover on the grandfather clock, a much larger clock than before, and gently push the pendulum into motion. The pendulum swings, a second hand begins to move as the clock takes its first ticking breaths. THE CAMERA PULLS BACK to reveal an older John Harrison age 36. Behind him is his brother James Harrison, a man of 25, with a full beard and glasses. He watches with all the awe of a serious student. JAMES HARRISON She's as fine as London in her all her glory. (CONTINUED) CONTINUED: HARRISON Thank ya, Jamie. I couldn't have done it without ya, brother. I got us a little reward to celebrate her. John breaks out a bottle of whiskey. JAMES HARRISON Where'd you get the money for that pleasure? HARRISON With the last commission. Half is yours. JAMES HARRISON For what? HARRISON For bein' my partner in Harrison and Harrison, Clockmakers of Yorkshire. JAMES HARRISON Ya mean it, John? Ya want to start a business an' with me, finally? HARRISON More than anything else. Blood can't be stopped, brother. The two of us, each with his respective talents, won't miss a tick. We'll have fun, work under the same roof, and our families won't starve ever if we just work hard. JAMES HARRISON I'm in! James throws his arms out and approaches John to hug him. John turns away as if hit in the face and pours the whiskey. James stops, habitually, not expecting John to hug him back. There's an awkward silence for a moment but then John pours from behind his bench which separates the two. They toast and laugh together admiring their creation standing proud before them. WE HEAR the rhythmic ticking and SEE the clock face’s intricate design with patterns of the moon and stars as the pendulum swings gracefully from side to side. INT. A PUB--LATER THAT DAY James and John are sitting at a table, drinking stout. MR. GRANT, an elderly, wise looking man in a top hat and cane enters and looks around the pub. Two men at the end of the bar talk in a whisper about Mr. Grant. MAN 1 Willya look at that now. Mr. Grant in another new top hat an' more costly than the one before... MAN 2 Yea... it's the way of the world these days--makin' 'is money off the sweat of others--in his awful factory. MAN 1 He's even got a young lady friend up the road ya know? MAN 2 Lucky dog he is. Mr. Grant walks past them ignoring their whispered comments. He sees John and James and walks straight over to them with a huge smile. HARRISON Good evening to ya Mr. Grant. MR. GRANT Good evenin'! I've been meanin' to congratulate ya both for creatin' that clock on Mr. Jackson's buildin'--it's a fine lookin' piece of work, an' the talk of the town. Everyone wants to know how ya built her so accurate? JAMES HARRISON (smiling) Thank ya. We never tell our secrets. MR. GRANT Ya know, it's been dawnin' on me for a long time, that ya boys might be the ones up to solvin' the great riddle? (CONTINUED) CONTINUED: JAMES HARRISON What riddle? MR. GRANT Why the riddle of the century, man. HARRISON Go on, tell us. We can use a riddle or two I guess. MR. GRANT Have you not heard about the King's Board of Longitude givin' away twenty thousand pounds to the man who solves the riddle of the sea? JAMES HARRISON ...Twenty thousand...? HARRISON ...Riddle of the sea? No, can't say I have... MR. GRANT ...The way to find the longitude line. It's been the problem of the sea from the beginning of sailin'. HARRISON I'm not a scientist m'self, far from it... Why tell me about ‘er? MR. GRANT Theory has it that if a clock were to be made that could keep her time at sea, precisely, no more would ships be goin' under. And the man who makes that kinda machine will be richer than his wildest dreams. HARRISON We're pretty good with time, ain't we Jamie? JAMES HARRISON The best. Twenty thousand pounds. Ya mean to tell us we just have to build a clock that works at sea? (CONTINUED) CONTINUED: MR. GRANT That's the offer. It's been the talk of England for years now, I'm surprised chaps like you, with a talent no one else seems to have, missed it. JAMES HARRISON Mr. Grant, we work twelve hours or more a day buildin' our clocks. We have no time for listenin' I'm afraid. Mr. Grant smiles and nods. HARRISON How would I go about competin' for such a healthy gift as that? MR. GRANT Bartender, a round on me. I have an offer that I think'll interest you boys. John, James and Mr. Grant huddle together secretively. DISSOLVE TO: EXT. THE MASKELYNE MANSION--LATE AFTERNOON WE SEE the glorious home of Lord and Mrs. Maskelyne. The grounds only heighten the loveliness of the mansion. WE HEAR voices shouting inside. INT. THE MASKELYNE MANSION--SAME TIME Mrs. Maskelyne, a pretty woman of 40 and Lord Maskelyne, an unattractive man of 50, and completely rigid in the worst aristocratic way, are in the middle of a fight. MRS. MASKELYNE With a fine Cambridge education behind him, having earned the title, Reverend, and a scientist no less, you refuse to help him gain the position he's dreamed of all his life. What more can you ask of the boy--you're not being civil. You are his father. (CONTINUED) CONTINUED: LORD MASKELYNE No I'm not. My life and name is not a commodity, Helen. It is a sacred trust. Nevil is not a gentleman, yet. Not a man of honour. He has been bred by you like some toyish doll... NEVIL MASKELYNE, 21 years old, tall, lean, good looking and dressed to perfection, enters silently and listens to his parents argument unaware to them. LORD MASKELYNE ...and although I cannot say I love him, I can say I am bound to him and care for his contribution to mankind. I want him to be a gentleman and a man of intellect. To date, he has not proven either to me. MASKELYNE (interrupting) I'm so sorry mother, that father needs to compete with my youthful spirit. (turns to Lord Maskelyne) I do hope a monster as hideous as jealousy is not the culprit in your philosophy, father. I'm not concerned- -God is on my side. And I don't really need your help to obtain a position at the observatory. I could do it myself most easily, but there are political considerations. And if my rejection would start speculation, it would end with your name under its ugly mask. I do hope you reconsider. Good-night. Nevil Maskelyne smiles charmingly and exits. A butler enters with tea and places it down. Lord and Mrs. Maskelyne sit quietly and take their tea. LORD MASKELYNE Innocence has been lost in him--even my son has a sword waiting to cut my jugular to capture his dreams. (pause) I'll write to several friends. MRS. MASKELYNE Well done. Bravo. Such a heart. (CONTINUED) CONTINUED: LORD MASKELYNE Perhaps if he were my blood... MRS. MASKELYNE ...He’s not... LORD MASKELYNE ...The necessity of maintaining one's image cannot be at the expense of fulfilling their beast-like human urges, Helen! I've endured years and years of your infidelities right under my nose and... MRS. MASKELYNE ...What rubbish... LORD MASKELYNE (sudden quiet rage) ...There's nothing of me, in him! I only saved this marriage to... MRS. MASKELYNE ...save your precious honour, and family name... (she laughs in his face) ...The one that you never earned either?! Loneliness is a most corrosive element and nothing can withstand its bite. You have a cold heart that has made me feel alone as the moon in the night. Love, anyone's love, cannot remain fertile when planted in poisonous soil... LORD MASKELYNE ...Don't you dare blame me for your pitiful weaknesses. You married me for my money and my social standing, not my love--that was the poison. I loathe the idea of helping him if for no other reason, but that it would please you. Pause. MRS. MASKELYNE (intensely staring at him) You better help my son and our boy, or I won't be easy. He is soon off (MORE) (CONTINUED) CONTINUED: MRS. MASKELYNE (CONT'D) to London, but you, my dear, will remain here... with me! She exits. Lord Maskelyne, slumps in his chair. INT. THE MASKELYNE MANSION, NEVIL MASKELYNE'S ROOM--NIGHT Nevil is kneeling at an open window gazing at the stars praying. Candles are burning around him. INT. THE PALATIAL OBSERVATORY AT GREENWICH--NIGHT Nevil is standing beside a telescope and Dr. James Bradley; a mild looking man of 50, bald with almost white hair and a long mustache. He holds the air of wisdom and honesty. Nevil walks around the observatory, strutting as if he owned it. MASKELYNE A most heavenly invention! I will study the stars, and win radiant honour for this observatory. DR. JAMES BRADLEY I smell twenty thousand pounds underneath those words of glory. MASKELYNE Money? No. I would give you or anyone the prize money most happily. You cannot purchase inspiration--not for long anyway. Dr. Bradley, I want the prestige and honour, sir. Am I not a gentleman? DR. JAMES BRADLEY (looks into telescope) Reverend Maskelyne, there are far more stars than we can count--even possibly imagine. As for their mapping to win the handsome Longitude reward, there are many before you already at work. Including me, by the way. (turns to smile at Nevil) Nevil's eyes reveal fear. Dr. Bradley sits at his telescope and continues to look at the stars. DR. JAMES BRADLEY Take a look. (CONTINUED) CONTINUED: Nevil sits and peers into the long telescope. CU: The heavens. DISSOLVE TO: CU: A clockface of intricate beauty with moons and stars on it. INT. JOHN AND JAMES HARRISON'S CLOCK SHOP 2 YEARS LATER--NIGHT John is 38 years old, James Harrison is 27 and they are working on H-1, a large, four-by-four foot clock encased in oak. It has brass rings and other metal parts sticking out of its casing. The clock face has numerous moon shapes and stars artfully placed amongst the intricate scrollwork. JAMES HARRISON How many times can ya finish it, John? Ya been tinkerin' with it now for seven months after it's already been done. We had a vision, man, an' ya gettin' blinded to it from that need of yours to be perfect--it's a disease. HARRISON My H-1--named by the way after you, too- -Harrison and Harrison, will make us proud when she's finished. Look here. Takes a long piece of wood with a funny shape to it. JAMES HARRISON I'm sick of 'er. Two years of our lives--My life! We're in no position to tinker now. M' children aren't fed proper an' nobody knows us from Adam. Let's get our hands in the money a bit first, then we can do whatever we want. John lets the piece of wood drop on the workbench from about two feet up. The wood bounces slightly. HARRISON It didn't bounce right. Too shallow I'd say. John puts the long wood rod on the bridge of his nose and begins to balance it. (CONTINUED) CONTINUED: JAMES HARRISON But it bounced damn it. And it bounced pretty high by m' standards. Put that down and listen to me! HARRISON (still balancing the rod on his nose) It ain't right yet, Jamie. See... I'm workin' to keep her balanced. And it's got ta bounce at least six inches. That was only five. JAMES HARRISON But we haven't time. We're set to take 'er to London. Mr. Grant's gettin' hot under his collar havin' paid us for the machine all these years an' expectin' ten percent of the award money for his trouble. Who can blame him--it cost 'im a small fortune? Now we know it can tell time better than anything in the world an' with all ya innovations we can't miss--there's no pendulum, John. No one's ever done that before. Ya have ta realize there'll be time for perfectin' her later. (pause) John, I'm broke. M' family, they're why I want the money. Don't you? John removes the rod, tosses it up in the air and catches it like a baton, lifts up a series of parts laying on the bench. HARRISON Friction free gears aye? This one's made of two woods combined, one contracts with the heat an' moisture, the other constricts so they hold each other off from screwin' aroun' with this 'ere rod. JAMES HARRISON ...I know... What are ya tellin' me for? HARRISON ...Because what ya don't want to know is that this 'ere rod has to balance (MORE) (CONTINUED) CONTINUED: HARRISON (CONT'D) and bounce 'cause she connects to these 'ere springing sea-saws that are counterbalanced. No waves can make her change her mind like the pendulums. But if this 'ere rod don't balance an' bounce jus' perfect, all the work we done so far'll be for naught. This clock came from inside me, Jamie... here... (touches his heart) ...an' it's too important to rush. Now please... John throws the rod at James who catches it nervously. HARRISON ...let me work. JAMES HARRISON All right all right, John. Ya convinced me again. James gives John the rod back and exits disgusted. John balances the rod on his nose. James shuts the door and looks back at John. CU: The door closing slowly. DISSOLVE TO: CU: The door opening again and a woman, KATHERINE, James's wife and her two children, GWEN 12 and BOBBY 14 enter the clock shop. Katherine holds a large basket and is smiling fully. INT. HARRISON'S SHOP 8 YEARS LATER--DAY The change of time is obvious now as John is 46 and a bit gray, James 35 and some physical changes have appeared. James is more impatient than before and is getting increasingly disgusted with what he sees as John's procrastination and excuses for not bringing H-1 to the Board of Longitude. John won't stop tinkering with the clock. Katherine and her two children have just entered. KATHERINE Beth an' I want ya to keep yaselves strong now. I know ya not eatin' while ya work. Here ya go. James, smiling, takes the basket. (CONTINUED) CONTINUED: JAMES HARRISON I love whatever ya lovely hands create for m'. I won't be late, will I, John? John doesn't answer. Pause. KATHERINE Well, we're off to do the shoppin'. Bye now. An' John, don't you forget Gwen's party next week like ya did last year. It's her twelfth birthday an' we're proud of 'er. Gwen smiles, Bobby looks away. James kisses his wife and hugs her hard. Then his two children. JAMES HARRISON See ya. Be good now an' help ya mother. GWEN Good-bye Dad. Uncle John. See ya next week. There is a look of disappointment at John's obvious indifference to them as he is too wrapped up in his work to really take notice. They leave. James sweeps up. JAMES HARRISON How long do you need this time? HARRISON A month. Maybe more. We're almost home. Sit tight. JAMES HARRISON (laughs) Ten years, John. M' God. Thank heaven we got a good trade an' business or we'd be in the streets beggin' for our meals. HARRISON Jamie, time ticks away at its own universal pace. Ya can't wind it down or speed it up to ya preferences. Besides, we gotta test 'er out before (MORE) (CONTINUED) CONTINUED: HARRISON (CON'T) goin' to the Board of Longitude sayin' she works or we’ll jus’ look like fools when they try 'er. JAMES HARRISON Takin' a chance is a part of success but you're too afraid of it, I think. It’s a miracle of a machine an’ ya can’t even see that. By God, John, ya got no sense of business whatsoever. John slams a carving knife violently into the workbench. He cuts his hand. HARRISON (abrupt change, angry) James!!! Get it through ya thick Yorkshire skull, man... This is m' clock an' I won't show it to no one if she ain't singin' right. Look what ya made me do. JAMES HARRISON Let me see that. HARRISON (pulling his hand away) You got no sense of artistry. Ya jus' don't understand inspiration. H- 1 is part of me, an' my soul. It's not a commodity you can buy or sell. That's jus' the way it is. JAMES HARRISON (pause) I'll look for some more bids in the mornin'. We'll hold off until she's done. James gathers his things. JAMES HARRISON (seriously) 'Night, John. John nods and James exits. John huffing, looks at his bleeding hand. DISSOLVE TO: EXT. A BARGE ON THE RIVER THAMES--TWILIGHT On board are the Harrison's, the Captain and his First Mate. The Barge pulls away and moves into the distant sunset. DISSOLVE TO: The next morning. The sun's bright glare on the water with the barge gliding into the scene. JAMES HARRISON This air's makin' me feel alive again. I think I stopped breathin' for the last decade 'cause o' this quest. Are ya satisfied, John? Is it possible? HARRISON Well it takes time to tell time. (laughs) JAMES HARRISON (laughs) I don't like the sound of that! We'll be a hundred before you'll show it to anyone meanin'ful. HARRISON We're a bit closer I guess. She's not missed more than a second a day for three days. JAMES HARRISON We're ready then? HARRISON (laughing with joy) Aye Captain? Let's go 'ome. (to James) An then, to London! James puts his hand on John's shoulder who pulls away slightly and tinkers with the clock smiling. James pours some whiskey and they toast. In the distance WE SEE the far-away land and the captain of the barge gently steering her towards it. INT. JOHN HARRISON'S HOME--NIGHT John is finishing packing. His wife, Elizabeth, and their two children, Beth 18, and William 12 are watching. (CONTINUED) CONTINUED: HARRISON I'll miss you with all m' heart. But I have to go. WILLIAM Please let me come with ya? HARRISON You're too young, William, an' ya've got ya schoolin'. You be sure to keep m' shop clean an' free of dust. WILLIAM (sadly) All right. HARRISON Now listen to me all of ya. If things go well, you'll never want for anything again. I'm doin' this for us. Come on now, ya faces look like a funeral. They look at him with their sour pusses. He goes back to packing. DISSOLVE TO: John and Elizabeth are in bed. HARRISON Ya got to stop complainin' now, Beth... I'm doin' this to help m' children have a better life than m'. Ya make it sound like I'm runnin' away from you. I never had toys... or fun... or even a decent education'. I had to learn it all on m' own. BETH But we need ya here, John. HARRISON You an' Kathrine'll share in takin' care of the children. Ya got enough money until we come back. I got to sleep now. Good-night, love. BETH But John... (CONTINUED) CONTINUED: HARRISON ...Good-night I said... Pause. BETH (sadly) Good-night. John turns over and goes to sleep. INT. JAMES HARRISON'S HOME--NIGHT The small cottage glows in the candlelight. In the background WE SEE James's two small children sleeping in their small bed. James's wife, Katherine is helping him pack. KATHERINE And don't forget to write to me everyday. JAMES Every hour Katherine. Every minute. They embrace for a very long, meaningful hug and kiss. Then Katherine looks towards her children's room, moves to it and gently closes the door. She smiles sensuously at James and moves to him, takes him by his arms looking into his eyes and walks him to their room. They enter and Katherine closes the door. WE HEAR the crackling of the fire in the fireplace. CU: The fire in the fireplace, crackling. DISSOLVE TO: CU: The stars through a very large telescope. INT. PALATIAL OBSERVATORY AT GREENWICH--NIGHT The camera pulls back to reveal Nevil, now a man of 31 years old and very distinguished. He is peering through his telescope mapping the heavens meticulously. Dr. Bradley, now 60 years old, is seated at his desk and writing. DR. JAMES BRADLEY I don't agree. I'm pleased that you are optimistic about astronomy's potential, but the heavens is one enormous mystery. (CONTINUED) CONTINUED: MASKELYNE I want that award Dr. Bradley. And I know you do, too. Think what it would mean to this observatory, and our lives? We could accomplish wonderful things through our science for mankind. DR. JAMES BRADLEY Mankind will have to wait. The Board of Longitude hasn't met in the twenty years since it was formed. MASKELYNE And why should they? They permit themselves to be weighed down with jokesters, and lunatics trying blatant witchery to win that golden fleece of twenty thousand pounds. How can you compare these warlocks to me? I am a scientist and have pursued a verifiable solution. I deserve a hearing before them. DR. JAMES BRADLEY You aren't prepared to make your presentation before the Board yet. Nevil paces and rubs his brow. MASKELYNE Yes, yes, I know all too well how you feel about it. And now how much longer do you propose it will take us to map the stars precisely with a consistency in the moon's orbit? DR. JAMES BRADLEY (with a smile) With some luck... a hundred years? MASKELYNE (anger) Do not joke with my passion. DR. JAMES BRADLEY What does passion have to do with science, Reverend Maskelyne? You must keep it in your mind that we are but little beings on this rock trying to map and understand the (MORE) (CONTINUED) CONTINUED: DR. JAMES BRADLEY (CONT'D) workings of God. (peering into the telescope) We didn't make them--we can only observe His hand. They've never been charted before with this level of precision. Nevil grabs his papers sitting in a stack nearby. MASKELYNE Dr. Bradley... Here... One month ago I found a match between a sky mapped thirty years ago by Sir Isaac Newton’s own hand, and one mapped two weeks ago by mine. This is the first time any match has been made. We have captured a piece of the Almighty's creation on this piece of paper! Look. DR. JAMES BRADLEY (wearily) We've been through this... MASKELYNE ...The moon is not in the same place on a consistent basis, all right, that is a minor problem. But we can predict where the longitude might be from the moon's position and the fixed stars. Need I remind you that Sir Isaac Newton theorized this. DR. JAMES BRADLEY A desperate man seeks easy answers only to end up the victim of his own solutions. A scientist must be pragmatic. I am interested only in consistent accuracy. MASKELYNE And you don't believe that I am? DR. JAMES BRADLEY You are too rash in your need and too quick in your plotting to fulfill this voracious hunger of yours. It's eating you alive. (MORE) (CONTINUED) CONTINUED: DR. JAMES BRADLEY (CONT'D) Perhaps science is not the right choice for you. MASKELYNE Oh please... Your resistance isn't about science. It's about holding me off so you have a chance at winning that award for yourself. Dr. Bradley looks at him. MASKELYNE Remember this, Doctor, you are getting on... If we were to share in the award, both of our names would go down in history. I intend to be the owner of it, with, or without you. Dr. Bradley stares at Nevil for a long time. Nevil walks out smiling. Dr. Bradley just stares at the door. EXT. ROAD IN THE MIDDLE OF LONDON--DAY John and James Harrison have just arrived in London with H-1. They are in a horse-drawn cart which has one wheel in bad shape--one side has been chipped off making the wooden wheel hit the cobblestones flat, jerking the entire cart up hard. Behind them the large H-1 sits under a black tarp. John and James are dirty and tired from the long journey from Yorkshire. WE SEE London during an Eighteenth Century business day with merchants lining the streets, carts and people moving about in all directions. Suddenly a fight breaks out between two men, a group gathers around and two soldiers try to break it up. As the two men are brought to their feet and separated: MAN 1 He tried to steal m' purse. MAN 2 He tried to steal mine, officer. MAN 1 Everyone's gone mad in this city. SOLDIER 1 Times are rough, man. (CONTINUED) CONTINUED: SOLDIER 2 (to the crowd) All right now, everything's under control. Let's move on to more important things. The crowd breaks up. MAN 2 Second time I've been assaulted in three months. Might as well live in a jungle. SOLDIER 2 (helping him dust off) What makes ya think we don't? Some of the animals ain't been fed, food taken away from 'em by the bigger ones. MAN 2 I'm sick of it all. SOLDIER 1 (holding the mugger) We'll take care of this one. I know 'im well. Come on you. The soldiers take the mugger by his arms and walk off. MAN 2 (to the Harrison's) What the hell are ya gawkin' at?! John and James move on. The man moves off in the opposite direction cursing under his breath. INT. KING GEORGE'S CHAMBER--DAY The King is now 40, and sitting, bored and weary, in his throne eating a bowl of peeled avocados and making a mess. Guards and kingsman are seated and standing around him including Richard, his Nobleman. There is a weird looking man, SIR KENLEM DIGBY, standing before them, pointing to a large picture of a dog his assistant holds up. SIR KENLEM DIGBY They call this miracle potion, "Powder of Sympathy", Your Majesty. You first injure a dog and wrap a (MORE) (CONTINUED) CONTINUED: SIR KENLEM DIGBY (CONT'D) cloth dipped in this potion around his injury. Whenever you dip the cloth in the potion, the dog with the wrap, no matter where he is, will yelp... The assistant YELPS, to demonstrate. SIR KENLEM DIGBY ...Therefore, I offer this solution to the longitude problem: We injure a dog, and do the wrap with the potion, then send him off to sea. On the hour and when the ship is out of sight, we simply dip the cloth in the solution on land and the dog will yelp wherever he is on the sea. All that needs to be done is for the captain to check his map with the time the dog proclaims, and the longitude riddle will be won. The man bows, smiling boldly waiting for a positive response. But the King and all his men just stare at him, mouths agape in complete disbelief. KING My subjects know me as a patient Monarch, but my dear man, if you ever step foot in this palace with such a hair-brained scheme as this again, I'll serve your head to my dogs. Digby's face drops. KING I love dogs. I love them more than people because they are noble and true and obedient! The very idea of intentionally hurting one of them is unconscionable, and I won't have it! Do you understand? SIR KENLEM DIGBY (trembling) Ye... ye...sss, your majesty. (CONTINUED) CONTINUED: NOBLEMAN (under his breath to the King) If we do not test any and all claims, there could be "words" if this man's idea should work elsewhere. KING Get out! Digby rolls up the scroll and he and his companion rush out, the King throws a peeled avocado that splatters on the large oak doors. A servant rushes to clean up the mess. EXT. SHIP'S DECK ON THE SEA--DAY All the men, some ridden with scurvy, watch the captain as he looks through his hand-held telescope at the far off land. CAPTAIN WEDGE Wait. I see coconut trees. But there are no coconut trees in Spain. All the men's faces drop at once. CAPTAIN WEDGE Where's that bloody stupid dog? A shipmate brings an old dog limping out. He wears a bandage around his leg and looks up, panting, with a sad, helpless face. The boat rocks gently on the sea and the wind pushes the dogs hair in one direction. CAPTAIN WEDGE Why don't you yelp? He stopped yelping days ago. (to the dog) Cry. Say something. I'm risking my head disobeyin' m' king. Cry I say or I'll give ya somethin' to cry about! CU. The dog tilts his head in confusion. One ear up, the other down. FIRST MATE I think the wound healed and the potion didn't connect. Or maybe the man back at port forgot his job or died. (CONTINUED) CONTINUED: CAPTAIN WEDGE (teasing the dog) Throw him overboard, I can't be losin' good chow for a canine who won't work. The dog looks scared and whines. CAPTAIN WEDGE Was that a whelp or a cry? FIRST MATE I think a whelp, sir. ANOTHER SAILOR No, I think a cry, sir. CAPTAIN WEDGE It was most definitely a whelp. FIRST MATE I’d second that, captain. CAPTAIN WEDGE Navigator what does that mean? The dog whelped? NAVIGATOR It means we're saved!!! The crew cheers. The dog follows and begins to sing along with the cheers of the scurvy-ridden men. CAPTAIN WEDGE The dog is saved and so are we. Turn 'er hard around and let us sail the sea!!! The men cheer happily. The dog yelps joyously in the sun and the crew sings as the ship becomes nothing but a small dot on a vast, never ending ocean. INT. OBSERVATORY AT GREENWICH--DAY John and James are showing Dr. Bradley their H-1, now sitting in the middle of the observatory room. Dr. Bradley is trying to be polite. DR. JAMES BRADLEY It must have taken quite a bit of time. (CONTINUED) CONTINUED: HARRISON Ten years. DR. JAMES BRADLEY (sarcastically) How excruciating. I've been charting the stars for over thirty. HARRISON Mr. Grant, the benefactor of m' H-1 here, told us to look you up if the Board wouldn't see us right away. DR. JAMES BRADLEY Oh. And why would he want you to do that? JAMES HARRISON He was hopin' ya could get 'em to meet an' examine our clock. You are the Astronomer Royal? DR. JAMES BRADLEY Yes I am. But the Board of Longitude hasn't met in twenty three years. HARRISON Why? DR. JAMES BRADLEY (incredulous) Too many pranks. HARRISON Well this ain't a prank. She's been designed for the sea, an' I have more innovations in her than... DR. JAMES BRADLEY ...please, sir, the scheme is not to convince me, but them. The problem, you see, is that the Board is composed of a select group of highly sophisticated and accomplished astronomers, mathematicians and admirals who believe that the Lunar Distancing Method is the only way to solve the Longitude problem. They follow, as I must confess I do, the work of Sir Isaac Newton. (CONTINUED) CONTINUED: JAMES HARRISON The clock theory is also well known. (touches clock) We've made it a reality! Dr. Bradley pauses. Thinks. DR. JAMES BRADLEY Perhaps if you saw George Graham. He's a local clock maker and has some very good connections. It would be a start. I'll write his address down for you. Give him a visit with your... machine here. They look at one another. EXT. CAPTAIN WEDGE'S SHIP AT SEA--LATE AFTERNOON The ship and its motley crew, along with the injured, whining dog, are sailing in a storm. There is no rain, but the wind is creating five foot waves and deep gray skies. CAPTAIN WEDGE Where's that dog? FIRST MATE Feedin'. All he does is sleep an' feed. An... you know. CAPTAIN WEDGE We been lost too long. It ain't workin'. Let's try due south. Drop the log an' see where the tides goin'. ONE SAILOR I'm dyin' o' thirst Captain. CAPTAIN WEDGE Soon, man... soon. The mate drops a log and they watch the direction it floats. The men on board are sick from scurvy, there isn't any more water left and there is no land in sight. INT. GEORGE GRAHAM'S CLOCK SHOP--LATE AFTERNOON George Graham is a tall, thin man of sixty. H-1 is on the counter and he is unable to keep his eyes and hands off of it. (CONTINUED) CONTINUED: GRAHAM Thoroughly impressive. I'm a bit jealous. (pause) The only way you'll have any chance is through the Royal Society which is composed of scientists of every nature, some of which have an open mind. Some of which, do not. How did you ever create such a time-keeper? HARRISON (joking) Oh, we made her in a mere ten years! Graham laughs. JAMES HARRISON How do we get in touch with the Royal Society? GRAHAM Through me. I know some of them. I'll write a note to Admiral Courtney, an old acquaintance of mine--bought a lot of clocks from me- -and perhaps he, through the Admiralty, can help you get a sea- trial. HARRISON I can't believe the damn board won't see us. Who do they think they are? GRAHAM A group of the most powerful men in London--they're stuffy, arrogant, stubborn and self-righteous; those are their better qualities. INT. ADMIRAL COURTNEY'S QUARTERS--NIGHT ADMIRAL COURTNEY is a man of 55 with a strong face and intimidating demeanor. John and James are by their clock in an exquisite drawing room. JAMES HARRISON Admiral, we jus' can't wait three months. We got families in Yorkshire. (CONTINUED) CONTINUED: ADMIRAL That's the minimal time to assemble such a distinguished board. JAMES HARRISON We live too far away from London, and we're of meager means, sir. ADMIRAL I'm sorry, but rules are rules. HARRISON What rules are they, sir? ADMIRAL The ones I just made up! Look here, Mr. Harrison, we can't just put a naval ship to sea for a whimsical clock without a board meeting. The rules for the reward stipulate clearly by the King himself, that... (counting on his fingers) ...One: The proposed method must have a test at sea. Two: On one of Her majesty's naval ships. Three: Sail to some port in the West Indies and back and the fourth rule us that the first three rules cannot occur until the board has met. Good evening, and thank you for coming. I like your... thing there. HARRISON Sir, all due respect, we have a right to a sea trial. We've heard that's also in the Board's law. We've come too far an' worked too long to give up. ADMIRAL (intensely pondering) I have a friend who has a fishing boat who sails out a bit into the ocean. Perhaps, he would do me a favour, and let you test her on his ship--sort of a pre-trial. If that works out, then we'll see. They all stare at each other too long. EXT. FISHING SAILBOAT ON THE SEA--DAY John Harrison is throwing up over the side of the ship even though the waves are very small. James is bored. They all keep watch of the H-1 attached to a large table outside the captains cabin. The captain is a very old man, sickly, who succumbs to violent coughing jags, ending in a climax of spitting up gobs of flem overboard, and who is steering the vessel. There are four derelict-looking fishermen who are sitting around doing nothing but singing old fishing songs, very badly. JAMES HARRISON Captain, how much longer until port? M' brothers been sick for too long. CAPTAIN (in between coughing) Two... days, maybe three. JAMES HARRISON You don't sound too good yaself. CAPTAIN I gotta find a way outta this line o' work, mate. HARRISON Will ya give us a recommendation? CAPTAIN Most certainly. It's a nice machine. Works damn proper. JAMES HARRISON Here sir. I've brought paper and ink. Could you write that down for us? The Captain takes the feather... his eyes bulge out of his head. He gasps. James grabs his arm as the Captain falls to his knees then over onto his back gasping. JAMES HARRISON Dear God... HARRISON His heart! The crew is now surrounding the captain. (CONTINUED) CONTINUED: CAPTAIN Tell m' wife... I... (tries to speak but cannot) He dies. There is a long silence. James checks him over. Pause. JAMES HARRISON He's gone. HARRISON Good God! One of the fisherman begins to weep. Another takes the wheel. Two others take the Captain's corpse by his arms and feet and carry him below. John returns to puking and WE SEE the beautiful panoramic view in the distance. EXT. WEDGE'S SHIP--DAY The ship is lost at sea. All the sailors are dying from scurvy, thirst and starvation. INT. GEORGE GRAHAM'S CLOCK SHOP--TWILIGHT John, James and George are drinking and laughing. JAMES HARRISON ...We almost didn't make it back... Our luck. GRAHAM Well ya lack o' luck brought ya some luck! HARRISON What luck is that? I spent three days throwin' m'self up inside an' out again with nothin' to show for it but a thinner waist. JAMES HARRISON We gotta go home now. Got no more money an' to be truthful, I got no more patience. The whole thing stinks. George pulls out a letter. Smiles knowingly. GRAHAM The Board of Longitude, wants to meet with ya Tuesday week at noon sharp. (CONTINUED) CONTINUED: John and James stare at him incredulously. GRAHAM The captain of the fishin' boat was a decoy. They wanted ya outta their hair. If he hadn't died, an' Admiral Silver who brought you back hadn't come into the picture, ya'd be on ya way back to Yorkshire and never would ya have been heard from again. HARRISON A decoy? GRAHAM Somethin' new always creates opposition--ya scared 'em, John. So they shoved ya off. Politics... ya know. JAMES HARRISON How are we lucky then? GRAHAM Admiral Silver loved H-1. So much so he sent the Royal Society a letter of praise, an' one of them fella's was on the Board. One thing led to another which is the way things go, I suppose. JAMES HARRISON Well I'll be damned, we're rich, John! GRAHAM Don't go puttin' ya cart before ya horse. It won't be an easy task convincin' 'em, I can promise ya that. HARRISON But they have to look, right? GRAHAM Yep. They have to do that. An' some of them are fair men, who look to both sides of the coin before makin' a decision. They have England's best interest in mind. Others, well, they (MORE) (CONTINUED) CONTINUED: GRAHAM (CONT'D) just look at the coin, pocket it an' run. HARRISON This means a lot to me, George. I can't thank ya enough for bein' so kind and puttin' us up all the while. GRAHAM My pleasure. Who knows, maybe ya talents will bring a bright light to the darkness we've all had to live with for so long. Shop keepers like m'self have lost a great deal to the longitude. JAMES HARRISON How can you lose from it? GRAHAM When a ship goes down, the costs for all kinds o' goods, goes up. Merchandise becomes a rarity. Shops are vandalized. People are gettin' robbed in the daylight. It's a national problem, an' everyone knows it, too. HARRISON We're gonna solve the problem, George--you jus' wait an' see. GRAHAM I'd like nothin' more. Pause. JAMES HARRISON I could use a drink. I could use a few? Care to join me? They laugh and exit the shop. Through the front window WE SEE H- 1 sitting on the counter between other smaller clocks. EXT. CAPTAIN WEDGE'S SHIP--TWILIGHT CU: The dog on Captain Wedge's ship, still bandaged, is chewing on a large white bone. (CONTINUED) CONTINUED: THE CAMERA PULLS BACK to reveal that the bone is of a man who has died on the ship lost at sea and is half eaten. THE CAMERA PULLS BACK EVEN FURTHER to see many men, dead, some decomposing in the hot sun. There are bodies all over the deck. No one has survived. THE CAMERA PULLS BACK to see a LONGSHOT of the boat drifting on the ocean with no land in sight. INT. THE BOARD OF LONGITUDE--DAY In the room are the many Board members including admirals, mathematicians, astronomers, Dr. Bradley and Nevil Maskelyne, all dressed to perfection. ADMIRAL SILVER, a small, but rugged man with a wise, kind face watches quietly. Several men and women are seated in the Visitor's Gallery where invited civilians view the meeting. The men are walking around the four foot by four foot clock, observing it from every angle. John and James Harrison are in common formal dress, hair slightly disheveled. John leans on the clock like he's got his arm around his best friend. CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD Very interesting. ANOTHER BOARD MEMBER Rather large. ANOTHER BOARD MEMBER Admiral Silver, you stated for the record that this machine kept time precisely on your voyage back home. How precisely, sir? ADMIRAL SILVER It didn't lose more than one second during the entire voyage. CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD And how long was that, Captain? ADMIRAL SILVER Two weeks and three days on rough and calm water. The highest waves were ten feet. As we moved from tropical air towards England, the temperature dropped twenty degrees. Everyone has stopped, almost in shock. (CONTINUED) CONTINUED: ADMIRAL SILVER I've never seen anything quite like it on land or sea. It might very well be the device that changes the history of sailing forever. Stunned, trying to be calm but all agitated and excited, the admirals, mathematicians, professors and astronomers smile courteously and resume circling around it. HARRISON (to the members of the board) Well... D' ya like m' clock? ANOTHER BOARD MEMBER Very impressive. ANOTHER BOARD MEMBER Quite. HARRISON Let me show ya a few features. See this button 'ere... jus' push it in an' she begins to breathe like a baby. An' see here... this dial... if ya wind 'er, it don't stop the tellin' of the time either. Just keeps on goin'... An' Lookee 'ere, I brought this dowl... a mirror to see what's inside, so to speak.... John drops the dowl and it bounces high. He grabs it up and balances it on his nose. HARRISON She bounces like a ball and is balanced perfect. Made of Norwegian oak she is. Wood's hard. Cut to this shape, she's a natural spring to keep the balls inside rollin' indefinitely. I have two weights in her to keep her steady. See? (he tosses the dowl up with his head and catches it as it falls) An' finally, this here, I invented it an' call it a ball bearin'. The brass balls move against one another makin' 'er friction free an' she won't rust neither. (CONTINUED) CONTINUED: There is absolute silence as they look at him demonstrate the ball bearing. All their eyebrows are raised. BOARD MEMBER HELMS You, invented that? HARRISON Yes, sir. Amongst many other things. See, I needed a... BOARD MEMBER HELMS ...Ingenious. Pause. The men look at one another. ANOTHER BOARD MEMBER It will revolutionize... everything! More silence. HARRISON That's a good thing. I'm glad. (continuing his demonstration) An' most important... she don't run on a pendulum. Ever 'ear of that? CAMERA REVEALS Nevil Maskelyne standing behind Harrison. His jealousy is silent, his rage evident under his huge, fake smile. MASKELYNE Most fascinating. But what exactly will it do once the boat rocks and sways I wonder, in the great grip of the mighty oceans--not to mention tempests that compare to creation itself! There, the currents and waves will shift so quickly that accuracy would be but a mere deadly fiction, wouldn't it? I don't mean to sound negative, as Mr. Harrison has built a most beautiful cabinet. The paneling, for example, demonstrates a mastery of the whittling knife seldom witnessed. HARRISON Thanks much... But like I said, the time-keeper ain't a pendulum clock, it's a sea-saw spring set in an (MORE) (CONTINUED) CONTINUED: HARRISON (CONT'D) encasement with ball bearin's that won't rust. That's what I'm tryin' to demonstrate for ya. It's basic physics? But the gentleman's right... I likes to cut wood. MASKELYNE I see that. And you deserve great commendations for it. You are a masterful wood carver. HARRISON Thank ya. In fact, if you look at the gear inside here... You'll see it's made of wood, too--I cut each an' every tooth, over five 'undred in all, m'self along the grain, so it's real strong. MASKELYNE And we appreciate it. But I would simply like the board to recognize that these external features, which are most impressive, don't answer wholeheartedly to our purpose. That is, theoretically, to tell time perfectly on a rolling sea so the navigator is able to calculate longitude position. We must be painfully pragmatic, and not let mere artistry interfere with our scientific duty and humane responsibility. HARRISON Ya think so? Maybe you're right there, Mr... uh... MASKELYNE ...Reverend Maskelyne... HARRISON ...Oh... (pause) Reverend. But ya see, sir, we tested her an' rocked 'er up an' down and from side to side for hours a day on the Thames an' she didn't budge one little bit in three days. But who (MORE) (CONTINUED) CONTINUED: HARRISON (CONT'D) knows, right Jamie? I mean, we're jus' human. JAMES HARRISON M' brother is a modest man. His clock tells time no matter what the conditions. And she's rust proof, too. MASKELYNE Rust proof? Nothing, is rust proof. Not even I? The members of the Board laugh. MASKELYNE And even if it were, you'd have to consider the grease. You must grease her wheels and smaller parts. HARRISON Yes Sir, we sure do. No grease, no clock. The man's right there. MASKELYNE I'm pleased Mr. Harrison agrees. And I'm sure he'd also agree that grease becomes grime, and grime holds dust and dust and grime stop the clock from smoothly operating for any real length of time, and on an ocean, the seasalt in the air would add to the debilitating grime, is that not correct? HARRISON No. See, Reverend, I don't use grease like other Clockmakers. I Keep it away from the gears an' jus' use it where it can't grip up. Never has to be greased again actually. Want to look at 'er grease? MASKELYNE No thank you. (CONTINUED) CONTINUED: SPEAKER (interrupting) The theory has it, that a clock capable of keeping time at sea, would exactly solve the longitude and provide an accurate navigational methodology--and that's what we're after here by order of our gracious King. We cannot pretend this mechanism is not in the room. Or that it is not a possible scientific achievement. It deserves its fair chance. Therefore, I move to grant Mr. Harrison and his brother an appropriate test. And if the test is promising, another hearing held for determination of the reward. BOARD MEMBER I second that without question. ANOTHER BOARD MEMBER I agree as well. ANOTHER BOARD MEMBER Yes, in all good conscience I must offer my support, too. The room fills with excitement. Nevil's smile is so large and fake it might crack his face in two. HARRISON Thank you. But if I might say so myself, I'm not happy wit' her completely yet. I wouldn't mind some seed money to keep tinkerin with 'er until she's jus' right... JAMES HARRISON (to the board) ...But if you feel it's complete enough, we'd most happily take any offer you so generously proposed... HARRISON ...Wait a minute, Jamie. I made 'er and I want to work some more on 'er--let go, ya hurtin' m' arm. (CONTINUED) CONTINUED: MASKELYNE May I interrupt? SPEAKER Dear Reverend Maskelyne. With all due respect, it is clear to us on this Board that you might harbor a conflict of interest, having begged witness to your very own flawed method a dozen times or more. Therefore, I must respectfully request that you remain silent. Nevil sits down slowly. The men watch. SPEAKER I agree with Mr. Harrison, but I am also excited at the possibilities he's presented. I remind you all that England's economic health is at stake. Mr. Harrison believes his clock needs some refinements and we must be absolutely sure before we pass full judgment on it. Therefore, I propose to offer him and his brother five hundred pounds for the sole purpose of refining their clock, and to bring forth another model as quickly as they can. The first half paid as soon as possible, the remainder when they finish their new clock. BOARD MEMBER I agree. SEVERAL BOARD MEMBERS Yes. I agree. Here Here. I second the motion. I dutifully offer a third... Nevil Maskelyne's face reveals a deep hatred, and jealousy that would scare away a soldier. He approaches John and James graciously. (CONTINUED) CONTINUED: MASKELYNE (too loud, smiling boldly) May I offer my gratitude to you and your brother for this truly fine contrivance. I only meant to separate the pranksters from men of sincerity. HARRISON No problem, mate. A man's gotta speak 'is mind or his ass'll blow out the other end. Nice to make your acquaintance. MASKELYNE The pleasure... is all mine. INT. A ROOM SOMEWHERE--NIGHT Nevil and Dr. Bradley are in the room drinking. MASKELYNE This... this... this man brings this... this... DR. JAMES BRADLEY ...clock..? MASKELYNE ...Yes! How intriguing! How scientific! And my distinguished colleagues stood there wagging their tongues over a beastly man-made contraption while I am searching God's heavens! Bradley looks on. Then pours for Nevil. MASKELYNE That damned stupid mechanical hourglass made me look like the fool--and they were all chattering about it like schoolboys who've first discovered that women are built differently than they. (pause) What do you think of all this? (CONTINUED) CONTINUED: DR. JAMES BRADLEY It was impressive... MASKELYNE ...of course it was impressive, it was huge... If I took some fly droppings and enlarged them to the size of a table, they'd be impressive too. But being impressive isn't the point. The point is... is... DR. JAMES BRADLEY ...You're angry..? MASKELYNE ...it's... it's not practical. It is not possible. It is just a gaudy, man-made, loathsome, ugly, contrivance of a clock, and that's all it is. Am I correct? Short Pause. DR. JAMES BRADLEY (pause, nodding) Of course. MASKELYNE (pause as he gains composure) Ah, my friend, we are alike--I'm glad to hear you say it finally. We can share that prize. (brief pause) But I need your help. DR. JAMES BRADLEY With? MASKELYNE Favours to sway more people to our side, quietly, mind you. We are so close to the prize, James. And these... these two clock-o-philes, they're my only competition. Oh... I'm not concerned about this imbecile wood carver, but I am concerned about this new attitude which places mechanical tinkerers on the same (MORE) (CONTINUED) CONTINUED: MASKELYNE (CONT'D) level as scientists. We simply cannot allow them to win the prize-- it would be disgraceful... it's the principle! Do you see my point? Nevil pours. MASKELYNE This country bumpkin will be watched, and his achievements reported to me as they occur. His requests for review will be postponed until after my work is finished and presented to the Board--I want to be fair. And keep the King, that fat fool, out of our way. No one takes him seriously anyway. DR. JAMES BRADLEY (slightly drunk, sardonically) I will see to it that your needs are met with exquisite perfection. Nevil nods. BRADLEY (a bit drunk now) We are ethical creatures, aren't we? (laughs) Animals seeking refuge under financial corruption set within indifference? Bait for common injustice? MASKELYNE Don't think about it. Here you are. Nevil pours. Bradley rises and drinks. DR. JAMES BRADLEY (looking into his empty glass) We start out so pure. So hopeful. The future seems all possible and we're still unafraid of it. Then, a moment later, we look up and our illusions of greatness have given way to (MORE) (CONTINUED) CONTINUED: DR. JAMES BRADLEY (CONT'D) feelings of molestation by this beastly system. He moves to a mirror. DR. JAMES BRADLEY Our foreheads fill with the wrinkles of worry, our eyes, hide our tears, our lips, tight with regret, anger, even hatreds left behind by our disappointments. And our hearts grown hard and filled with lonliness, no longer swell with romantic bliss. We are alone, Nevil, each of us. And the days tick away. MASKELYNE You're just drunk. I feel completely optimistic about my future. BRADLEY You're still young, or too sober... Bradley pours for Nevil. MASKELYNE I demand that you stop this, Bradley. I need you to help me obtain greatness. I have a father if I need to feel suicidal! (laughs) BRADLEY (smiles sitting) If you can lie to yourself fully, Nevil, I can easily answer your need with but a few, simple words. MASKELYNE Then do. BRADLEY (smiling) We... are... in... the... money. Here are a few more: We have style and class. The finest material items, servants, favours, positions, titles, even friendships bought on the wings of our profits. (MORE) (CONTINUED) CONTINUED: BRADLEY (CONT'D) (leans in, intimately whispers) But all the while we desperately and secretively wish we could tell just one, simple, truth--even to ourselves, and feel free again, as we did in our youth. But we cannot bring ourselves to do it, can we? I'm afraid we are too proud for that. Too frightened. We've given up on ourselves and each other... forgotten how to care... so we may live happily, hmm? (he looks Nevil straight in the eye) Like a venomous snake, hidden in a pink vase, filled with white roses. (smiles slightly) Maskelyne stares at Bradley a bit frightened. Bradley holds up his glass for a toast. Now, his face is drawn and very sad. Nevil raises his glass. As the two glasses touch: CUT TO: INT. JAMES HARRISON'S HOME CHRISTMAS, SAME YEAR--DAY Present are: James 35, his wife Katherine 32, and two children both teenagers, John 46, Elizabeth 42,, their two children Beth 26 who is a very plain woman and William, a replica of John now 14. They are gathered around a full table of food and a roasted turkey. James is carving happily. The atmosphere is one of joy. BETH Such a lovely table, Katie. KATE Thank you, Beth. With all the work they do, we deserve it I think. HARRISON Work is the joy o' life. James glances up at John. BETH (suppressed anger) Family is the joy, too, dear. HARRISON Of course. (CONTINUED) CONTINUED: BETH Look at this home, John. James spends his time with his wife an' children, not his clocks. There is a silent tension. John's body stiffens. BETH (quiet rage) Not like you, buried up to ya nose in gears an' grease. HARRISON Stop it. It's m' clocks that pay for this. An' I won't be discussin' this kind of thing in front of m' family. BETH (angrily) Ya family's back at ya shop. Not here. Ya life is now, John. Not tomorrow. HARRISON How dare you humiliate me like this. I've done nothin' but try my damnedest to make a livelihood for us all. An' this is the thanks I get on m' beloved Christmas day? I won't have it! John rises and storms out of the house. They are all stunned and embarrassed. Beth has tears in her eyes and her daughter Elizabeth, 26-years old, hugs her mother. William, John's son, now 14-years old, puts his head down. James and his family are silent. John slams the door hard behind him. CUT TO: CU: Sign: "HARRISON & HARRISON, CLOCKMAKERS OF LONDON". EXT. OUTSIDE HARRISON'S LONDON SHOP, TWO YEARS LATER--NIGHT John is now 48 years old, James 37 years old. Two aristocratic men exit an extravagant coach and walk up the steps toward the Harrison's shop. When they reach the door, WE SEE the clock shop inside and James talking to John who is indifferent to him and annoyed. INT. HARRISON'S SHOP, LONDON--SAME TIME The shop is much larger, with many shelves holding a variety of clocks and clock parts. James, now a craftsman is working on bids from a variety of customers and still talking to John who is slumped over his large workbench, intensely working on an intricate part. William, now 16, is sweeping up. On a large table next to John is another clock, H-2, which is approximately three feet in every direction, but with many more brass and silver arms, weights, chains and rods sticking out all over it. James rises and opens the door. SIR MORRIS WELLINGTON, a fat, pathetic-looking man of 43, and Sir Jacob Grattle, a distinguished man with a very long face of 60 enter graciously. SIR MORRIS WELLINGTON Mr. Harrison? My name is Sir Morris Wellington, and this is my colleague Sir Jacob Grattle. We are from the Royal Society, scientists who hold nothing but admiration for your work, and talent. We are both your staunchest supporters. HARRISON The shop's closed. Come back tomorrow. Jamie, I dropped 'er again... I need a smaller pair of pliers... She's bent. Awkward silence and tension. JAMES HARRISON (not looking at them) M' brother's a hopeless perfectionist ya know. An artist ya can't disturb too often--or he gets a bit tense on ya. Right John? John? We've got guests. John works on his clock without any notice. SIR MORRIS WELLINGTON Perhaps we should come back in the morning. HARRISON Damn light's no good in here, either. We need more candles. I want m' old shop back. Damn, two days work spent on a rusty pair of pliers and needless interruptions. (CONTINUED) CONTINUED: SIR MORRIS WELLINGTON Mr. Harrison, perhaps when you hear why we've come, you might be cheered up a bit. We're here to award you a medal from the Royal Society. John stops and throws his pliers hard to the floor. HARRISON A medal? What would I do with a bloody medal, aye? The tension could be cut with a knife. JAMES HARRISON It's a lovely gesture... John? HARRISON I need more money to do this work, not fancy gestures. Look at this 'ere. You know how much this tiny part cost me? This little piece? SIR MORRIS WELLINGTON No. I'm sorry to say we don't... HARRISON ...Six shillin's... SIR MORRIS WELLINGTON ...If I may inter... HARRISON ...An' this 'ere... nine guineas... JAMES HARRISON ...Please, John... HARRISON ...They give me two 'undred an' fifty Godamned Pounds to make me clock work better while I'm tryin' to live an' support a family, an' ya come into me shop disruptin' me to give me a medal... Ain't that typical? JAMES HARRISON ...I'm sorry, he's been... (CONTINUED) CONTINUED: SIR MORRIS WELLINGTON ...We see... SIR JACOB GRATTLE ... Well, it was a pleasure... SIR MORRIS WELLINGTON ...Perhaps another time. SIR JACOB GRATTLE ...Shall we go..? HARRISON I can't make the miracles ya say ya need so damn bad without proper support. The entire scheme smells o' rotten fish... one eatin' the other... JAMES HARRISON (to John) ...John, Please... HARRISON ...An' ya want ta slap decoration's on me to cover it all up, instead of inspirin' m' work an' payin' me an' mine proper. James pushes the Gentlemen out the door. HARRISON (to himself) A medal. Medals, wigs an' babble on the brain, the lot of 'em. John sits back at his workbench in a huff and works on his clock. William, now huddled in the corner, is shocked. EXT. OUTSIDE THE HARRISON SHOP-SAME TIME WE SEE John in the shop working on his clock in the glow of the candlelight. JAMES HARRISON He's fatigued. The move to London wore him out and he's behind in his work. Please accept my apologies. (CONTINUED) CONTINUED: SIR MORRIS WELLINGTON He's... odd. I've never seen anything like it. We're respected scientists. Of the Royal Society. They'll be very upset you know. JAMES HARRISON I apologize deeply. Please look into your hearts and forgive him jus' this once. SIR MORRIS WELLINGTON It's a Royal Society medal. Few have one. It's lovely, really. Look. (he shows it to him) JAMES HARRISON Yes it is. Sir Morris puts the medal back into its case and stuffs it in his pocket angrily. SIR JACOB GRATTLE (graciously) Good-night. JAMES HARRISON Good-night, gentlemen. The two Gentleman enter the coach. James turns and looks into the window. John is intensely engaged in working on his clock, completely oblivious to what's just happened. James sighs deeply, then enters the shop. INT. COACH--SAME TIME Sir Morris Wellington is in a fury. SIR MORRIS WELLINGTON When I get back I intend to complain. How dare that shopkeeper speak to me in that tone... I'll be sure he regrets his mistake. Sir Jacob Grattle turns to Sir Morris and stares at him. Sir Morris senses it and turns looking him in the eye. SIR JACOB GRATTLE I admire the man. He's honest, forthright and in my opinion, correct in his observations. He's rare. (CONTINUED) CONTINUED: Sir Morris is furious, but afraid to take it any further. EXT. ROAD--SAME TIME The coach pulls away into the dark night. INT. THE MASKELYNE MANSION--NIGHT A glamorous party is being held, music is playing and people are dancing dressed exquisitely. Hanging onto Nevil's arm is a beautiful woman in her early 20's named HILLARY. He treats her tenderly, and flirtatiously. Nevil is speaking with SIR MORRIS WELLINGTON, of the Royal Society. MASKELYNE I'm so sorry you had that dreadful encounter with John Harrison. Not uncommon behavior for him you know. SIR MORRIS WELLINGTON I must say, I did not. MASKELYNE It seems he lacks the capability to behave in a civilized manner. He's been rude to me numerous times. SIR MORRIS WELLINGTON How unfortunate. In any case, I am most delighted you have become a member of the Board of Longitude. It fits most properly into the path of your great family. MASKELYNE Most gracious and kind of you to say so. A lovely woman passes by, and Nevil gently grabs her arm. MASKELYNE Ah... Madame Wickey... Have you met Sir Morris Wellington? MADAM WICKEY No, I can't say that I've had the pleasure. Such a... fine figure of a man. Sophisticated and accomplished too, I'd wager. (CONTINUED) CONTINUED: SIR MORRIS WELLINGTON Most pleased to make your lovely acquaintance, dear lady. MASKELYNE Madam Wickey is... a worldly woman, aren't you, madam? (knowing glance) In fact, I must confess, I invited her just for you, Sir Morris. SIR MORRIS WELLINGTON Really? How thoughtful. MADAM WICKEY And what are those? SIR MORRIS WELLINGTON Medals for service to my country.