Writing the Photoplay Part 40

Her lips part in amazed terror.

116--New angle. Close-up of Blinker.

Swings upon her and cries:

_Cut-in leader--_

"EVERYTHING'S WRONG! WHY DON'T YOU SEE THESE--THESE MEN--AT YOUR HOME? IS IT NECESSARY TO MEET EVERY TOM, d.i.c.k AND HARRY--OUTSIDE?"

He is growing furious. So that is the sort she is!

117--Profile close-up of Florence.

She laughs. Her voice is bra.s.sy-hard, saying:

_Cut-in leader--_

"IF YOU COULD SEE 'BRICKDUST ROW' YOU WOULDN'T ASK THAT. THE FELLOW WHO OWNS IT DOESN'T GIVE US ANY PLACE TO RECEIVE--AND WE CAN'T TAKE FELLOWS TO OUR ROOM--SO--"

Shrugs.

118--Wider-angle view, with Blinker nearest camera.

Tension. Big scene as he gets over his horror and disgust and she realizes it, and rising, disillusioned--exactly as he feels that _he_ is disillusioned about _her_--Sudden pause--

119--Deck, _ad lib._

Fire! Excitement. "Where?"--"What'll we do?"[56]

[Footnote 56: Sketchy, as this sort of material has to depend on boat, crowd, director, etc. Continuity only required.]

120--Deck, another part.

Panic. Woman screams.

121--Walking beam.

Excited scattering of crowd. Florence turning away--Bill coming forward--Blinker listening. He grabs Florence by arm.

She draws away. He compels her to go.

122--Deck.

Tension. Wild scene.

123--Walking beam.

Bill follows, crowd intervening, as Blinker takes Florence off. Bill gets after them.

124--Boat davits.

Wild scene. Officer. Sailors. Fire and smoke. Blinker with Florence. Takes her away--another boat!

125--Another boat.

Crowd more orderly. Women being helped into boat. Blinker on with Florence. Takes her to boat.

126--Boat davits.

Sailors shot at by officer. Surge away and off.

127--Fire blazing. Sailors lose heads--dash back from fire and toward--

128--Other boat.

Fire coming. Florence by boat. Sailors rush on and fight.

Get officer's gun. Surround Florence and Blinker.

129--Different angle.

Blinker fighting to save Florence.

130--Different view.

Fire coming on. Bill fighting way toward Blinker and Florence.

131--Other boat.

Blinker fighting. Florence separated from him. Bill fights way to his side. They notice one another as men with same idea--join back to back. Florence forced away. They try to get to her. Surge of sailors over-runs them.[57]

[Footnote 57: Necessary departure from O. Henry, to build up Blinker's good qualities, and achieve a preparation for new finish.]

132--Deck rail.

Florence staggers on. Flames coming. Great G.o.d! What shall she do? Off she races.

133--Boat davits.

Flames leaping. Florence just in time to see boat lowered away. Too late. Driven back.

134--Other boat.

Bill and Blinker together. Several sailors done for, others lower boat and go. Men peer about, but smoke too thick for them to see.

135--Rail.

Florence in terror. Sudden blast of flame. On rail. Leaps.

Diaphragm out.[58]