You’d better not drink any more, Bob.
You’re not talking sense.
Conway downs the drink, and then chuckles
cynically.
CONWAY
Don’t worry, George. Nothing’s going
to happen. I’ll fall right into line.
I’ll be the good little boy that everybody
wants me to be. I’ll be the best little
Foreign Secretary we ever had, just
because I haven’t the nerve to be anything
else.
GEORGE
Do try to sleep, Bob.
CONWAY
Huh? Oh, sure, Freshie. Good thing,
sleep.
He grunts and squirms. George tucks
him in.
CONWAY
Did you ever notice the sunrise in China,
George? Ah, you should. It’s beautiful.
He gets settled. George relaxes and,
leaning back, shuts his eyes.
40. LONG SHOT OF CABIN
It is quiet. All are asleep. CAMERA
MOVES FORWARD SLOWLY until it reaches
the glass panel leading to the cockpit.
The pilot’s face turns. Instead of Fenner
we see a strange, Mongolian face – with
sharp, piercing eyes. A half-smile plays
across his mouth.
EXT. SHOT OF PLANE
41. LONG SHOT OF PLANE
Flying at high speed against a moonlit
sky. We stay on the shot until it vanishes,
a mere speck, over the horizon.
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. SHOT – DAWN
42. LONG SHOT
The morning sun peeks over a mountain
top. From the same direction, as if
arriving with the sun, the ship looms
up, and comes roaring toward us.
INT. PLANE
43. FULL SHOT
All are asleep except Lovett, who fidgets
on his seat. Then Barnard stirs – opens
his eyes – and stretches. As he does
so, he sees that Lovett is awake.
BARNARD
Good morning, Lovey.
LOVETT
I beg your pardon.
BARNARD
I say, good morning, Lovey.
? 484 ?
LOVETT
Good morning—
(catches himself)
Look here, young man.
BARNARD
Eh?
LOVETT
I didn’t care for ‘sister’ last night,
and I don’t like ‘Lovey’ this morning.
My name is Lovett – Alexander, P.
BARNARD
I see.
LOVETT
I see.
BARNARD
Well, it’s a good morning, anyway.
LOVETT
I’m never conversational before I coffee.
Barnard glances out of the window, looks
around outside thoughtfully.
BARNARD
Wait a minute. Is it a good morning?
Say, we’re supposed to be travelling
east, aren’t we?
LOVETT
Why, of course. Yes.
BARNARD
Well, it looks to me as if we’re travelling
west.
LOVETT
That’s ridiculous.
BARNARD
Is it?
LOVETT
It certainly is.
BARNARD
Look here—
LOVETT
Any child knows how to tell direction.
Any child. I don’t care where the child
is – in the air, on the earth, or in
the sea. If you face the rising sun,
your right hand is the north, and your
left hand is the south—
BARNARD
I always get it twisted because I’m
left-handed.
LOVETT
Oh, really?
? 485 ?
BARNARD
Yes.
LOVETT
Well, you just reverse it. Your left
hand is—
(tries to explain – gets confused and
irritated)
What difference does it make what ‘hand’
you are? The north is the north!
BARNARD
Uh-huh. All I know is – the sun rises
in the east, and we’re going away from
it.
LOVETT
Now you’re irritating and absurd!
44. CLOSE SHOT – LOVETT
As he sulks by himself, looks around
– locates the sun in back of him – smiles
– satisfied he’s right, throws a condescending
glance over at Barnard – then suddenly
his face clouds – the whole thing dawns
on him.
LOVETT
(jumps up shrieking)
Oh, my word – of course – yes. Boy!
Boy, we’re travelling in the wrong direction!
Wake up! We’re going in the wrong direction!
45. FULL SHOT
Conway is still asleep.
GEORGE
(concerned for Conway)
Couldn’t you arrange to make a little
less noise?
LOVETT
I tell you, we’re going west, and Shanghai
is east of here!
GEORGE
Be quiet! Fenner’s the best pilot in
China. He knows what he’s doing.
LOVETT
(not quite reassured)
It’s Fenner.
BARNARD
