ENCOUNTER AT SEA
by Jim Cort

CHARACTERS


THE CAPTAIN An old sailor full of himself, old-line British to the
core.  Think: C Aubrey Smith at his stodgiest.

THE SEAMAN  Lower class British, cockney or northern accent.  Andy Capp
in a sailor suit.


 MUSIC: BRING UP "RULE BRITTANIA"AND THEN FADE OUT UNDER:
 SFX:THE SOUNDS OF A SHIP: THE WAVES, THE WIND, A BELL SWINGING IDLY,
ALL UNDER THE WHOLE FOLLOWING SCENE. FOOTSTEPS COME TOWARDS US ALONG THE
DECK.

CAPTAIN:  Good evening, Seaman.
SEAMAN:  Good evening, Captain, sir..
CAPTAIN:  Dark night tonight.  Black as a tar barrel.  Keep a sharp eye.

SEAMAN:  Sharp eye, sir. Aye, aye, Sir.
CAPTAIN:  Reminds me of the Straits of Murmansk back in '39.
SEAMAN:  (wearily) '39, sir. Yes, sir.  I know, sir.
CAPTAIN:  Couldn't see your hand before your face.  Had to run without
lights because of the Jerries, you know.  And cold?  Freeze the life
right out of you.
SEAMAN:  (He's heard all this before) Life right out of you. Yes, sir.
CAPTAIN:  I was just a lad, of course.  But I managed to do my duty,
even in those beastly conditions.  I remember the first time I ever saw
the aurora borealis--magnificent, all shimmering in the black sky.
SEAMAN: (Suddenly alert) I see a light, sir.
CAPTAIN:  No, I don't think so.  We're too far south.
SEAMAN:  No, sir, A light, sir.  Out there, bearing on the starboard
bow.
CAPTAIN:  Is it steady or moving astern?
SEAMAN:  Steady as a rock, sir.
CAPTAIN:  Headed straight for us, by Jove.  Send a signal.
SEAMAN:  Signal, sir.  Aye aye, sir.
 SFX:WE HEAR THE POPPING CLICK OF THE MORSE LAMP UNDER THE CAPTAIN'S
LINE.  THIS OCCURS EVERY TIME THE CAPTAIN SENDS A MESSAGE.

CAPTAIN:  "We are on a collision course.  Advise you change course 20
degrees"
 (a beat)
SEAMAN:  They're making a reply, Sir.
CAPTAIN:  What do they say?
SEAMAN: (Haltingly, reading the message being blinked out.
"Advisable…you…change…your…course…20…degrees ."
CAPTAIN:  What!
SEAMAN:  Advisable you change your--
CAPTAIN:  I heard what they said.  Send this:
 SFX: MORSE LAMP AGAIN UNDER
  "I am a Captain in Her Majesty's Navy.  Change course 20 degrees."
 (a beat)
SEAMAN: (reading) "I…am…a…seaman…second…class…You…had
…better…change…course…20…degrees."
CAPTAIN:  Dashed impertinence!
SEAMAN:  Impertinence, sir. Yes, sir
CAPTAIN:  Send this message, Seaman
 SFX: MORSE LAMP AGAIN UNDER
CAPTAIN:  "This is a battleship.  Change course 20 degrees."
 (a beat)
SEAMAN: (reading) "This…is…a……lighthouse."
 (a long beat)
CAPTAIN:  Bridge.
VOICE (filtered) Aye aye, sir.
CAPTAIN:  Change course 20 degrees port.
VOICE (filtered) Twenty degrees port it is sir.
 (a beat)
CAPTAIN:  Ahum, yes, good night, Seaman.
SEAMAN:  Good night, sir.
 SFX:FOOTSTEPS RETREATING
 MUSIC: FADE UP "RULE BRITTANIA" AND OUT.