"Beyond the Sea"
The corvette was cutting through the water, buffeted about by the waves. It was a choppy day at sea and the sails billowed frantically. If one could have seen the main sail, there was a giant, stylized eye on it. Despite the girth of the ship, it was tossed about as if it were nothing.
The sails were stretched to their maximum, straining full against the power of the gusts. The masts groaned and the ropes creaked as the ship was pounded.
Behind the ship, near the horizon, a major storm was brewing. Dark, ominous clouds were consuming the sky, inky fingers reaching out to seize all in its path. The ship shuddered and pitched as the growing waves attacked it relentlessly.
On the bridge, Captain Severage was trying to pilot the ship, but she was fighting back. An old salt of the sea, he had a full, gray beard, now flecked with spray. He was a portly type, even with all his years on the briny.
As he wrestled with the wheel, another man came up to him, also pitched around by the waves. The Great Mephisto, magician extraordinaire, was having a difficult time with the footing.
Between the rocking ship and the wet deck, balance was a challenge. His long topcoat nearly covered his feet. Slender and tall, he sported a pencil-thin mustache, and black hair slicked down by the unceasing water. The collar of the topcoat was turned up as protection, but was flapping blithely in the wind.
Mephisto managed to get to the captain, whose concentration was on the ship.
"Things are getting rough. You had best be below," commented the captain.
The ship was hit with an oblique wave and Mephisto was sent sliding across the slick deck. To stop himself, he grabbed onto the rope attached to the clapper of the ship's bell. The bell clanged loudly, far too close to his ear. Mephisto was momentarily dazed.
As he staggered to his feet, he was hurled towards the side railing on the bridge, sliding on a thin sheet of water. As he got there, a giant wave sent up a fountain of water.
Mephisto came face to face with a fish that was caught in the wave. They both held for a moment, and then screamed in terror.
Mephisto was fed up. "I have just had it!" He stormed over to the Captain, using the slippery deck and tilting ship to get there quickly. As he harangued the captain, he squeezed water out of his hair.
"You said the waters were calm this time of year. Well, if this is calm, I'd just love to see what a hurricane looks like!"
Mephisto burrowed right into the Captain's face, who remained unmoved. A drop of water hung off of Mephisto's nose, which was flicked away. The Captain jerked his thumb over his shoulder.
"You'll get your wish soon enough."
Mephisto headed to the aft portion of the bridge to see the storm. It was now a raging monster, gaining with every passing moment. Mephisto could make out the boiling sea in its shadows. He returned to the Captain.
"You were hired for your sailing knowledge, but I could pilot this barge better than you can!"
The captain was stoic as another crashing wave hit the ship, drenching Mephisto. Looking dour, he didn't even try to dry off. Why bother?, he thought.
"At the rate that storm is gaining, we'll never make it to Boldoni."
Mephisto tried to dry his hands, but they only got wetter. "I suppose you have a plan?"
Before Mephisto could react, the Captain grabbed him and planted him in front of the wheel.
"Steer the ship. I'll look." Mephisto was horrified as the wheel slammed him about. He wrestled with it, but was easily pushed about.
The Captain pulled out a telescope and scanned the far horizon.
"Blast this weather. Makes it hard to see if…"
The Captain stopped as he focused the telescope. He was gazing with intensity. Mephisto looked on with interest, as he walked away from the wheel.
"Well?" asked Mephisto, awaiting an answer. Meanwhile, the wheel spun maniacally, pitching the ship about. The Captain turned and handed Mephisto the telescope.
"See for yourself."
The Captain returned to the wheel, which was rotating with great speed. The Captain put out his hands to catch it. He grabbed the wheel precisely and it stopped dead. The ship was righted as the Captain made some adjustments.
Mephisto put the glass up to his eye, trying to focus it.
"I know there's a trick to make this work. I think I see something but, I can't focus this blasted thing!"
As Mephisto tried to work the telescope, another wave crashed into the ship. A finger of water smacked the end of the telescope, collapsing it into Mephisto's face.
Mephisto could now see through the telescope. It was a crisp and clear picture of Eric's castle, still bathed in sunshine, although the weather was turning foul there as well.
The captain called over. "That should fit your needs. Any port in a storm, eh?"
Mephisto removed the telescope with a noisy pop and handed it back to the Captain. Primping and preening, trying for some degree of dignity, Mephisto got ready to leave.
"Yes. Fine. Good."
As Mephisto headed down, the Captain started barking out orders to the crew, who scrambled about the deck. Mephisto adroitly avoided them as he made his way below.
The sails were pulled in and rolled up to allow for entry into the port. All Mephisto could hear was the squishing in his shoes. It would be a relief to get on land.
"I don't really care where we go, just somewhere that's dry."
Just then, a massive wave crashed into the ship, sending a cataract of water across the deck. Some of the sailors were caught in it and slammed into the railing on the other side of the ship.
As the wave receded, Mephisto was positively drenched from head to toe. There was not a single dry spot on him. Kelp fronds hung about him like a scarf and fishes flopped about at his feet. He said nothing, as his expression was very sour. He went below.
Suddenly, a clatter was heard as Mephisto tumbled down the stairs. A voice called from inside the ship. "You had best be careful. Those steps are really slippery."
END NOTESThis was not the original point of attack for the story. Chapter two was the first, but I discovered early on that Mephisto did not make his first appearance until about 40 minutes into the script (remember that this is a novelization of that script).
There is an even earlier opening, but that was for script only, when I was forced to turn the entire movie into a flashback to keep within the confines of the timeline.
I have to establish him here and now, so when he makes his real appearance, and we see the troupe, it's not a complete surprise. The same thing happened in the original movie, with ursula getting established, then making her full appearance.
This story represents eight years of artistic and creative efforts, 13 years of writing about Ariel and a near 20-year obsession with the Little mermaid.
And it all began with a news blurb.
Back in 1994, my local paper had a throw-away article in the entertainment protion. It said that the original directors of "The Little Mermaid", John Musker and Ron Clements, had been removed from the sequel project, their script was rejected and Disney was going to start all over with a new director.
I felt that with the removal of the originators, they needed someone who understood Ariel well. With all the books, magazines, comics and TV show episodes I had seen over the last five years, I felt I was that caliber of person.
But I needed a script. (More to follow.)