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He sat in his favourite armchair in the nursing home, playing cards with some of the veterans of the home. He had only recently been admitted to his elderly prison. The calendar in the corner read April 12th, 1996 but the days passed endlessly for the old folk. It was not like the nurse weren't kind, or that the company wasn't pleasant, but the old man missed his freedom. The six o'clock news was on; a smartly dressed reporter explained the breaking story of a tragic plane collision that claimed several lives. The old men weren't really paying attention, their eyes fixed firmly on their cards. They were playing for television privileges. Last week Beatrix took the winnings, and the men were forced to watch reruns of The Love Boat. Again.
A young nurse came in with a trolley in tow, "Alrighty, time for bed boys."
The men groaned and grumbled but they knew that they couldn't escape the inevitable. They formed a line ready to take their medicine. The old man was used to taking medication; his grandson would force him to take his pills every evening. It was at that particular moment that the television showed something that would change his life forever.
"You're up next dear" chimed the nurse. But he paid no attention. He shuffled slowly towards the television and stared as a man was walking through a laboratory. Brock Lovett was the man on the television, he was fixated on the ghostly sunken remains of the Titanic as he was looking for a very expensive diamond that fell in the ocean.
"What is it?" the nurse looked worried as the old man before her stood hypnotised by the screen. Brock Lovett pulled out an old hand drawn sketch of a beautiful naked woman wearing the diamond that Brock and his team were searching for. The corner was initialled J.D. and signed for the 14th of April, 1912. The night that the Titanic sunk.
"Well I'll be damned" the old man muttered and he pleaded for the nurse to bring the phone to him.
The nurse, whilst sceptical, did so hurriedly as the old man's hands shook whilst dialling the station. After a few minutes the station transferred the call to Brock Lovett himself. Brock answered the phone cynically, all too familiar with being sent on a wild goose chase. "Probably just some spinster looking for publicity" muttered his assistant, Lewis Bodine.
"Hello there, this is Brock Lovett speaking."
"Greetings Mister Lovett, I was just wondering if you had found The Heart Of The Ocean Yet?"
Brock paused. He knew that the old man on the other end of the phone knew something.
"Okay sir you have my attention. Can you tell us who the woman in the picture is?"
"Oh yes" replied the old man shakily "I knew her. Every inch of her. I drew that picture on the evening that the Titanic sunk. I'm J.D… Jack Dawson."