7
At the divine service, Captain Smith is leading a group in the hymn
"Almighty Father Strong To Save." Ianto and Rhiannon sing in the middle of the group.
Hartman stands well back, keeping an eye on Ianto. He notices a commotion at the entry doors. Jack has been halted there by two stewards. He is dressed in his third class clothes, and stands there, hat in hand, looking out of place.
"Look, you, you're not supposed to be in here." The steward growls.
"I was just here last night... don't you remember?" Jack frowns then seeing Hartman coming toward him gestures "He'll tell you."
"Mr. Hallett and Mr. Jones continue to be most appreciative of your assistance. They asked me to give you this in gratitude…"He holds out two twenty dollar bills, which Jack refuses to take.
"I don't want money, I…"
Hartman continues over him "…and also to remind you that you hold a third class ticket and your presence here is no longer appropriate."
Jack spots Ianto but he doesn't see him.
"I just need to talk to Ianto for a…"
"Gentlemen, please see that Mr. Harkness gets back where he belongs." Harman asks giving the twenties to the stewards "And that he stays there."
"Yes sir!"
"Come along you."
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An Edwardian nautilus room. There are machines we recognize, and some don't. A woman pedals a stationary bicycle in a long dress, looking ridiculous. Thomas Andrews is leading a small tour group, including Ianto, Rhiannon and Lee. Lee is working the oars of a stationary rowing machine with a well trained stroke.
"Reminds me of my Harvard days." Lee grins.
T.W. McCauley, the gym instructor, is a bouncy little man in white flannels, eager to show off his modern equipment, like his present-day counterpart on an "Abflex" infomercial. He hits a switch and a machine with a saddle on it starts to undulate. Ianto puts his hand on it, curious.
"The electric horse is very popular. We even have an electric camel." He tells Ianto then turns to Rhiannon "Care to try your hand at the rowing, m'am?"
"Don't be absurd. I can't think of a skill I should likely need less." She laughs.
"The next stop on our tour will be bridge. This way, please."
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Jack, walking with determination, is followed closely by Tommy and Owen. He quickly climbs the steps to B-Deck and steps over the gate separating 3rd from 2nd class.
"He's a god amongst mortal men, there's no denyin'. But he's in another world, Jackie, forget him. he's closed the door." Owen argues.
Jack moves furtively to the wall below the A-Deck promenade, aft.
"It was them, not him." Jack argues glancing around the deck "Ready... go."
Tommy shakes his head resignedly and puts his hands together, crouching down. Jack steps into Tommy's hands and gets boosted up to the next deck, where he scrambles nimbly over the railing, onto the First Class deck.
"He's not bein' logical, I tell ya." Tommy says.
"Love is not logical." Owen agrees.
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A man is playing with his son, who is spinning a top with a string. The man's overcoat and hat are sitting on a deck chair nearby. Jack emerges from behind one of the huge deck cranes and calmly picks up the coat and bowler hat. He walks away, slipping into the coat, and slicks his hair back with spit. Then puts the hat on at a jaunty angle. At a distance he could pass for a gentlemen.
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HAROLD BRIDE, the 21 year old Junior Wireless Operator, hustles in and skirts around Andrews' tour group to hand a Marconigram to Captain Smith. "Another ice warning, sir. This one from the "Baltic"."
"Thank you, Sparks." Smith glances at the message then nonchalantly puts it in his pocket. He nods reassuringly to Ianto and the group. "Not to worry, it's quite normal for this time of year. In fact, we're speeding up. I've just ordered the last boilers lit."
Andrews scowls slightly before motioning the group toward the door. They exit just as Second Officer Charles Herbert Lightoller comes out of the chartroom, stopping next to First Officer Murdoch. "Did we ever find those binoculars for the lookouts?"
"Haven't seen them since Southampton."
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Andrews leads the group back from the bridge along the boat deck.
"Mr. Andrews, I did the sum in my head, and with the number of lifeboats times the capacity you mentioned... forgive me, but it seems that there are not enough for everyone aboard." Ianto says as he glances along the boats.
"About half, actually. Ianto, you miss nothing, do you? In fact, I put in these new type davits, which can take an extra row of boats here. " he gestures along the deck "But it was thought... by some... that the deck would look too cluttered. So I was over-ruled."
Slapping the side of a boat Lee scoffs "Waste of deck space as it is, on an unsinkable ship!"
"Sleep soundly, young Ianto. I have built you a good ship, strong and true. She's all the lifeboat you need." He assures her. As they are passing Boat 7, a gentlemen turns from the rail and walks up behind the group. It is Jack. He taps Ianto on the arm and he turns, gasping. He motions and he cuts away from the group toward a door which Jack holds open. They duck into the gymnasium.
Jack closes the door behind him, and glances out through the ripple-glass window to the starboard rail, where the gym instructor is chatting up the woman who was riding the bike. Ianto and Jack are alone in the room.
"Jack, this is impossible. I can't see you." Ianto argues as Jack takes him by the shoulders.
"Ianto, you're no picnic... you're a spoiled little brat even, but under that you're a strong, pure heart, and you're the most amazingly astounding guy I've ever known and…"
"Jack, I…"
"No wait. Let me try to get this out. You're amazing... and I know I have nothing to offer you, Ianto. I know that. But I'm involved now. You jump, I jump, remember? I can't turn away without knowin' that you're goin' to be alright." Jack says as he looks into Ianto's eyes.
Ianto feels the tears coming to his eyes. Jack is so open and real... not like anyone he has ever known. "You're making this very hard. I'll be fine. Really."
"I don't think so. They've got you in a glass jar like some butterfly, and you're goin' to die if you don't break out. Maybe not right away, 'cause you're strong. But sooner or later the fire in you is goin' to go out."
"It's not up to you to save me, Jack." Ianto tries to pull away half-heartedly.
"You're right. Only you can do that."
"I have to get back, they'll miss me. Please, Jack, for both our sakes, leave me alone." Ianto begs.
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The most elegant room on the ship, done in Louis Quinze Versaille style. Ianto sits on a divan, with a group of other gentry arrayed around him. Rhiannon, the Countess Rothes and Lady Duff-Gordon are taking tea. Ianto is silent and still as a porcelain figurine as the conversation washes around him.
"Of course the invitations had to be sent back to the printers twice. And the bridesmaids dresses! Let me tell you what an odyssey that has been..." Rhiannon gushes.
Ianto is watching a Mother and Son having tea at the next table. The four year old boy, wearing white gloves, daintily picking up a cookie. The mother correcting him on his posture, and the way he holds the teacup. The little boy is trying so hard to please, his expression serious. A glimpse of Ianto at that age, and we see the relentless conditioning... the pain to becoming an Edwardian Gentry.
Ianto calmly and deliberately turns his teacup over, spilling tea all over his trousers. "Oh, look what I've done."
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The dusk light, as if lit by the embers of a giant fire. Jack is there, right at the apex of the bow railing, his favourite spot. He closes his eyes, letting the chill wind clear his head.
Jack hears a voice, behind him...
"Hello, Jack."
He turns and he is standing there.
"I changed my mind." Ianto shrugs.
Jack smiles at him, his eyes drinking him in. Ianto's cheeks are red with the chill wind, and his eyes sparkle. His hair blows wildly about his face.
"Owen said you might be up…"
"Sssshh. Come here." He puts his hands on Ianto's waist. As if he is going to kiss him "Close your eyes."
Ianto does, and he turns him to face forward, the way the ship is going. He presses him gently to the rail, standing right behind him. Then he takes his two hands and raises them until he is standing with his arms outstretched on each side. Ianto is going along with him. When he lowers his hands, his arms stay up... like wings.
"Okay. Open them."
Ianto gasps. There is nothing in his field of vision but water. It's like there is no ship under them at all, just the two of them soaring. The Atlantic unrolls toward him, a hammered copper shield under a dusk sky. There is only the wind, and the hiss of the water 50 feel below.
"I'm flying!"
He leans forward, arching his back. Jack puts his hands on his waist to steady him.
Jack starts singing softly "Come Josephine in my flying machine..."
Ianto closes his eyes, feeling himself floating weightless far above the sea. He smiles dreamily, then leans back, gently pressing his back against Jack's chest. Ianto pushes forward slightly against him.
Slowly Jack raises his hands, arms outstretched, and they meet Ianto's... fingertips gently touching. Then their fingers intertwine. Moving slowly, their fingers caress through and around each other like the bodies of two lovers.
Jack tips his face forward into Ianto's blowing hair, letting the scent of him wash over him, until his cheek is against Ianto's ear.
Ianto turns his head until his lips are near his. he lowers his arms, turning further, until he finds Jack's mouth with his. Jack wraps his arms around him from behind, and they kiss like this with Ianto's head turned and tilted back, surrendering to him, to the emotion, to the inevitable. They kiss, slowly and tremulously, and then with building passion.
Jack and the ship seem to merge into one force of power and optimism, lifting Ianto, buoying him forward on a magical journey, soaring onward into a night without fear.
In the crow's nest, high above and behind them, lookout Fred Fleet nudges his mate, Reg Leek, pointing down at the figures in the bow. "Wish I had those bleedin' binoculars."
