Scene: The stage room where shooting has not yet started for the day. Bob is, as usual, going over the script while the actors are gathered backstage.

DOT: Those who hate this film, please raise your hand.

Everyone in the room raises their hand, including the stage crew. Bob continues writing, oblivious to everything around him.

DOT: I thought so.

ANDRAIA: Well…it's not so bad, I kinda like it…sorta.

RAY: What's our scene for today?

MOUSE: The dinner scene.

RAY: Oh.

DOT: This should be fun.

ENZO: When's the boat going to sink? Huhuhuh?

Every one looks at Enzo, who had somehow popped up out of nowhere.

MOUSE: Is he allowed in here? Isn't this moving a little risqué for him?

ENZO: Hey! I'm not a kid, you know?

MATRIX: Actually…you are.

Just then Bob takes his attention from the script and approaches them.

BOB: Uh…guys…the actress playing AndrAIa's mother called in sick this morning, so we're going to need a subsitute.

DOT: Substitute?

BOB: Can you do it?

DOT: Me?

BOB: Yeah…since I originally wanted you for the part.

DOT: I don't want to be the old lady!

ANDRAIA: Don't be talking, Dot! I have to be an old lady too, okay?

DOT: Yeah but…someone as pretty as me should never be old. But with you…

She trails off when she sees AndrAIa glaring at her.

DOT: Right…I'll be the substitute.

BOB: Thanks! Okay, everyone…places!



SCENE: AndrAIa's bedroom. She's sitting in front of the mirror, brushing her hair. Matrix walks in carrying a box.

MATRIX: Dry yet?

ANDRAIA: Of course.

MATRIX: You look nice.

ANDRAIA: I do not.

MATRIX: Yes you do!

ANDRAIA: I don't! I nearly fell overboard, I do not look alright!

MATRIX: Okay! Geez, sorry. Anyway, the reason I came was to give you this.

He takes out the HEART OF THE WEB and holds it up in front of her. It's A HUGE DIAMOND the size of her fist.

ANDRAIA: Wow…a rock.

MATRIX: Not just any rock, it's THE HEART OF THE WEB, a very expensive jewel I bought that nearly cost me my life's savings, but that's okay, I'm rich and my dad won't mind that I borrowed his credit card. Here, let me put it on you.

He puts the necklace on over her head, but the weight is so much she practically falls out of her chair.

ANDRAIA: it's heavy alright.

MATRIX: It's for you.

ANDRAIA: Uh…thanks.

He straightens up.

MATRIX: Well I must get going. Gotta go have a smoke with my buddies and everything. See ya in the morning?

AndrAIa's grimacing under the weight of the necklace, but she manages to force a small smile.

ANDRAIA: Yeah, yeah, whatever.

MATRIX: Good-night.

He kisses her on the forehead, then leaves. AndrAIa watches as he disappears, then takes the necklace off. She looks at it in disgust, then goes over to the safe hidden in her closet. Opening the safe, she carelessly tosses it inside, slamming it shut.





SCENE: First Class Deck

Ray and AndrAIa are walking on the deck, Ray carrying a rather curious notepad in his hands.

ANDRAIA: So I just wanted to thank you for what you did for me.

RAY: I did something?

ANDRAIA: Remember? I was going to jump and you…?

RAY: Oh! You mean you really were about to jump? Whoa, I'm better than I thought.

ANDRAIA: Well it's nothing to get snide over-

RAY: Who said anything about snide?

ANDRAIA: No one, it's just that you don't have to be so snide about saving me-

RAY: Well geez, you called me here to thank me, didn't you?

ANDRAIA: Well…

RAY: Which you did, right?

ANDRAIA: Yeah.

RAY: So who says I'm being snide?

ANDRAIA: Forget it. I'm here to thank you, which I am doing.

RAY: Yes, I can see that.

ANDRAIA: So thank you.

They continue walking down the deck, an uncomfortable silence forming between the two.

RAY: Soooo….um….that Matrix guy…you're marying him?

ANDRAIA: Yes.

RAY: Was that why you wanted to jump?

ANDRAIA: For heaven sakes, of course not! (Acts surprised.)

RAY: Just asking…

ANDRAIA: It's just that everything has been such a…huge pressure to me. 5 thousand invitations have been sent out for the wedding, all my mother thinks about is that. Not to mention the gifts, the presents, the jewels…

She holds out her hand, which has a giant ring on her finger.

RAY: Whoa, you would've gone straight to the bottom. (snickers.)

ANDRAIA: What's so funny?

RAY: I just like that line, that's all.

ANDRAIA: Well actually…I wasn't exactly wearing it last night-

RAY: Do you love him?

ANDRAIA: (acting surprised) Excuse me?

RAY: Do you love him?

ANDRAIA: Excuse me, but I don't think that's something I should discuss with you!

RAY: It's just a simple yes or no answer, are you trying to hide something?

ANDRAIA: You know what? I thank you very much Mr. Ray, but it seems that my mother is calling me and-

RAY: I don't hear your mother calling you.

ANDRAIA: (Clenched teeth) You know what? Maybe if you listen a little harder…

RAY: Sorry. Can't hear her. Are you sure that's your mother?

ANDRAIA: You know what? I've thanked you, you've been incredibly rude, so I'm going to leave now.

RAY: Okay.

ANDRAIA: That's it? Okay? You're not going to try to stop me?

RAY: I thought you were leaving, I'm just waiting for you to leave.

ANDRAIA: Wait a minute…this is my side of the boat! You leave!

RAY: Well excuse me, you're being incredibly rude!

ANDRAIA: Well you started it!

RAY: Did not!

ANDRAIA: Did too!

RAY: Did not!

ANDRAIA: Did too did too did too did too!

She stops when she notices everyone on deck staring at them. She immediately lowers her voice and glares at him. Finally seeing the notepad in his hand, she snatches it away.

RAY: Hey! That's mine!

ANDRAIA: Ha! I've got your notepad!

She skips over to the lawn chairs set up on the side for sunbathers, and opens the notepad. She's immediately disgusted and shocked at what she sees and she practically has to cover her eyes. Ray sits down beside her, grinning at his own work.

ANDRAIA: Oh my goodness!

RAY: What?

ANDRAIA: You draw…bunnies?

RAY: Yeah! Aren't they cute? (points) There's that one, and that one, and that one, and that one…I named that one Thumper-

ANDRAIA: That's not the point, Mr. Ray. Don't you draw anything else?

RAY: Well…

She flips a page where she sees a giant, well-done drawing of a woman wearing nothing.

ANDRAIA: Um…

Ray smacks his forehead.

ANDRAIA: Uh…(making an attempt to be nice) It's well done? No- really, it is, it's good, might have been better if there were…you know…clothes.

RAY: Well…

She shuts the book and gives it willingly back to him.

ANDRAIA: You're incredibly talented, Mr. Ray, I'm impressed.

RAY: I make a living off of my pictures, you know?

ANDRAIA: Really? Like you plan to do in America?

RAY: I don't really know what I'm going to do in America. I just won that Go Fish game and happened to get lucky on a pair of tickets.

ANDRAIA: Where will you live?

RAY: Well…I was hoping I'd bum a few bucks off of you and see Vegas…

ANDRAIA: Have you ever been there?

RAY: Sure! Lots of times! Horseback riding, cowboy talking, the works.

ANDRAIA: I wish I could do those things.

RAY: I can teach you when we get there.

ANDRAIA: There are so many things I don't understand about that place. The men, I mean. One leg on each side of the saddle- doesn't that hurt? And the spitting, I have no idea how to spit-

RAY: I can show you!

He jumps up eagerly, running over to the side of the deck.

ANDRAIA: Um…I really hear my mother calling now.

RAY: Don't be a wuss, come on!

He grabs her hand and drags her to the edge. She fights him, but he wins and she stands almost reluctantly next to the rail.

RAY: Okay, this is what you do, first you have to breath kinda like this-

He starts making really gross sounds through his throat, and AndrAIa gives him a weird look. Luckily, just then her mother, Mouse, and some other lady walk by.

ANDRAIA: (relieved) Mother!

Ray whirls around, wiping his mouth just in time. The three women look at him funny.

MOUSE: Uh…hello dear…

ANDRAIA: Mom, this is Ray, he saved me last night and he's going to have dinner with us.

DOT: (Tugging unhappily at her wrinkle make-up) This is the one, huh? Well that's really nice, AndrAIa, we must go wash up for dinner.

ANDRAIA: Aww…isn't the dress I'm wearing just fine?

DOT: No, now let's go.

AndrAIa starts complaining, but Dot grabs her arm and pulls her away from the deck. Ray is now left standing with Mouse and that other woman.

MOUSE: So…you're the one, huh?

RAY: Yeah.

MOUSE: Nice ta meet ya, name's Mouse.

RAY: Hi.

MOUSE: You're not going to wear that, are you? To dinner, I mean.

RAY: Do I have a choice?



SCENE: Mouse's bedroom. Ray is standing in front of a full-length mirror, wearing a tuxedo. His hair is slicked back, and he's attempting to stand up straight. He looks rediculous.

MOUSE: Voila! You look so…so…

RAY: Stupid.

MOUSE: That was not what I was going to say! Here, maybe if we remove the glasses- (reaches for the glasses)

RAY: (jumps away) Whoa! Hands off! Off the glasses, they stay on the face, okay?

MOUSE: But they're hardly the fashion, they're what's making you look 'stupid', as you so delicately put it.

RAY: I like them, and that's all that matters.

MOUSE: (Doubtfully) Okay, it's your reputation.





SCENE: Main Stairway/Hallway of the first class. Ray is standing at the foot of the stairs, hands behind his back, looking to and fro for AndrAIa as people walk by. One of them happens to be Matrix, escorting Dot toward the Dining Hall.

RAY: Hey, Matty-boy-

But Matrix just keeps walking, not even recognizing him. Ray frowns, then looks around for AndrAIa again. He starts rocking back and forth on his heels, whistling when-

AndrAIa shows up at the top of the stairs, dressed in a really pretty gown, all sparkly and pretty. He just stares at her as she descends.

ANDRAIA: Glad you could make it, Mr. Ray.

RAY: (Bouncing on his heels nervously) Yeah, yeah, let's just…get in there.

They walk together toward the Dining Hall, and Ray looks at all the people as they pass.

ANDRAIA: That's Prissy over there. She owns lingerie. Designs it actually.

RAY: (interested) Really?



SCENE: Some time has passed, and now everyone is sitting at a big round table. Ray now looks debonair and handsome, and Matrix is glaring at him from across the table.

DOT: (To Ray) So…I hear you are an artist?

RAY: Who told you?

ANDRAIA: (speaks up) I- I did.

RAY: Oh. Yeah, I do.

MATRIX: And what is it, exactly, that you draw?

RAY: Well…

ANDRAIA: Mr. Ray is an accomplished artist, Mr. Matrix. He was kind enough to show me some of his work today.

RAY: Show you? Yeah, whatever, snatching it out of my hands- er…I mean, yeah, of course, no problem. (clears throat) My pleasure.

MATRIX: Mr. Ray is here because of his heroic deed last night. (Looks at Ray and speaks through clenched teeth) From his words, he saved my darling AndrAIa from some unknown doom from falling over the rail toward the back of the ship.

Everyone looks at the table with polite smiles, but none of them look too thrilled. AndrAIa gives them all dirty looks.

RAY: Uh…yeah, I did that.

ANDRAIA: Which I'm very grateful for.

At that time some guy at the end of the table stands up.

GUY: Well, it seems that we are all finished with dinner, so men, if you would join me to the Brandy room and…

His voice is drowned out as AndrAIa leans toward Ray.

ANDRAIA: Watch, they're all going to get up, straightening their jackets, and head off for the next room where they'll spend the rest of the night smoking and congratulating themselves on being rulers of the universe.

And that's what happens. The men all got up, straightened their jackets, and headed off for the next room where they'll spend the rest of the night smoking and congratulating themselves on being rulers of the universe.

RAY: (Stands up, shouting after them) Gee, thanks for inviting me along with you, but I must go.

ANDRAIA: So soon?

DOT: (clenched teeth) No, go ahead if you must.

RAY: (shakes AndrAIa's hand, then kisses it, secretly leaving a message in her hand.) All good things must come to an end…unfortunately this wasn't one of them.

He leaves, and AndrAIa notices the letter in her hand. She opens it, and the words:

MEET ME AT THE CLOCK ON TOP OF THE STAIRS



To Be Continued…