Titanic: Blood and Steel (2012) s01e09 Episode Script
Burden of Proof
Have you any idea what a judgement against us from an official inquiry might mean? I honestly believe there is no danger of that.
I am assured by the lawyers the case against the naval vessel is very strong.
After all, it was HMS Hawke that rammed Olympic.
Lawyers say anything.
Theirs and ours.
Nevertheless, the facts are on our side.
You'll be there? Eh if you wish.
I think it best.
Now the launch.
Very important.
Mr Morgan and I want something grand and impressive.
That's not our custom.
Custom, be damned! I don't want Titanic slipping quietly into the briney! We wants bands, noise, pomp, celebration! We must appear confident, gentlemen.
Confidence! It is a risk.
What if something should go wrong? Well then, we must make sure it doesn't.
A telephone call for Mr Ismay.
It's Mr Morgan's office in London.
I'll take it outside.
Ugh! Great Eastern.
My thoughts exactly.
There's no guarantee the same thing won't happen.
Oh, I know.
But this is not a hill to die on.
Mmm.
Shall I book the band? Can we talk? Not now.
Please.
I'm sorry.
Later, Mark.
I've work to do.
Hello.
Eh, ounce of tobacco, please.
Thank you.
Still not talking to you, then? She's obviously disappointed.
Can you blame her? No.
She may come around.
She's a woman, you know.
They like their pound of flesh.
I obviously gave her the wrong impression.
That I wanted to leave.
A part of me still does.
But now there's the wee one.
Right.
Be very careful which girl you choose.
Oh thank you for the advice.
It's a simple decision, son.
Your future or your past.
It's not that simple.
For Christ's sake, wake up! You're not going to find her.
Oh, well, thank you for the encouragement.
I'm just speaking the truth.
Eh, the truth.
That's rich coming from you.
Did you miss me?! A little! Conor? Conor McCann! It's me, Jack, from the yard.
Yes! Jack! It's nice to see ya.
What are you? Would you do me a favour, Jack? Yeah.
Would you go get me a beer? And get one for yourself.
Go on! Come here.
Now, let me see you.
Either you've been eating way too much stew for dinner or, wait that's my little son in there.
Where have you been? Here and there, my darling.
Were there girls? Hundreds.
But why would I bother when I've got the best one at home? Can't you tell me a bit of what you are doing? Not really, darlin'.
It's all a bit under the counter.
Are you smuggling? No! No, I'm not smuggling.
Then what? Uh, if I told you, you'd laugh.
I wouldn't.
Well, I'm not telling you anyway.
Why? Because you don't need to know.
I'm safe.
I'm doing something I like.
Something that matters to me.
Something I'm proud of.
I will tell you, I promise.
Just not yet.
And it'll make a wonderful bedtime story for OUR little son.
A son? You're sure? I've never been more certain.
Mr Dolan? You're wanting what exactly, Mr? Muir.
Mark Muir.
I understand you undertake certain tasks.
Um I'm looking for someone.
I won't take on anything illegal.
I use my experience and contacts in the Force to try and answer a client's questions.
That's all.
Well, this is a list of every girl registered born in Ireland on July 26th 1902.
I believe that my daughter is on this list.
She was adopted soon after that.
Ah, adoption.
Never easy.
You've done it before? Too much work, not enough result.
You're saying you won't do it? No, not at all.
I'll take your money, sure enough.
Look, I have to be straight with you.
Your daughter might not even be on this list.
Have you considered her birth might not have been registered? Or she might have been registered on another day? Yes.
Alright, I'll do what I can.
We will build stands here for the distinguished guests and over here will be the press.
Oh, yes, let's keep them apart.
Do we have any idea of the number of journalists attending? More than you think.
A lot of Americans and there will be film news photographers as well.
My goodness! The times we live in! Entrance by ticket only, obviously.
And proceeds go to the Children's Hospital.
Oh, very good.
That was Margaret's idea.
Hmmm.
And what about our people? That's a tricky one.
The men will want to watch.
I know, but Hunter raised an important point.
What? If we let the foremen come and leave the yard unattended, well the last time we tried it, we had an awful lot of material and machinery go missing.
The entrepreneurial spirit of the average working man.
It cost us a pretty penny.
Anyway, Hunter's point is that we must staff the yard as normal.
That's a pity.
I know.
I really feel the men should be there.
Otherwise it makes a nonsense of all I've said.
We need to find a compromise.
Hear.
You'll never guess who I saw 'round the back at Kelly's the other night.
Prince of bloody Wales? No.
Conor McCann.
He's alright.
He bought me a beer.
A beer? He must've starved for company.
Not really.
He was with that girl who is working in Kelly's.
You know the pretty looking Italian one.
But he got rid of her sharpish and had a beer with me.
I expect you special just to find you, Jack.
I don't know.
But he remembered me alright.
I'm sorry.
I was angry.
I wasn't so sensitive myself.
I don't want to waste my time with you arguing.
I'll miss you when I go.
London won't be the same without you.
It might still be alright.
How? I don't know.
There could be a breakthrough.
I haven't given up hope yet.
You think that's going to happen? I pray it does.
You? Praying? Hmmm.
Hoping.
I pray.
And I thank you for that.
Tell me this is about your daughter and not Titanic.
Of course.
Of course! Doctor Muir.
Ah, Muir! You wanted to see me, sir? How would you like to go to London? Me? Just for a few days.
I have to attend this wretched inquiry.
Thomas can't be spared so I'd like to take you.
We can spare him for a few days, can't we? If that's your wish.
I think it would be a good experience for this young man.
He might see some other side to the business.
He will indeed, sir.
So what about it? Your naval experience should come in very useful during the hearing.
Of course, sir.
Hello! Can you please be sure that this is sent to Mr Morgan without fail? Yes, Madam.
Thank you.
Joanna? Yes? Florian.
Florian von Altenberg! Getting older, yeah.
What are you doing in Belfast? Do you miss Germany? Ah.
I hardly remember it.
I was nine when I left.
My father died.
My mother remarried to an American.
Yes.
It was quite a scandal.
I like America.
It's been good to me.
How did you end up in the diplomatic corp? Oh, I was a late entrant.
I only left the army at 25.
My father's a diplomat so Now you make war by other means? Clausewitz.
"War is diplomacy by other means.
" I understood the reference.
So what do you make of Ireland? A Protestant minority over a Catholic majority.
An Irish population being ruled from London, kept in check by the military.
Quite insane.
It's an illustration of the degeneracy of the British Empire.
Hmm? So how would you interpret the situation between England and Germany? I would say you weren't getting on so great.
Yes.
That's true.
The diplomatic situation is very tense.
Meaning? I think regrettably the issues between us can lead to only one outcome.
War? How delighted all those Prussian officers must be.
You're a Prussian.
Not anymore.
But your brother is.
Have you heard from him lately? No.
No, not for a while.
Well I have to inform you that he's in trouble.
What are you telling me, Florian? He gambles.
Badly.
It's said he makes up his losses in a particularly foolish way.
Go on.
He is suspected of selling military and industrial secrets to the French.
Oh, my God.
What will happen to him? That rather depends on you.
How? One of the reasons I'm here is that we have an operation in Ireland.
As you have observed, the British have successfully managed to divide its population.
We wish to exploit this divide to our own advantage.
Stoke the flames of rebellion and civil war.
We may need to call on you for a few favours.
You have access to very high level people in the U.
S.
and in the U.
K.
Diplomacy by other means, I'm afraid, Joanna.
Thanks for meeting me, Neil.
No problem.
We're on the look-out for someone who used to work in your yard.
The police want hold of him too.
He's a Fenian by the name of Conor McCann.
Would you keep your eyes and ears open in case he turns up? We'd be grateful.
I know him.
He worked on our team.
Trouble, he was.
Yeah, no surprises.
I heard he's back in town.
Catholic lad said he'd seen him with a girl who works at Kelly's.
Nice work, Neil.
Good lad.
Where you going? - You are an idjit, Conor McCann.
- And you are a sight for sore eyes, my love.
You look tired.
- Are you sleeping enough? - Yeah.
Where are you staying? And don't tell me here and there.
I wasn't going to.
And I'm not saying, so don't ask.
Come on.
Do you love me? You know I do.
I need you to do a little something for me.
Anything.
I need to ask you about Carlton Electrics.
What do you mean? Look I'll tell you, but you have to promise not to breathe a word of this to anyone.
Not even Sofia.
Do you understand? We're working on a project, a big project.
Is it dangerous? No.
Well, a little, but you know you don't have to worry about me.
So will you do a little bit of homework for me, darling? Yes.
Thank you.
There you are now, ma'am.
There you are now, sir.
Thank you.
Ironic, isn't it? You in London and me here? I suppose.
Lord Pirrie must like you very much.
Hmmm.
I don't know.
It's a great honour.
Hmmm.
It doesn't sound like you think it is.
It just becomes harder and harder to believe in it all.
Then why stay? It'll be strange going back to London.
I can imagine.
I wish I was going with you.
Ah, me, too.
Me, too.
You would love it there.
You'd just love it.
The people Don't be a fool.
Your change.
No, no, no! Today my hands and eyes are not working together.
What's the problem, Signor Pietro? Eh, what's the problem? What do you do when you have a daughter who listens to nothing you say, huh? Wouldn't you be worried? I can understand this.
God knows I tried to raise them properly.
And now this.
It will ruin her.
Yeah.
Poor Sofia.
Sofia? I'm not talking about Sofia.
I'm talking about Violetta.
Oh.
Um I just thought Thought what?! Well, um I just thought you knew.
Papa, I'll have dinner for you in a few minutes.
I don't care about dinner.
What's the matter? Something happen at work? Ah, yes.
I learned something really interesting.
What? I thought I could trust you! Papa Papa, please try to understand.
What to understand?!! What to understand?!! Under my very nose, you conduct an affair with this man!! This man who has such a past!! You know nothing about him! I know enough! I know you have lied.
Lied? Yes, lied!! Tell me the truth.
Have you, have you given your honour to him? Tell me you are not like your sister! Tell me it's not true.
Tell me! Not my Sofia.
I'm a grown woman, Papa.
I'm not a little girl.
Good morning, sir.
Morning.
Good morning, sir.
Morning.
Winston? Pirrie.
Ready for the off? As ready as I'll ever be.
May I introduce my colleague, Doctor Mark Muir.
Winston Churchill, M.
P.
Good morning, Muir.
Sir.
Muir.
I know that name.
Yes, you might do.
Young Muir here worked on Dreadnought.
Ah! Splendid! So you know a little of the Admiralty and her ways? A little.
Well, Pirrie.
Good luck.
Let's see what happens.
Indeed.
Pirrie.
Morning, Ismay.
Smith.
Morning, my Lord.
Pirrie, I cabled Morgan last night, assured him all is in order.
And it is.
Are you feeling confident, Smith? We did nothing wrong, Sir.
And we have nothing to fear.
Good man.
Let's go in.
HMS Hawke was at Egypt Point on the Isle of Wight heading up the Solent.
The Olympic meanwhile was coming out of Southampton.
At 12.
34, she was at Calshot Spit Buoy.
You were, in fact, not at the helm at the time.
Is that right? No, I was not.
The pilot, Captain Mills, came out of Southampton.
And did he have experience with ships of this class? There is only one other ship of this class.
So Olympic would not have been known to him? No.
At what point did it become clear that the Hawke was also in the channel? At this point.
Where the ship turned at West Bramble Point to avoid a dangerous sandbank.
At what speed? 11 knots increasing to 19.
Rather fast, wouldn't you say, for a ship of that size? The Hawke rammed into the Olympic, sir.
It was NOT the other way round.
But the Hawke engaged in a timely attempt to avoid the Olympic, did she not? The Hawke made a course change, yes, but not in time.
The Olympic had already picked up speed.
Excessive speed, perhaps? No, sir.
Then how do you account for the fact that HMS Hawke was dragged helplessly into Olympic's wake? For is that not what actually happened? Was the Olympic not travelling at excessive speed for the manoeuvre, creating a dangerous current that was a menace to other shipping? With all due respect, sir, it's the Royal Navy's case that Olympic's unprecedented displacement of water generated a suction that dragged the Hawke into her side? We contend that the Olympic is not a safe ship by dint of her very size.
It's quite clear that White Star should be held responsible for the entire incident.
Very well, gentlemen.
Thank you for your testimony, Captain Smith.
I propose we adjourn for 15 minutes.
You know how this looks.
I'm sorry, Sir.
I didn't do terribly well.
You did all you could.
Wait.
Eh, Winston, could I speak with you a moment? Evidence is evidence.
It must be weighed.
Yes, of course.
Everything must be proper, but my point is this it benefits neither the Royal Navy nor White Star Line for blame to be apportioned especially at these times when the reputation of our sea-going power is so important.
It can only be desirable that prestige be preserved for both the merchant and the Royal Navy.
Well, naturally.
There is perhaps a way more politic.
Go on.
What if neither Navy is to blame? What if this is human error, an understandable error on behalf of a single third party? You mean the pilot? He had no experience of a ship this size.
We already know that from the evidence.
If it could be ascertained that the fault was there, then neither the Royal Navy nor White Star can possibly be held accountable.
You should come to Belfast, Winston.
Would I be welcome? I believe I am regarded in certain quarters as little less than a traitor.
Well, then, speak to them.
The view of Home Rule in Ulster is so parochial.
It would be a huge boost to the cause if you came and stated your case.
You think so? I'm sure of it.
And it is important.
It would be an interesting challenge.
It would be an exercise in democracy.
Well, let it never be said that I, eh, shirked my democratic duty.
Well, let us be thankful that honour was satisfied on all fronts today.
Oh.
Hawke remains the victim of an unfortunate accident, and White Star's reputation remains white.
Ah.
And what will happen to the pilot? I am afraid I have no idea.
Drink up your wine, Muir.
You hardly touched it.
I don't drink very much.
Probably wise.
I have a tendency to overindulge, but what of it? A short life and a merry one, hey, Pirrie? Well put! At certain times, in certain circumstances, men of influence have to make difficult decisions.
Is that not so? It is indeed.
I, myself, have had to wrestle with my conscience on many occasions.
When I crossed the floor of the house, joined the Liberal Party, I was labelled 'Judas'.
Sometimes there are greater issues at stake.
Greater than our own pride.
I, in my position as Lord of the Admiralty, must think of this Kingdom's greater good.
In the event of war, we shall need greatly to increase our ship building capacity.
The yards in Belfast could become a Royal Naval facility.
We'll talk further on that matter, Pirrie.
Now shall we adjourn to the library for brandy? Come! Kitty? Mark! Hello! My favourite son of Belfast! What are you doing here? Wasn't I marvellous? I didn't get to see it, but I'm sure you were.
Oh, well, trust me, I was marvellous.
Sit! Sit! Sit! Right.
Well, what do you think then? Scandalous, isn't it? Taking to the stage like a painted trollop? I'm sure you're loving every minute of it.
I am.
I really am.
I'm intensely grateful to my dear old Papa for booting me out! It was the making of me.
You see, Muir? I have survived in what is nearly the real world! When I think about being stuck in that ghastly town, it makes me feel quite ill.
Oh.
Belfast's loss is London's gain.
I shall never go back.
Never.
What? You! Your resilience.
Your ability to survive outside the 'gilded cage'.
It's impressive.
All recently acquired.
I must say, this invention of an identity thing, awfully good fun! Hmmm.
A pity you couldn't enjoy it more.
Our circumstances are slightly different.
I suppose.
Still in love, are you, Muir? Yes.
Pity.
Pity.
We're going on tour.
You could've been my faithful consort.
Travel the world with me.
I'm going to your very own New York in a few weeks.
Hmmm.
Thank you for coming to see me.
I wanted to.
Next time buy a ticket and watch the show.
He's hardly speaking to me.
Well, how much does he know? Everything.
I think what hurts him most is the fact that I didn't tell him.
And what have you said? I mean, have you made any promises? No, no, no.
I told him it was my business.
That I'm a grown woman.
Maybe it's better that he knows.
It's not that we're committing a crime.
I know.
Thank you.
Well I'm sure it'll all be fine.
Yes.
When I was there, I could see you becoming a real Londoner.
The women are so different.
And so confident.
You were looking at the women? It's not what I meant.
And if I was looking at other women, I was only seeing shadows of you.
Uh, do you know Maryl, Marylebone High Street? Marylebone.
Marylebone.
Yes.
Why? Oh, my lodgings are there.
Lady Pirrie says it's near the college.
It's, eh, a lovely neighbourhood.
Regent's Park.
Pond rose gardens.
A teashop? Several.
It must be big.
It's nearly the size of Belfast.
Big enough to get lost in anyway.
Big enough for us to get lost in? Think about it, Mark.
Think about coming, please.
I do.
Every day.
Hello! Shhh! You came? Of course I came! You alright? Don't I look alright? How is our little son doing in there, eh? Fine.
Eh, do you have that bit of homework I asked you to get? Thank you, darling.
Now, I think I can feel my little son trying to talk to me.
Don't say a word.
Just get up and come with me.
What's going on? Let's go.
Up, up, up! You'll be dead before you hit the ground.
Conor! Damn it! Get out of me way! Conor! So? Did you find anything? No.
Nothing.
I'm sorry.
I looked into every single case.
I've decided to leave Belfast.
I've tried everything.
She just cannot be found.
Where would you be headin'? London.
London again.
Hmmm.
That's where Sofia will be.
I'm sure I can find a job there somewhere.
It's better to move on, son.
What has to be has to be.
Thank you, Sarah.
You're such a good wee girl.
It'll be better soon.
You'll see.
I've a plan for us.
One that's worth us scrimpin' and savin'.
One that's worth us being a wee bit hungry, a wee bit cold.
It's a grand plan.
Is it an adventure, ma? Aye, Sarah.
It's an adventure.
From the minds of men.
She's more than I ever imagined, William.
She IS a titan.
For a Titanic age.
And what does it say about us? Perhaps that we have no limits.
I wonder if that's true? Mr Muir you once said that we're venturing into the unknown.
Here we stand.
And where do we go from here, Mr Morgan? Let's just get this one into the water.
No, no, no! Not me! Photograph the ship! We're on time, my Lord.
Of course, Thomas.
I thought I might have my nephew John send her off.
What a splendid idea!! A child to launch Titanic! What a great image for the papers.
Perhaps this could be between us.
I wouldn't like him to be nervous.
The starting rocket will go up in five minutes.
Then she'll be off, thank God.
How long for the fitting out? Ten months as arranged.
So we'll keep our sailing date? Yes.
April 1912.
Get in here now, will ye?! This isn't right.
We should see her hit the water.
It'd cost us a day's pay.
Look! Just over there.
See? Go ahead, Johnny! Do your worst.
Well, we did it! Bit of an anti-climax now.
Always is on these occasions.
Thomas I think it's time for me to move on.
What? I'll be tendering my resignation to Lord Pirrie shortly.
But why? My contribution here is made.
There's nothing more to bind me here.
There's something else.
Can you tell me? I've lost faith.
Not just in this project, in the people.
In me? No.
Well, who then? Someone here? In London? Ah.
What happened at the hearing? A man was betrayed.
Apparently for the 'greater good'.
The person who betrayed him was someone you revered? Yes.
We all have feet of clay, Mark.
Few of us live up to our own ideals, but it doesn't mean the ideal is wrong.
No, it just becomes harder to believe in.
Brunel believed even when the Great Eastern failed to launch 50 years ago.
They were gonna scrap it before it hit water.
I find it funny you always quoting Brunel.
An engineer who never compromised.
You and I know that this ship is nowhere near as safe as his.
We can't always blame it on the accountants.
My decision's been made.
All I can give you is my counsel and my personal wish you'd stay.
By all means, weigh up your priorities, but also your conscience.
Having embarked on a task, is it not right to finish it? Think carefully and do not make a decision you will come to regret for the rest of your life.
I am assured by the lawyers the case against the naval vessel is very strong.
After all, it was HMS Hawke that rammed Olympic.
Lawyers say anything.
Theirs and ours.
Nevertheless, the facts are on our side.
You'll be there? Eh if you wish.
I think it best.
Now the launch.
Very important.
Mr Morgan and I want something grand and impressive.
That's not our custom.
Custom, be damned! I don't want Titanic slipping quietly into the briney! We wants bands, noise, pomp, celebration! We must appear confident, gentlemen.
Confidence! It is a risk.
What if something should go wrong? Well then, we must make sure it doesn't.
A telephone call for Mr Ismay.
It's Mr Morgan's office in London.
I'll take it outside.
Ugh! Great Eastern.
My thoughts exactly.
There's no guarantee the same thing won't happen.
Oh, I know.
But this is not a hill to die on.
Mmm.
Shall I book the band? Can we talk? Not now.
Please.
I'm sorry.
Later, Mark.
I've work to do.
Hello.
Eh, ounce of tobacco, please.
Thank you.
Still not talking to you, then? She's obviously disappointed.
Can you blame her? No.
She may come around.
She's a woman, you know.
They like their pound of flesh.
I obviously gave her the wrong impression.
That I wanted to leave.
A part of me still does.
But now there's the wee one.
Right.
Be very careful which girl you choose.
Oh thank you for the advice.
It's a simple decision, son.
Your future or your past.
It's not that simple.
For Christ's sake, wake up! You're not going to find her.
Oh, well, thank you for the encouragement.
I'm just speaking the truth.
Eh, the truth.
That's rich coming from you.
Did you miss me?! A little! Conor? Conor McCann! It's me, Jack, from the yard.
Yes! Jack! It's nice to see ya.
What are you? Would you do me a favour, Jack? Yeah.
Would you go get me a beer? And get one for yourself.
Go on! Come here.
Now, let me see you.
Either you've been eating way too much stew for dinner or, wait that's my little son in there.
Where have you been? Here and there, my darling.
Were there girls? Hundreds.
But why would I bother when I've got the best one at home? Can't you tell me a bit of what you are doing? Not really, darlin'.
It's all a bit under the counter.
Are you smuggling? No! No, I'm not smuggling.
Then what? Uh, if I told you, you'd laugh.
I wouldn't.
Well, I'm not telling you anyway.
Why? Because you don't need to know.
I'm safe.
I'm doing something I like.
Something that matters to me.
Something I'm proud of.
I will tell you, I promise.
Just not yet.
And it'll make a wonderful bedtime story for OUR little son.
A son? You're sure? I've never been more certain.
Mr Dolan? You're wanting what exactly, Mr? Muir.
Mark Muir.
I understand you undertake certain tasks.
Um I'm looking for someone.
I won't take on anything illegal.
I use my experience and contacts in the Force to try and answer a client's questions.
That's all.
Well, this is a list of every girl registered born in Ireland on July 26th 1902.
I believe that my daughter is on this list.
She was adopted soon after that.
Ah, adoption.
Never easy.
You've done it before? Too much work, not enough result.
You're saying you won't do it? No, not at all.
I'll take your money, sure enough.
Look, I have to be straight with you.
Your daughter might not even be on this list.
Have you considered her birth might not have been registered? Or she might have been registered on another day? Yes.
Alright, I'll do what I can.
We will build stands here for the distinguished guests and over here will be the press.
Oh, yes, let's keep them apart.
Do we have any idea of the number of journalists attending? More than you think.
A lot of Americans and there will be film news photographers as well.
My goodness! The times we live in! Entrance by ticket only, obviously.
And proceeds go to the Children's Hospital.
Oh, very good.
That was Margaret's idea.
Hmmm.
And what about our people? That's a tricky one.
The men will want to watch.
I know, but Hunter raised an important point.
What? If we let the foremen come and leave the yard unattended, well the last time we tried it, we had an awful lot of material and machinery go missing.
The entrepreneurial spirit of the average working man.
It cost us a pretty penny.
Anyway, Hunter's point is that we must staff the yard as normal.
That's a pity.
I know.
I really feel the men should be there.
Otherwise it makes a nonsense of all I've said.
We need to find a compromise.
Hear.
You'll never guess who I saw 'round the back at Kelly's the other night.
Prince of bloody Wales? No.
Conor McCann.
He's alright.
He bought me a beer.
A beer? He must've starved for company.
Not really.
He was with that girl who is working in Kelly's.
You know the pretty looking Italian one.
But he got rid of her sharpish and had a beer with me.
I expect you special just to find you, Jack.
I don't know.
But he remembered me alright.
I'm sorry.
I was angry.
I wasn't so sensitive myself.
I don't want to waste my time with you arguing.
I'll miss you when I go.
London won't be the same without you.
It might still be alright.
How? I don't know.
There could be a breakthrough.
I haven't given up hope yet.
You think that's going to happen? I pray it does.
You? Praying? Hmmm.
Hoping.
I pray.
And I thank you for that.
Tell me this is about your daughter and not Titanic.
Of course.
Of course! Doctor Muir.
Ah, Muir! You wanted to see me, sir? How would you like to go to London? Me? Just for a few days.
I have to attend this wretched inquiry.
Thomas can't be spared so I'd like to take you.
We can spare him for a few days, can't we? If that's your wish.
I think it would be a good experience for this young man.
He might see some other side to the business.
He will indeed, sir.
So what about it? Your naval experience should come in very useful during the hearing.
Of course, sir.
Hello! Can you please be sure that this is sent to Mr Morgan without fail? Yes, Madam.
Thank you.
Joanna? Yes? Florian.
Florian von Altenberg! Getting older, yeah.
What are you doing in Belfast? Do you miss Germany? Ah.
I hardly remember it.
I was nine when I left.
My father died.
My mother remarried to an American.
Yes.
It was quite a scandal.
I like America.
It's been good to me.
How did you end up in the diplomatic corp? Oh, I was a late entrant.
I only left the army at 25.
My father's a diplomat so Now you make war by other means? Clausewitz.
"War is diplomacy by other means.
" I understood the reference.
So what do you make of Ireland? A Protestant minority over a Catholic majority.
An Irish population being ruled from London, kept in check by the military.
Quite insane.
It's an illustration of the degeneracy of the British Empire.
Hmm? So how would you interpret the situation between England and Germany? I would say you weren't getting on so great.
Yes.
That's true.
The diplomatic situation is very tense.
Meaning? I think regrettably the issues between us can lead to only one outcome.
War? How delighted all those Prussian officers must be.
You're a Prussian.
Not anymore.
But your brother is.
Have you heard from him lately? No.
No, not for a while.
Well I have to inform you that he's in trouble.
What are you telling me, Florian? He gambles.
Badly.
It's said he makes up his losses in a particularly foolish way.
Go on.
He is suspected of selling military and industrial secrets to the French.
Oh, my God.
What will happen to him? That rather depends on you.
How? One of the reasons I'm here is that we have an operation in Ireland.
As you have observed, the British have successfully managed to divide its population.
We wish to exploit this divide to our own advantage.
Stoke the flames of rebellion and civil war.
We may need to call on you for a few favours.
You have access to very high level people in the U.
S.
and in the U.
K.
Diplomacy by other means, I'm afraid, Joanna.
Thanks for meeting me, Neil.
No problem.
We're on the look-out for someone who used to work in your yard.
The police want hold of him too.
He's a Fenian by the name of Conor McCann.
Would you keep your eyes and ears open in case he turns up? We'd be grateful.
I know him.
He worked on our team.
Trouble, he was.
Yeah, no surprises.
I heard he's back in town.
Catholic lad said he'd seen him with a girl who works at Kelly's.
Nice work, Neil.
Good lad.
Where you going? - You are an idjit, Conor McCann.
- And you are a sight for sore eyes, my love.
You look tired.
- Are you sleeping enough? - Yeah.
Where are you staying? And don't tell me here and there.
I wasn't going to.
And I'm not saying, so don't ask.
Come on.
Do you love me? You know I do.
I need you to do a little something for me.
Anything.
I need to ask you about Carlton Electrics.
What do you mean? Look I'll tell you, but you have to promise not to breathe a word of this to anyone.
Not even Sofia.
Do you understand? We're working on a project, a big project.
Is it dangerous? No.
Well, a little, but you know you don't have to worry about me.
So will you do a little bit of homework for me, darling? Yes.
Thank you.
There you are now, ma'am.
There you are now, sir.
Thank you.
Ironic, isn't it? You in London and me here? I suppose.
Lord Pirrie must like you very much.
Hmmm.
I don't know.
It's a great honour.
Hmmm.
It doesn't sound like you think it is.
It just becomes harder and harder to believe in it all.
Then why stay? It'll be strange going back to London.
I can imagine.
I wish I was going with you.
Ah, me, too.
Me, too.
You would love it there.
You'd just love it.
The people Don't be a fool.
Your change.
No, no, no! Today my hands and eyes are not working together.
What's the problem, Signor Pietro? Eh, what's the problem? What do you do when you have a daughter who listens to nothing you say, huh? Wouldn't you be worried? I can understand this.
God knows I tried to raise them properly.
And now this.
It will ruin her.
Yeah.
Poor Sofia.
Sofia? I'm not talking about Sofia.
I'm talking about Violetta.
Oh.
Um I just thought Thought what?! Well, um I just thought you knew.
Papa, I'll have dinner for you in a few minutes.
I don't care about dinner.
What's the matter? Something happen at work? Ah, yes.
I learned something really interesting.
What? I thought I could trust you! Papa Papa, please try to understand.
What to understand?!! What to understand?!! Under my very nose, you conduct an affair with this man!! This man who has such a past!! You know nothing about him! I know enough! I know you have lied.
Lied? Yes, lied!! Tell me the truth.
Have you, have you given your honour to him? Tell me you are not like your sister! Tell me it's not true.
Tell me! Not my Sofia.
I'm a grown woman, Papa.
I'm not a little girl.
Good morning, sir.
Morning.
Good morning, sir.
Morning.
Winston? Pirrie.
Ready for the off? As ready as I'll ever be.
May I introduce my colleague, Doctor Mark Muir.
Winston Churchill, M.
P.
Good morning, Muir.
Sir.
Muir.
I know that name.
Yes, you might do.
Young Muir here worked on Dreadnought.
Ah! Splendid! So you know a little of the Admiralty and her ways? A little.
Well, Pirrie.
Good luck.
Let's see what happens.
Indeed.
Pirrie.
Morning, Ismay.
Smith.
Morning, my Lord.
Pirrie, I cabled Morgan last night, assured him all is in order.
And it is.
Are you feeling confident, Smith? We did nothing wrong, Sir.
And we have nothing to fear.
Good man.
Let's go in.
HMS Hawke was at Egypt Point on the Isle of Wight heading up the Solent.
The Olympic meanwhile was coming out of Southampton.
At 12.
34, she was at Calshot Spit Buoy.
You were, in fact, not at the helm at the time.
Is that right? No, I was not.
The pilot, Captain Mills, came out of Southampton.
And did he have experience with ships of this class? There is only one other ship of this class.
So Olympic would not have been known to him? No.
At what point did it become clear that the Hawke was also in the channel? At this point.
Where the ship turned at West Bramble Point to avoid a dangerous sandbank.
At what speed? 11 knots increasing to 19.
Rather fast, wouldn't you say, for a ship of that size? The Hawke rammed into the Olympic, sir.
It was NOT the other way round.
But the Hawke engaged in a timely attempt to avoid the Olympic, did she not? The Hawke made a course change, yes, but not in time.
The Olympic had already picked up speed.
Excessive speed, perhaps? No, sir.
Then how do you account for the fact that HMS Hawke was dragged helplessly into Olympic's wake? For is that not what actually happened? Was the Olympic not travelling at excessive speed for the manoeuvre, creating a dangerous current that was a menace to other shipping? With all due respect, sir, it's the Royal Navy's case that Olympic's unprecedented displacement of water generated a suction that dragged the Hawke into her side? We contend that the Olympic is not a safe ship by dint of her very size.
It's quite clear that White Star should be held responsible for the entire incident.
Very well, gentlemen.
Thank you for your testimony, Captain Smith.
I propose we adjourn for 15 minutes.
You know how this looks.
I'm sorry, Sir.
I didn't do terribly well.
You did all you could.
Wait.
Eh, Winston, could I speak with you a moment? Evidence is evidence.
It must be weighed.
Yes, of course.
Everything must be proper, but my point is this it benefits neither the Royal Navy nor White Star Line for blame to be apportioned especially at these times when the reputation of our sea-going power is so important.
It can only be desirable that prestige be preserved for both the merchant and the Royal Navy.
Well, naturally.
There is perhaps a way more politic.
Go on.
What if neither Navy is to blame? What if this is human error, an understandable error on behalf of a single third party? You mean the pilot? He had no experience of a ship this size.
We already know that from the evidence.
If it could be ascertained that the fault was there, then neither the Royal Navy nor White Star can possibly be held accountable.
You should come to Belfast, Winston.
Would I be welcome? I believe I am regarded in certain quarters as little less than a traitor.
Well, then, speak to them.
The view of Home Rule in Ulster is so parochial.
It would be a huge boost to the cause if you came and stated your case.
You think so? I'm sure of it.
And it is important.
It would be an interesting challenge.
It would be an exercise in democracy.
Well, let it never be said that I, eh, shirked my democratic duty.
Well, let us be thankful that honour was satisfied on all fronts today.
Oh.
Hawke remains the victim of an unfortunate accident, and White Star's reputation remains white.
Ah.
And what will happen to the pilot? I am afraid I have no idea.
Drink up your wine, Muir.
You hardly touched it.
I don't drink very much.
Probably wise.
I have a tendency to overindulge, but what of it? A short life and a merry one, hey, Pirrie? Well put! At certain times, in certain circumstances, men of influence have to make difficult decisions.
Is that not so? It is indeed.
I, myself, have had to wrestle with my conscience on many occasions.
When I crossed the floor of the house, joined the Liberal Party, I was labelled 'Judas'.
Sometimes there are greater issues at stake.
Greater than our own pride.
I, in my position as Lord of the Admiralty, must think of this Kingdom's greater good.
In the event of war, we shall need greatly to increase our ship building capacity.
The yards in Belfast could become a Royal Naval facility.
We'll talk further on that matter, Pirrie.
Now shall we adjourn to the library for brandy? Come! Kitty? Mark! Hello! My favourite son of Belfast! What are you doing here? Wasn't I marvellous? I didn't get to see it, but I'm sure you were.
Oh, well, trust me, I was marvellous.
Sit! Sit! Sit! Right.
Well, what do you think then? Scandalous, isn't it? Taking to the stage like a painted trollop? I'm sure you're loving every minute of it.
I am.
I really am.
I'm intensely grateful to my dear old Papa for booting me out! It was the making of me.
You see, Muir? I have survived in what is nearly the real world! When I think about being stuck in that ghastly town, it makes me feel quite ill.
Oh.
Belfast's loss is London's gain.
I shall never go back.
Never.
What? You! Your resilience.
Your ability to survive outside the 'gilded cage'.
It's impressive.
All recently acquired.
I must say, this invention of an identity thing, awfully good fun! Hmmm.
A pity you couldn't enjoy it more.
Our circumstances are slightly different.
I suppose.
Still in love, are you, Muir? Yes.
Pity.
Pity.
We're going on tour.
You could've been my faithful consort.
Travel the world with me.
I'm going to your very own New York in a few weeks.
Hmmm.
Thank you for coming to see me.
I wanted to.
Next time buy a ticket and watch the show.
He's hardly speaking to me.
Well, how much does he know? Everything.
I think what hurts him most is the fact that I didn't tell him.
And what have you said? I mean, have you made any promises? No, no, no.
I told him it was my business.
That I'm a grown woman.
Maybe it's better that he knows.
It's not that we're committing a crime.
I know.
Thank you.
Well I'm sure it'll all be fine.
Yes.
When I was there, I could see you becoming a real Londoner.
The women are so different.
And so confident.
You were looking at the women? It's not what I meant.
And if I was looking at other women, I was only seeing shadows of you.
Uh, do you know Maryl, Marylebone High Street? Marylebone.
Marylebone.
Yes.
Why? Oh, my lodgings are there.
Lady Pirrie says it's near the college.
It's, eh, a lovely neighbourhood.
Regent's Park.
Pond rose gardens.
A teashop? Several.
It must be big.
It's nearly the size of Belfast.
Big enough to get lost in anyway.
Big enough for us to get lost in? Think about it, Mark.
Think about coming, please.
I do.
Every day.
Hello! Shhh! You came? Of course I came! You alright? Don't I look alright? How is our little son doing in there, eh? Fine.
Eh, do you have that bit of homework I asked you to get? Thank you, darling.
Now, I think I can feel my little son trying to talk to me.
Don't say a word.
Just get up and come with me.
What's going on? Let's go.
Up, up, up! You'll be dead before you hit the ground.
Conor! Damn it! Get out of me way! Conor! So? Did you find anything? No.
Nothing.
I'm sorry.
I looked into every single case.
I've decided to leave Belfast.
I've tried everything.
She just cannot be found.
Where would you be headin'? London.
London again.
Hmmm.
That's where Sofia will be.
I'm sure I can find a job there somewhere.
It's better to move on, son.
What has to be has to be.
Thank you, Sarah.
You're such a good wee girl.
It'll be better soon.
You'll see.
I've a plan for us.
One that's worth us scrimpin' and savin'.
One that's worth us being a wee bit hungry, a wee bit cold.
It's a grand plan.
Is it an adventure, ma? Aye, Sarah.
It's an adventure.
From the minds of men.
She's more than I ever imagined, William.
She IS a titan.
For a Titanic age.
And what does it say about us? Perhaps that we have no limits.
I wonder if that's true? Mr Muir you once said that we're venturing into the unknown.
Here we stand.
And where do we go from here, Mr Morgan? Let's just get this one into the water.
No, no, no! Not me! Photograph the ship! We're on time, my Lord.
Of course, Thomas.
I thought I might have my nephew John send her off.
What a splendid idea!! A child to launch Titanic! What a great image for the papers.
Perhaps this could be between us.
I wouldn't like him to be nervous.
The starting rocket will go up in five minutes.
Then she'll be off, thank God.
How long for the fitting out? Ten months as arranged.
So we'll keep our sailing date? Yes.
April 1912.
Get in here now, will ye?! This isn't right.
We should see her hit the water.
It'd cost us a day's pay.
Look! Just over there.
See? Go ahead, Johnny! Do your worst.
Well, we did it! Bit of an anti-climax now.
Always is on these occasions.
Thomas I think it's time for me to move on.
What? I'll be tendering my resignation to Lord Pirrie shortly.
But why? My contribution here is made.
There's nothing more to bind me here.
There's something else.
Can you tell me? I've lost faith.
Not just in this project, in the people.
In me? No.
Well, who then? Someone here? In London? Ah.
What happened at the hearing? A man was betrayed.
Apparently for the 'greater good'.
The person who betrayed him was someone you revered? Yes.
We all have feet of clay, Mark.
Few of us live up to our own ideals, but it doesn't mean the ideal is wrong.
No, it just becomes harder to believe in.
Brunel believed even when the Great Eastern failed to launch 50 years ago.
They were gonna scrap it before it hit water.
I find it funny you always quoting Brunel.
An engineer who never compromised.
You and I know that this ship is nowhere near as safe as his.
We can't always blame it on the accountants.
My decision's been made.
All I can give you is my counsel and my personal wish you'd stay.
By all means, weigh up your priorities, but also your conscience.
Having embarked on a task, is it not right to finish it? Think carefully and do not make a decision you will come to regret for the rest of your life.