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Greetings everyone. Some of you may have seen my other thread promoting my Raise the Titanic fan script that I finished a few months ago. Well, I'm at it again. This time I'll be taking on Night Probe, another one of my favorites, as well as many of yours I'm sure. 
This time, I plan to keep you all updated as I write more. It shall all be posted in this thread for your viewing as it develops. Hopefully you will all enjoy reading it. As with my RTT script I plan to keep as close to the novel as possible. If anyone has any tips or notices something about the script in relation to the novel, feel free to let me know.
Now, without further delay, the intro to Night Probe. Enjoy!
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FADE IN:
EXT. FIELD – NIGHT
SUPER IMPOSE: NEW YORK - 1914
The scene is stormy. Wind rips through the air as lighting crashes in the distance. We hear a sudden roar of thunder pound almost deafeningly over the landscape. As the thunder fades, we hear a new sound it gives way to; a high pitched steam whistle.
The whistle sound draws closer. We PULL BACK just in time to see a huge steam locomotive roar past us, it’s jet black boiler giving off clouds of steam as the rain water comes into contact with the hot steal. Following the engine is a coal tender and several passenger cars, the interior lights of which cast eerie shadows on the outside landscape.
CLOSE UP – PASSENGER CAR
On one of the cars, in gold lettering, we see can clearly see the words “Manhattan Limited”. We Pan down the side until we can make out a logo below the window line; a great bronze logo of the American Eagle.
INT. PASSENGER CAR – NIGHT
Inside the car. It is lavishly decorated, clearly built for comfort during lengthy travels. Sitting on one of the benches by the window is a middle aged man, wearing an expensive suit and reading a New York Times news paper. This is RICHARD ESSEX, A correspondent from Washington DC. We see a leather hand bag lying next to him on the couch. It bears the same logo we saw on the outside the car.
From the rear of the car, a WAITER comes forward. He pauses for a moment before clearing his throat.
WAITER
(Beat)
What can I get you, Mr. Essex?
Essex folds up the paper and sighs. He glances out the window briefly before turning his attention to the waiter.
ESSEX
I don’t know. You have anything that can put me to sleep?
The Waiter nods.
WAITER
For that I’d recommend a small bottle of Pommard Burgundy and a hot bowl of Clam Bouillon.
ESSEX
I suppose that’ll do. Bring it on out.
The waiter nods again. He begins to leave, but stops.
WAITER
You are traveling along, am I correct?
ESSEX
I am. I have an associate traveling by sea this moment.
(Beat)
Come to think of it, he’s probably finding it a lot easier to sleep than I am.
Essex laughs. The waiter gives a straight nod.
WAITER
Very good, Mr. Essex. I’ll have your snack brought out shortly.
ESSEX
I appreciate it.
The waiter turns and heads back up the car toward the front of the train. After he leaves, Essex glances once more out the window.
EXT. FIELD – NIGHT
The train rounds a curve, smoke and steam pouring from the locomotives exhaust. The headlamp shines a bright beam down the tracks, blinding our view as the train turns more toward us. As the sounds of the engine draw closer, the light gets brighter until we see nothing but white. The scene appears to change, the sounds of the train fading and distorting into cries of agony and panic, all punctuated by the sharp blast of a fog horn. The light begins to leave our view, and we find ourselves at...
EXT. RIVER – NIGHT
...The foggy waters of the St. Laurence River. The light that only a moment ago was coming from a train is now emanating from the mast headlight of a ship; the RMS Empress of Ireland. The ship is listing sharply to starboard, her crew and passengers frantically trying to get off the ship by any means possible. On the starboard side we can see the reason for this turmoil; a huge gaping hole running up the hull.
INT. WRECKED CABIN – NIGHT
A once grand cabin ruined by the tragic incident. It is on the edge of the gaping hole on the hull, one entire section of its wall having been ripped away, exposing it to the sea. Among the turmoil we see a man sprawled out on the floor, his head a bloody mess. This is HARVY SHELDS, the associate of Richard Essex.
We see Shields in a state of semi consciousness, his eyes half open. He seems unaware of what is going on around him. We hear what appears to be a pounding, as it clears becoming a loud knocking. Shields Eyes dart fully open now. He slowly rises to his feet.
STEWARD (O.S)
Mr. Shields! Mr. Shields!...
Shields slowly stumbles over the wreckage to the door of his cabin. He opens it to reveal a steward holding a bundle of life jackets. Without a word, the little man throws one in Shields face, then hurries down the listing corridor, handing them out to the crowds of people struggling to safety.
INT. CORRIDOR - NIGHT
Still not totally aware of the situation, Shields steps out and begins following the group. For perhaps several moments he blindly follows them, when suddenly we see his eyes widen with a look of shocked realization.
SHIELDS
(Quietly)
The documents!
Now entirely aware, he turns and runs back to his cabin. The ship has now listed noticeably more to starboard.
INT. WRECKED CABIN – NIGHT
The water is now beginning to slosh over the deck. Shields struggles to stand as he frantically begins searching the ruins for the mentioned items. All the while we see the water rising steadily higher.
EXT. EMPRESS OF IRELAND – NIGHT
The ship lies at a sharp angle. Only a precious few lifeboats can be seen pulling away. We hear a sudden rumbling sound spread over the water, as smoke and soot explode from the two smokestacks. With a sickening metallic groan, the ship enters her death throws.
INT. WRECKED CABIN – NIGHT
Shields’ is caught off guard by the explosion. He is thrown to his feet as the ship lists sharply and the water surges in. Shields tires to struggle out, but a large section of paneling from the cabin ceiling collapses on top of him. He puts up no struggle. With a final sigh, he closes his eyes as the water rushes over him.
EXT. EMPRESS OF IRELAND – NIGHT
The ship sinks stern first into the river, the fog slowly closing back over the scene. At a loud report of thunder we;
CUT TO:
INT. TRAIN STATION – NIGHT
Back in New York. We see a working a telegraph. This is HIRAM MEECHUM, A telegrapher for the New York and Quebec Northern Railroad. As he works the set, another man enters from outside, as he does shaking off an umbrella from the rain. This is SAM HARDING, the station’s ticket agent.
Harding looks up and notices Meechum. He cracks a grin.
HARDING
You making progress?
MEECHUM
Not tonight.
We hear Morse code go off and Meechum suddenly grunts in frustration.
MEECHUM
Damn! Queen to knight four!
Meechum moves and we now see a chess board that is set up next to him. He reluctantly reaches over and moves the opposing queen to take his knight. Harding laughs as he removes his raincoat and places it on a coat hanger by the door.
MEECHUM
What’s the word?
HARDING
The Manhattan Limited is twelve minutes late.
MEECHUM
And?
HARDING
Albany phoned in. Says someone reported a few girders falling off the bridge. Wants the train flagged and the bridge inspected at first light.
Meechum nods wearily.
MEECHUM
No rest for the wicked.
Harding walks over to a shelf and takes down a signal lantern. We suddenly hear the faint sound of a train whistle in the distance.
HARDING
Well, at least we don’t have to wait.
As Harding goes through the process of lighting the lamp, another man enters. This is CLEMENT MASSEY, a Train robber He is very alert and sizes up the situation almost immediately.
Meechum is the first to notice the intrusion.
MEECHUM
What the hell is this?
Harding turns around at the sound of the distraction. Massey smiles at their surprised expressions.
MASSEY
This is a hold up gentlemen.
We see Massey draw a hand from his coat pocket, the fingers gripping a small pistol. Harding and Meechum stare in disbelief.
HARDING
You’re crazy, Mister! We’ve got nothing to Rob! We don’t even get payroll shipments out here!
MASSEY
You have a safe. Open it!
The train whistle sounds again, noticeably closer. Harding’s expression begins to show aggravation.
HARDING
To hell with you. I have a train to flag down.
Harding grabs the lantern and makes a quick move for the door. Massey fires the gun into Meechum’s chessboard, sending the pieces scattering and catching both men off guard.
MASSEY
You’ll do as your told and get that safe open.
Harding’s face is red with anger. He steps forward, and when he speaks shows noticeable restraint.
HARDING
Listen, damn it! The storm may have knocked out the bride up hill. You could be murdering a hundred innocent people over a petty sum of money. For Gods sake show some humanity!
Before Massey can reply, Meechum snatches the lantern from Harding and runs for the door. Massey fires a shot into his hip and he falls, the lantern clattering across the floor toward the doorway. The gun wielding robber forcefully kicks the door shut. We hear the sounds of the train as it approaches, steadily getting louder.
MASSEY
Enough! Open that dammed safe!
Harding is caught of guard. He glances over the scene. His wounded friend and the gun wielding robber. Reluctantly, he nods in a cooperative fashion and opens a panel on the wall to reveal the safe. As he enters the combination, the train roars past outside, the lights from the cars throwing bright beams of illumination into the room.
The safe opens and Harding removes a small envelope.
HARDING
Here. Eighteen dollars and forty cents. That’s all.
Without a word, Massey snatches the money and darts out of the room, turning back only once to point his gun in a “don’t try anything funny” manner. Then he vanishes into the storm.
Immediately, Harding rushes to the aid of his friend. Meechum simply puts up a hand.
MEECHUM
I’m fine. See to the train!
Harding nods. He picks up the signal lantern, which is still lit, and runs out the door without his raincoat or umbrella.
EXT. RIVER SIDE – NIGHT
Out in the rain, high above the river, we see Harding run up the tracks to the edge of the bridge, just in time to watch the final bits of the center span as they crash into the river a fair distance below. In the darkness, through the rain, we see the anger return to his face.
HARDING
(Enraged)
Dead! All dead! All for eighteen dollars and forty cents!
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