2
Seeing the Seas
FERRY. OPEN SEA. EVENING
The wind and rain was horizontal.
His view was through a peep-hole of his hood and all he could see was grey, black and rain streaks.
A door opened on the side of the wheel-house of the ferry and a man struggled to keep it open and waved to attract his attention but he had his back to him.
The wind and rain peppered his hood when suddenly the ferry's horn blasted which made him turn and he could see the ferryman waving; signalling for him to get ready.
He braced himself against the front handrail which overlooked the bow and suddenly two large white painted posts tops appeared and seemed to surge up and over the ferry.
Alex watched as a rope was thrown and perfectly wrapped around one of the posts and was secured. The deck hand signalled with a nod and this was Alex's cue.
He looked back to the Captain's wheel house. There was a light on and there was a figure but no movement and then a horrible squeal and bellowing thump.
A bell clanged.
Alex shot a look down to the deck hand who rang the bell to get his attention and swung his arm to say disembark.
Alex held onto the railing and speedily descended the stairs and was between the white painted pointed tops posts.
DECK HAND: 'I'd get off now.' From within a hood. 'Before the water turns rough.'
Alex didn't want to show the whites of his eyes. He noticed the deck hand was readjusting his footing but within his hood he could see a young face nodding.
He didn't wait, hugging his bag, he leapt and found a firm landing.
DOCK. NIGHT
The ocean was spraying up from underneath the dock and appeared between enormous cross beams dark as steel.
Looking ahead he could only see a wooden deck and so he began walking.
The gaps in the decking were narrow so he felt comfortable in his footing and began walking.
It didn't take long before he realised looking along the vast edge with thick rope threaded; weaving along through the beams, that he was on a long suspension bridge.
He was impressed.
He held onto the side of his hood concentrating on his footing then took a look back at the ferry and to his absolute surprise, it was gone and for the briefest of moments, caught a glimpse of a distant light from the wheel house as it was reflected off the waves.
He could feel an incline in the suspension bridge but also a solid grounding then saw between the gaps, a steel, riveted structure.
He ran his eyes along and could see he was approaching a bitumen area. He moved his hand along the edge of his hood and saw something with a light on top and headed for it.
Through the howling horizontal wind and rain, he can just make out a box; office and doesn't give it a second thought but as he makes his way across the suspension bridge, he realises; he feels he needs to "check-in" with the small office.
As he looks to ready himself, a small light is on inside the box office.
He approaches holding firmly onto the suspension bridges' rope rail and feeling the metal rings run through his fingers that bind and fix the thick ropes and beams together, he sees a figure inside the small box office and cannot believe it.
His face is up against the glass.
He gets his breathe.
ALEX: 'I can't believe someone is here to receive me but thankyou.'
He bares his teeth. 'Considering the circumstances and the weather-.' He stops.
He bares his teeth. 'Considering the circumstances and the weather-.' He stops.
He looks and the two sided glass box is empty. 'What?' Exclaiming; catching his breath. His hands come out in front. 'There was somebody in here.'
He was dumbfounded.
LAND. NIGHT
His boots go from thick beams to bitumen to river stones and to patchwork of concrete.
Silently, Alex; a lone figure leaning into the wind and rain finds a door and enters a room.
ROOM. NIGHT
In the dark; things swirl and clatter and fall lightly to rest then the room fills with light.
Quietly he closes the door and takes a moment.
He slowly takes his jacket off and looks for somewhere to place it.
He pulls back his hair.
Looking around he is in an admin office.
Looking reasonably organised, Alex looks for and finds a map on the wall and begins getting his bearings.
He quietly goes to his bag and gets something to eat, drink and goes back to the map.