Titanic

Hugh, Earl of Manton sets out on the maiden voyage of Titanic, the pride of the White Star Line, with his wife Louisa and reluctant daughter Georgiana - a suffragette who's recently been arrested in a demonstration.  Also on board in Second Class are Irish lawyer John Batley, who works for Hugh, and his wife Muriel.  The Mantons' servants Barnes and Watson have a brush with their American counterparts, whilst Georgiana is attracted, despite herself, to young American Harry Widener.  Life on board is comfortable for the wealthy British and American passengers in First Class, despite a disastrous tea party between the Mantons and the Batleys which highlights the tensions between Louisa and Muriel. But everything changes after the ship encounters an iceberg and realisation dawns that the unsinkable Titanic is going down.  Infuriated by Louisa's air of effortless superiority, Muriel launches a violent verbal attack on her, and hints at a dark secret in Hugh’s past.  Chaos and panic grow on deck, as Officer Lightoller insists on women and children only and boats go down less than full.  And Louisa finds herself faced with an impossible dilemma, as she has to choose between her husband and her daughter...

Political tensions in Belfast interfere with the construction of new liner Titanic, but White Star Line chairman Bruce Ismay is dismissive of designer Thomas Andrews’ concerns. Catholic engineer Jim Maloney longs to leave Belfast, and when offered the opportunity of a new life via Titanic, he accepts. Cabin steward Annie Desmond prepares for the first passengers to board Titanic, and encounters cheeky Italian waiter Paolo Sandrini, who is instantly smitten by her. Jim meets a mysterious steerage passenger Peter Lubov who unsettles Jim’s wife Mary, while in the First Class dining room tensions bubble as new and old money collide. In Second Class, Muriel Batley bitterly resents her husband John’s subservience and reveals she knows the secret of Hugh Manton: a secret that threatens to destroy his marriage. But John’s worries are over-shadowed by a looming iceberg.  Captain Smith and Thomas Andrews are horrified to learn the full cost of the collision. The ship has only a couple of hours to live. Chaos erupts in the rush for lifeboats of which there are just too few. John and Muriel reconcile in the face of death, but then John spies a glimmer of hope…

London 1911. Winston Churchill is infuriated when Russian anarchist Peter the Painter escapes after a bloody street battle with the army. Back to April 1912, and Italian stoker Mario is thrilled when he connives to get his brother Paolo a job on the new liner Titanic. The Mantons’ maid Watson is inexplicably loitering in steerage and Barnes is shocked to discover the reasons why, while Paolo startles Annie with an impulsive gesture. Mary finally lets her guard down with Lubov in a manner that enrages her husband Jim. Their argument is set aside when the iceberg strikes, and word spreads that the great ship is sinking. Bruce Ismay is concerned that the anxious Italian waiters will contribute to the rising panic. Fear builds in steerage as passengers find themselves behind locked gates.  Lubov helps Mary and her children escape, but when he’s recognized as Peter the Painter by ex-policeman Evans, he reacts with chilling ruthlessness. Passengers scramble for lifeboats and the Maloneys’ terrified daughter Theresa bolts back inside the sinking ship. Then Paolo discovers the fate of his brother and dashes off to find him, as freezing water surges through the corridors…

Titanic, Sunday 14th April 1912. Mrs Widener’s party is in high spirits in Gatti’s Restaurant while below decks Paolo makes a meaningful introduction, and the Maloneys dream of their new life. On the bridge the crew spot the iceberg and take evasive action, but too late to prevent a collision. Panic takes hold and lifeboats are lowered less than full to Hugh’s frustration. Georgiana and Harry have a few precious moments together. Barnes rescues Watson and gives her a parting gift he hopes will change her life. Louisa makes a promise to Hugh that shocks him. Paolo discovers his brother and the other Italians and begs Lubov for help. Jim finds his daughter deep below decks and draws her to him to await their fate. In her death throes, the great liner breaks in two, her stern rises up out of the water and then slides below the surface. Those in the boats can hear the cries of the drowning.  Some return to try and pick up survivors.  Some do not. In the water, people cling to what they can, and turn to prayer when all looks lost. Then as dawn breaks, a light is spied on the horizon.