American scandal uses dramatizations that are based on true events.

Some elements, including dialogue, might be invented, but everything is based on historical research.

It's June 30, 2021 in the North Atlantic Ocean.

Abboard the Horizon Arctic support ship, an Ocean Gate engineer flicks a switch and a winch motor roars to life.

A steel cable dripping seawater begins to pull the Titan submersible in its launch platform up a ramp

and out of

the cold, gray Atlantic. Earlier today, Ocean Gate CEO Stock and Rush led a pre-dive briefing

ahead of Titan's first ever attempt to reach the wreck of the Titanic. After years of

development, he was confident that the company's flagship submersible was finally ready, but the

dive has not gone

to plan. Titan made it just 23 feet below the surface before encountering technical issues. Rush,

who was piloting the sub, made the call to abort, and now all the morning's optimism has drained

the way. The Titan platform seesaws at the top of the ramp, just a few more feet and it'll be secure,

but the Horizon Arctic moves suddenly in the swell and the sub rocks forward, slamming hard

against the ramp.

An engineer flinches as sounds like gunshots echo across the deck, and the dome titanium

endcap of the front of Titan slowly topples forward.

Where a split second, no one moves.

And the engineer recovers his composure and hurries over to the stranded sub.

There's a gaping, circular hole at the vessel's nose, and the five occupants inside are blinking at the sudden bright sunlight.

Oh gosh, are you guys all right? Inside the sub, Stockton Rush, is stoic. Yeah, we're fine. All right, everybody out.

Carefully now. The engineer offers a hand, helping the passengers onto the platform, and one by one, they're guided to the deck.

...