fanning him like slave girls.
Jack, on his knees, pleading with his hands clasped while Rose, standing,
turns her head in bored disdain.
Rose cranking the camera, while Daniel and Jack have a western shoot-out.
Jack wins and leers into the lens, twirling an air moustache like Snidely
Whiplash.
CUT TO:
76 EXT. A DECK PROMENADE / AFT - SUNSET
Painted with orange light, Jack and Rose lean on the A-deck rail aft,
shoulder to shoulder. The ship's lights come on.
It is a magical moment... perfect.
ROSE
So then what, Mr. Wandering Jack?
JACK
Well, then logging got to be too much like work, so I went down to Los
Angeles to the pier in Santa Monica. That's a swell place, they even have a
rollercoaster. I sketched portraits there for ten cents a piece.
ROSE
A whole ten cents?!
JACK
(not getting it)
Yeah; it was great money... I could make a dollar a day, sometimes. But only
in summer. When it got cold, I decided to go to Paris and see what the real
artists were doing.
ROSE
(looks at the dusk sky)
Why can't I be like you Jack? Just head out for the horizon whenever I feel
like it.
(turning to him)
Say we'll go there, sometime... to that pier... even if we only ever just
talk about it.
JACK
Alright, we're going. We'll drink cheap beer and go on the rollercoaster
until we throw up and we'll ride horses on the beach... right in the surf...
but you have to ride like a cowboy, none of that side-saddle stuff.
ROSE
You mean one leg on each side? Scandalous! Can you show me?
JACK
Sure. If you like.
ROSE
(smiling at him)
I think I would.
(she looks at the horizon)
And teach me to spit too. Like a man. Why should only men be able to spit.
It's unfair.
JACK
They didn't teach you that in finishing school? Here, it's easy. Watch
closely.
He spits. It arcs out over the water.
JACK
Your turn.
Rose screws up her mouth and spits. A pathetic little bit of foamy spittle
which mostly runs down her chin before falling off into the water.
JACK
Nope, that was pitiful. Here, like this... you hawk it down... HHHNNNK!...
then roll it on your tongue, up to the front, like thith, then a big breath
and PLOOOW!! You see the range on that thing?
She goes through the steps. Hawks it down, etc. He coaches her through it
(ad lib) while doing the steps himself. She lets fly. So does he. Two comets
of gob fly out over the water.
JACK
That was great!
Rose turns to him, her face alight. Suddenly she blanches. He sees her
expression and turns.
RUTH, the Countess of Rothes, and Molly Brown have been watching them
hawking lugees. Rose becomes instantly composed.
ROSE
Mother, may I introduce Jack Dawson.
RUTH
Charmed, I'm sure.
Jack has a little spit running down his chin. He doesn't know it. Molly
Brown is grinning. As Rose proceeds with the introductions, we hear...
OLD ROSE (V.O.)
The others were gracious and curious about the man who'd saved my life. But
my mother looked at him like an insect. A dangerous insect which must be
squashed quickly.
MOLLY
Well, Jack, it sounds like you're a good man to have around in a sticky
spot--
They all jump as a BUGLER sounds the meal call right behind them.
MOLLY
Why do they insist on always announcing dinner like a damn cavalry charge?
ROSE
Shall we go dress, mother?
(over her shoulder)
See you at dinner, Jack.
RUTH
(as they walk away)
Rose, look at you... out in the sun with no hat. Honestly!
The Countess exits with Ruth and Rose, leaving Jack and Molly alone on deck.
MOLLY
Son, do you have the slightest comprehension of what you're doing?
JACK
Not really.
MOLLY
Well, you're about to go into the snakepit. I hope you're ready. What are
you planning to wear?
Jack looks down at his clothes. Back up at her. He hadn't thought about
that.
MOLLY
I figured.
CUT TO:
77 INT. MOLLY BROWN'S STATEROOM
Men's suits and jackets and formal wear are strewn all over the place. Molly
is having a fine time. Jack is dressed, except for his jacket, and Molly is
tying his bow tie.
MOLLY
Don't feel bad about it. My husband still can't tie one of these damn things
after 20 years. There you go.
She picks up a jacket off the bed and hands it to him. Jack goes into the
bathroom to put it on. Molly starts picking up the stuff off the bed.
MOLLY
I gotta buy everything in three sizes 'cause I never know how much he's been
eating while I'm away.
She turns and sees him, though we don't.
MOLLY
My, my, my... you shine up like a new penny.
CUT TO:
78 EXT. BOAT DECK / FIRST CLASS ENTRANCE - DUSK
A purple sky, shot with orange, in the west. Drifting strains of classic
music. We TRACK WITH JACK along the deck. By Edwardian standards he looks
badass. Dashing in his borrowed white-tie outfit, right down to his pearl
studs.
A steward bows and smartly opens the door to the First Class Entrance.
STEWARD
Good evening, sir.
Jack plays the role smoothly. Nods with just the right degree of disdain.
CUT TO:
79 INT. UPPER LANDING / GRAND STAIRCASE AND A-DECK
Jack steps in and his breath is taken away by the splendor spread out before
him. Overhead is the enormous glass dome, with a crystal chandelier at its
center. Sweeping down six stories is the First Class Grand Staircase, the
epitome of the opulent naval architecture of the time.
And the people: the women in their floor length dresses, elaborate
hairstyles and abundant jewelry... the gentlemen in evening dress, standing
with one hand at the small of the back, talking quietly.
Jack descends to A deck. Several men nod a perfunctory greeting. He nods
back, keeping it simple. He feels like a spy.
Cal comes down the stairs, with Ruth on his arm, covered in jewelry. They
both walk right past Jack, neither one recognizing him. Cal nods at him,
one gent to another. But Jack barely has time to be amused. Because just
behind Cal and Ruth on the stairs is Rose, a vision in red and black, her
low-cut dress showing off her neck and shoulders, her arms sheathed in white
gloves that come well above above the elbow. Jack is hypnotized by her
beauty.
CLOSE ON ROSE as she approaches Jack. He imitates the gentlemen's stance,
hand behind his back. She extends her gloved hand and he takes it, kissing
the back of her fingers. Rose flushes, beaming noticeably. She can't take
her eyes off him.
JACK
I saw that in a nickelodeon once, and I always wanted to do it.
ROSE
Cal, surely you remember Mr. Dawson.
CAL
(caught off guard)
Dawson! I didn't recognize you.
(studies him)
Amazing! You could almost pass for a gentlemen.
CUT TO:
80 INT. D-DECK RECEPTION ROOM
CUT TO THE RECEPTION ROOM ON D DECK, as the party descends to dinner. They
encounter Molly Brown, looking good in a beaded dress, in her own busty
broad-shouldered way. Molly grins when she sees Jack. As they are going into
the dining saloon she walks next to him, speaking low:
MOLLY
Ain't nothin' to it, is there, Jack?
JACK
Yeah, you just dress like a pallbearer and keep your nose up.
MOLLY
Remember, the only thing they respect is money, so just act like you've got
a lot of it and you're in the club.
As they enter the swirling throng, Rose leans close to him, pointing out
several notables.
ROSE
There's the Countess Rothes. And that's John Jacob Astor... the richest man
on the ship. His little wifey there, Madeleine, is my age and in a delicate
condition. See how she's trying to hide it. Quite the scandal.
(nodding toward a couple)
And over there, that's Sir Cosmo and Lucile, Lady Duff-Gordon. She designs
naughty lingerie, among her many talents. Very popular with the royals.
Cal becomes engrossed in a conversations with Cosmo Duff-Gordon and Colonel
Gracie, while Ruth, the Countess and Lucille discuss fashion. Rose picots
Jack smoothly, to show him another couple, dressed impeccably.
ROSE
And that's Benjamin Guggenheim and his mistress, Madame Aubert. Mrs.
Guggenheim is at home with the children, of course.
Cal, meanwhile, is accepting the praise of his male counterparts, who are
looking at Rose like a prize show horse.
SIR COSMO
Hockley, she is splendid.
CAL
Thank you.
GRACIE
Cal's a lucky man. I know him well, and it can only be luck.
Ruth steps over, hearing the last. She takes Cal's arm, somewhat
coquettishly.
RUTH
How can you say that Colonel? Caledon Hockley is a great catch.
The entourage strolls toward the dining saloon, where they run into the
Astor's going through the ornate double doors.
ROSE
J.J., Madeleine, I'd like you to meet Jack Dawson.
ASTOR
(shaking his hand)
Good to meet you Jack. Are you of the Boston Dawsons?
JACK
No, the Chippewa Falls Dawsons, actually.
J.J. nods as if he's heard of them, then looks puzzled. Madeleine Astor
appraises Jack and whispers girlishly to Rose:
MADELEINE
It's a pity we're both spoken for, isn't it?
CUT TO:
81 INT. DINING SALOON
Like a ballroom at the palace, alive and lit by a constellation of
chandeliers, full of elegantly dressed people and beautiful music from
BANDLEADER WALLACE HARTLEY'S small orchestra. As Rose and Jack enter and
move across the room to their table, Cal and Ruth beside them, we hear...
OLD ROSE (V.O.)
He must have been nervous but he never faltered. They assumed he was one of
them... a young captain of industry perhaps... new money, obviously, but
still a member of the club. Mother of course, could always be counted
upon...
CUT TO:
82 INT. DINING SALOON
CLOSE ON RUTH.
RUTH
Tell us of the accommodations in steerage, Mr. Dawson. I hear they're quite
good on this ship.
WIDER: THE TABLE. Jack is seated opposite Rose, who is flanked by Cal and
Thomas Andrews. Also at the table are Molly Brown, Ismay, Colonel Gracie,
the Countess, Guggenheim, Madame Aubert, and the Astors.
JACK
The best I've seen, ma'am. Hardly any rats.
Rose motions surreptitiously for Jack to take his napkin off his plate.
CAL
Mr. Dawson is joining us from third class. He was of some assistance to my
fiancee last night.
(to Jack, as if to a child)
This is foie gras. It's goose liver.
We see whispers exchanged. Jack becomes the subject of furtive glances. Now
they're all feeling terribly liberal and dangerous.
GUGGENHEIM
(low to Madame Aubert)
What is Hockley hoping to prove, bringing this... bohemian... up here?
WAITER
(to Jack)
How do you take your caviar, sir?
CAL
(answering for him)
Just a soupcon of lemon...
(to Jack, smiling)
...it improves the flavor with champagne.
JACK
(to the waiter)
No caviar for me, thanks.
(to Cal)
Never did like it much.
He looks at Rose, pokerfaced, and she smiles.
RUTH
And where exactly do you live, Mr. Dawson?
JACK
Well, right now my address is the RMS Titanic. After that, I'm on God's good
humor.
Salad is served. Jack reaches for the fish fork. Rose gives him a look and
picks up the salad fork, prompting him with her eyes. He changes forks.
