RUTH
You find that sort of rootless existence appealing, do you?
JACK
Well... it's a big world, and I want to see it all before I go. My father
was always talkin' about goin' to see the ocean. He died in the town he was
born in, and never did see it. You can't wait around, because you never know
what hand you're going to get dealt next. See, my folks died in a fire when
I was fifteen, and I've been on the road since. Somethin' like that teaches
you to take life as it comes at you. To make each day count.
Molly Brown raises her glass in a salute.
MOLLY
Well said, Jack.
COLONEL GRACIE
(raising his glass)
Here, here.
Rose raises her glass, looking at Jack.
ROSE
To making it count.
Ruth, annoyed that Jack has scored a point, presses him further.
RUTH
How is it you have the means to travel, Mr. Dawson?
JACK
I work my way from place to place. Tramp steamers and such. I won my ticket
on Titanic here in a lucky hand at poker.
(he glances at Rose)
A very lucky hand.
GRACIE
All life is a game of luck.
CAL
A real man makes his own luck, Archie.
Rose notices that Thomas Andrews, sitting next to her, is writing in his
notebook, completely ignoring the conversation.
ROSE
Mr. Andrews, what are you doing? I see you everywhere writing in this little
book.
(grabs it and reads)
Increase number of screws in hat hooks from 2 to 3. You build the biggest
ship in the world and this preoccupies you?!
Andrews smiles sheepishly.
ISMAY
He knows every rivet in her, don't you Thomas?
ANDREWS
All three million of them.
ISMAY
His blood and soul are in the ship. She may be mine on paper, but in the
eyes of God she belongs to Thomas Andrews.
ROSE
Your ship is a wonder, Mr. Andrews. Truly.
ANDREWS
Thank you, Rose.
We see that Andrews has come under Rose's spell.
83 TIME TRANSITION: Dessert has been served and a waiter arrives with cigars
in a humidor on a wheeled cart. The men start clipping ends and lighting.
ROSE
(low, to Jack)
Nest it'll be brandies in the Smoking Room.
GRACIE
(rising)
Well, join me for a brandy, gentlemen?
ROSE
(low)
Now they retreat into a cloud of smoke and congratulate each other on being
masters of the universe.
GRACIE
Joining us, Dawson? You don't want to stay out here with the women, do you?
Actually he does, but...
JACK
No thanks. I'm heading back.
CAL
Probably best. It'll be all business and politics, that sort of thing.
Wouldn't interest you. Good of you to come.
Cal and the other gentlemen exit.
ROSE
Jack, must you go?
JACK
Time for my coach to turn back into a pumpkin.
He leans over to take her hand.
INSERT: We see him slip a tiny folded not into her palm.
Ruth, scowling, watches him walk away across the enormous room. Rose
surreptitiously opens the note below table level. It reads: "Make it count.
Meet me at the clock".
CUT TO:
84 INT. A-DECK FOYER-NIGHT
Rose crosses the A-Deck foyer, sighting Jack at the landing above. Overhead
is the crystal dome. Jack has his back to her, studying the ornate clock
with its carved figures of Honor and Glory. It softly strikes the hour.
MOVING WITH ROSE as she goes up the sweeping staircase toward him. He turns,
sees her... smiles.
JACK
Want to go to a real party?
CUT TO:
85 INT. THIRD CLASS GENERAL ROOM
Crow led and alive with music, laughter and raucous carrying on. An ad hoc
band is gathered near the upright piano, honking out lively stomping music
on fiddle, accordion and tambourine. People of all ages are dancing,
drinking beer and wine, smoking, laughing, even brawling.
Tommy hands Rose a pint of stout and she hoists it. Jack meanwhile dances
with 5 year old Cora Cartmell, or tries to, with her standing on his feet.
As the tune ends, Rose leans down to the little girl.
ROSE
May I cut in, miss?
JACK
You're still my best girl, Cora.
Cora scampers off. Rose and Jack face each other. She is trembling as he
takes her right hand in his left. His other hand slides to the small of her
back. It is an electrifying moment.
ROSE
I don't know the steps.
JACK
Just move with me. Don't think.
The music starts and they are off. A little awkward at first, she starts to
get into it. She grins at Jack as she starts to get the rhythm of the
steps.
ROSE
Wait... stop!
She bends down, pulling off her high heeled shoes, and flings them to Tommy.
Then she grabs Jack and they plunge back into the fray, dancing faster as
the music speeds up.
CUT TO:
86 OMITTED
87 INT. THIRD CLASS GENERAL ROOM
The scene is rowdy and rollicking. A table gets knocked over as a drunk
crashes into it. And in the middle of it... Rose dancing with Jack in her
stocking feet. The steps are fast and she shines with sweat. A space opens
around them, and people watch them, clapping as the band plays faster and
faster.
FABRIZIO AND HELGA. Dancing has obviated the need for a common language. He
whirls her, then she responds by whirling him... Fabrizio's eyes go wide
when he realizes she's stronger than he is.
The tune ends in a mad rush. Jack steps away from Rose with a flourish,
allowing her to take a bow. Exhilarated and slightly tipsy, she does a
graceful ballet plier, feet turned out perfectly. Everyone laughs and
applauds. Rose is a hit with the steerage folks, who've never had a lady
party with them.
They move to a table, flushed and sweaty. Rose grabs Fabrizio's cigarette
and takes a big drag. She's feeling cocky. Fabrizio is grinning, holding
hands with Helga.
JACK
How you two doin'?
FABRIZIO
I don't know what she's say, she don't know what I say, so we get along
fine.
Tommy walks up with a pint for each of them. Rose chugs hers, showing off.
ROSE
You think a first class girl can't drink?
Everybody else is dancing again, and Bjorn Gundersen crashes into Tommy, who
sloshes his beer over Rose's dress. She laughs, not caring. But Tommy
lunges, grabbing Bjorn and wheeling him around.
TOMMY
You stupid bastard!!
Bjorn comes around, his fists coming up... and Jack leaps into the middle of
it, pushing them apart.
JACK
Boys, boys! Did I ever tell you the one about the Swede and the Irishman
goin' to the whorehouse?
Tommy stands there, all piss and vinegar, chest puffed up. Then he grins and
claps Bjorn on the shoulder.
ROSE
So, you think you're big tough men? Let's see you do this.
In her stocking feet she assumes a ballet stance, arms raised, and goes up
on point, taking her entire weight on the tips of her toes. The guys gape at
her incredible muscle control. She comes back down, then her face screws up
in pain. She grabs one foot, hopping around.
ROSE
Oooowww! I haven't done that in years.
Jack catches her as she loses her balance, and everyone cracks up.
THE DOOR to the well deck is open a few inches as Lovejoy watches through
the gap. He sees Jack holding Rose, both of them laughing.
LOVEJOY closes the door.
CUT TO:
88 EXT. BOAT DECK - NIGHT
The stars blaze overhead, so bright and clear you can see the Milky Way.
Rose and Jack walk along the row of lifeboats. Still giddy from the party,
they are singing a popular song "Come Josephine in My Flying Machine".
JACK/ROSE
Come Josephine in my flying machine
And it's up she goes! Up she goes!
In the air she goes. Where? There she goes!
They fumble the words and break down laughing. They have reached the First
Class Entrance, but don't go straight in, not wanting the evening to end.
Through the doors the sound of the ship's orchestra wafts gently. Rose grabs
a davit and leans back, staring at the cosmos.
ROSE
Isn't it magnificent? So grand and endless.
She goes to the rail and leans on it.
ROSE
They're such small people, Jack... my crowd. They think they're giants on
the earth, but they're not even dust in God's eye. They live inside this
little tiny champagne bubble... and someday the bubble's going to burst.
He leans at the rail next to her, his hand just touching hers. It is the
slightest contact imaginable, and all either one of them can feel is that
square inch of skin where their hands are touching.
JACK
You're not one of them. There's been a mistake.
ROSE
A mistake?
JACK
Uh huh. You got mailed to the wrong address.
ROSE
(laughing)
I did, didn't I?
(MORE)
ROSE (CONT'D)
(pointing suddenly)
Look! A shooting star.
JACK
That was a long one. My father used to say that whenever you saw one, it was
a soul going to heaven.
ROSE
I like that. Aren't we supposed to wish on it?
Jack looks at her, and finds that they are suddenly very close together. It
would be so easy to move another couple of inches, to kiss her. Rose seems
to be thinking the same thing.
JACK
What would you wish for?
After a beat, Rose pulls back.
ROSE
Something I can't have.
(she smiles sadly)
Goodnight, Jack. And thank you.
She leaves the rail and hurries through the First Class Entrance.
JACK
Rose!!
But the door bangs shut, and she is gone. Back to her world.
CUT TO:
89 INT. ROSE AND CAL'S SUITE / PRIVATE PROMENADE - DAY
SUNDAY APRIL 14, 1912. A bright clear day. Sunlight splashing across the
promenade. Rose and Cal are having breakfast in silence. The tension is
palpable. Trudy Bolt, in her maid's uniform, pours the coffee and goes
inside.
CAL
I had hoped you would come to me last night.
ROSE
I was tired.
CAL
Yes. Your exertions below decks were no doubt exhausting.
ROSE
(stiffening)
I see you had that undertaker of a manservant follow me.
CAL
You will never behave like that again! Do you understand?
ROSE
I'm not some foreman in your mills than you can command! I am your fiancee--
Cal explodes, sweeping the breakfast china off the table with a crash. He
moves to her in one shocking moment, glowering over her and gripping the
sides of her chair, so she is trapped between his arms.
CAL
Yes! You are! And my wife... in practice, if not yet by law. So you will
honor me, as a wife is required to honor her husband! I will not be made out
a fool! Is this in any way unclear?
Rose shrinks into the chair. She sees Trudy, frozen, partway through the
door bringing the orange juice. Cal follows Rose's glance and straightens
up. He stalks past the maid, entering the stateroom.
ROSE
We... had a little accident. I'm sorry, Trudy.
CUT TO:
90 INT. RUTH'S SUITE - DAY
Rose is dressed for the day, and is in the middle of helping Ruth with her
corset. The tight bindings do not inhibit Ruth's fury at all.
RUTH
You are not to see that boy again, do you understand me Rose? I forbid it!
Rose has her knee at the base of her mother's back and is pulling the corset
strings with both hands.
ROSE
Oh, stop it, Mother. You'll give yourself a nosebleed.
Ruth pulls away from her, and crosses to the door, locking it. CLACK!
RUTH
(wheeling on her)
Rose, this is not a game! Our situation is precarious. You know the money's
