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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 fiancée 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.

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)

Next 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 plover, 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!!