Titanic Page #15

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 gecognizeing 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 seathed 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 nickelodean 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:

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