Titanic Page #16

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 memeber 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, m'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 becomesthe subject of furtive glances. Now

they're all feeling terribly liberal and dangerous.

GUGGENHEIM:

(low to Madame Aubert)

What is Hockly 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:

Thankyou, 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.

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