June 27.

  Thirty days of filming had passed, not just from Billy’s perspective—they had been ag for a long time. Politically, the great ship had been in produ for 45 days. At least on paper, with the many trades involved, all the ses were recorded, starting with the simpler ohat didn’t require much work.

  -Good m. – Kate whispered. The ses that followed were more intense, slightly more daring, and suggestive, with a touch of risqué. Kate’s cheeks flushed lightly, almost imperceptibly.

  -Hey. – Billy ented.

  It felt like a festive season. Around them, they were shooting all the Sunday ses—the day of the iceberg collision. It was the hour of disillusio, the hour of romaween two people on the verge of creating an iic drama.

  -Everything’s anized. – Kate said, fully engrossed in the journey of being an actress in the grand project she had fought tooth and nail for. She wao excel and not disappoint the people who had helped her nd the role.

  -We’ve got work to dardless. – Billy replied.

  But the day turned out to be much lohey only mao film a few ses due to issues with cameras 2 and 4. Later that evening, Billy was sipping wine while Kate, exhausted, tried her best not to appear too tipsy.

  -I want to be a great actress. I eople tnize me for my remarkable roles, to say, “She’s fantastic,” so I feel proud of what I do. A hard-w, extraordinary actress. The best who’s ever graced the industry. But it’s tough; many roles go to other, more beautiful women. – Kate fessed, drinking deeply from the bottle of wi was her third gss from the sed bottle. Billy had only finished otle—his way of g with different situations.

  -That’s a very noble dream. I think you’ll achieve it. People will at least reize you as a great actress in signifit roles, even if they’re not mainstream ones. You’re always demanding about the parts you take, and that’s not a bad thing. – Billy remarked.

  -I should’ve studied eics. –

  -We’ll never know what might’ve happened if you had. – Billy replied, taking a light sip of his drink.

  -Maybe it’s for the best. I’m not very good at math anyway. – Kate said, thinking of the challenges awaiting her in the ing days—or so she believed, smiling brightly, her youthful charm embrag a calm approach to things.

  -Tomorrow’s another day. – Billy ented, yawning and finishing his drink.

  ...

  INT. GYM – DAY

  Jack closes the door behind him and peers through the rippled gss window toward the starboard railing, where the gym instructor chats with a woman on a bicycle. Rose and Jack are alone in the room.

  ROSE: Jack, this is impossible. You ’t be seen.

  He pces his hands on her shoulders. Billy see her shrink slightly but lean toward him. His height differeh Kate is more noticeable; Billy stands taller than Leonardo.

  JAbsp;Rose, you’re no easy girl… you’re spoiled, even, but beh that, you’ve got a stro. You’re the most incredibly amazing woman I’ve ever met, and…

  ROSE: Jack, I…

  JAbsp;Wait. Let me try to say this. You’re incredible… and I know I’ve got nothing to offer you, Rose. I know. But now I’m ied. You jump, I jump, remember? I ’t turn away without knowing you’ll be alright.

  Rose’s eyes well up with tears. Billy reaches out to her, caressing her cheek. Jack is open in a way Rose has never entered before. Kate shows this, closing her eyes aing her cheek against Billy’s hand. There’s warmth in the gesture—a profound e.

  ROSE: You’re making this so difficult. I’ll be firuly.

  JAbsp;I don’t believe you. They’ve got you in a gss jar like a butterfly. You’ll die if you don’t get out. Maybe not immediately, because you’re strong. But sooner or ter, the fire in you will burn out.

  ROSE: It’s not up to you to save me, Jack.

  JAbsp;You’re right. Only you do that.

  ROSE: I have to go back. They’ll miss me. Please, Jack, for both our sakes, let me go.

  -Cut. –

  -Five-minute break. – one of the crew members announced.

  Everyoook just enough time to catch their breath. The se wasn’t Billy’s, so he took a seat.

  ...

  INT. FIRST-CLASS LOUNGE – DAY

  The most elegant room on the ship, decorated in Louis XV Versailles style. Rose sits on a divan, surrounded by a group of women. Ruth, the tess of Rothes, and Lady Duff Gordon are having tea. Rose is silent and still, like a por figure, as the versation flows around her.

  PIETY: Of course. The invitations had to go to the printer and the bridesmaids’ dresses! Let me tell you what an ordeal it’s been...

  MOVING SLOWLY TO Rose as Ruth tinues.

  ANGLE, ROSE’S POV: A tableau of MOTHER and DAUGHTER havihe four-year-old girl, wearing white gloves, delicately picks up a biscuit. The mother corrects her posture and how she holds the teacup. The child tries her best to please, her expression serious. A glimpse of Rose at that age, showing the relentless ditioning—the pain of being an Edwardian geisha.

  ON ROSE. Calmly and deliberately, she tilts her teacup, spilling the tea on her dress.

  ROSE: Oh, look what I’ve done.

  -Cut. –

  Billy observes from the er, knowing mistakes be corrected iing. By now, everyone had adjusted to the process, and the ses were takiime to film.

  EXT. TITANIC – DAY

  The Titanic speeds toward us at twilight, glowing as if lit by the embers of a giant fire. As the ship looms closer, FILLING THE FRAME, we move toward the bow. Jack stands there, at the very tip of the prow—his favorite spot. He closes his eyes ahe cold wind clear his head.

  Behind him, he hears a voice.

  ROSE: Hello, Jack.

  He turns, and there she is.

  ROSE: I ged my mind.

  He smiles, studying her. Her cheeks are flushed from the cold wind, her eyes sparkling. Her hair whips wildly across her face.

  ROSE: Fabrizio said you might be awake...

  JAbsp;Shhh. e here.

  He pces his hands on her waist as if to kiss her.

  JAbsp;Close your eyes.

  She obeys, auro face forward, toward the dire of the ship. He presses her gently against the railing and steps behiheakes her hands and raises them until she’s standing with her arms outstretched. Rose follows. Whes go, her arms remain aloft, like wings.

  JAbsp;Alright, open them.

  Rose gasps. There’s nothing in her field of view but water. It feels as though the ship has vanished beh them, leaving only the two of them. The Atntifolds before her—a hammered shield beh a twilight sky. There’s only the wind and the sound of the water below.

  ROSE: I’m flying!

  She leans forward, arg her back. He pces his hands on her waist to steady her.

  JAbsp;I’M THE KING OF THE WORLD!

  JAbsp;(singing softly)

  e, Josephine, in my flying mae...

  Rose closes her eyes, feeliless above the sea. She smiles dreamily, leaning back against him. He gently nudges her forward. Slowly, he raises his hands, their arms outstretched, until his fingers meet hers… fiips toug softly. Then their fingers iwine, movily together, like the bodies of two lovers.

  Jack leans his face toward her wi hair, inhaling her st until his cheek rests against her ear. Rose turns her head until her lips are near his. L her arms, she turns further, finding his mouth with hers. He s his arms around her from behind, and they kiss like that, her head tilted back, surrendering to him, to the emotion, to the iable. The kiss begins slowly and tremulously, then grows with passioensity.

  For Kate, it’s sensual—feeling Billy’s lips, the way he grips her hips. She doesn’t resist leaning into him slightly more until they break apart. The girl’s eyes remain closed, and a hint of madness lingers in her expression.

  Jad the ship seem fused into a single force of power and optimism, propellioward a magical journey, rand ising into a fearless night.

  -Cut. –

  The mid-afternoon sun was already on the horizon, casting long shadows. Kate felt a desire to keep kissing, her ptonic love for Billy like a drop of water lost in a rushing current.

  ...