Billy took a deep breath, the sun high overhead. Monica settled into a chair made just for her, cooled by the only fan in the room. She was every inch a beauty queen—charming, subtle, full of desire, and poised like a siren, radiant in her allure.

  There was something about this particur moment: her tanned legs, dark hair, and nee, atuated by a Prada dress in green with white and emerald hues, made her look beyond stunning.

  –We’re in the middle of what we’d call a crusade,– Cameron remarked, wiping sweat off his brow every five minutes. Everything rogressing smoothly for now. Billy’s good mood made filming easier, and they were achieving record speeds, ing up ses involving greetings, minor lines, and casual remarks. But it was only the beginning—much more remaio be done.

  Billy took a break, preparing to suit up for one of the daytime ses. As he put on his suit, Cameron appeared, grumbling that one of the assistant cameramen had botched a shot and they’d have to reshoot the se. Billy felt an overwhelming urge to bang his head against the wall.

  –Let’s hope this is the st time,– Billy muttered, stretg as he set the suit aside. For now, he just o fomersing himself imosphere.

  Se 25, Take 32

  INT. THIRD-CLASS ON ROOM.

  The heart of third-css social life. It’s modest pared to the grandeur of first-css, but alive with noise and energy. Mothers cradle babies and children dart between benches shouting in various nguages and being scolded by others. Elderly women yell men py chess, and young girls embroider or read penny novels. A worn piano stands in the er, where Tommy Ryan pyfully experiments with its keys.

  Three children shriek and run around, chasing a rat uhe benches and trying to swat it with a shoe, creating chaos. Jack is seated with five-year-old Cora Cartmell, drawing silly faces in a sketchbook.

  Fabrizio, meanwhile, struggles to strike up a versation with a striking Nian woman, Helga Dahl, who sits with her family at a table across the room.

  FABRIZIO: You don’t know Italian? Maybe a little English?

  HELGA: No, no. Only Nian.

  Helga’s gaze shifts toward something. Fabrizio follows her line of sight… and then Jack, curious, does the same. Rose is approag them. The room’s activity slows to a halt, repced by stunned silence. Passengers of the third css stare at her—some with rese, others with awe. Rose looks directly at Jack, a small smile as she walks toward him. He stands to meet her, grinning.

  ROSE: Hello, Jack.

  Kate aims for the same nervous energy as the first time, her flushed cheeks adding to her charm.

  Fabrizio and Tommy are dumbfounded. It’s like derel herself has stepped into the room.

  JAbsp;Hello again.

  ROSE: Could I speak with you in private?

  JAbsp;Uh… sure. After you.

  He gestures for her to lead the way. The cameras follow as they leave the space. Though it isn’t far, every detail adds to the film’s expense—recreating everything so precisely is no small feat.

  Billy gnces over his shoulder, raising an eyebrow as he walks with her, leaving behind a stunned silence.

  73. EXT. SHIP’S DECK – DAY

  Jad Rose walk side by side, passing passengers lounging and chatting on deck chairs. Curious gnces follow the mismatched pair. Jack, in his rough attire, feels out of pce. Both are visibly uneasy but for different reasons.

  JAbsp;So… do you have a name?

  ROSE: Rose. Rose DeWitt Bukater.

  JAbsp;That’s a pretty faname. Maybe I should have you write it down for me.

  Jack’s pyful demeanor suits the character, lighthearted and uious.

  A pause lingers betweeheir eyes meet. Kate looks down first, then Billy follows, as if chraphed. Finally, she gathers the ce to speak.

  ROSE: Mr. Dawson, I...

  JAbsp;You call me Jack.

  ROSE: Jack… I feel like such a fool. It took me all m to work up the o face you.

  JAbsp;Well, here you are.

  ROSE: Here I am. I wao thank you. Not just for helping me back but for your discretion.

  JAbsp;You’re wele, Rose.

  ROSE: I know what you must be thinking: ‘Poor little rich girl. What does she know about misery?’

  JAbsp;That’s not what I was thinking. I was w… what could have happeo make this girl so desperate that she felt she had no other way out.ROSE: I don’t know… it wasn’t just ohing. It was everything. It was them—it was their entire world. And I was trapped in it, like an i in amber. I had to escape... to run, and run, and run. And then I got to the ship’s stern, and there were no more ships, no escape—not eveanic was big enough. Not enough to get away from them. And before I even realized it, I was over the rail. I was so angry.

  ‘I’ll show them! They’ll regret it!’

  JAbsp;Right. Sure, they’ll regret it. After all, you’ll be dead.

  ROSE: Oh, God, I’m su idiot.

  Kate lowers her head, but Billy’s eyes brim with innod love. Monica watches him act, and for some reason, she feels the pull to be part of the film. He’s undeniably a great actor, but there’s a passion ihing Billy does. He must be Italian.

  JAbsp;That penguin from st night—is he one of them?

  ROSE: Penguin? Oh… Cal. He is them.

  JAbsp;Your boyfriend?

  ROSE: Worse, I’m afraid.

  She holds up her e ring, a massive diamond.

  JAbsp;Wow, look at that thing. It would’ve sunk you straight to the bottom.

  They ugh together. A passing steward frowns at Jack, clearly noting he isn’t a first-css passenger, but Rose stares back defiantly.

  –Cut,– Cameron calls, his voice carrying a deliberate gentleness as he checks the camera.

  –Alright, let’s move on to the setup,– Cameron says, as the crew begins their preparations. Monica watches everything, her determination growing. This is what she wants. She’s brushed against it before but knows she must embrace it fully—live it pletely.

  ...