hollywood system: art

June 27.

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

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

-Hey. – Billy commented.

It felt like a festive season. Around them, they were shooting all the Sunday scenes—the day of the iceberg collision. It was the hour of disillusionment, the hour of romance between two people on the verge of creating an iconic drama.

-Everything's organized. – Kate said, fully engrossed in the journey of becoming an actress in the grand project she had fought tooth and nail for. She wanted to excel and not disappoint the people who had helped her land the role.

-We've got work to do regardless. – Billy replied.

But the day turned out to be much longer. They only managed to film a few scenes 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 want people to recognize me for my remarkable roles, to say, "She's fantastic," so I can feel proud of what I do. A hard-working, extraordinary actress. The best who's ever graced the industry. But it's tough; many roles go to other, more beautiful women. – Kate confessed, drinking deeply from the bottle of wine. It was her third glass from the second bottle. Billy had only finished one bottle—his way of coping with different situations.

-That's a very noble dream. I think you'll achieve it. People will at least recognize you as a great actress in significant 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 economics. –

-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 coming days—or so she believed, smiling brightly, her youthful charm embracing a calm approach to things.

-Tomorrow's another day. – Billy commented, yawning and finishing his drink.

...

INT. GYM – DAY

Jack closes the door behind him and peers through the rippled glass 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 can't be seen.

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

JACK: Rose, you're no easy girl… you're spoiled, even, but beneath that, you've got a strong heart. You're the most incredibly amazing woman I've ever met, and…

ROSE: Jack, I…

JACK: 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 invested. You jump, I jump, remember? I can'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 encountered before. Kate shows this, closing her eyes and resting her cheek against Billy's hand. There's warmth in the gesture—a profound connection.

ROSE: You're making this so difficult. I'll be fine. Truly.

JACK: I don't believe you. They've got you in a glass jar like a butterfly. You'll die if you don't get out. Maybe not immediately, because you're strong. But sooner or later, the fire in you will burn out.

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

JACK: You're right. Only you can 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.

Everyone took just enough time to catch their breath. The next scene 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 Countess of Rothes, and Lady Duff Gordon are having tea. Rose is silent and still, like a porcelain figure, as the conversation 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 continues.

ANGLE, ROSE'S POV: A tableau of MOTHER and DAUGHTER having tea. The 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 conditioning—the pain of becoming 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 corner, knowing mistakes can be corrected in editing. By now, everyone had adjusted to the process, and the scenes were taking less time 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 and lets the cold wind clear his head.

Behind him, he hears a voice.

ROSE: Hello, Jack.

He turns, and there she is.

ROSE: I changed 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...

JACK: Shhh. Come here.

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

JACK: Close your eyes.

She obeys, and he turns her to face forward, toward the direction of the ship. He presses her gently against the railing and steps behind her. Then he takes her hands and raises them until she's standing with her arms outstretched. Rose follows. When he lets go, her arms remain aloft, like wings.

JACK: Alright, open them.

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

ROSE: I'm flying!

She leans forward, arching her back. He places his hands on her waist to steady her.

JACK: I'M THE KING OF THE WORLD!

JACK: (singing softly)

Come, Josephine, in my flying machine...

Rose closes her eyes, feeling weightless 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… fingertips touching softly. Then their fingers intertwine, moving gently together, like the bodies of two lovers.

Jack leans his face toward her windswept hair, inhaling her scent until his cheek rests against her ear. Rose turns her head until her lips are near his. Lowering her arms, she turns further, finding his mouth with hers. He wraps his arms around her from behind, and they kiss like that, her head tilted back, surrendering to him, to the emotion, to the inevitable. The kiss begins slowly and tremulously, then grows with passionate intensity.

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.

Jack and the ship seem fused into a single force of power and optimism, propelling her toward 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 platonic love for Billy like a drop of water lost in a rushing current.