hollywood system: art

The night grew colder as the filming shifted to various setups. Kate had makeup smeared across Billy's face—a recurring occurrence. Every kiss they shared left him covered in makeup, which she applied to make her skin look as pale as it did in the film.

Billy sighed inwardly as he attempted a run that was rejected. They had spent two hours on a small scene, and his feet were cramping from the discomfort of the shoes.

–This one has to be the take.– someone from production remarked.

James was shouting at a few people, his patience wearing thin. Billy's calm, bright eyes contrasted with the reprimands he overheard. Despite his unusual shyness, there was a certain strength in the way he worked that managed to temper Cameron's frustration.

Scene 103, Take 15–

112 INTERIOR – SUITE HALLWAY

Rose smiles mischievously and gestures for Jack to be quiet. Rose and Jack slip out of their cabin, closing the door behind them. She leads him quickly down the hallway toward the B-deck lobby. They're halfway through the open space when the sitting room door swings open, and Lovejoy steps into the hallway. The valet spots Jack with Rose and takes off after them.

ROSE: Let's go!

She and Jack dash past a few startled ladies and gentlemen. Rose leads him past the staircase to a bank of elevators, where they nearly collide with an operator.

ROSE: Down! Quickly, quickly!

The operator scrambles to obey. Jack even helps shut the steel door. Lovejoy runs up just as the elevator starts to descend, slamming a hand against the bars of the door. Rose makes an unladylike and rude gesture, laughing as Lovejoy disappears above. The operator stares at her, open-mouthed.

A quick adjustment follows as the cameraman moves in a rapid sequence.

113 INT. B-DECK LOBBY / ELEVATORS

Lovejoy emerges from another elevator and rushes to the one Jack and Rose used. The operator is closing the door to ascend again. Lovejoy runs around the elevators, scanning the lobby for Jack and Rose. Not finding them, he tries the staircase leading down to F-deck.

114 INT. F-DECK HALLWAYS / FAN ROOM

A functional space with access to machinery areas (fan rooms, boiler intakes). Jack and Rose lean against a wall, laughing.

JACK: This guy is relentless for a valet.

ROSE: He's a former Pinkerton. Cal's father hired him to keep him out of trouble... to make sure he always returned to the hotel with his wallet and watch after wandering the less respectable parts of town.

JACK: Kind of like what we're doing now... uh-oh!

Lovejoy spots them from a nearby corridor and charges toward them. Jack and Rose sprint around a corner into a dead end. There's a door marked "CREW ONLY," and Jack flings it open.

In a swift motion, the cameras capture a dynamic, fluid sequence.

They enter a CREW COMMON ROOM, filled with noise and chaos. There's no exit except for a staircase leading downward. Jack locks the door, and Lovejoy pounds on it moments later. Jack smiles at Rose and gestures to the stairs.

JACK: After you, my lady.

-cut.-

Billy was thrilled, nailing the scene perfectly. Both actors delivered flawlessly. As the door closed, the call for a cut was heard, and Billy exhaled while Kate celebrated their success.

–I think we nailed it.– murmured Kate. It was almost ten in the morning.

She wore only a dress, using gloves and a scarf to shield herself from the cold between takes. Before each shot, she would hold Billy's icy cheeks in her hands, smiling. It was a silly but endearing gesture.

–It was the cameramen's fault; they were a bit confused about the lighting.– Billy remarked.

The room was empty, resembling a wooden warehouse. They opened the door to see the crew bustling around, organizing the next scene. Billy descended the stairs. The grand ship seemed distant; the lower section was part of a smaller set.

–It feels strange to go down.– Rose commented.

Scene 104, Take 1–

116 INT. BOILER ROOMS FIVE AND SIX

Jack and Rose descend the escape stairs, gazing around in awe. It looks like a vision of hell itself, with roaring furnaces and blackened figures moving amidst the smoky glow. They run along the boiler room, dodging stunned firemen and stokers with their coal carts.

JACK: (shouting over the din) Keep going! Don't mind us!

They sprint through an open watertight door into BOILER ROOM SIX. Jack pulls her into a sweltering alleyway between two boilers, where they stop in the shadows, out of sight from the workers. Hidden, they watch the firemen shoveling coal into the insatiable furnaces, the roar of the flames echoing all around.

A quick cut transitions to them running down a corridor, caught in their own world. Billy, too, is lost in his. He's there, entirely immersed, without anyone watching or directing him.

Jack and Rose rush through rows of stacked cargo. She clutches herself against the chill after the stifling heat of the boilers. They stumble upon William Carter's new Renault touring car, strapped to a pallet. It looks like a royal carriage from a fairy tale, with brass trim and headlamps perfectly complementing its deep burgundy color.

Rose climbs into the luxurious rear seat, behaving like a queen. The walls feature crystal flowers, each etched with a rose. Jack hops into the driver's seat, savoring the feel of the leather and wood.

JACK: Where to, my lady?

ROSE: To the stars.

From above, Jack's hands emerge from the shadows, pulling her back over the seat. He lands beside her, their breaths loud in the quiet darkness. He gazes at her, and she smiles. It's the moment of truth.

JACK: Are you nervous?

ROSE: Quite the opposite, darling.

He strokes her face gently, caressing her. She kisses his artist's fingers, then, daringly, says:

ROSE: Put your hands on me, Jack.

Billy adjusts Kate's posture, his eyes reflecting an infinite desire that captures the lens's glow.

–You're beautiful.– Jack/Billy whispers, improvising, before pulling her close and kissing her.

He kisses her neck as she tilts her head, exposing her collarbone. They continue kissing passionately, to the point where the cameras stop rolling, but no one calls for a cut. He breaks character briefly, noticing the cameras still focused on them.

He lifts her and places her on his lap. She squeals in surprise as he unbuttons her shirt and nibbles her neck. She presses her face against him.

–Cut.–

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