Filming began at 8:00 PM. Despite all efforts, the scene started with them vanishing into the ocean. The ship had already sunk, and the cries echoed intensely from every direction, making it difficult to record. But that was the charm of these shots—the realism they conveyed, a stark contrast to the fast-paced, predictable product people often expected.
…
279 EXT. OCEAN / UNDERWATER AND SURFACE
Bodies spin and tumble—some limp like rag dolls, others spasmodically struggling, as the vortex pulls them under and twists them around.
Jack and Rose appear among them. They barely have time to breathe before people begin clawing at them—crazed by the freezing water, 28°F, a cold so biting it's indistinguishable from death by fire. A man pushes Rose under, trying to climb on top of her... a desperate, futile attempt to escape the water, to climb onto anything. Jack PUNCHES him repeatedly, freeing her.
JACK: Swim, Rose, swim!
She tries, but her strokes are less effective than his, hindered by the life jacket. They manage to break away from the group of people. Jack has to find something, anything, that will keep her out of the icy water.
JACK: Keep swimming. Keep moving. Come on, you can do it.
Around them, cries and groans echo—a chorus of tormented souls. Beyond that, there's nothing but endless black water stretching to a hopeless horizon. It's overwhelming.
Jack strokes rhythmically, the effort keeping him from freezing solid.
JACK: Look for something that floats. Debris... wood... anything.
ROSE: It's so cold.
JACK: I know, I know. Help me. Look around.
His words keep her focused, distracting her from the wails surrounding them. Rose scans the water, gasping for breath, barely able to think. She turns and... SCREAMS.
A FRENCH BULLDOG suddenly appears, swimming toward her like a sea monster in the dark, its coal-black eyes wide and wild. It speeds past her, heading for Newfoundland, or so it seems.
Beyond that, Rose spots something in the water.
ROSE: What's that?
Jack sees it too, and they swim toward it together. It's a piece of intricately carved wood. He pushes her onto it, and she slides onto her stomach. But when Jack tries to climb on, the plank tips and nearly tosses Rose back into the water. It's clear—it's only big enough for her. Jack clings to the side, trying to keep his upper body out of the freezing water as much as possible.
Their breath forms clouds around them as they pant from exertion. A man swims toward them, aiming for the piece of debris. Jack warns him to stop.
JACK: It's only enough for her. You'll push her under.
The man hesitates, desperate.
MAN: At least let me try, or I'll die out here.
JACK: You'll die faster if you come closer.
MAN: I see. Well... good luck to you then.
The man swims away, murmuring a faint "God bless you," as Jack and Rose remain, the scene capturing an unparalleled sense of presence.
CUT.
-It's perfect. It's magnificent.- James could see things falling into place. The scene had an unmatched weight of tragedy. Rose's demeanor was exactly what he envisioned for this moment.
Back on the set, all eyes turned to the director's orders.
…
-My God, I think I'm going to freeze to death,- Kate said, thoroughly drenched. The water wasn't 28°F, but to her, it felt that way. After getting into the boat, she was visibly miserable.
-You could always come back into the water,- Billy quipped.
He was also shivering. A makeup team quickly began painting frost and varying degrees of hypothermia onto them, even giving Billy the appearance of blue lips frozen by the cold.
-Try to keep your head out of the water, at least until the makeup sets,- one of the makeup artists—a kind woman—advised.
-I'll do just that.-
James approached with a few cameras to make adjustments. The water only reached their waists, and anyone could stand, but soon both Billy and Kate would film in a much larger pool.
-Billy, great job. You know your lines. Try to minimize your expressions and tremble slightly—you're nailing it. Cuddle up on the plank and channel what we call 'grief.' We'll be filming for two hours, and we'll likely capture most of the scene today, - Cameron directed with clarity.
***
Scene 198, Take 1.
EXT. OPEN OCEAN.
Jack and Rose float amidst a choir of the damned. Nearby, Jack spots Chief Officer Wilde. He's furiously blowing his whistle, knowing the sound will carry for miles.
JACK: The boats will come back for us, Rose. Just hold on a little longer. They had to row far from the suction, but they'll return.
She nods faintly, his words giving her hope as she lies on the plank. She's shivering uncontrollably, her lips blue, her teeth chattering—symptoms of the freezing cold overtaking her.
ROSE: Thank God for you, Jack.
People are still screaming and shouting for the lifeboats.
WOMAN: Come back! Please! You can hear us, for God's sake!
MAN: Please... help us. Save a life.
Jack and Rose float under a star-filled sky. The water is crystal clear, barely rippling. Rose sees the stars reflected in the black sea. Jack takes the waterlogged coat and tucks it tightly around her legs, rubbing her arms for warmth. His face is pale against the darkness, the faint sound of groaning surrounding them.
ROSE: It's going quiet.
JACK: Just a few minutes more. It'll take them some time to organize the boats.
Rose doesn't move, her gaze fixed on nothing. She knows the truth. No boats are coming. Behind Jack, she notices Chief Officer Wilde. He's stopped moving, slumped in a life jacket, appearing almost asleep. He's frozen to death.
JACK: I don't know about you, but I plan to write a strongly worded letter to White Star Line about all of this.
She laughs weakly, her breath shaky with fear. Rose finds his eyes in the dim light.
ROSE: I love you, Jack.
She takes his hand.
JACK: I won't let go, Rose. Don't give up. Don't.
ROSE: It's so cold.
JACK: You're going to get through this... You're going to live. You'll go on and have children and watch them grow, and you'll die an old lady, warm in your bed. Not here. Not tonight. Do you understand me?
ROSE: I can't feel my body.
JACK: Rose, listen to me. Listen. Winning that ticket was the best thing that ever happened to me.
Jack struggles to catch his breath, fighting to make her hear him.
JACK: It brought me to you. And I'm grateful, Rose. I'm so grateful.
His voice shakes from the cold, but it cuts straight to her heart. His gaze is unwavering—a golden moment captured in the rippling water that reflects the sea.
JACK: You have to do me this honor... Promise me you'll survive. That you'll never give up... no matter what happens... no matter how hopeless it seems. Promise me now, Rose. Never let go of that promise.
ROSE: I promise.
JACK: I'll never let go.
The words touch not only Rose but also Kate, who wishes they could extend the shoot by another five months. For now, though, this is the fateful ending.
ROSE: I promise. I'll never let go, Jack. I'll never let go.
She clutches his hand, and they rest their heads together. The stillness overtakes them, broken only by the faint lapping of the water. It's freezing, but it feels like the perfect place, not for kisses but for shared souls. They've danced, laughed on set, and spent afternoons watching the Olympics. Billy's meticulous care in preparing meals lingers in her thoughts.
CUT.
It's a triumphant ending.
"Great job."
Cameron, directing the scene himself for the first time in years, was captivated by the shot—a masterpiece in the making.
Billy delivered an exceptional performance, from the soulful depth of his eyes to how he conveyed cold and discomfort through every movement. It's a haunting sight, but one that offers an unforgettable experience.
....