I DON'T OWN TITANIC OR THE DIALOGUE

Once all the men arrived at the smoking room, they drank several brandies and congratulated themselves on being masters of the universe. Cal was discussing politics with Benjamin Guggenheim.

"Major businesses have the right to use any practice they deem necessary, my lawyers will argue that." Cal said.

"That's what Rockefeller said, but the Supreme Court isn't swallowing it." Guggenheim replied. William simply drank wine and listened to the conversation. He waited for one of the men to approach him and tell him that he was William's benefactor, but no one did. Eventually, after an hour of waiting, William excused himself.

"Excuse me gentleman, i'm going to get a bit of air." William said. Everyone nodded as William made his way outside. William was perplexed. He was sure that his benefactor would have made himself known by now.

"It can get a bit stuffy in there." William turned around to see John Jacob Astor walking out.

"It can indeed, Mr. Astor." William replied as Astor walked over to him.

"I was wondering William, how has Mr. Phipps been?" That caught William by surprise as he slowly looked over to John who had a smile on his face.

"Mr. Astor?" William asked in amazement. No one could know who William's attorney was unless...

"Congradulate me William." Astor said as he held out his hand. "I've made a gentleman of you."

"You certainly have." William said as he shook John's hand.

"I'm sure you have a great deal of questions for me and I will try to answer them the best I can." John replied. William thought about it for a moment.

"Why me?" William finally said. "How did you know my father."

"Well, when I was serving in the Spanish-American war, I met your father: Warwick Wopsle. He may have been a man of limited financial worth, but he struck me as an honorable man. We became very close friends. Eventually, we defeated the Spanish at Manila Bay in the Philippines. However, your father was stabbed in the chest by the bayonet of a Spanish solider. I killed him with a shot to the head, but the damage was done..." Astor started to get emotional remembering Warwick's death and so did William, for the father he barely knew.

"Mother never told me how he died." William said, wiping away a tear.

"As your father, lay dying, he asked me to do him one last favor. He told me about you and how he'd always wanted to give you a good life, which was why he'd enlisted in the army. He was planning to buy you a decent home with his earnings. He asked that I do everything in my power to give you the life he couldn't provide. I swore to him on my honor that you would be provided for. After I returned, I contacted Mr. Phipps and told him of my endeavor and he agreed to act as an emissary on my behalf." Astor finished.

"Why didn't you just tell me who you were, why all the secrecy?"

"My paying for the upkeep of a boy below my station is something most people would not have looked kindly on. I'm already scandalous enough as it is. Besides, everyone loves a good mystery." William couldn't help but laugh along with his benefactor.

"All my life has been heading towards this moment, but now, I don't know what to do next." William replied.

"Well, What is something your passionate about?" John asked.

"I've always had a taste for food and drink, but I don't want to be just another restaurant owner. I want to be great. I want to give people something they've never seen before."

"Then do it. You need to take charge of your life, William. Look what you've done so far. You've been able to make a name for yourself among the wealthiest people in the world despite Ruth's taunts. If you keep going, the way you're going, you can be the greatest man that ever lived." William nodded as he thanked Astor for the words of wisdom. The 2 men went back inside and Astor revealed himself to the men.

"Well Astor, I must say your investment has paid off rather well. Wopsle here is a fine example of a gentleman." Col. Gracie said.

"If you will excuse me gentlemen, I must be heading back." William said as he bid them all a good night. As he walked about the ship, he decided to pay a visit to his friends in third class. As he made his way down, he saw that the third class passengers in having a party. A band was playing as people were drinking and dancing. Fabrizio was dancing with Helga, Tommy was arm wrestling with another man, and Jack was dancing with Cora. As he found a place to sit down, he watched the whole spectacle unfold.

"It's amazing, isn't it." William turned around and saw Rose, still in her fancy dress.

"Rose, What are you doing here?" He asked.

"Jack wanted to take me to a "real party". Rose replied. "Did you discover your benefactor?"

"It was Astor."

"J.J. That's unbelievable." Rose said in surprise. Finally, the song ended and Jack came down and grabbed Rose and pulled her onto the stage. Cora was shooting daggers at Rose.

"You're still my best girl, Cora." Jack assured her and this did seem to pacify Cora. As Jack and Rose danced, William could tell that everyone was getting into it. "Come on William, get up here." Jack called out as William slowly came up on the stage. Jack and Rose were both showing off their dance steps and William was able to follow it perfectly. William really got into it. He grabbed a glass of beer and downed it as he was dancing. He eventually fell on his ass and everyone laughed. As the night went on, the party just kept getting more entertaining. Eventually, William was tired as Hell, but he'd had an epiphany. He went over to Jack, Rose, Fabrizio, and Helga as they were watching Tommy win an arm wrestling contest. It took a while, but Tommy eventually won.

"Ladies, gentlemen, i'd like to invite you all back to my suite. There's something I want to discuss with you." William said. Fabrizio, Tommy, and Helga looked skeptical, but they all followed William back to his first class suite. With the exception of Rose, they were all spellbound and how magnificent it looked.

"This is a blimey palace, boyo." Tommy said as he took his hat off.

"This is for royalty, no."Fabrizio added as they explored the whole room. Everyone took a seat as William ordered 2 bottles of champagne. As they drank, William made an announcement.

"Everyone, i've called you all here because i've realized the next chapter of my life." He said. "When I return to America, i'm Going to open a dining establishment, but not just any eatery. It's going to be the most fantastic place the world has ever seen. I'll have good food, delicious drinks, music, dancing, everything." William was clearly gung ho about this new idea of his.

"That sounds amazing, mr. Wopsle." Rose replied.

"And the best part is, I want you all to be on the ground floor with me." William added. Everyone was surprised.

"Are you serious?" Jack asked.

"Of course Jack, I need a fine artist to help me design the interior, when people walk inside, I want them to think that their in a painting." William added. "And Tommy, I want this place to be solid as a rock, I need an Irishman to will it into solid reality."

"Well, I've got the Irish hands for it." Tommy laughed.

"Fabrizio, Helga, surely you must know some Italian and Norwegian recipes?"

"My mama, she made the best pasta you ever eat." Fabrizio replied as William said the same thing to Helga in Norweigan. She was overtaken with joy.

"I promise, If you all come with me, you'll have more money than you'll know what to do with." William finished.

"Sweet Jesus." Tommy said, shaking his head. "William, this is mighty generous of ya, I don't know what ta say."

"Say you'll take the job, Tommy."

"You don't need to ask me twice William, i build ya the best restaurant I can."Tommy said as he shook William's hand.

"Fabrizio, Helga, What say you?"

"I work for you Signore Wopsle. I be millionaire." Fabric said as he and Helga agreed to work for him.

"And Jack, do I have your artistic talents behind me?"

"Why not?" Jack said as he shook William's hand. William raised his glass of champagne in a toast.

"Here's to good friends, good food, and the beginning of our new lives." William said as everyone drank. As they enjoyed themselves, their dreams seemingly in their grasp, they never imagined that by tomorrow, their lives would be in peril.

WILLIAM HAS FOUND HIS BENEFACTOR, HIS FRIENDS, AND HIS DREAMS. WILL IT SURVIVE THE ICEBERG? REVIEWS NEEDED.