Ode to Titanic: A musical experience

Chapter Six

After having fun showing Rose how to spit, Jack met Ruth and more first class women. But it was the famous Molly Brown that took Jack under her arm and loaned him a tuxedo that she had brought for his son, to wear to dinner that night.

Right now, he was practicing first class greetings when Rose descended the stairs, holding back her laughter at the sight of Jack pretending to shake hands. His eyes widened in wonder as she descended the stairs. He had never seen a lovelier sight. He slowly approached her and took her hand and gently kissed it.

"I saw that in a Nickelodeon once and always wanted to do that," He laughed. Rose just giggled and took his arm. Together, they approached Ruth and Cal, who were busy in conversation with another couple.

"Darling. You remember Jack Dawson, don't you?" Rose lightly touched her fiancé's arms.

Cal's arms widened in surprise. The change in Jack had certainly shocked him. Where on earth did the boy get the tuxedo? "Dawson? Why you can almost pass for a gentleman."

Jack smiled and shrugged. "Almost."

Once at the bottom of the stairs, Rose took him aside and began pointing out different men and women, giving him the low down on each one. He didn't say a word. Just stood there with a smile and enjoyed her warm breath whispering in his ear. So far, this was the best night of his life.

"Care to escort a lady?" Molly walked up behind the young people, a bright smile lighting up her face.

"Why certainly," Jack, held out his free arm for Molly to take.

"So Rose, have you shared the secrets of greeting people?"

Rose frowned. "What do you mean?"

Molly laughed. She should have known. Rose being a city girl didn't have a clue about greeting people either. It was up to Molly to teach them both. "Just do what I do. You look them in the eye. Nod your head like so, and say

Molly: How do you do?

Jack: Mighty pretty greeting,

Rose: How do you do?

Molly: Say it when yer meeting,
How do you do? With everyone repeating,

Jack: Pretty good sure as yer born.

What goes up is sure to come down,
a penny lost is

Rose: A penny found
I'll howdy you, you howdy back,

Jack: this for that and tit for tat.
How do you do?

Rose: Fine how are u?
How ya com on?

Jack: Pretty good sure as yer born

Molly: You've got it! Stop jumpin brer rabbit, you'll run outta breath,
now sit down and calm yerself?
The grasshopper jumps, so do da fleas,

Rose: I do what I like,

Jack: And I suits me.

(The trio comes upon the Astors)

Rose: How do ya do?

JJ Astor: Fine how are u?

Molly: How ya come on?

Jack: Pretty good sure as yer born

Jack was a hit. No one suspected that he was really a steerage passenger. Finally they reached their table and sat down to dine. Ruth, having enough of the secretive glances Rose and Jack shared, decided to blow the whole charade.

"So Mr. Dawson. How is Steerage? I heard it's rather nice on this ship," Ruth smiled like the fox that ate the canary. Rose wanted to kill her mother and Cal was grateful. It looked as if he was going to have his fun after all.

"The best I've seen mam. Hardly any rats," Jack smiled, not really bothered by the truth. Why should he be? He was what he was. If these people were bothered by it…that was their problem.

"Mr. Dawson is joining us from the third class. He was of some assistance to my fiancée last night," Cal explained, ready for the shenanigans.

"Mr. Dawson is quite the fine artist. He was kind enough to show me some of his work today," Rose smiled over at Jack, wanting to help him save face.

Rose and I different in our tastes of fine art," Cal snorted, wanting to shoot Rose's praise down. He looked at Jack. "Not to impune your work, sir."

Jack shrugged. No offense by the comment, but the dimming of the fire in Rose's eyes when Cal dismissed her compliment.

"However do you have means to travel?" Ruth asked, taking a bite out of a cracker.

"Well I work my way from place to place. Odd jobs and tramp steamers and such. But my current address is the RMS Titanic and after that I'm on Gods good well."

Ruth frowned derisively. Her voice was full of displeasure. "And you find that rootless existence appealing."

Jack thought over it and came up with his conclusion. "Why yes mam, I do. I have everything I need here with me. Air in my lungs, a fresh sheet of paper. The other night I was sleeping under a bridge and now, here I am. On the grandest ship in the world, having champagne with you fine people. Life's short and I don't plan on missing a moment of it. You never know what cards you're going to get dealt. So I live by what my father always told me. Make each day count."

(Music begins)

Jack: High times, hard times
Sometimes the living is sweet
And sometimes there's nothing to eat
But I always and on my feet
So when there's dry times
I wait for high times and then
I put on my best
And I stick out my chest
And I'm off to the races again!

My good friend the mayor, he called me today
He said all the voters are turning away
"Help me," he cried, "or they'll give me the axe!"(Swings imaginary ax)
I said, "Your Honor, you've got to relax..." Everybody!

Everyone: High times, hard times
Sometimes the living is sweet
And sometimes there's nothing to eat
But I always land on my feet
So when there's dry times
I wait for high times and then
I put on my best
And I stick out my chest
And I'm off to the races again!

Jack: (Stands behind Cal) So your old lady don't love you no more
So you're afraid there's a wolf at your door
So you got street rats that scream in your ear

Rose: You win some, you lose some, my dear!

Everyone: Oh, high times, hard times
Sometimes the living is sweet
And sometimes there's nothing to eat
But I always land on my feet
So when there's dry times
I wait for high times and then
I put on my best
And I stick out my chest
And I'm off to the races again!

Jack: I put on my best
And I stick out my chest

Everyone: And I'm off

Jack: And I'm off
Everyone: And I'm off to the races again

******************************

Slightly nervously, Rose looked up at Jack who was standing on top of the grand staircase. She was still clutching the small piece of paper in her hand which he had given to her, unnoticed by anyone. "Make it count. Meet me at the clock", it read.

He had his back to her, nevertheless he noticed her as she slowly went upstairs. He turned around and smiled at her.

"Want to go to a real party?" he asked.

The scene abruptly changed.

The third class general room was crowded with multicultural steerage passengers and filled with Irish folk music.

Rose was sitting at a table, drinking delicious Irish Guinness Beer (which is really delicious as I can confirm – author B. ;-)) and clapping her hand as she watched Jack dancing with little Cora Cartmell.

The band stopped playing for a moment and Jack stepped towards Rose. He held his hand out toward Rose, smiling.

"Come on," he urged, but Rose was just staring at him, her own smile fading.

"What?...", she stuttered in a nervous tone of voice, but he just took her hand and dragged her onto the dance floor.

"Come on, we'll dance," he simply stated, taking her right hand in his left and sliding his other hand to her back. Rose swallowed excitedly, looking up at him.

"I can´t do this. I don´t know the steps."

"Neither do I," Jack laughed when the music started again. "Just move with me. Don´t think!" he shouted.

He slightly began to rap.

Jack: Look, if you had one shot or one opportunity

To seize everything you ever wanted in one moment

Would you capture it or just let it slip?

His tone of voice changed and he began to sing.

Jack: Look around everywhere you turn is heartache (but not here actually)
It's everywhere that you go
You try everything you can to escape
The pain of life that you know
When all else fails and you long to be
Something better than you are today
I know a place where you can get away
It's called a dance floor, and here's what it's for, so

Come on vogue
Let your body move to the music
Hey, hey, hey
Come on, vogue
Let your body go with the flow
You know you can do it

All you need is your own imagination
So use it that's what it's for
Go inside for your own inspiration
Your dreams will open the door
It makes no difference if you're black or white,
If you're a boy or a girl
If the music is pumping it will give you new life
You're a superstar, yes, that's what you are, you know it

Come on vogue
Let your body move to the music
Hey, hey, hey
Come on, vogue
Let your body go with the flow
You know you can do it

Beauty is where you find it
Not just where you bump and grind it
Soul is in the musical
That's where I feel so beautiful
Magical, life is a ball
So get up on the dance floor

Vogue

He stopped singing and stared rapping instead.

Jack: You better lose yourself in the music
The moment you own it you better never let it go, oh
You only get one shot, do not miss your chance to blow
Cuz opportunity comes once in a lifetime, yo
You better lose yourself in the music
The moment you own it you better never let it go, oh
You only get one shot, do not miss your chance to blow
Cuz opportunity comes once in a lifetime, yo
You better

You can do anything you set your mind to…

******************************

The next day. The sun was shining brightly and Rose was listening just with one ear when Mr. Andrews guided her mother, Cal and herself around, showing them all the important and interesting ship areas. She remembered what has happened the morning during breakfast. Cal had gone mad since he had found out where she had been the night before. Of course he had had his damn manservant follow her. She had never seen him getting a violent outburst before.

And she remembered the scene in her suite that morning. Her mother had helped her getting dressed. And she has actually forbidden Rose to see Jack again. As is emphasizing her words, she had tied up Rose´s corset especially tightly and using her well-known egoistical tears. Of course her she also had had to mention the fact that all their money was gone. But Rose had gotten more and more annoyed.

Now she was listening to Mr. Andrews who was telling them something about the number of boats up on deck.

"Mr. Andrews," she interrupted him. "I did the sum in my head, and with the number of lifeboats times the capacity you mentioned... forgive me, but it seems that there are not enough for everyone aboard."

About half, actually," he replied, smiling at her. "Rose, you miss nothing, do you? In fact, I put in these new type davits, which can take an extra row of boats here."

He gestured along the boat deck.

"But it was thought... by some... that the deck would look too cluttered. So I was over-ruled."

"Waste of deck space as it is, on an unsinkable ship!" cal exclaimed, slapping the side of a boat with his cane.

"Sleep soundly, young Rose," Mr. Andrews told her, noticing the concerned and uncertain expression on her face. "I have built you a good ship, strong and true. She's all the lifeboat you need."

They continued their way along the deck, Rose slowly following them. She was about to fasten her steps when she felt someone drag her arm, turning her around. She faced Jack who was wearing a black coat and a hat. He had been leaning against one of the boats and now he was grasping her arm, silently motioning for her to follow him. He led her into the nearby gym and closed the door behind him. He took off his hat as she slightly leaned against the window frame.

"Jack," she breathed. "This is impossible. I can´t see you." She was about to turn to the door again, but Jack held her back.

"I need to talk to you," he begged her and she leaned back on the window frame again.

"Jack," she began again. "I'm engaged. I'm marrying Cal. I love Cal."

Jack slightly sighed and looked at her as if she had just told him the most implausible thing of the world.

"Rose, you're no picnic...you're a spoiled little brat even. But under that, you're the most amazingly astounding, wonderful girl I've ever known and…"

"Jack, I…"she tried to interrupt his painfully honest words. Actually, she had never met anyone as honest as Jack was in her life. But she was not used to people expressing their feeling as he did.

"No wait, let me try to get this out. You´re amazing," he started again, fumbling with his words.

"Listen. I'm not an idiot. I know how the world works. I've got ten bucks in my pocket and I've nothing to offer you and I know that. But I'm too involved now. You jump, I jump, remember? I can´t turn away without knowing you'll be alright. That's all that I want."

"I´ll be fine, I´ll be fine. Really." Rose tries to assure him, but inside she was fighting her tears. Even she herself didn't believe her own words.

"Really?" Jack asked, but the tone of his voice revealed that he highly doubted her words.

"I don´t think so," he replied. "They've got you trapped, Rose. And you gonna die if you don´t break free, maybe not right away because you're strong, but…" he lowered his voice and softly placed his right hand on her cheek. "Sooner or later that fire that I love about you, Rose, that fire is gonna burn out."

Rose felt her urge to push him away slowly fade away. She realized that he was right. He seemed to know everything about her.

She began to sing.

Rose:

I wanted to be like you

I wanted everything

So I tried to be like you

And I got swept away

Jack:

I didn't know that it was so cold and

You needed someone

To show you the way

So I took your hand and we figured out

That when the tide comes

I'd take you away

If you want to

I can save you

I can take you away from here

So lonely inside

So busy out there

And all you wanted

Was somebody who cares

Rose:

I'm sinking slowly

So hurry, hold me

Your hand is all I have to keep me hanging on

Please can you tell me

So I can finally see

Where you go when you're gone

Jack:

If you want to

I can save you

I can take you away from here

So lonely inside

So busy out there

And all you wanted

Was somebody who cares

All you wanted was somebody who cares

If you need me you know I'll be there, yeah

If you want to

I can save you

I can take you away from here

So lonely inside

So busy out there

And all you wanted

Was somebody who cares

If you want to

I can save you

I can take you away from here

So lonely inside

So busy out there

And all you wanted

Was somebody who cares

Please can you tell me

So I can finally see

Where you go when you're gone

For a brief moment, Rose had been overwhelmed by her emotions. She had been so much impressed by Jack's honesty that she had allowed herself to reveal her true feelings in front of him. But now, she just shook her head. This was impossible. She couldn't just leave her old life like this. Or could she?

"It's not up to you to save me, Jack," she sated, lifting her chin in order to appear more self-conscious than she actually was.

"You´re right," Jack whispered. "Only you can do that."

Rose reluctantly pushed Jack's hand away and stood tall in front of him. She felt confused, uncertain and overwhelmed at the same time.

"I have to go back. Leave me alone," she told him, turning towards the door and the next second she was gone.

She had been on the verge of tears, Jack could see that, but she had pushed him away again. Sighing, he leaned against the window, staring at the door, where she had once again disappeared from his life, for a long time.

-----------------

Songs:

1. How Do You Do? - Lyrics from "The Song of the South" soundtrack

2. High Times, Hard Times - Lyrics from "Newsies" soundtrack

3. combination: Madonna - "Vogue" and Eminem – "Lose Yourself"

4. Michelle Branch - "All You Wanted"

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