INT. HIGH SOCIETY PARTY - NIGHT

THREE YOUNG LADIES buzz furtively at a party, their eyes afire with the delight of juicy gossip. The tragedy of Rose's death is overshadowed for them by what they consider to be her unforgivable behavior. LADY 1 I hear his fiancee left him for a steerage boy!Scandalous! LADY 2 Yes! Mr. Carter saw him forgo an opportunity to board a lifeboat to look for her, the poor fool. She was with HIM, of course. LADY 3 Mrs. Appleton says Hockley seated her in a lifeboat... but the sly little vixen leapt out to be with her new catch, and then went down with theship! How incredibly foolish! LADY 1 Yes, and she certainly should have secured Hockley first before embarking on a new conquest...especially given her situation. Why, I've heard that her mother, Ruth Dewitt Bukater, is actually penniless! LADY 2 Shh! Cal walks by. He catches this bit about Ruth, but pretends not to hear. When Cal is at a safe distance, Lady 1 leans in and gives the others a knowing look. LADY 1 Her house is up for sale! LADY 3 Really! It's no small wonder she wasn't invited here tonight. Lady 1 eyes Cal slyly. LADY 1 Mmm... Well, Hockley'scertainly better off withoutthem... but how can he showhis face here? Howdreadfully embarrassing! She pops an hors d'oeuvre in her mouth, and decides it would be too risky socially to pursue Cal herself. Cal stands with a group of men across the room, pretending to listen to their conversation.

CAL (VO)
There was no one there I could turn to. My friendships were all shallow aquaintances. How could they possibly understand?They were not on Titanic. Cal glances around the room.

CAL (VO)
Most of the survivors from the Philadelphia set were not present that evening, except there was young Jack Thayer... JACK THAYER (17) and RICHARD NORRIS WILLIAMS (21) shake hands with a group of men.

CAL (VO)
...but I feared him, wondering what he might ask... or what he might have witnessed of my behavior that night. He had survived honorably atop the overturned collapsible with Gracie and Lightoller. There was also another boy with him who seemed familiar. Cal casts his eyes shamefully downward.

CAL (VO)
But then, why should I have the comfort of human companionship?I should not be standing here at all. I belonged at the bottom of the ocean. There was nothing for me here in this world of light and civilized humanity. I had my own world now, the one I created for myself with my cowardice.I was alone in that world, existing in a glass bubble, unable to touch others, unable to be touched. Everything around me seemed at an infinite distance. MAN Not too talkative tonight, Hockley? Cal's companions are concerned about him. The attempt to welcome Cal into the conversation fails.

CAL
Excuse me. I have not been well. Cal turns to leave. He can't wait to burst out of there.

INT. HIGH SOCIETY PARTY - NEAR FRONT DOOR - NIGHT

Cal hurriedly thanks the party's host and hostess. He prepares to disappear out the door, but Jack Thayer and Williams approach him from behind. JACK THAYER Oh, sir... I was hoping to have a chance to speak with you tonight.

CAL
Um, yes... I haven't been well, Jack. Jack Thayer and Williams take Cal aside. Jack Thayer speaks in a low voice, and his dark, sensitive eyes probe Cal's soul. JACK THAYER Not feeling much like a party?Yes, I understand, Mr. Hockley.We both do. Williams steps forward to meet Cal. JACK THAYER This is my friend Dick Williams, a Harvard man, starting this fall. He was in your life boat. Cal is rendered dumb with panic. WILLIAMS Pleased to meet you properly this time, sir. That water was blasted cold, wasn't it? The solid, athletic Williams reaches out his hand. Cal gives a little nod and shakes his hand. The boys struggle to be jovial, while working through their grief. Cal's head swims. JACK THAYER I'll say... once I noticed it anyway. I was too busy watching the ship go down. WILLIAMS When I came up to the surface, I was shocked to find myself face to face with a bulldog!... but that cold still hit me like an iceberg! You looked pretty miserable too, sir.

CAL
Yes.WILLIAMS I don't understand all those ladies complaining about having to row. That's nothing compared to what we went through. Cal casts his eyes downward self-consciously.

CAL (VO)
They thought I had climbed into the boat from the water too!This is how my honor had been spared! Of course! The boys mistake Cal's expression for sensitivity. Cal looks back up at them. Jack Thayer sees Cal is unable to be jovial. JACK THAYER I'm deeply sorry to hear about your fiancee. It must be very difficult.

CAL
I was grieved to hear of your father's death, Jack. He was quite a hero, giving up his place in a boat for your mother's maid. JACK THAYER Thank you, sir. Dick lost his father too.

CAL
(sincerely) Oh, I'm dreadfully sorry! You are both very brave young gentlemen.

CAL (VO)
The lie I was living became more unbearable with each passing moment. Cal excuses himself, and leaves. JACK THAYER Not a word about his own pain. WILLIAMS He's a fine man, that Mr. Hockley. I hear he offered to take in the Titanic's orphans. JACK THAYER And he's donated scads of money to collections for steerage passengers.

INT. LIZZY'S HOUSE - KITCHEN - PRESENT DAY Lizzy and Brock sit close together, amidst a pile of books.

LIZZY
But wouldn't Jack Thayer have been sympathetic toward Cal? Lizzy finds a passage in "The Sinking of the S.S. Titanic" by John B. Thayer, and points it out to Brock.

BROCK
That's right, Lizzy. He's the one who told Ismay he had every right to get in a boat.Tell, me... how was Rose faring at this point? I imagine she doing better than Cal. Lizzy's mind drifts back fondly to her memory of Rose.

LIZZY
Rose began getting out some too then, and she tried to enjoy life as much as she could. She knew Jack would want it that way, that he would want her to pursue her dreams. She tried to make each day count.

INT. GREENWICH VILLAGE BAR - NIGHT

- AUGUST, 1912 Rose sits in a booth, drinking beer with her bohemian friends. Two gay actors, FABIAN and ARIEL, sit across from each other, and Rose sits next to a straight guy, RICKY. A female actress, DELIA, sits across from Rose.

LIZZY (VO)
So, she took minor roles in some lesser known theatrical productions in New York. But she felt half of her was still back on the Titanic with Jack. Rose's mind has wandered off, drawn away by the tentacles of melancholy.

LIZZY (VO)
She knew she had made all the right decisions the night of the sinking. She stayed behind with her man just like Ida Straus, but, you know, she still felt guilty. She always wondered if Jack would have lived if she had just gotten on that lifeboat, like he had told her to. FABIAN And that director! He keeps losing his place in the script. ARIEL Oh, everyone knows you're just jealous of his new flame! DELIA Awright, you're making me sick. Ricky's dog, TROTSKY, jumps up, hoping for a scrap of food. RICKY Down, boy. C'mon Rose. It's closing night. You can do better than that. Ricky nods to Rose's beer. Rose downs a huge swig, and tries to perk up some. Unlike Cal, she stays at her party. Rose reluctantly allows Ricky to put his arm around her. He's cool and he's handsome, but he's not Jack. Behind them, Fabian and Ariel descend into a mock brawl. Delia fights to keep from being shoved off the bench or hit by a stray fist. Ricky calmly ignores all of this. RICKY Cheer up, love. They'll cast you in a real role next time, but just don't get too friendly with the director for my sake, eh? Rose gives him a friendly shove. They take to a brawl of their own. Soon, all five of them jovially duke it out with each other. They can't help being actors even on their time off. Rose and Delia are knocked onto the floor by the guys getting out of control. Beer spills all over them. They both rise, giggling. Delia makes a mock attack on Rose. Rose screams in surprise, as she is ripped away from her lingering sadness, and thrust into the throes of farcical mayhem. The two girls pretend to rip at each other's hair and clothing. DELIA (theatrically) He's mine, I tell you!

ROSE
Not if I can help it, you floozy! The guys stop brawling and cheer the girls on. Ricky adopts a smug pose, looking as debonair as possible as the girls fight for him. A BARKEEPER wearily intercedes. BARKEEPER Awright, that's enough! And get that mutt outta here too. RICKY C'mon Trotsky. They exit. Trotsky trots on out after his master.

EXT. GREENWICH VILLAGE BAR - NIGHT

The drunken assembly lingers outside. At Delia's suggestion, the girls lean on each other's shoulders, and begin performing the can-can, singing as they dance. Rose is reluctant at first, but joins in the merriment, and is soon laughing and smiling. Rose's joy is momentarily soured as she remembers the TITANIC'S BAND PLAYING ORPHEUS and the NOISE ON DECK during the sinking.

LIZZY (VO)
It was Jack's spirit that kept her going. Through his spirit, she found her own. Rose is soon distracted from this sad remembrance. Fabian and Ariel join in the dance, and Rose finds a much needed release, as she and Delia reel with laughter. Ricky coaxes the women's legs higher, and holds out his hat for passers by. Trotsky joins in, standing up on his two hind legs. A passing drunk tosses a coin approvingly into Ricky's hat.

LIZZY (VO)
Yet, things were never quite the same without the magic of Jack's love.

INT. CAL'S BEDROOM - 1811 WALNUT STREET - DAY

- SEPTEMBER, 1912 Cal sits at his desk, reading his morning newspaper. He sees a headline: "Orphanage burns. Children at Warehouse."

CAL (VO)
One day, I found a remedy for a few of the problems in my life.My sense of guilt badly needed assuaging... and the servants needed something to do so that they would not always be meddling in my affairs.Perhaps I would soon have some peace.

INT. PARLOR - DAY

Cal talks on the telephone.

CAL
Yes, I said I can take them all. I'll hear nothing more of children sleeping in warehouses, is that clear?And, please be discreet. I don't want the press getting wind of this!

INT. CAL'S BEDROOM - DAY

Cal lies in a quagmire of listless despondency upon his bed.A KNOCK at the door commands him to emerge from his languid stupor.

CAL
(annoyed) What is it? SHEILA The children are here, sir.You'd better come outside.

CAL
Oh, very well.

EXT. 1811 WALNUT STREET - DAY

The sidewalk is in chaos. A dozen children have collected by the railing, and more are unloaded from a delivery truck Wannamakers has loaned out for the occasion. The children gape at the plush neighborhood and the Hockley mansion in awe. Cal emerges from the front door, dumbfounded. As he steps outside, he is enveloped by total bedlam. It's like the Carpathia all over again. Cal approaches Mrs. Bingham, who is attempting to ameliorate the concerns of an elderly neighbor, MRS. HARRISON.

CAL
Mrs. Bingham! How many children ARE there?

MRS. BINGHAM
I've done a quick head count, and it looks like seventeen, sir.

CAL
Seventeen! Why, that's an impossible number!

MRS. BINGHAM
You didn't know how many there would be, sir?

CAL
(muttering, embarrassed) Well, no. I thought there would just be a handful. A girl (8) leans toward a boy (6). GIRL He doesn't want us. He's going to send us back. A distraught Max approaches Cal.

MAX
Even if we double 'em up, we only have enough beds upstairs for ten of 'em, sir. Some of 'em will have to go back. Cal hesitates, as he recognizes the situation to be like that on the Titanic, with lifeboats for just about half. A hush falls on the busy gathering, as all eyes turn to Cal. All probe his expression, awaiting word from the Master. Cal writhes under the strain, then settles on the only option he finds acceptable.

CAL
Max, you say there are not enough beds. Could we fit them in if we were to acquire extra beds?MAX I suppose we could cram 'em all in, if we use some of the extra rooms, sir. Mrs. Harrison finds this whole scheme to be pretty odd, but is diplomatic. MRS. HARRISON I have two extra beds at my house, and I'm sure other neighbors could donate supplies too. The ladies do love a project!

CAL
Well, it's decided then. We'll do everything we can to accommodate all of the children. MRS. HARRISON And for how long might the children be staying, Mr. Hockley?

CAL
Eh... for as long as is required, I imagine, Mrs. Harrison. The children, talking happily amongst themselves. Curious people have begun to gather. Cal hurriedly ushers everyone inside.

CAL (VO)
There was no keeping the word getting around about this one.It seemed all of Philadelphia and its environs were consumed with intrusive curiosity. In fact, as a result, I was soon to be descended upon by the insufferable Margaret Brown.