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Chapter 279: The Fearsome Crew
🕑 Added 2025-01-31 17:38:00 +0000 UTC"Listen to me, Rose. You must get out of this alive. You must live on, have lots of children, watch them grow, and enjoy a long, peaceful life before passing away in a warm bed—not tonight, not here, not in this freezing water."
In the back rows of the theater where the regular audience sat, sobs echoed continuously. The film had reached this critical moment, and Jack's words made it clear—the male protagonist wouldn't escape this calamity.
A dazzling love story had just begun to bloom, only to wither away…
"Winning the Titanic ticket was the most beautiful, most fortunate thing to happen in my life. I thank God for letting me meet you. Rose, you must promise me, no matter what happens next, no matter how desperate it becomes, never give up! Promise me, Rose! Never give up on your promise to me!"
"I promise you, Jack!"
"Never let go, Rose…"
"I won't let go, Jack. I'll never let go!" The two held hands tightly.
If anyone had harbored even a glimmer of hope before, it disappeared entirely when the rescue boat appeared.
Rose pried open the hand holding hers, saying, "I'll never let go! I promise you! I'll never let go!"
Following Jack's instructions, she struggled toward the hope of survival. The haunting chant resumed, blending ethereal sorrow as the frozen Jack slowly sank. In the close-up shot, he disappeared entirely into the sea.
Images often wield a greater impact than words. Two hours of emotional buildup culminated in this moment of parting, where life and death separated a poor boy and a wealthy girl—a timeless cinematic theme, brought to its pinnacle by James Cameron through the sinking of a grand ship.
The theater filled with louder sobbing. This scene was undeniably cliché yet pierced the hearts of all.
The Irish flute's prelude began, followed by Celine Dion's iconic voice singing the deeply familiar "My Heart Will Go On," a song destined to accompany the Titanic's worldwide fame.
As the song ended and the credits rolled, the lights in the theater came back on. Applause erupted like waves, and everyone stood up, clapping vigorously to thank the cast and crew for delivering such a magnificent film.
Seeing the audience's overwhelming reaction, Duke felt utterly relieved. All that remained now was to wait—to watch the film conquer the market and collect the profits owed to him under the watchful eyes of his accounting team!
This was a masterpiece destined to yield equally extraordinary returns!
The premiere ended, but the night's events were far from over. Paramount Pictures, 20th Century Fox, and the expanded Duke Studio hosted a celebratory party at the Highland Hotel, inviting numerous stars and celebrities for publicity.
Shortly after arriving at the hotel, Duke received a call from New Zealand. After a brief discussion with Charles Roven, he entered the banquet hall later than expected, heading straight for James Cameron to share a toast and exchange a few congratulatory words.
That was all.
Everyone in Hollywood knew that James Cameron was notoriously difficult to work with, both on set and in life. Although Duke had invested $50 million at a crucial moment, their relationship remained strictly professional.
"Hey, Leo."
Finding Leonardo DiCaprio, Duke lightly patted him on the shoulder. "Ready to become the idol of teenage girls worldwide?"
"Duke," Leonardo replied, unbothered by the teasing, "you're joking again."
"Girls all over the world are going to go crazy for you."
With a casual remark, Duke turned toward the tall woman beside Leonardo. "Aren't you going to introduce me, Leo?"
The woman had golden curls, wore a white sleeveless evening gown, and adorned her neck with a sparkling diamond necklace. Standing still, she exuded the air of a classic English lady. In person, her figure appeared far more svelte than on screen.
Before Leonardo could introduce her, she extended her hand to Duke. "Hello, Director Rosenberg. I'm Kate Winslet, but you can call me Kate."
"Hello, Kate," Duke said, lightly shaking her hand. "You can call me Duke."
"Nice to meet you, Duke."
"The pleasure is mine."
After their greetings, Leonardo requested champagne from a passing waiter. The three toasted together before Leonardo cleverly excused himself, leaving the two alone.
"I've heard from Leo," Duke quickly found common ground, "that you endured a lot during filming?"
"Yes, a lot!" Kate Winslet's face showed a hint of complaint. "Since starting my film career in '93, I've never experienced anything as terrifying as this set."
"Terrifying?" Duke feigned confusion.
Kate Winslet led Duke toward a seating area, elaborating as they walked. "Yes, terrifying. I even wondered if I'd completely break down."
Sitting at a nearby table, Duke ordered more champagne and continued the conversation.
"I'm sure you've heard about James Cameron's bad temper," she began, speaking of a well-known fact in Hollywood that Cameron himself didn't mind. Kate Winslet had no qualms either. "Calling him a 'tyrant' on set doesn't even begin to describe it. His bad temper was relentless, and accidents happened frequently during shooting. The most horrifying was…"
In the presence of a talkative woman, being a good listener is often the best approach. Duke remained attentively silent.
"There was an incident during filming where I nearly drowned in the artificial lake!" Kate shook her head. "Then I caught pneumonia and was bedridden for an entire week. I've sworn off working with James Cameron ever again."
"Kate," Duke lightly touched her hand, "hearing all this, your perseverance is truly remarkable. You must be a very strong woman."
"Thank you." Raising her glass, Kate Winslet offered a playful wink. "It's easier to cope knowing I wasn't the only unlucky one."
Duke laughed. "A little self-consolation?"
"Yes," she admitted. "Especially seeing James Cameron suffer misfortune—it brought even more balance to my mind."
"What kind of misfortune?" Duke asked curiously.
"You, as an investor, don't know?" Seeing Duke's surprise, Kate Winslet leaned closer, speaking in a conspiratorial tone. "During an on-location shoot, Cameron harshly scolded a camera assistant. That assistant, apparently fed up, spiked the crew's food with drugs that night. Several people, including Cameron, ended up poisoned. Thankfully, it was only stimulants, and they recovered after a few days in the hospital."
"This film's journey to release was truly fraught," Duke remarked.
"Absolutely!" Kate Winslet agreed wholeheartedly. "By the time filming ended, everyone was on the verge of collapse."
With a faint smile, she added, "We all understood the pressure on Cameron due to the massive budget, but it wasn't easy for the rest of us either."
"Hmm." Duke nodded.
Kate Winslet continued, "Given the scale of this investment, failure would have serious repercussions—sorry, I didn't mean anything by that…"
"No offense taken," Duke assured her.
"It would have greatly affected us too," Kate elaborated. "Especially Leo and me. Our careers could have taken a major hit."
Duke agreed silently. A failure of this magnitude would undoubtedly impact the two leads' careers.
"So…" Kate sighed, "I've been under immense pressure."
"Pressure needs to be released," Duke said after a moment of thought. "Otherwise, it can lead to breakdowns. I have a bottle of vintage wine from the '50s that can wash away all troubles. Interested?"
Having cohabited with someone since sixteen, Kate Winslet understood his implication instantly but playfully asked, "It's not heroin, is it?"
"I don't touch anything addictive."
Smiling, Duke gazed at her face, now only a foot away. Kate blew gently in his direction, brimming with confidence. "But I am addictive to men…"
"That's my choice," Duke replied, taking her hand. Seeing no resistance, he added, "And I'd happily be addicted."
Fifteen minutes later, Duke and Kate Winslet were in the hotel suite, the wine long forgotten.
"My dear, you're heaven's gift to mankind."
Caressing her chin, Duke whispered, "You know how captivated I was watching the drawing scene?"
"Do you want to draw me?" she teased.
"Of course!"
Duke eagerly called for a sketch pad and pencils, placing a couch in the suite's center while sitting opposite.
Already prepared, Kate Winslet stood before him, calmly unzipping her dress.
"My Rose," Duke said, admiring her beauty, "shall we begin?"
Kate reclined on the couch, mimicking the pose from the movie. Unfortunately, Duke was no professional artist; a few strokes later, he tossed the sketch aside and leaned in, embracing her smooth, voluptuous figure.
