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God knows I dont deserve to be here! I'd give my life to save one of those lost! |
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—Jamie Perse to Isabella Paradine | ||
Jamie Perse is a fictional character who appeared in the 1996 Miniseries Titanic. He was a young, poor bloke and a thief who falls in love with another, kind-hearted Third Class passenger he meets, Aase Ludvigsen. He also worked with a corrupt steward named Simon Doonan. He survived the sinking by a stroke of luck.
We are introduced to Jamie Perse as he's running away in the streets, knocking over a guy when he hastly rushes through the busy markets near the port of Southampton, after he has stolen something. He's a pickpocket and after running through a gate of a warehouse, he checks the content of the wallet when he thinks he has a good lead on the two police officers chasing him, but they catch up. He walks into a bar to hide from them. The scene takes place on April 9, the night before the Titanic sets sail. He sits down and he is given a cap to wear from the guy next to him, Simon Doonan, so he can disguise himself in order for the police not to detect him, it works and the two cops walk past him without finding him, so they leave again. Doonan and Jamie then start talking more and start to bond with one another and the person next to them, Mirriam Dickie.
Doonan and Jamie began to have conversations about the people on the Titanic stating many many famous rich people will be on the ship such as John Jacob Astor, soon Doonan has to leave to get some sleep as the Titanic sails the next day and Jamie gives him his hat back thanking him for helping him for hiding him from the cops. Much later Jamie walks with him but the mand cannot stand, and Jamie tries to get through to him, that he wants to bring him to his boarding home, but it's not use and then decides to steal the ticket and some other stuff from Mr. Dickie in an alley after the latter doozes off against the wall, murmling in his drunkenness, and puts it in his coat pocket. Sarcastically he thanks Mr. Dickie and likes the idea he can now leave England.
Aase looks at Jamie as he straight up convinces her to get rid of the cloth,
When boarding Titanic at the Third Class Entrance, he comes across Simon Doonan, who apparently works as a steward. He is looking for the men's quarters on the ship. Doonan of course recognizes him and grins, then he asks for his ticket and name, and Jamie replies that he's Merriam Dickie. Quasi-curious Simon replies with Mr. Dickie you say?
Mr. Dickie actually shows up at the gates, as the ship is set in motion, angry and frustrated, almost crying when he realised he missed his chance after his ticket and belongings got robbed off him. But there's nothing he can do. Titanic leaves.
Shortly after Titanic departs from the harbor Jamie meets the girl he saw earlier at the entrance, Aase Ludvigsen, on the stern of ship and the two have a chat about their personal lives and business. He notices her that she looks a bit sad and melancholic. Under the false name of Mariam Dickie he asks what is troubling her mind. She tells her she had to leave her family in Denmark behind. All she has is a piece of fabric from her mother's nightcap. Jamie admits that he doesn't know about his own mother. His philosophy is that it's better to have no heart, Aase feels that immigrants need courage and is grateful to be on this ship, however Jamie would love to move up to First Class where all the wealth is. Aase however is not so concerned with that, they will all reach New York at the same time after all. Jamie says she can let go of the rag and shouldn't keep living in the past. She actually considers it, then throws it overboard.
Later that night, Jamie tries to get to First Class by getting through a gate but due to class segregation, the officer will not let him through, he tries all his wits and pleads even, but the officer smiles and doesn't give in. Later, he attends a party in Third Class and has a quick glance at Aase and she looks at him back. He leaves and tries to get to the upper decks but still to no avail, when he sees another gate that says 'crew only'. Jamie then gets and idea when he finds himself next to a laundry room, and sees a waiter taking the elevator. He somehow finds a nice looking tuxedo and now is able to get to First Class.
In First Class, Jamie spots John Jacob Astor and Molly Brown at the bar in the Smoking Room of the ship. Molly starts talking about emancipation and Jamie offers Astor to order a drink for him in order to convince Astor that he has money and a First Class passenger as well, and Astor has a pleasant chat telling Jamie that he was married and concerned about the reception by the other passengers since his bride Madeleine is very young. Jamie also mentiones his dream about the moving pictures. A while later, Jamie wants to go, but he bumps into Astor, spilling his drink on him. Jamie apologises and promises he will have it cleaned for him, but Astor says he doesn't have to and wishes Jamie luck with the moving picture business, and the two part ways. with Jamie leaving the First Class section. As he is walking down the steps he crosses paths with Doonan again.
As Jamie is caught, Jamie lies to Doonan, saying he is invited up to First Class. Doonan notices that Jamie has Mr. Astor's billfold, meaning the spilling of the drink wasn't an accident but Jamie did it as a clever trick to snatch Astor's wallet. Doonan makes Jamie give it to him, so he won't report Jamie and promises to try and convince Astor that he accidentally left it at the bar. Doonan reveals to Jamie he is a thief as well, but not before asking him what his real name is but Jamie refuses to tell him. Doonan continues to ask Jamie how he got onto the ship. For one moment he worries Jamie has killed Marriam, but Jamie reveals to him he stole it when Dickie was passed out drunk. The two walk off laughing and joking.
The next day Jamie meets up with Aase again after the ship leaves from Ireland where they have a short chat talking about their past live and talking about what they want to do in the future. She says she will think more about what's next like him. Jamie acknowledges how good a person she, perhaps the only good person he ever knew, which makes her smile, She is surprised when he adds that she will see her family again someday, despite her thinking that he doesn't know much about her.
Later that day, they play tag with the Jack's children on the stern of the ship, and sit down on a bench. He asks what her plans are when arriving in New York, and she says she wants to be a teacher after going to Minnasota with the other converts and also have children of her own. He also shares his big dream of becoming part of the 'moving picture' business, after seeing with actress Mary Pickford. Aase funnily later pronounces it wrongly, calling her Mary Pickle. Jamie compliments her by saying she's prettier and could be in the movie pictures too. She chuckles, saying that it is nice, but that she is looking for God, whilst getting up and running off when the kids ask her to play some more with them.
Jamie goes to the most luxurious First Class cabins with Doonan to get a look at all the valuable stuff from the rich folk and they make a plan of robbing the places. They find a tiara amongst the jewelry. However Jamie is unsure and doesn't trust Doonan and they argue about who they would believe if they were to turn eachother in, but Doonan knows he has better chances, since he is a trusted employee of White Star Line for 12 years, especially since Jamie stole Mr. Dickie's identity. Isabella Paradine and Wynn park are laughing outside on the hallway and the two hastily get ready to move out, the fact that the couple in their romance forgot which cabin was theirs, and have only eyes for eachother, helps the thieves get away unnoticed as soon as the pair enter their cabin.
When returning to the Third Class, he sees Aase and another young girl sniggering and Aase sees him in the fancy suit. He proudly tells her he went to First Class, when she exclaims how good he looks. He dismisses the compliment but she insists "you ARE beautiful to me" on which he replies that his beauty must have rubbed off from her onto him, and gives her a gentle kiss on her forehead. Visibly shy, and smiling, she walks past him. They can't take their eyes off eachother when walking past eachother. Unbeknown to them, Simon Doonan was hiding and looking at them.
The next evening, on April 14, just after 10:00 P.M, there's another festivity at the Third Class General Room, and allthough he is reluctant, they end up dancing. A little while later, when sitting on a bench on the aft deck, they're gazing at the stars. They talk some more and he still cannot stop thinking about the luxury of the wealthy people, to which Aase still replies that under the stars everyone is the same. He tells he wants to get her a tiara, but without thinking reveals his real name. He had no choice to come clean and tell her the truth about who he really is, but still tries to find an excuse to explain how he got the ticket. She's visibly upset, learning that he is a thief and then Doonan appears, demanding Jamie to come along with him to see the pursor but she immediatly grasps what this means, and warns him not to do it. He hints that he's forced to do it, and goes on how life really works and that's she so bloody good all the time. But she just wants to stay true to herself.
So she gets up and walks away, Jamie says he can change. Doonan then lets slip that he wouldn't mind to have her. Jamie doesn't like that idea and he insists that he better leaves her alone.
A while later, after 11:00 P.M. Aase, Clarinda Jack and her daughter are combing their hair in a Third Class washplace, Clarinda shares her worries over Aase, travelling alone. She has concerns about Aase spending time with Jamie, that he could be trouble but she reminds Clarinda that they are all God's children, like Clarinda herself has said before. Clarinda leaves with Ophelia and Aase is now alone, and takes as shower in a cubicle. There, the worst imaginable happens. Suddenly Doonan appears in front of her. Aase begs him to leave her alone but nobody can prevent him from forcing herself upon her. It's 11:20 P.M.
Around 11:39 P.M., the lookouts of Titanic are talking about the haze on the horizon when suddenly they spot ice! They sound the bell and call the bridge and Officer Murdoch lets Hitchens turn to starboard and runs the engine full astern. The ship turns, but it takes too long and they cannot avoid a collision, the ship scrapes along the iceberg on the starboard side. A lot of people are woken up or startled and the poor Aase feels it to when she makes her way through the hallways. She struggles to continue while the ship's hull is ripped open on a few places beneath the water line. It wakes up Jamie. Tons of water are streaming into Titanic's hull.
Around 11:45 A.M. Jamie's bunkmate makes his way out of there, and a whole group of passengers move through the narrow halls, and the man reports that the guys below them have water in their room. Jamie doesn't want to believe it, but the man doesn't want to wait and find out. Then Perse suddenly notices water in his cabin and he makes his way up as well.
After midnight when the lifeboats are being prepared, Jamie runs on the aft Third Class Deck, where he finds Aase. She's crying, shivering in a corner on a deserted part of the deck. He puts a blanket on her and then wants to help her up, but she resists. Jamie asks her what the matter is and gasps when he sees her face. "Ask no questions, ask nothing. Don't touch me" she utters, Carlinda Jack and her kids make it up to the deck too and she calls out for Aase and she cannot believe her eyes when she sees Aase, and lashes out against Jamie thinking he's responsible for her condition. Jamie, in his defense says he only found her this way and would never harm her. Carlinda is convinced a crew member could have done this and she wishes God's vengeance upon who ever did this. She will inform the Captain. Suddenly the culprit, Doonan stands behind the group and Aase looks at him with a very dark expression as Doonan says that the captain has not time for them while he takes Jamie with him. Jamie doesn't want to leave Aase. He promises Aase he'll return.
After 1:00 A.M, the ship's bow has clearly submerged for a large part. Jamie and Doonan are filling their bags with all sorts of accesories. Jamie however keeps getting worried over the steerage people down below. He throws the bag at him and his conscience is speaking. He points out to Jamie he cannot help the steerage passengers escape, followed by making discriminatory comments against them. Jamie is disgusted and angered by his comments and finally realises his true nature when Doonan let it slip how he shouldn't worry about getting a turn on Aase and Jamie realises he has raped her. Enraged, Jamie attacks Doonan, demanding him to tell what he did to her. Doonan retorts by gaining the upper hand and smack him around the room and kick him down. Jamie decides he cannot waste anymore time and throws the tiara away and runs off.
Panic starts to arise among the steerage passengers down below. Jamie makes his way there to the Waiting Room and he tells mr. Jack to come with him, meanwhile he finds Aase in the middle of the room, sitting silently and empty. She is numb and completely without hope and doesn't move. She says she doesn't want to live anymore. Even her faith in God has left her. Jamie opened up on his feelings, saying he never felt so strongly for someone ever before and that God must exist as he has brought him to her. He takes her with him while the other Third Class passengers take the stairs with him while they're stuck behind a gate. The sailor doesn't let them through because he is awaiting orders. Jamie pleads, tells him that Aase needs to be on a boat. The sailor only lets a handful of people by, but not the Jacks. Jamie promises to come back for them and then he takes Aase to the Boat Deck. While manouvring his way through the crowd, he tries to give her comfort by talking about the future ahead of her, with the peach orchard, her family and her wish to become a nurse in Minnesota. Jamie has Aase carefully put into lifeboat 14, manned by Officer Lowe, and Jamie swears he'll find her if he makes it out of the ship alive. An officer asks him to work if he can work a davit and he is willing to help, Aase stares at him in sadness.
Unknown to Jamie and Aase, Doonan sneaks on the same lifeboat, disguised as an old woman. Isabella Paradine also boards before the boat is lowered. A while later, a bit of panic grows among the waiting passengers where Jamie is controlling the davit, some people jump into the lifeboat and it causes him to lose his footing, with the rope slipping through his hands ashe falls down into the lifeboat and is screaming in agony. He's hurt but also wants to go back to the ship because he still needs to make sure the Jacks get released, but then he loses consciousness. His accident saves his life.
He's awake when he catches a glimpse of Titanic's final moments, watching in horror. After Titanic is gone, Isabella and Aase in boat 14 have repeatedly tried to persuade Officer Lowe to go an pick up survivors. Doonan reveals himself, as he is opposed to this idea. When Aase sees him she goes ballistic and hits him, shouting how he forced himself upon her, but he knocks her into the water as he grabs a gun and threatens everyone to just sit still, however Paradine and Lowe try to collect Aase. When Doonan keeps shouting to them to sit down, Lowe quickly gives him a wack with an oar which knocks him out cold, into the water. He dies.
Jamie, who lies down in a Collapsible. has a terrible case of delirium when he thinks he sees Aase in the water and takes her onboard in his arms. It turns out to not be Aase, but a man. The other occupants worry over him, thinking that he has lost his mind. Later on, it appears Aase was saved and pulled back into boat 14.
Jamie arrives on the Carpathia with his hurt arm in a bandage, walks downstairs where they keep the injured, and he comes across the grief-stricken mrs. Paradine, who just saw the body of her lover, Wynn Park. In her pain and sorrow, unwilling to accept the fact Wynn is gone, she gets mad at Jamie for being alive, but he's adamant that he didn't want to be saved and lost many himself. She calms down and gives her condoleances.
Jamie looks everywhere for Aase but nobody he asks knows about her. Then he sees a woman sitting on a bed with long hair. He immediatly runs at her, but it turns out to be another woman wh regrets getting into a lifeboat because she didn't know beforehand there weren't enough boats, and presumably lost her husband, He apologises.
After bumping into Harold Bride who suffers from frostbite, Molly Brown demands he comes over at once to aid her with the care for a stricken passenger. It turns out to be Aase. He starts speaking to her and then she opens her eyes, and is surprised yet relieved that Jamie is okay.
He feeds her the soup, and right away she wants to know if the Jacks are okay, but he has to admit he couldn't find them and that they probably didn't make it. He has survior's guilt and questions what kind of God would let him live whilst such good people like the Jacks would perish. Aase comforts Jamie, saying that he should accept the gift. He wants to grab this chance to start over. She puts her hand on his face. They finally kiss.
Arriving in New York, they make plans for where to go now. He swears off any other sea voyage. When Aase asks him if he still wants to go to California, he says he'd rather go to Minnesota and join her church. Aase wonders if he would actually like that, but Jamie is serious and responds that he only wants to be with her and build a better life together. Aase however proposes to go to California together as that wouldn't be bad for her dreams at all, as she could still be a teacher or nurse. Aase assures him that he shouldn't give up his dream of the pictures in a box. After all, there will be also peach trees and orange trees in California. Perse promises to grow them in their own backyard to pick them for her at every breakfast.
Quotes[]
- “Maybe I’ll say goodbye to blooming England myself!” (After thanking Mr. Dickie for the ticket)
- “There’s blooming water coming in!” (He discovers his bunkmate was right)
- “I never felt like this about nobody in my whole life!” (When he tries to bring Aase’s faith back, confessing his love)
- “Oranges as big as grapefruits! And we’re growing them in our own backyard. I’ll pick one for you every morning for breakfast, how’s that?” (He and Aase discuss their ideal future together)
- “Hot-nobbing with the rich folk, a real dandy alright!” (Tells Aase about his experience in First Class)
- “Pickford! Mary Pickford!” (Aase called her Mary Pickle)
- "I'm not asking you to kiss me!" (To an officer who explained he can't come to First Class because of laws to prevent diseases).