1912年4月10日，被称为“世界工业史上的奇迹”的“泰坦尼克号”从英国的南安普顿出发驶往美国纽约。富家少女罗丝与母亲及未婚夫卡尔一道上船，另一边，不羁的少年画家杰克靠在码头上的一场赌博赢到了船票。罗丝早就看出卡尔是个十足的势利小人，从心底里不愿嫁给他，甚至打算投海自尽。关键时刻，杰克一把抱住了少女罗丝，两个年轻人由此相识。

4月15日，惨绝人寰的悲剧发生了，载着1316号乘客和891名船员的豪华巨轮“泰坦尼克号”与冰山相撞而沉没。泰坦尼克号上一片混乱，在危急之中，人类本性中的善良与丑恶、高贵与卑劣更加分明。杰克把生存的机会让给了爱人罗丝，自己则在冰海中被冻死。这场海难被认为是20世纪人间十大灾难之一。

以下便是Jack死亡前的绝唱：

Jack: Listen, Rose. You're going to get out of here. You're going to go on. You're going to make lots of babies, and you're going to watch them grow. You' re going to die and old, an old lady in her warm bed, not here, not this night, not like this. Do you understand me?

Rose: I can't feel my body.

Jack: Winning that ticket Rose, was the best thing that ever happened to me. It brought me to you, and I'm thankful you must ... you must ... do me this honor. Promise me that you'll survive, that you won't give up, no matter what happens, no matter how hopeless. Promise me, now, Rose, and never let go of that promise, never let go.

Rose: I'll never let go, Jack. I'll never let go, I promise.

注释：

1. go on：继续下去

2. happen to：发生在……人身上

3. survive：幸存，生还