Let’s call this the “LOST KEY!” Technique. Jack and Rose are in love, but Jack is handcuffed to a pole in the lower cabin of an ocean liner that is rapidly filling with water and sinking. (Again, there’s that ticking clock). To complicate matters: The key that can free him is GONE. 

This puts everything on Rose. Nobody will help her. She’s on her own. The only thing she has is this axe… and it turns out her aim isn’t great… If she misses, she could fatally injure the only person that’s ever loved and understood her. If she doesn’t do anything, they’ll both be quickly submerged…