Ballet Shoes Page #6

And you've yet to show me

that you're not made of wood.

We do too many takes,

I can't concentrate.

I can build myself up to it in

the theatre. I can be a character.

Honey, honey, this is

motion pictures now, okay?

Look, you've got everything

to learn, and that 's fine...

but you've got to give me

something real.

What 's real to you, Pauline? What

matters most to you in the world?

Acting?

If that is a truthful answer,

there's no hope for you.

Scene 84. Take 4.

Action.

Write to me while I am gone.

I will try.

Not "I will try".

But "I will".

I will.

And cut! Print!

- Fantastic. You did it!

- I just thought about my sisters.

How awful it must be

to live your life alone.

That was wonderful.

Okay, let 's move on.

Coty Chypre?

Come on.

Have you never wanted anything?

Well...

when the war broke out, I thought

I'd like to drive an ambulance.

But of course, I didn't do

anything about it. I had you.

Madame, please may I change my

shoes before we start my accendo?

These were my mother's.

They fit me now.

Small bones...

high arches.

- Like you.

- She was just like me.

She loved ballet more than anything.

I know that because it was

the thing she chose.

Energy, Petrova, energy!

Bored dancers are boring! Arabesque!

Number 3 for you, Pauline.

You're in with Dandini.

Can't I share with Petrova?

She's on the fourth floor with the

others in the chorus. Off you pop.

- Hello, Petrova.

- Hello, Winifred.

Soon a gown of shimmering tulle

And cape of silk we will unspool!

Hollywood never

called for Pauline, then.

The film isn't out yet, Winifred!

A pumpkin coach we will create

Has Hollywood called for you?

It 's not all gloom.

I've got an audition for

the Ovaltines. On the radio.

But first, to show what magic means

I call upon

The jumping beans!

"A King in Exile", world premiere!

Cue for gigantic panic over frocks!

- What do you think of that?

- Beautiful.

What can you see Pauline in, John?

That shiny stuff that rustles?

Taffeta?

- I'm too old for a party dress!

- I see her in powder blue velvet.

With a lace bolero!

Lace bolero?

She'll catch her death.

Beautiful.

I'll get my rifle

and shoot you a mink.

I shall be needing

a new dress very soon.

What for?

The Marmaro ballet 's coming to London

for the first time ever from Prague.

And Madame Fidolia

is taking me to see them.

You don't need

something new for that.

She's booked us a box,

and a smoked salmon supper!

Would you excuse me?

I couldn't sleep.

I thought it would be

a nice surprise in the morning.

We've had such lovely

Christmases in this house.

It was even Christmas

when you came to us.

I think about it

every time it snows.

Why can't you sleep?

Is it your cough?

Not really.

Can you keep a secret?

I wanted to get you all together...

but I'll tear open

if I don't tell someone.

We can't afford

to live here anymore.

But...

what about Pauline's wages

from the film...

and the money we're getting

for "Cinderella"?

This house eats money.

Even with the borders?

Yes.

And so...

- I'm selling it.

- No!

We'll soon be living

in a nice flat, with Nana.

There'll be no need for Clara

and the boarders will disperse.

You can't do that! You can't!

- The house belongs to Gum!

- He's been gone for 12 years!

I spoke to the solicitors...

and they've declared him dead.

Remember, Posy. When Valentin Manoff

got his dancers out of Russia...

he rescued not just a company...

but a system of training

I have brought you here to show you

what you might achieve.

If you are strong enough.

If you have the courage and the will.

Stand still.

Oh, darling!

You look... grown up.

That 's the first and last time

I copy anything from Vogue.

No-one made you do it!

Pauline!

Why don't you make me go

in a jersey and skirt?

I feel a complete fraud, Petrova!

I'm terrible in that film.

Tomorrow night my face is going

to be blown up as big as a house.

Everyone's going to find me out.

I will dance like that, Madame.

I don't care how long

the training takes.

Madame?

Madame?

Help! Someone help!

Posy?

Posy, is that you?

What happened?

- Madame's had a stroke!

- A stroke?

They took her to the hospital.

She can't move her arm or leg!

- Oh, no! Poor Madame...

- Poor lady.

I'm not crying about Madame.

I'm crying about me!

My training can't be broken off now!

You are a selfish

and cold-hearted little madam.

We did not bring you up

to conduct yourself like this!

Nana is right.

Your behavior is disgraceful!

She's ambitious, that 's all.

Once upon a time I thought ambition

was a good thing.

I thought it would help you

to apply yourselves...

and help you make the most

of your small chances.

But if it kills off everything

that 's nice in you...

then I'm not going to have

ambition in this house!

Meaning what?

Meaning that I will no longer sanction

any of you working on the stage!

- You can't do that!

- Yes, I can. I am your legal guardian.

We will never be rich.

But now the house is sold, there's no

more need for you to work or train.

You can't stop me. You can't

stop me from doing anything.

We can stop you from going

to Pauline's premiere.

You can stay at home tonight.

Alone.

Good luck.

Your name is really small, Pauline.

Almost as small as the author's.

Maybe no-one

will realise you're in it.

You were fantastic!

Let 's get you through the back.

- Come on, Pauline.

- I wish I was you!

She was good, Nana.

She was wonderful.

- Is she with you?

- Who?

Miss Posy. I went to check

on her and... she's not there.

Little maniac...

It 's the thought of her

alone out there.

How cold she must be.

How afraid.

Posy's not afraid of anything.

That 's what frightens me.

- Miss Brown?

- No. This is Miss Brown.

Good morning.

David Montague.

I'm the London representative

of United Artists Studios.

So, you don't speak Russian.

I dance Russian.

And who did you learn that from?

Mikhail Fokine?

- Agripinna Vaganova?

- No. Evgenia Fidolia.

- I see.

- Do you?

You won't see anything at all

until you've watched me dance.

No sign of her?

I've been offered a contract

by United Artists.

In Hollywood?

You ought to be smiling.

I'd have to go for 5 years.

That 's 5 years without theatre...

not learning all the things

I wanted to know.

- Hello?

- Posy!

- Where have you been?

- With Valentin Manoff.

He's offered to train me

at his ballet school.

What?

I made him watch me dance,

and then he said...

"Come to my academy in Prague.

I shall make you into a ballerina."

I said my guardian would make the

arrangements and came straight home.

You can't go to Czechoslovakia, Posy.

There's no money!

My mother gave me away

because there was no money!

At least your parents drowned and had

the kindness to put you on a lifebelt!

I didn't get a lifebelt.

Only a pair of ballet shoes.

Garnie, is Mr. Montague

still upstairs?

He's packing up his bag.

I said you needed time to think.

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