Black Swan Page #2

LEGS, HANDS, and FEET repeat the same movements all around

her, led by a severe BALLET MISTRESS.

BALLET MISTRESS:

To the back, fondu, to the back,

plie. Fourth, fourth, and one and

fifth, to the back...

(to a corps member)

Like this. Push it. Why can’t you

do this?

Using the mirror, Nina monitors her movements carefully. The

mistress surprises her.

BALLET MISTRESS (CONT’D)

It needs to be looser. Relax. Let

it flow.

Flustered, Nina nods and tries to follow her instruction.

Suddenly, the girls around Nina begin stripping off their

sweatshirts and insulated pants.

Nina sees that the intense and brooding director of the

company, THOMAS LEROY, has entered the space. He has the

unkept look of an artist. Magnetic and intense.

The ballerinas remove their warm-up gear to show off their

bodies.

Leroy walks around the room, judging his flock. Smiles and

glances are thrown his way.

He goes up to the ballet mistress, takes her hand and kisses

her on the cheek. Even she manages a smile.

7.

He heads to the line of soloists, studying them.

LEROY:

We all know the story: virginal

girl, pure and sweet, trapped in

the body of a swan. She desires

freedom, but only true love can

break the spell.

He taps a dancer on the shoulder, she lights up. He walks,

then taps another. A selection process of some kind.

Nina looks nervous, has an inkling of what it means.

LEROY (CONT’D)

Her wish is granted in the form of

a prince.

He nears Nina. She sneaks peeks at him, eager and hopeful.

He acknowledges her with a small nod and a smile.

But he walks on without tapping her. She deflates.

LEROY (CONT’D)

But before he can declare his love,

her lustful twin, the Black Swan,

tricks and seduces him.

He approaches the New Girl. Nina watches, threatened.

But he doesn’t tap her either.

LEROY (CONT’D)

Devastated, the White Swan leaps

off a cliff, killing herself. But,

in death, finds freedom.

He taps one more soloist and then CLAPS.

The music stops and all the girls face him, attentive.

LEROY (CONT’D)

Good morning, company.

They respond “Good morning” in nervous, unsure voices.

LEROY (CONT’D)

We open our season with Swan Lake.

Done to death, I know. But not like

this. We strip it down. Make it

visceral and real.

He pauses for effect.

8.

LEROY (CONT’D)

And a new production needs a new

Swan Queen. A fresh face to present

to the world.

Surprised, the soloists glance at each other, trying to keep

their cool.

LEROY (CONT’D)

But which of you can embody both

swans? The white and the black?

Nina prepares for disappointment.

LEROY (CONT’D)

All the soloists I touched...

Please go to your scheduled

rehearsals this afternoon.

The girls are confused.

LEROY (CONT’D)

And the girls I didn’t touch, meet

me in studio B at five.

Nina breathes, realizing the girls he didn’t tap are the ones

he’s selected, purposefully toying with them.

10 INT. BACKSTAGE HALLWAY - DAY 10

Hidden inside a nook, Nina has her eyes closed, nervously

HUMMING the score to Swan Lake.

She makes small motions with her feet and hands, going

through the choreography in her mind. Preparing for the

audition.

A loud CRASHING sound snaps her out of it.

She goes out into the hallway to investigate.

The door to a PRINCIPAL DRESSING ROOM is halfway open. Nina

cautiously approaches.

Inside, she can see someone moving around the room in a fury,

trashing it.

Suddenly, the door swings open and BETH MACINTYRE bursts out.

She makes brief eye-contact with Nina.

BETH:

What?!

9.

Nina just shakes her head.

Beth scoffs as she slams the door behind her. She clips down

the hall in the opposite direction.

Nina waits until she’s gone, then moves closer to the door

and peeks inside, curious.

She checks to make sure no one’s around and quickly enters.

11 INT. PRINCIPAL DRESSING ROOM - SAME 11

Large and comfortable. Beth’s presence is everywhere.

Photographs, clothing, and personal belongings scattered

across the space.

Nina looks at herself in the mirror and smiles, imagining how

great it would be...

Then she notices a LARGE VASE lying on the floor. The flowers

have been shredded, water everywhere.

She moves to the vanity counter and touches Beth’s

belongings in reverence. The items are neatly laid out:

ballet supplies, jewelry, and makeup.

Her fingers brush a tube of LIPSTICK. She picks it up.

Nina slips the lipstick into her bag and exits the room.

12 INT. PRINCIPAL REHEARSAL SPACE - DAY 12

In the middle of her audition, Nina dances Odette’s Variation

from Act II of the ballet, a frightened look on her face.

Although her movement is incredibly precise, there’s a

definite vulnerability. Exactly as the White Swan should be:

fear tinged with melancholy.

Leroy waves his arm. The music and Nina stop abruptly.

He approaches her and, when he gets close, taps on her

sternum with two of his fingers.

LEROY:

So Nina, would you like to be the

Swan Queen?

NINA:

If you want me to be.

He leans in and talks softly so the other girls can’t hear.

10.

LEROY:

Well, if I was just casting the

White Swan, she’d be yours.

She can’t help but smile, flattered. He pulls away from her.

LEROY (CONT’D)

But I’m not.

He turns to the PIANO PLAYER.

LEROY (CONT’D)

Maestro, Odile’s Coda.

The piano player rifles through the song book.

LEROY (CONT’D)

Show me your Black Swan, Nina.

Nervous, she glances over at Veronica and Galina, who

anxiously await their turn.

She takes a few breaths, then looks towards the piano player

and nods.

The music begins.

Nina dances a few steps, and then launches into the most

difficult and famous part of Swan Lake: The Black Swan’s

Coda. It consists of 32 consecutive fouettes (spins).

LEROY (CONT’D)

Come on, not so controlled.

The music builds in intensity, she pushes herself into the

next turn.

LEROY (CONT’D)

Seduce us! Not just the Prince, but

the court, the audience, the entire

world! The fouettes are like a

spider spinning her web. Come on!

Attack it! Attack it!

Leroy runs his hand through his hair, dismayed.

A look of worry spreads across Nina’s face. Knows she’s

blowing it.

The door CLANGS open and throws Nina’s focus completely. She

stumbles, several spins short of finishing.

11.

The New Girl obliviously marches into the room, listening to

an iPod.

LEROY (CONT’D)

(sarcastic)

Good of you to join us.

The New Girl notices everyone staring and pulls out her

earphones to talk.

NEW GIRL:

Sorry.

LEROY:

Girls, this is Lily. Straight off

the plane from San Francisco. She’s

filling Rebecca’s old spot.

LILY gives a small wave. Nina eyes her with scorn as she

catches her breath.

LEROY (CONT’D)

Go on, get warmed up.

LILY:

I’m good.

Lily starts stripping off her layers, revealing her lithe

body. On her back, she has a TATTOO OF LILIES.

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