Black Swan Page #3

NINA:

Should I go again?

LEROY:

(distracted by Lily)

I’ve seen enough. Thank you, Nina.

She looks down, getting his meaning.

LEROY (CONT’D)

Okay, Veronica. Your turn. The

White Swan’s variation...

Furious, Nina marches out of the room.

A13 INT. THEATER BATHROOM STALL - NIGHT A13

Nina stands up from a kneeled position and flushes the

toilet. She wipes her mouth with the back of her hand and

exits the stall.

13 OMITTED 13

11A.

14 OMITTED 14 *

12.

*

EXT. STREET - NIGHT

15 15

Nina walks along a quiet side street. She clutches her

jacket, for warmth and comfort.

Her CELL PHONE starts ringing. She digs it out of her bag and

checks the CALLER ID: MOM. She silences it and puts it away.

Up ahead, she sees the sidewalk dead end at a construction

site, and detour into an enclosed PASSAGEWAY beneath the

scaffolding.

Nina slows, a little scared, but decides to push on.

The passageway is dark. The temporary lighting dim and

flickering.

She walks quickly, trying to get to the other side.

She hears the sound of soft FOOTSTEPS approaching. She

stops, and the other FOOTSTEPS stop.

She looks up and sees the faint outline of a SLENDER WOMAN

standing there, almost ghostlike.

Nina starts walking again, keeping her head down, and the

other woman continues as well.

13.

As they pass each other, Nina glances at the woman’s face and

discovers...

The woman looks EXACTLY LIKE HER.

But the moment passes as the woman continues walking.

Nina stares after her, perturbed.

Her cell phone starts RINGING again, piercing the silence.

Nina continues out, ignoring the phone.

16

INT. UPPER WEST SIDE APARTMENT - NIGHT 16

Nina enters and locks the deadbolt and chain-lock behind her.

She turns and is startled to see Erica standing right there.

ERICA:

How did it go?

Nina looks at her confused. Erica helps take off her coat.

ERICA (CONT’D)

You were late, so I called Susie in

the office. An audition?! Can’t

believe he just sprung that on you.

Nina nods.

ERICA (CONT’D)

So?

NINA:

It went okay.

ERICA:

Just okay?

Erica hangs up her coat, turns and sees Nina tearing up.

ERICA (CONT’D)

Darling?

The tears start falling now.

Erica goes to her and wraps her in an embrace.

ERICA (CONT’D)

Shhh, shhh, tell me what happened.

14.

17 INT. LIVING ROOM - NIGHT 17

Nina lies on the floor, stewing. Her legs straight in the air

to drain the lactic acid in her muscles.

ERICA (O.S.)

(from kitchen)

I told them it doesn’t matter how

talented their daughter is, if she

misses any more classes, she’s out.

She forgets half of what I teach

her, and I waste time catching her

up. It’s ridiculous.

Nina sits up and retrieves a pair of point shoes from her

bag. She considers them for a moment, then starts to put them

on.

She stands, takes a breath, and does a single spin, testing

the waters.

She takes a breath and spins again, then again, then again.

Each spin is punctuated by a jab of her foot into the floor.

THWACK, THWACK. THWACK.

She jabs her toe down, hard...

NINA:

Ow!

She winces in pain and automatically grabs her foot.

ERICA (O.S.)

Everything alright?

NINA:

I’m fine!

Nina leans her back against the mirror and removes her shoe.

Her right big toenail has split, oozing blood.

Nina breathes through the pain and puts her shoe back on.

She reassumes the position, takes a couple breaths, and

starts spinning again.

Her toe jabs into the floor. She winces a little with pain,

but keeps pushing.

Her face grows more determined, focused. 20, 21, 22 spins....

She starts to look powerful, willing herself to succeed.

14A.

At the end of the 32nd spin, Nina jabs her foot down hard.

She’s done it!

Nina looks at herself in the mirror, glazed in sweat, a

slight smile of satisfaction.

15.

18 INT. NINA’S BEDROOM - NIGHT 18

Nina sits on the edge of the bed, as Erica douses some GAUZE

with PEROXIDE and dabs it on the split toenail. Nina reacts

to the sting.

ERICA:

Shhh. Almost done...You’re working

yourself too hard. We all have off

days.

NINA:

If that girl hadn’t barged in.

ERICA:

I’m sure she didn’t mean to.

Remember when you started? If I

hadn’t taken you to each of your

classes, you would have been

completely lost.

NINA:

I’m gonna talk to him. Tell him I

finished it.

ERICA:

He knows you can do the coda. It

won’t convince him one way or the

other.

Annoyed, Nina lies down, looking away from her mother. *

ERICA (CONT’D)

Oh, sweetheart, I know it’s

disappointing. When you start to

get older, there’s all this

ridiculous pressure. God knows, I

understand.

*

*

*

*

*

*

Erica squeezes some arnica gel into her palm and massages it

into Nina’s calves.

ERICA (CONT’D)

But it’s alright. No matter what.

You’ll probably get to dance the

Pas de Quatre again. That’s such a

wonderful part. Or maybe he’ll make

you a Big Swan. Either way, you’ll

shine.

*

NINA:

I know, mom.

15A.

Erica removes Nina’s EARRINGS, then opens a JEWELRY BOX

sitting on the night stand and drops them inside. A TOY

BALLERINA spins to TINNY MUSIC.

Nina gets under the covers. Erica tucks her in and sits down

on the edge of the bed.

16.

ERICA:

Everything will be better in the

morning. It always is.

She strokes Nina’s hair, humming along to the music.

Nina watches the ballerina spin and spin with a determined

stare.

19

OMITTED 19

20

OMITTED 20

21

INT. SUBWAY - DAY 21

Nina applies the lipstick she stole from Beth, using the side

window as a mirror. The jerky motion of the train makes it

difficult, but she manages.

22

INT. BACKSTAGE HALLWAY - DAY 22

Nina waits anxiously outside Leroy’s office.

She hears someone approach, looks up and sees Leroy coming

down the hall.

She puts on a nervous smile. He doesn’t reciprocate.

LEROY:

Yes, Nina?

NINA:

Do you have a minute?

He doesn’t answer, just opens the door to the office and

walks in.

She takes a breath and then follows.

23

INT. LEROY’S OFFICE - SAME 23

Nina closes the door and faces the cozy, dark space. Large

couch, posters from the ballet on the wall--several featuring

Beth.

Leroy lights a cigarette, quietly studying her and not making

this easy. He takes a drag, and exhales.

17.

NINA:

If now’s not a good time...

LEROY:

Now’s fine, what is it?

NINA:

I just wanted to tell you, I

practiced the coda last night, and

I did it.

LEROY:

How thrilling for you.

NINA:

(thrown)

Well...

LEROY:

Okay, Nina, listen, I honestly

don’t care about your technique,

you should know that by now.

NINA:

Yes, but-

LEROY:

Anyway, I’ve already chosen

Veronica, so...

He lifts his hands in the air, “there you go.”

NINA:

(devastated)

I see.

She makes a move towards the door.

LEROY:

You’re not going to try and change

my mind?

She looks back at him, uncertain.

Leroy nonchalantly stubs out his cigarette.

LEROY (CONT’D)

You must have thought it was

possible, coming to find me like

this.

Rate this script:4.8 / 5 votes