Black Swan Page #5

31 OMITTED 31

24.

32 INT. PRINCIPAL REHEARSAL SPACE - DAY 32

First day in the new role, Nina stretches alone.

Muffled sounds of other ballerinas chatting and giggling

drift in from the large rehearsal space. Makes Nina feel a

little isolated.

DAVID (O.S.)

Hey there...

Nina turns and sees DAVID, the high-cheeked, cocky dancer

playing Prince Siegfried.

DAVID (CONT’D)

It is so full, where do I stand.

It is his version of a joke. Nina politely laughs.

NINA:

Yeah...good luck finding a spot.

DAVID:

I am David.

NINA:

I know you are. I’m Nina.

DAVID:

Yes. Here we go, huh?

She nods, nervous.

33 INT. PRINCIPAL REHEARSAL SPACE - LATER 33

David dances around the space, miming a hunt with a crossbow.

Nina enters, stretches her body to illustrate her

transformation into human, then sees David and acts spooked.

25.

She dances away from him, a scared look on her face,

undulating her arms to resemble a bird’s flapping.

David gives chase, but Nina spins out of his grasp,

disentangles from him.

But he eventually snags her, and they come very close

together.

LEROY:

Okay!

The music stops. Nina breaks out of character and looks at

Leroy, anxious for his reaction.

The Russian ballet mistress nods and smiles, clearly pleased.

LEROY (CONT’D)

Okay, Nina. Very good.

Nina smiles, relieved. Leroy hops out of his chair and

approaches.

LEROY (CONT’D)

But I knew the White Swan wouldn’t

be a problem. The real work will be

your metamorphosis into the Black

Swan.

NINA:

Okay.

LEROY:

I saw a flash of her yesterday. Get

ready to show me more of that bite.

He gives her an impish smirk. She looks down, embarrassed.

34 INT. BACKSTAGE HALLWAY - DAY 34

Nina takes a drink from the water fountain. She hears music

emanating from the large rehearsal studio.

Curious, she walks to the open doorway and stops to watch.

CORPS MEMBERS and a few soloists form two lines on both sides

of the room. In the middle, Veronica dances along with Lily.

Nina pays close attention to Lily, sizing her up. Her dancing

is explosive, exudes sex.

LEROY (O.S.)

Watch the way she moves...

26.

Leroy has snuck up behind Nina at the doorway and gets very

close to her.

LEROY (CONT’D)

Imprecise, but sensual. She’s not

faking it. Pay attention.

Lily makes a small mistake, but cracks up laughing, amused

rather than bothered by her blunder.

Nina stares at her, attracted and threatened.

A35 INT. PRINCIPAL DRESSING ROOM - DAY A35

The company’s administrator, SUSIE, shows Nina into the room.

SUSIE:

You share with Beth from now on, so

be considerate.

NINA:

Thanks, Susie.

Awed, Nina looks around the room. She scans Beth’s

photographs and personal belongings, and lands on a large

bouquet of FRESH FLOWERS.

SUSIE:

Those are for you. From Mr. Leroy.

NINA:

Beautiful.

Susie leaves.

Nina pulls a card out from the flowers and reads. A faint

smile curls her lips.

She opens her shoulder bag and removes a SMALL SATCHEL. She

pulls out a pair of DIAMOND STUD EARRINGS and puts them on.

35 INT. PATRON OF THE ARTS APARTMENT - NIGHT 35

Leroy pulls Nina through a fundraiser gala, filled with rich

looking PATRONS and some DANCERS from the company.

Bewildered, Nina takes in her high-society surroundings,

getting the occasional curious glance as she passes.

Leroy grabs a couple CHAMPAGNE glasses off a WAITER’S tray.

He hands a glass to Nina with a smile.

27.

He leads her up a staircase to a landing that overlooks the

party.

LEROY:

Ready to be thrown to the wolves?

We need their cash, so smile. *

She smiles, as instructed.

LEROY (CONT’D)

Ladies and gentlemen, good evening.

The crowd turns their gaze towards them. All eyes on her.

LEROY (CONT’D)

As I stand here tonight, I see so

many familiar faces. Your *

contribution to the art we all

cherish profoundly goes straight to

my heart and I am very grateful.

Polite applause.

LEROY (CONT’D)

Let me begin with a very important

announcement. You all have had the

chance to be enchanted,

transported, sometimes devastated

by the performances of this true

artist of our company. She has been

an exceptional inspiration to my

work, a role model to our dancers

and a deeply satisfying presence on

our stage. You all know who I am

talking about...Beth Macintyre

More applause. Nervous, Nina unconsciously picks at her

cuticles.

LEROY (CONT’D)

As we all know, every great career

comes to an end. Beth is retiring

at the end of the season. She will

be giving her farewell performance

as Melpomene, the role she

originated in my first ballet.

People start whispering, stunned by the news. Nina sees Beth

in the crowd, giving a sad smile to the surrounding guests.

Trying to remain dignified.

28.

LEROY (CONT’D)

She will be greatly missed, but she

will always be remembered. My

little princess.

Amidst the mummering, Nina sees Beth quietly sneak out of the

crowd and out the front door. Leroy quickly covers.

LEROY (CONT’D)

But as we bid adieu to one star, we

welcome another!

He looks at Nina. She stops picking her nails, self-

conscious.

LEROY (CONT’D)

As you know, we open our season

with my new version of Swan Lake.

Taking the role of our new Swan

Queen is the exquisite Ms. Nina

Sayers.

Restrained APPLAUSE.

Nina steps forward and curtseys. Someone seems to GIGGLE at

her. Insecure, Nina glances towards the source and sees Lily

flirting with a RICH GENT, uninterested in the official

proceedings.

LEROY (CONT’D)

Soon you will have the pleasure of

seeing her perform, tonight we

raise a glass. To all of you, to

Nina, to Beth, to beauty!

He downs his drink and the crowd follows suit.

36 INT. LIVING ROOM, PATRON OF THE ARTS APARTMENT - LATER 36

PARTY GUESTS surround Nina and Leroy, trying to meet the

company’s newest star. Nina basks in all the attention.

LEROY:

Dr. Brinson and his lovely wife,

Ellen, tonight’s sponsors.

She shakes DR. BRINSON’S hand and curtseys to MRS. BRINSON.

NINA:

Such a beautiful event.

29.

MRS. BRINSON

Not as beautiful as you, dear.

Nina demurs. They’re replaced by another HUSBAND and WIFE.

LEROY:

And this is Mr. and Mrs. Stein.

Nina repeats the pleasantries, this time noticing that one of

her cuticles is bleeding. She awkwardly pulls her hand away.

Leroy leans in and whispers in her ear.

LEROY (CONT’D)

Relax, you’re doing great.

CUT TO:

37 INT. BATHROOM - LATER 37

Nina washes her hands. She looks at herself in the mirror and

takes a deep breath.

Someone KNOCKS on the door.

NINA:

Just a second.

She turns off the water and wipes her damp hands on the back

of her neck, trying to cool herself.

She checks her finger. No blood, but there’s a HANGNAIL.

Nina takes hold of the small flap and tries to yank it off.

Accidentally tearing a strip of skin from the nail to her

second knuckle.

More KNOCKING startles her.

LILY (O.S.)

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