Black Swan Page #9

LEROY:

No.

She doesn’t understand. He gets up from his chair and goes to

her.

LEROY (CONT’D)

Lily talked to me. Said she saw you

crying.

Nina looks away. Can’t believe Lily talked to him.

LEROY (CONT’D)

She said you were upset and I

should “take it easy” on you.

NINA:

I didn’t tell her that.

LEROY:

Maybe you’d like a break for a day

or two.

52.

NINA:

Thomas-

LEROY:

Or a f***ing month.

NINA:

She shouldn’t have said anything!

LEROY:

I don’t care! You shouldn’t be

whining to her!

NINA:

I didn’t.

LEROY:

You could be brilliant. Taking it

easy would be a betrayal.

He walks away from her.

NINA:

I’m sorry. I’m sorry.

LEROY:

Stop saying that! Stop being so

damn weak!

He tosses his chair across the room. SMASHING into the wall.

56 INT. BACKSTAGE HALLWAY - DAY 56

Furious, Nina heads towards the soloists’ dressing room.

Hears them chatting in their usual manner.

Nina KNOCKS loudly at the door, interrupting them.

VERONICA:

(resentful)

Look who’s gracing us with her

presence...

NINA:

Lily, I need to talk to you.

LILY:

Okay...

NINA:

Now.

53.

VERONICA:

(you’re in trouble)

Ooooh.

The other girls giggle.

LILY:

Shut up.

And they do.

57 INT. BACKSTAGE HALLWAY - DAY 57

Nina leads Lily to a private nook, fuming.

LILY:

What’s wrong?

NINA:

You told Thomas about last night?

Lily falters, guilty.

LILY:

I ran into him this morning. He

said you guys were having some

trouble.

NINA:

Why would he talk to you?

LILY:

Whoa your highness, I just told him

you’re working your ass off and I’m

sure you’ll be great.

NINA:

You shouldn’t have done that.

LILY:

I didn’t f***ing do anything.

Lily takes off. Nina stares after her, at a loss.

A58 INT. SUBWAY - NIGHT A58

Nina sits on the subway, going home. She notices that one of

her fingernails has a jagged edge. She removes an EMORY BOARD

from her bag and begins filing it down.

A SKEEZY MAN across the aisle ogles her.

54.

Nina keeps her eyes down, trying to ignore him. He starts to

sing an OLD LOVE SONG from the 20’s.

Nina stands and goes to the other end of the car. He

continues singing, undeterred.

58 OMITTED 58

59 INT. UPPER WEST SIDE APARTMENT - NIGHT 59

Nina sits on the floor in a loose sweatshirt, sewing ribbon

onto pointe shoes.

Erica sits across from her, sewing ribbon onto another pair.

ERICA:

Has he tried anything with you?

Nina doesn’t respond.

ERICA (CONT’D)

He has a reputation...

Nina tries to ignore her.

ERICA (CONT’D)

I have a right to be concerned,

Nina. You’ve been staying late so

many nights. “Rehearsing.” I hope

he’s not taking advantage, that’s

all.

*

*

*

*

He’s not.

NINA:

*

ERICA:

Good. I don’t want you making the

same mistake I did.

NINA:

(insulted)

Thanks.

ERICA:

Not like that. I just mean as far

as my career was concerned.

NINA:

What career?

ERICA:

The one I gave up to have you.

55.

NINA:

You were 28.

ERICA:

So?

NINA:

And only...

Nina bites her tongue.

ERICA:

Only what?

NINA:

Nothing.

ERICA:

What?

NINA:

(defiant)

Nothing.

Erica glares at her.

ERICA:

How’s your skin?

NINA:

It’s fine.

ERICA:

We leaving it alone?

NINA:

Yes.

ERICA:

Let me see. *

Nina stares back defiantly. *

ERICA (CONT’D)

Take off your shirt.

*

*

NINA *

No. *

Erica starts to come towards her. *

The DOORBELL RINGS. *

Erica looks at Nina questioningly. Nina shakes her head.

56.

Erica goes to the door and cracks it open, keeping the chain

engaged.

ERICA:

(to person outside)

Can I help you? (pause) I’m sorry,

she’s not in.

Erica shuts the door. Nina rushes out to see who it was.

NINA:

Who was it?

Erica doesn’t answer.

Irritated, Nina walks around Erica and quickly opens the door

to find out.

ERICA:

It’s no one.

60 INT. BUILDING HALLWAY- NIGHT 60

Nina sees a ballerina walking away from the door.

NINA:

Hello?

Lily turns.

LILY:

Hey.

NINA:

(suspicious)

What are you doing here?

Nina steps out of her apartment and closes the door.

LILY:

I wanted to apologize.

Nina just stares, incredulous.

LILY (CONT’D)

You were right, I shouldn’t have

talked to him about you.

Erica opens the door and sticks her head out.

ERICA:

Sweetheart?

57.

NINA:

Give me a second.

ERICA:

Your dinner...

NINA:

Mom, please!

Erica closes the door.

LILY:

She’s a trip...

NINA:

How did you know where I live?

LILY:

I have my ways.

Nina looks at her, darkly.

LILY (CONT’D)

Relax, I got it from Susie in the

office. I feel really shitty. Can I

make it up to you? Take you out to

dinner?

NINA:

I don’t think-

LILY:

A drink?

Nina’s tempted. Erica pokes her head out again.

ERICA:

Sweetie, you need to rest.

LILY:

Jesus.

Nina pushes the elevator call button.

NINA:

(to Lily)

Wait.

Nina walks to the door, and grabs her coat.

ERICA:

What are you doing?

58.

NINA:

I’m going out.

ERICA:

What?

Nina ignores her and shuts the door.

NINA:

(to Lily)

Let’s go.

61 INT. CORNER BISTRO - NIGHT 61

A noisy bar and burger joint, packed to the brim. Lily and

Nina sit at a small table.

LILY:

Can’t believe that’s what he called

her. So gross!

NINA:

I think it’s sweet.

LILY:

Little princess? He probably callsevery girl that.

NINA:

Only Beth.

LILY:

Well, I’m sure she lost the title

after her game of chicken.

Nina’s smile fades.

LILY (CONT’D)

Bet he’ll be calling you little

princes any day now.

NINA:

I don’t think so.

59.

LILY:

Sure, just gotta let him eat the

p*ssy.

Nina blushes, embarrassed, and Lily cracks up. A WAITER drops

a plate in front of her.

WAITER:

(to Lily)

Cheese burger, extra bloody.

LILY:

Danke schoen.

WAITER:

Let me know if it’s not juicy

enough.

LILY:

Oh, I will.

He smiles, keeping his eyes locked on Lily, as he rudely

plops down Nina’s plate.

WAITER:

Enjoy.

Lily watches him go, then notices Nina looking annoyed.

LILY:

What?

NINA:

Guess I’m invisible.

Lily studies her and digs into her purse. Pulls out a SEXY

SHIRT.

LILY:

Here, wanna spruce up?

Nina gives her a puzzled look.

LILY (CONT’D)

I always carry a spare, case I wake

up somewhere unexpected.

Lily picks up her ungainly burger and takes a big bite, a

little grease dripping down her chin. Nina cuts into her dry

chicken breast.

LILY (CONT’D)

Not like you need more attention

these days. How is he?

60.

Nina doesn’t understand the question.

LILY (CONT’D)

Thomas?

NINA:

I wouldn’t know.

LILY:

Yeah, right.

NINA:

I don’t want to talk about it.

LILY:

Relax, you’re so tense.

Lily pulls out a cigarette case and clicks it open. Inside,

CIGARETTES and a couple PILLS.

LILY (CONT’D)

One for you...

Lily grabs one of the pills and slides it over.

LILY (CONT’D)

And one for me.

Lily grabs her pill and downs it with a beer.

Nina stares at her pill, too embarrassed to admit she doesn’t

know what it is.

LILY (CONT’D)

Don’t worry, it’s pure. Brought it

with me straight from San

Francisco.

NINA:

What is it?

LILY:

You’re kidding? You never rolled?

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