The Danish Girl Page #10

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Now Lili’s up, her hand held out. Hans takes it...

LILI:

You can’t imagine how happy I am.

He holds on to her hand, instinctively kind...

LILI (cont’d)

We met before in Vejle, but you probably

don’t remember...

Hans is utterly wrongfooted...

GERDA:

Can I take your coat Hans?

HANS:

Of course...

He comes to, allows Gerda to relieve him of it. She takes it

away. Lili continues, frighteningly animated...

LILI:

A digestif, Hans? It’s so chilly all of a

sudden. I feel the cold these days. I

don’t know why...

HANS:

Thank you.

Hans sits, but his eyes wander to the portraits that are now

ranged around the room. A kaleidoscope of Lili.

LILI:

I’m so sorry Einar couldn’t be here. He

told me:
in Vejle you were his great

friend. Both always plotting to getting

away!

HANS:

That’s true...

(CONTINUED)

26/11/15

52.

CONTINUED:

LILI:

Such a tedious place! He said you’d sit

and look out together, beyond the fjord..

to the sea... to the future.

HANS:

Oh, we had big dreams...

LILI:

And you were the only one who let him paint

in peace, who told him it was alright to be

a painter.

Gerda returns to the room. Hans searches Lili’s face for the

remains of his old friend Einar.

HANS:

He... used to sketch my portrait. Take a

stone and draw me on the rocks at the side

of the road.

GERDA:

I didn’t know that.

LILI:

Oh yes.

Gerda turns to Hans:

GERDA:

Would you like to see more of Einar’s

work...?

LILI:

Do we have any?

Gerda’s surprised, unsettled by the question.

GERDA:

Yes, of course, Lili...

LILI:

Oh, but couldn’t we see it another time? I

so want to hear more from Hans... Hans,

are you married?

HANS:

No...

LILI:

Why not?

Gerda flinches, but:

LILI (cont’d)

He doesn’t mind, do you...?

Gerda looks helpless. Hans takes over:

(CONTINUED)

26/11/15

53.

CONTINUED:

HANS:

I’ve... been on my own a long time now.

I’m too set in my ways.

LILI:

I think marriage is the single thing we

should all hope for in life.

HANS:

Really?

Lili looks utterly buoyant...

LILI:

It creates someone else, more than just the

two of you. It would be terrible never to

know that...

Her expression crumbles... Hans looks to Gerda...

GERDA:

Lili...

Lili’s dissolving...

LILI:

Excuse me.

She hurries out towards the bedroom, clearly in distress.

Hans struggles to comprehend the situation...

GERDA:

You... you ought to go...

HANS:

No - let me help...

She turns, holds Hans’ hands... the intimacy, intensity of

connection surprises him:

GERDA:

Please - please - I’m sorry...

He resigns himself to leaving... as he reaches the door:

HANS:

Goodnight Lili...

LILI (O.S.)

Goodnight...

Hans lets himself out.

In the bedroom, Gerda, still shocked, looks at Lili -

bewildered, afraid, head hanging.

LILI (cont’d)

I don’t think he noticed anything, do you?

(CONTINUED)

26/11/15

54.

CONTINUED:

GERDA:

I don’t know...

LILI:

No, I think I got out just in time.

GERDA:

Sleep now. We’ll talk more tomorrow.

LILI:

Can I borrow a nightdress?

Gerda’s shocked.

GERDA:

No... we’ve never done that. Lili’s never

spent the night...

Einar confesses:

LILI:

It doesn’t matter what I wear. When I

dream, they’re Lili’s dreams...

Gerda struggles to accommodate this, very reluctant... but

she gives in, nods. What else can she do?

INT. PARIS APARTMENT, BEDROOM, LATER

Gerda in bed. Lili’s sleeping head on the pillow next to

her, where Einar’s once was. Gerda turns out the light.

INT. PARIS APARTMENT, BEDROOM, DAY

Gerda arrives to find Lili in a bright dress with matching

scarf. Shopping bags everywhere. Slight tension in the air.

GERDA:

A new dress...

LILI:

And this. Do you like it?

She hands Gerda a bright scarf...

GERDA:

Yes. It’s perfect for you...

Gerda hands it back.

GERDA (cont’d)

We’re actually a little short of money at

the moment.

Lili hangs the scark back round Gerda’s neck, hardly misses a

beat:

(CONTINUED)

26/11/15

55.

CONTINUED:

LILI:

I know, but now I’m back, I can sit

for you again, can’t I...? That

worked well before, Gerda, didn’t

it...?

Lili and Gerda take each other in, on a new footing...

INT. PARIS APARTMENT, STUDIO, DAY - MONTAGE

Gerda paints Lili who has found a new stillness. A more

serious spirit beneath the translucent skin. A sense of her

growing into herself.

We see on the wall now a number of double portraits, telling

the story of a developing negotiation - Gerda and Lili

depicted together, with a sense of close friendship or a

wistful attempt at coupledom.

Now Gerda paints with Lili advising... The two

collaborating, a sense of shared vision.

And throughout, we see Lili fully imagined as a woman, and an

increasingly idealised one - unrealistically lovely...

INT. ETIENNE DUFOUR GALLERY, RAINY NIGHT, ONE MONTH LATER

Another show of ‘Lili’ paintings. A lot of the paintings of

the two as a couple, but Gerda is here alone. She feels it.

She works the room, determined, then sees Hans, across the

crowd. Misses a beat. They make their way toward one

another. An awkward social kiss. Gerda’s unusually brittle.

HANS:

It’s a good crowd.

GERDA:

She’s a popular girl. Thank you for

coming.

HANS:

Thank you for asking me. I thought you’d

forgotten all about me.

GERDA:

We’ve been busy.

HANS:

Is Einar here?

GERDA:

Einar hates this kind of thing.

HANS:

That’s a shame. For you, I mean.

(CONTINUED)

26/11/15

56.

CONTINUED:

GERDA:

I don’t mind.

Hans wonders about this... lets it go.

HANS:

Is he well...?

GERDA:

He’s excited. We have an old friend coming

to town:
Ulla Fonsmarck, the dancer. Do

you know her?

HANS:

I don’t think so. Could I take you to

dinner? To celebrate? Someone ought to.

GERDA:

No. Thank you.

Hans absorbs this, regroups.

HANS:

Gerda, have I offended you?

GERDA:

No.

HANS:

Gerda...

He rests his hand on her arm, pressing for some honesty...

Gerda’s cornered, the heat of the room, the nearness of Hans.

GERDA:

I am still Einar’s wife.

She brushes past him, into the crowd. A MAN’S VOICE calls:

MAN:

Hans!

Hans’ social mask slips quickly back into place.

Later:
CLOSE ANGLE on Gerda, watching as a flirtatious woman

WHISPERS something in Hans’ ear. His eyes widen, he LAUGHS.

Gerda looks away. Quickly sets down her drink and moves

through the crowd toward the door...

A GALLERY EMPLOYEE frets as Gerda pulls on her coat.

GALLERY EMPLOYEE

At least take an umbrella...

GERDA:

I’m fine, honestly...

(CONTINUED)

26/11/15

57.

CONTINUED:

GALLERY EMPLOYEE

If you just wait a minute someone will

drive you...

But Gerda’s out in the rain, the party still in full swing.

INT. PARIS APARTMENT, KITCHEN, NIGHT

Gerda lets herself in, breathless. Lili’s just arranging a

supper table, is surprised to see Gerda home so early...

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