The Danish Girl Page #5

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ULLA:

It’s Lili...!

GERDA:

That’s right. Einar’s cousin from

Vejle...

ULLA:

My dear, you’re exquisite...

She LAUGHS, thrilled, exchanges a look with Gerda. Lili’s

eyelashes flutter, a picture of shyness as Ulla summons the

rest of her party - revelling in their shared secret...

ULLA (CONT’D) (cont’d)

In - let’s go in...

Gerda and Lili - holding hands - join the crush:

EINAR/LILI

You won’t leave me, will you...?

Gerda looks down at Einar/Lili’s grip on her hand.

GERDA:

(sincerely)

No. No, never.

She squeezes the hand and they press forward together.

INT. ROYAL ACADEMY OF ARTS, GREAT HALL, NIGHT

A spectacular event. An orchestra plays and people dance.

Ulla’s party drink and laugh. Gerda and Lili hang back a

little, observing. There’s a circle of men in tuxedos nearby.

One glances across at Lili. Lili looks away, blushing.

EINAR/LILI

People are looking.

GERDA:

Well you’re a pretty girl, you’ll

have to get used to that.

But she sees Lili’s really uncomfortable.

GERDA (CONT’D) (cont’d)

It’s fine. You’re just feeling

self-conscious.

ELSA (O.S.)

Gerda - !

They spot Elsa across the crowd... Lili shrinks.

(CONTINUED)

26/11/15

24.

CONTINUED:

EINAR/LILI

Go and talk to her...

GERDA:

No, I’ll stay with you...

EINAR/LILI

Go. I’ll be fine. Go before she

comes over here...

Gerda reluctantly crosses the room and greets Elsa warmly.

But by the time she glances back, Lili has gone.

Lili sits at the edge of the dancefloor on a bench carved

with mermaids, a nerve fluttering in her cheek. We see a

young man, HENRIK SANDAHL, study her closely - closely enough

to see she is not everything she appears, but this only seems

to intrigue him. He sits beside her. Lili self-consciously

takes a notebook from her bag, begins to jot things down.

Henrik leans in, his raven hair in Lili’s peripheral vision,

leans forward until Lili’s refusal to engage becomes comical.

HENRIK:

Are you a reporter?

Lili looks up.

EINAR/LILI

(flatly)

No.

HENRIK:

A poetess...?

Lili packs up the notebook and hurries away... Finds a

corridor, leading off the hall - quieter, darker...

Lili feels her way along the wall, relieved to be in the

cooler air, away from the party. As her eyes adjust to the

darkness, she sees a couple kissing in an alcove. A flash of

the woman’s white thigh, as the man pushes up her dress.

Lili turns away, discomfited, walks straight back into

Henrik.

HENRIK (CONT’D) (cont’d)

Do you know the story of this oak

tree?

EINAR/LILI

Mm...?

Henrik indicates a tree outside, behind Lili...

HENRIK:

They say if you eat its acorns you

can make a wish and become anyone

you want for a day.

(CONTINUED)

26/11/15

25.

CONTINUED:

Einar’s reaction flashes through Lili’s facade.

EINAR/LILI

Why would they say that...?

Henrik bows, entertained by the effect he’s had...

HENRIK:

Henrik Sandahl. At your disposal.

A moment’s hesitation, then:

EINAR/LILI

Lili...

HENRIK:

Are you here with someone, Lili?

EINAR/LILI

Yes - my cousin’s wife.

HENRIK:

Who’s your cousin?

Lili hesitates, turns back:

EINAR/LILI

Einar Wegener. He’s a painter.

HENRIK:

Rather a good one. Better than

most people think.

EINAR/LILI

Is that right?

HENRIK:

Most people our age at any rate.

EINAR/LILI

Well....

She makes to leave again, but:

HENRIK:

Don’t go back in. It’s cooler

here. Besides, I’m a romantic.

EINAR/LILI

Oh really...

HENRIK:

I prefer the shadows and...

Lili steals a look at him. He lowers his voice... sincere...

(CONTINUED)

26/11/15

26.

CONTINUED:

HENRIK (CONT’D) (cont’d)

I don’t mean to presume, but I’ve

been watching you.

A tremor of panic runs through Lili...

HENRIK (CONT’D) (cont’d)

I think you might be the same.

Henrik holds out his hand. Lili looks at it, a sense of

connection she can’t understand, previously unimaginable...

Then, trembling, Lili reaches out and rests her delicate,

manicured hand in Henrik’s... and suddenly her nerves are

completely steady. Henrik leads Lili along the corridor,

away from the hall...

INT. ROYAL ACADEMY OF ARTS, GREAT HALL, NIGHT

Noisier and smokier now, too much aquavit drunk, the guests a

little out of focus. Gerda scans the dishevelled crowds,

concerned - no sign of Lili. Suddenly, Ulla’s at her side.

GERDA:

Have you seen Einar? I can’t find

him.

ULLA:

Of course you can’t, he isn’t here!

Ulla and Gerda laugh... Ulla raises her glass... more fun!

But Gerda excuses herself, and continues looking...

EXT. ROYAL ACADEMY OF ARTS, LIFE-DRAWING ROOM, NIGHT

Lili and Henrik sit on a bench in the lee of a sculpted

classical nude. Lili’s cheeks burn. Henrik is clearly

fascinated. The slight sense of playacting between them only

heightens their excitement.

HENRIK:

You’re different from other girls.

Lili scoffs gently.

EINAR/LILI

That’s not a very original line.

HENRIK:

It’s true. You’re old fashioned.

Lili takes Henrik in, decides to continue...

EINAR/LILI

Provincial. I’m new to the city.

(CONTINUED)

26/11/15

27.

CONTINUED:

HENRIK:

No, it’s more than that. I feel

I’d need to ask permission before I

kissed you.

A bolt of something goes through Lili. Her eyes sink, drawn

and repulsed, to Henrik’s lips. She can hardly breathe...

EINAR/LILI

I probably ought to find Gerda.

She heads back toward the corridor... Henrik grabs her hand.

HENRIK:

Why don’t you tell her I’ll walk

you home...?

EINAR/LILI

She wouldn’t like that...

He advances, his body pressing against her, commanding,

holding her fixed in the doorway...

HENRIK:

Lili...

Lili pulls away, flustered, aroused...

EINAR/LILI

Einar might be waiting up... he

wouldn’t like this...

HENRIK:

Wouldn’t he...?

EINAR/LILI

No...

HENRIK:

Lili...

He steadies her... repeating her name...

HENRIK (CONT’D) (cont’d)

Lili... Lili.

Three times a charm... We see something shift in Lili...

Henrik senses it... He kisses her. When he releases her she

gasps, and he kisses her again, finds his passion returned

this time... When she finally catches her breath she can’t

look at him...

EINAR/LILI

You didn’t ask permission...

HENRIK:

I couldn’t risk you saying no.

(CONTINUED)

26/11/15

28.

CONTINUED:

Standing in the corridor, by the oak, Gerda watches, stunned,

as Lili clutches Henrik’s arm, looks suddenly faint, upset...

Lili looks down, confused and then panicked. Blood pours

from her nose, down the front of her dress... she’s appalled.

HENRIK (CONT’D) (cont’d)

What’s happened..? Let me...

Henrik tries to find a handkerchief... Then sees Gerda

approaching... He pulls away from Lili...

HENRIK (CONT’D) (cont’d)

I’m sorry I don’t know what...

Lili holds out her arms to Gerda. Henrik steps back... Gerda

reaches Lili, quickly takes her weight... Gerda wraps her

scarf around ‘Lili’, who now looks like Einar in grotesque

drag, smeared with make-up and blood.

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