The Danish Girl Page #9

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INT. 22 RUE DE NUIT, 1ST FLOOR LANDING, DAY

A hatch in a door slides open, and MADAME CARTON’s eyes flash

greedily from behind an iron grille.

INT. 22 RUE DE NUIT, ROOM NO. 3, DAY

The tiny room contains a chair and a bin. We hear GROANS from

an adjoining room. There are two small windows with black

shades drawn. Einar settles, slowly lifts one of the shades.

Behind smudged glass, a worn-out girl in a corset and

stockings grinds against a chair, sullen. Beyond her, we see

(CONTINUED)

26/11/15

46.

CONTINUED:

another dark window, another man with his nose pressed

against it.

Einar studies the girl and gradually his body begins to

mirror hers, a parody of female abandon. We see his

reflection in the glass now, gradually eclipsing her... He

breathes, an almost orgasmic GASPING breath of relief.

INT. HANS OFFICE, QUAI D’ORSAY, PARIS, A WEEK LATER, DAY

HANS AXGIL on the telephone. An impressively upholstered man,

quixotic, appealing. The emphatically masculine room - dark

wood infused with Hans’ cigar smoke - overlooks a

breathtaking view of the Seine. A sense of space, freedom.

HANS:

Hey, he’s playing with us! He knows the

price...

Hans laughs, shakes his head. A quiet KNOCK and a secretary

pulls a face around the door. Hans waves her away, impatient.

HANS (cont’d)

Look, I have to go. I have some Danish girl

waiting to see me. But tell him we’ll find

another buyer, no problem. He’s always the

same!

INT. HANS AXGIL’S OFFICE, RECEPTION, DAY

Gerda’s immediately on her feet, her strong right hand

stretched towards Hans, unavoidable. She’s no girl.

HANS:

Hans Axgil..

He shakes her hand, intrigued. Gerda’s a little over-eager.

GERDA:

Thank you so much for...

HANS:

Don’t thank me yet - I can’t represent you.

I don’t handle any contemp...

GERDA:

Of course, no, I know that...

HANS:

The reviews for your show were terrific,

but your work is way out of my...

GERDA:

Perhaps if you let me speak, things would

be clearer...?

(CONTINUED)

26/11/15

47.

CONTINUED:

Hans stops, surprised. His secretary suppresses a smile.

HANS:

Let you speak?

Hans takes her in, the tough fragility of her. Smiles.

HANS (cont’d)

I’m a much better listener when I’m eating.

He nods goodbye to his secretary, shows Gerda the door.

EXT. STREET NEAR HANS’ OFFICE

They hurry along the street, approach the restaurant...

HANS:

Well, I don’t know why Rasmussen

gave you my number, but I’m happy

he did...

GERDA:

I asked him, I wanted to meet you,

put a face to a name...

Hans smiles, encouraged. He holds open the door to a smart

brasserie. Gerda goes through ahead of him. As she does:

GERDA (cont’d)

I believe you were a childhood

friend of my husband.

Hans is left holding the door, alone.

HANS:

(crestfallen)

You have a husband?

INT. SMART BRASSERIE, DAY

Gerda and Hans settle at a table. He nods to the sommelier.

HANS:

A bottle of the Mersault...

The sommelier hurries away. Hans studies Gerda. Who is she?

GERDA:

I’m married to Einar Wegener.

Hans is amazed.

HANS:

To Einar?

(CONTINUED)

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48.

CONTINUED:

GERDA:

You remember him?

HANS:

Of course I remember him. My God - we were

such friends. How is he?

Hans is excited, a boy again. Gerda can’t help it, blurts:

GERDA:

He told me that you kissed him once.

Hans is taken aback...

HANS:

I what...??

But his amazement shifts as it comes back to him...

HANS (cont’d)

Oh no! You’re right... We were fooling

in the kitchen. Einar was wearing his

grandmother’s apron...

Hans laughs, amazed at his younger self:

HANS (cont’d)

We were just little boys, you know,

playing around? Anyway, Einar just

looked so pretty in that apron - I

kissed him! Next thing I know, his

father’s chasing me out.

Hans shakes his head...

HANS (cont’d)

God - Einar. Hey - why didn’t he come

today?

GERDA:

He doesn’t know I’m here. I don’t think

he’d like me asking for help.

Hans’ eyes flash, focused. This is what she’s come for, then:

GERDA (cont’d)

We don’t really know people here. And

Einar’s... he’s lost his way. He’s not

working. He needs someone to represent

him - someone who knows, him. He needs a

friend.

Hans scrutinises Gerda, her pride at odds with her need. And

for the first time in her life, Gerda looks away, unable to

hold someone’s gaze.

26/11/15

49.

INT. PARIS APARTMENT, KITCHEN, DAY

Gerda on her way out, a little anxious. Hears the racket of

Einar hammering at a frame.

GERDA:

Einar...?

She finds him stretching a fresh canvas. He scarcely pauses.

GERDA (cont’d)

I’ve a new dealer coming over later. I’d

like you to meet him.

EINAR:

I don’t want a new dealer. It doesn’t make

sense for me. I’m hardly working anyway.

GERDA:

That might change.

EINAR:

I don’t think so. I’m happy helping you.

She goes to contradict, but he cuts her off:

EINAR (cont’d)

No dealer. Thank you.

GERDA:

It’s Hans Axgil.

Einar stops, astonished.

GERDA (cont’d)

Dinner at La Dauphine at eight, then back

here to see the paintings.

Gerda’s out of the door, leaving Einar alone with the news.

INT. LA DAUPHINE RESTAURANT, NIGHT

An intimate place by the Pont Neuf. An empty chair at the

table. Gerda and Hans wait. Hans smokes.

GERDA:

You know, Einar’s still stricken

with guilt about crashing your

kite.

HANS:

It was handmade, and I've had it

since I was four! I’m glad you

reminded me. I’ll tease him about

that.

(CONTINUED)

26/11/15

50.

CONTINUED:

GERDA:

No - it’s too cruel.

HANS:

If he ever gets here. Perhaps he

doesn’t want to see me?

GERDA:

No - no, it’s not that. We should order

without him.

HANS:

Does he abandon you often?

GERDA:

Of course not!

Hans is surprised at her strength of reaction.

HANS:

I was joking.

A waiter stands over them, amplifying the moment.

EXT. MARAIS STREET, NIGHT

Hans’ car rolls down the street.

INT. PARIS APARTMENT, NIGHT

Gerda takes out keys to open the apartment door...

HANS:

I can come back another time, if you think

Einar would prefer it...

GERDA:

Really. He’s expecting you... and it will

do him good...

But they’re both a little apprehensive as they enter.

GERDA (O.S.) (cont’d)

Einar...?

Gerda noses into the living room, Hans following. He spots a

painting - his face brightens

HANS:

I know this... the fjord at

Vejle... not far from our houses!

GERDA:

Yes, Einar painted it just before we

left...

(CONTINUED)

26/11/15

51.

CONTINUED:

She goes ahead of Hans, sees: Lili on the chaise, in

imitation of a pose in a painting on the wall behind her...

dangerously charged, her cheek flushed, eyes shining. A tray

with crystal glasses.

GERDA (cont’d)

Lili...

Gerda reorientates herself in the proceedings, turns to Hans

who stands struggling to make sense of the scene before him:

GERDA (CONT’D) (cont’d)

Hans, may I introduce Lili Wegener -

Einar’s cousin from home.

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