The Red Shoes Page #2

Of course I tried to get her.

I tried to get her twice. Ta-ta.

- Here you are, son.

- Right, governor.

Oi! You'll pardon me.

This is the way

to the stage, isn't it?

- Name?

- Julian Craster.

- What name?

- Julian Craster.

Not on the list.

- Lunch, Irina?

- Yes.

- I have an appointment with Mr. Lermontov.

- I'm sorry. I've got my job to do.

It's not likely he would ask me to come

if he didn't want to see me.

- Good morning, George.

- Oh, bonjour, madame.

- How is Madame George?

- Oh, she is "la tresjalouse. "

Very "jalouse." That bit of a photograph

we had took together. Compris?

Oh, here we are.

They've been looking

all over London for you this morning.

- Ah! Flut!

- That's what Isaid.

How much longer

do you expect me to go on waiting?

I'Il send for the S.M.

- What is your name, young man?

- Julian Craster.

I have an appointment

with Mr. Lermontov.

Julian Cwes - Cwes -

- Craster.

- Craster.

Well, George, if this young man is invited

by Mr. Lermontov, you can pass him, yes?

?a va by me, madame.

?a va by me.

Follow me, young man.

- Est-ce que vous -

- Comment?

- Are you a dancer?

- Yes, at night.

Not very much in the morning.

- I don't know very much about ballet.

- You are artiste?

Yes, I'm a composer.

Ahh, and you wish to see who?

WeIl, I'm afraid I'm not quite sure.

They are all there.

Make your choice.

Excuse me.

Can you tell me who's in charge here?

No idea, mate. There's about five

or six of 'em that thinks they are.

- Can you tell me who's in charge here?

- Don't ask me anything, young man.

I'm just somebody's mother, and that doesn't

mean much around here, I can tell you.

Can you tell me

who's in charge here?

In charge of what?

Mr. Lermontov asked me

to come here this morning.

- Why?

- He's engaged me.

- Not as a dancer, I hope.

- No.

Allons, mes enfants!

Au boulot!

And -

Well, Mr. Ratov,

Mr. Ljubov wants it moved.

It is on the plan, and there it stays.

Well, if you say so.

- Merci.

- Good morning, madame.

Ah, here comes

the great Boronskaja at last.

And today, she's only 43 minutes late.

Am I supposed

to congratulate myself on that?

I tell you, Irina,

my patience is at an end.

This time, I shall go to Lermontov

and I shall expIain to him...

how no theater is big enough

to hold both you and me!

- I might as well start packing.

- Oh, there is no hurry.

After all, he might choose

to dispense with my services.

He is quite crazy enough.

But if we go, we go together,

Grischa darling. Promise?

Kukushka.

- Who are you?

- Victoria Page.

I expect Mr. Lermontov

has spoken to you about me.

- He's invited me to come here -

- No, this is too much.

He invites them.

I teach them.

I get rid of them.

He forgets them.

And now, unhappy girl, will you please

go to the far corner of the stage...

where you'll meet

five other young ladies...

to whom Mr. Lermontov

has also extended his hospitality.

[ Woman ]

Jacquie. Jacquie!

[ Grischa ]

Encore!

[ Man ]

Quiet, please!

I want to rehearse the first act

of Heart of Fire.

Will everybody not concerned

leave the stage, pIease?

[ Man ]

Righto, boys. Stand back, what.

Hurry.

Is that so? Well, I agree.

[ Rapping ]

Where are you going, my dear?

I'm going to talk to Mr. Lermontov.

Don't you think it would be better

to wait until after the rehearsal?

Oh, no, that's all right.

You see, I know him personally.

Oh, well, that makes

all the difference, of course.

- Ratov!

- Yes, Boris?

No, stay where you are.

l'll come up.

[ Musicians Tuning lnstruments ]

Good morning, Mr. Lermontov.

- Good morning, Ratov.

- Boris.

Look here, we must do something

about this foreground piece here.

The girls last night had hardly room

to move. Ljubov was right, after all.

- Aha, Ljubov -

- Ljubov is always right. We know.

- Do you really think so?

- Yes.

Well, weIl, well.

Take it away.

Take it away.

Well, you see, my dear,

Mr. Lermontov is a very busy man.

Now, why don't you go and wait

over there with the others?

- Ivan, are you ready?

- Yes.

Yes, I wiIl.

- Sergei Sergeivitch.

- Yes?

Are you acquainted

with either the works...

or peeson of Julian Craster,

composer and conductor?

- No.

- Nor I.

Which proves, my dear fellow,

how sadly we lag behind the times.

For here he is in our midst.

[ Blows Nose ]

Lermontov has engaged him this morning.

[ Piano ]

Ronde de jamb. E -

[ Piano ]

[ Mutters ]

Class dismiss.

[ Orchestra ]

Da-dee-dee-dee-dee

Da-da-da-da-da-da

Da-dum, dee-dee

Da-da-dum, dum

Da-dee, dum

No, gentlemen.

Figure 29, sing.

- Tee-ah, dee -

- I think that will do.

Thank you, gentlemen.

The brass could do

with your attention, Craster.

Tomorrow.

[ Musicians Tuning Instruments ]

Gentlemen, I'm very sorry to bring you

here so early in the morning.

[ Bassoon Low Note ]

But I've been in front for this particular

ballet on more than one occasion...

and I really must -

There are one or two things

l really must put right.

So, um, Heart of Fire overture, please.

From the beginning.

Oh, by the way, trumpets...

two baes before figure two -

Have you got an E-natural?

No, I've got an E-flat.

Ah, makes all the difference,

doesn't it?

It should be E-natural.

Right, from the beginning.

[ Vacuum Whirring Quietly ]

[ Horns ]

Gentlemen, I know it's difficult to get

your lips set at this time of the morning...

but still we ought to be able

to come in together.

And even more pianissimo.

Less strings.

"A," oboe.

- [ Oboe Note ]

- [ lnstruments Tuning ]

From the beginning, please.

- That's nice.

- Mr. Craster!

Precisely what is going on?

I can only suppose that you've

taken leave of your senses.

Do you realize that by calling

the orchestra one hour early...

- that we shall have to pay them?

- [ Musicians Laugh ]

And why are you rehearsing

Heart of Fire?

Did I ever ask you to do that?

Tell me. I'm interested.

- Well -

- I'm sure Mr. Lermontov will be interested too.

Well?

- I like it.

- You like it?

I have no doubt you also like

the national anthem and the "Marseillaise."

I hope you're not thinking of summoning

the full orchestra at dawn...

to practice those noble melodies.

[ Musicians Laugh ]

WeIl, I leave this young man

to you, Lermontov.

After all, he is your discovery,

not mine.

Mr. Craster, I must ask you

to exercise in future...

a little more control

over your natural ambitions.

Why you should have chosen Heart of Fire

for this early morning escapade -

Good morning, gentlemen -

is a mystery

that I shall never hope to solve.

May I see that wrong note

in the score, pIease?

Mmm. However, there are

passages in Heart of Fire...

which no one need be ashamed of.

Thank you, Mr. Lermontov.

[ Chattering ]

Good morning, Miss Page.

Oh, good morning, Evans.

Is Lord Oldham with you?

Yes, miss.

Be careful, miss.

Good morning, Peter.

Oh, hello, Vicky.

What are you doing here?

- What are you?

- I'm having lunch with Boris Lermontov.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes