Black Swan Page #2

Nina removes a new pair of BALLET SHOES, admires them for a

moment, before cutting off the satin toe with scissors.

In the background, catty VERONICA and Russian GALINA gossip.

VERONICA:

Can’t believe she’s back.

GALINA:

Of course she is.

VERONICA:

She can’t take a hint? Company’s

broke. No one comes to see her

anymore.

SOLOIST 1

No one comes to see ballet period.

5.

VERONICA:

That’s not true, I heard the Royal

had one of their best seasons yet.

GALINA:

He needs to try something new.

VERONICA:

No, someone new.

SOLOIST 1

Like who?

VERONICA:

Like someone who’s not approaching

menopause.

They snicker.

NINA:

I think it’s sad.

VERONICA:

What’s sad?

NINA:

Beth’s such an amazing dancer.

GALINA:

So’s my grand-mother.

NINA:

Fonteyn danced into her 50’s...

VERONICA:

(rolling eyes)

Yeah, we know.

Irked, Nina starts POUNDING the shoes against the floor to

soften the toe.

Her eyes are drawn to a NEW GIRL standing in the doorway.

Nina pauses to scrutinize her. She wears vampy make-up, hair

down. Dark and sexy.

NEW GIRL:

Soloists?

Wary, the girls mumble mmm-hmm’s and nod.

NEW GIRL (CONT’D)

Great.

6.

She slinks past the suspicious group of girls and plops down

at an open spot.

NEW GIRL (CONT’D)

F***ing got off the wrong stop and

had to hoof it from 79th.

Nina exchanges glances with the other girls, taken aback.

The new girl notices the looks, smirks to herself and starts

getting ready.

9 INT. LARGE REHEARSAL SPACE - DAY 9

Nina wears a look of intense concentration as the entire

company warms up, including the pubescent CORPS MEMBERS and a

handful of MALE DANCERS.

LEGS, HANDS, and FEET repeat the same movements all around

her, led by a severe BALLET MISTRESS.

BALLET MISTRESS:

To the back, fondu, to the back,

plie. Fourth, fourth, and one and

fifth, to the back...

(to a corps member)

Like this. Push it. Why can’t you

do this?

Using the mirror, Nina monitors her movements carefully. The

mistress surprises her.

BALLET MISTRESS (CONT’D)

It needs to be looser. Relax. Let

it flow.

Flustered, Nina nods and tries to follow her instruction.

Suddenly, the girls around Nina begin stripping off their

sweatshirts and insulated pants.

Nina sees that the intense and brooding director of the

company, THOMAS LEROY, has entered the space. He has the

unkept look of an artist. Magnetic and intense.

The ballerinas remove their warm-up gear to show off their

bodies.

Leroy walks around the room, judging his flock. Smiles and

glances are thrown his way.

He goes up to the ballet mistress, takes her hand and kisses

her on the cheek. Even she manages a smile.

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