Black Swan Page #3

7.

He heads to the line of soloists, studying them.

LEROY:

We all know the story: virginal

girl, pure and sweet, trapped in

the body of a swan. She desires

freedom, but only true love can

break the spell.

He taps a dancer on the shoulder, she lights up. He walks,

then taps another. A selection process of some kind.

Nina looks nervous, has an inkling of what it means.

LEROY (CONT’D)

Her wish is granted in the form of

a prince.

He nears Nina. She sneaks peeks at him, eager and hopeful.

He acknowledges her with a small nod and a smile.

But he walks on without tapping her. She deflates.

LEROY (CONT’D)

But before he can declare his love,

her lustful twin, the Black Swan,

tricks and seduces him.

He approaches the New Girl. Nina watches, threatened.

But he doesn’t tap her either.

LEROY (CONT’D)

Devastated, the White Swan leaps

off a cliff, killing herself. But,

in death, finds freedom.

He taps one more soloist and then CLAPS.

The music stops and all the girls face him, attentive.

LEROY (CONT’D)

Good morning, company.

They respond “Good morning” in nervous, unsure voices.

LEROY (CONT’D)

We open our season with Swan Lake.

Done to death, I know. But not like

this. We strip it down. Make it

visceral and real.

He pauses for effect.

8.

LEROY (CONT’D)

And a new production needs a new

Swan Queen. A fresh face to present

to the world.

Surprised, the soloists glance at each other, trying to keep

their cool.

LEROY (CONT’D)

But which of you can embody both

swans? The white and the black?

Nina prepares for disappointment.

LEROY (CONT’D)

All the soloists I touched...

Please go to your scheduled

rehearsals this afternoon.

The girls are confused.

LEROY (CONT’D)

And the girls I didn’t touch, meet

me in studio B at five.

Nina breathes, realizing the girls he didn’t tap are the ones

he’s selected, purposefully toying with them.

10 INT. BACKSTAGE HALLWAY - DAY 10

Hidden inside a nook, Nina has her eyes closed, nervously

HUMMING the score to Swan Lake.

She makes small motions with her feet and hands, going

through the choreography in her mind. Preparing for the

audition.

A loud CRASHING sound snaps her out of it.

She goes out into the hallway to investigate.

The door to a PRINCIPAL DRESSING ROOM is halfway open. Nina

cautiously approaches.

Inside, she can see someone moving around the room in a fury,

trashing it.

Suddenly, the door swings open and BETH MACINTYRE bursts out.

She makes brief eye-contact with Nina.

BETH:

What?!

9.

Nina just shakes her head.

Beth scoffs as she slams the door behind her. She clips down

the hall in the opposite direction.

Nina waits until she’s gone, then moves closer to the door

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