The Red Shoes

[ Crowd Clamoring, Muffled ]

- [ Man ] Open the door!

- [ Man #2 Shouting ]

[ Clamoring Continues ]

They're going mad, sir.

It's the students.

[ Man ]

Down with tyrants!

[ Crowd Cheers ]

- All right, let them in.

- [ Man ] Open the door!

[ Students Shouting ]

[ Chattering, Shouting ]

- Swine!

- Beast!

- [ Woman ] Into the valley of death!

- Into the jaws of hell!

Rode the 600!

Hey, hey. Ease up.

You're sitting on my cloak.

Filling up down below?

- Not a sausage.

- Not a tiara.

- Ah, here you are, Terry.

- Thank you.

[ Musicians Tuning Instruments ]

[ Tuning Continues ]

- I can't see him anywhere.

- [ Woman ] Programs.

- Oh, two, please.

- One here.

Thanks, pal.

Quite a turnout down below.

Old Palmer's music had better be good.

Boronskaja would hardly be dancing

the leading role if it wasn't.

Boro who?

Who exactly is Boronskaja?

Since you've stood

in a queue for six hours...

waiting to see her dance,

I should have thought -

Not to see anybody.

To hear.

[ Terry ]

Have you ever heard of Professor Palmer?

- Never.

- Never.

You will.

The program says "Heart of Fire -

Music by Andrew Palmer."

Our professor at the academy.

So Boro what's-her-name

had better be good.

She is hardly likely to be anything else.

- There he is.

- [ Man ] Palmer!

[ Students Shouting ]

Palmer! Palmer!

[ Shouting Continues ]

Lermontov!

Lermontov!

[ Students Cheering, Shouting ]

- [ Bows Tapping ]

- [ Audience AppIauding ]

- [ Man Whistles ]

- [ Students ] Livy! Livy!

- Good old Livy!

- Good old Livy!

We know him.

[ Orchestra ]

- Do you remember my Scythian Rhapsody?

- Forget it.

- That's it - your rhapsody.

That's the maestoso to it.

- Must be an accident.

- Did you show him your rhapsody?

- I show him all my work.

- You don't think that he lifted it?

- Of course not.

Shh!

[ Continues ]

She's a great patron of the arts.

Vicky.

Lermontov's coming.

- I say, that's yours too, isn't it?

- Yes.

- [ Ends ]

- [ Applause ]

[ Orchestra ]

- Steady on, old boy.

- [ People Shushing ]

- Well, what are you waiting for?

- [ Shushing ]

- [ Man ] Quiet.

- Please let me through.

- Please, do you mind?

- [ All Grumbling, Shushing ]

Oh, really!

[ Chattering ]

Oh.

Ah, dear Professor Palmer,

we're all very proud of you...

and I hope you're

very proud of yourself.

You're too kind.

Lady Neston, Monsieur Lermontov.

- So we meet the great man at last.

- Enchante, madame.

Well, I never imagined I should

succeed in getting you here.

I think I must be a very clever woman.

[ Chattering ]

If some fat harridan

is going to sing, I must go.

I can't bear amateurs.

- Neither, as it happens, can Lady Neston.

- What do you mean?

She has, I believe, a niece

who dances professionally.

Hello, Professor.

Now please don't get up, Mr. Lermontov.

Now, are you prepared for a surprise?

Do you mean a surprise,

Lady Neston, or a shock?

Well, to take the plunge...

I've asked my niece

to dance for us tonight.

- What would you call that?

- A shock.

Oh, well, you're - you're certainly very candid.

You know, Mr. Lermontov...

I wouldn't dream of boring you

with the performance of an amateur.

My niece has been dancing

leading roles for some time now.

The critics think very highly of her work.

How would you define "ballet", Lady Neston?

Well - [ Chuckles ]

one might call it

the poetry of motion, perhaps, or -

One might, but for me,

it is a great deal more.

For me, it is a religion.

And one doesn't really care

to see one's religion practiced...

in an atmosphere such as this.

I hope you undeestand.

Attractive brute.

[ Piano ]

[ No Audible Dialogue ]

[ Continues ]

Mmm, l'll have a champagne cocktail, please.

- Yes, sir.

- Champagne cocktail, please.

Yes, madam.

You know, at parties,

everybody's supposed to be very happy.

But perhaps you dislike them

as much as I do.

StiIl, as parties go,

I think it might have been worse.

- Do you?

- It very nearly was a great deal worse.

- Oh?

- Thank you.

We were, it appeaes, to be treated

to a little dancing exhibition.

But now I understand

we are to be spared that horror.

Mr. Lermontov, I am that horror.

Mmm.

[ Chuckles ]

It's a bit late for apologies, isn't it?

Yes, a little late, I think.

All the same, I'm sorry.

I'm terribly sorry.

But you're not sorry I didn't dance, are you?

- Oh.

- May I ask why?

- Well, because, my dear Miss-Miss -

- Victoria Page.

My dear Miss Page, if I accept

an invitation to a party...

I do not expect to find myself

at an audition.

Yes, you're quite right.

Why do you want to dance?

Why do you want to live?

WeIl, I don't know exactly why,

but... I must.

That's my answer too.

- [ Ends ]

- Come with me.

- Where to?

- We are going to have a little talk.

But I don't think

I want to talk to you.

Don't you worry.

I'Il do the talking.

[ Doorbell Buzzes ]

[ Man ]

Can I see Mr. Lermontov now, please?

What is it, Dimitri?

It is a young man called Craster.

He has been here a hundred times...

and a hundred times I have toId him

you are asleep, but he will not believe me.

Then either you are a very bad liar,

or Mr. Craster is a young man of good sense.

Show him in and serve breakfast.

Mr. Craster.

What can I do for you, Mr. Craster?

I'm-I'm sorry to bother you,

Mr. Lermontov...

but it's a matter of very

great importance to me.

Yes?

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