"BLACK SWAN" (2010)

Black Swan

by

Mark Heyman Andres Heinz John McLaughlin

Story by Andres Heinz

White Shooting Draft - November 3, 2009 Blue Revisions - November 20, 2009 Pink Revisions - November 30, 2009 Yellow Revisions - December 8, 2009 Green Revisions - January 5, 2010 Goldenrod Revisions - January 11, 2010

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. COPYRIGHT ©2010 LAKE OF TEARS, INC. NO PORTION OF THIS SCRIPT MAY BE PERFORMED, PUBLISHED, REPRODUCED, SOLD OR DISTRIBUTED BY ANY MEANS, OR QUOTED OR PUBLISHED IN ANY MEDIUM, INCLUDING ANY WEB SITE, WITHOUT THE PRIOR WRITTEN CONSENT OF LAKE OF TEARS, INC. DISPOSAL OFTHIS SCRIPT COPY DOES NOT ALTER ANY OF THE RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH ABOVE.

OPENING CREDITS:

A SPOTLIGHT slices black space.

In its beam, a DANCER materializes. She is fair-skinned. Beautiful and pure.

The maiden twirls on pointe, a smile on her face, light as air and carefree.

She pauses, her face grows worried. Sensing someone watching.

Scared, she peers into the darkness.

She moves now, looking, growing more frantic.

Then, a SINISTER MAN emerges out of the darkness behind her. She stumbles backwards, frightened.

She tries to escape, twirling away, but he pursues. His true form is revealed, the demon ROTHBART.

He flings his open hand towards her, casting the spell.

She wants to scream, but nothing comes out. She looks at her body, sensing something happening to her. Something terrifying.

She spins, panicking, but it’s too late. She disappears beneath the beast’s cape.

She emerges as the WHITE SWAN, the iconic protagonist of SWAN LAKE.

CUT TO BLACK.

In the darkness, a pair of EYES. They belong to NINA, the same dancer. She lies awake in bed, thinking about her dream.

The room looks like it hasn’t been redecorated since she was a teenager. Stuffed animals. Dolls. Pink and frilly.

The door opens, throwing LIGHT on her face. Nina looks towards the door and smiles softly at whoever opened it.

Nina sits up and hangs her BARE FEET off the side of the bed. Like all ballerinas, she’s beautiful and her feet are atrocious. Covered in corns, broken blisters and bunions. She arches them, doing her first extensions of the day.

The room is empty of furniture to leave space for dancing. A large mirror covers the opposite wall entirely.

Nina rubs her knees to get them warm, and then begins her morning exercises, extending and contracting her feet and legs in precise and rhythmic motions.

The skin on her chest stretches tautly over her sternum. Defined vertebrae run up her back, sinewy muscles contract as she moves. Her slender neck leads into her hair, contained in a ballerina’s bun.

Nina looks serene as she moves, completely in her element.

She hears someone fussing about in the kitchen.

No answer.

Still no answer.

Nina continues to stretch.

Nina sits at the table. An older woman, ERICA, places a POACHED EGG and a QUARTER-GRAPEFRUIT in front of her.

2A.

ERICA NINA

(inside joke) (inside joke) Pretty. Pretty.

They giggle and Erica resumes packing Nina’s shoulder bag with extra clothing, shoes, snack filled tupperware, duct tape, ribbon, thread, etc.

Nina smiles, comforted, and begins taking her vitamins.

Erica walks over with a SWEATSHIRT and holds it above her. Nina pulls it over her head and starts to push her arms through the sleeves.

Erica points to her shoulder. Nina feels and finds a small SCRATCH MARK.

She shrugs and shakes her head.

Erica gives her a suspicious look, but lets it go and smiles. Nina finishes pulling down the sweatshirt.

Erica hugs Nina into her chest and kisses the top of her head.

Erica releases her and Nina begins eating.

Nina rides inside a crowded subway, staring absentmindedly at her faint reflection in the train’s window.

Suddenly, another train roars by on the opposite track, snapping her awake.

In the next train car, she sees the back of a BALLERINA standing in the midst of the crowd. Her head bops to music playing through iPod earphones.

Nina moves a strand of hair out of her eyes, and at that exact moment, the girl in the next car moves in the same way. Mirroring her.

Unnerved, Nina slowly lowers her arm. So does the other girl. Although Nina can’t quite see her face, the girl seems IDENTICAL from Nina’s vantage point.

The train jerks to a stop as it arrives at a station. Nina sees the girl head to the exit. She cranes to see her face, but her view’s obscured.

The doors slide shut and the train pulls out. Nina watches the platform whisk by, keeping her eyes peeled, but she doesn’t see the girl.

Nina emerges from the subway station onto a city street.

She arrives at the MAJESTIC-LOOKING THEATER, where a few other BALLERINAS likewise trickle towards the entrance. They all look strangely similar: slender, carrying shoulder bags, wearing leggings and loose sweatshirts.

She passes a ROW OF POSTERS featuring the company’s prima ballerina, BETH MACINTYRE.

Nina looks at them, a little envious, before continuing on to the STAGE DOOR.

Crammed into a single dressing room, Nina and the company’s 5 SOLOISTS get ready for rehearsal. Chatting, sewing ribbon onto shoes, applying makeup, putting band-aids on blisters.

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.

They snicker.

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.

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

She slinks past the suspicious group of girls and plops down at an open spot.

Nina exchanges glances with the other girls, taken aback.

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

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.

Using the mirror, Nina monitors her movements carefully. The mistress surprises her.

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.

He heads to the line of soloists, studying them.

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.

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.

He approaches the New Girl. Nina watches, threatened.

But he doesn’t tap her either.

He taps one more soloist and then CLAPS.

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

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

He pauses for effect.

Surprised, the soloists glance at each other, trying to keep their cool.

Nina prepares for disappointment.

The girls are confused.

Nina breathes, realizing the girls he didn’t tap are the ones he’s selected, purposefully toying with them.

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.

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 and peeks inside, curious.

She checks to make sure no one’s around and quickly enters.

Large and comfortable. Beth’s presence is everywhere. Photographs, clothing, and personal belongings scattered across the space.

Nina looks at herself in the mirror and smiles, imagining how great it would be...

Then she notices a LARGE VASE lying on the floor. The flowers have been shredded, water everywhere.

She moves to the vanity counter and touches Beth’s belongings in reverence. The items are neatly laid out: ballet supplies, jewelry, and makeup.

Her fingers brush a tube of LIPSTICK. She picks it up.

Nina slips the lipstick into her bag and exits the room.

In the middle of her audition, Nina dances Odette’s Variation from Act II of the ballet, a frightened look on her face.

Although her movement is incredibly precise, there’s a definite vulnerability. Exactly as the White Swan should be: fear tinged with melancholy.

Leroy waves his arm. The music and Nina stop abruptly.

He approaches her and, when he gets close, taps on her sternum with two of his fingers.

He leans in and talks softly so the other girls can’t hear.

She can’t help but smile, flattered. He pulls away from her.

He turns to the PIANO PLAYER.

The piano player rifles through the song book.

Nervous, she glances over at Veronica and Galina, who anxiously await their turn.

She takes a few breaths, then looks towards the piano player and nods.

The music begins.

Nina dances a few steps, and then launches into the most difficult and famous part of Swan Lake: The Black Swan’s Coda. It consists of 32 consecutive fouettes (spins).

The music builds in intensity, she pushes herself into the next turn.

Leroy runs his hand through his hair, dismayed.

A look of worry spreads across Nina’s face. Knows she’s blowing it.

The door CLANGS open and throws Nina’s focus completely. She stumbles, several spins short of finishing.

The New Girl obliviously marches into the room, listening to an iPod.

The New Girl notices everyone staring and pulls out her earphones to talk.

LILY gives a small wave. Nina eyes her with scorn as she catches her breath.

Lily starts stripping off her layers, revealing her lithe body. On her back, she has a TATTOO OF LILIES.

She looks down, getting his meaning.

Furious, Nina marches out of the room.

A13 INT. THEATER BATHROOM STALL - NIGHT A13

Nina stands up from a kneeled position and flushes the toilet. She wipes her mouth with the back of her hand and exits the stall.

11A.

14 OMITTED 14 *

Nina walks along a quiet side street. She clutches her jacket, for warmth and comfort.

Her CELL PHONE starts ringing. She digs it out of her bag and checks the CALLER ID: MOM. She silences it and puts it away.

Up ahead, she sees the sidewalk dead end at a construction site, and detour into an enclosed PASSAGEWAY beneath the scaffolding.

Nina slows, a little scared, but decides to push on.

The passageway is dark. The temporary lighting dim and flickering.

She walks quickly, trying to get to the other side.

She hears the sound of soft FOOTSTEPS approaching. She stops, and the other FOOTSTEPS stop.

She looks up and sees the faint outline of a SLENDER WOMAN standing there, almost ghostlike.

Nina starts walking again, keeping her head down, and the other woman continues as well.

As they pass each other, Nina glances at the woman’s face and discovers...

The woman looks EXACTLY LIKE HER.

But the moment passes as the woman continues walking.

Nina stares after her, perturbed.

Her cell phone starts RINGING again, piercing the silence. Nina continues out, ignoring the phone.

Nina enters and locks the deadbolt and chain-lock behind her.

She turns and is startled to see Erica standing right there.

Nina looks at her confused. Erica helps take off her coat.

Nina nods.

Erica hangs up her coat, turns and sees Nina tearing up.

The tears start falling now.

Erica goes to her and wraps her in an embrace.

Nina lies on the floor, stewing. Her legs straight in the air to drain the lactic acid in her muscles.

Nina sits up and retrieves a pair of point shoes from her bag. She considers them for a moment, then starts to put them on.

She stands, takes a breath, and does a single spin, testing the waters.

She takes a breath and spins again, then again, then again. Each spin is punctuated by a jab of her foot into the floor.

THWACK, THWACK. THWACK.

She jabs her toe down, hard...

She winces in pain and automatically grabs her foot.

Nina leans her back against the mirror and removes her shoe. Her right big toenail has split, oozing blood.

Nina breathes through the pain and puts her shoe back on.

She reassumes the position, takes a couple breaths, and starts spinning again.

Her toe jabs into the floor. She winces a little with pain, but keeps pushing.

Her face grows more determined, focused. 20, 21, 22 spins....

She starts to look powerful, willing herself to succeed.

14A.

At the end of the 32nd spin, Nina jabs her foot down hard.

She’s done it!

Nina looks at herself in the mirror, glazed in sweat, a slight smile of satisfaction.

Nina sits on the edge of the bed, as Erica douses some GAUZE with PEROXIDE and dabs it on the split toenail. Nina reacts to the sting.

Annoyed, Nina lies down, looking away from her mother. *

Erica squeezes some arnica gel into her palm and massages it into Nina’s calves.

15A.

Erica removes Nina’s EARRINGS, then opens a JEWELRY BOX sitting on the night stand and drops them inside. A TOY BALLERINA spins to TINNY MUSIC.

Nina gets under the covers. Erica tucks her in and sits down on the edge of the bed.

She strokes Nina’s hair, humming along to the music.

Nina watches the ballerina spin and spin with a determined stare.

Nina applies the lipstick she stole from Beth, using the side window as a mirror. The jerky motion of the train makes it difficult, but she manages.

Nina waits anxiously outside Leroy’s office.

She hears someone approach, looks up and sees Leroy coming down the hall.

She puts on a nervous smile. He doesn’t reciprocate.

He doesn’t answer, just opens the door to the office and walks in.

She takes a breath and then follows.

Nina closes the door and faces the cozy, dark space. Large couch, posters from the ballet on the wall--several featuring Beth.

Leroy lights a cigarette, quietly studying her and not making this easy. He takes a drag, and exhales.

He lifts his hands in the air, “there you go.”

She makes a move towards the door.

She looks back at him, uncertain.

Leroy nonchalantly stubs out his cigarette.

He pauses, looks her up and down as if trying to decipher her.

She doesn’t know what he means. He comes around his desk and approaches her.

Insecure, she looks like she wants to run out of the room.

He laughs.

He considers her for a moment.

18A.

Without warning, he slowly plants a kiss on her mouth.

It lasts for a moment, but he suddenly jerks away.

He touches his lip, stunned.

She’s too scared to respond.

He goes to the mirror to check for damage. He glances back at Nina.

She quickly leaves, shell-shocked.

The company stretch and go through their usual warm-up routine, a tension in the air. The casting decision still uncertain.

Nina touches her lips, thinking about the encounter. Then looks over at Veronica, knowing the good news in store. Veronica notices. Nina looks away.

Nina shakes her head.

A sudden energy sweeps the room, and she hears the sound of scuffling feet and whispering. “It’s up.” “She just posted it.” “C’mon.”

The dancers start exiting into the hallway. Veronica turns to follow.

Veronica turns around. It’s hard, but Nina decides to be a good loser.

Nina subtly glances at the exiting girls and Veronica immediately gets it.

She excitedly pushes through the crowd of girls, wanting to see for herself.

Knowing the outcome already, Nina continues stretching in the deserted space, resigned to her fate. She finishes, grabs her belongings and walks out.

A crowd of dancers surround the bulletin board, jostling to get a look.

Nina starts walking down the hall in the opposite direction.

Behind her, she can hear a small commotion and then:

She turns and sees Veronica, her face flushed with anger.

Veronica storms away.

The group of girls stares at Nina, making her very self- conscious.

Nina tentatively approaches the bulletin board, to see what Veronica’s outburst was all about.

First a few, then more and more of the girls smile at her. They make room for her as she pushes through.

She finally gets to the CASTING NOTICE, finds “Swan Queen” and underneath:

*NINA SAYERS

Stunned, she turns around to face the mass of ballerinas.

She sees Lily eyeing her with a flat expression, which turns into a smile to mask her disappointment.

The other girls start congratulating and hugging Nina, some more sincerely than others.

Nina bursts in through the door and heads directly for one of the stalls.

She locks herself in for privacy and dials a number on her CELL PHONE. She holds it to her ear, anxiously waiting for the person to answer.

She waits for a response.

Nina laughs at her mother’s response and can’t help but start crying.

Nina hangs up and the tears really start flowing. She’s dreamt of this for so long, it’s almost too much to bear.

She wipes the tears off with the back of her hand and pulls herself together. She comes out of the stall...

Horrified to discover “WHORE” written on the mirror in RED LIPSTICK.

Nina looks around the bathroom, to make sure she’s alone.

She snags a paper towel and wipes off the insult, smearing the mirror with red streaks.

Nina unlocks the door to the apartment.

Nina looks around, puzzled she isn’t there.

Nina opens the door and pokes her head in.

But Erica’s not in there either. Nina glances at the walls.

Where several homemade PAINTINGS hang, all of the same subject: Nina as a young girl, posing in a tutu. On a desk, the ORIGINAL PHOTOGRAPH is clipped to a painting in progress.

Out of the corner of her eye, one of the portraits seems to shift. Nina turns towards it, but the painting’s now perfectly still.

Unsettled, Nina withdraws.

Post-shower, Nina’s fuzzy reflection stares back in a steam covered mirror.

Nina takes her hand and wipes a streak across, to see herself more clearly.

She looks nervous. The enormity of what’s in front of her setting in.

She turns side-to-side, scrutinizing her body. She lifts her arm and pinches the skin to check her weight.

She notices a small cluster of RED BUMPS on her shoulder. A small RASH.

She feels the bumps with her fingers, bothered.

She checks the same place on her other shoulder.

There’s no rash, just faint streaks of SCAR TISSUE.

Nina slides the hamper in front of the door to block it.

In the mirror now, one of the bumps is scratched and bleeding.

Nina quickly wipes the blood off with her finger.

The sound of the front door opening steals her attention.

Nina exits the bathroom wearing a robe.

In the kitchen, she sees a CAKE with a lit SPARKLER sitting on the table. Her mother smiles anxiously.

She opens her arms and Nina falls into a hug.

She looks at the cake. It has a ballerina sketched with frosting. Nina hides her disdain.

Erica picks up a knife and slices into the cake.

Erica ignores her and starts cutting a very large piece.

Erica grabs the whole cake and heads towards the trash.

Erica hesitates, but returns. She sets the cake back down.

Erica lifts the slice onto a plate.

First day in the new role, Nina stretches alone.

Muffled sounds of other ballerinas chatting and giggling drift in from the large rehearsal space. Makes Nina feel a little isolated.

Nina turns and sees DAVID, the high-cheeked, cocky dancer playing Prince Siegfried.

It is his version of a joke. Nina politely laughs.

She nods, nervous.

David dances around the space, miming a hunt with a cross- bow.

Nina enters, stretches her body to illustrate her transformation into human, then sees David and acts spooked.

She dances away from him, a scared look on her face, undulating her arms to resemble a bird’s flapping.

David gives chase, but Nina spins out of his grasp, disentangles from him.

But he eventually snags her, and they come very close together.

The music stops. Nina breaks out of character and looks at Leroy, anxious for his reaction.

The Russian ballet mistress nods and smiles, clearly pleased.

Nina smiles, relieved. Leroy hops out of his chair and approaches.

He gives her an impish smirk. She looks down, embarrassed.

Nina takes a drink from the water fountain. She hears music emanating from the large rehearsal studio.

Curious, she walks to the open doorway and stops to watch.

CORPS MEMBERS and a few soloists form two lines on both sides of the room. In the middle, Veronica dances along with Lily.

Nina pays close attention to Lily, sizing her up. Her dancing is explosive, exudes sex.

Leroy has snuck up behind Nina at the doorway and gets very close to her.

Lily makes a small mistake, but cracks up laughing, amused rather than bothered by her blunder.

Nina stares at her, attracted and threatened.

A35 INT. PRINCIPAL DRESSING ROOM - DAY A35

The company’s administrator, SUSIE, shows Nina into the room.

Awed, Nina looks around the room. She scans Beth’s photographs and personal belongings, and lands on a large bouquet of FRESH FLOWERS.

Susie leaves.

Nina pulls a card out from the flowers and reads. A faint smile curls her lips.

She opens her shoulder bag and removes a SMALL SATCHEL. She pulls out a pair of DIAMOND STUD EARRINGS and puts them on.

Leroy pulls Nina through a fundraiser gala, filled with rich looking PATRONS and some DANCERS from the company.

Bewildered, Nina takes in her high-society surroundings, getting the occasional curious glance as she passes.

Leroy grabs a couple CHAMPAGNE glasses off a WAITER’S tray. He hands a glass to Nina with a smile.

He leads her up a staircase to a landing that overlooks the party.

She smiles, as instructed.

The crowd turns their gaze towards them. All eyes on her.

Polite applause.

More applause. Nervous, Nina unconsciously picks at her cuticles.

People start whispering, stunned by the news. Nina sees Beth in the crowd, giving a sad smile to the surrounding guests. Trying to remain dignified.

Amidst the mummering, Nina sees Beth quietly sneak out of the crowd and out the front door. Leroy quickly covers.

He looks at Nina. She stops picking her nails, self- conscious.

Restrained APPLAUSE.

Nina steps forward and curtseys. Someone seems to GIGGLE at her. Insecure, Nina glances towards the source and sees Lily flirting with a RICH GENT, uninterested in the official proceedings.

He downs his drink and the crowd follows suit.

PARTY GUESTS surround Nina and Leroy, trying to meet the company’s newest star. Nina basks in all the attention.

She shakes DR. BRINSON’S hand and curtseys to MRS. BRINSON.

Nina demurs. They’re replaced by another HUSBAND and WIFE.

Nina repeats the pleasantries, this time noticing that one of her cuticles is bleeding. She awkwardly pulls her hand away.

Leroy leans in and whispers in her ear.

Nina washes her hands. She looks at herself in the mirror and takes a deep breath.

Someone KNOCKS on the door.

She turns off the water and wipes her damp hands on the back of her neck, trying to cool herself.

She checks her finger. No blood, but there’s a HANGNAIL.

Nina takes hold of the small flap and tries to yank it off.

Accidentally tearing a strip of skin from the nail to her second knuckle.

More KNOCKING startles her.

Nina quickly balls up the peeled skin and throws it away.

She opens the door.

Lily pushes in.

Lily closes the door behind her and locks it.

Lily slides her PANTIES out from under her dress and puts them in her clutch.

Lily starts to refresh her makeup.

Nina stays put for a second, uncertain.

She opens the door and steps out, where she’s immediately met by Leroy.

Lily closes the door behind her.

Leroy escorts Nina out. It’s a couple hours later and she’s tipsy. She stumbles a little and grabs onto Leroy.

She gives him a coy glance, reading between the lines and hiding her excitement.

He starts to look for a cab.

They turn, see Mrs. Brinson, the host of the party, standing at the door.

He runs back inside to say his goodbyes.

Nina smiles after him, giddy and anxious.

She notices a slender figure watching her from the shadows of the adjoining doorway. In the dark, she looks like Nina.

Spotted, the figure backs up, seeming to disappear.

Nina cautiously approaches, but can’t see anyone.

She gets closer to the doorway...and someone JUMPS OUT, startling her.

It’s Beth, drunk and shivering. Cheeks streaked with mascara.

Beth stares her down. Nina backs up, nervously grabbing her earlobe.

Nina shakes her head, confused.

Her words needle Nina, too close to the truth.

Nina’s struck a nerve. Beth starts to come at her.

They both turn to see Leroy returned.

He puts his arm around Nina, starts to lead her away.

He ignores her and raises his arm to hail a cab. As they enter the cab, Beth calls after them.

Through the cab window Nina looks at Beth, troubled by her words.

Tasteful but spare loft. Modern and expensive furniture. Large windows.

Nina stands alone, looking around his inner sanctum, wide- eyed.

She explores the pieces of art, the furniture. She touches some of it, in awe.

She turns, finds Leroy holding out yet another flute of champagne. For himself, a scotch.

She looks up at him, expecting him to make a move. Instead, he walks away, and sits in a chair. He gestures for her to sit as well.

Confused, she sits across from him, alone on the large couch.

He takes an unceremonious sip of his drink and studies her. Uncomfortable, she takes a drink as well.

She’s caught off guard by his question and just smiles uncomfortably. He waits for an answer. Finally she manages a reply.

Her expression sours at this line of questioning. She shakes her head.

Blushing and feeling awkward, she takes a sip of champagne.

Nina looks at him, embarrassed, and shrugs.

He smirks, and joins her on the couch.

She blanches, scandalized. He finishes off his scotch and stands.

He leaves her alone in the living room.

Nina looks at herself in the mirror, removing bobbie-pins, as Erica folds clothing and puts it away.

Erica looks adoringly at Nina’s reflection in the mirror.

Erica starts to remove Nina’s DIAMOND EARRINGS, but pauses.

Erica removes the earrings, then walks behind Nina to unzip her. Nina faces her.

Nina turns back around, reticent.

Erica finishes unzipping the red dress and sees Nina’s shoulder.

Remembering, Nina pulls away from her.

Erica gruffly pulls Nina to the mirror and turns her around.

Nina checks her reflection and sees the RASH, red and irritated from scratching.

Erica yanks her out of the room.

Nina sits on the toilet, stripped to her underwear. She does her best to cover herself.

Erica finishes dabbing her back with HYDROGEN PEROXIDE and replaces the cap on the bottle.

She pulls out NAIL CLIPPERS and cuts Nina’s nails down to their base. Each CLICK makes Nina twitch.

Erica grabs Nina’s other hand.

Nina stares at her, seething.

Nina crawls into bed, avoiding her mother’s eyes.

Nina doesn’t respond.

Erica opens the JEWELRY BOX and the tinny music begins playing.

She hums and starts to stroke Nina’s hair.

Nina tries to brush her hand away.

But Erica brings it back and keeps stroking.

Nina lies wide awake after a restless night.

She slowly reaches down under the covers, down between her legs, to complete Leroy’s “homework assignment.”

She closes her eyes and starts to maneuver.

She suddenly hears a RUSTLING sound and a short SNORE.

She freezes and opens her eyes. She slowly sits up in bed and sees Erica SLEEPING on a chair in the corner of the room.

Nina glares at her.

Nina waits her turn as a row of DANCERS perform grand jetes diagonally across the room.

She watches Veronica perform her leaps. She rejoins the group, giving Nina a nasty stare.

Nina avoids it, looking towards Lily, who gives her a small smile.

Just as Nina’s turn arrives, a panicked YOUNG CORPS DANCER rushes in and makes a beeline for the severe ballet mistress.

Nina takes one leap and then stops dancing, sensing something’s wrong.

The corps dancer whispers into the ballet mistress’ ear. A look of shock on the mistress’ face.

The dancer collapses into the older woman’s arms.

The piano music trickles to a halt.

Nina exchanges glances with some of the other dancers.

First a few, then more dancers approach the two women, wanting to find out what’s happened.

Nina hangs back, filled with a sinking feeling.

Nina sits as Leroy, worse for the wear, stares at the jets of water.

Nina hesitates, but has to ask.

She looks away, not so sure.

She attempts a nod.

A46 INT. PRINCIPAL DRESSING ROOM - DAY A46

Beth’s belongings have already been packed up and cleared. Guilt-ridden, Nina tries to get ready.

She picks up her duffel bag, and removes her SATCHEL. She unpacks its contents onto the counter: needle and thread, cigarettes, a makeup compact, and the tube of lipstick.

She looks over at the vase of flowers. A few have wilted.

She pulls them out to make the bouquet look fresh again.

Nina exits the elevator with a BROWN SHOPPING BAG. She walks down a stark hallway and approaches Beth’s hospital room.

Members of BETH’S FAMILY surround the bed, blocking Beth from view.

Nina considers going in, but shyly sulks past, drawing the attention of an OLDER NURSE.

The older nurse gives her a skeptical glance and continues on her rounds.

Nina walks a little further and leans against the wall to wait.

She hears the sound of shuffling feet, looks over, and sees the group of people exit the room and walk down the hall, comforting one another.

Nina steps out from hiding and goes inside.

Beth is bandaged and unconscious, attached to MACHINES.

Nina stands at a distance, too intimidated to approach at first.

She looks around the room. It is lined with large, EXPENSIVE- LOOKING BOUQUETS.

She removes the flowers Leroy gave her from the brown bag, and sets them next to the others.

Nina slowly approaches Beth’s bedside.

Beth’s face is heavily wrapped with bandages. Only her closed eyes and pale lips can be seen.

She scans down her body, sees a sliver of her thigh, purple with bruises.

Curious, Nina lifts the top edge of the blanket and peeks underneath.

The legs are bloated and horribly bruised, pierced with large pins to reset the shattered bones.

She looks lower and lower, and discovers MAGGOTS feeding on her ankles.

Nina turns away, confronted by the Older Nurse.

Nina doesn’t have an answer. She just stumbles out the door.

A48 INT. UPPER WEST SIDE APARTMENT BUILDING - NIGHT A48

Nina steps out of her apartment into the dim hallway, lugging a bag of trash.

She notices some WOODEN DEBRIS from an apartment renovation sitting near the trash chute.

Nina drops the trash bag in the chute, then picks up a piece of BROKEN WOOD.

She considers it for a moment, and hides it inside the sleeve of her sweatshirt.

B48 INT. UPPER WEST SIDE APARTMENT - LATER B48

Nina quietly steps inside and heads towards her bedroom.

Through Erica’s open bedroom door, Nina can see Erica busily sewing ribbon onto pointe shoes, humming to herself.

Nina quietly slips back inside her room.

She removes the wood piece and jams it between the door closet, creating a makeshift doorjamb

She tests it. Holds pretty well.

She hears a creek. FOOTSTEPS approach. She removes the wood and sticks it inside her dresser, not ready just yet.

She quickly lies down on her bed and waits to be tucked in.

The door SQUEAKS open, and Nina looks towards it.

42A.

Nina, David, and the dancer playing ROTHBART rehearse the Black Swan and Prince Siegfried’s Pas De Deux from Act 3.

David lifts her, then sets her down, and they lean-in towards each other, almost kissing.

She pulls away from David, not at all coyly. Leroy exhales, frustrated.

43-46.

Nina and David dance the next part of the section, looking more worn out.

She still looks tense, not getting it.

Nina practices with an OLDER BALLET MISTRESS. She demonstrates a movement, and Nina mimics her. The mistress scrutinizes, unimpressed.

A49 INT. PHYSICAL THERAPIST’S OFFICE - ANOTHER DAY A49

Nina is worked over by a PHYSICAL THERAPIST. Every joint and muscle aches, but Nina breathes through the pain.

Nina and David finish the section, completely soaked with sweat.

They look at Leroy, heaving breaths.

David snickers, embarrassed, shakes his head.

Leroy comes face to face with her.

49B Suddenly, the lights turn off, throwing them into total 49B darkness.

43-46A.

Leroy angrily marches to the door and whips it open.

There’s a momentary pause, and then the lights return.

David gives her an insinuating glance, then shakes his head. Very used to Leroy’s “methods.”

David and the Piano Player leave them alone.

49C Leroy approaches Nina and takes her hands in his. 49C

Made nervous by his touch, she nods.

He walks behind her and puts his hands on her waist.

He starts humming the score. And then they begin.

They do a series of lifts and spins, Leroy bracing her.

He lets go, she moves away from him.

He grabs her wrist. She spins. He lets go. He grabs her other wrist, she spins to face him.

They get very close.

Just before they kiss she dips, pulls away.

43-46B.

He grabs her arm again, she spins, then he stops her, her back to him.

He runs his hands down her arms. Slowly, seductively. She trembles.

She turns and leans in close, as though to kiss him... almost touching lips...but then she tries to push off again. He tightens his grip, holds her there.

She looks back at him, questioning. He looks at her intently, pulls her to him, and kisses her.

She melts and eagerly kisses him back. He pulls away, momentarily.

She doesn’t.

Nina follows his instruction.

The kiss grows more heated and he wraps his arms around her.

He pushes her back against the mirror. She whimpers.

He runs his hand down her body, then reaches between her legs. She GASPS, tries to pull his hand out, but he persists.

She throws her head back as he kisses her neck. She breathes deep, emits short MOANS, succumbing...

Suddenly, he pulls away from her. She looks at him confused, flushed and breathing hard.

He turns and starts to walk away. She can’t believe it.

He ignores her and walks out of the room.

Nina sits on the floor, head in hands.

VOICE (O.S.) Hey...

Nina startles and looks up. Sees the dark figure of somebody watching her from the doorway. Looks like HERSELF.

Lily emerges from the darkness, dressed to leave.

50B Lily sits down beside her, oblivious of Nina’s desire 50B to be left alone.

She digs out a cigarette from her bag. Offers it to Nina. Nina doesn’t take it.

Nina reluctantly takes the cigarette, holds it a little awkwardly, clearly not a regular smoker.

Lily sparks a flame for her and then lights one for herself. Nina puffs, but doesn’t inhale. Lily smirks.

Nina wipes off her tears with her hand.

Nina looks at her surprised.

Lily smirks with a realization.

Nina gives her a withering glance.

Nina stands up.

Nina walks towards the door.

She ignores Lily and exits.

Nina lies in the bath, eyes closed, concentrating.

Her body jostles slightly, moving her hand between her legs, seeking release.

Growing frustrated, she moves more and more aggressively.

She abruptly stops and submerges herself under the water, defeated.

She lies still, her arms wrapped around her chest.

She opens her eyes, her vision distorted by the water.

Suddenly, her blurred Double appears, staring down at her.

Nina shoots up.

The Double is gone.

Nina scans the bathroom, but she is alone.

Nina notices some water dropping off her fingers, onto the lip of the tub.

Then a few drops of RED land on the white porcelain.

Worried, she examines her fingernails, which have started to grow back. She discovers blood and bits of skin.

Out of the tub, Nina checks herself in the mirror. Her shoulder is streaked with deep SCRATCHES.

She grabs a pair of little SCISSORS from the medicine cabinet and starts trimming her fingernails.

She looks up at the mirror and sees her reflection snip off the tip of her index finger.

Nina GASPS and drops the scissors, CLANGING in the sink. Two of her fingers are bleeding, their tips sliced.

Nina looks at the door, already blocked by the hamper.

She stays still, hoping she won’t try to come in.

Footsteps recede and Nina breathes.

She runs her hands under some water to clean off the blood.

David and Nina dance the Black Swan’s Pas de Deux. Once again, Nina’s rigid and self-conscious.

They resume dancing. She finishes, out of breath, and looks at Leroy and the Russian ballet mistress.

The piano music starts up again, and she begins dancing.

When she finishes, she looks at him, eager for feedback.

The music starts up again. Nina stays still, frustrated.

She doesn’t understand. He gets up from his chair and goes to her.

Nina looks away. Can’t believe Lily talked to him.

He walks away from her.

He tosses his chair across the room. SMASHING into the wall.

Furious, Nina heads towards the soloists’ dressing room. Hears them chatting in their usual manner.

Nina KNOCKS loudly at the door, interrupting them.

The other girls giggle.

And they do.

Nina leads Lily to a private nook, fuming.

Lily falters, guilty.

Lily takes off. Nina stares after her, at a loss.

A58 INT. SUBWAY - NIGHT A58

Nina sits on the subway, going home. She notices that one of her fingernails has a jagged edge. She removes an EMORY BOARD from her bag and begins filing it down.

A SKEEZY MAN across the aisle ogles her.

Nina keeps her eyes down, trying to ignore him. He starts to sing an OLD LOVE SONG from the 20’s.

Nina stands and goes to the other end of the car. He continues singing, undeterred.

Nina sits on the floor in a loose sweatshirt, sewing ribbon * onto pointe shoes. *

Erica sits across from her, sewing ribbon onto another pair. *

Nina doesn’t respond. *

Nina tries to ignore her.

Nina bites her tongue.

Erica glares at her.

Nina stares back defiantly. *

NINA * No. *

Erica starts to come towards her. *

The DOORBELL RINGS. *

Erica looks at Nina questioningly. Nina shakes her head.

Erica goes to the door and cracks it open, keeping the chain engaged.

Erica shuts the door. Nina rushes out to see who it was.

Erica doesn’t answer.

Irritated, Nina walks around Erica and quickly opens the door to find out.

Nina sees a ballerina walking away from the door.

Lily turns.

Nina steps out of her apartment and closes the door.

Nina just stares, incredulous.

Erica opens the door and sticks her head out.

Erica closes the door.

Nina looks at her, darkly.

Nina’s tempted. Erica pokes her head outagain.

Nina pushes the elevator call button.

Nina walks to the door, and grabs her coat.

Nina ignores her and shuts the door.

A noisy bar and burger joint, packed to the brim. Lily and Nina sit at a small table.

Nina’s smile fades.

Nina blushes, embarrassed, and Lily cracks up. A WAITER drops a plate in front of her.

He smiles, keeping his eyes locked on Lily, as he rudely plops down Nina’s plate.

Lily watches him go, then notices Nina looking annoyed.

Lily studies her and digs into her purse. Pulls out a SEXY SHIRT.

Nina gives her a puzzled look.

Lily picks up her ungainly burger and takes a big bite, a little grease dripping down her chin. Nina cuts into her dry chicken breast.

Nina doesn’t understand the question.

Lily pulls out a cigarette case and clicks it open. Inside, CIGARETTES and a couple PILLS.

Lily grabs one of the pills and slides it over.

Lily grabs her pill and downs it with a beer.

Nina stares at her pill, too embarrassed to admit she doesn’t know what it is.

Nina blinks.

Nina looks at the pill, thinks about it for a second...

Nina nods. Lily puts the pill back, and SNAPS the case closed.

Wearing the SKIMPY SHIRT Lily offered her, Nina rinses her mouth out with water from the sink, then checks herself out in the mirror.

It’s broken and covered with graffiti and stickers. One particularly bright one says, “Seize the Day-glo.”

Nina’s cell phone RINGS. She checks the ID--”MOM”--and silences it.

Nina puts her SWEATSHIRT back on over the shirt, and exits.

Nina returns to her table, but when she gets there, Lily is gone and the table is cleared.

She looks around the crowded room, doesn’t see her anywhere.

She heads towards the exit, and sees Lily at the bar, flirting with TWO ATTRACTIVE MEN. She’s very touchy-feely.

Intrigued, Nina stays put, wanting to observe Lily from a distance.

The BARTENDER sets a drink down in front of Lily. The men compete to pay for it.

Lily takes out the CIGARETTE CASE from her purse, and removes the pill.

Nina looks on, suspicious.

Lily opens the pill, and dumps its contents into the drink. She stirs it with her finger.

She holds out her finger to one of the men, he sucks off the liquid.

Lily looks over and catches Nina watching. She waves for her to join them.

Nina reluctantly walks to her.

The guys laugh.

Lily holds out the doctored beverage. Nina eyes it, tempted to go down the rabbit hole...

Nina grins sheepishly and takes the drink. Lily smiles.

Nina takes a tiny sip.

Nina takes another sip and smiles.

She gets up and holds out her hands. The two men each grab one and she leads them deeper into the bar.

Nina’s drink is half gone. The foursome sits snugly at a booth. Nina next to Andrew, shyly avoiding his gaze. She takes another tentative sip of her drink.

LILY NINA

Yes. No.

Lily sips her drink, staring at Tom flirtatiously.

Tom laughs, amused by Nina’s earnestness.

She looks at Nina and sucks down her drink, challenging her to follow suit. Nina takes a breath of courage and empties her glass.

She waits for something to kick in.

Lily slips out of the booth and Tom follows, leaving Nina and Andrew alone. She avoids his gaze, nervous.

Her cell phone RINGS, interrupting him. She quickly turns it off and gives him an embarrassed smile.

She starts to feel the initial tingles of the drug.

She giggles.

She gives him a flirtatious glance.

Andrew touches them. She grabs onto his hands. She looks at his face. His eyes twinkle at her.

Lily slides in next to her. Nina sees her and melts into her body. Lily hugs her back.

A65 OMITTED A65 *

Nina kisses Tom on the floor of a crowded dance club. The drug is in full effect.

The world has soft edges, colors are vivid and bleed into one another.

Lily twirls her around.

Nina attaches herself to her, hungry for the attention. A cheering section of guys surrounds them.

Nina lets loose. Dances with abandon.

Nina makes out with someone, her back pushed up against the wall. Her eyes are closed, she’s shiny with sweat.

She opens her eyes, confused to find that it’s not Andrew or even Tom, just a STRANGE MAN.

She backs away. He reaches for her, but she swats him off.

She stumbles around the dance floor, looking for Lily, but only sees a mass of moving bodies.

She finally spots a girl that looks like her from behind. Nina grabs her shoulder and the GIRL spins around. Not Lily.

Nina pushes her way out of the club, starting to panic.She looks around, trying to figure out where she is, but the city is dark and non-descript.

Nina turns towards the voice and, with relief, sees Lily exit the club.

Nina stares adoringly at Lily, who has her eyes closed, enjoying the cool air blowing in from her open window.

Lily opens her eyes and catches Nina staring. Lily smirks.

Using her index and middle finger as “legs,” she “walks” her hand over the vinyl seat, all the way to Nina’s leg and pokes it.

Nina watches her hand with a smile on her face, glances at Lily.

Lily smiles back, and then “walks” her hand up the leg, until it reaches the edge of Nina’s dress.

Lily looks at Nina questioningly. Nina doesn’t protest.

Lily slips her hand underneath the dress, gently makes contact...

Nina shudders, but pulls Lily’s hand back out and holds it.

Lily snickers and looks out her window.

Nina looks at their clasped hands, then out her own window, happy.

Nina quietly opens the front door.

Lily GIGGLES. Nina SHUSHES her.

They slip off their shoes and tip-toe inside.

Nina eases the door shut.

Lily taps her on the shoulder and points towards the hallway.

Erica emerges from the darkness, approaching them slowly. Distraught.

Lily snickers, Nina tries to keep a straight face, but ends up laughing.

Nina smiles coyly.

Erica grabs Nina’s wrist.

Erica violently jams her fingers over Nina’s lips, trying to silence her.

Nina runs into her room and SLAMS the door.

She grabs the broken PIECE OF WOOD from the dresser and jams the door. She backs Lily away, preparing for the storm.

Erica tries to open the door, but it gets stuck. She peers her eye through the crack.

Erica struggles a little with the door, but can’t get it to budge.

Nina SHOVES the door shut.

Erica’s FOOTSTEPS retreat, followed by the SLAM of her bedroom door.

72B Nina is worked up, breathing hard. 72B

Nina turns around and sees her Double smiling at her.

Nina flees to the door. Pauses. She peeks back and sees that it’s actually Lily.

Relieved, she grabs Lily and kisses her, revved-up.

Lily responds with equal force. They claw at each other, passion exceeding coordination.

Lily pulls Nina’s shirt off and throws her onto the bed.

She straddles Nina, who looks up at her carnivorously.

Lily takes her own top off, plunges down and kisses Nina.

Nina flips Lily over, becomes the dominant one.

Lily scratches Nina’s back, over some of the rash.

There’s subtle movement underneath the skin. Little pin pricks push up the flesh, trailing behind her hand.

Self-conscious, Nina grabs Lily’s hand and holds her wrists down.

She bites her neck. Lily smiles, likes the violence.

She digs her nails into Nina’s hands.

Then Lily gets back on top of Nina. The tattooed lilies on her back undulate and spread out. Morphing into dark wings.

She kisses down Nina’s body. Further and further...

Lily starts to go down on Nina.

Nervous, Nina whimpers. Glances down and sees the DOUBLE.

She tries to pull away.

LILY shushes her.

Nina calms back down, seeing that it’s her. She takes a breath and succumbs.

Bumps shoot up all over her skin as her breath quickens.

She closes her eyes, allows the sensation to invade her body and CLIMAXES.

She breathes her way back to earth. Slowly her eyes open. She rolls over towards Lily. But Lily is gone.

Instead her DOUBLE hovers over her.

She SMASHES a pillow over Nina’s face.

A73 OMITTED A73

Nina lies alone in bed, the sheets and comforter in disarray.

She sits up, clutches her head in pain.

She looks around, but there’s no sign of Lily or the Double.

Then her eyes drift to the alarm clock: 11:36.

She snaps out of bed.

Dishevelled, Nina races towards the front door. She sees Erica brooding at the kitchen table, watching her.

Erica just stares at her, devastated.

Nina whips out the front door and leaves her.

Nina races. She hears muffled Black Swan music playing, rehearsal clearly in progress.

She runs into the wings and sees the full company rehearsing on stage for the first time...

Another girl dancing her part.

The girl spins and Nina sees her face. It’s Lily!

Horrified, Nina runs onto

76 STAGE 76

and makes a beeline for Leroy, looking beyond apologetic.

The dancers and piano player stop at the interruption.

The piano music resumes, and the dancers pick up where they left off.

Nina meets Lily’s eyes. She makes a sorry face, but then continues dancing.

Nina is forced to watch from the sidelines as Lily and David finish the Black Swan’s Pas de Deux.

He turns to Nina and his smile fades.

He ignores her, and walks off stage.

Lily tentatively approaches with the PRACTICE TUTU.

Nina snatches it, avoiding eye contact. She puts it on.

Nina starts stretching.

Nina doesn’t answer.

74-76.

Nina stops herself.

Lily can read something on her face.

Nina glances at the dancers, nervous they’ve heard.

Other dancers look over.

Nina resumes stretching. Lily just walks away.

74-76A.

A77 INT. STAGE - DAY A77

Nina dances the end of the ballet, the White Swan’s suicide.

Nina climbs the stairs of the set and arrives at the “cliff,” stopping at the precipice.

Nina looks down. It’s a short drop to a stack of pads, but a HARD FLOOR surrounds it.

She hesitates, fearful.

Nina takes a breath and leaps in a swan dive.

She falls...and lands in the pads, unhurt. Slight applause from the other dancers.

Nina lies in the pads, completely exhausted.

B77 INT. BACKSTAGE - LATER B77

Nina sits backstage, toweling herself off.

She pauses, noticing Leroy and Lily conversing near the doorway.

Lily nods and touches his arm. He smiles warmly, then notices Nina watching. His serious demeanor returns and he pulls away. He says goodbye to Lily.

Lily follows his gaze and smirks at Nina, rubbing it in, before exiting herself.

74-76B.

77-78.

78A-B OMITTED 78A-B

A81 INT. BATHROOM - NIGHT A81

Nina kneels in front of the toilet, a finger down her throat. She gags, but nothing comes up.

Her eyes tear up, and she tries again, but still just heaves.

Frustrated, she wipes her mouth and flushes.

Nina exits the bathroom and approaches her mother’s bedroom door. It’s closed, but the light’s on underneath.

She’s about to knock, but hesitates. Through the door, she can hear the sound of her mother watching an INFOMERCIAL on TV. An unfamiliar, lonely noise.

Nina stands there for a moment, just breathing. She strengthens her resolve and backs away from the door.

Nina collapses on her bed.

She opens the JEWELRY BOX sitting on her night stand.

She watches the ballerina spin for a moment...

Then suddenly SLAMS the lid shut and throws the box hard against the wall.

She shoots out of bed and starts gathering all her childish possessions--stuffed animals, dolls, keepsakes, etc.

Nina shoves her belongings into the TRASH CHUTE, a pile of her next victims strewn at her feet.

She grabs a TEDDY BEAR IN A TUTU, and jams him in.

77-78A.

A84 INT. STAGE - DAY A84

Nina dances the Black Swan in front of the nearly completed scenery.

A few TECHNICIANS complete last minute touch-ups.

Leroy watches from his down-stage post, his focus split between her and...

Lily, stretching with the other ballerinas. She stares at Nina with a dark expression.

Fueled by the competition, Nina pushes herself. Her dancing becomes more impassioned and aggressive.

She finishes the section, breathing deeply, covered in sweat. The company enthusiastically claps.

She stares intently at Leroy, awaiting his response.

B84 INT. COSTUME SHOP - DAY B84

Nina wears the BLACK SWAN COSTUME, facing a mirror. Another mirror behind her creates an infinite array of reflections.

The overworked COSTUMER checks each seam, pulling the costume taut, analyzing what needs to be taken in and let out.

Nina looks uncomfortable, disliking the scrutiny of her body.

She hears a sharp RUSTLE. Like someone’s scratching.

She looks up at the mirror. Her reflection stares back.

Behind the first reflection, another Nina has her arm behind her back, like she’s scratching her shoulder.

Nina leans to get a better look...

Nina startles. The reflection has returned to normal, its hand back at its side.

Costumer checks one more thing, makes one more note.

77-78B.

The costumer leaves her to change.

Relieved, Nina quickly takes off the costume and starts to dress in her sweats.

She hears someone enter the costume shop.

Nina pauses, recognizing her voice.

Nina steps out from behind the privacy curtain, and finds Lily waiting.

Nina pushes past her.

C84 INT. BACKSTAGE HALLWAY - DAY C84

Nina chases after Leroy, in mid-conversation with the STAGE MANAGER and two STAGEHANDS.

He stops and faces her.

They continue walking.

77-78C.

He studies her for a moment, not sure what to make of this.

Nina starts to speak, he holds up his hand to silence her.

Shut down, she watches him walk away.

Nina practices the Black Swan, alone with the jaded piano player, working herself hard.

He suddenly stops playing.

He closes the music book and stands.

Annoyed, she watches him leave.

85B She faces herself in the mirror and takes a breath. 85B

She resumes dancing without music, her feet CLICKING on the floor.

As she moves, she notices something strange out of the corner of her eye:

The reflection’s dancing lags a little behind hers.

Nina stops. The sound of her footsteps stops a second later. She stares at the mirror...troubled.

The door to the room BANGS shut.

She whips towards it and she’s suddenly plunged into DARKNESS.

Freaked, she stumbles towards the door, and pushes out into the

Where it’s equally dark. Lit only by the stage’s “ghost light,” a single bulb on a stand.

No one answers.

She looks at the cavernous auditorium. All those empty seats, faced towards her. Very overwhelming...

She hears a noise in the wings.

She gets to the other side of the stage, but the wings seem empty. Quiet.

86B Then she hears the faint sound of MUFFLED BANGING. 86B

No one answers.

She heads towards the noise. The banging now accompanied by a GIGGLE.

It’s pretty dark but the sound is unmistakable: two people going at it.

Nina tiptoes past some off-stage SETS and LIGHTING EQUIPMENT.

And peeks around a piece of SCENERY...

Catching a glimpse of Leroy fucking Lily further backstage. She’s wild, clearly enjoying it.

Nina looks away, disgusted. She peeks back one more time.

Leroy has become the demon Rothbart, ravishing the Double. She meets Nina’s eyes and smiles.

Nina jumps back, knocking into a piece of the set. The lovemaking pauses at the sound.

Nina flees.

A88 INT. PRINCIPAL DRESSING ROOM - NIGHT A88

Nina runs in and quickly jams her belongings into her bag.

She notices her reflection in the mirror and removes her diamond earrings.

Then gathers the other trinkets sitting on the counter and puts them all inside her bag.

B88 EXT. THEATER - NIGHT B88

Nina pushes out the stage door, and passes the ROW OF POSTERS.

They now advertise Swan Lake and feature a beautiful photograph of Nina.

Nina stops and looks at them.

Nina slowly enters Beth’s room, but remains at the threshold.

Beth sits in a wheelchair faced towards the window. Sleeping.

Nina gets up the nerve and quietly walks further in, trying not to wake her.

Nina pulls out the tube of lipstick from her bag and gently places it on the hospital table.

She pulls out the diamond earrings, sets them down.

Followed by the makeup compact, the pack of cigarettes, a needle and thread, and an emory board.

A hand suddenly GRABS Nina’s arm.

Awake, Beth stares Nina down.

Stunned, Nina’s unable to answer.

Beth follows her gaze to the random items on her table.

Beth begins touching the objects, vaguely remembering.

Beth sees the earrings and it all clicks in.

Beth shoots Nina a dark look and turns away.

Beth grabs the emory board and stabs herself in the face.

Nina spins Beth around. She is now a bloody version of THE DOUBLE! She continues stabbing herself.

Nina grabs the Double’s hand and struggles to restrain her.

The emory board stabs into Nina’s arm.

Nina rushes from the room.

She BANGS into a empty stretcher sitting in the hallway, causing a CLAMOR.

The older nurse looks up.

Nina jumps into an open elevator.

She hits the GROUND FLOOR BUTTON, and hides in the corner.

As the doors close, she looks down and sees that, in one hand, she holds the BLOODY EMORY BOARD.

She drops it, disgusted.

Nina runs in and quickly shuts the door behind her. Takes a breath, and notices some blood still on her hands.

A92 INT. KITCHEN - SAME A92

She flips on the light. The room’s empty.

She goes to the sink and washes her hands.

She finishes, and flips the light off as she walks out of the room.

She pauses, rushes back and flips on the light. The Double stares at her from the corner, her face covered in blood. Terrified, Nina runs.

B92 INT. BATHROOM - SAME B92

She goes straight to the toilet and VOMITS.

She hears a creaking sound in the apartment and looks towards the open door.

She goes out to investigate.

83A.

Nina flings open the door, but Erica’s not in there.

She hears RUSTLING, then WHISPERING.

Nina looks around the room. The paintings of herself seem to move slightly. Blink. Mouths move.

They whisper: “Sweet girl” and then start chanting “My turn, my turn, my turn!”

Nina cups her hands over her ears, trying to block it out.

She hears a BANG and looks towards the door. No one’s there.

She glimpses the mirror, which reflects down the hallway. She sees her Double rushing towards the room.

Scared, Nina whips around, just as her mother arrives in the doorway.

Nina pushes past her, in a frenzy.

Nina closes the door. Sticks in the broken piece of wood.

A pain shoots through her shoulder. She SCREAMS, instinctively reaching for it.

She quickly yanks off the sweater and looks at the vanity mirror.

Her back pulsates unnaturally. Tiny black tips poke through.

The door opens and catches on the doorjamb.

Erica starts POUNDING.

She digs into the open bump on her shoulder with her fingernails.

Erica violently pushes and pulls, jostling the piece of wood.

Nina concentrates, takes hold of the growth and yanks.

Blood vessels in her eyes explode, making the white turn red.

Nina looks at the object held in her fingers: a sharp, TINY BLACK SPINE. Like that of a sea urchin. Damp, feathery wisps hang off of it.

The door flings open.

Erica rushes in and finds Nina half-naked, her skin inflamed.

Nina starts forcing her out the door. Erica pushes back.

She manages to get her all the way out the door.

But ROTHBART’S HAND grabs the door frame.

Nina SLAMS the door, SMASHING the hand.

Erica SCREAMS in pain.

Nina slams the door again, and again. The hand now human.

She finally gets the door all the way shut.

She steps away from it, nervous...

She looks down, sees one of her knees SNAP backwards, like that of a bird. Then the other knee SNAPS back.

Nina stumbles and falls.

And SLAMS her head into the radiator.

SMASH TO BLACK.

TINNY MUSIC plays in the darkness.

FADE IN:

Nina flutters open her eyes. The world comes into focus and she sees her mother hovering over her, stroking her hair.

Nina looks around, disoriented. Sees her hands jammed inside thick socks, held on by rubber bands. Groggy, she tries to pull them off.

Erica helps remove the socks, her smashed hand wrapped in bandages.

Nina weakly tries to sit up, but Erica pushes her back down.

Nina gives in, too tired to fight her. Her eyes drift to the source of the tinny music: the open jewelry box. The ballerina’s been broken off, all that remains is a single amputated leg, spinning morbidly on the base.

Nina’s eyes drift to the alarm clock. It’s gone.

Nina looks at the dark window.

Nina reads Erica’s face. Reality clicks in.

Nina tries to sit up, but her mother pushes her back down.

Nina freaks, struggles more violently.

Nina squirms free of Erica’s grasp and gets out of bed. She gets to the door...

But the doorknob’s been knocked-off, leaving just a metal post sticking out of the hole.

Nina grips the metal post and pulls and pulls, shaking the door.

Erica calmly sits down in her CHAIR, waiting for the storm to pass.

Nina rifles through her dresser drawers.

She notices her mother sitting calmly.

Nina grabs her by the wrist.

Nina yanks Erica off the chair onto the floor.

Under the cushion Nina grabs the hidden brass DOORKNOB.

Erica lunges for her daughter’s legs.

87A.

Nina jams the knob onto the post, opens the door.

Nina approaches the theater with harried steps.

Quickly past the row of SWAN LAKE posters.

She reaches the side of the building, flings open the stage door and enters.

Nina frantically makes her way down the bustling hallway, chaotic with dancers. Excitement in the air.

She nears the soloists’ dressing room.

Just outside of it, she spots a group of DANCERS excitedly chatting around a smiling Lily.

Nina stops in her tracks.

Lily glances in her direction, and her smile quickly fades into a sneer.

The other girls follow her gaze towards Nina, and their smiles turn to confusion.

She turns and finds that Leroy has approached from behind her.

Leroy pulls Nina towards her room. Lily glares at Nina as she passes.

Leroy closes the door behind them. He looks at Nina, wheels spinning.

Nina goes to her wardrobe, finds her two costumes hanging. One for the White Swan, one for the Black Swan.

She doesn’t heed him, pulls out the White Swan leotard and sets it on her chair.

He hasn’t.

Leroy smirks at her directness.

He looks at her, considering, and gives her a reluctant nod. She smiles.

She nods. He takes one last look at her and leaves. She breathes a sigh of relief.

Curious, she cracks open the door and peeks outside:

Leroy has pulled Lily down the corridor to break the news. Lily takes off, furious.

Through the PA, music from ACT 1 plays.

Nina sits at her vanity in a robe, wearing the full White Swan makeup and FEATHER CROWN. Pale, with red lipstick and dark eyeliner, she looks like a porcelain doll.

She drops the robe off her shoulder and covers her rash with white makeup.

The STAGE MANAGER’S voice comes through the PA speaker:

She removes a slipper off one foot. Her big and second toe, and her pinky and fourth toe are stuck together. Puzzled, she peels them apart.

She removes her other slipper and finds the same toes completely FUSED, forming two large toes with double toenails on either side of the middle toe.

She touches the bird-like foot, concerned, but slips on her tights and hides the feet.

Nina stretches nervously in the wings, awaiting her entrance.

She peeks out through a small hole in the wall, sees the AUDIENCE sitting expectantly in their seats.

The music begins and they shift and mummer in anticipation.

Nina pulls away, taking deep breaths and clenching her hands, trying to stay calm.

On stage, David enters, beginning the Act. He traverses the stage, “hunting” with a crossbow.

Nina takes a last breath and runs on.

102 STAGE 102

Under the spotlight, she begins dancing her intro.

David runs towards her and she startles away from him, afraid.

He grabs her and they begin their first Pas de Deux.

Nina comes offstage, catching her breath. All around her, CORPS MEMBERS dressed as little swans rush back on stage, where FOUR LITTLE SWANS begin the Pas de Quatre.

Nina looks into the opposite wing and sees Leroy watching her. He gives her a small, contented nod, then disappears behind a swarm of dancers.

On stage, the Four Little Swans perform. In their identical makeup and costumes, they look disturbingly alike.

During the applause, Nina catches a glimpse of David backstage, sweaty, laughing and holding someone’s hands. Nina can’t see who, her view obscured by moving bodies and limbs.

Suspicious, Nina moves to get a better look.

Revealing that David’s flirting with Lily.

Nina tenses.

Then the Four Little Swans rush offstage past Nina. She watches them go, unsettled.

He gently nudges her, and she has to run back on.

104 STAGE 104

Nina rushes from the wings, directly into David’s arms.

All the swans are frozen in two rows on each side of the stage, looking downstage.

David launches Nina into the air, hands around her waist.

He slowly turns her around, keeping her held high.

From her swirling, bird’s eye view, Nina sees the rows of identically dressed Little Swans glaring at her...

Nina freaks, jerking her body.

David’s grip SLIPS and Nina SLAMS onto the stage.

It’s a horrific moment that feels like an eternity.

Gritting her teeth, Nina looks up around her, sees the faces of the other ballerinas. Staring at her sadistically.

Nina finds Lily, glancing at David. He snaps to and quickly helps Nina up.

She’s too freaked to respond.

They resume dancing, Nina barely keeping it together.

Behind them, Rothbart appears and commands his flock to exit. The Little Swans start swirling off stage.

Leaving Nina and David alone.

David tries to pull her in one direction, but the dark hand of Rothbart summons her, transforming her back into a swan.

She pulls away from David, frantically flapping, until she disappears into the wings.

As soon as she’s off, she breaks down, hyperventilating. The dancer playing ROTHBART eyes her with concern.

She looks up, sees his creepy MASK, and backs away.

Rothbart has to go back on stage to finish the Act.

Other CORPS MEMBERS surround her, chirping “You okay?, “What happened?” etc.

Dazed, Nina doesn’t answer. The music ends and there’s a weak smattering of applause.

The other dancers scurry to get ready, abandoning her.

Nina sees Leroy on stage chewing David out, behind the closed curtain.

David spots Nina, glares at her, and sulks away.

Leroy runs his fingers through his hair, his back to Nina.

Nina cautiously approaches.

He can’t even look at her.

He walks away.

All alone, Nina sees everyone backstage looking at her.

She runs, escaping their stares.

She closes the door behind her, ready to cry.

She looks up, and finds Lily putting on makeup and wearing the Black Swan costume.

Lily coyly smiles, and continues applying makeup.

Nina looks into the mirror. Instead of Lily’s reflection there’s the Double.

Nina’s fury rises up from inside.

She charges...

And smashes her into the WALL LENGTH MIRROR, shattering it. Shards fall everywhere.

The Double flips Nina over and wails on her. Punch after punch.

Nina does her best to block the onslaught.

They scuffle, knocking things over, bumping into walls.

The Double gets her hands around Nina’s neck...

Gasping for air, Nina tries to pull the hands free, but she’s too strong.

Her hands frantically scramble along the surface of the floor. The fingers barely touch the edge of a MIRROR SHARD, but can’t grasp it.

The Double squeezes down.

The blood vessels in Nina’s eyes BURST again. Her neck starts to stretch unnaturally. Strength surges through her body and she lunges...

Finally grabbing the SHARD.

And DRIVES it into the Double’s stomach.

Nina glances at her hand, cut by the mirror, then back up.

The Double is now LILY. Stunned, Lily looks down and touches the stab wound.

Lily coughs up blood and collapses, dead.

Nina stares at her, breathing heavily, high on adrenaline.

A KNOCK on the door.

Nina drags the stiffening body into the wardrobe closet.

Nina zips up the back to the Black Swan costume.

She deliberately applies the Black Swan makeup. Dark eye shadow and rouge, maroon lipstick.

Dressed in black and wearing the dark make-up of the Black Swan, she looks fierce.

She stares at her reflection, her eyes burning RED. New rash bumps pop up on her arms, the intensity building within.

Nina bursts onto stage as the Black Swan, accompanied by Rothbart.

She looks powerful, intense as she moves towards David.

His face shows his surprise.

Nina dances the first Pas de Deux with him. They finish and exit

111B BACKSTAGE 111B

She walks away from him.

Alone, she looks at her arms, sees black points trying to push through again.

Some fully emerge as shiny BLACK FEATHERS.

She just watches them, not panicking, but accepting the transformation taking place. Even beckoning it.

Her second entrance cue is played.

She leaps back on

111C STAGE 111C

For the Coda. She takes a brief pause, closing her eyes once more, and then completely lets herself go.

She spins with ferocity. More BLACK FEATHERS burst out from her shoulders and back.

At last, she truly embodies the Black Swan.

She finishes the Coda, punctuating her last spin with a sharp step that echoes through the theater.

The audience looks on, mesmerized. Too stunned to clap at first.

111D Nina looks down at the stage, her face glazed with sweat111D

She has returned to normal. No feathers. Normal eyes. A woman.

She finally looks up at the audience, and they ERUPT in a standing ovation.

Nina walks to the front of the stage, takes her bow.

Nina looks up at the MASS OF BODIES filling the auditorium, vibrating with applause.

Proud, Nina smiles and bows again. Again and again.

She finally runs off stage, the applause still going strong.

Nina enters the wings, other dancers cheer loudly. Even Veronica and Galina.

She pushes past all the smiling faces. It feels very surreal.

She sees Leroy clapping and shaking his head. Blown away.

She stops his mouth with a kiss. The kind of kiss that you can’t stop. Not desperate, but adamant.

Finally she disengages, staring at him in the eyes, but before he can say anything...

She turns and rushes back on stage. He’s stunned. Like he’s been run over by a truck.

She walks towards her dressing room, a satisfied smile on her face.

She passes the stage manager.

She nods and arrives at her room.

She opens the door, makes sure no ones looking, and enters quickly.

She closes the door behind her, locks it. Turns and sees the broken glass all over the floor.

She eyes the closed wardrobe. A pool of blood drips out from under the door.

She picks up a towel and lays it over the blood.

She starts to undress.

Back in the White Swan costume, she re-applies the makeup.

There’s a KNOCK on the door. She looks towards it, her face only halfway made-up.

She goes to the door, opens it just a crack.

She peeks through and finds...

LILY looking back at her.

Nina’s petrified.

Nina barely manages a nod.

Lily turns and walks away.

Nina swiftly shuts the door.

She turns around, stares at the wardrobe.

She steps cautiously towards it, her face repeated countlessly in all the reflective shards.

She lifts the towel from the ground and looks at it.

It is clean. No blood. She looks down at the floor. No blood there either.

She slowly opens the door to the wardrobe...

And finds it empty. No body whatsoever.

She looks over at the broken mirror. Sees her reflection staring back at her.

She stares at it for a long beat, and realizes something.

She touches her stomach and winces a little. Pulls back her hand. It’s coated with red liquid. Blood.

It’s started to soak through the costume, creating a faint red spot. The fabric is ripped at the center of the stain.

She feels inside for confirmation.

And discovers a stab wound, in her own stomach.

She pulls out the sharp tip of mirror still stuck inside. Blood begins flowing more rapidly.

She drops the mirror.

In a daze, she sits down at the vanity, and finishes applying the rest of the White Swan’s makeup.

Nina dances the final Pas de Deux as the White Swan. Losing blood by the second, everything is woozy and blurry.

She can’t do all the steps, but her performance is pained, making it poignant.

A spot of red begins to soak through at the center of her costume.

The music turns ominous, and VON ROTHBART, the evil sorcerer, comes onto stage.

Nina dances away from him, back upstage, towards the cliff. It’s time for her final leap.

Her energy fading, she teeters up the stairs of the set. One step at a time...

She gets to the top, takes one last look around, at all the eyes watching her.

She notices a familiar face in the audience: HER MOTHER.She watches with a profound sadness, tears streaking her cheeks.

In the front of Nina’s costume, a dark circle has started to form. Her blood fully seeping through.

And Nina leaps...

116B INTO BLACKNESS 116B

She falls through an endless void, her eyes closed.

She slowly twists around in the air, so that she’s falling backwards.

She hears something. Soft and muffled.

The faint sound of applause.

116C She lands slowly and comfortably on PADDING. 116C

The sound of applause is now loud, uproarious.

A group of BALLERINAS surround the mattress, clapping for her, each one dressed as a WHITE SWAN.

Leroy pushes through the group to get to her.

Nina is too weak to move.

Lily pushes her way into the group and GASPS, pointing at Nina’s abdomen.

Leroy follows her gaze and discovers the spot of blood, which has grown in size.

Leroy looks back at her. She smiles.

He understands.

The APPLAUSE grows more and more faint. Her eyes glaze over and everything goes completely SILENT.

Nina lies there motionless, a smile frozen on her face.

CUT TO BLACK.