# Black Swan (film)

Black Swan is a 2010 film about a ballet dancer who wins the lead in Swan Lake and is perfect for the role of the delicate White Swan – Princess Odette – but slowly loses her mind in the role of Odile, the Black Swan, daughter of an evil magician.
    Directed by Darren Aronofsky. Written by Mark Heyman, Andres Heinz, and John McLaughlin.

## Nina Sayers

* I felt it. Perfect. It was perfect.
* I had the craziest dream last night, about a girl who was turned into a swan -- but her prince falls for the wrong girl, and... she kills herself.

## Thomas Leroy

* [to Nina] That was me seducing you. It needs to be the other way around.
* [to Nina] Perfection is not just about control. It is also about letting go. Surprise yourself so you can surprise the audience. Transcendence. Very few have it in them.

## Dialogue

    Nina: I came to ask for the part.
    Thomas: The truth is when I look at you all I see is the white swan. Yes you're beautiful, fearful, and fragile. Ideal casting. But the black swan? It's a hard fucking job to dance both.
    Nina: I can dance the black swan, too.
    Thomas: Really? In 4 years every time you dance I see you obsessed getting each and every move perfectly right but I never see you lose yourself. Ever! All that discipline for what?
    Nina: [whispers] I just want to be perfect.
    Thomas: What?
    Nina: I want to be perfect.
    Thomas: [scoffs] Perfection is not just about control. It's also about letting go. Surprise yourself so you can surprise the audience. Transcendence! Very few have it in them.
    Nina: I think I do have it in me.
    Nina: Beth! I'm so sorry to hear you're leaving the company.
    Beth: What did you do to get this role? [about Thomas] He always said you were such a frigid little girl. What did you do to change his mind? Did you suck his cock?
    Nina: Not all of us have to.
    Beth: [chuckles] You fucking whore! You're a fucking little whore!
    Erica: [about Thomas] Has he tried anything with you? He has a reputation. I have a right to be concerned, Nina. You've been staying late so many nights rehearsing. I hope he isn't taking advantage.
    Nina: He's not.
    Erica: Good. I just don't want you to make the same mistake I did.
    Nina: Thanks.
    Erica: Not like that. I just mean as far as my career was concerned.
    Nina: What career?
    Erica: The one I gave up to have you.
    Nina: You were 28 and only in... [stops herself]
    Erica: Only in what?
    Nina: Nothing.
    Erica: What?
    Nina: Nothing.
    Thomas: You could be brilliant, but you're a coward.
    Nina: I'm sorry.
    Thomas: [yelling] Now stop saying that! That's exactly what I'm talking about. Stop being so fucking weak!
    Lily: [about Beth] I can't believe he calls her that. It's so gross.
    Nina: I think it's sweet.
    Lily: Little princess? He probably calls every girl that.
    Nina: No way! That's just for Beth.
    Lily: I bet he'll be calling you little princess any day now.
    Nina: I don't know about that.
    Lily: Sure he will. You just got to let him lick your pussy.
    Nina: You put something in my drink.
    Lily: Yeah.
    Nina: And then you just took off in the morning?
    Lily: In the morning?
    Nina: Yeah, you slept over.
    Lily: Um, no. Unless your name is Tom and you got a dick.
    Nina: But we.
    Lily: But we what, Nina? [pauses] Wait, did you have some sort of lezzy wet dream about me?
    Nina: [whispers] Stop it.
    Lily: Oh my God. Oh my God! You did! You fantasized about me!
    Nina: Shut up!
    Lily: [gasps] Was I good?
    Thomas: What's going on?
    Nina: [crying] Lily! You made her my alternate?
    Thomas: Well there's always an alternate. Lily is the best choice.
    Nina: No, but she wants my role.
    Thomas: Every dancer in the world wants your role.
    Nina: No, this is different. She's after me. She's trying to replace me!
    Thomas: Nobody's after you.
    Nina: [crying harder] No, please believe me!
    Erica: Shh, it's okay. I'm here. You were scratching all night.
    Nina: Where's my clock?
    Erica: Don't worry about that.
    Nina: What time is it?
    Erica: Shh.
    Nina: My show is tonight.
    Erica: No, no, no.
    [pushes Nina back on the pillow]
    Erica: No, don't worry. I called the theater and I told them you weren't feeling well.
    Nina: [jumps out of bed] I have to go!
    Erica: No, no, lie down!
    Nina: Let go of me!
    [notices the door handle is missing]
    Erica: You're staying in here until you feel better.
    Nina: Where is it?
    Erica: This role's destroying you.
    [Nina violently pushes Erica aside]
    Erica: No! Please! You're not well!
    Nina: [yelling] Let go of me!
    Erica: You can't handle this!
    Nina: I can't? I'm the Swan Queen, you're the one who never left the corps!
    Thomas: Are you okay?
    Nina: I'm fine.
    Thomas: Nina.
    Nina: What?
    Thomas: I've already asked Lily.
    Nina: Have you announced it? [pauses] After Beth do you really need another controversy? I'm here, Thomas. I'm doing it.
    Thomas: [impressed] The only person standing in your way is you. It's time to let her go. Lose yourself.
    Erica: What Happened to my Sweet girl?
    Nina: She's gone!

## Cast

* Natalie Portman – Nina Sayers
* Mila Kunis – Lily
* Vincent Cassel – Thomas Leroy
* Barbara Hershey – Erica Sayers
* Winona Ryder – Beth MacIntyre
* Benjamin Millepied – David
* Ksenia Solo – Veronica
* Kristina Anapau – Galina
* Janet Montgomery – Madeline
* Sebastian Stan – Andrew
* Toby Hemingway – Tom

## External links

* Black Swan quotes at the Internet Movie Database
* Black Swan at Rotten Tomatoes
* The official site