Black Swan Quotes: Psychotically Nightmarish
(Total Quotes: 65)
MOVIE INFO.
Directed by: Darren Aronofsky
Written by:
Mark Heyman (screenplay)
Andres Heinz (screenplay)
John McLaughlin (screenplay)
Andres Heinz (story)
Starring:
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
Sergio Torrado – Sergio
Mark Margolis – Mr. Fithian
Tina Sloan – Mrs. Fithian
Abraham Aronofsky – Mr. Stein
Charlotte Aronofsky – Mrs. Stein
Marcia Jean Kurtz – Georgina
Shaun O’Hagan – Sebastian
Christopher Gartin – Waiter Scott
Deborah Offner – Susie
Stanley Herman – Uncle Hank
OUR REVIEW & RATING ★★★½
Black Swan quotes are a gripping and visceral experience from beginning to end and strike an immediate haunting note that grow louder with a dark echo. The story itself comes across as rapturous, operatic and very melodramatic.
Verdict: It’s one of those movies that will force viewers to either reject it outright with revulsion or allow the nightmarish madness to seep into the brain and remain there for a very long time.
Black Swan
Quotes TRIVIA
[first lines]
Nina Sayers: I had the craziest dream last night. I was dancing the white swan. It was different choreography though, it was more like the Bolshoi’s. It was the prologue, when Rothbart casts his spell.
Erica Sayers: You’re in a good mood.
Nina Sayers: He promised to feature me more this season.
Erica Sayers: Well, he certainly should. You’ve been there long enough and you’re the most dedicated dancer in the company.
Veronica: Did you see Beth today? I can’t believe she’s back.
Galina: Of course she’s back.
Veronica: Don’t know why she can’t take a hint. The company’s broke, no one comes to see her anymore.
Madeline: Uh, nobody actually comes to see ballet full stop.
Veronica: That’s not true, I hear the Royal had one of their best season yet.
Galina: He just needs to try something new that’s all.
Veronica: No. Someone new.
Madeline: Like who?
Veronica: Like someone who’s not approaching menopause.
Nina Sayers: It’s sad.
Veronica: What’s sad?
Nina Sayers: Beth’s such a beautiful dancer.
Galina: Yeah, so is my grandmother.
Nina Sayers: Well, Fonteyn danced into her fifties.
Veronica: [sarcastically] Yeah, we know.
[to the soloists as they are practicing tapping the shoulder of each dancer he’s selected]
Thomas 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. Her wish is nearly granted in the form of a prince. But before he can declare his love, her lustful twin, the Black Swan, tricks and seduces him. Devastated the White Swan leaps off a cliff, killing herself and in death finds freedom.
Thomas Leroy: Good morning, company.
[they respond ‘Good morning’ in quite voices]
Thomas Leroy: 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. A new production needs a new Swan Queen. A fresh face to present to the world. But which of you can embody both swans? The white and the black? All the soloists I tapped go to your scheduled rehearsals this afternoon. And the girls I didn’t tap, meet me at the principle studio at five. Thank you.
[he walks away and Nina smiles to herself as he hadn’t tapped her]
[to Nina after she has just finished her rehearsal dance]
Thomas Leroy: If that was only casting the White Swan, she’d be yours. But I’m not. Maestro, Odile’s Coda, please. Now show me your Black Swan, Nina.
[nervously Nina begins to dance]
Thomas Leroy: Not so controlled! Seduce us! Not just the Prince, but the court, the audience, the entire world! Come on! The fouettes are like a spider spinning her web.
[as Nina is spinning]
Thomas Leroy: Attack it! Attack it! Come on!
[just as Nina is about to finish her dance Lily clangs the door open and she loses her focus and stumbles]
Thomas Leroy: Well, good of you to join us.
Lily: Sorry.
Thomas Leroy: Girls, this is Lily. Straight off the plane from San Fransisco. She’s filling Rebecca’s old spot.
Lily: Hey.
Thomas Leroy: Get warmed up.
Lily: No, it’s okay. I’m good.
Nina Sayers: Should I go again?
Thomas Leroy: No. Thanks, Nina. I’ve seen enough.
[just as Nina walks in through the front door to their apartment]
Erica Sayers: So how did it go?
[Nina doesn’t answer]
Erica Sayers: You were late, so I called Susie in the office. An audition! I can’t believe he’d just spring that on you. So?
Nina Sayers: It was fine.
Erica Sayers: Just fine? What…?
[Nina starts crying and embraces Erica]
Erica Sayers: Oh, sweetheart! Oh, you tell me about it.
Erica Sayers: You’re working yourself too hard. We all have off days.
Nina Sayers: If that girl hadn’t barged in.
Erica Sayers: I’m sure she didn’t mean to. Remember when you first started? I hadn’t taken you to each of your classes you would have been completely lost.
Nina Sayers: I’m gonna talk to him tomorrow. I’m gonna tell him I finished it.
Erica Sayers: You don’t need to lie. It won’t convince him one way or the other. 
[Nina lies down on her bed]
Erica Sayers: Oh, sweetheart. I know it’s disappointing and when you start getting older there’s all this ridiculous pressure. God knows I understand. But it’s all right. No matter what.
You’ll probably get to dance the Pas de Quatre again. That’s such a wonderful part. Or maybe he’ll make you a Big Swan. Either way, you’ll shine.
Nina Sayers: I know.
[Erica starts stroking Nina’s hair]
Erica Sayers: Everything will be better in the morning. It always is. Sweet girl.
Nina Sayers: I just wanted to tell you that I practiced the coda last night and I finished.
[Thomas doesn’t say anything but just gives her ‘so what’ look]
Nina Sayers: I thought you should know.
Thomas Leroy: Okay, Nina, listen. Honestly, I don’t care about your technique. You should know that by now.
Nina Sayers: Yeah, but yesterday…
Thomas Leroy: No. Anyway, I’ve already chosen Veronica. So…
[he walks over and opens the door to his office]
Nina Sayers: Okay, thank you.
[just as Nina is about to leave walk out the door he closes the door stopping her]
Thomas Leroy: That’s it? You’re not going to try and change my mind? You must have thought it was possible. Otherwise, what are you doing here all dolled up?
Nina Sayers: I came to ask for the part.
Thomas Leroy: Well, the truth is, when I look at you, all I see is the White Swan. Yes, you’re beautiful, fearful, fragile. Ideal casting. But the Black Swan, it’s a hard fucking job to dance both.
Nina Sayers: I can dance the Black Swan too.
Thomas Leroy: Really? In four years, every time you dance, I see you obsess, getting each and every move perfectly right. But I never see you lose yourself. Ever. All the discipline, for what?
Nina Sayers: [quietly] I just want to be perfect.
Thomas Leroy: You what?
Nina Sayers: I wanna be perfect.
Thomas Leroy: Perfection is not just about control. It’s also about letting go. Surprise yourself so you can surprise the audience. Transcendence. And very few have it in them.
Nina Sayers: I think I do have it in me…
[suddenly he kisses her hard and then jerks away in pain]
Thomas Leroy: Aahh! You bit me! I cannot…I can’t believe you bit me!
Nina Sayers: I’m sorry.
[she opens his office door and walks out]
Thomas Leroy: Now, that fucking hurt!
[as the dancers all go to find out what parts they’ve been cast in Swan Lake]
Nina Sayers: Veronica. Congratulations
[Veronica does a little triumphant smile thinking she has the part and walks off to find out for herself but suddenly returns]
Veronica: Hey, why would you say that? Hmm? You’re idea of some sick joke?
Nina Sayers: [confused] What?
Veronica: Fuck you!
[she storms away]
[in the theater bathroom stall talking on her cell phone]
Nina Sayers: Hi.
Erica Sayers: What is it? What’s wrong?
Nina Sayers: I’m fine. Um…he picked me mommy.
[Erica doesn’t answer]
Nina Sayers: Did you hear me?
Erica Sayers: For Swan Lake?
Nina Sayers: I’m gonna be the new Swan Queen.
[Erica responds with excitement over the phone]
Nina Sayers: Well, um…I’ll be home soon. I just wanted to let you know.
Erica Sayers: I love you.
Nina Sayers: I love you too.
[she hangs and cries in excitement. She comes out of the bathroom stall to suddenly see the word ‘WHORE’ written on the mirror in lipstick]
Erica Sayers: My daughter, the Swan Queen!
[Nina runs to Erica and hugs her]
Erica Sayers: It’s our favorite, vanilla with strawberry filling.
[Erica starts cutting into the cake she’s bought]
Nina Sayers: Oh, mom not too big. Oh, that’s way, way too much!
Erica Sayers: It’s a celebration! It’s just this once.
Nina Sayers: Mom, my stomach’s still in knots.
[Erica’s face suddenly hardens]
Erica Sayers: Fine. Fine. Then it’s garbage.
[she takes the cake to the kitchen and opens the garbage can]
Nina Sayers: No. Mom, don’t! I’m sorry!
[Nina smiles and Erica closes the garbage can, her face softens again]
Erica Sayers: I’m just…I’m just so proud of you.
Nina Sayers: It looks so yummy.
[to Nina after she’s finished her rehearsal dance]
Thomas Leroy: Thank you, Nina. It’s very nice. Very nice. But I knew the White Swan wouldn’t be a problem. The real work will be your metamorphosis into her evil twin and I know I saw a flash of her yesterday. So get ready to give me more of that bite.
[Nina’s watching Lily dance in rehearsal when Thomas comes up behind her]
Thomas Leroy: Watch the way she moves. Imprecise but effortless. She’s not faking it.
[at the fund raiser gala, Thomas leads Nina to top of the staircase and hands her a glass of champagne]
Thomas Leroy: Ready to be thrown to the wolves? We need their cash, so please don’t forget to smile.
[he turns and speaks to the crowd below]
Thomas Leroy: Ladies and gentlemen, please may I have your attention! Good evening. Let me make this very important announcement. You all have had the chance and the privilege to be enchanted, transported, and even sometimes devastated by the performances of this true artist of our company. She’s been a crucial inspiration to my work, a role model to all dancers and even more than that, a deeply appreciated presence our stage. You all know who I’m talking about. Ladies and gentlemen, Beth Macintyre.
[the crowd claps]
Thomas Leroy: But as we all know every great career has to come to an end. Beth is retiring at the end of the season. She will be giving her farewell performance as Melpomene, the role she originated in my first ballet. My little princess, we honor you, you will be greatly missed and never forgotten.
[Thomas sees Beth quickly sneaks out of the crowd]
[after Thomas sees Beth leave he continues addressing the crowd at the fund raising gala]
Thomas Leroy: But as we bid adieu to one star, we welcome another! We’re opening our season with my new version of Swan Lake. Taking the role of our new Swan Queen, the exquisite, Nina Sayers.
[there’s a restrained applause from the crown, then Nina hears Lily giggle]
Thomas Leroy: You’ll soon have the pleasure of seeing her perform, but right now please lets raise a glass, to all of us, to Beth, to Nina, to beauty!
[in the bathroom at the fund raising party]
Lily: Hey, it’s you! I don’t think we ever officially met. I’m Lily.
Nina Sayers: Hi, I’m Nina.
[they shake hands]
Lily: Yes, our new Swan Queen. Here hold this.
[she gives Nina her purse and Nina watches as she takes off her stocking]
Lily: Oh, you must be so excited! Oh! Are you freaking out?
Nina Sayers: Yeah.
Lily: Yeah. Aah! It’s okay. I’d be losing my mind.
Nina Sayers: Well, I should get back.
Lily: No! No, no! Come on, stay! Keep me company.
Nina Sayers: Excuse me.
[Nina walks out of the bathroom]
[Nina is waiting in the fund raising gala hallway]
Thomas Leroy: Hey. They tried to eat you alive, but here you are. You did well.
Nina Sayers: Really?
Thomas Leroy: Um-hmm. Where are you going?
Nina Sayers: Upper West Side.
Thomas Leroy: Stop at my place for a drink. It’s on the way.
[Beth suddenly sneaks up behind Nina in the fund raising gala hallway]
Nina Sayers: Beth! I’m so sorry to hear you’re leaving the company.
Beth Macintyre: Aah! What’d you do to get this role? Huh? He always said you were such a frigid little girl. What did you do to make him change his mind? Did you suck his cock?
Nina Sayers: Not all of us have to.
Beth Macintyre: You fucking whore! You fucking little whore!
[Thomas walks towards them]
Thomas Leroy: Woh, woh, woh! What’s going on here?
Beth Macintyre: Hey, hey. I need to talk to you.
Thomas Leroy: I think you’ve drunk….
Beth Macintyre: I need to talk to you!
Thomas Leroy: I think you should go home.
Beth Macintyre: No! Don’t you do that! Don’t you dismiss me like that!
Thomas Leroy: Beth, my little princess. Please, hold it together.
[he walks over to Nina]
Thomas Leroy: Come on.
[Thomas and Nina start to walk away]
Beth Macintyre: I’m coming by later. I have something for you. It’s a token of my appreciation.
Thomas Leroy: Right.
Beth Macintyre: You make the most of it, Nina!
Thomas Leroy: So, you got a boyfriend?
Nina Sayers: No.
Thomas Leroy: And you had many in the past?
Nina Sayers: A few, but no one serious.
Thomas Leroy: You’re not a virgin, are you?
Nina Sayers: No.
Thomas Leroy: Well, there’s nothing to be embarrassed about. And you enjoy making love?
Nina Sayers: Excuse me?
Thomas Leroy: Ah, come one! Sex, do you enjoy it?
[Nina doesn’t respond]
Thomas Leroy: Well, we need to be able to talk about this.
[Nina just nods her head]
Thomas Leroy: I got a little homework assignment for you. Go home and touch yourself. Live a little.
[Nina looking shocked doesn’t say anything]
Thomas Leroy: Well, it’s late. Lots of work tomorrow.
[he gets up and starts walking away from her]
Thomas Leroy: The doorman will find a cab for you.
[and he leaves her]
[referring to fund raising gala]
Erica Sayers: Sounds like quite and evening. I wish I could have been there.
Nina Sayers: You know I asked.
Erica Sayers: I know you did. Susie told me. Guess he wanted you all to himself.
Nina Sayers: That’s not why.
Erica Sayers: I don’t blame him.
[Erica walks up to Nina and starts to help her take off her evening dress]
Nina Sayers: I can do it.
Erica Sayers: He must have been by your side all night. Showing you off.
[as Erica finishes taking the straps off of Nina’s dress she notices the scratch marks on Nina’s back]
Erica Sayers: Oh, Nina…
Nina Sayers: It’s just a rash.
Erica Sayers: What rash? What are you talking about?
Nina Sayers: It was worse a few days ago. It’s fine already.
Erica Sayers: You’ve been scratching yourself again.
Nina Sayers: No, I haven…
[Erica unzips and pulls down Nina’s dress]
Nina Sayers: Mom!
Erica Sayers: I thought you’d outgrown this disgusting habit.
[Erica drags a half naked Nina into the bathroom]
Erica Sayers: Jesus Christ! I thought you were done with this, Nina. Shrugs, you keep wearing the shrugs. Sit down.
Nina Sayers: I have been.
Erica Sayers: You have the white one and the pink one, and that’ll hide it.
[she starts cutting Nina’s nails short]
Erica Sayers: And then…and then I’ll dig out that…that expensive cover-up, we still have some. No one will see it.
Nina Sayers: Mom, please!
Erica Sayers: It’s the role, isn’t it? It’s all this pressure. I…I knew it would be too much. I knew it!
[she suddenly cuts one of Nina’s nails too short catching the skin]
Nina Sayers: Ow!
Erica Sayers: Oh, shh…
[she kisses Nina’s hand]
Erica Sayers: You’re all right. You’re all right. You’ll be all right.
[she continues cutting Nina’s nails]
[referring to Beth who’s in hospital due to grave injuries to her legs]
Nina Sayers: What happened?
Thomas Leroy: She walked into the street and got hit by a car. And you know what? I’m almost sure she did it on purpose.
Nina Sayers: How do you know?
Thomas Leroy: Because everything Beth does comes from within, from some dark impulse. I guess that’s what makes her so thrilling to watch. So dangerous. Even perfect at times. But also so damned destructive.
Nina Sayers: Was it right after we saw her?
Thomas Leroy: Oh, no! Wait, wait, wait! This has nothing to do with you. It’s not your problem, so don’t let yourself be distracted. This is your moment, Nina. Don’t let it go.
[Thomas follows Nina, instructing her as she’s rehearsing dancing with her partner]
Thomas Leroy: And…come on! Forget about control, Nina! I wanna see passion! Come on! Reach! Board, you’re stiff! Stiff like a dead corpse! Let it go! Let it go! Let it go! And…again.
[Thomas watches Nina and her partner finish another rehearsal dance]
Thomas Leroy: David, can I ask you a question? Honestly, would you fuck that girl?
[David doesn’t answer he just snickers]
Thomas Leroy: No. No one would. Nina, you’re dancing is just as frigid.
[suddenly the lights go out in the studio]
[Thomas is dancing with Nina in the rehearsal studio, he runs his hands seductively on her upper thigh]
Thomas Leroy: Feel my touch, respond to it. Come on.
[he then goes to kiss her but she pushes him away, but he grabs her again and kisses her]
Thomas Leroy: Open your mouth. Open your mouth. Open it. Open it!
[she opens her mouth and he kisses her passionately]
Thomas Leroy: Open it.
[he continues to kiss and touch her heatedly, running his hands on her body and then touching between her legs, suddenly he stops and walks away]
Thomas Leroy: That was me seducing you, when it needs to be the other way around.
Nina Sayers: Please…
[he ignores her and walks out of the room]
[Nina is sitting in the studio alone, crying when she hears someone in the shadows behind her]
Nina Sayers: Who is that?
[Lily emerges from the shadow putting a cigarette into her mouth]
Lily: Hey. You okay?
Nina Sayers: You can’t smoke in here.
Lily: Well, I won’t tell if you won’t.
[she comes over and sits on the floor next to Nina]
Lily: So, big day is getting closer and closer, huh? Well, I can’t wait. I think you’re gonna be amazing.
[she hands her a cigarette]
Nina Sayers: Thanks.
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