FLASHBACK
KARINE AND MARIE

The set changes to a sound stage while the dance class goes on.

Later on, the film turns out to be an American variation on Shakespeare’s Hamlet. KARINE is the wardrobe assistant and MARIE is an extra.

EXTRA (MALE)

I often do “extra” work… especially American productions. They interest me most, and it’s got so they know me. This is my second one with Scorsese.

EXTRA (FEMALE)

Really?

EXTRA (MALE)

Yeah, I did The Aviator. Did some with Spielberg too, Catch Me If You Can…

EXTRA (FEMALE)

Really?

EXTRA (MALE)

But what I really want to do is make my own films one of these days. Meantime, it’s helpful to observe the people I work with.

EXTRA (FEMALE)

Really?

EXTRA (MALE)

I perfect my craft by watching them, learning from their mistakes.

EXTRA (FEMALE)

Right.

EXTRA (MALE)

Today is different. I’m gonna show him my script. I feel I’m ready.

EXTRA (FEMALE)

You’ve written a movie script?

EXTRA (MALE)

Yeah, and if I know Scorsese, I think he just might be interested. There aren’t enough good ones in the industry. That’s why they adapt so many novels, because they don’t have the scripts. I mean, look, here we are doing a remake of Hamlet again.

EXTRA (FEMALE)

So what’s it about, your script?

EXTRA (MALE)

I kind of trashed it up. I don’t want to scare you none, but it’s about al-Qaeda, the Taliban, eighteen-plus stuff, but they wouldn’t go with it, not here. I mean Quebec wouldn’t give me the financing, no way. Too scary, too big, too ambitious for them.

EXTRA (FEMALE)

How come?

EXTRA (MALE)

Besides, it would go over better in English. Action films are like rock tunes; they always sound better in English. Am I right?

EXTRA (FEMALE)

Maybe, I guess.

EXTRA (MALE)

Anyway, I’ll show it to him soon.

EXTRA (FEMALE)

Yeah, good luck.

EXTRA (MALE)

Two weeks and I do a Luc Besson. You know, Nikita? The Fifth Element? Him too I’m gonna show it to. The first one to come back gets it. Just too bad for the loser. Didn’t hustle enough.

EXTRA (FEMALE)

Luc Besson, he’s French, isn’t he?

EXTRA (MALE)

Yeah but not really though. Way down deep, he really wants to be American. He’s figured out you get to choose. Freedom’s in your head. “You are what you say you are.” All great artists are that way. That’s what unites us.

Elsewhere onstage:

MARIE 1

…but if I take a salsa class, I’m afraid everyone will know I’m desperate.

KARINE

Why desperate?

MARIE 1

Well, I don’t… I don’t… anything.

KARINE

Hey, I’m not desperate, and I’m taking it.

MARIE 1

I know you aren’t. You don’t have to rub it in.

KARINE

I’m not. You’re the one who’s talking about being desperate!

MARIE 1

Just because you have a boyfriend and a kid, you don’t have to lord it over me.

KARINE

(patiently) Marie, come off it. Just come once; it’ll be something new. Besides, you’ll like it. You’ll see.

MARIE 1

I dunno.

KARINE

Why?

MARIE 1

I just think it’s an excuse to… touch people.

KARINE

Eh?

MARIE 1

It’s the kind of dancing that lets you get close.

KARINE

So?

MARIE 1

Well, nothing, I guess.

KARINE

So what?

MARIE 1

Just seems a bit unhealthy is all.

KARINE

You think too much. Just give it a try.

MARIE 1

What if I decide right away I don’t like it?

KARINE

Well, then you don’t come back. That’s all.

MARIE 1

Yeah, but I’d have to finish up the course!

KARINE

No, you don’t have to.

MARIE 1

But the guy will be offended if I don’t!

KARINE

What guy?

MARIE 1

The first guy I try dancing with.

KARINE

Why would he feel that way?

MARIE 1

Because he’ll think I don’t like him.

KARINE

Look, he doesn’t necessarily want you to like him. People don’t always have to, you know.

MARIE 1

How come? I want people to like me. It’s not my fault if I’m used to being loved beyond reason.

KARINE

All right, all right, so they like you already. Now, let’s go.

MARIE 1

I dunno…

KARINE

Now what?

MARIE 1

You have to feel attractive to put yourself… on display… don’t you? There’s something narcissistic about dancing I just don’t get, kind of like a form of self-celebration. I don’t feel right about it.

KARINE

It isn’t “self-celebration,” Marie. It’s just a salsa class! Boy, you sure can complicate things when you feel like it.

MARIE 1

I don’t feel like it. That’s just the way I am, whether I like it or not.

SECOND AD

(into walkie-talkie) Okay, I got Karine.

(to KARINE) Karine, we’re going to need Ophelia’s jewels, okay? They told you she’s allergic to metal, eh?

KARINE

What? No.

SECOND AD

Well, she’s allergic.

KARINE

Shit. Okay, I’ll be right there.

(to MARIE) We’ll meet up at lunch break, okay?

MARIE 1

Okay.