Feet of the Angels (3 page)

THE SALSA CLASS

Everyone is radiant and having a lot of fun, except
MARIE
, who is very ill at ease. Abruptly she stops dancing and abandons her partner.

MARIE 2

I think I'd better take a break. It's nothing to do with you; I'm sure you're very good at this; being so close makes me ill at ease. I know it's how you're supposed to dance, and I'm not saying you're taking advantage: you certainly haven't done anything wrong. I'm just too tense, that's all. I know, I can feel it, and you just watch; he's about to tell me to relax my shoulders again. I'm really not made for this, for dancing. I haven't got the spontaneity, the willingness to let go. I'm forever clenched. It's the same thing with sex. It's always a problem. Look, thanks for being nice enough to pretend not to notice, like everything's normal, but I'm sure dancing with someone else would bring out the joy in living for you. Am I right?

HER PARTNER

Lo siento, no hablo bien ingles…

MARIE 1

One day, I had the dizzying insight that maybe this cult of
me
that my parents had going wasn't well-founded. I still hadn't figured out what made me so very different from others, except for that very thing—the wealth of love I received in return for nothing, except to be contented with myself as I was, a love which always fulfilled and smothered me like a heavy overcoat.

Everyone laughs and applauds as the music stops.

TEACHER

It's coming along! It's coming! Marie, relax your shoulders.

MARIE 2

Papa? Mama?

CHARLES

Yes, sweetheart?

MONIQUE

What's the matter, darling?

MARIE 2

Why do you love me so much?

CHARLES

What?

MONIQUE

What're you saying?

MARIE 2

Why do you love me… so… enthusiastically?

CHARLES

Gosh, dear, I mean… we love you for who you are.

MONIQUE

And we're always going to love you for who you are.

MARIE 2

What does that mean?

CHARLES

Well, who you are is… our darling daughter.

MONIQUE

Such an extraordinary daughter, Marie.

MARIE 1

Huh? So, what is that?

MARIE 2

Yeah, yeah, I know… you're my parents, but apart from that?

CHARLES

I don't think I really understand your question, Marie.

MONIQUE

Take your time, sweetie. We're listening.

MARIE 2

Okay, you're my parents and all, but why is it you absolutely adore me like this?

CHARLES

Simple, sweetie… we love you. You're our daughter, and we love you just the way you are, so don't worry about a thing.

MARIE 2

Just the way I am.

MONIQUE

The way you are.

MARIE 2

Exactly the way I am.

CHARLES

Of course.

MARIE 1

That's it?

CHARLES

What do you mean “that's it?” That's plenty, isn't it?

MARIE 2

I was expecting a little more.

MONIQUE

You're expecting us to love you even more?

MARIE 2

No, no…

CHARLES

Well, what do you mean?

MONIQUE

…Because, you know, we couldn't possibly love you any more than we already do.

MARIE 2

I just thought there might be some reason that's more… aesthetic.

CHARLES

Aesthetic?

MONIQUE

You're a beautiful girl, Marie.

MARIE 2

What I'm trying to say is, what I was thinking is… I thought there might be something else to me.

CHARLES

What sort of something?

MARIE 2

I dunno… something I can't put my finger on right now, but which might show up later on: some sort of promise or hope or…

MONIQUE

Hope for what?

MARIE 1

Gee, don't you think just striving to be oneself is a bit, well, limited?

CHARLES

Well, now, I don't know. That all depends, I guess…

KARINE

(
to
the
eye
)
…So I get to the principal's office and ask her what this is about. What I'm expecting is something serious. They don't usually call the parents in otherwise. Something like he's been fighting—right, that's it, a fight, or else he's back-talked his teacher, or he's brought a porn magazine to class. Something
serious
, you know. So I sit down and take a breath, and she says to me, she says to me: “Ma'am, I think your son has a spiritual void.” I'm not sure I understand what she means, so I ask her, and she says it's because of the banner. “Oh, right, the banner,” I say not having a clue, “The banner?”

She tells me there's this giant banner they're going to hang over the school entrance, and they want every child to write three things they dream of. Then she takes out this sheet of paper and reads my son's dreams: 1. To have a pool. 2. To have a horse. Okay so far, right? Then 3. To die so I can see what happens afterward. “Is that it?” I say, “So what if my son want to die so he can see what happens after that?” “It shows a spiritual void,” she says, “As it happens, he often complains of stomach aches. I thought you should know.” Boy, was I mad! I got up and slammed the door on my way out. Still… I'd like to know if that's supposed to be
serious
, having a spiritual void, I mean.

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.