the industry. Thatâs why they adapt so many novels, because they donât have the scripts. I mean, look, here we are doing a remake of Hamlet again.
EXTRA ( FEMALE )
So whatâs it about, your script?
EXTRA ( MALE )
I kind of trashed it up. I donât want to scare you none, but itâs about al-Qaeda, the Taliban, eighteen-plus stuff, but they wouldnât go with it, not here. I mean Quebec wouldnât 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, Iâll 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 Iâm gonna show it to. The first one to come back gets it. Just too bad for the loser. Didnât hustle enough.
EXTRA ( FEMALE )
Luc Besson, heâs French, isnât he?
EXTRA ( MALE )
Yeah but not really though. Way down deep, he really wants to be American. Heâs figured out you get to choose. Freedomâs in your head. âYou are what you say you are.â All great artists are that way. Thatâs what unites us.
Elsewhere onstage:
MARIE 1
â¦but if I take a salsa class, Iâm afraid everyone will know Iâm desperate.
KARINE
Why desperate?
MARIE 1
Well, I donât⦠I donât⦠anything.
KARINE
Hey, Iâm not desperate, and Iâm taking it.
MARIE 1
I know you arenât. You donât have to rub it in.
KARINE
Iâm not. Youâre the one whoâs talking about being desperate!
MARIE 1
Just because you have a boyfriend and a kid, you donât have to lord it over me.
KARINE
( patiently ) Marie, come off it. Just come once; itâll be something new. Besides, youâll like it. Youâll see.
MARIE 1
I dunno.
KARINE
Why?
MARIE 1
I just think itâs an excuse to⦠touch people.
KARINE
Eh?
MARIE 1
Itâs 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 donât like it?
KARINE
Well, then you donât come back. Thatâs all.
MARIE 1
Yeah, but Iâd have to finish up the course!
KARINE
No, you donât have to.
MARIE 1
But the guy will be offended if I donât!
KARINE
What guy?
MARIE 1
The first guy I try dancing with.
KARINE
Why would he feel that way?
MARIE 1
Because heâll think I donât like him.
KARINE
Look, he doesnât necessarily want you to like him. People donât always have to, you know.
MARIE 1
How come? I want people to like me. Itâs not my fault if Iâm used to being loved beyond reason.
KARINE
All right, all right, so they like you already. Now, letâs go.
MARIE 1
I dunnoâ¦
KARINE
Now what?
MARIE 1
You have to feel attractive to put yourself⦠on display⦠donât you? Thereâs something narcissistic about dancing I just donât get, kind of like a form of self-celebration. I donât feel right about it.
KARINE
It isnât âself-celebration,â Marie. Itâs just a salsa class! Boy, you sure can complicate things when you feel like it.
MARIE 1
I donât feel like it . Thatâs just the way I am, whether I like it or not.
SECOND AD
( into walkie-talkie ) Okay, I got Karine.
( to KARINE ) Karine, weâre going to need Opheliaâs jewels, okay? They told you sheâs allergic to metal, eh?
KARINE
What? No.
SECOND AD
Well, sheâs allergic.
KARINE
Shit. Okay, Iâll be right there.
( to MARIE ) Weâll meet up at lunch break, okay?
MARIE 1
Okay.
ROMAIN MEETS MARIE
On the sound