(21)
EXT. NATASHA'S HOUSE -- FRENCH CONCESSION -- DAY
Hans pulls over his car in front of a Spanish style two-story house near Avenue Joffre. Hans gets out of his car, walks around to open the car door for Rose and Petr. Then he opens the trunk to take out their luggage.
Hans rings the doorbell. The landlady, NATASHA VOSKI, around forty, opens the gate for them. Her clothes immediately identify her as a Russian.
NATASHA
Hello, welcome, welcome.
HANS
She's Rose, your new tenant.
ROSE
Hello, Mrs. Voski.
NATASHA
Come on in, let me show you the rooms.
EXT. GARDEN -- NATASHA'S HOUSE -- DAY
Natasha leads them through a small delicate garden as making their way to the front door.
INT. BEDROOM -- DAY
Natasha shows Rose her bedroom.
NATASHA
Your bedroom.
ROSE
It's cozy, but, uh, I'm afraid I can't afford the rent.
NATASHA
Your friend has already paid the security deposit and rent for the first month.
ROSE
Hans? He never stops amazing me.
NATASHA
Well, your friend chose our house so you'd be even more amazed. Actually my husband and I operate a ballet studio downstairs.
ROSE
A ballet studio?
NATASHA
Yes. We remodeled our living room into a ballet studio five years ago.
ROSE
Are you a dancer? Did you dance in Europe?
NATASHA
Yes, my husband and I performed ballet in Moscow and Petrograd about twenty years ago, before 1918 or so.
ROSE
So, you're Russians.
NATASHA
I'm a Russian Jew, and my husband is a white Russian.
ROSE
A white Russian?
NATASHA
As opposed to the red Bolshevik of Lenin-Stalin's proletarian dictatorship. After escaping the October Revolution, bourgeois white Russians wandered abroad, so did we.
ROSE
Maybe, destiny brings us together.
NATASHA
Well, we'll have so much time to get to know each other.
INT. CORRIDOR -- DAY
Hans and Petr wait in the corridor downstairs. Rose and Natasha finally return.
INT. BALLET STUDIO -- DAY
Natasha opens the door and ushers Hans, Rose and Petr into the studio. The walls are lined with mirrors. The hard wood floor glistens in the sunlight, as does the grand piano. The barre encircles the room.
Natasha's husband, IVAN VOSKI, stops practicing ballet when he sees the group enter. He gestures to Rose to make herself at home. Rose, tentative at first, eases into some graceful ballet positions in front of the mirror.
IVAN
(clapping)
Aha, ochin harasho, very good. Hans said you were a ballerina.
ROSE
Not really. I studied ballet, but soon I..., well, my dream has always been to become a ballerina.
NATASHA
Perhaps you could start by helping me teach. Since my rheumatism limits me, I need an assistant to help me.
ROSE
(hugging Natasha)
Oh, Natasha, I'd love to help. Thank you.
HANS
(to Rose)
I have to go. You and Petr have a good rest.
ROSE
Okay, let me see you off.
EXT. GARDEN -- NATASHA'S HOUSE --DAY
Rose and Hans walk side by side.
ROSE
Thank you for the leasing.
HANS
Don't mention it. It's my duty.
ROSE
I'll repay you the rent.
HANS
No, you don't need to. Actually, I'm now repaying you.
ROSE
For what?
HANS
Remember? You stuffed money in my pocket when you saw me off at the railway station?
ROSE
Ha, it's a long time ago.
HANS
Rose, I need to tell you...
ROSE
I've already known. Anna told me everything. But, I think the most important thing is that you and Anna shall have a perfect marriage. So, I don't want to involve you in such a scandal.
NANS
No, no. You made sacrifices for me. I shall spare no pains to protect you and Petr.
ROSE
(sobbingly)
Thank you, Hans, thank you.
(CONTINUING)
