Black Swan (2010) - Quotes

Loss of Innocence and Transformation

Erica: What Happened to my Sweet girl?

Nina: She's gone!

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A Moment of Concern and Reassurance

Thomas: Are you okay?

Nina: I'm fine.

Thomas: Nina.

Nina: What?

Thomas: I've already asked Lily.

Nina: [pauses] Have you announced it? After Beth do you really need another controversy? I'm here, Thomas. I'm doing it.

Thomas: [impressed] The only person standing in your way is you. It's time to let her go. Lose yourself.

Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.

Concern and Care in a Troubling Moment

Erica: Shh, it's okay. I'm here. You were scratching all night.

Nina: Where's my clock?

Erica: Don't worry about that.

Nina: What time is it?

Erica: Shh.

Nina: My show is tonight.

Erica: No, no, no.

Erica: No, don't worry. I called the theater and I told them you weren't feeling well.

Nina: [jumps out of bed] I have to go!

Erica: No, no, lie down!

Nina: Let go of me!

Erica: You're staying in here until you feel better.

Nina: Where is it?

Erica: This role's destroying you.

Erica: No! Please! You're not well!

Nina: [yelling] Let go of me!

Erica: You can't handle this!

Nina: I can't? I'm the Swan Queen, you're the one who never left the corps!

Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.

Conflict Over Dance Role Selection

Thomas: What's going on?

Nina: [crying] Lily! You made her my alternate?

Thomas: Well there's always an alternate. Lily is the best choice.

Nina: No, but she wants my role.

Thomas: Every dancer in the world wants your role.

Nina: No, this is different. She's after me. She's trying to replace me!

Thomas: Nobody's after you.

Nina: [crying harder] No, please believe me!

Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.

Betrayal and Trust in a Night Out

Nina: You put something in my drink.

Lily: Yeah.

Nina: And then you just took off in the morning?

Lily: In the morning?

Nina: Yeah, you slept over.

Lily: Um, no. Unless your name is Tom and you got a dick.

Nina: But we.

Lily: [pauses] But we what, Nina? Wait, did you have some sort of lezzy wet dream about me?

Nina: [whispers] Stop it.

Lily: Oh my God. Oh my God! You did! You fantasized about me!

Nina: Shut up!

Lily: [gasps] Was I good?

Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.

Debate on Terms of Endearment

Lily: [about Beth] I can't believe he calls her that. It's so gross.

Nina: I think it's sweet.

Lily: Little princess? He probably calls every girl that.

Nina: No way! That's just for Beth.

Lily: I bet he'll be calling you little princess any day now.

Nina: I don't know about that.

Lily: Sure he will. You just got to let him lick your pussy.

Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.

Confronting Weakness in Pursuit of Brilliance

Thomas: You could be brilliant, but you're a coward.

Nina: I'm sorry.

Thomas: [yelling] Now stop saying that! That's exactly what I'm talking about. Stop being so fucking weak!

Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.

Concerns about reputation and past mistakes

Erica: [about Thomas] Has he tried anything with you? He has a reputation. I have a right to be concerned, Nina. You've been staying late so many nights rehearsing. I hope he isn't taking advantage.

Nina: He's not.

Erica: Good. I just don't want you to make the same mistake I did.

Nina: Thanks.

Erica: Not like that. I just mean as far as my career was concerned.

Nina: What career?

Erica: The one I gave up to have you.

Nina: [stops herself] You were 28 and only in...

Erica: Only in what?

Nina: Nothing.

Erica: What?

Nina: Nothing.

Tensions Rise Over Ambition and Betrayal

Nina: Beth! I'm so sorry to hear you're leaving the company.

Beth: [about Thomas] What did you do to get this role? He always said you were such a frigid little girl. What did you do to change his mind? Did you suck his cock?

Nina: Not all of us have to.

Beth: [chuckles] You fucking whore! You're a fucking little whore!

Struggling with Duality in Dance Performance

Nina: I came to ask for the part.

Thomas: The truth is when I look at you all I see is the white swan. Yes you're beautiful, fearful, and fragile. Ideal casting. But the black swan? It's a hard fucking job to dance both.

Nina: I can dance the black swan, too.

Thomas: Really? In 4 years every time you dance I see you obsessed getting each and every move perfectly right but I never see you lose yourself. Ever! All that discipline for what?

Nina: [whispers] I just want to be perfect.

Thomas: What?

Nina: I want to be perfect.

Thomas: [scoffs] Perfection is not just about control. It's also about letting go. Surprise yourself so you can surprise the audience. Transcendence! Very few have it in them.

Nina: I think I do have it in me.

The Dual Nature of Perfection in Art

Thomas Leroy: [to Nina] Perfection is not just about control. It is also about letting go. Surprise yourself so you can surprise the audience. Transcendence. Very few have it in them.

Power Dynamics in Seduction

Thomas Leroy: [to Nina] That was me seducing you. It needs to be the other way around.

A Dream of Transformation and Betrayal

Nina Sayers: [[w:suicide|she kills herself] I had the craziest dream last night, about a girl who was turned into a swan -- but her prince falls for the wrong girl, and... ].