Échappé

My first ten pages are attached in PDF format.

TREATMENT

In 1970, Russia’s preeminent ballet company prepares for a tour abroad to affirm their superiority in the art form and cash in on the economic value of their star dancer, NIKOLAI. As Nikolai is seen to be at risk of defecting, LIONIDZE, the company’s stern but paternal ballet master, adds Nikolai’s younger sister, VERA, a subdued and repressed ballerina, to help keep an eye on him.

Moments before they depart, Russian officials stoke fear in the company by plucking dancers off the plane including IRINA, the prima ballerina. In New York, Vera is anointed with Irina’s role and jumps from the corps de ballet to headlining The Sleeping Beauty alongside her brother.

While Vera obeys the restrictions to travel with chaperones and abide by a curfew, Nikolai spends the tour seeing modern dance performances and exploring the city with EDDIE and JACQUELINE, American dancers with the New York City Ballet. During Nikolai’s escapades, he becomes increasingly aware that he is being followed. Meanwhile, Vera diligently prepares for her opening performance and finds support in ALEXEY, a handsome dancer who is a member of the Communist party.

Suspicious of her brother’s outings and the potential risk it poses for her, Vera informs on Nikolai to Lionidze. Knowing that Nikolai’s departure could cause both of them to be severely punished, Lionidze encourages Vera to tag along with Nikolai and his friends to gather information about his intentions. Vera feels out of place on these outings to jazz clubs and Studio 54 but has brief moments where she lets go and dances at a club or smokes American cigarettes.

As the tour progresses, Vera continues to go out with the Americans but prioritizes time with Alexey. As their relationship grows, Alexey and Vera begin to plan a life together in Russia.

At the last performance, Vera overhears Alexey and Lionidze whispering. Alarmed and suspicious, she returns to her dressing room and smashes a gift from Alexey to discover a recording device. She stops, stunned with the realization that Alexey has been spying on her and Nikolai the entire time.

Before she can gather her thoughts, Lionidze enters the dressing room and tells her that they discovered a plan for Nikolai to defect. Lionidze promises to protect her and that, with Nikolai and Irina out, she will be the star ballerina in Russia.

Heavy with emotion, Vera and Nikolai dance their final pas de deux. In their final embrace, Vera whispers to Nikolai that, “they know,” with the hope that he can manage to escape. When she exits stage, Alexey pulls her into a supply closet where they can talk in private. Vera confronts Alexey but he says that he did it all to protect her. Confused, Vera tries to process his intentions and her feelings toward him while he encourages her to take in the reality that she is about to be the company’s new prima ballerina.

Meanwhile, Russian authorities gather in the wings to remove Nikolai and send him back to Russia. When he exits stage, Nikolai tries to escape but they chase him through the theater’s back hallways.

In a car parked outside of the theater, Eddie and Jacqueline wait anxiously for Nikolai. Just when they are about to leave, the car door opens and Vera slides into the backseat, prepared to begin a life in the West.