Backstage (2016) s01e04 Episode Script

- Previously - The Primas are giving me a chance to dance with them! - You're good.
You are really, really good.
- Yeah, I am.
- You will choreograph a short duet inspired by the feelings you've experienced this first week at school.
- You're a phenomenal musician who happens to be fighting a disease.
That's it.
The disease doesn't define you.
You do.
- Fix that spin.
Otherwise, not atrocious.
- Is she - Dropping out? Yes.
- She's quitting already? - That's Keaton for you.
It's tougher than anyone ever expects.
You can read the deets on my blog.
(phones chiming) - I knew kids dropped out, but never this early.
- Lisa Dudley is the first to go.
Who will succumb to the pressure and be the next to pack it in? - Drama queen.
- Settle down, everyone.
You need your wits for our next assignment: Teams of two will join one of my more senior vocalists.
And your job? Their producer.
Mix and record their song by end of day.
Kit and Denzel Meet Scarlett.
- Well, this is gonna be great.
- I can't believe you didn't tell me.
- Tell you what? - I saw that duet, Cee.
Sasha is totally into you.
- What? No.
That's impossible.
- I know what I saw.
And that boy is smitten.
- My eyes are open but I cannot see And I'm up and walking Still feels like a dream Until our eyes adjust I guess We're only feeling in the darkness - Oh ah oh We just need a spark to light up the dark I can feel you with me I can feel you with me We just need a spark to light up the dark I can feel you with me I can feel you with me - We just need a spark - Miles Lennox.
Miles Lennox, please report to the principal's office.
Thank you.
- I hope he's okay.
I mean, it must be tough living with a disease like that.
- I got you all the essentials.
- Scented candle, herbal tea, dried blueberries? Vee.
Why are you giving me our stress basket? I'm not worried.
- Sure you're not.
Eat some blueberries, it'll relieve the anxiety.
- About? - Seriously? Are we playing that game? Sasha likes you! - He was playing a part.
That's what we do when we dance.
- No big deal.
- Sure it isn't.
So you aren't worried about your dance chemistry? - Am I hiccupping? No.
No hiccups.
No worries.
So you're wrong.
It's weird, I know.
But ever since I was a kid, my body manifests how I'm feeling by hiccupping when I'm worried, sneezing when I'm scared, and tugging on my ear when I'm angry.
My body knows me better than anyone.
- My crush-dar is never wrong.
Sasha is always giving you massages.
- So? All dancers are affectionate.
- He was holding you extra tight during that spin.
- So I don't fall.
Face it, Vee.
This time, your crush-dar is wrong.
- Like I said my crush-dar is never wrong.
Fine.
I will face it right after Sasha passes my test.
- Is that my phone? - Sasha Roy to the rescue! Your reg, madam: Quad-grande, extra-hot, two raw sugar, no foam latte.
See ya at lunch to perfect that spin! - You told him?! - Only a guy who really likes you would know your regular order.
(hiccup) - You know this is an arts school, right, bro? - Principal Durani wanted the disciplines to mix.
And for some reason, he left me in charge bro.
- So you thought a bunch of artists would want to play baseball? - What can I say? I'm a big Jays fan.
Why? Do you play? - They don't call my mad skills "playing.
" - Then sign up.
- No one's gonna sign up.
But he practically begged me.
I can't bail on a guy who's sick.
Plus, it couldn't hurt to score some points with Durani.
- All of the haters hatin' There's no sense waitin' Elevator straight to the top floor and I've been walking these halls for too long Searching for my elevator (music fades) - Okay, I'd like to try that again, and this time could you be less big? - Big is my brand, baby.
Big, big, big, big, big - Well, then you get to try something new.
From the top.
(Music starts) - I need love To take me higher You're risin' above All of the haters hatin' There's no sense waitin' Elevator straight to the top floor and What now? And don't say less big.
- Okay, less large.
We want this song to be about the real you.
Apart from the diva.
- And how do you propose we go about that, O wise ones? - Maybe try not to hide behind the power of your voice.
We really need to feel the words too.
- I don't have to listen to you.
- Actually, that's the whole assignment.
- This is one of my best songs.
- Which we will make better! - By making it boring? No way.
Look.
The only reason I wanted - Ato be paired with you two was because I thought you'd take direction well.
- Typical Scarlett, always wanting to boss everyone around.
- Ladies, can't we all just get along? - (both): No! - You think you know what the song needs so badly? Fine.
You sing it.
(slow rock music) - There's my favorite dancer.
- Vanessa's pretty good too.
- You ready to heat up the dance floor? (music plays) - There's still a chance Vee's wrong, right? - Rest your leg on me.
- No um, I'm good.
- Okay One, two, three! I am so sorry! Are you okay? (hiccup) (sigh) - (various): Take me out to the ball game - So much for "mixing the disciplines.
" - So it turns out Keaton doesn't have a baseball diamond.
- Hey, Jax! Where are you going? - Going to whoop your butts! - Great! You can bat first.
(indistinct girl's voice) - You were right.
How am I supposed to dance when Sasha's dumb teenage hormones keep getting in the way? - It's okay, Cee.
- Uh-uh.
Feelings are dance poison.
You know that.
- Then just tell Sasha you want to keep things professional.
- Seriously? How do you even start that convo? "Hey, Sasha, can you turn off your feelings for me, 'cause it's really messing up our dance chemistry.
" - Okay, first you need to stop avoiding him.
- I'm not avoiding him - Have you seen Carly? - Sorry.
I'll tell her you're looking.
- Alright, thanks.
- Fine, maybe I'm avoiding him a little.
What am I supposed to do? - One: Deep breath.
Two, answer this: Is there any chance you like Sasha back? - No.
- You sure? - Yes.
- Then unless you want to ask Helsweel for a new dance partner, figure out how to tell him to cool it.
(hiccup) And quick.
- Are you sure this is gonna work? - It'll work.
- 'Cause I don't know how much longer I can take of Miss "I know everything, I'm the best.
Big's my brand, baby!" - Hey, she's not that bad.
- But you said the same thing.
- She might be stubborn, but she's talented, no matter which way you slice it.
- Okay - So, I think we got enough raw material from her first recording.
Here.
- Need love to take me - Maybe adjust the pitch.
- And add bass, so we don't make Park's ears bleed.
- Haters hatin' There's no sense waitin' - Are these seriously all the samples you have? - We didn't get enough from Scarlett.
- No.
- Unless we want to fail the assignment - No! - Denzel, we need to talk Scarlett into coming back.
- Fine not it.
- There you are! Ready for our final practice? - Um actually, I think we should talk first about keeping things professional! Just say it, Carly! (Sigh) - I know what you're trying to say.
- You do? - When I dropped you last practice, I lost your trust.
- Um, that's not - You can admit it.
Luckily, I have an idea to win you back.
Sit with me.
- This is so awkward.
- I want us to look each other in the eyes and say what we see in one another.
- Like a staring contest? - It'll help us trust each other more.
- I trust you! I'm good.
- We're good.
- I'll go first.
I see that your hair is perfect today.
- I see that your feet are really rough.
- The observations are actually supposed to be more nice.
Like, how sparkly your eyes are.
(hiccup) - I have to go.
- But we haven't even practiced! - Let's see what you got.
- Strike one! - This means "safe.
" - Jax, stop crowding the plate.
What were you saying about whooping our butts? - Hey, I hope you notice me today But you've got your arm 'round him - Strike two! - Still means safe.
- So close.
- Choke up on the bat.
Move your hands up.
Elbows down.
Swing a half-second before you think you need to.
- Alright today I just gotta find those words - I hit the ball! Jax hit the ball! - This is the part where you run.
- Oh, right! - I shoulda known better.
- (distant woman): Aren't you supposed to be somewhere right now? - Figured I'd find you here.
- Leave me alone.
- Love to, but I can't.
We need you to come back.
I promise we won't mess up your song.
- Sorry.
I already did my own song in "Musicband.
" - There is no such program as "Musicband.
" Looks like you need us, too.
So why the act? - Look.
I'm just scared, okay? This school is intense and some people can't handle it.
And I don't want to be one of them.
- I'm scared too.
But you know what'll make me feel better? - Don't say making me a killer track.
- Making you a killer track.
We can even make it feel a bit more "produced.
" As long as you listen.
And trust that me and Denzel know what we're doing.
There will be ground rules.
- No, I'm not gonna - We both have to meet halfway.
Otherwise it'll never work.
Truce? - Can we just get back to the studio already? - Is Mr.
Roy injured? - Um, no.
- Is he too sick to continue? - No.
- Then I don't allow switching partners, Ms.
Catto.
- Please, Ms.
Helsweel.
I wouldn't ask unless the situation were super serious.
- So what makes the situation super serious? - It's just really awkward between me and - So is this about the hormones? The answer is still no.
Dance is about emotion, Ms.
Catto.
A true dancer channels her feelings into the work.
Are you a true dancer? - Um I don't - Yes.
The answer is always yes.
Otherwise, why are you here? You're confused because you're not honest with yourself.
Look inward.
Be honest.
Otherwise, you may be the next person packing your bags and running home to Mommy.
(door opening) - You didn't have to come, you know.
- You didn't have to help me.
- I gotta ask you played a lot of ball? - Here and there.
Fine.
My parents never really let me.
Protecting the hands.
You're a musician.
You get it, right? - Yeah, I get it.
I don't know why he's hiding it, but he's a classically trained musician.
- If people know that I take piano, flute and trombone lessons every day, what would they think? Street cred protected.
- Thanks.
You comin' to the next game? - Wouldn't miss it! But maybe you could help me practice first? - Let's start by getting rid of the sunglasses.
Everyone knows you have a great voice, so you don't have to oversell it.
- And remember: We talk, you sing.
Got it? - Oh, love, you can't control it Just blow on the dice and roll it You've got it better than anybody ever And there ain't no way you can stop Maybe you got a dollar Maybe you've got noth - Maybe we should - Shh.
- But - No talking.
Only singing, remember? - I think there's something missing - Girl's got nerve.
- Maybe you're right.
(song plays with more bass) - Oh, love, you can't control it Just blow on the dice and roll it You've got it better than anybody ever And there ain't no way you can stop Maybe you got a dollar Maybe you've got nothing, baby Well, you can stop fishin' Your girl's on a mission You know she's going straight to the top I need love To take me higher Risin' above All of the haters hatin' There's no sense waitin' Elevator Straight to the top floor I've been walking these halls for too long Looking for my elevator (song ends) - Do you trust me? - Honestly? I do.
- Now we're going to have a little music, like old times - Cha, cha, cha, cha Cha, cha, cha, cha, cha Cha, cha, cha, cha, cha - I think we got a hit - Cha, cha, cha, cha, cha, cha, cha, cha, cha Cha, cha, cha, cha, cha, cha, cha, cha, cha, cha, cha Cha, cha, cha, cha, cha, cha, cha, cha, cha Cha, cha, cha, cha, cha, cha, cha, cha, cha, cha, cha, cha Cha, cha, cha, cha, cha, cha, cha, cha, cha, cha, cha Cha, cha, cha, cha, cha, cha, cha, cha, cha, cha Cha, cha, cha, cha, cha, cha, cha, cha, cha Cha, cha, cha, cha, cha, cha, cha, cha, cha, cha, cha - Come on - Cha, cha, cha, cha, cha, cha Cha, cha, cha, cha, cha, cha, cha, cha, cha, cha, cha, cha Cha, cha, cha, cha, cha, cha, cha, cha, cha, cha, cha Cha, cha, cha, cha, cha, cha, cha, cha, cha, cha, cha Cha, cha, cha, cha, cha, cha, cha, cha, cha (applause) - That was acceptable.
- We did it! - You were great.
- Because I have a great partner.
(Scarlett sighs) - Park really liked your stripped down, low-key version of my song.
- Would it be too much to say I told you so? - It would.
Thanks for making me try something new.
It was scary, but you guys really made my song awesome.
- Mm-hm! - It wasn't just us.
You contributed when you weren't going full Mariah Carey diva on us.
- I'll see ya later for pierogi night.
- You're working with her again? Tonight? Why would you put yourself through that misery again if you didn't have to? - She's my sister, so I'll obviously see her later - at home.
- All caps "WHAT"? You don't look at all alike! - Because we're both adopted.
(explosion sounds) - This explains so much.
- Carly! - Hiccups gone? - Completely.
- Glad you and Sasha managed to keep things professional.
I knew it.
You do like him! The crush-dar is never wrong! You and Sasha are gonna be Keaton's cutest couple.
- Shush.
- You shush.
I call dibs on living vicariously.
- Vee! We haven't even been on a date yet.
He's coming! Just be cool! - Triple-Venti, extra-foam, two pump caramel caretto.
I felt bad only getting Cee a coffee this morning.
- What just happened? (hiccup) (sneeze) (sigh) - Thanks.
- Sometimes I'm so oblivious.
See you! - Oh, love, you can't control it Just blow on the dice and roll it You got it better than anybody ever And there ain't no way you can stop I need love To take me higher Risin' above