Backstage (2016) s01e05 Episode Script

- Previously - She says I'm holding her back so I am taking a step back and letting her lead from now on.
- I think this is about more than our dance.
This is about you being jealous because Helsweel picked me and not you to join the Primas.
- Betrayed.
- Stubborn.
- Deserter.
- Dramatic.
- Forgetful.
- Unforgiving.
- I'm Julie Maslany, your student president.
- She is the visual arts program.
She's like the most talented kid in the school.
- I'm sorry, let me stop you right there.
I can't cast you if you freeze up.
- We both auditioned to get into into Keaton.
And we both got in.
So I guess that means I must have a little bit of talent too.
- Yeah, well, that wasn't terrible.
But don't think I don't have notes, people.
Let's grab some coffees and go over the choreo.
- You guys were amazing! That routine was fantastic! - Um, Vanessa, what do you think you're doing? - I thought - I can still see smudges on that mirror.
We can't spot ourselves properly with smudgey mirrors, now, can we? - (sighing): I can't believe I thought this was my big chance.
- Vee, being with the Primas is your chance.
But you need to learn your place.
First make sure you can keep the mirrors clean.
Is she sick again? - Hope I don't have to clean that up.
- You wanted a chance? Show us her part of the dance by end of day.
Don't mess this up.
- My eyes are open but 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 - Ha! Ha! That was great! That's why I hope you're gonna enjoy your next assignment.
Each of you is going to take that song we just played and make it your own.
- Make it our own? What does that mean? - It means just that.
Interpret it as you will.
- We're artists.
Isn't copying another person's work called plagiarism? - True artists can bring new life into an established piece.
Think rockers sampling orchestral music, rappers rhyming over soul music.
- Or DJs creating awesome remixes.
- Exactly.
So what are we thinking? Miles? - Maybe adding a little punk rock flavor.
- Great.
Alya? - Huh, I'd like to hear what it sounds like stripped down.
Raw.
- Fantastic.
- And I'm obviously gonna do the opposite.
- Ha! Ha! Ha! And Bianca, any ideas? - Sure, like a million.
But I'm gonna let it marinate for a bit before I come to a decision.
- Okay.
Marinate away.
I look forward to hearing what you come up with.
- I'm sure the ideas will come.
How hard can this be? - Guess what.
- Zayn's coming back to One Direction? - The Primas are giving me a chance to dance with them.
But I need to perfect the Primas' dance by this afternoon, so I'm totally gonna need your help at lunch.
- I have to write my history of dance essay at lunch.
It's late.
- Sasha.
Buddy! - Sorry.
Leading my Rex Harrington appreciation society meeting today.
It's a thing! - I'm sure I can figure it out myself.
- As student president, I will be mentoring one lucky freshman designer this semester.
My way of giving back.
I want each of you to present one piece from your portfolio.
This is your chance to impress me.
And I don't impress easily.
Now go, choose.
And remember: Wow me.
- How are you not excited? - About being mentored by Julie? - Correction: The Julie.
She is Keaton's art program.
- It would be cool, I guess.
- Cool? It'd be a huge honor.
- You act like she's Picasso.
- She's the closest thing at this school, and I, Denzel Stone, could be her protg! Correction - will be her protg! (music stops) - Twist.
Attitude.
Contract.
- How's it going? - Good.
Great.
I've almost got it.
- Okay, fine.
- Wait.
I could actually use your help.
- What took you so long to ask? Now let's get to work already.
Okay, so - I assume this is easy for a talented guy like you, right? - Actually, punking up this song is harder than I thought, so Does Bianca need my help? Yeah.
But would she help anyone else? No way.
- Hey, do you think the amazing Julie will fill my ear with praise? Nothing? Really? - I don't hate this one.
- Yeah, it's cool.
- Cool is not "wow.
" Got lots of compliments on this - Because it looks great.
- Still not hearing "wow.
" - Wow.
- Stop patronizing me.
- Dude, give yourself a break.
They're all good.
That graffiti piece is amazing.
- But Julie wants the best! - She's also the girl who comes to school dressed like something different every day.
So - You're right! To get noticed, I have to try something fresh, funky and new.
Something totally Julie! - Good, now to the ground.
To your left.
Now reach over to your right.
The other right.
- Why do I keep getting this wrong? - You forget to go to the right.
- I've watched them do it a thousand times.
How am I not getting this? - Your technique is flawless, Vee.
It's just a memory game now.
- I'm never gonna get it in time.
- Yes, you are.
Take my hands.
Eee-Eee-Ooh-Ooh! Eee-Eee-Ooh-Ooh! Eee-Eee- Ooh-Ooh! Eee-Eee-Ooh-Ooh! At crunch time, Vee always gets too tense.
She knows this.
She's just gotta stop over-thinking it.
Eee-Eee-Ooh-Ooh! Come on! - (both): Eee-Eee-Ooh-Ooh! Eee-Eee-Ooh-Ooh! Eee-Eee-Ooh-Ooh! - Now don't think, just dance.
Good! - Wow.
- Was that right? - I mean, I would have added another backhand spring for good measure, but - As long as I nail these beginning steps, I'm hoping they won't notice anything else.
- Didn't you say you got this chance 'cause another girl got sick? - Uh-oh.
- You can't dance when you're sick.
- I'm fine.
False alarm.
Fine, I'm sick.
- You have to tell the Primas you can't dance today.
- You don't get it.
I never get the chance to dance.
I'm basically their towel girl.
And if I bail on this, I won't get another chance.
I'm so sick of scrubbing mirrors.
- Well, you're not gonna impress anyone by barfing all over them.
You do remember our grade six recital? - The one you saved by making us a home remedy! - You can't seriously want - We got better real quick! - My great-grandma taught me homemade remedies for stress and stuff.
They've got things like wormroot and liver oil in 'em.
Totally gross.
You know it's not actual medicine.
- They always made me feel better.
I need this, Cee.
Please? I need you to make me a home remedy.
- Fine.
Do you know where to get wormroot? - You sound like a Taylor Swift cover band.
- Thank you? - Not a compliment.
- You know, insulting me is not going to make you less scared.
- Scared? Who's scared? - I'm the expert, remember? I can see a - I'm just fine, thank you very much.
- You're struggling with the assignment, aren't you? - I don't struggle normally.
Must be horrible being you.
Feeling inferior like this all the time.
- Okay.
- I I didn't mean it like that.
It's just Park said real artists can make songs their own.
- You're worried if you can't do this, then you're not a real artist? There's got to be some way to make a song your own.
- How? The dumb thing doesn't even have words! - Then why not add some? - That's not the worst idea.
- Shouldn't you get to work? The is due by end of day.
- I'm starting from scratch and you are pretty good at this.
- You want my help? - There's a playful mystery here.
With some refining of your vision, you could be a great artist.
- Thanks.
- If she liked that, just wait till she sees mine.
- Next up, Denzel Stone.
- Allow me to present my newest creation.
Victoriana! - Of course, he named it.
- What part of this represents Denzel? - All of it? I did paint it.
- I'm sorry, but it seems kind of derivative.
- Did Julie Maslany, the Julie Maslany, just call my work derivative? - That's the third vial of gross green, whatever, and I still don't feel better.
- Told you the remedies wouldn't work.
- But the dance is in an hour.
- And there's no way you can get through it without barfing? - Which means I have to bail on my one chance to impress these girls.
Goodbye, dancing, hello, mirror goo.
- No.
No one should have to scrub all that mirror goo.
I have an idea.
- I've seen some great work today.
There are some fabulous artists in the room.
But Marcus Fobbs, you're the lucky one I'm going to mentor this semester.
(applause) - And you can feel the tears behind your eyes No one's gonna catch you when you fall It doesn't matter What's wrong? - Don't freak, but I think you need a rhyme there.
Maybe "when you fall" to go with The only way back up is to rise above And stand tall Or whatever.
- I like that.
- Great.
I was also thinking we could do a key change after the bridge, to really give it a build in match your "pick yourself up" narrative? - I do love things that match moi.
(laughs) - Okay.
1, 2, 3.
I never thought I'd say this, but working with Bianca might actually be kinda fun? - You gotta brush off your knees - Key change.
- You can be stronger And you can be wilder When you're first to the bottom And you know that you got 'em And this time you're stronger - That was awesome.
You're a great lyricist, you know.
That's art.
- This girl actually makes me feel like I know what I'm doing for once.
- Oof, it's late, we gotta get back to class.
Come on! - Den to the Zel! You.
Me.
Milksha What exactly are you doing? - Leaving Keaton, obviously.
I can't be seen here after my idol, the greatest artist this school's ever had, called my work derivative.
- Don't you think you're overreacting just a little bit? - No.
No, I don't.
(door slamming) - Let's get going everyone, come on.
What's with the screens? - Um decoration? - Newbies.
Everyone take first position.
- I can do this.
I can do this.
I can do this.
I can do this.
- Performing while you were sick? Did you think you were fooling anyone? - I can explain.
- No need.
Any girl who dances while feeling that sick is a warrior.
And warriors deserve our respect.
- Does this mean I get to dance with you guys now? - If we need a ringer.
Oh, and remember: Today's laundry day.
- You promised me milkshakes.
- We have one stop first.
- Julie? - These are creative, brilliant - and - Not derivative? - Far from it.
Where were these today? - I thought I could show you something you'd like.
- To be a real artist, you need to show the world Denzel's point of view, not what you think someone else wants.
If you'd shown me this, I might have picked you to mentor.
- Does that mean you're going - No, but keep up the great work.
You're really talented.
- She thinks I'm talented! - Now we can get milkshakes.
- Right after I get my stuff back from the trash.
- What sale at what mall made you bail after my dance? - I figured you'd want to spend time with the Primas after doing so well.
- Actually, I wanted to spend time with the girl who helped me through the hardest day in my life.
- This girl sounds special.
- And I hope I never forget that again.
We can hug when I'm feeling better.
- I can't wait.
Come on.
- When the fear has you paralyzed And you can feel the tears behind your eyes No one's gonna catch you when you fall The only way back up Is to rise above and stand tall But you gotta be stronger You gotta be wilder You gotta be first To the bottom try to get 'em till you got 'em And you don't stop No Yeah, all the plans you make Only to turn around and break You've got a thicker skin, come on, raise your chin You gotta brush off your knees 'Cause you can be stronger And you can be wilder When you're the first to the bottom now you know That you got 'em this time You're stronger (applause) - Adding lyrics was an inspired choice.
And that key change after the bridge, pow, true artistry! - Did you come up with that all on your own? - Yep.
All me.
Guess I'm more musical than I thought.
- Well, brava to you.
- Did that just happen? - This is how the business works.
I'm giving Alya a valuable lesson.
- Well, brava again.
Good job.
Okay, - who's next? - I'll do it.
- Thattaboy.