Tiny Pretty Things (2020) s01e08 Episode Script

[fast-paced music playing]
[Travis screams]
[June] Travis, that hurts! No!
[Travis] Bitch!
Get off of me! Travis! You're hurting me!
[shouts]
[grunts]
[snapping to beat]
Get off!
- Get off! You're hurting me! Get off!
- [Travis] Bitch!
[shouting]
That… wasn't terrible.
[Neveah]
We can't sit on that recording.
This place is basically trading donations
for access to underage girls.
They hired us
to walk members to their tables, okay?
It's not like Madame knew
the club had creeps like Travis Quinn.
- Why are you defending our director?
- Because we're in over our heads.
[Neveah] Except we're not.
That recording goes public,
we get Madame
Shh!
We get Madame fired,
Hadrian Talbot off the board,
and then we rebuild the Archer
into something
that we're actually proud of.
We keep our heads down,
we might be dancing at City Works Ballet.
- But we start taking shots at our school?
- Our diplomas will be worth dick.
Plus, we would be a lot more employable
with a Ramon Costa ballet on our résumé.
Those of us who can actually dance it.
The Wrench said if you keep up physio,
you might at least make corps.
So we just let Travis
keep going after girls? Assaulting them?
We have the recording.
He'll be a good boy.
Or he'll tell his bestie Monique.
So I say we strike first.
No, we fight her, we will lose.
All in favor of holding onto the recording
until after Ripper?
Okay, I got it.
[students chattering]
Deal's a deal.
I let you borrow my computer, you said
you'd make my little car crash go away.
The computer was helpful.
Helped me see how
the right person in the wrong situation
might push Cassie off the edge.
Cassie was blackmailing someone?
Something like that.
Word is you were with Oren?
Exactly.
Except I know Oren lied
to protect you and himself.
And now you're one of the only students
without a verified alibi.
Truth is…
I fell asleep in my room…
drunk.
I just didn't want to tell you
'cause that's the worst alibi ever.
You got that right.
And just remember,
when Cassie Shore dies tomorrow,
whoever pushed her will be up for murder.
Then I hope you catch 'em.
[theme music playing]
[vocalizing]
Nabil, you heard what the doctor said.
The girl we know isn't in there.
She gave me a sign. Her hand moved.
Her hand moved because she had a seizure.
She's turning into a vegetable,
and there's nothing any
of us can do about it.
And what about you?
Will you stand by
while your husband murders your daughter?
- Shut up.
- [woman] Frank.
[huffs]
Look, we appreciate
everything you've done…
but this is a family matter now.
You don't even know her.
I have seen her through this, not you.
She has not lived with you for years.
You don't know…
what she likes to eat,
her favorite song…
what a fighter she is.
I do.
This beautiful girl here…
I grew her in my body.
Worried every minute of every day
that the worst thing might happen.
And now it has.
If you have any decency…
let us say goodbye to her in peace.
It's time for you to go.
- [Esmé] That's your third glass.
- It's called pre-hydration.
Gotta keep the complexion clear,
even if these sponsors try
and ply me with chardonnay.
What sponsors?
Scholarship luncheon.
It's gross getting paraded around
like dogs,
but a year of tuition
is a year of tuition.
Every funded kid has to go.
Not me. I didn't get invited.
You are so lucky.
Or I'm not coming back.
Then get yourself on this year's poster.
It's shooting tomorrow.
The guy and girl that become the face
of the Archer? Safe.
- Can you zip me up?
- [Neveah] Yeah.
Thank you.
[Cassie]
The dirty truth is artists need patrons,
benefactors to feed and clothe you.
To supply you with canvas or marble
or a stage covered in lights.
In return, you give them magic. Gratitude.
Their names on the side
of studios and concert halls.
Because even magic comes at a price.
Marching to the drum of my beat ♪
I got it, can't stop it, no! ♪
[gasps]
This year's photographer? Topher Brooks.
Yeah, yeah. I've seen his pictures
in the Wrench's office.
[Shane] I've been stalking his Insta.
His portraits are phenomenal.
It's like he sees a dancer's soul.
Junebug, our ballet master
is a polymath artistic genius,
and we could be on his poster.
Get excited.
No, Madame picks the photos.
She'll never pick me.
You're dancing principal.
Dream big.
- I like that one. Yeah.
- Right?
Madame,
I saw some of the girls getting ready
for this scholarship luncheon,
and I wasn't invited, so
Your donor pulled support.
Best of luck in your future endeavors.
That's not how scholarships work.
Students are supported
who are seen to be an asset to the school.
This is about Michi Beach.
You know my friends
were getting hurt there.
[Monique]
Yet you're the only one complaining.
When the term ends in a couple of weeks,
you can take all that you've learned back
to the little ballerinas of Inglewood.
[sighs]
[pop music playing]
[music distorts]
- [screams]
- Hey. What's going on?
That cop thinks I pushed Cassie.
So what? Last week,
she tried to pin it on Cassie's roommate.
- Before that, the Muslim guy, right?
- And this one might stick.
The fact is, the wine cooler
I had that night was just the beginning.
I was blackout drunk when Cassie fell.
No clue what happened.
- What music was playing?
- When?
When you blacked out. Music's your way in.
When my nonna got Alzheimer's,
it was us playing music
that helped her touch the past.
Her doctor said that's actually common.
So what was playing?
How are you not worried
I might be a cold-blooded killer?
Because my mama likes you…
and she's a damn good judge of character.
I betrayed every friend
I ever had trying to get ahead.
Angled for the best role,
biggest spotlight, center barre.
Now, who am I if I can't dance?
The same person you've always been.
- ["Touch" by AM & Jarell Perry playing]
- Trust yourself.
You'll find your way back.
I just wanna touch ♪
[vocalizing]
I'm not asking for too much ♪
It's never quite enough ♪
[vocalizing]
I just wanna touch ♪
[vocalizing]
[June on phone] Get off of me!
- Travis, you're hurting me!
- [Travis grunts]
[Neveah] You get the picture.
- Who's the girl on the tape?
- [Neveah] I can't tell you.
But the man is Travis Quinn.
I had to buy a girl Plan B
after he took their date too far.
This recording proves
that the Archer administration
is trading donations to the school
for access to ballerinas.
Monique DuBois needs to be removed.
You've been at the ASB one term.
Why take this on?
To do the right thing.
So how long will an exposé take?
- There won't be one.
- [Neveah] What?
I believe the recording means
what you say it means,
but the fact is,
it could be interpreted in a lot of ways.
It's obvious.
It's weak, Neveah.
I'd be torn to shreds by legal.
Given the saturation of stories like this,
what you have isn't enough
to warrant publication.
Girls are getting hurt.
What else do you need?
To get this past my editor?
A smoking gun.
Then that's what I'll get you.
[knocking on door]
- [Ramon sighs, grunts softly]
- [guitar music playing on stereo]
Bette, what is this?
No, no, no, no, no.
- All you have to do is watch.
- Still no.
That part is rightfully mine.
I'm gonna show you how
with a few modifications
that I can still dance it.
That part's beyond you, Bette.
If you give me back the solo…
I'll dance it like
it's the last ballet I'll ever do.
[sighs]
Let's see what you're made of.
And then the reporter
basically told me to do her job for her.
Only seems fair
'cause you want her to do yours.
Shane, chill.
I'm just saying.
You're using your friend's trauma
to do your dirty work.
Everyone here loses
if Madame isn't shut down.
I told that reporter I'd deliver a link
from the Archer to Michi Beach,
but I don't have one.
Shane, your boyfriend works
on the finance committee.
My occasional booty call is the lackey
of someone on the finance committee.
And a coward.
And a closet case.
Though still a damned good kisser.
Very confusing.
He still has access.
There's no chance he'll put
his precious job in jeopardy
to help some rando he met on Grindr.
Do you maybe want to step outside?
Um, I was hoping to sweat off a few.
[Neveah] Please.
Yes?
Good answer.
Do not school me on dirty work.
I'm just living in the real world.
And does that involve hooking up
with Oren?
He told me.
That's who you were crying over, right?
A guy with a girlfriend.
- Their days were numbered.
- You probably had something to do with it.
Admit it, you were happy
when they broke up.
I'm trying to walk a new path here,
to judge less and love more.
But you do not make it easy.
So punish me, but don't slam Oren
for finally telling the truth.
Do you still love him?
It twists my heart every day to see him…
hear his laugh, watch him dance.
I've made up
this whole stupid life for us in my head.
But it's also a lie,
and it sure as hell isn't who Oren is.
So I'm trying to move on.
I do believe the best way to do that…
is if he had
someone like you loving him instead.
He's trying, Neveah.
Try back.
["Let's Celebrate" by Ms. Triniti
playing over headphones]
Rise up, we take it high up ♪
- And higher ♪
- Let's face it, baby… ♪
[June gasps]
That was a big mistake
calling on that reporter.
I don't know what you mean.
Zandara fucking Segal called my office
asking if I would refute the charges.
Do you know what you're doing, June?
You are ruining my life over a mix-up
with a cocktail waitress.
What you did to Paige wasn't a mix-up
[gasps]
What did you say?
Nothing!
What I did?
What I did was what she wanted.
That girl knew exactly what she was doing.
She dressed like that,
she walked into that room on her own,
and it was exciting for her.
And believe me,
I made sure she had fun. And…
and… and you…
you come in…
[gasping] Please!
A two-faced prude trying to make
this whole thing something ugly.
I will not let that happen,
so you call that reporter off
or get ready to end up like Cassie Shore.
'Cause trust me,
I know how to make a girl quiet.
[June panting]
- Mr. Brooks, let me help you with that.
- Hmm.
I just wanted to say how glad I am
you're doing our photo shoot this year.
I've been following your Insta for months.
- It's amazing
- My Instagram is private.
You approved me. Mcraecrae67.
I have a strict policy
of not friending students.
[laughs]
Guess you made a big mistake there.
You know, you're like an example to me.
Of what?
How to get out of a small, crap town,
make a life, a career, a marriage.
I'd focus on your brisées.
You know, I'm, like,
the only guy here who likes you.
Feel free to join the rest.
Like this! Around my neck!
Said he'd put me in a coma like Cassie.
Maybe this Travis Quinn pushed Cassie.
I don't care!
The point is you have to stop Zandara
from writing that article.
After what he just did to you?
The world needs to know.
June, this could be the guy.
He knew Cassie from the club
and clearly has anger issues.
Men like that? We gotta lock 'em up.
Yeah?
And how'd that work for your mum?
[Topher] All right, everyone,
there's a list taped up of the order
I want to see you in…
and the shot I've chosen for each of you.
- Let's keep this efficient, shall we?
- [camera shutter clicking, beeping]
[June] I've been doing the math,
and it all adds up.
It's Neveah's fault we went
to Michi Beach.
It's her fault you crashed your dad's car.
And we both know
she's the one who locked me on the roof.
The roof might have been an accident.
It was her, Bette.
And she cost me my role.
She lost me my mother,
which forced me to fend for myself
and led me to Travis.
All of this is on her.
Madame will kill us
when she finds out what we did.
We'll be kicked out.
No Ripper, no City Works, no future.
You're safe
because you already have a principal solo.
If I could only get on that poster…
I might still have a chance.
Quiet, please! Ladies to the center.
Miss Whitlaw, you're in no condition
to be the face of the Archer school.
So I take off the boot.
And then what?
I could support her.
She could do a passé with a huge lean-out.
I could be out of frame taking her weight.
Mr. Brooks, you always say
ballet is about strength and discipline.
That's Bette to a T.
Warm yourself up.
We'll begin with singles.
Esmé's first, Lily on deck.
Are you seriously gonna help Bette
steal this poster
from every other girl at this school?
She's betrayed us, like, how many times?
At least she does it to our faces.
[Topher] Esmé.
All right. And one, two, three.
[camera shutter clicking, beeping]
["Nobody Does It Better"
by Headband playing]
It's always perfect ♪
It's always right ♪
Behind the curtain
I'm always out of sight ♪
I'll be the leader, you fall behind ♪
There ain't no mountain
That I can't climb ♪
Next.
Take your time, Mr. Lennox.
And…
[camera shutter clicks, beeps]
Turn out on the jeté.
Good. Next!
[students murmuring]
[panting]
[chattering]
[Oren sighs]
Oren, are you okay?
Yeah, I'm fine.
[man] He wants you to wear this.
No, no, I will not do this.
[Topher] The show is called Ripper.
That's the Ripper hoodie.
You want me photographed
wearing the clothes of Cassie's murderer
the very day that she dies!
How can you accept this?
You were Cassie's friends!
She's my… [sobbing]
[huffs]
[sighs] All right, look.
You're right. This shouldn't be happening.
But you decided
to keep your ass here in Chicago,
maybe for her, maybe for you.
But this is a mandatory photo shoot.
You fight to get me kicked out,
and now you want me in the picture?
If it's not me being Archer's sexy,
charming poster boy…
it should be you.
[mutters]
[Shane] Mr. Brooks, I've got another idea.
I've been working up
an epic jump I hope you'll catch me in.
Front of the window, blow out
the exposure, be a killer silhouette
- I'm not inviting input.
- You did from June.
Mr. McRae, take what's on offer.
What is it? Do you just not like me?
What other people think of you
is none of your business.
[sighs] I'm just looking to you
for some guidance, support.
And I gotta wonder
why you won't look back.
[Topher] You want another go?
Find your light. Take your leap.
[camera shutter clicks, beeps]
Moving on.
[moaning]
[Oren] Cassie?
What happens when there's nothing left?
[inhales sharply]
[gasps] Oh.
[Cassie] Breathe.
Shh.
Just need to lose some layers.
- What are you doing?
- Chill, Oren. I was a fat kid too.
[heart beating]
[Cassie] Break you down early on,
you never recover, do you?
Even when you've built the body,
scored the role,
snagged the school's best partner,
you never feel right.
But I'm here to help.
Thank you, Cassie.
I want this.
Now relax.
This shouldn't hurt too bad.
- No. No!
- I can make you perfect, Oren.
- No!
- You'll finally be enough.
No, no, no! [screams]
No![gasps, panting]
Oren, what happened?
Are you okay?
[exhales] I'm fine.
I'm calling the Wrench.
No, don't, don't. I just forgot to eat.
- [sighs]
- Okay…
Did he get a good shot of me?
Mr. Limyadi,
I see you've collected yourself.
And…
[camera shutter clicks, beeps]
He couldn't talk Cassie's parents down.
They're pulling the plug tonight.
[murmuring]
[Bette] Eat.
I know how you get
when you think the world's watching.
[scoffs] Thanks.
[Bette] The cop knows you lied.
[Oren] What?
Relax.
[sighs]
She's more interested in my lack of alibi.
And the thing is, maybe she should be.
I had that shoving match
with Cassie that night.
You know, what if I just kept
shoving and shoving until that…
She could die because of me.
Bette.
I don't much like you right now…
but I do know you.
It's not something you could do.
[exhales]
[Bette sighs]
[Nabil] I'm sorry.
The nurse said you'd be gone.
No, my husband left.
Off signing forms.
It's easier for him than being in here.
Stay.
I don't wanna be alone.
Your people…
do you believe in the afterlife?
We believe heaven is a place
for people who do more good than bad.
We believe that heaven is a garden…
it's beyond our capacity to comprehend.
And when we arrive,
we are greeted by angels
with wishes of peace.
And in that garden, there's no suffering.
But but Mrs. Shore…
Cassie is not gone yet.
I think she's still there…
hearing everything we're saying right now,
the feeling… how much we love her.
You could save her.
God took our daughter from us months ago.
And turning off all these machines…
that's simply a mercy.
We need to accept
what the good Lord has already decided.
Hi.
You?
It's you!
I don't think it is.
Yeah, you jumped my friends in an alley.
Whoa, whoa! Hey, no, we're good now.
No, we're not good.
I'm the one who called the police on you.
- Now I'm here with Bette.
- What are you talking about?
Don't worry.
I'm just as surprised as you are.
[scoffs]
It was kind of funny. We met
when I was installing those new doors.
She had me jimmy-shut one to the roof.
Help a girl out,
one thing leads to another.
I'm the girl you locked out!
So it's some kind of practical joke?
Hey, babe.
It was you.
You're the one who locked me out.
You lied to my face.
Do the straps for me, will you?
I never get them tight enough.
You tried to steal my part!
- You bitch!
- Whoa! Hey, hey, hey! Easy, girl! Easy!
You let me blame the whole thing
on Neveah. It was you!
[Bette] You're some kind of angel?
We're saying goodbye tonight
to a girl you drugged.
Awful things happen because of you!
[huffing]
Relax, you got a decent part anyway.
What the hell?
If I'd have let June get that lead,
my family would've basically disowned me.
Oh, yeah?
Karma's a bitch.
Not too tight.
Don't want to get gangrene or anything.
[tearing sound]
You're Dev, right? I'm Shane's roommate.
What do you want?
Situation with your boss Hadrian Talbot…
This arrangement with the Michi Beach Club
that gives members access
to some of our girls here,
some of them were assaulted.
Friends of mine.
I wouldn't know about that.
We need help to get records
from the club and the school.
- If we can verify the quid pro quo
- Look, man, I can't help you.
So you're okay with what they're doing
to those girls here?
Davey,
you coming with us, or you on your own?
I'm with you.
More girls will get hurt, you know.
- Friend of yours?
- No.
[Bette] Thanks for the lift.
Also having me sabotage your friend?
Babe, not now.
I gotta go watch a friend die.
We've been like sisters since I was ten.
This is hard, Matty.
It's taking everything I've got not to go
into that hospital
and hunt down more pills.
I just think you gotta get a better grip
on what you stand for.
- What your friends mean to you
- Shh!
This is the song
they were playing on the roof.
[pop music playing]
[laughing]
Jealous.
[grunts] Just leave me alone!
Hey, hey, hey. You all right?
I think I might be.
["Part of You" by Adaline playing]
Tell me what you want
Tell me what you want, what you want ♪
Tell me what you want
Tell me what you want… ♪
They're about to stop the machine…
[sobbing] …that keeps her…
her heart beating.
Hey, hey, hey.
You stay strong, all right?
Grief can mess you up.
You'd know.
Your father.
Yeah.
I freaked when he died.
I'm still raging at the wrong people.
[exhales] And loving the wrong ones too.
Like who?
Let's just say I was busy getting
in my own trouble the night Cassie fell.
The point is, when it gets rough…
none of us should be alone.
Is that why you're here?
Dude, that's why we're all here.
["One Way" by Rose Cousins playing]
I take what you send ♪
And we both pretend ♪
But I start ♪
Where you end ♪
When I say you know ♪
When I fall, you go ♪
And I row this boat ♪
Too fast or too slow… ♪
Grandma always said,
"When they're leaving you,
you gotta remember the good."
But I got nothing.
Cassie helped me get my first fake ID.
Yeah, and one time, she swiped
the answers for an algebra test
that I really had to pass.
Cassie smuggled E
in her bun into my sweet 16.
Now, that's a friend.
I've got one way ♪
And you've got one way ♪
[vocalizing]
And I break ♪
Where you bend ♪
I take what you send ♪
We both pretend ♪
But I know that I start ♪
Where you end ♪
Where you end ♪
Oh… ♪
[Cassie] The thing about patronage,
it eventually runs out.
The money, the favor, the spotlight
all turn to the next rising star.
- [monitor flatlining]
- [Cassie] And then you're on your own.
Maybe it's what you do
at that moment that matters the most…
because maybe…
- that's when you fight the hardest.
- [monitor beeps]
[beeping]
[gasping]
Yes. Yes, Cassie. Fight it!
You can do it, mon amour. Don't…
Don't leave me. Fight!
[sobbing] Cassie, you can do it.
Come on. Come on. Come on.
[beeping continues]
[panting]
The way I see things,
it's not about the crop
you got growing in front of your eyes.
It's always about the next one.
The fresh face, the hungry eye,
the talent
you think's worth sprouting. Huh?
That's one mixed metaphor, sir.
Well, as the poet says,
"I am large. I contain multitudes."
[laughing]
This guy comes to our country
with nothing
I was born in St. Louis.
Gets into Wharton at what? Twelve?
Sixteen, sir.
Graduates before his balls drop.
He's a real boy wonder.
We like what we see, we pay off his debt.
So eye on the next crop, see?
Thank you, sweetheart.
And from what I can see,
we're gonna be knee-high when it counts,
isn't that right, Davey?
[chuckles] Guess I'm a farmer at heart.
Just always looking
for where to point my plow.
[men laughing]
- Excuse me.
- [Hadrian] Mm-hmm.
Good. Gentlemen, it's a beautiful evening,
and we're surrounded by beautiful women.
I say we grab a seat.
[door opens]
- She's breathing on her own. [chuckling]
- [Oren] Oh, thank God!
- [girl] Oh!
- It's a miracle.
[clamoring]
- [girl] Oh, my God.
- [laughing]
[girl 2] Nabil, that's awesome.
- [Shane] Nabil…
- Guys, go home, huh?
Thanks. Thanks for coming.
I just want to be there
when girlfriend wakes up
and spills the tea
on what really happened up on that roof.
- [Neveah laughs]
- [phone beeps]
Every moment like a portrait… ♪
[Delia] Don't look.
[indistinct chatter over police radio]
[Delia] You drank too much, baby girl.
Delia.
[siren wails]
Is she gone?
Hell no. Still ticking.
They took her off everything,
and not only did she not die,
but she might be coming back.
- Good.
- And I know where I was when she fell.
- Thought that was passed out in your room.
- Except I wasn't.
I've been listening to music
to help me remember what I blacked out.
Music? Really?
It worked.
I was out with my sister Delia trying
to make it in before curfew
when they were loading Cassie
into the ambulance.
Must have been some song.
[June] I'll never trust her again.
You know, the way I see it,
all we have here is each other.
And let's face it,
Bette is only looking out for herself.
Aww!
Oh, God, and the things I said about you.
I'm so sorry.
I'm sorry I didn't ask you
before I talked to that reporter.
At least your heart was
in the right place.
[knock on door]
Neveah, June, this is Dev.
Oh, yeah, the torso.
Okay…
Just tell 'em what you know.
[exhales] It's about the Michi Beach Club.
Oren said you need to prove
they had an arrangement with the school.
Thing is,
they keep their membership records
the old-fashioned way.
File cabinets.
I borrowed this for the night.
Yeah, I memorized some of these names.
The ones who had access
to the VIP room,
which is where Paige…
went through what she went through.
There. Travis Quinn, VIP.
- And him… and him…
- [Dev] I know those names.
Those gents all made
five-figure donations to the academy.
And see this?
All credited as "anonymous."
So for writing a check to the school,
they got to hang
with young girls at the club.
Hey, girls, you wanna
W-what are you doing here?
Helping us get justice for Paige and June.
Why would he do that?
Because, Shane,
your friend here asked me to.
- [Shane huffs]
- [June] Madame is in it so deep.
And Hadrian Talbot too?
[Neveah]
And it's up to us to smoke them out.
They wanted to cover their tracks,
and that ends here.
[Zandara]
It's been going on forever in ballet.
I was looking into it.
There's this sculpture
at the art museum of this little dancer.
Oh, yeah, I know. Postcard's on my wall.
Fourteen, Paris Opera.
Rich men bought subscriptions
just so they could get
backstage access to girls like her.
They didn't like it?
There was no one they could tell.
It's an ugly business,
making something beautiful.
[Neveah] You asked for it.
[Zandara] What's this?
There's your smoking gun.
[energetic piano music playing]
It's a terrible loss.
The bodywork alone will cost a fortune.
[Delia] On Bette?
[Katrina scoffs] No, darling.
- On your father's car.
- I'll pay back every penny.
Just focus on getting better.
I could kill Ramon
for pushing you like this.
[Katrina] Once his show is up,
Ramon will be long gone.
The problem won't because the problem,
my darlings, is Monique DuBois.
You barely made board chair.
You're hardly set up
to lead the revolution.
I'm gonna get a bevvie.
It's for my mom.
[Katrina] Monique is weakened.
She's stumbling, which is why
this is the time to go in for the kill.
[Cruz] Mrs. Whitlaw.
Officer Cruz. I went by your place.
The housekeeper said I'd find you here.
Well, I'm nothing if not predictable.
Since you're board chair,
I figured that you'd want to know
that we're closing in
on a timeline for Cassie's fall.
What a relief. You're here to talk to
Bette? No.
We got everything we need from her.
Good.
- So then…
- I'm hoping you could shine some light.
Were either of you with Bette
the night Cassie fell?
- Officer, she did not do this.
- [Katrina] What did she tell you?
It's a simple question, Mrs. Whitlaw.
Was she with you that night or not?
We were with her.
Out on the town,
celebrating the start of term.
And then I walked her home.
You did?
I hope she isn't telling you
anything different.
No.
That's most reassuring.
Officer.
- I swear this is club soda.
- Of course.
- [glasses clink]
- We all learn from our mistakes.
Bet you still haven't built
your bed frame.
How do you know that's the right thingy?
Trust me. I've got the right thingy.
Oh. I know. Shoes off.
- [Caleb mutters]
- We'll announce it soon.
- [Neveah] You wanted to see me?
- Come in.
We were just looking over
the contact sheets for the Ripper shoot.
Some great ones of you.
That reporter called.
If you were concerned
about what happened to those girls,
you should have come to me first.
So you could just sweep it under the rug?
Travis Quinn is going to jail.
I'll make sure it happens.
This story's bigger than him.
Meaning what?
Meaning you.
Why did you apply to the Archer?
Because I love to dance.
And out there,
Archer girls go to the front of the line.
[smacks lips] Out there,
the Archer name
earns you a reference call.
That's my opinion on your abilities.
And it carries a lot of weight.
They call it "yachting," but it almost
never happens on some big-assed boat.
It does involve beautiful yacht girls,
the rich older men who like 'em,
and a middleman… or woman
willing to broker girls
and look the other way
when things go down.
Well, you should worry
if I'm looking your way.
Because that story sees daylight,
you're not only done at the Archer,
but you will never dance again.
Miss Segal, you need to forget
everything I told you and kill that story.
- It doesn't work that way.
- Things have changed.
You print that, my career will be over
before it even began.
This train has left.
I worked this up the chain to editorial,
talked to other sources.
- We're fact-checking.
- I'm the one that brought you this.
You wanted the story to be some kind of
weapon against people who've hurt you,
and now your game's changed.
This is not a game.
My job is to test truth,
to bolster it, report it.
What I don't do is work for you.
You'll be hurting me
more than you'll ever help anyone else.
I don't pick sides, Neveah.
I just report the truth.
The rest is your battle to fight.
Hey.
[chuckles]
You don't look like your friend just died.
Oh, she's totally gonna live.
Don't get me wrong,
I'm happy for her and everything.
I mean, I hated her, but truth is,
I kind of loved her even more.
Plus, now I'm totally
100% sure I didn't push her.
Okay, well… clearly a good person.
Oh, I'm much, much better than good.
Madame's gonna destroy me.
She's bluffing.
Once the story comes out,
her opinion won't hold water.
Trust me, you can beat her at this.
[both breathing heavily]
[grunts]
Thought we said we'd take this slow.
Well, I was wrong. Let's just do it.
Not like this.
You're upset. I'd be taking advantage.
Who cares?
I just want to feel something different,
something better.
The first time we do this
should be because it's right.
Because you want to.
I do want to.
Right now you're just running scared.
What if I get kicked out?
We can win this, Neveah.
I promise.
[tense instrumental music playing]
That's good.
We'll skip the next solo today.
- Hey, they're putting up the posters.
- [clamoring]
I hope it's you.
I hope it's you. No, I hope it's me!
- I hope it's me too.
- [both squeal]
[boy] That's great.
Yes!
I never stood a chance.
Not my decision to make.
And if it was?
Can't play favorites.
I get it.
You're gay. I'm gay.
You're terrified to what? To just be nice?
There are things people say
about men like me in a place like this
with boys like you.
Truth be told…
I'm scared every day walking these halls
that somebody will think
they saw something
and decide to say something
that will end my career.
I want to give more
to the students
who slip through my heart every year.
And in a way…
it hurts not to.
But it would hurt a whole lot more
if something bad would happen.
It shouldn't be that way.
I know, Shane.
So I just say,
better to be safe than sorry.
- ["You Are Bad" by Laura Reznek playing]
- But no one you knew ♪
I had riddles for days ♪
I could ask you for me ♪
Are you holy or heathen… ♪
[Cassie] When the stage lights are off
and the plush, velvet seats
of the audience are empty…
when the patrons have all gone home…
what are you then?
[gasps]
[Cassie] Can you call it dancing
if you dance in the darkness?
Alone?
If a ballerina falls hard
and nobody's there to catch her…
does she still make a sound?
[Nabil] "…bright moonlight two nights ago
and felt as if the magic was
filling the room and making everything"
[labored breathing]
Cassie.
[wheezing]
Or just in-between
'Cause you're bad, yes, you're bad ♪
But you're better than me ♪
Who am I? ♪
Who are you? ♪
Who are we to do the things
That we do? ♪
Oh, you're awfully mad
And that's easy to see ♪
You are bad, yes, you're bad
But you're better than me ♪
Who are they? ♪
Who are we to say the things
That we say? ♪
Are you holy or heathen
Or just in-between? ♪
'Cause you're bad, yes, you're bad
But you're better than me ♪
Are you holy or heathen
Or just in-between? ♪
'Cause you're bad, yes, you're bad
But you're better than me ♪
[vocalizing]