Backstage (2016) s01e11 Episode Script

- Previously on Backstage.
- If people know I take piano, flute and trombone lessons ever day, what would they think? - I'm sure the ideas will come.
How hard can this be? - You know, insulting me is not gonna make you less scared.
- Scared? Who's scared? - May I introduce one of Keaton's most famous alumni: Maria Schiller.
- What a major disappointment Maria turned out to be.
I still don't get what the big deal is, you know.
- I promise not to disappoint.
- (girl): Did you tell the principal? Or my parents? This is not a joke, Scarlett.
I need to know who you talked to.
- I'm not giving it back until you tell me what's going on! - My parents don't know I go to Keaton.
(electronic music) (indistinct chatter) (rock music) - My baby's gotta let it go - See you at Student Council.
- Like, you can never know My baby's gotta let go (emotional slow-tempo music) - A distant memory Oh, love's coming - Sorry.
My bad.
Can we take it from the ground? - One more time.
From the top.
A distant memory Oh, love's coming (The music stops.
) - I know.
I messed up the tour - It's not that.
We're gonna take a break from Step Sister, switch things up a bit.
- A break?! We cannot afford a break right now! (hip-hop song playing) - (girl): What is that? (girl laughing) - Um, Ms.
Maria? Is this part of our mid-term dance? - Trust me.
This will be good for you.
All of you.
- What is she trying to do to me? - Shake it What time is it - I hate to brag, but this one, it's a masterpiece.
Even you will appreciate it.
- What?! I appreciate art.
I like photos on Instagram all the time.
- Yeah.
Of yourself.
(indistinct chatter) - It's - I told you.
- It looks like a classroom threw up in here.
I mean that in the best way possible.
- It's an inside-out classroom.
It represents the out-of-the-box education we receive here at Keaton.
- I don't know what's happening to me.
I think I might cry, or laugh or maybe both.
- (laughing): That's the point.
- You know you're totally getting an award for this.
- (man): Julie Maslany.
My office.
Now.
- Or maybe the opposite.
- 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 whoa oh We just need a spark oh oh To light up the dark oh oh I can feel you with me I can feel you with me We just need a spark oh oh To light up the dark oh oh I can feel you with me I can feel you with me - We just need a spark (up-tempo dance beat) (up-tempo dance beat playing) - Are you trying to give me a heart attack? - What's that? - It's too fast! - Are you kidding? Gotta give the kids something to bounce to.
- Slow it down, Jackson.
(The music stops.
) (Jackson sighs.
) (keyboard typing) (slower dance beat playing) - What do you think? Chill, right? - Are you trying to put me to sleep? It's too slow! - Hahaha! Too fast.
Too slow.
Fine, Goldilocks.
Why don't you go ahead and make it just right.
- (boy): Hey, they're up! The marks are up! (indistinct chatter) (indistinct chatter) - Excuse me.
Hohoho! Solid! - Oh, same! - Hahaha! That assignment was e to the z.
Someone scored, like, a 64.
That's like 10% below class average.
- Sucks to be that person.
- Haha! Yeah.
- I'm sure you'll do better next time.
- 95% where did I go wrong? - 64%? At this school, that's basically an F.
(indistinct chatter) - Hey.
Goldilocks, naptime over.
(hip-hop song playing) - Nice work, people! Vanessa, come on, make it look easy in the eyes! - I know what this is about.
Maria couldn't hack it at the National Ballet, so now she's taking it out on students who she knows are better than her.
Students like me.
Well, you know what they say.
Those who can't do, teach.
- Come on, Vanessa, you can loosen up a bit more.
Come on! Yeah! Right to the spine, Vanessa.
Come on! - Do it to me Do it and dance - I'm sorry.
Can you repeat that? I don't think I heard you correctly.
- Keaton has a zero tolerance policy for vandalism of school property.
- Sure, I'm aware, but this is not vandalism; This is art.
- Those chairs, you used them, school property, and without permission.
- Ha! They were collecting dust in a supply closet; I gave them a purpose.
- So then we agree that you broke the rules.
- Those chairs represent freedom from the oppressive chains of the traditional classroom.
It's an ode to this school, sir.
An ode to the untraditional? - As much as I appreciate your idealism, Ms.
Maslany, it doesn't change the facts.
- The facts are that I've taken something ordinary and made it extraordinary.
- That's art.
- Unfortunately, that's vandalism.
- You're the principal of an arts school; Can't you see the irony here? - I don't appreciate your tone.
Now, you dismantle that piece immediately or I'm gonna have to get your parents involved.
- Isn't this new choreo so fun! - So fun.
- OK I know that look.
- This is amateur hour.
We're wasting our time wiggling our jazz fingers when we should be working on our mid-term.
- It's just one practice.
- No.
It's not.
Did you see me this morning? I was a hot mess.
I'm pretty sure Maria has it out for me.
- I think you're overthinking this.
- I'm telling you, she hates me.
- Take it from someone who's tried, it is 100% impossible to hate you.
(door opening) - Listen up, everyone.
To really get into the character of this dance, we're going to work these into the choreo.
(kids laughing) - Here.
And remember this is fun, OK? We can be playful.
Forget about Step Sister for a few minutes.
You're gonna love this.
Vanessa, switch spots with Jenna.
- It's official: Maria hates me.
(Sigh) - I can't let him get away with this.
- Who does he think he is? - I'll go to the school board, the mayor! The media if I have to.
I won't stop until that man is out of a job.
- Yes, to all of those things, except what about the whole parents-don't-know- you-go-to-art-school thing? - Ugh! Right.
That thing.
I have to do something.
I can't just sit back and let administration turn the student body into a bunch of mindless zombie conformists.
Ha! That's it! We need zombies! Hmm! - You know zombies aren't real, right, Jules? (mid-tempo dance music playing) - Well? - If you're happy, I'm happy.
(He stops the music.
) - I don't know.
I'm kinda worried it sounds like everything else on the radio.
- Then change it.
(video-game beeping) - OK.
Any ideas or? I'm thinking of adding dogs barking.
Or maybe nails on a chalkboard.
Yeah, that's fresh.
- If you say so.
Hey! - I'm not doing this for fun! This is a partnership worth 40% of our mark.
You need to contribute.
- What's the point? I have nothing to offer.
Trust me, you're better off on your own.
(Jackson sighs.
) - I never thought I'd say this, but I miss the annoying Bianca.
- What are you doing? - You need to go for a walk, get some fresh air, whatever it takes to find the old, super-annoying Bianca.
At least she had opinions.
- What am I supposed to do with this? - You're good at lyrics; Go write some.
- But - Don't come back until you've got something to contribute.
(military drumm playing) - Keaton's students will not be silenced.
We will not back down.
We will not settle.
We will not conform.
- We will not - Shut it down! - Now.
- Principal Durani, with all due respect, the student body has spoken.
We refuse to let administration dictate how we can and cannot express ourselves.
- Everyone, stop! Back to your classes.
You left me no choice.
We're gonna have a long talk with your parents.
Come on, let's go.
(guitar music) (man oohing melodically) - The sky The sky is blue? Why is this so difficult?! The best songs are the ones that make you feel something.
So what am I feeling right now? Feelings I feel I feel like Jax is a buffoon! (indistinct chatter) Never be ordinary.
(mouthing words) (upbeat hip-hop song playing) - Vanessa, more attitude! I want to see fierce! Vanessa imagine that you have a secret.
You switched the salt with the sugar, and you're the only one who knows.
- Salt, what? - Hey, Vanessa, imagine that Harry Stiles is in the audience.
Vanessa, never mind, Harry.
Imagine that you are alone in a dark room.
Imagine that no one is watching.
- Maria, imagine I quit! (The music stops.
) - Alright, everyone, grab a drink.
- I'm working my butt off, and nothing I do is good enough for you.
- You need to loosen up.
You're taking this too seriously.
- Too seriously?! I can't NOT take this seriously! Ballet is my life.
Eat, sleep, dance, repeat.
- I understand, Vanessa.
We're not so different, you and I.
- Yeah.
Right.
Don't you mean Carly? - Carly? - You want her to be Cinderella.
I heard you say so.
- Is that what you think? - It's true, isn't it? You've been picking on me all day.
You put me in the back line! - To give you a break.
Everything we've done today has been for you.
To get you out of your head.
Dancing the lead in any role comes with a ton of pressure, and I can see it on your face.
Your technique is next to flawless, but no one wants to watch a dancer who's not having fun.
- I'm definitely not having fun.
- Think about why you first started dancing.
Remember that feeling? Forget everything else.
(Vanessa sighs.
) - Hey, Jax! (muffled techno music playing) Jax? JAX! - Ha! Hey, Goldi.
What's up? - I'm going take a fail on the assignment.
I'll talk to Park and make sure it doesn't reflect on you.
- Wait, but you'll fail your semester.
You could get kicked out.
- So you know I'm the loser who scored 64%.
- I kind of put two and two together.
- Doesn't matter, I can't do it.
- Not if you think you can't.
That's what my flute teacher used to say, "If you think you can't, then you can't.
" - Flute? - I've never really told anyone, but, um I'm classically trained in seven different instruments.
- And this is helping how? - We're all afraid of being judged.
Every single person at this school.
- You're afraid of being judged for being too talented.
I'm afraid of being judged for being ordinary.
Painfully, excruciatingly ordinary.
(Jax laughing) Go ahead, laugh.
My pain is hilarious.
- Ordinary? You're Bianca Blackwell.
You've starred in how many TV Shows? - That's different.
That's lighting and make-up and editing.
But here, it's only me.
And me isn't good enough.
- One bad mark is not a reason to pack it up.
I thought you were stronger than that.
- I've made up my mind.
- Fine.
Your funeral, Goldi.
- Stop calling me that! My hair is brown! (phone ringing) - Like I said, my parents are very busy people.
- I will just keep calling until I get someone.
- You're wasting your time.
Linda and Gary are ardent supporters of the arts; When they find out about today, they'll go to the school board.
You could lose your job.
- I've got a stack of paperwork here, and my PVR set to record Castle, so I could do this all night.
- Hmm, great! Me too.
- And, Ms.
Maslany, I don't take kindly to threats.
(man oohing melodically) (indistinct chatter) - Where did you get that? - I was having the worst day, like lost-your-favourite-skinny-tie, stepped-in-dog-poo kind of day, but then I found this.
It's beautiful.
- "Never be ordinary.
"That's what they say.
"But how can you be extraordinary with so much noise "in the way.
Shut down the voices.
"Turn off the lights.
Underneath everything, it's my soul that shines bright.
" It is kind of - beautiful.
- Beautiful.
Hey! (indistinct chatter) - Ladies and gentlemen, we have a very special treat for you.
- I was, I don't know, 4.
Maybe 5.
And there's pictures of me and Carly in these neon orange bodysuits.
I'm talking pylon orange.
And we're smiling like dorks.
Anyways, I don't remember the song or the steps, but dancing that routine, on stage, it was the most fun I'd ever had.
And there's nothing else like it in the world.
(hip-hop song playing) - Get up Yeah yeah get up Yeah yeah yeah get up Yeah yeah, that's right Nice beat, Joe - Oh Oh Oh! - Shake it, what time is it We need a beat Do it, do it and dance Uh-huh Get on up and huh Huh Get up - Hi, everyone I'm your best friend Back in town again to get you on your dancing beat (people cheering) - Get up - Is there something you aren't telling me, Ms.
Maslany? Because, you know, I've seen busy parents before, but this is a little unusual.
Now, I'm starting to think that your parents don't actually exist.
- The thing is, sir (fire alarm blaring) What? Don't look at me! I've been locked in here with you! You know, my parents would be seriously unimpressed if I perish in a fire.
But you're right, it's probably just a false alarm.
- Go! But this isn't over! I will be speaking to your parents! - I'll make sure of it myself.
- What is going on in this building? (alarm blaring) - That man is determined to destroy my life.
What am I going to do? Today I got lucky, but next time - Girl, luck had nothing to do with it.
- Wait.
You pulled the fire alarm? I could kiss you! - Please don't.
- I've never been that close to getting caught before.
- But you didn't.
- It's only a matter of time before Durani figures it out.
- Not necessarily.
There are hundreds of kids at this school.
- I can't pull stunts like that anymore.
I have to lay low.
- No paper-bag walkouts? No dumpster diving? No floaty furniture? - The worst part about it is, after all of that, he got exactly what he wanted.
(rock music) - My baby's gotta let go Like, you can never know My baby's gotta let go Like, you can never know My baby's gotta let go