Backstage (2016) s01e13 Episode Script
Hold On
- Previously on Backstage: - What am I to do with this? You're good at lyrics, go write some.
We're all afraid of being judged.
- Where did you get that? - It's beautiful.
I feel like Vanessa's been really distracted.
Are you saying that I'm holding her back? It would be such a shame for her to fall behind just because she's being dragged down by old friends.
I can't believe you asked Carly to back off.
She's my best friend.
And if you can't handle that, then maybe I'm not the right girl for your team.
We'll be replacing you on the team, effective immediately.
You are no longer a Prima.
(birds chirping) After you, Vee! - Can I have my bag back now? - Sure! BTDubs, I cleaned your ballet slippers.
Even left them damp so they'll conform to your feet easier.
I feel like it was my fault she got kicked out of the Primas so, I'm determined to make her life as easy as possible.
You really don't have to do all this.
It's no biggie! Anything for you.
I know she feels guilty but when is this going to stop? - That's she's - In my spot.
- That's Vee's spot.
- She was late.
Taking someone else's spot at the barre is like stealing their boyfriend.
It's serious.
And I hear it's not the only spot Vanessa's lost.
First position, dancers.
I don't have all day.
That girl is going down.
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 Oh, listen to this one: "You have to stand up tall and shed that fear you wear.
" You're collecting these? "How can you be your strongest self with all the guilt you bear?" I'm not late, am I? Early morning Da Bohème rehearsal.
Nope.
We're just discussing the brilliance of the Yellow Pad Poet! These are the things people have been finding all over school! "Stretch out your arms and see how far they reach; Now your friends are your ocean and your love's your beach.
" They're so great! I may have been leaving strategically placed pearls of wisdom around the school.
But you have no idea who it is? Dude.
Collecting and promoting them? Sure you're not the poet? (chuckles) Not a chance.
Modest, I am not.
Should I say something? Tell them it's me? But whoever it is, they should come forward.
They'd be a celebrity! Alya? Is it you? Can't take credit unfortunately.
Bee? Actually, I was just about to say Bianca, a Poet? I don't think so.
- Kit, guess what this is.
- Oil on canvas.
That is my first art piece to grace the cover of a magazine! - That's awesome! - Well, I'm still waiting on a firm answer, but hello! It'll be a perfect early birthday present! You remember tomorrow's my birthday, right? He's only reminded me a hundred times! (cell ringing/vibrating) It's the magazine! Denzel Stone.
Yes? Oh.
I I understand.
They went another way.
Shake it off.
There'll be plenty more opportunities.
Not in the 16.
6 hours I have left 'til I'm 14! You actually know how many hours are left? Of course I do.
That's how long I have until I'm ordinary.
Just a regular 14 year old that hasn't accomplished anything extraordinary.
Didn't you design those awesome costumes for the mid-term showcase? Only a few.
And they can't be that good, they haven't even profiled me in the school newspaper! Well, that seems like something you can fix in 16.
6 hours! You're right! Why am I wasting my time talking to you? That's it for now.
Dismissed! (conversations) Don't worry, we'll find a way to get your spot back.
It's fine.
Just drop it, OK? - At least let me carry your - Got it.
Thanks.
I feel so bad.
I wanna do something for her.
I wish I could talk this out with Sasha.
- Hey.
- Hey! Wait, did we just talk? Are we talking again? I'd like that.
As long as- - YES! Our silence has literally been killing me.
Me too.
So, what are we going to do about getting back at Jenna? You read my mind.
I heard about Vee and the Primas Exactly.
She can't handle any more disappointment.
So, what should I do? Hide her dance uniform? Put a giant spider in her bag? Or since Jenna took something of Vee's you take something of hers.
Something that'll mess up her dancing.
Like her gels! No way she could do pointe without them.
Helsweel would freak.
It's just isn't that stealing? My mom always says: "Anything under 20$ isn't stealing.
" Or maybe it was: "Don't steal.
" Whatever.
Visual art often gets overlooked 'cause we're not doing showy dances, and playing loud music.
You know I'm a musician, right? Right, well, my point is, the art program has won countless awards.
I'm listening And we design all the costumes and sets for showcases! - I'm listening - This could be your big chance.
You could be a trendsetter.
You could be the very first editor to feature a visual artist on the cover of the school newspaper! - Sold! - Really? Fourteen's not looking so bad now.
Hey, what does Julie Maslany have Julie? No, I actually meant me.
It's the hardest breaks That knock you down I'll just say it: Those lyrics are bad.
I'll bet if your pal the poet wrote those lyrics, you'd love them.
Hm, don't flatter yourself.
See? Point proven: Everyone loves the poet and hates me.
I get it.
The poet's great.
But you'd be surprised how similar me and the poet really are.
My nasty gym shoe has more in common with the Poet than you do.
Then here's a news flash: I AM the Yellow Pad Poet! Ugh! Finally! That took way longer for you to admit than I thought.
Wait you knew? How did you know? Um I'm the one that gave you the yellow pad, remember? That makes sense.
Hm! So, Poet Bianca, can we use those lyrics for our duet already? Hey! Looks like Jenna's late.
You should take your spot back at the barre.
Has anybody seen my gels!? I swear I put them in my bag this morning.
I can't dance without them, my blisters are already bad enough! Have you tried stuffing toilet paper in your shoes? OK, where are they? I want to see technique.
I want to see the emotion.
Tell the story.
(click of button and 4 rhythmic beats) (Spanish rhythmed music) (Helsweel in a hush): Stop it! (gasps and moans) - Ladies! OFF the dance floor.
Now.
Do you think I'd be a better as a doctor or as a better vet? I'm leaning vet.
I take it the school paper - didn't work out? - Nope.
And since I'm not exceptional, I'm getting started at being normal.
Den to the Zel, you're the youngest kid here.
That is exceptional.
- Maybe for a 13-year-old.
- Dude! There's still tons of time to get recognized! That's what I told myself when I was 6, the same age as Salvador Dali was when he got discovered.
And again when I was 9 and Picasso painted his first masterpiece.
And now, in 13.
1 hours, I'm going to be 14; Older than Michelangelo when he painted his first piece that still hangs in a gallery today! I can't keep lying to myself! It's too late! So I'm giving up and becoming normal.
A normal doctor.
You know you have to be exceptional to become a doctor too, right? And this convo alone proves that you're anything but normal.
(incomprehensible bickering) ENOUGH!! I saw you shove Ms.
Cristinziano.
- She sure did! - And I saw YOU - shove Ms.
Catto.
- She sure did! Need I remind you this school has a zero tolerance policy for fighting? Since you girls insisted on wasting my time, I'll waste yours.
Dance drill detention.
Every day this week.
And Ms.
Morita, I expect better from a former Prima.
I'm sorry.
What's with the track suit? You were right.
I'm not normal.
Finally, the kid comes to his senses.
But I'm also not exceptional.
Now I have no idea who I am.
That's why I'm dressed like a peasant.
(chuckling): Oh, come on! Did you know that Van Gogh didn't start painting until he was in his twenties? - No - Or that Czanne wasn't even alive when he got recognition? Really? Even Dr.
Seuss didn't write his first book until 34! - He didn't?! - Tons of awesome people didn't get discovered until way after 14.
So you're good, OK? Thanks for trying, but I still feel like a failure.
(sigh) I can't believe I'm gonna do this.
Hey, you remember I'm DJ Diamondmind's assistant, right? He's got a new single coming out which means he needs new cover art You mean I could design DJ Diamondmind's next cover? Slow down, Sparky, there's still management, record company and PR people to weigh in.
But it's a possibility, right? I'll even put in a good word for you if you get out of those awful sweats and do up - some sample sketches.
- Deal.
Duet performances begin today.
We have Eleni and Portia and Bianca and Jax.
Your musings are gonna make sick lyrics.
No way! We can't tell anyone.
Wait, why not? What are you afraid of? You're scared that people won't like this if they know you wrote it.
Bianca, everyone loves the Poet.
Ergo everyone loves you.
That's like science.
That's not science.
This is the best I've felt since I got to Keaton.
Once they find out it's me, it'll be over.
What happened to "Standing up tall and shedding that fear that you wear"? I guess I prefer to sit.
What are you doing?! Standing up for both of us.
But we worked on that song all semester! - And now it's gone! - (Park): Ahem! What are you thinking? It's not gone; I'm not an idiot! I just needed to scare her.
If this doesn't work, I'll just pull the song out of the trash.
I know that putting yourself out there can feel like you're jumping off a cliff.
I know that.
But now, we are jumping together.
OK? OK.
Sets of ten, a hundred per leg.
Keep a strong pass! I'll be watching.
With my foot, one was hard.
One hundred is impossible.
You don't deserve this.
You should fake sick or something.
Helsweel won't let me escape.
I'm stuck getting tortured with you.
I'm so sorry, Vee.
I never meant for you to get caught up in this.
- I told you to drop it! - Ms.
Morita! No talking.
- I was just trying to help! - This has nothing to do with helping me! All the opening doors, carrying my bags, cleaning my shoes this is just you trying to feel less guilty! - That's not true.
- I'm the one who got kicked out of the Primas.
So if you're going to make my problems all about you, can you at least stop messing up my life - in the process?! - Ms.
Morita! You just bought yourself a hundred more relevs.
Aw, perfect beats for a killer spoken word piece.
Wait.
What if it's not good enough? Ugh (sigh) I am so bored of you getting in your own way.
Oh, excuse me for boring you.
I'm the one doing all the work here.
I don't see you busting out your flute.
Shh!! I told you not to tell anyone about my classical training.
Wow! Behind all that big talk and swagger you, Jackson Gardner, are the most terrified person here.
Bianca you guys are on deck.
Mm-hm! Great! Thanks, Diamondmind.
Reminder: I am DJ Diamondmind and I just left my uncle the weirdest voice-mail ever.
Did he like my sketches? Am I in?! There are conditions.
He wants it to be a portrait - Easy.
- Done in cool cubist style.
- I can do that! - 'Course, he has the last word.
- But I - Them's the breaks, kid.
I accept.
There's no way he'll say no to a Denzel original - right? - Not a chance.
I never knew you were such a Diamondmind fan.
I could probably get you a signed poster.
Um, that's OK.
To be honest, he's not exactly my taste.
But a start is a start.
Why do I even bother? Oh, look! I've still got 8.
3 hours till I'm fourteen! Denzel!! (applause) (laughing): Excellent! Up next Bianca and Jax.
But Jax isn't here.
Can we postpone? This is your exam, Ms.
Blackwell.
Worth 40% of your grade.
It's now or never.
Anytime! Sing something, Bianca! Anything! Make a sound come out of your mouth!! (flute playing) - Sorry I'm late.
- What's going on? In this life that we're living There's something you need Keep your eye On the prize but don't forget to breathe In this song that we're singing One word's out of place We say we're alone but that's not the case Never ever be ordinary, that's what they say.
How can we be extraordinary, with all this noise in the way? You have to stand up tall and shed that fear that you wear.
How can we be our strongest selves with all that guilt that we bear? Bianca's the Poet?! Hey are we good? No! We're not! forget to breathe In this song that we're singing One word's out of place (door opening) We say we're alone I'm not here to ask forgiveness.
- OK - I just want to say I'm sorry.
I thought about it and being sorry I mean truly sorry Isn't selfish.
Unlike everything else I was doing.
- You done? - Take your arms stretch 'em out and see how far they reach.
Now your friends are your ocean and your love's your beach.
When they say jump, you say yes and you do not ask why.
Don't even wait until they say jump, 'fore you ask: How high? I still forgive you.
What? No! Be mad at me! I'm mad at me! I deserved everything you said! It's not your fault I got kicked out of the Primas, OK? And I did shove Jenna.
She deserved it! Darn right.
(Chuckles) there's something we need Keep your eyes on the prize but don't forget to breathe See? I'm leaving and not even offering to help you with your shoes.
Or your bag! Uh unless you want me to Get out of here! These words you read, do they move you? Do you see yourself? It's time to put aside your judgment, put your doubt on the shelf, You want to bring down the bold, think they deserve your neglect; But the Yellow Pad Poet's not who you expect.
In this life that we're living There's something we need Keep your eyes on the prize but don't The mid-year exam's coming up.
How am I going to dance the lead when I can barely walk? one word's out of place We say we're alone But that's not the case (applause) (theme music)
We're all afraid of being judged.
- Where did you get that? - It's beautiful.
I feel like Vanessa's been really distracted.
Are you saying that I'm holding her back? It would be such a shame for her to fall behind just because she's being dragged down by old friends.
I can't believe you asked Carly to back off.
She's my best friend.
And if you can't handle that, then maybe I'm not the right girl for your team.
We'll be replacing you on the team, effective immediately.
You are no longer a Prima.
(birds chirping) After you, Vee! - Can I have my bag back now? - Sure! BTDubs, I cleaned your ballet slippers.
Even left them damp so they'll conform to your feet easier.
I feel like it was my fault she got kicked out of the Primas so, I'm determined to make her life as easy as possible.
You really don't have to do all this.
It's no biggie! Anything for you.
I know she feels guilty but when is this going to stop? - That's she's - In my spot.
- That's Vee's spot.
- She was late.
Taking someone else's spot at the barre is like stealing their boyfriend.
It's serious.
And I hear it's not the only spot Vanessa's lost.
First position, dancers.
I don't have all day.
That girl is going down.
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 Oh, listen to this one: "You have to stand up tall and shed that fear you wear.
" You're collecting these? "How can you be your strongest self with all the guilt you bear?" I'm not late, am I? Early morning Da Bohème rehearsal.
Nope.
We're just discussing the brilliance of the Yellow Pad Poet! These are the things people have been finding all over school! "Stretch out your arms and see how far they reach; Now your friends are your ocean and your love's your beach.
" They're so great! I may have been leaving strategically placed pearls of wisdom around the school.
But you have no idea who it is? Dude.
Collecting and promoting them? Sure you're not the poet? (chuckles) Not a chance.
Modest, I am not.
Should I say something? Tell them it's me? But whoever it is, they should come forward.
They'd be a celebrity! Alya? Is it you? Can't take credit unfortunately.
Bee? Actually, I was just about to say Bianca, a Poet? I don't think so.
- Kit, guess what this is.
- Oil on canvas.
That is my first art piece to grace the cover of a magazine! - That's awesome! - Well, I'm still waiting on a firm answer, but hello! It'll be a perfect early birthday present! You remember tomorrow's my birthday, right? He's only reminded me a hundred times! (cell ringing/vibrating) It's the magazine! Denzel Stone.
Yes? Oh.
I I understand.
They went another way.
Shake it off.
There'll be plenty more opportunities.
Not in the 16.
6 hours I have left 'til I'm 14! You actually know how many hours are left? Of course I do.
That's how long I have until I'm ordinary.
Just a regular 14 year old that hasn't accomplished anything extraordinary.
Didn't you design those awesome costumes for the mid-term showcase? Only a few.
And they can't be that good, they haven't even profiled me in the school newspaper! Well, that seems like something you can fix in 16.
6 hours! You're right! Why am I wasting my time talking to you? That's it for now.
Dismissed! (conversations) Don't worry, we'll find a way to get your spot back.
It's fine.
Just drop it, OK? - At least let me carry your - Got it.
Thanks.
I feel so bad.
I wanna do something for her.
I wish I could talk this out with Sasha.
- Hey.
- Hey! Wait, did we just talk? Are we talking again? I'd like that.
As long as- - YES! Our silence has literally been killing me.
Me too.
So, what are we going to do about getting back at Jenna? You read my mind.
I heard about Vee and the Primas Exactly.
She can't handle any more disappointment.
So, what should I do? Hide her dance uniform? Put a giant spider in her bag? Or since Jenna took something of Vee's you take something of hers.
Something that'll mess up her dancing.
Like her gels! No way she could do pointe without them.
Helsweel would freak.
It's just isn't that stealing? My mom always says: "Anything under 20$ isn't stealing.
" Or maybe it was: "Don't steal.
" Whatever.
Visual art often gets overlooked 'cause we're not doing showy dances, and playing loud music.
You know I'm a musician, right? Right, well, my point is, the art program has won countless awards.
I'm listening And we design all the costumes and sets for showcases! - I'm listening - This could be your big chance.
You could be a trendsetter.
You could be the very first editor to feature a visual artist on the cover of the school newspaper! - Sold! - Really? Fourteen's not looking so bad now.
Hey, what does Julie Maslany have Julie? No, I actually meant me.
It's the hardest breaks That knock you down I'll just say it: Those lyrics are bad.
I'll bet if your pal the poet wrote those lyrics, you'd love them.
Hm, don't flatter yourself.
See? Point proven: Everyone loves the poet and hates me.
I get it.
The poet's great.
But you'd be surprised how similar me and the poet really are.
My nasty gym shoe has more in common with the Poet than you do.
Then here's a news flash: I AM the Yellow Pad Poet! Ugh! Finally! That took way longer for you to admit than I thought.
Wait you knew? How did you know? Um I'm the one that gave you the yellow pad, remember? That makes sense.
Hm! So, Poet Bianca, can we use those lyrics for our duet already? Hey! Looks like Jenna's late.
You should take your spot back at the barre.
Has anybody seen my gels!? I swear I put them in my bag this morning.
I can't dance without them, my blisters are already bad enough! Have you tried stuffing toilet paper in your shoes? OK, where are they? I want to see technique.
I want to see the emotion.
Tell the story.
(click of button and 4 rhythmic beats) (Spanish rhythmed music) (Helsweel in a hush): Stop it! (gasps and moans) - Ladies! OFF the dance floor.
Now.
Do you think I'd be a better as a doctor or as a better vet? I'm leaning vet.
I take it the school paper - didn't work out? - Nope.
And since I'm not exceptional, I'm getting started at being normal.
Den to the Zel, you're the youngest kid here.
That is exceptional.
- Maybe for a 13-year-old.
- Dude! There's still tons of time to get recognized! That's what I told myself when I was 6, the same age as Salvador Dali was when he got discovered.
And again when I was 9 and Picasso painted his first masterpiece.
And now, in 13.
1 hours, I'm going to be 14; Older than Michelangelo when he painted his first piece that still hangs in a gallery today! I can't keep lying to myself! It's too late! So I'm giving up and becoming normal.
A normal doctor.
You know you have to be exceptional to become a doctor too, right? And this convo alone proves that you're anything but normal.
(incomprehensible bickering) ENOUGH!! I saw you shove Ms.
Cristinziano.
- She sure did! - And I saw YOU - shove Ms.
Catto.
- She sure did! Need I remind you this school has a zero tolerance policy for fighting? Since you girls insisted on wasting my time, I'll waste yours.
Dance drill detention.
Every day this week.
And Ms.
Morita, I expect better from a former Prima.
I'm sorry.
What's with the track suit? You were right.
I'm not normal.
Finally, the kid comes to his senses.
But I'm also not exceptional.
Now I have no idea who I am.
That's why I'm dressed like a peasant.
(chuckling): Oh, come on! Did you know that Van Gogh didn't start painting until he was in his twenties? - No - Or that Czanne wasn't even alive when he got recognition? Really? Even Dr.
Seuss didn't write his first book until 34! - He didn't?! - Tons of awesome people didn't get discovered until way after 14.
So you're good, OK? Thanks for trying, but I still feel like a failure.
(sigh) I can't believe I'm gonna do this.
Hey, you remember I'm DJ Diamondmind's assistant, right? He's got a new single coming out which means he needs new cover art You mean I could design DJ Diamondmind's next cover? Slow down, Sparky, there's still management, record company and PR people to weigh in.
But it's a possibility, right? I'll even put in a good word for you if you get out of those awful sweats and do up - some sample sketches.
- Deal.
Duet performances begin today.
We have Eleni and Portia and Bianca and Jax.
Your musings are gonna make sick lyrics.
No way! We can't tell anyone.
Wait, why not? What are you afraid of? You're scared that people won't like this if they know you wrote it.
Bianca, everyone loves the Poet.
Ergo everyone loves you.
That's like science.
That's not science.
This is the best I've felt since I got to Keaton.
Once they find out it's me, it'll be over.
What happened to "Standing up tall and shedding that fear that you wear"? I guess I prefer to sit.
What are you doing?! Standing up for both of us.
But we worked on that song all semester! - And now it's gone! - (Park): Ahem! What are you thinking? It's not gone; I'm not an idiot! I just needed to scare her.
If this doesn't work, I'll just pull the song out of the trash.
I know that putting yourself out there can feel like you're jumping off a cliff.
I know that.
But now, we are jumping together.
OK? OK.
Sets of ten, a hundred per leg.
Keep a strong pass! I'll be watching.
With my foot, one was hard.
One hundred is impossible.
You don't deserve this.
You should fake sick or something.
Helsweel won't let me escape.
I'm stuck getting tortured with you.
I'm so sorry, Vee.
I never meant for you to get caught up in this.
- I told you to drop it! - Ms.
Morita! No talking.
- I was just trying to help! - This has nothing to do with helping me! All the opening doors, carrying my bags, cleaning my shoes this is just you trying to feel less guilty! - That's not true.
- I'm the one who got kicked out of the Primas.
So if you're going to make my problems all about you, can you at least stop messing up my life - in the process?! - Ms.
Morita! You just bought yourself a hundred more relevs.
Aw, perfect beats for a killer spoken word piece.
Wait.
What if it's not good enough? Ugh (sigh) I am so bored of you getting in your own way.
Oh, excuse me for boring you.
I'm the one doing all the work here.
I don't see you busting out your flute.
Shh!! I told you not to tell anyone about my classical training.
Wow! Behind all that big talk and swagger you, Jackson Gardner, are the most terrified person here.
Bianca you guys are on deck.
Mm-hm! Great! Thanks, Diamondmind.
Reminder: I am DJ Diamondmind and I just left my uncle the weirdest voice-mail ever.
Did he like my sketches? Am I in?! There are conditions.
He wants it to be a portrait - Easy.
- Done in cool cubist style.
- I can do that! - 'Course, he has the last word.
- But I - Them's the breaks, kid.
I accept.
There's no way he'll say no to a Denzel original - right? - Not a chance.
I never knew you were such a Diamondmind fan.
I could probably get you a signed poster.
Um, that's OK.
To be honest, he's not exactly my taste.
But a start is a start.
Why do I even bother? Oh, look! I've still got 8.
3 hours till I'm fourteen! Denzel!! (applause) (laughing): Excellent! Up next Bianca and Jax.
But Jax isn't here.
Can we postpone? This is your exam, Ms.
Blackwell.
Worth 40% of your grade.
It's now or never.
Anytime! Sing something, Bianca! Anything! Make a sound come out of your mouth!! (flute playing) - Sorry I'm late.
- What's going on? In this life that we're living There's something you need Keep your eye On the prize but don't forget to breathe In this song that we're singing One word's out of place We say we're alone but that's not the case Never ever be ordinary, that's what they say.
How can we be extraordinary, with all this noise in the way? You have to stand up tall and shed that fear that you wear.
How can we be our strongest selves with all that guilt that we bear? Bianca's the Poet?! Hey are we good? No! We're not! forget to breathe In this song that we're singing One word's out of place (door opening) We say we're alone I'm not here to ask forgiveness.
- OK - I just want to say I'm sorry.
I thought about it and being sorry I mean truly sorry Isn't selfish.
Unlike everything else I was doing.
- You done? - Take your arms stretch 'em out and see how far they reach.
Now your friends are your ocean and your love's your beach.
When they say jump, you say yes and you do not ask why.
Don't even wait until they say jump, 'fore you ask: How high? I still forgive you.
What? No! Be mad at me! I'm mad at me! I deserved everything you said! It's not your fault I got kicked out of the Primas, OK? And I did shove Jenna.
She deserved it! Darn right.
(Chuckles) there's something we need Keep your eyes on the prize but don't forget to breathe See? I'm leaving and not even offering to help you with your shoes.
Or your bag! Uh unless you want me to Get out of here! These words you read, do they move you? Do you see yourself? It's time to put aside your judgment, put your doubt on the shelf, You want to bring down the bold, think they deserve your neglect; But the Yellow Pad Poet's not who you expect.
In this life that we're living There's something we need Keep your eyes on the prize but don't The mid-year exam's coming up.
How am I going to dance the lead when I can barely walk? one word's out of place We say we're alone But that's not the case (applause) (theme music)