Backstage (2016) s01e19 Episode Script

Previously (shriek) I can't work through not being able to dance.
Don't worry, I'm just going to do the arms and the battements on my good foot.
Not in my class, you're not.
Have a seat and take notes.
My parents gave me a laundry list of conditions.
Ace my PSATs, no trouble with Durani, 90% in all of my classes including algebra, which I now take.
Fade away And I was never the same I think we've found our young Mimi.
Da Bohème called, and they're going on the road.
- What? - And I'm going with.
Goodbye, Miles.
- So I was thinking we should add some flanger to the song we recorded.
- Tsk.
- Flanger's the new reverb, man.
What's happening? Please let this be Diplo coming to be a guest instructor! I bet you he likes flanger.
Is that? She's back? She's back! What's she doing here? Who cares, man? Your crush is back! Since when do you say "crush"? Go! (door closing) - Hey.
- Hey.
Miles can tell himself whatever he wants, but there is definite sparkage in those hey's.
Nice limo! I'm so embarrassed.
It's all the production would give me.
So, how's the tour? Are any of the theatres haunted? Oh, what's Holden Christianson really like? I've never seen someone do so many push-ups.
Or take so many selfies.
He has this seven-step skin care regimen where he puts pickle juice into two bowls with lemon juice 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 (PA): Matthew Irving to Mr.
Durani's office, Matthew Irving to Mr.
Durani's office.
It's been three weeks, four days, six hours and ten minutes of sitting on the sidelines, taking notes and not dancing.
(sigh) (clattering) Sasha Roy to the rescue! Um what order do these go in? It doesn't matter.
It doesn't! It's just annoying dance notes on the same annoying steps again and again! Your ankle will be better soon.
Easy for you to say.
I'm not sure I can take any more of "coup", chass, pas de bourre, pirouette" (Carly): And down.
Coup, chass, pas de bourre, pirouette and down.
Get on your legs, guys! We need to be focused for the scout coming today.
Oh, right.
A scout is coming.
And he won't even see me.
- Where are you going? - Anywhere but here.
(music stops) Um, shouldn't you be studying? The PSATs are today.
PSATs, or as some like to call it: P-S-A-Ts.
It stands for Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test.
Just on a dance break.
With all my parents' conditions and the stresses of the PSATs, dancing is the only thing keeping me sane.
Plus, scientists have found dancing increases neuro-plasticity, which helps with problem-solving and logic problems, common in the PSATs.
OK, show me something.
- Is this Cassandra? - No I don't know who this is.
(music stops) (clapping) Can I help you? Your dancing is spectacular! I am Francesco Gilles.
And you are? Julie Maslany, but I really have to get back to work.
Oh, but not before I see some more.
Thanks for the compliments, but no.
I really have to study.
What do you mean no? It'll only take a moment.
A moment I don't have.
Sorry.
Nice to meet you! The whole audience just stared at her.
I mean, everything stopped.
And then she finally answered her phone and goes, "Can I call you back?" And everyone screamed, "NO!" It was pretty amazing.
They're OTP.
Calling it now.
I know.
I've become Sappy Sapperton.
But give me a break.
I just had my heart broken, OK?! Um, well, I'm gonna let you two catch up.
(door closing) It's really nice to see you.
- What? - It's just you never returned any of my messages.
No calls, no texts.
Not even a smoke signal.
That's what I wanted to talk about.
The tour has been amazing.
Great cast.
The audiences have been really supportive Except for that rude phone-call lady.
But it's also super busy.
New cities all the time, eight shows a week.
Between tutoring and rehearsals in the day, and then director notes at night, I barely have time to sleep I get it.
I'm just glad you're back.
Um I'm not back-back.
I'm just back for today, to say proper goodbyes.
Goodbyes? I'm heading to London next week.
We're opening Da Bohème in the West End.
Mm You're supposed to be in class right now, Ms.
Morita.
- My class.
- Uh I actually have permission.
From Principal Durani.
OK, I'll go confirm with him then.
- I meant a note from my parents.
- Great.
Let's see the note? Would you believe my cat ate it? You know when I got hurt, it was one of the darkest times of my life.
I felt like my body had let me down when I needed it the most.
It was like part of me had died.
I can't keep watching other people dance all the time.
It's killing me.
You can learn so much just from watching.
I've seen dancers come back better than they were before.
One problem: That "coming back" part feels like it's EONS away.
- Vanessa - I've tried being patient, but dancing is my whole life! I don't know who I am without it! Now this scout is here, and it just feels like everyone else is getting these huge opportunities and I'm just taking notes.
I remember those feelings.
That fear.
How did you get through it? I blogged about my injury.
And then eventually transitioned into teaching.
- You think I should blog? - No I'm just saying you need to find an outlet.
Something that will satisfy your artistic spirit before you get back on the dance floor.
But dance is my thing.
My only thing.
Vanessa, I'm really sorry.
I shouldn't have let you dance in the showcase.
It's not your fault.
I would have found a way, no matter what.
Vanessa, I know it's hard right now, but remember, this is temporary.
You're going to heal.
And I was serious about finding an outlet, though.
And you'll have lots of time to think about one in detention.
(whispering): Yes! I wish you would have said that when I asked you to dance today.
I'm still flattered, but I really am very busy.
You're too busy to dance for a scout from Juilliard? Juilliard? Like, Juilliard New York City Juilliard?! Yes, the one.
I'm in the visual arts stream.
I'm not-But you are.
a If you show my fellow scouts what I saw in you today, that could mean entrance into our summer program.
We pick scholarship candidates from the summer program.
Scholarships? Wow.
Um, then I'll dance for you anytime! - Great! Today at 3:00? - Anytime that isn't today? My PSATs exam is at 3:00.
Me and my people are only here today.
You can't squeeze us in? There's just no way.
I'm sorry.
I get that Ms.
Maria is trying to help me.
But I just can't see what could possibly replace dancing.
(distant music) (hip hop music plays) Bow gracefully Who's facing me? Watch me work it Watch me get it, watch me work it Come on, come on Tell me who wanna test Get it in till there ain't nothing left Yes, watch me get it Watch me work it Watch me get it Watch me work it (music fades) Tonight.
You and me.
Jam session.
I'm guessing your reunion with Alya didn't go so well? (sigh) - Who cares? - Obviously you do.
- No, I don't.
Even if I did, it doesn't matter.
She's going to Europe.
Europe?! Dude, then you really need to talk to her.
You need to tell her how you feel.
It's not going to happen.
You do not want Alya leaving, possibly forever, without knowing how you feel.
Trust me.
Sasha! Your hair is looking good today.
Are those new glasses? My hair's always on point, and these glasses are old as dirt.
Want something, do we? I know when I'm getting buttered up.
I saw these weird hip-hop dancers in the quad during my detention.
But then they randomly disappeared.
It was probably the Streets.
The "Streets"? They gave themselves that name? It may have been coined on a certain gossip blog.
Point is, they're just a bunch of randoms.
Not real dancers.
They seemed pretty good.
Meh.
They think they're so mysterious.
But they're just basic drama kids who dance in the parking lot after school.
Trust me.
The Streets aren't worth your time.
(distant piano music) (indistinct chatter) Great work, you're on the short list for entry into our summer program.
I'm surprised you're not in that line.
I know Juilliard's a huge opportunity, but school is already so hard.
Keeping grades up, art projects, extracurrics.
I can't handle another ball in the air.
I made a promise to my parents.
I can't get distracted by flights of fancy.
Is this funny? Because it doesn't feel funny.
It feels overwhelming and chaotic and And messy.
I get it.
I was just remembering how at university, some students were so ridiculous how stressed out they would get, they would pay other students to write their essays for them.
- Did you? - No! Of course not.
This isn't exactly helping.
Look, I know you have responsibilities, but Juilliard is not a "flight of fancy.
" What's in that room is a once in a lifetime opportunity.
What are we doing? This.
(click) Is that our song? With all the showcase drama, we never recorded a copy.
I want to make sure you don't forget me This.
Even if you're halfway around the world.
Do you remember the lyrics? Years of running Couldn't stop Too afraid to sleep Mind stays busy I stay alone Look but never leap And then you Taught me And then you Dig deep and don't be afraid Dig deep - Just tell her! And live Every day Alya, I I'm sorry.
I have to go.
(music stops) What do you want, staring girl? - You guys are awesome.
- Thanks.
Any chance you're looking for new members? We're a club for non-dancers.
We're about giving others a chance.
Technically, I'm a non-dancer right now.
And when you get better? What if I could help you? (murmuring) You guys are great dancers, but have you ever memorized each other's moves? All done the same thing at the same time, instead of just freestyling? Like choreography? We're not ballerinas.
(laughing) That's obvious.
- (group): Ooh - I'm just saying, don't you want to be better? Even small moves can look amazing when done in a group.
OK, Ms.
Ideas.
Show us.
Throw down.
Pass.
Wait.
Super clean with a cold right step I'm on the top I'm on the top I see you doing two, baby I just got one step The room's burning hot and I only got one breath Left to redeem your soul Get you in control Your eyes hypnotize - Show me that last move again? - I love the concept Why only one step Towards a beautiful creature is all that's on my mind I go back in time and see you again and again DJ, press rewind, rewind Getting down but the house still jumping Super clean with that cold right step I'm on the top - Vee! - I'm on the top tonight - A word?! (various): Oh (boy): See you later, ballerina! I've been looking everywhere.
- What's wrong? - Please don't.
It's just, I'll never be able to leave if I let you do that.
I thought the tour was going great.
He deserves the truth.
Actually, I'm miserable on tour.
The cast is great, but they're all 10 years older than me.
And every night they all go hang out and I go back to a hotel alone.
I miss this place so much.
That's why I didn't return your messages.
I deleted every voice-mail - without even listening.
- Why? I knew if I heard your voice, I'd come running straight back to Keaton.
If you're miserable, why don't you just stay? I I can't.
I've been given this huge opportunity.
A once-in-a-lifetime chance.
Who am I as a singer, or as an artist, if I just throw all that away? Leaving a bad experience doesn't make you a bad person.
You're super talented.
You'll have other opportunities.
You're amazing.
You gotta believe that.
So throw away the guilt and the worry and do what YOU want.
I want to tell her.
But right now, it's not about me.
So what's it gonna be, Alya Kendrick? Are you staying or are you leaving? I realized after our convo I led you straight to them.
What were you thinking? I was just showing them some moves.
No big deal.
You were dancing.
On your broken foot! I saw you! Vee, you could hurt yourself even more.
I know that! Better than anyone.
But Ms.
Maria told me to find an outlet.
You're mincing her words.
There's no way she meant that the thing to get your mind off dancing was dancing.
Should we go ask her? No! You can't tell her about this! To protect you, I will.
You know I will.
I swear I'll be safe, but I need this.
Today is the first time since Step, Sister that I've actually felt like myself again.
Do you know what that's like? Please, Sasha.
Promise you won't tell Maria? Fine.
I promise.
But only if you promise to stick to choreo.
- No more dancing! - Deal.
Don't make me regret this.
(cell beeping) I'm in! And I'll totally be careful.
Sasha has nothing to worry about.
You guarantee at least 90%, right? We were going on We were going on, yeah We were going on We were going on, yeah We were going on We were going on, yeah