Backstage (2016) s01e22 Episode Script

- Previously - Too busy to dance for a scout from Juilliard? - I'll dance for you anytime.
- Today at 3:00? They'd pay other students to write their essays for them.
- You guarantee at least 90%, right? - I'll see you later for pierogi night.
Why put yourself through that misery if you don't have to? - She's my sister; we're both adopted.
- Sorry, Vanessa, I'm not gonna make the same mistake twice.
I'm going to have to talk to Principal Durani about shutting down your dance group.
- I'm not dancing, just choreographing.
- Nice work! I'm really, really impressed with the progress we've made on this, but I'd like one of you to help me.
I'd like one of you to choreograph a trio while I continue working with the larger group.
- I've been working really hard to impress Ms.
Maria.
I know she sees my potential.
- A choreographer's responsibility is to author the dance.
They must have a vision, and communicate that vision to their dancers.
- And the dancer best suited for this task is Vanessa.
And the trio dancing for Vanessa will be Sasha, Jenna, and Carly.
- 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 - I feel great, Denzel! With the PSATs behind me, I can focus entirely on this installation.
And Juilliard! - And your other classes, student council-- - The point is, no PSATs! - Julie Maslany.
- Yes, sir? - I need to talk to you about your PSATs.
My office, 10 minutes.
- You rocked your PSATs, right? - I got great scores.
- Then what's the problem? What is it? - I can't.
I just - What? - Okay, I'm going to trust you with something.
- Trustworthy's my middle name.
Well, actually it's Roland, but I just trusted you with that so - Denzel.
Roland.
Stone.
- I had the Juilliard audition at the same time, so I paid someone else to write the PSATs for me.
- I know, I messed up, but-- - Yeah.
You really did.
- It's just a test.
- It's not just a test, Julie.
It's cheating.
- I didn't have a choice.
If I didn't write the PSATs, I would've disappointed my parents and if I didn't audition, I'd disappoint myself.
- So instead, you decided to disappoint everyone? - I'll read you a story I'll leave the lights on I know you're afraid that someday I'll be gone I can't hold you tighter And I can't keep you young But I'm always with you like the flesh in your lungs Walking beside you When you feel alone I'm your fiercest protector I'm the shortest way home And if you run to me my son, my love Family beside above Are the memories we made They they hold me up They hold me up They hold me up (applause and soft cheering) - Thanks, man, that was great.
Hey everyone, I am Ryland Marcus.
- Oh we know.
Ryland Marcus! Super famous, super gorgeous! And who needs Denzel's video when I can look at a face like that? - Over the next couple weeks I'll get to know you guys as I spend a little time at Keaton between legs of my tour.
That song was called You and Me.
and it's from my upcoming album.
- You got me! I did not know that.
- Good 'cause there's nothing worse than a predictable artist.
I wrote that song about my family.
- So, are you going to teach us how to sing killer R&B vocals? - I'll be working with you guys one-on-one, but the genre is up to you.
I want you to write a song that connects to your roots.
For an artist to achieve authenticity, they need to figure out where they came from, who they are, and who they want to be.
Alright? - Um, I'm adopted.
So, my musical roots are unknown.
But I'll figure this out.
It's for Ryland Marcus.
- Alright, come on up and sign in for a time slot.
- Sasha, come out of that spin and extend your arms before you and Jenna execute the lift.
- Where do you want me? - One second.
Before you go into the lift, can you make your entrance less flowery and more grounded? - Like this? - Not quite.
Try tucking your tail under, then spring into the lift from your other foot.
- Maybe if you could demonstrate for us, we'd be able to understand.
- I obviously can't.
- Then I'm not sure how you're going to communicate what you want.
And that's pretty necessary if you wanna be our choreographer.
- Ms.
Maria did stress communication.
- Maybe I could communicate some steps we could try.
- I think I understand what Vee wants.
- Ooh! That's definitely better.
Let me try.
I love it.
What's next, Vee? - First positions Carly, come over here.
Could you curl up in a ball? Kind of like a rock.
- So what, I'm a rock? Rock is my first position? - Uh, Jenna, sit here.
Sasha.
Five, six, seven, eight! (knocking) - Sit.
- The SAT body contacted Keaton about the situation.
- Sir, I can explain-- - Congratulations! Incredible results.
- Thanks.
- 1537 on the Reading and Written, I knew you were talented, but 716 on the Math - I studied pretty hard, I guess - These are the highest scores in Keaton history.
- Oh! - I wanna take your picture and an accompanying story about hard work, and your dedication and put it on the Keaton website.
- Sir, I appreciate that, but-- - Oh, oh no, I will not accept no for an answer.
Everyone needs to know about your achievements.
- Where were you? - When? - When you were supposed to be in the recording booth.
You owe me a vocal sample for the album.
- Sorry, I got distracted.
- Yeah, I heard Ryland Marcus is teaching your musicality class.
- Do you ever wonder about our musical roots? - You mean like Dad's entirely black wardrobe because he loves Johnny Cash? - Do you ever wonder if your musicality comes from your birth parents? - No, I don't.
- Why not? - Because our musicality comes from piano and vocal lessons that Mom and Dad paid for.
- Right but-- - And the fact that they played their music constantly-- - But-- - And the way they support our career choices no matter what, even if it means wearing a diamond-covered helmet and DJ'ing night clubs.
- So you don't ever think about what our real families passed on to us? - Mom and Dad are our real family.
I'm your real family! And I could really use my sister in the booth.
- (applauding): You'll nail the pench soon enough.
Your technique is incredible, Carly.
As good as mine at your age.
- Vanessa's choreo agrees with you.
- Those weren't Vanessa's steps.
They were mine.
- Why aren't you practicing Vanessa's steps? - There's nothing to practice, she made me a rock.
As in an object that doesn't move or dance.
- You know what else a rock doesn't do? Complain.
- I'm working so hard.
Why didn't you choose me to choreograph the trio? - You're a special dancer and I have great hopes for you, but right now, Vanessa is better suited for choreography.
Do you know why? - Because she's injured? - Because communication is a two-way street.
Listen to your choreographer, Carly.
Be the rock.
Trust that she knows what she's doing.
- Something Johnny Cash-inspired, huh? Alright, let's hear it! - Where did she come from? Where is she going She just keeps walking-- - Uh, lemme stop you there.
- Try it again.
But you're in your head.
Let the song come from your gut.
- Where did she come from? Where is she going - Can I stop you again? - (sighing): Sure.
- Who connects you to Johnny Cash? - My dad used to play his CDs when I was younger.
- Good.
Close your eyes.
- The place where your dad played those CDs - where was it? - My living room, mostly.
- Describe it.
- Brown carpet.
Spots from where Kit and I spilled soda.
Stereo across from the couch.
More spots on that.
- And what do you hear? - The skip of the CD.
I take it out, blow off the dust and put it back into the player.
- Good Press play.
- Where did she come from? Where is she going? She just keeps walking Without really knowing Where did-- Sorry, can we - I don't know, Scarlett.
There's just something that sounds inauthentic.
- Inauthentic? Maybe I'm not the problem, maybe it's the assignment.
Who cares where I'm from? it's where I am now that matters! (school bell ringing) - (sighing): I'm sorry I let you down.
If it's any consolation I feel terrible.
I don't know why I put myself in these situations.
- What happened with Durani? Are you expelled? - Worse.
He's gonna put my picture up on the school website for having the highest PSAT score in Keaton history.
I can't lie anymore.
I have to tell him what I did.
- If you tell, you get pulled out of Keaton.
Your parents will end your art career and I'll lose youagain.
- Vanessa listen, I know we're not on the best terms right now, but I'll listen to what you want in class.
Even if it means I'm a rock.
(little laugh) What? - You really think I'd make you sit on the floor for the entire routine? You're not a rock, Carly, you're a dragon egg.
- I'm an egg? - No! You're a dragon.
I have a soaring finale planned for you, pench and all.
- Pench? She knows I've been struggling with my pench.
It's like she wants me to fail.
- I know they're tough for you.
Me too, until I found my new training technique It's one of the only things I can practice while I'm injured.
- That wasreally good.
- The crutch forces your posture straighter, squares your shoulders and keeps your hands off the ground.
You should try it.
- A soaring finale, helping with my pench Why are you being so nice to me? - We may not be friends right now, but you're still the best dancer in this class.
And the truth is I need this to be good.
- Not being able to dance must be terrible.
- The worst.
It's like not being able to breathe.
But choreography is the one thing I can do right now.
And I might actually be good at it.
So will you be my dragon? - Scarlett? - Ugh, won't anyone let me eat today? - Sure.
But gimme one of those.
If you tell me what's wrong, maybe I'll be too distracted to keep eating your chips.
- Nothing's wrong.
- I've been around musicians enough to know when the personal is getting in the way of the music.
- Fine.
The assignment? I'm adopted.
So I can't access my blood relatives to find my musical roots.
- Thanks for sharing.
Remember the song I sang earlier? - The one about your son? - He's actually my nephew.
But my brother passed away a few years ago and while I'll never replace his father, I hope he sees me as kind of a father figure.
- Roots doesn't just mean blood; they're not so straightforward.
It's about the influences in your life, the moments that make up your experiences.
That's what your roots are made of.
- If that's true, then why was I struggling so much with the country song? - You said something earlier, about where you are now - Yeah? - Sing something you love.
The first thing that comes to mind.
- Dream child in color Yellows and greens Sleep child and night Will cover you, care for you Night isn't dark as it seems Where did that come from? - That was authentic.
Did your mom sing that to you? - My mom doesn't sing.
(shutter and beeping) - Come on, Julie, smile.
We can't have sullen faces on the website.
You're gonna have to be a positive role model for the other students.
- Role model? That's not me.
- Hey, no false modesty.
You said it yourself: you studied hard.
- Yeah, but - Listen, I know it hasn't been easy with all of your parents' expectations and difficulties that you had with the administration.
- I wouldn't consider those difficulties.
- Good.
Because you can be rebellious sometimes, Julie, but I am so impressed with your character.
- Are you here to lay down a vocal for me, or tell me again that I'm not your real family? - I'm just curious about my birth parents.
- Are we gonna do this, or what? (sigh) (electronic beeps) - Sleep child and night will blanket your dreams - Why did you sing that? - It just came to me.
I think it's something my birth mom might've sung to me.
(sigh) - Scarlett, Mom sang that to us.
- What? - I know you want to know what part of your birth parents are in you, but you might not ever know.
Trust that they are in you, Scarly, but Mom, Dad, me we're in you too.
- (both): Sleep child and night Will blanket your dreams Dream child in color Yellows and greens Sleep child and night Will cover you, care for you Night isn't dark as it seems - Well done! - It was Vanessa's choreography.
She nailed it.
- Choreography would be nothing without dancers like this.
- Voicemail? - What is it? - My X-rays came back I can take my cast off.
- Sir, we need to talk.
- Sure.
About what? - I'm sorry.
But you can't put my PSAT scores on the website.
- Why not? - Because I'm sick of lying.
- You're gonna have to give me a little more information than that, Ms.
Maslany.
- Can we talk in your office? - Follow me.