Backstage (2016) s01e23 Episode Script

Previously I have to be in a cast for 6 more weeks.
It's all my fault! My X-rays came back.
I can take my cast off.
This is Austin, our director.
- Is that the double-M girl? - Alya? Yeah.
What is it? They found me a kidney donor.
At university, some students would pay other students to write their essays for them.
Did you? I had the Juilliard audition at the same time, so I paid someone else to write the PSATs for me.
I'm sorry but you can't put my PSAT scores on the website.
- Why not? - Because I'm sick of lying.
I've just been trying so hard.
To be the perfect student, the perfect artist.
Ace the PSATs.
But that's no excuse.
It was wrong.
We raised you better than this.
- I know.
- Julie, what were you thinking? I don't know.
There was the audition and the PSATs.
I couldn't do both! Then Ms.
Maria said this thing about people paying for their essays in university.
I just- I I had to find a way to go to the audition.
I mean, it's Juilliard! I've been shortlisted for their summer program.
That could mean a full scholarship, university paid for.
They think I'm talented! Hm! All I ever wanted was to make you proud.
What is the school prepared to do about this incident? Julie's scores will have to be nullified, of course.
Of course.
There's no official protocol in a case like this.
The PSATs are extracurricular.
Julie signed up for them voluntarily.
All that being said, this is not behavior we take lightly here at Keaton.
Nor should it be.
Julie, give me a moment alone with your principal.
I'm so sorry, Daddy.
(door opening and closing) Okay, what do we need to do? My eyes are open But I cannot see And I'm up and walkin' Still feels like a dream Until our eyes adjust I guess We're only feelin' in the darkness Oh oh oh We just need a spark Oh oh To light up the dark Oh oh I can feel you with 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 I can feel you with me We just need a spark - So what's gonna happen now? - I don't know.
Home school.
Boarding school.
I'm basically a criminal.
They've already grounded me for life.
I'm sorry, D.
I let you down.
What you did, coming clean, that took superhero courage.
Doubt my parents are gonna see it that way.
This is it.
Good luck, Super Jules.
That's your superhero name.
- Dad, I'm so, so sorry.
- No, no, no.
Please, let me just say this.
Your mother and I, we want the best possible life for you.
So yes, we push you.
I know.
And I know I can do better.
Maybe we put too much pressure on you.
We push you too hard.
With everything you're doing, I mean, what, schoolwork, artwork, PSATs, it's too much for anyone.
(school bell ringing) You go on back to class.
You mean I can stay? If you can get a scholarship into Juilliard, you should.
Are you really-For real? Yeah, I'm for real.
We all make mistakes.
But you have the potential to become an amazing young woman.
Now prove it.
I won't let you down.
(electronic music) (background chatter) (hip hop): Go Vanessa You got your cast off I'm happy dancing 'Cause you got your cast off Go Vanessa No more crutches Go Vanessa Go, go My foot is finally free! I'm wearing shoes.
On both feet.
Look - one, two.
- Does this mean you can dance again? - I can dance again! - The doctor gave me the all-clear.
I'm good to go.
- Thank the dance gods.
Class hasn't been the same without you.
Aw.
That's sweet.
Someone needs to remind Carly that she's not the only dancer in this place.
Um, I'm gonna meet you there.
I'm gonna take the elevator.
You can do this.
You just said, the doctors gave you the clear.
Yeah, but what do doctors know, really? Come on, Vee.
This is psychological.
You need to confront your fear.
I think you should go back to the scene of the crime.
I don't know.
Maybe I just need a bit more time.
Come on, Vee.
You got this.
- I have something for you.
- I brought you something.
Me first.
Ha-ha! I can honestly say he's my- He's my best friend.
It's all they had at the hospital gift shop.
I love it.
I'll call him Frog.
My aunt's spaghetti.
I thought you might want a break from hospital mush.
You have no idea! The last week has been hard.
I couldn't have gotten through it without her.
Yo, brother from another mother! How you feeling? You look good.
I feel good.
I hate to do this on your first day back, but Right.
Denzel's music video.
You have practice.
- See you at lunch? - See you at lunch.
See you at lunch.
You two are adorable.
I'm glad you finally made it official.
Yeah.
Official.
We are.
Kind of.
You haven't had the boyfriend- girlfriend talk yet? - It'll happen.
I'm not worried.
- Ah, what are you waiting for? A life-or-death situation? Oh, wait Wow.
Too soon.
'Kay, you guys are obviously into each other.
You gotta DTR.
- D-T-what? - Define the relationship, man.
Otherwise there is no relationship.
(dance music) Again Let's do it again (echo effect) When you looked at me That's when I fell (echo effect) Like you put me under Your spell (echo effect) So take me away (echo effect) To that faraway place Oh, take me away Again and again And again and again 'Cause you and me It's like we live in a dream Wow! Julie, I have never seen you dance with so much joie de vivre! I've never felt so much joie de vivre.
Today, my vision for my future and my parents' vision for my future, it's the same.
For the first time.
Ever! Ever? Ever! My parents, I know they love me but Oh, I get it.
My parents were terrified when I told them I wanted to have a career in the arts.
I've always loved dancing, but I never thought I could make a living out of it.
And now, because of you, I could go to Juilliard.
And make my parents happy.
It's like a dream.
Oh, no.
That's so insensitive of me.
Because of your injury Oh, no, no, it's- It's not that.
It's just When my dance career ended, I thought I was finished with dance forever.
I never thought I would be a teacher.
Well, I'm happy you are.
Everyone at Keaton is.
And now I'm crying.
Enough! I've done nothing but cry today.
It's exhausting! Let's dance.
I'm not gonna go easy on you, though.
Juilliard is looking for very specific technique.
Impeccable turnout.
It's gonna be a battle.
Bring it.
I've got joie for days.
Let's get Julie into Juilliard.
Ms.
Maria, Julie, can I have a word in my office? Yeah, of course, Principal Durani.
Look at you! You got your cast off! Yeah.
I'm back.
It's harder than I thought.
It always is.
But if anyone can do it, you can.
I hope so.
Of course I miss dancing.
I can't stop thinking about it.
In math class.
At the dinner table.
In my dreams.
It's the only thing I've thought of since Since.
(soft piano music) I try to block out that night.
But I can't help it.
It creeps into my thoughts and my nightmares.
The music.
The adrenaline.
The rush.
One second, everything was perfect.
It was my moment.
The next thing I know, there's this noise.
Like a carrot.
Snap.
(soft piano music) (dance music) Look in my eyes Do you like what you see? Tell me no lies Are you weak in the knees? You're so demandin' No understandin' Is this a sleight of hand? I'm the original Red Rebel Gimme that bass and treble Gimme that angel and devil You put the brakes I hit the pedal Ooh, ooh, ooh Um, okay.
Who's that? You're gonna be a star.
Just remember to look deep into the camera.
- Miles.
Hey! - Hi.
Right.
You two don't know each other.
Miles, this is Austin, the director.
Austin, this is Miles The boyfriend.
Huh! This guy's your type? Not what I was expecting.
- Um - Come on, Alya.
Let's go for lunch.
Actually, we have work to do.
Can we take it from the top? A little more energy? Yeah.
Look in my eyes Do you like what you see? Tell me no lies Are you weak in the knees? You're so demandin' No understandin' Is this a sleight of hand? I'm the original Red Rebel Gimme that bass and treble Gimme that angel and devil You put the brakes I hit the pedal Ooh, ooh, ooh Ms.
Schiller, I'm sure you're aware that Julie's been under some pressure as of late, preparing for her PSATs.
I am, and I'm happy to balance Julie's training with her studies.
No problem.
And are you aware that Julie paid another student to write her PSATs for her? Is that true? Ms.
Schiller.
I am sorry I'm gonna have to ask this but did you encourage this kind of behavior? 'Course not.
Julie, I'm shocked.
But you did encourage Julie to attend an audition the same day she had a test? - She didn't know about that! - Ms.
Schiller, did you tell Ms.
Maslany an anecdote about students selling their essays for money when you were in university? - She had nothing to do with it! - That is not what you told me this morning.
Unless I am to believe that, uh, you made that up? Well? It's true.
I did tell Julie that story.
And I encouraged her to go to the audition.
I see.
This isn't Maria's fault! I made it up.
I lied.
That's what I do.
Check your file.
I have a history.
Did my dad put you up to this? She didn't lie.
Not about this.
Then I am afraid we have a very big problem.
(rock music) Trouble in paradise already? What do you know about this kid, Austin? Austin? Oh! Oh? Why oh? He was all over TMK a few weeks ago.
A real heartbreaker.
He fired Scarlett from Denzel's music video.
Wait, why? It's just Alya is the new Scarlett in the music video.
Right.
And you're worried about them "working" together? Forget about it.
I mean, what kind of name is Austin? Who gets named after a city? Actually, there's- There's a Jackson, Mississippi.
And Miles City, Montana.
'Kay, are you really that worried about this guy moving in on Alya? No.
I trust her.
Totally.
But you don't trust a guy with a name like Austin and a face like Brooklyn Beckham? There it is again! Right.
Not helping.
Do you think that's why she didn't bring up the boyfriend-girlfriend thing? Dude, just confront Austin.
Tell him to back off your girl.
- Yeah.
- Yeah.
(background chatter) Oh no.
Not the crutches again! Without the cast, my foot feels so fragile.
Like a tiny baby bird.
I have to build my strength back up.
- You know how you do that? - By resting.
- By dancing! - I'm not taking any chances.
Maybe in a week or two.
Can you really wait another week or two? This is killing you.
It's fine.
I am loving choreography.
It's so fulfilling.
- Sure it is.
- It is! Besides, I've gotten by this long.
What's a couple more weeks? Torture.
But my foot needs more time.
I'm not ready.
Vanessa! Watch out! Sorry.
I thought I saw a bird.
- A bird? - A fragile baby bird.
But all I see is a strong mama bird, standing on her own two feet, no pain.
- I could've hurt myself! - There's no way you could have hurt yourself.
I'll admit.
That could've backfired.
Big time.
Like I said, it's all in your head.
You need to face your fears.
- I don't trust myself anymore! - Nope.
Not buying it.
- Excuse me? - You heard me.
You knew what you were doing that day.
You knew you could hurt yourself, and you danced anyway.
And I get why you did.
Because that's how important dance is to you.
If I hurt myself again, I could end my career.
Forever.
Like, no dance.
At all.
For infinity.
I know.
Vee.
Trust me, it's my worst fear, too.
But you're not dancing at all right now.
You already lost half the semester.
How will you feel if you lose the rest of the year, too? (sighing) Even though we had a fight You and me goin' out tonight Dude, we need to talk.
Mano a mano.
Mano a mano? This is an art school.
Not a Clint Eastwood movie.
Stay away from Alya.
That's gonna be kinda tricky, seeing how I'm her director.
Alya's with me.
Back off.
Aw.
Aren't you cute? Sure, I'll back off.
But I can't make that promise for your girl.
- What did you say? - Chill.
No stress.
It's bad for your health.
We wouldn't want your kidney to reject you.
Right, buddy? How do you know about that? Alya tells me things.
Lots of things.
Don't touch me, buddy.
Hey, what exactly is going on here? I'll let Mr.
Possessive over here explain.
What is with you? I'm just gonna say it.
I don't like that guy.
Austin? Who cares about Austin? You! Obviously.
I walk in on you singing to him, and giggling, and looking at him with those eyes.
We were working on the video.
There were no eyes.
Then why are you telling Austin everything about me? - I talk about you all the time! - But you didn't tell me about Austin.
Because he means nothing to me! - Yeah, but, Jax said that - Jax said? Let me get this straight.
You went to Jax, and then Austin? You should've come to me.
I'm your girlfriend.
You're my girlfriend? I thought I was! Till you went and ruined everything.
Because thinking of you with him made me crazy! You have nothing to be jealous of! I've been thinking about being your girlfriend all day, every day since I came back to this school! Yeah, well, I think about you all the time too! - Then why are we fighting? - I don't know! Does this mean we're boyfriend and girlfriend? I'll have to consult with Frog.
If anyone can do it, I can.
(modern classical music) (music stopping abruptly) (applause) I'm not gonna say it.
You were right.
Proud of you.
Go Vanessa! Go Vanessa! (together): Go Vanessa! Go! Go! I might even let you blog about this.
- Seriously?! - One time only.
Tell all of Keaton.
I'm back! Go, go, go Vanessa! I can't wait to tell Maria.
(door opening) - Maria! This isn't fair! I messed up.
Not you.
This is my fault.
We have to fight back.
We can't let this happen.
We can fix this! This was my dad.
He's trying to protect me.
I'll talk to him.
He'll listen.
I never should've given you advice that would have condoned cheating, indirect or not.
You don't deserve this.
I've made mistakes.
I let a dancer push herself so hard that she injured herself.
The Cinderella girl? That was an accident.
I'm not sure if I'm meant to be a teacher.
But I do know that you are meant to go to Juilliard.
What if I can't do it without you? (both sniffling) No more tears, okay? I won't give up.
(soft music)