Backstage (2016) s01e10 Episode Script

The Understudy

- Previously - Sorry, sorry.
- Come on.
You help me with my jumps, I'll help you take your mind off Sasha.
- I'll see you later tonight.
- Why would you put yourself through that misery again if you didn't have to? - She's my sister.
- What?! You don't look at all alike.
- Because we're both adopted.
- Do you get nervous auditioning for your mom? - Feelings have no place in the audition room, and especially not for a show as big as this one.
- When I hit the ground Then you watched me fade away And I was never the same - I think we've found our young Mimi.
- Shoo-bee-doo-bee-doo-doo - Whoa, whoa - Shoo-bee-doo-bee-doo-doo - Whoa, whoa - Shoo-bee-doo-bee-doo-doo - Whoa, whoa, whoa Whoa - Shoo-bee-doo-bee-doo-doo - Whoa, whoa - Shoo-bee-doo-bee-doo-doo - Oh, my gosh! It's you.
- I'm sorry? - You're Mimi! We need to get a pic.
- Yes, but how did you-- Wow.
That is Wow.
- We should get a picture with you and the poster.
- Uh, I - Say "Mimi"! - (all): Mimi! - What is that? - Oh, no.
I'm not Mimi.
I'm young Mimi.
Big difference.
The role is so tiny.
Like, teeny tiny.
It's not even worth posting.
- Too late.
Posted.
- Awesome.
- So what's it like working with Phenom? Is he so cute in person? - I'm sorry, but I really have to go.
It was nice to meet you all.
It's like they think I'm Katy Perry or Selena Gomez or or Bianca Blackwell.
But that's silly.
I'm just Alya.
Alya Kendrick.
I'm not famous.
I'm not even popular.
- Bye, Alya! - 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 - Have you heard? Rumor has it, Maria Schiller is auditing today's Step, Sister rehearsals.
Did you hear me? Maria Schiller? Keaton Hall of Famer.
Winner of every prestigious dance award in the world.
Principal dancer at the National Ballet.
- Don't you mean "former dancer"? I don't get the big deal.
Maria was on her way to becoming prima ballerina at the company and then, poof, she quit.
- No one knows that for a fact.
Remember when we watched Maria's Odette on YouTube? She's an insane dancer.
- I heard Maria left to tour Europe with the Bolshoi Ballet.
- No way.
I heard she moved to Edmonton and had triplets.
- I'm going to do some digging.
Get the exclusive details behind Maria's mysterious past up on my blog.
If she's back, maybe she's returning to the company.
How good would that be? - So, Vanessa, how are the primas? - Good! Yesterday, Cassandra did, like, eight pirouettes.
It was crazy.
The classic Carly cold shoulder.
Yes, Carly and I had an awkward moment.
But that was weeks ago.
I've had enough.
It's time to thaw out this relationship.
- Can I get your autograph? - Not you, too.
- Sweet poster.
Love the design.
Not sure about the girl.
- Can we just get to work? We only have the space booked out for an hour.
- And the diva demands begin.
- Years of running Couldn't stop Too afraid to sleep Mind stays busy I stay low Look but never leap And then you Taught me And then you Oooh (guitar stops) What'd I do? - Your voice.
It's amazing.
- It's not me, it's the hip hopera.
Everyone there is so talented.
Between the vocal coaches and the directors I'm learning so much.
- You should give yourself more credit.
That voice -- it's all you.
- Sometimes I feel like an impostor.
This morning, all these people wanted my picture.
- So? What's wrong with that? - No one's even seen the show yet.
What if I'm terrible? What if getting the job was a fluke? What if they fire me before opening night? - Give me a break.
You beat hundreds of people for the role.
You deserve it.
- So I should act like a diva.
Is that what you're saying? - There's a difference between full of yourself and confident.
- I'm confident! Sort of.
- You earned this role.
Own it.
- Let's start again from the top.
And this time, pick up the tempo.
(vocal scales) - Your lunch that you forgot-- (vocal scales continued) You're welcome? - I was up all night doing this music history presentation.
Did you know Nicki Minaj once acted in an off-Broadway play? - What does Nicki Minaj have to do with music history? - Nothing.
I just saw it on Buzzfeed this morning.
- Next time I'm charging a delivery fee.
- Wait.
Hold up, Kit.
Do I sound okay-- - You sound perfect, Scar.
As always.
I'm late.
(voice breaks) - You don't have nodes! - I have nodes! - Another nodes scare.
She does this all the time.
(classical music plays) - Pas de chat stage left - I need your help with - Don't say it! - Vee, please.
Things with Carly have been really awkward since wellyou know.
- Since you tore out her heart and grand jeté'd all over it? - Mr.
Roy.
I said pas de chat, not "pas des elephants.
" Soft.
Soft.
- I feel terrible.
I never meant to hurt Carly.
But I only have time for one love in my life, and that's ballet.
You understand that.
- What I understand is that my friend is in pain because of you.
I'm sorry.
Sisters before misters.
- Now the Prince presents his mystery woman.
- I am literally begging you, Vee.
Carly is one of my best friends.
You of all people know how much it hurts to lose her.
- What do you need me to do? - It's time to call up the understudy.
ck - (girl): Hey, Alya! Come sit with us! Alya! - I don't want fans, but there's nothing wrong with making a few friends, right? - She's coming, she's coming.
- Do you mind? - Oh.
That's okay.
You take it.
Confidence, Alya.
Confidence.
- really cute boots at the mall.
Anyway - Shoot.
- What's wrong? - Nothing.
I just forgot water.
- Oh! Here, take mine.
- Oh, that's okay.
Thank you.
- I insist.
I'm not even thirsty.
What's wrong? - It's silly.
We're supposed to drink water at room temperature.
Something about not shocking our vocal cords.
But this is great.
Thank you.
- I'll get you room temp.
No prob.
- Well, I'm not going to say no.
- Tell us about Phenom! We want to know everything.
- Well, um, there was one time.
Colin -- I mean, Phenom -- was in his dressing room and I totally caught him upside down in downward dog.
(giggling) I know, right? At first I thought it was a bit weird, but Colin taught me yoga helps with breathing and focus.
- Okay - So now that's our thing.
We do sun salutations together before every rehearsal.
It's super calming.
- That's so cool.
- (girl): Oh, what is that? It smells delish.
(muffled sounds) Are you choking? I know the Heimlich.
What is up with you? - She has nodes.
- She has what? - Nodes.
She's resting her voice and drinking hot tea.
Honey lemon, to be exact.
- How did you get that from this? - I pay attention to detail.
You want me to be your interpreter? Sure.
Why not? Denzel Stone, at your service.
(door opening) - Dancers, look alive.
We've got company.
May I introduce one of Keaton's most famous alumnae, Maria Schiller, principal with the National Ballet, two-time winner of the prestigious Dora award.
Alright.
This isn't the opera.
- Where's Cinderella? - Ms.
Catto.
You're up.
Toute suite.
Ms.
Schiller doesn't have all day.
- I'm sure Vanessa will be here any minute now.
- Ms.
Morita is late.
When she returns, she can watch from the barre.
Now! - Come on, Cee.
We got this.
Operation Understudy is a go.
- Born at the right place Right place Born at the right time Right time Born at the right place You were born At the right time Born at the right place You were born at the right time Take it down, down, take it down, down, take it down Take it down, down You were born At the right time with the right mind Take it Mind, mind, mind, mind, mind - Beautiful.
Well done.
- There's always room for improvement.
(bell rings) - That was amazing! - Yeah.
It was pretty good.
- She speaks! You have no idea how happy I am that we're talking again.
Or not.
- How was the duet?! - You were in on this? - We thought you would die for the chance to dance for Maria.
- Without any warning? What if I wasn't ready? What if I screwed it up? - But you didn't.
- That's not the point.
- She's right.
That's not the point.
- Then what is the point? - The point is The point is - There you are! You two did such a great job.
The chemistry here! It was transcendent.
It's too bad you're only the understudy, Carly.
- Thank you.
- It was an honor to dance for you.
- Excuse me? Hello.
Real Cinderella, standing right here.
- Did you hear that?! Maria Schiller thinks we're transcendent! - Yeah, we heard the first time.
- Because we are amazing.
You and me.
Together.
Don't you remember? - That's the problem.
We were amazing, and you humiliated me! - Tell me what to do.
Please.
Just tell me how to fix things.
- You can't.
- And then Scarlett realized the phone was in her hand the whole time! (laughing) (clapping and chatter) Well, this has been fun, but I gotta go.
I have the kiln booked.
You want me to do your music history presentation? - Where the pages turn That's the last time I'll get burned The last time I'll get burned Well, you had me going-- - You disappeared at lunch.
- Wasn't very hungry.
Where the pages turn That's the last time I'll get burned The last time I'll get burned - You're restricting your vocal cords.
Try dropping your jaw.
It'll let go of the tension.
- Come again? - I mean, I loved the Katy Perry song you worked on last week.
It was more in your wheelhouse.
But I feel like you should leave this song out of your book.
- I'm sorry.
Did I ask for your help? - Um Actually, you did.
On our last assignment? - Like you needed my help to get the role in Da Bohème? - I got that because of my talent.
- Get over yourself.
- I promise.
If I'm ever as famous as Bianca Blackwell, I will never behave like Bianca Blackwell.
(door opening) - Do you mind if I Beautiful.
Now open up the space across your chest.
And it's your job to frame your partner.
This ballet is not only about the intimate moments between Cinderella and the Prince, but also about the space between them.
It's only when the Prince lets Cinderella go that she can return to him.
Does this make any sense? - Yes, it does.
It really, really does.
So, is it true that you gave birth to triplets? If so, you look amazing.
- Actually, the rumor mill has it wrong.
It was quadruplets.
HC - The hours are grueling, but it's so worth it.
I could probably score you tickets to opening night.
- No way.
- Or not.
- Look! I'll round up the girls.
We'll figure out who did this.
- No need.
I know exactly who it was.
And I've had enough of her bullying.
- Scarlett's in the library.
She'll be right back.
- You know, my sister has a nodes scare, like, once every two months.
You don't have to do all this.
- It's okay.
Really.
I'm having fun.
And learning things.
Did you know the word "rap" goes back to 15th-century Britain, meaning to strike or to hit? - Guys, guess what? - Let me guess-- - I don't have nodes! - You don't have nodes! - I just got off the phone with my doctor.
The test is, if you can sing Happy Birthday quietly and still hit all the notes, you don't have nodes.
See? Happ-- - We get it.
- But I might be fighting a cold, so I'll need some oil of oregano.
Denzel, where-- Where'd he go? - You mean you have no idea why the person you've been abusing all day suddenly disappeared? - I thought he wanted to help.
I didn't realize-- - No.
You never do.
Contrary to popular belief, the world doesn't revolve around you, Scarlett.
- Red leather, yellow leather.
Red leather, yellow leather.
Red leather, yellow leather.
Red leather, yellow leather.
Red leather, yellow leather - How dare you?! - I'm sorry.
Can I help you? - I know you're jealous that I got the role and you didn't, but this is low, even for you.
- I have no idea what you're on about.
- My poster.
I know you vandalized it.
- Someone vandalized your poster? Sorry.
Wasn't me.
But frankly, you're embarrassing yourself.
Queen Frozen got a tiny bit of fame, and let it go straight to her head.
You know, the show hasn't even started yet.
My mom says early reviews haven't been good.
- No.
Just because you can't sing, doesn't mean you get to drag me down with you.
I'm sorry your mom picked me and not you, but I earned this role.
I deserve this.
This is my time! - I thought you could take a joke.
- It was you? (Alya laughing) That's hilarious.
(Alya laughing) How was I supposed to know? The old Alya wouldn't have said anything to Bianca.
The old Alya would've backed down.
But I'm not the old Alya anymore.
- D man.
Denzel.
Den my fell'.
Where'd you go? - You don't need me anymore.
- Look.
Sometimes I get caught up in my drama.
Scarlett the Starlet, you know? And sometimes I forget that other people have things going on, too.
- Really? I hadn't noticed.
- I'm sorry I took advantage of you.
You saved my life today.
Seriously.
Thank you.
- That's what friends do.
- Well, what are you waiting for? - And up.
And open.
Shoulders back.
Demi-plié.
Okay.
Pair up to stretch your arabesques.
- Partners? They say if you love someone, let them go.
It's going to be tough not talking to Carly, but right now, she wants space, so I have to give it to her.
When she's ready, I'll be here.
- You okay, Cee? - Not really.
But I will be.
- Well, I for one am happy we can all move on.
What a major disappointment Maria turned out to be.
I still don't get what the big deal is, you know? - Hello.
- There she is.
- Tell me she didn't hear that.
- Dancers, please say hello to Ms.
Maria.
- Ms.
Maria? But that would mean that she's-- - That's right.
Maria is staying with us to polish up Step, Sister for the rest of the semester.
Ms.
Maria, you've got your work cut out for you.
- Do you think she heard me? - No.
Probably not? No.
- Thank you, Ms.
Helsweel.
I'm really looking forward to working with each and every one of you.
And I promise not to disappoint.
- Whoa, whoa, whoa - Yup.
She definitely heard me.
- Whoa, whoa - Shoo-bee-doo-bee-doo-doo - Whoa, whoa
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