Backstage (2016) s02e05 Episode Script

[Miles.]
Previously on Backstage For the entire school year, whatever Keaton needs, you'll do it.
Keaton is hosting the CAMDAs.
[all.]
Whoo! [students cheering, applauding.]
Is this the vice-prez auditions? There something about this guy, I think I like him, Kit.
[Julie.]
I've been staring at this board for hours.
- Do I pick art or dance? - You'll make the right choice.
[Sasha.]
I can give up or I can dance for my life.
- May the best man win.
- Thanks.
I will.
[Helsweel.]
Mr.
Roy.
- [Bianca.]
Mm-hm.
- [tapping.]
Yeah, yeah.
I-I understand.
[sighs.]
Well, thank you so much, Andrea.
You have yourself a lovely day.
- [phone beeps.]
- That assistant needs to be fired.
- Did you get through to your agent? - He's on a call, but he'll call back.
My acting career has taken a tiny step backwards.
But don't get me wrong, Bianca Blackwell is still a force to be reckoned with.
I'm proud of you, B.
I really am, for working through this rough patch.
I honestly think that your next big gig is just around the corner.
I can feel it, I can.
You're amazing.
Do you know that? "Amazing"? I kissed another girl.
I'm, like, the opposite of amazing.
Kit, now, now.
Now, now, now.
Hey, Scarly, why don't you sing that R&B song I love so much? Me, what? I give you all my love Until your love it gives back Happy Hump Day.
- [whispers.]
Thirty percent too desperate.
- [chuckles.]
- [phone ringtone plays.]
- [phone beeps.]
Larry, Larry, I've been trying to get ahold of you all morning.
Talk to me.
[faint piano music playing.]
- [Sasha sighs.]
- You okay? Are you kidding? Always.
Another day, another dance, right? Exactly.
And who knows? Maybe Helsweel will ask you to audition for the duet another time.
And maybe Drake will be your new math teacher.
No one was talking to you, Beckett.
Sasha bailed on his audition.
Why would he get another chance? You.
Beckett.
We were supposed to meet for rehearsals Yeah, and you told me about it We won't improve if we don't practice.
You want me to practice? Fine, I'll practice.
[faintly.]
Go.
You need to spin me with more power.
- What is your problem? - She asked me to spin her harder.
Less jaw wagging, more dance making.
Saved by the Helsweel.
[scoffs.]
That's it, this jerk has messed with one too many of my friends.
["Spark" playing.]
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, oh, oh - We just need a spark - Oh, oh - To light up the dark - Oh, oh I can feel you with me 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 me I can feel you with me We just need a spark Okay, guys, let's hear what you got.
Who wants to impress me first? Again, I'm not a teacher, you don't have to raise your hand with me.
Right.
Sorry.
Um, this actually is a new song.
Ahem.
This song is called "Peace.
" Five, six, seven, eight.
[off key.]
Sing it softly, sing it low Whisper a hello Wish for change, wish for shame Forget all that you know Peace, peace, baby, please Rising to the top Peace now, peace then And all our pain will stop - Sigh for me and lie for me - Okay.
Okay.
Well, um, you certainly made some choices.
Any thoughts from the group? You added your own flair, which was cool.
Thanks, next.
But, I think you need to commit to the original tone of the song.
[chuckles.]
Are you, Miles Lennox, actually giving me advice on committing? You may have overcomplicated the song.
A little.
- I disagree.
- [Scarlett.]
I'm not done.
That version didn't suit your voice.
Next time, try for simplicity.
[chuckles.]
Scarlett the Starlet, the biggest try-hard at Keaton, is telling me to simplify.
Actually, I was telling you it was bad, but I was trying to be nice.
Okay, why don't we all just [inhales.]
take a breath.
I took plenty of breaths.
You're obviously working through something right now.
Frances, can we move on? - Yeah.
- Uh, I'll go.
Great.
Bianca, why don't you take a seat? [piano music playing.]
[footsteps approaching.]
Are you in the right class? Or are you supposed to be in art? I've been in the dance term for weeks.
Then why does it feel like you're somewhere else? Dancers.
Show me last week's petit allégro, then we'll try and disentangle your CAMDA routine.
[piano music playing.]
[Cassandra.]
Right now, you're just going through the motions.
You're not telling a story with your face.
If there's a problem with my face, Ms.
Helsweel will let me know.
- [Cassandra.]
I'm just trying to help.
- Then stop distracting me.
Ms.
Maslany.
We are not background performers on The Walking Dead.
Stop giving me "zombie face.
" Be alive in the dance.
Be present.
Take a break if you must.
See? I don't understand.
I'm focused.
I'm here.
The perfect picture of a ballerina is here.
Where's the dancer I met at Juilliard this summer? Where is Julie? [bell rings.]
You gonna say something, or you just like watching? I'd rather watch paint dry.
Wasn't that one of your punishments for setting off the sprinklers last year? You don't have to be so hard on Carly.
Me? [scoffs.]
I'm not the one Are you trying to mess up the CAMDAs for her? I mean, you already ruined Sasha's semester.
Isn't that enough? I didn't do anything to Sasha.
He bailed on his own audition.
Look, I know Cassandra's little sidekick is your friend, - but she's a nightmare to dance with.
- Carly's an amazing dancer.
She was chosen for Juilliard's Summer Program.
Oh.
I heard it should've been you.
What are you talking about? I wasn't even eligible, I was Injured, I know.
But what if you weren't? I don't have time for what-ifs.
Like, what if I'd been able to audition for the Primas this year? Then you would have been a Prima.
Just like you would've gone to Juilliard.
I know what you're trying to do.
- I'm just telling truths.
- No.
You're trying to cause drama between C and I.
Guess what? It's not gonna work.
Even on crutches, you still got it.
Look, I'm sure Carly is great at brushing your hair at sleepover parties.
We're not six.
But as a dance partner, she has a lot of bad habits.
That's not true.
- Like what? - Uh she doesn't let me lead.
She over-rehearses.
She's a great dancer, but she doesn't trust me.
That's not not true.
I try a new move, she freezes up.
Yeah, well if your ronds de jambe are as sloppy as that, I'd freeze up, too.
She doesn't have that spark that some people have.
- It should've been you.
- Well, it wasn't.
So, figure out a way to work with Carly.
There are other options.
Oh, yeah? Like what? Ask Helsweel for a new partner.
- Hey, girl.
- I'm a little busy.
What are you doing? Throwing out all the songs that "don't suit my voice.
" Someone's feeling sorry for herself.
I wanted to apologize for earlier.
That's fine.
You know, constructive feedback is a part of being in an ensemble.
I thought you, of all people, could handle it.
You are a successful working actress.
- Whatever.
- [sighs.]
You seem a little off.
Are you okay? If you're so into criticism, why don't we just critique your behavior this morning with "hottie McDrama Boy"? It reeked of desperation.
- [stutters.]
I didn't - If you want a boy to actually like you, maybe you should just chill out and let him come to you.
Bianca, you're being mean.
Stop! You wouldn't know a real relationship if it just jumped up and bit you in the Bianca! Stop! [notebook snaps.]
Beckett, please.
Don't go to Helsweel.
What's the big deal? I'm just asking for a new partner.
You're trying to replace Carly.
It would destroy her.
I can't let you do this.
Don't you have a best friend? Someone you'd do anything for? - Are you finished? - No.
Helsweel chose Carly.
Give her another chance.
- She deserves it.
- Not the way she's been acting.
Fine, then do it for me.
V.
We have to get to funishment.
"Funishment"? We call it that to make it less awful.
Doesn't work.
Come on, let's get outta here.
Consider yourself rescued.
Ah, Carly, Beckett was just telling me that he wants to work on that duet with you later.
Such commitment.
Yeah, I I totally said that.
- Four p.
m.
? 4:30? - Whatever.
We have to be life drawing models today.
- I hate standing still.
- Mm.
You ever think your bestie over there might be the one who's the problem? She'll come around.
Just let me talk to her.
V? [Beckett.]
Fine.
- I won't go to Helsweel.
- Thank you.
But I'm not waiting around all day for your little friend to change her attitude.
[girl.]
Oh! [dancers chuckling.]
[faint piano music playing.]
What do you think you are doing? You asked for more Julie.
This is Julie.
No, this is just noise.
You look like a unicorn threw up on you.
I'm comfortable, okay? I can dance better this way.
Fine, show me.
- Now? - It is ballet class.
[piano playing.]
You haven't fixed anything.
Can you get off my case? I've given up everything to be here.
So? We all have.
You should change your clothes before Helsweel sees you like that.
I've tried playing the role of the ballerina, I've tried playing the role of Julie.
How else am I supposed to play this? Stop playing and just be.
Who's the dancer in here? I don't know.
Well, you better figure it out.
Otherwise, you've given it all up for nothing.
Tilt your head to the left, B.
I'm C.
Model B.
Model A, chin down.
So, Beckett thinks you're really talented.
He's the worst partner I've ever had.
Ever.
Worst than your dad at the father-daughter dance? I'm serious.
He's selfish, rude, doesn't know the meaning of the word "duet.
" Shh.
Sorry.
Maybe you should try listening to some of his ideas.
He's an amazing dancer.
And a terrible person.
Thank you, ladies, you are free to switch positions.
Model A, reach up, and, Model B, reach down.
[Matteo.]
And don't move a muscle.
No, this seems like a very cruel and unusual punishment.
For the two girls who destroyed my final project by setting off the sprinklers? Gotcha.
Do you remember that weird freckly kid who kept snapping your leotard straps in primary ballet? The one I ended up bribing with sour cream and onion rings? You never let bullies stand in your way.
You always find a way to make it work.
So you're telling me to bribe Beckett with junk food? I'm telling you to work through your differences.
He's not that bad.
Why are you taking Beckett's side over mine? [snaps.]
Because if you smarten up, Beckett's gonna ask Helsweel for a new CAMDA partner.
- Hey.
- I don't wanna talk about it.
You were really intense back there.
Why don't you just focus on your own problems? There's no shortage.
Is everything okay at home? - At school? With work? - Alya, I Is it something to do with Jax? Of course it's not Jax.
Jax is the only good thing in my life.
What? That's not true.
You have a million things going for you.
- Like what? - Well, for starters, Frances, the superstar, handpicked you for her group.
A group that has a really good chance of winning at the CAMDAs.
[sighs.]
Enough with that stupid group.
Who cares? - Just tell me what's going on.
- Leave me alone.
- You can't - Why are you so obsessed with me? It can't be that big of a deal.
- Stop! - Just tell me.
Fine.
My agent fired me, okay? Is that what you wanna hear? I'm a loser.
I'm a nobody.
Just come here.
- That agent is an idiot.
- [sniffles.]
[whispers.]
My career is over.
Bianca Blackwell is no more.
[sniffles.]
If Bianca Blackwell is no more, then who just snotted on my shoulder? [both laughing.]
[indistinct chattering.]
[faint piano music playing.]
[Beckett sighs.]
Nice.
I knew you two would be a good match.
You mask each other's mistakes so well.
[Beckett.]
Again? They're perfect together.
[sighs.]
They're perfect together.
[thinking.]
Look at yourself, Julie.
Reflect.
Head to toe, toe to head.
What happens when you peel away the layers? A doll inside a doll, inside a doll.
All with the same expression.
What happens when you reach the center, when the canvas is bare? What if there's nothing there? Start with the basics, Julie.
Hands on hips.
Smile for the teachers, smile for the crowd.
Give them a picture they want, and erase the mistakes in private.
Make the whole thing look effortless.
Silence is dark and scary, silence is overbearing, silence is unguarded, unprotected.
So much noise in this silence.
Where's Julie? Where's Julie? Where is Julie? Where am I? [Cassandra.]
There she is.
Frances? I wanted to apologize for my behavior earlier.
Like I said, I'm not a teacher, and I'm not the one you should be apologizing to.
We all have bad days.
I'd like to sing again.
[Frances.]
Promise me one thing.
A little less screamo, a little more you.
Sing it softly, sing it low Whisper a hello Wish for change, wish for shame Forget all that you know Peace, peace, baby, please Rising to the top Peace now, peace then And all our pain will stop Sigh for me and lie for me Your face cups in my hands I trust your love, I know your love Like the back of my hand - Hey, Scarly.
- Peace Peace, baby, please - Rising to the top - How was your day? - Could have been better.
- Peace now, peace then And all our pain will stop - Peace now, peace then - What was that? And all our pain will Hey.
Hey, Jackson.
Whoa.
There's that smile.
What? I'm happy.
I have music, I have friends, I have you.
You're the best thing that's ever happened to me.
I love you.
Bianca, I, um I need to tell you something.
I kissed someone else.
[instrumental music playing.]