Backstage (2016) s02e09 Episode Script

Qualifiers: Day 1

[Cassandra.]
Previously on Backstage Since I'm not dancing, maybe I could choreograph something.
[Helsweel.]
Pick a student.
Make sure they win.
I want you to pitch Cassandra some choreo that will liven up our CAMDA dance.
You call these steps ideas? They lack technique and maturity.
Just like Vanessa.
There she is.
This is Cassandra, Aidan's girlfriend.
Hey, ready to go? [Bianca.]
Is she seriously freezing up? Did she say her name was Alya or Elsa? - I couldn't hear.
- [laughter.]
Hey, Mom, those vocal exercises, are those from your musical theater days? I'm not going to be singing my verse of the CAMDA song with Miles anymore.
I sing it alone or I quit the group.
[Sasha.]
Nobody's gonna find out, 'cause no one's gonna tell.
[Vanessa.]
The secret dies with us.
[girl.]
Five, six, seven, eight.
Today's the day.
[sighs.]
How are you feeling? Good.
We've been rehearsing nonstop.
Cassy and I came up with some amazing choreography.
See? You didn't need me or my choreo.
Uh, not true.
Your steps would've been awesome in the Prima dance.
True, but they're even better in Mindy's solo.
Moving through the crowd Dancing, singing loud Up there we'll find our place Tilt our heads and wear the crown Whoa.
This is it.
CAMDA qualifiers.
[laughter.]
I haven't been this nervous since [both.]
The first day of Keaton.
Wow.
It feels like forever ago.
So much has happened since then.
A lot of ups.
And a few downs.
I can't believe I can't dance.
Between Mindy's solo and the Prima dance, we're gonna own this competition.
- CAMDA qualifiers - Here we come.
["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 - [hairspray hissing.]
- You call this a bun, Amy? If even one hair comes loose on stage, you let all of us down.
All of us.
[hairspray hissing.]
[Cassandra.]
Aidan! Yes, you.
We're talking? You know it's a school day, right, Cass? Not just any school day.
Can't I want my boyfriend to wish me good luck? Break a leg.
You're gonna be perfect.
I always am.
I should really go.
You should come.
Watch me dance later tonight.
Really? That's a pretty big violation of the rules.
Relationship rule number one, do not let the personal into the professional.
If you don't wanna come, I totally understand.
No, no, no, no.
Of course.
I want to.
Good.
So you'll be there? I'll be there.
Feel like breaking any other rules? Not that one.
Here we Oh, yeah - What? What? What? - [sighs.]
Oh, yeah Have you made your decision yet? You weren't actually serious about that ridiculous ultimatum? I actually was.
I won't do the song with Miles.
Then, yes, I've made my decision.
You're both doing the duet.
- We don't have time for this.
- [sighs.]
You can't just stomp in here and demand to change my project that I'm getting graded on at the last minute - and expect to get your way.
- But I don't need Miles.
[groans.]
You're acting like a child.
- Grow up, Alya.
- [Miles.]
Let her have it.
Miles, don't let her have her way.
[sighs.]
It's fine.
Alya can sing the solo.
I'll do back-up.
[sighs.]
Are you happy now? - Miles, thank you.
- Whatever.
Baby? Mom.
What? What are you doing here? I wanted to surprise my baby girl on her big day.
It's just qualifiers.
You didn't have to drive all this way.
Nonsense.
Come here.
Look at that beautiful face.
What's wrong? I'm so happy you're here.
- I really need you.
- Oh.
You're the Primas.
You're all here for a reason.
Now show them why.
Ready? And Five, four, three, two Let's do this.
Sure, it would have been cool to compete, but I've got my student Mindy and my friend Carly.
That's more than enough.
Not even an echo Flying bullets in your mind Now you're here beyond the line Past the flashing neon sign How could you let go? You know I never let you fall apart Why is your head down, head down? There's always the letdown, letdown Yeah And in between the lost and found You'll think about it when you've gone I never wanna be let down Gotta fight it on your own Take another breath before you go [door opens.]
Where are they going? No.
What's next? What's next? I can't remember.
I Cassandra Miller, do something.
That's my choreo.
That's my dance.
You're in between the lost and found You'll think about it when you've gone You never wanna be let down A silence you can call your own Tell me, can you feel the sound? Take another breath before you go [applause.]
[guitar strumming.]
How many times can I let go? I'm gonna feel it in my bones How can you say that that one kiss Means I owe you more than this [sighs.]
Alya, I can't ever.
What? - [chuckles.]
- What, isn't that what the kids say? "Can't even", Mom.
And please don't.
[giggles.]
- So, you think it works as a solo? - Works? It's phenomenal.
I can't imagine it any better as a duet.
Ha! Take that, Frances.
And how was my pitch? Frances is always picking on my pitch.
Your pitch is perfect.
Come on, Mom.
I need your honest opinion as my vocal coach, not as my mom.
As your vocal coach, it's perfect.
But if you're worried, I know one thing that always helps your nerves.
[pitch pipe toots.]
Bumblebee, bumblebee - Bumblebee, bumblebee - [giggles.]
See? Don't you feel better now? - [chuckles.]
Yeah.
- [laughs.]
Yeah, moms always know.
I'm sorry.
I didn't know she was gonna use your choreo.
You mean steal my choreo? The same choreo Mindy's supposed to perform in ten minutes for the same judges.
I'm not gonna qualify for finals.
We'll change your dance.
Right now.
- Right, Vanessa? - [sighs.]
There's not enough time.
[sighs.]
Okay, Mindy, uh - You're just gonna have to freestyle.
- What? I can't.
This is the CAMDAs, not me dancing for my oma und opa.
I can't make it up as I go along.
You can do it.
You're Mindy Dobson.
Helsweel's freshman Prima pick? You've been working with the best choreographer at this school.
- You've come so far.
- It was all for nothing.
Where is Positive Polly? You always find the good in every situation.
You have to find it now.
- You really think I can do this? - I know it.
I'm angry too.
Use it.
Channel it.
[Kit.]
Dobson? You're on deck.
I'll be with you the whole time.
She's gonna be great.
I hope so.
Remember, listen for one another.
Don't rush the beat and whatever you do, don't be boring.
Make the judges feel something.
Okay, now get out there and win.
[all.]
Whoo! - I get it now.
- Get what now? You don't want to get better.
You don't want to challenge yourself.
- Of course I do.
That's why I'm here.
- No.
You just want your mommy to tell you how great you are.
Well, her little baby's gonna be great.
She's just trying to get a reaction out of me.
[drumsticks tapping.]
Hold on, you don't understand yet Seems like it went Just like you planned it Now you're deeper underneath I can hear it when you breathe I can hear you ask yourself "What's wrong with that girl?" She don't owe you a thing No, she's not on your string She don't want you You just don't get it You don't own her Can't wait for you to forget The number to phone her And we see what we want And we get what we get of our own device You ain't no prize Don't give me those eyes No, no, no.
Don't freeze, not now.
How many times can I let go? I'm gonna feel it in my bones How can you say that that one kiss Means I owe you more than this How many times? How many times? How many times? Vanessa thinks I can do this.
I can do this.
I told her to channel her anger.
That I want her to turn the negative into a positive.
[Vanessa.]
Yes, I'm injured.
Yes, I can't dance.
But I'm choreographing.
I'm turning the negative into a positive.
Yes, Cassandra stole our dance moves.
Yes, Mindy's improvising.
But look at her.
It's not stopping her.
And it's definitely not gonna stop me.
I refuse to let Vanessa down.
I will qualify for CAMDAs and I will succeed.
[cheers and applause.]
[man.]
Whoo! I'm so proud of you.
I'm proud of me too.
She was amazing.
Great job, coach.
Uh-oh.
Who do you think you are? Pardon me? First, you belittle me and my choreography, and then you go and steal my steps? For what? Some sadder time to come between Carly and I again? Well, guess what? It's not gonna work.
You know why? Because Carly's my best friend, something you'll never truly have.
Prove to me that there's a human being under all that stage makeup and hairspray.
Apologize.
I let the personal get in the way of the professional.
But I can't let them see my weakness.
I did what I had to do to win.
- I thought you were better than that.
- I did what I had to do to win.
That's why Carly and I will always be friends and you'll always be alone.
[scoffs.]
I did what I had to do to win.
Oh, baby girl, it's okay.
Nerves happen to everyone.
I'm proud of you, sweetheart, no matter what.
Mom, please.
I just I need to be alone right now.
Alone? No, let's go get something to eat.
- Nothing a little mac 'n cheese won't - Stop! Stop it! Stop babying me! - Mom - We'll talk about this tonight.
[indistinct chatter.]
You were incredible up there.
How would you know? You left.
- I was only gone a minute.
- So basically the whole dance.
Sass, I'm sorry.
George had a meltdown.
George is always having a meltdown.
[sighs.]
That came out wrong.
[scoffs.]
You can't honestly be mad at me for helping my brother.
He needs me.
This is why there are rules.
This is why I keep dance and boys separate.
I know.
I know.
And it will never happen again.
You're right.
Because that's the last time I break my rules for you.
- Cassandra.
- I can't do this now.
I need to focus on my next event.
But instead, here you are, being a distraction.
- Then I'll stop getting in your way.
- Good.
[scoffs.]
Well, if that's how you feel, then [sighs.]
Then maybe it's time we end this.
Is that what you want? [sighs.]
That's not what I want.
[sighs.]
You're right.
Let's not do this now.
You need to focus, I need time to think.
I should get back to stretching.
You know, you never asked how my monologue went.
I placed first.
[techno music playing.]
No cameras No lights No photographs this time Whoo! Go, Carly! I owe you an apology.
You're right.
I'm sorry for stealing your choreo.
And I'm sorry for getting in between you and your best friend.
Most of all, I'm sorry for sending that video of you and Carly setting off the sprinklers to Principal Durani.
Oh.
Carly didn't tell you? I thought she would've told you the second I told her it was me, best friends and all.
Oops.
See where I want to be I'm never looking back 'Cause I'm better, better Better on my own I move for only me now 'Cause I'm better, better Better on my own Carly.
I know who did it.
I know who sent the video to Principal Durani.
Come clean, Carly.
This is your chance.
Don't lie to me.
You do? Who? She lied to me.
I know you know.
Cassandra told me everything.
Why wouldn't you tell me? I'm your best friend.
I would never keep this kind of secret from you.
What difference would it make? - It doesn't change anything.
- [scoffs.]
Of course it changes things.
- It changes everything.
- So what? So you'd hate Cassandra more? What good would that do? - At least I know the truth.
- It only would've made things worse.
For me or for you? [scoffs.]
What was I supposed to do? I have to dance with her, V.
We're a team.
- I thought you and I were a team.
- Of course, we are.
Always.
No.
Because you put her before me.
You put the Primas before your best friend.
It's not my fault that I'm in the Primas and you're not.
I'm sorry that Cassandra sent the video to Principal Durani, and I'm sorry we got in trouble.
But we did it.
We set the sprinklers off.
We have detention.
Knowing it was Cassandra doesn't change a thing.
[scoffs.]
You know what? Beckett was wrong.
You're not like Cassandra.
You're worse.
- What? - You pretend to be a nice person, you pretend to be my best friend, but when it comes down to it, the only person you care about is yourself.
At least Cassandra's just straight-up mean.
Vanessa, that's not true.
That's not who I am.
- Trust me.
- Trust you? You lied about the video.
You lied just now to my face.
How am I supposed to trust another word you have to say ever again? [scoffs.]
How many times can I let go? I'm gonna feel it in my bones How can you say that that one kiss Means I owe you more than this How many times? How many times? How many times? How many times? How many times? How many times? I was wrong.
Miles, I do need you.
I've been waiting a long time to hear that.
[sighs.]
Alya, I But after everything that's happened No, you don't.
You don't need anyone.
You're Alya Kendrick.
You mean Queen Frozen? [snickers.]
You're an amazing musician and a fantastic singer.
You don't need me or your mom or Frances to make you great.
You just are.
How many times can I let go? I'm gonna feel it in my bones How can you say that that one kiss Means I owe you more than this [chuckles.]
Hold on, you don't understand yet Seems like it went Just like you planned it Now you're deeper underneath I can hear it when you breathe I can hear you ask yourself "What's wrong with that girl?" But she don't owe you a thing No, she's not on your string She don't want you
Previous EpisodeNext Episode