A Nutcracker Christmas Page #3

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- and dancers.

- Hm.

- See you there!

- Ugh.

You OK?

My stomach's just

feeling a little weird.

Probably those cheesesteaks

we ate last night.

Maybe it's Mr. Anders.

- What's that supposed to mean?

- Well, when I used to sit

next to Tommy Reynolds in math class,

I always felt a little nauseous.

- Why?

- 'Cause he was super cute.

(laughing)

Do you know Mr. Anders

- from anywhere?

- No. Yes.

Well, sort of.

It's a small world, Sadie, and

it just keeps getting smaller

- the older you get.

- You had a crush on him.

It's awfully chilly

in Philadelphia.

Did you remember to pack

all those warm clothes

I laid out for you?

No. Yes.

- Well, sort of.

- Very funny.

Alright, have a great

first rehearsal.

Uh, you're not gonna come in

and see your favorite niece

on her first day with a

professional ballet company?

- Ah--

- If you come in, I promise

I won't ask any more questions

about Mr. Anders.

Fine. Let's go.

(piano music)

Finish strong, finish strong.

Together...

Spice it up.

Nice and sassy.

Nice. Alright,

take five, ladies,

please. Juliette, let's do your

solo from the top, please.

And...

(Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker)

- (Christmas music playing)

- I'm so excited about this!

- What can I get you?

- Two hot chocolates, please.

Whipped cream on both?

- Do you need to ask?

- They told us we have to ask.

I'm kidding, I just meant--

- Never mind. Yes, on both.

- Extra hot soy latte for Mark!

- Hey look, it's Mr. Anders!

- Sadie!

Unbelievable.

- How are you?

- Good, how are you?

Hi. Sadie, we have

to go feed the dog.

You have a dog?

No.

Uh, it's someone else's dog.

They asked us to feed him.

- Our building doesn't allow dogs.

- Yeah,

it's in another building.

A dog building.

A building where

they allow dogs.

And cats. Personally,

I prefer dogs.

Uh, two hot chocolates

for Lily?

Sorry, the dog gets really

grumpy when he's hungry.

We're not gonna go

feed a dog, are we?

- No, we're not.

- OK, I know I made a deal,

but can I please ask a few

more questions about Mr. Anders?

Absolutely not.

OK, fine, but just so you

know, I'm a great listener,

- so if you ever need anyone--

- Thanks, I will keep that in mind.

Hey, look!

A gingerbread house!

Just like I used

to make with my mom.

That's the kind of thing

that can make a girl forget...

about her aunt Lily's

deep dark secrets.

Oh, really? Well, then

I guess we'd better go get you

- a smaller one.

- OK!

- Wow, that looks fantastic!

- I know.

Finally some Christmas spirit.

Now all we need is a tree.

Yes, and I promise

we will get one

as soon as I figure out

where they sell them.

Aunt Lily, there's a

place a few blocks away.

Really. How do you know?

It could be all the Christmas

trees with price tags on them.

I'm going to the gym.

Call me if you need me.

(Mark panting)

(Lily sighs.)

- OK, I'll see you later.

- OK.

Have a great day.

- Love you.

- Love you!

- Hey. Hi.

- Hi.

So here's the deal. Every Tuesday and

Thursday, after drop-off, all the moms

go grab coffee at the Keystone Diner. We

would love it if you would join us.

- That sounds fun, but I--

- No, no, no. No buts. Come on,

we're leaving right now.

I mean, it's just coffee, right?

Sure!

She's in!

It's official,

I'm a dance mom.

All Victoria wants this year

for Christmas are headphones...

that look like earrings.

She'll just have another excuse

to say she didn't hear me.

- (women laughing)

- What does Sadie want?

Uh... How long

do I have?

Do not worry.

When all else fails,

- what do we do?

- (together):
Gift cards!

Hi. Sorry I'm late.

- What did I miss?

- Christmas gifts.

- Oh. I am all done.

- Because you're perfect. She's perfect.

- Is your daughter into jewelry yet?

- Sadie's actually my niece.

Her mom died

when she was 7.

Oh, losing your mother

at that age, I can't imagine.

She seems

to be doing well.

Yeah, after her mom died,

she... she really gravitated

towards ballet. I think

she needed something challenging

- to distract her.

- I had to drag Ilene

into class,

kicking and screaming

- those first two years.

- We remember the screaming.

- (Ilene's mom laughing)

- Did Sadie's mom dance?

No, she didn't.

I wonder what inspired Sadie.

She saw you

dancing perhaps.

Umm, no.

I... I don't dance.

Really? You never danced?

I-I mean,

a little as, as a kid,

but... I guess

we all did, right?

Did we?

Hey, is this

a coffee shop or a courtroom?

Think the prosecution's had

a little too much caffeine.

- (some women laughing)

- Ohhh...

And what do you think

about Mark?

Oh! Mr. Anders?

I, um...

I guess he's alright.

He is a ballet master

and a war hero.

- What's not to like?

- Wait. Who was a war hero?

Mark. He served

in Afghanistan.

- I can't believe--

- You can't believe what?

Uh...

I just...

I think he... he seems

like such a ballet guy.

You need to close your eyes

and picture him in a uniform.

Come on. Lily, try it.

Close your eyes.

- I'm in.

- You're always in.

Hey, who wants to split

a piece of cheesecake?

Oh.

(Lily):
Was everything

OK at rehearsal today?

The other kids seemed nice.

They're OK.

- Did something happen?

- Doesn't matter.

Sadie, if there's a problem,

it might help to talk about it.

I'm not having

a problem, OK?

Sure.

I'm sorry, Aunt Lily,

it's just

all the rehearsals

and the new people,

I just...

I just don't know.

Hey, I know exactly

what it feels like.

It's hard coming to a new place

and dancing with new people

and trying to fit in

all at the same time.

- Yeah.

- But I tell you what,

your mom would be really proud

of you right now.

You think?

Absolutely.

(Sadie laughing)

- Good night, sweetie.

- Night!

Sorry. No, I am telling you,

I don't think it's a good idea

to tell them about New York

or my history with Mark.

I mean,

[you know how dance moms are.]

Honey, isn't it more stressful

trying to cover it up?

I'm not covering it up;

I'm just...

[being selective

about what I choose]

[to share.]

(sighing)

Are you shaking your head?

[Yes, because being selective

about sharing]

- is no way to make friends.

- [Who says I'm trying to make friends?]

(chuckling)

I have to admit though,

it is pretty cool

being around

a dance company again.

[All the hard work and seeing it

all come together...]

...really brings me back.

Do you miss it?

[A little. Maybe.]

I don't know.

Right now,

I am just focused on Sadie.

She's all that matters.

She has no idea how lucky

she is to have you in her life.

- I love you, Mom.

- [I love you too, baby.]

(soft music playing)

(She turns off the music.)

(door opening)

- Good night.

- Good night.

(gentle music playing)

(The music stops.)

Wow! Small world.

Yeah, especially when you're

living right across the hall

from someone.

Hey, you and Sadie want to go

ice skating tonight?

- (Lily scoffing)

- It's like 10:
30, Mark.

How about dinner?

How about I go back up

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