A Nutcracker Christmas Page #7

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Darren! I'm not asking

for your opinion!

OK, how about this?

She goes, I go.

(knocking)

Lily!

(knocking)

(cell phone rings)

Aren't you that dancer

from Marietta, Georgia?

What are you doing here?

I've been looking everywhere.

I need to explain something--

Mark, listen.

I can't go through this.

- I fired Juliette.

- What?

Truth is, I never hired

her back. I don't know why

she thought she could just

walk back in like that.

Wow. I really thought--

You thought I was pulling

the rug out again. I get it.

This time, I'm not

letting you walk away.

Not from the show

and not from me.

Look, I can't

change the past,

but I can offer you

a future here together.

- What are you saying?

- I'm saying most people only

get one chance, but we're

getting two. Let's get it right!

- But my life's back in Georgia.

- Your life is here.

Lily, we both know

you should be back in ballet.

Dancing, teaching,

doing what you love...

Come on. This is

the city of love.

Actually, that's Paris.

Philly's the city

of brotherly love.

It's a little bit different.

Whatever.

So, what do you say?

I say we get through

opening night

before we make

any crazy plans.

Yeah.

About opening night...

When I fired Juliette,

Darren left

with her. So,

we've lost

our prince as well.

- What?

- Yeah. If I cancel the show,

I'll never direct again.

On the other hand,

I don't have

any other options.

Yes you do!

I appreciate

your enthusiasm,

Lily, but there's nobody else

in the company who can be ready

- by tomorrow night.

- I'm not talking about

anyone else in the company!

You know every step, every turn.

- You can do every lift.

- Me?! No way.

Do you ever want

to direct again?

You're the one who just said

we were getting a second chance.

Yeah, a second chance with us,

not me dancing!

- Why not both?

- I need to think about it.

There's no time

to think about it!

- This is the only option!

- What if it doesn't work?

Then you'll have a great story

to tell your friends

- at the post office.

- Post office?

In your next career.

So, are you in

or you out?

(Tchaikovsky's

Nutcracker March plays)

There you are.

Be at places in five.

Ladies and gentlemen, please

be seated. The performance is

about to begin.

(music crescendos)

(drums imitate ripping sound)

(tragic music)

(fast bells chime in)

(applause)

(Boom!)

(crowd exclaims)

(war style music)

(gentle harp)

(quiet, magical music)

(tragic music building)

(dramatic timpani)

(applause)

Sadie?!

Have you seen Sadie?

- Sadie!

- Hi!

- Am I doing OK?

- OK? You are amazing!

You're doing so good!

So I know it's just Act One

and I'm really not supposed to

be back here, but Sadie, you are

so wonderful, you really are!

Thank you!

I have been coming

to this Nutcracker

performance for the last

nine years. Sadie,

you danced Clara

like nobody I have ever seen!

It was just breathtaking.

Thank you so much!

That means the world.

And I'm going to recommend

to the board that they not only

offer this young lady a full

scholarship at our school,

but that they beg you

to stay on in some capacity.

Because we need you here, Lily.

Thank you!

- Good luck. Have fun!

- Thank you!

What?

You're nervous about the lift.

We need to run it again.

OK.

No, wait, wait!

Sorry. I wasn't ready.

- Ready?

- Yeah.

Ah! OK. I can feel the tension

in your arms. You have to relax.

That's easy

for you to say.

What? If you have a suggestion,

I wanna hear it.

You told me

not to direct anyone.

The no-directing rule

doesn't apply right now.

I'm directing you to direct, quickly!

Fine. I think you're lunging

a little too far forward

and Aunt Lily, you're just

hesitating. Commit to the lift!

- So it's his fault?

- So it's her fault?

You guys,

just remember:

One pli at a time.

- You've got this.

- Thanks.

Mark.

Look at me.

I love you.

I know you can do this.

I know we can do this.

(whimsical music)

(Tchaikovsky's Russian Dance)

(dramatic music)

(dramatic finale)

(gentle harp music)

(strings chime in)

(romantic music)

(flourishes on the harp)

(music builds up dramatically)

(dramatic music)

(music crescendos)

(dramatic wind instruments

and drum roll)

(applause)

Yes!

(applause and whistling)

(Lily):
I know

what Beth would say.

That even a goofy kid

from a small town

can find her prince...

if she takes it

just one pli at a time.

(applause)

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