Ballet Shoes Page #2

It 's gonna be fun.

Well, Miss Brown, I will take

this room on one condition.

Oh, please, just let them audition!

I've been on the staff for years and

I cannot recommend the place enough.

But I can't afford the fees,

Miss Dane!

Madame Fidolia

is a refugee from Russia!

The Revolution did for her.

She'd been such a favorite of the Czar.

She has a history of taking on girls

from impoverished homes.

She trains them for nothing...

then takes 1O% % of their earnings

when they work.

They'd be sent out to work?

As soon as they're old enough

to have a licence!

But I don't want the children

going on the stage!

And I'm quite sure that

Nana doesn't either.

Whilst I don't care for Miss Dane

casting aspersions on this home...

you might say that Posy

is bound to dance anyway...

given that she came with

her own little ballet slippers.

Pauline does nothing but

look in mirrors and recite...

and as for Petrova, all she thinks

about is aeroplanes and engine parts.

I've been trying to turn her into

a lady for 1O years and got nowhere.

- So if this Madame Folderol...

- Fidolia.

...proves willing to try...

I would let her.

Miss Brown.

We request a consultation.

Now?

The fact of the matter is, my dear,

we very much doubt...

whether you are qualified

to teach those children.

But I'm very well grounded

in Natural Science.

And I've got my School Certificate!

I did consider the school

at the top of the road, but...

You can't send them there!

They'll get lice.

- My opinion entirely.

- And frightful accents.

Which wouldn't help their chances

in the theatre at all.

My dear, life can be

a surprising affair...

as Dr. Smith and I found out.

We both felt that

we should retire...

but find we are unsuited

to a life of idleness.

And more to the point,

we miss our teaching.

We should very much like

to coach the girls.

All-round education, specialising

in Mathematics and Literature.

They will be prepared to take their

school certificate and matriculation.

No charge, hours to suit.

What do you think?

I don't know what to think.

Do you want your charges educated?

And do you want them trained

to earn a living?

I want both.

The world isn't kind to girls

who can't support themselves.

Careful!

Come on!

Bear legs in the street!

- Do they look smart, Nana?

- No, but they look neat.

Petrova, will you at least

try and smile?

I swear the face on that child

could stop a clock.

There it is.

Should we knock, do you suppose?

Posy!

So rude!

The Fossil sisters?

- How do you do? I'm Pauline.

- No.

All my pupils, morning or night,

before or after class...

whenever we meet,

they say "Madame"...

and curtsy!

So...

Madame.

Which is Petrova?

- Me.

- You are Russian?

Yes.

You speak Russian?

But you feel Russian?

Actually she's always said

she couldn't feel more British.

You are the first compatriot of mine

to come to my academy.

I will make

wonderful artiste of you.

You must be Posy.

Madame.

And smile. Smile!

You don't see

Shirley Temple with a gloomy face.

- Moment.

- Madame.

To centre, if you please.

I think polka, Mrs. Davies.

Stockinette vests, buff, two each.

Royal blue cotton rompers,

two each...

white tarlatan ballet dresses,

two each...

white knickers, all frills,

two each.

Two black sateen elocution overalls

per child!

How are we going

to make it all by Monday?

I don't care if we have

to sew all night.

This is the biggest chance

these girls have ever had.

We go up there and dance

every year.

There's no point making me

into a wonderful artiste.

I already know what

I really want to be.

Racing driver?

I want to fly planes

like Amy Johnson.

A very laudable ambition.

It 's not because she's fashionable

and in all the magazines.

It 's not even because

I love engines. It 's...

the idea that there are

roads in the sky.

Ways around the world

that no-one has discovered.

Roads in the sky?

Until I can do that,

I'd like to work with cars.

That 's good.

Because I've just bought a garage.

A garage?

It 's going to be tough going

for the first few months...

and I'll need some help

from time to time.

All right.

When you said you were going

to make a drink...

I thought you meant a cup of cocoa!

Oh, be a sport.

Look, I've even got

a jar of maraschino cherries.

I absolutely promise

not to get you tight!

This is the way they used

to mix them at the Ritz...

when I was in Miss Rosebud's

Bouncing Babes.

You drank cocktails when

you were a Bouncing Babe?

Oh, I was practically 19.

Miss Rosebud had

to bind my bosoms flat.

Otherwise they bounced rather

more than was approved of.

The girls will be happy, won't they?

Oh, my darling!

You don't even need to ask.

Hurry up, Pauline!

Need a hand?

You are kind.

But they won't take long.

You know, when I was at school...

shoe-cleaning was a punishment.

The matron would say:

"Clean them

till they shine like mirrors.

It 'll give you time to reflect

on your misdeeds."

There was a fire in that room,

and I always quite enjoyed it.

Well, Mr. Simpson,

you are a gentleman.

Leave that to me.

Got a bit of a knack with tap shoes.

I'll let...

I'll let you get on then.

Thank you.

I sometimes think heaven

sent those lodgers to this house.

Not a moment too soon,

if you ask me.

We need to get that wiring mended.

And you're looking very thin.

I've always been thin!

And you're going gray.

I am not!

I've just got the odd silver hair.

I'm starting to rehearse

my m'audition in a week.

What is a m'audition, anyway?

It 's what you have

to show managers.

It means "my audition", but...

over the years it 's run

into one, out of habit.

Typical Academy.

Always got to be

a special word for everything.

Anyone who goes up

for any audition, anywhere...

has to sing, dance and recite!

It doesn't matter which school you

train at, it 's what you have to do.

I'm dreading my next birthday.

I'll have to get a licence,

and tap-dance on a stage.

I don't want to tap-dance either.

But I think I'd like to act.

How long will it be

till these fit?

- Other hole in my elocution drawers.

- It 's massive!

Right, today's French acting class

is cancelled.

Anyone involved in the Choral

Speaking Championships...

please go and wait in Studio One.

Posy Fossil,

Madame would like a word.

Winifred Bagnall and Pauline Fossil,

stay here and speak to me.

You'd better not be in bother.

Petrova...

...haven't you got anywhere to go?

- No. Not now.

Well, dear, wait outside while

I have a word with these two.

Yes, Miss Jay.

There's an audition tomorrow

at the Prince's Theatre.

You are both to be there,

punctually, at noon.

And...

I want you to style

your hair like this.

Is it for Alice in Wonderland?

Girls going for Alice

always wear a ribbon.

I wish it wasn't the Prince's though.

It 's such a mean management.

One ought to get six,

but it 's more likely four.

They might squeeze five.

Five what? Shillings?

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