Ballet Shoes Page #3

Pounds. Per week.

Don't you need any money at home?

You will attend no further classes

with your sisters and Miss Dane.

You will no longer study tap-dancing,

no longer study character dancing...

you will no longer study singing,

musical comedy, or mime.

In future, you will receive

instruction only in classical ballet.

And all that instruction

will come from me.

You are the first child in

the history of the Academy...

to come entirely

under my personal supervision.

You have the potential...

to be a truly remarkable dancer.

- As remarkable as you?

- Oh, my child.

Much, much more remarkable

than me.

But Sylvia, she needs an attractive

frock with a full flared skirt...

in order to show her dancing

to advantage!

Can't she just wear a practice dress?

Or go in her jersey and skirt?

Darling, are you mad? She has to

look quite perfectly turned out...

otherwise she simply

will not stand a chance!

Pauline,

performance comes from within!

When I watch you reciting Puck, I

don't see Pauline Fossil, schoolgirl!

I see a queer,

mercurial woodland creature!

- In a jersey and skirt.

- Eirene, that is unhelpful!

I still don't see

what 's wrong with cotton.

- They're from the summer before last!

- She's outgrown them all!

- Round the bust.

- Shut up, Posy!

Be quiet, Posy!

And less of the bust chat, thank you.

I'll be quiet! But not until I've

said that I think it 's very unfair...

that in the middle of all

this fuss about Pauline's frock...

and Pauline's audition...

not one person's said they're pleased

about Madame's plans for me!

Posy, that 's absolutely...

Bit of a flap on?

It 's a flap about money.

And Garnie says we shouldn't

discuss that sort of thing.

Easily done...

when there's plenty about.

Have you ever been poor?

Dreadfully poor.

Have you ever been in a pawn shop?

More than once,

by the time I was your age.

There's one just off

the Earl's Court Road.

Nana says people borrow money there,

in exchange for items of value.

She said it 's a facility

for the desperate.

Are you desperate?

Are things really so bad?

And we do have items of value.

What I propose is this.

I will personally advance you the sum

of four pounds and ten shillings...

in exchange for custody

of the necklaces.

And Garnie will not be told

of this arrangement.

And if she asks any questions,

I shall say I've had a windfall.

Pauline will then use the advance

to purchase...

an appropriate m'audition frock...

and will then buy the necklaces

back in small instalments...

always provided she gets the part.

No matter how long the process

takes, no interest will be charged.

You can't escape

It's in your memory

By morning

Night and noon

She will leave you

And then

Come back again

A pretty girl

Is just like a pretty tune

She is very good.

She's the best all round student

the Academy's ever had!

I've a hole underneath

the right arm of my frock.

I had to change my position

for the attitude at the end.

Little fair girl in black,

what 's your name?

Pauline Fossil!

Come down to centre stage.

Would you like to sing first,

or would you like to recite?

I'll recite.

Puck,

"A Midsummer Night 's Dream".

"I am that merry wanderer

of the night.

I jest to Oberon

and make him smile.

When I a fat and bead-fed

horse beguiles...

neighing in likeness

of a filly foal.

Sometimes lurk I

in a gossip's bowl...

in very likeness of a roasted crab.

And when she drinks,

against her lips I bob...

and on her wither'd dewlap

pours the ale."

Will all playing cards, Dormice

and dancing Frog Footmen...

make your way directly to the stage!

Any Mock Turtles,

wait in the wings till called.

Well done! Well done!

Both of you!

Now...

Pauline is to play Alice.

And Winifred will be engaged

as understudy.

When I finished my dance,

people clapped!

Nobody clapped her.

There was just silence!

Dance is important,

but Pauline looks right for Alice.

She looks right for everything!

She always will!

Pretty face...

blonde hair...

It 's got nothing whatsoever

to do with talent and it 's so unfair!

Winifred!

Winifred!

I will not take housekeeping

money from you, Pauline.

What would the authorities

think of me? Making a...

Thank you.

Making a profit from an orphan!

Besides, the law states that

a working child must save!

Only one third of her earnings.

One third of four pounds

is 26 shillings and 8 pence.

Even after 8 shillings

has gone to the Academy...

that would leave 2 pounds 5 shillings

and 4 pence for the house.

There's no need to blind me

with accountancy!

Garnie, we know we're poor!

- I don't know how they found out.

- Listening at doors, I don't doubt.

Naughty, sneaky habit.

I'm assuming this is Mr. Simpson's.

And if you excuse me saying...

I think you ought to take

what Pauline's offered.

I wanted Pauline

to save for the future!

All kinds of things

might happen in the future.

The Professor might come back,

in the future.

Your health might come back

on its own in the future.

You inherited that chest from your

father. Look what happened to him.

She'll accept 3O shillings a week.

And off upstairs, the lot of you...

or you'll be feeling the back

of my hairbrush!

Sylvia...

what matters most

is the life the girls have now.

And it wouldn't amount to much

if it didn't have you in it.

Now there's money coming in,

there are things that you can see to.

You can go and see a specialist,

for a start.

Petrova?

Petrova?

Do you think I can do it?

Do what?

Play Alice.

Winifred was better than me

in the audition.

And it 's a massive part.

You can't lose your nerve.

We need the money.

Stop!

You're nothing but a pack

of playing cards!

Bravo!

Really?

I'll see you back at home.

- You're wearing the necklaces.

- Mr. Simpson brought them down.

He didn't want Garnie

to be suspicious.

Well done. Very good.

- What did you really think?

- Amazing.

- Marvellous.

- Did you see us in the crowd?

Get that on your way out,

would you, Winifred?

I'll see to it.

Button up that gabardine.

I see Pauline left her wrap

in the wings again.

Could you remind her to wear it

over her costume at all times...

unless she's actually on the stage?

Most certainly.

She knows the rules.

Miss Brown?

She's worn out

with all the excitement.

Should we let her sleep?

Well done!

I'm not a complete novice.

What happened

to your wife and child?

There was a...

...a typhoid epidemic.

- I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to pry.

I sometimes feel

that I'd like to talk about it.

Then I find it 's better if I don't.

- Goodnight.

- Goodnight.

They've announced a month

of extra matinees.

And next week Princess Elizabeth and

Princess Margaret Rose are coming.

And will they be calling for tea

in your dressing room afterwards?

I hope not.

I'm always so tired after shows.

Posy, would you run downstairs

and fetch my handkerchief?

No, I will not!

Is something the matter

with your arms and legs?

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