Ballet Shoes Page #4

No.

I just need to save my strength.

It 's going to be a bit difficult when

we're all working, isn't it, Petrova?

- Yes.

- All of us giving out orders at once.

I think you're both absolutely vile!

Door slamming.

That 's a new one.

Wretched bills!

Harley Street, please.

Bravo!

Jolly well done!

Bravo!

Three curtain calls again!

Compliments of Mr. French, but would

Miss Fossil go back for her wrap?

You will keep leaving it

in the wings!

Let Winifred get it!

It 's the least she can do sitting in

my dressing room night after night.

If everybody had their rights,

young lady...

it would be you sitting in Winifred's

dressing room night after night!

- How can you even say that?

- What is this appalling commotion?

As you know, sir, Pauline left

her wrap in the wings again.

I have reprimanded her,

but she will not fetch it.

Oh, fetch it yourselves

if you want it fetched!

- Pauline!

- That is enough.

Rules are not made

for little girls to break!

- What 's your name again? Winifred...

- Winifred Bagnall, sir.

I'm Pauline's understudy.

Yes. Well, I think it 's high time

your positions were reversed.

From tomorrow, Winifred

will play the part of Alice.

Pauline, will you please tell me

what 's happened?

Why don't you just mind

your own business?

Garnie's been to see a specialist.

He asked to see her again.

I found a letter all about it.

I know we shouldn't snoop,

but they never tells us anything!

It said she's got...

inflammation of the lungs, that she

should move to a milder climate.

But you're working now, and the extra

matinees are just about to start!

We could send her to Bournemouth,

or Brighton, for a bit.

Pauline?

I was so selfish. All I could

think about was proving myself...

making everybody see

that I was talented.

But you are talented.

I have to be.

You have to be, Posy has to be.

Posy is.

Don't you ever worry that all the

three of us has is each other...

and what we are, what we can do?

Our talents?

No.

Don't you think it 's true?

I daren't think it 's true.

"Epaulement", child. When

the right leg is extended behind...

the left shoulder must move back.

Pas-de-bourr.

Reach.

Reach.

- Petrova!

- Coming.

We three Fossils vow to put our name

in the History books.

Because it is uniquely ours

and ours alone.

And no-one can say

it 's because of our grandfathers.

We also vow to earn

some money to help Garnie...

and support ourselves

until Gum comes home.

Amen.

Amen?

Amen? We aren't in church!

We do the vow every birthday

and every Christmas...

and we've never said Amen, ever.

I haven't had any work since Alice!

We need help, and I don't care

where it comes from.

- Well, it looks like Amen then.

- Amen.

Yes, amen.

Come on!

And you lost!

Well done.

Get yourself back there,

and don't get any broken teeth.

I was cricket captain,

but my sport was lacrosse.

Come on.

Give us another shot.

Oh, she'll be thrilled!

But you've already given her

a sovereign...

and I could have made a cake myself!

You do more than enough already.

How old would he be now?

Your son?

Getting on for...

eleven.

Come on, birthday girl!

Sylvia!

Sylvia!

Thank the Lord I found you!

There's an audition. "Midsummer

Night 's Dream", West End...

directed by Sir Donald Houghton.

They want to see Pauline and Petrova

tomorrow morning at ten o'clock.

- Shakespeare?

- Oh, dear.

Petrova and the iambic pentameter

are not soul mates.

It 's no good.

It doesn't fit you either. You've

gone the same way as your sister.

Round the you-know-what.

That 's enough from you.

Your turn will come.

We need a new dress each.

It will look good

if we're dressed the same...

and Nana can make them both.

- Out of what, may I ask? Scotch mist?

- There's no money, Pauline!

How much does

a piece of material cost?

More than we've got,

that 's how much.

- Then we just can't go.

- We have to go!

We have to get these jobs.

I suppose there's always

my birthday sovereign.

We needn't have bothered.

I look awful anyway.

It 's only a stye.

When we take the patch off,

the borax will have worked.

There won't even be a suggestion

of a swelling.

Little dark girl with the red eye.

What 's your name?

Petrova Fossil.

What part have you come to try for?

Mustard-seed.

Come down to the front

of the stage, please.

Whenever you're ready.

- Do you want me to sing or recite?

- There's no need to sing.

This isn't a musical.

"Henry IV", Act III,

Scene 2, The Boy.

Isn't that prose?

Yes.

Very well. Go on.

"As young as I am..."

"As young as I am...

I have observed

these three swashers.

- I am but boy to them all three..."

- Thank you. That 's enough.

No!

Please, you must let her finish.

I said "That 's enough"

because I'd heard enough.

She has got the part.

She has a decent accent, and

we must cast these parts today.

And...

there are no other candidates

for Mustard-seed.

Yes, sir.

Pauline?

Mr. French?

- I take it she's your sister?

- Yes.

Well, we won't bother hearing you.

You can both go.

You're hired.

Run along and fetch your coats

before I change my mind!

- Thank you.

- Thank you.

We got them! We got them!

Am I too late?

We'd been in Eastbourne,

to father's sanatorium.

I didn't get the message till today.

I was being seen for Mustard-seed.

They cast me.

They thought

nobody else was coming.

You could try for the ballet

of the fairies, after lunch.

I wouldn't get into a ballet of

goblins looking the way I do today!

And my dress has gone

underneath the other arm!

You can borrow my frock!

Or Pauline's. Can't she?

The trouble with you is that you're

a martyr to your conscience.

And the trouble with you is that

you haven't got one!

Look, this is Winifred

in the ballet of the fairies.

"I'm the best all-round student

this Academy has ever had.

Even though I've got a frankly

enormous bottom...

and I'm going to spend most

of Act II behind a tree."

Posy Fossil,

you are a heartless monster.

You noticed!

I brought you up.

I notice everything!

Right. We'll start with Cue 19a,

which is Oberon's line...

"I am invisible and I will

overhear their conference..."

Pauline!

Bravo!

Do you still hate

the idea of working?

Well, I always wanted to fly!

And I will purge

thy mortal grossness so...

that thou shalt

like an airy spirit go!

Peaseblossom, Cobweb,

Moth and Mustard-seed!

Ready!

And I!

And I!

And I!

Give me the line again?

And I.

Again.

And I?

Oh, please.

Am I asking for the moon?

All I want you to give me are two

sharp, clearly differentiated notes.

As soon as you would care to do so.

And I!

This is not the moment to be funny.

I'm afraid I have

no further time to waste on you.

If your work does not improve...

I shall take the part away.

Petrova?

Whatever's happened?

I'm going to get the sack.

I'll practice with you.

The doctors will help!

- I'll still get the sack!

- Darling...

there is nothing in this world

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