Center Stage Page #3

He was nice about it.

Being nice when you say something pricky

is even prickier.

What if he's right?

What?

Let's be honest.

You're not like most of the girls here.

Your technique is nowhere near

where it should be.

There's more to being a great dancer

than perfect technique.

- Try dancing Swan Lake without it.

- Am I hearing this?

Look, you're really smart.

If you send your application now,

you could get into a good college.

I don't want to go to college.

I want to dance.

Well, so do a lot of people.

Did you go to a special

b*tch academy or something?

I'm just being honest.

In my opinion, that's what friends do.

I guess that explains

why you have so many friends.

If anyone asks, I'm in the library.

Truth?

In terms of technique, you are behind.

But the people here

know what they're looking for.

And on the day of your audition,

they saw it in you.

And now all they see is

the wrong body type.

Why can't I have your feet?

- Okay. Enough of this. Get up.

- Why?

Because all we ever do in this place

is take class.

And it's about time we had a little fun.

Hi, Maureen.

Hi, Emily. How you guys doing?

Fine.

Good.

So has Maureen been really busy?

She isn't seeing someone else, like...

...Cooper Nielson or someone?

What do you know about him?

I've been doing my ballet research.

We're not encouraged

to date company members.

I fully support that policy.

Look.

All I came here to say is

I go to Columbia, pre-Med.

I have a clean record, impeccable hygiene

and here's my number.

- Go talk to him.

- Come on, go.

The thing is, I've got priorities.

You only get to be a dancer for 10 years.

Maybe 15 if you don't get injured.

So, for the next decade...

All I'm asking for is a date.

God!

That's why I like this guy.

Anna's for sure, right?

She's always been Jonathan's favourite.

- Maureen, too.

- Right.

- Boring.

- Boring or not, Jonathan likes her.

That only leaves one girl spot open.

- Emily.

- I don't think so.

- She's getting big. Jonathan hates big.

- It's a little extra padding for the winter.

You didn't get all done up like that

to talk about ballet.

Come on.

- What does she have that I don't?

- She can salsa.

You call that salsa? Come on, Erik.

We'll show them salsa.

Get your asses up here.

- What is that?

- That's not salsa.

- That is not salsa.

- Use the technique, Charlie.

Here we go, girl.

Where are you from?

- Jersey.

- New Jersey?

Me. I'm from Russia.

Yeah? What are you doing here?

I'm a ballet dancer.

How do I do this exactly?

You've never bowled before?

No.

Just roll it on down there.

In Nepal, there's a jungle with an elephant

walking and he steps on a thorn.

He says, "That hurts."

He sees a little mouse and says,

"Help me get the thorn out of my foot."

And the mouse goes, "You stepped on

my uncle last week. No way."

He goes, "Please, I'll do anything.

It really hurts."

- The mouse goes, "Anything?"

- He says, "Yeah."

So he takes out the thorn.

The elephant feels so much better,

and he says, "How can I repay you?"

The mouse goes, "I want to have

my way with you. You're sexy."

And the elephant goes, "No."

He goes, "You promised."

And starts doing the elephant.

The elephant says, "I'll let him finish.

It's the right thing to do."

There's three monkeys in a tree.

They see this mouse hump the elephant.

They pick up these coconuts

and just start chucking them.

They hit the elephant in the head.

The elephant goes. "My God, that hurts."

The mouse doesn't even stop.

He says, "Yeah. Take it all, b*tch."

This is my kind of a mouse.

Why can't all dancing be this fun?

All dancing is this fun.

Maybe for you.

Russia?

So, what are you doing in New York?

Mafia.

You got...

I've got it.

Would it...

...be presumptuous to ask to come up?

Yeah.

Plus, you're not allowed. Dorm rules.

So this is good night.

I think so. Yeah.

But not goodbye.

No.

No, not goodbye.

I have to go.

Good night.

Guys, let's go to another club.

I want to dance.

- All right, ma'am. Time to go.

- Taxi, taxi!

You're sweaty.

I don't mind, because you're sweet.

And so is your sweat.

Sweet sweat.

You are, too.

What? Sweet or sweaty?

Both.

- I'm sorry. Sorry.

- Come on, Jody.

Can't do another one of these today.

Careful with that one.

You break it, you bought it.

Okay, stop.

Stop.

You five, come here.

God.

When you show up to class

unprepared to work, it's an insult.

Not just to me.

To your fellow students and to the school.

Get out of my class.

How many studios are there altogether?

Eight.

That's a lot of mirrors.

It was worth it just to see Sergei

getting it on with that old lady.

- I had forgotten all about that.

- We weren't getting it on.

Right.

I thought she was going to detach her jaw

and swallow you whole.

I'm just trying to imagine

what the lovely Galina...

...would say about that.

- No, you can't tell her.

- Yes, I can.

- I was lonely.

- It didn't mean anything, guys.

- I don't know, Sergei. I'm with Jody.

A girl's got a right to know

what kind of hound she's saving herself...

How about this?

I'm sorry! Don't!

Stop it!

So there's this jungle

and all these wild animals, lions and tigers.

There's this elephant

and he steps on this thorn.

It makes sense for Charlie

to partner you in the pas de deux class.

He's very good.

It's a waste for him to be partnering Jody.

It's fine. So anyway...

...the thorn really hurts.

- I'm talking about something important.

- It's not that important.

- Not that important?

Having a bad pas de deux partner

is like having a bad tennis partner.

I wouldn't know. I've never played tennis.

What's wrong with you?

Did you just start your period?

No. God.

Well, you're acting strangely.

I'm trying to tell a joke.

I'm trying to have an important

conversation about your future.

Charlie brings out the best in his partner.

That'll make a difference when

it comes to cast the student workshop.

I won't have a hard time

getting a good part, Mom.

You can't afford to be cavalier, Maureen.

Your entire career hangs

on what you get to dance in the workshop.

I know all this.

Please don't turn into

a sullen teenager on me now.

You've come this far.

I thought we were home free.

Anyway...

...I have a meeting with Jonathan today.

I'll mention the idea of you and Charlie.

What happens is the elephant goes, "Ow"

and the mouse goes, "Take it all, b*tch!"

You're threatened by me.

I'm threatened by no one.

Yeah, you are.

You're afraid of opening the Times...

...and reading that at last, someone is

making interesting dances for ABC.

I'm not an idiot.

If you prove to be a great choreographer,

I'll be begging you to make dances.

But for now,

I can only choreograph workshop.

That's my decision.

You're still hanging onto

all that personal sh*t.

I don't need to hang onto anything.

I got the girl.

Hi. Do you have a 5:30 class?

- What kind would you like?

- Anything but ballet.

All right, everybody!

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