Center Stage Page #5

but I'm kind of seeing someone.

Sorry. I didn't realise.

No. It's just that it's new

and I don't want to make a big thing of it.

Sure, yeah. No big thing.

You haven't seen my girlfriend, have you?

Tall, thin, legs for days?

Yeah. I pushed her overboard.

You okay?

Fine. Just motion sickness.

- You want some water?

- No, it passed.

- Sure?

- Yeah.

No, Erik!

This is about sex.

I want you to feel it. Let me show you.

See where I am? I'm right up against her.

My hips are right up against her.

- You got it?

- Yeah. I got it.

What do you think about this

for the end of the pas de trois?

Can I see that?

Sure.

I changed it a little.

It could work.

That could work, too.

How about like that?

Why don't you just try this?

I could work on it.

You do that.

Moving on.

Girls! Arms over the top

before going into the arabesque.

Boys, you've got to watch each other

in the lift.

Emily, you're out of line.

Look at the diagonal. Look at it.

Maureen, wake up. Where's your focus?

You'll be onstage in less than a month.

Why would 3,000 people watch you

raise your arm if it's not beautiful?

- What are you doing here?

- I wanted to surprise you.

You looked amazing out there.

- Thanks.

- Your pirouettes were amazing.

Amazing and tiring.

Friend of Cooper's?

Kind of.

You are in big trouble.

She's in my ballet.

Please.

She's a heartbeat away

from tattooing your name on her ass.

- Want to go to my place?

- Sure.

All right.

- See you.

- See you tomorrow.

Where are we going?

Night.

Lexington?

Good night.

- Excuse me.

- Goodness.

No, my fault entirely.

It's good I didn't step on one of your feet,

you could sue me.

Don't worry. They're not as valuable

as they used to be.

How's Jonathan's ballet coming along?

- It's going to be beautiful. Really lovely.

- Good.

- Is Maureen feeling better?

- Better than what?

She said she felt like she was

coming down with something. A bug.

Right. That bug.

What brings you here

to our humble part of the city?

Cooper invited me to watch his rehearsal.

He did?

How nice you two have kept in touch.

Just a bit.

- He's being nice to a tired old lady.

- Nonsense.

Have fun.

Okay, guys. Let's take it from the bridge.

Is that clear?

Jody, you're here.

Yesterday I was stage left.

Today you're stage right.

What am I going to be tomorrow?

Excuse me?

You keep changing your mind.

It's hard to keep track.

It's not that complicated.

I want what I say I want,

when I say I want it.

- You got a problem with that?

- Yeah. Maybe I do.

What about what I want?

I don't give a sh*t what you want!

You're a dancer. Period.

You do what I want and if you're not,

then why are you here?

I'm afraid that's how ballets get made.

It's all very dramatic.

Don't look at me. I'm too embarrassed.

You were saying how you felt.

What's embarrassing about that?

How a dancer feels

doesn't matter to a choreographer.

No, but how a woman feels...

...should matter to the guy she's seeing.

Do you think I'm an idiot

for getting involved with him?

No.

I think he's an idiot

for not treating you well.

Come on. Let's go back.

- I can't.

- Sure you can.

No. I'm all splotchy.

I feel...

So use it.

What?

Whatever you feel. Just dance it.

And you're not splotchy.

I'm sorry.

I'm ready.

All right. Let's take it from the top.

Good morning, Mrs. Cummings.

Good morning, Emily.

Maureen, can I see you for a moment?

- I've got class.

- This won't take long.

Juliette says you've been off lately.

- You talked to Juliette about me?

- She sought me out. She talked to me.

- She did?

- Yes, she did.

She asked if you're doing better,

which means you were doing poorly.

A bug. For God's sakes,

it's not even a good lie.

I know what's going on, Maureen.

You should ask yourself,

what's this boy doing to your dancing?

And the ladies have to make fifth

before the show starts.

Stop! Stop!

You make it look like work.

I need to see the movement,

not the effort behind it.

Thank you. We're out of time.

We'll pick this up tomorrow.

Can I see you in my office, please?

What happened?

I'm going home.

What did he say to you?

He told me I couldn't be in the workshop.

He said I don't enough take pride

in my body. He thinks I'm too fat.

I could kill that man.

You're not fat! You're beautiful.

So you're leaving for good?

Yeah. My mom thinks it's best.

Dancing used to make her happy

and it doesn't anymore, so that's enough.

Promise me you won't let anyone

make you feel bad about yourself, okay?

You're perfect the way God made you.

We have to go, sweetie.

Look.

I know I'm not a doctor yet or anything...

...but what you're doing is bad for you.

- I wasn't feeling well.

- Please.

What do you know?

I know that no goal

is worth making yourself sick.

Yeah? Maybe my goal is

a little more demanding than yours.

Medicine is plenty demanding,

but I am not going to hurt myself for it!

I'm not hurting.

I'm making decisions,

sacrifices for what I want.

Like you know what you want!

What's that supposed to mean?

You know what?

Call me crazy, but I find it hard to believe...

...that a girl who is throwing up

everything she eats...

...is all that in tune

with her wants and needs.

You know what? I don't need this.

Not from you. God.

I'm sorry. Please don't run out

in the middle of the night.

Just back off!

Listen to me.

Wait. Look. I don't...

I don't want to drive you away.

- I just want to help you.

- I don't need any help. I'm fine.

I am the best goddamn dancer

in the American Ballet Academy.

Who the hell are you? Nobody.

If you let go of your centre...

...it will just happen, naturally.

Now release the neck.

Lovely.

Do you want to show me again?

You wouldn't mind?

Not in the least.

All right, boys and girls,

let's go to the opening diagonals.

Hearing the orchestra for the first time

doesn't mean you can stop counting.

You're all off the music.

You must remember your counts.

Keep going.

- Are you sure it's in here?

- That's what Sergei said.

I want to see straight diagonals...

Oh, my God!

"Dancing a new work choreographed

by Cooper Nielson are Jody Sawyer...

- "...Charles Sims and Erik O. Jones."

- Erik, check this out.

Please. This is a rehearsal,

not a social hour!

- I've never been in the paper before.

- I know. Me neither.

It's kind of cool.

Are you guys warmed up?

Of course.

Five, six, seven, eight. One...

We don't invite press to workshop.

You know that.

I didn't invite anyone.

Nancy says every paper has called,

and all they ask about is your ballet.

If there's interest, that's great,

but other than that...

Bullshit.

One more time.

What are you up to?

Phoning press, kissing Joan Miller's ass.

She's shown no interest in the company

since spending time with you.

What do you know?

I guess I got the girl this time.

Sh*t.

You all right?

Where is it?

Man, I'm so sorry.

You'd better start rehearsing

the understudy.

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