Center Stage Page #6

It's Andre. He's not good enough.

I can't use him.

You have to use him. Erik can't dance.

I'm going to do it.

You can't do that, Cooper.

The workshop's for students.

If you want your students

to dance my ballet, they'll dance with me.

Otherwise, I'm pulling it.

You okay?

Erik got injured today.

And you know the first thing I thought

when I saw him go down?

What?

I wished that was me.

That made me think,

because that's not a normal reaction.

How much of what you liked about me

was because I was a ballet dancer...

...and how much because I was me?

I can't do it.

- I can't dance with him.

- Why? Because he dumped you?

No. Because he's the best dancer

in the world.

You'll be fine. Just get some sleep.

With Erik, I had a chance to show Jonathan

how wrong he is about me.

Now, because of Cooper,

I'm going to look like a total amateur.

Where were you? Rehearsing?

How's Erik?

He can't dance tomorrow.

How would you be?

- Relieved.

- What?

They think the sun shines out of your ass,

so you'd still make the company.

Just my luck.

I would kill for your luck.

All I've ever wanted

was to be in the American Ballet Company.

There are three places going tomorrow.

If you both chill out and get some sleep,

you could get two of them.

You're welcome to my place.

Me? No. I screwed up any chance I had

back in September.

But I started dancing

long before this stupid workshop...

...and I'm going to keep on dancing

long after it.

So tomorrow is one more day

I get to dance.

Tomorrow's when they decide

the rest of my life.

I'm not dancing for them anymore.

I'm dancing for me.

Let's just go to sleep.

Have a wonderful afternoon.

Thanks for your support.

Erik, how are you?

It's a sprain.

I have to stay off it for six weeks.

Just long enough to ruin my entire career.

Ladies and gentlemen,

this is your half-hour call.

- Is Miami here?

- Everyone's here.

I'd kill to get an offer from Miami.

I can't wear that.

My God. It's totally packed. Come here.

Can you believe this?

Okay, I'm nervous. Let's go.

Nicole, merde.

- Gillian, Lena. Merde.

- Thanks for the work.

- This is what we worked for.

- Anna, merde.

- Still only room for three in the company?

- Don't even think about it.

All right.

Merde. Thank you, ladies.

Places!

And curtain warmers out. Go.

Warm the curtain.

And curtain. Go.

How you feeling? You ready?

I guess so.

Look, those fouetts at the end?

I really need you to be on your leg.

Because in rehearsals,

it hasn't been going well.

It's the end of the ballet

and we need everything together and tight.

I know.

Sorry, of course you do.

I just want everything to be perfect.

Why don't you let me finish warming up?

You're going to be great.

- See you out there?

- See you.

Listen, forget him.

Just dance it like you feel it.

Easy as that?

I've got to warm up.

They loved you. Thanks.

- Did you see how on I was tonight?

- Yeah, totally on.

- Okay. Good luck.

- Thanks.

- Good luck.

- Thank you.

What's going on? Does Jonathan know?

Where's Maureen?

What happened to Maureen?

I thought Maureen had this role.

It says here, "Maureen Cummings."

Excuse me.

- Mom.

- What's wrong?

- Are you sick?

- No.

Then why the hell is that trash

out there dancing your part?

Because I wanted her to. She's not trash.

I don't know how to respond to this.

You could ask me why.

Okay, fine. Why, in God's name?

I don't want to be a ballet dancer.

Yes, you do. You always have.

No, Mom. If this were what I wanted,

I wouldn't be as unhappy as I've been.

I'd have friends. I'd sleep well.

I wouldn't throw up half the things I eat.

You watch your weight. So what?

Don't you hear me?

I'm telling you I'm unhappy and sick.

I can't do this anymore. Don't you care?

Of course I care. But this is your dream.

Don't just throw away your dream!

It's your dream.

And it matters more to you

than anything mattered to me.

So I did it, but I can't anymore.

It's not that I don't care

about your feelings. I do.

It's just that...

...I know...

...what regret feels like

and I don't want that for you.

I know what it's like to look back and wish.

That's what ballet would be for me.

A life of wishing

that I found something I really loved...

...instead of something

I just happened to do well.

I'm not you, Mom.

You didn't have the feet.

I don't have the heart.

That was beautiful.

She was fantastic.

She was okay.

Brace yourself for what's next.

And one, two...

...three, four...

...five, six...

...seven, eight.

- I loved it. Beautiful.

- Places, please. Places.

Places for the curtain call. Here we go!

I'm going to kill you.

- What's wrong? Are you crazy?

- I wanted to tell you. I'm sorry.

There you are.

Cooper, you were wonderful.

You were beautiful.

You were wonderful, too.

I'll have to steal him away.

I'm stealing you away.

I have the small rehearsal room.

- Do you want the girls first or the boys?

- Girls.

Will you excuse me, please?

- Tell me more.

- I've got dancers and a place scouted out.

It was her idea!

Oh, God. What happened?

What did he say?

Mom! I'm so happy you guys are here.

We wanted to see

what you've been up to this past year.

And I've got to tell you...

...that was the most fantastic thing

I've ever seen.

It was great, honey. Just wonderful.

You want to know something stupid?

I'd actually started to believe

I didn't need to hear that anymore.

I made it. I made it!

Thank you.

We'll see you later at the dorm.

Yeah, we'll see you at the dorm.

Excuse me. Eva Rodriguez.

Jonathan wants to see you.

What you did today

was completely disrespectful.

I'm sorry.

Or actually, I'm not.

Because that was the best time

I ever had in my life.

Jesus! That's a great ballet!

You know that?

Thank you. And you were great in it.

And I'd like to have you

as a member of the company...

...if you'll join us.

Are you nuts?

I hope not, but that depends

entirely on you, doesn't it?

Guess what?

Joan Miller loved the ballet

and wants to fund my company.

- I'm going to have my own company.

- You're kidding?

Congratulations.

Listen, you have to be in my company.

You'll be its star.

We'll be great together.

They're ready for you.

Wait.

For ten years...

...all I've wanted was to be

one of ABC's perfect ballerinas.

I've wanted to be you, Juliette.

But I'm not you.

And I'm not perfect. I'm just me.

Bad feet and all.

And I'm starting to think

I like that even better.

No.

Please don't.

If you're not offering me a place

in the company, I don't want to hear it.

And if you are...

...I might not have the strength to say no.

And then I'd spend my best dancing years

in the back of a corps, waving a rose.

And I'm better than that.

So thank you, for turning me into

the best dancer I can be.

I appreciate it more than I can say.

Because the best dancer

I can be is a principal...

...in Cooper Nielson's new company.

Girl, you are too many things.

I cannot believe it.

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