Dance Academy Page #5

ETHAN:

When did you decide you wanted todance?

Tara shrugs as she looks around the theatre.

TARA:

Probably... watching Natasha on anold video.

ETHAN:

That was the first time?

Tara thinks back a bit further. Her voice softens and becomes

more personal.

TARA:

No. The first time was when I was

five. I jumped off the roof anddecided that dancing must be...

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ETHAN:

The closest thing to flying?

He gets her - she smiles back at him.

TARA:

Something like that.

Just then one of the riggers drops a rope to the stage.

RIGGER (O.S.)

Look out!

Ethan looks up - an idea forming in his head.

24 EXT. MAROUBRA BEACH/ PARK - DAY 2 24

SAMMY, CHRISTIAN, KAYLAH, N/S BEACH GOERS

Christian, Sammy and Kaylah sit at a beach-side park table.

In front of them on the table are four still-wrapped burgers,

a big soft drink and a box of fries as well as eaten burgerwrappings. Kaylah and Sammy sit watching Christian eatanother large burger, egg and beetroot dripping onto thepaper in front of him.

He pushes a burger in front of each of them.

CHRISTIAN:

So was I right? Best burger inSydney?

SAMMY:

Seriously one was enough.

Christian shrugs - takes it back.

CHRISTIAN:

Next weekend I’ll be eating grueland wearing prison overalls.

KAYLAH:

Will you stop it?

SAMMY:

Exactly. They don’t send you toprison for shoplifting.

CHRISTIAN:

We had a knife, it’s a whole new

ball game.

On Sammy as this registers, but it doesn’t stop him for amore than a moment.

SAMMY:

My mum’s a barrister, I can talk toher, get some advice.

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CHRISTIAN:

I’m sick of advice, I’ve done

everything they asked me and for

what? I’ve got one week left of

freedom and I’m going to enjoy

myself.

Kaylah stands up - annoyed.

KAYLAH:

You’re an idiot.

Christian continues to eat - he doesn’t want to hear this.

CHRISTIAN:

I’m sorry you feel that way.

KAYLAH:

You make one stupid mistake and

then a whole bunch of really good

things happen for you and you’re

just going to throw them away

because Aaron let you down. Again.

CHRISTIAN:

Out of my hands.

Kaylah walks away, disgusted and annoyed. Sammy looks afterher, wondering whether to go after her.

CHRISTIAN:

She’s always like that. Go on,

have another one, we haven’t even

started on today’s list of things

to do.

Sammy sits for a moment, then grabs a burger and starts tounwrap it - Christian couldn’t look happier.

25 INT. ACADEMY/REHEARSAL STUDIO- DAY 2 25

KAT, ABIGAIL, N/S DANCERS

Hip hop music blares in the small studio. A small but

committed group have finally arrived for Kat’s hip hopsession. The dancers all take turns in doing a solo out thefront of the group.

It’s an informal but fun routine, interspersed with moment offree form as the various soloists take the floor.

Kat still leads the group - directs her comments to Abigail -

who is bored, doing the moves but not with any energy orpassion - mostly she keeps her eye on the door waiting forSammy

KAT:

Commit to it...

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Abigail is furious that Kat is singling her out, she stumbles

on a step.

KAT:

You can’t fake it, if it’s not real

it shows.

Abigail exchanges a furious look with Kat, who just grins.

The soloists swap as another dancer takes the main floor.

Kat whoops encouragement. Abigail just keeps her eye on thedoor.

KAT:

Come on, this isn’t even that hard,

loosen up. Abigail, is that allyou’ve got?

Abigail’s finally had enough, she steps forward and indicatesthat it’s time for her solo.

And what she does amazes everybody, including Kat. Maybeit’s her technical ability, maybe it’s hanging out with Sammy

-but Abigail does the most amazing hip hop solo.

Even Kat is impressed. As the track comes to an end Abigailfinishes with a spectacular move. The rest of the class

applaud. Abigail looks straight at Kat.

ABIGAIL:

You’re so right, it’s really notthat hard.

On Kat, she has to admit Abigail was good.

26 INT. THEATRE/PLATFORM ABOVE THE STAGE - DAY 2 26

ETHAN, TARA, N/S STAGE RIGGER, N/S STAGEHAND

We find Tara high above the stage at the theatre. A RIGGER

stands below holding a rope. Tara is wearing a harness andis being held in place by STAGEHAND.

Ethan is on the stage - he waves up to Tara and points to therigger.

ETHAN:

Just let him take your weight.

TARA:

You sure about this?

ETHAN:

No fear right? You want to fly.

TARA:

My whole life.

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Tara nods to him and Ethan waves to the rigger - who movesslowly across the floor with the rope.

Tara feels the pulls of her harness and then she’s flyingacross the stage. Her weight counter-balanced by the rigger.

The rig is a simple fly, and as Tara slowly and gracefullyflies out across the stage we see that her face is filledwith joy. This is her dream come true.

Ethan runs to the console - switches on some lights. The

stage backdrop floods with a soft orange/pink light and amirror ball sends sparkles of light across the whole scene(adjust).

Ethan’s direction make the stage instantly more magical. Hestarts to direct the rigger.

ETHAN:

Come downstage and then move heracross stage left (adjust).

The rigger follows his directions and Ethan watches as Taraflies through the magical space that he has created.

27 EXT. MAROUBRA BEACH/ROCK PLATFORM - DAY 2 27

SAMMY, CHRISTIAN,

Christian and Sammy stand on the edge of a high set of rocks.

Sammy looks at the drop to the swirling ocean below.

SAMMY:

I take it we’re not just here forthe view.

CHRISTIAN:

We jump.

Sammy stares down at the rocks.

CHRISTIAN:

Aaron and I used to do it all the

time. Trust me it looks worse than

it is.

SAMMY:

Why are we doing this again?

CHRISTIAN:

Cos life is short Sammy.

Christian grins at him and jumps off the rocks!

Sammy hesitates, then builds all his courage together andwith a great yell and a leap - jumps off after Christian!

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28 EXT. MAROUBRA BEACH SHORE - DAY 2 28

SAMMY, CHRISTIAN, SURFERS, BEACH WALKERS

Sammy and Christian wash up to the shore, perfectly safe.

Sammy is laughing his head off, they both flop onto the sandjust past the shoreline.

SAMMY:

That was awesome.

CHRISTIAN:

I told you.

SAMMY:

I will admit. You were right.

Christian nods to himself - he knows - but Sammy is serious.

SAMMY:

But you’re wrong about your courthearing. Kaylah said it, you’rerunning away.

CHRISTIAN:

(angry)

What else am I supposed to do?

SAMMY:

Gee I don’t know, get legal adviceand keep going to class so that youget a reference from the Academy?

Christian is quiet - finally he speaks.

CHRISTIAN:

But I did it, I was at that servo.

We totally did that guy over.

SAMMY:

You going to do it again?

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