Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights

November 1958,

my senior year of high school.

While other girls

were dancing to Elvis...

and dreaming about prom dates...

I was reading Jane Austen

and dreaming about college.

And then my parents announced...

we were moving to Cuba--

in a week.

Slamming doors and

giving the silent treatment...

couldn't change that...

but it was easier than admitting

I was really scared.

At least everyone else

was happy.

Dad got his big promotion

from Ford.

Mom got to travel in style,

and Susie...

I swear that girl

could adjust in a hurricane.

Welcome to the Hotel Oceana.

Not too shabby, huh?

Here's what I know about Cuba--

my high-school French

wasn't going to help me.

I didn't know a single person...

and though no one

would talk about it...

Fidel Castro was leading

a people in a revolution...

against President Batista...

not that you would know it

from this place.

This is Cuba.

Nobody cares what you do here.

Susie, you want a smoke?

Watch out for this one.

She's a bad influence.

I'll take that as a compliment.

She'll have you

ditching classes in no time.

As I recall,

there's a certain someone...

that likes to ditch them

with me.

Don't forget to sign up

for mambo lessons.

Mambo classes

are held every day...

My God.

June Cleaver is in Havana.

Actually, that's my sister

Katey. She's a real brain.

Oh, really?

Yeah. She's probably going

to Radcliffe.

What, majoring in fashion?

Why don't you join us?

There's room here.

I'm James Phelps.

Hi. Katey Miller.

Pleasure to meet you.

- Are you the--

- Yeah.

- Your dad works for my dad.

- Yeah.

This is Sheila, Eve,

Polly, and Steph...

and I guess you know Susie,

right?

So, are you really going

to Radcliffe?

I won't know till spring.

Whoa. Watch out, girls.

I guess if your head's

in your books...

you really don't have time...

to think about

silly things like the weather.

Chilly?

Oh.

I'm so sorry. It's my fault.

No, just go get new drinks.

Stupid spic.

Excuse me.

- Excuse me. Seor?

- How may I help you, seorita?

I knocked into those drinks.

I'd like to pay for them.

That will not be necessary.

Accidents happen. Excuse me.

I speak English...

and I don't need your charity.

It's not.

Don't worry about it. It's OK.

I'm sorry

for what she called you.

- That was nothing.

- Not to me.

Then why are you apologizing?

You guys were so good.

Your mother was good. I was OK.

- Dad?

- Hmm.

I'm sorry I haven't been

excited about all of this.

Sweetheart, it's OK.

Senior year is a terrible time

to drag you out of school...

especially when

you're the star of the class.

- Dad.

- Come on. Don't deny it.

Be proud of it.

You'll do great here, too.

I can't stand on your feet

anymore.

- Hey, you remembered that.

- Yeah.

Very good.

Let's continue

where we left off.

Book 18, page 25.

Katey, just do your best

to follow, all right?

It's OK. I read it last year.

Knock it off.

Well, then perhaps you'd like

to begin reading at line 342.

"Now the suitors

turned to dance and song...

"to the lovely beaten sway...

"waiting for dusk

to come upon them there...

and the dark night came

upon them, lost in pleasure."

Can anyone tell us...

the significance

of this passage?

It's a bunch of drunk guys

doing it.

Athena wants the suitors to

keep invading Odysseus' house...

so that he'll get angry enough

to kill them.

And why does the goddess

want that?

She wants Odysseus

to find his strength...

and courage?

Very good.

Need a ride home?

No. I'm OK. I got

a lot of catching up to do.

You know, a lot of girls...

don't like to let on

when they're smart.

I know.

I shouldn't have said--

No. No, I like that.

I like that about you.

A bunch of us are going to our

country club on Saturday night.

There'll be a band.

The music's pretty cool.

Would you like to go with me?

I really do have

a lot of work to do.

On a Saturday night?

Wow.

Come on. I'm sure even Homer

took some time off...

between The Iliad

and The Odyssey.

Well, sure. OK.

OK.

We're all here now. You can go.

Bonita.

Eso.

You felt the sudden urge

for Cuban music?

The van left without me.

I've been walking

for an hour.

I can walk you back.

Oh, no. You don't

have to do that.

Oh, yeah, you're right.

You'll find your way

sooner or later.

Maybe in a week or a month.

Let me just say good-bye.

Abuelito!

Bueno.

What was it you called him?

Abuelito. It's my grandpa.

I'm Katey.

What's your name?

Javier.

So what, you know like

five words in Spanish?

Maybe ten.

And what are you

studying so hard to do?

I haven't figured it out yet.

Here. Let me take that.

I've never seen

dancing like that.

Like what?

I don't know.

I like it. It's very...

- Very Cuban?

- Yeah.

- We should get off the street.

- Why?

You don't understand

what they're singing.

No!

No!

That way!

So you've got--

OK. Here she comes.

Thank you so much.

Thank God.

Katey, where have you been?

I missed the bus.

I'm fine. I walked.

For heaven's sakes.

Katey, why didn't you call me?

For all I knew, you could have

been kidnapped by rebels.

It's not the rebels

you should be worried about.

What did you say?

You're right. I'm sorry.

I should have called.

Honey, where's your book bag?

I left it at school.

It was heavy.

Oh, God.

It was good I had all these

boring American books with me.

They realized I couldn't

be a revolutionary.

I don't understand.

They were just singing.

There is not such a thing

as "just singing" here anymore.

You know,

you're a pretty good dancer.

I was terrible.

Oh, yeah.

Yeah, you were terrible...

but for an American,

you move well.

Oh, thanks.

Why do you look

in the mirror?

I was trying to remember

the steps I saw.

But what does looking

have to do with it?

Just feel the music.

You should see for yourself.

The real dancers are at

La Rosa Negra on Saturday night.

I can't.

I got invited

to this country club thing.

- Hey, that was fast.

- Yeah.

Is that why you want

to learn Cuban dancing?

Just to impress your date?

No. I wanted to--

Don't worry. Don't worry.

They won't dance like that

at the club.

Just learn

the fox trot instead.

I already know the fox trot.

Do we need to go shopping?

I just thought you might

be going to the country club...

Saturday night.

Oh, you just thought?

Mrs. Phelps took me to lunch.

You two aren't planning

an arranged marriage, are you?

No. I should have

thought of that.

He's so cute.

- Yolanda?

- Yes?

Is this square?

Square?

Yeah, you know...

Iike a square?

Is a square good or bad?

It's bad.

S.

This is square.

Oh, God.

I don't know.

You're smaller than me.

Your dresses'll be...

Perfect.

You're joking.

Why? Is it square?

Definitely not.

It's not fair!

All of my friends are going...

so why would you go,

and I can't?

I am older than you.

Such a waste. You don't

even know how to have fun.

Sure you don't

want me to stay?

Dad, don't.

OK. Bye.

Be careful.

Polly. Polly.

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