Save the Last Dance 2 Page #3

get focused.

Well, I know this place

around the corner.

Best cannolis on the Upper West Side.

Maybe we could...

I really don't have time to go anywhere.

So I got these friends

that own a art gallery downtown,

and they're doing this big show

on street art.

Graffiti, tag and all the way

from the beginning till now.

They asked this guy Nigel,

who's a video director,

real creative cat, to pull together

a video installation/performance piece

for the exhibit.

And he asked me to handle the music,

and I was hoping that maybe

you could help me out.

- How?

- Choreograph a dance piece.

- Me?

- Yeah, you.

Why me?

What you did back at the club, that was

some of the illest stuff I've ever seen.

Look, I'd love to help you out.

But I'm doing everything I can

just to keep my head above water...

- Sara.

...in my classes, okay?

- I'm sorry.

- Hey.

- What's this?

- Just some beats I been working on.

It's kind of off the bubble.

None of that Hot 97 rah-rah.

You know what I'm saying?

Just listen to it.

Was that you humming just now?

It's beatboxing. It's humming 2.0.

- It's odd.

- It's part of my culture.

That's not what I meant. What I meant,

that most people

wouldn't be able to revisit

the site of their greatest failure

with so much ease.

What is it about you that

makes you so comfortable with defeat?

You seem pretty relaxed.

What was the last dancer

you got into ABT?

San Francisco? Joffrey?

- Losing your touch, huh?

- No.

I'm just maintaining my standards.

Morning, Bella.

I can't even get out of the third line.

She's making an example of you.

Lucky me.

I'm, like, this close from Monique

presenting me as her protg.

Oh, my God.

I've never been so sore in my life.

Get used to it.

I don't think I've slept

more than four hours since I got here.

If there's one thing in life

I could get rid of, it'd be sleep.

It's such a waste of time.

Such a waste.

I don't do drugs.

It's not heroin, Sara.

Just remember,

Xenical is your pal

when you want to keep the weight off.

Percocet's best for the knees

that want to fall off.

And Ambien is your friend

when you just need to doze off.

You want to get out of the third line,

don't you?

I don't want to be

the goddamn quirky brunette.

- What?

- Every play I've ever been in,

I wind up playing this witty-yet-lovable,

slightly insane girl

with the plaid skirt and weird laugh.

Yeah, you're right.

That doesn't sound like you at all.

So we're doing this play,

and the lead character is this quirky,

well, homicidal brunette type,

and of course

they want me to read for it.

- Wow, the lead. That's great.

- No, that's not great.

Jeez, are you even listening to me?

If I do this now, it will never stop.

That'll be it for me. I'll always be

the goddamn quirky brunette.

- Then don't do it.

- No. I can't not do it.

This could be my big break.

I could get an agent.

So why don't you just read

for another part?

I'm not gonna quit

no matter how hard you push me,

or how much you single me out

as an example of what not to do.

I worked too hard to get here.

And I am prepared

to do whatever it takes to be the best.

You're gonna have to pack my bags

if you want me gone.

- Are you done, Sara?

- Yes.

- So...

- Jesus!

Sure you don't want to get a cannoli?

I'm doing some research.

Trying to get inside

the master's head, huh?

But I hear it's a scary place.

You seem to know a lot

about this school for a guest lecturer.

Well, that's 'cause I used to go here.

- What?

- You heard me.

You went here?

Hey, I may not look like it,

but I'm a pretty cultured cat.

- What were you here for?

- Piano. Composition actually.

- You must've been good.

- Damn straight.

- So I dropped out.

- What?

Why would you give this up?

It just wasn't for me.

So did you listen

to those tracks I gave you?

Look, you're gonna have

to get somebody else.

- I don't want anybody else. I want you.

- You don't even know me.

I know what I saw at the club that night.

- Get Candy to choreograph it.

- Forget Candy.

Nigel said it'll take one day.

We can shoot this weekend.

- This weekend?

- It'll be fun.

I'm not here for fun.

This Sara Johnson,

what do we know about her?

Well, she studied

at a few small princess academies

and then last year with Uri Pell.

Her father's a musician.

I've never heard of him, though.

- And her mother?

- She died last year.

Actually, around the same time

she first auditioned for Juilliard.

I read her file. I'm her mentor.

- Here you go.

- Thanks.

Here you go.

Monique wants to see you.

- You feeling okay?

- Yeah. I'm just a little tired.

- Marcus, are you okay?

- I just had my review.

She dropped me.

She made me work my ass off.

How can I just go home?

I'm sorry.

Close the door.

Come.

I've observed some things

that are distressing me.

You need to work on your turnout.

Your arms are overly expressive.

You keep turning...

Sara?

- I think I'm going to be sick.

- Oh, my God.

Kleenex. Kleenex. Kleenex.

Here you go.

- I'm sorry.

- No. It's all right. Are you all right now?

- Can I take it?

- Yes.

Oh, God.

You're taking pills.

I've never taken them before.

I swear. Just, my body hurts.

I can't sleep, can't eat.

I just... I don't know what to do,

and this is the first time it happened.

It's just hard.

Sara, it's supposed to be hard.

It wouldn't be worth it if it weren't.

Now we have to focus

on strengthening your ankles.

I'm not being cut?

Why would you think that?

Very good.

Please clear the studio

for the next class.

- How did I do?

- You were brilliant.

But I'm not your frigging cheerleader,

so in the future,

if you're curious about

your performance, look in the mirror.

That's what they're there for.

I was pretty surprised you found time

to fit me and my cannoli in.

Well, it kind of threw me there.

That whole Juilliard drop-out thing.

- Why didn't you tell me earlier?

- Dunno. It never came up.

Guess I was being a little harsh.

You have no idea how intimidating

Monique Delacroix can be.

- Listen, Sara, about that...

- No. It wasn't you. I'm sorry.

I just didn't realize how intense

Juilliard would really be, you know?

It's so important to me.

Why?

Since I was little,

my mom and I always dreamed about

me becoming a famous ballerina.

The day of my

first audition for Juilliard,

she really wanted to be there.

I really wanted her to be there.

It was my turn to dance.

So I looked around,

and I knew something was wrong.

I was right. She died in a car accident

trying to get to my audition.

Here.

- What about you?

- Me?

I was raised by wolves.

And are you

and your wolf parents close?

My mom and dad split when I was three.

I lived with my grandfather till he died,

and then I went to school.

Now I'm on my own, struggling, striving.

Do you miss him?

Yeah. He was wild.

Mad old-school but a real cool cat.

He bought me my first record.

Speaking of which,

did you listen to that CD I gave you?

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