The Turning Point Page #4

It's from Alice in Wonderland, dear.

- It goes down a little bit?

- No, itjust follows the natural line.

Yeah, just outjust a little bit.

- Can I try it again?

- Sure.

It's wonderful.

Remind me to ask you about something.

And one and two and three and four

and five and six and seven and eight.

And three. Two and three and four

and five and six and seven. Close eight.

A little faster.

- Not bad.

- Don't spoil me, dear.

Well, would you rather

I buttered you up like Adelaide does?

Why don't we butter each other up?

You're revolting. And about as subtle as she

is. This morning she came up to me and said:

"Sevilla, dearie, you're the greatest

prima ballerina in the whole world."

No, I am.

Gosh, that is awkward.

We ought to try that again, that lift.

The reason Adelaide goes on and on is

she knows I want to dance in Milan and Rio.

- She's determined I'll do that bloody tour.

- Well, you don't say no.

- That's exactly what Richard said.

- Who is Richard?

- Sevilla, long-distance phone call for you.

- Coming.

Excuse me, please. I won't be a moment.

Richard is why

I'm not going to end up like Emma.

I hate to be interrupted for phone calls.

Could I have the second cast, please?

Let's go from the wheelbarrow.

Ready? And...

You can turn on the light, it's OK.

- I didn't mean to wake you.

- You didn't.

I was with Yuri.

- Are you OK?

- Oh, yes.

I've been taking the pill.

Just in case.

Good God.

There's nothing to worry about.

Go to sleep now.

- Don't you wanna talk?

- No.

It might spoil it.

- Go back to bed. Sleep well.

- Oh, Emilia.

- Be glad for me, Momma.

- I am.

I am, I just didn't think it would...

it would be so soon that you...

That I what?

That you wouldn'tjust... wanna dance.

Oh, Mom.

Go back to bed.

Go on. It's OK.

Go on.

- How are you?

- OK.

Let's go.

About once a week,

Dad and I would check out all the new stuff.

And Emma and I would go up to the third

floor, try on all the most expensive dresses.

Once we stayed so long

we missed rehearsals...

Hey, I'll see you later.

...stay up there for hours,

trying these dresses...

Oh, Rosie.

- Meet my children. This is Emilia and Ethan.

- Hi.

Joe Rosenberg, the conductor

of the company when Dad and I were in it.

- He was the best.

- I still am.

Only now I conduct musicals.

More bread and a permanent pad.

Hey, where are you goin'?

There. We live at Carnegie Hall.

How's your wife, Joe?

Which one? I've had two since I last saw you.

No. Well, how's all three of them?

Dynamite. I never see 'em.

- How's whatshisname?

- Wayne.

In Oklahoma with our other daughter.

We're here for the summer.

Terrific. I'm loose.

You gave up the ballet

to conduct on Broadway?

- You are a man without soul.

- And you are a woman without wine.

- Did he bring this wine?

- Yes, he brought it.

Taste, he got.

- You have much soul, darling.

- But not much taste.

Correct.

- I'll get it.

- "I'll get it."

Shut up.

Hello?

- Deedee, it's honor to Emilia.

- "Honor"?

- Yuri is the best dancer I know in years.

- Of course, my dear. He's Russian.

Correct.

And, believe it or not,

Linda's been accepted at Yale.

I guess nobody wants

to go to Princeton any more.

Well, obviously not my kids.

All five picked different schools,

but not one picks my alma mater.

- Would you say that was a reflection on me?

- No, Carter.

I'd say that was a reflection on Princeton.

You're biased.

For years.

- Excuse me, Miss Jacklin.

- Just put 'em down anywhere.

- Obviously I can't kiss you here.

- It wouldn't upset me.

It might upset Maggie.

Enough to give you a divorce?

All I'd have to do is ask for a divorce, Emma.

You know that.

Well?

- Would you give up dancing?

- Why not?

I asked you 15 years ago. 14 years ago. 13.

Ask me now.

You know, I...

I've always wondered -

what do you do with all these flowers?

Give them to hospitals.

Emma...

You know one of the reasons

we've lasted so long?

Tell me another, Carter.

Because the whole arrangement

has suited you. You liked the limitations.

I'm not so sure I do any more.

Well, now I do.

I'm sorry.

So am I.

Come in.

Well, I guess I'd better be running along.

Would you rather I didn't stop by later?

No, stop by.

We might as well finish out the season.

See you later.

Really, you are crazy. Stay.

- Yuri, my mother would have a fit.

- Then she is also crazy.

She's just a very proper lady.

- You're crazy. I can't.

- Yes.

- Half an hour, then.

- No, all night.

Please.

Why?

I'm homesick.

Now turn your back

to the new direction and look up.

Spot over your hand-arm line.

OK, good. Second group, please.

Let's do a port de bras. Be ready.

And...

Don't tighten your shoulder.

Very soft.

- You're late.

- Why you come so late?

Stuck in the bathroom.

- Boys, see the ink lighters?

- Lines. Together.

- They're flashing.

- Straight lines, please. Arms. Don't forget.

I had more than

just the hots for you back then.

But back then I didn't look so good in tights.

Now the toe shoe's on the other foot.

- Is it, now?

- Yeah.

Now we both don't look so good in tights.

- You speak for yourself.

- I am.

I can open up new vistas for you, my sweet.

Dancers are dumb.

I mean, what do you know?

Babies and ballet, right?

Well, what do you know

except for music and divorce, right?

One moment for station identification, please.

Books. Corruption. Dirty pictures.

Divorce is a bummer,

violets are blue.

Tchaikovsky is great...

and so are you.

That's nice. I needed that.

Back in the icebox age,

I had an apartment on West 52nd Street. You...

You left before the best part.

- You don't remember, do you?

- Yes, I do.

It was over ajazz joint.

Don't... leave now.

- Feel better?

- Much.

- It was my own fault, Yuri.

- Nah.

- I was so nervous.

- Why?

You're so fabulous. And I have weak knees.

I like girls with weak knees.

- You just like girls.

- Very much. Is wrong?

No. I personally think everyone should have

the right to make their own choice.

- I like yours.

- My what?

Your choice.

- I'm sorry. My English...

- No, it's mine. I have trouble sometimes.

Carolyn, you know,

it sometimes better... not to talk.

- I agree. And particularly with me, because...

- Carolyn.

Yes?

Hello?

- Emilia?

- Daddy.

Hi.

How are you? How's Janina?

Janina's taking care of me just fine.

And she's great at the school.

That's good.

Listen, I really had forgotten

how much later it is there.

Daddy, did you hear about

my part in the ballet?

- Yeah, Ma wrote that you got the lead.

- Yeah.

Well, don't let that Arnold Berger scare you.

You just sic your boyfriend on him, OK?

How is he, by the way?

He's OK. I don't really have time

for that sort of thing.

I don't wonder. You know, they always work

you a lot harder when you're really good.

Put Ma on for a minute, will you?

Mom's with Emma. They're always yakking.

Sometimes she even stays over.

Yeah, well, that's good.

You have her call me when she gets a chance,

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