02x02 - Dreamlife

[bunniefuu]

Previously on Dance Academy...
Welcome to second year.

In second year,
there are no second chances.

Did anyone ever think
we'd make it this far?

- Sorry.
- No, no, it's fine.

My new holding cell's just around
the corner. It'll be like old times.

I put undue pressure on myself last
year by alienating those around me.

So you've decided to be nice?

You people with your feelings
are messed up.

Move!

Good, you're both here.

This is my goddaughter, Grace.

When she danced in London, it was...
The Royal Ballet School.

So you're staying?
For now.

Let's make a deal.
Nothing's getting in between us.

Deal.

My Nanna used to say...

and she totally stole it
from someone else...

that the key to happiness was...

having something to do...

Shh!
It's work.

Something to love

and something to dream about.

Can you believe
that's going to be us one day?

I used to think the moment
I got into the National Academy,

I would die on the spot
with happiness.

I didn't.

Five seconds later, I just started
focussing on the next dream...

getting a contract
with the Company.

I don't know.

Maybe I'm destined to always
want something just out of reach.

Hi, guys.

I thought I'd get in early

and let you know that whatever
the initiation ceremony is,

I'm... I'm in.

I'm Kat Karamakov.

I'm new... obviously.

Minus nine minutes
to make it to my shift.

That's doable.

Samuel, I do hope those outside
work commitments aren't continuing

now that term has resumed.

My point exactly.

Mr Reed, I've been thinking
we don't spend enough time together.

So have I.

Your office?

Picture a universe
full of shiny, happy people.

The boredom is palpable.

Hi?

Um, sorry again
that we got off on the wrong foot.

I thought maybe I could
take you over to the cafe,

show you some of
the least disgusting menu options.

Yeah, sorry.

Yeah, I would take anyone remotely
interesting at this point.

Do I know you?

I'm Lulu and this is Lily and we've
been dying to meet you all week.

You're a legend down in first year.

The Clara costume sabotage?

Emailing Tara's pros and cons list
around the entire school.

Inspired.
Plus, you dumped Sammy Lieberman.

That rat infected all of first year.

So we've decided that you're
the only second year with any clue.

No more relationships, just ballet.

Eye on the Company prize
at all times.

If there's a point,
could you make it?

We want to watch you and learn.

I appreciate your taste, girls.

I don't have time for minions.

Hey, good move.

You train them up
and then they get power hungry.

It always ends in some sort of coup.

Week one results -
you're at the bottom of every class.

Well, I'm still getting
back into it after the break.

I want to talk to you about putting
hip-hop back on the curriculum.

The Board made its decision.

The Academy trains dancers for ballet
companies, not music videos.

But isn't it important that we learn
all different styles?

What's important
is that these marks improve.

As a scholarship student,
you're expected to be a role model.

I want to see you putting in
extra hours in the studio,

cardio in the gym.

Try harder. Got it.

Mr Kennedy had great faith in you.

Don't let him down.

Excuse me, are you Saskia Duncan?
I hope so.

I saw you in The Firebird.
You were amazing.

Um, I've been carrying the program
around. Do you mind?

Sure.

And you are...
Tara. Tara Webster.

Well, I... I don't want to
disturb your lunch.

No. Join me. I miss Academy gossip.

So, Tara Webster,

are you a good year or a bad year?

Um, I think we're kind of
a mixed bag.

And do you have a boyfriend?
Yes. Yes, I do.

I remember my Academy boyfriend.

Hamish Maddsen.
He was completely gorgeous.

So much trouble, though.

So what happened? Oh, I'm sorry.
I'm asking way too many questions.

No.

Um, the day I got my contract and
he didn't was the end of everything.

We tour so much with the Company,

there's not really enough time
to be dating anyone outside.

So I hope your boy's committed.
To me?

No. To ballet.

Oh.

She's topped everything.
Every single class.

Who?
Grace.

You can't pretend
that doesn't bother you.

Yeah, she's really good.

It's... it's unfair of them to let
someone transfer into second year

and disrupt the whole dynamic.

She doesn't want to be disturbed.

Abigail, we just wanted to say
that you were robbed.

Wait.

You're looking for leadership?
Oh, we've found a leader.

We'll do anything. Sew your
pointe shoes, break them in.

Grace Whitney.
I want to know who she is.

Miss Raine's goddaughter.

Recently transferred from the Royal
Ballet School. Excellent extensions.

Not her Wiki page.

I wanna know how she thinks,
what she wants, any weaknesses.

Know your enemy
and know how to defeat them.

Brilliant.

It's open.

Hi. Grace, isn't it? Cool room.

Oh. We're writing an article for
the monthly Academy newsletter.

We thought a profile on why
you chose to come to the school

would be an excellent addition.

You're friends of Abigail's,
aren't you?

Totally.
Take a seat.

Oh!
Oh!

Amaze-balls!
Oh, show me so I can do it better.

Oh!

I see you listened carefully
to our talk this morning.

Well, you said more cardio, right?
Clear the walkway.

It's a health and safety issue.
How?

Just clear it, Christian.

Well, can we at least
use the studio, like, after-hours?

The studio is to be used
for classical training.

Yeah, but if we have spare time,

why can't we use it working on
an increasingly relevant art form?

I'm relieved to hear you say
you have spare time, Mr Lieberman.

You've been notably absent lately.
Clear it.

I guess we're taking that as a no.

So we meet after-hours.
Right? The studio.

Yep.
Tomorrow. Ten.

If you're there, I'm game.

Yeah, spread the word too, people,
alright?

Let the revolution begin.

You're here!
I like it when you're here.

Hi.
This is for you.

So, how's the friend tally going?

You could have warned me
about the socks.

Socks?

OK, so at normal school,

if you wear them a centimetre
too short, then you're trashy,

but if you wear them too high...

Excommunication.
Yeah.

Sorry, what is this?
A pie chart.

It tracks all of your
out-of-class activities

for maximum time management.

I have one too.
They're colour-coordinated.

You pie-charted my life for me?

Well, if we both
don't get into the Company,

then Saskia says we have
no chance of staying together.

I'm freaking you out, aren't I?

No. Um... it's all
part of your charm, right?

You were right.
The carefree attitude is an act.

She spends hours in the studio
every night.

And she says she left the Royal
because she wasn't the favourite.

Wait. You got this information
directly from her?

She's actually quite open.
And she said to say hi.

This information is compromised.

When I asked you to dig around
Grace's background,

I meant without her knowing.

Haven't you ever stalked anyone?

I want friend requests out to every
student at the Royal Ballet School.

Use a fake profile.
Cover your tracks.

I want the dirt on her family.

Why'd they leave Australia?
Why'd they send her back here?

I need to get into
the school records.

Who knows anything about hacking?
My brother's studying IT.

Use him.

If she's hiding something,
we're gonna find it.

Thanks for inviting me.
This is so exciting.

Um, are you sure it's OK
for me to be here? Yeah!

I always used to sit in
on rehearsals

when I was at the Academy.

It's the best way to learn.

Wow.

You should come tonight as well.
Watch side-stage.

Really? Could I bring someone?
Yeah. Why not?

Lexie! Girls, hi.

Look, I get it.

I haven't done my time,
so you're supposed to ignore me

until I'm completely humiliated

and then one day I'll do something
inexplicably cool

and you'll accept me into your g*ng,
right?

Uh-huh. Cool.

Well, look,
we've all seen that movie,

so how about I just hang with you
guys until you make up your minds.

Actually, new girl,
we've already made up our minds.

It's the socks, isn't it?

Sorry, is this your spot?
Oh, no, don't worry.

Make the most of it while you can.

You will never guess what.
Uh, they're putting a ban on public
displays of affection?

Better. Saskia has arranged for us
to watch the Company side-stage.

Ooh, you should totally come too.

Again, who is Saskia?

The youngest principal dancer
in the history of the Company.

When are we going?
Tonight.

Oh, no, we can't tonight.

Well, we have to. It's the last
performance of the season.

We've kind of got
this hip-hop thing on.

I hope you're warm because
we're starting in the centre.

What thing?
It's not on the pie chart.

Neither's the ballet.

Mr Reed,
you know I hate to feel repetitive.

What did I say
about focus and discipline?

Saskia's going to introduce us
to some Company people afterwards.

She says it's never too early
to start networking.

It was late notice anyway.
No-one's gonna come.

Yeah, but I cancelled my shift.

Two words, dude -
'thumb' and 'under'.

Well, I'm gonna call it 'compromise'
and 'happy girlfriend'.

Do you wanna meet Saskia?

No, you go. She probably doesn't
want too much distraction.

Didn't you see this already?

Two 'Firebirds', one week.
That's dedication.

Good to know
you're keeping tabs on us.

So Tara's doing a Frankenstein
on you, huh?

I was wondering
if that would happen.

Ballet, black tie event.

Looks like she's creating
the perfect boyfriend.

My personality and your...
everything else.

Working late, Mr Lieberman?

If only your friend
showed as much dedication.

OK. The cloud has passed.

The cloud.

The Raine cloud. It's code, Kat.

Hey!
Whoa.

Where'd you all come from?
And there's more of us outside too.

I'm so glad you're here.
OK. Come on.

I know what happened in London.

You're seriously
sitting in the dark?

And I'm guessing Miss Raine
doesn't know,

otherwise she would never have
let you into the Academy.

Really?
You're a safety hazard, Grace.

So why don't you go upstairs,
flush your creepy little fish,

book a taxi and I'll leave
your reputation intact.

Miss Raine is my godmother
and the principal.

Of course she knows.

So give me the summary.

I got expelled for giving a girl a
nervous breakdown?

Tell who you like.
I don't need to feel popular.

Neither do I.
Hence the minions?

Look, I'm stuck here,

but I don't care about
being the best.

Everyone cares about being the best.

I'm not everyone.

You know,
I thought you were interesting,

but all this?

Not so much.

Two seconds.

I'm guessing no-one showed, right?

No, the opposite. We need bouncers.

Even little first year ballet bods
have shown.

Hip-hop is sweeping the nation!

Yeah, but they need a teacher,

and someone who actually knows
what they're doing.

OK. I'm sure you guys have it sorted.

Mate, you were the instigator,
so you should be here to see it.

Sorry, I have to go.
What? Why?

You don't need me here.
You're not just here for me.

Yeah, I am.

You've got your whole life
mapped out in front of you

and that's great,
but don't overreact,

but I don't even know if I want to
get into the Company or not.

How can you not?

Wait, so you've been lying to me?

You don't wanna be with me
long-term?

No, no. See, that is overreacting.

Whether I want to get into
the Company or not is two years away.

It's something I have to work out.
You're just scared to try.

OK. Why don't you come with me?
Why don't you compromise?

Because this is important.
Exactly.

I wouldn't ask you to give up
something that's important to you.

Hey, are you gonna
teach us something?

Um, OK.

Well... do you guys want to,
like, learn a routine

or... specific moves?

You have to find
your centre of gravity

and then make it your own.

Yeah!

Hip-hop is not only about tricks.

It's about storytelling as well.

So we're gonna start like this.

Drop the curtain!

Ethan, ice, quickly, please.

Call an ambulance and someone
get hold of Doctor Wicks.

I-I...

Give her some room!
Please, step back.

Take some big breaths.
Come on. It'll be alright.

Kat said you'd be here.

Also said you were amazing tonight.

I'm sorry I bailed on you tonight.

What happened?

They took Saskia to hospital.

She fell on stage.

One minute she was dancing
and then the next...

her career is probably over.

Oh, you don't know that.
Exactly.

I don't know what's gonna happen
tomorrow, let alone in two years.

I've been a total control freak.

I have a habit
of throwing good things away.

I just don't want to disappoint you.

That's impossible.

So are you going to show me
what you've been working on?

What, tendues?
No.

I was kind of more thinking hip-hop.

Oh. Well, I don't know
if you're up to it.

Oh, really?

OK, wait. Do that again.
Do that again. I can't do that.

We were up all night.

Why are you dressed like me?
We thought it could be our thing.

We have no 'thing'.

Look, you're first years.

You're gonna have to find
your own way.

I can't do it for you.

Dreams are complicated.

I forget they're only one-third
of the happiness puzzle.

Is it always like this?
Some days, it's infantile.

Sometimes I'm running
after my dreams so fast,

I miss the detours that lead me
to places new and unexpected.

That doesn't mean
I'm going to stop dreaming.

Without them, I'd be lost.

Because there's nothing more magical

than when you catch one
and get to hold it in your hands...

for one perfect moment.