02x07 - A Choreographed Life

[bunniefuu]

Previously on Dance Academy...

She's awesome.
Hey, she should be part of our g*ng.

You guys should call it a day.
Don't want to mess with perfection.

Again?
Yippee.

If you need someone to dance with,
I've got my costume right here.

No. This one's mine.

It tracks all of your out-of-class
activities

for maximum time management.

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

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

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

Wait, so you've been lying to me?

You don't want to be with me
long-term?

Hang on, I'm just getting
the framing right.

One of the things I like
best about being a dancer

is that it's choreographed.

You know where you're going to be
at all times.

You know I trust your camera skills
completely but...

Do you think the light
might be better over there?

Every moment has been workshopped

to make it as perfect as possible.

Imagine if life was that way.

If life was choreographed,

you'd say the right thing
in every situation.

Everyone would be in sync.

It's cluttered.
It's dynamic.

Dynamic equals high distinction.

Not in a choreography assessment.

You want it to be less speccy,
more well-crafted.

Let's go from the top.

I know it's supposed to be
that the fun is in the unexpected...

..but seriously, how good would it be
if someone just gave you the steps?

That's better.

Ah! We have to get this right.
It's due Friday!

Here.

So, Kat.
So, Ben.

Have you been to Luna Park lately?

I was thinking we should do
a Sunday dodgem session.

Oooh, I'm a fiend behind the wheel.
Samuel?

That big clown face out the front
gives me nightmares.

You know, like a...
a date type scenario.

Oh, Benjamin Tickle,
you do flatter a girl.

OK. I have to get to detention.

Laters.

How am I supposed to impress
a girl like Kat

when she's used to Myles Kelly
levels of coolness?

That guy's an Icy Pole
and I'm like a...

Slushie?

I've got to pull out the big g*ns.

Find something that's going to
completely blow her away.

Absolutely. Right after
you've worked on ideas

for our choreography assessment.

Two birds, one stone.

Is that where people go out
and dance in public?

Flash mobbing.
It's a whole new world movement.

And Kat's going to see me
as the Icy Pole I am.

So she's in?
I don't know.

You haven't asked her yet.

But I'm guessing you won't take no
for an answer.

OK! We'll start off
with a quick barre.

Briefing at lunchtime.

Petit battement rising.

Plie, pirouettes.

Balance. Arms in fifth.

Tara, what was that?

Instead of scurrying off
behind the shed,

you should be practising.

Bourree en arriere
and Tara's out of time.

Pas de bourree
and Tara's missed a step.

Will someone else please mess up
so I can stop picking on her?

So I've had some thoughts
on our choreography assessment.

Our? Grace, it's due in two days.

I've been working on a solo
with Ethan.

Another one?

You should feel honoured
to receive a Webster care package.

Swap?
No can do.

Your Dad knitted this
from Tupac's wool.

Tupac?

I wasn't going to shear a sheep
without giving her a name.

Aw...
Don't.

It's not a cute thing.

Don't you two have somewhere
you should be?

Class, perhaps?

Um, we were just discussing
our assessment piece.

I'd like to see it.

Wait, there's a better bit.

Sorry.

You're both scholarship students.
Do you know what that means?

That we're a power couple?

It means that your training
is being supported by benefactors

who want to know
their money is being spent well.

We both really appreciate
our scholarships.

Besides this assessment,
your exams are next week.

I see no evidence
of you appreciating anything

but each other.

No, we're trying to create
a dance slash life balance.

Don't push me, Christian.

Your friendship can wait.
Your training cannot.

Miss Raine's got you freaked,
hasn't she?

No. Yes.

We've been distracting each other

and neither of us can afford
to lose our scholarships.

That's not going to happen.
Exactly.

Priority one is this choreography
assessment, then the exams

and after that we can just pick up
where we left off.

Where was that again?

Miss Raine's right.
Relationships can wait.

All we're doing is just
hitting pause for a bit.

Right.
See you at lunch.

Hey. You right?

I just got paused.

There, see?
It's all there underneath.

We just have to strip back
the layers.

Oh, subtext.

Hey, Grace.

The chemistry in this room -
out of control.

I actually have goose bumps.

What's she talking about?

I get it. You're not ready
to go public yet.

My lips are sealed.

OK, that was weird.

She has a warped imagination.
From the jump?

Yeah. Sorry.

Ah, do you want some music with that?

Yes.

So at : pm,
we alight from the train.

That's right,
I did use the word 'alight'.

And at : , we board the ferry.

And then at : , the passengers
have their minds blown.

Hey, um, we should practise
our piece.

I thought we weren't partners
anymore.

What?
You're distracting me, Tara.

How about we put this on its feet?

Hey, nice work, partner!

Oh. Oh, this is Ben's project
as well.

Yeah, what, didn't I mention that?

Kat, look, I'm so glad you're here.

Want to help me demonstrate?
Yeah, I'd love to.

I just need you to start
a bit closer.

A bit closer again.

One more.

OK. So we'll start
with the basic time step. Ready?

Five, six, seven, eight.

I blame you for this.

Well, I didn't know
you were so adverse to the Benster

and those puppy dog eyes.
He's just like a puppy.

They keep on pestering you until you
either play with them or kick them.

So you're gonna kick the puppy?
I can't kick the puppy.

I'll just have to let him down
gently. Again.

Who are you saving yourself for
anyway?

Christian is so infuriating.
What are you doing with this?

Christian gave it to me.

I just don't get it.
I just don't get him.

Whoa. Deep breath, T.
Uh, he said you paused him.

A little pre-exam hiatus.

You actually used the word 'pause'?

That's like precursor
for 'you're dumped'.

But that's not what I meant.

Yeah, but that's what
Christian heard.

He's a snow dome.

We like our metaphors today.

Well, actually he's the snowman
inside the snow dome.

All he's had his whole life
is snow storms.

You know, his mum dying,
his dad taking off.

What does that have to do
with focusing on exams?

For the first time,
he begins to drop his guard.

And what happens?

Bam! Blizzard central
all over again.

Christian?

Hey.
Hey.

So I need a take-back
because the last thing I want

is to be on pause with you.

Yeah? Well, you seemed pretty sure
before.

Well, sometimes it's like my brain
is on fast forward

and then, you know,
I just keep thinking and thinking

but instead of things
getting clearer,

they just get all blurry and...

You should see someone about that.

Can we hit play again?

Because without you
my disk just keeps skipping.

Keeps skipping. Keeps skipping.

Keeps skipping, skipping, skipping,
skipping, skipping...

Ethan and me -
are you off your meds?

Just telling it like it is.
Stop!

He's earnest, shiny
and he fell for Tara,

so you can add weak-minded
to the list.

Well, good. I hate it when friends
disappear because of some guy.

Good? We can't even be
in the same room now.

I'm going to fail my assessment.
We'll whip something up.

I'm thinking we can harness
my recent Joy Division obsession.

What do I tell him?

Wasn't he just doing you a favour?
He'll cope.

So, I like your new decorating.

You two looked alike.

We were alike.

And your dad?
Ah, let's hope not.

You must think about him, though?

He hung around long enough
to change a couple of nappies

and then he lost interest.

Do you think if he'd stuck around you
wouldn't have these rejection issues?

Rejection issues?

I said 'pause' and you heard 'stop'.

We could talk about that
if you want...

No, I think we should flick
to a new channel.

Ethan?

I really appreciate all your help
but this isn't going to work.

Yeah, totally agree.

I've been watching these clips
of an ensemble

who actually play with speed rates.
It's given me a really cool idea.

Come, I'll show you.

Ah, Kat.

Hi.

Hey. Um, look, if I knew
you were stopping by,

I would have, um, put on some pants.

Look, I just came to say that...

Thank you so much
for the flash mob feedback today.

You really have a unique way
of looking at things.

I do?
Yeah.

It's like everything you get involved
in is suddenly five times more fun.

Oh, sorry, I cut you off before.

I'll bring a camera tomorrow
so we have a spare.

Great.
Goodnight.

OK, stop there. Now we're going
to do exactly the same movements

but this time
at a slower frame rate. OK?

OK.

Keep it fluid.

That's it.

Last chance to flash mob tomorrow.
You guys in?

Yeah.
Get pumped!

Uh, developpe.
OK.

OK?

You do know it's not really Bieber
in the chat room?

Have you been eating MSG again?
What?

You're all flustered.

It's called rehearsal. Try it.

One, two, three, four, five, six.
That's it.

Just practise the chory
while we wait. Has anyone seen Kat?

Yay, so Joy Division.

Do you think it's too much
of a hipster cliche

to do something with fixies?

Was that English?
Good morning.

I'll tell you later.

Whoa, you're cyber-stalking
Christian's dad?

Shush! You were right yesterday.

All of his problems
go back to his dad leaving.

I thought if we could meet him,
find out why...

Is it shuffle tap or tap shuffle?
Shuffle tap.

Shuffle tap.

Amateur psychology needs to stop.
You're worse at it than I am.

Sammy, you of all people should know
how much it would help

to have some family support around.

OK, nice link between me
and my parental issues

but they're for me to work out,
no-one else.

T, promise me you're going
to drop this, OK?

OK, flashers, let's get flashing.

In a strictly non-nude sense.

OK, so after the dance we split up
and meet back at Observatory Hill.

And no flash mob chat
while we're travelling.

Right. I don't want
some random blowing our cover.

Tap partner with spare camera
reporting for duty.

You couldn't quite kick the puppy,
could you?

Shut up.

This is weird but we're both
focused. We're both ambitious.

Sounds hot.

We could be like the new Natasha
and Sebastian of the ballet world.

Did I actually just say that?

Houston, we have a problem.

Sorry, do I know you?

The ferries are on strike.

We didn't authorise that code.

No, no code.
The ferries are on strike.

I don't believe in fairies.

The ferry boats, Ben.
They're not running.

No, but the assessment's
due tomorrow.

Hey, this was pretty ambitious, OK?

I'm sure they won't judge
if we go any simpler.

Tell Ethan to start filming now.
Quick.

Here?
Just do it. Go for launch now.

Did we rock that train or what?

I thought the point was to surprise
the public, not your dancers.

Did you see that?
I am slushie no longer.

I like not fighting with you.

If I do something that annoys you,
then you should tell me.

I mean it. And you shouldn't
keep stuff bottled up either.

Full disclosure. That could work.

In that case, there's something
I need to tell you.

Sorry about before.
Huh?

The whole teasing you and Abigail.
Totally juvenile.

Ah, don't worry about it.

Projection.
Excuse me?

I think that's what it's called.

When you accuse someone of feeling
a certain way

but it's actually you
who has those feelings.

Abi, wait!

So the name on the back
of the photo,

I put it into the search box and
there he was - your dad.

Wow.

I know. I never thought
that I'd actually find him.

I didn't make a friend request
or anything

but you could
and then if you want to meet him,

I would totally come with you...

Christian?

Top up?
Yeah, sure.

Oh, sorry!
It's just a foot, Ben. It'll keep.

It's not just any foot. Here.
Whoa, Ben. Down, boy!

No, I should go rinse it.
I should go rinse it.

Please! Abi!

I have no idea what just happened.

I was talking to Ethan,

trying to suss out
what was going on with you guys

and then his tongue
was down my throat...

Christian!

Go away, Tara. I don't want to say
something I'll regret.

Well, what about full disclosure?

You think you're the only one
who can Google someone?

I know where my dad is!

I choose not to have anything to do
with him.

Why? What if meeting him
fixed things?

You mean fix me?

Why are you always wanting
to change me?

I just want you to be happy.
No, you don't.

No, you want me to be different.

The pie chart, the constant pressure
about my commitment.

I can't even set up a camera right!

I don't need your help, Tara.

I'm fine without you.

I forget that
when you're choreographing a ballet,

there's a rehearsal period

and everyone knows which part
they're supposed to play.

In life, it's easy
to over-complicate things.

Or try too hard to control
other people.

You OK?

I'm fine.

And then there's a chance
you might be left alone

in your own dance

where you're the only one
who knows the steps.

Good, Tara.
That's showing a lot more promise.