02x16 - Origins

[bunniefuu]

Previously on Dance Academy...

Oliver topped second year
last year.

Do you think there's anything
you can teach him?

I don't play favourites but
he was my first long-term patient.

He still sends flowers
on my birthday.

And your dad?

He hung around long enough
to change a couple of nappies

and then he lost interest.

You know how I said
we can't be friends?

You're breaking the rules, dude.

When I kissed you, that's something
I wanted to do for a long time.

I know where my dad is! I choose
not to have anything to do with him!

The thing is this...

when you don't know
where you come from,

you have all these questions

about your mannerisms,
your failures,

even the stuff you're OK at.

You don't know if they're inherited
from someone you never knew

or whether they belong to you.

Forget books, forget blogging.

This is how stories were told
for thousands of years.

The body was the pen and paper.

Alright, you have an assignment.

Every single one of us
has a unique story,

a history that's shaped us.

I want you guys to choose one of
these defining moments in your life

and I want you to perform it
to the class on Thursday.

So this past that never really
existed for you,

that you're angry about,

ends up having this whole weight
attached to it.

Like if you knew what it was, then
it would tell you who you are.

Kat, hey! Spare seat if you want.

Er...

Stupid me, I forgot my pointe shoes
back in the studio.

Um... they're hanging
out of your bag.

Stay. Seriously.

I'm taking the zen approach.

What happened is in the past.

If you guys wanna be together,
be together.

I'm still a cheerleader for love.

Christian! Maybe you want to talk
to me about your dance piece.

Yeah, why?

Miss Raine mentioned you haven't
always had the easiest time of it.

You guys must be light on
for conversation, then.

I'm getting a sense
you're not into this assignment.

No, I want to thank you

for letting me work through
some of my past issues.

Best teacher ever.

Ah, he's back!

Woo hoo woo hoo!

Ow!

I don't believe it.

You made it to the end of the tour
without getting kicked off again.

Oh, only just.

If the gods can understand nudity
in fountains, why can't Miss Raine?

Well she is, however,
letting me compete in the Prix.

How? You missed the preliminaries.

Yeah, I missed doing Sydney, but the
regional rounds are still underway

and since I was technically born
in the Kingston Shire...

I smell a loophole.
Hmm.

I just... have to get up the coast,

ideally in a red car.

Oh!

Ohh.

Hey.

I'm borrowing your torch.

Where are you off to?
Kingston.

Regionals.

Yeah.
We're roughing it.

With aromatherapy.

Do you want to get eaten alive
by mosquitoes?

Is there any extra room
in the car?

There's a guy that makes
finless boards up there.

Wouldn't mind checking one out.

Did anyone say road trip?

♪ And it's telling me that
this world's just so deep and wide ♪

♪ Yeah, it's when I come alive ♪

♪ Out on a long drive. ♪

Yeah, they pull out this assignment
every year, and nothing is original.

Two other guys aside from me

did the whole coming out
to Mum and Dad number

and worse still, one of them went
through a cross-dressing stage

so he danced both the part
of Clara and the Prince

and got the highest mark.

I was ropable.

How did your parents take it
when you came out?

That's probably a bit too personal.

No, it's cool, it's cool.

I just always knew.
I guess they did too.

That's why I was annoyed at myself
for using it in the assignment.

Like, since when had being gay
defined me?

It just says to record
a narration of our story

and then just put it to music.

OK, I'm years old.

It hasn't rained in months.

Suddenly, there's a sun shower.

I'm dancing inside of a rainbow.

No... I think they mean powerful,
life-defining moments.

Like the rage I felt

when I was blackmailed
to leave the Royal Ballet.

I didn't know that happened.

Or the desperation...

when I tried to save the kids
next door from drowning.

Or the fury when I was arrested
at the G Summit protest.

You were arrested?
Oh, yeah, no, no. I get that.

It's exactly how I felt during
round of the season.

Rage, desperation, fury!

But then the triumph
in the th minute

with that wide pass from Peadon.

Why do you do that?

What?

Show people that one-sided version
of yourself.

I don't know what you're on about.

I think you do, Ben.

Mate, come a bit closer.

Ollie's tent's looking like
a good option.

Nah. We're more in touch
with the elements out here.

Alright, we're done.

Let's go check out
that surfboard guy.

Ah, I was thinking I was just going
to head down to the beach instead.

The beach? But then you would have
come out here for nothing.

Well, don't you have that class
section in the afternoon?

Yeah, but... we'll be back in time.

What about putting in some training?

What is it you think you know?

Um, at the hospital,

one of the nurses said
that you were her patient.

That'd be Meg. Loves a chat.

Can I ask?

I was five.

I didn't know what leukaemia meant.

Seven years worth of treatment
later, I went into remission.

That's when I started dancing.

Must be so exhausting,
having to keep a secret like that.

People just...

They get weird when they know.

I don't think Grace would be weird.
She's been through a lot as well.

What, like the drowning of children,
and riots?

Tell me you've convinced her
to go less flowery.

Actually, I'm thinking
about changing my solo.

Basing it on being
a cancer survivor.

Cancer?

Why didn't I think of that?

You know,
I could make it wider for you.

It would add a bit more buoyancy.
Just depends what you want.

I could probably take a little bit
off this for you,

given your sizing and your weight.

I mean, you know, you can have any
choice of tail, whatever you like.

But I'd probably like to have a few
speed channels through here as well,

and then give it a nice design,
good spray job and ah, you know?

Alright?

Just excuse me for a sec.

OK. Um, I'm done, so let's go.

Can I help you, fellas?

Yeah, um, I was thinking of getting
one of those Alaias made.

Oh, right.
You ah, know much about 'em?

They're supposed to give you
more freedom in how you turn?

Yeah, well I custom-build
all my own boards,

so ah, if you want
to meet me down the beach

we can go for a surf
and see which one suits.

Yeah, sure. Alright.

Say... what, about an hour?

What's your name?

Chris.

Alright, Chris. See you then.

So Chris...

What was that about?

Been stuck in the car too long.
Feel like a run?

Not really.

Imprisoned
in the leukaemia ward,

I'm a red blood cell, staring down
at a team of white.

They are advancing,

and I try to stay defiant,

but I can't help but feel
there is no hope in sight.

I am red,

one,

white,

many.

I am losing the fight.

Oh, it's... It's powerful.

Grace?
It's a little earnest.

No, no, it's poignant and honest.

What did you think of him?

Who?

The guy in the shop.

He's my father.

What?

As in your father father?

As in biologically, yeah.

Are you gonna tell him who you are?

Wait, I don't understand.
How do you know?

I knew he was here.

It was as good a time as any.

That's a fairly life-defining
moment, Christian.

Ready to go?

Thank you.
That completes the class section.

We look forward to seeing you all
tomorrow for your solos.

You need to relax. Alright?
Just a bit of this.

Don't!

You know, I never thought
you'd be one of those.

One of what?

So where do you surf?

Maroubra, mostly.

I'll probably get you
a longer board, then.

Stop you sliding.

And battling
the flames, I found the babe,

clutched her to me
and said a prayer,

earned the respect
of the spunky fire brigade

and ran into the safety
of the cool night air.

My piece is going to demolish
Ben's wimpy blood cells.

I think I'm having a dance high.

It's just... one minute
your piece is about

saving the kids next door
from drowning

and the next it's about a house fire
and a baby.

Visually stronger.

People are supposed to be
opening up about what defines them.

And that defines you,
does it, petal?

Yeah.

You might have been
the girl in the paddock,

but she's gone.

You haven't been her
since you broke your back.

And you're not OK
with Kat and Christian.

You're still angry.

If I had to choose between
a bit of harmless fabrication

and lying to myself,
I know which one I'd go for.

So what got you into finless?

Oh, that's what the Hawaiians
used to ride.

Hawaii.

See, I'd love to get over there.
Take some time out.

Get away from everybody.

Sounds like girl problems.

Yeah.

No, she's cool. It's just...
the situation is complicated.

Yeah. It's always complicated.

Well, you're too young
to be tied down anyway.

Was that your problem?

Sorry?

You were too young to be tied down
to a wife and kids.

Is that why you left?

Christian.

I knew who you were
when you walked in.

I don't know what you want me
to say, I mean...

you just showed up.

You don't have to say anything.

He's living the good life.

How messed up is that after
everything she went through?

I mean, she never got over him.

Right up until the end,
and he never looked back.

Alright, er, Ollie's tent
is looking like a good option.

Do you like him or something?

Because you're avoiding him...
No!

No! He lied!

By omission.

OK? He should have mentioned it.
That's mentionable.

Uh-huh. 'Cause you said you were
gonna be working that stuff out.

Working out what stuff?

Excuse me, we're trying to have
a personal conversation here.

Oi! Both of you,
get in here before you drown.

Don't worry. I'm not into
the neurotic type.

Ben!

Ben! Ben!

Ben! Ben, Ben, Ben, Ben!

Remember
my cheerleading tryouts?

Yeah, in detail.

You skipped your doctor's appointment
that day.

Was that... Was that to...

Biopics about cancer and genocide
always get the Academy Awards.

You'll get fantastic marks.

That is what I've been trying
to avoid!

What?

That!

It's what I've enjoyed
about being here this year!

I'm not 'Cancer Boy'.

What's wrong with digging deeper?
I don't want to dig deeper.

Because if I do, I have to remember
the look on my dad's face

when we wait for my results.

And I have to remember
when someone d*ed in my ward

and no-one would speak for ages.

I'm sorry.
No!

I don't want you to feel sorry
for me.

I've spent half my life
making everyone miserable.

It's not who I am anymore.

You're throwing your weight back.

What have I told you
about your landing?

You can't instruct me
from up there.

Well, I wouldn't want to inv*de
your personal space.

I stuffed it yesterday. I'm not
gonna make it to Nationals.

Mate, you gotta use your plie.
Then you'll be fine.

Watch.

You know, it used to blow me away
to watch your mum dance.

Same.
Trish must be so proud.

She d*ed.

months ago.

She was sick.

I looked after her.

Did you ever even love her?

More than I've ever been capable
of loving anyone.

But you left.

How can you love someone and then
just do that to them?

I know it's not an excuse but...

I was years old
when I married your mum.

I wasn't equipped
to handle any of it.

I had to work out who I was.

Well, did you figure it out?

Because she needed you
and you weren't there.

We all did.

Look, I just watched you dance
just now,

and you were amazing.

You think you needed me, but...

look what you became
without me.

Thanks, man.

I kind of lied before.

I do like the neurotic ones.

So I guess when it comes down to it,

I want my future to define me.

Not my past.

That's it.

Hey, fellas.

I found this in the back
of the shed.

Might slide a little bit
but it should be alright.

Look, I don't have the money.

I wonder who I'd be

if the people I needed
had stuck around.

Who I'd be without all those things
that have tested me...

more than I'll ever be tested
in my life.

Without the one whose heart
I broke...

or the one who makes me forget
about the dark stuff.

Hi. Look, don't worry about me. OK?

We can just ignore the fact
that Tara's given us permission.

Because she lights up everything.

Even if there was a moment,

we've probably missed it now anyway,
so there's really no point in...

Good to have you back, gentlemen.

Someone I wouldn't mind introducing
to the rest of my life.

Call me Christian Reed.