02x08 - Connectivity

[bunniefuu]

Previously on Dance Academy...

My best waitress is deserting us so
if you feel like waiting tables...

I dream about it. I was put
on this earth to wait tables.

Seems you're missing a few
life-sustaining activities.

Eating and sleeping may seem
irrelevant,

but for body strength,
it's kind of important.

The Company's youngest ever
principal dancer.

Saskia's recovering from an injury
but over the next few months

has agreed to take you
for repertoire class.

Calm down, training bra.

I don't need your help, Tara.

I'm fine without you.

Margot Fonteyn's most famous
partner was Rudolf Nureyev.

When they first met, she was

and the star
of the English ballet world.

Nureyev was a -year-old nobody
from Russia.

On the surface, they had nothing
in common.

But when they danced together,
it was like they had one body,

one soul.

Ballet hasn't changed much
since then.

Every day we do the same exercises.

And once a semester,
the teachers examine us,

hunting for flaws.

Five minutes till pens down.

But the magic Fonteyn and Nureyev had
can't be assessed in a classroom.

It was this wordless understanding
that bound two people together.

And once it existed,
it could never be broken.

OK, be back here tomorrow at nine

for some intense yet rewarding
pas de deux scrutiny.

We'll be examining the first and
third years as well

so there's gonna be a bit
of waiting around.

And guys, it's your responsibility
to be warmed up

and ready to go on time.

You know in rugby there's a bond
between teammates?

He has your back and you have his.

I have no idea
what you're talking about.

That's the connection
we're looking for tomorrow.

Oh, Saskia, do you mind taking a
look at our contemporary pas de deux?

I've got physio at five but yeah,
I can give you a couple of minutes.

I've got to make this dinner shift,
but we could meet back at , : ?

I could help you with that.

That's inappropriate, sorry.

It's exam week
and that's your partner.

How are you not clawing out
your own hair?

Abs, what will be will be.

Come on, I'm buying you a shiatsu.

Those skills are white hot.

Be gone with your compliments!

We are not on speaking terms.
Why?

You broke up with Tara.

Under Article of the BFF code,

I'm on her side for the rest
of eternity.

I'd hate to contravene Girl Code,

but is there a loophole
to double as your skating tutor?

You just said my skills were hot.
Lied.

So?

Be brutal, we can take it.

No! It was... It was promising.

Ben, you're really coming
into yourself.
That had a lot of presence.

I have presence.
I can smell it from here.

Which was needed because Tara...
yikes.

I'm sorry. I know you don't want
to hear that right now.

No, that's... Was there anything
specific that I could work on?

I wish I could pinpoint something,

but it was just an overall
general impression.

And I know you guys are tired, OK,
but keep working,

because in my experience, this is
when the best breakthroughs happen.

You should have asked
for the less brutal option.

This place is dead.
You may as well go home.

You can practise your...

No, you go. I'll lock up.
Don't tease me, dishpig.

I want to do these by hand,
give them a proper going over.

Wait, check this out.

It's a new system
for maximising accessibility.

I recognise the syndrome.
Exam Displacement Activity.

Wrong.

This semester has been mental,

but I'm finally in the zone.

Jess, I feel I'm operating
on a higher plane of existence.

You should go to sleep.
See if you can astral-travel.

No, I don't need to sleep. My brain's
f*ring. I've never felt more alive.

Alright, just make sure
you set the deadbolt.

And stop tormenting the crockery.

Saskia doesn't rate you.
That's not true.

She pushes me
because she believes in me.

Then keep rehearsing,
I'm going to bed.

Well, what about I have your back
and you have mine?

Were those just empty words, Ben?

Beach tomorrow? .
Game day huddle.

I can't practise pas de deux
by myself!

She twitches when she sees you!

This is Christian. Voicemail costs
money, so be interesting.

I know technically we're not talking
but I really need your help.

My mum always used to tell me off
for picking my scabs.

Well, Ethan used to eat his.

She told me I was being unfair,

undoing all their work when they
were just trying to make me better.

Kind of like Tara?

You think I need fixing too?

No, no.

Then again I've always known deep
down that you were the pin-up boy

for the Academy.

They didn't tell me
they were gonna do this.

That place is unbelievable!
Aha!

OK, that's not necessary.
Come on, it's just exam blues.

If you wanna feel seriously
depressed, try failing vegie maths.

What's even below that?
Tofu.

Did you see what I did there?

You have no new messages.

Move one more time and
you're sleeping in the laundry.

Sorry, I just have to send
this message.

Maybe I'm not receiving calls.

Let me see.

Are you crazy?

All fixed.

It may seem harsh in your world
of rainbows and unicorns,

but relationships
are a power struggle.

I need someone to help me practise.

He used to be my partner,
he's the logical choice.

Right. Pas de deux.

That's why you're calling him.

He's your ex,
not your phone-a-friend.

He's not my ex.
This is a temporary situation.

But you're right.
I'm not gonna call him.

Even if I could.
Good for you.

I'm going over.

Oh, you're up late.
Last-minute cramming?

No, I was worried. That happens
when you leave someone messages

and they don't respond
to any of them.

Well, I'm fine.
Obviously.

I'm the one who's stuck
with a pas de deux partner

who doesn't believe me in practice
or deodorant

and when I call for help...

My phone must have been flat. Sorry.

I can help you,
let's get down to the studio now.

See? Problem solved.

That's not the point. The point is...

The point?
The point is...

The point is that... you shouldn't
let your battery run down so low.

Actually, it prolongs their life
and gives them a proper recharge.

Goodnight.

Tell me again how this is supposed
to help with pas de deux?

Oh, resistance training
plus all the zen benefits.

I always try to swim
before a big performance.

Clears out the brain cavities.

That's kind of like why I collect
four-leaf clovers.

It's the only time my mind
goes completely still.

The only time?

Come on, I thought you wanted
to practise! Here?

Yeah.

Aah!

You ready?

I'm so ready I've been there
and back. We were brilliant.

Ah. So should I go back to bed?

Let's cr*ck this puppy open.

So what else happens on game day?

Steak for breakfast and usually
trying to avoid unnecessary stress.

Where is he?
Like that.

Where is who? If you've sabotaged
my exam prospects

because of the latest instalment
in your ridiculous romantic saga...

Christian's not here?
Incisive deduction, Tara.

We're supposed to be on next.

Miss? Kat's brother's here
to see her.

Family emergency.
Ethan?

Busting you out.
What?

I suddenly got the urge to do
something fun,

and I couldn't think
of a more worthy wingman.

Aren't you meant to be
in pas de deux this morning?

You're right, exams,
they're depressing.

No, you can't listen to me.
My life is a mess.

They could kick you out for ditching.
Maybe they should.

Go back. I'm serious.

I don't want you on my conscience.

Can you try him from your phone?

This is Christian. Voicemail costs
money so be interesting.

Thank you.

No, thank you, Miss Raine.
That was fun.

Next couple, please.

I'm sorry, my partner's not here.
Where is Christian?

Oh, chest infection.

He's been coughing up a lung,
but I've done it with Abi.

I can do it with her.

Or I could go with Grace,
turn it into a duo.

Instantly a whole new take
on some tired choreography?

Thank you, Grace,

but Samuel should take the
opportunity to perform again.

It can only get better.

First positions.

You're in safe hands.

So interesting. I didn't even know
Kat had a brother.

Are you two close?
Yeah, I love Kat.

Don't feel special,
they're boy-starved here.

Bye, Kat's brother.

So what are we up to now? We're
taking you back to the Academy.

What else have you got in mind?
Er, I've got work.

You'd have to help out, though,
and I don't think you'd be into it.

Lead the way.
OK.

There's still time to get back.

Look, I know you're mad at me,
Christian,

but you can't throw away
this whole semester.

If I've shattered my spine, the
blood is on your hands, Christian!

Come on, Doctor Wicks is going to
make you feel all better.

So Christian's a no-show.

What did you do this time?

It's personal.

Saskia, have I done anything
to offend you?

What would you ask that?

Well... someone said they thought
maybe you had a problem with me

just 'cause you've been giving me
a hard time in class.

Tara, I give you a hard time
in class because you need it.

You know it's a difficult body
to work with.

Imagine how embarrassing
it'd be for both of us

if the star of first year failed?

Hm?

Did you see it? The twitch?

Hmm, she really doesn't rate you.

I have to take my opportunities
to dance where I find them,

now that I'm not at the Academy.

Did you like how subtle that was?

Hmm. You should go
into life-coaching. Here we go.

Arrh!

Is anyone here named Charlotte?

Come here!

Come on, girls,
let's have a fairy party!

Fairies of old, fairies of new,

sprinkle on fairy dust
and you'll be one too!

My name's Lilac
and I'm the Birthday Fairy.

This is my sidekick,
Captain Backflip.

Who wants to become a part
of the magical fairies club?

Follow me, girls!

Fairy wings up,
fairy wings down.

Skip and run, run, run, run
feet!

On your toes.

And curtsy!

Run, run, run, run fairy toes!

Wheee! Use those fairy feet!

Hi.
Captain Backflip is a stupid name.

Bet you can't even do one.

Yes, I can.

It's just my day off.
Isn't my dad paying you?

OK.

That's it, follow me.

Abigail, we should talk about
why you were so uncomfortable

dancing with me before.

If you're not over our relationship,
that's nothing to be ashamed of.

What did you just say?

Work. Hey, Jess.

When I threw you the keys
and you caught them,

were you just working
on your ball skills?

What? No, I locked up.

Interesting. Because the keys are
here, and you know what's not?

Last night's takings.
I can't believe...

Want to know how over
our relationship I am?

I'm so over it I'd like it expunged
from my memory.

- Hang on a sec.
- What?

No, not you, Jess.
I can't have done that.

I'm looking at an empty till.

You're the most self-indulgent,
conceited, inconsiderate,

deranged person I've ever met!

I'll talk to you later.
I have to call the police.

You did not break my heart
but you have broken my coccyx!

Your scan looks fine, Abigail.

I think it's just
some slight bruising.

You look pale.
How are you feeling?

Actually, there's this tightness
in my chest.

Is there a problem, Tara?

Miss Raine, could I talk to you
outside?

This is an exam. Whatever you have
to say you can say to the panel.

Please, it's private.

I... don't think Saskia is going
to mark me fairly here.

She's been repeatedly awful to me
and... Stop!

I asked Saskia to be tough on you
to push you,

she says you've been more focused
on boyfriends than her class.

That's not true.

I know you, Tara. We've talked about
your distorted priorities.

I'll let you come back in
this afternoon,

but you will not make any more
excuses for being under-prepared.

My family will want a traditional
Jewish funeral,

but when it comes down to it,
I want a beach memorial.

You know, my favourite song
with some classic Sammy stories.

A bit of dancing.

Write that down.

Alright.

controlled breaths next time
you're feeling panicky.

It's not a panic att*ck,
it's my heart.

You need to order an ECG.

Blow.

How many of these has he been
drinking? Is it a sugar frenzy?

He doesn't do well with red cordial.

And far too much caffeine!

No wonder your heart's racing.

This is liquid poison.

How's that feeling now?

So weird.
I can see my name in lights.

You'll live - at least you will
if you stop drinking these.

Aaaah! Can you smell that?

The salt in the harbour?

The apple blossoms in your shampoo.

You overdosed on energy drinks.
Not quite a near-death experience.

Even your cranky voice
sounds beautiful to me.

Can I ask, the reason you're working
all these extra hours

is so you can afford to stay
at the Academy? Mm.

Is that not a pointless exercise
if you're gonna fail your exams?

I'm not going to fail.

I'm going to get the scholarship.

You saw me in pas de deux
this morning, I'm brilliant.

Deluded.
If you think you danced well.

You really think that?

You've gone backwards
since last year.

It's like everything that I do
is under obligation.

I auditioned for the Academy
because of my mum,

and this year with Tara,

I think she expects me to be
that guy on the poster.

You know what I mean?

You boys having fun?

If he'd stop talking.
Oh.

Thank you.

I don't know if I'm that guy
on the poster.

I could be.

I think I'd just like the chance
to figure that out for myself.

OK, you've got to get more height
and then just go with your instincts.

Did you see that?
Here it is!

This is Christian.
Voicemail costs money so...

Hey, I found you something.

Wow! Thanks, Ben.

Er, is that chewing gum?

I couldn't find a four.

Those three leafed ones
are over-represented.

So are you ready to go back in?

Oh, um... yeah, arms out.

I'm fine as I am.

I'm sorry.

You've been replaced.
You're dead to me.

No, you're safer with Christian.
I'm no good to anyone
till I get some sleep.

FYI - according to the panel,
you have a chest infection.

Fonteyn and Nureyev
both danced with other people.

It wasn't the same bond, but it was
brilliant in different ways.

That's the beauty of pas de deux.

You don't have to carry it all
by yourself.

If the bond is strong enough,

even when you're dancing solo,
you know you're not alone.

You came back!

Not for you. For me.

I decided to keep my options open.

Maybe the very hardest part

of connecting with anyone is
when you have to let them go.

And just hope they'll find a way
to come back to you.