THE UNDERSTUDY - Act One

Table totally.
I'm sorry, all right, we go.
Ready table be either said beautiful, that's rockety.
The Understudy written by Jenna Saint John Fade. In exterior
fifteenth century town Square night, a glowing green ancient snow
globe sits alone in the dark, and inside are two
dancer figurines. A hen snatches the globe. It belongs to
mister Constantine thirties. As an army of skeletons with glowing
green eyes approaches revealed town Square. Skeletons lunge out from
doors and darkness. Mister Constantine does balletlasa con turns and
knocks out two rounds of skeletons with his outstretched foot.
He slides on his knees, presenting the globe too. A
panicked ballerina, she timidly grabs the globe.
Yarrakum hakm.
A skeleton snatches Constantine, pulling him away.
I wish her face return as they were.
Constantine now has skeletons climbing on top of him, burying him.
His outstretched arm disappears in the sea of bone. The
globe's green globe burns out, and the skeletons drop lifeless. Finally,
mister Constantine bursts out of the bony rubble stands, taking
Ballerina's hand.
They both turn to face a modern day audience irrupts
an applause, tossing the quet of flowers onto the stage.
Ballerina turns to Constantine. I swear I didn't mean any harm.
A skeleton hand twitches. Four year old Fritz rushes onto
the stage from the audience with a wooden stord sword sword.
I loved all.
I was given a little variety. You said you wanted it.
A skeleton hand twitches. Four year old Fritz rushes onto
the stage from the audience with a wooden sword, bludgeoning
the lifeless pile of bones. Heavy red velvet curtains, clothes, blackout,
white screen. As opening credits begin, we're bombarded with photo
after photo, video after video of Natalie Primavera's seventeen social
media pages. Natalie is ballet perfection, executing difficult poses with
an omnipresent smile with nine hundred and eighty five thousand followers.
We see her profile picture and name. Natalie Primavera, wil
Bernard's high school senior, aspiring ballerina at Royal Ballet coffee
obsessed photos of Natalie at school, hair down and casual clothes,
posing with her two ballerina best friends, jazz Man seventeen
and Zoe eighteen, alongside designer cupcakes and Mocha's. A selfie
video of Natalie with a tight bun and fresh makeup
focuses on her in front of a poster for Nutcracker auditions.
Hey guys, it's Natalie here.
About to walk into my very last Nutcracker audition for
a senior year, and I'm hoping this is my year
to be the sugar pum Ferry.
Fingers crossed, Natalie blows a kiss to the camera. Exterior
Wilburn Arts High School day Natalie stands near the front
doors of Wilburn High School of the Arts, next to
Nutcracker auditions poster fluttering in the wind. She tucks away
her phone as she notices dark clouds roll in over
the school. Natalie pops in earbuds and Tchaikowsky's Dance of
the Sugar Plum Fairy fills the air. She takes a
deep breath and enters through the doors of the school.
The wind rips the poster off the door. Interior school
hallway rehearsal studio day. Natalie walks down an empty hallway
and turns on point of her sneakers to a hallway
full of dancers stretching and on their phones in various groups.
All turn to look at Natalie, including her designer dance
were friends at the end of the hallway, Jasmine Kern
seventeen and twins Zoe and Brock Dennings eighteen. Natalie makes
her way down the hall when the double doors of
the dance studio swing open to reveal mister Constantine mid forties,
the same Romanian man seen holding the green globe, but
now a bit older. Thunderclaps, lights flicker on and off.
Natalie pauses, and the two look at one another. The
door shuts with a sign auditions posted on the door.
Natalie cracks open the door to investigate, but a messy
ponytail obscures her view. It's Ava Ross seventeen, a meek
girl and schlubby sweats pushing a large broom in the studio.
The two girls, suddenly faced to face, reeled back from
one another. Ava laughs nervously.
Did you need to talk to mister Constantine?
Where's missus Brewer?
Ava shrugs, oh, good luck today.
It's bad luck to wish good luck.
Some squeals from the hallway pulls Natalie's attention away. Ava's
smile drops, continuing to sweep and watch.
Mom, What are you doing here?
Zoe, Jasmine and other dancers surround Missus Primavera, fifties stylish
and elegant woman with a box of point shoes.
I brought you a fresh pair just in case, and
you have so fast I didn't get to wish you
a big palace hit.
The dancers excitedly gasp and Natalie shoots her mom a
look mirrored my love.
Thanks Mom? Are you fustuing the show again?
I wouldn't skip your last year if it was the
end of the world.
Mom, you can go now.
As missus Primavera exits, she points to Natalie and places
her hand on her heart, mouthing you are my heart.
Natalie repeats the quiet ritual to her mom with a smile.
Interior rehearsal studio day auditioners and point shoes and dance
attire are seated and clicks as Mister Constantine and Miss
Miako and Miss Lana forties to sixties ballet mistresses stand
at the front of the studio. Natalie, Jasmine, Zoe, and
Brock stretch in slow motion, legs pulled over their heads
and perfectly lit as though they're in a dance ad.
Zoe kisses her phone.
Did you just kiss your phone?
I kiss to me three times and then my rish
has come true.
I meant to be Clara.
I want to try.
Zoe flashes her log screen a picture of Timothy Chalomey.
I'm good.
What roles are you auditioning for?
Just the sugar Plum Fairy?
Is your bun too tight? What if you don't get it?
I've got it.
Davia sits with Kenzie seventeen on the gloomy side of
the studio, their eyes fixed on Natalie and her friends
look at her.
She's like a Bolshoy sleeper agent. Why am I here again?
Cuz Miss Miaco said you should audition for the sugar
Plum Fairy. She's like Master Miyagi talent in you. She sees, Wait,
that's Yoda.
Did you know it's bad luck to wish good luck?
Yeah, everybody knows that.
Miss Miago eagerly approaches the center of the studio.
Dancers while missus Brewer is on maternity leave. We're very
lucky to have mister Constantine here from the Romanian Ballet
to direct this season's Nutcracker.
Not to mention he's sadly married. What does a woman
need to do to find an ellb inteligible? Bahbah bah,
I got a bubba.
We're very lucky to have mister Constantine here from the
Romanian Ballet to direct this season's Nutcrack.
You got to manson, he sadly married. What does a
woman need to do to find an eligible battling?
Enough?
Yeah? What enters your mind when you think of the Nutcracker?
Christmas?
Yes, winter cold, crouds of snow.
Natalie exchanges glances with her friends.
Anyone else?
Silence? Mister Constantine holds up the ancient snow globe containing
two dark figures in a frosted forest. He cranks the knob,
playing a tiney patty de from Tchaikowsky's Nutcracker.
The Nutcracker a Christmas balet over one hundred years old,
danced by thousands of dancers, millions of times, music reaching
billions of ears. There's magic in this, real magic? Is
there magic in you?
Mister Constantine gingerly places the snow globe on the piano.
Let the auditions begin.
The front door opens and all dancers turn in unison
to look at Grayson eighteen, a charming, shaggy haired senior.
Grayson halts as all the faces are staring at him.
Mister Garcia, Yeah, that's me, Grayson.
Super chill group here, huh.
Natalie chuckles.
Prince Cavaliers and sugar Plum Faerries stay everyone else wait
out in the hole.
Dancers file out as Natalie looks around and sees Auditioner
number one staying put. Natalie shoots her a look. Auditioner
number one abruptly gets up and leaves. Natalie notices Jasmine
lingering and raises her eyebrows. Jasmine catches Natalie's look, what.
Are you doing?
I'm auditioning.
I'll blow my audition if I'm up against my best friend.
You get snow Queen. You're perfect for it. I was
snow Queen last year.
Whatever fine, Jasmine scoffs and exits angrily. Most dancers have
left the studio with Natalie Brock, Grayson, and Ava left.
Natalie does a double take at Ava.
We're auditioned with Pi Dedu the heart of these rollers.
Wait, the solo has always been the audition for the
sugarplum ferry.
Do you know the de de?
Yes?
But I've practiced the solo a million times?
You know it?
Ava nodds.
The pi de door in the other world beyond Clara's household,
while everyone sleeps ignorant, ignorant of what exactly the other.
World, thunderbooms, the lights flicker. Miss Miaco and Miss Lana
look up at the ceiling.
What are you doing?
I'm setting the scene. Let's start with Natalie primaver and
Brock Dennings.
Natalie pulls on her rehearsal tutu as she walks to
her spot on the dance floor with Brock. The pianist
starts the music. Natalie and Brock execute the dance with
skillful ease. Natalie's turns are in triples, her extensions reach
her ear, and with the final lift and drop, Natalie
flashes a large smile. Miss Miaco and Miss Lano mouth wow.
Natalie's smile drops as mister Constantine shakes his head.
Miss Primavera, what was going through your mind while dancing?
Well?
I was counting, obviously, and made sure I stayed lifted
so that Mic sens that's fair.
Ava and Grayson, Ava, in a wrinkled wrap skirt, hurries
to the floor with Grayson as Natalie sulkily sits with
a frown. The pianist begins Ava and Grayson dance. Ava's
leaps are low, her turns are in singles, and her
extensions barely make it past her hip, but there's a
clear sadness behind her eyes, and her body moves as
one with the music. Miss Lana, Miss Miaco, and mister
Constantine watch attentively, nodding. Even Natalie is pulled in by
Ava's performance. Mister Constantine smiles large. As the dancers finish,
He looks at Ava and taps his heart.
Thank you, goodbye dancers.
Ava's eyes widen. Does she have a chance? Natalie's eyes dart. Wait.
Aren't you gonna ask her what was in her mind?
I don't have to.
You'll hear the audition results tonight by email.
Thanks again, Ava, Grayson, and Brock head out the door.
Miss Lana, Miss Miaco, and mister Constantine rummage through papers together.
The pianist coughs and eyes the center of the room.
Where Natalie is planted arms crossed.
Here we go.
You know Ava Ross has only been dancing for five years.
She just got on points.
Yes, she probably shouldn't be on point. You're a technie,
is excellent. You don't need to put her down to
show how good you are.
That's not what I'm doing.
Look, I'm a senior and I've played every role in
The Nutcracker except the sugar Plum Fairy.
I know every note of that song. It's not a
role for beginners. It's the most advanced role in this ballet.
If ballet is only about technique, it would put audiences
to sleep. I want to feel something. This piece is
about heartbreak. I want to feel my heart break.
It's a happy ballet. It's about Christmas. Christmas makes people
feel happy.
Christmas makes me feel agony.
The lights flicker. That's creepy.
It's like I'm teaching in public school again.
Play the piece.
The pianist obediently begins playing the PARTI du.
Listen from the other world.
The land of sweets.
Memory is not sweet. It's nostalgic, gone forever. Don't think
about choreography, social media or Chris Emsworth. Find purpose in it.
Dance is purpose for me.
Listen.
Natalie closes her eyes. The music seems to grow louder,
and Natalie's shoulders relax, her head swaying with the notes.
Mister Constantine eyes the globe on the piano and smiles, Holy.
Shit, yes, holy shit. Can you feel all of that
and dens at the same.
Time, mister Constantine, there's over one hundred dancers waiting.
Natalie snaps out of it and charges out the door
with a huff. Buff interior school hallway day. Natalie closes
her dance bag with a furious zip. Jasmine and Zoe
stand around her with nervous excitement.
That was beautiful, Nat, you have it for sure. Ama
Ross is a core dancer at best.
I've seen smaller shoes on clowns. Miss Miago pops her
head out of the door.
Snow Queen's next.
Miss Miaco addresses Jasmine.
I'm surprised I didn't see you in there with the
sugar plum fairies.
Natalie's the sugar plum fairy. Jasmine walks in confidently with
a group of nervous dancers. Natalie walks down the hall
when an eager Ava approaches.
Wow, you made that look so easy.
All ballet looks the same when it's done right.
Exterior historic Bridge sun said. Natalie is lost in her phone,
swiping over and over to refresh her email. Sitting on
the hood of a car a few feet away. Jasmine, Zoe,
and Rock are taking in the view and sipping wine coolers.
Whatever role you get is wonderful.
Natalie clicks on Ava's Instagram page and pauses on a
photo of Ava and Kenzie making goofy faces. Natalie turns
her camera on selfie mode and takes a goofy face pick.
Uh ah, cute selfie.
Natalie quickly hides the pick and swings around to see
Grayson standing behind her.
What are you doing here? We invited him.
Get off your.
Phone neck, you're getting the role.
Interior rehearsal studio evening. Mister Constantine, Miss Miaco, and Miss
Lana sit in the middle of the floor with audition
paperwork laid out everywhere. Ava timidly walks into the room,
interrupting the teachers.
Mister Constantine, I did work study hours for missus Brewer,
and I was wondering if I could help with anything
and collect some hours.
Ava.
We can't let you in on this end of the process.
Oh, of course, sorry, Ava starts to turn away.
Miss Ross, I could use your help for something.
Interior, Mister Constantine's office, Evening. Ava opens a box in
a dusky office stacked with boxes.
Books go on the bookshelf. You can leave everything else alone.
Ava notices the snow globe on mister Constantine's desk. She
picks it up, running her finger over the inscription.
Dare to win feel Magic's kiss?
Beautiful, isn't it? It's very old, must be handled very delicately.
Ava sets it down. Mister Constantine turns to leave.
Do I actually have a chance at getting the part?
You have the same chance as Miss Primavera.
But she's Natalie prima Vera.
She's a girl trained her best, just like you, Miss Ross.
Exterior pedestrian overpass night. Natalie refreshes her email again.
You ever heard a watched pot never boiled?
Have you ever been kicked in the balls by Vallerina?
Oh my god, Oh my god, it isn't.
On Natalie's phone, an email pops up from Wilburn High
School dance department with the subject line Nutcracker audition results.
Interior Mister Constantine's Office Night. Ava is slotting books onto
the bookshelf when her phone buzzes Nutcracker audition results. Ava
sits down with a deep breath. She presses the link
Exterior Pedestrian Overpast Night, roll sugar Plum Fairy. Natalie exhales
with a huge smile. Interior Mister Constantine's Office Night. Ava
slams her phone down in disappointment. Her email opened to
Roll Understudy to sugar Plum Fairy. Ava brushes away a tear.
Exterior Pedestrian Overpast Night Natalie's phone video live stream with Natalie,
Zoe Brock, and Jasmine Grayson filming.
Hey guys, it's Natalie Primavera.
My best friends and I were just enjoying our last
summer night out before senior year Stars and.
Whilla, we got our audition results for our final Nutcacker.
Interior Mister Constantine's Office Night, Ava is watching Natalie's live stream.
As mister Constantine walks in, she quickly said her phone down.
We're heading home. You dnsd well, Miss Ross not well enough,
and understudy is an invaluable position and only given to
someone we can trust with the role.
I just really wanted that role.
So did Miss Primavera.
But she always gets.
The role, She gets everything, everything always breaks her way,
and I just wish I could be like her.
You have a think that Miss Primavera wishes she could
be like you.
No, why would anyone wish to be me?
That's stupid. A faint green light seems to twinkle from
inside the snow globe. Sitting on mister Constantine's desk. He notices, hmm.
See you rehearsal tomorrow, Miss Ross, get some rest.
Mister Constantine exits, Ava, picks up the snow globe and
cranks the knob. The pata de variation plays from the
globe on Ava's phone. Natalie's live stream plays in the.
Background, and you are looking at the snow queen.
Yes, two years in a row, and I'm Clara. I
couldn't have done it without my day make you selling.
May and Rock.
Here's the Russian soloist and I'm the sugar plum.
Sorry, I can't wait to share this journey with all
of you from now until opening night.
Here's two one million.
Followers before first rehearsal tomorrow, Royal that ray, I'm.
Looking at you. Exterior pedestrian overpast night. Natalie is mid
panche arabesque pose, the full moon behind her, making her
a beautiful silhouette. Rock snaps a photo. Natalie lets go
of the pose and grabs the phone and frowns.
What do you think of this?
I love it? Your lines are perfection?
No, but like, what does it make you feel?
Silence? Natalie steps back and examines the scene. I got it.
Natalie climbs on top of the cement railing of the overpass.
Whoa, hey, hey, is that like safe?
It's perfectly safe if you have solid technique.
A million people are going to see this photo.
And all I want is that when I dance, I
want people to feel worried.
No magic.
Natalie looks up at the stars above her, takes a
moment before stretching into the pose again. Und Her foot
wabbles slightly underneath her interior Mister Constantine's Office Night. Ava's
on Natalie's Instagram page, scrolling past smile after smile, roll
after roll. Ava looks from her phone to the snow globe.
She runs her finger over the inscription dare to wish
feel Magic's kiss seems to glisten. She shakes the globe,
so the snow within swirls sparkling green. Exterior pedestrian overpass
night Natalie is mid pose.
Got it?
Natalie's slips and she falls over the edge. Shouts and
screams come from her friends. Interior Mister Constantine's Office. Night.
Ava shuts her eyes and takes a deep breath.
I wish I was Natalie Primavera.
The snow globe engulfs and black fog in a flash,
and a green, blinding glow illuminates the entire office. Ava
gasps as her spirit, a translucent essence of her puffs
off of her body. Exterior pedestrian overpast Night Natalie is
falling in slow motion, screaming as Ava's spirit swims toward
her from the night sky. The ground approaches closer and closer.
Natalie squeezes her eyes as her spirit exits her body,
just as Ava's enters It blackout upon hitting the ground.
Interior Mister Constantine's Office Day. Pobi shad blurry at first
sunlight through the window, the glowing green snow globe on
its side, with the inscription dare to wish feel Magic's
kiss coming into focus?
What the.
Where am I?
A phone? Lies on the desk, open to Natalie's Instagram page.
The shot of her doing a panche arabesque on the
bridge a phenomenal photograph. Note. Ava's body is now inhabited
by Natalie and vice versa. Henceforth, Ava and Natalie will
be referred to as their sole brain name rather than
their body name. Natalie stands hand on her head and dazed.
The door handled jiggles, and Natalie tucks under mister Constantine's desk.
Right before the door opens. Mister Constantine walks in. Natalie
sees his feet planted in front of his desk, picking
up the snow globe, and so we'll go again. Mister
Constant sets the globe back down and exits. Interior rehearsal
studio day. Natalie walks out of the office and into
the rehearsal room, catching her reflection. Natalie halts rushes back
in front of the mirror, face to face with Ava's body.
Natalie walks closer and closer to the mirror, mouth agape
as she touches her face, her hair breathing heavier.
Miss Ross is everything okay.
Mister Constantine is at the corner of the room.
No, no, this is impossible.
Natalie looks back at the mirror.
It may seem impossible to fill Misprimavaro's shoes due to
her accident, but I think you'll find it in you.
Accident?
What accident?
The bell rings, The hallway floods with students, and Natalie
turns back, but mister Constantine has vanished. Interior School Hallway day.
Natalie stumbles into the hallway, filled with students of all
different art disciplines. Drama, art, music, dance, back to school
artwork decorates the hallway. Natalie spots Zoey Brock and Jasmine
walking together.
Jasmine, Zoey Rock.
They continue walking. Natalie runs to catch up to them,
reaching for Zoe, Ugh, do you mind?
I need your help. I'm seriously freaking out.
Here, Jasmine flashes Natalie a sympathetic smile.
Oh hey, it's okay.
I'd be panicking too if I ring your shoes.
Natalie throws her arms around Jasmine in a tight hug.
Jasmine shoots zoe and Brock a w twof Look.
Listen, I'm Natalie, but I'm I know We're gonna fix it.
You know how to fix this.
We'll go to mister Constantine and let him know that
we're switching roles.
I can be the sugar plum fairy and you. No, no, no,
I'm the sugar plum fairy.
Look, nobody expected what happened to Natalie to happen.
I don't know.
I honestly saw it coming.
The accident.
Okay, what happened?
Don't play? Jasmine leans in toward Natalie.
Listen, your palent's challenged and as flexible as a petrified fossil.
The sugar plum theory needs to go to someone actually
capable of dancing the role, someone like me.
Natalie stumbles back away from her friends and into Trevor seventeen,
a gaunt, undeniably nerdy kid with a viola case. He
plants a kiss on Natalie's lips. Natalie slaps him hard.
How sorry, I don't know how to congratulate you when
it's because of something so terrible.
Natalie's breathing becomes a regular, her vision blurry and sound muffled.
An exit sign illuminates down the hall. Natalie makes a
bee line for it.
Cool, cool, we'll talk later.
Kenzie pops in in front of Natalie.
Ava, are you okay? I just turned Oh my god,
I'm dead.
An overhead screen starts playing the abrasive song for morning announcements,
and we see Principal Waters fifties.
Welcome back, all returning and new students.
I regret to start the first morning.
Announcement of the school year with some unfortunate news about
about how Verio Natalie.
Primabera, Oh shit, I'm actually dead.
The Wilburn Arts Senior fell fifteen feet last night and
is currently at Saint John's Hospital. Our family asks for privacy,
and we're all looking forward to welcoming Natalie back when
she recovers.
Good Wolves, We're not dead.
I know it's a lot, but you've got this.
Your Jody from under stage, starting from bad feet underdog
to Badass Dancer.
This is a great photo, though.
Kenzie holds her phone showing the moon photo on Natalie's
Instagram page.
Oh thank you, save you.
On the hospital, Kensie looks at her confused.
I gotta go, what about chemistry?
Natalie rushes out of the hallway and into interior hospital
hallway day Natalie walks hastily and makes a turn. The
sign intensive care unit looms overhead, and she stops before
the lock. Double door is waiting then an elderly couple exits,
and Natalie slips through interior. I see you, Nurse station,
I see you room two oh two day. The chart
in the door says Primavera Natalie. The curtain is drawn
in the room with just a leg and a cast
in view. Natalie reaches to pull back the curtain when
Nurse Sandy thirties pops in front of her family.
Only step out, please.
Natalie backs out of the room, hurted away by Nurse Sandy.
Mister Primavera fifties walks up in a wrinkled suit, bloodshot eyes,
carrying a small coffee cup and spots Natalie.
Dad, Natalie's dad. I need to talk to her, Natalie.
She's still asleep.
Is she gonna be okay?
Yeah? Yeah, awesome?
Are you drinking vending machine?
Coffee?
Guilty? Don't come closer, My breath will knock you out.
There's a coffee lover's down the block.
Want me to get you one, Mister Primavera studies Natalie.
You're one of Natalie's friends.
Yeah, it's really important that I talked to her.
Trust me, okay, yeah, we might be ready for visitors
in a few days.
A few days.
Okay.
Mister Primavera raises his coffee cup as a bye and
exits into the room. Natalie follows Nurse Sandy to the
nurse's station.
How long is that cast going to be on her?
Like?
Is it a clean break?
I can't answer any of your questions.
It's a law called hippa. So how long does it
take for a broken leg to heal them? Like generally
six to eight weeks? And have you noticed anything weird
with her, like with her head or something.
Hypothetically, if the spirit of Natalie is and someone else,
then logically that's someone else's spirit is a Natalie?
Right? Well, hypothetically we think in terms of medicine here
like facts.
What you're talking about is more like magic, like bullshit.
Interior elevator Day, Natalie pats her jeans and pulls out
a work study form signed by mister Constantine and Ava's phone.
The screen has a crack and a picture of Ava
with Trevor kissing her cheek.
Oh gross.
Natalie goes to Ava's Instagram page eighty six followers. She
clicks on a pick of Ava and Kenzie captured. Audition Day.
Natalie goes to her own Instagram page and sees that
she now has one point six million followers.
Oh my gosh.
Natalie clicks on the moon photo and scrolls through comment
after comment of well wishes. One comment makes her pause
Royal ballet, fast recovery, Natalie, we look forward to your audition. Here.
Natalie's eyes widen and she presses the phone against her
heart like a love letter. She sees her reflection in
the elevator doors, Ava's face staring back at her interior
school hallway day, Natalie rushes down the hall to Ava's
locker and struggles with the lock, spinning and guessing random digits.
After several failed attempts, Natalie pulls on the lock and
lets out a frustrated scream. Miss Ross, did you lose something?
Natalie sees Miss Miako stepping toward her cautiously.
My body, Well, that sounds like a conversation for your therapist.
You're late for rehearsal. This is a really bad first impression.
You're making kind of going through life crisis here.
Okay, hey, show a little compassion. I think maybe Natalie
is having a worse day than you today. I vouched
for you, so let's go.
You vouched for Ava.
Why don't make me regret it? Interior rehearsal studio day.
Natalie enters the studio already full of dancers lining the walls, stretching,
taking selfies, putting on points shoes. In the middle of
the studio, Zoe dances the Clara solo, with Kenzie dancing
simultaneously in the back, a place designated for the understudy. Fritz,
a nine year old Romanian boy, grabs the imaginary doll
from Zoe and smashes it to the ground. Zoe and
Kenzie put on their best surprise faces.
Father, we need to do it again.
Fritz been nice.
That's your son and his name is Fritz.
I have many children, but this is the one I
prefer most places.
Fritz joins the other party children, but they all move
away from him. He eyes them and takes one step closer,
and they all take one step away.
Don't mind them, Fritz, they will all be dead one day.
The children look at him, dumbfounded.
Oh my apologies, I meant to say that. In Romanian again.
Bean Ross, eight, a precocious punk and a leotardan skirt,
grabs Natalie on the arm.
Oh do you mind? We're were you last night. Mom
is freaking out and you're so grounded.
Natalie Dodge is bean Bean, crosses her arms, shaking her head.
You have ten minutes, Miss Ross.
Natalie spots her former friends Jasmine, Zoe, and Brock and
starts to head toward them when Ava, Hey over here.
Kenzie enthusiastically waves, standing in the corner with THEO eighteen,
slightly portly male dancer wearing a rainbow bandana. Natalie reluctantly
makes her way over.
Hey, Kenzie and THEO right, what were we up to
last night? Bugi boards weird witchy spells.
I thought you were doing work study for mister Constantine
last night.
Miss Miaco tosses her hands up to say, what's the
hold up? Interior locker room day. Natalie is dressed in
Ava's dance clothes. Her tights have runs and her wrap
skirt is a wrinkled mess. Natalie pulls out Ava's point shoes.
They look disgusting. Interior rehearsal studio. The pianist is playing
the pati du as Natalie and Grayson dance. After the
second rotation in Natalie's pirouette, her ankle wobbles and she
stumbles out of the turn. Keep going, Grayson and Natalie continue.
Natalie struggles with every extension, lift and turn. Grayson supports her,
eyeing her with concern. Finally, Natalie's ankle gives out again
and she lands flat on her bottom. Dancer sitting along
the wall giggle.
You're danced as beautifully at the addition yesterday.
Sure if having a weak core no flexibility is beautiful?
And who approved points shoes for these ankles? Not to
mention these shoes are dead.
Somebody learned to play a dava pretty fast.
In my office, Missress Interior, Mister Constantine's office day, Natalie
follows mister Constantine into the office and leans against his
desk with the glowing globe sitting on the edge.
I know you're upset, but sometimes things have happen, and
for a reason.
What things?
Do you know?
What's happened with me?
Last night? You were sitting there upset to be cast
as the Understaddy, wishing you could be Natalie Primavera. And
here you are.
Here, who is.
The sugar plum fairy? Miss Ross?
That's it.
I need to find some crystals to touch, or a
well to throw some cash in because nobody has any
answers for me, especially you and my what d It's
literally psychotic.
I've got completely insaid.
Natalie throws her hands in the air, swipening the globe,
making it fly. Mister Constantine dives for it and catches
it before it can hit the ground.
You have to be more careful, Miss Bramavenna.
I knew it.
Nice gas lighting. By the way, fix it, fix it
right now.
It takes two to pie de du what last night?
Ava wished to be you and.
You wish to be I would never who wasn't even here?
The man Magic transcends space, Miss Primavera. I don't know how,
but I do know to change places it would have
taken both of you. Was there no moment last night
when you.
Were telling you I would never wish to be Ava?
Okay, wish to go back.
Mister Constantine hands Natalie the snow globe and exits. Left
alone in the office, she studies the globe.
Dare to wish feel Magic's kiss? Okay, I wish that
I was.
Suddenly Natalie hears commotion and opens her eyes and sees
missus Primavera in the studio. Mom interior rehearsal studio continuous.
Missus Primavera looks as though she's been crying, but has
a smile on her face. Everyone huddles around her, and
Jasmine gives her a large hug.
I just wanted to stop by and give you all
an update on Natalie. She hasn't looken up yet, but
they're done with the testing and she's gonna be okay.
Dancers exhale with relief. Jasmine and Zoe hug each other.
Natalie steps out into the studio.
But this specialist told us that she shattered her right
hip and she won't be able to dance again.
Natalie's face falls. Missus Primavera continues talking, but it's muffled.
Everything around Natalie turns white. Natalie snaps out of it.
Sight and sound are back to normal. Dancers murmuring and
comforting Missus Primavera. Natalie looks at the snow globe in
her hand and races out of the studio, unnoticed by
all but mister Constantine. Interior School hallway continuous. Mister Constantine
exits the studio and follows Natalie storming down the hall
with the snow globe in her hand.
I wish my body was healed and I was back
in it.
The snow globe continues glowing unchanged.
This isn't the lamb or monkey paw.
You can't go back, and Natalie notices mister Constantine behind her.
But I'm the sugar plum Fairy.
Natalie stares at the globe with dismay.
Ava is the sugar plum Fairy. You're in a hospital bed.
There's an opportunity to learn from Ava, And when you
wake up, what opportunity.
Wait to fulfill my destiny as the sugar plum Firy.
Well, the show is three months away. I should warn
you there are consequences and staying in too long the
magic becomes unstable. Yeah, well the show is in three months.
What the it's in three months? Okay, Uh, well the
show is three months away. I should warn you there
are consequences and staying in too long the magic becomes unstable.
The life flicker on and off. Natalie notices, concerned momentarily
before looking back at the snow globe.
As soon as Ava wakes up, I'll switch back. If
I can get this body sugar plumb ready, I can
recover from a broken hip.
Natalie lingers on the glowing globe for a moment before
handing it back to mister Constantine. He takes it cautiously,
Miss Primavera, be.
Careful, mister Constantine. I've survived high school.
I got this. Interior Artistic Dancewear Day A pile of points, shoes,
rehearsal to to and dance attire land. On the cashier's counter,
Ava's phone lights up, mom pulling, Natalie swipes to ignore.
WHOA, you get robbed or something sor something like that.
That'll be.
One thousand, four hundred and sixteen dollars and twenty five cents.
Yikes, I guess it's the beginning of the season, right.
Ray. Natalie rummages through Ava's bag and pulls out a
credit card from her wallet, handing it to the cashier
with a smile. Exterior Primavera McMansion Day, Natalie stands outside
of her beautiful house, the Uber driving away and her
pastel car parked out in front. Natalie turns the doorknob,
but doesn't push it open. Instead, she carefully releases the
knob and knocks. A moment later, missus Primavera answers the
door hair in a messy bun and a measuring tape
in her hands.
Hi, can I help you?
Oh?
I thought you'd be at the hospital. Are you one
of Natalie's friends?
Yes, I'm the understudy. I mean Ava, You're not the
understudy anymore. Come in, come in.
Interior Primavera mcmanson day. A labradoodle clean runs up to
greet Natalie.
Good.
She how are you good?
Natalie kneels and lets the dog tackle and slapp her
all over her. Who's this? Primavera smiles?
Have you been here before?
Oh?
Once you weren't here And animals love me.
Animals love Natalie too.
I am sorry. My head is in a million places.
Why are you here again?
Oh?
I wanted to decorate Natalie's hospital room with some of
her things so she feels at home when she wakes up.
Wow, that is so sweet.
I didn't know that you and Nat were so close.
Natalie swallows and nods. Natalie's bedroom continuous. Natalie walks into
her bedroom. It's like out of a magazine king size bed.
In the middle of the room, vanity mirror with a
vast makeup collection displayed a ballet bar installed with a
large hanging mirror Natalie runs her hand over the bar,
her makeup and plops down on her bed. Cliche jumps
on her lap to taddle. Natalie spots a framed photocollage
titled Nutcracker, a photo of young Natalie captioned baby Mouse,
age five, followed by portraits of her as all the
other Nutcracker rolls with a single empty frame labeled sugar
Plum Fairy. Natalie pulls a douffle bag out of the closet,
a Royal Ballet keychain hooked to the zipper, and collects
a stuffed animal, a sweatshirt, a family photo. Natalie opens
a drawer and sees a packet labeled Royal Ballet Audition Packet.
Natalie shoves the packet into Ava's bag, along with a
few makeup pieces. Missus Primavera's office day, Natalie creeps to
the doorway and her mother is busy at her sewing
machine putting together two twos.
You're costuming the show.
I cost hime it every year.
I thought with Natalie, adan's what nat would want.
Natalie frowns, watching her mom materially before exiting exterior apartment
building dusk. Natalie climbs out of an uber looks at
an apartment complex.
Hi, I'm abe A Ross and I'm poor.
Interior Ava's living room, night, Natalie enters cautiously.
Ummm hello.
Miss Ros's fifties emerges near running. She sees Natalie and
gives her a large hug.
Where the hell have you been?
Uh?
Did you hear on the sugar plumberry? I know what
horrible news. I can't imagine what her mother is going through.
What's all this just some stuff for the role? Why
didn't you call?
Oh?
It broke?
Natalie shows Miss Ross the crack screen.
You can't stay out without my explicit permission. You hear
were you with Trevor? I know I said I was
okay with you too having sex?
But stop?
I fell asleep at school. Can we talk tomorrow? I
just I need to be alone to process right now.
Natalie rushes down the hall Ava's bedroom night. There are
two beds in the room, one with a cartoon character
comforter and the other with a plain purple comforter. Natalie
sits on the bed with the purple comforter. A Harvard
University flag hangs over the bed.
Pull yourself together, Natalie get in character who is Ava Ross.
Natalie pulls out Ava's phone and opens up Ava's Instagram page.
It has about ten posts, one with Ava and Trevor
licking ice cream from the same cone.
Okay, I have horrible taste in guys and a mom
that's way too involved in all of that.
The Harvard flag catches her eye.
I want to go to Harvard. Weird and I'm poor
and share a room with the little kid.
Natalie spots a pink diary sitting on the floor.
Of course, all losers have diaries.
Natalie picks up the diary and begins reading. It's in
kid's handwriting. Found condom wrapper in Ava's drawer. Mom texted
dad yesterday. We need to talk.
What are you doing.
Natalie looks up to see Bean standing at the door.
You baby mouse right, Yeah, so I didn't want to
be a party girl anyway.
You're too sloppy for a party girl.
Bean takes her pink diary back.
Rude, I'm going to find out what's up with you. Okay, Nancy,
Drew get out.
Natalie shoves Bean out of the room and shuts the door.
Bean bangs on the other side of the door.
Mom a will again.
Natalie looks at herself in the mirror Ava's reflection and
takes a deep breath.
Let's get your ass in shape.
End of episode one.
It probably exemplated