THE UNDERSTUDY - Act Two

Okay, so check this out.
Last episode, Natalie Primavera, are School's diva ballerina, auditioned for
the sugar Plum Fairy and the Nutcracker. My best friend,
Ava Ross, who's only been dancing for five.
Years, also went for it.
Our new ballet director, mister Constantine, is also super weird
and creepy, but anyway, Natalie got the role and Ava
got cast as her understudy. To celebrate, Natalie took this
epic Instagram shot on a bridge at the exact same time,
Ava made a wish on mister Constantine's magic snow globe
to be Natalie. Natalie falls off the bridge and midfall.
They switch.
So now Ava is stuck in Natalie's body and a
coma at the hospital. I know, super dark, and Natalie
is an Ava's body. Natalie thought about switching back, but
she decided to stay in Ava's body and have her
moment as the sugar Plump Fairy before switching back to
her injured body and saying goodbye to ballet forever. The
problem is Ava's mom and little sister are getting suspicious.
Not to mention me, THEO and Ava's boyfriend s Trevor
not sure how Natalie's gonna pull this off.
But let's see Ava's bedroom night, early morning and still dark.
Ava's phone chimes five o'clock am. Natalie shuts off the
alarm and jumps out of bed. Exterior street sunrise. Natalie
jogs as the sun rises. Natalie snaps a photo of
the sunrise. She posts the photo on Ava's Instagram page
with the caption early bird gets the worm, hashtag sugar
plump fairy, hashtag nutcracker. Interior Ava's Bedroom Day. Bean wakes
up and sees Natalie at her dresser doing ballet bar exercises.
Bean points two fingers from her eyes to Natalie to say,
I'm watching you. Interior Ava's hallway Day. Bean rattles the
lock knob of the bathroom door.
Please I need a peel up.
Interior Ava's Bathroom Day. Natalie puts her hair into a
perfect high bun. She's applying the lipstick she stole from
her room and takes a selfie with Ava's phone. She
posts the photo on Instagram with the caption hashtag two
two Tuesday, hashtag bun head, hashtag sugar plump fairy. Interior
Ava's Kitchen Day. Miss Ross has breakfast ready fruit loop
cereal Bean is jowing down and Natalie makes a face
at the bowl.
Do we have any coffee?
When did you start drinking coffee? Now?
Figure I should start.
Caffeine is a drugging num.
Miss Ross walks to the counter to pour an extra
cup of coffee. Bean pulls out a pill container from
Miss Ross's purse and pushes it towards Natalie. Natalie snatches
it and tosses it back into the purse, stopping weird
interesting Bean jots in her diary. As Miss Ross hands
Natalie a mug of coffee, Natalie takes a sip and
makes a disgusted face. Miss Ross folds her arms and
eyes Ava nervously.
With your ap classes, your work study, and college applications,
maybe we should talk about switching roles.
You too, I'm the sugar plum fairy, Ava.
This is just an extracurricular You're not a ballerina. Wow.
I mean, I don't blame you for thinking it. We
were all thinking it. Let's face it, this body's weak
with shit training. But to say it out loud to
your own daughter, that's really cold, missus mom.
Miss Ross looks up and her chin starts to tremble.
Natalie rolls her eyes.
Sorry, I didn't sleep. I just want to know what's
going on. You skipped school, Ava.
Natalie watches Miss Ross fight, tears for a moment and
sighs and defeat. Bean is jotting in her notebook with fury.
You really want to know what's going on? Yes, just
talk to me.
You won't get in trouble even after saying shit, if
you get.
Dressed, please, Being frowns and stomps off.
Being kids a shit.
Okay, here goes. I'm not your daughter. I'm Natalie Primavera.
Aba made a wish in a magic sell gup to
be me and some now she's stuck in my body
in a coma and I'm stuck in this one. But
I'm gonna turn avan to a ballerina and basically say
the show and yeah, it's a lot of pressure.
Ms Ross looks at her, wiping a wave tears from
her cheek.
Natalie prima Vera, Yes, not funny Aba.
Interior chemistry classroom day, Natalie and Grayson stand together at
a lab table with textbooks and three d Adam models
Kenzie in front of them. Grayson peaks at Natalie's feet
doing degages while she scrolls through Ava's phone, reading comment
after comment.
You will never replace Natalie, Who's stupid for Twutu's.
Hashtag not my sugar plum fairy.
The chemistry teacher, mister Hall forty's forgettable in appearance and
a voice that could be mistaken for white noise. His
sweater vest has a portrait to a cat.
In order to calculate the value of the NFLP change
of the reaction, will use the balanced equation for the
oxidation reduction reaction.
Kenzy turns around.
Where'd you go yesterday to the hospital? I when see
Natalie Primavera?
Oh my god, I don't think I've ever seen her
without makeup on?
How'd she look super messed up?
Is it bad that that makes me happy in a
small way?
Yes?
What's wrong with you?
Kenzie's smile drops?
Ava.
Do you have something you want to.
Share with the whole class?
Oh?
Me, no, thank you.
Then would you like to explain to the class what
a happy atom is.
One that doesn't take this class?
Oh?
Mister Hall's face scrunches up. Uh, oh, he's gonna cry.
Mister Hall's face scrunches up and tries to stifle himself
from crying, turns around, raises her eyebrows to say, what
are you doing?
What?
Since when does anyone care about chemistry?
Kenzie and a few other classmates go up to comfort
mister Hall. Natalie puts her face in her hands.
Is she always is?
Like brittle?
Thank you?
Catastrophe just dyed?
Jack Hole?
Who his cat? The class gathers to comfort mister Hall
as he sobs. Natalie sits alone before rushing to grab
the hall pass interior bathroom stall day, Natalie scrolls through
her own Natalie's social media feed. She scrolls past smiling
picture after smiling picture. Zoe and Jasmine enter. Natalie peers
at them through the crack as Zoe puts in eye
drops and Jasmine has her phone out. Natalie can't get
a clear look at what's happening. Zoe, you're ridiculous.
Oh watch, it's gonna look authentic.
Okay on the count of three, ready, one?
Two?
Okay, ducket perfect looks kind of artsy?
Do you think Timothy will see it?
Avis phone buzzes. Natalie looks at it. It's Zoe's Instagram
page with a photo she just took her face with
one tear running down her cheek, captioned devastated about my
bestie at Natalie Primavera, get better soon.
You gotta be kidding.
You're made to be the cheka plum fairy. Why didn't
you just audition for.
It and deal with Natalie Primadonna?
Not worth it? Both girls laugh as they exit. Natalie's
jaw drops Interior school hallway day. Natalie marches down the
hallway fuming. Trevor jogs carrying his viola case and catches
up with her.
Aves avors Abe.
Natalie walks faster, dodging students.
Slow down their speed racer.
Trevor jogs in front of Natalie walks back.
So I was wondering you need to stop following me?
Did I do some frog?
Natalie pushes past Trevor and he keeps following her.
Can't you talk to me?
Just cool it?
Okay, cool it? What does that mean? Like, let's just
pause this whole thing until after Nutcracker.
That's three months a bo It'll.
Be okay, really, just focus on your tiny violin there, okay.
Trevor runs into a water fountain and falls. Kenzie at
her locker, turns and sees this, Natalie keeps walking. It's
viola Interior school hallway rehearsal studio day. Natalie starts to
push the studio door open, but hears muffled sounds behind it.
She peers through the window and sees Jasmine, Mister Constantine,
Miss Miako, and Miss Lana all having a meeting.
Jasmine, if you wanted to play the sugar Plum Ferry,
you should have auditioned for.
It and compete against my best friend. You guys know
I couldn't do that. Look ave as a hobbyist. I'm
hoping to go pro, so just start me off as
an understudy. I mean, you can't risk the entire show
by not having an understudy.
To the SPS, right, Natalie pulls away from the door,
breathing heavily. Interior locker room Day. Natalie gets dressed in
her new dance attire, eyeing Jasmine and Zoe, who are
lost in conversation as they stretch. Kenzie and THEO enter
and approach Natalie. Senior dancer seventeen gasps upon seeing THEO.
Ew THEO get out of here.
You're Natalie, this is an intervention. I thought you'd be
more like beautiful white swan Natalie Portman.
But you're unraveling and.
Too psychopath red eyes, black Swan Natalie Portman.
Natalie is focused on laughter. It's Zoe. Jasmine, Kenzie and
THEO exchange glances. Kenzie waves her hand as though to say,
sh in, look.
Just skip classes yesterday, and now you're blowing off Trevor.
We know you're going through a hard time and you
want to.
Help, okay, Natalie eyes Kenzie and THEO standing in front
of her. They're schlubby and mismatched. Natalie laughs.
Why don't you guys just work on helping yourselves, okay?
And what's her face?
Is right?
You're not allowed to be here.
Natalie pushes past Kenzie and THEO.
What's her face?
You're at my birthday party last week, bitch.
Interior rehearsal studio day dancers line the walls, seated with
their various clicks, Jasmine with the cool kids on one side,
and Kenzie and the misfits on the other. Natalie weighs
the two sides before popping down in the center of
the studio. Mister Constantine, Miss Miaco, and Miss Lana stand
in front.
I have a couple of last minute announcements. Missus Jasmine
Kern will be filling in as an understudy for the
sugar Plum Ferry.
Few murmurs, some polite claps.
And the role will be subject to recasting at the
discretion of myself and miss Miak and me.
I have a say too, Natalie shoots her hand up.
Miss Ross, does this only apply to me?
All soloists have an understudy?
No?
Am I the only one with a role subject to
recasting at your discretion? Is there a deadline? Or am
I just supposed to be on pins and needles until
the show closes.
Mister Constantine and the other teachers look at each other.
End of October Halloween and yes, it applies to all roles.
Dancers burst out in angry protests. Natalie smirks. Enough. Natalie's
smirk satisfied and continues putting on her brand new point shoes. Enough, dancers,
quiet down.
This is one of the top performing arts schools in
the country, and you all shit yourselves over a little competition.
How many of you plan on dancing for a company?
Quiet?
The best dancer for the role will play the part.
Let's stop half aassing.
What do you say?
Yeah?
And ballet.
We only fulass.
Mister Constantine looks at Natalie.
May the best rise to the top.
Natalie looks at Jasmine, who is smiling back at her
confidently as she stretches her leg up to her ear
next to Jasmine. Natalie also notices Grayson looking at her
and quickly averts his eyes. As dancers get up and
gather their things, Natalie approaches Kenzie and THEO.
So are you losers? Ready to rise to the top?
Interior empty classroom day, Natalie writes rip on the whiteboard.
Kenzie and THEO are seated and exchange looks.
Are you gonna kill us?
First?
Up? Every morning starts with a run.
I don't run.
Daily runs is the fastest way to increase stamina. The
more stamina you have, the more you can practice, and
practice makes perfect.
Begin monta various a. Natalie meets Kenzie and THEO in
running attire. They begin their slow, pathetic jog around the school.
Back to interior empty classroom day.
Step two. Incorporate ballet into everything. Let's face it, Jasmine,
Zoe and Brock.
Put in the time.
We have other things going on besides ballet.
It's Christmas, it's September.
September to December is nutcracker season. The other things will
be waiting for you. In January B, in.
Chemistry class, Natalie is doing leg lifts while checking her
own Instagram page. Comment we miss you, Natalie, comment get
better soon. Mister Hall is handing out chest papers and
puts Natalie's face down. She flips it over and sees
a large red f Grayson looks over concerned. Natalie shrugs.
See Kenzie and THEO at rehearsal, and their spot in
the bag turns not as tight as the principles and
leaps not as high. D Sugar Plum Fairy Rehearsal hotdy Do.
Natalie and Grayson are dancing up front while jasminin brock
nearer them in the back. Natalie is growing stronger. Her
grandchatts and near splits, but Jasmine's extends in an oversplit
and seems to linger in mid air forever. Both pairs
hit their ending pose. Natalie falls to the floor, exhausted,
putting over to Jasmine, who is all smiles. Eve Ava's
kitchen in points SHOs, Natalie unloads the dishwasher, going on
point to put away dishes. Bean quietly sifts through Ava's
backpack and finding a receipt. Back to interior, empty classroom, Day.
Number three post all the time you both have less
than two hundred followers. Isn't this supposed to be about dancing?
This is about being desirable?
Natalie pulls up Zoe's Instagram page and swipes through photos
of Zoe amazing poses and perfect lighting.
If it's between you and Zoe, who do you think
it's harder to say no to?
F Outside Natalie, Kenzie and THEO are running steadily Gee Holway.
Natalie at Ava's locker, decorated with photos of Ava and Trevor.
She closes it. Natalie opens Ava's locker. It's transformed with
a collage of ballerina photos and quotes. Trevor sees this
from his locker across the hall and sadly pulls down
a photo of him and Ava looking happy. H shots
of the understudies in rehearsal in their spot in the back,
extensions at their shoulders, but principles have their extensions by
their ears. I shot after shot of Ava, Kenzie and
Theo's Instagram pages. Hearts growing by the hundreds. Back to interior,
empty classroom day. Kenzie stands up.
Now your turn.
Have you ever been winter soldiered?
Yeah? And I don't know about all this.
We're not them, don't you guys want your chance at
the spotlight.
This is it?
Okay, I want my Swan song and we have one
last nutcracker. Jasmine Kern is not playing my role.
Rip bits, Jay Leo, Kenzie, and Natalie are all doing
their morning job, this time mixing in leaps and turns wildly.
Job Interior ICEEU Room two oh two Night. Natalie walks
in holding two coffees in a cardboard coffee lover's tray
in one hand and Ava's phone in the other hand.
Now full of pictures at rehearsal doing dance poses and
selfies with Kenzie and Theo, all smiles. Followers are now
at seven eight hundred and sixty comment.
Your beautiful Ava Ava is a hashtag vallerie of us.
Mister Primavera straightens up with company. Natalie looks up and
her smile drops upon seeing her body in casts and
hooked up with tubes for the first time. Interior Rehearsal
Studio Day, sugar Plum Fairy Pot. The pianist is now
accompanied with a violinist. Natalie and Jasmine look nearly identical.
Missus Primavera enters and she double takes. Seeing Natalie dance,
she leans into the wall, taking a deep breath.
Moved.
After the final drop, Natalie sits on the floor out
of breath. Mister Constantine shakes.
His head.
Notes.
Mister Constantine snaps. The musicians play the pat de deu.
Tell me about this music.
It's in four to four and the melody goes down
a major scale, and then they're stopped talking.
Mister Constantine takes Natalie's hand and they step through the routine.
This is the last piece.
Chekhov's cirot for this ballet after learning of his sister's death.
So the song is about his sister.
Wow, you really don't get.
It, Chris Kurtin let the teachers stick to teaching. Eh h,
can't you hear it? Hear what the heartbreak of saying goodbye?
Natalie studies mister Constantine. He gives her a knowing nod.
The music swells and Natalie is swept up in the
sad song.
I'm not ready, We're don't say goodbye because we're ready.
Both Miss Lana and Miss Miaco have tears in their eyes.
Stop.
I can't listen to this anymore, my divorce.
Miss Miago puts her hand on Miss Lana's shoulder. The
musicians stop.
Okay, dancers, I think that's all for today. Great rehearsal.
Remember tomorrow you can wear your Halloween costumes, but you
still need to be able to dance.
Natalie quickly grabs her bag, eyeing mister Constantine, who is
talking to other.
Teachers Kenzie and Zoe and Brock and THEO.
Can you stick around? Natalie's eyebrows shoot up. Kenzie, Zoe,
Brock and Theo moved toward the three teachers. Ava, Missus
Primavera timidly approaches Natalie. Can I show you something interior
or small studio day? Natalie is dancing the Pattidu with
Missus Primavera half stepping through the role of Prince Cavalier.
There's no music, just the sound of Natalie working, breathing
and point shoes, thumping and grinding. Missus Primavera corrects Natalie
with gentle touches, pulling up her chin and arms. Natalie
finishes with a smile.
That's it, beautiful, Thanks I mean it this. Your mom
doesn't dance.
Huh oh, Miss Ross, No, I think she wants me
to quit.
Well, I'm happy to help anytime.
You and Natalie have the same bad habits.
Sometimes it's easier for someone on the outside to see
what's going wrong.
Missus Primavera takes a sip of water. Natalie watches her mother,
eyes darting to find something to say, but insteadmouths, you
are my heart. Jasmine pops her head into the studio.
Eh, oh, sorry, are we still on?
Oh?
I think we're done here.
Jasmine needs my help with her Royal Ballet audition.
Natalie flashes Jasmine a stunned look. Jasmine winks. Interior school
hallway day, Natalie enters the hallway from the studio and
watches her mother and Jasmine through the window. I's starting
to well.
Boom.
Natalie jumps back in surprise and sees Trevor.
What are you doing here rehearsing orchestra for the show.
I'll be in the pit, I'll be dancing. We'll be
together again.
I gotta go here.
Uh.
I want you to know him, here for you always.
And I'm wearing my half of more costume tomorrow.
Your half Actually, don't tell me.
She takes the flowers and heads down the hall. Trevor's
chin trembles a bit. Zoe bursts out of the studio,
sobbing with Rock comforting her. Kenzie exits with THEO. A
moment later, watching Zoe and Brock, Kenzie and THEO exchange
guilty glances. Interior, I see you Room two two night,
Natalie enters with Trevor's flowers. Mister Primavera is drinking coffee
and has a second untouched cup. Nurse Sandy is switching
out IV fluid bags. She takes the flowers from Natalie
and puts them in a vase.
Any news.
Is she stirring a lot. Doc thinks it can happen
anytime now. You see your other friends around Jasmine and
Zoe Brock.
Yeah, every day. In rehearsal, missus Primavera too.
Natalie sits down next to mister Primavera. He hands her
the second cup of coffee. Ava's phone buzzes, it says mom.
Natalie swipes to ignore. Mister Primavera looks at her concerned.
So tell me about yourself. What do you plan on
doing after school?
I planned to dance professionally, but that's not possible anymore.
Well, Natalie would tell you that nothing is impossible. She
has a goal and she's after it like a like
a runaway train.
Runaway train makes it sound bad.
Mister prima Vera swallows, looking at his daughter's body. Natalie
grabs her father's hand. Interior Ave's kitchen day Bean sits
at the table dressed as Marie Antoinette with a bloody neck.
Natalie enters dressed as the sugar plum fairy. Ms Ross
holds up a large gray sphere costume.
Here it is. I wanted to show you last night.
But is that a new costume?
Oh it's Venus.
Oh men are from Mars, women are from Venus. That
is a cute couple costume.
Interested.
I spend all night on this costume.
Oh that's so sweet. But we're not a couple anymore.
You're not.
What happens?
You gotta run. I need to get to the studio
before anyone else.
It's two hours before school starts. Can we talk hi?
Hello?
Natalie walks off Miss Ross with a flustered sigh, starts
angrily opening mail, and gasps as she pulls out a
credit card bill of twenty six hundred and seventy dollars
Ava's bedroom day. Ms Ross walks into the bedroom, Bean
following close behind her. She looks underneath Ava's bed, her
dresser drawers.
What are you looking for?
Mom?
Something isn't right with her. There's drugs, or she's cutting
herself or something.
You're looking for drugs or razor blades.
I'm looking for proof I'm not crazy.
Bean walks over and pulls out a folder underneath her bed.
She hands it to her mom. Mis Ross's jaw drops,
seeing a chemistry test with an F on it. She
flips through the folder, paper after paper with d C
F do better, not your best written in red ink.
There's no drugs, mom, other than the caffeine. But I
have eight theories?
Do you want to hear them?
Mom?
You listening?
Hello? I need you to be quiet.
Miss Ross's gaze is stuck on a large black and
white poster over Ava's bed of Patricia McBride as the
Sugarplum Fairy. Miss Ross peels off the corner of the poster,
revealing the Harvard flag underneath interior. I see you room
two oh two day peobe of eyes opening, we see
mister Primavera, Nurse Sandy, and doctor Patel, all standing above.
Good morning, I'm doctor Patel. Can you tell me why
you're here?
I'm in a hospital.
You're at Saint John's Hospital. Can you tell me your name?
Ava Ross All exchange a concerned glance.
What's your birthday?
May fourteenth?
They look at mister Primavera. He shakes his head.
No, who are you?
Where's my mom?
Mister Primavera's heart breaks.
Some confusion is to be expected with this kind of trauma.
Sandy, would you use the light splicker?
What was that?
All look up at the ceiling. Ava's eyes squint trying
to make out her reflection in the TV hanging in
the corner of the room. She sees the fuzzy but
recognizable image of Natalie's body. Avas screams and begins to
scramble to get out of the bed. Doctor Patel and
Nurse Sandy jump into action.
Two milligrabs a grass a pattern.
Nurse Sandy applies some medication to the ivy drip while
doctor Patel secures her arms and restraints. Sh Ava pov
concerned faces blur to black interior rehearsal studio day. Natalie,
dressed as the sugar Plum Fairy, walks into the dark
studio and plugs Ava's phone into the speakers. The pata
Do music starts, and Natalie puts on her point shoes
and starts to warm up.
You know it takes two to a pod to do.
Grason is standing at the door dressed as a werewolf.
What did you say, I mean it's kind of hard
to dance, you know, without like a partner, can I?
Natalie nods. The two join together and begin to dance.
I'm just making up for lost time.
I can see that. I Hey, do you know how
Natalie is doing?
How would I know that?
Well?
I mean her dad said, you've been stopping by I
swung by the hospital.
Why you only met her once?
I don't know, I mean thinking about her.
I was there when she felt I feel like, I
don't know, I should have said something to stop her.
You can't stop a runaway train.
They dance awkward silence.
Inspiration is a guest that does not willingly visit the
lazy Tchaikovsky said, that is that.
Shipping your brain?
What?
Sorry, I'm super joke. I mean, are you always, you know,
like this intense.
Yeah, is that a bad thing?
Not at all?
You know exactly what you want. I mean, he dressedes
a ballerina for Halloween. That's like next levels.
Natalie blushes.
Okay, look, so I got this offer from the Houston Ballet.
Wait, what's amazing?
Okay, yeah, well that's the thing.
I love dancing, but I don't know if I'm loved
enough to commit my whole life to it.
You know, all I've ever wanted to do is dance.
Grease and smiles. They dance quietly for a moment.
Hey, so, do you want to like, grab some food
or cough, watch a movie or honestly whatever.
Or whatever whatever?
We'll get you to hang out with me.
Are we not hanging out?
I met more like socially.
Oh oh, I don't date. I just I don't have time.
You know, I barely have the time to do anything.
I haven't been to the movie since I was like nine.
Since you were nine.
You kind of go, It's amazing Popcorn Stadium, seating three,
D forty.
Six, Natalie laughs. Does she like him? Grayson takes her
hand to keep moving through the choreography. They look at
one another and stop are they about to kiss? Grayson
leans in noses nearly touching.
When avo Who is this guy?
They turned to see Trevor. He's dressed in a nude
body suit with a short blonde wig and bright red lipstick.
This guy, who are you supposed to be Wiley Cyrus?
And you were supposed to be my recue ball?
Oh the planet costume? That's cute, dated but cute.
Well can see this isn't a pause button anymore. Stop button.
Trevor leaves. Natalie's sheepish smile drops. Trevor pops back in.
Everything hurts, My pinky hurts.
I don't get it.
Trevor exits the moment. It's gone Interior school hallway day.
The hallway is crowded with characters of bulls, cartoons, and tropes.
Natalie is at her locker and sees a haunting grim
Reaper in her mirror. I'm not the understudy, I'm Clara.
Natalie shuts her locker, revealing Kenzie dressed as red riding
Hood and Theo as a wizard.
What and guess what, I'm the Russian soloist.
That means I'm safe, right, Jasmine didn't take my role?
Are I peet bit selfie time.
Natalie lifts Ava's phone just as a call comes in.
Mister Primavera pops on screen.
Why is Natalie's dad calling you?
Down the hallway? We hear a viola playing wrecking Ball?
It's Trevor playing the song with his lip quivering, and
he begins singing terribly.
We clawd we changed our hearts and Finn we jumped,
never asking.
What, Oh my gosh.
Students giggle as Trevor. No student's giggle at Trevor, who
keeps singing. Ava's phone buzzes again. Natalie answers hello. Suddenly,
a string quartet pulls their instruments from their lockers and
starts accompanying Trevor.
Hello that, oh girl, Natalie will is that what you said?
Natalie looks up and sees her mother, Missus Primavera, walking
the far end of the hall, with her arm full
of Tutu's. Missus Primavera is greeted by Jasmine with a
hug for you.
Why isn't mom there? That?
The choir glee club steps out from behind Trevor and
starts singing the chorus of the song Hello sure my
wrecking Ball?
Ava, I have to go. Where are you going? Ava?
The lights flicker the row of locker's thumb, as though
something were trying to escape. Natalie breathes in sharply as
the Grim Reaper appears at the end of the hall
behind Trevor.
Did you see that? I don't think I'll ever unsee that?
Is he naked?
Where's his penis?
The locker right next to Natalie pounds from the inside.
With every pound, the Reaper flickers closer and closer, until
Natalie screams and covers her eyes. As her scream echoes
down the hall, where everyone goes quiet and all eyes
turn to her, Principal Waters clears his throat. Natalie uncovers
her eyes and sees the Principal dressed as the Grim Reaper.
OH Interior Principal Water's office day. Principal Waters sits behind
his desk with Mister Constantine, Miss Miaco, and Miss Lana
standing beside him. Across the desk, Natalie is seated with
Miss Ross.
I'm sure you know why you're here.
Avi's phone buzzes with mister Primavera calling. Natalie hits ignore,
shoving the phone under her thigh.
I'm not sure.
Actually, her grades are dangerously blow and mister Hall has
had a few comments about your well, your attitude lately.
Who mister Hall chemistry?
Oh well, he's a very brittle man.
Miss Lana nods Ava.
Not an insult, it's an observation.
And your mother is concerned with your behavior at home.
You went to the principal to talk about my behavior
at home.
Ms Ross pulls out the credit card bill.
Now that I finally have your attention, you've spent over
two thousand dollars on dance apparel.
Point shoes are expensive. Do you want me to dance
with dead shoes?
It is dangerous to dance on dead shoes, missus Ross.
Miss Ross, And since when did you start ubering everywhere?
You know?
We can't afford that you.
Haven't been participating in your work study, which is a
required part of your tuition assistance.
I've been working my ass but off, Ava. We love
your newfound dedication. It's remarkable how much you've transformed yourself
in such a short time. We know you're working very
hard on your dancing silence, but.
But we've collectively decided that Jasmine Kern will be taking
over the sugar.
Roll No, No, I've worked too hard to be just
the understudy.
Actually you won't be participating in this year is not
Cracker at all.
But this is my last Nutcracker.
This was just supposed to be for fun, ava extracurricular,
for college applications.
Oh no, this is the most important thing to me.
It's just a rollable in a high school production. Eh,
but this isn't your whole life?
Is this some kind of lesson you're all trying.
To teach me?
Yes?
Absolutely, I'm the sugar plum Fairy. I can do the role,
get my grades up and my work study. Please let
me prove.
It to you.
Interior rehearsal studio day. Everyone is wearing Halloween costumes. Natalie
is in the back of the studio dancing with Brock
and glaring at Jasmine, who is dancing the Potta dou
with Grayson up front. Jasmine wipes a tear, missing a queue.
Natalie rolls her eyes but continues dancing.
I'm sorry it got the better of me.
The music stops.
We're still going here.
Therefore, dance together was at our faults.
She messed up.
We had to stop every time you fell on your ass.
Dances chuckle.
Enough Mistruss a word.
Oh, don't worry, We'll wait for you.
Interior mister Constantine's office day. Mister Constantine closes the door.
You're being a sore loser.
You made me the understudy.
Principal Water's made you understudy. If it was up to me,
you'd be off this production.
So you gave Jasmine the role to make me switch back.
You promised to switch back when Ava woke up.
Just one more show, please.
Someday we'll have to find her a second dream I
had to have.
You learned nothing from being Ava.
Instead, you fail her classes, broke up with her boyfriend.
He's a loser.
He dresses as a naked woman and gets his whole
class to play a song for her.
Who does it for you? Eh?
Natalie is quiet stung. Mister Constantine pulls out the snow
globe from his desk, still illuminating a magnificent green, and
hands it to Natalie. She takes the globe with shaky.
I did learn from being Ava. My friends are fake.
My mother doesn't want anything to do with me if
I can't dance, And the only thing I've been working
towards my whole life is no longer possible. Why would
I switch back?
Natalie smashes the globe into the ground. The room engulfs
in green light and black smoke until they form into
two smoky dancers. Papers fly everywhere like snowflakes, swirling. Natalie
and mister Constantine are frozen in fear.
What have you done?
You let the moose. The smoky Dancers shoot out of
the office window into the world. Papers fall to the floor.
As the room settles, Natalie breathes, uneasy, body paralyzed. Mister
Constantine scrambles to collect pieces of the globe.
I'm so sorry, mister con Interior.
Ava's Kitchen night, Miss Ross and Bean's faces are illuminated
by a green glow. Miss Ross's face is awestruck.
This is magical.
Uh oh, I've unleashed a monster.
It's like a whole new world. I had no idea existed.
It's just Instagram, Mom.
They're seated at the breakfast bar looking at an.
iPad and Where's Ava?
Bean goes to Ava's page. Ms Ross's brow furrows as
she looks at picture after picture of Ava's dance poses.
What's wrong?
I don't recognize my own daughter?
Three twelve have you noticed her dipping into a British accent.
You delivered twins, didn't you? Are you listening to me?
Mom?
Interior locker room night, Natalie handshaking empties out her locker.
Ava's phone buzzes, mister primavera. Natalie swipes to ignore. Natalie
shuts her now empty locker clothes, turns and shrieks. Kenzie
is standing right there, arms crossed.
You're quitting? Did the karate kid quick when he broke
his leg? Did Matt demon quit when he was stuck
on Mars?
Why do you care? You got your role? You're welcome,
by the way, for what for? What for dragging you
out for five am runs? Working with you building your brand?
I got you that role.
I didn't care that I was the understudy. This is
about us making the best of our last nutcracker before
you're off to Boston.
We're never going to have time like this again. You
got up at five am to spend time with me.
Natalie softens. Then Ava's phone buzzes. Natalie jumps, what's going on,
I'm your best friend.
Talk to me.
Natalie exits, leaving her duffel bag behind. Kenzie size defeated
picking up Natalie's bag and notices the royal ballet keychain
looped around the zipper. Exterior mister Hall's backyard night, Mister
Hall puts an open container of cat food on a
small tombstone that reads catastrophe the best cat Ever. Several
cats roam his you.
Things haven't been the same without you, Catastrophe. But we
have a new friend.
How rex you'd like him? I wish you could meet him.
Mister Hall exits. A moment later, this smoky dancer enters
the grave and exits the ground pulses interior hospital room
three oh four Night, Natalie enters cautiously. Her body lies asleep.
Natalie walks toward her body and Ava's eyes open. Natalie shrieks, Oh.
My gosh, what the hell?
I've been pretending to be asleep so.
They won't talk to me. Ava examines Natalie, her body
standing in front of her, mascara streaked as though she's
been crying.
Is it are you, Natalie primavera?
I look different.
You're welcome.
Natalie and Ava stare at each other in silence. Where's dad?
Cafeteria? I told him I wanted to be alone? He
told me what happened the fall the Instagram picture and
you told him you were Natalie.
I had to look.
I know how to fix this. A snow globe from
mister Constantine's office.
Yeah, that globe is destroyed.
What how Natalie is silent?
What does this mean?
Are we stuck? I don't know.
Beva looks at her, stunned, and then bursts into tears.
Hey, hey, hey, it's not so bad. My dad makes
a lot of money, and you can study hard and
go to Harvard like you wanted, and I'll stay and dance.
Maybe it was supposed to happen this way. What about
Trevor and my family? Well, you can date Trevor. It's
gonna be a big upgrade for him to date you,
as me and Mom and Bean they're doing. You call
my mom Mom. It's become a habit.
This through so much. Natalie swallows, doesn't know what to say.
She leans in to give Ava a hug. Ava takes
the cue and quickly scoops both of her arms tightly
around Natalie, crying into her shoulder.
You seriously have the best dad.
He always brings me coffee.
I hate coffee.
Natalie pulls out of the hug, regretful, confused and sad.
Ava, did you wish to be me? It was stupid.
Over the summer, my dad went on a work trip
and never came back, and I was just tired of
being me and being sad.
All the time.
I thought for a second, I might be the sugar
plum fiory and something would go right for once, and
I would be like you, always posting these beautiful pictures.
And I know Instagram isn't real.
I spend six hours in the studio, six days a week,
forty five minutes doing my hair and makeup, and I
can't remember a time I had big donails.
That still sounds glamorous.
I've got one thing. You've got so much going for you,
your total brain, Anne hatty to boot, and your mom
really gives a shit about you. And you have friends,
real friends. I bet they'd be in this hospital room
every day if it were you. I miss them, Natalie. Yeah.
Natalie turns to see Kenzie and Bean standing at the door.
Kenzie's mouth agape and Bean with a large smile.
I mean she's right here, Bean, Kenzie.
Bean rushes over and hugs Ava in bed Ava groans
and pain.
Oh, I knew it.
Kenzie walks over to Ava like she's seen a ghost.
How did you know.
You've been off since the fall the ballet and social
media use't the Royal Ballet Zipper always fighting.
With mom what I'm gonna figure this out? Okay, damn
straight we are?
What's going on?
Mister Primavera enters with two cups of coffee.
Oh nothing, high school shit.
Ava nodds. Natalie reaches for the coffee, and mister Primavera
pulls back.
This is for Natalie. Sorry, I wasn't expecting you. I
wasn't sure you got my messages.
Mister Primavera and the girls stand quietly for a moment.
Uh, do you guys mind coming back? There's a two
visitors policy and I'd like some time with my nad
We'll be back tomorrow.
Bean gives Ava one more hug before walking out with Kenzie.
Natalie walks out the door, pausing to watch his dad
hands Ava a coffee. Ava takes a sip and forces
a smile. Interior Ava's bedroom night, Kenzie and Bean sit
on Ava's bed as Natalie stands next to a whiteboard
that reads FA R So.
By learning to be Ava, you'll become n again. It's
an everybody swap movie.
It's science. That's definitely not science.
You're right, it's magic. You're already sounding more like Ava.
Okay, So Forstup his family, I definitely need Mom off
my back.
No, Ava is Mom's rock. Mom works two jobs and
cries in the car when she thinks I can't see her.
Wow, and she still.
Texts Dad that she misses him, even though he left
us for a twenty four year old. She told us
he moved to South Korea for work.
How do you know that? I read her text messages?
Where's my phone?
Interior Ava's Kitchen, Day, Ava's kitchen, Natalie sets the table
for three ms. Ross walks in on the phone, and
Natalie hands her a cup of coffee.
I'm just wondering if the late fees can be waived
just this once. I understand typically that card is only
used for emergencies.
Interior Ava's Bedroom Night.
Next up right now, Ava's failing chemistry.
So you mean your failing chemistry?
You need to end the semester with an A or else.
Ava is definitely not getting into Harvard.
How hard can chemistry be?
Interior Rehearsal Studio, day, Natalie is sweeping the studio floor,
walking on point with earbuds in. She listens to mister
Hall's lecture.
A happy adam is an atomic shell that is full.
Sometimes adams have an extra electron or two, and the.
Light flicker and a ghostly dancer swooshes by in the mirror.
Natalie pauses, pulls the earbuds out. Mister Constantine rushes out
of his office with an armful of books, a note
taped to the door that reads, the end is near.
Save yourself. Natalie gulps interior chemistry class day.
Who can tell me why water molecules are attracted to
each other?
Natalie raises her leg to her ear as raising her hand.
That's different, Ava, because water molecules have both a positive
hydrogen charge and negative oxygen charge.
Correct.
Grayson flashes Natalie's smile. Natalie beams back to interior Ava's bedroom. Night.
Kenzie walks up and adds tea at the end of
FA R.
Before we talk about R, we need to talk about T.
For Trevor, Ava can do better than him. Trevor's amazing.
So whatever you're doing with Grayson needs to stop until
after you switch back one.
Nothing is going on with Grayson and two two really
want me to get back together with Trevor. They've had sex.
You know, if I supposed to just.
Have sex with Trevor, Yeah, you really have to do
it for Ava.
No, don't do that.
Just steer clear of Grayson and be nice to Trevor.
The interior school hallway day, Natalie is at Ava's locker.
Trevor is at his locker across the She looks over
at him. He fumbles trying to pull something out of
his locker. Everything falls out. Natalie takes a deep breath
and shuts Ava's locker. She helps Trevor pick up his things.
Look, I'm sorry, I've been mean to you. I haven't
been myself.
You're in a school hallway.
Okay, you're not in the front seat.
Of a car.
You know normal.
Look, I'm sorry I've been mean to you. I haven't
been myself.
No, she asked for face, and I got you stupid flowers.
The flowers were sweet. I get you're trying to get
me back.
What.
No, that was for your dad's uh walking out anniversary.
I just I just wanted to make sure one good
thing happened to you that day.
Huh.
Trevor stands up to walk away. Natalie stands and bumps
into Grayson. Sorry. She stumbles, and Grayson catches her, dipped
like in a dance. They're face to face. Natalie blushes,
Watch your step. Trevor sees their moment and exits, running
down the hall and half sob. Natalie watches him with
a sigh. Back to interior, Ava's bedroom night, Natalie circles
roll the Sugarplum Fairy is.
My wrong, It's Ava's destiny. She's the real understanding.
But this is my role.
Kensey flips over the whiteboard, revealing a list of movies
Freaky Friday, The Hot Chick, The Changeup, et cetera.
In all of these a cosmic lesson magic and tata.
What's done is undone.
Once you accept that the role isn't yours, the natural
order will be restored.
Hold up, are we in a movie? Stopping weird?
Wait?
Natural order? Where did you hear that?
Mister Constantine monologues about it all the time during rehearsal.
Oh, and there's.
Usually a wishing well or fortune cookies or some kind
of wish fulfillment.
Mcguffin right about.
That interior Ava's living room. Night. Kenzie, with a poster
board under her arm, speed walks to the front door.
Natalie and Bean follow.
I can't believe you broke it. This is going to
be impossible. Hey, I'm gonna fix it, okay.
Kenzie exits with a slam of the door. Natalie looks
at Bean, I'm gonna fix it. End of episode two,
What's Up.