Original subtitles

You must develop some sense of the other players.

I'm not into group scenes.

I'm not inviting you to an orgy.

If you want me, you gotta let me know.

Take me. I knew it wouldn't work.

The real me is a redhead.

Girl, let me tell you something.

You keep treating your hair like that, the real you is gonna be bald.

Everybody gets bad reviews.

You're not out of town anymore.

You're in the hot, burning center of the galaxy.

dream. You want fame.

Well, fame comes.

And right here is where you start paying.

Thank you very much, Miss Bryant.

We'll be sure to... I have one where there are flames on my baton, but I

want to set off the sprinklers.

That's very considerate of you.

Miss Bryant.

Uh -huh?

I understand that you're new to our city, but what I don't understand, and

you can help me.

Uh -huh?

The purpose of our school is to prepare young people for careers as performers.

Is there a demand for professional baton twirlers that I'm...

Unaware of?

Well, sure.

If a girl twirls really well, well, she might get asked to be a cheerleader for

a professional football team.

Thank you very much, Miss Bryant.

We'll let you know.

Thank you.

Bye.

Miss Julie Miller?

Miss Miller, these auditions are for new arrivals to New York City, and maybe

you could tell us a little bit about what brings you here.

My mom and dad got divorced.

Anytime you're ready.

summer stuff it was beautiful uh how was us teaching summer school something

less than beautiful did you get to perform yeah i got to perform painting

scenery and nailing furniture together and scrounging up props and i got to

understudy the healthiest engineer that ever joined equity anyway did you see

bruno martelli because his father said he was here he's probably in the

auditorium helping to set up light coco sorry you didn't get to be a star I'm in

Sherwood. I'm already a star. Thing is, not enough people know it yet is all.

tell you?

I decided that you and me wasted last year.

What do you think about us getting some people together and really getting it

together and going... What,

you dig that kind of music?

I like any kind of good music.

She's good.

I'm not taking a cab to school.

It's going to be hard enough to fit in without arriving like Goody Shoes' gut

rock. Julie, it's been 20 years since I lived in New York.

Until I know what's happened to that neighborhood since your father and I

away.

Well, until I know.

Mother, not a taxi.

Come on.

How about a compromise?

Okay. What?

I'll walk you to school.

We want to hear what happened to the United Nations last week.

Sorry, baby. I'm booked.

Hey!

Solid gold, man. It's a cheap chain. A hundred carats. Cheap.

Not interested.

Five dollars in the United States? Come on, man. It's five dollars, man. I don't

wear chains.

It's not for you. It's for the sweet little fox in your life. I don't have a

fox. You would if you'd be flashing us around.

Jewish ambassador punches a Chinese ambassador and a Chinese ambassador gets

off the floor and I thought that was for. That was for Pearl Harbor. Pearl

Harbor is a Chinese mess. That was a Japanese. I'm Chinese. Chinese,

What's the difference?

So the next day.

Just kidding.

to some distinction, importance, dignity, or excellence, to effectively

grand, superior, et cetera, ostentatious. Who would like to use it

sentence?

Mr. Garcia?

The pretentious Chinese ambassador says, Iceberg, Goldberg, what's the

difference?

That's enough, Garcia.

This is no song in dance class.

It's English.

You're going to take it and all your other academic subjects just as

as you take your presumed career.

You're going to work twice as hard as the other students in this city.

You don't get any breaks because you're talented or cute or funny.

This is still a high school.

If you don't leave my class speaking, reading, and writing English properly,

you'll leave it, period.

Same goes for French and algebra and biology and physics.

Coco Hernandez?

Yes. Use pretentious in a sentence, please.

Coming to school in a cab is pretentious.

That's not fair. I come to school in a taxi every day.

That's different. Your father drives it.

I'm Montgomery.

Here's your books.

Thanks. Can you put them down? I can't get this thing to work.

Let me see.

Short people understand these things better than tall people. It comes from

being at a keyhole height during the formative years.

Hey!

Thanks. What am I going to do when you're not here to help me?

Sweetheart, no one's running Little Rico out of town. They can stab me, shoot

me, throw me in the East River. No matter how tough it gets, you can count

Little Rico. How about in the morning?

Four for a spell.

I'm not sure I can make that, but, uh... Seriously, if you got any questions...

Yeah, just one or two.

You see, New York City's like a lot of other cities. It isn't unfriendly, it's

just crowded, so... Everyone carries around a little piece of invisible

so you don't stare, you don't smile at strangers.

You don't invade someone's private space unless you're invited.

That's lesson one. Everyone around here grows up knowing that.

But what if you didn't grow up here?

Well, someone has to help you.

That's really simple. I can explain it to you in ten easy lessons.

That many?

Well, it's a big subject. You gotta know what to do on the streets, who to talk

to, who not to talk to, where to go, where not to go.

Okay. Okay what?

Okay, will you teach me?

Yeah, but why me?

Because you're the first friendly person I met in the whole school.

You seem to know what you're talking about. At least I can understand you.

Sort of.

Hold it.

Hold it.

Martelli, if you please, the same notes and rhythm as the rest.

I am in rhythm. You are in your rhythm. You will play in my rhythm, in the

rhythm of the class.

You must develop some sense of the other players.

I'm not into group scenes.

I'm not inviting you to an orgy, but to play in an ensemble.

Yes, sir.

A dancer's body remembers every... Everything.

You learn something once, and it's yours for life.

But first, you have to become a dancer.

Now, you may be hot stuff up in Harlem, or you may have the best tutu collection

in the country. Doesn't matter. I don't have time for prima donnas.

You want to become a dancer? You're going to have to work.

Work your little tights off.

I ain't wearing no tights.

You've got big dreams.

You want fame.

Well, fame costs.

And right here is where you start paying in sweat.

I want to see sweat.

And the better you are, the more sweat I'm going to demand.

So if you never had to fight for anything in your life, put your gloves

get ready for round one.

And Mama and Daddy's little darlings had better come out swinging.

What does that mean?

They don't take credit cards.

Okay. Spread out on the floor. We're going to repeat that modern one

we did yesterday.

But I want you to add arms to the spiral.

Five, six, seven.

And spiral.

Two.

Release. Two.

Arm spiral.

Two.

Release. Let the arm flow.

And spiral.

Two. Contract.

Two. Extend and release.

Lesson number two.

How do you get around New York?

The buses are so crowded here. I feel weird in them.

Try the subways at 5 o 'clock. There's weird.

Yeah, it does get kind of hectic.

Hectic? It gets downright deadly.

You can't stand too close to the edge. A lot of creeps get their kicks out

wasting people off the tracks.

Wasting people?

Doing away with them.

One morning I saw this woman. Well, actually, it was half a woman. She was

really gross.

Well, it wasn't the grossest thing I ever saw. The grossest thing I ever saw

was...

You want some coffee?

No, thanks. I don't drink coffee.

Montgomery? No, me either. My doctor won't let me. Oh, you get anxiety

too? I don't know if it's anxiety attacks. You kind of get this pukey

the pit of your stomach, and then your whole body gets all hot and prickly, and

it feels like a thousand tiny little fingers are working overtime on your

Sometimes. I feel it, too.

So do I.

Don't stare. Remember what I said? You got to give people their space.

Well, what about my space?

What are you talking about?

What's going on?

Lesson four, how to waste creep.

Sorry. Do you have eyes?

I said I'm sorry.

They ought to hang a danger sign around your neck.

The word for the day is deleterious.

Harmful to health, well -being, property.

Injurious.

Who can use it in a sentence?

Hernandez?

Coffee can be deleterious to some people's health and to other people's

clothing.

All right, Coco.

That's the general idea. Who can be more specific?

Darcy?

My Uncle Ramon is a real deleterious person.

That doesn't tell me what deleterious means.

I'm not finished yet.

You see, last month he hit the big number and he moved to the country to

chickens like he always wanted.

Only he's a city dude, see? What does this have to do with Deleterious?

His chickens all died.

I asked him why. He said, I don't know. Maybe I planted them too close.

You know, you're real cute.

But either you dress properly for my class or you won't be in it.

All right, class. Everyone across the floor in groups of twos, we're going to

repeat what we did yesterday.

I wasn't looking.

You don't have to get A about it.

A has been annoyed.

Oh, I'm not.

I mean, I wouldn't do something like that deliberately.

Miller, when I say extensions, I don't mean your mouth.

And the right jeans.

And no jewelry. Ditch the gold chain.

No.

Flashy as out, especially gold.

I don't care.

You can take away the rest of my identity, but the gold chain is special.

It's very pretty, but... It's more than that.

Tank, you can't worry about what looks good. In fact, the better you look, the

bigger the danger.

You don't want to draw attention to yourself. You want to dress down.

Which brings us to lesson nine, defense of fashion.

Did you see that?

He winked at me.

Michael Harrison winked at me.

He winks at everybody, Doris.

He's only the most popular boy in school.

With a tick.

He never noticed me before.

It's my new look.

It's a learned behavioral response.

I knew it would work.

The real me is a redhead.

Girl, let me tell you something.

You keep treating your hair like that, the real you is going to be bald.

Coming over here.

In person.

Hi, a couple of us are having a party Friday.

You want to come?

Oh, I don't think so.

I think she's busy.

No, I just, um... Well, then what's wrong?

Nothing really.

Look, I think you're being really smart. You probably wouldn't like our friends

anyway. Well, I mean... We have to eat lunch.

Was it something we said?

I'm on a diet.

I mean, I don't eat.

I mean, I'm free on Friday.

That's okay, dearie. We really have enough people.

Come on.

You know what you need?

You need exposure. I don't want exposure.

We could be big.

We? Hey, I don't just dance, see?

I sing, too.

And we could go places.

You can go places. I'm going to the bathroom.

That was real considerate of you, considering he's the most popular boy in

school. Doris wanted a date. I have a boyfriend anyway.

You do?

Yes.

Back in Grand Rapids.

You never said anything.

Well...

I try not to think about him too much.

You really miss him a lot, don't you?

Your sound, and my voice, and a couple of backup singers, maybe, and a small

band. Band?

For the money, honey, we could clean up.

There are baristas and tea dancers on the line. I'm not into money.

You don't have to be, baby. You just keep turning out your music, and I'll

keep doing it. Look, I don't turn out my music, and I don't perform.

I don't believe you.

I know.

You ain't seen or heard the best of me yet.

We're going to handle that right here and now.

I don't work lunchrooms as a rule, but you deserve a break today.

Just wait right here.

Do you guys remember taking... Looks

like you guys were the crush on that Michael Harrison

guy.

people in grand rapids get crushes not the way it is in new york city what do

they get in new york city harpies mostly

who

would you have in mind for your love who's feeling your affection you ain't

gonna find perfect love

Do you look in my direction?

Father could see you.

Well, he can't.

Not anymore.

Honey, regardless of what happened between him and me, he's still your

And he expects me to raise you in a certain way.

Maintain certain standards.

Those standards don't apply anymore.

Is that what all your friends at school say?

I don't have that many friends.

Why?

Well, they set me apart.

Not all of them, but some.

My dancing was such a big deal in Grand Rapids.

But here it's kindergarten stuff.

My music's still okay.

But I'm barely in their league sometimes.

Oh, I hate to sound like a shrink, but it's a learning experience for both of

us.

I mean, you're trying to fit into your new school, and I'm trying to wedge my

way into the job market.

But, Mom, I'm trying to fit in with a preppy wardrobe.

Look, either I look right...

Or I look like a nerd and I get treated like one.

Want some advice?

Don't answer because you're going to get it anyway.

Life is not an either or.

I used to think either I make my marriage work or my life is ruined.

It's not true.

We both used to think either Julie gets an academic education or a musical one.

It's not true either.

And the school you're going to proves it. Maybe I'm just not tough enough.

Oh, honey.

You'd be surprised at just how tough you can be if you have to.

Voice of experience talking now.

You know where in that chain Lester gave you?

Sweetheart, Lester is back in Grand Rapids.

Maybe a part of me is, too.

We'll sponsor a mixer next Wednesday for the benefit of the incoming freshman

class.

All new students are invited to attend and get acquainted.

There will be a band and entertainment.

Mr. Johnson, would you mind taking off your hat, please?

Will you please stop being funny? I wasn't being funny.

Violins are on the way out.

It's the truth.

You don't need strings today.

Did you hear this, Mrs. Tossoff? I heard.

Orchestras need strings.

Orchestras are an endangered species.

Really, you can do it all on one instrument.

If you've got a keyboard and some oscillators and the right combination of

waveforms... He wouldn't need to make all these dinosaur tracks.

Dinosaur tracks?

Mozart made dinosaur tracks? You should make such dinosaur tracks.

He wouldn't orchestrate today. He'd overdub. He wouldn't need all this

stuff and this figure -based business. I mean, it was probably necessary in

prehistoric days.

It was necessary in Leipzig. It was necessary in Dresden. It was

the good old days.

Yes, the good old days.

Look, is this a school or museum?

I mean, can't we bury the dead?

I've buried mine, Mr. Martelli.

And I've taught music to other bright young men with big, brave mouths and

superior visions.

The music survived.

Okay, class. A couple.

From the beginning.

a working man.

Well, how about that?

How about you hasten up this conversation because I got business

waiting. I'm waiting too for your homework.

Romeo and Juliet, remember?

I forgot it.

Four days in a row?

Look, I told you I'd done it and I forgot it. You got ears and you can save

both some breath.

My hearing is fine. It's your homework that's missing.

And the quality of the few pages I have is unsatisfactory.

If you want to stay in school.

Ain't nobody making me walk unless I want to.

I will, Mr. Johnson.

And I won't waste any time.

Yeah? You've been down on me from day one. When you should have been out there

testifying to all that new life I donated to your tired little school.

I am down, as you say, on your big open mouth. Your little... closed

mind, your rude manners, and your fourth grade reading level.

Yeah, it's not my reading level. You work it.

It's racial discrimination.

Discrimination?

Well, how about that?

Five whole syllables. There's hope for you yet.

If I find your missing English assignments on my desk tomorrow morning.

And if you don't?

You'll be dancing right out of this school.

You better have more than your mouth ready when you go making my flight

Four days worth.

I never said I was staying, but I hate making bigots happy.

Dear Lester, things are very difficult for me.

The kids here don't accept me no matter what I do.

They look at me as if I just dropped in from outer space or something.

Maybe I don't belong here.

Maybe I don't belong in New York.

I miss you desperately.

When I think of last year by the lake and how you put this chain around my

and how I vowed I'd never take it off until the day I saw your precious face

again.

You know what I'd like?

I'd like to wake up miles from here A cabin in the woods somewhere

With a rocking chair You know what I'd like?

To drive from here to Santa Fe And leave my past along the way

For yesterday Singing hey

I'd like to write a symphony to play my life in every key

in harmony.

Take you away where we could spend some time alone.

Build a house and call it home.

Whoa, babe, I'm home.

I'd like the crazy days to end. To close my eyes and count to ten.

And to start again.

Close my eyes and count to ten.

And start again.

to this night as is a winged messenger of heaven.

As is a winged messenger of heaven unto the white upturned wondering eyes of

mortals that fall back to gaze on him when he bestrides the lazy pacing cloud

and sails upon the bosom of the air.

Thank you, Montgomery.

That was very nice.

Garcy?

I forgot my book.

Borrow Julie's.

And how you put this chain around my neck. And how I vowed I'd never take it

until the day I saw your precious face again.

I miss you more than words alone can say.

Dear Lester, there is not a night when you are not in Julie Miller's dreams.

That's enough, Dorothy.

A person's privacy ought to be respected.

You've got the look of tension headache number nine.

His name is Scarton.

What'd he do?

It's like they say in the playground in the third grade, man. You ought to pick

on someone who's on the side.

All right, look.

That's just Scarton. You know the way he is. He'll do anything to make a joke.

Does he tell Leroy a funny joke about eating watermelons on the levee? How

a joke for Swarovski on stingy Jews?

Maybe a bit on Italian gangsters for me.

What are you so bent for?

I'm bent about people picking on minorities.

And in this school, in this city, he is in the minority.

All the talk we do about talent being the one thing we care about.

Oh, man, that's not it. The one thing we care about is laughs and feeling

superior. Just thought we were better than that.

Good afternoon.

Anything I can help you with today?

Yeah, type.

Certainly. For yourself?

Yeah. What size?

I don't know.

Medium, I'd say.

You're right, medium.

Colored?

I imagine you'd prefer black, don't you?

Yeah, black type.

That's that man right there.

Dance belt?

Say what?

Do you have a dance belt?

For most tights, I say you don't need no belt.

Young man, we're not talking about that kind of belt. You see, most tights are,

well, tight.

You ain't talking to no fool turkey.

Well, I know that. Tights are tight. I know that.

Young man, you'll need what you would call a jock.

Oh, why don't you say that?

Now, let's see what we have here for you.

How are these?

Not the kid.

Nah, that's all right. No way. Put no tights on tight tight.

Leroy, where are your tights? Up. No, don't.

me you forgot them. That was last week's excuse.

No, I didn't forget them. See, I washed them, right? And they shrunk up.

Then when I put them on, they were so tight, they cut off my circulation and I

couldn't walk.

It's awful, Leroy.

I tell you what, you bring them in to me tomorrow morning and I'll trade you for

a pair that fits you, okay?

Okay.

And take off the earrings, Phoenicia.

But these aren't earrings exactly.

But what are they exactly?

They're religious objects.

Tribal warriors in Africa wear them to ward off evil spirits.

Well, when your troupe performs in Togoland, you can wear all of your

my dear girl. You can stick an elephant tusk through your nose if you want to.

But in my class, between the hours of 2 and 3 p .m., we are not praying, we are

dancing.

Without jewelry.

Off with the necklace, Miller.

It's not a necklace.

It's not just... Oh, no, no, don't tell me. I know. Another religious object.

You don't understand.

I promised that I wouldn't take it off... Dear Lester, I remember that

day when your precious fingers put this precious chain around my precious neck,

and I promised myself...

moon child, aren't you?

I beg your pardon?

What's your birthday?

July 13th. I thought so.

That's why you're into big emotional scenes.

I am not into big emotional scenes!

If you gave me half a chance!

Hey, nobody gives you anything, baby.

You make your own chances.

Come on, Coco.

Constant ridicule doesn't help. Forget it!

Everybody gets bad reviews.

You're not out of town anymore.

You're in the hot, burning center of the galaxy.

You ought to thank her.

Thank her?

People around here want to get looked at, and she gave you a spotlight.

I don't want that spotlight. What are you doing here?

I don't know.

Yeah.

Well, I do.

You're good.

You're not as good as me.

But then you don't have my experience or my planets.

A friend of my sister's, see, she tells fortunes and stuff.

And she says I have the sun and the moon in my hand.

All I have to do is wait for opportunity to knock.

Why are you telling me this?

Because in this school, you gotta be tough.

You can't cry over an unkind word.

You gotta work harder.

Prove them wrong.

But you won't.

Not if you really belong here.

If you're a professional.

Baby, look at me and tell me what you see.

You ain't seen the best of me yet.

Give me time, I'll make you forget the rest.

I've got more.

The word for the day is metamorphosis.

One, a change of form, shape, structure, or substance.

Transformation. Two, a marked or complete change of character,

condition. Who would like to use it in a sentence?

Mr. Martelli?

I never metamorphosis. I didn't like it.

Hello.