Original subtitles

Bruno, you can make all the wisecracks you want, but the dancing comes first.

You know I'm a flake and a jerk, right? Don't you want to develop some

versatility? No. Mr. Martelli, men sweat, women perspire, dancers glow.

Miss Murphy, you're glowing a lot.

Kathy Murphy.

What? She's gonna have to leave the school.

You've got big dreams.

You want fame.

Well, fame comes.

And right here is where you starve pain and sweat.

Leroy, don't come in here littering up this nice clean dance floor with that

kind of garbage. I'm serious.

It's hard to do this kind of dancing when the tempo keeps changing all the

Okay, okay. Let's ease up off of Mr. Martelli.

I think you're doing a fine job.

And besides, until Mr. Tillman gets over the flu, that poor child is all we've

got. How about it, Martelli?

What's your impression of your first dance class?

Well, I think it's nice that society provides facilities like this for these

kind of people.

Why don't you stick around, too?

All right, class, come on, let's go.

Time is money, and y 'all don't have much.

All right, let's go.

Five, six, seven, eight, and one.

Now, Matillo, I've been telling you no for the past ten minutes. When are you

going to start hearing it? Mr. Crandall, it's for your own good. I'm trying to

stop you from making a big mistake. Your concern breaks my heart.

But I'm right. I really am.

Ask Miss Sherwood. Leave me out of this, Danny. Whatever it is, Mr. Crandall

just doesn't know me as well as you do.

flaking a jerk, right?

I know no such thing.

I'm always clowning and making jokes, aren't I? Yeah, but... But see, that's

same thing, see? And Crandall, Mr.

Crandall, has put me in this really serious love scene with Julie Miller.

It's just something I can't do.

Help.

Danny, don't you want to develop some versatility?

No. Amatillo, this is not a debating team. You have been given an assignment,

you and Julie Miller.

I expect to see the scene on its feet next week. Curtain, applause, get out of

here. Okay, fine.

Try and do a guy a favor and tell him he's making a big mistake, but does he

listen? No way.

I tried.

It's not my fault that the man won't listen.

What are you supposed to hang up this?

It's a love scene. Hugging, kissing, all that good stuff. He probably feels a

little awkward about it.

Greg, the concept of Sweet Sixteen had never been kissed.

Prehistoric of me.

Mm -hmm.

I beg your pardon.

Oh, I can't believe it! I said I can't believe it! Oh, yeah, child, it's just a

trial. There's nothing guaranteed about it. Oh, I know, but this is not just a

dance troupe. This is the Grand Tyler Dance Troupe. They're the best, just the

best.

What's the matter with you?

Nothing. I just don't know what we're talking about or what I'm doing here.

Neither do I. What is he doing here?

Well, Martelli, there isn't a young dancer who wouldn't kill to be picked to

tour with the Tyler troupe.

And the people on the audition board have heard every classical piece, every

semi -classical piece, even every possible variation on You Light Up My

So? So, how would you like to compose an original number for Kathy to use when

she tries out?

It's a little thing, but any edge we can get when the competition is this tough.

Would you?

I am not sure what kind of music you'll be wanting.

I've never done any dance stuff before.

But I'll give it a shot if you want me to. Oh, I want. Believe it.

Listen, we'll talk in the cafeteria and figure out how to put this all together,

okay?

Okay. Whatever you say.

Great. Thank you. All right, baby.

Why was it that you gave Kathy a look that went from her toes all the way to

top of her head?

Why do you think you looked at her like that?

Can I refuse to answer that question?

Honey, you just did answer.

I think we should tell Miss Grant that it's not going to work out with you and

me.

Shortest job I ever had.

Why wouldn't it work out?

Well, after I left class, I started thinking about you not even knowing who

Rand Tyler dance troupe is. And, well, I just think that anyone who doesn't know

that kind of stuff, which is really basic, couldn't help me with an original

number.

You like music?

Yeah, well, of course. I love music.

Then tell me who Paul Della Robbia is.

I don't know.

Only arranger and composer to work for Stan Kenton and Duke Ellington. Only

white composer and arranger to work for both Basie and Ellington. Leonard

Bernstein commissioned Della Robbia to compose an original jazz mass in

which was performed with rave reviews at the Kennedy Center in 1964.

Ray Brown said that Paul Della Robbia is the best white jazz bass player he's

ever heard.

Now, I can say that you not knowing anything about Della Robbia means that

don't really love music. Would that be fair?

No, I guess it wouldn't.

Certainly wouldn't.

Even if any of what I just said was true.

See you tomorrow.

Oh, Michelle, do you have a minute to talk?

Sure, what can I do for you?

Um, we can walk.

I'm heading home soon.

What's the problem?

I'm not sure what... I guess you'd call it protocol.

Fire when ready.

When I'm in music class and Swarovski assigns me something, but I don't think

I'm ready for it, I can ask him for another choice, and he'll give it to me.

Usual. Are you asking me to change one of your assignments?

Oh, no.

Look, actually, I was wondering what you think Mr. Crandall might say if I asked

him to change one of my assignments.

What kind of assignment are we talking about here?

Oh, it's an acting sort of a thing.

But the thing of it is, even if a Crandall does agree to the change, I

hurting somebody else's feelings.

I tell you what. Why don't I talk to Mr. Crandall?

Informally, of course.

See if I can find out how he feels about this kind of thing.

Thanks a lot, really.

Sometimes you just seem to understand more than the other teachers.

It's a gift.

Something like that, you know?

And then you have to look for places where I can breathe.

Well, let's see, that rules out Los Angeles.

But I told Aspen tonight.

Bruno, dancing is supposed to look effortless, but it's not.

And if you go with a tempo that's nonstop and a melody line that just

builds and builds, I'm going to end up sounding like a steam engine.

It's a weird way to write music, and why can't I just write something and then

you put whatever steps that go with it? You're missing the point.

I'm not dancing to your music. You are composing to the needs of my routine.

Look, if this is what it's going to be like working with you, I would just as

soon put on a cassette of The Nutcracker. Oh, that's very appropriate.

Oh, Bruno, you can make all the wisecracks you want, but the dancing

first. Fine, but you remember that no one ever left a concert hall humming a

jump.

Humming a what?

A jump, or whatever dancers call them.

The term is a jeté.

I knew that. I was just testing you.

You know what our problem is?

We are too much alike.

To you, nothing can be more important than the music, and I feel the same way

about dancing.

Now, how do we work this out?

By that.

By working it out. Why don't you show me how you want to start, and I'll see if

it doesn't trigger something.

Hey, Bruno.

Oh. I mean, well, you've been waiting out front for 15 minutes. I'm sorry. I

forgot about the time.

I'm Angelo Martelli. I'm his father. He's got bad manners.

It's a reflection on me, actually.

Seeing you, I can't blame him for losing track of time.

I'm Kathy Murphy.

What are you doing in here? This is the dance room, right?

Well, Kathy has an audition coming up, and I was supposed to help out with some

original music. We were just starting when you came in. Oh, can I watch? I

saw something like that. I won't say a word. I swear.

Aren't you afraid you're going to get a ticket?

Sweetheart, I already got a ticket. I might as well get my money's worth out

it.

Look, I swear.

I won't say a word. I'll just watch.

You two go right ahead. Don't mind me at all.

Have a seat.

Okay, now, if the routine is going to have a build to it, I think it should

start out real...

Simple, you know, like this.

And then just when I think it's going to be all my spider... Ow!

Ow!

Lie still.

Don't move.

Oh, it hurts. It really hurts. I think I tore something inside.

We'll get it to Langley Memorial in the back of the cab. Come on, give me your

hand.

ago did this happen?

10, 15 minutes ago.

Okay.

Scale of 1 to 10.

How much does this hurt?

5. 5 and a half?

Well, something's screwed up in there.

Let's get you down to x -ray and see what it is.

Can you tell how bad it is?

That's what the x -rays are for.

I'll get him moving on it.

Who's your family physician?

Dr. Langtry, 876th Street.

You relax if you can. Won't be long.

Should I call your parents?

No, I don't want to be alone.

After the extras are taken, maybe then, okay?

You don't want to know.

I know, but there's no point in calling them until we know how bad it is.

It's not like I'm dying or anything.

It's just that I might miss that audition.

Hey, there'll be others.

All right, there'll be others, you bet.

Kathy, I've seen basketball players go down with knee injuries, and the pain is

incredible.

I'm not trying to say that you're not hurting or anything. It's just that it

doesn't seem to be the same thing.

Is that your expert opinion, Dr. Martelli?

I'm not trying to be an expert. I just wanted to... I'm sorry.

It really hurts.

I'm not really taking this like a champ or anything, so just bear with me. Be a

friend.

What else are composers for?

Get good hands.

Piano player or wide receiver, I couldn't decide.

She's still up in Eckford.

That's what did it.

I bet you I spilled a little bit of coffee on the dance floor.

That's what a foot hit when she came down. I bet you that's what it was.

Yeah. Or maybe she just fell.

Oh, coffee.

Is there something about being a parent that automatically makes a person feel

responsible for everything that happens, good or bad?

Yeah, there is.

They're working on a vaccine, though.

If there's any ligament damage or any tear, it doesn't show up here.

There's some swelling, but not a big deal.

We'll take a look in there in the morning to make sure.

You're talking about an operation?

Barely qualifies for the term.

The procedure's called an arthroscopy.

We make an incision about half an inch long, look around inside the knee with a

small fiber optic device, and close it with a simple bandage. Takes 20 minutes.

I'm going to hold you to that.

I'll deliver.

I'll see you in the morning.

Everything's under control here. We'll be leaving, too. Mr. Martelli, I can't

thank you enough for all your help.

You and your son. Victory could have done.

You'll be good now, huh, Kathy? You do what they tell you.

Bruno.

Don't stop writing, okay?

Okay.

Mom, I just fell.

It happens to other dancers all the time. If you say so.

You don't believe me. Baby, I just think we've made a mistake, that's all.

I wonder if we shouldn't rethink our decision.

No, we should not.

Kathy. Mom, it's my life and we shouldn't rethink anything.

You could at least sit them down and talk it over.

No.

Does it occur to you you're being bullheaded?

It occurs to me that I do not comment on how you run your English class. That's

what occurs to me.

All right. Maybe I'm out of line.

But Danny and Julie are both asking for help. They are not asking for help. They

are asking out.

Now, when they come to me and explain the problem, then we'll see.

Until then, you are dealing with Simon Legree.

Mr. Legree, Kathy is spelled with a K.

You get an A in spelling.

Room for one more?

As soon as I'm finished.

How is she?

Drained ligaments, they say. Nothing torn.

And the upcoming audition?

Lydia's asked them to postpone.

Three weeks or so. If they do, she can still try out.

If not?

Then I suppose Leroy comes in off the bench.

In the meantime, will you help Mr. Crandall with his problem? The only

wrong with Gregory is that he is occasionally insensitive to the obvious.

What's so obvious?

That Julie's serious about the cello, that Danny wants to be a comic, and that

they're both scared to death when it comes to a heavyweight acting audition.

Monsieur, but I wouldn't dream of interfering into your meddling with Mr.

Crandall's class.

But there's something even a little more obvious.

What? I'll show you. You'll be Julie.

I'll be Dan.

You'll make a perfect Julie Miller.

And I, I am now a very good Danny Amatella.

Wouldn't you love seeing me at the sea, though?

23 when you get to the top this time.

Okay, 25 and I'll call it quits.

30 and you'll call it quits.

Okay.

Pretty sound.

What's the call?

Nothing yet. What are you doing here so early?

I just thought I'd come in here and get some extra rehearsal time. Same question

for you. What you doing in here this time of morning?

Oh, good morning.

Hi. How's the knee?

Oh. Not great, but it's getting better every day. That's good.

You heard anything about the tryout?

Not yet. Have you?

Nope.

Well, I gotta get going. I got a lot of stuff to do. See you guys later.

Take care.

You better get back at it. You don't want to cool off while you're all

Mr. Martelli.

Men sweat.

Women perspire.

Dancers glow.

Miss Murphy, you're glowing a lot.

Good girl, Bronwyn. Good girl.

All right, girls.

Hit the showers.

Come on.

Miss Grant?

Yes?

Marvin Rutledge, Franconia Insurance Group.

We're the carrier for the school's health and accident policy.

Am I supposed to know why you're here?

Oh, I have some forms that you must sign regarding the accident the Murphy girl

had, you being the dance teacher.

And I'm supposed to make sure there was no negligence on the school part for

keeping the flooring safe. Mr. Rutledge.

Which obviously there isn't. The flooring looks fine to me.

Now, this will authorize payment to the hospital for the emergency room care,

the overnight stay, and so forth. If you'll just sign where I've marked the

Was the Murphy girl a good dancer?

The Murphy girl is a good dancer.

Stretched ligaments don't end careers, Mr. Rutledge.

But multiple sclerosis does.

Please? It was in the information her family physician sent over to the

emergency hospital.

Kathy was diagnosed a year ago as being in the initial stages of MS.

It might take five or six years for the symptoms to really surface, but that

girl is never going to be a dancer, Miss Grant.

Who is it, please?

It's me, Elizabeth.

Lydia.

Hi.

They've agreed to postpone the tryouts. That's wonderful.

Elizabeth, would you happen to have a glass of wine or something like that?

Are you... You got it.

one of them off the hook until they come clean about what the problem is.

That's not going to happen. They're all too hung up about it to level with them.

So one is short and one's tall. They never stop Napoleon and Josephine.

Yeah, but look at the mood it put Napoleon in.

Yeah, one's not going to grow and one's not going to shrink, so they might as

well deal with it.

Easy to find a solution when you don't have the problem.

They ought to just play the scene as well as they can and stop feeling sorry

themselves. Thank you, General Patton. Well, it's true. We all have our

I mean, no one gets everything. We all have some kind of handicap or something.

The thing to do is just go for it and get it over with.

Then you think I should continue my efforts to break into the National

Basketball Association in spite of the fact that I'm white?

Hey, we've all got problems in hang -ups.

What's Bruno's hang -up?

Hangs on to his music forever.

Won't play it for anyone until it's triple perfect.

I do not. The heck you don't.

Has he let you hear what he's composing for you?

No, he hasn't.

Well, I'm about to. It's not what you'll be dancing to.

But it is something I composed for you. And with the magic of electronic

keyboards, And my string machine and my rhythm machine.

See what I told you about hanging on to it? Will you play it, jerk?

2 a .m.

I open.

Ticking clock and falling rain.

Thoughts of you dancing through

my mind. I can hear your voice. If only

I could be your music, you'll be

mine.

Peace.

When you smile at me, won't you let me be your

music? You'll be my music with every song

we sing.

Love will flow between us.

me go upstairs and wash the dishes.

There aren't any dishes.

We'll make some.

Move.

You didn't limp when you walked over here.

Dope. That's because my feet didn't even touch the ground.

You're not going to let her audition, are you?

I certainly am.

Lydia, she can't be a dancer. She can dance now, damn it, and now is all I

about. But what the future is going to be... I don't know what the future is

going to be, Elizabeth, and neither do you.

All I know is that the girl can dance, and I'm not going to take that away from

her. What about the things you are taking away from her?

Like what?

Look, I liked Rocky as well as the next person.

And every time I go to see Peter Pan, I applaud forever trying to bring

Tinkerbell back to life.

But this isn't a story.

It's real.

And with the hand that girl has been dealt, it isn't fair to let her dream

dreams that can't come true.

Elizabeth, you know medicine. They're always coming up with some new drug,

new treatment. Lydia.

You're always telling me to be tough on the kids in order to make them do the

best they can.

That's good advice from you to me.

It's just as good from me to you.

You can't let her build a life on maybe.

She's too good a kid.

She's such a good dancer, Elizabeth.

She's so fine.

Meeting of the Faculty Subcommittee on Operations now called to order as of

Wednesday the 19th, 7 .30 a .m.

Members of the committee present include Mr. Sherwood, Mr. Grant, Mr. Crandall,

and Mr. Swarovski.

Where's Wyler? Oh, his back went out. He's in traction.

He's lucky.

Meeting called to order.

Can you tell us why this meeting had to be scheduled at this hour?

I mean, the muggers aren't even up yet.

There's one item on our agenda, Kathy Murphy.

As you two obviously know, and you do not know, Kathleen Murphy has multiple

sclerosis. She's going to have to leave the school.

What?

Miss Grant, I was on the phone last night for three hours with Mr.

Rutledge from the insurance company.

They will not cover us if she continues in the dance program.

Without that insurance, the board will not permit us to stay open. No options.

No alternatives.

Then may I please ask, what is the purpose of this meeting, if it's all

decided? The purpose of this meeting...

is to decide who tells the girl and how we can do it with the most humanity.

Come with me. I'll read you your rights later.

What?

I know about the problem you and Armatudo are having with the scene.

You know what I'm talking about?

Yeah. Okay.

We figured out a way out, but you gotta pay me back first.

Hey, you're back. You haven't done anything.

Have I lied to you yet today?

No, not today.

I have study hall, first period.

Let's say you go into Chiropractic class and snitch a couple sets off the desk

so I don't have to listen to Leroy's Aretha Franklin rejects, and I'll return

them to you first period.

Did you lose something, Mr.

Swarovski? Creepy stupidity.

I had the cassette with the faculty manager on it.

Who knows what I did with it?

Sit, mother, sit. We've got work to do.

What the?

What's the matter?

Let me warn you first, I'm broke.

I think I'll take good news.

You're looking at a person with two perfect knees who's ready to go back to

work. Assuming, of course, my flaky composer didn't go on vacation.

Your flaky composer is finished his score.

When do you want to hear it? Right after school.

Oh, wait, not right after. I have a conference with Swarovski.

What's the conference with Swarovski about?

I don't know. Weiler told me and Homer I had to meet with Swarovski right after

6 .30.

Kathy, they know.

And so do I.

What do you mean?

They know what?

And I told my mom and dad that I wanted to go as far as I could, as long as I

could, until the thing I've got makes me stop.

Maybe you better start thinking of a long -term view.

Like lowering your sights a little bit.

Hey, I'm a butterfly, okay?

You don't want butterflies worrying about what's going to happen when winter

comes. That's not what a butterfly is all about.

They're about spring and summer and being pretty.

Not about taking long -term views.

Sharafsy's going to kick you out of school, Kathy.

No, he's going to try, but he won't be able to.

And how are you going to stop him?

Because.

I won't let anybody judge me on what's going to happen.

They've got to judge me on now.

And right now I belong in that dance troupe.

I love you, Kathy. You know that.

For now.

For now, yeah. Though it may last into fifth period if you play your cards

right.

was truly tight.

I don't know why you people are so lazy today, but you better pull up before you

come back in here tomorrow.

All right, hit the door.

Leroy, can I speak to you?

The Rand Tyler people want to come by Thursday night.

Are you ready for that?

I guess so.

Okay. Eight o 'clock Thursday in here.

Great. Hey!

Don't you give me attitude.

If you have a problem, let's hear about it, but don't you ever give me attitude.

How about a question, then?

What's the question?

Am I getting this trial because I'm the best dancer in the school?

That's what I figured.

You've got to see it.

Partying the rest of me was nothing.

thing of beauty they're never on the same level at the same time we talk

creative staging what about the kiss at the end save the best

part till the end watch what happens when he walks around the sofa

they

built a

Good afternoon, Ms. Murphy.

Is this going to be like one of those evaluation interviews that we had a

months ago?

Well, no. Because as a music teacher, there are a couple of things you might

know about me that you really ought to know.

Well, actually... Dancing is the most important thing in my life.

It's not even a close second.

I guess musicians must have that too, in a way.

Like when a chord or a note is hit, and you never want it to end.

Well, there are times when I'm dancing, and I leave the ground, and I feel like

I'm never coming down.

Like I could just go on and on, soaring.

Well, that never happens, of course.

But that doesn't mean that I give up trying.

Because I won't.

Not ever.

Shiraki, what's wrong?

Nothing is wrong.

I'm simply heading for a bar on 14th Street that knows how to serve schnapps,

and then everything will be fine.

Oh, you had your meeting with Kathy Murphy.

And I helped to change her major.

Your what?

She's now a temporary music major, Miss Sherwood, and if she wants to stop into

a dance class from time to time, who am I to stop her? A music major?

But what instrument?

Tambourine.

But at the meeting, you said... At the meeting, I said foolishness. I said

were rules, and we had to obey the rules, follow the orders regardless.

A man with my background ought to know the terrible things that can be done in

the name of following orders.

But you were the one giving the orders.

Tuesday, an income poop.

Today, a mensch.

I'm on my way to schnapps.

I'll see you tonight at the auditions.

Well, then I reminded Danny about Energy Robinson, and I told Julie about Lauren

Bacall. Now, I don't know if it helped, but I think it might cut down on our

budget for ramp building.

Every little bit helps.

Leroy, what happened?

Are you all right?

Sprained my ankle.

Guess this means I can't try out, huh?

Well, why didn't you tell us?

Well, it just happened a few minutes ago.

Sorry.

Maybe next year.

David. Edgar.

We've already postponed once, Lydia.

I'm afraid we're going to have to look elsewhere.

There's still some coffee in the teacher's lounge if anyone's interested.

Right, yeah, come on.

There's a flag on the play.

Ladies and gentlemen.

If you would kindly take your seat.

What's going on?

I have no idea.

Tonight's auditioner will be Miss Kathy Murphy.

Miss Murphy will be dancing to an original composition by Mr. Bruno

Thank you. Thank you.

Miss Murphy's performance will be aided by the sophomore and junior students

from Miss Lydia Grant's advanced classes.

We trust that you'll enjoy tonight's presentation.