Original subtitles

You got a part.

You auditioned for a show today and got yourself a part.

When is the last time you put on your leotards and competed against someone

me?

I really thought I dazzled them.

I'm sure you did.

Well, somebody must have come along and dabbled them more. Well, let's say that

maybe, just maybe, I'd like to have a mother for a mother.

big dream.

You want fame?

Well, fame costs.

And right here is where you start paying.

Lydia Grant.

What have you been doing lately, Lydia?

Well, a couple of summers ago, I played in a stock production of a chorus line.

Uh -huh. And after that?

Well, I've sort of been teaching.

Sort of? Teaching.

I'm a teacher at the School of the Arts.

Hey, listen. If you just let me dance...

All right.

Go ahead.

This is my first teacher's show, and I'm a little nervous.

Oh, you were great, Ms. Lewandowski.

Especially for an algebra teacher.

You guys, I'm her student advisor. What am I supposed to tell her?

I'm trying to talk her out of tabloids.

And out of playing the accordion, too. I think it was better if she just stood

there and did nothing.

You guys are horrible.

Joe, who's next?

Um, my guy, Mr. Wendell, biology.

Hope he's not going to dissect the frog.

What's it going to be, Mr. Wendell?

It's going to be bird calls from the North American marshes.

Look, look, look, look.

Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh.

Jeez, he's good.

Mr. Monarch, you'll wipe him off the stage.

I don't know. I mean, it's just a week until the... and I just don't feel like

I've got my stuff nailed.

You'd be great. Trust me.

I have to. I'm in your hands.

I just don't want to embarrass myself.

Last year when I sang Mule Train, everybody laughed.

Well, you weren't Frankie Lane, but you weren't bad.

Still, I think my recitation of Casey the Bad is safer, don't you?

Safer than Mule Train?

Tough call.

Miss Grant, where have you been?

I beg your pardon, Leroy.

You heard me. You're late for rehearsal.

This is inexcusable.

Boy, you're starting to sound just like me.

I mean, you know there's no room for unprofessionalism in the theater.

Exactly like me. I'm so sorry, Leroy. Well, sorry don't cut it. All right,

you're getting too far. You're getting too far. You're getting too far.

Well, come on, I still think we've got time to rehearse. It's not my

choreographed.

Leroy, honey, I don't think I'm going to be able to dance in the teacher's show.

How come?

Oh, Miss Grant, you know how important this was to me? I was counting on you,

the best thing that there is.

Baby, I know, but see, that's just it. Being told you're the best isn't always

enough. Sometimes you've got to go out there and prove it.

What are you saying? Are you leaving us?

No. Well, you know, I'm always telling you all to go out and catch the wind.

Well, how can I keep telling you that if I never go out and taste mine?

You got a part.

The branch you auditioned for, show the day you got yourself a part. Oh, I

didn't get it yet, but if I do, I'm going to need every spare minute I can

my hands on to get ready.

I might even ask Mr. Morlock if he'd let me out of some of my classes. Oh, you

understand, don't you, baby?

Yeah. Did you kill him, Miss Grant? Did you kill him? I think they'd like me.

Oh, they have to be fools not to like you.

Well, I got that show business now. I got to get a replacement.

You think Mr. Fitz, the physics teacher, can dance?

Well,

hi, Christopher.

Hi, Miss Laird. How are you doing? Oh, just fine.

Do you know where I can find Holly?

Yeah, I think she's in Mr. Shroff's place.

That's down the hall and over to the right. One minute. Thanks.

Miss Laird, very nice.

Up until the end.

What happened? You were doing so well.

Hi, sweetheart.

Hi, Mom.

I'm a nice surprise.

Oh, I have an even bigger surprise. I'm taking you to lunch.

Great.

You remember Mr. Swarovski? Nice to see you again, Mrs. Laird. How do you like

your daughter singing?

Oh, lovely.

I'm one of Holly's biggest fans.

Of course, I'm also her mother. You hated it.

I didn't hate it.

concentration. Oh, you just didn't support the dress enough, that's all?

But you only heard a few measures of the song.

Well, I know that.

You just have to work a little harder, Holly.

Mrs. Laird, in my not -so -humble opinion, Holly is an excellent student

tremendous potential.

Ah, but having potential and living up to it are two different things, aren't

they?

Come on, Holly.

You're going to be in town for two weeks.

Well, you don't sound too happy about it. Oh, no, I am. It's just normally

you're in town, you're just in and out.

Well, if I'm in the way, I can stay in a hotel.

Oh, no, Mom.

Don't be silly. It'll be fun having something.

Oh, thanks, baby.

Well, I just can't hold it in anymore. I've got to tell you.

It's what?

It's sort of a celebration.

Broadway show. Really? Oh, good going.

Congratulations, Mrs. Lane. Oh, please call me Susie. Susie. Okay, Susie. When

do you start?

A couple of weeks.

I'm going to be going crazy until we start rehearsal. I don't know what I'm

doing with myself.

Mrs. Laird.

Susie.

You've never taught dance, have you?

Five, six, seven. And arch your back a little more, Holly.

Concentrate, Holly. You're not thinking.

Dancing begins with the brain. You've got to visualize it in order to do it.

And releve up.

And fold.

You let it go. What happened?

It was hurting, Mom.

A dancer has to live with pain, Holly. You've got to learn that.

Done.

Don't get me wrong, folks. I love New York. It's easy to stay in shape here.

get plenty of exercise running away from the mother.

Nice delivery, Mr. Swarovski. That was real nice.

Thank you very much, Mr. Amatillo, but do you really think I need a rim shot

after each, as you call them, zinger?

Oh, yeah.

Mr. Swarovski, that tells the audience when to laugh.

I was kind of hoping the zinger would do that. Well, we can always hope, but

let's take it from the joke about the hotel.

Do I have to?

Why not?

It's pure. It's gold. Let's go for it.

Woman goes to the hotel and says, give me a room and a bath.

The manager says, I can give you a room, but you got to take your own bath.

Mrs. Swarovski, you are going to kill them. You are going to literally kill

these people.

Turn this place into a cafeteria now, huh?

I just wanted to be alone.

Holly, you gotta help me out. Look, I know you could talk your mother into

dancing for me in the show.

What makes you think I have any influence with her?

You're a daughter, baby. I mean, if you don't, who does?

I'm not so sure anymore.

Hey, Holly, what are you eating?

Cold sesame noodles.

My mom sent you Chinese cooking.

No kidding. I love Chinese food.

You know, your mother's one terrific lady.

You think so, huh?

Well, every time we mention your mother's name, you stiffen up.

Well, let's just say right now I'm not so crazy about her, okay?

Well, you don't have to be crazy about her to ask her to be in a show for me.

Forget it, Leroy. No way.

You say what you want. I think she's great.

And one heck of a dancer, too. I mean, she's almost as good as Miss Grant.

just as good.

Maybe better.

What kind of sauce is this?

So what do you say, Holly? I mean, just put a couple of good words in for me.

You know. Will you give me a break, Leroy?

The two of you, I am tired of hearing how wonderful my mother is.

Why are you always ragging her?

I mean, I think you'd be proud to have a great dancer for a mother. Well, let's

say that maybe, just maybe, I'd like to have a mother for a mother.

Did she say she was finished with this?

It's different than I thought.

What?

The place.

The teacher's lounge.

It's different.

It's just a room.

Listen, we've got to get to work.

I'm going to need a lot of help with my recitation.

All right.

Let's take it from... The sneer is gone from Casey's lip.

The sneer is gone from Casey's lip?

That was good. Why'd you stop?

I want to get my cap.

Helps me, you know, get into character.

Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't realize anyone was here.

You boys going to play catch?

No, I was helping Mr. Morlock with his recitation.

What recitation?

I'm doing Casey at the Bat for the teacher's show.

Oh.

You don't approve?

No, no.

No, it's just that I'm doing a recitation, too.

Something from Elizabeth Barrett Browning.

Well, who wants to hear that sentimental path when they can hear a real

masculine poem?

Masculine it may be, it's also dreadful.

Dreadful? It's one of the best poems ever written.

Every single line rhymes.

It looked extremely rocky for the Mudville Nine that day. The score stood

four. with but one inning left to play.

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.

I love thee to the depth, breadth, height my soul can reach when feeling

sight for the ends of being an ideal grace.

Ten thousand eyes were on him as he rubbed his hands with dirt.

Five thousand tongues applauded as he wiped them on his shirt.

I love thee to the level of every day's most quiet needs by sun and candlelight.

I love thee freely as men strive for right. I love thee purely as they turn

praise. I love thee with a passion put to use with my old griefs and with my

childhood's fate. I love thee with a love I seem to lose with my lost sense.

love thee with a breath smiled tears of all my life.

but love thee better after death.

I see that they keep hoping that Red will come walking back through that

know, me too.

I mean, how can you leave a woman like Scarlett?

Well, she pushed him too far.

Well, I don't see it that way, Holly. I mean, she knew what she wanted and she

went after it and she got it. I mean, she was a winner.

What do you say I make more popcorn, huh?

Mom, she lost what she loved most.

Holly, it was just a movie.

Besides, I told you, Rhett comes back.

You don't know that.

We're not talking about the movie anymore, are we? We're talking about us.

So, why don't you let me in on it?

Mom, it was just a movie.

Because in real life, you can know what you want. You can go after it and still

not get it.

It doesn't mean you're not a winner.

You can sugarcoat it any way you want to, baby, but the truth of it is this.

You are either a winner or a loser in this world, and you are talking to a

who knows.

Maybe you don't know as much as you think you do.

Holly, you are my daughter.

And if you think for one minute that I'm going to let you settle for less than

what you deserve in this life, you're mistaken.

I'll make the popcorn, Mom.

It's just that I want you to be the best you can be. The best I can be.

I know, Mom.

I know.

Miss Grant, you just got a call from your agent. I took the message.

I'm sorry. I didn't know how much this meant to you.

How did you know that, Mr. Morlock?

I hear things. I know you.

I really thought I dazzled him.

I'm sure you did.

Well, somebody must have come along and dazzled him more.

Oh, I know you think this is silly, all this show business stuff.

But it's what I do, Mr. Morlock.

It's what I am.

I don't think it's silly at all.

For the record, you're a lot more than that.

Maybe you didn't want it bad enough.

I'm telling you, Morlock's driving me crazy.

I wish he'd sing Mule Train again.

That ain't happening.

I've been auditioning dance teachers all day long, and now one of them is under

50.

I'll tell you what's wrong. The wrong people are on stage.

That's what's wrong.

Listen, man, I can't wait to get back into action.

Hold it, hold it, hold it. Brother, there's not half the wait.

I don't

know.

Bye.

Thank you.

to you for a minute? Holly, what are you doing here so late?

Oh, I was helping one of the teachers with his juggling. Ooh, honey, I don't

know too much about juggling. That's not what I want to talk about.

It's my mother.

Oh.

Sit down, honey.

I have to talk to someone.

I can't talk to the kids.

They think Mom's terrific. They think I'm the one picking on her.

Holly, I know you're going through something with your mother right now,

Don't you think you should be talking to her?

Miss Grant, I've tried.

I've tried, and all we do is talk circles around each other.

I try to tell her how I feel and what I want.

And all I get back is what she wants.

What do you want, Holly?

I do.

I just want her to love me.

Oh, honey, I'm sure she loves you.

Oh, that's got to be so easy.

Oh, baby.

Holly, don't you think you ought to tell me what's going on?

Why bother?

You wouldn't listen.

You know, Lydia...

I don't appreciate my daughter discussing family business with a

she should be working it out with me.

Susie, you're making more out of this than there is.

Am I?

Perhaps when you have a daughter of your own, if you do.

You'll understand how it feels when someone undermines your relationship

your own child. Is that what you think I'm doing? Aren't you? No!

I was just giving her a shoulder to cry on. I was trying to listen to her

because she feels that you don't.

You know, Lydia, I'm beginning to wonder if all of this is about Holly or about

something else.

Something else? Like what?

Like you and me.

It hurts you, doesn't it, to see someone like me get what you want most in the

world?

Success and recognition.

You know, I'm really beginning to feel sorry for you.

You are in bad shape, girl.

Me?

When is the last time you put on your leotards and competed against someone

me? More recently than you might know.

Oh, Mrs.

Laird, I know I'm driving you crazy asking you this question, but I must ask

one more time. Would you please dance in the school show for me, please?

Leroy, I don't think Mrs. Laird would be interested in performing in a school

production. She's a professional.

Professionals don't perform in school productions, especially if they have to

compete against people as lowly as dance teachers for the part, people that

haven't been out there for a while.

Especially when those people can dance rings around her.

I don't know.

You might be able to talk me into it, Leroy, if I can be sure that I'd be

up against a certain teacher, one who had something to prove.

Might be nice to take her off her high horse.

Go for it. You are on, baby. Right.

Miss Grant, I'll help you dance the pants off her.

See you at the trial, Leon.

First I can't get one, now I got two.

Are you just going to sit there contemplating your tea leaves, or are

to tell me what's going on?

I don't know. Sometimes I wonder if I've made the right decision.

choices in my life.

What are you saying, Lydia?

Are you thinking about leaving the school?

Well... If you had a choice between being a teacher and a great novelist,

which would you be?

Well... Well, actually, I think I'd want both.

And if this is about whether or not you should be a teacher... teacher or a

dancer. I hope I've answered your question.

Hey, that was great, Mr. Wendell, especially that at the end, it gives it

added finish, you know, they didn't need it. Yes, the New Jersey swamp quail.

But do you have any other suggestions? No, no, no, no, no, no. Don't change a

thing, you know. Keep your birds just the way they are.

Are

you

sure you want me to lose the accordion and just tap dance?

Well, actually, I think you should cut the tap dance, too.

Then there's nothing left to my act.

Well, yeah, but look how we've improved it.

The guy goes to the psychiatrist.

Doctor, I got this problem.

I think I'm a dog.

The psychiatrist asks, how long have you felt like this? The guy answers, ever

since I was a puppy.

Mr. Amatillo, do you really think this works?

Works? Mr. Shirovsky, this is killing me. You know, you were finally starting

roll. But this material is older than me.

That's what's so good about it. This material has stood the test of time, Mr.

Shirovsky.

I don't feel comfortable with it. I'd prefer to do something more personal.

Okay, so just work with it.

Street kids.

They always think they're so tough because they come from tough

I grew up in a tough neighborhood.

Germany.

I don't get it.

World War II, the Nazis.

Come to think of it, it wasn't very funny then either.

If you could talk your mother into dropping out, it would make life a whole

easier. You think so, Holly, right?

I'm not so sure.

What are you talking about?

School's a place to learn, isn't it?

Maybe my mother can learn something here.

Like what?

Like you can't always be number one. Sometimes you gotta lose.

Is that how you really feel, Holly?

Maybe it is.

I don't believe you.

Well, believe me.

Are you gonna at least stay and see what happens?

I don't think so.

We're going to start the competition now. Okay. Go over there, honey.

How well?

Mrs. Grant?

Mrs. Land?

Are you ready?

I'm ready. So am I.

She's not here.

You do your four counts, you do your four counts, then you do your four

then you do your four counts, then at the end I want you to do the combination

that I showed you, okay?

Alright, go for it.

You mind yet?

You know, I told him I'd give him a decision in about two hours. I should

said two weeks.

Really? No,

all he wanted was better technically, though.

Well, you know, I really couldn't pick between the both of them.

I'm trying to be fair about this, though, you know? Call it a draw, man.

Let them both answer the show.

Never draw. Never draw. Don't want to do it. Kill me.

It's on you, then.

You decide yet?

Come on, man, wait.

Who is it? Who is it?

Leroy.

The contact.

He picked Miss Grant, didn't he?

It was close.

But Miss Grant definitely came on strong in here.

I know one thing I'm not going to be enthused about, and that's telling your

mother.

That's okay.

I'll tell her.

I know that sounds crazy. This is really confusing.

Holly, why do you look so sad?

I thought this was what you wanted.

I know. So did I.

Well, it comes down to it.

How can you not look for your mom?

I need a hug.

Mommy, why are you crying? What's the matter?

Oh, I just got some bad news.

That Broadway show.

Well, they replaced me with a 22 -year -old kid.

Oh, Mom, I'm so sorry.

Makes you wonder why you work so hard.

I can't compete with a 22 -year -old. Of course you can.

Of course you can. There are going to be better parts, Mom.

Better ones. You've got to remember that.

You're good. You're the best.

Do you really think so, baby?

Oh, Mom, I know so.

Thanks. I needed that.

I feel so guilty.

For what?

Oh, for everything that's been happening at school.

With Miss Grant.

For wanting you to lose.

And I did, didn't I?

Go ahead, you can tell me. No, no, you didn't.

It was close, Mom.

But you won.

Baby, we got us a big problem. Miss Grant, I know it's a lot to ask of you,

if you would just consider it. Holly, it would be real easy for me to bow out of

the show and let your mother think that she won, but that would be too easy. Too

easy for you.

I don't understand.

Is this show that important to you? No, but you are.

You're selling yourself short, baby, and you're selling your mother short, too.

Miss Grant, I don't know what to do.

She's going to be here any minute. Holly, Holly.

Why do you think that you have such a hard time dealing with your mother?

Because she expects so much.

Of me.

Of everyone around her. Mostly herself.

She can't just seem to accept the fact that sometimes you have to be second

best.

Sounds like somebody I know.

Student of mine.

Me? Mm -hmm.

I see what you mean.

So if you can accept that in yourself, why can't you accept it in your mother?

I guess I can.

I just don't know where to begin.

Well, you begin by finding a way to talk to her.

And right now is as good a time as any.

You've both been flying solo too long, baby.

Go on, honey.

Just yesterday I said to one of my students, sing it again, you were out of

tune. He said, I don't understand.

I said, you don't understand out of tune?

Let me rephrase it for you.

If I would have been fooled, I would have sent it back.

But don't get me wrong, I love teaching.

Thank you. Thank you very much. You've been a wonderful hour.

This guy's a natural. Listen to that. They love him. I can't talk that.

That's who Wendell's next.

He stinks.

I couldn't ask for a better name.

All right.

There you go, Mrs. Schwartz. Good luck, young man.

Ladies and gentlemen, tonight I'm going to do my bird calls to the tune of Bye

Bye Blackbird.

What happened? He must have jazzed up his act.

I'm in trouble.

I was fairly mean about the poem you chose. I'd like to wish you luck.

Thanks. I'm going to need it.

Good luck with that Browning thing, too.

Oh, I've changed it. I'm going to do Robert Frost instead.

Still no case here too bad.

Well, you can't have everything.

Okay, Mr. Morlock, you're next. Ready?

Isn't it getting a little warm in here?

No, it's fine.

Mr. Morlock!

What happened?

He fainted.

I'll cover for him.

Was that good?

This is a poem by Robert Frost.

Called The Road Not Taken.

And... It's for a friend.

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood.

And... Sorry I could not travel both and be one traveler.

Long I stood and looked down one as far as I could to where it bent in the

undergrowth.

Then took the other.

I kept the first for another day, yet, knowing how way leads on to way, I

doubted I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a thigh somewhere ages and ages hence.

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I... I took the one less

traveled by.

And that has made all the difference.

Thank you, Linda.

Next audition, please.

Didn't you see this lady before?

Yeah, we liked her. We thought we'd take another look.

I've been dancing in the wings.

Through many things, dancing is the way I love

my life.

In this crazy world we're living in, time

goes on and on.

Each stage is waiting for something. Dancing,

dancing,

dancing.