THE UNDERSTUDY - Act One

1, 2, 3, table read, PIE, understudy. That was the understudy. That was my bad. No bad. That's where we embraced the imperfection. I told you. I screwed that up. So sorry. All right, here we go. Ready? 1, 2, 3, table read, the understudy. I'll text out. It's beautiful. Let's rock. The understudy, written by Jenis St. John. Fade in. Exterior 15th-century town square, night. A glowing green, ancient snow globe sits alone in the dark, and inside are two dancer figurines. A hen snatches the globe. It belongs to Mr. Constantine 30s, as an army of skeletons with glowing green eyes approach it. Reveal town square. Skeletons lunge out from doors and darkness. Mr. Constantine does ballet elacocon turns and knocks out two rounds of skeletons with his outstretched foot. He slides on his knees, presenting the globe to a panicked ballerina. She timidly grabs the globe. Yara cum, a cum. A skeleton snatches Constantine, pulling him away. I wish my face would return as they were. Constantine now has skeletons climbing on top of him, burying him. His outstretched arm disappears in the sea of bone. The globe's green glow burns out, and the skeleton's drop lifeless. Finally, Mr. Constantine bursts out of the bony rubble stands, taking ballerina's hand. They both turn to face. A modern-day audience erupts in applause. Tossing bouquets of flowers onto the stage. Ballerina turns to Constantine. I swear, I didn't mean any harm. A skeleton hand twitches. Four-year-old fritz rushes onto the stage from the audience with a wooden sword. Sword, sword. Come on. LAUGHTER I loved Paul. I was giving a little variety. You said you wanted it. A skeleton hand twitches. Four-year-old fritz rushes onto the stage from the audience with a wooden sword, bludgeoning the lifeless pile of bones. Heavy red velvet curtains close. Black out. White screen. As opening credits begin, we're bombarded with photo after photo, video after video of Natalie Primavera's 17 social media pages. Natalie is ballet perfection, executing difficult poses with an omnipresent smile. With 985,000 followers, we see her profile picture and name. Natalie Primavera. Wilbur Narts High School Senior. Aspiring Ballerina at Royal Ballet. Coffee obsessed. Photos of Natalie at school, hair down and casual clothes. Posing with her two Ballerina best friends, Jasmine 17 and Zoe 18, alongside designer cupcakes and mocas. A selfie video of Natalie with a tight bun and fresh makeup focuses on her in front of a poster for nutcracker auditions. Hey, guys. It's Natalie here about to walk into my very last nutcracker audition for senior year, and I'm hoping this is my year to be the sugar plums fairy. Fingers crossed. Natalie blows a kiss to the camera. Exterior Wilbur Narts High School Day. Natalie stands near the front doors of Wilbur Narts High School of the Arts. Next to nutcracker auditions poster, fluttering in the wind. She tucks away her phone as she notices dark clouds roll in over the school. Natalie pops in earbuds and Chikovsky's dance of the sugar plums fairy fills the air. She takes a deep breath and enters through the doors of the school. The wind rips the poster off the door. Interior School Hallway rehearsal studio day. Natalie walks down an empty hallway and turns on point of her sneakers to a hallway full of dancers stretching and on their phones in various groups. All turn to look at Natalie, including her designer dancewear friends at the end of the hallway. Jasmine Kern 17 and twins Zoe and Brock Dennings 18. Natalie makes her way down the hall when the double doors of the dance studio swing open to reveal. Mr. Constantine. Mid-40s. The same Romanian man seen holding the green globe, but now a bit older. Funder claps. Lights flicker on and off. Natalie pauses and the two look at one another. The door shuts with a sign. Auditions posted on the door. Natalie cracks open the door to investigate, but a messy ponytail obscures her view. It's Ava Ross 17. A meet girl and schlubby sweats pushing a large broom in the studio. The two girls suddenly face to face real back from one another. Ava laughs nervously. Did you need to talk to Mr. Constantine? Where's Mrs. Brewer? Ava shrugs. Oh, good luck today. It's bad luck to wish good luck. Some squeals from the hallway pulls Natalie's attention away. Ava's smile drops, continuing to sweep and watch. Mom, what are you doing here? Zoe, Jasmine and other dancers surround Mrs. Primavera, 50s, stylish and elegant woman with a box of point shoes. I brought you a fresh pair just in case. And you left so fast I didn't get to wish you a big pile of shit. The dancers excitedly gasp and Natalie shoots her mom a look, mirrored my love. Thanks, mom. Are you customing the show again? I wouldn't skip your last year if it was the end of the world. Mom, you can go now. As Mrs. Primavera exits, she points to Natalie and places her hand on her heart, mouthing, you are my heart. Natalie repeats the quiet ritual to her mom with a smile. Interior rehearsal studio day. Auditioners and point shoes and dance attire are seated and clicks as Mr. Constantine and Miss Miyako and Miss Lana, 40s to 60s ballet mistresses, stand at the front of the studio. Natalie, Jasmine, Zoe and Brock, stretch and slow motion. Legs pulled over their heads and perfectly lit as though they're in a dance out. Zoe kisses her phone. Did you just kiss your phone? I kissed to me three times and then my wishes come true. I wish to be Clara. Wanna try? Zoe flashes her lock screen, a picture of Timothy Shalame. I'm good. What roles are you auditioning for? Just a sugar plump fairy. Is your bun too tight? What if you don't get it? I've got it. Ava sits with Kenzie 17 on the gloomy side of the studio. Their eyes fixed on Natalie and her friends. Look at her. She's like a bowl-shoi sleeper agent. Why am I here again? Kaya's Miss Miyako said you should audition for the sugar plump fairy. She's like master Miyagi. Talent in you, she sees. Wait, that's Yoda. Did you know it's bad luck to wish good luck? Yeah, everybody knows that. Miss Miyako eagerly approaches the center of the studio. Dancers! While Mrs. Brewer is on maternity leave, we're very lucky to have Mr. Constantine here from the Romanian ballet to direct this season's nutcracker. Not to mention, he's sadly married. What does a woman need to do to find an elephant eligible? Buh-buh-buh, gaga-buh-buh. I'm so sorry, thank you. We're very lucky to have Mr. Constantine here from the Romanian ballet to direct this season's nutcracker. Not to mention, he's sadly married. What does a woman need to do to find an eligible bachelor? Enough. What enters your mind when you think of the nutcracker? Christmas. Yes. Winter. Cold. Shrouds of snow. Natalie exchanges glances with her friends. Anyone else? Silence. Mr. Constantine holds up the ancient snow globe containing two dark figures in a frosted forest. He cranks the knob, playing a tinny pottedoo from Chikovsky's nutcracker. The nutcracker. A Christmas ballet over 100 years old, dense by thousands of dancers, millions of times. Music reaching billions of years. There is magic in this. Real magic. Is there magic in you? Mr. Constantine gingerly places the snow globe on the piano. Let the additions begin. The front door opens, and all dancers turn in unison to look at Grayson 18, a charming, shaggy haired senior. Grayson halts as all the faces are staring at him. Mr. Garcia? Yeah, that's me. Grayson. Super chill group here. Uh. Natalie chuckles. Prince Cavalier's in sugar plumb fairy stay. Everyone else, wait out in the hole. Dancers file out as Natalie looks around and sees auditioner number one staying put. Natalie shoots her a look. Auditioner number one abruptly gets up and leaves. Natalie notices Jasmine lingering and raises her eyebrows. Jasmine catches Natalie's look. What are you doing? I'm auditioning. I'll blow my audition if I'm up against my best friend. You can snow queen. You're perfect for it. I was snow queen last year. Whatever. Fine. Jasmine scoffs and exits angrily. Most dancers have left the studio with Natalie, Brock, Grayson, and Eva left. Natalie does a double take at Eva. We're auditioned with Patador, the heart of these roles. Wait, the solo has always been the audition for the sugar plumb fairy. Do you know the patador? Yes, but I've practiced the solo a million times. Do you know it? Avin odds. The patador. In the other world beyond Clara's household, while everyone sleeps ignorant. Ignorant of what? Exactly. The other world. Thunder booms, the lights flicker, miss Miyako, and Miss Lana look up at the ceiling. What are you doing? I'm setting the scene. Let's start with Natalie Primavera and Brock Dennings. Natalie pulls on her rehearsal tutu as she walks to her spot on the dance floor with Brock. The pianist starts the music. Natalie and Brock execute the dance with skillful ease. Natalie's turns are in triples. Her extensions reach her ear. And with the final lift and drop, Natalie flashes a large smile. Miss Miyako and Miss Lana, mouth. Wow. Natalie's smile drops as Mr. Constantine shakes his head. Miss Primavera, what was going through your mind while dancing? Well, I was counting, obviously, and made sure I stayed lifted so that might exist. Next pair. Ava and Grayson. Ava, in a wrinkled rap skirt, hurries to the floor with Grayson as Natalie's sulkyly sits with a frown. The pianist begins. Ava and Grayson dance. Ava's leaps are low. Her turns are in singles. And her extensions barely make it past her hip. But there's a clear sadness behind her eyes. And her body moves as one with the music. Miss Lana, Miss Miyako, and Mr. Constantine watch attentively nodding. Even Natalie is pulled in by Ava's performance. Mr. Constantine smiles large as the dancers finish. He looks at Ava and taps his heart. Thank you. Goodbye, dancers. Ava's eyes widen. Does she have a chance? Natalie's eyes dart. Wait, aren't you going to ask her what was in her mind? I don't have to. You'll hear the audition results tonight by email. Thanks again. Ava, Grayson, and Brock head out the door. Miss Lana, Miss Miyako, and Mr. Constantine rummage through papers together. The pianist coughs and eyes the center of the room where Natalie is planted, arms crossed. Here we go. You know Ava Ross has only been dancing for five years. She just got on point. Yeah, she probably shouldn't be on point. Your technique is excellent. You don't need to put her down to show how good you are. That's not what I'm doing. Look, I'm a senior, and I've played every role in the Nutcracker except the Sugar Plum Fairy. I know every note of that song. It's not a role for beginners. It's the most advanced role in this ballet. If ballet is only about technique, it would put audiences to sleep. I want to feel something. This piece is about heartbreak. I want to feel my heart break. It's a happy ballet. It's about Christmas. Christmas makes people feel happy. Christmas makes me feel agony. The lights flicker. That's creepy. It's like I'm teaching in public school again. Play the piece. The pianist immediately begins playing the pottedoo. Listen, from the other world. The land of sweets. Memory is not sweet. It's nostalgic, gone forever. Don't think about choreography, social media, or Chris M'sworth. Find purpose in it. Dance is purpose for me. Listen. Natalie closes her eyes. The music seems to grow louder and Natalie's shoulders relax. Her head swaying with the notes. Mr. Constantine eyes the globe on the piano and smiles. Holy shit. Yes. Holy shit. Can you feel all of that and dance at the same time? Mr. Constantine, there's over 100 dancers waiting. Natalie snaps out of it and charges out the door with a huff. Interior school hallway day. Natalie closes her dance bag with a furious zip. Jasmine and Zoe stand around her with nervous excitement. That was beautiful, Matt. You have it for sure. Ava Ross is a core dancer at best. I've seen smaller shoes on clowns. Miss Miyako pops her head out of the door. Snow quince next. Miss Miyako addresses Jasmine. I'm surprised I didn't see you in there with the sugar plum fairies. Natalie's the sugar plum fairy. Jasmine walks in confidently with a group of nervous dancers. Natalie walks down the hall when an eager Ava approaches. Wow. You made that look so easy. Avala looks the same when it's done, right? Exterior historic bridge, sunset. Natalie is lost in her phone, swiping over and over to refresh her email, sitting on the hood of a car. A few feet away, Jasmine, Zoe and Brock are taking in the view and sipping wine coolers. Whatever all you get is wonderful. Natalie clicks on Ava's Instagram page and pauses on a photo of Ava and Kenzie making goofy faces. Natalie turns her camera on selfie mode and takes a goofy face pick. Cute selfie. Natalie quickly hides the pick and swings around to see Grace and standing behind her. What are you doing here? We invited him. Get off your phone, Nat. You're getting the role. Interior rehearsal studio evening. Mr. Constantine, Miss Miyako and Miss Lana sit in the middle of the floor with audition paperwork laid out everywhere. Ava timidly walks into the room interrupting the teachers. Mr. Constantine? I did work study hours for Mrs. Brewer and I was wondering if I could help with anything and collect some hours? Ava, we can't let you in on this end of the process. Oh, of course. Sorry. Ava starts to turn away. Miss Ross, I could use your help for something. Interior, Mr. Constantine's office evening. Ava opens a box in a dusky office stacked with boxes. Books go in the bookshelf. You can leave everything else alone. Ava notices the snow globe on Mr. Constantine's desk. She picks it up, running her finger over the inscription. Dare to wish. Feel magic's kiss? Beautiful, isn't it? It's very old. Must be handled very delicately. Ava sets it down. Mr. Constantine turns to leave. Do I actually have a chance at getting the part? You have the same chance as Miss Premavera. But she's a madly Premavera. She's a girl trained her best, just like you, Miss Ross. Exterior pedestrian overpassed night. Natalie refreshes her email again. You ever heard a watched pot never boils? You ever been kicked in the balls by a ballerina? Oh my god. Oh my god, it's in. An Natalie's phone and email pops up from Wilburne High School Dance Department with the subject line Nutcracker Audition Results. Interior Mr. Constantine's office night. Ava is slotting books onto the bookshelf when her phone buzzes. Nutcracker Audition Results. Ava sits down with a deep breath. She presses the link. Exterior pedestrian overpassed night. Roll. Sugar Plum Fairy. Natalie exhales with a huge smile. Interior Mr. Constantine's office night. Ava slams her phone down in disappointment. Her email opened to Roll. Understudy to Sugar Plum Fairy. Ava brushes away a tear. Exterior pedestrian overpassed night. Natalie's phone. Video live stream with Natalie, Zoe, Brock, and Jasmine Grayson filming. Hey guys, it's Natalie Primavera. My best friends and I were just enjoying our last summer night out before senior year stars. As well, we got our audition results for our final Nutcracker. Interior Mr. Constantine's office night. Ava is watching Natalie's live stream as Mr. Constantine walks in. She quickly sets her phone down. We're heading home. You danced well, Miss Ross. Not well enough. An understudy is an invaluable position and only given to someone we can trust with the role. I just really wanted that role. So did Miss Primavera. But she always gets the role. She gets everything. Everything always breaks her way. And I just wish I could be like her. You ever think that Miss Primavera wishes she could be like you? I didn't know. Why would anyone wish to be me? That's stupid. A faint green light seems to twinkle from inside the snow globe sitting on Mr. Constantine's desk. He notices. See you at the rehearsal tomorrow, Miss Ross. Get some rest. Mr. Constantine exits. Ava picks up the snow globe and cranks the knob. The potty-due variation plays from the globe. On Ava's phone, Natalie's live stream plays in the background. And you're looking at the snow queen. Yep, two years in a row. And I'm Clara. I couldn't have done it without my bay. And we see Selom May. And Brock, here is the Russian soloist. And I'm the sugar plump fairy. I can't wait to share the sturdy with all of you from now until opening night. Here's to 1 million followers before first rehearsal tomorrow. Royal Powerang. I'm looking at you. Exterior pedestrian over past night. Natalie is mid-Polish-era-besque pose. The full moon behind her, making her a beautiful silhouette. Brock snaps a photo. Natalie lets go of the pose and grabs the phone and frowns. What do you think of this? I love it. Your lines are perfection. No, but like, what does it make you feel? Silence. Natalie steps back and examines the scene. I got it. Natalie climbs on top of the cement railing of the overpass. Whoa, whoa, whoa. Hey, is that like safe? It's perfectly safe if you have solid technique. A million people are going to see this photo. And all I want is that when I dance, I want people to feel. What? No. Magic. Natalie looks up at the stars above her. Takes a moment before stretching into the pose again. And her foot wobbles slightly underneath her. Interior Mr. Constantine's office night. Ava's on Natalie's Instagram page. Scrolling past smile after smile. Roll after roll. Ava looks for her phone to the snow globe. She runs her finger over the inscription. Dare to wish. Feel magic's kiss. Seems to glisten. She shakes the globe so the snow within swirls, sparkling green. Exterior pedestrian overpass night. Natalie is mid pose. Got it. Natalie's foot slips. And she falls over the edge. Shouts and screams come from her friends. Interior Mr. Constantine's office night. Ava shuts her eyes and takes a deep breath. I wish I was Natalie Primavera. The snow globe engulfs in black fog in a flash. And a green blinding glow illuminates the entire office. Ava gasps as her spirit. A translucent essence of her puffs off her body. Exterior pedestrian overpass night. Natalie is falling in slow motion. Screaming as Ava's spirit swooms toward her from the night sky. The ground approaches closer and closer. Natalie squeezes her eyes as her spirit exits her body just as Ava's enters it. Blackout upon hitting the ground. Interior Mr. Constantine's office day. POV shot. Blurry at first. Sunlight through the window. The glowing green snow globe on its side with the inscription dare to wish feel magic's kiss coming into focus. What the... Where am I? A phone lies on the desk. Open to Natalie's Instagram page. The shot of her doing a Palshe Arabesque on the bridge. A phenomenal photograph. Note, Ava's body is now inhabited by Natalie and vice versa. Henceforth, Ava and Natalie will be referred to as their sole brain name rather than their body name. Natalie stands hand on her head and dazed. The door handle jiggles and Natalie tucks under Mr. Constantine's desk right before the door opens. Mr. Constantine walks in. Natalie sees his feet planted in front of his desk picking up the snow globe. Ah. And so will Go again. Mr. Constantine sets the globe back down and exits. Interior rehearsal studio day. Natalie walks out of the office and into the rehearsal room catching her reflection. Natalie halts. Rushes back in front of the mirror, face to face with Ava's body. The Natalie walks closer and closer to the mirror. Malthighape as she touches her face, her hair, breathing heavier. Mr. Us, is everything okay? Mr. Constantine is at the corner of the room. No. No. This is impossible. Natalie looks back at the mirror. It may seem impossible to film a spring of air as shoes due to her accident, but I think you'll find it in you. Accident? What accident? The bell rings. The hallway floods with students and Natalie turns back, but Mr. Constantine has vanished. What? Interior school hallway day. Natalie stumbles into the hallway filled with students of all different art disciplines. Drama, art, music, dance. Back to school artwork decorates the hallway. Natalie spots Zoe, Brock and Jasmine walking together. Jasmine, Zoe, Brock. They continue walking. Natalie runs to catch up to them, reaching for Zoe. Ah, do you mind? I need your help. I'm seriously freaking out here. Jasmine flashes Natalie a sympathetic smile. Oh, hey, it's okay. I'd be panicking too if I ring your shoes. Natalie throws her arms around Jasmine in a tight hug. Jasmine shoots Zoe and Brock a W2F look. Listen, I'm Natalie, but I know we're gonna fix it. You know how to fix this? We'll go to Mr. Constantine and let him know that we're switching roles. I can be the sugar plump fairy and you can fix this. No, no, no. I'm the sugar plump fairy. Look, nobody expected what happened to Natalie to happen. I don't know. I honestly saw it coming. What? The accident? Okay. What happened? Don't play. Jasmine leans in toward Natalie. Listen. Your balance challenged and as flexible as a petrified fossil. The sugar plump fairy means to go to someone actually capable of dancing the role. Someone like me. Natalie stumbles back away from her friends and into Trevor 17, a gaunt undeniably nerdy kid with a viola case. He plants a kiss on Natalie's lips. Natalie slaps him hard. Hey. Ow. Sorry. I know what you want is because of something so terrible. Natalie's breathing becomes a regular. Her vision blurry and sound muffled. An exit sign illuminates down the hall. Natalie makes a b-line for it. Cool. Cool. We'll talk later. Kenzie pops in in front of Natalie. Eva. Are you okay? I just heard it. Oh my god. I'm dead. An overhead screen starts playing the abrasive song for morning announcements. And we see principal waters 50s. Welcome back all returning and new students. I regret to start the first morning announcement of the school year with some unfortunate news about how very old Natalie Premibara. Oh shit. I'm actually dead. The Wilbur Narts senior fell 15 feet last night and is currently at St. John's Hospital. Her family asks for privacy and we're all looking forward to welcoming Natalie back when she recovers. Go wolves. I'm not dead. I know it's a lot but you've got this. You're Jody from center stage starting from bad feet underdog to badass dancer. This is a great photo though. Kenzie holds her phone showing the moon photo on Natalie's Instagram page. Thank you. It saved John hospital. Kenzie looks at her confused. I gotta go. What about chemistry? Natalie rushes out of the hallway and into. Interior hospital hallway day. Natalie walks hastily and makes a turn. The sign intensive care unit looms overhead and she stops before the lock double doors waiting. Then an elderly couple exits and Natalie slips through. Interior ICU nurse station ICU room 202 day. The chart in the door says Premibara Natalie. The curtain is drawn in the room with just a leg in a cast in view. Natalie reaches to pull back the curtain when nurse Sandy 30s pops in front of her. Family only. Step out please. Natalie backs out of the room, hurt it away by nurse Sandy. Mr. Premibara 50s walks up in a wrinkled suit, bloodshot eyes carrying a small coffee cup and spots Natalie. Dad! Natalie's dad. I need to talk to her. Natalie. She's still asleep. Is she gonna be okay? Yeah. Yeah. Awesome. Are you drinking vending machine coffee? Guilty. Don't come closer. My breath will lock you out. There's a coffee lover is down the block. Want me to get you in? Mr. Premibara studies Natalie. You're one of Natalie's friends? Yeah, it's really important that I talk to her. Trust me. Okay. Yeah, we might be ready for visitors in a few days. A few days? Okay. Mr. Premibara raises his coffee cup as I buy and exits into the room. Natalie follows nurse Sandy to the nurse's station. How long is that cast gonna be on her like? Is it a clean break? I can't answer any of your questions. It's a long call, Tipper. So how long does it take for a broken like to heal then? Like, generally. Six to eight weeks. And have you noticed anything weird with her like with her head or something hypothetically if the spirit of Natalie is in someone else? Then logically, that's someone else's spirit is in Natalie, right? Well, hypothetically, we think in terms of medicine here, like fax. What you're talking about is more like magic, like bullshit. Interior elevator day. Natalie pats her jeans and pulls out a work study form signed by Mr. Constantine and Ava's phone. The screen has a crack in a picture of Ava with Trevor kissing her cheek. Oh, gross. Natalie goes to Ava's Instagram page, 86 followers. She clicks on a pic of Ava and Kenzie captured, audition day. Natalie goes to her own Instagram page and sees that she now has 1.6 million followers. Oh my gosh. Natalie clicks on the moon photo and scrolls through comment after comment of well wishes. One comment makes her pause. Royal ballet. Fast recovery, Natalie. We look forward to your audition here. Natalie's eyes widen and she presses the phone against her heart like a love letter. She sees her reflection in the elevator doors. Ava's face staring back at her. Interior school hallway day. Natalie rushes down the hall to Ava's locker and struggles with the locks spinning and guessing random digits. After several failed attempts, Natalie pulls on the lock and lets out a frustrated screen. Miss Ross, did you lose something? Natalie sees Miss Miyako stepping toward her cautiously. My body. Well, that sounds like a conversation for your therapist. You're late for rehearsal. This is a really bad first impression you're making. Kind of going through life crisis here, okay? Hey. Show a little compassion, hmm? I think maybe Natalie is having a worse day than you today. I vouched for you. So let's go. You vouched for Ava? Why? Don't make me regret it. Interior rehearsal studio day. Natalie enters the studio, already full of dancers lining the walls, stretching, taking selfies, putting on point shoes. In the middle of the studio, Zoe dances the chlorosolo with Kenzie dancing simultaneously in the back, a place designated for the understudy. Fritz, a nine-year-old Romanian boy grabs the imaginary doll from Zoe and smashes it to the ground. Zoe and Kenzie put on their best surprise faces. Oh, father, we need to do it again. Fritz, be nice. That's your son. And his name is Fritz. I have many children, but this is the one I prefer most. Blazes! Fritz joins the other party children, but they all move away from him. He eyes them and takes one step closer, and they all take one step away. Hmm. Don't mind them, Fritz. They will all be dead one day. The children look at him, dumbfounded. Oh, my apologies. I meant to say that in Romanian. Again. Bean Ross, eight, a precocious punk in a leotard and skirt grabs Natalie on the arm. Ow! Do you mind? Where were you last night? Mom is freaking out, and you're so grounded. Natalie dodges Bean. Bean crosses her arm, shaking her head. You have ten minutes, Miss Ross. Natalie spots her former friends, Jasmine Zoey and Brock, and starts to head toward them when... Eva! Hey! Over here. Kenzie enthusiastically waves standing in the corner with Theo 18, slightly portly male dancer, wearing a rainbow bandana. Natalie reluctantly makes her way over. Hey, Kenzie and... Theo, right? Um, what were we up to last night? Weegee boards, weird witchy spells. I thought you were doing work study for Mr. Constantine last night. Miss Miyako tosses her hands up to say, what's the hold up? Interior locker room day. Natalie is dressed in Eva's dance clothes. Her tights have runs and her rap skirt is a wrinkled mess. Natalie pulls out Eva's point shoes. They look disgusting. Interior rehearsal studio day. The pianist is playing the pade duet as Natalie and Grayson dance. After the second rotation in Natalie's pirouette, her ankle wobbles and she stumbles out of the turn. Keep going. Grayson and Natalie continue. Natalie struggles with every extension, lift and turn. Grayson supports her, eyeing her with concern. Finally, Natalie's ankle gives out again and she lads flat on her bottom. Natalie's are sitting along the wall, giggle. You danced this beautifully at the audition yesterday. Sure. If having a weak core and no flexibility is beautiful. And who approved point shoes for these ankles, not to mention these shoes are dead. I'm not alarmed by a diva pretty fast. In my office, Mrs. Interior, Mr. Constantine's office day. Natalie follows Mr. Constantine into the office and leans against his desk with the glowing globes sitting on the edge. I know you're upset, but sometimes things happen for a reason. What things? Do you know what's happened with me? Last night, you were sitting there upset to be cast as the understudy wishing you could be Natalie Primavera. And here you are. Here who is? The sugar plum fairy, Miss Ross. That's it. I'm going to get some crystals to touch or a weld to throw some cash in because nobody has any answers for me, especially you. And why would they? It's literally psychotic. I've got completely insane. Natalie throws her hands in the air, swiping the globe, making it fly. Mr. Constantine dives for it and catches it before it can hit the ground. You have to be more careful, Miss Primavera. I knew it. Nice gaslighting, by the way. Fix it. Fix it right now. It takes two to pie the dirt. Last night, Ava wished to be you and you wished to be... I would never! I wasn't even here. The magic transcends space, Miss Primavera. I don't know how, but I do know to change places it would have taken both of you. Was there no moment last night when you... I'm telling you, I would never wish to be Ava. Okay. Wished to go back. Mr. Constantine hands Natalie the snow globe in exits. Left alone in the office, she studies the globe. Dare to wish, feel magic's kiss. Okay, I wish that I was suddenly Natalie hears commotion and opens her eyes and sees Miss Primavera in the studio. Mom? Interior rehearsal studio, continuous. Miss Primavera looks as though she's been crying. But has a smile on her face. Everyone huddles around her and Jasmine gives her a large hug. I just wanted to stop by and give you all an update on Natalie. She hasn't woken up yet, but they're done with the testing and she's gonna be okay. Dancers exhale with relief. Jasmine and Zoe hug each other. Natalie steps out into the studio. But the specialist told us that she shattered her right hip and... She won't be able to dance again. Natalie's face falls. Mrs. Primavera continues talking, but it's muffled. Everything around Natalie turns white. Natalie snaps out of it. Sight and sound are back to normal. Dancers murmuring and comforting Mrs. Primavera. Natalie looks at the snow globe in her hand and races out of the studio, unnoticed by all but Mr. Constantine. Interior school hallway continuous. Mr. Constantine exits the studio and follows Natalie storming down the hall with the snow globe in her hand. I wish my body was healed and I was back in it. The snow globe continues glowing, unchanged. This isn't a lamp or a monkey paw. You can't go back in time. Natalie notices Mr. Constantine behind her. But I'm the sugar plump fairy. Natalie stares at the globe with dismay. Ava is the sugar plump fairy. You're in a hospital bed. There's an opportunity to learn from Ava and when you wake up... What opportunity? Wait, to fulfill my destiny as the sugar plump fairy? Um... Well, the show is three months away. I should warn you there are consequences and staying in too long. The magic becomes unstable. What were the times you said that? Yeah. Um... Well, the show is in three months. The... It's in three months, okay? Uh... Well, the show is three months away. I should warn you there are consequences and staying in too long. The magic becomes unstable. The lights flicker on and off. Natalie notices, concerned momentarily before looking back at the snow globe. As soon as Ava wakes up, I'll switch back. If I can get this body sugar plump ready, I can recover from a broken hip. Natalie lingers on the glowing globe for a moment before handing it back to Mr. Constantine. He takes it cautiously. Mr. Mavela, be careful. Mr. Constantine, I've survived high school. I got this. Interior artistic dancewear, day. A pile of point shoes, rehearsal tutu, and dance attire land on the cashier's counter. Ava's phone lights up. Mom calling. Natalie swipes to ignore. Well, you get robbed or something. Sorry. So... Something like that? That'll be... $1,416 and 25 cents. Yikes. Guess it's the beginning of the season, right? Right. Natalie rung it through Ava's bag and pulls out a credit card from her wallet, handing it to the cashier with a smile. Exterior. Primavera McMansion, day. Natalie stands outside of her beautiful house. The uber driving away, and her pastel car parked out in front. Natalie turns the door knob, but doesn't push it open, instead she carefully releases the knob and knocks. A moment later, Mrs. Primavera answers the door, care in a messy bun and a measuring tape in her hands. Hi, can I help you? Oh, I thought you'd be at the hospital. Are you one of Natalie's friends? Yes, I'm the understudy. I mean, Ava, you're not the understudy anymore. Come here, come in. Interior Primavera McMansion, day. A labrador, cliche, runs up to greet Natalie. Oh, cliche! How are you, girl? Natalie meals and lets the dog tackle and slub her all over her. Mrs. Primavera smiles. Have you been here before? Uh, once. You weren't here. And animals love me. Animals love Natalie, too. I am sorry. My head is in a million places. Why are you here again? Oh. Uh, I wanted to decorate Natalie's hospital room with some of her things, so she feels at home when she wakes up. Wow, that is so sweet. I didn't know that you and Nat were so close. Natalie swallows a nods. Natalie's bedroom continues. Natalie walks into her bedroom. It's like out of a magazine. King's size bed in the middle of the room, vanity mirror with a vast makeup collection displayed, a ballet bar installed with a large hanging mirror. Natalie runs her hand over the bar, her makeup, and plops down on her bed. Klee Shay jumps on her lap to paddle. Natalie spots a framed photo collage titled Nutcracker, a photo of young Natalie captioned Baby Mouse age five, followed by portraits of her as all the other Nutcracker roles, with a single, empty frame labeled Sugar Plum Fairy. Natalie pulls a duffel bag out of the closet, a royal ballet keychain hooked to the zipper, and collects a stuffed animal, a sweatshirt, a family photo. Natalie opens a drawer and sees a packet labeled Royal Ballet Audition Packet. Natalie shoves the packet into Ava's bag along with a few makeup pieces. Mrs. Primavera's office day. Natalie creeps to the doorway, and her mother is busy at her sewing machine putting together two twos. You're costuming the show? I cost him it every year. I thought with Natalie out. And then, the kids wouldn't want. Natalie frowns, watching her mom momentarily before exiting. Exterior, apartment building, dusk. Natalie climbs out of an Uber, looks at an apartment complex. Hi, I'm Ava Ross. And I'm poor. Interior Ava's living room night. Natalie enters cautiously. Hello? Ms. Ross fifties, emerges near running. She sees Natalie and gives her a large hug. Where the hell have you been? Did you hear on the sugar plumb area? I know, what horrible news. I can't imagine what her mother is going through. What's all this? Just some stuff for the role? Why didn't you call? Oh, it broke. Natalie shows Ms. Ross the cracked screen. You can't stay out without my explicit permission. You hear? Were you with Trevor? I know I said I was OK with you two having sex, but I'm not a... Oh, you, you, you, you, stop. I fell asleep at school. Can we talk tomorrow? I need to be alone to process right now. Like, Natalie rushes down the hall. Ava's bedroom night. There are two beds in the room. One with a cartoon character comforter and the other with a plain purple comforter. Natalie sits on the bed with the purple comforter, a Harvard University flag hangs over the bed. Pull yourself together, Natalie. Get in character. Who is Ava Ross? Natalie pulls out Ava's phone and opens up Ava's Instagram page. It has about 10 posts. One with Ava and Trevor licking ice cream from the same cone. OK, I have horrible taste in guys. And mom, that's way too involved in all of that. The Harvard flag catches her eye. I want to go to Harvard? Weird. And I'm poor and share a room with a little kid. Natalie spots a pink diary sitting on the floor. Of course. All losers have diaries. Natalie picks up the diary and begins reading. It's in kids handwriting. Found condom rapper and Ava's drawer. Mom texted dad yesterday. We need to talk. What are you doing? Natalie looks up to see beans standing at the door. You baby mouse, right? Yeah, so I don't want to be a party girl anyway. You're too sloppy for a party girl. Bean takes her pink diary back. Rude, I'm going to find out what's up with you. OK, Nancy Drew. Get out. Natalie shoves Bean out of the room and shuts the door. Bean bangs on the other side of the door. Mom, Ava looks me out again. Natalie looks at herself in the mirror. Ava's reflection and takes a deep breath. Phew. Let's get your ass in shape. End of episode one. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Easy customizable themes that let you build your brand. Marketing tools that get your products out there. Integrated shipping solutions that actually save you time. From startups to scale ups, online, in person, and on the go. Shopify is made for entrepreneurs like you. Sign up for your $1 a month trial at Shopify.com slash setup.