Love Story The Next Step

Previously on The Next Step...

I know there's something magical between me and Emily.

-I was wondering, like, do you want to go to, like...

-No.

She's amazing!

I think with Michelle on the team

we actually have a shot at regionals this year.

Elite Dance Academy is our main competition.

I say we take a little road trip to Elite,

check out their regional routine.

-I'll come.

-Really?

I do want to fit in here at the Next Step

and I feel like Emily will accept me more.

Let's go in and shoot a video -

that way we can take it back to the studio and analyse it.

-No. That's such a bad idea.

-Yeah.

-Why?

-What if we get caught shooting a video?

-They do it in all of the other sports. You'll go?

-Yeah.

Hey. Hey, you!

-She got caught. We need to go!

-Get in the car!

Not a good idea... Hey, look! Here they are.

Uh, where's Michelle?

-We left her behind.

-Why?

Because she got caught.

You know what? I feel like you keep pushing Michelle away.

It's not right to call out the dance captain

but I honestly feel like Emily needs to be put in her place.

-You're threatened by her somehow.

-She doesn't threaten me.

OK, yeah. She is our one chance at winning at regionals.

Oh, so none of these people can help us win at regionals?

-You're such a team player.

-That's not what I'm saying.

-Good for you.

Get...

I was just trying to say

that Michelle is on this team for a reason.

She's helping us get to nationals

and it's so crucial that she stays with us.

What are you doing here?

I actually have no idea how I'm going to get myself

out of this situation.

I'm in trouble.

# We, we're gonna show the world

# Everything we're made of

# We're gonna tell 'em

# Rock this place

# Stand up! #

What are you doing here?

Um...

I'm actually interested in joining your studio.

I feel like if I tell them that I'm here to audition for their troupe,

that they'll believe me.

I mean, why else would I be recording their routine, you know?

I actually just moved here from Madison

and I'm kinda looking for something better.

Really? Then why don't you show us what you've got.

As I see that group

looking at me and kind of giving me nasty looks,

I'm just kind of nervous about this whole situation.

Hopefully they buy it.

# I'm feeling the rush I'm lost in the sound

# I'm up in the sky... #

Right now, I'm just kind of showing Elite that, you know,

I am worthy of auditioning for their troupe.

I'm just pulling out all of the best tricks, doing some acro

to show them that, you know, I can be a part of their troupe.

So what do you think?

Actually, I think we could use someone like you on our team.

OK, dancers - listen up.

We're going to do something different this week, OK?

We're going to do duets.

We all need to work on working together more,

listening to each other, collaborating.

Sorry, Kate, do you guys know where Michelle is?

It's weird that Michelle's not here. Something weird's going on.

-No, I haven't seen her.

-Really?

-Anyone?

I do know where Michelle is. She's over at the Elite studio

and from what I know she's been caught.

We're so in trouble. You have no idea.

She's late, though.

Interesting.

Anyway, as I was saying, duets - we need you to all pair off, OK?

Choose your own duet partner, create a duet, work together,

listen to each other.

Lately in our studio, things have been a bit divided

and we haven't been working as a team.

Duets are so important, cos it teaches you to

lean on your duet partner.

Cool? Questions? No? Get started. Let's go, come on.

Hey, Emily, uh, do you want to be my duet partner?

I don't even know what to say to him.

This is probably the 1,031st time I've turned him down.

If I have to do it one more time I might just kick myself.

No.

It's kind of like the same feeling as always when Emily turns me down.

I mean, it's kind of comforting to know that nothing's changed,

but hopefully one day she'll actually say yes.

Well, uh, do you want to go out sometime?

Why would I want to go out with you if I just said no

to being your duet partner?

Riley, I've got some sweet ideas for our duet.

Yeah, but I don't remember agreeing to be your partner.

Yeah, but I decided for the both of us.

When James asks me to be his partner - well, he didn't really ask,

he kind of just implied that I would be his partner.

I know, I was kind of like - OK.

I just kind of agreed to it.

-Wasting time, babes.

-Let's go.

Do not call me "babes".

Tiff, do you want to be duet partners?

-Yeah, for sure.

-Great.

His technique is just impeccable, so I'm really excited to work with him,

-but also scared.

-Hey, you.

Hey.

Uh, my name is West.

E Girl rule number 71 - never call a person by their first name,

unless they've said yours first.

Cool, um, you're going to be my duet partner, OK? OK, cool. Thanks.

Being Stephanie's partner... I mean, it could have been worse.

I mean I could have been paired up with Emily.

Hey, guys.

Are you OK?

What happened?

I got caught. Don't worry. I handled it.

Well, what did you tell them?

I told them that I was there to audition for their studio.

When Michelle came back from Elite, I don't know,

I kind of thought it was a little bit weird

that she said she was auditioning for them.

After what happened, I really hope Michelle

isn't considering going to Elite.

-I told you guys it was a bad idea to spy on them.

-Yeah.

-Yeah.

My bad, Michelle.

I feel bad for Michelle.

I told Riley I'd keep an eye on her but I left, like everyone else.

I'm just glad you're OK.

Michelle, I need to talk to you.

Oh, OK.

When Kate calls Michelle into the office,

I'm almost 100% sure that she knows that Michelle was there.

I'm worried for Michelle.

I just...I really hope she doesn't get kicked out of the studio.

I hope Kate kicks Michelle out of the studio!

When I'm walking into Kate's office, I know that

it's about the Elite-spying situation.

I just don't know if she knows that I was spying, or how she found out.

Lucien gave me a call and told me

that you were planning on transferring.

To be honest, I'm a little worried that Michelle may switch studios.

She just hasn't been getting along with the E Girls.

Look, I assure you I'm not transferring.

What were you doing?

I was there to check out the regional routines.

Why were you doing that?

So that we know what we're facing.

You're not planning on leaving?

-No!

-OK, good.

I feel relieved that she just thought I was transferring.

I'm so glad I'm not in trouble.

-Now, go get a duet partner.

-OK!

Do you think those pants are appropriate dance-wear?

E Girl rule number 9 - always wear appropriate clothes to dance.

It's a no-brainer. That's why it's part of the top 10.

Those shorts are completely inappropriate

-and I don't want to see them in the dance studio again.

-Emily!

-Hey, uh, Eldon.

-Yeah?

-Do you want to be my duet partner?

-Yeah, sure!

I asked Eldon to be my duet partner because,

well, he's an amazing dancer

and he's kind of cute but you know, I only asked him

because he is a GREAT dancer. That's it.

-Great.

-Cool.

My first choice would have been Emily

but I am happy with Michelle being my duet partner.

Just please be nicer to her.

She's close to leaving the studio and going to Elite, all right?

When Kate tells me that Michelle is close to leaving the studio,

I'm absolutely over the moon.

I definitely do not think we need Michelle to win regionals.

-Kate, sorry, the parents are ready for the tour.

-Oh, yeah.

Em. Hey.

What was that all about?

You will never believe what Kate just told me. Apparently Michelle

is this close to leaving for Elite.

-Amazing!

-I know! All she needs is a little push

and she's out of here.

Even though Emily's my sister, she's pushing our chances of regionals

out the door with Michelle.

And that's not the best thing for the team at all.

Something has to be done.

And slide, and slide.

Eldon and I are supposed to be teaching a baby ballet class

-right now, but you know, I've got to study.

-Slide back.

-Yo, what's up?

-Hey.

-I'm just trying to do this math stuff.

What is this Pythagorean theorem exactly?

It's A2 + B2 = C2. You good?

Yeah.

So, um, I overheard Emily talking to Stephanie in Kate's office

and she's planning on pushing Michelle out of the studio.

What? How? How did you...

She's probably, um...she's going to make her life miserable

so that she leaves.

OK, so wait, why are you coming to me about it, then?

Well, I've thought about it and I...

-I think we have to dethrone my sister as dance captain.

-Wait.

We have to replace Emily as dance...?

-OK, you know what I meant. OK?

-OK.

Just us as like a team.

I'm so surprised that Riley actually wants to dethrone

her sister as dance captain. That's got to take a lot of courage.

It's hard, because she's my sister and I love her but

at the same time, I know that it's the right thing to do.

It's what's best for the team.

We have to decide who would be better at it.

-Yeah, I guess, but...

-Well, let's face it, I mean, I could do it.

-I'd kill it.

-No. Definitely not.

Oh, dry. What about you? You could do it.

No. I'm not going to take my sister's spot.

-I can't do that.

-What about Eldon?

He's a good dancer and everything but...he's kinda...

-He's too awkward.

-Yeah.

Um...Michelle.

We landed on Michelle, um...probably because she's the best candidate.

She's been in nationals before. She won top dancer at nationals.

She was dance captain at her last studio.

-She has perfect qualifications. All right.

-All right.

I should get back to my math.

-Yeah. Good luck.

-Thanks.

There you go. All right, see you later.

-Yo, man.

-Yo. What up?

I need to talk.

Emily turning me down as a duet partner made me realise

I have to change my tactics if I ever hope to get a date with her.

I need lady advice.

What do you need, man?

James knows as much about women as he doesn't know about math.

Man, I'm trying to get Emily and it's not working.

-We need her attention. I mean, like...

-Yeah.

What gets Emily's attention?

I mean, like when we're in ballet class

-and I'm just brutal at it, she's always on me.

-Oh, yeah.

That's it right there, man. You're dancing too good.

If you start dancing badly, you know she'll be on you.

Yeah, but then she's just going to be mad at me

-because I'm doing horribly.

-No, man. Trust me.

That will get her attention and then she'll be on you.

I'll take care of it from there.

-I got your back.

-Well, James had this brilliant idea

and I really don't understand how it's going to work but...

-Hey, Eldon!

-'Sup, bro?

-OK, so duet?

-Er, sure.

-What's his problem?

-I don't know.

Six, seven...

I really don't know what's wrong with Eldon right now.

I mean, he's acting all mopey.

I'm doing this all on purpose so that Emily notices how sad I'm acting.

-James?

-Yeah.

-What's going on with Eldon?

Look at him. It's obvious.

You've broken his heart just too many times.

I've turned Eldon down hundreds of times,

maybe even thousands.

Why would it affect him now?

-No.

-Look.

-That doesn't affect someone's dancing.

-It's starting to.

I think you broke Eldon.

HE SINGS TO HIMSELF

That's your doing.

I think my plan for getting Emily to go on a date with Eldon

is working perfectly, actually.

It's satisfying watching it unravel.

-What do I do?

-Well, what does Eldon want?

-To dance?

-You've gotta go out with him.

What are you doing?

HE MUMBLES

Let's do it AGAIN.

Eldon, can I talk to you for a second?

Alone.

-What's going on with you?

-Nothing.

-Hey.

-Hey.

-Can I talk to you in Studio B later?

-Yeah.

-But don't tell anyone about it.

-OK.

I really have no idea what Riley wants to talk to me about.

Well, your dancing is horrible.

You're really not on top of your game.

Does this have something to do with us?

No. "Us" is great.

-Really?

-Yeah.

So, if I asked you to go to Squeeze tonight with me, you would say no?

Well, are you asking me?

Let's just say I am.

Well, if you really wanted to go with me,

then I guess I will go.

OK. After dance?

It's been years and years of me asking her out

and finally, for the first time, we're actually going on a date.

So I'm really happy.

When Emily agrees to go on a date with Eldon,

it put a smile on my face.

Honestly, I feel that maybe it won't be the worst thing,

but it's not what I want to do.

But it's for the team and I'm going to do it.

'My date with Eldon is going like this -

'first I think he read a book that was based in the 1940s

'as he ushers me in with both hands.'

I mean, it's Squeezed, it's pretty casual.

My date is going great.

'I very courteously offer her a seat.'

And he goes and sits in the pink chair,

and he can't sit still.

"Do I sit like this? "Do I sit like this?

"Do I sit like this?

"Do I sit like this?" I don't know.

I am pretty nervous

but I think I'm pulling off this like cool, sly guy pretty well.

Do you... Do you want, um...

-A drink?

-Yeah.

Sure.

'He just sits there. It's like he forgot the question.

'It was weird.'

Are you going to get me one?

Yeah.

'This is literally the weirdest date I've ever been on.

'What's with the pillow?!'

Honestly, I have no idea why I hand her a pillow.

THEY SLURP

I do regret volunteering to going on this date with Eldon.

It's going awful. But I keep reminding myself

I'm dance captain, this is basically my duty.

OK, wait. How do I know the distance between a negative sign...

OK, this is not a time for math problems.

Michelle's about to come through any minute.

I am kind of nervous cos this whole plan

could end really badly.

But I'm not even close to as nervous as Riley.

She's freaking out. I'm just trying to lighten the mood.

So, I just really hope she sees our side of things and agrees.

-Hey, guys.

-Hey.

-Hey, what's up?

Nothing.

OK, so I overheard my sister and Stephanie talking.

OK.

And, um, she's planning on pushing you out of the studio.

What?! 'When Riley tells me'

that Emily wants to kick me out of the studio,

I'm not surprised but I'm really offended.

What's her problem? Honestly.

-I've done nothing to her.

-It's cos she's threatened by you.

-Still, that gives her no right to kick me out of the studio.

-I agree,

which is why we were talking earlier

and we've decided to replace her as dance captain.

How are you going to replace her? She's an E Girl.

Well, uh, the best way to do that is replace her with you.

I've already competed against Emily once to be dance captain

and it turned out horribly. I don't want to risk it again.

Can you at least think about it?

Emily already hates me.

If I try to take over as dance captain,

what is she going to do to me?

-We're here. We'll help you.

-I'm not ready to become dance captain.

You have to understand.

I have no idea what we're going to do now.

You know what tonight was?

No.

It was a three-juice date.

A what?

Well, like, I drank three juices

so, like, I figured I'd just call it a three-juice date.

OK.

This kid is so weird.

How many juices did you have?

-A half, and then you finished mine.

-Oh, right.

So I guess it's a three-and-a-half-juice date.

The whole three-juice date,

three-and-a-half-juice date thing was me trying to be funny

and it did not work at all.

-Do you, like, want to go out tomorrow, or something?

-No.

-Well, what about Saturday?

-No!

-Why don't you want to go out with me?

-You try too hard.

Yeah, I do try too hard,

because if I didn't try this hard, how would I be able to do this?

'I was like possessed by all of these feelings

'and I was thinking, like, why can't she just see me'

for who I am? And I did what I had to do.

MUSIC STARTS

# From the first time that I saw you

# There was something that took me by surprise

# And then I fell

# Oh yeah, I fell for you

# But I can't get you out of my head

# No, I can't go Oh-oh, whoa-oa... #

At first I started out kind of like, what?

What are you doing? Stop. That's so embarrassing.

# ..You can teach me

# You can please me... #

As it went on and I kind of got into it,

and I kind of got into it. I don't know. It was cute!

I can't lie. It was kind of nice.

# ..But I can't get you out of my head

# No, I can't go Oh-oh, whoa-oh... #

I'm doing all of this for her and I actually care about her.

As I'm running towards her, I'm just giving it everything I've got.

When Eldon leaps over me,

I actually think it's so cool. I've never seen him do that before.

I didn't even know he could do that.

That was to show her that this is me and if she doesn't like me,

she doesn't like all of these jumps and these flips

and how hard I'm trying for her, then...whatever.

I'm still not going to go out with you...

..but you can be my duet partner.

I think I did win Emily over

because she went from wanting nothing to do with me at all

to at least being my duet partner.

It's like the best thing that's ever happened to me.