Make a Plan to Love Me The Next Step

DANCE MUSIC PLAYS

# You smile at me

# Tell me to share it with everyone. #

It has been crazy preparing for Nationals.

We've been trying to stay positive but things aren't good.

We started with 12 dancers but lost Daniel.

I've decided that, unless I have the solo at Nationals, I have to leave.

Then, we're definitely going to miss you here.

So, then we were down to 11 dancers.

And things just kept getting worse.

Beth kissed me. I didn't kiss Beth.

We're over.

I was thinking about our relationship and our break-up.

and I'm not down with it.

I'm getting you back.

We'll see.

'We're not back together but...

'We're talking again

'and we're trying to fix things.'

'But the relationship drama didn't stop there.

'I came to the studio to get my old girlfriend Michelle back.'

I haven't seen you in so long.

I've fallen for someone else.

So, Hunter and I came up with a plan to break them up.

And lucky for us, it worked.

So, you're breaking up with me?

Yeah, I guess we're done.

But...

It didn't matter, because Hunter and I kind of fell for each other.

# It makes me want to go dancing

# Take me away from this insanity... #

But all the drama was too much for Michelle.

I just don't know if I'm feeling

like dance is the right thing for me any more.

It's going to be the hardest decision of your life.

I just want you to know that the studio

will always be here for you.

I know.

And now, we're down to ten dancers.

If we lose one more, we can't go to Nationals.

And guess what.

I'm here to make sure they don't.

Amanda might not want us to get to Nationals,

but I'm going to make sure we do.

Amanda's a double agent.

She's only at The Next Step to take it down from the inside.

'We didn't have enough evidence to bring to Kate so,

'we came up with our own plan.'

You know the expression,

"Keep your friends close but your enemies closer"?

-Yes.

-By being close to her,

we can take her down.

'I had to make the team hate me...'

You are no longer the dance captain.

'..so that Amanda would think I wanted to join her.'

But I don't know if our plan is even going to work.

Everything is on the line right now.

My friendships,

The Next Step's chance at Nationals,

It all comes down

to this.

# We, we are gonna show the world

# Everything we're made of

# We're gonna tear the roof off this place... #

Stand up!

-'Emily!

-Is that really how you treat your sister?

'You need to settle down. You're taking it way too far.

'Nationals is right around the corner and you go back

'to old Emily? You know what? You're no longer the dance captain.'

So,

I guess everyone hates you.

Now that everyone hates Emily,

it should be really easy to convince her to leave The Next Step.

And that means that you'll be leaving?

Leaving?

I'm not going anywhere.

Cos I know about your plan.

What plan might this be?

Oh, you know, the one where you're still at Elite.

You're here undercover

to try to bring down The Next Step from the inside.

Does that plan ring any bells?

'I'm shocked that Emily knows about my plan.

'I don't... I don't know what she wants.'

I don't know what she's going to do, if she's going to tell,

if she's going to get me kicked out.

I don't know.

What are you going to do about it?

It's not like anyone would believe you now.

That's the thing.

I don't plan to tell anyone.

Under one condition, of course.

You let me help bring down The Next Step.

'I don't really know what game she's playing with me right now.'

This changes everything.

Here we go! 5, 6, 7, 8...

Right now, we're working on the semifinals routine for Nationals.

..2, 3, 4, 5, 6 - hold on!

Everyone, arms need to be the same.

Again... 6, 7, 8. Go 1, 2, 3 - hold on!

James, why is your leg so low?

It's like here.

Everyone else's is up a lot higher.

You need to match the group.

Rehearsal is going badly.

'And Emily's not here because'

she needs to isolate herself right now from the rest of the team

in order to help her plan in taking down Amanda.

Good. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5...

'She was our dance captain and now she's just slacking completely.'

Does Emily even want to be on this team any more?

'I don't really know what to think of Emily.'

It just doesn't seem like she would want to be friends with me

and help me take down her studio.

Good. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8.

OK, we clearly need to work on that spacing there at the end.

-But take a few minutes to go over that, OK?

-OK.

THEY APPLAUD

'Everyone hates Emily right now.

'And I know it's for the good of the team but...'

It's just hard to see it.

Look who's late.

She's been missing rehearsals, walking in late,

isolating herself from everyone.

I really don't even think she wants to be here.

Seriously, I've lost all respect for her.

She's just back to her old Emily ways.

What do you do?

She seems pretty intent about making everyone hate her.

But I'm still not convinced that she's on my side.

Hey, Chloe! What's up?

'I walk over to Riley because I just want to see where we're at.'

Um, what are you doing?

'When Riley pushes my arm away,'

honestly, it's a little bit of a blockade.

But I'm seeing past that.

Very soon that arm will be accepted.

Watch.

See, I never said we were getting back together.

I said, "Maybe, might think about the idea of getting back together."

What? Well, what can I do?

After everything that happened with Beth and James,

he needs to prove that I can trust him again.

-I've got an idea.

-What?

Make a list.

A list?

Put anything you want on it and I will do it.

Really? Anything?

Anything.

-Anything?

-Anything.

-Anything at all?

-Anything.

And once I complete it, we're back together.

-OK.

-Down?

-Yeah.

Shake on it.

I think it's a good idea.

I mean,

this'll definitely be interesting.

All right, so, first thing on the list, um,

break up with Beth.

Yeah, I've been trying to break up with Beth for, like, two weeks.

Well, keep trying.

'This whole time,'

all I've ever wanted is for James to fight for me.

And now, this list gives him

a chance to prove that he does want to fight for me.

And I'm also going to make it as hard as possible.

So, me and my friends were at rock climbing this weekend,

and I look down to say hi to my friends,

-and I noticed how high I was.

-Oh, no.

I started shaking, and I couldn't go any more.

'Since leaving the studio, things have been really good.'

And, right now I'm just hanging out with a couple of my friends.

..and then this guy had to lower me down...

PHONE VIBRATES

..and it was so embarrassing cos, all my friends were there.

Aren't you going to answer that?

Uh, no. It's not really important.

'The Next Step is calling me'

but I'm not really interested in talking right now.

I mean, I'm at school so...

'Hey, it's Michelle. Sorry I couldn't make it to the phone...

Answering machine.

'Leave a message after the beep.'

Hi, Michelle, it's Kate calling.

How are you? Just checking in.

'We've all been trying to get her back but'

she just doesn't seem to have time for anyone at the studio any more.

Feel free to swing by any time, even if it's just for a visit.

Bye.

-No answer?

-No answer.

At this point, I'm not sure if Michelle will come back.

Amanda...

When Emily approaches me, obviously I know what she wants to talk about.

..have you thought about our conversation?

'I don't have an answer yet but, her knowing that I'm still at Elite'

is putting a lot of pressure on me.

Have I thought about our conversation? Yeah.

And?

And I can't trust you.

'When Amanda says she doesn't know if she can trust me,'

it's my job to make it seems like she can,

and I'll do anything to prove that.

What can I do to make you trust me?

-Really?

-Really.

'If she really wants this,'

then I'll find a way for her to prove herself.

# When I see you watching me I lose my mind

# Only wanna stop it just to hit rewind. #

Hey, sweetie.

Hey, what's up?

Nothing.

'When Beth approaches me, I just think, "Now's my chance.'

"I need to do whatever I have to do to break it off with her.

"I'm just getting it done. Right now."

-Um, we need to talk.

-Ooooh! I love to talk.

-No. Um, we need to

-break up. OK.

OK?

Yeah. Cool.

OK. Cool.

Good on you, Beth. She took it well.

Um...

Did you not hear what I said?

Yeah, we're broken up.

Yeah, let me make this as clear as possible.

I love Riley.

And I love you.

SHE GIGGLES

We can never, ever,

ever be together.

You're so funny!

What? Did you not hear...?

SHE CHUCKLES

The best couples break up all the time.

'Will I ever be able to break up with Beth?'

You know what, I thought I could.

And it's not looking so good right now.

OK, I have to go.

Where are you going?

Bye, sweetie.

Breaking up with Beth is

number one on Riley's list.

One.

I'm at Michelle's school because she never called Miss Kate back.

So, I'm here trying to talk to her in person.

-Hey, Chloe.

-Hey, did you get my text?

Yeah, I did. What did you want to talk to me about?

I really think you should call Kate back.

She's called you a bunch of times and I just think you should call her.

If she just listens to what Miss Kate has to say,

maybe Miss Kate can convince her

and bring her back into the studio.

You know what, I've thought about it and I don't need to call her.

She knows what's up.

I know. But I just want to make sure you're happy.

I am happy. I'm totally fine, I swear.

-Are you sure?

-Yeah, I promise.

We just don't feel like a family without you.

So, could you at least think about calling Kate back?

BELL RINGS

Maybe. I'll think about it.

'I don't know if Michelle's going to come back.'

As much as we all tried to talk to her,

I think this is just something that she needs to decide on her own.

# All eyes on you and you don't know what to do

# But we're all, yeah, we're all, yeah, we're all here for you

# Hey! #

-Did you see that look Amanda gave me when I walked in?

-Yes!

-Oh, that was awful.

-How are things going with her?

I mean, OK. I just, I don't really have a concrete plan.

'I've done everything I can think of'

to make Amanda let me in on her plan.

But it's just not working.

-Do you have any ideas, or...?

-Uh, well.

Not really and... Well, Riley, even if I did,

I wouldn't tell you.

I just kinda want to keep you as far removed

-from the situation as possible.

-Makes sense.

I have my date with Hunter so, I guess I'll see you later.

Yeah.

HE SIGHS

OK, she's gone. Phew.

So, what's up?

Just chilling.

So, listen, uh...

I'm having a hard time with Beth.

Believe it or not, I've tried to break up with her several times...

Mm-hmm.

..and she's not taking the hint.

Really?

Yeah, so, do you think, just for the time being,

I could, like, push it off and work on something else.

Are you sure you want to do that?

I mean, you can't even get number one done,

We should probably just scrap the whole thing.

Please, Riley. I will get number one done.

I just need to work on the harder ones first.

-Just kill them off...

-OK, OK. Here.

-You told me to make you a list, I made you one.

-This is the list?

-Yeah.

I'm definitely pumped to see the list.

cos I know all of it's going to be easy.

Ah, OK. 20. Feeling big, aren't ya?

-Yeah.

-Yeah, OK.

Uh, I hope you're joking about number seven.

That's a joke, right?

No, it's for real.

Am I regretting that I came up with the idea of the list?

Don't tell Riley but, yeah, kind of.

Are you having second thoughts, or...

Cos we can just, you know, cut the whole thing.

No! You know, I'll do it.

Even though it might involve me having to get a passport.

You know, it's life-threatening but, no, yeah, I'll do it.

Some of them are nearly impossible.

'If James wants to win me back then it has to be done.'

All right, so since you couldn't get number one done,

I guess we can move on to number two?

Yeah, I guess so.

Read September 4th, 2003.

-Happily.

-Oh, no, no, no. Not now.

Um, in Culture Shock.

In front of everyone.

Out loud, as if it was your own diary.

'If James is willing to read my diary,'

as if it's his own, in front of everyone?

Then it'll show that he's committed.

I'm in Culture Shock because after Chloe talked to Michelle at school,

she called back and agreed to meet me.

But she's 15 minutes late already.

I'm starting to wonder if she's even going to show up.

Oh, Miss Kate.

I see you've come here to see me completely humiliate myself.

What? I'm supposed to be meeting Michelle here.

But, yeah, I would love to see you humiliate yourself.

Oh, thanks!

'I have no idea what James is talking about.'

But knowing him, it's probably going to be something very entertaining.

Excuse me, everyone, um...

'Seeing James preparing himself to read my diary,'

it's honestly very sweet.

I want to read an entry from my, uh...diary.

THEY GIGGLE

'James has a diary?!'

That is funny.

"Dear Diary, I hate Kelsey.

"Today, I was playing with my new doll

"and I got it for my birthday from my mommy."

Aw, that doll. I used to love that doll.

"I put her down to talk to Laura, but when I came back,

"Kelsey took the doll and was putting it next to her doll."

I'm actually shocked.

You know, I'm learning something new about him today.

"But her doll was gross and it had mud on it.

"I told Kelsey to give it back.

"She said, 'No Way, Jose.'

"So, I started to cry."

"I don't know why I'm so silly sometimes.

"I ran out of the bathroom and hit Bobby G.

"Bobby's SO cute!"

THEY GIGGLE

'Who's Bobby G?'

I mean, how come he hasn't introduced him to us?

Bobby G was cute.

Too bad he was my boyfriend in second grade.

"Kelsey took the dolls to the bathroom

"because she said they were dirty.

"But only her doll was dirty..."

'After talking to Chloe, I realised I should hear Miss Kate out.

'But, I walk in and I see everyone,

'and it just reminds me of all the drama.

'It's a little overwhelming and I know I can't handle this,

'so I back out.'

I'm not going back to The Next Step.

'Hunter and I are great.'

I mean, he's one of the only good things in my life right now.

"Kelsey came out of the bathroom with the dolls

"and tried to give me mine back, but I said..."

'I see Emily and Hunter talking at the bar

'and I realise she really likes him.

'I'm going to find a way to use this.'

"..and me and Bobby went and played handball

"and it was the best day ever."

James. X O X O.

APPLAUSE

Phenomenal!

'By the end of it, I feel great.'

First task, done.

Thank you.

'Knowing that he's willing to do all of this for me is'

really hopeful.

# You say you wanna wanna give it a chance

# You're gonna give it a chance. #

I'm just packing up for the day and then James enters.

And I'm happy to see him.

What's up?

Not much.

Thought you might want this back.

Yeah.

-You did a good job, by the way.

-Thank you.

I was impressed.

Feels good when Riley tells me I've read the diary well.

Feels really good.

Actually, I was meaning to tell you, after the performance,

I actually read a couple of pages.

How many?

Ah, well, the whole thing.

Yeah, I read the whole thing.

The whole diary was great.

The whole thing?

Yeah. I especially love this one entry...

June 10th, was it? What one was it?

"Whole day playing house." Um, oh!

Here it is. Yeah!

"A new boy came to the studio today.

"He's a little goofy but he's cute.

"He's really cute."

That's me.

"We'll see. Wink face."

-Yeah.

-"Goodbye."

-I didn't write that about you.

-Oh, yeah?

I wrote that about Eldon.

Oh, Eldon, right?

That's weird because Eldon joined two years before me.

# We, we are gonna show the world

# Everything we're made of

# We're gonna tear the roof off this place

# You, you can never fade us out

# Don't even ask the DJ... #