Put You First The Next Step

'Previously on The Next Step...'

Max is a really good dancer -

and it's nice to have him on our team.

-Here you go.

-Thanks. That was really fast.

Oh, yeah, yeah. I'm pretty fast. I'm fast.

I pride myself on that. But no worries.

That's right. Speed is one of my best qualities.

I can't believe it.

La Ballet de La Reine offered me a touring company position.

I'm going to make my dream come true.

And five, six, seven, eight, hey one.

OK. Clearly, we need to work on that end pose.

But don't worry about it, you guys worked super hard,

so let's call it a wrap on the group rehearsal.

-You can head home. Thank you.

-WHOOPING

I'm walking into the studio and I'm a little nervous

about how the team is going to react to my decision.

Hey, Chloe - where were you?

I think you need to tell them.

I've been offered a position under La Ballet de La Reine

for the Nutcracker touring company.

-Seriously?

-Oh, my gosh.

-What?

-That's amazing!

So, how are you going to Internationals

and doing the production at the same time?

Well, I can't.

I've chosen the Nutcracker.

Is that OK?

Oh, that's too bad...

But we're so happy for you, Chloe!

LAUGHTER

'I couldn't be more proud. This is her dream.'

And I'm just very, very happy that she's following her dream.

This calls for a celebration.

Drinks on Chloe!

What? OK - let's go.

MUSIC: Stand Up by Jessica Lee and Kit Knows

One, two, three, four,

five, six, seven, eight and good.

Nice. OK. Pause-pause-pause.

'Internationals is being very vague with each dance round.'

So, we're working on a trio, to be prepared.

Let's just keep running it from the top, again.

Well, actually, Miss Kate, I have to go.

What do you mean you have to go?

I have to go help my mom set up for a barbecue this weekend.

Do you have to leave now, though?

Yeah, we really need to rehearse, Amanda.

It's kind of frustrating that Amanda has to leave,

because our dance is nowhere near where we need it to be.

Trust me, guys.

I don't want to have to do this now, but I have to. Sorry.

I feel really bad, because Giselle and Thalia want to stay

and keep rehearsing it.

Hopefully, they'll be fine without me.

OK. We can just work with the two of you.

-We'll figure out your spacing.

-Can I go get some water?

Sure. Yeah, yeah. Actually, take five and then we'll come right back.

-What are you doing?

-Oh!

I'm just waiting for James. It's our anniversary.

Oh! Did you get him anything?

Um, no.

I feel like us just being together is more important than the presents.

I thought that we should spend time with each other,

just because that's kind of like a gift in itself.

-Bye, lovebirds.

-Bye!

Hey. Are you OK? HE PANTS FOR BREATH

-Happy anniversary.

-Oh!

I may have forgotten about my anniversary a little bit.

So, I had to sprint to Aunt Kathy's house to get some chocolates.

I hope she likes them.

-Chocolates?

-Yeah.

Why are half of them eaten?

I decided to eat the ones that I know you don't like.

Specifically, that one, because I thought you might be allergic to it.

Because it's full of allergies.

But this is like an appetizer gift. It's like a warm up.

I got you an even bigger, better present for later on today.

I have nothing.

Yeah, well, I got you something too!

-What?

-And it involves...things.

-Things?

-Lots...of things.

I've got nothing.

-Best anniversary ever!

-I'm so excited!

-OK...

OK, I need you guys' help.

-I forgot about my anniversary with Riley.

-You forgot?

What you going to do, bro?

-I got her a box of chocolates.

-OK, that's good. That's good.

-A half-eaten box of chocolates!

-Oh, that's horrible.

That's why I used my famous bait and switch technique

and promised her an even bigger gift later.

But I don't know what that is, man! You have to help me.

You know what? It's good you came to us, buddy.

I am great with gift-giving ideas.

I mean, I'm just the idea guy.

Why don't you take her on a trip? Around the world?

Yeah. Yeah. That's it. That's the one.

No, that's idiotic.

OK... I got the perfect one.

-OK!

-What about a baby pig?

-A baby pig!

-Aww, that's so cute.

-Oh, like a little baby pig?

-THEY LAUGH

No!

West - you're an idiot.

Do you have any ideas?

No.

Hey, thanks, guys(!)

I don't even know why I asked you guys.

Did you...?

'I have never seen anybody catch a glass of milk...'

falling off a table without anything spilling.

What did you just do?

-Um...I don't know.

-No, no.

You just caught that glass

without spilling any contents onto the floor.

That's nothing, really. 'I don't know why they're freaking out.'

I just caught a glass of milk. Can't anyone do that?

All right.

Noah! You're a freak.

We're going to have to check this out.

-We?

-Yeah.

-Yeah.

-Yeah.

Time for some investigating.

I have never seen anyone like Noah before.

We've got to see what else he can do.

Five, six, seven, eight, one, two, three, four...

'Internationals can throw anything at us,'

so we need to be prepared

and perfect as many routines as possible.

And then, I think we go down on eight.

Yeah. Or eight and...

'Thalia and I are working on our trio.

Amanda's supposed to be here,

but she had to leave to go to a family barbecue.

We really can't afford to wait for Amanda right now.

So, hopefully, she'll catch up later.

Maybe we could add a floor section. One of those...

Ooh, I really like that. That's really nice.

-Yeah, I think that will be perfect.

-That looks solid.

-Thank you.

I mean, it's hard when you're doing a trio with two people, so...

Actually, Max, if you wouldn't mind standing in for Amanda,

we would really appreciate it.

That would really help us with spacing.

Yeah. I'll help.

Max coming to help us is the perfect fix.

One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight...

'Max is picking up the choreography so fast.'

-I think that works.

-I think that'll work better.

I think you guys are limiting yourselves with the acro.

You could do more.

It's just that Amanda... Amanda really can't do much in acro.

-You don't all have to do it.

-That's true.

You know what? We can just try it for now and see how it goes.

Seven, eight...

-I think that's perfect...

-I think it's going to look really cool.

'I mean, I knew he was good...'

But he's really good.

'Now, I'm going to the band,'

because they are my last hope for a gift idea.

What do you got so far?

Man, I gave her a half-eaten box of chocolates,

-cos it was all I could find.

-LAUGHTER

I feel like you should make her something - like DIY,

Do It Yourself.

OK. I was going to get her a card. What? Should I make her a card?

-Why not?

-I'm good at drawing.

I'm good at cutting things out.

I can paste.

Oh, man. That's worse than the baby pig.

Making a card is a terrible idea.

But that gives me another idea.

Can you guys help me with something?

Sure...

I know exactly what to get Riley.

'Eldon, Cierra and I have collected

'a whole bunch of items from Hidalgos,'

to see how good Noah really is.

One, two, three.

APPLAUSE Unbelievable!

This kid is insane.

We're going to make this more challenging. Noah, turn around.

'West, Cierra and Eldon think they're testing me...'

But really, they're not.

I could catch this stuff any time.

All right, Noah. Catch this.

APPLAUSE

How...? Did he actually...?

How does he do it?

I don't understand.

'I can't believe this kid.'

We're going to have to take this to another level.

How much for one of these?

'A mug is a perfectly good gift.'

Right? I mean, he gave me a half-eaten box of chocolates.

You're one lucky girl, Riley.

-What?

-You have no idea how great a gift James has for you.

Could you give me a hint?

It comes from the heart. I'll catch you later.

Heartfelt? Why didn't I think of that?

I need to up my game.

MUSIC: We Can by Francesca Van Keeken

'Right now, we're showing Miss Kate our trio,'

because we want to show her the changes that we made.

'I feel really great about this trio.'

I really did not expect Max to fill in like he has.

'We're adding elements we would have never added

'if Amanda was in the trio.'

'Max is dancing in my position.'

I can't do what Max is doing.

'I can't do half the tricks in that dance.'

Acro is not my strong style.

-MISS KATE LAUGHS

-Yes, you guys! I loved that.

Oh, my goodness. Those acro tricks make such a difference.

The trio was awesome.

Giselle, Thalia and Max took an ordinary routine

and turned it into something amazing.

That is the bar that we need to reach

if we want to win Internationals.

So, does anyone want to tell me what is going on -

and why the dance is completely different

than what it was yesterday?

Amanda, I have decided to have Max replace you

in the trio for Internationals.

Look, if you can pick up the choreography,

I would be happy to put you back in.

Obviously, I'm not going to learn these acro moves overnight.

I wish I could.

If they want acro in the dance,

Max is better for it than I am.

You know what? Max can have it.

'I really feel guilty about replacing Amanda with Max.

'But at the same time, we're at Internationals here...'

and we all want to do the best,

so I hope she just understands that.

All right.

'We had to find a new way to test Noah's abilities.'

He can catch anything,

so let's see if he can dodge things, too.

I did this when I was three years old. Come on, guys.

Give me a little bit of a challenge.

Not only can he dodge balls,

he can do it while flipping.

Ready for this one?

'This is getting ridiculous.'

But I think I know how to beat Noah.

If this next test doesn't work...

I don't know what will.

'I'm waiting for Riley and I'm really excited,'

because I cannot wait to give Riley my gift.

Yo, when she comes in, don't say anything. OK, OK.

Um...why did you text me to come here?

'Honestly, while writing this song, it actually came pretty easy to me,'

because I just reflected on how I felt about her.

# We took a ride on a Monday

# That's when I fell I fell in love with you

# Your big brown eyes I can't stop staring... #

'I wrote about how much I love our relationship

'and what I love about her.'

And I really hope that that comes out in the song.

# You're finicky like a cat

# You worry You worry about this and that

# But all your quirks I adore them

# When you bite your nails

# You know opposites attract

# I wanna see the world with you

# Come on and take me by the hand

# Don't even worry about it You'll understand

# I wanna see the world with you

# Where you go I will follow

# What's better than us Better than us

# We don't want to know. #

This song that James wrote for me...

I mean, it's so sweet, and really cute and quirky

and I love it.

# We had our ups and downs

# But we always seemed to make it through the day

# You always bring me round

# We're going to make it anyway Anyway, anyway

# I wanna see the world with you

# Come on and take me by the hand

# Don't even worry about it You'll understand

# I wanna see the world with you

# Where you go I will follow

# What's better than us Better than us

# We don't want to know. #

-Whoo!

-BAND:

-Happy anniversary, Riley!

Ha-ha! Did you love it?

Yes, of course I did!

-Happy anniversary!

-Happy anniversary!

'This gift is perfect.'

And I still have nothing for James.

So yeah, I'm more than a little worried.

Marco?

Polo!

We had to take things to a whole other level.

-Marco?

-Polo!

Now we're going to test his senses in the dark.

Marco?

Polo?

'We've got night-vision goggles on and he's blind-folded.'

If he can find us in this,

I don't know what this kid can't do.

What's going on, Eldon?

Of course, Noah finds me first.

What's going on, Cierra?

-Wow.

-What?

We cannot defeat Noah.

Why are you doing something like jellyfish dancing? I don't know.

I can sense all of them - and honestly, it's really easy.

Man, Noah. You're so sick, man.

-Noah!

-You hit me in the throat, bro. Come on. Enough with the shoe.

I'm sorry. I thought...

You know what? I'm going to find a building to throw Noah off of,

and you too, West.

'Noah has aced every single test that we've given him.

'It's like we haven't even scratched the surface of his abilities.'

The Next Step has their very own superhero.

I'm sorry about what happened.

I know. It's just...

the studio's all about acro now, and I don't do acro.

'I can't believe Giselle and Thalia would give away my spot...'

without asking me about it.

I thought they were my friends.

I thought they were my closest friends on this team.

It's not your fault, so don't worry about it.

I could teach you acro.

I'll think about it.

'Last year, I thought I was one of the best.

'This year, I think I'm one of the worst.'

I don't know where I stand any more at the studio.

Well, I couldn't find the jasmine.

I desperately need a gift for James -

and I thought that Aunt Kathy could help.

So, Riley - How can I help you today?

I need a gift for James, for our anniversary.

Aww. You've come to the right person. I'm the expert.

Oh, on presents?

No, on James. Everybody loves him.

Uh...great.

Look at that painting. He did that.

Oh, really? How old was he?

-16.

-16? Oh, yeah.

I mean, I love how the boat doesn't touch the water.

He's always loved painting.

Oh, Riley - are you hungry?

I'm sorry, normally I'd have some chocolates to offer you,

but I don't know where they've gone.

They seem to have disappeared since this morning.

-Oh. Were they about yea big? Half-eaten?

-Mmm.

The whole painting theme for our Nationals duet was James' idea.

After I saw the painting at Aunt Kathy's house,

I know exactly what to get James for our anniversary.

What? What is this?

Are you ready for your gift?

A gift?

I'm super confused right now,

because I walked into studio A

'and there's this canvas on the ground

'and Riley looks like a scientist.'

Put that on.

OK...

'Our Nationals duet was James' idea,

'and it was so much fun dancing in a painting with him,'

so I thought, "Why not dance in a painting for real?"

So, what? Are we going to paint a picture or something?

Yeah. We're going to make a human painting.

-Oh.

-It's my anniversary gift to you. Come on.

OK. It's on!

# You call me up I'm at your door in record time

'This gift is actually kind of perfect.'

# We're gonna go out

# Even if it rains or shines

# We're getting higher We're getting closer... #

'It's really cool that she found a way

'to combine painting and dance.'

It's like she knew I would love this.

# Let's get lost and find each other

# In the middle of the crowd tonight... #

'It is also lots of fun to throw paint at each other

'and roll around on the ground!'

# Throw your hands up in the air Let's all have a good time.

# Let's get lost and find each other

# In the middle of the crowd tonight... #

Being with Riley has been the best time of my life -

and this anniversary feels like the old us.

We're just connected again.

It's the best anniversary ever.

# Let's get lost and find each other

# In the middle of the crowd tonight... #

'No matter how hard it has been,

'it's also been the most fun I've ever had with anyone,'

so I couldn't thank him enough for that.

# Throw your hands up in the air Let's all have a good time. #