Game, Set and Match The Next Step

Previously on The Next Step...

Sorry I was late, I just had to stop and get the keys to my new studio!

Every single dance studio I have called will not rent to us either.

We have to merge.

I feel like merging would just be the WORST idea.

I'm just focusing on dancing at internationals.

Well, I hope you go.

But if not, just know that you were such a great dance captain.

Come on, Amanda, we have an Elite meeting.

But I'm with The Next Step now.

I hope you realise that there is going to be consequences.

I honestly still don't fully trust Amanda.

We are going to have to meet with Lucien

and listen to his terms.

# Well, hey, you, what do you say?

# I been thinking 'bout you since yesterday... #

Are you ready to make a deal?

'Phoebe and Kate are going to be excited to accept my offer.'

The same way someone is while they are being attacked by a lion!

Lucien is playing hardball with us.

He's not going to go out without a fight

and he basically has us in a really tough situation right now.

When Lucien is involved, it's never, ever a good thing.

What exactly are we talking about here?

A competition. Elite against The Next Step.

12 dancers from each team,

we put their names in a hat, we pull out two names and they battle.

At the end of the competition,

the 12 remaining dancers go to internationals.

OK, but what happens

if a Next Step dancer pulls out another Next Step dancer's name?

Do they compete against each other?

Of course! It's a democracy, ladies. It's only fair.

What if we do have to compete against ourselves?

-You are evil.

-I have evil for lunch.

You shouldn't be eating that.

All you have to do is get seven out of 12 Next Step dancers

on the internationals team and I'm gone forever.

-Good.

-Great.

But if I get seven Elite dancers on the team, you two are gone for good.

'I have no idea what's going on in Miss Kate's office,'

but all of us are freaking out.

What do you think, Phoebe? Can we do this?

We don't have a choice.

I hate to admit it, but I know she's right.

We have no other option.

This is the only way we could potentially

keep The Next Step studio.

Fine!

Why is Miss Kate shaking his hand?

I don't know, but whatever this decision was,

I don't think Miss Kate had a choice.

At this point, Miss Kate

doesn't look very happy,

but I know that she has our best interest in mind

and I don't think she would let anything happen to our team.

If we are going to lose the studio, we are going to go out with a fight.

# We

# We're going to show the world

# Everything we're made of

# We're going to tear the roof off this place

# Stand up! #

Right now, Riley and I are working on a dance for my Aunt Kathy's wedding.

It's got some pretty sweet choreo and I know...

everyone's going to go crazy when they see us dance together.

James thinks that working on the dance will

be a fun distraction from all the drama

that's going on with the studio, and I hope he's right.

# I need you now I'm alone and I'm wasting away without you

# Yeah, I need you now I'm alone and I'm wasting away without you

# You're my sun, my stars, my everything

# You're the reason... #

I've always loved to dance, and since Riley's been in my life,

it's always better with her, so I couldn't be happier.

# Oh-whoa-whoa

# Oh-whoa-whoa

# Oh-whoa-whoa. #

THEY EXHALE

-Wow! We need to work on that.

-Just a little bit.

HE EXHALES HEAVILY

What's the matter?

-I'm just really worried.

-Worried?

'It's easy for James to be cool, he never worries about anything.'

But I have to be a little more realistic

and know that we don't have a studio space right now to rehearse.

So how are we going to get to internationals

without a studio space?

We haven't heard anything about the studio.

I know Riley's upset, but this is The Next Step,

there is always some sort of disaster.

Honestly, we just need to focus on the positive.

We are going to internationals. Do you know what that means?

Miami! We are going to Miami, baby!

SHE SCREAMS

MOBILE PHONE RINGS

-Miami!

-What?

-You would check your phone right now?

-Just breathe.

-What?

-Miss Kate needs us at Studio A.

Of course she does.

LAUGHING: Miami, baby!

This is definitely one of the hardest things I have ever had to do.

I just really hope they can understand where

I'm coming from and see that I'm just trying to save the studio.

So, what did Lucien say?

Well, he said a lot of things.

Are we allowed to stay here or do we have to hide?

Because I don't want to get arrested for trespassing.

The Next Step is allowed to stay in this building.

-DANCERS: Yes!

-Take that, Lucien.

-That's great.

-But...

the Elite dancers have a shot at making the team.

'I don't tell them that Lucien could take over The Next Step'

because they don't need that added extra pressure.

They need to focus on their dancing and that is all that matters.

What's going to happen is 12 dancers from The Next Step are going

to compete head-to-head against 12 dancers from Elite.

Guys, that's fine.

Any one of us can take on any one of them.

That's not exactly how it's going to go.

24 names will go into a hat.

Two names will be pulled out and those two dancers

compete against each other for a spot on the internationals team.

Wait, so if my name gets pulled and then one of their names

get pulled, then I have to face someone from my own studio?

Unfortunately, yes.

Wow.

It was the only way I could save the studio,

you guys have to understand.

I can't do it. I will not compete against The Next Step.

Consider me not a part of this team then!

-Eldon!

-Eldon!

-Eldon, bro...

Great. Now Eldon is gone.

'The fact that Eldon stormed off like that is just giving Lucien

'the ammunition that he needs.'

He's already tearing the team apart.

There's no way

that everyone in this room is going to make the internationals team.

Hey, Daniel!

I had a huge opportunity with this Juilliard audition

and it went really terribly. I've never danced so poorly in my life.

-I have no idea what happened.

-So, what are your plans?

I don't have any. I don't even have a studio to dance at.

I left Superstar Dance to get ready for the Juilliard audition.

I don't know what I'm going to do now.

-Your moping ends today, Daniel.

-What do you mean?

There's an opportunity for you.

An opportunity for you to get on a team going to internationals.

Well, how?

You've just got to do exactly what I say.

I am willing to do whatever it takes to go to internationals.

And if that means going and following what Lucien says,

then I'm willing to do it.

I'll do anything at this point.

-Hey.

-Hey.

-How's it going?

It's kind of rough.

Whenever I get this upset,

dancing just helps me clear my head,

and Thalia is nice enough that she helps me choose a song.

I'm really disappointed that Eldon left the team.

You know, we've kind of being getting a lot closer lately

and I was hoping to get to know him a bit better, but...

if he's gone, I don't know how that is going to happen.

UPBEAT POP MUSIC PLAYS

Not feeling it.

MELLOW GUITAR TRACK PLAYS

-This is definitely not you.

-No.

DRUM AND BASS TRACK PLAYS

-I think this is it.

-Cool.

# Everyone is talking, I need someone to receive

# Imitation everything, I don't know what is real... #

I still haven't changed my mind about leaving The Next Step,

but I've got to admit...

it is nice having Thalia around.

# ..make a sound, unless you open...

# UP! #

I can tell there is nothing I can say to Eldon to

make him come back. But at least he's dancing.

# Unless you open up. #

Wow.

I just don't understand how Miss Kate can let this happen.

Right?

We are all hanging out in Hidalgo's

and I tell the rest of A-Troupe that Eldon

is not ready to come back.

All we need to do is keep The Next Step alive

and we all can go to internationals.

Guys, Lucien probably didn't leave Kate with a choice.

I know this is a crucial time and I know we have to stick together

as a team, but I just find it really hard to trust

Amanda because of the past.

So, Amanda, did you know that Lucien was planning this all along?

I wouldn't be surprised if she did know.

-What are you accusing her of?

-It's... It's fine.

Um, actually I didn't, but I get it.

'This is exactly what I was afraid of.'

Michelle questioning me already?

I mean, Elite's not even merged with us yet.

Well, I'm sorry for thinking that, but can you blame me?

-No, it's OK, we get it.

-We can't start fighting now. Let's stick together.

James is right, and we also need to

-try and get Eldon back.

-Yeah, yeah, I'll talk to him.

'We cannot win internationals without Eldon.'

And, honestly, I'm the only one who's

going to be able to get through to him.

James can talk anyone into doing anything, so...

I'm sure if he talks to Eldon, he'll come back to A-Troupe.

# We-we-we run the dance floor, break it down... #

Yeah, Richelle and I are just hanging out in the studio.

We're just messing around, working on some new tricks and stuff.

Noah and I are the best two dancers on J-Troupe.

We both push each other. We train together.

I know we are going to be on A-Troupe soon.

# Got the DJ screaming, tell me, do you hear? #

-Noah, can I talk to you for a second?

-Yeah.

OK, I've been thinking, and we may be rushing this a little bit,

but I think you're ready for it.

For what?

I'm going to hold Eldon's spot in A-Troupe in case

he decides to come back.

In the meantime, we need to find a 12th dancer,

and that is where Noah comes in.

I want you to move up to A-Troupe

so you can compete against Elite for a spot at internationals.

Of course! I can do it!

'I've been ready for a very long time'

and I'm so pumped to be a part of A-Troupe now.

I can't believe it. I'm ready.

-Perfect. Come on, let's go!

-Wait, Miss Kate!

I heard Eldon was leaving the studio too.

Doesn't that mean another spot opens up on A-Troupe?

Yes, Richelle, it does.

But we are dealing with one thing at a time,

so you don't need to worry about that.

Richelle is fantastic.

She is so talented, but she just doesn't have enough experience yet.

Hey.

How are you?

I'm OK. How's your knee?

Uh...you know what? It's getting better.

I actually have a doctor's appointment tomorrow

and I think I'm going to get a clean bill of health.

After hearing about the competition, I am a little nervous.

My knee is not completely healed, so...I'm honestly not sure,

but I will not let anyone know that.

So you think you're going to be ready?

For internationals? Yes, for sure!

I know Emily is going through a really hard time right now.

Well, because it hurts not being able to dance.

She's going to get through and I'm confident that she is.

She just needs someone there for her.

# Did you have to leave so early without warning?

# I gave everything and more just to save it... #

Right now, I'm dancing a solo,

because I don't feel like I'll ever belong anywhere.

Especially if Elite comes into The Next Step.

After I stepped up for The Next Step at nationals,

I thought that the drama would be left behind.

I thought that they would trust me.

But some way, somehow, the drama keeps following me,

and it doesn't seem to be going away.

# Never thought I'd see this day, but I'll face it

# I'll move on

# Without your love... #

'Shantel and Tess have always kind of been my friends.

'They were my assistant captains at Elite.'

But I just think because they're still there

and I'm at The Next Step now...

it's different.

# Seems like we only started yesterday

# You closed the door and left me here, alone in the dark

# With something else in place of my heart

# Falling apart

# Falling apart. #

Wow, look at you, Amanda.

Learned some new tricks since you were at Elite?

Well, I have, but most importantly, I've learned not to scheme.

And that is why Lucien sent us here.

We want to see if you want to come back to Elite.

I don't know about that.

'I don't think Lucien will ever be done scheming.'

I think that is what he does for fun.

What happened at nationals, Amanda, it's water under the bridge.

It doesn't matter, and I really want to go to internationals this year.

We all do. Just look at what Lucien did for us

last year at nationals. If his plan works out this year,

-we are all going to internationals.

-And we want you with us.

I'm still kind of wary about Amanda,

so I kind of followed her to the music room

and I've been secretly watching her.

I've changed.

I'm not the same person that I used to be.

I don't belong at Elite.

If I'm ever going to really be a part of The Next Step...

-Come on, Amanda.

-'..I need to make a clean break with my past.'

Guys, that's really nice.

But I'm not coming back and you know that.

So I hope we can still be friends, but no.

Maybe people can change after all. I believe I trust Amanda now.

Right now, I'm packing up my things and I'm not competing,

because this pretty much violates everything I stand for.

And I'm not going to kick one of my friends off the team.

It's not going to happen.

When I see Eldon packing up his stuff,

I know that this may be my only chance to convince him

to come back before it's too late.

Yo, what are you thinking?

You are the best dancer at the studio and everybody knows it.

You need to represent.

I am going to dance as hard as I can, no matter who I dance against.

Yo! Are you actually walking away from me right now?

You need to grow up!

I can't.

I hate to say it...

..but it really looks like we lost Eldon for good.

All right, tell me again, what went wrong?

Amanda didn't want to hear anything we had to say, she just left.

-You let her go?

-She said we were too schemey.

Schemey? That's not a word!

-I meant sche-ming.

-Scheming, yeah, that's a word.

And I don't scheme - I do.

We're just going to have to get rid of Amanda somehow...

-Ahem.

-Amanda! Hi! See? She's had a change of heart.

I entered the music room to confront Lucien.

He needs to know that what he's doing has to stop.

'I'm ready to face Elite head-on.'

But you came to your senses, and that is terrific.

This is going to be great.

-Can I talk to you for a second?

-Sure, sure.

I am not part of Elite and Lucien needs to know that.

-You need to stop this.

-Stop this? You can't stop this!

You... Stop what?

Trying to bring down The Next Step.

Amanda, I can't stop that. That is what I do for fun.

That is what I enjoy, through all this stress, is bringing them down.

Besides, I deserve to be at internationals,

you deserve to be at internationals and so do they.

And you're going to help us do this. We are going to do this together.

You're right. I do deserve to go to internationals.

Yes! Good girl.

With The Next Step.

-Bad girl.

-Sorry.

I think it's time to deploy

Project Daniel Is Going To Mess With The Next Step.

Right now, all of A-Troupe is just

getting ready for rehearsals in Studio A.

But we are all really distracted because of this competition

we have to do against Elite.

We haven't even started the competition yet

and we've already lost one of our best dancers from The Next Step.

I still can't believe you couldn't convince Eldon.

I mean, he usually always listens to you.

I know. I've never seen him that upset about something before.

Look, there's Daniel.

As Daniel walks in we are all just a little bit confused

as to why he is here.

Oh, my God! Daniel?

What are you doing here?

I'm here to compete.

Maybe Juilliard wasn't what I was supposed to do,

and maybe with this shot that Lucien is giving me,

this going to internationals is what I've been waiting for.

So I'm positive that this is my time.

I blew it with Juilliard.

This is really all I've got, and I hope you can understand.

I get it.

I understand Daniel's situation with the Juilliard audition

and him not getting it.

But now he's on our enemy's team.

What's going on?

That's right, everyone. I'm now a full-fledged member of Elite.

No way.

I never thought that he would go to Elite.

This is not the Daniel I used to know.

This is not the person I used to call my best friend.

-You're a traitor, Daniel!

-That's not right.

-How could you do that?

-How could you do this to us?

How can you be laughing right now?

I just figured out how to get Eldon back.

Riley wants to know why I'm laughing.

But I'm not going to tell her. It'll spoil the surprise.

She'll find out soon enough.

MOBILE PHONE CHIMES

Urrrgh!

HE CRACKS NECK

HE ROARS

-So, what are we supposed to be waiting for?

-Shh.

Five, four,

three, two, one.

Let the competition begin. You are going down, Daniel.

I'm confident that I can beat anyone at The Next Step.

I know in the past Eldon has bettered me,

but he doesn't know that I'm a fighter now and I'm going to win.

'I really hope that I get Daniel's name so I can

'bring him down once again.'

This is going to be a good competition.

Now that Eldon is back, I'm ready. Let's do this.