Nobody's Perfect The Next Step

Previously on The Next Step.

I don't wanna see your face again until I'm on stage.

-And what happens when we've lost it, huh?

-Either we win or we lose.

Either way, I never have to see you again.

Moving forward to regionals is The Next Step!

I'm happy that we won, but it feels weird celebrating without James.

It's time for the team to start focusing on regionals.

Michelle, you will be doing the solo.

All of my hard work has finally paid off.

The whole team is counting on me and it feels great.

This is not going to be an easy call,

but I never got the chance to thank James for dancing with Alfie

in the qualifier.

I need him to know how grateful I am.

PHONE CHIMES

Hey.

Hey.

I just wanted to catch you before you go back to England.

I never got the chance to thank you for what you did.

I know how hard it was for you and I really do appreciate it.

No problem.

Everyone is so grateful.

Is that it?

Yeah. Yeah, I guess.

OK. I've got to catch a flight.

So, bye, Riley.

That didn't go how I wanted but at least James knows how I feel.

I guess now it's time to move on.

# We

# We're gonna show the world

# Everything we're made of

# We're gonna tear the roof off this place

# Stand up. #

Hey.

Hey.

What's going on?

Nothing. I just talked to James.

Oh.

-Are you OK?

-Yes.

He's gone back to London.

-I can come back later.

-No.

-If you want.

-No.

What do you need?

Well, what I need is to cheer you up.

So what about a date to celebrate our going to regionals?

-A date?

-Yeah.

-OK. What are we going to do?

-That is more of a surprise.

But, meet me at Studio A later

and, yeah.

I'll be fancy. We'll be fancy.

OK.

Yeah. Looking forward to it.

Me too. This is perfect.

What better way to move on from James than a first date with Alfie.

-Ready?

-Yeah.

-Let's do it.

Five, six, seven, eight.

-Was that cool?

-Yes. That was good.

Right now, we're in the rehearsal room working on our trio.

We're working really hard on this dance.

At least two of us are.

Five, six, seven, eight.

Two, four.

-Are you OK, Michelle? You're getting this?

-Oh, yeah.

-I'm fine.

-We can slow it down a little if you want.

That won't be necessary.

Let's just do it again.

I am feeling a little pressure.

I've been assigned both the solo and the trio for regionals.

My focus is on making that solo perfect.

That's not even our choreo.

Oh. I'm sorry.

I'm just so focused on the solo.

I just really want to win, and if I win,

we won't even have to do this trio at regionals.

I get where Michelle's coming from but the trio round is sudden death.

If we end up there, this routine needs to be perfect.

Why don't you guys go to Java, get a juice, and when you guys come back,

I'll be ready to rock and roll.

I just need some time.

OK.

I'm not happy that Michelle is using our rehearsal time to work on her

solo, but if that's what she needs to get focused then so be it.

If this keeps up, I'm worried about our chances at regionals.

Me too.

Our trio should be a lot further along by now,

but Michelle's just too distracted to work on it.

I don't know what we can do.

I don't know.

Hey, guys. So, how's your trio going?

Um, not great.

-No.

-Well, shouldn't you be working on it.

Michelle's doing her solo right now.

But you want to be working on your trio, don't you?

-Yeah!

-Yeah!

Noah's not ready to start the duet, so maybe I can help these girls out,

and myself too, while I'm at it.

Maybe I can fill in for Michelle until she's ready to get back at it?

I mean, Emily and Riley have been saying that we have to take

an all-hands-on-deck approach to regionals this year.

So I'm happy to fill her spot, for now.

I guess.

-Yeah, OK.

-Sure.

Richelle is right. We can't just sit on our hands.

We have to do something, even if Michelle may not like it.

This is a win-win for everyone.

Except maybe Michelle.

Bonjour, mademoiselle.

I have no idea what Alfie has planned for our first date.

It could be anything.

Vive ne a Chez Alfie.

Chez Alfie?

Oui. Chez Alfie.

I remember a time, not very long ago, when this place was Chez James.

My very last date with James was right here.

Suis moi.

You look beautiful.

-Thanks.

-I thought this would be the perfect place

for us to have our first date. What do you think?

Perfect.

I'm experiencing a serious and terrible case of deja vu.

Oh. Thank you. I've been waiting for this moment for a lifetime.

I'm super-nervous, because there's something

I really need to say to Amanda.

It needs to be perfect.

Hey.

I got your message. It sounded urgent.

What's up?

This is the moment of truth.

I'm going to tell Amanda I love her.

It's scary. But what's the worst that can happen?

Noah?

Is it your back?

Mm...Mm-mm.

Is someone ill?

Amanda. I only have one chance to do this right

and I don't want you to think there's any doubt

whatsoever in my mind about the thing I'm going to say.

Noah's being really strange.

Stranger than normal.

Here we go.

I...

I love you.

I did not see that coming.

Oh. That's so sweet, Noah.

And I'm so in love with you, it is crazy.

I just can't stop thinking about how much I love you,

and saying it feels so good

and I don't think I ever want to stop saying it

for the rest of my life.

So, I love you Amanda. I love you.

This is so completely overwhelming and a little terrifying.

I'm sorry for the outburst.

I just needed to make it clear how much I love you.

Is there something you wanted to say?

Um...

That means so much to me.

OK. Good.

I've got to go.

I said I love you six times.

Six. Amanda said it zip.

Zero.

Now that is the worst that could happen.

Alfie has arranged the sweetest date in Studio A.

The only problem is this is exactly where I had my last date with James.

Now, I would have taken you to Rome, Paris or New York,

or maybe even one of those little fancy restaurants across town,

but then I thought it should be in a place that's meaningful to us.

Um, good thinking.

Voulez-vous un amuse-bouche, maintenant?

Um, pardon me?

Oui. Merci beaucoup.

THEY TALK IN FRENCH

This is all so romantic and sophisticated,

and really, really weird.

Um, what is this?

It's actually Russian caviar.

I made a few phone calls and had it flown in from a little cafe in Paris.

You can try it.

Mm.

It's actually really good.

Way better than bologna sandwiches.

Bologna sandwiches?

I would never serve you bologna sandwiches.

I can't help thinking about my date with James,

when John was in charge of catering and all he brought was sandwiches.

The sandwiches were terrible but the thought was really sweet.

You know, you didn't have to go to all this trouble.

Riley. How many times are we going to get a first date?

My head is spinning.

It's really nice to be on a date with Alfie,

but it's also really overwhelming.

OK. So, basically our dance is about a lifeline

and we have these ropes and we're all attached.

Hey, guys. I think I just need five more minutes.

Don't worry. I got your back.

Richelle can't fool me for a second.

I know her very well.

Do you mind if I just speak to Richelle privately?

I see what you're trying to do here.

You're trying to take my spot on the trio.

-So what if I am.

-You're being so selfish.

Selfish? Really?

Because I'm pretty sure that I'm looking out for the studio

way more than you are right now.

I bailed to work on my solo because my solo needs to be perfect.

I need to win.

If you're going to be in two dances,

then you have to give an equal amount of attention to both of them.

And if you're not prepared to do that, then someone else will.

-You mean you will.

-No, not just me, actually.

Every dancer in the studio would kill to be in your position right now.

I hate when Richelle is right.

I've been making time for my solo at the expense my team-mates.

I should know better.

The team comes first.

Always.

This should be a perfect first date,

but it's only bringing back memories of my last date.

There is actually one more thing.

What. What is it?

Shall we dance?

Of course.

VIOLIN PLAYS

All I can think about is when I was here dancing with James.

Everything was so simple then.

And now it's all so confusing.

-What's going on?

-Sorry.

I can't do this.

I put together an amazing first date for Riley

but she got upset and ran out.

I have no idea what went wrong.

I was mad at Alfie after everything that happened

between him and Riley and James.

But that's in the past.

We need to move forward.

Hey.

I wanted to congratulate you.

And apologise to you.

It was none of my business to interfere with whatever

was happening between my brother and Riley and you.

You guys danced an incredible duet at the qualifier.

I realise that I should forgive you and move on too.

I appreciate that.

You look really well-dressed and sad.

Is there anything I can do?

I don't think you want to hear about it.

Try me.

Well, I tried taking Riley out on a date.

And it ended in disaster.

I held it in Studio A and made it like a fancy restaurant.

You what?

Oh, Alfie.

That's exactly what James did before he went to London.

That explains a lot.

Don't lose hope. Just talk to her.

Piper's right.

I still have a chance to save my first date with Riley.

# I was always the kid who kept my distance from everyone

# That was the age I used to fill my days with cheap distraction... #

Richelle was right, the trio is just as important as the solo.

So I told the girls they don't need Richelle any more.

I'm here for them.

# You're my elevator

# You take me so high off the ground

# I'll be your strength when you get weak... #

I'm so happy that Michelle's taking the trio seriously now.

I mean, look at this routine! It's amazing!

# I'll be your strength when you get weak

# You'll be my anchor in the sea

# You're my elevator

# When I get down, when it gets dark

# When I get low, you lift me up. #

Think we can call it a day?

You guys can go but I'm going to stay around

-and do a little bit more dancing.

-OK.

Thanks, guys.

I have to find a way to make the solo and the trio work,

so that means no breaks for me until after regionals.

I'm back.

We're done for the day.

I feel so weird about everything.

I can't even look Amanda in the eye right now.

-Is something wrong, Noah?

-Well, I told you I loved you.

Yeah.

And it's kind of a big deal.

-Yep.

-I was kind of hoping you'd, you know...

-Say it back.

-Yeah. Just a little bit.

Noah, sit down.

Listen.

The reason I haven't said it yet is because I want to be sure,

and I think I will be soon,

but saying I love you is just too big for games.

I don't want to mess anything up.

You mean too much to me.

All right. I hear you.

How about we give each other like a secret sign?

When you're ready to say I love you, just give me the sign.

OK. What secret sign would you like?

I've always been partial to the secret wink.

-Like...

-That's it.

That's exactly it, but you're not telling me that you're ready

-right now, are you?

-No. It's just the test signal.

Right, OK. I'll be waiting for you.

I'll be waiting for that wink.

OK.

Would you give me another test signal?

Thank you.

Noah really gets me and that's why I love him.

Not that I'm going to tell him that yet.

# You had me at hello

# So here we go, go

# With a little heart and soul

# Yeah, yeah, yeah. #

I'm hiding out, trying to gather my thoughts after running out on Alfie.

He meant well but it was just too much for me.

Hey.

Alfie, I'm so sorry for bolting like that.

It's just, that date.

It brought back a lot of memories for me.

Memories of James.

It hurts to hear that, but if I want a future with Riley

then I have to prove that I'm very different than James.

Have you ever had a date in this room before?

No.

Perfect. And has anyone ever read you French poetry

in this room before?

No.

Quand l'amour s'en va, l'espoir fuit.

L'amour, c'est le cri de l'aurore,

L'amour c'est l'hymne de la nuit.

When Alfie reads me that poem,

I'm spinning.

That was amazing.

And has anyone ever

kissed you in this room before?

If anyone can help me move on from James, it's Alfie.

I just hope I can.

The whole flight to London I was thinking about Riley.

Wherever she is, whatever she's doing, I hope she's happy.

Wait.

Wes. You and James were in my dream.

You're not dreaming, man.

Then why are your ears so big?

How was your trip?

-Long.

-Hey.

Let's go get some breakfast.

Is it breakfast time?

Does it even matter, Eldon?

When one man is down, other men go with him to get breakfast.

It's a tradition as old as time or at least as old as diners.

Let's go get ready.

I'm miles from home, but right now this is where I want to be.

I'm happy I'm with the guys.

# We

# We're 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

# Everybody knows we own this sound... #