I know you give us stories about arks and plagues and whales
so we can understand the way the world works.
I get that.
True or not, I get it.
But me, I never got down with the idea of fairy tales.
Just thought there were better ways of, I don't know, giving my kids hope
other than telling them that frogs turn into princes
and pumpkins into carriages.
But the more time I spend in this gig,
walking that same path, watching them grow up,
the more I see why we all need that happy ending,
that rainbow waiting for you at the end.
Especially because of all that weird, scary shit that comes up
after "once upon a time."
We need to know there's gonna be a "happily ever after."
That once that fairy godmother or handsome prince comes along,
all that suffering and hardship might just disappear.
That if we do get to that rainbow at the end,
we might just forget everything it took to get there.
But the getting there...
The getting there, that's a whole different kind of fairy tale.
This isn't Slippers by the Sea.
I can tell.
Most prestigious youth company in the state
- and this is their biggest performance. - You told me.
Hundreds of kids audition every year to get in the show and they take 20.
I know, and I'm really proud of you.
It's this really cool modern take on this fairy tale about this doll
that, like, comes to life.
- That sounds cool. - Yeah.
I want you to know why it's so important to me
and why I have to miss school on Friday for rehearsal
because it's professional stuff.
And I got that.
And I don't want you to say anything in there
that makes me seem not serious.
Oh, baby, you are the most serious girl I know.
- I really wish Mom were here. - I'm sure she does too.
But she's really busy the next couple of weeks.
And I haven't seen you dance for a while, so I'm happy to be here.
- Yeah? - Nowhere I'd rather be.
Hey, Brett, Callie, wait up.
Five, six, seven, eight.
One, two, three, four and five, six, seven, eight.
Oh, lift.
Plies, remember to go smooth.
Five, six, seven and eight. Lift.
Four and five, six, seven, eight.
There you go, Katrina.
Which one's yours?
Oh, the redhead who keeps smiling during the serious parts.
Turn. Yeah, that's better.
Oh, oh, Lula.
- Oh, she's lovely. - Thanks.
Yeah, no, I think so too.
You have to walk and make them have to need you on stage.
That's it. They don't care about this.
I'm Barbara Bell.
I'm Callie's mom. Hi.
- Nice to meet you. I'm William. - Hi.
I don't know if Lula told you,
but it's quite a coup that she got into the ensemble.
- Oh, no, she's really excited about it. - Well, she should be.
There are girls here that have been working their way up for years,
and then comes Lula, and she's just leapfrogs all of them.
- Really? - That's what I'm talking about.
Three, four, five, six, seven, eight.
Just look at my girl.
That's art, that's art. I want art.
Five, six, seven...
Okay, Alex, cut it. Cut the music.
Okay. That's fierce. Good job. Take a five.
Callie, let's work on your solo.
Looking good. That's way better.
Very good.
Alex, take it from the third measure. Callie's solo.
And...
See the way the energy is extending out through her fingertips?
Like the dance doesn't end where her body does?
That's what you need to work on.
- Okay. - Okay.
- That's good, that's very good. - Sorry.
That's all right.
Do it again, why not?
Wow, she's amazing.
A rehearsal director from the New York Ballet Company
is flying in especially to see her dance this role.
Oh, so she wants to be a professional, huh?
All the girls here do.
Did you see that quad she pulled? I haven't even hit a triple yet.
I can't say I was counting.
- Dad? - I did talk to her mom, though.
Really? Did she say something about me?
She said you were lovely.
I had to agree with her.
- This must be father Banks. - How you doing, man?
Yeah, listen, thanks for giving Lula a shot.
Oh, yeah, no thanks at all.
Give her another year or two, she's gonna be dancing leads.
I just wanna get better.
That's the right attitude. I like that.
- You work very hard. - Oh, she is tenacious.
Not harder than Callie.
Well, Callie doesn't have to work as hard.
She's got a gift, you know.
Hey, you know, we're gonna be staying late for rehearsal, if you wanna...
- Can I, Dad? - Don't see why not.
Brett, I need you for a second.
Excuse me.
Sure.
They act like nothing's going on, but they're totally dating.
- Oh, yeah? - Everyone knows it.
I have to go. Are you gonna stay and watch?
I'm yours all day.
Your mom's gonna be dropping by a little later today too.
Okay.
- You're killing me. - Okay, whatever.
Yeah, whatever.
- Hey, you're Callie, right? - Hey, yeah.
- I'm William, Lula's dad. - Yeah.
- Hey, you look good in there. - Thanks.
Four and five, six, seven, eight.
One, two, three, four, and five, six, seven, eight.
Oh, lift.
Yes. Yes.
Five, six, seven, eight...
What did I tell you? She's really grown, hasn't she?
William?
- Isn't she beautiful? - Oh, yeah.
That's it. Stretch.
Push forward.
You know, I started home-schooling Callie
when she was just a couple years younger than Lula.
Might be something worth considering.
- Excuse me. - I can help you get started.
Five, six, seven, eight.
One, two, three, four...
Yes, Dante.
Work. Remember the flow. Flow. All right.
All right. Yes. Let's take a break. You guys come back at 5:00.
Except hold on, you guys stay.
I need you to work on the third part of the movement.
- Dad, you weren't watching? - Hey, you done for the day?
No, I'm on break until 5.
Listen, why don't we get out of here, go have an early dinner.
I'm staying late for the rehearsal.
- I don't know about that, sweetheart. - But you said I could.
I know, look, but it's been a long day already
and I don't want you to be too exhausted for school tomorrow, so...
I knew you wouldn't get it.
Lu, that was awesome.
Your pirouettes have improved, even...
What's wrong?
Dad won't let me stay for the late rehearsal.
How late are we talking?
I'll be done by 10.
I thought you cleared your schedule. You have somewhere to be?
No, but she's got school tomorrow and doesn't she have homework?
I always finish my homework before rehearsal.
Really, Dad, just go. It's fine.
Look, I have one more showing. I can pick her up at 9.
Nine is okay, but no later.
All right, I'm gonna walk your mom out to the car. Eat your sandwich.
- Bye, sweetie. - Bye, Mom.
Okay. Okay, good.
Could you at least fake it for Lula's sake?
You know, this means the world to her.
That's my problem. I don't like the world.
Because you don't know the difference between a plie and a ronde de jambe
doesn't mean it's not good.
My problem isn't in the fancy French.
That girl Callie is using, and that guy Brett...
William, you see addicts in the shadows on the sidewalks.
Doesn't mean they ain't there.
Look, thanks for picking up the slack, okay?
Okay, I got it. I'll try harder.
And no one hired you to do this.
Just be here for your daughter.
Hey, Akani, it's me.
Look, meet me at the corner of Stewart and Olympic at 10:00 tonight.
So it's no big deal.
I just wanna look around, check a couple of lockers,
see what we can see.
We're looking for anything too, so over-the-counter prescriptions.
All right. Got it.
Shooting speed and taking oxy.
- She snorts it. - Right.
So you gonna fill in the mom and bring her in?
Yeah. Yeah.
Head on back to the shop. I'll catch up to you.
- All right. Okay. - All right.
I trust her.
What?
- Hey, you got a sec? - Hey, man, we got rehearsal.
Look, my kid, she thinks the sun rises and sets for you and Callie.
And?
And I'm guessing you're also aware that Callie is using drugs.
This is your place. You know there are drugs here, right?
So you get straight with me now or the next move I make is to call the police.
Look, man, we've got a lot of work to do, all right?
You think this is some kind of game, huh?
Look, I know what's at stake for you, guys.
I know how important this performance is to you,
but I also know what's going on and I want it stopped.
You understand me?
Gotta go.
Hey, Barbara.
I don't know if you like coffee, but it's the best in town.
- Not fancy, but gets the job done. - Very thoughtful.
Thank you.
You know, I'm sorry.
I hope I didn't speak out of turn yesterday about the home school.
It's just...
You know, Lula's very talented,
and you want them to have every opportunity to grow.
Yeah, we also don't want to put, you know, too much pressure on them.
Yeah.
We want what's best for our daughter, right?
Sure.
We all do. Yeah.
Listen, Barbara...
I don't know how to say this, so I'll just shoot straight with you.
What is it?
I think your daughter might have a drug problem.
What?
I went into her locker and found some illegal drugs and syringes, and l...
You broke into her private property?
- I work with addicts. - Addicts?
It's clear to me that something's going on with your daughter.
You know what? This conversation is over.
- That's just... - Barbara?
No.
Head back, then down, then up.
Push through your toes into the floor.
I'll be right back.
Damn it.
Oh, I know the feeling.
It's like you've had this electric blanket on,
then suddenly, someone rips it off of you.
What are you talking about?
I took the drugs out of your locker.
- Don't know what you're talking about. - Hey, Callie?
Would you mind running this section with us before Brett gets here?
Sure, guys. I'll be right there.
I can help you, Callie.
I don't know what you're talking about.
I can help get you clean. That's what I'm talking about.
Just leave me the hell alone.
What the hell, Dad?
Is that they way I taught you to talk? Because I'm sure it's not.
- Why are you arguing with her? - Look, Lula, just...
You can't just come here and make my life miserable.
These girls will hate me.
Let's go, sweetheart. We can talk at home.
No, Dad, you should go home. You should go.
I'm sorry I'm late. I'm sorry. I'm sorry.
I wanna take Lula out of here.
What? Why?
Remember what we talked about?
Look, I know it's gonna hurt her but it's for her own good.
She's gonna think that we don't trust her.
I know that. But we can't worry about that right now.
You tell me the last time you saw her so happy, so engaged.
I know, and I see that, but that girl that she idolizes, she's a junkie.
That choreographer that she looks up to so much, he's probably her pusher.
You wanna hear about the serious shit I found?
Okay. So, what do we do?
We lock her away from the world? We isolate her?
No, I don't think being overprotective is...
I'm not being overprotective, Melissa.
William, she's been through it before with us, with you.
She's a big girl now.
- You gotta let her live her life. - You know I don't want to do this.
You know that.
Please.
Let her finish the day.
We can talk to her later.
- When? - Tonight.
Everything all right?
Yeah, I just needed to catch my breath.
Five, six, seven, eight. One, two...
I'm back. We can start.
Callie, where did you go?
I just needed a minute. No big deal.
- Hey, are you all right? - Yeah, I'm fine.
Okay.
- Okay. Thank you, Lula. - Roll it, Alex.
- Callie? - Callie?
Callie?
Thanks for coming down here, doc.
Sure. What's going on?
I don't know, usually when I detox someone, it hurts, you know that.
- This is totally different. - Okay.
And this girl is in more pain than I've ever seen.
Please make it stop. Please make it stop.
I'll do anything. Just make it stop.
Mom, please. Just make it stop.
My legs are on fire. My legs are on fire.
Doctor, please, what is going on here? Is this normal?
Let me take a look at her. Give me a sec, okay?
I have to get her out. I have to get her home.
- Miss... - She's in so much pain.
Sit tight while the doc figures out what's going on, okay?
All right, okay. Where is it?
Can you tell me?
- Everywhere! - All right.
Take a deep breath.
Okay. Okay.
- How is she? - We'll see.
How you doing, sweetheart?
Lula.
I know Callie was doing something wrong.
- Right. - But I wasn't.
- Right. - I know you're concerned, but...
What is it?
You're gonna make me stop, and that's not fair.
Look, sweetheart, that studio...
It's more than just Callie. There's something going on there.
- I can't... - Dad.
- I can't let you go back until it's safe. - Please?
You're not gonna be in that environment.
- Not around Brett. - Lula.
Let me talk to your dad for a sec, okay, babe?
It's not our job to make her happy all the time.
Look, I know you're just trying to keep her from getting hurt.
And I appreciate that.
This is hurting her more than you have any idea.
Until I'm certain there aren't any more drugs there, we can't let her go back.
I'm sorry, we can't.
My guess is she has herniated disc or degenerative spinal disease.
She needs to get an MRI.
Did you know about this?
Oh, I knew that there's pain
and I know that she hasn't let that stop her.
Was she on medication?
Maybe a year ago.
What was prescribed?
I don't remember.
Codeine, maybe.
Well, after that, did you notice any change in her behavior?
- Barbara? - If she does have herniated discs,
it's gonna be dangerous for her to continue.
- What are we looking at? - She might need surgery.
Physical therapy, but most of all, right now, she needs rest.
Well, how long has she been dancing with these injuries?
Over a year.
The cortisone injection I gave her is gonna help with the acute swelling.
- But with an injury like this... - What about the pain?
I can give her pain medication, but...
Barbara, your daughter is in a vicious cycle.
The medication helps her body to ignore the pain and dance.
But once it wears off, she only feels more pain so she uses more drugs.
I don't understand.
She needs to stop dancing and seek treatment for her back,
or she's at risk for some very serious complications.
Look, she needs to stop using drugs first.
Only then can she start to make the right decisions.
But I can't watch my baby in such pain.
If we load her up on drugs again, she'll only go back and dance.
That's why we have to stop this cycle, Barbara.
Are you just gonna let her suffer?
I'm gonna give you enough medication to take the edge off,
but not enough so that you can't feel anything.
I've been feeling the edge for 12 years.
I think that I can handle it.
Look, I'm not denying that your pain is real.
All I'm telling you is I'm not gonna be the guy to put more in this line
than your body needs.
Here we go.
Oh, my God.
Thank you.
Oh, thank you.
I'm not gonna let you suffer.
But I'm also not gonna let you go out and dance.
We're gonna get you off the drugs
and we're gonna get you into long-term treatment.
I have to dance on Saturday.
I don't think you really understand what I'm saying here.
Yes, I do.
And you're asking me to walk away from my whole life.
I'm asking you to walk away so that you can actually have a life.
There's one more day until the performance.
Once I go to New York, I will go see a doctor or I'll go to rehab,
whatever I have to do.
I'm so close, I can't stop now.
We're so close.
Where are the drugs coming from?
Brett, I need to know.
Where are the drugs coming from?
I'm not a dealer.
You run this place, you see the dancers coming through.
- You've gotta know. - Some of them get prescriptions.
- Some of them sell to each other. - No, no, no.
The amount that Callie's getting, more than prescriptions,
more expensive than any of these dancers can afford.
Callie was always complaining about pain.
All right, you know that? She was always complaining.
I got a problem, see, because my daughter, she wants to dance.
She wants to dance for you,
but I can't let her come back into this place until I know it's safe.
Can't help you, man.
Understand me.
I will burn this place to the ground to find out who's bringing in the drugs.
I won't be able to face my daughter otherwise.
You will never be rid of me or the people I know
until you help me make it safe for her.
You understand me?
Yeah. Yeah
Then tell me what you know.
Look, whatever's going on between you two, I don't care.
Well, there's nothing going on between us anymore.
I told her until she stops, there's nothing going on, so...
Man, you know the drugs are not coming from me.
Then who?
You're back. Good. She's been...
That's my bag.
What are you doing?
You don't understand.
Oh, I understand that your daughter
is a turn or two away from a wheelchair.
Ever since she was a little girl, all she wanted to do was to dance.
It makes her so happy.
This look on her face, you've seen it.
All I wanted was to see that look on her face every day.
I did everything I could to keep her in toe shoes.
I waited tables, I sold Avon, whatever it took.
I don't see how being your daughter's pusher
is a decision that any parent can justify.
What would you do if the one thing that gave your daughter
immeasurable joy also gave her unthinkable pain?
What would you do?
My daughter would rather die than not dance.
Barbara, your daughter is special on the dance floor, no doubt about that.
But as an addict, she's as ordinary as anyone I see.
She thinks she's going to die if she doesn't get to dance.
Every addict feels that way.
That's how much they want the next hit.
She's not an addict.
Every enabler, they think they're doing the right thing
by getting it for them.
You think you know where this is heading? You don't.
I'm the only person in this room who knows what's going on.
And you know what? Here's the way I see it.
You either walk away right now.
You leave her in my care and make a clean break.
I can't. I can't do that.
- I can't. - Then tell her how wrong you were.
Tell her to stop.
I can't.
You need to tell her that you will never give her drugs again.
So you're okay with this?
You're comfortable?
Thank you, Daddy.
Everything on your terms.
Come on, Melissa, you know it wasn't safe.
It's never safe, William.
It's never gonna be.
You just wanted to protect her, I know.
- Of course. - But she has to live her own life.
You know, she's gonna have her own experience.
Okay, but in this case, though...
And in this case your intensions are good.
What happens next time?
I'd do the same thing.
Okay, what about this scenario?
Lula sees someone taking drugs.
Lula chooses to not take drugs.
Lula chooses for herself.
What am I, 5?
Forget it.
Callie?
Hey.
Yes.
- Sorry I'm such a mess. L... - Please, I've seen so much worse.
Yeah, I guess with your dad and all.
He's a good guy.
I'll keep him, I suppose.
So how's rehearsal going?
You hit your triple yet?
We might have to change it to a double,
but I don't think Brett will be too happy about that.
Well, keep at it.
Maybe you'll surprise him.
It was sweet of you to check in on me.
I'm trying to make it back in time for the performance.
Yeah, listen, I wanted to tell you that you're the reason why I dance, and...
Thanks.
Yeah.
I was just thinking, like, if you can't anymore,
or if you had to stop, it wouldn't be the end of the world
because there are tons of girls like me who you can inspire,
or who you could teach.
Is this some act so I'll give up my part?
Do you really think that you could stand in for me?
- You or anybody? - No, God. Not at all.
I don't care about inspiring anyone.
That's just a load of crap they feed you, scrub,
so your parents will cough up tuition.
You don't have a prayer of being half as good as me on my worst day.
Okay, so if you came here out of some sick need
to convince me not to dance, you can just chalk that up as another failure.
Yeah, and good luck with that triple.
What happened?
Callie.
- Callie, what are you doing? - I'm dancing.
I told you I wasn't gonna stop.
I don't care if it kills me.
Well, that's clear.
Look, if you're here about Lula, sorry about that.
I'm not. I was just checking on you.
I don't think we can stop her no matter what we tell her.
No matter what we do she's gonna...
You know, sometimes I think it would be a lot easier if I were a doctor.
People have a broken bone or a gash in the arm, they know how bad it is.
They want you to fix it. But in my line of work,
a lot of times, I see the problem before the client does.
And I have to get the client to see it before it's too late.
She wants to dance.
Well, I can't get your daughter clean unless she wants it,
unless you want it too.
I do.
Enough for her to walk away from her dreams right now?
She needs to dance.
Fine.
If she's going to keep going and she's not going to stop this cycle,
then the best thing I can do is be by her side.
So she can perform?
But no drugs.
- No pain medications. - Okay.
She needs to see for herself where she really stands, all right?
Yeah.
Thanks.
Hey, Lu.
Leave me alone.
You're right. I'm not any good.
Oh, come on, now, sweetheart. You know that's not true.
Now, look, I wanna tell you a couple things you probably already know.
Dad.
Callie Bell only thinks about one thing in this world.
- Drugs? - No.
Her own pain and everything she can do not to feel it.
- What does this have to do with me? - Nothing.
- I don't get it. - Nothing at all.
See, because she doesn't even see you, Lu.
Okay? She never did.
Because if she really could,
she would see the most extraordinary person.
Hey.
First time Brett saw me, it was in The Firebird,
based on a Russian fairy tale.
A prince goes hunting in an enchanted forest and captures the firebird.
And in exchange for her freedom, she promises to protect him.
She gives him freedom, she gives him life.
And what does she get in return?
She dies.
Sounds pretty one-sided to me.
Price you pay for beauty.
You know, Callie, you don't have to do this.
Yes, I do.
The New York City Ballet can...
Can what? Wait?
They don't wait, okay?
You only get one chance to be chosen. One chance.
What happens when you push too far, huh?
What if not only could you not dance, you couldn't walk?
You couldn't move your arms?
For a guy that doesn't know dance, you're pretty damn dramatic.
If you stop now, in a few years, maybe you can teach.
Isn't that better than nothing at all?
There's nothing like it.
The smell of cigarette smoke and rosin dust.
That feeling you get when you're standing in the darkness
with all the other dancers waiting for the lights to rise.
You know, in my recovery, I've always had to...
I've always had to give in order to get.
And it may not feel like it standing here right now.
But I promise you, with a sober life, you have so much to give.
And what if I don't want a sober life?
Then like you said, you'll burn bright for a very short time.
And then you'll die.
And go, Lula.
I don't know what to do next.
Do you wanna stop?
- I don't know what to do. - We'll get you on a plane tonight.
We'll get you to people who understand everything you need.
- And if you wanna stop... - I do.
Then we'll help get you there, all right?
They're still dancing.
The show goes on, right?
They're still dancing without me.
So your plane leaves at 11:30.
Someone from the pain clinic will meet you in Denver.
Akani will follow you to the airport.
You're gonna stay with me the whole time, right?
Of course, baby.
There's a hotel down the street from the clinic
and I'm gonna be there as long as it takes.
- Okay. - Okay.
And tell Lula to watch her turn-out.
Really important if you wanna have a long career,
and I think she just might.
Thank you.
You better get going.
You don't wanna miss your plane.
You know, that really is a nasty habit.
You should quit.
Says the pot calling the kettle black.
Hell of a day.
Man, she looked so much like you up there today.
Before I met you,
about two years before, when I was studying with Vassilovich...
When you're chosen to be in those classes,
there's this dynamic between you and the teacher
and it's all you think about.
And the only person you wanna please is them
because they selected you, and you wanna be the best.
And then you get your first sprained ankle or sore back or torn muscle,
and the conveyer belt just goes on without you, so...
Melissa...
You do whatever it is you need to do to stay on it.
Try to never fall off.
Because when you do, you never really get that chance again.
Nasty habit.
Yeah, all this fairy-tale stuff, I don't know.
I know those stories are supposed to help us understand you better.
But I never really wanted to believe it for myself.
But for my kids...
Well, for my kids and my wife, I'll believe in anything.