-Hi! -How are you?
-Hi, ladies. -[woman] Your first day.
My first day. I'm Jill.
-Christi. Nice to meet you. -Nice to meet you.
-[woman] Melissa. -Hi, Melissa.
I love Jill's voice. I think it's very 900 number.
[music playing]
Cut under.
Cut under. Downstage.
[woman]
she's ever gonna get, and so is that mother.
I am going to put Kendal in the competition
doing a solo,
so that I can see what she looks like on stage.
I'm gonna put the pressure on that kid
and see if she sinks or swims.
Then take a giant step with your right foot out
and drag and throw those arms up in the air. [exhales]
I'm pretty sure Kendal's gonna be able to hang.
And we came from a studio from about an hour.
I live locally.
-So-- -But, which means, you, like,
you've been driving for years.
This is close. Why didn't you come here before?
Honestly, I never heard great things about Abby.
[Jill]
I would think she could be a little more welcoming.
We always beat your studio when we went places.
-[Jill] Yeah, do you think? -Absolutely.
Chloe and Maddie have gone head-to-head with Kendal
and they beat her.
-When? -Last year.
Well, Kendal's come a long way. She knows her stuff.
-We've all come a long way. -Yeah, we've come a long way.
-I wasn't there. -It is...
about the win, because let's face it,
we're all here to win.
[Jill]
had both beaten Kendal at one point.
So she must feel a little threatened by Kendal
to even bring that up.
I don't care what they think.
There's a million Chloe, Maddie, Paiges out there.
But guess what? Kendal's here and she's staying.
-Hey Peanut. -I'm done.
-What do you think? -I like it.
You looked great.
[Christi]
And, like, the whole Mellissa-Jill thing,
they're either gonna team up together,
or they'll be like betta fish and kill each other.
Mm-hmm.
Now, Kendal, remember.
You're still on probation.
What you do out there today, counts. Yes?
I'm not really sure what probation means.
I think she keeps saying, "probation"
just because she wants me to bring it.
But I'm prepared to go on stage and bring it.
[male announcer] Up next, we have contestant No. 81
in the performance of, "Bring on the Boys,"
from studio code 513. Welcome Kendal!
[audience cheering]
["Bring on the Boys" playing]
The way that Jill was talking,
I expected Kendal to be this amazing dancer.
She was a good dancer,
but no comparison to Maddie or Chloe.
Before I went on stage,
I was hearing Abby's voice telling me all the corrections
and all the changes,
but I know I can do this.
[song ends]
[audience applauding, whistling]
Kendal looked gorgeous in her costume,
but the face wasn't there. The kid was a nervous wreck.
Were you nervous?
-Sort of. -Okay.
[Jill]
Here she's known these girls for three days.
She gets a new solo.
She really wants to do well for Abby.
[Abby] Kendal, watch the distended neck.
You need to pull it back.
I just want to know what your thoughts were on Kendal.
I don't know. That probation thing.
I don't want you to, like...
-Hold her on one performance-- -I think--
She had three days to learn the number.
This is what this is all about.
Did she pass that test? I guess that's my question.
[Jill]
I want to be part of the team.
I want my daughter to be a part of the team.
I wanna get rid of this probation crap
and move on.
She has to prove herself.
She's gonna keep on proving herself.
Everything is gonna be a test.
I'm sort of sad.
I think I'm gonna be on probation for pretty long.
You're okay?
-[Abby] Kendal, are you crying? -[Jill] No.
[Abby] No tears.
Save those tears for your pillow in your room, alone.
You're gonna humiliate yourself in front of everyone.
-Don't cry. Suck it up, kid. -[Jill] It's okay.
You're here. You're healthy.
You're one lucky little girl.
Act like it.
[Abby]
She didn't blow me out of the water.
I was expecting this kid to come out there
and have the whole package.
And she didn't.
So she's still on probation.
[Jill] It's okay.
[Abby] Mackenzie, you're afraid of bugs.
Bugs fly in the air, bugs crawl on the ground.
Bugs sting you.
Ready? Come on out.
Face the mirrors.
One, two, three...
four, five...
[Jill] Oh, she ran out of the room.
-That was her improv. -She ran away from the spider.
Look, Maddie's yelling at her.
[Abby] ...six, seven, eight...
[Abby laughs] Fourteen.
-Why're you laughing at me? -[Abby] Fifteen.
Because I think you're ridiculous.
Go, get outta here.
Go, sit upstairs with your mother.
[mocks Mackenzie] "I don't know what to do."
Oh, well.
Mackenzie, honey, 'cause it was cute.
You ran out of the room like you were afraid of spiders.
[sniveling] But she laughed at me.
Because I wasn't doing anything.
I don't know what to do.
How do you have the number 1 video in the country on iTunes
and you can't pretend there's a bug.
-Stop crying. -You go in there and show her...
what you're capable of. Okay?
Mom, I'm a kid. I'm allowed to do this!
[Melissa]
If she's gonna be Mac-Z Popstar,
she really needs to toughen up a little bit
and get some thicker skin.
You cried about doing an improvisational acting skill.
You don't think people laugh at me every day?
You don't think people make fun of me?
Get over yourself.
You are officially benched from this routine.
And you have to sit on the bench.
[tense music playing]
[Abby]
We have lots to do.
We're ready to start rehearsal.
I walk into the den to gather the girls.
I look around and I figure Chloe's just in the ladies room.
Late last night,
I decided to let Chloe go on her school field trip.
She's not here this evening. She'll be back tomorrow morning.
She made a commitment to this group.
You, as a parent, also made a commitment.
Yeah, and I made a commitment to Chloe's education.
And this is a school field trip.
I'm livid. We've got a big weekend ahead of us.
And Chloe's not even at rehearsal.
Do they not want to go to
Or do they just not want to win?
Why didn't she tell me yesterday?
Because she didn't know.
I think you're lying.
I think you knew she was going all the time.
You wanna make it seem like a last-minute decision.
No, I didn't.
You're a sneak and a liar,
and you're raising your kid to be the same.
Even though Chloe went on the school trip,
it was really important that I be in attendance
at rehearsals this evening
because it's my job to protect my kid
from the evil dance teacher.
[loudly] You should've told me ahead of time!
You're acting like a lunatic
because the school has taken priority for once.
It's not school, it's a field trip,
it's a camping trip.
Go to freaking Girl Scouts to go camping!
Is she that
that she doesn't know there's a field trip
and she's not going on it?
I'm gonna pretend you didn't call Chloe dumb.
Chloe's not present because she went away on a school trip.
I would love for Payton to do a solo. Why not?
They all said they had a solos and there's a trio.
And I... Can she do a solo this weekend?
Sure, Payton, you're on.
Like, wow, Leslie, the body is not even cold
and you're already swooping in.
Girls, remember, we have two days
to clean the number, perfect it, and it's not even finished yet.
I don't give a crap what Abby thinks.
It's none of her concern.
Don't you call somebody dumb and stupid
because they want to expand their horizons.
Well, I wasn't taking anybody's spot.
I wanted Payton to be added on to the roster
whether Chloe was doing a solo or not.
[Kelly]
I don't understand why you're questioning the solo.
I don't have a question with that.
I'm just asking. Is she learning a new dance?
-Is it because-- -Can I not speak to you, Leslie?
Nobody else is asking about Payton's solo.
So what?!
Even if Payton didn't get a solo this week,
Kelly would have found something else to yell about.
That's just what she does.
Finish that. Don't think about three.
Think about four.
Push! That's bad.
Back of the knee. Lock it!
[Payton]
Called "Eternally."
We only have a certain amount of time to learn it,
and I'm not used to it like these girls are.
[woman] What was your discussion with our fearless leader?
I was asking why Payton was allowed to do a solo,
when three of our kids who're part of the group,
didn't get a solo.
If these people wanna waste their time,
talking about what another mother's daughter is getting,
let them do it.
It's not for me.
I didn't think it was that much of a crime
to ask Abby if my daughter could do a solo.
[Kelly] We don't appreciate you coming into our group
and changing our words and telling us
how your daughter deserves to be in the group more than ours.
Just like your daughter came into our greenroom
and told us she was better than us.
I thought I was better than most people for--
[Abby] You thought you're better than most in this group?
[tense music]
[grunts]
[Leslie]
Does anybody make you happy?
These women don't respect anything.
They're never happy.
They're not happy if somebody's not in the number.
They're not happy if somebody's
They're not happy if they're not getting a trio.
When they get a trio, they are not not happy
if somebody gets a solo, it's ridiculous.
[Kelly] Maybe we'll get lucky and Leslie won't come.
I don't have a problem with Leslie.
[Christi] Oh my God, yes, you do. You lie like a rug.
I just don't like how Leslie comes in and...
We have seniority here.
Our girls work their butts off every week.
And Payton just walks in and gets to do a solo.
I don't think she earned it.
[doorbell rings]
Oh, somebody's here.
Hi! How are you?
It's Leslie!
-We thought you gave up on us. -Oh, I did get lost.
Whatever, Leslie!
Oh, don't start.
-Whatever! -How many drinks have you had?
Leslie's been fighting with all the moms this week.
So when she came into my party, I wasn't excited to see her.
Are you gonna bully us?
I feel that every time we're up in the viewing room...
-Yeah? -Every time we say something,
-you're just jumping-- -You know I just talk loud.
My voice gets loud.
It's not bullying. It's how I talk.
I'm here to enjoy myself this week,
and to watch the girls and enjoy them dance.
-And everyone-- -We've been bullied all week.
-I'm loud. I'm not bullying. -It felt like
I've been dealing with it all week.
-I really-- -You told me to shut up.
Because sometimes I just wish you would.
[Christi] I wish you would. I really wish you would.
[woman] I take bullying very seriously.
And I do too. And I'm not doing it. So...
I'm sick that you are accusing me of it.
I think what the issue is
the tone of what you're saying
is very intense.
You're sitting here, listening to this woman who's drunk,
say what she's saying--
Call me a drunk again.
I can't tell you how many people have said
they've seen you standing there
with your beer bottle and cigarettes.
You're nothing, but an intimidating bitch.
I don't know if I was pissed Leslie was treating us crappy,
or that she was ruining the party.
All I knew was I didn't want to see her face any longer.
Shoo.
Go away.
[bottle shatters]
Guess what? You got it.
[tense music]
I think we're a really hard group to be accepted into
because we've been together so long
and we have so much history.
Oh, don't cry.
Oh, don't.
But if you want to be accepted into the group,
stop telling us everything you hate about us
and why our kids are rotten people.
[shaking] It's my party and I'll cry if I want to.
Oh, yeah!
[woman] Good night. What a fabulous birthday!
[Christi] You know what? Leslie is a bitch.
Christi and I are walking to our seats
to watch the girls perform,
and who is in the hallway but the wicked bitch Leslie.
[Kelly] What're you doing here?
Did you really think I'd let you guys
intimidate me not to come?
I don't think we were trying to intimidate you.
You attacked us all week.
Okay, listen,
we're here, because when we start something, we finish it.
-I don't care what you finish. -That is just I and T.
You know what, Leslie?
-You're not a member-- -You're wrong.
Like your daughter's here to dance, Payton's here--
-Where's Payton? -She's in the greenroom.
Good for you, Leslie. Go to the greenroom.
-[Leslie] You're witches. -[Kelly] Takes one to know one.
Careful someone doesn't drop a house on you!
I think it is safe to say,
that considering that I had quite a blow-up at Leslie,
the dressing room is not going to be full of warm and fuzzies.
All right, Payton.
Go.
I'm really nervous,
I didn't feel like I had enough preparation
to learn a solo.
[male announcer] This is Jazz 13 at 42.
-[music starts] -[audience cheering]
["Eternally" playing]
I think Payton did well
for her not being properly prepared
and not having a lot of rehearsal time.
[indistinct chattering]
Leslie, how was Payton?
[Leslie] She got no practice time.
-So-- -You know, Leslie...
I don't want to hear it. You asked for the solo.
We threw it on her.
-She didn't get any practice. -On auditions,
do you get time to practice on it?
No! You learn it right there.
You do it in front of the producers and director.
All the moms need to zip it.
It's my way or the highway.
And that's the way it's gonna be.
And if you don't like it...
Kelly, remember when you came and asked me
"Why is Payton here?"
I didn't ask why she's here, I asked why she's doing a solo.
I think that the other girls in the group
should have been offered a solo before Payton was.
[Leslie]
We already know that they don't want us here.
So if the group number doesn't do well,
I have to be honest
I will feel guilty that they will blame it on Payton.
You want to know why the kids and us don't want Payton here?
Because you bully them.
Save your tears for the pillow.
Don't talk to me like that. I'm an adult.
Right. So you shouldn't be sitting here boohooing.
And look at those three.
Why in God's name would you care what they think?
Who are they? They are nobody.
Just stop.
I really hope that this is the last we see of Leslie.
I mean, she's hard to take.
[scoffs] And we've taken a lot of her lately.
[man] You guys ready? Your top teen novice soloists...
Seventh place with a 288.
"Eternally," it's Payton.
Did Payton want a higher medal? Absolutely.
But I'm not gonna break her down.
I'm proud she accomplished what she did this weekend.
[woman]
Camryn, she has a very strong personality.
But Kendal is super insecure.
She hides behind her humor.
I tried to give her certain emotions on her face,
"close your mouth, squint when you dance."
Because if you're not feeling it,
then you better act the part.
She can't even do that.
Stay in character.
It's because she's been taught not to have any emotion.
[teacher] I love all the slamming.
That's exactly what I want you to do.
But Kendal, just remember this is serious.
You have to find that emotion.
It looks messy. It's sloppy.
Kendal, if you have a problem with it, let me know,
I'll switch you out.
My frustration is coming from the fact that
I feel like every single person on this team has given up.
Moms, girls, get in.
[teacher]
I've been a part of the dancing business industry
for years and years and years.
And I'm known to get the best out of whoever I'm teaching.
And in order for me to improve their dance,
they've gotta let that wall down.
You are all different in what you do.
You are individuals.
Each and every one brings something special to the team.
You have to realize that and know your strengths.
And I want you to really take what I'm saying
and use it because it's what you do in here that counts.
Chloe, I feel your insecurity.
So you have to believe in yourself.
Because I believe in you.
You are so talented.
You really are.
I think Kendal also suffers from that as well.
I know she suffers from it.
But she has to break down that wall.
And you got to show her, as her mom,
that it's okay to be vulnerable.
Because that's the only way she'll become a better dancer.
It hurts me, sorry...
[snivels] to hear you say how insecure my child is.
I'm telling you how, you know, how I'm insecure. Still.
-We failed as moms. -How could we let that happen?
[teacher] But you haven't failed.
Because you're gonna help her put the pieces back together.
I do feel insecure a lot of the time
because we've been through so much in the past.
But I'll have to deal with it.
I got emotional in the heat and I did seem probably...
seem like a crybaby.
But you see that there.
A crybaby?
There's no such thing, honey. That's emotion.
Before, "Save your tears for your pillow."
"You're a crybaby," but not here. Not anymore.
[woman] I feel guilty that we didn't do anything about it.
Like, I see what it's doing to you guys.
Now that you've grown.
Like it's still there.
[tearfully] When I think about everything that happened,
all I can remember is how she used to make me feel
and I fought for so long, for four years.
I'm tired of having to prove myself.
Proving to Abby that I'm more than that.
That I just want her to go away.
This is a little drop in what your life is gonna be.
It's gonna help mold who you are.
But here's someone who sees your worth.
And will help you overcome
any of those insecurities.
You are good enough.
Just you being you. That's good enough.