ABBY LEE: This is the open call audition
day to replace Vivianne.
And I am just thrilled that so many people are turning out.
There's a line around the building.
Hi, everybody.
Hi.
Thank you for coming.
I'm looking forward to seeing some amazing talent in there
today.
Break a leg, everybody.
[music playing]
You all realize why you're here.
You're auditioning for a spot on the Abby Lee Dance
Company's competition team.
It is not to be taken lightly.
LESLIE: We're here to audition.
I really can't believe that we have to audition.
We've been here for four years.
And I think it's ridiculous that we have to wait in this line
with all these people.
They're all strangers.
She should just be in the group. ABBY LEE: This is it.
Dance for your life. [music playing]
SINGER: (SINGING) Throw your hands up.
It's party time.
All the girls and the pearls are about to shine.
Ladies, stand up because it won't be long.
My eyes are roaming the classroom.
7, 8, 9, here we go.
I'm going to let you go.
478, you're done.
276, you're done.
I immediately took notice of about five dancers
that would be a nice fit.
Now, I need to see them jump.
I need to see them turn.
I need to see them kick.
Come on, girls.
Give it to me.
That's not enough right now. Let's go.
[music playing]
KELLY: When I looked around at all the moms,
it was weird to picture any of them being part of our group.
I mean, we're such a close knit group.
And just to let an outsider in is going to be really hard.
All right.
Take it around.
[applause]
I'm a little worried about the new mom joining the group
just because I'm constantly looking over my shoulder
with Melissa.
And if I've got another one, I can
only look one way at a time.
ABBY LEE: Next group. Let's go.
You need a kid that's really going
to fit in with the chemistry of the group.
495, you can go.
Thank you. Stay.
You can go.
They can't be too old.
They can't be too young.
I don't want another Mackenzie whining.
I don't want another Brooke brooding.
I need someone that's the right fit.
Thank you.
MOTHER: Look at my little baby out there.
Face directly to the back.
LESLIE: Good Lord.
It's like they're at a cattle auction.
As you know, we were looking for one person.
[dramatic thudding]
230, 201, 479, step forward.
Peyton, you know I love you.
You're just not right for this particular competition team,
so I have to let you go.
[dramatic music playing]
It's just not fair.
I think Peyton was just too tall.
And I know you don't want to hear that, but--
LESLIE: Well, then put her on it some other way.
(SIGHING) Relieved?
201, 479, sadly, I have to let you go.
Thank you very much.
230, congratulations!
[cheering]
Congratulations.
Are you excited?
Congratulations, Peanut.
I was so excited for Kendall.
All of her hard work had paid off.
And I know what she's going to do with this team.
And I know that they're going to love her.
This is a legacy that you're joining.
She is now one of Abby's kids.
I'm Kendall.
I'm eight years old.
And I just really believe in myself that I
can show Abby what I can do.
I think I'm worthy to be a part of the Abby Lee Dance Company.
This is a tight-knit group.
And I'm not going to tell you that it's going to be easy.
You're on probation for the first several weeks.
And, mom, there's a competition this weekend.
She has three days to prepare.
I chose Kendall because she has great potential.
She was the right look.
She's a cute little girl.
She fit in well with the kids.
Thank you.
You're all dismissed.
I will see you bright and early tomorrow for rehearsal, OK?
Thank you.
Thank you all.
Jill, she's going to come in tomorrow.
I need her for a private right after school.
I'm going to teach her a solo.
And then, I'll be here to have her private.
Thank you.
All right.
Hey, by the way, congratulations again.
That's lovely. Thank you.
ABBY LEE: Thanks. - Hi.
I just need you to explain a few things to me.
I don't understand why you cut Peyton.
Why I cut Peyton?
She's just too tall.
Oh, come on.
I thought you were Abby Lee Miller.
Find a spot for her.
She didn't make it for the first cut.
She just doesn't fit into that team.
She looks too old. - Why not?
Isn't it about what she can do?
She dances very mature.
I spent tons of money.
And you know what? - I know.
You're a very good customer. I'm not doubting that.
The kid was great.
Well, then tell me what it takes.
- I told her she was great. - What is it going to take?
You would have to cut her in half.
She's through puberty.
It doesn't matter.
You should find her a spot.
You bring in these strangers.
Those three girls left after you cut her-- well,
they're strangers.
You don't know what they're like.
You don't know what--
wait, is the one going to come from Ohio?
You have no idea what these people are going to do for you.
Leslie.
- I did everything for you. - Leslie.
- What? - Calm down.
Bull crap. I do everything right.
You need to go home and rethink this.
Try to sleep on your pillow and think about what you did
to me and to Peyton tonight.
- Leslie. - Nope.
- Peyton is-- - I'm done!
--too old to dance with those little kids.
Find her a spot, Abby.
- Find five other older kids. - Solos, duets.
Find her a spot.
Solos, duets-- anything.
Give her something.
[music playing]
I'm rehearsing everybody's solos today.
I'm rehearsing the group number today.
And nobody's leaving early.
And nobody's coming in late.
They're all going to be here.
And I don't care if their feet are bleeding.
Maddie is doing a musical theater
number called "Jubilation."
It's about a young girl whose dreams come true when
she lands a spot on Broadway.
This is going to be one tough year for Maddie.
She is now competing nine and over.
Star, diva.
There's kids that I know that are 10, 11, and 12 who
will make mincemeat out of her.
All right, let's see it.
[music playing]
Nia is doing a routine.
The music is based on the Broadway show
"Once on this Island."
It's very tropical.
She looks beautiful in the costume.
And it's simple.
She does a lot of acrobatics.
I don't want any trouble with your mother.
This is not an ethnic dance.
Holly, once again, no show.
I'm sick and tired of hearing Holly's mouth
about the ethnic routines.
And I don't want to hear the mother anymore.
And ta-ta-ta, ta-ta-ta.
You can look side, side.
Chloe is doing a musical theater number called "Dreams."
This music is perfect for her because she has big dreams,
but she's going to have to do a lot of work
to make those dreams come true.
Chloe has gained a lot of recognition
from the music video.
Frankly, I think it's getting to her head a little bit.
What that kid doesn't understand is all eyes are on her.
Everybody's going to be watching for her to make a mistake.
How about our new BFF Jill?
Is she coming?
Yeah, I'm sure she'll be here.
CHRISTI: Probably going to be here with a big gift for Abby.
[laughs]
I think she's very nice.
And I don't know her, so--
Ugh.
You also thought Cathy was nice.
So what's your judge of character?
I like you guys, but I don't want to be your cheerleaders.
I'm just trying to give her the benefit of the doubt.
But somebody said they quit from where they were dancing.
There was like three people that quit because of her.
Melissa says that people have told her
that Jill is a crazy dance mom and that she's
heard nothing good about her.
A couple of people said to me, isn't it funny
how she wormed her way in here after your kids
got a music video?
And the next day, I walk in, and here she was taking classes
and coming for this audition.
Yeah.
So your reputation precedes you.
Kelly and Christi already have their guard up.
And they're ready saying, we think that Jill is going
to be a problem in our group.
I'm kind of thinking the same way,
but I'm trying not to judge her.
I'm trying to give her a chance.
And I certainly don't trust people
who are overly nice, overly accommodating, sweet,
nice because nobody's really that nice.
MELISSA: It's her-- I mean, I'm just--
KELLY: I think her main thing was--
- Hi. - Hi.
How are you? JILL: How is everybody?
- Hello. - Hi, ladies.
MELISSA: Your first day.
My first day.
I'm Jill.
CHRISTI: Christi, nice to meet you.
So nice to meet you, Christi. MELISSA: I'm Melissa.
Hi, Melissa.
(AFFECTED) I love Jill's voice.
I think it's very 900 number.
[music playing]
Tight cut under.
Cut under.
Downstage.
This little girl Kendall is getting
the biggest break of her life she's ever going to get.
And so is that mother.
I am going to put Kendall in the competition
doing a solo so that I can see what she looks like on stage.
I'm going to put the pressure on that kid
and see if she sinks or swims.
Then, you're going to take a giant step with your right foot
out and drag and throw those arms up in the air.
Ha!
I'm pretty sure Kendall's going to be able to hang.
And we came from a studio from about an hour--
I live locally, so--
But what made you--
I mean, you've been driving for years, and this is close.
Why didn't you come here before?
Honestly, I never heard great things about Abby.
-
I feel this tension between Christi and I.
I would think she could be a little more welcoming.
MELISSA: Oh, we always beat your studio when we went places.
KELLY: Yeah. JILL: You think?
Absolutely. KELLY: Yeah.
Chloe and Maddie have gone head to head with Kendall.
And they beat her.
LESLIE: When? - Last year.
Well, Kendall has come a long way since then.
CHRISTI: See, here-- see, I told you.
Yeah, she knows her stuff.
Well, we've all come a long way.
Yeah, we've come a long way. And--
I wasn't there. My kids weren't there.
--it is about the wine because, let's face it,
we're all here to win.
Christi brings up that Maddie and Chloe had both beaten
Kendall at one point.
So she must feel a little threatened by Kendall
to even bring that up.
I don't care what they think.
There's a million Chloe, Maddie, Paiges out there.
But guess what?
Kendall's here.
And she's staying.
Hey, peanut.
I'm done.
- What did you think? - I like it.
That's great. You looked great.
I think Jill is the queen of the stage moms.
And the whole Melissa Jill thing, they're either
going to team up together, or they're going to be like two
beta fish and kill each other.
Mm-hmm.
[music playing]
SINGER: (SINGING) Oh, I'm a sassy girl.
ABBY LEE: Stacey!
SINGER: (SINGING) I'm a sassy girl.
Stay back.
You have to take smaller steps.
Turn those feet out.
Well, I wanted a prop, so I asked
Melissa to make the prop because Mackenzie uses the prop.
I wanted it to look like the plastic box the doll comes in.
Work it, Mackenzie.
Bigger.
The competition is tomorrow.
We are leaving tomorrow, and I'm still fixing choreography.
This is ridiculous.
These kids need to learn these numbers and know it perfectly.
Why is Brooke upstairs?
She was supposed to get a drink and come back in.
Good.
Go to the football game, and let me call Peyton to get here.
Stop writing all over your hands.
It's tacky.
[sad music playing]
Oh, she made her cry.
She's a bitch.
ABBY LEE: We're in the final rehearsal
the night before we leave.
And Brooke just starts to cry.
She looks like a six-year-old.
Whether it takes two hours or four hours, I don't care.
If you're part of this team, you're staying
until the routine is clean.