So is Abby here?
I don't know.
Is she going to come and help with the rehearsal?
Hey, Ab! It's Gia.
RACHEL: And Rachel.
Just wondering where you were.
We have to order costumes for the group dance in 44 minutes
now because they're coming from St. Louis
and it's a holiday tomorrow.
So we don't know where you are, but we hope you're on the way.
If Abby doesn't show up today, I don't
know what I'm going to do.
That's what I said. We need to cut it out.
There she is.
Did you hear from Abby?
I'm just going to start the group.
I have the group music.
MELISSA: Oh, that's good.
It's called "Just Be."
It's pretty lyrical.
It's not, like, hard.
And James is here to help me.
So--
CHRISTI: Do you know where we're going this weekend?
No, but wherever we're going, we have to have a group dance,
so-- - So true.
OK.
Come on!
HOLLY: All right, work hard girls.
Be safe.
Thank you, Gianna.
Still no Abby, but at least we have Gia and James.
And they are Abby's best teachers.
And we also have a group song, so I guess that's a start.
CHRISTI: Gia said that she's working on the group dance,
but what about the other dances?
You think Abby will give Gia the authority
to pass out solos and duets?
CHRISTI: Well, I don't think Gianna
would do anything on her own without checking with Abby.
MELISSA: No, I don't either.
Maybe there aren't any.
I don't know.
LESLIE: OK, who do you think has solos?
CHRISTI: I think Payton's going to do a solo, too.
I think it's going to be Payton and Maddie.
Oh, maybe it will be Payton.
CHRISTI: I think Payton and Maddie.
We all want our kids to have solos.
Maddie hasn't had a solo in weeks.
Payton hasn't had a solo the entire time
she's been on the team.
Kristie Ray threatened to quit last week
if Asia didn't get a solo.
If Abby doesn't assign these solos,
I really hope that Gia can handle the wrath of the mother
of whoever doesn't get one.
[light music]
GIANNA: The group routine this week is called "Just Be."
I'm going to keep it very simple, very elegant.
James is a very unique choreographer.
I'm so excited that he's helping me this week.
And hopefully, Abby will be appreciative and not fire me
for doing our own choreography.
Let me see it now without Asia and McKenzie.
[phone ringing]
- Who are you calling? - I'm calling Kelly.
Why?
Because.
I don't owe you an explanation.
No, you don't, but I think it's rude.
CHRISTI: Kelly? KELLY (ON PHONE): Yeah?
Hi. MELISSA: Hi, Kel!
KELLY (ON PHONE): Hi.
CHRISTI: I'm just calling to let you
know that, um, Abby's not here.
I don't know where she is, but anyhow,
the girls are learning a group dance.
And since you kind of made your statement
that you're back on the team--
Like Rosa Parks, I'm not moving.
I'm either sitting there or I'll go home.
Bye.
CHRISTI: I don't know if you have plans for your girls
to dance this week, but if you do
or if you want them to learn the dance,
I would suggest that you get here.
All right, I'll talk to you later.
Kelly can come back right now because Abby's not here.
So she's not facing that big fight at the front door,
and her girls can come and dance, which is all Kelly
really wanted in the first place.
Christi, what makes you think you have the right to invite
Kelly and the kids back here when Abby
is just away for the moment?
I didn't invite her.
I was telling her what was going on.
As far as I'm concerned, those kids were still on the pyramid.
They're still part of this team.
I'm giving her the information.
What she does with it is up to her.
But your name is not Abby.
She did not allow them back on--
you're really crossing the line here.
Does anybody think I'm crossing the line?
No, I don't, but Abby might.
I don't think Kelly should come in here because I
think Abby would freak.
I understand why Christi thinks now
is a good time for Kelly to bring
her girls back on to the team.
I mean, she knows how upset Abby would be if she brought back
her kids without permission.
You know, if Gia and James don't want them in there,
they're going to tell them to leave.
So-- - Gia knows better to--
I don't think Abby's expecting it to happen,
so I'm sure she didn't cover this with Gia.
Gia is not going to know what to do.
She might not even come, so--
We may be worrying about nothing.
KELLY: I always come back to the studio
because my girls miss their family.
These girls are like sisters.
They have been together since they were three years old.
And as much as Abby doesn't like it, we are part of this team.
I'm just really not looking forward
to talking to that woman.
Excuse me.
My kids are here to learn the group dance.
OK.
I'm already stressed out enough with Abby not showing up,
and now Kelly walks in the door.
If I stop Kelly from entering, it'll
be a huge blowout with the moms and I don't have time for that.
Ahh!
[screaming]
[dramatic music]
Hello!
- New carpet. - Ah, nice.
LESLIE: Where are you sitting?
Doesn't smell good at the moment.
What are you moving over for?
My seat's over here.
I'm not moving.
Payton has earned her spot on this team.
Being on the Elite Competition Team
is a great opportunity for any dancer,
and Kelly is not going to take that away from my daughter.
I just want Payton to feel welcomed here
and not feel awkward and uncomfortable.
And I have not done anything to make
Payton feel uncomfortable.
You just showing up makes her feel uncomfortable.
That's not my problem.
Do you blame her, though?
Every time you did show up, she was kicked back off the team.
It's Abby's decision.
I don't pick who gets to be on the team.
So she should be upset with Abby, not me.
It's not going to change again.
But that's not my fault!
I think Leslie is just very desperate
to be part of this team.
But I mean, Abby continues to tell her,
you're not part of the team.
You're filling in.
When Abby comes in yelling, this is between you two.
She keeps saying it's my fault.
I think it's your fault. I think you guys are starting
trouble and it's unnecessary.
I told Abby I was coming back to the team at the competition.
LESLIE: But she's not here.
I don't care. LESLIE: But if she was here--
KELLY: When she is here, I will still be sitting here.
If she was here, she would probably have you removed.
She can try.
I did talk to Abby last night, and she didn't
say much about whether you're dancing,
whether you're not dancing.
So let's have something prepared.
And if she really doesn't want you to dance,
then she'll scratch it.
I actually think it's great that Gia
is choreographing a solo.
It's great that she picks up and leaves
this team constantly.
And it's great that she walks back in here
when Abby doesn't even want her back,
and her daughter gets a solo.
That's great!
How does somebody that gets thrown off the team,
leaves time and time again, and walks back in here
and is told that Gia will lose her job
if this child has a solo--
how does she still get a solo?
It's not fair.
This problem is between Abby and I.
And, like, my kids have been here since they
were three years old.
So we're not going anywhere.
You're disappointed Brooke has a solo.
We're all happy Brooke has a solo.
I'm disappointed that--
So who is the bad guy, Leslie?
I'm disappointed that you can break rules,
you don't have to follow anybody's
authority around here, and you still get to come out on top.
CHRISTI: Wait a minute. - Because you know what--
The only person breaking a rule this week
is Abby because she's not here.
LESLIE: I will not leave this team on my own.
The only way I'll leave this team is if Abby kicks me off.
You're not running me out like you've done every other woman
that has sat up here with her child
to try to get the same opportunities as you have.
Leslie is trying to pretend that she
is the victim, but any animosity that the moms have towards
her Leslie brought on herself.
Get out of that corner.
Shining out of it, down down.
(SINGING) Just waiting for you.
Up.
Hi, Abby.
It's Leslie.
I'm here watching Brooke do a solo,
and even though Kelly shouldn't be here.
You didn't allow her back from what I know of,
so could you please get back to me as soon as possible?
Thank you.
Leslie, why are you so upset about the solo?
What are you going to do when Gia gets fired?
I told Gia when I walked in here,
do not choreograph my daughter a solo--
But you forget--
--if you're going to lose your job.
--but you forget, you're the one
that asked for a solo knowing that Brooke would get one.
KELLY: So did you.
But I've been here.
You're a fill-in.
No, I'm here.
You're a fill-in.
Leslie really wants Kelly's spot.
And she really wants to be on the team,
and Payton really deserves to be on the team.
And Leslie really is already part of the team.
And she's on the team, but she doesn't want to be on the team
if we're on the team.
So she doesn't want us on the team so she can be on the team.
I just got a text from Abby.
Nah-uh.
The first line says "Read out loud!!!"
with three exclamation marks.
It says, "Yes, I did call Gianna back,
and I did tell her that Brooke should not do a solo,
nor be in this group dance.
I heard to quote Gianna saying, she
couldn't do the choreography in the senior group."
She's talking out of her--
"FYI, Payton can do a solo."
Leslie, I am not pulling Brooke's solo
to make room for your daughter.
This is the one time it didn't work
out for your daughter, Brooke.
One time that she did not work out.
KELLY: Get the [bleep] out of my face.
LESLIE: And don't say that language right in my face.
KELLY: I will say whatever the hell I want to say.
Go. - Who do you think you are?
My child's mother.
I don't care who you are.
Don't take your frustration on Abby out on me.
Have Payton do a solo!
What's the matter, Kelly?
You didn't get what you wanted?
You've been spoiled all your life.
Yeah, at least I'm not a hoodlum like you.
I'm not a hoodlum.
I don't say the F word every two seconds
like you do, you trash mouth.
I don't go to court for breaking beer bottles
on people's heads either.
Don't turn it around on me because you didn't get what
you wanted once for your child.
KELLY: Shut up!
No, don't tell me to shut up!
Well, then, don't talk to me!
I'm tired of you being in my face, Leslie.
I don't care. I'm sitting--
KELLY: Telling me I shouldn't be here.
- Then go sit down there. - I should be here.
- Then go sit down there. - No, that's my seat.
Well, I'm in it. I'm in it.
- You go sit down there. - Move me.
Move.
I want you to try to move me.
OK.
Did Abby ever text you back, Leslie?
Never texted me back to tell me if she was coming today
or not.
Is Payton doing a solo?
No.
How could she do a solo?
She didn't practice a solo. - Neither did Brooke.
Brooke learned it the same day.
Brooke learned it in 15 minutes.
And Brooke said Payton has her solo costume in the room.
I don't understand why you're asking that.
Isn't your daughter Brooke doing a solo?
Yes.
Well, then how are they both doing a solo?
Why can't she?
You know, you want Payton to have opportunities.
Well, it sounds like you have more
opportunities than anybody.
I just don't understand why we are a threat to you.
Oh, you're not a threat to me, Leslie.
I'm just pointing out that you're--
You know what? Then hush.
I don't need to hush.
I don't need to hear your comments.
In no way, shape, or form am I a threat to you, so I don't
understand the smart comment.
You complaining constantly.
I'm just saying what you want.
What kinda smart comment is that?
You're a smart ass is what you are.
Excuse you in front of the children.
No one said she wasn't on the team.
No, you didn't say anything.
Why are you barking at me?
I'm not saying one more word because the next time
somebody says I'm barking, I am not saying a word.
Leslie is, like, a frickin' psycho cyclone.
Like, Payton should be on the team.
Can I be on the team?
I want to be on the team, but I didn't
say I wanted to be on the team.
You said I wanted to be on the team,
but I want to be on the team, but you didn't
say I wanted to be on the team.
Christi, why don't you want me on the team?
MELISSA: Do I have my phone in my purse?
Who you calling?
Abby.
Oh, good.
I thought we would draw straws.
Who got the shortest stick to call her.
[laughing]
[phone ringing]
Why don't I call her?
Hello!
We're all getting ready for competition.
Where are you Abby?
Oh, you're in Orlando.
When are you coming home?
[dramatic music]
Abby, were you serious when you
said Payton could have a solo?
LESLIE: OK.
LESLIE: Brooke is doing a solo, and Payton hasn't--
[beeping]
I think we got disconnected.
KELLY: It doesn't matter if she wants us here, Brooke.
Even when Abby's not here, she still finds
a way to mess with these girls.
[crying]
(WHISPERING) Don't cry.
Brooke, there's nothing we can do.
Whatever relationship I could have had with Abby is gone.
Come on.
[dramatic music]
MAN: Coming up next, ladies and gentlemen,
it's going to be entry 81.
Put your hands together for "Just Be."
[applause]
[ashley jana, "just be"]
(SINGING) Life has changes, rearranges.
But I want this to stay.
We'll just be.
Like two birds flying over the sea, we'll just be.
In our melody.
[applause, cheers]
It has been a long time since I felt so emotionally
invested in a group dance.
And if these girls can pull off a win without Abby,
this might be my favorite victory ever.
Oh my god!
Your highest scoring 9 to 11 small group will
be entry number 81, "Just Be."
[applause]
[cheers, laughter]
I couldn't be more thrilled right now.
These kids just won this group dance without Abby,
and they beat really good dancers.
I'm really not sure where Abby is.
Is she in Pittsburgh?
Is she in Florida?
CHRISTI: She was with her mother,
but then when she called Gianna, she
wasn't with her mother at all.
That's all hearsay, though.
You don't know if any of that is true.
Keep protecting her, Leslie.
All I'm saying is, she should have been here,
but if she was with her mother, then that's understandable.
She said she wasn't coming back until I was gone.
She never mentioned a word about,
my mother is sick, that's why I'm not here.
She's not here because I'm here.
She said nothing about her mother.
I miss her!
I do, too.
Abby should have been here.
She would have been proud of you guys, but she wasn't.
It was her choice.
[dramatic music]