[music playing]
- Hi! - Hey.
Our fearless leader is here.
Well, not the real one.
Abby asked all of us to leave everything
at home to come to LA to compete against the cream of the crop.
I mean, they have something to prove.
Unfortunately, once again, Abby doesn't show up.
She's going to ruin it for everybody.
Abby gave me one solo, and it's going to go to Maddie.
You know, it's awesome that I got a solo,
but Abby has still not shown up, and I'm
starting to get worried.
[MUSIC - RACHAEL SAGE, "AMONG ALL OF GOD'S CREATURES"]
One, two--
[vocalizing]
RACHAEL SAGE: (SINGING) Out of all of God's creatures,
it is only men who kill with a venom strong enough
to melt the fool upon the hill.
I'm walking down the street.
You're homeless.
You're asking me to help you. OK?
I'm not helping you, so you react to it.
Maddie's solo is about the plight of a child
living on the streets.
Maddie is really good at the acting portion of her solos.
Even though Abby's not there, my Maddie's a perfectionist,
and she wants everything to be perfect.
I hope it's good enough to beat these amazing kids in LA.
[up tempo music]
You have to be on your A game today, OK?
You guys are all soldiers.
You know how it works.
So, Talia, I need to know that you're
going to be able to battle whatever comes in front of you.
Maddie's done a lot of amazing things.
She just was in Sia's video.
And here you are, you've been in the limelight
for so many years, and this all the things
that she's getting when I consider you a stronger dancer.
This is your time to show the world that she's
not the only one like that.
This weekend, I've chosen Talia to do a solo.
And push. Leg up.
Squeeze your glutes. Do not let that leg drop.
Spot sharper.
She is one of my most consistent dancers.
She trains 20 to 25 hours every single week,
killing herself in the studio.
Your face was gorgeous.
I could see your eyes.
You were performing.
Talia hasn't competed against Maddie,
but Talia is a stronger dancer.
She's a stronger competitor.
And she's been in LA competing for years.
Talia is going to win.
OK, come on.
Walk towards the door, Kenz.
Abby, you're not going to come out?
I want to see.
How soon are they running?
I brought my make-up and everything to do.
I just did her costume all morning.
I appreciate you, your hard work.
And you know, we love when you're here.
And I don't like when you're not here.
So I just wanted to tell you that.
It is quite bizarre behavior for Abby to act like this,
and I am a little worried.
I think that, of course, Maddie's nervous.
LA is one of the hardest places to compete.
ANNOUNCER: This is Talia performing "Letting go."
[instrumental music]
[applause]
The little girl Talia was amazing.
I don't know.
I'm speechless.
ANNOUNCER: Please welcome to the stage.
This is Maddie performing "All God's Creatures."
[applause]
[MUSIC - RACHAEL SAGE, "AMONG ALL OF GOD'S CREATURES"]
RACHAEL SAGE: (SINGING) As I slip beneath the surface
of your soft and wrinkled skin.
[cheering and applause]
Maddie was completely flawless.
I just hope it was good enough to win.
ANNOUNCER: All right, first and foremost, we have overall solos
for an entire day.
In second place, entry number 24 with "Fragile Forest."
And in first place we've got entry number 26, Maddie,
with "All God's Creatures."
Maddie got a perfect score, and Talia
didn't make it in the top 5.