[music playing]
All right, listen to me.
It's the battle of the pop stars.
Girls, pop stars are always trying
to be number-one on the charts, number-one on the radio,
number-one video out there.
That's what it's all about.
So I'm trying to figure out who's
going to be my number-one star.
Or should I say, number two.
Kendall and Chloe are battling for the number-two position
on this team.
Maddie is the number-one girl.
I mean, she's proved herself time and time again.
And with my open calls coming up,
maybe that number-two spot isn't good enough.
[music - nikko lowe, "stand up"]
Chloe's solo this week is to "Hear Me Roar."
It's a jazz number inspired by Katy Perry.
Now, Katy Perry is a confident young woman.
She gets out on stage and she entertains that audience.
She puts on a whole spectacular show.
Can Chloe do that?
Watch your arms.
They're goofy.
So tanked.
Run, run.
CHRISTI: Chloe has not had a solo in a really long time,
because she didn't get to dance at nationals.
So this is her opportunity to prove, not only to Abby,
but to everyone that she is irreplaceable on this team.
And the only way that she can do that is by beating Kendall.
I think healthy competition can be good for the kids.
They know one is going to come in ahead of the other.
[MUSIC - NIKKO LOWE, "CLAP YOUR HANDS"]
ABBY: Kendall's routine is "Demand Applause," influenced
by none other than Lady Gaga.
She writes her songs about her joy, her victory, her defeat.
Kendall doesn't do that.
Kendall just tries to nail all the steps.
She forgets about all this.
(SINGING) I'm gettin' ready and the stage is all set.
My nerves are steady but I'm ready to sweat.
ABBY: Make it count!
(SINGING) I'm gonna shine and continue all night.
Cross your thighs!
Thighs-- 1, 2, 3, 4.
CHRISTI: I'm not going to take anything away from Kendall.
I think she's a fabulous dancer.
But wasn't it Chloe and Maddie for years?
Why all of a sudden is Chloe sort of by the wayside fighting
for number two?
(SINGING) So raise your hands 'cause I want you to reach
for me, and raise your voice, 'cause I want you to scream.
So raise your hands, 'cause I want you to reach for me.
I don't know, Jill.
That's pretty clean for you only having 30 minutes on that.
I don't know what you want me to say.
I really need her to be her best this weekend.
[music playing]
ABBY: 1, 2, and 3.
You've gotta step up with them on 3.
CHRISTI: So Jill--
Not everybody's in it.
You weren't all that surprised that Kendall got a solo.
[scoffs] Where you going with this?
Because she had a private on Sunday when we came home?
And you started learning it?
Mm-hmm.
Well, I didn't know when.
But yeah, she had half an hour with Gianna.
Rumor has it that Kendall had a private two days ago.
And it just so happens that the solo that she has now
is the same dance that she was working on in the private.
Maddie's learned stuff all year, and then--
Yeah, and you complain about it.
No, no.
Well, right.
But my point is, I didn't know her solo would be this week.
I don't care what you say.
Until all the kids have the same number of privates,
it's not an even playing field.
Jill is just the kind of person who will make sure that Kendall
does anything to win.
But you still knew--
JILL: All she did was she had a half--
You still knew she was--
I knew she had a half-hour private.
CHRISTI: --learning a solo early.
JILL: Yes.
Before a pyramid, before any of her solo was--
JILL: Two days ago, yeah.
OK.
Well, that's two extra days, and that's a half an hour
more than Chloe got.
Christi is all over me right now because Kendall had
a half-hour private to learn her solo, and Chloe didn't.
I'm not gonna sit around all week and listen to her bitch
and moan about it.
That's her problem, not mine.
So-- - Yeah.
You know what?
I don't want to sit here and listen to this.
I'm leaving!
I'm going down to get privates, Christi, in case
you're wondering.
ABBY: All right, Chloe, let's go.
[music playing]
Whoa!
Oh, you look cute.
I like the feathers.
CHRISTI: This is Chloe's first solo in a really long time.
She didn't have a chance to dance at nationals,
and I can see that she's really nervous
and she's working herself up.
I'm telling her to stop freaking herself out,
'cause she's over here like--
Come here.
Kendall.
I don't need any brats on this team.
It will not be tolerated.
If you cry one tear, you are not doing the solo
and Maddie will go out and improv.
And watch who you're rolling your eyes at, kiddo.
JILL: I think she's fighting back the tears.
She was not rolling her eyes at you, Abby.
She would not roll her eyes at you.
What Kendall needs to do at this moment is focus.
This is Kendall's chance to climb up the ranks
and take that number-two spot from Chloe.
MC: This will be Kendall.
[cheers and applause]
"Demand Applause."
[MUSIC - NIKKO LOWE, "CLAP YOUR HANDS"]
(SINGING) I'm gettin' ready and the stage is all set.
My nerves are steady but I'm ready to sweat.
I'm gonna shine and entertain you all night.
The world is mine and I'm burning so bright.
Tell me you're ready for me.
Tell me you wanna believe.
Give me the lovin' I need.
Give me a reason to breathe.
So raise your hands, 'cause I want you to reach for me,
and raise your voice, 'cause I want you to scream.
So raise your hands, 'cause I want you to reach for me,
and raise your voice, 'cause I want you to scream.
A thousand people screaming, waiting for me.
I'm feeling love from everyone that I see.
The lights are on and I can finally
be free to show the world why everybody loves me.
JILL: Way to go, girl!
[cheers and applause]
CHRISTI: Kendall stumbles on a turn
during her opening turn sequence,
and that might be just the opening Chloe needs
to calm herself down.
MC: Please welcome to the Believes stage,
entry number 11, Chloe, with "Hear Me Roar."
[cheers and applause]
Entry number 11--
[music - nikko lowe, "stand up"]
(SINGING) Ah, ah, ah, ah-ah-ah.
No time for insanity.
No time for the world to get you down.
No time for a fantasy--
just time for your life to turn around.
Just face your reality and know that your time is nearing now.
Just shoot for the galaxy.
No turning back.
I'm gonna stand up.
I'm gonna-- pushed around.
Never let them keep you down.
So stand up.
Stand up, stand up, stand up, ah-ah.
Stand up, stand up, stand up, stand up.
[cheers and applause]
- Good job. - Good job.
You did well.
ABBY: Good job-- could have been better.
You came out and looked stunning gorgeous and then choked
on that first turn--
fell backwards out of it.
You watched her from the wings blow the first turn,
and then you played it safe.
Sometimes the competition MC calls out the wrong order.
Chloe got lucky and she used it to her advantage.
Had she gone out there and nailed that turn,
you would have been a mess going out there after her.
Got it?
JILL: Abby's right.
If Kendall danced after Chloe, maybe we
would be having a different conversation right now.
MC: Here we go!
Overall 9 to 11 Solo Advanced category--
JILL: I need for Kendall to place higher than Chloe.
I really want this for her.
I need this for her.
MC: Here we go, starting with fifth place--
will be entry number 12, "Demand Applause," with Kendall.
[cheers and applause]
JILL: Kendall's fifth.
Not good enough.
Not good enough for Kendall, not good enough for me,
and really not good enough for Abby.
This may be the end of Kendall's solos.
MC: Second place, regional champion, Chloe.
[cheers and applause]
CHRISTI: Chloe beat Kendall today.
You know, she did what Abby challenged her to do.
She proved that she really is the number-two dancer
on this team.
And I really hope that that's enough to keep her
on this team.