Script

SIDE 1

Keep the movements fluid. Ready, and&

(Music begins.)

Imagine crystal clear water flowing gently downstream. Mabel! I said water, not molasses. What s wrong with you today?
 

I feel faint. I haven t had a thing to eat since breakfast.
 

It s only nine forty-five.
 

I don t care what time it is. My stomach s screamin  Feed me! Feed Me!
 

Hang in there, Mabel, only three and a half hours till lunch. Classical lines, people. Imagine you re dancing for Balanchine. Gently ladies, gently. You re ballerinas, not truck drivers. That s lovely, Iris. You look like the Swan Queen.

(TYRONE does his own thing.)

Tyrone. This is adagio, not disco.
 

But it s so boring& and talk about uptight.
 

We study classical dance for the same reason we study Mozart. To build technique and learn classic form. Think of it as a trip to the museum.
 

But why does it have to be like that? Why couldn t you do ballet that was different  switched on  tight-wired  like the traffic in Times Square?
 

(impressed)
Sounds like you ve given this a lot of thought.

SIDE 2

Good. Very good. You ve got the choreography, now let s talk about the quality of movement. It should be lyrical but strong, like fire and ice.

(MISS SHERMAN enters.)

Hello, Esther, what brings you to the fourth floor?
 

I understand you ve chosen to feature Iris and Tyrone in next year s Junior Festival.
 

They earned it.
 

Unfortunately, Tyrone won t be able to participate.
 

Say what?
 

I m sorry Tyrone, you failed Sophomore English.
 

You flunked me?! But I did all the work. I even handed in my term paper on time.
 

Unfortunately, it bore a remarkable similarity to Iris s.
 

Wait a minute. Are you accusin me of cheatin ?
 

Tyrone and I study together. So what if the papers are similar?
 

They weren t similar, they were identical.
 

Then why not accuse Iris?
 

Because she s a straight A student.

(to TYRONE)
Let s be honest. Iris has been carrying you in your academic subjects for the entire year.
 

Nobody carries me. I do my own work, in my own way.
 

You may think you do, but your reading is substandard. You couldn t possibly have written that paper.
 

Hey, forget this noise. I didn t wanna be in no festival anyway.

(TYRONE exits. IRIS follows him out.)
 

Tyrone, wait. Wait!

(MS. BELL turns back to MISS SHERMAN.)

You re not being fair, Esther. Tyrone works hard in my class. He s motivated in my class. This young man has the potential to be a true artist.
 

A true artist that can hardly read? Let Tyrone pass his academic subjects  then we ll talk about his future in the arts.
 

No! We ll talk about it now!