Flesh and Bone (2015–…): Season 1, Episode 3 - Reconnaissance - full transcript

Previously on "Flesh and Bone"...

I miss you.

We have a star ready to ascend.

I want to launch her in a new ballet.

We need a hot of-the-moment choreographer.

The last thing I need is a usurper.

Can I get an extra gram?

Just need to make it through this week.

My brother, Bryan, just
shipped back from Afghanistan.

You marry that gal the
first chance you get.

Is the mobster here?



- Sergei, meet Claire.
- Ballerina.

I want to watch.

Monsieur Brousseau
is investing in you.

Please arrive in five minutes.
You're going to undress?

It is just business, Claire.

Good business.

Where the hell are you?

What is that?

Can I get some of that?

Here.

Uh, Claire Robbins.

Roberts?

Robbins.

I'm sorry, no.



Are you absolutely sure?
Can you check again?

- There's no Robbins at this company.
- Yeah, thanks.

American Ballet Company. This is Monica.

Hi. Monica.

- How are you doing?
- I'm fine. Thanks.

How can I help you?

Um,

I'm trying to track down a
dancer named Claire Robbins.

I think she might be a new member
of your company. She's about

5'4", um, brown hair, real pretty girl.

What is this regarding?

Wait. So she is a member of your company?

Claire Robbins is a Company member, yes.

Excellent.

Excellent.

Hey, uh,

any chance you could
give me her home address?

Uh, I'm her brother.

I don't see how I can
verify that over the phone.

Her Pittsburgh address

is, uh, 475 Wiggins
Street, Pennsylvania, 15219.

Her date of birth is June 15, 1994.

She loves the Pirates. And, uh,

she says she's allergic to
brussels sprouts, but she's not.

Uh, I... I...

Look, I, uh...

I just got into town
after nine-hour bus ride.

I just got back from Afghanistan,

and I'd really love to
surprise my kid sister.

It would mean a lot, Monica.

Wow. You were overseas?

Yes, ma'am.

Yes, ma'am. United States Marine Corps.

Man, I'm sure glad to be home.

So, you think you can help me out?

W... well, normally I wouldn't
give this information out.

I suppose I could just head there
with a box of chocolates, but,

I mean, that wouldn't be too

personal... or original.

It's been a long time.

She lives at 260 Orchard Street.

But you didn't hear it from me.

Thank you so much. Awesome.

You have just made my day, Monica.

- Thank you so much.
- Glad I could help.

Thank you for your service.

You're more than welcome.

Feel the music.

Lengthen, Ashley.

Use the time.

Breathe, Daphne.

Breathe.

Shoulder down, Trey.

How many times I got to tell you?

Yes. Like that.

Next time I'll put something in it.

Straight. Strong.

Yes.

Wonder if frog dick
tastes like chicken, too.

Grand allegro, three at a time.

You know the drill. Pasha.

Good, Suzanne.

Up! Up!

Energy.

Yes.

Extend, Ashley. Grand jeté.

Patrice, shoulders down.

Ah, very nice, Kiira.

You all see how Kiira extends?

We all need to extend just like that.

Extension, extension, extension.
I sound like broken record.

And up! Yes.

Yeah. Good, Ross.

Trey! You call that a grand jeté?

I've seen third-grade girls
skip rope with more intensity.

What do you suggest?

What do I suggest?

Stop jumping like a little bitch

is what I suggest.

All the height in the world

won't mask a faggot in a pair of tights.

What do I suggest?

Continue, please.

Up!

Good.

Some artists are born,

some are made,

and some

emerge from an upside-down,

deliciously kinky,

terrifyingly mysterious forest

of beauty and wonder.

These artists

never stop seeking and dreaming.

They bewitch and confound us,
make us question ourselves,

and lead us to our ultimate goal,

which is... ?

Transcendence.

We are so honored to have the inimitable

Toni Cannava with us this season.

Give it up, angels. Let's make her proud.

Trey is technically
sound in almost every respect,

but he jumps like a Chelsea queen

when they announce the Barneys co-op sale.

Mia has good presence,

but her feet can be a bit slow.

Now, Daphne is an up-and-comer.

I think you'll respond to her.

And that creature there,

with the alabaster skin
and the Abyssinian eyes,

is none other than Claire Robbins...

The reason why you're here.

That was nice, but we can do better.

We can always do better.

They're all yours.

Okay.

First things first...

Take your shoes off.

Come on.

Let's go. Take them off. Bare feet, please.

Okay, everybody, please stand.

Hi.

Hi.

How are you?

- Good.
- Fine.

Well, I'm really excited to be here.

I have been a fan of that man's work

for a very long time,

and it is an honor

to get to be invited to work
with such a distinguished company.

Thank you, Mr. Grayson.

All right.

You ready to get to work?

Yeah. Let's go.

I'd like you to start

by simply walking around the space.

I know... Crazytown. Trust me.

Walk.

If you feel like going
in the opposite direction,

then go in the opposite direction.

Really feel the floor.

Pronate all the way through the arch,

through the balls of the feet,

through your toes.

Slowly.

Even slower than that.

Let's stop looking in the mirror

and start looking at each other.

Really look.

Okay.

Stop where you are,

close your eyes...

And breathe for a moment.

Feel the floor under your feet.

Get in touch...

... with all that is you.

Feel your breath

and your pulse...

Moving through your body.

Okay.

Open your eyes.

Great.

Let's do some hugging.

Grab a partner. I don't care who.

Go ahead and laugh. It's okay to laugh.

Okay. Let's go. Hug your partner, please.

Do you feel...

excited?

Confused?

Vulnerable?

Do you like the way your partner smells?

When was the last time

you actually embraced

one of your fellow dancers?

When was the last time you felt yearning?

Lust?

Jealousy?

What are you willing

to let go of?

What aren't you willing to let go of?

Hey, take it easy, buddy. Be careful.

Kerwyn Voss is sort of
a pretentious douche.

Okay, not sort of, but
don't be intimidated.

He likely got pummeled in
dodgeball one too many times.

He'll basically ask you where you're from,

how long you've been dancing,

who's your favorite choreographer,

how many times you got
detention in high school,

all the easy stuff.

You seem nervous. Are you nervous?

Maybe a little.

Yeah, totally.

Oh, just be yourself. You'll be fine.

I have a sneaking suspicion that
you're gonna have a great day.

- How old are you?
- 21.

So, Jessica tells me that
you hail from Pittsburgh.

What part?

Polish Hill. Do you know it?

No, I... I don't.

What's it like there?

Polish Hill is... Polish Hill.

Nothing fancy.

We got a really pretty church
Immaculate Heart of Mary.

So, I assume Polish Hill is

pretty Polish.

Polish and hilly.

Big family?

Just me, my dad, and my brother.

Oh, so you were raised by your father?

- Pretty much.
- And what does he do?

He was a metal pourer

at the steel mill before it closed.

Oh, and he loves the arts?

He loves the steelers.

So, uh, what about your
mother? Did she pass away?

No.

Did she dance?

I don't know.

When I was speaking with Jessica earlier,

she mentioned that you had apprenticed

at the Pittsburgh Ballet
for a year at age 18. So...

where have you been until now?

There was a hiatus.

You care to elaborate?

It just wasn't possible
to dance at that time.

Because... ?

Because of extenuating circumstances.

There is no there there.

Excuse me?

Gertrude Stein.

The writer Gertrude Stein. She said that.

"There is no there there."

It's just that people are gonna be curious.

I'm certainly curious.

After all, how does an apprentice...

Someone not even in the corps...

Take off three years,
show up at an open call,

then get hired on to one
of the most competitive

ballet companies in New York?

And now a piece of new
work is being created

especially for you.
Without the rigor of working

in a company day in and day out,
how does one ascend so quickly?

What is your
secret, Claire Robbins?

What is your secret, Claire Robbins,

of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania?

Did you make some
mephistophelian deal with the Devil?

Oh.

Can someone say, "enter the queen"?

Sound the trumpets!

- Hello, Kerwyn.
- Oh.

Mm.

Oh, Kiira, you look stunning, as always.

I hope I'm not intruding.
I just had to say hello.

Oh, no, no. Not at all.
Claire and I were just talking

about the proverbial dance of things.

- Oh, Kerwyn, do you want to know a secret?
- Ooh.

Oh, this season is gonna
be simply incredible.

I understand Toni Cannava is
conceiving an original piece.

That sounds extremely promising.

Oh, yes. And the most exciting part?

Oh, do tell, Kiira. Do tell.

There's a special casting surprise.

I will star in the "A" cast.

Oh, that's fabulous!

It had to be this way, of course.

We simply couldn't disappoint the fans.

Oh, how thrilling! You and Cannava!

I can't wait.

Uh, Claire will perform
lead on the second night,

in the "B" cast,

which is sure to cause sensation.

Oh. This heretofore unknown Claire Robbins

from Pittsburgh's Polish Hill.

Brilliant strategy, don't you think?

Oh, everyone will be desperate to come.

Both nights. I know I will.

The American dream.

So compelling, is it not?

A new discovery such as
Claire is always exciting.

Yes, it certainly is.

Now, you'll be doing
"Rubies," too, correct?

If you're done with me,
I really should be going.

Yes, I think I have everything I need.

Well, I should, uh, scurry
off and do my writerly thing.

- It was nice to meet you, Claire.
- Nice to meet you.

I look forward to seeing
what all the fuss is about.

Oh, it's so lovely to see you. Mwah!

Mwah!

Mm.

Being prima is not only
being able to dance it.

You must also know how to behave like one.

Eventually, perhaps, you will learn this.

I suppose I will.

Your nose is bleeding.

Excuse me. You got a child here?

No.

Then what you doing here, then?

I'm eating my pretzel.

What pretzel? I don't see a
pretzel. Do you see a pretzel?

I don't see shit.

- I just finished it.
- So it's probably time

you got the fuck up out of here then.

You need me to say it again?

No.

I heard you loud and clear.

Apúrate.

It's a free country.

Pervert.

Excuse me. Sorry.

Unbelievable.

Who the fuck's he think he's kidding, huh?

Slow down. Keep up.

Where's the fire? You're rushing.

Jesus.

Oh, God.

Kiirishka, darling.

Perhaps we are a little too enthusiastic

with the tempo today, huh?

Perhaps we take a short break, no?

Yeah.

Five minutes, please.

Pasha.

Okay. Okay.

Okay, princess.

Come, come.

What's going on with you?

I'm fine.

You don't seem fine.

Really? How do I seem?

You're way ahead of the music.

- I feel like I'm chasing you.
- So keep up.

You're using again.

Your fucking nose is running all over me.

Tell me I'm wrong, Keer.

What's in the bag?

When are you going to let this go?

Let what go?

Us. It's pathetic.

Really?

Stay on your own side of the street.

I started this ballet company

in the back of an Italian
bistro in the Village.

Il Piccolo Lupo,

on the corner of Perry and West 4th Street.

I was a waiter.

I worked such long hours.

There were nights that my
feet ached more than they did

when I was dancing eight shows a week

in front of thousands of
people chanting my name.

And there were...

It's a nest.

With baby birds.

There was this, um...

Pay phone,

uh, in the back,

near the bathrooms.

I started the American Ballet Company

at that very pay phone.

It was a far cry from my dressing room

filled with flowers.

Every nickle, dime, and quarter I made

went into that piece-of-shit metal box.

For three...

years, I did not...

take smoke breaks,

I did not take walks,

I barely took a piss.

You cannot conceive of the river of

blood, sweat, and tears it
took to build this company...

Begging for funds,

the pleading for free rehearsal space,

the sleepless nights...

The blind faith.

I lost

years...

Of my life

birthing this company that you

are now part of...

Whatever it is you did or didn't do

with our esteemed chairman last night,

well, let's just say he
was resoundingly offended.

- I can explain.
- No. No, no, no.

There's no need for that.

You see, it...

it no longer matters

because he's decided to cease

his support of the American Ballet Company,

my company...

That I fought

so hard to build all those years ago

in that shithole Italian
bistro in the Village.

I'd like you to have a good
long think about that, Claire.

Can you do that for me?

And while you do that,

I'd like you...

To get out of my sight!

Come in.

Thanks for coming in, Daphne.
I know things are heating up.

It's a busy time for all of us.

Daphne, my love...

I know I'm about to
broach a sensitive subject,

one that ABC has

avoided since I brought you into the fold.

Is something wrong?

Let's see. How best to put this...

Oh, Daphne, the truth
of the matter is that,

in terms of institutional solvency,

things have recently become,

well...

dire is a good word,

I suppose.

The American Ballet Company

is in a state of financial emergency.

And if we don't find a quick solution,

we may be forced to terminate
a number of contracts.

You want me to go to my father.

You can't imagine how difficult it was

for us to call you in here like this.

How much are we talking?

$250,000.

Quite a sum, I know.

But

no doubt an inconsequential
drop in the bucket

with regard to your father.

With all due respect,
Jessica, regarding my father,

you have no fucking idea what
is and isn't of consequence.

If I get this money for you,

I want a guaranteed promotion.

Soloist.

Sold.

Don't think I haven't noticed
how hard you've been working.

This would never have happened
if Jeffrey was still here.

Daphne's pal Claire, right?

Hi.

Hey. What can I do for
you, Daphne's pal Claire?

Is Sergei around?

What do you want with the boss man?

I'd just like to talk to him.

You sure you want to do that?

Okay, then. Come on.

Jimjo?

- Excuse me?
- Who you looking for?

My sister.

Who's your sister?

Uh, Claire Robbins.

You're Claire's brother? Oh, wow.

Wow, the brother of Claire.

Claire's masculine sibling.

Okay, okay, okay. Th...
this is an excellent day.

She's a really nice
girl. She's really nice.

She's... she's special.

I happen to know for a
fact that she's not home,

but her roommate is.

And who are you, exactly?

The middleman.

The middleman?

Yes, indeed.

You need any help with
anything, you let me know.

It's my job. It's my job to help.

I'm Romeo.

Nice to meet you.

Nice to meet you, Jimjo.

It's Bryan.

Oh. Bryan.

Of course, of course.

Oh, you served, huh?

Oh, wow. I'm impressed.

That's awesome. Wow.

Did you serve?

No. No, not me. No.

Don't get me wrong.

I... I mean, I serve,
but but not like that.

I... I... I serve in other ways.

I mean, we're all serving
something, aren't we?

Uh, oh. Let me get that for you.

It's truly an honor to meet you.

Hello?

Uh, you have a visitor.

- Who is it?
- Claire's brother,

Bryan.

Oh, do you need any help
with your bag or anything?

I got it.

I'm... I'm glad you're here.

Thanks.

You're 100% welcome.

Just turn the knob.

Soldier brother.

Come on in.

You can set your stuff
over there. That's hers.

I haven't seen your sis
since rehearsal today.

This sort of punk-rock, lesbian witch,

who's probably not really even a lesbian,

was making us fucking hug each other

like we were in some
Christian fucking youth group.

I thought at some point we
were gonna sit in a big circle

and bust out the dream journals.

I mean, if I really wanted to
get in touch with my unconscious,

I would make an appointment with the shrink

or go do plant medicine in the rainforest.

Maybe I'd even sink to the depths

of taking an acting class.

Next thing you know, we'll
be doing trust exercises

and recounting various childhood traumas.

Care for a beer, Bryan?

Sure.

Fuck you!

Fuck you!

Fuck you!

Fuck you!

Fuck you!

Fuck you!

Fuck you!

Fuck you!

What else did
you do in afterschool?

I drew a cat and a magic banjo.

Yeah? Is that cat playing the magic banjo?

No! She's eating pasghetti.

- Why didn't you bring it home?
- I don't know.

Of course you do. You know
Mommy loves your drawings.

Why didn't you bring it with you?

I don't know!

Okay, okay.

Then tell me how it was in school today.

They told me to give you this.

♪ I've got Mommy's shoes on ♪

♪ Mommy's shoes are so cool ♪

Yeah, Molly's tuition was due on the 10th.

What happened this time?

♪ Mommy's shoes on ♪

Yes, Peter, the 10th.

Jesus.

No, they are days away
from kicking her out.

Yes, in a matter of
days, Peter. Fucking days.

♪ Fucking, fucking ♪

♪ fucking, fucking ♪

♪ fucking, fucking ♪

- ♪ fucking, fucking ♪
- Look, she is your daughter, too,

you selfish son of a bitch. If...

Lovely Claire returns to Anastasia.

Hello, Sergei.

She is good, no?

She is one of our best.

How are things going for you at the ballet?

Pretty well so far... I think.

You'll do fine, I'm sure.

Better than fine.

I hope you're right.

I truly love the art
form. I love it so much.

When I was a boy, perhaps 12 years old,

I see the great Tatiana Terekhova dance

Grigorovich's "The Sleeping
Beauty" at the Kirov.

It was my first ballet.
I did not want to go.

My mother insisted.

Terekhova had previously
been a classical soloist.

This was her first leading role.

When Terekhova

was awakened by the prince's kiss,

it was as if my own life briefly

turned into dream.

The manner in which

the princess awakened, the way she danced

out of her prison of sleep

and into the audience's hearts...

She fell asleep this girl

and awoke

this beautiful woman,

asleep for 100 years,

the hall of mirrors,

perfection of love.

The entire theater was dreaming.

The musicians in the orchestra pit,

the people in the finest
boxes, the mezzanine,

even those of us in the furthest stalls,

we were all dreaming

the dance of the waking princess.

What do you think?

Despite its obvious savagery,

there's something almost gentle at play.

Look in Judith's eyes,

the emotion in them.

Do you like it?

For which house?

Southampton.

So, how have you been?

Very well.

Thank you, no.

No.

Maxwell.

Chalmer.

This is my daughter, Daphne.

Ah, it is nice to finally meet you.

Is Harvard keeping you busy?

I'm not at Harvard.

Oh, I... I assumed you were
wowing them in Cambridge,

just as your father did back in the day.

Where are you in school?

Daphne's currently not in school.

What do you do?

I dance for the American Ballet Company.

I'm about to be promoted to soloist.

Daphne will be in Cambridge

once she gets this little
ballet bug out of her system.

Well, good luck with the dancing.

And congratulations on
the promotion, Daphne.

- It was lovely to meet you.
- You too.

Good to see you, Maxwell.

Chalmer.

It's such a rare treat to see you.

There must be something you need.

I just wanted to say hello.

I got to run.

Yes.

Put your hands together for Crystal.

Ladies and gentlemen,

looks like an angel

has graced our stage tonight.

Holy shit.

That was one lovely angel.

Take it away, Monique.

Good night.

See ya.

Night.

Sergei,

I have a proposition for you.

Fuck.

Fuck.

Claire!

Claire!

Claire!

Claire!

Claire! Come here. It's okay.

Shh, shh, shh, shh.

Claire, it's okay.

It's okay.

Just put them on the floor.

Night.

Night.