Another end to:

Center Stage

The cold New York fall winds are blowing into the ballet studio. Jodie is still sitting on the wooden floors of her training room, wearing her pink jersey, white ballet shoes and a black jumper on top. She cries holding a letter in her hand

Dear Jodie,

I am so sorry for what I have to say you, I am a coward for not saying it in person but there is no other way to tell you: it's over. After the audition, the moment you decided that you rather dance for Cooper than for the ABA I knew it but I wanted to give it a try because we liked each other, we really liked each other and I thought you were special. I guess things have changed.

Jodie, you and I want different things and the ABA is not the Cooper Nielsson Dance Company. I am aiming for perfection and I am willing to be in the corps for a few years whereas you are just there for the applause and fame, the glory and not the essence of ballet. That is not me and what I stand for as a ballet dancer.

Goodbye,

Charlie

Tears are rolling down her face and time seems to stand still for Jodie. She starts talking to herself, she is frustrated and cannot believe what she is just read.

Jodie: Idiot, who do you think you are? Only because you said yes to Jonathan and to a company where you are just one of many dancers you tell me that I am not good enough? Here I am dancing leads and I am good, people love me on stage and don't you dare saying that I am just there for the fame and glory. You are doing the same but maybe I am

Jodie continues crying when Cooper who forgot his keys steps into the room and sees her nearly lying flat on the floor crying her heart out.

Cooper: Hey Prima Ballerina, what's up?

Jodie: Nothing, nothing, I am just mad and sad and I don't know what

Jodie's stands up and wants to flee the room in order to avoid talking to Cooper. She isn't in the mood for any of his monologues or that he knew Charlie wasn't for her.

Cooper: Hey, hey, not that fast. Did you cry?

Jodie in an ironic tone: No, no I didn't cry I am just exhausted boss.

Cooper: Oh come, I can see it, you cried your heart out, and that is not because you are exhausted it is something different, it's all over your face. What happened? Is Jonathan trying to lure you away from me? Did he make you some kind of irresistible offer and now you don't know how to tell me? Hey what s wrong my Prima Ballerina?

Jodie: Its not Jonathan, this idiot Charlie, he, he wrote to me this

Jodie is throwing the letter in Cooper's direction

Jodie: Go on, read it, he thinks I am only dancing for you because I want to be famous. The ABA would have been better for me because I would have perfected my moves and that now my career is over, me dancing with you would be incompatible, destroy his career and Jonathan would only take me back if I beg, oh Cooper. I am

Cooper sits down next to her and takes her into his arms

Cooper: Hey, Jodie you are my prima ballerina, I chose you because you aren't the classical dancer that is aiming for perfection, I wanted somebody special and you are special. You are amazing and this guy is an idiot not to see that.

Jodie isn't listening and starts going on further

Jodie: I am the one going for glory not for perfection, I have to learn more but that I wanted to have fame and not later, I don't want to wave roses in the back I couldn't wait but he, he, he thinks

Cooper: Hey, hey you are not listening to me, I would dump him for saying something like this immediately. Jodie you are so much more he is, why don't you see that?

Jodie: Well he dumped me, so satisfied? He dumped me in a letter, he didn't text or call or left a message he wrote me a letter so that I can read it over and over again and that it wont stop hurting.

Cooper tries to calm her down holding her in his arms

Cooper: Jodie, calm down, he is an idiot just like Jonathan and all the others.

Jodie gets up and paces across the room

Jodie: I can't calm down, I am angry and I am frustrated and I don't know why you chose me because I am not perfect, Anna, she was perfect or even Maureen and Eva but I am just an ugly duckling.

Cooper: Jodie, hey I want you to stop it, come on lets go.

Jodie: I can't, let me go, let me, I am quitting, I have to and I am going to beg Charlie for forgiveness and maybe Jonathan wants me because people start to know me, maybe I have a chance and I have to leave you and if I am a good maybe they will take me even if I am not perfect.

Jodie wants to leave and goes for the door

Cooper stops her looking at her he say: Don't you dare doing that, Jodie. Do not turn this door knob.

Jodie: What are you doing? Are you crazy you are breaking my arm!

Cooper: Look into that damn mirror, now! I cant believe this. A guy, is destroying my prima ballerina, I am getting really

Jodie: No, I won't in the mirror, I look horrible, I can't face myself.

Cooper: Look into the mirror Jodie!

Jodie: I

Cooper: Please, do it for me one last time, I ll let you go but please look in the mirror, what are you seeing?

Jodie: I am seeing me, exhausted, in tears, untalented, wrong feet, sweaty and horrible hair. That s all you wanted to hear now let me go, dam it Cooper.

Cooper: Look again, look deeper, look at you. What are you?

Jodie: Cooper, let me go, let me leave, I don't like your games! Come on you promised.

Cooper: I am not letting you go and this is not a game, you are a member of my company and training isn't over yet!

Jodie: Since when? You

Cooper: Since now, look in the mirror. What do I see?

Jodie becomes annoyed

Jodie: WHAT?

Cooper: I see a wonderful blonde woman, a talented dancer that gets the people's attention with one look, I see a strong woman that I let got one day which I will never forgive myself for and I see a ballerina that will catch the attention of a film producer sooner or later...

Jodie looks at him: You are joking! You just don't want me to quit! You are out of your mind Cooper!

Cooper: I am not joking; the reason why Jonathan didn't want you at first was, not to piss of his wife because you could be the one, the new star of his company, he could not risk that. You are not your average nice looking ballerina, you are special, a special woman why did you think I choose you and now come on we have to go!

Jodie: Where are we going, don't, let me go, please Cooper, I have to think, I want to be alone in my apartment, I want to sleep and watch a movie and I want ice cream and I think a drink, I might call my mom and go back to Chicago!

Cooper: Forget it, you are coming with me but first

Cooper drags her to the changing rooms

Cooper: Get dressed; I have to tell you something. I thought well it wouldn't be necessary but now I think its payback time, we will do something to the ABA they will never forget. You have 20 minutes to get changed; otherwise I am dragging you out of the shower. You know better that I don't make empty threats.

Jodie: I, Cooper

Cooper pushes her into one of the shower cubicles and turns on the water

Jodie: Cooper are you insane? Hey that is cold and hey

Cooper smiling: Get of your clothes, shower and come back. It will be great, get changed or I ll help you do it and scrub your right here, I don't think you will be happy when I do that, so get yourself together I have plan!

Cooper leaves, Jodie gets out of her wet clothes and showers. With every drop of hot water she gets her confidence back, her muscles relax and she feels better by the minute. After 20 minutes with slightly wet hair she meets Cooper in the reception area.

Cooper: There you are, you look great! Look in the mirror that's my girl!

Jodie: I feel better already and maybe you are right, where are we going?

Cooper: We are going to my favorite Italian restaurant, ok?

Jodie: Ok, but what are we doing there? I mean, I shouldn't eat

Cooper:

Another end to:

Center Stage

The cold New York fall winds are blowing into the ballet studio. Jodie is still sitting on the wooden floors of her training room, wearing her pink jersey, white ballet shoes and a black jumper on top. She cries holding a letter in her hand

Dear Jodie,

I am so sorry for what I have to say you, I am a coward for not saying it in person but there is no other way to tell you: it's over. After the audition, the moment you decided that you rather dance for Cooper than for the ABA I knew it but I wanted to give it a try because we liked each other, we really liked each other and I thought you were special. I guess things have changed.

Jodie, you and I want different things and the ABA is not the Cooper Nielsson Dance Company. I am aiming for perfection and I am willing to be in the corps for a few years whereas you are just there for the applause and fame, the glory and not the essence of ballet. That is not me and what I stand for as a ballet dancer.

Goodbye,

Charlie

Tears are rolling down her face and time seems to stand still for Jodie. She starts talking to herself, she is frustrated and cannot believe what she is just read.

Jodie: Idiot, who do you think you are? Only because you said yes to Jonathan and to a company where you are just one of many dancers you tell me that I am not good enough? Here I am dancing leads and I am good, people love me on stage and don't you dare saying that I am just there for the fame and glory. You are doing the same but maybe I am

Jodie continues crying when Cooper who forgot his keys steps into the room and sees her nearly lying flat on the floor crying her heart out.

Cooper: Hey prima ballerina, what's up?

Jodie: Nothing, nothing, I am just mad and sad and I don't know what

Jodie's stands up and wants to flee the room in order to avoid talking to Cooper. She isn't in the mood for any of his monologues or that he knew Charlie wasn't for her.

Cooper: Hey, hey, not that fast. Did you cry?

Jodie in an ironic tone: No, no I didn't cry I am just exhausted boss.

Cooper: Oh come, I can see it, you cried your heart out, and that is not because you are exhausted it is something different, it's all over your face. What happened? Is Jonathan trying to lure you away from me? Did he make you some kind of irresistible offer and now you don't know how to tell me? Hey what s wrong my prima ballerina?

Jodie: Its not Jonathan, this idiot Charlie, he, he wrote to me this

Jodie is throwing the letter in Cooper's direction

Jodie: Go on, read it, he thinks I am only dancing for you because I want to be famous. The ABA would have been better for me because I would have perfected my moves and that now my career is over, me dancing with you would be incompatible, destroy his career and Jonathan would only take me back if I beg, oh Cooper. I am

Cooper sits down next to her and takes her into his arms

Cooper: Hey, Jodie you are my Prima Ballerina, I chose you because you aren't the classical dancer that is aiming for perfection, I wanted somebody special and you are special. You are amazing and this guy is an idiot not to see that.

Jodie isn't listening and starts going on further

Jodie: I am the one going for glory not for perfection, I have to learn more but that I wanted to have fame and not later, I don't want to wave roses in the back I couldn't wait but he, he, he thinks

Cooper: Hey, hey you are not listening to me, I would dump him for saying something like this immediately. Jodie you are so much more he is, why don't you see that?

Jodie: Well he dumped me, so satisfied? He dumped me in a letter, he didn't text or call or left a message he wrote me a letter so that I can read it over and over again and that it wont stop hurting.

Cooper tries to calm her down holding her in his arms

Cooper: Jodie, calm down, he is an idiot just like Jonathan and all the others.

Jodie gets up and paces across the room

Jodie: I can't calm down, I am angry and I am frustrated and I don't know why you chose me because I am not perfect, Anna, she was perfect or even Maureen and Eva but I am just an ugly duckling.

Cooper: Jodie, hey I want you to stop it, come on lets go.

Jodie: I can't, let me go, let me, I am quitting, I have to and I am going to beg Charlie for forgiveness and maybe Jonathan wants me because people start to know me, maybe I have a chance and I have to leave you and if I am a good maybe they will take me even if I am not perfect.

Jodie wants to leave and goes for the door

Cooper stops her looking at her he say: Don't you dare doing that, Jodie. Do not turn this door knob.

Jodie: What are you doing? Are you crazy you are breaking my arm!

Cooper: Look into that damn mirror, now! I cant believe this. A guy, is destroying my Prima Ballerina, I am getting really

Jodie: No, I won't in the mirror, I look horrible, I can't face myself.

Cooper: Look into the mirror Jodie!

Jodie: I

Cooper: Please, do it for me one last time, I ll let you go but please look in the mirror, what are you seeing?

Jodie: I am seeing me, exhausted, in tears, untalented, wrong feet, sweaty and horrible hair. That s all you wanted to hear now let me go, dam it Cooper.

Cooper: Look again, look deeper, look at you. What are you?

Jodie: Cooper, let me go, let me leave, I don't like your games! Come on you promised.

Cooper: I am not letting you go and this is not a game, you are a member of my company and training isn't over yet!

Jodie: Since when? You

Cooper: Since now, look in the mirror. What do I see?

Jodie becomes annoyed

Jodie: WHAT?

Cooper: I see a wonderful blonde woman, a talented dancer that gets the people's attention with one look, I see a strong woman that I let got one day which I will never forgive myself for and I see a ballerina that will catch the attention of a film producer sooner or later...

Jodie looks at him: You are joking! You just don't want me to quit! You are out of your mind Cooper!

Cooper: I am not joking; the reason why Jonathan didn't want you at first was, not to piss of his wife because you could be the one, the new star of his company, he could not risk that. You are not your average nice looking ballerina, you are special, a special woman why did you think I choose you and now come on we have to go!

Jodie: Where are we going, don't, let me go, please Cooper, I have to think, I want to be alone in my apartment, I want to sleep and watch a movie and I want ice cream and I think a drink, I might call my mom and go back to Chicago!

Cooper: Forget it, you are coming with me but first

Cooper drags her to the changing rooms

Cooper: Get dressed; I have to tell you something. I thought well it wouldn't be necessary but now I think its payback time, we will do something to the ABA they will never forget. You have 20 minutes to get changed; otherwise I am dragging you out of the shower. You know better that I don't make empty threats.

Jodie: I, Cooper

Cooper pushes her into one of the shower cubicles and turns on the water

Jodie: Cooper are you insane? Hey that is cold and hey

Cooper smiling: Get of your clothes, shower and come back. It will be great, get changed or I ll help you do it and scrub your right here, I don't think you will be happy when I do that, so get yourself together I have plan!

Cooper leaves, Jodie gets out of her wet clothes and showers. With every drop of hot water she gets her confidence back, her muscles relax and she feels better by the minute. After 20 minutes with slightly wet hair she meets Cooper in the reception area.

Cooper: There you are, you look great! Look in the mirror that's my girl!

Jodie: I feel better already and maybe you are right, where are we going?

Cooper: We are going to my favorite Italian restaurant, ok?

Jodie: Ok, but what are we doing there? I mean, I shouldn't eat

Cooper: You need to eat and you know what happened to Maureen, you are a dancer and you need to eat calories. Don't you like Pasta? You can order something different but

Jodie: I love Pasta and wine and a huge salad and chocolate pudding, tiramisu sounds good but that

Cooper: See and that's exactly what we are doing and I know the perfect restaurant for that

The two are going out to Cooper's motorcycle and he hands her a second helmet

Cooper: Come on, hop on

Jodie: This is so

Cooper: I grew up, come on. You are my Prima Ballerina, I would never do something stupid, here put your helmet on, you ll survive a little ride with your director, remember I am your boss now.

10 minutes later at a little Italian restaurant in Chelsea

Cooper: And do you like it?

Jodie: It's wonderful, calm, romantic and traditional.

Cooper: I knew it! It's my favorite and Mario is the best!

Cooper steels some food from her plate

Jodie: Hey!

Cooper grins: Your pasta is even better than mine and how do you feel?

Jodie: Better, much better. I am glad you dragged me out.

Cooper: See, I know what s best for you and I have to tell you something.

Jodie: What?

Cooper: There will be an evening where leading dance companies compete against each other.

Jodie: Really? And we are participating? I wasn't aware of that.

Cooper: Yes and normally the ABA wins it all but this time well I thought we might make life of a few companies a bit more difficult, I think we can do it; we did it once we can do it again! I know it was just a workshop but people loved it and because this will be a big thing I hired more people, and

Sergey comes through the doors and joins them

Sergey: Hey guys, good to see you again!

Cooper: See, a Russian, that's a good start isn't it?

Jodie smiling all over her face, hugging her friend

Jodie: Sergey oh it's so good to see you! Why are you here? Cooper, did you text him? What did you do? Why didn't you tell me he was coming? You know... oh Sergey

Sergey: Well San Francisco wasn't what I expected and I missed New York so much and Cooper

Jodie: She left you, didn't she? That is why

Sergey: Not really, well I wanted to go back, she wanted to stay and certain things changed in our relationship and

Jodie starts crying again and Sergey holds her in his arms with a nod from Cooper

Sergey: I am here little ballerina, Sergey is here, hey don't cry.

Jodie: I am so...

Sergey: Shshhs, I am here and you look wonderful. Here dry you tears and listen to Cooper and me, the boss has a plan. He might be an idiot but he is a great choreographer and dancer you of all people know that.

Cooper: I thought Sergey could crush on your couch and as we need a new leading man. Its my intention to burn the ABA and as I am the director, hey I can't dance in my own ballet so I needed a guy who is able to do that what I can do and your ex might be good but Sergey is what we need to get the audience attention.

Sergey Yes and before we continue, waiter can we have some more wine please or even something harder like

Jodie: Sergey, drinking, we have to train tomorrow and

Sergey: Hey I am Russian, this is like water to me!

Jodie starts to smile softly

Cooper: Mario, we need another bottle of the 1977 Chianti.

Mario: Pronto Signor Cooper!

Cooper: Mille Grazie!

Sergey: Cheers everybody!

Cooper takes a sip and closes his eyes for a moment

Cooper: Very good year and now I am going tell you my plan.

Sergey: Yes, I mean what is your plan? You just told me you had a plan.

Jodie: Wait, you don't know what's going on and came just without knowing?

Sergey: Yes because I missed a good old bagel with real fish and a hot dog, the smell, the ice and my Russian friends over in Brooklyn, the

Cooper: You know Sergey has some connections to the Kirov Ballet and the St. Petersburg Ballet Company and we might get a dancer or two from them as well as what I am thinking of doing will be something new, something they don't expect from a ballet company. We will take today's news and turn it into a ballet; we will take old music, old stories and convert them. On stage you will see not only motorcycles but smoke and cars, beds, we will have the guys from Stomp it will be a big stage like The West Side Story.

Jodie: Sounds great but we are a ballet company.

Cooper: I know and as with every great ballet you have the lead, either myself or somebody else is telling the story and you dance it, dance what you feel and at the end like with every ballet we have a happy ending. The competition is in 11 weeks; every company performs a different play at one night. A jury and the audience get to decide the winner and they will love us, trust me!

Sergey: Oh they definitely will, because we have you and not some stuffy ballet director like the big bad Jonathan who knows everything and we all know nothing.

Cooper: Thanks man that was nice of you to say, we are going to make Kathleen and Jonathan and all the other guys at the ABA cry.

Jodie takes Coppers hand and looks at him with her big blue eyes

Jodie: Promise me that it's not some kind of revenge thing because of your ex and because you still want her back or you want to hurt Charlie because of me. Promise me that this is strictly professional and its nothing

Cooper: It's "a I am better and they way you do it is old fashion" thing. I believe in the stuff we do what I am doing, that's why I want to win this contest, that's why I want the public to love us and not because I want to destroy them.

Sergey: But hurting their egos would be nice for a change, I mean even if I danced in Jonathan ballet I saw that yours was better so kicking their ass and letting them suffer in totally professional way would be ok for me!

Cooper: Of course!

Jodie laughs

Sergey: See I knew you would be able to do. That is the girl I love.

Sergey hugs her then he excuses himself and promises to be at the next training session. He leaves with keys to Jodie's apartment.

Cooper whispering: Are you coming with me? Please I don't want you to be alone tonight.

Jodie: I am not

Cooper: Just the sofa, I will sleep on the sofa!

Jodie whispers: With you it's never the sofa!

Cooper: I told you, I changed I want to make a new start not because of me but because we both want it. I am sorry that I took so long to accept that, so come with me and sleep for sleeps sake, ok?

Jodie smiles: Ok, but you have to promise me to sleep on the couch.

Cooper:I will the whole night if you want that as well!

At Coopers apartment

Jodie: Can you hold me in your arms until I have fallen asleep and then put your body on the couch?

Cooper: Of course, I am here nothing will ever happen to you my sweet little prima ballerina, my princess ok?!

You need to eat and you know what happened to Maureen, you are a dancer and you need to eat calories. Don't you like Pasta? You can order something different but

Jodie: I love Pasta and wine and a huge salad and chocolate pudding, tiramisu sounds good but that

Cooper: See and that's exactly what we are doing and I know the perfect restaurant for that

The two are going out to Cooper's motorcycle and he hands her a second helmet

Cooper: Come on, hop on

Jodie: This is so

Cooper: I grew up, come on. You are my prima ballerina, I would never do something stupid, here put your helmet on, you ll survive a little ride with your director, remember I am your boss now.