Week 9 - Performance: Ballroom Round

Rachel nudged Blaine as they stood in front of the camera, waiting for their introduction. "You know, you look sexy in that hat."

Blaine grabbed the front with with fingers and tipped it down. "Why thank you ma'am."

She giggled and quickly kissed him on the cheek. "Too bad, I can't ride your horse for a couple more weeks."

"Oh baby, you have no idea." He winked at her and she laughed again.

...

"Next out on the floor, the couple who continue to redeem themselves from week to week and have topped the leader board for the last three weeks! Will they be able to hold onto the top spot? Let's find out. It's Broadway star Rachel Berry, and her partner, Blaine Anderson."

Rachel and Blaine made their way out to the dance floor and listened to their video play.

"Last week, Rachel and Blaine continued to dominate the leader board."

"9, 10, 10."

Rachel (confessional): "We got 29 both times. We have to get a 30 this week." " I'm putting everything into this."

[At the hospital]

Rachel (confessional): "A couple of weeks ago, I met Blaine's partner, Lyla. The next week, she was hit by a car. We're going to see her for the first time since the accident."

Blaine: "...I love you, Lyla. I can't lose my little sister. Please come back to me. Please."

Blaine (confessional): "It's hard. You know... Lyla's everything to me. She's the little sister I've always wanted. And have to win this for her."

Blaine (rehearsal): ""Two more dances this week. Ballroom round, we have the Country Two-Step..." "Latin round, we have the Paso Doble..."

Blaine (rehearsal): "One, two, three, four... what are you doing?"

Rachel (rehearsal): "Is that not supposed to happen?"

Rachel (rehearsal): "Just tell me what I'm doing wrong."

Blaine (rehearsal): "I did. You're still not doing it."

Blaine (confessional): "The pressure's on this week. We've been on top for the last three weeks. We have to keep it up, or we could be in serious trouble."

Rachel (confessional): "We have two more dances this week. It's not easy and I have to dedicate myself one hundred percent." "If we slip up, it could cost us the competition."

...

"Dancing the Country-Two Step... Rachel Berry, and her partner, Blaine Anderson."

This is what a woman wants...

Any man of mine better be proud of me

Even when I'm ugly he still better love me

And I can be late for a date that's fine

But he better be on time

Any man of mine'll say it fits just right

When last year's dress is just a little too tight

And anything I do or say better be okay

When I have a bad hair day

And if I change my mind

A million times

I wanna hear him say

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah I like it that way

Any man of mine better walk the line

Better show me a teasin' squeezin' pleasin' kinda time

I need a man who knows, how the story goes

He's gotta be a heartbeatin' fine treatin'

Breathtakin' earthquakin' kind

Any man of mine

You gotta shimmy shake

Make the earth quake

Kick, turn, stomp, stomp, then you jump

Heel to toe, Do Si Do

'Til your boots wanna break

"Til your feet and your back ache

Keep it movin' 'til you just can't take anymore

Come on everybody on the floor

A-one two, a-three four

Hup two, hum

Let me hear you say yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah I like it that way

Any man of mine better walk the line

Better show me a teasin' squeezin' pleasin' kinda time

I need a man who knows, how the story goes

He's gotta be a heartbeatin' fine treatin'

Breathtakin' earthquakin' kind

Any man of mine

The crowd went wild and rose to their feet. Rachel was on Blaine's hip, as that was their final pose, and she giggled, kissing his cheek. She jumped down to the ground and wrapped her arm around his back as they turned to go stand by Tom. "Very nice. Well let's see what the judges thought. Carrie Ann, we'll start with you."

"Finally I see a perfect dance from you!" The audience roared with applause in approval. "The movements were straight on and the lifts were fantastic and legal!"

"I've told you a million times," Len started, "there wasn't a lift in their dance last week!"

"I stand by that! I stand by that!"

Tom laughed. "Alright, Len, we'll go to you."

"You came out, amazing as always, and I've gotta say, after that performance, it doesn't matter from this point on. You two are going to win this."

Rachel and Blaine were both shocked by this. The audience was in full force applause and cheers. Both of their mouths were dropped and they looked at each other in disbelief to what Len had just told them.

"You two are the most dedicated couple this season. Week after week you wow the crowd. I guarantee you'll win this competition."

"Bruno?"

"Rachel, you are a country darling. And you never cease to amaze me. I'm so proud of your improvement throughout this competition. Another amazing dance, as always."

...

"Ladies and gentlemen...the judges have their scores. Carrie Ann Inaba."

"10."

Finally a 10 from Carrie Ann.

"Len Goodman."

"10."

One more and they would be perfect...

"Bruno Tonioli."

"9."

Rachel's heart sunk. A 9? From Bruno?

"Alright, that's a 29 out of 30. That's your fourth straight 29. How dedicated are you to getting that 30?"

"One hundred percent," Rachel told Brooke with all the confidence and determination in the world. "Whatever isn't getting us to a 30 is beyond me, and I'd like to know what it is. But we're going to continue to give everything we have until we get it."