- Maureen Cummings: Erik got injured today. And do you know the first thing I thought when I saw him go down?
- Jim Gordon: What?
- Maureen Cummings: "I wish that was me." So that made me think, you know, 'cause that's not a normal reaction. How much of what you liked about me was because I was a ballet dancer, and how much because I was me?
- Maureen Cummings: If this is what I wanted, I wouldn't be as unhappy as I've been. I'd have friends, I'd sleep well, I wouldn't throw up half the things that I eat.
- Nancy Cummings: You watch your weight. There's nothing wrong with that!
- Maureen Cummings: Mom, I'm telling you I'm unhappy and sick. I can't do this any more!
- Nancy Cummings: But it's your dream. You just don't give up on your dream.
- Maureen Cummings: It's your dream, and it matters more to you than anything ever did to me. So I did it, but I can't any more.
- Nancy Cummings: I know what regret feels like, and I don't want that for you.
- Maureen Cummings: That's what ballet would be. A life of wishing that I found something I loved, instead of something I just happened to do well. I'm not you, Mom. You didn't have the feet. I don't have the heart.
- Maureen Cummings: I've got priorities. I mean, you only get to be a dancer for ten years. Maybe fifteen if you don't get injured. So for the next decade at least.
- Jim Gordon: Hey, all I'm asking for is a date.
- [In pas de deux class]
- Sergei: I am your slave.
- Eva Rodriguez: I'd believe it more if you weren't staring at your fucking reflection when you said it.
- Instructor: If someone wants to hear profanity, Miss Rodriguez, they can take a subway. They don't need to spend sixty dollars on a ballet ticket.
- [to Sergei]
- Instructor: Though she has a point.
- Jody: Cooper, you're an amazing dancer, and you're a great choreographer, but as a boyfriend you kind of suck.
- Jonathan Reeves: [waves to sit down]
- Jody Sawyer: Wait. All my life I've wanted to be one of ABA's perfect ballerinas. I wanted to be you, Juliette. But I'm not you, and I'm not perfect,I'm just me, bad feet and all, and I'm starting to think that I like that just as much.
- Jonathan Reeves: [begins to speak]
- Jody Sawyer: No, because if you're not going to offer me a place in the company I don't want to hear it. And if you are, I might not have the strength to say no, and then I would be spending my best dancing years in the back of a corps waving a rose back and forth, and I'm better than that. So thank you, Jonathan, for turning me into the best dancer I can be, I appreciate it more than I can say, really. Because the best dancer I can be is a principal in Cooper Neilson's new company.
- Jody Sawyer: [walks off]
- Maureen Cummings: I am the best goddamn dancer in the American Ballet Academy. Who the hell are you? Nobody.
- Eva Rodriguez: I screwed up any chance I had back in September. But I started dancing long before this stupid workshop, and I'm gonna keep on dancing long after it. So tomorrow is one more day I get to dance.
- Erik Jones: I do ballet because it has nothing to do with the people. Give me tiaras and boys in tights any day.
- Jim Gordon: Have you seen my girlfriend? Tall, thin, legs for days?
- Eva: Yeah, I pitched her overboard.
- Erik Jones: My stage name is Erik O. Jones after Oprah. She is my idol.
- Eva Rodriguez: Eva Rodriquez, after no one.
- Erik Jones: Oh, an individual. I like it.
- Cooper: If you're still holding onto all that personal shit.
- Jonathan Reeves: I don't have to hold onto anything. I got the girl.
- Instructor: Just dance the shit out of it!
- Jody Sawyer: Mom. Oh, I'm so happy you guys are here.
- Mr. Sawyer: We wanted to see what you've been up to this past year. And I've gotta tell you, that was the most fantastic thing I've ever seen.
- Mrs. Sawyer: It was great, honey. And just just wonderful.
- Jody Sawyer: You wanna know something stupid? I'd actually started to believe I didn't need to hear that anymore.
- Eva Rodriguez: Truth? In terms of technique, you are behind. But the people here know what they're looking for. And on the day of you audition, they saw it. In you.
- Jody Sawyer: Now all they see is the wrong body type.
- Jody Sawyer: Mom, I got in. I made it.
- Mrs. Sawyer: Wonderful, honey.
- Jody Sawyer: Can you believe it? I'm going to New York.
- Maureen Cummings: Look, you're a smart girl, Jody. If you turn in your application now, you can still get into a good college.
- Jody Sawyer: But I don't want to go to college. I want to dance.
- Maureen Cummings: Yeah? Well, so do a lot of people.
- Erik Jones: Where are you going?
- Eva: We're going out for a smoke.
- Erik Jones: Oh, come downstairs. It's Marlboro country.
- Mrs. Sawyer: Am I a bad mother if I hope she doesn't get it?
- Mr. Sawyer: Don't ask me. I was against this from the start.
- Jody Sawyer: Margot Fonteyn didn't have great feet.
- Jonathan Reeves: Well when Margot Fonteyn was on stage, you couldn't tear your eyes away from her. Pft. It can't be taught.
- Maureen Cummings: I'm just trying to be honest. That's what friends do.
- Eva: I guess that would explain why you have so many friends.
- Jonathan Reeves: [to the casual bubblegum-chewing late-comer] And you are?
- Eva: Eva Rodriguez.
- Jonathan Reeves: So glad you could fit us into your busy schedule, Eva.
- Eva: [with a big smile] Oh, no sweat.
- Cooper: I mean it, though. I noticed your dancing before I recognized your face.
- Jody Sawyer: I have to admit, I recognized your face first.
- [chuckles]
- Nancy Cummings: Good thing I didn't step on one of your feet. You could sue me.
- Juliette: Don't worry, they're not as valuable as they used to be.
- Maureen Cummings: Just my luck.
- Jody Sawyer: I would kill for your luck. All I ever wanted was to be in the American Ballet Company