[tense music playing]
♪ ♪
[exhales]
-Hello, everyone. -[indistinct chatter]
-[Deirdre] Hi. -Good to see you.
Ah, looks like everyone’s here.
Let’s get started, shall we?
[Jack] And we’ve amicably resolved the HR matter
involving our major gifts director Bonny Scanlan.
Uh, she now understands that Nicholas’s tight, lingering hug
a couple months ago was not lascivious in nature
but the result of a mini-stroke he suffered while he was hugging her,
impeding his ability to release her from the hug.
-Poor Nicholas. -They’re bosom buddies now.
Bad choice of words. My point being, they’ve made up.
Very good.
Well, what say we open it up here?
Bradley, I think you had a suggestion for Jack?
Yes, Jack -
had a thought: Why do we hand out programs at performances?
Well, I suppose, so people know what the performance is?
A given, but what if we distributed them electronically?
QR codes. So downtown, I love that.
Me, too. It’s disruptive.
I think people would be fiddling with their phones during performances.
-That would be disruptive. -[Bradley] It would save money.
-And trees. -I love trees.
You know, let me have a think on this and I’ll get back to you.
Anything else?
Yes, um, we have one more item on the agenda, Jack.
And it’s, uh...
It’s a tough one, I’m afraid.
They don’t call me Teflon Jack for nothing.
Uh, Teflon’s bad for you.
So, what’s the issue?
Well, apparently, there’s a bid to change the name.
-Of? -The theater.
My theater? [laughs softly]
-Fish Theater? -It isn’t your theater.
It’s the Metropolitan Ballet’s theater.
Why would we change the name of the theater?
It could use a refresh.
It’s been the name of the theater
-for 75 years. -[Deirdre] Yeah,
but 75 years is, like, a million years ago.
No, it’s literally 75 years ago.
But in real time, it’s more like a million years ago.
No, in real time, there were no anatomical humans on Earth
-a million years ago. -Jack.
You were great in that Chris Pine movie, by the way.
Thank you.
And what might this new name be?
[distant cough]
-Harlan? -Well,
seeing as how, through his generous contributions,
David Koch got a theater...
-No. -And David Geffen got a theater...
-No, no. -And considering
the generous infusion of funds that Mr. -
Do not utter that name in this meeting. I forbid it.
Don’t knee-jerk us on this, Jack.
This isn’t knee-jerking. This is full-body jerking.
I’m actually convulsing. No.
To be blunt, it’s not your call.
It’s the board’s.
Of course, we’d like your support.
-You don’t have it. -[Harlan] Be reasonable, Jack.
Be reasonable, huh?
Your wife, Harlan. What’s her name?
Judith.
Not anymore. It’s Myrtle now.
-There. How’s it feel? -[Bradley] Young man,
you’re being very rude.
What’s that empty chair doing there?
[Harlan] Nothing.
It’s...
It’s just an empty chair.
There’s never an empty chair at these board meetings.
A butt in every chair, that’s the tradition.
The chair is there for a reason.
It’s just a chair. God.
You’re not adding anybody to the board?
-Not today. -Tomorrow?
Are you adding somebody to the board tomorrow?
[coughs]
Bueller...
Bueller... Bueller...
-[♪ Sons of Raphael plays “Nights Are For Love”] -♪ When the setting sun departs ♪
♪ The night begins ♪
♪ in lovers’ hearts ♪
♪ Waiting for the moon to rise ♪
♪ towards the stars ♪
♪ they lift their eyes ♪
♪ Nights are ♪
♪ for love ♪
♪ as stars are for the heavens above ♪
♪ In every moon, there is a light ♪
♪ for those who love ♪
♪ Nights are ♪
♪ for love ♪
♪ as stars are for the heavens above ♪
♪ In every moon, there is a light ♪
♪ for those who love ♪♪
[elevator bell chimes]
They’re doing it. They’re renaming my goddamn theater.
Oh, I never loved that name. It has a smell.
[speaking French] Excuse me, the Fishes built New York City.
What do you want from me?
Find something in Paris Crispin can name after himself.
-Then he can leave The Fish alone. -[door closes]
-What? No. -Name a street after him,
a-a café, a sewer.
You guys never liked the Eiffel Tower, give him that, but -
“Shamblee Tower.” It’s got a nice ring to it.
You need to be dead to get a building here.
Oh, I’m fine with him being dead.
For at least 100 years. Let’s talk then.
You brought this man into my life, and for that,
I will make you suffer forever.
[Lucien speaking French] Look at the newspaper, Geneviève! Lots of press!
The new star of the Paris Opera!
Hmm.
[choreographer speaking French]
[speaking French]
[conversing in French] It was more reliable in the old days, Madame.
When it was all manual.
Careful.
More men, less computers.
I just need it to work perfectly every time, Ivan.
Can you make that happen?
I’ll get it running again. I promise.
Thank you.
Oh, and Madame - if I may...
Of course...
The opera last week. La Nuit de l’Anneau.
The presence on that stage.
The power.
The magnetism.
Simply mesmerizing.
Lucia’s voice just gets more and more beautiful with time.
I’m so happy you got to see her.
Oh - I wasn’t talking about the soprano.
I was talking about the bull.
The bull?
With that big, sad face. The flaring nostrils.
I loved him.
I loved the bull too, Madame! Very much!
And me! He got the biggest ovation of the night! What a bull!
Will he be in other operas? The bull?
He will not.
My children would love to see the bull.
Not the opera - too long and boring for them.
But the bull?
They would go wild.
Mine, too! They would love to see the bull!
Madame, what can we do to get you to bring back the bull?!
For the children!
I am not bringing back the bull!
Tell your wives, tell your kids!
This is the opera,
not a zoo!
What did she say?!
She says she is not bringing back the bull!
-Is she crazy?! -Geneviève.
What is this?
“Eleven a.m., Studio 2. Untitled Tobias Bell piece.”
It’s a rehearsal call sheet.
Posted in the hallways. Handwritten, like a serial killer.
-Okay, so? -Look at the cast.
-This is the entire company. -Uh-huh.
-There’s 80 people in the company. -That’s right.
He’s putting 80 people in his ballet?
That’s insane. They won’t fit on the stage.
Also, he spelled everyone’s names wrong.
[♪ Slipknot plays “The Chapeltown Rag”]
♪ We don’t deny ♪
♪ what is wrong ♪
-♪ with our lives ♪♪ -[indistinct chatter]
[Tobias] So, rehearsals should really start earlier than this,
but the sun here is out of sync with my sleep cycle.
So, new plan, you’ll all need to push your meals by 6 hours
and go to sleep no earlier than 3:00 a.m.
I can’t do effective rehearsals past 4:00 p.m.,
which is my 10:00 a.m., so your 4:00 p.m. has to become 10:00 p.m.
We start at 8:00 a.m. on the dot, which for you is 2:00 p.m.
After breakfast, which you’ll now eat at 12:00.
Does everyone understand?
Maverick.
Here I am.
Okay, so, line up for me.
-No. -Pardon?
You can go.
No. No.
No. No. No.
No. No.
No.
[recedes] No. No.
[conversing in French] Do I stay?
-I don’t know. He’s very strange. -[Tobias laughs] No. No. Nope.
[indistinct chatter]
[Tobias] I can tell you now, the whole back row can go. Au revoir.
Excusez-moi. Pardon.
Excusez-moi.
[speaking French] Who knew this hallway held so many, yes?
Excusez-moi.
[conversing in French] Matthieu, wait...
You know, I always thought the Bolshoi acid attack was an extreme overreaction.
Until him!
[Tobias in distance] No. No. No.
No. No.
God, no. Go. What?
[Geneviève] Tobias, can I speak with you for a minute?
Let’s step over here.
Tobias, I have a hallway full of very angry dancers.
-Why? -Why?
I don’t know how things work in New York,
but here, you decide who you want in your ballet first
and then you call them to rehearsal.
But how would I know who I want? I don’t know any of these people.
Well, you could go to company class.
Or you could have asked me, “Hey Geneviève, who jumps good here?”
-I don’t know how to find you. -Then you find me and I’ll find her.
-Who are you? -Are you kidding me?
I’m the person who came to your house at 3:00 in the morning
when you locked yourself in your bathroom.
That’s who I am.
Tobias, all these people came here today expecting to be in your ballet.
What? You want me to put 80 people in my ballet?
That’s insane. They won’t fit on the stage.
Tobias, you have insulted the entire company.
They’re gathered outside this door like an angry mob.
Have you heard of the French Revolution?
It looked a little like this. And you know how that ends.
With Russell Crowe singing.
-And nobody wants that. -So what do I do?
Um, I’ll take care of them.
Just do me a favor: give him attention.
He’s our resident little bad boy.
Mommy issues, daddy issues.
But he has guts and he has talent.
Maybe you can think of something special for him?
-For who? -Gabin.
-Who’s Gabin? -[Gabin] Me.
I’m Gabin, remember? Top Gun?
I’ve been to a doctor for my ankle.
You told me.
Oh, yes.
I do know him.
Good. Let’s go.
Who wants free cigarettes?
[dancers cheering]
You and you.
No.
So, you three.
Don’t be terrible.
I was picking you anyway.
Thank you, Tobias.
He was picking me anyway. He was very clear about that.
-[door opens] -[faint indistinct chatter]
[door closes]
[sighs]
I’m rusty.
Let’s go.
[woman singing in French]
Arms out.
You have long arms.
-It’s the water. -Huh?
New York water makes your arms long.
I think you’re thinking of bagels.
Bagels make your arms long?
The water makes the bagels good.
Why are we talking about bagels?
You were talking about the water.
I don’t know about the bagels.
I just know -
arms down...
...That whenever we get someone from New York,
they have very long arms.
So, you’re the one they cut from the school?
Yes.
I was cut.
I think you’re the first person they’ve ever brought back after being cut.
Interesting.
There’s a lot of space between the nips. It’s always been like that?
-I - -It must be the bagels.
I have a brother in New York.
I went there once to visit.
I took a boat to the Statue of Liberty.
She came from France, you know.
I know.
We gave her to them.
They know.
I saw 2 Broadway shows.
One was good. One was terrible.
But the one was good.
[dancer shouting in French] Vanessa!
You angry vindictive despot!
I will not wear the saggy sparkle bonnet!
I won’t do it!
Good! Don’t!
Learn to grout the bathroom tile!
Make a cappuccino!
Lead a tour through a forest in a t-shirt and hideous shorts!
Just get out of my costume room!
You hate me!
I feel nothing for you.
But that bonnet is to be respected!
Here.
-What is this? -Your costume.
I’ll have to take it in.
The last one ate her way through Italy before she wore it.
This is Gamzatti.
-I’m dancing Gamzatti? -Oui.
Are you sure they said Gamzatti?
No. I am not sure.
They made me head of this department because I hear things wrong.
I didn’t mean -
Go. Change. Change here, change behind the curtain, just change.
It’s not my fault you’re not a pharmacist.
[light piano music playing]
Every time I take a name... Florent, please!
What?
Every time I take a name off the list, you add a new one.
That’s because when I ask you to add a name, you don’t do it.
That’s because -
What?!
Simi! Come, Simi!
[Clea and Florent arguing in French]
Why can’t 1 of the 2,000 people working for you help us with this?
This is not what they are paid to do. They’re paid to do government work.
Hello, honey.
Hi. What’s that smell?
The dinner your mother tried to cook and burned to a crisp.
Florent, please.
If you want to make something, make the cold appetizers.
We’re not serving cold appetizers.
I got Gamzatti.
-Gamzatti? -Well, that was fast.
[sighs] Geneviève finally got something right.
Did you say something?
What do you mean?
Did you tell them to give me Gamzatti?
Why would we do that?
You didn’t say anything? To Ms. Lavigne?
Absolutely not.
No, Mishi - you’ve earned this.
You were born Gamzatti.
Now, clean up for dinner. And be happy.
[speaks French]
And please, use a coaster, Florent!
It’s my piano!
Ticket sales cover about 60% of our operating costs
and your incredibly generous donations make up the rest.
Without you, we don’t exist.
-Thank you. -You’re very welcome.
And speaking of “not existing,”
have any of you given thought to leaving money to us
once that final curtain comes down?
We don’t need to get into that now.
Okay, but death comes for everybody,
and sometimes it’s quite brutal and unexpected.
Have a think on that.
Anyway, we couldn’t have picked a better day for our little tour.
The fountain’s exploding.
And doesn’t The Fish look beautiful in the fall sun?
-[laughter] -What?
Nothing, it’s just “The Fish.”
Always makes me laugh.
The theater is named after a magnificent woman, Mrs. Dorothy Fish.
A generous grand dame of New York society
and one of the very first benefactors of the company.
She always smelled of powder and had a smile that lit up the world.
It is kind of a funny name though.
Let’s move on.
[Nicholas] My mother got hit by a bus.
So many luminaries have graced this stage:
Alicia Alonso, Natalia Makarova,
Baryshnikov.
We’d be here all week if I mentioned them all.
Oh, and don’t forget Gelsey Kirkland.
She’s doing great now.
Living in Maine, but besides that,
very happy.
You see that box up there, folks?
It belongs to the Fish family.
And for decades, passed down from Fish to Fish.
I remember a young boy sitting in that box.
He had to sit on his mom’s lap to be high enough to see the stage.
Busy woman, that mother of his,
but she never missed the ballet.
It was his moment to be with her, their thing.
She even taught him to read off of the, uh...
[voice breaking] ...off of the programs.
Now people say we should get rid of the programs altogether.
And what of the new generation of little boys who will never...
So the programs would be digital.
More and more places are doing that.
Well, not us.
Let’s hit a rehearsal.
[chuckles]
And as luck would have it, there’s Cheyenne Toussaint,
rehearsing a piece with -
Let’s see, who is that?
Do tell, my left eye is out again.
Gael.
Excuse me.
Reunion time.
-Jack - -Zip it!
So those are a few of our generous donors.
That’s why I’m going to smile and seem all pleasant
as I say, “What the fuck is going on?”
We are rehearsing in a studio, Jack.
"Rehearsal" is, like, “practice.”
An important part of ballet. And “ballet” is -
I mean, what is he doing here at all?
Ask me, I’m right here.
You smell like produce.
And he hasn’t been on a farm in a week.
-Weird, no? -I told you he wouldn’t want me back.
-No shit, Kreskin. -I was just fine doing my thing.
-How long has he been here? -3 days.
Really, I’m not talking to you.
And who is supposed to have this room?
I read the schedule. It’s not you two.
Eva and the demi-soloists. I shooed them away.
-You shooed Eva away. -Not my idea.
Since her accident, she’s easily shooed.
We talked about this, about him.
We didn’t. You spit your words at me, then walked away.
It was very rude.
-[cameras clicking] -Hey!
This is our room!
Where we rehearse and yell at each other!
-No pictures! -How about I meet you in the hallway, gang?
I think you got some tote bags
-in your future. -Okay.
Jack, this feels right to me.
There are protocols, Cheyenne, schedules.
-He’s not even on the payroll. -Wait, what?
-Everyone else thinks this is a good idea. -Who?
-I quit my job. I have to get paid. -[phone buzzing]
Shit.
-Hello? -[falsetto voice] Hello, yes.
-Jack, just wanted - -Hold on.
To be continued.
He’s gonna pay me, right? He’s -
I’m having trouble hearing you, give me a sec...
Sorry you lost your rehearsal space, Eva.
[whispers] Lemons.
When life throws you lemons, Jack!
I’m sorry, say that again?
Oh, I was just saying that I love the pairing
of Cheyenne with Gael Rodriguez
in the Wheeldon piece.
Shining star and the brash young rookie.
I’m sorry, who is this?
It’s Joe Smith. I’m on the board.
I’m new and I don’t chime in much, but I felt compelled to chime in on this.
Oh, okay, so, Mr. Joe Smith,
whose name I don’t recognize and sounds completely fake-o,
you’re the guy who thinks this is a good idea, huh?
Just happened to call right this second?
I guess the timing is a bit Dickensian.
Have you read Bleak House?
Listen to me, you right-wing, bootlicking toady for dictators,
aka Crispin Shamblee, I know it’s you,
and buddy, you and me, we’ve got a big problem.
Oh, dear. I’ll let you go.
-Got to run. -Hey!
[indistinct chatter]
Hey.
[upbeat classical music playing]
♪ ♪
[Abadie] Hold your center, Mishi.
Keep up, you’re behind.
And attack!
-[groans] I’m sorry. -It’s okay.
You need to attack the turn, Mishi.
Gamzatti attacks! She is an attack dog.
She gets what she wants. No poodle.
No poodle, attack, okay.
Right. From the turn, please.
-And… -[music resumes]
Confident.
And attack!
Control.
-You’re too close. -Too close?
I don’t have any room. I’m going to hit you.
-Mishi? -[Tristan] I’m stretching my arms
as far as I can.
-Well, maybe your arms are too short. -They are my arms.
Then you should drink New York water. Make them longer.
[sighs] Madame?
[Abadie] Okay. Thank you very much, everybody.
Let’s pick it up from here tomorrow.
I’m sorry. New shoes.
Why don’t we go through it, just the 3 of us.
-Nice and quiet. Half speed. -Half speed. Yes, Madame.
Right. Same place, half speed, please.
And...
[music resumes]
Shoulders down, Mishi, relax.
[♪ Mika plays “Elle Me Dit”]
Mishi, relax.
[singing in French over headphones]
[music fades]
[indistinct chatter]
Mishi. You’re late.
For what?
Your ‘‘Welcome Home’’ party.
We mentioned it, didn’t we?
No.
Shit.
Don’t be dramatic.
Now hurry to your room before anyone sees you like this.
I’ve laid out a dress. No bun tonight - hair down.
Hurry now.
Monique! Why, it’s so great to see you.
Pierre.
My goodness. You’re so tall.
I almost didn’t recognize you.
Skateboarding, huh?
Yeah.
Cool.
Your mother take an insurance policy out on you for this?
Yeah.
You still at the same school?
Yeah.
You take the train?
Yeah.
Fun.
Yeah.
Well, great talking to you.
I’m gonna tell your mother you’re bleeding from the head, okay?
Yeah.
[engine revving]
Hello, Théo!
Wow.
The neighbors must love you.
What?
The car is loud!
I can’t hear you! The car is loud!
Okay.
Your son is lying in the street bleeding from the head.
What?
See you inside.
You are an hour and a half late.
-I came - -Straight from work.
Did you bring the challah?
Yes.
The oven is not heating evenly. One side’s too hot, one side’s too cold...
One side’s just right.
You won’t be laughing when only half the brisket is edible.
I’ll give it half a laugh, how’s that?
I’m making chicken just in case. And I’m heating up last night’s lasagna.
I’m sure the brisket will be great.
Franprix?
Are you kidding me?
They said it was fresh.
You bought challah at a store that sells toilet paper.
Well, it’s the circle of life.
You’re disgusting. I told you to go to the bakery.
-It was closed. -Closed?
If you had left work in time, it would’ve been open.
Why didn’t you get it?
I’m making dinner. Brisket and chicken, lasagna.
[car engine revving outside]
I’m sorry. My life is unpredictable.
-Oh, unlike mine. -Oh, I didn’t say that.
My life is predictable and boring.
I just meant I work.
And I don’t work?
-I know you work. -I work,
I have a husband, and I have 3 kids.
Oh, 3 kids? It’s 3 kids? I forgot it was 3 kids.
I don’t get to watch ballet for a living,
and I don’t get to have my picture taken with a bull.
[sighs] Oh, God.
I work with boring people in a boring office,
and I still manage to make dinner.
Brisket and chicken.
You didn’t have to make the chicken!
The oven is cooking uneven! Do you listen? Can you hear?
Félicie! Pauline! Pierre!
I don’t think they heard you.
You act like I force these dinners on you.
Coming, Mom!
-I don’t. -You’re just like Daddy.
-Don’t call him Daddy. It sounds weird. -He is my daddy.
That sounds even weirder.
Don’t make everything sexual and perverted.
[Geneviève] Perverted? That’s perverted?
Just because you are bohemian and know graffiti artists
doesn’t make you better.
Christ, I know 1 graffiti artist. 1.
Mm. And he will steal your keys, break into your house,
and kill you in your sleep.
-Well, that’ll show me. -Mm.
Just remember, you got the pretty name.
[sighs] How does everything lead back to that?
[Leonor] You exhausted our parents.
By the time they got me, they gave up.
Get the food on the table. Pauline, get another bottle of wine.
And where’s your damn brother?
He’s outside skateboarding.
Did you say skateboarding?
No.
-I told him no skateboarding. -Hello.
Should I go get Théo?
Théo’s upstairs sick.
No, he’s not, he’s out in the...
Félicie, you are getting prettier and prettier every time I see you.
Looks fade. Tell her looks fade.
Looks fade.
How is school?
[Leonor] English, please. They need to learn.
They are having a mural painted in the cafeteria,
and I was chosen to do the top-right corner.
Ah, that’s the best corner.
Pauline, you almost look happy. What’s going on?
She has a boyfriend. Tell her.
I have a boyfriend.
-That’s exciting. -Tell her about his father.
His father owns a plumbing company, and he’s going to take over after college.
-A plumber. -What’s wrong with a plumber?
-Nothing. -Plumbers always work.
She will not starve.
She’s not marrying this boy.
Just because he’s not a flamethrower or a bongo player doesn’t mean he’s not worthy.
She’s 17. She’s too young to think about marriage.
I started thinking about marriage when I was 10.
I would love her to marry a plumber. I would be proud.
Tata Vivi, did you ever give Madame Macron the portrait I painted of her?
I did, and she loved it. She put it up in her office.
[Felicie] You’re so lucky.
You have a job where you get to go to parties and meet famous people.
Well, there’s more to my job than that.
-[Felicie] Who else have you met? -Timothée Chalamet.
[Felicie] Oh, my God!
Did he smell wonderful?
Oh, like puppies.
[Felicie] I’m so jealous.
I want a job like yours.
-You’ll never have a job like hers. -Why not?
Because that’s not a real job. Nobody has that job.
I have that job.
Don’t fill her head with fluff.
Hey, I worked really fucking hard to get where I am, Leonor.
Language!
I’m sorry. But I did. Don’t go dismissing it like that.
There is 1 job like yours. 1.
For her to get that job, you will have to die.
And the Macrons don’t even know you.
You told me that you saw them at a restaurant
and they walked right past you without saying a word.
-That was the Olsen twins! -[door slams]
Hey! Dinner is on the table! Where have you been?
You know, I don’t appreciate you trying to make me look ridiculous
-in front of my nieces. -Oh, stop it.
I studied, worked long hours, and sacrificed many things.
I don’t need to sit here and listen to you telling me that it’s not a real job.
Are you leaving? Dramatically in a huff?
Like in a movie starring Timothée Chalamet?
I have another event to get to.
Oh. Take your toilet bread. We don’t need it.
See you next month.
And Théo’s not upstairs, he’s in the garage.
Oh, you know everything now, yes?
-[Geneviève] I know that. -[door opens]
-Eat. -[Geneviève] Your mother’s crazy!
You too, eat.
[door slams]
[car engine revving]
[screams]
[phone ringing, buzzing]
Are you serious?
I’m right here! Why are you calling me?
For Geneviève?
Hey, there. I’m a couple minutes late. Sorry.
Are you a waiter?
What? No. Crispin, it’s me, Jack McMillan.
I’m only supposed to talk to the waiter.
-I’m confused here. -[laughter]
-I know, I know. -What the hell?
The man said, “A penny for your thoughts,”
-and it cost him £40 million. -[man] Wow.
It was the deal of a lifetime. I just didn’t know it at the time.
There’ll be other deals, Crispin. You’re not done yet.
And with cryogenics, other lifetimes.
[laughter]
Crispin?
Hello there. Are you part of the group?
-What group? -I already have 4 businessmen
at my table. Did they add a fifth?
-What are you talking about? -[Crispin] Jack.
Jack.
Sit.
Crispin?
Yes, it’s Crispin. Please sit down. You’re drawing attention.
What is happening?
There’s some threatening chatter on the dark web, so I created this,
my house of mirrors.
If they break in with guns blazing, they won’t know whom to shoot.
Probably be poor Rodney over there.
-They’re exact copies. -[Crispin] Top-of-the-line prosthetics.
The same team that turns Martin Short into Jiminy Glick.
Would you like a Dirty Chi-Chi?
-A what? -[Crispin] It’s my own invention:
dragon fruit, protein powder, and Kevin Hart tequila.
I’ll pass.
You’re an old man in a young man’s suit.
Now, what’s on your mind?
I want to talk to you about Dorothy Fish, my great-grandmother.
-Oh, that. -Yes, that.
She was a great woman. A respected philanthropist.
She loved this city and she loved the ballet. It kept her alive.
Go on, I’m listening.
-She had a lot of... -[laughter]
She had a lot of pain and tragedy in her life.
But through it all, her support of dance, of the Metropolitan,
it never wavered.
It was her connection to the world,
and its theater bore her name for 75 years.
Let me stop you right there. I know all this.
I know everything about your whole family,
from Dottie on down. None of this is news to me.
There are other things you can slap your name on. Why this?
Well, first of all,
Fish is a comedy name. It’s very silly.
You have to admit, many people chuckle.
Fish is a respected family name. I am a Fish.
You are not a Fish. You’re a McMillan.
Well, I come from a Fish. My mother was a Fish.
You are repeatedly proving my point.
[laughter]
That building is my family’s legacy. It’s my legacy, Crispin.
You must understand that.
I always admired your family, Jack.
With their New York roots going back to the Mayflower.
They go back a long time, yes.
When I was young, I thought they were exactly the kind of men I wanted to be.
Sharp, sophisticated, brutal.
They looked at me and they thought, “new money.”
Which, in their circle, is the worst thing you could call a person
other than “squeegee man” or “actor.”
-That’s not true. -I mean,
your grandfather evicted an orphanage in the middle of a blizzard,
so naturally, I thought, “birds of a feather.”
But still, they branded me, “new money.”
So this is payback, is that what this is?
No.
Well, maybe.
I gave a lot of money to your organization
and I want my name on that building.
You fund wars, Crispin.
It’s a little late to apply for sainthood, don’t you think?
You know, it’s remarkable how unchanged you are from when you were a little boy.
You were very sensitive then, too.
Quick to anger, quick to cry.
-I didn’t cry. -Oh, you cried all the time, Jack.
My earliest memory of you is of a little boy crying
in striped overalls. It didn’t surprise me.
I’m sure your family was cruel to you. They’re cruel people.
No, they’re not.
And maybe if your father hadn’t done what he did to me,
maybe I wouldn’t be doing this to you, but he did, and I am.
That building’s not your legacy, Jack.
It’s not even your last name.
You have no legacy.
You’re the guy who looks good in a suit.
You’re the guy who strolls around with Pat Kiernan.
You’re the guy who makes old ladies remember
when they could turn a man’s head.
You’re a fantasy.
You, Jack, don’t exist.
Now, wait a minute -
I am the one who makes things happen.
And when this downturn hit, I saw my chance,
my chance to really make a mark
in a town that had always completely dismissed me.
Until now.
So I did.
Your forebears were wrong.
Jack, at the end of the day, it doesn’t matter if your money is old or new.
All that matters is that you have the most of it.
And I do.
Anything else?
No.
I’m done with you.
With all of you.
[laughter]
[♪ Bob James plays “Angela” (Theme from Taxi)]
[laughter]
[Florent speaking French] Benjamin Franklin took several meetings here.
To secure funding for the Revolution.
There’s a musical on that period, ‘‘Ben Franklin in Paris.’’
Mishi.
They gave her Gamzatti - simply gave it to her. La Bayadère.
We’re so proud.
Can’t breathe!
Harold and I will be front row center on opening night.
Go say hello to your friends.
I was with them all day.
Well, go on and be with them some more.
Okay.
Is she dating yet?
I don’t even know which way she leans...
Wow.
It was a gift from Elton John.
Huh.
I’m already drunk.
Me, too.
Your father pours them strong.
It’s how he likes them.
So, Mish - I never see you. Are you hiding from me?
No, Chloé. Our paths just haven’t crossed, I guess.
Because corps rehearsal is at the same time as yours.
We’ll see each other at the run-through.
As long as you glance behind you at the peasants.
I was her Little Mother, you know.
Really?
She couldn’t go to sleep unless she was hugging her little stuffed pig.
That’s so cute.
She named it Chloé.
That’s so weird.
[Tristan] Because your name is Chloé.
God, I’m drunk.
[glass dinging]
Excuse me, everyone!
It is so nice to have you in our home -
thank you for being here tonight,
and helping us celebrate our beautiful daughter, our Mishi.
Home at last,
and already set to dance a soloist role
in the new season at Le Ballet National.
Cléa and I are so proud.
So if you would please raise your glasses...
...and toast our...
-[glass shatters] -[waiter exclaims]
Oops. Oh, no. So sorry.
Cheers!
Who are we toasting?
Mishi, of course. Let me just get settled here...
Could I get a chair, please?
Yes, ma’am.
And a drink?
I’m not technically late,
the Minister asked if I could stop by and said any time will do.
And now is
‘‘any time.’’
Just an awkward time, I’ll admit.
Go on.
I’ll just pretend.
As I was saying,
let us toast our Gamzatti.
Santé.
[others] Santé.
Allô, Mishi.
Is it nice to be home?
Yes, Papa.
Not much of a public speaker but neither was Godunov.
[laughter]
[Cléa] All right, enough teasing my daughter. Let’s eat.
Cléa, Florent - thank you for inviting me.
Pardon?
Thank you for inviting me!
How are you?
One of the servers will do that for you, Geneviève.
Oh, yes. Sorry.
-Did you bring your own food? -Hmm?
The Franprix bags?
Oh - it’s challah.
Long story.
But it’s good I had it because it broke my fall.
You fell?
When did you fall?
Uh...
My nephew left his skateboard out.
He’s trying to kill me!
He’s not really trying to kill me.
Especially since...
I found his weed and did not snitch on him.
In fact, he and I sometimes share a... share a...
...have a talk and I tell him drugs are not recommended.
Well, perhaps you can bring the challah to the bull tomorrow.
Amusing.
But seriously, Geneviève, why is the bull getting so much press?
Well, the truth is, Cléa, the bull is more than just an animal.
It’s symbolism and it touches people deeply.
It’s a true star.
A star?
Every day I talk to people who say:
‘‘When can we see the bull again? When can my children see the bull?
Not the opera, too long and boring,
just the bull.’’
They don’t want to see the opera, but they want to see the bull...
That’s exactly what we don’t want to happen.
Oh...
Oh, dear.
It’s my auntie. She’s taken ill. I need to go.
She has terrible gout.
Thank you so much for the invitation.
You again?
We could get married, you and me.
Goodbye, Mishi! Goodbye, everyone! Thank you!
Wait!
You wait! Geneviève!
What?
-You, Geneviève. -What?
-You did this. -Did what?
You cut me from the school. You sent me away.
And then you drag me back.
Why? Because you felt like it?
I thought you’d want to come back.
Back with my parents.
Back in the house where I disappear.
The ancestral home, where Benjamin Franklin
screwed a comtesse against a tree.
What?
When you said, “go,” I went.
I went to New York,
and they put me in their company,
and they gave me solos, and I was happy.
It’s wonderful to be happy.
You smile at things and people.
I understood almost every joke I heard.
I had friends, I went to brunch.
And I was dancing wonderful parts.
I was there, now I’m here. I was happy, now I’m not.
I could dance, now I can’t.
Why can’t you dance?
Because I left my mojo in New York.
-Mojo? -Yes, mojo.
That’s a cool New York word that I learned in New York,
which is the place that I wish I was right now.
I don’t know what to say.
-Send me back. -I can’t.
You didn’t think I was good enough for the National.
That’s not it.
That year, the school had too many dewdrops.
Dewdrops?
Light, sweet, bourrée, bourrée, bourrée.
Everybody bourrées!
You have to bourrée.
The first thing they teach you is bourrée.
I’m sorry I cut you.
I made a mistake. Forgive me.
Okay.
Thank you.
-What are you doing? -I’m going with you.
-No, you’re not. -Well, I’m not going back in there.
-You have to. -Then come with me.
I’m not going back in there.
-Then I’m going with you. -[sighs] Mishi.
There is a cake with my face on it in the kitchen.
Listen, I promise I’ll make things better,
the whole situation, just give me a little time.
Can you at least walk me to the door?
Sure.
Which tree?
The one with the kite painted on it.
Oh, sure.
Stay strong.
Drive, drive, drive!
[video narrator] Many people think pandas are lazy, clumsy,
but they are just being playful.
Going at their own pace exploring the world around them.
Pandas have a snuggly, friendly quality
that reminds one of a childhood toy come to life.
[Clara] You look thin, Johnny.
I’m the same weight as I’ve always been.
Fish men have always leaned toward the ectomorphic.
You’re not smoking again, I hope.
I am not smoking, and I am eating, Mother, I promise.
Have you ever tried these? The sliders, they’re delicious.
I haven’t had the ones here.
They serve them elsewhere? I thought they were exclusive to the club.
Not everything is exclusive to the club, John.
Well, they’re good, nonetheless.
So, Mother, Uncle John...
-Jack, hi. -Harlan.
May I steal you a moment? Excuse us.
[light piano music playing]
[whispers] What’s up?
Young man, you need to call Joe Smith ASAP.
-Who? -The very important board member
you yelled at on the phone this morning.
Wait a minute, Joe Smith, that’s a real guy?
Yes, he’s a real guy, and what is it you called him? A bootlicking toady?
-Well, out of context, it does sound - -Call him. Smooth this over.
I will. Definitely.
Shit.
Everything all right?
Yes. Well...no.
I need to tell you both something.
You didn’t get a girl in the family way, did you?
Oh, John.
Nothing like that. This is about...
...the theater.
-Our theater? What about it? -Fish Theater?
MBT received a substantial donation recently,
and the board thought,
and seeing as it was one of the donor’s conditions,
that...renaming the theater might be in order.
Is this a joke?
If only it were.
But - but what of our legacy, Johnny? The legacy of Dorothy Fish?
The theater was all your great-grandmother had, son.
I know.
And to discard her memory like this, after a lifetime of giving.
It’s completely unfair. I told them.
She had all her limbs amputated, you know. Both arms, both legs.
[Clara] It was her circulation.
It was always weak, but at the end,
it just couldn’t support the poor woman’s extremities.
That’s why she lived full-time in that room in the Fish Wing at the hospital.
With a view of The Fish.
[Clara] With a view of The Fish.
And grandmother’s greatest pleasure, her only pleasure,
was when they lifted her out of bed and propped her up in that windowsill
so she could look down and see the people
heading into the theater that bore her name.
-You told me. -[John] Dorothy’s head
just touched the top of the window frame,
so they could wedge her in, snug as a bug.
Left her there till intermission.
You visited her there a couple of times, Johnny. Do you remember?
-No. -[Clara] You would sit on her lap,
or where her lap would’ve been,
and just sort of lean against her and just hug the stuffing out of her.
At that point, you were both the same size,
three-six, three-seven, it was a joy to watch.
Is there nothing we can do?
I put up a fight.
I really did, but it’s out of my control.
I’m sorry.
Well...we had a good run.
Those 75 years will never be erased.
I appreciate that you were the one to tell us, Jack. Thank you.
Yes, thank you. It couldn’t have been easy.
It wasn’t, but...thank you.
I’ll go call Harlan now.
No!
[piano music stops abruptly]
We sue.
-That’s that then. -We sue.
-What? -Your grandfather has spoken.
I’ll call the lawyers first thing.
Wait, Mother, Uncle John,
I’m the executive director of the company.
If we sue, I’m basically suing myself.
Well, sometimes, my boy, life gets sticky.
Be well, my darling.
-This is on your tab, son? -Yeah, sure.
Bye.
[French music playing over radio]
[blowing]
[knocking on door]
-[blowing] -[knocking on door]
Stop the knocking. It’s not going to make anything faster.
Oh - you.
Can I come in?
You’ll do what you’ll do.
How are you?
How am I? How should I know?
Cheyenne worries.
She should not.
Are you eating?
I’m working.
I brought bread.
Shall I leave it?
On the table.
What’s this do?
Castrates sheep.
Should I find you a chair?
No. I won’t be long.
I was just wondering if you could take in a stray.
I’ll find you a chair.
[piano playing over phone]
[instructor] Here we go.
-[Jack] Hey. -Mm.
-Shh. -What are you--
-Shh. -[whispering] What’s going on?
Why the shush?
-You stink of cigars and booze. -Because I had cigars and boozes.
-“Boozes”? -Multiple glasses of -
What are you looking at? What’s that sound?
Is someone in there? Who is that?
[Cheyenne] This little girl who appears only at night, like a fairy, and dances,
-lit only by the moon. -What? What the hell is going on here?
I want you to put her in the school.
You want the little fairy in the school? Is she even real?
How many boozes did you have?
You have to audition to be in the school. You don’t just waltz in.
Jesus Christ, it’s 11:30.
I’ve seen her, she’s good. She doesn’t need to audition.
She doesn’t need to - Cheyenne, you have nothing to do with the school.
You don’t get to judge potential students.
-Which one of us wears pointe shoes, Jack? -What?
Do you put shoes on and stand on the tops of your toes, hmm?
[sighs]
-Keep going, Susu. -[Fei gasps]
[clattering]
-Why is she running at us? -She must be the fairy’s mother.
The mother?
Are you the fairy’s mother?
-Come on. We’re going. -Why?
-[speaking Mandarin] Susu! Bring the phone here! -Who are you? Who is she?
Do you know this girl?
Susu! Let’s go!
-You are the mother, yes? -Whose mother? Her mother?
-Your daughter is very talented. -[Fei] I’m sorry, Mr. McMillan.
-Ah, do not apologize. -Why is she apologizing?
For recording the classes. I’m so sorry.
-You were recording classes? -Never apologize.
When I met the president of France, Emmanuel Macron, I called him François.
I thought he was the last guy. When I saw him again, I did not apologize.
-I’m sorry, Cheyenne. -Oh, what is wrong with this damn family?
-How do you know this woman? -She gave me shoes.
She gave you shoes?
-Did they fit? -[Susu] Yes.
I’m good with feet.
Okay, now hold on here, okay?
I just came from a thing with the mayor, and I drank a bit too much.
I was supposed to sit next to the mayor, but there was a screwup,
and they put me next to the deputy head of Sanitation.
Not even the head of Sanitation, the deputy head of Sanitation.
Oh, my God, Jack, no one wants to hear your whole Les Misérables.
I’m catching up here. She’s your daughter, and you’ve been recording classes
and letting her dance here at night while you work.
-I know it was wrong, and I’m - -Don’t do it.
It won’t happen again.
[Cheyenne] It won’t because she will be in the school.
-What school? -Or at home in bed.
-[Fei] What school? -She has talent, she needs training,
-so she’ll go to the school. -Hold on.
-Can I, Mama, please? -No.
No! It doesn’t work like that! Am I yelling?
-You have to audition. -No, she doesn’t.
Okay. We’re done here.
I’m sorry about this. I’m taking her home.
-Good. -Wait.
Well, you fucked that up.
Just give me 10 goddamn seconds to think.
Take more. Trust me.
Your interest in this child confounds me.
-Why? -You hate kids.
Well, the ones who cannot dance, sure.
You call them vermin. Pond scum. Little disease balls.
-That’s funny. -You make them cry.
Look who’s talking.
Me? I have kids.
-I don’t see them. -They’re not with me.
-They run away? -You’re avoiding the subject.
-Why do you care about this girl? -In fact,
the last time I saw your kids, they were crying.
They were very unhappy children, and loud.
We’re done.
[sighs] Wait...
[elevator chimes]
No. No! Someone hear me say no.
-Come with me. -Jesus Christ. Grip like a vise.
[busy chatter]
There. This is good.
[grunts] No, this is not good.
-2 scotches. -Coming up.
I already had scotch.
-Doubles. -[server] Got it.
I already had doubles.
-Do you need peanuts? -To do what?
-You need food in your tummy? -Oh, don’t say “tummy.”
I hate that word. I am not a child.
-Okay, little Jack. -[sighs]
I don’t want to drink here with you. You are part of this whole rotten day.
Ah, too bad, you have to drink with me.
-Why? -Because you are yelling
at cleaning ladies and little girls.
-You need to adjust your balls. -My balls are adjusted.
-Get ahold of yourself. -Oh, get ahold of myself. [chuckles]
That’s rich coming from you. Get ahold of myself.
You get ahold of myself.
Oh, yes, you are not a child at all.
-Oh, goddamn, this fucking day. -It is a bad day for you.
I’ve got you running rogue
and people using my studios at all hours of the night.
Just walking in and using them. Dancing all over the room.
And that motherfucking limey bastard.
How dare he take that theater from my great-grandmother.
-This is the torso? -She was more than a torso.
She was a nice old lady who gave a lot of money to this town.
And what does she get in return? Her name tossed in the garbage
by a man who has a picture of himself at a Mary J. Blige concert with Saddam Hussein.
And I’ve got you bringing fucking Gael into a building that is off-limits to him.
-No, it’s not off-limits to him. -Yes, it is.
The limits are where I say they are ’cause I make the limits.
I am the limits. And to that traitor, the limits are off.
-Traitor? -Yes. Traitor.
He’s a traitor. He abandoned the company that discovered him...
Oh, I’m suing myself. Did you know that?
I’ll be seeing myself in court.
I have to put on a suit and take a day off and hire 2 lawyers,
one to sue me, one to defend me, both charge me 500 bucks an hour.
I am a fucking loser.
Last call.
-Jack... -[exhales] What?
-I know about Gael. -Do not talk to me about Gael.
I know about his flakiness, his wanderings...
Like a Cuban Jesus.
Did anyone hear me say, “Don’t talk to me about Gael”?
I understand that you are feeling very lost.
-Very out of control. -[scoffs]
And I understand how hard that is for you.
You are a man. And I understand men.
All of your pride is right...here.
If all my pride was right here... [gasps] it would be hard.
Oh, but it is not. No, my pride is spread all over me.
I have many places of pride.
You have one. Here.
And it’s not wanting to listen to reason right now.
But I know that Gael is the right partner for me.
So...
Please.
Please, Mr. Pride, let Gael back in.
Do not do this.
You saw us dance. You know we fit.
You understand when things fit, yes?
Do not talk to my dick in public.
People will think something weird is going on.
Please let Gael be my partner.
I am asking this from one artist to another.
I’m drinking your drink.
If he runs off, he will suffer.
-[exhales heavily] -My family has killed people.
I will know how to do it. Quick, with no trace.
You have my word.
I’m appealing to you, Mr. Pride, let me do what I came here to do.
What you brought me here to do.
He will let you down, Cheyenne.
He will come in and he will make you think he’s there for you
and then opening night, he will let you the fuck down.
Every time I brought him back, he was here,
and then next thing I know, he’s leaving to work on a farm,
or to be a fire lookout in the Rockies, or he’s joined the French Foreign Legion,
or the Avengers, or whatever the fuck he was doing in India.
I understand. He’s a wanderer.
But give me this.
I’ll talk to him. I’ll get him to sign a contract.
He will stay. I’ll make sure of it.
If he leaves again, you sue him.
Take everything he has.
He doesn’t have anything.
He has the magic.
What can I say?
Oh, fuck me. Fine.
Bring him in, sign him up.
Have your magic. He’s your problem to solve now.
There. You won. You happy?
Yes. Thank you.
Thank you.
[♪ T. Rex sings “Cosmic Dancer”]
♪ I was dancing when I was 12 ♪
♪ I was dancing when I was aaah ♪
♪ I danced myself right out the womb ♪
♪ Is it strange to dance so soon? ♪
♪ I danced myself right out the womb ♪
♪ I was dancing when I was 8 ♪
♪ Is it strange to dance so late? ♪
♪ Oh, oh, oh-oh ♪
♪ I danced myself into the tomb ♪
Hmm.
♪ I danced myself into the tomb ♪
♪ Is it strange to dance so soon? ♪
♪ I danced myself out of the womb ♪
♪ Oh, oh, oh-oh ♪
♪ ♪
-Fei, right? -[Fei] Yes, sir.
Bring her to class tomorrow.
-What? -At 3:00.
With the other kids.
No more of this late-night stuff.
Thank you so much.
Yeah, yeah.
♪ ♪
[♪ Sons of Raphael plays “At Dawn I Look For You”]
♪ On your face light plays, the sun is young ♪
♪ In everything a mystery ♪
♪ I remember morning stars that sang ♪
♪ in golden skies that hung upon a cypress tree ♪
♪ And even angels have a way ♪
♪ to say you are gone ♪
♪ not through words but the first ray of dawn ♪
♪ And when the birds with your voice sing ♪
♪ with child-like faith I will run ♪
♪ to meet your light in the rising sun ♪
♪ ♪
♪ The red silk of your full lips can speak ♪
♪ and with the sunset’s voices blend ♪
♪ In the open air our bodies leap ♪
♪ and like a falling leaf ♪
♪ into the night descend ♪
♪ And even angels have a way ♪
♪ to say you are gone ♪
♪ not through words, but the first ray of dawn ♪
♪ And when the birds with your voice sing ♪
♪ with child-like faith I will run ♪♪