THE UNDERSTUDY - Act Three

Summary

Table Read: THE UNDERSTUDY – Act Three

Podcast by Manifest Media / TABLE READ | December 23, 2025

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Overview

This episode is the gripping and fantastical finale of "THE UNDERSTUDY," a cinematic audio drama blending supernatural elements with coming-of-age drama backstage at a high school performance of The Nutcracker. As the chaos triggered by a magical snow globe escalates, the story navigates identity swaps, wishes gone wrong, wraiths unleashed, and emotional reckonings. Ultimately, it’s a tale about wanting to be someone else, the price of ambition, friendship, and the restorative magic of acceptance.

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Key Discussion Points & Story Beats

1. Recap & Stakes Set

• Mr. Constantine (00:27): Fast-paced plot catch-up—Natalie’s soul still inhabits Ava’s body; life-altering wishes are spinning out of control due to a broken magical snow globe.
  • Key quote: “To put a stop to this madness, she has a prima donna meltdown in my office and smashes the magic snow globe, releasing dark forces into the world. Chaos ensues.”
• The girls must swap back before the wraiths’ chaos becomes uncontainable—a ticking clock looms.

2. Life Backstage: Competition, Friendship, and Family

• Moments of keen observation about ballet, personal identity, and Gen Z ambitions:

  • (02:18) “All ballet looks the same when it's done right. No, ballet's personal. You and her, you have the same something.” – Mrs. Primavera
  • Funny, sharp commentary on influencer dreams vs. academic pursuits (02:34): “Some of us don't want to settle for college. Do you know how much work it is to become an influencer? I just want 100,000 followers, marry Timothée Chalamet, and die. Is that really so much to ask for?” – Natalie (in Ava’s body)

• Emotional family confrontation, as Ava’s mom confronts the “wrong” daughter about ballet aspirations:

  • (04:56) “Mrs. Primavera is at every rehearsal. Ask her how good I am, and who is she there for, huh? Her daughter is rotting away in a hospital bed while she spends her days with other people's kids.” – Ms. Ross

• Poignant generational fears about dreams, disappointment, and love:

  • (06:28) “I have the whole world to tell me I'm not good enough. And my own mom is done with me because I can't be what she wants.” – Natalie
  • (06:33) “I am never done with you.” – Ms. Ross

3. Supernatural Escalation: The Wraiths & Mr. Constantine’s Legacy

• Natalie seeks out Mr. Constantine for help, meets his large, eccentric family, and learns the rules of magic:
  • (08:13) “Wraiths…wish-granting spirits from the old world. They only grant the deepest wish there to be spoken out loud…My ancestors captured them on the globe.” – Mr. Constantine
  • Stakes escalate: if the natural order isn’t restored, doom awaits, and “this is uncharted territory” (09:25).

4. The Nutcracker Performance – Chaos and Revelation

• Backstage and onstage life collides with supernatural mishaps, meta-winks, and spectacular mayhem:
  • Mishaps: dolls come to life, a zombie cat terrorizes the stage, and outlandish wish-granting becomes rampant (Bean transforms into a teenager, chaos abounds).
  • Friendships and rivalries crystallize in dance, envy, and vulnerability.
    • (13:05) “I'm watching all my dreams come true for someone else.” – Natalie
    • (17:20) “Why didn't you audition for the role if you wanted it so badly? Because I was scared it might have gone to me and I didn't want to break my best friend's heart.” – Jasmine

5. Climax: Magic, Sacrifice, and Identity

• The restoration ritual: Natalie realizes to reverse the swap, she must want to be herself—fully and completely, “broken body and all.”
  • (36:28) “It's not enough for me to not want to be Ava anymore. I have to…wait. I want to be Natalie, broken body and all. And I want to be Natalie Primavera more than anything.” – Natalie
• During their pas de deux, Natalie, with Ava’s help, finds the will and love to come “home” to herself. The swap is restored in a supernatural spectacle (37:14–39:58).
  • (38:04) “God, I'm going to miss this.” – Natalie
  • (38:10) “This song is so like… Beautiful.” – Mr. Constantine / “Heartbreaking.” – Natalie

6. Resolution: Letting Go and Moving Forward

• Ava, as the true understudy, gets her solo—and confesses her love in theatrical, rom-com fashion.
  • (42:23) “I love you, Ava.” – Trevor
  • (42:29) Ava leaps into the orchestra pit and kisses Trevor.
• Parent-child healing and re-centering on love, not just achievement:
  • (35:14) “Clara’s love brought the Nutcracker to life after he was broken. Natalie’s not broken…there are a million reasons to love Natalie, and not one of them has to do with ballet.” – Mrs. Primavera
• Natalie adapts to post-performance life, working on recovery—with hope and family support—taking a step, physically and metaphorically, into her future (45:12).

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “The heart is selfish. You of all people should know this, Fritz. You'll be dancing with your iron sword tonight. We might have to kill something.” — Mr. Constantine, foreshadowing the looming magical-physical showdown. (20:46)
• “Christmas is the saddest season of them all. I have never felt more heartbroken than I do now.” — Mr. Constantine, delivering an unexpectedly raw curtain speech. (23:14)
• [After the swap fails] “What does this mean? I want my sister back. I've been telling everyone something is wrong and nobody listens to me. I wish I was grown up so people would hear me already.” — Natalie, voicing the core frustration of adolescence and the longing to be understood. (15:28)
• “It's not enough for me to not want to be Ava anymore. I have to…wait. I want to be Natalie, broken body and all. And I want to be Natalie Primavera more than anything.” — The most crucial insight and turning point. (36:28)

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Key Timestamps

• 00:27 — Mr. Constantine’s recap and opening stakes
• 06:28–06:49 — Heartfelt confrontation between Natalie and Ms. Ross
• 08:13–09:43 — Mr. Constantine on the wraiths and the magical threat
• 13:05 — Natalie admits envy as dreams come true for others
• 17:04–18:19 — Jasmine’s confession: why she didn’t go for the lead role
• 20:41 — “Chaos just around the corner”: The wraiths grant wild wishes, including Bean becoming a teenager
• 23:14 — Mr. Constantine’s somber Christmas speech
• 26:24–27:36 — Onstage Nutcracker mayhem; Fritz’s violent showdown with the living doll
• 29:20 — Zombie cat Catastrophe disrupts the performance
• 36:28–37:44 — The swap ritual and the realization Natalie needs to fully want to be herself
• 39:58–40:12 — Catastrophe’s demise, Bean returns to childhood form
• 41:41 — Ava gets her moment as Sugar Plum Fairy, Natalie steps aside
• 42:18–42:29 — Ava and Trevor’s rom-com confession and kiss
• 45:12–45:19 — Natalie, in physical therapy, takes a literal and symbolic step forward

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Tone & Style

• Witty, fast-paced, and often irreverent.
• Dialogue full of contemporary references, Gen Z humor, and heartfelt vulnerability.
• Supernatural elements heighten the stakes but always serve character growth and emotional resonance.

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Conclusion

"The Understudy – Act Three" delivers a riotous and deeply felt conclusion—balancing the hilarity and horror of backstage chaos with moving insights about identity, ambition, and acceptance. With magical set-pieces, intricate relationships, and high-emotion payoffs, it’s a feast for the imagination and the heart.

Key message:
You can wish to be someone else, but true magic happens when you accept and reclaim yourself—imperfections, broken pieces and all.

Transcript

[Natalie Primavera]

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[Mr. Constantine]

Book [e-mail] Ms. Natalie Primavera is still stuck on the body of Ms. Ava Ross, turning the poor girl's life upside down with 5am runs and Instagram obsession. She breaks up with a Trevor boy who serenades her dressed as naked Miley Cyrus and starts flirting with Grayson. God help us all when I give Jasmine the Sugar Plum Fairy roll in pool. Natalie. I mean Ava from the show entirely. To put a stop to this madness, she has a prima donna meltdown in my office and smashes the magic snow globe, releasing dark forces into the world. Chaos ensues. Meanwhile, the real Ava wakes up, trapped in Natalie's broken body. The girls finally meet at the hospital, each wanting what the other has. Tragic. Hey, Ms. Kenzie. Smart girl. Figures out the swap and hatches a plan. Natalie must learn to be Ava to become Natalie again. The natural order must be restored or we're all doomed. Now get out of my office and listen to the finale of what will probably be the end for all of us.

[Narrator]

Interior, stage, auditorium. Day. Ms. Miyako sitting in the center of the audience. Dancers scattered throughout the seats while Jasmine and Grayson dance the pas de deux on stage. As they strike the final pose, Jasmine looks to the audience.

[Natalie Primavera]

Has anyone seen Mr. Constantine?

[Narrator]

Interior, stage. Wings continuous. Ms. Lana, clipboard in hand, waves Natalie over. Mrs. Primavera wants to make some adjustments on your costume. Interior, dressing room. Day. Zoe is seated on her phone, waiting for her turn as Mrs. Primavera fits Natalie with various costume pieces. Natalie notices her mother's touch moving away wisps of her hair to measure her.

[Natalie Primavera]

Have I told you that you dance just like Natalie? All ballet looks the same when it's done right. No, ballet's personal. You and her, you have the same something. It's hard to explain.

[Narrator]

Natalie stays silent.

[Natalie Primavera]

Life's so unfair. Natalie can't play the Sugar Plum Fairy and I'm spending my senior year in core. How lame is that? Kenzie worked her ass off for that role on top of taking AP classes and college applications. Some of us don't want to settle for college. Do you know how much work it is to become an influencer. I just want 100,000 followers. Marry Timothee Chalamet and die. Is that really so much to ask for?

[Narrator]

A smoky dancer whooshes by the mirror behind Natalie. She turns. There's nothing there. Lights flicker on and off. Zoe's phone buzzes, and she looks at it.

[Natalie Primavera]

Whoa.

[Narrator]

Zoe hurries off.

[Natalie Primavera]

Timothee Chalamet is following me on Instagram. I'm seriously freaking out right now. I can't breathe. I can't breathe.

[Narrator]

Natalie checks her phone, and Zoe's page is at 100,000 followers. Zoe pops into the room.

[Natalie Primavera]

Ave is all done. I need to hug someone right now.

[Narrator]

Zoe bear hugs Natalie. Mrs. Primavera starts taking Zoe's measurements. Zoe lets go of the hug, and Natalie, dazed, exits the room.

[Natalie Primavera]

Timothy Chalamet just gave my last pick a heart. He's looking at my feet right now. I'm gonna post. Keep your shirt on, Zoe.

[Narrator]

Interior stage, auditorium. Day. Brock and Theo perform the Russian dance as a duet. Ms. Miyako claps along to the Russian. Natalie approaches Ms. Miyako, lifts her fingers, still watching the dance.

[Natalie Primavera]

That looks great as a duet.

[Narrator]

It was their idea, so neither would miss out on the role. Aw. Theo and Brock finish breathing heavily. Love it.

[Natalie Primavera]

Can I help you? Yeah, I need to talk to Mr. Constantine. Have you seen him?

[Narrator]

He's been out on a family emergency.

[Natalie Primavera]

Completely unprofessional if you ask me. But you didn't ask me.

[Narrator]

Just like I wasn't asked to be interim artistic director.

[Natalie Primavera]

I wasn't asked to do Mr. Constantine's.

[Narrator]

Job when he disappeared right before opening.

[Natalie Primavera]

Like, completely not okay.

[Narrator]

This is like, just.

[Natalie Primavera]

I'm so stuck. Just so.

[Narrator]

Natalie walks away regretfully, as Ms. Miyako continues to rant to herself. Interior, Ava's apartment, night. Natalie walks in. Ms. Ross is waiting, arms crossed.

[Natalie Primavera]

I just got off the phone with Mr. Hall. You're failing chemistry. How is that possible? I got a B on the last test. One test.

[Narrator]

Ms. Ross pulls out the Royal Ballet audition packet and what the hell is this?

[Natalie Primavera]

You don't think I can get in? What am I supposed to think, huh? You convinced me to let you go to this school, that it'll be so easy to graduate valedictorian and get into Harvard. And today you want to skip college to be a ballerina? It's out of nowhere. Mrs. Primavera is at every rehearsal. Ask her how good I am, and who is she there for, huh? Her daughter is rotting away in a hospital bed while she spends her days with Other people's kids.

[Narrator]

Natalie is gutted.

[Natalie Primavera]

I'm auditioning for the Royal Ballet and I'll be out of your life. Just like your husband or dad, whatever. I won't be your problem anymore. Who are you?

[Narrator]

Natalie wavers. Should she tell her?

[Natalie Primavera]

Natalie Primavera.

[Narrator]

Bean's face peeks into the room.

[Natalie Primavera]

Go to your room, Bean. Will you stop blowing her off? If you can't tell, she's dying for your attention. And put a lock on your phone. She knows about dad.

[Narrator]

And the 24 year old Ms. Ross sits defeated.

[Natalie Primavera]

When your dance career ends at what, 30, 35? That's 30 or 40 more years of a career you'll need after that. You need to think about those years too, Ava. I know, I know, I know, okay? Every little doubt you have, I have tenfold. It's constant at every audition and every day. I'm killing myself to get my grades up. Work, study, to get ready for the show. I'm 17 and you want me to think about when I'm 40? You want A's? You want a social life. You want me to never make a single mistake. I have the whole world to tell me I'm not good enough. And my own mom is done with me because I can't be what she wants.

[Narrator]

Ms. Ross envelops Natalie in a hug. Natalie struggles to get out of it, but Ms. Ross holds on.

[Natalie Primavera]

I am never done with you.

[Narrator]

Never.

[Natalie Primavera]

Harvard ballerina, Alaskan crab fisherman, whatever it is, I just want you to be happy. And I am on board 100%. Are you happy?

[Narrator]

Natalie surrenders into Ms. Ross hug. Exterior, Mr. Constantine's house. Night. Natalie rings the doorbell. A set of triplets, age 5, dressed in armor, answer the door.

[Natalie Primavera]

Um, is your dad home? Father?

[Narrator]

That is creepy. Interior, Mr. Constantine's house, living room. Night. Natalie is sitting there with Fritz across from her, holding his wooden sword, staring solemnly. The triplets are playing with her hair. A pair of twins, age 11, are playing the piano. A toddler colors a whole piece of paper black. Moving boxes are everywhere. Mrs. Constantine walks in, very pregnant and with a baby in her arms. She's carrying a tray with drinks in her other arm.

[Natalie Primavera]

You have really cute kids. Only Fritz is the beauty. Aren't you, Fritz? Yes, Mama.

[Narrator]

Natalie looks at the other children who don't flinch.

[Natalie Primavera]

Are you the best child? My sister's definitely the best right now. Wait, no, I don't. I don't have a sister. It's complicated.

[Narrator]

Mr. Constantine walks in.

[Mr. Constantine]

What are you doing here?

[Natalie Primavera]

I need your help. Weird stuff is happening and I'M seeing those shadowy things from the globe and they're like everywhere.

[Mr. Constantine]

Wraiths.

[Natalie Primavera]

Did you say wraiths?

[Narrator]

The twin song on the piano changes tone right on cue.

[Mr. Constantine]

Wish granting spirits from the old world. They only grant the deepest wish there to be spoken out loud. My ancestors captured them on the globe. It kept them under control. One wish at a time.

[Narrator]

Mr. Constantine snaps his fingers. Fritz retrieves a shoebox and hands it to his father. Natalie looks around at the moving boxes everywhere.

[Natalie Primavera]

What's going on? Are you moving?

[Mr. Constantine]

We'll be returning to Romania after this last nutcracker.

[Natalie Primavera]

You mean the last of the school year?

[Mr. Constantine]

Sure.

[Natalie Primavera]

Mr. Konstantin. How can I fix this?

[Narrator]

Mr. Konstantin pulls out a curved piece of the broken glass from the shoebox.

[Mr. Constantine]

In order for the wraiths to be recaptured, the natural order must be restored. You need to return.

[Narrator]

Natalie takes a deep breath, sad, and nods.

[Natalie Primavera]

I know I messed up Ava's life. I need to make things right. And then I have to go back. What if we can't recapture them?

[Mr. Constantine]

In all my years as a keeper, no one has ever been as careless as you. So this is uncharted territory.

[Narrator]

Mr. Constantine looks at the large mural behind him. A scene from the Rapture of wraiths disemboweling screaming people.

[Mr. Constantine]

But I've heard it's very, very bad.

[Narrator]

Interior Mr. Hall's house, living room night. Mr. Hall watches I Love Lucy laughing with the laugh track. Although he is surrounded by cats, he hears a distant meow that catches his attention.

[Mr. Constantine]

Oh, it sounds like someone is hungry for some food and friendship. Come on, friends, let's go say hi.

[Narrator]

Mr. Hall makes his way down the narrow corridor. His house is designed to be a cat paradise. He passes cat condos and nooks built for his friends. Interior exterior Mr. Hall's house kitchen back door night. Mr. Hall opens the door, looks down. Eyes widen. INTERIOR Stage Stage Wings. Day. On stage Kenzie and the Mouse King perform the battle scene in full costume. Bean runs on stage for her cue.

[Natalie Primavera]

Come on, dancers. Dress rehearsal. Do it like the real thing.

[Narrator]

Leave it all on the stage. Mr. Constantine watches the performance from the wings while Natalie paces behind him. Ms. Lana spots Mr. Constantine. Mr. Constantine, we weren't sure you were coming back. Are you and the missus in trial.

[Mr. Constantine]

Separation or no, you're a mouse. I don't see a mouse. I see little girl prancing like a bullshit princess. I want to see you scar her.

[Narrator]

Ms. Lana jumps, scared and turned on. Mr. Constantine glances over to Fritz, who is huddled by the prop shelf next to the wing back turned.

[Natalie Primavera]

Is it almost ready? Quite Divil.

[Narrator]

Natalie exits with a toss of her hands in the air.

[Natalie Primavera]

Okay.

[Mr. Constantine]

What are you doing, freak?

[Natalie Primavera]

I'm saving the world. What are you doing? Wasting your childhood making far sounds.

[Narrator]

The party boy farts on Fritz and the party children run off laughing. Fritz watches them and sighs.

[Natalie Primavera]

I wish I had a friend.

[Narrator]

The lights flicker. A smoky dancer passes behind Fritz and the nutcracker doll on the prop table seems to blink.

[Mr. Constantine]

Kenzie, you're killing me. Killing me. He has seven heads. When was the last time you saw a mouse with seven heads? You would shit yourself.

[Narrator]

Interior STAGE AUDITORIUM Day. Natalie takes a seat in the audience next to Bean. Jasmine and Grayson in costume are performing the pas de deux. Mr. Constantine watches from the foot of the stage. As the pas de deux finishes. Mr. Constantine jumps on the stage.

[Mr. Constantine]

Dancers, I'm obligated to make a quick announcement that's relevant if we manage to Prevent the Apocalypse. Ms. Jasmine Kern has been accepted as an apprentice for next season's Royal Ballet.

[Narrator]

Natalie sits up. Dancers cheer and give Jasmine a hug as she smiles like a beauty queen. Natalie watches stiff heart pounding and longing. Jasmine seems to move in slow motion. Natalie's eyes well up, unblinking.

[Natalie Primavera]

You okay? Your eyes are leaking. I'm watching all my dreams come true for someone else.

[Narrator]

Jasmine is wiping away happy tears. Fritz pops his head from the wings, waving Natalie over.

[Natalie Primavera]

Father Divokarl.

[Mr. Constantine]

Yes. Okay, everyone keep congratulating.

[Narrator]

Jasmine, Natalie and Mr. Constantine walk toward the stage wings where Fritz is waiting for them. Interior Stage Wings continuous.

[Natalie Primavera]

Is it ready?

[Mr. Constantine]

Is it ready?

[Narrator]

Fritz reveals the snow globe with jagged pieces glued together, the forest inside wilted. Natalie takes it. That's it.

[Natalie Primavera]

You glued it. Is this thing gonna work?

[Narrator]

Fritz cranks the knob and it plays the haunting pas de deux vex perfectly. Kenzie spots the commotion and rushes over.

[Natalie Primavera]

Oh my God. Is this it? The MacGuffin? It's a perfect prison though. I'm sorry, did you say wraiths?

[Mr. Constantine]

Are you ready? You need to want this more than anything.

[Natalie Primavera]

I know I'm ready.

[Narrator]

Natalie hears squeals coming from the stage and glances over to see Mrs. Primavera giving Jasmine a long hug.

[Natalie Primavera]

Thanks, Ms. P. This is my happy place. Being here with all you talented girls.

[Narrator]

Mrs. Primavera points to Jasmine and her heart mouthing. You are my heart. Jasmine reciprocates. Natalie nearly drops the snow globe from her hands. Mr. Constantine eyes her, concerned.

[Mr. Constantine]

Ms. Primavera now.

[Narrator]

Natalie swallows and shakes the snow globe. Her eyes well up. The globe plays its tinny Pas de Deux.

[Natalie Primavera]

I wish I was Natalie Primavera.

[Narrator]

The lights flicker on and off. The music abruptly stops playing from the globe. Silence. Everyone frozen, anticipating.

[Natalie Primavera]

Did it work? Ava? What's something only Ava would know is a hot dog. A sandwich.

[Narrator]

Natalie rushes to the dressing room. Interior Dressing room continuous. Natalie looks at the mirror, sees Eva's reflection. Mr. Constantine, Bean, Kenzie and Fritz follow her in.

[Natalie Primavera]

It didn't work.

[Mr. Constantine]

What did you do wrong?

[Natalie Primavera]

Nothing. Look at it. It's better than ever. It's her. She messed up.

[Narrator]

The sad glued together snow globe springs a leak. Unnoticed by the bickering group, Jasmine stops at the edge of the dressing room, listening.

[Natalie Primavera]

What does this mean? I want my sister back. I've been telling everyone something is wrong and nobody listens to me. I wish I was grown up so people would hear me already.

[Narrator]

The lights flicker and a smoky dancer whooshes by. Natalie slumps down by herself. As the group argues. Mr. Constantine puts his hand on Natalie's shoulder.

[Mr. Constantine]

It was worth a try.

[Narrator]

Yes.

[Natalie Primavera]

What do we do now?

[Mr. Constantine]

Everybody upstairs. This is a sinking ship and we go down doing what we love. Let's make it a great last nutcracker before our demise. What did he say?

[Natalie Primavera]

Did you say demise?

[Mr. Constantine]

My apologies. I meant to say that part in Romanian.

[Narrator]

The group solemnly filters out, leaving Natalie alone. Interior Stage Auditorium Night. Everyone is gone. The stage is lit with a ghost light. Natalie steps out onto the stage and hums the pas de deux. A noise. Natalie pauses and looks into the dark audience. Jasmine steps towards the stage.

[Natalie Primavera]

You know, Natalie and I used to do this dance the whole show. The night before opening night. We'd sneak out and dance until like.

[Narrator]

2Am Jasmine starts stepping through the dance with her.

[Natalie Primavera]

We've always been neck and neck. I landed my double pirouette and she landed a clean triple. She did 12 fouettes in a row. And then I did 16 like the next day. I've. Well, we've always wanted to be the Sugar Plum Fairy.

[Narrator]

Jasmine begins doing fouette, turns and Natalie joins her. They watch one another turning and turning until Jasmine finally stops. Natalie stops.

[Natalie Primavera]

Why didn't you audition for the role if you wanted it so badly? Because I was scared it might have gone to me and I didn't want to break my best friend's heart. If she's your best friend, then why do you call her Natalie Prima Donna?

[Narrator]

Jasmine raises her eyebrows, surprised, then shrugs.

[Natalie Primavera]

We all talk too much shit sometimes. Why haven't you gone to visit her?

[Narrator]

I have.

[Natalie Primavera]

I've just always waited for her dad to be gone. She's different now, you know?

[Narrator]

Natalie is quiet.

[Natalie Primavera]

Does she know you dance this role perfectly? Well, I'm glad you got to see it. Cause I think I hurt my toe. Your toe? Yeah, it hurts. I can't handle two roles, so I'm just gonna dance the Snow Queen. I already talked to Mr. Constantine.

[Narrator]

Jasmine begins walking off.

[Natalie Primavera]

Wait. Why? Is your bun too tight? Because you're the understudy.

[Narrator]

Natalie watches Jasmine disappear. And she smiles. Interior, Mr. Hall's bedroom. Night. Mr. Hall attempts to give Catastrophe a zombie cat a saucer of milk. Catastrophe growls, one eye missing and sores oozing from its skin. All the other cats are huddled away, backs arched, hissing.

[Mr. Constantine]

Now, now, friends, get along. We're all friends. We are all friends.

[Narrator]

Catastrophe bites a bit of Mr. Hall's fingertips. Ow. Oh.

[Mr. Constantine]

Oh.

[Narrator]

Oh.

[Mr. Constantine]

Is that what you need, little friend? Here. Just a little. Okay.

[Narrator]

Interior, Ava's bedroom. Morning. Natalie wakes up. The wall calendar reads opening night. Natalie sighs and exits the room. Bean stirs and uncovers herself. She's a grown teenager. She gets out of bed, her kid PJ's barely fitting her. Teenage Bean looks down and notices ample breasts in her PJ shirt that now fits like a crop top. Interior, Ava's kitchen. Day. Natalie eats Froot Loops while Ms. Ross drinks coffee. A squeal comes from the other room. Natalie stands up.

[Natalie Primavera]

I'll go check on her.

[Narrator]

Interior, Ava's bedroom. Day. Natalie rushes into the room. Teenage Bean stands there.

[Natalie Primavera]

This is bad. My wish came true. I look so hot.

[Narrator]

A knock on the door.

[Natalie Primavera]

You girls okay? Everything's fine. This is really, really bad.

[Narrator]

Exterior, Theater. Sunset. The blue moon is high in the sky as people of all ages file into the theater. A marquee sign reads Wilburn Arts High School. The Nutcracker. Opening night. With a poster of the Nutcracker with Ava as the Sugar Plum Fairy by the door. A limo pulls up and we see fancy black shoes walk by to open the rear door. White Converse sneakers step out. Interior, Stage. Wings. Night. Natalie and teenage bean rush to Mr. Constantine.

[Mr. Constantine]

What is it?

[Natalie Primavera]

This is Bean. She made a wish to be a teenager and, well.

[Mr. Constantine]

Oh, this is bad. Very, very, very bad.

[Natalie Primavera]

What does this mean?

[Mr. Constantine]

It means that full, worldly chaos is just around the corner. The wraiths are loose, granting every twisted desire of the heart, every whim for lost love, lottery tickets and revenge. The heart is selfish. You of all people should know this, Fritz. You'll be dancing with your iron sword tonight. We might have to kill something.

[Narrator]

Party boy halts and looks at Mr. Constantine.

[Mr. Constantine]

Did you mean to say that in a Romanian, Mr. Constantine?

[Narrator]

Interior, stage, Auditorium. Night. The orchestra warms up as the audience trickle to take their seats. Trevor looks a mess, tie on, sloppy and hair unbrushed. Mr. Hall shows up, dazed with part of his cheek nibbled off. Principal waters takes notice.

[Mr. Constantine]

Mr. Hall, are you all right? He's gone. I opened the door and he left me. My friend is gone again. Go after him. Well, he is a brittle man.

[Narrator]

Mr. Hall, still muttering, walks to his seat, climbing past Ms. Ross, seated with grocery store flowers in hand. Mr. And Mrs. Primavera enter, pushing Ava in a wheelchair down the aisle. She is given a standing ovation as they make their way to park Ava up front. Ava cranes to see Ms. Ross in her seat and Trevor in the pit. Neither notice her. Interior, Backstage, Hallway, night. Backstage is a chaos of dancers in costume, most of them warming up. Children laughing and chasing each other. Fritz swinging his sword laces. Interior, dressing room. Night. Jasmine is in her Snow Queen costume and wearing warm up booties. Zoe as a snowflake is on her phone. Natalie walks in with teenage Bean and catches Jasmine's eye. Jasmine smiles. Mrs. Primavera scurries in to approach teenage Bean.

[Natalie Primavera]

Baby mouse, huh?

[Narrator]

Teenage Bean nods.

[Natalie Primavera]

What happened to Bean? I'm not allowed to talk about that. Okay.

[Narrator]

Mrs. Primavera starts ripping fabric. Interior, stage, auditorium. Night. Mr. Constantine walks out on stage. The full house claps.

[Mr. Constantine]

Greetings, parents, family, friends of Wilbourne Arts High School's Christmas ballet, the Nutcracker. I won't make a lengthy speech, but I want you all to think about this past year and all you have lost and what you may lose soon. Christmas is the saddest season of them all. I have never felt more heartbroken than I do now.

[Narrator]

Trevor's chin trembles and he claps enthusiastically. The rest of the audience is silent.

[Natalie Primavera]

Yeah.

[Narrator]

The lights flicker. Without further ado, Mr. Constantine motions to the orchestra. As he exits, they begin. The curtains open. The street scene begins. Interior, stage. Wings. Night. Ms. Miyako half jogging, hand on her earpiece. Do we have any idea where the doll is? We need it now. At Ms. Miyako's feet is Catastrophe, crawling unnoticed. Interior, dressing room, Night. Teenage Bean is in a makeshift mouse costume. Mrs. Primavera puts on finishing touches.

[Natalie Primavera]

There, that should do it. Is it hard to dance with the big boobs? No talking, remember? Ava, that's rude. Yeah, Ava, people want to listen to what I have to say now. Maybe I'll never go back to being a kid. Bean. I mean Bean's replacement. Of course you're going back. There's nothing good about being a kid. Or a teenager. Whatever I am. Funny how we spend our whole childhood looking ahead and our entire adulthood looking back.

[Narrator]

An usher enters with a large bouquet of flowers.

[Natalie Primavera]

Is Zoe here?

[Narrator]

Zoe, at her makeup station, waves her hand and the usher puts Zoe's flowers down. Zoe looks at the card. It reads, Merd Zoe, I can't wait to meet you. Love, Timothy. Interior, Stage, Auditorium night. The party scene March is happening. Zoe's distant shriek echoes through the auditorium. The dancers all look off stage but continue. Interior, backstage. Night. Ms. Lana sees the Nutcracker doll standing in a walking pose near the exit door and snatches it.

[Natalie Primavera]

Found it must have been some kid.

[Narrator]

Ms. Miyako meets Ms. Lana with a box and they stick the nutcracker inside. It blinks once before the lid covers it. Mr. Constantine, with an eyepatch dressed as Drosselmeyer, rushes by and grabs the box. Interior, Stage. Auditorium. Night. Party scene is on stage. Mr. Constantine pulls the Nutcracker out of the box and hands it to Kenzie for her solo. Kenzie begins to dance. She nails her jumps perfectly. Ava is watching the dance from her wheelchair. She catches Kenzie's eye and flashes her a thumbs up. Kenzie smiles. Kenzie is looking longingly at the Nutcracker doll. It blinks. Kenzie does a double take. The Nutcracker is alive. It spots Fritz on the stage. I don't think we cast a Nutcracker.

[Natalie Primavera]

Who knows?

[Narrator]

My bad.

[Natalie Primavera]

No, no, I didn't notice it either.

[Narrator]

Who would be a fun Nutcracker?

[Natalie Primavera]

One hand up.

[Mr. Constantine]

Brandon, can you give us a demented Nutcracker doll, please? Yeah, friend.

[Narrator]

The audience gasps. Fritz grabs the doll, smashes it into the stage and takes his sword, striking it over and over and over again. The Nutcrackers face up, looking at Fritz.

[Mr. Constantine]

I'm your friend.

[Narrator]

Fritz takes his sword and stuff smashes its face. The audience silently watches. Horrified. Mr. Constantine pulls Fritz off by the collar of his Victorian shirt. Mr. Constantine wrestles with the Nutcracker. Mr. Constantine wrestles with the Nutcracker doll, wrapping it until it looks like a mummy, and hands it to Kenzie, who is breathing heavily.

[Mr. Constantine]

The show must go on.

[Narrator]

Kenzie grabs it gingerly. She timidly continues to dance. Interior, backstage night. Mr. Constantine, Fritz and Kenzie are rushing down the backstage hall together. Kenzie is shaken up.

[Natalie Primavera]

What? What's going on? You made a wish that Viva needs a friend.

[Narrator]

Papa, Teenage Bean and the other mice run past. Costume change. Kenzie. Quickly. Kenzie is pulled into the dressing room by Ms. Lana, is it dead?

[Natalie Primavera]

Please tell me it's dead.

[Narrator]

Interior, Stage. Auditorium. Night. Teenage Bean trips over herself. A terrible dancer in her new body. Her leaps are sloppy and barely make it off the ground. She trips and the other mice fumble behind her like dominoes.

[Natalie Primavera]

These boobs suck.

[Narrator]

Ms. Ross frantically flips through the program on the stage. The grandfather clock shatters and Kenzie has red ribbon fake blood coming from her arms. She falls asleep on the couch. The audience murmurs in shock. Interior, Stage. Wings. Night. Jasmine enters the wings in her Snow Queen costume. Catastrophe is at her ankles and wanders onto the stage. Interior, on stage, Auditorium. Night. Battle scene with toy soldiers. And the Mouse King is on stage. Kenzie sees catastrophe and screams. Mr. Constantine is in the wings, gives her a thumbs up. Kenzie throws her shoe, hitting Catastrophe in the face and its other eyeball pops out. Kenzie faints and hits the stage floor hard. Ava and the audience gasp.

[Mr. Constantine]

It's Catastrophe.

[Narrator]

Interior, Stage, Stage, Wings. Night. The curtain closes. Mr. Constantine rushes on stage and grabs the zombie cat. Interior, Stage, Auditorium. Night. The curtain opens to the snow scene. Jasmine is on stage along with Zoey as one of the snowflakes. Zoe spots Timothee Chalamet in the audience and gasps. Timothee Chalamet blows a kiss to Zoe and she catches the kiss. Jasmine in mid lift, looks down at. Oh fuck. Jasmine is in mid lift looking down at Zoe. Psst.

[Natalie Primavera]

Cut it out.

[Narrator]

Zoe excitedly jumps up and down as the other snowflakes continue dancing around her. Interior, Backstage. Night.

[Mr. Constantine]

Intermission. Costume changes. Get ready, dancers.

[Narrator]

Mr. Constantine has the zombie cat in his hand. Natalie, hair and makeup done but not yet in costume, sees the cat and gasps.

[Natalie Primavera]

Oh, what is that? Oh my God. Catastrophe.

[Narrator]

Catastrophe growls and chomps the air toward the dancers. Grayson comes out of his dressing room and pauses.

[Mr. Constantine]

Whoa, whoa. Mr. Constantine, I think your cat is like dying or something.

[Narrator]

Mr. Hall wanders backstage. Mr. Constantine covers the cat up with his cape.

[Mr. Constantine]

Have you seen Catastrophe?

[Narrator]

Fritz points to Mr. Hall with his sword.

[Natalie Primavera]

Infantry dirt. Mr. Hall, let's get you a drink.

[Narrator]

Natalie grabs Mr. Hall by the arm. Interior, Lobby. Night. A bar is set up with a long line. Natalie tows Mr. Hall straight to the bartender, cutting off Timothee Chalamet.

[Natalie Primavera]

Excuse me, can you give him some alcohol?

[Narrator]

Bartender pours a glass of white wine.

[Natalie Primavera]

Do you have anything stronger?

[Mr. Constantine]

We're at a high school production. What do you expect?

[Narrator]

Mr. Hall takes the glass of wine.

[Mr. Constantine]

I just really want Catastrophe back. I really miss him.

[Natalie Primavera]

Mr. Hall. Paul, you still have him. Atoms never die, remember? They just Change into something new. Catastrophe is here now, in your heart.

[Mr. Constantine]

That's quite right. You've always been a great student.

[Narrator]

A.A. i have?

[Natalie Primavera]

Oh, I'm gonna follow you on Instagram after graduation.

[Mr. Constantine]

Oh, no, no, no. I'm not on Instagram.

[Natalie Primavera]

Come on. On CatsofInstagram, you take to Instagram. Like a free radical takes to an.

[Narrator]

Electron, Mr. Hall laughs. Interior, backstage night. Mr. Constantine wrestles with catastrophe in his hands. He's surrounded by scared dancers cheering him on. Finally, Mr. Constantine tosses the cat in a supply closet and turns to the dancers, adjusting his cape.

[Mr. Constantine]

The show must go on.

[Narrator]

Interior, dressing room, night. Natalie, costume on, applies makeup at her station. Timothy enters and gives Zoe a romantic kiss. No audience members allowed here.

[Mr. Constantine]

I can't be stopped. I'm in love. This is exhilarating. It's like I'm. It's like I'm under a spell. Will you marry me? My children move to France.

[Natalie Primavera]

Yes, yes, yes. 50,000 followers. Marry Timothy and die. That's what you said. Zoey. Stalker much? She's totally obsessed with me.

[Mr. Constantine]

You can't have her.

[Narrator]

Timothy gives Zoe another romantic kiss. Zoe pulls away.

[Natalie Primavera]

Is it really me, or am I really making out with Timothee Chalamet? Is this real? Literally, all my dreams are coming true.

[Narrator]

A tiny sword, Mrs. Zoe's head. The Nutcracker doll charges into the dressing room. Mr. Constantine enters, snatches the doll through the open door. Children are running and crying.

[Mr. Constantine]

Five minutes.

[Narrator]

Natalie looks up and nods. Mrs. Primavera enters, swiftly pulling Natalie up to stand.

[Natalie Primavera]

Let's give you one last look over.

[Narrator]

Natalie watches Mrs. Primavera as she inspects the costume, noticing her mother's hands trembling and dark circles under her bloodshot eyes.

[Natalie Primavera]

Is your mother here?

[Narrator]

Natalie nods tensely.

[Natalie Primavera]

Mm. I'm sorry about Natalie.

[Narrator]

Mrs. Primavera is silent.

[Natalie Primavera]

It must be sad for you that she can't dance again. That you can't share your happy place anymore. More like my hiding place. Hiding place? You hear a five year old say they want to be a ballerina and you expect it to be a phase. But not Natalie.

[Narrator]

She.

[Natalie Primavera]

She had a dream and nothing could stop her. She makes the impossible possible. It's my fault. After her first show, I called her a star and got her a dog. Yeah, cliche. And the rest is history. She loved to dance. And I kept feeding it. Moving to the next level, getting her pointe shoes, the next role, real ballet. I should have fed her other things, signed her up for soccer and painting, and I had no idea that it would hold her prisoner. All these goals. The Social media. I. I didn't know it would get cut short for her. Nobody's a ballerina forever. How can I tell my daughter the only thing that she loves in life she can't do anymore? I think you say to her that nothing is impossible. Even finding something new to love.

[Narrator]

Natalie smiles as Mrs. Primavera pins a tiara around her bun.

[Natalie Primavera]

I got Natalie a Nutcracker doll for Christmas this year. Do you think that's a stupid gift? No, she has a million of those already. No, it's the perfect gift. Clara's love brought the Nutcracker to life after he was broken. Natalie's not broken.

[Narrator]

Right?

[Natalie Primavera]

No, I mean her body. No, she's perfect exactly how she is. There are a million reasons to love Natalie, and not one of them has to do with ballet.

[Narrator]

Natalie stands still as Mrs. Primavera finishes up, both women subtly wiping away tears. Natalie wraps her arms around her mother.

[Natalie Primavera]

Thank you.

[Narrator]

Interior stage, Auditorium night. Natalie sneaks over and grabs Ava's wheelchair, wheeling her around the side.

[Natalie Primavera]

Hey, what are you doing?

[Narrator]

Interior stage, Stage. Wings. Night. Russian duet is finishing up on stage with Mr. Constantine watching from the wings. Natalie rolls ava up to Mr. Constantine.

[Natalie Primavera]

Mr. Constantine. Where is the globe, Fritz?

[Mr. Constantine]

The globe.

[Narrator]

Oo.

[Natalie Primavera]

I know why the magic didn't work like in chemistry. An antioxidant can't shed an electron just because. Right. It needs a willing participant. Like a free radical. Yeah.

[Mr. Constantine]

Ladies, you lost my chemistry.

[Natalie Primavera]

I made a wish on top of the bridge.

[Narrator]

Silence.

[Natalie Primavera]

You wished you were me. No. I wished I wasn't me. It's not enough for me to not want to be Ava anymore. I have to wait. I want to be Natalie, broken body and all. And I want to be Natalie Primavera more than anything.

[Narrator]

Fritz appears with a sad snow globe and Natalie takes it.

[Natalie Primavera]

I wish I was Natalie. But your dance. You're up next.

[Narrator]

Brock and Theo finish on stage. Audience clap.

[Natalie Primavera]

That's not my role.

[Narrator]

Natalie shakes the snow globe. Ava touches the globe.

[Natalie Primavera]

I wish I was with Ava. Ra.

[Narrator]

The orchestra starts the music for the pas de deux and the two girls wait, anticipating. Then the walls rumble. The snow machine over the stage rattles to a start. Lights flicker. Mr. Constantine smiles as the faintly flash falling snowflakes dust the stage. A faint green glow begins to illuminate the globe.

[Mr. Constantine]

The globe is weak, but it's working. Looks like you have time for one more dance.

[Narrator]

Natalie looks to Eva and she nods in agreement. Natalie turns to the stage and sees Grayson on the other side. He throws his hands out as if to say, what the fuck Are we doing this? Natalie takes a deep breath and nods. Mr. Constantine takes the glinting snow globe from Natalie.

[Natalie Primavera]

God, I'm gonna miss this.

[Mr. Constantine]

I know. Ms. Primavera.

[Natalie Primavera]

This song is so like.

[Mr. Constantine]

Beautiful.

[Natalie Primavera]

Heartbreaking.

[Narrator]

The music swells. Natalie takes a step onto the stage. Interior stage, Auditorium night. Natalie and Grayson meet center stage and begin the pas de deux as the orchestra swells. Trevor plays viola with the pit orchestra. His lip trembles as he watches Natalie and Grayson on stage. The dancers eyes are locked on each other like there's no one else as they dance, skillful and emotional. Ms. Ross Eyes glisten wide with wonder, watching Natalie for the first time and leans forward in her seat. Interior, dressing room continuous. Zoe and Timothy are lost in a movie messy makeout session. The nutcracker doll army crawls toward them. A light is hanging precariously over Zoey's head and a curling iron is causing a rack of tutus to smoke rumble. The room blacks out for a moment. The hanging light crashes into a rack of tutus to fall away from the iron. The nutcracker doll goes limp. Interior stage, auditorium continuous. The two smoky dancers enter from the back of the auditorium and dance their way down the aisle toward the stage. They are invisible to all But Natalie and Mr. Constantine. Interior, backstage, hallway continuous. Teenage Bean, Fritz and the children are huddled as catastrophe breaks through the closet door. Little by little, ala the shining Fritz clenches his sword. Catastrophe finally breaks through the door and charges toward the children. Fritz raises his sword just as Flicker. The cat goes limp, dead. Fritz nudges the cat.

[Natalie Primavera]

The cat is dead.

[Narrator]

The children cheer. Fritz turns to high five Bean, who is now swimming in her costume.

[Natalie Primavera]

I'm a kid again. No more boobs.

[Narrator]

Bean hugs Fritz. Fritz beams. Interior, stage, stage, wings continuous. The smoky dancers join Natalie and Grayson on stage, shadowing their dance, drawing ever closer. Ms. Lana and Ms. Miyako watch the duet, eyes fixed and in awe, clutching each other's hands. Grayson smiles at Natalie and the two kiss as though there were no audience. Trevor lets out an audible sob. No. With the final lift as the song's crescendo peaks, the smoky dancers enter Natalie and exit right before Ava's body drops into the final partner pose, leaving behind Natalie's spirit with a puff. Interior, stage, stage, wings continuous. Natalie's spirit quickly absorbs into her own body. Eyes bulge as she sits up in her wheelchair with a gasp. Interior stage, auditorium continuous. The audience erupts in applause. Interior, stage, stage, wings. Night. Mr. Constantine has the snow globe. Glow fizzles out and both dark Dancers are back inside, frozen. Ava runs off stage and gives Natalie a huge hug.

[Natalie Primavera]

Natalie. Yes. And you're you. Yeah.

[Mr. Constantine]

Enough. Solo now.

[Narrator]

What?

[Natalie Primavera]

No, no, no, no, no, no. I can't. Ava, you're the understudy. This is how it was always supposed to be. You can do this.

[Narrator]

Interior stage, auditorium. Night. Ava steps out, begins her solo, her lips tight with concentration. She begins with her fouettes. She's nailing them. Her smile spreads slowly and then wide with glee as the audience claps. Ava freezes as she spots Trevor in the orchestra pit.

[Natalie Primavera]

Trevor.

[Narrator]

Trevor turns away from Ava, angry nostrils flaring.

[Natalie Primavera]

I love you. You. You do. I love you, Ava.

[Narrator]

Ava leaps off the stage into the orchestra pit. The audience and Ms. Ross gasp. Ava and Trevor kiss. Interior stage, stage, Wings. Night. Grayson watches the scene, confused. Ms. Miyako and Ms. Lana shake their heads. Worst Nutcracker ever. Next year will be better when Mr. Too Sexy to Teach isn't here anymore.

[Natalie Primavera]

I mean, all semester I'm like, just.

[Narrator]

Shut up and kiss me already.

[Natalie Primavera]

What?

[Narrator]

No. Mr. Constantine walks up, throwing his arms around Ms. Miyako and Ms. Lana's shoulders.

[Mr. Constantine]

How beautiful. How erotic and devastating.

[Narrator]

A few feet away, Natalie tugs on Grayson's shirt.

[Mr. Constantine]

Oh, hey. How are you doing? Sorry. Wait. That stupid to ask. You look good.

[Natalie Primavera]

Thanks. I'm good. So I was wondering if you wanted to grab coffee or food or whatever.

[Mr. Constantine]

Or whatever.

[Natalie Primavera]

Whenever I'll get you to hang out with me. Let me congratulate you on Houston Ballet.

[Narrator]

Grayson gives her a curious look. He glances back at Ava one more time before turning back to Natalie and smiles.

[Mr. Constantine]

Yeah, definitely. But I said no to Houston. Going to Indiana U. Did you know that you can double major in like, ballet?

[Narrator]

Interior, stage, auditorium night. The finale. The whole cast dips into a final bow and Kenzie poses with the broken Nutcracker doll. With a large smile. Mr. Constantine steps out and plunges into a dramatic foul. No. Claps a cough. Trevor sets down his viola and claps enthusiastically.

[Natalie Primavera]

Yeah.

[Narrator]

Timothy is walking away down the center aisle. A moment later, we see Zoe, tear streaked, chasing him.

[Natalie Primavera]

I love you, Timothee Chalamet. Don't follow me.

[Narrator]

Interior, physical therapy room. Morning. Natalie is looking at Ava's Instagram page. A picture of Ava, Miss Ross, Bean and Trevor around a Christmas tree, captioned Christmas is the season of magic. Natalie hearts the post. Natalie pops in earbuds. Her eyes close and her head sways slightly with the music. Grayson enters, knocks on the door with a Christmas present. Mrs. Primavera smiles and waves Grayson in as Mr. Primavera sips his coffee, reading a paper.

[Mr. Constantine]

Merry Christmas.

[Narrator]

Natalie lifts up onto the parallel bars from her wheelchair. She takes a step.

[Natalie Primavera]

Fade out.

[Narrator]

So fun.