[upbeat classical music playing]
[Jessi] I fell in love with dance when I was three years old.
Relevé. Passé.
And!
[Jessi] One day, my mom was playing this old song, "Always Be My Baby,"
and by the chorus, I was twirling.
She swears I was too little to remember, but I do.
Again.
[Jessi] The blue rug in our old house, my Princess Tiana nightgown,
and how I felt like I was going to twirl forever.
No.
[Jessi] But believing in "meant to be" is easy
when you've always been, like, the star.
That's embarrassing to say, but it's the truth.
Beautiful, Miranda.
[Jessi] Or at least it was until I started class
at this new dance school in Stamford this year.
I worked so hard to get in.
I knew it'd be more competitive,
but I figured if they picked me, then I belonged here.
But it doesn't feel that way.
It made me wonder,
had I been the best because I love to dance
or did I love to dance because I'd always been the best?
This is taking forever.
This really needs a four-way stop sign.
[Jessi] I'm gonna be late for the meeting.
[Janice] Okay, I'm trying!
Jessi, what's Q-U-I-N-O-A?
Quinoa, honey. That little grain that Daddy hates.
How was class?
I wasn't on my leg.
And Madame Noelle adjusted my turnout in front of everyone.
Hm. That's the whole reason you wanted to go to this school, right?
To improve.
But I'm not improving.
And she's assigning parts for the winter recital soon.
There's a jeté clinic on Saturday that could help.
Saturday is Becca's a cappella concert.
If Jessi has to miss it, it's okay.
No, baby. Saturday is family time.
And we're all gonna be at Becca's concert as a family.
I'm gonna scream.
♪ My heart goes boom, boom, boom ♪
♪ My head goes boom, boom, boom… ♪
-[Kristy] Wait, Dawn, is this you? -Yeah.
-You look great. -Thanks, Kristy.
Logan just texted. He said, "Playing," then ramen emoji?
Ooh, boy code. Let's analyze.
I'm pretty sure it means he's playing Minecraft, then eating--
Mary Anne, it's never literal.
Made it! Sorry.
Look, you have to send this. There.
-[alarm ringing] -An alarm? Kristy, really?
[Jessi] When was this?
-You guys look cute. -Last week.
It was magic hour,
so I did an impromptu shoot on the way back from the pizza place.
-You were at ballet. -It looks like you guys had fun.
This meeting is officially in session.
Now, first order of business,
my mom said there's this big town hall meeting in a couple of weeks.
They're discussing adding a stop sign on Edgarstone and Kimball.
-Finally! -Finally!
All the adults in that neighborhood are going to the meeting
and they'll all need sitters,
so I figured we could plan something fun for the kids
and offer a special, discounted group rate.
-Supporting community engagement-- -And special event services. I love it.
Right? Mary Anne and I counted up all the kids in that general area
and we came up with 12.
We can watch 12 kids.
Two for each sitter.
-Without Jessi, of course. -[phone rings]
-Afternoon, Baby-Sitters Club. -Why without Jessi? Why am I not counted?
Oh, because you're unavail.
You gave me all your dance conflicts when you enrolled at your new school.
Your winter dance recital is that night.
-See? -Oh.
Wait until you guys see Jessi dance. I cried when she was in The Nutcracker.
What time's the show? Maybe we can do both.
Oh, don't worry about it.
It's all the way in Stamford and I don't even have a part yet.
But you will. You're gonna be the star. I know it.
Please hold. Guys, Derek Masters's dad is on the phone.
Derek needs a sitter every Thursday for the next few weeks.
Wait, TikTok "Derek the Superbrat" Derek Masters?
[Mallory] Oh my God.
He is the most followed TikTokker under ten.
He's from Stoneybrook?
When he's in town. He used to be friends with the triplets back in the day.
Claudia, you're free. Oh, and Jessi too!
-No ballet on Thursdays. -[Jessi] I'm free?
I'll take it! Can I take it?
-Do you mind? -No. Take it.
[Jessi] Finally. My crazy dance schedule was letting me take a babysitting job.
And kind of the chillest one ever.
I mean, Derek Masters might be a kid, but he was a real star.
And I was determined to show Madame that I was one too.
[Mallory] I'm watching Derek Masters' slime-squirting video.
Did you know he gets paid by the viewer? He has, like, millions of viewers.
Don't mind me.
Just your friendly neighborhood mother here to do your chores.
I'm sorry, Mom. I meant to take all that down.
Squirt gave Mr. Buns a juice bath, so I needed to do a load anyway.
Mrs. Ramsey, guess what?
Jessi is going to babysit an actual celebrity. Derek Masters.
He unboxes, and then he re-boxes.
When he was two, a video of him wearing a cape
and pretending to be a super villain named Superbrat went viral.
Now he's a brand unto himself. Look.
I'm Derek the Superbrat,
and today I've got this slime gun that fires gooey…
Whatever happened to just being a kid with memories that are private?
Oh, don't turn it on yet.
It makes the mirrors vibrate.
I'm trying to work my jeté since the Saturday clinic is out.
Uh-huh. Well, after you eat dinner, and finish your homework,
the washing machine will be all finished and you can jeté until your feet fall off.
[Mallory giggles]
Now come on. Don't let the rolls get cold.
Did you hear that? How dismissive she was.
I mean, I need space to work. Why can't she see that?
I mean, they… They built you a literal space.
But yes, obviously I'm on your side.
Mal, I forgot. Did you want to stay for dinner?
-God, yes! -[Janice laughs]
What? At home I'm basically a waiter and I don't even have a tuxedo.
Oh. Hey, baby.
-Hey, Mallory. -Hi, Mr. Ramsey.
Apple juice. [chuckles]
-[Mr. Ramsey] Y'all coming up? -In a second.
[Jessi] I was just trying to do my best.
Stand out at my new school. Why couldn't my parents support that?
[Janice] Jessica. Now.
[Jessi] Why did they have to be such… parents?
Come on.
[Jessi] A few days later, I met a dad who knew how to be on his kid's team.
I mean, he even had team shirts.
We are in the home stretch of our promotional holiday series.
People need gift ideas and they trust Derek's opinion.
Now, if you two can get at least one video done while I'm gone, that would be great.
But no need to over-direct him, right?
I just give him the space for him to shine, you know?
-Totally. -Great.
Derek can guide you through everything. You just need to run the camera.
Okay. Anything else I need know, Mr. Masters?
Emergency numbers, allergies--
It's Chaz.
Airdropped you everything. Snacks are in the fridge.
Oh, but no dairy. Phlegm's bad for his voice.
Uh, I'm meeting with his manager. Should only take a couple of hours.
Hey, Derek! Anything you want me to ask Artie before your callback?
-Nah, I'm feeling pretty ready. -Yeah, you are.
Move over Harry Styles, huh?
-Hey, Jessi. You are a star. -[phone rings]
Artie? Yes, yes! I am on my way. But just saw your email.
Loving a young Chalamet direction for his new headshots.
So what would you like to do first? We could play a game or--
Let's just shoot. Hit the switch.
Your dad mentioned a callback?
Yeah. It's for this new TV show where a kid gets elected president.
It's down to me and one other kid for the chief of staff part.
That's awesome.
-Can you hand me that HDMI cable? -[Jessi] Sure.
Whoa. You do yoga?
Ballet.
Cool. In the city?
I mean, if by "the city" you mean Stamford.
I actually have an audition coming up too, but it's not like a TV show or anything.
An audition is an audition.
My dad says it's your job to walk in and show 'em what you've got.
And when you're the best, they can't say no.
[Jessi] Derek was right.
I had gotten into my head
when I really needed to leave it all on the floor.
And during the final class before Madame announced her decisions, I did.
Along with every electrolyte in my body.
I think I spun out a lung during those fouettés.
The Saturday jeté clinic helped, right?
[Madame Noelle] Mes petites,
the lead role of Snow Queen in the winter recital will be danced by
Miranda Rose.
[applauding]
And the wind variation by Clementine Anderson.
-[applauding] -As for the rest of you…
[Jessi] I was an icicle.
Corps de Ballet. The leftovers.
Madame didn't even say my name.
-[Madame Noelle] …is very challenging. -[phone buzzes]
[Madame Noelle] Your work is to be identical to the person…
[Jessi] I could barely wrap my head around not getting a real part,
but the idea of my friends knowing I had failed?
That really had me spinning, and not in a fouetté kind of way.
So the nature scavenger hunt might work, but…
Hey, Stace, do you think poison ivy still grows in winter?
Too soon, Kristy.
-Still! God. -[giggling]
What about the movies? What's wrong with the movies? It's fun and it's warm.
It's also screen time.
Okay, but what if we did like an educational talk-back at the end?
About what we thought worked and what didn't.
Yeah. And we could get the kids to figure out
how much a single Sour Patch Kid costs
depending on the price of the box and other boring math stuff.
-I'll help with the math. -Okay.
Mary Anne, see what's opening and check for available showtimes.
Showtimes. That reminds me. Jessi, how'd it go with the recital?
She got the lead!
-No way! -You didn't!
No way! Jessi, that's amazing!
[Jessi] "There are no small roles, only small dancers."
Whoever said that clearly never had to play an icicle.
[classical music playing]
But my friends were so excited.
And at least there could be one place I got to feel like a star.
[clapping]
Stop. Stop the music.
Again from the top, Miranda.
[classical music resumes]
Hey, Supremes! It's Derek the Superbrat.
And I was thinking, what if your hunger for fashion could feed others?
Food for thought. Okay, let's get to the fun part.
My neck looks weird. Let's reshoot from a different angle.
-I'll reset. -Great.
Any news about your callback yet?
Soon, I hope. How about ballet?
[Jessi] Somehow, I felt like I could talk to Derek.
Pro to pro. Or whatever I was.
I'm an icicle.
Is that good?
It's background.
You know, I've been dancing my whole life, and now,
it's just like, what's the point?
Well, maybe it's not the right fit.
If you wanna make a name for yourself,
you should try building an online platform.
And from there on, you can do sponsorships and acting.
I don't know. I've… I've always just been a dancer.
And I was just a baby pretending to be a super villain.
Now millions of people all over the world know my name.
[Jessi] Maybe Derek was right.
I had this big dance fairy tale in my head my whole life,
but no one was paying attention anymore.
Maybe I should have been dancing on TikTok,
getting clicks and endorsement opportunities and fame.
Being a star. A real star.
Who wouldn't want that?
Besides my parents. Specifically, my mom.
She was going to need convincing, which is why I knew I needed backup.
And you chose me?
Stacey told me how you got your dad to loosen up, and he's a lawyer, right?
So you must have some serious debate skills.
Yeah, I guess, but it wasn't court.
More like, "What about a half ponytail instead of braids the entire time?"
-Hey, Mom. -Hi.
Dinner is ready.
Just put Squirt down for the night
and we will eat as soon as Daddy and Becca get home.
Thank you so much for having me. Dinner smells delicious.
I wore almost your exact outfit all of high school.
Really?
We were right near Silvercup Studios in Queens,
and I kept thinking I was gonna get discovered and become a star.
Oh my gosh, just like Jessi!
Wh… what do you mean?
I might need to try a different strategy for my career.
Your what?
I've been focusing so much on ballet
when what I really need to start doing is building my online presence.
Chaz says most casting directors
are looking for people who already have a platform.
Wait. Um, attention?
Casting directors? Chaz?
Dance isn't getting me anywhere and Chaz, Derek Masters's dad--
The boxing boy?
Unboxing.
But he's really moved on from that.
He makes all this money and he has millions of fans.
Yeah, he made a really cute video about puppies doing yoga. I think.
I could start posting right away,
and I was thinking I could use my dance space to film stuff in.
Derek and Chaz said they would both follow me and signal boost.
When exactly were you planning to do all this?
On top of schoolwork, babysitting, and four weekly ballet classes.
Do you plan to sleep? Do I get to sleep?
I'm gonna quit ballet.
Oh no, you are not quitting ballet.
-But it's not working, Mom. -Not working?
You got into a ballet school that you have been begging to go to for three years.
That our family, as a family, has made all kinds of sacrifices for.
You just don't understand.
I do. You didn't get a big part in your winter show.
You're not the center of attention.
So now you want to throw years of hard work, discipline, and focus away.
Your ego can't take it, so you're gonna be an Internet celebrity.
Jessica, you wanna quit ballet because you don't like it anymore? Fine.
But you are not quitting
just because you didn't get exactly what you wanted when you wanted it.
And certainly not so you can make YouTube videos of yourself
fooling around with packing materials in my laundry room.
Becca was on fire… today.
[sternly] Time to eat.
This is Mary Anne.
Hi, Mr. Ramsey.
Nice to meet you.
[sighs]
Please don't tell the other girls about my part in the show.
-Jessi, I promise nobody's gonna care-- -[Jessi] I care.
I lied because I was embarrassed, and now I'm even more embarrassed.
Please.
Okay.
[Janice] Jessica, now!
[Jessi] Coming!
[Chaz] Well, I don't care who the other kid is, Artie.
No, look, this is inexcusable.
Okay, we are gonna be thinking about alternative representation.
I gotta go. More soon.
Jess, thanks for coming over.
Is everything okay?
Derek didn't land Kidmander-in-Chief. But it is their loss.
We are gonna use this momentum
and bounce back into the next thing. Right, bud?
-Right. -Yeah.
Really push the comedy in his shoots today.
Derek, you got this. Right?
We're gonna show them funny and then right back on top.
-Huh? I love you. -Okay. Love you too.
Yeah. Chaz here. I'm sorry, I'm running a little late.
He gets so anxious.
-My career means a lot to him, I guess. -What about you?
[sighs] My views were down this month.
And I heard him mention the mortgage to my manager, so…
You know what? Let's just do this.
[Jessi] Derek had the weight of the world on his shoulders.
But a ballet dancer is supposed to look weightless.
[classical music playing]
What are you doing?
Changement. Come on. Put down the camera and join me.
Come on.
[giggling]
Okay, so what do you feel like doing right now?
What do you want more than anything else in the world?
Ice cream!
Mmm.
We probably should have let it freeze a bit longer, but I couldn't wait.
How do you know how to do this anyway?
My mom. It's her go-to rainy day activity.
Your mom lets you have ice cream? Even with all that ballet?
Of course.
[Chaz] I'm home.
She just wants me to be a kid.
You know?
[sighs] Your mom sounds nice. And fun.
-Hey, buddy. What you got there? -Hey.
Jessi taught me how to make ice cream in jars.
We used milk but my throat feels fine.
[chuckles] Can't wait to see the footage.
Oh.
We didn't film it.
You didn't film it?
We thought it would be nice to do something just for fun.
Guys.
Look, recording doesn't make something not fun.
[sighs] I'm gonna have to talk to your manager about this.
[Jessi] My manager? Obviously, I didn't have a manager.
Which meant there was only one person Chaz could call.
-Hello? -Kristy Thomas here.
Founder and president of The Baby-Sitters Club.
Make as much content as you want, Mr. Masters.
Obviously you and Derek have a good thing going here.
But my thing is babysitting,
not production assisting.
It's just a lot.
You know, doing this all on my own, worrying about Derek.
-His career. The future. -I get it.
I was raised by a single mother.
But, uh,
don't get short with my babysitters, okay?
Yeah.
[phone chimes]
Oh, sorry. It's my work line.
Please. I understand.
Want to try some homemade ice cream?
[Jessi] Chaz wasn't a bad guy.
He'd just forgotten that while Derek might have a career,
he was still a kid.
And sometimes he just needed to do things because they made him happy.
[classical music playing]
She was wonderful.
I knew she was good, but I'd never seen her like this.
What had changed?
And then I caught a glimpse of her smile when she wasn't even facing the audience.
And I knew why. Because she felt just like me when I was three years old.
Because she felt like she was going to twirl forever.
-Look at her! -I know.
[Madame Noelle] Ready, ladies? Shoulders back.
[crowd applauding]
[Jessi] It was the best I had danced in a long time,
even if no one noticed me,
because I realized the only person I needed to dance for was…
-Jessi! -Jessi!
[excited chatter]
[Stacey] I stan! And your tiara!
Charlotte, thank you! [gasps] Myriah, I love purple.
Don't get mad. I know you didn't want us to come, but I thought--
You were amazing! Serious Balanchine vibes.
The way you were the icicle, chills. Literal and figurative.
[Jessi] Thank you, guys.
Mal, don't cry.
[all] Aw!
Um, I have many, many gushing points about what an unbelievable athlete you are,
but the children are scattering.
Oh, um…
[girl] Dylan? Peter?
I know you didn't want us to come,
but I just thought everyone needed to see what a star you are.
That we're always gonna show up for you, no matter what.
Hold on, I have more notes in my phone that I think--
Wait, how did you all get here? Don't tell me Kristy can secretly drive.
Trust me, she can't. I called your mom.
She agreed that the whole team should be here.
[Jessi] Thank you, Mom.
Oh, honey. What's driving a van to Stamford?
I can do it in my sleep. And have.
-[giggling] -Baby, I am so proud of you.
-You were amazing, hon. Congratulations. -Thanks, Dad.
[chuckling]
-These are for you. -I can't believe you came.
I told my Dad I had to.
I had to see you dance at least once before we moved to LA.
LA?
My new agent says it's the only place to be if I want to act.
I gotta try, right?
-Yeah. -[chuckles]
Seriously, though, you looked so great up there. And happy.
[Jessi] I was.
It didn't matter if I wasn't the star, or even the best dancer at school. Yet.
Okay, Stoneybrook group, follow me!
[Jessi] I didn't need to be so worried about the future. I was just a kid.
-Here we go! -Here you are!
-Thank you! -That looks so good, okay!
[Jessi] And thanks to my friends, and my family, that was all I had to be.
Let's get a picture.
Did you have that with you the whole time?
You know it.
[laughing]
Okay, one, two, three…
♪ Ain't it amazing ♪
♪ So fascinating ♪
♪ We're along for the ride We live a magical life ♪
♪ Baby, ain't it amazing ♪
♪ Ba, ba, ba, ba, da, da, da Ba, ba, ba, da, da, da ♪
♪ We're dancin' in the street ♪
♪ We're gonna testify ♪
♪ Knock you out of your seat ♪
♪ We'll take you by surprise ♪
♪ Life gives us a sense of humor ♪
♪ We're optimistic for the future ♪
♪ Whoa ♪
♪ Ain't it amazing ♪
♪ So fascinating ♪
♪ We're along for the ride We live a magical life ♪
♪ Baby, ain't it amazing ♪