(music plays)

TVO Kids, Apartment 11 productions and Discovery Kids original. Produced in collaboration with “Cirque du Soleil images.”

At the gym, Nicholas does jumps on the mat and says HI THERE.
WE KNOW THE STUFF WE DO IN THE
SHOW LOOKS PRETTY COOL BUT WE’VE
BEEN TRAINING FOR A LONG TIME
BEFORE COMING TO BIG TOP AND
HERE WE’RE ALWAYS WITH A PRO
COACH.
SO PLEASE DON’T TRY ANY OF THE
MOVES YOU SEE US DO.
WE’RE COUNTING ON YOU TO BE
SAFE.
WE HOPE YOU ENJOY THE SHOW.

The narrator says PREVIOUSLY ON BIG TOP
ACADEMY.

Miss Martel says CONGRATULATIONS AXEL.
THE MC ROLE IS YOURS.

(IN A FRENCH ACCENT)

Chase says TICK TOCK
AXEL.
JACQUES LAROCQUE
IS A VERY BUSY
MAN.
ARE YOU SHOWING ME SOMETHING OR
WHAT?

Max says WELL WHO ARE THE NOMINEES FOR
BEST NEW ARTIST?

Phoenix says ERICA WILLIAMS FROM ROYAL CIRCUS
ACADEMY.

Max says KEEP READING.

Phoenix says APRIL MAY CARTIER OF
ROYAL CIRCUS ACADEMY.
NICHOLAS ZOLTA.
DUDE!

Nicholas says I CAN’T BELIEVE I’M NOMINATED.

Max hears Nicky on the phone saying THANK YOU FOR AGREEING TO TAKE
ANOTHER LOOK AT NICHOLAS’S
VIDEO.
YOU’RE A GOOD FRIEND LANE.

Jacques Laroque waks in the academy.

Jacques is in his late thirties, with short brown hair and a beard. He wears black trousers, a cream shirt, a cream dress vest, a white blazer, a printed black tie and a printed scarf.

Miss Martel says JACQUES “THE HAWK.”
LAROCQUE.

Jacques says MADDIE MARTEL.
IT’S BEEN TOO LONG.

Miss Martel says ELLA.
THIS IS THE DIRECTOR OF CIRQUE
DES 1001 LUMIERES.

Ella says ELLA PICCOLO OF THE PICCOLO
FAMILY CIRCUS.
HAVE YOU HEARD OF US?

Jacques says MAIS OUI, BUT OF COURSE.

Miss Martel says PLEASE COME WITH US.

April approaches the BTA gate.

Erica says I THINK YOU’RE
SUPPOSED TO OPEN

April says IT.
IT’S JUST HARDER BEING BACK HERE
FOR THE FIRST TIME.

Erica says COME ON.
YOU’RE SUPPOSED TO
SHOW EVERYONE
EXACTLY WHO THEY LOST.
A WARRIOR.
GRRR.

April hugs Erica.

Phoenix says APRIL, YOU’RE HERE!
I’M SO HAPPY BECAUSE YOU’RE
HERE.
OH, HELLO.

April says PHOENIX.
YOU REMEMBER
ERICA.

Phoenix says OF COURSE.
HEY.

April says SO, GIRLS ROCKING
THE CIRCUS.

Phoenix says THE OPENING
NUMBER.
I HAVE TO WARM UP BUT IT’S GREAT
SEEING YOU HERE.
IT’S LIKE YOU’RE BACK WHERE YOU
BELONG.

Erica says EXCEPT BTA IS YOUR PAST AND
ROYAL CIRCUS ACADEMY IS THE
FUTURE.

Max says YOU CAN’T TELL NICHOLAS HIS DAD
PULLED STRINGS TO GET HIM
NOMINATED.

Rosa says I HAVE TO.
NICHOLAS IS OUR FRIEND AND
FRIENDS DON’T KEEP SECRETS FROM
FRIENDS.

Max says THIS WOULD BREAK NICHOLAS’S
HEART.

Rosa says WHAT IF IT WAS YOUR DAD?
WOULDN’T YOU WANT TO KNOW?

Music plays as the opening credits roll.

In animation, pictures of the athletes appear in frames and on book pages.

Nicholas is in his early teens, with short curly brown hair and wears a blue shirt and a blue sweater.

Maxwell is in his mid-teens, with short light brown hair and wears a burgundy shirt.

April is in her early teens, with long straight blond hair and wears and orange sweater.

Phoenix is in her early teens, with long straight brown hair in pigtails and wears a plaid shirt.

Chase is around 11, with curly brown hair and wears a blue shirt, blue tie and blue blazer.

Ella is round 10, with long straight black hair and wears an orange hooded sweatshirt.

Celeste is in her early teens, with long straight brown hair in a high ponytail and wears a purple top.

Axel is in his mid-teens, with slightly long blond hair and wears a multi-coloured blazer.

As the theme song plays, clips show the athletes performing at the circus school.

The song goes CIRCUS IN MY SOUL,
HAPPINESS IN MY HEART.
BEATING IN TIME,
FULL OF RHYTHM.
AND READY TO START.

The name of the show appears on an illustration of a circus top. It reads “Big Top Academy.”

A caption reads “Produced in collaboration with Cirque du Soleil Images.”

The show starts. Dress as harlequins, Phoenix, Rosa and Celeste do their acrobatic number in the hanging cube.

(CLAPPING)
(CLAPPING AND CHEERING)

As the number finishes, Celeste says WELCOME EVERYONE TO BIG TOP
ACADEMY.
IT’S MY PLEASURE TO ANNOUNCE OUR
MC, MUMPHO THE CLOWN.
(CLAPPING)

Axel walks out in clown clothes.

He pretends to speak on the end of a jumping rope as if it was a microphone.

(MOUTHING WORDS WITH NO SOUND)
(LAUGHING)
(CLAPPING)

He walks backstage, grabs a real microphone and says WELCOME TO THE CIRCUS
SCHOOL ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS.
TONIGHT WE’RE PRESENTING AWARDS
HONORING THE TOP TALENT IN
CIRCUS SCHOOLS FROM ALL AROUND
THE WORLD.

He spots Jacques in the audience and starts stuttering in a French accent.

(FRENCH ACCENT)

He says ALL AROUND ZEE
VORLD.
SO VELCOME S’IL VOUS PLAIT.

Rosa says ROSA TORRES.
PRESENTING THE AVARD FOR ZEE
BEST GROUP PERFORMANCE.
ENOUGH WITH THE ACCENT.
AND NOW THE BEST GROUP
PERFORMANCE AWARD GOES TO A
GROUP OF STUDENTS THAT HAVE
GREAT MOVES...

Nicholas gets ready backstage.

Nicky fixes his tie.

Nicholas says SORRY.
IT’S JUST THIS IS
MY FIRST TIME I’VE EVER
BEEN NOMINATED FOR AN
AWARD OR PRESENTED ONE.

Nicky says LOOK, NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS
TONIGHT YOU’RE STILL THE BEST
NEW ARTIST
TO ME.

Nicholas says YOU HAVE TO SAY THAT.

Nicky says YEAH, WELL.
IT DOESN’T MAKE IT ANY LESS
TRUE.
WIN OR LOSE, TONIGHT, YOU GET TO
SHOW THE WORLD EXACTLY WHO
NICHOLAS ZOLTA IS.

Nicholas says THANKS DAD.

Erica approaches Phoenix and says HEY PHOENIX.
SO, YOU AND APRIL ARE STILL
PRETTY CLOSE.

Phoenix says TOTALLY.
WE’RE LIKE SISTERS.

Erica says BUT...YOU KNOW THE SISTERS STUFF
IS GONNA END RIGHT?
APRIL’S NEVER GONNA TRULY MOVE
ON FROM THIS PLACE UNTIL SHE
LETS GO.
YOU’RE LIKE THE BALL THAT’S
CHAINING HER TO THIS PLACE.

Phoenix says AND WHAT IF I THINK THAT’S A
GOOD THING?

Erica says THINK ABOUT APRIL INSTEAD OF
YOURSELF.
DO THIS FOR HER.
LET HER GO.

Nicholas says OUR NEXT AWARD IS FOR
THE MOST IMPRESSIVE ACROBATICS.
AND THE NOMINEES ARE: BIG TOP
ACADEMY, THIRD YEAR WORKSHOP.
CIRCO GRAN MALABAR, SENIOR
SHOWCASE.
AND CIRCUS BOREALIS, HOLIDAY
SHOWCASE.
AND THE WINNER IS...
BIG TOP ACADEMY.

(CLAPPING)

On the speaker, a conversation between Max and Nicholas backstage Max is heard.

Max says I NEED TO TALK TO YOU.
I’M SORRY BUT THERE’S SOMETHING
YOU NEED TO KNOW.
YOUR DAD MAY HAVE INFLUENCED THE
JUDGES TO GET YOU A NOMINATION.

Nicholas says WHAT?
NO WAY.

Max says I HEARD HIM ON THE PHONE
WITH LANE SCHMETZKY BEFORE THE
NOMINATION.
YOUR DAD THANKED LANE FOR TAKING
ANOTHER LOOK AT YOUR VIDEO.

Nicholas says LOOK, ARE YOU SERIOUSLY
DOING THIS?

Max says YOU THINK I WANNA BE?

Nicholas says I NEED TO TALK TO MY DAD RIGHT
NOW.

Axel says GUYS.
YOUR MIC IS
STILL ON.
EVERYONE HEARD
EVERYTHING.

Nicholas says TELL ME THE TRUTH.
WHAT DID YOU DO?

Nicky says I CALLED LANE AND I ASKED HER IF
THE JUDGES COULD TAKE A LOOK AT
YOUR VIDEO.

Nicholas says SO YOU ADMIT IT.
I WAS JUST TRYING TO BE A GOOD
DAD.
I DIDN’T THINK IT WOULD BE A BIG
DEAL?

Nicholas says YOU DIDN’T THINK CHEATING WOULD
BE BIG DEAL?

Miss Martel says THIS DOESN’T LOOK GOOD NICKY.

Nicky says LOOK.
LET ME TALK TO THE JUDGES.
OKAY.
JACQUES LAROCQUE IS HERE.
I WILL PLEAD MY CASE AND I’LL LL
DO WHATEVER THEY DECIDE.

Miss Martel says OKAY BUT TREAD CAREFULLY.
THERE’S A LOT ON THE LINE HERE.

Nicky says I KNOW.
MS. MARTEL:

Miss Martel says AXEL.
YOU’VE GOTTA GET OUT THERE.

Axel says ME?

Miss Martel says UNTIL THIS WHOLE MESS IS SORTED
OUT THE AUDIENCE NEEDS A
DISTRACTION.
YOU!

Axel says BUT JACQUES LAROQUE.
THE GUY WHO DIDN’T WANT ME BACK
AFTER TWO WEEKS IN PARIS IS OUT
THERE.

Miss Martel says I UNDERSTAND THIS IS TOUGH BUT
YOU ARE A GREAT CLOWN.
PLEASE AXEL?
BTA IS COUNTING ON YOU.

Axel walks out and performs.

He pretends to slap himself. Then he does his mic drop number.

(LAUGHING AND CLAPPING)
(LAUGHING)
(CLAPPING)

Jacques laughs and claps.

April sees Nicky speaking to Jacques. She leaves the room.

(LAUGHING AND CLAPPING)
(LAUGHING)
(CLAPPING)

Axel says HOLD ON TO YOUR HATS
BECAUSE IN
A FEW MOMENTS WE WILL BE
PRESENTING THE AWARD FOR THE
BEST NEW ARTIST.

April says THIS IS NOT THE MR. ZOLTA I
KNOW.

Erica says COME ON.
YOU DON’T THINK BTA WOULD DO
ANYTHING TO WIN?

April says NO.
MR. ZOLTA WOULDN’T DO THIS.
MAYBE THIS IS ALL JUST A BIG
MISUNDERSTANDING.

Erica says STOP DEFENDING HIM.
THIS IS WHO NICKY ZOLTA
AND BTA ARE.
CAN’T YOU SEE THAT?

April says FOR THE FIRST TIME I’M ACTUALLY
HAPPY I’M NOT AT BTA.

Later in the hallway, Nicky says SO I MADE MY CASE
TO THE JUDGES.
NOW WE JUST HAVE TO WAIT FOR
THEIR ANSWER.

Nicholas says I WAS ACTUALLY PROUD OF MYSELF
FOR GETTING THIS NOMINATION.

Nicky says YOU SHOULD BE.

Nicholas says NO.
THIS WHOLE THING HAS BEEN A LIE.
HOW WILL I KNOW IF I EVER
ACTUALLY DESERVED IT?
GREAT.
NOW PEOPLE ARE LEAVING AND THE
AWARDS AREN’T EVEN OVER.

Erica says ACTUALLY THEY ARE.
SORRY BTA BUT THIS LITTLE AWARD
SHOW IS IN SHAMBLES.

Jacques says ATTENTION.
COMING THROUGH, EXCUSE ME.
OUT OF MY WAY PLEASE.
THANK YOU.
I’VE SPOKEN TO THE JUDGES AND
WE’VE REACHED A DECISION.
AFTER CONSULTING WITH THE JUDGES
WE’VE COME TO A DECISION.
THAT NICKY ZOLTA MADE A GRAVE
ERROR IN JUDGMENT.
BUT IT WAS JUST THAT.
AN ERROR AND CERTAINLY NOT WORTH
RUINING THE REPUTATION OF THE
CSAA’S.

Erica says WHAT?

Jacques says LANE SCHMETZY ASSURES US YOUR
PHONE CALL DID NOT INFLUENCE
HER.
THE BOARD STANDS BY THEIR VOTE
AND THE AWARDS WILL CONTINUE AS
PLANNED.
THANK YOU.

Nicholas says I GUESS THE JUDGES BELIEVE IN ME
MORE THAN YOU DO DAD.
(CLAPPING)

On stage, Phoenix says WE’RE HERE TO PRESENT THE
BIGGEST MOST PRESTIGIOUS AWARD
OF THE NIGHT.
THE BEST NEW ARTIST.
SOME OF YOU MAY KNOW IT BY ITS
NEW NAME.
THE MOST CONTROVERSIAL AWARD OF
THE NIGHT.
TRUTHFULLY I’M JUST GLAD
EVERYTHING IS SETTLED BECAUSE
THERE ARE SOME AMAZING CIRCUS
ARTISTS IN THIS CATEGORY.
AND THE NOMINEES FOR BEST NEW
ARTIST ARE...
APRIL MAY CARTIER.
(CLAPPING)
ERICA WILLIAMS.
(CLAPPING)
AND FINALLY NICHOLAS ZOLTA.
(CLAPPING)
AND THE WINNER FOR BEST NEW
ARTIST IS...
NICHOLAS ZOLTA.
(CLAPPING)

Phoenix says COME ON, GET UP HERE.

Erica says to April YOU DESERVED THAT AWARD.
NOT THE KID WHOSE DAD STOLE IT
FOR HIM.

Nicholas says THANK YOU SO MUCH BUT THIS AWARD
ISN’T MINE.
THE AWARD FOR BEST NEW ARTIST’S
ABOUT WHAT YOU BRING TO YOUR
TEAM.
HOW YOU HELP YOUR FRIENDS AND
HOW YOUR FRIENDS HELP YOU.
IT’S ABOUT MAKING SURE EVERYONE
FEELS A PART OF THE FAMILY.
THAT’S WHAT CIRCUS IS.
IT’S ABOUT LEARNING AND GROWING
AND RECOGNIZING THAT YOU’LL
NEVER BE THE BEST BECAUSE YOU
ALWAYS HAVE MORE TO LEARN AND
MORE WAYS TO GROW SO THIS AWARD
DOESN’T BELONG TO JUST ONE
PERSON.
APRIL, ERICA.
GET UP HERE.
(CLAPPING)

Nicholas says THIS AWARD BELONGS TO EVERYONE
WHO PUTS THEIR HEART AND SOUL IN
EVERYDAY TO BEING THE BEST
CIRCUS ARTIST THEY COULD BE.
THIS ISN’T MY AWARD, IT’S YOURS.
(CLAPPING AND CHEERING)

In the dressing room, Axel speaks to his image in the mirror and says OKAY.
DEEP BREATHS.
JUST GO TALK TO MR. LAROCQUE.
YOU CAN DO THIS.
HE LAUGHED AT YOUR PERFORMANCE.

Jacques says AXEL.
I WAS LOOKING FOR YOU.

Axel says MR. LAROCQUE.
DID YOU ENJOY THE SHOW?

Jacques says YOU SHOWED REAL POISE UNDER
PRESSURE.
THAT’S NOT EASY.
I DIDN’T SEE THE KID WHO SPENT
TWO WEEKS WITH ME IN PARIS.
INSTEAD I SEE A MORE MATURE
CIRCUS ARTIST.
AN ARTIST I’D LIKE TO WORK WITH
AGAIN.

Axel says YOU WANT ME TO COME ON TOUR WITH
YOU?
BE A CLOWN IN YOUR CIRCUS?

Jacques says UNFORTUNATELY WE ALREADY HAVE 2
CLOWNS BUT I REMEMBER YOU’RE
ALSO PRETTY GOOD AT TRAMPOLINE.
I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING WHAT
YOU’VE GOT.

Nicholas says GREAT JOB GUYS.
MAN, I CAN’T BELIEVE WE SWEPT
THIS COMPETITION.

Erica says SO, BTA WALKS AWAY WITH ALL THE
BIG WINNERS.
AT LEAST EVERYONE KNOWS YOU’RE
JUST CHEATERS.

Phoenix says THE JUDGES SAID THE NOMINATIONS
WERE TOTALLY LEGIT.

Erica says IF YOU BTA-ERS THINK YOU’RE SO
AWESOME WHY DON’T YOU SHOW US
WHAT YOU’VE GOT?
UNLESS BTA’S SCARED OF BEING
EMBARRASSED ON HOME TURF.

Nicholas says DIDN’T YOU HEAR
ANYTHING I SAID?
THE CIRCUS IS ABOUT LIFTING EACH
OTHER UP.
NOT BRINGING EACH OTHER DOWN.

Erica says SPOKEN LIKE A REAL DADDY’S BOY.

Nicholas says YOU KNOW WHAT?
BRING IT.
WE’LL SHOW YOU BTA’S THE BEST.

Erica says A CIRCUS SHOW OFF IT IS.
RCA VS BTA.

Rosa says WORKS FOR ME.

At the show off, Rosa does a backbend. She walks one her hands and then Max lifts her on his shoulder.

BTA chants ROSA, ROSA, ROSA.

Then 2 boys from RCA do a capoeira number.

RCA cheers.

Now Nicholas and Max do a number with the jumping ropes.

An RCA boy does a solo number with the ropes.

Now Axel joins Nicholas and Max for the ropes number.

RCA does their 3-athlete rope number.

Nicholas says ERICA, STOP.
IT’S ME YOU HAVE THE PROBLEM
WITH SO WHY DON’T WE SHOW EACH
OTHER WHAT WE’VE GOT RIGHT HERE
RIGHT NOW?

Erica says I HAVE A BETTER IDEA.
APRIL VERSUS PHOENIX.

April says WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

Erica says TO PROVE THAT BTA’S IN YOUR REAR
VIEW.

Phoenix says I’M NOT GOING AGAINST
YOU.
I WON’T.

Erica says IT’S TIME TO PICK A SIDE
APRIL.

Celeste says I THOUGHT YOU WERE ONE OF US.

Erica says DON’T LISTEN TO THESE
LIARS.
THEY KICKED YOU OUT.

Nicholas says YOU ARE ONE OF US.

Phoenix says PART OF THE FAMILY.
ALWAYS.

April joins the BTA team.

Erica says BUT YOU SAID WE WERE BEST
FRIENDS.

April says WE ARE BUT BTA IS MY FAMILY AND
IF YOU’RE MAKING ME CHOOSE...
I CHOOSE MY FAMILY.
I CAN’T BE AT ROYAL CIRCUS
ACADEMY ANYMORE.
I’M SORRY ERICA.

Erica says WELL.
WE’VE HUMILATED BTA ENOUGH FOR
ONE DAY.
I HOPE YOU REALIZE WE’VE BURNED
THESE BRIDGES FOREVER.

Rosa says SO, IS APRIL COMING BACK TO BTA?

Phoenix says ABSOLUTELY.
WE JUST HAVE TO CONVINCE MS.
MARTEL AND MR. ZOLTA.

Ella says YAY.

Erica says I HOPE BTA REALIZES THEY
MADE A POWERFUL ENEMY.

As all the member of RCA walk out of the academy, their eyes turn green.

Music plays as the end credits roll.

Copyright 2019, Haley Productions Inc.