(music plays)

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

At the gym, April 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.
HOPE YOU ENJOY THE SHOW.

The narrator says PREVIOUSLY ON BIG TOP
ACADEMY.

Ella gives out pins and says A SMILE FOR YOU AND A VOTE FOR
ME.

Miss Martel says CONGRATULATIONS ELLA.

Chase says YOU HAVE A 60 PERCENT DISAPPROVAL
RATING RIGHT NOW.

Ella says I’M TOTALLY FAILING AS
PRESIDENT.

Nicholas says to his mom I KNOW YOU’RE SCARED BECAUSE OF
WHAT HAPPENED TO DAD BUT I’M
READY FOR THIS.
IT’S MY DREAM.
NOT JUST DAD’S.

Nicholas takes out an eagle card from the fortune machine and says THE EAGLE?

Sir Rayne says YOUR FATHER GOT THE SAME CARD IN
HIS FIRST YEAR.
IT LOOKS LIKE THE FAMOUS EARTH
DEFYING EAGLE WILL FLY AGAIN.

Nicholas says to his dad I WANNA STEP OUT OF
YOUR SHADOW.
FIND MY OWN PATH.
SOMETHING DIFFERENT.
SOMETHING ALL ON MY OWN.

Erica says SPOKEN LIKE A REAL DADDY’S BOY.

Nicholas says WE’LL SHOW YOU BTA’S THE BEST.

Erica says A CIRCUS SHOW OFF IT IS.

After the show off, Erica says WELL WE’VE HUMILIATED BTA
ENOUGH FOR ONE DAY.

April says WHEN I DID THE DIVING TRIPLE
START I FLEW FREE THROUGH THE
AIR.
I WILL NEVER STOP SHOOTING FOR
THE STARS BUT I PROMISE WITH ALL
MY HEART THAT I’LL DO IT BY THE
BOOKS NEXT TIME.

(CLAPPING)

At the gym, Celeste says THEY’RE ANNOUNCING THE END OF
YEAR SHOWCASE.

Axel says LAST YEAR WE WORKED REALLY HARD
AND SOME STUDENTS STILL DIDN’T
PASS AND COULDN’T CONTINUE AT
BTA.

Nicky says ALRIGHT GUYS.
WE HAVE SOME BIG NEWS.

Miss Martel says IT’S THE MOMENT YOU’VE BEEN
WORKING TOWARDS ALL YEAR LONG.

Nicky says ALL YOUR TRAINING, SWEAT AND
DEDICATION...

Chase says SMOOTHIES.

They all laugh.

Nicky says IT’S THE LEGENDARY BTA END OF
THE YEAR SHOWCASE.
THIS IS WHERE CIRCUS CAREERS ARE
MADE.

Miss Martel says AND IT REPRESENTS 50
PERCENT OF YOUR GRADE.

Nicky says THAT’S RIGHT BUT IT’S NOT
JUST ABOUT YOUR GRADE.
GUYS THIS IS YOUR CHANCE TO SHOW
EVERYONE WHY BTA IS RANKED AS
THE BEST CIRCUS SCHOOL IN THE
WORLD.

Max says BETTER THAN ROYAL CIRCUS
ACADEMY.
CHASE:

Chase says COULD THE THEME BE SPACE?
NO.
COWBOYS.
NO.
SPIDERS.

Miss Martel says IT’S A BTA END OF
YEAR CLASSIC.
KNIGHTS AND DRAGONS.
RAWR.

Nicholas says THIS SHOWCASE IS
IMPORTANT.
SHOULDN’T WE DO SOMETHING NEW?

Axel says IT’S A BTA TRADITION.
WHY ROCK THE BOAT?

Miss Martel says THERE IS A TRYOUT SIGN UP SHEET
IN THE ZEPPELIN FOR THOSE OF YOU
WANTING TO SHOWCASE A NEW
DISCIPLINE.
OTHERWISE YOU WILL BE
ASSIGNED A ROLE.
TRYOUTS ARE THIS AFTERNOON SO
GET READY.
SHOW US YOUR SKILLS.

Phoenix says I THOUGHT YOU’D BE FIRST IN LINE
WANTING TO SHOW EVERYONE WHAT
YOU’VE GOT?
IT’S WHAT YOU LIVE FOR.

April says THE LAST TIME I TRIED STANDING
OUT I GOT EXPELLED.
THIS TIME I’LL JUST STEP BACK.

Nicky says HEY BUDDY.
YOU PLANNING TO SHOWCASE
SOMETHING?

Nicholas says OH.
I DON’T KNOW.
I’M NOT EXACTLY EXCITED.
I MEAN TRADITIONS ARE GREAT BUT
SHOULDN’T WE DO SOMETHING NEW
AND FRESH?
LOOK.

Nicky says THINK OF THIS AS YOUR CHANCE TO
PERFORM IN A BIG TOP ACADEMY
CLASSIC AND WE’RE GONNA HAVE TO
PUT OUR BEST FOOT FORWARD IF
BTA’S GONNA BOUNCE BACK AFTER
EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENED AT THE
CIRCUS AWARDS.

Nicholas says YOU DON’T HAVE TO REMIND ME.

Nicky says NICHOLAS, I SEE THE FIRE THAT
CIRCUS LIGHTS INSIDE YOU.
OKAY.
DON’T LET MY ONE MISTAKE PUT
THAT OUT.
PLEASE.

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.”

Chase does his front jumps for the audition.

Nicky says THAT WAS GOOD CHASE.
ROLES WILL BE POSTED AT THE END
OF THE DAY.

Chase says I HOPE I’M IN BECAUSE I LOVE
CHASING DRAGONS.

April comes behind him and knocks him over.

Chase says AH.

April says CHASE.

Chase says I KNOW YOU WANT TO GET A FEATURE
ROLE BUT YOU DON’T HAVE TO
LITERALLY TAKE OUT YOUR
COMPETITION.

April says I WASN’T DOING THAT.
I PROMISE.

Chase says RELAX.
I’M JUST KIDDING.
OW.
SORTA.

Miss Martel says INJURIES AREN’T A
JOKE AT BTA.
CHASE PROMISE ME YOU’RE NOT
FAKING IT LIKE EARLIER THIS
YEAR.

Chase says NO, I PROMISE.
IT ACTUALLY HURTS.

Miss Martel says OKAY.
LET ME BRING YOU TO
THE NURSE’S
OFFICE.
I’LL HELP YOU UP.

April says THE NURSES OFFICE?
CHASE.
I’M SO SORRY.
I’LL MAKE IT UP TO YOU.
I’LL DOING ANYTHING.
DO YOU WANT ANYTHING?

Chase says I AM A LITTLE THIRSTY.

April says DON’T WORRY.
I’M ON IT.

Chase limps out of the gym with the help of Miss Martel.

(PHONE RINGS)

In Ella’s room, Ella looks at her phone and says OH NO, OH NO, OH NO, OH NO.
THAT’S TODAY?

Celeste says WHAT’S TODAY?

Ella says THE PRESENTATION I HAVE TO DO.
FOR WHAT?
KIDS WHO ARE APPLYING TO BTA
NEXT YEAR.
MS. MARTEL WANTS ME TO TALK
ABOUT THE BTA STUDENT
EXPERIENCE.
YOU KNOW?
AS PRESIDENT OF STUDENT COUNCIL.

Celeste says SO WHAT’S THE PROBLEM?
TELL ME YOU HAVE AN AMAZING
PRESENTATION READY TO GO.

Ella says I SHOULD HAVE.
I WOULD HAVE BUT THIS IS HUGE
AND SCARY AND INTIMIDATING.

Celeste says ELLA BREATHE.
YOU BECAME PRESIDENT TO HELP
PEOPLE AND HELPING RECRUIT NEW
STUDENTS TO BTA IS HELPING,
RIGHT?

Ella says YOU’RE RIGHT.
I CAN DO THIS.

Celeste says I CAN HELP IF YOU WANT.

Ella says THAT’S OKAY.
I’M THE PRESIDENT AND I’M GOING
TO SPEND THE WHOLE DAY WORKING
ON IT AND IT’S GOING TO BE
HASHTAG AMAZING.

At the gym, Phoenix says DID YOUR DAD REALLY TELL YOU TO
LIGHT THE FIRE WITHIN?

Nicholas says YEAH.
HE WANTS ME TO FIND MY PASSION.

Phoenix says HE’S NOT WRONG.
YOU LOVE THE CIRCUS.

Nicholas says I MEAN I THOUGHT SO BUT AFTER
EVERYTHING THAT’S HAPPENED AND
THIS DRAGON THING...

Phoenix says YOU DON’T LIKE DRAGONS?
GRRRR.
LET ME HELP YOU.
WE’LL FIND SOMETHING FUN.
WHICH APPARATUS DO YOU WANT TO
DO FIRST?

Nicholas remembers his previous aerial performances.

Phoenix says WHAT’S WRONG?

Nicholas says EVERYWHERE I LOOK I SEE STUFF
FROM THE PAST.
THE END OF THE YEAR SHOWCASE
SHOULD BE ABOUT THE FUTURE.

Phoenix says THEN LOOK FORWARD.
WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN 5
YEARS?

Nicholas says I DON’T KNOW.
JUST NOTHING IN THE AIR.

Phoenix says OKAY THEN WE’LL FIND SOMETHING
ON THE GROUND.
SOMETHING NEW AND EXCITING.

She shows him Miss Martel practicing in the cyr wheel.

She says YOU’D BE GREAT
AT CYR WHEEL.
YOU DO HAVE
GREAT BALANCE.

(CLAPPING)

As April enters Chase’s room with the smoothie, she sees Chase doing a full split.

April says CHASE, STOP.
YOU’RE HURT.

Chase says ACTUALLY THE NURSE SAID I’M
FINE.
IT’S JUST A BRUISE.
SEE?
AWESOME RIGHT?

April says NO IT’S NOT AWESOME.
I BRUISED YOU.
YOU SHOULD BE RESTING.
HERE.

Chase says THANK YOU.
I’M STARVING.

April says I FEEL SO BAD SO I DECIDED I’M
GOING TO TAKE CARE OF YOU UNTIL
YOU’RE BETTER.

Chase says SERIOUSLY
I’M FINE.
DO YOU NEED TO SEE THE BRUISE
AGAIN?

April says NO.
NO.
PLEASE.
I JUST THOUGHT IF I GOT BACK
INTO BTA THAT I WOULD CHANGE AND
THE FIRST THING I DO WHEN I GET
HERE IS I HURT YOU SO JUST LET
ME DO MY AUDITIONS AND THEN...

Chase says I KNEW THIS WAS ABOUT AUDITIONS.

April says YOU KNOW WHAT?
TODAY IS GOING TO BE ALL ABOUT
YOU.
LAY IT ON ME.
WHAT’S YOUR TO DO LIST?

Chase says WELL, IF YOU INSIST.

In her room, Ella says YOU GOT THIS ELLA BELLA.

She reads cue cards and says GREETINGS MY NAME IS ELLA
PICCOLO AND I AM A BTA STUDENT.
I AM 10 YEARS OLD.
I LOVE BTA AND PUPPIES.
BIG TOP ACADEMY IS A GREAT
SCHOOL.
WE TRAIN BUT WE ALSO STUDY.
MATH, ENGLISH, HISTORY,
GEOGRAPHY.
NO.
WHO AM I KIDDING?
I’LL JUST END UP PUTTING THEM TO
SLEEP.

April helps Nicky organize the dressing room.

Nicky says THANKS APRIL.
YOU KNOW I MUST SAY I WAS A
LITTLE SURPRISED TO SEE YOU
HERE.
CHASE WAS THE ONE WHO
VOLUNTEERED TO HELP ME OUT.

April says IT’S NO PROBLEM.
HAPPY TO HELP.

(PHONE BEEPS)

Nicky says SOMETHING IMPORTANT?

April says IT’S JUST CHASE.
HE’S ASKING IF YOU HAVE A
SCRUB BRUSH.
HE NEEDS TO CLEAN KING SLIME’S
TERRARIUM.

Nicholas says THERE’S ONE IN THE UTILITY ROOM.
YOU CAN TELL HIM TO COME GET IT.

April says NO, IT’S OKAY.
I’LL GET IT.

Later, as she scrubs the frog’s terrarium, April says I AM BEING GOOD.
I AM HELPING OTHERS.
I AM BEING GOOD.
I AM HELPING OTHERS.

Celeste walks in her room.

Ella says HOW WAS YOUR TRYOUT?

Celeste says UM.
I THINK IT WENT WELL.

Ella says I’M SURE IT WENT
SUPER WELL.
YOU’RE AN AMAZING CIRCUS ARTIST
AND AN EVEN BETTER SISTER.

Celeste says IS THIS ABOUT YOUR PRESENTATION?

Ella says YOU DID SAY YOU’D HELP ME
WITH IT.

Celeste says OKAY, WHAT
HAVE YOU GOT?

She reads the cue cards and says I SEE.
SO, NOT MUCH?

Ella says THIS IS A DISASTER.
WHAT IF I MESS THIS
UP FOR BTA?
WHAT IF I MAKE THE SCHOOL LOOK
BAD AND NOBODY WANTS TO COME
HERE?

Celeste says OKAY.
WHY DON’T YOU GET SOMEONE ELSE
TO DO THIS?

Ella says THEY WANT TO HEAR IT FROM THE
STUDENT COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
ME.
I JUST FEEL BLOCKED.
IT’S SO MUCH PRESSURE AND THE
MORE I THINK ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT
IT IS TO THE SCHOOL, THE LESS I
CAN WRITE.

Celeste says WASN’T THE PICCOLO FAMILY CIRCUS
ONE NIGHT ONLY SPECTACULAR
IMPORTANT?

Ella says IT’S WHAT GOT OUR FAMILY BACK ON
THE CIRCUS MAP.
YOU KNOW THAT.

Celeste says I ALSO KNOW THAT YOU DIDN’T GET
SCARED PERFORMING FOR EVERYONE
THAT NIGHT.
EVEN THOUGH IT WAS SUPER DUPER
IMPORTANT.

Ella says OH.
I LOVE PERFORMING.
SO YOU’RE SAYING I SHOULD PUT ON
A SHOW?

Celeste says A PROPER PICCOLO PERFORMANCE.

Max auditions at the gym.

Nicky says THANK YOU MAX.

Then, Max sees Nicholas practicing in the cyr wheel.

Max says WHAT’S THIS?

Nicholas says ME FAILING MISERABLY AT CYR
WHEEL.

Max says SHOULDN’T YOU BE PRACTICING A
SKILL YOU ACTUALLY KNOW FOR THE
TRYOUTS?

Nicholas says I WANTED TO DO SOMETHING ON THE
GROUND.

Max says GET AWAY FROM THE WHOLE EARTH
DEFYING EAGLE THING?

Nicholas says YEAH, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

Max says WELL, SHOW ME
WHAT YOU’VE GOT.

He tries and fails.

Nicholas says YOU WANT TO TRY?

Max says WHY NOT?

Nicholas says LET’S TRY TOGETHER.

They try together and fail. Miss Martel laughs with them.

Nicholas says THIS IS HOPELESS.

Max says COME ON.
YOU’RE A ZOLTA.
YOU HAVE CIRCUS IN YOUR BLOOD.

Nicholas says YOU SOUND LIKE MY DAD.
I MEAN THEY KEEP SAYING THERE’S
THIS FIRE INSIDE OF ME BUT I
DON’T KNOW, I CAN’T FIND IT.
MAYBE IT’S GONE.

Max says MAYBE IF YOU JUST LOOK HARDER.

Nicholas says OR MAYBE IF I’M NOT GONNA BE THE
NEW EARTH DEFYING EAGLE I
SHOULDN’T EVEN BE IN THE CIRCUS.

Max says HEY.
ZOLTA, STOP.

Nicholas says WHY?
THIS WHOLE TIME I’VE
BEEN FOOLING MYSELF.
MAYBE THE ONLY REASON I EVER
CARED ABOUT THE CIRCUS WAS
BECAUSE I WAS SO OBSESSED WITH
FINDING MY DAD.

Max says IF ANYONE IS MR. CIRCUS IT’S
YOU.

Nicholas says WELL I HAVEN’T FELT LIKE THAT
LATELY.
I FEEL LOST.

Max says LOOK.
I GET THAT YOU’RE GOING THROUGH
A ROUGH PATCH BUT YOU CAN’T JUST
GIVE UP.
I KNOW FOR A FACT THAT YOU HAVE
CIRCUS IN YOUR HEART.

Max sings CIRCUS IN YOUR SOUL.

Nicholas says NO.
DON’T EVEN START.

Nicholas says DON’T WORRY.
I’M ALREADY KICKING MYSELF FOR
DOING THIS.

Max sings a song that says STANDING.
WAITING.
WISHING.
WANTING.
LIKE A ROCK TRY TO BE
STEADY.
BE MYSELF CAN’T WASTE THIS
MOMENT.
SHOW THE WORLD THAT I AM
READY.
CIRCUS IN MY SOUL.
CIRCUS OF ALL MY DREAMS.
HOLD ONTO MY HAND.
TOGETHER WE ARE A TEAM.
CIRCUS IN MY SOUL.
HAPPINESS IN MY HEART.
BEATING IN TIME.
FULL OF RHYTHM.
AND READY TO START.
CIRCUS IN MY SOUL.

A series of clips showing all Nicholas’s performances at BTA roll.

Nicholas watches all the athletes practise their different disciplines.

Max says WHAT’S GOING ON?

I THINK I’M GETTING AN IDEA.
THANKS MAX.

Phoenix runs into April in the dorms.

Phoenix says HEY.
DIDN’T YOU DO YOUR
LAUNDRY YESTERDAY?

April says THIS IS CHASE’S
LAUNDRY.
I’M HELPING HIM OUT.

Phoenix says APRIL MAY CARTIER HELPING OUT
WITH LAUNDRY?
I DON’T THINK SO.
WHAT ABOUT YOUR TRYOUT?
HAVE YOU EVEN HAD ENOUGH TIME TO
PRACTICE?

April says HELPING OTHERS IS MORE
IMPORTANT.
DON’T FORGET.
BEING AN OVER ACHIEVING
GO-GETTER GOT ME KICKED OUT OF
BTA.

Phoenix says HELPING IS ONE THING BUT NOW
YOU’RE CHASE’S PERSONAL VALET?
I HEARD YOU CLEANED KING SLIME’S
TERRARIUM.

April says IT WAS SO GROSS.

Phoenix says APRIL.
I KNOW BEING BACK HERE MUST BE
HARD BUT YOU’RE HOME.
YOU DON’T HAVE TO PROVE ANYTHING
TO ANYONE.

April says I JUST THOUGHT THAT I SHOULD
STEP BACK AND LET OTHERS SHINE.

Phoenix says HAVEN’T YOU EVER HEARD THAT A
RISING TIDE LIFTS ALL BOATS?
WE’RE ABOUT TO PUT ON OUR
BIGGEST MOST IMPORTANT SHOW YET.
IF YOU LOOK GOOD WE ALL LOOK
GOOD.

April says REALLY?

Phoenix says REALLY.
WE AREN’T GONNA FIX BTA’S REP
WITH THE GIRL WHO BUSTED OUT OF
AN EGG.
WHO SHINED AT AQUAPOLIS AND
UNTIED BTA.
WE NEED YOU AND HOW DO YOU
EXPECT TO GET ENOUGH TRAINING
TIME IF YOU’RE TOO BUSY WASHING
CHASE’S DIRTY GYM SOCKS?

April says OKAY.
YOU’RE RIGHT, I OVER DID IT.
I BETTER HURRY UP AND START
PRACTICING.

Chase says THERE YOU ARE.
IT’S TIME FOR KING SLIME’S WALK.

April says SORRY CHASE BUT I HAVE A LOT OF
EXTRA TRAINING TO CATCH UP ON SO
YOU’RE ON YOUR OWN.

He sighs shows his laundry to Phoenix.

Phoenix says UGH.

She walks away.

Later in the classroom, Ella stands on the teacher’s desk, performs with the ribbon and says WELCOME TO BIG TOP ACADEMY.
IT’S MORE THAN JUST A CIRCUS
SCHOOL.
IT’S WHERE WE GET TO TEST OUR
LIMITS AND LEARN WHAT WE’RE
TRULY CAPABLE OF.

She does a backbend and says IT’S WHERE WE HAVE TO LEARN TO
LOOK AT THINGS FROM ALL ANGLES.

Meanwhile in his room, Nicholas listens to music as he sketches.

Ella says AND SOMETIMES WHEN WE DON’T
KNOW WHERE TO LAND THERE’S
ALWAYS A FRIEND THAT
CAN CATCH US.

She jumps off the desk and Miss Martel catches her.

(CLAPPING)

Ella says BIG TOP ACADEMY IS THE
BEST.

(CLAPPING)

Miss Martel says THANK YOU ELLA.
THAT WAS WONDERFUL.

Late at night, Nicholas joins the others in the courtyard and says HEY.
WAIT UP.

Max says HEY, YOU READY
FOR YOUR TRYOUT?

Nicholas says I’M NOT TRYING OUT.
I KINDA FREAKED OUT TODAY BUT
THEN I DID SOME THINKING ABOUT
WHAT YOU SAID AND CAME UP WITH
SOMETHING PRETTY COOL.

Celeste says AND WHAT WOULD THAT BE?

Nicholas says A NEW THEME FOR THE END OF YEAR
SHOWCASE.

Axel says EXCEPT WE ALREADY HAVE A
THEME.
DRAGONS.
IT’S A TIME HONORED CLASSIC.

Nicholas says I KNOW BUT I REALLY THINK BTA
NEEDS TO MOVE ON AND WE CAN WITH
THIS.
THE HEARTBEAT OF THE CIRCUS.

He shows his sketches and pictures and explains his ideas to them.

(MOUTHING WORDS WITH MUSIC)

Nicholas says AND SO YEAH AND THAT’S
MY IDEA FOR THE SHOWCASE.

Phoenix says THIS SOUNDS AMAZING.

Axel says SUPER FRESH, NEW AND COOL.

April says THE HEARTBEAT COULD BE JUST WHAT
WE NEED FOR THE YEAR END SHOW.

Nicky says I’VE BEEN DOING
SOME THINKING TOO.
MAYBE IT’S NOT SUCH
A GOOD IDEA TO DO A
10 YEAR OLD SHOW.

Nicholas says REALLY?

Max says WAIT.
SO IS NICHOLAS GONNA BE THE
DIRECTOR OR SOMETHING?

April says IT MAKES SENSE.
IT IS HIS IDEA.
WHAT DO YOU THINK MR. ZOLTA.

Nicky says I THINK THAT’S UP TO
NICHOLAS.

Nicholas says I’M IN.

Nicky says OKAY.
I’LL TALK TO MS. MARTEL AND LET
YOU GUYS KNOW.

Max says I’M SO GLAD YOU DIDN’T GIVE UP.

Nicholas says ME TOO.
THANKS.

(PHONE BEEPS)

April says A TEXT FROM ERICA.
APRIL PLEASE.
I’M DESPERATE AND NEED YOUR
HELP.

Music plays as the end credits roll.

Copyright 2019, Haley Productions Inc.