The curtain rises on the American Ballet Company’s season as it falls on the show.
Her story has been a twisted one.
Shes taken steps toward independence and relapsed; shes told off Paul only to call her brother crying.
Credit: Starz
But even Tonis grand ballet about one girls journey into womanhood is a spiraling one.
Change doesnt tend to happen in a straight line.
Shes had some help along the way.
Im not doing this, he declares.
Im done, and you should be, too.
Thats what you wanted.
Thats why youre here.
And you were right.
Is he just figuring that out now?
But hes making the right call here, finally.
Bryan is a cipher.
Before he goes, he tells his sister that he hopes they made something good together.
He wants their daughter to be happy out there somewhere.
Claire responds by shouting him out the door.
It was a monster, she yells, because youre a monster, Bryan.
They can only control how they respond.
(You were never going to be prima.
But always you will be smart and funny and world-class piece of ass.)
Daphne nails it, nerves and all.
If shes going to be full-tilt crazy, this is exactly how I want her to be full-tilt crazy.
Claire knows a thing or two about dancing through pain.
Her head is in the game now.
(Of course that would be Bryan.)
But Claire does get to touch his abs, and who am I to deny her that?
Lets also give Sarah Hay and Sascha Radetsky a standing ovation for their work in this piece.
They both make it look easy.
Now to that interruption.
Claire told Romeo earlier that he was the real hero of the story that hed written for her.
Romeo confronts Bryan, but not perfectly.
When Romeo refuses to leave, Bryan asks him if he has a death wish.
I need to do the right thing, he says as Bryan falls to his knees.
Some part of Bryan must feel that he deserves this because he just nods.
Romeo slashes Bryans throat, then carves the likeness of his tattoo into his own chest.
As her brother dies, Claire takes a bow to thunderous applause.
Paul watches from the wings.
She has exactly what she wants, and she doesnt need anyone elses validation to know that its real.
For Paul, thats a problem.
He steps into Claires dressing room as she stares into the mirror, robe hanging half open.
He guides her to her feet, running his hands all over her.
Tell me everything youre feeling, he purrs into her ear.
Claire stares dead ahead.
Paul doesnt own her anymore: No.
