ANGEL: Hello?

BALLERINA: Who are you? - There's no one... You're new.

ANGEL: I'm pretty old, actually. I've seen you dance.

BALLERINA: Everyone sees me.

ANGEL: It was Giselle then, as well.

BALLERINA: Always.

ANGEL: I know what's happening. Count Kurskov - he's punishing you.

BALLERINA: He made me. He owns me. And when I dance it is only for him.

ANGEL: Do you believe that?

BALLERINA: It really doesn't matter. I'll dance. I'll wait here. And then I'll dance again. That's all.

ANGEL: A hundred years - doing the same piece - every night. Is that enough? What about Stephan?

BALLERINA: I waited too long. I should have gone when he asked me, should have disappeared, but... I wanted this. This dance, this... I hesitated and... - I lost everything that mattered. Now all I do is wait.

ANGEL: You dance.

BALLERINA: There is a section in the first act, during the courtship dance, where - my foot slips. My ankle's turned and - and I don't quite hold - every time. He doesn't notice. He doesn't even know ballet that well. But always, at that same moment, I slip. - It isn't just the same ballet. It's the same performance. I don't dance. I echo. Please - can you make it stop?

(...)

ANGEL: I can help you. But you have to do something.

BALLERINA: What?

ANGEL: Change the ending. Dance something new.

BALLERINA: I can't.

ANGEL: He doesn't control all this. He's losing it. But you have to take the stage. It's not too late. You can change things.

written by: Joss Whedon; I typed these up myself this afternoon (2/8/02) since I couldn't find a transcript. Spell checked the next day.... Full transcript at: