Synchronization
Team 18 are all together in the gym.
Dorothy: Any idea why he called us out so early?
Alex: We're soon gonna find out.
Mr. Savax: I want to see you how you handle sport and power together
- as a team, or one of you at a time.
Miss Agri: And test your synchronization at the same time. Who wants to start?
Dorothy: Me.
Miss Agri: OK then, with Justin.
Dita: Great.
Mr. Savax: We're going to serve you balls and you are to pass them
to Justin with your sonic waves.
Justin: Doesn't sound too hard.
Miss Agri: But be careful, Justin, you're not allowed to catch diagonally
You've always got to get back to midfield, move sideways then go straight for the ball.
Dorothy: So, going straight to the ball.
Mr. Savax: We'd also like you to change direction at random.
Dorothy: Who, me or Justin?
Miss Agri: Both of you.
Alex: Mm, this is starting to get complicated.
Mr. Savax: The board will mark the number of times you get the exercise right.
Dita: It's serious stuff today.
Dorothy and Justin do what they are asked.
Justin, playing from midfield, makes a move to the side and a bee-line for the ball.
Everything is speeding up, but there are no problems.
Miss Agri: Changeover!
Dorothy reacts instantly and directs her shout from right to left
Justin, who has returned to midfield, moves again, but to the wrong side.
Justin: Dash it!
He races to make up for his mistake but gets there too late.
Justin: Let's do it again.
There are more mistakes.
Miss Agri: Not bad on the whole Dorothy,
I see that you don't have any problems directing your sonic waves whatever the direction.
Dorothy: Thank you.
Miss Agri: But you aren't quite fast enough.
Dorothy: We'll fix that.
Mr. Savax: As for you, Justin...
Justin: Yes, I know.
Mr. Savax: Justin, you tend to place your whole weight on your leading leg, the right one.
Try to switch them.
Justin: Gotcha.
Miss Agri: It wasn't bad.
Dorothy/Justin: Thanks.
Miss Agri: Let's have a look at the others now.
Mr. Savax: Alex, we serve and you'll receive. Jennifer will have to send them over the net,
on the left still, and Dita is to stay on Jennifer or Alexander.
Miss Agri: The ball should be moving up and down the court
at all times until we change over.
Dita: Gotcha.
Justin: You know, Nico, it's really hard stuff they're asking us.
Nicolas: Too true. I wonder what a mess I'm gonna make of this.
Our friends get to work.
Dorothy: Looks good.
Justin: Alex seems better at winning sides from the left.
Miss Agri: Changeover!
Jennifer: Alex, watch out!
Dita has swept in and crashes into the he-man who didn't see her coming.
Mr. Savax: Dita, you're gonna have to build some muscle to make your spikes stronger.
Dita: I'll see to it.
Miss Agri: Services won't always come from your left Alex. We'll have to work on that.
Alex: Okay.
Mr. Savax: Jennifer, your passes will have to get faster on both your right and your left.
Jennifer: I noticed they weren't fast enough.
Miss Agri: We'll work on it.
Mr. Savax: You, Nicolas, should repeat the same tactic over and over again.
Spike to the right of the net, race to the opposite end of the court, catch,
teleport to the middle to make a pass, and then re-teleport to spike on the left of the net.
Miss Agri: But you won't be on your own. Dita will pass to you.
Obviously when I say 'changeover', you switch directions entirely.
Nicolas: Understood.
Dita: I'm ready.
Dorothy: What an exercise!
Justin: But why are they putting the pressure on us for left and right?
Alex: We're not doing too badly for now.
Jennifer: The girls are doing better, I think.
Nicolas gets into position. Dita sends him the ball.
Justin: What was that you said, Jenny?
Mr. Savax: Changeover!
Dita passes the ball to the other side.
Nicolas: Oh, no.
Miss Agri: Don't stop.
Nicolas: Where do I go now?
Nicolas gets confused and makes a mess of it.
Miss Agri: You wouldn't happen to be both right- and left-handed, would you?
Mr. Savax: It looks like your notion of right and left aren't in sync
with your arms and legs.
Nicolas: When I don't think about it, it works. But as soon as I think
'you go to the right and you spike with this arm', I'm lost.
Dorothy: Don't worry about it. We're here to learn.
Nicolas: Yeah, I know, but I made a mess of it and that annoys me.
Mr. Savax: I've seen enough for today. Miss Agri and I will put a special programme
together for you.
Miss Agri: I'll see you after class.
Everyone : Clothes.
Alberto Mizrahi from the Tornadoes is sitting at another table.
Their everyday clothes come back on and they go to the canteen
where Redouane is waiting for them.
Redouane: So, what's the story?
Dorothy: We've just had an amazing practise session.
Alex: Each of us was treated to an individual exercise in style.
Justin: That's a nice way of putting it!
Jennifer: And it's important for each of us to get better.
Dita: Nicky, are you OK?
Nicolas: I was useless, and no kidding.
Redouane: Hey, Nick, it's not like you to give up like that.
Nicolas: I really was awful. Even a kid would have done better.
Justin: Nick, me, Alex, and basically all the guys have problems
with left/right synchronization.
Alex: But Mr Savax and Miss Agri are gonna help us fix it.
Redouane: I don't doubt that for one second.
Jennifer: We girls are here, too, you know.
Alex: That's true.
They kiss each other.
Redouane: This is my treat - to cheer the troops up!
Dita: That's really sweet.
Dorothy: I just wonder what they're gonna come up with.
Justin: We'll know in a few hours.
Alberto goes and makes a call.
In the evening after class.
Mr. Savax: I know that this is going to surprise you,
but the best way for you to progress is to take dancing lessons.
Nicolas: What? Dancing lessons?
Miss Agri: You heard. I'll be your teacher.
Justin: But that's sissy!!!
Dita: Do you have a problem with that?
Dorothy: Are we scared, then?
Alex: It's not that, but...
Jennifer: We'll look sublime dancing together on the dance floor.
Alex: I can't fight that.
Justin: Traitor!
Dita: Well played, Jenny.
Nicolas: But this is gonna be no use to us!
Dorothy: I told you boys were morons.
Justin: Hey speak for Nick. But I can tease Dita and...
Dita: And that's all!
Dorothy: Admit you're a moron.
Justin: No.
Dita: Prove us wrong then.
Justin: OK.
Jennifer: Talk about the superiority of girls over boys
We can make them do whatever we want!
Justin: Yeah, say what you like, but I think and do what I want.
Dita: Just like a girl!
Dorothy: And Dita's still got one over on Juju!
Miss Agri: The choreography in dance will help you become more aware of your own space.
Dita: And of your own body.
Dorothy: Besides, a boy who can really dance cracks a girl up.
Jennifer: You've just scored a few points there!
Nicolas: In any case, I don't have much choice. You say girls like that?
Jennifer: Of course, dummy!
Nicolas: I'll believe it when I see it.
Miss Agri: It's obvious! We start with Rock'n'roll.
Jennifer: Cool.
Miss Agri: Demonstration.
Miss Agri and Mister Savax dance. Nicolas freaks out watching them.
Justin: Wow.
Dorothy: That was so beautiful.
Alex: Well done!
Everyone claps.
Mr. Savax: Nicolas, don't look like that.
Dita: I'd never have guessed that you knew how to dance, coach.
Mister Savax smiles.
Miss Agri: Let's go. One step forward with your left foot.
Bring it back. Raise your right leg, put it down then take two steps to your left.
Nicolas: Back to my left.
Miss Agri: Let's take it slowly.
Each of them follows the steps.
Miss Agri: Not bad. Now, let's do it to music.
The music comes on.
Justin: Hey, this is really cool!
Nicolas makes a lot of mistakes.
Dorothy: Stop making faces like that.
Nicolas: Right, then left, then dash! I've got it all wrong again.
Jennifer: Relax, watch me dance with Alex.
They dance. The choreography is perfect.
Alex: Now it's your turn.
Nicolas tries again and: No, it's wrong again!
Miss Agri: I want you all to practise this rock'n'roll.
Everyone is having fun except Nick.
Dita: I love dancing! I can't wait for the waltz and the paso doble.
Nobody realizes that the Tornadoes are watching them through the window.
Brian : That was a great idea to think of telling us about this, Alberto.
Alberto: I was sure you'd like it.
Everyone is dripping with sweat.
Mr. Savax: That's it for tonight. I'll see you tomorrow at practise.
Miss Agri: And I'll see you for dancing.
Next day in the corridor.
Redouane: So how's this synchronization going?
Dita: Dance classes.
Nicolas: Yeah, dance classes.
Redouane: Of course! Nothing like it!
Brian : That will hardly keep you from losing.
Dita: What are you talking about?
Alberto: Didn't your captain tell you?
Jutta: You're playing against us again.
Garmia: And seeing your synchronization problems.
Redouane: What do you think YOU know about psychomotricity?
Nicolas: Forget it.
The Tornadoes imitate Nicolas. The other pupils snigger.
Brian pretending to whine: Oh, I can't distinguish my right from my left.
Alex: How would you like to distinguish my right and left fist?
Brian: We'll crush them like bugs ! Come on, let's go.
Alberto: See you at the game.
Brian: Dancing, and why not knitting, while you're at it?
Team 18, team of sissies.
They leave.
Dorothy: If I could do what I felt like, I'd throw them a shout
they wouldn't forget in a hurry.
Redouane: He's not worth it.
Justin: I never thought you could sweat so much just doing a few dance steps.
Jennifer: It's also a form of sport.
Dita: That's where the term 'dance sport' comes from.
Justin: Thanks, Einstein.
Alex: Hadn't heard that one for a while.
Bursts of laughter.
Redouane: Oh no, not now!
He brings his hands to his head.
Nicolas: I'm taking you to the infirmary. I'll meet you later.
They go to the infirmary.
Redouane: It'll ease off. I'm used to these attacks.
You should go train.
Nicolas: Thanks, but are you sure you're gonna be OK?
Redouane: Go Rock'n'Roll, Captain.
Nicolas: I got the message. You know that for us you're the seventh member of the team.
Redouane: Even if I'm not a mutant?
Nicolas: Yep.
Redouane: In that case, listen to your seventh member
Your psychomotor problem is actually an asset.
In fact you are both right- and left-handed for some things, right?
Nicolas: Right.
Redouane: Well, use that advantage.
Nicolas: So you're advising me to practise dancing even more?
Redouane: Yes.
And Nicolas, every night, practises.
Nicolas: So for this dance, Miss Agri said three steps quick quick quick,
slow slow then quick quick.
The day of the game.
Mr Sonlim: You're going to beat them hollow.
Brian: I've already beaten them anyway.
Mr Sonlim: That's good, Brian.
Brian: And you won't be disappointed, coach.
Mr. Savax: I know you're dreading the power of the Tornado, but trust me,
your sports and dance training will be very useful to you.
The game begins.
Alberto: Alex does like services from the right. We'll pile them on.
Alex gives a perfect reception, however.
Jutta: We're going to pretend we're going to spike on the right
while I get into position to spike on the left.
Dorothy acts fast and directs her shout from left to right. Justin,
who has come back to the middle of the court, runs back and passes the ball
to Jenny who spikes.
Alex: Ah, THAT was a fine example of team synchronization!
Mr Savax is watching the game very closely, as is Adam Sonlim.
Matt: Dita isn't very good at spiking. We're gonna have some fun here.
But Matt Doyle is left speechless when Jennifer makes a very fast pass
to Dita who spikes.
Dita: Your pass was terrific, right on target.
Jennifer: Your spike was stronger. Everyone saw it.
Sophie: We haven't played with their captain yet.
Garmia: That's gonna be funny.
Garmia spikes and Nicolas lunges to catch it.
Sophie shouts: Right, not left!
Brian: Use your other leg!
Nicolas doesn't get destabilized, and passes to Alex who passes it back.
Garmia: Watch out on your right.
Nicolas: Here, take that!
Miss Agri: Yes, the ball's in.
Mr Sonlim requests a time out.
Mr Sonlim: This act has gone on long enough. You must win.
Mr. Savax: Do you feel you're making progress?
All: Yes, Sir!
Miss Agri: Nicolas, you're showing the benefit of your evening sessions. Well done!
Nicolas: Thanks, but the Tornado is way ahead on points.
Mr. Savax: Just do your best.
The game starts up again. Team 18 scores a few nice points thanks to some bold combinations
and some good feints, but finally gives way to the greater power of the Tornado.
Brian: I told you you'd lose.
Dita: If you call it losing with only five points difference.
Nicolas: That's hardly glorious, with a power as strong as yours.
Brian to himself: There wasn't much in it. They'll soon be able to beat me.
Jutta: But we still won!
Garmia: Let's celebrate our victory.
Alex: Words, just words, you're not even a proper team.
Dorothy: You follow Brian around like a pet dog. He's just using you.
They leave.
Mr. Savax: I'm sure that the Tornadoes all saw the progress you've made.
Mr Sonlim to himself: Aristide has got a good team behind him.
They're progressing fast, too fast. The power of the Tornado will not be able
to stand up to them forever.
He and Aristide catch each other's eyes. They understand each other
without a word being spoken.
Jennifer: How about a nice shower and then a movie?
Justin: Great idea.
Nicolas: But without me.
Dita: Why without you?
Nicolas: I'm meeting Kristie Busby, and we're going waltzing.
Dorothy: I might have known!
Jennifer: I told you it cracked the girls up.
Justin: You've really got a gift for turning things to your own advantage.
Dita: Unlike you, eh, Justin?
Justin: Oh, you...
Bursts of laughter.
next episode: Some Very Special Glasses
copyright Jean-François Schwaiger
Translation: Eileen Harris
"Any resemblance to persons living or dead is purely coincidental
and unintentional"
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How did this episode come into being?
The same episode in French