(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 ON 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.

Max says I LIKE TO MAKE ORIGAMI.

Nicholas says THAT DOESN'T
SOUND LIKE YOU.

Max says IT SOUNDS LIKE MY MOM.
SHE'S AN ARTIST.
SHE TAUGHT ME.
MY PARENTS ARE DIVORCED.

(VIOLIN MUSIC PLAYING)

Miss G says INCREDIBLE.
I HAD NO IDEA YOU
COULD PLAY THE VIOLIN MAX.

Max says BECAUSE MY DAD HATES IT.
HE THINKS IT MAKES ME LOSE
FOCUS.

Miss G says WELL THAT'S TOO BAD.
YOU HAVE A REAL TALENT.

At his dad's office, Max says I ALSO DON'T WANT
TO BE HERE.
I WANT TO TRAIN
FOR THE OLYMPICS.
YOU KNOW THAT.

A girl at the Olympics says SORRY I DON'T HAVE
THAT NAME.
I REMEMBER, YOUR FATHER CALLED
TO SAY THAT YOU WOULDN'T BE
CONTINUING.

Max says MY DAD KICKED ME OUT OF
THE DAREDEVIL SOCIETY.
SOMEONE RATTED ME OUT.

Ella says YOU KNOW WHAT'S
EVEN MORE FUN?
DOING THE HUMAN ALPHABET
CHALLENGE FROM THE SECRET BOOK
OF CIRCUS SECRETS.

Rosa says THANK YOU FOR ACCEPTING MY
EXCHANGE PROGRAM APPLICATION.

Sir Rayne says WHERE DID YOU
DO YOUR TRAINING?

Rosa says UNDER THE
MENTORSHIP OF GRAN MALABAR.

Sir Rayne says I'VE NEVER HEARD OF
THIS GRAN MALABAR.

Phoenix approaches Max at the courtyard and says HEY MAN.
YOU SHOULD HAVE SEEN WHAT YOU'RE
DAD GOT US TO TRY AT PRACTICE
TODAY.
IT WAS SO COOL.
RIGHT.
SORRY.
I KNOW IT MUST BE HARD
NOT TO BE ON THE TEAM.

Max says WHAT TEAM?

Phoenix says COME ON MAN.
I SAID I WAS SORRY.
MAYBE IF YOU TALK TO YOUR
DAD HE'LL LET YOU JOIN US?

Phoenix says YOU DON'T KNOW MY FATHER.
HE DOESN'T DO DO-OVERS.

Phoenix says MAX, THERE'S GOT TO BE OTHER
THINGS THAT MAKE YOU HAPPY.

Later in the dressing room, Max takes out his violin and starts practising.

Sir Rayne comes in, looks at him with a frown on his face and walks away.

Max finds an origami bird in his violin case.

(VIOLIN MUSIC PLAYING)

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."

Celeste reads a list of names in the book of circus secrets and says CHAD, TREVOR,
EMANUEL, IGOR BETHUNE.
WHAT DO THEY ALL
HAVE IN COMMON?

Axel says THEY'RE ALL MEMBERS
OF OF THE BOY BAND?

Celeste says YOU'RE RIGHT ABOUT THE BOY PART.
THEY'RE ALL FORMER BTA STUDENTS
WHO COMPLETED ALL THE CHALLENGES
FROM THE SECRET BOOK.

Axel says COOL.
UH, NOT COOL.

Celeste says DEFINITELY
NOT COOL.
I'M DOING A PROJECT ON WOMEN OF
THE CIRCUS AND I WAS LOOKING FOR
CHALLENGES THAT FORMER BTA GIRLS
DID BUT THERE ARE HARDLY ANY
GIRLS ON THE LIST.
MAYBE THEY TRIED
AND FAILED?
THIS IS SO MANY SHADES OF WRONG.
GIRLS CAN DO ANYTHING BOYS CAN.

Axel says I AGREE.

Celeste says WELL, I'M GOING
TO PROVE IT.
I'LL BE THE FIRST GIRL TO
COMPLETE ALL THE CHALLENGES FROM
THE SECRET BOOK.

Axel says UM, YOU MIGHT WANT
TO THINK AGAIN.
THE RECORD FOR COMPLETING ALL
THE CHALLENGES IS IN TWO WEEKS.
AND THERE'S A TON OF
CHALLENGES IN HERE.

Celeste says PIECE OF CAKE.
IN FACT I'LL
COMPLETE THEM
ALL IN ONE WEEK.

Axel says THIS I'VE GOT TO SEE.
SEE YOU SUCCEED.

Miss Martel walks in the classroom with a globe on his head and says TODAY MY LITTLE TRAVELLERS IS
THE DAY WE'VE BEEN WAITING FOR.
GEOGRAPHY PROJECT DAY.

She opens the glove in half and says OKAY.
IT'S THE DAY I'VE
BEEN WAITING FOR.
EACH GROUP WILL SELECT
A PAPER FROM THE GLOBE.
WHO IN THE WORLD WANTS TO START?

Phoenix picks up a paper and says SWEDISH CULTURE.
MEATBALLS HERE I COME.

Nicholas says MEXICAN CULTURE.
THIS IS GREAT ROSA.
YOU'RE FROM MEXICO.
YOU'VE GOTTA HAVE SOMETHING
WE CAN USE FOR THE PROJECT.

Rosa says ABSOLUTELY.

Nicholas says THIS PROJECT'S
GONNA BE A BREEZE.

Max has a video call with his mom.

Mom says I'M SO HAPPY TO HEAR
THAT YOU'RE GETTING BACK INTO
PLAYING THE VIOLIN MAX.
YOU'RE SO GIFTED IT WOULD
BE A SHAME TO IGNORE IT.

Max says I DON'T WANT TO IGNORE IT MOM.
THAT'S WHY I'VE DECIDED TO
BECOME A PROFESSIONAL VIOLINIST.
JUST LIKE YOU.

Mom says THAT'S WONDERFUL.
WITH A LOT OF
PRACTICE AND DEDICATION.

Max says I WANT TO GO ON TOUR
WITH YOUR ENSEMBLE.

Mom says I WOULD LIKE NOTHING BETTER BUT
IT'S THE MIDDLE OF THE SCHOOL
YEAR.

Max says BUT MOM...

Mom says I'M SURE YOUR FATHER WOULDN'T
WANT YOU DISRUPTING YOUR
EDUCATION.

Max says ACTUALLY, I'M PRETTY SURE HE
WOULDN'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH ME
LEAVING AT ALL.
IF HE SAYS IT'S OKAY
I CAN LEAVE RIGHT?
I'LL GO ASK RIGHT NOW.

Mom says NO MAX, THAT'S NOT
WHAT I'M SAYING.

Celeste balances on a curb with a pile of hats on her head and juggles with balls at the same time.

Axel says WOW.
THREE CHALLENGES AT A TIME.
THAT'S PRETTY IMPRESSIVE.

Celeste says I'M GONNA GET THEM
ALL DONE IN ONE WEEK.
I HAVE NO CHOICE.

Axel says WHY DON'T YOU
LET ME HELP?
WE CAN BE THE FIRST
DUO TO COMPLETE ALL THE
CHALLENGES
TOGETHER.

Celeste says THANKS BUT YOU'RE A
BOY AND I'M DOING
THIS FOR CIRCUS GIRLS
EVERYWHERE.
UNLESS YOU THINK
I CAN'T DO IT.

Axel says NO, NO, OF
COURSE NOT.
BUT YOU DIDN'T GIVE
YOURSELF MUCH TIME.

Celeste says I'VE GOT IT ALL FIGURED OUT.
I DO CHALLENGES BEFORE
BREAKFAST, DURING BREAKS AND
AFTER TRAINING.

Axel says THAT SOUNDS LIKE A LOT.

Celeste says BUT IF I STICK TO THE PLAN I'LL
DO ALL THE CHALLENGES IN RECORD
TIME.

(CHIMING)

Celeste says OOPS, I'M TWO
MINUTES BEHIND.
PASS ME MY
ROLLER BLADES.
THE NEXT CHALLENGE IS TAP
MIMING ON ROLLER BLADES.

Axel says ARE YOU SERIOUS?

She taps on her rollerblades and Axel claps.
In her room, Rosa helps Nicholas with his project.

Rosa says LET'S USE
MY PHOTOS.

She shows him pictures of a bridge and says MY ABUELA USED TO TAKE
ME THERE FOR HOT CAKES.
SHE MADE ME PROMISE
NOT TO TELL MY MOTHER.
I LOVE GOING TO THAT BEACH.

Nicholas says WHO'S THAT?

Rosa says GRAN MALABAR.

Nicholas says I LIKE HIS HAIR.

She looks down.

Nicholas says WHAT'S WRONG?

Rosa says NOTHING.
WHAT TYPE OF MEXICAN FOOD
DO YOU WANT TO MAKE FOR OUR
PRESENTATION?

Nicholas says ACTUALLY THERE'S THIS
ONE MEXICAN DISH I LOVE.
TAMALES.
MY PARENTS HAD TO KEEP TAKING
BACK TO THE SAME RESTAURANT
BECAUSE I KEPT ASKING FOR IT.

Rosa says REALLY?
IT'S GRAN
MALABAR'S FAVOURITE TOO.
WE'LL MAKE ENOUGH
FOR THE WHOLE CLASS.

Nicholas says MAKE SURE WE MAKE SOME EXTRAS.
I CAN PROBABLY EAT MY
WHOLE BODY WEIGHT IN TAMALES.
ARE YOU SURE YOU'RE OKAY?

Rosa says I'M FINE.

At the café, Celeste practises with the hula hoops.

Ella says GO CELESTE.
ACTUALLY, GO FOR
REAL BEFORE YOU
GET IN TROUBLE.
SORRY EVERYONE.

In his dad's office, Max says I'M LEAVING AND
YOU CAN'T STOP ME.

Sir Rayne says DON'T LEAVE.
STAY WITH ME AT BTA.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT I'D DO
WITHOUT YOU IN MY LIFE SON.
I LOVE YOU.

They hug.

Max smiles at his daydream.

Sir Rayne says ARE YOU JUST GONNA
STAND THERE MAXWELL?

Max says I'M GOING TO JOIN MOM'S
ENSEMBLE AS A VIOLINIST.

Sir Rayne says WELL, WHAT BROUGHT THIS ON?

Max says WELL, YOU KICKED ME OFF THE
CHAMPIONSHIPS TEAM AND WON'T LET
ME TRAIN FOR THE OLYMPICS SO
WHAT'S THE POINT OF BEING HERE
ANYMORE?

Sir Rayne says IF THAT'S WHAT YOU WANT.

He walks out.

At the courtyard, Axel says WHERE WERE YOU YESTERDAY?
MISS G WAS WONDERING

Celeste says IF YOU WERE SICK.
I WAS FALLING BEHIND BUT
NOW I'M BACK ON TRACK.

Axel says WHAT'S NEXT?

Celeste says THE 3 HULA HOOP CHALLENGE.

Axel says I'M SO GLAD I
DIDN'T MISS THIS ONE.

Celeste starts spinning the hoops.

One of the hoops fly off her hands and hits Miss G.

Celeste says I'M SO SORRY MISS G.

Miss G says IT SEEMS YOU'VE BEEN TAKING
ADVANTAGE OF THE FACT THAT I'M
NO LONGER HEADMASTER.
YOU CAUSED HAVOC IN THE CAFE AND
YOU SKIPPED MY CLASS YESTERDAY.
I HAVE NO CHOICE BUT
TO TELL SIR RAYNE.

At the café, Rosa shows Nicholas and Ella a traditional Mexican skirt.

Ella says SO PRETTY.
THANKS.

Rosa says MY SISTERS AND I WEAR THESE
SKIRTS TO DANCE THE JARABE
TAPATIO.

Nicholas says CAN YOU TEACH
US THE DANCE?

Rosa says SURE.

Ella says YES.

Nicholas says ALRIGHT.

Rosa says JUST FOLLOW ME.
IT'S VERY EASY.

She dances and hops moving her skirt around. Nicholas and Ella follow her.

(music plays)

Rosa says YES, THAT'S IT.

Nicholas says WAIT 'TIL MS. MARTEL
SEES US.

Ella says SHE'LL PROBABLY JOIN IN.

Rosa gives them a Mexican hat and they start dancing and passing it around.

(CLAPPING)

Nicholas says DID WE DO SOMETHING WRONG?

Rosa says NO.
THAT MOVE YOU MADE WITH THE HAT
REMINDS ME OF GRAN MALABAR WHEN
HE'S DANCING THE JARABE TAPATIO.
I MISS HIM.

Nicholas says HE SOUNDS COOL.
IT'S TOO BAD HE
LIVES SO FAR AWAY.

Rosa says YES.
IT IS TOO BAD.

She walks away.

They both say ROSA.

As she walks down the hallway with Axel, Celeste says I CAN'T BELIEVE IT.
I FAILED GIRLS
EVERYWHERE.

Axe YOU'RE EXAGGERATING.

Celeste says REALLY?
SIR RAYNE GAVE
ME A WEEK OF LUNCH
TIME DETENTIONS.
I GUESS I WON'T BE THE FIRST
GIRL AT BTA TO COMPLETE ALL THE
CHALLENGES.

Axel says WHY DO YOU CARE SO MUCH
ABOUT BEATING THE BOYS?

Celeste says IT'S NOT ABOUT BEATING THE BOYS.
IT'S ABOUT GIRLS
DOING AMAZING THINGS.

Axel says THEN WHY BOTHER
DOING WHAT THE BOYS DID?

Celeste says YOU'RE RIGHT.

Axel says I AM?

Celeste says YES.
I'M GOING TO PROVE GIRLS ROCK
BY CREATING THE CELESTE PICCOLO
CHALLENGE.
EVERYONE WHO READS THE BOOK
WILL KNOW ABOUT THIS GIRL.
As she walks in the classroom, she walks in Chase in detention.

Chase says SO, WHAT ARE YOU IN FOR?

Meanwhile, Rosa looks at the picture of herself with Grand Malabar.

Ella says LET ME GUESS.
HOMESICK?

Rosa says HOW DO YOU KNOW?

Ella says BECAUSE YOU LOOK HOW I
FELT WHEN I GOT HERE.

Rosa says REALLY?
BUT YOUR SISTER CELESTE IS HERE.

Ella says IT HELPS.
FOR SURE BUT I STILL MISS MY
FAMILY, OUR CIRCUS, RIDING
AROUND THE COUNTRY IN TRAILERS.

Rosa says THAT SOUNDS LIKE FUN.

Ella says IT IS.
YOU KNOW WHAT?
I THINK I HAVE AN
IDEA THAT'LL HELP YOU.

In the courtyard, Phoenix runs to Max and says THERE YOU ARE.
WHY DIDN'T YOU
ANSWER MY TEXTS?
WHERE ARE
YOU GOING?

Max says I'VE THOUGHT ABOUT
IT ALL NIGHT AND I'M
LEAVING BTA TO TRAVEL
WITH MY MOM.

Phoenix says WHAT?

Max says THERE'S NOTHING
LEFT FOR ME HERE.
NOT EVEN MY DAD CARES IF I STAY.
HE ARRANGED FOR THE SCHOOL
DRIVER TO TAKE ME TO THE
AIRPORT.

Phoenix says WHAT ABOUT PIE NIGHT?
I KNOW YOU HAD FUN.

Max says IT'LL TAKE MORE THAN
PIES TO KEEP ME HERE.
BESIDES YOU'RE THE
ONLY ONE WHO KINDA CARES.
NOBODY ELSE EVEN
NOTICES IF I'M HERE OR NOT.

Max's mom walks in and says MAX?

Max says MOM.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?

Mom says WE NEED TO TALK.

Outside Sir Rayne's office, Phoenix says HOW LONG HAS IT BEEN
SINCE YOU'VE SEEN YOUR MOM?

Max says IT DOESN'T MATTER.

Phoenix says COME ON MAX.

Max says FINE.
IT'S BEEN MONTHS.
SHE'S ALWAYS TOURING
WITH HER ENSEMBLE.
IT'S NOT THAT BAD.
I TALK TO HER AT
LEAST ONCE A WEEK.

Phoenix says DO YOU MISS HER?

Max says YEAH.
SHE'S MY MOM BUT HER
SCHEDULE IS INTENSE.
THAT'S WHY IT MAKES SENSE
FOR ME TO LIVE WITH MY DAD.
AT LEAST IT
USED TO.
NOW I'M NOT
SO SURE.

His mom walks out the office and says MAX, WE'RE READY FOR YOU.

Mom says I'M WORRIED MAX.
YOUR FATHER SAYS YOU'VE
BEEN ACTING UP LATELY.

Max says HE'S TAKEN AWAY
EVERYTHING I CARE ABOUT.

Sir Rayne says YOU KEEP BLAMING ME
FOR ALL YOUR PROBLEMS.

Max says THIS WAS SUCH A MISTAKE.
COME ON MOM, JUST LET ME COME
WITH YOU.
SHE'S HAPPY TO
HAVE ME GO WITH HER.

Mom says I AM.
AND I MISS YOU SO MUCH BUT FIRST
I NEED TO KNOW WHAT'S REALLY
GOING ON.

Max says I WANT TO BE GREAT AT SOMETHING
AND THAT CAN BE THE VIOLIN.

Sir Rayne says IF I THOUGHT FOR A SECOND MAX
ACTUALLY WANTED TO BE A WORLD
CLASS VIOLINIST I'D CONSIDER
IT BUT YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU
WANT.
YOU KEEP FLIP FLOPPING.
OLYMPICS, VIOLIN, OLYMPICS.
NOW VIOLIN AGAIN.

Max says IT'S NOT MY FAULT I'M
GOOD AT EVERYTHING.

Sir Rayne says GREATNESS COMES FROM
SACRIFICE.
FROM PICKING ONE
THING AND STICKING TO IT.
THAT'S WHAT I'VE BEEN
TRYING TO TEACH YOU.

Max says IT'S NOT THE ONLY WAY.

Mom says I AGREE.
THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO
ARE GREAT AT A VARIETY OF
THINGS.
BUT YOUR FATHER'S RIGHT.
YOU NEED TO CONSIDER VERY
SERIOUSLY WHAT YOU WANT BEFORE
YOU DECIDE WHERE YOU GO NEXT.

Max says I NEED TO THINK.

He walks out.

At the café, Ella says WHEN I FEEL HOMESICK I WRITE
DOWN ALL THE GREAT THINGS ABOUT
BIG TOP ACADEMY.
THAT WAY I FEEL BETTER ABOUT
NOT BEING AT HOME.

Rosa says YOU DO?

Ella says YEAH.
I WRITE THINGS
LIKE THE TIME WE DID
THE HUMAN PYRAMID.
HOW CHASE ALWAYS
TRIES TO MAKE ME LAUGH
IN MATH CLASS.

Rosa says LET ME TRY.
I LIKE TRAINING FOR
THE CHAMPIONSHIPS.
I LIKE PIE NIGHT.
OH, I LIKE MS. MARTEL.

Ella says ME TOO.

Nicholas says CAN I INTEREST
ANYONE IN...TAMALES?

Rosa says WHERE DID YOU GET THIS?

Nicholas says I MADE THEM MYSELF.
OKAY.
MAYBE THE CAF
LADY HELPED ME
A LITTLE BIT.
OR A LOT.

Max watches as his parents argue in the office.

Mom says YOU DRIVE ME CRAZY.

Sir Rayne says NO.
WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO?

He starts playing the violin in the courtyard as Phoenix plays with the ribbon. April and Ella join him and they do a ribbon routine.

(VIOLIN MUSIC PLAYING)
(CLAPPING)

Max's mom says THAT WAS SO BEAUTIFUL.
I WOULD HAVE LOVED TO HAVE GONE
TO A SCHOOL WHERE I COULD BE SO
FREE AND CREATIVE.

Sir Rayne says THIS FREEDOM IS A RESULT OF
MANY HOURS OF DISCIPLINE AND
TRAINING.

Phoenix says THERE IS A LOT OF
TRAINING AT CIRCUS SCHOOL BUT
THERE'S ALSO A LOT OF
TIME TO BE CREATIVE.

Max says I THINK I KNOW
WHAT I WANT.

Max's mom says WHAT IS IT DEAR?
I WANT TO STAY HERE AT BTA
AND REALLY GIVE CIRCUS A SHOT.

Sir Rayne says WHAT?
YOU'VE BEEN HERE ALL YEAR
COMPLAINING EVERY STEP OF THE
WAY.

Mom says NOW THAT MAX KNOWS WHAT HE WANTS
WHY DON'T YOU MEET HIM HALFWAY?
MAYBE REMOVE A
RESTRICTION OR TWO.

Sir Rayne says FINE.
IF YOU REALLY WANT TO STAY I CAN
LET YOU BECOME AN UNDERSTUDY FOR
THE BTA UNITED TEAM.

Mom says JUST AN UNDERSTUDY?

Sir Rayne says THAT'S THE
BEST I CAN DO.
THERE ARE RULES ABOUT THE NUMBER
OF PARTICIPANTS ON EVERY TEAM
UNLESS MAX WOULD LIKE TO
CHOOSE SOMEONE TO KICK OUT?

Mom says ERNEST.

Max says IT'S FINE.
I'M OKAY WITH BEING
AN UNDERSTUDY.
FOR NOW.

At the gym, Celeste sits on the trapeze and says IF MY PARENTS LET ME I'LL PUT
IT ON THE PICCOLO FAMILY CIRCUS
VLOG AND IN THE SECRET BOOK.
ARE YOU SURE YOU'RE RECORDING?

Axel says IT DOESN'T TAKE A ROCKET
SCIENTIST TO OPERATE A PHONE.
OH, WAIT.
SORRY.
WRONG APP.
AND ACTION.

Celeste says HI.
I'M CELESTE PICCOLO AND THIS
IS THE CELESTE PICCOLO TRAPEZE
CHALLENGE.
I'M GOING TO BE DOING
5 UPSIDE DOWN SKILLS.
CAN YOU?
1.
2.
3.
4.
AND...
5.

Axel says YOU DID IT.
THAT WAS AWESOME.
I CAN'T WAIT TO
DO YOUR CHALLENGE.

Celeste says I'M GONNA CREATE A SECTION
IN THE BOOK JUST FOR GIRLS.

Axel says ONLY GIRLS?

Celeste says BOYS CAN TRY IT IF THEY WANT TO.

At the front door, Max says goodbye to his mom.

Phoenix says SO YOU'RE STAYING?

Max says LOOKS LIKE IT.

Phoenix says AWESOME.

Max says YOU KNOW, IF
IT WASN'T FOR YOU...

Phoenix says WHAT?

Max says NEVER MIND.

Phoenix says OKAY.
WANNA GRAB A SNACK?

Max says THANKS BUT I DON'T
HAVE TIME FOR SNACKS.
GOT A LOT OF
UNDERSTUDYING TO DO.

Music plays as the end credits roll.

Copyright 2018, Haley Productions Inc.