Dirty Dancing

Dirty Dancing takes place in the 1960's. The Houseman’s are driving to their summer vacation. They will be staying at Kellerman’s a Catskill all inclusive resort.  They Houseman’s are played by Jennifer Grey as Baby. Jerry Orbach is her father Dr. Jake Houseman who you may know him better from Law and Order or from Broadway.  Kelly Bishop plays her mother Marjorie Houseman.  You may know her better from Gilmore Girls. Lastly is Jane Brucker who plays Baby’s sister Lisa Houseman.

They arrive at Kellerman’s and get out of the car  you will see Wayne Knight who is playing Stan and is telling about all the events of the day. They are greeted by the owner Max Kellerman (Jack Weston). Mr. Kellerman tells Billy Kostecki (Neal Jones) to get The Houseman’s luggage out of the car. Baby helps him with some of the bags. Mr. Kellerman tells them about the Merengue class that at the resort.  Marjorie tells him that her husband is taking the first vacation in a long time and he should take it easy.

They do take the class which is given by Penny Johnson (Cynthia Rhodes) In class, Penny makes the girls to find the man their dreams to dance with. She says to remember they maybe the boss of the dance floor but no where else. Penny dances with Jake.  Baby dances with Mrs. Schumacher (Paula Trueman)

Later, Baby goes for a walk around the resort.  She overhears Kellerman talking to his staff telling them to be nice to the guests but no funny business.  During the meeting in walks the entertainment staff. Kellerman stops Johnny Castle played by Patrick Swayze and tells him that he is to just teach them dancing and keeps his hands off the hotel guests. Robbie Gould (Max Cantor) one of the waiters teases Johnny about what Kellerman told him and says, “Can you keep that straight, Johnny? What you can't lay your hands on?” Johnny says, “Just put your pickle on everybody's plate, and leave the hard stuff to me.”

At dinner that night, Kellerman sits them at their table. Robbie is their waiter.  After dinner they have eaten a lot but still have food left over. Marjorie asks if there is still starving children in Africa they can send their food too. Baby says it is now Southeast Asia. Jake tells Robbie that Baby would like to send her food to the Southeast Asia.  Kellerman comes back over and introduces the family to his nephew Neil (Lonny Price) and tells them he will be going to Cornell School of Hotel Management in the fall.  Jake tells Kellerman that Baby will be attending Mount Holyoke College so she can save the world. Kellerman asks what Lisa will be doing.  Baby says Lisa will be decorating. 

After dinner, Baby is dancing with Neil at the nightclub at the hotel. Neil make small talk to get to know one another because he likes Baby.  Then in comes Johnny and Penny to show off their dancing abilities and to sell dance lessons. Baby takes notice of Johnny.  Kellerman isn't too happy with the dance that Johnny and Penny are doing and makes them stop to dance with the hotel guests. Neil excuses himself because he has to help with games and comedy show. He ask Baby if she wants to help. Her Dad pushes her to go with him.  She becomes part of the show even though she doesn't want to.

After the show, Baby goes for a walk and finds the staff quarters.  She sees Billy trying to carry 3 watermelons to the staff quarters. She asks him where he is going. She helps him with one of the watermelons. He tells her she can’t go and wonders why she is there. She hands him back the watermelon.  He asks her if she can keep a secret. She says yes and helps him again. They go to this secret room where the staff is having a party and dancing dirty.  He says if Kellerman ever saw them dance that way down in the ballroom he would close the place down.  Johnny and Penny walk in and dance.  After a while Johnny spots Baby and asks Billy who she is.  Billy introduces Johnny to Baby and tells her that they are cousins and Johnny got him the job.  Johnny brings Baby out on the dance floor and shows her a dance.  

The next day Baby and Lisa are at one of the activities they had at the hotel for women. They were trying on wigs with Penny.  Johnny comes over to tell the ladies how pretty they look.  After the activity Lisa leaves.  Baby goes over to Penny to tell her that how much she admires her dancing.

That night Johnny is dancing with Vivian Pressman (Miranda Garrison).  Kellerman walks over to The Houseman’s and tells them the story of Vivian.  He tells them that she is one of the “bungalow bunnies.”  He goes on to explain what he means, “That's what we call the women who stay here all week. The husbands only come up on weekends.”  Kellerman tells Jake that Moe Pressman is a big card player and will join their game when he comes on the next weekend. 

Neil who is mad ask Johnny where Penny is because she hasn’t been doing her job that night.  Johnny covers for Penny and says she is taking a break.  Neil tells him she shouldn’t take a long one and be working that night.  He then goes up to Baby and asks her to take a walk.

While out with Neil he asks Baby if she is hungry.  While they are walking to the kitchen they spot Robbie with Lisa who is arguing with one another.  Neil takes to the kitchen and she spots Penny crying and shaking while hiding under the counter.  Baby rushes Neil out of there and then goes to Billy and tells him what is happening.  Billy then tells Johnny who rushes to Penny. He carries Penny back to the staff quarters.  Penny isn't happy that Baby followed them. She is afraid she will blab the info to others.  Penny reveals she is pregnant with Robbie’s baby.   This shocks Baby because Robbie was just with her sister.  She doesn't tell them that. That she needs money to get an abortion.

At breakfast, Baby is helping Robbie set the table.  She tells him he needs to help Penny. He doesn't want to because he isn't sure the baby is his. He thinks Penny is a slut.  He tries to give Baby a book to read.  She tells him he is a jerk and never to see her sister again. Then she walks off.

Baby goes to her Dad who playing golf with her mom.  She asks him for a favor and tells him a friend is in trouble and needs her help.   He tells he will help her.

Baby gives Penny the money for the abortion.  Penny asks if Robbie gave it to her. She said no, that Penny was right he is a jerk.  Johnny said she got it from her Dad.  Penny refuses the money.  Billy says he can only get her an appointment for Thursday but that is the day they do a special dance at The Sheldrake.  That if they don't do it they will lose not only the money from this year but next year as well.  They say there is no one to replace Penny because everyone is working and can't learn the new dance.  Then Billy suggests that they use Baby.  Baby says no because she can't dance. That she can't even do the Merengue. Penny said Johnny is great teacher and can teach Baby.  She has to be convinced  but she accepts.

Johnny starts teaching Baby to dance.  At first she stumbles.  She practices everywhere. After a few days she finally learns to dance.  When she first started dancing she is wearing her sneakers then when she learned her dance steps well she wore her dance heels. Penny even helped her learn the dance. Baby began to laugh when Johnny touched her side because it tickled then after a while that changed too.  They were dancing to Hungry Eyes.

At one rehearsal, Johnny gets frustrated with Baby. Baby tells him that she is doing this to save his job.  He asks if she wants to leave then they try to get in his car but he locked his keys in there.  He breaks the back window and they drive away.  They go to a lake.  He balancing on a tree trunk telling her how he got into dancing.  He said some guy who came into the luncheonette where Johnny hung out and asked him if he wanted to be an Arthur Murray dance instructor.  Then Johnny shows some dance moves to Baby while they are on the tree.  Then he shows her the lift while they are in the water.

Baby is walking with Penny when they see Mrs. Schumacher drop her bag with a bunch wallets in it.  They help her with her bag and don't notice what is in it.  Her husband tells her them that they  have to go.  In the locker room Penny has Baby try on the dress for the show.  Penny is scared of her upcoming medical procedure.  Baby comforts her and tells her she will be alright.

Later that night, Baby tells Lisa to cover for her with their parents as to why she is not at dinner.  To tell them that Baby is sick and that Lisa will check up with her.  Baby and Johnny are at The Shelldrake and do their performance.  Baby is nervous and doesn't do the lift.  After their show as they are taking bows they see The Schumachers being seated in the audience.  Johnny and Baby make a quick exit before they are spotted.

Baby is in the back of Johnny’s car changing out of her dress back to her normal clothes.  They both are excited about how well the dance went. Baby is upset she didn't do the lift.  Johnny keeps trying to sneak a peek of Baby changing.  They both are happy that the Schumachers didn’t catch them.

Back at the hotel, Billy comes running up to them to tell them Penny is sick.  They go check on her.  Baby goes to wake her father so he can help Penny.  Billy tells Johnny who crappy this “doctor” was.  That the place was dirty as well, as the tools he used.  Jake comes in and helps Penny by giving her some medicine.  He asks who is responsible for this young lady.  Johnny tells him that he is.  On the way out Billy thanks Jake and Johnny tries to but Jake ignores him. Baby’s father tells her she is not allowed to talk to any of them again.

Later that night, Baby goes to Johnny’s room to apologize to him for the way her father treated him.  He tells her it is okay.  He tells her that she is brave.  She says sure I am brave enough to run to daddy when things get bad.  He says no you know how to get help when someone is hurt. She says she is scared. He asks of what.  She tells him she scared of walking out of there and never feeling for the rest of her life. She tells him she wants to dance and they do.  They end up making love.  The song you hear in the background is Otis Redding’s “These Arms of Mine.”  If you are Dancing with the Stars fan you will know that this was the dance Jennifer Gray danced with Derek Hough with when she was on that show.

At breakfast the next day with her parents and Lisa, Neil comes over to ask the girls if they will be in the show on Sunday. Jake says no they are leaving early.  This surprises everyone.  Lisa says she wants to sing in the show.  Neil tells Baby he needs help with the props.

After breakfast, Baby goes to check on Penny.  Johnny comes in.  Penny notices that it is awkward between Johnny and Baby. After Baby leaves the room Penny scolds Johnny for getting involved with Baby. Baby waits for Johnny outside Penny’s room.  She wants to know if everything is okay.  They both know and smile at one another. 

One day when it is raining and there is nothing to do with her family, she makes an excuse and goes off to be with Johnny. She asks him if he has been with many women. He explains that it the rich women throw themselves at him and he used to think it was okay.  Now he doesn’t.

One night when Lisa and Baby are in their room trying to fall asleep, Lisa tells Baby she wants Robbie the first one she has sex with.  Baby tries to talk her out of it but she doesn't listen.  Lisa just thinks Baby is jealous because Lisa is now their father’s favorite.

Baby and Johnny are dancing in the dance studio when the song “Love is Strange” comes on.  They are getting cozy when Neil almost catches them.  He has come in to talk to Johnny about the last show of the season.  That Neil want to change it up a little this year and this makes Johnny happy momentarily thinking that he can do it his way.  No, Neil has other ideas and shoots all of Johnny’s ideas down saying that they are wrong.  Now Johnny is mad. After Neil leaves Johnny and Baby go for a walk.  Baby asks Johnny why he didn't stand up to Neil.  He said that he can't because that is the boss and he doesn't want to lose his job.  He likes dancing.  He doesn't want to go back to his dad’s job even though his dad tells him he can get him into the painters union.  Just then they spot Baby’s father and Lisa with Robbie and they hide so they don't get caught.  Then Johnny asks Baby why she doesn’t stand up to her father.  She said she can’t.

Baby goes to check on Johnny to make sure he is okay. Johnny is in Penny’s room.  Just as Baby and Johnny are hugging Robbie walks by.  Robbie makes a snide comment.  Johnny beats him up.

At rehearsals for the end of the year show Lisa is on stage singing way off key but she thinks she is doing an extremely grandiose of a job of performing.  Meanwhile, Baby is working on the sets and Johnny is also working on the show.  Mrs. Pressman goes up to Johnny and wants her cigarette lit. He lights it for her.  She tells him she has plans for him. Baby is watching this go on and gets jealous.  Mr. Pressman (Garry Goodrow)  calls Johnny over and tells him to keep his wife busy by giving her some extra dance lessons. He hands Johnny money.  Johnny apologizes and says he can't because he is busy with the show all weekend. He hands the money back to Mr. Pressman.  Mrs. Pressman isn't too happy with that but Baby likes it.  Lisa tells Baby she is going to sleep with Robbie tonight.  Baby tries to tell her not to but Lisa walks away.

That night Lisa goes to Robbie’s room.  While she ignores the handkerchief on the door she still knocks and when he doesn't answer she opens the door.  She finds Robbie in bed with Mrs. Pressman. She runs away.  In another cabin is Johnny and Baby.  Later that evening as they are saying goodnight to one another, Mrs. Pressman is leaving Robbie’s room she sees them and isn't happy.

Want to see what happens next you need to see the movie.

Dirty Dancing DVD

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