Spring - All Seasons

Spring is a dance-school run by the business-wise inexperienced Maggy Lejeune (who saw her own career ended by a foot injury). Her prime pupils are Evi and policeman's daughter Katrijn; the latter also works as a model for model agent Marie-France whose daughter Chantal is runner-up for the solo in an upcoming contest. A truefemme fataleat heart, Marie-France makes sure that Katrijn will be too busy doing fashion shoots.

Maggy's wisecracking brother Xavier plays keyboards in the dance studio'snamesakeband (completed by singer–guitarist Evert, Katrijn's bass-playing brother Pieter and drummer Thomas); but by choosing to miss rehearsals he finds himself ejected. Evert suggests to continue with his DJ-ing cousin Jonas.

Evert fancies Katrijn but she's in love with Arne, a drug-dealer with whom Xavier, inventor of the phraseshark-time, socialises. Arne manages to sell drugs to Jonas, who has become a liability by now. Once Thomas finds out why Evi dumped him he threatens to quit Spring "because Mr. Keysman couldn't keep his hands off my sweetheart". All is not lost though, Arne is handed over to the police (Maggy expresses her anger at the lot), the whole band win a contract, and the girls win the contest thanks to Chantal and Katrijn sharing the solo.

Jonas has left the band and the country to concentrate on his a DJ-ing career. Thomas gave up his drumsticks after all because he's too busy working at his Dad's garage. Their replacements are, respectively, Tien and David (policeman by profession). Bad news for Evert; Katrijn fancies David who's doing shifts with her Dad Roger.

Katrijn and Evi are lined up to audition for a video by pop outfit Fusion. Chantal is once again runner-up. Meanwhile, Xavier joins forces with Axel, a dodgy geezer who fails to pay his traffic fines, to form their own group; Woofer. All they need to do now is look for a singer.

Spring and Woofer share the same manager (Luc), and because he cannot keep them both they're up for a 'best song wins' competition. Spring ask Katrijn and Chantal to front their band; they're filled with enthusiasm but also with swelling egos. But just as Luc can't manage two bands, the record company can't afford bands with two female singers. The girls argue with their boyfriends (Chantal is dating Pieter) and with each other. Because it is feared that Spring will fall apart neither of the "two sweethearts" gets the job. In comes Evi.

Chantal joins Woofer but the lyrics for their first song are stolen from Spring. When it transpires that Tien is the notorious spray-painter, Axel puts the frighteners on Evert; either he gives Woofer the new song or David and Roger will learn the truth. The band aren't having any of it and Tien reports herself to the police. She's sentenced to removal of her works.

Maggy leaves Spring to give her fatally ended career another try; in Paris. Her replacement Laura is taking orders from Marie-France to make Katrijn hang up her dancing shoes for good. This scenario would've happened had Maggy not decided that the girls are her main priority. Laura gets the boot and a legal threat from Marie-France if she dares to spill the beans.

Spring wins the audition but no thanks to Marie-France locking up Katrijn; as a bonus Chantal, Evi and Katrijn are all three chosen. With Woofer a name of the past (and Axel out of the picture) Spring become Luc's proteges and tape a video.

Everyone's busy pursuing their own projects; Evert wants to continue as asinger-songwriter, Evi dispenses with herdreadlocksand her dancing shoes to studyEastern philosophyin London, Tien wants to get her driving license and Pieter is into motorbiking. Having spent a few days in Paris Maggy dies in a car-accident.

Making plans for their 3rd anniversary concert Spring release their current single as a tribute to Maggy. Xavier inherits money from his departed sister; eager to make aworld triphe spends it onscratch cardsand a guitar. He joins adeath metalband till he falls in love with new Spring arrival Roxanne. She sees through his newly adopted image and persuades him to drop it.

Katrijn steps up to prepare the girls for their upcoming performance till Marie-France takes over after the announcement that Spring is up for auction. Pia, teacher of a competing dance-school, is keen to buy the site but the girls aren't having any of it; they set their minds on a Mr. Sexy Butt who appears to have other plans. Pia can only spend so much money and Spring is temporarily sold to Marie-France. For once she's theheroineof the day, till it transpires that she wants to convert the dance-school into a photo-studio. It looks like Spring's days are numbered after all.

Arne is back, but everyone struggles to believe that he changed his ways, particularly Evert who hasn't forgotten about being locked up when he wanted to take Katrijn out. Once Roger confirms that Arne stuck to hiscommunity servicetask of working with street kids they give him another chance.

Xavier wins the lottery and argues with Roxanne about what to do with the money. He joins forces with Pia to outbid Marie-France and Spring is back in the right hands. Marie-France is gutted, but learning from Pia's lack of business-instinct she tries to get a foot in the door by offering herself as financial manager.

Luc tells Spring that the anniversary-concert will be attended by executives from London. He persuades Evert to hand over the lyrics for a business trip to the UK. A few days later they hear an English version of Spring's theme-tune on the radio. Luc sold their music and put the money in his own pocket. That's not the only setback though; Pieter is leaving the band to be atest driverin Australia. Jo, a painter by day, takes his place.The band meet their new manager; he is impressed but only wants to sign Evert. The others feel betrayed by this selfish career-move. Xavier offers to step in and plays the song he wrote for Roxanne; although it doesn't sound bad at all he fails audition. Having his heart in the right place Evert decides to stay with Spring.

The dance-school gets subjected to a real-life soap. Roxanne shows her true colours by nicking the band's instruments (for which Evert gets the blame); she wants all attention to be focused on the girls and particularly on herself. Eager to become the new face of Spring she puts Marie-France's name under a letter to Chantal and Katrijn stating that the postponed audition is cancelled altogether. Roxanne is close to the exit when the truth comes out but she's given another chance. Katrijn becomes the lead-dancer.

Chantal is asked by herexpatriatefather Christian to join him at his Canadian base. Initially she says yes, but doubts soon start to kick in, and even Christian sees it. Chantal stays in Belgium with Marie-France and the dance-school now known as Maggy's Place.

Luc is back to make Xavier an offer he can't refuse; a recording contract in return for Spring's new songs. Xavier pretends to go along with it but phones the police. Meanwhile, Jo is kicked out of his flat. He sleeps in Tien's camper-van till Roger and Arlette offer him Pieter's bedroom.

Spring's anniversary-concert is finally booked at thecity hall, but Evert forgot to make adverts. Thanks to the girls' efforts the band play to a packed house, and there are a few surprises in store; Pieter has come over from Australia to play one last time with his mates and Xavier performs his Song for Roxanne. The makers of the real-life soap tape the second half of the show which draws to a close with De Mooiste Vriendschap(The Best Friendship), the song that Evert wrote for Maggy.

Summer 2005; Pia is on holiday and unsuccessfully orders Xavier to paint her office. Instead he's staging extra courses to make Spring more viable. His guitar class draws enough interest to add a second one. Evert, short of money to finance his Rock Academy stint, is keen to take part of the load but Xavier isn't having any of it. The second lesson turns out to be the last; Evert attends as a paying student to give the joker a mouthful.

Katrijn passes her first year as a ballet dancer. Everyone is pleased for her except Roxeanne; despite modelling for Marie-France she's still gutted with not being chosen as the face of Spring. When Roger and Arlette offer their daughter a trip for two to London, Katrijn makes a surprise announcement: she has quit ballet class because there are too manyegosand not enough friends. Roger retaliates by treating her as a tenant; even charged for the most futile of all things. Katrijn walks out and moves in with Jo (who also escaped Roger's moanabouts). As her ego gets the better she quits dancing altogether and starts drinking.

Xavier is further humiliated by teaching juniorballet dancersand getting captured onvideocam. He retaliates by cancelling the subsequent lesson in favour of theAmerican footballclub'srifle. Roxanne finds out that a car is to be won and in her greediness she insists that Xavier cheats the draw in her advantage or else their love relation is over. The team-captain wins but gives his ticket, and therefore the car, to Xavier. Fully aware that losing Xavier means losing access to his car, Roxanne puts all her effort to win him back (staging abelly dance-act for a start). From now on they have an on-off relationship. Meanwhile, Pia returns and reprimands Xavier for not painting her office and cancelling the ballet class. The little girls appear to be fond of "Miss Xavier" and get their annulled lesson rescheduled.

Previously struggling to find a job, Tien becomes amechanicandtest driver. She challenges Katrijn, Xavier and Pia for a racing match; Katrijn wins and invites everyone to celebrate at her place (Jo: "My place, that is"). She behaves badly and joins forces with Xavier, number last in the race; together they resume the party at the ballet room where they also spend the night. Wrong timing; Pia'stheatre-owning Dad arrives to cast a critical eye on his daughter's efforts. Nursing a hangover, Katrijn regrets her actions ("My behaviour was awful, I gave my friends abuse") but it is too late; her bags are packed. Having no one left to turn to, she goes back home undoing the damage caused.

David stages amartial artsclass at Spring and takes up as aPItrainee. Roger is not happy with this move, let alone with his wife's new career asombudsman. He walks out after one argument too many and moves in with Jo, probably thinking that the poor guy runs a Van Asten-refuge. Roger claims that Arlette chucked him out and insists that she'll have to beg him to come home. To cap it all, Jo's spider Marie has to move out and goes missing at the dance-school. Roger eventually goes the same way as Katrijn; he apologises for his behaviour and promises to give David the much-needed advice.

Marie-France, left to her own devices after firing her assistant Claude, gets plagued bycockroaches. She's too proud to call for help and tries to fix the problem herself to no avail. Marie-France finally succumbs, but fearing for her reputation she insists that the van is parked somewhere else. Christian returns from Canada and introduces fellow ex-pat Roland and his son Bas. Chantal is initially unimpressed with the latter's geeky looks but soon they get on pretty well.Evert digs his own grave by telling Xavier'snewsagentdad Francois a thing or two about the pizza business. This inspires him to set up his own pizza restaurant; he persuades Xavier to give up his Springco-ownershipand join him as a business partner. Roxanne is furious. When Spring and Chantal record a jingle for a pizza commercial ("Mamma mia, what a pizza") Xavier pips them at the post by copying it and handing it over to the radio-station pretending to be Evert. Scheduled to perform at the Pizza Francois' launch party Spring seek revenge by closing off with "the original version of the commercial". Another party spoiler; Marie resurfaces and passes away. Struck by guilt, Roger buys Jo a snake as a replacement pet.

With her Dad arriving at the wrong time again (Tien is dismantling a car at the ballet room as part of a bet) Pia is put on a mission to let the girls performSwan Lakeat the start of the forthcoming season. This doesn't turn out to be the easiest of all tasks and Pia decides to put the fun back into the dancing. She asks the band to score the music.

Arlette's sister's son Jorre spends the summer holiday with the Van Astens and feels bored. So he decides to frame Katrijn for stealinggirlie magazinesfrom Francois' newsagent and 20Eurosfrom Roger's purse. Assisting Xavier as a junior bartender he also taps the counter. Once Katrijn forces him to come clean Jorre is immediately sent back.

The war of pizzas has now officially begun; Evert thinks that a two-for-the-price-of-one advert for the weekend will be a loss-making exercise for Pizza Francois. Wrong; it only leads to an increase in popularity. In order to win back customers he launches a one-week offer of two-for-the-price-of-one ... plus a freesoft drink. Xavier retaliates by placing an order from a non-existing address. Francois thinks that the joke has run its course; and right he is cause his chef has gone back to Pizza Carlo.

Xavier takes the cheating routine further when challenged into a painting contest. He puts his signature on an example made by his teacher Ben who appears to be Jo's ex-boyfriend. Too much information, mate.

Christian is voted Canadianbusinessmanof the year. Everyone is in a celebratory mood till it transpires that the bridge that was built under his supervision has collapsed. Christian gets the blame and returns as an arrested man to Belgium where the press are euphoric. Worse yet, Marie-France refuses to visit him in case she's losing customers. Roland turns out to be the culpable one. Christian decides to stay and reconciles with Marie-France.

Evert sets eyes on David's new colleague Kareema, but there's still no end to the pizza-war, certainly not after finding out that Katrijn is baking for the enemy. Now only listening to the voice inside his head Evert persuades Tien to turn up his motorbike; he ends up in hospital and is charged for crashing a bus shelter. Xavier takes half of the fine and Tien is sentenced to speeding down motorbikes because of her accomplishment.

Evert doesn't seem to have fully recovered his spirits after his accident, as he places a bottle of paint-diluter at Francois' place hoping that its bad smell will put off customers. Instead the place is set alight when Xavier is there. David and Kareema are on duty and when the bottom of the bottle unveils 'Spring' they end up arresting Evert on suspicion of committingarson. He turns out to be innocent; Francois confesses that he wanted to fool the insurance company after the pizza hut lost money.

The American Football players see their place shut down because of its poor state. In the meantime they're given access to the Spring site. Xavier joins them to detract his mind from the arson.

Roxeanne refuses to model as a mechanic for a campaign to make men's jobs attractive to girls. Tien steps in and gets herself a second job inMilanwith Roxeanne. She feels guilty for letting her friends down, and then Katrijn phones her to tell that Swan Lake is about to be aborted because there are too many solo-projects going round. Tien doesn't think twice about going back home, much to Roxeanne's anger ("Now I'll never get an international feature"). Marie-France holds Pia responsible ("Manipulating my models because you need them so badly for your poxy Swan Lake") and threatens legal action if she doesn't get any answers.

Come the big day and Spring perform Swan Lake with the band performing their Greatest Hits. Xavier makes a guest-appearance. Pia's Dad is far from amused, but theMinister of Cultureis. ("It's about time you started to experiment") and grants the theatre its financial boost.