Re-Writing The End Of "Dirty Dancing"

The Odyssey website has published an article titled Re-Writing the End of Dirty Dancing, written by essayist Christine Gates. She imagines that the relationship between Baby Houseman might have progressed through the following series of stages.

1. Johnny follows Baby to Mount Holyoke.

2. Baby passes on the Peace Corps.

3. Johnny keep his Chevy, but buys a practical car for Baby.

4. Johnny and Baby become Mr. and Mrs. Castle.

Gates discusses the first two stages as follows:

1. Johnny follows Baby to Mount Holyoke.

Being a dutiful boyfriend, Johnny accompanied Baby to Mount Holyoke where she does indeed, receive her degree in economics. While there, he supports her by working odd jobs and eventually, Baby convinces him to go to college too. He picks a local school, and gets help from Dr. Houseman, since he was kind of a douche to him initially.

When they aren't working or taking classes, they spend their time mamboing in Johnny's living room since Baby lived in a dorm after all, sort-of, uhm, mostly, err, only when her parents came to town.

2. Baby passes on the Peace Corps.

At this point, their roles reverse once Baby graduates. She decided against the Peace Corps in lieu of staying to support Johnny. It is safer to stay at home, so she takes a job where she can help the economically-deprived in her local area while volunteering for world-programs that aid underprivileged nations all the same.

Johnny decides to major in education, as teaching is something he is good at. They still dance, but more so in Johnny's kitchen. Baby has a roommate since she isn't married and it's the 60's.

You can read Gates' discussion of the third and fourth stages on the webpage.

The first two stages indicate that Gates thinks Johnny should follow Baby into higher education. He should attend college, earn a degree in education and become a teacher.

In an opposite progression, Baby would follow Johnny into a professional dance career. She would spend much of her time practicing dance and attending auditions for dance jobs.

Johnny's prospects in education are about as good as Baby's prospects in dance.

Johnny is not a reader. When the Kellermans searched Johnny's cabin looking for Moe Pressman's missing money, they did not find any books there.

Max Kellerman
Vivian thinks she remembers this dance kid Johnny walking by. So we ask him, "You have an alibi for last night?" He says he was alone in his room reading.

Neil Kellerman
There are no books in Johnny's room!

Johnny does not want to go to college.