7 Days (Script)

To read the description for this episode, go to 7 Days.

Script
'''Pre-intro scene, outside school. We open on BETH, walking to school with none of her usual bounce, but all of her excess of belongings, practically drowning in textbooks. QUENTIN approaches from behind.'''

QUENTIN: Hey, you.

BETH: Oh, Quen… Hey.

QUENTIN: How you holding up?

BETH: Me? I’m fine.

QUENTIN: Sure you are. Aren’t you freezing?

BETH: I didn’t notice…

QUENTIN sighs, wrapping an arm around her shoulders.

QUENTIN: Come on. Let’s go inside.

BETH: Do we have to?

QUENTIN: Don’t worry, honey, even Ricky wouldn’t dare show his face after what he said.

BETH: It was the way he said it…

QUENTIN: I know, sweetie, I know… C’mere.

'''He hugs BETH tightly, and leads her inside. Once inside, he spies LYRA, but he quickly turns his attention back to BETH.'''

BETH: Go. Go talk to them, I’ll be fine.

QUENTIN: No, you need me, and…

BETH: Quen.

QUENTIN: Are you sure?

BETH: Of course. Go!

'''QUENTIN kisses her cheek and rushes off. BETH gives the briefest smile and continues walking down the halls. She soon reaches her locker, putting her belongings away, just in front of bottles of vitamins and (legal, but ill-advised) stimulants, which she hastily pops when no one’s watching.'''

RICKY: Beth?

BETH wheels around to face him.

BETH: Ricky!

RICKY: Uh, what you doing?

BETH: Why do you care?

RICKY: Well, your head was in your locker.

BETH: I was just looking for something.

She takes more textbooks out, and slams the locker shut.

BETH: And now I’ve found it. Goodbye!

RICKY: No, Beth, let me take that stuff for you, it’s really heavy.

BETH: That’s not what you said last time.

RICKY: Yeah, I’m a dirty liar, Beth.

BETH: I know.

RICKY: I just wanted to—

BETH continues walking.

RICKY: Beth, please! Don’t you remember?

I never thought I'd miss you

Half as much as I do

And I never thought I'd feel this way

The way I feel

About you—

BETH: Ricky, what are you doing?

RICKY: As soon as I wake up

Every night, every day

I know that it's you I need

To take the blues away…

A few students (and teachers) stare, including new arrivals in both categories, REUBEN and FRANKY, who were talking by a locker.

BETH: What’s wrong with you? People are staring, stop it…

RICKY: You really don’t remember?

BETH: Remember what? God, Ricky! Oh, and here. You can have your jacket back.

She throws his letterman jacket in his face and flounces off, leaving him staring after her.

RICKY: It must be love, love love

It must be…

He sighs, starting to walk the other way.

REUBEN: Well, that was…

FRANKY: Uh-huh…

REUBEN: I’ll see you in class.

'''He walks away. From the next locker, MISTY glances over.'''

MISTY: How do you know him?

FRANKY: He… Taught at my old school, that’s all.

MISTY: Oh, you’re English!

FRANKY: Born there, yeah. Stayed just long enough to pick up the accent, and it stuck.

MISTY: It’s cute.

JUDE glares from across the hall and starts to approach, only to be stopped by LIAM.

JUDE: [Hissed] Dude, what—

LIAM: They’re just talking, talking’s harmless… Right? And you can’t control who she talks to, you’re not even together.

JUDE: Shit, you’re right… Thanks, kid. If I get suspended again, they won’t let me back on the Titans.

LIAM: Exactly. Now, come on. I’ll catch you up on that rehearsal you missed, and you can catch me up on the start of the one I missed.

JUDE: Actually, man…

LIAM: Uh-huh?

JUDE: I’ll still catch you up, for sure, but you didn’t miss much anyway… But don’t bother with me.

LIAM: You gonna ask her?

JUDE: You’re a smart kid.

LIAM: You can try, but you might have to do a little grovelling. You’re in the doghouse too, you were laughing along with those awful jocks, the same as Ricky. I don’t know how much Misty knows, but, uh… Damien told me everything.

JUDE: Worth a shot, though. Right?

LIAM: It’s your funeral.

JUDE: I can always rely on you for a pep talk, huh?

LIAM: Hey, if you want sugar-coating, go find a neurotypical.

Pan back to MISTY and FRANKY.

MISTY: So, you’re new here? I’m Misty.

FRANKY: Franky… Hawthorn. Yeah, I’m new, we just moved to Ohio for my father’s work.

MISTY: Yeah? What do you like doing?

FRANKY briefly looks over his shoulder.

FRANKY: I like music, I guess.

MISTY: Do you sing?

FRANKY: Yeah!

MISTY: Oh, you’ve gotta join the Glee Club!

FRANKY: I don’t know…

MISTY: Viola! C’mere.

VIOLA rushes to her.

VIOLA: What’s up?

MISTY: This is Franky, he’s new. We’ve gotta convince him to come to Glee.

VIOLA: Me?

MISTY: Yes, you. You’re our biggest success story so far.

VIOLA: I’m really not— Uh, Glee Club’s really fun, and everyone’s good, and… Yeah.

FRANKY: Sold.

VIOLA: Are you serious?

FRANKY: Yeah, I’d love it, but… I don’t know if I’d have time. I think I’ll have a lot of catching up to do, the semester’s already started.

MISTY: It’s just a couple hours after school, sometimes at lunch, that’s all! Come on, it’s fun! Just try it?

FRANKY: Alright, alright, maybe! I’ll see what I can do.

MISTY: Yay! I’ll see you in Glee.

She skips off, leaving FRANKY staring after her, grinning.

FRANKY: She’s quite something, isn’t she?

VIOLA: You can say that again… See you.

FRANKY: Bye.

VIOLA shuffles off, following MISTY. Scene 1, the teachers’ lounge.

SHAWN: —It’s not looking great for the club.

ALFIE: Your leads refusing to speak to one another? No, I can’t imagine it would.

SHAWN: Well, that’s not entirely true. Ricky’s talking to Beth alright.

ALFIE: I see… What happened, anyway?

SHAWN: I have no idea, that’s all Quentin told me.

IVAN: Yeah, that’s about all I heard from Liam.

ALFIE: Do you all have snitches?

IVAN: No, but when you care about your students, you hear everything. Well, almost.

ALFIE: Be involved in their petty little problems? I’d rather tear my hair out. Mutual toleration is fine with me, there’s no catch.

IVAN: If you say so. But mutual trust pays off. Especially when you need some very pissed off juniors to make up before Sectionals.

ALFIE: I haven’t trusted in over a decade, I have no intention of starting now.

SHAWN: That’s… Sad.

During this, JAMES enters, quietly.

IVAN: Ignore him, kiddo, that’s what old men are like.

JAMES: You’d know.

SHAWN: James! I mean, uh… Hey, man.

JAMES: Hey, man. Who are you and what have you done with my Shawn?

SHAWN grins, when he isn’t looking.

JAMES: Update on Ricky and Beth. Attempted serenade failed, leaving us with one still-furious Cheerio, now confused. She’s so different… It’s kinda scary.

SHAWN: I know… She’s not scary anymore, and it’s scaring me.

ALFIE: There’s no pleasing you, is there? You’re scared of your own shadow…

SHAWN: I am not! Anymore…

REUBEN enters, catching the group’s attention.

REUBEN: Am I interrupting?

ALFIE: Nothing especially important. And you are?

REUBEN: Reuben Campbell, History.

JAMES: The new arrival!

ALFIE: Clearly.

JAMES: Well, I’m James, I’m the guidance counsellor, that’s Ivan Pierce, English teacher, Shawn Larson, Math, the last newbie, and that would be Alfie Winstanley, Music.

REUBEN: [Amused] Music… How quaint. Is that a real subject?

Both IVAN and ALFIE start standing, ready for a fight, but JAMES pushes them both back.

JAMES: [Whispered] Come on, he’s new.

SHAWN: I’d say so. McKinley has a great arts department. It’s why I applied.

REUBEN: Well, I hope you’re not letting the kids forget about the important subjects, the ones that’ll benefit them. Like Math.

SHAWN: They need fun too…

ALFIE: I take it you don’t think the arts are a viable career?

REUBEN: Of course not. Not without an incredible run of luck.

ALFIE: Not without hard work, certainly. That’s why they’re as important a subject as any other. I might go as far as to say more important than learning about dead men who were terrible people.

JAMES: [Softly, to SHAWN] Who’s gonna tell him about all those rock stars he likes?

ALFIE: Shut up, Jamie, I know. I respect them as artists, not as people. What did the dead bigots in our history books give the world, eh, Reuben?

REUBEN: Wh— I— A lot of things, it depends which one you’re talking about.

ALFIE: Ever so reassuring.

REUBEN: They were awful people, but you can’t deny their contributions.

ALFIE: Then name one.

REUBEN: You’re just trying to dig me into a hole.

IVAN: [Greatly amused] Looks like he’s succeeding.

ALFIE: Surely you know your own subject, Reuben. I know mine.

REUBEN: Oh, yeah, congratulations, you can teach kids to play Happy Birthday, that’ll bring the money rolling in.

ALFIE: Money isn’t everything. And as a matter of fact, I have a student learning La Campanella. He’ll be a shoo-in for Juilliard, in a few years, should he choose to accept them of all the inevitable scholarships. With our arts department comes a just as impressive success rate.

REUBEN simply glares, running out of arguments.

ALFIE: Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a lesson to plan.

IVAN: You guys plan your classes? Wait, Winstanley plans classes?

ALFIE: I do indeed, you should try it sometime.

JAMES: He only plans, like, half, don’t worry about it.

ALFIE: Also true. Arrivederci, bastards.

IVAN: Bye-bye.

ALFIE exits.

REUBEN: Good riddance…

SHAWN: Uh, I should go plan too.

JAMES: I’ll walk you there!

SHAWN: Oh, thanks!

They also exit, leaving IVAN and REUBEN in uncomfortable silence.

IVAN: Yeah, I’m gonna go… Not be here. Bye, man.

REUBEN: Not even gonna make an excuse, huh?

IVAN: No, you already know why. See you.

'''He, for some reason, does finger guns, then exits. REUBEN rolls his eyes.''' '''Scene 2, Math classroom. SHAWN puts the light on as he and JAMES enter, chatting.'''

JAMES: He’s really something, huh?

SHAWN: Yeah… I’ve never seen the others so mad.

JAMES: Well, hey, you’d be mad if he said all that about theatre, right?

SHAWN: I was mad.

JAMES: You didn’t show it.

SHAWN: Well… Winstanley had it covered. At least I said something, right?

JAMES: No, that’s true. I’m happy you did. Do it more often!

SHAWN: I don’t know…

JAMES: Come on, Shawn… More of the confidence, please!

SHAWN: Well, saying one vaguely helpful thing in a fight is pretty different to… Running a glee club with so many people.

JAMES: I know. But you’re gonna have to. Beth needs all the help she can get, right now.

SHAWN: No, I know, but—

JAMES: Shawn, no. You can’t fight it anymore. You know what you signed up for.

SHAWN: Jamie…

JAMES: Those kids need you. I need— Uh, you to get it together.

SHAWN: I know…

JAMES: Of course, it’s not too late to quit… Let them find another supervisor.

SHAWN: No! No, I want to do it!

JAMES: I was hoping you’d say that. Now you’ve just gotta prove it.

SHAWN: I can’t.

JAMES: You gotta. No takebacks.

The bell rings.

JAMES: I should go. Have a good day, see you in Glee, right?

SHAWN: Yep…

JAMES: Great! Love you, man.

SHAWN: [Startled] You too.

As JAMES leaves, the sophomores start filing in, talking loudly.

SHAWN: Alright, quiet down a little, guys. The volume’s a 10, we need… 5 and a half.

QUENTIN: Make it 6 and you have a deal.

SHAWN: Alright, I’ll settle for 6.

QUENTIN: Perf. Guys, shut up now.

The class immediately quiets.

SHAWN: Thanks! Take your seats, get prepared, find that homework I gave you.

He silently beckons LIAM over as the latter enters.

LIAM: Uh-huh?

SHAWN: Hey. Just wanted to check in about the tutoring.

LIAM: Oh… Yeah, I figured you would. About that… I kinda didn’t go. [Speeding up] Well, there’s no kinda, you can’t ‘kinda’ go to a place, unless you just… Only go halfway through the door, and I didn’t go halfway through the door. I didn’t even get close to the door, ‘cause I chickened out.

SHAWN: Hey, it’s alright, slow down. You’re not in trouble or anything, I just think it might help. Go sit, we can talk about it later.

LIAM: Yeah…

He walks to his seat, AUBRI watching him all the way.

AUBRI: Hey—

LIAM: It’s nothing.

SHAWN surveys his class, unsure where to start.

SHAWN: I miss my friends and my guitar

And knowing I can travel far

But now I'm only standing here

Completely paralyzed with fear.

LIAM: The fear of who I'll come to be

Of all the weaknesses in me

I truly thought I was prepared

But now I'm panicked and I'm scared.

BOTH: But how did I become a coward?

How did I become a coward?

How did I become a coward?

How did I become a coward?

The sophomores lean forward, staring at SHAWN.

SOPHOMORES: Coward, coward, coward…

SHAWN: I lived alone and I was free

To do whatever came to me

But I was craving to share

If only I could ever dare

To care for someone else but me

If our two created three.

LIAM: But can I let go of the thrill?

Turn it into something real?

BOTH: But how did I become a coward?

How did I become a coward?

How did I become a coward?

How did I become a...

How did I become a...

How did I become a coward?

LIAM flinches away from his classmates slowly advancing on him, except for AUBRI, who tries to defend him, but he brushes her off.

SOPHOMORES: Coward, coward, coward…

LIAM: Little girl, little boy

Do you feel my fear and do you feel my joy?

Now you've entered my body

Straight to my heart and into my soul

Grow, grow…

BOTH: And now a voice inside my head

Is telling me to go ahead

You're not—

'''Half of the sophomores make their way to SHAWN, the rest moving in on LIAM, taunting them both. AUBRI simply watches.'''

SOPHOMORES: ''Coward! Coward! Coward! Co—''

'''QUENTIN snaps his fingers, calling them off. AUBRI rushes back to LIAM.'''

SHAWN & LIAM: But how did I become a coward?

How did I become a coward?

How did I become a coward?

How did I become a coward?

How did I become a...

How did I become a...

How did I become a coward?

'''As if waking up from a dream, SHAWN blinks, startled. LIAM’s head snaps up and he gives a tiny sigh of relief.'''

SHAWN: Okay… Alright… Let’s get started, huh?

QUENTIN: Mr. L, are you… Good?

SHAWN: Yeah, never better!

LYRA: You sure? You’re kind of… Vibrating.

SHAWN: I’m fine. You just want to get out of algebra.

LYRA: Guilty as charged.

SKY: Speaking of, does anyone have a charger…?

LYRA: Running out of batteries, beloved cyborg?

SKY: Part-cyborg, thank you. And no, but my phone is.

VIOLA hesitantly slides a charger across to him.

SKY: Thanks, hon.

VALERIE: Part-cyborg…?

SKY: [Like a kindergarten teacher] Hearing aid go beep-beep. And sometimes it go—

SKY makes a static noise.

LYRA: Told you he was a cyborg.

VALERIE: What the—

SHAWN: Alright, focus… Please. '''Scene 3, History room. REUBEN surveys the juniors, critically.'''

REUBEN: Well… Welcome to my class, I’m Mr. Campbell and I will be your new History teacher for the foreseeable future, as Ms. Oliver is unfortunately indisposed. Car accidents do tend to cause that.

RICKY: Is she okay?

JUDE: Bro, take a guess.

REUBEN: As okay as one can expect. Don’t worry too much, she’s recovering well.

BETH rushes in, dishevelled.

BETH: Sorry, sorry!

REUBEN: Ah, a latecomer. Name?

BETH: Beth… Corcoran.

REUBEN: Well, Beth Corcoran, there’s something to be said for entering quietly, instead of causing a scene when the class has already started.

RICKY: But it hasn’t… Not really, you were just telling us about—

REUBEN: Enough. Beth, sit down. Class starts the second the bell rings and I open the door, where I expect my students to be waiting, quietly. And who are you?

RICKY: Uh, Ricky.

REUBEN: Ricky, if you think you know better, why don’t you come up and teach the class for me, while I sit at the back making… Paper aeroplanes?

RICKY: Those were there when I got here, I don’t know how to—

REUBEN gestures to the front of the classroom.

RICKY: No, no, I don’t wanna do that, I’ll be good.

TOBIAS: He’s harsh…

OPHELIA: He’s an asshole. I respect that.

TOBIAS: [Lovingly] Of course you do… Takes one to know one.

OPHELIA: Thanks, babe.

REUBEN: Clearly I have my work cut out for me here… This whole school… The less said the better.

MISTY: So much for school pride…

REUBEN: I suppose I should find out what you all know…

RICKY: [Softly] Oh, shit.

'''BETH bites back the tiniest of smiles. She can’t help but watch him, sadly, as REUBEN continues talking, until…'''

REUBEN: Miss Corcoran! Am I boring you?

JUDE: Yes…

BETH: Hm? No, no, not at all!

REUBEN: Are you sure? You seem distracted.

BETH: No, I’m—

RICKY: Beth has a lot going on right now, get off her back.

REUBEN: Does she? How interesting. Then, do tell the whole class, if it’s important enough to stop you from paying attention.

DAMIEN’s ready to argue, but—

RICKY: Hey, I said to get off her back. Pick on me, not her, it’s my fault, anyway. You don’t even know her. She’s captain of… A lot of things, she’s really talented, and she’s a great student, and you’re just gonna judge her based on this one class?

BETH: Ricky—

REUBEN: Who says I’m judging her? It sounds an awful lot like you’re jumping to conclusions.

RICKY: I may be stupid but I’m not stupid. I can hear it in your voice, see it in your face, so the only conclusion I’m jumping to is that I don’t like how you’re treating her!

BETH: Ricky, stop it…

'''Doing as he’s told, RICKY slumps back into his chair. JUDE makes a very tiny whip noise, then turns to MISTY.'''

JUDE: Hey…

MISTY: I don’t think we should be talking, didn’t you hear him? Oh, no, I forgot. The great Jude Moody is above caring.

JUDE: Not completely. You mad at me or something?

MISTY stares in disbelief.

MISTY: Of course I am.

JUDE: But I didn’t say anything.

MISTY: Yeah, that’s the problem.

JUDE: What?

MISTY: Never mind. What do you want, Jude?

JUDE: I kinda need a favour. I can ask someone else, since you’re still mad, but… I wanted to ask you first.

MISTY: Go ahead, I guess.

JUDE: Y’know the rehearsal Coach made me miss?

MISTY: Yeah, shockingly, I do still remember.

JUDE: This was a bad idea, I’m… I’m sorry. I’ll see if Liam still wants to, or—

MISTY: Go back to the first part.

JUDE: I’m… Sorry?

MISTY: That’s all I needed to hear.

JUDE: Oh… Well, I am. About all of it.

MISTY: Good. You should be. What did you want to ask me?

JUDE: I need a little help catching up on what I missed.

MISTY: Oh, is that all? Sure, sweetie. It was mostly recaps, obviously, getting help with any sections people were struggling with, and any new stuff we worked on got recorded, it’s all in the group chat.

JUDE: Yeah, I don’t check that.

MISTY: Honestly, that’s not a bad choice, right now. It’s… Tense. But, good to know, we can look at it together!

JUDE: Thank you. Seriously.

MISTY: No problem at all!

JUDE: So… We’re good?

MISTY: We’re great. Your crimes have been forgiven, you filthy sinner.

JUDE: Filthy sinner? I like that.

MISTY: Yeah, I bet you do.

JUDE: How about you? How do you like filthy sinners?

MISTY: Depends on the sin. And if the sinner in question showers.

JUDE: This one does. Every day. Even when we don’t have hot water.

MISTY glances to him.

JUDE: Our building has a lot of issues. It doesn’t matter.

MISTY: Well… Be careful. Cold showers aren’t too good. Well, for sinners such as yourself, it might not be the worst thing on Earth, but still…

JUDE: If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you were worried about me.

MISTY: If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you were enjoying it.

JUDE: Well, would that be so bad?

MISTY: You tell me. I thought your head would explode if you showed an emotion.

JUDE: So did I… I guess we should test how far we can go before that happens.

MISTY: See, that started cute, then it came with a really gross mental image.

JUDE thinks for a second, face slowly growing disgusted.

JUDE: Oh, ew.

MISTY: Enjoy!

JUDE: Yeah, thanks.

MISTY: So, when do you wanna catch up?

JUDE: What you doing after Glee?

MISTY: Oh, just practising, then homework. You?

JUDE: Uh… Smoking, trying to fix a ceiling. What’s left of it can last a couple days.

MISTY: You sure?

JUDE: Yeah… So, does that work? I don’t wanna stop you practising or anything.

MISTY: No, after Glee works! All the other stuff can wait as long as your ceiling can.

JUDE: Perfect. See you then.

MISTY: And in most of your classes before it.

JUDE: What, you think I’m gonna show? That’s cute. I’ll go to English, but that’s all I’m promising.

MISTY: Why English?

JUDE: It’ll probably just be Pierce reading some play to us. I’d usually say Corcoran too, but…

Both look to BETH.

JUDE: Is she gonna be okay?

MISTY: I hope so.

JUDE: Oh…

MISTY: What?

JUDE: I was expecting ‘It’s Beth, she’s always okay’.

MISTY: Not this time. I wish I could say that. '''Scene 4, the halls. The juniors leave History, a little too enthusiastically.'''

RICKY: Beth, are you o—

BETH: Just leave me alone, you’ve done enough.

RICKY: I’m gonna guess you don’t mean that in the good way.

MISTY sees FRANKY and waves.

JUDE: Who is that, anyway? I saw him earlier.

MISTY: That’s Franky! He’s new, I told him he should come audition.

JUDE: Is he gonna?

MISTY: I’m hopeful!

JUDE: Right… Yeah, that’s great.

MISTY: I know!

The jocks from the previous episode appear, slushies in hand.

JUDE: How’d you get those? We just got out.

JOCK #1: We’re fast. We do sports.

JOCK #2: We… Asked a freshman, before class. He was waiting outside with them when we got out.

JUDE: Dude…

JOCK #1: What? He had a free period. Hey, what do you think?

JUDE: Of Campbell? What do you think I think?

JOCK #2: I got lunchtime detention for two weeks, just for throwing one ball of paper?

JUDE: At Turner’s head. You’re damn lucky Ophelia didn’t see.

JOCK #2: What’s she gonna do?

JUDE: You’d be surprised.

JOCK #1: I’d love her to surprise me… God, Campbell’s such a dick.

FRANKY: Don’t call him that.

JOCK #1: What?

FRANKY: I said don’t call him a dick.

JOCK #1: Who are you to even talk to us, fresher?

FRANKY: Wouldn’t you like to know?

JOCK #2: Not really.

FRANKY: Just leave him alone, you don’t even know him.

JOCK #1: Alright, teacher’s pet. And you do?

FRANKY: Yeah, I do.

JOCK #1: So you know everything we’re saying is true.

FRANKY: It is not! You can’t call him that!

JOCK #2: Why not?

FRANKY: Because— Look, you just can’t!

JOCK #1: Oh, I’m so scared!

FRANKY: You should be.

JOCK #2: No, you should.

FRANKY’s hit full-force by both slushies just as REUBEN comes out.

REUBEN: What is going on out here?!

FRANKY: Nothing.

REUBEN: And you expect me to believe that? I saw what just happened. [To the JOCKS] Hey, you leave my son alone, alright?

FRANKY: Dad, seriously, it’s nothing!

Hearing the exchange, the jocks run for their lives.

FRANKY: Yeah, that’s right, you cowards! Run away!

JUDE: Nice save, bro. Dignity intact. You scared ‘em off real good, kid.

MISTY swats at him.

REUBEN: Show’s over!

The crowd disperses.

FRANKY: I wish you hadn’t done that.

REUBEN: I couldn’t help it. I couldn’t just let them treat you like that.

FRANKY: It’s a bit late for that.

REUBEN: I know. That’ll wash out, and we still have some of your bags in the car, you wanna find something else to wear?

FRANKY: God yeah, I’m freezing. It’s like being in England again.

REUBEN: Alright, you go wash it out of your hair, I’ll go find you something.

FRANKY: Thanks…

REUBEN: No worries.

FRANKY starts walking towards the bathroom.

FRANKY: [V.O] It’s not as if I’m not used to this. It was the same in middle school. Some bigger boys would rough me up a bit, Dad would find out, and he’d go straight to his teacher friends. He never did understand how much worse it makes things for me. They’d never get better, just more subtle. But Dad’s too protective to resist.

He starts washing the slushy out.

FRANKY, cont: No one else’s dad is that protective, not that I’ve met. Maybe it’s because I’m adopted. Maybe it’s because I’m English. I don’t need him to protect me, but it’s like walking around with a target painted on your vocal cords. Guys like them hate anything different to them… Even though girls apparently love it. If they do, I wish they’d show it. Misty’s nice, but I think she’s dating that arsehole she was next to. He even guarded her from the slushy a bit. Wish someone had guarded me… God, I need friends. Maybe joining Glee would help, but… I don’t think Dad would like it much. I should be catching up and stuff. Maybe after that?

Cut to FRANKY, now changed but with slightly damp hair, making his way to Music.

FRANKY, cont: Trust me to be adopted by the world’s strictest teacher. He’s not a dick, exactly, but… He doesn’t make things easy. That’s why I didn’t want anyone to know. He didn’t either, for the sake of professionalism. And it wouldn’t look great for a teacher’s son to be getting into fights so much. Guess we’re back to square 1, now. And I’m late. Great.

'''He quietly makes his way in, praying not to be noticed. Unfortunately, ALFIE’s his teacher.'''

ALFIE: Nice of you to join us.

FRANKY: Sorry, I was just…

ALFIE glances to his hair.

ALFIE: Brutally slushied?

FRANKY: Yeah.

ALFIE: Can’t be helped. What’s your name?

FRANKY: Franky.

ALFIE: Franky… Have we met?

FRANKY: No, sir, I’m new.

ALFIE: Really? That’s funny… Well, best get on. As I was saying, today you get a reprieve from theory work. Today, we’re actually playing music, instead of just talking about it. With headphones, so I don’t have to hear it. Your music’s here. September, will you pass it around? I don’t want to.

SEPTEMBER: Sure!

She gets up, reluctantly dropping BLUE’s hand, despite his attempts to resist.

ALFIE: Thank you, your efforts will not be forgotten.

BLUE: [Whispered] Why bother, Ember?

SEPTEMBER: He has a tin of cookies in that desk. That was basically code for ‘you get a cookie’.

ALFIE watches FRANKY, calculatingly.

ALFIE: Now, this is completely new to all of you, so don’t worry if you don’t pick it up immediately, I don’t expect perfection. Pick your own instruments, anything you can plug headphones into. You can start as soon as you get your music, call me if you truly need me. If you’re lucky, I might respond.

'''Receiving his music, FRANKY mouths his thanks to SEPTEMBER and studies the sheet intently. After a moment, he picks up an electro-acoustic guitar, plugs headphones into it and starts playing, with very little thought.'''

ALFIE: Thank you, Daniel, sheet music is not for drawing that on. It is to be respected. I suggest you do so, unless you want to go back to playing nursery rhymes on a half-broken keyboard.

DANNY: I don’t even wanna be here.

ALFIE: And you think I do? How about I march you to your father’s office?

DANNY: Good luck.

ALFIE: Mr. Brooks, I suggest you sit in your own seat, not your girlfriend’s. It’s only made for one person.

Reluctantly, BLUE moves.

ALFIE: I’m surrounded by idiot children.

'''His attention is caught by FRANKY. Soon, he makes his way over. FRANKY glances up and takes his headphones off.'''

FRANKY: Sir?

ALFIE: Don’t mind me, just observing… You play?

FRANKY: A few years of classical guitar, yeah… I’m not really allowed to do much else.

ALFIE: Strict parents?

FRANKY: Just my father.

ALFIE: Did he make you learn?

FRANKY: No, not really. But he’s a bit… He sort of… He doesn’t want me to have too many hobbies. Doesn’t like distractions. It doesn’t look too good for him if my grades aren’t good, with him being a teacher.

ALFIE: I see. A teach— Oh God, Mr. Campbell?

FRANKY: That’s the one.

ALFIE: [Muttered] You poor bugger.

FRANKY laughs, briefly.

FRANKY: He’s not all bad. Just a bit… Yeah.

ALFIE: Quite. How does he feel about extracurriculars?

FRANKY: It depends. As a general rule, he’s cool with them, as long as they’re—

BOTH: —Not a distraction.

ALFIE: Well, that’s something. Do you sing?

FRANKY: I like singing.

ALFIE: Then you should join the Glee Club.

FRANKY: Funny, you’re the second person to tell me that, today.

ALFIE: For good reason, it’s wonderful. Don’t tell them I said that. But I help them out a bit, sometimes, and they’re always looking for new members. God knows why, there’s already plenty of them…

FRANKY: I’d like to, but…

ALFIE: Well… He wouldn’t have to know, you know.

FRANKY: You’re not a very good influence, for a teacher, are you?

ALFIE: Not in the least, no. But I have fun. I’d like you to as well. It couldn’t hurt your father either, but he may be beyond hope in that area.

FRANKY: You’re not his biggest fan, then?

ALFIE: He had quite a bit to say about arts education. One has to wonder why he’s teaching at an arts-focused school.

FRANKY: Because he thought academic subjects were probably being neglected.

ALFIE: And I suppose he thought he could fix that? He’s only one man.

FRANKY: A very dedicated one.

ALFIE: I was afraid you might say that. '''Scene 5, cheer rehearsals. DAMIEN’s already warming up as the girls walk onto the field.'''

DAMIEN: My girls! Stunning as always.

He squeezes BETH’s shoulder with a sympathetic look.

DAMIEN: Hey, you. Doing okay?

BETH: I’m fine. I’m sick of all the pity. Everyone’s been looking at me like I’m dying.

DAMIEN: No pity here. But I’m here for you, alright? And I’m so sorry, I know you and Ricky were… Close. He was stupid, and the Glee Club is nothing to laugh at, we’re doing great. You’re doing great, I don’t know how you do it.

BETH: [Softly] Neither do I…

OPHELIA: For what it’s worth, I think it was sucky of him too. Men…

DAMIEN: You’ve been dating one for years.

OPHELIA: Non-Tobias men.

DAMIEN: Point taken, he’s great. Can I have one?

OPHELIA: There can only be one, and he’s all mine. Sorry to disappoint. Anyway, enough about my very successful relationship.

DAMIEN swats at her.

DAMIEN: Hey, not helping.

OPHELIA: Not trying to. Sorry, B, but life doesn’t stop for you. Well, my life sure doesn’t.

BETH: Don’t I know it? No worries, remember what I said? No pity. I like your way, I’m used to you.

OPHELIA: And what is that supposed to mean?

BETH: You know what it means.

DAMIEN: It means you haven’t stopped being a bitch since the day we met you!

OPHELIA: Can’t stop, won’t stop.

DAMIEN: I mean, you could—

OPHELIA: Won’t stop, won’t stop.

DAMIEN: That’s my girl.

OPHELIA: Am I, really?

DAMIEN: Tobias can share.

He embraces OPHELIA, in a very dramatic fashion, taking her into what looks like the beginning of a dip kiss.

OPHELIA: You are a nightmare, you know that? Get off of me.

DAMIEN: What, you want me to drop you?

OPHELIA: Absolutely not, I’ve just had my hair done.

DAMIEN straightens up, then twirls her.

OPHELIA: Better.

DAMIEN: Oh, it’s so swishy!

OPHELIA: I know, right?

DAMIEN: Well, I’ve gotta have the name of your stylist.

OPHELIA: I’ll take you there. Both of you. And I’m paying.

'''She exchanges a significant look with DAMIEN, who mouths his thanks. ISABEL makes her way over.'''

ISABEL: Well! On time, this time! Much better. Have you given up on your childish fantasy at last? I’m shocked it lasted so long.

DAMIEN takes BETH’s hand.

DAMIEN: We haven’t given up. We’re not gonna. Glee Club is gonna be big before you know it.

ISABEL: Oh, nothing happens before I know it. My mother was psychic and my father was a chess master.

DAMIEN: …Okay, one of those isn’t real and one isn’t genetic.

ISABEL: How dare you? Of course chess is real. It’s pointless, but it’s real. Now, why do you think I’m talking to you?

BETH: …Because we did good?

ISABEL: Yes, the bare minimum of showing up is really doing you so many favours, and you’re such great company.

BETH: Wait, really?

ISABEL: No! God, your head never leaves the clouds when you come back from the pyramid, does it? No, Beth, I’m going to make you a deal.

OPHELIA glares, already suspicious.

ISABEL: Face it, you’ve been showing up late when you show up at all, and you’re half-assing everything.

OPHELIA: That’s not—

ISABEL: Yes it is. But you’re not being kicked yet, you’re my least-worst Cheerios.

DAMIEN: You mean best?

ISABEL: That’s a stretch. So, here’s the deal. You have a week. Exactly 7 days to prove to me that you really deserve to stay. If you fail, you’re gone. No turning back. You’d better prove to me that you’re serious about the Cheerios, and fast. Got it?

CHEERIOS: Yes, Coach…

ISABEL: Good. Starting in 5. Or possibly 2.

As ISABEL walks away, the trio slowly turn to each other.

BETH: Oh, God. Oh, God.

OPHELIA: [Apparently unfazed] We are so fucked.

DAMIEN: Damn it… I’m never gonna see L— The club again…

OPHELIA raises an eyebrow.

OPHELIA: Seriously? We’ll still be in the same school, you’ll still see… All of them.

DAMIEN: Right… But still!

OPHELIA: I know.

DAMIEN: She can’t do this.

OPHELIA: She can. She will. Since when did you care so much?

DAMIEN: [Whispered] Come on, you already know, knock it off.

BETH: Oh, God…

OPHELIA: Will you stop?

'''Even OPHELIA has a very subtle look of panic. BETH stares into the distance.'''

ISABEL: [Through her megaphone] Alright, ladies and Damien! Let’s go!

'''The squad get into formation and start practicing. BETH throws herself into it, immediately, but she still just goes through the motions with a dead stare.''' '''Scene 6, the choir room. As the club chat, JAMES fixes his hair in his phone’s front camera. Meanwhile, MISTY’s watching LOGAN.'''

MISTY: Hey… You okay?

LOGAN: Huh? Yeah, I’m fine. Great! Why’d you ask?

MISTY: You’re all quiet lately.

LOGAN: Aren’t I always?

MISTY: I dunno. It seemed like things were getting better for you, sweetie.

MAGS glances over, already glaring.

LOGAN: Oh… I guess I’m just tired, don’t worry about me. Thank you, though.

MISTY: No worries. You know I’m here for you, if…

LOGAN: Yeah, I know. It’s sweet of you, but really, I’m okay!

MISTY: Well, good! As long as you’re sure.

MAGS: [Sharply, then suddenly sweet] Lo-Lo! There’s something wrong with my phone, will you help me?

LOGAN: Oh, sure.

He moves his chair closer to see.

MAGS: What were you doing talking to her?

LOGAN: She was asking me something, that’s all.

MAGS: Right. Did she get what she wanted?

LOGAN: I… Think so?

MAGS: I bet she did. You’d give her anything, she’s so pretty.

LOGAN: Well, she’s… You’re…

MAGS: Say it.

LOGAN: You’re prettier… So, what’s up with your phone?

MAGS: There’s nothing wrong with my phone!

'''MISTY and QUENTIN exchange glances. JAMES watches, carefully, out of the corner of his eye.'''

LOGAN: But you said—

MAGS: [Suddenly sweet again] Well, it’s fine now, okay?

LOGAN: Oh… Well, great!

'''IVAN enters, followed by SHAWN. JAMES hastily puts the phone away.'''

JAMES: Hey! You’re here! [Softly, to IVAN] Did he try to bolt?

IVAN: Shockingly, no. Heard from Winstanley?

JAMES: Otherwise engaged. Grading.

IVAN: He’s actually reading the theory stuff and grading it? Is— Is he sick?

JAMES: I think he’s trying to prove something to you-know-who.

OPHELIA makes her way over to IVAN.

OPHELIA: Hey, Mr. Pierce?

IVAN: Fair Ophelia! What can I do for you?

OPHELIA: We get it, I have a Shakespeare name. Can I talk to you real quick?

IVAN: Of course. Is everything okay?

OPHELIA: Well, you know how Coach has been…?

IVAN: Herself. Yeah, I know.

OPHELIA: Well, she’s given us a week to be perfect, and if we can’t, we’re being kicked.

IVAN: From the Cheerios, or…?

OPHELIA: Possibly in both senses.

IVAN: Jeez… Okay, well, don’t worry, I’ll handle it.

OPHELIA: Thank you, Really.

IVAN: No problem at all.

OPHELIA: And… One more favour?

IVAN: Depends what it is.

OPHELIA: Will you check on Beth? She won’t talk to me because… I’m me.

IVAN: Very astute.

OPHELIA: She likes you, so… Please?

IVAN: Of course I will. You worried about her?

OPHELIA: Classified information.

IVAN laughs.

IVAN: Alright, kiddo. Go sit down, everything’s gonna be fine.

'''OPHELIA gives him the smallest of smiles as she returns to her seat. TOBIAS immediately wraps an arm around her.'''

IVAN: Hey, Beth? C’mere for a sec, I just wanna check I’ve got the right sheet music.

BETH perkily makes her way over, with a smile that doesn’t quite reach her eyes.

IVAN: This is what Winstanley gave me, look okay?

BETH: Yeah, that’s perfect.

IVAN: Alright, great. I’m not familiar, but do you want me to give it a shot?

BETH: That’d be great. I’d ask Quentin, but he’s working on arrangements over there.

IVAN: Alright, I’ll do what I can.

BETH: Thank you!

A beat.

IVAN: How are you, kiddo?

BETH: Me? I’m great! I should—

IVAN: Are you, though? I’ve known you a couple years now.

BETH: Look, I’ll do better in English, I’m sorry, I’ve just been busy.

IVAN: I know. But this isn’t about class, it’s about you.

BETH: Well, I’m fantastic! Really! I have to start rehearsal now.

IVAN: Alright, alright, you’re free to go. My door’s always open, or at least openable, okay?

BETH: I know, but there’s nothing to talk about! I’m wonderful.

IVAN: Sure you are.

BETH gives another smile, bouncing off to the centre of the room.

BETH: Alright, guys! We’ll, uh, make it a pretty short rehearsal today, I know we all have a lot going on.

She exchanges a look with OPHELIA and DAMIEN.

BETH: And we don’t have a lot to do here! Our music man’s working hard on arrangements.

LYRA: Are you actually helping him, this time?

QUENTIN: Beth’s really busy… But she’s going above and beyond, we’re doing fine. Sectionals is in the bag.

RICKY: That’s great!

BETH ignores him.

QUENTIN: Yeah, it is. But we won’t get very far with traitors on the team.

JAMES: Alright, that’s—

BETH: I’ve got this. Quentin’s right. If you’re not serious about this club, there’s the door.

'''DANNY gets up, but he thinks better of it. BETH waits for a moment, staring straight at RICKY.'''

BETH: Well, good. Misty and I have a song for you, today. I’m singing for someone specific, they know who they are.

RICKY blinks, thoroughly confused.

BETH: Thank you, Mr. Pierce. Hit it.

Head underwater

And they tell me

To breathe easy for a while

Breathing gets harder, even I know that.

MISTY: Made room for me It's too soon to see

If I'm happy in your hands

I'm unusually hard to hold on to.

BETH: Blank stares at blank pages

No easy way to say this

You mean well, but you make this hard on me.

I'm not gonna write you a love song

 'Cause you asked for it

 'Cause you need one, you see.

MISTY: I'm not gonna write you a love song

 'Cause you tell me it's

Make or breaking this

[+BETH] I'm not gonna write you to stay

If all you have is leavin'

I’mma need a better reason

To write you a love song

Today, today, yeah.

BETH fixes RICKY with a glare.

BETH: I learned the hard way

That they all say

Things you want to hear

My heavy heart sinks deep down under

You and your twisted words

Your help just hurts

You are not what I thought you were

Hello to high and dry…

'''JUDE watches MISTY with barely concealed interest. She notices, giving him a twirl.'''

MISTY: Convince me to please you

Make me think that I need this too

[+BETH] I'm trying to let you hear me as I am

I'm not gonna write you a love song

 'Cause you asked for it

 'Cause you need one, you see

I'm not gonna write you a love song

 'Cause you tell me it's

Make or breaking this

If you're on your way

I'm not gonna write you to stay

If all you have is leavin'

I'mma need a better reason

To write you a love song

Today.

MISTY slowly advances on JUDE.

MISTY: Promise me you'll leave the light on

To help me see

With daylight, my guide, gone

 'Cause I believe there's a way

You can love me because I say

I'm not gonna write you a love song

 'Cause you asked for it

 'Cause you need one,

You see,

'''Just as they get close, MISTY turns on her heel and walks away, tormenting him. FRANKY can be seen watching the performance in the doorway, enthralled.'''

BETH: I'm not gonna write you a love song

 'Cause you tell me it's

Make or breaking this

[+MISTY] Is that why you wanted a love song?

 'Cause you asked for it

 'Cause you need one, you see

I'm not gonna write you a love song

 'Cause you tell me it's

Make or breaking this

Or you're on your way

I'm not gonna write you to stay

If your heart is nowhere in it

I don't want it for a minute

Babe, I'll walk the seven seas when I believe that

There's a reason to write you a love song

Today, today…

'''A standing ovation. RICKY in particular is very enthusiastic. JUDE doesn’t stand, feigning disinterest, with his legs crossed. MISTY smirks over at him and he returns it, holding eye contact as he claps.''' '''Scene 7, still the choir room. MISTY and JUDE are alone. MISTY sits on the piano.'''

MISTY: So…

JUDE: Uh-huh?

MISTY: What did you think?

JUDE: It was alright. Who’s the lucky guy?

MISTY: I don’t know, yet.

JUDE: Not the English kid?

MISTY: Who, Franky?

JUDE: Well, yeah. He was watching you. I can’t blame him, really.

MISTY: We’re just friends, I only met him today.

JUDE: And he’s already into you.

MISTY: What’s it to you?

JUDE: Oh, it’s none of my business, just something I noticed.

MISTY: Why? Were you looking?

JUDE: It’s hard not to. There’s something about you. You draw people in… And then what?

MISTY: Wouldn’t you like to know?

JUDE: Maybe I would. What’s underneath?

MISTY laughs.

MISTY: Don’t get too excited, it’s just a leotard. I’m still practicing after this.

JUDE: Well, don’t let me keep you.

MISTY: I thought you wanted to catch up.

JUDE: Yeah, sure. That’s what I want.

MISTY: What do you want? I can’t work you out.

JUDE: No one can.

MISTY: And no one will?

JUDE: Remains to be seen.

He sits next to MISTY.

JUDE: What’s the real Misty like? Still the triple-pirouetting, peppy little should-be-cheerleader?

MISTY: Well, yeah. This is the real Misty. I’m not like you, I’m not the one playing their cards so close to their chest that they might be embedded there.

JUDE: Oh, please. Some of it’s gotta be an act.

MISTY: It really isn’t!

JUDE: Hey, I don’t just mean you. Most of what you see in people is an illusion. Everyone has an act. Everyone from freshers like Abrams to Corky. Even beyond. You think our teachers act the way we see them when they’re alone? Shakespeare said something… ‘All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players’, right? ‘They have their exits and their entrances and one man in his time plays many parts’.

MISTY: You really do listen in Pierce’s class, huh?

JUDE: Sure sounds like it, doesn’t it?

MISTY: So, why can’t we see more of the real Jude?

JUDE: Eventually, the act sticks. It’s hard to shake off. A little like you.

MISTY: Is that what you want?

JUDE: Does anyone really know what they want?

MISTY: God, you’re so…

JUDE: Heard that before.

MISTY: You don’t know what I was going to say.

JUDE: Still probably right, but go on. I’m so what?

MISTY: You’re so… Vague! I don’t understand you, I don’t know how you feel about… Anything. I don’t even know if we’re friends! I thought you were changing, getting nicer, but then you were with those jocks, and you…

JUDE: You don’t think I’m nice?

MISTY: I don’t know. I think you might be.

JUDE: Right… And you don’t know how I feel?

MISTY: No… Sometimes I think I’m starting to.

JUDE: Well, maybe this’ll make things clearer.

JUDE stands, takes a few steps away, then turns back to MISTY.

JUDE: I'm a moon-walker, I'm like MJ up in the clouds

I know it sounds awkward

I'm filthy as charged, filthy as charged

You're a sweet talker,

But darlin' whatcha gonna say now?

The midnight marauders,

The higher never come down, never come down

You can't take me anywhere, anywhere

You can't take me anywhere, anywhere

I'm still uninvited, I'm still gonna light it,

I'm going insane and I don't care

Dancin', dancin'

Dancing is not a crime, 'less you do it without me

 'Less you do it without me

Oh dancin', dancin'

Dancing is not a crime, unless you do it

Do it, do it, do it do it

And if you're night crawlin', I won't take it lying down

I've got a few lawyers

And you're guilty as charged, guilty as charged

We could be waltzin'

But darlin' don't be throwing shade now

Don't call me Saint California if you're at another altar

Just gimme your vows, gimme your vows yeah

'''MISTY stands. They circle each other.'''

JUDE: You can't take me anywhere, anywhere

You can't take me anywhere, anywhere

I'm still uninvited, I'm still gonna light it

I'm going insane and I don't care

Dancin', dancin'

Dancing is not a crime, 'less you do it without me

 'Less you do it without me

Oh dancin', dancin'

Dancing is not a crime, unless you do it

Do it, do it, do it, do it

Ooh ooh ooh what's come over you?

Babe just tell me now

Ooh ooh ooh let me make that move

 'Cause I just wanna be—

Oh yeah

I just wanna be—

At the missed lyrics, MISTY laughs and shakes her head.

JUDE: Oh yeah

Oh yeah

Whatever they tell you,

Dancin', dancin'

Dancing is not a crime, 'less you do it without me

 'Less you do it without me

Oh dancin', dancin'

Dancing is not a crime, unless you do it

Do it, do it, do it, do it

Do it, do it, do it, do it!

JUDE spins MISTY away and she sits back down.

MISTY: Yeah, that’s so much clearer.

JUDE: It’s as good as I get. Don’t hope for too much. So, you gonna tell me about that rehearsal? '''Scene 8, REUBEN’s car. He’s drumming on the steering wheel, waiting. FRANKY rushes over and opens the door.'''

REUBEN: Hey! You’re pretty late.

FRANKY: Yeah, sorry!

REUBEN: Don’t worry about it, I got a lot of grading done.

FRANKY: Grading already?

REUBEN: The joys of arriving in the midst of a semester.

FRANKY: Ah… Fun.

REUBEN: Delightful. Where were you, anyway?

FRANKY: I was… With some friends. They were helping me catch up on work.

REUBEN: Oh, very good. I’m glad you’re settling in, after the incident, earlier.

FRANKY: Yeah…

REUBEN: They sound like good friends, helping with your work. Just don’t be led astray, your freshman year is an important one.

FRANKY: So you’ve told me.

REUBEN: You’re still sure about… All your classes?

FRANKY: I’m sure.

REUBEN: Alright, then…

FRANKY: Dad?

REUBEN: Mm?

FRANKY: Would you be alright with me maybe joining some clubs?

REUBEN: Well, I’m all for extracurriculars, but it depends. McKinley has a lot of options. Debate Club, Mathletes, Chess Club…

FRANKY: They aren’t really my thing.

REUBEN: Well, I’m sure we can find something that’ll benefit you.

FRANKY: That I’ll like?

REUBEN: I sure hope so.

FRANKY: You know… They have a Glee Club and everything.

REUBEN: Good God…

FRANKY: I thought you might say that… They’re really good. Well, I’ve heard they are.

REUBEN: Oh, I don’t doubt that, but will it get them anywhere?

FRANKY: It might…

REUBEN: Franky, that’s a nice thing to say, but you can be realistic. It’s just me.

FRANKY: Dad, I really believe it. They can hope, can’t they?

REUBEN: Certainly, but why set themselves up for disappointment?

FRANKY sits back, defeated.

REUBEN: I know you’d like to believe it, you’re an idealist. But one day, you’ll see things my way, alright?

FRANKY: Yeah…

REUBEN: You stay far away from that club, alright? It’s for the best.

FRANKY: Alright…

REUBEN: That’s my boy.

He ruffles FRANKY’s hair and starts the car.

REUBEN: Unpacking awaits.

FRANKY: Oh, fantastic.

REUBEN: Well, you can live in boxes if that’s what you want!

FRANKY: I’ll unpack, I’ll unpack!

REUBEN: Yeah, I thought so. Only your own boxes, don’t worry. And all the furniture was put in yesterday. Your room’s basically ready, it just needs a little personalisation.

FRANKY: Perfect!

REUBEN: You don’t have a lot of homework, do you?

FRANKY: Not much. I’ll do it tomorrow.

REUBEN: You promise?

FRANKY: Cross my heart.

REUBEN: Good. Do your work and control your temper, and we might be in with a chance at this school. It’s a new start for both of us. Make the most of it.

FRANKY: That’s what I’m trying to do… Is that Mr. Winstanley over there?

Through the window, we see ALFIE leaning against a wall, smoking.

REUBEN: Of course… Typical. That’s a great influence on the kids.

FRANKY: Well, they’ve all gone home anyway, and it’s not in school hours… It’s his free time.

REUBEN: And he elects to spend it destroying his lungs on school grounds. I expected nothing less from him. He’s a layabout, teaching an expendable subject, and I heard he skips half of his study hall time.

FRANKY: Yeah, I heard that too… He’s alright, though.

REUBEN: Anything further from ‘alright’, I cannot imagine.

FRANKY: Well, he was good to me. Really understanding.

REUBEN: My experience was very different. Besides, it doesn’t mean he’s a good teacher.

FRANKY: No, I suppose not… I think he is, though.

'''REUBEN clicks his tongue in disapproval as they drive away. ALFIE gives FRANKY a quick smile.''' '''Scene 9, the halls. BETH walks to her locker, drowning in books again.'''

DAMIEN: Hey, you. Damn, did you get any sleep?

BETH: Barely. I couldn’t stop thinking about what Coach said. Then I woke up at 5 to practice, then I did my normal workout, then Glee stuff.

DAMIEN: Oh, honey…

BETH: I’m exhausted. Does… Does it show?

DAMIEN: Uh… No, no, you’re fine. You look great.

He quickly stands in front of the mirror built into his own locker.

DAMIEN: Are you gonna be alright?

BETH: [Visibly zoning out] Uh-huh…

DAMIEN: Beth!

BETH: Huh? Sorry!

'''DAMIEN stares, deeply concerned. BETH ducks into her locker to take her usual combination of pills.'''

DAMIEN: You alright there?

BETH emerges, with a slightly unhinged smile.

BETH: Perfect!

DAMIEN: If you say so…

RICKY: Beth!

DAMIEN: Hey, man, leave her alone, okay? You’ve done enough.

RICKY: No, I haven’t. I have to make it right.

BETH: You can’t. Dami, it’s okay, I’ve got this.

DAMIEN: No, I’m not letting him near you.

BETH: Will you get me a water from the vending machine?

DAMIEN: Yes, ma’am.

DAMIEN walks away, quickly.

RICKY: Beth, are you feeling okay?

BETH: What’s it to you?

RICKY: Oh God, are you sick because of what I did? I’m sorry—

BETH: Ricky, just stop… Please.

RICKY: Beth, I wish you’d let me explain! Just… If you’ll just let me do that I’ll get out of your sight for as long as you want.

BETH: Explain what, exactly? The way I see it, there’s nothing. You’ve made your position perfectly clear.

RICKY: The guys were just joking around, it wasn’t meant to hurt you.

BETH: Well, it did!

RICKY: I know. And I’m so, so sorry. I’m so mad at myself, but—

BETH: But what? No, I don’t care. I’m done with this. I’m done with you.

She starts to walk away.

RICKY: It wasn’t what it looked like— Beth, please!

BETH: Leave me alone!

RICKY: If I could turn back time,

BETH stops in her tracks.

RICKY: If I could find a way

I'd take back those words that've hurt you

And you'd stay

I don't know why I did the things I did

I don't know why I said the things I said

Pride's like a knife, it can cut deep inside—

BETH: Words are like weapons, they wound sometimes.

RICKY: I didn't really mean to hurt you

I didn't wanna see you go

I know I made you cry, but baby

If I could turn back time

If I could find a way

I'd take back those words that've hurt you

And you'd stay

If I could reach the stars

I'd give them all to you

Then you'd love me, love me

Like you used to do

If I could turn back time.

BETH turns on him.

BETH: My world was shattered, I was torn apart

Like someone took a knife and drove it deep in my heart!

RICKY: You walked out that door, I swore that I didn't care

But I lost everything, darling, then and there

Too strong to tell you I was sorry

Too proud to tell you I was wrong

I know that I was blind, and darling

If I could turn back time

If I could find a way

I'd take back those words that've hurt you

And you'd stay

If I could reach the stars

I'd give them all to you

Then you'd love me, love me

Like you used to do.

Oh!

BETH continues walking.

BETH: If I could turn back time

If I could turn back time

If I could turn back time…

RICKY: I didn't really mean to hurt you

I didn't want to see you go

I know I made you cry, but oh

If I could turn back time

If I could find a way

I'd take back those words that've hurt you

If I could reach the stars

I'd give them all to you

Then you'd love me, love me

Like you used to do

If I could turn back time (BETH: Turn back time)

If I could find a way (BETH: Find a way)

Then maybe, maybe, maybe

You'd stay

Reach the stars

If I could reach the stars...

BETH: We’re done, Ricky. Goodbye.

She walks away with DAMIEN, who’s just returned. '''Scene 10, the choir room. LIAM’s sitting in the corner, staring at his Math homework. DAMIEN watches, looking ready to say something. FRANKY enters, hesitantly. MISTY waves to him, delighted.'''

FRANKY: Hello…

ALFIE: Franky! Good of you to join us.

FRANKY: Just to watch, today. And… Don’t tell my dad, please.

ALFIE: Of course not.

He pulls up an extra chair.

JAMES: Where’s Beth? Is she doing okay?

ALFIE: I wouldn’t be surprised if she’d gone home.

IVAN: I hope so, the poor thing’s a mess…

SHAWN: It’s my fault, I should be helping more.

JAMES: I mean, it’s not your fault…

'''BETH sprints in, tripping in the doorway. JAMES holds a hand out to help her up.'''

BETH: Sorry I’m late!

JAMES: No worries. You okay?

BETH: I’m— Ow. Yeah, I’m fine.

SHAWN: I’m glad you’re here. What’s on the agenda for today?

BETH: Uh, I don’t…

'''She starts zoning out again. SHAWN lightly shakes her shoulder.'''

SHAWN: Hey…

BETH: Sorry, didn’t get a lot of sleep. Uh, I guess until Quen’s done with the arrangements, we can recap Hairspray, or something?

SHAWN: That works! Do you wanna, uh, sit this one out?

BETH: What? I can’t do that, I have a solo.

SHAWN: Alright… As long as you’re sure.

BETH: Alright, guys! Positions for You Can’t Stop the Beat, and fast.

'''JUDE groans, until MISTY swats at him. BETH nearly bumps into RICKY, who steps back.'''

RICKY: Sorry.

BETH: No, it was—

She sighs, taking up her position.

BETH: Hit it.

As the music starts, BETH zones out again, missing her cue.

QUENTIN: Alright, cut the music. Beth?

BETH: Huh?

QUENTIN raises an eyebrow.

BETH: Oh…

She stares into the distance, horrified with herself.

BETH: How could this happen?

QUENTIN: It’s okay… You wanna give it another shot?

BETH: Uh, sure. Alright, take it from the top again.

MAGS: Why should we have to start over just because you got distracted?

BLUE: Wh— You hadn’t even started yet.

BETH: Because I’m the damn lead, okay, Magnolia? If it helps, I’m sorry.

MAGS: See, this is why I should be the lead.

OPHELIA: You? Hell no!

RICKY: Beth, is e—

BETH: From the top!

You can’t stop an avalanche

As is races down the hill

You can try to stop the seasons, girl

But you know you never will

And you can try to stop my dancing’ feet

But I just cannot stand still

Cause the world keeps spinning

‘Round and ‘round,

During the last two lines, BETH starts flagging.

BETH: And my heart’s keeping time

To the speed of sound

I was lost ‘til I heard the drums

Then I found my way

‘Cause you can’t stop the beat

Ever since this whole world began—

She sighs.

BETH: No, stop, stop.

SHAWN: Everything okay?

BETH: No, it’s wrong, it’s all… Wrong.

BLUE: Well, what’s wrong with it?

DANNY: Apart from the song.

SEPTEMBER: There’s nothing wrong with the song. And I think we’re improving… Beth, what can we do? Give us your notes.

BETH: Quentin, help me out, here.

QUENTIN: I’m sorry, Beth, but it all looked pretty tight from where I was standing.

MAGS: Well, you’re in front of us. I can tell you who the problem is. Valerie, the emo freshers, the girl who doesn’t talk, the deaf one, the deaf one’s friend and… Beth.

QUENTIN: What? That’s ridiculous.

RICKY: Yeah! Well, I don’t really know who you meant for any of the others, but leave Beth alone.

MAGS: But I’m right! Right, Lo-Lo?

LOGAN: Uh…

OPHELIA: You sure? It sounds like you’re overcompensating for being the problem, Berry. Because from where I was standing, it was a different story.

MAGS: How dare you?!

SKY: ‘The deaf one’? Are you kidding me?

DAMIEN: Jesus Louise-us, way to throw everyone under the bus.

MAGS: Oh, I wish I could.

SHAWN watches BETH carefully as everyone argues.

JAMES: Alright, everybody calm down, right now.

'''The arguing continues, growing louder. Show BETH’s view of the room, spinning, with everything muffled.'''

IVAN: Beth, you wanna go get some air, maybe water? You look like you need it.

BETH: No, no, I’m… I’m okay.

IVAN: Are you sure? Beth?

Hastily stopping arguing, QUENTIN whirls around, eyes wide.

QUENTIN: Beth! Jesus Christ Superstar, somebody catch her!

'''Return to the normal perspective. RICKY sprints forward to catch BETH, just in time.'''

RICKY: It’s okay, I gotcha…

BETH: No… Get off of me…

RICKY: I know you don’t like me very much right now, but you need to sit down, okay?

BETH: No, I’m fine!

She stands up straight, reeling.

JAMES: You’re not fine. Far from it. Listen to Ricky.

RICKY: [Softly] You’re sick, rest.

He puts BETH on the nearest chair as the club crowd around.

BLUE: Jesus Christ…

FRANKY: Is she alright?

LIAM: Uh, this isn’t a regular occurrence, by the way.

QUENTIN: Oh, honey… [To RICKY] Thanks for catching her, I’ve got it.

RICKY: Are you sure?

QUENTIN: Yeah. Leave her alone.

'''He gives RICKY a brief, apologetic look. OPHELIA sits next to BETH, wrapping an arm around her shoulder.'''

OPHELIA: You poor little thing… I have water, you want some water?

BETH: Yeah…

OPHELIA: If you’re contagious, I’ll kill you myself. Tobias, baby, can you pass my water?

TOBIAS: Of course.

'''As TOBIAS goes to do so, BETH watches RICKY, almost longingly. REUBEN can be seen in the doorway, just for a moment.'''

DAMIEN: Hey… Do you want him to come back?

BETH: No…

QUENTIN: Beth, it’s okay to forgive him. He was stupid, but he’s sorry.

BETH: What about my principles?

OPHELIA: Believe me, life’s way more fun without them.

DAMIEN nods, emphatically.

MISTY: Beth, sweetie, you need to take it easy. You do so much!

BETH: So do you.

MISTY: Well, I’m not the half-unconscious one, am I?

BETH: Half-conscious.

JUDE: Corcoran, you can’t ‘glass-half-full’ your way out of this.

BETH: I can do that out of anything.

QUENTIN: No. Bad.

JAMES: Everyone back off a little, don’t crowd her too much. Beth, I’m gonna call your mom, okay? She’ll come pick you up.

BETH: But I have cheer rehearsal!

JAMES: And I don’t care. Don’t cheer before you can stand. Come on, let’s get you to the nurse.

QUENTIN: I’ll come too.

JAMES: No, we need you here. Take over?

QUENTIN: But—

BETH: Quentin, please.

QUENTIN: Alright. For you.

JAMES leads BETH out.

MAGS: [Whispered] If she dies, who becomes captain?

VIOLA and VALERIE stare, horrified. Scene 11, the nurse’s office.

JAMES: You sit there, I’ll go call. Anything you need before I go?

BETH: No, thank you.

JAMES: Sure? Alright, back soon. Rest.

'''Left alone, BETH lies on the bed, giving a deep sigh. A few beats pass, before RICKY enters.'''

BETH: Who is it?

RICKY: It’s me. Sorry.

BETH: Ricky?

RICKY: Hey, Corky.

BETH sits up, glaring.

RICKY: I mean Beth. Can I sit with you?

BETH: I’d rather you didn’t.

RICKY: So… I can’t?

BETH: …Sit.

RICKY: Okay. Thank you.

He sits next to her, immediately.

BETH: Shouldn’t you be rehearsing?

RICKY: We’re taking a break. Oh, I saw Mr. B, he’s calling your mom.

BETH: I know.

RICKY: Okay… Beth, I just want everything back to normal. I want us back to normal. I’m sorry.

BETH: I don’t want to hear it.

RICKY: I know. But please just let me explain—

BETH: Again, explain what? It still seems pretty damn straightforward to me! Oh… God…

RICKY sits up straight, alarmed.

RICKY: What is it? Are you okay? Should I call someone, or…?

BETH: I’ll be fine.

RICKY: Here, take my water. We don’t have to do this now, you don’t need that. It’s okay.

BETH: I’m not some weak little baby bird, Ricky.

RICKY: Don’t I know it?

BETH: Come on, let’s fight.

RICKY: No… Beth, you’re sick.

BETH: I’m not sick!

RICKY: Well, you’re sure as hell not… Not sick. Uh, healthy.

BETH: I’m perfectly healthy, thank you.

RICKY: Try telling me that when you haven’t literally just passed out. You’re exhausted. Look at you. You look like you haven’t slept in a month, but… You’re still so hot.

BETH: What?

RICKY: Eh, it doesn’t matter. You just amaze me. You do so much and you never seem to struggle… Except today. Beth, how do you do it?

BETH: Unsuccessfully, clearly.

RICKY: Then how have you done it for so long?

BETH: A cocktail of vitamins and legal stimulants.

RICKY: What?

BETH: It doesn’t matter.

She leans against RICKY.

BETH: I’m tired, Ricky. Of all of it. I can’t do this anymore.

RICKY: Hey, you’re just a little burnt out. Go home, rest, then see how you feel. Yeah?

BETH: Yeah… Okay.

RICKY: Worst comes to worst, we make some scheduling changes. The club’s doing great, we probably don’t have to rehearse as much. And let’s face it, Coach Stanton isn’t gonna reschedule.

BETH: Tell me about it.

RICKY plays with her ponytail.

RICKY: You scared me back there, you know that?

BETH: What do you care?

RICKY: I do care, Beth. A lot. I just want you to be okay…

JAMES enters.

JAMES: Oh, hey, Ricky. Hey, Beth… How you feeling?

BETH: I’m okay.

JAMES: You sure?

BETH: Well, not okay, but…

JAMES: I know. Your mom’ll be here soon. Ricky, are you sure you should be here?

RICKY: I just had to come check on this one, but I can go, if—

BETH: He can stay.

JAMES: Really?

RICKY: Really?

BETH: Yeah… It doesn’t mean I’m forgiving you. Not yet…

RICKY: I know.

JAMES: I’ll, uh… Leave you to it.

He exits.

RICKY: Thank you for letting me stay.

BETH shrugs.

RICKY: I thought you hated me.

BETH: I… Can’t hate you. And I know you didn’t mean any of it, but… It still hurt. You don’t value Glee over your reputation?

RICKY: I made it pretty clear from the start, didn’t I?

BETH: I know, I just… Thought things were different.

RICKY: That’s the thing, they are! It really wasn’t—

BETH: No, you don’t have to explain. I get it.

RICKY sighs, defeated.

BETH: We’ve said all we can say. I just need time.

RICKY: Alright… I’ll give you all the time in the world, if that’s what it’ll take. '''Scene 12, REUBEN & FRANKY’s kitchen. REUBEN’s serving dinner.'''

FRANKY: [Offscreen] I’m home!

'''He enters. REUBEN barely glances up.'''

REUBEN: You’re late again… I suppose you were studying?

FRANKY: Right first time! I’ll be caught up in no time.

REUBEN: Will you? Interesting.

FRANKY: Is it? Ooh, is that dinner ready?

REUBEN Mm-hm. Sit down.

FRANKY: Okay… Dad, is everything…?

REUBEN: Oh, fine! Why wouldn’t it be?

FRANKY: Well, I don’t know…

REUBEN: How was your day?

FRANKY: Fine. Uneventful, really.

REUBEN: Really? That’s surprising.

FRANKY: You reckon? How was yours, then?

REUBEN: Nightmarish kids, endless slushying… The new usual. Oh, except for one thing.

FRANKY: Yeah?

REUBEN: It sounds like one of the juniors had some kind of breakdown in Glee Club. Passed out and everything. Evidently, she’s been letting it rule her entire life. She’s been so distracted in classes. It sure sounds to me like that club’s nothing but bad news.

FRANKY: Her name’s Beth and I… Heard about that.

REUBEN: How do you know her name, buddy?

FRANKY: Well, isn’t she the head cheerleader, or something? Word gets around fast, you know what high school’s like.

REUBEN: I suppose. You alright? It looks like you’ve got something to tell me.

FRANKY: No, nothing, Dad.

REUBEN: You sure?

FRANKY: I’m sure.

They eat in silence.

FRANKY: Dad, what’s going on?

REUBEN: Nothing’s going on with me, kiddo.

FRANKY: But something’s weird… Have I done something?

REUBEN: You tell me.

FRANKY: Not that… I know of.

REUBEN: Then I guess there’s nothing, right?

FRANKY: Well…

REUBEN: Franky, what we have is based on trust. I would have thought you could trust me enough to be honest.

FRANKY: A-About what, Dad?

REUBEN: Where you’ve been.

FRANKY: Just… School.

REUBEN: Yeah… Where?

FRANKY silently takes another bite of his food.

REUBEN: Franky, I heard the commotion in the choir room, so I went to see what was going on. And I couldn’t believe what I saw.

FRANKY: I know, Beth was really—

REUBEN: Franky!

FRANKY: Shit…

REUBEN: Shit indeed. Didn’t I tell you to stay away from there? What we have is based on trust, and I can’t believe you would betray it.

FRANKY: Dad, I only came to watch, that’s all.

REUBEN: And you got quite a show. Just… Don’t get any ideas. I’ve made my position clear. I don’t want you doing too much. Look what became of Beth!

FRANKY: I wouldn’t be, it’s one club! Beth does tons of others. Besides, that isn’t true. You don’t care how much I do. You just don’t want me doing anything fun.

REUBEN: Franky, that’s not fair. I don’t want you going all around the country for competitions, certainly.

FRANKY: Yeah, yeah, no distractions. Is it so wrong to want to leave my mark?

REUBEN: I know you want to do that, and I understand, but there are better ways to do it than an arbitrary singing contest that might get you an arbitrary trophy. I know you, Franky. You love music, you’d let it dictate your whole life, if you could. That’s what worries me.

FRANKY: But I won’t! I’ll keep my grades up, I’ll be early for every class, and I won’t get expelled this time! I’ll make you proud of me.

REUBEN: I’m already proud of you… But the fact remains, I don’t want you anywhere near that Glee Club.

FRANKY: What happened to trust?

REUBEN: You’re going to have to earn that back.

FRANKY: Because of one lie? Dad, I just want to do what I love!

REUBEN: And you can. When you’ve finished high school.

FRANKY: This isn’t fair.

REUBEN: Life isn’t fair, and it’s time you learned that.

FRANKY: Oh, for God’s sake!

'''He stands, ready to leave, but stops to put his dishes in the sink, before storming to his room. He picks up his guitar.'''

FRANKY: Maybe my song isn't happy enough but I,

I see it take flight with the snowflakes above me

My coffee gets cold as I'm staring enthralled

At the snow that keeps falling outside

And traveling light is a curse and a blessing

For someone like me whose heart has gone missing

So get on that plane, as the snow turns to rain

And I'm writing your name on the clouds

And see you in London or maybe in Paris

Berlin will be waiting, and so will be Rome

And maybe I'll see you again when it's snowing in Venice

And I will be on my way home.

I'm dialling long distance with frozen fingers

Double-oh-one and familiar numbers

You sound so strange, then I ran out of change

How are you dear, yeah it's still snowing here

Are you doing all right, are you lonely at night

And see you in London or maybe in Paris

Berlin will be waiting, and so will be Rome

And maybe I'll see you again when it's snowing in Venice

And I will be on my way home.

Cut to McKinley’s auditorium.

FRANKY: Oh la Venezia

Mi fa cosi bene

Esco ogni sera e vado a ballare

Che ben atmosfera, che bellissima neve

Non ce proprio niente che mi posso mancare

Maybe my song isn't happy enough but I,

I see it take flight with the snowflakes above me

My coffee gets cold as I'm staring enthralled

At the snow that keeps falling outside

Maybe I'll see you again when it's snowing in Venice

And I will be on my way home…

'''Distant applause makes him look up, startled. ALFIE enters.'''

ALFIE: Well, you told me you could sing, but I didn’t know you could sing like that. And in Italian, too. I’m very impressed. I take it the talent doesn’t come from your father’s side?

FRANKY: Not likely, I’m adopted.

ALFIE: You— You are?

FRANKY: Yeah… Back in England. Dad was there for work.

ALFIE remains silent.

FRANKY: Sir?

ALFIE: Sorry, lost in thought. What did you think of the club, yesterday? Before…

FRANKY: They’re brilliant. I wish I could join.

ALFIE: You’d be very welcome.

FRANKY: I know… [Woodenly] But I’m to stay away from the Glee Club, I don’t have time for it.

ALFIE: You told him?

FRANKY: I was caught.

ALFIE: He can’t really stop you.

FRANKY: Well, he’s told me to stay away, so…

ALFIE: And you’re going to listen to him?

FRANKY: He’s my father, sir! What choice do I have?

ALFIE: You always have a choice! I don’t care what he thinks, I’m telling you, you have too much talent to waste! Say you don’t join. You do everything he wants. Get into an Ivy League university and spend your adult life sitting behind a desk. Would you be happy?

FRANKY: Of course not.

ALFIE: No, I didn’t think so. If I did everything my parents wanted, do you think I’d be teaching music?

FRANKY: I don’t know…

ALFIE: I wouldn’t. I went against their wishes, and I did what I loved. Granted, I dropped out of high school to do it, and I did plenty of other things that I wouldn’t recommend, but the point is I didn’t go down the path they chose for me. I paved my own. But you know what? In the end, they were still proud of me. I was decently successful, yes, but I was happy, too. And that’s… All a good parent wants for their child, really. I don’t like your father one bit, but I’m sure he’s a good one. He just needs time to realise that your path is different to the one he’s making for you. Please, Franky, do what makes you happy before it’s too late. It’ll all be worth it in the end.

FRANKY: Even if he hates me?

ALFIE: He’ll recover. You’re his family. He loves you, that’s probably why he’s so overprotective.

FRANKY: You think so?

ALFIE: I do. That, or he truly hates Glee Club, in which case he’s mad as a box of frogs.

FRANKY laughs.

FRANKY: I wouldn’t rule it out.

ALFIE: You never know. I’ll see you in class?

He gets up and starts to leave.

FRANKY: And… And in Glee.

ALFIE: I was hoping you’d say that. Are you sure?

FRANKY: Yeah… You’re right.

ALFIE: Of course I am. See you then, Franky.

FRANKY: See you. '''Scene 13, BETH’s bedroom. She lies in bed, watching rehearsal footage and frantically scribbling notes. She gives up for a moment.'''

BETH: Don't know how to take it, don't know where to go

My resistance running low

And every day the hold is getting tighter and it troubles me so

(FRANKY: You know that I'm nobody's fool) I'm nobody's fool and yet it's clear to me

I don't have a strategy

It's just like taking candy from a baby

And I think I must be

Under attack, I'm being taken

About to crack, defences breakin'

Won't somebody please have a heart?

Come and rescue me now 'cause I'm fallin' apart

Under attack, I'm taking cover

He's on my track, my chasing lover

Thinking nothing's gonna stop him now

Should I want to, I'm not sure I would know how

This is getting crazy, I should tell him so

Really let my anger show

Persuade him that the answer to his questions is a definite no.

'''Cut to FRANKY in the auditorium, packing up. REUBEN watches from the doorway, but FRANKY storms past him. Cut back to BETH.'''

FRANKY: I'm kind of shattered I suppose.

BETH: Guess I'm kind of flattered but I'm scared as well

Something like a magic spell

I hardly dare to think what would happen

Where I'd be if I fell

Under attack, I'm being taken

About to crack, defences breakin'

Won't somebody please have a heart?

Come and rescue me now 'cause I'm fallin' apart

Under attack, I'm taking cover

He's on my track, my chasing lover

Thinking nothing's gonna stop him now

Should I want to, I'm not sure I would know how

Under attack, I'm being taken

About to crack, defences breakin'

Won't somebody please have a heart?

Come and rescue me now 'cause I'm fallin' apart

Under attack, I'm taking cover

He's on my track, my chasing lover

Thinking nothing's gonna stop him now

Should I want to, I'm not sure I would know how

[+FRANKY] Under attack, I'm being taken

About to crack, defences breakin'

Won't somebody please have a heart?

Come and rescue me now, 'cause I'm fallin' apart.

'''BETH continues writing notes. RICKY enters.'''

RICKY: Hey, you… How you feeling?

BETH: [Distractedly] Fine. I’m not sick, Ricky… Ricky?

RICKY: Should you be doing that.

'''He gently takes BETH’s notebook, and she doesn’t resist. RICKY glances down, smiling.'''

RICKY: You’re so good at notes… I used to copy off you in freshman year.

BETH: I know.

RICKY: Do I see a smile? I think I do…

BETH: Shut up…

RICKY: You’re smiling.

He sits on her bed.

BETH: Why are you here? Is school over?

RICKY: Yeah, it’s 5 o’clock…

BETH glances to the clock, startled.

RICKY: I’m here because I couldn’t stop thinking about you. Because, uh, I was worried. Everyone was…

BETH: Sure you were.

RICKY: Beth, that’s not fair…

BETH: You wanna talk about fair?

RICKY: Let me explain Please?

BETH: Fine, since you’re so desperate to…

Before he can, SHELBY enters.

SHELBY: Hey, sweetie. How you doing?

BETH: I’m fine, Mom.

'''She takes the notebook back and hides it, with help from RICKY. Their hands continue touching afterwards.'''

BETH: Ricky, I guess you’ve met my mom?

RICKY: Yeah, she let me in. It’s good to meet you, Mrs. Corcoran.

SHELBY: Ms. Corcoran, honey. I’m not married.

RICKY: Right, sorry.

He unconsciously strokes BETH’s hand with his thumb, which SHELBY immediately notices.

SHELBY: And it’s good to meet you too… So, you’re one of Beth’s friends from Glee Club, huh?

RICKY: Yep.

BETH: Oh, no, he’s my mortal enemy right now, Mom.

SHELBY: Ah, you’re that Ricky.

RICKY: Yeah… Sorry about that.

SHELBY: [Chuckling] Well, I’ll leave you two to fight it out. Try not to kill each other.

BETH: No promises!

'''SHELBY exits. BETH looks down at RICKY’s hand.'''

BETH: Uh… You were about to explain?

RICKY: Right, right. You heard the guys making fun of Glee Club, right?

BETH: You know I did.

RICKY: Did you hear what came after?

BETH: I heard you laugh along with them.

RICKY: I know, I’m sorry. But, after that?

BETH: No…

Flashback to the scene, at the moment they start laughing.

RICKY: No, I shouldn’t laugh, that’s not cool. Glee Club’s great. Beth’s worked real hard on it! She taught me how to do jazz hands, and I can do them with both hands, now! I don’t even hit myself anymore.

JOCK #1: Dude, what the hell are jazz hands?

RICKY: You know…

He attempts to demonstrate.

RICKY: I’m not so good at explaining, you’d be better off asking Beth. In fact, hey, Beth— Where’d she go? Shit! Beth!

'''He starts to run after her, calling her name, but she keeps walking. Return to the present.'''

BETH: You defended us? And… Me?

RICKY: I tried, yeah. I’m sorry I didn’t do it better. I shouldn’t have laughed, and I know I didn’t say enough, and I’m so, so sorry that I hurt you so much. But everything I did say, I meant.

BETH: I know… It’s okay.

RICKY: Really? So… Is this you forgiving me?

BETH: Of course I forgive you… Hey, come and hug me.

RICKY hugs her, tightly.

RICKY: Thank God…

BETH: You’ve gotta forgive yourself too, you know.

RICKY: No… There’s still more things I’ve gotta do first.

BETH: If you say so. How’s the club doing?

RICKY: [Lighting up] Oh, it’s great… I mean, obviously not the same without you, but… I can’t wait for you to see.

BETH: See what?

RICKY: Oh, nothing…

BETH: Ricky!

RICKY: You’ll see! Just… Get better and come back, okay?

BETH: Okay… Ricky, I don’t always like surprises.

RICKY: You’ll like this one, I promise. '''Scene 14, outside the choir room. BETH opens the door to find QUENTIN and RICKY leading the club through a number. FRANKY’s doing it with them, looking happier than he has all episode.'''

QUENTIN: 5, 6, 7, 8!

SHAWN: Looking great, guys! Ricky, it’s your other left.

RICKY: Right! Sorry, guys, it’s that way.

OPHELIA: Yeah, we all knew that, it was just you.

JAMES: Hey, look who’s back!

BETH: Hey…

QUENTIN: No, no, you can’t look, yet!

SEPTEMBER: Close your eyes!

OPHELIA rushes to cover BETH’s eyes.

RICKY: Everyone good? Alright, positions! We got this. Viola, you’re over… That way a little.

OPHELIA: We’ve gotta teach you left and right. Can I stop this, yet? My arms are exhausted.

RICKY: Sure. In position? Great! Beth, this one’s for you.

SEPTEMBER: Just a little something we put together!

OPHELIA: You sure about the song?

RICKY: Well, yeah, it’s one of her favourites, it’s in her favourite movie. Oh, Beth, you can open your eyes, now.

As she does, the club break into perfect choreography.

RICKY: Here's the thing

We started out friends

It was cool, but it was all pretend

Yeah, yeah

Since you been gone

You're dedicated, you took the time

Wasn't long 'til I called you mine

Yeah, yeah

Since you been gone…

DAMIEN & QUENTIN: And all you'd ever hear me say

Is how I picture me with you

That's all you'd ever hear me say!

OPHELIA: But since you been gone

I can breathe for the first time

I'm so moving on, yeah, yeah

Thanks to you

Now I get what I want!

QUENTIN: Since you been gone…

RICKY: ''How can I put it? You put me on''

I even fell for that stupid love song

Yeah, yeah

Since you been gone…

SEPTEMBER: How come I'd never hear you say

I just wanna be with you?

Guess you never felt that way!

RICKY & TOBIAS: But since you been gone

I can breathe for the first time

I'm so moving on, yeah, yeah

Thanks to you

Now I get what I want

Since you been gone…

'''From the doorway, REUBEN shakes his head at FRANKY. ALFIE moves to stand in front of the door.'''

OPHELIA: You had your chance, you blew it!

TOBIAS: Out of sight, out of mind!

OPHELIA: Shut your mouth, I just can't take it

Again, and again, and again, and again!

QUENTIN & SEPTEMBER: Since you been gone

(NEW DIRECTIONS: Since you been gone)

I can breathe for the first time

I'm so moving on, yeah, yeah

Thanks to you (OPHELIA: Thanks to you)

Now I get, I get what I want!

OPHELIA & DAMIEN: I can breathe for the first time

I'm so moving on, yeah, yeah

Thanks to you (TOBIAS: Thanks to you)

Now I get (TOBIAS: I get)

You should know (TOBIAS: You should know)

That I get

I get what I want!

ALL: Since you been gone

Since you been gone…

RICKY: Since you been gone…

BETH laughs in disbelief, tears in her eyes.

BETH: Since when could you do that?

RICKY: Woah, woah, are you crying?

He rushes to her.

RICKY: Okay, maybe the song was a bad choice, I’m sorry, I—

BETH: No… It was amazing. You remembered how much I love Pitch Perfect and everything…

RICKY: Well, yeah… Then why are you crying?

BETH: Because I’m happy, Ricky!

RICKY: Promise?

BETH: I promise.

QUENTIN laughs, making his way over.

QUENTIN: You need a hug?

BETH: Uh-huh.

'''QUENTIN pulls both BETH and RICKY into a hug. After a moment, he pulls away, but RICKY and BETH don’t stop. QUENTIN raises an eyebrow at the rest of the club. RICKY kisses BETH’s forehead.'''

OPHELIA: Guys?

RICKY: Huh? Oh, still here…

BETH: From the top?

The club cheers.

Roll credits.