Buster Moon isn't exactly what you would call a "selfless" man. He's arrogant, stubborn, even a liar sometimes. But he's fully willing to give his life for the sake of others. And that's exactly what he did that one unfaithful afternoon.
Nothing could've prepared him up for the flood. What he originally thought would be an amazing design decision turned out to be his biggest disaster.
The dress rehearsal turned out a mess. Water was pouring into the theater at the second. Buster hardly had anytime to make a plan to evacuate as he saw the other animals struggled to escape.
"Hey, guys-!" His voice was stolen as the water began to carry him out to another room. Although his vision was heavily blurred, he could see many of the contestants had attempted to run through the door, before being swept into the current as well.
He wrestled against the water, but it turned out to be no use. He felt his body being dragged against his will, forced into the nearest wall. Opening his eyes, he was met with a stinging pain as water rushed into his body. He felt his breath being knocked out of him at the second.
Using as much strength as he could muster, he looked around to see Meena pushed against the glass entrance. Each of the contestants were panicking, trying to find an escape route. They rammed into walls, punched into the ceilings, did everything they could to try and release some air into the space.
Buster had managed to keep a balanced head in the midst of danger. What, with dripping ceilings and falling stage lights, one has to be prepared! He waved his arms frantically, trying to get everyone to calm down, but to no avail.
He looked for something, anything, to help relieve the water pressure. But liquid just continued to creep in at every second. It rushed and rushed, and it felt like it was about this swallow him whole.
It was all his fault. The glass, the fake prize money, the whole competition - everything was his fault. And now, everyone else was gonna be punished for it.
Buster was starting to panic now. He was desperately looking for looking for a solution.
Then, Meena roared like a trumpet. Buster turned to her direction to see the poor girl still trapped in the glass door.
Wait...the glass door!
Buster could only think 'Meena, stay calm' as he dived into her direction and pushed her through the glass. He could hear her struggle for air, and he continued pushing and pushing, trying to pop her out of the building.
And finally - like a cork on a wine bottle - she squeezed out of the whole, releasing all the water from the theater. Buster was knocked back into the theater as the air flowed into the building.
Buster looked at the drenched contestants as the water poured out. He was just relieved to see that they got out. He felt himself able to breathe again at last, but highly unable to move.
He felt the ground beneath him begin to quake. Looking up, he saw the theater rock violently, before a large pillar fell to the ground. Soon, another pillar followed down, and more and more began to pour.
Realizing what was happening, Buster looked out to the contestants. Each of them looked shocked, making the connection as well. Johnny reached out, about to run in to save him, but Buster silently held up his paw. He didn't need anyone risking their life for him anymore.
Solemnly, he smiled. And as the theater continued to collapse around him, he mouthed three words to everyone outside.
"Dream big dreams."
His final image was Johnny and everyone else fleeing the premises as the theater encased him.
Then everything went dark.
In some sense, a prophecy came true that day. The prophecy that the name "Buster Moon" would go down in entertainment history.
It certainly did go down. As did him. And as did his entire theater.
Each of the contestants had returned home more than disappointed. They were tragically depressed, but they didn't know what to say.
Johnny had returned to an empty prison cell and an equally empty garage. He tried to fight against the cold night to try and get some rest, but he couldn't even sleep.
Ash returned to a quiet, lonely apartment. She shoved her guitar case under her bed, her hands gripping the end of her laptop where her lyrics were stored. The lyrics only Buster had ever heard, and no one else would.
Rosita returned to a laundry string where her children and husband hung, helplessly. She instantly rushed inside, fighting against tears as she tried to explain herself to them. She apologized continuously for her irresponsibility, but no matter how many times the would forgive her, she still felt guilty.
Mike had nowhere to return to. His current whereabouts are unknown. No one even saw where he fled after the theater collapsed.
And Meena...oh Meena. She returned, weeping silently to herself, as she collapsed in her mother's grasp. Her one chance. That one spectacle of hope. Gone.
All gone. Just like him.
The event was broadcast on the news that evening. The story about how failing show-runner Buster Moon lost his life to his collapsed theater. But it was brushed off like a speck of dust as the program cut to the sports section.
Only a few people reacted at the news. The few people that would actually remember him.
Despite the experience, everyone had come to the funeral. All the contestants, even though they didn't know each other or actually get to perform, had come to mourn the loss of their Moon.
Huddled around the tombstones, nothing was said. Nothing. No eulogies, no comments, not even any wise-crackers from Ash. Each of their hearts fell as the silence continued.
Buster Moon had died alone, as did his entire show.
No one else had come to his funeral. Absolutely no one else but them. He died sad, alone, and in silence.
And then, from the silence, a small hum came about. In the crowd, the few members had turned to see...Meena softly humming "Carry That Weight".
The contestants looked at her quietly as she hummed. The shyest of the group actually had a beautiful voice.
Johnny joined in next. Then Ash.
And one by one, they had all joined together. A beautiful, harmonious rendition that they all knew Buster would've loved. He would've absolutely adore this. Despite the fact that he was their boss, he always wanted to see them become a family.
And hopefully, he got his wish.
Sure, none of them really got to perform onstage. But for that one moment - that one beautiful moment - they all felt complete.
