A/N: This was inspired by the Nike commercial for Michael Jordan which can be found on YouTube, it's the first result when you search for "nike what is love" Also, only the 240p version has sound for some reason. And by inspired, I mean I pretty much copied it frame by frame.
Disclaimer: Don't own Glee, just playing with it. Twice. Maybe more?
"How long is this shit?"
"It says it's four and a half minutes long"
"The fuck Artie? Who wants to listen to someone talk about Broadway for that long?"
"Hey bitches shut up, it finished loading."
The former members of New Directions, minus Rachel Berry and Finn Hudson, turned to look at the HDTV in Artie's basement.
"Here goes."
The screen was black.
Words faded in.
"Love Supreme
A Broadway Love Story"
The words faded out.
Drums started to play.
New words took their place.
They heard Rachel read the words, "What is love?"
Video of Rachel on a Broadway stage faded in as the words vanished.
Happy flutes came in.
Her best performances.
Her biggest solos.
Her brightest moments.
"Love is waiting tables."
Home video of Rachel in a restaurant waiting tables, smiling for the camera then shooing it away.
The drums sounded angrier.
Rachel on Broadway again.
Her saddest scenes.
Crying, shouting, and yelling.
"Love is taking the stages less seen."
Rachel on Off-Off-Broadway, looking unpolished but full of potential.
A string section entered sounding anxious. A piano sounded ominous.
"Love is seeing a new show every week."
Home video of a smiling Rachel with dozens and dozens of Playbills, programmes, and tickets spread out on a table.
Rachel back on Broadway with her chin up and mouth open, singing without a sound.
"Love is the final note."
Flashes of the final songs from each of Rachel's shows.
Rachel during her award speech at the Tony Awards.
"Love is your first."
A montage of Rachel's three Tony award winning performances spliced with her acceptance speeches.
"Love is your third."
The music faded out, only a slow drumming remained.
Rachel at a press conference.
"When I lose the sense of motivation and the need to prove myself as an actor, I believe it is time for me to step away from the stage."
Sad violins sounded a melancholy note.
Fade to a soundless black.
Home video of Rachel moping around a luxurious Manhattan condo filled with random art projects: paintings, clay, photographs.
"Love is realizing when not to quit your day job."
Rachel in dark sunglasses and a hat entering the rear entrance of a stage surrounded by fans and cameras.
Scenes from her first Broadway show after her retirement. She stumbled. Her blocking was wrong. She looked out of place.
"Love is silencing your critics."
Video of a more confident and vibrant Rachel on stage.
Home video of that same Rachel nearly collapsing as she reached backstage.
"Love is performing on nothing except heart."
The home video continued with Rachel standing up and going back out on stage.
Another montage, this time of Rachel's fourth and fifth Tony Award winning performances and her acceptance speeches.
Rachel backstage with her eyes closed and a serious look. The curtain and her eyes open, she slowly walks towards front and center with a bright smile.
"What is love? Love is performing every play as if it is your last."
Fade to black.
"Holy shit that was good. Let's go see a musical!"
"I thought you didn't want to hear someone talk about Broadway for four minutes?"
"You're not too old to go in a dumpster."
A/N 2: At least one more chapter to come.