An orchestra plays a waltz as a number of guests dance around the room - women in long, flowing ball gowns and men in tuxedos. A conductor leads an orchestra using his violin bow as a baton. Outside, cars and carriages fill the driveway. Rachel and Jesse greet the arriving guests.
Outside, the children stand on a garden terrace, peering through doors on one side of the ballroom.
"The women look so beautiful." Janelle said.
"I think they look ugly." James said.
"You just say that because you're scared of them."
"Silly, only grown-up men are scared of women."
"I think the men look beautiful." Kim said.
"How would you know?"
Kim points her nose in the air, snubbing Sarah. Lea wanders onto the marble terrace, staring dreamily into space. Janelle stands watching her as Lea as she imagines a young man is asking her to dance. Lea curtsies and begins to waltz by herself.
"Lea, who are you dancing with?"
"Nobody."
"Oh, yes you are."
Caleb cuts in, tapping Lea on shoulder.
"May I have this dance?"
"I'd be delighted, young man."
The children gather to watch Lea and Caleb waltz together. Quinn walks onto the terrace and joins them.
"Well, why didn't you children tell me you could dance?"
"We were afraid you'd make us all dance together - the Hudson Family Dancers!" James said.
The other children laugh. As James speaks, the music stops, the guests applaud, and the music begins again. The children glance toward the ballroom.
"What's that they are playing?" Kim asked.
"It's the Laendler. It's an Austrian folk dance."
"Show me."
"Oh, James, I haven't danced that since I was a little girl."
"Oh, you remember. Please."
"Well -"
"Please."
"All right, come on over here."
They move to the center of the terrace.
"Now, you bow and I curtsy."
"Like this?"
"Fine. Now, we go for a little walk - this way."
Quinn takes James' hand and demonstrates a dance step.
"One, two, three. One, two, three."
Rachel come out watching them dance.
"One, two, three, step together. Now, step hop. Step hop. Now, turn under. Whoop, not quite."
Rachel smiles and pulls on her white gloves.
"This way. Hop, step, hop, and under."
"Hmm - uh -"
"James -"
"Um -"
"We'll have to practice."
Rachel cuts in.
"Do allow me, will you?"
"Mm-hmm."
James joins the other children. Quinn stares at Rachel in surprise. She holds out her hand. She hesitates, then takes it. They start to dance liltingly around the terrace. With shy smiles they clasp hands and do a series of graceful twirls.
Rachel claps her hands as Quinn dances around him. She stops and she dances around her. Jesse comes out and stops short as she sees them dancing and looking into each other's eyes. Behind her, the party guests also perform the courtly dance. Arms entwined, Rachel and Quinn spin in a slow circle, gazing deeply into each other's eyes. Quinn steps back, troubled.
Quinn "I don't remember any more."
They share a dreamy gaze. Janelle walks over.
"Your face is all red."
"Is it? I don't suppose I'm used to dancing."
Rachel smiles tenderly. The music ends, the guests applaud. Jesse,
trying to hold her jealousy in check, walks over to Rachel.
"Why, that was beautifully done. What a lovely couple you make."
"Yes. I think it's time the, uh, children said good night."
"Yes. We'll be in the hall in a moment. We've got something very special prepared. (to children) Right?"
"Right. Yeah. Yes. Let's go. Come on."
Quinn and the children leave. Rachel takes Jesse' arm.
"All that needless worrying, Rach. You thought you wouldn't find a friend at the party."
She glances back in Quinn's direction.
"Chilly out tonight, isn't it?"
"Oh, I don't know. Seemed rather warm to me."
Rachel purses her lips, then puts on a polite smile. In the ballroom, Quinn makes an announcement.
"Ladies and gentlemen. The children of Mrs. Hudson wish to say good night to you."
Quinn leads the guests out of the ballroom and into the front hall. The children line up in four rows on the front steps.
There's a sad sort of clanging from the clock in the hall
And the bells in the steeple too
And up in the nursery an absurd little bird
Is popping out to say "cuckoo"
Cuckoo, cuckoo
Regretfully they tell us
Cuckoo, cuckoo
But firmly they compel us
Cuckoo, cuckoo
To say goodbye ...
Cuckoo!
... to you
The children march down the steps and line up in a row, waving at the guests.
So long, farewell, auf Wiedersehen, good night
I hate to go and leave this pretty sight
Caleb pretends to kick Kayla in the rear which causes her to hurry upstairs. All the children move over one spot in the line.
So long, farewell, auf Wiedersehen, adieu
Adieu, adieu, to yieu and yieu and yieu
Lea kicks Caleb upstairs. Everyone moves over.
So long, farewell, au revoir, auf Wiedersehen
I'd like to stay and taste my first champagne
"Yes?"
"No."
Pouting, Lea gets back in line where James kicks her upstairs. All move over.
So long, farewell, auf Wiedersehen, goodbye
I leave and heave a sigh and say goodbye - (falsetto) Goodbye!
Rachel waves James away. Janelle steps forward.
I'm glad to go, I cannot tell a lie
I flit, I float, I fleetly flee, I fly
Like ballerinas, Janelle and Sarah stretch their arms, skip from side to side then twirl upstairs. Kim sits on the stairs, skooching up the steps.
The sun has gone to bed and so must I
She lays her head on her hands and pretends to go to sleep.
So long, farewell, auf Wiedersehen, goodbye
Lea gathers Kim in her arms and follows her brothers and sisters up the remaining stairs. They wave from the balcony.
Goodbye, goodbye, goodbye
Goodbye!
The party guests wave as the children disappear into their rooms.
"They're extraordinary. What they would do at the festival! (to Quinn) Oh, young lady, I must have a word with you."
Noah drags Quinn by the hand.
"Rach, Rach, you're not going to let this girl get away. She has to join the party."
"No, really, I-"
"Sh sh sh. Stop it."
Jesse glares.
"Rach, please."
"You can if you want to, Ms. Fabray."
Noah "I insist. You will be my dinner partner. (quietly reassuring Jesse) This is business. Cedes, set another place next to mine for Fraulein Quinn."
Cedes hesitates. Quinn is uneasy.
"Whatever you say, sir."
"Well, it appears to be all arranged, doesn't it?"
"It certainly does."
"I'm not suitably dressed."
"Uh, well, you can change. We'll wait for you."
"All right."
Still uncertain, Quinn goes off to change. Rachel chats with his guests, among them the Ebberfelds.
"Rachel, you must be very proud of your youngsters."
"I am, thank you, ma'am."
"Is there a more beautiful expression of what is good in this country of ours than the innocent voices of our children?"
Jesse, overhearing all this, decides to follow Quinn upstairs.
Upstairs in her room, Quinn changes out of her dress.
"It's very kind of you to offer to help me, Mr. St. James."
"I'm delighted, Quinn."
"I-I-I- really don't think I do have anything that would be appropriate."
"Now, where is that lovely little thing you were wearing the other evening when Rachel couldn't keep her eyes off you?"
"Couldn't keep her eyes off me?"
"Come, my dear. Now, let's not pretend we don't know when a woman notices us."
Jesse pulls Quinn's simple, gauzy, cool blue dress from the closet.
"Here we are."
"Mrs. Hudson notices everybody and everything."
"There's no need to feel so defensive, Quinn. You are quite attractive, you know. Rachel would hardly be a woman if she didn't notice you."
"I hope you're joking."
"Not at all."
"But I've never done a thing to -"
"But you don't have to, my dear. There's nothing more irresistible than a woman who's in love with her.
"In love with her?"
"Of course. And what makes it so nice is ... she think she's in love with you."
"But that's not true."
"Surely you've noticed the way he looks into your eyes. And you know, uh, you blushed in his arms when you were dancing just now."
Putting her hands to her cheeks, Quinn realizes Jesse is right.
"Don't take it to heart. She'll get over it soon enough I should think."
"Then, I should go. I mustn't stay here."
Jesse likes this idea but tries not to show it. After a moment of confusion, Quinn grabs her carpetbag from beneath her bed and starts stuffing it with clothes.
"Is there something I can do to help?"
"No, nothing."
Jesse starts to leave.
"Yes."
Jesse stops.
"Please don't say a word about this to Mrs. Hudson."
"No. No, I wouldn't dream of it."
Jesse goes to the door and turns back to Quinn.
"Goodbye, Quinn."
She smiles fleetingly and walks out. Quinn watches her go, then continues to pack. She takes her drab gray dress off the hanger and bows her head, leaning against the bed in anguish.
Downstairs, Jesse searches the front hall, then hurries into the ballroom. He scans the crowd and weaves around the dancing couples to join Noah. Jesse grabs two glasses from a tray carried by a passing waiter and offers one to Noah.
"Champagne? I feel like celebrating. Cheers."
Jesse takes a long sip and, over the rim of her glass, eyes Rachel who stands on the opposite side of the room chatting with guests.
"You know something."
"Perhaps."
"Then, if you're so clever, tell me how to get Ms. Fabray to use
her influence with Rach. I want those children in the festival."
"Wouldn't do you any harm, either."
"I've thought of that."
"Well, if it's a matter of influence, maybe the one you have to be talking to is me."
Noah studies Jesse as she smiles coyly. She hands him her champagne glass and strides across the room to Rachel who takes his hand with a smile. They waltz, twirling gracefully alongside their guests.
Upstairs, Quinn emerges from her room, carrying her bag and guitar, and wearing her drab gray dress and leather hat. She peeks over the balcony railing into the empty front hall below, then hurries downstairs. Setting her guitar by the front door, she takes an envelope out of her pocket and stealthily crosses the hall to carefully prop the letter on a marble table. She rushes back to the door. Quinn picks up her guitar, hesitates, and turns to drink in her surroundings for one last time. Finally, she turns and hurries out the front door.
Bye Bye Quinn...or is it?
