Summary: It's almost the end of the first semester, so let's see what's going on with everyone!
Also, since Ellis Wylie was in this episode as an extra, I took the liberty of adding her into the episode.
CASTING
Clayton Lemelle . . . MAXFIELD CAMP
Tiffany Marcia . . . SHANNA HENDERSON
Ella Marshall . . . ELLIS WYLIE
Finn and Will had just bolted up out of their seats and ran onto the stage to check on Marley.
"Guys, get out of the way!" Finn exclaimed, pushing through the kids to get to the fallen girl.
"Everyone, get Marley to the choir room quickly," Will instructed. Mike, Santana, and Puck had run on stage by this time. "Mike and Puck, the school nurse should still be on campus. Go get her, quick!"
"Should we get an ambulance?" Sugar asked frantically.
Marley began stirring.
"No," Will said. "I think she's fine. Let the nurse see her first."
Back in the audience, the judges were impatiently waiting for the New Directions to continue their performance.
"The judges look pissed," Quinn whispered to Mercedes, as the audience waited with baited breath as Marley was dragged off the stage.
"We're going to have to go to backup set list plan," Mercedes replied.
"We have a backup set list?" Quinn asked.
"Yep," Mercedes said quickly, rummaging through her purse. "Ever since I had my solo stolen away from me in sophomore year, I've always kept a copy of backup songs to use."
"Found it?" Quinn asked excitedly as Mercedes extracted a card out of her purse.
"This is a list of all the possible alternatives for solos, duets, and group numbers," Mercedes said.
"Okay," Quinn breathed. "What are we going to do about the duet?"
"Santana said something about Blaine and Artie doing a mashup duet at the beginning of the year, so we may have to go with that," Mercedes reasoned. "It'll have to be just the two of them. The others are going to have to be backstage figuring out the choreography for 'Some Nights.' Speaking of which, how are we going to cover up Marley's parts?"
Quinn pursed her lips for a moment. "Okay, give Tina Marley's singing parts, and give Unique the runs at the end—"
"But she missed rehearsals for that," Mercedes said.
"Exactly what you said: they'll have to figure it out during Blaine and Artie's duet," Quinn said.
"Okay," Mercedes agreed. "And Sugar can take that line about how 'they sound like a swan.'"
Back in the auditorium, the judges were not too happy.
"I'm not waiting for them to come back," Stan Cook said.
"This is a clear violation of the rules," Harrison muttered.
"If they're not back within the next two minutes, can we just disqualify them?" Allison Metcalfe asked.
"Can we just declare the Mennonites the winners?" Harrison asked. "They were the only group that didn't sing songs with an inappropriate or overly mature hidden meaning."
"No, the Warblers should take the trophy," Allison defended. "They had the best choreography, and I feel like out of all three groups, they're the most prepared to take on their competition at the Regionals. And I daresay that their vocals were good enough to get to Nationals."
"I personally had a soft spot for those New Directions," Stan said. "They really reminded me of my youth, and what could have been," he said thoughtfully. "Plus, they were National champs last year, so—"
"Okay, this is a show choir competition, not a sympathy or automatic pass competition," Harrison said. "If they're National champs, they should've been prepared to reach the bar again."
"And I feel like the Warblers set the bar way higher this competition," Allison pointed out.
"Okay," Stan agreed. "Aside from the New Directions' youth and fun, I have to agree that the Warblers definitely showed a higher edge of precision and vocal quality."
"Well, the only other songs on New Directions' set list is 'Chasing Pavements' and 'Some Nights,' and to be quite honest, I've had enough Top 40 for the evening, which is why I preferred the classical Mennonites," Harrison said, marking down his votes.
"Alright," Allison agreed, also casting her voting ballot. "And seriously, 'Gangnam Style?' I am sick of how hyped up it is in this country. Just because it's popular, doesn't mean the song is good. Who would dare do that for a choir competition? How old is their director?"
"Judges, can I have your voting ballots?" the competition host asked, collecting the cards. Momentarily, he was on stage to announce the results.
Sue looked smug in her seat. "Well, Strawberry Shortcake, I hope you realize that the New Directions were in clear violation of the rules. Oh, improving arts education funding definitely comes at a price, right?"
"Ladies and gentlemen, we are now ready to release the results," the host said.
Quinn and Mercedes had been instructed via an emergency text from Mike to represent the New Directions on stage with Sugar as temporary directors. Mercedes, Sugar, and Quinn stood together, holding hands, closing their eyes, and bowing their heads. Mercedes and Sugar were praying that this wouldn't turn out like their TroubleTones loss last year.
"In third place," the judge began. "The New Directions!"
Quinn, Sugar, and Mercedes gasped and clasped their hands to their mouths before sharing an emotional embrace and accepting their small third-place trophy.
"In second place," the judge continued. "The Rosedale Mennonites, which means the Warblers are victorious and moving onto the Regionals!"
Hunter and Sebastian grinned, high-fived, hugged, and ran forward to accept their first-place award.
"So they lost for the first time in New Directions history?" Tiffany asked Santana. A couple of weeks had passed, but Santana had only told her friends that bit of information now.
"Yep," Santana sighed. She had returned to Louisville on time to resume her Monday classes. "We've won every year since Mr. Schue got the club started, but then the beluga whale took over and ruined every chance they had of winning with that stupid foreigner song."
"Well, that sucks," Clayton said. "There's no chance of the team moving on to Regionals?"
"Nada," Santana sighed again.
"I hate seeing you like this," Tiffany said sympathetically, hugging Santana.
"So, are you still thinking about leaving Louisville?" Clayton asked.
Santana shrugged. "I don't know. On one hand, I feel like I don't belong here, but on the other hand, I know I'm having a blast here."
"Just follow your dreams, Santana," Tiffany said. "I mean, everyone should find their place in life, and anyone will understand if you think New York or even Lima is the better option!"
Santana sighed. "I do like it here in Louisville, and I love both of you guys. You really made coming here that much easier."
"And you've done the same for us," Clayton said with a cute smile.
"But whatever happens, whether I decide to stay or leave, I'll never forget the first semester of college I had here," Santana said proudly.
"All the football victories," Clayton began.
"And all the late-night cramming sessions and student center performances," Tiffany laughed.
Santana giggled. "Thanks, guys."
"Speaking of performances," Clayton said. "I heard gig space is wide open Friday night. You guys want to go?" he asked.
"I can totally go for it," Santana said.
"Sugar, where have you been?" Marley asked as she passed Sugar in the hallway.
"Well, since Glee's finished, I'm trying to get Figgins to start up a money club, where we can go on field trips to the mall and spend money! But, he said that the only way such a club can be approved is if it's a fundraising club," Sugar said casually.
"What makes you think Glee's over?" Marley asked.
"Well, we can't move on to Regionals, so there is really no point in staying with the club when I can be investing my time in something that can continue for the year," Sugar said. "What are we supposed to work towards in Glee Club when we have no competitions?"
Marley was at a loss for words. Neither Finn nor Mr. Schue said anything about that. An athletic team can't be together without playing a game; or else, what is all the work for? "Finn has the auditorium booked tonight, at 9:54 until 10, if you want to come by."
"And do what? Rehearse for six minutes? Finn takes almost five minutes alone on roll call, like 'Wilde' and 'Motta' are such hard last names to pronounce," Sugar said. "And to be honest, I've had enough of Finn directing already. He chose a ridiculous theme for Sectionals and we lost. Do you know how humiliating it was for me to be up on that stage with Mercedes and Quinn to accept New Directions' first ever third place award at Sectionals? And I haven't gotten to sing lead vocals yet. I want my shot too."
Marley grimaced. "Maybe we can work something out with—"
"Work something out? I've been trying that forever," Sugar said irritably. "Love you like a sister, but I've gotta hit the bank. Shopping spree tonight!" Sugar exclaimed excitedly, prancing off outside the school.
"Whoo, girl!" Unique exclaimed as she clumsily rolled through the hallway. "Have you seen a runaway puck around here?"
"Puck as in Noah Puckerman or puck as in a hockey puck?" Marley asked.
"Don't be silly; I mean my hockey puck! But a Puckerman would be just as fine; but Jake is totes yours if you still want him!" Unique joked as she continued on down the hall.
Marley sighed and turned around to see four Cheerios approaching her. "Guys! Are any of you going to Glee rehearsal tonight?"
"Well, we're about to go to conditioning for Cheerios practice!" Blaine said excitedly.
"Yeah, we're doing a routine with hula hoops and we need to build our abdominal structures to do it right," Tina said.
Brittany and Kitty led the two new Cheerios away to their practice.
Marley felt like there was nowhere else to turn. Jake and Ryder both sped past outside doing sprints with the other basketball boys.
On Friday night on December 7, the trio of Louisville students was on stage at a University of Louisville stage in front of a mass of students spending their Monday night trying to rid the stress of studying for finals. The three were clothed in University of Louisville hoodies. The weather was stooping down to the 50's.
"Hey everyone!" Santana greeted. "Hope you're all doing well, getting good grades, and hopefully getting ready to spend the holiday season with family and friends!"
"I'm Tiffany Marcia, this is Santana Lopez, and that's Clayton Lemelle on guitar," Tiffany introduced.
"And tonight, we're going to be singing one of my most favorite songs of Blake Shelton's, 'The Dreamer.'"
Song: "The Dreamer" by Blake Shelton
Clayton: Funny thing about dreamers
When the dream is in their sights
Just to get where they're goin'
They leave a lot of good things behind {Santana flashback to the Troubletones' Sectionals}
Tiffany: Guess you could call me a dreamer
And I've seen it all come true
So I smile when I need to look happy
And do all the things they tell me to
Clayton: Yeah I'm a big self-made man
And a fool who can't understand
All: I thought I needed fortune
I thought I needed fame
But all I need is to hear you
Whisper my name
Santana: If I could only make the future
An extension of my past
I'd take these broken memories
And make those moments last
Now that my ship has come
I wonder what have I done
All: I thought I needed fortune
I thought I needed fame
But all I need is to hear you
Whisper my name
Santana: I thought I needed fortune
I thought I needed fame
All: But all I need is to hear you {Brittana flashback}
Whisper my name
Tiffany: Oh yeah whisper baby
Meanwhile, back in New York, the Winter Showcase was about to start. Madam Tibideaux was at center stage doing her introduction.
"And as we move into this holiday season, I ask all of our students here today not to neglect their academics. We may be merry and bright as we excitedly erect our Christmas trees and sing carols around the streets of New York City, but we are, first and foremost, a school dedicated to building the artists of our future.
"That said, it is now time to commence with the annual Winter Showcase. The first act is from the sophomore class in the musical theater major: Ms. Ella Marshall."
Ella, seated in the front row, grinned and walked up to center stage, handing the pianist her sheet music.
"Good evening, everyone. It is an honor to be invited to the 2012 Winter Showcase, so much thanks to you, Madam Tibideaux. Tonight, I will be singing one of my most favorite jazz numbers."
Song: "I'm Beginning to See the Light" by Michael Buble
I never cared much for moonlit skies,
I never winked back at fireflies,
But now that the stars are in your eyes,
I'm beginning to see the light.
I never went in for afterglow,
Or candle light on the Mistletoe,
But now when you turn the lamp down low,
I'm beginning to see the light.
I used to ramble through the park,
Shadow boxing in the dark,
Then you came and caused a spark,
That's a four-alarm fire now.
I never made love by lantern shine,
I never saw rainbows in my wine,
But now that your lips are burning mine,
I'm beginning to see the light.
I never went in for afterglow,
Or candle light on the Mistletoe,
But now when you turn the lamp down low,
I'm beginning to see the light.
I used to ramble through the park,
Shadow boxing in the dark,
Then you came and caused a spark,
That's a four-alarm fire now.
I never made love by lantern shine,
I never saw rainbows in my wine,
But now that your lips are burning mine,
I'm beginning to see the light.
I used to ramble through the park,
Shadow boxing in the dark,
Then you came and caused a spark,
That's a four-alarm fire now.
I never made love by lantern shine,
I never saw rainbows in my wine,
But now that your lips are burning mine,
I'm beginning,
Oh I'm beginning,
I'm beginning to see the light.
Ooh that light,
I'm beginning to see the light.
The audience applauded enthusiastically as Ella gave her song a big finish. Madam Tibideaux smiled and applauded as she went up to the stage.
"Sweet vocals, Ms. Marshall," Carmen said, gesturing for Ella to retake her seat in the front row. Our next performer comes from the senior class and is majoring in dance. His experience with classical ballet has—"
"I'm going to go outside and breathe for a bit," Rachel whispered to Kurt before she got up and left the round room to get ready for her performance.