So here's what you missed on Glee: It's 2022, and a lot of time has passed since the original days of the Glee Club. Tony-winning Rachel Berry gave birth to Kurt and Blaine's first child, Tina is teaching drama at McKinley, and Will's the successful principle of the McKinley High School for the Performing Arts where they now have four different glee clubs. Last week, a bunch of the New Directions reunited for Christmas, and even more are on their way back to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of the New Directions' first ever national championship.
INT. THE LIMA BEAN - SUNDAY, JANUARY 22, 2022 - MORNING
Rachel, Kurt, Tina, Artie, Mercedes, and Quinn entered their high school hangout, The Lima Bean.
"It's about time we're getting a chance to finally catch up," Quinn said, leading the pack into the line.
"Of course, we Glee OG's gotta keep this bridge connected for as long as we all shall live," Artie said.
The alumni found themselves behind a group of eight McKinley High students, who were acting fairly loud and obnoxious.
"Aye, waddup Figgins?" an Indian sophomore boy said, approaching the counter where Lima Bean manager Principal Figgins was working. This boy had a hip-hop swagger to him.
"Hello, Mr. Singh," Figgins muttered grumpily. "I'll assume you'll have your usual?"
"Got that right," Kabir said. "Aye, Figgins, you still got pumpkin spice?"
"Yes, we got the last batch of the season right here," Figgins said.
"Bet!" a blonde sophomore girl exclaimed. "Call me a basic bitch all you want, but remember, I'm not gonna have this again til September."
"Calm down, sis," her senior older brother declared. "Mr. Figgins, I'll just have a caramel macchiato, iced."
"Make that two," a sophomore Latino named Antonio said.
"Mr. Figgins, could you recommend me, like the sweetest tea you have?" a black sophomore girl named Hailey asked.
"I might recommend the peach–" Figgins began.
"No, Hailey, you should totally just go with an earl grey with honey - works wonders for my voice," a Filipino sophomore named Eva suggested.
"I'll just take a regular coffee, two sugars," a black native American sophomore boy named Sky interrupted.
"And I'll take a scone with an English breakfast tea," a sophomore North African Latina girl concluded.
"You think if I pull the celeb card they'll let me cut in front of them?" Mercedes asked impatiently.
Hearing the word "celeb," the group turned around. The group gasped - half of them were huge fans of Rachel and the other half were huge fans of Mercedes. Figgins rolled his eyes as he tabulated change for the students.
"Oh, hey Quinn!" the senior blonde boy said.
"You guys look so familiar," Rachel said.
"Guys, this is Stevie and Stacie Evans; Sam's younger siblings," Quinn introduced.
"Oh my gosh, right!" Rachel exclaimed. "We did a song with you guys in the auditorium when you were like this tall!"
"Right!" Stacie exclaimed. "A few days after you and Finn Hudson were stalking Sam on a stake-out thinking he was hooking up with Quinn and Kurt."
Kurt, Rachel, and Quinn grinned awkwardly.
"She's just joking," Stevie said. "It's so nice to see you all again! I heard you're all going to perform a big alumni reunion number at our winter fundraiser?"
"Yes, we're so excited," Kurt said.
"We're so excited for you to watch what we've put together for the occasion," Stacie said.
"Alright, guys, let's get back to school; that number's gotta be perfect so we can show our predecessors what we're made of," Stevie said, leading the pack out.
The alumni made their way to the counter and made their orders with Figgins.
"It's always such a treat to see you all back together again," Figgins said.
Momentarily, everyone was seated at a table, catching up over their latest happenings: Kurt being a new father, Artie getting his foot through the door at film sets in LA, Mercedes brainstorming her new album, and Quinn being a community resource counselor for at-risk women.
"So, Tina, what's up with you?" Mercedes asked. "Are you liking being the theatre teacher at McKinley?"
"I mean, the past couple years teaching theatre has been cool and all, but I don't know, I just see you all out in New York and LA doing your things, and I always get the urge to drop everything and go join you all," Tina said.
"Well, nothing's stopping you," Kurt said.
"I can't just drop my whole life and go out to New York only to land in crippling debt because of inhumane rent costs and chasing a career with no job security," Tina said. "I mean, I'm not like you, Rachel, I don't have a big Broadway name that will get my foot through the door at every callback."
"That's not entirely true," Rachel sighed. "I don't know if you all read the Broadway chat rooms, but people are starting to call my performance of Jane Austen in Jane Austen Sings as 'old' and 'tired,'" Rachel explained.
"Well, maybe it's because you've been doing the part for like three years now," Artie said.
"Four if you count the workshops and previews," Kurt pointed out.
"Rachel, just be glad the Broadway industry even took you back after that Funny Girl debacle," Mercedes said. "You literally got that show cancelled, and I don't mean in the woke GenZ way."
"I mean, maybe it's time for you to set your sights on another opportunity," Quinn suggested. "You have a pretty loyal fanbase, I'm sure they'd be super excited if you chose to go over to something like Moulin Rouge or Dear Evan Hansen."
"I may have a pretty loyal fanbase, but I'm sure that I'm not the reason those kids over there are discreetly taking selfies of us," Rachel said, pointing out a throng of teenagers trying to catch a glimpse of Mercedes Jones.
"Mercedes! Can we please get selfies with you?" one girl asked.
"The queen is being summoned," Artie remarked as Mercedes got up to greet her fans.
"Anyway, Tina, I think that if you want to go to New York or LA, you should at least give it a shot," Quinn said. "Even if it doesn't work out, at least you can say you tried, right?"
"And come back to Ohio with crippling embarrassment?" Tina asked. "No thanks."
INT. AUDITORIUM - MONDAY, JANUARY 3RD - EVENING
Blaine, Kurt, Sam, Mike, and Brittany excitedly entered the auditorium. The first person to greet them was Quinn.
"I'm so stoked you guys are finally here!" Quinn exclaimed, hugging each of them tightly.
"We wouldn't miss it for the world!" Blaine exclaimed. "Now, what is this new Homecoming tradition we keep hearing about?"
"Well, since McKinley is all about show choir these days, every year we host a New Year Fundraiser. It's a big initiative to pay for all their costumes, transportation, music rights, everything we need for Regionals and hopefully Nationals," Sam explained.
"Well, it's nice to know that the Glee Clubs don't have to bother with bake sales and saltwater taffy and 'Men of McKinley' calendars," Mike laughed.
"Oh, don't get me wrong, they still do," Quinn laughed. "But unlike our Glee days, the choirs are so lucky to have all this community support. And special alumni performances, of course. By the way, speaking of alumni, I am excited to announce that I have stepped up as the executive chair for the Class of 2012's upcoming 10-year reunion."
"Oh my goodness!" Kurt exclaimed. "That's this year already!"
"It is," Quinn giggled. "And all of you had better make it back. It's going to be amazing. Anyway, follow me, our entrance is from this curtain here." Following Quinn to the curtain, Kurt peaked around the auditorium. Almost everyone was there, even people who didn't even graduate from McKinley, like Matt Rutherford and Marley Rose.
Principal Will Schuester took to the stage.
"Welcome, everyone, to our 2022 New Year Fundraiser," Will said. "I am so grateful to be joined by you all - students, staff, faculty, alumni, and community members alike. This past Fall 2021 marked the seventh year of the McKinley High School for the Performing Arts. It has been an incredible undertaking - one that has presented many challenges, but yielded even more rewards. We have produced year after year of fine, illustrious students who have gone on to excel across various walks of life, in and out of the performing arts. These students and alumni are living testaments to the power of what a strong, well-rounded, and inclusive education grounded in the arts and humanities, can provide. This is also the second year that we have been able to call this, the Finn Hudson Memorial Auditorium, home base for our nationally acclaimed New Directions. Our newer choirs, the TroubleTones and the Duly Noted, have also gone on to become regionally accomplished and nationally recognized across the show choir world.
"This Spring 2022 marks ten years ago that our New Directions were preparing to travel to Chicago, where they would win the 2012 Show Choir National Championship, the first time for McKinley High since my own victory in Branson, Missouri, in 1993. With a roster of 22 performers, we were the wall of sound that we'd been building up for three years. To celebrate the upcoming ten-year anniversary of that momentous occasion, I would like to shout out the 2012 New Directions nationals team. Our guidance counselor, Mrs. Emma Schuester, will help me recognize our distinguished guests." Will then stepped aside to make room for Emma at the podium.
"As the guidance counselor for McKinley High School, it is my honor to recognize the following individuals who, ten years ago this May, graced the national stage in Chicago," Emma began.
One-by-one, she introduced the sixteen members of the 2012 New Directions: Artie Abrams, Blaine Anderson, Rachel Berry, Mike Chang, Tina Cohen-Chang, Sam Evans, Quinn Fabray, Rory Flanagan, Joe Hart, Kurt Hummel, and Mercedes Jones.
"Next up, Santana Lopez, Columbia University Class of 2018, Bachelor of Arts in Sociology, currently pursuing a career in detective work. Santana was unable to make it today, as she is currently investigating a high-profile case in upstate New York."
"So Snix really is pro now," Artie joked.
Emma continued on introducing Sugar Motta, and Brittany S. Pierce.
"Noah Puckerman, Staff Sergeant in the United States Air Force. Noah was unable to join us today, but we send him our best." Emma continued.
"Miss you, buddy!" Matt exclaimed, taking an Instagram story selfie video with Jake.
"And, last but not least, a special shoutout to the New Directions' leading man, Finn Hudson," Emma concluded. "May your voice continue to ring through these halls and reverberate through the hearts of our students."
"We love you, Finn!" all of the New Directions exclaimed.
Will took to the stage once more.
"Thank you, Mrs. Schuester," he said. "We'd like to open up this evening with a performance featuring a select group of our alumni. We will begin with a number featuring all of the New Directions of 2009 through 2015. They'll also be joined by a few of their teachers. I would also like to recognize the various members of the TroubleTones, the Cheerios, and the Dalton Academy Warblers turned New Directions, who also lent their voices and dance moves in several competitions."
Suddenly, Secret Service Agent Becky Jackson took to the stage, shoved Will away from the podium, and spoke into the microphone, "Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Vice President of the United States, Sue Sylvester."
The crowd cheered as Sue came on stage in her presidential tracksuit. Will and Emma rolled their eyes.
"Leave it to the VP of the USA to upstage me on my own stage," Will muttered to Emma.
"Welcome back, Sue," Emma said, escorting Sue into the wings. "I didn't realize we sent you an invitation to join us."
"Well, Velma, I know that one may think that the Vice President is too busy to sing some show tunes at the gayest high school in America, but Sue Sylvester always makes time to pay respects to the misfits that guided her to where she really needed to be: in the highest power of the land," Sue explained.
The original New Directions band members took to the stage and began playing. A short but stunning twenty-year-old girl took to the stage.
"No way," Sue whispered.
"Is that-?" Rachel stammered from the wings.
"Myron Muskovitz?" Sheldon Beiste asked. "Yeah. Her name is Myra Muskovitz now. Transitioned right after she graduated in 2018."
"And she's a hella viral TikTok influencer now," Kitty added.
Rachel clasped her hands together and proudly watched her former student open up the alumni performance.
Song: "We Are the World" by Michael Jackson
Myra: Mmm… There comes a time
When we hear the certain call
Myra/Unique: When the world must come together as one
Unique: There are people dying
Sue: And it's time to lend a hand to life
Sue/Will: The greatest gift of all
Will: We can't go on
Pretending day by day
Sheldon: That someone somehow will soon make a change
Jane: We are all a part of God's great big family
And the truth you know:
Jane/Mason: Love is all we need
Kurt: We are the world
We are the children
Madison: We are the ones who make a brighter day
So let's start giving
Emma: There's a choice we're making
We're saving our own lives
It's true we'll make a better day
Just you and me
Marley: Well, send them your heart (Unique: oh…)
So they'll know that someone cares
Spencer: So their cries for help
Will not be in vain
Mercedes: We can't let them suffer
Mercedes/Mason: No, we cannot turn away
Ryder: Right now they need a helping hand
Alistair: We are the world
We are the children
Skylar: We are the ones who make a brighter day
So let's start giving
Kitty: Oh, there's a choice we're making
We're saving our own lives
Roderick: It's true we'll make a better day
Just you and me
Artie: When you're down and out
And there seems no hope at all
Jake: But if you just believe
There's no way we can fall
Rachel: Well, well, well, let us realize
That a change can only come when we
Brittany: Stand together as one (Rachel: as one)
Kurt w/ All: We are the world (Quinn: We are the world)
We are the children (Quinn: We are the children)
Madison w/ All: We are the ones who make a brighter day
So let's start giving (Sam: Better start giving)
Rory/All: There's a choice we're making (Mercedes: Ooh…)
We're saving our own lives
Sugar: It's true we'll make a better day
Just you and me (Unique: Oh…)
All: We are the world (Mercedes/Unique: We are the world)
We are the children (Blaine: We are the children) (Sheldon: It's for the children)
We are the ones who make a brighter day (Joe: We are the ones who make a brighter day)
Lauren: So let's start giving
Mike: There's a choice we're making
We're saving our own lives
It's true we'll make a better day
Just you and me
Artie: We are the world
Kurt/All: We are the world (Tina: We are the world)
We are the children (Tina: We are the children)
Madison/All: We are the ones who make a brighter day
So let's start giving (Unique: Let's start giving)
Matt: There's a choice we're making
We're saving our own lives
It's true we make a better day
Just you and me
[All:]
Kurt/All: We are the world (Mercedes: We are the world)
We are the children (Mercedes: We are the children)
Madison/All: We are the ones who make a brighter day
So let's start giving (Mercedes: Let's start giving)
Sugar/Rory/All: There's a choice we're making
We're saving our own lives (Unique: Save lives, yeah)
It's true we make a better day
Just you and me
The audience cheered as Sam Evans took the stage.
"Hi, everyone, my name is Sam Evans, and I am the director of the New Directions," Sam said. "Wow, can I just say, it felt SO GOOD to perform with all my old Glee Club members again. Give it up for the New Directions alumns!" After a moment of applause, Sam resumed, "I am excited to announce our closing number. In the spirit of camaraderie, we like to combine our three competition choirs into one mega-medley. Without further adieu, I present to you, the show choir students of McKinley High."
Songs: "The Greatest Show" from The Greatest Showman
With each "Whoa," a different group of students were revealed in the light. Their costumes were very much representative of outcasts and misfits. Every student on stage had a unique identity, all of various shapes, sizes, colors, and sexualities. The students then began circling their lead performer, Sky from the New Directions.
All: Whoa (9x)
The students then transitioned into an intensely choreographed jazz dance that could rival even that of Vocal Adrenaline. This part was led by Duly Noted singers Antonio and Kabir, and New Directions singers Sky and Nadina.
Antonio/All: Come alive, come alive
Go and ride your light
Let it burn so bright
Reaching up
To the sky
And it's open wide
You're electrified
When the world becomes a fantasy
And you're more than you could ever be
'Cause you're dreaming with your eyes wide open
Antonio/Nadina/All: And you know you can't go back again
To the world that you were living in
'Cause you're dreaming with your eyes wide open
So, come alive!
Antonio/All: Come one!
Come all!
Come in!
Come on!
Nadina: To anyone who's bursting with a dream
Antonio/Sky/All: Come one!
Come all!
You hear
The call
Sky: To anyone who's searching for a way to break free
Nadina/Girls: Break free!
Antonio/Boys: Break free!
Antonio/Nadina/All: When the world becomes a fantasy
And you're more than you could ever be
'Cause you're dreaming with your eyes wide open
And we know we can't go back again
To the world that we were living in
'Cause we're dreaming with our eyes wide open
(Nadina: Hey!)
Antonio/All: When the world becomes a fantasy
And you're more than you could ever be
'Cause you're dreaming with your eyes wide open (Kabir: Yeah, yeah)
Antonio/Nadina/All: And we know we can't be go back again
To the world that we were living in
'Cause we're dreaming with our eyes wide open
'Cause we're dreaming with our eyes wide open
So come alive! (Sky: Come alive!) (Nadina: Yeah!)
At upstage center, a lone spotlight shined down on TroubleTones captain, Eva.
Eva: I am not a stranger to the dark
Hide away, they say
'Cause we don't want your broken parts
I've learned to be ashamed of all my scars
Run away, they say
No one'll love you as you are
But I won't let them break me down to dust
I know that there's a place for us
For we are glorious
When the sharpest words wanna cut me down
I'm gonna send a flood, gonna drown 'em out
I am brave, I am bruised
I am who I'm meant to be, this is me
The spotlights then shifted to the Duly Noted's Kabir and the TroubleTones' Hailey.
Kabir: Another round of bullets hits my skin
Well, fire away 'cause today, I won't let the shame sink in
Hailey: We are bursting through the barricades and
Reaching for the sun (Eva/All: we are warriors)
Yeah, that's what we've become (Sky/All: yeah, that's what we've become)
Hailey/All: I won't let them break me down to dust
I know that there's a place for us
For we are glorious
Hailey (All): And I know that I deserve your love
Eva: (Oh-oh-oh-oh) There's nothing I'm not worthy of
(Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh, oh, oh)
Eva: When the sharpest words wanna cut me down
I'm gonna send a flood, gonna drown 'em out
This is brave, this is bruised
This is who I'm meant to be, this is me
Hailey/All (Eva): Look out 'cause here I come (look out 'cause here I come)
And I'm marching on to the beat I drum (marching on, marching, marching on)
I'm not scared to be seen
I make no apologies, this is me
Hailey/All (Eva): When the sharpest words wanna cut me down (Hailey: Oh, oh, oh)
I'm gonna send a flood, gonna drown 'em out
(I'm gonna send a flood
Gonna drown 'em out, oh!)
Eva/All: This is me
The entire auditorium rose to a standing ovation. "Encore!" the crowd cheered.
The students took their bows and exited the stage, leaving just Stacey and Stevie in the center spotlight.
"Hi everyone, my name is Stevie Evans, I'm a senior, and I'm the captain of the New Directions. First of all, can I just say, I'm so psyched that we got to perform that medley for all of you," Stevie said. "I'd like to first thank our director, our big brother, Sam Evans, for letting us choose this song, as much as we know it bugs you when we play it incessantly on DisneyPlus at home."
The audience laughed.
"Before my brother and I performed on this stage as students, there was actually one time in our childhoods that we got to sing and dance on this stage," Stacey said. "It was actually ten, almost eleven years ago… May 2011. Our dad lost his job, and we were borderline homeless for a while. Kurt Hummel would bring our big brother some extra clothes, and Quinn Fabray would help babysit us. The New Directions graciously welcomed Stevie and me, onto this stage, to help conclude their Fleetwood Mac week in Glee Club. Later that same year, Rory the Irish exchange student spent Christmas with us. Growing up, the New Directions has always felt like family to us, and when our family moved back to Lima, Stevie and I were excited to join this family as students."
"If it's okay with you all, we would love for the Spring 2011 New Directions to join us up on this stage for our encore number," Stevie said.
Quinn and Kurt beamed, and led Rachel, Mercedes, Mike, Brittany, Lauren, Tina, Artie, and Sam up on to the stage.
"This also includes you, Principal Schuester!" Stacey exclaimed.
Song: "Don't Stop" by Fleetwood Mac
Alumni: Don't (don't) stop (stop)!
Don't (don't) stop (stop)!
Stevie (and Stacey):
If you wake up and don't want to smile
(If it takes just a little while)
Open your eyes, and look at the day
(You'll see things in a different way)
Stevie and Stacey with Alumni:
Don't stop, thinking about tomorrow
Don't stop;
Stacey with Alumni:
It'll soon be here (Stevie: It'll soon be here)
It'll be better than before
Stevie and Stacey with Alumni:
Yesterday's gone
Yesterday's gone
Alumni:
Ooohh! (Sam: Oooh don't stop no...)
Sam: All I want is to see you smile,
Stacey: If it takes just a little while,
Sam: I know you don't believe that it's true
Stevie and Stacey: I never meant any harm to you
Ooooohhhh
Alumni:
Don't (don't) stop (stop), thinking about tomorrow,
Don't (don't) stop (stop);
Stacey: It'll soon be here,
Stacey and Alumni: It'll be, better than before,
Stevie and Stacey with Alumni: Yesterday's gone
Yesterday's gone
Alumni: Oooh, don't you look back
Stacey: Don't you look back
Stevie: Don't you look, don't you look, no (Alumni: Don't you look back)
Stacey: Yeah, yeah, yeah
Stevie: Don't you look back (Alumni: Oooh)
Don't you look back (Alumni: Don't you look back)
Stacey: Don't you look back
Don't you look back
Alumni: Oooh, don't you look back (Sam: Don't, don't, don't you look back)
Stevie and Stacey with Alumni (Alumni): Don't (don't) stop (stop) thinking about tomorrow.
INT. HALLWAY
The patrons began filing out of the auditorium. Groups of New Directions were taking photos together by graduation year. As Rachel stopped for a selfie with Quinn, she was approached by Tina, escorting an excited Eva Nunez towards her.
"Hi, Rachel, this is Eva; she just wanted to get a chance to meet you, I hope that's alright," Tina said.
"Of course!" Rachel exclaimed. "Nice to meet you, Eva."
"I'm so excited to finally meet you," Eva said breathlessly. "I saw you on Broadway last winter break, and I waited at the stage door, but you didn't come out, which is totally fine by the way, I'm not one of those crazy fans that thinks I'm entitled to a meet-and-greet, but oh my gosh, it means a lot to meet someone who was raised right here in Lima."
"Are you a Broadway girl yourself?" Rachel asked.
"Yes, I wanna audition for NYADA one day. Do you think you could give me some pointers?" she asked.
"Just don't choke at your audition," Tina muttered before going off to join Artie down the hall.
Rachel rolled her eyes. "She's not wrong. My advice is, don't play it safe. I chose a song I'd been singing every day for my whole life, and on the one time it mattered most, I flubbed it."
"So what did you do?" Eva asked.
Rachel smiled, reflecting on the difficulty of that year. "I didn't give up. I heard no, after no, after no, and one day, Tina literally drove me across the state to see her, and try to convince her. Next thing I know, she's walking into the audience at our show choir nationals in Chicago, hearing me belt a Celine Dion showstopper the best I'd ever done. And that's what got me in."
Eva grinned. "Thanks. I just wanted you to know how much I look up to you."
"Well, you must be a mighty leading lady around here," Rachel assumed.
Eva chuckled. "I wish. I begged Ms. Cohen-Chang to let us do Miss Saigon for our school musical this year, but I'm one of only two Asian kids who participates in the musical theatre program, so it would've been culturally insensitive to do the show."
"Really?" Rachel asked. "I figure as long as they cast you as Kim it'd be fine."
Eva shrugged. "I don't mind. It's better than having to be surrounded by thirty of my classmates appropriating Vietnamese language and culture. I also would've loved it if we could do In the Heights, but again, only a handful of Latinos participate in musical theatre."
Rachel didn't quite know what to make of this commentary.
"But it's okay! I'll be starring as Vivienne in Legally Blonde opposite Stacey Evans's Elle Woods. I'm sure your show schedule doesn't leave you much opportunity to come back to Lima and watch it in March, but that's okay!" Eva exclaimed. "I'm going to go run lines with my Warner. It was so nice to meet you."
Tina stood alone at the end of the hall, watching as Rachel, Kurt, Blaine, and Mercedes talked to adoring fans. Will popped up behind her.
"You alright, Tina?" he asked.
Tina turned around. "Will, remember ten-and-a-half years ago, you had a choice to make in your life. You could focus on guiding the New Directions through nationals, or you could chase a once-in-a-lifetime chance at starring on a Broadway stage in April Rhodes' own musical?"
Will smiled. "Yeah, I remember."
"When you made the decision to choose us… Be honest - did you regret it?" Tina asked. "Even a little?"
Will thought for a few seconds. "I have to say, when you know that thirteen of your students' futures might rest in your hands, you make the selfless call. But, that said, sometimes I do wonder, in that parallel universe, would I have gotten that Tony? And then, I check myself back into reality. I might not ever know what would have happened if I took that fork in the road. But, hearing Rachel thank me in her Tony speech? I know now, that I made the right call that day over a decade ago. I know now that teaching is where I'm meant to be."
Tina nodded, but did not speak. Will noticed who she had been glancing at just before this conversation.
"Tina, I'm going to talk to you as your former show choir director for a sec, not as your principal and boss. You're 26 years old. You've been a teacher for three, going on four years. You do a great job teaching drama and speech here. That said, you're only 26. You have so much ahead of you. In ten years, you could be back in these halls teaching, but maybe, with a really cool experience under your belt that taking a risk ended up paying off," Will said.
"What are you saying?" Tina asked.
"What I'm saying is, you were the only one of your graduating classmates that didn't take a chance on New York," Will said. "Why is that?"
Tina pondered before admitting, "Because I didn't believe in myself. I'm no Rachel or Santana or Mercedes."
"Neither were Sam, Artie, or Brittany," Will said. "But they were Sam, Artie, and Brittany. Male model, film maker, and feline expert who gossips over fondue. And you're Tina. You're your own person, and you have the choice to choose a different fork in the road. One day, when you're thirty, fifty, or seventy, I want you to be able to look back on the life that you lived, and be proud… Proud of the trials and tribulations you overcame. Proud of the risks you took and the leaps you made. Proud of the places you've gone, the things that you've seen, and the experiences you've lived, and the relationships you've cultivated. A year-and-a-half ago, we all came together and sang a song, 'I Lived.' When you think of yourself in five years' time, would you swear to me, did you really live out everything you'd wanted to?"
Tina looked down at the floor, then back up to Will. "To know that I at least tried to live an artist's dream in New York City. And not just making guest appearances in Artie's SlamDance film festival entries every summer."
Will smiled. "And if that's what you put your mind to, I fully support you."
"What about my job?" Tina asked.
"Talk Sam into directing Legally Blonde in your place this semester, and we'll talk," Will said, turning around and returning towards his office.
INT. HALLWAY
Blaine exited the restroom and made his way towards Kurt, who was on the phone.
"Well, thank you for the advice, Santana," Kurt said. "Happy New Year."
"How's she doing?" Blaine asked, approaching Kurt, taking his hand, and beginning the walk out of the school.
"She's good," Kurt said. "I just had to call her for advice on something."
"Uh-oh," Blaine said. "You only ever really call Santana when you need her to talk you into doing something you really don't want to do."
"Indeed," Kurt said, grabbing Blaine's other hand and facing him. "I want to stay in Lima."
Blaine gaped at Kurt. "Like, for another week, or?"
"No," Kurt said. "For a while."
Blaine was speechless.
"Blaine," Kurt began. "We've had long conversations about how stressed and scared I get trying to raise Hepburn in a big city. Everything is so noisy, and so crowded, and I am scared to death that if I so much as bend down to tie my shoelace that I'll lose sight of them. Being in Lima this past week, I feel safe here. Hepburn loves spending time with my dad and Carole, and your parents, and they freaking adore Uncle Cooper spoiling them with mini monster trucks. I think it would be best if we could let this village of support help us raise our first child."
Blaine smiled. "I can't say I disagree. But, Kurt, what about the musical? We are this close to having a full book and score ready to workshop."
"I can write from here," Kurt said. "But, Blaine, you have to go back there, and get that workshop running. I will support in whatever way I can, but I need this. At least for a few months to catch my breath as a young parent."
Blaine tearfully grabbed Kurt's face and pulled him in for a kiss.
"I love you so much," Blaine said.
"We will come visit you in no time," Kurt promised.
"Do you really think we're going to be the next Pasek and Paul after this year?" Blaine asked.
"Pasek and Paul?" Kurt asked. "Honey, by the time Hepburn and our future second child Tracy go off to college, we will be known as the Rodgers and Hammerstein of the 21st century."
"Are you being serious?" Blaine chuckled.
"Hey," Kurt said, pecking one last kiss onto Blaine's lips. "You never know."
In no time at all, Blaine was climbing up the stairs of a New York City subway station.
EXT. NEW YORK CITY - TUESDAY, JANUARY 4TH
Blaine strolled through the busy streets, with a coffee and cronut in hand, making his way back to his apartment after a business meeting. The "ensemble" singing around him include Kitty and Jake working at the Spotlight Diner, Rachel, signing playbills and taking selfies at the Jane Austen Sings stage door, and Tina back in Lima packing her bags for her big move to New York, kissing Artie goodbye.
Song: "You Never Know" by Joey Contreras
[Ensemble] Oh oh oh, no you never know (3x)
Oh oh oh, no
Blaine: I'm standing outside of the edge of a story
A moment away from the start of a scene
Watching people pass. You know, some of them scare me
But it's all part of the set, the spirit, the city
We all live to dream, find love and thrive
And if we are lucky, they happen at the same time
Don't have it all figured out yet
Blaine/Ensemble: No, no
Blaine: But I'm willing to try
Yes, I'm willing to try
'Causе sometimes, it's easy to fall apart and run
But I'm done with making excuses to say that I'm not the one
Blaine: You never know until you make a choice
Whichever way
One little moment could change a day
Welcome to a new kind of show
Blaine/Ensemble: Oh, you never know
Blaine: Every high every low,
Even so
You never know
Rachel finished snapping her last selfie with a young fan. She capped her sharpie and strolled home.
Rachel: Always made a list and kept things nice
Never veering left, just staying right
Spending all that time on a clean, clear path
Just wasting a life full of journeys on top
'Cause
Rachel/Blaine: Sometimes
Rachel: The messier the better
Rachel/Blaine: At least that's what I'm starting to believe
As Rachel walks, she signs one more playbill for an adoring fan, then frowns slightly as she glanced at a passerby's newspaper, with the entertainment headline, "Jane Austen Sings Announces Closure."
Rachel: You never know until you say hello, smile a bit
Maybe he could like you, or it's not a fit
Gotta find a way to let it go
Rachel/Blaine/Ensemble: Oh, you never know
Rachel/Blaine: Every high, every low
Help you grow!
You never know
Blaine: You never know how it's gonna play, how it ends
But it could be better. It at least began
Rachel: If there's anything I know
Blaine: If there's anything, oh
Rachel/Ensemble: It's luck, you never know
Rachel/Blaine/Ensemble: Oh oh oh, no you never know (3x)
Oh oh oh
Rachel/Blaine: No you never know
INT. TINA'S APARTMENT
Tina was on Facetime with Artie, putting some beginning touches on her barebones shoebox apartment.
"It's an adjustment, but I think I'm going to like it here," she said, hanging a framed picture of the Class of 2013 on the wall behind her.
"I'm proud of you," Artie said. "You so deserve this next chapter of your life."
"Thank you for being so supportive," Tina said, exhaling a deep breath before confessing, "I'm nervous."
"Hey, we all were," Artie said. "Just, promise me that you won't spend four months on the couch before making something of your New York City life like Sam did."
Tina laughed. "Sam said the same thing to me before I left. I promise, I will be proactive and chase every opportunity to perform."
Artie grinned. "I love you."
Tina repeated the words and blew a kiss into the camera before hanging up. She stared out her window at the busy streets. A new direction.