Here we go with Part 1 of the finale of Arc 4, 'School Play'! Anyway, enjoy!
On Friday, we were just finishing up a dress rehearsal as we were doing the final scene.
"Okay, now just do as rehearsed and we'll be fine." Mr. Simmons smiled as I was laying down, trying to be 'asleep', as Helga instructed. "Okay, Arnold, recite your lines."
Arnold nodded as he was doing pretty good thus far without the script. He was doing his lines really good. I would tell you what he said, but... well, everybody knows the school play in and out. I think so far we'll be fine.
"And thus, with a kiss, I die." Arnold said as he fell down.
I listened to Helga as I got up and started to recite my lines. Once that was done, I turned to Mr. Simmons. "How was that, Mr. Simmons?"
Mr. Simmons sniffled. "That was beautiful, Rhonda, it was really beautiful. In fact, you and Arnold are both good at this."
"Thank you." I smiled as Arnold got up.
"I mean, seriously, it's like you two have some good chemistry going with each other." Mr. Simmons smiled. "It's like, I actually feel your characters... the only thing is that you two have to do the kiss..."
Me and Arnold blinked as we blushed as I said, "To tell you the truth, Mr. Simmons, me and Arnold are a little... well..."
"We're not sort of comfortable in this situation..." Arnold blushed. "I mean, it's all a play, right..."
"Arnold, of course it's a play." Mr. Simmons said. "Look, guys, I really need you to do that kiss... I need to get at least good rating from Mr. Leichliter."
"Leichliter?" I asked as we sat down.
Mr. Simmons sighed. "I didn't explain this to all of you before, but I guess I can tell you now. On the night of the play, we're going to have a critic come in. Some of you may have seen him when I was doing auditions for a few roles."
I snapped my fingers, suddenly remember that guy that came in. I did overhear him say something about... what was it? 'Looking for acting talents'? Must have been it.
Mr. Simmons nodded as everyone sat around him. "His name is Mr. Leichliter. He's a very good critic, yet he's very serious about going to plays. All that matters is that we do good enough to get at least a good review. That's why I need you guys to focus and to work harder than I'm asking you to."
Mr. Simmons sighed as he looked at all of us. "I know it's a huge responsibility... but can you at least help me out? Make this a good play?"
We all looked at each other as I smiled, turning to Mr. Simmons. "Mr. Simmons... we're not going to make this a GOOD play... we're going to make this the BEST!"
Mr. Simmons smiled a bit as he said, "That is the spirit, Rhonda! You really are getting in with this!"
Everybody else nodded their agreement as Mr. Simmons gave a smile. "Okay, from the top, let's try running the scenes in order... don't forget, the play is tomorrow night, and afterwards, your spring break will begin this week!"
We all nodded as we decided to get started with our play practice.
"Well, that was fun!" I said as we were getting out of play practice, walking with Arnold.
"Yeah, it is." Arnold sighed as we got outside. It was around this time I noticed Olga's car parked to the side.
Olga rolled down the windows as she smiled to us. "You two need a ride home? I can drop you off, Rhonda."
I looked towards Arnold... before he smiled and nodded. I smiled. "Sure thing, Olga."
As we both got in the car, Olga gave a warm smile as she started to drive. "So, I see you two were practicing for your little play tomorrow. I have to say, you two have the most wonderful chemistry together."
"On the stage, right?" I blushed a bit.
"Yeah, not that there's anything-" Arnold paused.
"Oh, no, no, I'm not implying anything." Olga giggled. "I'm just saying you two do great together on the stage."
"Oh, well... thanks, Miss Pataki." Arnold said.
"Olga, how's your apartment working out?" I asked.
"Well, it's a two-bedroom, but I managed to make it work." Olga smiled. "I don't know who I'm going to invite yet. Maybe I can get Sharlene over if I have the chance. She's still living with her family."
"Really? I haven't SEEN her family." I raised an eyebrow in suspicion.
"Well... she usually never lets me in her house." Olga shrugged. "But it doesn't bother me. By the way, did you hear she got an office job for that Future Tech place?"
"She has, huh? So she quit that job at the mall?" I asked. "That's a shame."
"Yeah, but what can you do? Sharlene's been working at that job for a few years... I guess it was time for her to grow up... like I'm doing..." Olga smiled.
"Anyway, Miss Pataki, my grandmother wanted me to ask you if you can pick up some tomato sauce on the way home." Arnold asked. "I forgot to say something."
"Oh, it's no trouble." Olga smiled. "Pasta for dinner?"
"Actually, I think she wants the tomato sauce to wear." Arnold laughed.
Olga laughed. "Arnold, your grandmother does crack me up."
Pretty soon, we reached my house as I went out of the car. "Thanks for the lift, Olga!"
"It's no trouble, Rhonda!" Olga laughed. "Happy to get you home!"
As I saw Olga driving off, I sighed as I turned and...
Oh God, it's Curly... and Caroline? They were both sitting on the steps. "What are you two doing here?"
"Just wondering if you got our message." Curly said as Caroline nodded.
"What, the one that says meet you sometime this weekend? Why's that?" I glared. "What are you up to? And with my hated rival, at that!"
"Rhonda, calling me your hated enemy is a harsh word..." Caroline said.
"Look, just meet us at the park at nine AM sharp. Don't be late." Curly said as he and Caroline started to go off.
I just blinked oddly as I looked over at the two departing figures. Slowly, I entered inside my home, wondering why those two were acting crazy.
A little later, I was in the park, sitting on a bench as I looked around. I looked at my watch and noticed that it said '9:01'. I sighed. Looks like...
"Hey."
I screeched a bit as I turned to see Curly and Caroline. I frowned as I glared at the two as they sat next to me. "What the heck is going on here? Why do you two always hang out with each other! Why..."
"Easy, Rhonda. Calm your mind." Curly said as I took a deep breath. "Look, what we're about to explain to you may not make sense at first, but trust me, it will..."
"First of all, my real name isn't even Caroline, as you already know." Caroline frowned. "Remember, it was the cover name I had to give myself."
"What cover name?" I frowned.
Caroline groaned as she whispered to Curly, though I did sort of hear it, "See, I told you, she doesn't remember any of it!"
"And yet, we still hear her!" Curly whispered. "Come on, I know this is the real Rhonda from what she described to me! Two souls living!"
"Curly, you're so delusionally in lo-" Caroline recovered. "Look, Rhonda... we know you have a... soul living inside you."
I gasped.
"It's okay." Curly sighed. "We're on the soul's side."
"So... wait, you hear Helga too?" I asked. "I'm not the only person who hears her?"
"Well... me and Marcie here sort of already knew from the beginning. Why did you think I counted four girls when you were with me to find Tucker Wittenberg and all the other times I hung with you?" Curly sighed. "Nevertheless, Helga and I... we knew each other from the start, even if she didn't exist, I still know her..."
Curly put a hand on my head as Caroline put her arms on both of us as all of a sudden, I started to see a flash.
This time, I blinked as I looked around. It looked like a clear field. It wasn't all pure darkness this time. I was actually seeing the park. I gasped. It was... it was so beautiful. I slowly walked around... when I heard a deep sigh. I turned and saw... Helga! She was sitting on a small branch on a tree, looking at something. Curiously, I went over and looked as I... oh my gosh, that is so adorable!
"It's... it's..." I looked over as I saw Arnold's parents for the first time... and Arnold as an adorable little baby. Oh my God, he was so cute! I looked up towards Helga... who looked... nine... wait a minute. Something didn't fit. How could I be seeing Arnold at two years old, and yet, I see Helga her regular...
That's when I suddenly realized something. This was still my universe. Helga WASN'T born in my universe.
"Oh, Arnold..." Helga sighed as she watched the baby playing with his parents. "How you're going to grow up, never realizing that you had me breathing down your neck..."
Helga then paused as she looked over to see a mysterious man as Helga frowned. "Hey... who is that?"
I looked curious as me and Helga looked closer. The man seemed to be a black man... a mustache and a small beard... with purple clothing on him. Helga kind of chuckled at the clothing. "Man, look at the clothing on that guy..."
"Miles, Stella, I'm glad I found you." The man said.
"Eduardo. A surprise to see you here." Arnold's father... who I now know as Miles, said. "What brings you all the way to Hillwood City, my good friend?"
"Something big has came up... and I need your help." Eduardo explained.
"What's going on?" Stella, Arnold's mother, asked out of curiosity as she put Arnold down.
Eduardo opened up a map as he said, "Let me explain. You see, I've been travelling a bit and there are some... serious illnesses in the jungles of San Lorenzo. I need you two to come and help me get to the village of the Green Eyes and help me cure them."
Miles sighed as he pushed the map aside. "I'm sorry, Eduardo, but we have a baby boy now. That part of our lives are over. We can't go with you, my friends."
"But Miles... Stella... you two are my last hope!" Eduardo said in worry as baby Arnold took the map. "The mountain people may die out forever! Please, my old friend, I am begging you!"
Miles and Stella looked at each other in guilt and in doubt as I looked at Helga. Helga's heart, if she had one, looked like it was about to drop as she looked down. "Oh my gosh... so that's what happened to Arnold's parents... that's why we never see them... it's because they... left him alone..."
"For the sake of the children, one last mission, please!" I heard Eduardo say before I saw Helga go off. I turned around and saw Helga sadly walking off. I looked back at the sad faces of Arnold's parents... and the cuteness of Arnold as a young baby... before I started to follow Helga.
As I followed Helga, she sighed as she sat down. Helga sighed. "Poor guy... the one giving us advice... and he was the one who needed it. I am so sorry, Arnold. If... if things were different..."
Helga just sighed as she watched some other kids play in the playground... as she spotted what seemed to be a young Phoebe on the swings. I gasped as I smiled.
Helga chuckled a bit. "Ah, good old Phoebe... having the best fun of her life... I still remember that day we first met... of course, I had to swipe a little milk, but... hey, at least she was really useful and friendly..."
Helga then looked at... oh wow, that's me! Oh man, I was... was that Sheena's Aunt Shelly holding me? "And there goes princess. Eh, spoiled as ever. I bet she's going to grow up to be the same, narcisstic princess I remember."
I noticed a young, baby Curly, squinting a bit as he was crawling around, sitting next to the branch. Helga shook his head. "Man, it's no wonder Thaddeus Gammelthorpe has a hopeless crush on her."
"Yes?"
Helga blinked as she turned to see a young Curly looking straight at her. Helga smirked. "Heh, there's good old Curly now... wonder what he's staring at..."
"You." Curly said.
Helga blinked as she looked at the young baby. "What?"
"Looking... at... you." Curly explained.
"Wha- wait a minute!" Helga gasped as she looked down. "You... can see me?"
Curly just nodded. "Others may think I'm crazy... but I see... dead people..."
"You're not crazy! You're not crazy! You see me!" Helga said in excitement. "Oh my gosh, I thought I was going to live a long, miserable life... alone, like that crazy old Marcie woman told me!"
"Who?" Curly tipped his head, as if not understanding.
"Marcie! She was this old woman who... who sort of saved my life... she took me in to hide me from that little monster that ruined my life! She put me in the only hiding place she could... which was by coincidence with Arnold's parents, but never mind, it's a very long story! Listen to me, kid. I know you don't understand me..."
"No, I understand you." Curly said as he sat down.
"You seem to be talking good for a baby..." Helga frowned as I examined the conversation between the ghost of Helga and the young Curly.
"Well, when people look at me, all they see is babbling. But I see you... and you see me. I guess you can say I was born with... some type of power." Curly explained. "I can see the life in people... literal lives..."
"Did the Curly of my timeline actually see those... things?" Helga asked.
"He should. I'm him." Curly gave a smirk.
"What?" Helga blinked.
"Thaddeus, sweetheart!" Helga, Curly and I heard Curly's mother calling.
"It's hard to explain... if you want to know more... meet me at my house. You probably know the number if you know me." Curly explained.
Helga just stared in surprise... as I heard some wind taking me away...
I recovered as I stared at Curly and Caroline. "What the heck? What did you do to me?"
"You just saw a little... shall we say... vision." Curly explained. "You see, it's sort of how I first met Helga, Rhonda."
"What did you mean... you're the Curly of HER timeline?" I asked.
"Well, it's sort of complicated. Have you ever heard of people's multiple lives?" Curly asked. "Ever hear of 'loops'?"
"You mean... experience the same thing over and over again, like in that Groundhog movie?" I asked.
"Well... kind of, sort of." Curly said.
"It's a complicated process." Caroline explained. "You see, Curly is one of those... people that were lucky enough to experience loops. He didn't know why at first, but it became very clear to him. He's a special 'agent' if you will."
"This is getting really complicated..." I sighed. "Look, why do you want Helga?"
"Me and Marcie are just merely protecting her from harm... in case she comes back." Curly explained.
"You mean, Solara?" I asked, out of curiosity.
"Yes. Even though Helga escaped from her, Solara is still on the hunt for her..." Curly explained... then sighed. "Yes, Helga, I understand that."
"Wait, you hear her, then!" I said in shock.
"We both do." Curly said as he pointed to Caroline.
"Does anybody else hear Helga?" I asked.
"No, just us." Curly said.
"And the guys in orange cloaks I saw..." I started to bring up.
"Also special agents." Caroline said.
It was just... so much to take in. "So... when Helga yelled 'Why didn't you tell me this', she was..."
Caroline nodded. "She was talking to me, yes. We rarely talk anymore because you have this tendency to 'stay away from me', but I know the reason for that."
"But... why are you guys telling me this?" I asked. "And who is Marcie?"
"Are you blind? Marcie is-" Curly started before Caroline interrupted.
"A really, REALLY good friend." Caroline sighed. "She may be old, but she is pretty wise. Trust me, she knows Solara's ways... and that's part of the reason why we brought you..."
"Why?" I asked.
"We need you and Helga to drop out of the play." Caroline sighed. "Solara is sending an agent over to look over the talents... and Curly has reason to suspect it's a certain Mr. Leichliter. If he sees you acting good, like Helga did in her timeline, he'll know something is up and tell her."
"What?" I frowned.
"Look, Rhonda, I know it's tough to realize it..." Curly sighed. "But you'll thank us..."
I sighed as I slapped my forehead. "Okay... I just reached a conclusion. All of you are crazy and idiotic. Second, there is no chance in heck I'm dropping out of the play! I'm doing it, whether you like it or not!"
"B-but Mr. Leichliter!" Curly started.
"...is probably just a normal man. You're just trying to drop me out of the play to confuse me! I'm leaving!" I frowned.
"Fine, fine... we'll respect your wishes." Caroline sighed as she stopped Curly. "But before you leave... just look at yourself, okay? Look deep into your soul."
I just shook my head as I said, "GOOD-BYE, PSYCHOS!"
I just marched off, shaking my head. Okay, I'll admit seeing the flashback with Helga and Curly was weird... and seeing Arnold's parents being sent away was pretty sad...
But I had a main focus... and that focus was to win Arnold's heart in the play!
"We're going to be a great team, Helga!" I smiled.
"You said it... but maybe we should take their orders seriously..." Helga sighed.
"No chance in heck, Helga! We need to do that play now!" I sighed.
"All right, but hopefully, they're serious..." Helga sighed as I heard something switched off.
I smiled. Nothing was going to ruin this moment...
"Arnold called in sick." Olga said as she picked me up.
"Wait, what? He was fine yesterday!" I said in worry.
"I know, I know... but this morning, he looked like he had a stomach flu." Olga sighed.
"Oh, this is bad!" I said in worry. "I was looking forward to kissing him on stage! What's going to happen!"
"Rhonda, it's okay. Arnold's as disappointed as you are, but he is really sorry, it just happened." Olga sighed. "Don't worry, I called Mr. Simmons and told him what happened... Mr. Simmons told me he already has a replacement."
I sighed. "All right... but I'm not going to enjoy this..."
Olga just kept silent as we were driving down. I sighed. Hopefully, whoever replaced Arnold was going to be good...
There's part one of episode one hundred and forty! How do you like it? Looks like some big stuff is starting to get explained with Helga a little bit now! Hopefully you'll all stick around for the second part of the season finale! Well, anyway, read, review, criticize and suggest, folks! And don't forget to check out/add tropes to the TVTropes page.