ACT 4, SCENE 24
INT. SHALOM MOTEL, REC ROOM
SOME TIME HAS PASSED. THE GROUP HAVE MOVED ON FROM THE POOL, AND GATHERED IN THE LARGE, BUT SPARSE REC ROOM OF THE MOTEL. THERE'S A PING-PONG TABLE, A DARTBOARD, A KARAOKE SET AND CHAIRS LINED UP AGAINST THE WALL. SNACKS HAVE BEEN LAID OUT, AND THE GROUP DIGS IN.
FINN STANDS AGAINST ONE WALL, FACING THEM.
FINN
Guys! Hey, everybody, listen up!
EVERYONE IGNORES HIM, CHATTING AMONGST THEMSELVES AND STACKING THEIR PLATES.
FINN (cont'd)
Hey!
FINALLY, THEY TURN TO FACE HIM.
FINN (cont'd)
Thank you.
(MUTTERS)
God, you're worse than my students.
SANTANA
What is it, Finn? There's a still a couple hours daylight left, and we wanna be by the pool.
GENERAL ASSENT FROM THE GROUP.
FINN
I wanted to talk to you guys about tomorrow night.
TINA
Your invite said we'll be having a dinner thing. Kinda like the official reunion?
FINN
Actually, it's a dance.
MERCEDES
A dance?
FINN
The Homecoming Dance.
SAM
Is that what you called it? Dude, that's cheesy. Even for us.
FINN
No, it's the school's Homecoming Dance. We're joining them together.
(BEAT)
My Glee Club's performing, and I really wanted you guys to see 'em. Plus, it'll be fun. Like prom all over again. We get to dress up-
PUCK
Spike the punch.
FINN
Right. Spike the punch...
(BEAT)
Wait. What? No! I'm a teacher now. You can't do that.
PUCK
Killjoy.
FINN
Plus, just like our prom...
ARTIE
Oh no...
SUGAR
What?
ARTIE
I see where this is going.
FINN
Come on! It'll be fun!
SUGAR
What?
QUINN
He wants us to do a number.
FINN
A set, actually.
MIKE
Are you kidding? We haven't sung together in years!
FINN
Exactly! Music is what brought us all together in the first place! What kind of reunion would it be if we didn't sing?
RORY
In front of the kids at school?
MERCEDES
I am not getting slushied by a teenager!
FINN
We banned slushies two years ago.
SANTANA
That doesn't make a difference. We'll make fools of ourselves.
(BEAT)
You know this group. We can never agree on anything. We'd need weeks to decide on a song, then fight over it, then decide on a different song...
BRITTANY
Then rehearse the choreography...
MERCEDES
Speaking of which, Mike and Brittany are the only two still actively dancing. The rest of us...
RACHEL
I dance.
MERCEDES
Broadway dancing.
RACHEL
Mike's on Broadway.
MERCEDES
Yeah, but he's good.
RACHEL GASPS.
FINN
It doesn't matter. You guys all know that we can go up there and perform cold and we'd still kick butt!
KURT
Do you have any idea how much you sound like Mr. Schuester right now?
FINN
We were National champions. The last National champions! Doesn't that mean something to you guys?
RACHEL
Finn's right. We can do it. We've spent our whole lives rehearsing.
BLAINE
Okay, prove it.
RACHEL
What?
BLAINE
You guys say you can perform cold. Well, I see a couple microphones behind you...
RACHEL
(GLANCES AT QUINN)
Now?
FINN
But... we're not ready...
RACHEL
Yeah, it's been so long...
KURT
Fine. Then no to the dance.
FINN
Okay! Fine! You win!
(BEAT)
Rache?
RACHEL APPROACHES FINN, AND THEY TURN THEIR BACKS TO THE GROUP, BENT OVER THE LITTLE COMPUTER THAT RUNS THE KARAOKE MACHINE.
BLAINE
(TO KURT)
You really think we can pull it off in front of an audience again?
KURT
Long as I get a solo, we'll be fine.
FINN
Okay, we're ready.
SANTANA
Be still, my beating heart.
FINN
Santana, you know how much I love you, right?
SANTANA
Yeah.
FINN
Well... bite me!
SANTANA GRINS. THE REST OF THE GROUP TAKE THEIR SEATS AS RACHEL HITS A BUTTON ON THE COMPUTER. PIANO MUSIC, SLOW AND MELODIOUS, STARTS PLAYING. FINN GRABS A MIC.
FINN (cont'd)
Chances are you'll find me,
Somewhere on your road tonight.
Seems I always end up driving by.
Ever since I've known you,
It just seems you're on your way.
All the rules of logic don't apply.
FINN REACHES OUT HIS HAND, AND RACHEL TAKES IT. THE RHYTHM BETWEEN THEM SEEMS SO NATURAL.
FINN (cont'd)
I long to see you in the night.
Be with you til morning light.
AND NOW, AS WE PAN ACROSS THE LISTENING GROUP, WE OVERLAY FLASHBACK SHOTS. LITTLE MOMENTS, OF THE GROUP - AND THE KIDS THEY USED TO BE.
FINN SINGING IN THE SHOWER AS MR. SCHU LISTENS IN.
QUINN, SANTANA AND BRITTANY DOING A LITTLE DANCE AND SAYING A LITTLE PRAYER.
RACHEL
I remember clearly how you looked the night we met.
I recall your laughter and your smile.
I remember how you made me feel so at ease.
I remember all your grace and your style.
MERCEDES CHUCKING A ROCK THROUGH A SHOCKED KURT'S WINDOW.
TINA ATOP OF A LADDER - MARIA FROM WEST SIDE STORY.
RACHEL (cont'd)
And now you're all I wanna see.
You've come to mean so much to me.
PUCK, SHIRT OFF, SITTING ON AN OUTDOOR POOL AND GRINNING FOR A MILF.
RORY GETTING SHOVED INTO A LOCKER BY A KID WITH A MULLET.
FINN & RACHEL
Chances are I'll see you,
Somewhere in my dreams tonight.
You'll be smiling like the night we met.
BLAINE IN A WARBLER UNIFORM, ROCKING A CROWD. SAM IN THE SAME SHOWER, WITH FINN LISTENING IN.
FINN & RACHEL (cont'd)
Chances are I'll hold you,
And I'll offer all I have.
You're the only one I can't forget.
Baby you're the best I've ever met.
SUGAR SINGING - AND THE FACES OF THE GLEE CLUB AS THEY'RE FORCED TO LISTEN.
ARTIE TRAPPED INSIDE A PORT-A-POTTY.
FINN
And I'll be dreaming of the future.
RACHEL
And hoping you'll be by my side.
RACHEL PUTTING HER NAME ON THE NEW DIRECTIONS SIGN UP SHEET, WITH THE COPYRIGHTED GOLD STAR.
MIKE AND HIS MOM DOING A SLOW DANCE.
FINN
And in the morning, I'll be longing...
FINN & RACHEL
For the night... for the night...
KURT IN A TITANS UNIFORM, WAVING LIKE QUEEN ELIZABETH.
MR. SCHU, SHOULDERS SLUMPED, ON HIS WAY DOWN THE HALL TO BE AN ACCOUNTANT. THEN HE STOPS, TURNS BACK, AS HE HEARS SOMETHING IN THE DISTANCE...
FINN & RACHEL (cont'd)
Chances are I'll see you,
Somewhere in my dreams tonight.
You'll be smiling like the night we met.
BACK IN THE PRESENT, FINN AND RACHEL ARE STANDING REALLY CLOSE, BELTING OUT THE CHORUS. WE SWING TO TAKE IN QUINN'S REACTION. SHE LOOKS... DISTURBED. PUCK, BESIDE HER, PICKS UP ON IT.
FINN & RACHEL (cont'd)
Chances are I'll hold you,
And I'll offer all I have.
You're the only one I can't forget.
Baby you're the best I've ever met.
THEY FINISH. APPLAUSE FROM THE GROUP. THEN:
KURT
God! Junior year flashback!
BLAINE
Why junior year?
KURT
Coz senior year Rachel was a lesbian.
BLAINE
Oh, right.
QUINN
Shut up!
EVEN SHE SEEMS SURPRISED BY THAT LITTLE OUTBURST. FINN'S QUICK TO MOVE ON.
FINN
Alright, so... are we in?
ARTIE
Is the gym up to the latest fire code standards?
FINN
Uh, yeah. I think so. If you're worried about being in the chair, we can-
ARTIE
That's not what I'm worried about.
MIKE
Then...?
ARTIE
I think you should let the school know...
(BEAT)
That New Directions are gonna set the roof on fire, y'all!
THE GROUP LAUGHS, AND THERE'S SUDDEN HUGS AND APPLAUSE.
WHILE EVERYONE'S DISTRACTED, QUINN CATCHES RACHEL'S EYE. SHE NODS AT FINN STANDING NEXT TO HER AND:
QUINN
(MOUTHS)
The best?
RACHEL'S MOUTH DRAWS INTO A TIGHT, OFFENDED LINE. SHE GLANCES POINTEDLY AT PUCK, AND:
RACHEL
(EYEBROW COCKED, MOUTHS)
The best?
SUDDENLY, THEY'RE GLARING AT EACH OTHER. SUCH A SHAME. SIGH.
CUT TO:
ACT 4, SCENE 25
INT. SHALOM MOTEL, RACHEL'S ROOM
OPEN ON EMPTY ROOM. BAG LYING OPEN ON THE BED. CLOTHES SCATTERED EVERYWHERE. WE HEAR THE HISS OF THE SHOWER THROUGH THE CLOSED BATHROOM DOOR.
WE HEAR A KNOCK.
SHOWER CONTINUES TO HISS. ANOTHER KNOCK.
WE HEAR THE SHOWER CUT OFF, AND A FEW BEATS LATER RACHEL, WRAPPED IN A TOWEL, EMERGES IN A CLOUD OF STEAM, WET HAIR DRIPPING DOWN HER SHOULDERS.
ANOTHER KNOCK.
RACHEL
I'll be right there! Keep your shirt-
(OPENS DOOR)
-on.
QUINN IS THERE, ACTUALLY TAKES A STEP BACK, CLEARLY WASN'T EXPECTING TO SEE RACHEL LIKE... THIS.
QUINN
Sorry. I can... um... I can come back later, or...
RACHEL
No, no, it's fine. Did you want something?
QUINN
I thought we should talk.
RACHEL
Really? I figured you were like me and just wanted to avoid that at all costs.
QUINN
I do.
(BEAT)
I mean, I did. But-
(BEAT)
Look, I don't want anything between... us... making things uncomfortable for the others this weekend. Because this isn't just about us.
RACHEL
Have you forgotten who you're talking to?
QUINN ACTUALLY SMILES. THIS SEEMS TO MAKE HER MORE UNCOMFORTABLE.
QUINN
Could you...?
(BEAT)
I mean, don't you want to... get dressed?
RACHEL STEPS BACK. QUINN FOLLOWS HER INSIDE AND CLOSES THE DOOR. RACHEL STARTS RIFLING THROUGH THE CLOTHES ON THE BED.
RACHEL
Can't decide what to wear tonight.
(BEAT)
I was thinking my awesome ass jeans. Remember, we bought them at that thrift store in the Village?
QUINN
What about your yellow top? The one with the single shoulder? I brought it back from L.A.?
RACHEL
Oh, yeah. That's right...
(DIGS AROUND)
Here!
SHE HOLDS UP THE TOP IN TRIUMPH. QUINN SMILES. RACHEL SMILES. THEN IT SEEMS TO OCCUR TO THEM WHAT THEY JUST DID AND THE AWKWARDNESS COMES BACK.
RACHEL (cont'd)
I'll just go change.
RACHEL SCOOTS INTO THE BATHROOM, LEAVES THE DOOR HALF OPEN. QUINN SITS DOWN AMONGST THE CLOTHES ON THE BED. SHE IDLY RUNS HER HAND OVER THE VARIOUS FABRICS. THEN, ALMOST AGAINST HER WILL, SHE LIFTS ONE ITEM, A NEGLIGEE, HOLDS IT TO HER FACE, AND TAKES A DEEP SNIFF.
RACHEL (OFF) (cont'd)
So what did you want to talk about?
QUINN DROPS THE NEGLIGEE LIKE IT JUST SHOCKED HER. FROM HER POV, SHE CAN SEE THE BATHROOM MIRROR, THROUGH THE OPEN DOOR. IT'S STEAMED UP, BUT SHE CAN STILL MAKE OUT RACHEL'S SILHOUETTE AS
SHE GETS CHANGED. QUINN DOESN'T ANSWER, JUST STARES, HER MOUTH HANGING SLIGHTLY OPEN.
RACHEL (OFF) (cont'd)
Quinn?
QUINN
I'm sorry, what did you say?
RACHEL EMERGES FROM THE BATHROOM. SHE'S IN THE BLACK JEANS AND YELLOW TOP, LOOKING, WELL, SIMPLY GORGEOUS. SHE SITS DOWN ON A CHAIR, AND STARTS PULLING ON A PAIR OF ANKLE BOOTS.
QUINN (cont'd)
You should thank me, you know?
RACHEL
For what?
QUINN
Until me, you dressed like a nun who ran away with the priest's credit card.
RACHEL ROLLS HER EYES.
RACHEL
You didn't answer my question. What do you want to talk about?
QUINN LETS OUT A BREATH, NODDING. LIKE SHE'S STEELING HERSELF.
QUINN
I wanna know why we can't talk.
RACHEL
We're talking now.
QUINN
Yeah. And this is the most we've said to each other in - what? Almost four years?
RACHEL GOES QUIET, STARING AT THE FLOOR. THE ATMOSPHERE GETS VERY HEAVY.
QUINN (cont'd)
(WHISPERS)
Why can't we even talk to each other?
RACHEL
Sometimes...
(BEAT)
Sometimes that's just the way it goes. Sometimes too much has happened, and you can't ever go back.
QUINN
Do you really believe that?
RACHEL
I don't want to. But that's the way it is.
QUINN
That's crap!
RACHEL
Quinn...
QUINN
I miss you.
RACHEL STIFFENS. THEY LOCK EYES. BOTH WANT TO CRY - OR SCREAM - CAN'T REALLY DECIDE WHICH.
RACHEL
Then why are you here with him?
IT'S LIKE AN IRON ROD BEING INSERTED ALONG THE LENGTH OF QUINN'S SPINE. SHE STRAIGHTENS AND A FLASH OF FIRE LIGHTS IN HER EYES.
QUINN
Because he wants to be with me. Because he won't hurt me.
RACHEL
Of course he won't hurt you. You have to love someone for them to hurt you.
QUINN
I love him.
RACHEL
God, you're such a liar.
QUINN
That's rich. Coming from you.
RACHEL LAUGHS. THE SOUND IS BITTER AND TWISTED. SHE GETS UP AND STARTS PACING.
RACHEL
This is it. This is why we haven't spoken. Because this... this is what happens when we talk.
QUINN
You're right.
SHE STANDS TOO. RACHEL REACHES THE WALL, TURNS, AND COMES BACK THE OTHER WAY. QUINN STEPS IN FRONT OF HER, FORCING HER TO STOP.
QUINN (cont'd)
Just tell me one thing...
RACHEL
What?
QUINN
What happened that day?
RACHEL
What day?
QUINN
Don't play games with me. Not now. You know what day.
(BEAT)
Washington Square Park. The last day of summer.
RACHEL
(LOOKS AWAY)
Quinn...
QUINN
Tell me.
RACHEL MEETS HER EYE. AND NOW THE TEARS COME.
RACHEL
You wanna know what happened?
QUINN
Yes.
RACHEL
Really?
QUINN
Yes!
RACHEL
I made the biggest mistake of my life! I chucked away the only thing - the only person who ever made me truly happy, and I've spent the last four years of my life hating myself because of it!
(BEAT)
That's what happened! There! I said it! Happy?
RACHEL STEPS PAST HER, ALL BUT DASHES ACROSS THE ROOM. SHE REACHES THE WINDOW, AND FLINGS IT OPEN, LETTING IN THE COOL EVENING BREEZE.
SOMEWHERE IN THE MOTEL, SOMEONE HAS THE STEREO ON. THE GENTLE, RHYTHMIC STRUMMING OF AN ACOUSTIC GUITAR FLOATS IN WITH THE BREEZE.
WE SEE QUINN APPEAR BEHIND RACHEL, OUT OF FOCUS, LIKE A GHOST.
QUINN
No...
(BEAT)
I'm miserable.
STEREO
We got the afternoon.
You got this room for two.
One thing you're left to do,
Discover me, discovering you.
QUINN COMES CLOSER, COMING INTO FOCUS. IT'S LIKE RACHEL CAN FEEL HER, AND CLOSES HER EYES AS SHE GETS NEAR. QUINN STOPS, RIGHT BEHIND HER, NOT TOUCHING.
STEREO(cont'd)
My mouth to every inch of,
Your skin like porcelain.
QUINN REACHES UP, SLOWLY PULLS RACHEL'S STILL-WET HAIR AWAY FROM HER NECK. RACHEL SHUDDERS.
RACHEL
Quinn...
STEREO
One pair of candy lips, and,
Your bubblegum tongue.
THEY'RE BOTH TREMBLING. QUINN LEANS FORWARD, AND LAYS A RUSH OF BUTTERFLY KISSES ALONG THE SWEEP OF RACHEL'S NECK.
STEREO(cont'd)
And if you want love...
We'll make it.
Swim in a deep sea, Of blankets.
Take all your big plans,
And break 'em.
This is bound to be a while...
RACHEL CAN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE. SHE SPINS IN THE COCOON OF QUINN'S ARMS, THROWING HER ARMS AROUND THE BLONDE'S NECK AND SNARING HER IN A FIERCE, HUNGRY KISS.
STEREO (cont'd)
Your body is a wonderland...
SUCH IS THE FORCE OF IT, THAT QUINN STUMBLES BACKWARDS. RACHEL REFUSES TO BREAK THE KISS, BREAK THE CONNECTION, AND FOLLOWS.
STEREO(cont'd)
Your body is a wonderland...
Use my hands...
RACHEL USES HER HANDS. AS THEY STUMBLE, HER FINDERS ARE ALREADY FUMBLING AT THE BUTTONS OF QUINN'S SHIRT.
STEREO (cont'd)
Your body is a wonderland...
THE BACK OF QUINN'S LEGS STRIKE THE BED AND THEY BOTH GO OVER, LANDING IN A PILE OF CLOTHES. THEY START GIGGLING, EVEN AS RACHEL CHUCKS THE SUITCASE OFF THE BED.
QUINN
You think this is a good idea?
RACHEL
Was it ever?
QUINN
Good point.
THEY START TEARING AT EACH OTHER'S CLOTHES.
STEREO
Something about the way the hair falls in your face.
And I love the shape you take when crawling towards the pillow case.
TOPLESS NOW, QUINN SCOOTS TOWARD THE HEAD OF THE BED. SHE'S DISCARDED HER SHOES SOMEWHERE ALONG THE WAY. RACHEL GRABS HOLD OF THE LEG OF HER JEANS, PEELS IT OFF AS QUINN CRAWLS AWAY, STILL GIGGLING.
STEREO (cont'd)
You tell me where to go, and,
Though I might leave to find it.
I'll never let your head hit the bed,
Without my hand behind it.
QUINN'S TURN TO PEEL OFF THE 'AWESOME ASS' JEANS. SHE FLIPS RACHEL OVER AND USES HER TEETH.
STEREO(cont'd)
And if you want love...
We'll make it.
Swim in a deep sea, Of blankets.
Take all your big plans,
And break 'em.
This is bound to be a while...
NOW IT'S ALL ABOUT TOUCH AND TASTE AND SWEAT AND REMEMBERING. QUINN'S FINGERS DANCE ALONG THE INSIDE OF RACHEL'S THIGH AND SHE SQUEALS, PULLING A PILLOW OVER HER FACE.
STEREO (cont'd)
Your body is a wonderland...
QUINN YANKS THE PILLOW AWAY, KISSES HER.
QUINN
I forgot.
RACHEL
What?
QUINN
That it could be like this.
STEREO
Your body is a wonderland,
Use my hands...
RACHEL USES HER FINGERTIPS TO TRACE THE LINE OF QUINN'S PERFECT, PERFECT MOUTH.
STEREO (cont'd)
Your body is a wonderland.
QUINN PINS HER TO THE BED. SHE NIBBLES ON HER CLAVICLE, ELICITING A SLIGHT SHAKE.
THE TIP OF HER TONGUE ON THE GROOVE BETWEEN HER BREASTS - A TREMOR.
HER HAIR DRAGGING STREAKS DOWN RACHEL'S FLAT STOMACH AS QUINN MOVES EVER DOWNWARD - AND NOW SHE'S TREMBLING.
STEREO (cont'd)
Damn baby! You frustrate me.
I know you're mine, all mine, all mine...
CLOSE UP ON RACHEL'S FACE - HER RAVEN HAIR TOSSED AGAINST THE WHITE OF THE PILLOW LIKE A RUSH OF INK.
STEREO (cont'd)
But you look so good it hurts sometimes.
HER EYES FLARE, THEN SLOWLY SHUTTER CLOSED.
STEREO(cont'd)
Your body is a wonderland...
Use my hands...
Your body is a wonderland...
Your body is a wonderland...
AND SHE'S LOST.
CUT TO:
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