ACT 7, SCENE 55
EXT. SHALOM MOTEL
A SHUTTLE BUS TAKES UP THREE PARKING SPACES IN THE MOTEL LOT. THE GANG - MINUS QUINN AND RACHEL - ARE LOADING THEIR BAGS INTO IT'S MASSIVE CARGO HOLD. PUCK AND FINN ARE SITTING ON THE BOOT OF PUCK'S CAR, WATCHING.
PUCK
We never learn, do we?
(BEAT)
Rachel and Quinn are like, our kryptonite!
FINN
So, that means I'm Superman and you're... Supergirl?
PUCK
Screw you, Superdork.
FINN GRINS.
FINN
I dunno. I think I needed this. I spent too many years hanging onto what could've been. Maybe now I can move on.
PUCK
Know what you mean, brother. It's time for this sex shark to start swimming again.
FINN
Sex shark?
PUCK
I didn't tell you about the sex shark thing?
FINN
No. And don't feel like you have to.
PUCK ELBOWS HIM SO HARD, HE ALMOST FALLS OFF THE CAR. KURT APPROACHES THEM.
KURT
So... I guess I'll see you at Christmas?
FINN
Sooner. I'll come visit during summer vacation. You can take me to Coney Island.
KURT
Want me to win you a teddy bear?
FINN
That would be awesome.
KURT GRINS. FINN SLIPS OFF THE CAR AND HUGS HIS BROTHER. BLAINE APPROACHES.
BLAINE
Hey! Hands off my man!
PUCK
What man?
FINN
(TO BLAINE)
You going to New York?
BLAINE
Yeah.
FINN
Take care of each other.
KURT
(TAKES BLAINE'S HAND)
We will.
SAM AND MERCEDES COME UP TO THEM.
SAM
I guess this is it, huh?
MERCEDES
I'm gonna miss you guys.
HUGS ALL ROUND. MIKE, TINA, RORY, ARTIE AND SUGAR JOIN THEM, ALSO GET IN ON THE HUGGING.
ARTIE
We can't wait so long before getting together again.
SUGAR
Yeah. This was too much fun.
SANTANA (O.S.)
So, I say we make a pact...
SHE AND BRITTANY APPROACH, ALSO HOLDING HANDS.
SANTANA(cont'd)
We get together once a year. Doesn't have to be in Lima. I, for one, wanna see Mercedes' house that they featured on MTV Cribs.
MERCEDES
Girl, once you try my jacuzzi, you ain't never leaving.
TINA
I think that's a great idea!
MIKE
So we do it. Once a year.
RORY
Fantastic!
SAM
Someone should let Quinn and Rachel know.
FINN
I'll do it.
BRITTANY
What?
FINN
I'm not gonna make the same mistake again. I'm not gonna let them drift out of my life just because... well...
BRITTANY
You're like a superhero, you know that?
SHE HUGS HIM.
FINN
Thanks. Puck's Supergirl.
PUCK
Dude, I'm gonna kick your ass!
SANTANA
I could see you rocking that outfit. The skirt, the boots...
PUCK
In your dreams, sweetheart.
FROM INSIDE THE SHUTTLE, THE DRIVER HONKS HIS HORN.
ARTIE
We need to get going.
FINN
Travel safe, guys.
ONE BY ONE HE HUGS THEM ALL AGAIN, AND THEY ALL PILE INTO THE SHUTTLE. FINN AND PUCK STAND ON THE SIDEWALK, WAVING AS THEIR FRIENDS RECEDE INTO THE DISTANCE.
PUCK
I should hit the road too. But first...
HE SKIPS OVER TO HIS CAR, AND TAKES OUT A FOLDED PIECE OF CLOTH. IT'S QUITE LARGE, LIKE A FLAG.
PUCK (cont'd)
Got it made in Cleveland. Figured you'd find a place for it.
FINN
Thanks.
PUCK
Stay cool, brother.
FINN
Keep rockin', alright?
PUCK
You know it.
THEY HUG. THEN PUCK CLIMBS INTO HIS CAR AND, WITH A FINAL SALUTE, DRIVES OFF.
CUT TO:
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ACT 7, SCENE 56
INT. WILLIAM MCKINLEY HIGH, AUDITORIUM
OPEN ON A LARGE BANNER THAT READS: "NEW DIRECTIONS. NATIONAL SHOW CHOIR CHAMPIONS. 2012." BY THE COLOUR, WE CAN TELL THIS IS PUCK'S GIFT. FINN HAS ATTACHED IT TO A ROPE, AND NOW REELS IT IN. THE BANNER CLIMBS HIGH UP INTO THE EAVES ABOVE THE STAGE. HE TIES THE ROPE IN PLACE, THEN STEPS BACK TO THE EDGE OF THE STAGE TO ADMIRE HIS HANDIWORK.
RACHEL (O.S.)
Looks good.
(BEAT)
Looks like it belongs.
FINN TURNS AROUND, RACHEL SMILES HESITANTLY AT HIM AS SHE COMES DOWN THE AISLE.
FINN
Hey. Thought you'd left.
RACHEL
Quinn's saying goodbye to Coach Sylvester.
FINN
You going back to New York?
RACHEL
(SHAKES HER HEAD)
San Francisco.
FINN
Really?
(BEAT)
But New York is your dream.
RACHEL
I have a new dream now.
(BEAT)
I want to make it work this time, with Quinn. For once in my life, see that its okay to be ambitious and chase what you want, but it all means nothing if you don't have someone to share it with.
FINN
Wow. Rachel Berry giving up something for someone else? Say it isn't so!
RACHEL
She's worth it.
FINN
Yes. She is.
(BEAT)
If you forget that again, you're gonna have to deal with me.
RACHEL
(LAUGHS)
Deal.
(BEAT)
We were up all night talking. About... what went wrong. What we can do to make sure the future happens this time. And we...
SHE TRAILS OFF, SUDDENLY SELF-CONSCIOUS.
FINN
What?
RACHEL
We want to start a family.
FINN
That's great. I... I wish you guys the best.
RACHEL
Really?
(BEAT)
Because I couldn't handle it if you hated me.
FINN
I could never hate you, Rachel. And not for lack of trying.
THEY TRY TO SMILE AT EACH OTHER. IT WAVERS, BUT HOLDS. FINN SITS DOWN ON THE EDGE OF THE STAGE. RACHEL SCOOTS UP NEXT TO HIM.
RACHEL
Can I ask you a question?
FINN
Sure.
RACHEL
You ever get the feeling our lives should fit between opening and closing credits?
FINN LAUGHS.
FINN
Hey, I was talking to the others, and we agreed to make a pact. Get together once a year.
RACHEL
Great. I don't want to lose touch again.
(LEANS OVER, GIVES HIM A PLAYFUL BUMP)
Especially with you.
FINN
Then we won't. Next time I come see you in a play, I'll actually let you know I'm coming.
RACHEL
Good. Coz I can get you tickets.
FINN
Oh, thank God. Last time, they sat me way in the back next to this woman who kept spitting skittles all over me everytime she coughed.
RACHEL
Ew!
FINN
Tell me about it.
EASY SILENCE FOR A WHILE. THEN:
RACHEL
Do you ever wonder how different it would have been - if Mr. Schu didn't come back that day? When we sang Don't Stop Believing?
FINN
I'd rather not.
RACHEL
No?
FINN
(SHAKES HIS HEAD)
Coz we never would've ended up here. And... crazy as it sounds... I like here.
RACHEL
Me too.
RACHEL LEANS BACK, DIGGING IN THE POCKET OF HER JEANS.
RACHEL (cont'd)
I have something for you.
(TAKES OUT THE RING)
You dropped it last night.
FINN STARES AT THE RING, THE CORNERS OF HIS MOUTH TWITCHING A LITTLE.
FINN
Keep it.
RACHEL
What? No, I can't-
FINN
Give it to Quinn. Do it right this time. Make an honest woman out of her.
RACHEL
Are you sure?
FINN
It was always your ring. Even if I don't get to give it to you.
ON A SUDDEN IMPULSE, SHE HUGS HIM. HE HOLDS HER CLOSE - BREATHING IN THE SCENT OF HER - ONE LAST TIME.
THEY LOOK UP WHEN THE DOOR IN BACK OPENS, AND QUINN ENTERS. SHE FLASHES THEM A SMILE AS SHE COMES DOWN THE AISLE.
QUINN
Hey. What are you guys doing?
RACHEL
Getting lost in the memories.
QUINN NODS, TURNS AROUND, TAKING IN THE GRAND OLD ARENA.
QUINN
We were watching you that day, you know?
FINN
Who?
QUINN
Coach Sylvester, myself, Brittany and Santana. We were up there...
(POINTS TO THE BALCONY)
We watched you performing in those ridiculous matching red shirts.
FINN
Hey! We looked cool!
QUINN
O-kay...
RACHEL
Why were you watching?
QUINN
Spying on the competition. Coach would never admit it, but I knew... we were watching the start of something special.
FINN AND RACHEL SMILE AT THAT. SILENCE SETTLES. IT GROWS SLIGHTLY AWKWARD UNTIL:
QUINN (cont'd)
So, are we gonna talk about-?
RACHEL
No!
FINN
Absolutely not!
RACHEL
Never ever!
FINN
No chance in hell!
QUINN
Okay. Good.
THE DOOR OPENS AGAIN, AND MR. SCHU ENTERS.
WILL
Hey, guys. This a bad time?
FINN
Not at all. What's up?
WILL
Nothing much. Just had this idea for a number bouncing around in my head, thought you might like to give it a shot.
QUINN
Just the three of us?
WILL
(SMIRKS)
Not quite.
BEHIND HIM, THE DOOR OPENS AND PUCK ENTERS. FOLLOWED BY SANTANA AND BRITTANY. THEN MERCEDES AND SAM. TINA AND MIKE. ARTIE. RORY. SUGAR. KURT. BLAINE.
RACHEL
What's going on?
FINN
I thought you guys left.
ARTIE
We got to the highway and decided to turn around.
PUCK
We never did get to finish our set last night. Thanks to the... what did you call it, Kurt?
KURT
Finchel drama.
PUCK
Right.
RACHEL
(TO FINN)
See what I meant by opening and closing credits?
QUINN
We're gonna need music, and-
(BEAT)
Oh.
THE BAND IS ALREADY TAKING THEIR PLACE ON STAGE - APPEARING AS IF FROM NOWHERE. THE GANG DESCEND ON THE STAGE.
FINN
What song did you have in mind, Mr. Schu?
WILL
Well, it's an oldie, but a goodie.
(TO PIANO PLAYER)
Brad?
THE BAND START UP. FINN GRINS.
FINN
Let's do this.
RACHEL
Started out, just like any summer.
Days that felt a lifetime long.
TAKES QUINN BY THE HAND, AND THEY SPIN ROUND, GRINNING JOYOUSLY AT EACH OTHER.
RACHEL (cont'd)
That's when we found each other.
And we found ourselves... oh...
THERE'S NO SET CHOREOGRAPHY - NO MOVES - JUST A BUNCH OF PEOPLE WHO'VE BEEN THERE AND BACK AGAIN - GETTING LOST IN THE SOUND AND EACH OTHER.
NEW DIRECTIONS
Now and then,
Don't have to look back.
Now and then,
You're right here with me.
Now and then,
Oh, my friend,
Don't say goodbye again.
QUINN GLIDES TO THE FRONT OF THE STAGE, WHERE SHE SINGS TO MR. SCHU, WHO'S CLAPPING AND LAUGHING AND BOPPING ALONG.
QUINN
Looking in your eyes,
Was like a mirror.
Every single joy and fear.
SANTANA COMES UP, AND TAKES QUINN'S HAND. RACHEL COMES UP ON THE OTHER SIDE, ALSO TAKES HER HAND. THEY THROW THEIR HANDS UP TO THE SKY, LIKE WINNERS ON A PODIUM.
SANTANA
All for one, and one for all.
Yeah, we did it all.
THE REST OF THE GANG CROWD AROUND THE FRONT OF THE STAGE.
NEW DIRECTIONS
Now and then,
Don't have to look back.
Now and then,
You're right here with me.
Now and then,
Oh, my friend,
Don't say goodbye again.
MIKE AND PUCK LEAP OFF THE STAGE, AND BEFORE HE CAN RESIST, HOIST MR. SCHU UP ON THEIR SHOULDERS AND LITERALLY DUMP HIM ON THE STAGE. HE THROWS UP HIS HANDS, SIGNALLING SURRENDER AS THE REST OF THE GROUP FORM A HALF MOON AROUND HIM, ENCOURAGING HIM TO SING.
WILL
And though, it was long, long ago.
So here, here inside, I know.
NEW DIRECTIONS
Now and then,
Don't have to look back.
Now and then,
You're right here with me.
Now and then,
Yeah, my friend,
Don't say goodbye again.
THEY CLOSE INTO A TIGHT CIRCLE, ARMS AROUND EACH OTHER'S SHOULDERS. WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF IT, SPINNING ROUND, TAKING IN THOSE FAMILIAR FACES...
SANTANA, MERCEDES, SUGAR, MIKE, TINA, PUCK, BLAINE, SAM, BRITTANY, KURT, RACHEL, RORY, FINN, QUINN, WILL, ARTIE... FRIENDS ALL.
RACHEL
Looking in your eyes,
Was like a mirror.
Every single joy and fear.
QUINN
All for one, and one for all.
Yeah, we did it all...
NEW DIRECTIONS
Now and then.
(NOW AND THEN)
Now and then.
(NOW AND THEN)
Now and then,
Oh, my friend,
Don't say goodbye...
Don't say goodbye...
Don't say goodbye again.
LAUGHTER. SO MUCH LAUGHTER.
WILL
As the poet once said, "In the sweetness of friendship, let there be laughter and sharing of pleasures. For in the due of little things, the heart finds it's morning, and is refreshed."
NARRATOR
Wait, what?
END OF EPISODE
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And... that's it. Hope you had as much fun reading this as I did writing it. Let me know what you thought about it.
Peace out, Gleeks!