I do not own Glee or any of the movies or music mentioned.
Santana lay on across four chairs at the back of the choir room of McKinley High, her feet on Brittany's lap. Everyone else was slumped in their seats despondent. It had been announced that "Vocal Adrenaline" had won at Nationals (and that they had performed "Don't Stop Believing"). Mr Shue had been trying desperately all week to perk them up.
"Don't let this get you down." he insisted for the hundredth time, "We have this year's Invitational's to look forward to. We need energy and we need motivation. What we don't need is another funk!"
Santana just groaned,
"We're not in some feel good movie." she said, "We are not going to suddenly start singing and dancing our blues away."
Then Santana saw it, the gleam in Mr Shue's eye, the rubbing together of his hands. Oh god, here comes another lame assignment!
Santana and Brittany entered the choir room, their pinkies linked. They had just come from a confrontation with Miss Sylvester and Brittany was still scared and a little bewildered ("You think this is hard, try having to survive on a life raft for six months with only the right leg of an ninety year old woman for sustenance."). The Jazz band was present, a sure sign that Mr Shue had big plans for this week's assignment.
"I want you all to feel better about yourselves." he said. "Now the Eighties were the golden age of feel good movies; with a killer combination of uplifting music and memorable dance - as I shall now demonstrate."
The band started up and Mr Shue removed his tie and unbuttoned his shirt slightly. He began a very energetic version of 'Footloose' from the movie. He even recreated some of Kevin Bacon's dance steps from the film. It was infection and soon the whole room was joining in, taking turns to show off their moves centre stage. When the song was over everyone was laughing. Santana was grinning despite herself. This assignment might not be so lame after all. Her best friend Brittney loved 80s movies, so much so that she could dance, step for step, along with most of them. They had spent many a sleepover in their youth recreating their favourite movie dances. Santana found herself looking forward to this project because it would make her friend happy, and when Brittany was happy so was Santana.
When he had got his breath back, Mr Shue then went on to explain the assignment to his newly inspired Glee Club. He put his top hat on the piano.
"Your names are in the hat. I want you in pairs to work on your own 80s movie number. So first pick your partner."
Mercedes went first; Santana's heart sank when the diva read out "Brittany." The group was gradually paired up, Tina and Quinn, Puck and Matt, Finn and Mike, Rachel and Artie. That left Santana to partner with Kurt. A prospect neither of them seemed to relish.
"Now you are on your groups." Mr Shue said," I want you to decide what film will be your inspiration. We don't want a repeat of the Ballad assignment when five of you sang 'Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You'. When you have decided write it on the white-board."
The choir broke up to sit beside their new partners. Santana was watching Brittany in excited conversation with Mercedes and not really listening to Kurt.
"We need to think of a good one first, before someone else takes it." he said, "Chorus Line?"
"No show tunes," said Santana," And I don't do tap."
Rachel was already at the board writing 'Dirty Dancing'. Brittany rushed up next and wrote 'Flaissdans' which Mercedes then corrected to read 'Flashdance'.
"All the good ones are going." muttered Kurt, "How about …um… 'Don't You Forget About Me' from 'Breakfast Club'"
"No John Hughes" said Santana.
Finn was next to the board and wrote 'Blues Brothers' and Matt came next and wrote 'Rocky'.
"There aren't any good ones left." groaned Kurt. Santana rolled her eyes,
"There are plenty!"
Quinn and Tina were in a hurried discussion obviously thinking the same as Kurt but then they suddenly both laughed out loud and hurried to the board to write 'Grease'.
"Well what exactly do we do now." said Kurt, "We have nothing decent left to pick."
"Chill out. It's fine."
"Well what do you suggest we're going to sing? So far you've been less than constructive."
"We are going to do one of the greatest eighties musical movies of all time." said Santana calmly, "Watch Rachel kick herself."
Santana coolly walked to the whiteboard and wrote 'Fame'. Kurt's eyes lit up and Santana was pleased to see Rachel actually slap herself on the forehead for forgetting that one.
Mr Shue had them meet him in the auditorium for the big show. Finn and Mike went first. They were both dressed as the Blues Brothers in black suits, black hats and dark shades. Finn began with the introduction from the film welcoming ladies, gentlemen and the members of the Illinois police department. Then they burst into 'Everybody Needs Somebody'. Finn was singing and Mike was dancing all over the stage. All of Glee club joined in with the song shouting out "You, you, you!" as loud as they could. It was a great start.
Quinn and Tina stepped onto the stage next. They were both dressed in pyjamas and dressing gowns. Puck let out a loud wolf whistle. Together they both began to sing 'Look at me I'm Sandra Dee'. At one point Tina was channelling pure Rizzo when they got to the part about Doris Day which had everyone laughing. When they were finished they received a standing ovation.
It was Santana and Kurt's turn next. The costumes Kurt had found were pure 80s, all sweatbands, legwarmers, bright leotards and leggings. When Santana began to sing,
"Fame I'm gonna live forever,"
She couldn't help smiling. The dance moves were infectious and soon most of Glee Club was dancing and singing along in the aisles. When they were done Mr Shue gave them both a high five.
Mercedes then took the stage alone. She looked very much a diva in a purple and pink kaftan, but there was no sign of Brittany. Mercedes began to sing 'What a Feeling', and then the blonde cheerleader took the stage. She was dressed like the character from 'Flashdance', in just a very tiny black leotard and legwarmers. All the boys were suddenly very quiet as Brittany, move for move, recreated the audition dance from the film. Brittany finished dancing before the end of the song (just as it happens in the film) and joined Mercedes in the last chorus. The boys cheered very loudly when they were done.
Puck and Matt came on next in boxing gear. Quinn returned the wolf whistle. The two boys were singing 'Eye of the Tiger'. Together they had worked out a routine of dancing the final boxing match from the film as they sang. It looked very cool and when Puck as Rocky punched out Matt's character everybody cheered.
Finally Rachel and Artie took the stage. Things got very hushed as Rachel sang the first line of '(I Had) The Time Of My Life'. Brittany got very excited and grasped Santana's hand with a big smile on her face.
"They're doing our song!" she cried.
Brittney's grip was very tight and Santana suddenly found herself being dragged towards the stage.
"This isn't a good idea!" she said in a panicked whisper, but Brittney was too excited to notice. At this point Rachel had stopped singing and was glaring and them both. Santana found herself being manhandled into centre stage by her best friend. Suddenly she was torn, Brittany looked so adorably eager, and they did know this dance backwards, it was one of Brittany's favourites. Resigned, Santana gave into her best friend.
"Okay we're ready." Brittany cried to a frustrated Rachel, all Santana could do was shrug an apology. Rachel, always a trooper, began her song again. Santana assured herself she could do this without embarrassment until two seconds into the song Brittney pulled her arm up over head and ran her fingers down her side. Santana felt much more comfortable when they got into the proper Latin steps of the dance and she laughed when Brittney somersaulted off the stage and began to dance in the aisle. But then the laugh stopped, when Santana suddenly remembered the lift. They had been successful a few times, but nine times out of ten they both ended up crashing to the floor. Brittany signalled she was ready, everyone was staring in anticipation and Santana realised the only way out of this with her head held high was to the nail the lift. Totally committed to the move Santana ran to her friend, felt Brittany's strong hands on her hips and was lifted into the air. Then she concentrated on keeping her legs straight and arms out to her side. Brittany was no Patrick Swayze but managed to hold her friend above her head for long enough to get a cheer. The dance over they hugged and turned to watch Artie and Rachel finished their duet. The last song got the loudest applause of the night.
Mr Shue then stepped on the stage.
"So are we ready for the Invitational's?"
Everybody cheered in agreement.
