Deleted Scene 7 S5 Opening Night

Noelle hummed to herself as she sat in front of the dressing room mirror, preparing for the biggest night of her life. She was softly playing her pump-up playlist. Rachel was singing along to the songs as she sat at the vanity across the room from Noelle, looking very green as she put the final touches on her Elphaba Shiz costume. Rachel's hair was braided into pigtails while Noelle donned her blonde wig for her Glinda the Good Witch costume. They heard a knock at the door and Noelle turned down the music.

"Come in!" said Rachel and Noelle in unison. The door opened slowly and the two gasped.

"I heard it was two lovely ladies' opening night!" said Will.

"Oh my god!" Rachel and Noelle cried as they got up and walked over to Will.

"How are you?" asked Rachel as she hugged Will. Noelle followed suit.

"It's great to see you Mr. Schue," said Noelle.

"Oh my god, look at you two!" said Will, kissing them both on the cheek and handing them the flowers. "These are for you."

"Thank you," said Rachel and Noelle in unison.

"You guys nervous?" asked Will.

"Yes," said both girls in unison. Will laughed. "Well you guys are going to knock them dead. How are you feeling, Rachel?"

"A little morning sickness here and there," said Rachel, "but other than that I'm okay. Quinn had to miss the show since Alex is still only a few weeks old so she's watching the kids. They're too little to see or understand the show, just like Beth was when we were here a few years ago as spectators."

"Good. Noelle, you look fabulous, how do you feel?" Will asked.

"Really good, my neurologist gave me the all clear," said Noelle. "I am not going to have any MS symptoms back until I'm in my forties or fifties. I can live out my life to the fullest."

"That's great!" Will sighed. "Wow, I always knew we'd end up here. Well, that you two would end up here."

"Well, dreams do apparently come true," said Rachel and Noelle nodded in agreement.

"Apparently," said Will and Rachel looked down and fingered her "Finn" necklace.

"We, uh, got him a seat tonight," Rachel continued. "I know it sounds weird, but Finn made us promise him that we would get him a ticket to opening night on Broadway."

"I don't think it's weird, I think it's lovely," said Will, placing a hand on both Rachel and Noelle's shoulders.

Will smiled up at the ceiling for a second and then looked at Rachel.

"The only thing that scares me is getting through 'As Long as You're Mine'," said Rachel. "I think about him when I sing it."

"Same for me with the Finale and For Good," said Noelle as Will's phone rang. "But if we can get through those, we'll be fine."

"Well, you know where we are all sitting, so if either of you need a little boost, just zone in on us," said Will.

"Okay," Rachel and Noelle replied. They both took a deep breath and exhaled slowly.

"It's okay you two, relax," said Will. "I am so proud of you Rachel and Noelle. Tonight is the best gift a teacher can ever get from two of his students." He sighed. "You two made my dreams come true, too.

Just then, there was a knock at the door and Will's phone rang. The stagehand opened the door.

"Ten minutes, Mrs. Koontz, Mrs. Hudson," said the stagehand.

"Thank you," Rachel and Noelle replied.

"Oh, it's Emma!" said Will, answering his phone. "Hey Em! Yeah, I'm here with Rachel and Noelle, what's up?" There was a pause. "She says "Break a Leg!'."

"Thanks," said Rachel and Noelle as they hurried to finish getting dressed. Noelle looked at Will, who had a look of horror washed over his face.

"What? Now? How-how long? Wha-wha, well, hang on, wait for me-" started Will as he started for the door.

"Oh my god!" cried Noelle as Rachel's hands flew to her mouth.

"Just-just try to wait..." continued Will.

"Is she-?" started Noelle.

"Right now?" Rachel asked excitedly.

"Her water just broke!" Will said excitedly.

"Go! Go!" said Noelle and Rachel enthusiastically, motioning for him to leave.

"Oh my god!" said Noelle.

Will hugged and kissed them both.

"I have to get back to Ohio. I love you guys, I love you, break a leg!" said Will, hurriedly exiting the dressing room. Tears were flowing out of Rachel and Noelle's eyes as Rachel fingered her "Finn" necklace and Noelle looked at the Hudson-Hummel family photo from Nationals that sat on her vanity.

A few minutes later, bells were jingling backstage as the orchestra warmed up. Rachel and Noelle exited their dressing room. Noelle hugged Rachel.

"Break a leg, Sis, see ya out there," said Noelle.

"Ditto, love ya," said Rachel. Noelle headed over to Glinda's bubble and was strapped in. She could feel her heart beating faster and faster while Rachel stood just off of Stage Left, waiting for the Shiz University scene. As the orchestra started playing the opening number, the audience roared with applause. This was it.

It was near the end of the first act, and it was time for Rachel and Noelle to sing "Defying Gravity". Coach Sylvester apparently had tagged along with Will in Emma's place and had left as Noelle had sung "Popular" to Rachel, as did another man. That had left the two worrying, but then again, it was Sue Sylvester, who had always had a distaste for any of the members of the New Directions.

Noelle

(Spoken)

Elphaba, Why couldn't you have stayed calm, for once! Instead of flying off the handle!

(Sung)

I hope you're happy

I hope you're happy now

I hope you're happy how you've

Hurt your cause forever

I hope you think you're clever

Rachel:

I hope you're happy

I hope you're happy too

I hope you're proud how you would

Grovel in submission

To feed your own ambition

Noelle and Rachel:

So though I can't imagine how

I hope you're happy

Right now

Noelle:

(Spoken)

Elphie, listen to me. Just say you're sorry!

(Sung)

You can still be with the Wizard

What you've worked and waited for

You can have all you ever wanted -

Rachel:

(Spoken)

I know

(Sung)

But I don't want it - No!

I can't want it anymore

Something has changed within me

Something is not the same

I'm through with playing by

The rules of someone else's game

Too late for second-guessing

Too late to go back to sleep

It's time to trust my instincts

Close my eyes

And leap...

It's time to try defying gravity

I think I'll try defying gravity

And you can't pull me down

Noelle:

Can't I make you understand

You're having delusions of grandeur?

Rachel:

I'm through accepting limits

'Cause someone says they're so

Some things I cannot change

But till I try I'll never know

Too long I've been afraid of

Losing love I guess I've lost

Well if that's love

It comes at much too high a cost

I'd sooner buy defying gravity

Kiss me goodbye, I'm defying gravity

And you can't pull me down!

(Spoken)

Quick! Get on!

Noelle: (spoken) What?

Rachel (spoken): Come with me. Think of what we could do together!

(Sung)

Unlimited

Together we're unlimited

Together we'll be the greatest team

There's ever been - Glinda!

Dreams the way we planned 'em

Noelle:

If we work in tandem

Noelle and Rachel:

There's no fight we cannot win

Just you and I, defying gravity

With you and I defying gravity

Rachel:

They'll never bring us down!

(Spoken)

Well, are you coming?

Noelle backed away from Rachel, looking at her as Rachel held out the broom.

"Elphie, you're trembling," Noelle recited as she walked to the black cape that she was supposed to put on Rachel. Noelle walked over to Rachel and clasped the cape around Rachel as she started to sing again.

Noelle:

I hope you're happy

I hope your happy now that your choosing this -

Rachel:

(Spoken)

You too

(Sung)

I hope it brings you bliss

Noelle and Rachel:

I really hope you get it

And you don't live to regret it

I hope you're happy in the end

I hope you're happy my friend

Just then, guys playing the guards rushed on stage and headed for Noelle as Rachel ran back to the platform that would make her look like she was flying.

"There she is!" cried one of the guards as he pointed to Noelle. "Don't let her get away!"

"Wait!" cried Noelle as the guards pretended to pull her back. "What are you doing? Let go of me, do you hear?"

"It's not her!" came Rachel's voice as she appeared upstage. "She's got nothing to do with it! I'm the one you want! It's me!"

Rachel: (Sung) It's me!

The crowd roared with cheers and applause as the platform rose and Rachel was lifted into the air. The New Directions alumni and the Hummels applauded and cheered excitedly at the climax of the song.

Rachel: So if you care to find me

Look to the Western sky!

As someone told me lately

Everyone deserves the chance to fly

And if I'm flying solo

At least I'm flying free

To those who ground me

Take a message back from me!

Tell them how I am defying gravity

I'm flying high, defying gravity

And soon I'll match them in renown

And nobody in all of Oz

No Wizard that there is or was

Is ever gonna bring me down!

Noelle: I hope you're happy

Chorus: Look at her

She's wicked

Get her!

Rachel: Bring me down!

Chorus: No one mourns the wicked

So we got to bring her -

Rachel: Ahhhh!

Chorus: -Down!

The audience roared with applause and cheers and leapt to their feet as the curtain fell to signal the end of the act. The New Directions Alumni in attendance, Shelby(who couldn't pass up the opportunity to see her daughter in her first Broadway play) and the Hudson-Hummels were jumping up and down excitedly, cheering for Noelle and Rachel.

"That's my daughter-in-law and daughter as the leads!" Burt said happily to the man sitting in front of him, who was clearly a critic as he had a notepad in his lap. The man smiled up at Burt and extended his hand and Burt took it.

"They are incredible, Congressman Hummel, congratultions to you and your family," said the critic. "If that was what I got from just the first act, I can't wait to see what your daughters have in store for the second!"

The group excitedly smiled as they thanked the critic and Kurt motioned for them to hurry backstage as the announcer called the thirty minute intermission.

Kurt rapped on the door and the group piled into the tiny dressing room.

"Mom!" Rachel cried as she hugged Shelby. Josh was kissing the life out of Noelle.

"Baby, that was amazing!" cried Shelby as she hugged her daughter. "You were amazing."

"Oh my god, you guys!" cried Tina as she hugged Noelle and Rachel. "That was incredible!"

"The critic went nuts for the first act! He told us he can't wait to see the second!" Burt said excitedly as hugs were passed around by the rest of the group.

"Oh my god!" said Noelle. "Are you serious?"

"Hey you two! That was amazing!" cried the director of the show. "You two nailed it!"

"Thank you, Rupert! Thank you so much!" said Rachel.

"You don't think Sue leaving in the middle of 'Popular' with that other guy will affect his review in anyway, will it?" Noelle asked the group.

"It's Coach Sylvester, she's always looking to ruin our lives," Kurt muttered. "But that critic was praising you two after the curtain closed so I doubt it!"

"Aunt Rachie! Auntie Noe! You sang good!" Beth said excitedly as she hugged her two favorite aunts.

"Thanks Monkey-Face!" said Noelle.

"Are you enjoying your first Broadway show ever?" Rachel asked.

"Yes! Look what Daddy bought me!" Beth said excitedly. She held up the plush dragon that was for sale at the merchandise stand, while showing off the gold necklace that was around her neck.

"Oh Bethie, that's so pretty! What are you naming your dragon?" Rachel asked.

"His name is Fear-oh," Beth smiled. The girls giggled.

"I think you mean Fiyero," Noelle said, kneeling down to Beth's level. "Hey, you wanna meet Fiyero later after the show?" Beth grinned gleefully and nodded excitedly and the group laughed.

"Too bad Jason is gay," Kurt muttered to Blaine. "I think Beth is going to be disappointed." Blaine laughed.

Halfway through the second act, it came time for Rachel and Jason (the guy portraying Fiyero), to sing "As Long As Your Mine". Rachel and Jason had talked about Finn, and Jason had gotten a better understanding of who Finn was. Rachel was relieved when Jason told her to just picture Finn in his place. She did just that as they sang and Rachel closed her eyes, picturing Finn in her mind as she sang. She thought back to all the memories she had with Finn, from their first glimpse of each other in the hallway at McKinley, to their first kiss, to their engagement, to the wedding, and so forth.

Rachel: Kiss Me too fiercely

Hold me too tight

I need help believing

You're with me tonight

My wildest dreamings

Could not forsee

Lying beside you

With you wanting me

And just for this moment

As long as you're mine

I've lost all resistance

And crossed some border line

And if it turns out

It's over too fast

I'll make every last moment last

As long as you're mine

Jason: Maybe I'm brainless

Maybe I'm wise

But you've got me seeing

Through different eyes

Somehow I've fallen

Under your spell

And somehow I'm feeling

It's up that I fell

Both: Every moment

As long as you're mine

I'll wake up my body

And make up for lost time

Jason: Say there's no future

For us as a pair

Both: And though I may know

I don't care

Just for this moment

As long as you're mine

Come be how you want to

And see how bright we shine

Borrow the moonlight

Until it is through

And know I'll be here holding you

As long as you're mine

Jason: (spoken) What is it?

Rachel: (spoken) It's just for the first time,

I feel ... wicked

The crowd roared as the two kissed and the stage went to black.

And then, of course, a short while later, Noelle and Rachel sang "For Good".

Rachel:

I'm limited,

Just look at me,

I'm limited, and just look at you,

You can do all I couldn't do, Glinda.

So now it's up to you, for both of us

Now it's up, to you...

This was where Noelle thought about her brother, and thought back to all the times they had shared as she sang. She remembered rolling into the choir room and confronting Finn in front of the glee club for his big mouth. She thought back to their first Nationals, and then to when Noelle had collapsed Junior Year and Finn and Puck had stumbled into her hospital room, watching her take her first steps in almost five years.

Noelle:

I've heard it said,

That people come into our lives for a reason

Bringing something we must learn,

And we are led, to those who help us most to grow

If we let them, and we help them in return.

Well, I don't know if I believe that's true,

But I know I'm who I am today, because I knew you.

Like a comet pulled from orbit as it passes a sun,

Like a stream that meets a boulder halfway through the wood,

Who can say, if I've been changed for the better?

Because I knew you, I have been changed for good.

Rachel:

It well may be that we will never meet again

In this lifetime,

So let me say before we part,

So much of me is made from what I learned from you

You'll be with me like a handprint on my heart,

And now, whatever way our stories end,

I know you have rewritten mine by being my friend.

Like a ship blown from its mooring by a wind off the sea,

Like a seed dropped by a skybird in a distant wood,

Who can say if I've been changed for the better

But, because I knew you...

Noelle:

Because I knew you

Noelle and Rachel:

I have been changed for good

Noelle thought to her parents' wedding, and to Grease. She thought of Finn from their second Nationals, and announcing his and Rachel's engagement. She thought of Senior Year, and all of the things that happened. And then she thought back to the accident and Finn saving her life while sacrificing his own, and then to his memorial.

Rachel:

And just to clear the air, I ask forgiveness

For the things I've done you blame me for

Noelle:

But then, I guess we know there's blame to share

Noelle and Rachel:

And none of it seems to matter anymore

Noelle (Rachel):

Like a comet pulled from orbit (Like a ship blown from its mooring)

As it passes a sun (By a wind off the sea)

Like a stream that meets a boulder (Like a seed dropped by a bird)

Halfway through the wood (In the wood)

Noelle and Rachel:

Who can say if I've been changed for the better?

I do believe I have been changed for the better.

Noelle:

And because I knew you..

Rachel:

Because I knew you..

Noelle and Rachel:

Because I knew you,

I have been changed for good

The crowd roared to their feet as the song ended and Noelle and Rachel hugged.

POP!

That was the sound the champagne bottle made as Tina uncorked a bottle back in Noelle and Rachel's dressing room after the show. Rachel and Noelle screamed as the cork narrowly missed hitting Santana in the back of the head and Santana turned around and glared at Tina.

"Sorry," Tina replied sheepishly as the rest of the group followed Rachel and Noelle into the dressing room.

"Oh my god!" said Rachel as she and Noelle entered the dressing room.

"Yaye!" said Tina, hugging Rachel and Noelle.

"I am going to have a big glass of that since you can't drink, Rachel," said Noelle.

"Oh god, Rachel, Noelle, you guys were so great!" said Mercedes as she hugged them. "I bawled during "As Long As Your Mine' and then I completely lost it during 'For Good'. I had to blow my nose on Sam's sleeve."

"Yeah, this is suede," Sam replied semi-annoyed, yet cracking a smile as he pointed to his jacket.

"Sorry!" Noelle and Rachel replied sheepishly.

"You guys," started Rachel. Carole, Burt, and Shelby had headed back to the brownstone with Beth, who had fallen asleep and would be disappointed she wasn't going to meet Jason. Puck, Tina, Mercedes, Sam, Blaine, Kurt, Josh, Santana, and Brittany had all gathered around Noelle and Rachel.

"We love you so much," Rachel continued.

"We couldn't have done this without you, seriously," Noelle said as she wrapped an arm around Josh's waist.

"And look at all of the flowers you guys got from everyone!" said Kurt. "Artie, and Harmony, Heather, and Melissa, and Principal Figgins, clearly you're loved by many."

The show's producer came into the dressing room, followed by Rupert.

"You guys, that was one of the best shows we have ever had!" said the producer. "You girls killed it out there!"

The group cheered and clapped as Rachel and Noelle excitedly hugged.

"You know what, you guys, let's save all the praises - until after the New York Times review comes out," Rupert added.

"You're right, you're right," Noelle nodded.

"We have six hours left of innocence, and then when the reviews hit the stands, we find out if you two are the best thing since sliced bread, or if we're toast," the producer added. "Personally of course, I think you two made that audience feel like they were actually in Oz." The group cheered. "Anyways, we're having a party to celebrate your opening night as the new leads. Elio's Restaurant. Eggplant Parm."

"Mmmm..." drooled Noelle. "My favorite."

"Good, good, cause it always brings me good luck, Eggplant Parm does," said the producer. He finally noticed the others in the room.

"Your friends?" the producer asked Rachel and Noelle of the New Directions alumni.

"And my husband," Noelle thumbed at Josh as they nodded.

"Of course, of course," the producer replied. "Bring them all. Bring everybody! See you girls later!"

The next morning, Noelle and Rachel got a copy of the Times to read their review. The group was gathered in the brownstone as they sat in the kitchen, the newspaper spread out in front of them.

"What does it say? What does it say?" Tina asked Noelle as she opened the Times to the Entertainment Section. Noelle started to read.

"One might ask themselves, why? Why bring two fresh faces to the current production of the long-running hit 'Wicked' when they have two faces in the company who are probably the understudies? Well, frankly, I can only come up with this answer: Rachel Hudson and Noelle Koontz."

"Oh my God!" Blaine replied excitedly.

"It takes brains, heart, and courage to step into the same shoes that Idina Menzel and Kristen Chenoweth once stood in when the original cast of 'Wicked' came to Broadway and make Glinda and Elphaba your own. Rachel and Noelle, have plenty of that, clearly. But they also have something else in spades- talent."

"Talent! Talent!" Sam said excitedly.

"And mountains of it. And I'm not talking about 'The Madeleines or The Thousand Year Grasslands' for you Wizard of Oz fans. Hudson and Koontz ARE 'The Madeleines."

"Ooh!" the group chorused in unison.

"I'm sure 'I could find fault' in the green actress' performance, but shame on anyone who would have the audacity "to criticize the bold mistakes of a supernova exploding before our eyes. When Rachel Hudson was singing 'As Long As Your Mine', I don't know where inside that small frame Hudson went "to find the emotion she delivered with that song, but she melted the icy heart of this reviewer. I could feel the grief from the tragic loss of her late husband. She had mentioned him in the Playbill as her "Star in The Sky" and I knew she was picturing him on that stage with her. As for Noelle Koontz, who just happens to be the sister of Rachel's late husband, she brought me to tears with "For Good" as she was clearly also remembering her late brother. This musical recast is not for "One Short Day", I can guarantee you that."

"Oh my god!" Rachel said, putting her hands to her mouth in shock as Burt and Carole gasped. Quinn grinned up at Puck.

"I hope this show runs for a long time, not because anyone needs to 'Defy Gravity' again, "or the producers found a way to get a real "hot air balloon" on stage, but because "I want to have some time to enjoy Rachel Hudson and Noelle Koontz as they are now. I know I will be going back for a second heaping bowl of the Sister Act that is Hudson and Koontz!"

The group cheered and hugs and kisses were passed around to Rachel and Noelle who were screaming with joy. Just then, Rachel's phone rang.

"It's Mr. Schue!" said Rachel excitedly as she looked at the caller ID . She answered the phone as everyone gathered around her and Rachel put it on speaker.

"Hey Mr. Schue, you're on speaker!" said Rachel.

"Hey everyone, I made it back just in time for the last few pushes," said Will's voice.

"So tell us, boy or girl?" asked Mercedes.

"A boy," said Will, to claps and cheers from the group. "We decided to name him Daniel. Daniel Finn." Rachel smiled as she put a hand on her heart and Noelle cried happily as did Carole and Burt.

"How did the show go?" Will asked.

"Noelle and Rachel knocked it out of the ballpark, Mr. Schue!" said Tina. "They killed it!"

"Glad to hear," said Will. "I'm so proud of you all. Emma sends her congrats and her love. I'll send you pictures later! We love you guys! I gotta go! Bye!"

"Bye Mr. Schue!" the group chorused.

"We love you too, Mr. Schue!" said Noelle. "And thank you! Thank you to both of you."