#audie moore

[peaterookie]

PREVIOUSLY ON PEATER'S INSANE RAMBLING ABOUT HIS OC - part 1 here :) i seriously recommend reading this first.

and yknow what? I should probably cover all of the christmas perrins all in a row because getting rid of all of them rn would better fit the writing flow better-

oh. there's a picture limit. god fucking damn!!! see you later then!!!

okayyy here's the later that everybody had asked for. we were talking about christmas perrins last time, got it.

~Christmas Perrins ~ peater gets sidetracked talking about his favorite holiday

BAM!!

combining all four christmas peaters will grant you the ultimate christmas weapon i think.

I used to host two Secret Santa events on the Sony Sketch Amino, where my ocs starred as the host of those events and got their special little designs and such. it was really fun... maybe there will be a third secret santa perrin in the future........

i also wanna show you these art i made for the event. the characters beside perrin are part of his #awesome gang called the pinwheel quintet

left to right is berry(blue girl), audie (yellow they), and lu (red guy) ofc perrin is the green creature. the four genders.

wow that improvement kinda go hard though

the third christmas perrin is aaaallso from a pinwheel quintet drawing!!! not much lore but i found the design cool.

can you guys tell that i like christmas

~ 2020 - 2021 ~ Thieves are coming to town!!!

March 2020 Perrin was a hallmark in his design history i think because for starters, I finally cracked the code on his design and how I want to draw him!

If you had paid attention to how his hair was drawn, which is completely understandable if you didn't its ok, he has always had a tuff of hair that completely sticks out. sadly, i dont think this was ever obvious to people given how it blends in way too easily when it's positioned towards the right, so i moved it towards the left to make it pop out a little.

his hair has always been a bit inconsistently drawn throughout the years, but i think after this you will notice that i start styling it very consistently because i started finally *getting it* around this time.

hopefully this makes it better for people to understand. listen. i had to suffer drawing those early designs so you guys still sit and listen to me complain about a 12 year old's shitty character design.

along with a new design for Perrin, Kirbypeater also makes a comeback after being shafted for almost 4 years!!

I mainly picked him back off from his mid 2015 design, but made some refinements and changed the direction of his tuff of hair lol. I also made him a separate character from perrin kinda. he's a bit more child-like and friendlier than the human perrin.

2020 also brings two new awesome AUs onto the table!! The first one being based off of Persona 5, where the Pinwheel Quintet becomes Phantom Thieves and such. This was made for an art challenge in Sony Sketch Amino and I did a whole fanfic for it but it's really bad.. I'm not showing you.

All I can tell about the story is I think i turned evil or something and their superpowers got taken away, so now they gain the persona powers and shit and they have to steal my heart to turn me good again.

Second au is also from a Sony Sketch Amino art challenge. Created by the same friend that made that one reference sheet of underswap sans lol (hi yan) and the story was co-written by meeee!!

This challenge revolves around a detective mystery, where the participants are given the plot and a prompt per week, each week the story updates giving them more details on the mystery and they eventually have to find out the perpetrator of the crime and stuff.

The story i think goes that a rich ass woman invites people to her party to see her awesome shiny diamond and so people come and then uh oh! the diamond's gone!! so then the detective (yan's oc) goes up to you like ur gonna investigate this with meee and then they do that and a bunch of stuff happens and oh my god peater's the thief all along?!?!?!? holy shit!!!

credit to @hinatas--oj for the art. haha. didn't expect to see this drawing in a while huh.

that story was so fun to make though. so then we made it into an au and i think my friend is making that story into a visual novel game!! so excited!! woohoo!!!!

ok, moving on.

holy moly!! new design again!!!

heavily deviating from the usual striped sweater, i completely abandoned the original story i wrote for him and wrote a different one, so that's why he looks really different.

oh yeah, i completely forgot to mention the cheeks on the ref before this. that was added as a little nod to him being heavily inspired by chara undertale back then. check chara's design they have pink cheeks :)

i think he was supposed to be a bounty hunter or something iunno that whole thing was also scrapped.

also i added his 7th birthday design on there because it kinda kicks ass.....

~ 2021 - 2022 ~ The AU Era

hooohhh boy

look I'm gonna be frank with you guys, I don't think this era was exactly my proudest. I think it's because the more we approach the present, this is gonna be the thing closest to the current me. you can kinda excuse all the other embarassing stuff from the earlier ones because i was young but honestly i dont like looking at this stuff sometimes 😭

but it's okay!!! this era is super cringe but it's time to fucking ball!!!

icky style.

this one was just me refining the prev design a bit more. i think i might added too much detail though. also he looks really fruity here which is just really funny to look back on now

speaking of fruity, some of you might've noticed that he also went by any pronouns in this ref and the prev. this was sorta something randomly added that gets retconned later on. (he does by he/him only now.) this doesn't mean he's cis though. he could be trans? or a third mysterious thing? who knows.

also! the introduction of peater piper!! his pipe weapon!!! it is the most powerful pipe to ever touch fiction. i felt like the baton thing wasn't anything significant enough + severe downgrade from the sword so i changed it to a pipe. feels like it fits his sewer rat vibe.

i think this stage was just particularly experimentative, going in very strange directions that i dont usually take so you're gonna see a lot of strange characters popping up now.

awright!!! let's tackle these three now!!

Swap Perrin - So you remember the Lu guy i mentioned during the christmas part? Well i made a funny swap au once and peater gets swapped roles with Lu! he is acoustic and likes hamsters.

Harlequin Rabbit - There's a lot of drawings i made of him but this is the only bareable one i can find. this bastard is a fucking god of the rabbits or some shit and he can travel through worlds but he's a FUCKING ASSHOLE and a FUCKING LOSER and EVERYPERRIN BULLIES HIM!!! I ALSO HATE HIM!!!!!

SpaceBun - This cute motherfucker is from a story that Lu imagines in his funny little brain of his where he's an awesome bunny space ranger and perrin is like, his love interest character kind of. she kinda has godly powers? she's a sweetheart. i love her. you should love her too. (also by far the hardest to draw and color in my drawing because she actually doesn't have a real reference sheet.

alright, more aus.

Roboperry - Not actually an AU, but they kinda snuck in there as part of the perrin group through a simple doodle i made. A friend became REALLY obsessed with it and now it's part of my story along with normal Perrin. They're a sweet little idol robot that loves Perrin very much <3

YanLu Perrin - AU where Lu is a yandere that wants to GET PERRIN!! honestly this guy's just a blank slate, wow, almost like senpai from yandere simulator, which this was based off of!!

P5PT - He's back!! with a fresh look!! Lookin' cool, Perrin.

OmorPea - yeah.

Demon AU - Based off of this vietdrama i saw of a group of witches living in the human world and terrorizing their neighbors with their magical powers. This instead is Perrin being a demon and terrorizing the neighborhood by being fucking evil.

AstroDome AU - AU where Audie (the yellow they) is a sad starving child that tries to sleep off their pain by being in their dream world. Perrin in the dreamworld is one half of a powerful crow god and he is a fucking bastard!!!

MM AU - Also new design!! He's not seen above but I do wanna talk about his character a bit. He grew up in a poor family and due to a series of unfortunate events, had to abandon his family and live on his own, deciding to become a thief to survive. Though he didn't want to live like this, he gets extremely good at his job and becomes an infamous thief in the cities. I think this AU was part of the reason why i got really into lupin iii later on

All of these Perrins were in like a Perrinverse situation where they interacted with each other and I drew a shit ton of art for them. All of these AUs, aside from Masquerade Mystery, AstroDome, Roboperry are now defunct and not being used sadly. It was fun while it lasted.

~ 2024 ~ Now?

Okay, last one to go through.

This one really got slapped with the Monkey Punch art style lmao. Not to say that's a bad thing, he looks pretty awesome. It was honestly really hard to draw him right in my new style, it took quite a while to get used to it but it was all worth it!!!

Will there be a couple more changes to his design in the future? maaaaybe.. But I'm happy with how he is now, the previous design got way too out of hand with the details.

With this post approaching its end, I wanna say to Perrin: I'm deeply sorry that I couldn't care for you well enough these recent years!!! I am very occupied with current projects, and while I'm unable to care for you now, you are more than just a character, you are an intergral part of my life and I will never forget that. With you reaching 10 years of age now, I promise that one day through these next 10 years that I will come back to you again with even more energy and passion that I had in the past. But for now, have this post and the drawing as a present from me to you :)

And thank you for whoever read BOTH POSTS through the end!! you are fucking wild and I would really love to hear what you thought of Perrin and his lore. I really wonder how long this took to read actually

uh what if i made it longer

and a bit longer

and a biiiiiit longer

maybe a biiiiiiiiiiit mo-

[welidot]

Justin Bieber

This Biography is about one of the best Hollywood Singer of the world Justin Bieber including his Height, weight,Age & Other Detail… Express info Real Name Justin Drew Bieber Nickname The Biebs, JB, J-Beebs, Bustin Jieber (Nickname given by Nick Jonas), Douche Pouch, Kidraul Profession Singer Songwriter Actor Musician Dancer Age (as in 2023) 29 Years old Physical Stats & More Info Height in centimeters- 175 cm in meters- 1.75 m in Feet Inches- 5'9" Weight in Kilograms-66 kg in Pounds- 145.5 lbs Body Measurements - Chest: 42 Inches - Waist: 32 Inches - Biceps: 14.5 Inches Eye Color Light Brown Hair Color Light Brown Personal Life of Justin Bieber Date of Birth 1 March 1994 Birth Place London, Ontario, Canada Nationality Canadian Hometown Stratford, Ontario, Canada School Jeanne Sauvé Catholic School, Stratford. (4.0 GPA)   St. Michael Catholic Secondary School, Stratford. College N/A Debut Song - My World TV - CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (Sept. 23, 2010) Family Father- Jeremy Jack Bieber (Carpenter and Pro-am Martial Artists) Mother- Patricia Mallette Sister- Jazmyn (Half-sister, Born 2009) Brother- Jaxon (Half-brother Born 2010) Ethnicity French, Canadian, German, English, Irish and may be Aboroginial Canadian Religion Christian Fan Mail Address Justin Bieber Universal Music Group 2220 Colorado Avenue Santa Monica, CA 90404 USA Hobbies Playing Hockey and Basketball Favourite Things Of Justin Bieber Favourite Food McDonalds' Burgers, Spagheti Favourite Drink Orange Juice Favourite Movie The Notebook Favourite Artists Usher and Michael Jackson Favourite Colour Purple Favourite Book Harry Potter Series Girls , Affairs and More Of Justin Bieber Marital Status N/A Affairs 1.     Caitlin Beadles (2007-2009) 2.     Mandy Rain (2009) 3.     Jessica Jarrel (2009-2010) 4.     Kristen Rodeheaer(2009) 5.     Selena Gomez (December 2010 – June 2013) 6.     Barbara Palvin (2012) 7.     Miranda Kerr(2012) 8.     Tati Neves (2013) 9.     Chantel Jeffries (2014) 10. Alyssa Arce (2014) 11. Shanina Shaik (2015) 12. Jayde Pierce (2015) 13. Lira Galore (2015) 14. Ashley Moore (2015) 15. Hailey Baldwin (2016) Style Of Justin Bieber Cars Collection Black Range Rover, black Ferrari F430, black Ferrari F430, Audi R8, 997 Porsche Turbo Bikes Collection MV Agusta Earning Money of Justin Bieber Net Worth $200 million This Biography writing by  www.welidot.com Read the full article

[gatutor]

Terry Moore-Audie Murphy "La sombra de un titán" (Cast a long shadow) 1959, de Thomas Carr.

[ladylooch]

Can you do a kempe fic with a lot of angst please.

A/N: Yes! Always yes. Thank you again for requesting this. I've already expressed this, but I am SO happy! I hope you enjoy!

Greener Side of That Fence- Adrian Kempe

Word Count: 4.3k

Warnings: Angsty... like I was anxious writing this, there is a smidge of 18+ Content cause I can't help myself, multiple character points of view, swearing.

(Adrian)

It’s a hot summer day in Southern California. The temperature is above 90 degrees with no ocean breeze to offer reprieve. The heat is stifling and the black tux I’m wearing doesn’t offer any support.

A bead of sweat rolls down my hair line and collects in the stiff collar of my designer shirt. I shove my sunglasses over my eyes, buttoning my suit jacket together before shutting the door to my Audi. I turn, taking in the white church in front of me. 

I shouldn’t be here.

But I can’t be anywhere else.

Tucked inside that church is the love of my life preparing to marry someone else.

My stomach tightens at the realization of how close I am to losing her for good. I push out a heavy breath, wishing I had knocked back that shot of tequila I poured myself earlier. The courage I felt on the drive here has dissipated watching Kailey’s wedding guests filter into the church.

“Damn it.” I mutter to myself, leaning against the back of my trunk. I run a rough hand over my face, scratching at the trimmed beard on my chin. My eyes scan the front of the church, working to the window overlooking the parking lot. Shock daggers through my body when I see Kailey standing at it. Her head is tilted as she secures an earring into place. I can see the white dress from here, filled with sparkles and lace. She looks so damn beautiful it hurts.

Her lips form an O as her shoulders raise indicating a big inhale. She places a hand on her stomach, shoulders deflating back into place. I can feel her nerves from here. Her fingers come up, settling in the corners of her eyes. She pulls them back, waving both her hands at her face. 

Don’t be nervous, baby. I’m coming.

As I begin to cross the parking lot, I rehearse the words I want to say to her, thinking about when our story started four years ago.

To be honest, the meeting wasn’t too exciting. We were introduced by my teammate Trevor Moore. His wife, Monique, and Kailey were best friends growing up. Kailey moved out to California for a year long internship focusing on supply chain in the Fashion industry. It took 2 weeks before we were inseparable. We spent the whole year together, eating tacos, drinking mezcal margaritas, and soaking up the sun at the beach.

We fell in love quickly. Then life happened.

Her internship ended and her dream job called from New York. We tried to make it work but with the time difference, it was impossible to stay connected. Once she left L.A., we didn’t even make it a year. We mutually decided to go our separate ways, both convinced it was temporary and we would find our way back to each other in the future. I think that’s the hardest part of all this- nobody did anything wrong. We did the right thing by allowing each other to chase our dreams. When we broke up, we hugged at the airport and said we loved each other. 

It would be so much easier if we had hurt each other.

We stayed good friends despite the distance between us. I’ve wasted the time dating a few others, but none of them compared to Kailey. She felt the same- at least I thought. We would joke back and forth over the next couple of years, through COVID even, that we were just biding time until she could transfer to the L.A. office within her company. We’d get married quickly and spend the off-season traveling all over Europe to soak in the Fashion scene. But after lockdown lifted, something changed. My texts and FaceTime calls were left unanswered or put off until days later. I chalked it up to her being busy with work after her promotion.

Then, Kailey moved back to L.A. without even telling me. I found out when I saw her at a game a few months back, sitting next to Monique like she used to. Except this time she wasn’t in my jersey. I remember flipping a puck at her to get her attention. She gave a head nod at me with sparkling blue eyes. I came out flying in the first, wanting her to see how much better I’d gotten since she was away. Then, as I was getting off for the first intermission, I saw him. His arm was around her while he wore the jersey I gave her. After the game, it was just Kailey waiting for me. She told me they were getting married in June while nervously spinning her engagement ring around her finger.

Despite the agony I felt in my chest, I lied and told her I was happy for her.

The problem is I’m not, and the regret I already feel about not telling her so then keeps me awake at night. 

After we lost in the playoffs, I packed my shit and booked a one-way flight to Sweden to join my family. I had been waiting for the moment that I could escape L.A. and Kailey’s new future. But the day of my flight, I couldn’t get on the plane. Nor could I the next day or the full two weeks after that. Mario has been calling, wondering when I’m coming home. My niece misses me. So do my parents. All I say is I have unfinished business in L.A.

Trevor and I met up for lunch last week after a run along the beach. I told him I was considering renting a charter for deep sea fishing this weekend and asked if he wanted to come.

“Can’t. Mo’s in a wedding.” He told me around a bite of chips and guacamole.

“Oh.” I say, taking a sip of my margarita. I lick my lips, squinting out across the glittering ocean to my right. “Kails?” I ask, trying to seem nonchalant. Trevor looks like he doesn’t want to answer, but he eventually nods. “In Hermosa?”

“Yeah, at that church off Monterey.” I nod in understanding, sitting back in my chair. “You’re not going to show up, right?”

“No, I’m not going to show up.”

This agreement is probably why my teammate isn’t happy to see me walking up the steps right now. 

“Shit, Adrian. You can’t be here.” Trevor snaps at me, halting me from entering the church. 

“I can’t let her marry him without telling her I’m still in love with her.”

I have to tell Kailey how I feel before it’s too late. Maybe she’ll tell me to fuck off. Maybe she’ll tell me she feels the same. I don’t know. I just know I have to try.

“Dude, I should have never told you about it. Monique is going to kill me.” He groans, stopping my pursuit again with a firmer hand in the middle of my chest.

“Trev, I’m going in. Let me pass or I’m going to drop you on these steps.”

For a moment, fear grips the back of my neck. Trevor stands firmly in front of me. His gaze is unrelenting from beneath his sunglasses. Finally, he relaxes, dropping his hand from my chest.

“The only reason I’m letting you in is because it’s obvious Kailey still loves you.” My stomach drops to my feet at his admission.

“How do you know?”

“Because despite the multiple offers from my wife to come with her, she can’t walk back into our arena knowing she’s not yours. Go through the door and to the left.” He pats my shoulder and walks away. I’m frozen on the steps as various guests move around me to enter the church.

I came here not sure if I had a chance. Now, I have the most crushing feeling in existence: hope.

I get to the bridal suite without being stopped or interrupted again. My knock is hesitant and I resist the urge to sprint back down the hall when it’s done. Kailey is alone when she opens the door. She startles backwards, then glances quickly in both directions before focusing back on my face.

“What are you doing here?”

“I need to talk to you.”

“Now? It can’t wait?”

“No, baby.” I shake my head at her. Her eyebrows tug together in distress at the pet name. She senses what I’ve come here to do. I prepare for her to shut the door in my face. Instead, she opens the door wider. She bites her lip, gripping my forearm to pull me in. My skin is electrified at her touch. I grip her arm back, allowing myself to get a little lost in her softness. She let’s go first, crossing the room to provide distance. For her or me, I’m not sure.

“You look… amazing.” I finish, truly lacking the words in both English and Swedish to describe her. Her blue eyes fill with uncertainty. I can see her breathing increase, her breasts pressing tighter against the cups of her dress. “The only thing I’d change is who you’re marrying.”

“You don’t even know him.”

“I know he’s not me.” I stuff my hands in the pockets of my dress pants, leaning back against the door. I want to be considerate of her personal space with how conflicted she seems by my presence. 

“You were right. This suit is better than the tan one I was considering.” I try to lighten the mood, gesturing to my blue suit. I was so adamant about the other one, but she made the clerk ring me up before I could protest further.

“Blue is your color. Brings out your eyes.” She smiles at me, tilting her head to the side and trialing her gaze along me. I’m feeling less like an unwanted visitor. 

“Yeah. I know you like me in blue.”

“Used to.”

“Still do.” I insist, watching as she rolls her eyes lightheartedly. “What do you need to tell me?” She changes the subject, crossing her arms over her chest.

“A story. Once upon a time…” I trail off cheekily. Her gaze remains unwavering on my face. I drop my nervous smile and get serious. “There was this hockey player who fell in love with a girl on their second date.” Her eyes close as she listens. “And he loved her so much that when New York called, he knew she had to go. He helped her pack. He drove her across the country. He even convinced himself that letting her go was better than fighting for the love he believed in with her.” Her beautiful eyes open and she has visible tears. “But he never stopped loving her. Not when she moved back to L.A. without telling him. Not when she brought her new fiancé with her. And definitely not when she was dressed in white, about to marry someone else.”

“Adrian.” She whispers painfully.

“I love you, Kails. I never stopped loving you for one moment of the last few years. And I just.. need you to know that before you do this.”

“A, it’s been over for years.” She tells me.

“Bullshit.” I scoff at her, crossing the room. Fuck, her personal space, this is my moment. I reach for her, expecting her to pull away but instead she steps closer. “There is no way you and I are over.” I lean our foreheads together. “It wasn’t over when we broke up in New York and it still isn’t over just because you’re about to marry someone else. You didn’t tell me you moved back for a reason. You want to pretend you don’t love me anymore? Go through with this and live the rest of your life settling? Come on, Kails. That’s not you.”

“Adrian.” She’s gritting her teeth through the tears now, gutting me with the way her voice shudders. “I love him.”

“That’s okay.” I tell her honestly, feeling my hands shake. I know I can’t actually stop her from going through with this, but maybe if I keep my hands on her face, she’ll cave. She’ll lean into my touch instead of resisting the pull of me. “I understand you love him. You wouldn’t be here if you didn’t. But, you’re it for me, baby. You’re it.” She licks her lips in distress, sighing heavily. “If you tell me you don’t feel anything anymore, I’ll leave.” I whisper to her, giving her an out I know she won’t take.

Her silence soothes the twisting knife in my chest for a moment.

“Of course I do.” She finally admits to me. Relief rushes through my body and renews my pursuit.

“If you need me to say it, I will. Don’t marry him.” She shakes her head no at me, soft hands coming to grip my wrists holding her face. She stares at her hand wrapped around the tattoo I got with her last time I was in New York. Her thumb brushes my skin as her eyes close, a tear sliding down her face.

“It’s not that simple.”

“I love you, Kails. You love me. It is that simple.”

The door opens after a fast knock.

“Don’t come in!” Kailey yells out, but it’s too late. Her mom and dad step in, shocked at seeing me with my hands on their daughter’s face.

“Kailey.” Her mom snaps, clearly displeased. Her steely gaze rests on me and I know I better go. Kailey will need time to consider. I don’t need her to walk out of this church with me right now. That’s too much to ask.

“I’m going to the beach, baby. Our spot right by the lifeguard tower, where we planned out the rest of our lives together. If you’re not there by sunset, I’ll know your answer. If you don’t show, you’ll never hear from me again. I promise.” She stares back at me with tear tracks down her beautiful face. She says nothing. But she won’t stop looking at me. “I hope you’ll meet me there when you’re ready.”

It takes everything I have inside of me to release my grip on her and step back. She seems to crumble within herself without my touch. She looks out the window. I nod in understanding, stepping back and walking towards her parents.

“I’m sorry for showing up uninvited. But I love your daughter and I had to tell her.”

“Did you?” Her mom squints at me. “Seems selfish.”

“Yeah maybe. But at least now I’ll be able to look myself in the mirror the rest of my life knowing I tried.” I hear Kailey sniff and gasp in breath from behind me. “I love you, baby.” I call to her before I step around her parents.

As I get back into my Audi, I know the easy part is over. The hard part will be what I’m about to do.

Wait.

^ ^ ^ 

(Kailey)

With my arms holding me together, I stare out the window to the parking lot. I watch as Adrian slides into his Audi. It’s an upgrade from the one he had when we were together. When my eyes close, I can remember loudly singing songs as we drove down the coast together. The salty wind blowing my hair around my face as the demands of the world disappeared. The last time I truly felt alive was sitting in that passenger seat with his hand on my thigh, his silver rings sparkling in the California sun.

“He is absolutely unhinged.” My mom balks, fluffing her hair in anger. “Coming here and attempting to ruin your day after everything he’s done.”

“What he’s done?” I snap at my mom. “It was a mutual decision, mom.”

“Well, it didn’t feel very mutual when you were crying on the phone to me every weekend. And don’t even get me started about that pregnancy scare he couldn’t show up for.”

“He doesn’t know about that.” I say, using the tissue she handed to me to blot at the tears rimming my lashes.

“Regardless, Matt knew you were the one and did something about it before the last possible second. He’s the one, not some summer fling.”

“Hun, let’s give her some space.” My dad breaks in, leading my mom to the door. “I’ll be waiting for you outside when you’re ready, honey.” I nod my head at him, turning my back to them as I attempt to hold another sob back.

I fall onto the couch, not caring about the bunching of my dress or the pressing of my shoulders into the perfect curls I had. My mind is back in New York sobbing at the thought of being pregnant with Adrian’s baby. The two different sides of me: the one that yearned for a reason to reach out and the other that knew the regrets I would have for not pursuing this dream. When it turned out to be negative, I felt so empty and alone. I should be happy, I remember thinking. I called my mom, knowing her words would give me the grounding I needed. She told me I might be best of Adrian didn’t know. “Don’t reopen the wound.”

I still wonder what our lives would have been. If that test had been positive, I would have told him. I would have left New York and flew back to L.A. He would have taken care of us. But it wasn’t. Instead, the reality was that we lived on opposite coasts and slowly drifted into long-distance friends who joked about ending up together like it didn’t hurt. After lockdown, I met Matt at a social-distance bar where he soothed the aches in me I’d felt since Adrian left on that western bound redeye.

Until three months ago when I moved back to L.A. for Matt’s job. Monique begged me to go to a Kings game for old time sake. I saw Adrian, purposefully waiting after the game without Matt. Adrian had hugged me, congratulating me on our upcoming nuptials. He seemed sincere. It mattered to me that he was happy for me. But It was a mistake seeing him. Adrian was right. I didn’t tell him about coming back because I was hiding from what I still feel from him. Now, every time Matt touches me, I feel nothing.

I can’t shake the feeling that this is the real mistake. 

Marry Matt and he’ll give you the entire world. That’s what my mom said after our engagement party when I felt unsure. That’s what my brain has said every morning leading up to today. But right now, my heart yearns for tattooed arms soothing the ache within my chest. I press my left hand there and my large engagement ring catches the light ahead.

“Matt deserves better than this.” I say out loud to myself. “He’s the one who takes care of you. He cooks and cleans and is home every night to comfort you after a long day of work. Adrian can’t be that safe space for you every night. He’s always gone.” I press my flattened palm to my head. “Follow through on your commitment.” I suck in a deep breath, shoving it out forcefully, then stand.

I’m going to marry Matt. That’s what I came here to do.

The resolution seems final and gets me through the last few minutes of preparation. The procession song begins. I step outside of the suite with the large bouquet of light pink tulips in my hands. I glance down at them, admiring their beauty. I love pink tulips because of Adrian. He bought them for me at the farmer’s market on the second date he talked about earlier. He showed up every week to my apartment with a replacement bouquet until I moved to New York in the Spring.

I loop my hand through my dad’s arm, biting down hard on my lip as unwanted tears fill my eyes. The wedding planner tells us we can begin walking whenever we are ready. Out of seemingly nowhere, my throat beings to close up. My chest collapses in on it’s self as I contemplate taking a step forward, going through with this, and not showing up at our spot on the beach. I cry out at the thought of Adrian waiting there all night for me while I share a first dance with my second choice because I’m just too damn scared.

“Dad.” I whimper, large tears blurring his face. “I don’t know…” I trail off, thinking of the thousands of dollars both our parents have invested into this day. 

“It’s your choice, sweetheart.”

All there is left to do is decide. 

^ ^ ^

On the same date, five years later, I awaken to sunshine streaming into my bedroom. When I see my husband’s bare back, a coy grin stretches my lips. Faint, red claw marks line his skin from last night. He is barely at arm’s reach, so I maneuver a few inches closer. I reach my pointer finger out, tracing the lines I made and the divots of his muscular back. He begins to shift slightly, leaning into my touch. I can get all my fingers on him now. I trail my nails, gently, along his back, watching as goosebumps pebble along his tan skin. 

“Feels good.” He mumbles to me.

“I got you good last night.” I confess to him, biting my lip.

“Worth it. You always are.”

I inch forward again, placing my lips on the angriest red line. I ghost my mouth over it, loving the way he softly hums at my touch. I reach a hand around, gliding it beneath his shorts to grip his hard shaft. I stroke him as his head falls back.

“Kails.” He moans. I press my smile to his shoulder, increasing my tempo. My thumb dips into the slit of his head.

Tap. Tap.

We both pause when we hear the sound of feet on the wood floor from the hallway. 

“No.” He whines as I remove my hand from his shorts to prepare for our guest.

“She’s coming.” I whisper, hiding my face behind his shoulder as we both look towards the door.

Little feet patter their way to the entrance of our bedroom. Our daughter, with wild blonde hair like her dad, grins behind her purple blanket. 

“Pannkakor?” Pancakes. She asks her dad in his native tongue.

Adrian, who hasn’t told her no since the day she was born, sighs happily.

“Okey, sweets. Does mommy want pancakes too?”

“Yeah.”

“Chocolate chip sound good, love?”

“Yes!!!!!!” Our daughter cheers, rushing into our room and tossing herself onto our bed. Adrian swoops her into his arms, smooching her cheeks loudly and tickling her sides. Her legs flail towards me and I rush backwards to avoid a kick to my belly where her little brother grows. The baby kicks back in response. I place a hand on him to soothe his motions. Adrian watches, turning our daughter.

“The price of pancakes is kisses for mommy and baby brother.” Adrian tells her. She puckers her little lips at me. I press mine gently on hers, placing a hand on her back to tug her into a hug too. 

“He’s right here.” I point to where I felt his kicks last. She leans forward and gives a loud kiss to my swollen skin.

“Now pancakes?” She turns to her dad hopefully. He laughs at her impatience, which she also gets from him.

“Yes. Go brush your teeth first. And no TV.” He calls after her as she rushes out. Her giggles tell me she’s purposefully not going to hear that last part. Adrian’s hand comes to our baby boy. His blue gaze works up my body to my eyes.

“Thank you.” He murmurs, his thumb brushing comforting lines along my skin.

“For?”

“Showing up at the beach in your white dress, late enough that I thought you had chosen to live the rest of your life without me.”

“I told you there was traffic. I wasn’t late on purpose.” I shove at his shoulder, rolling my eyes. 

“It’s okay. It was my fault. Should of never let you go.”

“I should of stayed in L.A.” He shakes his head at me, leaning down to kiss our son.

“No, you absolutely should have gone to New York."

“Why are we doing this?” I groan playfully at him, wrapping my hand around the back of his neck. “Just kiss me and go make your girls pancakes.”

“We are talking about this because I know you could have chosen something different.” He presses his lips into mine and we share a deep kiss. He relaxes into me, lips tightening to prevent a smile.

“A, I’ve never thought about the other road I could have taken. Not one second since I fell into your arms on the beach.”

“Mmm, when you were in labor there was a moment.” He jokes with me. 

“Oh my god.” I giggle before rolling out of bed to follow him. “Well, your daughter came too fast for me to get the good drugs.” I press my nose into his back, wrapping my arms around his waist and bumping us forward with my belly. “I think some sass was warranted.”

“Sure, baby.” He muses. We walk into the open concept kitchen and living room space, finding our daughter perched silently in front of the TV. “This looks like the opposite of what I said. Dd you brush your teeth?” He asks her, tilting his head at the giggles she lets loose. 

“Yeah.” She doesn’t take her eyes from the TV.

“Okay, we can watch TV but we are going to watch mommy’s show.” I tell her. “Come snuggle with me.” I slowly lower myself to the couch, arranging the pillows along my back so I can feel supported. She crawls onto the couch next to me, burying her face into the side of my chest. I change the channel to the Food Network, smiling as the opening of The Kitchen begins. 

I can hear Adrian behind me, grabbing the ingredients and the skillet for pancakes. I turn to watch him over my shoulder, admiring the way his back muscles tighten with each movement. He catches my eye when he turns, lips tilting up at me.

I can’t believe I almost married someone else, believing it was right, when all along, this was the greener side of that fence.

[oopey-doopey]

Voice Claim Time

I finally figured out who my ads are supposed to sound like or be close to.

Banner’s voice claim is the sheldrake brothers, Cosmo and Merlin Sheldrake. They are oddly similar but Cosmo is more expressive but Merlin has that analytical way of speech Banner also has so it ranges between the two. I couldn’t decide if Banner is more masc or femme sounding so also Florence Welch just cause her voice has that calmness despite the power we know is behind it

Surv’s voice claim is Deltron 3030 which also happens to be Deltron from Craig of the Creek. His voice is mellow but serious and oddly comforting and solid, like Surv. It’s a voice that doesn’t command but garners respect and attention. Surv was surprisingly the hardest to figure out from this list cause his voice has to be dynamic enough to be energetic enough for his commercial but mellow for the ads in my mind.

Vidie’s voice claim is Janelle Monae. I just linked the entirety of Dirty Computer cause I have this specific HC scenario where “Jane” is Vids and Audi as Zen and it stuck. Also Janelle has the sorta “fuck you im me” attitude and voice that fits with Vids perfectly. (Ignore Vidie doesn’t retain their singing capabilities)

Audi’s overall voice claim is Indya Moore, a caster member of the show Pose and the voice of Shep in SUF. Her voice is just the right mix of soft but poignant like not needing to get loud to say something that may deafen a room or have people rethinking. Tho I do play around with Vince Staples, specifically his role as Vinz in MFKZ

Spamton’s voice claim is Teddy Hyde, specifically the two songs I linked. It’s ranged and I feel like it hits all the emotional ranges. It’s normal but in the songs there’s always a forlorn sorta aspect to it and that embodies Addispam. When he’s a puppet it’s Tom Lehrer cause I like to imagine it gets messed up but in a way he sounds a bit more nasally and snide. Like I can imagine Tom Lehrer’s side comments in the shows he did being comments or insults Spam would make during a deal. Also Spam has to be good at math he’s a sales man AND a car guy.

Did I mention this is still all very subject to change?

[joshquagmire]

Welcome to Silvertown, located at Corriganville (in the Simi Valley, a bit north of Los Angeles) where many a TV an' Movie bad hombre bit the dust,  it's Bank was robbed more times than can be remembered... Even John Ford's US Cavalry rode out of Fort Apache at Corriganville and through movie magic, reappeared in Monument Valley...  In the Saloon you might've rubbed elbows with the great and near great,  Randolph Scott, Gene Autry, John Wayne, The Cisco Kid,  Hopalong Cassidy (drinking Sarsaparilla), Edgar Buchanan, Audie Murphy,  Gene Kelly, Robert Mitchum, Max Baer, Slapsie Maxie Rosenbloom, Rin-Tin-Tin, Roy Rogers, Clayton Moore & Jay Silverheels (The Lone Ranger & Tonto),  Captain Midnight, Marshal Matt Dillon, Hoss Cartwright an' all his clan to  Errol Flynn, Basil Rathbone or Claude Rains from "The Adventures of Robin Hood",  Richard Boone as Paladin, Steve McQueen the bounty hunter, Nick Adams as Johnny Yuma, or Harvey Lembeck as Eric von Zipper... even Ray (crash) Corrigan hisself...

Today it seems its Bronco Bunny and Kalamity Kitty's turn ta shoot it out... But after emptying Kalamity's Navy Colt an' Bronco's rusty 44 without hittin' anything important, they wrestled around in the dust for a bit, till the Director called time... Then they headed for the Silvertown Hotel for a long soak in the bath an' arguing over who got to use the hair conditioner first... It's all gone now, burned to the ground in the 60s by wildfires, but the memories still linger, on celluloid and video tape...

[gtunesmiff]

WELCOME TO TOMORROW:

 It's already here! Heck, some it’s been here for a while now...

If you think the virus is going to make changes read this!  Many of us won’t see the changes, but our kids and grandkids probably will.

Basic auto repair shops will disappear.

A gas/diesel engine has 20,000 individual parts. 

An electrical motor has only 20 parts. 

Electric cars are sold with lifetime guarantees and are repaired only by dealers. 

It takes only 10 minutes to remove and replace an electric motor.

Faulty electric motors are not repaired in the dealership but are sent to a regional repair shop that repairs them with robots.

Your electric motor malfunction light goes on, so you drive up to what looks like a car wash, and your car is towed through while you have a cup of coffee and out comes your car with a new electric motor!

Gas pumps will go away.

Street corners will have meters that dispense electricity.Companies will install electrical recharging stations; in fact, they’ve already started in the developed world.

Smart major auto manufacturers have already designated money to start building new plants that build only electric cars.

Gasoline/oil companies will go away.

Drilling for oil will stop.  Say goodbye to OPEC!  The middle east is in trouble.

Homes will produce and store more electrical energy during the day and than they use, and will sell it back to the grid.  

The grid stores the surplus and dispense it to industries that are high electricity users. Has anybody seen the Tesla roof?

A baby of today will see personal cars only in museums.

In 1998, Kodak had 170,000 employees and sold 85% of all photo paper worldwide. 

Within just a few years, their business model disappeared and they went bankrupt. 

Did you think in 1998 that 3 years later you'd NEVER take pictures on film again?  With today’s smartphones, who even has a camera these days?

Digital cameras were invented in 1975. The first ones only had 10,000 pixels, but followed Moore's law – that technological capacity will DOUBLE every year. So as with all exponential technologies, it was a disappointment for a time, before it became 'way superior and became mainstream in only a few short years.

What happened to Kodak and Polaroid will happen in a lot of industries in the next 5-10 years ....(but much faster) with Artificial Intelligence (AI), health, autonomous and electric cars, education, 3D printing, agriculture and jobs.

Software has disrupted and will continue to disrupt most traditional industries

UBER is just a software tool, they don't own any cars, and are now the biggest taxi company in the world!  Ask any taxi driver if they saw that coming.

Airbnb is now the biggest hotel company in the world, although they don't own any properties.  Ask Hilton Hotels if they saw that coming.

Artificial Intelligence: 

Computers become exponentially better in understanding the world. 

This year, a computer beat the best Go player in the world, 10 years earlier than expected.

In the USA, young lawyers already don't get jobs. Because of computers, you can get legal advice (so far for right now, the basic stuff) within seconds, with 90% accuracy – compared with 70% accuracy when done by humans.  So, if you study law, stop immediately. There will be 90% fewer lawyers in the future, (what a thought!) only omniscient specialists will remain.

Computer programs already help nurses diagnosing cancer, and the programs are 4 times more accurate than human nurses.

Facebook now has a pattern recognition software that can recognize faces better than humans.  

In 2030, computers will become more intelligent than humans.

Autonomous cars: 

In 2018 the first self-driving cars were already here.

In the next 2 years, the entire industry will start to be disrupted.  

You won’t WANT to own a car anymore as you will call a car with your phone, it will show up at your location and drive you to your destination

You will not need to park it.  You will pay only for the driven distance and you can be productive while driving  The very young children of today will never get a driver's license and will never own a car

This will change our cities because we will need 90-95% fewer cars. We can transform former parking lots into green parks.

About 1.2 million people die each year in car accidents worldwide including distracted or drunk driving. We now have one accident every 60,000 miles.  With autonomous driving that will drop to 1 accident in 6 million miles. That will save more than a million lives worldwide each year.

Some traditional car companies will doubtless become bankrupt.  They will try the evolutionary approach and just build a better car, while tech companies (Tesla, Apple, Google) will do the revolutionary approach and build a computer on wheels.Look at what Volvo is doing right now; no more internal combustion engines in their vehicles starting with the 2019 models using all-electric or hybrid only, with the intent of phasing out the hybrid models.

Many engineers from Volkswagen and Audi are completely terrified of Tesla – and they should be.  Look at all the companies offering all-electric vehicles. That was unheard of only a few years ago.

Insurance companies will have massive trouble because, without accidents, the costs will become cheaper.  Their auto insurance business model will disappear. (But notice some now offer data/identity protection along with home and life... )

Real estate will change.  If you can work from home (or from literally anywhere), people will abandon their towers to move far away to more beautiful affordable locations...

Electric cars will become mainstream about 2030.  Cities will be less noisy because all new cars will run on electricity.

Cities will have much cleaner air as well.

Electricity will become incredibly cheap and clean.

Solar production has been on an exponential curve for 30 years, but you can now see the burgeoning impact.  And it’s just getting ramped up.

Fossil energy companies are desperately trying to limit access to the grid to prevent competition from home solar installations, but that simply cannot continue - technology will take care of that strategy.

Health: 

The "Tricorder X" (called the Tricorder from Star Trek) that works with your phone – taking your retina scan, your blood sample, and you breathe into it.  

It analyses 54 bio-markers that will identify nearly any disease.

There are dozens of phone apps out right now for health.

Welcome to the 4th Industrial Revolution.

[bobmccullochny]

August History

History on August 22 565 – Columba, an Irish missionary, reported seeing a monster in Loch Ness, Scotland.

1791 – Haitian Slave Revolution in Saint-Domingue began. It ended with the founding of the Republic of Haiti in 1804.

1831 – Nat Turner’s slave rebellion began just after midnight in Southampton County, Virginia, leading to the deaths of more than 50 whites and several hundred African Americans who were killed in retaliation for the uprising.

1851 – First America’s Cup was won by the yacht ‘America.’

1902 – Cadillac Motor Company was founded.

1952 – The French penal colony on Devil’s Island is permanently closed.

1963 – American Joe Walker reached an altitude of 66 miles in an X-15 test plane.

1989 – Nolan Ryan struck out Rickey Henderson to become the first Major League Baseball pitcher to record 5,000 strikeouts.

2003 – Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore was suspended after refusing to comply with a federal court order to remove a rock inscribed with the Ten Commandments from the lobby of the Alabama Supreme Court building.

2004 The Edvard Munch Museum’s versions of ‘Madonna’ and ‘The Scream’ were stolen by masked men wielding firearms. The thieves forced the museum guards to lie down on the floor while they snapped the cable securing the paintings to the wall and escaped in a black Audi A6 station wagon, which police later found abandoned. Both paintings were recovered by the Oslo Police on 31 August 2006.

2007 – The Texas Rangers beat the Baltimore Orioles 30-3, the most runs scored by a team in modern MLB history.

[tabloidtoc]

National Examiner, January 11

You can now buy a copy of this issue for your very own at my eBay store: https://www.ebay.com/str/bradentonbooks

Cover: Why JFK destroyed the Rat Pack 

Page 2: The Sky Was Their Limit -- beloved celebs who lost their lives in air crashes -- Patsy Cline, Otis Redding, Rocky Marciano, Kobe Bryant, John Denver, Carole Lombard 

Page 3: Ricky Nelson, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Glenn Miller, Will Rogers, Audie Murphy, Buddy Holly, Lt. Thomas E. Selfride 

Page 4: Cher and her fashion in her movies 

Page 6: Albert Bouria the CEO of COVID-19 vaccine manufacturer Pfizer says he hasn’t taken his company’s shot yet because he doesn’t want people to think he can jump the line 

Page 7: The kids of The Waltons are all grown up and share some fond memories -- Michael Learned (Olivia), Richard Thomas (John-Boy), Kami Cotler (Elizabeth), David W. Harper (Jim-Bob), Mary Elizabeth McDonough (Erin), Judy Norton (Mary Ellen), Eric Scott (Ben) 

Page 8: Avoid these common laundry mistakes 

Page 9: Michael J. Fox: How I survived the darkest days -- Parkinson’s has not destroyed his hope and faith 

Page 10: For the second year in a row Florida businessman Michael Esmond has paid the utility bills of families at risk of having them turned off 

Page 11: Your Health -- watch for unhealthy buildup of anxiety 

* Pantry/Fridge/Countertop -- where to store your food 

Page 12: What do you get for a monarch like Queen Elizabeth who has everything including the crown jewels? Why, gag gifts, of course 

Page 14: Dear Tony -- past lives you’ve both led have led to the Blame Game, Tony predicts many women worldwide will wear white this winter and he predicts there will be a lot more road rage 

Page 15: For more than 15 years Carrie Fisher and her mom Debbie Reynolds lived next door to each other in Beverly Hills -- now Carrie’s only child Billie Lourd is combining the two homes into an estate where she’ll live with fiance Austen Rydell and their newborn son Kingston 

Page 16: John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John grew close while co-starring in the hit 1978 musical Grease and that bond has supported them through thick and thin for four decades 

Page 18: An Ohio man who lost his high school ring while washing his car in 1967 was reunited with it thanks to a good-hearted guy with a metal detector 

Page 19: A whole community in upstate New York had been looking for a lost dog for ten days when a man with a drone stepped in and saved the day 

Page 20: Cover Story -- John F. Kennedy and Frank Sinatra, along with the legendary Rat Pack, were the best of friends until JFK was elected president and then he and his powerful clan crushed them -- in early 1960 then-Sen. Kennedy was running for president and associating with the Rat Pack which consisted of Sinatra, Dean Martin, Joey Bishop, Peter Lawford and Sammy Davis Jr. made him look cool and it also helped fund his campaign -- JFK won the presidency and a thrilled Sinatra built an elaborate communications system and a helipad at his Palm Springs home in expectation of a visit but after the election Sinatra found himself outside the inner circle because Jackie Kennedy despised the singer and didn’t want him anywhere near the White House and Sinatra flaunted his friendships with crime bosses and JFK’s brother Robert Kennedy was the attorney general

Page 22: It’s been a little over a year since Felicity Huffman was released from prison after serving time for her role in the college admissions scandal but she’s starting to get her life and career back on track -- initially Felicity was nervous about working again given the controversy and everything that went down but she shouldn’t have worried so much -- she has landed a part in an upcoming pilot in which she’ll play a widowed owner of a Triple-A baseball team -- Hollywood has a short memory and people have been very forgiving towards her 

Page 24: A church in Iowa bought and forgave a staggering $5 million in medical debt for people across the state 

Page 25: Myths about digestion revealed 

Page 26: 100 ways to 100 years -- you can live longer by following these simple suggestions 

Page 32: Star Dreams -- what celebs wanted to be when they grew up -- Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt, Jennifer Lawrence, Reese Witherspoon, James Earl Jones, Matthew McConaughey, George Clooney, Julia Roberts, Tony Danza, Goldie Hawn 

Page 35: Winter Beauty Tips -- stay soft and smooth during the cold months 

Page 40: Happy birthday to legendary singer Dionne Warwick who turned 80 years old on December 12 and couldn’t be happier 

Page 42: Tony’s Mystic World -- the power of people 

Page 44: Eyes on the Stars -- Jerry O’Connell with his dog outside his home in L.A. (picture), Gordon Ramsay (picture), when model Lauren Hutton was first starting out she was told to fix her teeth so instead she used a type of wax called mortician’s wax and stuck it between her two front teeth, Dakota Johnson and Chris Martin engaged, two days after the birth of his son Luca Patrick singer Robin Thicke paid tribute to his late dad Alan Thicke, production on Ted Danson’s latest Tinseltown project Mr. Mayor has been disrupted by COVID-19

Page 45: Chrissy Metz singing on the Hallmark Channel (picture), Christopher Walken says he’s never owned a computer or a mobile phone, country icons sing praises of Charley Pride 

Page 46: A man in Maine met his biological dad for the first time at 43 years old and decided to recreate the scene from Elf 

Page 47: Collect Them All -- weird wonderful passions of the stars -- Johnny Depp, Penelope Cruz, Janet Jackson, Shaquille O’Neal, Tom Hanks, Claudia Schiffer, Demi Moore

[crawfordgold]

#terrymoore and #audiemurphy in #castalongshadow This film was disappointing for Audie as it was shot in black and white when he thought it should be made in Technicolor. As Audie's movies made less and less money, the studio cut back on the budgets for his films. Terry Moore loved working with Audie. In a questionnaire that I sent to Terry recently she answered to my question about what Audie was like she responded with “Sweetheart – Loved him! ” https://www.instagram.com/p/CCj7B_nHlkP/?igshid=13zwmy84uv1ht

[vagmen]

one of todays jobs 💪🏾 the boys Moore Motors are on the case #vagmen #vagmengroup #vw #golf #gti #vwlove  #vwcaddy  #t25 #stance #static #slammed #bmw  #audi #mk4 #caddy #mk6 #mk5  #vwlife #mk3 #mk2 #volks #vwporn #vwbus #mk7 #mk1 #passat #vwgolf #polo #vr6 #vwtransporter www.vagmen.co.uk www.performancevw.co.uk Www.vagmen.com www.alldubs.co.uk (at Moore motors) https://www.instagram.com/p/B7tZf8OHjz8/?igshid=a1gu4xwf7qvj

[carpr0n]

Starring: Audi R8

By Sam Moores

[acsversace-news]

Friday, Jan. 4

AFI Awards Luncheon Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles, 300 Doheny Dr., Beverly Hills The awards event — presented by Audi, an AFI partner and programs supporter for 15 years — will fete this year’s most outstanding achievements with a selection of 10 films (Black Panther, BlacKkKlansman, Eighth Grade, The Favourite, First Reformed, Green Book, If Beale Street Could Talk, Mary Poppins Returns, A Quiet Place and A Star is Born) and 10 TV shows (The Americans, The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story, Atlanta, Barry, Better Call Saul, The Kominsky Method, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Pose, Succession and This is Us). Additionally, Alfonso Cuaron's Roma will receive a special prize "designated for a work of excellence outside the Institute’s criteria for American film."

Saturday, Jan. 5

Gold Meets Golden The House on Sunset, 9169 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Nicole Kidman and Coca-Cola are presenting this 6th annual brunch event, which benefits Angel City Sports, spotlights the Foundation for Global Sports Development and mixes athletes and entertainers. Confirmed to attend are Kidman, Amy Adams, Jessica Chastain, Adam Sandler, Octavia Spencer, Bradley Cooper, Patricia Clarkson, Billy Porter, Topher Grace, Mandy Moore, Chrissy Metz, Matt Bomer, Cody Fern, Emma Roberts, Nadia Comaneci, Bart Conner, Carl Lewis, Jackie Joyner Kersee, Mark Spitz, Greg Louganis, Dorothy Hamill, Janet Evans, Cullen Jones, Edwin Moses, Tony Hawk, Danell Leyva, Adam Rippon, Mirai Nagasu, Terrell Owens, Rashad Jennings, Katie Uhlaender, Tai Babilonia, Randy Gardner, Cathy Rigby, Alex and Maia Shibutani. There’s more: Globes nominee Billy Porter will perform the nominated "Shallow” from A Star Is Born.

Sunday, Jan. 6

Fox The Fox Terrace on the roof deck, Beverly Hilton, 9876 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills, 8:30 p.m. The corporate entity — comprising 20th Century Fox, Fox Searchlight, 20th, Fox, FX, National Geographic and Hulu — welcomes its staff, studio friends and nominated talent (with some likely winners) for a party under the stars. Because FX led the way with the most nominations of any network (10), expect to see many of the division's notable names making the rounds from shows like The Americans, Pose, and The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story, including Keri Russell, Matthew Rhys, Antonio Banderas, Darren Criss, Penelope Cruz and Edgar Ramirez.

[cheshirelibrary]

2019 Audie Awards Finalists

[via Audiofile magazine]

The Audie Awards recognize distinction in audiobooks and spoken word entertainment and are sponsored by the Audio Publishers Association (APA). 2019 is the 24th year of annual Audie Awards. Finalists are announced in 24 categories. Winners will be announced at the Audies Gala, March 4.

Fiction finalists:

An Absolutely Remarkable Thing by Hank Green, narrated by Kristen Sieh and Hank Green

The Clockmaker's Daughter by Kate Morton, narrated by Joanne Froggatt

The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah, narrated by Julia Whelan

Life of Pi by Yann Martel, narrated by Vikas Adam

Sanctuary by Judy Nunn, narrated by John Derum

The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris,narrated by Richard Armitage

History/Biography finalists:

Darkest Hour by Anthony McCarten, narrated by John Lee

The Good Neighbor by Maxwell King, narrated by LeVar Burton

Indianapolis by Lynn Vincent and Sara Vladic, narrated by John Bedford Lloyd

Robin by Dave Itzkoff, narrated by Fred Berman and Dave Itzkoff

We Were Soldiers Once...and Young by Harold G. Moore and Joseph L. Galloway, narrated by Jonathan Davis

Autobiography/Memoir finalists:

Educated by Tara Westover, narrated by Julia Whelan

Failing Up: How to Take Risks, Aim Higher, and Never Stop Learning, written and narrated by Leslie Odom, Jr.

In Pieces, written and narrated by Sally Field

Small Fry by Lisa-Brennan Jobs, narrated by Eileen Stevens

Audiobook of the Year finalists:

An American Marriage by Tayari Jones, narrated by Eisa Davis and Sean Crisden

Beastie Boys Book by Michael Diamond and Adam Horovitz, narrated by the authors and a full cast

Calypso, written and narrated by David Sedaris

Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi, narrated by Bahni Turpin

The Good Neighbor by Maxwell King, narrated by LeVar Burton

I'll Be Gone in the Dark by Michelle McNamara, narrated by Gabra Zackman, Gillian Flynn, and Patton Oswalt

...

Click through to see all categories and hear sound clips of the finalists.

[ambitionsource]

AMBITION Season 1 ♫ “Before the Storm” [ 1.11 ]

CREATED BY Esther (rapunzles) & Maggie (quincywillows)

CH-CH-CH-CHANGES – The sophomore stars throw their hat in the ring for the chance to attend a highly regarded performance summer program, but only three students can progress from Adams to the final audition. Lucas has a daunting decision to make.

60 Minutes (15K words) || No warnings apply.

[ ← Birds of a Feather ] [ S1 Synopsis ] [ The World Will Never Be the Same → ]

( Follow along with the music on Spotify here! )

INT. AAA - HALLWAY - DAY

The halls of Adams greet us for the penultimate episode, cutting between shots of the setting we’ve come to know and love. Through windows in the doors, students rehearse in the music and dance studios. The locker hallways are pristine and decorated for the end of term. Graduation memorabilia is all around.

As the scenery shifts, the voice of Principal Hunter lectures on the importance of the school, everything that the institution stands for. Next to bulletin boards where students are welcome to jot down their summer plans to share, a display case in the atrium shows photos and mementos from the past school year. Les Mis is certainly included, as well as the winter showcase.

Jack: Adams exists to give students the chance to pursue a passion. Something important to them, so pivotal to their future endeavors and true happiness that they can’t even fathom doing anything else. It’s a silly notion, to some, but I’ve always admired that piece to it. That chance to give a young mind the power and potential to do whatever it is that they’ve always dreamed about.

Focus eases in on one advertisement on the bulletin board in particular – an informational flyer about the Kossal Summer Program, which has been referenced multiple times since the pilot. In bold lettering, the text “rising juniors only,” seems sharply emphasized.

Jack: More than anything, I try to give our students as much opportunity as possible. Getting here was the first step, and then I want to help them reach higher. Achieve further. Find access to doors and avenues that they may not have even known existed or felt capable of entering. I work hard to create that space. I work hard with all of the faculty and staff here to foster that environment, where any student can come to a safe, inclusive environment and throw their hat in the ring.

INT. AAA - JACK’S OFFICE - DAY

It becomes clear why JACK HUNTER is monologuing. He is in his disciplinary meeting with WYATT LIVINGSTON, following their deduction that he is the one running AAA Confessions.

Jack: Thus, it’s always such a shame when someone deems to take advantage of this space, and twists it into something it shouldn’t be.

Wyatt doesn’t seem all that impressed. Jack questions him on why the hell he would create a page like this, or barring that, be a part of it in the first place. Wyatt claims he didn’t make the Insta, but Jack presses the question again. Not buying it.

Wyatt dispels Jack’s rosy view of the school, claiming it’s no oasis for creativity and collaboration. It’s a cesspool of egomaniacs and cutthroat competition, and he knows it. The whole reason that the AAAC even works at all is because of the collective terrible attitude at the school. It’s a “safe environment” for them to take shots at each other and be as repulsive and reductive as they all actually are.

Jack snaps at this, claiming that’s not entirely true. He references the very targeted attack on a single student just a few days ago with Lucas, which Wyatt clearly orchestrated and was not just the full petty whimsy of the student body. Unable to fully deny this, Wyatt admits his hand in making some of the initial posts, but he didn’t orchestrate anything. If anything, the Lucas White Trash Dump Day is a perfect example of what he’s talking about – he lit a match, and the sophomore class set the whole forest on fire with it.

Wyatt: Besides, it’s not my fault that everyone hates Lucas. He does that to himself.

Jack doesn’t want to hear anymore. He doesn’t think he can face it. He moves onto discussing punishment, positing what he believes are fair consequences – expulsion, effective immediately. This finally seems to knock Wyatt off his high horse. He claims that’s bullshit considering one student can beat up another and not get kicked out, but he makes a couple of mean anonymous posts and he’s on the chopping block?

Jack argues that it’s the principle of the thing, and that every situation is different. The situation between him and Lucas was an isolated incident with bigoted implications, whereas the page has been an ongoing toxic presence at the school –

Wyatt: But I don’t deserve to get punished for it! I didn’t create the page!

Jack: Fine. Fine, if that’s the case, then tell me who did. Tell me who should take the fall for this, and we can renegotiate your involvement.

Wyatt can’t, because he doesn’t know. Nobody does. Jack takes his silence as an admission of guilt, but it’s evident that he is truly distraught about taking the consequences for it. Perhaps the severity of the punishment may be a bit too harsh…

After a beat, Jack claims that he will take some time to determine the proper punishment. Until then, Wyatt would be smart to keep his head down and enjoy his last couple weeks of sophomore year without further trouble.

Wyatt rises in a huff, storming out. Jack waits until he exits before letting his composed facade crumble, obviously overwhelmed by the chaos this whole situation has caused.

Hopefully, it’s about to come to an end. But not without some major decisions…

Cue opening titles.

INT. AAA - BLACK BOX THEATER - DAY

ANGELA MOORE is at her desk in the black box classroom, fretfully flipping through the schedule of the touring spot she’s been offered. She’s cross-referencing it with her personal calendar, obviously not thrilled with how much it’s consuming of her current life.

She’s been waiting so long for an opportunity like this. It’s her dream, yet now that it’s in front of her she doesn’t know what to do with it. Angela lifts her head, gazing blankly at the empty classroom around her. Wondering what it would be like to leave it behind…

SHAWN HUNTER breaks her out of her daze, entering with coffee and a breakfast bagel. He hands it to her and she takes it gratefully. He tentatively asks if she’s made any decisions yet, to which she gives a definitive no. Still very much in the realm of indecision.

Shawn seems relieved that it’s not a guaranteed yes, but being in uncertain territory isn’t much better. But uncertain ground they’ll continue to tread…

Song Cue ♫ ♪ “Ain’t It Fun” as performed by Tufts Beezlebubs || Performed by Nigel Chey, Yindra Amino, Chai Fresco, Nick Yogi, Clarissa Cruz, and Haley Fisher

INT. AAA - AUDITORIUM - DAY

NIGEL CHEY leads this acapella rendition, playfully rehearsing with his fellow sophomores. It’s one of the few numbers we’ve seen so far that gives due focus to the other performers in the classroom, and it gives an upbeat (if subtly ominous) musical start to the episode.

He dances around the stage with YINDRA AMINO, CHAI FRESCO, NICK YOGI, CLARISSA CRUZ, and HALEY FISHER. In keeping with the truce, most of the techies are hanging around with them and half-grooving along while working on set pieces. DYLAN ORLANDO sways with ASHER GARCIA in a bouncy waltz, the latter somewhat singing along.

DAVE WILLIAMS shows off his usual terrible dancing. Nigel sings directly to JADE BEAMON at one point, and she just about passes out. Yogi films the jam session with his A/V club camera to commemorate the end of the year.

Absolutely charmed.

INT. AAA - HALLWAY - DAY

While the acapella underscores, FARKLE MINKUS is making his way through the hallway after finishing up at his locker, headphones blocking out the rest of the world. He seems a little out of it, traversing the school with less of the impatient, high-maintenance energy than he was bursting with earlier in the year. Subtle, but definitely a shift.

DARBY WINTERS and SARAH CARLSON catch up to him, startling him into conversation. As he removes his headphones, he struggles to catch up to their fast-paced questioning.

Darby: … your audition number? We want to start taking bets on whether you’re going to be able to best Maya or not in this final epic diva showdown.

Farkle: My audi – okay, slow down pixies, and start over. I can’t understand you at warp speed.

They eagerly ask him if he has decided what song he’s using for his audition. Suddenly feeling as though he’s forgotten something, he asks them what the hell they’re talking about.

Sarah: The Kossal auditions? They’re this weekend. Preliminaries are going to be all this week. [ Like he’s stupid. ] You know, the most coveted opportunity of the year?

Farkle: Oh. Oh… yeah. Yeah, I guess I forgot.

Sarah raises her eyebrows, clearly shocked. Darby breezes right past it, telling him he should really start thinking about it, although he’s likely to do amazing regardless. As they flutter away, Farkle shakes off his daze.

He honestly can’t believe he forgot about the program he’s been waiting all year to audition for. But suppose when you actually get friends and stop being all-consumed by your one passion, that’ll do it to you.

INT. AAA - ERIC’S OFFICE - DAY

ERIC MATTHEWS is sitting down with RILEY MATTHEWS, obviously excited about whatever information he’s about to share with her. She still has her focus set on a different matter, though, and figures that’s what the meeting is going to be about.

Riley, hopefully: You’ve figured out who is running AAAC?

Eric: … still working on that. But making progress, undoubtedly.

Riley sighs, slouching back in her seat. Eric promises her that what he has to tell her is just as exciting, another great opportunity here at the end of term. He goes on to explain that at the conclusion to each school year, Michael Jacobs and the school board fund an art gala in which all the major art magnet schools from the area come together to celebrate their achievements of the past year and share in their love of the craft.

He slides a small invitation across the table for her to look at. On the front is a fancy-looking ballroom where the event is usually held, with details and logistics on the backside.

Eric: Now, obviously Jack and I will be attending, as principal and MVP of Adams.

[ Riley glances at him, giggling at his given title for himself. ]

Eric: But we’re allowed to bring one student as a representative for our school, and we were thinking you.

Riley: [ blinking, taking a moment to realize she heard him correctly ] Me – me? You want me?

Eric: The nomination was unanimous.

Riley is evidently stunned by this. Eric goes on to explain all that she helped achieve at AAA that year, particularly how instrumental she was in bridging the divide and improving the overall quality of culture in the sophomore class. There is no one else they can think of more deserving of the opportunity. She should be proud of everything she’s accomplished this year.

The caveat, however, is that the gala conflicts with the district-wide audition evening for Kossal. So should she get chosen from the school-level auditions to progress onward, she would have to decide which one to attend. Riley claims she’s not planning on auditioning anyway.

Eric: What? Why on Earth not?

Riley: Are you – are you serious? You literally just said to me –

Eric: You know, you’re right. You’re right, shh. We’ll unpack that later.

Eric opts instead to highlight all the fun aspects to the gala that Riley should start gearing up for. She gets to dress up! There’s performances, and dancing, and great food! Oh, and she gets to bring a plus one, so she should start thinking about who she might like to bring along.

INT. AAA - AUDITORIUM - DAY

Class has assembled for the day, bustling into their seats and alive with restless end-of-term energy as Angela brings their attention to the front. She goes on to talk further about the Kossal program, how it is an intensive six-week summer camp in upstate New York where participants are deeply immersed in the art of performance. It is one of the most highly anticipated opportunities of the year for the sophomore class. The program boasts many notable alumni, and they’ve rarely had a student attend it from AAA who didn’t see success in their future.

As she describes it, it’s evident that MAYA HART and Farkle are both totally invested. ZAY BABINEAUX seems inspired too, but less openly determined than the other two divas. Everyone else is somewhere in between, indecisive about whether it’s worth it to try for it at all.

Angela continues on, explaining the catch – given it’s highly selective criteria, the audition process is staggered and competitive. It starts at the school level, where they will select three of their best students to move on to the district-wide auditions. From there, one lucky student from Adams will get to experience the program.

The techies are like… great. This week is going to be hell, isn’t it. ISADORA DE LA CRUZ exchanges a look with DYLAN ORLANDO and ASHER GARCIA, who look less than enthused. Angela dismisses them to work on their auditions or final projects, whichever they deem fit.

In the wings, Farkle pulls Maya aside. In an attempt to preserve their new and blossoming friendship, he proposes that they should help one another with their auditions. Essentially, be there to support one another rather than fall into their usual habits. Given the circumstances, it’s very unlikely that they both won’t progress to the next round, and he doesn’t want their naturally competitive instincts to come between them.

Maya is surprised and a bit hesitant towards this initiative, but she’s not going to be the one to cause trouble. Besides, as far as she can tell, Farkle does seem entirely genuine in his motivations. She agrees with a “hell yeah,” taking a pass on the drama if they can hack it.

They shake on it, agreeing they’ll be on each other’s teams.

INT. AAA - CAFETERIA - DAY

Zay is at his usual table, YINDRA AMINO and NIGEL CHEY occupying the other primary seats around him. They’re engaging in their typical comfortable conversation, Zay allowing them to take the brunt of it.

His focus shifts when CHARLIE GARDNER approaches with lunch in hand, coming to stand awkwardly by their table. He and Zay hold eye contact for a long moment, before Charlie asks if there’s room for him to join them. Although there’s clear tension, Yindra and Nigel don’t seem to pick up on it.

Zay claims there’s room, because he actually has to get going. He rises to leave without much more to say to Charlie. It’s clear this stings a bit, and Charlie watches him go before sliding into the seat he just vacated.

Yindra snaps him out of it when she asks whether or not he’s planning on auditioning for the Kossal program. Charlie says no, as he has a family obligation – there’s this big communal springfest dinner at his church that same night that is super important to his parents. His mother is part of the planning committee, and all that.

Nigel explains that he and Yindra were both considering it, but with only three spots and three known divas, it sort of seems like improbable odds. Charlie nods along, but he’s not really paying that much attention to their complaints. His gaze keeps lingering on the doors where Zay left.

INT. LUCAS’S APARTMENT - DAY

LUCAS FRIAR hastily makes his way from the hall to his bedroom towards the door, obviously on a mission. He has his phone pressed between his shoulder and his ear, slipping on his boots.

Lucas: I’ll be there in like five minutes, you can pick me up at the usual corner. [ a beat ] No, tell Dylan he’s not coming over. [ beat ] Yes, I have the fireworks, now could you –

From the kitchen, his mother calls out for him. This is pretty unusual, so Lucas tells Asher he’ll be there in a minute before hanging up and sauntering back towards the kitchen.

INT. LUCAS’S APARTMENT - KITCHEN - DAY

Lucas pokes his head in, finding GRACE FRIAR seated at their small dining table. She’s petite, disarmingly beautiful, and looks deceptively too young to have a teenage son. She asks if he has a minute to chat about something. He starts to state that he has plans, but rather than explaining to his mother that he’s off to go set off illegal fireworks with his dumbass friends, he figures he can spare the few seconds to talk.

Lucas settles into the chair across from her, and the closer we are to her the more the cracks in her dainty exterior seem to show. There are healing bruises on her face from the events of 1.09, and once you notice them underneath the makeup, it’s hard to unsee.

She goes on to explain that through one of her friends at work, she was able to get in touch with the dean of admissions at McCullough, a private all-boys boarding school in upstate New York. Given Lucas’s excellent academic record at AAA – behavioral record aside – Grace believes that if he applied, he could totally get a spot in their elite student body for the last two years of high school. She wants to put his application in for the fall, if that’s something he might want.

Lucas, stunned: You mean… you mean like leave triple A?

Grace hurriedly explains that she knows AAA was never Lucas’s top choice as far as schooling. He never had any artistic interests, there were just no… better alternatives. But this school has excellent reviews, top rated academics. It’s in the countryside rather than the city, so maybe the fresh air could do him good. A little space. And all of its alumni go on to have successful careers as doctors, lawyers, entrepreneurs – whatever Lucas decides he wants to do.

Lucas doesn’t know what to think. Never before has there been another option besides AAA, and the mere prospect of it seems impossible to fathom. Not to mention, so much has changed in the past year at the school he always claimed he hated. He doesn’t know how to answer.

Grace claims that he should take the next couple of weeks to consider it, as the application isn’t due until then anyway. It just might be a viable different route, an… escape from everything going on here. A loaded conversation to drop so suddenly…

Angela, pre-lap: How is anybody supposed to make a decision like this?

INT. AAA - ERIC’S OFFICE - DAY

Angela is hanging out with Eric in his office, both of them relaxing after the students have cleared out for the day. They’re sharing sodas in fancy glasses (i.e., what they’re allowed to consume on school property), and Eric is leaning back with his feet up on his desk as they muse.

Angela laments her current situation, definitely feeling torn between two worlds.

Angela: It’s like, all my life, I had one dream. This gig, this draining, paradoxical, invigorating art of performing, that was it for me. All of this from acing an audition to getting a spot on a tour or production, I mean, that was the whole plan, you know? That would fall into place, and the universe would do the rest.

Eric: I hear you, sister. Amen.

Angela: But here I am, finally steps away from the dream. It’s right in front of me. I can taste it. And… I’m holding back. I’m hesitating. How can I be hesitating now?

As Eric points out, there’s a chance her dreams have changed. She certainly has, as has he, and everyone else they know. Hell, look at how much they’ve all grown in just this school year alone.

Eric: Beginning of this year, Jack and I fought about everything.

Angela: Believe me, I remember.

Eric: You and Shawn couldn’t even look at each other, and the school was at war. Quite literally, given everything that conspired after.

Now, all things considered, they’ve found harmony. They’ve found peace, and they’re on their way to almost quelling the last remaining symbol of bad blood. They opened themselves to change, and it turned out to be exactly what they needed.

Eric: Change happens, and it’s scary. But it can be good. You shouldn’t run from it. In fact, it may behoove you to listen to what it’s trying to tell you.

Angela ruminates on this, taking a long sip of her cola. Much to think about.

INT. BABINEAUX HOME - NIGHT

Zay is eating dinner with OMAR BABINEAUX and DONNA BABINEAUX, attempting to find the right time to tell them about the summer program. As Omar wraps up discussing a new development at work, Zay takes a deep breath and gears up to speak. Donna beats him to it, however, suddenly remembering an important news bulletin they meant to share with him.

His older sister Jada was selected for an exclusive study abroad program this summer. She’ll be studying fashion in Milan and Paris, so they’re planning a family vacation there as well to take advantage of the opportunity. It’s an exciting update, but definitely throws a potential wrench into Zay’s quest for Kossal.

Donna: Isn’t that exciting?

Zay: Oh, yeah. Yeah, that’s… I mean, dope.

Omar: What were you going to say, Zay? Looked like you had something on your mind.

Zay: Just that, uh… my grades have really turned around since fall semester. So the tutoring did actually help. That’s all.

He doesn’t push the issue further, allowing his parents to congratulate him and take back control of the conversation. Might as well be a sign… right?

INT. JACK’S APARTMENT - NIGHT

Jack and Shawn are having their traditional dinner. Shawn raises his glass in a toast, cheering on Jack for catching the dumbass who was running the AAAC. Jack takes the praise, but hesitantly. After they both drink, Jack expresses his qualms about how to progress with punishment towards Wyatt.

Shawn shares no such reluctance to be brutal.

Shawn: What do you do when you catch a cold, Jackie?

Jack: Down a pint of Gatorade and hope for the best.

Shawn: [ with an eye roll ] Okay, how about a malignant mole? A tumor? Any sort of cancerous presence?

Jack: Well I’ve been lucky enough not to –

Shawn: You remove it. You cut the thing out so it’s disease can’t spread. It’s that simple.

Jack points out that some might say similar rhetoric about, say… Lucas, to which Shawn scoffs. He claims that they’re completely different situations.

Shawn: Listen, Friar is a mess all his own. I would know. But he isn’t going around using slurs towards other students, or posting increasingly vitriolic hate just to rile people up. There’s a difference.

Jack references the fact that Wyatt claims he’s not the moderator, that there’s another student running it. Shawn blows this off, stating that has to be a lie.

Shawn: [ with his mouth full ] I would know. I used to lie to get out of trouble all the time.

Jack: Once again, you continue to reassure me of your right state of mind to be teaching the youth of tomorrow…

Shawn states that Jack knows what the right decision is, he’s just wallowing in it. And if he won’t do the right thing, then he’ll just take matters into his own hands. Jack knows he’s just shooting the breeze, but he is also like don’t do anything stupid please, I have enough to deal with.

INT. MATTHEWS APARTMENT - NIGHT

That night, it’s just CORY MATTHEWS and Riley there for dinner at the apartment. In the midst of the meal, Cory congratulates her on being selected as representative, and there’s a soft moment between them reflecting on just how far she’s come in a year. He’s so, so proud of her.

She agrees that there is a lot to think about, like what she’s going to wear and who she should bring along. Cory additionally mentions the decision over which song to perform for her audition for the summer program, until Riley expresses that she isn’t planning on auditioning.

Much like Eric, Cory is totally opposed to this notion. He states that she should at least throw her hat in the ring, and it’s even more low stakes for her considering if she doesn’t make it to the district level, she has another plan already in place.

Cory: Other potential conflicts aside, you shouldn’t keep yourself from getting the chance to run the bases by never letting yourself take one swing at bat.

INT. RILEY’S BEDROOM - NIGHT

This sentiment is still lingering with Riley as she gets ready for bed. She hesitates, glancing up at her moodboard to search for inspiration.

It’s drastically different than when it was first made, more intricate and decorated than ever. Lots of little details have been added, including photos of her classmates, playbills from Les Mis, and lots of other little mementos throughout the school year.

She zeroes in on one item in particular – a scrap of notebook paper. It’s the note she and Lucas were passing back in forth in 1.10, during Maya and Farkle’s rendition of “Bop to the Top.” While the majority of it is just a back and forth about how Lucas doesn’t know what the movie is and he thinks Maya and Farkle aren’t that good, the most important statement is the last.

As Riley is defending their performing abilities, he’s followed up with a very bold counterargument: “You’re better.”

It’s evident that is the reason the conversation is hanging up at all. She hangs on this, lightly smiling… wheels are beginning to turn in her head again…

INT. AAA - AUDITORIUM - DAY

Charlie shows up to the auditorium early, finding Zay on the stage exactly as he hoped he would. He’s running through what would have been his audition routine, the vaguely familiar orchestral arrangement from A Chorus Line playing on his iPhone speaker. Charlie hangs back and watches for a moment, in awe of Zay’s obvious skill as always.

Charlie: Looks pretty good.

Zay is surprised by his presence, both because he didn’t realize he was there and because he’s suddenly deeming him worth talking to again. He rushes to turn off his speaker, taking a second to catch his breath. Then he forfeits the stage, saying that he’ll get out of his way if he needs to use it. Charlie rushes to stop him, asking if he’ll give him just half a second to talk.

Zay looks wary, but he doesn’t leave. He crosses his arms, waiting for Charlie to say his piece.

Charlie: I’m sorry I’ve been acting so distant. Ghosting you, and stuff. I don’t have an excuse. I’ve just been… it’s been weird.

Zay: Bit of an understatement.

Charlie: I haven’t exactly felt like myself much, lately. [ a beat, then he laughs ] Honestly, it’s more like I don’t even know what “myself” actually is. Kind of wondering if maybe I ever did.

[ It’s really hard not to empathize with him. Zay is clearly softening. ]

Charlie: Anyway, it’s not a good reason to treat you the way I did. I can’t explain why I did what I did, but I’m genuinely sorry. I never meant to hurt your feelings. And regardless of what’s going on with me, I don’t want to lose you. I mean, someone has to be able to keep up with me around here.

Zay can’t help but chuckle, earning a hopeful smile from Charlie. But the deal isn’t closed yet.

Charlie, sincerely: I understand if you can’t forgive me. I just wanted you to know.

There’s a moment of silence. Charlie may as well be holding his breath. Then, Zay sighs.

Zay: I don’t know what your so-called God has you used to, but I wouldn’t call what you did unforgivable. Or maybe I’m just a gracious deity.

Jokes aside, he’s accepting the apology. Charlie is clearly relieved, laughing in spite of himself and nodding. Zay mirrors his smile, before prodding further on what he mentioned earlier.

Zay: What did you mean by that? Not feeling like yourself?

Charlie: I don’t know. It’s like… do you remember during acoustic week, we talked about your lack of friends?

Zay: Well, I wouldn’t phrase it like that, but yes.

Charlie: It’s… I guess it’s kind of like that. What I talked about, that feeling where you feel like you’re outside yourself. Only… way worse. Like now I’m out there, and I don’t even recognize the person I’m looking at. It doesn’t feel like me anymore. Or maybe it never really was.

Zay can tell that Charlie is seriously struggling with this. Charlie goes on to explain that he was scared that things were changing, but now he doesn’t even know if that’s the case anymore. He isn’t sure if things are changing, or if he’s just becoming aware of how things already are. He can’t figure out which is worse.

Vague cryptic statements aside, Zay states that he’s there to help if he thinks he needs it. Charlie thinks on it, before agreeing that just doing something fun to get his mind off everything might be exactly what he needs.

Charlie: And, well, you’ve always been the expert on that front.

Zay: This we know. I’ll see what I can do.

INT. AAA - HALLWAY - DAY

Riley catches Isadora in the hall, asking if she’s seen Lucas. After she suggests checking the usual places, Riley follows up by asking whether or not Isadora is planning on auditioning for the summer program. Her derisive laugh is enough of a response.

Isadora: Are you kidding me? I’m not trying to insert myself into that bloodbath. Farkle, Maya, and Zay can take it, I’m not aiming to scrap in the last two weeks of school.

A valid analysis of the situation. Even still, Riley makes her focus on her as she states that she truly believes Isadora is good enough to earn herself a spot on her own merit. Then she flutters off, Isadora unable to hold back the ghost of a smile at the touching sentiment.

INT. AAA - PRACTICE ROOM - DAY

Maya and Farkle are in the same practice room where they met for tutoring in 1.03, running through some scales together with the latter on piano. They’re interrupted when KATY HART shows up, nervously poking her head in and clearly not sure if she’s in the right place. Maya eagerly leaps forward to greet her, hugging her and guiding her into the space.

Farkle is surprised, Maya quickly catching them both up to speed. She explains that her mother had never seen the inside of the school before, so she was able to work something out with Jack so that she could come by for lunch and stick around to see her audition. Katy expresses awe over how state-of-the-art the facilities are, Maya walking her through everything in their current room. Farkle watches them, obviously touched by their tight-knit relationship.

As Maya goes into further detail about what their practicing for and the summer program, Katy grows anxious again. She’s uncertain about the financial aspect of it. Farkle jumps in, helpfully stating that the summer program is all-expenses paid. That’s partially why their audition process is so thorough – they want to make sure only the most deserving and talented students are mixing and mingling at this shindig.

Good news, for the Harts at least. Katy brightens again, eagerly requesting to hear a little bit of what they’ve been working on. Maya claims that she’ll get to see the full audition in just a bit, but she pleads for a sneak preview. Farkle raises his eyebrows, wiggling his fingers over the keys to show he’s ready.

Maya relents, gesturing her mother towards the chairs to settle in and listen. Then she exchanges a look with Farkle, nodding to count each other in. She closes her eyes, taking a deep breath. Then, as Farkle hits the first chord…

Song Cue ♫ ♪ “Listen” as performed by Glee Cast  || Performed by Maya Hart

Maya kicks off this brassy display of her vocal talent, true evidence to how hard she’s worked all year. “The Wizard and I” was impressive, but this is a whole new level of ambition. It’s raw with emotion, even more so given the fact that her mother is there to witness. She smiles at her as she sings, obviously one of her greatest sources of inspiration.

INT. AAA - AUDITORIUM - DAY

As the performance continues, it shifts to Maya center stage performing for Angela, Shawn, Jack, and Eric. A large crop of her classmates are there to cheer her on as well – Farkle, Zay, Charlie, Riley, Isadora, Darby, Sarah, etc. How nice it is, seeing the divas show up to support one another rather than tear each other down…

As she finishes, her classmates burst into resounding applause. Angela, grinning, thanks her. Katy wipes a couple of tears. Maya can’t stop smiling, nodding gratefully with the spotlight shining all around her.

EXT. AAA - LUNCH COURTYARD - DAY

Lucas and Isadora are at lunch, the latter rattling off what she thinks her summer plans are going to be with this short film idea that came to her during first period. She’s already got storyboards going in a notebook.

Lucas isn’t listening. He’s distracted, watching the other goobs in his techie crew throw food at each other and crack up and live their generally silly existences. Isadora realizes he’s a million miles away and snaps him out of it, asking him if he heard a word she said.

Lucas: Please. Of course I did.

Isadora: Right. So what was I thinking was going to be the climactic plot twist that makes the entire short and dare I say rivals Alfred Hitchcock?

Lucas: You know I don’t understand that reference.

Isadora, bluntly: You really should. Well?

Lucas: … okay. Okay! I wasn’t listening. You caught me, congratulations. You’re Sherlock of the month.

Isadora makes an offhand comment about how she doesn’t see why she bothers to open her mouth, but Lucas is already zoning out again. It’s clear that the decision of McCullough is all he can think about, so he ventures the topic – albeit vaguely – with his most trusted source.

Lucas: Can I ask you a question?

Isadora: Was that not just a question?

Lucas, deadpan: You’re fucking hilarious, seriously.

Isadora: [ with a smirk ] I know. Anyway, go on.

Lucas finds a way of twisting the decision to leave into a thinly veiled alternative scenario, almost like… a scientific hypothetical. Something she would inherently understand.

Isadora: You realize that most often supposed “hypotheticals” are in fact very real situations that one is simply posing as a hypothetical –

He waves her off, going with the ruse anyway. He lays it all down before asking for her advice as to how she would proceed to make the most effective choice. She plainly states that she would make a list of pros and cons to each outcome. From there, it’s far simpler to deduce the best method moving forward.

Lucas absorbs this, nodding along and thanking her. Then she continues on with her film sketch, but he’s already checked out again. Already mentally crafting his list…

INT. AAA - GIRLS DRESSING ROOM - DAY

Sarah and Darby are in the dressing room with Chai, hanging out before class resumes. As Darby touches up her makeup, the three of them discuss whether or not they’re auditioning. Sarah complains it’s not really worth trying either way, and Chai concurs. But she blithely states she wasn’t planning on auditioning anyway. In fact, she won’t be returning next year, either.

Darby: [ whipping around and smearing mascara on her cheek ] Oh my God, WHY?

Chai: Relax, Darbs. It’s not goodbye forever. I was able to work out a study abroad sort of situation with Principal Hunter given that I’ll be spending the year in London.

Sarah: London? Where the hell did that come from?

Chai: Well, papa’s still attempting to win over me and mom after getting caught with his pants down with the secretary in our parlor –

Darby, sadly: It’s always the parlor… I’m so glad we don’t have one.

Chai: So he’s paying for me to spend the year across the pond. And it’s like what, am I gonna say no? I can hate his guts and spend his money, thank you very much. I’ll be studying the dramatic arts in the birthplace of Shakespeare, Andrew Lloyd Webber, wandering the West End…

Certainly a not-too-shabby alternative to AAA for a year, that’s for sure. Their conversation is interrupted as Riley enters to drop her things, Darby cheerfully posing the same question to her. Despite her former hesitation, Riley admits that she’s been considering it more and more. Sarah scoffs, asking her if she thinks she stands a chance against the divas. Riley shrugs and states that even if she doesn’t, that’s not a good enough reason to sit it out entirely.  

Chai applauds her confidence, but manages to underhandedly point out that it will give her yet another opportunity to publicly fumble like she did all the time at the start of the year. Sarah laughs along and Darby can’t help but giggle, although her expression is more apologetic.

Riley takes the hit, wishing all of them well with their own endeavors and keeping her chin up before heading out to the auditorium. Chai watches her go, but the expression on her face isn’t resentment. In some ways, it seems closer to envy.

Darby: Hm. Maybe I’ll audition, too.

Sarah: Yeah, uh-huh. I’ll believe it when I see it.

INT. AAA - TEACHER’S LOUNGE - DAY

Jack manages to catch Angela in the teacher’s lounge, brewing a thermos of coffee before she’s due back in the auditorium. He requests a moment to chat with her if she can spare it, which she happily does. The two of them settle in at a round table.

Jack poses the Wyatt problem, giving as much context as possible before asking Angela what she would do in his shoes. He notes the perspective he’s already gotten from Shawn. Angela grants that she isn’t surprised at all that he had that response, but is reluctant to provide her own.

Angela: I don’t know if you want to ask me. I can hardly make my own choices.

Jack: I just want to know your thoughts. Honestly.

Angela hesitates. She explains that she knows what Wyatt did was irrevocably wrong, from the despicable words to Isadora all the way through to the involvement with the confessions page and his targeted derision towards Lucas. It’s bullying in all its varied forms, and it shouldn’t be tolerated. Even still… she expresses hesitation at ousting him so harshly and hastily.

When Jack prods further, Angela points out that Wyatt is still one of her students. He’s making dozens of poor choices, she can concede that, and he deserves to be punished. But she’s also seen him in his brighter moments, instances of participation and camaraderie and learning. That exists in him just as much as the nastiness. As Jack has said himself, it’s never simply black and white, especially with adolescents who have so much growing to do.

For Angela, it just seems a little cruel to kick him out with so little time left in the school year. But she’s a softie, she claims, so what does she know? Maybe that’s not the best advice. Especially if he intends to leave an impression to deter others from exhibiting the same behavior. Jack thanks her regardless, insisting that her feedback was helpful.

Jack, softly: If you do decide to leave us this year as well, you will be sorely missed. I can promise you that.

Ouchie. Angela nods, suddenly a little more somber than before as Jack leaves her to it.

EXT. NEW YORK STREETS - DAY

Charlie is out with Zay, the two of them walking side by side as they make their way through the streets while keeping up a conversation. Zay refuses to tell him where they’re headed. Charlie is nervous, but also clearly excited. Invigorated with that infectious energy he gets from being around Zay Babineaux.

Zay declares they’ve made it, turning the corner. Curious, Charlie jogs to keep up.

EXT. NEW YORK STREETS - DANCE LOT - DAY

Zay has dragged them to a back alley park, the empty lot transforming into a break dance spot in the after school hours. A group of a couple dozen or so students is assembled, both older and younger than them. It’s sort of an impromptu crew, coming here after school to jam and challenge each other and just groove together. Most of them are also quite similar to Zay in displaying confidence in their unique sense of style – and come off pretty distinctly queer.

Charlie is more than intimated. He states he can’t do this before whipping around and trying to leave, but Zay grabs his shoulders and pulls him back. He braces him, going on to explain that as long as they’ve been friends – hell, even just classmates – Charlie has always seemed most centered when he’s dancing. These people, they’re the exact same, in fact they’re the experts at using it for self-expression. Zay is positive Charlie has never experienced dancing with freedom quite like this.

There’s a moment where it seems like maybe he’s being convinced… but no. He’s still scared. He tries to run again but is thwarted when one of the older, more respected members of the crew greets Zay and calls them over. Nowhere to hide, Charlie sheepishly follows Zay as he bounces over to greet his acquaintance.

Zay eagerly introduces Charlie, nudging him into standing straighter and not shying away from the moment. The assembled dancers sort of swarm and welcome him warmly, asking him what kind of dancing he’s into and if he thinks he can keep up. After a little bit of banter, let the dancing jam session begin!

Song Cue ♫ ♪ “Step Up” as performed by Samantha Jade  || Instrumental

Yes, it’s the title track from Step Up. Yes, this entire sequence sort of feels like it’s ripped straight out of a Step Up movie. But that’s all part of the fun, and watching the teenagers all groove together and encourage each other is engaging to watch. The dancing is fresh, enthusiastic, clearly important to every single one of the kids assembled there.

Charlie is no exception. It takes a little while him to loosen up, the other dancers showing him new moves or helping him get comfortable. But true to Zay’s word, once he relaxes it’s like he transforms – he’s a completely different person. In his element, grounded, alive.

When the bridge hits (“And when the symphony plays, I feel my feet / Lifting from underneath”), focus zeroes in on just Zay and Charlie. In an instant they’re pulled together, and suddenly they’re dancing more with one another than we’ve seen thus far. Sure, they’ve done duets before, but never have they experimented with a dance that really includes the other.

But it’s good. Really good. And it seems pretty natural for the both of them to work out. As the bridge descends back into the chorus, they blend back with the rest of the crew and end out the jam session. Afterwards, the crew applauds, pulling Charlie into the group and giving him pats on the back. A new source of family, maybe…

His smile is impressively bright. Zay mirrors it. It’s impossible not to.

INT. AAA - SHAWN’S APARTMENT - NIGHT

Angela and Shawn are at his apartment, having just finished up watching a movie. Well, sort of watching a movie, sort of on the road to Netflix and chilling.

After breaking a kiss, Angela tentatively broaches the topic of what will happen for the two of them if she decides to go on tour. Shawn bristles a bit, claiming that she’s decided then. She disputes this, stating that she’s far from having decided anything in an attempt to keep the situation from imploding. But Shawn has already pulled away, getting to his feet and busying himself by turning off the TV and hitting the lights.

Angela: Shawn, would you listen to me? I haven’t made a choice. I’m just… I’m trying to figure out my plan.

Shawn: You can’t make plans until after you’ve made the decision! [ off her expression ] You’re avoiding it because you don’t want to choose. You want there to be an easy out, but there’s not. You have to decide.

After a little more back and forth, Shawn points out that this is starting to feel eerily like the conversations they had right before the last time things ended badly between them. Angela frowns, stating that it’s different this time. They’re different.

But Shawn has already been emotionally spooked. He asks if he can be alone for a bit, retreating to the bedroom and leaving her alone to stew in it. Angela groans, flopping back on the couch and covering her face.

Weird, how not making a decision can almost make things worse…

INT. CHUBBIE’S DINER - NIGHT

Charlie and Zay are getting a late dinner at Chubbie’s, a credit in part to Charlie’s growth considering plenty of people can see them there who know them. But they’re friends, after all, so what does he have to hide? Just dancing pals.

He thanks Zay for taking him to the lot, stating that while he’s not entirely upright again, he does feel better. Zay is happy to have helped. When the two of them reach for the plate of fries at the same time, there’s a moment where their hands brush together and that tension returns between them again. Zay glances at Charlie, who is staring at their hands.

Then, Charlie proceeds for the fry as normal. Not commenting on the moment, but not immediately shying away from it either.

As he pops the fry into his mouth, he asks Zay what his plan for the summer program is. The number he was working on in the auditorium seemed pretty legit. Zay shrugs it off, claiming he’s not doing the audition. Charlie nearly chokes on his fries.

Zay: Jesus, man. [ sliding his water across the table in case he needs it ] If you survived the scary dancing pit, don’t let a stray potato take you out.

Charlie: What do you mean you’re not auditioning?

Zay: It’s no biggie. My family has this whole summer plan already, and I don’t want to mess with it. Not to mention the Farkle and Maya of it all, who knows what they might do if someone presents even a shred of competition –

Charlie, incredulously: I can’t believe I’m hearing this right now. You need to audition. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity, and you’re too good to pass it up.

Zay: Um, could say the same to you.

Charlie: Yeah, thanks, but I’ve got enough going on internally without adding a stressful audition into the mix. Think you can admit to that.

Zay: Yes, you certainly are a bit of a basketcase at the moment…

Case in point, Zay needs to do this. Charlie won’t hear anything else, and he’s sure his family will understand. He at least needs to try. Zay contemplates this – the notion of actually giving it a shot as well as Charlie getting fired up on his behalf – before eating another fry.

INT. AAA - BOYS DRESSING ROOM - DAY

Farkle is gearing up for his audition, doing vocal warm-ups and mouth stretches in the mirror. Yogi and Dave are also present, shooting the breeze and poking fun at Farkle’s pre-show rituals. Dave shares that he heard Riley might be auditioning too, which freaks out Farkle. He wasn’t expecting more than the three of them to audition, and suddenly the calm of this whole situation feels precarious.

Maya pokes her head in, checking for Farkle and telling him they’re ready. Yogi and Dave tell him to break a leg, but he ignores them as he marches out of the dressing room.

INT. AAA - AUDITORIUM - DAY

Farkle and Maya make their way into the wings, the spotlight gleaming on stage and waiting for him. He stands apprehensively in the shadow of the curtains, suddenly prickling with stage fright he’s never really experienced before.

Maya gives him a bracing pat on the shoulder, pulling him out of his own head. She jostles him a bit, giving him a smirk and assuring him that he’s got this.

Wow, how nice it is to have friends instead of adversaries. Farkle nods, exhaling through his lips and regaining his performance mojo.

Song Cue ♫ ♪ “Not the Boy Next Door” as performed by Glee Cast  || Performed by Farkle Minkus

The instrumental precedes him, setting us up for a jaunty, energetic solo as Farkle marches his way onto the stage. It’s an enthusiastic and skillful performance, delivering all of the star power and talent that he’s been serving since “Man About Town” but leaner, looser, more an expression of heart rather than a strangled declaration of perfectionism.

More than anything, it’s clear he’s having fun, which can’t be said for every performance he’s given over the course of the year. He totally loses himself in the number, spurred on by the encouraging cheers from his classmates who came out to see him – notably Maya and Riley, amongst scattered other performers.

He’s out of breath when he belts out the final note, but boy, did he make an impression. Angela thanks him proudly, the rest of the judges smiling as well.

INT. AAA - TECHNICIAN’S BOOTH - DAY

Lucas is alone in the booth, in his usual chair. He’s got his pros and cons list in a small notebook, tapping his pen against it as he contemplates it. Presently, there’s a couple more cons than pros.

He raises his gaze to look at the booth around him. Much like the moment that gripped Angela in the black box, Lucas becomes acutely aware of the fact that he may never be back in this space after the school year is done. It’s oddly surreal. His pen starts tapping faster out of instinct.

He’s broken out of his fugue when Riley pops in, knocking lightly before stepping inside.

Riley: I hope I’m not intruding.

Lucas: No, uh, no. It’s fine. You’re fine. What’s up?

Riley can tell he’s not quite himself, but she chooses to brush past it for now. She’s a bit nervous herself, given what she’s there to talk to him about. After a bit of beating around the bush – a pointed eyebrow raises from Lucas to make it evident he knows she’s beating around the bush – Riley works up the courage to ask him to be her date to the Jacobs gala.

Before he can respond, she launches into a frantic ramble explaining exactly what it is and what he’d be expected to do. Lucas does his best to absorb her words at warp speed, obviously stunned she considered to ask him at all.

Riley: [ following her breathless explanation ] Essentially, it’s just a fanciful folly for the arts, but apparently I’m good enough to represent. And I’m supposed to bring a plus one, and I’ve been giving it a lot of thought, and I just keep… I figured it might be nice to have a technician there as well. I couldn’t think of another person better suited for the job.

Lucas: … wow.

Lucas, still slow from the shock, admits that he’s flattered. And he concurs that her reasoning makes sense, bringing a technician along and all that. Riley nods along, chewing her lip and twisting her fingers together.

Lucas: But uh… no.

Riley: No. [ blinking ] No?

Ouch. Lucas presses his lips together, managing a shake of his head. Suddenly, the booth feels a million times more claustrophobic. As Riley tries to digest this turn of events, Lucas scrambles to provide an explanation of his own.

Lucas: Again, I really appreciate you considering me. But it seems like a pretty important thing for the school, or whatever, and a whole glamorous to-do. I just think that there’s a lot riding on you, here, and you should present yourself accordingly. Pick someone more… fitting to the role.

Riley: [ timidly ] What if I think you fit the role?

Well, hard to argue with that. Yet somehow, Lucas finds a way, still declining the invitation although with less certainty the second time around.

Riley is stung, stumbling out a few assurances of “cool” and “sure.” Lucas is apologetic, seemingly genuinely so, but at present Riley just needs to escape. She makes an excuse and darts out of there, Lucas watching her go. There’s a moment where it looks like he might go after her, but it passes without action.

Instead, Lucas sighs and pulls his notebook back onto his lap. He stares at his lists, grabbing his pen and adding Riley to the bottom of it. It’s in the middle of the page, not clear at all which column she falls under.

INT. BABINEAUX HOME - NIGHT

As Donna prepares for dinner and Omar chats with her from the table with his work, Zay barrels into the room and declares that he has something to tell them. He doesn’t give them the chance to react as he claims he wants to audition for the Kossal summer program, rattling off what it is and why he wants to do it. He states that he wants to go on the summer trip and this may not even work out, but the chance feels too important to ignore and really important to him.

When he finishes, he’s out of breath. He stares at his parents, wide-eyed, waiting for their reaction. Unsurprisingly they are more than supportive, telling him to go for it and show everyone at that school why he is the best they’ve got. The rest, they’ll figure out later. Zay exhales in relief and hugs his mom, earning a laugh from her.

INT. BABINEAUX HOME - ZAY’S BEDROOM - NIGHT

Zay retreats to his bedroom, obviously in far better spirits than earlier in the week. He crafts a message to Charlie, before deciding that’s not enough. He pulls up his contact, dialing his number instead.

INT. GARDNER HOME - CHARLIE’S BEDROOM - NIGHT

Charlie sees Zay light up his phone, grabbing it and escaping out to his balcony. He answers on the fourth ring, not keeping him hanging.

Zay tells him what his parents said, and that he’s going to audition. Charlie congratulates him, claiming that he knew it would all work out.

Zay: How is it when I always think I’ve got the one-up on you, you repay the favor before I even realize it?

Charlie, charmed: Well, I have to be the expert at something in this relationship.

Zay hangs on his acknowledgement of their friendship as a “relationship,” before pushing past it. He repeats the sentiment that his parents said about proving that he is the best AAA has, and Charlie seconds it without hesitation.

Song Cue ♫ ♪ “The Music and the Mirror” as performed by A Chorus Line Original Cast || Performed by Zay Babineaux

INT. AAA - AUDITORIUM - DAY

Starting from the opening piano tinkles, focus is solely with Zay on the stage. As much an honorary diva as he is, he’s more so a team player than anything else, so this ownership of center stage feels long overdue.

And boy, is it worth the wait. Zay absolutely destroys the classic triple-threat number, singing the hell out of it and then proceeding to dance the hell out of it. It’s four minutes dedicated to giving the star our undisputed attention, and it feels more earned than words can describe.

As the dance unfolds in the second half, focus cuts to some of the friends who have come to see him audition. Nearly the entire class is there considering how popular he is, all in awe of his dancing ability as they should be. Charlie looks prouder than ever. Riley is basically jumping out of her seat from excitement. That’s her first friend!

The judges are deeply impressed, and seemingly grateful at their current three auditionees there’s not actually a decision to make. Farkle seems less relieved, starting to get a little bit antsy as they applaud Zay and he gives a confident bow.

INT. LAW OFFICE - DAY

Riley visits her mother at work, distinctly out of place in the high intensity and strait-laced setting of the law office with her thrift store tee and flare jeans and propensity for knocking things over. It’s a relief when TOPANGA LAWRENCE emerges from her office and happily gestures her in, freeing her from the scrutinizing gaze of her colleagues at the front.

INT. TOPANGA’S OFFICE - DAY

Topanga and Riley catch up as they settle in, Riley primly sitting in the large leather chair opposite her mother’s desk. When prompted on how school is going, Riley offhandedly explains all of the stuff going on at school with things winding down to summer. When Topanga gets wind of the summer program, she comments what a wonderful opportunity that sounds like and questions whether Riley is going to audition.

Riley admits that she was thinking about it, but has sort of decided she’s not going to. Topanga totally turns the usual argument on its head, wondering why Riley would ever hesitate when she’s so gifted but more so curious as to why she’d neglect such a great opportunity when they’re certainly forking over a chunk of change for her to attend the school in the first place. A fair point, but not the most empathetic approach.

It’s encouragement in its most aggravating form. Rather than motivating Riley it almost completely turns her off to the whole thing. Although she states she’ll continue to consider it, her expression makes that statement difficult to buy. Tough day for Miss Matthews…

INT. AAA - AUDITORIUM - DAY

Class is assembled before first bell, discussing all the auditionees so far and how nothing has been much of a surprise. Wyatt is cleverly keeping his mouth shut giving he’s on probation, but somehow his classmates manage to pull some commentary out of him.

When he says something harsh towards Zay’s performance Charlie starts to refute but Lucas beats him to it, firing back with a dig at Wyatt that makes most of the assorted group chuckle but also wince. Pissed at being ridiculed by him once again, Wyatt serves up a harsh reality check of his own.

Wyatt: At least we know if there was a competition for which one of them to get rid of, there’d be a unanimous decision across the board.

The message is clear enough. Isadora jumps in and tells Wyatt to fuck off, but Lucas is less reactive. In fact, he’s totally blithe when he says something offhand in response, alluding to the fact that Wyatt might very well get his wish.

He gets up, retreating to the booth and leaving an uncomfortable and uncertain quiet in his place. The situation feels serious, but none of them have any clue why…

INT. AAA - BLACK BOX THEATER - DAY

Angela is still grappling with her own indecision, alone in her classroom. Only this time, Shawn isn’t there with coffee and a warm gesture to rescue her.

She checks her phone, revealing a couple of messages sent to him that have gone unanswered. Frustrated, running out of time, and as uncertain as ever, Angela shuts off her phone and jumps to her feet. Unable to sit still any longer.

Song Cue ♫ ♪ “Should I Stay Or Should I Go?” as performed by Jools Holland & Kylie Minogue || Performed by Angela Moore

Launching into this anthem for indecision, Angela dances around her classroom as she lets out her aggravation. It’s refreshing to get another track with our favorite performance coach showing off why she’s been offered a touring position in the first place. The vocals are top notch, but the emotion behind them is what really sells the rendition.

As she continues to sing, she makes her way out into the halls…

INT. AAA - AUDITORIUM - DAY

In the following montage, Angela’s singing underscores both she and Lucas going through their day as they continue to balance their decisions. Whereas Angela is more about chewing up the scenery and expressing reluctance to leave, Lucas is observing the things about the school he enjoys (his fellow technicians, the booth, the occasional moments where the performers are entertaining) along with all the things he hates (the drama, the stupidity, the incessant singing). With every beat, he makes a little note in his list when no one is paying attention.

Angela finishes off the montage at center stage, dipping her head back and absorbing the spotlight. Exasperated, but evidently no more at home than when she’s performing. It does truly feel like an impossible decision.

Then, she closes up for the night, clicking off all the lights and shrouding the place in darkness.

EXT. OUTDOOR HIDEOUT - DAY

The montage concludes for Lucas somewhere just out of the city, more wilderness than we’ve seen yet. He’s seated on the hood of Dylan’s jeep which is parked in the clearing just beyond the trees, sort of a natural hideaway that the three of frequent somewhat often. Asher and Dylan focus on setting up something further into the space, leaving Lucas alone.

He’s got his list again, distracted by it rather than the task at hand. Asher jogs over with Dylan on his heels, the two of them questioning why he’s been out of it this week and why he’s waiting up. Dylan holds up a bottle rocket impatiently.

Dylan: Come on. We know you like to have first light.

Idiotic antics aside, Asher observes Lucas for a moment before wondering if he knows that if something major were going on, he could talk to them about it.

Asher: Whatever’s going on, you know you could talk to us about it, right? [ off Dylan’s nod of agreement ] I mean, no guarantee that we’d have good advice –

Dylan: [ with a snort ] Definitely not.

Asher: But we’d listen. We got your back. You know?

Lucas examines the two of them – his truest lieutenants – and just takes them in for a long moment. It’s difficult to imagine what his day-to-day would be like without them in it.

He assures them he’s aware, then tells them not to worry about it. He directs them to go finish setting up the rocket, to which Dylan cheers and sprints back over. After they’ve gone far enough away, Lucas takes a moment to add their names on the pros side of the list as a totally separate entity from the rest of the techies.

With that, he officially comes out to an even tally – no clear decision. All that remains in flux is Riley, now having been underlined and with a couple of question marks. This indecision’s killing me…

INT. AAA - ERIC’S OFFICE - DAY

Jack stops by Eric’s office, surprising him given they rarely have cordial friendly chats with one another. He attempts to play it casual at first, commenting on how lovely the auditions have been so far. Since only three have auditioned, guess their job is pretty simple, huh?

Eric: Yeah, for sure. And why are you here again?

Jack: What? I can’t come by to have a chat with my best counselor?

Eric: I’m your only counselor.

Jack: And?

Eric gives him a look, breaking his facade. Jack relents, easing further into the room to settle into the chair opposite his desk. He gets into his qualm with Wyatt once again, especially now that Shawn and Angela have given him opposing advice.

He still feels stuck. He wants to make the best choice as an administrator, but he also knows that teenagers are stupid. They’re ignorant. They make mistakes. He’s seen that shift firsthand all year long, in just about every single one of their students. But he doesn’t want this behavior to continue either…

Eric empathizes, giving Jack what he’s been wanting to hear this entire time which is simply that there isn’t a right or easy decision. He just has to go with his gut. Considering he’s an excellent educator, Eric has little doubt that he will make the best one.

Jack appreciates the sentiment, but still isn’t convinced. He asks Eric what he would do in his position, seeking counsel from him seeing as that’s presumably his job title and all that.

After a beat of contemplation, Eric states that he thinks he would ask Wyatt to leave. Not because he’s irredeemable, but because they have to think about what is best for the collective. Regardless of how they feel about individual students, what always matters most is how all of them can best proceed. Isn’t that true?

Jack takes this to heart, genuinely grateful for the help. Eric accepts his gratitude, offering him an encouraging smile.

INT. AAA - AUDITORIUM - DAY

Lucas is seated on the edge of the stage, one leg dangling off the side as he painstakingly wraps microphone cables. Riley makes her way in from the audience entrance, hoping to find Isadora and stumbling into him instead. Their staging mirrors their face off at the end of 1.03, now with Riley standing in the aisles and looking up at him on the stage.

They’re a bit awkward with one another as she asks whether he’s seen Isadora, given how recent his rejection of her was. He claims he doesn’t know, curiously wondering why she’s trying to find her. Riley expresses that she wanted to ask her about the audition, letting it slip that she has almost effectively decided she’s not going to do it.

Lucas is shocked, coming off more miffed than he intends to. He questions if she’s serious, not believing there’s a world in which she’s not auditioning. Riley stammers into an explanation, Lucas remaining unimpressed as she lists all the factors that have stacked against her in the past week. He claims none of that matters.

Lucas: This is just you stepping back into the shadows because suddenly overwhelming factors have come into play. You’re really just going to go back to how things were? As if you’ve learned nothing?

Riley: [ scoffing ] Are you really about to give me this lecture right now?

[ Lucas rolls his eyes, diverting his attention back to his cables. But Riley isn’t finished, storming closer to the stage. ]

Riley: So what, you just want me to rock the boat for the sake of rocking the boat? You want me to just do whatever my mother says I should?

Lucas: This isn’t about your mom. And this isn’t about rebellion either. This is about you, and the fact that you are too damn talented to be stepping out of the spotlight just because other people want it. Just because someone else wants what you have doesn’t mean you have to give it up.

Choice words, and not a bad point. Riley absorbs this, crossing her arms and looking at her feet. Lucas gazes at her for a long moment, twisting the microphone cable in his fingers.

Lucas, calmer: Earlier this year, someone told me that if something is important to you then you go out and do it. No matter what anyone else tells you to do or how to be. You stand up for yourself.

Lucas gets to his feet, placing the microphone in the box with the rest and snapping the lid shut. He hops off the lip of the stage, passing her to head back towards the technician’s booth. But he hesitates once he’s passed her.

Lucas: Are you really going to go back to hiding in the chorus line?

He doesn’t give her the chance to respond, marching towards the back of the auditorium. Riley looks over her shoulder and watches him go, obviously torn up all over again. For what it’s worth, what she wants suddenly seems less muddled than before…

INT. AAA - HALLWAY - DAY

Thus, march onward Riley does. She approaches the audition list, hesitating before officially adding a fourth name to the roster. All the sudden, there’s actual stakes to this game. As she writes her name, a voiceover of her introducing herself before her audition pre-laps…

INT. AAA - AUDITORIUM - DAY

Riley is alone center stage, spotlight shining on her. She’s squinting to attempt and see Eric, Angela, any of them – but it’s like they’re not there at all. Basically the entire class has showed up in the seats, wanting to see how a non-diva contender plans to throw down with such a bold move against the status quo.

Angela grants Riley permission to begin whenever she’s ready. Her fingers are shaking as she holds the microphone stand. She closes her eyes, taking a deep breath and grounding herself.

Song Cue ♫ ♪ “She Used to Be Mine” as performed by Sara Bareilles || Performed by Riley Matthews

If there’s a pivotal example of how much a performer can blossom in the span of a year, then this performance would be it. Although she starts out timid, Riley delivers an impassioned and powerful rendition of the Broadway belter, obviously channeling all of her emotion and passion into it like never before. It’s stunning, breathtaking, the kind of game-changer that throws this entire competition into a toss-up.

It’s a testament to how far she’s come that nearly the entire class seems impressed. They’re supportive too, smiling and nodding as she decimates the number. Isadora is smug on her behalf, glancing to the other techies proudly. Even Farkle is playing nice, although he’s starting to get a little twitchy…

INT. AAA - TECHNICIAN’S BOOTH - DAY

As she rounds out the number, focus draws to Lucas in the booth. He’s totally captivated, although not that surprised – he’s the one who told her she had it in her, after all.

Still, there’s a contemplative edge to his expression. Trying to figure her out, wondering if he could actually walk away from her…

INT. AAA - HALLWAY - DAY

Inspired by Riley’s bold move, suddenly the audition list is swimming in the names of other hopeful auditionees. Farkle is staring at it, trying extremely hard to keep his cool and not freak out over the increasing loss of control.

Maya joins him, poking her chin over his shoulder and eyeing it as well before stating that he can’t keep watching it like this. Yet the two of them stare transfixed for a second longer, Maya physically having to turn them both away from it to break the trance.

She gives a pep talk, stating that they both gave kickass performances and all there is left to do is let the deliberation speak for itself. When Farkle doesn’t seem convinced, she tells him she’s getting him away from it. They’re getting out of there – they’re playing hooky. Now there’s a way to get the attention of a goody-two-shoes academic.

Farkle: Um? I’ve never missed a day of class in my sixteen years.

Maya: Aw, so honored to be your first time! Let’s go.

She grabs his hand, yanking him down the hall.

EXT. NEW YORK STREETS - DAY

Launching into their day of freedom, Maya and Farkle are meandering their way about town. They’re window shopping in the fashion district, sipping fancy coffee drinks and trying to find their zen – Farkle’s is pointedly marked decaf.

As they chat, they somehow gets on the subject of the local theater scene and the hangouts for up and coming performers. Farkle claims that his parents have membership at this elite club lounge where a lot of Broadway performers congregate and rehearse.

Maya: What’s it called?

Farkle: Emerald City, I think.

Maya: [ stopping cold ] WHAT?

Farkle: I know, feels a little on the nose, but –

Maya grabs him by the shirt collar, yanking him towards her and causing him to drop his drink. She’s got a frenzied gleam in her eyes.

Farkle: I was drinking that!

Maya: You have access to the Emerald City lounge? Where the future stars of Broadway mix and mingle? Where it’s rumored Carly Rae Jepsen snuck her way in and was able to get her stint as Cinderella? How have you never told me this?

Farkle: Ow, unclaw me, please! [ as she does so ] I don’t know, it never came up. I’ve always wanted to go, but I didn’t want to go alone. And to be fair, we weren’t exactly chummy for me to be sharing these things.

Maya: I know, I’m surprised you weren’t just bragging incessantly about it. And listen, had you mentioned this sooner? We would’ve been friends ages ago.

Farkle gives her a look, Maya nudging him playfully before insisting they have to go. If the only reason he’s never gone is because he didn’t want to go stag, well, that problem is now solved.

She starts to drag him down the street but he gets her to slow down, first thanking her for getting him out of that school and out of his own head. He truly needed it, and he’s grateful for it – and her. Maya grins, shrugging it off like it’s nothing.

Song Cue ♫ ♪ “One Short Day” as performed by Wicked Original Broadway Cast || Performed by Maya Hart & Farkle Minkus

As the jaunty and uplifting descent into glamourous kicks off, Maya and Farkle dance their way through the streets together as only two divas in paradise can. It’s endearing and comfortable, such a far cry from “What Is This Feeling?” in 1.03. It also doesn’t paint NYC in such a bad light either. In fact, it’s pretty damn beautiful.

On the beat where Glinda tells Elphaba they’re going to be late for “Wiz-a-mania,” Farkle gets caught up checking his phone. People are posting on their own accounts about how auditions are going, and the competition seems to be getting thicker and thicker. But Maya pulls him out of it, yanking him down the stairwell to the hidden depths of Emerald City.

INT. AAA - AUDITORIUM - DAY

As Farkle and Maya enter the depths of the working performers, a montage ensues of the rest of the sophomore class performing their auditions.

INT. EMERALD CITY LOUNGE - DAY

An eclectic, shimmering testament to Broadway and those struggling to work in it, Emerald City is somewhere between a bar lounge and a dressing room. Maya and Farkle watch in awe as working actors and dancers buzz around them, before inevitably pulling them into the dance. Because it’s television, and musical television, and we can do what we want.

After the very necessary and super cute kick line, Maya and Farkle come back together to share their moment on the lyrics “and then just like now we can say…” Farkle states that they’re “two good friends,” before Maya takes his hand and holds their joined fingers up between them. “Two best friends.”

Then the professionals pull them back into the number, rounding out the number with a flourish. What a way to spend a school day!

INT. AAA - TECHNICIAN’S BOOTH - NIGHT

Lucas is back in the booth, although not in his usual chair. A little further into the booth, a panel has popped out of the wall and leaned against the electrical cabinet. And it’s the basic crawl space of an alcove that is revealed behind it where Lucas has built his hideaway, the place he sleeps when he’s avoiding going home. It’s not much, but it’s the coziest space he’s ever known.

This is where he is now, cooped up and regarding his full list. Cons include the horrible competitive environment, all the performers, the constant singing, etc. The pros, however, are strong and difficult to ignore – Isadora at the top and underlined, the techies, Mister Shawn, Principal Hunter (someone has to keep his life interesting), Dylan and Asher…

And yet, the tally comes to an even draw. All save for Riley at the bottom, somehow having become the deciding factor.

The booth door opening scares Lucas out of his melancholy. He scrambles to get up and start frantically attempt to hide everything away, when Isadora appears around the other side of the electrical cabinet. She tells him to relax, he doesn’t have to pack away his whole set-up. Also, she brought dinner. Lucas tries to act indifferent about her discovering his shelter, but she truly isn’t all that impressed.

Isadora: You really thought I didn’t know about all that? It’s not hard to deduce. You hate being at home. You’re always in here, and you’re always here first thing in the morning, which I know isn’t plausible otherwise because you’re not a morning person.

Lucas: Well, when you put it that way. [ a beat, softer ] Forget you’re a genius, sometimes.

Isadora: [ with a shrug ] You’re my best friend. It’s not that hard to figure you out.

He sits back down in his alcove, Isadora settling down across from him. She asks how his “hypothetical” is going. He defensively wonders if she’s figured that all out too, which she admits she has not. But she claims that if it were truly important, she knows he would tell her.

In this case, far from the truth. There’s a reason he’s avoided telling her what’s going on outright – he can’t imagine how she would take the news that he may be leaving for good. He explains that he’s hit a dead end and doesn’t know how to move forward. He’s done the pros and cons like she said, but he’s torn on this last factor that might tip the scales in either direction.

Isadora: First things first, is it an important factor? If it’s extraneous, then you shouldn’t even bother with it.

Lucas: … yes. Yeah, it is. How do I determine where it falls?

Isadora: Well, if this were an actual scientific theory, your next step would be to draft an experiment. Decide what you want your hypothesis to be – which outcome you want it to be, unless we’re talking null hypothesis – and then find a way to test whether or not it’s true. That’s what any good scientist would do. Basic scientific method.

Lucas takes this in, already puzzling over how to accomplish such a thing. Isadora distracts him by tossing food at him, commanding him to eat. He relents, digging in with her.

INT. ANGELA’S APARTMENT - NIGHT

Angela is typing out an email to the touring company, effectively making her decision. From the looks of it, it seems as though she’s going to decline the offer. She’s interrupted when there’s a knock at her door.

Shawn is on the other side, holding a bouquet of flowers and ansty with earnest. Angela starts to question what he’s doing but he cuts her off, stepping in past her and launching into a poem from the book she gave him. The thematics are essentially well-matched to their current situation, and Angela can’t help but giggle in a what are you doing sort of fashion.

When Shawn finishes the recitation, he puts the flowers on the table and takes her arms. He’s breathless with nerves, but clearly wants her to hear him.

Shawn: I’ve changed a lot since the last time we had these conversations. I have, but I sure wasn’t acting like it. I’m sorry about the way I reacted, and I don’t care if you want to pursue this thing. In fact, I’m proud of you, and I want you to, if that’s what you want. And if it means another few years apart, then so be it. We came back to each other once.

Angela doesn’t even know what to say. She doesn’t know how to convey that she was going to decline the offer, or if she even still should with this turn of events. Thankfully, she’s saved by the bell, in this case her cell phone ringing. He steps back and allows her to pick it up.

As she engages with the call, we can tell that the news is shocking. Shawn tries to get something out of her as she listens, desperately trying to get a read on the situation. When she hangs up, she just stares at him for a couple of seconds.

Shawn: Ange, you’re killing me.

Angela manages to stammer out that she’s been offered a role in an off-Broadway show. Then, she’s finally able to grin. She repeats the statement, trying to make herself believe it. It’s not her big break, no, but it’s a start – and it’s here. She doesn’t have to go anywhere. The two of them, her time here, aren’t finished quite yet.

Shawn pulls her into a hug, lifting her and spinning her. When she lands back on her feet, the two of them share a big damn kiss –

INT. AAA - HALLWAY - DAY

The sophomore class is assembled outside the door to the black box, anxiously waiting for Angela to put up the finalists for Kossal. The performers are trying their best not to throw jabs at each other, while the techies hang back against the wall and watch the near stampede in mild amusement.

Lucas: If any of you decide you’re going to the pit because of this, can I watch?

Riley tells them to ignore him, reminding the core group that whatever happens, they’re going to be happy for one another. They all agree, although it’s hard to tell if that sentiment is going to hold true…

Angela emerges, silence immediately settling over the crowd. You could hear a pin drop. She begs for a moment to escape once she puts it up before they all stampede, then moves to pin the list onto the bulletin board. She dives back into the classroom and slams the door just as the wolves descend, trying to see who got the three coveted spots.

Farkle elbows his way through, making it to the front first and getting a look for himself. From his expression, we can almost imagine the list before we see it.

Zay Babineaux. Maya Hart. Riley Matthews.

No Farkle Minkus. No summer program. No successful path to the top.

Sound grows muted around Farkle as the others get close enough to look for themselves. He can’t bring himself to react. He can’t even breathe.

He’s jostled out of it when Charlie bumps him in the back on accident, en route to giving Zay an enthusiastic hug. Maya and Riley eagerly congratulate one another, turning expectantly towards Farkle. Obviously not certain what to say to him, but hoping he’ll opt to take the gracious approach instead and make it easy on them to enjoy their laurels.

What do they want from him? A congratulations? Farkle doesn’t have it in him to give. He sort of sputters an incoherent statement and backs away, trying to wrap his head around it. How this could have possibly happened.

Zay: Seriously? Are you about to diva meltdown? What happened to being happy for each other?

Farkle, panicked: Yeah, well, that’s easy to say when –

Charlie: It’s okay, dude. There will be other opportunities –

Farkle is beyond that. He’s sliding back into manic, figuring he must have let himself slip up somewhere along the way. Or that this is all some elaborate ruse on their part – like they all knew if they got him off his game, he’d be easier to thwart.

Zay: You think I’d choose to be friends with you just to get some made up advantage over you? Believe me, man, I don’t hate myself that much.

Riley: Farkle, that’s not true –

Maya: Farkle. [ breaking through the haze, over everyone else ] Can’t you just be happy for me?

She holds his gaze, obviously hurt. Hoping he’ll say the right thing. But all he can manage is a non-answer.

Farkle: I – need a second. I need – just leave me alone.

Farkle storms away towards the auditorium, desperate to escape. The others watch him go, a myriad of emotions swirling around them but disappointment being the most unifying one.

Zay: Guess people don’t really change.

Maya looks more wounded than anyone else. She breaks away from the group, marching in the other direction.

INT. AAA - JACK’S OFFICE - DAY

Jack is having his final conduct meeting with Wyatt, having made his decision on what his punishment will be. Eric is also present.

The final verdict is somewhere down the middle: Wyatt is being expelled from AAA effective at the start of the new term, but he will be allowed to finish out the remainder of this school year. Wyatt doesn’t have any complaints at this point, resigned. He claims that AAA is a hellscape and totally corrupt. The administration clearly has their favorites, and they have no idea how rotten the place is from the inside out.

Eric, calmly: You seem quite critical of this so-called rotten environment, in spite of how you had an active hand in keeping it alive…

Wyatt chooses not to comment, Jack dismissing him. As he heads out, he warns Jack that getting rid of him isn’t going to get rid of the problems at Adams. For one, he’s not the creator of the AAAC, but more pointedly the page is not the perpetrator of all the mean stuff people say about each other. They do all that themselves. Like he’s been saying, it’s just the messenger. And they’ve just shot it.

Wyatt: So if you really believe you’re making a difference, maybe you try tackling the toxic waste that serves as the very core of this school. But that would require actually being a competent administrator, so…

Eric rises and shoos him out, Jack taking the intended hit anyway. He closes his eyes and rubs his temples as Eric shuts the door behind Wyatt, releasing a sigh and claiming he thinks they made the right choice expelling that kind of bad energy.

When Jack doesn’t seem placated, Eric settles down across from him and comes to his defense. Wyatt is just postulating, and he made a good decision.

Jack nods along, but it’s evident there’s a lingering inkling of doubt…

INT. AAA - ATRIUM - DAY

As Wyatt exits the front office, he pulls out his phone. He crafts a message to AAA Confessions, warning them that Jack is on the warpath. The page is probably going to be officially shut down before the end of the school year. What are they planning to do?

The confessions page starts a message back… then doesn’t respond. Wyatt never gets an answer.

INT/EXT. LUCAS’S BEDROOM / LUCAS’S FIRE ESCAPE - DAY

Lucas is flipping through the McCullough pamphlet, but he can’t stomach looking at it for too long. Still feels like too daunting a decision to make.

He climbs out onto his fire escape, settling down and releasing a sigh. He stares out towards the city for a moment, then reaches into his pocket and pulls out his phone. He starts a message to Riley, but nothing he wants to say comes out right. He finds himself calling her instead.

Lucas: Hey. I know I said… [ a beat ] things have been kind of… [ willing himself to be outright ] Do you still need a plus one?

Let the experiment begin…

INT. AAA - HALLWAY - DAY

School has emptied out for the day, only a few stragglers left behind. Farkle is back in front of the bulletin board, staring at the three names and unable to believe that he’s not there.

Something about him isn’t quite right. He’s frantic, frenzied in a way that’s beyond just disappointment from a jilted diva. The longer he glares at the list, clenching his jaw and fidgeting in place, the worse the hysteria seems to become.

Song Cue ♫ ♪ “It’s All Over” as performed by Glee Cast || Performed by Farkle Minkus (feat. Zay Babineaux, Maya Hart, Riley Matthews, Isadora De La Cruz, Charlie Gardner, and Lucas Friar)

[ Lyrics specific to characters – follow along here! ]

Farkle spits the words “Miss Moore was supposed to love me, I turn my back and find myself out on the line” towards the list, before whipping around –

INT. AAA - AUDITORIUM - DAY

And suddenly center on a brightly lit stage. It’s almost glaringly bright, to the point where it would hurt to look at. If you’re not in his immediate line of sight, then you’re shrouded in shadow – which is how the figures standing on the stage look to him until they make themselves known and step into the light to argue with him.

Although the rest of the core group is included in the number, it’s more than clear that they’re not actually there. This isn’t actually Maya, Zay, even Lucas singing in opposition to him – they’re all in his imagination, but it doesn’t make it feel any less real. In regards to who is saying what, well, if you read any set of specific lyrics in this show, let it be this number.

As Farkle grows more and more frantic, the opposition towards him grows more and more pronounced. Although this whole thing started with a dashed dream, the way he’s so emotional over them all “dropping” him through the course of the song or turning him away seems like a greater trigger for him than the missed opportunity. So it’s not actually clear what is causing the meltdown, or if he really knows himself.

All he knows is that the entire core group is telling him it’s all over, and he’s fighting against it with whatever he’s got – back to the teeth-gnashing, scrappy, obsessive starlet who clawed his way to first on stage at the start of the school year.

No, Farkle Minkus is far from going quietly. He’s not going anywhere, and he swears that this isn’t how this is going to end.

Oh, boy…

END OF EPISODE.