KOURTNEY: Previously on High School Musical: The Musical: The Series...
-We relocated to this haunted theater... -(ALL SCREAM)
Miss Jenn went a little insane.
And Nini and Ricky were nowhere to be found.
BIG RED: Hey, guys?
But it wasn't all bad.
(SINGING) Stops
I'm like a genie.
You let me out the bottle, there's no going back in.
WOMAN ON PHONE: Youth Actors Conservatory.
Kourtney, are you sure I have to wear this jacket?
-It might rip. -You're great. Don't worry!
Guys? Guys, has anyone seen my glasses?
Places for Act Two, everyone.
Troy, you're on.
Let's do this.
(GUITAR PLAYING)
You're late.
(SCOFFS) We finished painting the sets 20 minutes ago.
What's the big emergency?
I wanna play you something. Just promise me you won't laugh.
I have no control over when I laugh.
(CHUCKLES) Here goes.
(SINGING) I fell in love
With the only girl who knows what I'm about
-I'm gonna stop you right there. -Can I at least do the first verse?
-Sure. -Okay.
After all is said and done
I can't just pretend I'm movin' on
Is it just a part we're playing
'Cause it don't feel like we're faking
Uh... Can I talk now?
So this is for Gina?
I thought she moved away.
She did. The day after she missed tech rehearsal.
It all happened so fast.
Okay.
The song is for Nini.
Like an opening night thing.
Nini and I almost kissed the other day.
Wait, what?
You're not talking.
I'm reading.
Come on, it's not a novel. It's just four words.
Four little words.
It's jewelry.
It's a dog tag.
But he's gonna wear it around his neck. That's jewelry.
Silly opening night gift.
I'm sure Ricky's gonna give me something, too.
What?
I just think it's deep.
Well, it should be.
We've come a long way, and Ricky's been, kinda, great lately.
-(MESSAGE TONE CHIMES) -KOURTNEY: Oh.
Whoa!
Everything okay?
Miss Jenn asked if I knew Taylor's lines.
Wait, what?
"Haven't stopped thinking about your sound check.
"You have the best voice in Northern Utah. Please say you'll go on for Gina tonight."
And then there's like a hundred emojis.
Oh, my gosh, Kourts!
So, you approve of this?
(BOTH EXCLAIM)
(BOTH SCREAM)
How am I gonna know the lines?
What am I gonna wear?
MISS JENN: We were able to secure the gym as our performance space tonight.
I made a video on my phone of three rats
fighting over a Milk Dud at the El Rey Theatre,
and the school board and the principal caved. (CHUCKLES)
I just like to take a moment alone on opening night,
before all the chaos begins.
Savor the solitude.
Sorry! Didn't mean to startle you.
Ricky! You're really early!
I know. I didn't know what do with myself all afternoon.
Let me guess, opening night jitters?
Yeah, it's just a lot.
My mom's coming tonight,
and I've technically never been in a musical before, so...
I understand the stress you're under.
All I can tell you is what my director told me
the night somebody sneezed a blueberry muffin
onto the stage during a regional production of South Pacific.
Use it.
Okay.
Besides, if you're the only actor with opening night jitters,
we are in excellent shape.
Oh! Uh...
I didn't know anyone would be in here.
(CHUCKLES)
Let me guess, jitters?
Little bit. I just realized this morning this is the first time
I've been cast as the lead on purpose.
But it won't be the last.
Tell her the muffin story.
Do I have to?
Listen, I'm gonna run. I'll see you in a couple hours for pre-game.
Just take a second, both of you,
and soak in the stillness.
(THUD)
BOY: Sorry! GIRL: I think that was me.
Okay, how many people are in here?
Do you wanna...
Yeah.
Can't believe we made it here.
Yeah. Against all odds, right?
Yeah, I was just thinking the same thing.
(BOTH CHUCKLE)
Hey, that other night, in the theater, in that room, I, um...
-(CHUCKLES NERVOUSLY) -Oh! Uh...
Listen, that...
No worries. I get it.
It was a tough day.
We're all in a really weird place.
Yeah. Yeah, totally weird.
It's cool. We're cool, right?
-Yeah. Yeah, totally cool. -Cool.
So, um... Uh...
So I'll see you before the show.
Yeah. You, too.
Good luck tonight.
Sorry, coming through, I'm late!
(INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS)
We've got mystery flowers, people!
Wow, those are massive.
Why mystery?
There was no card, so I'm guessing it's dealer's choice.
(CHUCKLES) But if I had to bet, I'd say it's for our leading lady.
-Aw! -Not from me. Sorry.
It's okay.
Head up, Mr. Caswell. You know Miss Jenn says this is a phone-free zone.
I know, but this is important.
Always is.
-Hey! -Oh, hey!
How do I look?
Solid, Ms. Darbus. I did a double-take.
Any pearls of encouragement?
Just be you, Ashlyn. You're enough.
Look, Big Red's a sweet guy. We're friends, you know?
I don't need some great romance to be complete or whatever.
We're good.
-Half hour! -(ALL EXCLAIM)
Okay, last touches, anyone? Speak now, or forever hold your face!
Why? Where are you gonna be during the show?
My beautiful babies, let's gather round for some housekeeping!
First of all, who brought Versailles?
No one knows.
Well, I suppose we'll just have to share, then.
Oh, and speaking of sharing, most of you know that our dazzling Taylor
had to leave under family circumstances.
Gina sends her love and support to all of you,
but unfortunately she's on the East Coast
and won't be able to make it to tonight's performance.
And so, I have asked Kourtney to fill in in her stead.
(ALL WHOOPING, CHEERING)
Yeah!
Whoo-hoo!
So now, what I would like to do is, please think of a word or phrase from the show
that expresses where your head is, or your goals for tonight.
If anyone wants to share?
"You're my guys and this is our team."
"What if you wanna try something really new,
"and it's a total disaster and all your friends laugh at you?"
MISS JENN: Aw.
Oh, um...
"Do you ever feel like there's this whole other person inside of you
"just looking for a way to come out?"
-(ALL CHUCKLE) -GIRL: Yeah.
"Do the romp, and strut your stuff!"
-Hey! -Hey!
"My shower head is very impressed with me."
"I'm proud to call you my sister."
Aw. It's close enough.
-"My nail beds are history." -(ALL LAUGH)
"Sharpay's kinda cute, too."
ALL: "So is a mountain lion, but you don't pet it!"
And I'll just say, no matter what happens tonight,
we're all in this together.
Okay, Wildcats, take a moment to settle your nerves.
If we had a curtain, it would be up in 20 minutes!
(ALL CHEER)
Whoo.
Hey! You know I got your back tonight, right?
I'll have the words in my hands on stage,
but I don't know what to do when you guys start dancing.
What you always do. Your best.
But, seriously, you're my idol, Kourt. Let's just have fun.
Thanks, Neener.
-Oh! I gotta get changed. -Sweet. See you guys in a bit.
Break a leg.
GIRL: Six, seven... No, no, no.
Hey, are you okay?
Yeah. I just, uh... Getting in character.
-Okay. -Yeah.
RICKY: (SINGING) I fell in love
With the only girl who knows what I'm about
NINI: (SINGING) I fell in love
With a boy and I can't tell if I fell out
After all is said and done I can't just pretend I'm movin' on
RICKY: Is it just a part we're playing 'Cause it don't feel like we're faking
BOTH: When we're underneath the lights My heart's no longer broken
For a moment Just for a moment
When we're singing side by side There's so much left unspoken
For a moment Just for a moment
A moment in love
Oh
But is a moment enough?
When we're underneath the lights My heart's no longer broken
For a moment Just for a moment
(ALL PLAYING OUT OF TUNE)
(INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS)
MISS JENN: Here you go, girls. Have fun.
-Hey! -Oh! Hi!
How's our leading man doing?
I think he's gonna surprise you.
Well, at this point, I've learned to stop being surprised by him.
We owe that to you.
Hey, Mike, are these reserved seats?
I think it's first come, first serve.
Jennifer... Miss Jenn, this is my wife, Ricky's mom, Lynne.
Oh, how lovely! You both must be so proud.
-Here you go. -Yes. Thank you.
Yeah.
We're gonna go find some seats.
-Enjoy the show. -Thank you.
Nice to meet you... Lynne.
(INDISTINCT TALKING)
(SOFTLY) Dim the lights.
(NATIONAL ANTHEM PLAYING)
Wait, wait.
The disco ball.
Quite a production you've got going here.
-Who's winning? -(LAUGHS)
Disco. Disco. Okay.
-Oh! -(AUDIENCE LAUGHING)
Okay. Listen to me.
Do you know anything about audio-visual equipment?
-Only everything. -I need your engineering genius.
All your training. Those fancy degrees.
I'll tell you what you can do for me.
Perhaps you could distribute some of my Robotics Club stickers to the crowd,
drum up some community interest in what I do?
Done! Let's go.
Never touch me.
I already loaned them my Robotics Club lighting console.
I might as well save the show, too.
(AUDIENCE LAUGHING AND APPLAUDING)
You have an amazing voice. You're a singer, right?
Just the church choir is all. I tried a solo and nearly fainted.
Really? Why's that?
I took one look at all the people staring only at me,
and the next thing I knew, I was staring at the ceiling.
End of solo career.
(ALL LAUGHING)
But you sounded like you sing, too.
Oh, sure, lots. Yeah, my shower head is very impressed with me.
NINI: Remember in kindergarten, we'd meet a kid and know nothing about them...
-EJ? -Yeah?
You know we're putting on an actual show, right?
Hey, thanks, Ash, I have the power of sight. (CHUCKLES)
You wanna get off your phone for ten minutes and be part of the team?
Uh... (CLEARS THROAT) Sorry, yeah.
Forgiven.
Oh, gosh! Uh... Sounds like the fireworks have started.
Can you hear them?
Fireworks, fireworks.
(BUZZER BLARING)
-Need a hand? -Man, how many have you got?
Okay, I'll leave you boys to it!
-Not so fast. -Hmm?
Maybe you could have an usher spread the word during the intermission.
I've got a whole box for you.
Consider it done.
Um...
One, two, three, four, five, six, seven...
The leg has to cross from the back.
-How's it going? -I think she's getting it.
Oh, my God, there's like 100 parts.
Yeah, that was two counts of eight, but keep drillin' it, though.
(EXHALES)
I don't know about this.
Oh. Here. My good luck charm.
Vanessa Hudgens' phone from the movie.
Trust the process.
But what if it's a mess?
Then we'll go down together, okay?
(AUDIENCE APPLAUDING)
-It's our scene! -And it starts in 30 seconds.
Okay. Uh... Whoa. Let's go!
Right, okay.
What do you know about Troy Bolton?
Troy? I wouldn't consider myself an expert on that particular subspecies.
Um...
However, unless you speak cheerleader, as in,
"Oh, my gosh! Isn't Troy Bolton just the hottie super bomb!"
(AUDIENCE LAUGHS)
You know what? Can't make it tonight.
Gotta catch up on homework.
What? Hello, we're only on the second day back.
I'm not even behind yet,
and I've been behind on homework since preschool.
(LAUGHS) That's hilarious. Catch you later.
Homework? There's no way.
(AUDIENCE LAUGHING)
(AUDIENCE CHEERING AND APPLAUDING)
Mmm-mmm. Carlos, this is as far as I can split.
Ladies and gentlemen, it is time for Stick To The Status Quo.
(ALL CHEERING)
This is our biggest Act One showstopper,
and you're all going to kill it because I love you. Any questions?
I have a couple hundred.
How is the Taylor dance break gonna work?
Gina's tray-ography is really complex.
I can run to the pit and have the orchestra cut that part!
BOY: What?
GIRL: No! What...
Or we could just have Gina do it.
(ALL MURMURING)
-Gina! -Hi.
-Oh, my God. What? -ASHLYN: No way.
Hi!
Wow, you guys. I don't wanna interrupt.
How did you get here?
A friend bought me a last-minute flight back.
I was gonna drop off these cupcakes,
then hide in the gym and cheer you guys on.
Gina, no one in the gym wants to hide more than I do.
Wait, are you playing Taylor?
I was, and it was nice, and now it's your turn to save my butt and do the dance.
Please. I'm asking you.
Can I?
Of course. You can do the curtain call together.
Let's hit the halls, people!
Kourts.
I'm not done with you yet, honey.
Come see me after the Christmas break.
Okay.
(SIGHS)
Okay.
(UPBEAT MUSIC PLAYING)
ALL: (SINGING) No, no, no, no
Stick to the stuff you know
If you wanna be cool Follow one simple rule
Don't mess with the flow, oh, no
Stick to the status quo No, no, no
Stick to the stuff you know
It's better by far To keep things as they are
Don't mess with the flow, no, no
Just stick to the status quo
(INAUDIBLE)
Everybody quiet
This is not what I want
This is not what I planned
And I just got to say
I do not understand
Something is really Something's not right
Really wrong
And we gotta get things Back where they belong
Not another peep No
Not another word No
Not another sound No
No, no, no, no
Stick to the stuff you know
It's better by far To keep things as they are
Don't mess with the flow, no, no
Stick to the status Stick to the status
Stick to the status quo
(ALL CHEERING, APPLAUDING)
(EXCITED, OVERLAPPING CHATTER)
GIRL: Like, everything is...
-That was good. The one. -GIRL: Yes.
Still can't believe you're actually back.
Yeah. Well, one night only.
Don't blink, you'll miss me.
It's tough, you know? Seeing Gina, it's like she never left.
But I'm also not who I was a week ago.
Or maybe I'm just back to who I always was?
I don't know. Something's different.
I didn't think we'd ever see you again.
That makes two of us.
I wish...
(CHUCKLES)
I don't know what to say.
Don't say anything.
Just fly, dude.
-What? -It's time to get your head in the game.
Troy and ballers in five minutes!
Ricky, we need you in your harness, pronto!
Here you go, bro.
Yo. Gotta go.
Bye.
(WHISPERS) So, how's it going?
This is kind of the best night ever.
But I'm gonna miss you as Taylor.
Oh. I think I got off that stage just in time.
You were so funny, Kourt.
And you know my moms were freaking out that we were out there together.
Wish I could find them.
GIRL: Congratulations to all, the cast list will be posted.
I called your name, twice.
Hang on, is that Kalyani Patel?
Uh, who?
The Dean. From the Youth Actors Conservatory.
That's her. Yeah, her...
Her pictures are all over their website!
Fourth row, writing on the clipboard.
Why is she here?
Uh... I guess I kinda invited her?
What? Why?
I looked at the website, and I thought about what you said.
Nini, if anyone deserves a shot...
But now?
-This is your moment. -(EXHALES)
Kourtney...
This is some next-level pressure.
Well, I'm back on makeup, so you just let me know if you need a powder.
(SQUEALS)
-(UPBEAT MUSIC PLAYING) -(AUDIENCE CHEERING)
(SINGING) Just keep ya head in the game
You gotta get'cha, get'cha head in the game
We gotta get-a, get-a, get-a, get ahead in the game
You gotta get'cha, get'cha head in the game
We gotta get-a, get-a, get-a, get ahead in the game
Come on Get'cha, get'cha head in the game
We gotta get-a, get-a, get-a, get ahead in the game
We gotta get'cha, get'cha head in the game
We gotta get-a, get-a, get-a, get ahead in the game, whoo
Let's make sure That we get the rebound
'Cause when we get it Then the crowd will go wild
A second chance Gotta grab it and go
Maybe this time We'll hit the right note
Wait a minute Not the time or place
Wait a minute Get my head in the game
Wait a minute Wait a minute
I gotta get my Get my head in the game
You gotta get'cha, get'cha, get'cha, get'cha head in the game
I gotta get my Get my head in the game
You gotta get'cha, get'cha, get'cha, get'cha head in the game
Come on Get my, get my head in the game
You gotta get'cha, get'cha, get'cha, get'cha head in the game
I gotta get my, get my head in the game
You gotta get'cha, get'cha, get'cha, get'cha head in the game, whoo
Why am I feeling so wrong?
My head's in the game But my heart's in the song
She makes this feel so right
Should I go for it?
(STAMMERING) I gotta shake this, yikes!
(MUSIC RESUMES)
You gotta get'cha, get'cha, get'cha, get'cha head in the game
Get my, get my
You gotta get'cha, get'cha, get'cha, get'cha head in the game
Get my, get my
You gotta get'cha, get'cha, get'cha, get'cha head in the game
Get'cha get'cha head in the game
You gotta get'cha, get'cha, get'cha, get'cha head in the game, whoo
ANNOUNCER: (ON PA) We will now have a ten-minute intermission.
Ten minutes to Act Two.
Ricky, what happened at the end?
-It's a long story. -Are you okay?
Has anyone seen Nini? I could really use a pep talk right now.
My mom's new boyfriend decided to show up and I wanna punch a wall.
I feel like I need a miracle to face Act Two.
Nini's in a quick change booth right now. She seems a little nervous.
Wait, why, what happened?
Uh... I thought I was doing a good thing, but I think it backfired.
You see that lady with the clipboard out there?
That's the dean from the performing arts school she was looking at.
You invited her?
Ricky, you look like you're shaking. Do you need to sit down?
Actually, I do.
Excuse me.
Hey!
-Listen. -What's going on?
You need to do the second act.
As Troy.
-Are you sick? -No. I'm good.
Just not good enough to help Nini get to where she wants to go.
-What are you talking about? -I'm screwing up out there.
I can't blow this for Nini.
There's someone in the audience who could change Nini's life.
She needs her best shot to impress them.
Will you do it?
Go on. Take it.
Kourtney, are you sure I have to wear this jacket?
-It might rip. -You're great. Don't worry!
Guys? Guys, has anyone seen my glasses?
Places for Act Two, everyone.
Troy, you're on.
Let's do this.