DIVOS! (2019) - full transcript

Good luck, kid.

Again.

Leap toe hop, leap toe hop.

Again, leap toe hop, leap to
hop.

Again, leap toe hop, leap toe
hop.

Again.

Leap toe hop, leap toe hop.

Again, leap toe hop.

Pay attention.

Now connect then leap
toe hop, leap toe hop.

Again leap toe hop, leap toe
hop.



And, try not to fall.

All right everybody, one time
without me.

You ready?

A five, six, seven, eight.

A high school musical.

Sounds lame no?

But here in our blessed
hallways of Saint James School,

you might say that each
and every one of us is

a star on the rise in
our high school musical,

trying to find a moment to shine

without stepping on each other's
toes.

It isn't easy.

You may ask how can the Ricky
Redmond

possibly bear being
surrounded by such amateurs?



Well, I'll tell you, I don't
know.

But it's a tradition.

Each year, The Saint James
Church of the San Fernando Valley

is transformed into the
Saint James Theater.

It's not quite like
the Saint James Theater

on the real live Broadway,
but it'll do for now.

That's where we drama
kids sacrifice our blood,

our sweat, and our social lives

for a taste of that spotlight.

All right take five.

Nobody bother me.

You forgot the routine,
Mitchell?

You know dancing depresses me.

You were so kicking
your face up there, Ricky.

Such fearless work.

I completely forgot that
last box step was coming.

I was an entire beat behind.

You were perfection, utter
perfection.

Wasn't he perfection?

Half a beat behind.

Only half a beat.

But you made it look
like a character choice.

Well, was it a quirky
character?

Quirky is like my type, you
know.

Was I quirky enough?

Why are you so
nervous?

You get the lead every year.

You know it doesn't matter
to me if I get the lead.

I'm just here to have a good
time.

Of course, but the teachers
obviously picked the show

so that you could play
J. Pierrepont Finch.

I can't think of a more perfect

role for you, your senior year.

You have the charisma,
you have the star power.

That's it?

You have the comedic timing.

You have the hair.

You are Patti LuPone and
Benjamin Platt.

You sing, "Waving Through
a Window," better than him.

You've got the B flat...

As you might have guessed,

I was never just your average
boy.

You can ask my mom.

Ricky's always had a
flair for the dramatic.

Look, look, look.

Little pisser, when he
was three years old,

cracked his head open
on the corner of the TV,

practicing one of his forte
turns.

Nothing can get that stain out.

He bled hard.

That's because when my
baby performs, he commits.

This is when Ricky dressed as
a cheerleader for Halloween.

Oh, and this is from the
Burlesque revue

he put on for all the neighbors.

50 bucks I dropped on that demi
bra.

He looks better in it than I
ever did.

This is from Ricky's
first grade talent show.

The family was going, it was a
rough time.

But that didn't stop my little
Ricky,

my little showman, he
walked right out onstage,

and twirled like nothing was
wrong.

And that, that is when I knew

that my little angel pie had a
gift.

I love you, Ricky.

I love you too, Mom.

But all these years of
entertaining the masses,

could in no way compare to my
greatest accomplishment yet.

That acceptance letter's my
chance,

my ticket out of this glorified
suburb and into a real city,

New York City, a place
where artistic prowess

like mine is actually
recognized.

And forgive me for sounding
cliche,

but you know what they say
about making it in New York.

Once I'm out there,
everyone will know my name.

Who's that?

He's that gay kid who sings
and stuff.

But I can't
allow myself to get cocky.

I always have to make sure
I'm at the top of my game,

just in case the competition
gets fierce.

Hello, my name is Javier
Rivera,

and I'll be singing, "Give
my Regards to Broadway."

Hi, my name is Heather
Jaworski,

and I will be singing,
"Maybe," from Annie.

My name is Louis Baker.

Hi, I'm Ari.

I'm Mitchell, and I'll be
singing

my favorite Mariah ad-libs.

And I will be performing

my rendition of, "Part of Your
World."

I forgot what I was gonna
sing.

♪ Give my regards to Broadway ♪

♪ Who ♪

♪ Remember me to Herald Square ♪

♪ I hope that I ♪

I can't hear myself up
here, but it is what it is.

♪ Give my regards to old
Broadway ♪

♪ And say that I'll be there... ♪

I'm Salvatore Cheng, and I'm
gonna

be singing, "This Love of Mine
Now."

Next.

Thank you, Ricky.

Okay, so I'm be doing a 32 bar
cut.

I don't play music.

I always appreciate
your preparation, Ricky.

But how about for today we just

sing the music that's in your
head?

Sister Hartt, can I get an E?

Hello.

My name is Ricky Redmond.

And I will be performing the
number,

"Brotherhood of Man," from the
musical,

"How to Succeed in Business
Without Really Trying."

Breathe
Ricky.

Don't judge the character, just
live it.

Drop the larynx, focus
on your moment before,

and never forget, you are a
star.

Artists stop for nothing, Ricky.

Damn it, what's the lyric?

Look who it is?

What is a fella like you doing
here?

Well, my Spring is open
so I figure, why not?

Okay, what did I decide,

start at the bridge or the
verse?

The verse gets momentum to
build.

It's a hard hit if I
begin with the bridge.

Okay definitely the bridge.

All right, okay, yes
the bridge is perfect.

Stand back world, here comes the
bridge.

Oh, where was I?

Ricky.

Fabulous job, as usual.

But I, I...

Josh, why don't you hop on up
there?

Am I going crazy, or...

You sounded amazing.

Yeah, you were on point.

Okay Josh, you'll be singing?

Maybe I was just so in the
moment,

that I completely blacked out.

This must be how Meryl
Streep feels all the time.

Was I supposed to prepare a
song?

Sing what your heart desires,

anything that comes to mind.

Hello, are we alive?

Oh, I'm alive.

Because right now Josh
Kelly is giving me life.

This has to
be

some sort of anxiety-induced
a dream, right?

In what perverse reality
is The Chopper doing here?

That's what everyone at Saint
James calls him, The Chopper.

Something about him being able
to chop

the length of a baseball game in
half.

I know, it's totally lame but
compared to,

that gay kid who sings and
stuff, it's not half bad.

Josh had everything a boy
like him could ever want.

Until one day.

♪ Silent ♪

Figures, I
spent years getting audiences

Toni caliber, only to be
overshadowed

by the human equivalent of a
cruise ship jukebox review.

My spirit is immortalized in
this theater,

or church theater, whatever it
is.

But alas, our short attention
spans

can't resist something new,
and shiny, and vanilla.

You know what, I don't even
care.

Soon I'll be cementing
my legacy in New York,

and they'll still just be
a bunch of butt pickers

with no vibrato, who
can't even differentiate

between a cast recording and a
soundtrack.

Enjoy your mediocrity, you
basics.

If this is the art you accept,
this is the art you deserve.

Oh that boy was giving me
tone.

♪ Darling yes ♪

Moment.

Trash.

Release the tension, Ricky.

I'm completely free of
tension.

I'm glad that Josh is trying
out.

Now that he can't play
baseball, he's opening his heart

to the world of the
theater, and I'm touched.

I think the play's gonna
be a lot of fun for him.

Athletes don't perform
because they like to have fun.

Athletes perform because they
like to win.

Tell Javi to
call me at the store

and let me know if you got the
part.

If I had my own cell phone,
like any normal person,

I would be able to do it myself.

What, and you
want to pay that bill?

Oh oh, can you drop off
the rest of the bills?

I already did it.

Thank you, baby.

Okay okay, all right I'm
going, I love you, bye.

Wait wait wait, whoa whoa
whoa.

Aren't you forgetting something?

Come here real quick,
come here, come here.

You're not leaving till
you kiss your mother.

You're gonna get the part.

And if you don't, you're
gonna get another part.

You'll be amazing.

'Cause your are amazing.

Okay okay, I love you
bye, I gotta go bye.

I love you.

I love you.

Have you heard from Heather?

She was supposed to be there
early.

She added this to her
string 10 minutes ago.

I'm about to enter the school
now guys.

Wish me luck.

There's nothing else.

Heather, I'm coming.

Heather, Heather, Heather,
Heather.

What, what?

What have they done to you?

They cast me as Miss Jones.

I've been reduced to the
part of the floppy old lady.

Oh, I'm sorry.

Tina Hernandez got a bigger
part.

Tina Hernandez, but she's...

A Freshman!

This wasn't me.

I'm gonna end up like a
washed up old hag I am.

Okay, okay, okay
Heather I'm gonna need you

to pull yourself together
and tell me what part I got.

That's right ladies and
gentlemen, you heard correctly.

After years in chorus, Mitchell
Palmer,

vocal master class, has gotten a
role.

♪ Five whole lines and singing
solo ♪

I just hope the world's
prepared for slayage.

Wow, look at you Mitchell.

Now maybe you'll learn how to
act.

♪ Die in a fire bitch ♪

Ricky Redmond, Cindy
Shedelbower,

Senior Editor of the Saint James
Journal.

Tell me what's your reaction to
getting

the lead in this year's musical?

Oh my God, Ricky...

Shut up!

♪ Here he is boys ♪

♪ Here he is world ♪

♪ Here's Ricky ♪

♪ You know what they say ♪

♪ Some people got it ♪

♪ Some people don't ♪

♪ Well I got it ♪

Josh Kelly, Cindy Shedelbower,

Senior Editor of the Saint James
Journal.

Tell me, what's you're reaction
to getting

the lead in this years musical?

It's cool, I'm just
excited to meet my teammates.

It's natural to be upset.

Who's upset, I'm not upset,

I'm not complaining or anything.

I am just a little confused.

And I would love some
clarification.

Double casting is very
common in high school plays.

Josh will perform opening night.

You will perform closing.

It's an equal opportunity for
maximum fun.

So much fun, and you know I'm
not complaining or anything.

I just, I wished that we
were warned beforehand

that you were planning on double
casting.

We didn't know that you and
Josh

would blow us away like you did.

So we want you to share the
part.

It's kind of like how we used

to do it when I was in high
school.

And I am not complaining about
that,

because it was so nice of
you to give Josh a chance.

And everyone deserves a
chance.

Absolutely, including Josh
Kelly.

Including Clarence Wilkins.

Even though Josh Kelly
couldn't stay

on key when he was singing
acapella.

Oh Clarence had two left feet
and an unfortunate stutter.

- What?
- What, nothing.

What are you saying?

Look, look, look, I know
that Josh Kelly has a lot of

charm.

Listen, we did what we thought
was fair.

Once again, not complaining.

I've done the school play every
year since I've been here.

I understand where
you coming from Ricky.

Really I do.

But this is a high school
musical.

Politics has nothing to do with
this.

This is a high school musical.

Politics has everything to do
with this.

And then he says to me, Ricky,

if you were a new player
on the baseball team,

you would want to have an equal
chance.

First of all, I would never
audition for

the baseball team because
I am not a Neanderthal.

And second of all, I
would expect to become

a star quarterback my first trip
playing.

I would look up to the other
players

who have paid their dues.

And for the love of Lerner and
Loewe, I have paid my dues.

These are on me.

Take them away.

Come on, Heath.

Nothing cheers you up more than
nachos.

I don't deserve nachos!

Our senior year, ruined,

tarnished in our memories
forever.

I'm happy with the part I got.

Do you know what loyalty is?

Loyalty means standing by us,

your friends, the egregiously
overlooked.

I'm sorry.

I just think I might
actually be good, you know.

Maybe I should major in drama
next year.

Javi, I'm elated that
you're dreaming big right now.

But it's not always about you,
okay?

Get out your phone, I need
a social media moment.

Already logged on to your
Insta.

Are you ever gonna

get a phone of your own, Rick?

Don't even right now, okay?

So honored to be playing the
role of a lifetime, #grateful.

Perfect, simple yet sincere.

I hate everyone.

Don't worry.

One day this will be a
really dramatic sequence

in your big Hollywood biopic.

Hollywood?

This artificial town will
probably cast

some oldie in his late 20s or
early 30s to play me, pass.

In your bio-musical then.

Ricky, you're still playing
Finch.

This show is going to be
historic.

♪ Get him ♪

♪ Gotta get the man ♪

♪ Stop singing my part ♪

Mitchell, this isn't your
solo.

If you can't learn the tenor
part,

I'm moving you to baritone.

Baritone singing isn't real
singing.

Okay well, no one's going home

until we learn the harmonies.

I don't get this, what's
harmony?

Just do what I do,

move your mouth and pretend
like you're singing.

Okay tenors, please go to
measure 75.

Ari, where did you get that?

From home.

You brought a glass of milk
from home?

Sure.

Why?

Well you can't have
cookies, without milk.

Lord, give me strength.

Hey, we ain't supposed to eat
in here.

Since when do you make the
rules?

Well, Father Piefre
said that it makes crumbs.

Well God said, feed the kids.

And I only answer to him.

So I'm gonna eat, and if you got
a problem

with that we could take it
outside.

Oh, you wanna go little man?

Okay, Sal, Sal, just let it
go.

Everybody get your bail money
ready.

Sister Hartt, inciting
violence is a sin.

Tell this minion here
that he's going to hell.

Your haircut's a sin.

This hair is a part of my
culture.

He's insulting my culture.

Your culture?

My great-grandpa was from
Napoli.

Sal, watch your language.

Ari, just eat your cookies in
silence.

And tenors, repeat after me.

♪ Get him ♪

♪ Get him ♪

♪ Gotta get him get him ♪

♪ Gotta get him get him ♪

♪ Gotta get that man ♪

From the top, from.

Nobody was ready.

See that, show just left, just
left.

You just missed the whole thing.

Five, six, from the top.

Since when do you wear black?

I'm in mourning for my life.

I highlighted all your
lines, and even wrote in

a couple of acting tips to try.

Erase them, I want to be
spontaneous.

Daniel Day doesn't plan
ahead, and neither do I.

What's up guys, y'all excited
or what?

Making some movie magic.

Knock it off.

Knock it off, I see you back
there.

Put as much energy into
this as you did to that.

I don't mean it to sound
weird,

but this is all like super,
what's the word I'm looking for?

Humbling.

The fact that I'm sharing a roll
with

the famous Ricky Redmond is
like,

whoa.

That's like, really nice.

And please, the honor's mine.

I mean come on you're

The Chopper.

Stop, stop.

You know what, I'm gonna leave.

I will leave, I will leave all
of you

and you are not ready to
perform.

You will be a disappointment to
everybody.

What's with this?

Oh, just some scholarship
crap.

NYU isn't gonna pay for itself.

I got into NYU, early decision.

You don't need to go to acting
school.

Haven't you already
liked been on Broadway?

Well no, not technically yet.

But once in 2008 I did get a
callback for

the children's ensemble in the
non-union Asian national tour

of, "Joseph and the Amazing
Technicolor Dreamcoat."

Yeah, I didn't understand
anything you just said.

Oh dear.

Dude, you need to teach
me everything you know.

Everything?

Okay.

What do you know about the
Broadway?

I know I want to be
on it, it's my dream.

I'm sorry, what?

What you guys don't have
dreams?

How long have you had this
dream?

Like a week now.

Great.

Call me crazy, but I was always
under

the impression that your
dream was, you know,

baseball or one of those things
you do.

Well, it was.

No, that's it.

That's it, that that that
that that, that's it.

I'm leaving, I'm done.

You know what, pull this
number together yourself.

Your parents will all
be disappointed in you.

You will never make anyone
happy.

You will all be a disappointment
forever.

Toodles.

What are you doing
after school tomorrow?

What are you doing
after school tomorrow?

What are you doing?

Having fun.

What do you do when
you're alone in your room?

I don't know, look at porn.

Well singing divas is my porn.

What?

That was a joke.

You know,

an exaggeration for the
sake of exaggerating.

I was about to say.

Why would women be in a
gay guy's porn collection?

You are gay, right?

Is Barbara Streisand Jewish?

That's a yes.

That's cool.

My mom actually works
with a guy who's gay, so.

Cool.

What do your parents do?

Well, Candy Redmond's job
is obsessing over her son.

What's your dad into?

The ground.

What?

My dad died, remember?

First grade?

Everyone in class signed
a mass card for me?

So he's into the ground.

Get it, get it?

Anyway.

You think you have what
it takes to become a star?

Oh, I don't need to be a star.

I just want to have a good time.

Feigning humility to be more
likable.

You and I are kindred spirits.

But don't worry.

The theater is meant to be a
safe space, like a sanctuary.

And in our case, literally.

So you can be honest with me.

Honest about what, exactly?

About how you're cool,
and hot, and talented.

No, no.

Everyone who's cool,
and hot, and talented

knows that they're cool,
and hot, and talented.

Modesty is the world's
most destructive virtue.

If you were a modest pitcher,
you never would have been able

to pitch all those Grand
Slams, or whatever you do.

You mean strike outs?

Yeah sure, whatever.

Look, look.

These are the greatest divas
that

have ever graced the Broadway.

You're no different than them.

No different?

I'm clueless, I have no
training in this stuff.

Training only makes you
talented.

It does not make you a star.

These women up here did not need
training,

because these women up
here have two things,

balls, and enthusiasm.

That's all you need to
succeed in show business.

A little bit of enthusiasm, and
a lot of

bit of balls will get you a long
way.

Now, it looks like you
already have the enthusiasm.

We just need to find your balls.

Yeah, I'm not cut out for
this.

Well, why not?

I can't do what you do.

That's okay, no one can.

I'm just gonna tell Mr. Aubry
I quit.

I mean what, what planet was I
on

to think I could step into your
shoes?

You, you leap through the halls,

and burst into song, and
twirl batons, I don't.

I don't have your balls.

Wait, say that again.

I don't have your balls?

No before that.

Twirl batons.

You remember that?

That baton dance thing
you did in first grade?

Yeah everyone remembers that.

My mom still talks about that
peppy

baton twirler from elementary
school.

I'll never forget everyone's
reactions.

And every time you're on stage

the crowd falls in love with
you.

It's so so weird 'cause
normally everybody hates you.

It's a gift.

Is a superpower.

You should have seen my games,
dude.

I ran that show.

It was up to me if the
crowd had a good time or not

I controlled if they stood or
cheered,

or booed or cried, all of it.

And all I had to do was
throw a stupid baseball.

Every pitch, I was God.

That was my life.

Now that life's gonna go to
whatever kid

gets my ride to Fullerton,
so good for him.

Wait, wait, you had a
scholarship?

Are you kidding?

I mean you've got to be kidding.

I've been scouted since
I was in eighth grade.

They wrote about me in
the papers every season.

Hey, this is Cal State
Fullerton.

This is like the Broadway
of college baseball,

and I was going, I made it.

And now what am I supposed to
do?

I mean the only reason why

college wanted me was because my
arm.

Baseball is all I've ever done.

I've never done anything else.

What am I supposed to put
on my college application

when I haven't done anything
else?

Did you really not know about
me?

Well, now I know why, I guess.

You know when I first decided
to try out for the play,

I really thought I had
no idea what I was doing.

When I started singing,
and I felt that crowd

hanging on every move I made,

I realized I knew
exactly what I was doing.

'Cause I was back on that field.

Sounds gay right, no offense.

I'll see you man.

What are you doing?

These are called CDs.

They're collectors items from
the 1900s.

Fasten your LaDucas, we're
going full out tonight.

I'm sorry to
bother you sir,

but I'm looking to apply for a
job.

I'm sorry to bother you sir,

I'm looking to apply for a job.

Can't hear you.

The audience back here paid good
money.

They deserve just as good of a
show

as the people in the front row.

I'm sorry to bother you sir,

but I'm looking to apply for a
job.

Okay, now we're gonna
practice our facial acting.

Facial acting is just like
regular acting but with the face.

Now, let me see happy, go.

That's good!

Now let me see sad.

Josh were are the tears?

- Tears?
- Tears.

I have to be really sad for
tears.

Okay well this is the theater.

All of our emotions are really
really big.

What about subtlety?

Subtlety is for boring people,
now cry.

One, two, three, four,
five, six, seven, eight.

Windows, windows, windows,
windows, windows, windows, yes.

Okay, we're gonna talk about

a little bit of sense memory
right now.

When was the last time you
cried?

Just live in that pain, you can
do it.

The best part about being an
artist

is reading all your fan mail.

Whenever I doubt myself,
I just read all the

nice things people have to say
about me.

Yo.

I know, a haters gonna hate.

But whatever, at least they're
watching.

Thanks for the hit, suckers.

I can't do it, I don't
feel it.

Feel that?

Quit being a little bitch, and
cry.

♪ Do you feel like a freak yet ♪

♪ Building up that self respect ♪

♪ On a health kick
chewing on a Nicorette ♪

♪ Eating catfish but
you can't taste shit ♪

♪ When life cuts to the
chase I can still see a way ♪

♪ Third eye my face
still shines sometimes ♪

♪ Do you feel like a freak
once in a blue moon ♪

♪ Do you feel like a freak baby ♪

♪ When you're walking in the
streets once in a blue moon ♪

It's coming, I
feel it, I feel it coming.

Your first forced tear.

You can now officially
call yourself an actor.

Do you want me to
try

to get a lunge flair or
something?

Oh artsy, sure.

I don't know about this.

He's already gonna get girls
throwing

their panties onto that stage.

Now you want to give him
actual talent to back it up.

Heather, theater is a
collaboration.

When one of us succeeds, we all
succeed.

Especially me, because I now
have

the perfect topic for
my scholarship essay.

I'm gonna call it,
"Collaboration Behind the Curtains."

I have chills.

Once the Rising Stars committee
sees that

I turned the school's Joe
Hardy into a Broadway baby,

that scholarship is so mine.

You're not afraid of being
upstaged?

When has anyone ever upstaged
me?

Ow.

How are my little Billy
Elliot's?

My thighs are screaming?

Chita Rivera does ballet bar

every morning and she's in her
80s.

What's your excuse?

Who's Chita Rivera?

Broadway legend Chita Rivera?

One of the most nominated
performers in Toni Award history,

with 10 nominations and two
wins, and that doesn't even

include her Lifetime Achievement
Award.

Okay, you just threw a
lot of words at me, dude.

Well, you're gonna have
to learn all the important

diva stats if you want to keep
up with us.

Are you related to her?

What?

Chita Rivera,

Javier Rivera.

Josh, that is problematic
with a capital P.

You can't assume that
Javi and Chita are related

just because they both
have the same last name,

and are both Dominican.

Puerto Rican.

Potato potato Javi.

This is a dance class,
not a geography lesson.

Just keep teaching Josh
everything he needs to know, okay?

Mr. Perfect Ballet Feet
could probably teach me.

He has arches to die for.

Go shower up for rehearsal
today, boys.

What am I gonna do?

Ma, I'm home.

♪ Ma ♪

Hey, hon.

What's wrong?

Have a seat.

We didn't get approved for the
loan.

What loan?

The loan for your NYU,

or the loan I was gonna
use to pay for your loan.

It's complicated.

Why not?

The bank says they need
collateral.

Collateral is if you own...

Well, how do we get a loan?

I really thought I could do
something.

I thought like I could pick up
those

Saturday shifts at the hardware
store.

I thought that would help.

Well, I'll get a job.

I'll quit the play, and I'll get
a job.

The school is $50,000 a year.

And those fancy schools
aren't like Saint James.

I mean they're not very generous
with their financial aid.

But we can still do it, right?

I can still go to New York,
right?

You need to get that
scholarship.

Finches you're gonna
come up from up right.

Okay so, give me an idea of
the space.

Is there like a doorway
I'm walking through?

Well, there's no set pieces
this time.

We're just gonna do it right
here in front of the backdrop.

Oh, minimalism.

Inspired.

Max, you're gonna be the
waiter.

So you're gonna ask Michelle
for a prop tray, all right.

Michelle?

All the props you need are
designated

to a certain space on the prop
table.

If you need help, ask me.

If you don't know which
prop is yours, ask me.

If you touch a prop that
doesn't belong to you,

I will find you, and I will
destroy you.

Okay Michelle, thank you.

So Finches we're, Josh stop.

Where's your script?

Oh, I've got the lines
memorized.

We didn't have to be
off book until next month.

Thank you, Josh, for
being extra prepared.

Sal, we're gonna deliver
your line from right here.

And you're gonna project to the
heavens.

'Cause you won't be wearing a
microphone.

No fair, why can't I get a
mic?

If you didn't horse around
with them

last year, maybe we'd have more.

Well, can't we buy more mics?

What's our budget?

We can't even afford curtains.

Well, we deserve working body
mics.

This is America!

This emergency meeting of the

Drama Club may now come to
order.

The school doesn't have a
Drama Club.

It does now, and as
the unofficial dictator

I'm officially announcing a
fundraiser.

We need a body mics, people.

You all deserve to be heard.

Does it really matter
as long as your mic works?

Collaboration behind the
curtain, Javi.

Hello, this tenor needs to
tinkle.

Hey, you got all these open
stalls.

That stall's lock is broken.

And this stalls toilet flush
weird once my sophomore year,

so I am never going back in
there again.

I'm getting a urinary
tract infection over here.

I left a floater in there for
you pal.

Why don't you go flush yourself
with it?

Somebody's a diva.

All right look, I ain't
got time for bake sales.

I got family crap to deal
with.

Drama?

I just have to take
care of my little sister.

Whatever.

Come on guys, this our senior
show.

Okay, it's our last chance to

do something together as
friends.

What?

We're friends?

Not just friends, we're a
team, guys.

Yes, yes we are.

Yes, I am loving this male
camaraderie

I am seeing here, oo-rah.

Okay, so what is the plan?

Seriously, any idea is a good
idea.

A blood drive.

Except for that idea.

Maybe something at a school
event.

Yeah, like Spirit Night?

I mean everybody goes to Spirit
Night.

What's Spirit Night?

Spirit Night,

the Spring pep rally during
Spirit Week.

Where they showcase all
the Spring athletes.

It's like the biggest event of
the year.

It sounds like a cult
gathering.

Cult gathering.

Let's just make it easy.

I'll throw a party, a themed
party.

Hey, what are we, a sorority?

We're the Drama Club.

The Drama Club doesn't exist.

Okay, if you want a successful
rager,

you gotta get a gimmick,
and at the Drama Club,

the theme should be something
that

has to do with performing,
something specific.

The off Broadway hits
of Michael John LaChiusa.

Maybe something a little less
specific.

♪ Oh what a lonely boy ♪

♪ What a lonely boy oh oh oh oh ♪

Look at this place.

At this rate we could afford
to build

the school and actual
auditorium.

Did you put a song in?

Oh, I don't perform to backup
track.

Got to support that singer's
union.

Wish your boy luck
gentlemen, it's time to sing.

You do know how damaging

alcohol is to the vocal chords,
right?

It's orange juice, baby, I'm
no fool.

Everybody.

Cindy Shedelbower, President of

the Saint James Jammers Karaoke
Club.

Songs are filling up, so sign up
now

if you want your shot at the
mic.

Oh no, we've got performing
arts

school kids sashaying our way.

Those pearly white
teeth belong to the star

of the Brentwood Academy of
the Arts, Chuckie Chesterfield.

Yep, Chuckie Chesterfield.

Just when you thought the
name Ricky Redmond was tacky.

Tell me, how's my smile?

Totally convincing.

Oh my God, hi.

Ricky Redmond himself.

Quick, someone grab my autograph
book.

We heard your Drama Club was
holding a little fundraiser.

You know my thoughts in
supporting the arts in schools.

I do hope you'll check out our
production of Les Miserables.

I've been blogging rehearsals.

My followers are all agog
of our revolving stage.

Oh, I don't think I follow
you.

Really?

Yeah, I haven't really been
online.

I've been so busy lately.

You know I got into NYU, right?

Good for you.

I got my acceptance letter
to Julliard last week.

Oh, good job.

I'm just starting to
apply to schools now...

And, who are you?

Oh we've met, Javier Rivera.

Rivera, related to Chita?

That must be Josh Kelly.

I am the very model of
the modern major general.

I've information vegetable,
animals, and minerals.

I know the kings of England,

and I quote the fights
historical

from Marathon to Waterloo,
in order categorical.

Pirate songs are my thing.

Looks like there's a new star
on the rise of Saint James.

Josh got over 100 new
followers in three hours,

just by Chuckie tagging him.

How does Chuckie hold this much
power?

His content is nonexistent.

Audra McDonald retweeted
him one time in his career.

He's been set ever since.

Are you trying to flirt with
me?

Is it working?

Be gone, techy.

Do all of Josh's followers know
that

you're the one doing
the closing night show.

Josh is just the preview,
you're the headliner.

Is that prop stapler your prop
stapler?

Sorry.

Okay, so you take this one
and you push it up very slowly.

And then you push this one up.

Is it on?

That sounds great.

I just received a
call from my buyers in...

No, no never, never do it like
that.

Stop, back up.

Thank you, okay.

Okay we're
good, let's keep moving.

Hey, Mr. Turkleberry,
have you received my memo?

Mitchell ain't here.

Yes I am.

It's fine, we're not
waiting or anything.

My little sister's sick,

you puddle of dumpster juice.

Eww, what is it
with you and nibbling?

Now, oh shit.

Mrs. Rosemary, it's really nice
to...

Is it not my line yet?

Can't we save our week juvenile
urges for the cast party?

That's why we have a cast party.

At least we know the new mics
work.

I heard that sloppy lip
sucking loud and clear.

If only he had that clear
diction when he was onstage.

Hey?

You got something to say,
sassafras?

About you?

Literally never.

Oh really, 'cause I could have
swear

that your lips were flapping
about my Italian sausage.

Diction.

If you cleaned your ears out as
much as

you worry about cleaning out
your pipes,

then maybe you wouldn't
have such pitch problems.

Do I hear pettiness in here?

Why do you gotta be such
a bitch every year, Ricky?

Oh what can I say, I'm a
traditionalist.

Is that why you've been
wearing

the same pair of shoes
since Freshman year?

Ooh, shade.

I don't have time for this.

I have a song to rehearse,
several actually.

I didn't know you sang.

I thought you acted, or
whatever.

Well if you knew anything,
Mitchell,

you would know that we as
musical theater performers,

are storytellers first, like
Javi.

Javi has a gift.

Thank you, Ricky.

His voice may have a slight
cheese grater

to the eardrum quality about it,

but it's got character, it's
raw.

Mitchell's vocals will never
be raw.

Mitchell's vocals give you
polish.

Mitchell's vocals give
you moments.

Moment, you have one solo.

It's going to be iconic.

Okay, well call me when
you make it to the Broadway.

Broadway, I don't know her.

I'm not living in the stone
ages.

You're so pressed about
this irrelevant nonsense,

when you can't even get the
lead your Senior year, #flop.

Don't you #flop me.

If I'm not the lead, what am I?

The co-lead.

You are the star of nothing.

Read the room, sis.

Do you really think anyone cares
about

your tawdry ass with Josh
around?

That is a skinny legend in the
making,

and he doesn't even have to try.

He got the lead his first time.

How many times can you save
that, Ricky?

Lord, rehearsals with you
all these years have been...

Like hell.

Like hell.

Like going to work every
day in hell with Satan.

But your era is over.

Josh Kelly is going to snatch
that Little Orphan Annie wig

right off your head,
so you can take a seat.

♪ Darling ♪

'Cause you are a flop.

Stay salty flop, you'll be in my
prayers.

Someone find me a janitor
to mop up this tea.

He spent his entire acting
career as ensemble man

number five, and he has the
the nerve to call you a flop?

I need more tickets
for my mom's co-workers.

He's always been jealous of
you.

Bitterness is his brand.

How much is it for seven?

And they say girls are
vicious.

How much?

We'll be laughing about
this, this time next year

when I come crash with you in
Manhattan.

You okay?

Just mark me down for seven.

Do you want to talk about it?

You know it weirds me out
when you have sincere emotions.

Just remember, you were the
one

chosen for closing night, you.

Oh my God, shut up, I get it
okay.

The sun'll come out
tomorrow, blah blah blah.

You know I am trying
this new acting exercise

called empathy, and
you're not making it easy.

Yeah well, clearly nothing
about acting is easy for you.

Look at the roles you get.

Sell the tickets yourself, ass
wipe.

Aren't you that
gay kid who sings and stuff?

In the flesh.

Can I get two tickets?

There are a lot of seats left
for the closing night show.

Which one is Josh Kelly
performing at?

I want to see The Chopper dance.

Why are we slamming
things in my kitchen?

Is there nothing sweet in this
house?

Ice cream, Pop-Tarts?

There's cereal in the
cupboard.

Bowls?

They'd be clean if you did
the dishes when I told you to.

God forbid we actually
join civilization,

and get an apartment with a
dishwasher.

Oh I'm sorry I didn't
realize I was a millionaire.

Well, you certainly don't
realize that we're trash.

Excuse me?

I'm gonna assume that's the
puberty talking, and not my son.

Because I did not raise my
son to speak to me that way.

If your father was here, he'd
smack you for that comment.

You're stressed, okay you're
stressed.

Suck it up, and deal with it,
okay.

It's a school play, nobody's
dying here.

A school play?

Sure, great, I'm sure that's all

it's ever been to me, according
to you.

Why would you think that?

Why would you let me apply to
NYU?

You knew we couldn't pay for it.

Why would you make me get
straight A's,

and look at good schools?

Because I wanted what's best
for you.

Well, you should have just

let me fail right from the
start.

You are never going
to be a failure, got it.

You're gonna do things I
couldn't even dream of.

I'm gonna end up a schlub who
directs high school theater.

I'm gonna end up teaching idiots

what I should be doing myself.

No, you're gonna get that
scholarship.

Wake up mom!

Hundreds of kids are applying
for that scholarship.

You don't think I know that?

You don't think, that
I lay in bed at night,

and think my baby has a dream,

and I'm the only thing holding
him back?

I am doing my best, you should
know that.

Well you should have gone to
college

so you could have gotten a real
job.

Sometimes, I just hate myself.

This isn't how it was supposed
to be.

This doesn't happen to people
like me.

I'm the special one here.

I refuse to fade into the
background.

This is my story.

This is my moment.

This is my show.

This is my
show.

You think he'd develop stamina
by now.

He has all the passion, but no
work ethic.

Or at least not as much as me.

I mean, you've heard about me
right?

Tell them how many times

we've had to fix this window,
Keith.

This kid, and that arm.

At four years old, Josh was

shattering windows and
windshields.

Your hands.

Oh yeah, the first curve ball
I ever caught from this kid.

He fractured my left metacarpal.

My boy does damage that lasts.

Josh won his only second
place trophy, when he was seven.

When his team took home first
place

the following year, he
snapped it in half and said,

I never want to see it
again as long as I live.

He threw it at her, and
put a hole in the wall.

I mean talk about dramatic.

It was so adorable.

Mom.

Josh's shutout record was
unprecedented.

He'd killed those batters
like ducks in a row.

The coaches tried to tell
him to ease up a bit.

And the parents of the
Southern California district

went around gathering
hundreds of signatures

to try and get him kicked off
the league,

because he was taking too much

playing time away from their
kids.

I think they must have thought a
petition

with a bunch of signatures
would discourage him.

We framed it.

It
was only a matter of time

before division one snatched me
up.

Something they don't tell you
about life

when you're a kid, at
some point it goes wrong.

It felt like a death, to me at
least.

Everyone else grieved
for like five minutes

before going on with their
lives.

Man, I'm a freaking legend at
this school

and they're gonna act like I'm
not.

I needed something, anything.

And in November, fate gave it to
me.

Javier Rivera, Cindy
Shedelbower,

Chief Resident of Saint
James Sports Medicine Club.

Tell me where it hurts.

That little tap have
a little too much love in it?

Shut up.

Try getting pelted with a
baseball going 90 miles an hour.

Ow, why is aggression always
the go to for you people?

Mr. Hickson says nothing looks
broken.

But he also thinks I should
be able to run a mile

in 10 minutes, so I question his
judgment.

You look all right to me.

You in a band, man.

Auditions for the musical are
next week.

Gotta love tryouts.

Do you sing?

I don't know, I've never
tried.

Who's never tried singing?

Maybe I should start,

join the choir or something.

College applications
are due in January and,

gotta do something to get
my extracurriculars up.

Mr. Aubrey's always looking
for guys.

I knew would
work out, it always does.

You wanna know why?

Because I'm cool, and I'm hot.

And most of all, I'm talented as
hell.

One two, three
four, five, six, seven, eight.

The Chopper always MVP.

Five, six, seven.

Are you all right?

Watch what
you're doing, you freak.

Josh!

I didn't mean to do it.

I'm sorry, it's just that I've

had a lot of trauma to his arm.

Louis this cane, it's
an accessory, right?

Where are you
going with this, Mr. Aubrey?

It's just not show
appropriate.

You let me have it every other
show.

Well.

It's a part of who I am.

I don't think Louis's self
expression should be stifled.

Ricky, this doesn't concern
you.

Louis, if you don't have a
doctor's note...

It doesn't belong in rehearsal.

Just set it over there, please.

Okay, here we go.

Who touched my
props!

Oh God, what is happening now?

Your mother's been trying
to get ahold of you for hours.

My phone died.

We don't mind you going
out on a school night,

you just need to tell us where
you are.

Where I've been

every night for the past two
months.

It's 10 o'clock.

What's to practice that late?

I've got homework.

Did you ask Aunt Jackie
how many tickets she needs?

Oh, I forgot to ask her.

Mom, I gotta get these
tickets.

It's gonna sell out pretty
quick.

It's not gonna sell out.

You know your Uncle Anthony
hates musicals anyway.

He came to my games.

He even came to Spirit Night
last year.

Yeah well, that's different.

That's Spirit Night, it's a big
deal.

Tony wasn't gonna miss a chance
to relive his glory days.

That chump will do
anything for an ego boost.

When is Spirit Night this
year?

You are going, right?

Oh my God, okay.

One second.

Okay.

Hey, looking at porn?

Dad, come on.

I just wanted to make sure

I wasn't walking in on anything.

You're not walking in
on anything, you're good.

Listen.

You seem pretty upset, and

I want you to know that your

mother and I are real proud of
you.

And we're, we're stoked that
you've got this new thing,

and you found your spirit
being on the play team.

You're excited to go back to
school.

You know that's good stuff,
and hey if you're looking

at porn it better be the free
kind.

Dad, this is what I'm looking
at.

And this is?

AMDA's senior showcase.

AMDA?

The American Musical
and Dramatic Academy.

Looking at all my options.

Options?

It's just an option.

Can you get a degree in
Business

Administration with this option?

At the American Musical
and Dramatic Academy...

Our plan was you'd go to
school, and you'd play ball

so that you could get a degree
in Business Administration.

No, the plan was for me to
study

Business Administration
so I could play baseball.

You didn't care what I majored
in as long as I played.

What I care about, is you
having

a respectable career to look
forward to.

Acting isn't a respectable
career?

No, acting is not a realistic
career.

Oh, but baseball was.

You're good at baseball.

You don't even know what
I'm capable of do you?

When you see everyone in that
audience

rise to their feet and
thunderous ovation,

you'll realize it wasn't the
arm that made the winner.

The Chopper still reigns, only
this time

it won't be a trophy his hands,
no.

His hands will be clutching
on to the very evam

of audience adoration, a
bouquet of freshly cut roses.

Are you on drugs?

Because I mean, I've
seen you get mad before.

But I've never seen you
get all poetic like this.

I can't help it that I'm an
artist, Dad.

No no no, no no no,
something's up.

It's that Ricky kid, isn't it?

Ricky, what?

Are you, are you experimenting
with him?

Experimenting?

You know like, you know what I
mean.

What?

Ever since Ricky came into the
picture,

things have been different.

Look son, you know I love
you, and I support you.

I just want to know what's
going on in your life,

so I can be there for you,
especially when it comes time

for us to figure out
when to tell your mother.

Dad, dad dad, dad dad, calm
down.

What's this?

My stash of soundtracks.

I haven't
seen CDs in a long time.

Look you can't spend my whole
life

building me up to be something
great, just to drop me.

I'm not, I just,

the Josh that I know is a
baseball player.

And I can't pay for you to get
some

fake degree at AMDA, whatever.

I'm actually pretty good
at this thing, actually.

You know what, I've had enough
of this.

I understand, you're used to
getting

whatever you want, whenever you
want it.

This is reality.

When it comes time for you
to do what you want to do,

that scholarship it's not always

gonna be there to pave your way.

Oh, I can get a scholarship
for this, no problem.

Oh really?

Yeah.

Well, good luck with
that.

The Josh I know is a baseball
player.

Just you wait.

Cindy Shedelbower?

Josh Kelley, current lead
in the school musical.

I have a proposition for you.

Make it fast, Kelly.

I have a mock trial meeting in
10 minutes.

You're on the Spirit
Night committee, right?

Cindy Shedelbower heads
the Spirit Night committee.

I was thinking, why should
the athletes hog all the fun?

I mean the point of Spirit Night

is to unite the whole school.

We should include as many kids
as we can.

Well, Spirit Night has
always been a sports event.

Yeah, but come on, open your
mind.

I think you, Cindy
Shedelbower, would agree

that all extracurriculars
matter.

Had I not already
signed a chastity pledge

for the On Fire for Christ Club,

I'd jump your bones right
now for saying that.

Here hon, try this
one for me, thank you.

Too bad we didn't have a
fundraiser to pay for a tailor.

Am I right?

Hot water with lemon.

What?

Little hot water and lemon
will help with that cold.

Cold?

Yeah, it appears you've got a
little...

A little what?

Look if you need to mark your
vocals for the next few days

it's no biggie, just do
what you gotta do buddy.

I don't mark.

You should check out my
YouTube colab

with Chuckie on vocal health.

We gave great tips.

Boys, I have some thrilling
news.

Well, look at the two of
you, don't you look sharp?

I mean, we could probably
take that in a bit, but still.

I wanted you both to be the
first to know,

the Spirit Night Committee
has just graciously offered us

an opportunity to
perform at the pep rally.

Isn't that remarkable?

Someone must have put in a
good word.

After the whole entire school
gets

a sneak peek of what we have to
offer,

those tickets are gonna
go like gangbusters.

I did push for two performances,

but unfortunately they're
only allowing one.

That's cool, we only need one.

Yeah, but that means that
only one of you can perform.

That's why I asked to speak
to you both privately.

You both do an equally
wonderful job in the role.

But I wanted to be as
objective as possible.

So I've decided to let Ricky
perform.

I mean you have been in the
musicals all these years,

and I think it's best
that you represent us.

I'd be honored.

Of course he'd be
honored, it's a huge honor.

I mean I have my scholarship
interview

in Hollywood that afternoon,
but I'll rush back.

Oh man, you won't be back in
time.

Highway traffic is crazy.

It's a Saturday, just
be here before six.

Yeah, of course, but
then he'll be in a hurry.

I don't want all that stress
to affect his performance.

I'm just thinking about him, I'm
not,

I'm not complaining or anything.

Six.

Six.

It's so stupid.

Why would a stereotypical show
queen

be the guest of honor at a sport
event?

That's always been my night, you
know.

He didn't even know what
it was until I told him

what it was, and now he's so
honored to be performing there.

Don't you want to rage right
now?

Don't you just want to rage?

What are you doing on my phone?

I respect your privacy.

But I'm just checking your
emails.

You've been ditching me
and the guys for months,

and we deserve to know
what's going on in your life.

We're very concerned.

I mean he's not even that
talented.

It's like watching a three
year old at a ballet recital.

I mean he's energetic, but
there's no real skill there.

Some people just don't have
natural skill, you know?

You know?

I'm just gonna say it,
all right he's busted.

And no one wants to see a busted

ass face as the star of the
show.

He's not busted.

Oh he's busted, he's busted
ugly.

If you had to pick who was
hotter, would it be me or him?

I'm not gonna answer that
question.

Yeah, but if you had to pick?

I'm gonna plead the fifth on
it.

Come on man, if you had to
pick,

who would you smash, me or him?

You gotta think about it?

All right look, I'm sorry,
what do you want me to say?

I love you, you know let's get
married?

Dude, this show has gotten you

acting like such a nutcase man.

At least when you would act
this way during baseball season

it was because we were
climbing the finals.

Can you even win anything from a
play?

Shut up.

What's this Rising Stars
thing?

Congratulations, out of
over 1,000 applicants,

you have been selected as a
finalist.

Is that good?

Yes, yes!

Six, seven, eight.

Is there a problem, Josh?

I don't know, is there?

What is this supposed to mean,
speak up?

Mitchell told me he was
gonna be late tonight.

Tonight?

What about every other night
for the past three months?

Josh...

What did I say about us being
a team?

Dude, we have two weeks to
get this thing together.

My little sister is
sick.

Okay, so you tell her to
take a Children's Tylenol.

And you tell her to suck it up.

Hey enough.

I'm running this rehearsal.

Mitchell has already covered
this with me,

and if you don't like it you
can go sit in the audience.

All right take it from the
top.

Get a bathroom break?

I can't perform on a full
bladder.

Go, all of you, go.

I just want everyone to know

I've been holding it
for the past two hours.

Thank you, Ricky.

Shit.

What are you doing?

Nothing.

You dropped your mic pack
in the toilet, didn't you?

No.

I'm just drying my hand.

A brand new mic pack.

Sister Hartt's gonna kill me.

No she's not.

I got your back.

Really?

Hey, I'm the lead.

I'm the captain of the team,
right?

It's my job to ensure the
success of all my teammates.

Okay.

I like you, Rivera.

When I first joined the play
everyone

treated me like a rookie, except
you.

And that brotherhood
that I got from the guys

in baseball, that's what I get
from you.

Wow, nobody's ever
called me a brother before.

Except my sister.

I just wish we had more
guys that were team players.

We got too many people
looking out for themselves.

Who?

Ricky's just focused on his
craft.

I'm like you, all right.

I know what it feels
like to be an underdog.

You do?

I'm a guy who's been
knocked down, tossed aside,

and forced ignore his
innate greatness to study

Business Administration.

I mean at some point you and I

have to show what we're worth.

I appreciate it.

But there's this tone in your
voice

that sounds a little dark.

Dark?

Don't you get that we're
the good guys here?

I mean our job is to defeat the
evil?

I'm not taking part in
anything you're implying.

You be the Judas, I won't.

So you think you're above it?

I'd never betray my best
friend.

You already betrayed your best
friend.

What?

Who's the one who that

convinced me to go out for the
play?

Who's the Judas now?

I felt bad for you.

How was I supposed to know
you were going to be good?

Well, never underestimate a
winner.

What would Ricky say if he found
out

the real reason I was here?

Stop!

Please?

You're scared aren't you?

Don't be, right now's
the time to be brave.

Now's the time to be best.

Now is the time to take the diva
down.

Yeah, the janitor must not
have put down a wet floor sign.

Javi's lucky he didn't hurt
himself.

Kenny.

We're gonna need another mic.

Get out of there.

I washed my hands.

Use a fork.

I washed my hands.

You didn't put any
pickles in this, did you?

Hey, I'm going to Justin's.

Wait a minute.

Why are you all dressed up?

Trying to get by your mother.

You're going on a date.

Who is the lucky girl?

Honey.

Just, would you leave the boy
alone?

I'm going to school right
after, it's Spirit Night.

Oh good, you decided to go.

But the dress shirt?

It's a big night.

But what, Josh are you
getting?

Are you getting some kind
of award for Spirit Night?

Oh my gosh, you are.

I wanted it to be a surprise.

Keith, do you think he's being
inducted

into the LA County Sports Hall
of Fame?

Wouldn't be surprised.

6:30, don't be late.

All right, 6:30, we will
be there with bells on.

We will.

Josh Kelly, you're the next
victim.

Well a shattered elbow is
nothing.

Once you start those
dance classes, your feet

are gonna feel like they've
been smashed with hammers.

You know I've been on this
committee for about nine years,

and I am always amazed how you
kids

stumble into this crazy world of
theater.

But you keep up that athletes
work ethic, you'll go far.

I mean I can't take all the
credit.

I mean my friend's the one who
convinced me to do the play.

We should be thanking Javi
Rivera.

Javi Rivera?

Any relation to Chita, yeah?

Oh my goodness.

I'd say break a leg in the show.

But, you've already broken
so much, so good luck.

Thank you, I appreciate it.

Ricky Redmond, you're next.

Go.

Punch it.

Nice to meet you.

Call our Uber.

Did
you find a way to stall?

Yes, now
stop texting me, please.

My daughter keeps
telling me I should retire.

Well what does she know, right?

I've been driving for half a
century.

And I'm still sharp as a tack.

Turn left at Magnolia
Boulevard.

What did she say?

Turn left on Magnolia.

We're only two miles away.

That means two hours away in
this town.

This would never happen in New
York.

Your destination is on
your right.

What destination, this
isn't our destination.

Why are we stopping?

Didn't you boys select
carpool?

It says carpool right here.

Oops.

Scooch over.

Hey, are you Berry?

And give it
up for this year's Mustangs.

Josh, have you seen Ricky?

No.

It's great that you boys are

so invested in your school
activities.

Such a great system of support.

I have a great system of support
myself.

Turn right on Oxnard.

What was that?

Turn right on Oxnard.

You seem anxious.

Have you ever done a stress
test?

What's a stress test?

They do them for free
at the Celebrity Center.

You boys both need it, here take
this.

Celebrity Center?

Yeah, take it.

Good and Plenty?

Oh, thank you, I love candy.

White and pink, but there's
still blue.

I love the blue.

How about you, you look
like you need them.

I'm fine.

We go in 15 minutes.

Does anyone have his phone
number?

Ricky doesn't have a phone.

You know, I saw a Broadway
revival,

when I was 16 with
Matthew Broderick in '95.

Shit changed my life.

Are you an actor?

Turn right on Reseda
Boulevard.

What did she say?

Turn right on Reseda.

What?

Yeah, what?

God, you look scared.

What are you scared about?

Let me see that.

It's nothing, I swear.

You're a liar.

You're a liar, you're all liars.

Now breathe in, breathe
out, you're an actor.

Feel the feeling.

Places, I'm
calling places.

So here you are to save the
day.

What would we do without you?

Excuse me, I have to.

Break a leg.

Our lead is here, Josh
you look so handsome.

Now remember everyone,
energy, energy, energy.

Josh Kelly, Cindy Shedelbower,

social media manager for
the Saint James School.

I'm about to live for your
performance.

So if you can, just aim your
face towards

wherever I am, so I can get a
good shot.

Try to stay on my right side.

My right side's my best side.

And now give a
warm welcome

to the cast of this year's
musical.

Hey, where's Mitchell?

"How to Succeed in Business,
Without Really even Trying."

Stay chill
Josh.

Stay focused, you've done this
before.

It's just like any game.

All this crowd is yours, yours.

You've earned this.

And don't ever forget,
you are The Chopper.

Stop!

Stop, stop, stop, stop, stop!

Stop taking pictures, right now!

Bravo, Mr. Kelly.

You've certainly found
your balls, haven't you?

Ricky.

I made you, and this
is how you repay me?

Who do you think you are?

You didn't make anything,
I got here myself.

I've been here.

Look around you.

They've been cheering my name
for years,

and they're here for me again.

They just want some fresh blood,
and you,

you're as stale as your
outdated Broadway soundtracks.

They are called cast
recordings.

They're called cast recordings.

They're called cast
recordings people, come on.

Let's calm down.

You think these peasants care
about you

because you have talent?

Get with it, you party trick.

They love you because you're
hot.

They love you because you're
generic.

They don't love you
because you're special.

I, I am special.

I'm The Chopper.

I'm that gay kid who sings and
stuff.

Oh man, what a title.

That's star quality right there.

God Josh, knock it off.

Just,

tell him how you feel.

Say that again.

Tell me I don't have
to star quality again.

You have no star quality.

Say it again, to my face.

You have no star quality.

One more time, I dare you.

You'll never be on Broadway.

Ow.

I don't remember this
scene from the show.

Javi, Javi, Javi, Javi,
Javi, Javi, Javi, Javi help.

Don't touch my props!

♪ But lying here ♪

Miss me?

What are you doing here?

I told your parents I
brought the school work

that's your missing
while you're suspended.

We don't have any classes
together.

Oh shucks, I guess I lied.

I'll do my penance for that
later.

But right now we have
play business to discuss.

I got kicked out of the play.

And almost expelled, I heard.

But now Ricky's mom won't even

let him go to school for acting.

He's been open mouth weeping

in my arms about it for
the past three days.

Heartbreaking.

There's that winning charm.

I have a plan, tell me if you
like it.

You're going to convince Mrs.
Redmond

that the fight was your fault.

Then maybe, she'll let him
take an acting class or two

at L.A. Valley Community
College.

Yeah it doesn't sound like
a very realistic plan to me.

Doesn't it?

What would
Ricky say

if he found out the
real reason I was here?

Stop.

You're scared aren't you?

Don't be, now's the time to be
brave.

Now is the time to be the best.

Now is the time to take the diva
down.

You were in the boys bathroom?

I'd rather be dead.

I got this from the sound booth.

Why were you in the sound
booth?

Those details are of minor
significance.

What is important is that
someone

didn't think to turn off his mic
pack.

Keep going.

Taking advantage of
poor, sensitive Javier.

I wouldn't expect that at
the school's Golden Boy.

Does Ricky know?

Of course not.

How do you know?

You're still alive.

Oh, what a friend you are

for not telling him
what's really going on.

I thought your plan
might teach him a lesson.

How was I supposed to
know you drama queens

were gonna give God a head
start on the rapture by fire?

Look.

Ricky and I've made our
peace, now it's your turn.

I don't care what he thinks.

But I'm sure you care what
everybody else thinks, right?

You're going to take
the blame for the fight,

or this gets blasted over
the schools intercom.

You don't scare me, girl.

And you don't seem to
understand, bro.

I hold the little that's left of
your

reputation in the palm of my
hand.

Give it up Kelly, I own you.

Fabulous.

Fighting blackmail with blackmail
always leads to success.

Oh my God, I am making that my
status.

I'll be tot's Facebook famous.

Want me to tag you in it?

We'll get it like a ton of
likes.

Have you checked out your news
feed?

My parents cut me off
everything, why?

♪ Young girl by a stream ♪

♪ Is lost to you in a dream ♪

♪ A childhood will end ♪

♪ It won't return again ♪

♪ 'Cause it's only a passing
thing ♪

♪ It's only what time will bring ♪

Why didn't he tell
us his sister was sick?

I believe he did.

He didn't tell us his sister
was sick.

Sick, sick.

You know Mitchell.

He's never really been one to
open up.

I feel like deep down, he's
really shy.

♪ You ♪

He sounds nice.

I know man.

The boy is giving me tone.

Yeah.

Need a ride?

Guess you like walking?

Sure do, I'm in New Yorker.

You're from Van Nuys.

Don't act like you know me.

Look, would you just get in
the car?

Suck my bunions.

Boys, I thought I saw you in
there.

Thank you so much for coming,
it means so much to Mitchell.

Mitchell always tells me
about his friends in the play.

He comes home after all
the rehearsals saying

it's gonna be a good one this
year, Mom.

The kids do a nice job.

Thanks.

I just want to let you know that

Mitchell's not gonna let you
down.

He will be at rehearsals on
Monday.

Well actually, we'll be...

No no no, I told him,
you need to be there.

And you need to practice.

But...

He's going.

My Mitchell's going to be
the best that he can be.

My baby has a solo this year.

I guess this is the part where
we apologize to each other.

That would be cool.

Yeah, it would.

I guess that means I go first.

Sorry.

It's okay, my life's
only ruined forever.

You always gotta bring
it back to you, don't you?

I'm sorry, it's like a reflex.

A me-flex.

I don't know how you do it.

Do what?

You just don't care what
people think about you.

Whatever.

No, it's true.

Just because I don't let
the things people say about me

stop me, that doesn't mean
I don't care about it.

Says the kid who twirled the
baton

in front of the entire school.

Oh my God, you are
obsessed with this baton

twirling thing, get over
the baton twirling thing.

Sorry.

You know, I almost
didn't even go on that day.

What?

'Cause you were that nervous?

Please.

The day before the talent show,

I practiced my routine for my
dad.

This is, you know,

this is when he was sick and
the doctors just told him that

he didn't have much longer left
to go, so.

So my mom was saying to me,
Ricky honey,

you should really practice
your baton routine for Dad.

It would really cheer him up.

So I set up my stage in the
hospital room,

and I twirled my arms
off, and did my thing.

And the nurses went nuts.

They thought I was the
cutest thing on Earth.

And my mom was obviously in
Heaven.

But I'll never forget the
look on my dad's face.

He was proud?

He was mortified.

I guess your son becoming a
baton twirler

isn't something that cheers most
guys up.

Guess not.

So, you know.

The next day at the talent
show, the last thing

I wanted to have to deal with
was

everyone thinking the same thing
he was.

So I was refusing to go on.

But my mom was screaming at me.

She was like, I didn't spend
$20 on that baton for nothing.

I went on.

And I put everything I had into

that performance too, because

as scared as I was to have
people

laugh at me because I was weird,

I was even more scared to have
them

laugh at me because I sucked.

Well you didn't suck.

Oh I know I didn't, I was
fierce.

Of course you knew.

Well I knew because,

after the talent show you
walked right up to me.

And you said dude, that was
awesome.

I did?

Yeah.

I don't remember that.

Thus began the
collaboration of a lifetime.

Oh, it was supposed to go like
this.

Yeah.

Two future icons
of the Broadway stage

taking on the mean corridors
of Saint James together.

Oh, this is so much
fun.

We're kind of like the
new Fred and Ginger,

the new Mame and Vera, the new...

Shut up, we need to
wrap this up.

Sorry.

Anyway, I'm
pretty sure all of this

was one of those life lesson
moments people talk about.

Oh, totally.

I think I learned that it
doesn't matter

who has the most lines,
or the better part.

It's when you work as an
ensemble

that you accomplish greatness.

Oh, that's good.

Right, didn't you

love the way I worded that just
now?

Those of you in school this
year,

will have your classes in
the building straight ahead.

Down here we have...

I learned that no
matter

how much star quality you have,

there's always room to grow.

And speaking of star
quality,

can we talk about the actual
play?

The audience couldn't
get enough.

But what do you expect?

Everyone loves a high school
musical.

Now, because we're both fired...

And justifiably so.

We're not complaining, or
anything.

Never never.

Mitchell got promoted to the
role Javi previously had.

Mitchell was, he was.

The scene was great.

As always, what a
talent.

That's right baby, you better
slay.

And, of course, there
was only

one person who could fill our
shoes.

I've never been more
proud.

I just wanted to thank all
of you for coming tonight.

This is my 15th year here as
Director at Saint James School

and every year I'm
inspired by the dedication

that these students show towards
the arts and to the play.

It reminds me of when I was
their age.

So before you come up and
congratulate

your little stars, I have
a little announcement.

Just today, one of our
immensely talented students

came to me with some astounding
news.

Many of you may not have
heard of the Rising Star

Scholarship, but it is an
incredible honor given to

one student out of hundreds
of applicants nationwide,

that plan on majoring
in a theatrical arts.

I am thrilled to announce
that this year's recipient

of the Rising Star
Scholarship is none other

than our own little star, Javier
Rivera.

Oh hey guys.

I'm so happy you were able to
make it.

It really means so much to
me that you're both here.

It's been the craziest week,
having to jump into the show.

Then this morning I got
the scholarship news.

I think I'm still in shock.

I did tell you that I was
applying

for the scholarship too, right?

Oh I guess it never came up in
all those

conversations that were
all about you, huh?

Luckily, my great-aunt knows one
of

the heads of the scholarship
committee.

Have I ever told you about my
Dia?

When my brother's grandson,
Javier, is on that stage,

he is like a shining beacon of
light.

From the moment I taught
him his first plie,

no one's been able to keep
their eyes off of him,

or at least that's what she's
always telling her friends.

Whenever I talk to my
Auntie Chita on the phone,

she keeps asking me, when are
you coming

to New York to uphold family
legacy?

I always say, Auntie Chitah,
I'm not ready for Broadway.

And she always says to me,

it's Broadway that isn't ready
for you.

You were born ready, because
greatness is in your blood.

It certainly is.

Oh my God.

Let me give you boys a
little lesson on success.

If you want to get anywhere
in this business we call show,

nobody cares about your
passion, or your talent.

It's all about who you know.

And a star is born.

It's only natural to be jealous.

But please remind yourselves
of how lucky you are.

While God has blessed me
with this remarkable talent,

God has blessed you
with me, Javier Rivera,

the greatest divo of them all.

♪ I don't know who
you are oh oh ♪

♪ Or how you
got this far oh oh ♪

♪ I'm looking for a star oh oh ♪

♪ It don't add up to the bar ♪

♪ I don't know
who you are oh oh ♪

♪ Or how you
got this far oh oh ♪

♪ I'm looking for a star oh oh ♪

♪ It don't add up to the bar ♪

♪ Hey hey are you ready for me ♪

♪ 'Cause I got the golden halo ♪

♪ Say what oh
get up out of my way ♪

♪ 'Cause you'll
never dim my halo ♪

♪ Say hey hey if
you're coming for me ♪

♪ Let me tell you
how that song goes ♪

♪ First light of day I want it
this way ♪

♪ But I ain't scared to go
though ♪

♪ You think you're special
but from what I see ♪

♪ I'm on another level boy
entirely ♪

♪ You're not gonna dish
me got them hypnotized ♪

♪ Better pray that they
never see the light ♪

♪ I don't know
who you are oh oh ♪

♪ Or how you
got this far oh oh ♪

♪ I'm looking for a star oh oh ♪

♪ It don't add up to the bar ♪

♪ Hey hey you ain't nothing
like me ♪

♪ So put my
name out your mouth ♪

♪ And hey hey
better watch you say ♪

♪ And what is
safe in yourself ♪

♪ Hey hey you try to cover my
ground ♪

♪ But it just isn't pretty ♪

♪ And just know it's about to go
down ♪

♪ And I hear
them standing with me ♪

♪ You're a full on phony of a
gentleman ♪

♪ Does it play to madness
watching grains of sand ♪

♪ Standing with his family
got me all the cries ♪

♪ And filled with things
that doesn't last ♪

♪ I don't know
who you are oh oh ♪

♪ Or how you
got this far oh oh ♪

♪ I'm looking for a star oh oh ♪

♪ It don't add up to the bar ♪

♪ I don't know
who you are oh oh ♪

♪ Hey hey are you ready for me ♪

♪ 'Cause I got the golden halo ♪

♪ Say what oh
get up out of my way ♪

♪ 'Cause you'll
never dim my halo ♪

♪ Say hey hey if you're coming
for me ♪

♪ Let me tell
you how that song goes ♪

♪ It don't to
add up to the bar ♪

Whoo!

Yes baby!

You better slay, baby!

Slay!

That's right baby, you better
slay, whoo!

Cut, cut.