Archive of Our Own ^beta

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INT. PRACTICE ROOM - DAY

The GLEE CLUB are all cranky, complaining, sitting about and looking tired instead of happily practicing for Nationals, even though they had all been so excited to get through.

MR SCHUE looks around the practice room and realises that even if they’ve managed to fix whatever drama happened this week, his students still aren't seeing the fun in singing again. He decides to fix it.

He gets out his guitar. The GLEE CLUB roll their eyes as he starts to sing a slightly slower and more-Glee version of Hozier's To Noise Making (Sing).

BRAD grumpily starts to play at the piano.

Mr Schue

Remember when you'd sing just for the

Tiny pause, cheeky grin

... fun of it?

Finn

Smiling at an unimpressed RACHEL

Any joy it would bring, honey, the look of it

Finn and Mr Schue

Was as sweet as the sound
Your head tilt back, your funny mouth to the clouds

FINN and BLAINE look at each other then bound up to join MR SCHUE at the front of the room, singing to the rest of GLEE CLUB.

Mr Schue, Finn, Blaine

I couldn't hope to know that song and all its words
Wouldn't claim to feel the same it felt the first time it was heard

Camera pans to show JUNIORS/SOPHOMORES plus BRITTANY starting to get on board, moving with the music. SENIORS still reluctant.

Finn and Blaine

To RACHEL and KURT respectively

I couldn't name that feeling carried in that voice
Was it that or just the act of making noise that brought you joy?

CUT to: AUDITORIUM

Glee Club are all standing on the stage, vaguely in a semi-circle. There is soft lighting which slowly changes colour throughout and no other decoration. Everyone has got into the music except for KURT and RACHEL.

Sophomores

To SENIORS

You don't have to sing it right

Juniors

To SENIORS

Who could call you wrong?

Quinn and Santana

Smiling slightly at each other across the circle

You put your emptiness to melody
Your awful heart to song

Finn and Mike

Bumping shoulders

You don't have to sing it nice

MERCEDES steps towards the centre of the semi-circle, waving KURT and RACHEL in with her

Mercedes

But honey sing it strong

Kurt and Rachel

Finally smiling, dancing a little, the ice breaking

At best, you'll find a little remedy
At worst, the world will sing along

All

Chorus always with apparently unchoreographed dancing to emphasise fun/free element

So honey, sing, sing,
Sing, sing, sing, sing, sing,
Sing, sing,
Sing, sing, sing, sing, sing.

ARTIE breaks away from the dancing GLEE CLUB to some open space.

He looks wistfully over to MIKE and TINA who have also separated from the group. MIKE twirls TINA in a gentlemanly way as ARTIE sings.

Artie

Remember when you'd sing before we moved to it?

MIKE lets go of TINA to do some advanced dancey stuff with BRITTANY during the second verse. TINA stands watching and smiling with a hand on the back of ARTIE's wheelchair.

The camera stays largely focused on MIKE and BRITTANY, but whoever is singing is included in the frame.

Sam

And we'd scuff up our shoes, honey, the groove of it

Quinn, Tina, Sam

Was whatever you choose

Mr Schue, Puck, Sam

‘I Wanna Be Your Lover’ or ‘The Fisherman's Blues’

MIKE and BRITTANY finish their dance. GLEE CLUB comes together again into a loose group.

Seniors

To nearest JUNIORS and SOPHOMORES

You don't have to sing it right

Finn

Stepping out of the pack, to all of GLEE CLUB

Who could call you wrong?

RACHEL joins him in leading, finally confident enough to retake her rightful place and sing with heart.

Rachel

You put your emptiness to melody, your awful heart to song

Santana and Mercedes

Linking arms

You don't have to sing it nice, but honey sing it strong

Camera pans to BLAINE trying to coax KURT into some cheesy dance move.

Blaine

At best, you'll find a little remedy.

SAM and BRITTANY pop up on either side behind BLAINE.

Sam, Brittany, Blaine

To KURT

At worst, the world will sing along

KURT finally breaks, laughing and letting BLAINE pull him into whatever silly dance move and into the crowd.

All

So honey, sing, sing
Sing, sing, sing, sing, sing
Sing, sing
Sing, sing, sing, sing, sing

Camera cuts to a serious RACHEL, closer than before.

Rachel

Who could ask to be unbroken or be brave again?

Camera pans to FINN, reaching for RACHEL.

Finn

Or, honey, hope even on this side of the grave again

Camera cuts to BLAINE, singing at KURT who is occupied with RACHEL and isn't looking at him.

Blaine

And who could ask you to be sound or to feel saved again?

Camera pans to KURT and RACHEL, arm in arm.

Kurt and Rachel

Or stick around until you hear that music play again

Camera zooms back out to show the rest of the auditorium stage and the GLEE CLUB. The pensive moment is over.

All

So honey, sing, sing
Sing, sing, sing, sing, sing
Sing, sing
Sing, sing, sing, sing, sing
Sing, sing
Sing, sing, sing, sing, sing
Sing, sing
Sing, sing, sing, sing, sing

Over the course of the final chorus, the camera shows the GLEE CLUB all dance/twirl/etc out of frame in ones and twos.

FINN and RACHEL are left alone at centre stage.

The camera zooms in as FINN takes RACHEL’S hand and pulls her in. They share a meaningful moment looking at each other.

The backing music becomes much quieter.

When they sing, FINN finally is just happy rather than hamming up the cheer to pull everyone else up, and RACHEL is smiling, thankful for the reminder that singing is fun/glee is family/etc.

Finn

Remember when you'd sing just for the love of it?

Rachel

Any joy it would bring.

The final note holds as the camera focuses on FINN and RACHEL.

The camera zooms back out, showing everyone coming back to stage for a group hug. RACHEL is at the centre, still looking tired but calmer and happier for having sung with her friends.

CUT to: BLACK

For a few seconds, we can hear the joyful sounds of GLEE CLUB cheering and laughing together over the blank screen.

credits roll