Together, together, together everyone
Together, together, come on...
MISS JENN: What the... No.
Oh, come on.
(SIGHS)
(YELPS)
- BOY 1: Sorry! - BOY 2: Our bad!
(CHUCKLES)
All good! No bad.
(CLOTH RIPPING)
Great. First costume change.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
Today's the day, Big Red. It's happening.
Hell yeah. Junior year, baby.
Might grow a mustache. Might do a lot of things.
Dude, I'm talking about Nini.
Today's the day we start over.
- Oh, wait, I gotta show you pictures. - Okay.
Okay, um... Oh, and this was my costume in Act Two.
Flawless. Love it.
Ooh! Uh, oh, this is the wig that almost fell off in the middle of my ballad.
RICKY: We texted. She sounded neutral.
Nothing about bad news or needing to have a big talk.
Just, "Hey." That's good, right?
(SIGHS)
Summers are no man's land, Ricky.
I don't know what "Hey" means, and neither do you.
I think it's good. Yeah.
And this...
Oh, I know who that is, Nini.
Girl, I am like 0.2 seconds away from making that my lock screen.
I can't tell if you're glowing or you're sunburnt.
Definitely glowing. Yeah, I had the best summer. Ever.
And what does you-know-who have to say about this?
I'm waiting for the right time to tell him.
Yo, Nini! What's good?
How do you feel about right now?
- Hey. (CHUCKLES) - Hey.
Um...
Can we talk?
It was my idea to take a pause, okay?
Nini was going to theater camp and... Not to brag,
but I'm not exactly intimidated by guys who voluntarily wear tights.
I didn't wanna take a pause.
It was only for a month. We could have FaceTimed every day.
I mean, fine. Did I hang out with a couple girls this summer?
Possibly.
Did I talk about Nini the entire time?
Absolutely.
I met somebody else at camp.
- I didn't plan... - Wait. Wait, is this a joke?
- Still talking here. - Oh, snap!
NINI: I met someone at camp.
Uh, I didn't plan for it to happen, but it happened.
He was the Music Man, I was Marian, the librarian.
It's called a showmance.
Wait, you went to librarian camp? That's a thing?
Please... Tell me you're joking.
- NINI: I'm not. - I'm not.
Come on, Ricky. You know what you did!
Or what you didn't do.
RICKY: Do my feet stink?
- 'Cause I feel like my feet stink. - No.
- Sort of. - Yeah?
- I think it's cute. - Yeah? Okay.
And that's why we work. (CHUCKLES)
- Check your Instagram. - What?
Okay.
Um, happy almost-one-year anniversary, baby.
I, uh...
I wrote this for you. So...
(STRUMMING)
- What is this? - Just watch it, I made it for you.
(CHUCKLES)
- Watch it. - I'm watching.
So much has happened Think of what we've done
In the time that the Earth has traveled 'Round the sun
Winter, spring, summer And we're back to fall
We've been together hand-in-hand Through it all
- (CHUCKLES) - Just watch it.
From the minute we kissed And my heart skipped a beat
To the night that we danced I was swept off my feet
Sure as every year has to come to an end
I'd go spinning around the sun with you Again and again
And again and again
I think I kinda, you know...
Like the way that we flow
Like the way that we go
And I love... I think I kinda, you know...
You know, you know
Can't help dreamin' of you
Guess I'm sayin' I don't not love you
You know, you know, you know...
I do, Ricky.
I love you.
Oh.
ANNOUNCER: (OVER PA SYSTEM) Good morning, students.
Please make your way to the gym for our annual back-to-school kickoff.
I don't believe this.
You're blowing me off for some theater punk
you met four weeks ago? At a lake?
You kinda dumped me!
It was a break. It wasn't a break-up.
I'm sorry, Ricky.
But it's a break-up now.
Pop off, girl.
- Stay out of it, Kourtney. - KOURTNEY: You stay out of it.
I'm dismantling the patriarchy this year, and I'm not afraid to start with you.
(NINI SIGHS)
You crushed it.
- That could not have gone better. - GIRL: Hey, Kourtney.
NINI: I feel good about this.
It's a fresh start. Everyone's on the same page.
This is a nightmare.
Everything is terrible. Love is dead.
And I am also pleased to announce
that this year, seniors will be allowed to wear baseball hats on Fridays.
GIRL 1: Go, seniors!
GIRL 2: Friday!
PRINCIPAL GUTIERREZ: And now for a special introduction.
This year, East High has a new drama teacher
with an announcement that she swore,
in writing, would not cost too much money.
(CLAPPING)
(SIGHS) Why, Big Red? Why do things have to change?
Some things never change, dude.
I've been wearing the same socks for three days.
MISS JENN: Please hold your applause.
(LOUDLY) Go, Wildcats!
- (STUDENTS EXCLAIM) - BOY: Ow.
Yeah.
My name is Ms. Jenn,
and when I heard that the high school where High School Musical was shot
had never staged a production of High School Musical, the musical,
I was shocked as an actress,
inspired as a director,
and triggered as a millennial.
(MOUTHING) "Millennial"?
MISS JENN: Auditions are tomorrow after school.
This show could change your lives,
and I'm saying this as a background dancer from the original movie.
Third from the left, back row, red headband,
and those are my real teeth. So...
Oh, and meet your student choreographer, Carlos.
You know him as captain of the color guard.
I know him as an unpaid, rising star.
But seriously, I have no budget.
(SCHOOL BELL RINGS)
I've spent two years in the chorus at East High.
I mean, it would be insane to think
I might actually have a shot at playing Gabriella.
Right?
As the school's resident High School Musical historian,
I basically have zero chill about this right now.
I've seen the original movie 37 times,
and the first 15 minutes of both sequels.
Excuse me?
Is there somewhere you're supposed to be?
Broadway.
Oh, no. I'm all for the arts. Like, I pay for ad-free Spotify.
I'd just rather see our students practicing skills
for the real world, ya know?
Sue me.
Yeah, no, I know, Ma, but if you can just float me one car payment.
The principal says it takes two weeks for payroll to kick in, and...
- (KNOCK ON DOOR) - Oh, oh. (SIGHS)
Great. No, not you, Ma. Gotta go. (CLEARS THROAT)
Hey, there. I know you're new here,
but FYI, your assistant needs a hall pass if he's gonna be late for class.
Oh, Lord. Hall passes are still a thing? What is this, prison?
No. It's a professional learning environment.
Sweetie, I'm the ultimate professional.
For instance, we don't call colleagues "Sweetie."
Knock-knock, Ms. Jenn.
Just wanted to report
that the High School Musical hashtag I started is already trending.
MISS JENN: Well, of course it is.
Your generation deserves to make its own mark on this classic.
Watch out, world.
And by "world," you mean the greater Salt Lake region.
(SMACKS LIPS) Oh, pfft.
I just wanna be clear.
This new drama teacher may live in a Hollywood dream world
where we're the "Wildcats," but we're not.
We're the East High Leopards.
Always have been.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
KOURTNEY: And so I say to my mom,
"Looking this fabulous while also fighting for intersectional feminism
"is my summer job."
And that's how I spent my break.
Wow.
Did I not tell you she's amazing?
- EJ: She is amazing. You're amazing. - Thank you. Yeah.
Okay, so, crazy idea.
What if we went in costume to the auditions tomorrow?
Okay, I'm listening.
Okay. Whatever you wear, I'm doing your makeup.
- NINI: Okay. - So I was thinking, like,
a basketball jersey for me, and then, for my leading lady,
it is time to go full V. Hudge.
(CHUCKLES) Okay. No, no. Let's not get ahead of ourselves.
I mean, obviously you're gonna get Troy, but I don't wanna... jinx anything.
Uh, that doesn't sound very Nini 2.0 to me.
Babe, we're a package deal here.
And all the talented senior girls graduated last year.
This one is ours to lose.
Literally, how did we not speak until this summer?
EJ, my man!
EJ: Hey.
BOY 1: Hey, there he is!
BOY 2: Hey! There's the guy!
Okay, is he the best or is he the best?
- (CHUCKLES) - He is. He is.
- But? - No "but." I just...
I don't wanna see another boy hurt you.
Remember how crushed you were after Ricky?
"Crushed" is a little dramatic.
You didn't leave your bedroom for 48 hours.
I had to slide pizzas under your door. Girl, it was dark.
This is different. That was then.
I'm my own person now.
EJ: Hey, Nini?
EJ: I called it. I called it early.
Hi!
Two years ago at East High, Nini played the back end of the cow in Gypsy,
and I was like, "Whoa, who is the cute chorus cow
"and why is she not playing a human?"
And then, this summer happened and she, like, completely came out of her shell.
And her cow costume. I mean, she's just amazing.
She's meant for greatness.
BIG RED: Dude, are you seeing this?
I'm seein' it, I'm hearin' it, I'm hatin' it.
I can't believe it. She's dating EJ Caswell.
RICKY: Yes. I have eyes.
I mean, co-captain of the water polo team.
Yep.
- Senior class treasurer. - That's correct.
BIG RED: I mean, what are the odds that the guy she hooks up with at camp
goes to East High?
Apparently, the odds are exceptionally good.
I'm sorry, dude. What are you gonna do?
I don't know.
No offense, but the one person I go to for advice
is currently on her honeymoon in the cafeteria.
(LAUGHING)
Can I just say this? Sure, Nini's a nice girl.
I was a stage manager for last year's production of Brigadoon,
and Nini was the only cast member who gave me an opening night card,
which is, like, a pretty big gesture from a girl who was literally playing a tree.
But, like, how does a tree get to date a senior?
NINI: All right, your turn, Grandma.
So, how was your first day back?
Oh, we got a new drama teacher.
Um, she announced the musical and there's this part that I really, really want.
My shining star!
Aw, thanks.
But, um, I fell asleep on the bus ride home
and I had this dream I've been having since I was little.
It's, like, this stress dream
where I'm all alone on this big Broadway stage,
and I open my mouth and nothing comes out.
Yeah, that's a common one.
(CHUCKLING) Okay, so what does it mean?
Well, I don't think you need a psychoanalyst to tell you that.
Honestly, I think any grandma could handle this.
It's a good thing you're both.
Nini...
There's obviously something about being heard that feels off-limits to you.
Do you not think you've earned it?
Well, I don't know.
How do you stop having a dream?
You live it.
DANA: Hi! Sorry we're late.
Oh! Hi, Mama D.
The car broke down again. Again.
Luckily, it was in front of the donut shop.
Oh! Thanks, Mama C.
What's the score?
Grandma's letting me win.
- You're doing that on your own, sweetie. - (CHUCKLES)
Why, yes, I would love a vanilla donut with sprinkles.
- (LAUGHS) - Thank you very much for asking.
DANA: Sweetie. Sweetie! No, I wanna split that one.
(DOOR OPENS)
I'm doing something wrong.
I mean, you're cooking, so... (CHUCKLES)
This chicken's been in here for 10 minutes.
It's colder than when I put it in.
Call Mom.
How is that possible? Did I hit a freeze-dry button?
- Just call Mom. - Yeah, we're not buggin' your mom.
It's, like, 9:00 p.m. in Chicago.
She can't still be in a meeting.
Okay. I'm calling Mom.
Don't! She doesn't wanna hear from me right now, okay?
- What? - She just...
She just needs a couple more days in Chicago to think things over.
What is there to "think over"?
It has nothing to do with you, okay?
It's gonna be fine, bud.
(SIGHS)
I mean, is he kidding with this?
Shouldn't he be on an airplane right now to Chicago?
Shouldn't he be fighting to save this?
Hey, how was school today?
Ricky?
RICKY: Ugh.
No. Absolutely not.
Okay, I know it's crazy, dude,
but she has to see me in a whole new light.
But we hate musicals.
I don't hate musicals.
I just think it's weird when people, like,
burst into song in the middle of the street.
Dude. That's a musical.
Okay, look. I'm auditioning for this thing tomorrow,
and nothing is gonna stop me.
Do you even know the plot of High School Musical?
Of course! It's about Zac Efron dancing with a basketball.
Wrong. It's about the character, Troy,
having to choose between being true to his friend, Chad,
or following his heart with Gabriella.
Why do you know so much about High School Musical?
They, uh, play it on a loop at my allergist's office.
Look, the point is, you're out of your league here, man. All right?
You can't pull this off.
- Yeah? - Yes.
And you don't have the hair for it!
Oh, yeah
Now, who'd have ever thought that...
(SCHOOL BELL RINGS)
ANNOUNCER: (OVER PA SYSTEM) Ladies and gentlemen, a reminder
that auditions for the musical will begin in the auditorium in five minutes.
Come on!
Come on. Come on!
Is there a problem, Mr. Bowen?
People! Make sure your audition number is clearly visible on your clothes.
This isn't a game.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
(SIGHS)
You know, I'm actually kinda bummed that we don't have any competition here.
It would make getting the leads all the sweeter.
Could you stop tempting fate?
(CHUCKLES LIGHTLY) You know what? You're right. Whatever.
(KNOCKING ON DOOR)
Okay, theater people. (CLAPS) Let's do this.
- (ALL CHEER) - GIRL: Good luck!
EJ: I get it.
I get why she didn't wanna come in costume. She's nervous.
She wanted to wear her good luck sweatshirt.
You know, honestly, she could wear a burlap sack and she'd still be a star.
WOMAN: A-five-six-seven-eight!
(MUSIC PLAYING)
Yes! Come on, One!
- CARLOS: Look at her go! - I know. She's amazing.
MISS JENN: Whoo! She's gonna kick you in the face!
Yes. (APPLAUDS)
Great! That's it for the warm-up.
(CHUCKLES LIGHTLY)
That was the warm-up?
Everyone, pair up. Not with a friend.
Theater is a community.
Hi! Um, I'm Nini.
Wow! Um, can I borrow your high kicks sometime?
(CHUCKLES) Oh, my God! You are the cutest.
So, have you played leads here before?
No.
Um...
Not yet, but, uh, this summer, at camp, I went on for the lead
when she got low-grade salmonella, so I'm ready.
Great story.
You know, I've never been to a camp or been an understudy.
You'll have to tell me all about it. (CHUCKLES)
Gina. Sophomore.
Transfer student.
And we're back.
(EXHALES)
It's the second day of school and you've already damaged equipment in my new lab.
In my defense, I was studying.
- Really. - Studying?
Troy's songs. High School Musical.
That's what you were studying?
Stop wasting your time.
You don't need to massage Ms. Jenn's bruised ego
just because her lights went out on Broadway.
- That's not why I'm auditioning. - (MR. MAZZARA SIGHS)
MISS JENN: I'd love you to read for Ryan.
- You are giving major Taylor vibes. - (SQUEALS)
You're probably a Chad.
BOY 1: Oh, yeah!
- You. - BOY 2: Nice.
You're giving me uncommon depth. Ms. Darbus?
I'm dying. I'm deceased. Yes.
Oh, your application says you play piano?
I dabble.
You ever written a song?
I mean, nothing I've ever shared with anyone.
I always thought the drama teacher should have an Act Two power ballad.
We'll sidebar.
- Gabriella. - You got it. (GIGGLES)
Oh, I'm good. I'm already off-book.
Hmm!
Give him the Troy stuff. Who are we kidding?
And how about we have you read for Kelsi?
Um...
Gabriella. I wanna audition for Gabriella.
MISS JENN: Okay.
You're reading for Ryan, right?
I think he'd rather play Sharpay.
I love that. That is so fresh.
People think a theater teacher's job is to put on a good show.
And they're not wrong.
But we're really in the business of saving lives.
Give us your tired, your poor, your chosen-last-for-dodgeball.
You're safe here.
Just get your head in the game Just get your head in the game
This is my nightmare.
Look, I've really gotta go, but, uh, if you get the DVD out,
just know that I borrowed it.
From the library.
Without checking it out. Wish me luck!
(RICKY GRUNTS)
MISS JENN: Okay, our last Troy.
Whoo! And he comes with props! Love it. (CHUCKLES)
Whenever you're ready.
Okay, what do I need to know?
EJ Caswell.
Most Instagram followers.
Wakes up looking like that.
Doesn't know I exist.
I hope he can carry a tune.
(PIANO PLAYING)
This could be the start of somethin' new
It feels so right to be here with you...
Oh, and now lookin' in your eyes
I feel in my heart
The start of something new
Well, excuse me, Armie Hammer just called.
He wants his jawline back! (CHUCKLES)
We're moving on to the Gabriellas.
I know that something has changed Never felt this way
My mom always says that if you can't be number one at something,
it isn't worth doing.
Which isn't at all intimidating. (SCOFFS)
At all.
This could be the start of something new
It feels so right to be here with you
Oh, and now looking in your eyes
Okay, I could really use some last-minute tips. Like, now.
Hey, you're doing the thing.
What thing?
The thing where you talk in a vague British accent when you get nervous.
(SIGHS) Babe, why am I so awkward?
- Listen to me. - (SIGHS)
You've got this.
All right? There's nothing for you to be nervous about.
You went on this summer for the lead role with 20 minutes' notice.
You didn't miss a beat.
And you did that yourself.
You've got this.
I really appreciate... Oh, my God! I'm doing it again.
Yeah. You are. You're a total weirdo.
- (LAUGHS) - And a hundred percent real.
And that is why I love you.
NINI: I do, Ricky.
I love you.
Oh.
(CHUCKLES NERVOUSLY)
"Oh"?
Yeah, I... It's just...
(SIGHS) That's a really big thing to post online.
(NINI SCOFFS)
(CELL PHONE VIBRATES)
Look, um... (EXHALES)
I've been thinking, and, um...
You're just gonna be out of town for like a month, right?
And you'll probably have no reception in the woods.
Maybe we should just, like, chill for a minute.
You know? Like, take a temporary pause.
(SCOFFS)
"Pause"?
Yeah, uh...
Yeah. No, I totally get that.
(CELL PHONE VIBRATES)
I should... It's my mom.
She's been out of town working for, like, ever, so...
Um...
I'll text you.
(DOOR CLOSES)
MISS JENN: Any intel on this one?
CARLOS: Nini Salazar-Roberts.
Harmless chorus girl.
Usually plays farm animals and trees.
Okay, Nini! Whenever you're ready.
(HEAVY FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING)
Am I too late? Am I too late?
MISS JENN: We're all set on Troys. We're low on Chads.
You can read after the Gabriellas.
I only studied the Troy scenes in the movie.
Troy would have arrived on time.
(SIGHS) Thanks. Let me do the talking.
Okay, Nini, let's try this again.
You got this, babe! Whoo!
- (ELECTRICITY CRACKLING) - Oh! Oh!
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
(SHUSHING)
Nobody panic!
Nini, let's wait for the lights to come back on.
I don't want this to throw you.
I'm not thrown.
Livin' in my own world
Didn't understand
That anything can happen
When you take a chance
I never believed in
What I couldn't see
I never opened my heart
To all the possibilities
Oh, I know That somethin' has changed
Never felt this way
And right here tonight
This could be the start of somethin' new
It feels so right To be here with you
Oh, and now lookin' in your eyes
I feel in my heart
The start of something new
I never knew that it could happen 'Til it happened to me
Oh, yeah
I didn't know it before But now it's easy to see
Oh
It's the start of somethin' new
It feels so right to be here with you
Oh
And now lookin' in your eyes
I feel in my heart
The start of somethin' new
(CRACKLING)
MISS JENN: Okay.
Well, thank you, Nini.
I only needed 32 bars, but I appreciate your commitment.
You, late boy.
Let's do the Chad sides.
(RICKY CLEARS THROAT)
(GRUNTS)
Hey, there. I'm Ricky Bowen.
I'm a junior.
And, uh... Here goes.
Total wildcard here.
Hmm.
"I don't get it, Troy.
"What kinda spell has this elevated IQ temptress-girl cast
"that suddenly makes you wanna be in a musical?"
RICKY: I don't know.
Maybe it's the way Gabriella always had your back.
And maybe you can't stop beating yourself up
for totally blowing it with her.
(WHISPERING) Was this in the movie?
And look, Troy.
Even if you never said the L-word to Gabriella,
'cause that's, like, not even a word your parents say to each other anymore...
That doesn't mean that you don't.
Maybe it just means you were waiting for the right time to say it...
So that everyone could hear it.
No. (SCOFFS)
So that she could.
Okay, kiddo, time to sing.
Oh, no, actually if you don't mind, I kinda prepared my own song?
Sure.
Oh.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
(RICKY EXHALES)
GIRL: I don't know.
BOY: What is he doing?
(CLEARS THROAT)
(STRUMMING)
Oh, no. He is not doing this.
So much has happened Think of what we've done
In the time that the Earth has traveled 'Round the sun
Winter, spring, summer And we're back to fall
We've been together hand-in-hand Through it all
It's just three little words Yeah, it's not a big deal
It's not like I can help feelin' All that I feel
And by now, I'm sure You're thinkin' it's so obvious
But just in case It's not what I'm sayin' is this
What I'm sayin' is this...
I think I kinda, you know...
Like the way that we flow
Like the way that we go
And I love... I think I kinda, you know...
I think I kinda, you know You know, you know...
You know how we can talk all night
And not run out of things to talk about?
It's rare that something feels this right
It feels so right
I think I kinda, you know...
I think I kinda, you know You know, you know...
I think I kinda, you know
You know, you know...
I can't help dreaming of you
Guess I'm saying I don't not love you
You know, you know, you know
(APPLAUSE)
Hashtag, "UltimateComeback."
That happened.
I thought it was good.
NINI: Hey!
What are you doing here?
I'm auditioning.
- You hate musicals. - That's a little harsh.
We got kicked out of The Greatest Showman because you kept yelling,
"That's not realistic!" at the screen.
That was the old me.
The new me thinks musicals... are awesome.
Hmm.
Okay. Well, let me tell you about the old me.
All right? The old me had her heart broken.
Okay? And then she went away, and she found herself.
And you don't get to show up now,
just to try and...
confuse things.
You think that's why I'm here?
No, no, Nini.
I always believed in you. In us.
Even if I sucked at showing it.
That's why I'm here.
Clear!
- Carlos is posting the cast list! - (INDISTINCT CHATTER)
I don't not love you.
GIRL: Okay. Okay, okay, okay.
In the old days, teachers would wait two, maybe, three days to announce the cast.
But when you know, you know.
It's called instincts.
(ALL GASPING)
(EXCLAIMING)
MISS JENN: And when in doubt, always bet on the underdogs.
Congrats.
- "Chad"? She thinks I'm a Chad? - (SOFTLY) It's okay.
BIG RED: Holy crap, dude.
(RICKY CHUCKLES)
NATALIE: Buckle up, Wildcats.
(BLEEP) about to get real.
WOMAN: Five, six, seven, eight!
(ALL CHEERING)
(CHEERING CONTINUES)
(LAUGHTER)
- BOY: What team? - ALL: Wildcats!
(ALL CHEERING)