Songbird

The Rhodes Not Taken 1x05

We are in the choir room rehearsing with Quinn and Finn taking the leads on Journey's ''Don't Stop Believing''. They start spinning around each other slowly and Quinn grabs her stomach as she feels all her food coming back up. She runs to the bathroom leaving the rest of the glee club, who do not know about her pregnancy, to wonder what's wrong. "Quinn, you OK?", Mr. Shue. asks worried. "I think she just had a bad breakfast burrito." "Can we please talk about the giant elephant in the room?", Kurt interjects. "Your sexuality?" "Rachel. We can't do it without her." He has a fair point. 

"That's not true. We may have to layer Santana and Sarah over Quinn's solo, but...we'll be fine."   "Maybe for the invitationals, but not for the sectionals and certainly not the regionals.", Artie says. "The wheelchair kid's right. That Rachel chick wants me wanna light myself on fire, but she can sing." "As much as I hate to admit it,  we need manhands.", I say with a lot of regret. 

"Rachel left, guys. She's gone. If we want to make this thing work, we can't look back. Alright, take five minutes." We all go to talk with our friends while Finn has a private conversation with Mr. Shue. probably about Quinn. We talk until the bell rings and we go our separate ways. 

And to replace Rachel, Mr. Shue goes and finds an old person who used to go to this school. There are so many talented people here and yet he goes and finds an old person. "Guys, I'd like to introduce you to someone very special. This is April Rhodes. She's our newest member." 

"Wait, so old people can join Glee Club now?", wonders Finn. "Old, huh? You guys look like the world's worst Benetton ad.", retorts April. "Mr Schuester, this seems like a terrible idea.", artie says as he raises his hand. 

"I have to agree with cripples. Mr. Shue. there is a lot of talent in here already, so there is no need to bring in whoever you are.", I say agreeing with cripples. "April is a great singer. And she never graduated.", argues Mr. Shue. "We appreciate what you're trying to do, but she's no Rachel."

"Who's Rachel?" "Sh....She's kind of our star.", stutters Tina. "Your star, eh? Well, where is she?"     "She left. to be the lead in Cabaret.", answers Kurt. "Hey, Tinkles, give me "Maybe This Time" in B flat. And don't let me catch you snoozing." She goes on to sing. She is actually really good, she even made Kurt cry. "Stick that in your pipe and smoke it.", she says before the bell rings telling us to go to class. 

We are in the choir room while everyone is gossiping about Quinn's latest behaviour. "She is strange." "Maybe Quinn is lactose intolerant.", suggests Kurt. "That doesn't explain all the crying." 

"Maybe she just doesn't like the group." It is so hard not jumping in and defending Quinn. "Are you all that stupid? Seriously? I bet you thought Bert and Ernie were just roommates. Maybe Quinn's got one in the oven." Pucks statement leaves the group in shock. "Who's the baby's daddy?", asks Mercedes. "Who do you think? Finn." Everyone start whispering to each other about this news.

Rachel walks in all happily, not knowing what just went down. "Yes, you've heard right....I am returning to Glee Club. In lieu of flowers, please send all donations to a socially conscious charity of your choice." Everyone ignores Rachel and continues whispering. "This is a hot damn mess." "Oh! My God!" 

"Uh, I'm sorry; I thought I'd be welcomed back with a tad more enthusiasm.", Rachel interrupts clearly annoyed. "Sorry, Glee Club has just been rocked with its first scandal." "Quinn's knocked up." "And the baby daddy? Finn." That leaves Rachel stunned. 

It is the night of invitationals and I am so excited. We all are surrounding the piano as we warm up. "Mia.... Mia....Mia .... Mia .... Mia...........Mia....Mia.... Mia.... Mia....Mia...." "The house is packed... you guys are going to kick butt tonight. Your first performance in front of a real audience. I can't wait. You guys are going to love it.", Mr. Shue says excitedly. "Where...Where's April?" She comes stumbling in, clearly drunk. "Yee-haw! Right on cue, as usual. Hey, roller-boy. Handsome. Oh, I like that color. Have you been working on the, uh, moves we talked... You've got something right there, on your... .", she says as she goes in to kiss Puck. Gross. "Uh, oh... Honk! There's my boy." 

"Are you drunk? You promised me you'd sober up for this.", questions Mr. Shue. "When? Last night? Well, I was drunk. You can't hold me to that." Ms Pillsbury comes in and takes Mr. Shue out of the room to have a conversation in private. It is showtime! 

"Now, ladies and gentlemen, please welcome McKinley High School's New Directions.", announces Principle Figgins. We performed 'Last Name' by Carrie Underwood with April taking the lead. Of course. Once we finished we go back in the choir room to change for our next song. 

"They loved us! We're a hit." "Wh...Wh...Where's April?", questions Tina. "You were right, Mr Shue. She'd massacre Mariah in a diva-off.", Kurt adds. "It... I, uh... I screwed up bringing her here. It was about me and Glee Club is supposed to be about you guys. You don't need her to be great."

"But we need her for the second act." "I'll just have to go out there and tell them we had to cut the show short." Everyone looks down in disappointment. "Hey, guys. You were great. Don't worry. There will be other performances.", Mr. Shue. says trying to lighten the mood. 

Then Rachel walks in giving a suggestion, "Excuse me? I think I might have a solution. In show business, when a star can't perform, her understudy steps in. I'd be happy to go in for April, if you'd let me.". "Since when are you willing to be an understudy?", Mercedes questions. "Since I quit the play."

"Really? Why?", Kurt asks. "I realized being a star didn't make me feel as special as being your friend. If I'd let you down when you needed me the most, I'd never forgive myself. I know all the words to the song."

"You don't know the choreography.", I interject. Santana nods in agreement. "Then we're going to have to give her a lot of help out there." After a few seconds Mr. Shue. agrees with Finn. "Go get in your costume. 

After waiting for Rachel to put her costume on we go on stage and perform 'Somebody to Love' by Queen. I guess Rachel is back. Ugh.