High School Musical: The Musical: The Series: Season 3

Opening Night! Transformation 2

While Harper and Ricky were onstage as Audrey and Ben, the VKs and Pirates were getting ready for the big scene. Kourtney was eyeing Howie, who was chatting with Big Red. He was acting weird...weirder than usual...in the nicest way possible.

"Hey, Kourt, you good?" Bryan asks.

"It's Howie. The last time he acted weird, it was when he hid the secret about being at North High. I think he's hiding something...again. Even though we swore no more secrets. Maybe that's what he wants to tell me, I'm just a little nervous, that's all."

Well, Bryan knew Howie was gonna tell Kourtney after opening night. So he just had to keep her hopes up until then. "Well, if he is, he did say he wanted to tell you something after Opening Night, maybe that's it. Just trust him."

"Thanks for the advice, don't know when you got so smart."

"Well, I got my smarts from mom."

"What about me?"

"Ummm..." that was all Bryan said before walking away, making Kourtney laugh.

Gina spotted EJ fiddling with his fingers, he's been doing that all night, he looked nervous.

"Hey, babe" Gina takes a seat next to him. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, of course, just freaking out."

"Really? Why?"

"There's a guy out there with a clipboard. Think he's from one of the colleges I applied for. So I guess that's been bugging me all night."

"Oh, Eej. It's okay, just remember, push through and keep going. If that guy is from a college, you're gonna blow them away. That's what you always tell me. 'You absolutely dusted that that! Amazing!'"

"Stop it" EJ mocks his girlfriend. "Say it again"

"Okay, love birds, get ready," Val tells them. "Good luck" EJ kisses his girlfriend's cheek before they both prepare for the next scene. Only one more scene before the 15-minute intermission. Nini was still wearing her purple outfit, but they would shine a blue light on her until the next scene.

"All right, let's get in, let's get out," Nini says, the only part she was wearing of her second outfit was the blue and purple wig. As they all walk to the other side, Mr. Mazzara shines the blue light on Nini as she tosses the Ember up and down. "Man, that thing cracks a punch," Big Red says.

As they walk away, Seb and Jack jump into the scene behind them. "We made it!" Seb exclaims. "Bro!" Jack yaps as he and Seb bro-hugged it out before turning to the others. "Hey guys, we just came for a new visit."

Big Red and EJ block their path. EJ kept looking into the distance. Seeing the guy with the clipboard next to his dad, he starts to sweat but tries to keep his anxiety under control. Nini purposely drops the Ember and Jack was quick to pick it up.

"Noooooooooo!" Nini screams. Jack quickly tosses it above them. That was Gina's cue. The ember was thrown behind the curtain to the side and she caught it. She walks upstage with a smile. She tosses her long turquoise braids and loose hair back.

"Drop something?"

"It can't get wet! Give it back before it goes!" Nini yells, but Gina just laughs mischievously. "Uma!" Jack and Seb shout in unison.

"That's my name" the dancer playing a pirate-princess waved coyly at her friends. She turns her head and walks away. Behind the stage, Val helps Gina out of her dress, showing her main outfit under. She helps with her sleeves. "Good luck," she tells her. Gina gives her a nod before returning to the other side of the stage.

"Hi, boys" she grins, holding the blue crystal in her hand. Wearing a turquoise leather jacket with gold patches, fish scale leggings, a pair of aqua cowboy boots with gold crustacean accents, her clothes beaded with shells and sea glass, she looked fabulous.

Jack and Seb spring to the other side of the stage. "Welcome back" Jack grins, giving Gina a high five. "Uma, you swam off and forgot all about us," Seb says, sounding hurt.

"Planning her revenge no doubt" Nini glares. Being enemies to friends, it felt weird for the 2 to be playing enemies again, seeing how far they've gone. "It's not all about you, Mal" Gina tilts her head. "I was looking for a hole in the barrier, to let everybody out. And you know what I found boys? It's way better out there than we thought. There's this thing that looks like a furry rock called a coconut. And fish so big you could dance on their backs. And they've been keeping it all to themselves."

"Whatever, Uma, I need that to break a spell" Nini holds her arm out. "Cast by Audrey, Sleep Beauty's daughter" Big Red adds.

"Oooh, the good guy's the bad guy. I might not give it back. See what happens."

"Uma, it's not the time for games!" Nini pleads. "People's lives are in danger."

Gina looks into the crowd and sees her brother and mother in the back row, smiling ear to ear, which made her smile as well. "Guarantee me that every single villain kid who wants to can get off the Isle."

"I can't do that" Nini shrugs.

"Well, how about now?" Gina threatens. She dangles the blue crystal over the stage edge. She knew what it was like to be determined to get what she wants, and she wouldn't hesitate to bring it her all.

"Deal! Deal."

"Uma!" Kourtney screams. "Her word is good."

Gina flashes one of the old "mean girls" grins she hasn't shown in a while. It felt weird but oddly satisfying playing a mean girl. She opens her seashell necklace and places the ember within, and sealed it away safely. "I'll still keep this for the time being. 'Cuz of you think I trust you to save the world on your own, think again. This is a job for pirates!" She smiles and turns to Jack and Gil. Together, the threesome hooted and roared in triumphant.

"We can always go back to hating each other when this is over" EJ leans close to Nini.

"Fine" Nini stands with her arms crossed.

"Where are our bikes?"

"Oh yeah, we crashed them" Seb smiles. Jack pantomimed the bikes vrooming along, then meeting a fiery end. Jack couldn't lie, it was a bit fun taunting EJ after what they've been though

"Here's a thought," Kourtney says. "We could try to be friends. Put our history behind us and celebrate our differences. Yeah?" She pulls out her red wristlet, which contained several blue spheres, and jingled it. "Who wants gum?"

"Let's go" Gina orders, but Nini stops her. "Uh, no, I'm in charge. Let's go."

The audience erupts in a round of applause. "Ladies and gentlemen, this is a 5-minute intermission," Val says behind the stage with a microphone. "Don't forget you can order a behind-the-scenes "docuseries" of the production in the works right outside. And remember, vote for Camp Shallow Lake for the LA Theater Competition. Thank you."

Harper walks out of the bathroom and sees Jack approaching her. "Hey, just wanted to check up on you. See if you're not totally depressed."

"Thanks, Jack, I'm fine."

"Harpy?"

That voice. Harper turns around and sees...

"Dad?"

PLOT TWIST! Harper's dad is here! Again, please do not expect a face reveal because I do not know what he would look like. Use your imagination! And both Transformations worked! Everything is going smooth sailing right now. You'll just have to wait until Act 2 to see how it all plays out. What do guys think Howie is hiding? After Act 2, everything, and I mean...Everything will be revealed. It's all coming out of the dark. What about EJ? Do you think whatever college he's going to will accept him? What college is he even going to anyway? It has him freaked, either way, we'll just have to wait and find out. Hands up if you love the Descendants franchise. And ZOMBIES 3 COMES OUT TOMORROW!!! I CAN'T WAIT! I'm gonna watch it at 1 or 2 to savor the moment, I can't wait to see what happens. Stay safe and have a great day or night, wherever you are.