Speechless (Kurt Hummel x OC) Glee AU

CHAPTER NINETEEN

Season 1, Episode 19:  Dream On

Special Guest Stars:  Neil Patrick Harris as Bryan Ryan and Idina Menzel as Shelby Corcoran

Ownership of Glee:  FOX, Ryan Murphy, Ian Brennan, Brad Falchuk

= = =

Will is in the choir room standing next to a blonde man. "Okay, guys, listen up. This is Mr. Ryan. He's a member of the school board, and he would like to say a few words. I-I just want you guys to listen critically and know that what he's saying is just one of many opinions."

Bryan looks at the Glee kids. "Take out a piece of paper. And on that paper, I want you to write down your biggest dream. A dream that means so much, you're afraid to admit it even to yourself." He instructs.

Rachel writes down "Huge Star," Puck writes down "3some," Quinn writes down "No Stretch Marks," Violet writes "Family" and "Teacher." Bryan goes over and crumples up Artie's paper.

"Your dream is never going to happen. Ninety one percent of you will spend your entire lives living in Allen County, Ohio. So unless you wrote down that your dream was to "work for a mid-market health insurance provider" or "find an entry level job in an elderly care facility," you're going to be very disappointed." Bryan says.

"This is really depressing." Mercedes states.

"I'm going to guess that a lot of your dreams involve "showbiz." Well, let me tell you. Showbiz dreams are the most unrealistic of them all." Bryan claims.

Tina looks crushed. "But... that's what I want to do with my life."

"Oh, look, I'm not trying to hurt your feelings, I'm just trying to spare you disappointment." Bryan says.

Will looks annoyed. "I think we get your point."

Bryan smirks. "Aw, well, Schuester here's a prime example. He used to have that glimmer of hope in his eyes that I can see right now in all of yours. But he couldn't make it happen for himself, so he now has to try and convince you all that it will happen for you. Guess what? His dream didn't work out. And neither will yours."

Tina sobs and everyone feels bad for her.

Will is angry now. "Okay, you're done here."

Bryan looks at Will. "You would be wise to show me some respect."

"You've said your piece. Now get out." Will says through gritted teeth.

Bryan smiles. "Well, Schuester, I should thank you. You've made my decision about which program to cut a lot easier."

= = =

Jesse meets with Shelby in a car in the pouring rain. "She has the tape. She won't listen to it." He informs.

Shelby looks shocked. "What? She has to listen to it. That's the point of all this."

Jesse sighs. "I'm doing my best! Look, when you told me to seduce her..."

"'Befriend' her was the word I used, actually." Shelby corrected.

Jesse sighs. "Whatever. The thing is, I was into it because I thought it would be a good acting exercise, but now I think I kind of like her. I don't want her to get hurt."

Shelby looks at him "Look, one more week, this will all be done; you can come back to Vocal Adrenaline where you belong."

"I don't understand why you don't just go up to her and Violet and say, 'Hi, my name's Shelby. I'm your mom.'" Jesse says.

Shelby sighs. "I signed a contract. I can't contact them until they're both 18. They have to come to me. That's why they have to listen to the tape. Once they hear it, they won't be able to sleep until they find me. I answered an ad in the paper. Nine months work here would make me enough money to live in New York for two years. Their dads seemed like nice guys, so I went for it. I never got to hold either of them. And I only saw them for a second when they were cleaning them off. It was through a bunch of nurses, but they turned their little heads, and they looked at me. I've failed as an actress. My walls are lined with trophies instead of wedding pictures, but through all of that...I only have one regret. You get her to listen to that tape." Shelby says, knowing that Jesse can get Rachel to listen to the tape.