nowhere to go but up ; pg
[COLD OPEN]
Camera shot of DAVE’s face, then turns 180 to show him standing in front of stairwell up to McKinley.
[Goldfield’s Treehouse plays as Dave jogs up stairwell and pushes double doors open. Students mill around, and split second later, time slows down for Dave, so students rushing past are all blurs. Dave walks through the crowd. TINA slows down, and is seen giving a shy wave before entering the blur again. ARTIE glides in, and exchanges windmill hive five. Inaudible words are exchanged, with ARTIE nodding his head. MIKE follows up from behind with a fistbump.]
MIKE
Hey, you coming tonight?
DAVE
Yeah, ‘course!
MIKE
Aight, cool, man!
[DAVE waves, before turning and strolling down hallway still at same steady pace. Pan horizontally as Dave walks through the blur of students. QUINN, BRITTANY, SANTANA come up next, and all smile teasingly, blowing him exaggerated kisses. DAVE reciprocates with a grin on his face. Not long after, MERCEDES and KURT come into view, leaning against lockers. MERCEDES gives him a sassy headshake.]
MERCEDES
Mmm, mmm, mm. You’re actually here on time?
DAVE
[shoves his hands in his pockets and rolls his eyes] Hysterical.
[The words turn inaudible, but all three have grins on their faces, joking together with KURT rolling his eyes every now and then, shaking his head. DAVE finally leaves, winking at the two, only to run into PUCK, FINN, and AZIMIO. ]
AZIMIO
(coming forward for a half-handshake, half-hug) Got the place ready. Basement is loaded and stocked, and gotta karaoke machine from my aunt.
DAVE
You are an absolute fucking savior, dude.
AZIMIO
Hell yeah, I don’t half-ass anything when it comes to my boys.
[LAUREN comes from behind, and gives DAVE a playful push, though it does send him stumbling forward a bit.]
DAVE
What’s up?
LAUREN
Happy birthday, Dave! I’m sorry I didn’t manage to get you something, I just heard it this morning-
DAVE
Zizes, It’s not my birthday, it’s-
LAUREN’s face is blank, until it turns into a glower, and she sides-steps DAVE, stomping in PUCK’S direction.
LAUREN
This is the THIRD time this month…PUCK!
[DAVE’s phone rings, and he pulls it out of his pocket and answers without looking at the screen.]
DAVE
Change of plans, Anderson, it’s 7 at Az’s.
BLAINE
Alright, but can you please-
DAVE
No.
BLAINE
I swear I won’t tell this time!
DAVE
You’re the reason why 8 plus hours of setting up for Mercedes’ surprise party went to waste last time.
BLAINE
That’s only because you guys made me bring all those fondue pots-
DAVE
(rolls eyes, though grin is still on face) 7. Az. Be there.
BLAINE
(laughs) Fine, fine.
[DAVE shuts off his phone, and spots out RACHEL by her locker, jogging slightly towards her.]
DAVE
Berry!
RACHEL
(wheels around sharply on her heels to face DAVE) Everything is set up, and more importantly, Sam thinks we’re all coming to watch a documentary about documentaries.
[DAVE squints slightly, but shrugs.]
DAVE
Whatever gets it done.
RACHEL
(tilts her head slightly) You’ve changed, you know that?
DAVE
(teasing) I’ve got a whole new set of morons to worry about now, if that’s what you meant. It’s cool, though. (looks to the side, shrugging) I like it.
RACHEL
(smiling) Catch you in Glee?
DAVE
Wouldn’t miss it for the world.
Camera shot of DAVE’s face, then turns 180 to show him standing in front of stairwell up to McKinley.
[Goldfield’s Treehouse plays as Dave jogs up stairwell and pushes double doors open. Students mill around, and split second later, time slows down for Dave, so students rushing past are all blurs. Dave walks through the crowd. TINA slows down, and is seen giving a shy wave before entering the blur again. ARTIE glides in, and exchanges windmill hive five. Inaudible words are exchanged, with ARTIE nodding his head. MIKE follows up from behind with a fistbump.]
MIKE
Hey, you coming tonight?
DAVE
Yeah, ‘course!
MIKE
Aight, cool, man!
[DAVE waves, before turning and strolling down hallway still at same steady pace. Pan horizontally as Dave walks through the blur of students. QUINN, BRITTANY, SANTANA come up next, and all smile teasingly, blowing him exaggerated kisses. DAVE reciprocates with a grin on his face. Not long after, MERCEDES and KURT come into view, leaning against lockers. MERCEDES gives him a sassy headshake.]
MERCEDES
Mmm, mmm, mm. You’re actually here on time?
DAVE
[shoves his hands in his pockets and rolls his eyes] Hysterical.
[The words turn inaudible, but all three have grins on their faces, joking together with KURT rolling his eyes every now and then, shaking his head. DAVE finally leaves, winking at the two, only to run into PUCK, FINN, and AZIMIO. ]
AZIMIO
(coming forward for a half-handshake, half-hug) Got the place ready. Basement is loaded and stocked, and gotta karaoke machine from my aunt.
DAVE
You are an absolute fucking savior, dude.
AZIMIO
Hell yeah, I don’t half-ass anything when it comes to my boys.
[LAUREN comes from behind, and gives DAVE a playful push, though it does send him stumbling forward a bit.]
DAVE
What’s up?
LAUREN
Happy birthday, Dave! I’m sorry I didn’t manage to get you something, I just heard it this morning-
DAVE
Zizes, It’s not my birthday, it’s-
LAUREN’s face is blank, until it turns into a glower, and she sides-steps DAVE, stomping in PUCK’S direction.
LAUREN
This is the THIRD time this month…PUCK!
[DAVE’s phone rings, and he pulls it out of his pocket and answers without looking at the screen.]
DAVE
Change of plans, Anderson, it’s 7 at Az’s.
BLAINE
Alright, but can you please-
DAVE
No.
BLAINE
I swear I won’t tell this time!
DAVE
You’re the reason why 8 plus hours of setting up for Mercedes’ surprise party went to waste last time.
BLAINE
That’s only because you guys made me bring all those fondue pots-
DAVE
(rolls eyes, though grin is still on face) 7. Az. Be there.
BLAINE
(laughs) Fine, fine.
[DAVE shuts off his phone, and spots out RACHEL by her locker, jogging slightly towards her.]
DAVE
Berry!
RACHEL
(wheels around sharply on her heels to face DAVE) Everything is set up, and more importantly, Sam thinks we’re all coming to watch a documentary about documentaries.
[DAVE squints slightly, but shrugs.]
DAVE
Whatever gets it done.
RACHEL
(tilts her head slightly) You’ve changed, you know that?
DAVE
(teasing) I’ve got a whole new set of morons to worry about now, if that’s what you meant. It’s cool, though. (looks to the side, shrugging) I like it.
RACHEL
(smiling) Catch you in Glee?
DAVE
Wouldn’t miss it for the world.