Season 3, Episode 1:  The Purple Piano Project

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

= = =

Violet Corcoran makes her way down the halls of McKinley High, her arm linked with Kurt's. It's a new year. Kurt's senior year. Violet's junior year.

They both have big plans for the year.

Violet smiles as they walk with their heads held high.

The two of them went through hell and back last year.

Now, they're back stronger than ever before.

= = =

The New Directions have gathered into the choir room for the first glee club meeting of the year. Violet notices that three people are missing:  Lauren, Quinn, and Sam.

Tina looks at Will. "Mr. Schue, why are all of our trophies in the middle of the room?"

"I was sure that our nationals trophy would grow during the summer." Brittany says.

Will smiles. "I want this image burned into your mind. This is what the difference between first and twelfth place looks like. It's also what it feels like."

Puck groans. "Are you planning on bumming us out all year long?"

They all sit down.

Will shakes his head. "No. I'm planning on pushing you harder than you've ever been pushed. We made it to nationals last year. This year I'm not gonna let anything or anyone stop us from winning at all. I let you down last year. I lost focus, let some Broadway pipe dream get in the way."

"And we're really sorry that the guy who replaced you in April Rhodes' musical won the Tony. I mean, I can only imagine your regret." Rachel states.

"Yeah, you know what I regret? Being the laughingstock of the show-choir world." Mercedes pipes up.

Artie nods. "And that's saying something."

"Mercedes has a point. Finn and Rachel's "the kiss that missed" already has twenty-thousand views on Youtube, and the comments section is just full of pithy banter like 'why is that T-Rex eating the Jew?'" Kurt says.

Finn sighs. "How many times do we have to apologize for that?"

Rachel nods. "Yeah, no more apologizing."

"The school hates us even more now." Mike says.

"Which is why we have to work even harder this year to recruit new members. We're three men down." Will says.

Santana nods. "Yeah, only because Puckerman couldn't convince Zizes to stay."

Puck nods. "She's the one that got away - really, really slowly."

"Where's Quinn?" Charlie asks.

Artie shrugs. "MIA. No one's heard from her. It's sad, I miss her."

Mercedes shakes her head. "No one's gonna join, Mr. Schue."

Will smiles. "They will. All they need is a little inspiration...and I happen to have some, courtesy of Al Motta's of Motta's Pianos. Bring them in, guys. You guys are gonna love this."

Three purple pianos are brought into the choir room.

Kurt smiles. "Whoah, wow, okay. If there are purple pianos involved in this, I am on board."

Will sits on a piano. "These pianos were repossessed from foreclosed homes. They're cast-offs, just like all of us. Used, in need of repairs..."

"But they're still capable of making beautiful music." Tina finishes.

Will nods. "Right. So Mr. Motta, as a lover of the arts, agreed to donate them to Glee. I fixed them up, painted them purple, and the Purple Piano Project was born. Now I'm going to be placing these grape-y uprights randomly throughout the school and whenever you see one, no matter what you're doing, I want you to sing a song. Now use this assignment to attract kids who are just like you. Kids who can't keep the music inside. Those are the kinds of additions that we need to win it all this year. Now for many of you, this is your last year. Let's make it special."

Violet looks at Kurt with a smile.

This year should be fun.

= = =

Blaine and Charlie are having coffee at the Lima Bean.

"You're quiet." Blaine states.

"No, I'm being passive aggressive. You promised that by the first day of school you'd make a decision. And yet, there you sit, cute as ever, but still in your Warbler's blazer." Charlie pouts.

Blaine sighs. "I just can't bail on the Warblers. Those guys are my friends."

"Okay, alright, fine, alright. One final sales pitch and then we can talk about making over Nancy Grace. If you stay at Dalton, you and I are competitors." Charlie states.

Blaine nods. "That's true."

Charlie sighs. "And I'm just not sure that our budding love can survive that."

"We have the strength. I have to transfer because you're just afraid that I'm gonna beat you at sectionals." Blaine says.

Charlie shakes his head. "No, I'm afraid that Imma beat you. And I know what that does to you - when I win. Look I mean honestly, I just, I just wanna see you more. I want my junior year to be magic, and the only way that's gonna happen is if I get to spend every minute of every day with you."

Blaine smiles and holds Charlie's hand.

= = =

Santana, Brittany, Violet and Quinn are talking by the football field.

"Quinn, look, this is our Senior year and frankly, being on the Cheerios isn't the same without you and Violet. I know Violet's a junior, so she has another year." Santana says.

Quinn smirks. "You guys are such suckers for going back to Coach Sylvester."

Violet hates Quinn's new appearance. A nose ring, pink hair, a Ryan Seacrest tattoo, and she smells like smoke. Quinn's officially become a skank.

Santana rolls her eyes. "Come on, screw her. This is for us. We could win two nationals championships this year. We joined the Cheerios together, we joined Glee Club together. We all slept with Puckerman the same year."

Brittany nods. "Mhmm."

Violet goes to say something but Santana beats her to it.

"Well... Violet didn't sleep with Puckerman. But still, we're like besties for life." Santana says.

Brittany nods. "Yeah, Come on, Quinn. You know, we used to be like the Three Musketeers and then we became like Twizzlers when Violet joined. And now Santana and I are like Almond Joy, Violet's like Reese's, and you are like a Jolly Rancher that fell in the ash tray."

Quinn rolls her eyes. "You guys never understood the pressure I was under. It sucked. I'm not interested in the boys or the makeup or the polyester outfits."

"Look, I've got a bar of soap and a bottle of peroxide with your name on it in my locker. Come on, Quinn, you can't break up the Unholy Foursome." Violet says.

Quinn shrugs. "People grow apart. Deal with it. I've got new friends now, and they accept me for who I am."

Violet puts her arms over her chest. She has a disappointed look on her face.

"I expected her to be so much more than she is now."

= = =

Rachel walks up to the glee club at lunch. "Why are you guys ignoring Mr. Schuester's assignment?"

Finn looks confused. "Wait, there's a purple piano in here?"

"Wow, how did any of us miss that?" Mercedes says sarcastically.

Rachel looks persistent. "We have to do the number, okay?"

Artie shakes his head. "We have to survive lunch. It's not fair that Mr. Schue put the piano in here. It's too much pressure."

Kurt nods. "I agree. That is like wearing a red dress to a bullfight."

Rachel sighs. "The point of the assignment was to find people who couldn't help but join, okay? The more people that we sing in front of, the more chances we have of getting one, okay? It's simple mathematics."

"Which I stopped attending years ago." Puck adds.

Finn stands up. "No, no. Hold on. Rachel's right. How's anyone supposed to believe we can go to Nationals if we don't even believe in ourselves."

Rachel smiles. "Thank you."

Finn nods to the drummer. They sing "We Got the Beat."

[We Got the Beat by New Directions]

When they finish, Becky tosses a cup of vegetables at Rachel. Another girl throws spaghetti at Puck.

Violet takes this as her opportunity to run away from the impending food fight.

= = =

Artie and the rest of New Directions are covered in food — with the exception of Violet. "I thought slushees were bad, but spaghetti sauce in the eye is so much worse."

Brittany looks into her Cheerios uniform. "I have pepperoni in my bra."

Santana looks weirded out. "Those are your nipples."

Mike sighs. "Mr. Schue, if you are trying to break us down to rebuild us, it's working."

Mercedes nods. "Not one single person was inspired by our hot lunch jam to try out, Mr. Schue."

Sugar arrives. "It's true. You guys sucked ass."

Rachel looks offended. "I'm sorry, and you are?"

Sugar smirks. "I'm Sugar Motta, and I have self-diagnosed Aspergers so i can pretty much say whatever I want. I'm like a diplomat's daughter."

Will sighs. "How can we help you, Sugar?"

Sugar smiles. "Here's the deal. I'm awesome, and I want to be a big, big star. And when I saw you guys singing and dancing in the cafeteria, I thought, "I am so much better than you." Sorry, Aspergers."

Will smiles. "Well, great! You see guys, you have inspired an audition. Good job! Sugar, why don't you show us what you can do. Take your time, whenever you're ready."

Kurt whispers to Violet. "Sugar Motta. Why does that name sound familiar?"

Violet looks back at Kurt. "Oh, her Dad is the rich dude that donated the purple pianos."

Sugar smiles. "Get ready to taste some sweet ear candy." She says and turns to Brad. "Hit it, hottie."

Sugar sings and dances to "Big Spender." Everyone is cringing during the performance.

[Big Spender by Sugar]

Artie winces. "Her ears should get to park in the handicapped spot."

Will looks on in disbelief. "Holy...shhhh-ugar!"

Sugar smiles. "Text me, RE: the rehearsal sched."

Will nods. "Of course."

As soon as she leaves, Rachel talks. "Okay - I think I speak for everyone when I say 'never gonna happen.'"

Will sighs. "Guys, I know she was...a little rough, but we have always had the policy that everyone who tries out gets in."

"You're not doing her any good sheltering Sugar from the truth, okay? High school is where you learn it's survival of the fittest. She's gonna drag the New Directions down, and that's not fair for those of us who don't want to spend our lives rotting in this insignificant town. You said the other day that you would do anything to get us to Nationals, okay? And she is gonna keep us from winning that elusive crown. If anything, she is gonna kill all of our chances." Rachel rants.

As much as Violet didn't enjoy Sugar's performance, she would've been a great addition to New Directions.

= = =

The next morning, Violet takes Kurt by the hand and drags him all the way down to the auditorium, where a purple piano is sitting onstage.

"Okay... I think I know where this is going." Kurt says.

Violet smiles. "Well I think I still need to repay you for that wonderful performance you gave me when you transferred back to McKinley. And what better way to do it than incorporating it into the assignment for the week?"

Kurt blushes. "Baby you don't have to repay me."

Violet giggles. "See, I wanted to. You serenaded me. Now it's my turn to serenade you."

Violet begins playing and singing 'Count On Me' by Bruno Mars.

[Count On Me by Violet]

By the end of the song, Kurt's sat down next to Violet on the piano seat, just looking at her in adoration and awe.

When she finishes singing, Kurt takes the opportunity to give her a slow, romantic and passionate kiss. Violet kisses back and smiles into it.

They were so lucky to have each other.

= = =

In the school hallway where Blaine is walking by himself, adjusting his bowtie. He approaches Charlie, who is at his locker.

Blaine smiles. "Hey you."

Charlie smiles sadly. "Aren't you a sight for these sore eyes."

Blaine keeps smiling. "Bad day?"

They leave Charlie's locker to walk down the hallway.

Charlie sighs. "Bad week, more like it. Wait, what are you doing here? Shouldn't you be at a Warbler practice? You know, putting the fine-tuning touches on a new Katy Perry showstopper."

Blaine chuckles. "Okay, for someone who loves clothes so much, I can't believe you haven't noticed that I'm not in my Warbler outfit."

They pause at the end of the hallway.

Charlie takes a minute to take in his boyfriend's appearance. Then they hug. "Wait, wait. Wait, wait, you didn't do this for me, did you? Because if you did this for me it would be very romantic for one but it could lead to resentment which could lead to anger which could lead to a horrible, horrible, nasty breakup like you know on the bachelorette have you watched that episode - "

Blaine smiles and cuts Charlie's rambling off. "Hey, hey. I came here for me because I can't stand to be apart form the person I love."

Charlie smiles. "Well, I guess we'll just have to find a way to ease you into the New Directions now, huh?"

Blaine smiles. "I already have that figured out."

He performs "It's Not Unusual" in the courtyard with the Cheerios.

[It's Not Unusual by Blaine]

At the end, the Cheerios pour gas from flasks all over the purple piano. Quinn drops her cigarette onto the piano and it catches fire.

Violet hugs Blaine when they walk back inside the building. "Was he surprised?" She asks.

Blaine chuckles. "Definitely surprised."

= = =

Will smiles. "Ladies and Gentleman, let's hear it for Glee Club's newest member, Blaine Anderson."

Violet, Kurt and Charlie cheer the loudest.

Blaine smiles. "Thanks so much, everyone. I'm so thrilled to be here. It's gonna be a great year, I can feel it. We're all gonna go to nationals!"

Lukewarm applause.

Will sees a lot of tense faces. "Is there a problem, guys?"

Finn looks at Blaine. "I just want Blaine to know that we're not the Warblers. You know, we're not into the bells and whistles or the ball-hogging."

Blaine sits with the rest of the club. "I'm sorry, did I do something wrong?"

Violet shakes her head. "No you didn't."

Finn nods. "Well yeah, you set a bonfire in our courtyard."

Santana rolls her eyes. "Actually, doorknob, that was an act of political protest."

"Which leads me to the next order of business. Santana, you need to leave. It was you and the Cheerios who set fire to our piano. How could you do that?" Will asks.

Santana looks at him. "Mr. Schue, Sue made me."

"Brittany didn't do it." Will says.

Brittany nods. "Well yeah, I was gonna help, but I dunno, I'm the watersign, so..."

Will looks at Santana in disappointment. "You're banned from Glee. Don't come back unless you can be as loyal to this club as the rest of the people in this room." He says. He holds out an arm to the door, indicating that Santana should leave.

Santana gets up to walk out. "You know what? I could use a break."

Mercedes smiles. "You know, good for you, Mr. Schue. It's about time we got some allegiance up in here."

Will sighs. "I said it before and I will say it again. If we want to win Nationals this year, we need to be united. Rachel, you had an announcement?"

Rachel gets up and looks at New Directions. "Yeah. Umm, after pushing the envelope last year, I strongly believe that we should secure the rights to a, shall we say, less controversial show for our school musical. Wait for it...West Side Story!"

Brittany looks confused. "Is that the one with the cats?"

Rachel smiles. "And it just so happens to have a lead role that showcases my talents and essence perfectly: Maria."

Mercedes perks up. "For which there will be open auditions, right? Because Mercedes is feeling extremely pretty this year."

Will smiles. "Kurt, you had something too, right?"

Rachel sits back down. Kurt stands up.

"Kurt Hummel is wading into McKinley High's shark-infested political waters and running for senior class president. I thank you in advance for your votes." Kurt says.

Violet smiles. "I'm proud of you."

Will smiles. "Okay. So much excitement. Now, let's rehearse."

Tina sighs. "Look at what they did to us, Mr. Schue. Just like these purple pianos, they ripped out our guts, threw crap all over us and burned us up."

Will nods. "Yeah, we got hit pretty hard. But, these pianos are still making music, and so are we."

Rachel smiles. "Mr. Schue, as always, you and I are on the exact same page." She says and approaches the front of the room. Brad plays the piano as she begins a number.

= = =

In the auditorium where the glee club rehearses "You Can't Stop the Beat."

[You Can't Stop the Beat by New Directions]

When they finish, they are all smiling and clapping.

= = =

2855 words

Songs Mentioned/Performed
1. We Got the Beat - New Directions
2. Big Spender - Sugar
3. Count On Me - Violet
4. It's Not Unusual - Blaine
5. You Can't Stop the Beat - New Directions

Opening up with season 3 is a little hard, but I made it work.

Next update:  I Am Unicorn

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