Season 1, Episode 9:  Wheels

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

/ / /

Angie was sitting next to Artie in the choir room when she happened to overhear Quinn and Finn's conversation.

"What about target?" Quinn asks.

Finn sighs. "Tried. Not hiring."

Quinn rubs at her temples. "Another doctor bill came to my parents' house last night, Finn. We're lucky that I'm clever and intercepted it. But we have to start paying these doctor's bills or they're going to go to a collection agency and then my parents are going to find out that I'm with child. Your child."

Will walks in and starts handing out sheet music. "All right, guys. We're doing a new number for Sectionals. I know that pop songs have sort of been our signature pieces, but I did a little research on past winners, and it turns out that the judges like songs that are more accessible. Stuff they know. Uh, standards, Broadway."

Kurt looks at the sheet music excitedly. "'Defying Gravity?' I have an iPod shuffle dedicated exclusively to selections from Wicked. This is amazing." He says.

Angie lets out a squeal of excitement. Will smiles at them.

"Think you can handle it, Rachel?" He asks. Angie's grin fades quickly.

Rachel smirks. "It's my go-to shower song. It's also my ring tone."

Kurt looks crushed. Angie gives him a comforting smile.

Mercedes pipes in. "Why do we have to go all vanilla on this song? See, what we need is my chocolate thunder."

Will smiles. "Okay, we don't have time to rearrange a song for you, Mercedes. Rachel is singing it. Don't worry, we'll find something for you to dip in chocolate. On to item two. The school won't pay for the special bus we need to take Artie and his wheelchair with us to Sectionals." He reveals.

Tina gapes. "W-w-what?!"

"That's completely unfair." Rachel says.

"I agree. Mr. Shue, the school budget is whack. Most of the money goes to football and Cheerios." Angie states. She quickly glances at Brittany, Santana, and the football boys. "No offense to you guys."

Will sighs. "So we're going to have to raise money to pay for it ourselves. See, when I was in glee club, and we needed new silk cummerbunds for Regionals, we held a bake sale." He announces.

There's a pause before there's scattered laughter.

"You're joking, right? I mean, bake sales are kind of bougie." Santana claims.

"So hip people stopped eating delicious sugary treats?" Will asks.

"It's not that. It's most of us don't know how to bake. I find recipes confusing." Brittany says.

"My family is fully committed to takeout." Rachel proudly states.

Finn nods. "Yeah, Mr. Schue, kids are busier than when you went here. We've got homework and football and teen pregnancy ... lunch."

"Can't Artie's dad just take him?" Mercedes asks. Angie bites back a snarky comment.

"I can't believe how insensitive you're all being. Are you a team?" Will asks.

Quinn sighs. "Of course. But Artie understands, don't you, Artie?" She asks.

Artie looks dejected. "Oh... Of course. I-It's cool. Anything that takes away our time from rehearsing doesn't serve the team." He says.

"They're all a bunch of hypocrites Artie. I got your back." Angie tells her brother.

Artie smiles and fist bumps with Angie. "Thanks Angie. That makes me feel better." He says.

The bell rings, and Angie wanders down to the health room, spotting a wheelchair. She looks at the health teacher. "Can I borrow this for the week? I'll give it back I promise." She says. The teacher nods.

Angie gets into the chair, wheeling herself down the hall to the choir room. "Hey Mr. Shue. Hey Artie." She waves.

Will takes a double look. "Angie? Why are you in a wheelchair?" He asks.

Artie doesn't hesitate to shoot her a smile when he sees her wheelchair.

Angie smiles. "Well for one, it's Disability Awareness Week. And two, I thought I'd show my support for Artie by using a wheelchair all week."

Artie blushes a bit. "You didn't have to do that." He says.

"I wanted to. It's not fair how they treated you at rehearsal. They don't understand what it's like to live a day in your chair. Besides... I will never stop using a wheelchair for a week when it comes to you, Artie." Angie says.

When Artie got into his accident in 2nd grade, Angie — who was in 3rd grade — used a school wheelchair for 2 weeks so her brother wouldn't feel completely and totally alone.

Artie smiles at the memory. "Thanks. I appreciate it. Can I use the auditorium this afternoon to rehearse, Mr. Schue? Some of the band equipment's in there." He asks the teacher.

Will smiles. "Sure."

Artie wheels away, Angie not far behind him.

"Want some company?" She asks.

Artie smiles. "Absolutely. Hey do you wanna rehearse with me?" He asks.

"I'd love to Artie." Angie responds.

/ / /

In the auditorium where Artie is on stage with Angie and a guitar. He starts to sing a jazzy version of 'Dancing With Myself,' with Angie providing harmonies.

[Dancing With Myself by Artie and Angie]

Artie and Angie finish the song back in the auditorium. When they've finished, they leave the stage. Will was backstage watching them.

/ / /

Angie is sitting next to Finn the next day in Glee Club, but she's in her wheelchair. She's gotten strange looks from everyone, but doesn't care.

"I have something I'd like to say. I want to audition for the Wicked solo." Kurt announces.

There are murmurs of encouragement, especially from Angie. "Do it Kurt."

Will looks at the boy. "Kurt, there's a high F in it."

"That's well within my range." Kurt retorts.

There are several ooooh's.

"Well, I think Rachel's going to be fine for the female lead, but I'm happy to have you try out something else, Kurt. And we'll make sure it's got a killer high note." Will promises.

Kurt sits back down. Angie and Artie both pat his back.

Artie smiles slightly. "You tried."

"Anyway, I wanted to say something to you guys. I was a little disappointed at how you were all so willing to take the bus to get to Sectionals and make Artie drive by himself with his dad. We're a team, guys. We're in this glee club together." Will explains.

Mercedes looks at Mr. Shue. "Artie doesn't care. His dad drives him everywhere." She states.

Artie looks hurt. "I do care. It kind of hurt my feelings."

"We didn't think you would take it personally." Rachel says insensitively.

"Well, you're irritating and a pain in the ass most of the time, but don't take that personally." Angie mocks.

"What're you doing in a wheelchair, Angie? You're not injured." Rachel states.

"No I'm not. This is an act of support for Artie this week. And by the way, you're all a bunch of hypocrites. You talk about accepting what makes others different, yet you completely shut Artie out when he needs us the most. That doesn't fly with me. Artie's my brother, and he comes before any of you in this room. Maybe you guys should reconsider what it means to be a true friend. Otherwise, you would be more compassionate about Artie and him having to use a wheelchair." Angie snaps.

No one dares to speak until Will clears his throat. "Angie's right. I don't know if you guys really understand how much harder Artie has to work just to keep up."

"Preach." Artie says.

"We're riding to Sectionals together. Or we're not going at all. And to pay for the bus, we're having a bake sale." He decides.

Groans come from around the room.

Will then goes to the door to let in several people pushing empty wheelchairs. "St. Ignatius nursing home was having a tag sale, and my AV club friends here agreed to help out. I want to say thank you to Angie for inspiring me to make this decision. For the next week, each of you is going to spend three hours a day in a wheelchair. Oh, oh, oh. And we're doing a wheelchair number." He reveals.

Angie smirks at their shocked faces. "Fasten your seatbelts kiddies. You're about to get on the Artie Abrams Express."

/ / /

Will is talking to Rachel after talking to Burt earlier in Figgins's office. "I know this is going to be hard on you, Rachel, but I can't, in good conscience, preach about the importance of helping Artie and then reject Kurt's request out of hand."

Rachel looks like a kicked puppy. "So, you're giving him my part? This is totally unfair. You gave me the part." She vents.

"And I will give it to you again. If you can sing the song better than Kurt." He says.

He waits for Rachel to take her seat in her wheelchair before he continues. "Now, all of you are going to judge, and in the spirit of full access, each of you is going to get a vote. Whatever singer has the most votes, gets the part."

"This isn't going to be about talent, Mr. Schuester. It's going to be a popularity contest." Rachel says smugly.

"Stop right there. Mr. Shue, if I may." Kurt says and wheels to the front of the room and faces the rest of the group. "We all know I'm more popular than Rachel. And I dress better than her. But I want you all to promise me that you're going to vote for whoever sings the song better. Raise your right hand." He says.

Everyone raises their right hand with varying levels of enthusiasm.

Brittany raises her left hand. "Your right hand, Brittany."

Santana pats Brittany's right hand. "It's this one." She whispers.

"Sorry." Brittany says quietly.

"Repeat after me. I promise to vote for whoever sings the song better." Kurt says.

"I promise to vote for whoever sings the song better." New Directions recites.

Kurt smiles. He faces Rachel. "It's on." He does a twirl in his wheelchair and goes back to his position amongst the group.

The school bell rings.

"All right, guys." Will dismisses.

Everyone but Rachel leaves.

"Maybe one of these days you'll find a way to create teaching moments without ruining my life." She states. She goes to exit and bumps her wheelchair into the doorway on the way out.

/ / /

Kurt, Quinn, Santana and Puck are on cupcake duty at lunch.

Angie is sitting a few tables away, preparing her packed lunch she'd made at the house. She sees Finn struggling to get condiments whilst in his chair, so she wheels over.

"Mind if I try?" She asks. Finn gives a sigh.

"If you can." He replies.

Angie sees the ketchup packs he's trying to reach for. She parks her chair on its hind wheels, pushes herself up using just her arms, and grabs two packets. She settles into her chair, handing the ketchup packets to a gobsmacked Finn.

"How-How did you do that?" He asks with wide eyes.

Angie shrugs. "Practice." She answers as they wheel to their table. She wheels herself backwards and returns to her original place.

Finn looks at her with awe in his eyes. "You can do things so easily in that chair."

Angie nods. "I spent two weeks in a wheelchair in 3rd grade after Artie got into the accident that put him in the chair. And every year for Disability Awareness Week, I use a school wheelchair to support Artie." She explains.

Finn's taken aback by the sheer loyalty Angie has to Artie. "You must really love him."

Angie smiled. "I'd do anything for Artie."

Her loyalty is another reason added to the list of things that's made Finn fall in love with her all over again for years.

/ / /

Artie and Angie are helping the New Directions use their chairs. Right now, it's a double turn.

"The key to a double turn is to just go for it. You push with the right wheel and pull as hard as you can with the left, and find a spot on the wall to spot you so you don't get dizzy." He says. "Angie, care to demonstrate?"

Angie performs a double turn, spotting a place on the wall so she doesn't get dizzy.

"You do it just like that." Artie says, beaming at his sister. Angie beams back.

Everyone starts doing double turns, with varying levels of enthusiasm and success.

"Okay, guys, take five, all right? Oh, remember to show up early on Thursday. It's Rachel versus Kurt for the big solo." Will says.

Everyone starts wheeling out.

/ / /

It's Thursday. Time for the big diva-off. "All right, welcome to the glee club's first official diva-off." Will says. Everyone cheers and gets situated. "Let's get this party started."

Kurt and Rachel both sing 'Defying Gravity'.

[Defying Gravity by Rachel and Kurt]

When the song comes up to the high F, Kurt 's voice cracks while Rachel manages to nail it. Everyone applauds. Angie gives Kurt an encouraging smile. He returns it somewhat disappointed.

"Good job, Kurt. Good job." Will says.

In an instant, Angie realizes Kurt threw the entire thing.

/ / /

Later that afternoon, everyone's gathered in the choir room. "Twelve hundred dollars. That's enough for the show bus and two cases of Natty Light for the ride home." Puck says, handing Mr. Shue the wad of cash from the bake sale.

"Oh, dream on, buddy." Will says. The group cheers and applauds. "I'm very proud of you guys. Artie and Angie... Why don't you two bring this to Principal Figgins yourselves?" He offers.

The group cheers and applauds again. Artie and Angie look hesitant.

Finn looks at Artie. "What's wrong, dude?"

"I really appreciate what you guys did for me, but I'm not the only kid in a wheelchair at this school. And I'm sure there will be others after I graduate. And I know how important it is for all of us to go to Sectionals together, but I think I'd rather just get a ride from my dad and use this for a handicapped ramp in the auditorium." Artie says.

"Are you sure?" Angie asks.

Artie nods. "100%."

Will smiles. "Any objections?" He asks. No one objects.

"Well, sure beats having to carry him in every day." Finn jokes.

/ / /

The New Directions are in the auditorium, onstage in their wheelchairs, performing 'Proud Mary' in their wheelchairs.

"This one's for you, Artie!" Finn says before the performance really starts.

[Proud Mary by New Directions]

When the performance is over, Will gives them a standing ovation. They chatter happily amongst themselves.

/ / /

2459 words

Songs Mentioned/Performed
1. Dancing With Myself - Artie and Angie 
2. Defying Gravity - Rachel and Kurt
3. Proud Mary - New Directions

We're getting close to the halfway mark in season 1!

Next update:  Ballad

2 episodes to Hairography