Season 3, Episode 22:  Goodbye

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

/ / /

When Will walks into the choir room, he sees his original six members of New Directions — Rachel, Tina, Angie, Mercedes, Kurt and Artie — are performing 'Sit Down, You're Rockin' The Boat' for the rest of New Directions.

[Sit Down, You're Rockin' The Boat by Rachel, Angie, Tina, Mercedes, Kurt and Artie]

Will gets a feeling of deja vu, remembering that first glee club rehearsal 3 years ago. When the six finish, they're in their ending pose, and the rest of the New Directions cheer for their friends.

"That was the most ghetto number I have ever seen." Santana claims.

"Then just call me George Jefferson, because we went from the ghetto to the penthouse. National champs, baby!" Artie says and the others cheer.

Will writes a single word on the board: GOODBYE.

"This week's assignment is easy. Graduation is just a few days away. There's nothing left to prepare for. Our work here is done, so there's only one thing left to do: Say goodbye. Underclassmen, pick some songs to say goodbye to the seniors; seniors, pick a song to say goodbye to us." Will instructs.

"A part of me wants to lock these doors and stay in here with everyone forever." Mercedes says.

"We can use the wastebasket for the toilet, and then we could eat Joe for the food, since she's been here the shortest, so we know her the least." Brittany says.

"I really hope you're about to rap." Quinn says.

Will smiles. "No such luck. I'm leading by example here. This one... is for you guys." He says.

Will sings 'Forever Young' to his seniors.

[Forever Young by Will]

/ / /

"When I first got to McKinley, I was afraid to make eye contact. I didn't talk about my politics, I didn't share what was in my heart. I... oh, let's just call the Cadillac pink and be done with it. I was in the closet. And most days, I was also in the Dumpster. But McKinley has made me a stronger, more socially conscious, fashion-forward person. And perhaps I played some small part in making it possible for tadpole gays all over Lima to be themselves in public.

Not a bad legacy for someone who once pretended to be in lust with Rachel Berry so I wouldn't have to date Mercedes Jones. And now, here I am, about to graduate in mere days. Now if can just get through the next few days without turning into a hot mess teary train wreck." Kurt states in a voiceover.

/ / /

Kurt walks into the auditorium, confused as to why Burt wanted to meet him there.

"Dad... why on earth did you want to meet me in here? Oh, my God — my NYDADA letter came, didn't it?"

Burt shakes his head. "Not yet. Sit down. I want to give you your graduation present."

"Is Elaine Stritch here?" Kurt asks.

"I don't know who that is. See, this is the problem with getting you gifts — I can't make heads or tails about what it is you like." Burt states.

"Dad, I'm easy. Just get me something from Tom Ford's Vanities in Vanity Fair." Kurt answers.

Burt nods. "Good to know. So... somewhere around your seventh birthday, I lost you. Before that, you were a normal kid. I mean, a kid who liked to dust, but... You know, I read you to bed, I put cartoons on TV when you were bored. I taught you how to ride a bike... the normal stuff. And then you turned seven or eight, and you start to become this. And, uh, it was like I was living with an alien. I mean, I tried to keep up, but, uh, you know, once your mom passed, I... I really... I didn't stand a chance." Burt admits.

"You did good, Dad. I am proud of what you and I did together." Kurt says.

"I'm proud of us, too." Burt says. "Do you remember when it started? When we turned a corner and started walking towards each other, rather than in opposite directions?" Burt asks.

Kurt smiles. "Tell me."

"Aw, screw that, I'm gonna show you. It was in the basement of our old house. You were wearing a unitard." Burt reminisces as Tina, Angie and Brittany walk onstage in their leotards.

Kurt's eyes widen. "Oh, God, Dad, please don't do this — "

Burt smiles as he puts on a sequined glove. "Sit down and accept your present. Hit it!"

Burt, Tina, Angie and Brittany re-enact the 'Single Ladies' dance from 3 years ago.

Kurt watches in amusement and awe that his dad remembered this moment.

It made him smile.

/ / /

Kurt and Blaine sit in an empty science room, with Kurt talking about Burt's dancing.

"It was the best graduation gift ever." Kurt comments.

"What about those monogrammed towels I got for you?" Blaine asks.

"Oh, you didn't have to get me a gift, silly." Kurt says as he boops his nose.

Blaine's smile vanishes very briefly. "Um... we've been putting this off for far too long, but don't you think we should have the talk?" Blaine asks.

"Can't we just have two final days of denial?" Kurt asks.

Blaine shakes his head. "No, no, we cannot. This is happening right now, Kurt. It's not some far-off thing in the future. You're graduating, I'm not. You know how hard long-distance relationships can be. We both saw The Notebook." She says.

Kurt smiles. "Do you want to know how I picture the end of my life? Just like in The Notebook, I'm sitting in a nursing home, talking endlessly about my high school sweetheart — my first love — going on and on about every little detail, as if they matter. Only, in my version, he's there with me, telling me to shut up so he can finish watching the American Cinematheque salute to J-Lo." Kurt says.

Blaine smiles as he grabs his boyfriend's hand. "So... we're going to be all right?" He asks.

Kurt nods. "Yes, we're gonna be all right. I told you I'm never saying goodbye to you. We'll figure out this whole long-distance relationship thing. I promise." He tells Blaine.

Blaine nods. "Okay. So have you decided how you're going to say goodbye to everyone else?" He asks.

Kurt gives him a smile.

/ / /

Kurt stands at the center of the choir room. "I wanted to dedicate my goodbye song to all of you, but I wanted to mostly thank the men in the room who have truly inspired me and never saw me for the things that made us different. You only saw me for the ways that we're the same. Because, in this room... it doesn't matter if you're gay, bisexual or straight... what matters is that we're friends." Kurt says.

Kurt sings 'I'll Remember.'

[I'll Remember by Kurt]

Angie smiles as she stands up and claps for his performance. Everyone else that can stand follows her lead.

After applauding, Angie gives her brother a hug. "That was beautiful."

/ / /

Angie smiles as she faces the glee club.

"It's been 3 years since the glee club was formed. And in those 3 years, we've seen friendships build, relationships bloom and crumble, but what we've seen the most is everyone's loyalty to each other. When times got tough, everyone banded together." She states. Everyone nods at her statement.

"We became a family. All of the guys in here with the exception of Finn have become like brothers to me, and all the girls in here have become like sisters to me. Including Rachel. In the last year we've been building a friendship, you've changed into a mature young woman who's not afraid to get what she wants. I can't wait to see what New York brings to you. I wish you the best of luck, and I'll definitely come out to see you sometime." Angie says.

Rachel tears up and places her hands on her heart.

"So I want to dedicate this song to my family... because you guys have helped me get through the good and the bad times over these last 3 years," Angie says.

Angie sings Natasha Bedingfield's 'Unwritten.'

[Unwritten by Angie]

Everyone cheers when Angie finishes. Some have tears in their eyes.

Rachel, Finn and Kurt are the first ones to hop up and hug her. Everyone else follows.

This... this is what Angie's been missing.

This is her family.

/ / /

"And now the seniors of McKinley High School, class of 2012, are going to sing for you." Will says to Brittany and the underclassmen.

Finn smiles. "This is your glee club. Take care of it. It'll take care of you."

The seniors sing 'You Get What You Give' to the underclassmen and Brittany.

[You Get What You Give by New Directions seniors]

/ / /

Will smiles. "Okay, seniors, the underclassmen have something they'd like to say to you." He says and lets the underclassmen and Brittany have the floor.

Artie smiles. "With all the dedications being thrown around McKinley this week, there was one that we wanted to make sure didn't get missed." He says. "Finn. Right now, you're something I never thought possible when I first rolled down these halls. You're my friend — our friend, and my brother. Even before Glee Club was kind of cool, you had our backs. You were on the football team. You were one of the most popular kids in school. You had a lot to lose, and people forget the sacrifices you made. We wanted to thank you." Artie says.

The underclassmen and Brittany sing 'In My Life.'

[In My Life by New Directions underclassmen and Brittany]

/ / /

William McKinley High's graduating class of 2012 begin to walk across the stage.

Meanwhile, the seniors are singing 'Glory Days.'

[Glory Days by New Directions seniors]

"Michael Chang, Jr." Figgins calls.

Mike receives his diploma from Emma.

"Quinn Fabray."

Angie cheers loudly for Quinn from her spot in line. "Yeah Q!"

"Mercedes Jones."

Angie bounces on her toes, watching Mercedes walk across the stage.

"Noah Puckerman."

Angie cheers a little bit louder when Puck gets his diploma.

"Santana Lopez."

As Santana gracefully makes her way across the stage, Angie whistles.

"Kurt Hummel."

Angie cheers louder for Kurt. When Kurt receives his diploma, he blows his boyfriend a kiss and waves to his dad and stepmom.

"Finn Hudson."

Angie cheers the loudest for Finn. Finn gets up from the drums and receives his diploma.

"Rachel Berry."

Angie cheers for Rachel.

"Angela Abrams-Hudson."

Angie walks onstage and receives her diploma from Emma, standing next to Finn.

She can see Artie and the others in the audience.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I present you William McKinley High's class of 2012!" Figgins announces.

The entire crowd cheers for the newly graduated students.

Angie and Finn kiss onstage.

They've graduated.

/ / /

Right after the graduation ceremony, Rachel, Finn and Kurt get their respective college letters. Rachel and Kurt's are from NYADA, and Finn's is from the Actors' Studio.

Finn takes Angie by the hand and walks with her to the choir room. "We're here. We're here." He says.

"I don't understand why I'm here." Angie says.

Kurt smiles at his sister. "You've always been there for the three of us, and we wanted you to be here when we open our letters." He tells her.

"Yeah. Besides... you're a part of the family, so you might as well be here." Finn says.

Angie nods. "So who's going to open their letter first?"

Finn smiles. "I'll go first. I got a good feeling about it."

Rachel looks at the three before her. "Look, no matter what happens, we're all here for each other." She says. The three nod.

Finn opens his letter, and his smile falters. "I didn't get in."

Angie gently rubs his shoulder. "It's okay."

"Please, somebody else just open theirs. Come on." Finn practically begs.

Kurt nods. "I'll go next." He says and opens his letter.

"I didn't get in. I didn't get in." He says dejectedly.

"Kurt, I'm so sorry." Angie tells her brother.

"Your turn, Rachel." Finn says to his ex-girlfriend.

Rachel carefully opens her letter and mutters these three words.

"I got in."

/ / /

Newly graduated members of New Directions and still current members of New Directions wait at the train station for Rachel to arrive. Everyone's waiting to see Rachel get on her train for New York.

Angie smiles as she holds her husband's hand. "I'm so excited. My friend's going to New York." She says.

Finn smiles and holds her closer. "I'm so glad you two have become friends. It makes me happy to see you happy." He says.

Angie blushes and smiles. "Me too." She admits.

Everyone looks to the stairway when Rachel walks up.

Rachel performs 'Roots Before Branches' as Rachel hugs her friends and Will.

[Roots Before Branches by Rachel]

Angie hugs her last, whispering "I love you so much." Rachel wipes away her tears as she boards the train, and leaves Lima for New York.

Angie watches her train disappear with her head resting on Finn's shoulder.

Everything will be different now.

/ / /

2271 words

Songs Mentioned/Performed
1. Sit Down, You're Rockin' The Boat - Rachel, Angie, Tina, Mercedes, Kurt and Artie
2. Forever Young - Will
3. I'll Remember - Kurt
4. Unwritten - Angie
5. You Get What You Give - New Directions seniors
6. In My Life - New Directions underclassmen and Brittany
7. Glory Days - New Directions seniors
8. Roots Before Branches - Rachel 

WE MADE IT TO THE END OF SEASON 3! HOLY CRAP!

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