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, Violet, 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, Violet, 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 and bisexuals 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, and I'm going to spend one of these remaining days proposing to my girlfriend, Violet. 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. It especially helped when you started hanging out with Violet. She really helped the both of us, didn't she?" Burt asks.

Kurt nods. "Yes she did, and I will forever be grateful to her for that."

"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 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 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 Violet 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?" Violet asks.

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

Violet'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?" Violet asks.

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

Violet shakes her 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, she's there with me, telling me to shut up so she can finish watching the American Cinematheque salute to J-Lo." Kurt says.

Violet smiles as she grabs her boyfriend's hand. "So... we're going to be all right?" She 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 her.

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

Kurt gives her 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]

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

After applauding, Violet gives her boyfriend a hug. "That was beautiful."

= = =

Violet 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 Kurt 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 rebuilding our relationship, you've changed into a mature young woman who's not afraid to get what she wants. I don't give a damn what the legalities are — we're sisters." Violet states.

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," Violet says.

Violet sings Natasha Bedingfield's 'Unwritten.'

[Unwritten by Violet]

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

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

This... this is what Violet'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.

Violet smiles. "With all the dedications being thrown around McKinley this week, there was one that we wanted to make sure didn't get missed." She says.

Artie nods. "Finn. Right now, you're something I never thought possible when I first rolled down these halls. You're my friend — our friend. 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]

= = =

Flashback to 2001

"Ha ha! You're so tiny! You can't even jump that high!" A playground bully sneers to a 6-year-old Violet Berry.

It's recess, and this 1st grade jerk won't give kindergartner Violet her ball back. Violet starts to tear up, upset because she can't reach her ball.

"The little girl's gonna cry!" One of the bully's friends says with a laugh. 7-year-old Kurt Hummel sees the group of boys picking on Violet, and decides to help her out.

"She would like her ball back, please." Kurt says, standing between Violet and the bullies.

"What are you gonna do about it, huh?" The leader says, getting up in Kurt's face.

Kurt smirks. "I'll just tell the teacher that you're making fun of a girl. And then you'll have timeout. So unless you don't want timeout, give the nice girl her ball back... please." He says.

The bully shrinks back, not wanting to get a timeout. He hands the ball to Kurt. "Let's go guys." He tells his friends and they walk away.

Kurt looks over to Violet, who still has tears falling down her cheeks. "Here's your ball. Please don't cry." He says.

Violet sniffles and looks at Kurt with a smile. "Thank you. They were being mean. I'm Violet Berry." Violet introduces herself.

Kurt smiles and hands her the ball. "Nice to meet you Violet. I'm Kurt Hummel. Wanna go play together?" He asks.

Violet wipes her tears away and nods. "C'mon Kurt! Let's go play!"

Kurt smiles as he takes her smaller hand in his and they run off to an area in the playground to play with the ball.

Flash forward to 2012

It's the day the Class of 2012 graduates.

Kurt is pacing back and forth in his graduation cap and gown in the choir room, mumbling to himself.

Violet walks in and knocks on the door. "Hey. What're you doing in here? Everyone's waiting for you to go get lined up." She says as she looks at him.

Kurt looks up and smiles at her, easing his nerves. "Do you remember the day we met?" He asks.

Violet giggles. "I do. You stopped the bullies on the playground from taking my ball away." She reminisces.

Kurt nods. "That day was one of the best days of my life. Because, at the time, I didn't know it, but I had met my soulmate. I had met the one person that would stick by me through thick and thin. You were there for me when my mom died, you accepted me for who I was, and you supported me through everything I went through last year. You inspire me to be a better man, and I can't imagine loving anyone else other than you." He says.

Violet smiles. "I can't imagine loving anyone else other than you either, baby." She says, inspired by his little speech.

Kurt smiles. "I figured if I'm going to do this, I need to do it here. This is where our love blossomed, and this is the place where it continued to grow for years." He says.

Violet looks confused. "I don't understand. What do you need to do, and why do you need to do it here?"

Kurt chuckles. "Just promise me you won't say anything until I'm done okay?" He asks. Violet nods.

Kurt sighs and takes her hands in his. "You are my best friend, my faithful partner, and my one true love. I will always be by your side to encourage, inspire and love you through the good and the bad times." He says. Violet tears up.

Kurt smiles as he drops to one knee. Violet's shocked face is absolutely adorable. "Violet Dorothy Corcoran... will you make me the happiest man on earth and marry me?" He asks, presenting Violet with his mother's engagement ring.

(The engagement ring)

Violet smiles as she covers her mouth in surprise. She lets her hands down so she can answer.

"Yes."

Kurt smiles tearfully as he slips the ring onto Violet's finger. Violet smiles up at him and pulls him in for a romantic kiss. Kurt kisses back and holds her close to him.

They pull away in time to see each other's smiles before they're bombarded by the New Directions, who were listening in the entire time.

Will makes his way to the newly engaged couple, smiling proudly as he looks at them both. "I'm so proud of you both. I've gotten to watch you two become like one in the last 3 years. And now... you two are taking the next step together. We're so happy for you guys." He says and hugs the two.

Violet and Kurt hug their teacher back and then they're given a big group hug by New Directions. They get different versions of 'Congratulations' from each and every one of their friends.

Rachel smiles and then looks at the clock. "I hate to ruin this touching celebration, but if we don't get lined up in exactly 5 minutes, a lot of us aren't going to graduate." She says.

Will nods. "Alright, you heard Rachel everyone. Let's go get in our places." He encourages.

Everyone leaves the choir room together. Violet's hand detaches from Kurt's as she walks with Tina, Artie, Blaine, Sam, Sugar, Joe, Charlie, Rory and Brittany towards the auditorium.

Kurt watches her walk away for a split second before being dragged down the hallway by Rachel, Finn and Mercedes. He lines up with his friends as they get ready to graduate.

He can't believe that Violet said yes.

She's going to be his future wife.

= = =

Violet watches from her place next in between Burt and Carole as William McKinley High's graduating class of 2012 walk across the stage.

Meanwhile, the seniors are singing 'Glory Days.'

[Glory Days by New Directions seniors]

"Michael Chang, Jr." Figgins calls.

Violet claps as she watches him receive his diploma from Emma.

"Quinn Fabray."

Violet cheers loudly for Quinn. "Yeah Q!"

"Mercedes Jones."

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

"Noah Puckerman."

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

"Santana Lopez."

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

"Kurt Hummel."

Violet, Burt and Carole all cheer loudest for Kurt. When Kurt receives his diploma, he blows his fiancée a kiss and waves to his dad and stepmom.

"Finn Hudson."

The three in the audience also cheer the loudest for Finn. Finn gets up from the drums and receives his diploma.

"Rachel Berry."

Violet cheers loudly for her sister. It felt weird to call her that after so long. But Rachel and Violet are sisters once more. This time, they're better than they ever were before.

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

The entire crowd cheers for the newly graduated students.

Violet smiles proudly.

That's half of her family that just 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.

Kurt takes Violet 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." Violet says.

Kurt smiles at his fiancée. "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 now, so you might as well be here." Finn says.

Violet 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."

Violet 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." Violet tells her fiancé.

"Your turn, Rachel." Finn says to his own fiancée.

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 Finn and Rachel to arrive. Everyone's waiting to see Rachel get on her train for New York.

Violet smiles as she holds her fiancé's hand. "I'm so excited. My sister's going to New York." She says.

Kurt smiles and holds her closer. "I'm so glad you two have fixed your relationship. It makes me happy to see you happy." He says.

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

Everyone looks to the stairway when Rachel and Finn walk up.

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

[Roots Before Branches by Finchel]

Violet 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.

Violet watches her train disappear with her head resting on Kurt's shoulder.

Everything will be different now.

= = =

3183 words

Songs Mentioned/Performed
1. Sit Down, You're Rockin' The Boat - Rachel, Violet, Tina, Mercedes, Kurt and Artie
2. Forever Young - Will
3. I'll Remember - Kurt
4. Unwritten - Violet
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 - Finchel

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

Next update:  Season 4 Cast