Season 2, Episode 16:  Original Song

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

= = =

Outfits

1. Trouty Mouth/Big Ass Heart

2. Hell to the No

3. Get It Right

4. MVP/Dinner with Hudson-Hummels

= = =

Blaine sings "Misery" by Maroon 5 while the Warblers sing backup. Kurt is not that pleased.

[Misery by The Warblers]

Blaine smiles. "Hey Regionals, you just met our opening number."

All of the Warblers clap and cheer.

Blaine looks to Kurt. "How did you manage to find a Burberry-esque canary cage cover?"

Kurt shrugs. "Canaries don't like cold weather, especially Pavarotti."

Blaine smiles. "So, what'd you think of the song?"

Kurt smiles. "Can I be really honest with you? Because it comes from a place of caring."

Blaine nods. "Yeah."

"Been there done that. Look, you're amazing Blaine. Your solos are breathtaking, they're also numerous." Kurt explains.

"Kurt, the council decides who gets the solos. Do I detect a little jealousy?" Blaine teases.

Kurt smiles teasingly. "No you detect a lot of jealousy. Look, Blaine sometimes I don't feel like we're the Warblers. I feel like we're Blaine and the Pips."

= = =

Kurt arrives solemnly to the Warblers' choir room.

Blaine sees Kurt's distress. "Kurt, what's wrong?"

"It's Pavarotti. Pavarotti's dead. I suspect a stroke." Kurt answers.

Blaine sighs. "Oh my god, I'm so sorry."

"I know it's really stupid to be upset about a bird but...h-he inspired me with his optimism...and his love of song. He was my friend. Now, I know that today we need to practice doo-wopping behind Blaine while he sings every solo in the medley of Pink songs but I'd like to sing to Pavarotti today." Kurt says.

Kurt hands a tape to someone to play; He starts singing "Blackbird."

[Blackbird by Kurt]

Kurt nods. "Thank you."

= = =

Will sighs as he walks into the choir room. "Guys, I've got some bad news. You know how we decided on "Sing" by My Chemical Romance for Regionals. Well, I hold in my hand a cease and desist letter from the band. We can't do it."

Puck groans. "Ugh, it was the perfect anthem."

Mercedes looks sad. "How much do you wanna bet Coach Sylvester had something to do with this?"

Will nods. "One step ahead of you."

"So, what are we gonna do now?" Charlie asks.

Rachel smiles. "I think...we should write original songs for Regionals."

Santana scoffs. "All those in favor of voting Rachel down a second time?"

Quinn shakes her head. "No, I think Rachel's right. This team works best when we push ourselves and do something a little different."

Mercedes sighs. "Well, that's true but if all the other teams are doing amazing songs. We're not gonna be so good."

Quinn nods. "You're right, we're not gonna be as good. We're gonna be better. We won't be using other peoples' words or music. It'll be our own. Our own heart, soul, not just our voices. We have a really talented songwriter in our midst. Rachel? I was thinking maybe you and I could write a song together."

Finn smiles. "I'm with Quinn and Rachel. I mean, if these two can agree on something it's probably an idea worth considering."

Violet smiles. "I have to agree with Finn. I mean, original songs are personal anthems to the selective artists. It presents something about themselves to their audiences in a way you'd never expect."

"W-wait, wait. So, suddenly you two are writing the music for Regionals? No way. I think that everyone should get a chance to write a song." Santana demands.

Sam nods. "Santana's right, we can do this."

Mercedes looks at Will. "What do you think Mr. Schue?"

Will smiles. "I think we're doing original song for Regionals."

Everyone claps.

= = =

Violet is in the auditorium the next morning, doing vocal warm-ups. She hears a pair of footsteps walk up to her, and looks up to see Charlie.

"Hey." She says.

"Hey yourself. What're you doing here all by yourself?" Charlie asks.

Violet shrugs. "Trying to think if my song's good enough. You can read it over if you want," she offers.

Charlie takes the paper from her and reads over the lyrics. A bright smile flashes onto his face.

"Violet this is amazing. God, you're so talented!" He praises.

Violet blushes. "I'm not that talented Lee." She says.

Charlie raises an eyebrow. "What makes you think that? You're a lyrical genius!"

"Do you think the New Directions would pick my song over Rachel's?" Violet asks.

"Why wouldn't they? Your song is great. Rachel's isn't even written yet." Charlie counters.

Violet sighs. "I appreciate the enthusiasm Charlie, but I don't think this is meant to be competition material." She says and walks away.

Charlie smirks.

"You doubt yourself too much, Violet Corcoran."

= = =

Will smiles. "All right guys, let's hear it for our first songwriting seminar." He says.

They all cheer and clap.

"While Quinn and Rachel are hard at work, we are gonna try and write an anthem of our own. Now, these are rhyming dictionaries for all of you." Will says.

Santana raises her hand. "Uh Mr. Schue. Tina and I have been uh already working on a song that I wrote."

Will smiles. "Really? That's amazing. Can we hear it?"

The group claps and encourages Tina and Santana as they go to the front of the room.

Santana smiles. "This is a song that I wrote for Sam. It's called 'Trouty Mouth.'"

Sam looks confused. "Wait, what's it called?"

Mike whispers to Sam. "Trouty Mouth."

Santana sings "Trouty Mouth."

[Trouty Mouth written and sung by Santana]

Sam is annoyed. "Okay. Can we stop? Stop with the mouth jokes."

Santana glares at Sam. "Sit down. I'm not finished."

Sam looks at his girlfriend. "Yes you are. Mr. Schue we're not doing a song at Regionals called 'Trouty Mouth.'"

Will sighs. "Uh y-you know what I have to agree with Sam on this one. But, such a good first effort. I just don't think it's got the epic feel we need for Regionals."

Puck raises his hand. "Uh, Mr. Schue I wrote a song too. I wrote it for Lauren. I-I know that when I sang "Fat Bottomed Girls" it might have hurt her feelings a little bit but, I think this makes up for it. It's got a bit of a rock-a-billy feel so it'd give us an edge this weekend."

Will smiles. "All right. Show us what you got." He says.

Puck smiles. "It's called 'Big Ass...Heart.'"

Puck sings "Big Ass Heart."

[Big Ass Heart written and sung by Puck]

Will smiles. "All right guys, well let's uh let's make Puck's song a contender but I don't totally think we're there yet. So, everyone look at your rhyming dictionaries and let's work on banging out some songs that rock."

Charlie looks over to Violet. "I'm gonna do it."

Violet raises her eyebrow. "You're gonna come out to the glee club or tell Blaine you're hopelessly in love with him?"

Charlie blushes. "The-The second one."

Violet smirks. "Well he shouldn't be practicing right now. Just be honest with him."

Charlie looks at her. "Do you think I have a chance?"

Violet smiles.

"You never know until you try."

= = =

Blaine sees Kurt is decorating something. "What's that?" He asks.

Kurt sighs. "I'm decorating Pavarotti's casket."

Blaine was about to say something when Charlie walked into the room. "Hey. Am I interrupting something?" He asks.

Kurt smiles gently. "Not at all. I'm going to be outside, Blaine. You two should talk to each other." He says and sits outside of the room to listen to the conversation.

Charlie smiles. "So... we're supposed to be talking."

Blaine chuckles. "Yeah we are. I think we should talk about something a little more emotional though."

Charlie nods. "The floor is yours."

Blaine smiles. "Charlie, there is a moment when you say to yourself, "Oh, there you are. I've been looking for you forever." You move me, Charlie. And I love spending time with you. You...You complete me." He says and then does something brave.

He kisses Charlie.

Charlie is in shock but kisses back. Violet was right. Your first kiss is always the most magical.

They break away. Charlie smiles. "I'm glad we're on the same page." He says.

Blaine smiles and they kiss again.

= = =

Mercedes is singing "Hell to the No" in the choir room.

[Hell to the No written and sung by Mercedes]

Will smiles at the end. "Really good!"

Mercedes smiles. "Thank you."

Will scratches at his neck. "But uh - "

Mercedes cuts him off. "But my butt Mr. Schue, that song was amazing."

"No, I agree. I'm just not sure that it's Regionals material." Will says.

"Mr. Schue, I wrote another verse of 'Trouty Mouth.'" Santana says.

Will chuckles. "Eh no, n-n-no. Guys, guys. Just think about it. What's your favorite song of all time."

Brittany smiles. "My Headband."

Santana smirks. "Alanis Morissette's 'You Oughta Know.'"

Puck smiles. "'What's Going On' by Marvin Gaye."

Lauren nods. "Puckerman, you're on a roll."

Will nods. "Okay and wh-what are all those songs about?"

Brittany answers. "Headbands."

"All those songs come from a place of pain. The greatest songs are about hurt, and that's the side of yourselves I want you to get in touch with." Will says.

Violet looks down. Her song is about all the hurt she's felt her entire life. She makes her decision; she's not sharing her song with the glee club.

Artie nods. "That should be easy. Coach Sylvester tortures us for no reason and tries to get the entire school to hate us."

Santana nods in agreement. "Yesterday, she filled Britt's and my locker with dirt."

Will goes over to whiteboard and starts writing things. "Okay. Okay, slow down. Slow down."

Mercedes sighs. "She literally throws sticks at me."

Will encourages them to continue. "Okay, what else? What else?"

Tina pipes up. "She called the Ohio Secretary of State, saying she was me and that I wanna legally change my name to 'Tina Cohen-Loser.'"

Will nods. "She..." He trails off when he writes "Loser" on the whiteboard. "Okay, and how does that make you feel?"

"Well, at first it hurts, but...Then it mostly makes you want to win." Finn says.

Will smiles as he circles the word 'Loser.' "Guys...I think you may have just found your song. Now let's get to writing."

The kids get to writing.

Charlie walks up to Will. "Mr. Shue? I know it might be a bit late, but I wanted to give you this. Violet won't give it to you herself, but she deserves to be the soloist at Regionals." He says.

Will smiles. "Thanks Charlie. I'll talk to the kids in the morning."

= = =

Quinn is sitting at the piano in the auditorium. Rachel arrives late. "You're late."

Rachel looks apprehensive. "We're friends, right?"

Quinn shrugs. "Yeah, I guess so."

Rachel continues. "I mean, like everything happened last year. You gave your baby to my mom. We kind of bonded over it, right?"

Quinn's aggravated. "What's your point?"

Rachel sighs. "My point is...is that I know we haven't spent a lot of time together this year, but I thought that we were close enough to be honest with each other."

Quinn knows where this is going. "Go ahead, ask me."

"Fine. Are you and Finn together?" Rachel asks.

Quinn nods. "Yes. It's been a couple of weeks. It's like Groundhog's Day with you, Rachel. How many times do you have to make the same mistake to realize it's not going to work out?"

"Thank you for being honest with me, Quinn, and... and I'm happy for you and Finn, but don't go and try to rewrite history, okay? It was real between us. He chose me over you." Rachel says.

Quinn glares at her in anger. "And how long did that last for?"

Rachel frowns. "Why are you being so mean?"

Quinn sighs. "Do you want to know how this story plays out? I get Finn, you get heartbroken, and then Finn and I stay here and start a family. I'll become a successful real estate agent, and Finn will take over Kurt's dad's tire shop. We'll have Sunday dinners with Violet and Kurt — Violet will be the glee club director here, and Kurt will be a famous fashion designer. We'll live in the same neighborhood with Charlie and Blaine, and we'll raise our children together and show them that love is all you need to truly feel special." Quinn says, her voice breaking. "You don't belong here, Rachel, and you can't hate me for helping to send you on your way."

Rachel shakes her head. "No. I'm not giving up on Finn. It's not over between us."

Quinn laughs with teary eyes. "Yes, it is! You're so frustrating, and that is why you can't write a good song...because you live in this little schoolgirl fantasy of life. Rachel, if you keep looking for that happy ending, then you are never going to get it right. So we're done with that, and why don't we just return to our work, okay?" Quinn says, ready to focus.

Rachel shakes her head. "No, I think I'm gonna write this song on my own." She says and leaves.

= = =

Before glee club the following morning, Will gathers all the kids — minus Rachel and Violet — into the choir room.

"Guys... I know Regionals is in a few days. But we have a contender to be our solo song." Will says.

Finn smiles. "Well that's awesome Mr. Shue. Who's it by?"

Will smiles brighter. "It was written by Violet. She calls it Speechless."

Quinn gives their teacher a bright smile. "I remember when she belted out an original song last year. She's a phenomenal songwriter."

Mercedes nods. "She is. You can understand her story clearly."

Santana smiles. "I think we all know what to do at glee club, Mr. Shue."

Charlie nods in agreement.

"We all know what to do."

= = =

Rachel performs her song, 'Get It Right,' for the glee club the next day. She sings it to Finn, which annoys Quinn to an extent. Why can't Rachel just leave Finn alone?

[Get It Right written and sung by Rachel]

The New Directions clap for Rachel, who goes to sit in her seat.

Will smiles. "Okay guys. To make it fair, you're going to write down your votes for which song you think deserves to be featured as a solo at Regionals."

Everyone takes out a piece of paper and writes down their votes.

Artie:  Violet - Speechless
Brittany:  Rachel - My Headband
Charlie:  Violet - Speechless
Finn:  Violet - Speechless
Lauren:  Violet - Speechless
Mercedes:  Violet - Speechless
Mike:  Violet - Speechless
Puck:  Violet - Speechless
Quinn:  Violet - Speechless
Rachel:  Rachel - Get It Right
Sam:  Violet - Speechless
Santana:  Violet - Speechless
Tina:  Violet - Speechless
Violet:  Rachel - Get It Right

Will counts up all the votes. "Well someone voted for a song that was not Regionals material. But by a majority vote of 11 to 3..." Will trails off.

Rachel stands up, believing that everyone voted for her.

"... I have to say congratulations to Violet for being our Regionals soloist!" Will says.

Rachel is frozen in her place.

Violet is gobsmacked.

The New Directions break out into loud cheers for Violet.

Rachel claps for Violet unenthusiastically.

Violet lets a grateful smile fall onto her lips.

Her first time performing a solo for a competition.

= = =

The Warblers Have Blaine and Kurt sing "Candles" for their duet at Regionals.

[Candles by Blaine and Kurt]

Violet and Charlie both send their respective boyfriends a wave. Kurt sends Violet a wink and Blaine smirks at Charlie. Violet looks over at Charlie with a look that says 'tell me later.

The Warblers transition into "Raise Your Glass." Rachel, Violet and Charlie are the first ones out of their seats when the song starts.

[Raise Your Glass by The Warblers]

Violet and Charlie are the loudest people cheering out of New Directions.

"That's our boyfriends!"

= = =

Backstage, Violet looks at Charlie. "You gave Mr. Shue my song didn't you?"

Charlie smiles. "I had to. Your talents need to be recognized Violet. You deserve this." He says.

Violet smiles and hugs him. "You're the best, Lee. Now why the hell didn't you tell me you were dating Blaine?" She asks.

Charlie blushes. "It kinda happened on Thursday."

Violet smiles. "I am the biggest supporter of you two. But I will not hesitate to kick your asses if you both hurt each other."

Charlie smiles. "Yes ma'am."

Violet nods and walks over to Rachel, who has her arms crossed over her chest. "Rachel? Can I talk to you for a second?"

Rachel nods.

Violet sighs. "I'm sorry you didn't get your solo. I didn't submit my song because I thought it wouldn't be as good as yours. Charlie gave it to Mr. Shue behind my back. But you should know that I voted for your song. I thought it was amazing." She says. Rachel's hard look softens.

"I know you usually do a lot of talking, but will you just please listen to the lyrics? I wrote this when... when you became an only child." Violet says quietly.

Rachel looks at the younger teen. "I'll listen." She says.

Violet gives Rachel a small smile. "Thanks." She says.

Violet inhales and exhales deeply as she prepares to go onstage.

This is make or break.

= = =

Kurt sees the silhouettes of his former Glee club members walk onstage, and he sees a small figure centerstage. "Great. Another Rachel Berry solo." He says dejectedly.

Blaine pats his shoulder. "Kurt, that's not Rachel. That's Violet."

Kurt's eyes widen. He sees that the figure is indeed Violet when the spotlight turns on.

"My girlfriend's got her first solo."

= = =

Violet stands in the spotlight, making out Kurt and Blaine's figures in the crowd. Behind her on the stands are Sam, Charlie, Mike, Tina, Brittany and Santana.

The piano begins playing the opening to Violet's original song, titled 'Speechless.'

Here comes a wave meant to wash me away
A tide that is taking me under
Swallowing sand left with nothing to say
My voice drowned out in the thunder

But I won't cry and I won't start to crumble
Whenever they try to shut me or cut me down

I won't be silenced
You can't keep me quiet
Won't tremble when you try it
All I know is I won't go speechless

'Cause I'll breathe when they try to suffocate me
Don't you underestimate me
'Cause I know that I won't go speechless

Written in stone, every rule, every word
Centuries old and unbending
Stay in your place, better seen and not heard
But now that story is ending

'Cause I, I cannot start to crumble
So come on and try, try to shut me and cut me down

I won't be silenced
You can't keep me quiet
Won't tremble when you try it
All I know is I won't go speechless
Speechless

Let the storm in
I cannot be broken
No I won't live unspoken
'Cause I know that I won't go speechless

Try to lock me in this cage
I won't just lay me down and die
I will take these broken wings
And watch me burn across the sky
Hear the echoes saying

I won't be silenced
Though you wanna see me tremble when you try it
All I know is I won't go speechless
Speechless

'Cause I'll breathe
When they try to suffocate me
Don't you underestimate me
'Cause I know that I won't go
speechless
All I know is I won't go speechless
Speechless'

[Speechless written and sung by Violet]
(I give all rights to Alan Menken for this song)

By the end of her song, Violet has everyone up on their feet, screaming and cheering.

The New Directions that are still backstage have proud smiles on their faces.

Rachel holds a small smile on her face.

Kurt and Blaine are going crazy in their seats.

"That's my best friend!" Blaine says.

"That's the love of my life!" Kurt screams.

Violet smiles. "Ladies and gentlemen... we are New Directions!"

The crowd cheers as all of the New Directions transition into their original song, 'Loser Like Me.'

[Loser Like Me written and sung by New Directions]

At the end, each member of New Directions is holding a slushee cup full of red confetti. The audience has on their foam fingers that are shaped like an 'L.'

Violet is shocked but smiles when she gets a hug from Rachel of all people.

And the weird part?

Violet hugs back.

= = =

It's now time to announce the winner of a Regionals. The announcer starts talking. "And now, to announce our winner, Lieutenant Governor Stevens' wife, Carla Turlington-Stevens!"

Carla walks out onstage, obviously drunk. "My husband is verbally abusive, and I have been drinking since noon. I'm bored. Let's just see who won, huh? The New Directions! You're going to Nationals in New York!"

New Directions cheers.

They did it. They won their first Regionals. They're going to New York!

Violet smiles as she hugs Quinn.

"We're going to Nationals!"

= = =

Will smiles as they gather in the choir room on Monday. "Now, we all know that winning Regionals was a team effort, and Nationals isn't going to be any different. But like in sports, every winning team has a player that rises above to help carry their teammates to victory... The MVP. And I would like to start a tradition of honoring that player after every one of our competitions. So, per a unanimous vote by all of you, our Regionals MVP is...Miss Violet Corcoran!"

Everyone cheers and claps

Will smiles at Violet. "Come on up."

Artie cheers. "Yeah!"

Will hugs her. "Congratulations."

Violet smiles. "Thank you. If I could just say a few words?"

Will smiles. "Sure."

Violet smiles as she stands at the center of the room. "Well, first of all, I just want to say how amazing the song you guys wrote was. I... I was so inspired. But today and at Regionals, the way you guys believed in me and...took a chance with me...All I've ever wanted was to feel special and to feel chosen, and I just, um...I wanted to thank you guys so much for giving me that." She says tearfully.

There isn't a dry eye in the house.

"But I would like to say that the person I'm dedicating the MVP to is Rachel. She's the one that had the idea to write original songs for Regionals. She is a true team player, and even when she has her... moments, she's a good friend at the end of the day." Violet says, not even bothering to wipe at her face; she knows she's crying.

Rachel smiles tearfully and gets up from her seat, hugging Violet. Violet hugs back as she attempts to choke back a sob.

Everyone goes up to her and they have the best group hug ever.

= = =

Violet smiles when she sees Kurt walk through the door after school. "Hey. Sorry we beat you at Regionals." She says genuinely.

Kurt smiles and kisses her. "Are you kidding me? You guys won fair and square with your original songs." He says. "My favorite song was yours. I'm so proud of you, baby. You rose above and got to shine. You led the New Directions to their first Regionals win." He says. Violet smiles humbly.

"We have to celebrate. We have got to celebrate this." Kurt says.

And boy, do they ever.

= = =

The Hudson-Hummels gather around the dinner table that night, with Kurt bouncing in his seat in excitement.

"So... how was Regionals?" Carole asks. Burt looks up in curiosity.

Finn smiles. "We won Regionals. We're going to Nationals in New York!"

Carole and Burt smile at Finn and Violet. "Congratulations you two." Burt says.

Violet smiles kindly. "Thank you Burt."

Kurt looks like he's about to explode. "They beat us fair and square by... singing original songs."

Carole and Burt smile more. "Did Rachel solo again?" Carole asks Finn.

Finn shakes his head. "Nope. Violet did. She led us to victory."

Violet blushes. "I did not. I just... wrote a song."

Kurt and Finn look at her like she's nuts. "You totally took them/us to victory." They say in unison.

"Besides, we all voted you MVP." Finn adds.

Violet smiles. "Well... if we're celebrating, I guess we can celebrate mine and Rachel's new friendship." She announces.

Pure silence and dropped jaws from Kurt, Burt and Carole.

"Baby..." Kurt says with a proud smile.

Violet smiles. "Hey, she's proven that she can change. I kept my word. Now we're friends and we're going to have a clean slate for our relationship."

Burt smiles. "We're proud of you kiddo. You've been put through the wringer, but you still manage to come out on top. And what's even better is that you've taken your time and you've decided to move past the past and look towards the future." Burt tells her.

Violet wipes at her eyes. "I'm not crying." She says, which elicits laughs from the table.

This was a good day.

Hell, it was a good weekend.

New Directions is going to Nationals!

= = =

4216 words

Cover Songs Mentioned/Performed
1. Misery - The Warblers
2. Blackbird - Kurt
3. Candles - Blaine and Kurt
4. Raise Your Glass - The Warblers

Original Songs Performed
1. Trouty Mouth - Santana
2. Big Ass Heart - Puck
3. Hell to the No - Mercedes
4. Get It Right - Rachel
5. Speechless - Violet
6. Loser Like Me - New Directions

I'm dying of cuteness overload. Also now y'all know why the book is titled 'Speechless.'

Next update:  A Night of Neglect

2 episodes to Born This Way
3 episodes to Rumors
4 episodes to Prom Queen
5 episodes to Funeral
6 episodes to New York