Bandslam Page #7

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What if Charlotte and her experiment are

really a part of someone else's

larger experiment?

I mean, what if we're being manipulated

by some greater intelligence than our own?

And if so, is there really such a thing

as free will?

Am I moving my hand,

or was it predetermined by a force

I'm not even aware of?

Charlotte times a trillion.

See, this is why you don't have friends!

All right, this is ridiculous! She doesn't

get to make our whole lives a lie!

I mean, it was real for me.

Wasn't it real for you?

I say we refuse to let Charlotte

screw this up for us.

I mean, we've worked too hard.

We're doing Bandslam.

BUG:
You're crazy.

WlLL:
Why?

How long have you got?

It won't work.

What song are we going to do?

Phil's Song:
She said we could.

Oh, yeah? And who's going to sing it?

(CROWD CHEERlNG)

(RHYTHMlC CLAPPlNG)

(PLAYlNG ROCK MUSlC)

(SlNGlNG) You say your patience is longer

than my face

Oh, yeah, but I can see right through

your plastic case

Oh, you're running round

like your life is some type of race

You know I'm trying

but I cannot keep your pace

Oh, so take your blizzard

somewhere else, little girl

Your stormy weather ain't welcome here

KAREN:
I Can't Go On, I'll Go On.

Can't not buy it, buy it.

-Hey.

-Hey.

How are the guys holding up?

Have you been backstage?

Yeah, they're fine. Actually, they're great.

Think I'll go and wish them luck.

Okay.

Hey! Dennis Ardmore.

What?

Dennis Ardmore.

Does that name ring a bell?

No. Should it?

I guess not. I just didn't know how much

research you all had done, so...

But he would've been about your age now.

Except that Will's father got drunk in

the middle of the afternoon,

Iike he did every afternoon,

and ran him over while he was walking

home from school.

I heard. I'm sorry.

Yeah. Did you hear that Will insisted

that I bring him to the funeral?

That's what kind of kid he is.

Twelve years old, he walks right up to

Dennis Ardmore's parents,

and asked their forgiveness.

Everyone hated Will's dad.

Well, who wouldn't? I mean...

And then they put him away, and it's

like they just turned it all on his kid.

It was awful.

So just give him a break.

Please? Not a lot of people have.

So I don't know what you were planning

on saying to him, or doing, but just don't.

Just don't. Okay?

Don't make up with him. Don't be his friend.

Why not?

Because, I don't think he'll recover

if you leave him twice.

I've never met a kid like Will.

My friends have never met a kid like Will.

The monsters have never met a kid like Will.

And I want you to let me apologize to him

because I want to keep knowing him.

You know, I like who I am

when I'm with Will.

And I will do anything in the world

to be that person again.

So, please,

don't ask me not to.

Okay.

Thank you.

I said, "Okay." I'm not going to hug you.

Okay.

And by the way,

I'm really glad you don't wear

those little groupie outfits

all the time, Karen.

You'll need this.

All right.

And I'm so sorry about your father.

(PLAYlNG ROCK MUSlC)

(SlNGlNG) Tax and total it for me

I'll pay my bill and run so fast

Separation is our love now

Well, we're toast.

I don't know. They're okay.

I hear the band to watch

is I Can't Drive Stick, I'll Drive Stick,

or something like that.

Look, let me just speak.

The whole experiment thing,

not my finest hour.

I was angry and stupid

and really, really confused.

And I'm sorry.

Are you kidding me?

Okay, quick recap.

Charlotte dumps Ben,

turns you guys into a band,

finds the genius that is Will,

then, does one stupid thing

because her father has died,

realizes, and comes to apologize.

And you're not going to

accept the apology?

Plus, I really miss you guys.

Is that real?

Hundred percent.

The only thing that matters is seeing

you guys kick some serious butt tonight.

And you're singing Phil's Song.

-ls that okay?

-Yeah. Of course.

And I'll be the girl in front,

screaming my head off while you do.

(RAP MUSlC PLAYlNG)

(SlNGlNG)

Keep it hot like steam, that's your dream

Baby, get up off me

It's so clean, the way I've been

Gots me looking glossy

On the scene with the queen

That be acting bossy

I don't want no drama, little mama

So please get up off me

Yeah, you know how I blow

Till you're feeling dizzy

Lots of soul, that's the goal

MAN:
Yeah, go ahead. Copy that.

Way to be impartial.

Way to be realistic about your chances.

Way to say "way" just because I did.

Yeah. Standing by. Follow spots.

And now, from Martin Van Buren

High School in Lodi, New Jersey,

Ben Wheatly and the Glory Dogs!

You're number one!

Thank you.

Thank you so much.

I'd like to dedicate this next song

to someone very special to me.

She taught me a lot,

and she wrote this song.

So, Charlotte, this one's for you.

(SlNGlNG) I'll never be

A knight in armor with a sword in hand

Whoa, whoa! No, no, no!

Don't count on me

To storm the barricades and take a stand

I didn't know. I swear. I didn't know.

-No, no, no.

-What?

You'll never see

It's old. Ben knew it. He probably thought

he was doing something nice for me.

I had no idea, Karen.

You've got to believe me!

I am no prince

I am no saint

I am not anyone's wildest dream

What are we going to do?

We can't sing the same song.

I don't know anything else.

Yes, you do.

And it's famous and only has, like,

four chords.

Alley. Now!

Someone to fall back on

(ALL CLAMORlNG)

Someone to fall back on

Come on!

We need another minute.

We don't have another minute! They just...

We need another minute!

(AUDlENCE CHEERlNG)

Our last band is also from

Martin Van Buren High.

I don't know what they're putting

in the water in Lodi,

but give it up for I Can't Go On, I'll Go On!

That's us! Come on!

What's going on?

Get on stage.

-Where?

-On stage!

-Why? No! What am I going to do?

-You're going to stall!

-They hate me.

-Go!

Say something, for God's sake,

say something.

(GlRL 1 LAUGHlNG)

BOY 1:
Dewey!

Dewey!

GlRL 2:
Oh, my God!

(LAUGHTER)

GlRL 3:
Dewey!

GlRL 1:
Where's the band?

GlRL 2:
Dewey!

BOY 2:
Dewey.

Dewey!

Dewey!

(ARGUlNG)

ALL:
(CHANTlNG) Dewey! Dewey! Dewey!

Dewey. Dewey. Dewey.

(CROWD CONTlNUES CHANTlNG)

Dewey. Come on! Dewey.

Dewey. Dewey. Dewey.

Dewey... Yeah, come on!

Dewey! Dewey! Dewey!

Do we want to rock?

(ALL CHEERlNG)

Wake up, New Jersey!

I said, do we want to rock?

Because I have seen the future

and their name is,

I Can't Go On, I'll Go On!

(CROWD CHEERlNG LOUDER)

(PLAYlNG EVERYTHlNG I OWN)

(VOCALlZlNG)

(SlNGlNG) You shelter me from harm

You kept me warm

Kept me warm

You gave my life to me

Set me free

Set me free

The finest years I ever knew

All the years I had with you

And I would give everything I own

One time

Give up my life, my heart, my home

Two times

I would give everything I own

Just to have you once again

You taught me how to love

What it's of

What it's of

You never said too much

But still you showed the way

And I knew from watching you

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