Don't Stop Me Now

To read the script for this episode, go to Don't Stop Me Now.

Don't Stop Me Now is the 9th episode of Season 1 of Glee: NDNG. The script was released on the 1st of May, 2022.

After a very successful gig to celebrate a recent football win, a party is held at the school. But behind the scenes, the New Directions have their own party...

This episode continues all current plots, as well as revisiting the plot of Beth's unhealthy habits, and potentially beginning some for Ricky.

## Plot

We begin with the club in a classroom, using it as a dressing room to get ready for a performance. Shawn enters to check up on them, and Beth pushes them to get ready faster. Danny complains about Schuester's speeches, and doesn't respond well to Beth's attempts to defend them. Oddly, Ophelia sticks up for her, in a backhanded sort of way. Valerie alerts Viola to the ribbon on her dress coming loose, even making her way over to help, but Sky beats her to it. They have a *moment*, and it doesn't go unnoticed by Ophelia and Aubri, or Lyra. Beth worries over performing in front of all the students, as it was different at the parent-teacher conference. Logan seems convinced things will be thrown at him, but Magnolia says otherwise, more convinced it'll happen to Franky, who 'isn't exactly popular', at the moment. Ivan soon stops the conversation, saying he'll act as a human shield. The Juniors and Quentin whisper cryptically about their plans for later. Beth wonders if it's truly a good idea, but Ophelia insists. It becomes clear that whatever their plan is, Magnolia and Valerie won't be a part of it. Misty thinks it's mean not to include them, but everyone else knows it would mean trouble, so Quentin's bribed Logan into silence. Magnolia finally wonders what they're talking about, and Misty's lie almost makes the group laugh, which in turn, confuses Shawn and Ivan. As Ivan leaves to watch the speech, Franky asks him to make sure Reuben and Winstanley don't kill each other. Ivan assures him that he won't let a single thing go wrong for the club, but some still aren't convinced. Regardless, they soon go onstage. Franky looks around for Reuben, finding him gone, before the club sing Good Time.

In the gym, the party's in full swing, the club sitting, while Logan dances, badly. He confirms that Magnolia's gone to fix her makeup, so the club slowly start to leave, Logan agreeing to attempt to distract her when she comes back. Ophelia asks/orders Jude to stay behind, because she has another plan in place. Ophelia quietly makes fun of Valerie, who's talking to a terrified Shawn. Jude calling the accuracy of the impression into question makes her wonder if he's turning nice. Jude insists that he isn't, but says it couldn't kill her to try it. He asks what they're actually doing, but Ophelia gives nothing away, yet. Meanwhile, Magnolia returns, and Logan struggles to lie, until Beth silently pleads with him. To avoid talking, he gets her dancing. Winstanley notices the absence of the club, so Beth quickly makes her way to him and starts talking, distracting him from Ophelia and Jude spiking the punch bowl. Winstanley's suspicious, warning Beth that he won't be happy if she's been 'using Sudafed as a pick-me-up again'. Beth promises that she hasn't, so he's seemingly satisfied. Beth makes a quick exit, leaving him mystified as ever.

By this point, the 'dressing room' is transformed into party central, with alcohol all over the desks (and Blue and September making out on one of the free ones). Beth is slightly shocked by her surroundings, but she hesitantly agrees to have some real fun. the club sing Live While We're Young. As the song ends, she comes to her senses once more, knowing for certain it's a terrible idea. Ricky is simply wondering what the other party's for, only to be told it's about the football win that he was responsible for, only a day before. Quentin questions Beth wanting to date him, and offers her a drink that she gladly accepts, considering she was just nearly busted by Winstanley. Quentin thinks there are worse people, since he has a sexy accent. Franky realises that by extension, that surely means Quentin thinks his accent's sexy too. Quentin teases him, reminding him that he's still a child. And also straight. Franky complains that he just wants someone to think it, no matter who, but when Misty calls him cute, he's more than satisfied. Jude comes over, staying close to Misty while he gives her a drink, made exactly to her tastes, to her surprise. As he leads her away, he gives Franky a very smug look. Franky's mostly unfazed, calling him a very lucky man, but he's suddenly keen to start drinking.

Viola returns to the gym, where Magnolia and Logan are still dancing, both terrible. But Viola only has eyes for Valerie, who talks to Reuben until he makes his excuses and leaves, leaving her defeated. Viola narrates on her life, stuck on the outskirts of two parties, pining, too scared to do anything about it. She reveals that she was just going to leave after the show, until Misty convinced her to stay, but Misty's busy being surrounded by friends, and Ophelia and Aubri both have their boyfriends. Viola has to wonder what she has. She sings Wallflower. Immediately after, she's startled by Sky appearing by her side. He wonders what she's doing, and she says she's watching. Sky realises just how much of her life is doing exactly that. Viola thinks it's pathetic, but Sky insists she couldn't be, at least not to him. They get closer as they talk. Viola tells him to go back to the party, but Sky says he won't go without her. Viola is surprised that he wishes to talk to her more, to which Sky says that he likes her, he told Misty he'd go and find her for a reason. He eventually offers to leave her, but Viola refuses. Soon, Sky notices her staring at Valerie. As they continue talking, Viola continues to be surprised by his kindness, until eventually, he kisses her forehead. Valerie watches as they leave together. Meanwhile, the teachers talk. Shawn wonders where the rest of the club are, and Ivan knows exactly what they're doing. Winstanley's jealous, since they get to have real fun. He considers leaving the party altogether, to go and have sex with someone. Finally, playing suspiciously nice, Magnolia tells Logan to tell her where everyone's gone.

Back at the real party, Misty's standing on a desk, to Viola's disbelief, telling the club something a girl told her at a dance audition, through Dance 10, Looks 3. It's clear that it's a show for Jude's benefit, and he loves it. Once it's done, Ophelia moves away from the crowd, followed by Ricky and his family-size bag of chips. She confesses that a lot of what she heard sounded too much like her mother, who apparently hasn't let her eat junk food since the 6th grade. Horrified, Ricky offers her a chip, but she refuses, certain her parents would somehow find out. In turn, Ricky tells her about the standards his own parents hold him to. Afterwards, when Ophelia leaves, Ricky thinks over her words and slowly puts his chips down. That's when Magnolia storms in, followed by Logan, who pleads with her not to tell anyone about the party. Magnolia snaps at him, and demands that he get her a drink. She goes to confront Beth, who easily fights back.

A little later, Liam's sitting on a desk as Damien and Aubri talk. It obviously worries him, and Aubri notices. She goes to him, but he insists that he's fine, and that the party's just too much for him. She says they can leave, but Liam won't allow it when she's having so much fun. Aubri tells him she has more fun when she knows he's happy, but Liam won't budge. He convinces her with a kiss. When Aubri asks how many drinks he's had, he says that he can't have much more in case he says something he shouldn't. It's clear he feels increasingly guilty. Soon, he goes to get snacks, careful to avoid Damien. While he does, he overhears Logan and Magnolia fighting. When she storms off again, Logan goes to join Liam. They get talking about their parents. Liam couldn't sneak any booze past his, while Logan got away with leaving with four bottles, completely unnoticed. Both are jealous of the other, wishing to switch for a day. Logan turns to vodka, as Liam turns to Damien, who's talking to Beth about his latest exploit, a guy from the hockey team. Liam leaves for some air, singing Overwhelmed. When he's finally outside, Damien's right there as usual. Liam confronts him, saying that everything was fine until he came along. Unfazed, Damien continues as normal, until Liam says he hates him. Damien thinks the opposite is true, and that Liam's just scared and confused by his real feelings. Liam agrees, insisting that they're ruining his life, and begs to be left alone. Damien finally admits that he can't. Liam has a hold over him, and they both know it's mutual. Damien tells him a little about when he realised his own sexuality, which only serves to make Liam feel guilty, knowing Damien had much more reason to be scared. He tries to leave, but Damien stops him. They sing Maybe Don't, and by the end of the song, they're far too close.

Sky finds Viola sitting in the hall, taking a break. He gladly joins her, sitting as close as he can get away with. Viola's clearly trying to say something, but she's so nervous that she can't find the words, until he holds her hand. She asks if he likes girls, and Sky thinks he's given her the wrong idea. Viola says no, but still asks if he would (hypothetically) date her. Sky says he would, and lists his reasons. He even calls her stunning. He eventually tells her that he doesn't label his sexuality, and Viola comes out to him. Sky reminds her of her worth, and Viola asks if he would date her. Non-hypothetically. He says he would. They sing Everything Has Changed, and finally kiss, even going home together, not knowing Valerie's still watching them through the door.

Slowly, the backstage party is dying down, and Beth's on cleanup, refusing any offers of help. Eventually, Ophelia calls her out, but Beth denies everything, simply cleaning faster. Ophelia asks if she's ever going to talk about the breakdown. Ricky tries to stop her, but Ophelia knows it needs to be done. As she sings Take Care of Yourself, the others start to see her point. Outside, Jude sings the same to Misty. Finally, Beth promises that they'll talk about it when they're sober, and they get ready to go home. Back outside, Liam and Damien kiss until Liam comes to his senses and realises he needs to make sure Aubri gets home. When the others come outside, they act as if nothing happens. Damien's goodbyes are unnoticed, because Aubri has Liam's full attention. They leave together, and the rest soon follow, until it's only Beth and Quentin left. Quentin's in a hurry to leave, but he still makes sure she'll be okay before he does. As Beth starts to leave, she's found by Winstanley, who quickly realises how drunk she is. After some silent debate, he offers her a ride home, knowing he'd never forgive himself if anything happened to her. They joke with each other, until Winstanley starts to express the same concerns as Ophelia. He knows Beth isn't facing up to her problems, and he tells her that if she goes on in the same way, she'll only have another breakdown. Beth admits that she knows, but acts like she doesn't care, to his exasperation. She tells him she's too drunk to talk about it, which he concedes, but he makes her promise to take care of herself, which she does.

Shelby's surprised to see Winstanley on her doorstep, and he lies that he drove Beth home simply because everything finished late. She's very grateful, and makes Beth thank him again, to her embarrassment. When Beth leaves, Shelby continues to express her gratitude, then asks just how drunk Beth is. Winstanley admits his suspicions that the club had their own party. They flirt for a while longer, and just as he's about to leave, Shelby invites him in for a drink, but we don't find out his answer.