Friends in High School: The Musical

***Friends in High School: The Musical*** is a jukebox musical comedy-drama psychological horror film written and directed by Bryan Martinez Rodarte. This film is the first film since the first film to not be a part of the Pizza Manager Arc, although the arc is mentioned throughout the film. However, the film is a prelude to a different arc, The Nelson Arc.

## Synopsis

Friends in High School 5 returns to a more grounded high school teen drama, despite the wacky adventures James had gone through the last 3 films.

## Plot

The movie begins with The Group learning about the school’s annual spring musical, which this year is “Mamma Mia!”

They all try out, and successfully get parts in the play. James hopes to reunite with Janice after being away from her for so long (“I Have A Dream”).

Tyson believes the play is silly, but everyone remarks, “Why did you try out then?” Tyson tries to play it off, but ends up saying, “I wanna be with you guys. I’m lonely.” The Group comforts him, and Amelia tells him, “Tyson, we get it. We’ll be with you until high school splits us apart.” Tyson breaks down in tears.

Tania returns to school after being gone, and officially apologizes to Tyson and James for her troubles. “I’m sorry Tyson for T-boning your car. James, I’m sorry for blaming you for Leo’s death.” Both of them accept the apology and joke about James’ adventures (“Honey Honey”).

Shelby notifies Janice that James has returned, which she doesn’t take kindly. She believes that he had abandoned her, to which Shelby answers, “Well, I mean he did” (“Money, Money, Money”). However, she still gets curious, and goes out to find him.

She finds him standing near his old pizza job. James contemplates his troubles, and leaves flowers for Ronan. Janice finds escalators, and climbs on the roof of nearby buildings (“Mamma Mia”). As she stares at him, she thinks of him, and is reminded of how they both solved Danny’s murder case. As she imagines herself back in the case, an imaginary James follows her (“Chiquitita”).

Amelia and Shelby go to Janice’s house, and find her there crying her eyes out. They ask her what’s wrong, but Janice can only say, “I have a feeling that James hates me now.” Amelia opens her mouth to say something, but Shelby interrupts her, saying, “Girl, you don’t need a man to make you happy. Look at me and Amelia. We’re happy, and we don’t have a man” (“Dancing Queen”). After the song ends, Janice and James officially break up, but remain on good terms with each other. A shadow looks at the two, and walks away.

James gets in contact with the former Manager Group. John and Natalia are living in Colorado, and are content. They have signed on to a new, similar pizza job there. John describes the area as, “Weirdly familiar. There was a death here recently. Someone named ‘Janice’ died.” Natalia jumps in, and says, “Also, someone named ‘Skylar Thompson’ caused a massacre at the nearby high school. They killed four people, James! Four people!” (“The Winner Takes It All''). James says, “Wow, that’s terrible. I hope you guys are safe. Who solved the case?” John simply says, “Some kid named Bryson Martinez.”

James is eating dinner when he sees a shadow in the bushes. He steps outside to see who it is, and is shocked to find not a friend, but a random stranger. She introduces herself as Kathy Beefer, and James asks, “Where are you from?” Kathy goes on to explain how she was exiled from her hometown, Nelson, Colorado. “That’s where John and Natalia live now” (“I Do, I Do, I Do”). Kathy then says, “A ‘Janice’ died back in Nelson. I guess we gotta continue that tradition.” She runs off before James can say anything.

Kathy sneaks nearby Janice’s house, and begins scaring her. She runs around the house, frantically speaking nonsense (“…Baby One More Time”). Suddenly, she enters Janice’s home, and finds Janice. Janice begins dialing for the police, but Kathy uses a bloody knife to stab Janice in the side. Janice screams while running around the home. Kathy runs around (“Waterloo”), until eventually, Janice collapses on the floor, and dies.

Kathy escapes the state, but leaves a note for James, telling him where to find her. James is filled with fury (“I Have A Dream (Reprise)”), and asks The Group if they can help him track down Kathy. Tyson, Amelia and Shelby agree. They all set out to find Kathy. Tyson suggests a race to see who can get to Colorado first. The movie ends with all four driving down the highway (“How We Roll”).

## Trivia

* This film features music from ABBA, which was already converted into a musical titled “Mamma Mia!”
* This film references another of Martinez Rodarte’s works, *Tales From The Darkside.*
	+ It references The Nelson Massacre, Bryson Martinez, Skylar Thompson, and features a character from the series, Kathy Beefer.
	+ Funnily enough, the two series would eventually cross over.