Favors & Odds

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Season 1, Episode 2

Season 1, Episode 2

**Favors & Odds** is the second episode of *MODS'* first season and the second episode overall. It premiered on February 19th, 2021.

Bruno is worried as he will be part of the last generation of Theater and is trying to cope with the idea of what to do with his future; John and Yogi are in new depts when they try to find support for the program and Silvia crosses their paths; Jan is asked to help a very special pair of students who will keep his plate full while Dan is struggling still with his mid-life crisis at 37.

The episode was directed by Lagoona Bloo and Jan, and written by Rosé

## Plot

Bruno finds himself alone in his car, a new day at campus about to star; his semblance hasn’t been the same since he found out about the theater department closing. As he’s walking from his car to his classroom, he starts to look at the places he’d seen before and that he will see for the last time in a couple of months. He reaches the place he’ll take his next class into, while thinking to himself how he isn’t about to let down the place that got him up when he needed it the most.

Dan arrives to his office, late for the first time in almost five years, which got Freedom worried, while having his boss a couple of rum ready; Dan rejects it while taking out his own flask, drinking from it; then he reassures his assistant it isn’t alcohol, it’s just plain sugared water, the flask just makes him look cool. Freedom brushes this off, walking away as Perry enters Dan’s office. Perry is there to ask for any news about the situation of the theater program, but Dan lets him know that nothing has changed, that every time he calls, the answer is the same: a plain no. Perry lets Dan know that it shouldn’t be over for anyone there, and that if they must they could put their own money for the program; Dan laughs it off, stating that none of them alone or combined could even match half of the amount the programs needs to stay afloat; Perry then leaves the room, still hopeful; Dan drinks from his flask again, stressed about the whole situation.

Jan and John are seen walking out from one of their tutored lessons, discussing why Yogi didn’t decide to help them if he’s the one with a masters in vocals, while the others are barely working on making their way to a master’s degree. John tells Jan that Yogi is wasting all his potential working administrative, but that they can’t really judge him, as Yogi edges their pay by a split of a hair; Yogi then interrupts them, finding the pair as they’re making their way to the cafeteria; they ask him where he was this time and whether the same boy from the previous week was with him; Yogi acts clueless, instead suggesting some food for them to have.

Later that day, Bruno finds himself in the middle of a body movement lesson in one of his classes, and he’s having a hard time being able to focus on the task; his teacher notices it, asking him what’s wrong; Bruno answers he’s just tired, as he apparently didn’t have the best night because of some construction going on near his home. The teacher allows him to skip the rest of the class, noticing something wrong with his statement. Bruno leaves class, and as he’s walking outside the room, he catches a glimpse of the theater freshmen doing a similar activity in the room next door, having once again flashbacks about the time he auditioned for the program. Bruno remembers how **Brave** by Sara Bareilles, was his audition song. Bruno tries to calm himself down slightly, singing to that same song for a while, as he walks directly to the locker rooms.

Jan is assigned to work with a mixed group that day, as their actual professor was unable that day. The intern sees students from music and theater gather around, seeing some familiar and some new faces among the group. Jan asks them if they had been practicing on something, and when they all inform him about it the intern gets to work with them.

Perry and Kabs are signing up some sheets in Dan’s office, who asks them about whether they have searched for new job opportunities after their work at the college is no longer needed. Kabs says he’s got his family company on the side but he’s finding many other possibilities, Perry on the other side says he still has hope the theater program can be saved and is trying to find investors for it; Dan tells him that nobody is really gonna be interested on investing on a college in the middle of nowhere, Perry finishes with the signing and hands the papers back to Dan, who then tells him to use his energy into finding a job somewhere else, as the time is ticking, Perry nods with a smile and then walks away, leaving Kabs with Dan, who asks the other worker if he had the same attitude as Perry when he was his age, Kabs sighs, revealing he’s younger than Perry.

Bruno is later seen talking with two of his friends; Cel and Mario. They’re discussing their plans for when they graduate. Cel is excited about moving out and start auditioning big time in New York, while Mario has a different approach, wanting to work behind the scenes; when is Bruno’s turn to discuss what he wants to do he doesn’t say much, he’s excited about a new chapter starting in his life, but he doesn’t have a clear vision in mind; maybe community theater could work for him, but he isn’t driven towards it. Cel advices him to find a passion within his chosen career if he doesn’t want to move forward with a major, but that he should have found something to do long time ago, Mario is less straight forward, letting Bruno know he still has time to find his path, no hurries.

John finds Yogi sitting alone in the administrative lounge, wondering why he is all by himself without any of his previous dates; Yogi notices the presence of his friend and invites him over, John takes a sit next to him, giving him a piece of his candy bar while asking why he’s alone. Yogi simply says he’s had a few hard days with scheduling his dates, John is concerned but doesn’t say a word after, just enjoying the TV playing a musical comedy by Ryan Murphy.

Jan and Kabs are chit chatting when they run into Anthony, who asks them about Yogi’s whereabouts, Jan lets him know he’s giving a special class to some music juniors at the northern auditorium; Anthony thanks them and gets walking. Kabs asks Jan if that guy wasn’t someone else, but Jan reassures him that’s he’s not, or at least he thinks so.

Silvia finds herself calling Yogi, asking him to come over to her next show at the Striped Knee; Yogi doesn’t seem too convinced, but Silvia makes him say yes anyway; after the call ends, Yogi stands up from his chair at the auditorium, where minutes ago he had found himself giving some vocal tutoring. Yogi makes his way outside as he sees a silhouette at the entrance; which reveals itself to be Anthony; Yogi runs to greet him with a slight hug, asking him what he’s doing there, Anthony reveals he wanted to surprise him and take the intern to lunch, Yogi nods, accepting the invitation, inviting Anthony to Silvia’s gig after that, the boy accepts gladly, walking next to his companion to the outside of the campus.

Onto Perry’s class with the Theater seniors, he’s seen talking to his students about new openings at some workshops and community theaters around the town, letting them know anyone can sign up to work after school, Bruno pays attention to the news, with the words of Cel roaming around his mind, thinking he could give it a shot, as he had never done anything outside the school’s events yet.

After classes, Jan is seeing picking up his stuff from the auditorium when two kids approach him. Dee and Aries introduce themselves, Jan smiles at them, asking if there’s anything he can do for them. Dee points out at earlier that day, when he struggled with following the harmony, while Aries just wants to support his twin. Jan tells them that he sure can give them some other tips and extra lessons if they want; the twins rejoice and walk away but not before giving Jan their business card, to which the intern examinates, in awe.

John and Archi are seen taking a rollcall on a class, which they notice is too large for them to take so they agree to divide the group in half, so each gets a smaller part of it. As they’re close to finish the division, a clumsy student comes by the door, announcing he got lost again, he says his name is Euijin, asking them what they’re doing. John tells Archi that Euijin is all his, while walking away with his part of the class. Euijin smiles at Archi, who welcomes him and asks him to join the rest of the group.

Later that night after class, Yogi finds himself with Anthony, John, and John’s boyfriend at the bar, waiting for Silvia’s guest appearance. John tries to talk to Yogi about the theater program and the fact Perry has been asking them about a possibility of them asking Silvia about a loan for it. Yogi remarks he is pretty sure he isn’t asking any monetary favors to her, while John agrees on that. A random person then approaches their table, asking for Yogi; Yogi stands up as the person tells them to follow them as Silvia has requested his presence backstage, the man leaves.

Dan is back at home enjoying of a movie night when his mother calls, he answers the call much to his dismay, as he knows every time she calls it’s to ask about his divorce; Dan greets his mother but is then meet with the same question as usual; whether he got the money he got from his ex-husband that month, Dan confirms but then his mother asks when she could visit him, Dan then fakes another call, hanging up on his mother, as he just crawls back to his sofa, dropping some popcorn over his face in the process.

Backstage, Yogi finds out Silvia has burnt her mouth with a cup of hot chocolate, which won’t allow her to sing; Silvia puts the blame on Yogi, throwing it back at their tradition to swallow some hot chocolate before performing back in High School; she then requests Yogi to sing something for the audience before she can figure out what to do, Yogi is shocked but as he loves attention doesn’t really rejects the request.

Back at the table, John notices Yogi coming back and grabbing him by the arm, John is confused as Yogi tells him they’re both singing right there and right now; John has no answer until they’re both on stage. The hostess announced they’re throwing a few minutes of open karaoke before the main acts starts, before the hostess is done with her message John asks Yogi what the hell they’re singing, Yogi just reassures him both know the song like the back of their hands. Moments later, **Wake Me Up Before You Go Go** by Wham! Starts, and John smiles, as he remembers that was the song both first taught to their first students. The pair tries to enjoy the song, singing along and interacting with some guests, including their dates; when the song ends the audience cheers with glee, as the friends thank everyone, while getting off the stage to the table again; they then notice a familiar face going up, it’s Lala, their old colleague; notes for Lovefool by The Cardigans start, as their cheer for her.

Walking onto a new day at school, Bruno crosses paths with Jan, who asks him if everything is alright, as they know each other from past singing lessons Bruno had to attend, Bruno nods, and as Jan is about to ask something else, the earlier receives a mysterious call, who asks him if he’s available that night to take care of “the things”, the student is positive about it, saying goodbye to Jan, who is left wondering what does Bruno have to take care of.

In the cafeteria, Jan and John discuss about the new changes the college has had already, as they have removed certain areas to construct others, with John wondering why so much money is wasted on renovations that aren’t needed, Jan shrugs, eating a bite of his sandwich as he feels a double presence behind him, he turns around to find the Manhattan Twins, waiting for him to finish his bite, John laughs it off, checking the slightly extravagant outfits the twins are wearing. When Jan is done with the sandwich, in unison the twins start to explain what they need, much to Jan’s dismay; when they’re done, the latino just lets them know the date of the special practice and where; the twins get walking, thanking Jan for the help. John asks where Jan knows them from, Jan just shrugs, fearing for his life for the lessons.

Back in the Arts building, Bruno walks into, looking for Perry, determined to sign up to teach at the workshop his teacher announced earlier. As he tries to search for him, he stumbles upon Dan, who is seen struggling with the management of his office, Bruno asks the leader if he needs any help, and Dan replies that if Bruno has a small loan of 50k he sure could use it, Bruno shrugs, walking away onto Perry’s cubicle. Perry, sitting down while writing on some recommendation letters notices his student peaking, and asks him what he needs; Bruno lets him know about wanting to sign up for the workshop, and Perry complies, giving him the sign-up sheet. Bruno fills it content, while Perry asks him the reason of his happiness, Bruno just replies he’s excited to find his path, then walking away from the office.

The day continues and Jan is waiting for the twins in the auditorium, going over his papers and what he’s supposed to assign them that day. Aries and Dee walk in with a grin on their faces, greeting the intern as they leave their training bags on the floor; Jan is confused as why they brought such things and the twins reply that they know Jan knows a thing or two about dancing, so they want to learn that as well; Jan is gob smacked about the situation he put himself into, but his momma didn’t raise a quitter, so he’ll try to help them. Jan asks them why they decided to take on the theater program; Aries states he wanted to do it due to being a good singer and dreaming of Broadway, while Dee is more reserved, saying he got on because he’s planning to act and dance internationally; Jan then realizes that each twin has what the other is missing, and asks if they have ever tried to help each other, the twins don’t really have an answer, so Jan tells them that the lesson is about to start.

John and Yogi discuss last night in the administrative lounge, where Kabs joins them, asking them if Perry also came up to them with his money idea; they both nod about it and then start to discuss what they’re doing, as they know the program matters not only to those who work there, but to those who are taking it. John suggests to come up with something to raise funds or at least try to reach out to more people like those announcements where a celebrity paid for the school; Yogi is conflicted about trying to ask Silvia about it, as he knows she can afford it but has never liked to ask anything to anyone, Kabs advices him that it’s worth a shot and even if Perry isn’t really close to John nor Yogi they also gotta think of Rita and every student there.

Back with Jan and the twins, the young adult is tired after several songs and several attempts to allow the students to lose themselves; Jan notices Dee fears opening up his voice while Aries can’t focus on the steps around, so he then decides to let them know a few things that scared him when he was starting his professional education; the twins seem to loosen up after expressing some of their fears themselves; Jan gives them one last time to try to take them out of their individual shells, for the next song he asks Dee to follow up Aries’ lead with the harmonies while asking Aries to follow Dee’s steps without thinking too much about what he’s doing, **Champagne Problems** by Katy Perry commences, and as Jan takes on the lead vocals, Dee tries to bring in steps for his brother to follow along; the siblings try to follow each other in the areas they need; the song wraps and while Jan notices there’s a lot to work they both took their first steps into losing their fear.

Later, Dan is in his office when he receives a call, in which he is notified that his ex-husband is asking to revoke Dan’s right to receive a monthly compensation out of the divorce; Dan stutters as he’s informed he’ll have to meet again with his ex-man soon enough, the call ends, as the director asks his assistant for some rum.