I went back up to Hunter Mountain again. Got stuck on the exact same lift as last year.
- No way. - Seriously.
It seems it's not as magical when you're by yourself.
What'd you do?
Same thing I did last year. I cried like a little girl.
Listen, Charlotte.
I was thinking that maybe it's time for you to give me another chance.
Look...
-What's this? -This is me risking complete humiliation.
Say, won't you stay
We can talk about nothing at all
You are so corny.
Or sit here and make up the words
As we go along
They told me maybe she's crazy
A little like you
Everyone said you were nothing but trouble
And all that I know is that I've never been here before
I don't need to pretend anymore
Strange, so strange
You are hilarious.
When it feels better being alone
You'll accept there is nobody else
Then set it in stone
And they told me maybe she's crazy
A little like you
Everyone said...
Will and I were just updating our band's MySpace page.
You know that kid, Will Burton? Do some recon.
Find out everything you can about him.
They'll have his records in the office. Where he's from, where he went to school.
His guidance counsellor report, that'll have all the good stuff. All right?
Everything. And do it today.
Whoa. Yo, dude, we don't actually work for you.
It's not like you're the Joker and we're your henchmen.
Fine. I'll do it myself.
All right, best for last. Sa5m, Will? Tell us who you are.
My project is Will Burton.
I'm pointing because it's hard to tell who he is.
I was going to use photographs for this presentation,
but then I realized, the real Will Burton can't be captured on film.
Instead,
you need this.
Will is a reflective surface.
He mirrors back at you whatever you want to see.
He reflects you back to you.
And it's nice for awhile.
You stop feeling lonely.
But then you realize, he's doing that with everyone.
The only person he can't do it for
is Will.
Because he doesn't have a clue
who he is.
Okay, well, that was very creative.
And really mean. Okay, Will, you're up.
If I told you things I did before
Told you how I used to be
Would you go along with someone like me?
If you knew my story word for word
Had all of my history
Would you go along with someone like me?
And we don't care about the young folks
Talking about the young style
And we don't care about the old folks
Talking about the old style too
And we don't care about our own faults
Talking about our own style
All we care about is talking
Talking only me and you
And we don't care about the young folks
Talking about the young style
And we don't care about the old folks
Talking about the old style too
And we don't care about our own faults
Talking about our own style
All we care about is talking
Talking only me and you
Dear David Bowie,
sometimes it seems like things actually work out.
English, Irene. English. There is no such thing as conversational Elvish.
Sorry, Dewey.
It's what they call you, isn't it?
No.
It was at your last school. Or do you prefer "Junior"?
Do you know your buddy, his full name is Will Burton, Jr.?
Did you know that I don't care?
Well, he told you his dad was famous, right?
Or infamous, right, Dewey? I mean, you still close to the old man?
You probably don't get to talk to him much anymore, do you?
-I don't know what you're talking about. -Well, I think you do, Dewey.
I think you do, Dewey.
Okay, that was surreal. Are you okay?
I don't... I got... I gotta...
What are you doing?
You didn't answer my texts, and you left me alone with the monsters.
Sorry, I'm sick.
My spidey-sense tells me you're lying.
I'm thinking about changing schools.
No way, my little friend. I'm not facing the Neanderthals without you.
Besides, if you change schools, then you can't gain access to this.
-What's that? -Something private.
Something I would only show the manager of my band.
Or my best friend.
Scooch.
Okay. You said we needed one song that says who we are.
Well, these say who I am.
Little brothers.
Little brothers again.
-For your dad? -No.
Not for him, exactly.
Inspired by him, I guess. You know, things he said to me.
But it's not just about my dad anymore. That'd be, hello, weird.
It's about everything.
Wow, that's articulate.
You know, there's other stuff in here, too.
-I'm not saying any of it's good... -Thanks.
Hey. By accepting this, it means that there will be no more talk of changing schools.
Agreed?
-Man, I'm good. -Charlotte!
-Charlotte! My mom is in the... -I knew you were ticklish.
You are so ticklish, I knew it.
Somebody wanna tell me what's going on in here?
Get off his bed.
Wait. You don't think...
I saw you kiss him in the car.
Well, that was for educational purposes only.
I wanna die.
Did you hear that? He wants to die. He needs help, Karen.
Then I'll help him. I'm his mom.
But I am wise in the ways of Will.
I'm actually here, you know. These covers don't literally make me disappear.
You know what I think? I think you're full of it, Charlotte.
And when I think someone's full of it, I don't trust them.
Mom, will you stop interfering?
Sorry, I'm not your friend, I'm your mother. That's my job.
No, Mom, you're supposed to give me a little breathing room so I can have a life,
instead of just saying that's what you want.
-He's got a point, Karen. -And you, I'm not a manager.
I don't take on the biggest band in school and change destiny. I can't.
Will you both just please leave me alone?
Get out.
-Somebody called me Dewey today. -What? How?
-He must've found out about Dad. -I hate them all.
-Me too. -You, however, I love.
Yeah, but you married Dad. We can't really trust your taste.
I was 19. And he was a drummer.
And overnight it made my mother finally take me seriously,
which is really all I wanted.
-Mom? -I... What?
You're doing that thing where you talk to me like I'm Oprah.
I'll tell you this, though. I'd marry him all over again to get you.
I promise you're going to get everything you deserve out of life.
And a little bit of the next guy's.
I'll never be
A knight in armor with a sword in hand
Ora kamikaze fighter
Don't count on me
To storm the barricades and take a stand
Or hold my ground
You'll never see any scars or wounds
I don't walk on coals
I won't walk on water
I am no prince
I am no saint
I am not anyone's wildest dream
But I will stand behind
And be someone to fall back on
That's the song.
Some comedy
You're bruised and beaten down
And I am the one who's looking for a favor
Still, honestly
You don't believe me But the things I have
Are the things you need
You look at me like I don't make sense
Like a waste of time Like it serves no purpose
I am no prince I am no saint
And if that's what you believe you need
You're wrong You don't need much
You need someone to fall back on
And I'll be that I'll take your side
If I'm the only one
I'm used to that
I've been alone
I'd rather be
The half of us
The least of you
The best of me
And I will be
I'll be your prince I'll be your saint
I will go crashing through fences in your name
I will, I swear
I'll be someone to fall back on
I'll be the one who waits
And for as long as you let me
I will be the one you need
I'll be someone to fall back on
Someone to fall back on
One to fall back on
Dear David Bowie,
just when it looked like things might be okay,
disaster struck.
What's going on? Where is everybody?
-Art class is cancelled today. -Why? What happened?
Charlotte's father passed away.
I assumed you knew.
No.
This was a mistake. We shouldn't be here.
She didn't return any of my calls.
-You going to be okay? -Yeah.
Okay.
Go, she's your friend. She needs you.
- Boys... - I got them.
Charlotte?
I'm sorry.
I called.
I don't know if you got any of my messages.
Yeah, I got them. Thanks.
I wish you would've called me back.
Why?
"Why?"
I don't know. I mean, you told Ben.
So?
Is anything wrong?
Yeah.
Yeah, my dad died.
No, I know.
I wish I could've met him. I'm sure he was a great man.
He was.
I got to do this.
Charlotte.
-What do you want, Will? -What do I want?
I just want you to know that I'm here for you.
Okay, got it. What else?
And not to worry about the daycare. I can handle that until you come back.
That's it.
Listen, I'm sorry, okay.
It's just a lot to deal with right now, and I sort of want to be alone.
Okay. I get it, yeah.
And look, about the band...
Don't even worry about the band, okay? We'll use Phil's Song for Bandslam.
Or not. We don't have to use Phil's Song. We can find another song, or...
Hey, go ahead. Knock yourselves out.
I mean, it's a beautiful song, Charlotte.
It would make your dad proud. It would be like he's there.
Stop! Please, just stop!
There is no us, Will. I'm not in the band.
What? No, no, no. Okay, we'll find another song...
It's not about the song. I quit. I just quit.
-Why? -I don't do "why"!
No, you have to. You just have to!
Please.
You really want to know why?
Last summer, when my dad got sick,
I promised God, the universe,
anyone who'd listen,
that I'd be different.
Better. Nicer.
My dad hated the way I acted when I was with Ben.
The way I treated kids who weren't popular.
So, I changed.
I started volunteering with the monsters. I left my friends. I left my band.
I left everything that set me apart from people like...
Me.
People like me.
So we were just this
experiment to try and make your dad okay?
No, I know how crazy this must sound...
Honestly, Charlotte, the thing that never made sense
was you being my friend in the first place.
Hey! While you're up there on your high horse,
ask yourself who are you to judge me about lying?
Dewey!
That stands for DWI, right?
Driving while intoxicated?
I don't know what's worse.
Losing a father you love so much you change your whole life for him,
or having a father you're so ashamed of, you make up a whole life for him.
Can I have some beef jerky?
Is he kidding?
You warned me about her.
I didn't listen.
She can't help it. It's how girls like that are hardwired.
How are we hardwired?
I mean, sure, right now, I am just a kid.
Whatever.
What's going to change?
Nothing.
I'm just going to be
unhappy,
alone,
scared of, like, everything.
You're not alone, Will.
Experiment? We were just her experiment?
I keep thinking...
What?
Well, if you were just part of Charlotte's experiment this whole time,
then, what is reality?
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.
- You're crazy. - 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?
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
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,
like 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.
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.
-Is that okay? -Yeah. Of course.
And I'll be the girl in front, screaming my head off while you do.
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
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.
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
Come on!
We need another minute.
We don't have another minute! They just...
We need another minute!
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.
Dewey!
Oh, my God!
Dewey!
Where's the band?
Dewey!
Dewey.
Dewey!
Dewey! Dewey! Dewey!
Dewey. Dewey. Dewey.
Dewey. Come on! Dewey.
Dewey. Dewey. Dewey.
Dewey... Yeah, come on!
Dewey! Dewey! Dewey!
Do we want to rock?
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!
You shelter me from harm
You kept me warm
Kept me warm
You gave my life to me
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
You never said too much But still you showed the way
And I knew from watching you
Nobody else could ever know
The part of me that can't let go
And I would give everything I own
Give up my life, my heart, my home
I would give everything I own
Just to have you once again
Is there someone you know
You're loving them so
But taking them all for granted
You may lose them one day
Someone takes them away
And they don't hear the words you long to say
I would give everything I own
Give up my life, my heart, my home
I would give anything I own
Just to have you
I gotta have you
I would give everything I own
Everything I own
Give up my life, my heart, my home
I would give everything I own
Everything, everything I own
-Just to have you -Just to have you
I would give everything I own
Give up my life, my heart, my home
I would give everything I own
Give up my life, my heart, my home
I would give
Everything, everything I own Everything, everything I own
Everything, everything I
Own
Dude! That was sick!
The whole thing with Ben singing the song, I swear, I didn't know.
I know. I know.
That... They were ridiculously good!
Who are you? You are...
-Mom. -Where do you come from?
Cute lead singer I hope to make my girlfriend is actually laughing at me.
All right. Fine.
It's time to leave.
And the winner of this year's Bandslam is...
From Greenwich High School in Greenwich, Connecticut, The Daze!
Over here, please.
Can we get a smiley one right here?
- One more. - $10,000.
The part of me that can't let go
Forget The Daze, these guys rocked harder than anybody.
You should post it.
Give up my life, my heart, my home
If you feel like singing a song
And you want other people to sing along
Then just sing what you feel
Don't let anyone say it's wrong
And if you're trying to paint a picture
But you're not sure which colors belong
Just paint what you see
Don't let anyone say it's wrong
Hey!
Kyra17-1, what's up?
I told you, the dash is silent.
Or stung awake in the night
It's all right to be frightened
When there's a light
What light?
There's a light
What light?
There's a light
White light
There's a light
White light
Well, there's a light
One light
There's a light
White light
And there's a light
Dear Will Burton,
it says on your MySpace page
that you manage I Can't Go On, I'll Go On.
Nice name.
I really like your band.
You know, I'm starting an indie label.
Are you signed to anyone?
Maybe we can sit down and have a chat.
Oh, my God!
All the best.
David Bowie.
White light
Well, there's a light
White light
There's a light
White light
There's a light
White light
There's a light
-Hey. -Hey.
Smile.
-Hey. -Hey.
-You look great. -Thanks.
It's my new makeup, "I Can't Wear Blush, I'll Wear Blush."
- Hey, you got room for one more? - No!
- Shotgun. - No way.
I called shotgun like an hour ago.
Don't it blow your mind?
Don't it blow your mind like the first time?
Circle of voices in a crowded room
Plays in my head so out of time
Kill me with kindness never enough I find
Don't it blow your mind?
Don't it blow your mind again?
Don't it blow your mind for the third time?
The dream is never over
Envision a future still in black and white
Colors of youth run into gold
Blue is for sorrow, red is for sadder light
Don't it blow your mind?
Don't it blow your mind again?
Don't it blow your mind for the third time?
The dream is never over
To my favorite teacher
Told me never give up
To my fifth grade crush
Who I thought I really loved
To the guys I miss and the girls we kissed
Where are you now?
To my ex-best friends
Don't know how we grew apart
To my favorite band
And sing-alongs in my car
To the face I see in my memories
Where are you now?
'Cause I'm thinking of you
You showed me how
How to live like I do
If it wasn't for you
I would never be who I am
To my first girlfriend
I thought for sure was the one
To my last girlfriend
Sorry that I screwed it up
To the ones I loved
Didn't show it enough
Where are you now?
'Cause I'm thinking of you
You showed me how
How to live like I do
If it wasn't for you
I would never be who I am
I know we'll never see those days again
And things will never be that way again
But that's just how it goes
People change but I know
I won't forget you
To the ones who cared
And who were there from the start
To the love that left
And took a piece of my heart
To the few who'd swear
They'd never go anywhere
Where are you now?
'Cause I'm thinking of you
You showed me how
How to live like I do
If it wasn't for you
I would never be who I am
If it wasn't for you
I would never be who I am
If it wasn't for you
I'd be nothing
Where are you now?