SIDE 1

(TROY shoots some hoops, waiting for the Redhawks to pick him up for practice. GABRIELLA runs in, steals the ball from TROY, takes a shot. There's something on her mind, but she's playing cool, working hard to maintain her smile.)

Nice jacket. University of Alberquerque?

It's a gift from Sharpay's dad. He fixed it so I could practice with the college guys today.

(smiling)
Wow! Go Redhawks! Go Sharpay's dad!

(GABRIELLA passes the ball to TROY.)

I'll be back right after practice, then we can go to a movie or something. Promise.

We have the staff baseball game today. You promised to play, remember?

Is that today?

You promised to have dinner with me last night, too.

Uhm, I'm really sorry I had to rehearse. I'm just trying to get that scholarship, you know?

Troy, you'll get that scholarship because you deserve it, not because you sing with Sharpay.

SIDE 2

And?

And I know I've been acting pretty stupid lately. I've been such a jerk.

A big jerk.

(trying to be helpful)
A really big jerk.

Yeah, you're right. Chad, you're my best friend. We're like brothers.

Only one brother's been a big jerk.

(trying to be helpful)
He means you, Troy.

Thanks, Zeke.

Brothers're supposed to trust each other  watch each other's backs.

But sometimes they fight, right?

Yeah, and sometimes they get totally cut out.

But brothers say I'm sorry. I'm sorry, Chad.

(A beat. No response from CHAD. TROY drops his head and turns to leave.)

(finally letting TROY off the hook)
Come here, jerk.

He means you, Troy.

(turning back, smiling)
Thanks, Zeke.

(TROY and CHAD hug and make up, best friends again. What the heck, ZEKE joins the hug, too. RYAN enters with some other WILDCATS.)

Ryan, I'm sorry I snapped at you, dude.

Hey, no problem. But look, Troy, I really don't want to see Sharpay crash and burn. I think you should sing with her.

Consider it punishment for being a jerk.

He means you, Troy!

Thanks, guys. What team?

Wildcats!

(JACK SCOTT takes the stage.)

Wow, that was... unbeliev-a-dable! And now, for something completely different in kinda the same old way, let's bring out Janey Fire and Norman, her phenomenal psycho sock puppet!

SIDE 3

(The audience applauds as JANEY takes the stage with her puppet. In her dressing room, SHARPAY cries, attacking yet another innocent cookie.)

(into the mirror)
I hate my life, I hate my life  I love these cookies  I hate my life

Sharpay?

Troy??

Uhm, if you still want me to, I'll sing with you.

What?

I figure I should start trying to keep my promises. What was that thing you said to me when I first came here?

Bring me some more iced tea?

No, the other thing. We're all...

... all in this together?

Yeah, that.

(trying to rally)
So let's get out there and knock 'em dead, Troy Bolton!

Look, I do the show only if the Wildcats do the show, too. Or do you just want to sit here and polish off what's left of Zeke's cookies?

Zeke made these?

(pulls from her mouth a piece of paper baked into a cookie)

"Dear Sharpay: You are my secret ingredient. Your Iron Chef, Zeke." How sweet is that?

(dabbing her eyes with a tissue)
Oh, Troy, what a loser I've been...

Join the club. I was so focused on what I wanted, that I forgot what I already had. I lost my team, I lost my best friend, and I lost Gabriella.

I guess maybe it's time I stepped away from the mirror.

(holds out his hand)
Come on. It's show time.

(SHARPAY is really affected by TROY's selflessness. Suddenly, she gets an idea.)

Um, give me a few minutes to get my face on, okay? Can I borrow your cell phone real fast?

(TROY gives her his phone.)

Oh, and I want you to learn a new song.

What? Now?? Are you crazy?!?

Tell Kelsi I need her asap. Tell her it's super-urgent.

I can't learn a new song that fast!

Tell Fulton to put us on last. He can stall until we're ready. I need like fifteen minutes! Go get Kelsi! Hurry!!!

(TROY runs for KELSI. SHARPAY whips open the phone, dials and puts it to her ear.)

Uhm, hi, it's Sharpay... No  don't hang up  I have something really important to tell you... You have like two minutes to get up here...

(SHARPAY exits.)