[ Have a Wallflower | None | 200c ]
ADDISON: Huh? Did someone say something?
GEORGIE: I did! Hi!
You turn and see Georgie sitting against the wall.
ADDISON: Oh, sorry. I didn’t see you there, Georgie.
GEORGIE: Totally not your fault. I’m used to it. I’m kind of a wallflower.
ADDISON: Aw, people usually don’t notice you? That sounds like a bad thing. Does it bother you?
GEORGIE: Not at all! A wallflower is just someone who hangs out at the edges of crowds, looking in, noticing what no one else notices. Like the fact that you’re always looking out for everyone, Addison!
ADDISON: Awww! Thanks! No one’s ever really said anything to me about that!
GEORGIE: I am having ONE problem you might be able to help me with…
ADDISON: What’s that?
GEORGIE: …
ADDISON: Excuse me? I didn’t hear you.
GEORGIE: I said that my birthday’s coming up…
ADDISON: Happy birthday, Georgie!
GEORGIE: Thanks! I really want to have a fun gathering of friends!
ADDISON: You mean, a party?
GEORGIE: Oh no! Parties are definitely not my thing!
ADDISON: Got it. A gathering. It doesn’t seem like there’s anything wrong with that! What’s the problem?
GEORGIE: ...I don’t have many friends to invite! Being a wallflower means I’m not very outgoing.
ADDISON: Well, you’ve come to the right place! I can help you make friends for sure!
GEORGIE: Really? You’d do that for me?
ADDISON: Of course! And I think I know exactly how to get started!
GEORGIE: Nothing too outgoing, right?
ADDISON: No way. We’re going to start slow. And the first step to making friends is to get loud! No offense, but I can barely hear you! It’s hard to make friends when no one can even hear what you have to say!
GEORGIE: That makes sense. But how can I ‘get loud’?
ADDISON: We need to go somewhere with a crowd! Somewhere fun! Somewhere you can cheer for a scrappy point guard as they sink a fadeaway jumper with no time left on the clock!
GEORGIE: That got really specific.
ADDISON: There’s a basketball game here tonight! It’ll be perfect!
[ Addison, A Level 5+ Jock, A Level 3+ Cheerleader (Finley, Emery) | 2h | 300c ]
You, Georgie, and Finley squeeze into the middle of the crowd for your school’s basketball game! Emery calls to you from below.
EMERY: Addison! Are you going to cheer today?!
ADDISON: Of course! That’s what we’re here for!
EMERY: See you after the game!
ADDISON: What do you think of our seats, Georgie?
GEORGIE: They’re--
FINLEY: --Awesome! AWESOOOOOOOOOOME!
GEORGIE: Not quite how I was going to phrase it, but that’s the gist. I think normally I’d watch the game from way over there. By myself.
ADDISON: Let me guess, with your back against the wall?
GEORGIE: I guess ‘wallflower’ really is an apt term…
FINLEY: Well, now you’re hanging out with us, uh, bleacher pumpkins?
GEORGIE: I don’t think that will catch on…
ADDISON: Hey, before the game starts, I’m going to grab… A hot dog! A dog sounds so good right now! Anyway, save my seat!
After a timeout, you return to your seat holding some nachos…
GEORGIE: I thought you went to go get a hot dog?
ADDISON: They ran out!
GEORGIE: Sorry…
FINLEY: Yeah! Bummer!
ADDISON: That’s okay… I can never be sad with nachos!
Later, with time winding down and the score close, your team has the ball!
EMERY: Everyone get loud!
ADDISON: You ready?
GEORGIE: I… I think so. What do I do?
ADDISON: It’s easy. Just yell… I LOVE PUPPIES!
Georgie stands up and yells!
GEORGIE: I LOVE PUPPIES!
ADDISON: How’d that feel?
GEORGIE: Heh. It felt great! Plus, I do love puppies!
FINLEY: Yeah! Way to cheer, Georgie!
GEORGIE: Glad I could contribute.
FINLEY: Let’s just hope it makes a difference. Our center’s stinking it up! It’s like he’s not focused at all…
GEORGIE: Um… I kind of noticed something about that.
FINLEY: Really? What?
GEORGIE: Well, see his girlfriend sitting right in the front row? He keeps looking over at her, and I think she’s making him nervous!
FINLEY: Whoa! Good eyes, Georgie!
GEORGIE: Thanks. It wasn’t anything. And it’s not like we can do something about--
FINLEY: I’m going to do something about it! We have to win!
A few moments later…
FINLEY: I told his girlfriend what was up. She’s just hanging out in the parking lot now with some friends. And it looks like it totally paid off! Check out the score! We’re pulling ahead!
Boosted by the now-focused center, your school’s team dominates from then on, winning the game! After the game…
ADDISON: So, Georgie, how was your first, middle-of-the-crowd cheering experience?
GEORGIE: …
ADDISON: I… I can’t hear you… I guess it didn’t really work…
GEORGIE: Just kidding! That was so much FUN!
Emery comes over to say hi!
EMERY: I don’t think I’ve seen you at a game before, Georgie… I hope you come back!
GEORGIE: Thanks!
FINLEY: I hope you come to every game! Without your sharp eyes, we would’ve lost!
GEORGIE: I… I played my part…
Outside the gym, Georgie turns to you.
GEORGIE: I think… I think I’m ready for whatever’s next…
ADDISON: Well, now that you’ve mastered ‘getting loud’, I think next is ‘caring less’. Namely, about what others think of you.
GEORGIE: And how do I care less?
ADDISON: One word, a bunch of syllables… KARAOKE!
GEORGIE: Uh… I don’t know… karaoke’s kind of a wallflower’s nightmare. All those judging people judging your singing with their judging ears…
ADDISON: That’s why this karaoke event will be special. It’ll be low-key, judge-free karaoke!
GEORGIE: Judge-free?
ADDISON: There’s a video game version of karaoke that you can play at home. We can sing with just the four of us listening.
GEORGIE: The four of us?
ADDISON: Yeah! Me, you, and two people who love spending an evening in front of a game console!
[ Georgie, A Level 4+ Nerd, A Level 4+ Gamer (Bailey, Kennedy) | 3h | 400c ]
You and Georgie arrive at Kennedy’s house for karaoke.
BAILEY: Come in! Come in! The ‘So You Think You Can Sing’ crowd grows impatient!
KENNEDY: Yeah! I can hear them clamoring already for my melodic soprano!
Inside Kennedy’s house, Bailey and Kennedy have set up a mock concert stage, complete with surround sound speakers, a fog machine, and a vintage microphone stand.
ADDISON: Whoa. This is amazing!
BAILEY: We’re so glad you like it! We were getting SO tired of trying to sing co-op online…
GEORGIE: ...because you sing better than everyone else and judge them for it?
KENNEDY: The opposite! We stink, and the internet can be a harsh, cruel, and heartless beast. Just like my Aunt Maude…
BAILEY: Yeah! Karaoke’s only fun when no one’s judging you!
GEORGIE: Oh, this sounds great!
ADDISON: Then let’s get started! Release the fog!
You and Georgie are almost ready for your karaoke duet together!
BAILEY: Host’s choice! I picked THE hardest song available! Good luck!
KENNEDY: Watching them try to nail this song is going to be so funny!
You see Georgie starting to panic!
GEORGIE: …!
Bailey dims the lights, and the fog machine slowly fills the room with fog… As the song begins, you change your voice, singing off-key to encourage Georgie!
ADDISON: And I wiiiiiiilll allllwaaaays loooooove yooooooooou!
Both Bailey and Kennedy cover their ears as you sing!
ADDISON: ...wiiiiiiilll allllwaaaays loooooove yooooooooou!
Your part ends, and Georgie takes over, singing with confidence! When the song ends…
BAILEY: Okay, I know we said we don’t judge, but Addison… that was the worst thing I’ve ever heard.
KENNEDY: Seriously. It sounded like a chicken squawking inside a broken piano. Never sing that song again.
ADDISON: Thanks for the advice. But what’d you think of Georgie’s singing?
GEORGIE: Oh, that’s okay! You don’t have to compare my voice to any farm animals…
BAILEY: Are you kidding?! You sounded fantastic! I couldn’t have done it better!
KENNEDY: I wish I had Georgie’s voice!
GEORGIE: Thanks! I get to pick the next song!
After your duet, Bailey and Kennedy try a duet of their own…
BAILEY: Aww… looks like we got another low score, Kennedy.
KENNEDY: Weak.
GEORGIE: Um…
ADDISON: What’s up, Georgie?
GEORGIE: Well, I know the score says one thing, but I thought that was awesome!
BAILEY: Thanks. We know we blew it.
KENNEDY: Yeah, thanks for trying to cheer us up…
GEORGIE: I’m not just saying that! You may not have the best voices individually, but together, the two of you have a ton of vocal chemistry! I don’t know a lot about video games, but I don’t think any computer can pick up on that…
BAILEY: You really mean it?
GEORGIE: Of course!
KENNEDY: Yeah! Underrated by machines, but adored by audiences worldwide!
GEORGIE: And in this living room…
Later, you and Georgie say goodbye to Bailey and Kennedy.
ADDISON: Thanks for hosting us!
BAILEY: No problem! Come over anytime! That means you too, Georgie!
KENNEDY: Yeah! The fans are already hungry for an encore!
GEORGIE: …okay!
On the way home…
GEORGIE: That was fun! And listen to my voice! It’s all scratchy from singing!
ADDISON: First time?
GEORGIE: First time!
ADDISON: So, you’ve already learned how to get loud and how to care less. Ready for the next lesson in Making Friends 101?
GEORGIE: I think so… just as long as it’s not--
ADDISON: --a party. Don’t worry, I remember.
GEORGIE: Good.
ADDISON: For this lesson, all you have to do is think fast!
GEORGIE: AHHHHHHH!
ADDISON: Why did you just scream?
GEORGIE: ‘Think fast’ is usually what someone says before they throw something at you!
ADDISON: Oh, whoops, sorry. Actually, we’re about to literally ‘think fast’! It’s time to improve our improv!
[ Addison, Georgie, A Level 5+ Classmate (Dale) | 4h | 15b ]
You and Georgie meet up with Dale in the school’s theater.
DALE: Improvisational comedy is a GREAT way to get better at thinking on your feet! It’s just you and your partner, making a wacky, unscripted premise come to life!
ADDISON: Can Georgie and I do a scene right now?
DALE: Sure you can!
GEORGIE: Uh… there won’t be an audience, right?
DALE: No. No audience. Just us.
ADDISON: Any tips before we get started?
DALE: All you really need to know is this: Don’t deny.
GEORGIE: And that means…?
DALE: Let’s say I’m doing a scene with Addison. I start by saying that Addison is a pirate with dreams of becoming a ballet dancer…
ADDISON: I like it.
DALE: If Addison denies what I’ve said, claiming instead to actually be a manatee looking for a job in computers, then the scene dies.
GEORGIE: I think I get it.
DALE: Good! Then let’s do some improv!
You and Georgie get onstage and prepare for your improv scene! You approach, pretending to knock on an invisible door.
GEORGIE: Come in!
You step forward.
ADDISON: Hello, doctor.
GEORGIE: Hello, uh, patient whose name I’ve forgotten! I’ve been looking over your chart, and I’m deeply concerned.
ADDISON: Is it…?
GEORGIE: Yes, I’m afraid you have a serious case of… hop-on-one-leg disease…
ADDISON: Uh… I don’t think I do. I think it’s actually another, less-embarrassing condition…
GEORGIE: Oh, uh, let me look at my chart again… you’re right… don’t know how I missed that. It’s actually… um, sudden shouting syndrome.
ADDISON: Are you sure? I’m POSITIVE I DON’T HAVE THAT!!!
GEORGIE: You just shouted.
ADDISON: NO, I DIDN’T! WAIT! OHMYGOSH! I’M SHOUTING NOW! IS THERE A CURE?!
GEORGIE: Unfortunately, there’s no known cure for SSS… except, well, you’re not going to like it.
ADDISON: What is it? I’LL DO ANYTHING!
GEORGIE: The only way to cure sudden shouting syndrome is to… hop on one leg.
DALE: Aaaaaaaand scene!
ADDISON: How’d we do?
DALE: Well, Addison, you sort of violated the ‘don’t deny’ rule when you refused to hop on one leg…
ADDISON: I really didn’t want to do that…
DALE: But Georgie, you really saved the scene! You’ve got real talent!
GEORGIE: I do? No one’s ever said that to me before!
DALE: Just a heads up, I’m running an improv show here tonight!
Dale hands both of you flyers advertising the event.
DALE: You should totally come perform, Georgie! You’re so good at coming up with funny stuff on the spot!
GEORGIE: I… I don’t think that’s a good idea. All those people… all that pressure.
ADDISON: Georgie isn’t a fan of crowds.
GEORGIE: Especially crowds that are looking at me!
DALE: Why are you studying improv then?!
GEORGIE: Addison’s just helping me meet new people.
ADDISON: I figured improv could give Georgie some of the skills for making friends!
DALE: Oh, I get it. Good for you, Georgie!
GEORGIE: Oh, um…
ADDISON: I’ve seen that look before. What’s up, Georgie?
GEORGIE: I just noticed that the date on these flyers is for tomorrow, not tonight…
DALE: What?! Let me see… Oh, wow! Thanks for noticing that! You know, if you want to meet new people, but don’t like big groups, there is an alternative.
GEORGIE: What’s that?
DALE: Dating!
ADDISON: Ooh! Great idea, Dale!
GEORGIE: ‘Great’ isn’t exactly the word I’d use… I mean, I am dating someone, but that doesn’t make it any less nerve-racking!
[ Complete a Successful Date with Georgie | None | 500c ]
ADDISON: So… about that date!
GEORGIE: I’m sorry! I can’t talk about it. It’s nothing against you or anything… I just don’t like to talk about really personal stuff.
ADDISON: Fair enough. Can’t say I’m surprised… I’ve been thinking about how far you’ve come, Georgie! You got loud at the basketball game, you cared less at karaoke… You thought fast at improv, and you just braved the scary world of dating!
GEORGIE: You’re saying I’m don? That I’m ready to make friends for my birthday gathering?!
ADDISON: Not exactly… there is still one small step you’re going to love. And by ‘small’ I mean ‘big’ and by ‘love’ I mean ‘hate’.
GEORGIE: Oh no! You don’t mean what I think you mean, do you?
ADDISON: I do! It’s time to throw a party!
[ Complete a Party with Georgie | None | 600c ]
As you’re leaving the party…
ADDISON: Did you have fun, Georgie?
GEORGIE: I did! I danced! I never dance!
As you’re leaving, some of your friends come over to talk to you and Georgie…
AUTUMN: You have such an interesting dancing style, Georgie… it’s very free form!
GEORGIE: Thanks…
JULIAN: Yeah, you really know how to throw an epic party, Georgie! When’s the next one?
ADDISON: Actually, there’s this birthday bash that Georgie’s going to throw, and…
You turn toward Georgie… but Georgie is gone!
ADDISON: Georgie?
You see him in the distance, heading toward his car!
ADDISON: Oh no!
You rush over, only to watch him drive off!
ADDISON: This is my fault… I’ve got to find him!
[ Addison, A Girl Classmate, A Guy Classmate (Cameron, Laurie) | 5h | 700c ]
You, Cameron, and Laurie are driving around, looking for Georgie!
CAMERON: I don’t want to be a downer, but he could be anywhere…
LAURIE: Yeah, don’t you have some idea where he might be?
ADDISON: Georgie is a wallflower, and wallflowers like to be away from people.
CAMERON: So we’ve narrowed it down to… places where people aren’t?
Just then you drive near a sign for the beach…
ADDISON: The beach! That’s where Georgie is!
LAURIE: Uh, hate to break it to you, but you said Georgie would be where people aren’t. There are like a thousand people on the beach…
ADDISON: Yeah, but Georgie isn’t on the beach.
CAMERON: Georgie IS the beach?
ADDISON: Just drive!
A few minutes later, you pull into the beach parking lot…
ADDISON: There’s Georgie’s car!
Near the parking lot is a tall lighthouse at the end of a rocky point.
CAMERON: Whaaaat?! How long has this lighthouse been here?!
You rush over to it… Inside, Georgie is sitting at the top of a spiral staircase, staring out through the lighthouse windows at the ocean. Cameron and Laurie hang back so you can talk to him alone…
ADDISON: Georgie?
GEORGIE: Oh! You startled me!
ADDISON: Are you okay? You kind of bailed back there…
GEORGIE: Yeah, I guess I did…
ADDISON: I’m really sorry… I feel so bad. I forced you into going even though I knew you--
GEORGIE: --Addison?
ADDISON: Yeah?
GEORGIE: There’s nothing for you to apologize for.
ADDISON: Really?
GEORGIE: I was having a great time at the party, I just got a little overwhelmed by all the attention afterward! My weekends are usually spent in special, solitary places like the top of this lighthouse.
ADDISON: The ocean is so beautiful from up here.
GEORGIE: And the population is usually one. It’s a thousand times different than being in a house party packed with classmates!
ADDISON: So, you left because you were overwhelmed?
GEORGIE: Yeah, I just needed a moment by myself, that’s all. Wait… are you okay? You look upset.
ADDISON: I just… I was supposed to teach you how to make friends, and I feel like I let you down! Like I failed…
GEORGIE: Not at all! I’m so grateful for all the lessons you’ve taught me. They’ve helped, you know?
ADDISON: Have they?
GEORGIE: Sure! While you were teaching me how to meet people and make friends, I met a bunch of people and made a lot of friends!
ADDISON: Heh. Like who?
GEORGIE: Well, I’m now friends with a jock, a nerd, a gamer, and an improv coach! Plus all the people from the party! And all thanks to you!
ADDISON: I think you should take most of the credit. I also think you’re forgetting one new friend… me!
GEORGIE: …
ADDISON: Listen… you might have learned some lessons from me, but you might not realize that I’ve learned some lessons from you.
GEORGIE: Really? Like what?
ADDISON: Like the power of being observant and insightful. If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have gotten that compliment about helping others. My day would have been a little less bright. The basketball team wouldn’t have won its game, my karaoke friends might never have known how good they sound together, and the improv event wouldn’t have been advertised on the right day! If it weren’t for you, none of those things would have happened!
GEORGIE: But all I did was just notice a detail or two…
ADDISON: That’s exactly the point. You helped others, just by being you. Actually, now that I think about it, you’re a lot like this lighthouse, guiding others from an outside perspective.
GEORGIE: Thanks, Addison! That’s like the nicest thing anyone’s ever said to me! But you should know this lighthouse has been out of commission for twenty years.
ADDISON: Don’t ruin it.
GEORGIE: Sorry.
The two of you look out at the ocean for a while…
ADDISON: Georgie?
GEORGIE: Yeah?
ADDISON: I think you’re ready for your birthday gathering…
GEORGIE: Yay!
[ Addison, Georgie | 6h | 5r ]
The next week, it’s Georgie’s birthday gathering at a Japanese tea garden! All of Georgie’s new friends from the basketball game, karaoke, improv, and the party are there, including Autumn and Julian!
AUTUMN: Great birthday party, er… gathering, Georgie! This garden is so beautiful!
JULIAN: Yeah! It’s, uh, not what I expected… but it’s still awesome! I’ve never seen so many turtles!
ADDISON: This is a really beautiful, quiet place. It kinda has ‘Georgie’ written all over it.
GEORGIE: I’m glad you like it!
After the gathering…
GEORGIE: This was really fun, Addison.
ADDISON: Yeah! It really was!
GEORGIE: I’ve got a surprise for you, if you want to come with me.
ADDISON: What is it?
GEORGIE: I can’t tell you! It’s too personal!
ADDISON: Really?
GEORGIE: No, I’m kidding! I just don’t want to ruin the surprise!
Georgie leads you away from the gathering…
ADDISON: So? What’s this surprise?
GEORGIE: You’ll see…
Georgie leads you to a wooden house overlooking a koi pond.
ADDISON: It’s beautiful!
GEORGIE: And voila!
Georgie steps aside, revealing an outdoor table. Arranged neatly on it are some tea cups, a tea kettle, and two hot dogs!
ADDISON: Hot dogs! For me?
GEORGIE: Surprise again! I wanted to thank you for everything you did for me! And I remembered how much you really wanted hot dogs at the basketball game!
ADDISON: This is SO thoughtful.
GEORGIE: Turns out, ‘thoughtful’ is what I’m all about.
ADDISON: I wish everyone had a wallflower friend like you…
GEORGIE: You’re just saying that because of the food.
ADDISON: Maybe. But not really…
GEORGIE: Haha!
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