Chapter Text
It's the day of the PTA meeting. Students, teachers, and parents are seated in the courtyard. Sitting before them at her desk is Aya Kurtzberg with another woman. Also at the front is Marc, sitting at a desk with Luka, M. Damocles, Mme. Mendelieve, and M. Haberkorn. And at a podium is Mme. Bustier, having a heated debate with Aya.
"I'm sorry, you're telling us that the state's attorney is forcing us to have a prom?"
Mme. Bustier shook her head, "No, the state's attorney wants us to hold an inclusive prom." The audience members murmur, "Yes. Because that's what they feel best reflects France's values."
"Well, this isn't France," she said, "This is Paris."
While everyone in the audience cheered, Nathaniel looked away in embarrassment. He stole a glance at Marc and smiled.
"All right!" Mme. Bustier shouted, silencing everyone, "Just to be clear, this is France, and everyone gets to have an opinion." She sees a woman raising her hand, "Oh, just like you!" She grabs the microphone and rushes over to the woman to see what she has to say.
She speaks into the microphone, My son will not be forced to go to a homosexual prom!" Once again, everyone in the audience cheered. The people on Marc's side shook their heads with exhaustion.
"Thank you, Beverly!" Aya exclaimed, "Thank you!"
Mme. Bustier made her way back to the podium, "Again, it is not a homosexual prom. It is an inclusive prom-"
"With homosexuals," Aya interrupted.
"Only two! Marc and his date!" She took a breath and continued, "You don't have to attend... You don't have to attend if you don't want to. Lool, I'm sorry you're upset, but the organization of the prom is within the purview of the student council. Let's hear what they have to say... Nathaniel?"
“Okay...” Nathaniel straightens his clothes and stands. Mme. Bustier approaches and passes him the mic. He sends Marc a quick look that no one else sees and speaks, “Well, we want prom to go on, obviously. It's supposed to be a celebration of all students...” Seeing where this is going, Aya stands before he can say more.
“Okay. No, thank you. It's fine, everyone. Sweetheart, I'm so sorry, but this is not a student matter.” Nathaniel shoots his mother a look, but that’s quickly shut down when she sends him a look that says, ‘Sit down. Now.’ He complies with his mother’s silent command and sits back down, sending Marc an apologetic smile as he does.
Aya continued, “This is about government… Tearing our community apart!" Everyone in the audience claps, "It's about big government taking away our freedom of choice.”
When everyone goes into a frenzy, going on about how right she is, Damocles gets up, takes the microphone, and settles them all down, “Okay. Okay! This is not about government intervention.” He turns to Marc, “Marc, what is this about?” He holds the microphone up to him.
Marc is nervous to speak at first, but when he sees the encouraging smile on Nathaniel’s face, he finally says, “I just want to go to prom like any other kid.”
M. Damocles nods, “Mmm-hmm. But you can't. He can't, and that's why the courts are involved. Ask yourself. What exactly is it that you find so frightening about gay people?”
Before Aya can have the chance to retort, the Broadway squad and their posse burst into the room, holding signs, wearing pride shirts, and yelling with Adrien being the loudest. “Hold it! Stop! Stop!” He shouts, “Hold it! What you are doing here is wrong!”
Aya furrows her brow at the newcomers, “I'm sorry. Who are you?”
“Where’s our boy?!” Adrien asks frantically, “Where's Marc?”
Marc shyly raises his hand, “I'm Marc.”
When he sees him, Adrien rushes over and introduces himself, “Marc, my name is Adrien, and I'm here to tell you that you are not alone. Okay?” He turns to the crowd and shouts, “I am as gay as a bucket of wigs! A bucket of them!”
Alya approaches Marc and smiles, “Hon, we are here from New York City and we are gonna save you. Tomorrow, we will hold a rally!”
Marc can’t help but smile. There are other people who care, other people who are on his side. And they came all the way from New York to support him.
“Excuse me.” “Please, just-“ “Hey!” Bustier, Mendelieve, Damocles, Haberkorn, and Aya try to steer the meeting back on track, “Excuse me!”
Nino starts pointing at different people seated in the crowd, “Shame! Shame! For shame! Shame on you! Shame on you, especially, lady!”
"EXCUSE ME!" Aya bangs her gavel on her desk, finally grabbing everyone’s attention, "What is going on? Who are you people?”
Adrien introduces their group, “We are liberals from Broadway!”
One blonde woman sneered, “Oh, shut up!”
“We are here to open your hearts and your minds, people!” Alya exclaimed, paying no mind to the woman who kept trying to speak.
“We are gonna teach you all about tolerance, and acceptance, and...” Nino looks around and notices that Marinette is missing, “Where's Mari?”
Alya smirked, “You'll see.”
Suddenly, the lights went out. One lit back up and shined on a solo female figure dressed in a white dress shirt and black pants, a black fedora, and a pink sequined vest with a matching tie and heels. Luka gasped when he caught sight of the young woman’s face, “Oh, my God. That's Marinette Dupain-Cheng!”
Marinette: I wanna tell the people of...
Whatever this town's called
I know what’s going on here
And frankly, I'm appalled.
I read three quarters of a news story
And knew I had to come
And unless I'm doing The Miracle Worker...
I won’t play blind, deaf, and dumb!
Listen, you bigoted monsters
Just who do you think you are?
Your prejudice and your oppression
Won't get past this Broadway star
Stealing the rights of a boy
Who is an LGBQ teen!
I've been far too angry to Google what those letters mean!
But it's not about me
It's about poor...
"Marc!" Adrien, Nino, and Alya reminded her.
Marinette: Marc! For can't you see
The ordeal he's been dealt?
So hear my plеa!
Or here's your next dilеmma!
How do you silence a woman who’s known for her belt?
“Sing it, girl!” Alya encouraged
HER BEEEEEEELT!
But it’s not about me!
Aya shouted at M. Damocles, “Get them out of here now!”
Marinette: Go on then, threaten to riot
It won't faze me in the least
I understand furious townsfolk
I did Beauty and The Beast
I’m no stranger to slander
So, my dear, you're not alone
The Post once said
I was too old to play Eva Perón...
Luka gasped, “No.”
Eva Perón!
But it is not about me
It's poor Marc’s story, damn it
Equality
Should be this country’s norm
No photography
Unless you Instagram it
Use "hashtag Mari Takes Local Yokels By Storm"
But it's not about me!
I didn't come here to make a scene
But I know how Marc’s poor heart aches
And this is how actors intervene
With fiery songs and dance breaks!
The Broadway gang and their backup perform a short, but beautifully choreographed dance number that leaves a few of the audience members wondering if they rehearsed this before arriving.
But it's not about me!
Although I'm rich and famous!
Publicity
Is not my final goal!
"Call security!" Aya yelled
You needn't be some backwoods ignoramus!
Join me and we'll start fighting!
Could I get softer lighting?
Wait, this is not about me!
This is not about (What is happening?!)
This is not about (What is happening?!)
This is not about (What is happening?!)
Marinette: It is all about, uh, Marc
And not about...
ME...!