Chapter Text
Time has passed since the Moon Theater reopened, thanks to the help of Nana Noodleman lending money to rebuild the theater after the success of the singing competition. Business has been booming, and Buster Moon and his new friends have been putting on new show after new show for Calatonia. Of course, the koala theater director had plans to share his shows across the map, and he knew that Redshore City was the entertainment capital of the world. That was nothing short of the perfect place to demonstrate how great his work was, as long as there was a good word from the top wolf, Jimmy Crystal, who ran the highest-ranking entertainment business, Crystal Industries.
Today, he and his troupe were putting on a wild, vivid and colorful musical interpretation of Alice in Wonderland, and when they got word that Crystal's trusty talent scout, Suki Lane, was coming to watch the show, they felt excitement, with a little mixture of butterflies in their stomachs. One good word from her and they had to be a shoe-in for Redshore City.
Once the crew ran backstage during the part with the Queen of Hearts, they climbed to a slightly higher platform, and Buster asked the group "So, is she here?"
They took a peek and saw a tall female Saluki in the middle third row watching the show. She had dark orange-brown ears resembling hair, light tan fur with a white muzzle and neck area, black nose, big round glasses, a teal short-sleeved coat, a teal dress, and long knee-length dark brown boots. This was Suki Lane, the talent scout in question.
Buster said to the group, "There. See the dog, middle third row?"
Rosita saw her and quietly gasped in surprise. She didn't expect her to be a talent scout. "Oh, she’s younger than I imagined."
"Yeah, well, supposedly, she’s the best scout in show business. I can’t tell if-if she’s enjoying it. Come on, let’s get a better view."
So he went up to the highest platform behind the stage where Miss Crawly was as she was checking at the position of the talent scout via her telescope. She saw a cute light chuckle from the canine.
The group arrived nearby with Buster his elderly reptile assistant, "And how we doing over here, Miss Crawly?"
"Oh, very good, Mr. Moon," she happily reported to her boss. "So far, I counted nine smiles, two belly laughs and five chuckles. Uh, though the last one could’ve just been gas." This filled the koala with hope.
"Well, that’s proof, right? She must like the show."
"Oh, my gosh. You think so?"
"I hope so," the koala said with concern, before turning to the group. "All right, now, keep up the good work."
Rosita said, "Come on, everybody, back to positions." With that, they all returned to their spots on the show.
Gunter said with optimism, "She’d be, like, cuckoo not to love the show."
Once they were gone, only Buster and Miss Crawly remained as the koala sighed, "Dream big dreams. That’s what I always said, right?"
"Mm-hmm," Miss Crawly told him in confirmation and assurance.
"Well, looks like we’re about to take this show to the entertainment capital of the world."
She looked through her telescope again, and looked concerned.
"Mr. Moon, she’s leaving."
"Huh?"
"She’s leaving the show."
The alarmed koala took the telescope and saw the Saluki getting up from her seat and leaving, making him gasp. This wasn't good! So the koala frowned as he pushed the telescope, handing it back to his assistant. "Miss Crawly, stay right here."
The concerned lizard asked, "What are you gonna do?"
"I’m gonna follow that dog."
So he grabbed a hanging spotlight, jumped off the platform and started zipping down the stage wire like a daring hero you see in films. He zipped through the hole and all the way across the interior as the White Rabbit performers sang "Can't Feel My Face". Once he reached the end, he took a big leap into the private box where Nana and Eddie were, startling both sheep in the process. The animals in the audience who saw that were in amazement as they cheered for the koala's stunt.
Nana reacted, "Good heavens!"
Buster waved with a grin, "Hey, Nana. Eddie."
"Buster, you nearly gave me a heart attack, just jumping into this seat like that," said Eddie.
"What are you doing?" asked Nana.
"The scout is leaving," Buster told the two sheep.
"You mean that dog lady?" asked Eddie.
The three peeked over and saw Suki heading for the door, typing a review on her phone, with a chimpanzee usher opening the door for her.
"Ah, so she is," Nana said in observation.
"Well why are you still here then?" asked Eddie urgently. "Follow her!"
Buster nodded as he raced out of the balcony with the audience cheering for the show. He raced to the top of the staircase just as Suki entered the lobby. Good, she hasn't left yet!
He called out to her, "Uh, Suki? Suki Lane?"
She heard him and looked up to the staircase. The panting koala rushed down the stairs and sighed, "I’m Buster Moon. Uh, hi. So glad you could make it." He took one of the boxes of popcorn from the popcorn stand, offering some to her. "Um, would you like some popcorn?"
Suki told him as she continued to depart, "Oh, no, thanks. I’m not staying for the second half, so…"
Buster looked puzzled as he followed her. "Oh. But, uh, we thought you were enjoying it," Hearing that made his eyes widen, worried she might get the wrong idea. "I mean, not that we were watching you or anything."
"It really is a cute little show," she chuckled a bit. "Just not what the company's looking for."
"B-but wait. Y-You got to see the second act. I-I’m telling you, heh heh, it’s a smash."
She then gave a dry look before turning to the koala with a seemingly sorry look. "Okay, Mr. Moon, can I be honest?"
"Of course."
"Are you sure? Because folks say that when they don’t really mean it."
Buster, awaiting her answer, assured, "No, please, please, be as honest as you like."
So she told him rather bluntly, "You’re not good enough."
As she opened the door, the smile on his face disappeared. "What?"
He followed the scout out the door, as she held her arm out and called, "Taxi!" She then turned to the koala and took the popcorn he offered her. "You know, maybe I will have that popcorn." As she headed up to the cab, she hit him with more honesty, being as polite as she can, "Look, you’ve got a nice little local theater here, and it’s great for what it is, but trust me, you’d never make it in the big leagues." She closed the door of the cab. "Bye, now."
The cab drove away, leaving Buster stunned and his spirit broken. Is she right? Could he not make it in the big leagues? Then, both Nana and Eddie appeared right behind him.
The older sheep asked first, "Well, what did she say?"
The koala was not sure how to answer. He then paused a bit as he got an idea. "I’ll be right back."
He rushed off as they looked concerned. Eddie sighed, "Oh, why do I get the feeling this will only make things worse?"
"You should be used to it by now, Edward," said Nana. "After all, you've been his best friend since middle school."
"Don't remind me."
-
At this time, Suki was eating some of the popcorn while talking to her boss on her phone, "Nah. Mm-mm. A few laughs, bunch of quirky ideas. But, anyway, about Thursday…" Unknown to her, a certain koala was peddling after the cab she was in while on his bike. As he got to the window, he tapped on it. This got her attention as her wide eyes were in shock to see him right outside the car she was in. "Oh, my…"
The grinning koala waved as he said to her, "Yeah, hi. It’s me again." He panted and yelped as he nearly lost his balance but grabbed hold to the taxi's door, still peddling like mad. He grinned sheepishly towards the scout, who was dumbfounded. Is this koala serious? Chasing after her in rushing traffic on a bike?
She told her boss, "I’ll call you back." She hung up before rolling down the window and exclaiming to the koala, "Are you out of your mind?"
"When are you holding auditions?" he asked him as he held onto the window and peddled.
She stammered a bit, "Tomorrow. But there is no way you’ll…"
"Uh, listen, it…"
Then a horn honked as an annoyed hippo, one who auditioned for Buster's singing competition once but didn't make the cut, pulled up in his car and yelled at Buster, "Get out of the road, you idiot!"
The koala snapped back, "Hey, do you mind? I’m in a meeting here." He then asked the dog, "C-c-could you at least give us a chance to try out for your boss?"
The dog only rolled her eyes and spoke to the turtle cab driver as she turned away from him, "Driver, could you please lose this maniac?"
She rolled up the window as Buster, whose little fingers were still holding on, panicked, "Wait, wait, wait, wait. Hold on a second. No, no, no, no!" The taxi cab careened the other direction with Buster being forced to let go but he could not control to stop his bike. He then started speeding downhill towards a canal as he screamed with other animal bystanders jumping out of the way.
In the cab, the turtle witnessed this and Buster flying off his bike before splashing right into the water and winced. He commented to the Saluki, "That's an unpleasant spill. Hey, ma'am, I think that koala..."
Suki interrupted with a sigh, "Relax, there's a whale swimming there that will break his fall. And anyway, it's for his own good! He's safer here than he is where I am." The turtle looked unsure about what she said but kept on driving.