Ok I just wanted to input an idea of a scene that would be lovely in Opening Night, but most likely won't happen or will be completely different to how I imagine it for the actual episode.
Scene opens to Rachel in her dressing room, right before the show starts. Santana, Tina, Kurt, Blaine, Artie, Sam, Mercedes, Will and Sue have joined her to congratulate her before the show for her deserved success. Rachel feels a little unnerved after reading some preview comments from Internet trolls, who feel committed to tearing down her performance. However all of the critics who have seen the previews and out of town performances have given Funny Girl rave reviews and consider Rachel's performance as Fanny as critcally acclaimable for an actress so young.
Rachel: 'Oh I don't know if I can do this!'
Kurt: 'You'll be just fine, more than that even. How many times have you rehearsed and rehearsed the role?'
Rachel: 'Oh more hours than I can even count, years even if you want to count that in.'
Blaine: 'See Rachel you've got this.'
Tina: 'You can't just let some strangers online define you or your performance.They have no idea what they are talking about, I bet they haven't even seen the show.'
Rachel: 'Yeah but they can read reviews and make up their own minds from that. One bad review and my career is gone. I may never get to work on Broadway again.'
Santana: 'Oh cut the drama Rachel, you know you're amazing and we know you're amazing. Even I can admit that you're a star in the making and the audience out there is going to love you.' *Dramatic and exaggerated sigh from Santana with stares from the rest of the group* 'Oh you all know I love Rachel and want her to do well, alright.'
Sue: 'Unless you chokeee...' *In a taunting manner*
Will: 'I'm going to have to stop you there Sue, you said enough already back in the loft. You are not going to let anyone down Rachel.'
Rachel; 'What if I let him down though and humilate myself?' *Rachel has a pained look in her eyes, while everyone looks on sadly*
Mercedes: 'That won't happen Rachel, and do you know why? It's because you have the drive and the determination to do this. You've always aimed to prove everyone wrong and you have time and again with your pure talent. No one can deny that, not even random people online who know nothing about you.'
Rachel: 'Thanks Mercedes and thanks everybody. I'm ready to go out there and put on a show.'
There's a knock at the door. a stage manager peers her head around the door.
Stage manager: 'You have ten minutes until showtime Miss Berry!'
Rachel: 'Thanks Cindy, i'll be out in a few. There's something I have to do first.'
Stage Manager: 'No problem Miss Berry.' *Closes the door on the way out*
Rachel takes a deep breath and looks at the people before her, some of the closest people in her life. They made it for her opening night.
Rachel: 'Ok everybody. I just wanted to take a few minutes to thank you all for coming and how much it means to me for you to be here. Five years ago, all of this just seemed like one big dream that to everyone on the outside doubted could ever happen to anyone. Especially anyone like me. Then I joined Glee Club and all of that changed. For three years in the choir room, I knew I was special, that we were all special and nobody could take that away from us. Bit by bit all the dreams I had hoped would happen finally became a reality. I moved out to New York, went to NYADA and then when I least expected it, Funny Girl as a Broadway musical became real this time. Even though I worked harder than I ever had to get the role, I was still shocked when they offered me the part. Through the ups and the downs we've all gone through since, I just want to thank Kurt, Blaine, Artie, Sam, Mercedes and Santana for being there for me in New York. You guys have kept my head above water, an ear to vent to and a slap to the face when I really deserved it. I want to thank Tina because even though we haven't been able to keep in contact as much as we hoped, I know you're there on the end of a phone to listen to my rants and just to chat to about anything. Will and Sue I want to thank you both for pushing me to my limits, sure in different ways and for different reasons but you cared enough to try. To everyone who couldn't be here, I know they care and I know they wish me well, thanks to the mountain of cards, flowers, emails, tweets etc. that have been sent to me wishing me the best of luck for tonight and the future.'
What Rachel would say next would be very hard to think about let alone say, but she couldn't step forward into her unknown future without looking back at her past. Everyone in the room is looking at her expentantly, aware of what she would say now. Her eyes start to well up.
Rachel: 'We've been through a rollercoaster of a year, that can't be said enough. It's not just me that has been affected but everyone. We all know who's missing from the picture, who would make tonight almost perfect. Who would be here with his head held high and the biggest and proudest grin on his face. He would make us smile and laugh. He was my rock and my constant. Even though Finn can't actually be here, I know he isn't far away from our thoughts and it feels like he is here with us in spirit. He has helped me more than he'll ever know and i'll be forever thankful for that and for him.'
Everyone looks at Rachel with visable tears in their eyes. No matter how much she may have annoyed or belittled them through the years, she comes from a good place with a good heart. The many good times, outweigh the few bad times they shared. They couldn't possibly imagine their lives without Rachel in them, it has been hard enough already to know that Finn isn't there now and won't be in the future. The group gather together in a show circle, just in silence for a group hug. Rachel goes to hug each person in turn and thank them again.
Will: 'Why don't we go to our seats and let Rachel get ready? *Everyone nods in agreement*
Group: *choruses* 'Bye Rachel, best of luck!'
The group shuffles out of the dressing room with Will being the last person to give Rachel a kind smile and a wink before closing the door behind him. Rachel sits at the dressing table and looks at her reflection. She gives a big sigh and tries not to let her emotion show. She has to be professional, she can't go onstage looking like she was crying. It is hard to think about how proud her friends are of her without thinking about Finn and how proud he would be of her if he was here. This was going to be one of the hardest milestones she would have to tackle yet on her own. Rachel wasn't sure if she was ready for any more to come her way just yet. She didn't know if she would ever be ready. All she wants is some sort of sign that will show that everything will turn out right for her and the show.
Rachel: *Talking to her reflection* 'Ok you can do this, for every Broadway dreamer out there who has dreamt their whole lives of being on the stage, to be in the spotlight and hear the rapturous applause from the audience. A standing ovation is the cherry on the top, but don't be too eager and look like you expect it from them. You've been chosen to play Fanny because you're the best of the best. You're going to be a star Rachel Barbra Berry, it has all been leading up to this moment. There is no way you can blow it.'
Rachel gets up from her chair and leaves the dressing room, making her way to the right wing of the stage. Time feels as if it is in slow motion. She stands hesitantly in the wings, preparing to make her premiere entrance on stage in front of a full house, knowing that every eye will be critcally inspecting her as soon as the spotlight is on her. Glancing upwards beyond the rafters, she hopes someone is watching over her. As she does so, she feels a familiar feeling of a warm embrace come over her body from behind. A slow dreamlike smile brightens her face. She doesn't have to look or wonder where it came from, she knows who it is. While she knows no one is behind her, she knows deep down that he's there and he always will be, wherever she goes and whatever she goes on to do. It was the sign she was hoping for and it was all she needs to help her go on the stage. She glances upwards once more, feeling happy and confident, before striding out to the stage to her cue music.
So that is my idea for a scene in Opening Night (5x17). Sure its a ideal scenario, but who knows, something similar could be in the episode. Just have to wait until the episode to come out to know for sure. Thanks for reading. I hope you like it.