01x01 - New year, new plans

[bunniefuu]

There are two kinds of people.

You have the early birds.

And then you have those

that are everything but early birds.

But if I follow my regular morning ritual,

I can go a long way.

First, I choose my outfit.

My biggest challenge:

finding matching socks.

As soon as you wake up,

you should do something you hate.

My first choice: math.

This way, your head is clear

and you can be creative for five minutes.

And go.

And after a great relaxation exercise,

I start the day

with my favorite breakfast.

A fried egg, sunny-side up

with bird food?

-Did you sleep well? Selamat pagi, Julia.

-What?

Good morning, Julia.

Jason. My classmate

and housemate for the next year.

My parents are friends with his parents.

He actually lives in Singapore.

But this year,

he's an exchange student at Highland High.

He's been living with us for two weeks

and he's not made a single mistake.

Do perfect people really exist?

And what does that even mean? Perfect?

Also exemplary.

Neat.

And flawless.

Okay. Introduce yourself.

Je m'appelle Julia

et j'habite aux Pays-Bas.

Très bien.

Je viens de Singapour. Un très beau

Jason is an exception to the rule.

The perfect human.

-Creepy.

-Blah, blah, blah. Enough chatter.

Time for school. Hurry up, Juul.

I'm going! But where is my

-Musical script?

-Thank you.

-Take this.

-Did you

Typed, printed, and bound. No biggie.

-Wow.

-You worked hard on that musical.

-Thank you.

-No probs.

This year, principal Tony

wants to see more creativity.

Anyone can submit an idea.

IDEAS BOX

So this summer,

I wrote my own Highland Squadland musical.

And I'm quite proud of it.

Imagine this.

Me, following in the footsteps

of musical star, Lyana Shariff.

She is so great.

This is my school, my second home

I know every squad, every sound

There is room for everyone here

Hey, hey, hey

Are you a nerd or VIP?

Or is music your world?

You are not alone at Highland High

Walk with me or hold me tight and then

You'll see all the things you can do

The place to be, Highland Squadland

It is so nice

To be back here

Oh, it is so nice

To be back here

It is my time

The future is mine

The future is mine

If the world is against you

Then we are here for you

We are unbreakable, join hands

You are not alone

There is room for everyone

Take a look around

It is so nice

To be back here

Oh, it is so nice

It is so nice

It is my time

Yes, the future is mine

Yes, the future is mine

Don't give up

The Art Squad loves jocks

So join in, don't stop

It is so nice

To be back here

It is so nice

It is my time

The future is mine

The future is mine

Okay, Julia. Start small.

Dare to dream.

Juul.

-Hey.

-I have to spend summer away more often.

-No way. I've missed you.

-Me too, but it was so cool.

Survival in the Ardennes,

no phone or luxuries.

-Is that a musical?

-Yes.

About us, the students, the squads,

and it's called Highland Squadland.

-Cool.

-What did you come up with?

I didn't have much time

to write songs but it's a start.

Show me.

Wow, new look?

Highland High now has

its own mobile smoothie shop.

-How are you going to keep them cool here?

-We'll figure it out.

First, we need to convince Tony.

Right, Tara?

Who is that?

Guys, pinch me.

He's coming towards me.

I think he's coming to me.

Quick, how do I look?

Like a candy cane.

Hey, Julia.

Hey. Guys, this is Jason.

Jason, these are my friends.

-Hi, I am

-Nick.

The top lyricist

and guitarist of Highland High.

Your lyrics are epic,

so effective musically and recognizable.

Nice to finally meet you, Jason.

You look like a real treat.

Like I said, a candy cane.

Yes. We make

-smoopies.

-Smoopies?

Smoofies, smoosies, smoothies

Tara and I sell smoothies.

At least, that's the plan.

You are Tara.

The great piano talent.

And you work in the smoothie shop, right?

Let me guess.

The best smoothies you've ever tasted.

I can't lie, my favorite is

the Blazing Hot Bubble Blaster.

That's my creation.

-A taste expl*si*n of fresh fruit

-And yogurt.

Okay, guys. Time to submit our ideas.

Girls, are you ready for my creative idea?

-Yes.

-I present my idea with great pride.

This school year,

none other than Sterre Hagendoorn

shines in the unusual and special story

of a girl with unprecedented talents.

So hold on to your Prada bag,

get comfy in your Gucci robe,

and enjoy High School Princess.

Oh, Sterre, you look so good.

-You are sure to win with this idea.

-Yes.

Finally, my lead role.

Highland Squadland? That sounds so 2020.

High School Princess?

That sounds already done.

-It's not.

-No. Fact-checked.

Tony is never going to read

that thick book.

-He'll be sold on the first page.

-You think so?

Tony likes a bit of glamour,

and only we can offer that.

By the way, where's Tony?

I haven't seen him yet.

Good morning, everyone.

My name is Agnes Wilgenburg.

She's the author of

Everyone Succeeds:

The Handbook for School Performance.

-She'll turn this into a boarding school.

-What?

Hello, Linda?

-Agnes.

-Cute.

I think you're at the wrong school.

We're waiting for our principal, Tony.

Of course.

I won't make you wait any longer.

I have great news for you.

Highland High has been selected

for a special program.

I will get you to the highest level

this year using my proven method.

So that you can all join

the international school community

Where the smartest students

enjoy lessons at the highest level.

With 12-hour days

and an inspiring weekend schedule,

everyone becomes the best in class.

You can read about

my previous successes here.

-That's compulsory.

-Yay.

Highland High is known for creativity.

-Yes.

-You all belong to a squad.

Squads.

Stop it.

Yes, thank you.

That's enough now.

Stop!

Stop.

Shall we agree

that if you want to say something,

you raise your hand?

Yes, and who are you?

I'm Lisa.

The plan I want to submit

is a self-developed, fast-learning method,

where you memorize as much as possible

to get the best results in a short time.

Take that as an example,

because this year will be full of tests.

What?

-Yes.

-We'll add up all the scores.

By the end of the year,

I expect you to have 3,000 points.

We'll celebrate this achievement

at an international inauguration ceremony.

All my successful colleagues

will be there.

-Sounds like a great party.

-Yay.

If you don't achieve those 3,000 points,

Highland High will

have to close its doors for good.

-What?

-What?

And you'll be split up

into different schools.

Juul, we're all assigned

to different schools.

ALTERNATIVE SCHOOLS

After every test, there's an exit list.

-The ten students with the lowest score

-Must leave Highland High immediately.

From now on, it's all about performance,

and we do that by creating unity.

From now on, squads are banned.

What?

Because at Highland High,

we are all the same.

Lisa, do you want to go first?

Stay calm, Julia.

This is just a bad dream.

It's time to wake up.

-Juul, you can do it.

-Convince her.

-Just look her in the eyes.

-You got this.

Come in.

Yes?

-I wanted to ask you something.

-You have 20 seconds.

Highland High is a unique school,

a creative school.

Everyone is different and therefore equal.

-Ten seconds.

-Okay.

Why can't we perform well

and do creative things?

I've been working on a super fun,

creative idea all summer

Super fun? Do you think

you can convince me with super fun?

Do you think super fun

gets you into a top university?

But I want

If you want to be convincing,

you need a better argument.

-Okay. May I

-There's no second chance in real life.

You have to grab it when it comes.

Maybe it won't be too bad, girls.

We look good in everything.

Yes, that's true.

Well, off you go.

What? How come I have to go first?

No glitter, no high waist, no mini skirt.

And trousers?

And what's that itchy feeling?

Seventy percent viscose,

15% polyester, and 15% jute.

-Jute? What is that?

-What those old bags are made of.

I'm not looking like a haystack.

I refuse. Nobody can force me to

If you won't go through

my Transformation Station,

pack up and leave.

I repeat. If you won't go

through my Transformation Station,

pack up and leave.

Bye-bye, musical

and super fun school year.

Hello, nightmare year.

Good luck.

-Sterre.

-I know.

It looks good with your lipstick.

No, seriously. It's okay.

It looks awful, but we all do.

Did you know that chameleons

don't change color to camouflage?

Hermione Granger in the house.

They change their color

to show us they are strong and healthy.

Yes. So?

These uniforms and colors

are a sign of strength.

Stronger together.

At least on the outside.

On the inside? We'll find out soon.

What do you mean?

-The entrance test. Yes!

-Test? Now?

You may begin when I start the clock.

If you start too early or finish too late,

you get no points.

This test will separate

the wheat from the chaff.

How many tests will there be this year?

Three, but the international commission

will be setting the dates.

So we have to be ready at all times.

And don't forget,

the ten students with the lowest scores

leave Highland High immediately.

And go.

I'll miss this uniform.

-The questions were hard.

-There were so many.

-The exam room dried out my skin.

-This has to stop.

If we don't act now,

we'll be bound by Agnes' rules forever.

-Non-stop tests.

-Never looking nice again.

-No more music.

-We're just a project for Agnes.

To show her international colleagues

that she can turn creative

and unique students into robots.

No personality.

Programmed to get 3,000 points.

What if we show Agnes' colleagues

who we are and what we stand for?

We convince everyone

our school is already perfect as it is.

-Exactly. And then Agnes has no choice.

-But how do we do that?

-With something completely Highland High.

-A perfect mix of squads and talent.

-With style and taste.

-Music.

-And creativity.

-And great dance moves.

The musical!

Highland Squadland.

-And some High School Princess.

-Brilliant.

And the premiere is

at Agnes' inauguration ceremony.

-The musical will blow everyone away.

-Perfect.

We have to be careful. If Agnes finds out,

we'll have to drop out of school.

-So we prepare the musical in secret.

-A secret mission.

Okay, who's in?

Highland Squadland.

The test results are here.

This is the best day ever.

The overall test scores

are downright disappointing,

but fortunately

there are also some bright sparks.

The ten best students.

TOP 10 STUDENTS

Magenta is number one.

Magenta, you little genius.

Maybe my name is

just too long for the screen.

Lisa is number two.

And now, the ten students

who got the worst test results.

When you see your name,

pack your things and leave.

EXIT LIS

Right there. There I am.

Babe, we're on that list.

So? Don't be so sad, we're on the list.

I protest.

My two best friends

belong at Highland High.

You can't just change

the rules of the game.

The VIPs follow my rules.

What's that sound?

Okay, girls. Remember what I said.

Chin up. Look to the future.

And don't look back.

Farewell, VIPs. It was an honor.

I'll miss you so much.

Okay, girls. Get on the bus

before the best seats go.

Thank you. It's so dusty here.

Here. My tastiest comfort smoothie.

-With extra minerals?

-Triple dose.

Wow.

Good riddance.

Are you thinking what I'm thinking?

Okay. The musical has to happen.

We'll get Highland High back

in three steps.

Step one. Don't end up on the exit list.

Step two. Get 3,000 points

so Highland High doesn't close.

Step three. Perform the musical

at Agnes' ceremony

and demonstrate how things should be.

If we get caught, we'll be expelled.

-Are you up for it?

-Anything's better than this.

Agnes can't suspect a thing.

We do the tests, and in the meantime,

lacisum.

-Huh?

-What?

Our code word. Musical spelled backwards.

Lacisum!