As seniors in high school, Troy and Gabriella struggle with the idea of being separated from one another as college approaches. Along with the rest of the Wildcats, they stage a spring musical to address their experiences, hopes and fears about their future.

Sharpay Evans: How can you be thinking of food at a time like this?
Ryan Evans: Maybe cuz its lunch time?
Chad Danforth: [Embarrassed about asking Taylor to prom in the middle of the lunchroom. Practically whispering] So, uh, hey. I was kinda wondering if you'd maybe go with me.
Taylor McKessie: Oh, hey Chad. They have tuna surprise on the menu. It's good. Really good.
Chad Danforth: [to Troy] Dude.
[Troy shrugs]
Chad Danforth: Taylor, hey, I'm, I'm asking you to prom.
Taylor McKessie: Oh, I'm sorry, I can't hear you 'cause it's so loud in here.
[to Kelsi]
Taylor McKessie: Did you hear something?
Kelsi Nielsen: No.
Martha Cox: Neither did I.
Chad Danforth: [to Troy] Dude.
Troy Bolton: Okay, uh,
[to the students in the lunchroom]
Troy Bolton: excuse me. Excuse me, everybody.
Chad Danforth: What are you...
Troy Bolton: Uh,
[Screams]
Troy Bolton: *yo*!
[Everyone quiets down and looks at them]
Chad Danforth: [In shock that he has everyone's attention] Oh.
Troy Bolton: My friend has something to say.
Chad Danforth: [Climbs up on a table] Taylor McKessie, will you *please* be my date to the Senior Prom?
Taylor McKessie: [Leans in with Gabriella, Kelsi and Martha, talking quietly. After a moment, she stands] I'd be honored!
[Hugs him, then starts talking excitedly with the girls]
Chad Danforth: [to Troy as they're walking away] Dude, I need to go shoot some hoops, or something.
Troy Bolton: [Claps him on the back] You nailed it, man!
Tiara Gold: [Sharpay crashes Tiara's performance in revenge]
[singing]
Tiara Gold: It's gonna be a night... to remember!
Sharpay Evans: [spoken] Surprise!
Troy Bolton: East High is a place where teachers encouraged us to break the status quo and define ourselves as we choose. Where a jock can cook up a mean crème brulee, and a brainiac can break it down on the dance floor. It's a place where one person, if it's the right person, changes us all. East High is having friends we'll keep for the rest of our lives, and that means we really are 'all in this together'. Once a Wildcat, always a Wildcat!
Troy Bolton: [on the phone with Gabriella] Hey! I just showed my mom the tux.
Gabriella Montez: We need to talk. I can't be a little adult right now, Troy. I'm hoping you understand that.
Troy Bolton: No, don't even say that. Gabriella, prom is in two days. You're supposed to be on a plane right now.
Gabriella Montez: It's taken me two weeks to get used to being away from you. From East High and all my friends.
Troy Bolton: I know. I know.
Gabriella Montez: So what? I come back, go to prom, and leave again? And when its graduation I'll leave again.
Troy Bolton: That was our plan.
Gabriella Montez: I don't think I can do it Troy. I think I've run out of goodbyes.
Troy Bolton: Why do you keep saying "goodbye"?
Gabriella Montez: I love you, wildcat. But I need to stay right where I am. I'm sorry.
[she hangs up]
Troy Bolton: Gabriella... She's not coming back, man.
Chad Danforth: Shes gonna miss the prom?
Troy Bolton: No, she's not coming back at all.
Chad Danforth: Wow. That's lousy, man.
Ryan Evans: [walks into music room where Kelsi is playing] Morning!
Kelsi Nielsen: [notices] Morning.
Ryan Evans: [sits down and begins to accompany himself as he sings] I gotta lot of things I have to do, all these distractions, our future's coming soon. We're being pulled...
Ryan Evans, Kelsi Nielsen: [together] -a hundred different directions...
Ryan Evans: But whatever happens...
Ryan Evans, Kelsi Nielsen: [together] I know I've got you.
Ryan Evans: It's beautiful.
Kelsi Nielsen: Thanks.
Ryan Evans: No, I mean really, this, the prom number, everything... it's, it's going to be a great show.
[beat]
Ryan Evans: Speaking of prom, what are you doing?
Kelsi Nielsen: Well, that's two days before the show. You know, I'm writing orchestrations, fixing charts, I still have to write lyrics...
Ryan Evans: [cuts her off] Great. I'll pick you up at eight.
Ryan Evans: [key change, singing] You're on my mind, you're in my heart...
Ryan Evans, Kelsi Nielsen: [together] It doesn't matter where we are.
Ryan Evans: We'll be alright...
Ryan Evans, Kelsi Nielsen: [together] Even if we're miles apart!
Troy Bolton: My prom is wherever you are.
Sharpay Evans: But... you were so loyal. And sweet.
Tiara Gold: That's called acting. You should try it sometime.
Ms. Darbus: And now a senior who I believe has a decision to make, Mr. Troy Bolton. Troy.
Troy Bolton: [Troy steps forward] I've chosen Basketball.
[the crowd cheers]
Troy Bolton: But I've also chosen theatre.
[the crowd cheers more]
Troy Bolton: The University of California Berkeley offers me both. That's where I'm going to be attending next fall... But most of all, I choose the person who inspires my heart. Which is why picked a school which is exactly thirty two
[Troy turns and faces Gabriella]
Troy Bolton: point seven miles from you.
[Gabriella takes his his and moves forward and stands next to Troy]
Troy Bolton: Miss Gabriella Montez, Stanford University. Pre-law.
Ms. Darbus: We'll call it, Senior Year!
Sharpay Evans: [sarcastically] Genius.
Troy Bolton, Chad Danforth: [singing] The boys are back! The boys are back! The boys are back, gonna do it again, gonna wake up your neighborhood.
[from trailer]
Sharpay Evans: Hey, Troy, when's the big game?
Troy Bolton: Yesterday.
Sharpay Evans: Well, good luck. Toodles!
Coach Jack Bolton: [Troy and Chad are shooting hoops in the gym] Danforth! Bolton! You get out there and get onstage!
Troy Bolton: Never thought I'd hear my dad say that...
Taylor McKessie: [Chad has just made a comment about needing a tux for prom, just assuming Taylor is going with him] Oh, honey. If that's what you call an invitation, you'll be
[Elbows the basketball out of his hand]
Taylor McKessie: dancing with yourself.
Troy Bolton: I figured you'd be the last one out of the building.
Gabriella Montez: I don't believe this.
Troy Bolton: I took a wrong turn on the way to prom. So did you.
Gabriella Montez: You are so crazy, Wildcat. And what is it with you and trees?
Troy Bolton: I guess I see things clearly from up here.
Gabriella Montez: Well, you look handsome. Prom is tonight in Albuquerque, 1000 miles away.
Troy Bolton: [he jumps down from the tree] My prom is where ever you are.
[he pulls out a corsage]
Troy Bolton: If I'm gonna have a last dance at East High, it's gonna be with you.
[he puts it on her wrist]
Sharpay Evans: [Troy and Gabriella have shown up after her terrible performance with Rocketman] Oh, perfect! Go for it! Save the day, whoopee!
Chad Danforth: What are you gonna do if Julliard says yes?
Troy Bolton: I don't know.
Chad Danforth: That's not what I wanted to hear.
Sharpay Evans: I heard Kelsi is writing something amazing for Troy and Gabriella.
Ryan Evans: [beat] A song, most likely.
Troy Bolton: [singing] The way we play tonight is what we leave behind. It all comes down to right now it's up to us. So what are we gonna be? T-E-A-M Team! Gotta work it out turn in on!
Gabriella Montez: [all sung] Troy!
Troy Bolton: Right now I can hardly breathe.
Gabriella Montez: Oh, you can do it just know that I believe.
Troy Bolton: And thats all I really need.
Gabriella Montez: Then come on!
Troy Bolton: Make me strong! It's time to turn it up. Game on!
Kelsi Nielsen: [Whistles from the Orchestra pit] Hoops man, over here. You look like you're having the time of your life.
Troy Bolton: I'm messing up the dances, I'm messing up all the songs. I'm sorry.
Kelsi Nielsen: It's all of us. All of us pretty much know why. If it wasn't for Gabriella, this musical would be just another "Sharpay Show." It'll be fine.
Gabriella Montez: [In the tree house] So, another "top secret hiding place"?
Troy Bolton: [laughs] You're the second girl I've ever had up here.
[Gabriella looks upset]
Troy Bolton: The first was my mom. She only climbed up here to get me down.
Gabriella Montez: [laughs] Well I'm honored. This place is so cool.
Troy Bolton: Yeah me and my dad built it.
Gabriella Montez: So is that the coach from U of A down there?
Troy Bolton: Yeah. I mean he's at my house. Crazy.
Gabriella Montez: I bet he's already got your name on a locker.
Troy Bolton: It's always been my dad's dream. Now I'm gonna end up at his alma mater... Did I just say that?
Gabriella Montez: You know, my mom and I have been talking about Stanford University pretty much since I was born
Troy Bolton: Hey, you're already in. That's so cool.
Gabriella Montez: Except she won't stop talking about it. It's embarrassing.
Troy Bolton: Come on. She's proud of you. I'm proud of you.
Gabriella Montez: The thing about Stanford is that it's a thousand and...
Troy Bolton: [interrupting] Fifty-three miles from here. I know.
[taking her hand]
Troy Bolton: Suddenly it seems like the rest of the school year is coming at us so fast.
Gabriella Montez: I wish it would all just stop. At least just slow down.
Troy Bolton: [to Ryan about Sharpay] You're easier to dance with than her.
Troy Bolton: [singing] This is the last time to get it right. This is the last chance to make it all night. We gotta show what we're all about, work together. This is the last chance to make our mark. History will know who we are. This is the last game so make it count. It's now or never.
Taylor McKessie: [to the Wildcats] This year is the Last Waltz, but don't be the last to get your tickets.
Chad Danforth: So I guess when they hand us that diploma, we're actually done here.
Troy Bolton: What makes you think we're getting diplomas?
Troy Bolton: [talking to basketball team] Who washed their lucky socks? Out lucky socks that we've worn for three straight play-off games...
[hits shoe]
Troy Bolton: ... games that we won!
Chad Danforth: Mine never left my locker all season.
Troy Bolton: Jason?
Jason Cross: [shrugs] I keep mine in my lunch bag.
Troy Bolton: Zeke?
Zeke Baylor: I vacuum pack mine.
Troy Bolton: There's my team.
Chad Danforth: One question: does Berkley play?
Troy Bolton: Oh yeah. We're scheduled to kick some Redhawk butt next November.
Chad Danforth: Game on, hoops.
Troy Bolton: Yeah.
Sharpay Evans: Sharpay Evans, you're wearing the wrong dress.
Troy Bolton: You know, I'm not the only one that changed when you came to East High, kids that I just used to pass in the hallway, we're friends now, and we're supposed to be doing this show together. The problem is East High changed when you got there and now it's changed again because you left. You might be ready to say good bye to East High, but East High is not ready to say good bye to you.
Kelsi Nielsen, Ryan Evans: [singing] It's our last chance to share the stage before we go our seperate ways. High school wasn't meant to last forever. It's our last chance for us to shine, to bring you music one more time. So come on, come on, come on. Come on, come on, come on!
Troy Bolton: I've never even heard of Julliard.
Ms. Darbus: Well, that may be the case, Mr. Bolton, but evidently Julliard has heard of you.
Troy Bolton: [Troy and Chad have just finished pushing Troy's truck back to his house] I'm saving up for a new fuel pump.
Chad Danforth: [aggravated] Mhm, save faster!
Gabriella Montez: I guess my heart just doesn't know it's in high school.
Ryan Evans: [to Troy and Gabriella after their rehearsal] Pity the actor that has to follow you.
Kelsi Nielsen: I believe that actor is *you*, Mr. Choreographer.
Ryan Evans: [Everyone chuckles] Oh really?
Jimmie Zara: [to Troy] Troy, my brother, can I have your gym locker?
Tiara Gold: [to Sharpay] Good morning, Miss Evans, I'm Tiara Gold. I've just transferred to East High from London.
Sharpay Evans: [Sitting on the piano, talking on the phone while Ryan is teaching the Wildcats choreography. She's doing it halfheartedly] You're really stressing me out. I need to breathe. And I don't know what Ryan is doing. He's doing some kind of yoga Fosse thing.
Ryan Evans: Wait a minute. Mrs. D says there's only one scholarship, there's two of us.
Sharpay Evans: We're twins. They're gonna have to take us both.
Jimmie Zara: Yo yo yo, it's lunchtime!
Coach Jack Bolton: We've dug ourselves a hole, and the only way out is on each other's shoulders. No more X's and O's. Forget the scoreboard. Here's the number that means something... Sixteen minutes left in the game... the season... and for the seniors on this squad... sixteen minutes left in a Wildcats uniform.
Troy Bolton: [Hands Chad flowers] The garden club is rooting for you.
[Chad goes to take them, but Troy pulls them back, making Chad give him the basketball first]
Chad Danforth: [Chad and Troy walk into the room where Taylor and Gabriella are editing the yearbook. Chad sets a pan of brownies in front of Taylor] Those are compliments of Zeke. Be Careful, they're still hot.
Taylor McKessie: Okay.
Troy Bolton: But he doesn't tknow they're gone yet, so you have to eat all the evidence.
Gabriella Montez: Kissing up to the yearbook editors. It's a very smart move.
Troy Bolton: Well, Chad's hoping for two pages on himself. And maybe even a third page, just for his hair.
Chad Danforth: Hey, what's right is right.