Cynthia Zdunowski is a main character in the Paramount+ original series, Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies. She is portrayed by Ari Notartomaso.
She is a wild child who runs in the same circle as the T-Birds, led by Olivia's brother, Richie. She's eager to join the T-Birds herself, but runs into one problem - she's a girl. Through her outcast nature, Cynthia befriends three likeminded girls and starts a revolution at Rydell as a member of the girl gang the Pink Ladies.
Biography[]
Cynthia is the only daughter of Mr. Zdunowski and an unnamed mother, the latter of who apparently left the pairing. Cynthia grew up in Rydell and found friendship in the rebellious T-Birds. She strived to be a member of the gang one day.
Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies[]
In "We're Gonna Rule the School", Cynthia drove up to the drive-in theatre on her dirt bike and greeted the T-Birds. They sang "Grease is the Word" together. Afterward, the gang hung out around Gil's car, which served as the T-Birds car. Cynthia waved around a bottle of alcohol and offered to ditch the passion pit for real fun, but the gang shot her down. They wanted to prowl for girls; the first to get a girl won the keys to the car. Susan arrived and asked Richie to buy her a soda. Gil dropped the keys into Richie's expectant hand. The gang left to patrol, but Shy Guy stayed back with Cynthia and offered her his T-Bird jacket to keep her warm. He wanted to see it on her more often, though she mistook the gesture for his endorsement for her to join the gang.
The next morning, Olivia walked to school with the T-Birds, who gossiped about Jane, and Cynthia joined them. Richie commented on Olivia's good mood. She decided to stop worrying about what everyone said and lean into it. She removed her long jacket to reveal a vibrant outfit. He tried to cover her with his jacket but she wanted to find out what everyone would say. She sauntered into the school as boys catcalled her and Cynthia turned the gang members around at Richie's request for them to not look at his sister. Later on the football field, Susan told the Rangers that Richie wouldn't leave her alone. Richie, the T-Birds, Olivia, and Cynthia stalked over as Richie argued that Susan flipped the roles. Neil didn't believe Susan would associate with low-life dirty greasers or “their whore sisters”, which provoked Richie to attack Neil. Jane intervened before it could escalate and told everyone what she saw. She reasoned with Susan that someone could get hurt. Susan admitted that she exaggerated a little. The Rangers mocked the T-Birds as the groups dispersed.
The girls of the school attended home economics to learn all of what the “modern woman needed to know”. The teacher left to get supplies, and Olivia told Susan she was right. Jane could teach them about those kinds of girls. But it's not what she thought. She got up and sang “Good Girl Act”, which spurred the entire class to get involved. She spear-headed the movement to clear Jane's reputation back to that of a goody-two-shoes. Things were fun until Nancy's middle finger was pierced by a sewing needle and the teacher walked in to see the mess. When asked who started it, Susan only smirked. Nancy, Cynthia, Jane, and Olivia were sent to the principal's office.
As they waited, Cynthia stole hall passes while Jane kept her from doing anything else. Olivia expected a thank you from Jane. Principal Nicholson exited his office as Miss. McGee rushed out the reports she had finished in triplicate. He saw the girls and left for a lunch meeting. Miss. McGee talked to Olivia first and when Olivia left, the VP scolded the girls and let them off with a warning, but told Cynthia she would never be part of the boys. Cynthia snipped back that it was like how McGee would never be real principal, then ran off.
In a garage, the T-Birds plotted revenge against the Rangers for the disrespect at the football field. Cynthia announced she wanted to be a T-Bird, but they laughed at her. She gave her case and offered an initiation; she would get them revenge. She led them in a performance of “New Cool” that took them from shop class to a warehouse. After it ended, Cynthia explained to Gil that they would interrupt the pep rally that night. If they pull it off, she would get her own T-Birds jacket. Richie agreed and joked that if they pulled it off, he'll give her his.
The pep rally began and the cheerleaders, mascots, and band prepared as the T-Birds rolled in. The band and cheerleaders took center stage under a banner that read “THIS YEAR, RYDELL GOES ALL THE WAY”. Jane took the stage in the front as a baton twirler under their banner. When the band pulled a rope meant to mark their grand finish, a second banner covered the words "THIS YEAR, RYDELL" and replaced it with "JANE FACCIANO", which humiliated the girl and her family. The T-Birds arrived wearing mascot costumes to orchestrate their prank. They stood in front of the band and mooned the audience. Unfortunately, Cynthia's mascot's head fell off, which exposed her identity. She made a distraction while the T-Birds fled the scene.
The student body headed to Frosty Palace afterward, and the Rydell Review asked the T-Birds for a comment about their actions that night. They played it coy until Cynthia arrived having escaped McGee and taken the fall for them. They thanked her and she eagerly asked about her jacket. Gil and Richie explained that the T-Birds just got their respect back and couldn't let a girl in now. Shy Guy insisted they wanted her to pal around with them still, but Cynthia pretended it was fine. When she left, she ran into Jane and, once she realized who it was, apologized for the tough night.
The next day at Rydell, the student body gathered for the student council '54-'55 candidacy election. Buddy gave a speech that was directed to Jane more than the class, then switched to his candidacy stance that they could have fun “like we did before”. Miss. McGee called Jane to the stage for her candidacy, but Jane told McGee her desire to withdraw. Someone called her a slut from the crowd and Jane started to go back to her seat when she turned to the podium to give a speech about Rydell. It wasn't fun for everyone before. They didn't have to just survive high school, they could have fun. McGee began to talk Jane off the stage as she reminded her that she withdrew moments before.
Olivia shouted her endorsement from the side of the auditorium. Susan corrected that Olivia couldn't endorse her if she wasn't running. Cynthia seconded the endorsement as she thought Jane should run for something. Nancy thirded the movement and the four girls stood on stage together. The crowd booed and called them tramps. McGee threatened to give them all detention if they didn't stop. Jane decided to run for president. Most of the crowd booed, though for the theater kids, outcasts, nerds, and Dot, until Susan corrected her, clapped for Jane. Cynthia shouted “Vote for Jane!” and then mooned the audience. Nancy, Olivia, and Jane, followed Cynthia's gesture. Susan shouted it was indecent, a gay student said it was fantastic, Potato developed a sudden interest in politics, and Gil wanted to register. The girls gave parting words as they fled the stage with everyone in pursuit. Cynthia snagged the keys to the T-Birds car from under the rim and tossed them to Olivia, who drove them away. Gil protested over his stolen car while Richie chuckled as he taught her that.
Olivia, Jane, Cynthia, and Nancy sang a new version of “Different This Year” as they drove away from Rydell High School. They pondered what came next as they couldn't go back to before everything happened, or pretend it didn't happen. They arrived at one of the girl's houses and quelled each other's fears. They also celebrated their new friendship. They decided to stop crying over jackets or to even let boys be the kings of jackets any longer. They wanted to start a new gang, the four of them together. But first, they needed some jackets.
In "Too Pure to Be Pink", Miss. McGee tried to call Cynthia's parents to dull out punishments for her mooning the student body, but Cynthia avoided it and unplugged the phone. She and her father laughed on the couch as they watched TV. The Rydell Review wrote an article titled “GIRL GANG, BARES ALL” with a picture of the girls mooning.
The girls read The Rydell Review outside the school while the boys catcalled them. Jane worried as the article labeled them communists, but Nancy assured her it was great press that worked perfectly with their new jackets. She unveiled the prototype - a black leather jacket with the name Black Widows. Cynthia was the only one in support, and Jane noted it wouldn't deter people's belief they were vicious vixens, so Nancy scrapped the idea. They headed inside where the T-Birds sarcastically knelt to a hall monitor, then blocked the girls from passing through. Gil demanded which one of them would pay for a new paint job for his car. They laughed him off but he insisted until Olivia said she'd pay for it, and he told her that he'd get it. Shy Guy complimented Cynthia for her headline while Potato mocked the girl gang. Everyone dispersed except Richie and Jane. He acknowledged that what she said took guts - and it wasn't a bad show, either. Gil laughed then led Potato and Shy Guy down the hall to knock books out of people's hands and run from hall monitors.
Olivia, Cynthia, Jane, and Nancy went to Miss. McGee's office to receive their punishments. Cynthia tried to bargain but McGee was unamused. Children were traumatized, parents called for their heads, and they created a public crisis. The school believed in rehabilitation, so detention every day that semester should make them act like ladies. The incident would also be on their permanent records that colleges examined. As they left, Cynthia tried to make Jane feel better, but she was worried about not getting into college now. It's all she ever wanted. The girls left her alone.
Jane practiced her speech in front of her detention mates - the T-Birds. Gil called it shrill, Shy Guy thought she sounded jealous, and Potato wasn't paying attention. Richie liked it but he didn't vote. She sat down with Olivia, Cynthia, and Nancy to discuss new jacket and name ideas. Cynthia drew a line at pink so the girls redirected to find a way to expose Buddy. Miss McGee entered and reprimanded the girls for their behavior but didn't bother with the boys. Cynthia faked severe stomach pain so the others could get out.
In the nursing office, McGee tried to diagnose Cynthia's pain but couldn't figure it out. The bell rang and Cynthia suddenly felt much better, thanked her, and promised to see her in detention. McGee noticed her open file drawer and then saw Nancy leave the boy's locker room.
Jane, Olivia, Nancy, and Cynthia went to the Frosty Palace where Jane read the letter she found in Buddy's locker. He admitted to having sex with Susan among other socially taboo subjects. It was the perfect ammunition for Jane to get her revenge and planned to blackmail him at Dot's party. That night, the Socs party was crashed by the T-Birds and the four girls. Dot allowed them to stay and gave the house rules to everyone.
The party drudged on so Olivia encouraged Jane to talk with Buddy. Neil called for everyone to gather to spin the bottle. Cynthia took control of the game as the game master. Different people kissed with varied degrees of intensity. Jane spun and it landed on both Buddy and Richie, so Cynthia ruled Chef's choice. She picked Buddy for seven minutes in heaven, which angered Susan, but Cynthia allowed it. Gil spun the bottle and landed on Olivia, but Cynthia pantsed him before they could kiss. He lashed out at her for not acting like a normal girl. She stormed out and Richie decided it was time to split.
Olivia and Nancy chased after Jane. She couldn't expose the bastard because he wouldn't go down, it'd be Susan. Cynthia, who was sat by the door upset, didn't understand them because she'd punch Buddy out if he did that to her. As the girls left they mentioned the boys they wanted to avoid, which made Nancy groan. She wanted to have fun that night but all they did was obsess over stupid boys. Cynthia wanted to impress the T-Birds - boys, and she admitted it was true because she was too girl to be one of the boys and to boy to be one of the girls. Olivia assumed Nancy was upset over the game because she hadn't kissed a boy before, but Nancy had kissed every boy at the party several times back in junior high. She was annoyed that everyone took boys so seriously. She wanted them to imagine how fun the party would have been if they could go back and do it all in a “World Without Boys”.
The girls then saw three of the boys spike the punch with alcohol and plot revenge. Olivia led them into Dot's father's study, a previously off-limits room, where Jane waited on the desk posed sensually. She used her barrette to pick the lock on the liquor cabinet, and the duo tricked the boys into drinking. They excused themselves momentarily, but Olivia used her girl scouts skills to secure the door which trapped the boys downstairs. Cynthia, Nancy, Olivia, and Jane mocked them as the castor oil Cynthia slipped into the liquor took effect. They wanted them to know what it felt like to have no control over their bodies because someone spiked their drinks, as they had done to the punch.
The girls walked home, pleased with their prank. They laughed over the nickname the boys called them, The Pinko Tramps, which could work as a jacket. Everyone thought they were such bad girls, but Cynthia mocked McGee's term “ladies”. Jane stopped suddenly and said The Pink Ladies. They all turned to Cynthia who agreed to consider it on a trial basis. Jane had begun to realize that she had to do bad to do good, which Olivia thought was a great campaign slogan for the leader of a girl gang. Jane removed her barrette and asked if they wanted to stop by the school.
In the morning, McGee found Buddy's poster had been defaced with “Vote Pink” paint. She pulled them into her office once again. She had too much to do without the need to keep an eye on them after school, so she relinquished them from detention. However, she would still punish them. Cynthia, because of her flair for theatrics yesterday, would join the thespians to learn to act like a lady. Olivia enjoyed filing so she was McGee's new office assistant and pointed to a mountain of files. Jane roamed the halls yesterday so McGee made her a hall monitor. McGee ran out of jobs for Nancy, so she would be on-call for whatever job McGee needed to be done. Once dismissed, Nancy held up her giant bag to the girls.
The hall doors opened and Susan's mouth dropped, followed by shocked murmurs from the student body. Jane, Olivia, Nancy, and Cynthia strutted down the hall in their pink jackets. Cynthia snubbed the T-Birds, Olivia didn't glance at Mr. Daniels, Jane smirked at Buddy, and Nancy pushed a smiling Richie out of the way. He combed back his hair and watched the girls strut down the hall, their new name visible on the backs - The Pink Ladies.
In "So This Is Rydell?", the Pink Ladies and T-Birds picked Jane up from her house. Cynthia rode her motorbike while the others rode in the T-Birds car. Olivia showed Jane the “Vote Pink” pins that she made and kissed with her lipstick. Gil wanted one for personal use, which earned a shove from Olivia and a shout from Richie. Jane asked her to be a campaign manager and Olivia agreed. They handed out the buttons at school with help from Cynthia, until Nancy arrived in a black leather jumper as part of her stance to stop being pushed around. Buddy and the Socs announced that, if he was elected, the Fall Ball would take place at the Rydell Athletic Club again. After a brief jig, they threw candy to the masses. Olivia told Jane to focus on the debate as a regional debate champion, but Cynthia shared that Mr. Aldridge hired a professional debate coach for Buddy. Ms. McGee strolled over and reprimanded them for being in the halls. She sent Olivia to her office to file papers with help from Nancy and grabbed Cynthia for her thespian debut.
Cynthia arrived at the theater where the thespians warmed up in eccentric dances and warm-ups. Lydia scolded her for soliciting in the theater, until Mr. Vaughan greeted Cynthia. He gave Cynthia a scenario to act out - a Martian who discovered a chair for the first time. She gave an on-the-nose performance that disappointed the thespians.
After school, the T-Birds and Pink Ladies went to the Frosty Palace where they talked about the dance, though none of them would typically go. Jane asked Richie if anything would make him go, and he said better tunes. She ran to the radio and offered to throw another dance that even Richie Valdovinos would go to.
In the morning, Olivia told Ms. McGee that a coyote was in the parking lot again to get her to leave the office. Jane snuck into the office while Cynthia guarded the door. Jane announced her brand new Fall Ball over the intercom with the possibility of getting DJ Johnny Vavoom. Meanwhile, the Thespians did a Meisner exercise in which Lydia and Cynthia were paired together. Lydia called her scared, but Cynthia couldn't repeat the sentiment or own up to her fear. Mr. Vaughan praised Lydia for making her classmate uncomfortable.
The student body went to Frosty Palace where the students appealed to Jane about their issues. Cynthia and Nancy announced they were out of buttons which made Susan scowl. Jane approached Hazel and thanked her for what she said earlier, as it made her change her campaign. She sympathized with Hazel's difficulty to fit in and invited her inside, but she had to study. Dot screamed when Jim Johnson arrived. He was there to see Jane as he wanted to do a broadcast about the Rydell High School student election. The show would star Buddy and Jane. Susan and Olivia quickly agreed on behalf of their fellow campaigners. Dot pulled Jim inside Frosty Palace and everyone followed.
At the debate, Olivia encouraged Jane to speak her mind, Cynthia told her she was a Pink Lady, while Nancy called her the rebel candidate and fixed her jacket collar. Jane saw her parents arrive and removed her jacket before she went on set. Richie turned the television on and shushed his rowdy family. Hazel watched from her spot on the couch while Buddy began his speech, rooted on by Susan and Wally. As the debate continued, Olivia realized that Jane chickened out, and Buddy questioned if this was a reversal of the policy her girl gang proposed. He asked what she was saying, but she didn't know, which disappointed everyone on her side except her parents. The show ended and Jane walked off stage and apologized to the girls on her way out. Olivia grabbed Jane's jacket as she left.
The Pink Ladies and T-Birds arrived outside Jane's window and threw pebbles until she opened her window. The girls didn't have to give the jacket back as Jane knew she let them down, which wasn't in question. Olivia called an emergency campaign meeting which meant Jane would have to sneak out. Richie shouted up that it was their tia's birthday so there was a party, and asked if she would leave him hanging again.
They arrived at the Valdovinos' home which was filled with family. Irene was thrilled to meet Jane, Rydell's first female president who was also Mexican, though Richie clarified she was half Puerto Rican. Jane fumbled over Spanish as she didn't know much, then rambled until Richie invited her to dance. Olivia pulled Jane aside to talk first while Nancy and Cynthia went to find food. They were upset that Jane made them look like cowards. Nancy found mezcal and chugged it, then tried to bait Cynthia to drink it and laughed at her, though Cynthia snapped as she didn't like being laughed at or called afraid. Cynthia opened up about the thespians who were waiting for her to be an idiot, though Nancy suggested she be stupid with them so they couldn't laugh at her. Cynthia noticed the worm was gone from the bottle and then chugged it. They stumbled out to the party, drunk, and danced happily with everyone as they all laughed.
The next day, Cynthia redid her skit for the thespians and approached the chair with fear, and curiosity, beeped, and then sat next to it. She rested her head on the chair and closed her eyes. The thespians and Mr. Vaughan clapped while he praised her. The students shared their praise on the way out, while Lydia sarcastically clapped. Cynthia gave her the middle finger with a “boop” sound and then skipped out of the room.
After school, Jane, the T-Birds, Pink Ladies, and Hazel approached Buddy and the Socs at the Frosty Palace to demand a rematch. Susan refused on his behalf as there was no point, he had already one. It would have to be now as Nancy convinced her parents to close early. Kitty arrived and asked what was going on, and Jane admitted she wanted a second chance at the debate. She was grateful to her mom but had to be herself. She approached Buddy and asked for the debate, and he agreed. They sang their debate in “Take The Wheel” until Buddy fell off a counter and broke his arm. Jane rushed to his side until Susan pushed her away, and Olivia pulled her to the door. Jane offered Hazel a ride, but the girl refused. The T-Birds and Pink Ladies hurried out of the Frosty Palace.
In "If You Can't Be an Athlete, Be an Athletic Supporter", Nancy, Cynthia, Jane, and Olivia hung out in Jane's room, where Cynthia showed Jane the newest publication of The Rydell Review, which blamed the Pink Ladies for Buddy's broken arm. Olivia was immersed in her book while Cynthia and Nancy complained about football. Nancy was frustrated because the football team got new “costumes” each year while she had to work with Depression-era ones for the school play. The trio turned to a quiet Olivia, who wasn't surprised they were blamed for everything again. Cynthia knew the rag was run by Mr. Daniels, Olivia's ex, so they asked her what happened between the two. Olivia told them how they fell in love before he turned on her. The girls knew he didn't deserve her and they laid on the bed together and laughed over their respective fantasies of Mr. Daniels' demise.
The Pink Ladies walked into school and greeted Hazel, who ran off without a word. The girls thought everyone hated them and mused over their short-lived popularity. Susan saw them and loudly asked why Jane broke his throwing arm as he hung onto it. He didn't want pity votes but she wouldn't take no for an answer and pulled him along by his broken arm. Richie greeted Jane but she wasn't chipper as everyone blamed her for everything. He knew that feeling well, and she wanted to remind people why they didn't want to vote for Buddy. The Pink Ladies talked her out of it, as Cynthia knew it was classless, while Olivia ordered her to do nothing. They bumped into Miss. McGee and Dot mocked “Calamity Jane” on her way passed. McGee relayed Principal Nicholson's decree that they were no longer permitted to wear gang-affiliated attire at school, which meant they had to fork over their jackets.
The Thespians arrived at the gymnasium where McGee gave Mr. Vaughan pamphlets for a new play. He was no longer permitted to do his production of Bertolt Brecht's play, “Mother Courage”, because of The Pink Ladies' actions being too rebellious. They now had to perform “Romeo and Juliet”. Cynthia tried to cheer up her peers as some of the roles didn't seem bad but learned that everyone already knew who they would play. Lydia as Juliet, Arthur as Romeo, and Floyd as Mercutio, while the rest would be peasants.
By the afternoon, the entire class read Olivia's scathing response to Miss. McGee taking away the girls jackets. The students loved the response and praised the Pink Ladies in their own ways. Jane thanked Olivia for saying everything she couldn't. Miss. McGee responded on the intercom that, in the interest of impartiality, they would institute a brand-new dress code for everyone. Boys will be required to wear long-sleeved button-up shirts, no sneakers, no T-shirts, no dungarees. Ladies will be required to wear skirts below the knee and shirts up to the neck. No tight clothing or loud colors. Most importantly, to end divisions, they banned jackets. The class quickly turned on Jane, with even Gil annoyed.
The girl's skirts were measured the next day and their legs pinched for tights. The Socs confronted the Pink Ladies. Rosemary told the girls to go “straight to heck” as she couldn't wear her boyfriend's letterman jacket. The band kids were angered that they couldn't play Ellington because it might “inspire further delinquency”. The Thespians glared at Cynthia as she walked past.
In the bleachers of the gym, Cynthia urged the Thespians to brace the auditions and go for the parts they wanted without Lydia's insight. She asked Hazel to join the auditions, but the girl declined as she wasn't the theater type. Shy Guy asked for a pamphlet and Cynthia happily gave him one - she had an idea for him. Hazel sat next to Buddy on the bleachers to ask if he wanted to walk home together, but he wanted to stay. She asked if he wanted to join the theater with her, and Cynthia thought it was a splendid idea. She still hated him but had bigger fish to fry.
Later, Hazel and Buddy arrived at the theater to audition. Buddy wanted Hazel to audition for Juliet. The Thespians warmed up and Lydia confronted Alice about putting her name down for Juliet, and Geraldine revealed Cynthia helped them prepare. Everyone watched the auditions and Lydia smirked at the failure of her classmates. Lydia was flustered in her audition and Cynthia crossed her legs happily and then auditioned perfectly for Mercutio.
The Thespians learned they didn't get the roles they wanted, including Lydia, who was cast as the nurse. Cynthia was cast as Juliet and Lydia once again corrected her pronunciation of Mercutio, while Mr. Vaughan lauded himself for casting a tomboy Juliet and maimed Romeo. Cynthia looked across the room at Lydia, who walked off upset.
During the game, Miss. McGee took the students' jackets, flasks, bullhorns, and whistles. She collected the jackets in a bin. Cynthia, Olivia, and Jane watched the game together and were shocked when Nancy unmasked herself as Rowdy before the Rangers made their big comeback. Nancy stole a lemonade while Jane and Cynthia praised her for the theatrics, which Nancy insisted never happened. Oliva planned to leave as she was an idiot for thinking Rydell could change. She thought her article made a difference until Mr. Daniels threw it out. It made a difference to Olivia, as it made her feel less alone. They decided to get everyone's attention differently.
The Pink Ladies made a scene at the track but no one would listen. Nancy stole a megaphone from the cheerleaders while Cynthia corralled Susan. Olivia was tired of how the administration pitted them against each other, and took a megaphone to rile up the student body in “Pointing Fingers”. The T-Birds and band joined in first, slowly followed by the rest of the students. Gil stole the basket full of jackets and dispersed the jackets out to everyone. They ended their number with a march to Vice Principal McGee and Principal Nicholson and ended with a flip of their middle fingers.
The Pink Ladies arrived the Frosty Palace, thrilled with themselves. Richie hurried over to Jane and they both apologized for the day while their friends laughed. A glare from each set them in their places. He liked that she was a dog with a bone, and thought being different was what made it fun. They both needed a little of what the other had. He offered to cut class tomorrow to explore their differences, but she hated missing class. But she has hall monitoring tomorrow and slipped him a hall pass that he could return to her in the broom closet during the second period. He walked away suave and she imitated his signature comb move. He showed off the hall pass to the T-Birds who cheered, while the girls questioned where their hall passes were. She claimed she ran out.
The Pink Ladies entered the Frosty Palace where everyone cheered and clapped for them. Dot did a dramatic bowing while people chanted “Vote pink”. Wally put his hand on Nancy's shoulder as he passed, and the girls grinned. Olivia was starting to like school.
In "You Can't Just Walk Out of a Drive-In", Rydell High School watched a video about what to do when an atomic bomb hits. Cynthia slept through the presentation on Jane's shoulder. Jane was worried something bad might happen at the drive-in, which woke Cynthia. The Pink Ladies assured her everything would be fine, but her stress took over. She led the student body in a song about their impending dooms and how they couldn't predict when an atomic bomb would land in their lives.
After the presentation, in the theater, Cynthia and Buddy painfully acted out a scene together, which made everyone wince. It was painful for Lydia to watch and she wanted them to fail. Floyd wanted them to get to the point where they died. Mr. Vaughan interrupted because while Buddy was fantastic, Cynthia made him feel like he made a mistake. But he did not make mistakes and his muse merely challenged him. He partnered her with Lydia and forced their allegiance. Lydia told her she was on her own, which was fine with Cynthia. Lydia couldn't wait to see her perform in front of the rows of chairs.
The Pink Ladies sat in the Frosty Palace while Jane bemoaned over her impending talk with Richie, convinced he planned to break up with her. Nancy stole her glasses to act out as a nurse diagnosing Jane with “being totally flipped”. Olivia couldn't take it anymore and admitted Richie wanted to ask Jane to be his girl, which relieved and thrilled Jane. Cynthia asked for help with her play and Nancy offered but gave up after one line. Her parents skidded up with costumes that Nancy made for Halloween. A Martian for Olivia, a werewolf for Jane, and an ant for Cynthia. The girls didn't want to wear the costumes, as Jane had a date, Olivia wanted to look good in case her outing with Gil turned into a date, and Cynthia wanted to eat hot dogs. Nancy was alarmed because she wanted the girls to have fun and not worry about boys. Mrs. Nakagawa told Nancy to do the job she already had, so she cleared a table that wasn't done eating.
That night at the drive-in, Cynthia sat on her bike next to Shy Guy. She asked him about his new bike. An evil laugh came from the screen. It was Dot and another student advertising a party on Sparrow Lane to show why it would be “Insane to Vote for Jane”. The Pink Ladies hurried over and came up with a plan to crash the Socs party. Cynthia and Shy Guy followed Richie on their bikes, though he was behind because his bike wouldn't start.
Gil drove Olivia, Cynthia, and Potato down Sparrow Lane where they saw how much Buddy's dad built. Olivia saw the one that Mr. Daniels had bought - just before they pulled up to the party. The T-Birds showed off their stock to the Pink Ladies, which included eggs, toilet paper, and a water line through the window, and with enough time, could disassemble Buddy's car and reassemble it on the roof. Jane thought they could get into the party and figure it out from there. Nancy held up the costumes she made as they would serve as disguises for each of them. Richie and the guys wanted to sneak around back, but Jane suggested they stay outside to drive the getaway cars. Potato managed to make a disguise so he joined Nancy indoors.
Susan greeted them at the door as she welcomed them to “Ry-hell” and the dark future that awaited them if they voted for Jane Facciano. She lifted a dome to show they'd eat brains, and Dot screamed from her zombie-brain costume. Once inside the party, Jane stole the microphone with Cynthia's help.
Cynthia and Jane planned to make a statement during the party, and Cynthia was tasked with calling down to Jane when the band was between songs. Once Jane headed to the basement, Lydia emerged from the bathroom. She instantly knew it was Cynthia in the ant costume, as she studied her gate. Cynthia stopped her from leaving as she needed her help with the play. If she blew this they all looked bad. They started and Lydia realized the line before the kiss was where Cynthia messed up because she was nervous. Lydia assured her stage kisses were meaningless and offered to show her. They delivered their lines and Lydia kissed Cynthia. The kiss led into their song “Merely Players” where they realized their feelings for one another, and how the things they felt weren't new but also hadn't been explored before. Their feelings were good, but they believed it shouldn't feel that way. They related to the truth in the lie of acting. They moved through scenarios - ran from aliens, danced in a 1940s-themed city, and became cowboys in a desert. They kissed in the desert which ended their song, and they were back in the kitchen. Cynthia finally understood acting and, wide-eyed, asked if this meant she was a thespian.
Jane banged the mic on a table to give an announcement about the real “Ry-hell”, the one ruled by the Socs. Susan tried to hide it as part of the show but no one believed her. Jane called Buddy spineless. After a while, the party roared inside as it shifted from being about Buddy to being Jane's. She wanted to leave, which confused Nancy and Potato. Jane wanted to get back to Richie as she got too wrapped up in the election. Cynthia apologized as she ran lines. Susan saw them clustered together and told them to leave. Cynthia called it a bomb, just as a flash of light exploded outside. Everyone screamed and took cover while the T-Birds stared up at the flashes of color. Jane emerged from the house, scared, and saw Richie through the sparks.
One of the sparks caught a girl's costume on fire and everyone flanked to stomp out the sparks. Susan shouted that this was what they wanted to warn everyone about - that Jane would burn the whole town down. Richie and Jane got into a fight in front of the house and broke up.
The next day, the student body lined up to vote for the student council president. Miss. McGee gave them instructions and then let everyone into the booths. The Socs, T-Birds, Thespians, nerds, choir, and Pink Ladies all voted. Buddy and Jane entered the booth just as Shy Guy and Potato left and shook hands after. Richie approached the registration table. After Jane cast her vote, the Pink Ladies presented her with a framed box that contained “vote Pink” pins and each of their names made out of magazine lettering. Olivia was sure that Jane could still win, as not everyone blamed her for what happened at the party. Nancy offered to celebrate with banana splits - even though her parents would make them pay, she could steal the money back later. Jane looked over her shoulder at Richie, who cast his vote, and decided she wanted to go home. She thanked them for the gift as it meant a lot.
In "Sloppy Seconds Ain't My Style", Cynthia and Lydia practiced her lines for the play, though it turned into kissing in the living room. Lydia ended the session for the day, then remembered it was her first time doing a play, and broke it down for her. It would become her whole life, consume her, and then when it was time she'd pour her heart out, it'd go too fast, and then boom. It would be over, and they would all move on. She left without another word.
Morning at Rydell High began with everyone outside the school. The Pink Ladies arrived and Olivia teased that she knew a secret about one of them. She blurted out that Jane won the election, which thrilled everyone. Nancy was ready to put the election behind her so they could work on the costumes for the play. Olivia asked if Cynthia was ready for the play, but the girl had stopped walking and stared at Lydia across the lot. The girls thought she was nervous and offered to support her, but Cynthia instead blurted out that she was on the rag. Nancy hurried off to see if she needed a sanitary napkin or to punch someone.
In gym class, the boys got new basketballs while the girls were given the boys' old ones. The intercom chimed as Miss McGee announced the new class president. The Pink Ladies gripped hands tightly while the Socs stood around Buddy. McGee announced the president was Buddy Aldridge. The Socs screamed and cheered him on, while Nancy questioned Olivia about Jane's win. Cynthia remarked it was nice knowing them. They started the group to win the election but she just lost, which meant they weren't a group anymore. Jane insisted they were still friends, but Cynthia wasn't sure if they were ever friends or just four gals who came together for a common goal that they failed to achieve. Olivia backed up Jane as the Pink Ladies were still a gang, win or lose, nothing changed that. Buddy watched the girls talk when Susan congratulated him. Jane walked off to talk to Buddy, which Cynthia remarked was just the beginning.
Hazel and Lydia watched Cynthia perform drearily onstage with Buddy. Mr. Vaughan told Cynthia she was awful and instructed Lydia to double up her rehearsal time. He instructed her not to go easy, then hurried off to look at the costumes.
Cynthia and Lydia practiced more in Cynthia's house. She couldn't see the point in rehearsing for only 90 minutes of performance, but that wasn't exactly what Lydia had said before. It might only be 90 minutes, but she began to explain when Cynthia asked her to leave. She stopped Lydia as she began to leave, and gave her the chance to say something else. Lydia told her to enunciate more than left.
During the final rehearsal, Mr. Vaughan ran through the lighting for the kiss and called his Romeo and Juliet to the spotlight. The thespians prepared for the play back stage. Geraldine was ready for it to be over and so was Cynthia, though Floyd didn't think she could complain. Cynthia powdered her face and Lydia tried to help her, but Cynthia snapped at her and stormed off. She stormed into the music room and Nancy followed her. She told her that her hair was brown, though Cynthia didn't want to play along. She finally conceded and repeated what Lydia told her. Lydia called her scared, and Cynthia tearfully repeated it. She realized Lydia was too, and they repeated the sentiment breathlessly. They touched and then kissed passionately. They giggled nervously and then Cynthia panicked. She walked out of the room.
As the thespians headed to the stage, Nancy arrived looking for Cynthia. Floyd would be impressed if she decided to be a diva and hold up the curtain. Nancy and Hazel headed to the dressing room to look. They found a message from Cynthia on the mirror in lipstick that said, “Sorry”. Nancy had to find Cynthia but first, she told Hazel to strip as she should have been Juliet the whole time. Afterward, Nancy hurried to find Olivia and Jane to tell them had to go - it was Cynthia. The trio rushed out of the school.
Olivia, Nancy, and Jane knocked on the door and insisted on knowing what happened. Cynthia didn't want to talk about it and the girls pushed their way inside. They would love to not talk about it. All they ever did was talk about elections, plans, and schemes, so they were exhausted. Cynthia asked what they'd do instead, which was just watch TV. The trio took a seat on the couch and floor. They patted the empty cushion for Cynthia, who eventually took it.
The Pink Ladies watched TV and sang along to the “brusha brusha” commercial gleefully. They danced, imitated the mascot, and fell over each other. Jane farted which made everyone keel over in laughter as Cynthia smacked her with a pillow.
In "Cruisin' for Bruisin'", the night before the play, The student body learned that Buddy won the presidential campaign. Susan cheered as the recount must have meant his win, but he took in the disappointed faces of those around him. He saw Jane across the court where Olivia and the Pink Ladies tried to cheer her up.
Meanwhile, the T-Birds ditched school to gamble. After a day of gambling, Shy Guy wanted to leave for the play. He insisted he didn't care about the play but promised Cynthia that he'd do it.
In "Or at the High School Dance...", Channel 8 news, led by Jim Johnson, ran a broadcast on ‘The Changing Teenager'. It highlighted the alleged effects of marijuana, bigger hair, leather jackets, and rock n' roll. They interviewed Tippy St. Clair about the upcoming rock and roll dance, a topic that horrified her. They also asked “The Pink Girls” gang and Olivia Valdovinos thought it would bring people together, and Jane Facciano noted change was good. Buddy Aldridge declined to be interviewed.
The Pink Ladies argued with the student council dance committee which consisted of Dot, Susan, Lucille, and two other girls. The Pink Ladies wanted the dance to be fun for everyone, with no dress code or expensive tickets. Lucille was sure Buddy would side with them. Jane argued he wouldn't because he was the one who got Johnny Vavoom. With Buddy absent, Susan was in charge, and she agreed with the Pink Ladies. This shocked everyone, though Susan believed their dance sounded fun. There was a problem because they had to get the dance approved by Nicholson, the boosters, and the PTA, which would never happen if it came from a girl gang. Susan offered to present it, which Olivia, Cynthia, and Nancy scoffed over.
The Pink Ladies talked about it as they ascended the staircase at Rydell High. Olivia didn't trust Susan, though Jane believed she might be changing. Olivia told the story of the scorpion and a frog, which drew comparisons to Susan being incapable of change because it's in her nature. Jane saw Buddy across the hall and dragged the Pink Ladies away. She quickly changed the topic as Susan had a point, and the girls slowly agreed. The T-Birds stumbled through the open doors as Gil told them to move their asses or they would get another tardy. Shy Guy shouted for Richie to hurry up. Jane grabbed the Pink Ladies again and dragged them away. Cynthia complained about being dragged away, so Jane explained that both Buddy and Richie asked her to the dance. They both swore they changed but she can't decide who to go with. Nancy thought they should complain because none of the other girls had dates. Jane asked Olivia for her opinion, though she merely asked if there was a third option.
Over at the Frosty Palace, Cynthia sat at the counter where Nancy was at work. Lydia walked into the Frosty Palace and Cynthia watched her until Nancy shouted if she would order something or just stare into space. She couldn't take it anymore and dragged Cynthia into the back room, past a beaming Gil. Nancy tearfully admitted she had cancer, which saddened Cynthia, who asked how long she had. Nancy corrected that it wasn't cancer cancer but was it inside her. She had a crush. Cynthia asked who it was and Nancy emerged from the back room as the Frosty Palace changed form to an old Western, and a spotlight hit Potato, which shocked Cynthia. Everyone except the two girls was frozen, which gave them the free reign of the restaurant. Nancy messed with the couples in attendance by repositioning them and swapping objects, while Cynthia found her way to a frozen, yet spotlighted, Lydia. They sang about their crushes and how they had to deal with them. They were later surrounded by the student body and took shelter in the backroom as everyone pressed against the small windows. The girls peeked outside to watch the destruction they had caused. Nancy planned to take care of it right now and walked up to Potato.
Cynthia told Shy Guy they weren't the most traditional match but they had a connection, so she asked him to the dance. He agreed and when she walked off he cheered silently and then hurried over to the T-Birds booth. Cynthia sat down at the Pink Ladies both as Jane gleefully told the girls she turned both Richie and Buddy down so they could all go together. They broke the news to Jane that they all had dates now. Jane thought Nancy hated boys, though she told her to catch up. Cynthia smirked and slid a ketchup bottle across the table to Jane.
Susan pitched the Fall dance to the PTA and the two biggest threats to Rydell - delinquency and Rydell. The Pink Ladies watched through the gym doors. Susan told them that the JDs who would otherwise be on the streets, would be at Rydell under supervision and Rydell's code of conduct. Jane called the strategy brilliant. Susan added that Channel 8 news would cover the dance and their report would show a great dance under excellent leadership. Nicholson liked it but Tippy spoke out. The PTA had concerns. Rock and roll led to drinking and drugs, and she spelled intercourse but no one got it. She covered Susan's ears to spell sex. Everyone gasped and Nicholson awkwardly laughed that McGee usually handled these kinds of situations, but was on vacation. A mother questioned that McGee was at a family funeral, but Nicholson called it the same results. Tippy turned to the boosters for assistance, and Dick Aldridge was on Susan's side. The dance was important to his son and he knew he'd keep a leash on the kids as president. Nicholson agreed to the dance with the PTA as chaperones. Jane burst into the room and hugged Susan gleefully while Olivia watched.
That night at the dance, Cynthia arrived in heels and a dress. She demanded help as she extended lipstick, and Nancy took it to help. Olivia finished setting up while Jane and Nancy left to help Cynthia.
Shy Guy, Potato, and Gil arrived at the dance in search of their dates. Jane called out for them and, along with Nancy, presented Cynthia to the boys. Cynthia stalked over to Shy Guy, who remarked she looked different. She grabbed the corsage and stormed off. She saw Lydia and stopped, turned away, and walked in a different direction.
The Pink Ladies and T-Birds were next in line for the dance sign-in. Tippy reviewed her clipboard and refused to let them in. They made recent changes to the code of conduct, approved by the PTA earlier, and agreed that dances were a privilege and those with permanent marks on their records were not allowed to attend school functions. Olivia called it convenient and saw Susan inside. Dot pushed past and tried to bargain for her to just let Richie in as they were on a date. Tippy refused as rules were rules. Jane called it unfair as this was their dance. Olivia knew it wasn't anymore and they all walked away.
Susan passed the T-Birds and Pink Ladies on the steps. Olivia scoffed as they spent hours decorating that gym. The night was still young, so Cynthia recommended the drive-in, but Jane just wanted to go home. Shy Guy didn't want to give up since the girls made this dance happen. Richie suggested they have it somewhere else, and smiled at Jane, who realized they didn't need a gym. She asked Nancy about the Frosty Palace. She initially said no as her parents closed on dance nights. She realized after obvious looks from her friends that was what made it perfect. As everyone scattered toward the gym, Gil offered his hand to Olivia and she took it giddily. Jane started to approach Richie but Dot swooped in and they walked off.
The Pink Ladies and T-Birds snuck into the dance through a side door in the gym to pass along their message of a party at Frosty's. Nancy plucked decorations and other students followed suit. News spread quickly and Hazel told Wally it sounded fun, so they had to go in the name of science. Susan told the band to get their things as the party moved - and she needed Johnny's phone number. Olivia started to take food and the thespians helped. Tippy came inside with a huff and tried to stop the students, who ignored her. Gil asked her to hold a jello tray which allowed him and Olivia to run out. She shouted they weren't permitted, and nearly everyone vacated the gym. Tippy shouted for the camera crew to stop filming.
The party arrived at the Frosty Palace. Nancy told them not to break anything or ask her to make milkshakes because she was off the clock. The party started in full swing as everyone danced. Shy Guy and Cynthia danced clumsily and Lydia approached them. She wanted to talk with Cynthia, who insisted she was busy dancing with her boyfriend. Lydia snarked that it was good for her, but just so she knew, she couldn't pull off the look. Cynthia turned around and grabbed Shy Guy. She dragged him into the back room, pinned him against the wall, and aggressively kissed him. He broke it apart to ask what had gotten into her. It was him - she just couldn't resist him. She threw herself at him but he pried her off. He didn't want to start a fire, but she said it was too late. He removed her again and she tried to undo his belt, but he stopped her, as she didn't have to do that. Angry, Cynthia told him that a real man would like it. He looked at her hurt and left the room without another word. Cynthia leaned on the wall, breathless.
After Johnny Vavoom arrived, the music changed to upbeat rock ‘n' roll. Cynthia tried to make her way through the rambunctious crowd which had grown aggressive. Nancy remarked this was getting scary and wanted to get some of these people out of there. Hazel cut in that, if she may, they didn't have a capacity problem but a personal radius problem. People needed to dance smaller and Nancy asked how that happened. Wally told her to show the Pink Ladies how she danced, and she did. Jane gushed that she was a lifesaver. Jane adapted it quickly into the hand jive.
The song worked as they took control back of the party together. Olivia joined in and danced against Gil, then Nancy on a table with a seated Potato, and Cynthia on the counter. Hazel and Jane climbed on top of the tables to show everyone the dance moves. The song spilled out into the parking lot and Johnny Vavoom joined in. Potato and Nancy danced in the middle of a circle. She ran over to the Pink Ladies to complain that Potato had her under a spell. Giddy, Olivia reminded her there was only one way to break a spell in a fairy tale. Cynthia danced her struggles out on the hood of a car, while the students around her kept up. When the song ended, Nancy grabbed Potato and kissed him. On the hood of a car, a breathless Olivia and Gil talked and leaned in for a kiss when someone shouted that Susan was there.
Susan headed into the Frosty Palace in search of Jane, but the handsy students inside were no help. Olivia confronted her about not letting them into her party, so she couldn't come to theirs. Susan tried to get them in but Olivia didn't believe her. Jane wanted to hear her out. Olivia asked if she forgot this was the same girl who tried to get Richie beat up, who threw an entire party to make sure Jane wasn't elected, and who humiliated Jane at the pep rally. She was a scorpion. Susan saw Rosemary, Dot, and everyone else staring. She blurted out that at least she wasn't a homewrecker like Olivia. She saw Olivia with Mr. Daniels, but Jane butted in that it was last year. Rosemary realized that meant the rumors were true. Susan confirmed it was last year but also today, as she saw them kiss in his classroom before the dance. A hurt Gil questioned the statement, and Olivia turned to look at him. He shook his head and left. Dot pushed between them, but the girls shouted to stay out of it. Nancy suggested they go somewhere else, and Cynthia seconded they should go somewhere without a crowd. Olivia saw Buddy enter and turned back to Susan. She knew Susan thought she was superior on her high horse, but she was the one who tried to make everyone think Jane was easy when Susan was the one who put out for Buddy Aldridge. Buddy shouted that it was no one's business. Susan grabbed his hand and pulled him away.
Jane confronted Olivia as they weren't supposed to tell anyone. Olivia accused her of being on Susan's side, and Jane insisted she wasn't on anyone's side. Olivia was glad to see where she stood. Buddy saw Rosemary laugh with a guy and shoved him to stop laughing at Susan. He went to punch the guy but elbowed Dot in the nose, and the girl burst into tears. Wally didn't think they should be there, and Hazel agreed. The duo left just as Richie approached Olivia to suggest they leave. She accused him of being on Jane's side and thought he should know Jane kissed Buddy less than 24 hours after breaking up with Richie. Everyone gasped, and Jane quickly explained that it was after the election. Richie couldn't believe that Buddy kissed Jane after he stole the election. Jane questioned Buddy, who admitted he came there to tell her. His dad and Nicholson rigged the votes. He tried to stop her from walking away, but Richie stopped him. Buddy shoved him back and said to get out of his way. Richie shoved him back, and Jane tried to stop it, but Cynthia pulled her aside. Buddy came at Richie, who reared to hit Buddy and accidentally elbowed Dot in the nose again. Nancy pushed Dot out of the way, and the girl bumped into a line of students, which made people fall into each other. A student threw a bottle that hit a window and cracked it. Buddy grabbed Richie's shoulder so the boys were face-to-face. Olivia shouted for her brother, but the Pink Ladies kept her back as police sirens wailed.
Everyone spilled into the parking lot. Rosemary pulled Dot, Johnny Vavoom exclaimed he was never there, while Shy Guy and Potato ran from the entrance. Buddy and Richie, who fought, toppled through the open doors. Richie grabbed Buddy, and they grappled before they fell to the ground. The police came and pulled the boys away to arrest them. Olivia cried out for her brother again, but Cynthia held her back as the cops already had him. She yanked away and stormed back inside.
Olivia tearfully talked on the phone. When she hung up, the Pink Ladies asked if he was okay, if her parents saw him, and if he was alright. He wasn't as he was in jail. Jane offered to go to the police station with her. Olivia called her crazy as this was all her fault, which Jane didn't think was fair. Olivia told her to shut up about things being fair. That's what got them there in the first place. If Jane would just pick a side - pick a boy. None of this would have happened. Cynthia and Nancy intervened for her to stop, to cool it, as pink ladies have to stick together, especially now. Olivia shook her head as she was done being a pink lady. She stormed out as the girls tearfully watched.
Cynthia went home in the rain where she dried off her hair. She put on Shy Guy's jacket that she still had and sat on the couch with a beer.
In "You're Dropping Out of Rydell?", Cynthia opened her locker to find a note that read: “Cynthia, had to go. Won't be needing this anymore but I think it would look better on you anyway. Richie.” She reached inside and took out his T-Birds jacket.
She arrived late to home economics, sporting the jacket. She had better things to do and strutted over to the kitchen. Nancy confronted her about the jacket. She already had a gang and they had to be the ones to keep it together while the others fought. Cynthia recapped how Richie was being sent away soon and Olivia blamed Jane. Cynthia didn't see a way back from that. Nancy thought that even if they lost Olivia, the others could still be Pink Ladies. Cynthia wasn't sure because now that it was all over, it seemed kind of crazy for her to be a pink lady. She told Nancy they could still pal around and left when the bell rang.
Potato, Gil, and Shy Guy read their letters from Richie about his leave. Cynthia interrupted in the jacket. She explained that Richie wanted her to have it. Gil apologized as she couldn't wear it. Because that's what they wore and mockingly asked what the society pages would say. He walked over to her, put his arm around her shoulders, and she teased him back. Potato welcomed her to the gang while Gil admitted she should have gotten one a long time ago. He's sorry she had to get it like this. Shy Guy told her to take it off and Gil told him “Down boy” as Richie gave it to her so it's all copacetic. Shy Guy didn't care - he didn't want her in the gang. If she was in, he was out and stormed away. Cynthia chased after him but he ignored her.
McGee explained over the intercom that, due to the in-climate weather, and to ensure the safety of everyone there at Rydell, no one was permitted to leave the school grounds.
Cynthia and Gil got into his car and he handed her a warm glove-box beer for their newest T-Bird. She gleefully celebrated finally being initiated. They tapped beers then took long swigs. She had some great times with the girls but it was Feelings Central over there. It was nice to kick back and have some beers with the guys again. Gil was quiet for a long moment before he agreed. It was just that his best friend was gone, the girl he puppy-dogged for years, who he thought he had a shot with, turned out he didn't. Cynthia thought he still had a shot with Olivia, but he thought she had Mr. Daniels. She assured him that Daniels was old and bald. Gil chuckled as he wasn't bald, but Cynthia knew he would be, she could tell. He sighed and looked over at her. Daniels was tall, and she conceded that he was. She told him to talk to Olivia and tell her how he felt. She then declared there was no more talk about feelings or even saying the word. Gil agreed but then turned to her, as he thinks she hurt Shy Guy's heart. She just didn't like him that way. He didn't know what happened at that dance but she had to make it right. She agreed to talk to Shy Guy about his heart if Gil stopped being a candy ass and talked to Olivia about his. They toasted and downed their beers. They agreed to one more beer first.
Jane walked down the hall as students emerged around her. She didn't pay them attention as she sang about having got everything she wanted, but couldn't see the point because she was alone. She danced with the students as she realized her success didn't feel right. Nancy and Potato got out of the supply closet. She had a chance to set things right and walked past students and into a classroom. Cynthia, lit by the thespians, finally had her jacket. The four girls sang in perfect harmony from their different locations. The girls sang about their fantasies being different in reality. As they moved through the school, they didn't realize how many times they crossed paths and were connected.
Cynthia found Shy Guy and confronted him about what had him so upset. He was upset about the dance and she minimized it to a bad date. He might and she called him sensitive. He turned to her as he wasn't sensitive. He reminded her that she said he wasn't a real man and didn't think she should say that even if that's what everyone thinks about him. She insisted they didn't, but he snapped back that he's so shy no one even remembers his real name. He didn't need her to throw it in his face. Potato ran up with a letter from Nancy, and she took off after reading it. He smiled and then followed her.
Jane ran into the bathroom where Nancy was locked in a stall. She pretended to sob then emerged. She locked them all in there until they worked out their problems. She shouted for Potato, who guarded the door from the outside. Cynthia thought something was wrong, and Nancy assured her it was. They were all letting the Pink Ladies fall apart when they needed each other the most. Olivia and Jane needed to talk, but they weren't interested. Nancy cut the trio off to deliver brutal honesty. Her harsh opinions hurt their feelings even more and caused a deeper rift. Jane, Olivia, and Cynthia had more important things to do and pushed on the door until they knocked Potato down. They headed in different directions.
Cynthia found Shy Guy sitting alone and apologized for the dance. She knew what it felt like to not feel like the others. She didn't mean to make him feel that way too. He always thought if she liked him she would be his girl, and he wouldn't stick out like a sore thumb. It just didn't feel right to him and he knew. It didn't feel right to him either. She sat down next to him. She decided to stop thinking about why she felt something, and just feel it. He playfully nudged her - she can be a T-Bird if she wanted. She chuckled as, after all that, it just didn't feel right. She thanked him anyway and called him Edward. They playfully punched each other's shoulders.
Cynthia ran through the halls to try and catch Lydia, but Jane intercepted Cynthia first. Nancy ran up looking for Olivia. Nancy took back all of what she said because none of it was true. Jane admitted she was right about her, as the Pink Ladies changed her for the better. Cynthia admitted she wasn't a T-Bird, as this wasn't the jacket she wanted to wear. While it was crazy to be a Pink Lady, Cynthia compared it to the Boston Red Sox who are neither Red nor Sox, but still a team. They made Nancy apologize anyway. She did need the Pink Ladies because, while they fell in love with Richie, Buddy, Mr. Daniels, and Shy Guy, she had a love story too - the Pink Ladies. Jane loved them too and so did Cynthia. They hugged tightly and Nancy tightened it to warn them this was a one-time thing. If they told anyone about her vulnerable nature she would deny it until the day she died. The T-Birds walked up as Gil looked for Olivia too. Jane wanted to find Olivia and Richie. She wanted to find a way to keep Richie at Rydell. Since the adults won't help, they'll have to do it their own way. Gil grinned and offered to drive. As they left, Nancy tried to talk to Potato, but he blew her off. Nancy solemnly followed then grabbed her pink ladies' jacket.
Gil pulled up to Olivia's house and everyone hurried out and into the house. Olivia pulled them into the other room. She cut off Nancy and pointed to the kitchen, where her parents talked with Mr. Daniels. Her father shook his hand. Gil asked what he was doing there. He was asking for her parents' blessing as they were getting married. Jane asked where Richie was and there was no way he was for this. Olivia thought she already knew. Her parents put him on a bus that afternoon, and he was gone. Gil scoffed and left the house - Shy Guy and Potato followed. Leonard called for Olivia who told her friends they should leave. Jane tearfully looked at Olivia before she left.
Jane sat on her bed, crying, while Nancy and Cynthia talked. They draped Richie's jacket over Jane's shoulders, as Cynthia thought it belonged to her. She cried on Cynthia's shoulder while Nancy tried to soothe her. They had no idea what to do but knew one thing - she was Jane Facciano. And Jane Facciano never gave up. Jane stood from the bed, walked to the window, and adjusted the jacket. She eventually smiled confidently.
In "Racing for Pinks", Olivia sat at her vanity, wearing her veil, as she thought about her impending nuptials. Nancy broke through her daydream to tell her the veil looked terrible. Nancy took it off, tossed it aside, and smoothed Olivia's hair. Olivia angrily asked why they were there and shouted at her mother for letting people in. The Pink Ladies were there to tell her something important, but Olivia wasn't in a listening mood.
Olivia walked away from them only to enter a black-and-white version of her future life. The three Pink Ladies appeared on the box set TV as performers. Olivia tried to turn off the TV but they simply turned it back on. They sang that her marriage was a mistake, that Leonard was old, and she was too good for him and begged Olivia not to go through with the marriage. Olivia poured a drink that Leonard took, knit while he read the paper, and did chores. She suddenly grew a large baby bump that transformed into three babies, two of which crawled on the floor while the third screamed in her arms. Fed up, Olivia unplugged the TV and ended their pleas for her not to marry Leonard.
She told the girls she had enough and asked who the hell they thought they were. Jane insisted they were her friends and, as her friends, they were there to tell her she was being stupid. Olivia took offense, so she retaliated that what was stupid was playing make-believe in some pink clubhouse while real-life things happened. Jane knew how real things were and wanted her to end the madness so they could bring Richie back. Olivia told her to wake up because Richie wasn't coming back. She was getting married and a real friend would be happy that there was one good thing in her life right now. Jane wanted her to finish high school and go to college, but that wasn't in the cards for Olivia as her parents couldn't afford it. She knew she would end up married anyway, and at least Leo cared about her and didn't think she was stupid. She asked them all to get out then pushed them out the door while Jane tried to explain. Olivia slammed the door shut behind them.
The next morning at the theatre, Lydia directed a scene with Geraldine, Orson, and Tommy, though the three actors couldn't agree on who would pour the coffee. The bell rang to signal the end of class, and Cynthia pulled Lydia behind the stage to confess her feelings. She liked Lydia the way Romeo liked Juliet. She didn't know what it meant, she just knew that being with her just felt right. Cynthia took her hands but Lydia pulled away. One minute Cynthia kissed her and the next she ran away. Lydia didn't want to do that again. She confessed there was a girl at summer stock. They were friends who became more. They would meet up and talk, and kiss, until one night she didn't show up. The next day she pretended like it didn't happen and when Lydia confronted her, she was called a deviant and sick. Lydia refused Cynthia's advance because she wasn't “steady ground”.
The T-Birds and Socs met outside the Frosty Palace where Jane revealed that Nicholson just needed someone to blame for the fight. Neil argued that Richie started it, but Shy Guy retorted that Buddy threw the first punch. They took a step forward but were pulled back by their gangs. Susan shouted for them all to cool it. Jane explained her plan for both gangs to race. If Buddy won, they would all go to Nicholson and McGee together to say that Richie started the fight, which would let Buddy back in. But if Buddy lost, they say that Buddy started the fight, which would let Richie back in. Buddy asked how it would work since Richie wasn't there to race. Gil stepped up as Richie's second. The Socs huddled together to discuss the prospects - they didn't think Buddy could win against Gil since the T-Birds drag-raced all the time. Jane pulled the boys and Pink Ladies into a huddle, which confused Gil. She saw the Socs doing it and thought they should too. Potato was hungry while Nancy liked a good huddle. Susan argued that Buddy had the better, newer car while the T-Birds car was a jalopy with a good paint job. Potato wanted pancakes which the others liked, and Jane wondered if they should get a table after. The gangs ended their huddle and Buddy accepted the race. Gil walked forward and they shook hands - may the best man win.
The T-Birds headed to the Rydell High Auto Shop. Gil assured Jane that he could beat Aldridge with his eyes closed. She reminded him of the high stakes and that this was for Richie. Potato slid over to Nancy to put his arm around her, and she unraveled herself quickly. She had some ground rules - no PDA of any kind, no cutesy nicknames, and no finishing each other's statements. He had to follow those rules to the letter and he left, dejected. Cynthia asked why Nancy was so mean to him. She insisted relationships were complicated and that Nancy wouldn't understand because he had never been in one. Gil told everyone they needed a new carburetor. Cynthia wasn't sure it was a great idea as it could make the car explode. Jane wanted to know they did everything they could. Shy Guy asked where they could find a four-barrel carb, and they eyed Principal Nicholson's across the lot.
The T-Birds and Cynthia worked to disassemble the carb while Jane and Nancy stood guard. Miss McGee grumbled over doing the job of 15 people only to have her apple stolen. Jane and Nancy coughed loudly as a signal to the mechanics, but they weren't fast enough. McGee questioned their actions and Jane admitted it was to help get Olivia back in Rydell. McGee contemplated and then examined her spectacles, which needed a new prescription because she couldn't see a darn thing lately. She walked away and they gleefully went back to work.
The next morning at the Raceway, students from Rydell High School gathered in the empty lot in preparation for the big race. Cynthia was proud of her work on the T-Birds car. Susan saw Buddy's growing nerves and Gil's distracted ogles of the St. Bernadette girls. She strolled by the T-Birds car and knocked the strut out of the hood. It crashed down on Gil's hand. He insisted he could still race, but he couldn't make a fist. Shy Guy volunteered Potato to take Gil's place, but he didn't know how to drive. Susan told them to forfeit but Jane refused and offered to take his place. Buddy refused as she flunked driver's ed. They should just call it off and they both would still be expelled. Susan volunteered in Buddy's place, as she flunked too so it would be fair. Buddy initially said no, but Jane appealed to him for a fair fight.
Gil ensured the car was perfect and Nancy put Richie's T-Birds jacket on Jane. Susan wore Buddy's Letterman. Olivia watched from the entrance of the Raceway while Dot waved them on. The girls were off to a great start until Susan cut Jane off and they both stopped. Susan couldn't find the clutch and had to get help from the Socs. The girls were then back on track, cheered on by their respective groups. On the final lap, the T-Birds car sputtered and Gil nervously realized she pushed it too hard. Susan gained the lead and Shy Guy gripped Potato tightly. They were neck and neck until the T-Birds car hissed, released smoke, and Susan flew over the finish line. Olivia sighed and walked away as the onlookers rushed to Susan to celebrate.
Jane sat heartbroken in the driver's seat and Potato put his arm around Nancy, who pushed him away. He stalked off and Cynthia glared at Nancy, who argued that she warned him earlier. Cynthia called her impossible and stormed away.
Cynthia sat in her living room when Nancy came in with a peace offering of alcohol. Cynthia didn't want it to be a whole thing. She just didn't like the way Nancy talked to Potato. Nancy conceded that Cynthia was right about her being a jerk to Potato, but something else was going on too. She knew Cynthia didn't want to talk after she bailed on the play, but had been acting strange all over. Cynthia merely turned away from her. Nancy pushed for an answer and asked if it had to do with Shy Guy or her dad. When Cynthia turned down those, Nancy asked if it had to do with her mom. Cynthia shook her head, no. Nancy assured her she could tell her anything, but Cynthia shook her head, crying. Nancy realized she couldn't talk about it. She handed her a piece of paper and a pen, in the hopes she would write it down. Cynthia took the paper and did just that, but made sure to shield the paper from Nancy, who looked away. Cynthia folded the paper and slid it across the floor to her friend, who had to yank her from her grip. Nancy read it and then cleared her throat, then signed for the pencil. She wrote her response and Cynthia looked away as Nancy once had. She slid the paper back and Cynthia read it. She laughed then burst into tears. Nancy held her arms out and Cynthia sobbed into her chest, then her lap. Nancy held her friend and then poured a shot.
In the morning, the Pink Ladies and Hazel sat in a booth at Frosty's where they devoured food and Nancy nursed a hangover. Cynthia remarked on their friendship with Olivia being over, and Hazel asked why that was. Jane admitted she was getting married, but Hazel failed to see how those things were connected. The Pink Ladies had an epiphany and hatched a plan to get to the church. They needed a car to get there. McGee entered and sat at the booth as she had something to tell them. As McGee gave a heartfelt speech on how the Pink Ladies had inspired her to stand up for herself, the four girls communicated nonverbally over McGee's car keys on the table. They stole the keys, shouted it was for Olivia, and ran out of the restaurant. McGee ran after them and then grumbled as they could've just asked for a ride.
Olivia, escorted by her father, walked down the aisle to Leonard and the priest. Once in a pew, Raul assured Irene that Olivia would be okay, but Irene wished they hadn't said yes. The church doors burst open and the Pink Ladies ran in. Jane was sorry to interrupt but wanted to talk to Olivia. Leonard insisted they were busy, but Jane reminded Olivia that they were friends. Cynthia blurted out that friends showed up for each other regardless of what dingbats they married. Jane paused then continued with her speech about how important the Pink Ladies and Olivia were to her. She wouldn't have survived this year without her. So if Olivia wanted to get out of there they stole McGee's car and it was running outside. But if she really wanted to get married, then she had three bridesmaids ready to go. Nancy grabbed a shawl and offered to drape three dresses out of them in fifteen minutes. Leonard was okay with them staying if she was. Olivia turned to Leonard. She thought she lost everything with Richie and wanted to hold onto someone she could count on. But she realized now that she had three, maybe four, someone's who would never leave her side no matter what. She gave the bouquet to Leonard. This wasn't right and they both knew it. She suggested he call Barb, who seemed nice. Olivia smiled at her friends, grabbed Jane's hand, and they ran down the aisle together. Nancy stopped and went back to Leonard. She gestured for him to bend down closer and when he did, she slapped him across the face. She proclaimed that Olivia was a child and stormed to her shocked friends.
The foursome arrived at the Rydell High carnival and split off in different directions. Nancy urged Cynthia into the Hall of Mirrors after Lydia. The girls found each other in the mirrors and Lydia walked away. Cynthia sang her love confession to the girl, about how she was All In. Cynthia hoped to convince Lydia that she wasn't going to bail if they committed to a relationship. She belted out the song as proof, followed her around the exhibit, and they ultimately danced together. The song ended when they held hands and Lydia worried that Cynthia would act like this never happened. Cynthia revealed she came out to her friend Nancy, who would hold her accountable, and remember the relationship so Cynthia couldn't pretend she didn't commit. Nancy didn't have all day and the girls kissed. Nancy saluted them and walked out as the thespians made out.
The Pink Ladies gathered in front of Hazel to thank her for saving the day. Jane didn't have a solution to her two-boy problem but offered a four-girl solution to everything else. Cynthia explained they had a problem of their own, too. They had one unshakable optimist, one cool cynic, one hilarious jokester, and one mad genius. But they were all insane. They could use a logical one, the kind of logical one who used her powers to steal a car for a friend. Nancy presented a spare jacket, and it was Hazel's if she wanted it. Jane stopped her, as Hazel needed to take the pledge first. The girls didn't have a pledge, at least not yet. Jane put her hand over her heart and looked at Olivia, who improvised - to act cool. Nancy added to look cool, and Cynthia finished with To be cool. Jane smiled as she added till death do them part, think pink. Hazel presented one problem - she wasn't cool. The Pink Ladies grinned and began their song, about how Hazel was one of them, what it took to be a Pink Lady, and what the pledge meant. They danced around the carnival, took space on stages, sat on a picnic table with Hazel on top, and danced with the other students. The Socs danced together, with Dot jumping in Rosemary's arms. The T-Birds slid in front of the girls and tried to remove their belts to moon them, but Miss McGee chased them away. The girls ended their song - and pledge - with their hands held together.
The Pink Ladies left the Frosty Palace just as the T-Birds walked up. Gil had his arm around a St. Bernadette's girl. Olivia sized them both up. Gil greeted them and wanted to introduce them, and the rest of the emerging Socs, to his old pal from when he was a kid in New York. He just moved to Ry-Hell. This was friend Frankie, and Jane pushed her way to the front of the group and then screamed out his last name, “Zuko?!” She looks at him angrily and emotionally. She said she never wanted to see him again and she meant it. She turned around and pushed past her friends. Everyone looked over to the leather-jacket-wearing newcomer.
Personality[]
Cynthia is a tomboy in every aspect of her personality. She sheds conventional femininity in place of adopting the masculine traits of the T-Birds. She is crass, abrasive, outspoken, headstrong, and wild. She doesn't care about what others think of her - except the T-Birds, whom she's desperate to part of.
Physical Appearance[]
Cynthia is an teenager with short, brunette hair and brown eyes. She rarely wears skirts or dresses due to her tomboy nature.
Notes and Trivia[]
- Cynthia is the first openly LGBTQIA+ character in the Grease universe, identifying as a lesbian. She is followed by her love interest, Lydia.
- Cynthia is the only known female to join the T-Birds, having taken Richie Valdovinos's spot when he left. She later hung up the jacket in favor of being a Pink Lady.[1]
- She is a skilled mechanic.[2]
Gallery[]
