Rise

As the final episode of the season, during the opening night of Stanton Drama's Spring Awakening, personal crises percolate between the students.

With three days until opening night, Lou and Tracey work through the show's changes demanded by Principal Ward and the PTA, with Lou and Principal Ward's jobs on the line. The changes are meant to sanitize the show, removing anything that could be deemed even remotely offensive, such as swear words, and any direct mention of topics that are controversial, like teen pregnancy, abortion, rape, incest, homosexuality and overt sexuality. Lou is however unaware of the full extent of the backroom discussion between Evan and Tracey, and thus Tracey's response to that discussion. Even with the checklist of needed changes, Lou and Tracey go into the process with differing views of how to make the changes without compromising the fundamental messages in the book. Their process further affects the performers, many who are going through their own off stage challenges. Simon is watching his family fall apart in front of his eyes, he needing to be the strong one for Emma, while his father will not let the family break apart if solely in the name of Catholicism. With Vanessa's disappearance, Lilette has to manage her home life on her own, including fending off their landlord Sal who is demanding the already late rent or else. And Robbie receives the news of his mother's failing health and the need to prepare for the end. Meanwhile, Gordy informs his parents that he is required to do community service. His choice of what to do surprises them, and may consciously or unconsciously have something to do with Gwen, which his father in particular can see. And Maashous tells the Mazzuchellis that he is moving back in with his mother. While none of them really want to see Maashous leave, Kaitlin and Sadie take the news the hardest, Kaitlin who thinks she knows the answer to what she sees as the problem.