S2E16: “Trick or Techrat”

__Synopsis:__ “Rio, Jem, Danse and The Holograms work to restore an old opera house in time for a fundraising concert on Halloween. Strange accidents occur that indicate the old place might be haunted. A bad scare the night of the concert causes Terri, a timid Starlight Girl to go missing in the buildings’ secret passages. When the group begins their search for Terri, the truth behind the strange occurrences are revealed.”

__Summary:__ Episode 42 (S2E16) is written by Misty Stewart-Taggart.

We open at Starlight Mansion, with the Holograms and Starlight Girls watching a horror movie. Two Starlight Girls burst through the door wearing scary masks, startling everyone, especially Terri, a timid young orphan (she’s accused of believing in ghosts and goblins). Kimber enters and tells Jerrica that Rio is looking for Jem, so Jerrica changes and the rest of the Holograms follow.

In a late night impromptu visit, Rio invites the band to go for a drive and a little adventure. They seem hesitant at first, but end up going. On the drive to the old opera house, Rio explains that if the owner can’t pay back taxes, the city will put it up for sale to the highest bidder. Jem insists that the opera house has to be saved, otherwise the historical building will be lost forever. As Rio is a member of the Historical Preservation Board, he suggests Jem and the Holograms host a benefit concert to raise money for the opera house. In order to do this, the band needs the approval of the owner: Frederick Vincent. At the request of Mr. Vincent, the band meets him at the old opera house at midnight, where he explains that he’s been living there, until the city comes for the taxes. Jem explains that with the money they make from the benefit, it can be used to pay the taxes as well as help cover the restoration. Mr. Vincent accepts the offer.

Back at Starlight Mansion, Jem tells everyone that they’ll need to pitch in, from making costumes to choreography, setup–even the Starlight Girls will have to help. Ashley tells the group that she wants to go as something really scary, and then grabs a mask and shoves it in Terri’s face. Terri ends up falling off her chair and begins to cry and scream how much she hates Halloween. Jem tries to console Terri by telling her she needs to not take everything so seriously.

Jem and the Holograms music video: [“It’s Fun To Be Scared.”][It’s Fun To Be Scared]

The Starlight Girls arrive at the old opera house, but Terri stops in her tracks when she sees the address 1313 above the door.

> Terri: Oh no, I can’t go in there, it’s unlucky.

Techrat is demonstrating a new invention to Eric Raymond when Pizzazz walks in (with the rest of the Misfits) holding a newspaper showing the announcement of Jem and the Holograms’ benefit concert. Pizzazz asks Eric what he’s going to do about it, and he suggests they make their own headlines by outdoing them. Eric hands Pizzazz a business card with the name, Terrance Landau, who will take care of the Misfits’ needs. It turns out Terrance Landau has a mutual need to see Jem and the Holograms fail: the opera house ruins his beautiful skyline. Terrance promises to fund the Misfits concert.

Lin-Z Pierce makes an appearance to do a press event for Jem and the Holograms, in front of the old opera house. The Misfits disrupt the live event when Pizzazz introduces “Midnight Madness” as we see a a pop-up inflatable dome going up across the street. Lin-Z mentions that there will be two concerts, but Pizzazz is confident Jem and the Holograms will be shut down once word gets out at how unsafe the opera house is. Inside, we see Rio explaining to Jem that he inspected the entire opera house himself and assures Jem it’s perfectly safe (since when did Rio become a structural engineer?).

On stage, Danse prepares to p…