Glee (TV Series)

Theatricality (2010)

Idina Menzel: Shelby Corcoran

Photos 

Quotes 

• Rachel Berry : Mom?

  Shelby Corcoran : Hon, you gotta stop sneaking into these rehearsals.

  Rachel Berry : It's kind of important.

  Shelby Corcoran : [Rachel shows her her Lady Gaga outfit]  Oh, dear god.

  Rachel Berry : My dads can't sew. I really need a mom right now. Do you think you can help?

• Shelby Corcoran : [watching Vocal Adrenaline rehearse]  Yeah, that's better, guys. Take five. And ladies, I don't want to hear about chafing just because you're being forced to wear metal underwear. Not my problem.

• Shelby Corcoran : So, how'd your dads come up with the name Rachel?

  Rachel Berry : They were, um, big "Friends" fans. I know why you're here. To say goodbye.

  Shelby Corcoran : I really wanted this to work. Do you know what really turned me? That story that you told me about your dads, and how they'd bring you water when you were sad. We're never gonna have anything like that. It's too late for us. I just think that anything we share right now is gonna be confusing for you.

  Rachel Berry : I just don't understand. You... you're my mom. I feel awful right now, and I should want to fall into your arms and let you rock me and tell me everything is gonna be fine, but... I just don't feel it.

  Shelby Corcoran : It's because I'm your mother, but I'm not your mom.

  Rachel Berry : So, what? Do we just pretend we don't know each other now?

  Shelby Corcoran : That seems silly. Let's just be grateful for one another, from afar. For a while. Don't think for a second I'm gonna soft on you during regionals.

  Rachel Berry : Bring it.

• Shelby Corcoran : I know why you called, and don't worry about it. My reconnection with Rachel is not some kind of plot to mess with you guys before regionals.

  Will Schuester : I'm not worried about regionals. It's Rachel. She's special. She's got all of the best of you; she's strong-willed, dramatic, wildly talented.

  Shelby Corcoran : Go on.

  Will Schuester : But she's not hard like you. She's fragile, over-emotional. And she's clearly convinced herself that you are as committed to this reunion as she is. And I don't think you are. You're not prepared to have a teenage daughter. Are you?

  Shelby Corcoran : I can't have any more kids. There were issues a few years back. Then some surgery, and that's that. I really wanted a daughter. That's why it was so important to me to make that bond with her. But you're right. I wanted my baby back. Rachel's an adult now. She doesn't need me.

  Will Schuester : Shelby, I can't tell you what to do, but if you really love her, you have to tell her what you just told me.

• Rachel Berry : Did you ever regret it?

  Shelby Corcoran : Yes. Then no. Then so much.

  Rachel Berry : W... when did you realize it was the right time for me to find you?

  Shelby Corcoran : I saw you sing at sectionals. You were extraordinary. You were me.

  Rachel Berry : Was it hard for you to not become a star? To not have your dreams come true?

  Shelby Corcoran : It felt liked a broken promise. Like the Fisher King's wound; never heals.

  Rachel Berry : Wow. Genetics really are amazing. You see the world with the same fierce theatricality as I do. Even the way we're sitting right now is so dramatic, and yet we feel so comfortable with it.

  Shelby Corcoran : I've missed so much. How do you feel?

  Rachel Berry : Thirsty. When I was little and I used to get sad, my dads would bring me a glass of water. It got so I couldn't tell if I was sad or just thirsty.

  Shelby Corcoran : Uh... I shouldn't have done this.

  [standing to leave] 

  Shelby Corcoran : This was supposed to feel good. W... we were supposed to have some kind of slow-motion run into each other's arms. This is all wrong.

  Rachel Berry : Maybe we can just go to dinner or something, just to get over the initial shock?

  Shelby Corcoran : I'm so sorry, Rachel. Uh... I'll... I'll call you.