The sixth episode of Season 1 of "Changing Ends" unfolds amidst the vibrant ambiance of Alan's school, where a palpable sense of optimism prevails as the Cobblers, the school's team, finally taste success. This turn of fortune might herald an era where Alan's enduring bullying comes to an end.
We then shift our focus to the headmaster's office, where Miss Gideon is engrossed in discussions about the impending school play adaptation of "Animal Farm." Meanwhile, at home, Mrs. Hudson, tears brimming in her eyes, makes an unexpected visit to Christine's doorstep. Her heart is heavy with suspicions of her husband's infidelity.
Before delving deeper into the domestic turmoil, we return to the school scene where the drama club members have gathered. To Alan's surprise, he is cast as Squealer in the play. Miss Gideon, who also has an expanded role she penned for herself, reveals her motive behind this decision—she learned that casting agents from the renowned "Coronation Street" were planning to attend the performance.
A fleeting visit back to Christine's house, where Mrs. Hudson's sorrow still lingers, precedes our return to the school. Alan, unable to contain his excitement, shares the news about the casting agents with one of the dinner ladies. Maz, Charlie's girlfriend, catches wind of the conversation and expresses her keen interest in joining the drama club.
Later, Charlie confronts Alan on the street, having heard about the play from Maz. Alan warmly invites Charlie to join, but in an awkward twist, he accidentally drops part of his costume on the roadway.
Arriving at his house, Alan finds Mrs. Hudson just leaving. He eagerly recounts the play news to his indifferent parents, who show no interest in attending. Suddenly, a scream pierces the air outside. It's Mrs. Hudson, who has stumbled upon the dropped costume and mistakenly believes it belongs to the woman her husband is rumored to be having an affair with.
At the drama rehearsal, Maz breezes in and earnestly requests to become part of the cast. To demonstrate her prowess, she belts out an exquisite rendition of "Amazing Grace," captivating everyone present. However, Miss Gideon, apprehensive that Maz might outshine her, decides to reassign her to the backstage crew.
Back at their abode, Mrs. Hudson unveils Christine the costume, its lining intricately inscribed with "Squealer," the moniker of Alan's character in the play. Shortly thereafter, Alan and Graham arrive, with Alan once more pleading with his parents to attend the performance. Christine, obliging, agrees to come, whereas Graham has prior commitments to a football game.
Just as Alan is poised to confide in Mrs. Hudson about his character, her husband unexpectedly arrives, thwarting her impending revelation. Had she known, she would have realized that "Squealer" hailed from "Animal Farm," not some misconstrued female character!
Concurrently, two significant events unfold—the football game and the school play. At the play, Miss Gideon steals the spotlight, but Christine and Mrs. Hudson, amidst the audience, remain unimpressed. When Alan's turn comes, and he unveils his character's name, Mrs. Hudson realizes her mistake with a start.
Yet, Miss Gideon remains blissfully unaware of her folly. The audience, watching her performance, finds it lacking. A mishap occurs when she's felled by a stage prop, prompting Alan to seize the moment and deliver an impromptu comedy routine that revitalizes the crowd. He becomes an instant hit.
Meanwhile, the Cobblers triumph in their football match. Graham rushes to the school but arrives too late to witness Alan's performance. Christine phones him, and instead of confessing he's at the school, he pretends to still be at the game. Perhaps he's feigning indifference to Alan's theatrical (or rather, comedic) endeavors, when in secret, he cares deeply, more than he lets on.
The following day, Alan and his fellow classmates gathered to witness a playback of their performance on video. As Alan observed his own portrayal, a dawning realization struck him: his effeminate demeanor was the underlying cause of his bullying ordeal at school. Why this insight had evaded him until now remains a mystery. The segment concludes with the adult Alan Carr abruptly switching off the television, confiding to us that his younger self was not yet equipped for the limelight.
