It’s the last bell of the school year at East High, and the Wildcats are buzzing with excitement: summer has arrived. Troy Bolton, now dating Gabriella Montez, wants a summer job to save up for college. Sharpay Evans, ever ambitious and determined, sees this as her chance to win Troy’s attention—and heart. She convinces her family’s manager, Mr. Fulton, to bring Troy onto the staff at the upscale country club Lava Springs. But Sharpay’s plan doesn’t stop there: she secretly insists that Troy’s friends and Gabriella work there too, so she can keep an eye on him.
Sharpay, annoyed by Gabriella’s presence as a lifeguard, tries to get her fired, and when that fails, she pushes Gabriella and the Wildcats into difficult, menial, and exhausting tasks so they’ll quit. The group struggles—Chad objects, the pressure builds, and Troy finds himself torn between doing right by his friends and chasing the opportunities this job might bring. “Work This Out” becomes more than a song—it becomes a challenge to the Wildcats’ unity and resolve.
Sharpay keeps pushing by dangling a scholarship‑linked basketball opportunity for Troy and offers him the chance to perform in the club’s talent show alongside her. Gabriella, feeling sidelined, confronts Sharpay and ultimately quits—frustrated over Troy’s growing distance and Sharpay’s manipulations. Hurt, Troy experiences guilt and conflict. Gabriella returns Troy’s “T” necklace—a symbol of their promise and love—showing how much betrayal she feels. It’s a critical turning point: Troy must choose between ambition and loyalty
Just as everything seems lost—relationships strained, friends distant—the talent show looms. Sharpay has attempted to ban the Wildcats from performing, but Troy fights back. With encouragement from his friends and a surprise new song from Ryan, he gets Gabriella back on stage. In a dramatic, heartfelt moment, Troy declares he won’t be manipulated. Gabriella joins him for the final performance, and though Sharpay tries to control the show, she loses in a way that reveals a different side of her. This moment restores friendships, rekindles romance, and shows Troy who he truly values.
With the talent show over, the Wildcats push past Sharpay’s schemes. The film ends on a joyful note: fireworks, pool parties, laughter, and love. Troy and Gabriella share a proper kiss under the fireworks, the friends embrace, and the summer is celebrated together. “All for One” caps off the summer’s journey—the message is clear: friendship, loyalty, and being true to yourself matter most. Despite all the glamor and glitter at Lava Springs, it’s what’s in your heart that makes the difference