DEGRASSI: AFTERMATH - SUMMER DREAMS PART 1

Disclaimer: I don´t own Degrassi or the characters from it.

Author´s note: These will be very different episodes, than what you´re used to. Luckily for you readers, your writer here is stuck at home thanks to the Corona virus. This is a story I´ve been tinkering with in my mind for a long time, so finally writing it out was actually pretty easy. I was planning on releasing it after episode 10, but I figured you could use some entertainment in these times. It also doesn´t interfere with any other on-going storylines or gives away any spoilers. I hope you enjoy it.

1. Ext. Forest. Night.

Spinner, Paige, Manny and Eddy are seated around a campfire. Two tents have been set up. Manny looks a little tired and stretches.

Manny:

It´s been a lot of fun reminiscing, but I´m ready for some shut-eye.

Eddy:

Yeah, I´m pretty beat too. I´m just not used to all this fresh air.

Paige:

You wanna stay up a little longer, Spin?

Spinner:

Sure. How about I heat us up some soup?

Paige:

Mmm.

Manny:

Now I almost feel like staying up, but I´m still to tired. Sleep tight, guys.

Paige:

You, too.

Eddy and Manny climb in to their tent.

2. Int. Tent. Night.

Eddy and Manny are getting snuggly in their sleeping bags.

Manny:

Did you enjoy yourself tonight?

Eddy:

Yeah. For a first camping experience, I have to say that I´m liking it. Why did you never tell me the full story about you and Craig?

Manny:

Maybe because I´m not too proud of a lot of the things I did. I kinda weird to imagine though, what would have happened if I´d have given in to him and we´d actually had the baby.

Eddy:

It would have sucked for me. I wouldn´t have had you.

Manny:

What about if you and Maya hadn´t split up? You never would have had the accident. Maybe the two of you would have been billionaire rockstars now.

Eddy:

I´d still settle for being a multi millionaire.

Manny:

How modest of you.

Eddy:

Sweet dreams, honey.

Manny:

You, too.

They kiss and close their eyes.

OPENING CREDITS (THAT UNLIKE THE USUAL CREDITS HAVE A DREAM LIKE FEEL TO THEM)

3. Int. Tent. Night.

We focus on Manny, sleeping.

We slowly fade to:

4. Int. Manny and Craig´s House. Day.

Manny and Craig are having family dinner with their 24 year old rebellious looking daughter Julia (named after Craig´s late mother), their 18 year old innocent looking daughter Emma and their 16 year old son Albert (named after Craig´s late father), who´s obviously a big fan of the color black. They obviously aren´t a family that´s swimming in money, judging by their house. The mood at the table isn´t the best.

Emma:

You cant´t split up!

Craig:

Honey, it´s just temporary, while your mom and I figure some things out.

Manny:

We still love each other.

Emma:

Then why is dad leaving?

Manny gives Craig a stern look.

Craig:

I did something, that I shouldn´t have. Your mother is mad at me and she has every right to.

Albert:

As if I couldn´t hate this family any more!

He gets up from the table and storms off to his room.

Manny:

Em, could you go and talk to him? You´re the only one he listens to, when he gets like this.

Emma:

If you promise me, you won´t get divorced.

Julia:

They can´t promise you that!

Emma looks a little hurt and goes off to talk to her brother.

Julia:

I´m going back to the dorms. Anything is better than staying here right now.

Manny:

Julia, please stay for a bit. You just got here.

Julia:

Because I´m sick of this, mom! How many times can he cheat on you, until you run out of excuses for him?

Craig:

Julia, that´s enough.

Julia:

So who was it this time, Ellie or some other slut?

Craig doesn´t want to answer. Julia shakes her head and leaves. Manny looks at him with disgust.

Craig:

I´ll sleep on Spinner´s couch the next days.

Manny:

Okay.

Craig:

I really am sorry.

Manny:

Just go.

5. Int. Albert´s Room. Day.

Albert is lying on his bed, when Emma comes in and sits down next to her.

Albert:

Why don´t they just break up and get it over with?

Emma:

You don´t mean that.

Albert:

You know it´s gonna follow the same pattern again. After a week, she´ll take him back, he´ll pretend like he´s changed and a few months later the story repeats itself again. He´s such a loser.

Emma:

Well, she´s not much better.

Albert sits up and looks at his sister.

Albert:

What do you mean?

Emma:

Are you really so dumb, that you still think her and J.T. are "just old friends"?

Albert:

Adults are so messed up!

He lies down again and stares at the ceiling.

6. Int. Spinner and Jane´s Apartment. Evening.

Spinner and Jane (who have become more and more punk with time and look slightly wasted) are watching "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" in their dump of an apartment. There´s several empty beer bottles and a bong on the table. The doorbell rings.

Spinner (yelling):

It´s open!

Craig comes in to the apartment carrying a small bag and a guitar case, looking a bit uncomfortable.

Spinner:

Don´t tell me, she kicked you out again?

Craig:

I should be used to it by now.

Jane:

Maybe, if you stopped cheating on her ...

Craig:

But, I didn´t. Not this time, anyway. She found out that I helped Ellie out, even though I´m not supposed to see her anymore.

Spinner:

Says who?

Craig:

Manny. She got so hurt the last time, that I completely caved and agreed to everything she wanted from me.

Jane:

So, you didn´t do anything with her?

Craig:

Not unless you count helping her. She was writing an article about local one hit wonders and wanted an interview. Manny always thinks the worst, when it comes to me and Ellie.

Jane:

That sucks, man. Do you have any weed?

Craig:

No.

Spinner:

Well, do you have ten bucks, so I could go and buy some?

Craig gets thirty bucks out of his pocket and hands it to Spinner.

Craig:

Get some more beer too. I´m gonna need it tonight.

Spinner:

Nice!

He takes the money and heads out. Craig gets comfortable in an old arm chair. Jane lights a cigarette and takes a deep drag.

Craig:

What are we watching?

Jane:

Texas Chainsaw Massacre. We´re about half an hour in to it.

Craig:

Cool.

They watch as Leatherface smashes his hammer on top of a guy´s head and Jane laughs.

7. Int. TV Studio. Day.

J.T. Yorke (alive and well, since Manny and Emma never held the party, where he was murdered) is sitting in his chair getting ready to shoot his show. The audience rows are being filled up with happy little kids, who wave at him as they take their seats. He waves back to them with a big smile on his face. Manny eyes him proudly, as she walks over to him. He notices her and smiles.

J.T:

Manuella Santos. A vision as always!

Manny:

That never gets old to you, does it?

J.T:

No chance. You know, I talked to Toby yesterday.

Manny:

How´s he doing?

J.T:

Him and Liberty are expecting their second.

Manny:

Great for them. Can we talk in private? I kicked Craig out again.

J.T:

I´m about to shoot the show. How about, if we went out to dinner tonight?

Manny:

That would be nice, but the kids ...

J.T:

Are old enough, that they know how to order take out.

Manny:

Okay. Pick me up at 7?

J.T:

I won´t be late. Now, it´s showtime!

He steps out on to the stage and the kids cheer. Manny begins to leave, but takes one last look at him before she does so.

8. Int. Instrument Store. Day.

Craig is trying to sell a guitar to a twelve year old boy, who´s trying it out. It sounds awful to say the least, but Craig is trying his best to put on a straight face. The kid´s mother looks bored. The kid stops playing and Craig looks relieved.

Craig:

It sounds to me like a match made in heaven!

Boy:

Maybe I should try a different one.

Mother:

You´ve tried out six already. Now pick one!

Boy:

Then it´s gotta be this one. Did you really think it sounded good, when I played it, mister?

The kid looks up at him with an innocent and hopeful look. Craig (almost against his own will) nods.

Craig:

Yes, you did. But you still have a lot to learn.

Mother:

Let´s get this thing paid for, so we can get out of here.

Craig:

I´ll get the case for it.

He goes to look through a stack of guitar cases and feels woozy, when we bends over. He picks the case out and forces a smile.

Craig:

Here we go.

He places the guitar in the case and closes it. He rings in the sale.

Craig:

So, that´s 140 dollars.

The kid hands him a stack of notes and he counts them.

Craig:

That´s fine. Now all I have to say is , enjoy your new guitar!

Boy:

I will.

The boy happily grabs the guitar case and his mother shushes him out of the store as fast as possible. Craig goes to throw up in the personnel bathroom. Ashley Kerwin (who´s holding up rather well for her age) comes in to the store. She looks around at the instruments while she can hear him spewing. We hear the toilet flush and the sound of water coming out of the tap. He comes back out, looking a little better than he did before. She smiles at seeing him miserable.

Ashley:

Rough night?

He immediately cheers up a little at the sight of her.

Craig:

It´s great to see you, Ash.

Ashley:

Things with Manny on the rocks again?

Craig:

How did you know?

Ashley:

It´s the only time I see you looking this bad. But I have a proposition, that might cheer you up.

Craig:

I could use some of that.

Ashley:

I need a blues guitar player for a gig tonight. The guitar player in one of the bands I manage got arrested on a DWI last night. It´s a chance to get back on stage, if you want it.

Craig:

You know I´d love to, but what if Manny found out? I promised her that I´d leave the whole musician life behind, after I had that little Coke problem.

Ashley:

Are you gonna let her control your entire life?

Craig:

I have to try to make it work with her, for the kids. I´m not supposed to see you either, but since you´re in the store, I hope it´ll be okay with her.

Ashley:

You "Hope, It´ll be okay with her?". Can you even hear yourself right now?

Craig:

It´s not that easy, Ashley.

Ashley:

She doesn´t trust you and she never will again. It´s time you face it.

She hands him a piece of paper.

Ashley:

That´s the adress of the Bar. I´ll give you a few hours to think about it, but after that I´m finding someone else.

She leaves him and he looks at the piece of paper, she gave him.

8. Ext. Graveyard. Day

It´s a beutiful day and we see Sean Cameron sitting next to a grave, looking at a tombstone and holding a buket of flowers.

We see that the Tombstone reads:

EMMA NELSON

1989-2006

BELOVED DAUGHTER AND FRIEND

Manny, who´s also carrying flowers, sees him and is almost about to leave again, but decides to join him.

Manny:

I should have known, I´d find you here.

Sean:

It´s the one time a year, I come down to see it. Ain´t no way, I´m missing it this year.

Manny sits down next to him.

Manny:

So weird to think, that it´s already been 20 years. When I think about it, it still feels like it happened yesterday.

Sean:

I know what you mean. It took me years, before I stopped blaming myself.

Manny:

Have you stopped?

Sean:

No.

Manny:

Me neither.

The two smile sadly at each other.

Sean:

Why the hell didn´t we see, that the anorexia had driven her that far out?

Manny:

You know, it wasn´t just that. If she´d still felt like she had a friend left in the world, I´m sure she never would have eaten those pills that night. If I hadn´t been so wrapped up in my own problems with Craig and being a mom ...

Sean:

At least you were still in Toronto. I was worse, leaving her behind after what happened with Rick. I´ll never forget that day, when they told me. If only I´d gone down to see her, just once, I keep thinking that maybe I could have saved her.

Manny:

I may have been in Toronto, but I wasn´t much of a friend to her. After I had to drop out of school to start working, we only saw each other a few times a month at the most. When she took her own life, I´d been cut out of her life along with everyone else. Not that she had anyone, after she got expelled from school.

Sean:

Jay, that god damn asshole!

Manny:

If he hadn´t sold them to her, someone else would have. He did his time for it. Are you heading back soon or can you stay a bit?

Sean:

I don´t have anywhere, I need to be.

Manny:

Me neither.

They both put their flowers on the grave and sit in silence together.

9. Int. Spinner and Jane´s Apartment. Day.

Jane is lying on the couch, spaced out and half watching a soap opera, when there´s a loud bang on the door.

Jay (voice over):

Open up Jane, I know you´re in there.

Jane immediately goes in to panic mode.

Jane:

Oh, shit! Just a moment, Jay.

She gets up from the couch and turns off the TV. On the way to the door, she tries to make herself look a little better, but she still looks a mess. She opens the door and outside is Jay. He´s pumped up quite a bit since High School and now looks quite intimidating. His arms are pretty much completely covered in tattoos and he´s got a large one of a knife on his neck.

Jay:

It´s payment time.

Jane:

Look, Jay. I can have it for you tomorrow, I promise.

Jay:

I don´t care much about your promises. You know why? Because you never keep them!

He enters the apartment, closes and locks the door behind him. Jane is looking scared as hell.

Jay:

Do you have anything, you can sell?

Jane:

The TV maybe?

Jay:

That old piece of crap? You won´t get 10 bucks for it! You and Spinner both owe us a lot of money for drugs, so it´s gonna go one or two ways. Either you sell drugs for us, until you´ve worked it off or you sell yourself, until you´ve worked it off. What´s it gonna be?

Very unwillingly and crying her eyes out, she starts to undress herself.

Jay:

Not me, you idiot! You´re so disgusting, that I wouldn´t touch you if they paid me to. Report to Madam Sally tonight. She´ll make sure, we get our money and don´t cause trouble this time, I mean it.

Jane:

But that guy was ...

Jay:

I couldn´t care less, what he was. If you cause trouble, I´m taking it out on Spinner in blood.

Jane:

No, don´t hurt him! It´s not his fault, I´m so screwed up!

Jay:

At least you can see it yourself.

He leaves and moments later Craig comes in. He sees Jane crying and goes to comfort her.

Craig:

Did he hurt you?

Jane:

No, but I have to start hooking again to pay them off.

Craig:

How much do you owe them?

Jane:

600.

Craig:

Does Spinner know?

Jane:

No, he´s still working over time at the factory.

Craig:

Jane, I´m not letting them do this to you again. I saw how messed up it made you the last time.

Jane:

How are you gonna get 600 bucks by tonight?

Craig:

I´ve been offered a gig tonight. I could make some money that way. Maybe, if I talked to him, I could take over part of the debt or something. It´s not a huge amount of money.

Jane:

Craig, don´t! You´re the most decent person, I know and I´m not letting you ruin your life. Once you start owing these people, they´ll never let you go!

Craig:

What about your brother?

Jane:

He´s in lock up. He beat the shit out of Mia again. Some brother, huh?

Craig:

First thing I´m doing, is call up Ashley to tell her, I´m playing that gig. We´ll get though this, but after that, I´m helping you get the help, you need.

Jane:

You´re not the incest victim here, Craig. You don´t know what it´s like.

Craig:

I´m bi-polar and my dad took all his frustrations out on me with his fists. We´re not that different.

He gives her a hug and she cries in his arms.

10. Int. Craig and Manny´s House. Evening.

Emma is doing her homework at the kitchen table, while Manny is cooking. Emma looks worried and has trouble concentrating.

Emma:

Hey, mom?

Manny:

What is it, honey?

Emma:

Can I ask you like, a woman´s question? I know it´s not something we do a lot.

Manny:

Of course.

She stops cooking and turns to look at her.

Emma:

Well, there´s this friend of mine and her period is late this month. As in really late.

Manny:

How late are we talking here?

Emma:

8 days.

Manny:

Then I´m pretty sure your friend is pregnant.

She goes back to her cooking. Emma holds her head in her hands, whispering "no, no, no!" to herself.

Manny:

Did you say anything else?

Emma:

No, mom.

Emma tries to look like she´s studying, but once Manny´s back is turned she fights not to cry.

The doorbell sounds. Manny goes to answer it. Emma looks like she´s on the verge of a breakdown, but bravely fights it. Manny comes back in with a very well dressed JT.

J.T:

Hey, Emma. How´s life treating ya?

Emma:

Oh, you know. Same old,same old. Lots of school and studying. That stuff.

Manny:

I´m just glad, you´re not a party animal like your sister was. You´re the good one!

She gives her a hug and Emma´s a little embarrassed.

Emma:

Mom!

Manny:

No, I mean it. You should see her report cards. I´m so proud of her!

J.T. can´t help smiling at the mother/daughter bonding.

J.T:

We should get going, if were gonna make our reservation.

Manny:

Okay, so all you have to do is let it simmer for 5 more minutes and then it´s ready. Can you handle that?

Emma:

I´ll manage. Have a good time tonight, mom. You deserve it.

Manny:

Now, don´t spend all the evening studying. There are other things in life, you know? And make sure your brother eats something too.

Emma:

I will.

They leave and Emma goes to stare at the food, while she´s stirring it. Shortly after we hear the door close, she starts to cry. Albert comes down from his room upstairs.

Albert:

Are they gone? Hey, what´s the matter?

Emma:

I messed up really bad, Albert.

Albert:

You? The girl, who´s never done anything wrong in her life?

Emma:

I´m pregnant.

Albert:

Oh, Em. I´m sorry. Who´s the dad?

Emma:

I don´t know his name. I get drunk and high at one party and this happens to me!

Albert:

Have you told mom?

Emma:

I can´t! You should have seen her just now, how proud she is of me. You can´t tell her either!

Albert:

Em, you know I won´t, if you don´t want me to.

She tries to stop crying in to the food, but can´t.

Albert:

If you keep crying in to it, you´ll make it too salty.

Emma can´t help but laugh a little bit and stops crying. The two siblings look at each other with sympathy.

Emma:

I´m completely lost right now.

Albert:

We´ll get through this together. It´s what we always do, right?

The two of them hug.

11. Int. Tarrello´s. Evening.

The band (a four-piece with a drummer, a bass player, Craig and another guitar player) is holding it´s soundcheck and are jamming. Craig looks like he´s enjoying playing again and it sounds great. Ashley looks at him from the bar with a glass of wine and is enjoying what she´s seeing and hearing. The bartender is clearly digging it too. When they finish, Ashley and the bartender applauds them.

Ashley:

I´d say you´re good to go right now!

Bartender:

I wish we had music like that in here every night.

Craig smiles at the praise and the other band members fist bump with him.

Drummer:

That was cool, man.

Ashley comes up to the stage and Craig packs down his guitar.

Ashley:

I can pay you up front, if you need it.

Craig:

How much am I making?

Ashley:

60 bucks. But if you play well tonight, I´m sure they´d want you to join them permanently. They´re still new, but I´ve got big hopes for them. You could be the final piece of the puzzle.

Craig:

That all sounds great, but there´s a reality to deal with here, too. I just hope I´ll get through tonight and Manny never finds out about it.

Ashley:

If you really need money that bad, I´ll lend you some. Just tell me what you need it for.

Craig:

A girl.

Ashley can´t help smiling to herself.

Craig:

She´s not someone, who I´m romantic with in any way. But she needs 600 dollars to pay a guy, a really bad guy, she owes it to by tonight.

Ashley:

Or what?

Craig:

Or he´s gonna make her prostitute herself at a brothel, unti the money´s been repaid.

Ashley´s smile disappears and a look of sympathy comes over her in stead.

Ashley:

Oh, my god!

Craig:

She´s someone who´s never had it easy. She´s an incest victim as well. If you could lend it to me, I assure you, I´ll pay you back as soon as I can.

Ashley:

We´ll go to an ATM right now. Don´t worry about paying me back. After hearing that, how could I not want to help this girl?

Craig:

She needs a lot more help after that, too.

Ashley:

Craig, now that you´ve told me about this, I feel like I have to help her. Does she have drug problems?

Craig:

She does.

Ashley:

Then we have to get her in rehab. Do you think she´ll go willingly?

Craig:

I´m sure she will. She wants to change, but life has just been pretty hopeless for her and Spinner these last years.

Ashley:

Spinner´s her boyfriend? I haven´t seen him since High School.

Craig:

He´s still a good guy, he just never grew up. He loves her to bits, but I´m not sure he´s the right person to help her.

Ashley:

You´re not worried that Manny will see us together?

Craig:

This is a girl´s life, we´re talking about. I´ll deal with Manny, if I have to.

12. Int. Restaurant. Evening.

This a fancy place, J. T has taken her to! Even though she´s dressed in the best clothes she owns, she still looks underdressed compared to everyone else. She´s almost flustered at being in such a fancy place and J.T can see it on her face. He pours both of them a glass of champagne and they smile at each other. They taste it and Manny smiles at how good it is.

J.T:

Not used to being out among the fancy folk?

Manny:

Is it that obvious?

J.T:

They´re all just flesh, blood, skin and bones like the rest of us.

Manny:

This is a lot more your scene, than it is mine.

J.T:

Not really. It was for all my three ex-wiwes, though.

Manny:

So, are you hoping that fourth time´s a charm?

J.T:

If there is gonna be a next time, I´d have to be 100 percent sure. It´s not exactly great PR for a children´s presenter to get divorced over and over again.

Manny:

I guess not. I bet they didn´t come cheap, either.

J.T:

Not in any way! But compared to if I had to pay chlld support on top of it, I got off pretty easy.

Manny:

But it´s like the weirdest thing about you. You love kids, but you´ve never had any of your own.

J.T:

I think it´s because I was never really sure with any of them. When my parents got divorced, it was rough as hell on me. I don´t want to put them through that.

Manny:

My dad still won´t talk to me. 24 years and not a word.

J.T:

This isn´t a night for feeling down. That´s not what cheering up is all about!

Manny:

You´re right. Let´s live a little tonight!

She has another sip of champagne and lets out a loud "Mmm" afterwards.

Manny:

I don´t care if they think, I´m lowbrow. That´s so good, it deserved it!

J.T:

Maybe after dinner, we could go check out some live music. There´s a band playing at a bar called Tarrello´s, that a guy from work recommended I check out.

Manny:

Sounds great!

The waiter comes to bring them their menus.

13. Int. Spinner and Jane´s Apartment. Evening.

Spinner and Jane are sitting on the couch, holding each other. Ashley prefers to stand, while Craig sits on the armchair.

Spinner:

I still can´t believe that bastard came her again and threatened you. To think, that he used to be my friend.

Jane:

That´s all gonna be behind us soon, Spin. Thanks to Craig and this woman. I have no idea how to thank you.

Ashley:

You can thank me, by letting me take you to rehab tomorrow morning.

Jane:

Seriously?

Spinner:

You know that we can´t afford to pay for it, right?

Ashley:

Don´t worry about it. I´m finding a way to pay for it. I know a lot of people with fat wallets in the entertainment industry. If you let me tell them your story, I can raise the money in no time.

Jane:

Are you an angel?

Jane gets up off the couch and gives Ashley a big hug. Spinner and Craig look happy too.

Ashley:

This means, you´ll have to straighten up too, Spinner. She can´t do this alone.

Spinner:

Don´t worry about that. I´ll go pay off Jay right now.

Jane finally breaks her hug with Ashley and gives him a big kiss before he leaves with a big, goofy smile on her face. Jane couldn´t look happier.

14. Int. Tarrello´s. Evening.

Tarrello´s is pretty full with people waiting for the concert to start. J.T. and Manny are trying to make their way to the bar, when Manny almost bumps in to Maya, carrying beers in her hands and trying to find her friends.

Maya:

I´m so sorry.

Manny:

That´s okay. It´s not like you spilled on me.

We cut to a table, where Zig and Tiny are sitting.

Zig:

Maya!

Maya smiles.

Maya:

You guys have a great concert!

Manny:

You, too.

Maya comes over to the table and gives Zig a kiss, before sitting down next to him. They look very happy together. We cut back to Manny and J.T.

Manny:

What a sweet girl!

As they make their way to the bar, Manny spots Ellie Nash, who´s absolutely stunning to look at and frowns.

Manny:

Maybe we should go somewhere else.

J.T:

She´s a music writer. My guess is she´s here to cover the concert.

Manny:

You´re right. In many ways she´s the victim of Craig´s cheating with her as much as I am. Maybe if he hadn´t, she would have got over him and found the one.

J.T:

She still looks very much alive to me. Someone who looks like her, shouldn´t have problems finding someone.

Manny:

You don´t know her. She´s the ultimate romantic and she always will be. Oh, no.

Ellie has spotted them and is heading towards them with a smile on her face.

Ellie:

Hello, Manny.

Manny:

Ellie.

Ellie:

Who´s your friend?

J.T:

You don´t know, who I am?

Ellie:

Should I?

Manny:

He´s one of Canada´s most beloved children´s presenters on TV.

Ellie:

Well, that´s probably why. I can´t say, that I watch a lot of kid´s TV.

J.T:

You don´t have any of your own?

Ellie:

No, but I´d love to someday. So, are you excited?

Manny:

I guess. I´ve never heard them before, but J.T´s heard good things about them.

Ellie:

Yeah, but we both know that you´re here for their new guitar player.

Manny looks at J.T. with a perplexed look on her face as he hands her a drink.

15. Int. Back Room at Tarrello´s. Evening.

The rest of the band is waiting impatienty, when Ashley and Craig come in.

Ashley:

We had some business to attend to.

The bass player and the other guitar player smile at each other.

Guitar Player:

I bet it was real urgent.

Bass Payer:

Yeah, it must have been a very pressing engagement.

Ashley:

Ha, ha, dumbasses! Get out there!

The rest of the band get up and leave the room. Ashley holds Craig back.

Ashley:

You´re still a great guy, Craig. Remember that out on stage tonight.

The two smile at each other and Craig heads out on stage.

16. Int. Tarrello´s. Evening.

Most of the band has come on stage and the crowd is applauding. When Craig comes on stage, we see Manny looking upset. J.T. is very surprised, too.

Manny:

Can we go?

Ellie:

How can you leave? This is the best night ever. He´s finally back, where he belongs.

The band starts of with Led Zeppelin´s "Moby Dick" and they´re cooking. Manny sees how happy Craig is to be back in his element and can´t help smiling. Ellie´s enormous enthusiasm is rubbing off on her as well. J.T. is just happy that Manny is and is enjoying the music. From the side of the stage, we see Ashley looking proudly at her band.

17. Int. Back Room at Tarrello´s. Evening.

Craig, Ashley and the rest of the band are relaxing after the show. Craig can´t stop smiling. A waitress comes in.

Waitress:

Craig Manning?

Craig:

Yeah?

Waitress:

Your wife wants to talk to you.

Craig´s smile goes away in an instant.

Craig:

Ash, what do I tell her?

Ashley:

The truth.

18. Int. Tarrello´s. Evening.

Craig comes out with an apologetic look on his face. Manny eyes him with a small smile on her face.

Manny:

I should be so mad at you right now. You played a gig. Ellie was here.

Craig:

I had no idea that she was, I swear!

Manny:

She stood next to me the entire time. You guys played one hell of a show.

Craig:

We weren´t that great. We messed up a little bit a few times, but considering that the only other time I´ve played with them was the soundcheck.

Manny:

I can´t wait to hear what you sound like next time.

Craig:

Well, first I have to tell you something. Ashley´s their manager.

Manny:

Ashley Kerwin?

Craig:

Yeah.

Manny:

Wow. I haven´t seen her in what, 22, 23 years.

Craig:

I know, I´m not supposed to talk to her.

Manny:

You can talk to Ashley. What do I care?

Craig:

But you said ...

Manny:

Craig, I was 14 when I told you that. There is a statute of limitations on these things.

Craig:

Can I go and tell them?

Manny:

You can call them, when we get home. Let´s get out of here, Mr. Rockstar!

Craig:

Shouldn´t you say goodbye to Ellie first?

Manny:

Nah.

We see Ellie and J.T. enjoying each other´s company a lot.

Manny:

I´m sure, she´ll be alright.

We begin to pan out. Manny and Craig make their way to the door.

Manny:

So have you done anything special since last night?

Craig:

I saw the last hour of Texas Chainsaw Massacre.

Manny:

Cool.

Craig:

Then today, me and Ashley probably saved Spinner´s girlfriend´s life.

Manny:

I have got to hear that story on the ride.

As we pan out, we slowly fade to:

19. Int. Tent. Morning.

Eddy is already up as Manny awakens.

Eddy:

I´m sorry, did I wake you up?

Manny looks a little woozy, as she tries to wake up.

20. Ext. Forest. Morning.

Spinner is working hard on making breakfast for everyone, while Eddy is doing streches with his bad arm. Paige and Manny are seated around the fireplace from the night before.

Manny:

It was all so vivid, you wouldn´t believe it! It was litterally like the whole dream was a TV show!

Paige:

Okay.

Manny:

Me and Craig had the baby and the chain reaction to it all. I can´t even begin to explain it. The crazy thing is that I remember it all perfectly clearly. I usually forget my dreams very quickly.

Paige:

Was I in it?

Manny:

No, but Spinner was. He was this goofy punk living with a girl named Jane.

Paige:

We´ve got two more whole days of doing nothing up here, hun. I need to know all the details, you can remember.

Manny:

Well, it started with me and Craig having to tell our three kids, that I´d kicked him out again for cheating on me.

Paige:

Even in your dreams, he couldn´t stay faithful to you, huh?

CLOSING CREDITS

Author´s note: I hope you enjoyed reading it. I´d really love your comments on this one, especially since it´s so different from the rest of the series (which I always appreciate you comments on as well). Tell me what you liked and disliked about it. Did you think I was way off or spot on with how the characters would have turned out? The big question of course, is would you like a continuation? When I hit 10 reviews, I´ll start writing it. How about that? I´ll answer every review that I can, but in order for me to do that, you have to be logged in, when you leave the review. No matter what, I´d love to hear your thoughts on it.

Here´s my version of the Chain Reaction that followed for the various characters, after they had the baby.

Manny: This I thought was pretty well explained. She had to drop out of school to start working and the only old friend she has left is JT. She never got to go to LA or be in the Jay and Silent Bob movie, since she was busy being a young mom.

Craig: Because he was under Manny´s thumb and she was so afraid of losing him, his music career never really took off.

Spinner and Jane: Because Craig wasn´t busy with Ashley all the time, Downtown Sasquatch became a lot more serious. Therefore Jimmy´s sports knowledge suffered and Snake didn´t pick him for the team. Subsequently he never got to know Rick Murray and he never got shot. Spinner therefore never got caught for the prank and never learned from it. That´s why he never really grew up. He would still get together with Jane (given their similar personalities), but would have been a much different couple. Because he hadn´t grown up as much, he never had it in him to support Jane properly after she found out about the incest. Therefore she let it ruin her life.

Emma: This one is tragic. When she lost Manny as a friend, she also lost someone who was vital to her in both getting over the Rick Murray incident and her anorexia. Without Manny, she never would have regained control again, which is what led to her untimely death.

Jay: Jay got sent to jail for selling the pills to Emma. Therefore he never had the positive influences in his life, that helped him to become a better person.

J.T/Liberty/Toby: Seeing that Emma was falling apart and Manny was having it tough, he would have stayed a true friend to them. He therefore didn´t have time to get together with Liberty (or get her pregnant) and so Toby swept in and stole her away in stead, after Liberty had given up on J.T.

Ashley: A lot of people rag on Ashley, because she wasn´t always the nicest to her boyfriends, but she was a very caring person. I could easily see her in this kind of role in her future life, if she hadn´t had Craig holding her back and making her hate Toronto.

Maya: The day where Maya saw Eddy with another girl (as mentioned in episode 1. That girl was Manny) he now was alone and she had the guts to go over and talk to him. They stayed friends and that event prevented the downfall in her life and she retuned to Toronto a normal person. After getting back, she got together with Zig again.