AMY´S CREEK - S01E13 - MY FIRST CHRISTMAS
Disclaimer: I don´t own Dawson´s Creek or the characters from it.
Author´s Note: Merry Christmas to all of you and your loved ones. I hope you have a great one and I´ll be back with more episodes for you in 2021!
1. Int. Ash´s Room. Evening.
Aisha is helping Ash wrap Christmas presents. They´re both enjoying it.
Aisha (voice over):
There´s a few Christians here and there in the middle east, but I don´t know anyone there, who has celebrated Christmas before. Here it´s a big deal and I´m loving all of it! Me and my brother have even been invited to our first Christmas party.
Ash:
Don´t you have your own version of Christmas?
Aisha:
There´s Eid, which is a bit like it. You give presents or money to the children to celebrate the end of the Ramadan on the first day of Shawwâl.
Ash:
That´s a whole lot of very foreign words! This must seem a little weird to you too.
Aisha:
No, I love it. I don´t know if I´m in the Christmas spirit, but I´m looking forward to it.
Ash:
That´s pretty much the Christmas spirit right there!
The two girls smile at each other.
Aisha (voice over):
Ash has been so nice to us, ever since we got here. It makes me feel guilty for having a crush on her boyfriend. It´s an impossible romance anyway, so I might as well forget about it. There´s no way that my brother or the other ones we came with will accept me dating a non-muslim.
Ash:
Is also the season of showing love, if you didn´t know it.
Aisha:
Is that why there´s all those romantic comedies based around Christmas?
Ash:
Exactly. There´s something about this time of year, that makes people want to have someone. Do you have your eyes on someone?
Aisha:
There´s one, I wouldn´t mind dating, but it´s not in the cards.
Ash:
Never say never. I didn´t think a year ago, that I´d have a boyfriend. Now look at us.
Aisha:
I´ll never find anyone like that, I don´t think.
Ash:
What about the one, you wouldn´t mind dating?
Aisha:
He has a girlfriend, plus he´s not a muslim, so dating him wouldn´t be Haram.
Ash:
I don´t want to offend you, but you´re in America now. Over here we date who we want to, whether they´re Buddhist, Muslims, Hindus or whatever. If he likes you and you like him, that´s all you need to get started. People will accept more than you think, if you give them the chance to.
Aisha nods in understanding.
Aisha (voice over):
She wouldn´t be saying this, if she knew, who I have a crush on!
OPENING CREDITS
2. Ext. Street. Morning.
Aisha is walking to school with her brother Asad.
Aisha (voice over):
I just wish, I could get Asad to open up to new experiences. He´s decided not to go, but it would be good for him, if he did. It hasn´t been easy to fit in over here and he´s only making it harder for himself, by closing himself off.
Aisha:
You still haven´t changed your mind?
Asad:
No and I don´t think you should go either. It´s a Christian holiday ...
Aisha:
And we´re not Christians. You´ve said it dozens of times. No one says, that we have to go to church or anything like that. For what I´ve heard, to most people, it´s about having fun with their familes and friends, more than it´s about religion.
Asad:
You don´t want to go, because a certain boy will be there?
She gets shy and he can´t help smiling at it.
Aisha:
I don´t know ...
Asad:
Aisha, I know you better than anyone. It´s pretty obvious.
Aisha:
I want to go there to broaden my mind and enjoy myself. If he happens to be there ...
Asad:
Which you know, he will.
Aisha:
If he happens to be there, then I´ll talk to him and that´s it. He already has a girlfriend, if you didn´t notice it. Plus, there´s that other problem.
Asad:
I won´t mind, if that´s what you´re afraid of.
Aisha:
You don´t think, the others will?
Asad:
If they do, then so what? The only one, who decides over you is yourself. I just want to see you happy.
Aisha smiles to herself.
Aisha (voice over):
Maybe he won´t mind, but Ash will. It would be better, if tried to forget about it.
They come up to the school.
3. Int. Classroom. Day.
Aisha is helping Max find a present for Ash on-line, but it´s hard.
Max:
I can´t afford anything nice for her.
Aisha:
It doesn´t have to be an expensive present, as long as it comes from the heart.
Max:
What´s the best present, a boyfriend has got for you?
Aisha:
I haven´t had any boyfriends. There´s the guy, I was arranged to be married to, but he´s probably still in Syria.
Max looks at her with sympathy.
Max:
I´m sorry. Arranged marriages shouldn´t be happening in this day and age.
Aisha:
His dad gave my parents a goat, so I guess, it´s fair.
Max looks shocked. Aisha smiles at him.
Aisha:
You people are so easy to fool! It was 3 goats.
Max:
Three goats is all you´re worth to them?
Aisha:
I´m pulling your leg! It´s not that they don´t happen, but it´s not in every family, that it´s like that. You really need to stop with your pre-conceptions. Just because there were a few things, I didn´t like, doesn´t mean that I had a bad life. It was just different from living here.
Max:
At least you didn´t have to worry about the Christmas gift race. If get her a gift, that she doesn´t like, then I could easily be single by January.
Aisha thinks to herself, as he studies the pictures on his phone.
Aisha (voice over):
Do I dare to?
Aisha:
How about we go shopping after school? I´ll help you pick something out for her, that she´ll like.
He looks grateful.
Max:
That would be great. I´m completely clueless, when it comes to this stuff.
Aisha:
You´re welcome. That´s what friends are for, right?
Aisha (voice over):
Either that or stealing their boyfriends.
She smiles, but clearly feels a little guilty over it.
4. Int. Cafeteria. Day.
Aisha and Ash are sitting across from each other, haven just gotten their lunch.
Aisha (voice over):
Step 1. Do some research.
Aisha:
What are you getting Max for Christmas?
Ash:
It´s a hand sewn My Chemical Romance hoodie.
Aisha looks confused.
Aisha:
A what?
Ash:
It´s a band, that he really likes.
Aisha:
Oh!
Aisha (voice over):
Mental note: Keep that in mind for later.
Ash:
Are you getting him anything?
Aisha:
I sort of owe him one, but I can´t afford to.
Ash:
That´s fine. As long as you´re there with a big smile on your face, then no one will mind.
Ash smiles at her, but Aisha has to force a smile back at her.
Aisha:
If you could pick any gift for him to give you, what would it be?
Ash:
He doesn´t have to get me anything.
Aisha:
I thought that these gifts were a big deal to you.
Ash:
He gives me the gift of being there for me every day. It would be nice, if he got me something, but I won´t get mad at him, if he doesn´t.
Aisha tries to hide her frustration.
Aisha:
What would be the worst gift, he could give you?
Ash thinks about it for a second.
Ash:
Probably if he got me something, that´s the opposite, of what I like.
Aisha:
For instance?
Ash:
Don´t tell him, but I don´t like the same music he does. I pretend I do to keep him happy, but it´s way too angry for me.
Aisha:
Interesting.
Aisha considers it. Ash looks surprised at her response.
Ash:
Interesting how?
Aisha (voice over):
Whoops!
Aisha:
Interesting just because you´re interesting!
Ash:
Well, you´re interesting too.
Ash smiles at her.
Aisha (voice over):
This would be so much easier, if she was a mean girl!
Max and Asad come over to join them.
5. Int. Department Store. Day.
Max and Aisha are looking through the store for a present for Ash. They come to the perfume section.
Max:
This could be a hit.
Aisha:
Does she wear perfume? I haven´t smelled it on her.
Max:
I guess not. This is a great advertisement for staying single!
Aisha can´t help smiling at him.
Aisha:
It´s not impossible to find a good gift for her. What would you want, for example?
Max:
I´m not her.
Aisha:
No, but you´re not too different from each other, are you?
Max:
I guess not. If it was me, I´d love to get the latest Cradle of Filth album, but I don´t think, that´s her style.
Aisha (voice over):
This is it, Aisha. Are you gonna stay good and single, or try to get the boy?
She takes a moment to consider it, before deciding.
Aisha:
She told me, that she really likes them.
Max looks surprised.
Max:
She did? I didn´t think, it was her style.
Aisha:
She told me, that you´ve opened your eyes to how great they are.
Max still doesn´t look completely convinced, but buys it.
Max:
If you say so. It would make this a lot easier, if I could just buy her a CD.
Aisha:
She´ll love it and it´ll show, that you know how to read between the lines. Most guys aren´t exactly good at that.
Max:
Me neither. I´m glad, that I brought you along, or I never would have guessed it. To the music section, then.
They head for the music section. Aisha tries to look happy with her decision.
Aisha (voice over):
Why did you say that? There´s no turning back now.
6. Int. Food Court. Day.
Max and Aisha are enjoying a soda, now that his shopping is done.
Aisha (voice over):
I gave him the worst advice and he buys me a soda as thanks. I wonder if he´ll still talk to me, after she´s dumped him.
Max:
Maybe I should buy a back up present, in case the first one doesn´t work.
Aisha:
You really want to make her happy, don´t you?
Max:
I´ve never had a girlfriend at Christmas before. I want to make sure, that she´s happy with me.
Aisha:
You´re a good boyfriend. I wish, I had one like that.
Max smiles at her.
Max:
You can find someone, if you want to.
Aisha:
I don´t just want to find someone. I want to find the right one. Why did you fall for Ash?
Max:
I don´t know. Because she´s Ash, I guess.
Aisha:
That´s a pretty bad answer!
Max takes a moment to consider it.
Max:
It´s not just that she´s pretty. She´s different, you know? In the good way.
Aisha:
I think, I understand. What could you fall for in say me, for instance? It would be nice to know, if I´m gonna find one of my own.
Max:
You´re kind and you care about people. When I talk to you, I feel like I have no reason to think that you´re playing games with me, like a lot of other girls would. If I wasn´t with Ash ...
He doesn´t complete the sentence, but it still makes her smile.
Aisha:
You would give me a chance?
Max:
In a second. You´re what we call a catch, Aisha. Any guy would be lucky to call you his girlfriend.
Aisha looks pleased.
Aisha (voice over):
At least you stand a chance. Would it feel right though? That´s the big question.
7. Ext. Street. Evening.
Aisha and Asad are coming up to Pacey and Joey´s house. Ausha looks worried.
Aisha (voice over):
I almost wish, I´d stayed at home. Being a boyfriend stealer just isn´t in me. At least, I convinced to Asad to come.
Asad:
What´s the matter?
Aisha:
I gave Max some terrible advice.
Asad:
He´ll forgive you, if you explain it to him. Everyone can make mistakes.
Aisha:
This one was on purpose.
Asad:
Why did you do that?
Aisha:
I was trying to break him and Ash up, so he would choose me.
Asad looks disappointed in her.
Asad:
That´s not like you, Aisha.
Aisha:
I´ve never had a crush like this before. If it´s any consolation, I feel really bad about it.
Asad:
You should. There´s no other choice, except to make it right with them.
Aisha:
You´re gonna say, that I should come clean, aren´t you?
Asad:
I know you better than anyone and we both know, that it´s gonna eat you up inside, if you don´t.
Aisha:
I guess so. I want to be his girlfriend. but not like this.
Asad:
If it´s meant to be, then it will happen sooner or later.
Aisha (voice over):
I hate it, when he´s clearly right! There´s nothing for it. It´s come clean time.
They come up to the door and knock on it. Joey (dressed in the most "Mom Like" Christmas sweater imaginable) opens the door.
Joey:
Hi guys! We´re glad, you came.
Aisha:
We´re just happy to be invited.
Joey:
No sweat! Any friend of Amy´s, is a friend of ours.
She lets them in.
8. Int. Joey and Pacey´s House. Evening.
There´s lots of people at the party. Joey is trying to explain Christmas traditions to Aisha and Asad as she shows them the decorations.
Joey:
Most of these go back to old times. The Christmas tree became a regular thing in the 1800´s and the idea of Santa Claus, or Saint Nick as he´s also called, goes way back to Saint Nicholas of Myra, who gave gifts to the poor back in 4th century Greece.
Aisha sees mistletoe hanging from the ceiling.
Aisha:
What about those branches? Is it just because they´re pretty, that you hang them?
Joey:
According to the old rules, you can kiss anyone, if they´re under the mistletoe, as it´s called.
Asad:
You don´t have to ask permission first?
Joey:
That would probably be a good idea in this day and age!
Aisha:
So, if I was to stand here ...
She stands under the mistletoe.
Aisha:
All I have to do is wait for someone to come along and I`m sure to get a kiss?
Joey:
In theory. But you wouldn´t want just anyone to kiss you, would you?
Ash and Max come over to them.
Ash:
Look, who´s under the mistletoe.
Max:
Do you know what it means, when you stand under it?
Aisha:
Joey just explained it to us. I could probably stand here all night and still not get a kiss.
Ash motions to Max to kiss her.
Max:
You can have one from me, if you want it?
Ash:
But only on the cheek.
Aisha:
Alright.
He kisses her on the cheek and she looks pleased.
Ash:
Everyone should get at least one kiss for Christmas.
Asad:
You are so sweet! Isn´t she just the best ever, Aisha?
Aisha feels guilty, but tries her best to hide it.
Aisha:
She is. You two make a great couple.
Max puts his arm around Ash and kisses her on the cheek.
Joey:
You remind me of me and Pacey back in the day.
Asad:
How old were you, when you became a couple?
Joey:
That´s a complicated question.
Ash:
Say, if you counted from your first kiss.
Joey smiles, when thinking back on it.
Joey:
Our first kiss was as far from a success, at it could be. I was still too hung up on another guy at the time and it didn´t go anywhere. I´d rather count it from our second one, when we were 16.
Aisha:
That young?
Joey:
Well, it only lasted a year or so the first time. The second time was even shorter, until the third time was the one that stuck. We were 23 by that point.
Ash:
We plan on staying together forever.
Joey:
Doesn´t every teenage couple? For us, that time in between ended up being what we needed to stay together, when we finally made the big decision. I hope that you´ll last, but having some extra relationship experience for when it becomes serious, can only be an advantage. If you´ll excuse me, I have some cookies in the oven to check on.
Joey leaves them and they try to take it in.
Max:
Maybe we should just break up now and wait eight years, until we try again.
Ash:
I´m not giving you up that easy! I couldn´t wait eight second to kiss you right now, let alone eight years!
They kiss and Aisha looks away from them, over at Pacey, who´s talking to Dougie and Jack.
Aisha (voice over):
So in fact, it would be better for them, if I came between them? No, don´t even think it, Aisha! Stick to the truth, like you planned to!
She looks torn between her choices.
9. Ext. Joey and Pacey´s House.
Max and Ash are taking a break from the party, when Aisha comes out to them.
Aisha:
Were about to play the present game, whatever that is.
Ash:
It´s basically where you win presents.
Aisha:
That figures, I suppose.
They´re about to head inside, when Aisha stops them.
Aisha:
Can I talk to you for a second?
Max:
Two even.
Ash:
What is it?
Aisha:
This isn´t easy for me to say, but I gave Max some terrible gift advice and lied to him. I told him, that you like a band called Cradle of Filth and I don´t even know, what their music sounds like.
Max:
Why did you lie to me?
Aisha:
Because I like you.
Ash and Max don´t know quite how to react.
Max:
I had no idea.
Aisha:
Because I don´t want to get in your way. You were together, before we came here, so I´ll try my best to forget about it, okay?
Ash:
I should be really mad at you right now.
Aisha looks apologetic.
Aisha:
It´s okay, if you are. We can leave, if you don´t want us here.
Ash:
However, you were honest about it, which I respect. You also saved me, from having to listen to a lot of music I don´t like, so I I`ll give you a pass on this one.
Max:
Cradle of Filth isn´t to your liking? What a shocker!
Ash:
Sorry, Hon.
Aisha looks pleased.
Aisha:
Thanks. I´m sorry, Max.
Max:
Apology accepted. It still leaves me a gift short, though.
Ash:
I´ll settle for a kiss.
Max:
That I can handle.
They kiss and look very much in love.
Aisha (voice over):
Did I do the right thing? I suppose that Asad is right. If it´s meant to be, then it will happen sooner or later.
10. Int. Joey and Pacey´s House. Evening.
Dice are being rolled and everyone´s enjoying themselves playing the game. Aisha rolls a 6 and picks the biggest present, she could find.
Pacey:
No one says, that the biggest one is always the best.
Aisha:
You´ve already given us the biggest present you could, by inviting us to come here.
Asad:
I don´t know what I pictured, but this has been a nice evening.
Joey:
If you want to know what Christmas is really about, it´s this. Spending time with family and friends and enjoying each other´s company.
Pacey:
I couldn´t have said it better myself.
Aisha looks at them and smiles to herself.
Aisha (voice over):
Love is a complicated thing. Just look at those two and all they had to go through to get each other. At the end of the day, it´s all about the end result. Max is with Ash now and if they somehow make it, then I´ll be happy for them. Chances are that they won´t and when and if that happens, then I can try my luck with him again. For now, I´ll be happy to wait and feel good about the kind of person I am. Some people can go throught their lives living from one lie to another and I don´t want that to be me. As for this crazy thing called Christmas, I would say that we had a really good first one, even if we don´t have anything else to compare it to. To some people it´s probably about the religious message more than anything else and celebrating the birth of their savior is as big a deal to them, as it is to us, when we celebrate the prophet. To everyone else, it´s about celebrating this special time of year, with the people they love. There can never be anything wrong with that.
The buzzer goes off and Joey turns it off.
Joey:
Time to see, what we got!
They unwrap their presents and Aisha got a tiny plastic Christmas tree, that she looks pleased with.
Pacey:
Aww! Your first Christmas tree!
Joey:
It still counts, even if it´s a small one.
Aisha:
It´s the perfect memento, to remember this night by.
Aisha (voice over)
With that, the only thing left is to wish the entire world a very merry Christmas!
CLOSING CREDITS