DEGRASSI: GLORY DAYS - S02E16 - HELL AIN´T A BAD PLACE TO BE

DISCLAIMER: I DON´T OWN DEGRASSI

Author´s Note: This episode took a while to get written, because I´ve been working on a special Christmas present for all you old school Degrassi fans, that I think, you´ll like. I hope, that you and your loved ones all doing good out there. On another note, it seems like many of you missed episode 14 of the season, probably because I released it on the same day as an episode of Aftermath. If you haven´t read it, I suggest you do . In my own opinion, it´s one of my best.

1. Int. Auditorium. Evening.

Tif is performing "You´re the One That I want", the final number of their production of "Grease", with the other cast members. She´s having the time of her life playing Rizzo.

2. Ext. Degrassi. Evening.

Tif and Carl come out and meet up with Artie, Amber and Samira.

Tif:

I wasn´t expecting you, to wait for me.

Amber:

We felt like, we had to say goodbye in fashion.

Artie:

After all, there wouldn´t have been a play, if it wasn´t for you.

Samira:

Believe it or not, we are actually gonna miss you a whole lot, while you´re away.

Artie:

FIRE IT UP, BARR!

We see Barry setting off several pieces of fireworks, that they´ve set up. It´s a beautiful spectacle and Tif gets emotional with joy, as she watches it, while Carl holds her.

3. Int. Car. Day.

Tif is being driven up to the home, that she´ll be staying at until after the baby is born by the family´s maid. They´re rocking out hard to "Treat Her Right" by Roy Head, playing from the radio, as if Tif knows, that this will be her last chance to for a while.

Tif (singing):

Hey, hey, hey, hey!

Hey, hey, hey, hey!

The song ends and she blows the hair out of her eyes.

Maid:

Did you get in out of your system?

Tif:

I´m ready for whatever, they´ll throw at me!

She looks determined.

4. Ext. Gate. Day.

We see their car driving through the gates to "The Church´s Home For Expecting Girls".

OPENING CREDITS.

5. Int. Corridor. Day.

Tif is being led through the bleak corridors by Sister Mary, a strict looking nun. She has a small suitcase with her.

Mary:

Lights out are at ten. ANY tomfoolery WILL be punished. Speaking out of turn in class WILL be punished and if you cause any kind of trouble, it will be SEVERELY PUNISHED!

Tif:

What can I do, that won´t get me punished?

Mary:

A comedian, eh?

Tif:

I was just wondering.

Mary stops walking and looks Tif in the eyes.

Mary:

You´re here because your sinning ways have led you astray. We will teach you to respect God and the body, he saw fit to give you. This isn´t the cushy life, you came from. Around here, life is about discipline and strict obedience!

Tif manages to hold her tongue, even if it´s hard for her. She follows Mary up the corridor, until Mary opens a door.

Mary:

This is your room.

Tif cautiously walks in.

6. Int. Room. Day.

Tif is greeted by Alicia, a girl around the same age as her, who´s also pregnant by the looks of it.

Mary:

Show her the ropes. Dinner is served promptly at Six! If you´re late, you´ll go without!

Mary leaves them and Tif looks around the sparsely furnished room.

Alicia:

You´re probaby thinking the same thing, I did, when I arrived here.

Tif:

I´ve arrived in the Catholic version of hell?

Alicia smiles at her.

Alicia:

You´ll fit in here in no time, with that sense of humor.

Tif:

She made it sound, like it wasn´t allowed to have one.

Alicia:

They don´t watch us all the time! You won´t believe the things, we can get away with! I´m Alicia.

Tif:

I´m Tiffany, but I go by Tif. My real name sound like the name of a doll, than a person, if you ask me.

Alicia:

Welcome to the fold, Tif. This place might seem a little scary and dreary right now, but it doesn´t have to be. You´re lucky, that the girl, who used to sleep in that bed, just popped her kid out yesterday. I´ll help you get settled in no time.

Tif manages to smile.

7. Int. Carl´s Room. Day.

Carl is lying on his bed singing along to "When a Man Loves a Woman" by Percy Sledge, when there´s a knock on the door.

Kat (voice over):

It´s me, Carl. Can I come in?

Carl gets up and turns the music down a bit, before opening the door for Kat, who comes in. He closes the door after her.

Carl:

You didn´t have to come. I´m fine.

Kat:

Your mom´s happy that you´re not listening to the "Wretched Racket", as she called the music, you usually listen to. She still thought, it sounded on the depressing side.

Carl:

What does she expect? My Tif has been torn away from me.

Kat:

Are you planning on spending the entire time in here, until she gets back?

Carl:

I´ll still have to go school. I don´t want to, because it won´t be the same without her. I wish, I could fall asleep and wake up, when it´s time to have the kid.

Kat:

I´m sure, she´s missing you too, but it´s a horrible plan! You´ll starve to death, for one thing!

Carl:

Did I claim, that it was perfect? I just miss the heck out of her. The thought, that I won´t see her for four months, is almost too much to bare.

Kat:

Moping won´t bring her back, you know?

Carl:

It would feel wrong to have fun, when I know, she´s in that place.

Kat:

We seriously need to get you out of here. Life without her IS possible.

Carl:

I´m fine, where I am.

Kat:

You´re clearly not. Do you think, she´d want you to be depressed? She wants you to have it as good as you can.

Carl considers it.

8. Ext. Street. Day.

Michelle and Trish are waiting by the car.

Michelle:

Have you considered, what you´re gonna do about college?

Trish:

I can´t leave her!

Michelle:

It´s Yale! Y-A-L-E, as in one of the best colleges in the world! I don´t know, how you can think about going to TU in stead.

Trish:

Yale doesn´t have her.

Michelle:

If your relationship will survive, if it´s strong enough.

Trish:

What about you?

Michelle:

Where would I get the money? My mom left me with a house and a mortage!

Trish:

You could sell it.

Michelle:

I don´t know, if I can. It´s the last thing I have, that reminds me of her. I know, it sounds crazy, but it feels like her spirit is still somehow there.

Trish:

It sounds like we both have things, we can´t leave behind.

They cheer up, when they see Carl coming out the door with Kat.

9. Int. Hallway. Evening.

Tif and Alicia are heading to the mess hall with the other girls.

Tif:

What´s the food like?

Alicia:

They only serve us Gruel. Gruel for breakfast, Gruel for lunch and Gruel for dinner, so you´d better get used to it.

Tif looks shocked, making Alicia giggle.

Alicia:

Are you the most gullible girl in Canada?

Tif:

So, it´s not just Gruel? Not that I´ve ever tasted it, but it doesn´t sound nice!

Alica:

You´re just a million kinds of adorable, aren´t you?

Alicia shakes her head and smiles and Tif´s innocence. Tif loks relieved, that she doesn´t have to eat Gruel.

10. Int. Mess Hall. Evening.

Tif is in line with Alicia to get her dinner, along with the 30 or so other girls, who are there. Unlike the High School cafeteria, everyone is staying silent. Tif leans in to whisper to Alicia in front of her.

Tif (whispering):

This is eerie!

Alicia (whispering):

You´ll get used to it. It´s easiest to just appease the nuns and keep quiet, while they´re watching.

Tif (whispering):

I guess, you can´s say anything dumb, if you´re keeping your trap shut!

Alicia can´t help smiling. Sister Mary comes over to them and gives them strict look.

Mary:

You can talk on your own time!

Tif:

I was just ...

Mary:

What did I just say?

Tif:

You said ...

Mary stares her down and Tif makes a zipper movement over her own mouth. It makes Mary go back to her spot. Tif reached the end of the line and gets a rather large portion of food, but it doesn´t exactly look appetizing. At least it´s not Gruel, though!

11. Montage - Music "Higher and Higher" by Jackie Wilson.

We see Carl being taken to the amusement park by Kat, Trish and Michelle. Amber, Luke and Annie greet them at the entrance, but he´s hard to cheer up.

We see him being convinced to go on a ride with Luke, Amber an Annie. The three other enjoy it, but he looks like he´d rather be at home.

We see him looking annoyed, while waiting in line for the restroom. The others discuss a new strategy.

We see the rest just try to bombard him with smiles and good moods and it seems to be slowly working.

12. Int. Hallway. Evening.

Tif and Alicia are sneaking out and trying their best to be as quiet as possible. Alicia stos her, before they turn a corner.

Tif (whispering):

What now?

Alicia (whispering):

Shut up and listen.

They hear footsteps at the end of the hallway and hold their breaths as they listen intently to them. The sound becomes fainter and they breathe a sigh of relief.

Tif (whispering):

Are we in the clear?

Alicia (whispering):

Yeah, after dinner, they never stop by twice before bedtime. Come.

Tif follows after Alicia as they sneak up the hallway.

13. Ext. Courtyard. Evening.

Tif and Alicia hurry across the courtyard. Tif can´t help giggling.

Tif:

That was so exciting!

Alicia:

A little too exciting for comfort, if you ask me.

Tif:

Thanks for making me feel, like it isn´t the worst place in the world.

Alicia:

If you impress these girls, you´ll instantly move up the social ladder here.

Tif:

Is it hard?

Alicia:

That all depends, if you have the right skills.

Tif:

What kind of skills?

Alicia:

You´ll see.

Tif stops walking.

Alicia:

Move it!

Tif:

Your´e not taking advantage of me, because I´m the new girl, are you?

Alicia:

Advantage like ...

Tif:

The kind of things you hear, goes on in women´s prisons!

Alicia gives her a re-assuring smile.

Alicia:

I promise, that it´s nothing like that. Let´s go, before we attract suspicion.

Tif follows after her, as they hurry towards the bell tower.

14. Ext. Amusement Park. Evening.

Carl is enjoying some cotton candy with Michelle and Trish, while the others are riding the bumper cars.

Michelle:

Are you feeling better?

Carl:

Yeah, I´m glad I went along. I know, Tif would only feel worse if she knew, how depressed this has made me.

Michelle:

That´s the spirit. Life has to go on, no matter how hard it can be sometimes.

Carl:

I love her and she loves me. When it all comes down to it, that´s what will get us through this.

Trish:

How does it feel to know, that in a four months, you´ll be a daddy?

Carl:

Terrifying. Especially since I have no idea, what will happen afterwards.

Michelle:

Can you imagine, how she´s feeling right now?

Trish:

I´ve heard about what goes on in those places. Not that I don´t feel bad for her, bot I´m so glad, that it´s not me!

Carl:

Tif is tougher, than she looks.

Michelle:

Plus, she´s got a good mouth on her. That always helps, when you have to make friends.

Carl:

I wonder, what she´s doing.

Trish:

To be honest, I prefer not knowing!

Trish shudders at the thought of it.

15. Int. Bell tower. Evening.

Tif and Alicia are climbing the many steps to the top of the bell tower. They can faintly hear music coming from up there. Tif is looking tired.

Tif:

I haven´t had this much exercise, since I was a cheerleader!

Alicia:

Quit whining. In the old days, if they misbehaved, they would make the girls run up and down the stairs bare feet, until their feet bled.

Tif looks shocked.

Tif:

Those poor girls.

Alicia smiles.

Alicia:

You are way too easy!

Tif:

They didn´t make them do it?

Alicia:

I made it up, but they could have. We have to do some major work on upgrading your BS detector, or they´ll be pulling your leg all the time!

Tif:

I´m used to people telling me truth.

Alicia:

You´re used to people telling you, what you think, is the truth. Who knows? Maybe this will end up being good for you.

They finally reach the top of the stairs, to find three girls in various stages of their pregnancies, 15 year old Tina, 16 year old Nancy and 16 year old Tara, dancing to "I want you back" by Jackson 5. The song ends, just as they come in.

Alicia:

I finally found us a fifth member, so we can be the Jackson 5.

Tara:

That tiny little thing?

Nancy:

She´s small enough to be Michael.

Tif doesn´t look deterred by their remarks.

Tif:

Put the record on again.

Tara:

Alright. Hold your horses, mini mom!

Tara starts the record again. A confident looking Tif does an impersonation of a young Michael Jackson, that´s so good, that it almost makes their jaws drop.

Tina:

She´s in!

They continue to marvel at how good Tif is.

16. Ext. Amusement Park (Ride). Evening.

Carl is getting ready to go on a ride with Amber sitting next to him in the two person cart. She´s looking nervous.

Amber:

I´ve never been on as wild a ride as this before!

Carl:

So, you´re still a virgin?

She playfully punches him on the shoulder and they smile at each other.

Amber:

Ha Ha!

Carl:

It´s okay, Amber! Take your time and explore your body, before you let someone else do it. If you write some juicy letters to Penthouse about it, you´re sure to make a fortune!

Amber:

I suppose, it is the absolute safest sex, you can have.

Carl:

It´ll save you a bundle on condoms, too.

Amber (sarcastially):

Yeah, that´s a huge expense! What are they, like 10 for 3 bucks or something?

Carl gets serious with her for a moment.

Carl:

Wait with the real thing, until you´re a hundred and ten percent sure, that you´re ready. I don´t want to see you in the trouble, me and Tif are in.

Amber:

Seeing what´s going on with her, is the best chastity belt, money can´t buy! I´m keeping my legs tightly cliched!

Carl:

A month ago, I could ignore it, but I can´t, now that we´re coming closer to the big day. Part of me wants it to go away, but another part of me strangely wants this. I just wish, they hadn´t made her go away to that place.

Tif:

You´ll be re-united, before you know it.

Carl:

Next year, I´ll be a Junior in High School and a dad. How´s that for a reality check?

Amber:

We´ll rally to help out, any way we can. There´s a lot of us, who care about the two of you.

They smile at each other.

Carl:

So, say if we needed a babysitter, so we could go on a date?

Amber:

You´re talking to a world class diaper changer, my friend! Whether it´s turns out to be a he or a she, you can leave them safely with me.

Carl:

That wouldn´t be a bad slogan for a babysitting company, you know!

Amber:

High life with gazillions of bucks to my name, here I come!

The cart slowly starts to move. They both look excited and Amber grabs his hand.

Amber:

Please, don´t get mad if I barf! I´m not making any guarantees!

Carl:

You and me both!

They scream in excitement with the others as the ride gets started for real.

17. Ext. Amusement Park (Ground). Evening.

The rest of them look up at the roller coaster. Annie winces just from looking at how dangerous it looks. Luke looks like he´d rather be on it.

Luke:

Are we going on it next?

She looks him in the eyes.

Annie:

Not if you paid me a million to!

Michelle:

That´s what us girls call a clear no, Luke.

Luke:

Where´s you sense of adventure?

Annie:

It doesn´t extend to that!

Michelle:

What do you say, we get some popcorn in stead, Annie? That´s as un-threatening, an it can be.

Luke:

I´ll buy you a soda, just to play the nice boyfriend.

Annie:

Let´s go. I´m getting dizzy, just from looking at that thing!

Kat:

I´ll wait for Carl and Amber.

Trish:

I´ll wait with her.

Michelle, Luke and Annie leave them.

Trish:

Do you want to go on it?

Kat:

That´s a hard pass! I like my dinner down in my stomach, where it belongs!

Trish:

Can I tell you something?

Kat:

Anything.

They make eye contact.

Trish:

I received a letter yesterday. I´ve been debating whether or not to tell you, but I think you should know about it.

Kat:

Who was it from?

Trish:

Yale. I´ve been accepted on an academic scholarship.

Kat tries to look pleased for her.

Kat:

Yale. That´s your ticket to a great future. I had a feeling, that it could be coming. I couldn´t keep you to myself forever.

Trish:

It´s a huge opportunity, but I´m not taking it. I´ll be a TU girl next year in stead.

Kat looks relieved, but feels guilty at the same time.

Kat:

Because of me?

Trish:

You´re the love of my life. I can´t leave you and Christine behind.

Kat:

What about your future?

Trish:

My future HAS to include you in it. I can´t imagine, how much I´d miss you.

Kat:

As much as Carl misses Tif?

Trish:

Something like that. I wanted you to know, so you know how much I´m giving up to be with you. You´re become everything to me.

They smile at each other.

Trish:

In you, I´ve found everything I want out of life. You´re it for me, Kat. Nothing and no one could ever matter more to me.

Kat gives her a hug, but it´s obvious that she´s feeling guilty, over what Trish is giving up for her.

18. Int. Tif and Alicia´s Room. Evening.

Tif and Alicia are in their beds, waiting for the lights to be turned out.

Tif:

This is another thing, that feels weird. I usually don´t go to bed until 11.

Alicia:

You´ll get used to it. What did you think of your first day?

Tif:

I hate Sister Mary, but I like you and the other girls.

Alicia:

That woman is so uptight, that if you stuck a lump of coal up her butt, it wouldn´t even take her a month to turn it into diamond!

Tif giggles.

Tif:

Is she always like that?

Alicia:

More or less. I hear stories, that she was seen smiling one time. I´ll have to see it, before I believe it! The other nuns are nice, when you get to know them a little. I get why she´s strict. It would most likely devolve to anarchy in record time, if she wasn´t.

Tif:

I suppose, I can learn to ignore her. I just have to pass my time here, pop this thing out of my cooch and I´ll be back home in no time.

Alicia:

That doesn´t mean, we can´t have fun, in the meantime.

Tif:

Not at all! I hope, for my boyfriend´s sake, that he´s has had half as much fun, as I had tonight.

Alicia:

That was quite a performance!

Tif:

I must have lip synched into my hair brush to it, at least a hundred times. Just hearing the music, made me feel like I was back in my room again.

Alicia:

Hold onto that. Things can get dreary in here sometimes.

Tif:

As long, as we´re hidden away from the moral majority, that´s what matters, right?

Alicia:

It´s the punishment they decided we should get, for getting ourselves knocked up.

Tif:

It doesn´t seem fair. The guys get to go on with their lives, like nothing happened. For us it´s either this or being looked down on at school.

Alicia:

That´s if they don´t kick us out. The conservatives on their high horses can´t have teenagers being constantly reminded that sex exists, or it could spread like a wildfire! Why, the next thing you know, those teenagers will be masturbating and then what will the world come to?

Tif:

And while they keep trying to pretend, that their puritan oblivion ever existed in the first place, we pay the prize.

Alicia:

We can only hope, that it changes someday. Right now, this is the world we live in.

The lights go out.

Tif:

I guess, it´s 10 o´clock. Nightie night, Alicia.

Alicia:

Nightie night.

Tif closes her eyes and tries to fall asleep.

CLOSING CREDITS