DEGRASSI: AFTERMATH - S09E08 - WAR (WHAT IS IT GOOD FOR?) PART 1

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

1. Ext. Stacy´s House. Evening.

We see a 15 year old boy (Bobby DeMarco) kissing Stacy goodnight by her family´s front door.

Stacy:

Promise me, that you´ll head straight home, Bobby.

Bobby:

It´ll be alright, Stacy. I´ve taken the shortcut through the park a million times.

Stacy:

I don´t want to see you get hurt. Are you sure, you don´t want me to call you a cab?

He smiles at her.

Bobby:

You´re cute, when you worry about me, but it will be fine. Are we on for Saturday?

Stacy:

It´s our two month anniversary, isn´t it?

Bobby:

Love you.

Stacy:

Love you more.

they wave goodnight to each other and heads up the street.

2. Ext. Park. Evening.

Bobby walks as fast as he can through the park and he´s clearly more than a little paranoid. He follows the path he is on, until he reaches a well lit spot. He suddenly finds the road blocked and himself surrounded by three men dressed in black and with black masks on, that cover most of their faces. All of them have baseball bats and he looks terrified.

Bobby:

I didn´t have anything to do, with happened to that girl!

Man:

You´re friends with one of them, aren´t you?

Bobby:

Not anymore, I swear!

Man:

You´re in the wrong neighborhood at the wrong time, boy!

Bobby tries to run away, but is taken down by a baseball bat shot to she legs, that makes him trip over and fall. He cryingly tries to crawl away, as they begin to attack him

OPENING CREDITS

3. Ext. Degrassi. Day.

Lois Cronkite is with her camera crew outside of the school.

Lois:

Degrassi Community School. These past two years, it has become the most famous school in the country, thanks to the TV series that has been shot here for the past two summers. Right now, it is in the national news for a much darker reason. A month ago, a 16 year old girl from Degrassi was allegedly drug raped by two boys from their neighboring school, Lakehurst. Those two boys are still awaiting trial. Ever since, students from Lakehurst have been the victims of what appears to be random attacks. Yesterday it was a 15 year old Lakehurst boy, who was viciously attacked at a local park, by a group of what is believed to be Degrassi students. He is still in critical condition, as of this morning and his life remains in jeopardy, according to a hospital spokesperson. A meeting is taking place with the students right now and we await what the consequences of that meeting will be. We will now go live with our camera crew in the school auditorium.

4. Int. Auditorium. Day.

Snake is addressing the crowd of students. There is an extremely somber mood among them.

Snake:

We´ve all heard about the latest attack last night. What happened was cowardly and it does no one any good. I hope that those of you, who did it, will have enough of a conscience to step forward and admit, that you were a part of it. I think, I speak for every one else, when I say that we are ashamed to be affiliated in any way, to these attacks. We will work with the Police in any way we can, to help them solve the case and bring those, who did it to justice. This has already gone too far and it needs to stop now!

Snake clearly means it.

5. Int. Hallway. Day.

Deco, Regina and Simon are talking.

Deco:

Look, you probably shouldn´t go to the skate park anymore.

Simon:

There´s never been any problems down there.

Deco:

It´s technically is Lakehurst territory. Just until things quiet down.

Regina:

What are you gonna do, if it´s five on one or ten one one? They´ll want revenge after this.

Simon:

I can skate very fast, when I need to. I get that you´re concerned, but skaters are different. We don´t do that kind of crap.

Deco:

Who says, that they will be skaters? At least do me a favor and don´t go down there alone. It´s not safe.

Simon:

I can handle myself. Keep your mind on your business.

He leaves them.

Regina:

Why do I have a feeling, that he still hasn´t accepted us as a couple?

Deco:

He´s still adjusting. I wish, I didn´t have to go to soccer practice, so I could talk to him some more.

Regina:

You can´t let the team down! Or deprive me of seeing you in those sexy shorts!

They smile at each other and kiss.

6. Montage - Music: "Another One Bites the Dust" by Queen.

We get a montage of Deco as a goalkeeper at soccer practice. Several players including Pete and Rodney try their luck with shots on him, but he is like a human fence down there. Their coach, coach Kreese, is extremely satisfied with his performance.

7. Ext. Football Pitch. Day.

Kreese is addressing the players.

Kreese:

We´ve got two days until the Lakehurst game. If any of you turn up unprepared, so help he, I will tear you a new one! It fills me with hope, that we have the best goalkeeper this school has ever seen. 5 clean sheets in a row! I think, he deserves a round of applause.

Deco´s teammates applaud him. Pete pads him on the shoulder and Deco looks proud.

Kreese:

Anything you want to add, Deco?

Deco:

I owe it all to my defenders. You guys work hard out there.

Pete:

It helps to know, that he´ll shout your head off, if you make a mistake.

Kreese:

That´s because he has a winner´s attitude. That´s the attitude I want every single one of you to show me out there. We can be the best team in this division. The only thing that can stop us from it is ourselves. ARE WE GONNA BEAT LAKEHURST INTO THE GROUND?

Deco and the rest:

HELL YEAH!

Kreese:

That´s what I want to hear! Hit the showers.

The team head off to the showers.

8. Ext. Degrassi. Day.

Deco is talking to Pete and Rodney.

Rodney:

I hope, that Regina isn´t too upset about what happened. But you know, Friendship Club and being open about having sex ...

Deco:

She gets that celibacy is a big part of your thing. There´s no hard feelings.

Pete:

You can tell her, that we still consider her an un-official member. If the two of you want to have sex before marriage, that´s none of our business.

Deco:

I´m sure, that she´ll be pleased to hear it. Kreese is quite a character, isn´t he?

Pete:

The team had been a joke for years, before he took it over. We only won two games, the first year, I was on the team. Now we´re eight games in and we´ve won seven. I can tell you, that it´s a lot more fun to be on the team now, than it used to be.

Rodney:

As he said, it´s all about having that winning attitude. Winning is what it´s all about.

Deco:

I´m really just on the team, because I missed playing. I practically grew up on football.

Pete and Rodney laugh.

Pete:

You still refuse to call it soccer?

Deco:

It´s called football, because you use your feet! Why name a sport where you don´t use your feet, football?

Rodney:

There´s no arguing with that logic.

Pete:

Where are you off to now?

Deco:

Just home. I have a ton of homework.

Pete:

Alright. See you tomorrow, Super Goalie.

Rodney and Pete go in one direction and he goes in the other.

9. Int. Hospital Room. Day.

Nick comes into the hospital room with Stacy, who´s clearly been affected a lot by what happened.

Stacy:

I don´t know, if I´m ready for it.

Nick:

We can leave again, if you want to.

They see Bobby, who´s in a hospital bed and hooked up to machines, that help him to breathe. His face is black and blue for the most part and both of his arms have been put in casts. Both Nick and Stacy are shocked, at the sight of him. Stacy starts to cry.

Stacy:

Who would do this to him? Bobby wouldn´t hurt a fly.

Nick:

Some pretty sick people. I don´t think, this was a good idea. We should get out of here.

Stacy:

Is this all my fault?

Nick:

It can´t be.

Stacy:

Why not? He´s a Lakehurst boy and I´m a Degrassi girl.

Nick:

Whatever the reason was, I´m sure, it had nothing to do with you.

Stacy:

You can´t know that!

She collapses into his arms, crying her heart out.

10.. Int. Skate Park. Evening.

Simon comes rolling in to practice, when Kevin and Wayne come up to him.

Kevin:

You shouldn´t be here. It´s not safe right now.

Simon:

Come on!

Wayne:

There´s a lot of people at Lakehurst, who want to get even for the attacks. Everyone´s scared, because they don´t know, if they´ll be next.

Simon:

How long have we known each other?

Kevin:

Since we started coming here, when we were kids.

Simon:

Have you ever known me to be violent in any way?

Wayne:

We know, that you didn´t do it. But, let´s face it, you´re a target.

Kevin:

It would make them feel a measure of revenge, if they can put Degrassi´s new star skater in the hospital.

Simon:

I´m not gonna let them bully me out of here!

Wayne:

Simon, listen to us! There´s some dangerous dudes, who go to our school. There´s no telling, what they might do.

Kevin:

We´re only saying this, because we like you and we care about you.

Simon:

Everyone at Degrassi, except for those crazy SOB´s, who did it, are ashamed to our bones of what´s happened. That´s not what our school is all about.

Wayne:

We feel the same way about those two dudes, who raped that girl. But now a fifteen year old kid is in a coma, because he went to visit his girlfriend? There´s a small, but dangerous group there, who want blood for it. We don´t want to see them hurt you.

Simon looks annoyed, but gives in. He skates off towards the entrance.

11. Ext. Atrium. Day.

Simon, Jamie (who´s got most of his leg in a cast and has a pair of crutches to help him walk) and Chrissy are talking by the JT Yorke memorial.

Simon:

Now I can´t go to the Skate Park. What´s next?

Jamie:

It´ll all blow over.

Chrissy:

Unless the attacks stop. It´s fitting that we´re by the memorial. The last war ended, when JT Yorke was murdered.

Simon:

That´s how he died? I thought, it was a school shooter.

Chrissy:

That was another guy, but he survived. My mom was close with JT. She´s naturally freaked, that this whole thing has started up again.

Jamie:

I feel so bad for that kid, who´s in a coma. We´ve met his girlfriend.

Simon:

When?

Jamie:

Remember when we went out after seeing that movie "The Room"?

Simon:

She was one of those girls? Poor thing. They were a pair of sweethearts, those two.

Chrissy:

It´s always the innocent, who suffer the most in a war. I can´t even imagine, what she´s going through.

Jamie:

I went through it when Charlie got shot, remember? She´s going through hell. I can guarantee you that much.

They all look sympathetic with the victims.

12. Int. Hallway. Day.

Deco is getting books out of his locker, when Regina comes up to him. She looks worried.

Regina:

Have you seen, what was posted about you on Face Range?

Deco:

I´m hoping, that it´s a great review!

Regina:

It´s a threat. They´ll break your legs, if you play the game against Lakehurst.

Deco:

Who?

Regina:

Who do you think? Lakehurst students, who want to see blood. You can´t play that game.

Deco:

They won´t do anything. It´s just talk.

Regina:

I mean it!

Deco:

They´re trying to scare us into submission and it´s working! First Simon and now this. Has anything happened yet?

Regina:

No, but you can´t take that chance. It could ruin everything for you, hell, you could end up in a coma like that Lakehurst boy. Would you like that?

Deco:

I´m not giving in on this. You can´t fight bullying, by doing what your bullies want you to do. If you do that, then they´ll never stop, until they take everything from you.

Regina:

It´s not in your job description to be a martyr!

Deco:

I´ll beat the crap out of them, if they decide to try anything. There´s nothing to worry about.

Regina looks mad at him.

Regina:

You are being such an idiot!

Deco:

Regina, please ...

Regina:

If you want to get yourself beat up, then go ahead. It will be without me.

She storms off.

13. Int. Classroom. Day.

Deco comes into the classroom and sits down. Pete comes over to him.

Deco:

I suppose, you´ve heard the news.

Pete:

We all understand, if you want to pull out. There´ll be plenty of other games.

Deco:

This isn´t just some game. I´m playing .

Pete:

You´re braver, than I am!

Deco:

They could try it during the game.

Pete:

We won´t let anyone come near you.

Deco:

Good. This isn´t just a game. This is us taking a stand and showing them, that we won´t let them control us.

He looks Pete in the eyes. Pete can see, that he´s dead serious and nods in agreement

14. Ext. Park. Evening.

Nick, Stacy, Brandy and Lisa are among many other familiar faces at a candlelight vigil, where Bobby was attacked.

Brandy:

It´s so meaningless.

Lisa:

This whole thing is. Does anyone think that hurting more people will make anything better?

Stacy:

Bobby didn´t deserve this.

Brandy:

We all know, that he didn´t, Sweetie.

Nick:

I just hope, that they find the bastards, who did it soon.

We cut to Esme, who´s with Johnny DeMarco, addressing the crowd. Johnny´s become quite a respectable guy to look at with time.

Esme:

These recent events have filled all of us with sadness. This so-called war between these two schools needs to stop right now. To put some words to this tragedy, I have Bobby DeMarco´s uncle. Please welcome Johnny DeMarco.

Johnny:

Thank you, Esme. Bobby would have been smiling, if he saw how many have turned up here to show that you care about him. His parents wanted me to express to you their gratitude, for the sympathy you have shown them. We urge you to keep praying for him and wishing him well, because he needs it right now. We hope to see him smiling again soon and I know, that he won´t stop fighting, because that´s the kind of boy he is.

Johnny fights hard to not get emotional.

Johnny:

I was there for the last war. I was the one who was closest to what happened on the night that JT Yorke was murdered, It was my friend, who did it in a moment of madness. Every second of that night is forever etched in my mind and there is nothing, I would like more, than to go back and change what happened. JT Yorke should have been here with us and he isn´t, just like Bobby should be and isn´t. One is no different, than the other. They´re victims in a war, where no one can win. If it doesn´t stop now, then it´ll only lead to more suffering.

We cut over to Pete and Rodney, who are with Tina.

Tina:

I´m gonna go over and say hi to Regina.

Rodney:

Say hi to her from me.

Tina leaves them. Pete leans in to whisper to Rodney.

Pete:

We need to talk.

They walk away from the crowd.

15. Ext. Path. Evening.

We cut to them standing a bit away from the masses.

Rodney:

Don´t tell me, that you´re cracking.

Pete:

I never signed up for putting kids in a coma!

Rodney:

Keep your voice down!

Pete:

I tell you, Kreese is sick!

Rodney:

He is a leader and he´s gonna get us out of this!

Pete:

Are you really so dumb, that you don´t think, he´ll rat to the cops, if it saves his own ass?

Rodney:

Pete, we´re a team. Things got out of hand the last time.

Pete:

The last time? It´s not happening again! If we turn ourselves in ...

Rodney:

What then? Do you think, I´ll become a preacher, like it´s expected of me, if I go to jail? People don´t follow violent offenders! You can forget about getting into college and do you think, your parents will ever forgive you? I don´t! We´ll lose everything and it won´t make that kid any less beat up, will it?

Pete looks torn.

16. Int. Church. Evening.

Stacy and Brandy are among the few people, who are at the church. Becky walks around and talks to those praying. She comes over to Pete, who´s trying to find some sort of answer in his prayers.

Becky:

Pete. Those two girls over there are praying for the boy in a coma too. Maybe it would help you, if you shared your grief with them.

Pete:

If you think, it´s a good idea.

Becky leads him over to Stacy and Brandy.

Becky:

This is Pete. He goes to your school. Pete, this is Brandy and Stacy.

Pete:

Hi. Can I sit?

Brandy:

Yeah, sure.

He sits doown with them.

Becky:

Stacy´s boyfriend was the boy, who was attacked.

Pete tries to hide his guilt, when he hears it.

Pete:

I´m so sorry.

Stacy:

Thanks.

Pete:

How is he doing?

Brandy:

It´s not looking good. They have to do another surgery on him tomorrow. We just came to pray, that it will go as it´s supposed to and he will be alright.

Pete:

I´ll pray with you. We all want to see him pull through.

Becky leaves them and they pray in silence. Pete can´t stop himself from crying.

17. Int. Classroom. Day.

Regina comes over to Deco, who´s sitting next to Simon.

Regina:

I don´t want to fight anymore.

Deco:

Me neither. But I still have to play.

Simon:

Can you tell him, that he´s insane?

Regina:

He won´t listen.

Deco:

Nothing will happen!

Simon:

Maybe not now, but what about after the game?

Deco:

I can take anyone in a fight, you know that.

Regina:

Will that help you, if they have guns?

Deco:

You can´t ...

Simon:

Let the bullies win, yadda, yadda, yadda! We´ve all heard you say it a million times, but this isn´t just regular bullies.

Deco:

You´re not gonna change my mind!

Regina:

Can you at least promise me, that you´ll try to stay safe?

Deco:

I´ll do everything, I can. You have nothing to worry about.

She tries to look re-assured.

18. Int. Hallway. Day.

Pete comes over to Rodney, who´s talking to a pair of niner girls.

Rodney:

Friendship Club is exactly what it sounds like. We´re a pacifist and open group, who take in anyone, who´s willing to live their lives by the example of Jesus Christ. We do community work to help the poor, we ...

Pete:

Can I talk to you, Rodney?

Rodney looks annoyed with him.

Rodney:

I´m in the middle of something.

Pete:

It´s important.

Girl #1:

That´s okay. We we´re going to join anyway.

Rodney puts his "leader smile" on for them again.

Rodney:

Then my work is done! Be sure to check out the website.

Girl #2:

We will. Bye.

The girls leave them. Rodney looks annoyed again, the moment they can´t see him.

Rodney:

What? I thought, we discussed this.

Pete:

I can´t play. I met the girlfriend, of the kid we ...

Rodney:

Not in here! Jesus!

Rodney pulls him aside. Pete looks him in the eyes.

Pete:

You just took the lord´s name in vain.

Rodney:

I´m sure, that he´ll forgive me.

Pete:

He could still die. (whispering) We could be charged with murder.

Rodney:

It won´t come to that. You heard what the coach said. If we stick together, then we´ll all come out of this alright.

Pete:

The coach is a lunatic!

Rodney:

You´re gonna play, or it´ll look suspicious. Play for Deco, if you need an extra reason to. We have a tactics meeting to get to, so get your head in the game!

Pete gives in again.

19. Int. Tactics Room. Day.

Coach Kreese is going over the tactics to the team on the tactics board.

Kreese:

You have to push up hard against their midfield. There´s four of you and three of them, so we have to use that to our advantage.

There´s a knock on the door and Snake comes in.

Snake:

I´m sorry to interrupt.

Kreese:

If it was anyone else, then I would have been mad at them. What´s up, boss?

Snake:

I´m afraid, I have some very serious news, The game has been delayed to a not yet scheduled date. Bobby DeMarco passed away during the night.

Everyone looks shocked. Kreese has to sit down.

Snake:

They´ve sent their students home for the day, understandably enough. It´s now officially a murder investigation, so expect the police to start doing interviews here in the next days. Bianca and Marco have agreed to stay and talk to all of those, who feel the need to. We´ll also be putting metal detectors up again, in case someone tries to retaliate against the school.

We cut to Pete and Rodney, who are sitting next to each other. Pete looks like, he´s on the verge of panicking.

CLOSING CREDITS