DEGRASSI: AFTERMATH - S09E15 - THE DRUGS DON´T WORK

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

1. Int. Classroom. Evening.

We´re at an NA meeting. Darcy is speaking to the group.

Darcy:

My name is Darcy and I´m a drug addict. I´ve been clean for 613 days.

Group:

Hi, Darcy.

Darcy:

It started, when I got hooked on prescription medication, while I was living in Kenya. I got clean, I´ve fallen in two more times since, but I´m determined that this is the time, where I´ll keep the promise, I made to myself and quit for good. I can´t even eat an Aspirin without getting worried, that it will lead me down that road again.

We see Peter in the crowd watching her.

2. Int. Hallway. Evening.

Peter and Darcy are talking after the session.

Peter:

It´s nice to know, that I wasn´t the only one, who became a screw up.

Darcy:

What do you mean, became? You and me were in tough competition to see, who could be the most screwed up, from what I remember.

Peter:

I think a lot about the things, I should have done differently. In the case of you and me, that would be everything after "hello".

Darcy:

I don´t know. You helped to liberate me from my parent´s mighty grasp. Now, I´m back in it, but that´s only because I´m such a loser, that I have to live there.

Peter:

You want to compare misery stories some time? I´m pretty sure, that I have you beat!

Darcy:

Are you asking me out?

Peter:

Or, you could come over to the house for dinner. I don´t bite and neither does my daughter. She´s 16, so she´s a bit of a smart ass, but I´m sure, she wouldn´t mind having some female company for a change.

Darcy:

Alright. Is there anything, I should bring?

Peter:

Just a smile and a healthy appetite.

They smile at each other. There´s still a clear spark between them.

3. Int. Apartment. Evening.

Peter comes into the living room and looks surprised, when he sees Mia there with Talia. Not in a good way, though.

Talia:

It was scary, but ...

Peter:

Hey, Mia.

They turn their attention to Peter. Mia smiles nervously at him.

Mia:

Hi, Peter. You look good.

Talia:

She´s changed.

Mia:

I´ve been to rehab. I´d really like it, if we could start over.

Peter looks, like he isn´t buying it.

OPENING CREDITS

4. Int. Apartment. Morning.

Talia is excited, as she´s eating breakfast. Peter is drinking a cup of coffee.

Talia:

She hasn´t looked that good in years and there was no yelling, or having to walk on egg shells around her. We can be a real family.

Peter:

Talia, it´s not as simple as that.

Talia:

I know and it´s not like, I´m expecting you to start dating again for my sake.

Peter:

Good, because it´s not happening!

Talia:

I haven´t forgiven her either, but we can´t keep dwelling on the past. You´ve been given second, third and fourth chances. Why can´t you give her one more?

Peter:

Can we drop it? There´s too much water under the bridge, for me to just forgive her.

Talia:

She´s still my mom.

Peter:

She also made her decision a long time ago. I know, that you want to believe in her. I was the same with my dad, when I was you age. It took a while longer to learn, that some people just aren´t worth your time. All they will do is let you down again.

Talia look like, she´s not ready to give up.

5. Int. Office. Morning.

Darcy is being shown the ropes by Manny.

Manny:

I´ve already talked to Spinner, so the two jobs won´t get in the way or each other.

Darcy:

Thanks. Fourteen hours a week isn´t getting me my own place in the near future.

Manny:

I don´t know, how you do it. Before I met Eddy, I would sometimes live with them for a few days, when I was back here. You practically deserve a medal for lasting over a month!

Darcy:

I can live with it. Especially since I have a date tonight.

Manny looks curious.

Manny:

Sounds interesting.

Darcy:

It´s Peter. I met him in an NA meeting.

Manny:

Your old boyfriend, Peter?

Darcy:

Yes. Talking to him again just felt so comfortable, you know?

Manny:

Wasn´t that, where things started to go wrong the last time?

Darcy:

We were so young and different back then. He´s grown up and so have I.

Manny:

Peter´s been in and out of the system for years. He´s not the guy you want, if you want someone steady. Plus, there´s the issues with his ex and all that.

Darcy:

Aren´t there alwasy issues with exes, when you´re our age and single?

Manny:

This goes beyond anything normal. Remember Mia, the girl we went to school with, who had a little girl?

Darcy:

It rings a bell.

Manny:

She´s bailed on that family time and time again. It´s the girls, I really feel sorry for.

Darcy:

He only mentioned one.

Manny:

He pretty much raised Isabella as his own. Mia really did a number on all of them. In my experience, things like that aren´t easy to get over. He´s also been to jail a few times, in case you didn´t know.

Darcy:

I´m still gonna go. It´s just dinner at their house.

Manny:

I don´t want to ruin it for you, I just want you to know, what you´re getting yourself into. Sometimes it´s best to stay out of these tight, family situations as an outsider. You might not like, what you find.

Darcy looks a little worried.

6. Int. Bianca´s Office. Day.

Mia is with Bianca.

Mia:

I just wanted to know how Talia is doing here. You know, how hard it is to get an honest answer out of a teenager. When I heard that it was you ...

Bianca:

You assumed, that I would give you special treatment, is that it?

Mia:

I know, that I probably didn´t make a good impression on you, the first time around.

Bianca:

I´m not allowed to share that info with you. It´s only for her legal guardian and you gave up that right, when you went AWOL on them for three years. They thought, you were dead.

Mia:

I had some personal problems, that I had to deal with.

Bianca:

Pardon my French, but the only personal problem you have, is being selfish. If there´s one thing, I can´t stand, it´s mothers who abandon their kids over and over again.

Mia:

That´s not fair! I was still a kid, when I had my first one!

Bianca:

Who you left behind to be raised by your mom. You weren´t a kid anymore, when you had Talia. Do you know, that she used to sit outside the house for hours every day, when she was little, waiting for her mommy to come home from "vacation"?

Mia:

Talia was an accident. That doesn´t mean, I don´t love her.

Bianca:

What I do in here, is give advice. So, let me give you a piece, before I tell you to not let the door hit you in the ass, on the way out! Unless you´re absolutely serious about staying here for good this time, you should stay out of their lives.

Mia:

I am. Don´t you think I feel bad, for doing it to them?

Bianca:

Why did you do it, then?

Mia:

Some people can make their lives all about their kids. That´s just not me!

Bianca:

Well, that´s JUST NOT good enough! Talia doesn´t need you to raise her hopes again, only so she can be let down. It affects her worse, every time one of the adults in her life do it to her.

Mia:

I won´t do it again. I want to be her mom!

Bianca:

You have no idea, what harm you did, because you weren´t the one, who was left here to pick up the pieces. It´s not to be cruel, but I don´t think you have it in you to be a good mother to anyone. You´re still too selfish and if you haven´t changed by now, then you never will. That´s my experience and I have plenty of it, when it comes to women like you.

Mia clearly feels guilty.

7. Int. Hallway. Day.

Talia is talking to Lisa and Nick.

Talia:

Sorry, that I have to skip rehearsal.

Nick:

It´s okay, I can take you place on the bass this one time.

Lisa:

Your mom has to come first. We get that.

Talia:

Thanks. She used to go here.

Nick:

I looked her up on Wikipedia, right after we met you. Mom at 13, cheerleader, model, actress, Burlesque dancer, Playboy model ...

Lisa:

That´s some resume! Except for the mom at 13 part.

Nick:

Isn´t that her?

They see Mia coming towards them. Talia smiles.

Talia:

What are you doing here?

Mia:

Checking up on you! Are these your friends?

Talia:

These are my bandmates Lisa and her boyfriend Nick.

Lisa:

It´s nice to meet you.

Nick:

I know all about you, that Wikipedia has to say.

Mia giggles.

Mia:

Don´t believe everything, you read on there! As much, as I´d like it to be true, I was never up for the role as Wonder Woman.

Nick:

My image of the world is shattered!

Talia:

I was gonna call you, to see if you wanted to come over for dinner tonight?

Mia:

Are you sure, that your dad is alright with it?

Talia:

He is. We wants to mend fences too. I´m sure, that Bella will want to see you again too.

Mia:

Okay. What time?

Talia:

We can say seven, but you can come before, if you want to.

Mia:

Cool.

Talia:

I´m so glad, that you´re back, mom.

She gives Mia a hug.

Mia:

I´m glad to be back, Pumpkin.

Talia:

We have to get to class. See you later.

Mia:

Bye. It was nice to meet you guys.

Lisa and Nick wave goodbye to her and Mia watches them head off to class, while smiling to herself at the thought, that things will work out.

8. Montage - Music "Working 9 to 5" by Dolly Parton.

We see Darcy getting into her new job, as her and Manny talk to a young mom, who´s holding her infant child. Helping people is clearly something that suits her and she looks full of admiration for Manny.

We see her fraternizing with her new colleagues at lunch and learning at the same time. Manny is pleased to see, that she´s already fitting in.

We see her getting to know the software on the PC. At first, she´s almost about to give up, but she finally starts to get it and looks pleased, thanks to some good coaching from Manny.

9. Int. Kitchen. Day.

Peter and Talia are unpacking their groceries.

Peter:

We´re having a guest for dinner. Don´t worry, she´s very nice.

Talia:

We haven´t anyone except for Bella over for dinner for ages. Who is she?

Peter:

A girl, I used to know, that I met back up with in NA. Her name is Darcy.

Talia:

Oh, boy! Can you cancel with her?

Talia starts nervously pacing.

Peter:

There´s something, you´re not telling me, isn´t there?

Talia:

I might have invited mom and Bella over for dinner.

Peter looks frustrated with her.

Peter:

Talia, you know, how I feel about your mom. She´s never brought us anything except misery. We don´t need her in our lives.

Talia:

I do and Bella does too, even if she won´t admit it.

Peter:

Call her and cancel.

Just at that moment, there is a knock on the door.

Talia:

Too late, I´m afraid. We´re just gonna have a nice, civilized dinner with no drama at all. It´ll be okay.

She gives Peter a kiss on the cheek and runs out to answer the door.

10. Int. Living Room. Evening.

Peter, Talia, Isabella, Darcy and Mia are seated around a rather small dinner table. The food looks alright, but the tension is so thick, that you could cut it with a knife.

Peter:

Sorry about the table, Darcy. It´s rare, that we´re this many for dinner.

Talia:

Usually, it´s just the two of us.

Darcy:

It´s okay. What grade are you in?

Mia:

She´s in grade 11.

Talia:

Actually, I just started grade 10.

Mia:

Yeah, of course.

Mia looks embarrassed.

Isabella:

Don´t be too surprised. I bet, that she can´t even tell you, how old I am.

Mia:

Bella ...

Peter:

She asked you a question.

Mia:

Twenty ...

She thinks hard, making Bella even more annoyed.

Mia:

Seven?

Isabella:

Good guess.

Talia sees, that it isn´t going according to plan and tries to change the subject.

Talia:

So, Darcy, did you go to Degrassi?

Darcy:

I did. With both of your parents.

Isabella:

She´s the one, dad should have stuck with!

Peter:

Not now. We have company.

Isabella:

Why not now, when we have them both here? Do you have children, Darcy?

Talia and Mia look annoyed with Isabella.

Darcy:

No.

Talia:

Stop it, Bella.

Mia:

Please, for Talia´s sake.

Isabella:

Just one more question! If you did, would you walk out on them to go on a three year party bender?

Darcy stands up.

Darcy:

I should leave. This is clearly a family thing.

Talia stands up.

Talia:

Don´t. It should be me, who leaves. I´m the one, who´s dumb enough to think that three adults, who act like it for a change. I guess, I was wrong!

Isabella:

Sorry, Talia. You know how I feel about her!

Talia:

Why do you think, she left all the time? It was because you and dad would never stop blaming her for the past! Have you thought about that?

Mia:

Talia, it´s not that simple.

Talia:

Screw all of you! Except for you, Darcy. My dad was right, when he said that you´re nice.

Darcy:

Thanks, I guess.

Talia storms off to her room.

11. Int. Hallway. Evening.

Peter is saying goodbye to Darcy.

Peter:

I had no idea, that she would invite the two of them. It´s a freakish case of bad luck.

Darcy:

Are they always like that?

Peter:

Pretty much. Mia left Bella behind, when she was four and she didn´t see her mom again for two years. That was the first of many times, she walked out on her and Talia.

Darcy:

At least, they have you.

Peter:

I couldn´t leave them to fend for themselves, could I?

Darcy:

Everyone always had you pegged as the bad boy.

Peter:

Wasn´t that what you fell for in me?

They smile at each other.

Darcy:

Part of it. But it was also because I saw a good heart underneath all that. It´s nice to see, that you haven´t changed too much in that regard.

Peter:

Thanks. I´m not used to hearing praise, to be honest.

Darcy:

I´m willing to try a second date, if you are?

Peter:

I´m game. The girls seem to like you.

Darcy:

But next time, I choose, where we eat. Okay?

Peter:

Okay.

She heads down the stairs and he heads back in to the arguing inside.

12. Int. Peter´s Apartment. Evening.

Isabella and Mia are still arguing, even if it mostly Isabella fueling it.

Isabella:

How long are you back for this time? A week? A month? She´s already got her hopes up again.

Mia:

I´m back for good.

Isabella:

Like I´ve never heard that before!

Mia:

I can´t change the past, Bella.

Isabella:

No, you can´t! You can´t give me the childhood back, that I spend worrying about you and thinking, that you abandoned me, because of something I did. You´re doing the same to Talia and I´m not letting you this time. You don´t deserve a second chance.

Peter comes into the living room. Both Mia and Isabella are crying.

Mia:

I went off to get a career, so I could take you out of the place, I grew up. Somewhere along the line, I lost track of the things, that are most important to me. That´s you and Talia.

Peter:

Bella, can you try to make it work, for Talia´s sake? She´s in her room crying her eyes out right now.

Isabella:

I´m sorry, dad, but she needs to hear it.

Peter:

Why? Can´t you allow her to have the dream, that she´ll get the family, she´s always dreamed of? One, where we all get along.

Mia:

Thanks, Peter. That´s all, that I want too.

Peter:

You´re not a kid anymore, Bella. Being an adult, also means being able to move on.

Isabella nods, even if she isn´t completely happy about it.

Isabella:

I´ll have a talk with Talia.

Isabella leaves them.

13. Int. Talia´s Room. Evening.

Isabella comes in. Talia looks up at her.

Isabella:

I´m so sorry, Tal. Tonight was your night and I made it about myself. Can I sit?

Talia nods and Isabella sits down next to her.

Isabella:

I´m just so mad at her and it´s not only because she abandoned me. I hate her more for doing it to you and dad.

Talia:

I only want us all to get along, so we could maybe have Christmas together or I don´t know, go to an amusement park together. Family stuff, you know?

Isabella:

I´ll do all of that, if you want me to. I don´t have a lot to be thrilled about in my life, but if I can make you smile, then at least that´s something.

Talia:

I want you to do them, because you want to. In stead of blaming her for everything, that´s gone wrong in your life, try to get over it. Talk to her and get it out. You´ll both feel a lot better afterwards.

Isabella:

You´re a smart kid, you know that?

They smile at each other.

Talia:

I´ll be 16 soon. I´m not a kid anymore

Isabella:

Sometimes I think to myself, that you´re the most adult one is this entire, screwed up family. If you come back into the living room with me, then I promise to behave. No more drama or yelling, just good, old fashioned, family fun time.

Talia:

That´s all I´m asking for.

Isabella stands up and gives Talia a hand to stand up. The two sisters hug.

14. Int. Living Room. Evening.

Talia and the others are having cocoa and marshmallows and enjoying themselves.

Mia:

How are things in school? Are you still friends with girl ... something with M ...

Talia:

You can do it, mom.

Mia:

Madison?

Isabella:

Disco!

Talia:

We still hang out, but mostly at school.

Isabella:

She has to put her after school time aside for Nick!

Talia blushes.

Talia:

I told you that in strict confidence!

Mia:

He´s cute. I would have gone for him, if I was your age.

Talia:

Can we not talk about this?

Peter:

Bella, look what you´ve done to your sister! She´s turning into a strawberry!

Mia:

Word of warning, Kiddo. He´s also got heartbreaker written all over him. Kind of like another boy, I used to know.

Peter:

Like mother, like daughter.

They smile at each other.

15. Int. Office. Morning.

Darcy is working the front desk, when Mia comes in and looks around. She sees Darcy and comes over to her.

Darcy:

Hello, Mia. Do you have an appointment?

Mia:

I came to talk to you. This place looks pretty much the same, that it did when I was a teenager.

Darcy:

What´s up?

Mia:

After you left, I had a long talk with Peter. He happened to mention, that he both have the same problem. You want to get out of your parent´s place and I want to get out of the motel room, I´ve been living in.

Darcy:

I can´t afford a security deposit and new furniture right now. Currently, I have around 800 dollars to my name.

Mia:

I have around 1200. That should get be enough to get us a small apartment. Hopefully one, that´s already furnished.

Darcy doesn´t look completely against the idea.

Darcy:

What about Peter?

Mia:

I´m pretty sure, that I´ve burned that bridge for good. He could do a lot worse than you and so could Talia. I should have put her well being ahead of my own a long time ago and It´s about time, I did that. You can get my number from Peter, if you´re interested.

Darcy:

I´ll let you know soon.

Mia leaves the office. Manny comes up to Darcy.

Manny:

Didn´t she used to go to Degrassi?

Darcy:

Yeah, she did. Now she´s about to become my new roommate.

Darcy smiles to herself.

CLOSING CREDITS