EXT. SPORTS CENTER - AFTERNOON
Henri and MR CARRIER are running on the track. Mr Carrier gets tired and stops, panting. Henri stops too, but other than being sweaty he shows no sign of having run for a long time.
MR CARRIER
How are you not tired?
HENRI
You're getting old
MR CARRIER
And as my eldest you're about to as well.
HENRI
Don't insult me or you'll have no one to work out with.
They sit on a bench.
MR CARRIER
You still haven't explained why you didn't try out this year.
HENRI
Well, I'll spend this first year buttering up Mr Armstrong, so next year I'm a hundred percent in the team.
MR CARRIER
As long as you don't let yourself go this year.
Your first priority should be sports, then school. I wouldn't even count girls in the list
Henri's phone buzzes from his pocket.
HENRI
Don't worry dad, I know
He takes the phone out and checks the notification. It's a hastygram dm from . He deletes the notification and put the phone back in place.
HENRI
Sport before girls.
INT. SCHOOL'S GYM - MORNING
Henri is running around the gym with everyone else that is actually doing PE, while his friends are on the bleachers hanging out. He passes in front of them and stops running.
HENRI
Having fun?
GEORGIA
Very much, every day I wake up and question why I don't spend more hours of my life watching guys duck-like walk their way to an A.
Rebecca is on her phone. She clicks something and shows it to Alex.
ALEX
God you're a stalker!
REBECCA
And right!
Ori leans over to see what they're looking at.
ORI
I refuse to believe his name is Darryl.
HENRI
What are you talking about?
ORI
Mr Armstrong has a girlfriend.
Henri sits next to them.
HENRI
Is this all you talk about during gym?
ALEX
Sometimes we talk about how ugly you look.
Henri slaps Alex on the shoulder, and quickly moves his hand away.
GEORGIA
It's fun! I know for a fact Del Rossi has an husband.
ORI
More facerange snooping?
Henri looks shocked.
HENRI
You can't accuse a teacher of being a homosexual.
Rebecca stares at him in disbelief, then starts laughing.
REBECCA
Do you hear yourself? Homosexual? Is this 2003?
GEORGIA
Also I'm not accusing him of anything. We live on the same street, I've seen the guy.
ALEX
He does wear a ring, so if he's not married to the dude, he has something to say to his wife.
GEORGIA
He's hot, tall, dark hair. Frequently traveling, brings a guitar case with him.
Georgia clutches her heart, swooning.
ORI
Okay, remind me to never spite you.
GEORGIA
It's not creepy, we live near each other, it's normal to know stuff.
ORI
I don't even know if I have neighbours.
REBECCA
Do you have a back garden?
ORI
Yeah
REBECCA
Explains it.
Rebecca takes her phone back from Alex.
HENRI
Still, we shouldn't be talking about a teacher this way.
ALEX
Mr Perfect, aren't you supposed to be running right now? What will daddy think that you're skipping gym?
Henri gets up.
HENRI
Idiot.
INT. HALLWAYS - MORNING
FRANKLIN CHRISTOPHER,17, is walking with his sister Alyssa to class. Her septum piercing is turned inwards.
They run into Nick, standing by their locker.
NICK
Aren't you late for church club or something Franklin?
FRANLKIN
Always nice to meet you Nick
NICK
Really? For me it's always a pain in the...
Jude arrives and puts an arm around Alyssa's shoulders.
JUDE
Hey, Frank, buddy, care if I steal back my girlfriend?
FRANKLIN
Frank-lin. And sure, I have better places to be too.
Nick nods.
NICK
Church club?
FRANKLIN
It's actually called "Jesus— club", Jesus not church.
NICK
(mockingly)
Yeah, my proposal was dumb, I can see it in hindsight.
Alyssa stares at Franklin.
ALYSSA
So, you had to go?
Franklin leaves and Alyssa flips her septum the right way.
JUDE
Thank God for Jesus Club, this way he lets you breath sometimes.
ALYSSA
Technically I'm still grounded. Also he's not going to Jesus club
NICK
Then what's he doing? Joining the gymnastic team? Because I refuse to loose my spot as only non-girl
They start walking towards class.
ALYSSA
He's working on the play, writing it actually.
JUDE
Good for him.
INT. DIGITAL ARTS CLASSROOM - AFTERNOON
Henri and Alex are turned towards the girls' desks. They're working on Georgia's laptop.
GEORGIA
I swear, whose brilliant idea was it to have digital arts be such a big deal when the wifi is this bad
HENRI
I mean yeah, the wifi for the whole school is going to be stretched thin.
REBECCA
Does Simpson pay you to suck his dick os is that something you do of your own volition?
HENRI
I am just saying it makes sense.
ALEX
Well, I'd be you hotspot but I'm out of data.
Henri takes his phone from his pocket and hands it Georgia.
HENRY
Use mine.
Georgia takes it.
GEORGIA
Code?
HENRY
5-1-2-8-8
ALEX
Good to know that safety is not your concern in the slightest.
Georgia shows something on Henri's phone to Rebecca.
REBECCA
That's a lot of unopened dms.
GEORGIA
From the same girl... Who is Extra Namour?
Henri looks worried.
HENRI
No one really, just spam.
Georgia fiddles a little more with the phone.
GEORGIA
Or maybe Charlotte Booth? Purple hair, purple polo, in the gymnastics team?
HENRI
How do you...?
(Much more worried than before)
You didn't open the chat did you?
Georgia smirks.
GEORGIA
I may also have told her your dms didn't work basically at all this past month.
HENRI
Why would you do that?
Rebecca takes the phone from Georgia's hands.
REBECCA
She answered "I'm sorry, you probably felt so bad thinking that I thought you were ignoring me"
GEORGIA
Hot and nice, I want to date her!
HENRY
What?
REBECCA
She's invited you to this gymnastics thing this afternoon!
ALEX
You're going
Henri takes the phone back.
HENRI
I was supposed to sleep over at your house?
ALEX
Yeah, but a date is more important, isn't it?
HENRI
Yeah, I gue... We made plans.
ALEX
You can still come over, just later. I mean, my mom would miss you.
EXT. SCHOOL ENTRANCE - LUNCH
Alyssa and Jude are sitting on the steps, eating. Jude is on his phone, listening upset.
JUDE
Thank you anyways.
He closes the call.
ALYSSA
You didn't get it?
JUDE
Who the hell calls if they're not going to offer you a role?
Alyssa takes a bit out of her sandwich.
ALYSSA
What about the drama department?
JUDE
What about it?
ALYSSA
I heard the play has a male lead...
JUDE
I don't do do stage acting.
ALYSSA
Your last commercial was a year and a half ago, you don't do acting full stop.
Jude rolls his eyes at the joke.
JUDE
I guess I can try and audition, just not to sit here and do nothing.
INT. DRAMA CLASSROOM– AFTERNOON
Jude is standing in front of the creative team table, reciting a monologue. Sitting at the table are Verity and Franklin, while Charlotte is working on props at the side.
VERITY
Well thanks. Cast list will be up in a couple days.
Jude nods and leaves.
CHARLOTTE
He was good.
VERITY
Especially compared to the other people who auditioned for this role. Especially your pathetic ex. His thing is sports and he should stick to that.
CHARLOTTE
I'll tell him what you think
VERITY
What's he gonna do? Make sure I get suspended next time I get a tardy?
Franklin puts down the pen he was fidgeting with on the table.
FRANKLIN
We can't do Jude. I could never work with him
VERITY
Why? He's an atheist, or something?
CHARLOTTE
He's dating Christopher n3, that's why
VERITY
Well it's either him or a piece of cardboard.
FRANKLIN
We can't give him the part, it'd be too easy on the guy.
Verity smirks.
VERITY
I only said we were going to cast him, I never said we were going to be easy on him.
Charlotte looks at her phone, happy because of a message she received.
VERITY
Got somewhere to be, Booth?
CHARLOTTE
We both have, don't we?
VERITY
You're right, I always bite my lip whenever I think of gymnastics.
EXT. PARK- LATE AFTERNOON
On the grass are laid mats and tumblers for the event. Several of the girls in the team are hanging around, most of them with their tracksuit pants and the leotard, but some only have the leotard.
Henri arrived and notices Charlotte stretching next to a tumbler, with the tracksuit on. She notices him back and waves to him.
She whispers something to Verity next to her and walks towards him.
CHARLOTTE
(flirty)
Hi.
HENRI
Hi... So what is this?
CHARLOTTE
Just a bit of tumbling. And the Elite 5 are going to show their competition winning floor routines.
HENRI
Elite 5?
CHARLOTTE
It's how we call the five of us that compete in all meets and not just the ones between schools.
Henri looks around, uneasy. He swallows.
HENRI
I assume you're Elite?
Or at least you should be.
Charlotte smiles.
CHARLOTTE
I wish. You do anything? Sports-wise.
HENRI
I'm quite good at football.
CHARLOTTE
My... It's not not important right now.
We could work out together sometime.
COACH SILVA walks next to the girls stretching where Charlotte was before. She sees Charlotte to the side and moves her head to make sure she gets back.
CHARLOTTE
I have to go.
HENRI
Yeah, sorry for occupying you.
CHARLOTTE
I could never be sorry about talking to you.
She gets back and starts taking off the suit to only be in her leotard. Henri watches, a bit uncomfortable, but otherwise not reacting.
After a while he takes his phone out and dms her on hastygram. "My parents need me home"
He leaves.
INT. ALEX'S ROOM - EVENING
Alex and Henri are sitting on bean bags at the feet of the bed, in front of an open television.
MRS DE GEITER (O.S.)
Goodnight boys.
HENRI
Goodnight Mrs De Geiter!
MRS DE GEITER(O.S.)
(louder)
Good night!
Alex turns the tv off.
MRS DE GEITER (O.S)
Thanks, Alexander.
Alex moves to the bed and throws a duvet to Henri.
ALEX
You stay on the beanbag tonight. I'm not sleeping next to someone this bad at ROD.
HENRI
You're not any better, hey
Henri jumps on the bed and tackles Alex. Alex ends up with his back to the bed, Henri above him pinning him by the shoulders. Henri quickly jumps back.
HENRI
Whatever, have fun.
ALEX
You know I was joking right?
HENRI
It's not uncomfortable.
ALEX
It's a bean bag, of course it's uncomfortable!
HENRI
(protectively)
Can't I do what I want?
ALEX
Sure...
Henri sits down on the bean bag and drapes the duvet on himself.
ALEX
Okay, at least be next to me? What's the point of a sleepover if you might as well be sleeping in another room?
Henri gets up and moves the bean bag next to the bed.
ALEX
So, with Charlotte?
HENRI
What about her?
ALEX
You were here basically at dawn, what happened?
HENRI
Nothing happened
ALEX
Yeah, that's what we're discussing, you were supposed to be on a date.
HENRI
No, it was more just looking at her jumping around.
ALEX
All the better
Henri gets seated and turns the other way.
HENRI
It's late, we have school tomorrow, go to sleep.
ALEX
Whatever you want of me, I'll do.
Alex closes the light.
EXT. DEGRASSI ENTRANCE - EARLY MORNING
Alex is sitting on the steps waiting for Alyssa to arrive. Verity accosts him.
VERITY
Hello, Jude Hart, right?
JUDE
Yeah...
VERITY
Well, you audition was great, but it felt like something was lacking. Diodor is a very specific character.
She sits next to him.
VERITY
You know? Very loyal. I couldn't see that in you, yet. But you can always show it to me.
JUDE
What do you mean?
VERITY
You need to earn the role. Consider this... a callback.
JUDE
Do I need to bring more material?
VERITY
No, just this attitude of yours. See you later with instructions.
Verity gets up and leaves.
INT. HALLWAYS-MORNING
Alex and Henri are walking towards class when they see Charlotte at her locker. Alex elbows Henri.
ALEX
Go talk to her.
Henri walks to her locker. She closes it.
HENRI
Hi.
She takes her phone out and shows him his own histogram story from the day before. It's Alex saying he stole his phone and now needs to shame him for loosing.
CHARLOTTE
Your parents needed you home.
HENRI
Oh, I...
CHARLOTTE
If you don't like me, tell me, don't do... this!
Henri looks worried, then kisses her. Charlotte hesitates a bit, then kisses him back.
When they part, Henri is not looking any more relaxed.
HENRI
I'm sorry, I have to go.
He leaves, almost running. Alex notices this and follows him.
INT. BOY'S TOILET - CONTINUOUS
Henri is sitting on the floor, panicked and almost crying. Alex walks in and srlottees him, and sits next to him.
ALEX
Hey, what's wrong?
HENRI
Nothing
ALEX
Very convincing. You've been weird all week.
Henri turns his head to Alex and kisses him, then quickly, almost shocked, goes back to his almost fatal position.
ALEX
What?
HENRI
Sorry.
Alex seems to realise the situation.
ALEX
Better or worse than Charlotte?
HENRI
Better...
ALEX
(almost laughing)
I'm glad I was helpful.
Henri smiles, then hugs Alex.
INT. CAFETERIA - LUNCH TIME
Jude is in line to get his lunch with Nick. Verity is next to Corinna, at the very side of the cafeteria.
She walks up to him.
VERITY
Hart! Callbacks begin now. In the parking lot. Are you coming?
Jude is conflicted. He looks to Nick and then Verity again.
JUDE
Yeah...
VERITY
Good, hurry.
Verity goes back to Corinna and they leave. Jude is following behind them.
EXT. PARKING LOT- CONTINUOUS
Daphne is sitting on Verity's car, waiting for them. She has an oblong bag next to her.
Verity, Corinna and Jude arrive
DAPHNE
Who's the kid?
VERITY
He's just here to keep guard, don't worry.
JUDE
Keep guard to what?
Verity takes the bag from Daphne and opens it. There's a bottle of wine and some plastic glasses.
VERITY
Just tell us if someone's coming, okay?
They take out the bottle and open it.
INT. HALLWAYS- MOMENTS AFTER
Henri is at his locker, his eyes puffy from crying. Charlotte is tentatively walking towards him.
CHARLOTTE
Everything fine?
HENRI
I'm a bit sick I think.
CHARLOTTE
Sorry. I shouldn't have pushed you to...
Henri stares in front of him, to avoid catching her eyes.
HENRI
(more to himself than to her)
I don't like you. At all.
CHARLOTTE
I gathered.
HENRI
(more to himself than to her)
I might as well have kissed a wall. I'm sorry.
Charlotte leaves, hurt.
EXT. PARKING LOT- MOMENTS LATER
Verity, Daphne and Corinna are all in Verity's car, while Jude is outside, looking for people. He was given a glass, but it's still basically full.
He notices Coach Silva walking towards her car, not that far from them.
JUDE
Coat Silva is coming.
VERITY
Well, you either duck or be sorry for yourself, choose wisely.
The girls in the car all fold themselves as not to be seen from the street. Jude, being outside, cannot.
Coach Silva notices him from where she's standing.
COACH SILVA
Hart, what are you doing in the parking lot?
JUDE
Taking in fresh air.
COACH SILVA
Come closer please.
Jude complies, forgetting about the wine in his glass. Silva realises what it is from the smell.
COACH SILVA
Care to walk with me to Mr Simpson?
JUDE
No, ma'am.
EXT. DEGRASSI ENTRANCE- EASTLY MORNING
Jude is hanging out with Nick and Alyssa.
NICK
One month detention?
ALYSSA
You did kind of, sort of, deserve it.
JUDE
Don't worry I hate myself just fine.
Franklin walks up to them.
ALYSSA
Everything alright?
FRANKLIN
Yeah, uhm... Cast list will be up in a couple hours, but. You're definitely going to be Diodor. Congratulations.
Not far from them are Alex and Ori, talking about a new patch for ROD.
Henri arrives to them.
HENRI
Hey. Ori I need to... discuss the History project with Alex.
ORI
Do it later.
HENRI
I just need to know if...
Henri looks around.
HENRI
You were planning on telling people. If it's going to be about a woman or a guy.
ORI
It's an History project, no need to be secretive about it.
Alex nods.
ALEX
Don't worry, I wouldn't dream of doing that.
HENRI
Thanks. I still need to think about it some more.