WHAT IF? - SEASON 1 EPISODE 8 - WHO´S THAT GIRL? PART 1
1. Ext. Little Miss Steaks. Evening.
Craig (in his waiter´s uniform) is outside catching some fresh air, when the extremely pretty 15 year old redhead Darcy Edwards (in her waitress uniform) comes out to him.
Darcy:
We can handle the rest, if you want to get home to your daughter.
Craig:
Thanks, but I need those 4 dollars from the last half hour.
Darcy:
Was it a tough first day?
Craig:
I could have been worse. At least I won´t come home smelling like deep fat fryer this time!
Darcy smiles at his joke.
Darcy:
How do you do it? I still feel like a kid in many ways. I can´t imagine, what it´s like to raise one at our age.
Craig:
We fight through it together, plus my step-dad and hs girlfriend help out, as much as they can.
Darcy:
That´s all well and good, but it has to be frustrating that there´s so many things, you don´t get to do. Go to parties, hang out with your friends. Doing normal teenage things.
Craig:
I went to my friend´s birthday party a few weeks ago and had a blast. Although, that was my first party since last summer.
Darcy:
Don´t you ever feel the need to just cut loose and do something crazy and unexpected? I know, that I would, if I were trapped, like you are.
Craig:
I´m not trapped! Yeah, it would be great if I could play in a band again or I don´t know, go on a weekend road trip with the guys for the hell of it.
Darcy:
Why don´t you? She can take care of the kid for a few days by herself, can´t she?
Craig:
That´s not the deal we made. I bring home the bacon and she takes care of Julia after school.
Darcy:
You still go to school too, don´t you?
Craig:
Yeah. What´s your point?
Darcy:
How again, are you not trapped? Don´t take this the wrong way, but it sounds to me like she has you by the you-know-what´s!
Craig clearly knows that she´s right, but isn´t keen on admitting it to himself.
OPENING CREDITS
2. Int. Darcy´s Room. Morning.
Darcy is in her PJ´s, about to get dressed for the day. Her nerdy 11 year old sister Clare is with her. Darcy holds a pretty summer dress up in front of herself and checks it out in her huge mirror.
Clare:
Don´t you think, it´s too cold for a dress like that?
Darcy:
I allowed you in here on the condition, that you didn´t bug me! Don´t make me kick you out, cuz I will!
Clare:
Don´t come crying to me, when you get a urinary infection!
Darcy:
Eww! You know, sometimes you´re too clever for your own good!
Clare:
I get that a lot! Who are you trying to impress?
Darcy:
No one!
Clare:
Is it those mean girls again? Why do you even want to be friends with them?
Darcy:
Because they´re my ticket onto the Spirit Squad. Anyway, I can´t seem to impress them, no matter what I do.
Clare:
Who´s it for, then? Is it a boy?
Darcy:
You´re awfully nosy this morning, little sis!
Clare smiles to herself.
Clare:
It is a boy, isn´t it? Tell me about him.
Darcy:
It´s a boy, but he´s just a friend, that I work with.
Clare:
You wish, you were more than that, don´t you?
Darcy turns and smiles at her.
Darcy:
Some day, when you start dating, I´ll bombard you with questions, like you´re doing right now! I´ve already said too much. Now, get out of here, so I can change in peace.
Clare (singing teasingly):
You have a crush!
Darcy:
Move it, you little runt!
Clare quickly mozies out of there laughing and Darcy closes the door behind her. She checks the dress one last time, but decides to go with a much more conservative jeans and sweater option.
3. Int. Raditch´s Office. Day.
JT and Paige are with principal Raditch. They look annoyed.
JT:
You couldn´t have told us this sooner?
Raditch:
The school board made the decision last night. You´ll have to find a different play than Dracula. They don´t think it´s appropriate.
Paige:
We start casting today! We have to have new scripts printed and ...
Raditch:
I assure you, that we´ll give you all the help, you need.
JT:
Good, cuz we´ll need a lot of it!
He sulks, as Paige strokes him arm to cheer him up.
4. Int. Hallway. Day.
Paige and JT come out from Raditch´s office.
JT:
Do you have any brilliant ideas? Because I´m fresh out at the moment!
Paige:
It isn´t that there isn´t a ton of great plays, it´s just which one is best for this crowd.
JT:
There´s always our old friend Shakespeare.
Paige makes a face.
Paige:
Hasn´t that been done to death already?
JT gets an idea.
JT:
Not if we do a modern version of it.
Paige:
You´re talking about re-writing an entire script. Opening night is in less than a month, JT! We don´t have time for that.
JT:
Remember that movie "Romeo + Juliet", that was like a modern version of Romeo and Juliet with the story made up to date, but them keeping the same dialogue?
Paige:
I remember it. It was a bit weird, but DiCaprio was cute in it!
JT:
What if we adapted it into a modern day High School comedy? Where the two feuding families are replaced by two different schools and Romeo goes to one school and Juliet to the other? With the old fashioned dialogue, we can turn it into a farce. After all, isn´t it all in how you play a role, as much as the role itself?
Paige:
That´s brilliant! We can throw some songs in to spice it up!
JT:
They probably have old copies of the script, we can use.
She clearly loves the idea. He seems hopeful about it too.
5. Int. Office. Day.
Jay is at a job interview and is dressed for the occasion for once. Things seem to be going good and the mood is good. The guy giving the job interview is a friendly looking guy in his 40´s.
Interviewer:
Why should we take a chance on you?
Jay:
Because I want this.
The interviewer can´t help smiling.
Interviewer:
That´s not enough, Jay.
Jay:
I´m not the best at expressing myself. Look, the thing is that no one´s ever believed in me. My mom was the first one, when she left me and my dad. Since then, it´s become clear, that no one believes, I can make anything of my life. It got to the point, where I started to believe it. I hit rock bottom and decided, I was going to prove them all wrong. I know, that I´m never gonna be a rocket scientist or anything like that, but I can´t just do this. I can do this as well or better than anyone else, who works for you. The only thing I need to make it happen, is for someone to give me a chance.
The interviewer looks impressed with his answer.
6. Int. The Dot. Day.
Jay is celebrating getting the job with luxurious lunch consisting of a burger, fries and a soda. The girl he saved comes over to this table and smiles at him.
Caroline:
If it isn´t my hero!
He invites her to sit down and she does.
Jay:
Want a French fry?
Caroline:
Don´t mind if I do!
She eats one of his fries and looks comfortable around him.
Caroline:
I´m Caroline, by the way.
Jay:
Jay. Why aren´t you in school, Caroline?
Caroline:
Why aren´t you, Jay?
Jay:
I asked first.
Caroline:
I´ve been to see my shrink. I´m still nowhere near over what happened. You?
Jay;
I just came from a job interview. I´m the new apprentice at Tony´s Motors.
Caroline looks happy for him.
Caroline:
That´s so cool! Congratulations!
Jay:
This feast is my way of celebrating it.
The waitress comes over to them.
Waitress:
Are you ordering?
Caroline:
A BLT and a medium Sprite, please.
The waitress jots it down leaves them.
Caroline:
You don´t mind, if I join you, do you?
Jay:
Nah, it´s fine. It beats eating alone.
They smile at each other.
7. Int. Classroom. Day.
Darcy is reading a manuscript, when Chantay comes over and sits down next to her.
Chantay:
You won´t give up, will you?
Darcy:
I might as well try. Who knows? I could make friends.
Chantay:
Not to rain on your parade, but the standard here is high. You´ll be up against girls, who have already been on TV.
Darcy tries not to look intimidated.
Darcy:
If I nail the audition ...
Chantay:
They´ll still choose one of them, because they have name value. You´ll be lucky, if you get more than one line.
Darcy:
You don´t think, I should waste my time?
Chantay:
Concentrate on getting on the Spirit Squad. That´s where the real fun is!
Darcy puts the script away and looks discouraged.
8. Int. Hallway. Day.
Darcy comes walking up the hallway by herself, still carrying her manuscript. She sees Manny and Craig sitting on a bench and joking around. She tries to sneak past them, but Craig notices her.
Craig:
Hey, Darcy!
Darcy comes over to them and smiles nervously.
Manny:
This the Darcy, you told me about?
She stands up and they shake hands.
Manny:
I´m Manny. He´s probably told you all about me.
Darcy:
So much, that it feels like, I already know you. Darcy Edwards. I transferred here a few months ago.
Manny:
I´m just glad, that Craig finally has a work friend.
Craig:
My last job, I worked with two guys, who were fighting over the same girl. Not pleasant!
Darcy smiles at his joke. Manny sneaks a peek and sees the script, she´s holding.
Manny:
Are you auditioning?
Darcy:
I was going to, but I don´t know if I should now.
Craig:
Why not?
Darcy:
I´m probably not good enough.
Manny:
How do you know, unless you try? Plus, we happen to know the directors, so a good word could be put in for you.
Darcy looks pleased.
Darcy:
You´d do that for me? You don´t even know me.
Manny:
It´s nothing! Any friend of Craig´s is a friend of mine.
Darcy:
Wow! Thanks, I guess!
Craig:
Knock their socks off!
Darcy:
I´ll try my best! Bye!
She leaves them and smiles widely.
9. Ext. Street. Day.
Jay and Caroline come out from the Dot together.
Caroline:
You like Kid Elrick?
Jay:
Who doesn´t? Are you going to his concert next week?
Caroline:
I´m pretty much grounded until graduation. Us having lunch together was the most fun I´ve had since that night. Can we do it again sometime?
Jay:
I can´t see why not. You´re a cool chick, Caroline.
Caroline looks pleased.
Caroline:
You think, that I´m cool?
Jay:
Yeah! You´re easy to talk to and pleasant to be around.
Caroline smiles and gets her phone out.
Caroline:
What´s your number?
Jay:
565-214-862
Caroline types it in on her phone and sends him a text message.
Caroline:
There, now you have mine.
Jay:
Where are you going?
Caroline:
Home. My parents have me on a tight leash these days. Them finding out, that I was trying to buy Coke kind of freaked them out.
Jay:
I can give you a ride, if it´s not too far.
Caroline:
It´s only a few blocks. You don´t mind?
Jay:
I´m in no hurry today.
Caroline:
Cool. I had a feeling, that you would be like this.
Jay:
How´s that?
Caroline:
A guy, it´s impossible not to like.
Jay laughs.
Jay:
You don´t know, what I used to be like!
Caroline:
Maybe not, but I like the guy, you are now.
Jay looks pleased and leads her to his car. He opens the passenger door for her and she gets in. He closes it after her and it´s clear from her facial expression, that she´s falling for him, if she wasn´t already before this.
10. Int. Gymnasium. Day.
Paige and JT are in charge of the auditions and are on stage addressing everyone through a microphone. Emma is there with Sean, Manny and Craig for support, as is Darcy, among many other hopefuls.
JT:
Hello everyone and welcome to the casting for this year´s final school play. We see that many of you have your scripts with you. You can leave those at the exit, when you leave. The school board has nixed our production of Dracula.
There´s mal-contempt and surprise among the auditioners.
Paige:
We only found out a few hours ago, so stop moaning! In it´s place, we will be doing something, this school has never seen before or will again. A modern day musical version of Romeo and Juliet.
JT:
Which is why our Romeo has to be someone, who plays guitar and our Juliet someone, who can sing.
Some of those who were going to audition leave them, mostly looking annoyed.
Paige:
Do we have anyone here, who can play the guitar?
We cut down to Craig and Manny.
Manny:
You should try out!
Craig:
I´m not an actor!
Manny:
You can play guitar and sing. Go for it!
Craig:
I don´t know ...
Manny:
JT? WE HAVE ONE DOWN HERE!
She smiles that sweet smile at him, that he can never stand for and he gives in. He begins to walk up to the stage, to Darcy´s delight.
Paige:
We need a Juliet, who can sing.
Darcy begins to walk up there, along with a handful of other girls. We cut down to Manny, Sean and Emma.
Emma:
Why don´t you try out?
Manny:
Aren´t you the one, who´s here to audition?
Emma:
I can´t sing, but you can.
Sean:
I didn´t know, you were a singer, Manny?
Manny:
I love to sing, but I won´t have time for it.
Emma:
We can babysit, if you need us to. Can´t we, Sean?
Sean:
It´s no problem.
Emma:
You need this more than I do. Get up there!
Manny gives in and walks up to the stage. There´s 10 girls, including Darcy and Manny.
11. Ext. Degrassi. Day.
JT and Paige leave the school holding hands. Manny races to catch up with them and gets in their way, so they stop walking.
Manny:
You can tell me. Am I playing Juliet?
JT:
That´s top secret.
Manny:
For old times sake?
She begs him with her eyes and they give in.
Paige:
It´s between you and Darcy. You were equally good.
JT:
We´d love to give you both a big part. The problem is that there´s so few good female characters in it.
Paige:
I guess, that since he had to have men playing all the roles anyway, then he might as well write mostly male parts.
Manny:
Can´t we change one of the main characters to a girl? Who says, that we have to obey by the rules of his time?
Paige and JT don´t look too dismissive of the idea.
JT:
We´re breaking all of them anyway.
Paige:
Which one do you have in mind?
Manny considers it for a moment.
Manny:
What about Mercutio? We can rename him to Mercutia.
Paige:
It´s daring.
JT:
I like it. You should play her.
Manny:
Me? That means, I won´t be playing Juliet.
JT:
It was your idea. It only seems right, that you should play the first female Mercutio.
Manny:
Alright, I accept! Can I tell Darcy, that she´s playing Juliet? She´ll be over the moon.
Paige:
If you want to. Now, if you´ll excuse us, we have a ton of work to get to!
They leave her and she walks over to Darcy and Craig, who come out from the school.
Manny:
Congratulations, Juliet!
Darcy looks overjoyed.
Darcy:
I got the part?
Manny:
That´s what they told me!
Darcy:
YES!
She clenches her fists in triumph.
Craig:
Who are you playing?
Manny:
Mercutio, or in this case Mercutia.
Darcy:
Thanks, you guys. I would have given up beforehand, if it hadn´t been for you.
Craig:
Don´t mention it. We´ll help you fit in here in no time.
Darcy looks happy.
12. Int. Little Miss Steaks. Evening.
Jay is hanging out with Alex, while enjoying a pair of huge steaks.
Alex:
I can´t let you pay for this.
Jay:
It´s about time I bought you a meal, that wasn´t from a hot dog stand or a gas station. Anyway, I still owe you a fifty.
Alex:
Pay for this and we´ll call it even. We can call it my congratulations present to you.
Jay:
I won´t say no to that deal!
Alex:
I´m proud of you, Jay. I hate to say it, but you´re proving me wrong.
Jay gets a text message and gets his phone out. He reads it and smiles, before putting his phone away. Alex looks intrigued.
Alex:
Was it from a girl?
Jay:
It´s from the girl, I saved. I ran into her today and we had lunch together.
Alex:
Are you thinking about dating her?
Jay:
Alex, she´s 14. She´s a pretty little thing, but she´s too young for me.
Alex:
If she´s texting you, then she´s probably into you. It´s a very 14 year old girl thing to do.
Jay:
I didn´t do anything to lead her on. We just talked and had lunch together
Alex:
I´d watch out, if I were you, if she´s buying drugs and she´s mentally unstable. Those two coupled with a crush on a guy she can´t have, sound like a bad combo.
Jay:
We´re talking about a 90 pound girl. I can handle it, if there´s any problems with her.
Alex:
I´d cut all ties with her, before this turns into a teen version of "Fatal Attraction".
Jay looks evasive. Alex takes another bite and lets out a large, satisfied "Mmm". Darcy comes over to them.
Darcy:
Would you like some more drinks?
Jay:
Two root beers.
Darcy:
Coming right up!
Darcy walks up to the bar, where Craig is also waiting for a drinks order. She´s still all smiles, which Craig can´t help noticing and smirks.
Darcy:
What?
Craig:
I think I have to nickname you "Smiling Darcy".
Darcy:
Trust me, I´m not like this all the time. It´s only, when I´m around certain people, that I like.
Craig:
You made an impression on Manny. She sees you as a possible friend.
Darcy:
She´s a sweet girl. I get why you chose her.
Craig:
She just loves helping people, that girl!
The bartender brings Jay two large beers and he puts them on his tray.
Craig:
Later!
Craig leaves them and the bartender turns his attention to Darcy.
Bartender:
What do you need, Darcy?
Darcy:
Two root beers.
The bartender starts pouring them for her, as she watches Craig walk over to the table and serve his diners.
Darcy (muttering to herself):
And while you´re at it, can you get this doomed crush out of my head?
She sulks, knowing that getting Craig would be close to impossible.
CLOSING CREDITS