Author´s note: You´re probably asking yourself, what is this series, that I´ve clicked on to? What it is, is me re-imagining some of the best seasons of Degrassi, as it would be, if one major detail had been changed. In the first seasons, we go back to my favorite seasons in all of Degrassi, starting with season 4 of "Next Generation". The major detail that´s changed came in the episode "Holiday Part 2" (season 3, episode 12), when Craig had to make the choice between Manny and Ashley. As we know, him not doing so, meant that the girls made it for him and both of them dumped him. The change here is that he manned up and came clean about his infidelity to Ashley in the scene, when she gave him the guitar, leading to them breaking up for good. This left the door open for him and Manny, who immediately became a couple.
The fun part is to explore is how this ripple effect will change things for everyone, not just Manny and Craig. I´ve set Manny´s pregnancy to begin sometime in early December 2003 (even though that whole timeline did get a bit messed up in the series), which is why we´re joining the story in October 2004, in what would be episode 5 of the 4th season. Any changes that have happened already will be explained over the course of the story and you´ll find several of them in the first episode.
As you probably expected, I´ve played around with the stories, couples etc. a lot, so you won´t be reading a re-telling of season 4. Some characters have more to do, while others have less to do, than they did originally and stories that were given to one character (Craig´s mental health issues for instance, that I´ve given to someone else) can now happen to another character, so all bets are off, as they say. Things turn out better for some and worse for others, but one thing I will guarantee, is that none of you can predict exactly, what´s going to happen. In other words, if you read this series, then you´ll be in for one wild and unpredictable ride! This first episode is a double length episode and the first season consists of 18 episodes.
With that out of the way, I bid you welcome to the very first episode of "What If?".
WHAT IF - SEASON 1 EPISODE 1 - MAD WORLD
Disclaimer: I don´t own Degrassi or the characters from it.
1. Int. Manny and Craig´s Room. Morning.
We start from the point of view of a baby, that´s looking up at a 15 year old Manny, as she´s changing it´s diaper, while smiling down at it.
Manny:
How´s Mommy´s little miracle doing? This is a big day for Mommy. It´s the day, she returns to school, after having you. She´s looking forward to hanging out with her friends and things going back to normal, because they have been a little crazy this past year. First mommy became pregnant with you, then there was all the drama with mommy, daddy and Ashley, that thankfully ended in the best way, it could. Then your grandparents didn´t want mommy living with them, so she had to move in with Joey, Caitlin, Angie and Craig. Today is the first step back to normality and as much as mommy loves her little girl, she really needs it.
Craig comes up behind her and kisses her on the cheek, to her joy.
Craig:
Need any help?
Manny:
I´m a professional by now! Remember how hard, we thought parenting would be?
Craig:
There´s more to being a parent, than knowing how to change a diaper. She´s gonna grow up, you know?
Manny:
That won´t be for a long time and thank god for it! Things are perfect, the way they are!
Craig:
Except for that thing, we talked about.
Manny:
Not in front of the baby!
Craig:
I only called it "that thing"!
Manny:
We´ll talk about it some other time! Right now, I want to enjoy this one perfect moment with you and Julia.
Craig:
Alright, Honey. But you promise, that we can talk about it?
Manny:
Okay!
She´s annoyed with him, but doesn´t want to show any negativity in front of their daughter.
OPENING CREDITS
2. Ext. Degrassi. Morning.
Ashley and Terri arrive at school together. Ashley is annoyed to see Manny arriving with Craig, holding hands and looking like a happy couple.
Ashley:
Great! It´s M-Day!
Terri:
You promised, you would play nice!
Ashley:
Haven´t I so far? Did i not, like you asked me to, keep my mouth shut, when I found out that Craig had knocked her up?
Terri:
You can´t tell me, that wasn´t just a little to get back at them?
Ashley:
A tiny bit. "Hell hath no fury", as they say.
Terri:
That would be a great name for a band!
Ashley:
It would, wouldn´t it? It sucks seeing them all happy together like this. I just know, that Craig is gonna avoid talking to me, because he knows, she´ll get jealous. At the same time, I can´t get mad at her, because I know, I would feel the same way, if it were me.
Terri:
I still have to face my former beater and stalker every day. I can´t tell you how glad I am, that you advised me against getting back together with him. God knows, how that would have ended!
Ashley:
What are friends for? Anyway, I thought that Rick was doing better. That´s what Toby tells me.
Terri:
Did he tell you, that Rick has been diagnosed as manic depressive?
Ashley:
No wonder, the guy was a little on the weird side!
Terri:
The police told me. He´s medicated and under strict orders to stay away from me, so I don´t have any reason to fear him anymore. Nope, Rick Murray was just a small bump on the road!
Ashley can´t help smiling at Terri´s positivity.
3. Int. Hallway. Morning.
Paige is standing by her locker and she was supposed to get books out of it, but she´s become distracted by a text on her phone, that´s making her smile widely. Ashley and Terri come up to her and smile at her teasingly.
Terri:
A text from your secret boyfriend?
Ashley:
Can I see it?
Paige quickly hides her phone away.
Paige:
It wasn´t from a secret boyfriend, because I don´t have one!
Ashley:
Yeah, right! Those texts you keep getting, that always make you smile, those are from who, your dentist?
Terri:
You can tell us, who it is!
Paige:
There really isn´t anyone. It was a joke text!
Terri:
What was the joke?
Ashley:
You just read it, so it must be fresh in your memory.
Paige:
It wasn´t that funny, come to think of it!
Ashley:
Whoever he might or might not be, we´re just glad, you´ve found someone. That whole break up with Spinner can´t have been easy.
Paige tries to stop smiling, as she gets books out of her locker.
4. Int. Classroom. Morning.
JT is holding his phone, hoping to get a reply, when Emma comes in and sits down next to him. She´s all smiles, which he notices, as he puts his phone away.
JT:
What´s with the great mood?
Emma:
What´s with yours?
JT:
I´m always in a great mood! Why wouldn´t I be?
Emma:
Manny is coming back today, Snake´s doing great, even the baby hasn´t been keeping me up lately, so I´m doing great!
JT:
What aren´t you telling me?
Emma:
Nothing that comes to mind!
JT:
Em, I´ve known you since we were ten. There´s some kind of special glow to you this morning.
Emma:
All you´re seeing is the glow of happiness from knowing, that my life is perfect right now!
They see Manny come in and are all smiles.
Emma:
Manny! Over here!
Manny comes over to them and sits down next to Emma.
JT:
Welcome back to the conformity factory!
Manny:
Call it what you want. Right now, I call it my version of heaven!
She waves hello to other students and looks pleased to be back.
5. Int. Shop Class. Morning.
Craig is yawning, as he watches Sean work on a car. The classroom is otherwise busy with students working on other cars.
Sean:
You have to learn this, or they´ll fail you. It´s simple, look.
Craig:
You put the round thing in the other thing and tighten up the thing-a-ma-jic, after you´re done!
Sean:
I don´t think, it´ll cut it, if they ask you.
Craig:
I´m tired as hell. Julia woke me up two times.
Sean:
If only Julia was a hot girl, who woke you up because she wanted some, right?
Craig:
Don´t talk that way! I love both her and Manny.
Sean:
There´s no regrets?
Craig:
I don´t have the time, to worry about regrets.
Sean:
Or much else. Does she at least reward you, for all of your hard work?
Craig moves in a little closer, so he can whisper.
Craig:
How often do you and Ellie do it?
Sean:
I´m not telling you!
Craig reads his body language and smiles to himself.
Craig:
You´re still not doing it?
Sean:
She´s fragile. I have to let her wait for as long, as it takes.
Craig:
You can´t wait forever. Em still likes you.
Sean:
I know.
Sean buttons up and Craig gets suspicious.
Craig:
She´s been helping you with bio, hasn´t she?
Their teacher comes over to them.
Teacher:
It´s shop class, not a coffee club. Get back to work!
Craig:
Sure, sir!
The teacher leaves them.
Sean:
We´d better get back to work.
They lean down over the car.
Craig:
You can tell me. Did anything happen?
Sean:
There might have been kissing involved. You can´t tell Ellie!
Craig:
Of course, I won´t. Take it from someone who´s been there. If you´re stuck between two girls, it´s better to make the decision, break the bad news to the girl you´re dumping and move on with the right one. Dumping Ashley after I slept with Manny wasn´t only the right thing to do. It´s one of the best things I´ve done, or it would have ruined things with Manny.
Sean considers it.
6. Int. Classroom. Day.
Paige is counting down the minutes, until the lunch break starts and can´t stop shaking her legs. Hazel, sitting next to her, notices.
Hazel:
Why are you so desperate? It wouldn´t be a secret lunch date, perhaps?
Paige:
You too?
Hazel:
Where did you go for lunch all last week?
Paige:
A place off campus. Anyway, it´s none of your beeswax!
Snake comes down to them.
Snake:
While I always enjoy your input, Paige, could you keep it quiet for another minute?
Paige:
Sorry, mister Simpson.
The bell goes and she smiles.
Snake:
Have a nice lunch! I know, I plan to!
Paige:
See you next period!
She hurries out of the classroom. Hazel can´t help smiling at it, as Terri and Ashley come over to her.
Ashley:
If she doesn´t have a secret boyfriend, you can call me Timmy!
Hazel:
You wanna follow her and find out, who it is?
Terri:
I´m guessing, that it won´t be long, until we find out.
Ashley:
You don´t think, it´s JT, do you? They did go on that date one together.
Hazel:
Paige is quirky, but she´s not that quirky!
Jimmy comes over to them.
Jimmy:
Could you imagine the ridicule, if it was true? The head cheerleader fooling around with the mascot.
Terri:
One, who´s fresh off doing the most embarrassing commercial, known to man!
Hazel:
She knows, how bad it would be! Whoever it is, he´s probably tall, dark and handsome, just as she likes them!
Jimmy grabs her hand and they head off to have lunch.
7. Ext. The Ravine. Day.
Paige makes her way through the trees with a smile on her face. She meets up with JT and gives him a big kiss.
Paige:
This has to be the last time, we do this at lunch. They´re getting suspicious.
JT:
I had a feeling, you´d say that.
Paige:
You´re not mad?
JT:
I can´t get mad at you!
She looks pleased, that he´s so sweet to her.
Paige:
I´ll tell them soon, I promise. I know, you want us to be official.
JT:
I get, where you´re coming from. It´s not like I´m the coolest kid in school.
Paige:
I don´t care, but my friends do. All of them except for Alex, anyway. Sometimes I feel, like her and you are the only two people, who see the good in me. Everyone else wants to see the bad and think, it´s still who I am.
JT:
I know, who you are.
She looks him in the eyes.
Paige:
Who is that, exactly?
JT:
An amazing girl, who fought her way back from something horrific, that happened to her and turned into someone, I could fall in love with.
Paige:
"Could" or "have"?
JT:
It depends, what your answer would be.
Paige:
Mine would be "have". Maybe it´s that you´re the perfect antidote, to what I went through with Dean and Spinner. But I never felt about Spinner, the way I feel about you. This is the real thing.
JT:
Then my answer is also "have".
They smile at each other and kiss again.
Paige:
What did you get us?
JT:
The best ham and cheese sandwiches, you´ve ever tasted!
Paige:
You sure know, how to treat a girl!
He hands her a sandwich from a bag and she´s clearly so in love with him, that she doesn´t mind "slumming it", so she can be with him.
8. Int. Cafeteria. Day.
It´s lunch time and Manny and Craig have a choice to make.
Manny:
Emma would be super disappointed, if we don´t eat lunch with her and Toby.
Craig:
Don´t you think, Ellie and Sean would be? They´re sort of our "friend Couple", aren´t they?
Manny:
Decisions, decisions! We could push two tables together and make a party out of it!
Craig:
Maybe today wouldn´t be the best day for it.
Manny looks at him with suspicion.
Manny:
Do you know something, I don´t?
Craig:
It´s a long story. I´d keep Emma and Ellie apart for now, if I were you.
Manny:
Are they fighting?
Craig:
You know how it is, with Emma and Sean´s past. It would be weird for him, to be forced to be with the ex and the current at the same time.
Manny:
That isn´t, how it should be! I´ll have a talk with him.
Craig:
Manny ...
Manny:
Emma and Sean broke up ages ago! It´s time, he got past it!
Craig sees, that he might have messed things up for Sean.
9. Int. Hallway. Day.
Sean is getting a drink from the drinking fountain, when Manny comes over to him.
Manny:
Hi, Sean.
Sean:
Hi, Manny! How the first day back going?
Manny:
I´m enjoying every moment.
Sean:
I wish, I had your enthusiasm!
Manny:
What´s the deal with you, Ellie and Emma?
Sean:
How do you mean?
Manny:
Craig said, you don´t want to spend time with both of them at the same time.
Sean:
He did?
His mind takes a moment to compute, what´s going on and it´s like a light bulb goes on over his head, when he gets it.
Sean:
Oh, yeah! It´s a guy thing. You wouldn´t understand.
Manny:
I don´t understand? Now that I´m back, I have to see Ashley five days a week! Do you hear me complain?
Sean:
Isn´t that, what you´re doing right now?
Manny sees, that he´s right, but waves him off.
Manny:
This isn´t about me! Ellie is my friend and so is Emma, so I´m getting them talking, whether you like it or not!
Sean:
Manny, please!
Manny:
You said, that your issues are "A Guy Thing". This is "A Girl Thing", so butt out and let me work my friend magic!
She leaves him, before he has a chance to reply. He looks annoyed with Craig, though.
10. Int. Classroom. Day.
Manny and Emma are sitting behind Liberty, waiting for class to start. Manny is excited, but Emma is more apprehensive.
Manny:
Please, Em! I need a girl´s night with my best girls. That includes you, Liberty and Ellie.
Emma:
I don´t know. I have so much homework.
Liberty:
Which I can help you with after school. Come on, Em! It´ll be fun!
Emma:
Alright! When you put it like that, how can I say no?
Manny:
Ellie is such a sweetheart, when you get to know her. I see no reason, why two awesome girls like you shouldn´t be friends.
Emma:
Sean?
Liberty:
Are you really gonna let a boy spoil your fun?
Emma sees what they mean and looks on board.
Emma:
No, I´m not! I say, bring on the fun!
Manny and Liberty look happy, that she´s on board. JT comes in, dancing and singing the song "Smile, Darn Ya, Smile" from "Who Framed Roger Rabbit", to their amusement.
JT (singing):
Smile, darn ya, smile
You know this old world is a great world after all
Smile, darn ya, smile
And right away watch Lady Luck pay you a call
He dances over to Liberty and does some classic dance moves with her.
JT (singing):
Things are never black as they are painted
It´s time for you and joy to get acquainted
Make life worthwhile
Come on and smile, darn ya, smile!
He gets an applause from his class mates and bows like a gentleman.
JT:
You do love me!
He gets some laughs and soaks it up, before sitting down next to Toby, who shakes his head at him, even though he couldn´t hide, that he was amused too.
Emma:
I wish, I came to class in that mood every time!
Liberty leans in to whisper to them.
Liberty:
It´s his secret girlfriend, who´s got him this happy.
Manny:
A secret one?
Liberty:
He won´t admit it, but it´s pretty obvious. He´s not exactly a master, at hiding it!
Manny:
Do we have any idea, who she is?
Emma:
No, but she´s sure had JT in a great mood lately!
Liberty:
Even better than usual and that´s saying something!
Manny:
You don´t mind?
Liberty:
Nah. I like seeing him this happy. I have a feeling, that I´ll get my chance sooner or later. Even if I don´t, there´s other fish in the sea, right?
Manny:
Don´t worry, my dear friends! Manny is back to make everything better! Tonight, we start the search for boyfriends for both of you!
Emma:
At the bowling alley?
Manny:
Don´t knock it, until you´ve tried it! I´ll have you two as happy as JT, in no time!
Manny looks over at JT, who´s happily chatting to Toby and Rick and smiles to herself.
11. Int. Music Room. Day.
Craig is playing guitar in between classes, working on a song he´s written. Ashley comes in and it´s a weird moment between them.
Ashley:
I didn´t mean to intrude. I´ll just get my books.
Craig:
It´s fine.
She walks over to where her books are and picks them up.
Ashley:
I know, it´s none of my business anymore, but how are you doing?
Craig:
Constantly tired, for one thing. You don´t want to hear my complaints.
Ashley:
Try me. We were friends, before all that messy stuff went down.
Craig:
Between school, my job and a baby, who runs on her own schedule, I don´t have time for anything else. If I could get a full night´s sleep, it would work miracles, but I guess that´s too much to ask for!
Ashley:
No one said, parenting would be easy, did they?
Craig:
If it hadn´t been for Joey and Caitlin, we´d be completely screwed! Sometimes, I wish ...
He stops himself, but she looks very interested.
Ashley:
You can tell me. I can keep a secret.
Craig:
Sometimes, I wonder, if it hadn´t been for the best, if we´d given the baby up for adoption.
Ashley:
Do you regret, how things ended for us?
Craig:
Ash, how it ended with us, is the biggest regret of my life. If things had gone down differently at that party, who knows what things would look like.
Ashley:
Would it have made a difference?
Craig:
I wouldn´t have left at the same time as Manny, for one thing.
Ashley:
Do you love her?
She looks nervous, at what he´s gonna answer.
Craig:
More than I ever thought, I could love someone. I´m sorry, if that´s not what you want to hear ...
Ashley:
It´s okay. I´m happy, for the both of you.
Craig:
This is just a tough time, we have to get through.
Ashley:
If you truly love each other, then you can.
She´s about to leave and turns around.
Craig:
Hey, Ash?
She turns around and smiles at him.
Craig:
What happened wasn´t your fault, or anyone´s other than mine. I hope, it won´t be the only thing you remember about me, when you go off to conquer the world of pop music.
Ashley:
What I´m gonna remember, is knowing a very special guy, who played a huge part in helping me find out, who I am.
He shoots her that boyish smile, she always loved and she leaves him.
12. Int. Classroom. Day.
Paige and Hazel are working on their PC´s, when Marco comes over to them.
Marco:
Are you coming bowling with me and Dylan?
Paige:
Bowling, Hon? Not likely!
Marco:
Why not?
Hazel:
Do you want to tell him your score and how much Dylan laughed at you, the last time we bowled?
Marco laughs.
Marco:
It´s not like, I´m a bowling master either! I´m probably worse, than you are!
Paige:
I don´t know, if that´s possible!
Marco:
Then I´ll suck on purpose, to make you look better! What do you say?
Hazel:
I´ll go, if you go.
Paige:
If we´re making a party of it, then okay!
Marco:
Should we invite Spinner? He´ll be disappointed, if we don´t.
Hazel:
No! Have you seen the skank, he´s dating?
Paige:
I hear, she got a very embarrassing disease, from doing some pretty wild things down at The Ravine!
Marco:
Can you imagine the kind of guys, she did it to?
All three of them shudder at the thought.
13. Int. Joey´s House. Day.
Craig is in his work uniform, dressed like a burger store employee and is hugging Angie goodbye. Manny is waiting her turn with Julia on her arm.
Angie:
I wish, you could stay home and play!
Craig:
We will soon. Okay, Sweetie?
Angie:
Okay.
She runs off to continue her busy schedule of playing and having fun. He hugs Manny goodbye and gives Julia a kiss on the forehead.
Manny:
Are you coming down to the bowling alley after work?
Craig:
Probably not. I have to get my homework done for tomorrow.
Manny:
I know, I probably don´t say it enough, but I appreciate the sacrifices, you´ve made for me and Julia.
Craig:
It´s no big deal.
Manny:
Yes, it is. There has to be times, when you think about, what your life could be like, without us in it. I do the same sometimes.
Craig:
This is the decision we made and now I wouldn´t trade you and her in for anything. I won´t say, I haven´t had my doubts, but what it comes down to, is that I love my girls. My life wouldn´t be the same without them.
Manny looks pleased at his answer.
Manny:
How about, I give you a nice massage, when I get home?
Craig:
Sounds perfect! Have fun with your friends. You deserve it.
They smile at each other and he leaves her.
14. Int. Living Room. Day.
Caitlin is watching TV, when Manny comes in with Julia on her arm and sits down next to her.
Manny:
What are we watching?
Caitlin:
Some game show, where the answers are way too easy.
Manny:
Not for the rest of us mortals!
Caitlin:
Did Craig leave for work?
Manny:
He did. Can I tell you something?
Caitlin turns the TV off and turns her attention to Manny.
Caitlin:
You can tell me anything, Manny. We´re practically family.
Manny:
Craig tries his hardest and I love him for it, but at the same time, I feel guilty. He could be so much more and in stead he´s off to sling burgers for minimum wage, so we can save up for our own apartment and buy what this little one needs. He says, it doesn´t bother him, but I can tell, that it´s getting to him. Not that I can blame him.
Caitlin:
Wasn´t Craig the one, who suggested that you start a family?
Manny:
I don´t think, he had any idea, what he was signing up for. Neither did I, to be honest.
Caitlin:
I don´t think, many teen parents do. Do you show him, that you love him?
Manny:
I try to. I just don´t do it, in the way he wants me to.
Caitlin:
As in S-E-X?
Manny:
As in that little three letter word, exactly! We´ve still haven´t done it, since before Julia was born. I´m afraid, he´s losing patience with me.
Caitlin:
You did become pregnant that first time. He has to understand, why it´s scary to you.
Manny:
I´m a mom, but I´m also a normal 15 year old! I get urges, like everyone else my age do!
Caitlin:
Only you´re afraid to act on them?
Manny:
I can´t go through another pregnancy, not right now anyway. The first one was hard enough.
Caitlin:
Which is why there´s such a thing as contraceptives!
Manny:
What about Julia?
Caitlin:
We can make a plan, where she sleeps with you guys one week and me and Joey the next.
Manny:
We can?
Caitlin:
We agreed to help you kids out any way, we could. If we have to lose sleep, because she keeps us up, it´s probably good training for when we have our own.
Manny puts Julia down on the floor and gives Caitlin a hug.
Manny:
Thanks, mom!
Caitlin:
Did you just use the "M Word?".
Manny:
Is that okay? You kinda feel like one.
Caitlin:
It´s okay. You kinda feel like a daughter.
They break the hug and smile at each other.
15. Int. Ellie and Sean´s Apartment. Evening.
Ellie is getting ready to go out and is putting on an old necklace, when Sean comes over and kisses her on the neck.
Ellie:
You´re not making this easier!
Sean:
It looks pretty on you. I couldn´t help myself.
Ellie:
It´ll have to wait. Manny is coming to pick me up soon.
Sean:
When is the wait gonna end?
Ellie:
When it does! We talked about this!
Sean:
Ellie, it´s not that I want to pressure you into anything ...
Ellie:
What are you doing then?
Sean:
It´s not un-natural, for me to want sex with my girlfriend, who I´ve been with for over a year.
Ellie:
I´m not ready for it yet. Maybe, you should be with someone, who is.
She looks sad, so he sees the need to cheer her up.
Sean:
I already tried that, remember? She was an absolute nightmare!
He managed to get a small smile out of her.
Ellie:
Isn´t it a little weird, that she´s Spinner´s nightmare now?
Sean:
If he wants her, then he can have her! I´m glad, it isn´t me! I´d pick you over the easy girls at the Ravine, any day of the week!
Ellie:
Even if I´m a prude?
Sean:
If I was gonna call you anything, it would be a tease.
She playfully nudges his arm and they smile at each other.
Ellie:
You knew, when we got together, that I´m not like everyone else. I´m a work in progress.
Sean:
I understand, why you have your issues. It´s not like, I don´t have plenty of them myself.
Ellie:
Can you take being in a PG relationship, for a little while longer? I don´t see it changing right away.
Sean:
You´re lucky, that you´re worth it! If it wasn´t for you, I´d still be getting into trouble.
The doorbell rings.
Manny (off screen):
I hope, you´re not naked in there!
Sean:
There´s no danger of that happening! I´d better answer it.
Ellie:
Sean, I want you to be my first. I hope, you have the patience to wait for it.
They kiss very innocently and Sean goes to answer the door. We can see on Ellie´s facial expression, that she´s worried over possibly losing him.
16. Int. Bowling Alley. Evening.
Manny, Emma, Liberty and Ellie are bowling, but none of them are particularly good at it. At least, they can laugh at how bad they are. Ellie gets a glorious two pins and walks back to the others.
Ellie:
Par for the course!
Liberty;
Let me show you, how it´s done.
Liberty gets up to bowl, as Ellie takes her seat with the others.
Ellie:
Yet another thing, I´m bad at!
Manny:
You´re no worse, than the rest of us! What else aren´t you good at?
Ellie:
Lots of things. I´m starting to feel, like I´m not much of a girlfriend these days.
Emma tries to hide her joy, that things aren´t smooth between Sean and Ellie.
Emma:
Why not?
Ellie:
It would be weird for you to hear, with you being Sean´s ex.
Emma:
Aren´t we here, to get past that?
Manny:
You can be open about it. We´re all friends here.
Ellie:
He wants to do things, that I don´t.
Manny:
I can guess, what it is.
Ellie:
Should I just do it with and get it over with, even if I don´t feel ready? Maybe I am and I don´t know, until I´ve tried it.
Emma:
You can´t!
Manny and Ellie eye Emma with surprise.
Emma:
The first time is special. You can´t waste it, because he wants you to!
Manny:
Emma is right. My first time was because I knew, it was what Craig wanted, not because it was what I wanted. You should have that great first time, I didn´t and so should you, Em.
Ellie:
I never had you picked, as one to preach abstinence!
Manny:
Getting pregnant at 14 will do that to you!
Liberty comes back, but isn´t looking too cocky.
Liberty:
Maybe you should show me, how it´s done!
Manny:
Happy to oblige!
Manny gets up and goes to bowl.
Liberty:
I´m getting a soda. Do you guys want one?
Ellie:
Two is my limit!
Emma:
I´ll walk on the wild side with you and have a coke.
Liberty:
Okay, "Wild Emma!".
She laughs to herself, as she walks up to the bar. Ellie smiles at Emma.
Ellie:
There´s nothing wrong, with not being a wild girl. I can´t say, I fall into that category either.
Emma:
What makes you think, I´m not? I could have a secret life, no one knows about!
Ellie:
No offense, Emma, but I don´t see it in you. From what Sean and Manny have told me, we´re not that different. You and Sean was ages ago. It´s time we got past it, so we can become friends.
Emma:
Has he told you, how it all went down?
Ellie:
I don´t blame you, if you feel like, I stole him from under your nose.
Emma:
I did a little, yeah.
Ellie:
Which is why it´s important to me, that we move on, once and for all. Sisters above Misters, isn´t that what they say?
Manny comes back with a smile on her face.
Manny:
I get a strike and you don´t see it?
Ellie:
Sorry, Manny. We were busy, with some sisterly bonding.
Manny:
I knew, you guys would hit it off, without boys around to ruin it!
Emma:
I guess, I´m up next!
Ellie:
Good luck!
Emma gets up to bowl and Ellie takes a seat. She´s surprised to see Paige, Marco, Dylan and Hazel coming towards them.
Marco:
Don´t mind us, miss Nash!
Ellie:
What are you doing here?
Paige:
We had the same idea. How´s it going with the baby and everything, Manny?
Manny:
Alright, I guess.
Hazel:
Power to you, girl! I have no idea, how you do it!
Manny:
One day at a time!
Paige:
Is Craig here?
Manny:
It´s a work night for him.
Dylan:
He works, while you have fun with your friends? Someone got the deal of a lifetime!
Marco:
It´s none of our business.
Paige:
You guys have an awesome evening, okay?
Manny:
Okay!
The others leave them, to go and find their lane.
Manny:
When did she become so nice?
Ellie:
I don´t have a clue, but she has been bit by the happy bug lately!
Manny:
If we can get her to stay like that, she could actually be someone, I´d want to hang out with!
She rolls her eyes in wonder, at how things have changed, while she´s been away.
17. Int. The Dot. Evening.
Sean is studying by the counter, while Spinner is closing up.
Spinner:
It´s time for you go home and hold hands with Ellie. I´m outta here in five!
Sean:
Is there a kegger at the Ravine?
Spinner:
It´s the place to be!
Sean:
If you want to come to school with a hangover, it is!
Spinner:
You´re bummed, that I´m getting tons of action, while you´re stuck with "The Virgin Ellie".
Sean looks annoyed with him.
Sean:
I´m not stuck with her! Maybe I´ve grown up and realized, that nothing good comes from hanging with types like Jay and Amy. Did you consider that?
Spinner:
I´m enjoying being 16! Where´s the harm?
Sean:
The harm, is that you´ll screw up your life! Your old friends know it. I see, that you´re not hanging out with them anymore.
Spinner:
So I can have Jimmy preach about, how I should be acting and get blaming looks from Hazel and Paige? The only one of the lot, I can stand is Terri. At least, she doesn´t start preaching every time, I talk to her.
Sean:
You don´t think, they could be right?
Spinner:
You can´t tell me, that a cold and foamy beer, wouldn´t hit the spot.
Sean:
I promised Ellie, that my drinking days are behind me. You know, that whole deal with her mom and everything?
Spinner makes a "Whip" sound, that Sean can´t help looking annoyed at.
Sean:
I´m not whipped!
Spinner:
How are you not whipped, if you always do, what she tells you to? Does she do, what you tell her to?
Sean:
She does, if she was going to do it anyway.
Spinner:
Amy´s waiting for me. Are you coming?
Sean tries to fight it, but gives into temptation and packs his books away.
Sean:
Just one! She´s out with friends, so she probably won´t find out.
Spinner:
If it gets any worse, I´m calling you The Whipster, until you grow a pair!
Sean looks him teasingly in the eyes.
Sean:
Takes one, to know one. Just saying.
Spinner:
At least, I´m getting rewarded with all the sweet loving, my junk can handle!
Spinner shuts the lights off and they leave.
18. Int. Bowling Alley. Evening.
Paige bowls the ball and it just manages to nudge down one pin. She walks back to the others.
Dylan:
You do know, that you´re allowed to knock down more than one at a time, don´t you?
Paige:
Shut up and bowl another strike!
Dylan smiles and grabs a ball. Paige sits down next to Hazel and Marco.
Marco:
Which brings your score to ...
Paige:
I can count low numbers, thank you very much!
Hazel:
That´s the first time in weeks, I´ve seen shades of the old Paige.
Paige:
What do you mean, old Paige? I´m still the same.
Marco:
There´s no denying, that your penchant for niceness, has been on a sharp increase this year.
Paige smiles.
Paige:
Thanks, you guys!
Hazel:
We´re all friends and no one else can hear. Who is the guy?
Paige:
I keep telling you ...
Marco:
No one´s buying it! Is it because he´s older or something?
Hazel:
You know, we´ll be accepting, unless it´s some creep, who´s twice you age. It isn´t, is it?
Paige:
No, he´s close to my age.
Marco:
So, there is a boy?
Hazel:
Why won´t you tell us, who it is?
Paige:
Because it like that it´s secret for now. It makes it extra exciting, when we make out, knowing we´re not supposed to.
Marco:
It´s not, because he has a girlfriend, is it?
Paige:
I swear to both of you, that he´s neither an old creep or some jerk, who´s cheating on his girlfriend. If he was either of those things, then I wouldn´t give him the time of day. All you need to know, is that being with him is doing wonders for my self esteem and he treats me like a princess. He does it on a tight budget, but the boy does try his best.
Hazel:
I can tell you then, that there´s been some crazy theories floating around.
Paige:
I have to hear this! Who´s been named?
Marco:
At least half of the basketball team, including Jimmy.
Paige:
Hazel, I would never do that to you, Hon!
Hazel:
Which is why I almost smacked some girl one, when she insinuated it!
Paige:
Who else?
Marco:
Jay has been mentioned.
Paige:
Jay Hogart, that bottom feeding worm? I wouldn´t touch him, with a ten foot long fire poker!
Hazel:
The most persistent one is that it´s JT. That´s ridiculous, right?
Paige tries to hide her nervousness.
Paige:
Yeah, that´s crazy. Why do they think that?
Marco:
Apparently, he has some secret girlfriend too. It´s probably the one fan, of that awful French Fry commercial!
Hazel (imitating JT in the commercial):
Get away from my fries, dawg!
Hazel and Marco laugh. Paige forces herself to laugh along with them.
19. Int. Joey´s House. Evening.
Craig comes home, looking tired. Joey is still up and is going over some paperwork for the business.
Craig:
Is Manny home yet?
Joey:
Not to my knowledge. Do you need to talk to her?
Craig:
Not really. I was just wondering.
He sits down next to Joey.
Joey:
How was work?
Craig:
Boring! Made that big money, though!
Joey:
I used to work for minimum wage. There´s no shame in it.
Craig:
It´s not getting me anywhere. Every day, is like two steps forward and one step back, with no end in sight! It´s not, that I don´t love Manny and Julia to bits, because I do! It´s this rut, I´ve been forced into!
Joey puts his papers away and turns to Craig.
Joey:
I wasn´t much older than you, when we had to take you in. It wasn´t easy, but we got through it, didn´t we?
Craig:
You were in your early 20´s and out of school. Maybe the answer is to drop out.
Joey:
That way, you´ll never get an education!
Craig:
Joey, that ship sailed, when Manny became pregnant. I want an education and I want to start playing in a band again, but it´s not in the cards anymore. My life from here on out, is set in stone! If I´d known, that this was how it would be, I never would have asked her to have the baby. There, I said it!
Joey looks at him with sympathy.
Joey:
This is a conversation, you should be having with her. She needs to know, how you feel.
Craig:
Manny loves being a mom. It´s as if, she was born to be the best mom, a baby could want. She´s so sweet and caring for her, that it makes me love the both of them even more. How can I even begin to suggest, that it´s taken away from her?
Joey:
You can´t keep this bottled up forever. I´ve seen guys go down that road and it rarely, if ever, ends well. Give her a chance to understand. The only way forward, is to talk it out.
Craig:
I suppose, you´re right.
Manny comes home and is all smiles, after her gal-pal evening.
Craig:
There´s my princess! How much did you bowl?
Manny:
I´m keeping that as a deep, dark secret! At least, I wasn´t the worst of us!
Joey:
Did you enjoy yourself?
Manny:
As much, as I possibly could!
Joey:
Then who cares, how much you bowled?
Manny:
I wish, my own dad could be more like you, Joey. If I told him, that I sucked, he would probably sign me up for lessons!
Joey:
He still isn´t talking to you?
Manny:
No and it´s unlikely to happen in the near future! What are you gonna do?
Craig:
We could go to bed. I remember you mentioning something about a massage? I could really use one!
Manny:
I´d better get to work then, hadn´t I? Is Julia asleep?
Joey:
She´s snuggled up in her crib. We moved it into our bedroom, so you could get a full night´s sleep.
Craig looks relieved.
Craig:
That´s all I´ve been asking for!
Manny:
I´ll make sure, that you sleep like a baby!
Craig:
Sleep tight, Joey.
Joey:
You too, kids.
Manny and Craig leave him and he goes back to his paperwork.
20. Int. Craig and Manny´s Room. Evening.
Craig is getting an oil massage on his back and shoulders from Manny and is clearly enjoying every second of it.
Craig:
That hits the spot!
Manny looks pleased for him.
Manny:
It´s nice, that I can be of help!
Craig:
You definitely are! Plus, I get a full night´s sleep! It´s like, I won the lottery!
Manny:
It´s nice to hear, that you can enjoy the little things in life!
Craig:
It takes a lot of little things to make up a big thing.
Manny:
Talking to the girls tonight, has made me think.
Craig:
About what?
Manny:
Us and that thing, you wish, we were doing.
Craig:
Thought about it how?
Manny:
That it´s time we got back into it, only this time, we need to do it right.
Craig:
There´s no wrong way, or at at least, I don´t there is!
Manny stops massaging him and lies down next to him, so she can look him in the eyes.
Manny:
Don´t take this the wrong way. Part of me still hates you, for that first time.
Craig:
You hate me?
Manny;
Maybe hate is too strong a word, but it annoys me how it went down. Thinking back, I wish, my first time had been different. Especially considering ...
Craig:
That I technically had a girlfriend, at the time.
Manny:
Something amazing came out of it, but it still soils it. It being on a dirty old couch in your rehearsal room, doesn´t help either.
Craig:
When?
Manny:
Not right now! Talk about going straight to business!
Craig:
I want to know, so I can plan for it! I love you and I want to give you the world, Manuella Santos. If it includes this, then I´m more than happy to give you the best second first time, any girl could have asked for!
Manny:
I love you too, Craig!
They smile at each other and kiss.
CLOSING CREDITS