A/N: Hi. As I promised, I'm back writing. Anyway, disclaimer: I don't own
degrassi in any form. Degrassi, and its characters are the sole property of
Epitome pictures and co. I don't make any money on this story (of course,
anyone could have told you that.)
Act III
Scene I
Setting: Marco drummed his thumbs on the table, nervously anticipating the bell. He wanted to check his email for a message from Emma, but Mr. Simspon just wouldn't seem to shut up!
Mr. Simpson: (Walking the isles.) Okay, so once you imput your data, don't forget to save your files to your school account. Oh, and trust me, it'll be a lot easier if you leave everything in html format. (Marco stares at the clock-just one minute to lunch.) And of course, this project will count for twenty percent of your grade. (Simpson looks at his watch.) And according to my watch, you have (pause) seventy-one hours and ten seconds left to hand this project in, so if I were you (He looks directly at Spinner and Jimmy who were playing paper hockey.) I'd get cracking. (Ring! Everyone jumps out their seats.) Hey guys, now you have seventy hours and fifty-nine minutes left. (Everyone rolls their eyes as they leave.) I'm serious guys, you need to get started on this project cuz it's really impor- (his voice lowers) aww, screw it.
Simpson sits back at his desk. Marco quickly scans the room for anyone else. Forturately, everyone else has left for lunch. Quickly, he types in his yahoo email account and his inbox appears. No messages. Marco's heart drops. It had been three days since he had written to Emma and she still hadn't written back to him. He was starting to give up.
Marco: 'It's hopeless.' ( He decides as he gathers his things and somberly leaves the room.)
It was a particularly nice day out, and Marco wasn't all that hungry, so he headed straight for the school yard. He'd expected it to be empty, but Marco found that he could barely get out the door. It was crowded with kids. Finally, when he pushed his way through the endless crowd of students, he discovered what all the commotion was about. Right in the center of the schoolyard stood Emma Nelson on top of a table. Manny stood next to her holding up a sign- "Being Gay Is Not A Crime." On the opposite side of Emma, stood Toby with another sign- "Unity is Strength". Marco couldn't believe what he was seeing. An even larger crowd of kids surrounded the table where the three ninth graders stood, but Marco pushed his way to the front.
Emma: (through a megaphone) ....And that's why Mr. Radditch has given me special permission to make this speech today. We have to stop stereotyping! Homosexuals are people just like us. Insulting gay people is not a reflection of them. It's a reflection of ourselves- and our prejudices towards others. Through hate there can be no unity! (A rush of whispers flew through the large crowd. Marco felt positively giddy. He'd finally gotten what he'd wanted, or at least what he had thought he wanted. Suddenly, a voice from the crowd spoke up.)
Voice: Yeah, you say that when someone you know gets raped! (The crowd roars with "Yeah's")
Emma: It's not about that! Just because one person is a criminal, doesn't mean other people like him are criminals too. (The crowd roars.) Wait, that's not what I meant. I mean that we can't stereotype like this. Most homosexuals aren't child molesters. (Mr. Radditch makes his way through the crowd.) In fact there's a much higher percentage of straight child molesters than there are-
Mr. Radditch: I think that's enough for today Miss Nelson. (Emma looks down at him, not realizing the megaphone is still in front of her.)
Emma: But sir, I haven't finished my speech, are you going to just let people walk away being prejudiced and-
Mr. Radditch: Look, Emma, this is getting out of hand. We'll continue this later. (He turns to the mob of students.) Everyone go have your lunches. (Emma, Manny, and Toby make their way off the table. Marco feels his face getting warm, he needs to get away, fast. He turns on the ball of his heel and runs back into the building down the hall, around the corner, and slides to the floor. He face scrunches into a ball and tears pour out of his eyes.
Marco: No matter what I do. No matter what, it won't change. (Gasp, gasp) It's never gonna change. It's never gonna change. (he repeats this through quiet bawls.) It's never gonna change.
End Scene.
Act III
Scene II
Setting: Emma and Manny sat on Emma's bed drawing posters for her campaign.
Manny: I don't even see why we should even continue with this. No one's listening.
Emma: That's not true, Manny. Just because some kids weren't agreeing with us, that doesn't mean other kids weren't for us. Look, just today, Craig and Ashley agreed to help us. So, now we've got two more supporters.
Manny: So, that makes like eight of us, including Liberty and Sean.
Emma: Trust me, if we keep at it, more people are bound to come around too. You've just got to have a little faith in me.
Manny: I guess. (Emma computer sounds. "You've got mail." Emma stops cutting a piece of paper and springs off her bed over to the computer. Manny follows. Emma clicks on the message button. The email appears.)
Emma: (Gasp!) It's from Silent At Degrassi! (Manny smiles in excitement. Emma reads.) "Dear Emma,
Words cannot express my gratitude for all that you've done. It meant a lot to me. However, I was in the school yard during lunch today. I've decided something. Maybe I was wrong about this whole protest thing. Maybe it's not a good idea. We can't win. Nobody is on our side. While I deeply appreciate the effort you've put into this, I think we should just call it quits- before things get even nastier.
Thank You For Everything, Silent At Degrassi"
(Emma grows silent. Manny trudges back to the bed.)
Emma: He sure is well spoken, even in an email.
Manny: So I guess you're going to end this whole thing, right? I mean, after your source of inspiration has given up and all.
Emma: (Stares at Manny.) What are you talking about? This letter only makes me want to succeed even more. (Manny stares at her in disbelief) He's just scared Manny. I know that in his heart, Silent At Degrassi wants to succeed with the campaign. He's just afraid of what other people say. Don't you see? Things can't stay the way they are. Degrassi is better than that! (She makes one of her famous determined faces.) You know what?
Manny: What?
Emma: I'm not gonna give up.
End Scene.
Alright, till the next chapter! You know, I was a little disappointed with the success of my last chapter. I usually get more reviews. I don't like to update until I have at least five reviews. So, if you want me to update, keep those reviews coming in people!
Act III
Scene I
Setting: Marco drummed his thumbs on the table, nervously anticipating the bell. He wanted to check his email for a message from Emma, but Mr. Simspon just wouldn't seem to shut up!
Mr. Simpson: (Walking the isles.) Okay, so once you imput your data, don't forget to save your files to your school account. Oh, and trust me, it'll be a lot easier if you leave everything in html format. (Marco stares at the clock-just one minute to lunch.) And of course, this project will count for twenty percent of your grade. (Simpson looks at his watch.) And according to my watch, you have (pause) seventy-one hours and ten seconds left to hand this project in, so if I were you (He looks directly at Spinner and Jimmy who were playing paper hockey.) I'd get cracking. (Ring! Everyone jumps out their seats.) Hey guys, now you have seventy hours and fifty-nine minutes left. (Everyone rolls their eyes as they leave.) I'm serious guys, you need to get started on this project cuz it's really impor- (his voice lowers) aww, screw it.
Simpson sits back at his desk. Marco quickly scans the room for anyone else. Forturately, everyone else has left for lunch. Quickly, he types in his yahoo email account and his inbox appears. No messages. Marco's heart drops. It had been three days since he had written to Emma and she still hadn't written back to him. He was starting to give up.
Marco: 'It's hopeless.' ( He decides as he gathers his things and somberly leaves the room.)
It was a particularly nice day out, and Marco wasn't all that hungry, so he headed straight for the school yard. He'd expected it to be empty, but Marco found that he could barely get out the door. It was crowded with kids. Finally, when he pushed his way through the endless crowd of students, he discovered what all the commotion was about. Right in the center of the schoolyard stood Emma Nelson on top of a table. Manny stood next to her holding up a sign- "Being Gay Is Not A Crime." On the opposite side of Emma, stood Toby with another sign- "Unity is Strength". Marco couldn't believe what he was seeing. An even larger crowd of kids surrounded the table where the three ninth graders stood, but Marco pushed his way to the front.
Emma: (through a megaphone) ....And that's why Mr. Radditch has given me special permission to make this speech today. We have to stop stereotyping! Homosexuals are people just like us. Insulting gay people is not a reflection of them. It's a reflection of ourselves- and our prejudices towards others. Through hate there can be no unity! (A rush of whispers flew through the large crowd. Marco felt positively giddy. He'd finally gotten what he'd wanted, or at least what he had thought he wanted. Suddenly, a voice from the crowd spoke up.)
Voice: Yeah, you say that when someone you know gets raped! (The crowd roars with "Yeah's")
Emma: It's not about that! Just because one person is a criminal, doesn't mean other people like him are criminals too. (The crowd roars.) Wait, that's not what I meant. I mean that we can't stereotype like this. Most homosexuals aren't child molesters. (Mr. Radditch makes his way through the crowd.) In fact there's a much higher percentage of straight child molesters than there are-
Mr. Radditch: I think that's enough for today Miss Nelson. (Emma looks down at him, not realizing the megaphone is still in front of her.)
Emma: But sir, I haven't finished my speech, are you going to just let people walk away being prejudiced and-
Mr. Radditch: Look, Emma, this is getting out of hand. We'll continue this later. (He turns to the mob of students.) Everyone go have your lunches. (Emma, Manny, and Toby make their way off the table. Marco feels his face getting warm, he needs to get away, fast. He turns on the ball of his heel and runs back into the building down the hall, around the corner, and slides to the floor. He face scrunches into a ball and tears pour out of his eyes.
Marco: No matter what I do. No matter what, it won't change. (Gasp, gasp) It's never gonna change. It's never gonna change. (he repeats this through quiet bawls.) It's never gonna change.
End Scene.
Act III
Scene II
Setting: Emma and Manny sat on Emma's bed drawing posters for her campaign.
Manny: I don't even see why we should even continue with this. No one's listening.
Emma: That's not true, Manny. Just because some kids weren't agreeing with us, that doesn't mean other kids weren't for us. Look, just today, Craig and Ashley agreed to help us. So, now we've got two more supporters.
Manny: So, that makes like eight of us, including Liberty and Sean.
Emma: Trust me, if we keep at it, more people are bound to come around too. You've just got to have a little faith in me.
Manny: I guess. (Emma computer sounds. "You've got mail." Emma stops cutting a piece of paper and springs off her bed over to the computer. Manny follows. Emma clicks on the message button. The email appears.)
Emma: (Gasp!) It's from Silent At Degrassi! (Manny smiles in excitement. Emma reads.) "Dear Emma,
Words cannot express my gratitude for all that you've done. It meant a lot to me. However, I was in the school yard during lunch today. I've decided something. Maybe I was wrong about this whole protest thing. Maybe it's not a good idea. We can't win. Nobody is on our side. While I deeply appreciate the effort you've put into this, I think we should just call it quits- before things get even nastier.
Thank You For Everything, Silent At Degrassi"
(Emma grows silent. Manny trudges back to the bed.)
Emma: He sure is well spoken, even in an email.
Manny: So I guess you're going to end this whole thing, right? I mean, after your source of inspiration has given up and all.
Emma: (Stares at Manny.) What are you talking about? This letter only makes me want to succeed even more. (Manny stares at her in disbelief) He's just scared Manny. I know that in his heart, Silent At Degrassi wants to succeed with the campaign. He's just afraid of what other people say. Don't you see? Things can't stay the way they are. Degrassi is better than that! (She makes one of her famous determined faces.) You know what?
Manny: What?
Emma: I'm not gonna give up.
End Scene.
Alright, till the next chapter! You know, I was a little disappointed with the success of my last chapter. I usually get more reviews. I don't like to update until I have at least five reviews. So, if you want me to update, keep those reviews coming in people!