AUTHORS NOTE:

WE ARE DOWN TO THE LAST TWO EPISODES OF SEASON 4! WHAT WERE YOU THOUGHTS ON THIS EPISODE? WHICH CHARACTER HAS BEEN YOUR FAVORITE THIS SEASON? WHAT RELATIONSHIP IS YOUR FAVORITE? WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE A SEASON 5 OF DEGRASSI: THE NEW ERA?

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Degrassi: The New Era

Season Four

Episode 21

"Almost Doesn't Count"

SCENE 1: DEGRASSI (MAIN FOYER). AFTERNOON

Jack slowly enters Degrassi with forearm crutches. He is taking it one step at a time as he is finally able to move on his own again. Alicia runs towards him almost knocking him to the ground. She starts to kiss him. Jordan, Ivy, Red, and Nolan soon join them.

Alicia: This is amazing Jack! You're finally on your feet.

Jack: The doctor wants me to take it slow. He said these will help me get comfortable walking again.

Jordan: I'm happy for you.

Jack: I wanted to end the year on my feet. I might not be walking across the stage with you guys, but I will be standing there cheering.

Alicia: You'll be walking across that stage with me next year.

The bell rings. Alicia kisses Jack on the cheek.

Alicia: I better get going. I have a History exam.

Red: Yeah. I'm right behind you.

Red kisses Ivy as he, Nolan, and Alicia make their way down the hall.

Ivy: Who would have thought that the three of us would be in happy relationships.

Jack: Don't forget we are meeting at the Dot to discuss Alicia's party.

Jordan glances over to Jack. Ivy notices but remains silent as they make their way down the hall.

OPENING CREDITS

SCENE 2: DEGRASSI (CLASSROOM). MORNING

Amina enters the classroom wearing a t-shirt that displays two female gender symbols inside a heart. A few of the students notice this and become uncomfortable. Amina makes her way to her desk.

Harriet: Your shirt condones homosexuality. I don't think you should be displaying your sins so openly.

Amina turns to the student upset.

Amina: Excuse me? Who are you to judge me?

Xavier leans over and tries to defuse the situation, but the teachers approach the three of them.

Mrs. Morton: There better be a good reason that you three are disrupting my class.

Harriet: I feel as if Amina's shirt is parading sin and promoting behavior that goes against God. I don't think she should be allowed to wear a shirt like that in a school setting.

Amina rises to her feet.

Amina: I guess I just won't wear it then.

Amina pulls off her shirt. The class begins to chuckle in surprise. Harriet covers her face in embarrassment for Amina's behavior.

Mrs. Morton: Ms. Blake! You need to go to the principal's office now.

Amina storms out of the classroom. Mrs. Morton resumes teaching.

SCENE 3: THE DOT. AFTERNOON

Decker enters the Dot. He makes his way to the counter where Spinner is serving.

Decker: How are you doing Mr. Mason?

Spinner: I'm going to give you a piece of advice because I know how it feels to lose someone important because you made a mistake.

Decker: You do?

Spinner: I got my best friend shot. I was expelled from Degrassi. I lost all my friends. I see a lot of myself in you, Decker. You just need to focus and use that anger for something else.

Decker takes a seat and takes a deep sigh.

Decker: Jack says he forgives me, but I want him to see that I changed. I love him, Spinner. I never felt this way about anyone.

The door opens. Decker turns around to see Jack, Jordan, and Ivy entering.

Spinner: Don't rush it and don't give up. He will come around eventually. He is stubborn just like his sister.

Spinner proceeds to move further down as he helps another customer. The group takes a seat at one of the empty booths.

SCENE 4: DEGRASSI (CAFETERIA). AFTERNOON

Emma stands next to Amina.

Emma: This lunchroom needs to be cleaned. Trash off the floor and tables wiped. I will see you in an hour.

Alicia rolls her eyes as she takes the cleaning supplies from Emma. She makes her way to the first table wiping it down. Xavier walks past the cafeteria. He notices Amina inside and proceeds to enter with a smile.

Xavier: The mighty has fallen. That stunt you pulled in Math was badass.

Amina continues to ignore him.

Xavier: I know it's tough for you. I had an older sister who is a lesbian.

Amina: You said you had an older sister. What happened to her?

Xavier takes a towel and begins to help Amina.

Xavier: Things were tough for her. She couldn't handle the bullying, so she ended it. She killed herself.

Amina: I'm sorry.

Xavier remains quiet for a moment.

Xavier: You're tougher and feistier. You should keep those qualities.

Xavier smiles and hands his towel to Amina.

SCENE 5: THE DOT. AFTERNOON

Ivy is sketching designs in her notebook. Jack and Jordan are talking when Decker steps to their booth.

Jordan: Leave us alone Decker.

Ivy once again notices Jordan change in attitude.

Decker: Can we talk?

Jack nods his head and follows Decker to another booth away from Jordan and Ivy.

Ivy: Stop! You still have feelings for Jack.

Jordan gazes go over to Jack.

Jordan: I've been trying, but lately things have changed between us. Maybe it's because I'll be off at university, but those feelings just came back.

Ivy: Nolan is your boyfriend. Alicia is Jack's girlfriend. You see the difference. He has had one boyfriend. Doesn't mean he's gay.

Jordan: I know.

Jordan looks back over to Jack to see him and Decker hugging.

SCENE 6: MASON'S HOUSE (LIVING ROOM). NIGHT

Jack opens the door to see Alicia. Alicia makes her way inside of the house when everyone jumps out to yell surprise. She turns around to Jack and hugs him.

Jack: Happy 17th birthday Alicia.

Shay runs over to her best friend and hugs her. The two shriek in excitement.

Shay: Um, do you know how hard it was keeping this from you?

Alicia: You are the best friend/roommate a girl can have!

Music starts to play as everyone dances around. Alicia looks around the room trying to find Jack. She notices that he is dancing with Jordan. Nolan appears on the side of her.

Nolan: Don't worry. You'll get used to it.

Alicia: What do you mean?

Nolan: The two of them. They love each other.

Alicia: Of course they do. They're best friends.

Nolan chuckles as he walks away.

SCENE 7: MASON'S HOUSE (JACK'S BEDROOM). NIGHT

Alicia leads Jack into his bedroom. The two of them start kissing. Jack is taken by surprise with Alicia aggressiveness.

Jack: Slow down.

Alicia: I love you.

Jack becomes speechless. He looks into Alicia's eyes to see that she is serious.

Alicia: I'm in love with you Jack.

Jack tries to speak, but the words are not coming out.

Jack: I love you, Alicia. You know that.

Alicia: But you don't love me the way you loved Decker. Or even the way you love Jordan.

Jack: Alicia, can you just slow down and explain to me what is going on right now. Jordan is my best friend.

Alicia: Are you in love with me Jack?

The answer was he wasn't at least not the way she wanted. She shakes her head and proceeds to leave out the room.

SCENE 8: MASON'S HOUSE (LIVING ROOM). NIGHT

Alicia storms down the stairs and out of the house. Everyone becomes silent not knowing what was going on. Shay is standing next to Maxwell notice Alicia leaving.

Shay: She looked upset. I should go check on her.

Maxwell: I'll walk with you.

The music stops.

Jordan: I probably should go upstairs and talk to Jack.

Nolan: Of course.

Jordan without a second thought takes off up the stairs. Nolan shakes his head and proceeds to make his way out the door. Soon more and more people followed behind until the house becomes empty.

SCENE 9: ARMSTRONG HOUSE (PORCH). NIGHT

Shay and Maxwell reach the Armstrong house.

Maxwell: I'm glad she texted you and told you she made it home.

Shay: I noticed that you were not yourself at the party. Is everything okay? Are you still thinking about Lorraine?

Maxwell: It's been almost five months since she died and I feel like it just happened yesterday.

Shay takes ahold of his hand and they take a seat on the porch steps.

Shay: It's okay to miss her. I know she was important to you. I don't know her, but she doesn't sound like the person that would want you to be depressed.

Maxwell: She would hate that. She wanted to live her full life without worries.

Shay leans and kisses Maxwell. She rises from the steps and proceeds to enter the house. Maxwell tries to hide the fact he is smiling which he hasn't done in months.

SCENE 10: DEGRASSI (HALL). MORNING

Amina struts into the hall wearing a rainbow blazer and a t-shirt that says "I'm Gay. Deal With It". She notices Harriet walking out of the classroom.

Harriet: You just don't get it Amina. People are not comfortable with your ignorance.

Amina: That's fine. My job is to make people uncomfortable because gay people exist. We are regular people with feelings. So, give me your best-shot Harriet. I'm not hiding who I am because you're uncomfortable.

Amina brushes pass Harriet with a smile.

SCENE 11: DEGRASSI (HALL). MORNING

Jack approaches Alicia who is gathering her things from his locker.

Jack: Are you moving out?

Jack laughs awkwardly trying to ease the tension between them.

Jack: Talk to me, Alicia. We have always been able to talk to each other.

Alicia turns to Jack.

Alicia: We have never been a couple. Loving you hurts Jack. Right now, I just need some time to figure this…us out.

Jack tries to fight the tears as Alicia walks off leaving their future together unclear.

CLOSING CREDITS

WE ARE DOWN TO THE LAST TWO EPISODES OF SEASON FOUR!

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