Arnold wakes up hours later with the sky still filled with stars.
He looks around and sees Gerald and Phoebe, but doesn't see Helga.
Then he looks up and sees Helga on his roof.
He climbs up to his roof and joins her in star watching.
Arnold:
You can't sleep?
Helga:
Normally I would go to sleep at 6 and then wake up at midnight to get ready for school.
Arnold:
How do you go the entire day without proper rest?
Helga:
Six hours is good enough.
I don't see the hurt in it, but today I am neglecting my sleep schedule to just look at the stars.
With your room showing the sky, it's certainly hard to ignore them, Arnoldo.
Arnold:
You need to get some rest, though, Helga.
You know I'll worry.
Helga:
You worry about everyone, football head.
Arnold:
I can't help it.
Helga:
You know, you should become some...psychologist.
Arnold:
(Laughs)
What?
Helga:
Or some school counselor that talks to children.
You're always wanting to hear someone out and give advice...even to someone mean as me.
Arnold:
I don't really know what I'll be when I grow up, but I have until junior and senior year to think about it before college.
What about you?
Helga:
Me? Pfft I don't know...maybe a model?
Arnold:
Now I know you're lying!
Helga laughs.
Please, tell me you're lying!
Helga:
I am, I am.
Arnold:
Good.
Helga:
I'm assuming you're still not over seeing Lila look like a toothpick. She's changed a bit like the rest of us, when you were in San Lorenzo.
Arnold:
It was pretty frightening seeing how skinny she was.
She seems a bit off , but not just her...everyone else seem a bit off , too.
Even you.
Arnold looks at Helga with a serious look.
Helga:
(Sighs)
Stop worrying about me, okay? What I'm dealing with is not your concern.
Arnold:
I know it's not my business, but I really can't help it.
You're my friend, Helga.
If there's anything wrong—
Helga:
I'll be sure to tell you.
Since we're friiiiiennds.
Helga rolls her eyes.
It was silence between them for a bit until Helga spoke again.
Why aren't you going back inside, Arnoldo?
Arnold:
Because I'm waiting for you to go first.
I won't sleep until I know you're sleeping.
Helga:
Then we're going to be here all night because of YOU.
Arnold:
Me? You're the one , who's choosing not to sleep.
Helga:
I'm my own person and I get to do whatever I want whenever I want, football head!
Arnold:
Not in my room. Not in my house.
Helga:
Oh, wow. You wanna play that card now?
WE'RE ON THE ROOF.
Arnold:
My roof!
Helga let's out a scornful laugh.
Helga:
The way you try to win arguments with me is terribly hilarious.
You'll never win against me.
Arnold:
It's never my intention to, but when it's about your health that you take care of nonchalantly, I'm here to argue and win.
Helga blushes.
Helga:
The truth is, Arnold...
I'm afraid that once I tell you what happened to me...you will find me disgusting.
You will find me weak and I won't be able to live with you seeing me that way.
I mean, look at me.
I'm already not the prettiest flower in the bunch.
Arnold:
How can you say that, Helga?
You're very beautiful and will always be one of the most strongest girls I've ever met and whatever happened...
how I see you now will never change.
Helga smiles slightly at Arnold.
Helga:
I...I...
Bob is not a part of my family anymore.
Miriam divorced him.
Arnold:
I had a feeling that it was divorce.
Well, Helga...unfortunately many couples go through divorce.
You're not alone on that one.
Helga:
Miriam has been struggling to pay bills, so I may have to work after school at some place and I might not be able to go to college.
I don't know...
Arnold:
I wish I could help you.
Maybe my parents could lend your mom some money.
I kind of don't want you working.
Helga:
Why, football head?
You don't think I can take care of myself and keep my house together because I'm a girl?? Is that it?
Arnold:
That's just it. You're just a little girl.
We're kids.
We aren't meant to take care of our homes until we are older and have our own.
Our parents are responsible for us for now.
Kids are only meant to go to school and have fun.
Those type of responsibilities occur when we reach adulthood and then on top of that... Hillwood has become a war zone since I left.
You returning home late after work...that'll be too stressful and dangerous plus all the homework you'll have to finish.
Helga:
Phoebe can handle the homework for me.
Arnold:
Helga...
Helga:
You're right. Fine, fine.
I won't argue with you about this.
Arnold:
Is there something else that you wish to tell me?
Helga stands up abruptly and walks closer to the edge of the roof.
She looks down.
Arnold stands up and walks to Helga with a worried look on his face.
Y-you're not thinking of jumping, right?
Helga:
Of course not, football head!
I'm just... I'm thinking if I should tell you something else...
Something very personal.
Do you know why I have such a weird sleeping schedule, Arnold?
Arnold:
No, not really.
Helga:
I know you're behind me. Turn away from me, so I could tell you this.
I'm not comfortable talking about what I'm about to tell you.
Phoebe is the only one , who knows this.
So if you please, will ya?
Arnold turns around and walks to the other edge of the roof.
He is ready to listen to Helga speak.
Helga sighs as she closes her eyes.
She opens them and speaks.
Bob was divorced because..
To put it bluntly...
he raped me.
Arnold's eyes widens.
He is speechless.
He couldn't believed what he just heard.
He clinches his fist.
I know it's hard for you to swallow, but it's true.
I wish it wasn't.
It wasn't just one time.
He raped me...multiple times.
For what reason? I'll never know.
It started when I was in 6th grade and I didn't tell Phoebe until the end of 7th grade.
Miriam...my stupid mom... didn't believe me at first.
She was the first one I told and...
she just couldn't handle the truth, but eventually she became disgusted by Bob and divorced him.
Now Miriam has been getting drunk more than ever before.
I assume she's trying to heal herself from the past.
She refuses to really talk to me...to actually have a conversation.
Doesn't look at me either, but recently I saw that she had a picture of Bob near her when she was sleeping.
I know I threw them all away, but for some reason she still had one saved.
I don't know what's that about, but I just hope she's not falling back in love with him.
That would cause me to runaway.
Arnold:
If you runaway, then you're staying with me.
Helga smiles a bit.
Helga:
Noble, much?
I'd stay with Phoebe before you.
Anyways, he would rape me during the nights.
Night time is supposed to be beautiful, but he just made them scary.
I used to try to stay awake, but then I knew I had to get some sort of rest.
Sleeping at 6 and waking up at midnight was the best option for me.
Every time school would let out...I would be scared to return home.
I would beg Miriam to let me spend the night at Phoebe's house or ANYBODY'S house just to get away from Bob.
He was always in my nightmares and always caused me to panic during the day, but recently...I would take out my locket to feel better because well...I missed you, ...doi!
Helga blushes as she crosses her arms.
Arnold turns around and walks over to Helga.
Arnold:
I wish I never left here.
I wish I stayed and never went back to San Lorenzo.
Helga:
Don't say that, Arnold.
Arnold:
You needed me here.
I could've protected you from your father.
I could've...I could've done something.
Helga:
I wouldn't even tell you and you wouldn't have noticed a change in me.
Arnold:
I noticed a change in everyone here.
I am honestly too angry to even think straight.
There is a long silence between them until Helga speaks.
Helga:
Arnold?
Arnold:
Yes, Helga?
Helga:
C-Can you give me a hug and tell me that everything's going to be okay?
Arnold slowly approaches Helga.
He wraps his arms around her and whispers in her ear these words...
Arnold:
Everything's going to be okay, Helga.
You're here with me now.
Morning arrives and Helga and Arnold fell asleep next to each other on the roof.
Gerald and Phoebe climb up to the roof and see them.
Phoebe takes out her phone and snaps a picture of them.
Gerald:
Why did you take a picture?
Phoebe:
Helga would want me to , so that I can send it to her.
Gerald and Phoebe wake Arnold and Helga up for them to get ready for school.