LAKEHURST HIGH - EPISODE 4 - TO CHEAT OR NOT TO CHEAT
Disclaimer: I don´t own Degrassi or the characters from it.
1. Int. Hallway. Day.
Spike and Caitlyn are taking in between classes.
Spike:
I hate job interviews.
Caitlyn:
How many have you gone to?
Spike:
Only one. It totally sucked and I didn´t get the job.
Caitlyn:
You´ll do better this time. My first one didn´t go well either, but I was a lot more relaxed on the second one. It´s a bit like with dates.
Spike:
Only, you´re looking to get lucky, in a completely different way! You have an advantage on me. You look normal and that´s what employers want.
Joey comes over to them.
Joey:
What´s the gossip?
Caitlyn:
None. Spike is just worried about her job interview this afternoon.
Joey:
That´s funny. Tessa has a job interview too. Down at the PhotoMat on Moore Street.
Spike rolls her eyes.
Spike:
That´s the same job, I´m applying for!
She looks like, she´s already given up.
OPENING CREDITS
2. Int. PhotoMat. Day.
Tessa comes out from the back office with the manager, looking pleased. Spike is waiting her turn with Caitlyn and looks nervous.
Spike:
They´re both smiling. We might as well just go.
Caitlyn:
Stop it! You´ll never get this job, if you don´t believe that you will. Show some confidence!
Spike:
Confidence is one thing, I´m in short supply of. Why would they hire me, when they can have her?
Manager:
I´ll let you know in a few days, Tessa.
Tessa:
Thanks.
She waves at Caitlyn and Spike.
Tessa:
Hi. Good luck.
Manager:
Christine, you´re next.
Caitlyn:
Break a leg.
Spike looks nervous, as she follows after the manager.
3. Int. Basketball Court. Day.
Snake and Simon are in the middle of training with the basketball team. Snake with his height is a monster at center, getting one rebound after the next. Caitlyn and Spike watch them.
Spike:
I might as well give up already.
Caitlyn:
Have you thought about changing your hair to something, that doesn´t stand out as much? It could make it easier.
Spike:
If I do, then it´s like I´m giving up on my ideals. I don´t just wear it like this, because it looks cool. It´s a statement, saying that I´m not afraid to be myself.
Caitlyn:
Statements are nice, but can you buy Christmas presents for them?
Spike:
I guess, that there´s a small chance, that they´ll hire me. It is two jobs, after all.
Caitlyn:
You could see, if you can convince Tessa to step down.
Spike considers it.
Spike:
It would raise my chances. It´s not a nice thing to do.
Caitlyn:
You know what they say, nice girls finish last.
She pads Spike on the back.
4. Int. Locker Room. Day.
Simon and Snake are almost done changing.
Simon:
Are you worried about seeing BLT again tomorrow?
Snake:
No. Why would I?
Simon:
Michelle?
Snake:
He dumped her. Plus, that was ages ago!
Simon:
He´s still in love with her. I see him now and again and he´s regretted dumping her, ever since we left Degrassi.
Snake tries to smile it off.
Snake:
You´re kidding, right?
Simon:
I wish, I was. I´m glad, that I´m not her new boyfriend.
Snake:
So? I´ll stay away from him, no big deal.
Simon shakes his head.
Simon:
You won´t be able to during the game. Getting hit in the head with a basketball, can hurt like hell! I´d find a reason to stay home, if I were you.
Snake looks worried.
5. Int. Hallway. Day.
Simon and Snake come out. Alexa was waiting for Simon in her cheerleader´s uniform.
Simon:
You´re supposed to change after practice. Maybe that wasn´t made clear enough.
Alexa:
Are you kidding! I´m working this outfit, baby! I should have joined sooner, if I knew, that it would be this fun.
Simon:
See you tomorrow, Snake.
Snake:
We´ll see. I´m starting to feel a cold coming on.
Alexa:
Don´t get Michelle sick. I need her to help me with my history quiz.
Snake leaves them. They kiss.
Simon:
You do look pretty damn good in that uniform.
Alexa:
Enjoy it, while you can, Buster! Did you talk to Snake?
Simon:
Yep. I don´t think, we´ll be seeing him tomorrow.
Alexa:
Are you positive? We have all of our money riding on this game.
Simon:
Without Snake, there is no way we´re winning! You will get the ring you want, my princess.
She smiles in anticipation.
6. Int. The Dot. Day.
Michelle and Snake are talking, while getting a soda. He takes a big sip of his.
Michelle:
What´s with you?
Snake:
What do you mean?
Michelle:
You´re so jumpy, like someone´s after you or something.
Snake:
What would you say, if I told you, that BLT is still in love with you?
Michelle can´t help laughing.
Michelle:
Come on! WHo told you that?
Snake:
Simon did. The two of them have stayed in touch.
Michelle:
Give BLT a call. I´m sure, that he isn´t in still in love with me. We haven´t even talked, since we lest Degrassi.
Snake:
Something fishy is going on. I´ll call him tonight.
Michelle:
My guess is, that it´s some sort of prank.
He takes another sip and considers it.
7. Ext. Playground. Evening.
Spike is down at the playground with Emma. Emma is building a sand castle, with Spike helping her. Tessa comes over to them.
Tessa:
Hi, guys!
Spike:
Hey! Don´t you have anything better to do tonight, or are you regressing?
Tessa smiles.
Tessa:
I´m down here with my aunt and my niece. It´s always fun to reminded, of how you used to be.
Spike:
This little charmer is my daughter Emma.
Tessa:
Hi. Emma.
Emma:
Hi.
Emma waves at her and Tessa waves back.
Tessa:
You have a little lump of gold there.
Spike:
It´s not always this easy. Trust me, there´s plenty of things, that come with being a single, teenage mom, that you would rather be without.
Tessa:
I can only imagine.
Tessa looks sympathetic with her. Spike sees her chance.
Spike:
I mean, there´s so many things, you have to pay for! New clothes, her shots, I can barely afford to get her those!
Tessa:
That´s terrible.
Spike:
If I got that job at the PhotoMat, I could have the money to. At least then I´d know, that I could provide for her.
Tessa:
I´ll tell you what. What if, I gave you my old clothes? My parents still have them.
Spike smiles widely.
Spike:
Are you serious?
Tessa:
They´re probably not top fashion ...
Spike:
That doesn´t matter. You would be saving me a fortune!
Spike gives her a hug.
Spike:
Did you hear that, Emma? You´re getting new clothes. What do we say to Tessa?
Emma:
Thank you, Tessa.
Tessa:
Aww! You´re welcome, Emma.
Spike can see that Tessa´s heart completely melts, when it comes to Emma.
8. Int. Hallway. Day.
Spike is talking to Caitlyn.
Spike:
These clothes are as good as new! We can finally throw some of the hand me downs, that I inherited from my mom, some of which she inherited from her older sister, out.
Caitlyn:
So, Emma won´t be the only pre-schooler in bell bottoms, when she starts. Did you get her to withdraw?
Spike:
No. She was like, the nicest girl ever! I couldn´t get myself to do it.
Caitlyn:
She is nice, to the point of it almost being annoying, isn´t it?
Spike:
Maybe, I should just let fate take it´s course. It wasn´t like my interview went that bad.
Caitlyn:
You are SO gonna get stepped on in the real world, if you don´t stop being this nice.
Spike:
Do you have some sort of beef with her?
Caitlyn:
Look, do you want the job or not?
Spike:
Of course, I do.
Caitlyn:
Get her to drop out. Use Emma as your weapon, if she´s so crazy about her.
Spike eyes her.
Spike:
You´re starting to freak me out.
The cheerleaders and the basketball players come running up the hallway, the cheerleaders cheering and students applauding them, as they run by.
Caitlyn:
Where´s Snake?
Spike:
I don´t know. I haven´t seen him all day.
Spike shrugs.
9. Ext. Lakehurst. Day.
The basketball team and the cheerleaders are filing into the bus, as the coach counts them. Simon comes up to him.
Simon:
I don´t see Snake here.
Coach:
He´s not playing. Get in.
Simon tries to hide his smile and gets in.
10. Int. Bus. Day.
Simon sits down next to Alexa. They smile knowingly at each other.
11. Int. Classroom. Day.
Tessa is working hard on an assignment, while Spike is helping her.
Tessa:
Thanks, Spike. I completely forgot, that I was supposed to di this yesterday.
Spike:
It´s my fault too. Mine and Emma´s.
Tessa smiles.
Tessa:
She is so cute, that I could die. I felt bad, after we dropped you off yesterday.
Spike:
Why? You don´t have any reason to.
Tessa:
You need that job, more than I do. I should tell them, that I don´t want it, so you have a better chance. I´ll find something else.
Spike has a dilemma and weighs it in her head.
Spike:
Thanks.
Tessa:
Don´t worry about it. We´ll call it even, for you helping me here.
Spike:
Alright.
Spike clearly regrets her decision already.
12. Int. Gymnasium. Day.
The Lakehurst basketball team have come out to do their warm-up´s. Simon looks around for BLT, but his face turns to stone, when he sees him talking to Snake up in the stands. Alexa comes over to him, looking mad.
Alexa:
Why is BLT sitting up there with Snake and not down here warming up for the other team?
Simon:
I don´t know!
Alexa:
This can´t get in the way! I want that ring!
Cheerleader:
Alexa, get your big butt over here! It´s time to warm up!
Alexa looks about ready to explode.
Alexa:
If she says, that I have a large behind one more time, I swear that ...
Simon:
You don´t. We have to play it cool.
She walks over to the other cheerleaders. Simon looks up at BLT and Snake. They wave down at him.
13. Montage
We get a short montage of the basketball game, where North (BLT´s new school) is losing to Lakehurst, by a handsome margin. Snake and BLT are enjoying the game, while Alexa gets more and more mad throughout it, as it becomes clear, that their plan backfired on them. Simon tries to make a few mistakes to turn the tide, but he gets pulled by the coach and can only sit on the bench and sulk.
14. Ext. School. Day.
Spike is with Caitlyn outside of the school.
Spike:
Can I do this to her?
Caitlyn:
She suggested it. You´re off the hook and your chances just increased.
Spike:
I´ll beat her in getting down there after school and tell them, that they should hire her.
Caitlyn:
What about the dough?
Spike:
What good is it, if I can´t look myself in the mirror? I can´t do something mean to someone, who´s only been nice to me! It´s just not in me!
Caitlyn looks a little annoyed, but can´t help smiling a little either.
Caitlyn:
Okay, if you must do the morally correct thing. You´ll have to get tougher at some point.
Spike:
It won´t be now and it won´t be with Tessa. She doesn´t deserve that.
Spike looks pleased with her decision.
15. Int. Gymnasium. Day.
Simon is with BLT and Snake after the game.
BLT:
Match fixing? That ain´t cool, Simon!
Snake:
Not to mention, that told me that crap about BLT still being in love with Michelle.
BLT:
That was low.
Simon:
You don´t understand that kind of pressure, she puts on me!
Snake:
So, dump her!
Simon:
I can´t do that. I love her.
BLT:
So you thought that by removing Snake, North would win?
Simon:
I thought, they would be better.
BLT:
We usually are. But I might have spread the word, that someone had paid Lakehurst to throw the game.
Snake:
Without their star point guard, they´re only half the team, they usually are, anyway.
Simon:
We´ll talk later. I need a shower.
Simon leaves them.
Snake:
You´re not really in love with Michelle, are you?
BLT:
Nah. See that girl over there?
He points out a very pretty cheerleader, who waves back at him. He blows her a kiss and she takes it and blows it back to him.
Snake:
She´s hot.
BLT:
Tell me about it. Good luck with Michelle, man. I´ve moved on.
Snake looks pleased.
16. Int. PhotoMat. Day.
Spike comes rushing in. Tessa is talking to the manager by the counter.
Spike:
I can´t let you do it!
Tessa and the manager look surprised.
Spike:
I tried to manipulate you into withdrawing from consideration. Which I realize, doesn´t make me look good to an employer.
She looks the manager in the eyes.
Spike:
I´m not usually manipulative, it´s just that I really need this job. But I don´t want it this way. If Tessa is a better candidate, then you should hire her.
Tessa:
I´ve already been hired. So have you.
Spike smiles.
Spike:
I have?
Manager:
I had another candidate in mind for the other position, but then Tessa came in and spoke so very highly of you. It´s always easier, when you have two friends working together, anyway. There´s nothing worse than being forced to work with someone, you don´t like. It isn´t good for business either.
Spike:
Thanks. This extra income is going make a huge difference.
Manager:
We can sign the contracts right now and get that part over with, if you want?
Spike:
Yeah, why not?
The manager leaves them and heads into the back room.
Tessa:
Are we friends?
Spike:
Friends and colleagues.
They smile at each other and shake hands.
17. Int. Hallway. Day.
Alexa and Michelle come walking up the hallway.
Michelle:
If you´l let me in on your plan, then I wouldn´t have ruined it.
Alexa:
It´s okay. You couldn´t have known.
Michelle:
How much did you lose?
Alexa:
A hundred and fifty bucks. The only ring we can afford right now is an onion ring!
Michellle:
You live, you learn. You learned that fixing basketball games isn´t as easy, as it sounds.
Alexa:
It would have worked, if Simon hadn´t messed the plan up.
Michelle:
Are you gonna stick with cheerleading?
Alexa:
What do you think? The girls were mean, I hated wearing that sexist uniform ...
Michelle:
Simon likes it though, doesn´t he?
Alexa smiles to herself.
Alexa:
I didn´t say, that I got nothing out of the experience, did I?
The girls giggle, as they pass by Spike, Caitlyn and Tessa, who are talking.
Spike:
Did you get, how to work the cash rigeister?
Tessa:
More or less. We might have to wing it the first time or two. Is Emma enjoying her new, used clothes?
Spike:
I´m sure she is. They´re much less full of holes, than her old ones.
Tessa:
Do you guys want to hang out tonight?
Spike:
I´m free, like I am on 99 percent of my evenings.
Tessa:
Cool. What about you, Caitlyn?
Caitlyn:
I have a study date with Joey.
Tessa:
A study date? is that what you kids are calling it these days?
She winks at Spike, who grins.
Caitlyn:
We study. Most of the time. Okay some, but we do study!
Tessa:
Good one. See ya later.
She heads off to class. Caitlyn and Spike watch her leave.
Caitlyn:
She´s starting to get too confident and I don´t like it!
Spike:
What do you have against her? She´s a total sweetheart and Emma adores her.
Caitlyn:
Have you seen the way, she looks at Joey? I´m telling you, she has a crush on him.
Spike looks at Caitlyn.
Spike:
Does the reason why, you wanted me to get the job and not her, have something to do with Joey?
Caitlyn:
It´s one thing, that they meet at school. I can live with that. But he gets all his pictures developed down there. Next thing you know, he´ll be coming down to visit her, sparks will start to fly ...
Spike:
You are so paranoid, it´s unbelievable.
Caitlyn:
I keep telling you. Nice girls finish last and you know what also happens to them? They see the guys, they want, get snatched up by girls, who are willing to do what they have to, to get them.
Spike:
I´d rather be myself and feel good about who I am. If it means, that they´ll get ahead of me in life, then so be it. Unlike them, I´ll always know, that I can look myself in the mirror and like the girl, I see in it.
The last freeze frame is Spike smiling to herself, happy with being who she is.
CLOSING CREDITS
