LAKEHURST HIGH - EPISODE 6 - A NIGHT IN THE RUTS
Disclaimer: I don´t own Degrassi or the characters from it.
Author´s Note: For a little wordplay, try interchanging the R and the N in the episode title.
1. Int. Hallway. Day.
Snake and Spike are talking to Michelle.
Spike:
I promise, I´ll get him back to you in one piece.
Michelle:
Let me get this right. You´re blowing off an evening of foul moods, catty remarks and a general feeling of unpleasantness for something, that could be fun?
Snake:
You know, I have nothing against your dad. If it was only him, I wouldn´t mind. Being alone in the same room with you and your stepmother, I wouldn´t wish on my worst enemy.
Michelle:
I wish, I could blow it off and go with you. Apparently, they have news, they want to share in person.
Spike:
Any idea, what it could be?
Michelle:
I hope, that she´s dying from a ultra fast spreading cancer!
Spike:
Wow! You really don´t like her!
Michelle:
I´m convinced, that she was put on this earth, for the sole purpose of making me miserable! She´s ruining what´s left of my relationship with my dad and it was strained enough, as it was!
Snake:
Is it okay, that I go to the concert?
Michelle:
You can have the evening off! Spike, if you see any girls hit on him, chase them off.
Snake:
I can say no!
Michelle:
Don´t take it as critique, because I love, how kindhearted you are. We both know, that you feel guilty every time, you say anything even resembling a hard word to a girl. I´m afraid, that they won´t get the message.
Spike:
I can scare the hell out of them. You can trust me.
Snake:
I promise to not leave Spike at any point. She´ll be the world´s tiniest bodyguard.
Michelle:
You have my blessing. Go and have that thing, you crazy kids call fun!
Snake and Spike look excited.
OPENING CREDITS
2. Ext. Parking Lot. Evening.
Snake, Spike and Joey are walking through the parking lot. Erica, who´s drinking beer with two long haired metalheads, Stefan and Neil, sees them and smiles widely. This much more of a hard rocking version of Erica, than we´re used to, in ripped jeans, army boots, a Twisted Sister T-Shirt and a black leather jacket. She runs towards them.
Spike:
Someone´s happy to see us!
Erica reaches them and immediately starts dealing out hugs, to everyone´s surprise.
Erica:
I´m so glad to see you guys! It already feels like, it´s been forever!
Joey:
It´s nice to see you too, Erica.
Erica:
Wheels is already inside with Kathleen. Do you think, I was shocked, when I saw them walking hand in hand?
Spike:
It came as a surprise to everyone, but the heart wants what it wants, right?
Erica:
I miss hearing words of wisdom from my Spikey!
Joey and Snake make eye contact and try not to laugh.
Erica:
It´s weird to think, that I had such an enormous crush on him! As long as he´s happy, that´s what matters! Come and meet my boyfriend!
Joey:
Where´s Heather?
Erica:
We had another fight, so she decided to stay home and be boring. We´ve been having a lot of those lately, because she doesn´t like, that I´m changing. Come! I want you to meet him.
She starts running back to the two metalheads. The other three follow behind a little slower.
Joey:
I´m starting to see, why Caitlyn gave this a miss.
Snake:
How did you get the ticket from her?
Joey:
I played her ten seconds of their music.
Spike:
Is it me, or is Erica on something, that isn´t just happiness to see us?
Snake:
I wouldn´t be surprised, with the way she´s acting.
Joey:
Or dressing.
They follow after Erica.
3. Ext. Van. Evening.
The side of the van is open. Neil finds some beers in the back and hands one to Erica, who gladly takes it. He offers one to Joey.
Joey:
I would, but I´m driving. I´m gonna go and find Wheels. I´ll see you inside.
Joey leaves them.
Neil:
Is he always that boring?
Erica:
Only when he´s driving.
They laugh goofily together and kiss. They´re clearly very taken with one another.
Stefan:
What about you? You´re not driving, are you?
Spike and Snake look at each other.
Snake:
No one says, that we can´t.
Spike:
I´m sleeping at Caitlyn´s, so my mom wouldn´t know.
Erica:
Stop coming up with reasons to and get to it!
Spike:
Alright.
Neal:
We also have rum and vodka.
Snake:
You sure know how to party!
Stefan hands Spike and Snake a beer each. They open them and toast.
Spike:
To an evening of fun!
They drink and both like it.
Erica:
Neil and Stefan have a metal band called "Vindication".
Snake:
Cool name!
Erica:
Honey, play them the song, you wrote for me.
Neil gets an acoustic guitar from within the van.
Erica:
I´m super biased, since it´s the only song, that´s about me, but it´s got hit written all over it!
Spike and Snake take another sip.
Neil (singing a terrible song):
Erica
I don´t know what I´d do without ya
I love you, Erica
We can go to Saudi Arabia
Or just stay in Canada
Erica grooves along and clearly thinks, that her song is a masterpiece. Snake and Spike are trying very hard not to laugh.
4. Int. Michelle´s Dad´s House. Evening.
Michelle is talking to her dad. He looks at the clock on the wall.
Dad:
She should be home soon.
Michelle:
I´d rather, if she didn´t.
Dad:
Is that how you want to start the evening off?
Michelle:
No, but I know how the night will end. I´m never gonna get along with her.
Dad:
That´s because you haven´t given her a chance!
Michelle:
I have!
Dad:
You gave her attitude from the start.
Michelle:
Because she hates me!
Dad:
She doesn´t. She wants us to try to be a family.
Michelle:
I´ll NEVER consider her family!
Dad:
You won´t have much choice. I should wait, until she gets here.
Michelle puts two and two together and looks furious.
Michelle:
You´re getting married, aren´t you?
Dad:
I wanted to wait until she got here, so we could tell you together.
Michelle:
What are you thinking?
Dad:
I´m in love. I want to spend the rest of my life with her.
Michelle:
What about me or mom?
Her dad approaches her, but she steps away from him.
Dad:
Michelle, you´re already independent, even if I help out with your rent. It´s only because I don´t want you to starve, but you´ve proven, that you can take care of yourself. I´ll still be here for you, but you don´t need me to take care of you. I have to do this for myself.
Michelle:
What about mom?
Dad:
It´s been two years, since we split up. We had many great years together, but we grew apart. She was right to leave me, because I didn´t want to see it. Falling in love again has opened my eyes and I´d like it, if you could be happy for us.
Michelle:
Happy for you? You´ve ruined my life!
Dad:
Michelle ...
She storms out, before he can catch her.
5. Ext. Van. Evening.
It´s now a drunk Snake´s turn to play guitar and serenade Spike, who´s looking like, she´s feeling the effects of the alcohol too. Erica is standing next to her.
Snake (serenading Spike):
Oh, Spike
You have a great name, because it rhymes with like
Spike can´t help laughing.
Snake (singing):
You can also rhyme it with Bike
Ehm ...
Erica (singing):
It also rhymes with Pike.
Snake (singing):
Good one, Erica.
Erica: (singing):
Thank you, Snake.
He comes up with an ending and Spike applauds them.
Spike:
I don´t see you as the next Captain and Tenille, but for a first attempt, it wasn´t bad.
Snake:
I meant every word of it!
She invites him in for a hug and he hands the guitar to Erica, who takes it. Spike hugs him very tightly and more than a little longer, than a friend hug should last. Erica smiles to herself. Stefan and Neil come over to them. Stefan has a bottle of dark rum, where as Neil has five plastic shot glasses.
Stefan:
It´s time for a tradition, we have. We have one last shot for good luck, before we head inside.
Snake:
Is that the rum?
Neil:
You´re not used to liqour, are you?
Snake:
I thought, it was clear, like Vodka.
Stefan:
That´s a white rum. This is a dark rum.
Neil:
They taste almost the same. This one, was on sale.
Erica:
Yum!
They each get a glass and Stefan fills them.
Neil:
1,2,3! Bottom´s up!
They all drink it. Spike coughs and makes a face after she swallows it.
Spike:
It´s tastes like sugary battery acid!
Stefan:
Do you want another one, before we head inside?
Spike:
We only live once, right?
Erica:
That´s why I love my Spikey! She´s so smart!
Erica gives Spike a very unexpected kiss on the cheek, but she takes it in stride, as Stefan fills their glasses again.
6. Ext. Alexa´s House. Evening.
Michelle is talking to Alexa, who´s dressed up. There´s clearly a party going on inside.
Alexa:
That´s crazy! How long have they been a couple?
Michelle:
Not even three months. I moved out after we started fighting again and a week later, she had her talons in him!
Alexa:
Have you told your mom?
Michelle:
I´m letting him tell her. That way I´ll never have to see him, or that Succubus again!
Alexa:
You don´t mean that. He´s still your dad.
Michelle:
It´s her or me. He can´t have us both!
Alexa:
Do you really think, that´s fair on him? Doesn´t he deserve the chance to find love again?
Michelle:
He´s not supposed to! He´s supposed to work out his problems with my mom, so she can move back home and we can be a family, like we used to be.
Alexa looks at her with sympathy.
Alexa:
Sweetie, that´s not gonna happen.
Michelle:
I can sabotage it. Get her sent to jail or something.
Alexa:
This isn´t the movies. Things like that aren´t easy in real life.
Michelle:
Help me to come up with something.
Alexa:
I have to get back inside. I´ll call you tomorrow, okay? We can spend the day together.
Michelle:
Sure.
Alexa:
Don´t do anything, you´ll regret.
Alexa leaves her and heads back inside to the party. Michelle looks like everything is a bit hopeless.
7. Int. Venue. Evening.
Snake and Spike are watching the concert, while Erica dances with Neil. Stefan has found a punk girl to make out with. A girl passes them by and gives Snake the eye, so Spike puts her arm around him to scare her off. He plays along and pretends that Spike is his girlfriend. They both seem to enjoy it, even if they´re swaggering a little in their drunkenness.
Spike:
I´m getting us a drink. What do you want?
Snake:
A coke?
Spike:
I´ll be right back.
She smiles at him flirtingly and he smiles his usual goofy smile as he watches her walk up to the bar. Erica stops dancing with Neil and comes over to him.
Erica:
Are you finally starting to see, how great she is?
Snake:
I´ve always known.
Erica:
I don´t just mean, in a friend way. She was crushed, when you went to the formal with Michelle.
Snake looks surprised.
Snake:
She cancelled on me.
Erica:
Because she´s too nice for her own good and you were too blind to see it. She saw that you liked Michelle and cancelled, so you and her could have your chance. She´s been in love with you for months, if not years.
Snake:
Why hasn´t she said anything?
Erica:
Duh! It´s Spike! She has this crazy idea, that no guy would want her, because she has Emma.
Snake:
That´s insane! Any guy would be lucky, to go out with her.
Erica:
You should ask yourself, if that includes you. Nothing against Michelle, but there´s no doubt, who I´d choose.
She goes back to dancing with Neil. Snake and Spike smile at each other, when she returns with their drinks.
8. Int. Apartment Building. Evening.
Michelle comes home to her apartment. There´s a party on the other side of the hallway and a boy, who´s around her own age, smiles at her, when they see each other.
Patrick:
So, you´re my brother´s new sort of neighbor. I´m sorry, if we´re being noisy. It´s only because he just moved in.
Michelle smiles back at him.
Michelle:
That´s okay. I´m Michelle.
Patrick:
I´m Patrick and my brother´s name is Rob, just so you know.
Michelle:
Why are you standing out here?
Patrick:
I can only handle a certain amount drunk talk, before I need a break.
Michelle:
It isn´t that funny unless, you´re also drinking, is it?
Patrick:
He doesn´t mind if I drink, but I´m not hardcore, like him and his frat buddies. I have to pace myself, if I´m gonna last all evening.
Michelle:
That sounds like a good plan.
Patrick:
Do you want to come in and have a drink? It would be nice to have someone, who´s my own age to talk to and you seem cool.
Michelle smiles to herself.
Michelle:
I´m sorry, I´m not used to being called cool. At school, I´m more the girl, that no one pays attention to.
Patrick:
I can´t imagine why. You seem cool to me.
Michelle:
Let me put my stuff inside and I´ll join you.
Patrick:
I´ll be waiting.
Michelle looks pleased as she unlocks her door.
9. Int. Venue. Evening.
Spike and Snake are dancing and flirting very heavily. They´re constantly smiling and both of them look drunk. He puts his arms around her and pulls her in close.
Snake:
Is it true, that you cancelled on the formal, to give me and Michelle a chance?
Spike nods.
Spike:
You deserve a girlfriend like her, who doesn´t have the enormous complication of a kid.
Snake:
I wish, you´d been honest with me.
Spike:
She´s the one, you wanted to go with.
Snake:
Don´t be so sure of that.
He leans down and they kiss passionately.
Spike:
I´ve been in love with you for a long time.
Snake:
I love you too.
Spike smiles.
Spike:
For real? Don´t say it, if it´s just to make me feel good. You´re doing that already.
Snake:
I mean it. You´re an incredible girl with a fantastic little daughter. I´d like to be her dad, now that Shane can´t be.
Spike glows with joy, as she kisses him again.
10. Int. Rob´s Apartment. Evening.
Michelle is looking drunk too. She sitting next to Patrick.
Michelle:
Those people from Long Island know how to make ice tea!
Patrick:
It takes good, doesn´t it?
Michelle:
Yeah, I like it.
She takes another big sip through her straw. Patrick puts his hand on her leg.
Michelle:
I don´t think, my boyfriend would like that.
Patrick:
Is he here?
Michelle:
No, but ...
Patrick kisses her and she doesn´t fight it, quite the opposite in fact.
Michelle:
Do you want to come over to my apartment?
Patrick:
I thought, you´d never ask.
They kiss again and she smiles drunkenly at him.
Michelle:
One rule. This is a one night stand and my boyfriend never hears about it.
Patrick:
How can I tell him, when I don´t know, who he is?
Michelle:
Good point. Grab us a bottle to go.
Patrick gets up and she holds her head.
Michelle (to herself):
What are you doing, Michelle?
Patrick comes back with a quarter full bottle. He offers her his hand and she takes it.
11. Int. Caitlyn´s Room. Evening.
Caitlyn has let a drunk Spike in. Spike is on cloud 9 and can´t stop smiling.
Spike:
You won´t guess what happened!
Caitlyn:
You had fun?
Spike:
I´m in love! It´s the real thing this time!
Caitlyn looks surprised.
Caitlyn:
With who?
Spike:
With Snake. We made out at the concert.
Caitlyn looks annoyed with her.
Caitlyn:
How can you do that to Michelle? She´s your friend!
Spike:
She´ll understand, when I explain it to her.
Caitlyn:
I seriously doubt that!
Spike:
We´re getting married! He said that he wants to raise Emma with me, as if she were his own.
Caitlyn:
I´m happy for Emma, but ...
Spike:
You have no idea, how happy it makes me! I can finally give her the family, she deserves and Snake is be the best dad, she can have! How can Michelle get herself, to stand in the way of that?
Caitlyn:
I don´t see a ring on your finger.
Spike:
That´s a formality. He got down on one knee and proposed. It was the most romantic moment of my life!
She´s literally jumping with joy! Caitlyn tries to take it in.
12. Int. Michelle´s Bedroom. Morning.
Michelle is sitting up and holding her hung over head and shaking it. Patrick is sleeping in her bed, seemingly naked under the covers.
Michelle:
No, no, no! How could I be this dumb?
She starts to cry.
13. Int. Snake´s Room. Morning.
Snake is doing the exact same thing, Michelle is, only he´s alone is his bed.
Snake:
No, no, no! How could I be this dumb?
He lies back down and looks up at the ceiling.
Snake (to himself):
None of them are ever gonna forgive you.
He pounds the bed in frustration.
14. Int. Michelle´s Bedroom. Morning.
Michelle is still crying.
Michelle (to herself):
Snake is never gonna forgive you.
She pounds the bed in frustration, almost waking Patrick up.
15. Int. Kitchen. Morning.
Spike and Caitlyn are eating breakfast. Spike is looking worse for wear and for once, her hair is a mess of morning hair.
Caitlyn:
You can use our phone, if you want to talk to Snake in private.
Spike:
I don´t even want to think about that.
Caitlyn:
You were head over heels for him yesterday.
Spike:
We made out constantly for over an hour in there. I´m talking permanent lip lock!
Caitlyn smiles to herself.
Spike:
There were dozens of kids from school there, who saw us! Michelle has probably heard already!
Caitlyn:
That´s what you get for turning boyfriend stealer.
Spike:
I don´t even want him, if this is how we´re starting off. It´s more important, that I give Michelle a proper apology, so she doesn´t hate me. I actually said word for word to her, that she could trust me and I do that? What kind of person am I?
Caitlyn:
A nice one, who feels bad, for what she did. Which you should, by the way. Being drunk isn´t an excuse.
Spike:
I´m never drinking again!
There´s a knock on the door. Caitlyn gets up to answer it. They´re surprised to see Heather out there with a police officer.
Spike:
What are you doing here?
Heather:
Did you see Erica last night?
Spike:
Yeah, we hung out.
Heather:
Did she seem alright?
Spike:
She was in a good mood, but nothing too out of the ordinary.
Heather:
Thank God! We´ve been worried sick.
Caitlyn:
What´s going on?
Heather looks full of relief.
Officer:
You haven´t seen the flyers?
Spike:
Which flyers?
Heather hands one to her. It has Erica´s picture and a phone number to call for those, who have seen her.
Heather:
She ran away from home last Sunday. This is the first sign of life, we´ve had from her.
The last freeze frame is of Spike looking shocked.
CLOSING CREDITS
