LAKEHURST HIGH - EPISODE 14 - THE COLOR OF MONEY
Disclaimer: I don´t own Degrassi or the characters from it.
1. Int. Kathleen´s House. Evening.
Kathleen´s house is being used to shoot the movie loose based on her and the entire crew is there. Kathleen and Lucy watch the action that´s unfolding intently. Tessa and Dave are playing the parts of Kathleen and Scott and he´s grabbing her arm.
Tessa:
Stop it, Scott! You´re hurting me!
Dave:
You deserve it, you slut! You belong to me!
He pretends to hit her, but it´s nowhere near close to hitting her face.
Kathleen:
Cut!
She walks over to them.
Kathleen:
Your hand was half a foot, from hitting her.
Dave:
I´m trying, but the last thing I want, is to hit her for real.
Tessa can´t help smiling.
Kathleen:
Where were you, back when I was dating that jerk?
Tessa:
I think, it´s sweet.
She kisses him on the cheek.
Kathleen:
Practice the slap in slow motion.
They do it, so that he comes close to hitting (or more accurately gently touching) her face with it.
Kathleen:
A little faster.
They do, but it´s still nowhere close to looking real.
Kathleen:
I need a word with my co-director.
She walks over to Lucy.
Kathleen:
He´s hopeless!
Lucy:
I know, but we have to try our best, to get a passable performance out of him. It´s not easy getting a teenage boy to play a girlfriend beater. I can´t imagine, that it does wonders for his dating life!
Kathleen:
You never know! Some girls like their bad boys!
Lucy smiles at her.
Lucy:
Like you, for example? First Scott, now Wheels. That´s called a streak!
Kathleen:
I didn´t think, that Wheels was. I´m starting to wonder more and more, with how he´s been acting, since I told him.
Lucy:
Where is he? Didn´t he say, that he´d be here?
Kathleen:
I don´t know. Whatever it is, I just hope, that he´s safe.
Kathleen looks worried about him.
2. Int. Car. Evening.
Wheels is behind the wheel of his car and gasses it up. He looks over at another guy in a separate car, that he´s getting ready to race off against.
Guy:
Those hundred bucks will be mine, Sucker!
Wheels plays it cool and focuses on the road in stead.
Wheels:
We´ll see about that!
He punches the accelerator and the adrenaline rush in paved all over his face, as they start racing.
OPENING CREDITS
3. Int. Hallway. Morning.
Wheels is halfway asleep on his feet, as he tries to follow a conversation between Snake and Joey.
Joey:
You said no to her? What´s wrong with you?
Snake:
I don´t want to start it up again, when I know that we only have a few months together. If it had been last year, sure, but what´s the point in doing it now?
Joey:
So you can get some, perhaps? When you think about it, wouldn´t Michelle be the perfect candidate? You care about each other, you´ve already dated and she´s had some experience, so it won´t just be two virgins fumbling around.
Snake:
I guess, it makes sense. What do you think, Wheels?
Wheels comes to.
Wheels:
I don´t have a any opinion. My brain is still in sleep mode. For what it´s worth, I´d probably do it with her, if I were you. But it´s your call, man.
Joey:
You are in full out zombie mode today!
Wheels:
I´ve maybe slept for two hours. It takes me forever to fall asleep and I wake up at the slightest noise. It´s so annoying!
Joey:
Man, am I glad, I´m not you! See ya later, Alligators!
He leaves them and heads off to class. Snake looks at Wheels seriously.
Snake:
You were street racing again, weren´t you?
Wheels:
Would you stop being Saint Snake? It´s exciting and I made some money on it, what´s the big deal?
Snake:
That you´re not sleeping, for one thing. It´s the adrenaline still rushing through your body. That´s why you can´t sleep. If you tried staying awake in class, you would have known that!
Snake storms off, as Wheels yawns. He looks a little annoyed, but then takes a stack of money out of his pocket and smells it. He looks at it and smiles to himself.
4. Int. Classroom. Morning.
Kathleen is talking to Caitlyn before class starts.
Kathleen:
I´ll have to get used to my new siblings, that my step mom has from her previous marriage.
Caitlyn:
Do you get along with them?
Kathleen:
My dad´s girlfriend is alright. Her kids are 4 and 6, but I haven´t met them yet.
Caitlyn:
Boys or girls?
Kathleen:
One of each. I´ve never had siblings before, so they´ll probably drive me crazy.
Caitlyn:
Most likely. You´re pretty much set to leave, then?
Kathleen:
Next Saturday. Come Sunday morning, the house belongs to it´s new owners.
Joey comes in and sits down next to them.
Joey:
You should see Wheels! He´s so tired, that he can barely stand up!
He laughs, but none of the girls find it funny.
Caitlyn:
How can you be so mean? He´s your friend!
Joey:
Caitlyn, it´s what guys do. He would be laughing too, if it was me.
Kathleen:
Do you have any idea, what he´s been doing at night lately?
Caitlyn:
He said, that he would come over to work on the movie yesterday, but he bailed.
Joey:
Do you promise not to tell anyone, what I´m about to tell you?
The girls nod.
Joey:
He has money and I don´t know, where it´s coming from. It´s not just a few bucks, I´m talking big notes! Fifties and hundreds!
Caitlyn:
Where´s he getting it from?
Kathleen:
Selling drugs?
Joey:
Wheels wouldn´t do that!
Caitlyn:
It has to come from somewhere.
The teacher comes in and they take their places. Kathleen is clearly worried about Wheels.
5. Int. Hallway. Day.
Wheels is trying to keep himself upright, while getting books out of his locker and is eating a candy bar. Kathleen comes over to him. He smiles sleepily at her.
Wheels:
Hi, gorgeous! How was geography?
Kathleen:
A fountain of learning. How was physics?
Wheels:
I managed to stay awake. I have P.E. now, so that should wake me up.
He yawns again and stretches.
Wheels:
Sorry. Sleep deprivation.
Kathleen:
Where were you last night?
He looks annoyed with her.
Wheels:
Are you checking up on me, to make sure, I´m not cheating again?
Kathleen:
It´s just, that you were supposed to come to the shoot.
He face palms.
Wheels:
I completely forgot. Something came in the way and I guess, it slipped my mind. I´m sorry, if you were waiting for me.
Kathleen:
It´s no big deal. Stuff like that happens. What came in the way?
Wheels:
You wouldn´t understand. It´s personal.
Kathleen:
Try me.
Wheels:
Will you let it go? As I said, it´s a personal thing. I´m not cheating on you and I really just forgot. Can we leave it at that?
Kathleen:
I guess so.
Wheels:
It´s not like you´re a master at sharing.
Kathleen:
You´re right. What do you say, we go out tonight?
Wheels:
We can do that. There´s a new Italian place, a friend of my dad´s recommended. Are you up for a Calzone or maybe some Cappolini, eh?
He smiles at her and she nods.
Kathleen:
Pick me up at seven?
Wheels:
You got it.
They kiss and she leaves him.
6. Ext. Degrassi. Day.
Joey and Caitlyn see Michelle and Snake talking and flirting.
Caitlyn:
Five minutes alone with him and I´ll tell you, if he had an ancestor, who was a cross dresser!
Joey:
There´s a simple trick, when it comes to Michelle. Watch and learn.
They walk over to them and it´s smiles all around.
Michelle:
How´s it´s going, Juniors?
Joey:
Alexa´s mad at Simon again.
Michelle rolls her eyes.
Michelle:
Sorry, Snake.
Snake:
It´s okay.
Michelle:
This is one part of High School, I won´t miss! Where is she?
Joey:
I´ll show you.
Joey and Michelle leave them. Snake looks a little awkward, being left alone with Caitlyn, who´s staring him down.
Snake:
Do you want to go inside?
Caitlyn:
You know, don´t you?
Snake gets nervous.
Snake:
About what?
Caitlyn:
Why Wheels has money, all of a sudden. Where he´s been spending his nights?
Snake:
I don´t!
Caitlyn:
Is he selling drugs?
Snake shakes his head.
Snake:
No, it´s nothing like that. It´s not exactly legal either, but it´s nothing that bad!
Caitlyn:
What is it, then?
Snake:
He would kill me, if he knew, that I told you.
Caitlyn:
Does you other girlfriend know, that you´re still flirting with Michelle, like there´s no tomorrow?
She makes eye contact with him and he gives in.
Snake:
He thinks, that he´s found the perfect way to make money, but it´s eventually gonna back fire on him. That´s all I can tell you. The rest has to come from him.
He leaves her.
7. Int. Classroom. Day.
Kathleen sits down next to Joey and Caitlyn.
Kathleen:
I didn´t find out much, but we´re going on a date tonight.
Caitlyn:
Snake told me some disturbing things.
Kathleen looks worried.
Caitlyn:
He wasn´t specific, but Wheels isn´t earning that money he legal way.
Joey:
I know, that he wants to get a place of his own and be independent from his grand parents. I never thought, that he´d turn to crime, to get there.
Kathleen:
It´s drugs, isn´t it?
Caitlyn:
No. Snake was very clear about that. But he also said, that it was bound to backfire on him.
Joey:
I really don´t like the sound of that part.
Kathleen:
We have to find out, what it is, so we can get him out of it. Preferably before I leave.
Caitlyn:
We can try our best, but it´s up to him too.
Joey:
Money and greed can drive people crazy.
Caitlyn:
People, who never had money and then all of a sudden have a lot of it, isn´t always a good combination. I mean, just look at all the hundreds of former movie stars and ex-athletes, who spent it as fast as they made it and either wound up where they started, dead or in jail.
Kathleen:
Especially, if you think, they can buy you happiness.
They all look worried about him.
8. Ext. Parking Lot. Day.
School is out and Wheels is about to get into his car, when Yick comes over to him.
Yick:
Word is that Boris wants to win his money back.
Wheels:
So? I beat him, fair and square!
Yick:
That´s not what he´s telling everyone. He said that you won, because you drive dirty.
Wheels:
That´s nonsense.
Yick:
Are you coming down there tonight?
Wheels:
I´m not planning to.
Yick:
It´s a shame. With the rep, you´re getting, there could be some big spenders, who want to race you. A few hundred for a few minutes of work, doesn´t sound like bad a deal!
Wheels considers it.
Wheels:
I promised to take Kathleen out on a date.
Yick:
I get it. You need to keep your girl happy, like all us kept men do.
Wheels:
If I come down, it won´t be, until after she´s done with me.
Yick:
See ya.
Yick leaves him and Wheels gets into the car.
9. Int. Kathleen´s House. Evening.
Kathleen is with Joey, Caitlyn, Snake, Michelle and Lucy. Everyone is putting pressure on Snake.
Kathleen:
Why didn´t you tell any of us?
Snake:
He made me swear not to. This isn´t the kind of thing, you speak about in public.
Lucy:
Street racing! Has he lost his mind?
Snake:
There´s a lot of money to be made in it, if you know the right people. These guys sometimes race for thousand of dollars.
Joey:
Those guys can also be dangerous. You don´t want to step on their toes.
Caitlyn looks at him.
Caitlyn:
How do you know?
Joey:
Have you ever seen an episode of a cop drama?
Lucy:
Those are just TV shows, right? They´re not like that in real life, are they?
Snake:
Not all of them, but some are. He´s only just started, so I don´t know how deep he´s in yet.
They see a pair headlights coming into view just outside her window.
Kathleen:
Everyone hide.
They hide away. We see the headlights being turned off and hear Wheels walk up to the door. He knocks on it and Kathleen opens it. Wheels hands her a buket of flowers.
Wheels:
They´re for you. Are you ready to go?
Kathleen:
Can you come in for a sec?
Wheels:
Okay, but we have a reservation.
She lets him in and closes the door. The others come out of hiding and Wheels starts to panic.
Wheels:
What is this?
Snake:
They got it out of me.
Wheels:
What? I thought, I could trust you!
Kathleen:
Do you want to end up as a statistic, like your parents?
Wheels:
DON´T YOU START WITH ME!
She tries to touch him, but he holds her at arms length. Everyone gets freaked out, that he lost his temper like that.
Lucy:
Wheels, we´re just trying to help.
Wheels:
Help? She leaving in a few weeks. In a few months, most of us will graduate and never see each other again. You, Snake, Michelle, you´re all going to college, because your families have money! My grand parents have their pensions, that barely keep all of us fed. When I gave them a thousand bucks, do you think, they asked, how I got the money?
Lucy:
Probably not.
Wheels:
They´re happy, that they can finally afford to get their mold problem fixed. I´m not just helping myself, I´m helping them, because there´s no one else to do it! I´m fine with it, if this is how I have to make that money! It´s not like, I´m hurting anyone and I´m mostly taking money from rich kids, who have enough of it.
Joey:
That all sounds great, except for one thing. It could land you in jail or dead in an accident. Then, where would they be?
Caitlyn:
Do you really think, this is what they want for you?
Wheels:
I´m sorry, guys. I know, you mean well, but this isn´t gonna work. I don´t have a choice.
Kathleen:
You do.
Wheels:
Why do you care? You say that you love me and a month later, it´s off to Montreal. You really have a strange way of showing it!
He storms out and Kathleen runs after him.
10. Ext. Kathleen´s House. Evening.
Wheels hurries towards his car.
Kathleen:
Where are you going?
Wheels:
Somewhere, that isn´t here! Consider our date cancelled!
Kathleen:
Okay, just don´t go and do something, you´ll regret. I don´t know, what I´d do with myself, if you got in a bad accident or something.
Wheels:
Let me do, what I have to!
He gets into his car.
11. Int. Kathleen´s House. Evening.
They hear his car being started up and driving away. Kathleen comes back in and closes the door.
Kathleen:
It´s gonna be fun seeing him in school tomorrow.
Caitlyn:
Do we know, where these races take place?
Joey:
Yick might know. I know, that he´s been down to see it a few times.
Snake:
They change locations every few days, so the cops don´t get wind of it.
Joey:
I´ll give him a call.
Joey walks over to the telephone and starts dialing.
12. Int. Car. Evening.
Wheels is driving while angry and passing cars right and left.
13. Ext. Kathleen´s House. Evening.
Kathleen and the others come out and she locks the door.
Michelle:
You´re sure, you know, where it is?
Snake:
I´m 99 percent certain. We´ll take my parents car, it´s less eye catching.
Kathleen:
I´m coming with you.
Joey:
There could be dangerous people there. We won´t be able to protect you, if one them tries something.
Kathleen:
I can handle myself!
Snake:
There´s no time to argue.
Michelle:
It´s not that I don´t like Wheels, but my bed sounds a lot safer, than where you´re going.
Lucy:
I´m with Michelle. There´s no reason to put all of us in danger.
Caitlyn kisses Joey goodbye.
Caitlyn:
Stay out of trouble, as much as you can.
Joey and the others get into Snake´s parents car.
14. Int. Car. Evening.
Snake is driving, while the other two keep a look out.
Joey:
There´s lights up ahead. Could that be it?
Snake:
Those look more like ...
Snake´s face turns to stone as they approach it. An ambulance is there and the fire department is helping get injured people out of the wreckage, while the police have stopped traffic, so they can work in peace.
Snake:
Lights from an ambulance.
Kathleen starts crying.
Kathleen:
Oh, my God!
Joey:
There´s thousands of cars in the city. There´s no reason to panic yet.
They all look worried, as they slowly drive up to the back of the queue of cars, that´s forming.
Snake:
One of the cars is red, so that can´t be his.
Joey:
I can´t see the other one.
They see paramedics free what looks like a boy around their own age, from the other wrecked car.
Kathleen:
Is that Wheels?
Snake:
I don´t think so, but it´s hard to tell.
Kathleen gets out of the car.
Joey:
You´re supposed to stay here!
Joey follows after her.
15. Ext. Street. Evening.
Kathleen looks at the body of the young man being put in an ambulance in shock, thinking that it´s Wheels. Joey points her on the shoulder and points out Wheels to her. He´s safe and sound and is being interviewed by a police officer. Snake comes out of the car too and their faces are filled with relief.
16. Int. Diner. Evening.
Wheels, Kathleen, Snake and Joey are having pie.
Kathleen:
If you want a reason to smile, there´s always pie!
Her and Wheels smile at each other.
Joey:
I´m just relieved, that you´re a witness and not a casualty.
Wheels:
You and me both.
Snake:
You can´t be considering going back to it?
Wheels
I´m selling the car and using the money, to find a place of my own. It´s probably worth ten times more, than before I fixed it up. I´ll have enough money left for some sort of wreck of a car, to replace it. I can guarantee you, that it won´t be as pretty as the one, I have now.
Joey:
Or as fast, but let´s face it. With you, that´s probably a good thing.
Kathleen:
The only thing, I care about, is that you´re safe.
Wheels:
I know. It´s why I can´t help loving you.
He puts his arm around her and she smiles sadly at him.
Kathleen:
I´m gonna miss this.
He playfully ruffles her hair a little and kisses her on the cheek. The last shot is Kathleen enjoying being with him, while she still can.
CLOSING CREDITS
