WHAT IF? - SEASON 1 EPISODE 12 - INFINITE DREAMS AKA. A DEGRASSI CAROL
Disclaimer: I don´t own Degrassi or the characters from it.
Author´s Note: Welcome to the first "What If" episode, that wasn´t released on a Friday. If you haven´t read episode 11 yet, then I strongly suggest that you do this first, since the two episodes are linked. Enjoy!
1. Int. Basement. Evening.
Emma is in her bed, being tucked in by Spike.
Emma:
I´m not a little kid anymore.
Spike:
You´re still my baby girl, Emma. That will never change.
Emma:
A baby with a big decision to make!
Spike:
The best you can do, is take the night to sleep on it. Which shouldn´t be a problem after that huge portion of lasagna! How did you fit all that into such a small tummy?
Emma:
I thought to hell with the diet, if I´m gonna get fat anyway! Unless of course, I have an abortion.
Spike:
It isn´t as easy to hold on to your convictions, when it´s yourself, is it?
Emma:
I would feel like such a hypocrite. Plus there´s the question, of can I live with myself afterwards.
Spike:
Try to put it out of your mind, so you can get some sleep. Walking around like an insomniac won´t do you any good.
Emma:
I´ll try.
Spike strokes her hair and heads upstairs. Emma turns out her night light and tries to fall asleep.
OPENING CREDITS
2. Int. Basement. Night.
Emma wakes up and is surprised, that the light is on. She wipes her eyes and is even more surprised to see Manny lying in bed next to her.
Emma:
Manny? Shouldn´t you be at home in your own bed?
Dream Ghost Manny:
I´m not actually Manny. You´re dreaming.
Emma:
Can you transform into Sean, so it can be a wet dream?
Dream Ghost Manny:
Sorry, Em. This dream is one of those, you´re meant to learn from.
Emma:
Like Scrooge in "A Christmas Carol"?
Dream Ghost Manny:
Pretty much. Are you ready to get started?
Emma:
Where are we going?
Dream Ghost Manny:
We start off in Christmas past.
Emma:
Cool!
Manny snaps her fingers and we cut to:
3. Int. Spike´s Room. Evening.
A 16 year old Spike (with the wild hair, she was known for) is wrapping presents with her old BFF Liz. Manny and Emma are watching them.
Emma:
I´m guessing that it´s like the book, where we can see them, but they can´t see us?
Dream Ghost Manny:
Em, we both know, you never read that book.
Emma:
Why should I waste my time with the book, when there´s a Muppet version?
Dream Ghost Manny:
It´s the day before Christmas 1990, when Spike was your age.
Liz:
Are you finally gonna ask Snake out?
Spike:
Like I stand a chance! Haven´t you seen him and Michelle lately?
Liz:
It´s you that he likes, anyone can see that.
Spike:
I thought so, but I´m not sure anymore. He really seems to like her.
Dream Ghost Manny:
Who´s Michelle?
Emma:
She was Snake´s High School girlfriend for a while. It´s sad to see, how little self confidence, my mom had. I want to tell her to go for it! He´s gonna say yes!
Dream Ghost Manny:
We know that, but she´s a teenage girl with a ton of insecurities, like you have. The together woman we know, is still many years away.
Liz:
You having a kid doesn´t mean, you don´t deserve to be loved.
Emma:
Listen to her, mom! You deserve to be loved! You´re the best!
Spike:
Let´s face it. As much as I love Em and you know that I adore her, she´s also why I´m destined to stay single forever! Imagine all the things I could do, if I didn´t have her?
Liz:
You could have a normal life, go to parties and possibly college one day.
Spike:
Or I could travel. I want to see the world as much as the next girl! Thanks to me being an irresponsible fool, that won´t happen! I almost wish, I´d never had her!
Emma looks shocked.
Emma:
She never told me!
Dream Ghost Manny:
Would you want to be told, you were the mistake, that ruined her life?
Emma:
I don´t like this! Can we go somewhere else?
Dream Ghost Manny:
In a moment. You´ll want to hear this.
Liz:
You don´t mean that.
Spike:
No, I don´t. It doesn´t mean, I won´t always ask myself "What If"? I hope that Emma will be smarter, than I was. When she becomes old enough, I´m gonna fill her head with all the information, I wish, I´d had.
Emma can´t help looking sad.
Emma:
I still turned out to be a dumbass, who got herself knocked up! I´m sorry Manny, but I have to get the abortion!
Dream Ghost Manny:
There´s no need to apologize. The real Manny is sleeping next to Craig. I´m a figment of your imagination, conjured up by your sub-consciousness, to deal with feeling guilty for considering to have an abortion.
Emma:
Now I know, you couldn´t the real Manny, because she would never say anything that clever! Can we go? This is depressing!
Dream Ghost Manny:
Next stop, this coming Christmas, if you have the abortion and try to hide it from Sean.
Emma:
This should be interesting!
Manny snaps her fingers and we cut to:
4. Int. Sean´s Apartment. Evening.
Emma and Manny find themselves in Sean´s apartment. They can hear moaning coming from the bedroom, that reaches a crescendo, before suddenly ending.
Emma:
At least, he didn´t dump me!
Dream Ghost Manny:
Sorry, Em.
Emma:
Why do you say that?
Dream Ghost Manny:
Because of this!
Sean comes out from the bedroom with Ashley. They can´t keep their hands off one another to Emma´s disgust.
Emma:
He dumps me and goes straight to Ashley?
Dream Ghost Manny:
It´s her subtle way of getting back at me and Craig through you. She´s gonna use him until the summer, where she dumps him un-ceremoniously.
Emma:
Ashley will be Ashley, I guess! How did it go this wrong?
Dream Ghost Manny:
Ashley finds out through Terri, that you´re knocked up and slips the information to Sean. The two of you have a bust up and she moves in on him right after, while he´s still vulnerable. Remember a few years ago, when the two of them made out, while she was on Ecstasy?
Emma:
Better than I´d like to!
Dream Ghost Manny:
She regrets not dumping Jimmy and trying her luck with Sean, especially after how things went down with Craig.
Emma:
What´s Sean´s reason?
Dream Ghost Manny:
He´s a boy!
Emma has to look away, when Ashley starts feeling Sean up.
Sean:
You´re a naughty girl, Ash. I wish, I´d known sooner.
Ashley:
How do I compare to Emma?
Sean:
Compared to that human blanket, who lied there, while I did all the work?
They laugh and kiss. Emma looks insulted.
Emma:
He told me, I was great in bed!
Dream Ghost Manny:
That was pillow talk. He had to fantasize about other girls, so he could finish.
Emma:
No matter what, he´s heading for Dumpsville, when I wake up! No one sleeps with me and fantasizes about other girls, while we´re doing it!
Dream Ghost Manny:
Em, your mind created this version of me! We both know who and what you thought about!
Manny winks at her. Emma looks embarrassed.
Emma:
A lot of things flashed through my head. That time in Grade 6, when Billy Palmer paid us five bucks to kiss, was just one of them!
Dream Ghost Manny:
Let´s see how you´re doing on this fine Christmas eve.
Emma:
This can´t be good!
Manny snaps her fingers and we cut to:
5. Int. Basement. Evening.
Emma is lying on her bed, being comforted by Manny. Their other selves are watching them.
Real Emma:
Talk about being Meta! See this is why I love you, Manny. I knew, you wouldn´t let me down!
Dream Ghost Manny:
It becomes more awkward after what we´re about to see.
Real Emma:
Part of me doesn´t want to look! Yet, it´s like knowing that a car crash is about to happen! You can´t not look!
Alternate Universe Emma:
I´m done with guys! The way to get over this is to buckle down, repair my life and concentrate on school!
Alternate Universe Manny:
You´ll get back on the horse someday. Not all guys are like Sean and what was his name, Chris?
Alternate Universe Emma:
The jerk, who led me on and went back to his girlfriend! Guys are scum! Pure scum!
Alternate Universe Manny:
It´s either get back in the game or stay single forever. This doesn´t have to ruin your life.
Alternate Universe Emma:
No one says, it has to be with a boy.
Emma tries to kiss Manny, who gets off the bed and looks shocked.
Alternate Universe Manny:
What was that, Em?
Alternate Universe Emma:
I´m so sorry! Can we pretend, that didn´t happen?
Alternate Universe Manny:
Emma, I love you, but I´m with Craig. Plus, I´m not really into the idea of kissing you. I´d better go.
Alternate Universe Emma:
Manny, don´t! I need you!
Alternate Universe Manny:
You need to ask yourself some serious questions, is what you need to do!
Alternate Universe Manny hurries out of there, as fast as she can. Alternate Universe Emma lies down on her bed and cries into her pillow.
Real Emma looks suspicious.
Real Emma:
Hold it for a moment! I´m not gay, because I occasionally fantasize about you in the heat of passion! I like being with guys!
Dream Ghost Manny:
You´re as Bi as it´s possible to be, but this was the moment that made you give up on finding true love.
Real Emma:
You´re my one true love?
Dream Ghost Manny:
No, Sean is, but I´m the next best thing, which is why you couldn´t stop yourself. After this, you´re in for one heck of a self loathing downward spiral! We still stay friends for a few more years, until you have that stint in jail for bio terrorism.
Real Emma:
Terrorism! I seriously turn into a terrorist?
Dream Ghost Manny:
Setting a bunch of lab animals free, is more like it. They spread a bunch of nasty diseases to other animals, which leads to a biological disaster. You feel guilty for for the rest of your life, so in a way, you get double punished.
Real Emma:
Lucky me! I´m guessing, that you´re about to show me my future.
Dream Ghost Manny:
You guessed it!
Manny snaps her fingers and we cut to:
6. Int. Les Bos. Evening.
Manny and Emma are now in a gay bar. It seems like a pleasant enough place.
Dream Ghost Manny:
We´re ten years into the future, in case you were wondering.
Real Emma:
I end up working here? I have to say, this could be worse! I´m guessing that it´s a gay bar, based on the name.
Dream Ghost Manny:
They pronounce it "Le Beaux", but yeah, you don´t get many straight people in here.
Real Emma:
How progressive of me! Where am I?
Dream Ghost Manny:
Over there.
She points her future self out to Emma, who makes a face.
Real Emma:
No!
Dream Ghost Manny:
Yes, that is you!
26 year old Emma, who now has short hair, she´s dyed brown, is very drunk and is hitting on a pair of late teen girls, who try to ignore her.
Future Emma:
I get off in a few hours, hic, if you want to come back to my place?
Girl #1:
We´re a couple, so no thanks.
Girl #2:
You also a little old for us. No offense!
Future Emma.
NO OFFENSE? I´M NOT OLD!
She pulls her shirt up and shows off her bra.
Future Emma:
DO THESE LOOK OLD TO YOU?
Real Emma is disgusted by what she sees.
Real Emma:
She´s a drunken nightmare!
Manny:
In her defense, she just got dumped again.
Real Emma:
By who?
Alex comes over to future Emma and looks angry at her.
Future Alex:
I´m sorry about this.
Girl #1:
Can you get her away from us?
Girl #2:
She kind of smells.
Future Emma:
I DON´T SMELL! YOU SMELL!
Future Alex:
They´re right! You smell like a brewery!
Alex drags her away and outside.
Real Emma:
Alex? I never knew, she swung that way!
Dream Ghost Manny:
Your brain wouldn´t have thought this up, unless you suspected it.
Real Emma:
Does this mean that I´m and I can´t believe I´m saying the words, attracted to Alex?
Dream Ghost Manny:
I´ll say pretty much the same, I just said. Your brain wouldn´t have come up with this scenario, unless there was something there. Or it could be, that she´s the only possible lesbian you know, which makes her the default choice. Shall we see, what they´re talking about?
Real Emma:
We might as well, while were here. I don´t suppose we can order a drink?
Dream Ghost Manny:
They can´t see or hear you. Only I can.
They head outside.
7. Ext. Parking Lot. Evening.
Future Emma and future Alex are having a lover´s quarrel. Real Emma and Dream Ghost Manny come out from the bar.
Future Alex:
Go home and sleep it off! i have to see, if I can save your job!
Future Emma:
What´s the point of anything, if I don´t have you?
Future Alex:
This is exactly why we can´t work out, Em! The first problem we face. you´re back on the bottle again! I can´t keep going back to that!
Future Emma:
I´ll try to get sober. It´s just that everything sucks right now and with what happened to Sean in Afghanistan ...
Future Alex:
You still love him despite everything that happened, don´t you?
Future Emma:
I´ve never stopped. I´m sorry, Alex.
Future Alex:
First thing tomorrow, you´re moving out! End of story!
Future Emma:
Where am I gonna go?
Future Alex:
You can move back in with your mom, for all I care! We´re through and you can forget about me helping you get your job back!
Future Alex storms away right past Manny and Real Emma, who she of course can´t see. Future Emma is left in tears.
Real Emma:
She´s pathetic!
Manny nods in agreement.
Real Emma:
Why did Alex say, that I should move back in with my mom?
Dream Ghost Manny:
The strain you put on the family, tears Spike and Snake apart. Spike would never say it to your face, but you´re well aware, that she hasn´t forgiven you. Moving back in with her isn´t a pleasant alternative.
Real Emma:
You´re telling me, that I don´t just ruin my life, I ruin my mom´s too?
Dream Ghost Manny:
There is an alternative, of course.
Real Emma:
You mean, if I have the baby?
Dream Ghost Manny:
Disco!
Real Emma:
It can´t be worse than this!
Dream Ghost Manny:
I suppose it´s a judgment call. Are you ready to see it?
Emma:
Snap away, sister! Oh, one last thing. What happens to Sean in Afghanistan?
Dream Ghost Manny:
He gets killed by a road side bomb, while on patrol. it weights on you pretty hard, since he told you straight out, that the biggest reason he joined up, was to get away from you.
Emma:
Abortion is off the table!
Manny snaps her fingers and we cut to:
8. Int. Basement. Evening.
Sean and Emma are lying on her bed and are looking through a book of names.
Sean:
We could go with Serena if it´s a girl or Seneca, if it´s a boy.
Alternate Universe Emma:
I like the name Seqoia, if it´s a girl.
Sean:
It sounds like the name of a tree.
Alternate Universe Emma:
Why do you think, I like it?
The two of them kiss. Real Emma smiles, while watching them.
Real Emma:
This is more like it! Look how cute they ... we are!
Dream Ghost Manny:
He took the news well, as you can see. At this stage, the two of you couldn´t be more in love, if you tried!
Real Emma:
Then it´s an easy choice. I have the baby and me and Sean live happily every after!
Dream Ghost Manny:
Sorry, Em. Such a thing doesn´t exist!
She´s about to snap her fingers, but Real Emma stops her.
Real Emma:
Can I have a few more seconds of watching us in this moment? I want to take a mental picture, while I can.
Dream Ghost Manny:
Make it quick. I have to show you the rest, before you wake up.
She gives Emma a few more seconds, before snapping her fingers.
9. Int. Manny and Emma´s Apartment. Evening.
Manny and Emma´s apartment is pretty messy and not very big. It´s still cozy in it´s own way though.
Real Emma:
It´s messy, but it could be worse!
Dream Ghost Manny:
Don´t be hasty to draw any conclusions!
Future Emma, who has packed on a lot of weight, to the point where she´s barely recognizable anymore, comes in. She slurps down in the couch and sits down on a big of chips. Real Emma´s jaw has dropped.
Future Emma:
Dammit! Not again!
She rolls over and pulls the flattened bag out from under her enormous backside.
Real Emma:
Did I eat another girl?
Dream Ghost Manny:
You let yourself go in a big way, after you and Sean got married!
Real Emma:
I still have Sean, don´t I?
Dream Ghost Manny:
You didn´t even last a year. Don´t be too sad. You´re not the only one.
Manny, who´s grown to the same size as Future Emma, comes in and has to catch her breath.
Future Manny:
We have to move, if they don´t fix the elevator soon!
Real Emma can´t help laughing a little. Dream Ghost Manny gives her an angry look.
Dream Ghost Manny:
You´re the bad influence, who dragged her down with you.
Real Emma:
You have my sincerest apologies for anything I might do in the future!
Future Emma:
I haven´t left the apartment all day!
Future Manny:
Still no luck with the job hunt?
Future Emma:
Who knew that being a single mom with no job experience would make it hard to find work?
Future Manny:
You´ll find something soon. I ran into Sean today.
Real Emma:
Oh, oh!
Future Emma:
Was he with his home wrecking tramp?
Future Manny:
She prefers Ellie.
Real Emma:
I knew she wasn´t sincere, when she gave us her blessing!
Future Emma:
I´ll call her, what I want to call her! That little bitch with her perfect body and hair, that always looks like she came from a salon! I hate her!
Future Manny:
Blame Sean, not her. She did the right thing and waited until after the divorce. Not like Craig, that bastard!
Future Emma:
Then I probably shouldn´t tell you, that his latest album has gone triple platinum.
Future Manny slumps down next to Future Emma.
Future Manny:
God, I hate men!
Future Emma:
Bastards! At least, we have each other.
The two future selves high five.
Future Manny:
Ooh, Oprah!
Real Emma:
So, no matter what, I can´t win? It´s either become a self hating drunk or a man hating slob!
Dream Ghost Manny:
There is the 3rd and final option.
Real Emma:
Of course! I´ll give it up for adoption! That way everyone wins!
Dream Ghost Manny:
I won´t say that everyone wins, but it is the most pleasant future by far.
Real Emma:
Thanks for showing me this, ghost Manny or whatever I should call you.
Dream Ghost Manny:
I didn´t show you anything. This is simply your brain conveying your own thoughts into a dream. Adoption was the route you wanted to take all along.
Real Emma:
Can you show me that future?
Dream Ghost Manny:
You´ll wake up in a few moments. What we felt as half an hour was eight hours in the real world.
Real Emma:
I still feel like I should do something to thank you.
Dream Ghost Manny:
Do something nice for the real Manny.
Real Emma:
You got it.
The picture starts to fade to white.
10. Int. Hallway. Morning.
Manny is by her locker, when Emma comes over with a present for her.
Emma:
Good morning, best friend in the world!
Manny smiles, when Emma hands her the present.
Manny:
What´s this?
Emma:
It´s for being an awesome friend!
Manny unwraps her present. It´s a very pretty dress.
Manny:
Isn´t this your favorite dress?
Emma:
It looks better on you. Craig will lose his mind, when he sees you in it!
Manny:
Thanks! I´ll get you something too.
Emma:
The only thing you have to give me is your continued friendship!
The two girls hug. Manny turns around and puts the dress in her locker. Emma can´t help herself from checking out her butt.
Emma:
New jeans?
Manny:
New from the perspective, that they´ve only been owned by Caitlin.
Emma:
Your butt looks like a million bucks in them!
Manny:
Funny, that´s exactly what Craig said!
Emma:
What are the chances?
Manny closes up her locker, while Emma tries to control her fleeting eyes.
11. Ext. Degrassi. Day.
Sean and Emma come out from the school together.
Sean:
What´s up, Em?
Emma:
This is really hard for me to say ...
Sean suspects the worst and looks annoyed.
Sean:
It´s because we had sex, isn´t it? I knew, that it was too soon.
Emma:
What? I´m not dumping you!
Sean looks relieved.
Sean:
Whew! You had me scared for a moment!
Emma:
I´m about to lay a big scare on you, so brace yourself.
Sean:
Consider me braced.
Emma:
I´m pregnant, Sean. I´ve decided to give the child up for adoption.
Sean looks shocked.
CLOSING CREDITS