WHAT IF? - SEASON 2 EPISODE 8 - 1999
Author´s Note: First of all, a big thanks to all of you readers. The series is breaking my personal reader records already and last Saturday was the first time that a series of mine on here, had more than a hundred views in a day. For a series written by an amateur on a fan fic site, I think that´s pretty respectable! Secondly, as a friendly reader pointed out, I made a mistake in having this season (which mirrors season 5) only take place over half of a school year, since they didn´t start with this until season 6. This is a pretty big oops on my part! Now that it´s happened, I have no choice except to roll with it, since I´m not going to rewrite it all to make this season take place over a whole year. What I´ll do in stead to ret-con it, is make this season double length (44 episodes), so that it will fit with the series timeline going forward. It´ll still end when Emma and Manny (hopefully) graduate, so all it really means for you, is that you get 22 episodes more with these characters. Season 3 and 4 will then be 22 episodes, before I decide what to do going forward. I might continue with a What If? version of season 8, but it also could be fun to explore other scenarios, that took place in later seasons or even after the series ended.
On another note, I know that some of you will probably have been a little disappointed not to have seen more of favorites like Emma, Sean, Jay, Ellie and Liberty this season so far. The reason is that the main storylines of the season are all in one way or another linked together, so I had to have this happen, before that could happen and so on. They´re a bigger part of the remainder of the season, than they have been so far. This episode might be my personal favorite of the season, so I very much hope that you´ll enjoy it. As a warning, I should tell you that on a one to ten scale of cuteness, this one is an eleven!
Disclaimer: I don´t own Degrassi or the characters from it.
1. Int. Lamaze Class. Evening.
Emma is in Lamaze class, with Sean as her helper. She looks to be in extreme discomfort.
Emma:
Sean, my back!
Sean:
Was it anything, I did?
Emma:
Just let me lie down.
He gently lets her lie down and she tries to get comfortable.
2. Int. Car. Evening.
Sean is driving with Emma in the passenger seat.
Emma:
How did women my size have babies for thousands of years? To think, I have two more months of this miserable experience to look forward to!
Sean:
Is there anything, I can do?
Emma:
Skip work and spend your Saturday being lazy with me?
Sean:
I wish, I could, but I can´t lose my weekend job at the garage. It´s pretty much what keeps me in food. You understand that, don´t you?
Emma:
I guess so. I can think of something else to pass the time.
Sean:
I´ll probably be there until late, but I can come over afterwards.
Emma:
It´s okay. You don´t have to feel guilty over being responsible.
She still can´t hide that she´s annoyed, though.
3. Int. Toby´s Room. Evening.
Toby and JT have a trashcan in front of them. JT has a box of things.
JT:
I can´t do it. What if I´ll want to look at them sometime in the future, when I need something to cheer me up?
Toby:
This was your idea.
JT:
I know, but I still like her.
Toby:
Dude, she´s dumped you twice! Are you gonna let her do it a 3rd time?
JT:
No, but it´s Paige! She´s everything I´ve ever wanted in a girl!
Toby:
Congratulations. You´re the only one in the world, who thinks about her that way!
JT:
You don´t know her, like I do. This will have to wait, until I´m ready.
Toby:
When you are, my trusty trashcan will still be here.
JT pushes it away and looks annoyed.
OPENING CREDITS
3. Int. Basement. Day.
Emma is lying on her bed reading a book called "So, You´re Pregnant. Now What?", when JT comes down the stairs. He has an envelope in his hand. Emma is happy to see him.
Emma:
Hey! How did you know, I was bored out of my skull?
JT:
You can call it a 6th sense, I´ve developed over our many years of friendship.
He comes down and sits on the bed next to her.
JT:
Or you could call it your mom feeling sorry for you and giving me a call to see, if I could come over, to keep you company.
Emma:
It´s Saturday! How can JT Yorke not come up with something to do on his favorite day of the week?
JT:
He is doing something. He´s paying a visit to a friend he feels guilty for not having visited more, while she´s been pregnant.
They smile at each other.
Emma:
Manny told me about you and Paige. Are you okay?
JT:
I guess so. The one thing I don´t know, is why I´m still crazy about her. My mind is telling me to let her go. She´s broken my heart twice and if I let her do it again, then it will be my own fault.
Emma:
But?
JT:
I miss her like you wouldn´t believe. I know that rational has never been the key word, when it came to me, but this time it´s getting ridiculous!
Emma:
Sorry, JT. The heart wants what it wants. What do you have there?
He takes some pictures out of the envelope and hands them to Emma. She smiles, when looking at them.
JT:
I figured, you´d get a kick out of these.
Emma:
You, me and Manny as the two Spice Girls and one Spice Boy for Halloween! Look at how cute we were!
JT:
That was the year we became friends.
Emma:
God, that feels like forever ago! I was 10, so it would have been what, 1999?
JT:
Probably. You´re better at math than I am.
Emma:
JT, this is math you can do! It´s 2005 and you´re 16, meaning that when you were 10, it had to be?
JT:
1999. I´m not that dumb, despite what you first thought.
Emma:
Why do think I tought that about you?
JT:
Em, please. I remember it, as if it was yesterday!
He thinks back and we fade to:
4. Int. Degrassi Elementary School Classroom. Day.
We´re back in the year 1999, where a 10 year old Emma is reading her book report to the class, which also includes JT and Manny.
Young Emma:
In conclusion, I absolutely loved the book. To me "Little Women " is probably my favorite book, I´ve read so far.
Teacher:
That was great, Emma. I hope the rest of you paid attention, because that´s the standard of work, I expect from the rest of you. You can sit down.
JT coughs into his hand.
Young JT:
Teacher´s Pet!
Other kids laugh, as Emma sits down. She looks annoyed with him. Unfortunately, he´s now caught the teacher´s attention.
Teacher:
JT. Why don´t you read us your report?
Young JT:
Miss, I don´t think we have time.
Teacher:
I´m sure it´s the same as your usual work. Short. Come up here and let´s hear it.
Young JT comes up to the blackboard and faces the class.
Young JT:
I did my report on the Stephen King Book "It".
The teacher looks suspicious.
Teacher:
That´s a six hundred page book, at least! I can´t wait to hear this!
Young JT:
Okay, well in 1958 there´s all these kids, who get murdered by an evil clown named Pennywise, who turns out to be a giant spider in the end.
Teacher:
Let me stop you there. I´ve read that book too and it´s explained what Pennywise actually is. It´s a big detail to miss.
Young JT:
Oh, I don´t remember.
Teacher:
Do you remember how they find their way out the tunnels as kids, because there´s no way, you could forget that part!
Young JT is clearly in trouble and tries to wing it.
Young JT:
Blind luck?
Teacher:
You watched the mini series, didn´t you?
Young JT:
Kind of. I´ve never read a book from end to end, unless a teacher made me read it.
The other kids laugh and he feels stupid and small. One who doesn´t is Manny, who feels sorry for him.
Teacher:
I can give you three days to make a new one, but it has to be about a book.
JT:
How am I gonna read an entire book in three days?
Teacher:
Two days, actually. You also have to write a decent report on it. Sorry, JT, but the rules are the same for everyone. I can´t make exceptions, because you don´t feel like reading.
He sulks and goes back to his seat. We fade to:
5. Int Basement. Day.
Current day Emma and JT are lying side by side on her bed, while looking at the pictures.
Emma:
Did you ever find out what happened with the kids in the tunnels?
JT:
What do you think? I went to the library, first chance I got.
Emma:
And?
JT:
You know what? I´m letting you that out on your own! Let´s just say, that you won´t ever see what they did, re-enacted in an TV movie! I bet you enjoyed watching me squirm.
Emma:
A little bit. We probably wouldn´t be friends, or at least not as close as we are, if it wasn´t for Manny feeling sorry for you.
Emma thinks back on it and we fade to:
6. Ext. Degrassi Elementary. Day.
The kids are off from school and JT can´t get out of there fast enough. Manny and Emma come out together.
Young Emma:
He´s gonna think, you like him.
Young Manny:
How do you know?
Young Emma:
I guess, I don´t, but that´s what I can imagine will happen.
Young Manny:
Don´t you feel just a little bit sorry for him? I wouldn´t be surprised, if he has a learning disability or ADHD or something.
Young Emma:
He has a condition. It´s called "Being a dumb Boy-Itis!" I think, he´s just lazy.
Young Manny:
There´s only one way to find out, isn´t there?
Young Emma:
What are you gonna do, invite him over to study? There´s no way, your parents would let you go over to his house on a school night.
Young Manny:
That´s exactly, what I´ll do!
Young Emma:
No matter what, I have to hear about everything that happens!
Emma almost looks scared on Manny´s behalf, but Manny looks undeterred.
7. Int. Kitchen. Day.
Manny is calling up JT, while Emma watches full of excitement.
Young JT (voice over):
James Tiberious.
Young Manny:
Sorry, I might have the wrong number. I was calling for a boy I go to school with, named JT.
Young JT (voice over):
That´s me! Who is this?
Young Manny:
Manny Santos. You probably don´t even know, who I am!
Young JT (voice over):
Sure I do. You´re the one, who always hangs out with the brainy girl.
Manny smiles to herself.
Young Manny:
You could say that. I´m sorry about what happened in English today. That was really unfair of her to not give you longer than that.
Young JT (voice over):
What are you gonna do? It isn´t be my first F and it won´t be my last.
Young Manny:
I´d like to offer you my help.
Young JT (voice over):
You´ll write it for me? I should warn you that I´m flat broke, so can´t pay you anything.
Young Manny:
Not like that. I could help you write it based on one of the books, I´ve read. I won´t ask for any money for it, if that´s what you´re afraid of.
Young JT (voice over):
You´ve read more books than my total of none, so you´re a bigger expert than I am! What´s the plan?
Young Manny:
You could come over to my house to study.
Young JT (voice over):
Sure, what´s the address?
Manny gives Emma a thumbs up and Emma is almost bursting with excitement. We fade to:
8. Int. Basement. Day.
JT and Emma are looking at one picture in particular, from JT´s 10th birthday. It´s of him with Emma and Manny sitting around a birthday cake with sodas in front of them.
JT:
You two totally saved that birthday. If it hadn´t been for you, then it would have been me alone with my grandmother. Being the new kid in town wasn´t easy.
Emma:
Don´t let it go to your head, but you totally changed my perception of boys. Before you, I couldn´t picture myself in a million years being friends with one.
JT:
Before I met you and Manny, girls were annoying creatures, that I only tolerated because it was fun to put gum in their hair!
Emma:
Did anything happen on your study date?
JT:
If by anything, you mean us studying in the living room, while her mom kept a watchful eye on us, then it would be a yes. They did have some amazing cookies, though! I remember that much from the evening.
Emma:
Manny was a total hero among the girls, the day after!
JT:
Because she had a study date?
Emma:
She was the first of us to have any kind of date, that wasn´t a playdate! She soaked it up, too, while it lasted.
JT:
How come I´ve never heard this part?
Emma:
Oops!
Emma sees her mistake and looks apologetic.
Emma:
Remember, that it was a long time ago. I promised Manny, that I wouldn´t tell you, so she can´t know, that you know.
JT:
Okay.
He looks suspicious and we fade to:
9. Int. Cafeteria. Day.
Young Manny is getting the 3rd degree from three girls from her class. She also has Emma there with her.
Girl #1:
Did you French kiss?
Young Manny:
No!
Girl #2:
I bet, you did!
They look at her in anticipation and she smiles it off.
Girl #3:
You are the coolest girl in grade 5!
Girl #1:
How was it?
Young Manny:
Well ... you know.
Girl #2:
No, we don´t! How was it? Fess up, Manny!
Young Manny:
Romantic, I guess.
Emma:
Manny?
She leans in to whisper to Manny.
Emma:
What if they ask JT?
Young Manny:
Do you think, they will?
Emma nods and Manny looks worried.
Girl #3:
Later, Manny! Let us know, if you want to hang out sometime.
Young Manny:
Okay!
Manny´s worry is starting to turn to panic, as the other girls leave them.
Young Emma:
What now, Brainiac?
Young Manny:
I didn´t say in so many words, that we kissed.
Young Emma:
Do you think, that matters? Or do you even know what a French Kiss is?
Young Manny:
It´s just the way they kiss in France, wouldn´t you think?
Young Emma:
You have to tell them the truth, before JT hears.
Young Manny:
I could stop JT from finding out.
Young Emma:
That can´t be done!
Young Manny:
How do you know? Have you tried it?
Young Emma:
No, but ...
Young Manny:
If push comes to shove, then I´ll have to find out what a French Kiss is and do it with him, so it will be true.
Young Emma:
It almost sounds like you want to. What if it´s something icky?
Young Manny gets shy and her face turns a little red.
Young Manny:
It doesn´t sound icky ...
Young Emma sees what´s going on and smiles.
Young Emma:
You wish, he´d kissed you, don´t you?
Young Manny:
You don´t have to tell the world!
Young Emma:
Congratulations, Manny. You have your first crush out of what is sure to be many!
Young Manny looks re-assured and smiles to herself. We fade to:
10. Int. Basement. Day.
Emma looks suspiciously at JT.
Emma:
You knew?
JT:
It was grade 5! It probably took two minutes after you talked to them, until I had those girls making kissing noises at me! It didn´t take a scientist to figure out! I guess, Manny never told you the full story of how our fling ended.
Emma looks surprised.
Emma:
There was a fling? I was sure, she was making that up!
JT:
It´s not like it went very far. I mean, we were only ten.
Emma:
How far did it go? As her BFF and long time friend of yours, I deserve the complete lowdown!
JT:
Remember the 5th grade Sadie Hawkins dance, where her and me went together?
Emma:
I remember not going, because she went with the only boy, I would have gone with.
JT smiles at her.
JT:
Thanks, Em. This is doing wonders for my self esteem!
Emma:
You´re welcome. Back to the dance. Did you kiss?
JT:
Almost. First we danced, though, Boy, did we dance that evening!
He smiles, as he thinks back on it. We fade to:
11. Ext. Degrassi Elementary. Evening.
Young JT is waiting to be picked up by the curb with Young Manny. They´re sitting on a bench, as she takes her shoes off. They´re fancy ones, that are hardly practical for an evening of dancing.
Young Manny:
I apologize in advance, if my feet stink!
Young JT:
Don´t worry. It means I´m allowed to stink too!
She giggles and he looks happy with her reaction.
Young Manny:
That´s only fair. My mom warned me not to wear these shoes. I should have listened.
Young JT:
You don´t have to dress up to impress me. I like you already.
Manny smiles.
Young Manny:
You do?
Young JT:
You and Emma aren´t like other girls. I can goof off and have fun with you and I don´t have to worry, that some girl is gonna get offended. No offense!
Young Manny:
None taken. Do you like me or Emma more?
Young JT:
I like both of you.
Young Manny:
If you had to pick one of us to be your girlfriend, who would it be?
Young JT looks very nervous, as she looks at him full of anticipation.
Young JT:
That would be you. Definitely, you!
They make eye contact and slowly move closer to when they´re practically hugging. Their lips start to approach each other´s, when Manny stops it.
Young Manny:
JT, I can´t!
Young JT:
That´s okay.
Young Manny:
It´s not you, it´s me. I´m way too young to have a boyfriend. I don´t even know what a French Kiss is!
Young JT:
It´s where you kiss with your mouth open.
Young Manny:
Really? That sounds kind of exciting. How do you know?
Young JT:
We get free HBO, thanks to a bug in the system.
Young Manny:
Lucky you! I don´t know when I´ll be ready, but when I am someday, can we try this again then?
Young JT:
Of course, we can. I have to admit that as much as I like you, the idea of you being my girlfriend freaked me out. I´m a few years away from being ready.
Young Manny:
My parents don´t want me to date, until I´m 16 and even then, it´s only if they´ve met the guy and given their okay. You´ll have had dozens of girlfriends, before I go on my first date.
Young JT:
How would you feel about making each other a promise?
Young Manny:
What kind of promise?
Young JT:
If we´re both single, by the time we´re 16, then we give this another chance and see, where it takes us.
Young Manny:
It´s a deal. Do you want to shake on it?
Young JT:
Are we 10 or 50? We bump on it.
They fist bump on it.
Young Manny:
We could also hug on it, to make it a hundred percent official!
They smile at each other and hug on it. We fade to:
12. Int. Basement. Day.
Emma looks annoyed. Now it´s JT; who looks apologetic.
JT:
I´m sure, she meant to tell you and never got around to it.
Emma:
I was cute, when I was ten! You can´t say, I wasn´t!
JT looks puzzled.
JT:
That´s what you´re offended over?
Emma:
Oh, I´ll make Manny pay in my own way for not telling me, but I never stood a chance with you?
JT:
Don´t tell me, you had a crush on me!
Emma:
It was more jealousy, that Manny was getting all of your attention. Wasn´t I a great friend?
JT:
You were, I just never thought of you that way. Well, that isn´t completely true, but those were dreams and I can´t be held accountable for those!
Emma looks pleased.
Emma:
You´ve had a sexy dream about me? When was this?
JT:
It happens now and again, that you pop in for a guest appearance. I´m a guy! I can´t control it!
Emma:
I´m not pregnant in these dreams, am I? Because that would be ... eww!
JT:
No, you´re more or less yourself, just not pregnant.
Emma:
Do you wish you could go back and start over?
JT:
And have to do six years of homework over again? I´m thinking, no!
Emma:
Homework aside.
JT:
No, because it´s turned me into who I am and I have to say, that I for the most part like the guy, I´ve become. Sure, I wish, I was more popular, but guys like me are too much our own to fit in with that crowd. I´d rather be the guy, I am and see where that will take me, than pretend to be someone, I´m not. You?
Emma:
I do now and again. That girl was so full of hope. What happened to her, to make her lose it?
JT:
You´ll always have me and Manny. We aren´t going anywhere.
Manny (off screen):
Are you gossiping about me?
She comes down the stairs and has a pizza with her.
Emma:
You got my telepathic signal!
Manny:
It was ...
JT:
Her mom.
They smile at each other.
Manny:
She called you too, huh?
Emma:
You can talk about that later. Get that Pizza over here!
Manny:
A number 5 from Bazzini´s with extra Rucola and parmesan, as you love it!
She hands the pizza to Emma, who gets stuck in immediately with glee. JT hands Manny one of the pictures and she looks at it. It makes her smile.
Manny:
I almost forgot, that your grand mom took a picture that evening. It´s weird how it seems like a lifetime ago and at the same time, like it was yesterday.
JT:
Remember the promise, we made?
Manny:
I´m glad to hear, that you haven´t forgotten.
Emma (with half a mouthful of pizza):
If you two are gonna do it, then for god´s sake, wear two rubbers! We´ve had enough un-planned pregnancies lately!
They smile at each other, as Emma munches away.
CLOSING CREDITS