WHAT IF? - SEASON 2 EPISODE 11 - PARTYMAN
Disclaimer: I don´t own Degrassi or the characters for it.
1. Int. Degrassi Lobby. Morning.
JT and Danny come through the lobby, looking ready for whatever the day brings them. They stop at a large poster for the homecoming dance, that´s coming up.
JT:
There´s our chance to get back in the game!
Danny:
You could always ask my sister. I´m sure, she´d go with you.
JT doesn´t look sure about it.
JT:
Don´t you think, it´s stepping into a grey area? Don´t get me wrong, Liberty is great, but I have to consider the history, before I say yes.
Danny:
What are your other options?
JT:
Dude, there´s almost three hundred girls at this school! There has to be one, who will go with me!
Danny:
Yes, but would you want to go with them? Let´s face it, Paige set a high standard for the next one to follow. You´re bound to compare her to Paige, at least in the beginning.
Darcy and Chantay walk past them and Danny and Darcy sneak a smile to each other, as she passes them. JT finds it a little amusing.
JT:
And you´re one to talk? Not that I can blame you. She is a perfect ten!
Danny:
She also made her mind up. It´s time, I moved on before I turn into one of those guys, who spend years pining after a girl, they´ll never get with.
JT sees Manny come through the doors.
JT:
I know what you mean. Old love dies hard, doesn´t it?
He smiles sadly to himself.
OPENING CREDITS
2. Int. Cafeteria. Day.
The dance is the subject of conversation at the lunch table, where Liberty and Manny are having lunch.
Liberty:
We could go shopping for new dresses for the dance, if you´re up for it?
Manny:
I´m not even sure, that I´m going.
Liberty:
Why not?
Manny:
Craig is playing an out of town gig and someone has to babysit Julia.
Liberty:
Isn´t that what your two "Adopted Parents" are there for? You never go out anymore! It isn´t good for the soul.
Manny:
I went to that benefit a few weeks ago, didn´t I?
Liberty:
And when was the last time before that?
Manny sees what she means.
Manny:
Okay, so maybe a night out wouldn´t be the worst thing. But what do I do about a date? I can´t go up to a guy and say "Go to the dance with me, but by the way you stand no chance of getting lucky, because I have a kid with another guy"!
Liberty:
This is where you dip into the pool of old friends, who won´t think about getting lucky with you.
Manny:
That basically leaves JT and Toby. Well, JT probably, since Toby will want to go with Kendra.
Liberty:
Don´t be too sure about that.
Manny looks intrigued.
Manny:
Do you know something, I don´t?
Liberty:
I´ve been quietly pumping Kendra for information and they still haven´t gotten to first base. It took me two minutes to almost get to third with him. What does that tell you?
Manny:
That beneath your brainy exterior, you´re also kind of a slut?
Liberty:
Kendra is still a little girl inside. Say that Toby got the chance to go with someone a little more mature and not to mention fully grown ... ?
Manny sees what she means and they smile at each other.
3. Int. Classroom. Day.
JT is goofing off with Toby and Rick before class starts, as Manny comes in and walks over to them.
Manny:
I need a date for the dance. Any takers?
Two boys in the seats behind them raise their hands.
Manny:
Maybe some other time, boys. JT?
JT:
Aren´t you going with Craig?
Manny:
He has an out of town gig, that we can´t afford to say no to. So, it´s either go with you or stay at home.
JT looks pleased.
JT:
There´s no way I can say no then, is there? It will be my pleasure.
Manny:
Cool. I´m looking forward to it.
She smiles at him and takes her seat next to Liberty. JT is surprised, but very pleased that he´s taking sweet little Manny to the dance.
Manny:
Mission accomplished.
Liberty:
Half accomplished.
Liberty looks over at Toby, but he´s still ignoring her.
4. Int. Hallway. Day.
Danny is trying to look interested, as Derek excitedly shows him pictures on his phone.
Derek:
That´s us getting cotton candy ... there we are getting ready to go on the roller coaster ...
Danny:
Please tell me, that the next one is of you, with pink barf all over you!
Derek:
Are we a little jealous, that our friend scored with a hot girl from Lakehurst?
Danny:
She´s isn´t that hot!
Derek:
You can only wish, that you could find someone like her!
Danny sees JT and Manny walking up the hallway together and sees a chance to get out of the conversation.
Danny:
Later, bro. I gotta ask JT something.
Derek:
Sure. I have plenty more pictures to show you!
Derek goes off to class, as Danny shakes his head with how annoyed he is right now.
Danny:
JT, it´s time we went on-line to find dates.
JT:
What now?
Danny:
Derek has a girlfriend. Derek!
They find it amusing, him not so much.
Manny:
Sorry, Danny. JT has a date.
Danny:
With who?
JT:
I´ll give you three clues. She´s not very tall, has black hair and is standing next to me.
Danny looks impressed.
Danny:
Go, JT!
Manny:
It´s strictly a friend date. Now what´s this about you, not being able to find a date?
Danny:
I don´t just want to go with anyone. There´s a few girls, I wouldn´t mind going with, but they´re taken. Then there´s Chantay, who doesn´t think of me as "Boyfriend Material", but I can´t think of anyone else, I´d want to go there with.
Manny:
I´ve met her. I can try to find out where you stand?
Danny:
You would do that for me?
Manny:
A friend of any of my friends, is a friend of mine!
JT:
Now do you see, why I always say that this girl is the best?
Danny:
That would be awesome. Thanks.
Manny:
It´s nothing. We should get to class, JT.
JT:
Later, dude.
JT and Danny fist bump, before JT and Manny leave him. He looks a little more positive over the whole situation now.
5. Int. Hallway. Day.
We follow JT and Manny on their way to class.
JT:
That was really nice of you.
Manny:
What can I say? I´m forever the nice girl!
JT:
Don´t you go and change on me, you hear?
Manny:
I´ll try my hardest, I promise.
JT:
In return, I´ll try to make this the best dance, you´ve ever been to! Craig will be kicking himself, that he missed it!
Manny:
Dances have never really been his thing, like it is for me. I´ve more or less had to twist his arm to take me to the last ones, so as for him kicking himself for missing it, I´d call that a long shot!
JT:
If you were my girlfriend, I´d be proud to take you to every dance. Just saying.
Manny smiles at his kind words.
Manny:
I´m kinda glad, we get the chance to go one more together, after how the last one ended.
JT:
Oh yes. The one, where the entire school nearly went up in flames because some jack-asses couldn´t tell themselves, that putting very flammable material in front of extremely hot lights could pose a fire hazard!
Manny:
The one I meant, was the one before that. Don´t pretend, you don´t know which one I´m talking about.
JT:
That evening is etched in my brain, as one of my best childhood memories! I´ll hold onto that, until I die.
Manny:
Me too. When I got the chance, I was too blinded by popularity and then my crush on Craig. I´ve never apologized, but I feel like, I should.
JT:
You don´t have to.
Manny:
JT, you´re sweet to say so, but I so do. The way I broke your heart was the meanest thing, I´ve ever done. Can you forgive a dumb girl, who´s really sorry?
JT smiles at her.
JT:
Of course, I can and don´t go calling yourself dumb. That´s my role!
She looks pleased.
6. Int. Studio. Day.
Liberty is getting ready to go live for today´s Degrassi TV, while Kendra is getting things ready.
Kendra:
Can I ask you something?
Liberty:
Shoot.
Kendra:
You´re pretty good friends with Toby, right?
Liberty:
Yeah?
Kendra:
He´s frustrating me.
Liberty tries not to look pleased.
Liberty:
He´s always been kind of an odd-ball, hasn´t he?
Kendra:
I don´t think so. It´s just that everyone else don´t get him.
Liberty:
What´s the problem, then?
Kendra:
The dance is less than a week away and he still hasn´t asked me. I don´t know. Maybe I completely mis-read the situation, like I usually do.
Liberty:
It sounds that way. Don´t be too hard on yourself. No one said, this romance stuff would be easy.
Kendra:
I could try asking him.
Liberty:
As someone a little older and wiser, let me give you a piece of advice. If a guy has already sent the signal, that he doesn´t want you, then it´s better to give up and move on to someone else. There´s plenty of fish in the sea.
Kendra:
Thanks, I guess.
Kendra looks disappointed and a wave of guilt flows in over Liberty, as she gets ready to go on the air.
7. Int. Hallway. Day.
Chantay, Darcy and Mia are are watching the TV screen and laughing. Liberty (on the screen) is looking flustered.
Liberty (on screen):
Don´t forget that next week is ... give me a second here ...
She looks through her papers, that are out of order.
Kendra (voice over):
International week!
Liberty (on screen):
Thanks, Kendra. Remember to be international next week!
Even she can see, how terrible it´s going.
We cut back to the girls, who find it very amusing.
Darcy:
I´d start looking for a new career, if I were her.
Manny comes over to them.
Manny:
It isn´t as easy, as it looks, you know?
Mia:
Sorry, Manny. We didn´t mean to make fun of your friend, it´s just ...
Manny:
It´s okay, when she deserves it! Just don´t knock her, until you´ve tried it. Can I talk to you, Chantay?
Chantay looks a little surprised, but goes a little off to the side with Manny.
Chantay:
What´s up?
Manny:
Danny is what´s up.
Chantay:
What about him?
Manny:
Look, I get it. Jimmy to you must seem like the perfect guy in every way, but chances that he´ll ever be yours are ... who do I put this gently ... slimmer than a snowball´s chance in hell.
Chantay:
I know. He was just using me to make Hazel jealous, wasn´t he?
Manny:
Probably. Guys can be jerks like that. But do you know, who isn´t a jerk? Danny.
Chantay:
I already tried going on a date with him and I just wasn´t feeling it.
Manny:
Don´t you think it could have been because, you were too hung up on Jimmy?
Chantay:
Maybe. It isn´t like I´ve had a ton of luck with boys this year!
Manny:
The reason why is probably, that you´ve been going after the wrong ones.
Manny leaves her to think about it. Darcy and Mia come over to her, excited to hear, what they were talking about.
8. Int. School Lab. Day.
Liberty is concentrating on work, when Toby comes over to her.
Toby:
Are you okay?
Liberty:
Now that I´m the laughing stock of the entire school?
Toby:
What happened?
Liberty looks angry with him.
Liberty:
You happened!
Toby:
What did I do?
Liberty:
You got stuck in my brain and now I can´t get you out!
Toby takes it with a smile.
Toby:
I suppose, I should be flattered.
Liberty:
What do you see in her?
Toby:
Kendra? She´s cute, she´s nice ...
Liberty:
You sound like you´re describing a pet!
Toby:
She also won´t break my heart again. You turned me down, remember?
Liberty:
It just got too weird, okay? You´ve been one of my best friends, since I started here.
Toby:
It sounds like you´re starting to see, what JT meant, when he turned you down.
Liberty cools down, seeing that he´s right.
Liberty:
What now?
Toby:
I date Kendra and we continue to be friends, like we´ve always been. How does that sound?
Liberty:
Not too bad, I guess.
They smile at each other.
9. Int. Hallway. Day.
Danny, Peter and Derek are in the middle of a very important discussion. Derek looks at Peter in disbelief.
Derek:
You seriously think that the "Rock N Sock Connection" are the best tag team in wrestling history?
Peter:
They made me laugh!
Derek:
A great tag team doesn´t just make you laugh! How can you begin to compare them to the Road Warriors or The Hardy Boyz? I´m almost ready to drop you as a friend!
Danny:
I kind of agree with Peter.
Derek:
You too? I don´t know my own friends anymore!
Peter and Danny are clearly playing with him, but find his reaction kind of funny. Danny´s phone buzzes and he gets it out of his pocket.
Danny:
Ooh! A lady caller!
Peter and Derek immediately find it very interesting.
Derek:
Who is it?
Danny:
Chantay. She wants to know, if I´ll go to the dance with her.
Derek:
She couldn´t ask you in person?
Danny:
In all fairness, we are talking Chantay here. Her phone is her life!
Peter:
So? Are you gonna go with her?
Danny:
I don´t know.
Derek:
You spent months pining over her and now, you don´t know?
Danny:
I´m obviously not her first choice.
Peter:
Before you do something, you´ll regret, will you try talking to her?
Derek:
It´s just Chantay. There´s nothing to be afraid of.
Danny sees that they´re right.
10. Int. Classroom. Day.
Chantay and her friends are waiting for class to start, when Danny comes over to her.
Danny:
Can we talk?
Mia:
Take my seat, Danny!
Darcy:
We´ll be over there.
Mia and Darcy leave them and Danny sits down next to Chantay.
Chantay:
I can guess, what this is about. You could have just sent me a text.
Danny:
Am I really the one, you want to go there with?
Chantay:
Yeah ...
She sees that he isn´t buying it.
Chantay:
No, but since the guy I want is apparently out of my league, you´re a close second.
Danny:
Honestly?
Chantay:
Okay, you´re more like my 5th choice, but you´re ahead of most other guys!
Danny:
You sure know how to flatter a guy! It´s a no!
He´s about to get up, when she grabs him arm and pulls him back down.
Chantay:
Haven´t you figured me out yet? I never want the things, I should want! Anyway, what do you have to lose?
Danny:
My dignity, for one thing!
Chantay:
No one has to know. I´m not your first choice either, but I don´t mind. If it´s the big romantic connection, then great! If it isn´t, then we have a fun evening at the dance and leave it at that. We´re fifteen, for Christ sake! Who says, everything has to be life or death all the time?
Danny looks to be getting convinced.
Danny:
Okay, so it doesn´t sound like the worst idea ever, when you put it like that!
Chantay:
The first time, we had all this pressure on us, because it was an official date. This time, we´re just two fifteen year old´s, who are going to a dance to have fun with our friends and listen to whatever terrible music, the DJ they could afford has picked out! I´m talking zero pressure on either of us!
Danny:
I suppose, I can go along with that.
They both look pleased. Mia and Darcy look happy, that things went well.
11. Ext. Degrassi. Day.
JT and Manny leave the school together in a great mood. They see Danny and Chantay leave together and seemingly flirting.
JT:
You love being a match maker, don´t you?
Manny:
I just want everyone to find love!
JT:
Maybe you can find it for me one day.
Manny:
I have a feeling, that I would only be interfering. When you meet the right girl, you´ll know.
JT:
What do you think, she´ll be like?
Manny:
It will be someone, who´s not afraid to stand out, like you are. She´ll see how lucky she is and wonder how none of the other girls could have seen it before her.
JT:
Except for Paige.
Manny:
And me. We can probably add Emma and Liberty to the list too.
JT:
Can you imagine me and Em as a couple?
Manny:
Only in Bizarro world!
JT:
Could you imagine us as a couple?
Manny:
Now that is a lot easier to imagine!
They smile at each other.
JT:
That only leaves Liberty. Who´s she gonna go with?
Manny:
I had a wild idea concerning a guy, who owes me a ton of favors and could use to get out among people, who aren´t the usual slackers, he hangs out with.
JT:
Who?
Manny just smiles at him.
12. Int. School Lab. Day.
Liberty is working with Toby and Kendra in the lab, when Sean knocks on the window and motions for her to come out. Liberty is surprised to see him, but goes out to talk to him.
13. Int. Hallway. Day.
Liberty comes out to meet Sean.
Sean:
Are you saving the world in there?
Liberty:
Probably not. What´s this about?
Sean:
Manny has helped me out with Emma lots of times and she asked me to ask you to the dance. So?
Liberty:
Tell her, I´ll pass! I don´t do pity dates.
Sean:
That came out wrong. Look, I don´t have to tell you, that it can´t be a real date, for obvious reasons. That doesn´t mean, we can´t go there and make the best of it. Plus, it´s not that I don´t love Emma and Jay, but they´ve pretty much become the only two people I talk to outside of school. I could use some different conversation for an evening.
Liberty:
What does a guy like Jay talk about?
Sean:
I could tell you, but I´d have to censor out major parts!
Liberty:
That´s what I figured!
Sean:
Do you want to go or not? You can think of it as doing Em a favor, if that helps.
Liberty:
Yeah, sure. Who knows, it could be fun.
Sean:
I´ll let you get back to saving us all. We´ll discuss it more tomorrow, okay?
Liberty:
Okay, Sean.
He leaves her and she smiles to herself, as she heads back into the lab.
14. Int. Bathroom. Evening.
JT is in the shower and singing "Singing in the Rain".
JT (singing):
I´m singing in the rain
Just singing in the rain!
What a glorious feeling, I´m happy again!
I'm laughing at clouds so dark up above
The sun's in my heart and I'm ready for love
Let the stormy clouds chase everyone from the place
Come on with the rain, I've a smile on my face
I walk down the lane with a happy refrain
Just singing and dancing in the rain!
JT´s Grandmother (off screen):
I´m trying to watch Family Feud!
JT:
Sorry, Grand ma!
He keeps humming it to himself as he thinks back on that night all those years ago.
Young JT (in his mind):
How would you feel, if we made each other a promise?
Young Manny (in his mind):
What kind of promise?
Young JT (in his head):
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 (in his head):
It´s a deal. Would it be appropriate to shake on it?
Young JT (in his mind):
Are we 10 or 50? We bump on it.
He smiles to himself as he starts washing his hair.
CLOSING CREDITS