WHAT IF? - SEASON 2 EPISODE 16 - THE LADDER
Disclaimer: I don´t own Degrassi or the characters from it.
1. Ext. Degrassi. Morning.
Many new faces are arriving at Degrassi this morning, since it´s time for the annual model UN, that Degrassi this year is hosting. Mia and Jane stand in front of a large banner that reads "Welcome to Degrassi" and are handing out pamflets.
Mia:
Seen anyone you know?
Jane:
Not yet. Not that I´m hoping to. I´m more than happy to leave Lakehurst in my past, where it belongs.
Mia:
Simpson told me that it´s only two students from Lakehurst, so we could be lucky.
A boy wearing a baseball cap that hides long blonde hair underneath it comes over to them. Neither Mia or Jane are too happy to see him.
Mia:
Johnny DiMarco. How can you not be in juvie yet?
Johnny:
It´s nice to see you too, Mia.
Jane:
You can´t convince us that you´re here, because you find model UN exciting.
Johnny:
How do you know? I´m sure we´re in for a very interesting day. Do I get a pamflet?
Jane:
If you leave us alone.
She hands Johnny a pamflet.
Johnny:
Charming as always, Jane.
He leaves them and throws the pamflet in a trashcan without looking at it. Mia and Jane watch him head inside.
Mia:
Did you know about this?
Jane:
No, but you can bet that my brother has something to do with it.
Mia:
That´s what I was afraid of. What if he´s here to beat Peter up?
Jane:
It´s far from unthinkable.
They look worried.
OPENING CREDITS
2. Int. Gymnasium. Morning.
The gymnasium has been transformed into a model UN, with several tables having being set up. At the table by the entrance, the students are checking in. Amy and Alex are in charge of it. Ashley is first in line.
Alex:
Name?
Ashley:
The girl, you´re currently doing it with!
Amy laughs, as do some of the students who stood close enough to hear it. Alex tries her best to keep a straight face.
Alex:
Miss Kerwin, you will be representing the country of India.
Ashley:
Nice!
Amy:
There´s 1,2 billion people counting on you.
She smiles and heads inside. Next in line is Johnny, who stares them down, making them uncomfortable.
Amy:
Name?
Johnny:
He-Man.
Alex:
We have to get your real name.
Johnny:
Wouldn´t you like to know?
He blows her a kiss and she looks disgusted.
Johnny:
Johnny DiMarco. I´m from Lakehurst, if that helps.
Amy looks over her papers.
Amy:
You´ll be representing Denmark.
Johnny:
A small country, no one gives a crap about. Why isn´t that a surprise?
He heads inside and Alex and Amy look at each other.
Alex:
He gave me the creeps! Do you know him? He looks like the kind of guy, who would have hung out the Ravine.
Amy:
No and I´m glad, I don´t!
Maria:
I wish, I could say the same about you, Amy.
Maria is next in line and it doesn´t look like she´s come close to forgiving Amy or Alex.
Alex:
Maria, hi!
Maria:
Surprised to see me? Or were you hoping, you´d never have to see me again?
Amy:
This isn´t the time or the place.
Maria:
Just tell me which country, I got.
Amy looks over her papers.
Amy:
China.
Maria:
Hmm. I can work with that.
She heads inside, as they ponder her answer.
3. Int. Gymnasium, Morning.
Peter is with Danny and Derek and are goofing around. Johnny watches them from afar, as Mia comes over to him.
Mia:
I´ll pay you twenty bucks, if you leave.
Johnny:
Then I wouldn´t be getting that extra college credit, I so desperately need. You can see my dilemma.
Mia:
Why are you staring at them?
Johnny:
I wasn´t staring at them, I was staring at your new boyfriend.
Mia looks very worried now.
Mia:
Peter isn´t like us. He wasn´t brought up in a place, where you have to fight for everything.
Johnny:
You make it sound like he needs you to fight his battles for him. That doesn´t sound like much of a man.
Mia:
Please, Johnny. I´ve fought so hard to start a new life here. Don´t ruin it for me.
Johnny:
Why would I do that? It isn´t like you took my best friend´s heart, ripped it out of his chest and stomped on it. Oh wait, you did! If you´ll excuse me, I have to introduce myself to your new "Bo". Our countries are neighbors.
Mia:
If you hurt him ...
Johnny:
You´ll do what? Try to fight me? Don´t kid yourself. You´ve never been that tough, Mia.
Johnny leaves her and walks over to Peter and the others. Mia follows after him.
Johnny:
You´re Peter, right?
Peter:
Guilty as charged. You are?
Mia:
This is Johnny. He´s an old friend from Lakehurst.
Danny:
While you have this summit between the schools, we should see if we can find our group.
Derek:
Africa, oh Africa. Where are you?
They go off to look foer their group. Peter sticks his hand out.
Peter:
It´s nice to meet one of Mia´s old friends. She refuses to tell me anything about her time, before she came to Degrassi.
Johnny:
Does she now? I wonder why.
He looks Mia in the eyes and she looks back at him full of hate.
Johnny:
You´ll excuse me, if I don´t shake your hand. I can´t know, where it´s been.
His remark doesn´t make Mia any less angry, but Peter plays it cool.
Peter:
I guess, you have to watch out for those germs!
Johnny:
It´s more the girls around here, I was thinking of. They don´t have the best reputation.
He´s clearly trying to get a reaction out of Peter, but Peter isn´t giving him one, to Mia´s relief.
Peter:
Which country did you get?
Johnny:
Denmark.
Peter:
What a coincidence! I´m representing Sweden.
Johnny:
Don´t you have things to attend to with your own continent, Argentina?
Mia:
Will you be alright on your own?
Peter:
Why are you worrying? Go and find your group!
Mia:
Okay, but if there´s anything, don´t hesitate to come and find me!
Johnny:
You heard the man. Scram!
Mia clearly isn´t too happy about it, but she leaves them anyway. She walks over to Jane.
Mia:
I have a bad feeling about this!
Jane:
Johnny is the smartest guy, but he wouldn´t try anything in here.
Mia:
No, but he can tell Peter a lot of things, I´d rather he didn´t know.
Jane:
Don´t get paranoid and let my idiot brother win. That´s exactly what he wants.
Mia:
Easy for you to say. You don´t have your dream relationship riding on this!
She looks over to them and the paranoia is painted all over her face.
4. Int. Hallway. Day,
Amy is getting some water from the drinking fountain. Alex is with her.
Amy:
Ah! I needed that!
Alex:
What do you think, she´ll do?
Amy:
A suicide bombing perhaps? The way she looked at me, I wouldn´t count it out!
Alex:
You do owe her a very big one!
Amy:
Do you think, I ruined her life?
Alex:
I don´t know. I haven´t been in touch with her, since her and Ash broke up. Oh, my God, Ash! What if she´s here to hurt her?
Amy:
This is why an idea like this is best on paper!
Alex:
I have to find out!
They hurry inside.
5. Int. Gymnasium. Day.
Amy and Alex hurry inside and looks around for Ashley. They´re surprised to see her in friendly conversation with Maria.
Amy:
At least it´s only us, she hates.
Alex:
Isn´t that enough?
Alex still looks a little worried.
6. Int. Gymnasium. Day.
The model UN is in session. Peter and Johnny are a part of the European group, that´s being led by Liberty. Other members include Toby and Kendra.
Liberty:
I think we can all agree that a strong European Union is what´s needed for the future.
Johnny raises his hand.
Liberty:
Yes?
Johnny:
Isn´t it true, that there´s a lot of scepticism in great parts of Europe against the European Union?
Liberty:
That is true.
Johnny:
I mean, when you think about it, it makes sense why. Say that you´re from Denmark and your country is doing pretty good, because you´ve made responsible decisions for the past many decades and you´ve built a strong infrastructure and economy. Now you´re being forced to pay for mistakes that countries like Spain and Greece, who have shown clearly that they don´t have a clue how to run a country, have been making. I would say the same thing, those sceptics say, if I lived in one of those strong countries.
Toby:
You don´t think that unity is the way forward?
Johnny:
It isn´t their job to take care of everyone else´s problems. Let the morons, who got them into that pickle, get them out of it!
His opinion seems to have some support among the others.
Johnny:
It´s the same, as when your school is forced to take in a piece of trash from our school like Mia.
The rest fall silent, as Peter just stares at him.
Peter:
What did you say?
Liberty:
We need to get back on topic!
Johnny:
She´s a manipulative tramp, who shakes her ass to get dumb and horny guys like you, to do what she wants and dumps them, when they aren´t any use to her anymore. Where I come from, we don´t pussy foot around calling those girls, what they are.
Kendra:
I think, we could all use a break! Who´s with me?
Liberty:
Yeah, let´s take five.
Most of the group disperses, as Johnny and Peter stare each other in the eyes, none of them willing to back down. Liberty looks mad at them.
Liberty:
Can you save the dick measuring contest for another day? This is model UN, not the Italian parliament!
She storms away from them.
Peter:
What´s your problem?
Johnny:
You. See I think that beneath your fancy shirt that costs more than my parents make in a month, lies the heart of a coward, who has to hide behind his girlfriend. I can´t respect guys like that.
Mia has seen the trouble and comes over to them.
Mia:
What´s the problem?
Johnny:
No problem. Peter and me were just getting to know each other. If you´ll excuse me, I need to take a wiz.
He walks away from them with a smirk on his face, as Peter tries to contain his rage.
Peter:
You won´t believe the things, he said about you in front of everyone.
Mia:
You don´t think, I´ve heard them dozens of times? He´s trying to get a rise out of you. It´s what A-Holes like him and my ex Lucas do.
Peter:
One more remark and I swear ...
Mia:
Peter, trust me. Johnny DiMarco is a pathetic bottom feeding worm, who isn´t worth anyone´s time. You just have to get through this day and if we´re lucky, then neither of us will ever see him again. Can you do that for me?
Peter:
I can try, but I´m not guaranteeing anything.
Mia:
I´ll cook us dinner and spoil you rotten tonight, if you promise not to fight him.
Peter calms down and looks intrigued.
Peter:
What exactly does you "Spoiling me rotten" mean?
She whispers something in his ear and he seems to like what he hears.
Mia:
Well?
Peter:
I say, screw that jerk!
Mia:
Good, because I didn´t dump my ex to find a guy, who´s in any way like him. You´re so much better than that.
She takes his hand and it seems to have worked.
7. Int. Gymnasium. Day.
Elsewhere in the gymnasium, the Asian group, which besides Maria also includes Alex, Ashley and Amy are also in session. Alex represents Pakistan and Amy represents Taiwan.
Ashley:
Are we all agreed that the hunger problems in our region are the biggest problems facing us?
Maria:
What about the financial problems, that lie at the root of it?
Alex:
I think what Ashley means, is that the two are connected.
Maria:
Do we need to hear the opinions of a country, where the tens of thousands of poor kids, who are unlucky enough to be born into poverty every year, end up either as slaves in the sweatshops, prostitutes or beggars?
Amy:
Like your country is any better?
Maria:
Let it be known that the delegate from China doesn´t recognize the delegate from Taiwan.
Amy:
What´s that supposed to mean?
Maria:
You´re not a real country. You´re part of China!
Ashley:
Actually, several countries recognize Taiwan as a free country.
Maria:
We´ll make it simple then. Kick Taiwan out of these negotiations, or China will be forced to start a financial embargo against all of your countries. See how you do without our trillions of dollars in investments, to save your butts!
The rest look shocked at these extreme measures "China" is willing to take.
Ashley:
Maria, it´s just a game!
Maria:
China will not be rocked on this decision. Hong Kong, what do you say? Ban Taiwan or you´ll face an invasion.
The boy who represents Hong Kong is caught on the spot.
Boy:
Sorry, Taiwan.
Amy:
What?
"Hong Kong" Boy:
They have an army, that´s hundreds of times bigger than our population! We can´t fight them!
Ashley:
No one is getting excluded!
Maria:
What about you, Japan? We all know that your economy is in tatters and without Chinese investments, you´ll be down a certain creek!
The girl who represents Japan, has no choice except to give in.
"Japan" Girl:
She´s right.
Maria:
All in favor of Taiwan being excluded?
Most of the group raise their hands, albeit most of them reluctantly, because they don´t want to face the "Chinese" wrath.
Maria:
Bye, Amy.
Amy:
Ashley?
Ashley:
I can´t do anything. She´s following the rules.
Amy looks annoyed, but sees that she has no choice except to go along with it and leaves them. Maria looks pleased, that she gained a small victory over Amy.
8. Int. Hallway. Day.
Amy is kicking the vending machine in anger, when Spinner comes over to her.
Spinner:
I take it, that model UN could be going better?
Amy:
How hard is it to get a vending machine that works?
Spinner:
Let me try it.
He feels around for the perfect spot and gives it a small punch with the flat side of his hand. Amy´s candy bar is loosened and falls into the tray. He gets it for her and hands it to her. She unwraps it and takes a bite.
Spinner:
Better?
Amy:
Thanks.
Spinner:
Are you gonna tell me what happened?
Amy:
There´s a girl in there, who hates my guts. She´s had me kicked out.
Spinner:
She can do that?
Amy:
She´s a political genius, when it comes to pressuring others into doing her will! I´m glad, she isn´t ruling the world!
Spinner:
Have you tried apologizing to her?
Amy:
I don´t know, if she´ll accept my apology. What if she hates me for the rest of her life?
Spinner:
It´s model UN, right? So, why don´t you try using diplomacy? Isn´t that what they do?
Amy:
It´s worth a shot.
She considers it.
9. Int. Gymnasium. Day.
Amy walks back to the group with Liberty and two boys by her side. Their stickers show that they represent the USA and Russia.
Maria:
What is this?
Amy:
Diplomacy in action.
"USA" Boy:
We hear that you´ve been pressuring the other Asian countries into doing your will.
Maria:
We´re China! We can do what we want!
"Russia" Boy:
You will lift these sanctions immediately or face the consequences.
Maria:
Which are what?
Liberty:
To start off with, the EU will enforce a ban on the import and sale of all Chinese electronics products. After that we´ll go after your textile industry.
Maria:
You can´t do that!
Liberty:
Oh, yes, we can! Just try us!
"USA" Boy:
And all that steel you buy from us to manufacture those products? They´ll have a hefty and I mean hefty trade tax put on them!
Maria:
This is preposterous! We strongly object!
"Russia" Boy:
Let´s not forget, where you get most of your oil from. Without us, you´ll be at the mercy of OPEC countries.
Alex leans in to whisper to Ashley.
Alex (whispering):
How true to real life do you think, this is?
Ashley (whispering):
Probably more than we´d like to know!
Amy:
What´s that sound? Could it be the sound of mighty China being forced to recognize the island of Taiwan as a free and independent country?
Maria:
Never! However, we see the problems, that could follow from the sanctions, so ... we withdraw our request to have Taiwan removed from the council.
Amy smiles at her small victory.
Liberty:
This is fun!
"Russia" Boy:
I know! Why can´t we do this every week?
Maria looks defeated and Amy´s smile fades and turns to guilt. Their session is interrupted by the sound of Peter and Johnny getting into a scuffle. Mia and Jane try to get between them.
Liberty:
Not again!
We cut to the boys.
Mia:
That´s enough!
Johnny:
It´s no wonder that he went after you. He probably saw a girl like his mom in you. You know, a porn star?
Peter:
I´m sorry, Mia, but I need to teach this punk a lesson!
Johnny:
You and me outside this sad excuse for a school in five minutes. Don´t be late.
Johnny smirks, as he walks away from him.
Mia:
You don´t need to fight him to prove yourself.
Jane:
I´m sorry, but he does. If he leaves it this way, they´ll come after him and then it won´t be one on one!
Mia:
Can you fight?
Peter:
I don´t know. I´ve never been in a fight, but I´ve seen plenty of action movies.
Mia:
That´s not exactly comforting! Maybe we should tell your mom in stead.
Jane:
Like that will make it better? Come on, Mia. You´re smarter than that.
Peter:
If I have to fight him, then that´s what I´ll do.
He looks determined. The girls look worried, that he´ll get beaten up.
10. Ext. Degrassi. Day.
Peter is getting ready to fight Johnny. He has Mia by his side and there´s quite a crowd forming, as Johnny comes out from the school.
Johnny:
Are you ready to lose your teeth?
Peter:
Are you?
Mia whispers in Peter´s ear.
Mia:
I know it´s tempting to go for the face, but go for his knees. If you get him down, then he´s yours.
Peter:
When I met you, I never would have thought "That girl knows how to fight"!
Mia:
When you grow up, where I did, you learn fast. Good luck.
Peter puts his fists up, as Johnny taunts him.
Johnny:
If you think she´s worth getting your face smashed in over, then you´re dumber than you look.
Peter:
Did you come to fight or talk?
Johnny:
Do you have a clue how many guys that dirty slut made out with at Lakehurst? She was anyone´s!
Peter:
DON´T CALL HER THAT!
He tries to hit Johnny, but Johnny, who´s clearly a more experienced fighter, easily sidesteps him and punches Peter as hard as he can in the solar plexus and Peter goes down.
Johnny:
Give it up! She´s not worth it!
Peter defiantly stands up and stares Johnny down, while holding his stomach.
Peter:
Just like I thought. You´re all bark and no bite!
Johnny:
This will be my pleasure.
Johnny tries to attack Peter, but he takes Mia´s advice and kicks Johnny right on the kneecap, making Johnny fall down.
Mia:
GET HIM!
Peter flies on top of Johnny and starts wailing on him in a fit of rage, while Johnny can only defend himself. Peter´s weak punches might not be effective, but the sheer volume of them is enough in itself. Everyone is shocked at how ferocious Peter can become, as Snake makes his way through the students.
Snake:
Stop that right now!
Peter:
I´ve made my point!
He gets off Johnny, whose face is bloodied and is half unconscious.
Snake:
I´ll get the nurse. Peter, go to the principal´s office.
Peter gives Johnny an extra kick for good measure.
Peter:
Let me know, if you want more. I´m not hard to find!
He heads inside, as the surrounding students look shocked at what went down and Johnny tries to get his bearings back. Mia comes over to him and stares him down.
Mia:
You can tell Lucas, that he´s officially dead to me!
Johnny tries to sit up, still looking groggy and very bloody. Mia has no compassion for him.
We cut to Maria, who comes over to Amy, Ashley and Alex.
Amy:
Are we next in line?
Maria:
I still don´t like you, but I don´t want it to end like that!
Ashley:
It´s me you should blame. If it hadn´t been for me ...
Alex:
Stop it! None of this would have happened, if I hadn´t fallen for Ash. It´s my fault, all of it.
Maria looks at them and smiles, to their surprise.
Maria:
Aren´t you the three musketeers?
Amy:
More like the three freaks.
Maria:
I know what that feels like. For what it´s worth, I hope that China gets it´s act together and recognizes Taiwan.
Amy:
I didn´t ruin your life, did I?
Maria:
It´s taken some time for my family to get used to, but it´s getting better every day. I´m not gonna thank you, but you can rest easy knowing that something positive came of it.
Ashley:
I´ll keep an eye one her and make sure she doesn´t out anyone else, who doesn´t want it.
Maria:
So Alex, you like Ashley? Why aren´t you dating, then?
Ashley:
We are. Is that okay with you?
Maria:
I guess so. You make a cute couple.
Maria winks at Alex, before heading back inside. Ashley and Alex look happy at getting Maria´s blessing. Amy suddenly feels like a fifth wheel, but it´s a good thing in this case.
Amy:
You two probably have a zillion things to talk about, so I´ll just ... yeah.
She heads back inside, but they barely notice it.
11. Int. Library, Day.
Peter is serving his detention and is looking bored, when Mia is led in by Snake.
Snake:
You know the deal. I´ll be back in an hour.
Peter looks up and is pleased to see her. She smiles at him, as she sits down next to him.
Peter:
How did you get detention?
Mia:
I flashed my bra to Simpson. You should have seen his face!
They laugh.
Peter:
You did that for me?
Mia:
I couldn´t leave you here all alone, when it´s my fault, that you´re in here. What did your mom say?
Peter:
Just that she was disappointed. I´ve heard that spiel a million times. Anyway, it´s my own fault for losing my temper with that jerk.
Mia:
He was testing you. Lucas sent Johnny here to find out, if you deserved me, or if you´d run away at the first sign of trouble. Jane "persuaded" Johnny to tell us the truth, before Simpson came back.
Peter:
I might have had an inkling, that was the case. Guys fought over pretty girls at my old school too, you know?
Mia:
I guess you´re not the only one, who´s learning all time.
Peter:
Did I pass?
Mia:
You did. Lucas won´t bother us again.
Peter:
That´s you last tie to Lakehurst gone, except for Jane.
Mia smiles to herself.
Mia:
Bye, bye Lakehurst.
She looks hopeful for the future.
CLOSING CREDITS