WHAT IF? - SEASON 2 EPISODE 18 - DIRTY MIND
Disclaimer: I don´t own Degrassi or the characters from it.
Author´s Note: Just a quick word here from your humble author. I´m well aware that Ellie´s storyline in this one is very similar to one they did with Lola in "Next Class". Given the title of the episode, I probably don´t have to tell you which one it is, but it was the episode that made me fall in love with Lola as the great character, she truly was. I hope that I´ve made this different enough, that it won´t seem like I´m being lazy and ripping that other episode off. If it feels that way to you, then all I can say is that they can´t all be winners. With that out of the way, let´s get on with the show. I´m sure you´re anxiously waiting to find out, what´s next for Manny and JT and not to spoil anything, but this is a pretty huge episode for them, so I really hope you´ll like it.
1. Int. Hospital Room. Day.
Emma is lying in a hospital bed, looking annoyed. Manny comes in to join her and hands her a glass of ice water. Emma takes a sip of it.
Manny:
There you go. Just because it was false labor again, doesn´t mean you should be treated differently.
Emma:
We´re reaching the point, where I just want to get this damn kid out of me! Why won´t he come out? It´s nice out here!
Manny:
He doesn´t know that. What did the doctors say?
Emma:
They´re looking into doing C-Section or giving me drugs to induce labor.
Manny:
What would you rather?
Emma:
I´d rather that he decided to come out the natural way, but if I have to, then I guess, I´ll get the C-Section.
Manny:
Afterwards, if anyone ask, you can always say that you got the scar in a street fight and score some cool points.
Emma:
Aren´t you the "Glass Half-Full" girl these days?
Manny smiles.
Manny:
It´s just, why worry so much, when the world is full of love and goodness?
Emma looks a little suspicious.
Emma:
Last week your world was falling apart and now it´s all love and goodness? What happened?
Manny:
Something great. I´m in love.
Emma:
I kind of thought you already were in love with Craig.
Manny gets silent and Emma sees what´s going on.
Emma:
The guy isn´t Craig, is it?
Manny:
It´s JT.
Emma looks shocked, even if she´s become used to a thing or two from Manny over the years..
Emma:
Manny, for God´s sake!
Manny:
Em, I know what you´re gonna say and I´ve thought it all over ...
Emma:
I´d certainly hope so! Have you told JT?
Manny:
He feels the same way. Emma, I´m finally starting to see what a huge mistake I made, when I put on those stupid low cut jeans and thought I was gonna be "Miss Popular". That was the moment, where everything started going wrong.
Emma:
Being with JT won´t turn the clock back. I get why you wish it could, but it can´t.
Manny:
I know, but when I´m with him, it´s like I´m the old Manny again. A girl who hasn´t made a ton of bad decisions, that screwed up her life.
Emma:
You haven´t slept with him, have you?
Manny:
Not even close! We´re still working up to our first kiss. So far the wildest thing we´ve done is hold hands.
Emma:
Then it´s not too late to stop it. I want you to really think hard, before you do something with him. What you decide won´t only affect your future, it´ll affect the futures of everyone around you. You´d better be a hundred percent sure, before you start locking lips with JT. Once you do, there´s no turning back.
Manny clearly knows the gravity of the situation.
OPENING CREDITS
2. Int. Hallway. Day.
Ashley is looking at Ellie, like she was talking to an alien.
Ellie:
There is nothing I don´t know about sex!
Ashley:
Except for the fact, that you´ve never tried it?
Ellie:
I see this like it´s preparing for an exam. It´s about getting all the right information, so you´ll be ready for it.
Ashley:
There´s a lot more to it than that. You have to be ready for what it does to you emotionally, the loss of innocence, potential diseases ...
Ellie:
I´ve read tons of blogs! Ask me anything!
Ashley:
Ellie, Honey, you´re probably the most innocent girl in the entire senior class.
Ellie:
Which is why it´s time I got on board! I´m 17,3 years old, the exact average age that girls in Canada start having sex. If I don´t do it, what does that say about me?
Ashley:
Is Jay pressuring you?
Ellie:
I know that he´s not gonna stay in a PG relationship forever, but no. This is all me.
Ashley:
Have you tried anything wilder than kissing?
Ellie:
I let him feel me up sometimes.
Ashley:
Do you like it?
Ellie:
Yeah!
Ashley:
You can´t lie to me, Ellie.
Ellie:
It´s not that I don´t like it, but it´s ... how do I put it ... weird!
Ashley:
Weird how?
Ellie:
It´s probably because I´ve never tried it before.
Ashley:
You´ve never done a little "Jiling Off", just for the hell of it ?
Ellie looks shocked at Ashley for even suggesting it.
Ellie:
No! Have you?
Ashley:
I do it every day.
Ellie:
Every day?
Ashley:
I can name plenty of girls here, who do it several times a day. It´s not just for boys, if that´s what you think.
Ellie:
What you´re saying is that I´m the only one, who still thinks like a 6th grader?
Ashley:
How can you think of doing the ultimate thing, when you still haven´t done the first thing? It´s great that you educated yourself, but this is nothing like school. You´re not gonna find out what having an orgasm is like from a blog.
Ellie sulks, but can see Ashley´s point.
3. Int. Classroom. Morning.
JT and Manny are sitting next to each other, getting ready for their mid-term exam to start. Snake is their teacher.
Snake:
There´s no peeking and if you´re caught cheating off each other, then you will get an automatic F.
Manny and JT are finding it hard to pay attention and are more busy playing footsie under the table.
4. Int. Hallway. Day.
Manny and JT come out together with Liberty, Kendra, Toby and Rick.
Rick:
That was almost too easy.
JT:
You´re joking, right?
Toby:
Come on! A five year old could have passed that test!
Liberty:
I could go for a hot chocolate to celebrate our impending A´s?
Kendra:
Now, there´s a plan!
Manny can see that JT isn´t as cheerful as the others.
Manny::
We´ll join you in a moment.
The others leave them. Manny can see, that JT looks a little down.
JT:
You can tell me. I´m a complete idiot, aren´t I?
Manny:
It´s just a stupid test. You´re smart in other ways.
She sees that he needs a hug and gives him one. It ends up being a very tight one, as neither of them want to let go. Snake comes out from the classroom.
Snake:
There´s a three second rule.
Manny and JT break the hug and look a little embarrassed and very small next to Snake.
Manny:
Sorry, Snake.
JT:
It´s my fault. I needed it after that test.
Snake:
We can make an exception this one time, everything considered. You´re lucky to have such a great friend, JT.
He leaves them and they both smile at what just happened.
JT:
Not that he needs to tell me.
Manny:
Come.
She grabs his hand and drags him into the classroom.
5. Int. Classroom. Day.
Manny and JT come into the empty classroom and she closes the door.
JT:
Weren´t we gonna join the others?
Manny:
After this. I can´t wait any longer!
They kiss in a heat of passion and in the excitement of it all, Manny stumbles over a chair and lands on top of JT on the floor. They both laugh.
Manny:
I´m so sorry! Did you hit your head?
JT:
Yeah, but it doesn´t matter. It´s not like my brain could work any worse, than it already does.
Manny:
I´m so much in love with you right now, that I can´t put it into words!
JT:
Why try?
They go back to kissing.
6. Int. Cafeteria. Day.
Their friends are enjoying their hot chocolate, when Manny and JT finally join them.
JT:
Sorry. Simpson wanted to talk.
Liberty:
He sure took his time!
Toby:
What about?
Manny and JT look at each other and try not to laugh, seeing as they apparently forgot to plan this part of the lie.
Manny:
About JT doing extra curricular homework. I´ll help him with it.
JT:
You will?
Manny:
Of course. What are friends for?
She smiles cheekily at him.
Kendra:
How did your hair get messed up, just from talking to Simpson?
Toby puts two and two together and looks at them knowingly.
7. Int. Ellie´s Room. Day.
Ellie is reading a "Masturbation Guide For Girls" on her PC and it seems to be getting her a little aroused. She does various finger movements, that the site has named, as if she were trying to memorize them for a test. She opens the top button on her jeans and is about to let her hand slide down them, when the door opens and her mom comes in with her laundry. Ellie almost panics and quickly turns the screen off.
Ellie´s Mom:
It´s fresh sheets day!
Ellie:
Great!
Her mom puts the laundry basket down and sees the black screen. This combined with Ellie´s unbuttoned pants and Ellie´s terrible attempt at looking innocent makes her smile to herself.
Ellie´s Mom:
I don´t need to know!
Ellie:
Know what?
Ellie´s Mom:
Ellie, you´re not a little girl anymore. We can be open about these things, now that you´re almost an adult. If you want to explore your body, or whatever you kids call it these days, that´s perfectly natural.
Ellie:
I wasn´t watching pornography, if that´s what you think. I´ll show you.
She turns the computer screen on and shows her mom the site.
Ellie:
I´ve only been thinking about trying it, after Ash told me that her and the other girls do it. Am I some sort of freak, because I still think of sex as something, that´s way into my future?
Ellie´s Mom:
You´re not a freak, Sweetheart.
Ellie:
The statistics say that I´m old enough, so why aren´t I?
Ellie´s Mom:
Everyone develops at a different rate. I knew girls, who felt ready when they were 14 and others, who didn´t, until they were in their twenties. If you ask your dad, then he will tell you that it was the same with his friends. It didn´t mean, there was anything wrong with them.
Ellie:
I don´t want to be the girl, who´s far behind everyone else, but at the same time, I don´t want to rush into anything. We´ve all seen, how that can go.
Ellie´s Mom:
The best advice I can give you, is to take things at your own pace and if you have any questions, don´t hesitate to ask, okay? I know that I haven´t always been the best mom, but it´s still my job to help you, the best I can.
Her mom kisses her hair and leaves her. Ellie goes back to reading the website.
8. Int. Hospital Room. Day.
Manny is practically glowing with joy, but Emma isn´t looking all that satisfied.
Emma:
Despite everything I said, you still kissed him, didn´t you?
Manny:
Em, it was the most amazing experience of my life, after having Julia! I felt like a mix of Meg Ryan, Cameron Diaz and Marilyn Monroe in every romance movie they´ve been in, rolled into one!
Emma:
Couldn´t you have dyed your hair blonde, if that was the feeling you went for?
Manny:
This is the real thing!
Emma:
And what you had with Craig wasn´t?
Manny:
I still love Craig and I always will, but I´ve never loved him this way. We´re drifting in different directions, but now I see that it was how it was meant to be, so me and JT could be together. You have to admit, that this is a much nicer love story than "Boy makes the mistake of his life by cheating on girlfriend, who´s perfect for him in every way, with a younger and extremely naive girl, who he gets pregnant and he feels forced to stay with until his or her death".
Emma:
Is there a book version? Preferably one with a shorter title!
Manny:
I realize that it´ll take time for everyone to get used to, but in the end, it´s what´s best for all of us. Craig can go on to super stardom or whatever he wants to do and won´t have to feel guilty, that he´s left me back home. I´m the only thing holding him back.
Emma:
You have this all figured out, don´t you? What if everyone ends up hating each other and Julia ends up as everything, you don´t want her to?
Manny:
First of all, she won´t, because she´ll always have me! Second, I really don´t think it will, when you consider that everyone involved is pretty level headed. I´m not saying it will be easy, but I´m not buying your "Doomsday Theory" either.
Manny looks more convinced, than Emma does, that´s for sure.
9. Int. Manny and Craig´s House. Day.
Manny comes home to find the family gathered and celebrating with cake.
Manny:
What´s going on?
Caitlin:
Sit down and have some cake.
Angie:
It´s excellent!
Manny:
Don´t mind if I do!
Joey:
How´s Emma doing?
Manny:
Tomorrow´s the day. Come hell or high water, her pregnancy will have ended by the time she goes to sleep tomorrow.
She sits down next to Craig and is handed a plate with a piece on it and a spoon by Caitlin.
Craig:
We´re celebrating.
Manny:
That´s nice! Fill me in.
Joey:
The first part is that an investor has made a bid on the car lot.
Caitlin:
A big one!
Manny:
Are you gonna sell?
Joey:
I would be a fool not to!
Manny:
I guess you could always use the money to open a new one.
Joey:
It´ll most likely be part of the deal, that I can´t. That´s a question for another day. Craig has big news too.
Manny takes a bite of her cake and goes "Mmm", as she looks at Craig, who´s holding Julia.
Craig:
Guess whose manager got him a job opening for Barenaked Ladies on their next tour?
Manny puts her cake down and goes to give him a small kiss. He´s clearly overjoyed at the prospect.
Manny:
If it´s in the summer, we could travel with you.
Craig:
That´s the thing. The tour starts next week. I´m a last minute replacement.
Manny tries to still look happy for him, but she clearly knows what this means.
Manny:
What about school?
Craig:
I´ll have to wait until a later date, to make up the rest of my credits.
Joey:
I´m not crazy about it either. At the same time, I would have killed for that kind of opportunity, when I was his age.
Manny:
How long is it?
Craig:
Two months.
Angie sees that Manny is sad and sits down next to her.
Angie:
Don´t be sad, Manny. I´m gonna miss him too, but we can still play together.
Angie´s innocence makes Manny cheer up a little.
Manny:
I know you will, sweetie and don´t worry. We´ll play so much, you won´t even notice, that he´s gone!
Joey:
Let´s stop pretending, that he´s leaving forever. I´m proud of you, kid.
Caitlin:
We all are.
Craig:
Thanks, you guys.
He smiles at them, but it fades, when he sees how sad Manny looks.
10. Int. Craig and Manny´s Room. Evening.
Manny is lying with her back to Craig, after they´ve had sex. He´s on his phone with Chris.
Craig:
Yeah, I´ll tell them. See ya.
He puts his phone away and snuggles up next to Manny, who still looks sad.
Manny:
What was that about?
Craig:
Good news, in fact. Some shows had to be shuffled around, so it looks like I´ll be here for Christmas.
Manny:
Lucky us, that you can spare one day for your family!
Craig:
I can fly home now and again, if there´s a few days off in the schedule.
Manny:
Why? So you can come back and be here for a day, before you have to leave again? Don´t do us any favors!
Craig:
I thought, we´d been over this a hundred times.
She turns around and looks him in the eyes.
Manny:
We have, but we never came to an conclusion! You came to that one on your own!
Craig:
Do you really want to start a fight now, at this hour?
Manny:
It´s not that I want to, but I feel like I have to! We´re talking two months, where I won´t see you at all! How can we still call this a relationship, when I barely see you, as it is?
Craig:
It´s not like I´m never coming back.
Manny:
After this tour ends, then what?
Craig:
The plan is that I record my first full length album.
Manny:
And?
Craig:
Go on another tour. You could drop out and travel with me.
Manny:
If I do that, then my entire life will be being your girlfriend. You know me better than that.
Craig:
How do we make it past this? There has to be a way.
Manny:
Look at your heroes, Craig. John Lennon left his first wife, when he became famous, despite them having a son. The OG girlfriend always becomes the one, who gets left behind or strung along, until they find something better.
Craig:
Can we at least give it a try? I love you.
Manny:
Promise, you won´t cheat on me, while you´re on tour?
Craig:
That goes without saying. I´m not ready to give up on us. It can´t mean the end, it just can´t.
She rolls around, so that she has her back to him.
Manny:
It´s late. Can you turn the lights out?
Craig:
Sure. I understand how frustrating this has to be for you. I absolutely do, but I hope that you feel the same way, I do. I have no idea how I would go on with my life, if it didn´t have you in it. Sleep tight.
He turns the lights out and tries to get to sleep. Manny´s eyes are still wide open, as a few tears flow out of them.
11. Int. Hallway. Day.
Ellie and Ashley are walking up the hallway.
Ashley:
I guess this means, we can call you a woman now.
Ellie:
Hardly. I don´t feel any different.
Ashley:
Did you expect to?
Ellie:
I´m not sure what I expected. Sex doesn´t scare me as much, as it did this time yesterday, so I got that out of it.
Ashley:
It was a one time thing?
Ellie:
I didn´t say that, did I? You don´t know which websites I visited, after I finished!
Ashley:
No, but I know you and it would only take the sight of one of those things, to scare you!
Ellie:
It´s a good thing I have my nimble little fingers then, isn´t it?
The girls giggle, as Manny and JT come hurrying past them.
Ashley:
What´s up?
Manny:
It´s baby time!
They run out of the exit.
Ellie:
That however, I´m not ready for! Kids can wait until I´m 40!
Ashley:
I have to give you, that you gave yourself a wide time table!
Ellie:
Let´s be honest. In my case, that´s the safe bet!
They head off to class.
12. Ext. Degrassi. Day.
Manny and JT come running out, but he´s having trouble keeping up with her.
JT:
Stop! I need to catch my breath!
Manny stops running and walks back to him, as he tries to catch his breath.
Manny:
Take your time.
JT:
I´m in terrible shape! This is what you get for sitting on the couch and playing NBA 05, in stead of playing actual basketball.
Manny:
Yes, but can any real players beat you in NBA 05?
He starts to get his breath back and smiles at her.
JT:
Smart ass!
Manny:
I´ve been looking for a moment to tell you all day. Craig is dropping out of school and going on tour for the next two months.
JT looks pleased.
JT:
Did you tell him?
Manny:
Not yet, but I will when the timing is right.
JT:
That´s alright. You´re worth the wait.
Manny:
Didn´t you hear me? This means we won´t have to wait.
JT:
Labor takes a long time, doesn´t it?
Manny:
Usually. Why?
JT:
I was thinking about how my grandmother´s apartment isn´t much of a detour and how she won´t be home for hours.
Manny:
It´s such a shame for a nice and not to mention private apartment, to sit un-used.
They smile at each other.
13. Int. Waiting Room. Day.
Manny and JT are waiting with Sean and Emma´s family, when a doctor comes out.
Spike:
How´s she doing?
Doctor:
We´ve administered the epidural, but it will be a while until it kicks in. She asked for someone named Manny?
Manny comes over to him.
Manny:
That´s me.
Doctor:
She wants to talk to you. I tried to say no, but she was very persuasive!
Manny:
She can be, when she wants to.
Doctor:
Come with me.
Manny follows after the doctor.
14. Int. Hospital Room. Day.
Emma is lying on the bed, when Manny comes in.
Manny:
This sure brings back memories!
Emma:
Manny, I´m dying!
Manny:
It just feels that way. The epidural will kick in soon and then you´ll blissfully sedated!
Emma:
I take back everything bad, I´ve ever said about drugs! In fact, I think we should do more of them! Argh!
Manny:
Em, you´re delirious!
Emma;
If I die, then I want you to have my bed and my laptop.
Manny:
You´re not gonna die, Em. Untold trillions of women including me, have gone through this before you.
Emma:
I wish, I´d gotten the C-Section! Oh, it hurts! Say something funny!
Manny:
There once was a man from Nantucket ...
Emma:
I´ve heard that one. Just say something, that will take my mind off this!
Manny:
I had sex with JT today.
Emma:
Good for you. WHAT?
Manny:
You heard me.
Manny smiles to herself, as Emma tries to process the potential ramifications.
CLOSING CREDITS