WHAT IT? - SEASON 2 EPISODE 20 - ROUND AND ROUND
Disclaimer: I don´t own Degrassi or the characters from it.
Author´s Note: We´re taking a small break from the Manny/JT/Craig/Paige drama in this one, but I promise that the last two episodes of the season will be PACKED with that storyline! It can´t just be the "Manny, Paige and JT" show however, so I hope you´ll enjoy this episode too. It became around 15-20 percent longer than how it was originally written, since I decided to add an extra storyline with Emma and Sean a few days before posting it.
1. Int. Jimmy´s Room. Evening.
Jimmy is cleaning out his closet for clothes he´s outgrown. His dad comes in.
Jimmy:
I´ll be done soon.
Jimmy´s Dad:
You can finish tomorrow after the funeral.
Jimmy stops and puts the bag away.
Jimmy:
Is it strange, that I´m not sad? He was my uncle, after all.
Jimmy´s Dad:
You never knew him, the way me or your mother did. My brother was his own and that also meant, he didn´t make any close friends. It was his way or the highway and whoever didn´t like it could kiss his ... well, you know!
Jimmy:
It´s not that I didn´t like him, the few times I met him. I just never got to know him.
Jimmy´s Dad:
Have you considered what you´re gonna do with the money, you´re inheriting?
Jimmy:
How much are we talking?
Jimmy´s Dad:
We won´t know for sure, until the will is read. I wouldn´t be surprised, if it´s a neat little sum. He might not have known you, but he always liked you, unlike most of the rest of our family.
Jimmy:
Put it in a saving´s account?
Jimmy´s Dad:
I know that as your dad, I´m supposed to tell you to be responsible, but you´re becoming a 17 year old going on 30! It´s time, we let you try what it´s like to be a teenager again.
Jimmy smiles.
Jimmy:
My punishment is over?
Jimmy´s Dad:
Consider it time off for good behavior.
Jimmy is so delighted, that he gives his dad a big hug!
OPENING CREDITS
2. Ext. Spinner´s House. Morning.
Spinner comes out of his house and smiles, when he sees Jimmy in his fancy Sports Car.
Spinner:
You lucky bastard!
Jimmy:
Hop in!
Spinner does so and they drive off.
3. Int. Car. Morning.
Spinner is impressed by Jimmy´s new wheels.
Spinner:
This must have set your folks back a fortune!
Jimmy:
I inherited in from my uncle. This and twenty grand.
Spinner:
Why don´t I have a rich uncle?
Jimmy:
He wasn´t, but I was the only one my family, he liked. This car was his pride and joy.
Spinner:
You´d better take care of it!
Jimmy:
My dad would kill me, if I didn´t! How would you feel about a road trip this weekend?
Spinner:
I wish, I could, but if I´m gonna pass my mid terms ...
Jimmy:
Don´t worry. If anything, it´s nice to see that you´re taking it seriously. We started school together, Spin. It would be great, if we could finish it together too.
Spinner:
For the first time in a while, I actually think, I can do it!
Jimmy:
That´s the spirit! I´ll find someone else to hang out with. You cram into those studies, buddy.
Spinner takes in Jimmy´s encouragement with a smile.
4. Int. Emma´s Room. Morning.
Emma is giving the little one it´s bottle, while Sean holds him. They´re both full of love for their little offspring.
Emma:
Now I want to keep him! No, I can´t change my mind again!
Sean:
It´s nothing to be ashamed of. I do it twice a minute!
Emma:
Maybe we could raise him on our own. My mom did it and that was without a dad.
Sean:
Don´t you want to break the string of teenage mothers, among the women in your family?
Emma:
It´s a little late for that!
Sean:
You know, what I mean. What did your parents say, when you told them?
Emma:
They called it the smartest move, I could make.
Sean:
Mine too. It so easy to say, when it´s not your kid.
Emma:
I know, that I´ll miss him like crazy, when he isn´t here anymore.
Sean:
You won´t be the only one.
He strokes his son´s head gently, making sure that he feels the love, that surrounds him.
5. Int. Hallway. Morning.
Paige is looking at JT and Manny, who are talking, from afar. A nervous looking Jane comes over to her.
Jane:
Hi, Paige. What are you doing?
Paige:
Spinner´s little study buddy! Not much.
Jane:
You´re known him for most of your lives, right?
Paige:
That would be accurate. Why?
Jane:
How would you bring him bad news?
Paige considers it.
6. Int. Hallway. Morning.
Amy and Alex are getting things from their lockers, when Paige and Jane comes over to them.
Paige:
Amy, we have a problem.
Amy immediately thinks that Spinner has done something with Jane and gets angry.
Amy:
At least one of you is honest! What did you do with him?
Jane:
Nothing! We´re just friends!
Alex:
We´ve all seen the way, you look at him.
Paige:
It´s nothing like that!
Jane:
Honest to God, cross my heart, I have done nothing with Spinner!
Amy begins to calm down and Jane looks relieved.
Paige:
He´s flunking.
Amy looks surprised and clearly didn´t know.
Amy:
Why hasn´t he told me anything?
Jane:
Because he´s terrified of disappointing you. Spinner isn´t the smartest guy, but he might be the most loyal guy, I´ve met.
Alex:
Did you know, Paige?
Paige:
He made me promise not to tell anyone. He´s really ashamed of it.
Amy:
But he told you, squirt? Why?
Jane:
Jimmy suggested that I tutor him, as thanks for him getting me my job at The Dot. That´s the truth! It wouldn´t matter what I wanted anyway, because he only has eyes for you.
Amy can´t help smiling a little at that last remark.
Amy:
He said that?
Jane:
You´re the last girl here, who should worry about being cheated on. How do I tell him, that he´s bound to flunk? He thinks, he has a chance.
Alex:
Let him find out the hard way! He´s a big boy.
Paige:
You don´t know Spinner. He´s had self esteem issues, almost as long as I´ve known him. We have to find the absolute gentlest way possible to let him know, so that he´s prepared for failure, should it happen.
Jane:
I don´t know him that well. Can you help me?
Amy:
What´s your name, squirt?
Jane:
Jane.
Amy:
Jane, first of all, you´re lucky, that you went to Paige first! This could have ended very badly for you, so keep that in mind for the future.
Jane:
I will. So?
Amy:
We´ll figure something out.
Jane looks pleased.
7. Int. Classroom. Morning.
Jimmy is spinning the car keys around in his hand before class and making sure, that everyone will hear it. Hazel looks at him, but isn´t impressed.
Hazel:
It´s just a car, Jimmy!
Jimmy:
This is more than a car! It´s given me a new start at life!
Hazel shakes her head to herself.
Jimmy:
Wanna go for a ride after school?
Hazel:
Sorry. Mid-term cramming.
Jimmy:
That´s what everyone´s said. I finally get the chance to blow off some steam and no one has time for anything!
Hazel:
Shouldn´t you be studying?
Jimmy:
I´ve had four months to do nothing else! I´m more prepared than The Dream Team was for the ´92 Olympics!
Hazel:
A lot of girls like fancy cars. I´m sure, you can find someone, who´ll boost your ego.
Jimmy:
Of course! What was I thinking? I´m the captain of the Basketball team and I have the most awesome car of anyone here! Girls will be flocking to me, once they see me in it!
Hazel:
It´s nice to see, that your ego hasn´t been damaged!
Jimmy:
You´ll regret saying no, when you see me with some hottie in the passenger seat.
Hazel:
Somehow, I doubt it!
Jimmy looks determined to prove her wrong.
8. Int. Hallway. Day.
Jimmy is scoping out girls in the hallway, when Hazel comes over to him.
Hazel:
You´ll have to talk to them first.
Jimmy:
I´m taking my time, to pick out the right girl. The captain of the team can´t be seen with just anyone.
Hazel:
What if the girl of your choice has a boyfriend?
Jimmy:
I bid her a good day and move on to the next one.
Hazel:
That´s disgusting!
Jimmy:
Jackpot!
Mia and Darcy come walking up towards them and Jimmy walks over to them. They look more confused than flattered, to Hazel´s amusement, as Jimmy tries to talk them into it. They eventually start looking scared and run away from him.
Jimmy:
That came out wrong! I wasn´t gonna ...
Hazel:
Spare it. Those two are halfway to Timbuktu by now!
Jimmy:
That´s two girls out of an entire school full of them! I bet you, that it won´t take me five minutes, to find a date for this afternoon.
Hazel:
Give it up. You´re only embarrassing yourself!
She walks away from him and he looks annoyed.
9. Int. Living Room. Day.
Emma and Sean are meeting with a woman from an adioption agency in Emma´s parent´s living room. Spike is there for emotional support. The woman has a stack of folders with her.
Spike:
Are those the prospective parents?
Woman:
As you can see, there´s no shortage. This was the first couple I thought of, when you contacted us.
She hands the one on the top to Emma, who opens it. The first page has a picture of a very friendly looking couple in their late 20´s/early 30´s.
Woman:
They´re from Montreal. He´s a real estate broker and she´s a journalist for a large newspaper. They have everything except for the one thing, they want the most.
Emma:
It all sounds perfect, but Montreal is so far away.
Spike:
Honey, once you give you give your child up for adoption, you give up your legal rights to see it again.
Emma:
I can never see him again?
Woman:
In many cases, the adopted child decides to find their biological parents later in life. It´s not unthinkable, that you´ll see him again.
It all becomes too much for Emma, who hands the folder to Spike and stands up.
Emma:
I´m sorry, we wasted your time.
Spike:
Emma ...
Emma:
I can´t do it, mom! Not if I never get to see him again.
She storms out crying. Sean gets up from his seat.
Sean:
I´ll talk to her.
He follows after her.
10. Ext. Back Yard. Day.
Emma is still crying, when Sean comes out to her. He gives her a comforting hug.
Sean:
It´s for the best, Em.
Emma:
How can you say that? Don´t you love him?
Sean:
More than I ever thought, I could love anyone. But we can´t give him the kind of life, he deserves. Deep down, you know it too.
She breaks the hug and moves away from him.
Emma:
I´ll raise him on my own. I don´t care, if it makes sense or not! It makes sense to me!
Sean:
Don´t you think, this is hard on me? I don´t know, if I´ll ever have another one. I´m doing it for him, so he can have the opportunities, I´ll never have.
Emma:
Those people look nice, but we don´t know! They could be child abusers or criminals!
Sean:
They do extensive background checks, before they allow anyone to adopt. If there´s the slightest chance, then they wouldn´t have accepted them.
Emma tries to stop crying and wipes her eyes with the back of her hand.
Sean:
I know, that it feels horrible right now. I feel the same way. I also believe in my heart, that this is the right thing to do. Please, Em. Do it for him.
Emma looks sad and nods. Sean leads her back inside.
11. Int. Hallway. Day.
Jane comes walking up the hallway and runs into Spinner. They smile at each other.
Jane:
Spinerino, my man! How´s it hanging?
Spinner:
Not too bad. I´ve thinking about an artist name for you.
Jane:
Lay it on me.
Spinner:
Dudette! You know, because you´re like a dude with boobs!
Jane laughs.
Jane:
You sure have a way of putting things, Spin. I love it!
Spinner:
Are we on for studying after work?
Jane:
You got it!
They fist bump and he leaves her. She smiles to herself.
Jane:
"A dude with boobs!". At least you know, what he thinks of you!
She heads off to class.
12. Int. Hallway. Day.
Paige is talking to Darcy and Mia, who are still shaken up.
Darcy:
You´re sure, he didn´t want to hurt me?
Paige:
Hon, no one wants to hurt you! You probably misunderstood him.
Jane comes over to them.
Jane:
What´s up?
Darcy:
Some creep came up to us and scared us.
Mia:
I´m sticking close to the boys for the rest of the day!
Darcy:
I just hope, that I won´t have nightmares about it.
Jane:
There´s sicko´s everywhere! Paige, I just wanted to let you know, that the plan is set.
Mia:
What kind of plan is this?
Paige:
One with nothing but good intentions.
Jane and Paige smile at each other.
13. Ext. Degrassi. Day.
Students are being let out of school and the mood is great among them. Jane and Amy make eye contact and wink at each other.
14. Int. Cafeteria. Day.
Jimmy is sitting at a table and has his car keys in front of him, along with a cup of hot chocolate. He´s looking pretty down, as he plays with them. Liberty comes in and walks over to the machine.
Jimmy:
Why are you still here?
Liberty:
Extra credit. Are you waiting for someone?
Jimmy:
You´d think so, but no. Can I ask your opinion on something?
Liberty:
I guess.
She gets her cup, that has now been filled and walks over to him. She takes a sip from it.
Jimmy:
I´m not ugly, am I?
Liberty almost spits out her drink on him, but it hits the floor in stead.
Liberty:
You´re kidding, right?
Jimmy:
I asked out several girls and they all turned me down.
Liberty:
I don´t think, it had anything to do with your looks.
Jimmy:
Isn´t this package, what every girl should want?
Liberty:
You can´t walk up to some strange girl and expect her to like you, because you look good on paper. Most of us want to get to know a guy first, before we consider going on a date with him. Plus and don´t take this the wrong way, but you give out a vibe of not being over your ex yet. It isn´t attractive.
Jimmy:
It feels like we haven´t settled it yet. Like we still haven´t found out, who won the break up.
Liberty:
Does it have to have a winner?
Jimmy:
I don´t want to lose it. It feels that way now. I can´t even get a girl to go for a ride in me in a super hot car! How big of a loser am I?
Liberty:
What kind of car are we talking?
Jimmy:
You like cars?
Liberty:
I know more about them, than most boys here do. I´ll go for a ride with you, just to see it.
Jimmy:
At least I can tell Hazel, that I got a girl to go on a date with me.
Liberty:
It isn´t a date. Unless you play your cards right.
She winks at him and he smiles back at her.
15. Int. Car. Day.
Liberty is in the passenger seat, as they drive through the city.
Jimmy:
Anywhere in particular, you want to go?
Liberty:
We can just drive. This is a pretty impressive ride, I´ll give you that much.
Jimmy:
I´m sensing a "but" coming.
Liberty:
Another reason why the girls haven´t been flocking to you, is because you give off this "I´m better than you" vibe. You´re a high schooler, not The Rock!
Jimmy:
I blame my parents. Ever since I was born, it´s always been "Jimmy, you´re gonna be someone special some day". It´s nice with positive reinforcement, but sometimes I wonder, if they created a monster.
Liberty:
My parents are the same. If I don´t turn out to be a supreme court justice or something at least as important, then it´s the biggest disaster in our family´s history. They never bothered to ask me, if it´s what I want.
Jimmy:
Is it?
Liberty:
The world is full of opportunities. Why should I limit myself to the ones, they picked out for me?
Jimmy:
Yeah, like for me it´s either the NBA or follow in their footsteps! There´s no third option, as far as they´re concerned. What if I try it and it isn´t for me? Am I supposed to continue doing it for the rest of my life, to keep them happy?
Liberty smiles to herself.
Liberty:
I always thought, you had it the easiest of everyone.
Jimmy:
Don´t you sometimes wish, you could be like JT? No one has the slightest expectations and whatever he ends up doing is fine, as long as he likes it.
Liberty:
Who would have thought, that a nerd and a jock would have so much in common?
Jimmy:
It´s been a long time, since anyone saw you as a nerd. If you ask me, you´re in the top five percent hottest at school, if not top two percent! Don´t sell yourself short.
She smiles at his compliment.
Liberty:
Top two percent, really?
Jimmy:
I´m not the only guy, who thinks so. Smart chicks can be hot in their own way.
Liberty:
You said something about a date?
Jimmy:
I´m up for it, if you are!
Liberty:
I said you´d get one, if you played your cards right, didn´t I?
They smile at each other and he loses sight of the road.
Liberty:
Jimmy, brake!
Jimmy:
What?
Liberty:
Red light! Brake!
Jimmy:
Oh!
He snaps back into reality and hits the brakes. The car quickly comes to a standstill and they both laugh it off.
16. Int. Emma´s Room. Evening.
Emma is lying on her bed, looking depressed and still sobbing a little. Snake knocks gently on her door and she looks over at him.
Snake:
Are you coming down for dinner? I made that lasagna, you liked so much.
Emma:
It´ll only remind me of him.
He comes in and takes a seat on the edge of the bed.
Snake:
This must seem like the end of the world to you right now.
Emma:
How would you know?
Snake:
Because I´ve tried it.
She sits up and looks him in the eyes.
Emma:
How come, you´ve never told me before?
Snake:
It´s still painful to talk about. Your mother, Joey and now you, are the only three people, I´ve told. I´ve never even told my parents.
Emma:
When was this?
Snake:
My sophomore year in college. We only dated for a few months. I won´t bore you with why we broke up, but it wasn´t pretty. Afterwards, I never thought, I´d see her again. That was until she showed up at my door to tell me, she was five months pregnant.
Emma:
You´re sure, it was yours?
Snake:
I didn´t want to believe it. DNA tests don´t lie, though.
Emma:
You would have been a great dad. You are to me and Jack.
Snake:
Thanks for saying so, but at that time, I wouldn´t have been. Even though I was a few years older than you, I was too young and we were long broken up. Things being the way they were, we made the only decision, that made sense. Thereby not saying, that I haven´t asked myself a million times since, if it was the right one.
Emma:
Do you regret it?
Snake:
Emma, nearly everyone, who gives their child away to someone else, is sure to regret it at some point. It wasn´t until I held your brother for the first time, that it started to go away. When I held him and looked into those tiny eyes, it felt right in a way, that it never would have, if I had done it too soon with someone, I never should have had one with in the first place. Sometimes, all we can do is trust our gut and hope, we made the right decision. What does yours tell you?
Emma:
That we´re doing the right thing. Sean thinks so too.
Snake:
If it´s meant to be, then he´ll find you someday. I still hold on to hope, that I´ll see my other daughter again. I doubt, if it´ll ever completely go away.
Emma:
Do you think, it will for me?
Snake:
I can´t give you a definitive answer. What I can tell you for sure, is that you going to bed without dinner won´t help anyone. You´ll just wake up tomorrow really hungry.
Emma:
I guess, there´s an undeniable truth to that. Thanks, Snake, for telling me.
Snake:
What are dads for, if not to cheer up their kids, when they need it?
She hugs him tightly, as he strokes her hair to comfort her.
17. Ext. The Dot. Evening.
Jane and Spinner just got off work and are ready to leave.
Spinner:
My place?
Jane:
Sure. I talked to your girlfriend for the first time today. I like her.
Spinner:
Not in that way, I hope!
Janes looks shocked at what he´s insinuating.
Jane:
You don´t think, I´m a lesbian, do you?
Spinner:
Sorry, it´s just with the way you dress and act ...
Jane:
You thought, I like girls? I mean, I do with some of them, but not that way! Not that there´s anything wrong with it!
Spinner:
Of course not! I´m so sorry!
Jane:
I told you about my ex, didn´t I?
Spinner:
You did. I just ...
Jane:
What? Thought it was a one time fling with heterosexuality? I dress like I do, because that´s what´s always been comfortable to me. I even made my brother call me James for a while, when we were little, but I´ve learned to enjoy the best parts of being a girl.
Spinner:
Like having boobs?
He gets a laugh out of her and laughs along with her.
Jane:
That would be one of them. Then again, I´ll never know the joy of scratching my balls!
Spinner:
It´s the best! You´ll have to settle for scratching your butt.
Jane:
We need to get to your house, before this conversation escalates any further!
Spinner:
That´s probably a good idea!
They smile at each other.
18. Int. Spinner´s House. Evening.
The apartment is dark, when Spinner and Jane comes in. The light is turned on and Paige and Amy along with Darcy and Marco greet him with a surprise party. A banner is hung that reads "Better Luck Next Year". Spinner clearly didn´t expect it and is one big smile.
Spinner:
What´s this for?
Amy:
This is a premature celebration in your honor.
Spinner:
What for?
Marco:
Because we all believe, that you will at least graduate with next year´s class.
Darcy:
I think of it as a bonus, if I get you here for another year.
Jane:
It would royally suck, if you left school this soon!
Amy gives him a kiss and smiles at him.
Amy:
Spinner, you know, I didn´t pick you for your abilities, when it comes to school work.
Spinner:
I felt embarrassed. It´s my own fault.
Paige:
Think of the rest of this year, as a perfect way to prepare for next year, when it really counts.
Marco:
We know, you´ll do alright without us.
Amy:
I won´t be going anywhere, without you by my side. You have my word.
Spinner and Amy hug. Jane can´t help looking a little envious.
19. Int. Spinner´s House. Evening.
We cut to later and the "party", even if it isn´t much of one, is going well. Jane´s out-going nature makes her extremely easy to talk to and she´s quickly growing on Marco and Paige.
Spinner is sitting in an armchair with Amy on his lap.
Spinner:
What if the only school you get accepted to, is one far away?
Amy:
I won´t go. It´s that simple.
Spinner:
What if I fail next year too?
Amy:
You won´t.
Spinner:
I´d hate to think, that I´ll be holding you back.
Amy:
I don´t need to go to college and have a fancy job to be happy. As long as I have you, I´ll be fine. Guys like you, don´t exactly grow on trees.
Spinner:
Neither do girls like you.
They kiss and Jane watches them out of the corner of her eye, before forcing herself to look away.
20. Ext. Degrassi. Morning.
Jimmy arrives for school and sees Hazel arriving at the same time. They make eye contact and he waits for her to catch up with him.
Jimmy:
How was your evening?
Hazel:
It made me long for this to be over! You?
Jimmy:
Great. I went on a date.
Hazel:
With who?
Liberty just happens to pass them at the same time.
Liberty:
Hi, Jimmy. Let me know if you want to do it again sometime.
Jimmy:
I will, for sure!
They smile at each other and Liberty walks towards the school. Hazel is dumbfounded.
Hazel:
You seriously went on a date with Liberty Van Zandt?
Jimmy:
Do you know what else? We have a ton in common and I thoroughly enjoyed myself!
Hazel:
You´re lying!
Jimmy shrugs his shoulders at her and heads inside. She´s left looking none too pleased.
21. Int. Hallway. Day.
Spinner is heading to his first class of the day, when Jimmy hurries to catch up with him.
Jimmy:
Did you get your studying done?
Spinner:
Not as much as I should have, but it´s okay. I was thinking about your road trip idea and I could use a break from studying.
Jimmy:
What about mid-terms?
Spinner:
If I pass, I pass. If I don´t, then it isn´t the end of the world. I can get an extra chance next year. You however, won´t be here
Jimmy:
I´m glad. What´s the point of having a nice car, if you don´t have friends to go places with?
Jimmy smiles to himself
CLOSING CREDITS