WHAT IF - SEASON 2 EPISODE 28 - ANOTHER PART OF ME
Disclaimer: I don´t own Degrassi or the characters from it.
1. Ext. Degrassi. Morning.
Emma and Manny arrive at school together.
Manny:
I don´t know, if I´ll be able to concentrate on school.
Emma:
Take a lesson from JT. He´s a master at pretending, that he´s paying attention!
Manny:
I asked him a while ago, what he thinks about in class and he said "anything, as long as it isn´t what´s being taught"!
Emma:
That sounds like him! Is he as nervous as you are?
Manny:
None of us know, how it´s gonna go. Craig could have moved past it, or he could be out for revenge.
Emma:
Is it really in Craig to want revenge? He doesn´t seem the vengeful type.
Manny:
Me neither, but he still hasn´t spoken a word to me, since we broke up. Heartbroken people sometimes want their exes to be as miserable, as they are.
They´re interrupted by Spinner, who comes up behind them pushing Jimmy in a wheelchair.
Spinner:
Sorry, ladies!
Manny:
Hi, Jimmy. Welcome back.
Jimmy:
Thanks. It beats sitting at home all day.
Spinner:
Chit-chat is nice, but we´ve got classes to get to!
Jimmy:
Say hi to Liberty from me. Tell her, I´ll see her later.
Spinner wheels Jimmy towards the school. Manny and Emma look happy for him.
Emma:
When we started here, did you ever in your wildest dreams picture Liberty van Zandt and Jimmy Brooks together?
Manny:
Can´t say that I did! Then again, I never thought that Craig would end up hating me either.
They head into the school.
OPENING CREDITS
2. Int. Joey and Caitlin´s House. Day.
Craig has come home and is getting settled in. Joey brings him a soda and one for himself.
Craig:
Thanks, Joey. You know how to make a guy feel at home.
Joey:
It still is your home, even if you have become a "Part Timer" around here. How´s the career going?
Craig:
According to Chris, it´s going swimmingly. Now that the John Mayer tour is finished, I get a week off, before it´s off to Los Angeles and start recording.
Joey:
For how long?
Craig:
Three weeks. I´m recording un the same studio, where The Doors recorded "L.A. Woman".
Joey:
It sounds like, you have it all planned out.
Craig:
I don´t, but Chris does. I´m more or less just doing, what he tells me to.
Joey:
What about your daughter? Has he factored her into everything?
Craig:
I hope to get that taken care of, while I´m here. I´ve made the decision, that I don´t want Manny raising her anymore. I want full custody.
Joey looks shocked.
Joey:
Craig, this isn´t a thing you bought together, it´s is a living and breathing little girl. You´ll hurt her many times more, than getting one back on Manny will do you good!
Craig:
I can´t forgive her. Not after she snuck around behind my back and made a fool of me, for making me think, that everything was okay! She´s brought this on herself!
Joey:
I´ve seen these things play out and it always gets uglier than you ever imagined, it would. Have you given a moment of thought, as to how this affects our lives?
Craig:
I know that it´ll take time to get used to, but the thought that she´s raising my kid is driving me crazy! You can´t talk me out of this!
Craig looks determined, making Joey worried.
3. Int. Hallway. Day.
Liberty is sitting on Jimmy´s lap, as he wheels them through the school.
Jimmy:
It beats walking, doesn´t it?
Liberty:
If this is a permanent service, then sign me up!
They reach her classroom and she gets off.
Jimmy:
It´ll become too hard when I have to carry you on my back, while I´m on crutches.
Liberty:
Or I could carry you around?
Jimmy:
I have my pride!
Liberty:
You guys with your stupid pride! Are you doing anything tonight?
Jimmy:
You could come to my house for dinner. I know, that my mom would love it.
Liberty:
Sounds good to me!
Jimmy:
I´d better get "rolling". I never know, how long it´ll take with the elevator.
Liberty:
Are we on for lunch?
Jimmy:
I won´t be hard to find!
They smile at each other and she heads into the classroom.
4. Int. Hallway. Day.
Jimmy is waiting by the elevator, when Spinner comes hurrying over to him.
Spinner:
Just a sec!
He presses the button, as Jimmy shakes his head at him.
Jimmy:
I already pressed it. You are aware, that it wasn´t my head that got hurt?
Spinner:
Of course. What am I thinking?
Jimmy:
Spin, it isn´t that I don´t appreciate you wanting to help, but I can do most things by myself. It´s only in the walking department, that I´m severely lacking!
They smile at each other.
Spinner:
How did it go with Liberty?
Jimmy:
Why exactly was it, that I never saw her as datable before?
Spinner:
I always pictured that if I did it with her, then she would be lying there and critiquing me for everything I did wrong! I prefer it girls, who at least pretend, that I´m good!
Jimmy:
You have a weird mind!
The elevator finally arrives and Spinner opens the door, so Jimmy can roll inside. Spinner follows after him and closes the door.
5. Int. Elevator. Day.
Spinner and Jimmy are riding in the elevator.
Jimmy:
Can you score me some more oxy?
Spinner:
Don´t you get it on prescription?
Jimmy:
My doctor won´t renew it. He says, that it´s time I switched to girly pain killers.
Spinner:
I can, but ...
Jimmy:
Thanks, man! You´re a life saver!
They fist bump, but Spinner isn´t looking completely on board.
Spinner:
Don´t you think, he could be right?
Jimmy:
They´re the only ones that work. I´ll kick them, when I´m further into my rehab stage and I´m pain free again.
Spinner:
You said the same before the injury. I´ll get them for you, but I want you to look me in the eyes and tell me, that I´m not helping you feed an addiction.
Jimmy:
I swear, that it´s only because I´m injured.
Spinner:
I can talk to my contact later. How many?
Jimmy:
I was thinking fifty.
Spinner:
Fifty? Are you trying to kill yourself, because that amount will do it ten times over!
Jimmy:
I´m looking at two months minimum, until I see any kind of real improvement. When you consider that it´s for that long, then it isn´t that many.
Spinner:
I don´t have the kind of money to pay for that many.
Jimmy:
Don´t worry. I have it in my locker.
Spinner looks suspicious, but still wants to help Jimmy as much as possible.
6. Int. Garage. Day.
Joey and Caitlin hasn´t changed much in the garage, that still looks more or less the same. Craig is sitting on the couch and is playing guitar, when a nervous looking Manny comes in. There´s a moment of silence, when they make eye contact, as neither of them know what to say.
Manny:
Caitlin wants to re-do this place. Joey still sees it as yours.
Craig:
Ler her do it. I don´t live her anymore.
Manny:
Where do you live, then?
Craig:
Where ever the road takes me.
Manny:
"A cowboy on the steel horse, you ride".
Craig:
Something like that. Look, I´m not in the mood for talking to you and yes, it is personal!
Manny looks hurt.
Manny:
I can´t keep apologizing for doing, what turned out to be best for both of us.
Craig gets angry and puts his guitar away. He stands up and stares her in the eyes.
Craig:
How was you being a cheating whore, what´s best for me?
Manny:
Is that what we´ve devolved to, name calling?
Craig:
I don´t know what else to call you! Were there other guys too?
Manny:
You know, there weren´t, you jerk!
Craig:
I´m the jerk? How?
Manny:
You take off for months at a time and who´s left to take care of our daughter, Craig? I don´t see you stepping in to help with changing diapers, giving her a bath or taking her to nursery school! You left that all on me, so you could go and chase your dream! If anything, you owe me!
Craig:
Don´t give me that! I can´t take any more of this!
He hurries over to the garage door and opens it.
Manny:
Go ahead and run away, Craig! Leave me to take care of the mess you created, again!
Craig:
Screw you!
He storms out and she has to sit down to regain her composure.
7. Int. Living Room. Day.
Manny comes in, looking depressed. Joey and Caitlin were waiting for her.
Manny:
That went as expected.
Joey:
So we heard. Are you okay?
Manny:
I´m still in one piece, aren´t I? I´m just glad, that the girls weren´t here to hear it. Excluding this one, of course.
Caitlin:
There has to be a way past this.
Manny:
If you can think of one, I´d like to hear it.
She looks frustrated at the hopelessness of it all.
8. Int. The Dot. Day.
Craig comes in and is hiding his face behind a hoodie and sunglasses. Spinner and Jane have to stop themselves from laughing.
Spinner:
Look, Jane. Someone´s playing Spy vs. Spy, the live role playing game.
Jane:
What´s Spy vs Spy?
Spinner:
It was before your time. Craig, what´s with the get up, seriously?
Craig:
I´m trying to go incognito.
Jane:
You have everyone in here staring at you, so I can´t say that it´s working!
Craig gives up his disguise and is glad to see, that no one´s asking for an autograph.
Spinner:
Not liking fame?
Craig:
It´s fine, when you´re in the mood for it.
Jane:
You´re not today?
Craig:
The complete opposite. Can you get me a coke?
Jane:
I´ll do it!
She gets to work, as Sean comes in the door. He´s happy to see Craig and it´s the same vice versa.
Sean:
The prodigal son has returned! How´s life been treating you?
Craig:
Could be worse! How are things with you and Emma?
Sean:
You have a ton to catch up on!
The two of them fist bump.
9. Int. Jimmy´s House. Evening.
Jimmy and Liberty are having dinner with his parents.
Jimmy:
Liberty will probably make honor roll again this year.
Liberty looks a little embarrassed, but Jimmy´s parents look happy for her.
Liberty:
It´s really no big deal!
Jimmy´s Mom:
I would say that it is!
Jimmy´s Dad:
You two are the perfect combination! She brings the brain, while you bring the brawn, right, Jimmy?
Jimmy:
I never knew, that a girl being smart, could be the sexiest part of her.
Liberty almost blushes.
Liberty:
Jimmy! You can´t call me sexy in front of your parents!
Jimmy:
I said, that your intelligence is part of what makes you sexy. That isn´t breaking any rules.
Jimmy and Liberty smile at each other and he takes her hand. His parents look happy for them.
10. Int. Sean´s Apartment. Evening.
Sean and Craig are having a beer or two.
Sean:
Not that I mind the company, but shouldn´t you be at home with your girls?
Craig:
I don´t feel like I belong there anymore, now that someone else has taken my place.
Sean:
JT? He´ll never take your place!
Craig:
Hasn´t he already?
Sean:
Just because him and Manny are dating doesn´t mean, that he´s taken over your life!
Craig:
He´s Manny´s boyfriend, he sees more to my daughter, than I do and everybody likes him more, than they ever liked me!
Sean:
Listen to yourself! Do I need to get a tissue, so you can blow your nose too?
Craig:
I got it all figured out. I´m suing for full custody of Julia.
Sean looks in disbelief.
Sean:
Not to offend you, but that is definitely in the top 3 dumbest things, I´ve ever heard and I used to hang out at The Ravine, remember?
Craig:
She isn´t your daughter, so you have no idea how it feels!
Sean:
Oh, I don´t know? You mean, that my son isn´t being raised by someone other than me?
Craig sees that he´s right and tries to calm down.
Craig:
Sorry. I forgot. I just feel like such a terrible dad, you know? I keep thinking that what if she develops daddy issues, because I wasn´t there to hold her enough and play with her. I miss, that I could be there for her and be the dad, that adorable little rug-rat deserves. With Manny in the way, I can´t see that happening.
Sean:
The only one who´s in the way of it is you. I don´t like the thought of someone else raising my kid either, but when it´s what´s for the best, then you have to accept it. I´m not an expert on fathering and my own wasn´t the type to win any awards for it, but the way I see it, doing what´s right when it´s the hardest choice, is part of being the best dad you can be.
Craig:
I can´t say live and let live. No one has ever hurt me like this before.
Sean:
Be thankful that you can still see her, when you want to. I´d love to have that luxury.
Sean takes a sip of his beer, while Craig tries to think.
12. Int. Jimmy´s Room. Evening.
Jimmy gets off his wheelchair and onto his bed, with Liberty helping him as he needs it.
Jimmy:
Good thing that it´s only a few more weeks. I don´t know what I´d do, if I was stuck in that thing for life.
Liberty:
Other people have done it, so why couldn´t you?
Jimmy:
I prefer having a pair of functioning legs. You can stay, if you want?
Liberty:
It isn´t that I don´t want to, but my parents are strict with my curfew, especially on weekdays.
Jimmy:
Don´t be too sad. Mine have been the same, since I threw that shin-dig back at the beginning of the school year. Can you do me a small favor and get me my pain pills? You´re more mobile, than I am.
Liberty:
How will I recognize them?
Jimmy:
It´s the smallest pill glass in the cabinet. You can´t miss it.
Liberty leaves him and he turns on the TV. She comes back moments later with the glass and hands it to him.
Liberty:
I had no idea, that they had you on oxycodone.
Jimmy:
You´ve heard about them?
Liberty:
My grand dad gets them prescribed for his bad back. He tells me that they knock him out and he goes straight to bed, after he´s taken one.
Jimmy:
His are probably a much higher dose, than the ones, they give me.
Liberty:
Not to sound like your mom, but I´m glad that there´s only a few left. Something that strong can´t be good for you.
Jimmy:
I´m just following doctor´s orders. Can I get a kiss, before you leave?
Liberty smiles at him and gives him a small kiss.
Jimmy:
Get home safely.
Liberty:
I think, I can manage.
She gives him a small hug and leaves him. He leans back and waits for the high to kick in, as he starts channel surfing.
13. Ext. Craig´s House. Evening.
Craig comes back to the house to find JT there dropping off Angie, who´s absolutely delighted to see him and runs to hug him!
Angie:
Craig! I´ve missed you so much!
Craig:
I´ve missed you too, Ange. Come here!
She gets a big re-union hug and looks delighted.
Angie:
When did you get here?
Craig:
This morning and I´m here for a whole week!
Angie:
Yay! Will you have time to play with me?
Craig:
I´ll make time to play with you, if I have to!
She couldn´t look happier, as JT cautiously approaches him.
JT:
You can show him your debut on TV, when you get inside.
Craig:
My little sister is a TV star?
Angie:
I´m not a star!
JT:
You steal the picture every time you´re on, so what else should we call you? She´s one of the kids on a local TV show, I host.
Craig:
Joey told me about it. Tell you what, Ange. Run inside, get that tape ready and I´ll join you in a minute.
Angie:
Don´t be too long.
She runs inside.
JT:
What now? Is it fighting time?
Craig:
I´ve never been much of a fighter. Have you?
JT:
Not since little Frida Carter got the best of me in the 2nd grade. She had long fingernails and knew how to use them for maximum pain.
Craig:
Little girls can be tough!
JT:
Tell me about it! You must really hate me right now.
Craig:
I don´t.
JT:
I still owe you an apology.
Craig:
If anyone understands how charming Manny can be, it´s me! When she wants to wield her power over us men, there is nothing we can do, to say no to her!
JT:
A guy would need a heart of stone!
They laugh a little.
Craig:
Take good care of her for me.
JT:
I wasn´t expecting this!
Craig:
I mean it. If I can´t be there for her, then it´s comforting to know that someone else is. Do you want to come inside?
JT:
I´ll pass. This, you and me talking, that´s okay. You, me and Manny in the same room together ...
Craig:
I get what you mean.
JT:
Don´t be too hard on Manny. It took two of us, to do what we did.
They nod at each other, before JT gets into his car and drives off. Craig heads inside.
14. Int. Joey and Caitlin´s House. Evening.
Craig comes into the living room, where everyone´s assembled. Everyone except for Angie (who´s just super excited) is nervously awaiting his reaction.
Manny:
Are you here to yell at me again?
Craig:
I think, that we´ve done enough yelling for one day, don´t you?
She nods and looks relieved.
Angie:
Found it! Look, Craig.
He turns his attention to the TV, where a skit is being played out. JT is dressed like a flower.
JT (on the TV):
I have all this delicious nectar, but what am I gonna do with it? I know, maybe my friends the bees can use it!
Angie and three other kids dressed as bees come on screen.
Angie:
That´s me, Jenny, Maya and Brie. We´re all friends.
Craig:
That´s great, Ange.
He smiles to himself and looks happy for Angie´s sake, as the silly skit plays out. Joey and Caitlin look relieved, that things are looking up.
15. Int. Computer Lab. Morning.
Liberty is early and is one of the only students in there. She´s looking up what Oxycodone is on a medical website and clearly doesn´t like what she´s reading. Manny comes in and moves over to join her and Liberty quickly clicks one of the short cuts to take her to another website.
Manny:
Hey. How was your dinner with the in-laws?
Liberty:
It was nice. They´re not that different from my own folks. More importantly, how did things go with Craig?
Manny:
Bad at first. It took us around a minute to get into another fight.
Liberty:
I´m sorry.
Manny:
You shouldn´t be, because it somehow worked itself out. He stormed out and when he came back, it was like it was a different guy, I was dealing with. It´s a total mystery, but you won´t find me complaining over it!
Liberty:
Some things it´s best to enjoy and not ask too many questions.
Manny:
We ended up having some nice family time and after the old and the little ones went to bed, him and me had a much needed talk.
Liberty:
He´s okay with it?
Manny:
Enough to drops his ideas about full custody give me and JT his blessing.
Manny looks hopeful for the future.
CLOSING CREDITS