WHAT IF? - SEASON 2 EPISODE 29 - P.Y.T (PRETTY YOUNG THING) AKA. ANGIE´S VERY OWN EPISODE!
Disclaimer: I don´t own Degrassi or the characters from it.
Author´s Note: Coming up with new things that the show itself didn´t do isn´t an easy job, but one thing they never did was give everyone´s favorite little cutie pie her own episode. It´s time to rectify this and dedicate this episode to Alex Steele, who made Angie (and later also Tori) come to life. I´m glad to see that she´s still making a go at it with her acting career and I wish both her and her sister Cassie (who played Manny) all the success in the world.
This one is very loosely based on something I myself did, when I was around her age here. I´ll give you the ultra short version of the real story at the end of the episode. The secondary title to the episode is a nod to the South Park episode "Butters´ Very Own Episode!", that´s one of the funniest things ever written, if you ask me.
1. Ext. Joey and Caitlin´s House. Day.
Angie is coming home and is walking with her friend Jenny, a blonde girl her own age.
Angie:
We´re gonna have pizza and cake and play some games. Nothing crazy.
Jenny:
It sounds fun. When should I come over?
Angie:
Six?
Jenny:
Six it is.
Angie:
See ya then!
They wave goodbye to each other and Jenny heads up the street, while Angie heads inside.
2. Int. Joey and Caitlin´s House. Day.
Angie comes in through the front door, takes her shoes off and hangs her coat on the coat rack, She smiles to herself, when she hears a familiar voice.
Manny (off screen):
I never thought about it that way.
Caitlin (off screen):
I don´t want to think it either, but it´s something we have to consider as a possibility.
Angie sneaks into the kitchen, where she hides, so she can better eaves drop on them.
Manny:
I´ve always seen her a normal, albeit slightly hyperactive kid.
Caitlin:
Think back to when you were ten years old. By that time, I´d already read my first twenty books and I was long done with playing with toys. Angie still hasn´t read book number one and her teachers say, that she can´t sit still in school. There has to be a reason for it.
Manny:
No offense, but when I picture you as ten year old, I picture you as a thirty year old in a ten year old´s body! She´s probably a slow developer. There´s nothing wrong with that.
Angie´s smile fades, when she hears that they´re talking about her.
Caitlin:
I didn´t want to tell Joey, but I think that we should take her to a child psychologist. Just to be sure, there´s nothing wrong with her. She could be hyperactive, have a learning disability or even ADHD or a fourth thing, what do I know? It´s better that we know, so we can get her the help she needs, than we ignore the problem. Don´t you agree?
Angie looks sad, that they would think there´s something wrong with her and a few tears flow from her eyes.
OPENING CREDITS
2. Int. Angie´s Room. Day.
Angie is playing with her baby cousin Julia, who´s putting blocks in holes of a learning toy, while Angie helps her.
Angie:
Now the final one. Where do you think, it goes?
Julia puts it in the right hole and Angie applauds her.
Angie:
Yay! You´re so smart!
Julia giggles.
Angie:
You wanna try it again?
Julia nods and Angie empties it out for her, so she can try again.
Angie:
See if you can´t do it faster this time.
She watches Julia, as she gets to "work".
Angie:
I remember when everyone told me, that I was the smart one. Now they all think, there´s something wrong with me. What if there is, Julia? Am I gonna become some freak, who no one wants to be friends with, because I´m too different?
Manny comes in and is delighted to see them playing together.
Manny:
Aren´t you two cute as buttons? We need to know what kind pf pizzas you want, birthday girl. Come on.
Angie:
I´ll be back in a moment, Julia.
Julia doesn´t even notice, that they leave, because she´s so fixated on her "work".
3. Int. Living Room. Evening.
Angie´s modest birthday party is in full swing and she looks to be enjoying herself along with her "guests" Jenny, Joey, Manny, JT, Caitlin and Julia, who´s sitting on her grand dad´s lap. Manny does some "magic" on her laptop.
Manny:
How do I put the video on the TV?
Jenny:
Can I show you?
Manny:
Please do, cuz I´ll get never get it to work!
She hands Jenny her laptop.
Jenny:
You go like that and press there and voila!
Craig´s face comes on the TV screen.
JT:
When in doubt, ask a kid!
Angie:
I don´t know, how to do that stuff.
Joey:
You´re great at a lot of other stuff, Sweetie. We all have our strengths and weaknesses.
Manny:
Shall I press play?
Caitlin:
I think, you should!
Manny does and we focus on the TV.
Craig (on the TV):
Hi, Angie. I´m so bummed out that I´m missing your birthday, especially since it´s one of the big ones. You only get to turn double digits once and I hope that you´re having the best birthday, you can. Some people might have been bummed out, that they only got to have one sibling. I´m not, because I was lucky enough to be blessed with you.
Angie smiles at his sweet words.
Craig (on the TV):
You´re like no one else and I for one hope, you never change, because I want to see that big smile and get a huge hug from you, every time I come home. Anyway, even though I´m obviously not there, that doesn´t mean you should get cheated out of you birthday song.
He picks up a guitar, that he had by his side.
Craig (on the TV):
You probably don´t remember, but when you turned three, I´d just started to play guitar and since it was your birthday, I saw the chance to play for someone for the first time. This was the song, I played for you and from what I remember, you couldn´t have loved it more. I still play all my songs just for you, even when you´re not here with me.
He starts playing "Isn´t She Lovely" by Stevie Wonder.
Manny:
How many girls do you think, get a personal message from a pop star on their birthday?
Angie:
Probably not many!
Jenny:
You´re so lucky! No one in my family knows how to play.
Craig (singing):
Isn't she lovely
Isn't she wonderful
Isn't she precious
Less than one minute old
I never thought through love we'd be
Making one as lovely as she
But isn't she lovely made from love
Angie smiles sadly to herself, as he continues the song. She clearly misses him a lot, the sweet little thing.
4. Int. Angie´s Room. Morning.
Angie is ready to go to school, but just before she leaves, she takes some money (60 dollars or so) from a drawer and puts it in her pocket, before closing it again and leaving her room. There´s a note on her desk that reads "Don´t worry. I´ll be home sometime tomorrow".
5. Int. Living Room. Morning.
Angie comes downstairs and is playing it cool.
Joey:
Are you ready to roll?
Angie:
Ready as I´ll ever be!
She smiles innocently at him.
6. Int. Car. Morning.
Angie is on the passenger side, while Joey is driving.
Angie:
Daddy, you would tell me, if there was anything wrong with me, wouldn´t you?
Joey:
Why would you think, there´s something wrong with you?
Angie:
Because I´m immature. Or at least, that´s what some of the girls say.
Joey:
They said the same about me, when I was your age.
Angie:
Didn´t it bother you?
Joey:
It did sometimes. I´ll never forget, when my best friend told me, that he didn´t want to hang out anymore, because he stopped liking the things, I did. It stung, but I got over it and found new friends.
Angie:
Some of the girls, I used to play with, are the same. Now they look at me, like I´m some weirdo. I don´t even talk to them anymore.
Joey:
I´m sorry, Ange. That´s how life is, we find friends and lose them and replace them with other friends. Eventually we make our way to those friends, that become our friends for life. Like I have in uncle Archie and your mom does in aunt Christine.
Angie:
You´re saying, that I have nothing to worry over?
Joey:
If anyone doesn´t like you, then it´s them, there´s something wrong with! As far as I can see, there´s nothing not to love about you, Honey.
She smiles at him, but still looks a little in doubt.
7. Ext. School Yard. Day
The school yard at Angie´s school is full of action everywhere, as you could probably imagine. Angie and Jenny are talking, when a soccer ball comes rolling over to them. She kicks it back to the players.
Boy:
Why aren´t you playing?
Angie:
Tomorrow maybe!
The game continues and Jenny and Angie sit down to watch.
Jenny:
You won´t be here tomorrow, remember?
Angie:
Quiet! If a teacher hears, then they´ll call my parents!
Jenny:
Which they probably should! It´s a terrible idea!
Angie:
I won´t even be gone for a day and for most of it, I´ll be with my older brother. I won´t get hurt.
Jenny:
Does he even know, that you´re coming?
Angie:
If I told him, then we would tell my dad.
Jenny:
I get that you miss him, but taking off like this is crazy!
Angie:
I have it all figured out and plenty of money for the train home, if it´s a bust. We´re talking about a train ride! I´ve done it dozens of times with Caitlin.
Jenny:
Not on your own. I really think, you need to re-consider.
Angie:
Sorry, Jenny. My mind is made up.
Angie looks determined, but Jenny is clearly worried about her getting hurt.
8. Int. Toronto Train Station. Day.
Angie is in the crowded train station and is looking over the board of departures. She then walks over to the ticket window, where a middle aged woman is working.
Angie:
A ticket to Hamilton, please.
Teller:
One to Hamilton. How old are you?
Angie:
I turned ten yesterday.
Teller:
Congratulations. One child ticket to Hamilton is 18.40.
Angie carefully counts the money and pays her in a bunch of crumbled one and five dollar bills, along with the exact change. The teller hands her the ticket.
Angie:
Thanks.
Teller:
Is someone there to pick you up? You´re a little young to be travelling on your own.
Angie:
My older brother is picking me up.
Teller:
Then have a pleasant journey, miss.
Angie:
That´s the first time anyone´s called me that!
They smile at each other and she walks off to find her train.
9. Int. Joey and Caitlin´s House. Day.
Manny comes home from school to find Joey and Caitlin worrying.
Manny:
Hi, guys.
Joey:
Have you talked to Angie?
Manny:
Not since this morning.
Caitlin:
She hasn´t come home from school. Joey, what if she´s been kidnapped?
Joey:
It´s probably nothing as bad as that. Maybe she missed the bus or something.
Caitlin:
Even if she did, she should still be home by now!
Manny:
Have you talked to the police?
Joey:
They can´t declare her missing, until after 24 hours.
Manny:
You´re sure, she isn´t in her room and you didn´t notice her come home?
Caitlin:
Of course, we are! I would have heard.
Manny:
I´ll take a look, all the same.
Manny leaves them.
Caitlin:
She´s so trusting and innocent. What if ...
Joey:
You´ll drive yourself crazy, if you keep imagining the worst. She´ll probably come through that door in a minute with a funny story about, how she ended up being this late.
Caitlin:
How can you be this calm?
Joey:
She´s only been missing for a few hours. It´s not time to panic yet.
Manny comes back with the piece of paper, Angie left on her desk.
Manny:
Maybe it is. She´s gone on a joyride, it appears.
Manny hands the piece of paper to Joey and Caitlin.
Caitlin:
Where could she have gone off to?
Joey:
I have a pretty good idea, but let´s give her new friend, what was her name?
Manny:
Jenny?
Joey:
Let´s give her parents a call first. I´m fairly sure, that I´ll be right.
He looks confident, which helps Caitlin calm down a bit too.
10. Int. Train. Day.
Angie is sitting across from a friendly looking woman in her 50´s.
Angie:
Do you have kids?
Woman:
Four of them.
Angie:
That´s a lot! I´m an only child, but I have a half brother and there´s a girl, who lives with us, who´s like an older sister. Her and my half brother have a daughter and having her there, is like having a little sister.
Woman:
Aren´t you sort of the same then, even if you´re not actual siblings?
Angie:
I guess so. My brother doesn´t live with us anymore, so I´m travelling up to visit him.
Woman:
Is he your age?
Angie:
No, he´s almost a grown up.
Woman:
Foolish me! You said, that he has a child.
Angie:
That´s okay. My teachers don´t think I´m smart either.
The woman smiles to herself. It´s hard to not be taken with Angie!
Angie:
What were your kids like, when they were my age?
Woman:
Different as night and day!
Angie looks pleased.
Angie:
Really? I sometimes think that I´m different, because I´m not as mature as some of the kids, I go to school with.
Woman:
You´re much too young to worry about that!
Angie:
I can´t help it.
Woman:
Two of my children are girls, one is 28 now and the other is 22. The oldest one, when she was your age, was already behaving like a teenager and she would get mad at me, when I told her that there were things, she was too young for. The youngest one was the complete opposite. She didn´t start noticing boys until much later and she was happy with just enjoying being a kid.
Angie:
What do they do now?
Woman:
My oldest had her first child, when she was 18 and she hasn´t done much of anything else than raise them, I´m afraid. My youngest on the other hand, is free as a bird and lives her life, like she pleases. If I tell her to grow up, she tells me that the words "Grow Up" are swear words, when they´re put together.
Angie:
Shouldn´t she, if she´s 22?
Woman:
She learned to embrace, that part of her will stay childish for the rest of her life. I for one, only love her more for it. If you´re the same way, then you should thank your lucky stars, if you ask me.
Angie looks happy with her answer.
11. Ext. Emma´s House. Day.
Manny is handing Julia over to Emma.
Emma:
Don´t worry about us. We´ll have fun, won´t we, Julia?
Julia:
Mmm, mom.
Emma and Manny giggle.
Manny:
She´s still getting the whole speaking thing down! I´m your mom. This is Emma.
Emma:
Can you say my name? Emma.
Julia:
Emma!
Emma and Manny smile.
Manny:
I can see that you two are set, as far as entertainment goes. We´ll pick her up, when we get back.
Emma:
Angie actually took off to Hamilton on her own? Those kids!
Manny:
Apparently she felt the need, for an out of town adventure! Have fun.
Emma:
Oh, we will. Won´t we, Julia?
Julia:
Yes, Emma.
Emma looks delighted and brings Julia inside. Manny gets into the back seat of Joey´s Car.
12. Int. Car. Evening.
Joey is driving with Caitlin beside him and Manny in the back seat.
Joey:
We´ll need to have a long talk with her, about why you don´t just take off.
Caitlin:
I never would have dreamed of doing anything like this at her age.
Joey:
I would! She is her father´s daughter, there´s no doubt there!
Manny:
I just hope, that she´s safe and sound.
Joey:
I put my faith in her having a good head, on top of those small shoulders.
Caitlin:
Joey, I think we should have her checked out, when we get home.
Joey:
She´ll be fine! Craig said, that he would go to the train station, to pick her up.
Caitlin:
Not like that. I mean, get her tested by a psychologist.
Joey looks shocked at the suggestion.
Joey:
I can´t believe what I´m hearing!
Manny:
It isn´t traumatizing for her. JT was tested and he doesn´t have bad memories of it.
Caitlin:
I want to make sure, that everything is okay.
Joey:
No! I´m not putting her through that!
They drive on in silence.
13. Int. Hamilton Train Station. Evening.
Angie comes out of the train and waves goodbye to the woman, who waves back at her before leaving. She looks around, trying to form a plan and doesn´t see Craig coming up behind her.
Craig:
Ange, you know that I love to see you, but this wasn´t the best idea, you´ve ever had!
She turns around and is one big smile at the sight of him.
Angie:
I had to see you.
She gets a big hug hello from him.
14. Int. Backstage Area. Evening.
Angie is enjoying getting some time with her older brother, before he has to go on stage.
Angie:
Do you think, that I´m immature?
Craig:
I´m probably not the right one to ask. In my eyes, you´re my perfect little sister, who can do no wrong. I also don´t think, that there´s a nicer girl in all of Toronto than you.
Angie:
Other people seem to think so. There´s nothing wrong with me, is there?
Craig:
Of course there isn´t, Ange.
Angie:
I want to be normal, I just don´t know what normal is.
Craig:
No one does!
Angie looks relieved.
Craig:
If you ask a hundred people what their definition is, you´re likely to get a hundred different answers. You can´t say that any of those answers are right or wrong, because it´s a matter opinion. What matters is how you treat others and if you´re kind to them all the time, like you are, then there´s nothing to worry over!
Angie:
Thanks. That was exactly what I needed to hear!
Craig:
I´m glad, I could help.
They smile at each other, as Manny, Joey and Caitlin are let in by the doorman. They´re relieved to see Angie safe and sound. Joey gives her a huge hug.
Joey:
You gave us such a scare, Angie.
Angie:
So I hear. I didn´t mean to.
Caitlin:
You are so grounded, Missy!
Angie:
I figured. For how long?
Joey:
We´ll figure that out, when we get home.
Caitlin:
We´ll also need to have a long talk about the things, that could have happened to you!
Manny and Craig smile at each other.
Craig:
I didn´t know, you were coming. Where´s Julia?
Manny:
She´s being spoiled rotten by Emma. I can´t wait to see the show.
Chris sticks his head through the door.
Chris:
The family reunion will have to wait. You´re on in five.
Craig:
Thanks, buddy.
Chris leaves them again.
Craig:
Are you staying for the show?
Angie:
Can we?
Joey:
It would be foolish to drive back, without seeing it. What do you say. Caitlin?
Caitlin:
Alright, but we´re driving home right after the show. It´s still a school night.
Angie looks delighted.
15. Ext. School. Morning.
Angie and Jenny are walking together towards the school. Angie is very excited.
Angie:
He even dedicated a song to me! You have to come with me to see him, when he comes to Toronto!
Jenny:
Sure. I´ve never been to a concert.
Angie:
Neither had I until yesterday. When I grow up a get lots of money, I´m going to all the concerts I can!
Jenny:
How long are you grounded for?
Angie:
A month, but my dad talked my mom into letting me have friends over.
Jenny:
Your dad is cool. He´s not like mine, who never does anything fun!
Angie:
He is, but my mom is too in her own way. From what they tell me, I´m kind of the same, as he was at my age.
Jenny:
I guess, that means you´re gonna turn out cool!
Angie:
I guess, it does, doesn´t it?
Angie looks happy with being who she is.
CLOSING CREDITS
And so, everything worked out for the best for Angie. I could have taken the story in many different directions, but the basis/morale of the story was for her to find out, that as long as you´re a nice person, then there´s nothing wrong with being who you are, even if everyone else don´t always agree.
I promised you the real life story, so here goes. I was around ten, when we were out visiting my grand dad, who lived in a small village, 20 km or so, from where we lived. As always, I was pretty bored out there and when I found out that we´d missed the bus and would have to wait two hours for another one and it was a beautiful summer day, I made the drastic decision to walk home. I knew that it was just one road I had to follow for almost the entire way, so no problem, right? I told my mom and my uncle (who was also out visiting) and they just laughed it off, until they realized, that I´d actually gone! After this, they borrowed a pair of bicycles from a neighbor of my grand dad´s and set off after me. Of course they didn´t catch me, since I had a long head start on them. Problem was, that when I got home, I realized that I didn´t have the key, so I knocked on our neighbor´s door and hung out with them for half an hour or so, until my mom and uncle arrived to find a note on the door, that said where I was. My poor uncle hadn´t ridden a bicycle in years and having tried what that´s like when you have to go on a long ride, he has my absolute sympathies! My mom was more used to biking, but even she must have been pretty wrecked in the legs, by the end of it. I did get punished, as you might imagine and I didn´t get any pocket money for two months, since I had to pay my uncle´s taxi bill for the drive back to my grand father´s house. So there you go. That´s the tale of my very own version of the story. Have a good one, everyone!