WHAT IF - SEASON 2 EPISODE 39 - HUMAN NATURE PART 1
Disclaimer: I don´t own Degrassi or the characters from it.
1. Int. Classroom. Day.
The clock on the wall is very close to hitting four o´clock and the students, Marco most of all, are keeping a keen eye on it, as there´s under a minute left. Petrino is teaching the class.
Petrino:
Next week we´ll start re-capping the US Civil War. I suggest coming in ready to learn and listen. There is almost sure to be at least one question about it on your final exam.
The attendance bell rings and the students are quick to get out of there, as fast as possible.
2. Int. Hallway. Day.
Marco and Ellie leave the classroom with the rest of the class.
Marco:
That last half hour felt like, it would never end!
Ellie:
Next week should be more interesting. Say what you want about the US civil war, but there´s a ton of interesting aspects to it.
Marco:
Like what? One side fought on the side of racism and one didn´t.
Ellie:
It´s not that simple.
Marco:
It is to me. Anyway, I have to get through tomorrow first, before I start worrying about it.
Ellie:
It´s just a wedding. You´ll survive.
Marco:
It´s once again a whole day of me lying to my entire family and having to make up stories to pretend, that I´m straight. I´m sick of it!
Ellie:
You know, that there´s only one way out of it.
Marco:
I´ve tried a hundred times to tell my dad and every time, I choke up completely. Just the thought of how disappointed he´ll be in me, is almost too much to take.
Ellie:
You won´t know, until you tell him.
Marco:
It´s easier said than done. I´ll be wishing, that I was wasting time on the couch with you the entire time.
Ellie:
You can still have fun with your date.
Paige comes running up to them and puts her arm around Marco.
Paige:
When are you picking me up tomorrow, date?
Marco clearly isn´t looking forward to it.
OPENING CREDITS
3. Ext. Wedding Chapel. Day.
Marco and Paige are at the wedding of Marco´s five year older cousin Roberto, who looks very happy to have married his pretty young bride Veronica. Marco and Paige wave at them with Marco´s parents, as they get into their car with "Just Married" written on the side and drive off.
Marco:
I give them three years.
Paige:
Don´t be such a cynic! Love can conquer everything.
Marco´s Dad:
Listen to this clever girl, Marco. Before you know it, it´ll be your turn.
Marco´s Mom:
You´re just a late bloomer, when it comes to girls.
Marco:
I have had one girlfriend.
Marco´s Dad:
Paige, correct me if I´m wrong. I got more the feeling that they were more like friends, who happened to be a boy and a girl, than girl and boyfriend.
Marco gets annoyed that this is being brought up again.
Paige:
That´s not really for me to say, mister Del Rossi.
Marco´s Dad:
Anyway, that was almost two years ago. Two years and you haven´t been able to find one girl, you want to go on a date with?
Marco:
I don´t want to date just anyone!
Marco´s Mom:
Let him take it at his own pace! I´m glad, that I don´t have to worry about him bringing some girl, who´s a bad influence on him, into our lives.
Marco´s Dad:
You just want him to be your little innocent boy forever!
Marco rolls his eyes, while the others laugh. He obviously can´t wait to get this conversation over with.
Paige:
Don´t worry, mrs. Del Rossi. My dad is exactly the same, when it comes to me!
Marco:
Can we drop this? I´ll figure it out in my own time.
Marco´s Dad:
Don´t wait too long. Your mother is expecting to have grandchildren, before you´re 30!
He laughs, as Marco tries to smile it off. Paige can see how much it´s bothering him, though.
4. Int. The Dot. Evening.
Marco and Paige are having a soda after the wedding and a chat with Spinner and Jane to go along with it. Marco still isn´t looking too pleased.
Jane:
Did they have a band or a DJ?
Paige:
They had a band and they were alright, I guess. Of course, I´m blessed with two left feet, compared to this guy.
She points at Marco with her thumb.
Spinner:
Is it racist to say that it´s good for you that you´re latino, since you´re generally better dancers than us pale faces, who are devoid of all rhythm?
He gets a small smile out of Marco.
Marco:
I would call it borderline, but I know you´re not a racist, Spin. It´s becoming harder to hide all the time.
Paige:
I have no idea how you do it. We had to explain to at least twenty people today, why we aren´t a couple. His grandmother actually congratulated us on a beautiful wedding!
Jane:
How did you get out of that one?
Marco:
I´ve become a master at changing the subject. You don´t know how lucky you are, that you don´t have to deal with this.
Terri comes in and looks flustered.
Terri:
Hi, guys. Can you make me a large fries to go, Spinner?
Jane:
I´ll get on it. See, if I can satisfy the master of fry-making this time!
She leaves them and gets to work. Terri has to gather herself.
Paige:
What´s the matter, Hon?
Terri:
What would you do, if you think that a child is a victim of abuse?
They look worried and Paige gives Terri a small hug to comfort her.
Spinner:
Who´s the kid?
Terri:
My little sister from the big sister programme.
Marco:
Why do you think, she´s being abused?
Terri:
We had a playdate today and she had black marks on her back, that looked like she´d been hit. When I asked her how it happened, she told me that she´d fallen, but it´s far from the first time. I feel so bad for her, the poor kid!
Marco:
If you have these suspicions, you have to tell someone.
Spinner:
Maybe the people behind the programme can help.
Paige:
I´m sure that it won´t be the first time, they´ve seen it, Hon.
Terri looks resolved to do something about it
5. Int. Marco´s Parent´s House. Evening.
Marco comes home after hanging out with his friends and is met in the hallway by his mom, who´s on her way out.
Marco´s Mom:
Hi, Marco. How was your evening?
Marco:
Pretty good. Where are you going at this hour?
Marco´s Mom:
Down to get the cornerstore to buy a few things, your father forgot to buy. He´s getting so forgetful these days.
Marco:
It comes with getting older, I guess.
Marco´s Mom:
Speaking of getting older, I´m sorry about earlier. It isn´t our place, to try to force you into finding a girlfriend. You´ll find one in your own time, when you´re ready.
Marco sees the chance to get it out to her.
Marco:
Mom, it´s not just that. Haven´t you wondered, why I spend most of the time hanging out with Paige?
Marco´s Mom:
She´s your friend, right? I think it´s refreshing, that a boy and a girl can be best friends, without it having to be more than that. When I was your age, everyone would have been thinking, that you were secretly dating.
Marco:
It´s more than that. With her, I can be myself, because we already know everything about each other. I don´t have to pretend to be someone, I´m not.
Marco´s Mom:
When do you feel like, you have to be someone you´re not?
Marco:
Nearly all of the time. In school, around our family, even around you and dad. Mom, I don´t think, I´ll ever find a girlfriend. In fact, I´m sure of it.
His dad comes out and interrupts them, to Marco´s frustration.
Marco´s Dad:
Nonsense, Marco! You just haven´t met the right girl yet. When you do, you´ll look back at what you said and laugh.
Marco:
I doubt it.
Marco´s Dad:
A good looking and nice boy like you, won´t be single forever. Can you buy some cheese as well? We´re almost out.
Marco´s Mom:
I´ll add it to the list. I won´t be long.
She leaves them and Marco´s dad puts his arm around his son.
Marco´s Dad:
There´s no shame in it. To some guys, flirting with girls comes naturally and to other guys, it seems like the hardest thing in the world. Maybe you could get Paige to give you some pointers.
Marco gives it up for now and smiles at him.
Marco:
Maybe I will.
Marco´s Dad:
Should you two decide one day, to become more than friends, she´ll be a welcome addition to our family. Your mom already loves her.
Marco:
I kind of got that feeling too.
Marco´s Dad:
Not that I don´t, mind you! We´re both glad, that you have someone like her in your life. Do you want to watch some TV with your old man?
Marco:
Sure, dad.
Marco hides his frustration and they head into the living room.
6. Ext. Degrassi. Morning.
Marco and Paige are walking towards the school.
Marco:
How in the world am I gonna tell them? It would be easier to solve a Rubik´s Cube with my eyes closed and one hand tied behind my back!
Paige:
If you could do that, you´d be set career wise!
Marco:
How did your brother do it?
Paige:
He told me first, we told mom together and finally, we all told dad.
Marco:
How did they react?
Paige:
Dad was the most cool about it, surprisingly enough. Mom was the one, who took the longest to accept it. You´ll never know, who reacts which way, until you get it out in the open.
Marco:
Can you help me with telling them? They already love you and it would be easier not to be alone with it.
Paige smiles widely.
Paige:
Aww! I love them too! Of course, I´ll help you.
Marco looks pleased.
7. Int. Computer Lab. Day.
Terri is working on an e-mail, with Spinner sitting next to her. She keeps erasing, what she´s written, which he notices.
Spinner:
You´ll never finish it that way. Is it about the girl from the program?
Terri:
Maybe I should tell the agency in person. Part of me would rather forget it, but I can´t do nothing either.
Spinner smiles to himself, which she notices and smiles back at him.
Terri:
What?
Spinner:
You. I´m so gonna miss you next year!
Terri:
I´ll still be right here in Toronto, only I´ll be at TU. I´ll still come down to the Dot, to say hi to you every day.
Spinner looks pleased.
Spinner:
You promise?
Terri:
Where else am I gonna get the best fries in the world, cooked by the master himself?
Spinner´s smile fades.
Spinner:
That´s me. The fry master general!
Terri:
I didn´t mean it like that.
Spinner:
I know. It just sucks to know that everyone else will be off to some grand future, while I´ll probably be stuck there, until they wheel my sorry bones off to retirement.
Terri:
Have you thought about learning to cook more than just fast food?
The subject looks to cheer him up a little, to her delight.
Spinner:
I love to cook, it´s not that. But going to culinary school requires intelligence, something I´m sadly short on, as you might have noticed.
Terri:
I´ve heard you say that, since we became friends all those years ago. Not being book smart isn´t the same as being dumb.
She gives up trying to write her e-mail.
Terri:
I can´t do this over something as impersonal as an e-mail.
Spinner:
It´s my day off, if you want me to go down there with you.
Terri looks delighted.
Terri:
That would be awesome. Thanks.
Spinner:
No sweat.
Snake comes into the classroom and they prepare to start the day´s lesson.
Snake:
Quiet down, everyone. I know that you´re all dying to learn more about binary coding, but it´s still a classroom!
Terri and Spinner smile at each other, which Paige notices and smiles too.
8. Ext. Hallway. Day.
Terri and the others leave the classroom. Paige is waiting for her and smiles at her.
Paige:
What was that I saw with you and Spinner?
Terri plays it off with a small smile, as they head off to the next class.
Terri:
He´s only being a friend and helping me with my problem.
Paige:
That´s nice of him.
Terri:
In return, I can help him with his self esteem issues. I feel so bad for him.
Paige:
It wasn´t that long ago, where it was the other way round. I remember when you used to refer to yourself as a fat cow all the time. I´m glad, those days are over.
Terri:
Me too.
Paige:
For what it´s worth, I was always jealous of how pretty you were, even when you did pack on a few extra pounds. When me and Spinner were together, we often talked about how great it would be, if you could only get a small dose of self esteem. He´s as proud of you as I am, if not more, with how you´ve turned out.
Terri looks pleased.
Terri:
Really?
Paige:
Hon, you´re like the ugly duckling, who had to find out, that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Now with Spinner being single ...
Terri:
I´m sure, he´s not interested in me that way!
Paige:
Why wouldn´t he be? The two of you have always had great chemistry and with no little bitch, like I was, to stand in your way, who knows what can happen? All I´m saying is, where´s the harm in giving it a try?
Terri doesn´t look dismissive of it at all.
9. Ext. Degrassi. Day.
Marco and Paige are doing a run through with Ashley and Ellie as their test subjects.
Marco:
Mom, dad. I have something, I have to tell you and it might not be easy to hear.
Ellie:
Why, whatever would that be, son?
Ashley:
You can tell us anything.
Marco:
I don´t get turned on by girls. I get turned on by guys. I´m what you would call gay or homosexual.
Ellie:
Are you sure?
Marco:
You really think, they´ll ask that?
Paige:
We have to be prepared for anything.
Marco:
Yes, I´m sure. I´ve known for a while now.
Paige:
My brother is gay too. He´s doing alright with it and our parents accept him for who he is. It doesn´t mean, there´s anything wrong with him.
Marco:
It would mean a lot to me to have your acceptance, but I can´t keep hiding who I am from you. It isn´t fair on me and it isn´t fair on you either.
Ellie gives him a hug.
Ellie:
I love you, my gay son!
The others laugh.
Marco:
Thanks, but I seriously doubt, that it´ll go exactly that way!
Ashley:
This is just a giant step, that you have to take on your way to a happy life. If my parents can accept it, so can yours.
Paige:
Push comes to shove, we´ll have a sexless proforma marriage. I wouldn´t be too different from all of the other women in my family!
Marco looks a bit more ready for it now.
10. Int. Big Sister/Big Brother Agency. Day.
Terri is talking to a man from the program.
Man:
You realize, that these are serious accusations? We´re bound by law to inform child services.
Terri:
I could be wrong. I mean, kids get bruises all the time, don´t they?
Man:
You said, that it isn´t the first time, you´ve seen it. How many times are we talking about?
Terri:
Five, six times.
Man:
I would call it probable cause for concern. You´re doing the right thing, Terri.
Terri:
What now?
Man:
We inform child services and they´ll look into it. I´ll personally make sure, to keep you informed of what developments there are.
Terri nods in understanding.
11. Int. Foyer. Day.
Terri comes out from the office and meets up with Spinner.
Spinner:
That was quick.
Terri:
Turns out, it doesn´t take long to split up a family.
Spinner:
If they are beating their daughter, something has to be done to stop it. It could haunt that poor girl for the rest of her life.
Terri:
It isn´t that easy. If she´s taken away from them, she´ll most likely be put in a group home. I´ve heard more than my share of horror stories about those places.
Spinner:
I´m sure, they´re nothing but stories.
She nods, but still looks in doubt. He gets an idea.
Spinner:
Look, you need to get your mind off this, or it´ll drive you mad.
Terri:
Any ideas?
Spinner:
How does an evening of chilling out with your old buddy here sound? We´ll make some nice dinner, watch a dumb movie, that you don´t have to think too hard about and pretend like there´s no problems in the world and everyone is happy all the time.
He gets a smile out of her.
Terri:
That would be nice.
Spinner:
I´ll have you smiling so much, that your jaw will be sore tomorrow! Leave it to me.
She nods and they leave together.
12. Ext. Marco Parent´s House. Day.
Marco and Paige come up to his house and he takes a deep breath for courage.
Marco:
Maybe we should wait for another day.
Paige:
If you keep saying that, you´ll never get it out.
Marco:
I know. Maybe we should try that proforma marriage idea!
Paige gives him a comforting smile.
Paige:
Not that you´re not a total catch, but do you really want to hide who you are from them forever?
Marco:
I guess not.
Paige takes his hand, so he doesn´t feel like he´s alone in it.
Paige:
No matter what happens, you´ll always have me as your friend. Are you ready?
Marco:
Ready as I´ll ever be, I suppose.
She opens the door for them.
Paige:
Marco del Rossi, take the first step into the rest of your life!
They head inside.
13. Int. Living Room. Day.
Marco and Paige come in, still holding hands. His parents are doing a crossword puzzle together.
Marco´s Dad:
The answer to "Mobile Home" is "Caravan".
Marco´s Mom:
Which means that eight down is "Handheld".
He writes it down, as Marco´s mom looks up at them and smiles.
Marco´s Mom:
Speaking of ...
Marco´s dad looks up and looks pleased too.
Marco´s Dad:
Hello, you two. Is there something, you need to tell us?
Marco:
There is, but it´s not what you think, it is.
Marco´s Mom:
You know, you can tell us anything.
He clutches Paige´s hand hard, to find the courage.
Marco:
I´m gay.
His mom looks shocked, but his dad laughs it off.
Marco´s Dad:
Very funny, Marco. I know that you´re not one of ... those men.
Marco:
I am, dad. I´ve known for a while now.
His dad clearly doesn´t know how to take the news, to Marco´s disappointment. Paige looks proud of him though, for finally telling them.
14. Int. Spinner´s Room. Evening.
Terri and Spinner are watching "The Wedding Singer" and enjoying themselves. She holds her stomach.
Terri:
If I ate like that every day, I´d be up to two hundred pounds in a year!
Spinner:
Was it that good?
Terri:
That was the best food, I´ve perhaps ever had! You have a boat load of talent, when it comes to cooking.
He looks pleased.
Spinner:
I´m glad, you liked it.
Terri:
It´s time for my all time favorite scene!
Spinner:
This one?
Terri:
Just watch it and you´ll know why!
We cut to the TV, where Billy Idol knocks out Drew Barrymore´s A-hole boyfriend.
Spinner (off screen):
He so deserved that!
Terri (off screen):
Shh!
Adam Sandler comes into where Drew Barrymore is sitting, playing his acoustic guitar for her.
Adam Sandler (in the movie):
I wanna make you smile, whenever you're sad
Carry you around, when your arthritis is bad
All I wanna do, is grow old with you
I'll get your medicine, when your tummy aches
Build you a fire, if the furnace breaks
Oh it could be so nice, growing old with you
We cut back to Terri and Spinner and she sings along with it for him.
Terri (singing):
I'll miss you
Kiss you
Give you my coat when you are cold
Need you
Feed you
Even let ya hold the remote control
They make deep eye contact and clearly have a moment.
Spinner:
That´s what you call true love.
Terri:
It´s just a silly romantic comedy.
Spinner:
I wouldn´t mind it, you know?
Terri:
Mind what?
Spinner:
Growing old with you. I can certainly think of much worse ways, to spend my old age.
She smiles shyly back at him.
Terri:
Do you mean it?
Spinner:
I wouldn´t say it, if I didn´t. With my luck, I´ll end up like Steve Buscemi in this movie in stead.
Terri:
I don´t think so.
They move in closer and are about to kiss, when there´s a knock on the door.
Spinner´s Mom (off screen):
Jimmy´s on the phone for you.
He can´t help looking a little annoyed.
Spinner:
I´ll be there in a sec!
Terri:
I should be getting home. The movie is almost over, anyway.
Spinner:
Not until we do one last thing.
He moves in closer to her and they kiss, like it´s been a very long time coming for them.
15. Ext. Spinner´s Mom´s House. Evening.
Terri comes out and is one big smile. She looks back at his mom´s house one last time, before walking up the street and humming the song to herself.
16. Int. Marco´s Room. Evening.
Marco is lying on his bed, trying to read a book, but is having trouble concentrating on it. His mom knocks gently on the door and comes in.
Marco:
How is he?
Marco´s Mom:
I believe, it´s called the denial stage. More importantly, how are you doing?
She sits down on the edge of his bed.
Marco:
Okay, I guess. It felt good, to finally tell you the truth.
Marco´s Mom:
I wish, we lived in a world, where you wouldn´t have felt the need to hide it.
Marco:
Are we okay?
Marco´s mom smiles comfortingly at him.
Marco´s Mom:
You´ll always be our son and we´ll never stop loving you, whether you marry someone named Gilda or Gil. Your dad will come to terms with it too, but you have to give him time. This is something very foreign to him.
Marco:
Do you think, things between us will be the same again?
Marco´s Mom:
I have to keep up hope, that it will.
Marco:
Same here.
Marco looks sad, when he ponders the possible consequences.
CLOSING CREDITS