WHAT IF? - SEASON 3 EPISODE 1 - LAND OF HOPES AND DREAMS
Author´s Note: With it being the beginning of a new season, I´m throwing another "What If" into the mix. This time it´s "What if Holly J had never gone to Lakehurst"? This season the episodes will be named after songs from one of my all-time favorite artists, New Jersey´s own Bruce Springsteen. I hope that you´ll enjoy the episode and as always, your comments and reviews are very appreciated.
1. Int. Hallway. Evening.
Craig is leading Joey down a dirty old hallway in a building that looks like it should have been torn down years ago.
Craig:
It´s right down here. Room 204.
Joey:
People actually live here, you say?
Craig:
It´s not that bad. It´s a step up from my place in Montreal.
Joey:
Boy, am I glad that I didn´t come to visit you there!
They come to a door and Craig takes out some keys. He unlocks it and they step inside.
2. Int. Craig´s Room. Evening.
Craig turns the light on and him and Joey step inside. He closes the door after them, as Joey looks around at what little there is to look at.
Joey:
How much are they charging for rent here again?
Craig:
Only 150.
Joey:
It´s still 10 bucks per square foot!
Craig:
Will you stop being so negative? This is where Craig Manning starts the rebuild of his life!
They hear a train passing by quite close to them. It´s pretty loud.
Joey:
What was that?
Craig:
The train passes by a few hundred feet from here. I´ll get used to it.
Joey:
Craig, we can figure things out with JT and Manny.
Craig:
Let´s get real, Joey. You have a perfect situation at the house right now. The worst thing I could do is move back and disturb it. Manny has moved on with her life and I´m fine with it, but this is the only way I can move on with mine.
Joey:
If you say so.
Craig:
I have a five part plan, that can´t fail. A - Get back into things at school- B - Find a new band. C- Find a Job. D - Find a girlfriend and finally E, fall in love with her and live happily ever after. Only E is set, as far as the order I do them in.
Joey smiles to himself.
Joey:
You really think, it´s gonna be that easy?
Craig:
It can be, if I want it to.
He looks more convinced, than Joey is.
OPENING CREDITS
2. Ext. Degrassi. Morning.
Students are meeting up for the first time in the school year and there´s mostly smiles all around. One girl, who looks a little out of source is a very well dressed Holly J, who looks very small in the large crowd. She passes by Chantay, Mia and Manny, who are talking.
Chantay:
It´s gonna be totally boss having you back on the squad, Manny!
Mia:
You can be captain, if you want. After all, you are the senior member.
Manny:
Paige wanted you to be captain and that´s the way, it´s gonna stay.
Holly J smiles slightly to herself, as she overhears them.
Holly J:
We´ll see about that.
She heads towards the school.
3. Int. Hatzilakos´ Office. Morning.
Holly J is talking to the principal.
Hatzilakos:
I want you to see this as a chance for a new start, Holly. I ...
Holly J:
Sorry to interrupt you, but I´ve always been called Holly J. There´s three Hollies in my family, so we use our first initial as well. You were saying?
Hatzilakos:
Holly J, I´m being serious. You´re coming in with one of the biggest wrap sheets I remember seeing for someone your age.
Holly J:
To be fair, most of those were in grade school. I had some rage issues, that I´ve worked through.
Hatzilakos looks over her record.
Hatzilakos:
You were perfectly calm, when you snuck up behind that girl and cut her hair off?
Holly J tries to play it cool.
Holly J:
You don´t know the full story. She brought it on herself.
Hatzilakos:
What about the girl you fat shamed, until she attempted suicide?
Holly J:
I wasn´t alone in that ...
Hatzilakos:
But you were the ring leader, weren´t you?
Holly J:
I guess so. For what it´s worth, I felt really bad about it and my parents grounded me for two months, so it´s not like I didn´t get punished.
Hatzilakos:
You´ve already been expelled from two schools, isn´t that right?
Hatzilakos´ line of questioning is starting to get to Holly J.
Holly J:
That´s true.
Hatzilakos:
What I want to see from you is a desire to improve. Study hard, involve yourself in school projects and most importantly, stay out of trouble!
Holly J:
I´ll try my best, I promise.
Holly J tries her best to look sincere.
4. Int. Hallway. Morning.
Craig and Sean have lockers right across from each other. They´re getting ready to open them, but neither are looking forward to it.
Sean:
On 3. 1, 2, 3.
They open their lockers simultaneously and both of them are taken aback by the smells, that hit them.
Craig:
Mine smells like old gym socks!
Sean:
Mine smells like someone left a ham sandwich in there!
Craig:
I can´t take it anymore.
He closes his locker and takes a whiff of fresher air.
Sean:
I´m letting mine air out.
Craig:
Good plan. At least we got lockers close to one another. You´re the only friend, I have left here.
Sean:
You´ll make new friends, don´t worry. You could join a club, that´s a way to make friends or so I hear. Not that I´ve ever joined one myself ...
Craig:
In that case, don´t you think, it´s time to? Tell you what, I´ll join a club, if you join it with me. As long as it isn´t sports.
Sean:
Or an academic club. I think enough already.
Craig:
What if I come up with a suggestion and you come up with one? Whichever sounds best to both of us, is the one we join.
Sean:
I can´t believe that I´m actually joining a club!
The two of them fist bump on it.
5. Int. Classroom. Morning.
Craig and Sean are talking before class, when JT and Manny come in, both of them all smiles. Craig is at first glad to see Manny this happy.
Craig:
Aww, look at her! Isn´t that the most adorable thing you´ve seen all day?
Sean:
Not many guys would feel that way about seeing their ex with her new guy!
Craig:
It´s been months and I´ve moved past it. My dream girl is out there. I just have to find her.
His face freezes though, when he sees that Manny is showing off what looks a lot like an engagement ring to Emma.
Sean:
I guess that someone has big news this morning!
Craig:
She´s getting married to that little clown?
Sean:
What happened to "Oh, I´m so happy for her!"?
Craig:
I didn´t think she was actually gonna marry him!
Craig´s good mood is already ruined and he sulks to himself, as Raditch comes in. Both Craig and Sean look surprised to see him.
6. Int. Classroom. Morning.
The Sophomore class is having their first lesson of the school year and miss Oh is in charge of the class.
Miss Oh:
As you´ve probably noticed, we have several new students with us this year. Why don´t we give them a chance to introduce themselves? Who´s first?
Sav Bhandari, who´s sitting next to Anya McPherson, raises his hand.
Sav:
I´ll go first, if no one else wants to.
Miss Oh:
Okay. Sav, was it?
Sav:
Yes.
Sav stands up and tries to look confident.
Sav:
My full name is Savtaj, but everyone´s called me Sav, since I was a kid. I have a little sister named Alli, who´s in Junior High and will be starting here soon. What else? I play guitar and I don´t know how good I am at it yet, but I´m trying my best to learn.
Miss Oh:
Which school did you transfer from?
Sav:
Lakehurst, but I didn´t really like it there. The only thing I liked about it was Anya.
He smiles at Anya, who blushes a little. Holly J rolls her eyes at how fluffy duffy they are.
Miss Oh:
Which we could use to segway into you, Anya.
Sav sits back down and Anya stands up.
Anya:
I don´t really know what to say. I´m not really good at anything, but there´s plenty of things I´m bad at, that´s for sure!
She gets a small laugh from the rest of the class.
Anya:
I´m just very normal for a girl my age. I like hanging out with my friends, watching "Gilmore Girls" with my mom and wasting far too much time watching on-line videos of cats and dogs. I´d like to become a vet, when I grow up.
Miss Oh:
Let´s see if we can´t make that happen, shall we?
Anya sits down again.
Miss Oh:
Anyone else?
Holly J half reluctantly stands up.
Holly J:
I´m Holly Jeanette Sinclair, better known as Holly J to everyone I know. I transferred here from Western.
Miss Oh looks suspicious.
Miss Oh:
I had a Heather Sinclair last year. Any relation?
Holly J:
She´s my cousin.
Miss Oh:
Oh.
Holly J sees that the Sinclair family legacy has already preceded her and is working against her.
Miss Oh:
What can you tell us about yourself?
Holly J:
I´m smarter than most people, which my 180 IQ proves. At my old school there were some who didn´t like it and became jealous, but the way I see it, that´s their problem.
Miss Oh:
You´re not lacking in the self esteem department!
Holly J:
If I don´t believe in myself, who will?
Sav and Anya look at each other, not sure what to make of this new girl.
7. Int. Hallway. Day.
Holly J is looking into her locker, which is far below her usual standards. She puts her books on the shelf and it´s enough to dislodge a very dried out piece of gum, that falls down and hits the bottom. She makes a face at it.
Holly J:
Eww! Eww!
She leans down to pick it up and almost gags, when she touches it. She gets over it though and throws it in the bin. A shy looking Anya comes over to her.
Anya:
Your locker isn´t anything to write home about either, huh?
Holly J:
They have nicer ones in a concentration camp!
Anya giggles a little.
Anya:
That´s funny.
Holly J:
I´m glad, I could amuse you, ye of little intelligence!
Anya looks confused, not sure if she was just insulted or not.
Anya:
What does that mean?
Holly J:
Anya, was it?
Anya nods.
Holly J:
Don´t take this personally, but the whole dumb and cute bit, it doesn´t work for me. While I´m sure your little boyfriend loves it ...
Anya:
He´s just my friend.
Holly J:
I´ll believe that, when they put a model in H&M on the cover of Elle!
Anya:
Why not? I love H&M.
Holly J:
Why wouldn´t you, when it´s just like you? Boring and the same as what everyone else is wearing! No offense, but if I start out by lowering myself to your level, I´ll never be accepted by the cool crowd. You understand, don´t you?
Holly J locks her locker and heads off to class, while Anya tries to take in what an absolute bitch, she just talked to!
8. Ext. Degrassi. Day.
Manny and Emma are out enjoying the sun on their break and Manny is the belle of the ball among the girls, she knows and all of them want to see the ring. Darcy and Jane are no different. Craig comes out from the school and sees them talking.
Jane:
Simple, yet elegant. Sort of like you!
Emma:
You should have seen the big hunk of a ring, he wanted to get her, until I talked him into giving her this one in stead.
Darcy:
How many carats is it?
Manny:
That doesn´t matter! It´s beautiful and I love it. It also doesn´t hurt, that it´s 24 carat gold.
Jane and Darcy look happy for her.
Jane:
Go, JT! Moving his show to a bigger network over the summer must have done his wallet good.
Emma:
Finally good things are happening to good people and they don´t come better than you and JT.
She gives Manny a small side hug, as Craig comes down to them.
Darcy:
How lucky is your little girl to have both JT and Craig as her dads and have them both close?
Jane:
She could end up being the one girl in her class, who doesn´t have daddy issues!
Craig:
Did I hear my name mentioned? Congratulations, Manny.
Manny:
I probably should have told you in private, so you wouldn´t have to find out that way.
Emma:
Girls, have you seen the new vending machines?
Darcy:
I thought, that was just a rumor!
Jane:
We have to check them out immediately!
Emma, Darcy and Jane leave them. Craig sits down next to her and it´s kind of awkward between them.
Manny:
He only asked last night. I thought I was getting a back to school gift like a new backpack or something, but lo and behold!
Craig:
I guess this means, you´re not breaking up anytime soon.
He tries to hide his disappointment from her by looking at the ground, but she can tell.
Manny:
Craig, he´s the one. You´ll find yours too someday.
Craig:
Don´t you get it? You were the one for me! Before I messed it all up by taking you for granted.
She looks at him with sympathy.
Manny:
She is out there and she´s probably just as worried as you, that she won´t find someone. Chances are that you´ll meet her, when you least expect it.
Craig:
Could you give me a hint, as to when that will be?
They smile sadly at each other.
9. Int. Hallway. Day.
Craig is walking to class, when he´s spotted by Holly J, whose mouth drops at the sight of him. She mouths "Oh, my god!" to herself, as he comes closer to her. He´s almost passed her, when she works up the nerve to talk to him.
Holly J:
You´re Craig Manning, aren´t you?
He stops to talk to her, making her smile.
Craig:
Who wants to know?
Holly J:
I´m Holly J. I saw you, when you opened for Barenaked Ladies.
Craig:
What did you think?
Holly J:
Oh, you totally blew them off stage!
She gets a small smile out of him.
Craig:
That´s nice of you to say, even if we both know that it isn´t true.
Holly J:
My cousin thought so too, she was there with me. Do you go here, or ...
Craig:
Yeah, I do. Look, it was nice meeting you Holly, but I gotta get to class.
Holly J:
Of course, you do! You wouldn´t want to be late on your first day, do you?
Craig:
I´ll see you around. Are you coming to the Dot after school?
She looks pleased, that he asked her.
Holly J:
I wasn´t planning to, but plans can change, can´t they?
Craig:
Cool. Maybe I´ll see you there.
He heads up the hallway, as she watches him leave.
Holly J (to herself):
Not even half way through the first day and already you´re dating the hottest guy in school!
She looks happy with herself, as she heads off to class.
10. Int. Classroom. Day.
It´s science class and Craig and Sean are working together, which means it´s basically like dumb and dumber trying to figure it out. Sean is holding two vials of liquids in front of him and looks at them suspiciously. One is light green and the other is brownish.
Sean:
I don´t know. The color in these look way off compared to what the teacher showed us!
Craig:
Just pour them in. What´s the worst that can happen?
Sean:
That they have to evacuate the entire school because of us?
Craig:
It´s the same as when you meet a new girl, for example. You can play it safe and just say hello to start off with or you can try to get to know her.
Sean eyes him and smiles to himself.
Sean:
That didn´t take long! Who is she?
Craig:
No one, just a fan that I ran into in the hallway. She´s pretty damn cute, though.
Sean:
And how old is she?
Craig:
My guess is that she´s a Sophomore or a Junior.
Sean:
You have to find out which it is, before you try something.
Craig:
So what, if she is a Sophomore? She could be right on the limit.
Sean:
If she´s a Junior, you´re okay. Seniors dating Juniors happens all the time and it´s seen as acceptable. Seniors dating Sophomores on the other hand is something different. You´ll be seen as robbing the cradle.
Craig grabs the vials from Sean.
Craig:
It´s gonna happen with her, just like with this experiment. Nothing bad will happen!
He pours the two liquids into the beaker and it soon starts to smoke from there, making Craig and Sean cough, as the teacher rushes to.
Teacher:
Pour that out immediately. Open the windows!
Sean pours it out and turns on the tap to help it wash out faster. Craig looks apologetic.
11. Int. Gymnasium. Day.
Holly J has shown up for Spirit Squad orientation, led by Manny and Mia. A lot more girls have shown up, than there´s room for in the squad, but Holly J looks undeterred.
Mia:
For all you new hopefuls, know that we have a very high standard on this team. No one is allowed in, unless we´re sure that you can hack it.
Manny:
Sadly, this means that a lot of you will be disappointed, when we post the final roster. To you unlucky ones, I say keep working hard and try again next year.
Mia:
We start tryout´s tomorrow, so come in prepared to give your best. Trust me when I say, that there will be no free rides for anyone, no matter how entitled you feel to a position.
Manny:
Any questions?
Holly J is one of those to raise her hand.
Mia:
Yes?
Holly J:
Do I really have to try out with the rest? I´ve been a cheerleader since grade school and I can guarantee you, that you won´t find anyone better than me.
Manny and Mia smile knowingly at each other.
Manny:
Weren´t you listening? She said that there´s no free rides and it goes for everyone.
Mia:
What´s your name?
Holly J:
Holly J Sinclair.
Manny:
Sinclair, as in Heather Sinclair?
Manny whispers something to Mia, which drives Holly J crazy not knowing what they´re talking about.
12. Ext. Degrassi. Day.
The school day is over and the students are leaving the school. Craig is leaving with Sean and Emma.
Sean:
Man, that was a long day!
Craig:
Mine flew by.
Emma:
That´ll change soon enough! Are you coming to the Dot?
Sean:
If you´re going, I am.
Emma and Sean smile at each other. Craig shakes his head at their constant will they/won´t they.
Emma:
Cool. Manny and JT are coming too.
Craig looks a little annoyed.
Craig:
Argh! Then I´ll have to pass.
Sean:
It´s gonna be hard to avoid them altogether.
Craig:
I can live with knowing, that she´s moved on and I´ll admit, that she could have done a lot worse than JT. It still doesn´t mean that I´m ready to spend more time with them, than I absolutely have to.
Emma:
Can´t you try?
Craig:
That´s what I´m doing. Trying to let her live her life, without me interfering and screwing it up for her.
Sean:
What about the girl?
Emma:
Which girl?
Craig:
She´s just a girl, I talked to today. If she does show up, tell her that I´m sorry, but something important came up.
Sean:
I still haven´t seen her, remember?
Craig:
Five foot four, red hair, pretty face and a cute smile. I´ll catch you later.
He waves goodbye to them and heads off in the other direction. Once he doesn´t see it, they start holding hands.
13. Int. The Dot. Day.
Holly J comes in and sits by the counter, where Jane is not so busy at work. Holly J looks ready to give up already.
Jane:
Hi, stranger. What´ll it be?
Holly J:
What would you recommend for someone, who´s having the worst day ever?
Jane:
I can get you a cup of coffee and lend you and ear.
Holly J:
Aren´t you the perfect waitress? I´ll take it.
Jane puts a cup in front of her and pours her a cup of Joe.
Jane:
Sugar?
Holly J:
Two lumps.
Jane reaches under the counter and gets it for her.
Jane:
Let me guess first. Your boyfriend has found a new girlfriend over the summer and he just told you?
Holly J:
That would require me having one first.
Jane:
A pretty girl like you can´t find anyone?
Holly J:
People don´t like me, because I choose to be honest with them. On top of that, having the last name Sinclair apparently means that everyone starts treating you like a leper at my new school.
Jane:
You´re Heather Sinclair´s cousin, aren´t you? Marco told me about you.
Holly J looks a surprised that Jane would know Marco.
Holly J:
What has he said?
Jane:
That you´re not as bad as Heather´s other cousin, Hermione.
Holly J:
I hope not! All I want is to find a few cool friends to hang out with, meet a guy, who´s worth my time and if I´m lucky, somehow make it out of Degrassi with my sanity intact!
Jane can´t help laughing a little.
Jane:
It´s great that you´re setting reachable goals.
Holly J:
Not if you´re me! On top of that, I´m pretty sure I´ve been stood up.
Jane:
If he stood you up, then he isn´t worth it. Sorry, I gotta tend to the other customers.
Jane gets back to work, as Holly J continues sulking, while she drinks her coffee.
14. Ext. Degrassi. Morning.
Holly J comes walking up to the school, looking very alone and like she isn´t looking forward to what´s to come. Craig comes running up to her from behind and smiles at her.
Craig:
Hey! Sorry, that I couldn´t come yesterday, but you know how it is.
Holly J:
I waited for you.
Craig:
Sean didn´t tell you?
Holly J:
I don´t even know who Sean is.
Craig:
He´s my oldest and best friend. He´s also got something on his mind these days named Emma, which is probably why he forgot. I´m sorry, if I made you wait.
His apology makes her warm up a little.
Holly J:
Are they boyfriend and girlfriend?
Craig:
On/off, but mostly off these days. How are you liking Degrassi so far?
Holly J:
I´m not.
Craig:
What´s the matter?
Holly J:
You´re the only one, who isn´t freaked out by my last name. Heather sure didn´t make it easy on me!
It´s like a light bulb goes on over his head.
Craig:
You´re Heather´s cousin, that Marco talked about? What are the chances?
Holly J:
Don´t you start with me too! I´m not Heather.
Craig:
I know, you´re not. Just like I´m nothing like my dad, who used to beat me and my mom. If anyone´s willing to look past family histories, you´re looking at him.
She looks pleased with his answer and he´s glad, that he got a smile out of her.
Craig:
You do know, that I have a two year old daughter, don´t you?
Holly J:
I don´t mind. In fact, I´d love to meet her.
Craig:
I wanted to get it out in the open, so it doesn´t come as a huge surprise. So, what clubs are you thinking of joining?
Holly J:
Since my chances of getting on the cheer squad are out the window, I´ll probably do drama club. They accept anyone, no matter how low they are on the social ladder, don´t they?
Craig gets an idea.
15. Int. Hallway. Morning.
Sean is yawning and has to rest his head against his locker to try to stay awake, when an excited looking Craig comes over to him.
Craig:
Did you forget something yesterday?
Sean looks at him like he has no clue, what he´s talking about.
Sean:
My brain is still half asleep. You´ll have to be more specific.
Craig:
Like telling Holly, why I wasn´t coming.
Sean looks apologetic.
Sean:
Oh, that.
Craig:
Yes, that. Don´t worry, I smoothed things over with her. But it means that you owe me one.
Sean:
Can it wait until I´m fully awake?
Craig:
We´re joining the drama club.
Sean looks at him, like he just told him that they were about to take a trip to the moon.
Sean:
Me? Acting?
Craig:
Us acting. If that´s my way to get to know Holly, that´s where I´ll be.
Sean looks much less enthusiastic about the idea, than Craig is.
CLOSING CREDITS