WHAT IF? - SEASON 3 EPISODE 4 - ADAM RAISED A CAIN
1. Int. Craig´s Apartment. Evening.
Craig and Holly J are having a cheap date, you could say, but they´re still enjoying themselves spooning on his couch, while they´re watching the 80´s classic "The Lost Boys".
Craig:
I can´t believe that I chucked "The Lost Boys" up as just another horror movie!
Holly J:
What´s not to love? It´s a glitter filled mix of 80´s styles, great story and laughs from start to finish!
Craig:
I want to know who told Corey Feldman to talk with a straight face, like he was a 30 year old! The kid is twelve at the most!
Holly J:
It´s one of those things you have to love for what it is! And there´s no gay undertones at all between Michael and David, right?
Craig:
That very oblivious poor straight girl clearly stands a chance with either of them!
The two of them laugh and look very comfortable together.
Holly J:
I´m glad that you´re enjoying yourself.
Craig:
This was exactly what I needed after finding out about gramps.
Holly J:
You can talk to me about these things, if you want to.
Craig:
There´s not a whole lot to say. He´d been having heart problems for a long time, so it´s not like it comes as a surprise. He had a good life, so there´s no reason to feel sorry for him.
Holly J:
You´re still gonna miss him though, aren´t you?
Craig:
Can I tell you a secret, that I´d rather if you kept to yourself?
She nods at him and looks glad, that he´s willing to open up to her.
Holly J:
Of course, you can.
Craig:
Thing between me and that side of the family are complicated. It´s my father´s side of the family.
Holly J:
Your dad, who used to beat you and your mom?
Craig:
It got a lot worse after she left him. I spent the next ten years living in constant fear of when he would explode in rage again, until he beat me up with a golf club and I was finally removed. If it hadn´t been for Joey intervening, who knows how it would have ended?
Her face looks full of pity for him.
Holly J:
That´s so sad.
Craig:
It took a long time to get over, but it strangely helped when he died in that car crash. It was like a weight was lifted off my shoulders and to be honest, I was an equal mix of happy and sad. Since then, I haven´t had much contact with his family. Most of them either don´t know or don´t want to believe the truth.
Holly J:
Of how he really was?
Craig:
If they want to remember him for his good sides, who am I to take that away from them? It´ll be hard to keep quiet about it, when I have to spend both a funeral and a wake in their company.
Holly J:
I can come with you for emotional support?
He smiles at her and gives her a small kiss.
Craig:
You´re sweet to ask, Holly.
Holly J:
Holly ... ?
Craig:
J, I´m trying to get used to it. It would be too much, too soon to involve you in my messed up family situation.
Holly J:
I am a Sinclair, remember? Messed up family situations is sadly, what we do best! Plus, introducing your new girlfriend to everyone is a conversation topic, other than death.
He takes a moment to consider it.
Craig:
Dress in black.
She looks glad that he´s letting her into his life.
OPENING CREDITS
2. Int. Craig´s old Room (now Angie´s Room). Morning.
Craig should be getting ready for the funeral, but is in stead sitting on her bed and thinking, when Angie knocks on the open door and comes in.
Angie:
Joey wants to know if you´re ready to leave?
Craig:
I can wait another fifteen minutes, don´t worry.
Angie:
What´s the matter?
Craig:
I started thinking about Gramps.
She sits down next to him and he puts his arm around her.
Angie:
Do you miss him?
Craig:
A little. He was always nice to me, whenever we came over to visit.
Angie:
I can´t really feel sad, since I never met him.
Craig:
No one expects you to. I remember him as a kind man, who tried to impart some of his life´s wisdom in me, when I was around your age.
Angie:
Like what?
Craig:
Like him telling me, that work is important, but you need to enjoy life as well.
Angie smiles to herself.
Angie:
That sounds like a great rule to live by.
Craig:
One that you should try your best you live up to today! It´s not every day, that you go to an amusement park.
Angie:
I already know what the first ten rides I´m gonna go on are.
Craig:
The first ten? I´m glad, I´m not paying for that trip!
Just as he says that, JT pops in.
JT:
There you are, Princess! Are you ready to live out every kid´s wet dream of day?
Angie:
I have no idea what that means but, yes, I´m as ready, as I can be!
Craig:
Have an awesome day with as much fun, as you possibly can have, Ange.
Angie:
I´m pretty sure that I´ll manage!
She gives him a small hug and scurries out of there.
JT:
I´d tell you to have fun too, but knowing that you´re going to a funeral and everything ...
Craig:
That´s okay.
JT:
It doesn´t feel like I´m stealing your spot?
Craig:
If our favorite little lady has the time of her life, we´re cool. Today my spot is one, that I wouldn´t envy anyone. Unfortunately there´s no one else, who can take it from me.
He nods to himself and clearly isn´t looking forward to it.
3. Int. Car. Morning.
JT is driving with Manny in the passenger seat and Angie in the back. They´re playing "I Spy" to pass the time.
Manny:
I spy with my little eye, something beginning with S.
JT:
Seatbelt.
Manny:
Try again.
Angie:
Speeder.
Manny:
It´s something much, much bigger!
Angie takes a moment to think about it, then it´s like a light bulb goes on over her head.
Angie:
The sky!
Manny:
Disco!
Angie looks proud of herself.
JT:
Which puts Angie so far ahead, that there´s no way any of us will catch up to her.
Angie:
You promise that you´re not letting me win, because I´m the kid in this car?
JT and Manny share knowing looks and smile at each other.
Manny:
Absolutely not. Believe it or not, I´m very competitive!
Angie:
No, you´re not! You´re like, the least competitive person I know!
Seeing as Angie might be suspecting that something is up, JT changes the subject, when he sees a sign advertising that there´s a gas station a mile up the road.
JT:
I don´t know about you, but I could use a cold drink.
Manny:
Or maybe an ice cream for second breakfast, Angie?
Angie:
Now you´re talking!
JT just smiles to himself. Kids will be kids!
4. Int. Gas Station. Morning.
JT heads over to the cooler to grab himself an energy drink, while Manny and Angie are picking an ice cream from the cooler. Angie (predictably) picks the biggest cone they have.
Manny:
Are you sure, you can eat that entire thing?
Angie:
There´s always room for more ice cream in here.
She pads her tummy and it makes Manny smile. She grabs herself a popsicle.
Manny:
I don´t have your kind of metabolism, so I´m sticking to a popsicle.
Angie:
What does metabolism mean?
JT comes over to them just in time to answer her.
JT:
It has something to do with how fast you burn calories. Am I right, Manny?
She looks proud of him that he got it right.
Manny:
That´s right on the money. See Angie, we all burn calories at a different rate and someone at your age, burns them faster than someone who´s my age.
Angie:
Why is that?
Manny:
Because you spend a lot of your energy growing. The rest you probably spend playing.
Angie:
Huh? Isn´t that interesting!
She walks up to the counter, as they watch her.
JT:
She´s gonna grow up to be a doctor someday!
Manny:
Perhaps a doctor of Thug-A-Nomics, but I doubt if she´ll become a medical doctor! What did you get for yourself?
He shows her the can and she isn´t looking too happy about it.
JT:
It´s just one!
Manny:
It´s okay, I guess. It isn´t only Angie´s day, it´s also yours.
JT:
Because I´m still basically her age?
Manny:
Just promise me, that you´ll be careful with those things. I read that they´re extremely addictive. More than most illegal drugs are.
JT:
They only write that stuff, so they can sell more papers! If they really were that dangerous, do you think they would sell them at gas stations, of all places? They would make it illegal in no time!
Manny sees that there´s no arguing with him on this topic, so she gives it up.
5. Int. Church. Day.
Craig and Holly J are sitting next to each other on one of the church benches, as the church is filling up. A woman of around 40/45 years old comes over to him and he stands up to give her a small hug. Holly J stands up too.
Trina:
Hello, Craig. How are you doing?
Craig:
Getting by. Aunt Trina, this is Holly, my sort of girlfriend.
Trina bats an eye at how he described it and Holly J rolls her eyes.
Holly J:
We´re still not past that?
Trina:
Having trouble making up his mind, is he?
Holly J nods and Craig shakes him head at the same time.
Trina:
It comes with the territory with the men in this family. Yours probably has it´s quirks too.
Holly J:
More than I could even begin to get into!
Holly J and Trina smile at each other.
Trina:
It looks like you found yourself a keeper, Craig!
Craig:
To talk about something else, I´m not expected to give a speech, am I?
Trina:
No, there´s already five or six eulogies, from what I hear. You can give a quick toast at the wake, if you want.
Craig:
I´ll probably pass. To tell you the truth, I´d rather get this over with.
Trina:
You, me and everyone else here! It was nice meeting you, Holly.
Holly J:
You too, Trina.
Trina leaves them to go and talk to some others of their relatives. Craig and Holly J sit back down.
Holly J:
She seems nice.
Craig:
She is. I used to love going over to visit her, when I was a kid. To me, it was like a free space, away from the horrors of home.
Holly J:
Let´s not forget, that you´ve still only met one other member of my family. When you do, it´ll make yours look like "The Brady Bunch" on happy pills!
Her words get a smile out of him and she´s glad, that she could cheer him up a little.
6. Montage of the Funeral.
We get a montage of the eulogies, some of them better told than others.
Craig´s 30 Something Male Relative:
When I think back on him, it´s the warmth that I remember. The warmth of his smile, the warmth of his hugs. I know that he wasn´t what most people think of as a "Great Man", but he was to me. Because he showed me that how you treat others and being able to look yourself in the mirror is more important, than what the balance on your checking account reads.
Craig´s 50 Something Female Relative:
One thing that I´ll never forget was the Christmases at him and my mom´s house. How the entire house would smell of ginger bread men, when us kids woke up on the 25th and we would all come hurrying down to the living room to open our presents. They were never the most expensive, of course, but they were given out of love and that was what mattered to us.
Craig´s Grandad´s 80 Something Former Business Partner (who looks slightly senile):
I met Albert in 1972, I think.
His just as old Wife:
Herbert, not Albert!
Craig´s Grandad´s 80 Something Former Business Partner:
Huh?
His just as old Wife:
You´re giving a eulogy for Herbert! Albert died two years ago!
Craig´s Grandad´s 80 Something Former Business Partner:
He did? No wonder that I haven´t seen him lately. I didn´t meet Herbert until 1976, or was it 77? No, it was 76! Or was it 77? I´m not sure.
Craig and Holly J try their hardest not to laugh.
7. Ext. Cemetery. Day.
Craig and Holly J are following the crowd to where his grand dad will be laid to rest.
Holly J:
That was different from one of our family funerals.
Craig:
How?
Holly J:
There were 99 percent fewer passive/aggressive remarks in the eulogies, for one thing.
He laughs a little.
Craig:
I´m so glad, that I brought you here.
Holly J:
I´m just glad, that you decided to bring me.
They smile at each other, but are interrupted by one of Craig´s relatives, the woman who gave the kind eulogy at the funeral.
Craig´s 50 Something Female Relative:
I feel so bad for you, Craig, being back here so soon and burying another close relative.
Craig:
It was almost four years ago.
Craig´s 50 Something Female Relative:
Still, I want to you to know that we all miss your father. It´s so incredibly unfair, how he was torn from you like he was.
Craig´s smile fades, as this is clearly still a touchy subject for him.
Craig:
In Gramps´ case, it was probably for the best.
Craig´s 50 Something Female Relative:
It would only have gotten worse for him. With your father though, when it´s someone who´s so young and beloved by everyone ...
Craig:
If you don´t mind, I´d rather not talk about him.
Craig´s 50 Something Female Relative:
Of course. You must miss him even more, than any of us do.
Craig clearly wants to tell her the truth, but fights the urge to. Holly J can see how hard this is for him and it´s not making her fall for him any less.
8. Ext. Amusement Park. Day.
Angie is having the time of her young life, but is a little frustrated at how slow the line for the next ride, that she´s in with JT, is moving. Manny is on the other side of the fence, within talking distance of them.
Manny:
You´re a hundred percent certain, that this ride isn´t too scary for you?
Angie:
I´m not some scaredy cat!
JT:
We know, you´re not. When you get older, we can go back here and go on all the rides, you´re too young for now.
Angie:
Do you promise?
JT:
Cross my heart and hope to die.
Angie:
Don´t say that! I don´t want you to die.
Manny:
It´s just something we say, Sweetie. I´m gonna find myself some popcorn, while you have fun on your ride.
Manny leaves them and JT squats down in eye height with Angie.
JT:
You don´t have to worry about anything happening to me.
Angie:
I do sometimes. You´ve become like a second brother.
JT smiles widely to himself.
JT:
Angie, that could be the nicest thing, anyone has ever said to me.
Angie:
You are. Craig is my birth brother and you´re my bonus brother.
JT:
Is that how you think of me?
She nods and smiles back at him.
Angie:
I know that I´m only ten and that even for a ten year old, I´m far from the smartest. But I am smart enough to know, how lucky I am to have two awesome older brothers like you two. Lots of kids I go to school with don´t even get one.
JT:
You´re not the lucky one. We are, because we get to be a part of you growing up. That in itself is an adventure!
He stands back up, as the line finally starts moving again.
9. Int. House. Day.
Craig and Holly J are sitting at a table by themselves, as people are chatting all around them.
Craig:
I think, we can leave soon. I´ve made the appearance, that I needed to make.
Holly J:
It is about as fun as well, a wake, isn´t it?
Craig:
That must mean, it lives up to it´s name! I gotta use the boy´s room, before we leave.
Holly J:
I´ll wait here.
He gets up and leaves her.
10. Int. Hallway. Day.
Craig comes up to the bathroom door and tries it, but it´s locked. He can hear someone crying from within and looks worried. He knocks on the door.
Craig:
Are you alright?
The door soon opens and we see that it´s his relative from before.
Trina:
Oh, it´s you Craig. I´m finished in there,
Craig:
Is everything okay?
Trina:
It´s just hearing all of them singing his praises! If they´d tried living with him, they would have a different tune to sing! I shouldn´t be telling you this, not on the day of his funeral.
Craig:
It´s okay. I want to know.
Trina:
Christmas was one of the few days a year, when he would be sober. You weren´t there for his heavy drinking days, but they were hell on all of us, your father included. He took more beatings than any of us.
Craig:
He never told me.
Trina:
It was probably to painful for him. Be glad that he didn´t have a mean streak in him, like your grandfather had in my childhood.
Something begins to click inside Craig´s head.
11. Ext. Street. Day.
Craig and Holly J come up to his borrowed car, but he stops short of opening the door.
Holly J:
I don´t have to explain to you how a lock works, do I?
Craig:
I should go back in there.
Holly J:
To see if it´s actually possible to die of boredom?
Craig:
They need to know the truth.
He starts to walk back towards the house, but she grabs his arm to stop him.
Holly J:
An explanation would be nice.
Craig:
He started it all! He used my dad as a punching bag and that´s why my dad did it to me! It´s all clear now!
Holly J:
That´s great, but who´s to say that it started there? Let´s face it, parenting has come a long way these past centuries.
Craig:
That has to be the reason! Otherwise ...
He needs a second to gather himself.
Craig:
Otherwise, I´m bound to end up like them.
Holly J:
Craig, I don´t believe that there´s a violent bone in your body. Because they beat their children, doesn´t mean that you will.
Craig:
How can you be sure? And isn´t it for the best, that this circle of violence comes out in the open, so it can be stopped?
Holly J:
Say that you go in there and make a huge proclamation in front of all of his friends and family. Is it gonna change anything for the better?
Craig:
It might.
She looks him in the eyes and he sees that she´s right.
Craig:
Okay, so it probably won´t. I´m not even certain, it would make me feel better.
Holly J:
What do you say, we get out of here? Leave the past, where it belongs and start looking to the future?
He nods and she gives him a hug, that he clearly needed.
12. Int. Joey and Caitlyn´s House. Day.
JT and Manny come home with Angie, who has a gold medal hanging around her neck. Caitlyn, who´s making dinner, smiles at them.
Caitlyn:
If it isn´t the girl of the hour! What did you get that for?
Angie:
Winning the go-cart race.
JT:
We´re sure that there isn´t an Andretti or a Senna somewhere in Angie´s family lineage?
Caitlyn:
Could be. Congratulations, Sweet Pea.
Angie:
Thanks. Do you need any help?
Caitlyn:
Nothing that you can help with, I´m afraid. I forgot to buy a few things from the store.
Manny:
I can go.
JT:
Don´t be silly, I´ll go. Anyway, didn´t you promise Angie, that you´d show her how to put on eye shadow?
Angie:
You did promise.
JT:
There you go! It won´t take me more than twenty minutes.
Manny gives him a small kiss and grabs Angie´s hand.
Manny:
You work too hard.
JT:
It´s a labor of love, when it´s for you.
Manny and Angie leave them and he immediately lets out a large yawn. Caitlyn smiles to herself.
Caitlyn:
Kids sure can suck the energy out of you, can´t they?
JT:
You said it! I just need a good night´s sleep. I can´t remember the last time, I had one.
Caitlyn:
That doesn´t sound good. You don´t have to go to the grocery store, I can work around it.
JT:
It´s the least I can do, since you´re nice enough to let me live here practically for free. Make me a list and I´ll take care of it.
She looks concerned about him and he tries to swallow another yawn, but can´t.
13. Int. Car. Day.
JT is driving, but it´s clear that he day´s efforts, combined with the lack of sleep he had already have taken their toll on him. His eyes start to shut and he begins to lose control of the car, as it veers right.
Suddenly, the screen cuts to black and all we can hear is a car horn blaring. The sounds of other people coming rushing to help can faintly be heard as well.
14. Int. Hospital Room. Evening.
JT is lying in his hospital bed, looking very ashamed of himself. Manny comes in and runs over to him.
Manny:
Oh, God! Are you okay?
He looks up at her and holds up his hand, that´s in a cast.
JT:
I got off easy, although they think I could have a concussion. Manny, I´ve never been so scared in my life.
Manny:
No wonder. I would have been too.
She gives him a kiss and takes his good hand, before sitting down on the bed with him.
JT:
I saw myself losing everything. You, Angie, Julia, our friends ...
Manny:
It´s over now. You´re safe. How did it happen?
JT:
I fell asleep behind the wheel.
She bats an eye at it, since she clearly wasn´t expecting that answer.
Manny:
You fell asleep? How could that happen?
JT:
There´s something, I haven´t told you, because I didn´t want you to worry. I haven´t been slept normally for a while now. Toby thinks it´s stress.
Manny:
Stress? You?
JT:
That was my initial reaction too, but now I´m thinking that he could be right.
Manny:
What are we gonna do about it?
He smiles slightly to himself.
JT:
I´m so glad, that you still said "we".
She lies down next to him.
Manny:
I´m in this for the long haul. If you´re stressed out and it´s causing you these problems, then I´m gonna do everything I can to help you. I love you, you know?
JT:
I´ll have to get used to saying no.
Manny:
Which it´s okay to do, if you need rest. I don´t expect you to be Superman.
JT:
I love you too, you know?
They smile at each other and kiss.
15. Ext. Street. Day.
Craig and Holly J are holding hands and are looking at a very large house. Craig looks worried.
Craig:
What can I expect?
Holly J:
Catty remarks, backstabbing, family feuds, murder ...
Craig looks shocked.
Craig:
Murder?
Holly J:
Hopefully not this time around! They still haven´t found the killer from our last family fiesta. It´s so much harder, when it´s a poisoning case.
Craig:
Poisoning? Look, Holly J, I really like you, but ...
Holly J:
I´m kidding! Although there could be a good handful in there, who legitimately want to kill each other! We are Sinclairs, after all.
Craig:
Here I thought my family was bad!
Holly J:
You remembered to use my initial this time!
He smiles shyly at her.
Craig:
I figured that if means that much to you, I´d better get used to saying it.
Holly J:
It´s good timing, because you´re about to meet Holly A and Holly K and they´re no picnic, trust me!
Craig:
Heather, Hermione, Holly A, Holly J and Holly K? What is it with your family and names that begin with an H?
Holly J:
My guess is that it started as a running joke, which sadly fits us all too well! Are you ready for a trip to hell?
Craig:
You did it for me, didn´t you?
He looks pleased, that he could pay her back this way.
CLOSING CREDITS