WHAT IF? - SEASON 3 EPISODE 10 - BLINDED BY THE LIGHT
Disclaimer: I don´t own Degrassi or the characters from it.
THE SERIES JUST PASSED 8000 VIEWS ON THIS SITE YESTERDAY, WHICH IS MUCH MORE THAN I WOULD HAVE IMAGINED IT WOULD REACH AFTER ONLY 9 MONTHS! MOST OF IT IS THANKS TO YOU LOYAL READERS, WHO KEEP READING WEEK AFTER WEEK. IF YOU´RE WONDERING, THERE´S AROUND 30 OF YOU, WHO GENERALLY ALWAYS READ THE EPISODES WITHIN A DAY OR TWO OF ME POSTING THEM. TO ME, THAT´S A PRETTY DECENT FANBASE, ESPECIALLY FOR A SERIES LIKE THIS ABOUT CHARACTERS, THAT FOR THE MOST PART HAVEN´T BEEN ON TV FOR OVER A DECADE.
WITH THAT OUT OF THE WAY, LET´S GET ON WITH THE EPISODE. THERE´S A LOT OF SEX TALK IN THIS EPISODE, JUST SO YOU´RE WARNED.
1. Int. Craig´s Apartment. Evening.
We start on a bedside picture of Craig, Manny and Julia, as we can hear two people moaning from having sex in the background. After a few more satisfied moans, we cut over to see that it was Craig and Holly J, who were getting it on. He looks very satisfied and she isn´t looking too unhappy either.
Holly J:
Was it better this time?
Craig:
You´re a fast learner!
She smiles at him.
Holly J:
I just want to make you happy.
Craig:
Part of this deal is that I do the same for you. Did you, this time?
Holly J:
Maybe. I´m not sure, since I´ve never had one before.
Craig´s smile fades.
Craig:
You´ve had boyfriends before, haven´t you?
Holly J:
Not really. You´re the first guy, I´ve done anything with. I love you.
She anxiously judges his reaction to her saying it and is disappointed, when he pulls away from her.
Craig:
Holly, we talked about how this isn´t an actual relationship. I thought you understood that.
Holly J:
It´s okay, if you don´t feel it yet.
Craig:
Us having sex is fine, but I can´t have everyone knowing.
Her love for him quickly starts to turn to anger. She gets out of bed and starts putting her clothes on.
Holly J:
I´m fine for when you need a hole to stick it in, but I´m not popular enough to be seen with you at school, is that it?
Craig:
Don´t be like that! Even besides the age difference, there´s a million reasons why we wouldn´t work.
Holly J:
I can´t believe, that I wasted my first time on you!
She gets done dressing and storms out, before slamming the door shut. Craig face palms.
OPENING CREDITS
2. Ext. Degrassi. Morning.
Craig arrives for school, looking depressed. He sees Holly J arriving, but she hurries into the school, probably so she won´t have to see him. It makes him even sadder, as Sean comes up to him from behind and shaking his head.
Sean:
You couldn´t help yourself, could you?
Craig:
She was so cute and natural ...
Sean:
Young and innocent.
Craig:
I´ve probably scared the poor girl off from guys so badly, that she´ll join a temple!
Sean:
Plus, you´ll still have to see her at least twice a week, including today.
Craig shakes his head in dispair.
Craig:
Why does this keep happening to me?
Sean:
Try thinking with the head on your shoulders and not the one between your legs.
He heads towards the school and after a few second to take it all in, Craig follows after him.
3. Int. Classroom. Morning.
Sav and Anya are talking before class starts.
Sav:
Be glad, that you left when you did.
Anya:
How bad was it?
Sav:
Talking to my dad is like talking to a door. He thinks that he´s always right and no one can convince him differently. Not that it matters, because I don´t care if he won´t want me dating Darcy!
Anya:
It´s gonna be a problem, since you´re living in his house.
Sav:
To him and my mom, me and Alli are supposed to do as we´re told and live our lives the way they want us to. Unless they change their opinion and let me live the way I want to, I can´t see how I can keep living there.
Anya:
Thanks, Sav.
He looks confused.
Sav:
You´re welcome, but for what?
Anya:
For reminding me how happy I am, that I have the best family, I could imagine.
Sav:
Let me know, if your parents are looking for a brother for you. Say, one who´s Indian and around the same age. I´ll do all the chores, they ask me to!
They smile at each other, but their smiles fade a little, when they see Holly J come in, looking like her dog just got run over. She takes her seat at the table next to Sav´s.
Sav:
Are you okay, Holly J?
Holly J:
Spare me the act, Sav. You don´t care about me. No one does.
Sav lays off trying to talk to her and makes eye contact with Anya. They both worry about Holly J´s mental state.
4. Int. Auditorium. Day.
The drama club is in session and several familiar faces are there, including Craig, Manny, Holly J, Sav and Anya. Their teacher is a woman in her 40´s, who dresses like it´s the 70´s. Everyone is standing in one large circle.
Teacher:
Now imagine that you are a rose petal, growing as the summer sun fills you with love and klorofyl, while a gentle breeze cools you down just enough!
She starts swaying from side to side. Craig and Sean try their hardest not to laugh, but a hard look from Manny makes them at leats try to take it seriously.
Teacher:
Okay, that´s enough of that for today. Great work everyone! Give yourselves a round of appplause.
The students do, even if some of them feel a little silly for doing so.
Teacher:
For the next exercise, I´m going to pair you up into groups of four. Let´s see, there´s twenty four of you, so that makes six groups.
She randomly selects the students to be in each of their groups and of course Craig is lucky enough to be paired with Holly J, Sav and Anya. He rolls his eyes at his luck, as he joins them. Sean is paired with Manny and two others.
Teacher:
I´m going to give you an improv scenario to act out. You are two couples and one of the couples are on the verge of breaking up. Sad, huh? Well, this is where it´s the other couple´s role, to convince them to stay together. Let´s see, if we can´t get some nice happy endings, shall we? You have ten minutes.
We first cut to Manny and Sean.
Sean:
Wanna see, why we would never work as a couple?
Manny:
As if we didn´t already know!
We cut to Craig´s group, where things are tense between him and Holly J. Sav and Anya try to lighten the mood.
Anya:
Who wants to play which part?
Sav:
I´m fine with playing whatever role is left.
Holly J:
Me and Craig should play the couple, who are breaking up.
Craig looks surprised that she would pull this on him, but goes along with it out of his feeling of guilt.
Craig:
Okay, I guess. How do we start?
Holly J:
I´ll start. Sav and Anya, you´re such a happy couple! What´s your secret?
They look a little surprised, but go along with it.
Anya:
We´re also good friends?
Holly J:
So Sav, you would never lead Anya on and then treat her like she had the same value to you as a used tissue?
Sav:
I hope not!
Craig:
Holly, what are you doing?
Holly J:
Telling them why we´re breaking up. It´s just an acting excersize, Craig.
She smiles at him in a way, that he strangely doesn´t like.
5. Int. Hallway. Day.
Sav and Anya come out with the others, minus Craig and Holly J.
Sav:
Who knew that drama club would have so much drama?
Anya:
We should have expected it!
He grabs in his pocket for his phone, but looks annoyed with himself.
Sav:
Guess what I forgot again?
Anya:
If you got a chain for it, you could wear your phone as a necklace!
Sav:
Very funny, Sarah Silverman Junior! I´ll catch up with you later.
He leaves her and heads back into the auditorium.
6. Int. Auditorium. Day.
Sav comes back in, but stops himself at the door, seeing as Craig and Holly J are in the middle of a fight, even if it´s mostly her fighting with him.
Craig:
I´m sorry that you got the wrong idea ...
Holly J:
Get real, Craig! You used me!
Craig:
Hey, what we did was purely consensual!
Holly J:
Do you really think I would have done those things with you, if I´d known that it was some casual affair?
Craig looks frustrated that he´s not getting anywhere and decides to take a different approach.
Craig:
I must have thought that you were mature enough to understand.
Holly J:
Here´s two things, I am mature enough to understand: You´re a dick and I was an easy victim! It´s as simple as that!
She doesn´t give him a chance to reply and storms out, as Sav quietly sneaks in behind Craig and gets his phone, that was lying on a chair. He can´t help making a little noise, though and Craig notices him. It´s an awkward moment.
Craig:
Did you hear all that?
Sav:
It´s none of my business.
He leaves as fast as he can, leaving Craig alone with his misery.
7. Int. Classroom. Day.
Sav sits down next to Anya, still looking a little shocked.
Sav:
Here I thought, I had problems!
Anya:
Did someone take your phone? I hate to tell you, but it was bound to happen sooner or later.
Sav:
Not that.
He whispers something in Anya´s ear, that makes her jaw drop. After he´s finished, she looks at him in disbelief.
Anya:
No way!
Sav:
If that wasn´t a lover´s quarrel, I don´t know what is!
Anya:
He slept with her and dumped her? What a jerk!
Sav:
Before you say no, hear me out. Holly J needs someone to be there for her and it should be us.
She doesn´t look too into the idea.
Anya:
I don´t know, after how it went the last time I tried talking to her.
Sav:
Heven´t you noticed, that we´re the only two here, who talk to her? It has to be pretty lonely for her.
Anya:
From what I´ve heard, her family is kind of a nightmare too.
Sav:
You´re nothing, if not a great humanitarian. Think of this as our good deed for the day.
Anya:
Okay, but if she bites my head off again, then I seriously am giving up on her!
Sav:
I don´t think she will this time. I think that she could really use a friend right about now.
Anya nods and goes along with it..
8. Ext. Degrassi. Day.
Craig is leaving school with the others, including Sean, who he´s chatting with.
Craig:
I thought this day would never end!
Sean:
It´s only half way over.
Craig:
I can spend the rest of the day hiding out from the world, while I hang my head in shame! Which, come to think of it, I can´t even do because I promised Joey and Caitlyn, that I´d come over for dinner.
Sean can´t help smiling a little.
Sean:
You´re not a bad guy.
Craig:
Then why does it feel that way? If any guy did what I did to Angie or god forbid, my own daughter, I´d want to beat the snot out of him!
Sean:
You´re 18! It´s only natural that you want to spread your seed or whatever it is, they call it.
Craig:
It´s time that I got more responsible, is what it is. After Manny, I swore to myself, that I would never do that to a girl again.
Sean:
As in, promise her the world, so she´d do it with you?
Craig:
If you want to put it bluntly.
Sean:
You´re far from the only guy, who´s guilty of that.
Craig:
It´s not who I want to be. I want to be the kind of older brother, that Angie can look up to and a father that Julia will be proud to call her dad. I´m not.
Sean smiles at him.
Sean:
There could be hope for you still, buddy.
He pads Craig on the back and it cheers Craig up a little.
9. Int. The Dot. Day.
Sav and Anya are hanging out at the Dot after school, as per usual, but are just having sodas this time. They see Holly J come in and go to sit at the counter.
Sav:
Are you ready?
Anya:
I shouldn´t be scared of a 15 year old girl, should I?
Sav:
Take a shot of courage, because it´s now or never!
She takes a sip of her soda, before they walk up to Holly J, who´s giving her order to Jane.
Holly J:
Coffee. Black as the inside of a grave!
Jane:
Sure. Have you been listening to some of my favorite bands lately, cuz it kinda sounds that way?
Holly J:
No such luck. It fits my mood right now.
Jane notices Sav and Anya.
Jane:
See if you can´t give this one a direct shot of TLC right into the veins! She needs it.
Holly J:
Thanks for telling the world all of my problems, Jane!
Jane:
It´s what I´m here for!
Jane goes to get Holly J her order, as Sav and Anya take a seat on either side of her. It makes her uncomfortable.
Holly J:
What´s this?
Sav:
I forgot my phone after drama club and when I came back into the auditorium, I saw the fight you had with Craig.
She hangs her head, clearly not wanting to talk about it.
Holly J:
Please tell me, that you haven´t told anyone! It´s embarrassing enough.
Anya:
He´s only told me and I won´t tell anyone else. You have my word on it.
Sav:
Mine too. Not all us guys are like him. Most of us are more scared of hurting girls emotionally, than we are of getting hurt by them. If I ever did it, I don´t know if I could forgive myself.
Holly J:
Let´s face it, Sav. You are kind of a special case!
Anya:
You don´t have to talk about it, if you don´t want to. Just know that if you want to, there´s two people here, who are willing to listen without judging you.
Holly J takes a moment to think about it, as Jane comes back with her coffee, that she puts in front of her.
Jane:
It´s on the house. Just don´t tell my boss, okay?
She goes to tend to another customer, as a small smile creeps across Holly J´s lips. It makes Sav and Anya smile too.
Anya:
What is it?
Holly J:
Everyone´s being nice to me for a change. Except for he, who will remain nameless, of course.
Sav:
We can refer to him simply as the jerk from now on.
Anya:
Or the loser, if that´s more up your alley.
Holly J:
The filthy liar, perhaps?
Sav:
What if we hang out today, just the three of us?
Even though they´re being nice to her, Holly J is still surprised.
Holly J:
Really? You´d do that for me?
Anya:
If you give us a chance, you could end up liking it. Plus, my mom would love for me to bring home a friend, who isn´t Sav for once!
Holly J:
Mine would love to hear, that I did something after school for once!
Sav:
Wait until I tell you about my messed up family. That´s sure to cheer you up!
Holly J looks pleased and accepts.
Holly J:
Sure. I could use something to take my mind off you know what.
Anya:
There´s one thing, we´ve always been great at!
Her and Sav smile at each other.
10. Int. Anya´s Room. Evening.
Holly J, Sav and Anya are having a taste test of potato chips. Holly J eats one and smiles.
Holly J:
That one´s my favorite.
Sav:
Ah, tha classic barbecue flavor! You can´t go wrong there!
Anya:
You´ve seriously never eaten a potato chip until now?
Holly J:
My mom is big on counting my calories. God forbid, that there should ever be a fat member of the Sinclair clan!
Sav:
You should get fat, just to spite her!
Holly J:
Yeah, but then I´d be fat! I don´t want that either!
They all laugh.
Anya:
You´ll have to excuse Sav. He´s pretty anti-parent minded these days.
Holly J:
Mine are rarely home, which is yet another syndrome of being a Sinclair. I usually see them in the morning and occasionally on the weekends. The rest of the time they´re either working, socializing or networking.
Sav:
It sounds like they couldn´t be more different from mine. They only go out after six o´clock, if there´s a special reason for it. It´s like there´s old school and then there´s ancient school, which is where they fit in!
Anya:
And here I am with my parents, who are perfectly normal, loving parents!
Holly J:
Someone has to cancel mine and Sav´s rotten luck out.
She smiles at Anya, who smiles back at her. Sav is glad to see them getting along so well.
11. Int. Joey and Caitlyn´s Kitchen. Evening.
Craig has come over for a family dinner and one member of the household, who´s delighted to have him come over is Angie, who´s hogging his attention all that she can. They´re helping out by peeling potatoes together. She´s a lot better at it, than he is. In fact, she giggles at how bad he is at it.
Angie:
Have you never peeled a potato before?
Craig:
Clearly not as many times, as you have!
Caitlyn comes in to check on their work and is impressed by Angie´s, but less impressed by Craig´s.
Caitlyn:
I can easily guess, who did which!
Craig:
It´s not fair. Kids learn things in an instant!
Angie:
It´s peeling potatoes, not rocket science, Craig!
Craig and Caitlyn smile at each other, a little amused at how fast Angie is growing up.
Caitlyn:
Did she tell you, that she had a boy over here the other day?
Craig instantly gets worried, as Caitlyn leaves them to tend to her own work.
Craig:
What boy?
Angie:
It was just Kenny from up the street. I´ve known him since forever.
Craig:
Are you sure that Kenny has honorable intentions?
She eyes him weirdly.
Angie:
He´s 10!
Craig:
That doesn´t mean, you shouldn´t be on guard, Angie! Before you know it, you´ll end up broken hearted, maybe even pregnant, like Manny was and then, where will Kenny be? I´ll tell you where, he´ll be right on to next one, because that´s the way boys are!
Angie:
Craig, are you okay?
Craig:
I don´t want you dating, like ever!
Angie:
I don´t even like boys that way.
Craig:
You will before long. Just promise me, that you´ll be careful. Sweet and innocent girls like you get hurt, when they fall for boys like me.
She smiles at him re-assuringly.
Angie:
You mean boys, who are always nice to everyone? I could do a lot worse, than someone like you or dad.
Craig:
That´s what you think now. Neither of us are perfect, Ange. We´ve both done dumb things where girls got hurt, that we wish we could change.
Angie:
You always will be in my eyes.
He smiles at her nice words, but can´t help worrying about her.
12. Int. Joey and Caitlyn´s Living Room. Evening.
Joey and Craig are sitting on the couch and Craig gives Angie a goodnight hug.
Craig:
Sweet dreams, Honey. Remember what I told you about boys.
Angie:
You really don´t need to worry.
Joey:
It comes with the job description, when you´re an older brother.
Craig:
Especially when you´re one to a special little lady like you.
She smiles widely and heads off to her room. Joey and Craig both lean back and hold their stomachs.
Craig:
Mind if I stay for fifteen, twenty minutes? I´m not sure, that I´m able to move yet.
Joey:
Go ahead. I´m not giving it a try for at least half an hour!
Craig:
I can´t believe that Angie has started dating!
Joey:
I wouldn´t go so far, as to call it dating.
Craig:
It will be before we know it. Just the thought that some boy could break her heart ...
Joey:
Craig, all of that is a part of growing up. You don´t want to rob her of experiencing life, do you?
Craig:
Of course not. It´s the idea that she could get hurt, that tortures me. You have to admit, that there´s a lot of similarities between her and Manny.
Joey:
It´s as if, they actually were sisters!
They nod in agreement.
Craig:
I messed up again, Joey. Like I did last time with Manny, only this time it´s arguably worse.
Joey takes a deep breath and leans forward, as he tries to think.
Joey:
Please tell me, that she isn´t pregnant!
Craig:
Not that I know of. I made sure to use protection every time.
Joey:
That´s something, I suppose!
Craig:
It was so easy. I know that it´s no excuse, but ...
Joey:
But what, Craig? Don´t you know how important having sex is to a girl, especially at such a young age?
Craig:
It gets worse. I said something wrong, so now she hates my guts. Where´s a time machine, when you need one?
Joey rubs his temples, as he tries to come up with a solution.
Joey:
Try to apologize your way out of it. That´s what I would do.
Craig:
What is she doesn´t accept my apology?
Joey:
Then you can join me in knowing that there´s a girl somewhere, who hates you.
Craig:
It´s not a nice feeling, is it?
Joey:
It´s one, you can definitely do without.
Craig nods in understanding and clearly isn´t looking forward to it.
13. Int. Degrassi Hallway. Morning.
Craig is waiting by Holly J´s locker. She isn´t happy to see him, but looks like she´s cooled down a little since the day before.
Craig:
Can we talk?
Holly J:
I guess so.
Craig:
I can come up with a hundred excuses, why this wasn´t all my fault. That´s what I did, when it happened with Manny. I´ve come to the conclusion since that we were both to blame and she was no saint either, if you catch my drift. But that was three years ago and I shouldn´t have let things with you go as far as they did. If you hate me, that´s fine, but I wanted you to know that even if I don´t succeed at it all the time, I still try to be a nice guy.
Holly J:
I don´t blame you. Not entirely anyway.
He looks relieved.
Holly J:
I wouldn´t have given you the time of day, if I hadn´t already heard about you. You were my fantasy boyfriend and when it came true, I got swept up in it. What I´m trying to say, is that I could have stopped it too. By the way, I did, every time we you know ... laid together.
He can´t help looking a little proud.
Craig:
Why did you lie?
Holly J:
Because I knew, that it would make you try harder the next time we did it.
He nods in understanding and it seems like they´re more on an even playing field now, which eases the tension between them.
Craig:
You had me going.
Holly J:
If you´re willing to give in another try ...
Craig:
Do yourself a favor and find someone, who´s your own age and doesn´t have a kid.
Holly J:
It´s bound to get in the way, isn´t it?
Craig:
Now do you understand, why we can´t be a couple?
Holly J:
Yeah. I think, I do. Can we stay friends, at least?
Craig:
I can´t see why not.
He looks satisfied with how it all turned out.
CLOSING CREDITS