WHAT IF? - SEASON 3 EPISODE 12 - HUMAN TOUCH
1. Int. Emma´s Room. Evening.
Emma and JT are hanging out and are helping each other with improving their respective stand up acts.
Emma:
Okay, how about this one? You wanna know how fast sex was with my ex?
JT:
How fast was it?
Emma:
So fast, that if we started at the beginning of the commercial break, I still had time to make popcorn, before the second half of "West Drive" started! It´s funny, right?
JT:
It´s kind of mean and not really that funny, sorry.
Emma:
They can´t all be winners!
She puts her notepad away and pouts.
JT:
Your act is coming along. It´s better than mine!
Emma:
It´s not that. Doing all of those sex jokes reminds me all the time, of how far I am from actually trying it for myself again.
JT:
You could try hitting on someone. I can´t remember the last time I saw that happen, where his name wasn´t Sean Cameron.
Emma:
Like who? The only guys that I could be inclined to date are all taken, or have some other defect that turns me off from them.
He gets curious.
JT:
Who is on that list of guys you would date, if there wasn´t something wrong with them?
Emma:
Not really anyone, to be honest. I mean, there´s you, but that´s never gonna happen!
She realized that she over spoke and it gets quiet between them for a few seconds, while he takes it in.
JT:
How long have you felt that way about me?
She has her chance to come clean to him, but it´s obvious that she isn´t ready to.
Emma:
It´s nothing, really! Don´t let it get to your head, pal!
She gives him a nudge on the shoulder and smiles it off, which makes him ease up too.
Emma:
I mean, who else am I gonna date? Toby? We both know that it would be doomed from the start.
JT:
Where as you and me ...
Emma:
Would no doubt be all kinds of great and awesome, but you´re with my BFF and that´s the way it is!
JT:
You really think so?
Emma:
Why wouldn´t we be? We´ve known each other forever and you´re my best friend after Manny. Speaking of Manny, you should probably get home to her waiting arms.
She tries to smile it off, but it looks like he can read her true face hidden beneath it, in spite of her best efforts.
OPENING CREDITS
2. Int. Kitchen. Morning.
Emma is eating breakfast, while Spike is feeding her little brother, who´s growing fast.
Spike:
How´s it going with your latest story?
Emma:
Okay. I need to change the ending.
Spike:
What´s wrong with the one you wrote?
Emma:
It was too sappy and unrealistic.
Spike:
Love stories often are, Honey.
Emma:
In the ending I have, the guy gives up everything, so they can live happily ever after.
Spike:
It sounds like a nice, romantic ending
Emma:
In real life, she would end up the loser, because that´s what always happens to the girl on the side. If he´s already made up his mind on who he wants, there´s nothing she can do to change it. In stead the happy ending, I´m having her run far away and leaving the possibility open for a sequel.
Spike:
Emma, there wouldn´t be any parallels to this in your real life? If there is, I had my share of bad crushes at your age.
Emma:
It´s okay, mom. In this case, I would end up losing, even if by some miracle, I should get the guy. Which I can´t in my wildest imagination see, how is gonna happen.
Spike gives her a re-assuring smile.
Spike:
Honey, you´re not even 18 yet. When I was your age, I was sure that I knew how everything would turn out and guess what? I was wrong about pretty much all of it! We´re talking way, way off in most cases!
Her answer makes Emma cheer up a little.
Spike:
No one, especially someone as young as you, can predict exactly what the future will bring.
Emma:
That´s probably true. However in my case, the two of them are practically married.
Spike:
Do you know who else were for a while? Your dad and Michelle. Look how that turned out.
Emma´s mood looks to have been raised somewhat, as she goes back to eating her breakfast.
3. Int. JT and Manny´s Room. Morning.
JT and Manny are getting dressed for school.
JT:
Can I ask you something, that might sound kind of far out there?
Manny:
Try me.
JT:
Could it be possible and I know that it sounds crazy, when I say it, that Emma has a crush on me?
Manny´s face turns serious.
Manny:
What makes you think that?
JT:
A few things, that have happened over the last months. First there was the dance, where you were at home sick. There was a moment between us.
Manny:
Do I need to worry?
JT:
No, it was just a moment and none of us have mentioned it since, so I thought that I must have misread what happened. Then Sean said some stuff to me and I was thinking, that he was out to get back at her, for not wanting him like she used to.
Manny:
What did he say, exactly?
JT:
That she likes me, basically. I wouldn´t trust him further, than I could throw him, though. But then she said something yesterday about me being the only guy in school, that she would date, if she could. She also said something about how great me and her would be together.
Manny has to sit down to take it in.
Manny:
That is pretty damning evidence.
JT:
It could be that I´m misreading the whole thing and Sean was just trying to be a jerk towards her.
Manny:
Sean from three years ago would have. I can´t see him doing it now. For all of his many faults, he does legitimately care about her.
JT sits down next to her and tries to take it in too.
JT:
I didn´t do anything to lead her on, if that´s what you´re afraid of. Not knowingly, anyway.
Manny:
It does sort of make sense, when you consider how few she´s close with. As far as guys go, if we exclude Sean, it comes down to you or Toby. Maybe Craig, but that´s a wild card at best.
JT gets in idea.
JT:
They have always liked each other, haven´t they?
Manny:
I guess so, as friends.
JT:
And isn´t Craig recently single and always ready to mingle?
He smiles at her, but she isn´t looking too into his idea.
Manny:
Next plan!
JT:
The only other thing I can come up with is to ask her, but wouldn´t she just lie about it?
Manny:
What we need is a way to get the truth out of her, without her suspecting anything.
She gets to thinking up a plan.
4. Ext. Degrassi. Morning.
Emma is heading towards the school, when Manny hurries to catch up with her.
Manny:
What´s your hurry? Can´t get enough of those exciting morning classes?
Emma:
That´s stretching it, as far as exciting goes!
Manny:
JT said that you guys had a great time last night.
Emma:
Yeah, it was fun. Hanging out with JT always is!
Manny:
He is pretty great, isn´t he?
Emma:
I wouldn´t mind it, if there were two of him!
Manny:
So you could have the other JT?
Emma gets nervous.
Emma:
What makes you sure that he would want me?
Manny:
Come on, Em! We both know that if he couldn´t be with me, then he would want to be with you.
Emma tries not to smile, as Manny tries her best to read her face.
Emma:
He wouldn´t. What about Paige, for example?
Manny:
He hasn´t spoken to her, since before she left for college. You, he speaks to every day and you get each other, the way only true, long time friends do. You don´t find that every day.
Emma:
It´s all hypothetical.
Manny:
Emma, if for some reason me and JT don´t work out, I would rather have him end up with you than anyone else. There´s no doubt that you would make one another happy.
Emma now can´t help smiling, which gets Manny´s mind racing.
5. Int. Shop Class. Morning.
Sean is arranging his tools (literally!) when Manny comes in looking for him. She gets a whistle here and there from the other boys in there.
Sean:
Santos! You looking for me?
She spots him and comes over to him.
Manny:
Good guess.
Sean:
I´m also guessing that I´m the only one in here, you know.
Manny:
Again correct.
Sean:
You have seven minutes, so don´t waste them.
Manny:
Emma had a crush on JT.
He smiles to himself.
Sean:
Did I wake up half a year ago?
Manny:
For real this time.
She looks at him like she´s expecting him to freak out, but he doesn´t.
Sean:
Emma can do what she wants to. She´s a single girl in the prime of her life.
Manny:
You don´t believe me, I get that. It does sound a little out there, but there are clear signs. A girl can tell these things.
Sean:
Even if she does, can you in your wildest imagination imagine her doing anything to jeopardize your friendship? Or JT doing so, for that matter? It takes two to tango.
Manny:
Wouldn´t it drive you cuckoo bananas, if your best friend had a crush on your girlfriend?
Sean:
Why don´t you ask her? Rip off the band aid and get it over with.
Manny:
It´s an extremely delicate situation. I´ll find some other way of finding out.
The shop teacher comes over to them.
Teacher:
Aren´t you in the wrong classroom, miss?
Manny:
I am and I should be getting to the right one post haste!
Teacher:
Yes, you should.
Manny hurries out of there.
Teacher:
She´s cute, Sean, but can you leave the boyfriend/girlfriend stuff for the breaks?
Sean:
Sorry, Sir. Won´t happen again.
The teacher leaves him and he pretends to be unmoved.
6. Int. Library. Day.
The sophomores are doing a group assignment and JT is lucky enough to be paired up with Chantay and Darcy, who are interested in everything except for the assignment. He looks like he would rather be anywhere else.
Chantay:
You just know that the poor guy isn´t gonna last half a year, but that´s Tay-Tay for you!
Darcy:
I bet that most of those big celebs get plenty of action on the side. If you´re that popular and you get that many offers from ultra hot people, there´s no way you can continue to say no!
Chantay:
Yeah! Like if ...
JT:
Sorry to interrupt your fascinating celeb talk, but shouldn´t we be at least trying to do the assignment?
Chantay:
I don´t feel like it.
Darcy:
Aren´t you supposed to be the guy, who´s anti school work all the time?
JT:
Usually. Today I was hoping that it could be a distraction.
The girls are suddenly very interested.
Chantay:
Fess up!
Darcy:
We can keep a secret!
He takes a moment to consider it, before giving in.
JT:
There´s a girl, who I think has a crush on me.
Chantay:
But you´re not sure?
JT:
I need to talk to her, if she does. On the other hand, I don´t want to come of as a complete idiot, if I´m wrong.
Darcy:
You´re probably around number ten thousand at this school to run into this particular problem!
Chantay:
What about Manny?
JT:
I´m not looking to leave Manny for her! I wouldn´t leave Manny for anyone, if you must know!
Darcy:
Do something to get a response out of this girl. Say, if you fell, would she rush to your aid? If she thought there were problems between you and Manny, would she try to take advantage of it? Stuff like that.
JT:
Something to get a response ...
He tries to come up with something.
7. Int. Hallway. Day.
Emma is heading to her next class, when JT comes to meet her, coming from the other side. They smile at each other.
JT:
What´s next on your menu?
Emma:
Geography. Could be worse, I guess. You?
JT:
The incredibly boring world of French. Of which after all these years, I still can´t correctly pronounce more than ten words at the most, so it should be a nice waste of time!
She laughs.
Emma:
How are you gonna graduate with that attitude?
JT:
I´m not planning on having an academic career. I was wondering, if you want to hang out tonight?
Emma:
Let me check my calendar ... it´s free as usual! You, me and Manny?
JT:
It´s her turn to babysit, so it´ll just be you and me. That´s okay, isn´t it?
She tries to pretend not to be too pleased, as she nods at him.
Emma:
Yeah, sure.
JT:
I´ll come over to your house around six-ish and we´ll take it from there.
Emma:
Fine by me. Any clues as to what we´re doing?
JT:
I haven´t thought of anything yet. It´s really just an excuse to get some alone time with you. Later!
He heads to his next class, as she tries to figure out how to react.
8. Int. Living Room. Day.
It´s after school and Manny and JT are having a "tactics meeting".
JT:
What better way to find out, than to take her out on a real date?
Manny:
Only she doesn´t know that it´s a date?
JT:
Which is what makes it a perfect plan!
She looks confused.
Manny:
In what universe is that a perfect plan?
JT:
If she does like me "that way", I´m sure to find out.
Manny:
What if she does?
JT:
Then I´ll let her know in the nicest, most pleasant way I can think of, why it can´t happen. Hey, I love Em too and I don´t want her to get hurt any more than you do, but I don´t want anyone other than you.
She looks him in the eyes to be sure.
Manny:
You´re sure there isn´t a tiny bit of you, that wonders what it would be like, if you and her made a go at it?
JT:
I love you. Not Emma or anyone else, you.
He gives her a small kiss on the forehead and she looks a little more on board with the idea.
9. Int. Kitchen. Evening.
Spike is making dinner, when a much more cheerful Emma comes in and walks over to her.
Emma:
Hi, mom. I´m not staying home for dinner. Did I tell you that already?
Spike:
Twice. Are you alright?
Emma:
Why wouldn´t I be? Do I need an excuse to be in a great mood?
Spike smiles at her.
Spike:
I guess not.
Emma:
By the way, I decided to keep the ending. She gets her man and they live happily ever after.
Spike:
Where does this change of heart come from?
Emma:
If you hadn´t figured it out yet, this story was me thinking up the perfect life, I would want. How depressing would it be, if I wrote an unhappy ending for myself?
Spike:
Even the more adult parts?
Emma:
Okay, so I rubbed it on thick in some places, but that´s what being a writer is all about. It´s also why I love it, because you get to do that and you don´t have to apologize to anybody.
Spike:
I´m just glad, that it´s helping you cope with what happened. What are you doing tonight?
Emma:
Hanging with JT again.
The doorbell rings.
Emma:
Speak of the devil!
She hurries out of there and Spike can´t help looking a bit worried about her.
10. Int. Manny and JT´s Room. Evening.
Manny is in the middle of writing a report for school, when there´s a knock on the door. Caitlyn comes in.
Caitlyn:
Dinner´s ready.
Manny:
I´ll be there in a moment. Perhaps a break is what I need, before I can finish this.
Caitlyn:
Are you stuck?
Manny:
This paper is like the school version of quick sand! If I could keep my mind on it, that would be a huge help.
Caitlyn:
What´s wrong?
She sits down next to Manny, who puts her work away.
Manny:
Did you ever try liking the same guy, one of your friends did?
Caitlyn:
Not that I remember, sorry. I´ve been lucky in that department.
Manny:
You didn´t have any competition for Joey´s heart?
Caitlyn tries not to laugh.
Caitlyn:
I don´t know how you picture us in high school, but it wasn´t like I had any competition. Not until Tessa came along.
Manny:
Were there any signs that looking back on it, you should have picked up on?
Caitlyn:
You don´t think that JT is cheating on you?
Manny:
I´m worried that he wants to. Maybe it would be best for him, if he could start fresh with her, who doesn´t have a daughter and has every possibility still open to her. It would be great for Em too.
Caitlyn smiles warmly at her.
Caitlyn:
Manny, you have to be the sweetest and kindest girl your age to walk this earth right now! That you would give up all you have with him, only to potentially make them happier, is selfless to the point of sainthood!
She gets a smile out of Manny.
Caitlyn:
Only there´s one factor, you have to take into consideration. I don´t think that JT wants to trade you and the girls in for anyone, not even Emma. Now stop being paranoid and come down for dinner. It´s Chimichangas night. Angie´s pick.
Manny:
You know that she only loves them because she thinks that it´s a funny word to say, don´t you?
Manny looks a little cheered up by their talk.
11. Int. Little Miss Steaks. Evening.
JT and Emma are sitting at a table, both with a glass of soda in front of them and a mostly eaten plate of Nachos between them. They´re also trying their hardest not to completely break down laughing, as a rather tone deaf pair of identical twin sisters in their 50´s are giving their best (which also funnily enough equals their worst) karaoke version of "I´m So Excited" by the Pointer Sisters. They even to a clearly pre choreographed dance, that´s enough to send Emma over the edge and she almost spits Nachos all over JT, but manages to hold her mouth in time. When the song finally ends, the two of them applaud them loudly.
JT:
Encore!
Emma:
Hear, hear!
Owner:
That was the Jugg sisters with their performance of "I´m so Excited". You sure got everyone in here excited. Thanks for that lovely rendition.
The sisters go down to their seats and high five, before sitting down.
Owner:
With that we are closing down the karaoke for this week, but we´ll be back with it next Thursday, so make sure to bring your friends. Have a nice evening, everyone.
We cut down to Emma and JT.
JT:
You didn´t get to sing! What a shame!
Emma:
You´ve heard me sing, ergo you know that it´s the opposite of a shame!
JT:
What would that be?
Emma:
Something you´re proud of, perhaps? Anyway, you didn´t get to sing either.
JT:
These evenings are hard enough on the ears of their employees, without me adding to their feeling of being stuck in purgatory and only being rewarded with minimum wage and tips!
They laugh a little, before Emma gets a bit sad.
Emma:
Why can´t I find this with anyone else?
JT:
What do you mean?
Emma:
This! The way we enjoy talking, like it´s second nature. I love Sean and part of me will until the day I die, but I can´t tell you how many times we´ve had awkward silences, where I think both of us must have asked ourselves, what made us decide to be together. We´re so different in many ways. The only ones I talk to, the way I talk to you, are Manny and my parents.
JT smiles to himself, as he works up his nerve to ask her.
JT:
Does that mean, it´s over between you and Sean?
Emma:
It´s hard to say. This may sound harsh, but I feel like I wasted a lot of time on him. Not that there weren´t very nice times among them too, mind you, but I thought that it was all leading somewhere. Finding out now that I was probably wrong, kind of blows a big one!
JT:
Was that when you started liking me?
Emma:
No, that was ...
She stops herself and becomes very embarrassed, even if he looks very empathetic with her.
Emma:
I have to go!
She quickly gets out of her seat and hurries out of there. He´s left sitting there, trying to take it in.
12. Ext. Joey and Caitlyn´s House. Evening.
A visibly upset Emma comes running up to the door and knocks on it. Angie is the one, who opens it.
Angie:
Hi, Emma! What brings you around?
Emma:
Is Manny home? I really need to talk to her.
Angie:
Yeah, she´s in the living room. MANNY?
Manny quickly comes out to join them.
Manny:
Hey, Em.
Emma:
I have to tell you something, that I probably should have told you a while ago.
Manny looks like she knows what it is already, while Angie just looks very curious.
Angie:
What is it?
Emma already looks apologetic.
13. Int. JT and Manny´s Room. Evening.
Emma and Manny are sitting next to each other on the twin bed.
Emma:
This is gonna be hard for me to tell you, so just hear me out until you say anything, okay?
Manny:
Whatever it is, I´m not going to hate you for it. You know that I´ll never stop loving you.
She gives Em a reassuring smile, giving her a little dose of courage.
Emma:
It started way back, when I was pregnant. Besides you and on rare occasions Toby or Liberty, JT was the only one who came to visit. When Sean did, it more felt like he did it because he felt obligated to, but not JT. He would come over with that huge smile on his face, ready to throw every joke he knew at me, to help me forget about everything I´d gotten myself into. To help to me feel like my old self again. I can´t tell you, how much that meant to me or begin to explain how great it felt. I also showed me, that as far as which guy I can count on, when push comes to shove, it´s not Sean Cameron. It´s your current boyfriend and I´ve been falling more and more in love with him ever since then.
She stares at the floor, ashamed of herself, as Manny has to stand up to take in what Emma just told her.
Manny:
Did you just say that you´re in love with him?
Emma:
I hate myself for it, Manny, but I can´t stop! If I could tear these emotions out of my body and throw them in the ocean, I would!
Manny:
Do you want him for yourself?
Emma starts crying as Manny stares at her, still somewhat in disbelief.
Emma:
I don´t know what I want. The only thing I know, is that I don´t want you or Julia to get hurt by this. Maybe it´s for the best, if I stayed away from you guys for a while.
She stands up and wipes her eyes before looking into Manny´s, who´s now also crying.
Manny:
We don´t have to take it that far.
Emma:
It´s real love I feel for him. I´m sorry if that´s hard for you to hear, but I´d rather be a hundred percent truthful with you, now that I have the chance to. Do me a favor and don´t tell JT, will you?
Manny:
If that´s what you want. How long is this going to last for?
Emma:
I can´t say. Maybe forever.
She gives Manny a big hug, like it´s the last time she sees her and and leaves the room. Manny has to sit down to take it in and continues crying.
14. Ext. Joey and Caitlyn´s House. Evening.
Emma comes out from the house just as JT is coming up to it. He looks concerned for her.
JT:
How did you beat me here?
Emma:
I took a cab and paid him ten bucks extra to make it snappy.
JT:
Em, we can talk about this.
Emma:
JT, get your butt in there and do what you do best, which is shower Manny and the girls with love. They need you more, than I do.
JT:
What about you?
Emma:
I´ll find my own way to get by. Goodbye, JT.
She walks away from him and starts crying again.
CLOSING CREDITS
THINGS AREN´T LOOKING TOO GOOD FOR OUR FAVORITE LITTLE GROUP OF FRIENDS RIGHT NOW, ARE THEY? KEEP IN MIND THAT THERE´S STILL THE REST OF THIS SEASON, PLUS ALL OF NEXT SEASON FOR THINGS TO GET WORKED OUT. IF YOU KNOW MY WRITING, THEN YOU KNOW THAT I LIKE TO END MY MAJOR STORYLINES ON A POSITIVE NOTE. HOWEVER IN EVERY GREAT STORY, THINGS NEED TO LOOK THEIR WORST, BEFORE THEY CAN END ON A HIGH NOTE. IT´S NOT A SPOILER, I JUST DON´T WANT YOU TO WALK AWAY FROM THIS EPISODE FEELING DEPRESSED.
AS ALWAYS, THANKS TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT. YOU READING THESE IS PART OF WHAT HAS MADE THIS SERIES NOT JUST MORE POPULAR, THAN I THOUGHT A DEGRASSI SERIES LIKE THIS COULD BECOME, BUT KNOWING THAT SO MANY ARE ENJOYING IT, ALSO MAKES IT MORE FUN TO WRITE FOR ME.