WHAT IF? - SEASON 3 EPISODE 13 - I´M GOING DOWN
Disclaimer: I don´t own Degrassi or the characters from it.
1. Int. Banting Hallway. Day.
Stone (Andy´s bandmate, who we met in an earlier episode) is getting a drink from a drinking fountain, when an almost desperate looking Paige comes over to him.
Paige:
Hi, Stoney. Can you help me?
Stone:
It depends on what you want help with.
Paige:
Something, that starts with a C?
Stone shakes his head to herself.
Stone:
Don´t you usually get it from Andy?
Paige:
He scored me some last Friday, but it´s been a rough week. I don´t want him to know, that I went through it already. Please, Stoney. I can´t make it through the rest of the day without a line.
Stone:
Do you realize how messed up that sounds?
Paige:
It´s just this one time and I promise, that I´ll never ask you again. For me?
She gives him her best puppy dog eyes and he gives in.
Stone:
I might have some in my dorm room.
Paige:
You´re a real pal.
Stone:
If we hurry, we can still make the next lecture in time.
She follows after him.
2. Int. Dorm Room. Day.
Paige and Stone both do a line and it looks like it calmed her down for the moment. He hides it away in a desk drawer, after they´re done.
Stone:
Andy doesn´t hear about this, understood?
Paige:
He would be as mad at me, as he would at you.
Stone:
Why do you think? The guy is head over heels in love with you.
Paige:
I love him too and I hate having to lie to him like this. Of course it would be a lot easier, if I could go and buy it from the source myself.
Stone gets a piece of paper and writes down a phone number.
Stone:
Call this number and tell him that you know me. He´ll let you know where to go.
She takes it and looks at it.
Paige:
Can´t you give me the address?
Stone:
He moves around to avoid the cops.
Paige:
I guess that makes sense.
Stone:
He´s nice enough if you don´t try to screw him over, but don´t be fooled. He´s only that way because he wants your money and he couldn´t care less what happens to you.
She puts the note in her pocket and they get ready to leave.
Paige:
Thanks.
Stone:
You can thank me by never mentioning this to anyone. Agreed?
She nods and looks grateful to him.
OPENING CREDITS
3. Ext. Park. Day.
Paige is looking nervous, as she´s standing by a large tree and is waiting for someone. A guy in a large trench coat comes over to her.
Dealer:
Paige from Toronto?
Paige:
That´s me.
Dealer:
I´m Walt. You have the dough?
She slyly exchanges the money with a small bag of white powder with him.
Walt:
I threw in a little extra, since you´re a first time customer. You´re Andy´s girl, aren´t you?
Paige:
That´s one way of putting it.
Walt:
I can see why he likes you. You have a cute face.
She gets uncomfortable at his compliment.
Paige:
Thanks, I guess. I should get going.
Walt:
Some girls like to pay in naturals. Of course, they´re all so skinny. I like a girl, who has something to hold onto.
Paige:
That´s not for me!
She walks away from him looking disgusted.
4. Int. Campus Cafe. Day.
Paige is sitting at a table by herself, looking disgusted with herself while she eats a piece of pie. Ashley sees her and comes over to sit with her.
Ashley:
Want some company?
Paige:
It can´t hurt.
Ashley sits down with her.
Ashley:
Why so blue?
Paige:
Some guy came on to me. God, he was disgusting!
Ashley:
You could take it as a compliment.
Paige:
I´m not in the mood for jokes. Dylan called last night. Our parents have officially separated.
Ashley clearly feels sorry for her.
Ashley:
I´m sorry to hear it.
Paige:
I should have been prepared, with how much they´ve been on the rocks these past years. It doesn´t mean that the news didn´t hit me like a punch to the gut.
Ashley:
No wonder. I still remember when my parents told me, that they were splitting up.
Paige:
I don´t want to bring everyone else down either. Andy´s band has this big gig tonight that he´s been excited about for weeks and I´m obligated to show up to support him.
Ashley:
Have you considered that something to take your mind off it, could be just what you need?
Paige:
I feel so angry at them! How could they do something so selfish, when they know how hard it is for me and Dylan already?
Ashley:
In time, it´ll work out for the best for all of you. In the meantime, you should go and see Andy´s band. If nothing else, so you won´t spend the entire evening moping away in a tiny dorm room.
Paige nods and sees that Ashley is most likely right.
5. Int. Sav´s Room. Day.
Sav is working on a speech, with Alli as his helper.
Sav:
Should I mention that time, where he tried to cook for all of us and burned it, so we had to order pizza? It´s a funny story.
Alli:
Considering that this is as conservative a crowd, as you´ll find anywhere, I´d leave it out.
Sav:
You´re probably right. Only it´s gonna be a short birthday speech, if all I have is "Congratulations" and the story about our trip to India.
Alli:
You should have started on it sooner!
Sav:
Which is real easy to say now!
They smile at each other, as there´s a knock on the door.
Sav:
Come in!
The door opens and their mother comes in.
Sav´s Mom:
Alli, it´s time to get dressed for the party. We´re leaving in an hour.
Sav:
Knowing you, that means you´d better get a move on!
Alli rolls her eyes at them, but goes along with it.
Alli:
Okay! Just don´t blame me, if everyone thinks your speech stinks!
She leaves them.
Sav´s Mom:
Are you having problems with your speech?
Sav:
Kind of. It´s hard, when you have to worry about offending anyone all the time.
Sav´s Mom:
I trust that we won´t have any more outbursts of teenage rebellion tonight?
Sav nods at her to assure her.
Sav:
I´ll try not to. It´s none of the rest of our family´s business, right?
Sav´s Mom:
Save it for another time. Tonight is Rajeev´s evening.
He nods in agreement and she leaves him to try to write a decent speech.
6. Int. Music Venue. Evening.
The venue isn´t that big, probably around of a capacity of five hundred or so and it´s pretty much filled with concertgoers. Everything on the stage is set up for a concert and we see Andy peaking out from backstage and looking nervous.
7. Int. Backstage Area. Evening.
We see that Andy is with Paige, who´s trying to calm him down.
Andy:
I´ve never played in front of that many before.
Paige:
You don´t think that old trick of picturing them all naked will work?
Andy:
I´ll be too nervous to.
Seeing that his stage fright is getting to him, she gives him a hug.
Paige (whispering in his ear):
I have some of that thing, you told me that you use to relieve stage fright.
Andy (whispering back at her):
I don´t know. I´ve been trying not to lately.
Paige (whispering in his ear):
It´s up to you. I just know that if I had hundreds of people waiting to see me perform and I was scared of going out there, what I would do in that situation.
He thinks about it for a few seconds and even peers out the curtain one more time to make up his mind, but he eventually gives in.
8. Int. House (Living Room). Evening.
Sav and Alli (who´s dressed in her traditional Indian Sari) are saying happy birthday to their cousin Rajeev, who´s turning 21. There´s many other party guests there, all of them Indian.
Sav:
What´s it like to be able to drink anywhere in the world?
Rajeev:
It´s not like I´ll be doing a lot of drinking.
Alli:
Drinking is only for dumb people anyway. That´s what dad always says.
Sav:
Why don´t you run off and see, if you can´t find your cousin Indira? I´m sure, she´s been anxious to see you again.
Alli:
I will. Happy birthday, Rajeev.
Rajeev:
Thanks, Alli. You coming has made this the best birthday party, I could have asked for.
They smile at each other and she runs off to find Indira. Rajeev´s smile fades though, when she´s left them. Rajeev makes a motion with his head for Sav to follow him into the kitchen and he does.
9. Int. House (Kitchen). Evening.
Rajeev and Sav come into the kitchen and Rajeev´s frustration becomes painted all over his face.
Rajeev:
Do you want to know the truth, Sav?
Sav:
Sure.
Rajeev:
The truth is that I´d rather get in my car and drive away as fast as I can, than go back in there!
Sav looks full of sympathy for him.
Sav:
Everyone in there loves you.
Rajeev:
You don´t get it! From now until the grave, everything is already decided for me. Did you know, that my parents and the parents of the girl I´m gonna marry, who I haven´t seen since we were twelve, have set a date for our wedding?
Sav:
I´m sorry, man.
Rajeev:
I didn´t know whether to tell you, but your parents have arranged a marriage for Alli.
Sav is shocked with rage and in his anger almost takes it out on Rajeev, as he grabs his collar.
Sav:
Who to? You gotta tell me!
Rajeev:
I don´t know the kid, alright? My parents wanted today to be when they were introduced to one another, but I talked them out of it.
Sav tries to calm down and lets go of Rajeev´s collar.
Sav:
I knew that it would be coming someday soon. This doesn´t mean, I´m letting them go through with it!
Rajeev:
What are you gonna do? Whether we like it or not, we live in a culture where our parents practically own us.
Sav:
They don´t own me, they don´t own you and they sure as hell don´t own my little sister!
He looks determined to do something about it.
10. Int. Backstage Area. Evening.
Andy and Paige come out from the bathroom, both looking very high. His bandmate Jeff comes over to him, not looking too pleased.
Jeff:
Where were you, dude? We go on in five!
Andy:
Preparing.
Paige:
Don´t worry, Jeff. He´s in tip top shape now!
Jeff:
You´d better be! I hear that there´s at least one talent scout in the crowd tonight.
Andy:
Why do you worry so much?
He gives Jeff a hug, that Jeff clearly wasn´t expecting and isn´t sure how to react to.
Andy:
We are gonna rock their socks off! I can feel it, right down to my bone marrow!
Jeff:
Whatever, dude! The next time you feel like hugging me, give a guy a little notice first, will ya?
He leaves them and they laugh at it. In this state, they´ll probably find just about anything funny.
Paige:
A talent scout, huh? Does that make you extra nervous?
Andy:
It only makes me wanna get out on that stage even more!
Paige:
If you do, I still have some "Chemical Courage" left.
Andy:
Save it for after the show, when you congratulate me on our new record deal!
He kisses her passionately and heads off to the stage. She smiles, as she watches him walk off, but soon starts to feel sick and has to steady herself against a wall. Since it isn´t going away, she has to sit down on the floor. Sweat starts coming from her forehead and she´s starting to look pale too, as we hear the concert starting in the distance.
11. Int. Music Venue. Evening.
Andy´s band (that according to their marquee are named "L´Andrew") are rocking out on stage, as a very sick looking Paige makes her way through the crowd, while trying her hardest not to faint. A pair of guys she passes by look concerned about her.
Guy #1:
Are you okay?
Guy #2:
You look like you should go to the hospital.
Paige:
Mind your own business!
She somehow makes her way to the doors and leaves the venue.
12. Int. Taxi. Evening.
Paige gets in and is looking pretty bad.
Taxi Driver:
Where to, miss?
Paige:
The nearest hospital. I´m not feeling too good.
Taxi Driver:
Sure thing.
Paige:
Wait, do you know if they tell the cops, if they find out that you´ve done drugs?
Taxi Driver:
I believe that they´re required to by law.
Paige:
In that case, take me to the Banting dorms.
Taxi Driver:
Are you sure? It´s none of my business, but ...
Paige:
You´re right, it isn´t, so shut up and drive!
The driver shakes his head to himself.
Taxi Driver:
Whatever you say. It´s your health.
Paige:
I know what I´m doing, okay? I have it all under control, like I´ve always had!
He starts driving, while she tries to convince herself that what she said was true.
13. Int. House (Dining Room). Evening.
Everyone´s gathered around the large dinner table and are eating Rajeev´s birthday dinner, which consists of all of the Indian stables. Alli is goofing off with her equally aged cousin Indira, much to the chagrin of their respective mothers. Sav is sitting next to Alli, with his father on his other side.
Sav´s Mom:
Alli, will you stop that!
Indira´s Mom:
Try to behave like an adult for once, Indira!
The girls look a little hurt at being talked to this way and look apologetic.
Indira:
Sorry. Mom.
Alli:
I´m sorry too.
Sav:
Why should you be sorry? You´re only acting your age.
Sav´s Dad:
They can do that after dinner.
Sav:
Can´t you see, that it isn´t helpful to force children into behaving a way, that isn´t natural to them?
Sav´s Dad:
You´ll have to excuse Sav. He´s at that age, where you question many things.
Indira´s Dad:
If he doesn´t change those opinions, before he starts having children of his own, he´ll have some very unruly ones.
The parents laugh, but Sav isn´t finding it funny.
Sav´s Mom:
Lighten up, Sav! It was just a joke.
Sav:
What if I don´t want to have children? Have any of you considered that as a possibility?
The parents stop laughing and Indira´s Mom looks at him in disbelief for even suggesting it.
Indira´s Mom:
But ... you have to!
Sav:
Says who? If I think that it isn´t right to bring kids into a messed up world, that´s being destroyed by pollution and where we let the rich make everyone else miserable, while their bank accounts grow fatter, why shouldn´t I be allowed to?
Alli:
If that´s what he believes ...
Sav´s Mom:
Alli, stay out of this!
Sav´s Dad:
Savtaj, you can´t stop having children because things in the world could be better. Things have been tough before, but the children are our life blood. They represent our hope for a better future.
Sav has had enough and stands up.
Sav:
You always know just what to say, to make everyone else´s opinions sound wrong compared to yours! It´s bad enough that you control my life, but I´m not even allowed to have my own opinions, without being made to feel like they´re not valid? Urgh!
He storms off outside to get some air, as a hush falls over his and Indira´s family.
14. Int. Foyer. Evening.
Sav is trying to find his coat, when his dad approaches him.
Sav´s Dad:
Stop this and come back inside.
Sav:
Because you want me to? No way!
Sav´s Dad:
For Rajeev´s sake, if not for mine.
Sav finds his coat puts it on.
Sav:
Rajeev doesn´t want to be a part of the blatant display of hypocrisy, that´s going on in there, any more than I do! He told me!
Sav´s Dad:
Savtaj, you´re only saying this because you´re upset. Try to calm down.
Sav:
Calm down? Like you´ll want Alli to be the good calm and obedient Indian girl, when you tell her, that you´ve arranged a marriage for her?
Sav´s Dad:
She´ll understand.
Sav:
She´s understand and do as she´s told, because she loves you and wants nothing more than to please you. But you´ll be stealing away all of the potential from her, that we both know she has, by forcing her to become like mom. Deep down, you know that as well as I do.
Sav´s words seem to be hitting home with his dad, who for once doesn´t have the right answer ready.
Sav:
If you really love her, then you´ll call that marriage off. In return, I promise never to tell her about it. As for the marriage you arranged for me, consider it officially cancelled!
He walks off and out the door, as his father is left to think about what he said.
15. Int. Paige and Ashley´s Room. Evening.
Paige is lying on her bed with a damp rag on her forehead, while Ashley tends to her. She´s really not looking too good.
Ashley:
What a couple of days, huh? First with your parents and now you get sick?
Paige:
I don´t know what happened. I all of a sudden started feeling horrible.
Ashley:
There´s probably a bug going around, that you were unlucky enough to catch.
Paige:
That would be the logical explanation.
Ashley:
You don´t think it´s something I can catch, do you?
Paige shakes her head.
Paige:
I don´t know. All I know is that I feel sick as a dog.
Ashley smiles warmly at her.
Ashley:
Did you at least get to see Andy´s band perform?
Paige:
Only the beginning, but it´s not like it´s the last chance I´ll get.
Ashley:
Was he sexy looking?
Paige smiles to herself and nods.
Paige:
Before I came here, I never thought that a guy like him could like me, the way he does. I´m completely and utterly in love with him.
Ashley looks happy for her and strokes her hair.
Ashley:
Close your eyes and keep that thought in mind.
Paige does.
Paige:
Nightie night, Ash.
Ashley:
Nightie night, Paige. I´m sure you´ll feel better after a good night´s sleep.
Ashley gets in her own bed and under the covers, before turning the lights out. We see Paige open her eyes, since she she knows that the Cocaine is bound to keep her up for a good while as an extra "bonus".
16. Int. Sav´s Room. Evening.
Sav is lying on his bed and sulking, when the door opens a tiny bit.
Alli (off screen):
Can I come in?
Sav:
Yeah, sure! Come in.
She does and looks nervously at him.
Alli:
Are you still mad?
Sav:
Even if I was, it wasn´t like I was mad at you. It´s mom and dad that have been getting my juices flowing recently.
Alli:
I wish, you´d stop fighting.
Sav:
If I back down now, then I won´t have accomplished anything.
She smiles at him and sits down on the bed.
Alli:
I wouldn´t be so sure of that.
Sav sits up and now looks interested.
Sav:
What do you mean?
Alli:
On the ride home, mom and dad told me about the marriage they´ve arranged for me.
Sav:
Oh, Alli. I´m so sorry.
Alli:
Then they asked me, if it was something I wanted to do.
Sav looks pleasantly surprised.
Sav:
They did?
Alli nods and he can´t help himself from smiling.
Alli:
I told them that while I appreciated the gesture, I would rather find out who to marry on my own.
Sav:
They accepted this?
Alli:
It was implied, that I should choose someone like us, but there´s half a billion men in India alone, so I should be able to find one that I like!
She gives him a big hug.
Alli:
I have you to thank. I never would have had the courage to speak to dad, like you did.
Sav:
You´re welcome.
He tries to take it all in, but does so with a smile on his face as he hugs Alli tightly.
17. Int. Campus Cafe. Day.
Paige is enjoying a cup of coffee with Andy.
Andy:
It´s great to see, that you´re on the up and up.
Paige:
More or less. A night´s sleep helped.
Andy:
Have you considered that it could have been, from what we did in that bathroom?
Paige:
It´s never made me sick like that before.
Andy:
I´ll have to talk with my supplier. Maybe it was stronger this time.
Paige:
Stronger?
Andy:
There´s various strengths depending on a lot of things. You didn´t know this?
Paige:
I´ve only tried the one kind you buy.
Andy:
It´s something you gotta watch out for. All of a sudden, that amount you normally do, can become the last thing, you´ll ever put in your body.
Paige:
What if you do more than that?
Andy:
Then you´re really in trouble. In fact, if that were me, I´d go straight to a hospital! I mean, you would be crazy not to!
Paige:
No arguments here.
She tries to hide her relief that she got out of it in one piece, at least.
CLOSING CREDITS