WHAT IF? - SEASON 3 EPISODE 16 - WE TAKE CARE OF OUR OWN
Disclaimer: I don´t own Degrassi or the characters from it.
A MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL OF YOU FROM YOUR HUMBLE AUTHOR. AS ALWAYS, THANKS FOR SUPPORTING THE SERIES!
1. Int. The Dot. Evening.
Craig is doing what appears to be the fashion around Degrassi these days. He´s letting Jane be his shrink, like she is to practically everyone these days. He looks like he needs it too, by the depressed look on his face.
Craig:
You want the truth, Jane? The truth is that love has always been a bitch towards me!
Jane:
I´m sure that plenty of people feel that way.
Craig:
It´s true in my case. Before I came to Degrassi, there wasn´t really anyone, but then I met Ashley. She would have been perfect, if she wasn´t such a nag all the time! Which is probably why my eyes started wandering towards Manny. Sweet and innocent Manny. It took her two years and a baby to realize, that she was too good for me. Holly was a nice change of pace, but it wasn´t going to last, not the way things are right now. Which brings us to today, where I´ve fallen like a five ton boulder from a space station for my best friend´s ex!
Jane smiles cheekily at him.
Jane:
Starting to regret that one night stand, are we?
Craig:
I´ve always liked Emma, it´s not that.
Jane:
Just not this way?
Craig:
Wouldn´t it be perfect, if it did work out and we lasted? Let´s face it, whoever I end up with will be Julia´s step mom and a big part of Manny´s life. Who better to fill that spot, than her best friend?
Jane:
Do you think, she´ll accept you and Emma together?
Craig:
It´s Manny! Give her a few days and she´ll be asking Em, if she can be maid of honor at our wedding!
Jane:
What about Sean?
Craig:
He´s the only one, I´m scared of telling. I´m pretty sure, that he´s still in love with her.
Jane:
The way I see it, he had plenty of chances to tell her how he feels. You snooze, you lose, pal!
Craig:
It´s never that easy, when it comes to Sean Cameron.
He tries to come up with a plan for what to do.
OPENING CREDITS
2. Int. Craig´s Car. Morning.
Craig and Emma are having a morning make out session in the back seat and they´re both very into it. Emma stops kissing him to check her watch.
Emma:
One more minute and then we really have to go!
Craig:
Can´t we ditch school and continue doing this for the rest of the day?
He keeps kissing her neck, but she snaps out of it and gently pushes him away.
Emma:
Craig, it was supposed to be a one night stand! This is breaking the rules, don´t you think?
Craig:
I still remember it, like it happened five minutes ago. Does that count?
She smiles to herself, as she starts straightening her clothes.
Emma:
I doubt it! It´s time to put on the act.
Craig:
Manny probably already knows.
Emma gets a bit worried.
Emma:
How can she? Haven´t you been careful too?
Craig:
Em, how long have you known her?
Emma:
Since we were little.
Craig:
Shouldn´t you know by now then, that she can read both of us like a book?
Emma nods in agreement.
Emma:
It is kind of her special super power, isn´t it?
Craig:
Wonder Woman has nothing on Manuella Santos! At least Sean is as oblivious as ever.
Emma:
If we´re gonna continue doing this, we´ll have to tell him eventually.
He smiles at her and gives her a kiss on the cheek.
Craig:
Does that mean, you want to continue doing this on a more regular basis?
She smiles shyly back at him.
Emma:
One thing at a time. Sean deserves better, than having his best friend sneaking around behind his back. Get that done and we´ll discuss it again.
Craig:
Will you tell Manny, if I tell Sean? It´s only fair.
She takes a moment to think about it before answering him with a kiss.
Emma:
Sounds like a plan.
She tries to get out, but he pulls her in for one last kiss, which she clearly doesn´t mind at all. Whatever this is between them, there´s certainly a physical attraction there!
3. Int. Hallway. Morning.
Sean is by his locker, looking as un-enthused by what´s to come as he usually does, when Manny comes over to him.
Manny:
Good morning, Sean. Ready for school?
Sean:
Like the turtle is ready to cross the road! Did you set up that thing, we talked about?
Manny:
It didn´t take a minute to convince the drama teacher. Are you sure, you´re okay with Craig and Emma dating?
Sean:
One thing that´s becoming more obvious by the day, is that I´m not the man of her dreams anymore. If she thinks that guy is Craig, I wish them the best of luck. After their tearful confession, of course!
Manny:
I´m expecting streams by the gallon!
Sean:
Won´t it be weird for you, with how long you and Craig were together?
Manny:
It´ll take a week or two to get used to, but I´m not expecting it to become an issue. As long as Emma is happy, that´s the main thing.
He closes his locker and smiles at her.
Sean:
She´s lucky to have you as a friend.
Manny:
If you need one, I´m always ready to lend an ear. I´m known to be a pretty good listener.
They nod at each other.
4. Int. Classroom. Morning.
Anya is sitting with Holly J, as they´re waiting for class to start.
Holly J:
You´re ditching drama club to go to the hospital? Even the smell there makes you want to leave!
Anya:
No arguments here! I´m just thankful that I won´t be getting news that tell me, how long I can expect to keep living for.
Holly J:
Red is a hero in his own right. I don´t know how I would have gone on living, if I´d been given what´s virtually a death sentence.
Anya:
He says that he´s thankful, if he makes it to graduation.
Holly J:
Here I am, worrying whether my bitch of a cousin Hermione will like my birthday gift for her!
Anya:
I used to feel sorry for myself, because Sav wouldn´t like me back, like I want him to. At least I´ll still be alive to find someone else, even if he never wakes up.
Holly J:
If only there wasn´t a Darcy in the way ...
Anya:
Now that she´s joined the drama club, the auditorium feels too small for the three of us.
Holly J:
You can´t give up on something you like because she´s there!
Anya:
I´m not. Today however, my plans involve real life drama, not the pretend kind.
She´s clearly worried on Red´s behalf.
5. Int. Hallway. Day.
Roxy and Red are sitting on a bench, when Anya comes over to them. He isn´t looking too good.
Anya:
Are you okay, Red?
Red:
I can´t say, I am.
Roxy:
Don´t worry, it doesn´t matter if we´re a little late. The teachers know to take special consideration for him.
Anya:
If you´re feeling bad, maybe we should put off going to the hospital until tomorrow.
Roxy:
It´s not going anywhere overnight.
Red:
No! I have to know today!
Roxy:
Calm down! You´re sick enough, without needing to give yourself a heart attack!
She gets a small laugh out of him, even if it makes him cough.
Red:
Wouldn´t that be the definition of irony, if I cheated AIDS by dying of a heart attack? Anyway, there´s no saying that I´ll feel better again.
Roxy:
You can´t think like that.
Red:
I know you like to pretend that I´m not sick, but I don´t know how many good days I have left. Every one I get is from now on is a gift.
The girls look full of sympathy for him. The only one who isn´t feeling sorry for him is himself.
6. Int. Hallway. Day.
Manny and Emma are heading to drama club. Emma is excited.
Emma:
I´m so glad, that you talked me into joining the drama club.
Manny:
It´s been lots of fun so far. Plus, it´s a nice excuse to spend more time together,
Emma:
It was easier, back when there wasn´t a life to get in the way.
Manny:
You have to admit that life is more exciting, than when our Fridays consisted of a bowl of popcorn and lounging in front of the TV together.
Emma:
Before boys turned from being the ones who teased us, to the ones we had fuzzy feelings for.
Manny:
Is there someone right now, that you have "Fuzzy Feelings" for?
Emma immediately gets defensive.
Emma:
It´s not JT, I swear!
Manny just smiles to herself, to Emma´s relief.
Manny:
So there is someone? Who is it?
Emma:
No one! I mean ... it´s no one you know.
Manny:
Not even his name?
Emma:
He goes to Northern High.
Manny:
Where did you meet this mysterious boy from Northern, who swept you off your feet?
Emma:
It´s a long story.
Manny:
That´s okay. You can tell me the whole story after Drama Club. I want to hear every detail, right down to the smallest ones.
Emma looks annoyed with herself, that she didn´t just tell Manny and got it over with.
7. Int. Auditorium. Day.
Craig and Sean are among the rest of the students, getting ready for Drama Club to start. They see Manny and Emma come in and Craig smiles to himself.
Sean:
She´s looking great today, huh?
Craig:
Manny? Not that she isn´t pretty, but I try not to think of her that way anymore.
Sean:
I meant Em. Don´t pretend like you wouldn´t jump into bed with her, if she asked you to.
Now it´s Craig, who gets defensive.
Craig:
I am a guy, after all.
Sean:
I´d say yes, if I were you.
Craig´s look turns to surprise, but pleasant surprise at that.
Craig:
You would be okay with it?
Sean:
I´m not expecting her to stay away from all guys, just because I can´t have her. Knowing the creeps among the guys around here, it would be a comforting thought to know that she´s with a guy like you.
Craig:
What about "Bro´s before Ho´s"?
Sean:
Call Emma a ho again and I may have to smack you one! All I´m saying is that she deserves much, much better than to end up another name on the list of some dirt bag, who won´t care about her and will probably treat her like garbage. We both know that you would never dream of doing that, even with your dubious record, when it comes to the fairer sex.
Craig looks across the room at Emma and they make eye contact. They quickly smile at each other, but break the eye contact before anyone can notice it.
The teacher comes in from the back and is looking as hyped and thrilled, as she always seems to be for these classes. The students gather around her.
Drama Teacher:
Hello, my favorite Thespians! I see that we have a new face among us today. Introduce yourself.
Emma:
I´m Emma and Manny is my best friend. I also go way back with Craig and Sean.
Drama Teacher:
Welcome to our little club. Do you have any acting experience?
Emma:
Only a tiny bit. I´m here to learn like everyone else.
Drama Teacher:
Don´t worry, Emma. No one is expecting an Oscar worthy performance out of any of you.
Sean:
Please tell me, that we´re not doing Shakespeare again?
Drama Teacher:
As entertaining as it was, trying to watch you plough through the old timey dialogue, you can rest easy, Sean. Only normal talk today. From our very own first time stage writer, Manny Santos, no less.
Manny gleams with pride. Emma looks surprised.
Drama Teacher:
Have you considered, who you want to play the parts, Manny?
Manny:
Craig and Emma would be perfect for them.
Emma whispers to Manny.
Emma (whispering):
Are you trying to embarrass me?
Drama Teacher:
If the rest of you want to try your luck as writers like Manny did, don´t hesitate to bring your projects to me and we´ll have a look at them.
She hands a pair of very thin scripts to Emma and Craig, who take them with apprehension.
Manny:
Can I be their director?
Drama Teacher:
I think that´s a splendid idea! Why don´t the three of you retreat to the back room and when you think you´re ready, you can perform it for the rest of us? Does that sound good to you, Manny?
Manny:
Almost like I´d planned it myself!
Sean can´t help smiling a little to himself, as Manny leads Craig and Emma to the back room.
Drama Teacher:
We´ll start with our regular warm up exercises. First I want you to pretend that you´re a fish, who´s swimming against a strong current.
She shows them how to do it and even if he feels a little silly for doing so, Sean does it with the rest of them.
8. Int. Back Room. Day.
Craig and Emma are looking over the scripts, that they´ve been given and both make wide eyes at it, to Manny´s amusement.
Manny:
You get the basics of it, right? It´s a guy and a girl, longtime friends, who had a one night stand, but both of them want it to become more.
Emma:
How did you get the idea for this?
Manny:
Recent events. Any other questions?
Craig:
Yeah, ehm ... the kiss at the end.
Emma:
Do we have to actually kiss? Can´t we just pretend, that we did?
Manny:
It´s just a kiss, Em! It only means something, if it´s with someone you have feelings for.
Craig:
But Sean ...
Emma:
He´s not gonna like it!
Manny:
Sean and you have been broken up for months, years if you count back to the first time. If he can´t deal with it, that´s his problem. Now, are we ready to start rehearsing?
Craig and Emma look at each other, both a bit unsure about this whole thing.
9. Int. Waiting Room. Day.
Anya is waiting with Red, Roxy and Rick along with many others. Red is really starting to look sick and the others worry about him.
Rick:
I can get you something from the vending machines?
Roxy:
They have those wine gums, you praised the last time we were here.
Red:
I suppose that a sugar rush won´t hurt me.
Roxy:
I´ll come with you to make sure, you get the right ones.
Rick:
We´ll be back in a minute.
They get up from their seats and leave them. Red leans back in his seat and looks like he´s on the verge of collapsing in it.
Red:
Anya, if I start to slump, will you help me sit up again?
Anya:
You know, I will. Is it that bad?
Red:
I don´t think, I´ve ever felt worse. I´d better get used to saying that.
Anya:
Red, you don´t have to put on a brave face for us.
Red:
It beats having you feel sorry for me. I don´t want you to.
Anya:
It´s kind of impossible not to.
Red:
Can you try?
He looks at her pleadingly and she smiles sadly back at him, while trying not to cry.
Anya:
Sure, Red. I´ll try the best I can.
He takes her hand and smiles sadly back at her, as his doctor, who we saw in an earlier episode, comes over to them.
Doctor:
Hello, Red. It´s nice to see you again.
Red:
Pardon me, if I don´t stand up, doc. My legs aren´t themselves today.
Doctor:
You´ve been feeling weaker lately, haven´t you?
Red nods and braces himself for the worst, as he clutches Anya´s hand.
Red:
That´s a sad fact, I can´t deny.
Doctor:
The best course of action would be to admit you here immediately, so we can keep an eye on your vital signs at all times. We could send you home, but I don´t think it would be long, until you´re back here. It´s your choice.
Red:
You call that a choice?
Doctor:
I wish that I could give you better news, but your bloodwork isn´t looking good. I´m worried over the results.
Red:
You´ll have to get me a stretcher, unless you feel like carrying me?
The doctor smiles warmly back at him.
Doctor:
I´ll have one here in two minutes. This doesn´t mean that it´s the beginning of the end. It´s only a setback.
Red:
Got ya.
The doctor leaves them, just as Roxy and Rick comes back. Rick hands Red his small bag of wine gums.
Rick:
What did he say?
Red:
They´ve been nice enough to prepare a room for me and guess what? I get to stay for free, meals included!
Rick and Roxy try to hide their shock by playing along with it for Red´s sake. Anya does too.
Anya:
You´ll probably be eating Filet Mignon with Pommes Noisette in a few hours!
Roxy:
I don´t even know what that is, but it sounds delicious!
Rick:
Like a five star dinner! I wish it were me, who got to enjoy the cuisine of this fine establishment!
Anya:
I hear that the chef was a protege of Gordon Ramsay´s!
Red:
That´s pushing it!
The four of them laugh uneasily, but it makes Red cough again.
Rick:
Are you sure, you´re okay?
Red:
I´m not giving up without a fight. Not in this lifetime or any other.
He looks resolved not to give up. Anya looks proud of him and sad for him at the same time.
10. Int. Auditorium. Day.
Emma and Craig are ready to perform their "play", but both are looking a bit nervous. Manny and Sean, who are sitting next to each other, are clearly looking forward to it, as is the drama teacher.
Drama Teacher:
Anytime you feel ready. What was the name of the play again?
Manny:
"Get a Room".
Drama Teacher:
What a wonderful title, Manny!
Emma and Craig get ready to start acting and move closer to one another.
Craig:
Hi, Ella.
Emma:
Hi, Greg. What´s up?
Craig:
There´s something I have to tell you.
Emma:
You can tell me anything. We´re friends, aren´t we?
Craig:
Since we kissed, I haven´t been able to stop thinking about you. I think that I could be in love with you.
Darcy (off screen):
Aww!
We quickly cut down to Sav and Darcy, who looks embarrassed, that she couldn´t help herself.
Darcy:
Sorry. I´m a sucker for a good love story!
Emma and Craig smile at her and the interruption actually looks like it helped them to ease up a bit.
Drama Teacher:
Aren´t we all? Feel free to continue.
Emma quickly glares at her script before getting into character.
Emma:
How do you know? Have you ever been in love before?
Craig:
I have. Only with you, though.
He puts his arms around her and looks her in the eyes.
Emma:
I never knew, that you felt that way.
Craig:
It took us kissing for me to be sure. Do you want to be my girlfriend, Ella?
Emma:
I thought, you´d never ask!
They hug and almost do the kiss, but make a collective decision to come clean first and smile at each other.
Drama Teacher:
This is where you kiss!
Craig:
It´s not that I don´t want to kiss her. But I want it to be Craig kissing Emma and not Greg kissing Ella.
Emma:
The same here.
She takes his hand, as some gossip loving minds among the students are losing their minds over what they´re seeing.
Drama Teacher:
Are you two ...
Craig:
We are. I´m sorry, Sean, but she´s hotter than hell!
Emma:
I like him and I don´t feel like, I need to apologize for it. We´re both single and free to do what we want.
Sean and Manny look at each other.
Manny:
Are they forgiven?
Sean:
Yeah, what the hell! Best of luck to the both of you!
Craig and Emma look happy that they´re now free to be together, without having to hide it.
11. Int. Sav´s Room. Evening.
Anya and Sav are laughing, as he´s telling her about what happened in drama club.
Sav:
I have to give it to them. Drama club once again lives up to it´s name!
Anya:
I almost feel sorry that I missed it, but something tells me we´ll be seeing something like that again, before the school year is over.
Sav:
More likely before the semester is over! I take it that your day wasn´t as entertaining?
Anya:
Hardly. It´s weird, you know? Just as I´m becoming close with him, he´s coming closer to dying.
Sav:
I know that it´s morbid to ask, but has he told you how long he has left?
She shakes her head, as a few tears flow from her eyes, that she quickly wipes away with the back on her hand.
Anya:
No one knows. Most of the time, what kills AIDS patients isn´t the disease itself. It´s that their immune system is so weak, that they can´t fight off the diseases, our bodies can easily deal with. A simple case of the flu would be many times more dangerous for him, than it would be to us. Possibly enough to kill him.
Sav:
It´s so sad. There´s nothing anyone can do to help him now.
Anya:
You can be his friend and that´s what he needs most of all.
She looks resolved that she´s not going to let Red rot away in that hospital by himself.
12. Int. Craig´s Car. Evening.
Craig and Sean are enjoying some burgers from a take out place and going by their "Mmm´s" they must be rather tasty. Craig takes the last bite of his and looks satisfied.
Craig:
I wouldn´t mind getting one more!
Sean:
You like your second servings these days, don´t you?
Sean finishes his too and Craig smiles at him.
Craig:
I was afraid, that you would completely freak out!
Sean:
What do you think this is, some Canadian teen drama? I´ve grown up a lot these past years.
Craig:
Man, since Julia was born, time has flown like crazy!
Sean:
Soon Christmas will be here and once that´s over, there´s half a year left until graduation. Sometimes it seems like yesterday, when Trapper dropped 12 year old me off in front of Degrassi and I saw her for the first time.
Craig:
Emma?
Sean:
I remember that when I saw her, I wasn´t sure that I wasn´t looking at an angel.
They smile at the thought of it.
Craig:
Only she´s human like the rest of us. With the faults that come with it.
Sean:
Seriously, what made you think that you could hide it for more than a day or two? You´re the worst actor, I´ve ever seen!
Craig:
Worse than you are?
Sean:
Even worse! It hurts me to say, but all of the times me and her have broken up is probably a sign, that it isn´t meant to be.
Craig:
I was certain that me and Manny would last the distance.
Sean:
You never can tell, can you? Take good care of Emma. If you don´t, then we will have a problem.
Craig:
Roger that.
They fist bump on it.
CLOSING CREDITS