WHAT IF? - SEASON 3 EPISODE 20 - HEARTS OF STONE
1. Int. Stadium. Evening.
There´s an Ice Hockey game going on, as the Toronto Maple Leafs are playing against the Montreal Canadiens. The score is 3-3 with less than a minute to go and as you would expect, the crowd are practically losing their minds! A Maple Leafs player gets tackled hard by a Canadiens player and he takes his helmet off, meaning that the fight is on!
Among the fans are Marco and Olivia, who are on their feet and just as into it as the rest of the crowd.
Olivia:
KICK HIS ASS ALL THE WAY BACK TO MONTREAL!
Marco:
NO! CONCENTRATE ON GETTING A WINNING GOAL!
After a few good punches are landed, both of the players are sent to their respective penalty boxes to the boos of the crowd, who wanted to see them fight more. The players line up for a face off, as we cut back to Marco and Olivia. Marco is looking nervous and has his fingers crosses on both hands.
Marco:
Please, God. I don´t ask you for much, but if you let the Maple Leafs score the winning goal, I swear that I´ll be a good boy all next year.
Olivia giggles.
Olivia:
Are you praying to God or Santa?
Marco:
Both! We need all the help, we can get. I don´t care who we lose to, as long as it isn´t the Canadiens.
Olivia:
Plus, you don´t want to lose that hundred dollars.
Marco:
LET´S GO MAPLE LEAFS!
We cut back to the ice, where the Maple Leafs win the face off and quickly make their way down the ice. A few good passes are put together, leading to them getting a good chance, but the puck hits the post. Marco is so nervous, that he can barely look, as the unthinkable happens. The Canadiens score right before the buzzer and the energy goes out of the crowd, most of all Marco, who sits down to take in the disaster that has befallen him. Olivia sits down next to him and puts a comforting arm around him.
Olivia:
It sucks, but it´s not the end of the world. There´ll be other games, where we´ll royally kick their asses. I intend to be here for all of them with you, at least for the foreseeable future.
She gets a small smile out of him.
Marco:
That´s one good thing, I can say about this semester. I was lucky enough to meet you.
Olivia:
I could say the same thing. Let´s go home and I´ll make us a cup of hot chocolate with a few marshmallows thrown in for good measure. How does that sound?
Marco:
Better than what I have to look forward to.
His face looks full of worry.
OPENING CREDITS
2. Int. Spinner and Terri´s House. Evening.
Marco has his eyes closed, since he´s concentrated on tasting the food, he´s eating. He opens them and looks impressed.
Marco:
Spinner, that could very well be the best food, I´ve ever tasted!
Spinner looks just as proud, as Terri is of him.
Spinner:
Thanks, pal.
Terri:
Did he tell you, that he got an A plus on his last cooking test?
Marco:
An A plus? Is this the real Spinner, who´s sitting across from me?
Spinner:
I´m not all that bad at it.
Terri:
Stop being so modest! He hasn´t gotten lower than an A since he started in culinary school. I´m so proud of him!
She gives Spinner a kiss on the cheek and he´s almost embarrassed to be showered with all this praise from her. Marco looks happy for him.
Marco:
It sounds like, you´ve found your niche.
Spinner:
It sure looks that way. Is college treating you well?
Marco:
I´m keeping up, but not more.
Terri:
Same here.
Marco:
My room mate has gotten me into watching hockey with her. We went to see the Maple Leafs against the Canadiens yesterday.
Spinner can´t stop himself from laughing.
Spinner:
Why am I having trouble picturing you at a hockey game?
Marco:
It was fun, until we lost right on the buzzer. I´ve found a really great friend in her.
Terri:
It sounds like everything is close to perfect!
Marco smiles off her remark, preferring to let them believe that everything is great for him.
3. Int. Marco and Olivia´s Apartment. Evening.
Marco is lying on the couch, wrapped up in Olivia´s arms. She nuzzles his hair and it´s clear that they´ve become very close.
Marco:
I couldn´t tell them the truth.
Olivia:
Marco, you can´t go back to Earl. Some people are cut out for sugar dating and you´re not one of them. From what you´ve told me, he sounds like a sociopath.
Marco:
How else am I gonna get money for rent, food, tuition and on top of that Christmas presents? Even if I got a job, I would only make minimum wage and I could only work after school. It´s not like I have rich parents or a wealthy friend, who can step in to help.
Olivia:
Didn´t you know a guy back in high school, whose parents had plenty of money? Or was that something I dreamt, you told me?
Marco:
You´re talking about Jimmy. We were close, but I don´t want to go to him and beg him to help me.
Olivia:
Is it with him, like it is with your other friends? You don´t want them to feel sorry for you.
Marco:
You hit the nail the head. Earl is simultaneously my curse and my salvation right now.
Olivia:
How much of each is he?
Marco considers it.
4. Int. Angie´s Room. Evening.
Manny is helping Angie with cleaning out her closet of clothes, she´s grown out of. Manny holds up a T-Shirt and Angie shakes her head.
Manny:
Too small?
Angie:
It has been for a while. It´s a shame. I used to love wearing it.
Manny:
Sorry, Angie. It comes with growing up.
Angie:
Can´t I stop and be this age for all eternity?
Manny smiles at her.
Manny:
Don´t you want to grow up and get boyfriends and all that stuff?
Angie:
Not if I can stay a kid! It´s not all fun and games, but I know more or less what´s gonna happen and I´m used to it. Why can´t we decide that nothing has to change?
Manny:
I´m afraid, the world doesn´t work that way. The future and the unknown can be scary, but you not knowing is what´s gonna make these next years so exciting for you, just like they were for me! Not all change is a bad thing.
Angie:
What about when you had that big fight with your parents? That was a bad thing, wasn´t it?
Manny nods and looks a little sad.
Manny:
That was one part, I could have done without.
Angie:
Don´t be sad, Manny. Now that you´re talking again, it´ll all be great. You´ll see.
Manny:
I hope so too.
Angie´s kind words manage to bring the smile back on Manny´s face.
5. Int. JT and Manny´s Room. Evening.
JT and Manny are snuggling before bedtime.
Manny:
Angie thinks that it´ll be honky dory with me and my parents now.
JT:
You don´t sound as sure.
Manny:
I don´t have the luxury of being young and naive, like she is.
JT:
Why wouldn´t they be?
Manny:
There´s so much water under the bridge, that you could fill ten swimming pools with it! Plus there´s still the issue of "Am I ready to forgive my dad for kicking me out on the street, when I was 14, pregnant and needed my parents the most?".
JT:
That is a lousy thing to do to your own daughter!
Manny:
Could you imagine yourself doing that to Julia?
JT:
If it was to happen, I´d do everything I could to make things as easy for her, as they can be. Like any normal parent would.
Manny:
Not to speak bad about my own people, but we´re far behind the times, when it comes to women´s rights. If a girl gets pregnant outside of marriage, it´s still custom to hide her away, so the family won´t lose honor.
JT:
Honor! Who cares about such an antiquated idea these days?
Manny:
My dad, for one. Tomorrow will be a big step to see, if he can actually change.
She isn´t looking too sure of it.
6. Int. Cafe. Evening.
Earl is drinking a cup of coffee at a table by himself, when Marco comes in. He comes over to join him and sits down.
Earl:
Why, hello Marco!
Marco:
I need to make some money, fast.
Earl:
You´ve come to the right place.
A waitress comes over to them.
Waitress:
Can I get you anything?
Marco:
I´ll have a ...
Earl:
He´ll be leaving in a moment.
Waitress:
Whatever you say!
The waitress leaves them and Marco looks annoyed with Earl.
Marco:
You´re not the boss of me!
Earl:
Is that so? Who keeps you in food and is why you can pay rent every month?
Marco doesn´t like to say it and looks away.
Marco:
You.
Earl:
You would be for lack of a better word "Screwed", if it wasn´t for me. Isn´t that true?
Marco:
I guess.
Earl:
I can´t be seen with you. My colleagues come here and I´d rather not have them asking questions, I´d prefer not to have to answer. You´re not to set foot in here again, understood?
Marco:
Sure, whatever. Can you help me or not?
Earl:
I don´t know. if you´re gonna be this much trouble, I´m not sure it´s worth it anymore.
Marco starts to get desperate, to Earl´s delight.
Marco:
Please, Earl! I need two hundred and I need it by the end of the week at the latest. If you can´t help me, I´ll have to sink lower, than I´ve ever sunk before.
Earl:
I´ll pick you up from your place at seven.
Marco looks relieved.
Marco:
I wouldn´t have asked, if it wasn´t a desperate situation.
Earl:
This isn´t a charity. You´ll have to work hard for it.
Marco doesn´t like the sound of those words.
Marco:
What does that mean?
Earl:
You´ll find out. Now leave, before anyone sees us and gets the wrong idea. I have a reputation to maintain.
Marco leaves the cafe. Earl looks pleased with himself.
7. Ext. Manny´s Parents´ House. Evening.
JT and Manny come up to the house. She´s looking very nervous.
Manny:
Maybe I should have come alone.
JT:
I can leave, if you want.
Manny:
No, stay! I´m too nervous to do this alone!
He gives her a small kiss, that looks like it helps a bit.
JT:
They love you. There´s nothing to worry over.
Manny:
I wish, I had your confidence.
They let go and she rings the doorbell.
8. Int. Manny´s Parents´ Living Room. Evening.
Manny and JT are sitting next to each other on her parents´ couch, looking very small. They both have a cup of tea and JT takes a sip of his.
JT:
It´s very nice. I don´t believe, I´ve tasted this sort before.
Manny´s Mom:
It´s very common where we come from, but not many here drink it.
JT:
They should. It´s delicious!
He smiles at Manny´s mom, who smiles politely back at him. Her father is less impressed, though.
Manny´s Dad:
JT, was it?
JT:
Yes, sir. It stands for James Tiberious after my grandfather and my great grandfather.
Manny´s Dad:
How long have you and my daughter been dating?
Manny:
Since last fall.
Manny´s Dad:
I´m sure that he can answer for himself.
JT:
We didn´t start really dating until January. We would have sooner, but there were circumstances, that got in the way.
He gets a look from Manny. Her parents look suspicious now.
Manny´s Mom:
What kind of circumstances?
JT:
It´s a long story, that it wouldn´t be fitting to bring up here.
Manny:
I was still officially with Craig, when we started dating.
Manny´s parents look disappointed in her. She´s frustrated that they found out so soon.
JT:
As I was gonna say, there´s a long story to it.
Manny´s Dad:
We don´t need to hear the details!
Manny:
Dad, please ...
Manny´s Dad:
This was a mistake. You should both leave.
Both Manny and her mom are on the verge of tears. JT feels sorry for them.
9. Ext. Street. Evening.
Marco is waiting by the curb to be picked up. A luxury Sedan pulls up with a uniformed driver behind the wheel.
Driver:
Marco Del Rossi?
Marco:
I´m him.
Driver:
Earl sent me to pick you up and take you to his house.
Marco:
Why didn´t he come himself?
Driver:
I don´t get paid to ask questions. Get in.
Marco finds it best not to ask questions and gets in.
10. Ext. Earl´s House. Evening.
Marco gets out of the car and it speeds away. He´s surprised to see several cars there. Earl comes out of the house and is very well dressed, even for him. He´s looking pleased.
Earl:
Right on time! Come inside.
Marco:
Are you having a party?
Earl laughs, un-nerving Marco in the process.
Earl:
That´s one way of putting it! Let´s not waste time talking out here. There´s people waiting for us.
Marco:
What kind of people?
Earl:
All of your questions will be answered inside.
Marco is apprehensive, but follows Earl inside.
11. Int. House. Evening.
Marco is led inside by Earl. There are two men and two women, all rich looking and around Earl´s age. Also there is a young man around Marco´s age, who´s looking just as nervous, as Marco is.
Marco:
What is this?
Earl:
You´re here to make money, aren´t you? They´re here for a show.
Woman #1:
Nice choices, Earl!
Man #1:
You´ve stepped it up since the last time!
Earl:
You´re much too kind. Marco, meet Corey, another "friend" of mine.
Corey and Marco smile nervously at each other, as Earl pours himself a glass of red wine.
Earl:
Anyone else, before we get started?
Corey:
I wouldn´t mind a ...
Earl:
I didn´t mean you!
Man #2:
Sure, why not?
Woman #2:
We only live once, don´t we?
Earl fills their glasses and puts the empty bottle away, before sitting down with them.
Earl:
Who wants to start us off?
Woman #1:
I will. How does fifteen dollars each for you kissing sound?
Earl:
Sounds fair to me!
Marco now gets what´s going on and looks like he´d rather make a run for it, than stay there another second. His financial woes stop him though and his and Corey move closer. Neither of them look like they want to, but they kiss anyway. It´s awkward and not in any way sexy.
Earl:
That´s not giving them their money´s worth. Do it again and make it better, or you won´t get a cent!
Marco and Corey do it again, but this time try harder to impress them.
12. Int. JT and Manny´s Room. Evening.
Manny is crying into JT´s arms, while he tries to comfort her.
Manny:
That´s it! They´re gonna spend the rest of their lives thinking that I´m a whore!
JT:
I´m so sorry, Manny. I wasn´t thinking, like usual.
Manny:
Don´t be. It would have come up sooner or later. Maybe I am a whore, who my family is better off without.
JT:
Don´t think that way! You´re practically a saint.
Manny:
Let´s see. I slept with an older guy, while I knew he had a girlfriend and became pregnant with his child, when I was only 14. I get tired of that guy and start sleeping with one of my best friends, who I seduced into doing so, while I was still living with the father of my child. A guy I lied my butt off to, to make him think that everything was okay, while I was cheating on him and might I add, not feeling sorry about it one bit, until there was a danger, that he would find out. Where after I break it off with you, solidifying my place in the top running for "Ruthless Skank of the Year". Do you still think that I´m a saint now?
JT:
Not when you put it that way.
Manny:
If you weren´t so blinded by love, you would see it too.
JT:
I know you better than anyone, except for perhaps Emma. We know what drove you there and why you did it. When you look at it from that perspective, it isn´t so bad.
Manny:
There´s no two ways around it. I was born to be this way and I don´t deserve to have a family, when they have to be ashamed of me all the time.
JT:
Manny, there is nothing except for good inside of you. Ask anyone, who knows you and they´ll agree with me. Just because you made a few mistakes, doesn´t make you a bad person.
Manny:
I´d like to sleep now, if that´s okay. This is a day, I want get over with ASAP.
He gives her a kiss on the forehead and gets up from the bed.
JT:
We´re gonna figure this out. This isn´t the last chapter in the book of you and your parents.
Manny:
You´re so sweet, JT. A terrible liar, but very sweet. Goodnight.
JT:
Goodnight, Manny.
He closes the door and she tries to fall asleep.
13. Int. Joey and Caitlin´s Living Room. Evening.
Joey and Caitlin are watching TV, when JT sticks his head in.
JT:
I´m going out. It probably won´t be long.
Joey:
It´s late. You know the rules.
JT:
This is for Manny. I have to see, if I can´t talk to her dad and make things right.
Caitlin:
It´s okay, then. Good luck.
JT:
Thanks. I have a feeling, that I´ll need it.
He leaves them.
14. Int. House. Evening.
Marco and Corey are now both undressed, except for their underwear. Both of them are very uncomfortable, but it doesn´t seem to bother the "Spectators".
Earl:
Enough playing around. Let´s get to why we´re really here.
Marco:
Earl, I can´t do this!
Man #1:
I´ll pay Marco one hundred dollars, if he gives Corey a blowjob. Then another for Corey, if he returns the favor.
Woman #1:
That´s more like it!
Marco looks disgusted at the idea, while Corey looks more ready to give in.
Corey:
It doesn´t have to mean anything. I´ll never tell anyone what we did here, if you don´t.
Marco:
I don´t need the hundred dollars that badly.
Man #1:
What about a hundred and fifty? I´ll pay Corey the same, that goes without saying.
Corey looks at Marco pleadingly.
Corey:
Please, Marco. I really need that money.
Marco takes a few seconds to think about it, before getting down on his knees.
Earl:
Corey, don´t finish too fast. I want to take my time to enjoy this!
Marco looks at Earl with disgust written all over his face.
15. Ext. Manny´s Parent´s House. Evening.
JT knocks on the door and it´s Manny´s dad, who opens it.
JT:
Mr. Santos, if I could have a minute of your time ...
Manny´s Dad:
I´m not interested in hearing anything from you!
JT:
If you have any love left in your heart for Manny, you´ll hear me out. Maybe then you´ll understand.
Manny´s Dad looks JT in the eyes and gives him a slight nod.
Manny´s Dad:
Say what you have to say.
JT:
After you kicked her out, the only place she could go was to live with Craig and his parents. Her and Craig tried, they really did and she continued to try to make it work with him for months, after most girls would have given up, She couldn´t, because they´d grown apart and their lives were heading in separate directions. I´m not gonna pretend that I was innocent in it, but she chose me because it was right in the long run for her and her daughter, who I swear to you, I love like she´s my own. She made the smart choice and she made mistakes along the way, but do you really think, she deserves to be punished this badly for that? Especially when she wants nothing more than to patch things up, so you can be a family again? That´s all I have to say. The rest is up to you.
He turns around to leave, as her father takes it in.
Manny´s Dad:
JT, wait!
JT turns around and looks him in the eyes.
Manny´s Dad:
Let me get my coat. I´m coming with you.
JT smiles to himself.
16. Int. JT and Manny´s Room. Evening.
Manny is still sobbing, when there´s a gentle knock on the door. She turns her night light on.
JT (off screen):
Are you awake?
Manny:
Yeah, I can´t fall asleep. You can come in.
The door opens and her sadness turns into a wide smile, when she sees her dad there with JT.
Manny:
How ...
JT:
I´l tell you tomorrow. Right now, there´s someone you need to talk to more than me.
He leaves them and she gets up from the bed. It´s a highly emotionally charged moment for both of them.
Manny:
I´m so sorry, that I made you ashamed of me, dad.
Manny´s Dad:
You have that wrong. I was angry at you, but I´ve never been ashamed of being your father. Since the day you were born, it´s the one thing I´ve done, that I´m most proud of and nothing that´s happened since has changed that.
They smile at each other and hug it out. Manny is one big smile.
17. Int. Marco and Olivia´s Apartment. Evening.
Olivia is chilling out on the couch, when a sad looking Marco comes in.
Olivia:
You were out pretty late tonight.
Marco:
Was I? I guess, if you say so.
She mutes the TV and turns her attention to him.
Olivia:
Are you alright?
Marco:
Why wouldn´t I be?
Olivia gets the picture and looks worried about him.
Olivia:
You met up with Earl, didn´t you?
Marco:
I´d rather not talk about it.
Olivia:
You need to distance yourself from that creep!
Marco:
I DON´T WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT!
She looks shocked at his outburst and he storms into his room, slamming the door behind himself.
18. Int. Marco´s Room. Evening.
Marco sits down on his bed. He takes what looks like several hundred dollars from his inside coat pocket and stares at it. In disgust with himself, he quickly puts it in a drawer and closes it. Starting to cry, he tries to deal with what he´s done.
CLOSING CREDITS