WHAT IF? - SEASON 4 EPISODE 19 - FRIENDS WILL BE FRIENDS (PART 1)
1. Int. Cafeteria. Day.
Imogen and Bianca are eating lunch with the rest of the students. Imogen is cheerful as usual and her look today is even for her on the unusual side, with the whole outfit looking like it´s deliberately mismatched!
Imogen:
I have a joke for you.
Bianca:
Hit me.
Imogen:
What did the one saggy boob say to the other saggy boob?
Bianca already has to laugh, even before Imogen gets to the punchline.
Bianca:
No, what did it say?
Imogen:
We´d better get some support, or people will think we´re nuts!
Bianca laughs loudly, making Imogen do so too. Some of the other students stare, but neither of them pay any attention to it.
Bianca:
That was a good one!
Imogen:
I´d better get my fun in before dinner with mom tonight.
Bianca:
It could be fun.
Imogen rolls her eyes and scowls.
Imogen:
You only think that, because you´ve never met her!
Bianca:
Imogen, my mom is stark raving out of her mind insane! I seriously doubt that yours can be worse!
Imogen:
The woman is my nemesis!
Bianca:
What does she do, that´s so bad?
Imogen:
She turns up in my life whenever she feels like it and wants me to be like everyone else. I´m proud of being a weirdo, because I know that deep down, the same kids who call me that, wish that they had the guts to express themselves, like I do. There´s no way I´m gonna change for her and become some drone, who does what the flock tell me to!
Bianca is a little taken back by her outburst, but Imogen looks set in her opinion of her mom.
2. Int. Imogen´s House. Day.
Imogen comes home and gets the kind of greeting that only a dog can give you from Volta, who´s acting like her coming home is the best moment of it´s entire life so far. Not that Imogen isn´t almost as happy to see her, mind you.
Imogen:
Hi, Volta!
She squats down and cuddles with Volta, who´s loving every moment of it.
Imogen:
You´ve been chasing that cute little Labrador from next door around again, haven´t you?
Her dad comes out to join them and him and Imogen smile at each other. Volta would smile too, if she could!
Imogen´s Dad:
Hi, Immy. How was school today?
Imogen:
Not too bad, I guess.
Imogen´s Dad:
Did you learn anything?
Imogen takes a moment to consider it.
Imogen:
I learned that if you mix strawberry and peach bubble gum, you get a delicious combo!
Imogen´s dad laughs at his daughter´s childish and quirky nature.
Imogen´s Dad:
At least you learned something!
Imogen:
How was your day?
Imogen´s Dad:
To be honest, it´s been kind of a strange one. Have you seen my coat anywhere?
Imogen:
Isn´t it on the coat rack, where you normally hang it?
Imogen´s Dad:
No, I must have put it somewhere else, when I came home. Now I can´t for the life of me remember where!
Imogen:
Did you take your cell phone out of your pocket?
Imogen´s Dad:
I don´t think so.
She gets out her cell phone and calls his phone up. They hear his phone ringing, but it´s from rather far away. They follow the sound.
3. Int. Living Room. Day.
Imogen´s Dad is relieved to find his coat again and Imogen hangs up on the call, now that the coat is found. Volta looks happy too and wags her tail.
Imogen´s Dad:
Thanks, Immy.
Imogen:
No sweat.
Imogen´s Dad:
I´ve been so forgetful lately, it´s crazy! Today I gave a lecture, that I must have given twenty times before and all of a sudden, in the middle of the lecture, I forgot!
Imogen:
Forgot what?
Imogen´s Dad:
The lecture! I had to excuse myself and cancel the rest of the class, because I couldn´t teach them, what I didn´t know. The Dean thinks that it´s stress, but I don´t feel stressed out.
Imogen looks concerned for him.
Imogen:
Have you thought of seeing a doctor?
Imogen´s Dad:
I´ve already made an appointment. I don´t want you to worry, but at the same time it didn´t feel right to keep it from you.
Imogen gives him a big hug to comfort him. If anyone is a daddy´s girl with a capital D, it´s her!
Imogen:
I´m glad, you did. I don´t like it, when we keep secrets from one another.
Imogen´s Dad:
Me neither.
She tries to look like it doesn´t affect her, but she still can´t help being a little concerned though.
OPENING CREDITS
4. Int. Comedy Club. Evening.
Jay is working behind the bar, while a comedian, who isn´t having his best night, is choking badly on the stage.
Comedian:
I used to have a job cleaning mirrors. It was something I could see myself doing at the time. By the way, did you hear about the claustrophobic astronaut? The poor guy really needed some space.
The guy keeps choking on stage and Jay shakes his head at it, when a familiar and smiling face comes over to him. He´s glad to see her too.
Jay:
Miss Alex Nunez! Unless you´ve gotten married, since the last time I talked to you?
Alex:
What do you think? I heard you were slinging drinks down here, so I figured I´d come down and say hi. It´s been too long.
Jay:
No arguments here! What´s your poison?
Alex:
Make me a screwdriver and make it strong. I´m in the mood to get drunk off my ass!
Jay:
One strong screwdriver coming up.
He gets started on making the drink for her.
Alex:
How did you get this sweet gig?
Jay:
None of their regular bartenders want to work on amateur night!
We cut back to the stage for a moment, where things aren´t going any better.
Comedian:
What did the drummer name his twin daughters? Anna One, Anna Two.
We cut back to Alex, who just shakes his head at how bad he is.
Alex:
I can see why!
She stills looks glad to be hanging out with Jay again, though.
5. Int. Restaurant. Evening.
Imogen is having dinner with her mom, but the mood is tense between them. Her mom tries her best to keep the conversation going though, even if her daughter is a bit reluctant.
Imogen´s Mom:
How´s school going?
Imogen:
Not bad.
Imogen´s Mom:
Since I don´t get to see your report cards anymore ...
Imogen:
You don´t need to worry about my grades. They´re not great, but they´re not bad either.
Imogen´s Mom:
Have you made any new friends?
Imogen looks annoyed at being given the 3rd degree and puts her knife and fork down.
Imogen:
You don´t need to sit there and pretend, that you care about me. I know that you´ve only invited me to do something, because it´s been three months since we last did and you feel guilty over it. It´s the exact same as last time and the time before that.
Imogen´s mom looks nervous, now that Imogen put her on the spot like this.
Imogen´s Mom:
Honey, I know it might seem that way, but it´s not that I don´t want to spend time with you.
Imogen:
Don´t call me Honey! That´s what parents, who care about their kids call them! Since you don´t, you can call me by my name!
Imogen´s Mom:
I didn´t come here to fight. I came here, because we need to have a serious talk.
Imogen wipes her mouth and pulls her chair out, as if she´s about to leave.
Imogen:
Too bad. I don´t want to talk to you!
Imogen´s Mom:
It´s about your dad. You´ve probably noticed, that he hasn´t been himself lately.
Imogen almost looks angry that it was brought up and stands up.
Imogen:
I can take the bus home.
Imogen´s Mom:
Imogen, please sit down and listen to me.
Imogen:
You don´t know anything about me or dad, so don´t act like you do! Leave us alone!
She storms out of there. Her mom looks disappointed with how it went, but not too surprised.
6. Int. Comedy Club. Evening.
Jay is letting the last of the customers out, with the only ones left being him and a drunk Alex, who´s taken the stage and is pretending to do a set of her own.
Alex:
What do you call a really dumb lesbian, who broke up with the love of her life for a girl, that dumped her three weeks later? You call her Alex!
Jay comes up to the stage and he clearly feels sorry for her.
Jay:
I´m sorry, Alex. It´s her loss.
Alex:
How about this one? What do you call a girl, who is probably gonna have to do her first year of college over, because she cared too much about everything besides school?
Jay:
I can come up with a qualified guess.
Alex:
It´s this girl and what has she won? A trip back to Loserville, where she´ll end up as a replica of her pathetic mom! How´s that for sad?
Jay:
You just need to get home, so you can sleep it off. Things will look brighter in the morning.
Sha shakes her head and looks defeated.
Alex:
Not this time, Jay. I´m so beyond screwed, that it´s not even funny.
He gives her a hug, that she clearly needed.
Jay:
I´ll give you a ride home and tomorrow, we´ll look into putting your life back together. How´s that for great?
He gets a smile out of her, even if it´s a drunken one.
Alex:
You don´t owe me anything.
Jay:
If it hadn´t been for you, I would still be the same sorry waste of life, that I was when you dropped me like a sack of old potatoes. I like who I am now a hell of a lot more, than I liked that guy!
She nods in agreement.
7. Ext. Degrassi. Morning.
Imogen and Bianca arrive for school. Imogen is still a little upset after the night before.
Imogen:
Who´s she to talk bad about him? If it hadn´t been for her constantly putting her career ahead of her family, maybe they´d still be together!
Bianca:
For once, there´s an advantage to not being in contact with my parents. At least none of them can bug me!
Imogen:
For her to even insinuate, that something is wrong with him, when she doesn´t know the first thing about us, is insulting! So, he forgets things once in a while! He´s getting older, so it´s only natural, right?
Bianca:
He isn´t that old, is he?
Imogen:
Forty-three.
Bianca:
Not that I claim to be an expert, but isn´t that a little young to start becoming forgetful?
Imogen:
I don´t know. Is it?
Bianca:
He could have Alzheimer´s disease. A teacher at my old Junior High had to retire, because she got it and she was a few years younger then, than your dad is now.
Imogen looks annoyed, that Bianca would even suggest it.
Imogen:
How can you say something like that about him, when he´s never been anything except nice to you?
Bianca is a little taken back by her response.
Bianca:
I didn´t mean it that way. You know, that I like your dad. He´s a nice guy.
Imogen:
He also doesn´t have Alzheimer´s or any other disease! What him and me need is for everyone else to keep their noses out of it, so he can relax and become himself again. That´s all!
Bianca:
You were the one, who brought it up. If he does have it, or something like it ...
Imogen:
He doesn´t, so the subject is closed for further debate!
Imogen tries to look set on it, but Bianca can´t help worrying, if she´s denying the reality of things to herself.
8. Int. Classroom. Day.
Miss Kwan is just done teaching Biology for the freshmen and the class is leaving the classroom. Imogen comes up to her.
Miss Kwan:
Don´t you have a class to get to?
Imogen:
It´s three classrooms over. It´s not like I have to hurry!
They smile at each other.
Miss Kwan:
Is there anything, you want to ask me?
Imogen:
What can you tell me about Alzheimer´s disease?
Their smiles go away and Miss Kwan looks at her with sympathy.
Miss Kwan:
Is it because someone you know might have it, that you´re asking?
Imogen nods and looks sad.
Imogen:
A close relative of mine.
Miss Kwan:
I´m so sorry to hear that, Imogen.
Imogen:
Can you tell me what signs to look for?
Miss Kwan:
The only way to tell for sure, is to have them examined by a doctor. But if you want to look for signs, forgetfulness is usually the first one. Disorientation, like getting lost somewhere, you´ve been many times before, is another early indicator. When they reach the later stages, they start to have severe mood swings and that´s when most of them withdraw from society.
Imogen:
Why? They have a disease, it´s not like they´ve done anything wrong.
Miss Kwan:
Many of them are ashamed of what they´ve become and would rather have their loved ones remember them, like they were.
Imogen:
There´s no known cure?
Miss Kwan:
I´m afraid it´s one of those diseases, where we´re so far from understanding why people get it in the first place, that us finding a cure for it in our lifetimes is highly unlikely. If this close relative of yours has it and for god´s sake, let´s hope they don´t, all you can do is be there for them.
Imogen nods and looks sad.
9. Int. Garage. Day.
Jay is working on a car, when Alex comes over to him. He´s a little surprised to see her, but not annoyed or anything like that.
Jay:
Civilians aren´t allowed in here.
Alex:
They are, if they flirt with your boss the right way.
He smiles to himself.
Jay:
You haven´t lost your touch.
Alex:
Did I ever have a touch? I mean, weren´t most guys more afraid of me in high school, than they were thinking of doing it with me?
Jay:
Only the ninety-nine point nine, nine, nine, nine percentile!
Alex:
What do you say, we get out of here? I could use a drink or ten!
Jay stops working and looks her in the eyes.
Jay:
Using your mom´s old standards there, are you?
Alex:
Like you´re one to preach?
Jay:
It´s not that I mean to, but ...
Alex:
Then stop it, so we can get our freak on! In a completely platonic way, of course!
She smiles at him and he tries his best to say no.
Alex:
Come on! Without you, I´ll be drinking alone again and when I do, I get depressed over how I´ve messed everything up.
She looks at him pleadingly and he gives in.
Jay:
Okay, but I have to be home at a decent time. It´s still a work day tomorrow.
Alex:
In that case, we´d better get started soon, hadn´t we?
She looks pleased.
10. Montage - Music: "Dancing With Myself" by Billy Idol
We start outside of a liquor store, where Alex downs a beer in one sip and letting out a large burp afterwards in the most un ladylike fashion, anyone possible could! She looks proud of herself, but Jay sees through the emotional armor, she´s put up again. To join her, he takes a large sip of his own beer though and she looks glad, that they´re hanging out again.
They next head off to a college bar, where it doesn´t take long for the drunk Alex to find some trouble to get into. Some guy accidentally bumps into her and spills some of his drink on her and she sees this as a reason to punch him right in the face! He falls backwards, as people around rush to stop it and a huge bouncer grabs hold of Alex, who isn´t much for giving up that easily and continues to struggle to get free.
We see Jay paying the guy she punched off, so he won´t tell the cops what happened. It happens to come to the exact amount, Jay had in his wallet.
We see Alex apologizing to Jay and pleading with him, to continue her bender with her. More as a way to keep her out of more trouble, than anything else, he agrees to.
We see Jay silently drinking a beer at the bar counter of another bar, they´ve gone to. Alex drunkenly and off in her own world dances by herself (hence the use of that particular song!) with a beer in one hand, that she´s so drunk that she spills more of, than she drinks from it. He looks at her, knowing that he has a lot of work ahead of him, if he´s going to get her back on her feet again!
We see him helping a barely conscious Alex to lie down on his and Ellie´s couch. He puts a pillow under her head, but she´s already passed out from the massive amounts of alcohol, she´s consumed. We can see that he wants to help her, but isn´t sure how to.
11. Int. Kitchen. Morning.
Ellie is having her morning coffee, when Jay comes in. He heads straight to the coffee pot and pours himself a cup, taking a big sip before sitting down across from her. She´s a little amused.
Ellie:
Feeling worse for wear this morning?
Jay:
I can´t be feeling half as bad as Alex must be! I only had one drink for every four or five, she had!
Ellie:
She left you a note, saying thanks for letting her sleep on the couch and that she´ll call you later.
Jay:
Not for another bender, I hope!
Ellie, with the history she has with her own mom´s alcoholism, becomes concerned.
Ellie:
Does she go out drinking a lot?
Jay:
It´s almost every day, from what she told me.
Ellie:
It sounds like she´s living the college lifestyle to the max!
Jay:
For as long as it lasts, anyway. From what she told me, things aren´t going too well on that front either. She misses Ashley like crazy.
Ellie:
The two of them were close to everything to one another. What about the new girlfriend?
Jay:
It didn´t last long. I can feel sorry for myself sometimes, but compared to her, my life is a cruise!
Ellie smiles at him.
Ellie:
Seriously Jay, what do you have to feel sorry for yourself over? You have a job you love and you´re great at, a loving and caring girlfriend, who loves you unconditionally, to come home to and no reason to have a care in the world!
Jay:
When you put it like that ... I guess you´re not talking complete nonsense!
Ellie:
It´s Alex, you need to worry over. If she´s out partying close to seven days a week, it´s going to end bad for her. There´s no two ways about it.
Jay takes in what she said and considers what to do about Alex.
12. Ext. Degrassi. Day.
Imogen is waiting outside of the school, after most of the other students have already left. She´s a little surprised to see JT coming out of the school and they smile at each other.
Imogen:
Detention again?
JT:
Someone has to keep the statistic up!
She giggles.
Imogen:
What did you do this time?
JT:
A neat little combination, all tied to me not caring the slightest bit about school anymore.
Imogen:
That´s enough info for me!
JT:
It´s for the best. My little sister will teach you enough things, you shouldn´t learn, as it is!
Imogen:
Can I catch a ride with you? My dad was supposed to pick me up, but that was over an hour ago.
JT:
Yeah, sure. Have you tried calling him?
Imogen:
Yeah, but he´s not picking it up. I´m getting a little worried, to be honest.
JT:
He`s probably forgotten it somewhere. If you had any idea how many phones my grandmother has lost, you would be shocked!
He gives her a reassuring smile, that helps a little.
13. Int. Car. Day.
JT is driving Imogen home.
Imogen:
You can drop me off at the corner up here.
JT:
Which direction are you going after that?
Imogen:
Left.
JT:
You´re in luck.
They come up to an intersection, where they wait for the light to turn green. Imogen sees her dad looking confused and walking across the street right in front of them, without him noticing them. She immediately undoes her seat belt.
JT:
Isn´t that you dad?
Imogen:
I need to find out, what´s going on!
She gets out of the car and JT follows after her.
13. Ext. Street. Day.
Imogen rushes to help her dad, who´s glad to see her.
Imogen:
What are you doing, dad?
Imogen´s Dad:
Immy, Hi! Who´s the guy, you´re with?
JT:
I´m JT, Bianca´s older brother. We´ve met before.
Imogen´s dad tries to place him, but clearly can´t.
Imogen´s Dad:
Are you sure?
Imogen:
Why are you out here in the street by yourself?
Imogen´s Dad:
We needed some groceries, so I thought I´d take Volta for a walk over to the shop. I think, I forgot her there, come to think of it!
JT:
I´ll drive you over there.
Imogen:
Again, thanks, JT.
Cars behind them start honking their horns, now that the light has turned green and JT and Imogen help her dad into JT´s car.
13. Ext. Grocery Store. Day.
Volta is absolutely delighted to be reunited with her "Human Family" and gets plenty of love from Imogen´s dad, to make up for him forgetting her. Imogen and JT look glad, that Volta is safe, but at the same time worried over what happened.
Imogen´s Dad:
I´m so sorry, Volta. Do you forgive me?
Volta lets out a happy bark, as if to answer him.
Imogen´s Dad:
I promise never to do it again.
Imogen:
I´ve tried calling your phone several times. You were supposed to pick me up after school.
Imogen´s Dad:
I don´t remember saying, that I´d pick you up. As for my phone, I guess I must have left it at work.
JT:
If you don´t mind, can you discuss this at home? I have people waiting for me.
Imogen´s Dad:
Yes, of course. Thank you, TJ.
JT:
It´s other way around, but I like the name TJ too.
Imogen looks at the same time both worried about her dad and impressed with how sweet and kindly JT is dealing with the whole situation.
14. Int. Kitchen. Evening.
Imogen and her dad are having spaghetti for dinner. She looks to him for approval.
Imogen:
I didn´t put too many spices in, did I?
Imogen´s Dad:
No, sweetie pie. It´s wonderful, just like you are.
She smiles to herself, but sees her chance to talk about what happened with him.
Imogen:
Dad, can I ask you something?
Imogen´s Dad:
Of course, you can.
Imogen:
When we found you wandering the street, was it because you couldn´t find your way home?
He gets a sad look on his face and looks her in the eyes.
Imogen´s Dad:
Honey, something is happening to my mind, that I don´t know how to explain. It´s like this cloud that has gone down over everything and it´s making me forget the simplest of things. Forgetting where I left my coat or my phone at work is one thing, but today I forgot the second most precious thing in my life after you.
Imogen:
We´ll get through this together, dad. I´m never leaving your side again.
She looks determined not to give up on him.
CLOSING CREDITS