WHAT IF? - SPECIAL 2 - CAUGHT SOMEWHERE IN TIME PART 2
1. Int. Living Room. Evening.
We´re right back where we started location wise in the first episode, only now it´s the alternate 2007. Joey is trying to wrap his head around it, while Manny, Spike and Snake explain it to him.
Manny:
It´s no wonder, that you got scared, when you saw me. In this timeline, we probably haven´t seen each other since 1992.
Joey:
But in the other one, you live with me, your boyfriend, Caitlin and my daughter? Why is that?
Manny:
You step-son Craig, who I guess you´ve never met in this timeline either, because you never met his mom to begin with, got me pregnant and my dad kicked me out. You and Caitlin took pity on me. Then me and Craig broke up and I got together with JT, who´s become a bit like a second son to you.
Joey:
What changed?
Snake:
She gave Tessa some great advice, which was why you ended up staying with her.
Spike:
You were meant to break up with both of them, so you could meet your future wife.
Manny:
Only she sadly passed away, which was what led to you getting back together with Caitlin.
Joey has to sit down, to try to wrap his head around it.
Joey:
You get why I´m having a hard time believing all of this, don´t you?
Snake:
Has Caitlin, or rather "The Other Caitlin" told you anything, that might convince Joey?
Manny:
She´s told me a ton of stories! Like when she thought, you were going to have your first date and you misunderstood each other, so you went with Liz in stead and she went home and cried her heart out.
Joey makes wide eyes.
Joey:
How ...
Manny:
Or when you asked her out, because some guy named BLT had bet you money, that you couldn´t get a date. She found out and poured a soda all over you, until you caught up with her in the rain outside and tore your winnings up to show her, that it was never about that.
Spike:
None of us told her, I swear. I´ve never heard that story until now.
Joey:
I´ve never told anyone.
Manny:
Neither has Caitlin, except to me. I´ve sort of become your adopted daughter these past years.
Snake:
It sounds insane, but how can she know? Caitlin can´t have told her.
Manny:
Why not?
The other three get sad.
Joey:
She been in a mental ward, since she had a nervous breakdown several years ago.
Spike:
The poor girl kept driving herself so hard to succeed, until her mind couldn´t take it anymore.
Snake:
Now she can´t do much of anything.
Manny:
What about your friend Wheels? What happened to him?
Snake:
I haven´t talked to him since school.
Spike:
Wheels drove drunk away from a graduation party and ran into on oncoming car. A kid was killed and a friend of ours in his passenger seat, nearly ended up disabled for life.
Manny tries to take it in.
Manny:
I have a lot of things to fix!
Snake:
If you´re going to make things exactly like they were, then you can only change things between Joey, Tessa and Caitlin. If you change anything else, there´s no saying what your world will look like, when you come back to it.
Manny nods in understanding.
2. Int. Manny´s Room (alternate future). Evening.
Joey and Manny are setting up a small cot for her.
Joey:
You know, now that I´ve had time to think back on it, I remember you and Tessa being best friends.
Manny:
How long did I go there?
Joey:
A year, perhaps? It´s been a long time since high school, so don´t go too much off of my memory!
Manny:
I guess that explains why Tessa already knew me, when I woke up in 1992.
Joey:
If that wand thing doesn´t work and you wake up in this timeline, or whatever you want to call it, I promise not to come at you with a knife again.
Manny:
I guess, we really don´t know, do we?
Joey:
You´re really like a daughter to me and Caitlin? That´s wild!
Manny smiles at him.
Manny:
Joey, in you and Caitlin I found the parents, I was always supposed to have. Or at least that´s how I feel.
Joey:
You say I have a biological daughter and a step-son too? What are they like?
Manny:
Angela or Angie, as we all call her, is such a fun kid! I don´t know what she´s gonna end up doing with her life, but I have a feeling that it´ll end up being something spectacular, that no one else has thought of, because that´s just how she is. I love her so much that it doesn´t matter, if we´re not related by blood. She´s my little sister in my heart and I know she feels the same way about me.
Her words make him smile a little.
Joey:
It sounds like she has a good life.
Manny:
She has the best life, any kid could imagine having. Your step-son Craig is an extremely talented musician and we´ve both just graduated high school. You´d like him, if you had the chance to meet him. He´s kinda like you, not perfect, but a really nice guy. That´s thanks to you, by the way.
Joey:
Manny, in this other life. Am I happy?
Manny:
I´d say so.
Joey:
Because I´m not happy now. It´s been so long, that I can´t remember the last time, I was.
She looks at him with sympathy.
Joey:
The thing is, I can´t pinpoint where it all went wrong. It just ... sort of happened that way.
Manny:
I don´t know what to say.
Joey:
You don´t have to say anything. I suppose a good luck would be in order.
Manny:
If this really is a dream, then it sure is a vivid one!
Joey:
I know that it´s wrong and crazy to suggest it, but can you help Wheels, while you´re there? That summer was when it all went wrong for him.
Manny:
I´ll see what I can do.
They smile sadly at each other.
OPENING CREDITS - IN THE SAME STYLE AS THE PREVIOUS EPISODE
3. Int. Manny´s Room (1992). Morning.
Manny opens her eyes and does a little celebration, when she sees where she is.
Manny:
Yes! Woo!
She gets out of bed and kisses one of the George Michael posters.
Manny:
George, you´ve never looked prettier, you rugged hunk of gay man!
She starts to form a plan.
4. Int. Garage. Day.
Wheels is working on his beat down old car, when Manny comes in. She taps on the door to get his attention and he smiles at her.
Wheels:
Manny, hi! How did you know, I would be here?
Manny:
I asked Joey. We´ll be colleagues at the supermarket this summer.
Wheels:
What brings you around?
Manny:
Does there have to be a reason, except that I wanted to see you again?
Wheels:
I guess not. Do you want a beer? There´s cold ones in the fridge.
Manny:
Yeah, sure. It´s not like I have to drive or anything.
He gets one out of the fridge for each of them and opens them, before handing one of them to Manny.
Wheels:
Cheers.
She has a small sip of hers, while he empties half of his in one gulp. She clearly worries about him, but decides that now isn´t the time to confront him yet.
Manny:
Tell me about your wheels, Wheels.
Wheels:
This baby? I know it doesn´t look like much, but just wait until I get it fixed up!
Manny:
Cool. I can´t wait to see it.
Wheels:
That´s my plan for the future. Buy up old cars, fix them up and sell them to a new buyer for a nice big profit. Hopefully.
Manny:
It sounds like you have everything going for you.
Wheels:
Me? That´s a new one!
Manny:
I know about your parents. We don´t have to talk about it, if you don´t want to.
Wheels:
What´s there to talk about? Some piece of garbage drunk driver ran head first into to them and killed both of them instantly. End of story.
He empties the rest of his beer and puts the bottle away, before opening the fridge again.
Wheels:
Do you want another one?
Manny:
I´m just getting started on this one. I´m not what you would call a fast drinker.
Wheels:
That´s okay. No one´s peer pressuring anyone here.
He gets out another beer, opens it and takes a large sip, before closing the fridge again. It´s obvious to Manny, that he clearly has severe alcohol issues and she can´t help herself from worrying about him.
5. Int. Dorothy´s Cafe. Evening.
Manny comes into the early 90´s version of The Dot with Tessa, back when it was still called Dorothy´s Cafe and looked wildly different from how it looks in the future. The old fashioned Wurlitzer jukebox is banging out "Can´t Stop This Thing We Started" by Bryan Adams, as they walk up to the counter, where Dorothy (known as Dot to everyone), an friendly looking lady in her mid 60´s smiles at them.
Tessa:
Hi, Dot. A small strawberry and vanilla shake, please.
Manny:
I´ll take one of the same.
Dot:
Coming up, though you´d better enjoy it while it lasts.
Tessa:
Don´t tell me, you´re closing down!
Dot:
I´m retiring, but I hear that the new owners want to keep it more or less, the way it is.
Tessa:
It still won´t be the same without you.
Dot:
I´ll have your shakes ready in a moment.
Dot leaves them and Tessa looks annoyed.
Tessa:
Don´t you sometimes wish, that things didn´t have to change?
Manny:
More than you´d know!
Tessa looks a little puzzled by her answer, as Spike comes in with two year old Emma on her arm.
Tessa:
Hi, Spike! Is that Emma?
Spike:
In the flesh.
Manny is taken by how cute her best friend looked as a baby.
Spike:
Can one of you hold her for a minute? I need to use the pay phone, so I can call my mom. I just hope, I can still catch her at work.
Manny:
I´ll do it.
Spike:
Thanks, Manny.
She hands Emma over to her and leaves them. Manny is overtaken with love for this tiny version of Emma.
Manny:
Hi, Emma.
Emma smiles at her, like she knows her already.
Tessa:
Can you imagine having one of those?
Manny:
They aren´t the worst thing in the world. I mean ... it has to be difficult.
Tessa:
I know, I couldn´t handle it at my age. I don´t know, how she manages.
Manny:
It´s what happens, when you don´t use protection. No glove, no love!
Tessa looks at little Emma and Manny´s words seem to be getting through to her.
6. Int. Supermarket. Day.
Joey and Manny are stocking shelves together in their work uniforms and getting to know each other.
Joey:
It´s kind of weird, that we´ve never really talked.
Manny:
You were probably too busy with Caitlin, to notice me.
Joey:
Not all the time. Well, at least we get the chance to talk now.
Manny:
How are things between you guys?
Joey:
If you´d asked me a month ago, I would have said, I had everything figured out. Lately it feels, like I have nothing figured out!
Manny:
Is it because she´s going away to college in the fall? Wheels told me.
Joey:
It has something to do with it. Can I ask you something, on a hypothetical level?
Manny smiles in a friendly way at him.
Manny:
Fire away.
Joey:
Say that you´re with someone and you really love them, it´s not that. But you´ve always been very different and then this other one comes along, where it´s simpler, they´re very easy to talk to and in many ways is perfect for you ...
Manny smiles to herself, since he doesn´t know how precisely he described her situation from a year and a half earlier.
Joey:
I guess, what I´m asking, is what would you do?
Manny:
Love works in strange ways,. It would be easy to say "Love the one, you´re with" or some hokey line like that, but you have to consider how the people around you will react. You also have to be able to look yourself in the mirror afterwards.
Joey takes it in and nods.
Joey:
That´s clever. It almost sounds like you´ve tried it yourself.
Manny:
The one thing you don´t want to do, is string both of them along.
Joey:
The question is, who to choose?
Manny:
Who says, you have to choose either of them? For all you know, it could be a 3rd girl somewhere out there, who´s your real soul mate, so why close yourself off from that possibility?
Joey:
I suppose, it would make things easier in some ways.
He thinks about is, while Manny looks pleased with how things are progressing.
7. Ext. Cinema. Evening.
Manny and Wheels have gone to the cinema on a double date with Joey and Caitlin to see "Basic Instinct" and it´s pretty racy to say the least. Manny looks surprised, that they were actually able to get away with this in 1992. It´s too much for Caitlin though and she gets up from her seat.
Caitlin (whispering to Joey):
Bathroom break.
Manny (whispering to Caitlin):
I´ll go with you.
They girls quietly make their way out of the cinema.
8. Int. Girl´s Room. Evening.
Caitlin and Manny are washing their hands, after they´re done with their bathroom visits.
Caitlin:
Can you believe that movie? That isn´t just gross, it´s anti-feminist, how she´s acting!
Manny:
I don´t know. She seems like the one in control to me. He´s just kind of going along with it, because he´s so infatuated with her.
Caitlin considers it for a moment.
Caitlin:
I guess, there is some truth to that. It´s almost like she has ... I don´t know what to call it.
Manny:
Girl power?
Caitlin:
That´s a good word for it! So, you and Wheels? He clearly likes you.
Manny:
I like him too. It´s crazy to think, that a guy who´s as nice as him didn´t ... I mean doesn´t, have a ton of girls after him.
Caitlin:
He´s always been shy. Pretty much the exact opposite of Joey.
Manny:
Doesn´t it become a little much sometimes?
They go to dry their hands.
Caitlin:
He´s kind of like a dog. You know that he´ll stay loyal, he´s fun to play with and he makes you smile.
Manny:
If that´s enough for you, then all the power to you. I couldn´t be with someone, I´m that different from.
Caitlin:
Like you and Wheels have a ton in common?
Manny:
We´re just dating and it´s not like we´ve done anything yet. For a date, all you need is a physical attraction. If we´re talking long term commitment, that´s a whole different kind of game. What makes you sure, that you´ll still want the same things in five or ten years?
She can see the worry on Caitlin´s face.
Caitlin:
I shouldn´t tell you this, but ...
Manny:
I can keep a secret.
Caitlin:
I said no to his proposal at first, because I was afraid that he only asked me to marry him, because he´s afraid of losing me.
Manny:
Why did you say end up saying yes then?
Caitlin:
Because I´m afraid of losing him. When I get to college, we won´t just be miles apart, we´ll practically be living in two separate worlds.
Manny:
Is fear a good reason to get married, or for that matter, the right way to start a marriage off? If it was me, I wouldn´t want to be tied down to one guy and have that limit me for the rest of my life, especially if it´s someone I was already in doubt over.
Caitlin tries to smile it off, but it´s a nervous smile, to say the least.
9. Ext. Cinema. Evening.
Manny and the others come out of the cinema with the other movie goers.
Caitlin:
Things will get better, if that Bill Clinton guy is elected.
Wheels:
Like that´s gonna happen!
Caitlin:
It could.
Joey:
No one has a clue, who the guy is. Bush will get four more years, there´s no doubt about it.
Manny:
Wanna bet?
Caitlin:
See? Manny agrees with me!
Joey:
I still say that there´s as bigger chance of disco making a comeback, than what was his name becoming US president!
Wheels:
Where are we going next?
Caitlin:
I was thinking of calling it a night. I´m kinda tired.
Joey:
I´ll drive you home. Bye, guys!
Wheels:
See ya tomorrow, buddy.
Joey and Caitlin leave them.
Wheels:
You´re not tired, are you?
Manny:
Not particularly. What do you have in mind?
Wheels:
You´ll love it!
She looks intrigued.
10. Int. Bar. Evening.
Wheels has taken Manny to a grungy rock bar of the day, with graffiti on the walls with slogans like "NKOTB can all kiss my ass" and "Boy George is the world´s ugliest girl". They come up to the bar.
Manny:
Are you sure, they´ll serve us?
Wheels:
It´ll be okay. Let me do the talking.
The bartender comes over to them.
Wheels:
Two beers with shooters on the side.
Bartender:
I´m gonna need to see some ID.
Wheels gets his driver´s license from his wallet and hands it to him. The bartender looks it over and hands it back to him, before going to get their drinks.
Manny:
That was easy!
Wheels:
What do you say, we get totally hammered?
Manny:
I can´t. My foster parents would kill me.
Wheels:
My grandparents are the same. To them, drinking is the root of all evil.
Manny:
Cut them some slack. They lost a child to a drunk driver.
Wheels:
But I´m not him!
The bartender brings them their drinks and Wheels pays him. He them drinks his shot immediately.
Wheels:
I hate that guy! If anything, I´m his complete opposite.
Manny:
You drink and drive, don´t you?
Wheels:
Look, if you´re gonna start with me too ...
Manny:
I´m no saint. Look ...
She takes the shot and downs it, even though it makes her make a face.
Manny:
But drunk driving is the same, no matter who does it. You´re still running a much greater risk of not only killing yourself, but also someone else, who´s done nothing to deserve it. Could you live with yourself, if that happened?
Wheels looks annoyed, that she´s preaching to him, but can´t think of a good comeback, so he takes a large sip of his beer.
11. Int. Tessa´s Parents Living Room. Evening.
Manny sneaks in, but is caught by Tessa´s Dad. She looks apologetic.
Tessa´s Dad:
Let me smell your breath.
Manny:
You don´t need to. I had a few beers with my date.
He looks disappointed in her.
Tessa´s Dad:
When we took you in, we explained the rules to you. No drinking, while you live here.
Manny:
I´m sorry.
Tessa´s Dad:
Did he pressure you into it?
Manny:
Not really. It might sound strange right now, but I´m actually trying to get him to stop drinking. I worry about him.
Tessa´s Dad:
Do you think, he´s an alcoholic?
Manny:
Maybe. I´m not sure.
Tessa´s Dad:
Does he drink heavily every day?
Manny:
I hope not, but I wouldn´t bet against it. I keep telling myself, that if I could just get him to listen to reason, then maybe he´ll change.
Tessa´s Dad:
Let´s take a seat.
They sit down on the couch next to each other.
Tessa´s Dad:
You´re not the first girl to think that way. Far from it. The sad fact is that he´s not going to stop drinking, unless he himself wants to.
Manny:
He thinks, it´s no big deal. If I could only make him see ...
Tessa´s Dad:
Manny, you can bombard him with all of the facts about how it will destroy his liver and his kidneys, or drag him down until he can´t get any lower. Until he feels those consequences, you won´t get through to him and he´s going to drag you down with him.
Manny:
I don´t want to give up on him either. He´s a really sweet guy, who just needs a nudge in the right direction.
Tessa´s Dad:
Be careful, okay? I´ve seen it happen too many times and I´d hate to see it happen to a nice girl like you.
Manny:
I´m also grounded, aren´t I?
He takes a moment to consider it.
Tessa´s Dad:
We can call this a suspended sentence, everything considered. Just promise me, that you´ll tread lightly with this guy and use your better judgment, if it comes to that.
Manny:
I will.
She nods in understanding.
12. Int. Manny´s Room (1992). Evening.
Manny is getting ready for bed and is having a talk with Tessa.
Tessa:
Was my dad mad at you?
Manny:
Nah, not really. You´re lucky to have such a great daddy.
Tessa:
I know. He still thinks of me as a little girl, but it´s kinda nice sometimes.
Manny:
I wish, mine would be more like that. With him, it´s his way or the highway and anyone who doesn´t agree with him, can get out.
Tessa:
I´m sorry that you had to grow up like that.
Manny:
It´s okay. It just makes me all the gladder, when I see the kind of relationship you have with your parents and knowing that you won´t have to go through the things, I did.
Tessa:
I´ve been thinking all day, since we talked to Spike. If Joey breaks up with me, because I won´t sleep with him, then it´s fate telling me to break up with him. I´m not anywhere close to being ready to have sex yet.
Manny:
Good for you, Sweetie. Don´t ever let a guy talk you into doing something, you don´t feel ready for. It they won´t accept your boundaries, you can find someone who does.
Tessa:
You´re really great at giving advice, you know that?
They smile at each other.
Manny:
It´s great to hear, that someone listens to it for once.
Tessa:
I´m gonna hit the sack. Sleep tight.
Manny:
You too.
Tessa leaves her and she gets under the covers. She can´t help looking sad, that she won´t see Tessa anymore, now that they´ve really started to bond..
Manny:
I´m gonna miss that girl!
She gets out the wand from her dresser drawer.
13. Int. Manny´s Room (1992). Morning.
Manny now isn´t so happy to have woken up in 1992 again.
Manny:
This can´t be!
She starts pacing around the room, trying to think.
Manny:
Think, Manny! Who here can help you in a situation like this?
She gets an idea.
14. Ext. Spike´s Mom´s House. Morning.
Manny rings the doorbell and soon Spike opens it.
Spike:
Hi, Manny. What´s up?
Manny:
Hi, Spike. I don´t know how else to do this, so I´m gonna be 100 percent upfront, because this is turning into a desperate situation!
Spike:
Hold up! Start at the beginning!
Manny:
You´ve always been the one I went to, when I needed advice on something.
Spike looks confused.
Spike:
When have you asked me for advice?
Manny:
In the future. Only it wasn´t you, as you are now, it was you as an adult.
Spike:
Huh?
Spike now looks very confused.
CLOSING CREDITS