WHAT IF - SEASON 5 EPISODE 6 - NO EXCUSES (PART 2)
1. Int. Library. Day.
Riley, Dallas, Derek, Drew and Danny are looking over even more yearbooks to see how far back it goes.
Drew:
I found one!
Dallas:
Which year do you have?
Drew checks the side of the yearbook to be sure.
Drew:
1968. That looks like it was the last time Degrassi had a Caucasian wide receiver.
Danny:
Have you guys come across any African American quarterbacks?
Derek:
Not one! No Latinos or other ethnicities either. I had no idea it would be this bad!
Drew;
We can officially rule out it being a coincidence. Even I know a pattern, when I see it.
Dallas:
Aren´t you of Greek descent, Riley?
Riley:
Thanks to my great, great grandfather, who came over here in the eighteen hundreds! I have some family over there, but I don´t feel like I´m Greek. I feel like I´m a Canadian, who has a Greek last name.
Danny:
Plus, look at him! No offense, Riley, but if there was a competition for whitest looking white boy, you would win in dominant fashion!
Drew:
I guess that Torres isn´t the right last name, if you want to be starting quarterback around here!
Dallas:
Guys, this isn´t just about us anymore. This is about everyone who´ll go here after we´ve left and those who came before us and didn´t get the chance they should have had, thanks to an unfair system, that held them down.
He stands up, as do the others and puts his hand in the middle. The others place theirs on top of his.
Dallas:
I say it´s time we did away with that system!
They all look in on the idea.
OPENING CREDITS
2. Int. Hallway. Day.
Chantay comes out looking annoyed from the principal´s office to join the boys, who are waiting for her.
Chantay:
Hot Sauce said that she can´t do anything without sufficient evidence. She agreed that it looked suspicious, but that´s it.
Dallas:
Are any of you surprised? Of course, she´s not going to admit to anything!
Danny:
Dallas, she´s my best friend´s mom, so I know her better than anyone here. She´s not unreasonable, we just need to provide her with more evidence.
Drew:
Like what?
Derek:
A written confession?
Riley:
How are you going to get one of those?
Chantay gets an idea.
Chantay:
It doesn´t have to be written, if we can catch it on tape.
Danny:
That begs the question of who´s going undercover?
Chantay:
You are, my dear!
Danny:
I am?
She nods at him and he gives in. The others give him comforting pads on the back.
3. Int. Hallway (elsewhere). Day.
Drew, Dallas and Riley come walking down the hallway.
Riley:
You think we´ll get anything out of it?
Drew:
It´s still better than not doing anything.
Dallas:
I hear that! See you in class, Drew. I gotta drain the lizard!
Drew:
Drain away, Buddy!
Dallas heads into the boy´s room, while the other two continue up to a fork in the hallway.
Riley:
I guess this is where the juniors and the sophomores part ways!
Drew:
I´ve been meaning to ask you something, if you have a moment.
Riley:
Yeah, sure.
Drew:
Where do you go jogging? I have to get in top shape for the season and as much as I´d like to join a gym, it would cost me over half of my allowance, if I did.
Riley:
You can´t ask your mom to pay for it?
Drew:
Audra Torres does not give handouts! If I ask for it, then she´ll tell me that the world is tough and there are no handouts in it, so she doesn´t give them either. She´s a big fan of tough love, as you can probably hear.
Riley laughs a little.
Riley:
I see your problem. The woods are great, as far as places to jog go. It´s nice there this time of year, plus it´s up and down a lot of the time, so you get your legs worked out in a different way, than if you were running on a treadmill or flat road.
Drew:
That´s great advice. Thanks, man.
Riley:
No sweat. Try to have fun in class!
Drew:
That was a joke, right?
They smile at each other and Drew walks up the hallway. It´s only then that Riley realizes that he might have made a big mistake.
4. Int. Classroom. Day.
Chantay is prepping Danny on what do to.
Chantay:
Before you walk over to him, you ...
Danny:
Turn the tape recorder on. Why can´t I use my phone? It´s smaller and everyone carries their phone around!
Chantay:
We can´t be sure that the small microphone will pick up the sound clearly enough.
Danny:
It almost sounds like you tried this before?
Chantay becomes quiet and tries to ignore his question, busting herself.
Danny:
On me?
Chantay:
I did it for us and that´s all you need to know! Anyway, it didn´t work, so there´s no reason to be mad at me.
He rolls his eyes at her.
Danny:
What do I say, when I get him to talk?
Chantay:
You try to convince him to give you a chance on quarterback. If he tries everything he can to dissuade you from it, that´s a start.
Danny:
You´re almost starting to sound like you know what you´re talking about, when it comes to football!
Chantay:
The quarterback is the player, who kicks the ball, right?
Danny:
Or maybe you don´t!
Chantay:
That doesn´t matter. What matters is that you put on the acting performance of your life so far. Can you do it?
Danny:
I´m positive, that I can!
She gives him a kiss for good luck.
5. Int. Gymnasium. Day.
The Shep is in charge of PE for the freshmen boys, who he´s working hard by making them run laps. We get our first view of Connor DeLaurier here, a large for his age African American kid, who looks like he´s about to die from exhaustion!
The Shep:
One more lap! You can do it, boys!
Connor looks like he´s about to give up and walks over to him, while he tries to catch his breath.
Connor:
I need a break! I´m not in shape for this.
The Shep:
Then it´s my job to get you into shape, isn´t it? Keep running or I´ll make you run five extra laps as punishment!
Connor gives up arguing with him and tries his best to follow the rest. KC runs right behind him.
KC:
Don´t worry about him, Connor. The guy´s a frigging psycho!
Danny comes in and tries to catch the coach´s attention. He does and The Shep comes over to him, smiling at him.
The Shep:
What is my star wide receiver doing here?
Danny:
He´s thinking that you have him playing the wrong position.
The Shep:
You don´t want to play wide receiver? Is it getting tackled you´re afraid of?
Danny:
No, it´s not that.
The Shep:
You want to play on the defense then? I´m sure you´d make for a good safety or perhaps even a defensive end.
Danny:
Actually, I´d like to try out for quarterback.
The Shep tries to smile it off.
The Shep:
I already have my two quarterbacks.
Danny:
It´s still three weeks until our first game. Surely there´s time to give me enough reps, that I would be ready.
The Shep:
It´s not about that! I already promised it to Riley and Drew!
Danny:
I´ve talked to them and they say that if I´m the best out of the three of us, then they think I should get the spot.
The Shep:
Look, I appreciate your input and dedication to the team, Danny. But my mind is made up and I have a class to teach, so as far as I´m concerned, the matter is settled. Either way, don´t you have a class you should be in?
Danny:
I have study hall this period.
The Shep:
Then get back to the library, on the double!
Danny:
Yes, coach!
The Shep:
You´re a good player, Danny. Just don´t go filling your head with big dreams, that will never happen. It´s not good for you.
Danny does a great job in containing his inner anger and just nods at The Shep before leaving him to teach his class.
6. Int. Library. Day.
Danny comes back and sits down with Chantay and Derek, who were clearly anxiously waiting for news.
Danny:
He tried all he could to talk me out of it, except for bringing out the kitchen sink!
Chantay:
Did you get it on tape?
Danny:
Loud and clear!
Derek:
We still don´t have enough evidence to take him down.
Chantay:
No, but we will after we´ve finished stage two of the plan!
Danny:
What do I do in stage 2?
Chantay:
You annoy the hell out of him! Then at the pep rally tomorrow, we show the entire school what kind of a coach The Shep really is!
Danny and Derek both look like they love that idea!
7. Int. Drew´s Room. Day.
Drew is getting ready to go out for a run, while Gracie is trying her jump shot by throwing his bundled up socks on a tiny basketball hoop, he has on the wall, where when you score, it falls into his laundry hamper.
Gracie:
You´re actually going running? That´s the most boring thing I can possibly think of! Did you get tired of watching the grass grow or ice slowly melting?
Drew:
Your insult comedy act is coming along, sis!
Gracie:
I keep coming up with new zingers every day! Those weren´t anywhere near my best ones, by the way!
Drew:
If I´m not gonna look like a complete out of shape loser when practice starts, there´s no way out of it!
Gracie:
Are you just gonna run around the block?
Drew:
No, I was thinking of talking a run down in the woods.
Gracie:
You in wild nature?
Gracie has to laugh, making him annoyed.
Drew:
It´s not like it´s a huge area! I´m not gonna get lost down there.
Gracie:
Wanna bet five bucks? You´re the biggest city person, I know, Drew! Putting you in nature is like putting me in a fancy dress!
Drew:
I´ll take that bet and when I come home from my run in half an hour, I will have proven you wrong.
Gracie sees the chance to fool him.
Gracie:
I´ll only believe you, if you bring back a four leaf clover.
Drew:
What does it look like?
Gracie rolls her eyes at how dumb her brother can be!
Gracie:
You´ve seen the three leaf clovers that grow in our garden, right?
Drew:
So?
Gracie:
Think about it for a moment!
He does and it then comes to him.
Gracie:
Find me one that looks like it with four leaves in stead of three and the money is yours. They don´t grow around here, but you can find lots of them in the woods!
Drew:
Fine! I´ll find a five ...
Gracie:
Four, but if you can find a five leaf clover, that´s fine too! But it has to have four leaves, otherwise you could have found it around here.
Drew:
Four leaf clover and then I will wipe it in your face, that I was right!
Gracie:
Just to be nice, I´ll give you ... let´s say forty-five minutes!
Drew laughs, thinking that he´s already won.
Drew:
Your money is already mine!
He runs out of the door, as Gracie smiles to herself.
Gracie:
Sucker!
She lands another "sock shot" perfectly and looks pleased with herself.
8. Ext. Woods. Day.
Drew is looking for a four leaf clover, looking puzzled why he can´t find one! He thinks that he sees one and picks it, but it´s another three leaf clover. Annoyed, he throws it away.
Drew (to himself):
She said that there were lots of them down here! Come on, Drew! Finding one can´t be that hard!
It still hasn´t dawned on him, that he´s been played by Gracie, so he keeps on looking.
9. Ext. Woods (elsewhere). Day.
We cut to Riley and his boyfriend, who are talking. Riley looks apologetic.
Riley:
I´m sorry. I was only trying to do him a favor.
Riley´s Boyfriend:
By telling him about the place, he´s most likely to bust us? I have a lot on the line here too, Riley. It´s not just you!
Riley:
I know. I´ll think of some other place we can meet up from now on. Please forgive me.
He gives his boyfriend his best apologetic look and his boyfriend smiles at him.
Riley´s Boyfriend:
You´re lucky, that I like nice guys, Riley!
Riley looks glad and they kiss passionately. Riley is completely lost in the moment with his eyes closed and doesn´t even notice Drew, who´s seen them from afar and has his mouth wide open at what he sees. It isn´t until they break the kiss and he opens his eyes that he sees him and when he does, his face freezes in fear. His boyfriend turns around to see what he´s reacting to and when he sees Drew, he runs away as fast as he can. Drew is at first too shocked to move and just stares at Riley.
Riley:
Drew!
Riley starts moving towards him, but Drew panics and runs away. Riley kicks a tree in frustration, that he´s been found out.
10. Int. Drew´s Room. Day.
Drew comes back into his room and slams the door shut behind himself. He´s so overcome with emotions and frustrations, that he doesn´t know what to do with himself. His door opens and Gracie comes in.
Gracie:
Did you find me a four leaf clover?
Drew:
Leave me alone!
Gracie:
Look, if it´s about the bet, I lied a little, okay? They´re not easy to find, so we can forget about it.
Drew:
Gracie, I just saw my new friend making out with a dude, so I don´t give a damn about any stupid bet, okay?
Gracie looks as shocked, as Drew was.
Gracie:
You mean Riley? He´s gay?
Drew:
I guess so! I could be traumatized for life after seeing that!
Gracie has to giggle a little.
Gracie:
Because you saw two dudes kissing? You´ll survive!
Drew:
You don´t know that! It was weird and just not something I wanted to see!
Gracie:
Are you gonna be the same way, when I find a girlfriend someday and you see us kissing?
Drew:
It´s two different things! Girls are girls and I can´t put myself in their position, but I can when it comes to a guy!
Gracie looks disappointed in him.
Gracie:
I thought we were past this homophobe BS with how accepting you´ve been towards me lately. I guess, I was wrong.
Drew:
Gracie, you´re not a guy, so there´s no way you can understand!
Gracie:
No, but I am gay and I know what it´s like to be treated like you´re worth nothing because of it. After seeing what I went through, can you really do the same thing to Riley, that they did to me?
She leaves him to think about it and he looks like he reluctantly agrees with her.
11. Ext. Degrassi. Morning.
Riley arrives for school, looking nervous about what´s ahead for him. He sees Drew waiting by the entrance and cautiously walks over to him. They make eye contact, but neither of them smile.
Drew:
We should find a private place to talk.
Riley:
Sure.
Riley follows after Drew inside.
12. Int. Boiler Room. Morning.
Drew and Riley come down the stairs to the boiler room. Riley looks around, like he´s afraid that he´s gonna get jumped at any moment.
Drew:
I´m not gonna tell anyone, if that´s what you´re afraid of.
Riley eases up a little and Drew looks him in the eyes.
Drew:
You´re in luck that I have mother and in particular a sister, who have taught me a lot about tolerance and acceptance these past years.
Riley:
Are you trying to say, that you´re okay with it?
Drew:
I´m saying that it´s your business and only yours. As long as you don´t flaunt it in my face, I choose not to care.
Riley smiles.
Riley:
It´s that simple for you? You can just choose not to care?
Drew:
I like taking the easy way out and this is the easiest way, I could come up with.
They laugh.
Riley:
I like that about you.
Drew:
Hey!
Riley:
I´m not hitting on you, Drew!
Drew:
Right, because you have a boyfriend.
Riley shakes his head.
Riley:
Not anymore. He was already scared out of his mind about getting seen and after you caught us, he´s called an end to it.
Drew:
I´m sorry. Break up´s suck.
They nod in agreement.
Riley:
Whatever happened with you and that Indian girl, you went to the dance with?
Drew:
That´s still going on. We have a date next week.
Riley:
You´re really gonna try your luck with a ninth grader?
Drew:
It´s better than a dude!
They smile at each other and fist bump.
13. Int. Hallway. Morning.
Drew and Riley come down the hallway together, where they´re met by Danny and Chantay, who looks excited.
Danny:
I kept on working on The Shep yesterday and I caught the motherload!
Chantay:
Your ears will fall off, when you hear it!
Riley:
I hope not!
Drew:
So everything is set?
Chantay:
Timed and planned to the tiniest detail!
Danny:
This pep rally will be one, no one who comes to it will forget!
All four look like they´re looking forward to it a lot.
14. Int. Gymnasium. Evening.
The Degrassi pep rally is in full swing and the Spirit Squad are doing a wild and crazy routine, that has the crowd more than well entertained.
We cut to the crowd, where Chantay is sitting with Jane, Mia and Darcy, trying to look unimpressed.
Chantay:
I could do that twice as good as them!
Darcy:
Why aren´t you down there with them then?
Chantay:
It´s political!
Mia:
Chantay, I don´t think ...
Chantay:
I said, it´s political!
She shoots Mia a look that tells her not to ask any more questions about it. Jane was about to say something but wisely decides not to!
We cut to Riley, Danny, Derek, Drew and Dallas in their football uniforms. Drew waves up to Gracie, who´s sitting with Jenna, Alli and Clare. Alli blows him a kiss and he pretends to catch it. Dallas leans in to talk quietly to him.
Dallas:
I know it can be hard, but save that for next week!
Drew:
Oh, I intend to!
The Shep starts to gather his players, who gather around him.
The Shep:
When I call your name, you come running in from the side. I´ll start with the quarterbacks, so Drew and Riley get yourselves ready.
Drew/Riley:
Yes, coach!
The Shep:
Let´s put on a good show for everyone!
He smiles at them one last time before going out to face the audience. Drew and Riley smile knowingly at one another, as do Dallas, Danny and Derek.
We cut to the floor, where a microphone stand has been set up for the coach with a microphone of course. He steps up to it confidently.
The Shep:
Hello, Degrassi! Are you ready to meet your coming state champions?
The crowd cheer to his delight.
The Shep:
First up, your starting quarterback, Riley Stavros!
Riley comes running out in front of the crowd, who applaud him.
The Shep:
Next up, our second string quarterback and starting tight end, Drew Torres!
Drew comes running out to join Riley.
The Shep (over the PA):
Degrassi has never had a black quarterback and it never will, while I´m coach here! Why can´t you get that through your head?
They crowd look shocked at what they heard and you could hear a pin drop now. Riley and Drew try to look as shocked as the crowd is, just for the fun of it, while The Shep is trying to find of ways of saving this.
Up in the stands, Chantay watches it with a smile on her face, as her friends realize that this was her doing.
Jane:
You are bad-ass, Chantay!
Chantay just smiles to herself, as we cut down to the floor again. The Shep decides that the only way to save it is to try to continue.
The Shep:
Next up, on wide receiver ...
Danny (over the PA):
Why haven´t you had one?
The Shep (over the PA):
Because your kind don´t have the intelligence to play quarterback! That´s why God made it so that you could run fast and be good wide receivers of safeties! Those are the spots you put the black players in!
Danny (over the PA):
You would never let a white kid play those positions?
The Shep (over the PA):
I would sooner put a Jew in at quarterback!
Hatzilakos comes down from the stands and approaches him, looking like she´s ready to tear his head off!
We quickly cut to Derek, Dallas and Danny, who all three fist bump in triumph.
15. Int. The Dot. Evening.
There´s a small celebration at The Dot to celebrate the taking down of The Shep. Riley and Dallas are becoming friends with Derek, Danny and Peter, while Drew is busy flirting with Alli, who´s enjoying every moment of the attention he´s showering on her to the absolute fullest. Sav is trying to get her to come with him home, but Alli doesn´t much look like she wants to. Up by the counter, toasting on a pair of sodas are Danny and Chantay.
Danny:
What are you gonna put in your article?
Chantay:
I´ve asked Darcy to ghost write it for me.
Danny:
Don´t you want to be a reporter?
Chantay:
I only did that so I had an excuse to be close to you, dummy!
He smiles at her.
Danny:
You missed me!
Chantay:
A little. Okay, a lot! We make a good team, you and I.
Danny:
You know, maybe it´s time we looked into which colleges to apply to, to make sure that we apply to the same ones.
She smiles widely.
Chantay:
Are you telling me that you want us to continue after high school is over?
Danny:
I love you, Chantay. I don´t want my life to be without you in it.
Chantay:
Danny, you´re so romantic!
They kiss.
CLOSING CREDITS