PART 1
Cory Matthews House. Living Room.
Riley, Auggie, Cory and Topanga are at the dinner table in the living room. There is an extra seat and plate next to Riley, reserved for Maya.
There's a knock on the door.
"That's my friend," says Riley as she cheerfully hops on her way to open the door. "That's my best friend. I love my friend!" Riley grabs the doorknob ready to open it, but Maya knocks the door down from outside. Riley falls on her back, "Ouch!"
"Sorry honey," says Maya as she leans in to help Riley get up. "Did I hurt you?"
"Peaches," replies Riley. "I know you would never hurt me on purpose. I mean you're strong... and unpredictable and scary sometimes and I'm weak and vulnerable and sweet. But that's what makes our relationship so perfect." Riley and Maya hug and Riley hops back towards the table where Cory, Topanga and Auggie are eating chicken.
Cory looks at Maya then at the door, then back at Maya. "Hey!" he shouts. "You broke my door!" Maya ignores Cory and walks right to the table and grabs Cory's chicken. Cory continues, "And you took my chicken!"
"Stop whining Mr. Matthews!" Maya says as she tries to put barbecue on the chicken. Cory tries to speak up but Maya starts singing to blocks him by singing, "dada dadada dada dadam badada dada da..."
Riley pulls Maya's hand and asks, "So, Maya, what are you so excited about?"
"I'm not excited, Riles," replies Maya trying to avoid eye contact. "What makes you think I'm excited?"
"You were so energetic, you knocked down our door, Maya. And you didn't even make fun of my hopping and I can see it in your face." Riley tells Maya as she tries to pull her to look her in the eyes.
"Maybe some things are just personal... like your hopping," replies Maya trying to change the subject.
"Bay Window! Bay Window, right now!" Riley shouts as she pulls Maya up the stairs.
Maya takes a bite on Cory's chicken and throws the rest in the garbage can. She goes with Riley upstairs while Cory looks at her in disbelief.
"Can you believe this Topanga?" Cory says as Topanga shrugs her shoulders. "And she says I'm whining. I'm not whiny, Topanga. Do you think I'm whiny?"
"Well..." begins Topanga.
"Well what?" asks Cory curiously.
Topanga continues, "I mean sometimes you can be a little... teensy bit... "
"Okay, first of all I will have you know..."
Auggie stares at the door with fear in his eyes. He interrupts them by asking, "Mommy and daddy, am I going to be safe? Are you going to get someone to fix the door?"
"I will fix the door," Cory replies.
"Why? Because you're the man in the house?" asks Topanga.
"No, because I want to prove to you that I can be as strong and as manly as you." Awkward silence. Then Cory continues, "Okay that came out wrong."
Riley's Room. Bay Window.
Riley is panting as she tries to drag Maya to sit on the bay window but she can't lift her. She gives up and sits on the window alone. Maya stands for a few seconds then walks and sits on the Bay Window, next to Riley.
"Why did you drag me up here, Riley?" asks Maya.
"Because this is our Bay Window. This is where we always talk, Maya. This is where we share our secrets," Riley says as she puts her arm around Maya. She continues, "We're best friends, Maya. And best friends tell each other everything."
Maya takes a deep breath and says, "Maybe we don't have to tell each other everything. Maybe there are some things, Riley, that we should keep to ourselves."
"Whatever it is, Maya, you can tell me."
"No, Riley. Because...," replies Maya then continues. "Because, what if you're not ready for it? What if you hate me because of it? I don't want anything to ruin our friendship. I don't want anything to make you hate me."
"Is everything okay?" Riley asks in curiosity.
"Yes, Riley. I have this part of me... this thing... in my life that makes me really happy. And I wish I could share that with you but..."
"But you don't want to ruin our friendship because you don't think I will like it..."
"See? You're already catching on," says Maya as she jumps out through the bay window.
"Unbelievable!" Riley shouts and jumps on her bed.
Next Day. Mr. Matthews Class.
Mr. Matthews stands next to his desk, holding a piece of chalk.
Cory is in the middle of a lecture. He continues. "And so at some point in your life, you just have to make a decision to choose who you want to be. Do you want to be the 'normal' person that other people want you to be, or do you want to be different? To be yourself? The world we live in has created a set of rules and guidelines. They tell us what is normal and what is not. What we should be and what we shouldn't be. And we follow these and let them define us. We forget to listen to ourselves."
"Sir, I don't mean to be rude," asks Lucas, "but how is this related to Abraham Lincoln?"
"Huckleberry, you've been in this man's class for 3 years now and you're surprised he doesn't know how to teach?"
"Sir, aren't you supposed to be teaching about best friends keeping secrets from each other?"
"Why would I do that?"
"Because you always teach about what's going on in my life."
"Not today, Riley. Not today. The world doesn't revolve around you Riley."
"Oh!" Riley says in disappointment.
"Maybe sometimes it needs to revolve around someone else. Like a man who has to try so hard to prove to his wife that he's strong and manly. Why do I have to prove anything? Just because I'm a man doesn't mean I can't be weak and whiny?"
"I don't think this is about history anymore," Zay tells Lucas.
"Trouble in paradise?" asks Smackle.
"Farkle time, sir?"
"Sure, why not!"
Farkle walks to the front and stands on the teacher's desk. He adjusts his collar and starts explaining, "I think what Mr. Matthews is trying to say is, Abraham Lincoln didn't let the society or his race define him. He didn't say because he's white that he was going to let slavery continue. He listened to the voice inside of him. He chose to do the right thing. He chose to stand up and speak out and be himself regardless of what some of his fellow white people thought. And because of that he made legislations to end slavery in this country. He knew it was wrong and stood up against it. He didn't care whether slavery was considered to be normal or not. Thank you, I am Farkle!" He says as he jumps down and walks back to his seat. Smackle smiles.
"At least someone gets it," says Cory acknowledging Farkle's explanation.
Maya then asks, "Okay, so what you're saying is that we shouldn't be afraid to express ourselves regardless of what other people think of us?"
Riley turns at Maya and says, "Awww Peaches, you're coming around."
"Nope!" replies Maya as she takes her bag and starts to walk out of the class.
"Hey you can't do that?" Cory shouts as he tries to stop Maya from walking out of the class. "I'm still teacher here."
"Smackle time sir?" asks Smackle.
"Hey...!" Farkle says to Smackle before realizing that she might get mad at him. He then tries to cool it down with, "I mean, yay!"
Smackle rises to walk to the front of the class, but the bell rings. "Dang it!" Class disperses.
Riley turns to Farkle and Lucas and asks, "we are all friends, right?"
"Yes, Riley, of course we are!" Lucas replies.
Farkle holds Riley's hand and asks, "Riley, is there something going on between you and Maya?"
"I think she is hiding a secret from me," replies Riley.
"Why do you think that?" asks Lucas.
"Because she told me she's hiding a secret from me," replies Riley in her attempt of sarcasm.
"Oh!"
Riley then continues, "And she's been acting different. But she won't tell me what it is because she doesn't think I will be okay with it?"
"Are you sure you will be okay with anything she tells you?" Farkle asks.
"Of course. Why wouldn't I be?" says Riley confidently.
"Because you're Riley," replies Farkle. "You live in this fantasy bubble world where everything is perfect and normal."
Lucas adds, "And there's always a happy ending. Like you and me, Riley!"
"Or like you and me, Lucas?" adds Smackle as she joins the group. Farkle looks at her. Smackle starts biting her nails while staring at the roof.
Riley, "So, you're saying she's trying to protect me?"
"Yes, Riley!" Confirms Farkle, "Maybe she is just hiding it from you because she doesn't want you to be hurt if you know the secret."
"Farkle, is there something I should know?" Farkle asks but everyone just smiles.
"But, how will I know if I'm ready to accept her secret if I don't know what the secret?"
"You could spy on her..." suggests Smackle.
"Smackle!" Farkle and Lucas interject.
"What? It's not like you weren't all thinking it," says Smackle as she walks away.
"Maybe it's not such a bad idea, Riley," adds Lucas. "Maybe Maya is up to something bad. Maybe she is back with her street gang."
"And I can't let that happen," says Riley. "I have to spy on her. Because she's my best friend!"
Farkle tries to reason with her saying, "I don't think spying is the solution to everything. Nine out of ten times..."
"Spying?" interrupts Zay as he walks by. "Hey, we could be in your spy team. We could call ourselves Spy Teens... Spy Kids... No? Too much?"
"No, I need to do this alone," says Riley as she prepares to leave. "She's my best friend. She is my problem."
Lunch time. School Hallway.
Maya walks towards the janitor's closet and Riley follows her behind, slowly. She enters the closet and shuts the door behind her. Riley opens the closet and is instantly shocked. She sees Maya brushing Darby's hair with her hand as she passionately kisses her.
"Maya!?" Riley freaks out!
"Riley, I can explain," cries Maya as she tries to wipe her lips.
"I don't even know who you are anymore," says Riley and runs away.
Maya looks at Darby then runs out after Riley. She accidentally shuts the closet door behind her, locking Darby inside.
