DEGRASSI: GLORY DAYS - S01E01 - SCHOOL´S IN
A/N: Okay, so a few months ago, I decided that since I was going to try posting this little series over on AO3, I would go through every episode and fix all of the small errors that there originally was in the story, plus do some small rewrites of parts of the dialogue and explanation notes, to make it a more enjoyable and cohesive reading experience, than it was, as it stood when I finished the story around two and a half years ago, as of this writing. A few things were changed, that I thought needed to be, but they´re only tiny things and I only changed something, if I felt like it was absolutely necessary. In any case, I hope that you´ll enjoy it, because it truly was a labor of love for me to write it, practically from start to finish.
As a little bonus and since I had it finished anyway, I´ve posted a "Lost Episode" from season two, that I originally decided not to publish, back when I wrote it. This doesn´t mean that I´m going to start writing this series again, mostly because I kind of like the way that it ended, in spite of how rushed it wound up being.
1. Int. Kat´s Room. Morning.
Katherine "Kat" Nelson (an attractive and innocent looking 17-year-old, long haired, brunette) is sleeping, when her clock radio starts playing "Joy to the World" by Three Dog Night. She opens her eyes and turns it off. We hear the pitter patter of a child´s feet coming outside the door. Kat smiles, knowing what´s coming. The door opens and her 3-year-old daughter Christine (who would later be known as Spike) comes running in. She jumps in bed and cuddles up with her mom.
Kat:
Morning, short stop. Did you sleep well?
Christine:
Mmm.
Kat:
Any sweet dreams, you remember?
Christine (shaking her tiny head):
Mmm-mm. Are you excited about going back to school?
Kat:
I am. I get to see my friends again.
Christine:
Did you miss them?
Kat:
A little, but I had you to keep me busy this summer. What are you and great grandma going to do today?
Christine:
I don´t know, but I´m sure we´ll have fun.
Kat:
You always do, don´t you? Let´s go.
She tickles Christine, who laughs merrily, and they get out of bed, energized for the day.
OPENING CREDITS
2. Ext. Driveway. Morning.
A sweet and extremely well kept 1976 Chevrolet Eldorado pulls up in the driveway of a large house. It´s bright red with yellow flames on the hood. Behind the wheel (listening and rocking along to "Down on the Corner" by Creedence Clearwater Revival) sits Mike Coleman, a good looking 17-year-old boy with semi-long, slicked back hair, wearing a Letterman´s Jacket and dark sunglasses. He honks the horn.
Mike:
Down on the corner. Na, na, na, na, na.
Out of the door comes Troy Papadopoulos, a very athletic looking 17-year-old with short black hair and a Letterman´s Jacket similar to Mike´s. Mike is happy to see him, until he sees that he´s followed by Troy´s little sister Samira, a very conservatively dressed 15-year-old with very long, black hair and Samara´s best friend Isabella Wexler, a 15-year-old tomboy with short brown hair, wearing jeans and an Aerosmith T-shirt. She´s known as Iz to most people. Mike is annoyed, when they reach the car.
Troy:
My mom made me bring them.
Mike:
Uncool, man!
The girls get in on the backseat.
Iz:
Hi, Mike.
Mike:
Troy, I can´t be seen driving little girls around. It´s the first day of school and you´re already cramping my style!
Troy:
Ain´t nothing gonna cramp our style! This year, we´ll be running that school! DEGRASSI FOOTBALL!
Mike:
DEGRASSI FOOTBALL!
They do their "secret" handshake. Iz clearly thinks Mike is kind of hot, which Samira shakes her head at.
3. Int. Car. Morning.
Kat is in the front seat of an old Ford. Driving is her aunt, 37-year-old Angela Nelson. In the backseat is her 14-year-old cousin Carl, an angel faced kid with long brown hair that goes past his shoulders, who´s off in his own world as he watches the scenery pass by outside.
Angela:
Cheer up, Carl.
Carl (slightly annoyed):
What? I´m fine.
Kat:
Starting at a new school in a different city isn´t easy, but it´s not impossible. Plenty of other kids have done it.
Carl:
I´m not a kid. Look, I´m sure it´ll be okay. I just hope the jocks leave me alone.
Angela:
The principal said at the information meeting, that all initiation and bullying has been outlawed. Whoever does it, gets detention. I´m sure, you have nothing to worry about.
Carl shakes his head at his mom´s false hope and stares out the window. He sees some of the pretty girls, he´ll be going to school with and smiles to himself.
4. Montage - Music: "Blitzkrieg Bop" by The Ramones.
We see the various people as they arrive for class. A green VW Bubble comes racing into the parking lot and is expertly parked. Out steps Michelle Jacobs, a stunning and very well built 16-year-old girl with long red hair, that has several braids in it. She´s wearing a skimpy white t-shirt and blue hot pants. As she´s leaving the parking lot, two other cars almost crash into each other, because the drivers were too busy looking at her. She sees Kat get out of the car and hurries to get to her. The two girls hug and start chatting. Carl gathers his nerve and starts to enter the school. Right as he´s about to enter, Troy and Mike come up from behind and shove him out of the way. He enters the school with an annoyed look on his face. Samira and Iz saw it and feel sorry for him. Troy and Mike look around at the lobby, like they own the place.
5. Int. Classroom. Morning.
A good handful of the 9th grade kids, who are all brand-new to the school, are waiting for class to start. Tiffany "Tif" Andrews, a 14-year-old doll faced girl, looking like a tiny disco queen dressed for the summer, is talking to her small clique while she´s chewing gum.
Tif:
She was a complete fashion disaster, and the worst part was, that she didn´t know it. I was so embarrassed to be seen with her.
She sees Carl comes in and likes what she sees.
Tif:
Check out the new hottie!
The other girls look at him and seem to agree.
Tif:
He´s looking lost. Don´t you think, I should help him find his way?
The girls nod in unison. Tif walks over to him.
Tif:
Hi, stranger. Looking for something?
Carl:
A place to sit.
Tif:
Good news. Your looking days are over.
She brings him over to where she was sitting. Another girl gets out of the way, so he can take her seat, which he finds a bit weird.
Tif:
What´s your name?
Carl:
I´m Carl and you are?
Tif:
Tiffany, but everyone calls me Tif. I´m sort of the hot tamale around here.
Carl (being slight confused):
The what?
The teacher, Ms. Kendricks (a woman in her 50´s) comes in.
Ms. Kendricks:
Sit down and keep quiet! I´m Ms. Kendricks and I will be your English teacher for the next year. In my class you will speak when spoken to and never at any other time. If you speak or pass notes, it´s straight to the principal´s office! Also, there will be no chewing gum!
Carl makes a grinchy face, that almost makes Tif giggle, and she has to hold her mouth, so as not to. She takes her gum out and sticks it under the table.
6. Int. Degrassi Music Room. Day.
Kat and Michelle are queuing to sign up for the Glee club. Samira steps up behind them. She taps Kat on the shoulder. Kat and Michelle turn around and smile, when they see her.
Samira:
Hi.
Kat:
Hey, Samira. How was your summer?
Samira:
It was nice. We went to Calgary on vacation.
Michelle:
Did you break any hearts?
Samira smiles shyly, evading the question.
Kat:
I´m sure, it won´t be long.
Michelle:
You´re signing up for glee club. That´s great!
Samira:
Iz told me that I have a nice voice, so I´m trying it.
Kat:
Let´s hear you sing.
Samira looks nervous.
Samira:
Like here? In front of everybody?
Michelle:
If you´re going to join the school´s coolest club, you´ll have to at some point.
Kat:
Why not now? Any song you want to.
Samira thinks to herself for a few seconds. She begins to sing the first verse of "Son of a Preacher Man" by Dusty Springfield, but it´s very quiet. Kat quickly stops her.
Kat:
You can do better than that.
Michelle:
Put some volume into it. Let yourself go!
Samira:
You know that I´m shy!
Kat:
I believe you can sing. Try it again but close your eyes and pretend you´re alone.
She closes her eyes and really puts some power and some soul into it this time. Kat and Michelle can´t stop smiling and other kids in the line look at her too. When she finishes, she opens her eyes. The teacher, Pete Daltrey (an attractive and well-groomed man in his early 30´s) looks at her and smiles.
Pete:
Don´t you go anywhere, Samira!
Samira is gleaming with pride as Pete goes back to the registration.
Michelle:
Don´t think, you´re getting all the solos. Me and Kat want a few too.
Samira:
I can´t believe, I just did that.
Kat:
You sounded amazing, kiddo.
Michelle:
You really did. It isn´t your fault that your brother´s an irresponsible jerk.
Kat:
Come on, Michelle. Not right in front of her.
Samira:
It´s okay. I´m not too proud of the way he treated you, either.
Michelle:
If a guy gets a girl pregnant and says it isn´t his problem, he´s an irresponsible jerk. End of story!
They´ve come to the end of the line. Kat steps up to sign up.
7. Int. Lobby. Day.
Troy and Mike are with their football buddy Dexter Carlton, a very athletic looking 18-year-old African American with short curly hair, also wearing a Letterman´s Jacket. They´re with Artie Yorke (a short 15-year-old with thick glasses and short blonde hair, that´s parted in the middle. He´s wearing a suit, that would only have been fashionable in the 70´s) and Barry Hogart (a 15-year-old, who´s much larger than Artie and even larger than any of the others, in spite of them being a few years older than him. He usually has kind of a faraway look on his face, like he´s in deep thought about something and has a crew cut. He´s wearing shorts and a smiley face T-shirt).
Artie:
The question is, how much my client´s services will cost you.
Troy:
You´re on thin ice, little man.
Artie:
Do you want this beast of a man to play for you or not? Mike, think of all the sacks you won´t be taking, if he´s on the O-line. Or, Troy, how about all those nice easy touchdowns you´ll be running in, after he´s pushed everyone else out of the way? Face it, boys! Having Barry here on your team could be your first-class ticket to a career in the CFL!
Artie holds his breath, while the three football players discuss his sales pitch among one another. They quickly agree to give him what he wants.
Dexter:
Name your price.
Artie:
Protection.
Troy:
Protection?
Artie:
Protection for me and 5 people of my choice. If they´re on the list, you make sure that no one touches them. If they do ...
Troy:
We get it. Who´s on the list?
Artie:
I´ll have it ready for you tomorrow.
Mike:
I suppose we already know one name on the list.
Artie smilingly nods at Barry.
Artie:
It´s everyone else, that need protection from him.
Troy:
I bet. Welcome on the team, Barry.
Barry:
Thanks, boss.
Troy:
Boss! I like your style!
The football players high five with Barry, but only Dexter high fives with Artie.
8. Int. Classroom. Day.
Carl comes running into the classroom. Luke Travers, a 14-year-old kid with short brown hair, wearing clothes that you´d think his mom picked out for him and probably did, is sitting next to his friend Britney Simpson, a perky 14-year-old with pigtails and horned glasses. He rushes over to them and takes a free seat next to Luke. They eye him slightly suspiciously, as he tries to regain his breath.
Luke:
Why were you running?
Carl sees Tif come in.
Carl:
Her. She won´t stop talking!
Britney:
You´re not the first one to fall into that trap!
Carl:
Is there anything I can do, where I´m not mean to her?
Luke:
You could burp.
Carl:
Seriously?
Britney:
It would turn me off.
Tif sees him and approaches him. Carl lets out a large belch, which makes Tif laugh.
Tif:
You´re so silly!
She sits down next to him. He mouths "Save me" to Britney and Luke, but they just shrug and laugh it off. Tif makes a face and gets up to move to a different seat, Luke smells it too and blows it away with his hand.
Carl:
Desperate times called for desperate measures. Sorry.
Carl smiles apologetically at Britney. She smiles shyly back, and they have a long eye contact.
9. Int. Classroom. Day.
Class is just about to start, when Samira comes rushing in. She sits down next to Iz.
Iz:
How did your audition go?
Samira:
I sang in front of everyone.
Iz:
You did?
Samira:
They thought, I was great!
Iz:
Awesome!
Teacher:
Miss Papadopoulos and miss Wexler, is there anything you want to share?
Iz/Samira:
No, sir!
Teacher:
Good.
Samira tries to stop smiling, but it´s hard.
10. Ext. Hallway. Day.
Carl exits the classroom in a hurry. Tif tries to catch up to him.
Tif:
Wait up!
Carl:
You still want to talk to me?
Tif:
So, you had a little accident. It happens.
Carl:
Look, I´ve just started here. Before I can think about having a girlfriend, I ...
Tif:
Carl, it´s okay. I´m not some slut that just throws myself at guys. I think you´re interesting and I want to get to know you. Is that a crime?
Carl:
I guess not. But could you talk a little less?
Tif:
I know, I´m a blabbermouth. If it becomes too much, you can tell me to shut up. I don´t mind.
Carl:
I´m sure that I can find a nicer way to say it.
Tif:
You are an interesting boy. See you later, alligator!
She kisses her index finger and pads him on the nose with it before leaving. Britney smiles at him too, as she passes him. Luke comes over to him, shaking his head.
Luke:
You´ve been here half a day and you´ve already got two girls after you!
Carl turns around to face him.
Carl:
Some guys just have it!
Luke:
Could you teach it to me?
Carl:
I can try.
They head toward the next class, chatting.
11. Ext. Degrassi. Day.
School has been let out. Troy comes out with his arm around Samira´s shoulders. He looks proud of her. They pass Michelle and Kat. Michelle gives him the evil eye, while Kat is cooler about it. He tries to ignore them, but can´t completely. Artie comes out riding on Barry´s back, both of them one big smile.
Artie:
Barry, away!
They race past Michelle and Kat, who can´t help smiling at the sight of them.
Michelle:
Those two are not normal!
Kat:
Still, you can´t deny that they have a lot more fun than the rest of us!
Carl comes down to them.
Kat:
How was your first day?
Tif comes down the stairs.
Tif:
See you tomorrow, Carl.
Carl:
Bye, Tif.
Michelle and Kat both eye him teasingly.
Kat:
Who was that, Carl?
Carl:
That was ...
He loses his train of thought, when he sees Britney waving goodbye to him. He waves back at her with a smile to match the one, he got.
Michelle:
Don´t tell me that two little cuties have their eye on you already! You´ve been a busy boy, haven´t you?
Kat:
Be honest. Did you learn anything today, or did you just spend the entire day flirting with your new female classmates?
Carl:
A learned a few things. Here and there.
Michelle:
I´m sure, you did!
Kat:
Let´s get out of here! Michelle´s giving us a ride.
They head towards the parking lot.
12. Int. Nelson Residence. Evening.
Kat is washing up and quietly singing along to "Me and Bobby McGee" by Big Brother and the Holding Company, coming from the radio. The doorbell rings. She wipes her hands on a towel, before going to answer the door.
Kat:
I´ll get it, mom!
We see that Troy is waiting nervously outside, when she opens. She steps outside and closes the door behind her. He gets a small wad of money out of his coat pocket and hands it to her.
Troy:
It includes the rest of the money; I owe you from last time.
Kat counts it and looks him in the eye.
Kat:
Thanks.
Troy:
How is she doing?
Kat:
Great. As long as she´s surrounded by people, who love her, she´s happy little camper.
He smiles at the thought of her.
Kat:
The door is always open, when you want to see her. She´s your daughter too, after all.
Troy:
That one time was heartbreaking enough. If I held her again, I don´t think I could bring myself to let her go a second time.
Kat:
She needs her dad.
Troy:
I need my dad too. If I take responsibility for her, he´ll disown me. Without him, there´s no Ivy league college.
Kat:
It isn´t like I want us to get back together. That ship sailed the moment you tried to pretend that you weren´t to blame for me getting pregnant, as much as I was, when you knew damn well, that I hadn´t slept with anyone else. I just want Christine to know who her dad is.
Troy:
I have to keep my own dad thinking, that I´ve followed his stupid religious code until I´ve finished college, or he won´t pay for it, you know that. A big one on his list of no-no´s was no sex before marriage.
Kat:
I know. It isn´t fair on any of us, least of all that little girl playing in the living room, who´s the innocent victim in all of this. I´m sure that it can´t be fun having everyone at school thinking you´re a deadbeat dad.
Troy:
You get used to hearing all of the sly, down-putting remarks. Anyway, it´s only for another year, then I´m off to a fresh start in college.
Kat:
I wish it were me. Even if they hadn´t held me back a year because of my pregnancy, there´s no way I could leave Christine and go somewhere else.
Troy:
There´s always TU.
Kat:
I´ll have to work to save up for it. My mom´s old boss feels sorry for me. She said that I can have a job in her beauty parlor, when I graduate.
Troy:
I hope that´ll you find someone, who´s far better towards you, than I ever was. Someone, who can be a real dad for our daughter.
He almost gets emotional and has to recompose himself.
Troy:
Don´t tell Mike.
Kat (shaking her head at him):
You guys and your macho BS! Take care, Troy.
Troy:
Right back at you!
She heads back inside. He can´t help himself from looking through the window at Christine, playing with her toys on the floor. He has to wipe a tear from his eye, before he leaves.
CLOSING CREDITS