CHAPTER V: Craig & Ellie – Whatever It Takes...

CUT TO:

EXT. CEMETERY – OVERCAST DAY

On a hill of sere grass overlooking the rest of the cemetery, the casket of Manny Santos is lowered into its grave. Emma, Paige, Ellie, Spinner, Marco, Jimmy, Liberty and Hazel stand along with Spike, Snake and a small group of Manny’s family and other friends.

MS. DAPHNE HATZILAKOS, Degrassi’s Principal and Peter’s Mom, stands with them. No doubt distraught by the fact that she will be burying her own son at this very cemetery the following day.

PRIEST

Ashes to ashes, dust to dust. May God be with this young girl’s soul. Pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge. Hear my cry oh God; listen to my prayer, from the ends of the earth I call to you. I call, as my heart grows faint, lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

Ellie looks back and sees Craig standing behind the rest of the group, his head hung low and wearing shades to hide the tears.

PRIEST (CONT.)

God is our hope and strength, a very present help in troubled times. Therefore, we will not fear in the face of evil or death. Even tough we entrust Manuela Santos to the earth, her courage and spirit shall remain with us, until we are called home to the kingdom of heaven where we will dwell in the Lord’s glory...Forever.

CUT TO:

INT. CRAIG’S GARAGE – DAY

It’s later that afternoon. Craig sits alone in the garage he converted into a hangout and rehearsal spot for his former band. Ellie enters.

ELLIE

I knocked on the front door but there was no answer...

CRAIG

(somberly)

Joey and Angela are out of town.

Ellie sits next to Craig and he breaks down in her arms.

ELLIE

(sympathetically)

She’s always going to be a part of you Craig.

CRAIG

(emotionally)

The last time I talked to Manny I was trying to comfort her, telling her that everything would be okay, and now she’s gone. I should have gotten on a plane right then.

ELLIE

You didn’t know it was going to happen.

CRAIG

Yes I did...we all did. None of us wanted to believe Emma’s story. I guess that’s part of the cliché, no one believes until it’s too late.

ELLIE

Have you seen him?

CRAIG

No, not yet anyways. Have you?

ELLIE

I haven’t been able to sleep since she told us the story. Besides, I probably have too many nightmares of my own for Freddy to even bother with me.

CRAIG

What are your nightmares about?

ELLIE

They’re mostly about my Dad not coming home from the war. The one that terrifies me the most is about my Mom and her drinking...she’s sober now but...I keep thinking she’s going to slip up and hurt herself.

CRAIG

What about the cutting?

Ellie rolls up her sleeves and shows Craig, there are no fresh scars, only the marks of the past.

ELLIE

It’s been almost a year since the last time I did.

Craig takes her arm and caresses the old wounds.

CRAIG

We’ve spent a big part of our grade school years going from triumph to tragedy to even more tragedy, and then something like Freddy comes along and makes you realize that your life really wasn’t as bad as you thought, there’s always something worse.

ELLIE

In the darkest hour of night, there’s always a glimmer of light.

CRAIG

Never heard that one before. Is that a nursery rhyme?

ELLIE

It’s just something my Dad use to say when I was afraid of the dark. It means that there is always hope, even in the worst situations.

CRAIG

You know, when the doctors told me I was Bipolar I thought it was the end of the world, then you came along and taught me how to live again. I can always count on you to ease the pain when times are tough. Thanks.

ELLIE

Whether you know it or not Craig, you’ve done the same for me too.

A comforting embrace is exchanged between close friends, who deep down may be, in fact, more than that.

CUT TO:

INT. EMMA’S ROOM – DAY

Emma sits alone in her room, in tears, looking at photos of her fallen friends, especially Manny. Spike soon enters the room and goes to comfort her daughter.

ANGLE ON – PHOTO

A picture of young Emma, Manny, Toby, JT and Liberty from Degrassi: The Next Generation - Season One.

SPIKE

You guys were so young and full of wonder then.

EMMA

We’ve had our ups and downs, but through it all we really did love each other. If only I could turn back time.

SPIKE

One of the downsides of being human Em, we can’t control fate.

EMMA

What if it weren’t meant to happen? What if Manny and the others weren’t meant to die right now?

SPIKE

This isn’t a movie honey, you can’t change death’s design or alter the plan or any of that.

EMMA

Think about it Mom, five teen deaths in the course of one week, doesn’t that seem a little strange to you?

SPIKE

Emma, the janitor murdered Manny, Peter and Jay. Toby committed suicide and Alex had an unfortunate electrical fire near her bed. There’s nothing unusual about it, that’s life.

EMMA

There’s far more to it than that. I wish I could tell you Mom, but I’m afraid you’ll be dragged into it too and I don’t want that to happen.

SPIKE

I’m supposed to be the one protecting you. I can’t do that if you don’t tell me what is wrong.

EMMA

(changing the subject)

(a beat) Can you control your dreams?

SPIKE

Only the truly skilled dreamers can do that. We can’t control the dreams, but we can wish the bad ones away. When you were five or six you always had nightmares and then you learned how to wish upon a dream.

EMMA

Wish upon a dream? What’s that?

SPIKE

When your dreams become nightmares just concentrate, wish upon the dream and it will come true. The nightmare will go away. It always worked for you.

Emma gives Spike a big hug.

SPIKE (CONT)

(surprised)

What was that for?

EMMA

For being the greatest Mom ever.

SPIKE

Well, in keeping with that title, I’m going to fix your favorite dinner. You get some rest.

EMMA

I will.

Spike exits and Emma returns to the pictures.

CUT TO:

INT. DEL ROSSI HOUSE – EVENING

Marco sits at the dinner table with his “Old World” Italian parents, MR.& MRS. DEL ROSSI. Marco is not eating his food, just playing with it while lost in thought. Mr. Del Rossi reads a newspaper as usual, blocking view of his disgraced son.

MRS. DEL ROSSI

Marco, you haven’t touched your dinner, you should eat something. And don’t think I haven’t noticed that you haven’t been sleeping young man. A mother knows these things.

MARCO

I just haven’t been feeling good, Ma.

Marco gets a bit teary.

MR. DEL ROSSI

The waterworks are flowing from the fruity boy again, where’s the plumber when you need him?

MARCO

Five of my schoolmates died in the last week, another is in a coma, and all you can do is make jokes?

MRS. DEL ROSSI

Your Father doesn’t mean that.

Marco is getting drowsy.

MR. DEL ROSSI

Don’t tell him that. I mean what I say.

MARCO

You wish it were me in the obituaries of that newspaper, don’t you?

MR. DEL ROSSI

(coldly)

Yes...I wish that...

Mama Del Rossi can’t believe what she hears. Marco, feeling even more drowsy, looks at his drinking glass as he wonders...

MARCO

Did you put something in my drink?

Mama shakes her head no. Papa slams a bottle of SLEEPING PILLS on the table.

MR. DEL ROSSI

You need to sleep if you want to stay...”Pretty”

MARCO

(panicking)

Oh my god.

MRS. DEL ROSSI

What is wrong Marco?

MARCO

(To Papa)

You’ll get your wish after all Papa, because you just murdered me.

Papa looks confused as Marco stumbles along upstairs.

INT. MARCO’S ROOM – EVENING

Marco falls into the room. He gets up and tears through things while looking for his cell phone. He finds it and dials a number. He falls on the bed.

INT. CRAIG’S GARAGE – EVENING

Craig and Ellie dine on Chinese takeout. Ellie’s phone rings and she answers it.

ELLIE

Hello?

MARCO (O.S.)

Ellie, they drugged me. I’m falling asleep...Freddy...

ELLIE

Marco? Marco, listen to me, hang on. We’ll get to you somehow, just don’t fall asleep!

DIAL TONE.

CRAIG

What’s happening, El?

ELLIE

(In a panic)

It’s Marco, he’s been drugged. We have to get to him before it’s too late.

CRAIG

Come on.

Craig grabs their jackets and the keys to Joey’s car and they exit.

INT. EMMA’S ROOM – EVENING

Emma paces back and forth, knowing something is wrong. Her cell phone rings and she rushes to answer it.

EMMA

Hello?

INT. CAR – EVENING

Craig drives as Ellie calls Emma.

ELLIE

Emma, Marco’s in trouble, his parents gave him sleeping pills. He can’t stay awake for long and he’s all alone in there, Freddy’s gonna get him.

INT. EMMA’S ROOM – EVENING

Emma listens on the phone, her anticipation now becomes determination.

EMMA

Ellie, call the others and have them meet us at Degrassi. This ends tonight. Hurry!

Emma hangs up the phone, grabs her jacket and exits the room.

INT. LIVING ROOM – EVENING

Emma sneaks through the living room. She looks in the desk drawer and pulls out Snake’s spare set of “Teacher’s Keys” to Degrassi and leaves.

CUT TO:

INT. MIRROR MAZE – ZERO HOUR

Freddy’s sinister laugh echoes as Marco runs through a misty maze made of MIRROR. Poor Marco is like a lost lab rat in this gothic labyrinth.

FREDDY (O.S.)

Marco...gonna get you...

Marco panics at the sound of Freddy’s voice. He sees an IMAGE of Papa Del Rossi.

PAPA DEL ROSSI

Look at the lost little fruity boy, or should I say...girl.

MARCO

(crying)

Stop it, please stop.

He runs into a tight boxed corner of mirrors with his reflection all around him.

MARCO

Let me out of here. Somebody please wake me up!

INSERT SHOT – DEMONIC MARCO

In the mirror behind Marco, his reflection turns around on him and it is a scarred demon-eyed version of himself. Demon Marco emerges from the mirror and grabs Marco.

DEMON MARCO

We look fabulous, don’t we babe? We’re a sexy beast.

MARCO

You’re not real.

DEMON MARCO

Come on Marco, take some pride in yourself, stop being a little sissy-bitch.

MARCO

Let me go!

DEMON MARCO

Okay, have it your way...

Demon Marco disappears and Freddy steps out of the mirror. Marco is cornered with no way out.

MARCO

(confidently)

You can’t have me Freddy. I may die tonight, but you’ll never break me.

FREDDY

Oh I can have you any way I choose...

Marco shuts his eyes and turns his head as Freddy strokes his face.

FREDDY (CONT.)

...I can smell the fear on you Marco, It’s as strong as the perfume you wear. Shall we test your fear factor?

MARCO

No...

VFX SHOT – BEES

Freddy explodes into dozens of RED and GREEN striped BEES. Marco SCREAMS as he is covered by the insects, his greatest fear. The Bees all swarm to his mouth and into his body. We then...

CUT TO:

EXT. DEGRASSI COMMUNITY SCHOOL – NIGHT

Craig, Ellie, Paige, Jimmy and Liberty assemble in front of Degrassi.

PAIGE

We got here as fast as we could. Where’s Emma?

CRAIG

She must be inside.

Spinner arrives.

JIMMY

What are you doing here?

SPINNER

Emma called me. I’m here to help. They were my friends too.

Emma appears at the door.

EMMA

Guys, we have to get to the gym. Hurry.

INT. GYM – NIGHT

Emma has set up a circle of comfortable chairs and candlelight in the gym. The gang enters.

PAIGE

What is all this Emma?

EMMA

We’re going into the dream.

ELLIE

Is that even possible?

EMMA

I don’t know how or why, but I was pulled into Toby and Manny’s nightmares. I was there with them as if Freddy wanted me to be there. He seems to be using JT as bait for us, so I think it’ll work. Are you in?

CRAIG

It’s worth a shot.

JIMMY

Let’s kick his extra crispy ass!

EMMA

Good. Freddy isn’t something that’s just going to disappear, we all have to face him. Fight him. And if you’re willing to stand up to your deepest fears...I think we can beat him. We do this together, whatever it takes.

In total silence, everyone’s faces reflect mutual agreement.

EMMA (CONT.)

Someone has to stay behind and act as a watcher, sort of like a guardian. Jimmy?

JIMMY

No. I want in.

EMMA

Fine. Liberty, the job is yours. If you see one of us struggling or screaming, anything like that, do whatever you can to wake us up. Got it?

LIBERTY

I won’t let you down. Just bring back JT.

EMMA

We’ll do our best.

Emma takes out a bottle of sleeping pills and hands everyone two tables and a cup of water.

CRAIG

Before we go through with this, there’s something I have to do. I may never get another chance.

He turns to Ellie.

CRAIG (CONT.)

Last year, when I told you we were just good friends, that wasn’t true at all. That was my way of protecting you...from me. I have a tendency for losing the people I care about, my mother, Ashley, Manny, and even my Dad. I didn’t want to lose you...ever.

ELLIE

Craig, I...

CRAIG

I’m totally in love with you Ellie Nash, and every minute since the day I left was spent thinking about you.

Ellie and Craig engage in the most passionate kiss you have ever seen on Degrassi or ANOES.

ELLIE

(To Craig)

You don’t know how long I’ve waited to hear you say those words.

Jimmy rolls up to Craig and Ellie, staring them both down. He then smiles and extends his hand to Craig. A handshake takes place.

JIMMY

It’s about time. I’m happy for both of you.

CRAIG

Thanks, man.

PAIGE

Umm...Hello? Life or death situation in progress.

They all take the pills and settle into their chairs. Jimmy rolls next to Spinner’s seat.

JIMMY

Good luck in there, Spin.

SPINNER

(confused)

You’re wishing me luck?

JIMMY

Why not? That’s what friends do, right?

Spinner smiles as the forgiveness he has sought for so long finally comes. Craig and Ellie hold each other’s hand as everyone lays back and let the meds kick in. Liberty says a prayer as the gang head into the dream world.

LIBERTY

Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep. If I should die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take...

And with the last echo of Liberty’s prayer we...

FADE TO BLACK.