CHAPTER II: School’s In
– Degrassi Talks
FADE
UP ON:
EXT. DEGRASSI COMMUNITY SCHOOL – MORNING
A
typical day begins at Degrassi Community
School, various students go about their usual business with their cliques
and factions.
EXT.
DEGRASSI COURTYARD – MORNING
We
now venture to the courtyard, the gathering spot before classes begin and sometimes during lunch. Gathered together at a table
are the Seniors: The Gay Friend, MARCO DEL ROSSI, The Cool Cheerleader, PAIGE MICHALCHUK, The Goth Girl, ELLIE NASH, The Tough
Chick, ALEX NUNEZ and former athlete now wheelchair bound, JIMMY BROOKS.
MARCO
This was the most awesome Christmas break ever, New York City
was the best. Bright city lights and hot hunks in tights. To which Ellie did not partake in because her mind was elsewhere.
ALEX
Elsewhere wouldn’t happen to be in BC, would it? Current location of future rock star Craig Manning,
the unexplored love of your life who just so happens to be someone else’s boyfriend.
JIMMY
(jealously)
Craig? Is that true Ellie?
ELLIE
They’re both delusional. I was more interested in the art factor than the guy factor. NYU has a great
art program that I may get into, after my summer job.
JIMMY
NYU? Good choice. I had a great time out there when the Basketball scouts gave me the tour. It was definitely
at the top of my list
PAIGE
University, now there’s a topic I would so rather not talk about right now.
MARCO
Relax Paige, don’t stress. You still have a shot at university, just not that particular one.
JIMMY
(To Paige)
Which reminds me, I forgot to mention how smart it was to get high right before your meeting with the recruiter,
priceless.
PAIGE
(Sarcastically)
Thanks Jimmy, that made my day, really.
Jimmy
Smiles.
PAIGE (CONT.)
But, that was months ago. So much has happened since then that I should totally be happy about.
Paige
looks at Alex and Alex does something she never thought she would ever do in her life, she blushes.
MARCO
And that’s exactly what our last months at Degrassi should be about, the happy times. We’ve
all been through so much these past few years that we should, for once, put away these ancient problems that continue to plague
our lives everyday...
As
Marco continues his monologue, the camera will focus on the individual his words directly relates to.
ANGLE
ON – JIMMY
MARCO (CONT.)
...To know that no matter what tragedy has happened to us, whatever obstacles it brings, we are strong
enough to overcome it...
ANGLE
ON – PAIGE AND ALEX
MARCO (CONT.)
...That love and true happiness can come from the most unlikely of sources...
ANGLE
ON – ELLIE
MARCO (CONT.)
...To go for the things we want, regardless of distance or circumstance...
ANGLE
ON – MARCO
MARCO (CONT.)
...And finally, to know that maybe someday your Father can find it in his heart to love you again, in spite
of the fact that you’re gay.
They
all nod in agreement.
MARCO (CONT.)
Okay, soapbox moment over.
ALEX
That was deep Marco, brought a tear to my eye.
ELLIE
Marco is right. It’s time we take control and stop letting these things beat us.
THE
BELL RINGS.
PAIGE
I think the only thing we have to worry about beating us right now is French class, let’s go.
INT.
CLASSROOM – DAY
We
are in the middle of Ms. Kwan’s Grade 11 English class. Emma and Manny attend the class along with their fellow classmates,
reformed bad boy GAVIN “SPINNER” MASON, his Christian girlfriend DARCY EDWARDS, class clown JAMES TIBERIUS “JT”
YORKE and part-time troublemaker PETER STONE, who also happens to be Emma’s undercover boyfriend and the Principal’s
son.
MS. KWAN
According to Shakespeare, there was something operating in nature, perhaps inside
human nature itself, that was rotten -- a canker, as he put it.
ANGLE ON – EMMA
We see Emma yawning, but still listening.
MS. KWAN (CONT.)
Of course Hamlet's response to this, and to his mother's lies, was to continually
probe and dig just like the gravediggers always trying to get beneath the surface. The same was true in a different way in
Julius Caesar. Gavin, go ahead...
Spinner, most certainly not wanting to, gets up and faces the class. He begins to read from a book.
SPINNER
(reading aloud)
In
the most high and palmy state of Rome, a little ere the mightiest
Julius fell...
INSERT SHOT – EMMA
We CLOSE IN on Emma as she falls asleep...
INT. CLASSROOM – ZERO HOUR
Emma opens her eyes to find the classroom
rotted and Ms. Kwan and all students CHARRED SKELETONS, with the exception of a GHOULISH-LOOKING SPINNER, still reading but
in a hushed tone.
SPINNER
(whispering)
O God, I could be bounded in a nutshell and count myself a king of infinite space, were it not that I have bad
dreams...
Ghoul-Spinner
points Emma to the classroom door, she reluctantly opens it and goes through.
INT.
FREDDY’S BOILER ROOM – ZERO HOUR
You
know this place. A WET and MISTY labyrinth of STEAMING PIPES and RAGGED WALKWAYS decorated with hanging CHAINS. Emma has no
idea what this place is, but she slowly strolls into it anyways.
INT. MAIN BOILER ROOM – ZERO
HOUR
Emma makes her way to the main boiler
room, where the HUGE boiler is located, it’s basically Freddy’s lair. Emma shrieks as the sound of RAZORS scratching against METAL is heard. Freddy must be near.
The boiler door swings open and FIRES
UP. His maniacal LAUGH blares from the MIST in back of Emma. She turns to find Freddy standing right behind her.
EMMA
Jesus
Christ!
FREDDY
Insults
will get you nowhere.
EMMA
What
do you want from me?
FREDDY
You’ll
know soon enough, but for now sweet Emma...
Freddy moves closer and caresses his
Glove-Hand across Emma’s face and his other hand down her back. Emma is disgusted.
FREDDY (CONT.)
...Cum
for Freddy.
INSERT – FREDDY’S FAMOUS
TONGUE MOVEMENT
As Freddy does his trademark nasty
tongue wag, Emma SCREAMS to the top of her lungs, we then...
QUICK CUT TO:
INT. CLASSROOM – DAY
Emma freaks out as she awakens, the
class stares in shock. Ms. Kwan rushes over, herself frightened by the terror in Emma’s eyes.
MS.
KWAN
Emma,
Emma!
Emma calms down and sees everything
back to normal.
MS.
KWAN (CONT.)
Everything
is all right now.
THE BELL RINGS.
MS. KWAN (CONT.)
Do
you need to go to the nurse? Or maybe Ms. Sauvé?
EMMA
I’m
fine Ms. Kwan, really.
SHE LEAVES.
MS.
KWAN
All
right everyone, dismissed.
INT. HALLWAY – DAY
Emma rushes away to gain her composure
but Peter moves quickly to catch up to her.
PETER
Emma,
wait a second! Are you okay?
EMMA
I’m
fine, Peter. Just a little dream, that’s all.
From out of the Media Immersion lab
walks ARCHIE “SNAKE” SIMPSON, Media Arts Teacher and Emma’s Step-Dad.
SNAKE
Peter,
can I have a word with Emma?
PETER
Sure
thing, Mr. Simpson. I’ll see you later Emma.
EMMA
Bye.
HE LEAVES.
SNAKE
Just
wanted to see how you were doing.
EMMA
I’m
okay, Mom and Jack are okay. We’re doing fine...
SNAKE
(finishing
her sentence)
...Without
me.
EMMA
I
didn’t say that.
SNAKE
(trying
to change the subject)
So,
how was Christmas in Springwood?
EMMA
It
was red and green, and creepy and weird and all those things I really don’t have the time to talk about right now. I
have to go.
Emma leaves and Snake is a little
hurt by her cold-shouldering.
INT. HALLWAY – DAY
Spinner sits at his locker eating
a sandwich, Darcy arrives and sits next to him.
DARCY
What
do you suppose was the deal with Emma today?
SPINNER
I
don’t know, but Kwan’s class always does that to me.
DARCY
I’m
serious Spinner, something could really be wrong. I think we should go talk to her.
SPINNER
Darcy,
Emma’s always been a little flaky, but I’m sure if anything were wrong she would talk to Mr. Simpson or Ms. Sauvé,
whatever. Point is, you can’t be everyone’s guiding light and savior.
Jimmy rolls up just in time to hear
Spinner’s sentence.
JIMMY
You
should listen to him Darcy, he’s right. Some people are beyond saving, your boyfriend is one of them.
DARCY
Jimmy,
it’s been over a year since the shooting, don’t you think it’s time to make peace and move on? I know Spinner
told a horrible lie and Rick took it out on you, but he’s begged for your forgiveness time and time again.
JIMMY
(getting
emotional)
Oh,
OK miss high and almighty, I’ll paint a pretty little picture so you can understand. Ever wake up and it feels like
your legs are asleep? You can’t move so you just stay there looking at the ceiling waiting for the feeling to comeback?
SHE NODS YES.
JIMMY
(CONT.)
(to
Spinner)
...Well, that’s my nightmare everyday, but
guess what? I’m not waking up, neither are my legs. When I look in the mirror and think back to that day, it’s
not Rick Murray’s face that I see, it’s yours.
A look of grief falls upon Spinner’s
face.
JIMMY
(CONT.)
He
may have pulled the trigger, but as far as I’m concerned, you gave him the gun. The Jimmy you knew, the Jimmy that was
your best friend, he died that day. He died because you killed him, and that’s the nightmare I want you to wake up with
for the rest of your life.
DARCY
Jimmy,
the key to true peace begins with forgiveness.
JIMMY
Oh
yeah? Well, go tell it on a mountain, preacher girl.
Jimmy rolls away as Darcy comforts
Spinner, who is near tears.
INT. CAFETERIA – DAY
“The Caf” is filled with
hungry and chatty students. We follow Manny and Emma and their food trays to a table that seats JT and his nerdy best friend
TOBIAS “TOBY” ISSACS.
TOBY
Emma,
I heard you freaked out in English class today.
EMMA
Yeah,
I guess I did.
JT
Whatever
it was, you scared the hell out of me.
INSERT SHOT – LIBERTY
LIBERTY VAN ZANDT, the smartest girl
in school, Grade 11 school president and JT’s Ex-girlfriend\Baby’s Mama. She walks by, not once making eye contact
with him and sits alone at a table.
MANNY
There’s
Liberty.
EMMA
How
is she doing JT?
JT
Your
guess is as good as mine, we haven’t spoken since they took the baby. She won’t take any of my calls and I’m
not allowed near the house.
EMMA
Must
be hard for her, giving up the baby and having to pretend like nothing ever happened. But always knowing that somewhere out
there a part of you exists, a part that will never know you.
JT
She’s
not the only one suffering Emma, I live with this everyday. It wasn’t the easiest decision but it was the best one for
the baby.
MANNY
JT,
go talk to her. Go now.
JT gets up and goes to Liberty’s table. She looks up at him and then back to her text book.
JT
Listen,
I know I’m probably the last person you want to see or hear right now, but we need to talk.
LIBERTY
I’m
really not in the mood, JT.
JT
We
have to get over this together Liberty, I want things to go
back to the way they were.
LIBERTY
We
don’t always get what we want, if that were the case I’d have my baby and a man that could provide for us.
JT
That’s
totally not fair, I did what I could.
LIBERTY
Selling
pharmaceutical drugs to street hoods is not exactly a noteworthy effort, JT. And for the record, things can never go back
to the way they were, there’s too much pain here.
JT
Fine
Liberty, you can stay bitter and lonely for the rest of your
life if you want to but I’m moving on.
LIBERTY
I’d
expect no less from JT Yorke. But I have news for you, I won’t be bitter and lonely for long, because one day really
soon I intend to get my child back. And we will be fine without you.
Liberty storms out of the cafeteria and JT exits
the opposite direction.
TOBY
Well,
that went smoothly.
MANNY
I
feel her pain, it was a hard choice to make.
TOBY
If
you had to do it over again, would you make the same choice you did?
MANNY
I’m
not proud of the abortion Toby. Something unplanned happened that Craig and I weren’t ready to deal with and I handled
it in the only way I could.
EMMA
You
were having unprotected sex, there was nothing unplanned about it.
MANNY
You
of all people are in no position to preach about unprotected sex, of any kind.
Emma has no response because she knows
Manny is right. Toby is confused.
TOBY
What
is that supposed to mean?
MANNY
(To
Toby)
Secret.
TOBY
Okay,
I’ll shut up now.
MANNY
That
was a little taste of classic Emma Nelson just now. Haven’t seen her in a long time.
EMMA
What
are you talking about?
MANNY
You
haven’t been the same since the school shooting, Emma. No, even before that, since Sean Cameron broke your heart.
EMMA
People
grow and change everyday Manny. You, JT, Liberty and yes even
me. None of us are the same as when we first came to Degrassi.
TOBY
I
haven’t changed. I’m still the same Toby Issacs.
MANNY
And
you’re still a virgin who plays Dungeons & Dragons too.
EMMA
She
didn’t mean that Toby.
TOBY
No,
it’s true. No argument there.
MANNY
Point
taken. But, still, something’s been bothering you ever since we came back from Springwood.
EMMA
I’ve
been having bad dreams.
MANNY
Everyone
has bad dreams.
EMMA
Yeah,
but, these dreams seem too real.
TOBY
What
are they about?
EMMA
A
man, a dirty old man with these knives for fingers.
MANNY
Okay,
that sounds just a little too weird for Emma Nelson. Perfect for Ellie Nash, but not for you.
EMMA
I’m
serious.
MANNY
It’s
just a dream, nothing more.
The conversation is interrupted by
ANNOUNCEMENT over the loud speaker.
PRINCIPAL
HATZILAKOS
Manny
Santos, please come to the principal’s office.
TOBY
Are
you in trouble?
MANNY
Ms.
Hatzilakos asked me, yes me, to put on a spring fashion review featuring my own designs. Isn’t that cool? And you, skinny
girl, are so my top model.
EMMA
Me?
Yeah, sure, in what universe?
MANNY
(laughs)
I’ll
catch up with you later Em. Remember what I said, just a dream.
MANNY LEAVES.
EMMA
Toby,
I need your help with something.
TOBY
What
is it?
EMMA
Not
here. Meet me by my locker after class, it’s very important.
TOBY
I’ll
be there.
INT. GYM – DAY
Various girls on the “Spirit
Squad” cheering team all sit in exhaustion, among them is HAZEL ADEN, a senior who is Paige’s best friend. Paige
stands over them, shaking her head.
PAIGE
If
you thought today was tough then Hon, you ain’t seen nothing yet. Our rehearsals are going to be more frequent and the
routines will be more complex. I’m going to end my term as head of this squad on the highest note possible...
HAZEL ROLLS HER EYES.
PAIGE (CONT.)
...I want to make sure the infinitely less talented person who has the misfortune of
succeeding me will have their work seriously cut out for them. By the time the spring competition rolls around, we will be
perfect. That’s all, see you tomorrow.
The girls all head for the locker
rooms, Hazel stays behind with Paige.
HAZEL
Don’t
you think you’re pushing the team a bit too hard?
PAIGE
Umm?...No.
HAZEL
Well,
you are.
PAIGE
Five
years ago I started the spirit squad...
HAZEL
(cuts
her off)
Duh,
I was there remember.
PAIGE
And
we’ve been on top ever since. I want to make sure we go out bigger than ever before. I know the potential of this squad’s
lineup Hazel, we could be a hundred times better. We’ve lost our edge this past year.
HAZEL
You
wanna know what I think?
PAIGE
Not
particularly, but I have a feeling you’re going to tell me anyways.
HAZEL
I
think you’re compensating.
PAIGE
What?
HAZEL
You’re
taking the spirit squad beyond it’s limits to overshadow the fact that your high school social status is going to end
in controversy. Paige Michalchuk, forever to be known as the cheerleader who went lesbian.
PAIGE
I’m
not talking about this. In fact, if you had paid attention to your own business instead of everyone else’s then maybe
you wouldn’t have lost Jimmy. I’m so over this.
SHE EXITS.
INT. HALLWAY – DAY
Paige rushes out of the Gym and heads
to her locker. Alex walks up.
ALEX
Whoa,
who ruffled your pom-poms at rehearsal today?
PAIGE
Is
it that obvious?
ALEX
It’s
not hard to tell when Paige Michalchuk is pissed or PMS-ing, getting her to smile again, that’s the hard part.
PAIGE SMILES.
PAIGE
That’s
not so hard these days.
ALEX
Come
on, let’s go to The Dot and get one of those mocha-chino latte-whatever’s you like so much.
PAIGE
(flirtatiously)
You’re
getting there Lexi.
ALEX
Just
don’t call me “Honeybee”
Alex puts her arm around Paige as
they walk away. Toby passes by them and we follow him through the semi-crowded halls of Degrassi until we reach Emma’s
locker, where she stands waiting for him.
TOBY
Okay,
I’m here. Now what?
EMMA
What
do you know about serial killers?
TOBY
A
little bit. I once did a book report on “The Unconscious Mind” by Sam Loomis, pretty insightful stuff.
EMMA
Too
much information, Toby. What do you know about Fred Krueger?
TOBY
Not
familiar with him. Who is he?
EMMA
He
was a child murderer from the states. The man I see in my dreams.
Emma opens the locker and pulls out
the old photo album. She hands it to Toby and he is intrigued by what he reads.
TOBY
I
can see why you would have nightmares about this guy.
EMMA
He’s
different in the dream, like he’s...burned or something. Toby, can you find out what happened to this guy?
TOBY
I’ll
research it tonight.
EMMA
Thanks.
