Degrassi: The Next Generation

1.09 - Coming Of Age
Transcribed by Sarah Nicolett for http://twiztv.com



Starts at Outside the Kerwin house.

Ashley walks outside + meets up with Jimmy + Terri. Jimmy puts his arm around her as they walk.

Jimmy: Hey. You know, the thing about turning 14, it’s like, I’m a man now.

Ashley: Oh, yeah? In what country?

Terri: Where are your parents taking you this year, Jimmy?

Jimmy: Actually, my mom’s cooking.

Ashley: Now, is this for real cooking or “let’s order a pizza” cooking?

Jimmy: For real cooking. Lobster, for you, me, and dad.

Ashley: You mean, we’re actually going to have dinner with your parents at your house? I don’t believe it.

Jimmy: Lobster’s no big deal. Just throw ‘em in a pot.

Terri: And then they die, slowly, screaming.

Ashley: Thanks for sharing.

 

Cut to: Degrassi

Jimmy: (kisses Ashley on the cheek) Catch you later.

After he leaves, she rolls her eyes at Terri.

Terri: What? You hate lobster? You hate his parents?

Ashley: I don’t hate anybody. At least it’s not at my house. He has had dinner with us eight days in a row. I know, poor me. My boyfriend and my parents actually get along.

Terri: Yes, that must really suck.

Ashley: It’s just, I already have a little brother, I don’t need another one.

 

Opening Credits

 

Cut to: Outside

Ashley, Paige, + Terri are outside sitting at  table. Terri is reading a quiz to Ashley about Love

Terri: When you see your man, do you: A-Indifferent, B-Nauseous, C-Relieved or D-The earth moved.

Ashley: C-Relieved. He’s a guy, not an earthquake.

Paige: What, he doesn’t vibrate on your Richter scale?

Terri: Why does that sound so gross?

As she talks, Jimmy and his friends come up to them.

Ashley: Jimmy, come on, we’re kind of in the middle of this. Go play

football. You don’t want to hear this stuff. It’s stupid.

Guy: Hey Jimmy, you coming or what?

Jimmy: Pass up a  chance to hear my girl’s inner thoughts? Are you kidding? (hugs Ash) So, you want to hang out with Mr. Right tonight?

Ashley: Tonight? I, uh, can’t. Terri’s coming over, girls night. We talked about it yesterday, remember?

Jimmy: Girls Night, huh? That’s cool. ( he gets up and leaves taking the basketball with him, he dribbles it, then hands it to Ashley)

 

Cut to: Media Immersion

Emma is studying for a test in Science.

Sean: I found the coolest site, yesterday. It shows how the positions of the stars affect your personality.

Emma: Yeah, that’s called astrology.

Manny: Cool, I’m a Leo. What does it say about me?

Emma: Manny, how many moons on Jupiter?

Manny: I don’t know, a lot. Now, read mine.

Emma: 13. And which planets have rings?

Sean: Ok, I need your date of birth and  your place of birth.

Manny: Well, I was born in Manila.

Emma: Hello, the test is on astronomy, not astrology.

Sean: Ok, now I need your birth date.

Emma: Doesn’t anyone care that we have a science quiz in, oh, 15 minutes?

Manny: August 15, 1989.

Emma: Blah, blah, blah! (shuts her book) I can’t even think! (to Manny) Are you coming?

Manny tells Sean without saying that Emma is crazy.

Emma: I saw that! (They leave)

 

Cut to: Science Class

It shows everyone working on the quiz, when, all of a sudden the bell rings. Emma slams down her pencil.

Emma: I failed. I totally failed.

Manny: Em, you studied all last night.

Emma: Yeah, but I was counting on this morning, to refresh.

Manny: Wow, maybe you’re a workaholic.

Emma: I am not a workaholic. Some of us want to make it university. I want a career in something other than horoscopes. (She leaves in a huff)

 

Cut to: Outside Ashley’s

Ashley and Terri are walking to Ashley’s, eating food.

Terri: I am so behind in Kwan’s Class. I should spend the night catching up.

Ashley: Yeah, me too, Ter. But not tonight. Tonight’s all about having….(she sees Jimmy in the driveway helping Toby with basketball even though she told Jimmy not to come over)

Jimmy: (To Toby)…Don’t suffocate it. It’ll come to you. (They start to play, but they notice Ashley and Terri) Hey.

Ashley: Hey.

Jimmy: (As they walk past them into the house) Just pretend I’m not even here.

Ashley: So much for girls night.

It shows Jimmy and Toby playing after the girls leave.

 

Cut to: Inside The Kerwin House

Ashley shuts the door after they go in.

Ashley: Pretend he’s not here? He is here.

Kate: Hi, girls.

Ashley: Hi, Mom.

Kate: Oh, Terri. I almost forgot you’re staying for dinner.

Ashley: Um, we have enough, don’t we?

Kate: Yeah, even though Jimmy eats like a horse.

Ashley: Mom…

Kate: It’s okay, we have enough.

Ashley: Jimmy is not staying for dinner!

Terri: Um, I’m gonna go, you know.

Kate: Ok, what’s going on?

Ashley: Nothing, I’m sick of him eating here every night.

Kate: Well, we don’t have to invite him. But, I just feel bad for the kid. He’s always alone. I wonder about his parents sometimes. (Jimmy and Toby come in)

Toby: Kate, can Jimmy stay for dinner? You said you have enough  food.

Kate: Well, um…

Ashley: Just never mind. Just forget about it. It’s fine. (Jimmy and Toby high five each other as they leave)

 

Cut to: Nelson house

Emma is watching a sad show on tv, eating chips and crying.

TV Guy: Laura, please. We’re born alone, we die alone. We don’t want to live our life alone.

TV Girl: Jack, our love can’t save us now. It’s too late.

TV Guy: What? Love is everything. We’ve got it. We’ve got it right in our hands. The clothes we wear…

Spike enters the room

Spike: Emma, mind taking out the garbage? Honey, what’s wrong?

Emma: Nothing.

Spike: Em, those shows are designed to upset people.

Emma: It’s just, we’re so small and the universe is so massive. We’re just little specs, floating, alone.

Spike: Uh-oh. Solar system anxiety. I remember it well. Big huge universe, tiny little me. What’s the point? You can’t beat it. But, you can shop. I did well this week. Let’s go spend my tips. It’s called retail therapy. (they high five)

 

Cut to: The mall

Emma and her mom are walking, eating ice cream and have shopping bags with them.

Emma: I like retail therapy. And I love my new sweater. It’ll go with everything. My little blue skirt, my  blue chinos, my jeans.

Guy They Pass By: Oh, I’d like a lick of that.

Spike: (Turns around) Excuse me?

Guy: I’d like a lick of your cone. Sue me.

Spike: I probably could because I don’t think that’s what you meant.

Emma: Mom…

Spike: Guess what? You don’t talk to women like that, especially young women.

Guy: It was a joke, I was just kidding.

Spike: My daughter and I came here to shop, not to be harassed by some pig masquerading as a comedian. When you talk to women like that, it’s scary.  It makes us feel bad. Don’t do it again. (He walks away)

Emma: Mom, can we go now? I am mildly dying.

Spike: See? This is the problem. You’re embarrassed because of what he said. (They are walking as she talks) It’s so wrong. Seriously Emma, don’t ever let a guy make you feel bad just for being female, okay? Promise.

 

Cut to: Kerwin House

Ashley is saying good-bye to Jimmy.

Jimmy: See you tomorrow. (They kiss and hug)

After he leaves, she goes inside

 

Cut to: Inside

Ashley: (With her head on the wall) Toby, you can’t just ask Jimmy for dinner every single night, okay?

Toby: He’s your boyfriend.

Ashley: Yeah and he’s driving me crazy. (Turns around and leans against the door)

Terri: (They walk away from the door) He’s totally sweet.

Ashley: He’s totally here all the time. It’s suffocating.  You know what? At this point, I’m just about ready to break up with him. (When Toby hears this, he drops something that makes a loud noise because he is shocked. When Ashley + Terri look at him, he picks it up)

 

Cut to: Degrassi-Hall

Emma is walking with Manny.

Emma: See? It goes with everything. (She turns around to show Manny when JT + Toby show up)

JT: Wow, sexy shirt.

Manny: Em, don’t get mad.

Emma: Please. It’s not exactly like JT is Mr. Fashion Forward.

JT: Fashion who?

Toby: Uh, JT, I’ll see you in homeroom.

Toby stops at Jimmy’s decorated locker for his birthday. It says “Happy Birthday Jimmy, Luv Ashley”, and it in the middle, it has a picture of Jimmy and Ashley, with his arm around her and other kids have signed it.

Kids: Happy Birthday, Jimmy. (They spray him with Silly String)

Jimmy: (Opening his locker) Hey, Tobs, did you master that move I taught you?

Toby: Almost. Happy Birthday.

Jimmy: Thanks. We can work on it later.

Toby: Great, later. Uh, you know, I’ve been thinking, about what you said last night, you know, about when you’re trying to master a really complicated move, leave it alone for a while, come back to it later.

Jimmy: Yeah.

Toby: You know, give it a rest. Don’t suffocate it. Kind of like with girls.

Jimmy:  Tobs, what are you saying?

Toby: Nothing, nothing. It’s just interestingly similar, that’s all. No biggie. 

Jimmy: What did Ashley say? Come on, you’re my friend. What, is she feeling suffocated? (Toby nods) Like-like, we’re together too much? (Toby nods) She doesn’t want to break up, does she? (Toby nods) (Jimmy walks away. Toby shuts Jimmy’s locker and then lays down the floor)

 

Cut to: Outside

Toby is sitting on a bench with JT, Emma, + Manny

JT: You shouldn’t have said anything.

Manny: JT, Jimmy’s like Toby’s older brother. He had to tell him.

Emma: Yeah, but Ashley is his older sister. Sort of. Maybe she was just having a bad day.

Toby: More like a bad decade.

Guy: Hey, Sean!

Sean comes up to them.

Toby: Before this decade gets any worse. (JT + Toby leave)

Sean: Hey, Emma.

Emma: Sean, what’s up?

Sean: (Takes a sip of his drink) Nothing. Listen, I, uh, came to apologize about that astrology thing.

Emma: No, it’s my fault. I shouldn’t have acted like that. Maybe you could do my horoscope on the computer. It could be kind of fun, and we have time before class.

Sean: Yeah that’d be great.

Emma gets up, but Manny sits her back down.

Manny: Emma, did you sit in something?

Emma: What? No, I…(looks at the back of her skirt and sits down after getting up)

Sean: You coming?

Emma: I don’t know. What do I do?

Manny: I don’t know. This hasn’t happened to me yet.

Emma: Um, no. I don’t think we have time for the horoscopes. So, you should go,  to class, now. (He leaves)

Manny: (breathing heavily) Okay, don’t panic. Everything’s going to be fine. We’ll figure out something.

 

Cut to: Front of School

Ashley: I can’t break up with him tonight.

Terri: Why not?

Ashley: It’s his birthday.

Jimmy approaches.

Ashley: Oh, Jimmy, hey. We were just, um…

Jimmy: You don’t have to come tonight.

Ashley: What? Jimmy, it’s your birthday, of course I’m coming.

Jimmy: I’m just saying.

He leaves.

 

Cut to: Hall

Emma is walking inside with Manny behind her, hiding the back of Emma’s skirt.

Manny: We should celebrate.

Emma: Celebrate what exactly?

Manny: Becoming a woman. Em, you can get pregnant now.

Emma: Oh, great. Can  we celebrate by finding me a washroom?

 

Cut to: Girls Washroom

Manny: Yesterday, I thought you were a workaholic. It was just PMS.

Emma: Manny, I can’t go to class like this.

Manny: Em, we have a book report to do. Do you have a jacket? You could tie it around your waist.

Emma: I don’t have a jacket, it’s like summer outside.

Manny: I know, your gym shorts.

Emma: I brought them home to wash.

Manny: Me too. I’ll figure out something. (She leaves)

Emma: Manny, don’t leave me.

 

Cut to: Hall

Ashley: Hey Tobs, wait up. Can you remind Mom that I’m at Jimmy’s for dinner tonight?

Toby: Why are you even going,  I mean, if you’re going to dump him?

Ashley: Oh, real nice, Toby. Listening in on my private conversation.

Toby: You were three feet away. Ash, Jimmy’s amazing. He’s nice to you, he’s nice to me.

Ashley: He’s always around, he’s always there in my face.

Toby: You’re being just like our parents. One hint of trouble and they walk.

Ashley: Toby, my dad’s gay it’s not exactly one hint of trouble. Oh, you don’t understand anything!

Toby: You don’t bring people in your life just to throw them away.

Toby walks away. Ashley groans and hits her head with her binder.

 

Cut to: Girls Washroom

Emma is looking at her skirt, when Paige comes in.

Emma: Manny, what took you-

Paige: Wow, Little Miss Save The World’s skipping a class. You’re not protesting something, are you? (Notices Emma’s skirt) Uh-oh. Your friend came to visit. Hun, you don’t wear light colors when you’re getting your period.

Emma: I didn’t know. It’s my first time, ok? Just leave me alone. (She enters a stall. Paige goes in the one next to it)

Paige: (opens her purse) I’ve got a pad, if you need it. I mean, you could get one from the office, but, that’s kind of a drag.

Emma: Ew. Imagine. “Mr. Raditch, could I have a maxi pad?”

Paige: Mini. But, yeah, totally gross. (Hands Emma the pad) It’s got wings.

Emma: Man, I am so not ready for this.

Paige: Hey, you’ll get boobs now.

Emma: Like I want boobs.

Paige: You might at some point. They’re actually really great.

Emma: But, I mean, I liked being a kid.

Paige: You’re still a kid. Just, with a mini pad. Big deal.

Emma: So, I’m not going to turn into…

Paige: Me? Honey, you wish.

As Paige comes out of the stall, Manny runs in.

Manny: Emma!

Paige: What? It’s the girls washroom. Sue me.

Emma comes out. Manny hands her the shorts she got for her. She unfolds them + They’re WAY too big for Emma.

 

Cut to: Ms. Kwan’s Class

JT + Toby are finishing their book report presentation.

JT: So, in the end, everyone died and everyone was really sad.

Toby: Really, really sad. And that’s our book report on how Bantepool Changes Everything. Thank you. (As they sit down, JT hands Ms. Kwan their report)

Ms. Kwan: It would have been nice to hear your interpretation on  the book, boys, instead of a plot synopsis, but at….

Emma and Manny come in.

Manny: Sorry, Ms. Kwan. We had a bit of a-

Emma: Emergency.

Ms. Kwan: Really? Well, you can give me the details after class, but, right now, book report please.

Emma: okay, our book was I heard the owl call my-

Toby: Gym shorts?

Ms. Kwan: Ssh.

JT: Yo, Yo. Puff Emma’s in the house.
Girl: Good one, JT. (Ms. Kwan shakes her head)

Emma: This book is a bit-

JT: Too big for you?

Emma: Metaphorical.  

Ms. Kwan: Guys, pull yourself together.

Emma: Do you have a problem?

Manny: Em, it’s ok. We can just…

JT: Aw, did Emmy pee her pants?

Emma: No, I just got my period, for the first time. (Toby drops his pen. Sean gets a loom of shock on his face) Menstruation. You may have heard of it. It happens to, oh, 50 percent of the population. Perfectly natural. Nothing to be ashamed of, right Ms. Kwan?

Ms. Kwan: Absolutely right Emma.

Emma: Now, can we continue? (JT + Toby nod) Our book was I heard the owl call my name. It’s a bit metaphorical because it relates  the life of a young priest…

Manny: Who didn’t like owls very much. (As they talk, they try to keep Emma’s shorts up)

 

Cut to: Jimmy’s House

Jimmy and Ashley go inside and Ashley turns on the lights.

Ashley: Well, what did you ask for?

Jimmy: Told my dad I wanted a snowboard. He probably didn’t even hear me. Mom? Dad? I’m home. They’re not like your family, ok? (Ashley puts down the balloon and gift she was holding on a table) 10 bucks says she’s picking up Chinese. (He puts down his backpack) She left me a message.

Ashley: It’s cool. I love Chinese. (He checks the messages) Is everything ok?

Jimmy: Mom just called to tell me her and dad are working late again. She said I should order myself a pizza.

Ashley: Well, why don’t we have your birthday at my house? My mom’s making wings.

Jimmy: Ash, forget it. Look, can we just break up and get this over with?

Ashley: What?

Jimmy: You’re feeling suffocated, right? Toby told me.

Ashley: Don’t listen to what Toby says.  He doesn’t know anything.

Jimmy: So he was wrong? You don’t want to break up?

Ashley: Look, can we just forget this? It’s your birthday.

Jimmy: Oh, I get it. You don’t want to break up with me because it’s my birthday. What, is that like  my birthday present?

Ashley: Jimmy…

Jimmy: You want to break up, Ash?  Then, let’s break up, now, okay? It’s over. So go. Get out of here. What, are you deaf? Go! (She runs out) (Jimmy calls a pizza place to order pizza) Hi, Antonio, it’s Jimmy. Yeah, the usual. Medium pepperoni, thanks. (He hangs up the phone)

 

Cut to: Outside Degrassi

Emma has a petition that a girl is signing.

Manny: So, you feeling okay?

Emma: Oh yeah Manny I love being a woman. I don’t feel any different.

Girl: Here you go.

Emma: But I did have this idea. Like my mom says, never be embarrassed to be female. Paige, do you wanna sign my petition to get a tampon dispenser  installed in the girls washroom?

Paige: Yeah, sure. (Signs it)

Sean rides by on his bike.

Paige: Hey, Sean! Wanna sign Emma’s petition, for tampons?

Sean: Sure. If Emma came up with it, it’s gotta be a good idea.

Paige rolls her eyes and leaves. Sean signs it and leaves. Emma is very happy about what he did.

 

Cut to: Hall

Ashley opens her locker. We see a picture of Jimmy with his arms open wide. It says, “Ashley, I love you this much. XO, Jimmy.” She touches it, looking sad, then touches another picture in her locker of her and Jimmy. She sees him at his locker. He opens it and looks at a picture of Ashley in his locker. He touches it, then, rips it off and puts it away. Ashley shuts her locker. She starts to leave, but decides to approach Jimmy.

Ashley: Hey Jimmy.

Jimmy: What do you want?

Ashley: I just wanted to make sure you were all right.

Jimmy: I’m fine. Thanks for asking. (He shuts his locker)

Ashley: Jimmy, please. Can we talk?

Jimmy: I think we talked enough last night.

Ashley: I just think that maybe I over reacted. Maybe I didn’t mean to call you…

Jimmy: Suffocating? Clingy? A suction cup?

Ashley: Jimmy, please. (She hugs him)

Jimmy: You’re not doing this just because you feel sorry for me, are you?

Ashley: Of course not.

Jimmy: I love you, Ash.

She hugs him again. 

 

End credits