At Emma’s house
Mr. Simpson: Ms. Nelson how do you propose to get genetically modified foods out of the caf?
Emma: Well Mr. Raditch we can start by looking at organic food suppliers.
Mr. Simpson: Organic food in the cafeteria. What’s next? Fresh mountain spring water in the water fountains?
Emma: Archie be serious.
Mr. Simpson: I’m sorry Em, but how many more times are we going to do this mock debate?
Emma: Until I’m ready for the big meeting. Second period tomorrow!
Mr. Simpson: You’re more than ready for Raditch. You’re ready to take on the UN. Oh it’s way past your bedtime. Hey uh made your lunch for tomorrow, done your homework, brushed your teeth?
Emma: Archie relax.
Mr. Simpson: I’m sorry. I’m just, I’m not used to being in charge.
Emma: You’re doing great and remember mom will be home in two days. Wait.
(She makes another change to her poster.)
Mr. Simpson: Attention Degrassi students! Emma Nelson report to bed immediately or face a year’s detention.
Emma: But sir, what about my spotless academic record?
Outside the school
Emma: Hey guys! Wait up.
Toby: Uh what’s that?
Emma: It’s for my presentation to Raditch.
JT: Uh oh. Emma’s on the warpath. Better head for the hills.
Manny: You guys should be proud of Em. She’s Degrassi’s very own Joan of Ark.
Toby: Uh Joan of Ark was a lunatic who took orders from a burning bush.
Manny: But Joan was also brave and strong and an inspiration to women everywhere. Just like our Emma.
Emma: Thanks guys, but I’m no Joan of Ark. I’m just following my conscience.
In the hallway, there’s a poster for part-time work in the cafeteria
Craig: Help needed in the caf. You applying for that?
Marco: I don’t know Spinner. Working in the caf probably sucks.
Spinner: Okay I worked in the caf last year, remember? It definitely sucks.
(Jimmy walks over wearing all new name brand clothes.)
Marco: Well, see now here’s a guy who never has to worry about getting a job.
Craig: Woah. Did you win the lottery?
Jimmy: No, but dad took me shopping last night. A little belated birthday gift.
Marco: Yeah. Did you guys leave anything on the racks?
In Mr. Raditch’s office
Emma: We know it’s unrealistic to expect all GM foods out of the caf.
Ashley: But a number of companies do sell non-genetically modified foods.
Nadia: We can order as much food from them as possible.
Mr. Raditch: At double and triple the cost.
Emma: Mr. Raditch try one of these.
Mr. Raditch: Tomatoes.
Nadia: Genetically modified tomatoes, like Sheila uses in the caf.
Mr. Raditch: It’s perfectly fine.
Emma: Yeah and you could hardly even taste the scorpion, can you? They add scorpion DNA to make them resistant to pests. Of course nobody knows what eating scorpion DNA will do to us.
Mr. Raditch: You’re right. That is disturbing, but it’s also speculation. I’ve done some research on GM foods and I know they haven’t proven to be harmful.
Ashley: Or harmless.
Mr. Raditch: Making crops resistant to drought and disease might be worth the risk. Thanks for all your hard work and for bringing this to my attention, but with the cutbacks we’re lucky to even have a cafeteria. I’m sorry.
In the media immersion lab
Mr. Simpson: Okay let’s wrap up with a little free internet research time.
(Spinner is on the computer looking up expensive clothes when he sees Jimmy’s MP3 player.)
Spinner: You got an MP3 player too? Man this must have cost like 500 bucks.
Jimmy: Yeah it’s just uh, just dad going overboard as usual.
Spinner: I mean, it’s like the Mercedes Benz of MP3 players.
Jimmy: I guess.
Spinner: Um why am I more excited about this than you are?
Jimmy: It’s just an MP3 player.
Spinner: Just an MP3 player? Man since Kwan broke my Discman last year, I’m back to cassettes.
Jimmy: Sucks to be you.
Outside the school
Sean: If you don’t like the food in the caf, then just don’t eat it.
Emma: That’s not it. I want people to know what they’re eating. That like the apples they sell in the caf might have fish DNA in them.
Sean: The apples got fish stuff in them? Man that’s messed up.
Emma: That’s what I mean.
Sean: I don’t know. I don’t usually care about this kind of stuff, but it seems like you got something important to say.
Emma: I think I do.
Sean: Well then don’t back down. Don’t let Raditch shut you up.
(He kisses her on the cheek before leaving.)
On the basketball court
Marco: Man you got those shoes for your birthday too? I just wish I had your dad Jim. Wait a second, you think your parents would adopt me?
Jimmy: Uh no. They already have another son, Spinner. This dude has worn serious grooves in my couch. I’m thinking of putting a sign up. Something like ‘Spinner lives here’.
Marco: Well if your parents do love Spinner so much, why don’t they take him shopping? I’ve seen you wear that shirt like 600 times now.
Spinner: You have not. Anyway I like this shirt.
Jimmy: Yeah, yeah. I like, I liked it too, back when you bought it…in grade 7.
Spinner: Is that supposed to be a joke?
Jimmy: Yeah.
Spinner: Really? Wasn’t funny!
Jimmy: Okay.
Spinner: We don’t all have rich parents who will just buy us whatever we want. Oh papa! Please spoil me.
Jimmy: My parents already do spoil you. Freeloader.
(They leave and when Spinner gets his bag he sees Jimmy’s MP3 player and puts it in his pocket.)
Outside the school, Emma is passing out flyers
Emma: If you care about the food you eat, don’t eat at the cafeteria. If you care about the food you eat, don’t eat at the cafeteria. If you care about the food you eat, don’t eat at the cafeteria. If you care about the food you eat, don’t eat at the cafeteria. If you care about the food you eat, don’t eat at the cafeteria.
Ellie: Sheila’s trying to poison us? Come on.
Emma: I wouldn’t expect you to be on the GM food side Ellie.
Ellie: I didn’t say that I was, but if it means kids can afford lunch-
Emma: Yeah and cancer twenty years from now.
Ellie: If I was starving to death in the third world, I’d rather die of cancer in the future than not have a future at all.
Mr. Raditch: May I have that Ms. Nash?
Emma: Um I’m just trying to inform people.
Mr. Raditch: School grounds are my jurisdiction. I make the rules and spreading propaganda is unacceptable.
In Ms. Kwan’s class
Ms. Kwan: Hi Jane come on in. Brandon. Toby.
Manny: So he just took them away?
Emma: After he went blah, blah, blah, jurisdiction, propaganda, blah, blah, blah.
Manny: So what are you going to do now?
Emma: I don’t know. I guess I’ll just give up. He wins. At least it got some kids thinking about it, right?
Manny: Yeah.
Ms. Kwan: Class settle down. Time for the morning announcements.
Liberty: (On the TV) First up a very special announcement live from the cafeteria. Take it away Sheila.
Sheila: (On the TV) Good morning one and all and welcome to the Degrassi cafeteria. Purveyors of fine food since 1999. Some people have been questioning the quality of my food of late.
JT: (On the TV) Really Sheila? But why?
Sheila: (On the TV) I just don’t know, for I use only the finest of ingredients and look what I have to offer. We have hot lunch special everyday for just $3.99.
JT: (On the TV) And Sheila’s sauce is always free.
Sheila: (On the TV) For in my cafeteria, kids come first. Don’t you deserve the best?
Emma: Raditch accused me of spreading propaganda? What was that?! You know what I just said about giving up? I lied.
In the cafeteria
Toby: JT can I have your autograph?
JT: Toby your jealousy bores me.
Emma: JT what were you thinking and Toby what are you doing?
Toby: That a trick question?
Emma: You’re actually buying this toxic junk?
Sheila: Hey watch it! That’s slander.
Emma: Well so was your commercial. Look at these fries. The potatoes were probably created in some laboratory.
Toby: Give me back my lunch!
(Emma and Toby are both grabbing the fries when they go flying and hit Jimmy.)
Jimmy: Better get running!
(Jimmy throws his lunch and it hits Paige.)
Paige: Okay. Someone is not making it out of here alive!
JT: No, no, no!
(She throws the food, misses JT and hits Craig, who throws food back at her.)
Someone: Food fight!
(A huge food fight breaks out.)
In Mr. Raditch’s office
Mr. Raditch: You’re suspended for the rest of the day.
Emma: But I didn’t throw anything!
Mr. Raditch: You started it by all accounts. First the flyers and then all this-
Emma: So that’s what this is about? You’re punishing me for protesting? If you’re calling my mom she’s away at a stylist convention.
Mr. Raditch: Then I’ll release you to your step-father.
Emma: Fine. Archie…Mr. Simpson will support me 100%.
In Ms. Kwan’s class
Ms. Kwan: Okay guys your essays on Oliver Twist are due on Monday. No excuses.
Jimmy: You uh heard the new Kid Elrick? Hold on. I got it on my player.
(He starts looking for his MP3 player.)
Jimmy: Wait a minute. My MP3 player.
Marco: What do you mean?
Jimmy: It’s gone. I’ve lost it. I’m such an idiot.
(He throws his backpack against the wall.)
Spinner: Woah Be careful with your new bag Jimmy. You don’t want to make papa angry.
Jimmy: I don’t want to hear it.
Spinner: Hear what? That you should take better care of your stuff?
Marco: Okay Spinner!
Spinner: Well what does Jimmy care? His rich dad will just buy him a new one.
Jimmy: Man you’re so jealous.
Spinner: I’m not. Besides I can buy my own stuff. I’m gonna order a Triple 5 Soul hoodie today.
Jimmy: Triple 5 Soul and since when do you have money to pay for that?
Spinner: Since…none of your business!
In media immersion
Mr. Simpson: Now when adjusting the screen colour this should be a smooth rainbow, with no banding or dots. Now just as important as the colour, are the gamma and the contrast.
(Emma walks into the classroom.)
Mr. Simpson: Emma, but why aren’t you at home? Mr. Raditch suspended you.
Emma: Yes he did and I think it’s wrong.
Mr. Simpson: What are you doing?
Emma: I’m waiting for you to continue your lesson.
Mr. Simpson: You’re gonna have to wait until tomorrow. You’re suspended.
Emma: Why, for speaking my mind? It’s called freedom of speech and I have a right to an education.
Mr. Simpson: It’s called a food fight.
Emma: I didn’t start it…intentionally.
Mr. Simpson: Let’s have a talk in private.
JT: Good girl gone so bad!
Mr. Simpson: What is this really about, hmm? Are you testing me?
Emma: It’s not you. It’s Radtich and since you’re my new dad, I though you’d support me.
Mr. Simpson: Emma you’re suspended. You have to go home now.
In the boys washroom
Spinner: Sully my friend! Remember uh last week, we were talking MP3 players?
Sully: Yeah.
Spinner: Well you said you would do anything to get your hands on a model like this.
Sully: Wow. How’d you get that?
Spinner: My dad, birthday present. Anyway you want to buy it? $120.
Sully: At that price? Deal. This isn’t stolen, is it?
Spinner: Um do you want it or not?
Sully: Alright yeah. Meet me in the foyer after school.
In gym class, Mr. Armstrong is bringing the class outside
Mr. Armstrong: Toby!
Toby: Here.
Mr. Armstrong: I didn’t think I’d ever see this. Emma Nelson, suspended?
JT: Yup. She went bananas. Cuckoo like Joan of Ark.
Manny: JT shut up. How about a little support?
(They see Emma across the street protesting with a poster.)
Liberty: She really has gone insane.
Ellie: So you don’t mind answering a few questions for the Grapevine?
Emma: Not at all.
Ellie: Principal Raditch suspended you?
Emma: He blamed me for the food fight, for my protest over GM foods.
Ellie: We know your position. You’re against GM foods.
Emma: This isn’t about that anymore.
Ellie: Then what is it about?
Emma: It’s about freedom of speech. It’s about my right to protest.
Mr. Raditch: This interview is over Ellie. You about done here Ms. Nelson?
Emma: I’m not on school property and I’m not leaving until my voice is heard.
Mr. Raditch: Oh your voice will be heard.
Emma: That sounds like a threat…sir.
Mr. Raditch: It’s a suggestion. You either apologize for all this on tomorrow morning’s video announcements or you get a one week suspension.
In the foyer, after school
Jimmy: Look I’m sorry, okay?
Spinner: For what?
Jimmy: For making fun of your shirt or whatever. It was just a joke.
Spinner: Uh okay fine. Apology accepted.
(Jimmy just stands there.)
Spinner: What? Why are you still here?
Jimmy: Come on. Isn’t this the part where we walk home together, best friends again?
Sully: Hey Spinner.
Spinner: Um why don’t we uh just walk to school tomorrow, okay? I’ll be happier then, okay?
Sully: I got your money. Gimme the goods.
Spinner: Uh Sully here, he just owes me some money.
Sully: Uh loser owes me an MP3 player. Top of the line, the best, 120 bucks.
Jimmy: Wow. Sounds like a steal.
(Jimmy walks away and kicks the garbage can over.)
Sully: So are you selling it or what?
At Emma’s house
Mr. Simpson: Hey.
Emma: May as well get it over with.
Mr. Simpson: Get what over with?
Emma: The yelling. The speech. The ‘you’re in serious trouble’ talk.
Mr. Simpson: I think you probably heard enough speeches today.
Emma: Did you hear Mr. Raditch? I either apologize on tomorrow’s announcements or I get suspended.
Mr. Simpson: Ah.
Emma: I can’t. I can’t apologize for doing something I believe in.
Mr. Simpson: Emma there are hills to die on. Are you sure this is one of them?
Emma: You and mom have a baby on the way. My little brother or sister. Aren’t you worried? Do you really want them eating this weird Frankenstein food?
Mr. Simpson: We don’t even know if it’s harmful.
Emma: We don’t know if it’s safe and I’m scared to take that chance.
Mr. Simpson: As a part of your family I totally support you, but as your teacher-
Emma: You’re stuck.
Mr. Simpson: Yeah I’m stuck. So I think you’re gonna have to make this decision on your own.
In the cafeteria
Jimmy: Uh let me get one of Sheila’s breakfast burritos and a side of home fries.
(Spinner puts Jimmy’s MP3 player on the tray.)
Spinner: Your food will be coming up in a moment sir.
Jimmy: Spin.
Spinner: It’s Gavin when I’m in the hairnet. Look I’m really sorry, okay? You get like whatever you want and I can’t even afford anything.
Jimmy: So you steal it?
Spinner: No! I mean yeah I was going to, but I couldn’t. You’re my best friend.
Jimmy: Was.
(He takes the MP3 player and walks away.)
In a classroom, before the morning announcements
Mr. Raditch: Very good Emma. I’m glad we straightened this out.
Emma: Thank you sir.
Liberty: We begin our morning announcements with a word from Emma Nelson.
Emma: Fellow students, staff and faculty. I’ve been asked here this morning to apologize to you and to Mr. Raditch, but I can’t. I can’t apologize for wanting to be heard. I’m sorry the food fight happened and for making a mess in Sheila’s cafeteria, but other than that I feel I did nothing wrong yesterday. You can agree or disagree with me about GM foods. That’s not the point. The point is I have a right to express my opinion and you have a right to be informed. If fighting for that will get me a week suspension then I can live with that.
(She walks over to Mr. Raditch.)
Emma: Guess I’m going home now huh?
Mr. Raditch: Yes you are.
