In Craig’s garage, Craig is strumming his guitar and Ellie is sitting on the couch
Craig: Porsche 911 Carrera, fire engine red, full leather interior. That’s what I’d buy.
Ellie: Wow. That is so 80s.
Craig: What?
Ellie: Flip those collars up Mr. Manning.
Craig: Okay so what are you gonna buy after we’re discovered at the Northern Sound Showcase?
Ellie: I guess I’d invest the money, buy a condo or…
Craig: That’s…no.
Ellie: …a smart car or both. I could get both!
(He pretends to yawn and she smacks him, so he smacks her back.)
Ellie: Stop.
(She hits him back, he hits her back again and they do this a few times.)
Craig: Don’t. Stop doing that.
(He starts tickling her and they’re both laughing.)
Ellie: Stop! Stop!
(Joey walks in on them.)
Joey: Craig. Manny’s on the phone for you.
Craig: Tell her I’m studying.
Joey: Doesn’t look like studying.
Craig: Thanks mom.
(He leaves and Ellie picks up a notebook.)
Ellie: Speaking of studying someone’s supposed to be preparing for his history presentation.
Craig: Who cares? Now the showcase is in two days so drop that book and grab those sticks, ‘cause no matter what we’re gonna win this thing.
In history class
Craig: There was this part of France and Germany wanted it back, so they uh crossed the border…
History teacher: And they took this detour because?
Craig: Because? Well simple…um see it’s right here, um after that one guy killed that Archduke. Uh.
Ellie: (Whispering) Franz Ferdinand. (Pretending to cough) Franz Ferdinand!
History teacher: Ellie. Gesundheit.
Ellie: Thanks.
Craig: Europe’s treaties were all messed up and Germany took advantage of it.
At a student council meeting
Toby: So Liberty and I are gonna represent Degrassi at the Metro Toronto Students Assembly.
Liberty: But we need your input so e-mail us your thoughts and we’ll compile them. Meeting adjourned.
Toby: So how are you getting to the assembly? ‘Cause I was thinking that if you need a lift JT could drive you.
Liberty: Toby. You know I don’t talk to JT.
Toby: Yeah, but I wish you would ‘cause this sucks okay? I mean I’m friends with both of you.
Liberty: Well I’ve got enough on my plate without worrying about that.
Toby: How’s that going anyway? With the baby I mean.
Liberty: My doctor told me to take it easier, for the baby. He says I’m overstressed, but I think I’m fine.
Toby: Well I’m here to help, student council, whatever and not just ‘cause I’m your vice okay?
Outside the dot
Toby: She’s fine. She’s stressed, but you know her doctor told her to take it easy for the kid.
JT: What? The baby’s in danger?
Toby: I didn’t, I didn’t say that.
JT: Well is Liberty in danger?
Toby: Look calm down. Liberty’s fine. I’ll make sure she takes it easy.
JT: Good. So will I.
Toby: JT, if Liberty finds out we’ve been having these little meetings I’m dead. Murdered.
JT: Sorry, but I have to do something okay? What other choice do I have?
At the Dot
Jimmy: And thus Craig fails history.
Manny: My poor baby.
Craig: It’s one grade. So what?
Marco: Um university. Um getting into university. Um your life.
Craig: Yeah breath Marco. They’ve already submitted our grades. Anyway who actually wants to go? Really!
(Marco and Jimmy put up their hands.)
Craig: Okay. Besides the two of you.
Marco: Hi. I’m Ellie Nash, future journalism school student and roving reporter.
Ellie: And you’re so annoying.
Jimmy: So Ellie you’re uh, you’re really taking next year off to like follow Craig around or whatever?
Craig: No. She, and we, are gonna spend it cutting our first album after we’re discovered at Northern Sound Showcase. That way no use wasting the next four years on some useless BA, which is worth an F.
(Spinner walks over with their bill and pulls a CD out of his pocket.)
Jimmy: Gavin. What’s this little number? Is this a, this a copy of you and Darcy singing Jesus Loves Me?
Spinner: No. That’s Money Money. Our dishwasher’s their lead guitarist and they are your competition at the Northern Sound Showcase and they’re good.
At the Northern Sound Showcase
(The band is performing their song and everyone is cheering for them while a guy watches them intensely from the crowd. Then Money Money performs and everyone cheers for them.)
Manny: Okay. Okay they’re good, but their ties make me want to strangle them.
Leo: Cute girl’s got a point. Leo Davies.
Craig: Hey I’m Craig. This is…
Leo: Gotcha. So good show tonight. I liked the song, loved the vocals.
Craig: Thanks. It’s too bad Money Money blew us off the stage.
Leo: They’re good, but their sound’s been played. So has their look. No depth.
Craig: So we’ve got depth?
Leo: Definitely. The band’s a little rough.
Ellie: Yeah, not so coordinated here.
Leo: Yeah, but it worked. I liked it and I’d like to manage you.
At Joey’s house, Joey and Diane are watching TV, until Craig and Manny come in and Craig turns it off
Joey: Uh Craig! Dancing with the Stars is on.
Craig: A manager. Okay, a real music industry manager has signed us tonight.
Joey: That’s amazing Craig. Wow!
Craig: Yeah um Leo is gonna work with us to sharpen our sound. He’s gonna introduce us to A&R Record Company. Tomorrow we have a photo shoot set up!
Joey: That is amazing buddy, and uh well speaking of potentially amazing news this letter arrived for you today, from U of T.
(He opens it up.)
Craig: Oh wow. Uh I got, I got early acceptance, um and a full scholarship.
Joey: What?! Oh Craig that is awesome. Congratulations buddy. Oh we are so proud of you!
Manny: Craig! Summer with your band, free university in the fall. You are totally set.
Craig: Yeah. Okay…hold on. This is, this is so great and everything, but um I don’t know if for sure I can do this. I mean I have to talk to Leo first.
Joey: Okay Craig. Look I know you’re excited okay, but this is school. This is your future.
Craig: My future’s music. I’m not gonna give this up. Sorry. This is the opportunity of a lifetime.
At the photo shoot, the band is getting their pictures taken
Leo: This ain’t working for me. Uh Marco step over here.
Marco: Okay.
Leo: And uh Jimmy scoot over here beside Marco.
Ellie: Um wait isn’t he blocking my drums?
Leo: You’re a chick on sticks. You can sell it from back there.
(Ellie moves to the back upset.)
Leo: Thanks. Craig I need you to step forward, forward. There. Good. Okay?
Craig: Uh Leo?
Leo: Yeah.
Craig: I’m kind of about the band.
Leo: Dude this is different. See now the band is about you.
(A picture is taken with Craig really close and the other 3 in the background.)
At the Dot, Ellie walks in
Craig: Hey. Leo said he’s running late.
(Ellie sits at a different table than the guys.)
Craig: Uh El?
Ellie: Chick on sticks is gonna sell it from over here, yo.
(Leo walks in and sits down.)
Leo: Okay. So Northern Sound Showcase always asks back a few bands for their final night. This year they’ve asked back Money Money, The Aunt Selma’s and Downtown Sasquatch!
Craig: You’re serious?
Leo: Plus one of the execs is inviting his favourite band out to Vancouver to cut a demo with Jakolope, which is huge.
Ellie: Wait. So if this record guy likes us we spend the summer in Vancouver?
Leo: Guys this would happen next week. You’d be on a flight on Sunday night.
Jimmy: For how long?
Leo: As long as it takes. Weeks, months.
Marco: Wait. What about school? We have exams, papers. We’ll screw up our entire year.
Leo: So? This is a one shot deal. It’s more important than school. Guys don’t worry about this stuff. Worry about polishing your sound. It’s a little rough.
Ellie: Oh, but rough’s part of our charm.
Leo: Rough’s gonna hold you back, especially around the drumming.
Craig: Leo, we’ll be fine. She’ll be fine. You have my word on it.
In Craig’s garage
Craig: Okay I thought we’d go through the song from start to finish, just drums.
Ellie: Craig this is a hopeless cause. I’m not a good drummer.
Craig: Okay we have no time for negativity. Okay, let’s just focus here.
Ellie: Okay.
(She starts playing and Craig is sitting behind her with his arms around her.)
Ellie: That better?
Craig: That’s perfect. Just keep going.
(Manny walks in and sees Craig and Ellie and they stop.)
Craig: We got a gig at the showcase. Another one. The band gets…
Manny: The band? The band, the band is all you care about.
Craig: This showcase matters Manny.
Manny: Right now it looks like the only thing that matters is Ellie!
(She runs out and Craig calls after her.)
Craig: Manny! Manny.
At Degrassi
Ms. Hatzilakos: Liberty I was wondering if you were still here.
Liberty: Oh we’re just finishing up.
Ms. Hatzilakos: Listen it came to my attention…well let me rephrase that. I’m concerned about you Liberty. Your baby is due soon, you’ve been working awfully hard and you just seem stressed.
Liberty: Stressed? Uh, and uh what would give you that idea?
Ms. Hatzilakos: Well with all due respect, I think that you should step aside and you should let Toby go alone to the assembly.
Liberty: Ms. Hatzilakos is this because you don’t want a pregnant student representing the school?
Ms. Hatzilakos: No Liberty. It’s because I want to make sure that you get the rest that you need.
(She leaves.)
Liberty: Uh Toby. You didn’t talk to her right?
Toby: Me? No, no, no, no. I was just, um oh my look at the time. I have to get the materials ready for the assembly. Chop, chop!
In Craig’s garage, the band is rehearsing their song while Leo and Manny watch
Leo: Well it’s better. Better, but it’s not good. See a rough sound is one thing, but your drummer can’t keep time.
Craig: We’ve worked on that.
Leo: You shouldn’t have to. There are a lot of great drummers in this town.
Ellie: Mr. Davies please. I’m new, but I’m dedicated. I’ll practice all night.
Leo: Honey you’re not cut out for this. Just like I’m not cut out to fly airplanes. Dems the breaks.
Craig: Toronto has a lot of great singers too.
(He leaves and Manny walks over to Craig.)
In Craig’s house
(Craig fills out the acceptance letter for U of T.)
Outside the school
Liberty: Et tu, Toby? So, you use my pregnancy to stage a coup de ta? Nice.
Toby: Liberty that’s not what happened.
Liberty: Really? Then uh who went to Ms. Hatzilakos, hmm?
Toby: Okay it was me. I’m the blabber. Toby, the blabber, Isaacs. That’s me, but um Liberty if I was pregnant and you know my doctor told me to slow down, it’s what I’d be doing right now.
Liberty: Yeah. Whatever Tobes. I’m going to the assembly and you’re driving me.
(Toby starts driving and the car starts breaking down.)
Liberty: Uh this isn’t Carson Hill.
Toby: Yeah I know. My Bubbe’s car doesn’t seem to get that.
Liberty: I’m calling a cab. Don’t expect a ride because traitors have to walk.
Toby: I’m not a traitor.
Liberty: You attempted to oust me for my presidency. You, traitorous you.
Toby: Look I don’t want your stupid job.
Liberty: So why blab to Hatzilakos?
Toby: I didn’t. I blabbed to JT and JT blabbed to Hatzilakos because this whole time I’ve been trying to help him keep up with you, while at the same time help you get ready for this stupid conference. But the only person I helped was myself achieve insanity. Come on!
Liberty: There’s a reason I don’t tell JT about any of this. He…
(She stops and looks down.)
Toby: Liberty?
Liberty: Oh that’s disgusting.
Toby: What? What, why is there water on the floor?
Liberty: Toby it’s time.
Toby: Time? Time? What time? Time for- No! Not here! Not in my Bubbe’s car!
Toby: Dial 911, but don’t make a big deal about it.
(The ambulance arrives and they take Liberty away in a stretcher.)
Liberty: Toby I’m sorry.
Toby: It’s okay. You’re gonna be fine. Don’t worry.
Liberty: But the assembly!
Toby: It doesn’t matter okay?
(The ambulance drives away as Toby stares after it.)
In Craig’s garage, Craig is playing his guitar
Ellie: New song? I like it, just like that. You know it doesn’t even need lyrics.
Craig: It’s not really a song then, is it?
Ellie: Sometimes you don’t need all the extra stuff. Sometimes simpler is better.
Craig: I’m not a solo act.
Ellie: But you could be.
Craig: I don’t care. This isn’t about me. This is about the band. Ellie we were gonna do this together. Cut our own album, sold out shows, a Juno, a Grammy…
Ellie: Craig, I can’t drum.
Craig: Yes, you can!
Ellie: No, I can’t and Marco’s not much better on bass and Jimmy wants to paint. Leo, god face it, he only wanted you. We were just excess baggage. Craig I really think you should go to the showcase tonight just like this. You and your guitar. I really think you could win.
Craig: Okay let’s say I do play at the showcase and I do win. That means leaving. What about Manny or Joey or Angie?
Ellie: Don’t worry about them. They’ll manage. They’ll be fine.
Craig: What about you?
Ellie: I’ll wave goodbye ‘cause I have to. Craig. Go to that club and knock them dead. For all of us.
At the showcase
Announcer: Everyone welcome to the stage Downtown Sasquatch, Craig Manning!
Craig: (Singing) Today is long. Flight and song, but I don’t even listen. Blue bird hides. Piece of night. I don’t even try.
At the hospital, Liberty is holding the baby
Toby: The adoption counsellor’s in the hall. She’s talking to your parents.
(JT walks in and Liberty hands the baby away to a couple.)
Craig: (Singing in the background) Every mama gone missing. Every papa gone mad. I take a chance.
Back at the showcase
Craig: (Singing) It’s not romance, but something more important. So give me wings. Let me sing. It’s all been done before. For any girl that’s unhappy. For any boy that is bad. Every mama gone missing. Every papa gone mad.
(A flashback to Manny and Craig kissing. Then Craig is shown saying goodbye to Jimmy, Marco and Ellie. Finally he is shown sitting in the passenger seat of Joey’s car with Manny in the backseat.)
Next week, or next couple weeks…
Voiceover: The kids of Degrassi sure have grown up fast. So this Christmas, let’s remember those classic episodes that made them international stars. We’ve got some of your favourite unforgettable episodes that will keep you wanting more. A holiday special you don’t want to miss. This Christmas spend some quality time with the gang.
