Starry Night (Boy Meets World)

"Starry Night”

Original Airdate: 3-APR-1998 Written by Barry Safchik. Directed by Jeff McCracken Courtesy of Dennis’s Boy Meets World Transcript Source. Transcribed by Dennis

Opening Credits

[SCENE – The park. Cory & Shawn sit on a bench, watching kids play on the monkey bars and slide.]

Shawn: I’m proud of you, Cory. We have been here for a full minute, and you have not once mentioned Topang…

Cory: (Interrupting) I’ll never forget the first time I saw her, Shawn.

Shawn: Oh, here we go… (Mimics Cory’s next line, mouthing the words and doing the exact same actions)

Cory: (Points) I was over there on the monkey bars, crying because I didn’t know how to get down. But she gave me the courage to jump! (Throws out arms) I mean, I tore some cartilage, sure, but I knew, Shawnie, that I had found my playground-mate for life. (Rubs chin, then turns to Shawn. A little girl walks by) Topanga! (Stands, arms out)

Girl: Mommy! (Runs away)

Shawn: Stop it! Stop it! Cory, you’re being ridiculous.

Cory: You know we were supposed to go to the museum today?

Shawn: Oh, God…

Cory: No, no. Topanga was real excited about this new Van Gogh exhibit that was coming to town. She went without me, didn’t she?

Shawn: (Sarcastically) No, no you’re there with her right now. Why don’t you tell me the monkey bars story again? ‘Cause I wanna see if my head will actually explode!

Cory: Oh, I’m a clown to you, huh? What am I, here to amuse you?

Shawn: Angela went with her.

Cory: Well I was supposed to go with her! Did you know that I camped out overnight at the Philadelphia Museum of Art to beat the mad rush for tickets? And in the morning, I was the first guy on line.

Shawn: Cory, you were the only guy on line.

Cory: (With Shawn, sits) This city is a cultural vacuum, my friend.

Shawn: That’s why my people settled here.

[SCENE – The image of Cory & Shawn sitting on a bench changes to Cory and Shawn in old-timey clothes and becomes an antique photo. The camera pans out, and it is a picture hanging in the Philadelphia Museum of Art.]

Topanga: (reading) “Silas Matthews and Ebenezer Hunter, founding fathers.” (Angela leans in for a closer look) I knew I shouldn’t have come here. I was supposed to come here with Cory. Everything reminds me of him. (We see the photo again) Angela, I miss him. (Starts walking, Angela follows)

Angela: (Sighs) Topanga, you’ve been waiting forever to see this exhibit.

Topanga: How could he talk to another girl all night? How could he kiss her?

Angela: He told you it didn’t mean anything.

Topanga: How could it not mean anything? He kissed another girl! You don’t kiss somebody and have it not mean anything! I don’t understand that. Should’ve left him up on those monkey bars.

Angela: Oh, please, not the monkey bar story. (Snaps fingers)

Topanga: Monkey bars… (Angela mimics the rest of the line, like Shawn did before) I was in the sandbox and I saw the cutest little curly-haired boy on the monkey… (turns to Angela, who abruptly stops) Okay, just forget it.

[Cut to another photo, Irises by Van Gogh]

Girl: (Reading) “Van Gogh’s brush strokes and choice of color emphasize his heightened sense of emotion.”

Other girl: (Stoically) Yeah. (They walk away, Angela & Topanga walk over)

Angela: (Sees an attractive boy) Ooh! Mmm, you wanna talk about emotion check out the motion coming this way. (Ricky walks over) Oh lord, I forget my name. (Ricky arrives) Hi, I’m Nancy or something.

Ricky: (To Topanga) Excuse me, is your name Topanga?

Angela: Angela, my name is Angela, but I already have a boyfriend… (Realizes) Oh, her.

Topanga: Yes, my name is Topanga.

Ricky: Well, I’m Ricky Ferris, I’m sure you don’t remember me, but I certainly remember you.

Angela: (To Topanga) Oh, you two know each other.

Ricky: Sort of. You changed my life forever when you were about six years old.

Topanga: I did?

Angela: She did?

Ricky: You ended my little league career. Hit me with a fastball so hard on my left cheek (pats butt), I think I still have a mark there. But you don’t wanna see that.

Angela: I do.

Ricky: See, you were the one who helped me realize I was more of an artist than an athlete.

Angela: (To Topanga) Ooh, he owes you, make him pay.

Topanga: I’m sorry, and I promise never to hit you on the tush with a fastball again.

Ricky: Well, why don’t you make it up to me by seeing the Van Gogh exhibit together.

Angela: Ooh, I think I should go check other that painting over there, entitled “Go With Him, He’s Cute.” (Walks away)

Ricky: (He & Topanga turn to Irises) Man, I can’t believe it’s here. Under this roof. The most important painting and the greatest legacy of paintings ever to enrich the world.

Topanga: Irises?

Ricky: Well, no actually, this is my second favorite. I was talking about Starry Night. Do you know it?

Topanga: Well, I saw it in a book once, but I don’t think the book did it justice.

Ricky: Nah, it didn’t. See, what you need is somebody who’s passionate about it to make you passionate about it, too.

Topanga: You know anyone like that?

Ricky: Yeah, I do. (They walk away, with Angela following at a distance)

[Cut to later. Ricky & Topanga are standing, talking in front of Starry Night.]

Ricky: I think this is the most spiritual piece ever painted.

Topanga: Look at the way he painted the stars.

Ricky: Yeah, see how they protect the small town? It’s like these swirling divine lighte from God that say, “I will always protect you.”

Topanga: Well, it says here that Van Gogh found religion around the time he painted this.

Ricky: Yeah, he found his soul. And he put it on this canvas. It’s what’s moving you. Someone is able to let you see right into his soul. (Topanga looks at him admiringly) I’m sorry, I guess I could talk about this painting all day.

Security Guard: (Walks over) You did, the museum will be closing shortly. (Walks away)

Topanga: (Checks watch) Oh my gosh, we talked all day.

Ricky: No, it’s not enough.

Topanga: What?

Ricky: What are you doing for dinner Friday night?

[SCENE – Museum, continued from earlier. Topanga & Ricky are walking down a hall]

Ricky: So, dinner? You can keep talking about Starry Night or the real stars if you want.

Topanga: Ricky, look… I’ve had a really great time talking to you, I can’t believe we talked all day, but I don’t know, my head’s in a funny place right now.

Ricky: Topanga, do you plan on eating dinner tomorrow night?

Topanga: Yes.

Ricky: So do I. So how’s this, tomorrow night at eight ‘o’clock, we’ll meet at Tabou de Chatileauz.

Topanga: That little French café?

Ricky: Right, now here’s the thing. We’re gonna be sitting at the same table. And I’m gonna be sitting across from you. If you want it to be a date, you look up from your dinner. If you don’t want it to be a date, don’t look up. But if you do look up, I’ll be looking back at you. (Exits)

Topanga: (To Angela, who is hiding poorly behind a sculpture) Alright, come out. (She does so)

Angela: You know I couldn’t help overhearing.

Topanga: Should I go out with him or not?

Angela: Well, he gorgeous, cultured, sensitive artist type, wants to take you to a romantic French restaurant. (Sarcastically) Should you go out with him? Hm, let me think… Yes!

Topanga: I don’t know.

Angela: You don’t know what? He is everything you could want.

Topanga: He’s not Cory.

Angela: No, he’s not Cory.

Topanga: So if I go out with him, than Cory and I are really really finished, aren’t we?

Angela: I don’t see where it would help the relationship, no.

Topanga: I don’t know what to do. I mean, Ricky & I talked all day. He knew so much about the paintings, that’s what makes me want to get to know him better. He’s so complex and interesting.

Angela: Well, do you think Cory’s complex and interesting?

Topanga: Yeah, but it’s different. (Sits) Even though I’ve known Cory all my life, how can I go out with another guy until I learn what Cory feels about this painting?

Angela: Topanga, this guy swept you off your feet, you gotta give him a chance! (Sits) Maybe one day you won’t be telling people that you met the guy you love on the monkey bars, but you met him in front of a masterpiece and he told you how he felt about it and… he swept you off your feet.

Topanga: I’m not leaving my feet for anybody until I give Cory a chance.

Angela: Okay… (Topanga leans on her shoulder)

[SCENE – Museum, the next day. Topanga leads Cory in straight to Starry Night]

Topanga: What do you see?

Cory: Topanga, why’d you bring me here?

Topanga: I want to know what you feel about this painting.

Cory: I don’t get what that has to do with anything. Did something happen here yesterday?

Topanga: This has nothing to do with what happened yesterday. This is about you and me right now. You and I were supposed to come here together, and I want to know what would’ve happened if we did.

Cory: Oh, so this is some kind of test.

Topanga: Right, big test. Test the biggest.

Cory: Well, forget it, Topanga, I’m not taking a test. Listen, you don’t reduce our relationship to what you think about me because of what I see in a painting. That’s not important. What matters is what I see in you. And what you see in me.

Topanga: What I see in you?! Portrait of somebody I thought I knew. How were you able to spend the whole night talking to some girl then kiss her the next day and still think you care about me?!

Cory: Because I did, and I do!

Topanga: You don’t! Or you wouldn’t be able to do those things, Cory. Those things don’t just happen for not reason.

Cory: Listen, don’t tell me how I feel about you. Okay, I know how I feel about you. And she kissed me.

Topanga: Oh, and you moved away? What did you do to stop her?!

Cory: Nothing! Nothing! I said, “Kiss me, baby sweetie. Kill the relationship with the person I care about more than anything and make me miserable for the rest of my horrible life.” That’s what I said. Her kiss meant nothing to me! And you were right, those kind of things do not happen for no reason. They happen to teach you something. And I know now that I will never ever love anybody more than I love you.

Topanga: (Eerily calm) What do you see in the painting, Cory?

Cory: (After a long, thoughtful pause) I see an attack.

Topanga: (Looks at Cory incredulously) An attack?

Cory: An attack from another world.

Topanga: An attack from another world… Alright, let’s look again. What about the relationship between God and man?

Cory: Oh, okay. I was about to get there. Um, see God, unhappy with how some particular treat other particular humans who love them, has decided it’s the end of the world. And I think he’s right.

Topanga: God is protecting the people in this little town. They live there lives and they come out of their houses and they see the sky. And they know God’s protection and love. And that everything will be alright.

Cory: Listen, how do you expect me to see good in anything when I feel so bad in here? (Taps chest) This is just a painting.

Topanga: This is a masterpiece.

Cory: You’re a masterpiece. And I don’t care what you think right now, we’re gonna be together forever. And I know that. But you still need to find that out. You know where I’ll be. (Walks away, Topanga looks after him)

[SCENE – The French restaurant. Ricky & Topanga are chatting and laughing over dinner.]

Ricky: So, anyway, I bought this beret and a grew on my chin here (touches chin) and I told my parents I wanted to put off college and go to Paris and paint for a year.

Topanga: How crazy did they go?

Ricky: Not. They thought it’d be a good idea and expand my individuality. I was just testing them, now I really have to go.

Topanga: (Laughs) I though I had the only parents like that in the world. See, my mom got this job in Pittsburgh and we were all set to move and the last minute I told them I wasn’t going with them. And they let me stay here and live with my aunt.

Ricky: What was so important you wanted to stay here?

Topanga: Oh… there was this boy.

Ricky: Oh, so you’ve been in love.

Topanga: Yeah, yeah I have. But I’ve never been to Paris.

Ricky: Well maybe now you’ll have an excuse.

Topanga: I hardly know you.

Ricky: We’ve know each other for a whole day and dinner and we’re almost done with desert.

Topanga: Can I see what you’re drawing?

Ricky: Oh, yeah. (Tears off paper from placemat. On it is a beautiful, vivid picture of irises.)

Topanga: Oh, wow. They’re beautiful.

Ricky: Oh, it’s no Van Gogh, but you said that you liked irises.

Topanga: You know, I’ve had a really rough day and you’re making it less rough.

Ricky: I’ve been thinking about you ever since the museum. It’s amazing when it can be a day like any other day and without even expecting it you can meet somebody interesting, inspiring… talk for hours.

Topanga: What did you say?

Ricky: Those things don’t just happen for no reason.

Topanga: You’re right. They happen to teach you something.

Ricky: Yeah.

Topanga: You’re gonna kiss me now, aren’t you?

Ricky: Mm-hm. (He leans in and they kiss)

[SCENE – John Adam’s High hallway. Shawn & Angela are talking in front of the lockers]

Shawn: How could you let her go out with another guy?

Angela: Let her? I told her to.

Shawn: Okay, alright, timeout, timeout Angela. You and I, we’re doing pretty good, right?

Angela: Yeah…

Shawn: Right, so then we should start to show each other all the different sides of our personalities, right?

Angela: Mm-hmm…

Shawn: Okay, okay good. So then, this is me really, really mad. YOU TOLD HER TO!?!? To go out with another guy?! How does that help them get back together? Now, granted, I may not be the smartest kid in school, but… I THINK IT’S BAD!

Angela: Alright this is me: really, really practical. Cory and Topanga have broken up. They both need to get on with their lives.

Shawn: They’re not broken up.

Angela: They’re broken up!

Shawn: They’re taking a break!

Angela: They’re broken up!!

Shawn: They’re…

Angela: Broken up! Hey! He went out with another girl, she went out with another guy.

Shawn: Okay, if I went out with another girl tonight, that wouldn’t mean that I don’t love you and we wouldn’t be broken up tomorrow.

Angela: Oh yeah, well you go out with another girl tonight and you’ll be plenty broken tomorrow. ‘Cause I will break you. (kisses him)

Shawn: They’ve been together for fifteen years, Angela. These love rules don’t apply to them.

Angela: Look, all I’m saying is that they’re stuck. They need to see where life takes them, otherwise they’re gonna be unhappy every day. I don’t want that for my friend.

Shawn: I don’t want that for my friend, either. (Bell rings, he and Angela walk into class)

Topanga: (Pulls Angela aside) Angela, I have to talk to you, something happened.

Angela: Good or bad?

Topanga: Amazing. Absolutely wonderful. I’ve never had a kiss that meant more to me in my life. (Walks away)

Angela: (Looks shocked, then turns to Shawn) I’m sorry, Shawn. It’s over. (Walks away)

Shawn: (To Cory, who just walked in) Cor, we gotta talk.

Feeny: (Enters) Good afternoon. I hope everyone enjoyed reading their last Shakespeare play while in high school. (Class cheers) Oh, hey! I didn’t know you felt that way about it. Okay, we’ll do one more. (Class moans) Psyche!! (Laughs) Mr. Hunter, perhaps you’ll share with us a passage from Antony and Cleopatra. Maybe something that was meaningful for you?

Shawn: Uh… (Clears throat) (Reading) “Though it be honest, it is never good to bring bad news.” Act two, scene five. (Cory turns to look at him)

Feeny: Interesting passage, why did you choose that?

Shawn: Well, because I want everyone to understand how important it is not to kill the messenger.

[SCENE – John Adam’s High hallway. Cory & Shawn exit Feeny’s class into the hall.]

Cory: Okay, messenger, deliver.

Shawn: (Sighs) Cor, what I’m about to tell you is gonna make you want to kill me.

Cory: I’m not gonna kill you, Shawn. It takes too much time to break in a new best friend. (Opens locker)

Shawn: Topanga went out with another guy last night. I’m sorry.

Cory: You know, we’re the only two guys in the world who still think there’s hope for me and Topanga. You’re throwing in the towell?

Shawn: Yeah. I am.

Cory: Okay. Thank you.

Shawn: (Confused) You okay?

Cory: Yeah, sure. It’s an interesting feeling, though. (Shuts locker)

Shawn: What, to know it’s over?

Cory: To be the only guy in the world who knows it’s not. (Walks away)

[Cut to later. Angela & Topanga are talking near the couch.]

Angela: So you like this guy, huh?

Topanga: I’m in love with him. I knew it the minute I kissed him.

Angela: Topanga, you’re coming off a long relationship, you’re vulnerable right now. And you shouldn’t rush into something because of one kiss with some gorgeous, perfect guy. It was just a kiss, wasn’t it?

Topanga: That’s all it took. Do you know what I felt when he kissed me?

Angela: Yeah, probably do.

Topanga: Nothing.

Angela: (Confused) What?

Topanga: I called him today to let him know I can’t ever see him again.

Angela: You did?

Topanga: Because I’m in love, Angela. I don’t mean high school “I love you” “I love you, too,” I mean I am in love with Cory Matthews. And I wanna be. There’s nobody else in the world for me and there never will be. I’m taken! (They hug)

[SCENE – The park at night. Cory sits atop the monkey bars when Topanga approaches]

Topanga: Whatcha doing up there?

Cory: Well, I was hoping I could sit up here and a beautiful girl would help me down and we’d fall in love for the next fifteen years. It worked once.

Topanga: (Climbs the monkey bars and sits next to Cory) I met this guy.

Cory: I went back to look at that painting.

Topanga: We talked all day.

Cory: I wanted to see what you saw in it.

Topanga: We went out on a date and he drew me a picture of some flowers.

Cory: And I spent half an hour looking at it. Trying to understand it.

Topanga: And he kissed me.

Cory: But I couldn’t get it. Not by myself. But then I remembered what you said. That God protects people in their little homes. And they live their lives and they come outside and they look up at the sky and they know God’s protection and love. And that everything’s gonna be okay. But I’m not like you, Topanga, that I can understand those kinds of things so fast. I need you to help me.

Topanga: And I’m not like you that I can understand that you can kiss somebody and have it not mean anything. That you can care about somebody so deeply that nothing can change that. No matter how many times you tried to tell me. But I understand now.

Cory: It’s a beautiful painting.

Topanga: But it’s just a painting. We’re real, and you always understood that. (Puts her hands on his face) I love you. And I will always love you.

Cory: Another guy kissed you?

Topanga: (Playfully) Yeah. Wanna do something about it? (They kiss passionately) I felt that, boy.

Cory: So are we starting over?

Topanga: Yeah. (They kiss again, then look up at the starry night sky.)

[TAG – Museum. Shawn & Angela are looking at paintings.]

Angela: (With Shawn, viewing a painting) And what does this make you think of?

Shawn: (Looks at her, smiles mischievously, then kisses her with enthusiasm. They stop, then move to the next painting) And, uh, what’s this make you think of?

Angela: (Looks at him, smiles mischievously, the kisses him passionately. They stop, then move on to the next painting) And what about this? (They camera shows us it is Starry Night. Shawn lovingly holds Angela close.)

-End-